News: POLITICO Florida Playbook: DeSantis encounters some resistance

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: DeSantis encounters some resistance

Feb 09, 2022

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Good Wednesday morning.

Halftime — It's the 30th day — or the midway point of this year's legislative session — and guess what? Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is encountering a bit more pushback from the Republican-controlled Legislature than expected, at least when it comes to his spending proposals.

The game plan — Remember his idea to spend money to create a new Florida State Guard? It drew quick condemnation from Democrats. But it's not in the House and Senate budgets that will go before the main budget committees today and there's no legislation to create it either. How about DeSantis' plan to suspend state gas taxes for five months as a way to combat rising costs that he blamed on President Joe Biden? That has yet to surface as well.

On fumes? — Katherine Betta, a spokeswoman for Senate President Wilton Simpson, stressed that a tax cut package is usually "finalized" later in session. But she added in an email "with that being said, it is important to President Simpson that tax cuts primarily benefit Floridians. The fact that the gas tax is paid by both Floridians and non-Floridians is a factor he is thinking about has he considers whether to support a temporary reduction in the gas tax over other broad-based tax relief ideas."

Trimmed — Other spending items sought by the governor have been pared back by legislators, such as his effort to get $100 million for cancer research, or the amount he wants for the job growth grant fund that allows him to parcel out money for select projects. Even his push for a new election crimes and security office has been recalibrated and made smaller than what the governor wanted.

Still putting "wins on the board" — DeSantis, the undisputed leader for Florida Republicans who is seen as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, is still on track to get other substantive legislative wins in areas such as immigration and education as well as the likely confirmation of Joseph Ladapo, the state surgeon general who on Tuesday refused to acknowledge whether he's been vaccinated. He may yet get his way on redistricting.

The big one — But the budget, however, is supposed to be the ultimate expression of policy and so far results have been mixed. Yes, there's plenty of time to change course, but legislators usually head into budget conference to work out differences between the House and Senate.

Heading into fall — And what does this mean for the reelection campaign? Maybe not much. DeSantis had a successful session last year only to watch several of his initiatives flounder in the courts. But that may not matter, especially as Democrats across the country begin to move to some of the same Covid-19 policies that he's been touting for a year-and-a-half. Resistance in the halls of Tallahassee may be a speed bump as he plows ahead.

— 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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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

MORE OBFUSCATION — " Florida's top doctor refuses to say if he's vaccinated," by The Associated Press' Anthony Izaguirre: "Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo on Tuesday declined to disclose whether he has received a coronavirus vaccine during a contentious confirmation hearing where Democrats pressed the state's top doctor to promote the shots. Ladapo, appointed in September by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, has attracted national scrutiny over his close alignment with the governor in opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other health policies embraced by the federal government. On Tuesday, Democrats grew visibly frustrated with Ladapo, accusing him of evading questions and endangering public health through what they described as a laissez-faire approach to vaccines."

— " After party-line vote, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo's confirmation heads to Senate floor," by Florida Politics' Christine Jordan Sexton

— " Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo one step away from Senate confirmation," by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson

— " Democratic state senators grill Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo as confirmation hearings resume," by USA Today Network-Florida's Jeffrey Schweers

WHAT? — "' Victim blaming': Ileana Garcia gets pushback for comments on sexually explicit photos," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: State Sen. Ileana Garcia, a Miami Republican, on Tuesday said women whose sexually explicit images end up on the internet without their consent are partially responsible because women "expose too much," a comment that got quick pushback among those who saw it as victim blaming. Garcia's comment came after legislators on the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee heard passionate, at times tearful, testimony about the increasing number of sexually explicit images that end up on the internet without consent, including those involving children and some of which are fake. Garcia is the chair of the committee.

The back-and-forth — "I did not put my images out there," Sen. Lauren Book said. "I did not parade them on social media — they were stolen from me, my family, and created, disseminated and sold. I'll never get them back." Her comment came after Garcia said when sexually explicit images are leaked, some of the responsibility falls on the victim, which is most often a woman. "It never dawned on me how bad this situation is, but sometimes it is caused by us," Garcia said. "In our journey for validation, we expose too much of ourselves sometimes."

WORDSMITHING — " Bill targeting discomfort or guilt in school, work discussions ready for House floor," by Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos: Republican lawmakers have been trying to regulate discussions in Florida's public schools and private businesses that might make individuals feel discomfort or guilt because of their race, gender or national origin. On Tuesday night, they began to tone down the language amid criticism that they were attempting to 'regulate emotions' to stifle American history lessons. 'There were questions about objectivity and what that criteria would be,' state Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, said when he introduced the changes to his 'Individual Freedom' bill."

