Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session
The Last 24
Good Tuesday evening. In this edition, we talk to Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith about medical marijuana (he’s for it) and dog racing (against). We also highlight a lobbying registration for a great cause. In other news:
Stormy weather: A House panel came up with 78 (!) recommendations on what to do before, during and after the next hurricane in Florida.
Irma expenses: State agencies spent $680.2 million after Hurricane Irma, with county government costs exceeding $1 billion.
No drilling: A Senate committee OK’d a resolution calling on Congress to keep a moratorium on oil exploration in the eastern part of the Gulf.
Home-sharing? Caring: Advocates say legislation to preempt local regulations will help owners of vacation rentals featured on sites like Airbnb and HomeAway.
Go away: The U.S. Supreme Court refused an appeal by a Central Florida circuit judge, who was disciplined by the state Supreme Court for a misleading ad during a 2014 election campaign.
Exempting cops: A House panel advanced a bill that would exempt law enforcement officers, whether in marked or unmarked vehicles, from paying tolls.
Venezuela crackdown: A Senate committee pushed forward a measure that requires the state to divest from companies that do any business with the Nicolas Maduro regime.
Dear Congress: A Senate committee in a 3-2 vote cleared a memorial urging Congress to preserve DACA.
Say cheese: The Senate Health Policy Committee advanced a proposal allowing the state to help pay dental school loans for dentists who practice in rural, underserved communities.
No sweeps: The Senate Community Affairs Committee drew praise from the Sadowski Coalition after clearing a bill that prevents sweeps of the State and Local Housing Trust Fund.
Oh, and it was a bad day for Jack and not the best day for Pat.
Quote of the Day
“I had nothing to do with any — ANY — of the resignations in Tallahassee. Quite frankly, I’m tired of the innuendo and the press making me out to be the boogeyman.” —former state Sen. Frank Artiles, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat, helped found and chairs the Florida Legislative Progressive Caucus. He talked about some of his and the caucus’ priorities for 2018.
FP: What are the top priorities in 2018 for the Progressive Caucus?
CGS: The top priorities for the Legislative Progressive Caucus during 2018 will be to broaden our membership to include the Florida Senate, to increase our policymaking influence on key issues AND to expand our visibility to social media platforms.
The LPC formed late during the 2017 Session, giving us little time to make a substantial impact. Our complete legislative agenda will be rolled out in the coming weeks and will include but not be limited to caucus positions on legislation addressing wage stagnation and income inequality, social and economic justice, and the dangerous privatization of our public schools.
FP: Will the Legislature have to revisit medical marijuana in 2018?
CGS: The legislature SHOULD revisit medical marijuana … but that doesn’t mean they will during the 2018 Session. The truth is that the state implementation of medical cannabis mandated by Florida voters has been such a train-wreck, it’s hard to say where we would even start fixing it.
The bureaucrat hired by Rick Scott to deliver ID cards to qualified patients missed critical statutory deadlines while terminal patients waited several months to access their medicine. The Legislature’s decision to revoke local control led to all-out bans on medical cannabis dispensaries in many cities and counties. For too many low-income patients, after expensive delivery fees were factored in, they simply could not afford medical cannabis as a result. Employees working under so-called “drug-free workplace” policies are still vulnerable to termination from their job even as qualified patients without protections from the Legislature. School districts were given no guidance on how to develop rules for K-12 students using medical cannabis during school hours.
All of these issues need legislative action and that’s without even mentioning the unconstitutional ban on whole flower and smokable product. Based on my conversations with Republican leadership, these issues will likely be ignored until the 2019 Session.
FP: Now that the court has found the state’s drug testing for greyhound racing dogs inadequate, what would you like to see happen?
CGS: What I would like to see happen is for the Legislature to finally come to its senses and realize that greyhound racing is a cruel and inhumane industry that must be shut down immediately. But since special interests protecting the industry donate heavily to both Democrats and Republicans, that’s not likely to happen.
In lieu of a statutory ban on greyhound racing, we must give the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering clear guidance on how to implement and enforce the state drug testing program. That starts with serious penalties for unlawful drug positives on cocaine as well as for anabolic steroids. These harmful race-fixing drugs must be strictly regulated to protect the animals as well as to protect the integrity of the industry. The dog-doping epidemic on Florida racetracks has reached a new the level of absurdity and must be dealt with during the 2018 Session.
Lobby Up
100 Black Men of Tallahassee will have a voice this Legislative Session.
Lobbyists Jasmyne Henderson and Sean Pittman, both of Tallahassee’s Pittman Law Group, registered to represent them before lawmakers this year.
The organization “helps to empower youth in our community to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their potential,” according to its website.
A mentoring program “uses adult volunteers to commit to supporting, guiding, and being a friend to a young person for a period of at least one year,” it says.
“By becoming part of the social network … who care about the youth, the mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.”
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
No surprise—the usual potpourri of committee meetings. Oh, and this stuff:
The State Board of Education is slated to consider a proposed rule for the new “Schools of Hope” program, expected to lead to the creation of charter schools near low-performing traditional public schools. That’s at 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.
The Florida Citrus Commission will meet in Polk County at 9 a.m., Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.
The Public Service Commission will hold a hearing about a plan by Florida Power & Light to build a new power plant in Broward County. The commission will decide whether to approve a “determination of need” for the plant. That starts at 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.
Rep. Joseph Geller of Aventura and Sen. Victor M. Torres, Jr. of Orlando, both Democrats, will hold a press conference to discuss their legislation requiring Florida to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. That’s at 12:45 p.m., outside the House Chamber, fourth floor, The Capitol.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King is slated to take part in a question-and-answer session. It starts at 8 p.m., Fadó Irish Pub, 900 South Miami Ave., Miami.
