| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by Floridians for Affordable Rx | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. It's 4/20 – and apparently a proposed bill that would cap THC in medical marijuana is dead. The daily rundown — Between Sunday and Monday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 4,237 (nearly 0.2 percent), to 2,173,138; active hospitalizations increased by 120 (3.6 percent), to 3,444; deaths of Florida residents rose by 32, to 34,471; 8,069,752 Floridians have received at least one dose of a vaccine Waiting — It's not clear exactly when voters will get to pick a successor to the recently-deceased Rep. Alcee Hastings. But that isn't stopping the ripple effects around the South Florida congressional seat. Don't get left behind — On Monday, state Sen. Perry Thurston made it official and jumped into a growing primary field. Today, state Rep. Bobby DuBose — who serves as one of the two House Democratic leaders — will also join the race. "I know that we have an opportunity right now to make sure that we have a country that does not just talk about justice and fairness for all, but that actually makes it real," DuBose said in a statement to Playbook. The ever-growing list — DuBose is a former Fort Lauderdale city commissioner and he joins a field that also includes two Broward County commissioners and former Palm Beach County commissioner and former legislator Priscilla Taylor. What comes next? — The rush for Hastings' seat will have ramifications in Tallahassee in several ways. Both Thurston and DuBose have to resign from the Legislature in order to run for Congress. That means special elections will have to be held for their seats. But it also means that Senate Democrats will need to find a replacement for Thurston, who is in line to be Senate Democratic leader in 2022 — and just as important — is in charge of running Senate campaigns for the next cycle. Enter the governor — And while this is all going on, the Florida House on Monday reshaped its contentious elections bill so that Gov. Ron DeSantis — who must decide when to hold the special election to replace Hastings — will get the power to fill the spots of any local officials who jump into the race. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | A message from Floridians for Affordable Rx: For too many Floridians, prescription drugs are unaffordable, and that's unacceptable. That's why it's time to take politics out of prescriptions and find real solutions to lower Rx costs for all Floridians. The key to lowering drug costs is through increased competition, not big government mandates on private-sector tools used to reduce costs. The independent pharmacy lobby's special interest agenda undermines access to affordable prescription drugs. Learn more: Floridians for Affordable Rx | | |
|  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | LATE NIGHT TALES FROM THE CAPITOL, PART 1 — While you are sleeping (maybe), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed FL SB50 (21R) into law, which will require online retailers to collect sales taxes and then use the more than $1 billion in new tax revenue generated by this change to cut unemployment taxes paid by businesses as well as the commercial rent tax. DeSantis' decision to sign the bill came just hours before the measure would automatically became law. The governor's office waited until 11 p.m. to officially file his bill-signing letter with the Department of State. This led to speculation from some Democrats that the governor did not want to publicize his bill signing because it could be seen as a massive tax increase — a viewpoint that even some Republicans have suggested. Regardless of whether it's a "tax increase" or a "tax collection" change, consumers shopping online will pay more. And the money will be used to help large corporations. LATE NIGHT TALES FROM THE CAPITOL, PART 2 — Meanwhile, the negotiations at the state Capitol over the $100 billion budget aren't going well, and part of the problem appears to be tied to the way that legislative leadership is controlling the process this year. On Monday night, budget conference committees on preK-12 education and higher education gave up their work with reaching a final deal. Instead they "bumped" their entire work product to the two appropriations chairs. And it looks like the same fate is going on with health care, which only met once in the last three days. Some of the complications tie back to the uncertain way the state will allocate billions in federal aid approved by Congress. One senator complained privately that budget conference committee chairs weren't "empowered to negotiate" because top leaders want to control everything. FWIW, lawmakers have one week left to wrap up their budget work and finish the session on time. AND THERE IT IS — "DeSantis signs 'anti-riot' bill into law, sparking outcry from Democrats, civil rights groups," by Orlando Sentinel's Gray Rohrer : "Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida's 'anti-riot' bill into law on Monday, a measure that