News : POLITICO Florida Playbook: Florida's mask wars continue to escalate — Sarasota becomes first Trump county to buck DeSantis — Is the peak finally here? — Soto's Central Florida district grew the most

Monday, August 23, 2021

POLITICO Florida Playbook: Florida's mask wars continue to escalate — Sarasota becomes first Trump county to buck DeSantis — Is the peak finally here? — Soto's Central Florida district grew the most

Aug 23, 2021

Presented by the Seminole Tribe of Florida

Hello and welcome to Monday.

The daily rundown — Ok, well the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted information that there were 22,133 new Covid-19 infections reported by the state for Friday. But the Florida Department of Health says there was a "technical issue" with the processing of the data and what was sent to the CDC was "incomplete." The state reports that there were 33,288 cases on Friday and 15,588 on Thursday for a two-day average of 24,438 (which the agency contends is the most accurate) and a shift of the CDC data may occur later. Got all that?

Meanwhile — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported on its dashboard that 17,253 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. The Florida Hospital Association reported Sunday that 53.3 percent of adult patients in intensive care units are infected with Covid-19.

The toll — While Florida authorities reported on Friday that there had been 346 deaths in the previous week, the overall total rose by 1,486 between Aug. 13 and Aug. 20. That's because there is a lag between when the deaths occur and when they are eventually reported. The state now reports that 42,252 have died due to Covid-19.

Tightening — As you attempt to process the numbers associated with the surge, wave or whatever you want to call this crush of Covid-19 cases, the polarizing battle over masks just keeps intensifying.

There's more — The number of counties bucking Gov. Ron DeSantis is growing after Sarasota County — home to the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida — narrowly voted on Friday to impose a mask mandate that is tied to the positivity rate of the county. By Sunday, Leon County (which has zig-zagged on this issue all summer) flipped back and its school superintendent announced a mask mandate with no parental opt-out for K-8 students.

Money squeeze — Counties are taking these actions amid alarming reports of more and more children getting Covid-19 and in some cases winding up hospitalized, and tragically, dying. The reaction from the DeSantis administration so far? Apply more pressure and contend districts are "breaking the law."

Here's an order — Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran on Friday followed through on past threats and issued an order that the state would start withholding money from Broward and Alachua if they didn't give a parental opt-out within 48 hours. Assume Corcoran will do the same for the five other districts that have defied state officials.

Fine print — Buried in the orders for the two districts was a line that contended that school districts had to take money from the salaries of school board members that bucked the state. Yet on Sunday, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona insisted districts could use federal money to make up the difference.

To the courtroom — Since no one seems to be backing down, the only logical conclusion is that it will all wind up in court. Already one lawsuit — brought by parents challenging DeSantis's initial executive order on masks — is scheduled to go to trial this week in a Leon County courtroom. Despite the assertions by the Corcoran and the DeSantis (this goes to 11) spin machine communications operation that districts are violating the law, there is a whole host of unsettled legal questions here. (Maybe it's just one more reason legislative leaders didn't want to hold a special session on this whole mess.)

— 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

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The new Seminole Compact is a historic deal between the people of the State Florida and the sovereign nation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Announced by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. in April 2021 and approved by the Florida Legislature during a special legislative session in May 2021, the Seminole Compact was deemed approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior this August. Learn more…

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

WEIGHING IN — "States can't block federal funds for districts that mandate masks, Education secretary says," by POLITICO's Matthew Choi: Public schools that want to institute mask mandate rules can't be denied federal funds, even if their state governments try to pressure them out of mask mandates, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Sunday. The Florida state government threatened to withhold funds for schools in Broward and Alachua counties if they imposed mandatory mask rules. But the Biden administration has proposed using federal funds to make up the difference, with Cardona specifying on NBC's "Meet the Press" that the schools "do not have to get the green light for [their] governor to use these funds."

Miguel Cardona speaks in the White House briefing room.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. | Susan Walsh/AP Photo

MOVE — "Florida agency says state can dock pay from school districts with mask mandates," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Florida's Board of Education on Friday cleared the way for the state to slowly bleed the pay of local school board members who voted to mandate masks for students, marking the first sanctions on those who have defied DeSantis administration orders. The state board gave school leaders in Broward and Alachua counties 48 hours to reverse their mask requirements, or the Florida Department of Education can begin stripping salaries from their education budget, according to documents first obtained by POLITICO. Five school districts across Florida, representing more than 1 million students, are bucking the DeSantis administration's mask policies and are now exposed to similar punishment.

COUNTER-MOVE — "Sarasota becomes first Trump county to defy DeSantis on school masks," by Andrew: After a heated marathon meeting, Sarasota County school officials voted Friday night to require students to wear masks in schools, a blow to Gov. Ron DeSantis that comes in a heavily Republican-leaning region of the state. By a 3-2 vote that came late Friday night, Sarasota's board became the sixth in Florida to mandate masks and the first in a GOP-county to defy state laws blocking local Covid-19 requirements. Parents and local residents showed up in droves to protest the decision, telling the board they were "disgusted" and "mad as heck" over their "medical tyranny" during a tense five-hour meeting where multiple people were kicked out for disruptions.

