A morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
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EPILOGUE: IN FIRST, BLACK VOTER TURNOUT SURPASSES WHITES via the Associated Press
America’s blacks voted at a higher rate than other minority groups in 2012 and by most measures surpassed the white turnout for the first time, reflecting a deeply polarized presidential election in which blacks strongly supported Barack Obama while many whites stayed home. AP reports.
Had people voted last November at the same rates they did in 2004, when black turnout was below its current historic levels, Republican Mitt Romney would have won narrowly.
JEB BUSH OP-ED: CONSERVATIVES ARE WINNING IN THE STATES
“The conventional wisdom coming from the 2012 election was the Republican Party is in decline. We lost on messaging, tone and policies that alienated growing minority communities. What that narrative misses is that conservative principles and Republican leadership are thriving in the states, providing the way forward for the GOP.”
“There now are 30 Republican governors, the highest number in 13 years. In 26 states, Republicans hold a majority of the seats in both the House and Senate chambers.”
RUBIO AT PASCO GOP’S REAGAN DAY DINNER TONIGHT
Rubio is slated to be keynote speaker at the Republican Party of Pasco County’s Reagan Day Dinner at 6:30 p.m. More information can be found here.
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JULIAN CASTRO TO HEADLINE FLA. DEMS’ JEFFERSON-JACKSON DINNER ON JUNE 15
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will be headlining the Florida Democratic Party’s 2013 Jefferson Jackson Gala on June 15th, and will be joined by Senator Bill Nelson and DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz.
Castro is the son of community activists and earned his JD from Harvard Law. In 2001 he became the youngest city councilman in San Antonio history, in 2009 was elected mayor, and in 2012 starred at the DNC convention.
The annual Jefferson Jackson dinner is the party’s largest annual fundraiser and is attended by Democrats from around the state. Individual tickets are $180, and a table for ten is listed at $1,800. Other events include a Young Democrats breakfast, at a price of $25.
The gala weekend is held at the Westin Diplomat Resort in Hollywood. For more info, visit here.
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BOUSQUET COLUMN: SCOTT SHOULD VETO ENTIRE EDUCATION BUDGET
The time has arrived for Scott to take a bold step — the boldest since he decided to run for governor three years ago.
What he should do is congratulate his fellow Republicans who wrote the budget on a good first try, then veto the entire education budget and tell lawmakers that he’s dead serious about an across-the-board raise for teachers.
But Scott has shown no sign of taking such decisive action. In fact, he released a statement Sunday night congratulating the Legislature for budgeting a teacher pay hike, and even added laudable rhetoric from Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association, a teacher union.
A few hours later, FEA put out a new statement emphasizing its “disappointment” with the delayed implementation. “House and Senate leadership have thwarted those efforts by delaying any salary increases,” the union said.
Referring to the governor’s initial statement quoting the union, Ford said Monday: “He put out part of it.”
Republican lawmakers would be appalled by a Scott veto of the education budget, which is all the more reason why Scott should do it — and then invite hundreds of teachers to a rally on the steps of the Capitol.
GAETZ DENIES TAX EXEMPTION DEAL WITH SCOTT via Jennifer Currington of the Orlando Sentinel
The war between the House, Senate and Governor seemed to calm over the weekend with a deal finally made regarding teacher pay, but Gov. Scott doesn’t have the deal he thinks he does when it comes to his second priority — tax exemptions on sales for manufacturing equipment.
Early Monday, Scott told reporters, “We came to an agreement with the House and the Senate that the’yre going to eliminate that tax for a three-year period.”
However, Monday evening Senate President Gaetz told reporters Scott had spoken too soon.
“I think we’re in discussions, but I think the governor may be announcing an agreement to which all parties have not agreed,” Gaetz said. “There have been very, very fruitful discussions. The governor has been extremely cooperative, but I don’t believe that any new final agreement has been concluded among the House of representatives, the Senate and the governor. But, I would say the governor has been very helpful.”
The roadblock to that deal seems to be that some want to first study the effectiveness of the potential tax exemption and if it really would create more jobs, as Scott says it would.
“There are some who believe that by providing a sales tax reduction or elimination on manufacturing equipment that there would be economic activity and jobs created and I think there are some who believe that if that’s the case, we ought to keep track and see if that really occurs,” Gaetz said. “To keep track of the economic activity, see if there really is an increase in payroll among Floridians, see if jobs are increased. There are others who believe on a more faith based way that if you simply provide a…tax decrease that all will be well, and I think that discussion is ongoing.”
