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.
Even though it’s the issue nearly everyone has lost interest in, the House’s gambling bill will be on the floor at the end of the week.
One amendment had been filed as of Wednesday afternoon. The change by Rep. Al Jacquet, a Lantana Democrat, would remove language banning pre-reveal games, the slot-machine style entertainment consoles found in bars and taverns, mostly in northeast Florida.
A separate bill to ban pre-reveal games was rescued last week in a procedural move after it initially failed on a tie vote. That measure also is available for the floor.
To be sure, how pre-reveal games work and whether they are really gambling has confounded courts and lawmakers. The games work by “previewing” outcomes as to their winning or losing status.
Tallahassee-based Circuit Judge John Cooper first said they were OK under existing law, then reconsidered his decision, ruling that they’re illegal slots. That’s now under appeal.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida, which has exclusive rights to offer slots outside South Florida, is attempting to shut down the games because it believes they violate that exclusivity.
Pre-reveal lobbyists have said the games are for fun, not gambling. (Even though the machines pay out.)
“Each play, you know what the outcome is going to be,” said Christine Davis-Graves, lobbyist for game company Pace-O-Matic. “The player never plays a game without knowing the outcome.”
But why?
“There is no answer to that,” she said. “We can’t delve into the subjective mindset” of the people who play pre-reveal.
One reason? “Time wasting.”
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
— @MarcoRubio: The debate after #Parkland reminds us We The People don’t really like each other very much.We smear those who refuse to agree with us.We claim a Judea-Christian heritage but celebrate arrogance & boasting. & worst of all we have infected the next generation with the same disease
— @LearyReports: “If Congress fails to act now, when will we act?” – @SenBillNelson on floor now. “If this tragedy doesn’t spur us to act and lead us to change, what will?”
— @TamaraKeithNPR: President Trump just made the claim again that if there had been a good guy with a gun at the Pulse Nightclub, the shooting wouldn’t have been as bad. There was a good guy with a gun.
— @Fineout: .@FLGovScott was asked today about people boycotting companies due to ties to the NRA – Scott replied that he had been in business for decades & “It never occurred me to get rid of a customer over politics.”
— @JimRosicaFL: “This is a compromise bill, but the politics around it are toxic.” — @RepJoseOliva after today’s floor session, on the post-Parkland legislation.
— @TheDaraKam: Linda Schulman, whose son, Scott Beigel, died protecting students from a hail of bullets, tells @FLSenateDems “we have been very misled” about school safety bill, after House’s amendments yesterday.
— @CBS4Ted: David Hogg may be the national face of Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ #NeverAgain movement, but he’s also a brother and son. Today his mom walked him in to school
— @MDixon55: BUSTED: @Rob_Bradley: “I do not have a vegetable garden”
— DAYS UNTIL —
Last day to take up Special Order Calendar – 4; 2018 Winter Paralympics begins – 7; Sine Die (maybe) — 8; St. Patrick’s Day – 16; March For Our Lives/#NeverAgain gun violence protest – 23; Major League Baseball Opening Day — 28; Easter – 31; NFL Draft begins – 54; Close of candidate qualifying for federal office – 64; Solo: A Star Wars Story premier — 83; Close of candidate qualifying for statewide office — 113; Primary Election Day — 180; College Football opening weekend – 184; General Election Day — 250; ‘Hamilton’ comes to the Straz Center — 348.
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— THE POLITICS OF PARKLAND —
“Poll shows most Florida voters support gun control measures, oppose arming teachers” via Ledyard King of USA TODAY – By clear majorities, Florida voters oppose arming teachers, support a nationwide ban on assault weapons and want background checks for all gun buyers, according to a Quinnipiac University poll … The poll has a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points. The findings suggest little ambivalence among the Sunshine State electorate: voters support “stricter gun laws” by a 65-29 percent margin. Among the specific measures drawing the most support: Requiring background checks for all gun buyers (96-3 percent). Banning sale of high-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds (62-34 percent). Implementing mandatory waiting period on all gun purchases (87-10 percent). Raising the minimum age to buy any gun from 18 to 21 years old (78-20 percent).
