| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by No Casinos, Inc. | Hello and welcome to Friday. Frontrunner — As Gov. Ron DeSantis basks in the national spotlight (the latest being a Pittsburgh speech some saw as a 2024 preview) he's getting a little bit of shade from a fellow Republican governor. Granite time — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu went on a conservative radio show this week where he touted his state's fiscal conservatism and tax cutting policies. And he took a swipe at DeSantis. Love you but — "And again, we just doubled down on that with the cutting of the taxes," Sununu said on The Howie Carr Show. "And Florida is great, Florida's been very flexible. He did sign another billion dollars of tax increases. I love Ron, but the fact of the matter is their taxes are going up and ours are going down. So I think we're going in the right direction." That darn tax bill — Sununu is referring to the bill that DeSantis signed (in the middle of the night, if you recall) that will require online retailers to collect sales taxes from Floridians. The new law is expected to generate in excess of $1 billion in taxes that will be used to replenish the state's unemployment compensation trust fund, which will trigger lower taxes on businesses, including many large corporations. Bipartisan — What may be a bit stinging here for DeSantis is that Sununu's jab echoes that of his likely Democratic opponent Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. "Last night, he took a billion dollar from you and no one was watching," she said in a video she released right after DeSantis signed the bill into law. And oh, meanwhile Sen. Rick Scott (who has his own frosty relationship with DeSantis) is actively trying to recruit Sununu to run for the U.S. Senate. Put in a box — DeSantis hasn't really said much about his decision to sign off on the tax bill (which some Republicans contend isn't an increase) but he was put in an awkward spot by the Florida Legislature. If DeSantis had vetoed the measure he would have assured tax hikes on businesses due to the automatic formula that kicks in with unemployment. (Hmm, wonder if that may have been deliberate…). How we got here, however, doesn't matter. It's now part of DeSantis' record that he gets defend in the run-up to 2022 — and 2024. — 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 No Casinos, Inc. The proposed compact is predicated on accepting something that is fictional, as fact. Because according to the Compact, someone placing a bet on their mobile device, anywhere in Florida, is actually gambling "on Tribal lands" if the computer server happens to be located at a tribal facility. Learn more. | | |
|  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | 2024 WATCH — "Florida Gov. hints at future plans: 'I have only begun to fight,'" by CNN's Michael Warren: "With more than 40 months before November 2024 and in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, the race for the Republican nomination for president is already underway. And while the 42-year-old governor said nothing concrete about his future plans beyond winning reelection next fall, DeSantis hinted at his ambitions with his final line of the night: 'I can tell you this: in the state of Florida, with me as governor, I have only begun to fight.'" Welcomed — "Prior to his speech, as the 750 people began eating their salads at the Republican Committee of Allegheny County's annual Lincoln Day Dinner, the mere mention of DeSantis's name by the party chairman prompted cheers. And when a local pastor, in the midst of a lengthy prayer before the meal, said DeSantis would make a great president of the United States, the entire room let up a roar of approval." — " 'Don't back down': DeSantis delivers campaign-style speech in Pittsburgh," by NBC News Allan Smith GETTING CROWDED — "RNC, NRSC join fray over Florida's contentious new election law," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: The Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Thursday filed motions to intervene in two separate federal lawsuits that have been filed in Tallahassee. RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, using the same talking point espoused by Florida GOP officials defending the law, said in a statement that "Florida's recent election reforms are aimed at a simple goal: making it easier to vote and harder to cheat." Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who is chair of the NRSC, contended that critics are lying about the effect of the law. "The lawsuits being pushed by radical leftists in Florida have no basis in fact," Scott said in a statement. "They are part of the Democrats' Big Lie — that any efforts to secure the integrity of our elections is racist." | 