FLORIDA CABINET TO OBSERVE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
The National Day of Prayer will be observed Thursday at Florida’s Capitol with Governor Scott, all members of the Florida Cabinet, and other state leaders in attendance. Worship will begin at 11:30 and a prayer service starts at noon on the 22nd floor of the Capitol. Other Tallahassee events include a Bible Reading Marathon that began on Sunday at 8pm and concludes May 2 at 11am in Waller Park, across from the Old Supreme Court building. Statewide events to celebrate the National Day of Prayer include prayer breakfasts, children’s prayer walks, and prayer gatherings at city halls, stadiums, schools and parks. The National Day of Prayer was established by an act of Congress in 1952. This is the 19th year that the National Day of Prayer Task Force has hosted prayer at the Capitol.
PUTNAM AND FRIENDS TO REACH MORE THAN 56,000 STUDENTS DURING TUESDAY’S AGRICULTURE LITERACY DAY via contributor Karen Cyphers
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will celebrate Florida’s Annual Agriculture Literacy Day tomorrow alongside second graders from Apalachee Tapestry Magnet School of the Arts, when he will read “Florida’s Farm History!”, a book by Arlette Roberge that celebrates 500 years of agriculture history in the state.
This year marks the 10th year in which Florida’s agricultural history is celebrated by industry volunteers and students. Putnam will not be alone on Tuesday. He is joined by more than 1,300 Florida farmers, growers and ranchers from Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Cattlemen and Cattlewomen, Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Farm Credit, Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, Dairy Council of Florida, Florida Peanut Producers, FFA students and teachers, University of Florida IFAS Extension agents, Florida 4-H agents and students and other agriculture industry volunteers around the state who will visit with more than 2,800 elementary classrooms and reach more than 56,000 students. The Capitol book reading begins at 9:30 am in the Old Capitol, Senate Chambers. More information is available at www.flagintheclassroom.com.
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EMAIL OF THE DAY from Katie Betta: “The Conference Committee Report on SB 1500 was made available on April 29, 2013, at 1:37 p.m., EDT.”
BUDGET DEAL DONE, BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN ON RAISES AND TAXES via Brandon Larrabee of the News Service of Florida
The Legislature officially released a budget agreement Monday afternoon, starting a 72-hour clock that will ensure the 2013 session ends on time, if lawmakers choose to approve the measure.
he $74 billion measure, which covers the spending year that begins July 1, was officially made available to members of the Legislature at 1:37 p.m., meaning that the budget can be approved and the session adjourned any time after 1:37 p.m. Thursday.
“We can see the end from here,” said Senate President Don Gaetz.
The early publishing of the budget – the one thing lawmakers must do – marked a striking contrast from recent years, when lawmakers struggled to come up with a way to handle deep cuts to the budget as state revenues lagged. In 2009, the Legislature overshot its scheduled conclusion by a week, and House-Senate tensions led to close calls in 2011 and 2012.
At the same time, the agreement was coming under fire from some even before it was officially published. The Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, slammed the deal in a statement early Monday for putting off the $480 million in education salary increases until June 2014 and basing them on performance.
Scott had called for across-the-board raises.
TWEET, TWEET: @MaryEllenKlas: Prediction: Fla budget is approved Thurs; session adjourns, everyone claims victory; no Medicaid plan. What a difference $$ can make.
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BILL SPEEDING UP EXECUTIONS HEADS TO GOVERNOR’S DESK via Tia Mitchell of Tampa Bay Times
If the bill becomes law, people sentenced to the death penalty would be executed as soon as seven months after exhausting all their appeals and having a Supreme Court case review. During debate on the measure, proponents said they wanted to provide swifter justice for victims and their families, but opponents argued the new rules could allow innocent people to be executed.
Senate sponsor Joe Negron said the bill would not impede the appeals process or preclude people from being compensated if they are wrongly convicted. Meanwhile, too many people are spending time on Death Row despite no evidence that they don’t deserve the penalty, he said.
“That isn’t justice, that is a mockery to the court system,” he said.
The Senate approved the bill, HB 7083, on a 28-10 vote that included a handful of Democrats joining the Republican majority. The House signed off on the measure last week in similar fashion.
BILL TO PROVIDE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR SENIORS PASSES FLORIDA HOUSE
The Coalition for Aging in Place thanked members of the Florida House for passing House Bill 1159, sponsored by Rep. Marlene O’Toole, which includes compromise language reached by impacted parties, that allows for an expedited review process for nursing homes in qualifying retirement communities. Retirement communities must meet all criteria outlined in the bill to be allowed additional nursing home beds through the expedited review process based on quantifiable need.
“We thank members of the Florida House today for their support of this good proposal,” said Don Hahnfeldt, former president of The Villages Homeowners Association. “This legislation, as amended, will put in place an efficient, methodical process for retirement communities to meet the growing need for more nursing home beds and, most importantly, will provide Florida’s seniors with a continuum of care.”
