Peter Schorsch
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The sandhill crane, alligator snapping turtle, and Florida bog frog have their own protections in Florida rules and regulations.
Now the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wants mammals to have their own “chapter.”
The FWC announced Thursday it was considering protecting “mammals that are not on Florida Endangered and Threatened Species list or otherwise regulated.”
“No mammal chapter exists, and the proposed rule will create a mammal chapter similar to existing chapters for birds, reptiles and amphibians,” the FWC said.
The new chapter “includes species being delisted or those that were recently delisted as part of the Imperiled Species Management Plan (ISMP), species with similarity of appearance concerns, and possession limits for species that may be maintained as pets.”
There are eight kinds of mammals on the state’s ISMP. Of those, two species were “delisted”: the Eastern chipmunk and the Florida mouse.
The commission is currently scheduled to consider the draft rule and staff recommendations at a Sept. 26-27 meeting in Tallahassee.
Evening Reads
“Inside a super PAC that spends on everything but winning” via Brian Slodsyko of the Associated Press
“Nearly 800,00 voters have already cast ballots in Florida” via the Associated Press
“Voting lawsuit remans bilingual ballots in 32 more Florida counties” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times
“An anomaly or a tide turning? Conventional wisdom shifting as primary election nears” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix
“Ron DeSantis heads to Puerto Rico to stump for Boricua votes … in Florida” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
“How Adam Putnam turned his agriculture roots in a political machine” via Steve Contorno of the Tampa Bay Times
“After 2016 investigation found sexual misconduct, top Putnam staffers quickly found new state jobs” via Ana Ceballos of the Naples Daily News
“‘Putin’s puppet’: The feud between Jeff Greene and Philip Levine gets nastier” via Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times
“Florida GOP candidates are paying firms affiliated with Infowars contributor” via Kara Voght of Mother Jones
“Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority will search nationwide for next CEO” via David Bauerlein of the Jacksonville Times-Union
“Why does Tampa’s police station smell so much like weed?” via Tony Marrero of the Tampa Bay Times
“Florida urges vaccinations after 3 measles cases reported” via Jennifer Kay of the Associated Press
Quote of the Day
“It’s going to be a very stable picture for the Legislature, with no big changes … No surprises, up or down.” — Amy Baker, the Legislature’s chief economist, on budget looks for the future.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
Enterprise Florida will hold one 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., JaxChamber, 3 Independent Dr., Jacksonville.
GOP candidate for governor Adam Putnam kicks off his ‘Florida First’ bus tour with an “Up & Adam” breakfast. That’s at 8:30 a.m., 4Rivers Smokehouse, 1600 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park.
The Florida Department of Health will hold a hearing about a proposed rule dealing with the application process for new medical-marijuana licenses. That’s at 9 a.m., Florida Department of Health, 4025 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee.
Democratic candidate for governor Philip Levine will be visiting early voting sites in Central Florida. That’s at 9 a.m., Kissimmee Civic Center, 201 E. Dakin Ave., Kissimmee; and at noon, Orange County Supervisor of Elections, 119 W. Kaley St., Orlando.
The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold a preview of items that will be included in an unclaimed property auction Saturday. That’s at 9 a.m., Tampa Marriott Westshore, 1001 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.
Tallahassee Circuit Judge John Cooper will hold a hearing in a dispute about a proposed constitutional amendment that calls for changes in the state’s education system. The lawsuit targets the charter-school part of the proposal and alleges that the ballot wording is misleading. That’s at 9:30 a.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.
Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican running for agriculture commissioner, is slated to campaign at a meet-and-greet event. That’s at 9:30 a.m., The Merchant Strategy, 1804 North Dixie Highway, Suite B, West Palm Beach.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will release July unemployment figures at 10 a.m.
State candidates and political committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through Aug. 10.
Looking Ahead
Early voting for the Aug. 28 primary elections will be held throughout the state, after starting earlier in the week in some counties.
Jacksonville Democrat Billee Bussard, seeking to unseat GOP state Sen. Aaron Bean in Senate District 4, will celebrate her 73rd birthday with a canvassing event. That’s Saturday, with canvassing starting at 9 a.m., Yulee Panera Bread, 463861 State Road 200, Yulee.
The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold an auction of unclaimed property from bank-deposit boxes. That’s at 10 a.m., Tampa Marriott Westshore, 1001 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.
Miami Democrat James Harden, seeking to unseat GOP Rep. Daniel Perez in House District 116, will hold a campaign event. That’s Saturday, 6 p.m., MIA Beer Company, 10400 N.W. 33rd St., #150, Miami.
