News: POLITICO Florida Playbook: Florida Republicans split over Russia

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: Florida Republicans split over Russia

Feb 23, 2022

Presented by Floridians for Affordable Rx

Good Wednesday morning.

Reaction — The divide among Republicans nationally on the escalating conflict in Ukraine is also reflected — somewhat — among top GOP elected officials in Florida. Their responses have ranged from pushing President Joe Biden to take tougher action against Russia to those who say the United States should be careful about getting involved.

Senior senator — Sen. Marco Rubio, who was interviewed by both CBS and Fox on Tuesday, warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will likely seize more territory and that sanctions are unlikely to dissuade him. "I don't believe the sanctions are going to stop them from doing their plan, but if [Putin and his allies] don't pay a price for doing this, he's going to do more of it," he said. "If you listen to that speech yesterday, the argument he used for invading Ukraine, you could make that argument about any of the Baltic states who are now all members of NATO."

'Not enough' — Sen. Rick Scott called for even more action: "These sanctions are not enough. The United States needs to implement maximum sanctions, just as we have on Iran. Now is the time to implement all measures to destroy the Russian economy, which predominately serves Putin and his thugs, and eliminate their ability to reshape European borders. We don't have time for Biden's weakness."

Contrast — Meanwhile, Panhandle Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz was among a bipartisan list of 43 members of Congress who signed a letter on Tuesday asking Biden to seek congressional approval before sending U.S. troops to intervene in the conflict.

And in Tallahassee — Then there's Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis — seen as a 2024 presidential contender — has remained quiet about the rising hostilities. Certainly that's understandable given his role, although he has been vocal about China, Cuba and Venezuela during his time as governor.

Here's one observation — DeSantis' press secretary — Christina Pushaw — did share her opinion. Pushaw, who once worked in neighboring Georgia and spent time in Ukraine , stated on Twitter that the "sad fact is the USA is in no position to 'promote democracy' abroad while our own country is falling apart." Democrat Rep. Charlie Crist, who is challenging DeSantis, pounced on Pushaw's comment, blasting it as "unpatriotic" and called on DeSantis to condemn the statement.

But wait, what about… — Crist questioned whether this means the governor is opposed to promoting democracy in Cuba and Venezuela as well. DeSantis' office pushed back forcefully, pointing out that Crist himself traveled to Cuba back in 2019 as tensions were ratcheting up with the island nation over Venezuela.

Not my press secretary — Despite that, however, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez reacted cautiously to Pushaw's comments on Tuesday. Núñez, who had visited the Florida House, said she had not seen Pushaw's tweet but that the Miami Republican's past comments on Cuba and Venezuela "stand for themselves." She said she would "look" at Pushaw's assertion but when pressed again to comment about the governor's press secretary, Núñez added that "she's not mine."

— WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is expected to be in Tallahassee.

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This legislative session, let's take politics out of prescriptions in Florida. Floridians for Affordable Rx is committed to educating policymakers and the public on proven ways to lower prescription drug costs. We are standing up to special interests, like Big Pharma and the independent pharmacy lobby, that are pushing government mandates that will increase costs to grow their profits while making Florida patients and employers pay more. Learn more.

DATELINE D.C.

SPLITS — "Republicans descend into foreign policy factionalism over Russia-Ukraine standoff," by POLITICO's Andrew Desiderio, Tara Palmeri and Meredith McGraw: While Russia's reinvasion of Ukraine this week stress-tests the Biden administration, it's also forcing Republicans to confront their own divisions. The GOP is all over the map politically, as Russian President Vladimir Putin tries to redraw his own boundaries. Former President Donald Trump privately has signaled a split with more isolationist voices from the MAGA wing of the party who have excused Russia's aggression, who themselves are at odds with more establishment Republicans over how to confront Russian aggression, if at all.

