Phil Ammann
Swing districts drawing more interest and more campaign cash
Like other states around the country, Florida will have precious few competitive districts in the 2018 midterm elections. The third quarter campaign finance reports paint an interesting picture of those swing districts, especially those targeted by the opposing party.
In the Senate, Bill Nelson could have a competitive race in his bid for a fourth term if Gov. Rick Scott, or a surprise candidate, gets in. As of now, Nelson is sitting on more than $5 million and no other announced candidate reported earning a penny.
Five House incumbents in districts targeted by the opposite party reported good fundraising quarters while accumulating significant war chests during the three-month period that ended September 30.
First-term Democrat Stephanie Murphy of Winter Park hauled in a little more than $300,000 and reported $700,000 cash on hand for her re-election effort in District 7. Republicans Mike Miller and Jonathan Sturgill raised about half as much, with Sturgill kicking in $100,000 of his own money.
Freshman Democrat Charlie Crist, who joins Murphy as a target of national Republicans, had a good quarter with contributions totaling $403,000, leaving $1.43 million cash on hand. Republicans have yet to find a candidate to take him on in District 13.
Freshman Republican Brian Mast, one of four targets of national Democrats, raised $421,000 and has $921,000 cash on hand for his re-election bid to District 18. Democratic challenger Lauren Baer, who announced on October 2, raised $251,000. Another Democrat, Pam Keith, raised $150,000.
Kendall Republican Carlos Curbelo led the delegation with $431,000 raised in the third quarter. He has $1.35 million cash on hand for his re-election bid to District 26. Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell reported $177,000.
Veteran Republican Mario Diaz-Balart of Miami reported nearly $200,000 and has $881,000 cash on hand. He does not have a credible contender at this point.
Democrats are also counting on flipping the open District 27 seat currently held by the retiring Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. The money says they have a shot.
David Richardson and Matthew Haggman each raised more than $500,000, more than any incumbent from either party. Half of Richardson’s total came from a personal loan to the campaign of $250,000. Mary Barzee-Flores hauled in more than $300,000, while Jose Javier Rodriguez, Ken Russell and Kristen Rosen Gonzalez each finished the month at or near the $200,000 mark in cash on hand.
Bruno Barreiro is the top Republican in the race, raising $42,000 with $187,000 cash on hand.
Miami Gardens Democrat Frederica Wilson, who should have no trouble earning re-election, raised only $34,000 for the quarter in District 24. Now that she has become a national celebrity with the public argument with President Donald Trump, look for donations to dramatically increase for the fourth quarter.
Ponte Vedra Republican Ron DeSantis from Florida’s 6th Congressional District raised only $42,000 for the quarter while Democrat Nancy Soderberg collected $336,000. While he still sits on a war chest of nearly $1.7 million, the quarterly total leads to questions whether he is running for re-election or something else.
Americans for Prosperity ad: Nelson “standing in the way”
Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a political advocacy group founding by brothers David Koch and Charles Koch, is upping attention on Florida’s senior Senator for this week’s congressional budget fight by launching an internet commercial declaring that he is standing in the way of a “simple, fair tax system.”
The conservative organization is including Nelson, through its Americans for Prosperity-Florida affiliate, as a target in a nationwide, multimillion-dollar advertising buy that targets a handful of U.S. Senators, including Republicans, who’ve shown some interest in tax reform but who appear unlikely to support the Republican budget plan that includes language making sweeping tax reform possible.
The new ad features a woman talking into the camera, saying, “People are sick of politics. I am too. But fixing our broken tax system isn’t about politics — it’s about helping people. It means the powerful, the well-connected, the politicians — they’ll stop benefiting from a rigged system. It means everyday Americans will have more to spend on what’s important to them. That’s what tax reform will do. So, what’s stopping us?”
The answer comes next, with a picture of Nelson, and the statement, “Senator Nelson is standing in the way of a simple, fair tax system.”
