| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by CVS Health | Good Thursday morning. By the numbers — Nearly 5 million people in Florida voted by mail in the 2020 election amid the long-running Covid-19 pandemic — almost 44 percent of all votes cast. Countermove — Florida Republicans — relying on vague statements about "election integrity" — responded last year by enacting new restrictions on mail voting and the use of drop boxes that are now at the center of an ongoing federal trial that is in its second week of Tallahassee. A legal matter — The central question that Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker must decide is whether that law unfairly discriminates against minorities, older voters and/or voters with disabilities as alleged by the long line of voting and civil rights groups that sued. Did legislators make these changes because more minorities decided to use vote-by-mail ballots? Looking for motive — Or as the judge himself has asked — was that law more about partisanship and appeasing the false voter fraud complaints of former President Donald Trump? One key fact: More Democrats in Florida used mail-in ballots compared to Republicans in 2020. Round 2 — Yet, even as that trial is still underway, the GOP-controlled Legislature has proposed even more restrictions on the use of mail-in ballots, much of which would not go into effect until 2024. Local election officials have already warned that the changes could cause more confusion and problems. Balancing act — So why not get rid of no-excuse mail-in voting completely, as Trump himself has suggested? That's not an option, Rep. Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican and one of the sponsors of this year's bill, insists. "Vote by mail has been an important part in the state of Florida. It will continue to be an important part in the state of Florida," Perez said last week. Sticking with VBM — While this is going on, state Sen. Shevrin Jones is teaming up with the NAACP and other groups such as Equal Ground to launch a new effort that is expressly aimed at motivating up to 40,000 minority voters — including those who live in rural areas — to sign up to vote by mail. "It has become the method of voting for young people and people of color," Jones said on Wednesday. In play — The effort put together by Jones — and which already has enough money for the first three quarters of the year — is dubbed Operation BlackOut and will include outreach efforts across the state. Jones, noting the narrow margins in 2018 where Democrats lost, contends the effort "could be part of the one percent that gets us across the finish line." — 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 CVS Health: Throughout the pandemic, in communities across the country, CVS Health has been there. We've opened more than 4,800 COVID-19 test sites, administered 41 million tests and given 50 million vaccines. We've expanded access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine, increased remote access to mental health services and invested in affordable housing to help build healthier communities. We've been on the frontlines, making health care easier to access and afford. Learn more. | | | |  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | 2024 WATCH — "DeSantis slams Big Tech and the media for 'whitewashing' the 'genocide Olympics,' says Biden is weak on China," by Fox News' Kelly Laco: During an interview with Fox News Digital in Tallahassee, Florida, on Monday, [Gov. Ron DeSantis] said that it is a "mistake" that American athletes are competing in the 2020 Winter Olympic Games, underway in Beijing, China. The Biden administration and its international allies are enacting a diplomatic boycott of the games over the genocide of Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). But DeSantis said it does not go far enough to stand up to America's 'number-one geopolitical foe.' | 
SURFSIDE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 10: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during an event to give out bonuses to first responders held at the Grand Beach Hotel Surfside on August 10, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. DeSantis gave out some of the $1,000 checks that the Florida state budget passed for both first responders and teachers across the state. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) | Joe Raedle/Getty Images |
EXIT STAGE LEFT — "Nearly 50 House members are not seeking re-election in 2022. What does that mean for control of Congress?" by Spectrum News' Samantha-Jo Roth: "One such member is Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy, a leading moderate voice in the Democratic caucus. Murphy, the first Vietnamese-American woman and second Vietnamese-American ever to serve in Congress, had at one point considered running for Senate earlier this year, but shocked the political world when she announced her departure from Congress. 'I've never felt that this was supposed to be a career thing, I believe in a citizen Congress,' said Rep. Stephanie Murphy."
