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.
As Democratic state Sen. Bill Montford considers a run for Tallahassee mayor to right an incompetent (at best) or corrupt (at worst) City Hall, still more details are emerging about who’s been bending Montford’s ear.
We told you first in SUNBURN that “a broad group of community leaders” has been heavily recruiting Bill Montford to run for mayor, succeeding current Mayor Andrew Gillum, Democratic candidate for governor.
“With a cloud hanging over some members of the Commission (both Gillum and Scott Maddox have been repeatedly mentioned in conjunction with an ongoing FBI investigation) and the recent forced retirement of the city manager over a ticket solicitation scandal, City Hall is in turmoil.”
Moreover, Commissioner and mayoral-heir apparent Gil Ziffer bowed out of the race Monday. Now an email has surfaced that explains some of the backstory.
Lobbyist and local political activist Barney Bishop III wrote an email last Thursday to friends and supporters, saying he first met with Montford “about 2 ½ months ago to talk to him about running.”
“He mentioned to me that he had just met with some other folks that very morning soliciting him to run … he was intrigued and he was interested …(but) his wife, who is a big part of the decision in this instance, wasn’t fond of the idea,” Bishop wrote.
“I saw Bill last week at the Governors Club and we talked again because I mentioned that I was hearing rumors again about him considering the race … and he tacitly told me that my conversation with him was still generating calls and hopeful supporters … as a result, he is reviewing his options and having further discussions with his wife … so, I’m NOT saying that Bill is running, but he is getting closer,” he added.
“There are new rumors that Gillum is pushing Dustin Daniels, his Chief of Staff, to run” for mayor, and Emily Fritz, a former County Commission candidate, “has decided to drop her hat into the race for Nancy Miller’s seat with encouragement from me and others.”
Bishop concluded his email by going over some of the attributes of a “good” local candidate: “Integrity and honesty, first and foremost;” “Support for a City Charter Review (if it’s good enough for the County to undertake, the City should as well);” “Support a return to a rotating Mayor, so we never have to deal with someone like Gillum again who’s increased the size of his staff at a tremendous cost to city taxpayers;” “A willingness to NOT join the ‘good ol’’ boys club’ that exists now on the Commission where many things are worked out behind the scenes.”
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
— @Comey: Special Agent Andrew McCabe stood tall over the last 8 months, when small people were trying to tear down an institution we all depend on. He served with distinction for two decades. I wish Andy well. I also wish continued strength for the rest of the FBI. America needs you.
— @RepWilson: -Threats -Blatant Falsehoods -Bluster That’s all Americans saw from @realDonaldTrump in the last year — and it’s all they’ll see from him tomorrow at the #SOTU
— @MarcACaputo: Remarkable scene at Coral Gables City Hall where Gov. Rick Scott is meeting with Venezuelan exile leaders: in the front row of the council chamber’s audience seat are 10 exiled Venezuelan Supreme Court justices. … This is the real Miami you don’t see in South Beach glam shots b-rolling on sports shows, a land of exiles and immigrants where a struggle for a better life and the reality of revolution, both for and against democracy, is ever-present
— @EricHolhaus: Puerto Rico, Day 131: — More than 1 million people still w/o power (31% of the island) — Hundreds of thousands still w/o clean water — Still a humanitarian emergency FEMA has decided to “officially shut off” food and water aid on Wednesday. Wow.
— @GBennettPost: .@RonDeSantisFL mentions tax cuts, ISIS, Israel, Gorsuch SCOTUS appointment in opening minutes of speech for #Florida governor
— @Fineout: In a session with a narrow bandwidth due to scandals and looming 18 elections, we have reached the peak special interest portion of the session — with influence industry coming up with interesting descriptions of what some bills actually do
— @BGrueskin: Less than a year ago, this courageous paper won the Pulitzer for investigative reporting, having exposed drug distributors’ complicity in West Va.’s opioid crisis. Now it’s filing Chapter 11
— @CraigTimes: People at the #Florida retirement mega-development The Villages are so used to driving their golf carts everywhere that they’ve started taking them out to tool around on major highways. That’s a no-no.
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— DAYS UNTIL —
Super Bowl LII — 5; the next government shutdown (maybe) — 9; Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — 10; Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training — 14; Valentine’s Day — 15; Disney Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival — 30; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program termination begins — 35; Sine Die (maybe) — 38; Major League Baseball Opening Day — 58; Solo: A Star Wars Story premier — 113; Close of candidate qualifying for statewide office — 143; Primary Election Day — 210; General Election Day — 280.
— D.C. MATTERS —
Marco Rubio calls Jeb Bush’s immigration tactics ‘legislative malpractice’ via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida — Rubio defended his low-key approach to immigration reform Monday by dismissing criticism from his one-time ally … and calling his tactics “legislative malpractice.” “I understand Jeb’s passion for immigration. But insisting on a path forward on immigration that has zero chances of passing is not political courage. It’s legislative malpractice,” Rubio said. “I want to get this problem solved. I’m not interested in impressing people who I believe are in some ways out of touch with the reality that Donald Trump is president and that the people whose votes we need to get this passed don’t agree with Jeb’s or any of this group of people’s views on immigration,” Rubio said.
“Trump previews State of the Union speech” via Cheryl Bolen of Bloomberg Government — “We worked on it hard, covered a lot of territory, including our great success with the markets and with the tax cut. And it’s a big speech, an important speech, we covered immigration. And for many years, for many, many years they’ve been talking immigration, they never got anything done, we’re going to get something done, we hope. It’s got to be bipartisan because the Republicans really don’t have the votes to get it done in any other way, so it has to be bipartisan … But hopefully the Democrats will join us, or enough of them will join us, so we can really do something great, for DACA and for immigration generally. But it’s going to be I think a very important speech on trade, the world has taken advantage of us on trade for many years, and as you probably noticed we’re stopping that, and we’re stopping it cold and we have to, we have to have reciprocal trade. It’s not a one-way deal anymore. So we have a lot of things to discuss and we’ll be discussing them, and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you very much. See you tomorrow night.”