Lauren Book | AP Photo

AP Photo

SHOOTING BLANKS — "Florida gun rights advocates hopping mad about seemingly stalled 'constitutional carry' bill," by USA Today Network-Florida's James Call: "Florida Carry, a 10-year-old non-profit advocacy group that claims 30,000 members, has filled [Rep. Chuck] Brannan's Tallahassee office with voters — without any success. The groups have released open letters to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, urging them to state publicly their support for the proposal. They argue the threat to gun rights in Florida is not 'the actions by anti-gun Democrats' but 'the inaction' of Republicans, whom they dismiss as RINOs, or Republicans in name only, for failing to support the national Republican Party platform that calls for constitutional carry."

HERE IT COMES— "Florida senators take up 'Don't Say Gay' parental rights proposal," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Senate Republicans on Tuesday advanced legislation dubbed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill that aims to curb discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation in Florida classrooms through a proposal that opponents argue would put LGTBQ youth at risk. Billed as a measure to bolster parental rights across the state, the legislation clears the way for parents to sue schools for withholding information about their children from them, an idea that has the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

White House blasts bill — But the Biden administration, a frequent critic of DeSantis' Covid and immigration policies, on Tuesday condemned the legislation, saying it's part of a broader push by Republicans to regulate students and schools. "Conservative politicians in Florida rejected those basic values by advancing legislation that is designed to target and attack the kids who need support the most – LGBTQI+ students," said a White House spokesperson in a statement. "This is politics at its worse, cynically treating our students as pawns in a game and not people who deserve love and respect."

BLACK HOLE SUN — " Rewritten solar payments bill still faces fierce opposition," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: A state Senate committee rewrote and advanced a bill Tuesday reducing payments to owners with rooftop solar panels despite continued opposition from environmentalists and industry supporters. The Senate Committee on Community Affairs rewrote SB 1024 to allow existing solar customers to continue being paid at the higher retail rate for 20 years rather than 10 years as provided in the bill as filed.

SPOTTED — At a retirement ceremony for Craig Waters, the communications director for the Florida Supreme Court, that was held Tuesday evening at Goodwood Plantation: Florida Supreme Court Justices John Couriel, Jamie Grosshans, Jorge Labarga, Alan Lawson, Carlos Muñiz, state Rep. Allison Tant, former Justice Major Harding, Florida Bar's Joshua Doyle and Jennifer Krell Davis, First Amendment Foundation's Pamela Marsh, attorney Barry Richard, Lucy and Richard Morgan, Paul Flemming, Joe Follick, Bob Shaw, Judy Doyle, Neil Skene, Brendan and Amy Farrington, John Kennedy and Mary Ellen Klas.

— " Erin Grall accuses Office of Insurance Regulation of 'agency malpractice' before PIP vote," by Florida Politics' Christine Jordan Sexton

— " A bill in Tallahassee could save Amazon more than $1 million a year ," by Seeking Rents' Jason Garcia

— " Senate begins advancing proposal to block many citizen ballot initiatives," by Florida Politics' Renzo Downey

— " Senate, House budget bills would create new DCA, change gaming commission, account for inflation," by Florida Politics' Gray Rohrer

HAPPENING THURSDAY – A LONG GAME CONVERSATION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS : Join POLITICO for back-to-back conversations on climate and sustainability action, starting with a panel led by Global Insider author Ryan Heath focused on insights gleaned from our POLITICO/Morning Consult Global Sustainability Poll of citizens from 13 countries on five continents about how their governments should respond to climate change. Following the panel, join a discussion with POLITICO White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Gina McCarthy, White House national climate advisor, about the Biden administration's climate and sustainability agenda. REGISTER HERE.

TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP

DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH? — " DeSantis insists narrative of Trump rivalry is 'total bunk': He's a 'friend of mine,'" by Fox News Kelly Laco: "According to Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republicans, including himself, have the support of former President Trump, and any notion to the contrary can be attributed to media spin. DeSantis sat down in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital on Monday in Tallahassee, Florida, during which he stated that he's on good terms with Trump. 'Donald Trump's a friend of mine. He is proud when people do well, and it's not just me, but obviously he's a Florida resident, and he appreciates the job that we've done. He's told me that many times, not only with helping with the election, but just how we govern the state.'"

DATELINE D.C.

