Sunburn for 3/4 – A morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics

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

***Sunburn is sponsored by Tucker/Hall – one of Florida’s leading public affairs and public relations firms.***

HIGH PRAISE: “You’ve out-done yourself with today’s Sunburn. I feel like I am in Tallahassee and know everything from this one read.” — Roger Stone

JEB BUSH AS THE GOLDILOCKS CANDIDATE via The Hill

The 2016 presidential election is Jeb Bush’s now-or-never-moment. As other potential GOP standard-bearers have been hit by scandal or seen their luster fade, many Republicans desperately want the former Florida governor to get in the race.”

They believe he could be their Goldilocks candidate: Not too conservative, not too centrist; not too dull, not too unpredictable; not too inexperienced, and not too marred by scandal. In fact, just right.

MARCO RUBIO AIMS FOR COMEBACK WITH CONSERVATIVES via Manu Raju of POLITICO

Rubio probably wouldn’t have been the biggest draw in Alabama last year, but last week he had big donors dropping big checks. The Florida Republican … swung by a state that has taken a tough stand against illegal immigrants … Birmingham donors paid up to $32,000 apiece to schmooze with Rubio, raising more than $300,000 for the Senate GOP campaign committee. Rubio’s foray … shows how quickly he has tried to put the bitter immigration fight behind him as he positions himself for what close allies say is an increasingly likely presidential bid in 2016. He is now raising his profile by demanding a more aggressive U.S. response to Russia in the Ukraine crisis, showcasing how the senator has embraced more hawkish foreign policy views than several of his would-be 2016 rivals, like Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz. …

“I’m sure there are people who are unhappy with what I did on immigration and will never be supportive of me again,” Rubio said in an interview in the Capitol last week. “But by and large, I think if you look at my approval ratings in different metrics that are out there, I feel like many of my supporters maybe disagreed with me on immigration – and disagreed strongly – but they understand that I’ve been involved in other issues that are important for the country.” …

While his outspokenness on Ukraine could play well with the hawkish wing of his party, it could turn off the GOP’s libertarian faction that is growing more influential. Rubio’s effort to regain conservatives’ trust will be measured on Thursday, when he addresses [CPAC]… Rubio has methodically tried to burnish his foreign policy credentials to carve out a middle ground between the GOP hawks and libertarians in his party, while recently making high-profile swings through Asia and Europe.

In a series of speeches in Washington and in Florida, Rubio is piecing together a domestic policy platform, rolling out proposals to overhaul higher education, such as by allowing the transfer of accredited online courses to traditional colleges, and provide a conservative alternative to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, including a new proposal to implement the earned income tax credit.

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GOVERNOR WILL USE SPEECH TO STRESS TAX CUTS via Gary Fineout of the Associated Press

Gov. Scott will kick off the 2014 legislative session by asking legislators to approve his tax cut package and by asking to keep tuition rates low.

Scott’s State of the State speech today will be one of the highlights of the opening day of the 60-day session.

Scott will use his speech to press for more than $500 million in tax and fee cuts he’s seeking this year. The Republican governor wants to roll back auto registration fees that were increased back in 2009 when Democratic challenger Charlie Crist. He is also seeking a break in taxes charged on commercial rents and he wants to expand the state’s existing back-to-school sales tax holiday.

The governor also wants to keep college tuition rates flat again this year. Scott vetoed a proposed tuition hike in 2013 and his office tried unsuccessfully to get universities to ignore a provision in state law that requires tuition to go up by the rate of inflation.

Scott in his speech will ask legislators to repeal laws that allow universities to raise tuition above rates set by legislators. Legislative leaders have said they are willing to roll back the rate from the current 15 percent to 6 percent.

EXCERPTS FROM GOV. SCOTT’S STATE OF THE STATE

“We have added almost a half a million jobs.  Together, we have cut taxes 24 times already… And my hope is that we are about to cut them again… by another $500 million this year.

“As I tell the hard-working people of Florida as I travel our state: We want you to keep more of the money you earn…Because it’s your money!

“Working together, we have made Florida not just a destination for tourists – but a destination for opportunity. And when I say that “we” have done it, I don’t mean just those of us here in this chamber today.

FOR CAMPAIGNING GOV. SCOTT, A BALANCING ACT via Jeremy Wallace of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Gov. Scott heads into his fourth legislative session in a precarious spot.

Scott has floundered in public opinion polls and he faces a potential re-election campaign against former Gov. Charlie Crist, now a Democrat.

