| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by Floridians for Affordable Rx | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. The daily rundown — Between Monday and Tuesday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 9,068 (0.4 percent), to 2,134,914; active hospitalizations increased 73 (nearly 2.3 percent), to 3,257; deaths of Florida residents rose by 64 (nearly 0.2 percent), to 34,120; 7,449,475 Floridians have received at least one dose of a vaccine. The Big Fix — In the next two-and-half weeks, a handful of Republican legislators will decide how to spend billions of dollars. Shout out to the Florida Channel — You might be able to watch some of this online. But a process already shrouded in intractable secrecy (and which has gotten worse and worse in recent years) may get even more mysterious in a state Capitol that remains closed to the public. Yes, you read that right — While Gov. Ron DeSantis has continued to rail against lockdowns and vaccine passports, only a select few can watch the Legislature in person (and right now that does include the press). The DeSantis administration has been reticent to say when the public at large will be allowed back in to observe their government in action. The money-go-round — But the process (assuming it starts on time — yes I said it) where the House and Senate negotiate rival versions of a nearly $100 billion budget is very haphazard and hard to track even when there is access to the Capitol. Meetings are scheduled with only two hours notice and sometimes occur in the middle of the night. Hurry up and wait — Lobbyists and the press often spend a couple of weekends inside the Capitol waiting for signs of a deal. Staff and legislators can often be seen shuttling back and forth to their locked offices. Lobbyists try to slip them pieces of paper with a budget request. The actual meetings — which usually last less than 10 minutes — can be disorienting and confusing if you don't have the much-sought after spreadsheets. Meet your hosts — The Senate is in charge of staging the budget conference this year. And right now the Senate limits staff, senators and press inside meeting rooms. Covid-19 testing is mandatory, although the Senate this week announced it can be waived if someone is fully vaccinated. The House announced the same policy for its employees last week. (Hmm. Is proof required?) Changes forthcoming? — This may — stress the word may — change in the next few days. Katie Betta, a spokeswoman for Senate President Wilton Simpson, said Tuesday that "President Simpson is evaluating protocols in advance of the budget conference. The President continues to consult with infectious disease experts and is hopeful that the Senate will be able to safely update some of the current protocols prior to the end of session." — 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 | | |
|  | Gaetz-gate | | WANNA GET AWAY? — "New details shed light on Gaetz's Bahamas trip," by POLITICO's Marc Caputo and Matt Dixon: The details of that September 2018 trip are sparse, but they are critical to the allegations against Matt Gaetz, the Florida congressman currently the subject of a federal sex-crimes investigation that is threatening his career. Phone taken — Gaetz, who has not been charged, has consistently denied the two anonymous claims against him: that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl and paid for sex. Gaetz's predicament as the subject of a serious investigation became clearer this winter when federal agents executed a search warrant and seized his iPhone, according to interviews with three people who were told of the matter by Gaetz, who changed his phone number in late December. Around that time, the sources said, federal agents also seized his former girlfriend's phone before she went into work in the morning. On the trip — In the Bahamas, Gaetz was joined by two GOP allies: Halsey Beshears, then a state legislator, and Jason Pirozzolo, a hand surgeon and Republican fundraiser for DeSantis, according to three sources, including one who was part of the group. Also among those on the trip: the former minor who is key to the investigation, whose presence on the trip was previously unreported. According to one of the women in the group who spoke on condition of anonymity, everyone on the trip was over the age of 18 — including the woman in question, who had turned 18 years old months before the trip, she said. | 
Joe Raedle/Getty Images | STAYING PUT — "Gaetz's glare stings House GOP — but his future's safe for now," by POLITICO's Melanie Zanona and Olivia Beavers: Matt Gaetz is facing a federal investigation into sex trafficking allegations, turmoil inside his congressional office and a flurry of unsavory reports about his conduct toward women. But his position inside the House GOP conference is safe — at least for now. Eye in the sky — While top Republicans acknowledged the serious nature of the allegations surrounding Gaetz, just one sitting GOP lawmaker has so far publicly called on him to resign: Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. Instead, Republican leaders on Tuesday were quick to defer to the ongoing Justice Department probe, noting that the Florida Republican would automatically lose his committee assignments if he were indicted. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said he needs to see "what the facts are" and pointed out there hasn't "been any formal DOJ action yet," but added that "obviously we're watching it close." CAUTIOUS — "Florida GOP Senators: Too soon to weigh in on Gaetz's future," by The Associated Press Alan Fram: "Florida's two Republican senators are steering clear of voicing support for Rep. Matt Gaetz, branding sex trafficking accusations against him serious but calling it premature to say what should happen to their fellow Floridian and GOP lawmaker. The remarks by Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott were the latest cautious comments about Gaetz by Republicans, who have mostly taken neutral stances or said nothing about him." Rubio speaks — "A frequent face on conservative television outlets and an ardent ally of former President Donald Trump, Gaetz has broadly denied the accusations and not been charged with any crimes. 