Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Attorney Jon Mills is saying he filed a request with Circuit Judge Karen Gievers to lift an automatic delay of the effect of her ruling last week that medical marijuana can be smoked in Florida.
Mills represents the plaintiffs in the suit, brought by Orlando attorney and medical marijuana advocate John Morgan. The state has appealed Gievers’ ruling to the 1st District Court of Appeal. Such a move places a ‘stay’ on the case until the appellate court acts.
Gievers had agreed with the argument that the state’s constitutional amendment on medicinal cannabis, backed by Morgan, “recognizes there is no right to smoke in public places, thereby implicitly recognizing the appropriateness of using smokable medical marijuana in private places.”
The same judge recently lifted another stay on her decision that Tampa strip club mogul Joe Redner can grow his own medical marijuana to make juice of it.
The state objected, and the 1st DCA reinstated the stay. Redner then asked the Florida Supreme Court to get involved regarding lifting the stay; it declined.
Evening Reads
“Medicaid could be the key issue for Democrats hoping to win control of a crucial state in 2018” via AP Joyce of Mic
“FEMA paid millions for half-empty ‘floating hotel’ after Hurricane Maria” via Daniel Rivero of WLRN
“Marco Rubio meets with Florida election officials over Russia threat” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
“Bill Nelson talks climate change and hurricane season in Little Haiti” via Steve Litz of NBC 6 South Florida
“National Democrats aid Florida Democrats’ Puerto Rican voter outreach” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Rebekah Mercer strokes a check to Ron DeSantis” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times
“Jeff Greene should really think twice before running for Florida Governor” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
“Ileana Ros-Lehtinen praises possible Democratic replacement” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
“Florida House says per-student bump of 47 cents is a myth. Here’s why that’s overstated” via Allison Graves of PolitiFact Florida
“How to watch SpaceX’s late night Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral” via Emre Kelly of Florida Today
Quote of the Day
“This (Memorial Day) weekend should have really been the second busiest weekend of the whole year. We, the restaurant, we did 40 percent of what we should have done.” — CFO Jimmy Patronis, whose family owns and operates the Capt. Anderson’s restaurant in Panama City Beach, after Subtropical Storm Alberto rolled across the Panhandle.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The Florida Department of Corrections will hold a public hearing on a proposed rule related to the visiting schedule at prisons at 8:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.
Sen. Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican, is slated to speak during an annual meeting of the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services at 9 a.m., Omni Amelia Island Resort, 39 Beach Lagoon Road, Fernandina Beach.
The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to release its weekly opinions at 11 a.m.
The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is scheduled to hold a conference call at 4 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7071360675.
A fundraising event will be held for U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Democrat running for re-election in North Florida’s Congressional District 5, at 5:30 p.m., Florida State University Center Club, 1 Champions Way, Tallahassee.
A campaign kickoff event will be held for state Rep. Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican who is running in Senate District 23. Gruters is seeking to replace Sen. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican who is running for Congress. That’s at 5:30 p.m., 7650 Albert Tillinghast Dr., Sarasota.
A fundraising event is scheduled for Republican Spencer Roach, who is running in Lee County’s House District 79. Roach is seeking to replace Rep. Matt Caldwell, a North Fort Myers Republican who is term-limited and running for state agriculture commissioner. That’s at 5:30 p.m., Juniper Farms, 5880 Staley Road, Fort Myers.
Rep. Wengay “Newt” Newton, a St. Petersburg Democrat, is hosting a legislative town hall, focusing on local government, community development block grants, community redevelopment agencies, and the new school-safety bill. That’s at 5:30 p.m., Hillsborough Community College-South Shore Campus, Room SMPF 201 & 202, 551 24th Street N.E., Ruskin.
