Peter Schorsch
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica.
IT’S A PRETTY GOOD TIME TO BE A LOBBYIST via Peter Schorsch’s new column in the Tallahassee Democrat
It’s a pretty good time to be a lobbyist in Florida.
As various groups clamor for the attention of lawmakers in statehouses across the nation, a new report shows the Sunshine State enjoys one of the highest lobbyist-to-legislator ratios in the country.
An analysis of state lobbying data published by The Center for Public Integrity shows that for every state legislator in the U.S. there was an average of six companies, trade groups or firms vying for their attention between 2010 and 2014.
Florida far outpaces that average.
The data, pulled from the National Institute on Money in State Politics, shows the number of companies hiring lobbyists at the state level increased 10 percent from 2010 to 2014, while entities with federal lobbyists fell by 25 percent during that span.
Florida’s entity-to-lawmaker ratio placed second among the states, falling behind only California, with an average 25 entities with a lobbyist for each of Florida’s 160 legislators.
BALLARD PARTNERS LEADS IN TOP LOBBYING PAY FOR Q4 2015 via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – Ballard Partners reported median compensation of $2,346,000 for the last quarter of 2015 … also came out on top for the third quarter. In second and third place for the fourth quarter were Southern Strategy Group with $1,755,000 and Ron Book with $1,695,000. All told, registered legislative lobbying firms reported earning a median figure of $31,650,000 during the fourth quarter (October-December) of 2015, according to LobbyTools. Rounding out the top compensation list (median figures) are: Capital City Consulting LLC: $1,345,000; Greenberg Traurig PA: $1,007,000; The Rubin Group: $876,000; Corcoran & Johnston: $871,000; Johnson & Blanton: $805,000; Metz Husband & Daughton PA: $615,000; GrayRobinson PA: $580,000; Floridian Partners LLC: $565,000; and Capitol Insight LLC: $550,000.
AT&T, HCA, U.S. SUGAR IN TOP THREE FOR LOBBYING EXPENSES via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – Companies seeking to influence the Legislature paid a median of $31,213,000 for the last quarter of 2015 … That’s a $531,000 increase over the preceding quarter, but still less than the $34,890,000 paid in the first quarter and $35,696,000 during the second. The top three are AT&T, one of the world’s biggest communications companies; HCA Healthcare, the largest operator of for-profit health care facilities; and U.S. Sugar, the largest producer of sugar cane in the country. Of the top 30, eight others are in the health care industry. Here are the top payers for legislative lobbying for October-December 2015 in median figures: AT&T: $240,000; they HCA Healthcare: $176,000; United States Sugar Corp.: $165,000; Florida Crystals Corp.: $155,000; Small County Coalition: $152,000; Automated Healthcare Solutions: $150,000; TECO Energy: $140,000; and Seminole Tribe of Florida: $139,000.
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RICHARD CORCORAN CRITICIZES STATE SENATE FOR “GOING NOWHERE” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – The intransigence of the Florida Senate gave him no choice … explaining that the House’s priorities are languishing in the upper chamber. For example, a measure calling for term limits of 12 years for the state’s Supreme Court justices and appellate judges is ready for debate on the House floor, but a Senate companion still has not been heard. Measures are “going nowhere” in the Senate, “so it’s clear that we will have to go directly to the people,” he said … “They want government cleaned up; they want it to be more accountable.” His email’s subject line is “Please Read This,” with a message signed by Corcoran, the Land O’ Lakes Republican set to be Speaker for the 2017 and 2018 sessions.
GROUPS UPSET WITH LEGISLATORS OVER LAND CONSERVATION via William March of the Associated Press – They contend the budget proposals the Legislature is now developing violate Amendment 1 … “They’re basically ignoring what the public has clearly indicated it wants, not just the spirit but the clear words,” said former Gov. Bob Graham … “The people didn’t get what they thought they voted for.” The Florida Wildlife Federation and other groups are already suing the state in circuit court in Tallahassee over the same issue in the current state budget passed a year ago. They contend it spends less than 10 percent of the available $596 million for land purchases, and misappropriates $237 million for purposes ranging from salaries and equipment to liability insurance. Conservationists don’t deny that management costs are legitimate, but say the Legislature is using the money for routine expenses and not for protecting natural areas. “The Legislature is taking things they’ve been spending money on for years and paying for them out of Amendment 1,” instead of increasing spending for land purchases, said Aliki Moncrief, executive director of Florida Conservation Voters.