“Senators want Trump’s State of the Union to show ‘compassion’ toward dreamers” via Seung Min Kim and Rachael Bade of POLITICO — Trump’s inaugural State of the Union could offer an opportunity for the first-term leader to unify Congress behind a plan to protect the undocumented immigrants known as DREAMers. Instead, the immigration blueprint his administration laid out days before the highly anticipated address is splintering Congress in all directions, with conservatives complaining it provides amnesty for immigrants who lack legal status and Democrats recoiling from Trump’s pitch to restrict legal, family-based immigration. Some senators have urged Trump to help them move toward a deal by striking a compassionate tone during his speech. “I truly, sincerely think that he has compassion and empathy, and he wants to make sure children that only know this country as their home get security,” Sen. Joe Manchin told POLITICO. “I think for people to be able to see his compassion he has for these children would be good.” Added Sen. Jeff Flake: “If he made statements like we’ve heard at some other points, like ‘with heart’ and ‘bill of love,’ that kind of thing is helpful.”
Guests of honor — U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist is bringing a medical marijuana patient. U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch is bringing the wife of an American held hostage in Iran. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel is bringing a trailblazing anti-sexual harassment advocate. U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy are bringing Puerto Rico evacuees. U.S. Rep. Val Demings is bringing a police officer who responded to the Pulse nightclub massacre. As usual, a handful of members of Congress are using their guest tickets to the president’s State Of The Union Address to honor someone from their district they admire, and to maybe make a political statement. On Monday and Tuesday, a few of them will be holding news conferences introducing their guests, offering their inspiring story, and promoting the political causes they personify. Florida Politics surveyed Florida’s 27 members of Congress and two senators and got a handful of advance responses on guests being brought to President Trump’s first SOTU address, almost all of from Democrats.
— “Pulse first responder to be guest at State of the Union address” via Michael Williams of the Orlando Sentinel
“Mary Barzee Flores to run impeachment commercial around State of the Union speech” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald — “As a former judge, I can tell you there’s a reason the founders made the rules for impeachment different from a criminal trial,” Barzee Flores says in a commercial released Thursday by her campaign. “They gave Congress the power and responsibility to remove a dangerous president. Donald Trump has abused his power, obstructed justice, encouraged hate and used his office to enrich himself.” Barzee’s campaign says she’ll the first to air a television commercial in the race. She will be airing the spot before and after Trump’s State of the Union speech Jan. 31.
— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
“Ron DeSantis plays the role of DC champ, Tallahassee outsider in Gov. campaign launch” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald — DeSantis, a three-term Palm Coast congressman and former military prosecutor who served at the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, name-dropped the president and blasted sanctuary cities during a 25-minute speech inside a crowded ballroom at the Embassy Suites in Boca Raton. Comparing himself to term-limited Gov. Scott, DeSantis promised to clean up the state capitol and cast himself as the outsider in a Republican primary that features Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam and may soon include House Speaker Richard Corcoran. “We Republicans, we can’t have the insiders pick the candidate in 2018,” said DeSantis, who came to the stage holding his 14-month-old daughter, Madison. “We need someone who’s going to follow Rick Scott’s legacy and shake things up.” He promised during his speech to crack down on an opioid epidemic hitting the state, ensure students graduate with a “sense of what it means to be an American,” and promised to appoint conservative district and state Supreme Court justices.
ICYMI: “Video: Richard Corcoran’s explosive ad warns anyone can get killed by undocumented immigrants” via Emily Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times — A young, red-haired woman walks through a suburban neighborhood, smiling and texting, until an undocumented immigrant in a hoodie turns around to shoot her, as the camera pans straight down the barrel. No, this isn’t a horror movie — it’s a new campaign ad released by Corcoran. “This could have happened to any family, anywhere,” Corcoran says in the voice-over. “Incredibly, some Tallahassee politicians want to make Florida a sanctuary state.” The explosive ad minimizes any remaining doubt about Corcoran’s potential run for governor, something he has said he will decide after Session is over in March.
Click on the image below to watch the ad:
Reax from Andrew Gillum campaign: “Speaker Corcoran’s race-baiting ad is everything that’s wrong with politics today. In the age of Trump, Corcoran is vilifying immigrants. It’s a vile ad that seeks to divide us against one another, and the Speaker ought to be ashamed of himself. Mayor Gillum is running a substantive, progressive campaign on the issues facing everyday Floridians, and we encourage the Speaker to do the same when he finally joins the race.”
Alex Sink endorses Chris Hunter in CD 12 — The former Florida chief financial officer and 2010 Democratic candidate for Governor is endorsing Hunter, a former federal prosecutor and FBI agent. “Chris Hunter’s commitment to principled leadership in American service will make him an outstanding advocate in Congress for all Floridians,” Sink said in a statement. Hunter, a Democrat, is seeking the 12th Congressional District seat currently held by Republican incumbent Gus Bilirakis.
