Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
No, a Skokie, Illinois-based company that bills itself as America’s “leading bitcoin ATM operator” hasn’t had a change of heart about coming to Florida.
The backstory: GPD Holdings LLC, which does business as CoinFlip, earlier this month filed a request with state financial regulators.
It sought what’s known as a “declaratory statement” on whether a “bitcoin ATM operator is required to register as (a) state money transmitter” under state law.
Then, on Monday, it withdrew the request. But that was only “to edit it,” a company representative said Wednesday.
Cryptocurrency is online money, “decentralized digital currency beyond the reach of banks and governments,” as Fortune magazine once defined it. Bitcoin is perhaps the best-known cryptocurrency.
It relies on a network of users to log and verify transactions without oversight from a central authority. But it’s that same decentralization and lack of oversight that can lead to fraud.
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis in June rolled out a re-election campaign platform that includes “regulating and rooting out fraud” in the cryptocurrency market.
Later, he announced Ken Lawson, CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, as his new “cryptocurrency adviser.” The role is an unpaid consulting position; Lawson remains full-time at VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s public-private marketing tourism agency.
GPD Holdings operates cryptocurrency ATMs throughout the Midwest and in California, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee and North Carolina, according to its website.
Evening Reads
“Democrats eroding GOP’s turnout edge in midterms” by Steve Shepard of POLITICO
“From super rich to debt-ridden, Florida candidates reveal net worth” via Diane Rado of The Florida Phoenix
“Poll commissioned by unnamed group shows Philip Levine with slight lead on Gwen Graham” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
“Poll: Republicans give Ron DeSantis a slim lead over Adam Putnam” via Erin Murray of Spectrum News 13
“Labor union launches ads targeting Gwen Graham over the American Dream megamall” via Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times
“Democratic race for Attorney General gets bogged down in lawsuits” via William March of the Tampa Bay Times
“Florida Virtual School hires law firm to investigate complaints; general counsel Frank Kruppenbacher resigns” via Leslie Postal of the Orlando Sentinel
“At Stoneman Douglas, anxiety and hope come with first day of school” via Susannah Bryan of the Sun Sentinel
“Judge blasts Sun Sentinel for publishing confidential information in Parkland school shooting case” via Rafael Olmeda of the Sun Sentinel
“New videos of FIU bridge collapse released — with clear view of workers’ actions” via Nicholas Nehamas of the Miami Herald
“Ex-judge loses legal fight against Bar, JQC officials” via the News Service of Florida
“A mayor accused a female commissioner of bleaching her butthole. Her response: #MeToo” via Sarah Blaskey of the Miami Herald
“Seminole commissioners unanimously reject controversial River Cross project” via Martin Comas of the Orlando Sentinel
Quote of the Day
“It was Gov. Scott who worked to have Florida taken off the table for oil drilling.” — Rick Scott for Senate spokeswoman Lauren Schenone, commenting after oil interests launched a new PR push for offshore drilling.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
Republican candidate for governor Adam Putnam will join supporters for a North Florida “grassroots breakfast.” That’s at 8:30 a.m., The Landing Family Restaurant, 3445 U.S. Route 90, Lake City.
Enterprise Florida will hold two in a series of trade seminars directed toward small and medium-sized firms seeking to do business in the Dominican Republic. That’s at 8:30 a.m. Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business, 1101 Channelside Dr., Suite 210, Tampa. Also, 2:30 p.m., 800 North Magnolia Ave., Suite 1100, Orlando.
The Revenue Estimating Conference will update estimates of general revenue, which play a key role in funding schools, health programs and prisons. The conference periodically updates the estimates, which lawmakers use in making budget decisions. That’s at 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.
The Florida Defense Support Task Force, which works to protect and expand military installations in the state, will hold a conference call. That’s at 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-800-501-8979. Code: 1869945.
The League of Women Voters of Lee County is hosting a candidate forum in state House District 79. That’s at 6 p.m. North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Parkway, North Fort Myers.
The Florida Democratic Party’s “Rural Tour” is stopping in Citrus County. That’s at 6 p.m., George Washington Carver Center, 555 NE 3rd Ave., Crystal River.
New Florida Vision PAC is hosting a texting event “to reach voters through their phones” for the Democratic candidate for Governor Andrew Gillum. That’s at 6:30 p.m., Buffalo Wild Wings, 20505 S. Dixie Hwy., Cutler Bay.
