Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session
The Last 24
Good Tuesday evening. The House struggled mightily with the post-Parkland bill inside its chamber, while protesters staged a ‘die-in.’ Sixty Days is staying alive. Here’s your nightly rundown.
Parkland proposal: The House spent several hours just on questions on a contentious $400 million school-safety proposal passed by the Senate.
‘Die-in’ done: A group of progressive activists and students took over the Capitol rotunda to “die” and show opposition to the bill’s armed school staff provision.
Caucus concord: House Democrats unanimously voted to take a caucus position against any proposed program that would arm school staff with guns.
‘Poop’ protest: A man upset over the bill brought into the Capitol about a dozen jars full of tar and feathers, and a poop emoji sticker, and left them in senators’ offices.
Budget bounce: With just hours before a deadline to finalize a state budget, a stalemate over health care spending is pushing this year’s Legislative Session into overtime.
Daylight delight: A bill to let Florida remain on Daylight Saving Time year round is headed to Gov. Scott, but the change would still have to be allowed by Congress.
Mo’ money: The checks have been cut as Gov. Rick Scott rolled out $22 million from the Job Growth Grant Fund.
Trauma overhaul: A bill that would settle trauma center disputes across the state and set up a method for resolving future problems is headed to Scott.
Session extension?: Facing a midnight budget deadline for a timely Sine Die on Friday, lawmakers still are unsure how they should distribute $265 million to Florida hospitals.
Quote of the Day
“Our children are dying.” — A Tuesday chant by students and progressive activists who held a “die-in” on the floor of the Capitol rotunda to protest the Legislature’s post-Parkland bill.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
Can you predict when the hanky drops? Play the annual #CateSineDie.
“This Florida Legislative Session has been cray, no matter your politics,” says CateComm founder Kevin Cate. #CateSineDie is about having “bit of fun” in the final few days of Session.
The rules are simple and, like all good ideas, stolen from Bob Barker.
We talked to Cate, a Tallahassee-based “communications savant,” about the genesis of the game.
Q: Where (and when) did the idea for the contest come from?
Cate: We may or may not have had an unsanctioned pool among friends back in my old CFO days — you’d have to ask my friend Michael Carlson. And I may or may not have won it and been accused of having an unfair advantage due to the timing of a lunch with Mike Fasano. We’ll never know.
I, like any good artist, stole it and claimed it as my own six years ago and put it on Twitter for the enjoyment of all, but mostly David Johnson.
Q: How does it work?
Cate: Tweet hanky drop date and time, with hashtag #CateSineDie. That’s it. Closest without time passing by wins a charity donation.
Q: Has anyone won more than once?
Cate: Nope. But when Greg Tish wins something, it feels like it. But for real, everybody wins with #CateSineDie. We all get to show how clueless we are about the last few days of session.
Except Matt Dixon. He’s the only loser during #CateSineDie because he has to act like he doesn’t enjoy it. Then I retweet his old predictions.
Lobby Up
The Seminole Tribe of Florida gets all the attention as a gambling powerhouse, but Florida’s Miccosukee Tribe of Indians also are in the mix.
They’re represented by a team of lobbyists from The Rubin Group: Melissa Akeson, Amy Bisceglia, Erica Chanti, Chris Finkbeiner, William Rubin, Matthew Sacco and Heather Turnbull.
The tribe operates Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, on the “southeastern edge of the beautiful Florida Everglades,” the website says.
“The Miccosukee Tribe is eligible to ask the state for its own compact, but hasn’t,” we last wrote about them in 2016. “The tribe offers bingo, slots and poker at its Miami resort, but not blackjack.”
“The Resort offers high payouts, guaranteed jackpots and exciting monthly promotions to keep you in the winner’s circle. Will Lady Luck smile your way? You’ll never know until you play,” it says.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
Chief Financial Officer and state Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis will be at the Capitol’s firefighter memorial for the annual ‘ringing of the bell,’ a ceremonial marking of those who died in the line of duty. That’s at 8:30 a.m., Fallen Firefighter Monument, Capitol Courtyard.
Gov. Scott and the Florida Cabinet will take up a series of issues, including a proposal that would help conserve 772 acres in Madison County that was the site of a Spanish mission in the 1600s. That’s at 9 a.m., Cabinet Meeting Room, The Capitol.
Chris King will hold a news conference to address how the state is in desperate need of fresh ideas and new leadership. That’s at 9 a.m., Florida Press Center, 336 E. College Avenue Suite 100, Tallahassee.
The Florida Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on four issues, including a debate about jury instructions in death-penalty cases. That starts at 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session at 10 a.m., Senate Chamber, The Capitol.
The House is scheduled to hold a floor session at 10:30 a.m., House Chamber, The Capitol.
The Senate Special Order Calendar Group will meet to set the special order, which lists bills that will be heard on the Senate floor. That’s 15 minutes after the floor session, 401 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