First on #FlaPol — “’I am running’: Reggie Brown gears up for primary clash with Audrey Gibson” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — And contrary to what some in Gibson’s orbit say, it’s Brown’s decision and move to make. Gibson — the Senate Democrats Leader-designate — would seem like an unlikely primary target. Yet Jacksonville Councilmember Brown believes that Gibson’s tenure is one of missed opportunities. As he texted: “I am running [because] I believe I can bring more state $ to North Florida and the time to do it is now!” There are those in Gibson’s orbit who have asserted that Brown is being pushed to run by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, as revenge for Gibson not supporting the 2016 pension reform referendum. Curry’s team denied that, saying they don’t get involved in Democratic primaries.
Ellyn Bogdanoff endorses Matt Spritz for HD 89 — Former South Florida state Sen. Bogdanoff said: “Matt’s enthusiasm is contagious and his optimism is refreshing. He understands the unique needs of our local community and I have no doubt he will fight every day for our interests. From protecting our beaches, to addressing our sober home crisis, to making sure our state policies help grow our economy, I am confident Matt will be an effective advocate for our community.” Bogdanoff, who represented Palm Beach and Broward counties in both the House and Senate, joins a list of current and former state legislators, including Reps. Byron Donalds, Randy Fine, Jason Fischer, Joe Gruters, Tom Leek, Bobby Payne and Bob Rommel and former Rep. Alex Miller, who are endorsing Spritz. Spritz faces Delray Beach accountant Michael Caruso in the GOP primary to replace term-limited Republican state Rep. Bill Hager. Also running for the HD 89 seat are Democrats Tina Scott Polsky, Ryan Rossi and James Bonfiglio.
Spotted: Democratic House Victory’s Reggie Cardoza at Haven in South Tampa.
— SEAN SHAW STAFFS UP —
Tampa Democrat Sean Shaw became the first major Democrat to throw his hat into the ring for Attorney General this month, and after a peek at the team he’s building it’s clear he’s in it to win it.
Capital City Consulting’s Dan Newman is on board as senior adviser for the Shaw campaign, and he’s playing a big role in getting the team together.
So far, they’ve landed Blue Ticket Consulting co-founders Tom Alte and Meagan Salisbury as finance directors, while Samantha Pollara — Ben Pollara’s sister — is slated to move over from Blue Ticket to be the campaign’s deputy finance director come March.
The manager slot hasn’t been filled, but there’s a familiar name who has signed on to handle comms, though the ink won’t dry on the not-so-secret deal until after the 2018 Legislative Session.
Then comes the consulting roster, where two names immediately jump off the page: Hilltop Public Solutions’ Nick Baldick and Three Point Media’s Mattis Goldman.
Baldick, who’s being tapped as an adviser, has been in the game since Bill Clinton’s 1992 run and has dozens of wins under his belt. Goldman, whom CNN has called a “Democratic ad guru,” has proved to be an effective operator for more than a couple candidates who were thought to have long odds, including Democrat Steve Bullock’s gubernatorial win in Montana and Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s win over two-term incumbent Mike DeWine a decade ago.
Those wins are impressive, but here’s the kicker: Baldick and Goldman are responsible for getting more Democrats elected as AGs than anyone else.
The consulting team also includes a few names who are still riding high off Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones’ historic win over Roy Moore in deep-red Alabama.
Resonance Campaigns’ Scott Simpson and Johnathan Ducote are handling campaign mailers, and Anzalone Liszt Grove is on board for polling alongside Kevin Akins, whom Florida politicos might remember for his deft work on state Sen. Annette Taddeo’s win in the SD 40 special election, not to mention his hand in helping secure 2016 wins for JJR, Loranne Ausley, Nick Duran, Daisy Baez and Robert Asencio.
Shaw’s path to the Democratic nom is pretty clear, given opponent Ryan Torrens’ struggles on the fundraising trail, but there were some questions about how well equipped the Tampa lawmaker is to go toe-to-toe with whichever well-funded Republican emerges from the crowded GOP primary.
This team is set up to be more than scrappy — it’s competitive.
— FOREGONE CONCLUSION —
Democratic voters Palm Beach County’s Senate District 31 head to the polls to choose their Party’s nominee to replace Lake Worth state Sen. Jeff Clemens, who resigned in October after an extramarital affair with a lobbyist.
— State Rep. Lori Berman of Lantana faces Arthur Morrison, a former federal worker. The winner will face Palm Beach County Republican Party vice chair Tammy Donnelly of Lake Worth.
— Since Democrats in SD 31 hold a significant registration advantage (47 to 24 percent), the primary winner will be nearly guaranteed a special election win.
— Berman, term-limited from the House, is a well-known figure in Palm Beach County; she also has raised far more cash than both her Democratic and Republican opponents.
— Name recognition, solid fundraising, and the district’s heavily Democratic lean — as well as the wave of women stepping up to run in the wake of the #MeToo movement — makes Berman’s victory a (nearly) foregone conclusion.
— Nevertheless, this means little for the 2018 Legislative Session; the special election is set for April 10, after Session’s Sine Die.
— CAPITOL INSIGHT —
“Senate at odds with House, Governor on proposal to limit tax hikes” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — A Senate panel on Monday pushed forward a bill that would make it harder for future lawmakers to raise taxes, but that would put the upper chamber at odds with the House and Gov. Scott. The proposal in the Senate by Republican Sen. Kelli Stargel is less stringent than the version passed by the House last week. Under Stargel’s proposal (SB 1742), the Legislature would require a three-fifths vote to pass any type of tax or fee hike. In the House, the supermajority vote proposal (HJR 7001) is stricter and would require a two-thirds vote before any tax increase can pass through the Legislature. Scott is in favor of the House version and hopes the Senate will adopt it, said McKinley Lewis, a spokesman for the Governor.
