| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by USA-IT | Hello and welcome to Monday. Catching up with Jimmy — Just consider this a tale about the time Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis undercut his political ally Sen. Rick Scott, quietly reversed his own position, and went to bat for the National Rifle Association all at the same time. Background — Until Parkland, Florida Republicans were considered strongly pro-gun rights. But in the aftermath of the school shooting, the state passed its first gun restrictions in decades (which drew a still-ongoing lawsuit from the NRA). Florida's pension plan managers also joined with a coalition of other pension plans in a November 2018 statement of principles that encouraged gun manufacturers and retailers to act responsibly. Flash forward to this past summer — Florida's decision to sign onto this statement drew the ire of the NRA — as well as Rep. Paul Renner — according to an article written for a pro-gun rights website and distributed by the NRA. And Marion Hammer, a longtime lobbyist for the NRA, started raising questions about the nearly two-year-old agreement. Patronis steps in — After the objections started rolling in Patronis called on Florida to withdraw from the statement of principles and memorialized his work on this in an August email to Ash Williams, the soon-to-be departing executive director and chief investment officer for the State Board of Administration. In his own words — "I am uncomfortable with the state of Florida being part of any organization with states that are openly hostile towards the Second Amendment," Patronis wrote. "I also do not see the value in being a signatory. To my knowledge, the SBA has a competent staff that can conduct their own research into whether a particular investment is a good or bad investment for the Trustees. Let's not delegate our judgement on whether to invest in a firearms business based on a third party created 'framework' that originated in California, of all places." 'High demand' — And just for good measure, Patronis also suggested that Florida should look at investing even more into businesses that manufacture guns: "I would request your team examine whether there are opportunities to invest into more firearms businesses. Based on the materials I have researched in the public domain; it appears there is high demand for both guns and ammunition." Florida acted on the request and withdrew as a signatory on the statement of principles in mid-August. But here's the interesting part — Guess what? Ash Williams notified then-Gov. Scott and the trustees of the SBA about Florida joining the coalition of other groups in November 2018 (which was amid a recount and Scott's election to the Senate). And guess who is one of the trustees who was notified? Yep, Jimmy Patronis. (Oh, and there was a news article about it at the time as well.) So basically we have Patronis objecting to something he signed off on at the time. Blaming Rick Scott — But guess who was blamed in part for Florida's decision to get involved in this issue? Rick Scott. That's the same Rick Scott who appointed Patronis to the chief financial officer position in 2017. The headline on the article about all of this was labeled "Florida's pension fund adopted anti-gun guidelines with Rick Scott's blessing." (Scott's office objected to the characterization that he is anti-gun.) There's no mention that Patronis also signed off on the policy. No reply at all — Patronis' office was asked why the CFO didn't raise any questions about all of this back in November 2018 — or whether Patronis now believes that Scott endorsed "anti-gun policies." Those questions were not answered. Instead, a Patronis spokesperson gave Playbook a copy of Patronis email to Williams. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is holding a press conference in Merritt Island with Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez and Space Florida CEO Frank DiBello. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | A message from USA-IT: With world-class beaches along 1,350 miles of shoreline, what makes Florida such an attractive place to live also makes it attractive to smugglers and traffickers. This illegal trade affects the safety and quality of life of all 21 million Floridians. Florida deserves better. And that's why our partners are proud to be on the ground in 2021. United to safeguard Florida from illegal trade, we're working together to fight back. Learn more. | | |
|  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET? — "DeSantis hikes surgeon general salary by 72%, as other agency heads get increases, too," by Orlando Sentinel's Gray Rohrer: "Florida's new surgeon general received a pay raise of 72% compared with his predecessor, as leaders of several state agencies under Gov. Ron DeSantis saw their paychecks grow this week under a hike approved by the Legislature this year." Hefty raises — "The biggest increase was for Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the new surgeon general who also runs the Department of Health. Scott Rivkees, the last person in the job, received $145,000 a year, but Ladapo will earn $250,000. Other large increases include Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault, whose pay rose 36%, from $146,823 to $200,000, and Simone Marstiller, Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration, whose salary went up to $200,000 for a 21% increase." UM, WHAT? — "Teacher bonus checks are bouncing in Florida," by Tampa Bay Times Lawrence Mower and Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos: "When dozens of Florida teachers tried to cash their state-issued $1,000 bonus checks this week, they got a startling response: 'insufficient funds.' No, the State of Florida hasn't run out of money. Instead, the bad checks are being blamed on a 'banking error' by JPMorgan Chase. Checks issued to at least 50 teachers in 22 different counties bounced because of the error, Florida Department of Education spokesman Jared Ochs said." — " Federal approval of additional $1.1B in Medicaid funds "imminent,' top health officials say," by Florida Politics' Christine Jordan Sexton — "Lawmakers seek answers on Black farmer marijuana license," by News Service of Florida's Dara Kam — "After firestorm, Manny Diaz won't review school vaccine mandates," by Florida Politics' Christine Jordan Sexton | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | |
