| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by The Seminole Tribe of Florida | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. So long — The summer of litigation and Florida's dramatic Covid-19 spike may be finally winding down. The name of the game — But with Labor Day (and our brief newsletter holiday) behind us — the stage is being set for 2022. The primary is now less than a year away. Legislators are about to redraw the state's congressional and legislative districts, and will adopt new maps early next year. Arrival — Senate President Wilton Simpson, who was endorsed by Donald Trump months ago, made it official on Friday and jumped into the race for agriculture commissioner. He was immediately endorsed by a lot of fellow Republicans. Incumbent Attorney General Ashley Moody also made her bid for a second term official last week. Knowing me, knowing you — And as each day passes, the question remains — are Democrats going to seriously challenge the GOP? SOS — So far, there's been little sign that any well-known serious Democrat is going to run for one of the three elected positions on the Cabinet, including the seat now held by Nikki Fried. Don't shut me down — Then there's the campaign for governor. While some polls have shown that his handling of Covid-19 has eroded his support, Gov. Ron DeSantis remains a formidable candidate whose moves to the right this year appear aimed more about a 2024 GOP primary than a re-election campaign. Fried and Rep. Charlie Crist have been running all summer but the fact that others such as state Sen. Annette Taddeo are still contemplating whether to jump into the race shows how unsettled it remains on the Democratic side. Take a chance on me — The contest between Rep. Val Demings and Sen. Marco Rubio is starting to heat up and has the potential to turn into the marquee race of 2022 that winds up attracting the most national attention and outside money. The winner takes it all — But the Florida Democratic Party is still trying to rebuild and time's running out. The most recent voter registration numbers posted by the state Division of Elections show that the Democrats now only have a 54,000 edge on Republicans. The GOP is on a pace where it may overtake Democrats once and for all sometime early in 2022. Few candidates, little money, and not enough voters presents a rocky road to victory. The history book on the shelf is always repeating itself. — 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 the Seminole Tribe of Florida: The new Seminole Compact is a partnership between the people of Florida and the sovereign nation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Announced by Governor Ron DeSantis and Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., the Compact was passed by the Florida Legislature and deemed approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Seminole Compact guarantees billions in revenues, creates thousands of jobs and brings sports betting to Florida. Learn more. | | |
|  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME RON — "Trump builds 'turnkey' campaign operation for 2024," by POLITICO's Meredith McGraw and Marc Caputo: But associates say President Joe Biden's declining political fortunes amid the resurgence of coronavirus and the Aug.15 fall of Kabul have intensified the interest of the former president, who is already motivated by a burning sense of pride and grievance over his loss to Biden. "Trump sees Biden is on the ropes. He wants to throw punches as a combatant, not a heckler from the stands," said Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, adding that Trump is in no rush to announce, though, because "the base is rightly loyal to him. And a good rule in politics is to be a candidate for as short a time as necessary. WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET? — "GOP megadonor gives DeSantis a pass on immigration — and tons of cash," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: The issue is personal for [David] MacNeil, who previously said he's worried that top staffers at his company could face deportation. It apparently resonated so much with MacNeil that he didn't financially support former President Donald Trump's 2020 reelection bid despite giving $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee. In 2017, Trump tried to end DACA. Yet MacNeil has become a major donor to [Gov. Ron] DeSantis, contributing $800,000 this year alone. Late last month, MacNeil gave DeSantis' political committee $300,000, and in May handed over a $500,000 check. | 
