| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Thursday. Rationalizations — When Florida Republicans muscled through a cap on contributions to groups pushing citizen initiatives, they asserted they were trying to prevent special interests and "out-of-state billionaires" from buying their way onto the ballot. Unintended consequences — Well, that law, which is being challenged in federal court, may have just had the entirely opposite effect. There's now a rush of millions of dollars pouring in before the new limits kick in next week to pay for gathering the nearly 900,000 signatures required. Make a bet — Today, it is expected that organizers of a proposed constitutional amendment on sports betting will formally launch a campaign to get that measure on the ballot. This amendment is a reaction to Florida lawmakers approving a deal in May to authorize sports betting but funneling it through the Seminole Tribe of Florida. One of many — This is just one of many citizen initiatives now underway. Florida Realtors recently announced they are mounting an effort to lock up the state's affordable housing trust fund. Sean Shaw, a former Democratic legislator, announced that his group, People Over Profits, is pushing three amendments dealing with voting rights. Here comes the money — In order to sidestep the new law, organizers are putting up millions of dollars now to beat the July 1 start date of the $3,000 cap on contributions. There are predictions that organizers of the sports betting amendment may put up as much as $15 million to bankroll the effort. And these aren't the only ones. Playbook has heard rumblings of one — maybe more — amendments that will also surface in the next few days. Intentions — It is anticipated that a federal court will eventually strike down Florida's cap as unconstitutional (warnings that legislators ignored during this year's session). But if the thinking behind the new law was to dissuade groups from placing items on the 2022 ballot, which allows the public to sidestep the Legislature, than that goal has failed. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis. Breaking overnight … "Building collapses on Collins Avenue near Miami Beach; hundreds of rescuers on scene," by Miami Herald's Joey Flechas Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | "THE WOMEN REOPENING AMERICA" – HAPPENING TODAY: With more than 100 million people vaccinated against Covid-19, a strengthening economy and relaxed Covid restrictions on businesses and public gatherings, America is on a path to fully reopening. What policies and systemic changes can help women recover from the disproportionate impact of the pandemic? Join today for a "Women Rule" conversation with leading women who are playing a pivotal role in determining what normal will look like for business, politics, schools and the workplace. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
|  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | GAETZ WELCOMES CHALLENGER — Rebekah Jones, the former Department of Health employee who worked on Florida's Covid-19 dashboard, launched a website on Wednesday where she says she's going to mount a campaign against incumbent Rep. Matt Gaetz for Florida's 1st Congressional District. Jones, who earned national attention for allegations that the state had manipulated Covid-19 death data, had indicated previously she was going to run, only to seemingly walk back that statement, notes WTSP's Claire Farrow. Bring it on — Gaetz, who remains the subject of an FBI probe, says he wants Jones to challenge him in his ruby-red northwest Florida district, going so far as to say he'll help her make the ballot. "If she is on the fence, I'll help her raise the money for the filing fee … I would love to run against a close-the-schools triple masker," Gaetz told POLITICO's Marc Caputo. Jones, who has denied any wrongdoing, was charged in January with illegally gaining access to a computer system. The case remains pending. WHERE IS THIS GOING? — "Top Florida political players scrutinized in Artilles case ahead of August trial," by Miami Herald's Samantha J. Gross and Ana Ceballos: "A public corruption investigation that took root in a single Miami-Dade legislative race has roped in prominent players across Florida over the last several months, including a GOP-linked research firm in Gainesville, a top not-for-profit Miami hospital network and a veteran Republican operative who leads a Tallahassee-based political organization. A circuit court judge on Wednesday announced the trial would begin August 30." On the hunt — "The list of witnesses and subpoenaed information, provided to the Herald's lawyers by the state attorney's office, has sprawling tentacles. Most prominently, it includes emails, contracts and invoices from Data Targeting Inc., a Gainesville research firm operated by Pat Bainter that runs campaigns for Senate Republican leadership, with [Frank] Artiles' Miami Firm, Atlas Consulting LLC; as well as bank records from a Tallahassee-based group called Let's Preserve the American Dream, run by Ryan Tyson, one of Florida's most prominent Republican strategists and pollsters." — "Court to hear arguments in July on ex-lawmaker's request to shield evidence in 'ghost' candidate case," by Orlando Sentinel's Annie Martin — "Watchdog flags 'ongoing ethics violation' by Florida Democrat," by the Washington Free Beacon's Matthew Foldi — "Sports betting amendment filed for 2022 ballot," by Florida Politics | | DATELINE D.C. | | THE RUBIO'S X FILES — "'We've got to get an answer': UFOs catch Congress' interest," by POLITICO's Andrew Desiderio: There is no evidence to date that points to a sci-fi scenario of aliens from another galaxy visiting Earth. But the recent uptick in mysterious airborne objects — spotted mostly by naval pilots over U.S. military installations as well as at sea — has lawmakers worried that a foreign adversary like Russia or China has developed technology that Western governments can't identify. Time to watch Independence Day again? — "There's stuff flying in our airspace and we don't know who it is and it's not ours. So we should know who it is, especially if it's an adversary that's made a technological leap," said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "We don't know," Rubio added. "But how can we have stuff flying over restricted military airspace and not even be curious — not to mention concerned — about who it is and why they're here?" 