“House budget would boost state spending by billions” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times — Corcoran complains often about how the state spends too much money, and his political website shouts: “Lower taxes. Less spending.” But if Corcoran has his way, as he often does, the next state budget will be billions of dollars higher than the current one. The Republican lawmaker rolled out a spending plan of $87.2 billion that’s similar in size to those proposed by the Senate and by Gov. Scott. But only Corcoran rails against “reckless government spending” in messages to voters on his website and on social media, where he emphasizes his conservative philosophy. Corcoran said growth in public school enrollment and Medicaid caseloads are two budget drivers forcing more spending. “It’s not so much our actions as it is growth,” Corcoran said. “I think our budget’s very fiscally sound and very conservative.” But even Democrats were taken aback by the size of the House budget. “I’m a little surprised at the amount of money they’re throwing around,” said Rep. Evan Jenne, policy chair of the 40-member House Democratic Caucus
“Proposed change to sexual harassment bill adds sex to lobbying gift ban” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — Sexual favors between legislators and lobbyists could be illegal under a proposed change to the sexual harassment bill filed by its sponsor on Monday. Sen. Lauren Book, a Plantation Democrat, wants to incorporate any type of sexual conduct — whether engaging in it or directing others to do it — into the state’s gift ban. The change would apply to any public official, including an “employee of an agency or local government attorney.” It would also require anyone who has to file a public disclosure of their financial interests to certify that they have reviewed the new gift ban policy. If the amendment is approved, the violation could lead to criminal or civil penalties. When it comes to public officials, breaking such a policy could result in their impeachment, removal from office, a one-third salary cut for up to a year or a civil penalty of up to $10,000.
Senate passes bill protecting Florida’s solution to short-term credit — The Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism on Monday passed SB 920, sponsored by Republican Sen. Rob Bradley. The legislation is designed to establish robust consumer protections for over 1 million Floridians who depend on short-term, small-dollar loans. Supporters say the legislation will provide consumers with a greater range of short-term credit options and lift burdensome regulations for Florida lenders. The Senate bill’s next stop is the Senate Rules Committee, while a companion advances in the House.
“Dozier School of Boys victims certification process considered by Legislature” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — Less than a year after the Florida Legislature formally apologized for the physical and sexual abuse of hundreds of boys at the Arthur G. Dozier School of Boys, lawmakers are embarking on “the next step in their quest for justice.” That would mean pushing a proposal that would require the state to give those who were abused at the state-run reform school between 1940 and 1975 the opportunity to be certified as victims. This would facilitate the process for them to file claims bills and have the state compensate them for their injuries. “This will give us a clear picture of who the living victims are, those who live among us and living with psychological issues from the abuse,” said Sen. Darryl Rouson, a St. Petersburg Democrat sponsoring the proposal which cleared its first of three Senate committee stops on Monday.
“Trauma center legislation begins its annual trek” via Florida Politics — A House bill that would do away with the limit on the number of trauma centers in Florida unanimously cleared its first committee Monday. The bill (HB 1165), sponsored by Republican state Rep. Jay Trumbull of Panama City, was OK’d on a 15-0 vote in the Health Quality Subcommittee. The statewide total of trauma centers is now capped at 44; there are currently 34 in operation, Trumbull said. Trumbull’s bill, which passed the House and died in the Senate last year, in part aims to stem the flow of litigation against the state’s Department of Health, charged with reviewing the need for new centers and approving them.
“Orlando City Soccer license plate clears another committee” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — A proposal to create a specialty license plate commemorating Orlando City Soccer was approved Monday by the Florida House Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee. HB 1263 now has cleared two key panels and still has the House Government Accountability Committee ahead of it. Proceeds from a $25 surcharge for the plate would go to the Florida Sports Foundation, which uses the money to work with youth in Orlando around the stadium.
Clarification — In response to Monday’s Sunburn, a spokesman for Sen. Kelli Stargel said her resolution requiring a three-fifths majority to raise taxes “only applies to the Legislature raising taxes. It does not make it harder for municipalities to raise taxes.”
For your radar — Senate considers protections for Florida’s franchisees — Small business owners across Florida will be looking for a positive outcome on Senate Bill 1076, the “Small Business Parity Act.” The Senate Committee on Regulated Industries is scheduled to consider the bill by Sen. Greg Steube at 4:30 p.m. The legislation is designed to establish protections for Florida franchise owners and promote economic growth and additional jobs for the state. Supporters say the bill will level the playing field for franchisees, allowing them to enjoy the same protections as many other small business owners in Florida.
Key committee meetings to watch:
— House hears free expression bill — The House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee will hear HB 909, from Republicans Bob Rommel of Naples and Chuck Clemons of Newberry, otherwise known as the “Campus Free Expression Act.” If passed, state universities and colleges would be prohibited from naming free-speech zones or restricting activities such as guest speakers to particular areas of the campus. Meeting begins 8 a.m. in Room 404 of the House Office Building.
-House debates ‘Hope scholarship’ — The House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee takes up HB 1, from Naples Republican Byron Donalds, to create the “Hope Scholarship” program, offering voucher-like scholarships to public-school students who have been bullied or suffered similar harassment. The scholarships would be to attend private schools. Meeting starts 8 a.m. in Reed Hall of the House Office Building.
-House, Senate to consider ‘healthy marriage’ guide — House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee and the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider HB 1323 and SB 1580, filed in House by Republicans Clay Yarborough of Jacksonville and Danny Burgess of Zephyrhills, and Lakeland Republican Stargel in the Senate to create a “Florida Guide to a Healthy Marriage.” House subcommittee meeting begins 8:30 a.m. in Room 12 of the House Office Building; Senate committee meets 2 p.m. in Room 110 of the Senate Office Building.
