Peter Schorsch
Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel McAuliffe, and Jim Rosica.
It’s hard to believe that just as one “Session” is ending, another is beginning.
The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) kicks off its own Session this morning at 10 a.m.
The panel is expected to meet through May 4; on May 10, it must file a report with Secretary of State Ken Detzner.
There now are 36 “active” proposals being considered as additions to the state’s governing document.
They run the gamut from banning dog racing to raising the retirement age of judges, also from a crime victims’ bill of rights to a clean-up proposal that would “delete an obsolete provision regarding the development of a high speed (rail) system.”
Commissioners also criss-crossed the state in the last year, holding public meetings to discuss ideas, including a final meeting in St. Petersburg that attracted about 1,200 people.
The full commission meets in the state Senate chamber in the Capitol all this week.
The CRC convenes every 20 years. Any proposals it approves to change the state constitution still must be approved by at least 60 percent of voters on this November’s statewide ballot. (There’s even a proposal that would tweak that.)
“Gun control among issues teed up for CRC” via the News Service of Florida – The debate over gun control is ready to move to a new forum, as the Constitution Revision Commission … begins the process of deciding what issues to place on the November ballot. … One measure (Proposal 3), sponsored by Commissioner Roberto Martinez of Miami, is likely to generate debate, as it has attracted several amendments related to gun control in the wake of the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. … Meanwhile, Commissioner Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale has another proposed amendment that would ban assault-style weapons. Also, Commissioner Hank Coxe of Jacksonville has filed an amendment that would raise the age of buying a firearm to 21 and would impose a 10-day waiting period. It also would ban bump stocks. Commissioners Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, Sherry Plymale of Palm City and Frank Kruppenbacher of Orlando are supporting Coxe’s amendment.
“With a ban under consideration, greyhound racing brings out surprising defenders” via Sharon Kennedy Wynne of the Tampa Bay Times — … as legislators consider a proposed constitutional amendment asking voters to phase out greyhound racing by 2021, the people who love the dogs on both sides of the issue worry about their future. It is the dogs’ apparent contentment that has caused even die-hard racing opponents to say the situation is nuanced. Of the 18 dog racing tracks in America, 12 are in Florida, with an estimated 7,000 greyhounds working in the state. If racing ends, what happens to all those dogs? … “I think they just don’t understand that the dogs are bred for this, that we love the dogs. The trainers love those dogs. They aren’t in that business because they hate them. You aren’t going to win if you have an underfed dog or a hurt dog. It wouldn’t make sense.” … Stuck in the middle of the detractors and the supporters is Greyhound Pets of America. … Adopting a greyhound is unlike adopting any other pet. Dogs that have worked at a track may be so unfamiliar with everyday household features that they walk into a swimming pool or balk at stairs. … “It’s like a 70-pound house cat,” GPA volunteer Don Koppin said.
“Anti-smoking group continues to oppose constitutional amendment” via Florida Politics – Despite a proposed tweak to a constitutional amendment, the Protect Tobacco Free Florida coalition says it still opposes the underlying measure. The proposal (P94), filed by Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) member and House Speaker pro tempore Jeanette Nuñez, originally would have redirected dollars from tobacco-prevention efforts to cancer research. Nuñez on Wednesday filed an “amendment to the amendment” deleting the section about cancer research funding, however. That change would have to be adopted by the commission, which meets in Session beginning Monday in Tallahassee. “Despite this change, her proposal would still remove the requirement that one-third of Florida’s tobacco prevention funding be dedicated to countering Big Tobacco’s massive marketing efforts in the state,” the coalition said. “Because the one-third provision is required to follow CDC best practice standards for tobacco prevention programs, the Protect Tobacco Free Florida coalition still opposes Proposal 94.”
Assignment editors – Representatives of Constitutional Officer Resource Experts (C.O.R.E.) will hold a press conference to support Proposal 13 being considered by the Constitution Revision Commission. The proposal would amend language already in the Florida Constitution to state that the offices of Sheriff, Clerk of Court, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser and Supervisor of Elections must be elected, and counties cannot eliminate these positions. That’s at 1 p.m., Plaza level rotunda, The Capitol.
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
— @Comey: Mr. President, the American people will hear my story very soon. And they can judge for themselves who is honorable and who is not.