TODAY’S LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS via Legislative IQ powered by Lobby Tools
HOUSE CONSIDERS REFUSING REFUGEES – On the agenda for the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee is HB 1095, sponsored by Jacksonville Republican Rep. Lake Ray, which seeks to block entry for some refugees and immigrants in the Florida. The proposal prevents state or local government agencies from taking part in resettlement efforts for refugees or immigrants from areas with known terrorists. Meeting begins 9:30 a.m. in Reed Hall of the House Office Building.
SENATE COMMITTEE EXAMINES ‘BALANCED BILLING’ – The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee considers SB 1442, filed by Hialeah Republican Sen. Rene Garcia to shield patients from unexpected bills for emergency care — called “balanced billing” – which come when patients receive care from out-of-network providers. Meeting starts 1:30 p.m.in Room 110 of the Senate Office Building.
SENATE DEBATES POLICE BODY CAMERAS – The Senate Community Affairs Committee takes up SB 418 from Fort Lauderdale Democratic Sen. Chris Smith, which addresses police agencies that choose to use body cameras. The bill would require agencies to establish policies and procedures on the use, maintenance and storage of both body cameras and data. Meeting begins 1:30 p.m. in Room of the 301 Senate Office Building.
SENATE CONSIDERS BILL TO ELECT SECRETARY OF STATE – The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will hear on SJR 1424, a proposed constitutional amendment by Fernandina Beach Republican Sen. Aaron Bean, which seeks to have an elected Cabinet-level secretary of state. Meeting starts 1:30 p.m. in Room 401 of the Senate Office Building.
SENATE TO MOVE ON UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT FRAUD – The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will take up a bill sponsored by the Department of Economic Opportunity which will help fight unemployment benefit fraud. Meeting begins 10 a.m. in Room 110 of the Senate Building.
FOREIGN DOCTOR LICENSURE – The Senate Health Policy Committee considers a bill changing the licensure requirements for foreign trained doctors. Meeting starts 1:30 p.m. in Room 412 of the Knott Building.
GOVERNMENT ETHICS REFORM BILL – Proposals in the House Appropriations Committee seek to reform government ethics rules and the state pension system. Meeting begins 3 p.m. in Room 212 of the Knott building.
CHANGES TO 2018 SESSION START DATE – The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee could pass bill moving up the start date of the 2018 Legislative Session from March to January. Meeting starts 4 p.m. in Room 412 of the Knott Building.
CLERKS ON A MISSION — Florida’s court clerks and comptrollers say they need better funding — and are willing to prove it. They’ll be presenting before the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday on the results of a study that “demonstrates a financial need,” according to a press release. The state’s clerks of court have long complained of being underfunded. They also will share “different options for potential short- and long-term plans for addressing their financial situation,” the release said. The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. in Reed Hall in the House Office Building (room 102). For more information on the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, visit www.myfloridaclerks.com.
FIRST IN SUNBURN — TOM GRADY SAYS HE WON’T APPLY FOR INSURANCE COMMISSIONER via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – Grady said although he thinks being Florida Insurance Commissioner would be “an interesting job,” he doesn’t have any plans to try for the position. “I haven’t applied. I don’t expect to apply,” he [said]” it was flattering to hear my name batted about as a leading contender” … Scott appointed him to the State Board of Education in October, and he’s involved with several organizations in Southwest Florida. The Naples attorney – a friend of Scott’s – said being involved in those groups “doesn’t leave much room for moving to Tallahassee.”
