Peter Schorsch
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Ana Ceballos, Daniel McAuliffe, and Jim Rosica.
The Capitol Press Corps’ ranks are waning, and so is their ability (and, it seems, interest) in putting on a Press Skits each year.
As Gary Fineout tweeted Monday, “A Tallahassee tradition that could (be) making its final curtain call …”
The rest of the day was a walk down Memory Lane as Press Corps president Troy Kinsey and others posted the Skits’ Greatest Hits, mostly videos from yesteryear as submitted by former Govs. Bob Martinez, Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist.
The “sometimes annual” Capitol Press Corps Skits, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., are (hopefully) a good-natured spoof of Florida government and politics, staged in the first half of each Legislative Session by state government reporters.
Proceeds from the show go to the Barbara L. Frye scholarship fund, named for the legendary United Press International bureau chief, who covered Tallahassee for 38 years.
The Skits are described as “sometimes annual” because the Corps suspended the shows a few times, either for lack of humorous goings-on or some ethical qualms about hitting up members and lobbyists for the ticket price.
Now, frankly, the Corps has taken a talent hit by the departures of Tia Mitchell, Michael Auslen, Brandon Larrabee, Jessica Bakeman and others. (Rappin’ Matt Galka, you too are missed.)
As we wrote late last year, there’s another “obstacle facing the Skits: the mood in Tallahassee. The scandals engulfing the capital city — FBI probes, sexual harassment — don’t exactly make for comedy gold.”
Oh well, send in the clowns. Wait, they’re already here. And just maybe next year — but probably not.
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
— @DCExaminer: Governor: I couldn’t tell Hawaiians missile alert was a false alarm because I didn’t know my Twitter password
— @MViser: Democrats have managed to accede to Republican demands, demoralize their energized base, give a disengaged president a win, and look like they held a meaningless three-day government shutdown — all at once.
— @PaulKrugman: I yield to nobody in my desire to see Dems stand up to Trump. But I really, really don’t understand the notion that they somehow just caved in. They took CHIP off the table; they got an agreement to hold a vote on DACA, and failing to honor that agreement will be bad for Rs
— @DavidJollyFL: Schumer lost the weekend battle. But pollsters might say he set the perfect trap. The longer Trump’s GOP shows it can’t solve DACA, allows Sessions, Kelly & Miller at the mic, & baits right wing media racial absurdities, the closer an energized progressive base gets to Nov ’18.
— @Timodc: This shutdown was kind of a return to DC normalcy. We got back to being pointlessly gridlocked but in a boring familiar way, rather than an “I hope we don’t get nuked over a tweet” way.
— @FLGovScott: I hope the Senators who voted to shut down the federal government return their pay. Every day hardworking people go to work — they expect Congress to do the same.
— @FLGovScott: I’m proud to proclaim this week as Florida First Responder Appreciation Week. Our first responders dedicate their lives to protecting and serving Florida families. We’re proud to honor them this week and every day
— @NateMonroeTU: Not much of a shock: Appeals court denies ex-U. S. Rep. Corrine Brown’s long-shot bid to stay out of prison on bond pending appeal. She reports to the Bureau of Prisons Jan. 31.
— @Mahoneysthename: You will laugh at the Press Skits this year, whether it’s at our jokes or our clumsy dance moves
— @RDBDbenefit: The results are in: Team Red wins by $169.50! In total, #RedDogBlueDog raised $7,020! Thank you to our bartenders & everyone who came out to support us!
— @IvankaTrump: Many of America’s greatest leaders attribute their lifetime achievements to lessons learned from playing sports. Kids that participate in sports have up to 40% higher test scores, are 15% more likely to go to college and have up to 8% higher annual earnings.
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— DAYS UNTIL —
Days until: Super Bowl LII — 12; Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — 16; Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training — 21; Valentine’s Day — 22; Disney Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival — 37; Sine Die (maybe) — 45; Major League Baseball Opening Day — 65; Solo: A Star Wars Story premier — 120; Close of candidate qualifying for statewide office — 150; Primary Election Day — 217; General Election Day — 287.
— TOP STORY —
“Democrats get rolled in shutdown standoff” via Rachael Bade and Seung Min Kim of POLITICO — Democrats lost the shutdown war. That much was obvious when they voted to reopen the government with little to show for it. They had vowed for weeks not to back any funding bill without a bipartisan agreement to protect so-called Dreamers. But as Washington entered Day Three of a government shutdown, Democrats folded, voting to reopen the government barely any closer to their goal. Republicans declared victory. “We gave them nothing,” said House Republican Study Committee Chair Mark Walker. “We’ve been able to get our message out as Republicans as a whole and be consistent and be united on this front.”