SCOTT VS. DEMOCRATS — Sen. Rick Scott's "Rescue America" plan set off a chain reaction on Tuesday, drawing criticism from Democrats and the White House. Scott rolled out his 11-point plan to counter criticism that Republicans aren't spelling out what they would do if they retake control of Congress. The lengthy document includes such suggestions as requiring every child to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Snippets — But it was a small section on taxes that also drew heat. In his plan, Scott said all Americans should pay "some income tax to have skin in the game" and he pointed out that a majority do not. White House press secretary Jen Psaki dinged Scott's plan on Twitter: "He wants to raise taxes on half of Americans — including on seniors and working families. Seriously, that's their plan."

Response — Scott's political Twitter account pushed back: "@JoeBiden has single-handedly caused more problems for Americans than any other president in our history. Inflation at record levels, store shelves are empty etc. Biden needs to get out of his elite, DC bubble & see how his failures are affecting Americans- you are clueless."

And there's this — D.C. Playbook reports that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is launching a five-figure radio and podcast ad buy knocking Scott's GOP agenda — specifically his call for new income taxes on millions of Americans. The ad's last sentence? "If Senate Republicans win, we pay the price."

— " FL's Moody joins GOP A.G.'s in seeking ouster of U.S. Homeland Security chief,' by Florida Phoenix's Michael Moline

JOIN THURSDAY TO HEAR FROM MAYORS ACROSS AMERICA: The Fifty: America's Mayors will convene mayors from across the country to discuss their policy agendas, including the enforcement of Covid measures such as vaccine and mask mandates. We'll also discuss how mayors are dealing with the fallout of the pandemic on their local economies and workforce, affordable housing and homelessness, and criminal justice reforms. REGISTER HERE.

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

THE ASK — "Election conspiracy group amps up Florida lobbying effort," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon and Gary Fineout: A far-right elections conspiracy group that wrongly claims there were 1 million "fraudulent votes in Florida's 2020 election" is lobbying GOP lawmakers to amend a sweeping state elections overhaul. It's an effort that has gotten members of the group, Defend Florida, meetings with Gov. Ron DeSantis, but so far no promises from Republican leadership.

What they want — A representative from Defend Florida, George Finn, met Tuesday with state Sen. Travis Hutson, a Palm Coast Republican sponsoring the Florida Senate's elections bill. Finn presented him with three pages of proposed changes the group would like to see to the bill, all of which Hutson said he is rejecting until the group provides data to back up its unfounded election fraud claims. Among the changes the group wants is language in the bill declaring that "voting machines [are] inherently hackable, insecure and thus uncertifiable in Florida," provisions forcing local supervisors of elections to more aggressively clean state voter rolls and require that only paper procured in Florida be used for print ballots.

AND ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BILL — Hutson and Senate Republicans rolled out a revamped version of this year's election bill (SB 524) on Tuesday afternoon that dropped one of the most contentious provisions. Local election supervisors sharply criticized a part of the bill that required voters to place vote-by-mail ballots into a third envelope and write their driver's license number or last four digits of their social security number on the envelope in order for their vote to count. The change would not take effect until 2024 but one GOP supervisor already called it a "recipe for disaster."

It's study time — The bill now calls on the Department of State to submit a plan to the Legislature by early 2023 on how the state can impose additional identification requirements on those voting by mail. "The changes weren't designed to be in place until 2024, so we have plenty of time for the Department to report back on the feasibility, development, and implementation of a plan that would better protect vote-by-mail balloting to ensure election integrity, while protect voters from identity theft," Hutson said in a statement.

And there's this — The retooled bill — which will be considered by a Senate committee on Thursday — also calls for fining voter registration organizations if they change party affiliation on registration forms without permission. There is an investigation under way in South Florida after elderly residents complained about having their party registration switched to Republican. Sen. Annette Taddeo, who suggested going after such groups, praised the new language. "The severity of these reports coming in from all across Florida, of individuals having their party changed is not a partisan issue and I would like to thank the bill sponsor for adding in this language," Taddeo said in a statement.

