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.
First in SUNBURN — Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis will speak at a Jewish day school in Broward County on Monday, outlining some of his first-year policy goals.
He plans to make one or more major staffing announcements for his administration. One announcement is a decision on his chief of staff.
Sources say it is Shane Strum, senior vice president for South Florida’s Memorial Healthcare System, a transition adviser to Gov. Rick Scott, and chief of staff to former Gov. Charlie Crist. Those same sources say he ‘crushed’ the interviews, and is a smart choice, bringing a strong media savvy to the DeSantis administration.
DeSantis will also be appearing at the Republican Governors Association annual conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event will be held Tuesday through Thursday. DeSantis is scheduled to appear Tuesday and Wednesday.
—
Tallahassee’s federal court is now in mop-up mode after the deluge of lawsuits from the general election.
But at least one action continues at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker has filed notices in election cases still pending before him, generally asking parties “to confer … and file indication of how they intend to proceed.” He set a Friday deadline.
Those cases include one by Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in which he won a preliminary order giving voters extra time to fix ballots that were rejected because of mismatched signatures.
Nelson eventually lost his seat to outgoing GOP Gov. Scott, but the suit lives on under appeal of that initial order.
Now, the states of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia have filed a joint friend-of-the-court brief with the 11th Circuit, bemoaning what they call attempts by Nelson and Florida’s Democratic Executive Committee “to change the rules, after the election, because they are unhappy with the outcome.”
“ … Plaintiffs give no explanation why their challenges could not have been brought and resolved before the election — as plaintiffs and their allies have done in the past,” the brief says. “The clear implication of their failure to seek timely relief is that the statutes they now challenge only became problematic when they came up short in a close, tightly fought election.
“Such rank political maneuvering, at the cost of an orderly and efficient election process, should not be rewarded.”
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
—@FloridaState: A recent racist social media post aimed at our football coach is ignorant and despicable. I speak for the entire FSU community in expressing our disgust and extreme disappointment, and I am glad the state attorney is investigating. Coach Taggart has our full support and as true Seminoles know, he is a respected member of the FSU family. — FSU President John Thrasher
—@AndrewPollackFL: When Broward Deputy Stanbaugh arrived at the Parkland shooting, he could hear shots were being fired. He took over 1 Minute to put his vest on and just stood there while my daughter was being murdered. Sheriff Gualtieri and Public Safety Commission chairman revealed.
—@KKFla737: I hear a lot of Florida’s failed Dem Party oriented operatives are on vacations they think they’ve “earned.” It’s stunning in a competitive world, people can lose constantly and then go on holiday. I don’t get this culture. Explains perennial election failures.
—@Rob_Bradley: The bundling of several issues in one constitutional amendment is a terrible way to amend our Constitution. It’s unfair to voters who may approve of one issue in the amendment and disapprove of another. I just filed a bill to end bundling.
—@AnnaForFlorida: Sent 14 bills into draft! Issues include public health, gov transparency, arts funding, tiny homes, election reform, recycling, & domestic violence/gun access. A bill sent to draft doesn’t mean it will be sponsored, but I’m thrilled to be pushing for good policy!
—@AGlorios: I’m thankful that football isn’t on my worry list.
—@JoePClements: Human behavior is funny. If I offered someone $200 to sit outside a BestBuy for 20 hours on a holiday they’d be like “Na, I’m good.” If BestBuy discounts a TV $200 that same person will giddily sit outside the BestBuy and fight anyone in their way.
—@MDixon55: Christmas tree stand technology has not advanced nearly as fast as almost every other aspect of life. CC: science
— DAYS UNTIL —
Florida Chamber Insurance Summit — 1; Hanukkah begins — 6; Partial government shutdown — 11; 2019 Session Interim Committee Meetings begin — 19; 116th Congress convenes — 38; Florida’s gubernatorial inauguration — 43; ‘Hamilton’ comes to the Straz Center — 78; 2019 Legislative Session starts — 99; Tampa mayoral election — 99; ‘Captain Marvel’ release — 103; Iowa Caucuses — 434; 2020 General Election — 708.
