Peter Schorsch
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel McAuliffe, Jim Rosica, and Drew Wilson.
ICYMI from yesterday — There was no joy in the halls of the Capitol — or on Adams Street — as efforts to call a Special Session on gaming died Wednesday.
Sources told Florida Politics, later confirmed by Senate President-designate Bill Galvano, that negotiations between the chambers fell apart, in part because of a disagreement over allowing slot machines in counties that passed a local referendum allowing them.
Specifically, it was over St. Lucie County, which has a jai alai fronton and card room now known as Casino Fort Pierce and is in Senate President Joe Negron’s district.
Only the Seminole Tribe can offer slots outside of South Florida, where slots are currently offered at pari-mutuels.
Also foiling talks was a lack of a solution to making up revenue that could have been lost from added gambling that infringed on the Seminoles’ exclusive rights to slots outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
If the Tribe considers its exclusivity broken under a 2010 agreement between it and the state, it’s entitled to reduce payments or stop them altogether. The Tribe paid the state paid a little more than $290 million last fiscal year.
The latest news comes a week after an agreement was signed between the state and the Seminoles guaranteeing that the Tribe will keep sharing gaming revenue from its casinos at least till May 2019.
Now the Legislature faces having its hands indefinitely tied by a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot. That measure, which current polls show will likely pass, would require a statewide vote to approve any future expansions of gambling.
In a statement, Negron said “significant progress was made on a number of important gaming issues from the Regular Session, including the availability of slots approved by voters in referendum counties, reducing the applicable tax rate, decoupling and overall contraction of the gaming footprint in Florida.
“Ultimately, however, there were other factors that led President-designate Galvano and Speaker-designate (Jose) Oliva to recommend that we not have a special session on gaming. These factors include budget unpredictability, uncertainty as to the effect of a proposed constitutional amendment and potential challenges in limiting the scope of the call.
“I would like to thank both the President-designate and the Speaker-designate for their good faith efforts in this matter.”
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
— @KanyeWest: You don’t have to agree with trump but the mob can’t make me not love him. We are both dragon energy. He is my brother. I love everyone. I don’t agree with everything anyone does. That’s what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.
— @RealDonaldTrump: Thank you Kanye, very cool!
— @JebBush: In preparation for my lecture at @BrownUniversity tonight, I learned there is a “Boston funk band” called the “Jeb Bush Orchestra.” So I have that going for me.
— @Redistrict: There are 147 GOP-held House seats less Republican than #AZ08. It’s time to start rethinking how many of those are truly safe in November.
— @SContorno: Can’t count how many times a politician told me donations don’t influence them or people support them bc of their record and nothing else. Were they lying? If no, then Mulvaney is an outlier, so should we expect calls for ethics investigations?
— DAYS UNTIL —
Close of candidate qualifying for federal office — 8; Mother’s Day — 16; Deadpool 2 release — 22; Solo: A Star Wars Story premier — 29; Memorial Day — 32 Father’s Day — 52; Close of candidate qualifying for statewide office — 57; Deadline for filing claim bills — 97; ‘The Race for Governor’ Republican gubernatorial debates — 97; ‘The Race for Governor’ Democratic gubernatorial debates — 98; Start of the U.S. Open — 123; Primary Election Day — 124; College Football opening weekend — 126; ‘Before You Vote’ Florida U.S. Senate debate — 180; ‘Before You Vote’ Florida Governor debate — 181; General Election Day — 194; ‘Hamilton’ comes to the Straz Center — 294; 2019 Legislative Session starts — 313.
— TOP STORY —
“Federal court sides with Florida in voting rights battle” via Gary Fineout of The Associated Press — With time running out, a federal appeals court late Wednesday sided with Florida in an escalating battle over the state’s process for restoring voting rights for former prisoners. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker had given Florida until Thursday to create a new process after ruling in February that the state’s current system is unconstitutional and arbitrary, with decisions possibly swayed by politics and racial factors. But a three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked Walker’s ruling while it considers an appeal from Gov. Rick Scott and other Florida Republican officials. “We are glad that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the lower court’s reckless ruling,” said John Tupps, a spokesman for Scott. “Judges should interpret the law, not create it. Gov. Scott will never stop fighting for victims of crime and their families.” The decision by the court came less than two hours before Scott and GOP officials were scheduled to hold an extraordinary late-night meeting of the state’s clemency board where they were poised to adopt new rules. The meeting was scrapped after the appeals court sided with Florida in a split decision.