“Bill Nelson votes to reopen the federal government without an immigration deal” via Alex Daugherty of the Miami Herald — Some Democrats weren’t happy, arguing that moderates like Nelson surrendered to Republicans and reopened the government without a deal to protect nearly 800,000 undocumented young immigrants known as Dreamers from deportation. After negotiating a deal to reopen the federal government for three weeks, Nelson was unable to contain a wide smile while explaining that a deal he helped broker was the best possible compromise to get federal employees back to work while getting Republicans to commit to a vote on the status of DREAMers. “Before this agreement, they (DREAMers) had no assurance for protection, and we were not getting any help from the White House, we weren’t getting any help from the House, and we really weren’t getting any help from the Republican leadership in the Senate. But now we have a path forward in which we can work a bipartisan solution that will take care of the Dreamers,” Nelson said. “I think the American people are going to be cheering that this occurred.”
“Carlos Curbelo says Senate deal to reopen government has enough assurances for DREAMers” via Alex Daugherty of the Miami Herald — The Miami Republican was the only House Republican running for re-election in 2018 to vote against a short-term spending bill to keep the government open over concerns that it did not contain a solution for nearly 800,000 undocumented young immigrants known as Dreamers who could face deportation in March in Congress doesn’t act. But Curbelo is now on board after Senate moderates from both parties agreed to reopen the government, at least until Feb. 8, if Republicans hold a debate and vote on a DREAMer solution. “Today’s statement by the Majority Leader (Mitch McConnell) was significant because Leadership has made a very public commitment the process will move forward in the coming weeks,” Curbelo spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said. “That said, if Feb. 8 comes around and that commitment has not been upheld, the congressman is prepared to reconsider his support.”
— CAPITOL INSIGHT —
“Anitere Flores-Oscar Braynon affair calls for an investigation, says letter to Lizbeth Benacquisto” via Nancy Smith of the Sunshine State News — Tad J. Humphreys, 61, wrote to Benacquisto Jan. 11 asking two questions he believes the Flores-Braynon affair raises: How it affects “the advancement or conversely, the lack of progress, of good public policy;” and whether the senators violated Florida’s sunshine laws. Humphreys emphasized in his letter to Benacquisto, “In some instances (Senate Minority Leader Braynon and President Pro Tempore Flores) serve on the same committee. With that framework, it begs the question of how their relationship had a bearing on the outcome of legislation. … Please consider this as a request that the Rules Committee staff look at the correlation between the Senate Democratic Caucus documentation during the time of the Flores-Braynon affair and determine which bills were either not put on an agenda or did not pass the committees Senator Flores served or they both serve together.”
Tweet, tweet:
Um, Florida’s Sunshine law re meetings doesn’t apply to #FLLeg. Instead you go by what’s in the state constitution. And it takes “more than” 2 members holding a prearranged gathering to trigger the provision.
— Gary Fineout (@fineout) January 22, 2018
“Senate committee passes ‘Hope Scholarship’ bill for victims of bullying” via Allison Nielsen of the Sunshine State News — SB 1172, sponsored by Sen. Bill Galvano, would establish a scholarship for students in grades K-12 who are victims of bullying in Florida. Dubbed the “Hope Scholarship,” the new program would give funding to Florida students reporting incidents of violence, allowing them to transfer to public or private schools. The scholarship derives its name from the controversial, $140 million “Schools of Hope” legislation which passed last summer and allowed for the expansion of charter schools in Florida. Students who report bullying, hazing, battery or other forms of harassment would qualify for the scholarship, which would allow them to transfer to a different public or private school following their complaint.
“House budget to take shape in next two weeks” via the News Service of Florida — The House Appropriations Committee is expected to sign off next week on a proposed 2018-2019 budget, with the spending plan going to the full House the following week, Appropriations Chair Carlos Trujillo said. Subcommittees will discuss their portions of the budget this week, with a proposed spending plan released Friday. The Appropriations Committee then will take up the proposal Jan. 31, with the full House considering it the following week. A vote by the full House will set the stage for negotiations with the Senate later in the legislative session, which is scheduled to end March 9.
“House eyes potential tax cuts” via the News Service of Florida — A further reduction in a business-lease taxes, lifting sales taxes on diapers and aircraft and holding sales-tax “holidays” were among proposals that a key House committee heard Monday as lawmakers start to put together a tax-cut package for the coming year. The measures presented to the House Ways & Means Committee had already been submitted as individual bills and, if all were approved, would well exceed the $180 million in tax and fee cuts requested by Gov. Scott. Ways & Means Chairman Paul Renner … was quick to say not all of the proposals would advance. He also said other measures — such as Scott’s proposal to decrease fees on motorists — may not need much vetting. Scott’s proposed tax and fee cuts are the smallest package he has proposed as governor. … he’s not been given a tax-cut target by Speaker Corcoran or started talks with his Senate counterpart Kelli Stargel … The state was expected to have a modest budget surplus during the upcoming fiscal year, but costs related to Hurricane Irma have made the budget even tighter.