Brushing it off — "Florida Republicans were expecting to target Murphy's 7th Congressional District in redistricting, making it more difficult for her to win a fourth term. She said that was not a factor in her choice. 'It hasn't weighed on my decision because I have won tough races before and I always overperform Democrats,' she said in an interview with Spectrum News in her Capitol Hill office." WHAT HAPPENED IN ALABAMA — " GOP scrutiny of Black districts may deepen after court move," by The Associated Press' Nicholas Riccardi and Brendan Farrington: "But the state's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, is taking the unusual step of asking Florida's Supreme Court whether [Rep. Al] Lawson's plurality-Black district can be broken up into whiter — and more Republican — districts. That type of request might typically face steep hurdles under state and federal laws that are meant to protect representation of marginalized communities in the nation's politics. But the ground rules may be shifting after the U.S. Supreme Court sided this week with Republicans in Alabama to block efforts to ensure that Black voters are adequately represented in Congress by adding a second majority-Black district in the state." — "Republican Greg Merk wants Northwest Florida to move on from Matt Gaetz and elect him," by Pensacola News Journal's Jim Little
| | | | HAPPENING TODAY – 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. | | | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET? — "Biden bucks to frame Florida budget talks, DeSantis priorities," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: How lawmakers handle more than $3 billion in federal pandemic cash will, in large part, drive final budget negotiations and to what degree Gov. Ron DeSantis can snag key political wins heading into his 2022 reelection. House and Senate budget writers are finalizing their respective budget proposals, but neither chamber has suggested any plan for the $3.5 billion the state still expects from President Joe Biden's pandemic relief fund expected next year.
The appropriators — In his proposed budget, DeSantis recommended using that money to fund the most politically popular portions of his budget, which would be a focus of his 2022 reelection bid. That includes providing $1,000 checks to police and teachers and a gas tax break. "We appreciate what his proposals were, but it's up to this committee to make those decisions," said House budget chief Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City). A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR — " Sugar, water don't mix in the Everglades. New fight erupts over bill to change funding," by Miami Herald's Alex Harris: "A bill changing state policy toward Everglades restoration, and pitting the Senate president's priorities against the governor's, advanced through its single committee stop Wednesday morning despite hours of passionate protest from clean water advocates. Dozens of fishing guides dropped their charters for the day — one captain estimated about $40,000 in daily business was lost — and told the Senate Appropriations Committee they believed this bill would ruin water quality and their livelihoods by favoring farmers' interests over restoration. 'If you vote yes for this bill, you will single-handedly take away years of work to better our state,' said Lee Richardson, a restaurant owner from Charlotte County. 'Was that all smoke and mirrors? If you vote yes on this, I'll have my answer... You care more for the sugar industry than you do the tourists who keep coming here and powering our state.'" BECAUSE WE CAN — "GOP lawmaker aims to strip state funding from school districts that defied Gov. DeSantis on masks," by USA Today Network-Florida's John Kennedy: "The Florida House would strip $200 million from a dozen counties where school boards defied Gov. Ron DeSantis by requiring students and staff to wear masks – another punishing strike in a clash that consumed much of last fall. The move came from state Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, the House education budget-writer. Rep. Randy Fine looks to steer $200 million away from 12 counties that defied Gov. Ron DeSantis by issuing mask mandates for schools." Reminder — "Fine played a central role in promoting claims last fall by parents of a Brevard County student with Down Syndrome who said their child was abused by teachers when a mask was tied to her face. The claim coursed through conservative media, was seized on by a DeSantis spokeswoman, and the girl's father repeated the story on Fox News' Tucker Carlson Show. Law enforcement investigators later dismissed the case – concluding it was built around staged photos and false statements." CHANGE OF DIRECTION — " Florida House backs off school board pay cut, introduces term limits," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Lawmakers in the Florida House backed off from a proposed statewide pay cut for school board members on Wednesday and are instead seeking term limits for the local education officials — something sought by Republicans for years. The switch was introduced and approved by House members during an initial floor hearing for HB 1467, a multifaceted bill that is part of the push by GOP leaders to take a closer look at what students are learning and reading as parents across the nation raise objections about books largely surrounding race, sex and gender. HMM — "Florida should consider banning state lawmakers from trading stocks, says gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist," by Insider's Kimberly Leonard: "Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist, a candidate for governor vying to unseat Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, said Florida should consider a stock trading ban for the state's legislature. 