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 05: Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) questions Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli and Assistant HHS Secretary for Preparedness and Response Robert Kadlec during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on the government's response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on March 5, 2020 in Washington, DC. COVID-19 has taken hold in the United States and national and local governments are rushing to contain the virus and finding a cure. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) | Samuel Corum/Getty Images | MOVING FORWARD — "Rep. Stephanie Murphy considers Senate run against Rubio," by NPR's Kelsey Snell: "Democrats have struggled in Florida. Right now they hold just one statewide office — the agriculture commissioner — despite years of running candidates who come within narrow margins of a win. Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy from central Florida thinks she could be the one to change that trend in a potential run against Republican Sen. Marco Rubio. 'I am thinking very seriously about whether or not to run,' Murphy said in an interview with NPR. 'Florida deserves at least one senator who isn't focused on becoming president.'" — " 5 questions for Ramon Alexander: How future Democratic leader will build bluer Florida House," by Tallahassee Democrat's James Call | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | FLORIDA'S AG HAVING A BAD WEEK — "Ashley Moody appeals after judge ruling on Biden immigration policies," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody quickly launched an appeal Wednesday after a federal judge refused to block immigration-enforcement moves by President Joe Biden's administration. U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell issued a 23-page ruling Tuesday rejecting Florida's request for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit that Moody filed in March against the Biden administration. The lawsuit focuses on memos issued Jan. 20 and Feb. 18 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about immigration enforcement, with Moody contending that the directives violate federal immigration laws and what is known as the Administrative Procedure Act." — "Judge rejects restraining order for protest law," News Service of Florida — "Florida lawmakers approved legalized sports betting. Now what?" by Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower — "What's wrong with Florida's new gambling deal? Ask the one state senator who voted against it," by WTSP's Eric Glasser — "Gov. DeSantis' press secretary locks Twitter account after 'harassment and threats,'" by Florida Politics' Jason Delgado | | | | A message from No Casinos, Inc.   | | | | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — Between Wednesday and Thursday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 2,893 (0.1 percent), to 2,302,489; active hospitalizations decreased by 10 (0.4 percent), to 2,264; death of Florida residents rose by 76 (0.2 percent), to 36,347; 9,813,737 Floridians have received at least one dose of a vaccine. THE RED ZONE — "Florida counties where Trump support was heaviest have the lowest vaccination rates in the state," by USA Today Network-Florida's Dan DeLuca, Frank Gluck, Lindsay Leake and Chris Persaud : "But a key predictor of who will shun the shots is whether they reside in counties that strongly supported Donald Trump in the 2020 election, a USA TODAY Network - Florida analysis of vaccination data, Census Bureau estimates and voting records shows. And the more a county went for Trump in November, the more its vaccinations have lagged. Even when factoring for a county's racial makeup, average age, non-English speaking population, college-educated population, overall population estimate and income level, the analysis found that voter preference in 2020 remains a big factor in the share of a county's residents who have been inoculated." Response — "Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Gov. Ron DeSantis, rejected the notion that partisan politics is playing a role in vaccination rates. Pushaw also said that Florida is performing better than the national average in getting seniors vaccinated. 'It is totally counterproductive — not to mention inaccurate — for media to frame a complex public health issue, like vaccine hesitancy, as a partisan political battleground,' she said, adding: 'If some people choose not to (get vaccinated), that is their right.' But the data and polling indicate that GOP affiliation makes it more likely someone has hardened opposition to the shots. This is true even among seniors, who are at most risk of death and complications from COVID-19." FALLOUT — "Locked out: As COVID worsens Florida's eviction crisis, more Black renters' lives upended," by Orlando Sentinel's Desiree Stennett: "Tens of thousands of people in Florida lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, leaving many at risk of eviction. But renters living in predominately Black neighborhoods were most vulnerable, new data compiled by the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at University of Florida show. The data, which includes two years of eviction court filings for 61 of the state's 67 counties, provides the most comprehensive look at eviction the Shimberg Center has ever produced. An Orlando Sentinel analysis of the filings and U.S. Census Bureau demographic data in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties in 2019 and 2020 shows that when Black residents are the largest racial group in a ZIP code, the eviction rate is likely to be significantly higher than in most predominately white ZIP codes nearby." — "Florida COVID positivity rate hits lowest point in seven months, as case numbers keep dropping," by Sun Sentinel's David Fleshler — " Angry parents flood school board meeting, want their kids' masks off now," by Palm Beach Post's Sonja Isger — "Gainesville-area businesses struggle with mask rules after new COVID guidelines," by The Gainesville Sun's John Henderson, Jack Prator and Corbin Bolies | | DATELINE D.C. | | ON YOUR OWN — "Congress can't save NCAA from 'royal mess' of competing state laws by July, Rubio says," by McClatchy's Brian Murphy and Raleigh News and Observer's Luke DeCock: "Congress is not going to be able to create a national standard for college athletes' name, image and likeness rights before state laws around the nation go into effect July 1, one prominent U.S. senator said Tuesday. The NCAA, unable to come to a consensus on its own standard and hampered by an ongoing Supreme Court case that may determine the limits of its power, had pinned its hopes on a legislative solution to the patchwork of different state laws. 