| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | | Good morning and welcome to Monday. The Republican Party of Florida has decided not to hide from the abortion issue. During a meeting in Wesley Chapel over the weekend, the state party voted to support an anti-abortion resolution ahead of the 2024 election, saying it does not want a constitutional amendment enshrining abortion rights to go before voters in November. If it does, then state Republicans will urge voters to oppose it. (Read the full resolution here.) The GOP is typically anti-abortion, but the party’s stance is notable given that Republicans have differed widely on how they message on the issue, which has become salient in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Former President Donald Trump, whom the state party endorsed for president over the weekend, hasn’t specified abortion limits in his election bid and criticized the six-week ban Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law in Florida. GOP Sen. Marco Rubio, who won a decisive reelection in 2022, called for abortion to be illegal at the federal level after 15 weeks in a pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest and life endangerment. The Florida GOP’s resolution comes as the state Supreme Court considers whether to approve a ballot measure that would go before voters in November to authorize abortion until viability, which is generally understood to be roughly 24 weeks into a pregnancy. The amendment’s language also provides broadly defined “health” exceptions for post-viability abortions. It’s too early to tell what effect the GOP's position might have in Florida during the 2024 election. Every state ballot measure to guarantee abortion rights since the demise of Roe has prevailed, and Florida Democrats have made it clear that they plan to run on the issue. Furthermore, more than 150,000 Republicans in Florida signed onto the petition to put the question of abortion rights before voters, NBC News reported. (For more insight there, listen to Dara Kam’s latest “Deeper Dive” podcast with Republicans who support abortion rights, from News Service of Florida.) “It may cost the party, but we feel like it's standing up for what's right, because we, I, see it more as a human rights issue for that unborn child,” said Ed Shoemaker, committeeman for the Polk County GOP. Pasco County GOP Chairman James Mallo, who voted for the anti-abortion resolution and described himself as personally “against abortion 100 percent,” said he was nevertheless concerned the resolution might cause division in the party. “That resolution, I think, will disenfranchise some women,” he said. “And I am very sensitive to women’s issues and feel that many women leaders that we have in the Republican Party that are conservatives feel very conflicted sometimes.” Yet a POLITICO analysis of ballot measures in other states also has a warning sign for Democrats: The initiatives don’t necessarily drive turnout or boost candidates. What it found instead was that the margins to codify abortion rights were “largely driven by Republican voters who also voted for GOP candidates.” Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com | | A message from Alibaba: Florida businesses like DS Laboratories and Timberwolf Pet Foods are among thousands of American brands selling to consumers across the world on Alibaba's online marketplace. Over one billion consumers in China shop for U.S. products on Alibaba, generating big sales for these brands and benefiting Florida’s economy. In 2022, sales on Alibaba supported 15,800 local jobs and $1.1B in wages. Learn more about how Alibaba positively impacts Florida's economy. | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
ANTI-‘WOKE’ — Florida’s anti-DEI policies are taking hold as lawmakers pursue more, reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. Florida is phasing out and eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at universities this year in the first fallout of the state’s — and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ — latest fight against “wokeness” in education.
Some schools say they are still reviewing how exactly the policy will apply to them, but at least two Florida universities have already signaled significant actions. | | 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media in the Florida Cabinet following his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives, March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. | Cheney Orr/AFP via Getty Images |
RECORDS FIGHT — Top DeSantis aides could be deposed as part of travel records lawsuit, reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. Court records in a lawsuit filed by the Washington Post against the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show that lawyers representing the publication want to depose up to 10 people, including two former top staffers who were pushed out of the agency.