vastly increases law enforcement's powers to crack down on civil unrest. The bill, pushed by the Republican governor, has been criticized by Democrats and civil rights groups as unconstitutional for infringing on the First Amendment's right to peacefully protest." | 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers a question during a roundtable meeting with transportation industry leaders at the Hilton Orlando-Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 7, 2020. | Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP | AFTERMATH — "As anti-riot law takes effect, will the cops really jail rioters in Florida?" by Sun Sentinel's Eileen Kelley : "Dean Trantalis, the mayor of Fort Lauderdale, said the city has no intention of stifling free speech and freedom of assembly — something that critics of the measure believe the law will do. Local lawmakers such as Trantalis and Broward Mayor Steve Geller say the law pushed through by Gov. Ron DeSantis could do much more harm than good. 'I'm not terribly supportive of the [law], because I don't believe it is going to accomplish what its proponents expect of it,' Trantalis said." COURTROOM COMMENTARY — " DeSantis signs Florida's anti-riot bill, cites Chauvin trial," by The Associated Press' Brendan Farrington: "But the Capitol riots weren't mentioned as the bill was signed by DeSantis, who criticized the Minnesota attorney general at the same time closing arguments were taking place in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, the Black man who died after Chauvin put a knee on his neck for almost 10 minutes. 'I don't know what's going to happen, but I can tell you that case was bungled by the attorney general there in Minnesota. They didn't handle it properly, so there may be some people disappointed,' DeSantis said." OH REALLY? — "DeSantis may gain power to appoint more Republicans to local offices," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis might get extra power to appoint elected officials who resign to run for higher office — and the push to give him that power is coming in conjunction with a looming election to fill the seat of the recently deceased Rep. Alcee Hastings. A House panel on Monday — over the loud objections of Democrats — attached provisions to a sweeping and contentious election bill that is on track to pass during the final days of this year's legislative session. One of the provisions removes a carveout that requires an election if someone resigns from office to run for a different elected position. A second provision changes the date when it takes effect. — "Vote-by-mail overhaul heads to Florida House floor," by News Service of Florida's Dara Kam WHO EXPECTED THIS? — " Florida Republicans set to rebuke Trump's pandemic tax changes," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Republicans in the Florida Legislature are poised to rebuke a range of Trump-era federal pandemic tax law changes that are also supported by the state's powerful business lobby. The push to back away from tax changes made under former President Donald Trump last year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic sets up exceedingly strange political allies as the 2021 legislative session comes to a close. THE KING'S SPEECH — "Gov. DeSantis proposal to punish social media sites moves in Florida House," by USA Today Network-Florida's John Kennedy: "Gov. Ron DeSantis's call for punishing social media sites that de-platformed former President Donald Trump narrowly cleared a Senate committee Monday and will soon be ready for a full vote in the Legislature. Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, was the lone Republican who argued against the proposal by fellow Republican Sen. Ray Rodrigues of Naples. Brandes labeled it a 'big government bill.' 'This Senate is currently filled with small government Republicans who do believe that government shouldn't be in the lives of businesses,' Brandes said. He added: 'This is the exact opposite of the things that we stand for.'" — "Data privacy bill loathed by big businesses advancing in Florida Legislature," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Zac Anderson RESPONSE — "Florida lawmakers endorse wide-ranging reforms in program to aid brain-damaged babies," by Miami Herald's Carol Marbin Miller, Daniel Chang and Mary Ellen Klas: "Lawmakers backed a series of sweeping reforms Monday to a controversial state program that protects doctors from medical malpractice lawsuits by limiting compensation for children born with catastrophic brain damage. Legislation to overhaul the Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association was approved unanimously Monday afternoon by powerful committees in both chambers of the Florida Legislature: the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. From there, the bills head to the floor of the Senate and the full House." SMOKED OUT — "Controversial Florida medical marijuana bill 'effectively dead,'" by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson: "A controversial measure being contemplated by Florida lawmakers to cap the potency of medical marijuana will apparently not become law this year….The measure would have had to clear just one more committee until it could be heard on the House floor: Health and Human Services. But the health committee met Monday for the last scheduled time without hearing the THC bill. 