— @RepDeSantis: Our pets are not simply another piece of cargo, they are members of our family. @RepMarkMeadows and I sent a letter to the CEO of United Airlines demanding answers regarding their troubling record of pet safety.
— @JaredEMoskowitz (replying to DeSantis): Oh really? Never seen you at any of the animal friendly group meetings. That’s right, we meet! Would you have written the letter if the dog was killed by a gun? We already know the answer.
— @SenReneGarcia: As I stood in front of the bridge collapse yesterday I was confronted with the reality of how fragile life is and that tomorrow is not a given. This weekend I will make it a point of saying “I Love You” to those I care about and will start with you my twitter family. I Love You!
— @PatriciaMazzei: FIU President Mark Rosenberg has called for a universitywide moment of silence at 1:47 p.m. Monday to commemorate victims of collapsed bridge, per email to FIU community.
— @AGlorios: Also the TBT editorial writers continue to refer to Jack Latvala as a “moderate Republican who made too many enemies” & not a former senator who resigned in disgrace after 2 independent investigations concluded he likely sexually assaulted & harassed women
— @JoseFelixDiaz: Took my kids to a speaking engagement and the only thing that they retained was that I was a bouncer in a nightclub in Argentina once
— @JoeReedy: I can’t wait for the 30 for 30 film on UMBC
— DAYS UNTIL —
March For Our Lives/#NeverAgain gun violence protest – 5; Major League Baseball Opening Day — 10; Easter – 13; NFL Draft begins – 38; Close of candidate qualifying for federal office – 45; Mother’s Day – 55; Solo: A Star Wars Story premier — 67; Close of candidate qualifying for statewide office — 95; Primary Election Day — 162; College Football opening weekend – 166; General Election Day — 232; ‘Hamilton’ comes to the Straz Center — 332; 2019 Legislative Session – 351.
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“Rick Scott signs new budget, uses veto pen sparingly” via Gary Fineout of the Associated Press – Scott acted quickly on the annual spending plan that had been approved by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature just days earlier. Heading into a crucial election year, Scott spared many individual projects from line-item vetoes. Instead, he vetoed a modest $64 million in projects and spending decisions – the lowest amount he has vetoed during his time in office. … Scott approved a budget that is 29 percent higher than the one he signed his first year, when the Great Recession had hammered Florida’s economy and the governor and legislators responded by ordering deep budget cuts. The budget approved by Scott includes $100 million for Florida Forever, the state’s environmental land buying program, which has received minimal money since the Great Recession. Legislators also set aside $50 million to help deal with the state’s opioid crisis and agreed to expand the amount paid to 100,000 college students eligible for the state’s popular Bright Futures college scholarship program.
Scott’s vetoes touched primarily on projects sprinkled through the budget that he said bypassed the normal process or were local projects. The vetoes included $1.5 million to study extending an existing toll road from north of the Tampa Bay area to the Georgia state line. Legislators backed the idea because the road could be used for future hurricane evacuations, but Scott said the study could be done without extra money. The Governor also vetoed $750,000 legislators set aside to look at reversing the flow on major highways during a storm. Scott said the money isn’t needed because state officials have already concluded reversing highways is not effective.
— “Scott’s election year veto list focuses on member projects” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
— “Democratic gubernatorial candidates slam Rick Scott for education budget” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
— “New budget leaves Florida’s neediest on long waiting lists” via John Kennedy of GateHouse Media
— “FHCA gives Rick Scot thumbs up on budget” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics
Scott keeps $2M hostage over marijuana rules – Included in the $88.7 billion budget signed by Gov. Scott on Friday was provision that puts a hold on $2 million appropriated for top-level Florida Department of Health employee salaries until the department implements all the rules required in the Legislature’s 2017 bill implementing the medical marijuana amendment. DOH’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use is far behind in in the process, including missing an Oct. 3 deadline to issues 10 licenses. The office has also been slammed for repealing a long list of emergency rules, an action lawmakers say violates state law. “Perhaps we will now see some meaningful movement in the implementation of the new law,” said Rep. Jason Brodeur, who filed the $2 million carveout.
