Sunburn - The morning read of what's hot in Florida politics - 1.22.18
In Week 3 of the 2018 Legislative Session, lawmakers will start to work on their only constitutionally mandated job – passing a state budget that could be more than $87 billion this year.
That’s not the only item on the agenda; the Senate Community Affairs Committee will take on SB 858, a bill seeking to take Florida off daylight saving time. If passed, during a part of the year Florida would be off from the rest of the East Coast by an hour. Complicating matters, Florida’s peninsula and eastern Panhandle are on Eastern time, while the rest of the Panhandle is on Central time.
Another issue up for debate – a priority for Gov. Rick Scott and Speaker Richard Corcoran – is a proposal making it more difficult for municipalities to raise taxes. In HB 7001, any increase in taxes must have a two-thirds vote before the Legislature. As a constitutional amendment, the measure must first be approved by voters in the November election – the same time Scott and Corcoran would be on the ballot, with Scott a possible U.S. Senate candidate and Corcoran (perhaps) running for governor.
The full House will also consider HB 67, setting up a slavery memorial in the Capitol complex. A similar bill died last year when Republican Dennis Baxley, a senator with Confederate heritage, refused to let his committee hear the proposal. Baxley, who is now on board with the idea, allowed the bill to be heard by his committee this Session. He also voted to approve it.
Among the other bills this week include:
— HB 21: The House Appropriations Committee will consider strengthening regulations on opioid prescriptions, including a three- or seven-day supply for painkillers like oxycodone.
— SB 1172: The Senate Education Committee will consider creating the “Hope Scholarship” program, where bullied or intimidated public-school students can receive a private school voucher.
— Legislators will also decide on several new specialty license plates, such as a one for “Ducks Unlimited.” Committees in both the House and Senate committees have the bill on its schedules. Florida already has more than 100 specialty plates.
— SB 922: A Senate committee will consider lifting restrictions on trains selling alcohol. Currently, intrastate passenger trains and sleeper cars can only sell booze in bottles of less than 2 ounces. If passed, the bill will end that prohibition.
-- SITUATIONAL AWARENESS --
-- @RealDonaldTrump: Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!
-- @ZekeJMiller: Government shutdown will continue into Monday, as Senate leaders continue negotiations over immigration and spending.
-- @DavidJollyFL: 48 hours in, the shutdown is clearly becoming defined as a dreamers vs amnesty argument bw the parties. Gerrymandered districts aside, it's not apparent the GOP has realized how fast public approval nationally has moved in favor of a legislative fix to DACA.
-- @ShevrinJones: The very fact that we are having to deal with the #governmentshutdown in Congress, is the very reason why I believe in term limits. When you know your time is limited, you figure it out and get the job done!
-- @Fineout: Attn: @richardcorcoran One interesting exchange during today's showdown btw Fla. House and TV producer Pat Roberts came when Judge Walker said "if the speaker were king." @rtimjansen replied - "the speaker is king and when the speaker wants something he gets it."
-- @RepJoseOliva: Excitement for a subsidized Amazon HQ in Miami highlights the lack of concern for tax-payer dollars. Why should a small retailer subsidize his/her largest competitor? Local Gov’t needs to end corporate welfare and focus on public works.
-- @TheRickWilson: The rumors are true: I'll be appearing on @RealTimers with Bill Maher next Friday. Prepare yourself for me, Los Angeles.
-- @RichEisen: To fans in Jacksonville: your team is talented, tough, stout, prideful, young and set for a good, long while. They gave the defending champs with the greatest QB/coach of all time every last bit they could handle in their building. Congrats on a great season.
-- @NASA: An asteroid we’ve had our eye on for over 14 years will make a close approach to Earth on Feb. 4. No need to worry, during its closest approach, the asteroid will be no closer than 10x’s the distance between Earth & the Moon, which is ~2.6 million miles
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-- DAYS UNTIL --
Days until: Florida Capitol Press Corps Skits — 1; Super Bowl LII — 13; Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — 17; Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training — 22; Valentine’s Day — 23; Disney Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – 38; Sine Die (maybe) — 46; Major League Baseball Opening Day — 66; Solo: A Star Wars Story premier — 121; Close of candidate qualifying for statewide office — 151; Primary Election Day — 218; General Election Day — 288.
-- THE POLITICS OF SHUTDOWN --
"In campaign ad, Trump says Democrats are 'complicit' in crimes by illegal immigrants" via David Nakamura of the Washington Post - The 30-second online spot posted to YouTube came on the first day of a partial federal government shutdown caused in part by Congress's disagreement over immigration policy. The ad, on the first anniversary of Trump's inauguration, was distributed to reporters in an email from Trump's campaign and purportedly featured scenes from the trial of an undocumented immigrant who was alleged to have killed two police officers in Sacramento. “It's pure evil,” a narrator says. “President Trump is right: build the wall, deport criminals, stop illegal immigration now. Democrats who stand in our way will be complicit in every murder committed by illegal immigrants. President Trump will fix our border and keep our families safe.”
Click on the image below to watch the ad.