“Parkland meets Pulse, uniting in grief, anger and frustration” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics – A busload of Parkland community members, including families of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, came to pay their respects at the Pulse nightclub, and to share in their experiences both of and following the mass shootings of Feb. 14, 2018, and June 12, 2016. These are not happy groups, but they were joyful to meet one another, in the company of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and former state Sen. Jeremy Ring, two Democratic politicians as closely affected by the massacres as any. Dyer oversaw much of Orlando’s response, coming out of it Orlando United. Ring is a Parkland resident, running for Florida Chief Financial Officer, with his campaign temporarily suspended since the school shooting. The group, part of the much larger contingent that spent the past week in Tallahassee seeking legislative responses to the shooting, was not put together for any ideological positions, but at Pulse, their anger and frustration appeared widespread: angry that their community suffered another shooting, frustrated that many believe the Florida Legislature let them down.
“This wounded Parkland student won’t return to her high school. But she’ll still get her diploma” via Jason Hanna of CNN – Samantha Fuentes walks with a cane after a bullet pierced her thigh and shrapnel hit her legs and face during the deadly shooting at South Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. But her injuries aren’t the reason she says she won’t finish her senior year there. She’s withdrawing from the school – just months from graduation – intending instead to complete the requirements for her diploma with online courses. All things weighed, she can’t see the point of going back. “I want to be a part of Stoneman Douglas and I want to live out the rest of my high school career normally. But there’s no such thing as normal anymore,” she told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota.
House issues subpoenas in Parkland response – The Florida House on Wednesday issued subpoenas requesting information from five South Florida government agencies, including Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel’s office, as lawmakers seek answers about events leading up to the mass shooting this month of 14 students and three faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. House Speaker Richard Corcoran and other Republicans demanded that Israel resign or be suspended from office after it was revealed that the school’s resource officer did not enter the school during the shooting. The House approved subpoenas for information from Israel’s office, the Broward County School Board, Broward County government, the Coral Springs Police Department and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The subpoenas seek information related to the agencies’ policies and interactions with the shooter, who had a troubled history. The subpoenas also seek information about responses to the massacre. House Public Integrity and Ethics Chairman Larry Metz said he wants answers by Tuesday.
“More money sought for mental health services to treat Parkland shooting survivors” via Alexandra Glorioso of POLITICO Florida – With state budget talks underway, Broward mental health experts are pushing for more than $8.2 million in last-minute funding to help counsel and treat students in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. They want $2 million of the $8.2 million in the current fiscal year so they can begin rolling out services immediately. Incoming Senate President Bill Galvano told POLITICO “it is possible” the Legislature will take up the additional money request. Silvia Quintana, chief executive officer of Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, told POLITICO that mental health providers need the funds to help treat traumatized students who are too afraid to go back to the Parkland school. She said her organization, the “managing entity” that oversees the county’s mental health care services, is working with the school and local mental health providers to give therapy and support to struggling students and their families.
Assignment editors – Gov. Scott will visit Palm Beach County to highlight his action plan for major changes in student safety, including a proposed $500 million for school safety and mental health. News conference begins 9:45 a.m. at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, 3228 Gun Club Road, In West Palm Beach.
“Adam Putnam opposes raising Florida’s gun buying age to 21” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times – “I can’t imagine that a state that has done so much to encourage youth hunter safety would outlaw the purchase of any and all firearms by someone under 21,” Agriculture Commissioner Putnam said in a statement when asked where he stands on the assorted gun control proposals — arming teachers, three-day waiting periods, bump stock ban, raising the minimum age for buying a rifle from 18 to 21 – by the governor and legislators. “As someone who grew up in possession of firearms, learning a respect for firearms and practicing the safe use of firearms as part of my heritage, I can’t support any policy or any law that destroys the family tradition of possessing and practicing safe use of firearms.”
Hands off concealed carry money, Putnam says – An angry Putnam lashed out at lawmakers Wednesday for planning to raid a state account funded by fees from concealed weapon licenses. As Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Putnam is in charge of issuing such permits. A proposal (SB 7026) in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School would take 10 percent of the Division of Licensing Trust Fund to reimburse “trauma centers for documented medical costs of treating victims of mass shootings.” “I oppose taxing law-abiding concealed weapon licensees for atrocities carried out by criminals,” Putnam said in a statement. “If anyone should be taxed for those heinous acts, it should be criminals. The monster who murdered 17 people in Parkland wasn’t even eligible to have a concealed weapon license.”