“No quilts for you: Scott vetoes museum money” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – Out of $64 million in budget vetoes issued, Gov. Scott killed $270,000 slated for the acquisition of the Florida Quilt Museum building in tiny Trenton, the county seat of Gilchrist County. That gladdened Rep. Evan Jenne, a Dania Beach Democrat who inveighed against the money during debate on the state’s spending plan … Stephanie Metts, the museum’s founder and a board member, first learned of Scott’s line-item veto from a Florida Politics reporter … “What a shame for this little community that is so struggling,” she said. The museum is “not funded by anybody; my husband and I are the only ones putting any money into this.”
— “Talleyrand Connector money survives veto process” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
Tweet, tweet:
Tucked in vetoes from @FLGovScott – he cut $5 million that was in the back of the budget for charter school maintenance. He said they didn’t need it because they were receiving $145m in the education portion of the budget
— Gary Fineout (@fineout) March 16, 2018
“Quick budget turnaround cuts TaxWatch off at the pass” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – Talk about pre-emption. With Gov. Scott speedily approving the 2018-19 state budget and issuing line-item vetoes just two days after it hit his desk, Florida TaxWatch was prevented from holding its signature event: The annual presentation of “Budget Turkeys.” “This historically, exceptionally fast turnaround time did not allow Florida TaxWatch to fully complete the meticulous review of all appropriations required to produce our annual Budget Turkey Watch report,” said Dominic M. Calabro, TaxWatch President and CEO. The group defines turkeys as “legislatively directed projects, usually local member projects, … added to the final appropriations bill without being fully scrutinized by the public.”
Assignment editors – Gov. Scott will sign HB 21, which includes provisions limiting most new opioid prescriptions to a three-day supply, during a 9:30 a.m. stop at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office in Bradenton, 616 67th Street Circle East. The governor will also spend time highlighting state funding to help combat the opioid crisis.
— JOE NEGRON REFLECTS ON PAST, LOOKS TO FUTURE —
In a brief ‘exit interview’ with Florida Politics, the outgoing Senate President said lawmakers over the last two Sessions “made tremendous progress” on goals he set out in his 2015 designation speech, “a blueprint of things I tried to accomplish.”
Among those, beefing up higher education “with world class faculties,” addressing pollution in Lake Okeechobee, and “decriminalizing adolescence” with pre-arrest diversion programs and making it easier to expunge juvenile arrest records.
— What “didn’t get a lot of attention” last year, the Stuart Republican said, was reforming eyewitness identifications in criminal cases “to reduce the chance of wrongful convictions.”
— The Constitution Revision Commission, on which he has nine appointees, starts its Session Monday. Negron, an attorney, said he favors proposals that would raise the retirement age for judges and help with K-12 education “flexibility.” He’s had “general conversations” with his appointees on his “guiding principles,” but added he trusts their “good judgment.”
— Though redistricting has afforded him an extra two years in the Senate after his 2016-18 presidency, he said he hasn’t yet decided whether he’ll serve that bonus time. “I’m going to take a few weeks to think about it,” he said. “Term limits are there for a reason.”
— Negron now is focusing on his business litigation work for the Akerman firm in its West Palm Beach office: “I’m a lawyer first, a legislator second. This was one part of my life that I greatly value … but my primary professional identity is as a lawyer. I’m back in the office. I enjoy what I do.”
— When asked what advice he’d give to future legislative candidates, he said he’d repeat the advice given him by former House Speaker Allen Bense in 2000: “He told me in order to be strong in Tallahassee, be strong at home. (Candidates’) political efforts and philosophy should be grounded in their community.”
— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
“Bill Nelson targeted by pro tax reform ad campaign” via Florida Politics – Americans for Prosperity this week announced a national campaign extolling the benefits of the tax reform package passed by the Republican-led Congress last year, and U.S. Sen. Nelson, who voted against the plan, is one of the targets. The Nelson ad features a black and white photo of the Senator and reads “Senator Bill Nelson voted against putting more money in your pocket.” AFP said its “American Pay Raise” campaign is designed to thank lawmakers who voted for the tax plan and hold accountable those who were against it, though the group so far has only released sample ads it’s running against lawmakers.
A copy of the ad is below:
Richard Corcoran to announce week of April 16? – Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times has the (possible) scoop here.
Oppo dump on Ron DeSantis – Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida has all of the details here.
