News : POLITICO Florida Playbook: The scandal engulfing Florida's biggest utility

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: The scandal engulfing Florida's biggest utility

Aug 02, 2022

Hello and welcome to Tuesday.

I know a place — Well, so downtown Tallahassee has an invitation-only lounge with a big television and leather couches where lawmakers and lobbyists can hang out. Except it's not the members-only Governor's Club located just a few steps from the state Capitol.

Designed for comfort — Instead, the exclusive space is operated by Florida Power & Light, report POLITICO's Matt Dixon and Bruce Ritchie, on the third floor of a building just across from Tallahassee City Hall. The space has shutters so its outdoor patio area is impossible to see from the street. One person who attended the bar called it a "Friends of the FPL" program for those who generally are supportive of the state's largest utility. Hmm.

The rules — Of course, Florida has a gift ban that bars legislators from accepting anything of value — including drinks and food — from lobbyists or the companies that employ them. And there is also a provision in the constitution that three or more legislators are not supposed to meet in private to discuss pending legislative action.

Honor system? — Rep. Randy Fine tells POLITICO that there is a container in the lounge to slip in money and that "he always pays." OK. Fine also said it's a place to talk about politics in private as opposed to his office, which is where he discusses legislation.

Nothing to see here — The disclosure of the private lounge comes at a time when FPL activities have come under increasing scrutiny by news organizations. The company is facing an onslaught of negative press over a widening scandal centered on its attempt to influence elections and public opinion using a "news" web site to attack opponents and push its agenda. Chris McGrath, a spokesperson for Florida Power & Light told Matt and Bruce that "this space has been used for a number of years and all external functions conducted in the space are done in accordance with applicable laws."

Questions, questions — But FPL did not respond to follow-up questions, including how do you sell liquor to lawmakers without a license? How does the utility ensure that the gift ban is followed? Again, hmm.

— 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 ...

THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED — Florida Power operates an exclusive, invite-only lounge for lawmakers and lobbyists , by POLITICO's Matt Dixon and Bruce Ritchie: Consider it Tallahassee's version of the fabled smoke-filled backroom. Florida Power & Light, one of the state's most politically powerful companies, operates an event space located on the third floor of the company's $2 million, 13,000 square foot downtown Tallahassee offices. The building is nondescript and includes no signs that would indicate it's owned by one of the largest power companies in the country. The third floor of the building, where the bar is located, has a series of large shutters that make its outdoor patio area impossible to see from the street level.

SHOWDOWN AHEAD — Florida asks medical board to ban transition-related medical care for kids , by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian: Florida's health department has asked the state medical board to ban transition-related medical care for children and has accused the federal government and two medical organizations of creating confusion over the issue. The Florida Department of Health wrote in a petition filed with the state Board of Medicine last week that the agency could not find any evidence indicating that treatments such as surgery and hormone therapy were safe for children under the age of 18 years old. Florida's health department accused the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society of misleading the public into believing the treatments are safe.

Bidenology

'THE HARM IS REAL' — " Vice President Harris visits South Florida to tout $1 billion plan for climate-related disaster ," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's David Lyons: "Vice President Kamala Harris flew to South Florida on Monday to talk up a $1 billion Biden Administration program to help deal with the growing intensity of hurricanes, wildfires, extreme heat and other disasters that threaten communities nationwide. Her arrival came hours after the White House announced a national funding plan that would benefit all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C. and three territories including Puerto Rico."

DROP ON BY — " Kamala Harris made a surprise stop in Little Havana: A thrift store with a mission ," by Miami Herald's Alex Harris: "Gemma Garcia could hardly believe the news when she first heard it. The vice president of the United States was about to visit her Little Havana thrift shop in a few hours, a surprise stop on her quick visit to Miami. The visit held extra weight for Garcia, whose store, Dragonfly Thrift Boutique, has a special mission. They help recently incarcerated women in Miami get back on their feet after they're released by finding housing, support and even a job at the thrift store. Kamala Harris walked through the door and immediately bee-lined for the awed Garcia. Harris, a former prosecutor in California, said she was a fan of her work and believed the compassionate approach was the right one."

The Campaign Trail

'WE CAN RECRUIT' — RNC links up with 'Stop the Steal' advocates to train poll worker s, by POLITICO's Heidi Przybyla: The Republican National Committee has been relying on a stable of the party's most prolific spreaders of false stolen-election theories to pilot a sweeping "election integrity" operation to recruit and coach thousands of poll workers in eight battleground states, according to new recordings of organizing summits held this spring in Florida and Pennsylvania obtained by POLITICO.