“We thank all the parties who came together on this wonderful compromise and we thank Representative O’Toole for spearheading this worthy effort,” said Kenneth Colen, president of On Top of the World Communities in Ocala. “If this legislation is successful, it would provide some relief to the disparate effect of an 11-year moratorium that has not allowed for the supply of nursing home beds to come close to meeting the demand. Florida’s seniors need and deserve this change that will allow them to stay home, surrounded by their loved ones, and still receive the care they need.”
NEGRON: MEDICAID COMPROMISE “UNLIKELY” via Tia Mitchell of the Tampa Bay Times
“I’d like to pass a bill that provides health insurance premium assistance to a million Floridians who get up and go to work everyday but need some help with paying for their health insurance premiums, that’s what I would prefer,” he said. “But that appears unlikely at this point.”
The Senate plan drafted by Negron would accomplish that goal. The Senate is expected to approve that proposal, HB 7169/SB 1816 on Tuesday. But the House has already rejected that plan and pushed one of its own that the Senate turned down Monday
… Negron said he still talks regularly with Rep. Richard Corcoran who wrote the House plan, but he doesn’t anticipate them reaching middle ground.
“Is you question what are the odds of there being a compromise and we pass the bill? Unlikely,” he told reporters today. Negron also said a special session dedicated to the Medicaid expansion issue was “improbable.”
HOUSE TAX CHAIRMAN SAYS BANKING TAX LOOPHOLE WILL LIKELY LIVE ANOTHER YEAR via Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel
A banking tax break that has become a well-known loophole is likely to be preserved for another year – but could be repealed in 2014, a top lawmaker said Monday.
Rep. Ritch Workman, the Melbourne Republican who chairs the House Finance & Tax Committee, said Monday that he does not think the House will agree to legislation advancing in the Florida Senate that would wipe out the 32-year-old tax break.
No one in the House filed a bill on the issue this spring and Workman said “it’s too big for an amendment” during the final week of this year’s legislative session.
But Workman vowed that his committee would take up the issue during the 2014 session.
WORKERS COMP DISPENSING BILL CLEARS SENATE via the News Service of Florida
The Senate approved a compromise bill that would limit the amounts physicians can charge when they dispense medications to workers-compensation insurance patients. The bill (SB 662), approved 39-0, comes after years of lobbying battles about the issue. The House Health and Human Services Committee also approved the compromise Monday, readying the House version (HB 605) for the floor. The issue has long been controversial because business groups contended that physician dispensing of what are known as “repackaged” drugs increased workers-compensation insurance costs.
The compromise allows doctors to charge 112.5 percent of drugs’ average wholesale prices — a measuring stick in the pharmaceutical industry — and $8 dispensing fees. Those amounts are higher than what pharmacies can charge for providing medications to workers-compensation patients.
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DOLPHINS STADIUM DEAL
EARLY VOTING BEGINS
Voters in Miami-Dade County started heading to the polls Monday for a hotel bed tax issue tied to the Miami Dolphins.
NFL COMMISH WATCHES AS SENATE APPROVES DEAL
National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and team CEO Mike Dee looked on from the public gallery as the Florida Senate signed off on a plan to help the team get taxpayer money to renovate the stadium with just days left in the 2013 legislative session.
Goodell said he came to Tallahassee to “demonstrate my support” for the deal, which would make the stadium eligible for tax breaks for the $350 million upgrade if Miami-Dade County voters approve. Early voting on the referendum began Monday.
ROGER GOODELL CAN’T GUARANTEE A SUPER BOWL via a Q&A with Marc Caputo of the Miami Herald
Here’s a brief Q-and-A with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who was whisked away by a handler when the questions got pointed about a tax-subsidy deal for the Miami Dolphins.
Q: So if this deal goes through, Miami gets another Super Bowl?
A: “That’s a vote by the 32 owners. The owners are the ones that vote on that…. When you’re making an application, a stadium’s a big component of that. That’s a very important element of that. And this is going to clearly improve that application, which improves the chances dramatically.”
Q So no guarantees?
A: “I don’t make the votes, so I can’t guarantee on something I…”
SUN-SENTINEL EDITORIAL: TIME TO PASS STADIUM BILL
Renovation of Sun Life Stadium — which could cost $400 million, with public funds being something less than half — should score high on those factors, as well as the thousands of jobs the stadium renovation would create.
The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board has favored the public-private financing deal for Sun Life Stadium renovation because of the economic impact the Super Bowl and other major sporting events have on the community.