“Adam Putnam posts photo of him at Mar-a-Lago with disgraced congressman Mark Foley” via Amy Hollyfield of the Tampa Bay Times – Putnam … attended the Republican Party of Palm Beach County’s Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday night at Mar-a-Lago. The sold-out event was headlined by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Putnam tweeted thanks to host Donald Trump Jr. last night with a photo that included Foley, the Florida congressman forced out more than a decade ago for sending texts to teen boys.
Reax:
— American Bridge’s Josh Karp: “Embracing the support of a sexual predator who abused his power to prey on teenage boys is a new low for Adam Putnam. Floridians ought to be disgusted by Putnam’s behavior, there’s no excuse for this.”
— Florida Democratic Party’s Kevin Donohoe: “It’s despicable that Adam Putnam is so desperate to sell out to Donald Trump that he would hang out with a sexual predator accused of harassing children.”
Assignment editors – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is set to speak at a meeting of the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee. That’s at 6 p.m., IBEW union hall, 966 North Liberty St., Jacksonville.
— “Andrew Gillum talks importance of ‘allyship’ with black women in St. Augustine” via A.G. Gankarski of Florida Politics
— “Darren Soto endorsed by 10 other members of Fla. congressional district” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising
First on #FlaPol – “Democrat Catherine Price files for Senate District 26” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics – Price announced Friday that she would run for the Senate District 26 seat being vacated by Sebring Sen. Denise Grimsley, who is running for Agriculture Commissioner in the fall. … Price is a Lake Wales native and first-time candidate for public office. Price said the bulk of her career has been helping people get access to affordable healthcare, including organizing a successful half-cent sales tax ballot initiative that currently generates $36 mllion annually for indigent health care in Polk County.
Save the date:
“Democrat files for Julio Gonzalez House seat” via the News Service of Florida – With state Rep. Julio Gonzalez, a Venice Republican, running for Congress, a Democratic candidate has taken the first step toward running for his Florida House seat. North Port Democrat Yves Junior Chery opened a campaign account Thursday to run in Sarasota County’s House District 74 … Chery joined North Port Republican Nicholas Trolli, who opened a campaign account Feb. 28 to try to win the seat in November. Gonzalez, who was first elected to the state House in 2014, is running for a congressional seat that is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney.
>>>Also Thursday, Deltona Democrat Carol Lawrence opened a campaign account to try to unseat state Rep. David Santiago, a Deltona Republican, in Volusia County’s House District 27 … Santiago had raised $114,445 for his re-election bid as of Feb. 28, a finance report shows.
“Kevin Rader endorses Tina Polsky in HD 81 race” via Florida Politics – HD 81 candidate Tina Polsky picked up an endorsement over the weekend from Democratic state Sen. Kevin Rader. “I have been tremendously impressed by Tina’s background and her candidacy. I know that her professional training as a mediator will serve her well in Tallahassee – and ultimately provide many benefits to the people of Palm Beach County,” Rader said. “She’ll be a fighter for our community on important issues including gun safety and a woman’s right to choose, as well as an effective advocate for the Glades. I can’t wait to work with Tina on the issues important to all of us.” The Boca Raton Democrat is a lawyer and mediator and is so far the only candidate running for HD 81, currently held by Democratic Rep. Joe Abruzzo. … Abruzzohas only held the seat for one term but announced last month he would forego re-election to focus on spending time with his young son.
— “Rene Placencia draws endorsements from Titusville, Brevard, Cape Canaveral leaders” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising
— “Fentrice Driskill raises $40K in first month of House campaign” via Florida Politics
— “Nick DiCeglie announces March 23 fundraiser” via Florida Politics
“Broward votes could see straw poll on assault rifle ban” via the Associated Press – Some officials in a Florida county where a school shooting left 17 people dead were considering a referendum to ban assault weapons but they feared possible fines and the state’s power to overturn it. So instead, they will ask Broward County commissioners to add a straw vote to the ballot. A straw vote would give voters a voice but wouldn’t be binding. Several students from Fort Lauderdale High School and a handful of other Broward residents spoke in favor of banning assault rifles at Friday’s Charter Review Commission meeting. A county attorney cautioned against a referendum. Others in favor of a ban feared such a move by the county would be overturned by the state and possibly bring a hefty fine.
