A morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics, on the ground at the Florida Health Care Affordability Summit.
Key health care industry leaders, innovators and lawmakers gathered today at the World Center Marriott in Orlando to participate in the first set of panel discussions at the 2013 Florida Health Care Affordability Summit. The Summit, a sold out event hosted by the Foundation of Associated Industries of Florida (FAIF), has brought together some of the most instrumental decision makers and thought leaders to discuss the areas of critical-need for Florida’s health care landscape.
Kicking off the Summit was Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) President and CEO Tom Feeney, who was immediately followed by the opening keynote speaker, Michael L. Millenson, president of Health Care Quality Advisors LLC.
“We have received extraordinary encouragement and support surrounding the health care Summit and the good it promises to bring when it comes to the future of quality and affordable health care in Florida,” said Feeney. “The goal of this event was to bring as varied and qualified an array of participants as possible to share their perspective on how we can make health care more accessible to everyone in our state. And, I believe we have been able to accomplish just that.”
The selected panels for day one of the Summit included discussions on how to best ‘provide care and coverage to all Floridians,’ moderated by Senator Joe Negron, ‘increase accountability within Florida’s health care system,’ moderated by Senator Aaron Bean and ‘unravel the mysteries behind health care financing,’ moderated by Representative John Wood .
Closing out the Summit events for the day was Republican Policy Committee Chairman Congressman Tom Price of Georgia with an update on the state of health care in Washington.
PERSONNEL NOTE unearthed at the FHCA Summit: Transp guy Toby Philpot going to work for health care guru Alan Levine.
SPOTTED at first day of the FHCA Summit: Rep. Larry Ahern … Slayter Bayliss … Adam Babington … Allison Carvajal … Mike Hightower … James Kotas … Rep. Jose Oliva … Sally Ann West.
TWEET, TWEET: @saintpetersblog: Watching @AaronPBean on TV in media center at this time of day, one would almost think they are watching a game show.
***The new year brings a new election cycle. Yes, only 22 months until voters go back to the polls for Florida cabinet and legislative races. Go to www.On3PR.com to see which 2014 candidates have opened their campaign accounts and posted their Q4 report – due to the Division of Elections by midnight, January 10.***
OBAMA BUNGLES SECOND TERM TRANSITION
First Read: “The second-term cabinet shuffle has been an unforced error so far. (The reason why the White House is receiving criticism for a lack of diversity is that it has nominated three consecutive white men for cabinet posts — John Kerry, Chuck Hagel, and today Jack Lew — but without a high-profile woman or minority thrown into the mix. And that doesn’t include John Brennan at CIA and a likely white male to be the next White House chief of staff.) Indeed, you could argue that the Romney folks thought a lot more about staffing a Romney administration over the next four years than Team Obama did about a second-term administration.”
In fairness to the White House, its top officials were so focused on the fiscal-cliff talks in the past two months. What’s more, this kind of disorganization isn’t unusual for a second term, especially after winning a hard-fought race for re-election. And finally, it’s a process story. At the end of the day, it’s likely that Obama’s second-term cabinet will have plenty of diversity and top-notch names. But the process hasn’t been pretty. Question for the White House: Why didn’t it have a second-term transition director? Someone whose full-time job was to keep an eye on the optics of how and when to announce, on the leaks etc.?
>>>Jill Lawrence: “A confluence of factors is making the frat-house syndrome seem worse than it is.”
HILLARY LEADS JEB, MARCO IN POLL OF 2016 via Public Policy Polling
Clinton looks pretty strong in very early general election match ups as well. She has 14 point leads over Paul Ryan (53/39), Jeb Bush (51/37), and Marco Rubio (also 51/37).
The most epic possible 2016 match up at this early point would be between Clinton and Chris Christie. She leads him just 44-42. But our poll indicates getting the Republican nomination could prove to be quite a challenge for Christie. Right now Rubio leads the GOP field with 21% to 16% for Ryan, 15% for Mike Huckabee, 14% for Christie and Bush, 5% for Rand Paul, 3% for Bobby Jindal, and 2% each for Susana Martinez and Rick Perry.
***Florida Capitol Advocates is one of the most experienced advocacy groups in Florida. The firm has extensive experience advocating on behalf of clients in front of state, federal, and international governments and is ready to help your organization successfully maneuver through the legislative process. Visit FloridaCapitolAdvocates.com to learn more about how they can help you.***
AUSMAN: CLENDENIN UP 2 TO 1 BUT MANY VOTES UNDECLARED by William March of the Tampa Tribune
Ausman published his analysis in an email to Democrats late Wednesday night, after Clendenin released a signed endorsement backing him from the DEC members representing the three largest counties—Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach.
His conclusion: His conclusion: DEC members with 390 votes, or 68 percent, favor Clendenin. Another 183 votes, or 32 percent, are declared for Tant. But 545 votes, or nearly half, remain publicly uncommitted.