To overcome that double-dose of trouble, Scott needs help from the Republican Legislature in crafting the perfect agenda to help the self-proclaimed jobs governor save the one job that is most critical to him: his own.

Though Scott and the majorities in the Florida House and Senate are Republican, that does not mean they move in lockstep. In his first years, Scott upstaged GOP lawmakers at Tea Party rallies, vetoed key projects in lawmakers’ home districts and rubbed many House and Senate leaders the wrong way with his inattentiveness to their political goals.

The good news for Scott is that, despite those missteps, House and Senate Republicans have their own incentives to help the governor.

For Scott, the session boils down to two key areas — what he needs to happen, and what he needs to avoid.

In the first category, he needs bills to sign that can help win over the general public in a way that his CEO approach to governance failed to accomplish during his first three years. In the second, he needs lawmakers to block or water down bills that could further alienate him from important voter groups.

LEAST SHOCKING PRESS RELEASE OF THE DAY: “ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES BOARD OF DIRECTORS ENDORSES GOVERNOR SCOTT & FLORIDA CABINET FOR RE-ELECTION”

SPOTTED: Texas Governor Rick Perry, at the Governors Club in Tallahassee, for a fundraising luncheon for Gov. Scott.

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HOW THE FIRST DAY OF SESSION IN PLAYING

First Coast News, Florida Legislature starts annual session Tuesday – The governor’s State of the State speech, always the main event in the flower-bedecked House chamber, will be heard in a joint session at 11 a.m… Associated Press, Florida Legislature’s 60-Day Session Begins Tuesday – Tax cuts, stiffer sex offender laws, expanding school vouchers and, as always, the state budget will be among the issues Florida legislators will consider over their annual 60-day session that begins Tuesday… Naples Daily News, Legislature to look at tax cuts, ways to spend starting Tuesday – heads into the 2014 legislative session with a little extra cash in the state budget, but area lawmakers said they intend to be thrifty with the surplus…  Health News Florida, Election Year Could Keep Session Calm – Democrats are pushing the one topic that dominated Florida’s legislative session a year ago, Medicaid expansion… Florida Times-Union, Legislature has 60 days to cut taxes, pass new laws on explosive issues – Other than the budget, legalized gambling likely will occupy the biggest stage… Gainesville Sun, Legislative agenda packed for upcoming session – Could result in changes that affect Floridians’ everyday lives, from buying school backpacks to stopping at red lights or sampling a craft beer… Ocala Star Banner, State lawmakers have a full plate for this session – One of the most closely watched education issues each year is school funding. The chances look good for increases in everything from preschool to university spending in 2014… Sun-Sentinel, State senators fast track sex offender legislation in Florida – poised to pass landmark legislation aimed at better protecting Floridians from rapists and child molesters Tuesday, the first day of the annual Legislative session…Northwest Florida Daily News, Local legislators gird for 2014 session – Open government legislation will be just one plank in the lawmaking platform Gaetz and Weatherford intend to introduce this session… Florida Today, 60-day lawmaking battle starts Tuesday in capital – The House and Senate leaders say, though, they will not be taking a step back and coasting during an election year, when many contentious issues are often left for another time.

SILLY HEADLINE OF THE DAY: “Why Will Weatherford Is Worth Watching” via The Tallahassee Democrat; gees, you think the House Speaker is worth watching?

TWEET, TWEET: @adeslatte: Even from pros like @CoryTilley, advice that session will go quickly sounds like a painful medical procedure is coming.

***SUNBURN is sponsored in part by Floridian Partners, LLC, a statewide Public and Government Affairs firm with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Ther firm’s success is measured by its clients’ success. Outreach and Public Advocacy; Strategic Issue and Campaign Development; Grassroots and Grasstops Coalition Building – Floridian Partners is a one-stop firm for clients needing assistance at all levels of government in Florida.***

ROSS SPANO GAINS CONFIDENCE AS SECOND SESSION OPENS via Bill Cotterell for the Tribune/Scripps Tallahassee Bureau

At this time last year, Ross Spano admitted he didn’t know what to expect as a newly elected member of the Florida House.

Tuesday, starting his second session, Spano feels a bit more confident thanks to relationships established among the Republican leadership, some experience in getting bills passed, and a pot of re-election money in the bank. Plus, he’s got a blue-chip rating among the business lobbyists who help control House and Senate agendas for the next 60 days.

