Peter Schorsch
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A coalition of progressive groups wants to know: How “open to the public” is the Constitution Revision Commission going to be?
The coalition—including the League of Women Voters of Florida, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, Common Cause Florida and seven others—sent a letter to Chairman Carlos Beruff and other commissioners Monday.
Among other concerns, the letter cites commission rule 1.23 on open meetings and records: “All proceedings and records of the Commission shall be open to the public.”
“Will this rule be interpreted to mean that two Commissioners can meet privately to discuss Commission business?” the letter asks. That’s similar to the rule governing state lawmakers.
“Or does the more stringent Sunshine Law apply?” it then asks. That would prohibit any two or more commissioners from meeting privately.
“We urge you to clarify this rule so as to avoid confusion and suspicion among members of the public, members of the press and members of the Commission.”
Attorney Tim Cerio, who chairs the Commission’s Committee on Rules, said he hadn’t seen the missive when asked after a committee meeting Monday in the Capitol.
“I want to look at the letter, but I’ll tell you: 20 years ago, (commissioners) would talk outside noticed meetings,” he said. “That’s a fact … (and) 20 years ago, they did great work, they had great results. But they were not following full Sunshine (Law) 20 years ago.”
Evening Reads
“Senate race could be Trump test for Democrats” via Brendan Farrington of the Associated Press
“Leading Florida Republicans side with Trump in feud with NFL” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
“Shahid Khan, the Jaguars owner who stood with his team, has long espoused the American Dream” via Amy Wang of the Washington Post
“Brian Mast: NFL players who took a knee ‘should already be gone’” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
“Puerto Rico’s agriculture and farmers decimated by Maria” via Frances Robles and Luis Ferré-Sadurní of the New York Times
“State legislators launch Maria relief response team for Puerto Rico” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
“The Keys will officially reopen to tourists Sunday, nearly 3 weeks ahead of schedule” via Chabeli Herrera of the Miami Herald
“Floridians file nearly 17,000 flood insurance claims” via The Associated Press
“Fresh Florida lobster won’t be easy to find after Irma” via Carlos Frias of the Miami Herald
Quote of the Day
“I stand and cover my heart for the pledge and the anthem. I think it’s stupid to do otherwise. The U.S. Constitution protects the right for a lot of people to do a lot of stupid things.” — Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a Republican, opining Monday on the NFL’s ‘take a knee for the anthem’ controversy Sunday.
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Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early
The Constitution Revision Commission’s (CRC) Executive Committee meets at 8 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building in the Capitol, Tallahassee. On the agenda: “Presentation on the Governor’s Constitutional Authority by Peter Antonacci,” Gov. Rick Scott’s former general counsel and now CEO of Enterprise Florida.
Chris King, Winter Park businessman and Democratic candidate for Governor, will visit three universities for National Voter Registration Day:
— At 8 a.m., he’ll be at Florida State University, Union Room 315, 75 N. Woodward Ave., Tallahassee.
— At 1 p.m., he’ll be at University of Florida, 100 Fletcher Drive, Gainesville.
— At 6:30 p.m., he’ll be at University of North Florida, Building 58, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville.
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, a Democrat, will host South Florida business and community leaders in Washington to discuss issues affecting the region. That’s at 8:15 a.m., National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
The Florida Cabinet meeting, originally set for 9 a.m. at the Capitol in Tallahassee, was previously cancelled because of Hurricane Irma.
Gov. Rick Scott will make a major announcement regarding Florida’s fight against opioid abuse in two locations:
— 9:30 a.m., at the Bradenton Police Department, 100 10th Street West, Bradenton.
— 3 p.m., at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, 3228 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.
The CRC’s Bonding and Investments Committee is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol, Tallahassee.
The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting about moving to what is known as a “prospective payment” system for nursing homes in the Medicaid program. It’s at 1:30 p.m., at Agency for Health Care Administration headquarters, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.
The Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board is scheduled to hold a conference call at 2 p.m. The call-in number is 1-866-200-9760, and the participant code is 4288083#.
