| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | | Good morning from Tallahassee and welcome to March. A pause on in vitro fertilization in Alabama is reverberating in Florida and shaking up the political landscape. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Democrats have warned that upending policies on reproductive health wouldn’t end with abortion — and Florida Democrats are using the Alabama high court’s decision as a prime example of that. Now they’re poised to make Republicans own it in 2024. “Isn’t that crazy? Republicans want to force women to stay pregnant against their will while also preventing women who want to get pregnant from doing so,” U.S. Rep. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), who chairs the Democratic women’s caucus, said during a press conference in D.C. yesterday.
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Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., joined at left by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP | The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee put U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) on blast after she removed her name from an otherwise Democrats-only bill that would protect access to IVF. Luna said on social media that her name had been put on the bill without her confirmation and that certain amendments were needed to get her buy-in. She’s instead working on a bipartisan bill and told the Tampa Bay Times states should act. Whitney Fox, a Democratic former transit official who is vying for Luna’s seat, criticized the congresswoman in a video and pledged if elected to codify IVF rights into federal law. “Once we give up one freedom and we don’t fight back, it doesn’t stop there,” she said. “Alabama, I’m afraid, is just the example this week.” Like Luna, Florida Republicans have said they support IVF, especially at former President Donald Trump’s urging. But eight GOP U.S House members from Florida signed onto the Life at Conception Act that Democrats view as similar to the Alabama court’s decision. And this week, no Senate Republican signed onto the Democratic bill protecting IVF, which failed on the floor under a procedure where just one Republican can object. The bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), is pushing to bring it back and get every Republican on the record for how they’ll vote. Some say the matter should be left to the states while the influential SBA Pro-Life America opposed Democrats’ bill as an overreach, saying it would codify human cloning and genetic engineering of human embryos. Florida’s Republican senators downplayed the issue or defended IVF. Sen. Marco Rubio insisted IVF’s future was not under threat. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who is up for reelection in November, said on social media that he agreed with Trump’s position and that “any attempt to restrict IVF must be rejected.” But Scott’s challenger, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, slammed him for having done “nothing” as Senate Republicans blocked this week’s IVF protections bill. Back in the Florida Legislature, lawmakers this week decided to postpone a bill that would have allowed parents to get financial damages in cases of wrongful death for fetuses, POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian reported. While Democrats had repeatedly raised concerns about how infertility treatments might be affected, and changes were made to the bill to address IVF, the Alabama ruling ultimately proved too jarring. No committee is scheduled to hear the bill before the end of the session next week, increasing the likelihood that it won't make it to the floor. 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: Every day, American businesses generate big global sales on Alibaba's online marketplace – to the tune of $66B in one year alone. These sales are having a bigger impact on communities back home. Florida companies like Timberwolf Pet Foods and DS Laboratories sell to over one billion consumers in China through Alibaba, supporting 15,800 local jobs and contributing $1.9B to Florida's GDP. Learn more about how Alibaba positively impacts Florida's economy. | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | |  Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo arrives for a joint session of the Florida legislature at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., Jan. 9, 2024. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images) | AP | EXPECTED VETO IMMINENT — Passidomo unveils possible plan to address DeSantis qualms on social media bill, reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. Passidomo told reporters that she expects lawmakers to consider changes to the legislation that would cut off anyone younger than 16 from many social media applications to appease the skeptical Republican governor. To make that happen, Passidimo floated that the Legislature is likely to take up a bill, FL HB3 (24R), that was ultimately folded into the social media proposal, FL HB1 (24R), giving them an outlet to pass a new policy that could score approval from DeSantis. NEW FILINGS — Supreme Court asked to undo ‘brazen’ decision on redistricting, reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. Voting rights and civil rights groups are calling on the Florida Supreme Court to undo an “egregious misreading of the Florida’s Constitution” and strike down the congressional map pushed into law two years ago by DeSantis. The groups late Wednesday filed their initial arguments to the state’s highest court on why the map violates the state Constitution. The groups maintain that the map violated voter-approved anti-gerrymandering standards because it diminished the voting clout of Black voters. A circuit