| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. Jet airliner — In late February, a jet owned by the company associated with the Fontainebleau Hotel flew from Tallahassee to Newark ahead of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appearance on Staten Island. That same day a jet owned by a central Florida developer flew from Newark to Philadelphia to Chicago to Tallahassee when the governor also made stops that same day in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Disclosure? — Who paid for these flights? Good question. The governor’s office said no taxpayer money was spent on these flights in connection with DeSantis’ three-city stop that day. A spokesperson who has been affiliated with the governor’s political operation declined to comment. There was nothing listed in the governor’s political committee campaign finance report for February. No answers — The state Republican Party did spend money on travel expenses in the first quarter, including on commercial airlines and for what appear to be chartered flights in January and March, but there are no indications the governor's February trip was a gift to the party. The party executive director did not respond to a question back in February about DeSantis' trips to New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. More recently — Meanwhile, flight tracking records show that a private chartered jet last week flew from Austin, Texas, to Japan to South Korea to Israel to London and then, over the weekend, stopped in Boston before finally winding up in Tallahassee. Those stops coincide with the governor’s movements for the past week. No reply at all — It has been previously stated that this trip is being paid by private donations to Enterprise Florida, the public-private economic development agency that is about to be dismantled by the Legislature. But a spokesperson for Enterprise Florida has not responded to questions as to why a chartered jet — which is likely to be tremendously expensive — was used for DeSantis’ trip. The agency was also asked about how much this will ultimately cost. Contrast — This is the situation right now. Yet, state Rep. Jeff Holcomb — the House sponsor of a bill that would shield DeSantis’ travel records associated with taxpayer paid travel from scrutiny — suggested on the House floor on Monday that who pays for the governor’s whereabouts, including any travel for book promotional tours or campaigning, would still somehow be available. (The book tour stops, by the way, were being handled by a nonprofit organization, which doesn’t have to disclose most of its records.) Response — Supporters of the legislation, which would also cover travel records of other top state officials, say it is needed for security purposes. DeSantis, when asked about it on Monday, said that it wasn’t something that he recommended but also said that he gets a lot of threats. Wide-ranging — But the bill, which is poised to go to his desk, isn’t just for future expenses. It would also shield records for all past trips from public view. The argument in favor of shielding past travel is to avoid shedding light on patterns of movement, but the bill is so broadly written that the state could refuse to hand over basic information such as what city and what day a state jet is used. Timing — Of course all this comes just ahead of an expected presidential campaign by the governor. Reminder — In the not-so-distant past news organizations uncovered questionable uses of the state jet for a variety of top Florida politicians, including then-Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and then-Attorney General Bill McCollum. That led to candidate and then Gov. Rick Scott to sell off Florida’s state-owned jets. It was easy for Scott to do that since he owned a private jet. But soon after DeSantis was elected, state legislators reversed that. They are now poised to put a cloak of darkness over all of it. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is holding a press conference in Jacksonville with Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and House Speaker Paul Renner. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | DON’T MISS THE POLITICO ENERGY SUMMIT: A new world energy order is emerging and America’s place in it is at a critical juncture. Join POLITICO on Thursday, May 18 for our first-ever energy summit to explore how the U.S. is positioning itself in a complicated energy future. We’ll explore progress on infrastructure and climate funding dedicated to building a renewable energy economy, Biden’s environmental justice proposals, and so much more. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | DESANTISLAND | |
MOUSE TRAP — DeSantis-backed board will sue Disney in latest escalation, by POLITICO’s Anna Wilder: A board backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said it will counter-sue Disney over the state’s long-running dispute for authority of the entertainment giant’s central Florida theme park. The move further escalates the ongoing feud and comes less than a week after Disney sued DeSantis and the board in federal court, claiming that the governor retaliated against it for speaking out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, better known as “Don’t Say Gay.”