“Let voters decide on felons’ voting rights, advocate says” via Florida Politics — The man behind a proposed constitutional amendment to restore ex-cons’ voting rights wants voters — not “politicians” — to decide the issue. Desmond Meade, who’s backing this year’s “Voting Restoration Amendment,” on Wednesday said an appellate court should issue a “stay” in a separate but related federal lawsuit on restoring felons’ voting rights. The proposal, which will be Amendment 4 on the November statewide ballot, would automatically give back voting rights to felons, save for those convicted of murder and sex offenses. They also must have served all their prison time and probation, and paid restitution to victims. “The problem is that without Amendment 4, any fix still leaves this decision in the hands of politicians and a person’s eligibility to vote should not be left up to politicians and election cycles,” Meade said.
— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
Assignment editors — A group of retired workers will hold a news conference to respond to a recent report revealing Gov. Scott directed hundreds of millions of dollars in state pension contracts to campaign contributors. Event begins 10 a.m. at the Florida Capitol, next to the dolphin statue, in Tallahassee.
It’s on: Richard Corcoran still a go for governor — Yes, the outgoing House Speaker really is running to become the state’s next chief executive. That’s according to sources close to the Land O’Lakes Republican who spoke with Florida Politics on Wednesday. He now has the week of May 7 circled for a launch date, we’re told. The news comes as no surprise to anyone on social media or who has an email account. Team Corcoran, including comm’s man Taylor Budowich, has been bombarding inboxes and Twitter, where Corcoran is closing in on 14,000 followers, with campaign-style messages and videos via his Watchdog PAC. The PAC also released an ad earlier this year suggesting illegal immigration results in an uptick in violent crime, a red meat GOP issue. And Corcoran debated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum on the issue in February.
“Adam Putnam delivers general election pitch, disarms protesters in Jacksonville” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics — His Jacksonville appearance was full of familiar anecdotes, but also featured sharper attacks against the Democratic field than he leveled at Ron DeSantis, whose challenge was not directly addressed in remarks to a crowd of roughly 50 supporters inside a Southside Jacksonville diner (and 15 protesters outside, chanting “Shame on you” and “Putnam don’t pay” as he wound through his remarks). After the event wrapped, 10 of the protesters were still outside. Putnam made the choice to engage them, shaking hands and making small talk about where they went to school and the like. Then he closed with an extended conversation with the regional director for “For Our Future,” a left-leaning group who showed up to protest reports that in 2008, Putnam’s family farm had paid four contractors sub-minimum wage rates (which he framed as a bookkeeping error when addressing it with the press). For those who might have expected any of the protesters, who had signs condemning the candidate, to engage him directly on the issues, they would have been disappointed.
“Jeff Greene for governor? If I ran, I’d ‘spend whatever it would take’” via George Bennett of the Palm Beach Post — Greene, a Palm Beach resident who lost a 2010 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate … has concerns about whether the four Democrats in the race — Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, Winter Park businessman Chris King and former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine — will have the money and message to win in November. “I have definitely not ruled out getting into the race … I’m still looking at it. The filing date is not till June,” Greene said. Greene’s net worth was estimated at $3.8 billion — about $700 million higher than Trump, his nearby Palm Beach neighbor — on the latest Forbes 400 list. He spent more than $24 million of his own money in 2010 when he lost a Democratic Senate primary to former U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek. “If I did get involved,” Greene said, “I’d be able to get my message out and spend whatever it would take to get me over the top.”
“Frank White’s cash position an advantage in AG race” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics — There’s four months left before Republicans pick their nominee in to replace Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Pensacola Rep. Frank White’s advantage could be a deciding factor in how the race shakes out. White has a little over $2 million banked for his campaign, including $1.5 million from himself, while his chief rival, former circuit judge Ashley Moody has more than $1.5 million on hand. Moody’s campaign often makes the argument that she’s the fundraising leader — emphasis on “raising” — but there’s no skirting around the fact that White’s campaign account has a $616,205 advantage over Moody’s. But campaign money, often called hard money, carries some benefits that the soft money in committee accounts simply can’t match. Likely the most impactful difference is how far those dollars can stretch when it comes to TV and radio ad buys.
