Peter Schorsch
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica.
A day away from electing their new state party leader, Democrats are tangled in a bit of in-house fighting.
First, some members are pushing for Sally Boynton Brown to be reinstated as president. They intend to do so by asking the new chair Saturday to rehire her nearly three weeks after she resigned.
Some members found the effort “insulting” to the “brave women” who have complained about her enabling the behavior of Stephen Bittel. Conduct, they say, included him systematically asking female staffers about their sex lives.
As that gets sorted out, Bruce Jacobs, who sued Bittel in January charging his path to the chairmanship was rigged, is expected to take the local party to court this morning to try and ensure it’s a “fair and aboveboard election.”
Jacobs filed an emergency injunction in Miami court motion because he said he fears Bittel, who has the largest share of votes in the state to elect his successor, will use them in favor of Palm Beach County Chair Terrie Rizzo rather than on what the majority of the membership wants.
While that happens, the Miami-Dade Democrats are expected to start voting electronically today. The results of what the majority wants are to be published early Saturday morning, according to Juan Cuba, the chairman of the local party.
Voting members will take their pick from an all-female cast in the race: Rizzo, Hillsborough County Democrat Alma Gonzalez and Stacey Patel, the chair of the Brevard Democratic Executive Committee. Monica Russo is officially out of the race, even though she was never really eligible to run under party rules.
Amid all the uncertainty in this race, one thing is for sure: come next week there will be a woman leading Democrats into one busy election year.
“Some FDP members find recent push to rehire Sally Boynton Brown ‘insulting’” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics – Some Florida Democratic Party members intend to ask the newly-elected chair to reinstate Boynton Brown as their president … “The fact a resolution of this nature is currently being considered proves the lack of commitment that some leaders in the Florida Democratic Party have for addressing sexual harassment and a hostile work environment that obviously exists within our Party,” James Deininger, of Duval County Democrat, wrote in an email to members. Deininger’s email was in response to a petition that began to circulate last week, garnering support for Boynton Brown to come back. In an email, Jim Gangitano, a Volusia County committeeman, told members that a “non-binding motion” would be made to ask the new party chair “to ask Sally to stay.”
“Democrats’ federal account out of cash as 2018 approaches” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics – At the beginning of the year, the Florida Democratic Party’s federal account had $383,439 in the bank, but as of late October, it is more than $18,490 in the red. Beyond that, the Party owes more than $18,000 in audio and visual services to Production Resource Group. Johanna Cervone, a FDP spokesperson, said the Party is “confident” in its economic status as a whole. One of the most prominent vendors in the federal account this year was Markham Productions. The FDP spent more than $550,000 in audio and visual services with that company. The Party also transferred $150,000 in federal money to the Ohio Democratic Party in return for cash that the FDP was able to us through its state account. The federal account started hemorrhaging money during the brief tenure of now ousted Stephen Bittel, a longtime, millionaire Democratic donor chosen under the promise of boosting the FDP’s fundraising efforts and finances.
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— CAPITOL INSIGHT —
“Republicans are leaving the Florida House. Is Richard Corcoran the reason why?” via William March of the Tampa Bay Times – This year, nine Republican members of the Florida House of Representatives eligible for re-election have either left the House or plan to run for another office. Several have cited conflicts with House Speaker Corcoran, objecting to what they call his dictatorial leadership style. Some say that relationship with Corcoran factored in their decisions to leave. Several of the departing legislators were among those who voted against top Corcoran priorities in the 2017 legislative session, including a bill to allow liquor sales in grocery stores and another to slash business recruiting and tourism promotions programs. “Corcoran’s leadership style is just oppressive. It’s as simple as that,” said former Rep. Dan Raulerson, who resigned from his seat in July in the middle of his third term.
