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Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
After some back-and-forth, the Legislature has agreed on language to more clearly prevent development on state park lands.
The House originally approved the measure (HB 209) in mid-April. But amendments tacked on in the Senate this week sent it back to the House for another vote.
House lawmakers agreed to the Senate’s language Thursday, passing the bill unanimously for a second time.
Hobe Sound Republican Rep. John Snyder, the bill sponsor, said the Senate amendments were “minor” and that the measure is still essentially intact from when the House first approved it.
Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Weston Democrat, asked Snyder for assurances that the bill would prohibit the “takeover” of state parks by golf courses. Snyder said the final bill leaves no doubt.
The prospect of development at state parks outraged Floridians across the political spectrum, who attended protests across the state over the summer after details of the so-called “Great Outdoors Initiative” were first released. It was also panned by elected leaders of both parties, from Florida’s Republican Agriculture Commissioner and Chief Financial Officer to rank-and-file legislative Democrats.
The bill’s 11th-hour approval comes after The Sierra Club, which supports the legislation, warned that Sen. Alexis Calatayud’s amendment could’ve killed the bill.
Sierra Club said while the amendment “might seem ‘fine’ on a quick reading, it is not only weaker than HB 209, it is an obvious attempt to run out the clock as we are facing a Sine Die …,” a Tuesday email from The Sierra Club reads. The organization organized a protest outside Calatayud’s office yesterday.
Nerves are calmer now that HB 209 is heading to the Governor, however.
“Florida’s state parks are some of our greatest treasures, and today we celebrate a historic victory for their future. This success belongs to every Floridian who stood up, spoke out, and refused to let our parks be paved over for profit,” said Sierra Club Florida Executive Committee Chair Kristine Cunningham.
“The passage of the State Park Preservation Act proves that when we come together, we can protect the places we love — not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.”
Evening Reads
—”Donald Trump to continue 100-days celebration by firing his first high-level appointee” via Ryan Bort of Rolling Stone
—“Mike Waltz announced as U.N. Ambassador hours after ouster as National Security Adviser” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
—“With minerals deal, Trump ties himself to future of Ukraine” via Kim Barker of The New York Times
—“Trump is fulfilling Henry Kissinger’s dream” via Gal Beckerman of The Atlantic
—”The Trump-approved policy that’s actually good for kids” via Anna North of Vox
—”Florida leads as state and local governments sign on for Trump’s mass deportations” via Gisela Salomon and Kate Payne of The Associated Press
—”Budget disagreement will extend post-session for at least a week” via Jay Waagmeester of the Florida Phoenix
—”‘Off to the races’: Gov. Ron DeSantis wants National Guard members to serve as immigration Judges” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
—“‘Loud and clear’: Lawmakers approve bill to prevent development on state park lands” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics
—“Top Florida GOP official was convicted in probe into his romantic involvement with inmate during his time as jail employee” via Matthew Cupelli of Fresh Take Florida
—”Republicans and Democrats can agree on this: Stop minting pennies” via Oyin Adedoyin of The Wall Street Journal
Quote of the Day
“That piece is very much in there, loud and clear, and did not change.”
— Rep. John Snyder, on a golf course ban in the state parks preservation development bill.
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.
Order a Parachute for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz who started the day getting axed as National Security Adviser and ended it as a nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Say cheers to the end of one of Florida’s unique — and uniquely controversial — laws with an ice-cold Malpractice.
State parks fans can enjoy a Nature Power now that lawmakers have greenlit a bill blocking golf courses and pickleball courts on park lands.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Run for the Roses is Saturday
The first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown has a post time scheduled for 6:57 p.m. ET with a field full of hopefuls.
The favorite is Journalism, who has three graded-stakes wins. He will break from the eighth position. The two other horses with the best odds will go from further outside. Sandman, a 6-1 pick, drew the 17th position, one spot inside of Sovereignty, at 5-1. After those three horses, a pair of 12-1 picks could challenge. Rodriguez breaks from the fourth position, and Burnham Square will be just outside of Journalism in the ninth position.
Last year, Mystik Dan won the Kentucky Derby before finishing second in the Preakness and eighth in the Belmont.
No horse has won multiple Triple Crown races since Justify won the Triple Crown in 2018.
Derby weekend drew over 156,000 fans last year and generated roughly $434 million in economic impact for Louisville. This year’s race is expected to bring slightly more to the region, with Louisville Tourism estimating $441 million of impact to the area.
Tickets for the Kentucky Derby are relatively reasonable on the secondary market. A pair of infield general admission tickets can be found for less than $100 each. Tickets along the rail on the backstretch were available on Thursday morning for as high as $2,644, and at the finish line, a pair of tickets was available for $16,796 each.
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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.
