Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session
The Last 24
Good Thursday evening. A ban on video games that play like slot machines is on the move, and a speaker at a committee hearing accused House members of frequenting houses of ill repute. We wouldn’t know: Sixty Days doesn’t get out much. Here’s your nightly rundown.
Pre-reveal passes: A bill to ban pre-reveal games (or slot machine-style entertainment consoles), was rescued Thursday in a procedural move after it initially failed on a tie vote.
Hookers in the House? A legislative panel faced a shocking revelation — lawmakers may be soliciting prostitutes in the capital city.
Close call: A vacation rentals deregulation bill cleared the House Government Accountability Committee but on a narrow margin.
Gambling gambit: The Seminole Tribe of Florida is airing an ad in the Tallahassee market urging passage of a new gambling deal, even as lawmakers say it’s less likely it’ll be considered by Session’s end.
Payday proposal: A heavily debated bill that would change regulations for payday lenders continued moving forward Thursday and is ready to go to the House floor.
Investigative tools: The Senate Appropriations Committee ran out of time to consider a bill that would give police more power to investigate school shooting threats posted on social media.
Mandatory minimum: A measure that would allow courts to depart from mandatory minimum sentences in certain drug trafficking cases is now heading to the Senate floor for consideration.
Dealership drama: A bill aimed at making changes to car dealership regulations stalled out in committee over objections it would give a single industry association a monopoly on dealer training.
Emergency funding: Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter to the head of the U.S. Department of Justice requesting $1 million in funding to assist state law enforcement and first responders in wake of Parkland mass shooting.
Quote of the Day
“I’m not even sure if he really knows who I am, and what role I play in the Legislature. Because when I said my caucus did a news release that says exactly what bills we care about, he said, ‘well, can you get that to our office?’ Bruh, if you … don’t have the caucus position of the Senate minority, which is 15 to 16 members, and is playing a very big role in this, then I don’t know what your office is doing. His office did have it, but the thing is, he didn’t know who I was, so it didn’t matter, probably.” — Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon, describing his interaction earlier this week with Gov. Scott.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
Senate President Joe Negron on Thursday gave a far rosier picture of the 2018-19 state budget than did House Speaker Richard Corcoran on Wednesday. Negron, speaking to reporters at a press availability, said he was “very pleased with the progress that we’re making,” calling differences between the House and Senate “manageable.” But we still don’t have allocations, the big chunks of money doled to subcommittees to craft the individual parts of the yearly spending plan. And no real clear idea when they’re coming. Maybe it’s just always sunny in Negron-land. The Stuart Republican also talked about legislation coming early next week in response to the Parkland shooting. (The usual disclosure: Questions and answers edited for clarity and length.)
Q: Where do things stand with a gun bill or school safety bill?
Negron: Rules Chair Lizbeth Benacquisto will sponsor one or more bills … I’ve met with (Democratic) Leader (Oscar) Braynon several times this week to talk about these issues, regulation of guns and mental health, school safety … addressing really in a comprehensive way all of the issues. I think that process is moving forward and both the House and Senate will be in a position early next week to start considering legislation.
Q: Will that include a provision to arm teachers in schools?
Negron: That will definitely be one of the ideas that is considered. What the final form of that looks like, I’m not sure. But I support the principle of properly trained and properly credentialed adults to supplement our school safety program, (whether that’s) teachers, retired military, retired law enforcement, that have the appropriate training and background checks done, psychological evaluations, to have them in our schools to provide additional security. That would be something I would support … We’re looking at paying for the cost of obtaining the appropriate certification and background checks. Whether that would include a salary increase (for armed teachers), we haven’t gotten that far yet.
Q: Why isn’t a state ban on assault rifles under consideration?
Negron: It’s more appropriate for our focus to be on making sure someone with a history of mental instability, with a threatening and menacing nature, with multiple contacts with law enforcement, with a call made to the FBI to report this person … that we should focus on making sure that person not gain any possession of firearms whatsoever. I have talked about fidelity to the constitution. We have a commitment to follow it in difficult times as well as in times when our rights are not in question … There’s a delicate balance, no right is absolute … I believe that to ban a particular type of rifle, in my judgment, crosses the line into being unconstitutional.
Lobby Up
“Cruises to nowhere” need a lobbyist, it seems.
H. Lee Moffitt has signed Tynda Holdings as a client, effective Feb. 16, registration records show.
Based in Cape Canaveral, the company “(does) business as Victory Casino Cruises … offering ocean cruise tours which provide gambling, dining, and entertainment services,” according to its Bloomberg Business profile.
Moffitt, a former House Speaker (1982-84), withdrew from Tampa’s Adams and Reese and started his own firm last year, also in Tampa.
He served in the Legislature 1974-84 as a Democrat.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
The Florida State University Board of Trustees will meet. That’s at 8:30 a.m., FSU Alumni Center, 1030 W. Tennessee St., Tallahassee.
The Florida Board of Podiatric Medicine will meet. That’s at 9 a.m., Renaissance World Golf Village Resort, 500 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine.
The Florida Department of Health will consider a proposed rule regarding pesticide use on marijuana crops. That’s at 10 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.
The Office of Economic and Demographic Research and Department of Revenue will hold a revenue estimating conference and discuss the General Revenue forecast. That’s at 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, The Capitol.
Gov. Scott is expected to introduce a legislative proposal addressing issues in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland.