-House addresses bill on first responder PSTD — The House Oversight, Transparency & Administration Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 227), from Wellington Democrat Matt Willhite and Orlando Republican Rene Plasencia, to help give workers’ compensation benefits to first responders suffering post-traumatic stress disorder among other conditions. Meeting begins 8:30 a.m. in Morris Hall of the House Office Building.
-House panel examines gambling issues — The House Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee will take up PCB TGC 18-01, which addresses a range of gambling issues, including a new gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Meeting begins 9 a.m. in Room 212 of the Knott Building.
-Senate committee talks property insurance — The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will take up SB 1282, filed Miami Democrat Annette Taddeo, requiring insurance companies to disclose to homeowners when property coverage does not include flood insurance. Meeting begins 10 a.m. in Room 110 of the Senate Office Building.
-Senate debates vacation rentals — On the agenda of the Senate Community Affairs Committee is a proposal combining two bills (SB 1400 and SB 1640) on the regulation of vacation rental properties. Both bills come from Republicans Greg Steube of Sarasota and David Simmons of Altamonte Springs, respectively. Meeting starts 10 a.m. in Room 301 of the Senate Office Building.
-Senate mulls requirement for nursing home emergency power — The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up SB 1874, from Naples Republican Kathleen Passidomo, to require the Agency for Health Care Administration to set up rules on emergency power supplies for nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. The bill is in response to the deaths of several residents of a Broward County nursing home that lost power to its air conditioning system during Hurricane Irma. Meeting begins 10 a.m. in Room 412 of the Knott Building.
-House considers work requirements for state aid — The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee will consider HB 751, from Cape Coral Republican Dane Eagle, that seeks to increase penalties for beneficiaries not following work requirements in the Temporary Cash Assistance program. Meeting starts 1 p.m. in Room 404 of the House Office Building.
-Senate eyes term limits for school board members — The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee discuss a proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 194), from Sarasota Republican Steube, to impose term limits on county school boards. Limits would be set to two four-year terms. Meeting begins 2 p.m. in Room 412 of the Knott Building.
-House committee looks at records expunction — The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will take HB 1065, from Cape Coral Republican Eagle, to expand eligibility for court-ordered expunction of records for people found not guilty of crimes. Meeting starts 4 p.m. in Morris Hall of the House Office Building.
-Senate considers franchise agreement regulation — The Senate Regulated Industries Committee will consider SB 1076, from Sarasota Republican Steube, to make changes in the relationship between companies that sell franchises and their franchisees. Meeting begins 4:30 p.m. in Room 110 of the Senate Office Building
Assignment editors — A media roundtable will be held today to highlight the Tobacco 21 Act being considered in the Florida Legislature. The legislation would increase the minimum legal sale age for tobacco and electronic smoking devices from 18 to 21. Panelists include Mark Landreth and Rivers Buford of the American Heart Association, and Matt Jordan of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. That’s at 8:15 a.m., 229 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
“It’s ‘Physician Anesthesiologist Week’ at the Capitol” — Florida Society of Anesthesiologists members are making their way to the Capitol for Physician Anesthesiologist Week, which started Monday. FSA President Dr. Kurt Jones said the group is “pleased and proud that Florida recognizes the importance of high quality, cost-efficient anesthesia medicine and glad that Florida ensures that anesthesia is always administered under the direct supervision of a physician.” … “When seconds count, more than 12,000 hours of clinical training and 14 years of education make a difference.” … Gov. Scott also issued a proclamation ahead of FSA’s special week in Tallahassee, stating that physician anesthesiologists “draw on their extensive medical education and years of clinical training and experience to make critical decisions that save lives” and are “committed to high quality and safe patient care.” The trade group thanked Scott for his words and touted their accomplishments over the past year, including having two members named to the Florida Board of Medicine, their fight against laws that would shift Florida away from physician-led anesthesia, and their role in fighting the opioid crisis, including their support for bills that would add tougher penalties for illegally possessing fentanyl, the opioid responsible for the most deaths in Florida.
Governors Club Tuesday buffet menu — It’s Italian(ish) day at Governors Club with Mixed green salad with assorted dressings; grilled eggplant salad; Romanian La Rousse salad; Tuscan white beans soup; fried chicken; poached snapper; mashed potatoes and gravy; spaghetti squash; mixed vegetables; fruit preserves and crepes for dessert.
— IF YOU READ ONE THING —
“Sherry Johnson was raped, pregnant and married by 11. Now she’s fighting to end child marriage in America” via Moni Basu of CNN — Each day before school, Johnson sought out her aunt for lunch money because Johnson’s mother worked as a substitute teacher and could barely make ends meet. Her aunt lived nearby in the same house as the bishop of their church, and one day, when Johnson was 8, he summoned her into his bedroom. “I got your lunch money. Come and get it.” He forced her to lie on the bed, used petroleum jelly and penetrated her. He said nothing and then sent her on her way, blood dripping down her legs. Johnson ran to a bathroom to wash herself, but she was a child in the fourth grade. She could not understand what had happened. After that, she was raped repeatedly by the bishop and also a church deacon. But when she tried to talk about it, no one believed her, not even her mother. It happened so frequently that Johnson accepted it as a part of growing up.
— STATEWIDE —
Minding Maduro: Gov. Scott met with leaders from the Venezuelan community Monday, including exiled magistrates of the Venezuelan Supreme Court. The governor has been critical of the country’s dictator, Nicolas Maduro.
Assignment editors — Agriculture Commissioner Putnam will kick off the Taste of Florida Agriculture reception, co-hosted by the Florida Farm Bureau and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in the Florida Capitol Courtyard beginning 4:30 p.m., 400 S. Monroe St.