"Rick Scott blames 'group of Senators' for federal government shutdown" via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida - Scott is blaming a “group of Senators” for the federal government shutdown ... a continuation of his change in tone from the 2013 shutdown, when he placed blame directly on President Barack Obama. “There is a lot of finger pointing going on in Washington today, but the simple fact is that a group of senators voted to shut down the federal government,” said McKinley Lewis, a Scott spokesman. “This avoidable crisis impacts critical services Floridians rely on, including health insurance for children, and our military readiness.” It’s a decidedly different approach from the one Scott took during the last shutdown, when he said “the buck stops with the president.” Scott, of course, is friends with (President) Trump ... Scott has avoided placing blame on Trump, but he hasn't struck an overtly partisan tone, even as some other Republicans try to pin the shutdown around Democrats. Scott’s statement Saturday did not blame Democrats. And when asked Friday if he thought they would be to blame if the government shutdown, he said “everybody’s responsible.”
"GOP targets Bill Nelson with shutdown ad" via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times - The NRSC ad, which will appear on Facebook, focuses on child health care, military funding and other issues held up by the shutdown. Nelson doesn't oppose those things, but joined Democrats in blocking the House-passed spending bill.
Click on the image below to watch the ad:
Tweet, tweet (in response to these attacks):
This is a serious situation, not a time for partisan politics. I am in the Capitol right now working hard to bring people together to reach a bipartisan consensus.
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) January 22, 2018
"Florida braces for long government shutdown" via Steve Bousquet and David Smiley of the Times/Herald - As a dysfunctional Washington stumbled past the midnight deadline and into a shutdown of the federal government, state officials scrambled to prepare for its impacts across Florida. Many aspects of life involve the federal government, from Everglades National Park in Homestead to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, and in a state full of retirees, a lifeline is a monthly Social Security check — which officials emphasize won't be disrupted by a shutdown.
-- The U.S. Central Command would be mostly unaffected because of its war-fighting mission, said CentCom spokesman Col. John Thomas.
-- In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, parts of Florida remain dependent on the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which continues to process reimbursement requests from cities, counties, police and hospitals. Some are from hurricanes Matthew and Hermine, 15 months ago.
-- Even if the shutdown persists, veterans would still receive their health care benefits. Of nearly 340,000 workers at the Veterans Health Administration, only about 1,000 are subject to furlough.
-- THE POLITICS OF DRILLING --
“Ryan Zinke declaration on Florida offshore drilling exemption not a done deal, Interior official tells Congress” via Bruce Ritchie and Ben Lefebvre of POLITICO Florida – Zinke's declaration that Florida's coastal waters would be pulled from the new federal offshore leasing proposal "was not a formal action" and did not officially remove the state from the plan, the head of the agency responsible for offshore drilling told the House Natural Resources Committee … The Bureau of Offshore Energy Management will continue to include the federal waters off Florida in its analysis of possible oil and gas drilling sites, acting Director Walter Cruickshank said during the hearing. "The secretary's statement stands on its own," Cruickshank said. "It is not a formal action. They are still part of the analysis until the secretary gives us an official decision."
"Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke went “rogue,” per one source. And President Trump isn’t happy about it" via Jonathan Swan of Axios - Two weeks ago, Zinke made an announcement that surprised the White House (and over Twitter, no less, after telling reporters at the Tallahassee airport): the waters around Florida would be exempt from his agency’s offshore oil and gas leasing program. Zinke’s announcement came shortly after he met with ... Gov. Scott. Trump has made clear to Zinke that he’s angry about this move, according to two sources with direct knowledge. Zinke's decision is both legally and politically dangerous for the Trump administration. Zinke did not coordinate with anybody, and gave the White House no forewarning of his controversial action.
Tweet, tweet:
This is what a source who was proven to be right told us three days before the announcement. White House now understandably wants to distance Trump from what’s become a mess, but not buying he was totally out of loop https://t.co/dCjlB3t3Q0… pic.twitter.com/luej24mULu
— Matt Dixon (@Mdixon55) January 21, 2018
-- THE OTHER TOP STORY --
"Women’s Marches nationwide set sights on ballot box while praising #MeToo" via Laura King, Nina Agrawal and Nina Agrawal of the L.A. Times with a h/t to Mike Allen - In a boisterous coast-to-coast outpouring, hundreds of thousands of marchers in dozens of cities staged a reprise of last year’s massive Women’s March, seeking to not only deliver a powerful rebuke to the policies of President Trump, but also mount a crucial mobilization for this year’s midterm election. ... In addition to the roll call of major American cities where marches took place — including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta — protesters also raised their voices in suburbs and small towns, reflecting the aim of coalescing a broad-based movement on the anniversary of Trump’s inauguration. ... Like last year’s protests, these overspilled U.S. borders, with dozens of overseas gatherings."
Tweet, tweet:
As always, the incomparable @Anna_V_E rallies the troops backstage before the Orlando @womensmarch! Last year she marched, now she’s running, + in November it’s time to ELECT @AnnaForFlorida to the FL House! #Sayfie pic.twitter.com/JK4tLlbFph
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) January 21, 2018
Assignment editors – The Florida National Organization for Women will hold a rally to mark the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision. Rally begins 5:30 p.m. at the Old Capitol in Tallahassee.