'If Congress can do it, I think Florida officials can do it too,' Crist told Insider at a private residence where he was unveiling his plan to expand solar energy in Florida. Crist's comments come as Congress is making significant moves to either limit or ban members from trading individual stocks." WHO LOVES THE SUN? — " Crist calls on DeSantis to oppose controversial solar bills," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Rep. Charlie Crist on Wednesday said if elected governor he would veto legislation that would reduce payments to owners of rooftop solar panels and called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to do the same. Crist, a Democrat who is challenging DeSantis after serving as a Republican governor from 2007-2011, made the comments during a campaign stop in Miami to propose incentives to install solar panels on more than 1 million rooftops. HALFTIME — "A session mid-term progress report for DeSantis: In 'free' Florida, GOP lawmakers in lockstep," by USA Today Network-Florida's John Kennedy: "When Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined what he wanted from lawmakers on the opening day of the 2022 Legislature with his State of the State speech, Florida Republicans were paying attention. At the 60-day session's midpoint, helped by fellow Republicans moving in almost lockstep to meet each of his demands, the governor is close to a high-five moment. To be sure, Florida's legislative history is rife with tussles between the legislative and executive branches over policy and spending. But not this year." — " Jimmy Patronis warns if auto rates increase, Florida drivers 'will burn down the Capitol,'" by Florida Politics' Christine Jordan Sexton — "Florida moves to buy more planes for exec travel, 11 years after Rick Scott sold them ," by WFLA's Sam Sachs — "Florida Legislature analysis: 10 big issues at session halftime," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders — " Chris Latvala, Anthony Sabatini trade barbs over doomed constitutional carry bill," by Florida Politics' Jacob Ogles
| | | |   | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
DLP VS. GIMENEZ — "Rep. Carlos Gimenez's son arrested for slapping Miami commissioner in steakhouse, police say," by Miami Herald's Charles Rabin, Douglas Hanks and Linda Robertson: "The son of U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez was arrested Wednesday after police say he slapped a Miami city commissioner earlier in the day at Morton's Steakhouse in Coral Gables. What triggered the spat, the latest episode in the long-running telenovela of Miami politics, was not immediately clear. But the two men involved — Miami commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla and Carlos J. Gimenez, a lawyer and lobbyist who friends call CJ — are members of powerful political families with ties going back more than a decade. In a statement issued later in the evening headlined, 'Cowardly CJ Gimenez,' Diaz de la Portilla suggested he had been taken by surprise — not slapped face to face."
— "Disney theme parks generate $2.7 billion in first quarter, a near record," by Orlando Sentinel's Katie Rice — " For 5 years, Florida couple allegedly kept 14-year-old son locked in garage when he wasn't at school," by People's Steve Helling
| | | | 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 12,921 Covid-19 infections reported on Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 7,129 hospital beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. STILL HERE — "Omicron's 'fat tail': Why aren't COVID infections falling faster," by Tampa Bay Times' Ian Hodgson: "The omicron variant fed Florida's highest COVID-19 growth rate since the pandemic started nearly two years ago. In the last weeks of December, the state infection rate doubled every 4-5 days. When it peaked in mid-January, omicron was infecting an average of more than 65,000 Floridians a day. Health experts then predicted that the highly contagious variant would rapidly burn through the state's population and depart as quickly as it had arrived. But the omicron wave has stuck around longer than predicted, exhibiting what experts call a "fat tail" — meaning infections aren't going down as fast as they went up." — "Norwegian Cruise Line to remove mask requirement, shift pre-cruise testing cost to passengers," by Orlando Sentinel's Richard Tribou — "Judge denies Publix's bid to toss lawsuit over worker's COVID-19 death, " by Sun Sentinel's Marc Freeman | | Gaetz-gate | | WILL COOPERATE FULLY — "Florida man connected to Gaetz probe formally enters guilty plea," by POLITICO's David Kihara: A Florida collectibles dealer connected to the federal investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz formally entered a guilty plea in Orlando on Wednesday, marking another twist in the ongoing probe into the Republican congressman. Joe Ellicott, known as "Big Joe," pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit fraud and drug charges and has agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. Ellicott is a relatively minor figure in the Gaetz probe but was listed on a federal grand jury subpoena in December 2020 along with Gaetz and several other men.
| | A message from CVS Health: At CVS Health, we're more than 300,000 caring employees ensuring millions of Americans can access health care services.
We're offering COVID-19 vaccines at more than 9,600 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide.
Nothing should stand in the way of mental health and well-being, so we're increasing remote access to mental health services.
We're supporting safer pregnancies and expanding access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine.
Recognizing the strong connection between housing and health, we're investing in affordable housing to support underserved populations and build healthier communities.
Every day, CVS Health works to bring quality, affordable health care into neighborhoods, homes and hands—so it's never out of reach for anyone.
Healthier Happens Together. Learn more. | | | | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Comedian Bob Saget died of head trauma after fall at Orlando hotel, family says," by Orlando Sentinel's David Harris: "Comedian Bob Saget died of head trauma after a fall in his room at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Orlando last month, according to a statement released by his family. 'The authorities have determined that Bob passed away from head trauma,' the statement released to several media outlets said. 'They have concluded that he accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep. No drugs or alcohol were involved.'" BIRTHDAYS: Franco Ripple, vice president Direct Impact at BCW Global … Jamie Wilson, VP government relations at Moffitt Cancer Center
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment