| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by Florida Education Champions | Hello and welcome to Friday. TBD — Well, apparently the timing and details about a November special session will drop sometime today. Coming soon — Or at least that's what Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference where he highlighted a newly-filed lawsuit challenging actions by the Biden administration to impose a vaccine mandate on federal contractors. DeSantis said he expected to nail down dates either Thursday or Friday and then issue his own formal proclamation. Mark your calendars? — There are growing expectations that the special session will likely be held the week of Nov. 15, when legislators are already scheduled to be in Tallahassee to hold legislative committees ahead of the 2022 session. (On a side note: A special session would disrupt fundraising plans since lawmakers are banned from picking up checks while they're in session.) So why does any of this matter? — Because these are just more signs that DeSantis pushed for a special session without a deal and without complete buy-in from Republican leaders in the Legislature. Note that DeSantis said he would be responsible for issuing the formal call: That means legislators are telling the governor — if you want us here, you have to spell it out. How soon is now? — DeSantis also defended the idea of holding a special session now instead of waiting for the start of the regular session in January, saying some workers are coming up against vaccine mandate deadlines before the end of the year. Of course, some Republicans say privately that DeSantis is eager to hold a special session to distinguish himself from potential 2024 contender Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whose effort to get a vaccine mandate ban for businesses was rebuffed by the Texas Legislature earlier this month. TBD, Part 2 — Yet there's still plenty of questions about just what exactly lawmakers will consider. Rep. Paul Renner, who is in line to be the next House speaker, was quoted by Florida Politics as telling people that "no one will be happy" with the session outcome. We already know that while DeSantis wants a complete ban on vaccine mandates for private employers, he's not going to get one. Instead, it seems that businesses will stand to lose a lot — including lawsuit protections — if they impose mandates. Of course, details don't matter right? It's just about the headlines that ripple across the cable news chyrons. — 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 Florida Education Champions: Florida voters demanded their voice be heard on the issue of expanded gambling. Our amendment does just that allowing the people to vote to authorize sports and event betting at professional sports venues, pari-mutuel facilities and statewide via online sports betting platforms. The benefit is that hundreds of millions of dollars generated from tax revenues must go to supplement public school funding through Florida's Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. Learn more and sign the petition. | | |
|  | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | 'NOT SOMETHING WE CAN TOLERATE' — "'Tossing people aside': DeSantis escalates clash with Biden over vaccines," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday followed through with his threat to sue the Biden administration over vaccine mandates, setting up yet another clash between the Democratic president and the potential 2024 challenger. Florida's lawsuit, filed in federal court against Biden and a handful of federal agencies, seeks to block a vaccine mandate that federal contractors must comply with by Dec. 8. The legal challenge does not address the Biden administration's plan for businesses with 100 or more employees to require vaccines for their staffers or weekly testing. That plan falls under a rule that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is expected to formalize soon. The right profile — His latest fight with the Biden administration over vaccine mandates, which the governor framed as federal overreach that will force people out of work, continues his ascent nationally as a key Republican taking on Democrats after the defeat of former President Donald Trump. "We've gone from 15 days to slow the spread to three jabs to keep your job," DeSantis said. "If you don't give resistance to this, they're going to absolutely do more." | 
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking at the Florida Supreme Court on Oct. 7, 2021 | Gary Fineout/POLITICO | The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 2,292 Covid-19 infections on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 2,209 hospital beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. BACKUP — " 'I'm so proud of the governor.' FL Republicans back DeSantis' anti-vaccine push," by Miami Herald's Alex Daugherty: "Eight of Florida's 16 Republicans in the House of Representatives gathered at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to protest federal vaccine mandates and praise Gov. Ron DeSantis, who simultaneously announced a lawsuit against a U.S. government rule that requires federal contractors to show proof of vaccination or be subject to weekly COVID tests. The lawmakers on hand at a press conference organized by Gainesville Republican U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack railed against President Joe Biden and upcoming vaccine mandates for federal employees, federal contractors and private businesses that employ more than 100 people." THERE ISN'T ONE — "What is Florida's plan for coronavirus vaccine boosters?" by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson: "It's not clear what extra effort — if any — the state is making to raise awareness about the need for boosters. As of Wednesday, Florida had given about 8 percent of its vaccinated population a booster shot, a figure that ranked 21st in the country, according to CDC data. About 19 percent of its vaccinated 65 and older population had gotten an extra dose, which was 33rd best out of the 50 states. [Gov. Ron DeSantis spokesperson Christina] Pushaw noted that the shots are available at any pharmacy that