“Florida lawmaker repeats dodgy claim about crimes by cops versus concealed permit holders” via Jon Greenberg of PolitiFact – Florida State Rep. Matt Caldwell appeared on CNN to explain why he and his colleagues voted not to consider a bill to ban assault-style weapons after the horrific high school shooting in Parkland … Caldwell said that a law enforcement officer is more likely to commit a crime than a concealed weapon permit holder. That is based on shaky numbers. The article behind Caldwell’s statement treated the number of criminal cases involving officers as if it were equal to the number of officers themselves. According to the researcher that looked at those crimes by police, that “mangled” the crime rates of officers. A single officer could be named in many cases. On the flip side of the ledger, other researchers said that using permit revocations undercounts the number of crimes by permit holders. The analyst behind the Caldwell’s statement agreed that it is an imperfect measure. Those numbers point to the need for more research, but they don’t prove anything. We rate this claim False.
“Dick’s Sporting Goods bans sales of assault-style weapons after Parkland school shooting” via Nathan Bomey of USA TODAY – The nation’s largest sporting goods retailer announced the move in an open letter and an appearance by CEO Ed Stack on Good Morning America. The retailer will also end sales of high-capacity magazines and sales of guns to people under 21 years old. Assault-style weapon sales ended at Dick’s-branded stores after the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting in 2012. But the company was still selling them at its 35 Field & Stream locations, which specialize in hunting and outdoors products. “As we looked at what happened down in Parkland, we were so disturbed and saddened by what happened, we felt we really needed to do something,” Stack told GMA’s George Stephanopoulos.
— CAPITOL INSIGHT —
“Dana Young drops out of 2022 Senate presidency race” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida – State Sen. Young has pulled her name from the race for the Senate presidency term beginning 2022. “As I’m completing my second session in the Senate, I’ve realized the commitment of pursuing and untimely serving as presiding officer requires more time than I am willing to spend away from my family and my constituents,” she told POLITICO. Though the race had remained largely under the radar, the Tampa Republican had been jockeying for position with GOP state Sens. Travis Hutson of Palm Coast and Kathleen Passidomo of Naples. Sen. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican, was also trying to gain support, but has now decided to run for Congress. Young said she has not put her support behind anyone.
“House, Senate agree on major school funding issue” via Lloyd Dunkelberger of the News Service of Florida – Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley said the Senate has agreed with the House on how to use local property taxes to help fund the 67 school districts. The House had objected to using an increase in the local taxes, known as the “required local effort,” that came as a result of higher property values. Under the agreement, the Senate and House will use increases in local tax collections related to newly constructed homes and businesses. But they will lower the tax rate on existing properties to offset potential tax increases caused by higher values of those properties. The net effect will be a funding plan close to what the House originally advanced, using $192 million in local taxes combined with $315 million in state funding for a $507 million overall increase in the school funding formula. It resulted in a $100 increase in per-student funding in a statewide system that includes 2.8 million students.
“Government operations budget conference: ‘How far apart we aren’t’ ” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – The good news out of the first meeting of the Legislature’s general government budget conference, held Wednesday night, was how close the House and Senate already are. A relatively small gulf of about $9.2 million separated the two budgets, worth roughly $2 billion each, from the House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee, and the Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee. “It goes to show you how far apart we aren’t,” said state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, the Spring Hill Republican chairing the conference committee … Sen. David Simmons, an Altamonte Springs Republican and the conference’s vice-chair, accepted the offer but did not say when the conference would next meet.
“Florida Healthy Start program decries budget cuts” via Florida Politics – The Florida Senate’s budget proposes “harmful proviso language and a $19 million funding cut” to Florida Healthy Start, the program said Monday. If passed, it “will devastate the program’s ability to provide essential services that support healthy pregnancies and outcomes for Florida’s most vulnerable families.” Since Healthy Start was created in 1991, Florida has seen a 35 percent decrease in infant mortality, due in part to services and programs provided by Healthy Start coalitions, available in all 67 Florida counties. This proposed $19 million cut makes up nearly a third of Healthy Start’s budget and would eliminate critical community intervention and prenatal education and support services for thousands of high-risk pregnant women and infants across the state.