“Property tax money could be key in education budget” via Lloyd Dunkelberger of the News Service of Florida — Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said funding could be “woefully short” next year if lawmakers do not raise property taxes. “Should property taxes increase as we expect they will, that allows us to be able to increase this budget to historic levels of state funding, total funding and per-student funding,” Stewart said. Gov. Scott wants to increase the overall K-12 budget by $770 million, which includes a $450 million increase in “required local effort” property taxes. As of last week, Stewart said districts had reported 8,960 students enrolling from Puerto Rico and 820 from the Virgin Islands. Overall, Florida has more than 2.8 million students in its 67 districts. Orange County had the most enrollments with 2,396 students from Puerto Rico and 321 from the Virgin Islands.
“House projects might get chilly reception” via Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida – Heading into the 2018 legislative session, Senate Appropriations Chair Rob Bradley says the House and Senate are not as far apart as casual observers, lobbyists and the media might believe. “We agree on so much more than we disagree on,” the Fleming Island Republican told reporters after an Appropriations Committee meeting that featured an overview of Gov. Scott‘s proposed $87.4 billion budget. “We’re all committed to having a fiscally conservative budget. We’re all committed to tax cuts. We’re all committed to the environment being pristine and education world class.” But that “we’re all” doesn’t apparently extend to a plethora of budget projects proposed by House members. In the House, unlike the Senate, members are required to file individual bills for their spending proposals. “I did notice that there is a high amount, the House members want to spend a lot on local member projects,” Bradley said. “I think we need to be very careful in this budget year to … be very judicious in these House requests for local projects, because they have requested a bunch.”
Senate indifferent to Rick Scott infrastructure budget ask – Scott is asking for an additional $85 million for infrastructure and workforce development fund created in the previous Session. But the Scott administration has not spent any of the original $85 million allotted, causing concern among senators over the additional request. “You expect us to grant this request before we have any information on the outcome from what you’re proposing,” Democratic state Sen. Perry Thurston asked Cissy Proctor, director of the Department of Economic Opportunity. Proctor is Scott’s top economic development official, and was speaking to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development to convince lawmakers to provide more money despite not spending any of the original fund. “The program was set up in special Session and we obviously have early Session”” this year, Proctor said. “So, we have had a short time between the Sessions. But we are working very hard to make sure we have strong proposals.”
“Fantasy sports bill moves after one high-profile ‘no’ vote” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — A proposal to exempt fantasy sports from state gambling regulation cleared a Senate committee Thursday — but with one notable opponent. “I don’t think the issues raised are clear,” said Sen. Dorothy Hukill, a Port Orange Republican and vice-chair of the Regulated Industries Committee, which handles gambling policy. Aside from Hukill’s ‘no’ vote, that committee otherwise moved the bill (SB 374) by Dana Young, a Tampa Republican, on an 8-1 vote. Similar measures (SB 840, HB 223) have been filed for the upcoming Legislative Session. In the online games, players pick teams of real-life athletes and vie for cash and other prizes based on how those athletes do in actual games. Asked to clarify her position after the meeting, Hukill said, “Is this a game of skill or not? I don’t think that’s clear, at least for now.”
“Forever Florida, St. Johns proposals get Senate backing” via Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida – Measures that would double Gov. Scott‘s spending request for the Florida Forever conservation program and earmark money to improve the St. Johns River continued to move easily through the Senate … the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously backed a proposal (SB 370) to designate $100 million a year for Florida Forever. Also, it approved a bill (SB 204) that would increase annual funding for springs projects from $50 million to $75 million and set aside $50 million a year for the restoration of the St. Johns River, its tributaries and the Keystone Heights lake region in North Florida. Both proposals are sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, who is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which will hear the bills next. Neither proposal has a companion bill in the House. Scott requested spending $50 million on Florida Forever as part of his proposed 2018-2019 budget released last month.