ENERGY POLICY — “Florida could remove the majority of mentions of climate change from state law,” reports the Tampa Bay Times’ Emily Mahoney. “The bill would delete eight times the phrase “climate change” is mentioned in current law (compared to seven instances where it would be left untouched). Sometimes, the phrase is deleted from sentences that are otherwise left mostly intact. In other cases, the bill would repeal entire sections of law that mention climate change, such as a grant program that helps local governments and school districts reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” ‘MESSAGING BILL’ — “Lobbyist wrote bill to protect Visit Orlando but sought to hide his role,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Sephen Hudak. “A state bill that would have restricted the ability of Orange County commissioners to cut Visit Orlando’s funding was written not by the senator who carried it, but by a lobbyist for the county, the Sentinel has learned. Lobbyist Chris Carmody sought to hide his role in the legislation, which is now raising eyebrows and stirring anger among county commissioners who believe he was undermining the county’s interests when he is paid to defend them.” — “DeSantis has nearly three more years to lead Florida. What does he want his legacy to be?” by Florida Phoenix’s Mitch Perry — “DeSantis’ deployment of State Guard to Texas raises thorny legal issues,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello | | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S GOVERNORS SUMMIT: Join POLITICO on Feb. 22 to dive into how Governors are wielding immense power. While Washington remains gridlocked, governors are at the center of landmark decisions in AI and tech, economic development, infrastructure, housing, reproductive health and energy. How are they setting the stage for the future of American politics, policies and priorities? How are they confronting major challenges? Explore these questions and more at the 2024 Governors Summit. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
GHOST COMPANY — “Auditors say Florida Keys’ tourism agency paid thousands to a company that doesn’t exist,” reports David Goodhue of Florida Keys News. “A second critical audit into the taxpayer-funded office that promotes tourism in the Florida Keys accused a long-time public relations firm of regularly double billing Monroe County by reimbursing a company that investigators say doesn’t exist.”
INVESTIGATION — “Brutality, incompetence and a cover-up: Unraveling a deadly attack inside a state hospital,” by the Miami Herald’s Carol Marbin Miller. “If there were lessons to be learned from Sean’s abuse and death, administrators at the state Department of Children and Families seemed determined not to learn them. In the wake of Sean’s Jan. 12, 2021, death at Northeast Florida State Hospital, the state has faced repeated accusations from his family, attorneys, its own employees and even the local sheriff’s office of covering up its mistakes.” | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | | |  ESTERO, FL - OCTOBER 31: President Donald Trump greets Florida Governor and Republican senate candidate Rick Scott as he is introduced during a campaign rally at the Hertz Arena on October 31, 2018 in Estero, Florida. President Trump continues travelling across America to help get the vote out for Republican candidates running for office. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) | Getty Images | WEEKEND AT WESLEY CHAPEL — Florida Republicans formally back former President Donald Trump for president, reports POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard. It marks the Florida Republican Party’s biggest embrace of the former president yet and comes just weeks after Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped out of the 2024 contest. The party also endorsed GOP U.S. Sen. Rick Scott for reelection and held party leadership elections. — Trump-endorsed state Sen. Joe Gruters won his election to become Florida's Republican national committeeman. He was chair of the Florida GOP and Sarasota GOP, and former co-chair in Florida for Trump's 2016 campaign. But not all Trump’s endorsees did as well… — The Florida GOP re-elected former Manatee County GOP Chair Kathy King as national committeewoman. Trump had endorsed Michele Merrell, Broward County GOP committeewoman. — The state party also elected Jesse Phillips, Seminole County Republican State committeeman, as national committeeman. Trump had endorsed Kevin Cabrera, Miami-Dade GOP committeeman. The state party also adopted a 10-point policy platform …