Key role — On the tapes, RNC National Election Integrity Director Josh Findlay repeatedly characterizes the committee's role as supporting in-state coalitions — delivering staff, organization and "muscle" in key states to the person they identify as the quarterback of the effort to create a permanent workforce: Conservative elections attorney Cleta Mitchell, who was a central figure in former President Donald Trump's legal strategy to overturn the 2020 election.

POV — The recordings feature keynote speakers continuing to push Trump's false election claims. "They [Democrats] know they can't win unless they cheat," Jim DeMint, a former Republican senator who chairs the Conservative Partnership Institute, the activist group that houses Mitchell's initiative, said at the Florida gathering.

MAPMAKER MAPMAKER — " New Florida maps could change who wins Pinellas' typically moderate congressional seat ," by Tampa Bay Times Romy Ellenbogen: "Both U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, a Democrat, and his predecessor, U.S. Rep. David Jolly, a Republican, were considered moderates in their parties. But this year's reconfiguration of Florida's congressional districts split the liberal-leaning St. Petersburg into two districts, turning Pinellas County's 13th District more reliably red and the largely Hillsborough County-based 14th District more blue. Some wonder if this move will erode Pinellas' moderate streak. 'Pinellas voters now will lose, just as voters in every gerrymandered district currently lose,' Jolly said. 'It sets all of the wrong rewards right in front of our incoming member of Congress, to put party above community simply because that's their pathway to reelection.'"

CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP — The ad spending in the race for Florida governor is beginning to pick up in advance of the Aug. 23 primary. Rep. Charlie Crist in the past week added nearly $590,000 in buys on cable and broadcast to bring his total spending on ads to $1.92 million according to an analysis by AdImpact. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who previewed a new ad on Monday, has ads that are scheduled to start later in August and has purchased $1.4 million so far, according to the analysis.

… Maxwell Alejandro Frost — who has a new ad that shows him confronting Gov. Ron DeSantis — has purchased $54,000 of broadcast time in Orlando, bringing his total ad spending in Florida's 10th Congressional District to $212,000, according to AdImpact.

… Former Secretary of State Laurel Lee, who is running for Florida's 15th Congressional District, is out with her second television ad, called "Split Second" that emphasizes her support for law enforcement. In the ad, Lee says she's "a conservative prosecutor appointed by Gov. DeSantis to safeguard our elections." Lee was an assistant U.S. attorney prior to being appointed as a judge in 2013. DeSantis appointed her secretary of state in 2019.

… Rep. Val Demings will continue her 100 Days Tour in Miami-Dade and Broward County on Tuesday, including greeting voters at a Haitian restaurant and at local Caribbean businesses.

… Olivia Julianna, the Texas teenager and activist who was insulted by Rep. Matt Gaetz on Twitter, gave a shout out to Crist on Monday while at the same time throwing a bit of shade to Crist's Democratic primary rival Fried. "Anyways… happy to remind everyone that @CharlieCrist has a 100% rating on the planned parenthood congressional scorecard," Julianna wrote on Twitter. But she put the message above a tweet from Gaetz where he had noted that Fried was the first person to text him on Jan. 6, 2021 and ask if he was OK. Fried, who was once a medical marijuana lobbyist, became friends with Gaetz when he was in the Florida Legislature but now says she no longer has a friendship with him.

… Political commentator, author and former South Carolina legislator Bakari Sellers will campaign Tuesday with Fried as part of a "day of action" and get out the vote effort in Jacksonville.

… Rep. Charlie Crist will join the Wynmoor Democratic Club in Coconut Creek to discuss his "Florida for All" plan.

… Embrace Life 911, an organization that advocates for anti-abortion policies, endorsed Jerry Torres in the race for Florida's 14th Congressional District.

… VoteWater, a South Florida environmental organization, has endorsed Miami City Commissioner Ken Russell in the race for Florida's 27th Congressional District.

— " Democrat Nikki Fried airs first TV ad as primary contest nears finish line ," by USA Today Network-Florida's John Kennedy

— " Some voters say they got wrong ballots for primary elections. Updated forms are on their way ," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Wells Dusenbury

— " FL Democratic Party releases its own list of endorsements in school board races ," by Florida Phoenix's Michael Moline

— " Who will be Penascola's next mayor? Longtime politician or political newcomer ," by Pensacola News Journal's Jim Little

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THE GUNSHINE STATE

AFTERMATH — "' Our lives have been shattered and changed forever': Parkland families testify about the loss they suffered ," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Lisa J. Huriash and Rafael Olmeda: "The victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School began coming to life Monday in the words, memories and anguish of those they left behind. Jurors in the case have heard, in excruciating detail, about how they died. On Monday, they started hearing about how they lived, and about what the South Florida community lost when the confessed Parkland gunman took their lives on Feb. 14, 2018. The gunman did not look up from the defense table while the witnesses testified about the victims. The witnesses, as has been their habit for more than four years, did not utter his name."