— FIU BRIDGE —
“Crack on bridge was discussed in meeting hours before collapse” via Nick Madigan, Patricia Mazzei and Christina Caron of the New York Times – Hours before the collapse … the engineering company for the bridge held a meeting to discuss a crack on the structure, according to a statement from the university released early Saturday. The engineering company, Figg Bridge Engineers, delivered a technical presentation on the crack, and “concluded there were no safety concerns and the crack did not compromise the structural integrity of the bridge,” the statement said. The construction manager on the project and representatives from the university and the state Department of Transportation attended the two-hour meeting, which was led by Figg’s lead engineer on the project, W. Denney Pate. Two days earlier, Pate left a voice mail message for the Transportation Department about “some cracking that’s been observed on the north end” of the bridge, according to a recording from the department released on Friday. At both the meeting and in his message, Pate said the cracking did not present any safety issues
“State played key role on FIU bridge, despite efforts to distance itself after collapse” via Mary Ellen Klas, David Smiley and Doug Hanks of the Miami Herald – In the hours after the collapse of the Florida International University pedestrian bridge that killed six on Thursday, the Florida Department of Transportation quickly attempted to publicly distance itself from liability, calling its role “limited.” But documents of meetings from FIU and the city of Sweetwater over the past three years, and interviews with industry experts who asked that their names not be used because they still work with the agency, show FDOT’s involvement on the design and construction of the bridge was much more significant. … Since the accident that killed six, the department and Gov. Rick Scott have rushed to absolve the state from any liability in the cause of the collapse.
In a rare late-night statement, FDOT released the audiotape and transcript of a voicemail left by an engineer of the design firm, FIGG Bridge Group, warning that the bridge had experienced cracking. The FIGG engineer dismissed the significance of the problem, but the document FDOT sent to the media said the employee didn’t receive the voicemail until Friday when he returned to the office after being on assignment for three days. … Many have read the state’s narrative as directing blame at both FIU and the design-build team of FIGG and contractor Munilla Construction Group. … Although the Friday night statement disclosed the existence of the voicemail from the FIGG engineer, FDOT did not acknowledge that its project manager, Alfonso Reyna, was also aware of the cracks. That revelation didn’t come until Saturday, when FIU released a statement about it.
Tweet, tweet:
#flgov candidate @GwenGraham tonight is excoriating @FLGovScott over #FIUBridgeCollapse: “The governor must answer why his administration ignored warnings of cracks in the bridge. If the state had acted on these warnings…they may have been able to prevent this tragedy.”
— Troy Kinsey (@TroyKinsey) March 17, 2018
— “These are the victims of the FIU pedestrian bridge collapse” via the Miami Herald
“Bridge collapse victim’s uncle rages at ‘incompetence’” via Jennifer Kay of the Associated Press – As crews began removing bodies from beneath a collapsed pedestrian bridge Saturday, a victim’s uncle raged against what he called the “complete incompetence” and “colossal failure” that allowed people to drive beneath the unfinished concrete span. “Why they had to build this monstrosity in the first place to get children across the street?” said an anguished Joe Smitha, whose niece, Alexa Duran, was crushed in Thursday’s collapse at Florida International University. “Then they decided to stress test this bridge while traffic was running underneath it?” … Smitha can’t help but believe that this tragedy could have been avoided. “This was a colossal failure of the system,” he said. “This was complete incompetence from the top … I want someone to step up and say, ‘The buck stops with me.’”
“Rapid building technique gets scrutiny after bridge collapse” via Jason Dearen of the Associated Press – The pedestrian bridge on the edge of the Miami-area campus was a signature achievement of the school’s Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center, a research group set up with federal funding a few years ago to show how spans could be built faster and cheaper in the U.S. “FIU is about building bridges and student safety. This project accomplishes our mission beautifully,” FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg boasted that day. “We are filled with pride and satisfaction at seeing this engineering feat come to life and connect our campus to the surrounding community.” While it’s not yet clear what caused the failure of the unfinished span Thursday, the disaster has cast a spotlight on a rapid construction technique widely used around the U.S. Accelerated bridge construction, or ABC, involves assembling large sections of a span offsite, then moving the massive pieces into place all at once. The technique eliminates the lengthy road closings and other traffic disruptions that can result when a bridge is built out over a highway piece by piece. It is also considered by some engineers to be safer for hardhat workers and motorists because much of the construction isn’t done in the middle of traffic.