'Sure, and I don't think anyone's saying they're not,' Rubio said Tuesday when a reporter suggested the allegations are serious. 'And he's pretty firm in his denial, so we'll have to wait and see how it plays out.' Rubio said he's not spoken with Gaetz since news of the investigation emerged late last month." A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS — " Records: Joel Greenberg doled out contracts to politicians, strategists tied to figures involved in Florida's political scandals," by Orlando Sentinel's Jason Garcia and Annie Martin: "Before he resigned in disgrace last year, Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg doled out dubious contracts to a number of Republican politicians, political strategists and other allies, many with links to the scandals that have rocked Florida politics this month, according to audit documents, emails and other records reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel. The records also provide further details of Greenberg's friendships with two of the powerful figures buffeted by the controversies: U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and lobbyist Chris Dorworth." THE GREENBERG FILES — "Indicted Gaetz associate is said to be cooperating with Justice Dept.," by The New York Times' Michael S. Schmidt and Katie Benner: "A former local official in Florida indicted in the Justice Department investigation that is also focused on Representative Matt Gaetz has been providing investigators with information since last year about an array of topics, including Mr. Gaetz's activities, according to two people briefed on the matter. Joel Greenberg, a onetime county tax collector, disclosed to investigators that he and Mr. Gaetz had encounters with women who were given cash or gifts in exchange for sex, the people said." | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION: Power is 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 are shaping 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 from important new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | |
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | WHAT'S GOING ON? — "Fight over sex trafficking bill has Moody at odds with survivors," by POLITICO's Giulia Heyward and Matt Dixon: Attorney General Ashley Moody's office won't say why she supports a Senate version of human trafficking legislation that does not include expungement language, and not a House version that would allow victims to erase their record of offenses committed while they were trafficked in multiple jurisdictions. Allowing their records to be cleared in multiple jurisdictions at once, survivors say, would allow sex trafficking survivors to get their lives back on track quicker and help them gain employment. "We will continue to work with the sponsors and legislators to pass the best possible bill to advocate for victims of this horrific crime," said Lauren Cassedy, a Moody spokesperson. VOTE LOOMING — "Florida House poised to pass controversial transgender sports ban," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: The Florida House on Tuesday inched closer to passing legislation that would ban transgender athletes from playing girls' sports by setting the contentious measure up for a vote. In recent weeks, the idea has come under fire from Democrats, activists and the NCAA, which warned on Monday that locations that don't treat all student athletes with "dignity and respect" possibly won't be eligible to host championship games. TWO-MINUTE WARNING — " Sports betting in Florida: Has its time come our run out for this legislative session?" by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas: "For weeks, negotiators for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Gov. Ron DeSantis worked on an agreement for a gaming compact. Then, late Monday, the governor made what was likely a final offer: Florida would become the largest state in the nation to legalize sports betting, and the Tribe would control it. The Tribe would not stand in the way if legislators were to allow Miami Beach to become home to a controversial new casino. And the Seminole Tribe would give the state hundreds of millions of dollars in annual payments." TIME TO FOLD? — "But, as with every gaming deal that has emerged in the final days of a legislative session in the last 20 years, it was fraught with obstacles. By the end of the day Tuesday, the Tribe would reject the governor's offer, according to several sources who were briefed on the negotiations but who told the Herald/Times they are not authorized to speak on the record." BERNIE FOES — " Florida House condemns democratic socialism in resolution," by Associated Press's Bobby Caina Calvan: "The Florida House took the unusual step of denouncing democratic socialism Tuesday with the sponsor of a non-binding resolution invoking the name of the country's most prominent champion of the ideology, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, in calling it a threat to American democracy. Though the resolution has little legal significance, Democrats disavowed the bill as political theater in a state where the specter of socialism and communism has become a potent political talking point, particularly among Florida's sizable Hispanic electorate with relatives who have fled political turmoil of Cuba, Venezuela and other Latin American countries." WRITING IT DOWN — "DeSantis wants voter signatures to match. Would his pass the test?" by Tampa Bay Times' Steve Contorno: "Ronald DeSantis had just turned 30 when the up-and-coming prosecutor sent a Mayport Navy sailor to prison for six years on child pornography charges. DeSantis' signature on the 2008 plea agreement was crisp and elegant: A sharp 'R' to start; a stately 'D' for Dion, his middle name; and "DeSantis" written with an artistic flourish. Over the next 13 years, DeSantis' signature would evolve from the neat cursive of his youth to the hurried one he uses frequently today as Florida's governor. Along the way, he dropped the middle initial. He altered the look of the 'R,' and then switched it back. A quick squiggle and a big swoop replaced most of the letters in his last name." | | | | A message from Floridians for Affordable Rx:   | | |