“Nelson has hinted at being willing to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to reform the tax code to make it more fair and efficient,” AFP-FL State Director Chris Hudson stated in a news release issued by his organization. “This is a once in a generation opportunity that deserves his full endorsement immediately. It’s time for him to help pass tax reform and not obstruct the process any further. Our activists are ready to make sure that Senator Nelson does not get in the way.”
On Tuesday AFP, released a letter sent to Nelson and the other senators urging them to vote yes on the Republican proposal. Other targeted senators include Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin, Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill, and Arizona Republican John McCain.
Rubio to Venezuela’s Maduro: Thanks, but no thanks
Florida’s junior Senator received an offer he could refuse from Venezuelan President Nicolàs Maduro. Maduro invited Rubio to come to Venezuela where “we can walk the streets together.”
Why would Maduro want to make nice with Rubio, who is credited with helping persuade President Donald Trump to heavily sanction the oil-rich country and gained a White House invite for prominent Venezuelan dissident Lillian Tintori? Many will remember an August report of a prominent socialist party leader and associate of Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, placing Rubio on a hit list for assassination.
Rubio sent an RSVP via Twitter.
“Look forward to the day I can visit a democratic #Venezuela instead of one governed by dictator @nicolasmaduro or drug lord @dcabellor,” he tweeted.
At Nelson’s urging, Senate committee to investigate nursing home tragedy
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee announced today that it is honoring a request received from the Florida Democrat to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 14 residents at The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills nursing home in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
The investigation comes following Nelson’s September 29 request to look into the state’s certification of the facility. Florida is also investigating, and has revoked the home’s license. The owners of the home are suing the state over that revocation.
The Finance Committee, of which Nelson is a senior member, has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid, which play major roles in nursing home operations. On Wednesday, Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, and Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, notified the state of the inquiry and a request for pertinent information.
“We are writing to request information from Florida about its preparations for and responses to Hurricane Irma as it relates to nursing homes and other similar facilities,” the senators wrote in a letter to Florida’s Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Justin Senior. “The Senate Committee on Finance has jurisdiction over both the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs. As part of our oversight responsibilities, we want to ensure the safety of residents and patients in nursing homes and other similar facilities during natural and man-made disasters.”
Despite receiving state certification, the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills did not have an alternate source of energy powering its air conditioning unit and, as a result, was unable to maintain temperatures after the facility lost power in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which led to the deaths of 14 seniors who were at that facility during the storm.
Yoho: Both Richard Spencer and Antifa ‘morally repugnant’
The Gainesville Republican shared his thoughts and advice on the day before white nationalist Richard Spencer was to roll into Yoho’s district and offer his “views” at the University of Florida. With Alachua County under a state of emergency, he recommended his constituents to stay away from the event.
Yoho said in an email that Spencer’s followers offered the potential for violence, but those protesting Spencer’s platform were just as capable of inciting violence. The anti-fascist, Marxist group Antifa, known for violence of their own, should be kept under control as well, he said.
“Let’s hope these groups take responsibility for their members and that there is no violent behavior,” Yoho said. “However, if people do engage in violence, I will press state and federal prosecutors to bring charges against malefactors to the fullest extent permitted by law.”
Yoho said he would steer clear of the event and while mentioning the first amendment rights of both sides, he indicated there was no right for them to be heard.
“As for me, I refuse to be anywhere near this event because Richard Spencer and Antifa’s viewpoints are both morally repugnant,” he said. “I choose not to offer either one of them an audience. Please join me.”
Most of them did. While Spencer was mostly drowned out by hecklers during his 90-minute appearance, the day was free of the feared violence between clashing protesters.
Rutherford proposes bill to help veterans transition into workplace
A proposed bill sponsored by the Jacksonville Republican and co-sponsored by Democrat Al Lawson from Tallahassee, would provide “transition assistance” for military veterans. If enacted, the Department of Veterans Affairs will be able to assist those veterans.
Rutherford announced the Veterans Armed for Success Act at a news conference Tuesday at Operation New Uniform in Jacksonville. The organization trains veterans and their families to develop skills needed for successful careers after military service.