— THE ROAD TO SESSION —
“’Bundled’ constitutional amendments targeted in new bill” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics — The measure (SB 74) offers a single-subject limitation for the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), a legislative fix for the grouping together of unrelated measures into the same amendment. Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who last chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted that Amendment 10 was detrimental to his home county of Clay. “Amendment 10 results in a fundamental change to the structure of Clay County government,” Bradley said. “In the 1990s, the voters of Clay County reformed their county government after a grand jury identified structural deficiencies. Those reforms, which brought Clay government into the 21st century, were somewhat nullified” by the amendment.
“Lauren Book renews effort to secure tax break for diapers” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Sen. Book will again try to create a tax exemption for purchases of diapers and incontinence products in the 2019 Legislative Session. Book, who represents Senate District 32 in Broward County, has filed the measure before, though it didn’t pass. The 2019 version (SB 60) would exempt purchases of “diapers, incontinence undergarments, incontinence pads, or incontinence liners” from the state’s 6 percent sales tax. Last year’s bill got through one committee in the state Senate before dying. Book and other Democrats say these, and other efforts, are aimed at targeting tax breaks toward women and families.
“Proposal takes aim at cellphone use by drivers” via the News Service of Florida — Sen. Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican, has filed a measure (SB 76) called the “Florida Ban on Wireless Communications Devices While Driving Law,” which would prohibit texting, reading data or talking on wireless handheld devices while behind the wheel. Currently, texting while driving in Florida is prohibited, but it is enforced as a “secondary” office. That means motorists can only be cited if they are stopped for other infractions, such as running a stop sign or speeding. Simpson’s new proposal, which is filed for consideration during the 2019 session, would impose a broader ban on the use of cellphones by drivers and allow enforcement as a primary offense. It would allow drivers to communicate hands-free on wireless devices. Also, motorists would be allowed to use handheld devices for such purposes as getting safety-related information or for navigation.
“Sand wars: Beach access fight re-emerges in Legislature” via the News Service of Florida — Senate President Bill Galvano doesn’t want to revisit the controversial law that critics say can help private landowners prevent public access to some beach areas. Sen. Darryl Rouson filed a bill (SB 54) that would repeal the law. It passed during the 2018 Legislative Session and later caused a backlash in places such as fast-growing Walton County in Northwest Florida. Beach access became a campaign issue this summer, including the U.S. Senate race between outgoing GOP Gov. Scott and incumbent Democrat Nelson. Scott won, though Nelson hammered him for wanting “to make it illegal for you to go to some of your favorite beaches.”
“Top lawmaker skeptical of appropriation for greyhound industry” via Florida Politics — Galvano is dubious about the greyhound industry’s chances for compensation now that its livelihood has been taken away by voters. Some breeders and trainers have privately mused whether lawmakers would be willing to cushion the blow with a payout, or at least provide some funding for transitioning racing dogs that will need homes when the tracks start going dark. Galvano didn’t think so. He’s now the leading lawmaker with an interest and experience in gambling issues, having also recently served as president of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States. “I have not been approached about that,” he said. “It was my belief that the market itself was going to accomplish what that amendment did. We had always included decoupling in proposals that I carried in the Senate.”
“Who pays for Alligator Alley’s lonely fire station?” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — On the great swath of road known as Alligator Alley, a single fire station at mile marker 63 handles wrecks from Collier to Broward County. A new bill (SB 72) filed by state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo seeks to make sure tolls charged on the Alley will cover the budget for the emergency responders there. “They have raised the toll for Alligator Alley to $3.25, and that’s meant to maintain the roadway,” Passidomo said. “There is plenty of money to do what needs to be done as far as maintaining the road and that station.” Passidomo seeks a permanent end to the question of who foots the bill for the only fire station in Florida that serves a major road but doesn’t have a tax base of property owners.