“Substance abuse treatment advocates fight for funding” via Florida Politics – Medical providers and law enforcement leaders came out fighting on Wednesday, urging the Florida House to restore funding for opioid addiction treatment. The House budget eliminates funding for 52 community providers under the state courts system, 45 programs under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) program, and 10 programs run by sheriffs and law enforcement across the state. The Senate, however, has maintained base funding of $7 million for treatment. At issue is the use of extended-release injectable naltrexone, which lasts 30 days per treatment and is not an opiate, so itself is not addictive, experts say.
“Rob Bradley kills his criminal justice bill ‘to fund school safety initiatives” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics – After a criminal justice bill sponsored by Senate budget chief Rob Bradley was zeroed out Wednesday in early negotiations, he said he will kill it to help fund plans to harden schools and fund for mental health services. “I have killed my own bill,” Bradley told Florida Politics. The move to kill the bill took Sen. Jeff Brandes, the co-sponsor of the measure, by surprise. “I 100 percent did not know this was going to happen,” Brandes said. The sweeping criminal justice reform (SB 484) would have cost taxpayers $10 million to fund and would have authorized counties to create supervised bond release programs and allowed qualifying inmates to be moved from prison to county jails in cases when they are terminally ill and given less than a year to live. The bail bond industry last week lobbied hard against the measure.
“Senate subcommittee puts PIP repeal legislation on life support” via Michael Moline of Florida Politics – A budget subcommittee voted to kill the Senate’s no-fault insurance repeal bill. But the condition is not necessarily terminal. The panel’s chairwoman voted no even though she favored the measure and then moved to pass it temporarily. That would allow her to call for additional hearings on the bill later on, when perhaps it might find more support. That said, SB 150, by Tom Lee, attracted a single yes vote. “I voted against the bill to ensure that, procedurally, I would be on the prevailing side. So that we could keep the issue around,” Anitere Flores, chair of the Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, said. “It was fairly obvious that the bill did not have votes in its current format to pass,” she said. So, the bill is dead, a reporter suggested. “It’s not. Nothing is dead until Day 60,” Flores said.
“Primary texting-while-driving ban teed up in House” via Florida Politics – Sponsors of a measure that would make texting and driving a primary offense in Florida on Wednesday continued their fight for the bill’s passage, even though it appears dead in the Senate. The House bill (HB 33), which has the support of Speaker Corcoran, was heard on the House floor. The measure is sponsored by Reps. Emily Slosberg, a Boca Raton Democrat, and Jackie Toledo, a Tampa Republican. “It will change behavior and save lives,” Toledo said Wednesday.
“Bottoms up: Bevy of booze bills ready for vote in House” via Florida Politics – A raft of House bills related to alcoholic beverages, including one dealing with booze-delivery apps, were discussed Wednesday and set up for votes. Among them, one (HB 667) would expressly allow Floridians to use a smartphone app to order alcoholic beverages for home delivery. It’s supported by Uber, among others. Delivery through apps such as Drizly and Shipt is already available in the state, but “current law does not address orders received via the internet or other electronic forms of communication,” a staff analysis said.
Assignment editors – Senior citizens and members of the Florida Life Care Resident’s Association will join Sen. Tom Lee and Reps. Sean Shaw and Jamie Grant for a 12:30 p.m.news conference on the 4th-Floor Rotunda of The Capitol to push for SB 438, which brings significant changes to the laws protecting retirees living in continuing care retirement communities (CCRC).
Governors Club Thursday lunch buffet menu – Mixed green salad with assorted dressings; penne pasta salad; beet salad; cream of asparagus soup; roasted pork loin with apple and cornbread stuffing, brandy sauce; breaded cod; cheddar potato fries; Brussels sprouts and mushrooms; sautéed yellow squash with tomatoes; rice pudding for dessert.
