Sunburn for 1/22 — A morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics

A morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision.

EMAIL OF THE DAY – “Thank You” from President Barack Obama: “I just renewed my oath of office to serve as your president for four more years. Thank you for making this possible. It’s an honor to be your president. Now it’s time to finish what we started — let’s get going.”

FINAL OBAMA HAUL via POLITICO Influence

Obama’s combined fundraising efforts topped $1.1 billion, the campaign announced to a group of top donors Saturday. The campaign had 4.5 million total donors, including 2.9 million new donors who sat out the 2008 cycle. The average donation was $65.89. Another interesting note: The Obama campaign was largely funded by big donors until the summer of 2012, when online donations soared and surpassed big donors as a revenue stream.

FLORIDIANS WHO SUPPORTED OBAMA REVEL AT INAUGURATION by William Gibson of the Sun Sentinel

Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of chilly South Floridians joined the throng at the base of the Capitol or along the inaugural parade route to see President Barack Obama take the oath of office and begin his second term.

They include Obama campaign workers from Broward and Palm Beach counties who wanted to witness firsthand the results of their hard work to get him elected.

“I still think the enthusiasm of people who support the president is there in some ways more than the past, partly because of getting health-care reform through Congress and getting rid of `don’t ask, don’t tell.’” said Ken Evans, a Democratic state committeeman from Broward County. “Obviously, he’s still working on jobs.”

MISSING FROM THE INAUGURATION? MARCO RUBIO

“He’s in Miami. Kids didn’t have school today,” said spokesman Alex Conant.

TWEET, TWEET: Obama speech includes shot @FLGovScott “Journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.”

TWO INAUGURATION VIDEOS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

The first, based off a story by Karen Tumulty, tells the story of Earl Smith and the patch he gave to President Obama.

The second is a reflection by D.C. native Clinton Yates on the city he loves and the major moments he has seen in it over the years.

WHAT WAS ON BILL NELSON’S HEAD? The Tampa Bay Times studied the photo and talked to Nelson’s office. He kept warm wearing a bright orange baseball hat with a camouflage visor. A spokesman said Nelson uses it for quail hunting.

WEATHERFORD’S FACEBOOK STATUS RE: INAUGURATION

I enjoyed the part of the Presidents speech where he talked about working together to reduce the 16 trillion $ debt…oh wait, that never happened! Wow!

HOUSE WILL VOTE TO RAISE DEBT LIMIT ON WEDNESDAY

In the middle of the inaugural festivities, Republican officials confirmed the House will vote Wednesday on an increase in the nation’s debt limit, a move designed to prevent a first-ever government default, the AP reports.

The vote marks a change in strategy for House Republicans who run the chamber and who remain adamant about reducing government spending but decided not to use the debt limit to trigger a confrontation with President Barack Obama.”

***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.***

FLORIDA DEMOCRATS WORK TO INVIGORATE VOTERS by William March of the Tampa Tribune

In 2014, Democrats will be trying to protect three new Florida Congress members and several new state legislators, while also aiming at a big prize they haven’t won since 1994 – the governor’s office.

Exhilarated by their Nov. 6 wins and the unpopularity of Republican Gov. Rick Scott, Democrats are giddy with dreams of recapturing influence in state government they haven’t had since the mid-1990s.

But they may have a dash of cold water coming.

“Lower midterm turnouts tend to skew the electorate toward older, white and/or more affluent voters” – in other words, Republicans – Schailler wrote in a recent article.

NEW FACEBOOK PAGE – DOGS AGAINST RICK SCOTT with 5,464 likes as of Monday morning.

SCOTT BANISHED DOG AFTER IT BIT STATE WORKER via Lucy Morgan of the Tampa Bay Times

The dog bite occurred while the governor was in Orlando on Jan 7, 2011, just three days after Scott took office, according to an incident report released by Scott’s office late last week. Mansion grounds employee Jennifer Kinsey was arranging flowers in the mansion when Reagan bit her on the right hand, according to an incident report made by her supervisor for the Department of Management Services. The report noted that the injury was not serious and required no medical treatment.

The story is coming out almost two weeks after the Times first started asking about Reagan’s whereabouts.

SCOTT APPOINTED FEWER BLACK JUDGES by Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times

Gov. Scott is on pace to appoint fewer African-Americans to judgeships in Florida than either of his two predecessors, Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush.

Statistically, 6.6 percent of Scott’s judicial choices are black at the midway point of his term, compared with 8.3 percent for the term of Crist, governor from 2007-2011, and 10 percent for Bush, who served the previous eight years. African-Americans make up 16.5 percent of Florida’s population, according to the Census.

