| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | |  Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. | Scott Applewhite/AP |
Good morning from Tallahassee and welcome to Tuesday.
Legislators got a surprise visitor just days before the session is set to end — Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz. Gaetz circled the Florida capitol’s rotunda on Monday as lobbyists, staff and lawmakers eagerly snapped photos with the MAGA aficionado. Legislators have been speculating that Gaetz will run for governor in 2026, and the latest visit won’t do much to tone down that chatter. Gaetz happened to be visiting the Capitol just days after a Kaplan Strategies poll had him as a very-early favorite for the GOP nomination for governor in 2026, ahead of fellow Republicans U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and Attorney General Ashley Moody. Gaetz called the poll “very flattering” in an interview with Playbook but added that he was “focused on my work in Washington.” Gaetz said he was in town “just seeing some old friends,” including people he knew when he was in the Legislature. He didn’t have plans to meet with Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom he advised during his 2018 gubernatorial run before going on to endorse former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential primary. (The governor was also not around because he was in Plant City attending the Strawberry Festival with his son.) GOP Sen. Joe Gruters, who posted a photo with Gaetz, told Playbook over text that the congressman was in town “building support.” Reached in the hallways after the evening’s final votes, Gruters said Gaetz “makes lots of visits here” but declined to specify just how often aside from “quite a bit.” “I would just say he makes his presence known,” he said, adding that he thought Gaetz missed being in Tallahassee. Gaetz wasn’t the lead candidate in a different gubernatorial poll from November, from the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab. That spot went to Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. (The first lady wasn't part of the Kaplan poll because other candidates have been more open about the prospect of entering the race and her name recognition would have skewed the results unfairly, said the polling group’s president, Doug Kaplan.) Gaetz called himself a “fan” of Casey DeSantis and described her as “a very focused, driven and sincere individual” but said he hadn’t “ever” talked to her about political aspirations. “Her focus was more on getting Ron elected in those years,” he said of working with the DeSantises on the 2018 gubernatorial election. “But I have nothing but positive things to say.” The DeSantis team declined to weigh in. Democrats have been salivating over the possibility that Gaetz might be the GOP nominee in 2026, potentially creating an opening for a statewide win for them. One of them is Democratic Sen. Jason Pizzo, who is interested in running for governor. “I would like my chances against him,” he said last night. Gaetz has never faced a difficult congressional race in his deep-red district in the western Florida Panhandle. His father, Don Gaetz, who was president of the Florida Senate, is also running for his old seat this year. Still, the younger Gaetz had a warning for those who get too confident against rivals. “I remember a lot of Democrats in 2016 wishing they could face off against Trump,” he said. “And then they saw how that turned out.” WHERE’S RON? Gov. DeSantis will do a press conference at 10 a.m. in Miami Beach today about measures to curb spring break unruliness. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE — Florida legislators, in a frantic rush of deal-making held behind closed doors, reached an agreement Monday on a roughly $116 billion budget for the coming year that also included a major last-minute concession to Gov. Ron DeSantis, reported POLITICO’s Gary Fineout.
