| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by Secure Democracy | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. Turn of a friendly card — The deal is already laid out on the table, but gambling opponents are releasing a new poll today showing how Floridians don't share the enthusiasm of Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders when it comes to the latest agreement forged between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Games people play — Pollster McLaughlin & Associates surveyed 800 likely Florida voters and found that 76 percent of respondents said voters — not the Legislature — should have the final approval of the new deal. Only 13 percent disagreed. The same poll found that 72 percent would support legislators who agree that voters should have the final say. May be a price to pay — Back in 2018, voters approved Amendment 3, a measure that said future casino gambling had to be approved by voters. That amendment included a provision that said nothing in the citizen initiative would prevent the state from negotiating a compact with the Seminoles, who operate several casinos, including the Hard Rock casinos in Tampa and Hollywood. I wouldn't want to be like you — Now lawmakers are scheduled to return to Tallahassee on May 17 to approve the new compact that would let the tribe offer craps and roulette, but it would also bring mobile sports betting into the third-largest state in the nation via the tribe. No Casinos, the group that helped pass Amendment 3 and commissioned the new poll, maintains this new deal violates the amendment and are predicting litigation if it goes through. Eye in the sky — John Sowinski, president of No Casinos, said the poll shows that Floridians "feel strongly" about maintaining control and that they "clearly understand this new agreement violates the letter and spirit of that amendment." Other key findings from the poll: 44 percent said Florida has the right amount of gambling now and that 50 percent said that mobile sports betting violates Amendment 3 versus 29 percent who said it does not. The poll was done April 29-May 2. and has a margin of error of plus/minus 3.5 percent. — 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 Secure Democracy: Year after year, Florida's trusted, experienced, and independent election administrators step up to manage our elections with professionalism, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring every vote is counted. Across our state, these public servants advocate for Floridians' freedom to vote. We owe them our gratitude. Please take a moment to add your name to the virtual thank-you card for Florida's dedicated elections administrators. Secure Democracy will proudly deliver the card on your behalf. | | |
|  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | DAUGHTER OF BILL SPONSOR CALLS FOR VETO — "Laura Stargel to Ron DeSantis: Veto Florida's harmful ban on trans girls in sports," Commentary by Laura Stargel for the Orlando Sentinel: "Less than 48 hours from the end of session, previously dead legislation to ban transgender athletes from youth sport resurfaced as an amendment on a charter school bill, blindsiding many lawmakers and advocates, myself included. As someone who studied sports politics and has grown up in the shadow of Florida's legislative process, I'm deeply disappointed in the Florida Legislature for hastily passing this legislation and sending it to the governor's desk." FORGOTTEN FLORIDIANS — "Legislators didn't make improving Florida's unemployment benefits a priority," by Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower: "With the state's unemployment system inoperable, hundreds of thousands of desperate Floridians bombarded lawmakers' phone lines begging for help filing their claims. Lawmakers from both parties pledged to reform the antiquated system. Yet by the time they convened months later in Tallahassee for their annual legislative session this March, the unemployment crisis had been eclipsed by hot-button culture war topics such as penalizing social media companies, banning vaccine 'passports,' voting reforms and 'anti-riot' legislation." Bottom line — "The session ended Friday without lawmakers restructuring the state's unemployment system. During the two-month-long session, they spent less time discussing it than such things like banning transgender athletes from women's and girls' sports — a scenario that hasn't publicly arisen yet in Florida. 'It's a slap in the face,' Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Miami, said of the Legislature's lack of attention on the unemployment issue. 'It's indecent.'" TESTY — "Fried chides DEP's Valenstein on Piney Point during Cabinet meeting exchange," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Nikki Fried told Noah Valenstein that records show the Department of Environmental Protection was aware of "critical failures" at the Piney Point phosphate waste site, where more than 200 million gallons wastewater last month spilled or was pumped into nearby Tampa Bay last month to avoid a dike breach. DeSantis said April 13 he was directing DEP to permanently close the Piney Point site… Fried asked whether Valenstein was aware of the waste site threat and should have warned the Cabinet about it. She also asked whether the state had assurances from the present owner, HRK Holdings, that when it took over the site more than a decade ago that it would be able to pay for the cleanup, which now could cost $200 million. | 
Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried speaks during a meeting of the Florida cabinet Tuesday June 4, 2019, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon) | AP Photo/Steve Cannon | 'WE NEED TO DO BETTER' — "Florida governor signs bills on literacy, early learning," by The Associated Press' Bobby Caina Calvan: "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a pair of education bills into law Tuesday that proponents hope will improve student literacy and early learning programs that prepare children for kindergarten. One bill signed into law would establish the Division of Early Learning within the state's Department of Education as part of what the Republican governor said would produce 'meaningful improvements to state accountability for early learning programs.' The success rate of so-called 'voluntary pre-kindergarten' programs had been under scrutiny because of data that shows many children are ill-prepared for kindergarten." — "Lawmakers approve $90M for dozens of South Florida projects. Will DeSantis veto any?" by Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos — " Ron DeSantis misleading claim about crime, police funding," by Politifact's Miriam Valverde — "Florida lawmakers strengthened punishments for abuse of elders, disabled," by Tampa Bay Times' Bailey LeFever — " Miami-Dade ready for toll wars with Tallahassee over who controls Dolphin Expressway," by Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. 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. | | | | |
| | Gaetz-gate | | 'WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER' — "Fried: Feds should 'come to a decision' on Gaetz probe or move on," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Before running for Agriculture Commission in 2018, Nikki Fried was a prominent marijuana lobbyist who helped boost Florida's nascent marijuana industry. It was a policy issue that created a long-time bipartisan relationship with Matt Gaetz, who has positioned himself as one of the leading pro-pot Republicans in the country — a reputation that goes back as far as 2014 when Gaetz, then-state lawmaker, sponsored a measure that legalized low-THC cannabis for medical use under a licensing scheme carried out by state regulators. "Obviously, we all know each other," Fried told reporters of Gaetz on Tuesday. "You walk these halls long enough, and you are involved, of course, you have lots of interactions with people. Show and tell time? — Fried on Tuesday called the allegations against Gaetz "shocking," but also said the Department of Justice should make public the evidence against Gaetz after more than a month of high-profile speculation. "I certainly hope they [the allegations] are not true on behalf of the potential victims of this case, and certainly hope the FBI and DOJ either come to a decision or make further findings, or it is time for people of our country and our state to move on and get on with the business of governing," she said. | | | | A message from Secure Democracy:   | | |
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | AWAY WE GO — "Florida's Crist becomes first prominent Democrat to challenge DeSantis," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: But Rep. Charlie Crist's Tuesday announcement — replete with a gospel choir and flags fluttering in the wind — nearly got overshadowed by rival Democrats also planning their own challenges. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who held a press conference to call on DeSantis to veto a long line of bills, all but guaranteed Tuesday that she is running for governor. And Rep. Val Demings put out a biographical video on her social media account that appeared tailor-made for an expected bid. Target DeSantis — Crist, however, did not mention his fellow Democrats during his kick-off speech in St. Petersburg. Instead he took aim at DeSantis and Republicans as out of touch and unfeeling in helping Floridians during the more than year-long pandemic. He gave his speech ahead of five-day statewide tour he is launching to publicize his latest run. "This is a governor who doesn't listen, who doesn't care, and doesn't think about you — unless of course you can write a campaign check," Crist said. Reaction from the Capitol — DeSantis on Tuesday brushed aside Crist's challenge by joking "which party is he going to run under?" After noting he sides with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DeSantis suggested that Crist should be running as a Green Party candidate rather than a Democrat. DeSantis, who has constantly touted his resistance to lockdowns and mask mandates during the pandemic, also said he welcomed debating his handling of the Covid pandemic with Crist and other Democrats. "If you look at our state and how we're doing, I don't think people could argue with the result," DeSantis said. YES IT DOES — "Crist's run for Florida governor complicates Democrats' House prospects," by Reuters Susan Cornwell: "A Florida congressman's decision to run for governor Tuesday put another Democratic U.S. House of Representatives seat at risk, as the party braces for possibly losing the majority next year and with it the ability to pass President Joe Biden's agenda… Crist joined an exodus of prominent House Democrats from competitive districts as the party fights to keep its narrow six-seat majority in next year's midterm congressional elections." FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Democratic state Sen. Perry Thurston is launching his first digital ad in the race to fill the 20th Congressional District seat held by the late Rep. Alcee Hastings. The minute-long ad opens with a picture of George Floyd, images of the riot at the U.S. Capitol and footage of Gov. Ron DeSantis. "Injustice. Suppression. Division. Republicans are trying to tear us down," a narrator states before the ad pivots to Thurston. "I will fight tirelessly to ensure that our residents are treated equally and with dignity," he says in the ad. | 