'A SPURIOUS CONVERSATION' — " Military leaders push back on questions by Rep. Gaetz about critical race theory," by NBC News' Dartunorro Clark and Mosheh Gains: "Military leaders excoriated Rep. Matt Gaetz during a House hearing on Wednesday after the Florida Republican raised questions about critical race theory being taught to the nation's soldiers. 'We do not teach critical race theory, we don't embrace critical theory and I think that is a spurious conversation,' Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Gaetz during a House Armed Services Committee hearing. 'And so we are focused on extremism behaviors and not ideology, not people's thoughts, not people's political orientations.'" Counterpoint — "Gaetz claimed that he has heard from soldiers who have raised concerns about the subject being taught. However, Austin sharply responded to that suggestion. 'And thanks for your anecdotal input, but I would say I've gotten 10 times that amount of input, 50 times the amount of input on the other side that have said, 'We are glad to have had a conversation with ourselves and our leadership,' Austin said, reiterating that they do not teach the subject. 'I trust my leadership from top to bottom.' Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also pushed back at the accusation. 'I've read Mao Tse-tung. I've read Karl Marx. I've read Lenin. That doesn't make me a Communist,' Milley said." — "Miami-Dade mayor visits White House as Biden tries to fight 'defund the police' charge," by Miami Herald's Alex Daugherty — "U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin's C.U.R.B. Act seeks to cut federal regulations on businesses ," by The Ledger's Gary White — "Rick Scott claims Dems 'political science' blocked his anti-mask mandate bill," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski | | Gaetz-gate | | UNSOCIAL MEDIA — "Here's the tweet Matt Gaetz tried to delete about the FBI," by Vice News' Paul Blest: "Rep. Matt Gaetz tweeted Wednesday that Democrats should defund the FBI, the same agency investigating whether the Florida congressman participated in sex trafficking. 'If Democrats want to defund the police, they should start with the FBI,' Gaetz wrote, before deleting it almost immediately. The post was only up for one minute, according to ProPublica's Politiwoops, which tracks politicians' deleted tweets. A Gaetz spokesperson said that the congressman 'felt it appropriate to remove a jocular tweet taken from a speech some time ago' because he takes oversight of the FBI so seriously." | | | | 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 ... | | GRUMBLING — "BOG dings accreditation board while approving new FSU president," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: University system leaders unanimously approved Richard McCullough as the new president of Florida State University on Wednesday, all the while taking a swipe at the college accreditation board that intervened in the school's presidential search last month. Florida's Board of Governors said it was "completely unacceptable" for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to flag a possible conflict of interest in the heat of FSU's search, a move that led to immediate backlash in Tallahassee and beyond at the time. BOG members suggested that Florida could take some sort of action against the SACS accreditation board but didn't go as far as recommending a specific policy shift yet. 'INSULT ADDED TO INJURY' — "Intense backlash on increase: LGBTQ community outraged by Florida governor's Pride Month actions," by Northwest Florida Daily News' Tom McLaughlin: "Gov. Ron DeSantis is having a Pride Month for which he likely long will be remembered. Many in the state will recall June 2021 as the month Florida's leader took extraordinary steps that some say harm and humiliate the LGBTQ community. 'It feels like Pride Month, at every turn, has been insult added to injury,' said Brandon Wolf, spokesman for Equality Florida, the largest civil rights organization in Florida dedicated to securing full equality for the state's LGBTQ community." — " Corcoran threatens Hillsborough School Board over charter school denials," by Tampa Bay Times' Marlene Sokol | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | BACK AT IT — "Former President Donald Trump to hold first big rally in Florida since 2020 election," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Zac Anderson: "Former President Donald Trump will bring some extra fireworks to Sarasota's July 4 holiday weekend with an appearance at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, his first big rally in Florida since the election. The Sarasota region has been a source of strong political support for Trump and a launching pad for his political ambitions, making it a fitting place for one of his first post-presidential rallies, which are a potential prelude to a 2024 presidential run. Trump will appear at the Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 3 at 8 p.m., his office announced Wednesday. 'Sarasota County loves the former president,' said Florida GOP Chair Joe Gruters, a state senator from Sarasota who served as co-chair of Trump's 2016 campaign in Florida." | 