-- CAPITOL INSIGHT --
“Federal judge denies chef Emeril’s TV producer’s request to stop House subpoena” via Jeff Schweers of the Tallahassee Democrat – A federal judge denied a request from a TV producer to stop the Florida House from demanding business records connected to shows he made with Emeril LaGasse and Martha Stewart for VISIT FLORIDA. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker said he could not issue a preliminary injunction because the Legislature has the inherent authority to issue subpoenas and call witnesses and that C. Patrick Roberts, the subject of the subpoena, was not under immediate harm by the action. “Only in their response to our lawsuit for an injunction did they finally concede that they will give meaningful opportunity to be heard on these subpoenas,” said Tim Jansen, attorney for Roberts, who claims the records are constitutionally protected. Roberts, the owner of MAT Media, is being investigated by the House over the $15 million Visit Florida paid the Tallahassee producer over several years to create a series of television shows spotlighting the Sunshine State.
"Florida's state college system overhaul moving forward in Senate" via Ali Schmitz of the TCPalm.com - An extensive bill that would overhaul Florida’s state college system passed another committee ... on its way to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 540 would create a State Board of Community Colleges to oversee all 28 schools in the state college system. The colleges are currently under the State Board of Education, which also oversees the K-12 system. ... A similar House version of the bill has not been heard yet in any House committees. ... The bill is part of a wide-ranging higher education plan Negron has backed for years. Negron and several other senators believe state colleges are straying from their core mission of providing associate degrees and vocational education.
“Vacation rentals become focal point of state versus local power struggle” via Kenya Woodard of the Palm Beach Post – Airbnb and other websites like it are a growing part of an issue that is turning into a power struggle between state lawmakers and local government leaders. At a news conference last week in Tallahassee, Sen. Greg Steube and Rep. Mike La Rosa discussed their bills – SB 1400 and HB 773 respectively – which would put limits on how local governments regulate vacation rentals. The bills are backed by online vacation rental companies, including Airbnb and HomeAway … The Senate bill would prohibit county and municipal governments from regulating vacation rentals. Only the state would be allowed to set rules for people wanting to lease their homes or parts of their homes for short-term uses. The Senate bill also would require each vacation rental unit to be licensed by the state, and the state would charge a fee for the license. The House proposal would change far less. It would simply say local governments cannot prohibit vacation rentals or regulate how long or how often a property could be used for vacation rentals. Otherwise it would require local governments to uniformly regulate all rentals — whether they are vacation or long-term. But local officials say Steube and LaRosa’s efforts are more about chipping away at local government control than protecting homeowners.
-- “Longboat Key leaders push back against bill repealing local vacation rental restrictions” via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“House ready to take up anti-tax constitutional amendment” via the News Service of Florida – In a priority for Speaker Corcoran and Gov. Scott, the House will consider a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder to raise taxes and fees in Florida. The House is scheduled to take up the proposal (HJR 7001), filed by Rep. Tom Leek. Under it, future tax and fee increases would require approval from two-thirds of the House and Senate. If lawmakers approve the proposed constitutional amendment, it would go on the November ballot. The House is expected to take up nearly two-dozen measures during the floor session. Others include a bill (HB 27), filed by Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, that would end the controversial “certificate of need” regulatory process for approval of new hospital facilities and programs. The House also is expected to consider a bill (HB 67), filed by Rep. Kionne McGhee and Rep. Larry Lee Jr., that would lead to creation of a slavery memorial at the Capitol.
Legislative committee meetings to watch:
House takes on opioid epidemic – The House Appropriations Committee will discuss HB 21, from Bradenton Republican Jim Boyd, that attempts to address Florida’s growing opoid epidemic. Highlights of the bill include a three- or seven-day limits on prescriptions for painkillers, as well as requiring doctors to consult a statewide database known as the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Meeting begins 3 p.m. in Room 212 of the Knott Building.
Senate looks at prearrest diversion programs – on the agenda of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee is SB 1392, from St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, to promote prearrest diversion programs in local jurisdictions. Meeting starts 3:30 p.m. in Room 37 of the Senate Office building.
‘Hope scholarships’ debated in Senate – The Senate Education Committee will hear a SB 1172, from Bradenton Republican Bill Galvano, to make voucher-like scholarships available to public-school students who have been bullied or suffered other types intimidation. Meeting begins 3:30 p.m. in Room 412 of the Knott Building.
Assignment editors – The Revenue Estimating Conference will hold two meetings. At 8:30 a.m., to evaluate the State School Trust Fund and Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund. At 9 a.m., the conference will analyze gross-receipts and communications-services taxes. Both meetings will be in Room 117 of The Capitol’s Knott Building.
Assignment editors – State Reps. Barrington Russell and Robert Asencio, with Sen. Perry Thurston, will hold a news conference to highlight their proposed legislation to combat human trafficking. Event begins 10 a.m. outside the House Chamber, 4th-floor Rotunda of The Capitol.