'I think the bill is effectively dead,' said the measure's sponsor, Spencer Roach, R-Fort Myers. 'Anything is possible, and nothing is ever really dead until sine die. But right now I don't see a path forward.'" — "Florida House cruise ship bill narrowed to Key West," by News Service of Florida — "House to take up scholarship bill, but changes worry parents of students with disabilities," by Orlando Sentinel's Leslie Postal | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION : Power dynamics are changing in Washington and across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. Our twice-weekly newsletter "The Recast" breaks down how race and identity shape politics and policy in America, and we are recasting how we report on it. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | |
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | THE MORE THE MERRIER — "State Sen. Perry Thurston and former Commissioner Priscilla Taylor enter race to replace Alcee Hastings," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "State Sen. Perry Thurston said Monday he's formally entering the race to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings. Thurston, who lives in Broward County, has been an unofficial candidate for months. 'The residents of District 20 deserve to have a proven Democrat in Congress that will continue the fight for social and racial justice, income inequality, safer neighborhoods, strong public schools and access to healthcare. My record in the Florida Legislature shows I am ready to be the champion of District 20 and take our fight to the halls of Congress, so our community continues to be heard clearly,' Thurston said in a written statement. Former Palm Beach County Commissioner Priscilla Taylor is also running." INTRIGUE IN MIAMI — Politico's D.C. Playbook has this fascinating nugget: "SPOTTED: NIKKI HALEY in Miami meeting with Mayor FRANCIS SUAREZ at City Hall. The sitdown was arranged with the explicit goal of allowing Haley to gauge the 43-year-old Republican as a potential running mate in 2024, according to a source familiar with the huddle. Suarez, a rising star in Florida politics, is Cuban American and an influential voice with the largest bloc of conservative Hispanic voters in the battleground state. Along with voters with roots in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Colombia, Cuban Americans shifted hard right during the Trump era as Democrats struggled with the embrace of "socialism" by the left wing of their party. Another source told us that while a joint ticket wasn't explicitly discussed, it hung over the entire conversation. An intriguing sidenote: Suarez is known to have a chilly relationship with Gov. RON DESANTIS, another 2024 White House hopeful and favorite of DONALD TRUMP." | | | | A message from Floridians for Affordable Rx:   | | |
| | Gaetz-gate | | THE NEW NORMAL? — "Gaetz, Greene flaunt new paths to power, testing GOP leaders," by The Associated Press' Alan Fram and Brian Slodysko: "Congressional leaders have always faced rebels in their ranks. But Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene are presenting top House Republicans with a test of how to handle a new breed of Trump-era, social media-savvy firebrands. Gaetz, a third-term Floridian, and Greene, a Georgia freshman, have attracted more public attention lately than most junior members of Congress. Much of it hasn't been positive." — " Another anti-Matt Gaetz billboard might be going up, this one in Pensacola," by Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins and Brooke Baitinger | | Bidenology | | UNLOCKED — "Biden administration releases billions in relief for Puerto Rico, removes 'onerous' restrictions," by McClatchy's Alex Roarty and El Nuevo Herald's Syra Ortiz-Blanes: "Puerto Rico will receive more than $8 billion in Hurricane Maria recovery money withheld during former President Donald Trump's tenure and have 'onerous' restrictions removed over how it can access and spend a larger pool of disaster relief money, the White House said on Monday. The combined moves are the latest actions from President Joe Biden's administration to broadly reset the federal government's relationship with the territory, releasing billions of dollars of financial aid years after it had been approved by Congress." | | DATELINE D.C. | | 'THE SITUATION IS MORE DIRE' — "South Florida Republicans: Jump-start Cuban reunification program from Guantanamo Bay," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padro Ocasio: "South Florida Republicans announced Monday they're introducing a bill in Congress that would jump-start a federal program that helps reunite Cuban families by resuming consular services on the island from Guantánamo Bay amid a growing backlog