News : POLITICO Florida Playbook: DeSantis shows his dominance over GOP legislators

Friday, June 3, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: DeSantis shows his dominance over GOP legislators

Jun 03, 2022

Hello and welcome to Friday.

Picture Book — If you wanted a scene that captured the complete control that Gov. Ron DeSantis holds over other Republicans, it was on display Thursday afternoon during his hour-long budget signing ceremony held in the GOP stronghold of The Villages.

You Really Got Me — Under past governors it would have been unthinkable to have top legislative leaders standing nearby as the chief executive talked about a record-setting $3 billion in budget vetoes that wiped out hundreds of millions of dollars in projects, including those personally championed by the Senate president. Wilton Simpson's initiatives for a new cancer center research park and long-acting birth control for low-income women were among DeSantis' casualties yesterday.

Get Back In Line — Simpson earlier in the year had talked emphatically of the need for the budget items, including mentioning the birth control funding as a way to help end generational poverty. Yet moments after the governor wiped out his projects, Simpson told the crowd that DeSantis was "America's governor."

All Of The Day And All Of The Night — DeSantis was relatively nonchalant about his vetoes, saying leaders may not have been clapping about his vetoes but "that's just the way it goes." But it wasn't just the vetoes that were noteworthy. DeSantis on Thursday essentially ordered the Department of Education to ignore financial sanctions legislators wanted to place on school districts that defied DeSantis on mask mandates. Is this legal? Well, who's going to sue? The Legislature? (Side note: DeSantis' move keeps intact a program first championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush… who just a week ago heralded DeSantis in Time.)

Do It Again — As he heads into reelection, however, all of this was a reminder — that's been pointed out again and again — that DeSantis is likely the most powerful governor in Florida's modern history. As DeSantis has become a national GOP rock star, legislators have deflected and bent to his wishes on everything from controlling the purse to drawing new congressional maps.

— WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis.

Happening overnight — Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a Democratic candidate for Florida's 10th Congressional District, interrupted DeSantis during his Thursday evening appearance in Orlando with conservative commentator Dave Rubin.

Frost walked up near the stage and yelled at DeSantis that he needed to take action on gun violence and that "kids are dying." DeSantis can be seen waving at Frost and telling him, "Nobody wants to hear from you." Frost, an activist and organizer in his first run for public office, was then escorted out of the event by security. The entire incident was reminiscent of Beto O'Rourke's confrontation with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last week. Watch the exchange here.

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QUICK FIX

A CLOSER LOOK — "Florida is one of the most anti-abortion states. And also one of the most pro-abortion ," by Kathy Gilsinan and Arek Sarkissian for POLITICO Magazine: By Rosita's estimation, A Hialeah Woman's Care Center could be the busiest abortion clinic in Miami-Dade County, which as Florida's most populous county has by far the highest number of abortions in the state, which in turn has the nation's third-highest abortion rate among states, according to the CDC's most recent figures from 2019, behind only New York and Illinois. With close to 19 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44 that year, Florida's rate is nearly twice the national average of around 11. Which is odd, because its government is altogether dominated by Republicans.

Fallout? — Perhaps nowhere else in the country is the disconnect between a state's abortion politics and its citizens' personal behavior so profound. This makes Florida an especially vivid laboratory to study the limits of the GOP's push to restrict abortion. At what point does the Republican-dominated legislature in Tallahassee, unaccustomed recently to negative consequences at the polls, discover it has awakened a constituency that had come to rely on abortion as an important option in navigating their lives? "I think there's only so much testing of the 'Florida is a red state' hypothesis that Republicans in Florida want to do," said Mary Ziegler, a Florida State University College of Law professor specializing in the legal history of reproduction, the family, sexuality and the Constitution. "I think they're seeing abortion right now…is a bridge too far."

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

RED PEN TIME — "'Just the way it goes': DeSantis axes $3B from Legislature's budget in front of Republican leaders ," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: DeSantis vetoed $645 million secured by the Senate during final budget negotiations for the Department of Corrections to build a new prison; $350 million for Lake Okeechobee aquifer storage wells that were a [Senate President Wilton] Simpson priority; $50 million for a new 6th District Court of Appeals in Lakeland, the home of Senate budget chief Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland); $50 million to widen a county road in Simpson's district; $20 million for two new state planes that the Senate requested; and $20 million that was a Simpson priority for Moffitt Cancer Center to secure front-end financing so it can begin development of a planned 775-acre life sciences park.

Spreading it out — DeSantis also vetoed a request by Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who is running for governor, for 83 positions to process and review concealed carry permits, which is a function overseen by her office. Fried blasted the decision, which comes on the heels of a wave of mass shootings across the country, as reckless and another signal the governor wants open carry, or allowing people to carry firearms without a permit.