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | SHOTS IN ARMS — Several members of Congress are asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to set aside Florida residency requirements that they say are hampering efforts to vaccinate seasonal farmworkers and undocumented residents. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, along with a handful of other Florida Democrats, is sending a letter this morning to the governor that reads "we agree with and support efforts to reduce vaccine tourism, but now that the vaccine is available to anyone 18 and up in most states, Florida's residency requirements unfortunately are preventing many otherwise eligible individuals from having access to a vaccine. And these particular populations are among the most vulnerable and hardest-hit, and they are part of our communities." Rep. Ted Deutch and other Democrats are also writing federal authorities asking that residency requirements be set aside for federally-maintained vaccine sites. PAUSED — "DeSantis agrees to pause Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Florida but calls risk minimal," by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello: "Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday the state will heed the federal government's recommendation to pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, but he added any risk appeared minimal and urged Floridians to get the one-dose shot if and when it becomes available again. 'I don't think people should be freaking out,' said DeSantis, who received the J&J vaccine earlier this month." BOAT TO NOWHERE? — " New Scott, Rubio bill seeks to override CDC's cruise regulations, allow sailing soon," by Miami Herald's Alex Daugherty: "Florida's U.S. Senators introduced legislation Tuesday to override the Centers for Disease Control's existing framework cruise ships must follow to resume operations and replace current regulations with a new set of recommendations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 aboard ships. Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, along with Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, all Republicans, introduced the Careful Resumption Under Improved Safety Enhancements, or CRUISE Act, the latest way Florida politicians are criticizing the CDC for the agency's rules cruise lines must follow before they can resume operations." — 'Biden, pay attention': Ashley Moody blasts no-sail fail," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski — "Miami-Dade school district wants all kids back in classroom this fall," by Miami Herald's Colleen Wright — "Heat ending use of vaccinated-only sections and COVID-19 sniffing dogs at AA Arena," by Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | BRINGING IT IN — "Senate GOP campaign arm posts $23 million fundraising haul in first quarter," by The Hill's Max Greenwood: "The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) raised more than $23 million in the first quarter of the year, it announced on Tuesday. The group pulled in more than $8.3 million in March alone, it said, topping the $6.4 million it raised in February. At the same time, the NRSC said it paid off the remainder of its debt — about $5.4 million, according to the group's most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission — and ultimately entered the second quarter of 2021 with $12.3 million in the bank. 'We're combining a robust digital fundraising operation with a national network of bundlers who are committed to helping us raise money and win back the Senate,' Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the NRSC's chairman, said in a statement." ABOUT THAT GOP CIVIL WAR — Scott, the NRSC chair, wishes that Trump would stay away from Senate primaries. "I would like him in open primaries to not be involved," he said in an interview with The Washington Post's Jacqueline Alemany, saying that neither he personally nor the NRSC institutionally will get involved in them. He also said that he's suggested to the ex-commander-in-chief that he "support the incumbents, all the incumbents," after The Post raised Trump railing against Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), but that when "I give advice to somebody, I don't necessarily expect them to take it." (from POLITICO's Morning Score). | | MEDIA MATTERS | | STATIC — "Florida Democrats sound the alarm after 'Spanish-Language OAN' buys Miami radio station, fires liberal host," by Newsweek's Adrian Carrasquillo: "The Spanish-language network America CV, which owns América TeVé, exited bankruptcy court and announced it was buying Caracol 1260 AM last week. It replaced [Raul] Martinez less than 48 hours later, even though he was the host of its top-rated show, 'La Hora de Regreso.' He was given the news in a 45-second phone call, and when he asked for a chance to say goodbye to his listeners he said he was told 'no,' that he was just an employee." | | | | 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. | | |
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | SHUT IT DOWN — "DeSantis endorses effort to permanently close Piney Point in Manatee County after disaster," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Jesse Mendoza : "State officials announced plans Tuesday to fund the permanent closure of the former Piney Point fertilizer processing plant property, a project that could cost upwards of $200 million. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the Piney Point facility Tuesday morning to announce he has directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop the closure plan. 'We want this to be the last chapter of the Piney Point story,' DeSantis said." FLORIDA JOINS IN — " 16 states back Alabama's challenge to Census privacy tool," by The Associated Press' Mike Schneider: "Sixteen other states are backing Alabama's challenge to a statistical method the U.S. Census Bureau is using for the first time to protect the privacy of people who participated in the 2020 census, the nation's once-a-decade head count that determines political power and funding. A federal judge on Monday allowed the 16 states to file a brief in a support of a lawsuit brought by Alabama last month. The suit seeks to stop the Census Bureau from applying the method known as 'differential privacy' to the numbers that will be used for redrawing congressional and legislative seats later this year."
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