Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
State Sen. Wilton Simpson, take heed: The fees for egg grading will be going up.
The state Department of Agriculture’s Division of Food Safety posted a notice Thursday that it’s developing new rules that “will increase the fees for grading services.”
That includes “regular hours, overtime hours, holiday hours, regular shift differential, and overtime shift differential, as well as adding an additional charge of $9 per hour to overtime hours worked at a resident location on a shift beginning after 3 p.m.”
Simpson, a Trilby Republican, is next in line to become Senate President after Bradenton Republican Bill Galvano, assuming the GOP remains in control of the chamber by then. Galvano departs after the 2020 election.
Simpson earlier this year filed a net worth disclosure of nearly $26 million, which included his egg business, Simpson Farms.
At the close of 2018, Simpson’s egg farm was worth $14.4 million. In 2012, it was worth $8.4 million, records show. He also owns an asbestos removal company, Environmental Services.
Evening Reads
“Two foreign-born men who helped Rudy Giuliani on Ukraine arrested on campaign-finance charges” via Aruna Viswanatha, Rebecca Ballhaus and Sadie Gurman of The Wall Street Journal
“As protesters scream, GOP leader Joe Gruters slams Stephanie Murphy for backing Trump impeachment probe” via Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel
“Is Vice President Mike Pence headed to Sanibel? Big clue says ‘yes’” via Stacey Henson of the Fort Myers News-Press
“Why Joe Biden declared war on Donald Trump — and poked at Elizabeth Warren” via Natasha Korecki and Marc Caputo of POLITICO
“Elizabeth Warren’s been talking to Andrew Gillum, sparking VP buzz” via Hanna Trudo of the Daily Beast
“CNN’s LGBTQ town hall: 3 things Floridians should watch for” via Gabrielle Calise of the Tampa Bay Times
“Florida’s first lady flies a private jet — and wades into an ethics quandary” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
“Margaret Good raises a record $450,000 in initial fundraising quarter” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
“Fact or Fake: Can a lawmaker decide when public records are or aren’t public records?” via Mike Lafferty of the Orlando Sentinel
“The Everglades wild hope” via Monte Burke of Garden & Gun
“How do I scam thee? Let me count the ways …” via Lucy Morgan of the Florida Phoenix
Quote of the Day
“Of course, the Governor does not condone any illegal activity, nor does he have a relationship with these individuals.” — A spokesperson for Ron DeSantis, after revelations that his political committee received contributions from Rudy Giuliani’s foreign-born associates indicted this week on campaign finance charges.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The Pasco County Legislative Delegation is going to meet as it gets ready for the 2020 Session, starting in just a few months. That’s at 8 a.m., Pasco-Hernando State College West Campus’ Performing Arts Center, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey.
The Financial Impact Estimating Conference is workshopping a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize the adult use of marijuana. This is the one sponsored by Sensible Florida, and it’s aiming for the 2020 statewide ballot in November. That’ll be at 8:30 a.m., in the Knott Building.
The Florida Sterling Council will host the Tallahassee Performance Improvement Summit at the Agency for Health Care Administration. That’s 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Building 3 Conference Center, 2727 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee.
The Slavery Memorial Review Committee is meeting to consider artist submissions and select finalists to design a memorial, with the plans being sent to lawmakers for review and approval. That’s at 9 a.m. in the Betty Easley Conference Center, State Office Complex at Southwood, Tallahassee.
Democratic state Sen. Bobby Powell Jr. of West Palm Beach and attorney Edwin Ferguson will join DeAndre Somerville, local elected officials and community leaders at a press conference to call for disciplinary action against Circuit Judge John Kastrenakes. The judge, who is white, recently jailed the 21-year-old Somerville, who is black, for oversleeping and missing jury duty. That’s at 10:30 a.m., Palm Beach County Main Courthouse, 205 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach.
The Florida Democratic Party kicks off a three-day convention. The highlight is Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried hosting a reception. That’s at 7 p.m., Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, 1000 W. Buena Vista Drive, Orlando.