“Opioid bill advances in House despite doctors’ worries” via Gray Rohrer of the Orlando Sentinel — A bill designed to stem the epidemic of opioid abuse and overdoses was approved by a House committee, despite objections from some doctors that a provision limiting the length of some prescriptions is impractical. The bill, HB 21, would require more reporting to the state opioid prescription database and provides funding to expand the database to work with other states so physicians can prevent doctor shopping across state lines. It also increases reporting requirements for pain management clinics to state health agencies. But the bill’s language to limit prescriptions of Schedule II drugs, such as oxycodone, to three days or less has raised the most concerns among some doctors. There is an exemption in the bill that allows physicians to issue a seven-day prescription if they deem it “medically necessary,” but for Dr. Hank Hutchinson, that’s not good enough, especially for patients dealing with chronic pain issues or traveling from out of town to see specialists.
“Bills that would create state trafficking hotline have yet to gain momentum” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — Lawmakers want to put an end to “modern-day slavery” by creating a Florida human trafficking hotline under two identical proposals that have yet to gain momentum in the state Legislature. Those advocating for the measures, HB 159 and SB 596, urged lawmakers on Monday to back the proposals and give them hearings in their committee assignments. The bills would require Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office to create and operate a toll-free hotline, which would be subject to funding approval. Bondi has pledged to put a stop to human trafficking in Florida in the past by saying the state is taking a “zero-tolerance” stance on the crime.
“Senate committee OKs repeal of ‘archaic’ chastity defamation law” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — A 135-year-old law that makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to defame a woman for being unchaste would be repealed under a bill that cleared its first of three Senate committee stops Monday. The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Daphne Campbell, would also repeal a provision that makes it a crime to make derogatory statements about a bank, building or loan association. Sen. Rob Bradley, the chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee that advanced the bill, said the state should clear “these archaic and silly crimes” from state statute. An identical bill in the House filed by state Rep. Al Jacquet has yet to gain momentum in the chamber.
“Greg Steube, Heather Fitzenhagen push bills to help franchise owners” via Florida Politics — SB 1076 and HB 1219, also known as the “Small Business Parity Act,” would protect such business owners from having their franchise yanked away without good cause, such as the franchise owner being convicted of a felony or the bulk of the franchise’s assets being signed over to a creditor. Additionally, the bills shield franchisees from limits on selling their business or passing their franchise on to an heir and would give franchise owners the right to pursue legal disputes against their franchisors in Florida court and under Florida law and also states. If passed and signed into law, the proposals wouldn’t alter franchise deals currently in place, but would apply to all new franchises and upon the renewal of existing franchises. The measure has the backing of The Coalition of Franchisee Associations, or CFA, a trade group for franchisees.
“Death spurs lawmakers to look at airboat operators” via Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida — Commercial airboat operators would have to complete a state-approved course before taking on passengers under a measure — named for a 22-year-old woman killed last year — that started moving through the Senate … But support from members of the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee came after the proposal (SB 1612) was watered down so violators wouldn’t face jail time. Called “Ellie’s Law,” the proposal, in part, would require airboat operators to take a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission course and complete a course in first aid that includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Sen. Lauren Book said the proposal would ensure “the public safety while experiencing the beauty of Florida’s Everglades while on airboat rides.”
“Jared Moskowitz files bill to help retired military dogs” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — Moskowitz has filed legislation creating the “Retired Military Working Dogs Program.” “If enacted, the program would allow the Department of Military Affairs to contract with a not-for-profit to provide retired military working dogs with veterinary care,” according to a Monday news release. The Coral Springs Democrat’s bill (HB 1253) “would allow adopters of retired military working dogs to be reimbursed for annual exams, vaccinations, testing and treatment of illnesses, emergency care, and surgeries, among other services, up to $10,000,” the release said … “We give our vets benefits; we should help our vets’ animals,” Moskowitz said.
Bipartisan “Veterans and Military Families Caucus” gets a reboot — The caucus, originally formed in 2011, met Jan. 17 after not having “been active in a number of years,” a Monday news release said. Rep. Matt Willhite, a Wellington Democrat, was elected caucus chair, Rep. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican, was elected vice chair, and Rep. Sam Killebrew, a Winter Haven Republican, was elected caucus clerk. “This Caucus was reformed to help build support for legislation aimed at assisting active military members, veterans, and their families,” the release said. It will hold another meeting in the coming weeks to decide which bills to support this Session officially.
