News: POLITICO Florida Playbook: Vets health bill passes after Scott, others flip

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: Vets health bill passes after Scott, others flip

Aug 03, 2022

Hello and welcome to Wednesday.

Never mind — Just days after Sen. Rick Scott and other Republicans were slammed by veterans and advocates such as comedian Jon Stewart for turning on a bill to expand health care benefits to military veterans, the measure sailed through the Senate, 86-11, on Tuesday. It is now headed to President Joe Biden.

In his words — Scott, in a statement noting that he had flipped back to supporting the legislation, said that "we owe our veterans endless gratitude for their service and sacrifice to protect our freedoms, and while we can never repay them, especially those who have suffered life-long health impacts from their service, the PACT Act upholds our commitment to ensure these men and women have the care, support and service they have earned and are owed."

Flashback — Scott last week was roasted by Stewart for voting to block the bill as the comedian called the Navy veteran a hypocrite for tweeting about his support for the bill just a day before he voted against it. So did anything change in the version passed on Tuesday? Um, no. Republicans did offer amendments that were not approved…but it's the same bill from last week. Democrats had speculated that GOP senators blocked the bill because they were angry over a possible climate and tax deal put together between Sen. Joe Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer but Republicans denied that was their motivation.

A win for Rubio — Florida's other senator — Marco Rubio — has supported the measure and the passage of the legislation gives him another item to tout in his reelection campaign against Rep. Val Demings. The final bill includes key provisions from legislation offering health benefits to veterans exposed to burn pits that was first introduced last year by Rubio and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). "We are finally doing what we should have done two decades ago. Once President Biden signs this bill into law, our veterans will finally be able to access the care they desperately need and selflessly earned," Rubio said in a statement.

— 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 D.C.

FINALLY — " Senate passes bill to expand veterans benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits ," by The New York Times' Stephanie Lai : "The Senate on Tuesday approved a bill to create a new entitlement program to treat veterans who may have been exposed to toxic substances from burning trash pits on U.S. military bases, sending President Biden legislation that would expand medical care eligibility to an estimated 3.5 million people. The bill was approved on a lopsided bipartisan vote, 86 to 11, only days after Republicans pulled their support in a dispute over how to pay for the benefits, imperiling the legislation and drawing days of angry protests from veterans who gathered outside the Capitol to demand action."

CAMPAIGN MODE

PRIMARY COLORS — Matt Gaetz and the R word: Florida's Democratic primary takes bitter detour , by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) is taking a pause from his usual campaign stance as a "happy warrior." In a sign that the Democratic primary for governor has entered a bitter new phase, the Florida congressman has hit rival Nikki Fried with a blistering new mailer that calls her a "Republican lobbyist for big tobacco and insurance companies" and notes her previous friendship with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).

Timing is everything — The mailer is hitting the mailboxes of Democratic voters this week — about three weeks before the Aug. 23 primary to decide who will take on Gov. Ron DeSantis in an election where the incumbent is a heavy favorite to win. The decision to highlight Fried's connection to Gaetz comes as the Panhandle Republican and staunch defender of former President Donald Trump caused a national firestorm after saying at a conservative conference that no one wants to "impregnate" abortion rights protesters because they are unattractive.

Rep. Charlie Crist gestures during a campaign rally as he announces his run for Florida governor.

Rep. Charlie Crist gestures during a campaign rally as he announces his run for Florida governor, May 4, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Chris O'Meara/AP Photo

BREAKING IT DOWN — Small donors are bankrolling DeSantis toward 2024: 6 things to know , by POLITICO's Matt Dixon and Lara Priluck (VIDEO)

RESPONSE — Florida Democrats attempt to counter DeSantis with school board endorsements , by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: The Florida Democratic Party this week endorsed a slate of 18 school board candidates as a direct response to Gov. Ron DeSantis throwing his political weight into getting more conservatives elected to local posts during the midterms. The move, among the first major actions taken by Democrats on the local education front that Republicans have seized on, draws clear lines in what have historically been non-partisan races. Between the two sets of dueling endorsements, there are currently seven school board races pitting candidates backed by DeSantis against those supported by Democrats.

FOR YOUR RADAR — " Officials: Thousands of Lake County residents emailed false voter information ," by Spectrum News' Katie Streit: "In Lake County, Elections Supervisor Alan Hays said that after a decade-long career in politics, those issues are new challenges his office is facing. 'You can tell by the look of me — I've lived a long time,' Hays told Spectrum News. 'And I have never seen it this bad, I've never heard of it being this bad. I think it's disgraceful that political parties behave this way.' He said the Lake County Republican Party and Florida4America.org sent out an email to thousands of people questioning the integrity of the county's mail-in voting. In the emails, Hays said he found blatant lies about the election process. '"I will not stand by while individuals and organizations erode the confidence or the reputation of this office and the over 800 loyal workers who work tirelessly each election,' he said."