“There are still parts of this process that are scary to me, things I wonder if I can do,” said Spano, a Dover attorney, who was featured in a Tribune profile last year as one of three freshman legislators from Hillsborough County.

And the second and final legislative session of this election term carries its own series of firsts for the lawmaker.

“This will be different, in an election year, and I’d be lying if I said those things don’t enter your mind,” Spano said. “But do you make decisions based on that? I hope not.”

… Like most legislators, Spano opened his re-election campaign account soon after closing out his initial political fund. He raised $11,500 in the first quarter of last year before the session-long ban on fundraising kicked in.

He now has $75,405 stashed in his re-election account and no announced opposition – although he doesn’t expect the Democrats will let District 59 slip by unnoticed next summer.

“I would expect that we will have opposition, just because of the nature of the district,” Spano said. “It’s a swing district.”

SETH MCKEEL LOOKS TO HIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION via Bill Rufty of the Lakeland Ledger

Gov. Rick Scott takes to the lectern in the Florida House with his State of the State speech Tuesday, outlining his programs to thousands of Floridians and 160 legislators.

One lawmaker with particular interest in Scott’s remarks is Rep. Seth McKeel, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

The Lakeland Republican is in his last year as a legislator and as chief of the budget for the House. Although Scott has largely released his budget proposals to the Legislature, McKeel, noted for his expertise in policy and finance, will be paying attention to any nuances of policy, especially anyone getting carried away with the extra money.

As a senior legislator and chairman of the eight-member Polk County delegation, McKeel has stayed largely out of local politics — until last year’s scandal erupted in the Lakeland Police Department.

McKeel wrote a letter last year, also signed by Sen. Kelli Stargel telling city officials they were condoning “a culture which at best lacks professionalism and at worst encourages the reckless behavior of (LPD) officials, is apparently pervasive and is an embarrassment to our community.”

He acted as a mediator after then-state Sen. J.D. Alexander suggested an independent university when plans for USF Poly, a branch of the University of South Florida, went askew. Several powerful legislators, especially the Hillsborough County delegation loyal to USF President Judy Genshaft and the Lakeland campus of USF, were angered over Alexander’s work in creating a 12th university in such a hurried manner.

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HOUSE UNVEILS ITS GAMBLING BILL: OVERHAUL REGULATION, NO NEW CASINOS via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald

The Florida House weighed into the gambling debate on Monday and proposed a bill that won’t authorize new casinos but will overhaul the state’s gambling laws, putting all regulation of race tracks, slot machines and poker rooms under a Gaming Control Commission, similar to those in Nevada, New Jersey and other large gaming states.

Unlike a similar Senate plan, which overhauls regulation and authorizes new casino resorts in Miami Dade and Broward counties, the House plan leaves the decision to introduce mega-casinos to Florida to Gov. Scott.

The governor can approve or reject the casinos when he negotiates a new gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The governor has until July 2015 to re-negotiate a portion of the 20-year gaming compact that applies to the tribe’s exclusive right to operate table games such as black jack, chemin de fer and baccarat at its South Florida casinos.

The House also drafted a constitutional amendment that would require voters to approve any expansion of gambling that does not get approved by legislators this year. The measure could close the door to any future expansion of gambling in the state because 60 percent of voters statewide would have to approve of any new venture. That condition offers a measure of economic security to those in business now, and attempts to win the support of gambling opponents who see it as a permanent limit on expanded gambling.

The Senate has also proposed a constitutional amendment that give voters the authority to restrict future games, but the House proposal is more restrictive.

But the major thrust of the House proposal, HB 1383, follows the initiative announced last week by the Florida Senate to revamp the way gambling is regulated in Florida.

The primary House bill, which was filed by Rep. Rob Schenck, the head of the House Gaming Committee, creates a Gaming Control Commission that would regulate all gaming in the state except the lottery. It is similar to the Senate plan to create a state Gaming Control Board.

Unlike the Senate gaming board, which includes five members appointed by the governor, the House gaming commission would be comprised of five members appointed by the governor from a list of candidates chosen by a legislatively-controlled nominated commission.

“This bill represents hundreds of hours of research, public testimony, input, and work,” said Schenck in a statement. “We create a strong gaming commission, clean up significant and glaring loopholes in current law, and respect the governor’s role in negotiating a compact. The House also has a proposed constitutional amendment that will provide Floridians with the authority to decide future gaming expansion. Any gaming regulation bill must be accompanied by the constitutional amendment. Together, we have a responsible proposal.”