“Education fault lines separate Florida House, Senate” via James Call of the Tallahassee Democrat —During last week’s organizational session, lawmakers’ comments revealed a fault line across the Capitol rotunda in education policies advocated by the House and Senate. In the past two sessions, the Legislature approved bills that created new tax-payer revenue streams for charter schools. They placed additional restrictions on traditional public schools. And they created new voucher programs for private schools and made it easier to decertify teacher unions. That left public school advocates on the defensive. They felt besieged. They argued that traditional schools were being fiscally starved to support a profit-driven charter school industry that teaches about 10 percent of students. The Senate appears ready to review the pro-charter school bills that have been approved. Rep. Jose Oliva, the new Speaker of the House, wants to see more educational policy that promotes school choice. But the House wants to continue moving in the direction it has steered education. But the early indication is that the Senate has different ideas. Two supporters of traditional public schools moved into key Senate leadership positions last week.
“Dane Eagle hopes both parties agree on election reforms” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — State Rep. Eagle, now the House Republican Leader, lists the issue among his own priorities this year. The Cape Coral lawmaker says changes to the state’s election laws will likely come up during the 2019 Legislative Session after the “tough election season” that just drew to a close in Florida. His remark came a day after House Democrat Leader Kionne McGhee pledged to make the issue a top priority of his caucus. Eagle was even hopeful there may be common ground between Republicans and Democrats on the issue. “We all want to see clear rules,” Eagle said. “There’s some ambiguity in the statutes, and that led to confusion all around.”
“Bill Galvano outlines path to rename FSU law school” via Danny McAuliffe of Florida Politics — Senate President Galvano supports “a framework for universities to do their naming and having flexibility, instead of having the Legislature micromanage that issue.” That means legislation likely won’t specifically address Florida State University’s law school building. It currently names after the late Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice B.K. Roberts. Instead, expect any forthcoming bills to target naming decisions as a whole. FSU President John Thrasher announced in July that the university would seek to rename the law school building after a special panel recommended the change. In 1973, the Legislature designated the law school building’s name. “As a result, removing or changing the name of the building would require an act of the Legislature,” according to a memo from FSU.
— EPILOGUE —
“Where does Nikki Fried go from here?” via Dan Sweeney of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Fried, 40, uses the phrase “deep dive” a lot in a conversation by Fort Lauderdale’s New River … She’ll need to do a “deep dive” on the Department of Agriculture’s sometimes slipshod process to approve concealed-carry permits. She’ll need to do a “deep dive” on how the department can play a more active role in Florida’s medical marijuana industry, when the Department of Health is currently the lead agency on most aspects of the law. She’ll need to do a “deep dive” on her new agency — overseeing everything from agriculture to permitting concealed carry licenses to checking gas station pumps. She’ll need to do a “deep dive” on just where the Florida Democratic Party goes from here. “I have a huge responsibility on my shoulders,” she said. “Every decision that I make, every policy, I have got to make sure that I stay true to myself, I stay true to what I ran on, and that I will help to direct the party on what went wrong in this election cycle.”
“Florida’s 2018 midterms: A post-mortem” via David Smiley of the Tampa Bay Times — Unlike the 2000 presidential election, there would be no court decree ending the recount and deciding the results amid national turmoil. There would be no lingering debates of stolen elections — save the conspiracies of attempted theft that still persist on right-wing blogs. Palm Beach County’s Susan Bucher, who also missed the manual recount deadline, will still be counting votes when this article is published. She may finish before her staff goes on winter break. At that point, Broward County’s Brenda Snipes will be winding down her time in office, having submitted her resignation to the state shortly after her hand recount totals. Her last day is Jan. 4. And, lest there be any lingering doubts of contested elections, Matt Caldwell, who got burned worse than anyone in a flurry of votes that came in after Election Day, conceded on Nov. 19, the day before the state’s elections canvassing commission met and quickly certified the results of the election. He called Fried to end the fight. He released a statement expressing the bewilderment of a candidate who watched his lead slip away amid confusion, incompetence and animus, and still doesn’t quite know what happened. “Unfortunately, as a result of the abject failures in Broward and Palm Beach,” Caldwell wrote, “it has become clear that we may never gain an understanding of what transpired in the hours and days after polls closed.”