Gov. Ron DeSantis | AP Photo

AP Photo

FALLOUT — "DeSantis vetoes $350 million for Lake Okeechobee wells — A Simpson budget priority," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday vetoed $350 million in the fiscal 2022-23 state budget for aquifer storage wells north of Lake Okeechobee, a priority of state Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby). DeSantis vetoed $3.1 billion in spending in the budget but offered little explanation for why he selected specific line items, including the Lake Okeechobee spending. The governor also vetoed millions in spending for House and Senate water projects and local parks.

SIMPSON HIT AGAIN — "DeSantis cuts $20M from new Moffitt cancer center plans in Pasco," by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed at least $28 million from next year's health care budget, including the first of $600 million in payments made toward a new Moffitt Cancer Center campus in state Senate President Wilton Simpson's (R-Trilby) district. The cuts were among the more than $3 billion in vetoes announced on Thursday by DeSantis before he signed the $112.1 billion state budget that was approved by the Legislature for next year, including at least $28 million from next year's $48.9 billion health care budget.

— " DeSantis vetoes $30M in South Florida projects from largest state budget in history," by Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos

— "Tampa Bay vetoes 'disappointing,' say area leaders ," by Tampa Bay Times' C.T. Bowen, Tracey McManus, Colleen Wright and Romy Ellenbogen

— "Veto list: Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoes long-acting birth control funding again," by Florida Politics' Christine Jordan Sexton

NEVER MIND — "DeSantis nixes budget punishment for mask mandate schools," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday called off a plan crafted by Republican state lawmakers aiming to punish local school districts that broke from his administration by requiring students to wear masks in schools during the fall. In a letter accompanying his wide slate of vetoes, the Republican governor directed his Education Department not to penalize schools for decisions made by district leaders, a decision that opens up a $200 million pot of "school recognition" dollars to all school districts in the state.

Surprise — The decision by DeSantis to nix the idea of cutting out the counties with masking rules appeared to come as a surprise to lawmakers. Rep. Randy Fine, for one, said that he was reviewing the governor's message. "I am somewhat befuddled by the letter," Fine wrote in a text message. "The language in the bill was explicit and clear." DeSantis backed the House's original idea to punish the school districts that passed masking rules but on Thursday expressed concerns that schools, not district leaders, would feel the brunt of the pain under the plan passed by the Legislature.

DETAILS — "Records identify UCLA boss who called Ladapo unfit for Florida surgeon general," by Orlando Sentinel's Jeffrey Schweers: "The same UCLA supervisor who gave her "enthusiastic support" to Dr. Joseph Ladapo when he applied for a professorship at the University of Florida College of Medicine last year also refused to recommend him for surgeon general three months later, public records show. Documents released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement four months after a public records request disclosed that Dr. Carol Mangione was the previously unnamed supervisor interviewed by state agents as part of Ladapo's background check for his Senate confirmation hearings."

Hmm — "Public records show Ladapo lives in a rental property in Clearwater Beach and is registered to vote in Pinellas County. Questions about how he divides his time between Tallahassee and Gainesville, and how he manages to commute between those places and his home in Clearwater Beach were posed to both the Department of Health and UF Health, neither of which provided answers by the agreed upon Thursday deadline."

NEW BATTLE — " DeSantis moves to ban transition care for transgender youths, Medicaid recipients," by NBC News' Marc Caputo: "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration Thursday asked the state board regulating doctors to essentially ban transition-related care for transgender minors, according to a letter obtained by NBC News. The state Health Department made the request hours after another state agency issued a 46-page report to justify banning Medicaid coverage for transgender people of any age who want puberty blockers, hormone therapies or gender-assignment surgery. The two-pronged effort, which ensures DeSantis can act quickly and without the need for legislative approval, drew instant opposition from activists and medical professionals."

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MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER

ADVANTAGE GOP — "Florida Supreme Court locks in DeSantis-backed redistricting map," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' push to redraw the state's congressional map and give a substantial advantage to Republicans will likely remain in place for this year's elections. The state Supreme Court — in a 4-1 divided ruling in which two justices recused themselves — declined to wade into an ongoing legal dispute over the map. Voting and civil rights groups opposed to the GOP-approved redistricting map asked the state high court to block it in late May. They argue the redistricting maps violate Florida's Fair Districts provisions, or anti-gerrymandering amendments in the state constitution.

CAMPAIGN MODE

CRIST THROWS OUT POSSIBLE LG NAMES — Rep. Charlie Crist, the Democratic frontrunner for governor, made a campaign swing through Tallahassee and Quincy on Thursday where he showed off many of his trademark campaign traits, including being a few minutes late to his first stop at a restaurant just south of the state Capitol and using a fan when he was seated at a table during a meeting with community and religious leaders.

During the gathering, Lee Johnson, a Tallahassee pastor, pressed Crist on who he would pick as a running mate once he won the Democratic primary, suggesting it may have made a difference in Andrew Gillum's narrow loss to Ron DeSantis in 2018. At first, Crist quipped that he would pick Johnson, but then he rattled off several possible choices including former state Rep. Sean Shaw, Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, Rep. Darren Soto and even his rival state Sen. Annette Taddeo, who is challenging Crist for the nomination. Taddeo was Crist's lieutenant governor choice back in 2014. A little bit later Crist joked about picking Tom Brady, the superstar quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Other scenes from the campaign stop including Crist walking through a car detailing shop next to the restaurant where he asked from support from all the employees. On a drive to a television interview, Crist reached out from the passenger side of his car to give someone at the red light a campaign bumper sticker.