“Bill to review government efficiency sails through committee” via Danny McAuliffe of Florida Politics – Jeff Brandes’ SB 368 cleared the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government with a unanimous and undebated yes vote. Brandes’ bill — which is accompanied in the House by Wauchula Republican Rep. Ben Albritton’s similar HB 111 — would create a task force within the Department of Management Services for the “purpose of evaluating the effectiveness and value of state and local procurement laws and policies to the taxpayers in this state and determining where inconsistencies in such laws and policies exist.” The secretary of DMS, currently Erin Rock, would be given the option to appoint someone to chair the task force or chair it themselves. Gov. Scott would be given seven appointments. The Senate President and Speaker would be given two each, consisting of a member of their respective chambers and a lawyer proficient in procurement law.
“Annette Taddeo, Lori Berman press for Medicaid expansion by ballot” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — In what is likely a dead-on-arrival proposal, two South Florida lawmakers said they will push for a legislatively-initiated state constitutional amendment approving Medicaid expansion in Florida. Sen. Annette Taddeo of Miami and Rep. Lori Berman of Lantana, both Democrats, announced their resolutions at a Thursday news conference in the Capitol … “It is time for the Legislature to listen,” Taddeo said Thursday. The House’s Republican leadership, however, has been vehemently opposed to Medicaid expansion for years, virtually ensuring the measure won’t survive that chamber in the 2018 Legislative Session. That’s despite some polls showing support for such a ballot initiative at nearly 70 percent.
Tweet, tweet: @ChristineSexton: @AHCA_FL is @ Capitol touting its transparency efforts yet the agency makes reporters wait weeks — and months — for information. Where’s the transparency in that? … I have never seen an administration withhold information from the media and the public the way this one has. Makes my head spin to hear secretary heads tout “transparency” as if it’s something they actually believe in.
— L’AFFAIRE LATVALA —
“Most Senate Democrats silent in calling for Jack Latvala’s resignation” via Alexandra Glorioso and Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida – To date, only two of 15 Senate Democrats, Annette Taddeo and José Javier Rodríguez, have called outright for Latvala’s resignation. Taddeo said this week that he had created a “hostile environment” in his fight against the allegations first raised Nov. 3 when POLITICO reported that six women anonymously accused the Pinellas County lawmaker of sexual harassment. On Thursday, incoming Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson dodged questions about calling for Latvala to leave the Senate, responding “no comment” to questions from a POLITICO reporter. Earlier in the week, she said “Senator Latvala and/or Republican Leadership are the determinants on resignation matters.” Top Republicans have been more vocal and critical in condemning a very powerful member of their own party.
“Latvala’s star witness in sex-harassment case is a campaign supporter” via Alexandra Glorioso and Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida – A star witness for Latvala in his sexual harassment case is a political supporter who attended one of his gubernatorial campaign kickoff events in potential violation, his accuser’s attorney says, of Senate employment policy. Latvala denied that his supporter, Lillian Tysinger, was a campaign volunteer and said she didn’t break Senate rules that limit an employee from attending campaign functions because his Aug. 16 Panama City kickoff event occurred after regular work hours. Tysinger’s attorney also denied wrongdoing.
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— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
“Donald Trump expected to campaign in Pensacola days ahead of Alabama Senate election” via The Associated Press – Trump will appear at a campaign-style rally in Pensacola a move that brings the president less than 20 miles from the Alabama border just four days before a special election that will decide the fate of embattled Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore. The president will appear at a “Make America Great Again” rally at the Pensacola Bay Center … The city is roughly an hour’s drive from Mobile, Alabama, one of the state’s largest cities.
“Gwen Graham to ‘chummy’ politicians: ‘When I’m Governor, the party is over’” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — After saying that politicians in Tallahassee treat Session and committee weeks like it’s “spring break,” Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham said Thursday that if she becomes governor “the party is over.” The former congresswoman said that should start with Latvala, who is facing multiple sexual harassment allegations. She called on him to resign, again. If Latvala does not step down, Graham said, the Senate should expel him. Graham vowed to take steps to combat sexual harassment across all state agencies. Her plan includes appointing an independent investigator to oversee complaints about workplace harassment who could refer cases to the attorney general for full prosecution under the law.