offers the coronavirus vaccine, or at the Florida Department of Health's mobile vaccine clinics. The health department updates Floridians on the location of those clinics via Twitter." POINT COUNTER POINT — "U.S. Education Department takes legal action over Florida's school masking sanctions," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: The U.S. Education Department fired back at the DeSantis administration on Thursday by asking an administrative law judge to stop Florida from stripping federal grants meant to protect school board members who defied the Republican governor by enacting local mask mandates. In the latest clash between Florida and the White House, the U.S. Education Department is seeking a cease-and-desist order to block a recent move by state officials to pull a combined $567,000 in federal grants from school board members in Alachua and Broward counties. — " Orange County schools to end face mask mandate for students starting Monday," by Orlando Sentinel's Leslie Postal | | | | JOIN TUESDAY FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE AIR TRAVEL: As delegates descend on Glasgow for the COP26 global climate summit, reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector will play a critical role in the progress of fighting climate change. Join POLITICO for a deep-dive conversation that will explore the increased use of sustainable aviation fuel, better performance aircraft, and other breakthroughs in to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet broader sustainability goals. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | GETTING READY — "DeSantis' staff moves signal approaching 2022 rollout," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: According to two people familiar with the moves, Gov. Ron DeSantis brought in veteran Republican operative Generra Peck, a president in the Washington-based P2 Pathway Public Affairs, a firm led by political strategist Phil Cox. Cox since March has been working with DeSantis' campaign team and the Republican Party of Florida. Peck is expected to serve as day-to-day campaign manager, or have some equivalent title. Also — Clay Barker, who had been the political director at the Republican Party of Florida and is working directly with DeSantis' team, including using a DeSantis campaign email address, is now with an Arizona-based firm called the September Group. The sources say he will remain in Florida and will be involved in DeSantis' campaign with a focus on the GOP's efforts to overtake Democrat's long held voter registration advantage — a task the Florida GOP specifically hired September Group to help coordinate. END OF A STREAK — "After a string of victories, progressives may not get any amendments on the 2022 ballot," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Zac Anderson: "The steady flow of progressive priorities bypassing Florida's GOP-controlled Legislature and becoming law through voter-approved constitutional amendments may finally dry up in 2022, after a remarkable series of victories for left-leaning activists. Each of the last four election cycles has seen a progressive policy change in Florida thanks to ballot initiatives that hiked the minimum wage, restored felon's voting rights, approved medical marijuana and promoted land and water conservation." 'MAKE HIALEAH GREAT ' — "Life-sized cutouts and MAGA signs: A Trump endorsement shakes up Hialeah elections," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padró Ocasio: "In Hialeah's mayoral election, Donald Trump is everywhere. He's on life-sized cutouts hanging on the backs of trucks. His name is plastered all over campaign posters. And his campaign slogan, 'Make America Great Again,' is printed on U.S. flags and yard signs — some, with a slight variation, read 'Make Hialeah Great.' In a competitive primary election with a lagging turnout, several mayoral candidates are banking on Trump's name to give them an edge in the deeply conservative, majority Cuban-American city — the sixth most populous in Florida — that largely led Miami-Dade County's rightward shift in the 2020 presidential election." — "Discrepancies in dark-money groups' reports to IRS could reveal tactics to cover tracks, experts say," by Orlando Sentinel's Jason Garcia: | | | | A message from Florida Education Champions:   | | |
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | LIFE IN THE SWAMP — "DeSantis mega-donor, UF Board of Trustees chair supplied Ladapo's resume, fast-tracking surgeon general's hire," by USA Today Network-Florida's Jeffrey Schweers: "University of Florida Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini, a millionaire developer, GOP megadonor and adviser to Gov. Ron DeSantis, sent current Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo's resume to the president of UF Health, newly disclosed emails reveal. Dr. David Nelson in turn forwarded the Sept. 1 email with Ladapo's resume attached to the dean of the College of Medicine and the associate vice president for research affairs, kicking off a fast-track hiring process for Ladapo to coincide with the governor's announcement that he was appointing the UCLA professor as his new surgeon general." — "DeSantis: Surgeon general's critics are trying to 'politicize' COVID policy," by Florida Phoenix's Michael Moline — "Paul Renner: No one will leave upcoming Legislative Special Session Happy," by Florida Politics' Jacob Ogles | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | HE'S RUNNING — "Trump 2024 presidential run hasn't been announced but law enforcement near Mar-a-Lago are preparing for it," by Palm Beach Post's Wendy Rhodes: "While pundits speculate, law enforcement agencies appear to be planning beefed up security around Mar-a-Lago in the event former President Donald Trump announces a political comeback campaign, The Palm Beach Post has learned. The U.S. Secret Service on Tuesday morning called a meeting with local law enforcement officials at Mar-a-Lago — Trump's part-time home and private club on Palm Beach — to discuss security arrangements in case Trump enters the 2024 presidential race, said a source who attended the meeting." | | DATELINE D.C. | | DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME — "Marco Rubio urges Biden to investigate Amazon for allegedly shortchanging new parents, patients," by Fox News' Talia Kaplan: "Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., called out Amazon's 'woke hypocrisy' following a report that accused the tech giant of 'shortchanging' new parents and patients dealing with medical issues. Rubio made the comment speaking with 'Mornings with Maria' on Thursday, two days after he called on President Biden and the Department of Labor to investigate Amazon following the New York Times report that the company allegedly 'had been shortchanging new parents, patients dealing with medical crises and other vulnerable workers on leave.'" DC DYSFUNCTION — "Progressives win again: No infrastructure vote tonight," by The Hill's Cristina Marcos, Scott Wong and Mike Lillis: "One of the Blue Dog Coalition leaders, Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), later issued a statement, saying the group is 'extremely frustrated that legislative obstruction of the [infrastructure bill] continues — not based on the bill's merits, but because of a misguided strategy to use the bill as leverage on separate legislation.'" | | | | 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 | | FOR YOUR RADAR — "Brian Mast opposition to Lake Okeechobee proposal signals growing political storm," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) on Thursday withdrew his support for a federal proposal for the future operation of Lake Okeechobee because he said it increases harmful discharges to the St. Lucie River and the East Coast. Mast said during a Corps of Engineers online public hearing the updated proposal would cause 'massive' increases in flows to the St. Lucie compared to the agency's earlier 'preferred' alternative that he supported. Those discharges have been blamed in recent years for killing aquatic life in the river estuary and causing algae blooms that closed Atlantic Coast beaches. 'BARE MININUM' — "Post-Surfside, Florida engineers say all large buildings need to be inspected," by Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower: "Florida should require nearly all large buildings be inspected for structural problems within their first 30 years, with follow-ups every 10 years, according to recommendations by the state's engineering associations made in the wake of the Surfside condominium collapse. For buildings within three miles of saltwater, such as the beachside Champlain Towers South that suddenly collapsed in June, inspections should be done within the first 20 years of occupancy, with follow-ups every seven years." TALES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE — "Cuban exiles told sons he trained Oswald, JFK's accused assassin, at a secret CIA camp," by El Nuevo Herald's Nora Gámez Torres: "Almost 40 years after his death following a bar brawl in Key Biscayne, Ricardo Morales, known as 'Monkey' — contract CIA worker, anti-Castro militant, counter-intelligence chief for Venezuela, FBI informant and drug dealer — returned to the spotlight Thursday morning when one of his sons made a startling claim on Spanish-language radio: Morales, a sniper instructor in the early 1960s in secret camps where Cuban exiles and others trained to invade Cuba, realized in the hours after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963 that the accused killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, had been one of his sniper trainees." — "Florida pari-mutuels, Seminole Tribe reach sports betting agreements," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders — "Miami Beach is raising roads for sea rise. Lawsuits say they're causing flooding too," by Miami Herald's Alex Harris — "Amid scandal, Quenneville resigns as Florida Panthers coach," by The Associated Press' Tim Reynolds | | | | A message from Florida Education Champions: Monopoly.
It's not just a board game, but a bad business practice that flies in the face of free market principles and competition.
When one entity owns and controls the market on any business, Floridians lose. And who else loses? In this case, Florida public education.
Florida Education Champions' amendment authorizes hundreds of millions of dollars generated by its passage and implementation to go directly to supplement Florida's Educational Enhancement Trust Fund – without raising taxes.
By signing the Florida Education Champions petition, you can demand the ballot question be asked to allow Floridians, 21 and older, to use their favorite online sports betting platforms and ensure any new revenue MUST go to increase education funding in Florida.
Competition. Free Market. More Options. Education Funding.
That's what will be on the November 2022 Florida ballot, with your help. | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "USF professor honored by the King of Spain for work on Florida's history," by Tampa Bay Times' Divya Kumar: "On a Sunday about four months into life under the pandemic-induced lockdown, University of South Florida history professor J. Michael Francis went to an empty campus to check his mailbox. In it, he found a letter from a Consul General of Spain. King Felipe VI had issued a decree inducting Francis into a Spanish civil order to recognize his work uncovering the early Spanish roots in Florida's history. He would be awarded the Officer's Cross, signifying a third class rank in the Order of Isabella the Catholic. 'It was dated three months earlier,' Francis said. 'I thought, how horribly rude of me, I haven't even responded.'" BIRTHDAYS: Former Sen. Connie Mack … state Rep. Melony Bell … Kristen Bridges, communications director for GrayRobinson … Caroline Rowland …. Anthony Pardal , deputy director for federal affairs for Departent of Agriculture and Consumer Services ... Rivers Buford III, former legislative affairs director at the Department of State... (Saturday) Chief Inspector General Melinda Miguel … Washington Post contributing columnist Lizette Alvarez … former state Rep. Ron Saunders … (Sunday) Former Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño … POLITICO's Michael Kruse ... former Rep. David Jolly
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