Sen. Perry Thurston is pictured. | Daniel Ducassi/POLITICO | SPEAKING OF CD 20 — DeSantis sets date for special election to replace Hastings," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a press conference in Miami on Tuesday that the primary election will be scheduled for Nov. 2 and will be followed by a general election on Jan. 11….DeSantis waited nearly a month before announcing his plans to set a special election date, a move that drew complaints from Democrats. They speculated that the governor was delaying a final decision in order to keep the seat vacant as long as possible. After Hastings death, Democrats now only have a six-vote majority in the U.S. House. The final dates picked by DeSantis match the ones suggested to him back in April by Broward County Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott. ON THE RISE? — "Miami's mayor is entertaining 2024 rumors, but can he survive in partisan politics," by Miami Herald's Joey Flechas: "'I don't know if there's any resident in the city of Miami who would say no to the opportunity to be vice president of the United States," [Miami Mayor Francis] Suarez said in an interview. Still, while Suarez is basking in a burgeoning narrative that he could be a player in national Republican politics — he says his centrist tendencies could serve the party well — others question his Republican credentials and doubt someone with a track record of voting against Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis can survive a partisan race. 'His Republican credentials are not transferable or marketable in a Republican Party primary. They're just not," said David Custin, a veteran political consultant who has worked with Suarez in the past. 'It's not credible for anybody to say or think that he can win in a Republican primary.'" | | | | DON'T MISS OUT ON OUR NEW PLAYBOOK DEEP DIVE PODCAST: Washington is full of whispers, colorful characters and little-known back stories that even D.C. insiders might not know. Playbook Deep Dive is a new, weekly podcast that pulls back the curtain on the stories behind the power. From Congress and the White House to bar stools and backrooms, POLITICO's top reporters and Playbook authors bring you the most compelling and confounding stories that explain what's really going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | |
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | ADDED VOICE — "Centner Academy Controversy: Education Secretary says school should 'follow the science,' not be 'threatening teachers,'" by CBS Miami's Jim DeFede: "During an interview with CBS4, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona weighed in on the scandal surrounding Centner Academy. The Miami private school is run by anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist Leila Centner, who threatened to fire teachers who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 'I don't think we should be threatening teachers at all,' Cardona told CBS4's Jim DeFede. 'We need to follow the science, [and] make sure that we're listening to the health experts. They know what they're doing. And I'm thankful as a father and as an educator to have been able to follow their advice to make sure that in the home state where I live, where I lived during the pandemic, our schools were able to open safely.'" AND HERE WE GO — "After DeSantis order, Miami-Dade commissioners reluctantly allow packed chambers again," by Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks and Samantha J. Gross: "After conducting the public's business in relative isolation for more than a year, Miami-Dade County commissioners on Tuesday looked out onto a full auditorium for the first time since early 2020, the result of an order one day earlier by Gov. Ron DeSantis ending local COVID-19 restrictions. 'I have got to respect the governor's order,' said Chairman Jose 'Pepe' Diaz, the Republican and DeSantis ally who had set the COVID rules barring the public from the galley of the commission chambers. 'We're working through it as well as possible.'" — " Pinellas rescinds mask mandate after DeSantis executive order," by Tampa Bay Times' Tracey McManus — "Most remaining mask mandates repealed after DeSantis order, but school requirements stay," by Treasure Coast Newspapers Lina Ruiz — " Miami International Airport offering COVID-19 vaccines to Florida passengers, employees," by Miami Herald's Michelle Marchante | | DATELINE D.C. | | A FLORIDA REPLACEMENT? — The intrigue over the fate of Rep. Liz Cheney — and whether she will be dumped from her position as the No. 3 Republican in the House — has led to speculation over possible Cheney replacements. Although most coverage suggests New York Rep. Elise Stefanik will get the post, a Washington Post column on Tuesday floated the names of two newcomers from Florida: Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Kat Cammack. The Hill also floated Cammack's name. The north Florida congresswoman was among the House