— FOR YOUR RADAR —
New video urges AOB reform – Newly released video testimonials of consumers harmed by Assignment of Benefits abuse urge lawmakers to do something. “We don’t want other people go through this,’’ said Wendy Snellgrove. She and her husband, Charles, signed an AOB after finding a water leak in their kitchen in January 2017 and now are embroiled in legal action with the home repair vendor over excessive charges. More than a year later, the Clearwater couple’s kitchen is still torn up. The Consumer Protection Coalition released the videos as part of its campaign to pass AOB reform this legislative session … the coalition is urging the Senate to pass House Bill 7015 by Rep. Jay Trumbull that would allow policyholders to rescind an AOB contract without any penalty and would require cost estimates for work and notices that a vendor intends to file a lawsuit against an insurer. It also modifies one-way attorney fees that have been blamed for incentivizing vendors and their attorneys from filing lawsuits when insurance companies refuse to pay what they consider to be inflated claims. “For anyone who doesn’t believe AOB abuse is causing hardship and stress for consumers, these videos should change their mind,” said Edie Ousley, vice president of public affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which spearheads the coalition. “Senators often say they want to hear from real consumers on these issues — here they are.”
— STATEWIDE —
Assignment editors – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham will spend a Workday with the West Palm Beach Area Agency on Aging to learn about the needs of Florida senior citizens. Media availability begins 3 p.m. at 4400 N. Congress Ave. in West Palm Beach.
EMILY’s List endorses Nancy Soderberg in CD 6 – The nation’s largest resource for women in politics, endorsed Soderberg for Florida’s 6th Congressional District. Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, said in a statement: “A former deputy national security adviser to President Clinton and ambassador to the United Nations, Nancy Soderberg knows what it means to take on tough jobs. She has used her positions to advocate change, move our country forward, and defend the rights of our citizens. In her current role as a professor at the University of North Florida and a small-business owner, she is deeply invested in her community and will do what it takes to ensure that the working families of the 6th District have a voice in Washington. Nancy will fight for access to quality health care, affordable higher education, and commonsense policies that will protect our environment … It’s time for a representative who will actually fight for working families.”
Over 300 attend Northwest Florida CRC public hearing – Hundreds of Floridians attended a public hearing of the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) in Pensacola at the University of West Florida (UWF) as part of its “Road to the Ballot” public hearing tour. At UWF, more than 140 individuals requested to speak before the CRC and more than 300 attended the public hearing. All attending the public hearing and wanted to speak were given an opportunity to be heard by the CRC. Video of the public hearing held in Pensacola is at the Florida Channel website which has a page dedicated to all CRC public hearings and meetings. Upcoming stops on the CRC tour include Monday, March 5, beginning 1 p.m. at the Westin, Tarpon Point Ballroom, 5951 Silver King Blvd. in Cape Coral and Tuesday, March 13, beginning at 1 p.m. at the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg University student Center, 2600 6th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg.
New FPL plant discussed – The Florida Public Service Commission will meet to discuss approval for a “determination of need” for a proposed Florida Power & Light power plant in Broward County, which could replace two old generating plants. Meeting begins 9:30 a.m. at the Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way in Tallahassee.
FSU town hall on namings – the Florida State University President’s Advisory Panel on University Namings and Recognitions will hold a pair of town hall forums as part of its review and recommendations on University policies for campus names and markers. Meetings begin 9 a.m. at the Florida State University Roberts Hall, 425 W. Jefferson St. and 3 p.m. at the Black Student Union House, 921 W. Jefferson St. in Tallahassee.
— OPINIONS —
“Rob Bradley’s fairness doctrine” via Florida Politics – Senate Appropriations Chair Bradley is undertaking something seen too rarely in the Legislative process: He is actually trying to clean up and improve Florida’s health care financing policy. Bradley intends to do this by finally eliminating “auto-payments,” a payment scheme that Gov. Scott described in 2015 as arbitrary, inconsistent and bearing no relationship to improving access or quality of care. The argument those hospitals are making now is that they treat the highest percentage of Medicaid patients. What they don’t want you know is the state already recognizes their high Medicaid caseloads through other channels. Those same 11 hospitals received $400 million of Low Income Pool funding. They got $163 million in Medicaid Disproportionate Share payments as well. Bradley is providing much-needed leadership by attempting to end payment formulas disconnected from any incentives for efficiency or quality of care.
“R. Scott Shalley: allowing pharmacists to administer vital flu shots saves lives” via Florida Politics – This year’s flu is one of the most potent and deadly in years, but being able to get treatment in time can save lives, as long as patients have timely access to the vaccinations. Which many don’t. Now imagine the ability to get this same crucial inoculation from your local pharmacy, with no need to schedule an appointment. This would serve as an easy way for an individual to get tested, treated and not have to worry about suffering from the flu. For patients, being inoculated at a pharmacy would be cheap and most importantly, convenient which is why pharmacies and pharmacists are ideal partners for a pandemic immunization response. Unfortunately, as logical as this scenario sounds, the Florida legislature has decided that it’s better to limit access to vital health care. SB 524 was proposed to allow pharmacists to administer flu tests and then treat and prescribe Tamiflu to the consumer. A “yes” vote would ensure lives are saved.
— MOVEMENTS —
“Neal Dunn’s chief of staff resigns after alleged sexual harassment” via Rachael Bade of POLITICO Florida – Brian Schubert, chief of staff for Rep. Dunn, resigned after the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into alleged sexual harassment by him and his former boss, Rep. Patrick Meehan. Meehan, a married Pennsylvania Republican, has announced that he will retire following news reports that he used taxpayer money to settle a harassment claim by a former staffer … But in a story worthy of a soap opera, Meehan and Schubert, his former chief of staff, were both accused of harassing the same woman … Meehan let Schubert go in 2016 when he found out that Schubert expressed an unwanted romantic interest in the female staffer — only to make his own advances on the woman. The resignation comes the day after the ethics panel opened up an investigative subcommittee to probe both Meehan’s and Schubert’s treatment of the woman.
Appointed – Marili Cancio, Bernie Navarro, Juan Zapata and Jose Fuentes to the Miami-Dade College District Board of Trustees; Dr. Jorge Lopez, Dr. Merle Stringer and Dr. Stephen Falcone to the Florida Board of Medicine.
Appointed – Julia du Plooy and Jonathan Martin to the Florida Southwestern State College District Board of Trustees.
— ADAMS STREET —
“Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney clears $3.2M in 2017” via Florida Politics – The firm had 11 lobbyists who put in the full 52 weeks: Ivette Arango O’Doski, J. Keith Arnold, Brett Bacot, Marnie George, Michael Harrell, Paul Hawkes, Jim Magill, Kimberly F. McGlynn, Linda Loomis Shelley, Timothy Stanfield and Mac Stipanovich. The firm also picked up Douglas Bell for the second half of the year. Topping Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s new report was Lee Memorial Health System and U.S. Sugar, both of which paid an estimated $35,000 during the quarter. Gateway Health Plan and Vertical Bridge Holdings came in at $25,000 a piece, followed by another 15 clients paying $15,000 a pop. The executive list headliners were Carahsoft Technology Corporation, CGI Technologies & Solutions and Marsy’s Law for All, which each paid $25,000, followed by a half-dozen clients at the $15,000 level. Among the top clients for the year as a whole were U.S. Sugar at $155,000, Lee Memorial Health System at $140,000, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and the Florida League of Cities at $120,000 each and Vertical Bridge Holdings at $110,000.
“Florida Lobby Associates posts $40K in Q4” via Florida Politics – Sole proprietor Lester Abberger reported an estimated $40,000 in lobbying compensation last quarter through this firm, Florida Lobby Associates. The new report makes for an estimated $170,000 in total compensation last year, though the nature of compensation reports mean Abberger’s shop could have brought in less than that, or as much as $340,000. Abberger’s Q4 report shows a half-dozen clients, with four of them chipping in $10,000 a piece for legislative and executive representation: American Planning Association, the City of Winter Haven, Flagler County, and the Florida Recreation and Park Association. Winter Haven wasn’t far behind. It payed an estimated $30,000 to Florida Lobby Associates last year, followed by the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association, at the $20,000 mark.
