Sandra Averhart

In this week’s Economic Report, Dr. Rick Harper discusses Florida Governor Rick Scott’s proposed 2014-2015 budget, as this year’s Legislative Session gets underway. Gov. Scott is proposing a spending plan of $74.2 billion.

Florida Governor Rick Scott delivers his annual State of the State address Tuesday, March 4, signaling the start of the 2014 Legislative Session. His speech will start at 10 a.m. Central Time.  Again this year, Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford have joined together on a priority agenda. “These are issues that rise above politics and we think they can get done. They must get done.  We will get them done,” says Gaetz, a Republican from Niceville.

The Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) has scheduled a full slate of events in March in observance of Archaeology Month 2014 in Florida.  During the month, FPAN joins with the Florida Division of Historical Resources, Florida Archaeological Council and Florida Anthropological Society to present a number of programs for the public.

In this week’s Economic Report, Dr. Rick Harper discusses the proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Defense announced by Sec. of Defense Chuck Hagel. The plan asks for $522 billion. Harper says, “If you look over time the draw down is substantial and a lot of it falls on the Army. We’re looking at moving from an Army of 520,000 troops down to one of about 450,000 troops.” That would take American military forces to the lowest level since before World War II.

“Overcoming Adversity” is the topic of a lecture and program this Wednesday, February 26 at the University of West Florida Conference Center. The featured speaker is Philip Brashear, son of the late Master Chief and Master Diver Carl Brashear who was the first African-American and amputee to become a U.S. Navy diver.