“Chris King calls for sexual misconduct victims’ advocacy in ethics office” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics – In a video he launched on his campaign’s Facebook page, King declared it is time to end “the abuse of power against women in politics in Florida.” He did not name any names, but King decried the state of affairs that has resulted in several recent reports of sexual misconduct against public officials, and expressed awe of the courage of the women coming forward. King said his plan is intended to make it easier for women to come forward.
“Philip Levine tops $1 million in November for campaign and political committee” via Florida Politics – “In a big state like Florida, with over 20 million residents and 10 media markets, resources are a key benchmark for running a successful statewide campaign. In his first month as a declared candidate for Governor, Philip Levine has shown he will aggressively meet those benchmarks,” senior adviser Christian Ulvert said … Levine hadn’t uploaded his November finance report to the Florida Division of Elections, nor had his political committee, All About Florida, though the campaign said the two accounts “brought in over $1 million in November, with over $800,000 raised by the campaign and political committee.” The difference could be made up through checks from Levine himself, who through October had already dumped $2.8 million of his personal fortune into his committee account. November marks Levine’s second million-dollar month in a row, and he has now raised somewhere in the ballpark of $7 million for his gubernatorial bid.
Shot:
Chaser:
ABC of Florida endorses Matt Caldwell for Agriculture Commissioner – The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Florida, which stands for 2,500 Florida businesses and an estimated 50,000 employees statewide, is endorsing Caldwell … Mary Tappouni, Board Chair for ABC Florida said, “We are thrilled to announce that we are endorsing Matt Caldwell for Commissioner of Agriculture. Matt is a principled conservative who will fight to ensure that every Florida resident and business has the opportunity to succeed in the Sunshine State and grow our economy.”
Maggie’s List endorses Ashley Moody for Attorney General – Maggie’s List is a federal political action committee dedicated to electing conservative women to office. “Ashley Moody is a proven leader who brings so much to the State of Florida,” states Sandra B. Mortham, Chairman of Maggie’s List and former Florida Secretary of State. “Her service in Florida, coupled with her relentless leadership and desire to work on issues that directly impact citizens and businesses in the Sunshine State, make her the right choice. We know she is the right candidate to serve as Florida Attorney General because she respects the need for increased personal responsibility, fiscal conservatism, and fairly upholding law and order for the citizens of Florida.”
“Judge refuses to speed up special elections” via the News Service of Florida – Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson rejected arguments by the Florida Democratic Party that special elections in two legislative districts should be held more quickly so the seats don’t remain vacant through the upcoming legislative session. Dodson said the timing of the resignations of former Sen. Jeff Clemens in Senate District 31 and former Rep. Daisy Baez in House District 114 is “unfortunate.” But he said moving up special election dates set by Gov. Scott could lead to an argument that shorter windows for absentee voting would prevent people from casting ballots. “I wish I could do something,” Dodson said. “But there really isn’t time to do it.”
“Lori Berman adds 31 local endorsements for SD 31 campaign” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics – Democratic Rep. Lori Berman announced 31 endorsements for Senate District 31 special election bid Thursday, all of whom are current or former elected officials within the boundaries of the Palm Beach County district… The list backing the Lantana lawmaker included 10 county level officials, including Mayor Melissa McKinlay, and another 21 city officials … “As a member of the Senate, I will work hand in hand with our local leaders so that Palm Beach County is a place where our kids can raise a family with exceptional public schools, good paying jobs, access to quality healthcare, and a pristine local environment.” Berman faces Arthur Morrison in a Jan. 30 special primary for the seat, and the winner will move on to an April 10special general election against Republican Tami Donnally.
