Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session
The Last 24
Sen. Annette Taddeo of Miami and Rep. Lori Berman of Lantana said they will push for a legislatively-initiated state constitutional amendment approving Medicaid expansion in Florida.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources approved two priority environmental projects of full Appropriations Chair Rob Bradley.
A proposal to exempt fantasy sports from state gambling regulation cleared a Senate committee Thursday — but with one notable opponent.
A bill from Sen. Jeff Brandes, providing for a review of efficiency in government procurement, cleared a Senate panel with a unanimous ‘yes’ vote.
Brandes also saw a bill of his move to repeal restrictions on wine bottle sizes and tweak a state law that allows restaurant patrons to bring home opened but still-partly filled bottles of wine.
Quote of the Day
“I have no comment on the Latvala situation right now, but I would be very honored to be able to join the Senate as a member.” — Rep. Lori Berman, a Lantana Democrat running for state Senate, asked if Sen. Jack Latvala should resign amid a sexual harassment investigation.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
Sometimes, “3 Questions” writes itself. On Thursday, we listened in to a post-committee meeting exchange at the dais between intrepid reporter and sports fan Gary Fineout of The Associated Press, and state Sen. Dana Young, the Tampa Republican behind a bill to exempt fantasy sports from being regulated as gambling in Florida.
GF: How are fantasy sports games of skill?
DY: You have to know what these players are doing, you have to be able to understand who’s performing well.
GF: But what if you had (Green Bay Packers quarterback) Aaron Rodgers the day that he broke his collarbone … and was unable to complete the game? And so you lose as a result. Would that be considered an example of ‘skill’ or of ‘luck’?
DY: But Aaron Rodgers is not the only player on your team. These are fantasy teams. Have you ever played fantasy sports? Do you know how it works?
GF: Oh, I am intimately familiar with fantasy sports, which is why I can (ask) the question about Aaron Rodgers going down in the first quarter.
DY: OK (chuckling). So you’re pulling players from various teams and combining them … based on the performance of those individual players. So if you have Aaron Rodgers, but you’re particularly skillful at mixing the attributes of various athletes, then you might be able to overcome an injury (like that).
Lobby Up
Slater Bayliss, who works at The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners (TAG), has signed a quartet of clients in the last couple of months, records show.
In October, he registered to lobby for Plexos Group, “a full-service business consulting, program management and third party administration firm,” and Ygrene Energy Fund Florida, “a national leader in residential and commercial clean energy financing.”
In November, he took on Centennial Management Corp. of Miami Lakes, “a full-service real estate management company,” and InState Partners, a St. Louis-based national government relations consultancy.
Bayliss previously has worked for Gov. Jeb Bush, on the George W. Bush campaign, and for the Republican Governors Association.
He also serves as Florida Co-Chair of Maverick PAC, “a political committee that promotes next generation leaders and the principles of personal and fiscal responsibility in public service.”
TAG’s other pros include Al Cardenas, the former head of the state’s Republican Party, as well as Sarah Busk, Chris Chaney, Justin Day, and Stephen Shiver.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
The Florida Commission on Ethics will take up a series of issues, including a proposed settlement that calls for former state Rep. Doug Holder to pay $6,500 in fines because of inaccurate financial-disclosure reports. That’s at 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.
Former state Rep. Dwayne Taylor, a Daytona Beach Democrat, will be sentenced after being convicted on wire-fraud charges stemming from allegations that he improperly used campaign money. That’s at 9 a.m., U.S. Courthouse, 401 West Central Blvd., Orlando.
The Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association is scheduled to meet. That’s at 10 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando.
Orlando attorney John Morgan, who led an effort last year that broadly legalized medical marijuana in Florida, will speak to the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida. That’s at noon, Country Club of Orlando, 1601 Country Club Dr., Orlando.
The Education Estimating Conference will analyze issues related to student financial aid at 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.
