| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. Assessment — "I think the man has a problem." Those were the words from President Joe Biden in response to the full throttle criticism directed at him by Florida Sen. Rick Scott, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Rick vs. Joe — Scott, the state's former two-term governor who first rode into office amid the tea party wave, unleashed a torrent against Biden on Tuesday in anticipation of the president savaging Scott's "Rescue America" plan that also gotten a lukewarm reaction from his fellow Republicans. Going there — Biden's remarks were aimed at contrasting his plans to deal with inflation and economy with those of Scott, which he said would raise taxes for millions of Americans. Scott, whose political career began with nonstop criticism of former President Barack Obama and continued during most of his time in office, demanded that Biden resign. Diagnosis — Scott, whose campaign questioned the mental acuity of incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson during their 2018 campaign, contended that Biden was "unwell" and "unfit for office." Scott added that "he's incoherent, incapacitated and confused. He doesn't know where he is half the time. He's incapable of leading and he's incapable of carrying out his duties. Period." Just noting: His campaign called now-NASA administrator Nelson "incoherent" as well. After Biden offered his own retort about Scott, the senator called on Biden to debate him about inflation and the economy. Guess he watches him on television — Scott's assessment of Biden's medical condition isn't based on a lot of personal interaction. The senator did sit across from the president when Biden came to South Florida during the Surfside tragedy where 98 people died during last summer's condominium collapse. Scott is by training an attorney who became a health care executive of one of the nation's largest hospital chains until he was forced to resign amid a federal fraud investigation. (Scott was not charged with any wrongdoing.) Context — What's important to remember about Scott is that while he has said he is running for reelection in two years he has his own presidential ambitions. Scott would never challenge former President Donald Trump if Trump runs again — but he has the personal wealth to help bankroll a serious presidential run if it's an open field. Of course another Florida politician — Gov. Ron DeSantis — is seen as the top GOP contender not named Trump. To the airwaves — But Scott is reminding people that he can be aggressive as well when it comes to tangling with Democrats. And to that point, he's using his brewing feud with Biden as the focal point of a new television ad D.C. Playbook reported this morning. The six-figure buy features Scott in his trademark U.S. Navy hat showing footage of the Biden administration name-checking Scott. Scott in the ad defends his "Rescue America" plan and says "Washington hates it. That's how you know it's good." — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to be in Mayo. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | 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. | | | | | |  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | GOING ON OFFENSE — "'Stop being so doom and gloom': Democrats launch $15M effort to 'Blue Shift Florida ,'" by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: In what may prove to be Florida's last stand as a battleground state, Democrats are launching a $15 million voter organizing effort ahead of this year's elections. Democratic candidates up and down the ballot — even those running in contested primaries — have agreed to pour in money that will be used to hire at least 200 organizers and open as many as 80 offices as part of a coordinated effort to pump up turnout across the state. The path ahead — Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz contends "Blue Shift Florida" is the start of an ambitious, institutionalized year-round effort that he has been touting since he took the helm of the battered party soon after Democrats were routed across the state in the last election. The idea, he said, was to create an operation that will remain intact after the elections and will be in place for the next presidential election in 2024. "We've been killed since 2000," Diaz told POLITICO, citing the razor-tight presidential election were George W. Bush narrowly edged out former Vice President Al Gore. "It's been a real mess. My mission — my push — from day one is that's not going to happen again." ON THE ROAD AGAIN — "Trump's South Carolina donors vet DeSantis," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: South Carolina remains Trump country, but if the former president doesn't seek reelection in 2024, major Republican donors are eyeing another option: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis on Thursday will be in South Carolina for a fundraiser hosted by a collection of top-level Trump donors, each of whom supports Trump running for reelection, but sees DeSantis as the heir apparent if he does not. South Carolina holds special importance as the GOP's "First in The South" presidential primary state. Getting to know you — "Everyone who is going to be around that table is a big Trump donor, and it has been communicated to the governor they will support Trump if he runs for re-election. He knows the checks are for his reelection," said a source close to DeSantis familiar with the event. "But people here want to get to know him, in case Trump does not run." BY THE NUMBERS — DeSantis had another dominating fundraising month in April. Campaign finance records show the Republican governor collected more than $10.45 million between his campaign account and his political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis. It was one of his most successful months, but his political committee raised nearly $1 million in April 2021. The biggest single donation this past month was $750,000 from the Republican Governor's Association … Rep. Charlie Crist once again was out front among Democratic candidates for governor. Crist raised more than $1.01 million from his political committee and election campaign, which was nearly double the amount raised by his two main rivals. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried raised more than $434,000 while state Sen. Annette Taddeo collected more than $108,000. JUMPING IN — " Former State Senator Tony Hill makes run for Congress in newly drawn Northeast Florida seat," by Florida Times-Union's David Bauerlein : "Former state senator Tony Hill will run for the newly drawn Northeast Florida congressional district, bringing a campaign-tested Democrat into the race for a seat covering half of Duval County plus Nassau and Clay counties. The newly drawn district replaces a Jacksonville to Tallahassee district where Black voters had a decisive voice in electing a congressman, most recently sending Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, who has employed Hill as a top legislative assistant. The district now favors a Republican, but Hill said he sees a path to victory that 'connects the dots' among voters in all three counties with a message that supports working families." CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP — Amanda Makki, one of the Republican candidates for Florida's 13th Congressional District, was endorsed on Tuesday by Redington Shores Mayor Marybeth Henderson. This marks the 12th Pinellas County mayor to endorse her campaign … The Broward County Police Benevolent Association endorsed the reelection campaign of state Sen. Lauren Book, who is being challenged in the Democratic primary by former Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief. — "Dennis Ross' zombie campaign spent heavily on travel, dining between his runs for Congress," by Florida Politics' Jacob Ogles — "Cherfilus-McCormick launches congressional re-election campaign — with support from former opponent," by Sun-Sentinel's Anthony Man — " Buddy Dyer to pursue another term as Orlando's mayor. Could it be his last?" by Orlando Sentinel's Ryan Gillespie
| | DATELINE D.C. | | POINT, COUNTERPOINT — "Biden blasts 'ultra-MAGA' Republicans inflation plans," by POLITICO's Kelly Hooper: President Joe Biden in a speech on Tuesday launched a pointed attack against what he called "ultra-MAGA" Republican plans to address the economy and spiking inflation. "I happen to think it's a good thing when American families have a little more money in their pockets at the end of the month," Biden said at the White House. "The Republicans in Congress don't seem to think so. Their plan is going to make working families poorer." The president specifically took aim at Sen. Rick Scott's (R-Fla) "Rescue America" proposal, which Biden labeled the "ultra-MAGA agenda." Biden said the plan would "raise taxes on 75 million American families" and do nothing "to hold big corporations and companies accountable." — "Rick Scott demands 'confused' Biden resign, but gets little backup from Senate GOP colleagues," by Fox News' Tyler Olson
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| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | TOP DESANTIS STAFFER DEPARTING — Beau Beaubien, a deputy chief of staff for Gov. Ron DeSantis and who was once director of Cabinet Affairs, is leaving to join Greenberg Traurig's Tallahassee Office. Beaubein is one of DeSantis' longest serving staffers and one of the few remaining in the administration who worked on the 2018 campaign. 'I AM SINCERELY SORRY' — "'Recklessness': Rep. Ramon Alexander apologizes amid sexting, harassment allegations," by Tallahassee Democrat's Jeff Burlew: "State Rep. Ramon Alexander of Tallahassee, in line to become the top Democratic leader of the Florida House, is facing accusations of sexually harassing a former athletic official at Florida A&M University, including groping him and sending explicit photos and video of himself. Michael Johnson Jr., who lost his job as an associate athletics director in January amid an ugly staff shakeup, filed complaints in February with the Florida Commission on Human Relations alleging harassment and retaliation by high-ranking FAMU employees. Included in the complaints were allegations that Alexander harassed and intimidated him over personnel issues involving a family member of the representative." TOSSED — "Federal judge dismisses 1st lawsuit against DeSantis over Disney World's Reedy Creek district," by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello: "A federal judge on Tuesday quickly dismissed a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis over the dissolution of Disney World's Reedy Creek Improvement District. The suit, filed last week by William Sanchez, a Miami lawyer and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, was on behalf of three residents of Orange and Osceola counties. The complaint claimed Florida was violating a state law called the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, as well as a contractual obligation with Reedy Creek's bondholders and Disney's First Amendment rights. In her order, U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote that the suit was dismissed for several reasons, including the federal court's lack of standing over state issues and because the law does not go into effect until July 2023." GENTLE GIANTS — "Groups sue feds to protect manatees, water quality," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Environmental groups on Tuesday asked a federal court to order the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish new water quality standards in Florida in response to hundreds of manatee deaths. The Save the Manatee Club, Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife announced their federal lawsuit against the federal agency a few minutes after EPA officials told reporters they are working with the state to accelerate cleanup of Indian River Lagoon, where many of Florida's manatees live.