HOUSE STARTS MOVING ON ‘TELEHEALTH’ PLAN

With supporters pointing to a need to increase access to health care, a House select committee approved a plan aimed a boosting the use of telemedicine in Florida. Rep. Cary Pigman, an Avon Park Republican and physician, said the bill (HB 751) will bring the state into the “21st century.”

The bill, approved by the House Select Committee on Health Care Workforce Innovation, would set basic standards for telemedicine, which involves physicians providing care remotely through telecommunications and Internet technology. While widely known as telemedicine, the House bill describes the practice as “telehealth.” Among other things, the bill would address issues such as standards of care and the registration of out-of-state physicians involved in telemedicine. Backers say, in part, it would help provide care to residents of underserved rural areas. “Patients are demanding access,” said Rep. Travis Cummings, an Orange Park Republican who is sponsoring the bill with Rep. Mia Jones.

But the Florida Medical Association, an influential physicians group, argued against the bill. David Custin, an FMA lobbyist, compared the proposal to the “wild west” and said it doesn’t include enough regulation on issues such as out-of-state physicians. “We’re not dealing with commerce,” Custin said. “We’re dealing with health care and people’s safety.”

SCOOPLET: Last week the FMA opened a new political committee, Better Florida Fund Corp. The new political committee has an initial contribution of $1,250,000.

“ I think the creation of this new political committee speaks for itself, Timothy J. Stapleton, FMA Executive Vice President. “The doctors are energized in a way that I have never seen them in the last decade.  The FMA plans to be very active this election cycle.”

MAKER OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS HITS BACK AT EFFORT TO KILL THEM via James Rosica of the Tampa Tribune

Mess with the bull, the saying goes, and you get the horns.

When it comes to doing away with red light cameras in Florida, the “bull” is American Traffic Solutions, the largest red light camera provider in the state.

In this case, the “horns” are a full-frontal public relations attack against a bill (SB 144) filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, to pull the plug on the cameras statewide.

Brandes, who chairs the Senate’s Transportation committee, has called red light cameras a “backdoor tax increase” and said he’ll go “all-in for full repeal” this legislative session.

… (A)n ATS spokeswoman slammed a legislative research report wielded by Brandes as ammunition against the cameras.

That report, by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, showed rear-end, ‘T-bone’ and other crashes going up 12 percent after cameras went up.

“Our thought is that these studies are more properly conducted by traffic safety experts, not a budget or legislative analyst funded by the legislature itself,” ATS spokeswoman Beth Leytham said in an email. She even suggested the findings were aimed at “political cover for a powerful legislator’s personal ideology.”

For the 2014 election cycle, American Traffic Solutions so far has contributed $268,500 to a range of political action committees and Democratic and Republican state lawmakers, including $130,000 to the Republican Party of Florida and $55,000 to the Florida Democratic Party, according to online campaign finance records.

… Leytham also points out that the report “grossly exaggerates” the number of collisions because of an apples-and-oranges comparison between different kinds of crash reports.

Researchers “compared two different forms,” Leytham said. “This created an erroneous finding that rear end collisions had increased dramatically.”

And Leytham referred to a technical critique of the report by an Orlando city traffic engineer, noting that it didn’t use a control group of intersections without red light cameras for comparison, among other complaints.

SEN. LATVALA TARGETS POLS LIVING OUTSIDE THEIR DISTRICTS via Aaron Deslatte of the Orlando Sentinel

The Senate’s Ethics and Elections Committee on Monday passed a bill (SB 602) which spells out that candidates or elected officials required to live within the geographic area – such as the district or city – must use their legal “domicile” as their residence and can only claim one such “domicile.”

In other words, it would make it illegal for people to run for local office if they never actually make their real home there.

The bill applies to city and county commissioners and school board members, and it mirrors a joint rule the House and Senate plan to pass on the first day of session Tuesday which would apply to legislators.

Sen. Latvala is pushing a bill this year that would impose a stronger definition of “residency” for elected officials, in the wake of several cases where lawmakers appeared to be representing districts while living outside their borders.

… (A)fter he filed his bill, House and Senate leaders announced they would tackle the issue through a joint-rule — and Latvala said he began hearing cases of local government officials around the state who lived outside their districts. So, the bill was amended to cover them.

“A number of instances of county commissioners, city commissioners and school board members —  who were supposed to live in their district and don’t — came to my attention,” Latvala said.

