| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by Florida Education Champions | Hello and welcome to Thursday. Duck and cover — Gov. Ron DeSantis is a rising Republican star and a potential 2024 presidential contender who is also trying his best to avoid a looming confrontation with vocal members of his own party animated by former President Donald Trump's baseless allegations of voter fraud. Big money — The latest sign of DeSantis' efforts came when he held a campaign-style rally in West Palm Beach on Wednesday, where he unveiled a proposal to create a stand-alone police force to go after those who violate Florida's election laws. This isn't some throwaway idea. POLITICO obtained an outline of the proposal and the governor's plan calls for hiring more than 50 employees and spending nearly $6 million on a new "Office of Election Crimes and Security." Point — Now there's an argument made by some that an office dedicated to this type of activity is needed. The sprinkling of voter fraud cases — including examples of forged signatures on citizen initiative petitions — are usually handled by state attorneys or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and don't wind up going far. Of course, that may be an argument that many of these cases are… well… Counterpoint — But It's the Florida Legislature that has deliberately made it difficult for the state's existing elections commission — which primarily deals with violations committed by candidates — to police Florida's elections. There's a whole lot of private grumbling going on over the investigation by Miami's state attorney into the use of sham candidates in 2020 that helped the GOP maintain control of the Florida Senate. So now DeSantis wants a stand-alone beefed-up law enforcement unit with the power to take what they find to the statewide prosecutor? From the sidelines — The backdrop is that DeSantis is getting peppered by a rising chorus in his party that wants an audit of 2020 by contending that Trump's victory in Florida should have somehow been bigger. His announcement on Wednesday didn't seem to tamp that down. This isn't the 2021 bill — The governor also opened the door to more changes to voting laws that he wants pursued during the 2022 session — which brought immediate pushback from Democrats. Usually it's understood you don't make major changes just months before an election and right now the restrictions on mail-in ballots and drop boxes adopted in 2021 are being challenged in federal court. So far, however, reaction from local supervisors is muted because, as one of them told POLITICO, much of what the governor wants is already being done. OK, then what is this about again? — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis will be in Jacksonville for a press conference at Cecil Airport with State Reps. Wyman Duggan and Cord Byrd and Department of Transportation officials. 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. | | |
|  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | RUBIO'S WAY — "Senate GOP sees Youngkin's Trump approach as path back to majority," by POLITICO's Burgess Everett: As Marco Rubio prepares to run for reelection a year from now, he has little doubt that former President Donald Trump's presence in Florida will help him. "The president's viewed as a liability in the minds of some people around here. Not in the real world," Rubio said in an interview on Wednesday. "He won Florida. And if he ran today, he'd win by more." The GOP incumbent said he'd be perfectly fine appearing on stage with the former president who defeated him handily in their 2016 presidential primary battle. It's a stark departure from the strategy Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin used to winning effect: snagging a Trump endorsement while keeping some distance from the former commander-in-chief and his infamous campaign rallies. RUNNING THE TABLE? — "GOP presses top Senate recruits to jump in after Virginia wipeout," by POLITICO's Natalie Allison: One day after blue-state Democrats were pummeled at the polls — losing the Virginia governorship and nearly losing in New Jersey, where Gov. Phil Murphy squeaked to reelection by a razor-thin margin — Republicans redoubled their efforts to expand the Senate map by convincing several reluctant top-tier Senate prospects to run in 2022. This time, the recruitment pitch came with a powerful new data set drawn from the off-year elections. "We have great candidates in our races," Sen. Rick Scott, the National Republican Senatorial chair, said Wednesday. "I bet there's more people that are going to want to get in because they can see there's a path." ELECTION COPS — "DeSantis calls for new Florida police force to go after election crimes," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: The new law enforcement office will cost nearly $6 million, according to a document obtained by POLITICO. "I guarantee you this: The first person that gets caught, no one is going to want to do it again after that," said DeSantis at a West Palm Beach event billed as a "press conference" but featured dozens of DeSantis supporters who loudly applauded the governor. At one point, the crowd cheered "Let's go Brandon" — a conservative rallying cry against President Joe Biden. The governor also said he wants the GOP-controlled Legislature to put additional restrictions on the use of drop boxes. "I don't even think we should have drop boxes," said DeSantis even though he signed the bill two years ago that first authorized their use in the state. MEANWHILE — "DeSantis' office cites backlog as reason for delay in reviewing sham candidate case," by Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos: "Gov. Ron DeSantis, who on Wednesday said he wants to create a new state office to investigate and prosecute election-related fraud, has yet to weigh in on a state ethics case involving a sham no-party candidate who is accused of violating campaign finance laws in an attempt to sway a Miami election. Citing a 15-case backlog, DeSantis' office said the governor has not had a chance to review and make a final decision on whether the no-party candidate, Alexis Pedro Rodriguez, should be reprimanded." | 