Assignment editors – State Rep. Joseph Geller, Sen. Kevin Rader, and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz will hold a news conference to discuss existing gaps in the laws on hate crimes. HB 211/SB 588 would charge a hate crime in cases where victims are targeted because they have a physical disability or due to gender or gender identity. Event begins 10:30 a.m. at the Broward County Sheriff Department headquarters, 2601 W. Broward Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.
Assignment editors – The Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA), state Sen. Dennis Baxley, Rep. Loranne Ausley, Miami-Dade County Superintendent Alberto Carvalho will join 180 principals, assistant principals, and superintendents from around the state attending the Advocate ’18 Legislative Days Conference to announce SB 1334 and HB 1135, which require the lowest 300 performing elementary schools in the state to include in early childhood transition team. News conference begins 2 p.m. at the 4th-floor Rotunda of The Capitol.
-- STATEWIDE --
“Florida unemployment rate rose slightly at end of year” via The Associated Press – The unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in December. That’s 0.1 higher than it was in November, but the rate in Florida remains lower than the national rate of 4.1 percent. Florida lost more than 127,000 jobs after Hurricane Irma struck in September but has seen job growth since then. Last month the state gained 27,400 jobs. There are an estimated 374,000 jobless Floridians out of a workforce of 10.1 million people. The state added 213,500 jobs since December 2016. St. Johns County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.8 percent. Hendry County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.5 percent.
ICYMI this Friday night news dump - “Rick Scott administration again mishandles individuals’ private information” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics – The private information of nearly 1,000 individuals was mishandled by the state’s Division of Elections as it responded to a public records request last year, making it the second time in four months that a state agency has compromised the private information of Floridians. State officials said Friday that the last four digits of the social security number of 945 individuals were sent in error to a member of the public. Earlier this month, officials with the Agency of Health Care Administration confirmed that the medical records and personal information of up to 30,000 people enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program may have been compromised after a data breach.
“Scott sets execution in murder of college student” via the News Service of Florida – Gov. Scott scheduled a Feb. 22 execution for Death Row inmate Eric Scott Branch, who was convicted of murdering a University of West Florida student in 1993. Branch, now 46, was accused of sexually assaulting and murdering Susan Morris after accosting her when she went to her car following an evening class in January 1993 … Morris’ body was found later in nearby woods. An Escambia County jury convicted Branch in 1994 of first-degree murder and sexual battery.
Assignment editors – Gov. Scott will host a roundtable event in Miami Lakes with leaders from the Venezuelan community to discuss actions the Florida is taking against the Maduro regime. Event begins 10 a.m. at the Ana G. Mendez University System South Florida Campus, 15201 NW. 79th Court in Miami Lakes.
“Third person in a week hit by Brightline train” via Tonya Alanez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel – A Brightline train hit a man as he tried to beat the train across the tracks in Fort Lauderdale, marking the third time in a week the higher-speed line hit somebody, police said. The man was taken to Broward Health Medical Center as a trauma alert. His injuries were not life threatening … The man was running across the tracks, but didn't gauge the train's speed when it clipped him, authorities told WTVJ-Ch. 6.
“We feared Brightline would be deadly, but this is sickening” via Rich Campbell of TCPalm – Two Brightline fatalities in six days. These occurred on a relatively short segment of rail line (about 50 miles in length) where a limited number of daily trains are traveling under 79 mph. Now imagine what Brightline will become if the project is completed: Sixteen daily round-trip trains operating over 235 miles (Miami to Orlando) at speeds up to 110 mph. The Florida East Coast rail line — upon which Brightline operates — already has a specious safety record. The fatality Wednesday brings the number of deaths on the Jacksonville-to-Miami rail corridor up to 17 in the past 12 months. Sadly, it almost certainly will get worse when more and more passenger trains are added to the mix. Treasure Coast residents feared Brightline would be deadly, but this is even more frightening than many of us imagined.
A reminder from Republican political consultant Jacob Perry: "If you don't walk on train tracks you can't get hit by a train. I'm amazed that this needs to be pointed out."
“Crime victims' bill of rights clears lone constitutional review panel” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – A proposed constitutional amendment to give equal rights to crime victims on Friday cleared its only review panel and heads to the full Constitution Revision Commission. The amendment, if OK'd for the 2018 statewide ballot and passed by 60 percent of voters, includes the right "to refuse an interview, deposition, or other ... request by the defense," "to be heard in any public proceeding involving pretrial or other release," and "full and timely restitution in every case." The commission's Declaration of Rights Committee heard the well-known but harrowing story of Sen. Lauren Book, a Plantation Democrat, who was sexually abused for six years by her nanny. She has since created Lauren's Kids, an organization to prevent childhood sexual abuse and help its survivors. During a deposition in the subsequent criminal case, Book had been asked by the abuser's attorney, "You wanted it, right?"
