Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A nativity scene is now the second holiday display OK’d for the Capitol rotunda.
The display, from Rob Henderson, will be installed from Wednesday through the day after Christmas, according to Nina Ashley, spokeswoman for the Department of Management Services, the state’s real estate manager.
It’s described as a “Christmas Celebration/Nativity manger scene.”
It joins an “educational display of the astronomy causing the winter solstice” sponsored by First Coast Freethought Society of Jacksonville, previously approved for display Dec. 15-22.
Aside from traditional Hanukkah menorahs and Christian Nativity scenes, other displays in recent years have included two variations of a six-foot “Festivus” pole.
One was made of empty Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans; another was a rainbow-colored “Gay Pride” version topped with a disco ball.
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It’s beginning to look a lot like Session.
Moving toward the March start, the Senate will spread committee meetings over four days during the week of Jan. 7, according to calendars posted online.
The House will hold meetings over three days.
The Senate will start holding meetings on the afternoon of Jan. 7 and finish Jan. 10.
It will take off the morning of Jan. 8 as Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis is inaugurated.
The schedule includes a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Jan. 10.
Meantime, the House will start with an Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 8 before taking a break during the inauguration festivities.
It will resume meetings during the afternoon of Jan. 8 and continue until Jan. 10.
Lawmakers will hold a series of committee meetings in January and February to start taking up issues in advance of the March 5 start of the 2019 Legislative Session.
Evening Reads
“Donald Trump school safety group goes after Obama civil rights policy, not guns” via Kimberly Hefling of POLITICO
“At the Space Coast, Vice President Mike Pence announces the creation of a Space Command” via the Orlando Sentinel
“Despite his terrible environmental record, Ron DeSantis calls himself a ‘Teddy Roosevelt conservationist’ ” via Xander Peters of Orlando Weekly
“DeSantis reappoints Jim Poppell as Lottery secretary” via Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times
“Did Andrew Gillum leave millions of dollars in the bank on Election Day” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
“Brenda Snipes sues to get job back” via The Associated Press
“We meant what we voted” via Julie Hauserman of the Florida Phoenix
“Christian Ziegler says he has the votes to be Florida GOP Vice Chair” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
“Lawsuit: James Madison Institute fired worker over military duty” via Gary Fineout of The Associated Press
“Being born in Florida could lead to a longer life, AP report says” via The Associated Press
Quote of the Day
“Arguably, you sold your country out.” — U. S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan at former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s sentencing hearing.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The Florida Citrus Commission meets in Polk County. That’s at 9 a.m., 605 East Main St., Bartow.
Rep. Rick Roth, a Loxahatchee Republican, and Rep. Matt Willhite, a Wellington Democrat, are scheduled to speak at graduation ceremonies for Palm Beach State College. Roth will speak at 9:30 a.m., Willhite at 2 p.m., South Florida Fair Expo Center, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach.
DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on Education & Workforce Development will hold a conference call. State Board of Education Chairwoman Marva Johnson and Volusia County developer Mori Hosseini chair the committee. That’s at 10 a.m. To get the conference call number, visit DeSantisTransition.com.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will meet to discuss the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System draft renewal permit for Gulf Power’s James F. Crist Generating Plant. That’s at 10 a.m., 8851 Lewis St., Pensacola.
Surterra Wellness will hold a ribbon cutting with supporters and officials for the “Lakeland Wellness Center,” its first in Polk County. That’s at 10:30 a.m., 1222 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland.
DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on Health & Wellness will hold a conference call. Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nuñez and former Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Alan Levine will chair and co-chair, respectively. That’s at 2:30 p.m. Visit DeSantisTransition.com for the call number.
Santa Rosa County’s legislative delegation meets ahead of the 2019 Legislative Session. That’s at 5:30 p.m., Santa Rosa County Commission chamber, 6495 Caroline St., Milton.