'YOU CAN COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS' — " Rep. Salazar's immigration bill offers path to legal residency, requires E-Verify use," by Miami Herald's Bryan Lowry: "Miami Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar introduced legislation Tuesday that would set up a new legal residency program for millions of undocumented immigrants and create a potential path to citizenship for those who complete a pair of programs over 15 years. Salazar's 483-page bill, titled 'The Dignity Act,' would set up numerous changes to the immigration system, including measures to increase border security, an expedited process for asylum seekers and a new program to provide a path to legal residency for undocumented immigrants already in the country."

'VERY, VERY DISTURBING' — " Texas rabbi in hostage drama and Florida rabbi harassed by neo-Nazis make plea to Congress," by McClatchy D.C.'s Michael Wilner: "A neo-Nazi group stationed outside Rabbi Yosef Konikov's Chabad center in South Orlando, Florida, several months ago used loudspeakers and antisemitic signs to target the Jewish institution. They encouraged passing motorists to honk if they agreed. Several did. 'Thank God, most people didn't honk their horn. But every once in a while, there was a horn being honked, which was very, very disturbing,' Konikov testified before a congressional hearing in Washington on Tuesday."

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 19,306 Covid-19 infections reported on Monday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 7,420 hospital beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients.

SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM — "Top Florida epidemiologist scolds labs for not reporting 230,000 Covid-19 results," by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian: The Florida Department of Health criticized two laboratories hired by the Florida governor's office to conduct Covid-19 testing after the companies failed to report more than 200,000 test results during the Omicron surge. Florida Department of Health State Epidemiologist Carina Blackmore, in letters sent Tuesday, accuse Nomi Health and Empire City Laboratories of failing to report more than 230,000 Covid-19 test results.

ICYMI — POLITICO reported in August that the state paid Nomi two contracts worth $46 million to provide testing sites, and the company subsequently made a $100,000 contribution to Gov. Ron DeSantis' reelection campaign. The DeSantis administration had signed a no-bid contract with Nomi, despite mixed reviews from auditors in other states, and critics who warned that Nomi, a 2020 startup, was not capable of testing millions of people.

AFTERMATH — " Violent crime to labor shortages: Mayors say Covid's toll on cities is far-reaching," by POLITICO's Liz Crampton and Lisa Kashinsky: Twenty-five mayors, representing deep-red pockets of the South to liberal flagships in the West, participated in the survey, which was conducted between late December and mid-January. Their answers reveal how the pandemic forced mayors into crisis mode, first to deal with the pandemic, and now with its lingering effects: a sharp rise in homelessness and food insecurity, prolonged remote learning, demands for mental health resources and a litany of economic woes

Input — Among those who participated in survey was Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer who said state government needs to get out of the way of cities: "Reduce the frequency and scope of state preemption of local ordinances; especially unfunded mandates," Dyer told POLITICO.

A GOOD TREND — " Omicron causes record-high cases in Florida nursing homes, but deaths remain low," by Miami Herald's Daniel Chang: "Florida's omicron winter hit nursing homes hard, with the number of weekly infections reported among residents and staff reaching record highs in mid-January. But despite reporting more cases for a single week in mid-January than at any other point in the pandemic, Florida nursing homes are not seeing a corresponding spike in deaths — the cumulative effect, experts say, of immunity from vaccines and prior illness with COVID-19, hard-won experience with infection control, and new therapies that reduce the severity of disease."

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.

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— "The Doors singer Jim Morrison's 'birth home' in downtown Melbourne up for sale for $2.5M," by Florida Today's Rick Neale: "Four portraits of Jim Morrison and a band photo of The Doors peer from the front windows of a sleepy cottage at 2100 Vernon Place, where the legendary rock singer and poet lived as a newborn. Now, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom 1935-vintage home on a downtown Melbourne residential side street is up for sale — for $2.5 million. 'I believe, as the listing agent, that this home is going to go to a very special buyer who is a superfan of Jim Morrison and The Doors,' said Steve Gordon, an eXp Realty agent based in Boca Raton."

— "' Inspired by Che Guevara and Fidel Castro,' a New York restaurant missteps in Miami," by Miami Herald's Carlos Frías: "A Mexican hangout where the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and Che Guevara plotted the Cuban revolution is the inspiration behind a New York City restaurant opening a location soon in downtown Miami. Miami is having a problem with this. Café Habana, set to open at 229 S Miami Ave. in the Spring of 2022, opened its first location inside a converted New York diner in 1997. The concept is a fusion of Cuban and Mexican cuisine — with a backstory rooted in communist revolutionary lore."

BIRTHDAYS: Former state Rep. Patrick Rooney… former state Rep. Fred Costello

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