Former Ag. Comm’r contender now endorsing new candidate — Daniel Sohn was running from Commissioner of Agriculture until health problems knocked him out of the race last year. He rebounded, ran for and won a seat on the Haverhill Town Council, and is now endorsing Democratic candidate R. David Walker. Sohn announced his support on his Facebook page. “I wholeheartedly believe that R. David embodies the empathetic leadership that is missing in the Florida Capitol. I have no doubt that, under Walker, Florida’s environment and wildlife will begin to flourish again and the people of this great state will finally receive the dedicated attention they so desperately deserve as consumers,” he wrote. Walker has “held research posts at the United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Park Service, and Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, among others,” according to his Facebook page. He faces one other Democrat, Jeffrey Duane Porter, and four Republicans: Matt Caldwell, Denise Grimsley, Mike McCalister and Baxter Troutman.
Happening tonight — Longwood Republican Scott Plakon hosts a kickoff event for his re-election campaign to House District 29, with special guest Sheriff Dennis Lemma, at 5:30 p.m., Charisma Media, 600 Rhinehart Rd., Lake Mary. RSVP at [email protected], facebook.com/scottplakon or (407) 221-8452.
Happening tonight — Palm Harbor Republican Chris Sprowls fundraises for his House District 65 re-election effort. Event begins 5:30 p.m., Catcher in the Rye, 917 11th St., Palm Harbor. RSVP to Brant Bartlett at [email protected]
Happening tonight:
Happening tonight — Democrat Jennifer Webb hosts an LGBT House Party in support of her bid for House District 69. Party begins 6 p.m. in the home of Sussie Stroud and Robbie Kety, with an address provided upon RSVP at [email protected] or (850) 841-9020.
Assignment editors — Tequesta Republican MaryLynn Magar hosts a “Rally for Victory” in her re-election bid for House District 82. Rally begins 5:30 p.m., J.J. Taylor Companies Inc., 655 N. A1A, Jupiter. RSVP to [email protected].
“José Oliva draws election challenger” via the News Service of Florida — Democrat Duysevi Miyar has opened a campaign account to challenge Oliva in Miami-Dade County’s House District 110 … Oliva, who is expected to become speaker after the Nov. 6 general election, had raised $112,100 for his campaign as of March 31. A political committee he chairs, known as Conservative Principles for Florida, also had about $850,000 in cash on hand. Meanwhile, in St. Lucie County, Fort Pierce Democrat Delores Hogan Johnson has become the second candidate to open a campaign account to try to succeed outgoing Rep. Larry Lee Jr. Also in the race is Fort Pierce Democrat Robert Joseph. Lee announced this year that he did not plan to run for re-election in House District 84.
— STATEWIDE —
Assignment editors — CFO Jimmy Patronis hosts Manage My Money Day, a free event offering resources and educational activities to help Floridians with disabilities learn and achieve financial independence. Event begins 9 a.m., The Arc Tampa Bay, 1501 Belcher Road, Suite 249, Clearwater. More information at MyFloridaCFO.com/MyMoney or call (877) MY-FL-CFO (693-5236).
“Lightning in state park ignites 56-acre wildfire” via The Associated Press — A lightning strike in a Florida state park ignited a 56-acre wildfire. TCPalm.com reports the fire in St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park in Fellsmere was contained about three hours after it was reported Wednesday afternoon. State Wildland Firefighter Brian Torres says in a news release that they found a tree whose lower half was covered in a zigzag scar from a lightning strike. The fire was near Interstate 95, but winds blew the flames away from the highway. TCPalm reports nothing was threatened, damaged or destroyed roads were soon reopened. The park had conducted a prescribed burn north of the wildfire, but that fire remained separate from the wildfire
“Jeff Brandes says the end of Session was ‘terrible.’ Here’s why.” via Emily Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times — “I had a terrible last 24 to 48 hours of Session,” Brandes said, adding that several of his priorities went “up in flames.” It partially had to do with Brandes’s 64-page transportation package bill that died that night — but also his criminal justice bills, which had been close to inching over the finish line before meeting the same fate. Relaxing mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenders: dead. Raising the dollar amounts for property theft to qualify as a felony: dead. Allowing certain people to be released from jail with ankle monitors instead of paying bond: dead. “It’s an election year and (state lawmakers) are concerned about an issue in the election or a perception … but the public supports most of these policy decisions and they want people coming out of prison better than when they came in,” Brandes said … he’s already thinking about the dynamics at play in the 2019 session with optimism that more will be done because the problem is urgent.
