Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A Tallahassee judge will preside over a two-hour pretrial conference tomorrow in a three-year-old lawsuit over how the state funds environmental conservation.
Among other things, Circuit Judge Charles Dodson will hear a motion for “partial summary judgment,” court dockets show. Summary judgments allow parties to win a case without a trial. Partial summary judgments resolve one or more issues, but not the whole case.
The motion was filed by David Guest, attorney for the Sierra Club, Florida Wildlife Federation and other plaintiffs fighting over 2014’s Water and Land Legacy Amendment, also known as Amendment 1.
Passed by nearly 75 percent of voters, it mandates state spending for land and water conservation.
But environmental advocacy groups filed suit in Leon County in 2015. The plaintiffs say lawmakers wrongly appropriated money for, among other things, “salaries and ordinary expenses of state agencies” tasked with executing the amendment’s mandate.
For example, Guest’s motion says “the primary function of the (Florida Forest Service) is to fight and prevent fires on private lands and to promote forestry and prescribed burning on private lands.
The Legislature, however, appropriated $57.6 million of funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to the FFS for salaries, expenses and operating costs,” three times as much as what it reported in expenditures.
Dodson previously set a weeklong bench trial in Tallahassee for July 23-27, records show.
Evening Reads
“Two Miami Republicans play key role in immigration compromise” via Alex Daugherty of the Miami Herald
“Donald Trump voters in this Florida bellwether say don’t bet on ‘blue wave’” via Adam C. Smith and Langston Taylor of the Tampa Bay Times
“‘Who is Bill Nelson?’” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
“Rick Scott cuts the first World Cup-themed political ad of 2018” via David Freddoso of the Washington Examiner
“What is Rick Scott and Cabinet’s approach to questions at Department of Revenue? Not my problem” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald
“As Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis both seek grassroots image, DeSantis finds support out of state” via Emily L. Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times
“Quote from a 20-year-old Chris King has him apologizing today” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“‘I don’t believe in polls,’ says Gwen Graham” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Democrats asked to investigate whether Alan Grayson paid protesters” via Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel
“Roger Stone gets behind Scott Sturgill in CD 7 race” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“I believe that if you have a pre-existing condition, you need to still be able to get health care. So it’s very important to me. I believe everybody ought to be able to get health care insurance.” — Gov. Rick Scott — a former health care executive and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate — on a legal challenge against the Affordable Care Act by 20 Republican-led states, including Florida.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board of Directors will meet at 8:30 a.m., Tallahassee City Hall, 300 South Adams St., Tallahassee.
CareerSource Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, homebuilders and Uber will combine to hold job fairs throughout the state for careers in the manufacturing and construction industries: 9 a.m., CareerSource North Florida office, 705 East Base St., Madison; 10 a.m., CareerSource Flagler Volusia, Market Plaza, 846 Saxon Blvd., Orange City; 10 a.m., CareerSource Central Florida, 1392 East Vine St., Kissimmee.
West Palm Beach attorney Michelle Suskauer will be sworn in as president of The Florida Bar during the Bar convention in Orlando. Vero Beach attorney John Stewart will be sworn in as president-elect. That’s at 9:30 a.m., Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is scheduled to release May unemployment figures at 10 a.m.
Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson is scheduled to hold a hearing on whether the state has properly carried out a 2014 constitutional amendment that required setting aside money for land and water conservation. That’s at 11 a.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham is slated to speak to the Capital Tiger Bay Club. That’s at 11:30 a.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.
The First Coast Tiger Bay Club will hold a forum for Democratic candidates for governor. That’s at 11:30 a.m., The River Club, 1 Independent Dr., Jacksonville.
Candidates in Congressional District 15 are expected to take part in a Tampa Tiger Bay Club luncheon. The seat became open when U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross decided against running for another term. That’s at 11:45 a.m., Chester Ferguson Law Center, 1610 North Tampa St., Tampa.
Looking Ahead
Gov. Scott, who is running for U.S. Senate, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who is running for governor, are expected to take part in the Clay County Republican Party’s Flag Day Dinner. That’s Saturday, 6 p.m., Clay County Fairgrounds, 2497 State Road 16 West, Green Cove Springs.