“House to consider advanced birthing centers, alternative to pricey hospital childbirth” via Florida Politics – The House Health Care Appropriations Committee is considering HB 1099, which opens the door for advanced birthing centers (ABCs) — free-standing, non-hospital facilities that supply a variety of obstetrics, labor and delivery services, including low-risk traditional births, selected Caesarean births, vaginal births after cesarean section, and related procedures. Sponsoring HB 1099 in the House is Palm Beach Republican MaryLynn Magar; Republican Denise Grimsley of Lake Placid has filed the Senate companion (SB 1564). Using the latest techniques from highly specialized staff, ABCs offer pregnant women and their families a specially designed setting, one that is relaxed, comfortable and idealized for childbirth. Such facilities would practice exclusively in obstetrics and delivery — handling carefully screened maternity patients who have already received proper prenatal care. The goal of an ABC is to supply professional services beyond those offered in traditional hospital births, serving as an alternative to exceedingly expensive hospital stays for low-risk expectant mothers. Under the bill, the staff of an advanced birthing center must include experts in neonatal resuscitation. Arrangements will be available for immediate transfer to a newborn infant care center, if necessary.
“Coalition calls on final committee to advance texting while driving ban” via Florida Politics — On Tuesday a coalition of law enforcement, business, local governments, and individuals urged the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development to advance the Senate ban on texting while driving to the chamber floor. “Millions of Floridians want texting-while-driving to be a primary offense, and this good bill goes a long way in allowing law enforcement to stop this bad behavior in its track,” said Keyna Cory, coordinator of the FL DNT TXT N DRV Coalition. SB 90, sponsored by Gainesville Republican Rep. Keith Perry, would allow police to pull over texting motorists even if they aren’t breaking another rule of the road, such as speeding.
Tweet, tweet:
Some of the Equality Florida Team preparing for our Annual Lobby Days at the capitol! #Sayfie #FlaPol pic.twitter.com/uYP8oed28y
— Wesley Scott (@TheWestipher) January 21, 2018
Assignment editors — The Consumer Protection Coalition will be holding interview opportunities throughout Tuesday in the Capitol as “supporters deliver new poll results to Florida lawmakers that detail constituents’ support for Assignment of Benefits (AOB) reform,” a news release said. To schedule an interview, email Kristen Bridges at [email protected].
Assignment editors – Sen. Debbie Mayfield and Rep. Erin Grall will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. in Room 304 of The Capitol (Senate multi-media room) to discuss SB 572 and HB 525 related to High-Speed Passenger Rail. Recent fatalities associated with high speed rail have elevated the issue at the federal, state and local levels. Joining Mayfield and Grall will be Kate Pingolt Cotner, Assistant County Attorney for Indian River, Chief Dan Wouters, Fire Rescue, Division Chief of Martin County Emergency Management, and Brent Hanlon, chair of CARE FL.
Assignment editors – Speaker Corcoran, Chairman Matt Caldwell, Reps. Randy Fine and Jared Moskowitz will hold a joint media availability discussing pro-Israel legislation to be heard this session. HB 545 prohibits Florida contracting with companies that participate in anti-Israel commercial boycotts. HR 1027 supports the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the relocation of the U.S. Embassy. Media event begins 10:45 a.m. in Room 333 (The Press Room) of the House Office Building.
Assignment editors – Sen. Linda Stewart, House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz and Rep. Lori Berman will hold a news conference and rally in support of their Equal Pay bills, SB 594 and HB 393. Named the “Helen Gordon Davis Fair Pay Protection Act” in honor of Helen Gordon Davis for her pioneering work in the field of equal pay, the bill hopes to strengthen state laws promoting equal opportunities and advancement for all. News conference begins at noon outside the Senate Chamber, 4th-Floor Rotunda in The Capitol.
Governors Club Tuesday lunch buffet menu — Mixed green salad with assorted dressings; broccoli, feta and pasta salad; pecan chicken salad; butternut squash and apples soup; fried chicken; grilled mahi-mahi; macaroni and cheese; mashed potatoes; chicken gravy; creamed corn with blueberry cobbler for dessert.
— STATEWIDE —
“’Florida is different,’ Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says, defending oil drilling exemption” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times — Zinke is defending a decision to remove Florida from an offshore oil drilling plan, saying it was the “right move” given widespread political opposition and a current moratorium that lasts until 2022. “Florida is different,” Zinke said in an interview with Breitbart News, which followed an Axios report that described the secretary as having gone “rogue” and upsetting Donald Trump. Zinke said Florida is different in geology and the eastern Gulf if already off limits, until 2022, due to federal law. Moreover, he said, there is unanimous opposition from political leaders, including Gov. Scott who got a meeting with Zinke a couple of weeks ago that led to the “off the table” declaration. “It was the right move to remove Florida’s coastline from consideration,” Zinke said.