HERE’S WHERE SH*T STANDS IN RACE FOR FDP CHAIR via Kartik Krishnaiyer of the Political Hurricane
- Allison Tant has received the support of all of the NW Florida counties except Okaloosa which has endorsed Alan Clendenin. I’m told Holmes County however has not committed to Tant, despite being included in Tant’s release.
- Tant has secured many commitments from Central Florida while Clendenin picked up several from the counties surrounding Tampa.
- Palm Beach County State Committeeman John Ramos is the subject of much intrigue today. He signedan endorsement for Clendenin just two days ago but now apparently is supporting Tant.
- The Dolphin Democratic Club in the Broward County, the most active and influential grassroots LGBT partisan group in the state has endorsed Clendenin.
- According to a tally sheet from Jon Ausman, whose outstanding 20-year track record of numbers crunching and knowing party rules speaks for itself, Clendenin is 77% of the way to the necessary votes for chair based on commitments whereas Tant is 59% of the way there. The rest of the votes are uncommitted. (This tally includes Ramos in the Tant column.)
OH, AND HERE’S A LINK TO THE STORY ABOUT CHARLIE CRIST THAT RICK SCOTT’S ADVISER SAID I WOULDN’T INCLUDE IN SUNBURN here.
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Senator Bill Nelson, python slayer, here.
***The PA Team of Jack and Keyna Cory and Erin Daly have represented clients before the Florida Legislature, state agencies and local governments for over 20 years. They don’t just show up for the legislative session. Instead they custom design and implement a Grassroots Program for each of their Clients that functions all year long. As one former legislator stated, “They are tough, well-organized, dedicated to their clients and in full command of the facts.”***
SCOTT’S COMMITTEE ADDS 360K via the News Service of Florida
A political committee that will play a key role in Gov. Rick Scott’s 2014 re-election bid raised $360,000 in November and December, including $100,000 from AT&T Services, Inc., according to the state Division of Elections website. The “Let’s Get to Work” committee collected a total of about $5.2 million in 2011 and 2012, building up a bankroll that can be used to help Scott seek another term. Also contributing $100,000 during the past two months was Bayfront 2011 Development LLC, which is affiliated with the Genting Group, a company that wants to build a resort casino in Miami. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and a Florida Retail Federation political committee each contributed $50,000.
SCOTT RESHAPES STATE EDUCATION BOARD by John Kennedy of the Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott appointed five new members of the Board of Governors on Thursday, bringing him close to having named a majority of the 17-member panel responsible for overseeing Florida’s 12 state universities.
Scott’s office announced the appointments of Wayne Huizenga Jr., Ned Lautenbach, Alan Levine, Wendy Link and Edward Morton in a brief news release late Thursday. The five will join three other members of the board that Scott has appointed.
The five were named to seats that were either vacant or where the terms of current board members had expired and those members had not applied to be reappointed. Scott’s office did not announce what will happen with the seat currently held by Norman Tripp, who has asked for another term.
ACLU DETAILS TWO YEARS OF WORK AGAINST SCOTT IN NEW REPORT via Kathleen Haughney of the Sun-Sentinel
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said the whole focus of their office changed two years ago when Gov. Rick Scott was sworn into office.
“The entire focus of the work of the ACLU over the past two years has changed substantially to step up and meet the civil rights concerns,” said Randall Marshall, legal director of the Florida office.
The group in a conference call laid out their work over the past two years, which has included involvement in 11 different lawsuits against the Scott administration or the Republican Legislature over voting rights, drug testing and doctors’ rights to ask patients about gun ownership.
Moving forward, the group said it hopes to press for election reforms, the smart justice initiative that advocates for drug treatment over incarceration and changes to the death penalty statute.
FLORIDA REGAINS TO 10 RANKING IN EDUCATION REPORT
Florida reestablished its top-10 ranking this year in a national education report that judges states by their education policies and performance. Florida had been in the top 10 since 2009 and rose as high as fifth place in 2011. But then it dropped to 11th place last year because student progress stalled on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, national tests in math and reading.
TWEET, TWEET: @SenatorJohnLegg: Great job Florida Educators…Up to #6 in the nation…quality does count!
***Today’s SUNBURN is also sponsored by Corcoran & Johnston Government Relations. With more than 45 years of combined legislative and regulatory knowledge and experience, Corcoran & Johnston’s ability to navigate through the processes and politics of government and deliver for their clients is unmatched.***
LEGISLATIVE BRIEFS
Clemens files bill to limit number of amendments on ballot (via Kathleen Haughney): Clemens has filed legislation that would limit the number of amendments on an election ballot to three.
The move comes two months after the controversial November election where voters stood in lines for hours in major metro areas like Miami-Dade. Election supervisors and state officials said the long ballot was part of the reason for the long waits.
Stand Your Ground repeal filed: The controversial “stand your ground” self-defense law would be repealed under a bill filed this week by a House Democrat. The law, which allows those who feel threatened to shoot back at assailants out in public, seized the national spotlight last year with the February shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford. Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, filed the measure (HB 4009) on Wednesday.
Tobacco settlement bill re-filed: A bill that would require more cigarette makers to pay the state as part of its settlement with tobacco companies was filed on Thursday. The measure, which has been pushed unsuccessfully for several years, is sponsored by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera. The bill (SB 252), would hit one company in particular: Miami-based Dosal wasn’t part of Florida’s 1997 settlement with the cigarette industry that provided billions of dollars for the state. Backers of adding the non-settling companies say they sell low-ppriced cigarettes that undercut the major cigarette makers, which do pay into the settlement. Those big companies are among the supporters of the legislation, arguing it’s an unfair competitive landscape. Dosal has argued in the past that it was not part of deceptive trade practices that prompted the state to sue big tobacco companies and therefore should not have to pay.
***Representatives from Florida’s aerospace industry will visit Tallahassee on March 6, 2013, to participate in Florida Space Day and share with legislators the opportunities the industry brings to Florida and the nation’s space program. During Space Day, industry leaders and other aerospace supporters will meet with House and Senate members, as well as the lieutenant governor, to discuss growing areas of the state’s $8 billion space industry, and determine the best strategies for leveraging these markets for Florida’s benefit in the years ahead.***
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE
Campaign finance reports from 2012 legislative, judicial, state attorney and public defender candidates, political committees, committees of continuous existence, electioneering communications organizations, and independent expenditure organizations for the period of Nov. 2 to Dec. 31 were due to the Division of Elections at 5 p.m. Thursday. Reports for candidates already registered for the 2014 elections for the period of Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 were also due last night.
CANNON, CRETUL, LORENZO’S NEW FIRM TEES OFF WITH IMPRESSIVE CLIENT LIST
Showing their muscle only weeks away from opening day of the 2013 session, the Capitol Insight team of former Speaker Dean Cannon, former Speaker Larry Cretul, former Director of AWI, Cynthia Lorenzo and former Speaker’s Office uber staffer Kirk Pepper, have just recently filed their official “I am Lobbyist Now” forms.
Now before my friends in the Capitol Press Corp begin writing about the injustice of former elected officials lobbying – get over it. It is legal. To show the divide and line in sand, Cretul and Lorenzo are registered for legislative and Cannon and Pepper are registered for executive only. Again, that is allowed. Some may not like it, but as they say – Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
So here is the line up — so far — for Team Capitol Insight:
College of Central Florida Foundation, Inc.
Florida Association of Broadcasters
Florida Association of Insurance Agents
Florida Association of Realtors
Florida Municipal Electric Association
Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida, Inc.
Haven Hospice
HCA
Kemcho Investment Group
Millenium Laboratories
Sunshine State Health Plan, Inc.
SWD Owner, Inc.
The Conservation Campaign
The Morganti Group
The Villages
Walt Disney World Resorts
LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST
The Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2013 Legislative Breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave. The following lawmakers are on the program: James Grant, Ed Hooper and Jack Latvala. A continental breakfast will be provided. The event is free; however, reservations are required.
SMART JUSTICE ALLIANCE NAMES BARNEY BISHOP NEW PREZ
The Florida Smart Justice Alliance today announced that veteran Tallahassee business leader and advocate Barney Bishop III has been named to serve as President and CEO of the organization. Bishop had previously served as Vice President of the Alliance, which works to find approaches to Florida’s justice system that enhance public safety while saving taxpayer dollars.
… The Smart Justice Alliance also announced the addition of Florida government veteran Jim DeBeaugrine to help develop legislative proposals to implement Smart Justice initiatives. DeBeaugrine, a former long-time legislative staffer and then Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities under two Governors, is now CEO of RFJ Governmental Consultants. DeBeaugrine will work with members of the GrayRobinson firm Fred Leonhardt, Robert F. Stuart Jr. and Chris Carmody, who have been the lobbying team for the Florida Smart Justice Alliance.
YOU’RE INVITED to a fundraiser for Reps. Dane Eagle, Travis Hutson, Mike LaRosa and David Santiago on January 23 at 419 East Georgia Street in Tallahassee. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event is hosted by Speaker Will Weatherford and Speaker Designates Steve Crisafulli and Richard Corcoran.
***Today’s SUNBURN is also sponsored by Ron Sachs Communication. Ron Sachs Communications provides its clients with a competitive advantage built on strategic relationships, dynamic creativity and smart and aggressive communications strategies that generate superior results. If you want to win, you’ll want to have Ron Sachs Communications on your side. www.RonSachs.com***
CAN’T WAIT TO READ: Rumsfeld’s Rules by former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY this weekend to Julie Delegal.
FLU SEASON HITS FLORIDA HARD: Flu season has begun with a bang and more than half the states, including Florida, have been classified “high” activity areas by the U. S. Centers for Disease Contro