Civil engineering experts who viewed photos of the planned structure and the collapse have raised questions about how FIU and its contractors approached the project. To some bridge engineers, the decision to install the span’s main concrete segment over a busy road before building its main support tower was puzzling. Traditionally, the tower is constructed first, and the walkway or roadway is anchored to it with cables. “It’s odd,” said Henry Petroski, a professor of civil engineering at Duke University and a leading authority on engineering failures. “That’s probably why they used this so-called ABC method, so they could get the span over the roadway in one operation, because if you do it incrementally, you have to interrupt traffic.”
— “Bridge collapse saps spirits and research efforts at FIU” via Patricia Mazzei and Stephanie Saul of the New York Times
— STATEWIDE —
“Marco Rubio criticizes timing of Andrew McCabe firing” via Louis Nelson of POLITICO – Attorney General Jeff Sessions should not have fired Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Rubio said Sunday morning, casting doubt on a decision that has been celebrated by President Donald Trump. McCabe, long a target of criticism from President Donald Trump, was fired late Friday over a yet-to-be-released inspector general’s report expected to say the former deputy FBI director lacked candor in interactions with investigators examining his disclosures to the media. McCabe, who has claimed to be the target of a smear campaign because of his role in the bureau’s Russia investigation, had been scheduled to retire as of Sunday. “I don’t like the way it happened,” Rubio told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “He should’ve been allowed to finish through the weekend.”
“Some wanted Nikolas Cruz committed in 2016” via Curt Anderson of the Associated Press – Officials were so concerned about the mental stability of the student accused of last month’s Florida school massacre that they decided he should be forcibly committed. But the recommendation was never acted upon. … documents in the criminal case against Nikolas Cruz and obtained by The Associated Press show school officials and a sheriff’s deputy recommended in September 2016 that Cruz be involuntarily committed for a mental evaluation. There is no evidence Cruz was ever committed. Coincidentally, the school resource officer who recommended that Cruz be “Baker Acted” was Scot Peterson — the same Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy who resigned amid accusations he failed to respond to the shooting by staying outside the building where the killings occurred.
“Stoneman Douglas student says arming teachers ‘stupid’ idea on ’60 Minutes’” via Sergio Bustos of POLITICO Florida – Emma González, the outspoken Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior who has turned into a national gun reform activist, is taking a swipe at the Florida Legislature for wanting to arm teachers, calling the idea “stupid” in an interview with CBS’ “60 minutes” [that aired] Sunday. “Douglas ran out of paper for, like, two weeks in the school year, and now all a sudden they have $400 million to pay for teachers to get trained to arm themselves? Really? Really?” González tells “60 Minutes” correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. The Parkland student was referring to the $400 million school safety and gun reform bill signed into law March 9 … It included one provision to arm school personnel, but the measure was watered down so that it’s voluntary and doesn’t apply to front-line, full-time classroom teachers. Most large urban counties in Florida have announced or are expected to announce they won’t participate. Republican Gov. Rick Scott, along with many Democrats, rejected the idea.
“Shifting money to school officers could be option” via The News Service of Florida – President Negron told The News Service of Florida he believed the Joint Legislative Budget Commission could reappropriate leftover funds but said it’s too soon to say when that might happen. Many school superintendents and school boards have said they will not implement the guardian program, which would allow school employees, including some teachers, to bring guns to school if they are specially trained and deputized by sheriffs. “Let’s see what happens. I hope school boards will consider it, but I accept the fact that many of them may not participate and I think … some of those surplus funds could be redeployed toward school resource officers,” Negron said. “That’s something I would support but I would encourage school boards to evaluate what they believe is best for their students, and that’s all we ask. This (the guardian program) is an option.”