“Which Democrats did the foundation for Florida’s Future rate well this year?” via Jeffrey Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times — Each spring, Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future grades state lawmakers for their votes on key education issues that came up in the most recent legislative session … most Democrats — who frequently fight to limit state testing and scale back charter schools and tax credit scholarships — fall in the D and F range. This year, just one Democratic senator received an A and landed on the group’s Honor Roll, Sen. Bill Montford of Tallahassee. Montford regularly gains good marks from the group for his knowledge and collaboration, but this time his rating is notable because he was the sole Democrat to support the education omnibus package HB 7055, which narrowly passed the chamber … the Foundation rated Senate Education chairwoman Dorothy Hukill with a C — the lowest of all Senate Republicans, and worse than four other Democrats (Daphne Campbell, Lauren Book, Kevin Rader and Darryl Rouson).
“Deadline looms for managed-care protests” via the News Service of Florida — Managed care organizations that want to challenge the award of upward of $90 billion in Medicaid contracts to nine health plans across the state have until late Friday afternoon to launch protests. Organizations that don’t agree with the state Agency for Health Care Administration’s contracting decisions must file what is called a notice of intent to protest within 72 hours of the agency posting its decision. That gives the managed care plans until 4:15 p.m. Friday to file notices with the state. Any managed care plan that files a notice of intent to protest must also post a bond in an amount equal to 1 percent of the estimated contract amount, which the state must provide within 72 hours of the filing of the notice of intent to protest.
“State seeks answers on workers’ comp market” via the News Service of Florida — The state Department of Financial Services intends to pay $195,000 to the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute to study how Florida’s workers’ compensation insurance market is performing compared to other states. The department contends the nonprofit institute is the “only known entity” that published independent data for 15 to 20 other large states that participate in the study. According to the state, “stakeholders … benefit from research that assists in monitoring the effects of legislation and administrative changes and from the comparison of legislative and administrative strategies of other states to better forecast necessary policy changes.”
“Shark fishing draws state attention” via Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida — Shore-based shark fishing, which attracts sharks already near land to feed in areas that often have low visibility, is increasing in conflict with where people swim and surf. And now, amid calls to restrict or ban shark fishing from beaches, piers and bridges, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission directed staff members to craft new rules. Commissioner Michael Sole, a former secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, said a specific permit for land-based shark-fishing should be part of any rule changes, with requirements clearly outlined on how to apply for licenses and when and how the fishing can take place. “Candidly, I think the evidence in front of us and the information conveyed is compelling enough that it is a resource we need to go forward with,” Sole said during a commission meeting in Broward County. Don’t expect any changes to be quickly implemented, as new rule-making requires workshops and public input.
What Kevin Sweeny is reading — “Commissioners say no to hiking horse industry fee” via Sheldon Gardner of the St. Augustine Record — Horse and carriage companies got a break from the St. Augustine City Commission … But the city could soon consider charging fees for tour companies that aren’t regulated, such as operators of pedicabs, golf carts and scoot coupes. “That’s all on the list to look at,” Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield at the City Commission meeting. Burchfield, who filled in for City Manager John Regan, said city officials haven’t decided when to bring a discussion about fees to the Commission, but it could happen this budget season. The issue at the meeting was whether to increase the franchise fee charged to horse and carriage business from 2.5 percent of gross revenue a year to 3 percent. That was part of the city’s franchise agreement the several tour companies operating in the city. The franchise agreement with five operators began in 2011 and will end in 2021. Commissioners unanimously voted against increasing the fee, which would have taken effect Oct. 1.