— "Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna makes masks mandatory for K-8, drops opt-out option," by Tallahassee Democrat's Tori Lynn Schneider

— "'It's an emergency': Duval School Board member calls for meeting to get rid of mask opt-out provisions ," by First Coast News Anne Schindler

THE NEW NORMAL? — "COVID-19 shatters hopes for a safe and smooth school year," by Sun Sentinel's Scott Travis: "This year was supposed to mark the return of a normal in-person education for Florida's children. Instead, a surge of COVID-19 cases has forced thousands of students to stay home, complicated classwork, burdened teachers and raised doubts about whether COVID can truly be controlled in schools. And the school year just began. Palm Beach County, which started Aug. 10, already has more than 4,500 students assigned to home. Broward County, which started Wednesday, has quarantined 535 students. Miami-Dade County schools will resume classes Monday."

ALARMING — "Florida's COVID deaths climb as children lead the state in positivity rate," by Tampa Bay Times' Ian Hodgson and Christopher O'Donnell: "Florida's pandemic is getting deadlier and infecting more children. The state reported 1,486 deaths, a 141 percent increase from two weeks ago. And it's the most deaths since Feb. 10, as federal data shows Florida approaching the weekly death toll last seen this past winter. One out of every four COVID-19 infections recorded by the state in the most recent seven-day period were 19 or younger. Younger Floridians are also testing positive at a higher rate than other age groups: Children 12 and under have a positivity rate of 23 percent and ages 12-19 have a positivity rate of 25 percent."

AND THERE'S THIS — "Orlando urges reduced water usage as liquid oxygen used to purify water goes to COVID patients," by Orlando Sentinel's Kevin Spear: "The city of Orlando and its water utility made an urgent appeal Friday afternoon for residents to cut back sharply on water usage for weeks because of a pandemic-triggered shortage of liquid oxygen used to purify water. If commercial and residential customers are unable to reduce water usage quickly and sufficiently, Orlando Utilities Commission may issue a system-wide alert for boiling water needed for drinking and cooking. Without reductions in water usage, a boil-water alert would come within a week, utility officials said."

YET IS THERE HOPE? — "Florida's peak of the delta wave could be days away, university models show," by Orlando Sentinel's Ryan Gillespie: "Florida is rapidly approaching the peak of new infections of the delta wave, when the highest single-day counts could come, according to two models created by researchers at Florida universities. One model created by University of South Florida researchers predicts the state will hit the most daily infections by Aug. 24, bringing about 23,000 that day, said Dr. Edwin Michael. Because the delta variant has infected so many unvaccinated people, and more than 66% of Floridians have been immunized, he said the state will likely hit herd immunity in early September."

MORE TO THE STORY — "Think DeSantis will pardon your anti-mask violation? Maybe think again," by Sun Sentinel's Marc Freeman: "This cautionary tale for anti-maskers is found in the case of a woman arrested in January after she refused to wear a mask at Einstein Bros. Bagels in West Boca and deputies escorted her out. Cindy Falco DiCorrado turned in her DeSantis 'get out of prosecution free' card, but a court on Thursday refused to accept it. Charges of misdemeanor trespass and resisting arrest continue. Palm Beach County Judge Bradley Harper ruled after the governor's office recently advised prosecutors that the 62-year-old Boynton Beach woman is not entitled to any breaks."

CALCULATIONS — "Ron DeSantis' colossal COVID-19 gamble: Schools, vaccinations, masks — and his political future," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "The school battle is attracting the most attention. But what's happening now with DeSantis and Florida's struggles with COVID could ultimately impact not only his political future, but the 2024 presidential contest. DeSantis has bet the house, gambling that his approach is the right one, or at least good enough to keep his supporters enthralled. The denouement may be far off, but many Floridians already have rendered their verdicts, with energized supporters and outraged foes. 'I think he is more concerned about his public image than the safety of our children,' wrote Jaye DeCapua, parent of two students at Western High School in Davie."

— "COVID is still a deadly threat to older Floridians," by Tampa Bay Times' Ian Hodgson

— "CDC issues warning to not cruise to those at high-risk whether vaccinated or not," by Orlando Sentinel's Richard Tribou

— "Escambia County Commissioners want better data on COVID-19 deaths," by Pensacola News-Journal's Jim Little

— "The Great Divide: Gap between Miami's haves and have-nots widened during COVID," by Miami Herald's Rob Wile

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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

DIVIDED — "Threat to withhold school funds over mask mandates polarizes state lawmakers," by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas: "Republican lawmakers who control the budget committees in the state House and Senate said Friday that they support Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran's threat to withhold money from school boards that impose mask mandates and potentially remove the elected officials from office as Florida faces another week of surging COVID-19 cases. But Democratic members of those same committees, who are the minority party in the Legislature but are a majority in most of the largest school districts, say the executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis — which prohibits local officials from imposing mask requirements without giving parents the ability to opt out — violates the Florida Constitution's provision requiring that schoolchildren be protected from harm."