“Nursing home residents' bill of rights wins approval” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – A modified version of a constitutional 'bill of rights' for residents of Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities won approval by its only review committee on Friday. The Declaration of Rights Committee approved the proposal (P88) by a vote of 5-2, sending it to the full Constitution Revision Commission for consideration. But the measure was immediately lambasted by the Florida Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes, assisted living facilities and others who care for the elderly and people with disabilities, especially regarding getting paid by Medicaid, the joint federal-state program. It pays for nursing home care that Medicare does not. "In reality it is nothing more than an avaricious ploy by trial lawyers to profit from increased lawsuits against nursing centers," said Emmett Reed, the association's executive director, in a statement.
“CRC panel — again — sinks school board pay proposal” via Daniel Ducassi of POLITICO Florida – A proposal dealing with school board compensation was shot down Friday by the Constitution Revision Commission's Education Committee — more than a month after it was killed, and then revived, by the same committee. The measure was amended to pare back the proposal that was originally aimed at prohibiting most forms of compensation for school board members aside from compensation for travel and per diem expenses. The amendment would have allowed the Legislature to set a stipend for school board members, though most other forms of compensation would still be prohibited. Proposal sponsor Erika Donalds, who is also a Collier County school board member, questioned whether money that goes toward paying school board salaries is the most effective use for such funding, or if it would be better off being “used in the classroom to help students achieve.” She also noted that school board members in few other states receive compensation at the level of those in Florida.
-- "CRC education chair: 'I don't remember' if other members joined talks during meeting break" via Daniel Ducassi of POLITICO Florida
The worst story you'll read today - “Parents wanted caseworkers to back off. A week later, their toddler died horribly” via Carol Marbin Miller, Daniel Chang and Alex Harris of the Miami Herald – Christina Hurt and Taboris Coley believed they had gotten all the help they needed from child welfare workers and asked a Miami-Dade judge to release their family from state supervision. The family’s caseworkers disagreed. In about a week’s time, the social workers were proven tragically prophetic. Hurt’s 1-year-old son, Ethan Coley, stopped breathing — the result, police say, of a severe scalding that Hurt deliberately left untreated. Hurt told authorities she was afraid the Department of Children & Families would remove the baby from her custody, along with her five older children, who had been returned to her only months earlier. Hurt, 35, was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter. Coley, 30, did not live with the family and he was not charged by police. Records show Hurt was arrested by Miami-Dade police in July 2014 and charged with felony child neglect. She pleaded no contest to the charges and received two years’ probation but no conviction.
“Record number of inmates died in Florida prisons last year. And they died younger than past years.” via Sarah Blaskey of the Miami Herald – The tally, 428 inmate deaths in 2017, was released by the Florida Department of Corrections and showed a 20 percent increase over previous years. “A 20 percent spike in prison deaths is of course alarming, as is the fact that it’s younger inmates that are dying, rather than people who have been in there for decades,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida American Civil Liberties Union. “But I don’t want to jump to any conclusions. Many of these are under investigations. And there’s multiple causes.” Those who died in 2017 averaged 56.3 years of age. Since 2012, the average age of death in the prison system has swung between 57.1 and 58.2 years old. The Florida prison system has long been considered one of the most dangerous by almost any metric, including inmate-on-inmate violence, use-of-force by staff and problems with delivery of health care. But there is no easy answer as to why the number of deaths spiked so drastically from one year to the next.
“Striking Florida prisoners thrown in solitary confinement, activists say” via Jerry Iannelli of the Miami New Times – After Florida prisoners announced #OperationPUSH, a monthlong work stoppage beginning on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the state prison system has so far claimed no disturbances or strikes have taken place. Activists say that's not the full story. Multiple labor organizing groups, civil rights organizations, and prisoners' rights advocates said yesterday that in the weeks leading up to the strike, the FDOC preemptively began throwing protest organizers into cells that are basically solitary confinement. "We're finding out now that over the past several weeks, they've been pulling any organizers they can ID and either relocating them or putting them in 'close-management' units, which is the equivalent of solitary confinement," Panagioti Tsolkas, an activist with the Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons, one of the groups promoting the protest, told New Times. "There have also been shakedowns to take peoples' independent means of communications, like any networks of cell phones on the inside" … "Generally, yes, there have been incidents," he said, "but they've been overshadowed so far by the preemptive retaliation. They've also brought in scab labor in the form of other prisoners who aren't aware of the strike."
Must read - “Dangerous Detention: Treasure Coast mental hospital lacks staff, training, licensing, funding” via Lucas Daprile of TCPalm – [At the] Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center … there have been 87 reported batteries since 2007, including one in 2016 that killed a patient. But records and interviews with former staff show attacks have gone unreported. Correct Care Solutions could curb the violence if it had enough people staffing the hospital, several former employees told TCPalm. The state has fined the hospital $693,209 for violating contract-mandated minimum staffing levels since 2007. But the fines and workers’ compensation payouts — combined — cost less than operating at full staff … The Treasure Coast hospital's problems have intensified during Correct Care Solutions' three-year tenure — versus Geo Group's seven — though both companies share many of the same administrators, medical officials and security guards. Half the fines, a third of the reported assaults and two of the four patient deaths have occurred in the past 3? years … “The officer-to-inmate ratio …,” former security guard Theresanne Garone said, “if there was a riot, there would be no way that we even could remotely hold that place down.”