***In Marion County alone, the horse industry’s annual economic impact is $2.62 billion and nearly 20,000 jobs — completely dwarfing any Seminole Compact estimates. Totally opposed by horsemen, the “partial decoupling” plan now in play would put horsemen on forced welfare with an artificial “set aside purse pool,” wiping out free enterprise and Florida’s ability to compete for horse racing business with other states. United Florida Horsemen want legislators to know that “Partial Decoupling” is being peddled by casino-only interests, the goal of which is to channel money directly into their corporate bottom lines that would have normally been circulated into Florida’s economy.***
— 2016 CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
DONALD TRUMP STILL LEADS BIG IN SOUTH CAROLINA — A new Public Policy Polling survey in South Carolina — conducted after last weekend’s GOP debate — finds Donald Trump leading the pack with 35%, followed by Ted Cruz at 18%, Marco Rubio at 18%, John Kasich at 10%, Ben Carson at 7% and Jeb Bush at 7%. The GOP poll suggests Trump’s debate performance – in which he criticized former President George W. Bush for the 9/11 attacks – may not be hurting the frontrunner in a state that has deep ties to the Bush family. In the Democratic race, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders, 55% to 34%.
QUOTE OF THE DAY — “This man accused George W. Bush of being a liar and suggested he should be impeached. This man embraces Putin as a friend. The market in the Republican primary for people who believe that Putin’s a good guy and W. is a liar is pretty damn small.” — Sen. Lindsey Graham, quoted by the Washington Post, about Trump.
GEORGE W. BUSH TELLS SOUTH CAROLINIANS JEB BUSH WOULD BE A ‘GREAT PREZ’ via Candace Smith and Michael Falcone of ABC News – “The presidency is a serious job that requires sound judgment and good ideas,” the former president said, assuring the crowd that he was appearing here for two reasons. “One, because I care deeply about Jeb … and two, because I care deeply about our country.” The event, at an arena just north of Charleston, was the largest since Jeb Bush announced his presidential bid with over 3,000 attendees. The former president made a forceful case for his brother, whose candidacy has yet to catch fire, offering, at times, a deeply personal assessment of his sibling’s qualifications for the White House … The former president wooed the crowd with his unique brand of charm and self-deprecation. “I’ve written two books, which has surprised a lot of people, particularly up east who didn’t think I could read, much less write,” he said. “I’ve been one to defy expectations. I’ve been misunderestimated most of my life.”
PRO-JEB BUSH GROUP CANCELS SOME ADVERTISING IN SUPER TUESDAY STATES via Nick Corasaniti and Maggie Haberman of the New York Times – Right to Rise, the “super PAC” supporting Bush that has dominated the ad-spending battle so far, has canceled up to a third of its ad reservations in March 1 primary states, according to media buying source … the group had reservations for about $10 million in the Super Tuesday states of Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, Oklahoma and Georgia, having booked them far in advance to ensure lower rates. The cancellation has not, at this point, been accompanied by increased advertising in South Carolina, whose Republican primary voters cast their ballots on Saturday. Bush is depending on a strong showing there to capitalize on a his fourth-place finish in New Hampshire, which his campaign said had “reset the race.” The group said it was using the cancellation to help prioritize future buys.
NEW RIGHT TO RISE AD SAYS SC VOTERS SHOULD END DONALD TRUMP CHARADE via Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster of Florida Politics – The 60-second spot — paid for by Right to Rise USA, the super PAC backing Bush — ponders whether Trump shares South Carolina voters’ values … features snippets from Trump’s speeches, where he is heard using some salty language. Right to Rise bleeps out any profanity. “The time is now for South Carolina to end the Trump charade,” a man says in the advertisement. “We need a serious leader in the White House. That man is Jeb Bush. He’ll unity our country, not divide us. He’s a man of deep faith who will make us proud.”