Scott has appointed proportionally more women and Hispanics to judgeships than Crist, and about the same as Bush.

MY TAKE: CRITICIZING SCOTT BECAUSE CRIST APPOINTED 1.7% MORE BLACK JUDGES IS SPLITTING HAIRS Full blog post here.

In other words, none of the three Republican governors — for whatever reason — appointed enough black judges to accurately reflect the racial diversity of Florida’s population. And the difference between Scott and Crist and Bush – 1.7% between Scott and Crist; 3.4% between Scott and Bush – is too statistically insignificant to assume there is a nefarious reason why more blacks have not been appointed.

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***Last week, Walmart made the Veterans Welcome Home and Manufacturing commitments; offering jobs to honorably discharged veterans with expected hiring of 100,000 over the next five years and boosting sourcing of U.S. products by $50 Billion over the next ten years. Click here to learn more about Walmart’s Veterans and Manufacturing commitments.***

BLOG POST OF THE DAY – WHY NOT CASINOS? by Nancy Smith of Sunshine State News

I’ve put off saying this for too long: Why are the leaders in the Florida Legislature too timid to do sooner what they know they’re going to do in the end — embrace destination casinos in Florida? Here we are in 2013, squabbling over disappearing funds for education, Medicaid, children’s services, conservation, you name it — and all the while Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos register more than 55 percent of their business from Florida.

What are we waiting for? Now it looks like the Legislature is going to study the subject for another two years. Is it too much to hope for that by “study,” they actually mean to proactively craft a plan?

… Most adult Floridians in the 21st century have been to casinos. They’ve lost, or faded from, their moral objections to gambling. More than half a dozen polls in the last two years tell us Floridians understand the social dangers of gambling, but they’ve had fun in casinos, they’re not addicted and they realize they’re benefiting from the revenue and the jobs and the ancillary businesses casinos create.

BLOG POST OF THE DAY (#2) – CAMPAIGN FINANCE SHOULD BE LOCAL AND TRANSPARENT by Paula Dockery for Florida Voices

The Legislature should remove the direct contribution limit, as several other states have done, and limit or eliminate the “outside” money.

Then, all candidates would have the opportunity to raise the money they need, and they would be responsible for all ads, mail pieces and phone calls coming out of their campaign. Most importantly, they would rely less on special interests, Tallahassee insiders and the political establishment and more on the community members they hope to represent.

Perhaps the unlimited contribution limit could be a tradeoff for agreeing not to take campaign committee money. It’s time for an honest discussion on the topic without the reform-killing rhetoric.

LAWMAKERS FACE BIG HEALTH CARE QUESTIONS via the Sun Sentinel

Low-income Floridians, small businesses and mega health care companies are all waiting on Tallahassee lawmakers to decide how and when the state will implement the Affordable Care Act. The biggest issue is whether to expand Medicaid eligibility to add roughly 1 million people to the 3.3 million people now enrolled in the federal-state program – and that’s not close to resolution.

MATT GAETZ CONTINUES FIRGHT TO END ETHANOL MANDATE via the Crestview Bulletin

Gaetz, who has already filed House Bill 4001 to eliminate the ethanol mandate, said he learned Tuesday that Adam Putnam, commissioner of Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, was dropping his opposition to it.

“Last year Commissioner Putnam’s opposition was a major hurdle for us,” said Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach. Gaetz said Putnam decided to drop his opposition after learning that BP, which had considered building a major ethanol refining plant in Central Florida, was backing off the idea.

“They’ve decided ethanol production in Florida is not viable,” he said.

PENSION PROPOSAL GETS COOL RECEPTION

A proposal that could help cities and counties pay down their massive liabilities for police and fire pensions is getting a cool reception from both the unions and from local governments.

The legislation would give cities more flexibility in how they use insurance tax revenue to fund pensions for police and firefighters.

… (W)hile they would gain flexibility under the proposed law change, local government officials are resisting it because they say the new rules would still be too restrictive.

“They held us hostage all these years,” Lyons said. “It’s just not right and I don’t understand why they keep going down this path.”

PROFILE OF REP. KATHLEEN PETERS – “WE CAN’T FIX UNEMPLOYMENT IF WE DON’T FIX EDUCATION” by Eric Giunta of Sunshine State News

Pinellas County’s newest Republican representative isn’t new to public service, and she has an ambitious agenda that includes tax cuts for coastal homeowners, tuition breaks for veterans, and the enactment of a new law that would prohibit minors from operating vessels that tow people across water.

