Peter Schorsch
The Last 24
Good Tuesday evening. House and Senate sponsors of legislation that would create a state-sanctioned “guide to a healthy marriage” defended their positions at a news conference. The bill has been tried and failed before, but social conservatives believe 2020 may be the year. Sen. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican, is carrying the Senate version.
He first carried this bill when he was in the House, described “mounting evidence” of the costs of issues related to divorce. “Many times, we end up with two poor families,” Baxley said. ” … My focus is women, children, fathers. The accumulation of data only shows that families need help.” Sixty Days wants to know: Any way to figure out how many members of the Legislature are divorced? Just putting that out there. Here’s your nightly rundown.
Restrictions on amendments: A Senate panel moved two related bills that would impose single-subject limitations on constitutional amendments.
Good news for felons: Arrests are falling, jail sentences shortening, and lawmakers should focus on employing people once they get out of prison, an expert told a Senate panel.
VISIT FLORIDA may live: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee advanced a bill extending the life of the state’s tourism marketing arm.
Helping kids: A Senate panel OK’d a measure that would remove a $1 million cap on benefits for children insured under the Florida KidCare program.
Talking taxes: Sen. José Javier Rodríguez and others are making a case for an expansion of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
Go into the water? Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis debuted a website that provides information on water quality and health in South Florida.
‘Rare rebuff’ to Florida utilities? The Public Service Commission voted 4-1 to reject a call for eliminating the 30-year program that encourages utility customers to save energy.
Quote of the Day
“Today, my daughter Faith and her classmates ran the @FLSenate. I was happy to see her, but now I’m curious. Is Lobbying 101 next?” — State Sen. Tom Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican and former Senate President, on Twitter.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
The future of VISIT FLORIDA at this point has caused friction in both House and Senate negotiations through two gubernatorial administrations and several elections. But Sen. Ed Hooper says there’s too much good done by Florida tourism marketing agency just to let it die. On Tuesday, he presented a bill reauthorizing the agency and passed it through the first of its committees. Before the meeting, we spoke with the Palm Harbor Republican.
Florida Politics: What do you think is most important for lawmakers to do regarding VISIT FLORIDA in the 2020 session?
Hooper: The biggest thing is, if we do nothing, on July 1, it will go ahead and expire. I represent two counties that rely on tourism. Last I checked, tourism was a top industry in the state of Florida, and not doing anything is unacceptable. We need this entity involved. There’s a return (on investment) of $2.15 for every dollar we invest in (it). I’ll take that any day of the week.
FP: The House has long resisted extending VISIT FLORIDA over a long period. Last year, Speaker José Oliva only wanted a short extension. How will you convince the House this year to do something more long-term?
Hooper: I wish I had the answer to that; I can only speculate. I’m fairly confident Americans for Prosperity will show up and oppose my bill. Whether they have convinced the Speaker this is money not well spent, they haven’t approached me to talk about it, pro or con. I won’t assume the Speaker’s mindset has changed.
I believe Gov. DeSantis sees the value of VISIT FLORIDA and everything under the umbrella of what they do. I do believe his influence at least made them fund VISIT FLORIDA at least until July 1, and his influence will be important again.
FP: Many working at VISIT FLORIDA have indicated the anxiety that comes from only being budgeted year to year. Is there any way to get more permanent support in place?
Hooper: Well, my bill has nothing to do with dollars. It simply reauthorizes VISIT FLORIDA for eight years to allow them to exist. Appropriations is where it will be discussed, how much is approved or budgeted. But this allows them to live for eight more years. The (chambers) have to come up with an approved number to fund them.
(VISIT FLORIDA CEO Dana Young) went from $70 million last year (in overall budget) to $50 million this year, and she feels she can do another record-setting year with the same appropriation as they are currently funded. I believe she can too. First, we need to get them extended and then work on appropriations to get them more) funding.
Lobby Up
Few brands are as iconic as Harley-Davidson. The name conjures up images of a softail chopper with a growling v-twin and a leather jacket to match.
What doesn’t come to mind? Electric bicycles. At least not yet.
Harley-Davidson has already teased its futuristic all-electric motorcycle, the LiveWire, but it has more products in the works. Earlier this year, the company unveiled prototypes for a broad portfolio of electric-powered Harley-Davidson two-wheelers — including pedal-assist electric bicycles, also known as e-bikes or eBicycles.