Assignment editors — the three top teams will compete In the “Fresh From Florida” Student Chef Cook-Off Final: Orlando Regional Winner — Tony Alvarez and Gigi Rivera of Bloomingdale Senior High School, T&G’s Burrito; Jacksonville Regional Winner — Allyson Moore and Wyatt Junnila of Harmony High School, The Osceola Bowl; and Palm Beach Regional Winner — Sheldon Riley and James Weichmann of Fort Pierce High School, Raw Kale Pasta with Strawberry Vinaigrette and Chipotle Chicken. Competition starts 9 a.m. at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Kitchen, innovation Park, 2051 E. Paul Dirac Drive in Tallahassee.
“Ex-U. S. Rep. Corrine Brown starts 5-year prison sentence” via Steve Patterson of the Florida Times-Union — The 12-term congresswoman was driven, without stopping, past a cluster of reporters outside the Sumter County complex she was assigned to after her sentencing on 18 felony convictions involving fraud and tax crimes. Twenty minutes before the noon deadline a judge set for Brown to report, a black limousine-style minibus with tinted windows turned into the prison driveway and stopped. Bishop Kelvin Cobaris, an Orlando-area religious leader, had been waiting across the road and walked up to the bus and climbed in. He said later Brown was in the bus with a few family members and others, and she asked him to pray for her. He said he encouraged her to look at prison as a way to impact the lives of people she could help. Asked if Brown seemed afraid, Cobaris answered: “The congresswoman is a very strong woman. I didn’t see fear. I saw nervousness.”
First on #FlaPol — “Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence launches social media video campaign” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Before and after scenes from the Pulse nightclub slaughter of 2016 and before and after images representing the Sandy Hook Elementary School slaughter of 2012 and the Las Vegas concert slaughter of 2017 are part of a new series of anti-assault weapon videos that The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence has produced and is preparing to spread through social media in coming days. The videos feature people who lost loved ones at one of the massacres, as well as others involved in the coalition and its leading partners, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, pressing the position that semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines turn killings into mass-killings, and should be banned in Florida. The coalition and its partners are seeking to exert public pressure on the Florida Legislature, and specifically on Sen. Greg Steube and state Rep. Ross Spano, who are chairs, respectively, of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, to slow down legislation expanding gun rights, and to at least schedule committee hearings on the gun-control bills introduced by state Sen. Linda Stewart and state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith.
“University of Miami rape investigator quietly fired for hitting on students” via Jerry Iannelli of the Miami New Times — As the director of judicial affairs at the University of Miami from 2008 to 2016, Associate Dean of Students William A. “Tony” Lake investigated rape and sexual assault complaints. When he left in 2016, many assumed it was connected to a mishandled rape case that drew national press. Lake punished then-student David Jia for allegations that police later found to be false and was also separately accused of mishandling a different case by telling a victim to simply “avoid” her alleged rapist on campus. But according to documents, Lake was fired May 31, 2016, because university officials discovered he had behaved inappropriately toward students. According to Lake’s termination letter, a female student filed a formal complaint against him April 26, 2016, after the two met through the school’s Panhellenic Council. The student said Lake was hitting on her.
“Florida State lifts parts of ban on fraternities and sororities” via The Associated Press — FSU President John Thrasher said the Greek organizations will be allowed to conduct philanthropic activities and begin recruiting news members. For now, a ban on alcohol will remain in effect for those organizations. The university’s changes are extensive and address three broad areas: new requirement for a chapter grade-point average of 2.5; a minimum average of 10 documented hours of service per semester per member; students interested in joining a fraternity or sorority must complete a special orientation program before recruitment so potential members understand expectations. Risk Reduction: a shortened new member period of six weeks for IFC fraternities; socials with alcohol limited to four during fall semester and six during spring semester; events with alcohol at houses allowed only if the chapter uses third-party vendors, provides food and has police or security officers approved by the FSU Police Department present for the duration of the event; new rules for tailgating events held by Greek organizations.
“Print editions in Florida Keys to end as focus shifts to digital” via the Miami Herald — The Keynoter and the Reporter, community newspapers in the Florida Keys, will cease print publication in March as news coverage shifts to a digital-only focus that will offer readers more frequent updates through the day as well as exclusive in-depth stories about life in Monroe County. News and local advertising will continue to appear under one digital brand, FlKeysNews.com, with a focus on tourism, affordable housing, the environment, crime, and rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Irma. McClatchy company owns the weekly Reporter and twice-weekly Keynoter are owned and are subsidiaries of the Miami Herald Media Company. Print publication will end as of March 25, along with the e-editions of the Reporter and Keynoter. The Miami Herald will cease home delivery to the Florida Keys at that point as well.
— OPINIONS —
“Daniel Ruth: Please appoint me to the wildlife commission, Governor. Please?” via the Tampa Bay Times — Dear Gov. Rick Scott: Please consider this missive as a formal request to be appointed to fill the next opening that might arise on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Given some of your recent choices to serve on the commission, it would appear that I am just as uniquely unqualified to oversee our great state’s natural resources. Still, I believe I would be a welcome addition to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, bringing some special talents to the post. As a lad growing up in Ohio, I served a stint in the Boy Scouts. I learned to smoke cigarettes and drink liquor, valuable skills for later in life. I still have a noticeable scar on my right knee from my last days in the woods back in 1962, when I tripped over a rope and landed on a tent stake. If it makes a difference, I have been fishing. Once.