“Our military veterans have a proven record of being reliable, dedicated and hardworking, and their varied experience translates well into many careers,” Rutherford said. “We need to do more to help these veterans succeed when they transition into civilian life.”
Operation New Uniform would fall under the umbrella of organizations eligible for a grant under the proposed bill. It calls for the authorization of $5 million to fund the grants.
“I am proud to work beside my friend and colleague Rep. Rutherford on an issue that extends beyond partisan politics and works to create a better quality of life for all American veterans,” Lawson said.
Citing another need for transition assistance, Rutherford offered the grim statistic that “22 veterans a day take their own lives.”
Wasserman Schultz demanding answers from governor on debris removal
The Democrat from Weston is again pressing Gov. Rick Scott on his decisions about debris removal in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
Wasserman Schultz says she was already perplexed about why the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) refused to submit to FEMA local requests for full reimbursement. The local communities were forced to pay higher rates when other debris removal companies refused to honor lower rate contracts entered into before the storm, she said.
Now, Wasserman Schultz writes in a letter to Scott, she is “dumbfounded” to hear reports of the Governor’s office entering into contracts for debris removal in Monroe County at costs far higher than those pre-storm negotiated rates.
“Communities throughout Florida deserve an explanation, they deserve to have their debris removed expeditiously, and they deserve assurance that they will not be taken advantage of by those seeking to gain windfalls from the suffering of others — windfalls that reportedly your administration is unnecessarily paying,” writes Wasserman Schultz, who represents Florida’s 26th Congressional District.
Co-signing the letter were five other Democrats in Florida’s congressional delegation: Tampa’s Kathy Castor, Alcee Hastings of Miramar, Frederica Wilson of Miami Gardens, and Val Demings and Darren Soto, both of Orlando.
It is the second time in the past week Wasserman Schultz questioned Scott about his handling of debris removal. Last Wednesday, the two got into a spirited exchange after the Broward/Miami-Dade-area congresswoman said Scott deserves some of the blame for the piles of debris remaining in front of homes throughout Florida.
At that meeting, Scott dismissed her complaints, saying that he was looking out for taxpayers by refusing to go along with paying much higher rates to companies that don’t live up to their agreements.
“I’m always going to stand on the side of taxpayers and consumers,” he told the delegation, “not on the side of somebody who wants to make extra money after a disaster.”
Rest of country learning more about Wilson
It is safe to say that there are more Americans who know the name of Florida’s Democratic Congresswoman from Miami Gardens than there were when the week began. After Wilson went after President Donald Trump for being “insensitive” during his call to a grieving Army widow, her picture was a regular feature for multiple hours of the news cycle.
After Trump said Wilson “totally fabricated” his remarks and Wilson shot back the he “is a sick man,” some in the national media began to focus on what most of us have known about Wilson for years.
“Who is Frederica Wilson, the cowboy-hat-wearing Florida Democrat fighting Trump?” blared a Newsweek headline. Florida political watchers well remember Wilson’s collection of hats worn while serving in the Florida House and Senate.
While she still wears them, they are not seen on the House floor. Wilson was told upon her swearing in that they are not permitted on the House floor.
Would she refer to them as cowboy hats?
Diaz-Balart welcomes Transportation Secretary to Miami
The Miami Republican welcomed Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao to South Florida this week. Diaz-Balart, who is the Chairman of the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, joined Chao in meetings with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and a group of local transportation and elected officials.
After a working lunch at Miami International Airport, they visited Florida International University and its Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (ABCUTC), along with the Wall of Wind.
The ABCUTC focuses on the improvement of bridge construction, while the Wall of Wind stimulates strong wind gusts to perform resilience testing for planned construction projects.
FIU President appointed to federal task force
Mark B. Rosenberg, President of Florida International University, was appointed to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion this week. Rosenberg will represent the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)
The task force was formed in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this summer to expand apprenticeships and vocational training, close the skills gap and reduce regulatory burdens on workforce development programs. It includes 20 representatives from companies, trade and industry groups, educational institutions, and labor unions across the country who have substantial workforce development experience in addressing the nation’s skills gap.