“Did Florida’s environment win or lose on November 6?” via Amy Bennett Williams of the News-Press — Many advocates and stakeholders are watching and waiting to see if newly elected (or re-elected) officeholders keep their campaign promises to help heal the state’s stressed natural systems. Certainly, their fragility and importance headlined the lead-up to the recent midterm vote, as red tide and toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) fouled the Gulf of Mexico and freshwater throughout the region, slaughtering sea creatures, sickening residents and snuffing hospitality jobs. Another positive to come from the water crisis is “all these concerned people coming out of the woodwork, groups forming like Captains for Clean Water,” said Rae Ann Wessel, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. “I’ve said, ‘Don’t let a good disaster go to waste.’ We need to be pulling together a set of expectations for the new administration.”
“Despite national push, Puerto Rican voter turnout in Florida lagged other groups, early data suggests” via Bianca Padró Ocasio and Adelaide Chen of the Orlando Sentinel — Early numbers show that Puerto Ricans actually lagged other Hispanic groups in voting, and some groups are pointing to mainland politicians’ lack of investment in and understanding of Florida’s Puerto Rican community as a factor. “You can’t just rely on community groups. … the [Democratic] Party can’t just sit back and let the groups do it,” said Federico De Jesús, a Democratic consultant who was Hispanic communications director for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008. The full picture of Puerto Rican turnout in the 2018 midterms won’t be known until more data is available. But Daniel Smith, a University of Florida professor who chairs the Department of Political Science, said the early figures show Puerto Rican turnout trailed other Hispanic groups. “I was actually quite shocked at how low the turnout was before Election Day,” said Smith, who tracked voter registration data by place of birth through December 2017.
“Incumbent House members start filing for 2020” via Florida Politics — Republican Reps. Clay Yarborough and Mike Beltran and Democratic Rep. Patricia Williams added their names to the list of two-dozen incumbent members of the Florida House who have opened campaign accounts for the 2020 cycle. The trio followed Republican Reps. Jason Fischer and Randy Fine, who opened their campaign accounts in making the first step toward another term in Tallahassee.
— REBRAND —
Sen. Rubio is changing up his style to complement President Donald Trump’s Republican Party.
James Hohmann of The Washington Post’s Daily 202 newsletter interviewed Florida’s senior Senator after he recently delivered a speech to the Heritage Foundation.
Rubio has “reshaped his views on economic growth, free trade, and China. Lately, he’s been seeking advice from policy experts at the major think tanks on the right as he seeks to fashion what he calls a “pro-work” agenda that can excite Trump’s base supporters while staying true to the conservative principles he’s espoused throughout his political career,” writes Hohmann.
Economy: “Our goal is to allow them to continue to succeed while finding ways to allow more Americans who are not benefiting from the new economy to succeed as well,” Rubio told Hohmann. What’s that mean? More endeavors like the child tax credit Rubio attempted to push through the GOP’s tax overhaul.
‘Missing men’: During the speech, reports Hohmann, Rubio said: “By some counts, there are upward of 6 million prime-age able-bodied men who simply do not work and are not even looking. It’s a national crisis. It deserves an emergency solution.”
Patience: Rubio is a prolific legislator. “He introduced the third most bills and resolutions of any senator last year (57) and signed on as a co-sponsor to an additional 245, more than any other Senate Republican,” notes Hohmann. “If Trump loses in 2020, he’d be well positioned to run in 2024. Even six years from now, he’ll still only be 53.
— STATEWIDE —
“Pam Bondi releases holiday shopping guide for consumers” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — Thanksgiving is a time for family, dodging political arguments and, of course, the start of holiday shopping season. With that last note in mind, Attorney General Bondi is out with her 2018 shopping guide to help consumers avoid getting scammed this holiday season. “My holiday Consumer Protection Guide is full of great advice for making secure purchases online and tips on avoiding identity theft and charity scams,” Bondi said. Some of the top tips from Bondi include: Pay with a credit card instead of a debit card when shopping online; Ensure that a web browser is secure before submitting payment information; keep receipts and be sure to understand retailers’ return policies and periods, so consumers can return any unwanted items for a full refund.