Republicans who voted to object to certification of the election results from Arizona and Pennsylvania after the Jan. 6 riots. One reason Cheney is in trouble of course is because she has sharply criticized anyone who suggests the 2020 presidential election was "stolen." PUSHING BACK AGAINST CASTOR — "Music industry group accuses broadcasters of spreading 'misinformation,'" by POLITICO's Caitlin Oprysko: The MusicFIRST Coalition, which represents the American Federation of Musicians, the Recording Industry Association of America, The Recording Academy and other music groups, accused the National Association of Broadcasters today of perpetrating a "misinformation campaign" by encouraging lawmakers to support a congressional resolution opposing artists earning royalties or other compensation when their music is played on broadcast radio. The coalition is challenging a "Dear Colleague" letter being circulated by Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) and Steve Womack (R-Ark.), who are the House sponsors of the Local Radio Freedom Act, a perennially introduced measure, by annotating the letter that it says was crafted by the NAB and charges is misleading. BLUE CHECK BLUES — "House candidate suing FEC over inaction on complaint against Twitter, says blue check of 'value' in campaigns," by Fox News' Tyler Olson: "Anna Paulina Luna, the former 2020 GOP nominee for Democrat Rep. Charlie Crist's House seat, is suing the Federal Election Commission (FEC) over alleged inaction on a complaint about Twitter never verifying her account. Luna, according to a copy of her lawsuit first obtained by Fox News, tried for months to get her Twitter account verified, even as other candidates in her primary race already had blue check marks on their profiles. She continued to not have a blue check on her Twitter profile as she competed against Crist, D-Fla., in the 2020 general election. Luna's suit says that this is despite the fact she met 'all the requirements in Twitter's rules' to be verified." | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | FALLOUT — "Pasco school resource officers will no longer access student data," by Tampa Bay Times' Romy Ellenbogen: "Pasco County's school resource officers will no longer have access to student data, including children's grades and discipline histories, after the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and School Board revised their data-sharing agreement Tuesday. The officers will also no longer have access to the school district's early warning system, which designates students as on-track, off-track or at-risk, according to the Sheriff's Office. The changes come after the Tampa Bay Times reported that the Pasco County Sheriff's Office used the information to create a secret list of children who could 'fall into a life of crime,' according to an internal manual." — "Federal prosecutors seek to confine healthcare mogul Esformes to his home before trial," by Miami Herald's Jay Weaver | | | | A message from Secure Democracy: It's time for Floridians to acknowledge the impressive role that our trusted, certified, and independent election administrators have in the preservation of our democracy.
Each season, these dedicated public servants manage our elections with professionalism, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring every vote is counted.
In 2020, despite the pandemic and other hurdles, voters showed up in record numbers to do their job. And our election administrators did theirs – verifying and counting every eligible ballot, just as they have in every previous election.
This legislative session, many of these same election administrators stepped forward to safeguard Floridians' freedom to vote and preserve Florida's reliable voting laws. We owe them our gratitude.
Please take a moment to add your name to the virtual thank-you card for Florida's dedicated elections administrators. Secure Democracy will proudly deliver the card on your behalf. | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Will $8 million more save the manatees this year? The state is hoping," by Florida Today's Jim Waymer: "Florida wildlife officials are set to get another $8 million this year — more than double the usual manatee recovery cash on hand — to help sea cows rebound from a year that's on pace to be the deadliest on record for the threatened species. The manatees appear to be starving across the state from a shortage of seagrass decades in the making. The extra money would only be for one year, and state biologists aren't sure yet how they'd spend the extra cash or what difference it might make." — " Orlando White Castle sets single day sales record for chain," by Orlando Sentinel's Austin Fuller: "Orlando's White Castle set a single-day sales record Monday on its opening day, according to vice president Jamie Richardson. The previous record for the hamburger slider chain was the opening day of the chain's Scottsdale, Arizona, restaurant in 2019….The first White Castle in Florida since the 1960s opened shortly after 8 a.m. Monday with a line that started forming the night before. Cars waiting for drive-through service backed up on Daryl Carter Parkway." BIRTHDAYS: Former Rep. Craig T. James … Jim Magill with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney and former legislative affairs director for Gov. Jeb Bush … Paul Flemming, public information officer at the Office of the State Courts Administrator
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