REQUEST — "AP urges DeSantis to end bullying aimed at reporter," by Associated Press' David Bauder: "Twitter suspended the account of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' press secretary for violating rules on 'abusive behavior' after The Associated Press said her conduct led to a reporter receiving threats and other online abuse. The DeSantis aide, Christina Pushaw, saw her account locked for 12 hours, a Twitter spokeswoman said. She won't be able to tweet, although others can retweet or 'like' her messages. Earlier Friday, incoming AP CEO Daisy Veerasingham wrote to DeSantis, asking him to end Pushaw's 'harassing behavior.' AP is seeking to fight online bullying against journalists, a growing trend that is often triggered by public figures."

— "In Florida, DeSantis cut jobless aid just as virus began terrifying new wave," by Washington Post's Yeganeh Torbati

— "Leon Dems exec committee votes to censure Tallahassee Chamber, state attorney, TPD chief," by Tallahassee Democrat's Karl Etters

CAMPAIGN MODE

SURGE — "9 out of 10 fastest growing districts repped by Republicans, Census data shows," by POLITCO's Steven Shepard, Patterson Clark, Ming Li and Sean McMinn: Population explosions in Texas and Florida over the past decade delivered both of those states additional congressional seats in the upcoming reapportionment, but new data from the Census Bureau released this month shows exactly where the growth was. The eight congressional districts that grew the most over the past decade were all in either Texas or Florida, mostly centered around growing cities such as Dallas, Houston and Orlando. Districts in Utah and South Carolina rounded out the top 10.

By the numbers — Data assembled by POLITICO shows that the 9^th congressional district held by Rep. Darren Soto had the largest population gains in the nation by adding nearly 273,000 residents — a 40 percent increase — since 2010. The 16^th congressional district — represented by Rep. Vern Buchanan — has added slightly more than 203,000 residents since the last census. That's a nearly 30 percent increase.

DATELINE D.C.

OUT AND ABOUT — Sen. Rick Scott was spotted outside a Vineyard Vines in Nantucket on Thursday. Someone walked by the group and said to Scott, "I'm from Florida, you're a disgrace. You Trump-loving idiot," according to a tipster. The group shrugged and carried on with their conversation. Pic (From Playbook P.M.)

TRANSITIONS — Al David Saab is now a legislative assistant for Rep. Neal Dunn. He most recently was legislative correspondent for Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

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PENINSULA AND BEYOND

FALLOUT — "Nestlé water contractor seeks legal fees from activist and her lawyer," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: A company that won a new permit to pump water from Ginnie Springs for bottling by Nestlé Waters North America is asking a state appeals court to order an environmental activist to pay its legal fees to defend against an appeal. The details: Seven Springs Water Co., in a motion filed Monday, asked the 1st District Court of Appeal to order sanctions against activist Merrillee MaIwitz-Jipson and her attorney, John Henry November.

I HEAR THE TRAIN A'COMIN' — " Commuter rail might finally come to the coast. Here's where it would run," by Sun Sentinel's David Lyons: "A long-awaited blueprint for a commuter rail service on the east side of Broward County has emerged for public view, with potential stops including five cities and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Dubbed the Coastal Link, the idea is to hitch a Broward segment along the Florida East Coast Railway line with a proposed leg between Aventura and downtown Miami that's been endorsed by Miami-Dade County officials."

— "Rents going through the roof: Tech and the 'San Francisco-ization' of Miami," by Miami Herald's Anna Jean Kaiser

— 'A complete failure of the state': Authorities didn't heed researchers' calls to study health effects of burning sugar cane," by Palm Beach Post's Lulu Ramadan

— "Surfside dispatch calls show fears a second tower collapse was coming soon," by Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

WEEKEND WEDDINGS — Rep. Matt Gaetz and Ginger Luckey eloped Saturday in a surprisingly low-key wedding on Catalina Island. The ceremony was officiated and deejayed by former Rand Paul staffer Sergio Gor. Per Vanity Fair, Raheem Kassam and Natalie Winters were among the few politicos in attendance. Pic (From D.C. Playbook)

BIRTHDAYS: Former state Rep. Margaret Good … former Rep. Andy Ireland … Peret Pass, Jacksonville-based Republican political consultant … (was Sunday) State Rep. Kristen Arrington … State Sen. Dennis Baxley … Former U.S ambassador Mark Gilbert … Former state Sen. Bill Montford … Kurt Browning, Pasco County schools superintendent and former Secretary of State … Mark Hinson, Florida journalist and writer … (was Saturday): Washington Post's Manuel Roig-Franzia

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