of applications. U.S. Reps. María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Gimenez, Mario Díaz-Balart and Stephanie Murphy, a Central Florida Democrat, are co-sponsoring the Cuban Family Reunification Modernization Act of 2021, which would restart processing claims under the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program, known as CFRP." — "Ballard Partners to help Naomi Campbell secure new visa," by Florida Politics' Peter Schorsch | | | | Did you know that POLITICO Pro has coverage and tools at the state level? All the state legislative and regulatory tracking, budget documents, state agency contact information, and everything else you need to stay ahead of state policy movement integrate into our smart and customizable platform. Learn more and become a Pro today. | | | | |
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | SENT BACK — "Leaders of Proud Boys ordered jailed on Capitol riot charges," by The Associated Press' Michael Kunzelman: "A federal judge on Monday ordered two leaders of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group to be arrested and jailed while awaiting trial on charges they planned and coordinated an attack on the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's electoral victory. Joseph Biggs and Ethan Nordean had been free since their March 10 indictment, but U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly concluded that the two men are dangerous and no conditions for their release could be adequate. The judge said Biggs and Nordean 'facilitated political violence' even if they weren't armed and didn't assault anybody at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Kelly overruled another federal judge in Washington, D.C., who had ordered pretrial home confinement for Nordean. Biggs was freed after his initial Jan. 20 arrest in his home state of Florida." | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | PROBE — "Feds investigating Pasco schools giving student data to sheriff," by Tampa Bay Times' Kathleen McGrory and Natalie Weber: "The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into whether the Pasco school district broke federal law by sharing private student information with the Pasco Sheriff's Office. The Tampa Bay Times reported in November that the school district shared information on student grades, discipline and attendance with the Sheriff's Office, which used the data to compile a secret list of schoolchildren it believed could 'fall into a life of crime.' The federal education department is now looking into the arrangement, a spokesman said Friday." 'WIPED OFF THE MAP' — "'Finally.' Crews begin razing Jeffrey Epstein's former Palm Beach house," by Palm Beach Daily News' Darrell Hofheinz: "'Finally.' That's the one-word comment developer Todd Michael Glaser offered as crews on Monday began knocking down the infamous Palm Beach mansion that was home to the late sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein — a place where he sexually assaulted underage girls and young women in what prosecutors said was a multi-year sex-trafficking scheme." — "Hackers post 26,000 Broward school files online," by Sun Sentinel's Scott Travis | | | | A message from Floridians for Affordable Rx: It's time to stand up to special interest lobbies trying to increase prescription drug costs for Florida families. Florida's independent pharmacies claim that they're struggling, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses around the country were forced to close, while there were 20 more independent pharmacies in the state. In fact, there are 13 percent more independent pharmacies in Florida today than there were 10 years ago. In fact, there are 13 percent more independent pharmacies in Florida today than there were 10 years ago. Florida needs a competitive marketplace to reduce Rx costs, not special-interest-backed legislative mandates that restrict the tools used by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to reduce Floridians' prescription drug costs. It's time for the independent pharmacies lobby to come to the table with real solutions to lower Rx costs in Florida.
Presented by Floridians for Affordable Rx. Learn More. | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "NASA's Mars helicopter takes flight, 1st for another planet," by The Associated Press' Marcia Dunn: "NASA's experimental helicopter Ingenuity rose into the thin air above the dusty red surface of Mars on Monday, achieving the first powered flight by an aircraft on another planet. The triumph was hailed as a Wright brothers moment. The mini 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) copter even carried a bit of wing fabric from the Wright Flyer that made similar history at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. It was a brief hop — just 39 seconds and 10 feet (3 meters) — but accomplished all the major milestones." BIRTHDAYS: Steve Spurrier is 76 … state Rep. Randy Fine … former Rep. Trey Radel … James Call with the Tallahassee Democrat.
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