“David Smith nabs three city endorsements in HD 28 race” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics – Oviedo City Commissioner and Deputy Vice-Mayor Steve Henken, Oviedo Commissioner Bob Pollack, and Winter Springs Commissioner Geoff Kendrick all threw their support behind Smith. Smith, a business consultant and retired U.S. Marines Corps colonel from Winter Springs, faces Democratic businessman Lee Mangold of Casselberry in the contest to succeed state Rep. Jason Brodeur, who is not seeking re-election.
“Jerry Demings raises $109K in Orange County mayor’s race” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics – Demings’ November campaign finance reports are only for his official campaign fund. He also has an independent political committee, United for Orange County, which has not yet reported its November activity. The November haul in his campaign fund brings its total to $305,603 in contributions. With expenses, Demings’ campaign had $277,130 left Dec. 1.
“Ex-state attorney Jeff Ashton to run for circuit judge” via Stephen Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel – Ashton, who lost his position as Orange Osceola state attorney last year to Aramis Ayala, filed to run for a seat as a judge on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in 2018. He is one of two candidates who have filed to run for the open seat along with attorney David Hamilton Harris. Marc Lubet, the judge serving in the seat, is retiring at the end of his six-year term. Ashton was elected state attorney in 2012 after defeating his former boss and fellow Democrat, Lawson Lamar, in an open primary after making his name as the prosecutor in the 2011 Casey Anthony murder trial.
— STATEWIDE —
Carol Marbin Miller gets results: “Amid reports of rapes, beatings, cover-ups, grand jury to probe juvenile justice abuses” via the Miami Herald – Disturbed by stories about the rape of teens by supervisory staff, a pandemic of sometimes savage force, brutal beatdowns ordered by youth care workers and policies that permit the hiring of violent offenders, Miami-Dade’s state attorney wants to know more about what is going on in the Florida juvenile justice system. She is asking a grand jury to investigate. State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle’s resolve comes two months after the Miami Herald published a six-part series, called Fight Club, which documented abuses within Department of Juvenile Justice detention centers and residential programs. The grand jury inquiry will be the third such investigation since 2003, when the preventable death of a Miami detainee from a burst appendix convulsed DJJ, ending the career of the agency’s top administrator, as well as another two dozen employees.
“Puerto Rican population growth reshapes Central Florida” via Mary Shanklin and Adelaide Chen of the Orlando Sentinel – Orange and Osceola counties led the United States with the largest increases in numbers of new residents from Puerto Rico, according to the latest 2016 census data compared with 2010. Hillsborough County ranked third. The Orlando area’s percentage of Puerto Rican residents grew from 12 percent of the region’s residents in 2010 to 14 percent by the end of last year. For years, the Puerto Rican economy has been struggling, but at least one former resident of the island said that is only part of the reason for Central Florida’s latest population shift. “They came here because of the education system here. They say, ‘I am here because these public schools are like the private schools in Puerto Rico,’” said Orlando real estate consultant Jose Hoyos, a former trustee for Valencia College. “They don’t mind working here for $10 an hour because their children are getting a good education.” Now Central Florida has enough Puerto Rican influence that businesses are opening to appeal to that population, and those newcomers are beginning to influence politics, he added.
“All Aboard Florida receives $2B of bids for tax-free bonds, Wall Street Journal reports” via Lisa Broadt of TCPalm – All Aboard Florida last week appeared to have raised the $600 million it sought to finance part of its passenger railroad, the Wall Street Journal reported … The company received $2 billion in bids for the $600 million in private-activity bonds it was selling, leading to prices “a little better than we thought,” Wes Edens, chairman of Fortress Investment Group, All Aboard Florida’s parent company, told the Journal. Brightline has said it plans to begin limited passenger service between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach this month, with service between West Palm and Miami beginning early next year. Full service through the Treasure Coast, which largely has opposed the project, and on to Orlando International Airport is still several years away, according to Brightline.
