Peter Schorsch
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Ken Detzner – Florida’s chief elections officer – on Wednesday said the department “has been working diligently to make federal funding through the Election Security Grant available to counties.”
Moreover, Detzner will hire “five cybersecurity specialists to assist state and local election officials during the 2018 elections.”
Last month, Gov. Rick Scott “ordered state officials to expedite the acquisition of a $19 million federal grant aimed at protecting the state’s election systems from cyberattack, one day after (Detzner) said the money wouldn’t be available until after the November election,” The Associated Press has reported.
Now, Detzner says he needs “state legislative budget authority (and) is in the process of finalizing a proposal for review and approval by the Legislative Budget Commission (LBC),” expected to next meet in mid-July.
A message seeking comment was left Wednesday for Sen. Rob Bradley, alternating chair of the LBC. It acts as a joint committee of the Legislature, charged with reviewing and approving the equivalent of mid-course corrections to the current year’s state spending plan.
“In order to expedite the distribution of funding to counties, the Department is opening up the grant application process to counties today (June 20),” spokeswoman Sarah Revell said in a statement. Counties must apply no later than July 18.
“The Department will expedite review and approve grant applications … which will allow the Department to quickly disperse funds to counties once the LBC gives” State the ability to release the money.
Evening Reads
“Donald Trump signs executive order halting family separations” via Andrew Restuccia and Lorraine Woellert of POLITICO
“Bill Nelson: ‘Why did they not want the senator from Florida to get into this detention facility’” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
“Gov. Rick Scott tells DEP to urge Army Corps to redirect Lake Okeechobee discharges south” via Ali Schmitz of TCPalm.com
“Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates planning to march together in Homestead” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Andrew Gillum’s financial disclosure proves he’s no millionaire” via Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat
“Panhandle sheriffs line up behind Adam Putnam for Governor” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics
“Jay Fant doesn’t mention his bank failures in application for banking regulator” via Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times
“Court backs move to shutter nursing home after deaths” via Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida
“Many in Puerto Rico still under tarps as storm threat looms” via Ben Fox of the Associated Press
“‘Let’s see who I can piss off’: David Hogg was born a pest, now it’s his job, book says” via Martin Vassolo of the Miami Herald
Quote of the Day
“I came here today to remind myself that children being separated from their parents and being thrown into cages is a practice my people have experienced before.” — State Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who is Jewish. The Broward County Democrat spoke to reporters outside the federal Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children in Homestead.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors will meet in Hillsborough County. That’s at 9 a.m., The Westshore Grand, 4860 West Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.
CareerSource Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, home builders and Uber will combine to hold a job fair in the Panhandle. That’s at 10 a.m., Pensacola State College, Milton Campus, 5988 Highway 90, Milton.
The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to release its weekly opinions at 11 a.m.
A joint Committee on Controlled Substances, which includes members of the boards of Pharmacy, Podiatric Medicine, Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Optometry and Podiatric Medicine and the Council on Physician Assistants, will meet to carry out a new law (HB 21) aimed at helping curb the state’s opioid epidemic. That’s at 1 p.m., DoubleTree Hotel, 5780 Major Blvd., Orlando.
The state Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board will meet in Hillsborough County. That’s at 2 p.m., Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore-Airport Area, 700 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.
The Florida Department of Transportation District 1 will hold a public hearing on a proposal to rebuild the interchange at Interstate 75 and Fruitville Road in Sarasota County. That’s at 5 p.m. Selby Public Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota.
Republican Dave Cummings, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Brian Mast in Congressional District 18, is slated to appear at a meeting of the Palm Beach County Young Republicans. That’s at 7 p.m., Tom Sawyer Country Restaurant, 3208 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach.