Good read worth the click – “Criminal justice reform legislation derailed but not dead” via James Call of the Tallahassee Democrat
“Release of tourism numbers delayed again” via the News Service of Florida – Gov. Scott’s office said Friday that a planned release of 2017 tourism numbers would again be postponed because of the collapse Thursday of a pedestrian bridge at Florida International University in Miami. Scott had been expected to release the tourism numbers Friday in Naples. His office did not immediately give a new release date. Scott also had planned to release the tourism figures last month but put the announcement on hold because of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
— OPINIONS —
“FDOT can’t shirk its role in the bridge-collapse deaths – or its responsibility to protect us” via Miami Herald editorial board – (T)his much is clear: State and local construction protocols putting people’s safety first must be rethought, reinvigorated and reinforced. In the ongoing war between safety and convenience, safety lost last week. Six people died tragically, needlessly, because we live in an overbuilt community that loathes traffic jams, yet continually makes them worse; that is sick and tired of negotiating orange traffic cones and detours; that endangers pedestrians trying to cross a river of vehicles — the whole point of the pedestrian bridge that fell; and where time wasted stuck on the road costs money. Thursday, all the things we hate cost six lives.
A long-read editorial worthy of the click – “The case for life for Nikolas Cruz” via Sun-Sentinel editorial board
“Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris: Fight to protect property rights far from over” via Florida Politics – Though legislation to create statewide standards for vacation rentals did pass committees in both the Florida House and Senate, ultimately time ran out and Senate Bill 1400 and House Bill 773 did not make it across the finish line this Session. Some special interests are promoting this as a win—I challenge that narrative. Continuing to trample the private property rights of Floridians seems, to me, like anything but a victory. The truth is, it is far too early for anyone to declare success just yet—we are only in the midst of this discussion. As president, I personally guarantee the Florida Vacation Rental Management Association (FL VRMA) will continue to bring forth education and a fierce determination to fight for the rights of property owners across the state of Florida.
Hot takes from Peter Schorsch:
— “The Schorsch governing theory of Florida politics – Part 1” via Florida Politics
— “It’s that Adam Putnam was photographed with Mark Foley…” via Florida Politics
— “Just when you think Andrew Gillum is having a good day…” via Florida Politics
— MOVEMENTS —
Personnel note: Lorena Holley joins Florida Retail Federation – The trade association announced Friday that Holley, general counsel to Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, will become its new general counsel and vice president effective March 26. “With her years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Lorena brings extensive knowledge on business issues that impact almost all of our members in some way,” said R. Scott Shalley, the federation’s president and CEO. “Whether its food safety, small business, utility regulation or legal issues, Lorena will be an invaluable resource to our members.” Holley previously was with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), serving as a Senior Attorney with the Office of General Counsel Division of Appeals, Rules and Mediation. She received her law degree from the Texas Tech School of Law in Lubbock, Texas. Originally from Chile, she grew up in Austin, Texas.
New and renewed lobbying registrations:
Kimberly Case, Holland & Knight: StopItSolutions.com
Christopher Chaney, Stephen Shiver, The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners: Kyra Solutions
Leonard Collins, Broad and Cassel: Campbellton-Graceville Hospital Corporation
Jim DeBeaugrine, RFJ Governmental Consultants: CBC
Don DeLoach, DDGov Consulting: Sungard Availability Services
Paul Hawkes, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney: Guardian Group
Jeff Littlejohn, Littlejohn Mann & Associates: AFI Associates, Lee County, Tech Choice
Pete Murray, Colodny Fass: G4S Secure Solutions (USA)
Shannon Segers: Department of Revenue
“Black Almanac’s Dr. Edward James II passes away” via WWSB – Dr. James dedicated his life to making the Suncoast a better place to live for families now and future generations. (He died March 13 at the age of 78.) Dr. James joined ABC7 in 1972 as a weekend news anchor. He also spent the past 46 years as the producer and host of “Black Almanac,” which airs Sunday mornings on ABC7. “Black Almanac” is the longest airing, locally produced, public affairs program in the Southeastern United States. Before coming to ABC7, Dr. James served as a columnist and governmental reporter for the Sarasota Journal. He was also the writer/associate producer of “Positively Black,” a weekly half-hour public affairs program on New York’s WNBC-TV. James also worked as an editorial assistant at the New York Post.
Happy birthday belatedly to Rep. Sean Shaw, St. Pete City Councilman Steve Kornell, Conversa’s Kelsey Frouge, our friend Christian Minor, Robert Weissert, and to two principled activists on the opposite ends of the education debate, Ron Matus and Andy Ford. Celebrating today is our very good friend Eric Johnson, as well as Johanna Cervone, Allison North Jones, and Justin York.
