Staff Reports
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Senate President Ben Albritton said budget leaders in the upper chamber still cannot agree on budget allocations with the House.
That guarantees Session will not end on time.
“I’m disappointed to report that we have not yet reached an agreement on allocations of the house,” the Wauchula Republican said in a six-speech speech on the Senate floor. “The biggest hurdle at this time is related to tax relief, both the number and the policy.”
Until the chambers agree on top lines for spending, appropriators in the chambers cannot meet for budget conferences. The Legislature must complete a budget and allow a three-day cooling period before final passage, which requires negotiations to be complete by Tuesday. But even if lawmakers convened through the weekend in budget conferences, it would be impossible to meet that deadline, Albritton made clear.
Senate Appropriations Chair Ed Hooper, a Clearwater Republican, and House Budget Chair Lawrence McClure, a Dover Republican, have sent offers on allocations back and forth over the past couple of days, both have previously told Florida Politics.
Albritton said the Senate most recently sent an offer with $1.3 billion in recurring tax relief and $1.5 billion in non-recurring tax cuts, along with local tax relief. But he said Speaker Daniel Perez has held fast to an insistence that lawmakers pass a cut in the state sales tax rate, from 6% to 5.25%.
“We’ve considered the House’s broad, across-the-board sales tax proposal and long-term budget assumption from every angle we could think of,” Albritton said. “I understand their perspective, and I applaud the resolve to pursue better government, and I have an immense respect for the Speaker and his entire team. He’s a good man.
“At the end of the day, I’m just not comfortable with a proposal that I believe will likely lead to shortfalls, if not substantial shortfalls, in the out years.”
Read more on Florida Politics.
Evening Reads
—“Are things falling apart for Donald Trump? ” via Aaron Blake of The Washington Post
—”Trump plans to target ActBlue, Democrats’ cash engine” via Maggie HabermanReid J. Epstein and Kenneth P. Vogel of The Washington Post
—”Xi is ratcheting up China’s pain threshold for a long fight with Trump” via Josh Chin of The Wall Street Journal
—”RFK JR. wants an autism ‘registry.’ people are pissed” via Elizabeth Yuko of Rolling Stone
—”Congressional Republicans might set off the debt bomb” via Jessica Riedl of The Atlantic
—”Are Democrats playing into Trump’s hands by fighting deportations?” via Eric Levits of Vox
—”Florida Senate Democratic leader drops party, switches to no-party affiliation” via Rome Ellenbogen of the Tampa Bay Times
—”Hope Florida probe ends in no-shows. The work is just beginning, Chair says” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics
—”House abruptly drops its Hope Florida investigation for the Session” via Christine Sexton and Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix
—”Ron and Casey DeSantis blame ‘political agendas’ for Hope Florida ‘misunderstanding’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
—”Bye bye blue? Poll says majority of Dems say they could move out of Florida by end of decade” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“In the real world, if someone defrauded the state or a charity out of $10 million someone would go to prison. This isn’t Camp Tallahassee — this is real money.”
— Rep. Alex Andrade, after the House investigation into Hope Florida closed out for this Session.
Put it on the Tab
Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
The Democratic Party didn’t know it would be drinking a Death In The Afternoon, but Sen. Jason Pizzo served one up anyway.
Session won’t be ending on time, but Senate President Ben Albritton lessened the pain by telling lawmakers (and by extension us) they can have a Lazy Sunday … and Saturday, too!
Rep. Alex Andrade and the Governor can share an Awkward Pause now that the inquiry into Hope Florida has been shelved for Session.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
NFL draft kicks off tonight
The NFL draft begins tonight with the first round (8 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network) and continues over the next two days.
Each of the three Florida teams has different needs. The Jacksonville Jaguars hold the fifth pick in the draft and 10 picks overall. The Jaguars have a bushel of needs, but with new leadership, head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone, the team must add players who will help to rebuild the culture in the locker room.
The Jaguars have long been associated with Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham in various mock drafts. But over the past week, a new name has begun to surface in connection with the Jaguars’ first-round pick. Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty could be the only running back taken in the first round and could go as high as the Jaguars at number five.
The Miami Dolphins hold the 13th pick in the first round and also have 10 picks in total. Miami could address cornerback, safety, guard, or defensive tackle in the first round. Texas cornerback Jahdae Brown is a popular pick among mock drafts for the Dolphins. South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori and Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon could also be in play at the pick.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fewer holes to fill. They could add a pass rusher, cornerback, or inside linebacker. Michigan’s Will Johnson was projected as a top 10 pick early in the draft process but seems to have slid to the teens. Tennessee outside linebacker James Pearce could also be a possibility with the Bucs’ pick. Tampa Bay has only six picks in the draft.
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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