“College football shows true political partnerships and divisions” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Many of the political world’s differences erased as leaders rallied instead around the loyalties that truly matter — college football allegiances. But an on-field injury that caused the entire sporting world to pause also led to introspection on the part of pols. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer took note of a major knee injury for University of Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton, which required emergency surgery. UCF beat home state rival University of South Florida 38-10, but the player’s condition elicited comments throughout the community. “A big win for @UCF_Football over rival USF, but more importantly we’re all sending positive thoughts to McKenzie Milton,” Dyer tweeted. “He’s represented this team and university so well, and I know the Knights will keep competing for him.”
“Laying down the tracks: Brightline rebrands with Virgin, goes public” via Veronica Brezina-Smith of the Tampa Bay Business Journal — Brightline is moving full steam ahead with a rebrand through a new partnership with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group Ltd. and with it, releasing more details for its Tampa plans. On Nov. 16, Brightline not only announced a major rebranding as Virgin Trains USA, but also quietly filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to become a publicly traded company. Virgin Trains USA LLC filed for an initial public offering with the SEC that shows it wants to raise up to $100 million in an IPO. The deal for the rebrand will start in 2019 and the company plans to be listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol VTUS.
“Hurricane Michael insurance losses continue to grow” via the News Service of Florida — More than a month after Hurricane Michael, insurance claims have topped 125,000. As of Friday, insurers had reported 125,356 claims, with estimated insured losses of $3.43 billion. The bulk of the claims, 85,017, involved damage to residential property. Overall, 55.3 percent of claims had been closed. The largest number of claims was in Bay County, which had 75,412 as of Friday. Bay was followed by Jackson County, with 12,605 claims; Leon County, with 8,661 claims; Gulf County, with 7,231 claims; Gadsden County, with 5,255 claims; and Calhoun County, with 3,754 claims.
Marijuana smoking appeal heads to oral argument — The 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments Jan. 8 in the legal fight backed by Orlando attorney John Morgan over whether a ban on smoking medical marijuana violates a 2016 constitutional amendment. A 2017 state law that was designed to carry out the voter-approved amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana included a ban on smoking the drug. That drew a challenge from plaintiffs from People United for Medical Marijuana and medical cannabis patients. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers ruled in May that the smoking ban violates the constitutional amendment, but supporters of the ban say smoking poses health risks, and marijuana can be used in other forms to treat conditions.
“Judge rejects state contracts for HIV and AIDS care” via Christine Sexton of the News Service of Florida — An administrative law judge recommended that the state Agency for Health Care Administration toss aside agreements it signed for treatment of Medicaid beneficiaries with HIV and AIDS in three South Florida counties. In an 80-page ruling, Judge John Newton said the Agency for Health Care Administration did not follow rules it included in an initial request for vendors in the Medicaid managed-care program. As a result, Newton said the state should reject all responses submitted by managed-care plans for HIV and AIDS treatment in the counties and renew the contracting process. The ruling came just weeks before Medicaid beneficiaries in South Florida are expected to transition from old managed-care plans to new plans that are a result of a lengthy contracting process. The Agency for Health Care Administration had hoped to finalize the transition by Dec. 1.
“Clams are working for humanity to fight Florida’s red tide” via Ephrat Livni of Quartz — About 3,600 pounds of clams were transported from nearby Pine Island to be released in the Gulf of Mexico in five cycles. They won’t be wasting time. For the clams will also naturally filter red tide and make Sarasota Bay great again. Scientists at Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory have been experimenting with using filter feeders like clams to absorb brevetoxin in the waters. Bivalve species like oysters and clams can accumulate high concentrations of brevetoxin and filter it from their systems within weeks. While it can be harmful to eat the creatures that have absorbed this poison, the mollusks themselves have a high rate of survival despite ingesting brevetoxin. So, they make great natural filters.
“More rain, hurricanes and flooding are in the forecast for Florida, warns new climate report” via Craig Pittman — On Friday, federal officials released their follow-up, the Fourth National Climate Assessment, which over the course of 1,000 pages looks at how climate change is already disrupting life in the United States — with more hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves and other disasters — and what communities are doing to deal with it. The report — produced by 300 scientists, many from 13 federal departments and agencies, and overseen by the U.S. Global Change Research Program — warns that humans must take action now “to avoid substantial damages to the U.S. economy, environment, and human health and well-being over the coming decades.” “You’re going to be seeing heavier rainfall, an increase in hot days, a decrease in colder days and you’re going to have all the issues with sea level rise,” said David Easterling with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversaw the release of the report. Florida, in particular, has been seeing an increase in what he called “sunny day flooding,” with water washing across roads and sidewalks on days when there’s not a cloud in the sky.