HMM — "Powerful Senate Republican admits defeat in fight for rape, incest exemptions in abortion bill," by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian: Not even a future Senate president could convince the House and Senate to include exemptions for rape and incest victims in Florida's proposal to prohibit women from getting abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples), who is slated to become the next Senate leader, said during Monday's Senate Committee on Appropriations meeting that she wanted to add a provision to HB 5 offering the exemptions for victims of rape and incest. But Passidomo told the committee she could not convince state Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), who is sponsoring the bill in the Senate, or the House bill sponsors, who are state Reps. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) and Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-Fort Myers), to make the change.

SCHOOL DAZE — "Florida House Democrats, Republicans clash over 'CRT,' 'don't say gay' bills," by Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos and Tampa Bay Times Jeffrey S. Solochek: "With culture wars heating up in an election year, the Florida House on Tuesday split along bitter partisan lines as members considered two Republican-sponsored education bills that target discussions of race and sexual orientation in public schools. The proposals — backed by Republican legislative leadership and Gov. Ron DeSantis — have provoked heated debate in the state Capitol and around the country in recent months, with Democrats and critics worried they could have a chilling effect on what can be taught in the classroom and could harm LGBTQ students."

HAPPENING TODAY — "Florida surgeon general heads for full Senate confirmation Wednesday," by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian: The full Senate will consider the confirmation of Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo during a Wednesday session, according to a schedule released Tuesday morning. Gov. Ron DeSantis picked Ladapo to become the state's next chief health officer in September, and the Senate is now expected to confirm the governor's nomination Wednesday on the chamber floor.

— " An affordable housing developer run by a top Republican donor wrote a bill making it easier to raise rents, records show," by Seeking Rents' Jason Garcia

— "House ready for final vote on school safety bill updating MSD Public Safety Act," by Florida Politics' Anne Geggis

— "House tax package worth $325 million and growing ," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner

— "Charlie Crist joins state-level Democrats to blast GOP, Ron DeSantis on minority issues," by Florida Politics' Tristan Wood

— " State Attorney declines to press charges against Rep. Randy Fine over Jenkins feud," by Florida Today's Eric Rogers

A message from Floridians for Affordable Rx:

CAMPAIGN MODE

FRONTRUNNER— "Trump or no Trump, here's how Ron DeSantis can run for president and win, according to Republican campaign pros," by Insider's Kimberly Leonard: "Plenty of Republican insiders now consider Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis an inevitable presidential candidate, given the millions of dollars he has raised outside the Sunshine State, his frequent appearances on Fox News, and his high-profile, take-no-prisoners battles with the Biden administration. If former President Donald Trump doesn't run again, consider DeSantis an instant 'tier 1' level of White House candidates in 2024 alongside Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and former Vice President Mike Pence, said Jeff Roe, who managed Republican Glenn Youngkin's 2021 upset victory in Virginia's gubernatorial race."

DeSantis April 21, 2021

Gov. Ron DeSantis during a April 2021 press conference | Gary Fineout POLITICO

— "Election Day turnout drives GOP flip of Jacksonville City Council seat," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski

TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP

WHAT HAPPENS IN PALM BEACH — "Trump's Mar-a-Lago 'Magapalooza': Boost allies, settle scores," by NBC News' Marc Caputo: "Donald Trump's super PAC kicks off its first candidates' forum at his Mar-a-Lago club on Wednesday, a fundraising event designed to both celebrate the former president and elevate the congressional hopefuls he's promoting against Republicans he's deemed disloyal. The event, closed to the press and called the 'Take Back Congress Candidate Forum,' promises to be different from the traditional format of candidates giving speeches one after another from a lectern, according to sources familiar with the agenda. Instead, 10 sitting members of Congress and four Trump super PAC members will host panels or conduct one-on-one-interviews with the 13 congressional candidates scheduled to attend."

FROM D.C. PLAYBOOK — Speaking of this Show-Me State primary, on Monday night GOP candidate ERIC SCHMITT, the Missouri A.G., sent around invitations for a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on March 10. He's the first candidate in the race to host such an event at the former president's resort, we're told — prime real estate for anyone trying to swing a DONALD TRUMP endorsement. We heard last week that Trump likes him, and has spoken to him four times in two months at different events. The invitation

— "Senate hopeful headed to Mar-a-Lago slams Dems over Jan. 6 ," by The Associated Press' Sam Metz

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.