“Brewster Bevis: Reject public policy that threatens the property rights of Florida businesses” via Florida Politics — Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) has been a staunch supporter of keeping public notices in newspapers and online to ensure the numerous Florida businesses that AIF represents — 90 percent of which are small businesses — can easily locate and access critical information. Yet, each year, there are threats to move these notices to an online-only format that are often obscure or yet to be created. Currently proposed Senate Bill 898 and House Bill 691 will allow public notices to be published in a newspaper OR posted ONLY on “a public website that customarily conducts personal property auctions.” If this legislation passes, the current notice requirement that leverages both the internet AND print media to cast the widest net before personal property is seized and sold at auction will, in actuality, be eliminated. Meaning the citizens and businesses across the state who regularly use self-storage facilities to store their inventory or equipment and who may fall behind on rent, for even a single month, could see their property seized and sold after only a single advertisement on an ambiguous auction website. It is paramount public notice remains protected, and individuals and businesses’ personal property rights are preserved … VOTE NO on SB 898 and HB 691.
“FRLA’s Carol Dover talks short-term rentals” via Florida Politics — There are two introduced bills on the agenda that would impact the short-term rental industry, but only one that adequately addresses the need to establish a clear, sensible line between traditional and commercially operated short-term rentals. That is Senate Bill 1640 by Sen. David Simmons … as it stands today, we are only trying to define reasonable boundaries between traditional home sharing and commercial rentals, which consist of a growing trend of real estate speculators acquiring and listing multiple units in the same residential neighborhood and/or listing these units in a revolving door fashion. These “commercial operators” are running what amount to “illegal hotels” at an intensifying pace through their exploitation of online short-term rental platforms … the Legislature should: get everyone licensed through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR); compel commercial operators — not traditional vacation rentals — to adhere to heightened, common-sense regulations that ensure the well-being of guests and Floridians alike; and make sure the DBPR license number is on all advertisements, so regulatory and tax compliance is adequately enforceable. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supports SB 1640. It is the only legislation that soundly addresses commercial operators and offers smart solutions to curtail illegal hotels and keep Florida’s neighborhoods safe.
“Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris: Vacation rentals support tourism” via Florida Politics — Vacation rentals create extra capacity for the ever-increasing number of travelers coming to our beautiful state. These same visitors help support local businesses and restaurants, some of which are members of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. As vacation rentals, fueled by easy to use online platforms such as Airbnb and HomeAway, have increased in popularity, some have suggested that the Florida hotel industry must be suffering. The data show the opposite — the Florida hotel industry is growing as well. This extra income pumps millions of dollars into local economies and benefits all businesses. Reputable vacation rental owners and managers, like myself, want to do what is right and pay our fair share of taxes back to our local and state government. We are not looking for a “free ride.”
— MOVEMENTS —
Personnel note: Erin VanSickle joins OIR — VanSickle, who had been External Affairs Director at Volunteer Florida, will next be Deputy Chief of Staff at the state’s Office of Insurance Regulation. She announced the news in a Facebook post on Monday. “Can’t wait to start this new adventure and continue to #ServeFL,” she wrote. VanSickle, a longtime Tallahasseean, also was Vice President of Communications at Florida Medical Association, and worked at the Republican Party of Florida. She is active in the canine rescue community.
“Ballard Partners signs Russian billionaire” via POLITICO — Ballard Partners signed Russian businessman David Iakobachvili as a client … Iakobachvili is known as one of Russia’s most successful entrepreneurs and founded the Russian food producer Wimm-Bill-Dann, which PepsiCo bought in 2010. (Iakobachvili is from Georgia originally.) In 2014, Forbes estimated that Iakobachvili had a net worth of $1.2 billion and cited energy as the source of his wealth. Last year, Reuters reported that the oil company Rosneft, which the Russian government owns most of, partnered with Iakobachvili “and his Petrocas oil products trading and logistics firm [as] part of efforts to build new markets as the Russian oil major grapples with U.S. and EU sanctions imposed in 2014 over Moscow’s activities in Ukraine.”
New and renewed lobbying registrations:
Kirk Bailey: ACLU of Florida
Stuart Brown, SKB Consulting Group: KIPP New Jersey
Melanie Brown-Woofter, Sally Cunningham, Jane Johnson, Shane Messer: Florida Council for Behavioral Healthcare
Christopher Dawson, GrayRobinson: City of Kissimmee
Peter Dunbar, Martha Edenfield, Dean Mead: Florida Bowling Centers Association
James Estes: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Rob Fields, Suskey Consulting: GCOM
Mike Haridopolos, Dean Mead: Miami-Dade Expressway Authority
Demetrius Minor: Americans for Prosperity
Jim Naff, Smith Bryan & Myers: City of Moore Haven
Adriana Pereira-Reyes: Walmart Stores
Kellie Ralston: American Sportfishing Association
Teye Reeves, Floridian Partners: Wildlife Foundation of Florida
Jason Roth, The Fiorentino Group: Flagler County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller, Intuition Ale Works, Jacksonville Aviation Authority
Jennifer Rubiello: Environment America DBA Environment Florida
Robert Schenck, The Legis Group: Earth Tech
Frederick Springer, Bryant Miller Olive: Bryant Miller Olive
Lucy Morgan guests on latest ep of “Fluent in Floridian” — The retired St. Peterburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times) Tallahassee bureau chief and Pulitzer Prize winner is the guest on the latest podcast episode, produced by Salter Mitchell PR. Host Chris Cate and Morgan “discuss everything from her unique start in journalism to her jail sentence for protecting sources.” The episode is here.