As the Milwaukee-based company expands into the new market segment, it’s eyeing state laws that classify what kind of vehicle an e-bike is — or, in the case of Florida, the complete lack of classification. To get the ball rolling in the Sunshine State, Harley-Davidson has teamed up with PeopleForBikes and signed a lobbying deal with Richard Heffley and Kelly Horton of Heffley & Associates.
The effort has already started revving up in the Senate, with St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes on tap to carry the classification bill — no surprise, considering he was the Senate sponsor for the micromobility bill passed in the 2019 Legislative Session. There’s no word yet on who will sponsor the House companion, but whoever steps up could probably ride into a wave of applause at the Daytona Beach Bike Week in March.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
(Unless otherwise noted, all locations are in the Capitol Complex.)
It’s Tampa General Hospital Day at the Capitol. “#WeAreTGH Day at the Capitol brings patients who have been positively impacted by Tampa General Hospital together at the Florida State Capitol to advocate for TGH programs and services.”
Florida TaxWatch will be joined by GOP state Sen. Debbie Mayfield of Melbourne, Associated Industries of Florida, CareerSource Florida, Florida Chamber Foundation, FloridaMakes and the Florida Manufacturing & Logistics Council to announce the release of its latest report, “From Grease & Grime to Technology and Talent.” That’s at 9 a.m., 4th-floor Rotunda.
DeSantis will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony at Tyndall Air Force Base. That’s at 10 a.m. Central time, 2580 Roosevelt Blvd., Panama City.
Senate President-designate Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican, will join executives from Tampa General Hospital to mark the hospital’s 10,000th transplant. That’s at 2 p.m., Old Capitol steps.
House Speaker Oliva, Speaker-designate Chris Sprowls and Judiciary Committee Chair Paul Renner host a fundraiser for Reps. Colleen Burton, Mike Grant and Ralph Massullo. That’s at 5 p.m., Governors Club, 202 S. Adams St., Tallahassee.
The Florida CPA PAC hosts a fundraising reception for Sen. Joe Gruters, and Reps. Mike Caruso and Cyndi Stevenson. That’s at 6 p.m., Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 119 S. Monroe St. (Suite 121), Tallahassee.
Also, the following committees will meet:
— House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, 9:30 a.m., 17 House Office Building. On the agenda: Presentation by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Water Policy, on best management practices.
— House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, 9:30 a.m., 404 House Office Building. On the agenda: a panel on using technology to advance public safety and privacy.
— House Health Quality Subcommittee, 9:30 a.m., 306 House Office Building. On the agenda: A presentation on recreational marijuana and emergency/urgent care visits by Andrew Monte, M.D., Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine Medical Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine. A presentation on recreational marijuana and adolescent emergency and urgent care visits, Sam Wang, M.D., Assistant Professor, Pediatrics — Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.
— House Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, 9:30 a.m., 12 House Office Building. On the agenda: A bill that would outlaw misrepresenting oneself as a member of the military.
— House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee, 9:30 a.m., 102 House Office Building. On the agenda: A discussion of the Hurricane Michael Recovery Grant Program .
— House Business & Professions Subcommittee, 1 p.m., 212 Knott Building. On the agenda: A bill on changing fireworks law.
— House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee, 1 p.m., 17 House Office Building. On the agenda: Presentations by the Department of Financial Services on the Florida PALM Project (Planning, Accounting and Ledger Management) replacement of the state’s accounting and treasury systems; Department of Management Services on state real estate and facilities, with an update on current and pending projects.
— House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building. On the agenda: A bill to create a ‘Prescription Drug Donation Repository Program.’
— Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building. On the agenda: Various presentations, including on the status of the State Hemp Program, by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
— Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office building. On the agenda: A presentation on Parole and Early Release by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.
— House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, 3:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building. On the agenda: “Recurring Base Appropriations Projects Justification Review: State University System-Florida College System-Private Colleges and Universities.”
— House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee, 3:30 p.m., 404 House Office building. On the agenda: A bill on “Loss Run Statements.”
— House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, 3:30 p.m., 17 House Office Building. On the agenda: Presentations by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on the “Data Transparency Initiative and the Transition to the Incident-Based Reporting System.”
Committee agendas are available on the House and Senate websites.