“Uber paid 20-year-old Florida man to keep data breach secret” via Joseph Menn and Dustin Volz of Reuters – A 20-year-old Florida man was responsible for the large data breach at Uber last year and was paid by Uber to destroy the data through a so-called “bug bounty” program normally used to identify small code vulnerabilities … Uber made the payment last year through a program designed to reward security researchers who report flaws in a company’s software, these people said. Uber’s bug bounty service – as such a program is known in the industry – is hosted by a company called HackerOne, which offers its platform to a number of tech companies. It remains unclear who made the final decision to authorize the payment to the hacker and to keep the breach secret, though the sources said then-CEO Travis Kalanick was aware of the breach and bug bounty payment in November of last year.
— FOR YOUR RADAR —
Report says loss of health care mandate would hit South, Central Florida hard
If Obamacare’s individual mandate is repealed, three Republican South Florida congressional districts could see a major uptick in uninsured citizens.
A report from left-leaning Center for American Progress calculated the prospects of people dropping insurance across the country should the mandate be repealed, a stipulation in the U.S. Senate’s version of the GOP tax plan but not the House’s.
Districts of Republican Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Carlos Curbelo would be among the top seven in the country in uninsured numbers, according to the report, which used CBO data.
— Districts of Democratic U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Val Demings, Alcee Hastings, Darren Soto, Ted Deutch and Frederica Wilson would not be far behind.
—Florida could see 873,000 people — third largest in the country — drop health care coverage by 2025. Eighteen of Florida’s 27 congressional districts would exceed the national average.
— The CBO projected 5 million of those people dropping health care coverage would be dropping from Medicaid, another 5 million from the individuals’ market and about 3 million from employer-sponsored health insurance.
— Rep. Demings: “After much debate, the facts are in: the president’s tax bill will raise your health care costs, putting your right to manage your own health further out of reach. Without a second thought, donors came first.”
— Rep. Soto: “Florida’s hardworking families should be troubled by the current GOP Tax bill.”
— Reps. Diaz-Balart, Ros-Lehtinen and Curbelo did not respond Thursday for comment.
— D.C. MATTERS —
“Will Marco Rubio go to the mat this time?” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times – Rubio is laying down another marker. As the tax package goes to conference, he’s called on colleagues to improve the child tax credit, again positioning himself as a champion of the little guy. “I remain surprised that there is not more consensus to support the reality that we do need to do more to help working people in the this country and the child tax credit is one of the best tools to do it,” the Florida Republican said Wednesday on the Senate floor. “And I sure hope that what comes back from that conference committee is as good or better than what we’ve put out from the Senate because if it’s worse, there’s going to be problems I imagine.” Does that mean he would oppose the final version of the bill? Rubio isn’t saying.
— MOVEMENTS —
FWC commissioners elect new chairman, vice chair — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Thursday elected Bo Rivard, of Panama City, to serve as its chairman, effective immediately. He replaces Chairman Brian Yablonski of Tallahassee. The term is one year. Rivard, who has served on the Commission since March 2013, is a partner with Harrison, Rivard, Duncan & Buzzett in Panama City. Robert Spottswood of Key West was elected vice chair. Spottswood, who has served on the Commission since 2015, is chief executive officer of Spottswood Companies. He takes over for Aliese P. “Liesa” Priddy of Immokalee.
“Personnel note: Eric Sutton tapped as new FWC director” via Florida Politics — Eric Sutton, assistant executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), will move up to executive director of the agency, effective Friday. The commission announced the move Thursday. Nick Wiley, the current executive director, retires later this month. In a news release, commissioners touted Sutton’s extensive experience with challenging conservation issues and his positive relationships with fellow FWC staff. “We have received many accolades for the agency under the leadership of Chairman Brian Yablonski and Executive Director Wiley,” Commissioner Bo Rivard said. “They have been at the tip of the spear, but it’s the whole family who supports the conservation efforts.” Sutton has been the assistant executive director since May 2013.