BY THE NUMBERS — So far, 542,610 vote-by-mail ballots have been cast for the Aug. 23 primary, according to the latest information on the state Division of Elections website. Of those, 215,250 have come from Republicans and 234,277 have come from registered Democrats. Overall, there are nearly 3.53 million mail ballots that have been requested but not yet returned. Of those, more than 1.57 million are held by Democrats and more than 1.1 million are with Republicans.

QUESTION — " Russia wants to mar U.S. elections. Why target St. Petersburg's Uhurus? " by Tampa Bay Times' Jay Cridlin: "It shook up local political circles when the FBI last week searched the St. Petersburg headquarters of the Uhuru Movement over alleged ties to a Russian campaign to interfere in U.S. elections. Why would Russia, a nation of 144 million, care who wins a mayor's race or a seat on City Council in a Florida city of 260,000? Why would Russia throw its weight behind the Uhurus, a relatively small socialist organization arguably as known for selling homemade pies as for campaigning against racism? But scale back, experts say, and the connection makes more sense. In some ways, it's ripped straight from the Russian disinformation playbook."

CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP — Her Bold Move, which endorsed Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried previously this year, announced on Tuesday that it would assist Fried's campaign by making a sizable "six-figure" donation to her political committee. "At a time when women's health, safety, and lives are at risk, we cannot afford to elect anything less than pro-choice champions. Fried is highly qualified, she is proven, she is ready — and her message is resonating," Her Bold Move founder Jordan Zaslow said in a statement.

… Corey Simon , the former head of Volunteer Florida and Republican who is challenging state Sen. Loranne Ausley (D-Tallahassee), launched his first television ad on Tuesday. The ad is primarily biographical and talks about Simon's life before he became a Florida State University and NFL football player.

… Kevin Hayslett , a Republican running for Florida's 13th Congressional District, won a straw poll conducted by the Pinellas County Republican Party at their candidate showcase. Hayslett got 44 percent of the vote, while Amanda Makki got 31 percent and Anna Paulina Luna received 17 percent. Luna — who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump — is considered the frontrunner.

… American Conservation Coalition Action on Tuesday endorsed Rep. Brian Mast for reelection to Florida's 18th Congressional District.

… Fried's political committee — Florida Consumers First — has purchased $234,000 worth of broadcast time in the Miami and Orlando markets, according to AdImpact. This is the first time that Fried's committee has made a media buy and the ad is supposed to start airing as soon as today. Fried's campaign has already purchased $1.47 million worth of ad time but those ads don't start until next week.

— " Central Florida 'ghost' candidate consultant pleads not guilty ," by Orlando Sentinel's Annie Martin

— " Far-right activist Laura Loomer seeks to unseat GOP Rep. Daniel Webster ," by Orlando Sentinel's Skyler Swisher

— " Analysis: How 3 Florida Democratic attorney general candidates aim to unseat Ashley Moody ," by Tallahassee Democrat's James Call

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

ANOTHER ONE — Faith-based groups sue to overturn Florida's 15-week abortion ban , by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: A collection of faith groups is suing Florida over its 15-week abortion ban, the third legal challenge to the state's controversial new abortion law. The lawsuit, filed Monday in Miami-Dade County Court, argues that the new law, passed by lawmakers during the 2022 legislative session and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, violates constitutional freedom of speech, the free exercise of religion and the constitutional separation of Church and State.

TRANSITIONS — Meredith Pardo is now assistant general counsel-director of judicial appointments for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. She most recently was senior law clerk to Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos G. Muñiz. … Chris Lee is now a budget chief in the Office of Policy and Budget's Federal Recovery Unit ffor the Executive Office of the Governor. He most recently was a budget specialist Budget Specialist for the Florida House of Representatives, where he worked on the State Administration & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee.

— "U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's brother gets high-ranking job at Florida DCF in latest government post ," by Florida Times-Union's David Bauerlein

— " DeSantis hits back at invite to come on The View by emailing show a list of times they bashed him ," by Mediaite's Zachary Leeman

— " Florida lottery sales beat expectations but start to slow ," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner

— " Florida's prisons hope pay boost will help fill hundreds of vacancies ," by WCTV's Jacob Murphey

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THE GUNSHINE STATE

'GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT' — Citing Uvalde, Florida officials want more armed guards in schools , by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Florida officials want more school districts to use the state's program for allowing campus staffers to carry firearms in wake of the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas earlier this year. Two of Florida's top voices in school safety — Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri — on Tuesday both urged school leaders to join the "Guardian" program to heighten local security measures. With about two-thirds of school districts deploying guardians since the program's inception, officials said "the proof is in the pudding" as to how effective the armed employees have been in safeguarding campuses.