Gov. Ron DeSantis with state legislators after the end of the 2021 session of the Florida Legislature. | Gary Fineout, POLITICO | EVERY VOTE COUNTS IN FLA — "9 votes, maybe 12, separate Cherfilus-McCormick and Holness in congressional race. Why so close? What happens now?" by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "A likely winner probably won't be known until Nov. 12, while a final resolution, certification by the state Elections Canvassing Commission, doesn't happen until Nov. 16. And that assumes no one files any lawsuits. Both candidates are vying to fill the vacancy created by the April 6 death of the late Congressman Alcee Hastings. 'It's a shocker. A shocker,' said Chris Smith, a former state legislator from Broward who served as Democratic Party leader in both the Florida Senate and House. 'But when you look at it, it's explainable.'" — " Daughter of US House hopeful pleads guilty to COVID-19 fraud," by The Associated Press ON THE LIST — "Darren Soto named as a GOP congressional target in advance of redistricting," by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello: "Republicans released a new list of targets in next year's congressional elections Wednesday, and it includes an unexpected name: U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee. Soto's inclusion could be a potential hint that the Republican-controlled Legislature could decide to be more ambitious than expected in redrawing seats in the upcoming redistricting process. 'In a cycle like this, no Democrat is safe,' National Republican Congressional Committee chair Tom Emmer in a statement announcing the 13 new names in the wake of Republican gains in the off-year elections Tuesday." FALLOUT — "Florida Republicans giddy about 2022 as Democrats struggle in Virginia, New Jersey," by Miami Herald's Alex Daugherty and Bianca Padró Ocasio: "Yet after the GOP's performance on Tuesday — winning competitive elections with high turnout — Florida Democrats and Republicans are in disagreement about what the results mean for 2022. Republicans echo [Rep. Mario] Diaz-Balart's position, arguing that parents across demographic lines were tired of policies that kept their children in virtual classrooms during the pandemic and oppose President Joe Biden's proposed expansion of social programs. Democrats are adamant in a GOP-controlled state like Florida the opposite will happen, that voters will tire of a Republican-led 'culture war' that is likely coming after the Virginia and New Jersey results." DIFFERENT DIRECTION — "Democrats had a rough election night. St. Petersburg bucked that national trend," by Tampa Bay Times' Colleen Wright and Langston Taylor: "History was made Tuesday night. Sixty years ago, Black police officers in St. Petersburg couldn't patrol white neighborhoods. Black residents couldn't sit on iconic green benches featured in postcards unless they were caring for white children. Now, the city has elected its first Black mayor in Ken Welch, first Hispanic City Council member in Lisset Hanewicz and first Democratic Socialist — not just locally, but in the state's recent history — and first Black City Council member north of Central Avenue in Richie Floyd. It's also the first time there will be three Black members on Council." | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | TOP TALKER | | TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT? — "Princeton legal scholar advises UF to back off restricting professors in suit against the state," by Miami Herald's Jimena Tavel: "A free-speech legal scholar from Princeton University told Florida's top public university administrators Wednesday he believes the University of Florida should allow its professors to weigh in on any litigation regardless of whether they would be paid and regardless if it's against the state, saying to do otherwise would impinge on their First Amendment rights." Advice — "'I urge universities here in Florida and the University of Florida to get this controversy behind it as quickly as possible by simply interpreting the conflicts [of interest] in a way that do not distinguish paid or unpaid, and would give broad permission to testify as to what you are in fact an expert on,' Robert George, a prominent Princeton professor of politics and conservative legal scholar, told the Florida Board of Governors at its annual summit at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. UF President Kent Fuchs, who attended the meeting, said he had no thoughts on George's remarks and declined to comment further. UF Board of Trustees Chair Morteza "Mori" Hosseini, who also attended the meeting, declined to comment as well, saying the issue 'is under review.'" 'DIFFICULT SITUATION' — "University of Florida professor told not to participate as expert witness testified anyway," by The Gainesville Sun's Danielle Ivanov: "[Dr. Jeffrey] Goldhagen, former director of the Duval County Health Department and almost 30-year faculty member with the UF Health College of Medicine in Jacksonville, said he understands the political pressure university leaders face. But he could not ignore his oath and decades of work as a doctor, child advocate and international leader. So, Goldhagen said, he participated anyway, submitting written statements called declarations for two of the three cases." | | | | A message from Florida Education Champions:   | | |