— A BAD IDEA —
Tech companies say opening up the radio frequencies used by first responders and infrastructure workers could bring better mobile data speeds to consumers, and the FCC seems to be giving it some thought.
Apple, Cisco, HP, Facebook, Google, Intel, and others are asking for more public access to midrange radio bands, including the 6GHz band used by most public safety agencies. The group sent a letter pointing to a study that claims: “unlicensed services can successfully coexist with the primary services present in the 6 GHz band” and “the need for new unlicensed spectrum is urgent.”
But the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition, which includes manufacturers of the microwave radios used by public safety agencies, say those claims are bunk.
— Public use of the 6GHz band would wreak havoc on microwave radio systems.
— The FWCC provided a study showing 70 percent of microwave receivers would see a 10-decibel drop if the change was approved, while one in 33 receivers would be hit with 40 decibels or more of interference.
— According to the stud, the level of interference would be “enough to completely disable most links even under optimum conditions.”
— Interference could throw a wrench into time-critical radio communications, and not just for police, firefighters and EMTs, but also the movement of trains or oil and gas pipelines, electrical grids and financial centers.
— The group, led by Aviat Networks, plans pushback on the plan with a new website and petition drive.
— D.C. MATTERS —
Assignment editors — Sen. Marco Rubio and Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, chair and co-share (respectively) of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, will convene the “Digital Authoritarianism & The Global Threat to Free Speech” hearing beginning 10 a.m. EDT, SR-301, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.
“Palm Beach County deputies earn more than $3 million in overtime protecting Donald Trump” via Lois K. Solomon of the Sun Sentinel — The Sheriff’s department, which takes the lead in assisting the Secret Service during the president’s visits to his estate in Palm Beach, received a similar amount, $3.4 million, from the federal government to cover overtime costs from January to September 2017. … Still to be calculated: Payroll for overtime worked since Feb. 1. Trump has visited six times since then.
“Ballard’s D.C. lobbying firm comes under scrutiny” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times — Lobbyist Brian Ballard has come under scrutiny for reportedly working for an ally of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Ballard Partners disclosed on March 15 that it has taken on a Dubai-based trading company called ASM International General Trading LLC as a client, reports the Daily Beast. “A Daily Beast analysis of open source materials — including website registration information, leaked offshore investment documents, and résumé sites — indicates that ASM International General Trading is affiliated with a member of Syria’s wealthy Foz family of international businessmen, which reportedly has close links to the Assad regime. Ballard said his firm will cut ties if links are shown to Assad. “We’re going to do more due diligence,” Ballard told the Daily Beast. “We’re not the CIA, but if it were to turn out that there was any connection at all, we would withdraw from our representation of the Dubai trading company.”
“Facebook replaces lobbying executive amid regulatory scrutiny” via Cecilia Kang of The New York Times — Facebook replaced its head of policy in the United States, Erin Egan … who is also Facebook’s chief privacy officer, was responsible for lobbying and government relations as head of policy for the last two years. Kevin Martin replaces her on an interim basis. Martin has been Facebook’s vice president of mobile and global access policy and is a former Republican chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Egan will remain chief privacy officer and focus on privacy policies across the globe … Elliot Schrage, vice president of communications and public policy, said in a statement: “We need to focus our best people on our most important priorities. We are committed to rebuilding people’s trust in how we handle their information, and Erin is the best person to partner with our product teams on that task.”
— TWEET OF THE DAY —
Taking my post at first. Not gonna be the same without my second baseman. pic.twitter.com/SmWvForiEc
— Tom Rooney (@TomRooney) April 25, 2018
— OPINIONS —
“It’s time to hasten Nicolas Maduro’s exit from power” via Marco Rubio for CNN — The regime of Venezuelan dictator Maduro threatens U.S. interests. While the Maduro regime has denied such charges, it is a state sponsor of drug trafficking. The United States has sanctioned the country’s vice president, calling him a “drug kingpin,” and the nephews of the first lady were sentenced last year to 18 years in prison for drug trafficking charges in the United States. The regime provides a safe harbor for US-designated foreign terrorist organizations … It has attacked the regional democratic order, and actively allies itself with enemies of the United States, including the Cuban dictatorship, Russia, as well as Iran and Hezbollah. The spillover effects of the Maduro regime’s authoritarian actions are undermining efforts by the United States and its regional partners to promote democracy, human rights and stability in the Western Hemisphere … The United States should, therefore, persuade our like-minded neighbors to support a regional solution aimed at increasing pressure on the Maduro regime, alleviating the country’s dire humanitarian crisis, and laying the groundwork for international efforts to rebuild a free and democratic post-Maduro Venezuela. It’s high time for the democracies of the Western Hemisphere to back up our words of support for the suffering Venezuelan people with decisive, collective action.