Gov. Ron DeSantis gesticulates during a press conference | Getty Images | REALITY CHECK — "Democrats say DeSantis stumble gives hope, but campaign needs work," by USA Today Network-Florida's John Kennedy: But DeSantis' stumbles also are being greeted with a cold dose of reality among Democrats exiled from state leadership for more than two decades and dealing with a host of internal problems. 'The governor right now has a huge war chest and a base that's ravenous for what he's serving up,' said Rep. Evan Jenne of Dania Beach, co-leader of the Florida House Democrats. 'Regardless of poll numbers, those are big positives for anyone heading into a campaign.'" TRANSITIONS — Annie Barletta is now West and Florida regional finance director for the RNC. She previously was senior legislative assistant for Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.). (h/t Playbook) — "DeSantis, Abbott retain GOP backing even as overall popularity declines amid COVID-19 surges," by Morning Consult's Eli Yokley — " Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson to run for agriculture commissioner in 2022," by Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there were 17,506 Covid-19 infections last Thursday. While Florida authorities reported on Friday that there had been 433 deaths in the previous week, the overall total rose by 2,345 between Aug. 27 and Sept. 2. That's because there is a lag between when the deaths occur and when they are eventually reported. The state now reports that 46,324 people have died due to Covid-19. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reportedon Monday that 13,733 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. The Florida Hospital Association reported Sunday that 48.8 percent of adult patients in intensive care units are infected with Covid-19. THE TOLL — "In Florida, a summer of death and resistance as the coronavirus rampaged," by The Washington Post's Saundra Amrhein, Fenit Nirappi, Jared Leone and Jacqueline Dupree: "As Florida appears to be turning the corner from a coronavirus rampage that fueled record new infections, hospitalizations and deaths, its residents and leaders are surveying the damage left from more than 7,000 deaths reported since July Fourth and the scars inflicted by feuds over masks and vaccines. New infections were averaging more than 22,000 a day in the last days of August but have fallen to about 19,000. Yet recovery could prove fleeting: Holiday weekends such as Labor Day have acted as a tinderbox for earlier outbreaks, and late summer marks the return of students to college campuses." FOR YOUR RADAR — "One landlord is making tenants get vaccinated. Whether it's legal is still undecided," by Sun Sentinel's Ron Hurtibise: "If you're not vaccinated for COVID-19, you can forget about moving into any of eight apartment complexes in Broward and Miami-Dade counties owned by Santiago A. Alvarez and his family. And if you're still unvaccinated when it comes time to renew your lease, you'll have to find someplace else to live. Alvarez, who controls 1,200 units in the two counties, is the first large-scale landlord known to national housing experts to impose a vaccine requirement not only for employees, but also for tenants." — " State appeals judge's ruling, leaving ban on face mask mandates in schools in place," by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas — "How many people have died of COVID in Palm Beach County? The state won't tell you," by Palm Beach Post's Frank Gluck and Chris Persaud — "Miami-Dade mayor's father, 87, dies of COVID. 'We are just one more family affected,'" by Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks — "Tampa Bay hospitals push COVID vaccine – but won't mandate it for their workers," by Tampa Bay Times' Christopher O'Donnell — "Once all the rage, the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine has all but disappeared," by Orlando Sentinel's Kate Santich | | DATELINE D.C. | | LEVERAGE — "2 senior Dem centrists send Pelosi demands for $3.5T megabill," by POLITICO's Nicholas Wu: Only two of those ten signed the two-page letter: Reps. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). In it, the two lay out "overarching principles" that the reconciliation bill and its drafting process must meet in order for them to support the legislation. Their requests include: that the bill be "pre-conferenced" with the Senate to avoid having to make any major changes in either chamber, that the bill be paid for with the exception of its climate provisions and for members to be given at least 72 hours to review the legislation before it comes to the House floor. — "GOP lawmaker Waltz channels Charlie Wilson in pledge to aid anti-Taliban forces," by The Washington Times' Joseph Clark | | | |   | | |
