Peter Schorsch
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
After a false start, a Skokie, Illinois-based company that bills itself as America’s “leading bitcoin ATM operator” is back before state regulators under Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.
GPD Holdings LLC, which does business as CoinFlip, filed an amended request for a “declaratory statement” on whether a “bitcoin ATM operator is required to register” with the state under the law.
CoinFlip’s Daniel Polotsky told regulators his research leads him to conclude “there is no law forcing Florida bitcoin ATM operators to register as state money transmitters.”
CoinFlip “wants to operate its bitcoin ATMs in Florida, and wants to make sure it is in compliance with the state’s laws regarding money transmission,” he wrote in a letter dated last Thursday.
Patronis in June rolled out a re-election campaign platform that includes regulating the cryptocurrency market, and announced Ken Lawson, CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, as his new “cryptocurrency adviser.”
CoinFlip is “not a money transmitter,” Polotsky argued, “because it does not promise to make the cryptocurrency available at a later date/does not act as a middleman between the consumer and the exchange, but instead makes it immediately available from its own supply upon receiving the cash.”
The company now operates cryptocurrency ATMs throughout the Midwest and in California, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee and North Carolina, according to its website.
Polotsky added: “CoinFlip does not hold customer accounts, and simply retails cryptocurrency for cash (and vice versa).”
Cryptocurrency is “decentralized digital currency beyond the reach of banks and governments,” as Fortune magazine once defined it. Bitcoin is perhaps the best-known cryptocurrency.
Evening Reads
“Rick Scott sends a bilingual message in Florida race: He’s not Trump” via Michael Scherer of the Washington Post
“‘Terribly misleading’ Jeff Greene handouts imply support from black candidates” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
“Philip Levine plows another $5.21 million into gubernatorial campaign” via the News Service of Florida
“Here are the details on Jimmy Buffett’s free concert for Gwen Graham” via Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times
“Judge orders Amendment 8 be removed from Florida ballot” via Emily Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times
“Zombie campaigns still spending as FEC says no crackdown until 2019” via Chris O’Donnell and Connie Humburg of the Tampa Bay Times
“New internal poll has Donna Shalala comfortably ahead of the field in Democratic primary to replace Ileana Ros-Lehtinen” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald”
“Bernie Sanders makes endorsements in several Florida races” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising
“George Soros weighs in on HD 30 Democratic primary” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising
“SunPass users’ data was compromised … but FDOT didn’t publicly disclose it” via Noah Pransky of 10 News
“Tourists ignore red tide but restaurants see dip in business” via Thaddeus Mast of the Naples Daily News
“FSU AD Stan Wilcox leaving for NCAA” via Jim Henry of the Tallahassee Democrat
Quote of the Day
“The failure to use the term voters would understand (‘charter schools’), as well as the use of a phrase that has no established meaning under Florida law, fail to inform voters of the chief purpose and effect of this proposal.” — Circuit Judge John Cooper, in an order removing a contentious education amendment from the November ballot.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam will continue his Florida First Bus Tour with a stop for a Manatee County “Up & Adam” breakfast. That’s at 8:30 a.m., Theresa’s Restaurant, 608 Tamiami Trail, Bradenton.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch will visit the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization and tour projects. He also will attend a roundtable event to discuss the National Flood Insurance Program.
— The MPO visit is at 9:30 a.m., Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, 100 West Cypress Creek Road, Suite 650, Fort Lauderdale.
— The roundtable is at 11:30 a.m., Becker, 1 East Broward Blvd., Suite 1800, Fort Lauderdale.
A group called “Save My Constitution” will hold a news conference to announce the launch of its efforts to oppose the constitutional amendments proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission on the November ballot. Featured guests include former Lt. Govs. Jennifer Carroll and Jeff Kottkamp and a host of former lawmakers. That’s at 11:15 a.m., The Capitol, Plaza level rotunda, Tallahassee.
State Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican running for Agriculture Commissioner, is expected to speak to the Old Cutler Republican Women’s Club. Also, Rep. Jeanette Nunez and former Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, who served on the 2017-18 Constitution Revision Commission, are expected to discuss proposed constitutional amendments on the November ballot. That’s at 11:30 a.m., Brio Tuscan Grille, 8888 S.W. 136th St., Miami.
Putnam is slated to make another campaign stop. That’s at 1:30 p.m., Family Table, 14132 Tamiami Trail, North Port.
The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council will hold a conference call at 1:30 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7135858151.
A reception will be held for Republican James Buchanan, who is running in Sarasota County’s House District 74. The seat is open because Rep. Julio Gonzalez, a Venice Republican, is running for Congress. That’s at 5:30 p.m., Fins at Sharky’s, 1600 Harbor Dr. South, Venice.
Putnam will call on supporters to get out the vote during a “Polk for Putnam” rally, with special guests Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz. That’s at 6 p.m., The Magnolia Building, 702 E. Orange St., Lakeland.
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce will hold a forum that is expected to draw a wide range of state and local candidates. That’s at 6:30 p.m., Hillsborough Community College, Trinkle Center, 1206 North Park Road, Plant City.
Grimsley also will speak to the Women’s Republican Club of Miami, Federated. That’s at 6:30 a.m., Mojitos Calle 8, 8000 SW 8th St., Miami.
State Rep. David Silvers, a Lake Clarke Shores Democrat running for re-election in Palm Beach County’s House District 87, and primary challenger Edgardo Hernandez are slated to speak to the Rusty Gordon LGBTA Democratic Caucus of Palm Beach County. That’s at 6:45 p.m., Compass GLCC, 201 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth.
Democratic candidate for Governor Jeff Greene is expected to speak during a Broward County Democratic Party meeting. That’s at 7 p.m., Deicke Auditorium, 5701 Cypress Road, Plantation.
U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, running for re-election in Florida’s 9th Congressional District, is slated to speak to the Winter Haven Democratic Club. That’s at 7 p.m., Rotary Park, 350 Sixth St. N.E., Winter Haven.