The pitch — The guardians are allowed to carry firearms on a school campus but must pass psychological and drug screenings and complete 144 hours of training. "Show us where the guardians have done something wrong, where the guardian program hasn't worked," Gualtieri, who leads the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, said during Tuesday's meeting. "You have that doomsday worst-case-scenario that they would lead people to believe that these guardians are going to mess up – you're going to have teachers pulling guns on kids, you're going to have all these errors. You haven't seen any of that."

— " Florida school safety panel probes the inconsistent way safety threats are assessed ," by News Service of Florida's Ryan Dailey

AWFUL — " Grieving father erupts at Parkland school shooter's trial ," by The Associated Press' Terry Spencer : "A grieving father erupted in anger Tuesday as he told jurors about the daughter Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz murdered along with 16 others four years ago, his voice rising as he recounted her "infectious laugh that I can only get to watch now on TikTok videos." Dr. Ilan Alhadeff's emotional testimony about his 14-year-old daughter Alyssa marked a second day of tears as families, one after another, took the witness stand to give heartrending statements about their loved ones who died at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018."

Ilan Alhadeff speaks angrily while giving his victim impact statement during the penalty phase of the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Alhadeff's daughter, Alyssa, was killed in the 2018 shootings. Cruz previously plead guilty to all 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the 2018 shootings. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool) | AP

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

R.I.P. — " C.C. 'Doc' Dockery – Summit founder, political advisor, high-speed rail advocate, dies at 89 ," by Lakeland Now's Kimberly C. Moore: "He was born Charles Crofford Dockery in May 1933, but Lakelanders grew to know and love him as Doc Dockery, a self-made man, the founder of Summit Consulting, a political kingmaker, an advisor to governors and author of two books. On Monday evening, condolences poured into the Facebook page of his wife, former state Sen. Paula Bono Dockery, when she announced at about 5 p.m. that her 'darling husband Doc died peacefully this afternoon at Good Shepherd Hospice House. Keep our family in your prayers as we grieve this wonderful man.' Doc Dockery, 89, had been in failing health for several years. Paula Dockery said they came home from North Carolina last week and Doc Dockery was admitted to the hospital. Theirs was a love story of 34 years."

Battling with Bush — Dockery was deeply involved with Republican politics and stories have noted how he assisted the rise of GOP candidates especially those in Polk County. But he also used his own fortune to try to bring high-speed rail to the state. Dockery bankrolled a constitutional amendment calling for a bullet train only to see then-Gov. Jeb Bush lead a successful effort to repeal it the measure four years later. That clash led Dockery to say in 2003 that Bush doesn't understand the frustration of sitting in traffic because he "hops aboard a state plane or corporate jet, hassle free, with flight attendants and fine Scotch whiskies."

Praise — The two men, however, made amends after their clash on high-speed rail. Bush on Twitter said Tuesday that "Dockery was a wonderful person and a great Floridian."

Flashback — " Dockery, Bush spar over train ," by Gary Fineout with the Ledger Tallahassee Bureau

'THE HEART OF THIS STATE' — " Inside Florida's citrus groves, where growers are working to solve devastating diseases and a climate-related shortage to save America's oranges ," by Insider's Ayelet Sheffey: "Every two weeks, workers at Dan Richey's Florida orange groves douse the trees in clay. The reason: The Florida orange crop yield has gone down — and prices have gone up — as the Asian citrus psyllid has invaded the peninsula, causing a disease without a cure that kills citrus plants once they're infected, known as citrus greening. But as Richey said, bugs can't see the red clay in this pilot program funded by Coca-Cola, which renders the trees invisible to the pests. 'We got a food crisis that's going to happen here,' said Richey, the president and CEO of Riverfront Packing Company in central Florida.

— " Pinellas schools review dozens of books, prompted by new Florida law ," by Tampa Bay Times' Jeffrey S. Solochek

— " Publix sees a bounty of sales in 2nd quarter, but profit and stock price slide ," by The Ledger's Paul Nutcher

— " Demotech downgrades three Florida insurers ," by Florida Politics' Gray Rohrer

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— " Charge dropped in slap case involving lobbyist, Miami commissioner at Gables steakhouse ," by Miami Herald's Charles Rabin: "The case of the slap heard around Miami ended on Tuesday when state prosecutors quietly dropped a lone charge of battery against a well-known Coral Gables lobbyist. Six months ago, Carlos J. Gimenez, son of U.S. Congressman Carlos Gimenez, sent tongues wagging after wandering up on Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla and slapping his head with an open palm as the commissioner was seated at an outdoor table at Morton's Steakhouse during the busy lunch hour."

Reaction — "The announcement didn't sit very well with Diaz de la Portilla, however, who said it was clear that State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle 'bowed to the demands of a high-ranking public official to protect daddy's little boy.' 'As the victim of an unprovoked criminal attack in broad daylight, I am disturbed the state attorney has run away from her responsibility to protect crime victims,' Diaz de la Portilla said."

BIRTHDAYS: Former Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García Padilla

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