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 7,074 Covid-19 infections on Friday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 6,914 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. The Florida Hospital Association reported Friday that 29.8 percent of adult patients in intensive care units are infected with Covid-19. The toll — The Florida Department of Health also reported on Friday that 53,580 people have died from Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. The agency said 355 fatalities were reported between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23. The overall total increased by 2,340 since the previous weekly report issued by the department. The number of deaths in Florida has increased by 37 percent since July 30. CC: DESANTIS — "Schools without mask mandates three times more likely to have outbreaks, new data shows," by POLITICO's Daniel Payne: Schools without mask mandates were significantly more likely to have outbreaks and higher numbers of pediatric cases after reopening in August, according to two studies released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The studies provide new insight into how the Delta variant is affecting school reopening, both in places with and without mask mandates, and could further fuel a debate that has pitted Republican governors against the Biden administration. 'A LOT OF STRANGE VIEWS' — "New Florida surgeon general Dr. Joseph Ladapo stands apart, agrees with governor on COVID policy," by USA Today Network-Florida's Jeffrey Schweers: "Dr. Russell Glenn Burh, a pulmonary and critical care physician with UCLA Heath and an assistant professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine, criticized Ladapo's "libertarian approach" to public health for communicable diseases. 'Dr. Ladapo insists that public health leadership has been conflating science with politics but he's the one ignoring best practices on infection control to please the governor,' Burh tweeted. Dr. Nina L. Shapiro, an author and associate professor at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, tweeted that his views align 'more with #DeSantis than with @UCLAHealth.'" THE DESANTIS DOCTRINE — "Florida's new school quarantine rules create division and worry," by Orlando Sentinel's Leslie Postal : "'This is the first time I guess in the history of public health where parents decide public health policy,' said Dr. Michael Muszynski, who founded the pediatric infectious disease division at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando and is a professor emeritus at Florida State University College of Medicine. Muszynski, who serves on Orange County Public Schools' medical advisory committee, said the new rule seems rooted in "cynical political pandering" and amounts to 'folly' since children infected with the virus but showing no symptoms can spread it almost as much as youngsters who are obviously sick." — "Florida argues judge should reject lawsuit over COVID-19 data public records," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders — "Sarasota County schools makes face masks optional as of Monday," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune — "Broward schools looking to get about 10,000 students back into the classroom," by Miami Herald's David Goodhue | | | |   | | |
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FRONTRUNNER — "DeSantis pulls ahead of 2024 GOP pack as Florida's Covid cases fall," by POLITICO's Marc Caputo: In a theoretical primary without Donald Trump on the ballot, Gov. Ron DeSantis leads former Vice President Mike Pence by 22-15 percent, with all other possible contenders relegated to the single digits, the new national survey of Republicans by Echelon Insights, a GOP polling firm. DeSantis's 7 percentage-point lead over Pence has grown from 2 in Echelon's last poll in August, which was conducted at the height of the coronavirus Delta wave swamping Florida, killing and sickening tens of thousands as the governor fought mask requirements for schools, a federal vaccination mandate and vaccine passports. | 
Gov. Ron DeSantis with state legislators after the end of the 2021 session of the Florida Legislature. | Gary Fineout, POLITICO | BACKING CRIST — Rep. Charlie Crist is picking up endorsements from 50 current and former local officials in his campaign for governor. In a joint statement, those endorsing the Democratic candidate maintain that "he is the only person in this race who can and will defeat Governor DeSantis and take back Florida for the good of the people." The long list of those endorsing Crist include city and county elected officials from Jacksonville, Tampa, Tallahassee, Coral Springs as well as many from Pinellas County, Crist's home turf. RULING — " No stalking order for rival in GOP candidate murder plot," by The Associated Press' Curt Anderson: "A judge on Friday denied a Florida Republican congressional candidate's petition for a permanent restraining order against a former rival she accused of stalking and plotting to have her murdered by a purported foreign hit squad. Pinellas County Circuit Judge Doneene Loar said incidents involving GOP candidate Anna Paulina Luna did not meet the legal definition needed to prove repeated harassment by William Braddock even if his actions were reprehensible. 