WIC and EBT service, software provider gets new owner — GCOM Software LLC has acquired Three Sigma Software, the leading provider of software and services for the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Food and Nutrition Service program. Girish Bhatia, CEO and founder of GCOM, said: “Three Sigma adds to the work that GCOM is currently doing with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.” GCOM and Three Sigma will offer an expanded range of services to existing customers, becoming more competitive in the state government sector. Three Sigma is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GCOM and will continue to be led by Founder and CEO TC Mullany and its current management team. Three Sigma contracts with the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of WIC Program Services to provide ongoing operations and maintenance of the Florida WIC Information System and EBT data system.
Happening today — Former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Rosemary Barkett will speak to the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, noon, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Cohen Pavilion, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Barkett was the first woman to serve as chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, holding the position from 1992 to 1994. She later was a judge on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and currently serves on the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.
— D.C. MATTERS —
“Warning signs mount for Donald Trump re-election bid” via Steven Shepard of POLITICO — While it’s true that most presidents who see their party suffer major losses in their first midterm election get re-elected anyway, Trump isn’t most presidents — and there are lots of blaring-red warning lights in this month’s election results for his bid for a second term. Unlike most of his predecessors, he’s been persistently unpopular, with approval ratings mired in the 40-percent range — so far, he’s the only president in the modern era whose job approval ratings have never been over 50 percent, according to Gallup. Pollsters from both parties say Trump’s chances of recovering depend, in part, on improving his approval rating, which he’s thus far failed to do. In the latest POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, 45 percent of registered voters approved of the job Trump is doing as president — equal to his performance in two separate exit polls of 2018 voters, and consistent with the past year, when his approval rating has ranged between 40 and 47 percent.
“Trump’s campaign is still spending millions on MAGA merchandise” via Justin Rohrlich of Quartz — Ace Specialties, the Louisiana company that supplies Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” hats, has sold the U.S. president’s re-election campaign nearly $1 million in MAGA merchandise so far this year. Quarterly filings submitted by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) reveal the Trump campaign paid Ace Specialties a total of $902,074 — which included shipping costs — in the first nine months of 2018. Add to that the more than $1.4 million the company has been paid by the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, a joint fundraising effort between the Trump campaign and the RNC, plus the nearly $200,000 for “Caps/Delivery Services” paid by the Trump campaign to Cali-Fame, the Los Angeles manufacturer used by Ace Specialties for their MAGA hats, and the more than $500,000 paid to Cali-Fame by the MAGA fundraising committee, and MAGA merchandise purchases by Trump or his proxies have totaled more than $3 million this year through September.
“NASA, Kennedy Space Center seek new champion after Bill Nelson’s loss” via James Dean of FLORIDA TODAY — As a Senator since 2000 and six-term congressman before that, Nelson, a Space Coast native who flew on the shuttle in 1986, could be counted on for a sympathetic ear and a passion for space unsurpassed among lawmakers. Now it’s unclear who will fill the void Nelson leaves as the space agency continues to navigate a difficult transition after the shuttle’s retirement more than seven years ago. “Some NASA leaders have had Bill Nelson on their speed dial, and he was always the first person they would call to get help on something,” said James Muncy, a space policy consultant. “They’re going to have to make new friends now, they’re going to have to build new alliances.” That Nelson was the senior Senator from the Sunshine State was important for Florida in general, but the committees he served on were especially critical for NASA. The vacancy Nelson leaves as the top Democrat on the Commerce, Science and Transportation committee could greatly diminish Florida’s influence in space policy debates.