SHARP ELBOWS FLY IN DEMOCRATS’ HOUSE LEADERSHIP RACE via Matt Dixon of the Florida Times Union

The race to lead House Democrats for the 2014-2016 term is turning into a he-said-she-said.

State Rep. Darryl Rouson says he has the pledged support of 27 of the chamber’s 44 Democrats, enough to win the race. Jacksonville Democrat Mia Jones, also in the race, said she doesn’t believe him.

That didn’t sit well with Rouson.

“I am a little disappointed when we have representatives that besmirch the integrity of the caucus,” he said.

Only current Minority Leader Perry Thurston can call a vote, which Rouson wants now. He thinks the vote is being pushed back so others can strip support from him.

“I believe that there are some may wish to see if they can see my support…there no reason to delay the vote,” he said.

Thurston called the notion he is delaying the vote to help other candidates “totally false.”

WHAT DOES BIG AG WANT THIS SESSION? via Florida Voices

Cindy Roe Littlejohn, Chairwoman, Florida Agriculture Coalition – Please do no harm to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida.

Jeannie Economos, Farmworker Association of Florida – KidCare, In-state tuition, unemployment compensation, and assistance for Lake Apopka workers.

Michael Sparks, Florida Citrus Mutual – Pursuing state investments in citrus research to supplement the grower dollars being spent on finding solutions to HLB (Huanglongbing, or Citrus Greening Disease).

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LEGISLATIVE PREVIEWS via the News Service of Florida

Gambling industry lays down its cards: The Senate Gaming Committee on Tuesday will hear from representatives of the gambling industry and its impact on Florida’s economy. The panel will also take public testimony, so opponents of the industry may be heard from as well. Legislative leaders have said lawmakers aren’t likely this year to pass any major gaming legislation, but intend to study it for a year. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.)

Obamacare: The special Senate committee set up to look at the ramifications of the new health care law holds another meeting on Tuesday. The panel hears a presentation on “lessons from Massachusetts,” and information from the Office of Insurance Regulation. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, The Capitol.)

BP oil spill claims: The Senate Agriculture Committee gets an update on the current status of BP oil spill claims from claims administrator Patrick Juneau. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.)

Ethics bill up in committee: A committee bill (SPB 7006) aimed at toughening ethics rules for lawmakers gets its first hearing before the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. The measure is a priority for Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. The bill would make financial disclosures available online, give the Commission on Ethics more authority to collect fines, require state officers to abstain from voting if they’d benefit financially, and puts greater restrictions on going through the lawmaking- lobbying revolving door. The panel also plans to discuss what should go into a separate bill addressing elections – trying to figure out how to ease long lines seen on Election Day. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, The Capitol.)

4TH FLOOR FILES – This installment of the “4th Floor Files” features Screven Watson of VancoreJones Communications. His clients include Florida Professional Firefighters and United States Sugar Corporation. Here’s the file on Screven.

DEAN CANNON’S NEW CLIENT JUST SCORED IN MEDICAID PRIVATIZATION PUSH by Aaron Deslatte of the Orlando Sentinel

Last week, St. Louis-based Centene Corp. announced its Florida subsidiary, Sunshine State Health Plan, was one of three companies awarded lucrative contracts to take over long-term Medicaid managed care throughout the state.

Florida’s new Medicaid Managed Care Long Term Care program replaces the current Nursing Home Diversion Program (NHDP) and will cover the entire state of Florida, which is divided into 11 regions.

Sunshine was the biggest winner out of the three companies, gaining access to compete for some 90,000 frail and elderly patients in 10 of those 11 regions. According to Health News Florida, the market is estimated to be worth about $3 billion, and Wall Street analysts quickly noted the companies could expect revenue streams of $900 million to $1 billion a year.

Coincidentally last week, we also learned that former House Speaker Dean Cannon had registered to lobby for Sunshine State Health Plan.

YOU’RE INVITED: Reps. Frank Artiles, Matt Caldwell, Jose Oliva and Ray Rodrigues are inviting donors over to their Tally residence for an intimate get-together tonight. Invite here.

***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***

BE SURE to wish Senate President Don Gaetz a happy birthday today. While you are at it, wish good-guys Brian Aungst, Senior Director of Government and Community Affairs for Bright House Networks, and Tim Center a happy birthday, too.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: We will be in Tallahassee on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning and would welcome the opportunity to meet with Sunburn readers. Email me to set up a meeting.