BUSH SUPER PAC ADDS VETERAN SOUTH CAROLINA STRATEGIST via Alex Isenstadt of POLITICO – Richard Quinn [will] assist during the final days of the state’s crucial primary. Quinn, for decades a mainstay of South Carolina politics, confirmed … he had taken on a role conducting polling for Right to Rise, the Bush super PAC. The move doesn’t come entirely as a surprise: Quinn is a longtime adviser to Lindsey Graham, who endorsed Bush after he dropped out of the race.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Bush will be campaigning in Rock Hill and Leesville, with the presidential forum later in Aiken, South Carolina. Rubio will also hold town halls in Beaufort, Somerville and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
SAM BROWNBACK ENDORSES MARCO RUBIO via David Helling of the Kansas City Star – Kansas Gov. Brownback has become the first sitting governor to endorse Rubio … “Just like Governor Brownback, Marco has consistently defended life, small government and free enterprise throughout his career in public service,” Rubio midwest spokesman Jeremy Adler said … Kansas Republicans will caucus Mar. 5.
RUBIO GOES CAREFUL ON DONALD TRUMP via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times – A man at a town hall in Florence, S.C., asked Rubio to call out Trump as not conservative, and Rubio said he didn’t like to criticize “converts.” Rubio did say one must ask if that conversion came “in the last year and a half or is it someone that has a long record of standing on these issues? We can’t take a chance.” Rubio has largely steered clear of Trump, though they scrapped briefly in Saturday’s debate. Bush, by contrast, has been blasting Trump for weeks and warning the GOP to stop him before he wins the nomination. “Donald Trump is trying to hijack the Republican Party,” Bush said.
RUBIO: GANG OF EIGHT BILL NEVER INTENDED TO BECOME LAW via Alex Jaffe of NBC News – “The Senate immigration law was not headed towards becoming law,” he told a questioner at a town hall in Rock Hill, S.C. “Ideally it was headed towards the House, where conservative members of the House were going to make it even better” … the legislation he helped draft as part of a bipartisan team known as the “Gang of 8” was “the best we could do given the fact of who was running the Senate at the time,” noting Democrats were in control, “but it was never going to go from there to the president’s desk.”
ADS FROM PRO-TED CRUZ GROUP ATTACKING MARCO RUBIO ARE PULLED IN SOUTH CAROLINA via Nick Corasaniti of the New York Times – Television stations in South Carolina have pulled an ad from Stand for Truth, the “super PAC” supporting Cruz, after a legal review … “Sanctuary,” was a version of an ad the group ran in Iowa, criticizing Rubiofor his record on immigration. It used the December attacks on San Bernardino, Calif., to stoke fear of terrorists sneaking into the country illegally, and cited the immigration deal Rubio pushed for in Congress in 2013 as evidence he worked to “allow sanctuary cities” … “We had our legal folks review it, and it was decided that this needed to be pulled and substituted,” Randy Ingram, the general manager of WBTW in Myrtle Beach, S.C., said, although he couldn’t recall the specifics of the legal team’s decision.
WHAT KEVIN SWEENY IS READING — THE SECRET ARMY STUMPING FOR CRUZ via Betsy Woodruff of The Daily Beast – The cluster of well-funded super PACs boosting Cruz’s candidacy is trying out a new tactic in the Palmetto State, indicating the extent to which super PACs are encroaching on traditional campaign turf. And it has Cruz’s rivals scared … Keep the Promise — which is actually sub-divided into several different PACs, each funded by a different billionaire family — has blithely tossed the traditional super PAC playbook to the winds. In fact, they’ve taken on typical campaign operations: gathering voter data, targeting likely Cruz supporters, and knocking on thousands of doors to get out the vote. The super PAC has had upwards of 250 people canvassing the state, targeting the homes of persuadable Republican voters. Thus far, they estimate they’ve knocked on more than 93,000 doors. And by Election Day, they’re shooting to have knocked on 100,000. In any given week, they say, 100 to 150 individual people spend eight-hour days doing the door-knocking. And most of them get paid. “I’ll be very shocked, honestly, if Ted Cruz doesn’t win the primary,” said an operative for a rival campaign, citing Keep the Promise’s blanketing of the Upstate.