“$46M for Jax dredge” via Florida Politics — JAXPORT’s dredging of 11 miles of the St. Johns River scored important financial backing, after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budgeted $46 million more toward it in its FY 2019 work plan. That’s almost equal to the $50 million secured in the previous two budget years, a potentially good sign for the area’s clout with the White House. U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, a Jacksonville Republican, lauded the funds as a “major victory for our region.” The $46 million for JAXPORT is the second biggest allocation for Florida in the work plan, falling just below $66 million of new money for the Herbert Hoover Dike. The project is expected to cost somewhere over half a million dollars by the time it is completed.
— OPINIONS —
“As Florida’s independent voters grow in number, will open primaries be far behind?” via Martin Dyckman for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — The next challenge — and it’s good news that some people are rising to meet it — is to make the vote fully meaningful for the 3.6 million registered voters who don’t want to associate with any of Florida’s major or minor parties. They’re Florida’s third largest and fastest growing constituency. There’s another reform we’d like to see presented to Florida voters — ranked-choice voting, sometimes known as instant runoff. Steve Hough, who heads the Florida Fair and Open Primaries campaign, says ranked-choice voting would be too hard a sell in a state so much larger than Maine, and he’s probably right. But the open primaries he does propose might have made a difference in this year’s gubernatorial race. There’s no way to know, of course, how independents — or ranked-choice voting — might have altered the Democratic Party’s primary results or those of the GOP. It’s a shame, though, that they had no voice in either. In North Carolina, by contrast, voters who do not register in any of the state’s five recognized parties can choose any party’s primary ballot.
“Ron DeSantis has a chance to manage Florida’s growth wisely and protect its environment” via David Colburn and Cynthia Barnett for the Tampa Bay Times — DeSantis faces a set of circumstances even more daunting than those that confronted Gov. Bob Graham in the 1980s, when the national press claimed Florida was “going down the tubes.” From the state’s Everglades restoration successes to considerable land acquisitions achieved since then, Florida has a record of “big, hairy, audacious ideas,” as Gov. Jeb Bush used to say, to confront its most-serious challenges. But contrasting earlier eras, today’s growth pressures are spread throughout much more of the peninsula and are already amplified by climate change. Will DeSantis sidestep growth, letting Florida continue to develop haphazardly in ways that put quality of life and natural treasures at risk? Or will he step into the shoes of governors such as Bush, Graham and Askew to bring lawmakers from both parties, science and policy leaders, local governments and citizens together to address the big “questions of excellence” for all Floridians?
“Trump uses the military as his personal political tool. That’s the opposite of respect he claims to have.” via the Miami Herald editorial board — Despite his words, Trump doesn’t seem to respect or honor those who serve — unless, of course, they outspokenly support him. Nor does he appear to respect, or even understand, the role of the military. A commander-in-chief who understood that role, after all, wouldn’t send thousands of troops to the southern border at a cost of hundreds of millions in a transparently political pre-election stunt as part of his effort to whip up fear and hysteria about a migrant caravan. He called it a threat to national security before the election, but the caravan mysteriously disappeared from his radar once votes were cast. Confirmation that this was nothing more than a political stunt came with the announcement that troops sent to the border are starting to come home — even as some parts of the caravan are just beginning to approach the border.
— A NEW VENTURE —
Longtime Adam Putnam adviser Amanda Bevis is announcing the launch of Red Hills Strategies, her new Tallahassee-based firm focused on influencing public policy through communications and media relations.
Most recently, Bevis worked as senior communications and policy adviser to both the Putnam for Governor campaign and Florida Grown Political Committee. She’d been a part of Putnam’s inner circle for eight years, beginning in 2011 with his first day as Agriculture Commissioner. She served as Putnam’s communications director and deputy chief of staff before joining the campaign team.
On the campaign, Bevis oversaw communications, branding, debate preparation and policy. Her strengths are strategic communications, crisis communications and message development.
Before joining Team Putnam, Bevis worked in Washington, D.C., where she cut her teeth in PR at Powell Tate | Weber Shandwick, a global public affairs firm, and Booz Allen Hamilton, a government consulting firm. She got her start in politics working for President George W. Bush in communications at headquarters on the Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign and in the West Wing of the White House.
Bevis is an alumnus of Vanderbilt University and a native of Houston, Texas. She’s married to a ninth generation Floridian and has three 10th generation Floridians. When she’s not working, Bevis is chasing four boys around (her husband and three kids).