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Manatees swim in the Homosassa River on October 05, 2021 in Homosassa, Florida. Conservationists, including those from the Homosassa River Restoration Project, plant seagrass in the area to help restore the natural habitat for manatees and provide a feeding ground for the mammals, following a record year in manatee deaths in Florida. The deaths were primarily from starvation due to the loss of seagrass beds. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images |
DETAILS — "Florida's permit plan would speed up wetlands destruction, critics say," by Orlando Sentinel's Jeffrey Schweers: "Florida lawmakers have created a fast-track for wetland destruction that will speed up an already streamlined process that has drawn warnings from federal regulators and a lawsuit from environmentalists. The new pay-to-play arrangement is tucked into SB 2508, Senate President Wilton Simpson's signature water quality bill approved by the Legislature earlier this year. If signed into law, environmentalists say, it would further hasten the demise of Florida's wetlands, which have been disappearing at an alarming rate over the past several decades despite a wetlands restoration program and a federal edict that development should result in 'no net loss.'"
THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO KNOW — "Florida campus surveys under scrutiny in lawsuit. 'A political tool,'" by Tampa Bay Times' Divya Kumar: "But the questions asked of roughly 1 million students, faculty and other employees were on the way to being even more controversial, court documents show. According to an early draft of the survey, state officials proposed a series of pointed, personal and politically charged questions. They initially wanted respondents to say how strongly they agreed with statements like 'I believe that through hard work, everyone can succeed in American society,' 'I believe that racial discrimination is no longer a problem in America' and 'I believe undocumented immigrants should be denied access to public education.'" — "Will DeSantis, GOP Legislature enact full abortion ban in Florida if Roe v. Wade falls?" by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello — " Even with mask 'harassment' rule, Florida saw a drop in students using Hope Scholarships," by Ana Goñi-Lessan
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | PIECRUST PROMISE? — "Almost a year after DeSantis touted plan to cut Garcon Bridge toll, it's still $5. Why?" by Pensacola News Journal's Alex Miller: "Nearly 10 months have passed since Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he was moving to permanently lower the tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge and attempt to purchase the bridge from the bondholders who own it and transfer ownership to the state of Florida. During the July 2021 announcement, then-Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation Kevin Thibault said the lower toll schedule would be implemented in the coming weeks. But as of now, the rate still sits at $4.50 for SunPass holders and $5 for cash drivers." FIGHTER — "Broward's Ron Book, one of Florida's most influential lobbyists and father of state senator, has throat cancer," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "Ron Book, of Plantation, one of Florida's most influential lobbyists, has throat cancer and will start chemotherapy and radiation treatment next week. His daughter, state Sen. Lauren Book, wrote Tuesday on Twitter that she was optimistic about her father's cancer fight. 'Our journey through cancer survivorship starts today. Dad ('Bapa' as my kids say), you are the strongest person I know. Cancer may have started this fight, but WE are going to finish it. You've got this — and we've got you,' she wrote." NEVER MIND — " Seminole County School Board reverses decision to censor 'don't say gay' protest yearbook photos," by Orlando Sentinel's Skyler Swisher: "The Seminole County School Board scrapped a plan Tuesday to put stickers over yearbook photos of students protesting against Florida's so-called "don't say gay" bill, responding to a public backlash against the move. The school board voted 5-0 not to obscure the photos and captions of a walkout protest featured in Lyman High School's yearbook. Instead, an alternative sticker will be placed on the page that explains the protest was student led and not sponsored by the school." — " Embattled 911 workers could get immediate raises as Broward commissioners grapple for fixes," by Sun-Sentinel's Lisa J. Huriash and Brittany Wallman — " Debate over Confederate monuments in Jacksonville resurfaces with proposed 'community conversation,'" by Florida Times-Union's David Bauerlein — "Investigation into Tallahassee Chabad fire underway, likely to be lengthy ," by Tallahassee Democrat's Karl Etters — "Broward will put school tax question on August ballot," by Sun Sentinel's Scott Travis
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Babylon Bee CEO of Juno Beach backs Twitter firebrand who calls LGBTQ people pedophiles," by Palm Beach Post's Chris Persaud: "A Juno Beach millionaire is sponsoring a social-media agitator who lobs pedophilia insinuations against LGBTQ people and their supporters. Seth Michael Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee 'satire' website, said he has a 'deal' with Chaya Raichik, owner of a Twitter account who claims gay and transgender people 'groom' children to accept sexual abuse from adults. Raichik, a real estate saleswoman working in Brooklyn, runs the Twitter account 'Libs of TikTok.' She shares videos that LGBTQ people or their supporters upload to the social media platform TikTok. Some of Raichik's 1.1 million followers then harass the targets and send them death threats." BIRTHDAYS: Austin Cantrell, founder and CEO Cantrell Communications and former White House assistant press secretary … Ryan Dailey of News Service of Florida | | | | 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 | | | | |
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