News : POLITICO Florida Playbook: Scott votes against stimulus package — Despite more money coming in, legislators still face shortfall

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

POLITICO Florida Playbook: Scott votes against stimulus package — Despite more money coming in, legislators still face shortfall — Who should get the vaccine first?

Dec 22, 2020

Good Tuesday morning.

The daily rundown — Between Sunday and Monday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 11,015 (0.9 percent), to 1,212,581; active hospitalizations went up by 276 (nearly 5.3 percent) to 5,511; deaths rose by 112 (0.5 percent) to 20,680.

Start your engines — Well, guess the 2024 campaign is already underway.

Just say no — Sen. Rick Scott — the lawmaker chosen to lead the campaign arm of Senate Republicans — decided to break with his leadership and instead join with a handful of Senate Republicans who voted against the $900 billion stimulus package that includes checks for most Americans as well as help for the unemployed and small businesses.

Scott World — Scott voted for a much larger coronavirus relief package earlier this year, but he complained in a statement about when lawmakers got the text of the bill and he raised concerns about the price tag. "We are not spending money we have in the bank or anticipate we will collect in taxes," Scott said. "Washington doesn't seem to understand that new spending today will be paid for by increased federal debt and result in a tax increase on families down the road. We have to stop operating this way; there is no excuse for the way Washington treats the American taxpayers."

Florida's other senator — Other Florida Republicans, including Sen. Marco Rubio, voted yes on the stimulus bill. Rubio put out a short video message late Monday where he lauded the inclusion of another round of money for the Paycheck Protection Act, which he said would help small businesses including restaurants and theaters that otherwise would go out of business. "You sent me here to solve problems and make a difference," Rubio said.

There's always a plan — Look, Scott first jumped into politics in 2010 with the tea party wave and pushed to reduce debt while governor. But let's also understand that Scott also routinely pushed ideas that were drawn up and poll tested by political consultants. The multimillionaire businessman is methodical and has been shown to set aside his positions when it helps him politically. Scott now has a major talking point for his "Washington is broken" mantra that he can use against other potential Republican rivals on the 2024 campaign trail — if of course President Donald Trump doesn't run again.

— WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to be in Tallahassee for part of the day.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Florida Playbook will not publish from Thursday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Jan. 1. After the hiatus, we'll be back on our normal schedule on Monday, Jan. 4. Please continue to follow POLITICO Florida.

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

FINALLY — "Congress passes massive stimulus package as virus rages," by POLITICO's Sarah Ferris, Melanie Zanona and Andrew Desiderio: Congress approved a $900 billion coronavirus relief package late Monday night after months of inaction and partisan bickering, sending desperately needed aid to Americans reeling from a global pandemic. Last-minute drama over a series of provisions delayed final passage of the bill for days, but the major pillars remained the same: $600 direct payments to individuals and families, enhanced unemployment benefits, small business aid, and funding for distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. The long-delayed measure, which included $1.4 trillion to fund the government through next September, ultimately passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan majorities: 359-53 in the House and 92-6 in the Senate. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the mammoth bill into law, allowing at least some of the emergency aid to start flowing quickly.

NOT THROWING AWAY THEIR SHOT — "Shalala, Rubio get COVID-19 vaccine, but they aren't taking doses away from hospitals," by Miami Herald's Alex Daugherty: "Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and Miami Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala were among the first Americans to receive the coronavirus vaccine — despite not working in a long-term care or healthcare facility — because of continuity of government laws put in place after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Rubio, 49, and Shalala, 79, posted photos of themselves receiving the vaccine on social media over the weekend after the physician in charge of the U.S. Capitol said vaccines were available for all members of Congress and recommended that lawmakers take it. They both said the vaccine was safe and effective. 'I know I looked away from the needle,' Rubio tweeted. 'But I am so confident that the #Covid19 vaccine is safe & effective that I decided to take it myself.'"

Waiting his turn — "But some politicians were critical of the directive to vaccinate members of Congress ahead of most Americans. Florida Rep. Brian Mast, a 40-year-old Treasure Coast Republican who served in the Iraq War, said members of Congress were cutting the line. 'Leaders eat last; it's one of the first lessons a soldier learns as early as basic training,' Mast said in a statement. 'Congress needs to stop treating itself as a special political class, and the mere suggestion that members of Congress are in any way more important than the very people who gave us the privilege of serving in Congress is appalling.'"

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks to members of the media.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks to members of the media. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)

WARNINGS — "Latest White House COVID-19 task force report has Florida in the red zone; Court hears Orlando Sentinel case," by Orlando Sentinel's Naseem S. Miller: "Florida remains in the red zone, according to the Dec. 13 White House COVID-19 Task Force report, which was obtained this week as the Orlando Sentinel went to court in a lawsuit over Gov. Ron DeSantis and his office not providing the weekly reports in a timely manner. The Dec. 13 report was obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, but not from DeSantis' office. The Orlando Sentinel requested the Dec. 13 report last week and has yet to receive it from the state. During a first hearing for the case on Monday, Judge John Cooper of Leon County Circuit Court asked the state attorneys why they couldn't retrieve and review a report that's at most 12 pages long. They said they said they were busy with an election, other litigation and holidays, including Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving."