“Mark Rosenberg’s innovative leadership in higher education and career readiness makes him an excellent choice to help our country expand opportunities that will lead to prosperity for many in our country,” said APLU President Peter McPherson, who nominated Rosenberg for the task force position.
Chaired by Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, the task force will identify strategies and proposals to promote apprenticeships, especially in sectors where apprenticeship programs are currently insufficient. Before his February appointment by Trump as Labor secretary, Acosta was dean of FIU’s College of Law.
“I am honored to have been selected,” Rosenberg said. “I am eager to work collaboratively to find solutions that will help us rethink education and job preparation in the United States for our 21st-century workforce.”
Why Washington should finally make Puerto Rico a state
Cesar Conda and Alberto Martinez of POLITICO make the argument: Weeks after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, the island remains in crisis. Eighty-three percent of people in Puerto Rico don’t have power and thirty-five percent don’t have access to clean water. The death toll currently stands at 48 but is likely to keep rising in the coming weeks.
Washington has responded to this crisis with billions in immediate disaster assistance, helping the cash-strapped island afford its basic expenses after tax revenue has all but dried up. This financial commitment isn’t going to end anytime soon: Experts suggest the final cost could exceed $100 billion.
Given the staggering sums of money involved, the recent hurricanes have made clear more than ever that the United States has a direct stake in Puerto Rico’s success, ensuring that the island has a robust economy and can withstand future hurricanes or other emergencies. As long as Puerto Rico remains vulnerable, the U. S. — and American taxpayers — will ultimately be on the hook when the next storm inevitably strikes. An economically strong Puerto Rico is thus critical to the mainland United States.
But sustainable social and economic success hinges on something Washington has long denied the island territory: statehood. Admission to the union has long been given lip service by both political parties, but short-term political interests always delayed congressional action. As policymakers help Puerto Rico recover from Maria, they will examine ways to best use billions of federal dollars to fortify the island’s infrastructure and rebuild its economy. Statehood should be at the top of those discussions.
But as Maria unfortunately showed, statehood wouldn’t just benefit Puerto Rico. It would also benefit the mainland United States. For starters, Washington’s assistance will raise questions about the fiscal responsibility of spending billions of dollars for an island in the midst of a fiscal crisis. Puerto Rico’s substandard energy, transportation, communications, healthcare and other basic infrastructure systems make state-like recovery we see in Texas and Florida unattainable in the territory. In addition, the exodus of people from the island—900,000 people to the states over the last decade alone—could double, putting additional strain on the budgets and healthcare systems of Florida and other states.
Hurricane Maria presents Congress with a duty to choose, as it has 32 times before, whether an undemocratic dependency populated by U.S. citizens or a state with common rights and responsibilities will better strengthen our nation in the 21stcentury. The choice is clear.
In new book, former Congressman/FSU grad laments loss of political center
A lot of people on Capitol Hill talk about compromise and getting things done, but it rarely happens these days. Someone should write a book about it.
That is precisely what a Florida State graduate and former Congressman did. Jason Altmire, the former three-term Democratic Member of Congress from Western Pennsylvania, has written Dead Center, which chronicles the rise of extremism in both parties at the expense of the political middle.
“We have less and less centrists in the Congress and when you have less centrists, there is less compromise, less gets done and therefore the country, as a whole, loses because most people in America identify somewhere in the center,” Altmire told NBC’s Chuck Todd. “They want Congress to work together. They want them to compromise and get things done and they feel unrepresented in the current Congress because that is not what is happening.”
After earning his degree from FSU, Altmire served on the staff of former Florida Democratic Rep. Pete Peterson. He was elected to Congress in 2006 from Pennsylvania’s 4th District, but in 2012 was defeated in the Democratic primary by a hardliner who did not win the general election.
Most recently, Altmire worked for Florida Blue as an executive before leaving in August to complete his book.