“Florida quietly worked out deal to cap fees in water wars” via Gary Fineout of the Associated Press — Florida has worked out a deal to cap the amount of money that will be paid to law firms hired to help the state in its long-running water war with Georgia. Some Republican legislators last year complained about the escalating costs — which began to rise sharply after the state took its case to the U.S. Supreme Court — and initially refused to sign off on any additional payments. And then last fall, the Florida Legislature quietly signed off on a proposal paring back the cost owed to one of the law firms by about $4 million. Their action will bring the total spent since 2014 on fees and expenses to more than $57 million. Gov. Scott defended the cost. “Throughout this fight, Florida has been, and continues to be, absolutely committed to subjecting every expense to strict scrutiny so that we can make certain that tax dollars are being spent appropriately … Let me be clear — this continued battle for equity in water use is critically important to so many communities, marine fisheries and families whose livelihoods depend on a fair system that ensures a healthy Apalachicola Bay. We will never stop fighting for Florida and the thousands of jobs and livelihoods at risk in Apalachicola Bay.” … Corcoran, who said last year that the state was getting “gouged” by the law firms, did not respond to repeated requests for comment made by phone and email to his office. The legal battle over water in the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint river basin has been going on for nearly three decades.
“Puerto Rico groups pushing for ‘Marshall Plan’ to help the island” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — “Today Puerto Rico is facing the longest blackout in the history of the United States,” Marcos Vilar, campaign director for Power4PuertoRico said in a small rally across the street from the Orlando office of Democratic U.S. Sen. Nelson. “About 500,000 families and businesses still do not have power or electricity. It is unconscionable that we haven’t done more.” His group led a coalition joined by the Hispanic Federation, Iniciativa Accion Puertoriquena, Women of the Storm and other groups, including the progressive political Democratic group Organize Florida, calling on Congress to adopt more robust relief, with fewer strings, for Puerto Rico to recover from Hurricane Maria. The groups will be rallying outside Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio‘s office in Miami later this week.
Assignment editors – Gov. Scott will honor Florida veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Medal, as well as highlight investments in Florida’s military veterans and families in his proposed 2018-2019 budget. News conference begins 10 a.m. at the Sun City Center Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd. in Sun City Center. At 6 p.m. Central time, the governor will attend the Community Leaders Celebration to honor Bay County’s recent announcement of Tyndall Air Force Base becoming home of the new MPQ-9 Reaper Wing. Event will be at Gulf Coast State College, ATC Room 302, 5230 US-98 in Panama City.
“Supreme Court rejects ten death penalty appeals” via the News Service of Florida — The Court’s release of 10 nearly identical rulings at the same time was a somewhat-unusual move. But each of the cases involved inmates challenging their death sentences because juries did not unanimously recommend execution. The appeals were rooted in a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a case known as Hurst v. Florida and a subsequent Florida Supreme Court decision. The 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling found Florida’s death-penalty sentencing system was unconstitutional because it gave too much authority to judges, instead of juries. The subsequent Florida Supreme Court ruling said juries must unanimously agree on critical findings before judges can impose death sentences and must unanimously recommend the death penalty. But the Florida Supreme Court made the new sentencing requirements apply to cases since 2002.
“Rally, march, ‘take a knee’ protest planned outside Pro Bowl in Orlando” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — The National Action Network Central Florida — with a number of other partner organizations — is planning to hold a rally in front of the Orlando Police Department headquarters shortly before the NFL game begins, with several speakers. That is to be followed by a march the three blocks down South Street from the police headquarters to Camping World Stadium. There, according to Lawanna Gelzer, president of NAN Central Florida Chapter, protesters plan to take a knee as the national anthem begins inside. The game is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff Sunday.
“Florida pump prices jump 10 cents, highest in four years” via Malena Carollo of the Tampa Bay Times — Florida pump prices jumped 10 cents in the past week to hit $2.54 per gallon Monday, 18 cents more than last month, according to AAA The Auto Club Group. Tampa Bay gas was $2.51 per gallon, up 12 cents over the week. January prices hadn’t topped $2.40 since 2014 when fuel was $3.38 per gallon. Nationally, gas was $2.54 per gallon Monday. Don’t expect relief just yet, either. With refinery maintenance season coming up in just a few months, gas prices are likely to go up more. Prices could level out, however, if domestic oil production kicks into high gear soon, AAA said.
— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
“Women and independents drive advantage for Democrats ahead of midterm elections, Post-ABC poll finds” via Scott Clement of The Washington Post — … a sign that two groups that have recoiled from Trump’s presidency will play a decisive role in November … By 51 percent to 39 percent, more registered voters say they would support the Democratic candidate in their congressional district over the Republican. Democrats’ 12 percentage-point advantage on this “generic ballot” question is the largest in Post-ABC polling since 2006, although it is slightly larger than other polls this month. Judging from past elections, Democrats are expected to need a six- to eight-point advantage in national support this fall to gain the 24 seats required win control of the House. Election handicappers say a Democratic takeover is possible, but not yet likely. The Post-ABC poll finds Democrats holding a 57 percent to 31 percent advantage among female voters, double the size of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s margin in the 2016 election. Nonwhite women favor Democrats by a 53-point margin, somewhat smaller than Clinton’s 63-point advantage over Trump in 2016. But white women have moved sharply in Democrats’ direction, favoring them over Republicans by 12 points after supporting Trump by nine points in 2016 and Republican candidates by 14 points in the 2014 midterm election, according to network exit polls.
“Florida GOP not giving back Jack Latvala donations” via Gary Fineout of The Fine Print — Republican Party of Florida chairman Blaise Ingoglia says his party will not return — or offset with a charitable donation — the money that the Party received from a political committee controlled by former State Sen. Latvala. Latvala’s political committee has donated $190,000 since late 2015 — and gave $100,000 in the final quarter of 2017. It’s been well-documented that the party isn’t raising as much money as it used to because Gov. Scott and Senate Republicans have their own fundraising organizations now. Latvala himself promised to help the party out amid those reports. In an interview, Ingoglia says that money from Latvala has already been spent or budgeted by the Party. But he also argues that it will be put to good use by the Party.
Jeremy Ring’s Yahoo! book is ‘unbiased journalistic take,’ not ‘a tell-all’ — That’s the takeaway from a promotional package touting the book, out today. “We Were Yahoo! From Internet Pioneer to the Trillion Dollar Loss of Google and Facebook” is Ring’s take from his “50-yard line seat at one of the icons of the Nineties tech boom.” The former state Senator, now running for the Democratic nomination for state CFO, was hired as Director of Sales for Yahoo! in 1996. His goal in writing the book was “to simply tell the story from an insider’s view and let people take away what they will from it,” he said. To learn more, visit www.WeWereYahoobook.com.
“Mike Waltz moves toward run in CD 6” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics – Waltz … all but made it Facebook official. “Catch me on Fox and Friends at 6:50 a.m. tomorrow for the big announcement. I’ve decided to serve again,” Waltz wrote. Waltz, a Fox News contributor with ample airtime in these months that he has mulled a run, is exercising the same prerogative. The knock on Waltz, according to some, is that he took a position opposite the candidacy of Trump in the primaries. Waltz made a video during the 2016 presidential primaries for the American Future Fund. Waltz excoriated Trump for “never having served this country a day in his life.” Trump went on to the presidency, and Waltz summarily had a change of heart, as he told us in November. Waltz has become a strong supporter of the Trump agenda, both on Twitter and on Fox News.
“Phil Moore enters House District 53 race, challenging Randy Fine” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Moore said that, for too long, he has watched with growing concern from his bicycling, running, and kayaking as the environment of the Space Coast and its lagoons and rivers degraded, and as Tallahassee seemed to want to restrict what cities and counties can do. The 43-year-old athletic trainer and instructor from West Melbourne filed to run for the HD 53 seat held by Republican incumbent Fine of Palm Bay. Moore, a second-generation Floridian, is counting on riding a midterm opposition party wave, and growing resentment against the Florida Legislature pre-empting local controls. However, he’s also dismissing acceptance of any corporate or political action committee money, starting his campaign more than $65,000 behind Fine, and without any seasoned consultants or advisers yet.
What Joe Gruters is reading — “Paul Caragiulo leaving county commission, endorses GOP activist as replacement” via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — After seven years in public office, Sarasota County Commissioner Caragiulo has decided not to run for re-election this year and endorsed longtime Sarasota GOP activist Christian Ziegler to take his place. Caragiulo wants to spend more time with his family and get more involved in his family’s restaurant business. “At the end of the day it requires a significant commitment,” Caragiulo said of the commission job. “I made that commitment for four years. I’m not comfortable making it again; it’s just not the right choice for me right now.”
Tweet, tweet:
.@RepMoraitis is new chairman of Broward Republican Party, by acclamation. No one steps up to challenge him. Gets standing ovation from party members. pic.twitter.com/JMkDwR6ElW
— Broward Politics (@browardpolitics) January 23, 2018
— FDP STILL IN HUNT FOR ED —
It’s been a month and a half since Terrie Rizzo was elected chair of the Florida Democratic Party and the organization still has not hired an executive director. But sources close to the party say a hire could be expected by the end of the month as interviews move forward. Once hired, the executive director will be charged with helping Rizzo shape the executive team during the busy election year.
As the party considers candidates, two names have been floating around to fill the position formerly held by Sally Boynton Brown: Jackie Lee and Juan Peñalosa.