"When a hurricane closes schools, no work means no pay for thousands of hourly workers" via Jessica Bakeman of WLRN - For many of the lowest-paid employees at some of Florida’s largest school districts, Hurricane Irma was a direct financial hit. ... The employees include clerical, facilities and food service workers, bus drivers, teachers’ aides, adult education teachers, coaches, after-school counselors, behavior technicians, job coaches, detention instructors and community liaisons. During the breaks, which stretched from seven to as many as 18 days in some South Florida schools, another nearly 12,000 substitute teachers also missed out on potential wages. ... Learning from the experience of Irma, the Miami-Dade district is pursuing a strategy to mitigate hourly employees' immediate economic hardships. And some South Florida district leaders are considering changing their payroll policies to allow for some of these workers to get paid during future storms.
“Inspector General launches investigation into Tampa Bay’s local career centers” via Mark Puente of the Tampa Bay Times – The state has opened an investigation into CareerSource Pinellas and CareerSource Tampa Bay, days after the Tampa Bay Times asked about whether the two regional job centers were inflating the number of people they had helped get hired. The agencies, which train displaced workers and match others to jobs with local employers, consistently ranked ahead of Florida’s other 22 regional career centers. The Times asked the Department of Economic Opportunity whether state rules allow the two local agencies to take credit for hiring workers who never sought help at any center that CareerSource operates in the bay area. "The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Office of the Inspector General has opened an investigation into how CareerSource Pinellas and CareerSource Tampa Bay report the job placements," department spokeswoman Tiffany Vause said in a statement. "The Department expects all workforce development boards to comply with state and federal funding requirements and act in the best interest of the job seekers and businesses they serve."
“Seminole school board member hasn’t been to meeting for 10 months” via Leslie Postal of the Orlando Sentinel – Jeffrey Bauer, a Seminole County School Board member paid $41,040 a year, has not attended a meeting in 10 months nor taken part in any school board business since February of last year. Bauer, elected in 2014, also no longer lives in the Casselberry home he listed as his residence on election documents, on his voter registration form and with the Seminole school district. That home, owned by his father, Frederick Bauer, was badly burned in a fire in August, county records show. It now stands empty, its front door, garage and windows covered with plywood. The Orlando Sentinel could not determine where Bauer now lives. By state law, school board members must live in the district in which they ran.
-- NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL --
“Marco Rubio calls out Puerto Rico’s governor and tempers statehood push” via Alex Daugherty of the Miami Herald – Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló called out Rubio by name because he was unhappy with the Republican tax bill and said he would campaign against those who “turned their backs” on the U.S. territory. Now, the Florida Republican, who is often regarded as Puerto Rico’s most important advocate in Washington, is throwing cold water on Puerto Rican statehood and is urging Rosselló, a Democrat who won election in 2016, to spend more time governing in San Juan than campaigning in Florida. Rubio’s comments in Puerto Rico’s largest newspaper are a blow to Rosselló’s hopes for Congress to act on statehood, his party’s most important policy issue. “If I were the governor of a state or territory that does not have power, I would spend more time [there] than in Orlando,” Rubio said to El Nuevo Día. “Sometimes, when people feel criticized and under pressure, they look for someone to blame, because they did not achieve this or that. I do not think it is smart to turn the Puerto Rican issue into a partisan issue.”
“Andrew Gillum: Raise Florida State corporate taxes to build schools, increase teacher pay” via Jeff Schweers of the Tallahassee Democrat – Touting himself as the most progressive gubernatorial candidate in Florida history, Gillum unveiled a plan to hike corporate taxes to pay for rebuilding the state’s public education system and giving teachers raises. “This created an incredible opportunity for us here in Florida,” Gillum said. “President Trump’s tax scam gave a massive windfall to the richest corporations in our country, who are literally walking away with sacks of money. He gave the people of Florida lemons, and we have an opportunity to make lemonade.” That lemonade would come from squeezing the Florida corporations benefiting from a $6 billion tax windfall from the tax reform package, he said. By raising the corporate tax rate in Florida from 5.5 percent to 7.75 percent, Gillum said the state could generate about $1 billion a year for school infrastructure, bringing starting pay for teachers up to $50,000 a year, and investing in workforce development programs like Shop 2.0.
Philip Levine launches new Spanish-language ad on Donald Trump, DREAMers – The 30-second ad from Levine’s “All about Florida” will run for 10 days as part of the new $100,000 ad buy on Hispanic broadcast channels across the state. The new ad, "Injusticia," attacks Trump's refusal to pass a clean bill for DACA and gambling with the future of 800,000 DREAMers. The ad also highlights Levine's pledge to stand up and fight for these children's right to remain and prosper in the United States. “We want DREAMers to know that they are not alone, and that there are many who are fighting for them and believe in doing the right thing," said Levine senior adviser Christian Ulvert.