New and renewed lobbying registrations:
James Daughton, Stephen Metz, Andy Palmer, William Schuessler, Metz Husband & Daughton: Florida Energy Freedom
Mike Haridopolos, Dean Mead: First Choice Healthcare Solutions, Health First
Tracy Mayernick, Frank Mayernick, Robert Johnson, The Mayernick Group: GTI Florida
Iraida Mendez-Cartaya: Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Timothy Parson, Liberty Partners of Tallahassee: Dayspring Village
— WEEKEND TV —
Black Almanac with Dr. Ed James on WWSB, ABC 7 in Sarasota: “What’s next in the Russian Investigation after Mike Flynn’s guilty plea” with political analyst Dr. Lawrence A. Miller.
Facing South Florida with Jim DeFede on CBS 4 in Miami: The Sunday show provides viewers with an in-depth look at politics in South Florida, along with other issues that affect the area’s citizens.
Florida This Week on Tampa Bay’s WEDU: A panel of journalists, academics, local officials and political insiders discuss local stories and issues.
In Focus with Allison Walker-Torres on Bay News 9: Part 2 in a discussion of Florida’s legislative process, lawmaking and the legislative hierarchy at the state-level in Tallahassee with Orlando Democratic Rep. Amy Mercado and former Senate President Andy Gardiner, an Orlando Republican.
Political Connections on CF 13 in Orlando and Bay News 9 in Tampa/St. Pete: Orange County Commissioner Pete Clarke talks about his campaign for Orange County Mayor; the latest on the death penalty debate between Gov. Scott and State Attorney Aramis Ayala; PolitiFact’s Truth-O-Meter rates The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s claim that under Scott’s leadership, Florida has had much success in lowering the rate of uninsured children.
The Usual Suspects on WCTV-Tallahassee/Thomasville (CBS) and WJHG-Panama City (NBC): Host Gary Yordon speaks with Dr. Ed Moore.
This Week in Jacksonville with Kent Justice on Channel 4 WJXT: This week’s guests: St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman; Jason Harrah, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Rick Mullaney, director of the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute.
This Week in South Florida on WPLG-Local10 News (ABC): Co-hosts Michael Putney and Glenna Milberg will speak with U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, and a roundtable of the week’s news.
— ALOE —
“Former Burrito Bros. site to become Florida’s first Taco Bell cantina” via the Tampa Bay Times – The space on Gainesville’s University Avenue that for decades housed the beloved, late-night University of Florida munchies hangout Burrito Bros. will soon become Florida’s first cantina-style Taco Bell … The cantina-style Taco Bell concept made a splash when the company announced it in September. The cantina restaurants eschew the typical Taco Bell drive-thru format for an open layout with digital menus, better music and fancier decor, plus beer, sangria and frozen liquor drinks. Gainesville’s cantina-style Taco Bell is reportedly set to open in January 2018, though it may not be serving alcohol right away.
“Goal met: Every Miami Dolphins player has registered to vote” via The Associated Press – The Dolphins met their goal of 100 percent registration set in June with the help of Martin Luther King III and Bill Wachtel, co-founder of the Drum Major Institute, a community action group founded during the Civil Rights movement. “This is very positive,” King said. “If athletes and NFL players are engaged, there are more people that will want to be engaged, because they see them as role models.” Wachtel said he’s not aware of any other team with 100 percent registration, but the signup effort is expanding to other teams in the NFL, NBA and other leagues. The effort is being supported by the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, an alliance created by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to improve race relations.
“Flake out: light snow could fall in some Gulf states Friday” via The Associated Press – National Weather Service meteorologists say rain might get cold and heavy enough to become snow before dawn in a band beginning west of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Snow mixed with rain is predicted across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and into western South Carolina. No snow is expected in New Orleans or coastal areas south of Interstate 10. Some roads and overpasses could see spotty icing, but warm ground temperatures probably mean snow accumulating only on grass. Somewhat heavier snow is predicted in a few north Georgia areas. Some areas of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle could see a second snow chance Friday night.
Happy birthday to Allison Ager, our friend Mike Deeson, and MSNBC’s Joy-Ann Reid.