House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to set aside roughly $450 million for another year of the state’s “toll relief” program that offers a credit to drivers who regularly use toll roads. DeSantis first pushed for the toll changes back in 2022 but the governor’s office did not ask legislators to keep the program going until the waning days of the session. One budget proposal that didn’t make it in: Raising the salary of Florida’s governor by more than $100,000 in 2027. DeSantis hasn’t weighed in on the overall budget … But while speaking in Plant City yesterday he said “great pieces of legislation” were coming out of the Legislature though he added, “Who knows I may have to veto things here and there, but you figure it out and you always end up working things out.” … MORE BUDGET DEETS … — House, Senate agree to $400M for proposed new Central Florida reservoir, reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. They agreed after the Senate on Sunday proposed the $400 million for the St. Johns River Water Management District to buy land for the proposed 7,500-acre Grove Land Reservoir and Storm Water Treatment Area project. — “Budget deal includes $557K for state to collect immigration status, nursing home data,” reports Florida Politics’ Christine Jordan Sexton. “Patients are not required to answer the question, but hospitals are required to ask it and to quarterly report the data to AHCA.” — “Sprinkle list: Private prisons lock down millions for salaries, contract extensions,” reports Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles
|  Florida's Republican House Speaker Paul Renner discusses Gov. Ron DeSantis' veto of a bill that would have banned kids under 16 from social media regardless of parental consent, in Tallahassee, Fla., Friday, March 1, 2024. A new proposal lowers that age to 14. He was joined by Democratic Rep. Michele Rayner, left, and Republican Rep. Tyler Sirois, right. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington) | AP | | QUICK TURNAROUND — Florida Senate revamps bill kicking minors off social media, reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. Senators backed a new age limit of 14 years old for opening accounts among several other tweaks introduced to help the bill survive possible legal challenges and score the support DeSantis, who last week vetoed a different version of the proposal. The 30-5 vote by the Senate sends the bill to the House. START WOKE — Appeals court slams Florida’s ‘Stop-Woke’ law for committing ‘greatest First Amendment sin,’ reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. Florida is legally blocked from enforcing a key portion of the high-profile 2022 law restricting what DeSantis called “woke” workplace trainings about race after a federal appeals court ruled Monday that the policy “exceeds the bounds of the First Amendment.” A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a blow to the DeSantis administration by deeming one of the Republican governor’s signature laws — the “Stop Woke” Act — unconstitutional, upholding a previous ruling that prevented it from taking hold. DeSantis officials, meanwhile, disagreed with the decision, signaling that the governor could ask the Supreme Court to weigh in. SPLITS — “Are Florida Republicans breaking from DeSantis? Divide grows as GOP 'wish list' fades,” reports John Kennedy of USA Today Network - Florida. “Republican supermajorities in the Florida House and Senate are poised to deal a political setback to an unlikely target: The Florida Republican Party. With lawmakers hurtling toward a scheduled Friday finish to the 2024 session, most of the 10 items included in the state GOP’s legislative wish list already have been declared dead or look destined to fall short of clearing both chambers. For some, it’s a sign that many fellow Republicans are rejecting DeSantis’ trademark ‘war on woke’ after it didn’t provide much traction for him during his failed bid for the GOP presidential nomination.” MORE SCRUTINY — “Florida lawmakers seek more oversight of child-welfare organizations, exec pay,” report the Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos and the Tampa Bay Times’ Romy Ellenbogen. “The bill sponsor, Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, says she wants to ensure non-profit organizations that are hired by the state to provide services for abused and neglected children are not misusing public funds.” PREEMPTING — “Why Florida GOP lawmakers want to stop local governments from accepting community IDs,” by the Miami Herald’s Syra Ortiz Blanes. “Calling it a ‘loophole’ in Florida law, Republican lawmakers in the Legislature on Monday voted for a bill that targets identification cards provided to undocumented immigrants by community programs, part of a broader effort that they say is meant to deter illegal immigration in the state.” — “Florida Legislature approves $20 million to compensate victims of abuse at state-run reform schools,” reports Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix WON’T PASS SENATE — “GOP-controlled House passes measure to shorten wait period on some gun background checks,” reports Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix. “The House bill voted on Monday says that if a background check does not come back before three days, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement must issue a conditional approval authorizing the purchaser to take delivery of that gun. If the FDLE subsequently determines that a purchaser is not authorized to possess a firearm, they are then required to notify the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and a local law enforcement agency, who are responsible for retrieving the firearm.” BLOWN AWAY — “Why Florida doesn’t have wind energy, but lawmakers want to curb it anyway,” by the Tampa Bay Times’ Emily L. Mahoney. “Backers, including [House Speaker Paul] Renner, say the bill is about reorienting Florida’s energy priorities to put affordability first. But opponents have panned the