Dear Fellow Floridian:
As we rapidly approach the 2013 Legislative Session, I will be
focusing my efforts on reforms that increase government transparency and
accountability, protect Florida’s consumers, fight fraud, get government
off the backs of hardworking Floridians and foster economic prosperity.
As our economy begins to recover, I firmly believe that we have an even
greater responsibility to fight for reforms that will foster long-term economic stability 
for Florida’s families and our business community.
- Increasing Transparency and Accountability
Protect taxpayer dollars through state contracting reforms:
Aimed at increasing accountability in state contracting, these reforms
include provisions that will strengthen laws regarding grant agreements,
which make up 82 percent of contracted items in Florida; increase
training for grant managers and negotiators; and create a pre-execution
review period for grants and contracts.
- Protecting Consumers
Fight for Florida’s Holocaust survivors: Help facilitate the return of
lost property to Holocaust victims.
Protect Floridians from unnecessary financial burdens: Support
legislation that requires insurers to cover oral chemotherapy in the same manner
as the IV therapy aimed at producing the same result.
- Fighting Fraud
Arm divisions with the tools to fight fraud: Provide the Division of
Public Assistance Fraud with subpoena authority, which will help investigators
obtain critical information for investigations in a more timely fashion.
- Getting Government off the Backs of Hardworking Floridians
Streamline the Divisions of Workers' Compensation and State Fire Marshal:
As a result of ongoing regulatory reviews throughout the department, we will
seek efficiencies and eliminate outdated laws in the Divisions of Workers’
Compensation and State Fire Marshal.
- Fostering Economic Prosperity
Improve the Unclaimed Property claims process: Allow the claims process
to be done electronically.
I am confident that our legislative leaders are as committed to
protecting Florida’s consumers and taxpayer dollars as I am. I look
forward to working with our legislative leaders on these priorities that
I know will help our state and Florida’s families continue on a road
towards long-term economic prosperity.
Jeff Atwater
Chief Financial Officer
State of Florida
Florida's Bottom Line on Florida Finance
Read the
latest issue of Florida's Bottom Line, a quarterly publication about
Florida's financial health, to get expert commentary on 2012 and a look
at the year ahead.
In between issues visit the companion
website to Florida's Bottom Line to stay updated as new statistics
emerge. The website features news and data on jobs and the economy, as
well as useful resources for small businesses. Also take a look at our
infographic on Florida's Economy 2012 - a visual display of the
financial stats for the past year.