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | ON YOUR RADAR — "New report shows some Florida schools lag on posting instructional materials," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: House members were particularly troubled to learn that districts have been especially slow to post sex education lessons online despite the Legislature passing a law in 2021 requiring them to do so. 'The school districts are not being transparent at all,' said state Rep. Mike Caruso (R-Delray Beach). Florida law contains numerous policies outlining the rights of parents and the public to review school instruction materials, leaving districts responsible for making the content available. Yet with some districts appearing out of compliance, legislation surrounding education transparency could emerge in the upcoming 2022 session as policymakers use schools as a major battleground issue in elections locally and statewide. IN THE DARK — "Florida's medical pot regulator won't give up crucial data, researcher says," by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian: Florida House lawmakers on Wednesday sought answers about the potency and long-term effects of medical marijuana from a state university research consortium — but the group couldn't provide information. Almut G. Winterstein, director of the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research at the University of Florida, told a House panel that her organization has been waiting on data from the state for more than two years. Without that data from the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use, important studies on the health impacts of marijuana will take the consortium several years to produce. — "So far, Texas-style abortion bill in FL seems headed nowhere in the Legislature," by Florida Phoenix's Issac Morgan — "Dana Trabulsy files bill to include history of African American cemeteries in public schools," by Florida Politics' Daniel Figueroa IV | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 1,804 Covid-19 infections on Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 1,865 hospital beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. TO COURT — "State seeks injunction against federal vaccine mandate," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "Saying the state is trying to prevent 'immediate irreparable harm,' Attorney General Ashley Moody's office is seeking a preliminary injunction to block Biden administration efforts to require employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Lawyers in Moody's office filed a 26-page motion for a preliminary injunction Tuesday in federal court in Tampa. The motion is part of a lawsuit that the state filed last week challenging vaccination requirements for federal contractors." — " Palm Beach County schools to drop mask mandate in favor of opt-out Nov. 15," by Palm Beach Post's Sonja Isger | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | THERE'S STILL TIME LEFT — "2021 hurricane season uses up name list for only 3rd time in history but is it over?" by Palm Beach Post's Kimberly Miller: "Tropical meteorologists said they were surprised by the lack of storm activity in October and see little brewing in the final weeks of the season, which runs through Nov. 30. But the atmosphere could still eke out another named storm — a development that would force the debut of the new alternative names list that replaced the use of the Greek alphabet this year." | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | CONVICTED — "Markeith Lloyd verdict: Guilty of 1st-degree murder in killing of Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton," by Orlando Sentinel's Monivette Cordeiro: "A jury found Markeith Loyd guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday for shooting and killing Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton when she tried to arrest him in 2017 for murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend. Jurors also found Loyd guilty of attempting to murder a second law enforcement officer and carjacking a man with a gun while attempting to flee." OUTCOME — "Tallahassee demonstrator's acquittal after police crackdown on protest could impact other cases, attorney says ," by Tallahassee Democrat's Karl Etters: "The only demonstrator facing a felony count in connection with last September's Black Lives Matter protest that was broken up by riot-gear clad police was acquitted on charges he battered a law enforcement officer. Ben Grant was found guilty of resisting arrest without violence during trial on Tuesday, a misdemeanor. The 34-year-old was sentenced to one day in jail, which he's already served, 11 months of probation which includes anger management courses, 100 hours of community service and court fees." EPILOGUE — "Appeals court upholds firing of principal who wouldn't say Holocaust was a fact," by Palm Beach Post's Andrew Marra: "A principal fired after refusing to say the Holocaust was a historical fact has lost an appeal to win back his job. A state appeals court Wednesday rejected former Spanish River High School Principal William Latson's challenge to the Palm Beach County School Board's decision last year to terminate him over his explosive remarks. The decision brings the two-year legal battle over Latson's employment closer to an end, though the former principal can still appeal to the Florida Supreme Court." — " Scientology can settle legal disputes from within, appeals court rules," by Tampa Bay Times' Tracey McManus | | | | 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 | | — "'Gender queer' book removed from Orange school libraries after parent complaint," by Orlando Sentinel's Leslie Postal: "A comic-book style memoir pulled from school libraries in Brevard County because of its sexual images has been yanked off shelves by Orange County Public Schools, too. An Orlando couple with five children in Orange schools complained that 'Gender Queer: A Memoir' amounted to pornography and should not be accessible to students." BIRTHDAYS: State Reps. Demi Busatta Cabrera, Felicia Simone Robinson , and Blaise Ingoglia ... Jean Roseme of Rep. Frederica Wilson's office
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