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| Some of the legislative items, including lowering the age to purchase firearms, have already been rejected by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. 6 GOP CHALLENGERS — “He endorsed Moskowitz for Congress in 2022. Now he’s challenging him for reelection,” reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Anthony Man. “Robert Weinroth was a Democratic county commissioner until a Republican defeated him in 2022. Now, he’s repudiated his old party, registered as a Republican, and is running for Congress ‘to stop the radical Democrats.’ His target: U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat serving his first term representing a Broward-Palm Beach county district — the very same Moskowitz who Weinroth endorsed in the last election.” | | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | |  Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the National Rifle Association's Presidential Forum in Harrisburg, Pa., Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. | Matt Rourke/AP | TODAY — Trump is expected to be at the Fort Pierce courthouse for a hearing over the classified documents case, per Treasure Coast Newspapers. “Kenny Nail, chairman of the St. Lucie County Republican Executive Committee, sent an email Sunday afternoon announcing Trump's in-person plans after one of Trump's attorneys told him Saturday of the former president's schedule.” — Regarding the case… “Trump gets access to sealed documents on witness threats,” reports The Guardian’s Hugo Lowell. “The exhibit was a point of contention because it detailed a series of threats made against a witness who could testify against the former president at trial, and the matter is the subject of a criminal investigation by a US attorney’s office. Prosecutors had wanted to withhold it from Trump’s lawyers.” MAGA GALA — “Trumpettes serve up 'mega MAGA' menu at gala featuring Trump World stars,” reports the Palm Beach Post’s Antonio Fins. “Actor Robert Davi improvised a version of Frank Sinatra's ‘My Way’ in which he crooned ‘Trump did it his way.’ U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia decried ‘communist Democrats’ she warned are ‘coming after your money.’ And a rough-hewn, hardline immigration proponent said to be on Trump's list for a Cabinet-level post vowed ‘we're going to fix this (expletive)’ at the southern border.” — Melania Trump also accompanied her husband for the gala, reported Fins.
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AGE OLD QUESTION — “DeSantis sounds alarm over Hur report: Biden can't stand trial, but can handle nuclear codes?” reports Fox News’ Charles Creitz. “DeSantis on Saturday floated the invocation of the 25th Amendment against President Joe Biden and questioned how the Democrat can responsibly handle the nuclear football after Special Counsel Robert Hur questioned his fitness to stand trial.”
ASKED TO EXPLAIN TRUMP — Sen. Marco Rubio declines to criticize Trump over comments on Haley’s husband, reports POLITICO’s David Cohen. “I think they’re part of the increasing nastiness of this campaign and every campaign in American politics,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” adding in a comment that suggested that ugliness and mudslinging were beyond the control of the candidates themselves: “It’s just part of these campaign cycles.” AND AGAIN — “Rubio defends Trump’s NATO comments with an old line,” reports the New York Times’ Maggie Astor. Rubio “brushed aside Trump’s comments suggesting that he might not defend NATO allies and that he would encourage Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want.’ … Rubio, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, suggested in an interview on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ that Trump was simply describing how he had ‘used leverage to get people to step up to the plate,’ and echoed a line that Republicans have used for years to dismiss Trump’s statements of his intentions: ‘He doesn’t talk like a traditional politician.’” | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
SPOTTED: David Rubenstein having lunch on Saturday at the Beach Club at the Breakers in Palm Beach where he's visiting family.
BIRTHDAYS: Former state Sen. Jeff Brandes, now president at Florida Policy Project … The Bulwark’s Marc Caputo … Gil Ziffer, former Tallahassee city commissioner IN MEMORIAM — “Weeks after retirement, longtime Miami Herald Editorial Page Editor Nancy Ancrum dies at 67,” reports the Miami Herald’s Howard Cohen. “Miami Herald Editorial Page Editor Nancy Ancrum, who kept a watchful eye on Florida governors and South Florida leaders, gave voice to those who had been silenced and guided her team to two Pulitzer Prizes, died Friday after a long illness.” | | A message from Alibaba: Local Florida businesses such as DS Laboratories, from Miami, and Timberwolf Pet Foods, from Windermere, are currently reaching one billion consumers through Alibaba’s online marketplace. In doing so, they are generating big sales for their home state. Florida businesses are among numerous American brands that collectively achieved $66 billion in sales on Alibaba in one year.
These sales positively impact Florida's economy. In 2022, sales on Alibaba supported 15,800 local jobs and $1.1B in wages, NDP Analytics reports.
DS Laboratories CEO Dr. Fernando Tamez said, "Sales on Alibaba exceeded expectations by 50% in the first year." The company is hiring marketers, manufacturers, shippers, and more to keep up with the demand. He adds, "At first, Alibaba seemed too good to be true. Now, we jump into every single program they offer.”
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