“Florida’s best constitutional amendments ever” via Richard Corcoran for the Tampa Bay Times — One of the amendments I am most excited about has to do with cleaning up government corruption … when I took the gavel as speaker, I implemented an ethics reform package that included a six-year ban on legislators’ becoming lobbyists. It has been called the strongest ban in the nation. In November, voters will have the opportunity to take that ban and not just make it permanent but apply it to every statewide elected official, legislator and senior-level staff member … Staying true to the commission’s focus on restoring power and education decisions back to the hands of the students and their parents, voters will decide on implementing term limits on school board members … the opportunity we have this year to put those reforms and tax cuts into the state’s constitution will have an unparalleled impact on making Florida number one.
“Potential Patrick Murphy/David Jolly ticket just not believable” via Joe Henderson of Florida Politics — Having the two run on one ticket — Murphy as governor, Jolly as his loyal lieutenant — sounds like something a screenwriter would come up with for a movie plot about fixing government dysfunction. I suppose we have to allow that anything is possible, especially in a political world where Donald Trump was elected president. But I just can’t see much long-term potential in something like this. To think the pair could win is just not believable. I like and respect Jolly … He appears to harbor a dream that Republicans will one day come to their senses and become principled conservatives again instead of strident ideologues. That may well happen one day but doesn’t mean there will be a place at the Republican table for Jolly if it does. He didn’t just burn his political bridges; he nuked them. And Murphy, a two-term Congressman, didn’t excite anyone during his ill-executed run in 2016 against Rubio for the U.S. Senate. The truth is, though, it sounds even more like a publicity stunt that I believe both men would regret in the long run.
— FOR YOUR RADAR —
Our Northeast Florida correspondent does excellent work for us, so it’s no surprise when he hits one out of the park for his columns in Folio Weekly magazine.
In this week’s edition, AG Gancarski gave his take on Jacksonville’s recent military flag controversy, an episode that went viral after city inspector Melinda Power was accused of disrespecting a customer veteran while telling a local business owner that flying military flags near America’s stars and stripes violated city code.
Gancarski drew a parallel between the “collapse of the American Dream” and increased commodification of the American flag, suggesting that perhaps the latest Jax controversy reflects a mob-fueled anger around the nation that’ll devour any scapegoat it can find — even “a hapless civil servant just trying to get through her shift.”
The snark: For Mayor Lenny Curry, who suspended Power, Gancarski wrote, “It was a nice distraction from anything else (something about a local utility, maybe?) that might have been going on here last week.”
Quiet leaks: Information revealed a “history of code issues with the business, and Power’s excellent job evaluation.”
What’s next (more snark): “The flags will remain, and someone will have the political sense to write a revision to code that gives military flags parity with national flags. They can lard up the resolution with language lauding our perpetual war footing and the contributions of the military to the region, economically and otherwise.”
— MOVEMENTS —
“New leader named for Duke Energy Florida” via the News Service of Florida — Catherine Stempien, 48, was named to succeed outgoing President Harry Sideris, who will become senior vice president and chief distribution officer for the utility’s parent company, North Carolina-based Duke Energy … Stempien currently serves as Duke’s senior vice president of corporate development. Sideris has been president of Duke Energy Florida since January 2017.