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

MONEY GO ROUND — " Florida insurance firms, not homeowners, reap benefit of $2 billion taxpayer-financed fund ," by Orlando Sentinel's Jeffrey Schweers: "Nearly five dozen Florida companies have submitted plans to tap into a $2 billion taxpayer-financed plan designed to shore up the struggling property insurance industry that would only save homeowners about 1% to 3% on their annual premiums. That would barely make a dent in the double-digit increases in premiums millions of state homeowners have endured for years — if those companies actually extend those savings to their customers."

FOR YOUR RADAR — " Santa Rosa Commissioners will hold public hearing on abortion ban later this month ," by Pensacola News Journal's Alex Miller: "In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this year overturning the 1973 case Roe v. Wade — which federally protected the right to an abortion — the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners will be hosting a public hearing on a 'trigger ordinance' that would prohibit abortion procedures in the county. The hearing will take place Aug. 11 during the commission's regular meeting. There are currently no abortion clinics in Santa Rosa County. Commission discussion on the subject was started by District 3 Commissioner James Calkins in June, before the SCOTUS ruling. In regard to the upcoming hearing, commission chairman Bob Cole told the News Journal he is going to keep his opinions on the drafted ordinance to himself until the public discussion, but gave his opinion of abortion as a whole. 'I certainly don't believe in abortion as a contraceptive device or an after-the-fact, 'I-made-a-mistake device,' Cole said. 'But I certainly have some consideration that if a young lady was raped or in danger, I would think that should be more or less left up to her and her family and her doctor in situations like that.'"

DECISION — " Appeals court upholds Miami strip club restrictions ," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "In a legal battle rooted in the discovery of a 13-year-old human trafficking victim working as a dancer, a federal appeals court Monday largely upheld restrictions that Miami Beach placed on nude strip clubs. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments that a city ordinance unconstitutionally imposed increased worker-identification requirements on strip clubs and allowed the city to inspect logs of workers entering and leaving the establishments. The court, however, found that the city overstepped its legal authority when it required clubs to confirm that dancers are U.S. citizens, legal residents or otherwise eligible to work in the country."

HELPED WITH MAR-A-LAGO — " Once formidable Ciklin Lubitz law firm disbands after fortunes falter with pandemic ," by Palm Beach Post's Alexandra Clough: "Ciklin Lubitz, once one of Palm Beach County's most formidable law firms, recently disbanded and its lawyers scattered after the coronavirus pandemic stretched the firm's ability to pay millions of dollars in office rent. Last month, the firm filed a Palm Beach County Circuit Court petition to distribute its assets to creditors, including to its former landlord, Vanderbilt Office Properties. …In the 1980s, it helped craft major projects, including PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. In the 1990s, the firm won town of Palm Beach approval to turn former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence into a private social club."

— " Blue-collar on the brink: Working class families are getting priced out of their apartments into homelessness ," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Amber Randall

— " Judge halts Hernando School Board push for November sales tax referendum ," by Tampa Bay Times' Jeffrey S. Solochek

— " Far from court at condo pool, Judge Renatha Francis is said to threaten to take away a stranger's kids ," by Florida Bulldog's Noreen Francis

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— "' We deserve better.' A cake decorator's petition calls for 10% annual raises at Publix ," by Orlando Sentinel's Austin Fuller: "Leland Presley, a cake decorator at Publix, says he's getting an 85-cent an hour raise, but he wants the grocery store chain where he enjoys working to do more. "That's the most I've ever gotten in 12 years of Publix," said Presley, a 52-year-old who lives in Alabama near Birmingham. He said he would like to put away more money for retirement. "I'm not going to be a 90-year-old cake decorator one day," he said. So Presley started an online petition on Coworker.org in April asking Publix to give its workers 10% annual raises. It had gained about 7,700 supporters as of Monday."

BIRTHDAYS: Dean Cannon, president and chief executive officer of GrayRobinson and former Florida House Speaker ... former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman … Kevin Cate, owner of CATECOMM … Heidi Carr, professor at the University of Miami