'I have to follow the law,' Loar said during a remote hearing Friday. 'Mr. Braddock, do not come back here.'" | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | FLORIDA MAN — "'You've disgraced this country': Judge rips Capitol riot defendant," by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney: A federal judge tore into a low-level defendant in the Capitol Riot Friday, moments after the man entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge stemming from the Jan. 6 unrest. "You've disgraced this country in the eyes of the world and my inclination would be to lock you up, but since the government isn't asking me to do that ... I won't," U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton shouted at Fort Pierce, Fla., resident Anthony Mariotto during a video hearing. "I find it outrageous that American citizens would do what you did, so you better walk the straight and narrow, sir, you understand?" | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | |
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | BEHIND THE CURTAIN — "Fallout begins for far-right trolls who trusted Epik to keep their identities secret," by Washington Post's Drew Harwell, Hannah Allam, Jeremy B. Merrill and Craig Timberg: "In the real world, Joshua Alayon worked as a real estate agent in Pompano Beach, Fla., where he used the handle 'SouthFloridasFavoriteRealtor' to urge buyers on Facebook to move to 'the most beautiful State.' But online, data revealed by the massive hack of Epik, an Internet-services company popular with the far right, signaled a darker side. Alayon's name and personal details were found on invoices suggesting he had once paid for websites with names such as racisminc.com, whitesencyclopedia.com, christiansagainstisrael.com and theholocaustisfake.com." DANGER — "Cadmium spiked inside a Tampa lead factory. Workers didn't get help," by Tampa Bay Times' Rebecca Woolington, Corey G. Johnson and Eli Murray: "For years, Gopher broke those rules, putting dozens of workers at risk of serious health consequences, the Times has found. A Times investigation earlier this year chronicled Gopher's persistent problems with the neurotoxin lead and other poisonous chemicals. Cadmium has long been present inside the factory. But in the rare instances when regulators showed up, they focused mostly on lead or gases like sulfur dioxide. This story demonstrates for the first time how the company and government regulators mishandled another dangerous chemical inside Florida's only lead smelter." CONFRONTATION — "Miami police chief compares actions of some commissioners to Cuba's communist regime," by Miami Herald's Charles Rabin: "On the eve of an emergency commission meeting that threatens to shorten his already brief tenure in Miami, Police Chief Art Acevedo broke a brief silence and penned a scathing eight page memo that is likely to play a big part in Monday's showdown. The chief, sworn in only last April — and who has spoken very little publicly since Monday's meeting was set to address a litany of issues with his performance — wrote that the majority of commissioners were interfering with an internal investigation into a well-liked Sergeant-At-Arms he relieved of duty." FOR YOUR RADAR — "'We're flirting with disaster': Lake O fishing suffering with high water levels, 12,000-acre loss of plants," by Palm Beach Post's Kimberly Miller: "As much as 75 percent of the ecological lifeblood of Lake Okeechobee died in the past year, drowned by high water and choked by sediment. The collapse of 12,000 acres of submerged vegetation, including eelgrass, pondweed and coontail, is a plant apocalypse not seen in the lake since 2006, when it was recovering from hurricanes followed by extreme drought." — "Afghan refugees could resettle in South Florida soon," by Sun Sentinel's Brooke Baitinger — "'We fought for this land': Dozens protest in West Palm over treatment of Haitians at the border," by Palm Beach Post's Chris Persaud — "Gabby Petito gets all the attention. Why not these others missing in South Florida?" by Sun Sentinel's Rafael Olmeda | | | | A message from USA-IT: The very things that make Florida such a wonderful place to live—a vibrant, populous state with 14 major ports, advanced transportation infrastructure, and of course world-famous beaches and shoreline (the 2nd longest in the United States)—also make it attractive to smugglers and traffickers. This illegal trade hurts local taxpayers, local economies and the senior citizen community, ultimately affecting the safety and quality of life of all 21 million Floridians.
Private-public partnerships can help address this problem. That's why our partners are proud to be on the ground in 2021, bringing our shared expertise combating illegal trade into Florida's fight. Along with governments and local law enforcement, we're working together to fight back. Learn more. | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz … Terry Spencer of The Associated Press ... (Was Sunday) Brittany Davis Wise, director of communications for the University of Florida ... WLRN's Jessica Bakeman ... Former Daytona Beach News-Journal columnist Pamela Hasterok … (Was Saturday) Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart turned 6-0 … state Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby … Christina Johnson, president of ON 3 Public Relations … POLITICO's Bob King … Lesley Clark with E&E News
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