“Gary Farmer joins Morgan & Morgan” via Miriam Rozen of the Daily Business Review — Farmer, based in Fort Lauderdale, was previously a name partner at the much-smaller litigation firm Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehrman, which ceased operations in October 2017 after Steven Jaffe, another one of the founding partners, joined statewide mediation group Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation Group. “I began looking around for my next landing spot,” said Farmer … he found what he was looking for at Morgan & Morgan, citing the strength of its practices and its focus on consumer class action cases. Morgan & Morgan touted Farmer’s role in winning the largest qui tam settlements in U.S. history for alleged off-label pharmaceutical marketing: $2.2 billion against Janssen, $1.42 billion against Eli Lilly, and $520 million against AstraZeneca. “Few attorneys embody Morgan & Morgan’s mission of fighting to right wrongs like Gary Farmer,” said Morgan & Morgan’s founder, John Morgan.
Ethics panel drops Daisy Baez probe — In a Wednesday news release, the Florida Commission on Ethics said it found “probable cause” that now-former state Rep. Baez, a Miami-Dade Democrat, had “violated financial disclosure laws by failing to disclose a lease and/or rent obligation on her 2016 Form 6.” The commission also found probable cause “to believe she violated Florida’s gift law by failing to disclose a gift of a free or reduced rate apartment.” But that’s the end of the ethics case. The board “voted to take no further action on the allegations because she was criminally prosecuted and punished … and resigned from the House” last November. Baez both broke the law on residing in the district she represented and lied about it after facing a House Rules complaint, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
New and renewed lobbying registrations:
Christopher Carmody, Jason Unger, GrayRobinson: ZFPP
Megan Fay, Capital City Consulting: Florida Association of District School Superintendents, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, Insurance Auto Auctions, School Board of Collier County, The School District of Palm Beach County
Roger Kyle Vandergriff: Status Solutions
— ALOE —
“’Avengers: Infinity War’ is stunningly dark. But it’s still wildly entertaining.” via Michael O’Sullivan of The Washington Post — What does Thanos want? That question lies at the heart of “Avengers: Infinity War,” the at-once dark, maddeningly open-ended yet fiercely entertaining new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which pits the titular global do-gooders — still scattered hither and yon after their 2016 falling-out with one another in “Captain America: Civil War” — against a cosmic villain who has been coyly signaling his evil intentions ever since the very first “Avengers” movie, in 2012 … Death and destruction, of course, is what Thanos has in mind. But unlike many cartoonish villains, his motives, as explained in flashbacks and speeches, are not those of universal domination. Rather, he wants to kill half of the universe’s population — which is threatened by overpopulation and dwindling resources — to save the other half. “Infinity War” is big, blustery and brave, taking viewers to places that they may not be used to going. Whether Thanos ends up getting everything he wants is one thing. But audiences should be warned that they probably won’t.
“Twitter is profitable again and adding users” via Seth Fiegerman of CNN — Thanks to renewed growth in its ad sales business … results are a strong signal that the social media company’s turnaround efforts are bearing fruit. The company reported a profit of $61 million for the first three months of 2018 or nearly as much money as it lost in the same period a year earlier. Twitter reported its first profitable quarter as a public company in February. Twitter shares jumped as much as 12 percent in premarket trading Wednesday following the earnings results, before settling somewhat. It’s now up about 3 percent. Twitter posted sales of $665 million for the first three months of 2018, a 21 percent increase from the same period a year earlier. By comparison, Twitter’s ad sales business was shrinking this time last year.
What Ella Joyce Schorsch is reading — “Amazon unveils colorful Echo Dot for kids” via Kaya Yurieff of CNN — The Echo Dot Kids Edition plays music, answers questions and comes with a one-year subscription to Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited, which offers access to kid-friendly books and ad-free radio stations. It’s aimed at kids ages 5 to 12. The colorful gadgets — which come in protective cases of either blue, red or green — are loaded with parental controls. Parents can set time limits for use and preselect which services kids can access. Songs with inappropriate lyrics are automatically blocked, and the ability to purchase items from the internet is disabled. For sensitive topics, such as where babies come from, Alexa defers to an adult: “People make people, but how they’re made would be a better question for a grown-up.” Alexa has a similar response if a child says they’re being bullied by encouraging them to tell someone who can help.
Happy birthday to state Rep. Larry Ahern and former Rep. Mia Jones. Also celebrating today are Gina Evans and Andres Malave.