'Oh, I doubt that. We've tried for a year. Ideally, the NCAA would have fixed it. They're going to have a mess on their hands,' Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who introduced his own legislation last year, told McClatchy." | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | THE MEAN SEASON APPROACHES — "Experts predict busy Atlantic storm season but not like 2020," by The Associated Press' Seth Borenstein: "The Atlantic hurricane season will be busier than normal, but it's unlikely to be as crazy as 2020's record-shattering year, meteorologists said Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasted that the hurricane season, which runs from June through November, will see 13 to 20 named storms. Six to 10 of those storms will become hurricanes and three to five will be major hurricanes with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kilometers per hour), the agency predicted." The causes — "Lead agency forecaster Matthew Rosencrans said the season looks to be busy because of warmer water, which fuels storms; reduced cross winds that decapitate storms; and more seeds of stormy weather coming off the coast of Africa. There is also no El Nino weather event, the natural temporary warming of the central Pacific that squelches Atlantic hurricane activity, he said." STRAINED — " Facing hurricane and wildfire seasons, FEMA is already worn out," by New York Times' Christopher Flavelle and Zolan Kanno-Youngs: "The impact on the ground of a strained FEMA can be seen in Panama City, Fla., where Hurricane Michael damaged almost all of the school district's 40 schools in 2018. The district had been working with FEMA to rebuild but lately that work has ground to a halt, according to William V. Husfelt, the Bay District superintendent. Two of the schools are still awaiting money from FEMA for repairs, which means students crowd into other buildings and the middle schoolers are sharing a building with the high school." | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | 'MAYBE SOMEONE SOLD THEM OUT' — "Ex-Green Berets jailed in bungled Venezuela coup may have been duped, negotiator says," by McClatchy's Kevin G. Hall, Antonio Maria Delgado and Michael Wilner: "Two former Green Berets jailed in Venezuela for last year's botched coup are not mercenaries, may have been duped and should be shown leniency by the Maduro regime, said a prominent private negotiator seeking to win their release. 'The Green Berets are innocent of the crimes they are charged with. They were not mercenaries, they were not part of an invasion,' said former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who is working with the families of Luke Denman and Airan Berry to win their release." — " They went digging. Up came the long-hidden remains of a dead person," by Sun Sentinel's Eileen Kelley and Austen Erblat | | A message from No Casinos, Inc. Florida voters overwhelmingly approved the Voter Control of Gambling Amendment in 2018. Now, gambling lobbyists are trying to convince your legislators to break the law, pass the largest gambling expansion in the state, and ignore your right to vote. In 2018, 72% of Florida Voters Approved Amendment 3, which says "…Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling in the State of Florida." That means new gambling in Florida can only be authorized by a statewide vote of the people. But gambling interests want our elected officials to approve this proposed compact without voter approval. That's not just wrong, it's unconstitutional. Learn more. | | | | | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Florida couple admits to luring black bears and having packs of dogs attack them. The attacks were posted on social media," by The Associated Press: "A married couple has pleaded guilty to using doughnuts and pastries to lure black bears in rural Florida, allowing packs of dogs to attack them and then posting the gruesome videos on social media. Charles Scarbrough entered guilty pleas of conspiracy to commit racketeering, animal baiting and fighting, unlawful use of a two-way communicating device and unlawful taking of a black bear, the Ocala Star Banner reports." — " Girl purposely got blue slime on would-be kidnapper's arms," by The Associated Press: "As Alyssa Bonal fought the strange man who had just grabbed her by the throat, threatened her with a knife and dragged her toward his van, she had the presence of mind to get as much of the blue slime she had been playing with on him as possible, so police could identify him. The 11-year-old Pensacola girl said she learned the importance of evidence from her favorite TV show, the long-running detective series 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.' Alyssa had been attacked Tuesday as she awaited her school bus, her near-abduction captured by a neighbor's home security camera. 'I was able to get the slime onto his upper arm and a little bit on his lower arm,' Alyssa told NBC's 'Today' show in an interview that aired Thursday." BIRTHDAYS: Former Sen. George LeMieux … Former Rep. and Florida House Speaker Tom Feeney
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