AFTERMATH — “The first arrests from DeSantis’s election police take extensive toll,” by Washington Post’s Lori Rozsa: One by one, many of the initial 20 arrests announced by the Office of Election Crimes and Security have stumbled in court. Six cases have been dismissed. Five other defendants accepted plea deals that resulted in no jail time. Only one case has gone to trial, resulting in a split verdict. The others are pending. In its first nine months, the new unit made just four other arrests, according to a report the agency released earlier this year. Critics say the low numbers point to the overall strength of Florida’s electoral system and a lack of sufficient evidence to pursue further charges. | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
CLOSED OUT — With billions to spend, Florida legislators reach budget deal, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Awash with billions in extra cash this year, Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature reached a final deal Monday on roughly $115 billion to $116 billion in spending that will likely bring about a rare moment of bipartisan accord during a hostile and acrimonious session. Legislators have boosted spending on teacher pay, set aside hundreds of millions on environmental spending and for once increased reimbursements to some Medicaid providers who have long complained about stingy state payments.
Pay the lawyers — Yet in a sign of the times, they also sharply escalated the amount of money set aside for ongoing and looming legal fights, including a highly-publicized battle with Disney. House and Senate budget negotiators, for example, this weekend set aside $6 million in legal expenses for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office and have also sprinkled additional money for litigation expenses in other state agencies. … “We stand with him 100 percent,” state Sen. Doug Broxson, the Senate budget committee chair, said of DeSantis. “If we have to defend that position we want him to have the resources to do it.” | 
Florida Sen. Doug Broxson listens during a Senate Committee on Reapportionment hearing. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo |
‘IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW’ — “LGBTQ+ lawmaker to GOP: ‘I’m literally trying to exist,’” by Associated Press’ Brendan Farrington: “‘I actually have a policy of no longer crying in Tallahassee,’ said Florida Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby. ‘I will cry when I go home.’ Rayner-Goolsby is a lawyer currently in a Master of Divinity program who was raised with a strong religious background. She’s also the first Black lesbian lawmaker in the statehouse to be out. ‘I’m literally trying to exist,’ she said. ‘The harsh things we’re saying are in defense of our life. The harsh things that they’re saying are to prop up a governor’s political ambition, and their desire and quest for power.’”
POWER PLAY — Senate concurs with bill language protecting utilities after FPL case ruling, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: The Senate on Monday voted to send to Gov. Ron DeSantis a bill protecting utilities from lawsuits seeking damages for lack of service after storms. … The language was added to the House version of the bill on April 17 after an appeals court decision in March upholding a class-action lawsuit against Florida Power & Light Co. for loss of power caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Response — John H. Ruiz, a lawyer with the MSP Recovery Law Firm in the FPL case, said Monday the utility is attempting through the legislation to avoid accountability. "This move is a direct assault on the rule of law and undermines the principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness that are the foundation of our democracy," Ruiz said in a statement to POLITICO prior to the vote. HMM — Florida universities see big bucks in state budget, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his Republican allies in the Legislature have complained about "woke" ideology run amok in the state's universities and insisted that legislators need to clamp down on spending on certain types of programs. But that hasn't stopped them from showering Florida's universities with hundreds of millions of dollars in the upcoming budget, leaving state schools with more money than ever. ROAD GLOW — ‘Radioactive roads bill passes Senate, heads to governor, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: The Florida Senate on Monday voted to send to the governor a bill that calls for a state study of the use of some mining waste in roads across the state. The Senate voted 34-4 without debate to pass the bill, HB 1191, which environmentalists say could put road workers and people living along roads at risk of contamination from mildly radioactive phosphogypsum. Sen. Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City) said there are stacks of phosphogypsum waste in Central Florida similar to the Piney Point former fertilizer plant site in Manatee County where a holding pond overflowed two years and threatened catastrophic flooding. "Our goal is to hopefully identify this as a suitable road base so we don't just continue to stack it and have these things that potentially could become Piney Point," Trumbull said. THE NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN BILL — “Legislature passes bill letting Miami-Dade sheriff take over county police in ’25,” by Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks: “Miami-Dade County’s local government would lose its police department to a newly elected sheriff under a bill that passed the Florida Legislature on Monday despite objections by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Backed by the Florida Sheriffs Association, the legislation would kill the Levine Cava plan backed by the county commission to retain most of the police department under the mayor’s authority after a sheriff takes office in 2025 as mandated by a recent amendment to the Florida Constitution.” — “Lawmakers approve enhanced venomous reptile possession penalties,” by Florida Politics’ Wes Wolfe — “Hundreds gather at Lake Eola to protest immigration bill,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Desiree Stennett — “DeSantis signs bill tackling fentanyl, cash bail and child rape,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Jay Cridlin and Romy Ellenbogen — “Florida Senate passes bill to impose eight-year term limits on school-board members,” by News Service of Florida’s Ryan Dailey — “Legislators want to end local fertilizer bans. Critics say it’s a gift to the phosphate industry,” by Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | |
TOSSED — “Trump PAC complaint against DeSantis rejected in Florida,” by The Associated Press’ Anthony Izaguirre: “A Florida ethics board has dismissed a complaint that allies of former President Donald Trump filed against Republican rival Gov. Ron DeSantis, finding no legal basis for allegations that the governor violated campaign finance laws with a “shadow” run for the White House. The Florida Commission on Ethics rejected the complaint in an order filed last week. The Trump-supporting super PAC MAGA Inc. filed the complaint against DeSantis in March and asked the commission to investigate the governor for allegedly leveraging his office to enrich his national profile.”
— E. Jean Carroll concludes testimony as judge denies Trump’s mistrial request, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGSITER HERE. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FIVE YEARS LATER — “FEC fines Polk Rep. Ross Spano $30,000 for federal election law violations in 2018,” by The Ledger’s Gary White: “The Federal Election Commission has found that former U.S. Rep. Ross Spano violated campaign-finance laws in 2018 and has fined him $30,000. The commission reached a conciliation agreement last month with Spano, a Republican who was elected in 2018 in U.S. House District 15, which then included all of Lakeland, along with parts of Hillsborough and Lake counties. Spano has 120 days from the date of the agreement to pay the full fine.” — “Florida senators keep their powder dry in Trump-DeSantis fight,” by The Hill’s Max Greenwood | 
U.S. senator (R-Fla.) | AP Photo |
— “JU, WJXT to host televised Jacksonville mayoral debate, only Deegan set to attend,” by Florida Times-Union’s Hanna Holthaus
— “Latest ad from super PAC frames Ron DeSantis as a ‘winner,’” by Florida Politics’ A.G Gancarski | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | FIGHTING BACK — “Palm Beach Atlantic University professor who was fired after parent alleged he was ‘indoctrinating’ students files federal complaint,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Angie DiMichele: “The longtime Palm Beach Atlantic University professor who was terminated in March after a parent alleged he was 'indoctrinating' students by teaching a racial justice segment has filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, arguing his firing was unlawfully motivated by race. Sam Joeckel had been teaching at the private Christian university in West Palm Beach for over two decades when a parent emailed President Debra A. Schwinn in February, complaining about a segment on racial justice in Joeckel’s composition course.” GROUNDED? — “Pilots for Miami’s biggest airline, American, vote for strike authorization,” by Miami Herald’s Michael Butler: “Following four years of negotiations and protests at Miami International Airport, American Airlines pilots voted on Monday to authorize a strike for the first time in more than 25 years at the biggest carrier at Miami International Airport. American Airlines pilots were shown on social media doing informational picketing at MIA, where the carrier ha more than 14,000 locally based employees and more than 2,500 pilots. An American Airlines spokesperson said the company is committed to quickly reaching an agreement with its pilots.” — “Seminole Heights serial killings case ends with guilty plea, 4 life sentences,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Dan Sullivan — “Combative Carollo denies targeting businesses. Witnesses against him ‘all have gripes,’” by Miami Herald’s Charles Rabin — “Disney first responders reach tentative contract deal with district,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Katie Rice | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
BIRTHDAYS: POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury and former Department of Community Affairs Secretary Steve Seibert
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