“Flagler Strategies brings in $100K in Q4, $400K in 2017” via Florida Politics – The two-person shop had a half-dozen executive clients last quarter, handled by Michael Cantens, while the 13 clients on the legislative side got the full attention of both Cantens and Alex Miranda. Topping Flagler Strategies’ Q4 list was Florida Power & Light, which paid $25,000 for the quarter, followed by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association at the $15,000 level. AT&T, Miami Children’s Health System and the University of West Florida Foundation were consistent clients throughout the year – those three principals split the top spot for Flagler Strategies with $40,000 in payments each, $20,000 for executive lobbying and $20,000 for legislative. The No. 2 spot was split by PBA Holdings and Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, both of which paid $35,000 for the year, followed by Florida Crystals, Organization for Safe Cannabis Regulation and Palm Beach Aggregates at $30,000 each.
“Mike Haridopolos reels in $260K in Q4, $890K in 2017” via Florida Politics – Haridopolos’ solo firm lobbied before the Legislature on behalf of 23 clients in Q4 and was retained by 27 principals for executive branch lobbying during the same stretch. In addition to his solo work, Haridopolos also works as a lobbyist for Dean Mead. His top paying principal between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 was MJS Capital Holdings, a London-based company that sells bonds. Other top clients in the Q4 report include Floridians for Access to Health Care at $40,000; South Central Florida Express, The Stronach Group and Rivada Networks at $15,000; and Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Health First, Melbourne Tillman Water Control, Mutualink, Pharmacists Who Care and REFG at $10,000 apiece. With the full year in the books, Haridopolos earnings came in at $890,000.
“Paul Hawkes hauls in $525K of solo lobbying pay in 2017” via Florida Politics – Hawkes’ sole-proprietor shop represented 17 clients in the Legislature and 13 before the governor and Cabinet in Q4. Hawkes is also a lobbyist for Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, which pulled in an estimated $690,000 in the fourth quarter and $3.2 for the whole of 2017. His top paying client between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 was Watershed Technologies. Following Watershed Technologies were a long list of principals which paid Hawkes approximately $10,000 – $5,000 for legislative and $5,000 for executive lobbying – in the fourth quarter. Those groups included the Bradford County School Board, Dixie County School Board, Duke Energy Corporation, Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges, Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers, Florida Medical Association, Florida State University Foundation, Government Services Group, Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida and Shands Jacksonville Medical Center
— ALOE —
“Florida’s the home of the top two spring break destinations” via Kevin Derby of the Sunshine State News – AAA released a study showing Orlando and Fort Lauderdale are the two most popular spring break destinations followed by Honolulu, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Cancun. Miami also ranked high, placing eight on the list. Vicky Evans, the assistant vice president for travel sales development for AAA and the Auto Club Group weighed in on why Florida was so popular for spring break travels. “Florida is a perfect spring break destination for people traveling with family or friends,” Evans said. “Travelers love Florida for its warm weather, world-famous attractions, beautiful beaches, and its array of AAA Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants that fit any budget.”
“First look: Epcot International flower & Garden Festival for 2018” via Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel – Topiaries at the park’s entrance feature Mickey Mouse presenting a bouquet to Minnie Mouse as Pluto, wearing a floral collar, looks on. Plus, that’s one big ol’ Goofy topiary bringing up the rear, surrounded by big, flowering, colorful props. (Kid in stroller, overheard in passing: “The flowers are made out of flowers!”) A notable departure from previous fests is the lack of a Festival Center. No longer are seminars held in the former Wonders of Life building. Some programming will be moved out into the pavilions, and the merchandise formerly found in the festival center is in other locations, including a Port of Entry location. This will allow handier access to these features in terms of location – no longer back in the corner of Future World – and in terms of timing … The Festival Center formerly was open only three days per week. Overall, Epcot seems alive with color again, even in Future World East, where a Buzz Lightyear topiary again fronts Mission: Space, and is a magnet for kids who probably aren’t into gardening.
“Twitter introduces new bookmarking button” via Kia Kokalitcheva of Axios – Twitter is globally rolling out a button for bookmarking tweets … Tweets that are bookmarked with the new tool will be kept private, presumably to provide users with more privacy around their interests instead of having to publicly explain why they’ve bookmarked a particular tweet. This is part of an ongoing evolution of Twitter’s product. For years, many used its somewhat-ambiguous, star-shaped “favorite” button to bookmark tweets, but the company’s switch to a heart-shaped “like” button in 2015 has complicated the meaning.
