Last Call for 6.29.22 — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics

Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

Charlie Crist’s gubernatorial campaign will hold a press conference Thursday on protecting abortion rights in Florida.

The news conference will be held in Tallahassee at 9:15 a.m. and will also be livestreamed on Crist’s campaign Facebook page.

The event comes on the eve of the effective date for Florida’s new abortion law, which will prohibit women from seeking an abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

It also comes about a week after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, two previous SCOTUS rulings that underpinned abortion rights in the United States for decades.

Notably, Florida’s law includes no exceptions for rape or incest and provides only a narrow pathway for a later-term abortion in the interest of the mother’s health, requiring two physicians to certify a life-threatening emergency before an abortion may be performed more than 15 weeks into term.

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If the state’s $110 billion budget makes your head spin, Florida TaxWatch has a remedy.

The nonpartisan watchdog group has this week released “The Taxpayers’ Guide to Florida’s FY2022-23 State Budget” which, as the title hints, aims to explain the state’s spending plan to people whose eyes glaze over once policy wonks start excitedly trotting out terms such as “recurring dollars” or “reimbursement rates.” 

As FTW President and CEO Dominic Calabro explains: “This report takes a 517-page document that is very hard for non-insiders to understand and condenses it into this handy pocket-size guide. We do this each year because Florida TaxWatch remains committed to ensuring Florida taxpayers can easily access clear, understandable analyses of where and how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent.”

The easy-to-digest guide analyzes all appropriations for the new fiscal year beginning July 1, including the General Appropriations Act, “back-of-bill” spending, general bills and the Governor’s vetoes.

“With the new fiscal year right around the corner, Florida TaxWatch is hopeful that people will use this annual guide to equip themselves with the information they need to actively participate in government and hold their elected officials accountable,” Calabro said.

“The Florida Legislature had almost $54 billion in General Revenue to develop this new budget, and they made substantial investments in the environment, education, and health care areas, in addition to providing $1 billion in tax relief and maintaining a record level of reserves — bolstered by the governor’s $3 billion in line-item vetoes.

“These thoughtful decisions are poised to have a lasting impact on our state’s well-being and ultimate success, and we look forward to joining our fellow taxpayers in monitoring their implementation in the months ahead.”

Evening Reads

—“Val Demings is on a mission” via Rita Omokha of Vanity Fair

—“Charlie Crist internal poll shows him with a consistent, insurmountable lead” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—“Where the Midterms could most affect abortion access” via Nathaniel Rakich, Geoffrey Skelley and Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux of FiveThirtyEight

—“Florida’s 350 Biggest Companies” via Florida Trend

—“Alan Cohn more confident than ever in chances to win CD 15 for Democrats” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—“In briefing Congress, Joesph Ladapo admits state decision could limit vaccine access to kids” via Mary Ellen Klas and Daniel Chang of the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times

—“Americans for Prosperity-Florida gives A+ grades to 31 lawmakers in 2022 Legislative Scorecard” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics

—“Ban on hand-held signs very likely violates First Amendment, U.S. appeals court rules” via Michael Moline of the Florida Phoenix

—“First Amendment confrontation may loom in post-Roe fight” via Jeremy W. Peters of The New York Times

—“Florida pupils struggled on math tests this year compared to before pandemic” via Leslie Postal of the Orlando Sentinel

—“Polk school board challengers hire federal criminal, affiliated with book-banners, as campaign consultant” via Billy Townsend of Public Enemy Number 1

Quote of the Day

“The steps Gov. DeSantis has taken to impede access to lifesaving coronavirus vaccines for Florida’s young children have made it harder for parents across the state to get their children vaccinated, and his promotion of anti-vaccine misinformation is making it harder for parents to make fully informed decisions on how best to protect children’s health.”

— U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, after Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo briefed the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis on Florida’s vaccination policy. 

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