'OUR DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN' — "DeSantis finally met with Miami-Dade's new mayor to talk COVID. Here's what happened," by Miami Herald's Aaron Leibowitz: "Political leaders in Miami-Dade County have been frustrated in their attempts to get Gov. Ron DeSantis on the phone to talk about COVID-19 in Florida's pandemic hot spot as cases continue to surge. So when DeSantis came to Key Biscayne Monday to announce a joint effort with the county on Biscayne Bay restoration projects, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava seized the opportunity to meet for the first time with the governor, in person, to talk about the pandemic. DeSantis, addressing the media in front of the lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, said he congratulated Levine Cava on her election last month and said he was 'willing to work with [her] on whatever we can to help the county.'"

INCOMING — "Pfizer, Modern vaccines rolling into state," by News Service of Florida's Christine Sexton: "Florida is receiving a shipment of about 120,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer this week and will get another 360,000-plus doses of a vaccine from Moderna, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday. The second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine will come days after DeSantis announced what was expected to be a week-long delay in the new supply."

TO COURT — " Rebekah Jones, former state COVID-19 data manager, sues FDLE over raid on her home," by Tallahassee Democrat's Jeffrey Schweers: "Former Department of Health data manager Rebekah Jones has filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, saying the Dec. 7 morning raid on her house was a "sham" to retaliate against her for not altering COVID-19 data….In the lawsuit filed Sunday night against FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen, the department and several agents in Leon County Circuit Civil Court, Jones claims her constitutional rights were violated, including against unlawful search and seizure. She is seeking in excess of $100,000, according to the lawsuit's cover sheet. She also claims she was unnecessarily roughed up."

— "At South Florida hospitals, concerns over vaccine equity. Who gets shots soonest?" by Miami Herald Ben Conarck

— "Florida State Fair postponed two months due to coronavirus pandemic," by Tampa Bay Times' Sharon Kennedy Wynne

— "Naples City Council asks businesses to mask up," by Naples Daily News' Karl Schneider

— "Polk adds 932 new COVID cases in three days, weekly positivity rate goes above 10%," by The Ledger's Sara-Megan Walsh

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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET? — "Florida economists see budget shortfall despite uptick in projected cash," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Higher-than-anticipated growth in Florida's main budget account in recent months isn't enough to ward off the state's economic strains under the pandemic, economists laid out in new projections Monday. Despite some pep in the economy, legislators will likely have to grapple with a $1.9 billion budget shortfall. The numbers : State economists projected general revenue tax collections for the current fiscal year and 2021-22 would be $1.48 billion and $623 million higher, respectively, than what was anticipated back in August. However, they pointed out part of this increase was tied to a burst of spending that occurred after the lifting of lockdowns imposed at the height of the pandemic. "You saw a lot of pent-up demand being released," Amy Baker, coordinator for the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, said in an interview.

The view from the president's suite — Senate President Wilton Simpson, in a statement, framed the new estimates this way: "By any measure, the significant gains reflected in today's estimate do not negate the many difficult challenges we will face as we craft a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, or that families and businesses across our state are facing as we all continue to battle COVID-19. We know all too well that these estimates can change in a heartbeat; therefore, the Senate will continue to proceed with caution."

— "Federal stimulus package leaves Florida's budget out in the cold," by Orlando Sentinel's Gray Rohrer

MEMO TO SENATE PRESIDENT — "Gov. DeSantis backs controversial Everglades reservoir project, calls it a 'top environmental priority ,'" by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner: "Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday backed a controversial reservoir being built in the Everglades while announcing the state will use a pool of environmental money to help Miami-Dade County protect Biscayne Bay from continued degradation. DeSantis said his office will continue to support the $1.6 billion Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir, which was approved by the Legislature in 2017 but has recently been questioned by new Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby. DeSantis addressed the issue as he outlined plans to provide a $10 million match for local efforts to restore Biscayne Bay."

ERROR MESSAGE — "Millions wasted: Why Florida's info tech projects keep failing," by Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower: "When it became clear this month that multiple state agencies shared a single password for their emergency messaging systems — and that the password was posted online — some observers were not surprised. It was just the latest in a series of high-profile information technology failures to roil the Sunshine State. For more than two decades, Florida has struggled when it comes to information technology. Officials have created, abolished, and recreated a state technology office at least three times. Many of the state's biggest projects have been marred by scandal and incompetence and cost hundreds of millions of dollars."