court judge agreed but the entire 1st District Court of Appeal, in an unusual move, took up the appeal and ultimately overturned the lower court decision. ALLIANCE — “Florida Legislature celebrates Israel Day, passes antisemitism bill,” reports Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network - Florida. “On the steps of the Historic Capitol Thursday morning, Florida lawmakers voiced their support for Israel and vowed to make the state the safest place for Jewish people in the United States." UP SOON — Florida House passes slate of education 'deregulations,’ reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. House leaders removed several notable pieces from the slate of reforms introduced by senators, including a somewhat controversial policy that would have scaled back high stakes testing in the state and another meant to bolster transparency at the Florida Department of Education. The Senate is expected to back the tweaks made by the House, setting the proposals up for final passage in the coming days. Both bills scored unanimous support from the House even as some lawmakers expressed frustrations about provisions being gutted. Leaders in both chambers claim they plan to push for further K-12 deregulation in future legislation. DOCS SOUGHT — Lawsuit accuses DeSantis of routinely flouting public records law, reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. A watchdog group says in a newly filed lawsuit that DeSantis and his administration have repeatedly flouted the state’s public records law and are effectively “suppressing public knowledge” about the governor’s actions. American Oversight, an organization that was formed by lawyers with ties to Democrats, wants a judge to order the governor’s office to hand over records associated with a dozen outstanding requests that stretch back anywhere from 11 months to three years. | 
Scientists work in a bioprocess lab at Eat Just in Alameda, California, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. | Jeff Chiu/AP |
DISHED OUT — Senate balks, then passes bill banning lab grown meat, restricting regulation of EV charging stations, reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. The Senate on Thursday amended and passed a bill banning the sale of lab-grown meat and restricting the local regulation of electric vehicle charging stations.
The Senate voted 26-10 largely along party lines to send the bill, FL SB1084 (24R) , to the House as Democrats said the state was standing in the way of innovation on "cultivated meat." They also argued that the preemption of electric vehicles to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services could have wide-ranging implications and slow the use of EVs. FINALIZED — Senate proposes, House accepts budget language blocking leaf blower bans, reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. House and Senate budget negotiators agreed Thursday on budget and implementing bill language that blocks local governments from banning gasoline-powered leaf blowers. Sen. Jason Brodeur, a Republican from Sanford, said Thursday that state action was needed in response to cities enacting such bans, which he said would hurt small landscaping firms. SHORT-TERM RENTALS — “That vacation rental next door? Florida lawmakers want to write the rules,” by the Miami Herald’s Alyssa Johnson. “Earlier this month, the Florida Senate passed Senate Bill 280, which establishes local registration programs for short-term rentals, limits the number of guests in rental properties and puts in place penalties for rentals that violate local ordinances ... But critics of the bill say the legislation is not restrictive enough to appease constituents dealing with unruly tourists, and that local governments are better equipped to deal with the issue, especially in places that have more restrictive rules than what the legislation lays out.” TIANEPTINE — “Florida lawmakers move to prohibit ‘gas station heroin,’” reports the Tampa Bay Times’ Sam Ogozalek. “The drug has alarmed federal regulators, who warn that some products have been linked to seizures, loss of consciousness and even death. State Attorney General Ashley Moody took emergency action in September to temporarily outlaw the substance, saying it was dangerous. Now, legislators want to ban it fully in state law, making tianeptine a Schedule 1 drug like ecstasy or LSD.” — “Cracking Florida’s cold cases: A new investigations unit aims to solve years-old killings,” reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Abigail Hasebroock — “House moves along anti-trans bill that has no future,” reports Florida Politics’ Gabrielle Russon — “Lawmakers advance Casey DeSantis-backed cancer research changes, add more funding,” reports Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | | | 
FILE - This image provided by the U.S. Justice Department and contained in the affidavit in support of a criminal complaint, shows Manuel Rocha during a meeting with a FBI undercover employee. On Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, Rocha, 73, told a judge he would admit to federal counts of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government, charges that could land him behind bars for several years. | Justice Department via AP, File | PLEADING GUILTY — “Former career US diplomat to admit working for decades as a Cuban intelligence agent,” reports The Associated Press. “A former career U.S. diplomat told a federal judge Thursday he will plead guilty to charges of working for decades as a secret agent for communist Cuba, an unexpectedly swift resolution to a case prosecutors called one of the most brazen betrayals in the history of the U.S. foreign service. Manuel Rocha’s stunning fall from grace could culminate in a lengthy prison term after