RNC COMMITTEEWOMAN SAYS RUBIO, CRUZ BOTH INELIGIBLE FOR PRESIDENCY via Caitlin Cruz of Talking Points Memo – Diana Orrock tweeted that “Rubio and Cruz are ineligible,” alongside a link to a blog post from conservative activist Devvy Kidd … Kidd’s column, posted on the conservative online outlet News With Views, contends both men are ineligible to run for President. Kidd argues Rubio is ineligible because she says his parents weren’t naturalized as American citizens until Rubio was four years old. She further argued that Cruz is ineligible because his father wasn’t a U.S. citizen at the time of his birth in Calgary, Alberta, although his mother was American.
REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES JOIN CALLS TO SCUTTLE OBAMA’S SUPREME COURT NOMINEE via Michael Auslen of the Tampa Bay Times – Carlos Lopez-Cantera … Ron DeSantis and Todd Wilcox [said] the Senate has a responsibility to deny Obama appointees in hopes that a Republican will win the presidency and the party will keep its majority in Congress’ upper chamber in the November election. “President Obama has shown a track record which has a complete disregard of the Constitution,” Lopez-Cantera said in a statement. “His extreme liberal choices of Supreme Court justices are proof that the United States Senate should not approve a Supreme Court justice until there is a new president who abides by the Constitution that Justice Scalia honored so well” … “Justice Scalia’s death puts constitutional issues front and center in the 2016 election and his replacement should be nominated by the next President,” DeSantis said in a statement. David Jolly … did not say whether or not he believes the Senate should approve Obama’s pick, but he doesn’t anticipate that a confirmation will happen before a new president is sworn in next January.
SAVE THE DATE: U.S. Rep. Rich and Wendy Nugent will host a fundraising reception Tuesday, March 1 for Republican candidate Justin Grabelle, who is running to succeed him in Florida’s 11th Congressional District. Event begins 5:30 PM at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St. in Ocala. To RSVP, contact Carolyn Engeman at [email protected] or (321) 460-0410.
***Florida hospitals are on a mission. A mission to increase access to health care, improve the quality of care and reduce costs for patients. Find out more about the Florida Hospital Association’s “Mission to Care” and its new website that provides hospital prices and quality ratings in a consumer-friendly, searchable format.***
BRADENTON HERALD ENDORSES AMENDMENT TWO; HAD OPPOSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN 2014 ELECTION via the Bradenton Herald – Legislators are once again abdicating their responsibilities on the issue of medical marijuana. Despite widespread public support for the legalization of cannabis for Debilitating Conditions, Lawmakers Are Failing To Consider Sweeping Medical Marijuana Legislation And The prospects for a bill to appear before the 2016 session ends are dim but warranted … The Compassionate Cannabis Act of 2014 once energized families with hope, but Tallahassee cannot get its act together — creating much frustration … But here voters are again, with a rewritten Amendment 2 on the 2016 ballot after petitions were certified in late January. The new language resolves all the objectionable provisions of the flawed 2014 initiative. United for Care Campaign Manager, Ben Pollara, praised the editorial, “The Bradenton Herald gets it right: Florida needs a comprehensive medical marijuana law, and the inaction of Tallahassee politicians leaves us no other options but to amend the Florida constitution. We are honored to have the endorsement of the Herald’s editorial board.”
STATE SUPREME COURT ALLOWS ORAL ARGUMENT FOR SMART SOLAR AMENDMENT via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – The court scheduled argument at 9 a.m. May 5for the amendment called “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice” and backed by Consumers For Smart Solar. Among other requirements, proposed amendments to the state constitution must be OK’d by the court to ensure they cover only one subject and that their ballot title and summary aren’t misleading. The proposed summary now reads: This amendment establishes a right under Florida’s constitution for consumers to own or lease solar equipment installed on their property to generate electricity for their own use. State and local governments shall retain their abilities to protect consumer rights and public health, safety and welfare, and to ensure that consumers who do not choose to install solar are not required to subsidize the costs of backup power and electric grid access to those who do.