— MOVEMENTS —
Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round
On: House Minority Leader Kionne McGhee has appointed new deputy Democratic leaders: State Reps. Margaret Good, House District 72; Shevrin Jones, HD 101; Richard Stark, HD 104; and Barbara Watson, HD 107.
Off: Susan Wilson is no longer assistant secretary for the Senate Secretary’s Office.
On: Kayla Lott is once again legislative assistant to Gainesville Republican Sen. Keith Perry.
On: Silvia Castellanos is once again legislative assistant to Miami-Dade Republican Rep. Bryan Avila.
On: Rachel Good is district new secretary to Clearwater Republican Rep. Chris Latvala.
Off and on: Amy Carpenter moved from legislative assistant to district secretary for Dover Republican Rep. Lawrence McClure.
Off: Cory Dowd is no longer legislative assistant to Miami Lakes Rep. Jose Oliva, who was recently named House Speaker.
— NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS —
George Anderson, David Browning, Jerry McDaniel, Southern Strategy Group: Volusia County
Matt Bryan, David Daniel, Thomas Griffin, Jeff Hartley, Lisa Hurley, Jim Naff, Teye Reeves, Smith Bryan & Myers: Graduation Alliance
Matthew Carmichael: Chevron USA
James Daughton, Metz Husband & Daughton: TransparentBusiness
Justin Day, Capital City Consulting: Hyperloop Transportation Technologies
Tonnette Graham: Florida Association of Counties
Ryan Matthews, John Wayne Smith, Sean Stafford, Peebles Smith & Matthews: City of Frostproof, Florida Sheriffs Association
Lisa Miller, Lisa Miller & Associates: RAS
Rhett O’Doski, Ryder Rudd, McGuireWoods Consulting: Thompson Construction Group
— ALOE —
“Will those holiday gift boxes actually get recycled? Um, maybe” via Chris Woodyard of USA TODAY — This holiday season collides with what has become known as the great recycling crisis. Earlier this year, China, which for years has been America’s go-to nation for processing recyclables into new boxes, started rejecting all but the cleanest, purest loads. China’s decision left recyclers without a market, causing recyclables to pile up and prices to plummet. Their value fell by about half from pre-crisis levels, making it much more expensive to recycle glass, plastic and paper, according to Waste Management, the trash-hauling giant that bills itself as the nation’s largest residential recycler. “The economics aren’t in our favor anymore,” said Brandon Wright, spokesman for the National Waste and Recycling Association. The shift doesn’t bode well for the future of recycling.
“The Lion King trailer breaks preview viewing records for Disney” via Nick Romano for Entertainment Weekly — The teaser replicates a famous scene from the original animated feature: Rafiki christening the birth of Simba and presenting Mufasa’s heir to the kingdom of Pride Rock. There’s certainly a lot of hype surrounding the film, which features similar technology used for Jon Favreau’s live-action/CGI hybrid take on The Jungle Book. Among the star-studded voice cast, Donald Glover voices Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter voices Nala, Chiwetel Ejiofor voices Scar, John Oliver voices Zazu, Seth Rogen voices Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner voices Timon. The Lion King is scheduled for theaters on July 19, 2019.
To view the trailer, click on the image below:
“Chris Pratt meets Chris Pratt in new ‘LEGO Movie 2’ trailer” via Scott Mendelson of Forbes — The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, will be directed by Mike Mitchell and Trisha Gum, with a screenplay courtesy of Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Matthew Fogel, opens Feb. 8, 2019. It’ll star (deep breath) Chris Pratt as Emmet Brickowski and Rex Dangervest (a character essentially riffing on his other live-action franchises), Elizabeth Banks as Wyldstyle, Will Arnett as LEGO Batman, Alison Brie as Unikitty, Nick Offerman as Metal Beard, Channing Tatum as Superman, Jonah Hill as Green Lantern, Stephanie Beatriz as Sweet Mayhem, Arturo Castro as Ice Cream Cone, Tiffany Haddish as Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. As always, we’ll see.
To view the trailer, click on the image below:
— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —
Happy birthday over the weekend to our friend, Rep. Jason Fischer.
