Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Top Republicans in the Senate are planning a post-Special Session fishing trip, and donors are welcome to join.
Senate President Wilton Simpson and Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, who is set to succeed him, will host a Key West fishing fundraiser May 25-27. The agenda includes a VIP dinner on May 25, welcome reception and dinner on May 26, and a fishing outing and dinner on May 27.
Money raised will head to the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, the main political committee supporting Republican state Senate candidates.
Donor tiers aren’t listed on the invitation, though it notes that guests can get a group rate hotel state at the Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel. Also, the invitation states all events will be held outside and asks attendees to “remember to wear a mask.”
The fishing fundraiser is not the only one on the calendar for Senate Republicans.
A fundraiser at the storied Pebble Beach golf course in California is back on for mid-June. Senate Republicans have made the trek several times before, with last year being a notable exception. The 2020 event — also planned for June — was canceled over coronavirus concerns.
More details on the Pebble Beach fundraiser will be made available at a later date.
Entering prime fundraising months, FRSCC has about $3.7 million in the bank. The balance reflects $1.48 million raised and $1.14 million spent in the first quarter of 2020. The Key West and Pebble Beach rakes will be reported on the committee’s next quarterly report, due in mid-July.
Coronavirus Numbers
Positive cases:
— 2,239,982 FL residents (+4,013 since Wednesday)
— 42,631 Non-FL residents (+51 since Wednesday)
Origin:
— 17,986 Travel related
— 897,560 Contact with a confirmed case
— 24,364 Both
— 1,300,072 Under investigation
Hospitalizations:
— 92,742 in FL
Deaths:
— 36,648 in FL
Vaccinations:
— 16,105,785 Doses administered
— 9,436,587 Total people vaccinated
— 2,108,764 First dose
— 658,625 Completed one-dose series (+5,745 since Wednesday)
— 6,669,198 Completed two-dose series (+71,313 since Wednesday)
Evening Reads
“Why the Sun Belt may pick the next President” via Ronald Brownstein of CNN
“If New York indicts Florida resident Donald Trump, could Gov. Ron DeSantis save him from extradition?” via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Rick Scott says voters still don’t know or care about Liz Cheney leadership purge” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“‘Great day for America’: Vaccinated can largely ditch masks” via Zeke Miller and Michael Balsamo of The Associated Press
“DeSantis signs bill that permanently allows ‘alcohol to go’ in Florida restaurants” via News 4 Jax
“Travel industry sees vaccine passports as acceptable option, but not the only one” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“‘Are you kidding me?’ DeSantis says no way to vaccine passports for cruises” via Haley Brown of Florida Politics
“‘I just got my vaccine’: The U.S. rollout begins for children ages 12 to 15.” via Sarah Mervosh, Julie Bosman and Joseph Goldstein of The New York Times
“A once-in-a-lifetime chance to start over” via Arthur C. Brooks of The Atlantic
“Unacceptable’: Only 7% of vaccinated Florida residents are Black” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO
“More than 2,000 criminal charges for 411 suspects: The pro-Trump mob that attacked Capitol comes into focus” via Devlin Barrett, Abigail Hauslohner, Spencer S. Hsu and Ashlyn Still of The Washington Post
“U.S. jobless claims fall to 473K as more GOP governors bar aid” via Christopher Rugaber of The Associated Press
“Joel Greenberg set for federal court hearing Monday, expected to plead guilty” via Martin E. Comas and Monivette Cordeiro of the Orlando Sentinel
“FL’s first chief science officer talks about the job — and the controversy” via Craig Pittman of the Tampa Bay Times
“Locked Out: Low pay, soaring rents, pro-landlord laws set up Florida renters for eviction once COVID-19 hit” via Caroline Glenn of the Orlando Sentinel
“Give the fired Parkland cops their jobs back, judge rules” via Eileen Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Amid pipeline hack fallout, Gary Farmer renews push to set up strategic fuel reserve” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
“Rick Kriseman pondering congressional run in CD 13” via Kelly Hayes of Florida Politics
“With Rome Yard reporting, the Tampa Bay Times omits key details” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“If you are fully vaccinated, you are protected, and you can start doing the things that you stopped doing because of the pandemic.” — CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.
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