the 73-year-old said he would admit to federal counts of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government.” RECORDS REVEAL IN JULY — “The Palm Beach Post will have to wait until July like everyone else to view grand jury testimony and evidence of underage sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, a Palm Beach County Judge has ruled,” reports Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner. “Circuit Judge Luis Delgado cited legislation that DeSantis just signed in his decision to deny the outlet’s motion to unseal records from a 2006 case that saw Epstein secure a ‘sweetheart deal’ in which he served just 13 months in jail. The gist: State law currently does not allow the records to be released. But once a bill (HB 117) by Democratic Sen. Tina Polsky and Republican Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman goes into effect July 1, Delgado said the Post can file a motion to reconsider and he will approve their release.” — “New College of Florida hires professor who argued in favor of colonialism,” reports Steven Walker of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune PARTY KICKOFF — “As Miami Beach spring break begins, ‘law and order’ plan exposes political tensions,” reports the Miami Herald’s Aaron Leibowitz and Vinod Sreeharsha. “Miami Beach leaders have sought to portray a unified front in their efforts to crack down on spring break chaos in March … But at public meetings and behind the scenes, political tensions have contributed to a thorny planning process and plenty of second-guessing in the final days before March, raising questions about whether officials are truly in sync and prepared to tackle the complex challenges that spring break presents.” 400 LIVING SURVIVORS — “House approves $20M for victims abused at Dozier School for Boys,” reports Florida Phoenix’s Mitch Perry. “According to a bill analysis, there were reports of children being chained to walls in irons, brutal whippings and peonage at Dozier as early as 1901. In the first 13 years of operation, six state-led investigations took place. After former Dozier School students began to publish accounts of the abuse, their complaints gained traction. Ultimately, Gov. Charlie Crist in 2008 directed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the Dozier School and the deaths that were alleged and occurred at the school.” | | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | MORE RELEASES — “Police records show former GOP Chair Christian Ziegler's accuser wanted to drop rape case,” reports the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson. “The woman who accused former Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler of rape told police at one point that she wanted to drop the case, saying she ‘just didn't want to deal with it after all the emotional stress I've had’ … Ziegler also was acutely focused on the allegations becoming public, and the publicity the case would receive.” ‘MAGA WARRIOR’ — Former President Donald Trump endorsed GOP state Rep. Randy Fine for state Senate in a post on Truth Social last night, saying he “stands with me for an America that brings Peace through Strength, and an Economy that works for our Nation’s families.” Fine learn about the endorsement when Playbook asked him about it via text. | | | DATELINE D.C. | | |
SHUTDOWN AVERTED — Congress has sent a spending extension to President Joe Biden to sign, POLITICO reports from Capitol Hill. GOP Sen. Rick Scott and GOP U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna and Greg Steube were the members of the Florida delegation who voted no.
| | | | On the ground in Albany. Get critical policy news and analysis inside New York State. Track how power brokers are driving change across legislation and budget and impacting lobbying efforts. Learn more. | | | | | | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | |
TODAY — Trump’s seesawing legal drama shifts back to Florida, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein. Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case, has scheduled a marathon hearing with a daunting agenda. Among the issues likely to be discussed: how jurors will be selected, how classified evidence should be handled, whether the names of sensitive government witnesses should be publicly revealed and whether the trial should be postponed until this summer — or until after the presidential election.
— “Trump Media sued by co-founders ahead of DWAC merger, potential setback for lucrative deal,” reports CNBC’s Dan Magan | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
— Members of Congress are whipping up a Cuban cafecito contest.
BIRTHDAYS: Former U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo … former state Rep. Travaris McCurdy ... Journalist and writer Rosanne Dunkelberger IN MEMORIAM — “‘She was an icon’: Betty Holzendorf, former Florida lawmaker from Jacksonville, dies at 84,” via News4Jax. | | A message from Alibaba: Timberwolf Pet Food, a family-owned company based in Windermere, Florida, achieved an impressive 7-figure growth after launching on Alibaba's online marketplace, which reaches over one billion consumers in China. Partnering with Alibaba helped the 25-year-old company double its sales projections, allowing Timberwolf to expand its product lines, production, and staffing to meet the increasing demand.
Florida businesses generated enough global sales on Alibaba’s online marketplace to add $1.9 billion to Florida’s economy, supporting 15,800 local jobs and $1.1 billion in wages in one year.
"I knew from experience that Alibaba, with over one billion online consumers, was essential to launch our brand in China successfully," said Timberwolf CEO Kam Martin.
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