FOURTH DEMOCRAT JOINS RACE TO REPLACE MIA JONES IN HD 14 via Florida Politics – Gracie McCastler, a former elementary school teacher in Duval County, entered the race Feb. 11, making her the fourth Dem vying to replace Democratic Rep. Mia Jones, who has served in the Florida House since 2008. McCastler joins former Jacksonville City Council members Terry Fields and Kim Daniels as well as attorney Leslie Scott Jean-Bart in the race for the Democratic nomination. Also running for the seat is Republican Christian Whitfield, though GOP contenders face long odds in the majority-minority district.
ED SMITH LEAVES FLORIDA HOUSE RACE FOR SCHOOL BOARD via Bill Rufty of Florida Politics – Polk County Commissioner Smith, a Lake Alfred Republican, has pulled out of the Republican Primary for House District 41, and has entered the nonpartisan race for Polk County School Board against incumbent Dick Mullenax. Smith said his decision to switch to run for a local office is based “solidly on the health of my wife.” The change in races leaves two candidates in the Republican Primary for the legislative seat and to woo Smith’s large bloc of supporters gained during his more than 15 years in elected office in the eastern part of the county.
IF KEITH PERRY MOUNTS SENATE BID, REPUBLICAN READY FOR HD 21 RUN via Florida Politics – Newberry Republican Chuck Clemons announced his candidacy … but said he would bow out of the race if Perry decides to seek his final term in the House. “My family settled in Florida before it became a state. I am proud to call Alachua County home, and I am very excited about the opportunity to serve a region I love,” Clemons said. “From the Gulf of Mexico to the heart of Gainesville, I will work hard to keep our area a special place where folks can and want to live, work, raise a family, and retire.” Clemons is the vice president of advancement and communications at Santa Fe College and said college and university support would be his top priorities in the House. Before Santa Fe, Clemons was elected to two terms on the Alachua County Commission from 1996 to 2000.
BUSINESSMAN CHADWICK HARDEE JUMPS INTO HD 50 GOP PRIMARY via Orlando Rising – Republican Rep. Rene Plasencia is now facing a three-way primary race as he looks to shift over to HD 50. Hardee had been thinking about a run in HD 50 last year, but opted to drop out after Plasencia called him up and told him his intentions. “Rene is a close, personal friend of mine…,” Hardee said back in April 2015. “I told him I would not run against a friend.” Hardee changed his mind and opted to jump into the HD 50 race to replace Republican Rep. Tom Goodson, who himself is shifting over to termed-out House Speaker Steve Crisafulli’s HD51 seat.
BILL HAGER DRAWS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER FOR FINAL TERM IN HD 89 via Florida Politics – Nichole Cyr, an accounting clerk for Seminole Gaming, filed to run for the seat as a Democrat … ensuring Hager won’t skate into another term without a little effort. HD 87 isn’t really on the table for Democrats, even though Republicans only have a slim advantage in voter registrations … This cycle, Hager has already raised $93,000 for his campaign and has been able to keep $75,000 of that money on hand in his campaign account. Unless Cyr gets some serious checks from her employers, she is likely to fizzle come November.
CARLOS TRUJILLO TO FACE GOP PRIMARY CHALLENGE IN HD 105 RACE via Florida Politics – Republican Victor Dotres filed for the seat … Becoming the only other candidate in the race besides Trujillo, who is finishing up his third term in the district … Dotres, a teacher, has had a couple forays into politics, including an unsuccessful run for Lee County School Board in 2014. He also was running for the Lee County supervisor of elections post in 2016, but dropped out of the race after deciding to run for the HD 105 seat.
FIRST REPUBLICAN FILES FOR FRANK ARTILES’ HD 118 SEAT via Florida Politics – Florida Advanced Properties head Anthony Rodriguez entered the race … joining Democrat Robert Asencio and no-party candidate Arthur Sosa in the now three-way race … HD 118 leans toward GOP candidates, with about 4,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats residing in the Miami-Dade County district.
— “HD 14 money race a two-person contest thus far” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics
— “HD 16 fundraising race getting tighter by the month” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics
— “Lee County incumbents raise thousands in January” via Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster of Florida Politics
