Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
State gambling regulators say they’ll rewrite — again — a proposed rule governing the drug testing of racing greyhounds.
A notice of “rule development” was posted Monday in the Florida Administrative Register, the daily publication of proposed rules and public notices from state agencies.
The goal: To “create a rule specific to the greyhound sample collection process.”
To be sure, such a rule will only be needed for the next couple of years; state voters this month OK’d a constitutional amendment banning betting on live dog racing. It becomes effective on the first day of 2021.
In Florida, live dog racing is still conducted at 11 tracks. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) regulates dog racing and other gambling through its Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.
In October, an administrative law judge largely struck down the Division’s previous proposed rule. Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early struck down provisions on how greyhounds are chosen for testing on race days, how samples are stored, and at what temperature.
Early also criticized the lack of a ‘chain of custody’ standard: The rule “provides no procedure for handling, storing or shipping (urine specimens), and no chain of custody procedure, other than delivery to the (state’s) contract laboratory,” he wrote.
A cocaine-in-dogs controversy came to light in Jacksonville in the summer of 2017. That in part spurred the amendment for the 2018 ballot to effectively ban greyhound racing in the state.
“The preliminary text of the proposed rule development is not available,” the notice said.
Evening Reads
“The patrician president and the reporterette: a screwball story” via Maureen Dowd of The New York Times
“Adam Corey drama aside, Chris Kise is a slam dunk transition addition” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
“1.4 million ex-felons get their voting rights back, but Democrats shouldn’t count on them swinging Florida” via Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel
“U.S. House leaders should refuse to seat Ross Spano” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
“Feds back trim to Medicaid costs” via Christine Sexton of the News Service of Florida
“Five serious questions for Florida’s House Speaker” via the News Service of Florida
“40 most insane things that happened in Florida in 2018” via Matt Stopera of BuzzFeed
Quote of the Day
“My expectations are really low.” — Rep. Bobby DuBose, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, on the likelihood of a pardon for the Groveland 4 before Gov. Rick Scott leaves office.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney will be the keynote speaker during an “Armed Forces Appreciation Breakfast” in Palm Beach County. That’s at 7 a.m., Trump National Golf Club, 115 Eagle Tree Terrace, Jupiter.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will present Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis with Florida-grown Christmas trees from Bavarian Christmas Tree Farm in Tallahassee. That’s at 8:30 a.m., outside of the Executive Office of the Governor, Plaza level, The Capitol.
Gov. Scott and the Cabinet will meet and take up numerous issues, including a proposal to transfer state-owned land at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys to Jackson County. That’s at 9 a.m., Cabinet Meeting Room, The Capitol.
The Broward County legislative delegation will hold workshops with the Broward County School Board, the Broward County Commission and the Broward League of Cities. The school board workshop is at 9:30 a.m., county commission workshop at 12:30 p.m., cities workshop at 2 p.m., Broward County Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
The University of South Florida Board of Trustees will meet, with topics expected to include President Judy Genshaft’s 2017-2018 performance evaluation. That’s 9:30 a.m., University of South Florida St. Petersburg, University Student Center Ballroom, St. Petersburg.
The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss issues related to the Florida Lottery. That’s at 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, The Capitol.
Circuit Judge Charles Dodson is scheduled to hear arguments on a request by environmental groups to lift a stay of a ruling that found state lawmakers did not properly carry out a 2014 constitutional amendment that requires spending on land and water conservation. That’s at 2 p.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.