President Donald Trump arrives on stage to speak at a campaign rally at the BOK Center, Saturday, June 20, 2020, in Tulsa, Okla. | AP Photo | FIRST ONE — "Florida Oath Keeper pleads guilty in Jan. 6 Capitol attack and will cooperate," by The Associated Press: "A member of the Oath Keepers extremist group pleaded guilty Wednesday in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in a major step forward for the massive investigation into the insurrection. It was also the first guilty plea in the major conspiracy case brought against members of the Oath Keepers. Graydon Young, of Englewood, who was accused alongside 15 other members and associates of the Oath Keepers of conspiring to block the congressional certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory, pleaded guilty to two counts: conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding." | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | FALLING IN LINE — "Celebrity Cruises drops requirement for passengers to show proof of COVID vaccine for Florida cruises," by USA Today's Morgan Hines: "Celebrity Cruises has adjusted its COVID vaccination requirement for cruises from Florida. Now, passengers will not will be required to show proof of vaccination on ships that depart from the Sunshine State, starting with the cruise line's first sailing with paying passengers, departing Saturday from Fort Lauderdale. Instead, it will be at the passenger's discretion whether they decide to tell the cruise line if they are vaccinated. Passengers were asked their vaccination status during the booking process." CAUTION DRIVERS — "A sign on a Miami highway flashed 'Arrest Fauci.' The message wasn't in the traffic plan," by Miami Herald's Michelle Marchante: "An electronic road sign on the Dolphin Expressway in Miami-Dade County went beyond traffic warnings this week. Way beyond. Drivers on State Road 836 saw this flashing message: 'Arrest Fauci.' The sign also shared messages of misinformation including 'COVID-19 was a hoax' and 'vaccines kill.' The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA say the shots are safe. NBC6 has video of the 836 sign showing the messages near the exit to Northwest 27th Avenue." — " 12 Delta variant cases reported in Orange County, like to become predominant strain, health official says," by Orlando Sentinel's Ryan Gillespie and Stephen Hudak | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | GENTLE GIANTS — "Manatees are dying in Florida, and the U.S. wants to know why," by Wall Street Journal's Arian Campo-Flores: "U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Republican whose district near Tampa Bay includes Manatee County, called last week for the Fish and Wildlife Service to upgrade the mammal to endangered from threatened. That would reverse the agency's 2017 decision to downgrade the manatee to threatened—a move he and numerous environmental groups criticized as premature at the time. 'There's enormous stress on the manatees right now,' Mr. Buchanan said. 'If we can get the endangered designation back, we can get more funding for manatees and water quality in general.'" Review underway — "The Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting an assessment of the manatees that is expected to be completed in 2022 and will inform the next review of the animals' status, an agency spokesman said. An endangered species is one deemed at risk of extinction. Last month, U.S. Reps. Stephanie Murphy (D., Fla.) and Brian Mast (R., Fla.) introduced legislation to protect manatees and other marine mammals by increasing federal funding for local rescue and rehabilitation efforts." CHANGEOVER — "Orlando renames Stonewall Jackson Road for Roberto Clemente," by Orlando Sentinel's Ryan Gillespie : "A mile-long stretch of road off Semoran Boulevard that snakes past neighborhoods, apartments and a school was formally renamed Wednesday in honor of baseball Hall of Famer and humanitarian Roberto Clemente, to cheers of a family member and activists who pushed for it. The city council approved the name change from Stonewall Jackson Road — a confederate general — to Roberto Clemente Road, following a decision by the school board last year to make the same change to the school." — " Accused Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride crosswalk vandal may face enhanced hate crime charge," by Palm Beach Post's Victoria Villanueva-Marquez — "Orange County withdraws proposed ordinance to forbid 'targeted' residential picking," by Orlando Sentinel's Stephen Hudak — "Palm Beach County schools sued over their use of Baker Act to send kids to psych wards," by Palm Beach Post's Andrew Marra | | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Treasured but suffering, Florida springs get 'miniscule' attention, says coalition report," by Orlando Sentinel's Kevin Spear: "Florida's care for its famous springs is so feeble that it will take centuries to restore these environmental treasures based on current efforts and assuming pollution from agriculture, septic tanks and other sources stops immediately. That assessment from the Florida Springs Council, a coalition of more than a dozen groups defending springs and rivers, is based on analysis of springs projects pursued by the state authorities. 'Our analysis paints a bleak picture of the future of Florida's most iconic springs,' states a Florida Springs Council report issued Wednesday." BIRTHDAYS: U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom … Tara Price, attorney with Holland and Knight
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