TRAIL MIX

GAETZ WAS HERE — "House Republicans meet with Trump to discuss overturning election results," by POLITICO's Melanie Zanona: President Donald Trump huddled with a group of congressional Republicans at the White House on Monday, where they strategized over a last-ditch effort to overturn the election results next month, according to several members who attended the meeting. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) — who is spearheading the long-shot push to overturn the election results in Congress — organized the trio of White House meetings, which lasted over three hours and included roughly a dozen lawmakers. The group also met with Vice President Mike Pence, who will be presiding over the joint session of Congress when lawmakers officially certify the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, as well as members of Trump's legal team.

YOUR FLORIDA LEGISLATURE — "Michael Grieco's fundraising falsehoods violated ethics rules, panel finds," by Miami Herald's Christina Saint Louis: " Donors said he lied. Prosecutors said he lied. And on Monday, the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics & Public Trust agreed. In a unanimous vote, the commission found that state Rep. Michael Grieco, a Miami Beach Democrat, violated the Citizens' Bill of Rights twice during his term as a Miami Beach commissioner by falsely portraying his involvement with the political action committee People for Better Leaders. The first falsehood was when he told the Miami Herald, 'I do not have a political committee. I didn't set one up. I haven't solicited one,' and again when he told the Herald, 'It is absolutely untrue . . . You can look right into my soul.'…The penalty for public officials lying in Miami-Dade County is not onerous. The ethics commission fined him $0, with one panel member saying the finding was punishment enough."

RAISING THE BAR — "Signature requirement jumps for Florida ballot initiatives," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "It will be a lot harder to put proposed constitutional amendments on the 2022 ballot in Florida. Heavy turnout in this year's election and a new law that seeks to limit ballot initiatives have driven up the number of petition signatures that groups will have to submit to get on the ballot in 2022 and to trigger crucial reviews by the Florida Supreme Court. Groups will have to submit 891,589 valid signatures to put issues on the ballot, up from 766,200 signatures to reach the 2020 ballot, according to information posted on the state Division of Elections website. Maybe more important, they will need to submit 222,898 signatures to receive what can be make-or-break Supreme Court reviews, up from 76,632 in 2020."

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz has picked up endorsements from ten current and former union leaders in his bid to become the next Florida Democratic Party chair. Those endorsing Diaz include Fedrick Ingram, the immediate past president of the Florida Education Association and current the secretary-treasurer with the American Federation of Teachers. Diaz was also endorsed by Martha Baker, the president of Service Employees International Union Florida, Anna Fusco, president of Broward Teachers Union and John Parker, president of Democratic Labor Caucus of Florida. Ingram in a statement touted Diaz's record as Miami's mayor and said he would fight on behalf of teachers, students and schools.

TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP

HEADING OUT EARLY? — "Will Trump cut short his final presidential Christmas visit to Mar-a-Lago," by Palm Beach Post's Christine Stapleton: "President Donald Trump may shave two days off his last presidential Christmas holiday at Mar-a-Lago by leaving on New Years Day rather than Jan. 3, according to air space restrictions released by the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday. Trump is expected to arrive in Palm Beach sometime after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23, according to the FAA release. Trump had originally planned to stay through Jan. 3. But the FAA alert posted on Monday suggests he is expected to leave Palm Beach by 6:45 p.m. on Jan. 1."

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

'THEY'RE GOOD TENANTS' — "Pinellas landlord forgives $100 in rent for every hour tenants volunteer for local charities," by Tampa Bay Times' Christopher O'Donnell: "Concerned that rent arrears were piling up, the nonprofit has come up with a way for its residents to volunteer their way out of debt. The nonprofit introduced a 'Back on Track' program that forgives $100 of overdue rent for every hour a tenant volunteers for a recognized nonprofit charity. The offer applies only to renters who have lost income because of the pandemic. 'To be honest, it's probably money we wouldn't get anyway, but it gives them some pride and a feeling they're doing something,' said Joseph Lettelleir, the nonprofit's president and CEO. 'Bottom line, they're good tenants, and we'd like to keep them.'"

ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL, PT. 2 — "Boca Middle teacher who repeatedly insulted students has license suspended," by Palm Beach Post's Andrew Marra: "A former middle school teacher and longtime Boynton Beach activist had her educator license suspended this month over allegations that she regularly insulted her students, including mocking their intelligence and threatening to have one deported. As a social studies teacher at Boca Raton Middle School, Susan Oyer repeatedly hurled insults at students, both during the 2017-18 school year and again two years later, according to the state Department of Education. The veteran teacher's insults routinely targeted students' nationality and intelligence, a state affidavit shows. In one instance Oyer reportedly said of a student, 'Oh look, Ms. I'm-Not-Even-American talking.' 'I'm surprised your parents haven't thrown you into a wall,' she said another time, according to the state affidavit."

ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN

— "Mayor: Jets' win could be defining moment for woeful Jaguars," by Associated Press' Mark Long: "'The New York freaking Jets delivered an early Christmas present to Jacksonville today,' Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry posted on Twitter before vowing to light a victory cigar. 'Seriously, this Jets win could be a defining moment for our ball club. See you next week then see you at the draft. This is the win of the day.'"

BIRTHDAYS: Mike Needham, chief of staff for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), is 39.

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