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | UNSOCIAL MEDIA — So now that's fall here and football is back… State Rep. Omari Hardy (D-West Palm Beach) on Monday deleted a tweet and issued a lengthy explanation after he was pummeled online for his comments about Florida State University quarterback McKenzie Milton. For those unfamiliar with Milton — an athlete who was a big proponent of name, image and likeness legislation in Florida — he was the star quarterback for the University of Central Florida who suffered a gruesome injury back in 2018. Milton's leg was nearly amputated, but after a long rehabilitation and multiple surgeries he signed on with FSU. Late Sunday night, Milton took the field and helped the Seminoles push their opening game against top 10 team Notre Dame into overtime. (FSU still wound up losing.) Bodily functions — Hardy (who attended the University of Miami, an arch-rival of FSU) took to Twitter to say "If I hear one more reference to McKenzie Milton's reconstructed knee, I promise you I will vomit." Suffice to say Hardy's trash-talking drew scorn — including from fellow legislators. Hence, Hardy came back the following day to apologize to "McKenzie for tweeting about his comeback w/in the context of FSU disdain." But this does not end quietly — Hardy added this in his thread: "I decided to tweet the above after talking w/ folks I respect, not the GOP lawmakers lecturing me about a flippant college football tweet just a few months after they voted to ban trans kids from sports." — "Florida leaders up on state finances, down on new programs," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner | | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | WORDS MATTER — "Parkland school shooting suspect can't be called 'animal,'" by The Associated Press' Terry Spencer: "The former student accused of murdering 17 people at a Florida high school cannot be called derogatory terms such as 'animal' or 'that thing' by prosecutors or their witnesses at his upcoming trial, but calling the killings 'a massacre' is legitimate, the judge has ruled. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer said in a ruling released Friday that it's impossible to create a complete list of words that jurors shouldn't hear to describe Nikolas Cruz when he's tried for the Feb. 14, 2018, killings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland." | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | AWFUL — "Ex-Marine held without bond in shooting of Florida family," by The Associated Press' Terry Spencer and Frieda Frisaro: "A former Marine sharpshooter accused of invading the home of apparent strangers in Florida and fatally shooting a woman, her 3-month-old baby and two others was ordered held without bail during his first court appearance Monday. Authorities did not give a motive for the grisly attack, but they said Bryan Riley may have a mental illness and that he told investigators said he was high on methamphetamines at the time. His girlfriend said had been saying for weeks that he could communicate directly with God." VANISHING ACT — "'Saddens my soul.' Seagrass is dying. How disappearing food chain threatens Florida jobs and wildlife," by Florida Today's Jim Waymer, Ed Killer, Chad Gillis, Max Chesnes and Karl Schneider: "The underwater scenes look similar around the state: Once football field-sized grass beds now resemble moonscapes. Bottom plants wilted away under the leaks and runoff from septic tanks, lawn fertilizers and unchecked coastal development. Lush grass beds became mud flats in Matlacha Pass in Lee County, as runoff from Lake Okeechobee chokes estuaries coast to coast." | | A message from the Seminole Tribe of Florida: The New Seminole Compact
Signed, passed & now Florida law. Billions guaranteed.
The historic Seminole Compact, a partnership between the people of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, is the largest gaming compact in U.S. history. The compact guarantees billions of dollars of new revenue sharing for Florida, creates thousands of new jobs, ensures protections for Florida's pari-mutuel industry and brings sports betting to Florida.
The New Seminole Compact Benefits Florida:
· Provides Florida $6 billion in revenue over the next decade, guaranteeing $2.5 billion in the next five years.
· Estimated to create over 2,200 new Florida jobs.
· Modernizes the gaming industry by creating a legal construct for sports betting in Florida and provides a structure for local pari-mutuels to participate.
· Keeps Florida family-friendly by limiting casinos.
· Billions more in economic impact for our state and businesses.
Learn more about this historic moment in Florida history. | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Developer plans to demolish gangster Al Capone's Palm Island house," by Miami Herald's Rebecca San Juan: "Al Capone died there in 1947. Now, his Palm Island home may soon meet the same fate. Developer Todd Michael Glaser and partner Nelson Gonzalez, an investor and senior vice president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM, plan to demolish the single-family residence at 93 Palm Ave. after acquiring the house this summer for $10.75 million, Glaser told the Miami Herald." BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Bobby Powell ... Jenna Box Sarkissian with the Florida House … Chris Cate of Chris Cate Media … (Was Monday) Former Rep. Kendrick Meek … Abel Harding of Iberiabank, former Florida Times-Union columnist and communications director to former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown … (Was Sunday) Former Rep. Ric Keller ... (Was Saturday) State Rep. Evan Jenne
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