Peñalosa has been a member of the transition teams of both Rizzo and Stephen Bittel, who resigned after being accused of making inappropriate sexual comments to women in the workplace. Since Rizzo became chair, Peñalosa has worked as a spokesman for the party while serving as senior vice president of the public strategy firm, Mercury. Lee is most notably known for her 2012 senior advising role for Obama for America in Florida, and up until 2016, she worked as the Florida State Director for NextGen Climate Action.
— OPINION —
“Protecting legal fraud in Florida” via the Wall Street Journal editorial board – Florida’s Legislature is in session, and for the sixth straight year reform-minded Republicans are trying to shut down a trial-bar scheme that’s bleeding property insurers and sending Sunshine State premiums skyrocketing. This fight will speak volumes about the character of Florida’s GOP. At issue is assignment of benefit (AOB) abuse, whereby an insured person signs away insurance rights to a third party, who then sues the insurer. Panama City Republican Jay Trumbull, a leader in the reform effort, filed a bill last year that would change how court damages are calculated and reduce the incentive to file frivolous AOB lawsuits. Florida’s House passed the measure this month, 82-20, which shows that at least some Republicans will fight the jackpot-justice lobby. Not so in the Senate, where Republican Anitere Flores chairs the Banking and Insurance Committee. In the last legislative session Flores, backed by Senate President Joe Negron, let an AOB reform bill introduced by Port Orange Republican Dorothy Hukill languish. This year she’s doing it again. The Miami Republican has, however, been happy to consider a bill by Sarasota’s Greg Steube that would forbid insurance companies from including litigation costs in rates and limit their ability to deny claims because of fraud. AOB fraud would skyrocket. Flores said this month that Steube’s measure “is not a bill the insurance industry loves,” but the issue is whether they can operate profitably in the state. Florida has benefited from its low-tax regime, but it can’t continue to prosper if it becomes a mecca for looting by lawsuit.
— MOVEMENTS —
“Florida Democrats hire former Orlando TV journo Caroline Rowland as new comms director” via Florida Politics – Rowland, whose most recent TV stint was at Orlando’s News 13 before moving on to Rep. Val Demings‘ campaign and office, is Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo‘s hire. “I am excited to announce that Caroline will be joining the Florida Democratic Party as Communications Director,” said Rizzo. “I am confident her enthusiasm for our party, experience with successful Democratic campaigns, and knowledge of the important issues facing working families in Florida will help us to continue to communicate our winning message and help turn Florida blue in 2018.” Rowland comes from Demings’ D.C. staff, but her television work was award-winning; she took home an Emmy for her coverage of the Barack Obama inauguration, and also covered the George Zimmerman trial.
“Rick Scott’s picks for wildlife commission have no wildlife expertise” via Craig Pittman of the Tampa Bay Times — Scott is remaking the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with a series of appointments who appear to have no expertise in managing wildlife. His most recent pick, Gary Lester, is vice president of community relations at The Villages, developer of the largest gated retirement community in the world. Lester is also head of the school board at the Villages Charter School, and previously worked as a minister at Presbyterian churches in several states. Two people Scott picked for wildlife commission seats last month were Gary Nicklaus, 48, son of golfing great Jack Nicklaus; and Sonya Rood, 53, wife of developer and former Bermuda ambassador John Rood, who is also former chief financial officer of the Republican Party of Florida. None of the three has previously been active in wildlife conservation.
Personnel note: Rubio alumni heads to Firehouse Strategies — Brooke Sammon, a former spokeswoman for Rubio’s presidential campaign, said Monday she joining the “all-star” Firehouse Strategies team. Sammon was most recently the spokeswoman for the lobbying group American Petroleum Institute. She leaves at the same time Jack Gerard, the president and CEO of API, announced he was stepping down as the leader of the country’s largest oil trade group.
“Personnel note: CoreMessage promotes team members” via Florida Politics — CoreMessage on Monday announced the promotion of Carrie Patrick to Senior Manager of Advocacy and Operations, and Brianna Shoaf to Account Manager. Patrick has more than 16 years of experience in the communications, policy, legislative, state government and private industry arenas … Shoaf worked for a leading hospitality public relations firm and graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a certificate in the Principles of Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America’s Universal Accreditation Board.
Lucy Morgan Award to be presented Tuesday — The Miami Herald’s Carol Marbin Miller and former Herald reporter Audra D.S. Burch today will receive the First Amendment Foundation’s inaugural Lucy Morgan Award for Open Government Reporting for their series, “Fight Club: Dark secrets of Florida juvenile justice.” It will be presented at the Foundation’s annual Sunshine Recognition luncheon, 11:30 a.m. at the Governors Club in Tallahassee. The award — named for the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times) — is awarded to reporters “whose work exemplifies the tenacity, drive, and courage that characterizes Morgan.” Burch has since moved to The New York Times. “Miller and Burch secured datasets from four state agencies and analyzed ten years of data for the series, which revealed systematic chaos, cruelty and human rights violations within some of the state’s juvenile justice institutions,” according to a news release. For more information, visit www.floridafaf.org.
