Last Call for 8.17.17 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics

glasses from whiskey on a wooden table

Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shots

ICYMI today: On Twitter and in a Medium blog post, Tallahassee PR man Kevin Cate (or “communications savant,” as we call him) took apart the case for keeping a Confederate memorial in front of the old Capitol.

The heretofore little-paid-attention-to stone monument was dedicated in 1882, and was moved to its current location near Monroe Street in 1923. It honors “the heroic patriotism of the men of Leon County who perished in the Civil War….”

But Cate starts off noting it “misspells and misplaces Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — and that may be its least egregious error. It’s full of fake Confederate history — the most common kind in Florida.”

He credits T.D. Allman’s Finding Florida as his source material.

Cate, for instance, challenges the Battle of Natural Bridge, which has its own memorial plaque near Tallahassee,  saying “Confederate archives … make it clear that on [the Confederate] side hardly anyone did any fighting at all, which explains the near-nonexistence of Confederate casualties.”

And he fact-checks the Battle of Olustee, fought in Baker County on February 20, 1864, and re-enacted yearly.

“Confederates had ‘overwhelming force’ and won, but instead of chasing down the Union troops, ‘no serious attempt [was] made to pursue’ because as one field officer put it, they were ‘too busy shooting n*****s, sir,’ ” Cate writes. Well then.

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In other news, Gov. Rick Scott’s office gave no clue late Thursday as to which way he was leaning on a list of names to fill openings on the state’s Public Service Commission. “We will review the list,” spokesman McKinley Lewis said.

Our story on the nominations is here.

But his office did release a statement on his lunch today with President Donald Trump in Bedminster, New Jersey, which was on his daily schedule.

Scott dined with Trump “following an invitation from the White House last week. Gov. Scott was solely there to promote Florida,” said the statement, issued by communications director John Tupps.

“They discussed a wide range of topics including the President’s commitment to partner with Florida on needed repairs to the federally-operated Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee,” he added. “Gov. Scott wants to do all he can to protect Florida’s environment and President Trump is very supportive to help. Additionally, they discussed the terror attack in Barcelona and the efforts President Trump is taking to keep America safe.”

So there’s that. And no word what was on the menu.

Quote of the Day

“A festering wound and every Wednesday they keep ripping the scab off.” —Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, on a vote to remove a Confederate monument in that city’s downtown.

Evening Reads

1. “Donald Trump, Rick Scott have lunch in New Jersey” via Mark Skoneki of the Orlando Sentinel

2. “Adam Putnam consultant behind ‘Liberal Jack Latvala’ website” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida

3. “Tom Lee gets closer to formally entering CFO race” via Joe Henderson of Florida Politics

4. “Dem lawmaker also wants special session on Confederate statue. (Rick Scott already rejected idea)” via Kristen Clark of the Miami Herald

5. “Florida prisons — all of them — on lockdown” via Julie Brown of the Miami Herald

6. “Hamilton Co. School Board to join the lawsuit against House Bill 7069” via Alexis Spoehr the Suwanee Democrat

7. “Cities face ‘all or nothing’ choices on medical marijuana” via Dara Kam of the News Service of Florida

8. “Hellfire from above: Tampa Electric knew the procedure was dangerous. It sent workers in anyway” via Neil Bedi, Jonathan Capriel, Anastasia Dawson and Kathleen McGrory of the Tampa Bay Times

Breakthrough Insights 

 Wake Up Early

Gubernatorial candidate Jack Latvala will make a couple more stops in Orlando tomorrow. At 9 a.m. the Clearwater Republican will speak to the Association of Florida Community Developers at the Marriott Orlando Airport, before taking a 30-minute drive across town to the Marriott World Center where the Florida League of Cities is holding its annual shindig. He’s expected to hit the stage at 11 a.m..

Latvala have to wrap it up quick, however, because he’s got a 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour with fundraisers and other top Senate Republicans at Ascent Lounge in New York City. Joining him for drinks are  Senate President Joe Negron, future Senate Presidents Bill Galvano and Wilton Simpson and Lizbeth Benacquisto, Rob Bradley and Anitere Flores.

Philip Levine, who has toyed with running for governor as either a Democrat or an independent, will also be on the move. The Miami Beach Mayor will spend his Friday afternoon about as far away from home as he can be without leaving the Sunshine State when he speaks to the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club in Pensacola at noon.

Tampa’s Tiger Bay Club will also host an event Friday, alongside the Florida League of Women Voters. The joint meeting will focus on voting rights restoration, and several speakers are on the docket. Democratic Rep. Sean Shaw will be the only lawmaker behind the mic, though Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, clemency attorney Reggie Garcia, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition CEO Desmond Meade and ACLU of Florida regional development director Joyce Hamilton Henry are also expected to speak.

With all the 2018 talk, it’s easy to forget about the guy still in office. Don’t feel too bad for Rick Scott, though, as the “jobs governor” is likely to toot his own horn after the Department of Economic Opportunity drops its July unemployment report tomorrow morning.

Pro-telemedicine expansion group The Telehealth Advisory Council will meet at 9 a.m. at Orlando Health; The Task Force on Involuntary Examination of Minors will talk about the use of the Baker Act on minors at 10 a.m. at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek; and AHCA will meet at its Tampa office at 1 p.m. to discuss changes to Medicaid waivers.