On this week’s edition of The Rotunda — On the latest episode of The Rotunda, Trimmel Gomes will take a closer look at the various sex scandals rocking Florida’s Capitol and examine Tallahassee culture from a woman’s point of view. Gomes chats with reporter Allison Nielsen of the Sunshine State News who received warnings from female colleagues before taking the statehouse reporting gig. Gomes talks with Sens. Montford and Book about the scandals about the mood in their chamber. Also, is Florida’s legislature lagging behind other states in response to sexual harassment? Lisae Jordan, executive director of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, talks with Gomes about how the Maryland General Assembly is ahead of the country with its rapid response and passage of several laws to help victims of sexual assault. Plus, Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman program is looking for volunteers. Gomes discusses the program during Florida Senior Day with Gary Franck, a certified volunteer ombudsman.
— COUNTDOWN TO PYEONGCHANG —
“Freestyler Maggie Voisin returns to Olympics after breaking ankle” via Eddie Pells of The Associated Press — The youngest person to qualify for the 2014 U.S. Olympic team would not get her chance to become the youngest person to compete for the 2014 U.S. Olympic team. “It definitely lit a fire under me for the last four years,” says Voisin, now 19 and still at the top of the slopestyle world. “It’s been a long road, but I remember in Sochi when I found out I broke it, I was, like, ‘I’ve got to make sure I do everything I possibly can to get back to the next one.'” As was the case then, Voisin will be a medal contender in the women’s slopestyle contest, which this year takes place Feb. 17 at the Bokwang Phoenix Park near Pyeongchang. She also endured a season-ending knee injury shortly after coming back from the broken ankle. Voisin believes the setbacks and time in rehab have given her perspective that many teenagers wouldn’t have. “There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t take any of it back,” she said. “It’s shaped me, and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned to take care of my body, to be more serious about my workouts and what I put into my body. And with what I’ve learned at such a young age, I think I’ll have that much longer a career.”
“Lindsey Vonn eyes some unfinished business at 2018 Olympics” via Howard Fendrich and Pat Graham — A crash during training had left her screaming, then passing out from the pain, on the side of a Colorado mountain, 15 months ahead of the Pyeongchang Olympics. Just one of a series of serious injuries that have interrupted the American’s illustrious ski career, this required delicate surgery to insert a plate and more than a dozen screws into her broken right arm while trying to avoid nerve damage. “She looked up at me: ‘Buddy, you’re going to fix this, right? You’ve got this?’” her longtime sports physical therapist, Lindsay Winninger, recalled in a recent telephone interview. “I confidently said, ‘Yes.’ But at that point in time, I didn’t know if I (could). That was hard from Day One. … We were putting in almost eight hours a day on that arm, to try and revive the nerve a little bit and get things done as fast as possible. That was a big one.” … “The thing is, everyone asks me if I’m afraid after so many crashes. Do I take my foot off the gas pedal? … You try to manage risk as much as you want,” she said. “But at the end of the day, it’s a dangerous sport.” Whatever might get in her way, Vonn presses ahead. That’s why she will be back at the Olympics next month. And back on World Cup courses next year. Maybe even racing against men.
“Watch Olympian Mikaela Shiffrin fly past the boys in NBC Super Bowl commercial” via Breanne Heldman of Entertainment Weekly — Up first is alpine skier Shiffrin, who took gold in Sochi in 2014 in slalom (she’s actually the youngest to ever win gold in the event), and will be competing once again in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Her mini-movie highlights her determination, as well as her motto, “A.B.F.T.T.B.” (“Always Be Faster Than the Boys”), all set to Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” The phrase has been a rallying cry for 22-year-old Shiffrin ever since Heidi Voelker — who appears in the ad — signed a poster for her that said it.
Click on the image below to watch the ad:
— ALOE —
“Warmer weather is turning turtles on this South Florida beach female” via Anne Geggis of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — The dominance of the female reptiles on Boca Raton’s beaches appears to be the result of global warming, according to a Florida Atlantic University researcher whose new study was published in the journal Endangered Species Research. That could mean trouble for these hatchlings in about 20 years, when today’s baby turtles start looking for mates and find a dating pool that’s drying up. Unlike humans, sex chromosomes do not determine the gender of sea turtles. It’s the temperature outside of turtle eggs while they incubate underground that plays a role in the gender, with only females being born when the nests heat up.
“A Celebration of Harry Potter teases new Hogwarts castle light show, mobile game at Universal Orlando” via Chelsea Tatham of the Tampa Bay Times — Like the light show that debuted during the holiday season, the Nighttime Lights use projection mapping and special effects to wrap the towering medieval school in lights and colors set to original music and scores from the Harry Potter films. While the holiday show featured notable moments from the films’ Christmas and Yule Ball scenes, the Nighttime Lights celebrates the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry — Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. A fluorescent green snake coils itself around the turrets of Hogwarts; a black and white badger digs itself out of the castle’s base while yellow lights stream around it; the towers light up in an icy blue with swirling effects that move like eagle wings; and bright yellow and red lights swirl like flames while lions paw and roar around the bottom. The new show is short, sweet and powerful.
“Super Bowl spending expected to increase significantly this year” — The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) says Florida families will spend an average of $81.17 per person to watch Super Bowl LII between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots. The average cost per person is up 8.5 percent over 2017, with total spending nationally expected to surpass $15.3 billion. According to the National Retail Federation’s annual Super Bowl Spending Survey … of the 76 percent of those surveyed who plan to watch the game, 82 percent say they will purchase food and beverages — up slightly from 80 percent last year — and the highest in the survey’s history. Another 11 percent will buy team apparel or accessories … New televisions and decorations hold a similar draw for those planning to watch at home, with 8 percent planning to purchase each … Those consumers ages 25-34 will spend the most of any age group at an average of $118.43.
Happy birthday to Umar Sattar.