“Ballard Partners’ old office sold” via Gary Fineout of The Fine Print — Ballard Partners recently moved from a historic home on Park Avenue to a brand-new office building located at the corner of Park and Monroe Street. Property records show that Ballard’s old offices were bought for $1.35 million by Rubus Idaeus LLC. That’s a company that was set up by Tallahassee attorneys Tor Friedman and Eric Abrahamsen … The roster of attorneys at the firm also includes Tiffany Cruz, who has been in the news lately because she is representing Rachel Perrin Rogers, the Senate employee who filed a formal complaint against Latvala that led to his resignation. Kathryn Ballard is married to well-known lobbyist Brian Ballard who runs Ballard Partners. Property records show that both Kathryn and Brian Ballard were listed as co-owners of the office building acquired by Rubus Idaeus.
On this week’s edition of The Rotunda — In the latest episode of The Rotunda, Trimmel Gomes takes a look back to the fiery start of the Trump administration from the inauguration to the Women’s March in Washington. He also looks at the impact of Gov. Scott’s failed deal with the administration to keep Florida out of its expanded offshore drilling plan. Susan Glickman of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy claims the plan was all about politics. Gomes also talks with Alice Vickers with the Florida Alliance for Consumer Protection about how payday lenders in Florida are seeking to skirt new federal consumer protections with state legislation. Finally, a conversation with state Rep. Sean Shaw, a Tampa Democrat, about his decision to run for Attorney General.
— ALOE —
“We live in uncivil times. Two former White House social secretaries offer a cure” via Roxanne Roberts of The Washington Post — Jeremy Bernard and Lea Berman, both former White House social secretaries, are co-authors of the new book “Treating People Well: The Extraordinary Power of Civility at Work and in Life.” Bernard worked for Barack and Michelle Obama, Berman for George W. and Laura Bush, but their job was the same: Make every person who walked through the door feel welcomed, valued and comfortable. Then came the bitter election of 2016, and what started out as a bipartisan memoir about working in the White House evolved into a guide to the importance of civility and respect in modern America. “Some people heap disrespect on anyone who dares oppose them, tap into anger and manipulate it for their own benefit, and don’t seem to see anything wrong with that,” they write. “If bad behavior is contagious — as many studies have shown it is — we’re in an epidemic.” The book’s underlying thesis, outlined in the introduction: “Act as if the world is watching and you cannot fail to do the right thing. Most of us like to think of ourselves as good people, and if we sense that what we’re doing is public, we’re more likely to behave reasonably.”
Speaking of books, oh no …
“How a Florida town with no ice rink produced three Olympic speedskaters” via Eric Adelson of Yahoo Sports — Next month, Renee Hildebrand will send three athletes to the Games in South Korea: Joey Mantia, Brittany Bowe and Erin Jackson. They are all speedskaters, all from Ocala, a town with no ice rink. Meet the woman who built a winter mecca out of a roller rink behind a Save a Lot in Central Florida. Meet the Oracle of Ocala. Hildebrand grew up in Lakeland, about 45 minutes south of here, and she always wanted to be a world champion roller skater. She got her start on the four-wheel, two-by-two skates and studied sports medicine so she could coach as well. In the early ’90s, she moved to Ocala for a job as a physical therapist, and at around that time, inline skates came out. It was as if the entire roller world hit a reset button. The tiers of the sport were slashed to the ground, and someone like Hildebrand could leap to the top of the game if she could master inlines. “It put me on a level playing field,” she says. “We all had to coach inlines.” Since inlines mirrored speedskating on ice, she studied a book by Olympic gold medalist Dianne Holum. She absorbed the importance of technique and body positioning, and she became proficient in tutoring both.
“This year’s Florida State fair food oddities include catfish ‘sundae’ and chicken and waffles pizza” via Sharon Kennedy Wynne of the Tampa Bay Times — This year’s lineup at the fair, which runs Feb. 8-19, brings a chicken and waffles pizza called a “syrup-based pie,” corn on the cob covered in queso and rolled in spicy cheese puffs, and a catfish “sundae” of french fries, fried catfish and spicy sauce. The fair is also bringing in some winners at other state fairs, but new this year is deep-fried Strawberry Shortcake, and a huge creation called a Banana Frenkel Funnel Cake that is a funnel cake surrounded with a ring of bananas and topped with custard and chocolate or caramel drizzle.
Happy birthday to our friend, Janee Murphy, as well as the always interesting (even if we rarely agree with him) Jacob Perry, Becker & Poliakoff’s Nick Matthews, and Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera.