I KNOW NOTHING — "Senator says 'ghost' candidate probe doesn't have 'anything to do with' campaign," by Orlando Sentinel's Annie Martin: "The Republican who won a competitive Florida Senate race in 2020 said this week he didn't know about his former employee's alleged role in helping a "ghost" candidate who was central to a vote-siphoning scheme apparently intended to boost his candidacy. State Sen. Jason Brodeur spoke to the Orlando Sentinel about the scandal for the first time on Wednesday, saying he wasn't aware Ben Paris was allegedly involved in the behind-the-scenes effort to undermine Democrat Patricia Sigman at the same time he was working under Brodeur's supervision at the Seminole County Chamber."

— "Pasco school superintendent Kurt Browning won't seek fourth term in 2024," by Tampa Bay Times' Jeffrey S. Solochek

DATELINE D.C.

SHOW AND TELL — "GOP lawmaker flaunts his firearm collection at House hearing on gun reform," by The Daily Beast's Danika Fears: "Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) had a few bizarre props on hand during Thursday's House Judiciary Committee hearing on gun control bills: his own collection of guns. The Republican first blasted Democrats for removing "law-abiding citizens' ability to purchase the firearm of their choice," and then launched into his own show-and-tell, displaying several handguns that he claimed would essentially be 'banned' under the 'Protecting Our Kids Act,' which targets high-capacity magazines."

— " Gaetz says he supports voters arming themselves at polls," by The Hill's Mychael Schnell

— "' This is not the time to play party games': Ken Russell slams Maria Elvira Salazar on baby formula vote," by Florida Politics' Jesse Scheckner

...HURRICANE HOLE...

MOVING CLOSER — "Storm watches posted for Florida as system moves into Gulf," by The Associated Press' Curt Anderson: "Tropical storm watches were posted Thursday for Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas as the system that battered Mexico moves to the east. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm once known as Agatha in the Pacific Ocean will be known as Alex in the Atlantic Ocean basin. In Florida, the tropical storm watch extended from Longboat Key on the Gulf Coast across the southern Florida peninsula, including Lake Okeechobee, which is always a danger for flooding."

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

GOODBYE — "Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams announces his retirement after move to Nassau County," by Florida Times-Union's David Bauerlein, Nate Monroe and Dan Scanlan: "Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams was once a SWAT team commander operating in a high-pressure environment where judgment calls could have life and death consequences. His time as sheriff came to an early end when a judgment he made about his own compliance with the City Charter turned out to be terribly wrong. Williams said Thursday he will retire rather than pursue a court fight with the city over whether he vacated his position by moving to Nassau County a year ago."

REEVALUATION — "' A totally different culture': Broward schools are finally getting security right, state safety leader says," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel Scott Travis: "For years, the Broward School District faced stinging criticism that it failed to quickly address school safety needs, despite being ground zero for a school massacre. But with new leadership, that reputation appears to be changing. That could be good news for parents who, in the wake of a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, question whether Broward schools are any safer than they were four years ago when 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland."

'IT IS A STATEMENT' — "Gay Days returns to Disney World amid 'don't say gay' controversy," by Orlando Sentinel's Katie Rice: "After a three-year coronavirus-induced hiatus, Gay Days returns to Orlando today as Pride Month begins nationwide and debate continues over the Florida's so-called 'don't say gay' law. The annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which traditionally includes a visit to Walt Disney World, takes on a new meaning this year after Disney attracted widespread criticism for its response to legislation that banned discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools."

— " A Broward teen who went missing in the '70s has been identified, and she may have been a serial killer's victim, deputies say," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Angie DiMichele and Eileen Kelley

— " Pensacola abortion clinic says order to close was 'overreach,' plans to appeal," by Pensacola News Journal's Jim Little

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— "Will the Rays choose St. Petersburg or Tampa? The answer could come this month," by Tampa Bay Times' Charlie Frago and Colleen Wright: "Depending on which hot take you want to place your bet on, the Tampa Bay Rays either have strongly reconsidered their previous aversion to building a new ballpark in St. Petersburg or recent talks with Mayor Ken Welch are just a distraction from the real conversation with Hillsborough County leaders about an Ybor City stadium. And leaders on both sides of the bay expect something to happen by the end of the month."

BIRTHDAYS: Florida Power & Light's George Bennett … (Saturday) Jason Attermann, communications manager for Gopuff … Miami-Dade County Judge Ed Newman …. Julie Fess, government affairs consultant with Gunster....Holly Benson, former state legislator and Agency for Health Care Administration secretary. … (Sunday) Former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink … former State Rep. Seth McKeel … Heidi Otway, president and partner at SalterMitchell PR