proposal as moving the state backward by further encouraging our reliance on natural gas and other fossil fuels.” WETLANDS PERMITTING — Florida Chamber says court wetlands ruling threatens to cause 'cascading economic calamity,’ reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. The Florida Chamber of Commerce is warning a federal judge that a halt to federal wetlands permitting in the state will create a "cascading economic calamity" unless action is taken. The Chamber, developers and other business groups asked U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington to side with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in issuing a limited stay from his Feb. 15 ruling suspending federal wetlands permitting in Florida. PENDING — “Moms for Liberty’s Descovich hit with ethics complaint as she awaits confirmation to ethics commission,” reports Dan Christensen of the Florida Bulldog. “The 15-page ethics complaint, sent by Melbourne resident Robert Burns, was obtained from a Senate source by Florida Bulldog and asserts several allegations that it contends are disqualifying. The simplest, however, is referenced in the opening paragraph of the Commission on Ethics Statement of Organization and Operation: ‘Members are prohibited from lobbying state and local governments.’ Descovich ... isn’t registered to lobby in Tallahassee, or apparently anywhere else. But she’s nonetheless been a publicly outspoken advocate pushing a variety of conservative public policy positions on polarizing matters with DeSantis and legislators.” WEED ALLIANCE — “Florida medical marijuana operators form a trade association to promote pot,” reports Dara Kam of News Service of Florida. “Companies that have joined the group include Verano, AYR Wellness, Curaleaf, Fluent, Green Thumb Industries, Surterra and The Cannabist Co., the association said in a news release. Trulieve, the state’s largest medical-marijuana operator, is not a part of the group.” PARTING WAYS — JetBlue calls off merger with Spirit Airlines, reports POLITICO’s Oriana Pawlyk. JetBlue will pay Spirit $69 million to terminate the deal. | | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The stakes are high as America's health care community strives to meet the evolving needs of patients and practitioners, adopt new technologies and navigate skeptical public attitudes toward science. Join POLITICO’s annual Health Care Summit on March 13 where we will discuss the future of medicine, including the latest in health tech, new drugs and brain treatments, diagnostics, health equity, workforce strains and more. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
TODAY — The Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger is doing a question-and-answer session at 1:15 p.m. during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. (Tune in.)
LEADERSHIP CHANGEUP — DeSantis taps Disney district lead to Orange County elections supervisor, reports POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard. DeSantis tapped the administrator for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, Glen Gilzean, to become supervisor of elections in Orange County after the seat became vacant when longtime supervisor Bill Cowles retired in January. Gilzean’s appointment means DeSantis is installing an ally into the role ahead of the 2024 election. Gilzean said on Instagram that the current deputy district administrator, Paula Hoisington, would oversee the district as he takes on his new role. — “Brightline could open new Stuart station in 2026, two years sooner than expected,” reports Keith Burbank of Treasure Coast Newspapers
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | TODAY — Sen. Rick Scott is doing a reelection campaign event in Washington, D.C. where he’s expected to be endorsed by the GOP congressional delegation from his home state. Scott met with Trump last night, per a post on X. ALSO TODAY — Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Scott, is doing a virtual press conference about IVF access. |  Nikki Fried talks to the press on Aug. 23, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. | Marta Lavandier/AP |
DNC SUPPORTED — Florida Democrats suspend three county chairs, citing repeated violations of party rules and lack of cooperation in a first-of-its kind move as the party is staring down a tough election year in the red-shifting state, reports POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard. The party suspended Miami-Dade chair Robert Dempster, Palm Beach chair Mindy Koch and Franklin County chair Carol Barfield.
FLIPPED — “Can Trump finally win Miami-Dade County? An early poll highlights Democratic worries,” reports the Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks and Max Greenwood. “A November poll by the reelection effort for Democratic Mayor Daniella Levine Cava spelled out how much the landscape had shifted since Donald Trump lost Miami-Dade by 7 points to Biden in 2020. The phone and text survey of 500 likely voters by EMC Research found Biden the choice of just 35 percent of the respondents, compared to 46 percent for Trump.” | | DATELINE D.C. | |
INFERTILITY TREATMENT BACKLASH — “After 'misguided' Alabama ruling, Florida lawmaker pushes for federal protection for IVF,” reports WLRN’s Gerard Albert. “Federal legislation is needed to protect other states from the ‘legal chaos and uncertainty’ brought by an Alabama Supreme Court ruling on in-vitro fertilization, Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Monday … She said she is concerned that IVF will become increasingly entangled in the debate over abortion, one of the top issues in the 2024 campaign.”
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WE'LL HAVE WHAT THEY'RE HAVING — DeSantis showed off the massive spread he and his son put together at the Strawberry Festival yesterday. ��
BIRTHDAYS: David Lawrence Jr., chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida and former publisher of the Miami Herald
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