Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2019 Legislative Session
The Last 24
Good Monday evening. Two days’ worth of inaugural activities, including casual pizza parties and official swearings-in, has kicked off in the capital for Governor-elect Ron DeSantis, Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nuñez, Attorney General-elect Ashley Moody, Agriculture Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried and CFO Jimmy Patronis (elected to his first full term after being appointed). At the same time, it’s a legislative committee week, and did we mention there’s a Cabinet and Clemency Board meeting Friday? Here’s your nightly rundown.
GOP still in control: In a look ahead, Ron DeSantis will continue a two-decade Republican tradition of tax cuts, school vouchers and “deep skepticism” about expanding the state’s health care safety net.
The new sheriff has arrived: From medical pot to the state Supreme Court, DeSantis’ first moves after swearing-in could occupy headlines for weeks to come.
His boots were made for working, not walking: DeSantis also said he canceled Tuesday’s inaugural parade through Tallahassee, saying he just needs to put “the pedal to the metal.”
Groveland 4 case gets attention: Also, DeSantis and the new Cabinet are slated Friday to take up the case of four African-American men falsely accused in 1949 of raping a white woman.
Dana Young returns to Tallahassee: VISIT FLORIDA’s board of directors unanimously OK’d the former state senator from Tampa to become the tourism marketing agency’s next CEO.
Voting travails: The man behind a constitutional amendment, effective Tuesday, that gives back ex-con’s right to vote now says “roadblocks” may lay down the road.
Bipartisan appeal: Reps. Shevrin Jones, a West Park Democrat, and Rene Plasencia, an Orlando Republican, together filed a bill to expand a Miami-Dade needle exchange program to the rest of the state.
Quote of the Day
“I was thinking about this beautiful, early 20th-century wallpaper. Orange crayon wouldn’t look so good on that.” — Incoming Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, on the need to “babyproof” the Governor’s Mansion. The DeSantises have two children both under 2.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
Dana Young is ready to get back into The Process. The former state Senator was confirmed Monday as CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s public-private tourism marketing arm, after its board approved Governor-elect DeSantis’ recommendation to hire her. She now takes over an agency that has been battered by bad press in the last few years, after reports of questionable spending spurred zealous investigations by the Florida House. Young, a Tampa Republican, told Florida Politics she’s ready to take the wheel from outgoing CEO Ken Lawson, who’s now taking over the Department of Economic Opportunity. She spoke by phone during her drive to Tallahassee early Monday before the board meeting:
FP: Why do you want this job?
DY: I’m a sixth-generation Floridian, and I don’t know that there’s anyone who loves Florida more than I do. I’m driving through rural Florida right now, and I realize that while we market our beautiful weather and our beaches, we also have an amazing natural environment … This is an opportunity to use my in-depth knowledge of the state and love for Florida to further the marketing efforts of our state, nationally and internationally.
FP: You’re a lawyer, you’ve been a lawmaker, but not a marketer. How quick of a study are you?
DY: The agency needs a leader. I bring strong leadership skills to the position. There are a lot of people who work for the agency who are experts in marketing, and they will continue to do what they do best. I will tell you I am in fact a quick study. I will be an expert in marketing in a matter of a few months, I can assure you.
FP: How will you steer the organization so that it does not make the same missteps that got it criticized in recent years and almost scuttled by lawmakers?
DY: We will not be hiring Pitbull … We will not be sponsoring race car teams. We will not be sponsoring a soccer team. I say all that somewhat in jest, but we will make responsible decisions about how the people’s money is spent. We will ensure that return on investment is as high as it possibly can be. And I will not be entering into any contract that doesn’t fit the core mission of the agency.
Lobby Up
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce has picked Corcoran & Johnston to represent it in Tallahassee, the organization said.
“After an extensive interview and vetting process, it was clear that Corcoran & Johnston best aligned with the Chamber’s mission to advance policy that enhances our community by building business success in Tampa Bay,” Tampa Chamber head Bob Rohrlack said in a news release.
“I am excited to partner with Corcoran & Johnston as we work to be the collective business voice that proactively, quickly and thoroughly advocates for pro-business solutions to issues facing our region.”
The lobbying team of Michael Corcoran, Jeffrey Johnston, Matt Blair, Anita Berry and Amanda Stewart will work with the Chamber’s Senior Vice President of strategy, Josh Baumgartner.
Corcoran & Johnston will monitor a number of policy silos for the Tampa Chamber, which said it was at a “critical point” in its 10-year vision plan.
Among those is transportation. For instance, the Chamber was a staunch supporter of the transportation sales tax referendum approved by Hillsborough voters in November.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
A prayer breakfast will be held at Florida A&M University as part of the inauguration events for Governor-elect DeSantis. Joining DeSantis will be Lt. Governor-elect Nuñez. That’s at 8 a.m., Florida A&M University, 1601 South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tallahassee.
A panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments in a legal battle about whether a ban on smoking medical marijuana violates a 2016 constitutional amendment. That’s at 9 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.
The House Appropriations Committee will receive a presentation about an annual report known as the Long Range Financial Outlook, which details issues such as projected revenues and expenses in the coming years. That’s at 9:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.
The Florida Public Service Commission will take up a series of issues related to electric utilities, telecommunications and water and wastewater service. Following a regular meeting, the commission will consider Duke Energy Florida’s tax impacts from a federal tax overhaul passed in December 2017. That overhaul included cutting corporate income-tax rates from 35 percent to 21 percent. That’s at 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.
The swearing-in ceremony for DeSantis, Nuñez and Cabinet members Patronis, Moody and Fried will be held. That’s at 11 a.m., steps of the Old Capitol.
DeSantis will address legislative leaders and Cabinet members during a luncheon event after being formally sworn into office. That’s at 1 p.m., fourth floor, the Capitol.
Moody plans to hold an open house after she is sworn into office. That’s 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Attorney General’s Office, first floor, the Capitol.
A panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments in a dispute about whether the Florida Department of Environmental Protection should allow a Broward County landowner to drill an exploratory oil well in the Everglades. That’s at 2 p.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.
A panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments in a case stemming from a 2016 law that, in part, placed new requirements on life-insurance companies to try to determine if policyholders had died and to contact beneficiaries. That’s at 2 p.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.
The Senate Education Committee will receive an update on school safety and security issues. That’s at 2:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.
The House Education Committee will receive an overview of the governance structure for the kindergarten through 12th-grade system. That’s at 3 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.
The Senate Community Affairs Committee will take up a bill (SB 82), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, that would largely bar local regulations on vegetable gardens on residential property. That’s at 4:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will discuss the environmental impacts of Hurricane Michael, which caused massive damage after making landfall Oct. 10 as a Category 4 storm in Mexico Beach. That’s at 4:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.
The House Commerce Committee will receive a Florida economic overview. That’s at 4:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
An inaugural ball will be held to celebrate DeSantis and Nuñez taking office. That’s at 7 p.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.