THE GUNSHINE STATE

NEXT STEPS — "Appeals over in Nouman Raja's police killing of Corey Jones; now the family can sue Palm Beach Gardens," by Palm Beach Post's Jane Musgrave: " A multi-million-dollar wrongful death lawsuit against Palm Beach Gardens is likely to resume as early as this week after former city police officer Nouman Raja failed to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his conviction for fatally shooting stranded motorist Corey Jones in 2015. In court papers filed Monday, attorneys for Jones' family and the city both asked a federal judge to lift a stay he imposed in 2016, putting the civil case on hold until criminal proceedings against Raja ended."

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

TO COURT — "Transgender bathroom rights return to spotlight in Florida case," by Wall Street Journal's Laura Kusisto: "A federal appeals court on Tuesday heard arguments in a closely watched case about transgender rights, considering whether a Florida school district discriminated against a transgender boy by prohibiting him from using the boys' bathrooms at his high school. The case, before the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is the latest to examine a hot-button issue that remains somewhat unsettled. Several lower courts have issued prominent rulings in favor of transgender students, but a number of the conservative judges on the 11th Circuit signaled during oral arguments that they are considering whether to rule the other way."

TURNED AWAY — "Supreme Court rejects Epstein sex abuse accuser's lawsuit," by The Associated Press' Jessica Gresko: "The Supreme Court is leaving in place a decision throwing out a lawsuit filed by a woman who accused billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein of sexually abusing her when she was a child. Courtney Wild's lawsuit claimed Florida federal prosecutors failed to consult victims more than a decade ago when reaching a secret plea deal with Epstein, who died in jail in New York in 2019. The high court said Tuesday it would not consider the case."

GUILTY — "Ex-Lake City State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister takes plea in corruption case, " by Florida Times-Union's Steve Patterson: "Former North Florida State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister pleaded guilty Tuesday to crimes involving conspiracy, extortion, fraud and tax-cheating while he was the elected prosecutor for a seven-county area. In his plea deal, Siegmeister admitted crimes both in his post at Florida's 3rd Judicial Circuit and in his private life, where he took money from accounts of a man a court had made him guardian over."

— " Avian influenza confirmed in several Florida wild bird species, state says," by FLKeysNews.com's David Goodhue

— "At least $49 million needed to fill gaps in Orange's 'broken' mental health system, review finds ," by Orlando Sentinel's Kate Santich

A message from Floridians for Affordable Rx:

The Florida independent pharmacy lobby claims that pharmacies are struggling, but, 1 in 3 pharmacies in Florida is an independent pharmacy and, while thousands of businesses shuttered due to the pandemic, 20 new independent pharmacies were added in 2020. Despite this growth, their lobbyists are pushing an agenda that will make it harder for small businesses to provide affordable prescription drug coverage.

Florida lawmakers need to reject the costly and harmful special interest agenda of the independent pharmacy lobby and support a more competitive marketplace that will reduce prescription drug costs. That means supporting patient advocates like pharmacy benefit managers, PBMs, that negotiate with drug companies and pharmacies to reduce prescription drug costs for patients. Tell your legislators it is time to put the health and safety of Florida families first. Learn more.

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— "Dolphins deny Stephen Ross asked Brian Flores to sign NDA after firing," by Miami Herald's Daniel Oyefusi: "The Dolphins are pushing back on claims from Brian Flores that he was asked by owner Stephen Ross to sign a non-disparagement agreement after his firing in January. In an excerpt from an interview with Bryant Gumbel set to air on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Flores says he did not sign a "separation agreement," which is preventing him from collecting "millions of dollars" on the final two years of his contract, according to his lawyer John Elefterakis. Flores made similar comments in an interview on the "I Am Athlete" podcast released Monday."

BIRTHDAYS: Tori Lynn Schneider … Integrity Florida's Ben Wilcox

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