SPORTS STADIUM COMPETITION HEATS UP via Aaron Deslatte of the Orlando Sentinel

Central Florida’s professional soccer and Daytona Speedway backers could have to get in line next year with other sports franchises to get sales-tax rebates for new and improved stadiums.

The House’s Economic Affairs Committee on Monday unveiled a proposal to create a new ranking process for professional sports teams seeking taxpayer subsidies.

The bill (PCB 14-02) creates requires the local governments backing sports teams to demonstrate the project would be an economic boon for the state and region in order to qualify for up to $2 million annually is sales-tax rebates, and it would allow lawmakers to choose whether to approve them for funding based on the analysis.

But it also could mean another year of waiting for proposals to steer dollars to Daytona International Speedway for its $400 million “Daytona Rising” overhaul, and for Orlando City Soccer Club, which will land a Major League Soccer team in 2015. The city is planning an $85 million soccer-only stadium downtown, but could add more amenities with the extra state dollars.

Speaker Weatherford has said he doesn’t want any stadium incentives passed until the competition process is in place and run by the Department of Economic Opportunity. Nonetheless, senators from Central Florida are backing a bill to give Orlando the tax-break this year.

Already, eight of Florida’s nine professional sports franchises receive sales-tax incentives for their facilities – with the Miami Dolphins being the exception, since the Florida Marlins moved out of their shared stadium.

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APPOINTED: Dr. Guery Lee Davis to the Board of Massage Therapy.

APPOINTED: Andrew Frey to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.

TRANSPORTATION PANEL DISCUSSES FUNDING, RAIL PROJECT

The Florida Transportation Commission will hold a workshop that will involve a variety of issues, including a transportation-funding proposal and an update on the All Aboard Florida rail project. Florida Department of Transportation executive conference room, 605 Suwannee St., Tallahassee. 8:30 a.m.

***Representatives from Florida’s aerospace industry will visit Tallahassee on March 12, 2014, 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 and Governor Scott, to discuss  growing areas of the state’s $8 billion dollar space industry, and determine the best strategies for leveraging these markets for Florida’s benefit in the years ahead.***

HD 40 HOPEFUL JOHN HUGH SHANNON RAISES $35K IN 20 DAYS Full blog post here

John Hugh Shannon has raised $35,000 in the first 20 days of his race for House District 40.

The Lakeland Attorney and Marine Corps veteran is running as a Republican to replace term-limited Rep. Seth McKeel for the region covering much of Polk County. He faces Colleen Burton in the GOP primary, and the winner will face American Independent Party candidate Franklin Shoemaker.

“The outpouring of support is truly humbling,” said Shannon in a statement. “I can honestly say that this community never ceases to amaze me and never ceases to demonstrate its generosity.”

HOW BILL YOUNG’S CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED PLAYED

WTSP 10, Bill Young II running for Florida House seat – The son of the late Congressman C.W. Bill Young says he’s running for the Florida House of Representatives… Creative Loafing Tampa, Bill Young II will run for state legislature in Pinellas County – For over four decades, Pinellas voters regularly checked the box next to C.W. “Bill” Young’s name when voting for Congress. Now the name returns in a bid for a state house seat later this year…Sunshine State News, Bill Young II Enters Race Against Dwight Dudley – does not have an open march to the Republican nomination as GOP activist Joshua Black is also in the primary field… Tampa Tribune, Bill Young II to seek state House seat – Young works in business development at the National Forensic Science Technology Center, a Largo-based non-profit that assists works with law enforcement on research, technology, and training… Palm Beach Post, Bill Young II to challenge for Dudley House seat – District 68, which is completely within Pinellas County, is a battleground area, with Democrats holding a slight advantage in terms of registered voters…  Tampa Bay Times, CW Bill Young’s son to run against Dwight Dudley in swing Fla House District – It’s a competitive district that leans slightly Democrat.

JIM OVERTON TO RUN FOR MAYOR, WILL BE FIRST MAJOR CHALLENGER FOR ALVIN BROWN via David Chapman for the Jacksonville Daily Record

Property Appraiser Jim Overton will be the first high-profile challenger to Mayor Alvin Brown in the 2015 elections.

The longtime property appraiser and former City Council member said Sunday he plans to file for the position within the next several days. He has served in his current role since 2003 and was on council from 1992-99.

He said Sunday he has wanted to run for the position for some time, dating back to when former Mayor John Peyton first campaigned in the early 2000s.