Click on the image below to watch the ad:
“Sarasota state House race has major parties on edge” via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune – When Republican state House candidate James Buchanan decided to stop avoiding campaign appearances with his opponents and agreed last week to a debate it was viewed by some of his supporters as a sign that the avoidance strategy — one often employed by front-runners — was starting to hurt him. Leading Southwest Florida Republicans have expressed concerns about the District 72 race in recent days. A Democrat won a special election for the Wisconsin seat last week, despite Trump having carried it by 17 percentage points. Trump won the Sarasota state House district Buchanan is seeking by 4.4 percentage points. But Democrats are fired up to push back against Trump and the GOP agenda in Congress, and that enthusiasm is manifesting itself in races up and down the ballot, including special elections for legislative seats. Regardless, Democrats have reason to be nervous as well. Republicans still have a significant voter registration advantage in District 72, which covers much of northern Sarasota County. A Republican has held the seat since 2010.
“Kathleen Peters bows out of contention for PSC seat” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – Rep. Peters announced on Saturday morning she was withdrawing her bid to join the Public Service Commission (PSC), citing the need to fight St. Pete’s plan to pump wastewater underground. Peters, a Treasure Island Republican, relayed her decision in an email. “… Since submitting my application, I have learned that the City of St. Petersburg is seeking permission to pump sewage into the aquifer beneath Pinellas from which we draw our water,” she added. “Many of my constituents are very upset by this possibility and have urged me to fight this proposal. I believe I can best do that by continuing on the course I had previously set forth as a candidate for the Pinellas County Commission. With that in mind, I have decided to respectfully withdraw my application for the Public Service Commission….”
“Teresa Jacobs still undecided on what’s next for her” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics – The term-limited Orange County mayor has been a singular fixture in Central Florida politics for most of the past 18 years, a Republican who never had any trouble trouncing opponents in elections, even when Democrats had strong voter registration advantages. Then she drew national notice with her response to the Pulse tragedy in June 2016. And now her term is almost up. Jacobs made it clear early in 2017 that she had not decided what she wanted to do next, and acknowledged she was contemplating running for another elected office, but would not elaborate. She had been discussed in Republican circles as a possible candidate for offices ranging from Congress to Florida chief financial officer. A lot has changed in the nine or 10 months since then, but one thing hasn't changed. Jacobs still has not decided what she wants to do. "I haven't made it," she said. "It's hard, because, still, 100 percent of my energy every day is in doing what I am doing, and it takes a lot of energy to run a campaign for another office. It's hard to have the time and energy to think about it."
-- OPINIONS --
“Steve Schale: Ode to sh*tholes” via Florida Politics – My experience is more like this: when I am in the “nice” world, I walk away learning something new about the place or feeding my interest in history — akin to going to a museum, while when I am in the “shithole” world, I learn something new about myself and humanity in general. Life in the shithole world often isn’t easy. People learn to be resourceful. They have to tolerate things in their daily life that we would find completely unacceptable here. And often times, they are forced to live in places with governments who are unworthy of those they serve. But at the same time, when you spend a few weeks in the developing world, you will also come back with a new sense of respect for the people that live there. Whether we want to admit it or not, it is easy to look down on the rest of the world, as if, for example, a guy living in Haiti, or Cambodia, or the Congo is somehow lesser, when in fact, after you meet him in his place, you learn he isn’t lessor — he’s just different. If you haven’t spent any time in the developing world, make it your next trip. Go to explore, go to learn and go to be inspired. And if nothing else, go for the food. Definitely, go for the food.
“Nancy Smith: Adress potentially deadly rail crossings now, during 2018 session” via Sunshine State News – Maybe now – four deaths later – state and federal officials can stop looking at opposition to All Aboard Florida/Brightline's high-speed rail service as the product of a few sour Treasure Coast residents trying to hold back progress. The passenger service is literally only a week into Phase 1, making runs between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach and it's awash in tragedies. For a moment can we please put the brakes on our plunge toward Phase 2 long enough to make sure this venture is going to be as safe as it possibly can be? Can we get serious about the rail-safety bills fighting to survive committees in both chambers this Session? Speaker Richard Corcoran seems to get it. Corcoran was cautious, but he said HB 525 – Reps. Erin Grall and Mary Lynn Magar's proposal that the railroad pay for the cost of maintenance upgrades – will “have movement” this year. That's encouraging. In 2017 the bill never got a hearing. “It’s important, and we’ll keep following it and looking at it,” Corcoran said.
“John Romano: If UCF is national champion, then I’m a Hollywood stud” via the Tampa Bay Times – You can find legislative priorities that are written like an online dating profile. Some fudging here, some exaggeration there. If the data doesn’t fit your political objective, just commission a study to twist the narrative in your favor and .?.?. Voila! The truth is now negotiable. We’ve become so accustomed to it, we’ll happily pay for fictitious nuclear power plants and have impassioned discussions about sanctuary cities that don’t exist. I would say it’s our dirty little secret, but the rest of the world is starting to catch on. And that’s bound to happen when you try to emblazon something ridiculous on something as official as, say, a state license plate. But, because UCF plays in the Walmart of conferences and because the lords of college football tailor everything around brand-name schools, the Knights never got a shot at the four-team playoff that typically determines the national championship. It stinks, no doubt about that. And it’s worth arguing, too. But proposing a bill in the Legislature that would declare the Knights as national champions on an official state license plate? Heck, why not celebrate perjury while we’re at it?
-- LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS --
New and renewed lobbying registrations:
Kenneth Armstrong: Florida Trucking Association
Matt Bryan, David Daniel, Jeff Hartley, Lisa Hurley, Jim Naff, Andrea Reilly, Smith Bryan & Myers: Corizon Health, Horizon Realty Advisors, Florida Chamber of Commerce
Dean Cannon, Christopher Dawson, Mary Kim McDougal, Kirk Pepper, Joseph Salzverg, GrayRobinson: Miami-Dade County, Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind
Charles Dudley, Floridian Partners: Heavy Equipment Rental Tax Coalition
Kari Hicks, Sunshine State Consultants: Penn Sanford
Brian Hudson, The Hudson Group: Home Depot
Eduardo Gonzalez, Sun City Strategies: City of Doral
Steven Koerner: Recurrent Energy
Darrick McGhee, Johnson & Blanton: Town of Greenville
Will McKinley, Angela Dempsey, Sophie Smith, PooleMcKinley: Imagine Learning
D. Drew Medcalf: Florida Association of State Troopers
April Mims: Lyft
Nikolas Nartowicz: Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Eric Prutsman, Prutsman & Associates: Santa Rosa County
Laura Reynolds, Conservation Concepts: Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society
Deborah Hummer Stevenson: City of Tampa
-- MOVEMENTS --
“Nicolle Wallace’s road from the White House to 30 Rock” via Sridhar Pappu of The New York Times –It’s been a surprising career trajectory for Wallace, who — after four years as a regular panelist on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” and a yearlong (and not entirely successful) stint on “The View” — now anchors a prime spot on MSNBC’s afternoon lineup, acting as a lead-in for Chuck Todd’s “MTP Daily,” and going up against Jake Tapper on CNN and Neil Cavuto on Fox News. The timing of Wallace’s show coincides with the presidency of Trump … And it is that president who has been Wallace’s most frequent on-air foil since her show began. Before that, she had been an outspoken critic of his campaign, calling out the candidate for what she saw as his xenophobic and racist views, going back to his role in the “birther” movement that questioned the legitimacy of Barack Obama. That antipathy has not ebbed since the 2016 election. “What a disgrace this White House is,” she tweeted in November, reacting to reports that Trump had made critical comments about the presidencies of both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. “New low. Appalled for my former colleagues from the 43 White House.” On her program in January, she said Mr. Trump “is like a 12-year-old commander in chief.” Her eagerness to take on the president, especially from the vantage point of someone who long played a key role in the political party he now heads (and thus offered the perspective of a former insider) apparently appealed to her MSNBC bosses.
“Gaveling in: Rick Scott appoints new judges” via Florida Politics – Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment of four new trial-court and appellate judges. Among them are Christopher LaBruzzo and Frederick Pollack to the 6th Judicial Circuit Court. LaBruzzo, 42, of Tampa, is an Assistant State Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit. Pollack, 45, of Clearwater, is a partner at Hunter Law. The 6th Circuit covers Pasco and Pinellas counties.
“Personnel note: Beth Goldberg joins GrayRobinson” via Florida Politics – Goldberg most recently has been Assistant Director for the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), capping a regulatory career spanning three decades. Now, she’s taking that expertise to Florida’s GrayRobinson law firm as the newest member of its Nationwide Alcohol Industry Team. “The alcohol business is one of the most heavily regulated industries in America,” said Richard M. Blau, head of the practice team, in a statement. “Beth is the perfect example of a well-respected industry professional with extensive institutional knowledge and strong regulatory relationships to bring to the table for the benefit of our clients.”
-- ALOE --
Rest in peace - "Paul Bocuse, a master of French cuisine, dies at 91" via The Associated Press - Bocuse, the master chef who defined French cuisine for nearly half a century and put it on tables around the world, a man who raised the profile of top chefs from invisible kitchen artists to international celebrities, has died at 91, French officials announced. Often referred to as the "pope of French cuisine," Bocuse was a tireless pioneer, the first chef to blend the art of cooking with savvy business tactics — branding his cuisine and his image to create an empire of restaurants around the globe. His imposing physical stature and his larger-than-life personality matched his bold dreams and his far-flung accomplishments. Bocuse died Saturday at Collonges-au-Mont-d'or, the place where he was born and had his restaurant, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement.
Welcome to the world Harper Bella Biehl, daughter of MacKenzie and Taylor Biehl. Born just after midnight Sunday, weighing seven pounds, six ounces.
Happy birthday belatedly Rep. Al Jacquet and Sen. Tom Lee. Celebrating today are former Senate President Don Gaetz, as well as Tim Center, Greg Black, Georgia McKeown, and Dr. Jeff Sharkey.