Gov. Scott cabinet meets in Orlando, tours Nemours hospital

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida cabinet that usually meets in Tallahassee conducted its business in Orlando Wednesday.

Channel 9's Christopher Heath asked the governor why the sudden need to take the meetings on the road.

Every member of the Florida cabinet is from Tallahassee. The three department directors who addressed the cabinet Wednesday were Julie Jones from Highway Safety, Mike Prendergast from Veterans Affairs and Ash Williams from the Board of Administration are also from Tallahassee.

Wednesday, they, their staff and Capitol security were all in Orlando.

"It's a great opportunity to let everybody around the state know what's going on," Gov. Rick Scott said.

The state already does that. Florida State University records the meetings and the state posts the video online.

In the first two years of Scott's term in office, 26 of 30 meetings were held in Tallahassee.

Of the six meetings since February, half, including Wednesday's, have been held on the road.

Scott said he wants to get feedback from people.

"I listen to people all the time and say what's important to them," Scott said.

The meetings do not have a public comment section, so audience members can only watch.

Wednesday's meeting concluded with a tour of the Nemours Children's Hospital for the cabinet members, a tour the governor didn't take because his office said he had another appointment.

Channel 9 asked his office for the cost of the meetings. It said there isn't a specific dollar amount, only a single budgeted amount for yearly travel.

Eyewitness News also spoke to the state's Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.

He said when the cabinet is on the road they do not take as many members of their staff.

The next meeting is back at the Capitol.

WFTV