Overton has been mentioned as a possible Republican candidate for some time and fared second-best against Mayor Alvin

Overton collected 31 percent of the vote versus Brown’s 42 percent in that UNF poll taken by 442 registered voters. He was behind Sheriff John Rutherford, who collected 31 percent of the vote against Brown’s 42 percent. City Council President Bill Gulliford received 28 percent (against Brown’s 43 percent) and Republican Party of Florida Chair Lenny Curry garnered 25 percent (against Brown’s 45 percent) of votes in the races.

Brown, the incumbent, filed in March 2013 and has raised close to $500,000 in local and state accounts in that time.

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4TH FLOOR FILES talks to David Custin about Jose Oliva, growing up in Hialeah, and Jimmy Falon. Here’s the file on David.

COOLEST BUSINESS CARD OF THE DAY: “Clean Energy Girl” via Susan Glickman. See it here.

LAUNCHING TODAY: A new website for mega lobbying firm, Southern Strategy Group. Check it out here. How well done is this new website? Well, I just give it credit for not displaying Corinthian columns!

PERSONNEL NOTE: EVEN POWER JOINS STRATEGIC ACCESS GROUP

Evan Power has joined Strategic Access Group, joining forces with Carlos Cruz. Power served Marco Rubio during his time with the Florida House of Representatives. Since that time Power has represented over 30 clients before the legislature spending significant time on transportation, environmental regulation and permitting, and gaming. Power is also the current acting chairman of the Leon County Republican Party.

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CONTEXT FLORIDA: LEGISLATIVE ISSUES, POP TART GUNS, PIZZA PARTIES AND VAMS

On Context Florida: Peter Schorsch provides a glimpse into the issues that will determine the 2014 legislative session, which begins tomorrow. Children have the right to pretend Pop Tarts are a gun, writes Bob Sparks, in a bill to introduce “common sense” in a zero-tolerance school policy. A Maryland school that held an “Academic Achievement Celebration” pizza party only for students with “A” grades makes other students feel inferior, parents said. John Grant believes it sets goals for all students to aim for. When the Florida Times Union published the Florida Department of Education database of teacher-evaluations information under a public records lawsuit, Julie Delegal notes that releasing employment records is only the latest problem plaguing the controversial “value added model” (VAM) program.

Visit Context Florida to dig in.

MORE ON MATT DIXON’S NEW GIG

The new Daily News-Tribune combined capital bureau that starts work today will produce a blog that will focus on Florida politics. Watch for its debut soon.

The joint bureau will be run by Matt Dixon, Scripps bureau chief in Tallahassee, and James Rosica, the Tribune’s veteran political reporter. Augmenting coverage during the upcoming legislative session are Naples Daily News Political Reporter Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster; Treasure Coast reporters, who will focus on key issues for tcpalm.com readers; and Tampa Tribune Senior Political Writer William March.

The reporters will also produce content for the Tribune’s “Fresh Squeezed Politics” blog and for a new Scripps political blog called: PoliticalfixFLA, and via Twitter: @politicalfix.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY belatedly to the effervescent Ana Cruz.

MY FOUR MUST-HAVE TECH TOOLS FOR MY TRIP TO TALLAHASSEE

Am in Tallahassee today for the the beginning of the 2014 legislative session. Among the tech tools I am bringing with me are four must-haves.

The first is the Breeze Fan from Brookstone. This quality roller point pen includes a battery-powered fan that cools at the touch of a button. The finger-safe fan is quiet yet surprisingly effective—perfect for professionals on the road, or anyone who simply enjoys a little portable air conditioning.  This item is not yet endorsed by Charlie Crist, but it should be.

The second item is the Spy Gear Micro Agent Listener. Clip this secret listening device to your ear and extend the mini microphone around corners and over obstacles — especially on the Fourth Floor Rotunda of the Florida Capitol.

The third item is the HD Video Pen, also from Brookstone. This allows you to capture everyday moments as you take notes, doodle or huddle with a legislator for an off-the-record conversation (of course, recording a conversation without someone’s consent is illegal, right?). The HD Vide Pen records full-color video with audio in AVI video format and replays it in 720 x 480 resolution on your computer or mobile device via USB connection.

The newest addition to my arsenal is the Samsung Galaxy Gear. This stylish wearable device connects seamlessly with my Samsung smartphone to make life easier on the go. With the Galaxy Gear on my wrist, I can control my phone, make calls and answer them, see new messages and more — all without reaching into my pocket to obnoxiously check my phone to see if someone more interesting than the person I am speaking to just texted me.