There are still a lot of details to be figured out, and a lot of big-money numbers to be dissected. But the Legislature should act quickly, before time runs out on giving voters a chance to speak and a solid economic opportunity is lost.
WHY THE SENATE PRESIDENT VOTED AGAINST THE DEAL via Dara Kam of the Palm Beach Post
Gaetz, a Niceville Republican, said he voted against the bill (SB 306) “because I have to go home to Northwest Florida.”
The deal signed off on by the Senate on Monday did not include a provision in an earlier version of the bill that would have eliminated a tax break for foreign banks in exchange for the professional sports franchises tax incentive.
That was “one of the better things about the arrangement,” Gaetz said.
Even that would not likely have coaxed a favorable vote, however, Gaetz told reporters.
While the bill is “a whole lot better” in other ways, Gaetz still doesn’t like the idea that there’s nothing in it that offsets the cost to the state for what could be millions of dollars – up to $13 million a year – in tax breaks.
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CASINO OPPONENTS GO ON OFFENSIVE via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald
No Casinos, the Orlando-based anti-gambling group, is launching a television and radio campaign urging Speaker Weatherford and Senate President Gaetz to abandon the $400,000 contract they signed two weeks ago with Spectrum Gaming Group for a study of the state’s gambling climate.
They say the company cannot be independent since it works with the gambling industry.
John Sowinski, president of the group that is backed by Disney, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and other industry-backed companies, commended the legislative leaders for quick passage of legislation to outlaw the Internet cafes but noted, “unfortunately, your leadership on this issue and the good work of the committees you formed to study it are now in peril,” he wrote. “The reason: the experts chosen by your staff to conduct a study on gambling and the impact of additional gambling in Florida have irreconcilable conflicts of interest.”
He urged them to cancel the contract and “stop what will otherwise become $400,000 taxpayer dollars spent on a study that no objective person who knows of its author will believe. Rescue the good idea of studying the impacts of gambling by having experts who have never worked for the industry conduct the study.”
CONGRATULATIONS TO REP. JASON BRODEUR on being named one of GOPAC’s 2013 “Emerging Leaders”
FEA NOT EXACTLY THRILLED WITH DEAL ON TEACHER RAISES
In a press release, Gov. Scott said he and Florida Education Association President Andy Ford “applauded the House and the Senate’s agreement to implement $480 million in teacher pay raises.”
Ford clarified the union’s position early Monday.
In his own press release, Ford thanked the governor for his efforts “to provide an immediate across-the-board pay increase to Florida’s classroom teachers.”
But Ford said the union was “disappointed that the House and Senate leadership have thwarted those efforts by delaying any salary increases, if they are to be provided at all, until June of next year and by requiring that any raises be based on procedures for performance measurement that don’t currently exist.”
The union president added: “We are also disappointed that the Legislature, without making additional funds available, has required that the money allocated must be distributed to school administrators in addition to the instructional personnel who actually deliver education to our students.”
HOUSE HONORS RETIRING SGT. SUMNER via the News Service of Florida
The House on Monday honored House Sergeant at Arms Earnest “Earnie” Sumner, who is retiring after four decades working in the House. Sumner, 61, who was appointed Sergeant at Arms in 1998, started working for the House in 1971 and has been at the Capitol through 138 legislative sessions. The House adopted a resolution honoring Sumner for his work, which was adopted unanimously.
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DUKE ENERGY ROLLS OUT NEW LOGO
Duke Energy, the Charlotte-based electric utility that is now the largest in the country, is changing its logo in Florida, North and South Carolina beginning yesterday.
The new name and logo will serve as a sign of the transition the company began when it bought Progress Energy in July last year, according to a company statement. The logo used in Florida will display the Duke Energy name while in the areas of North and South Carolina that previously were served by Progress Energy, the company will use the name Duke Energy Progress. In all areas, the company’s trucks, uniforms and employees will use Duke Energy as the unifying new name.
FIRST AMENDMENT FOUNDATION TAKES AIM AT SECOND AMENDMENT via contributor Karen Cyphers
So it appears that Florida’s First Amendment Foundation has exercised its namesake right in efforts to undermine its constitutional neighbor at #2 Amendment street, according to Foundation tweets republished in a post by Henry Kelly on BizPac Review. The First Amendment Foundation states its mission as monitoring public bodies for actions and issues related to open government, but activity on its Twitter account shows a more activist bent and on issues beyond government transparency. On April 19, 22 and 24, tweets were posted in support of greater gun control. Although these tweets have since been deleted, they were captured in screen shots and carry messages such as “Tell them to keep fighting on gun control. Add your name to the list”, and, “Shame on you, Marco Rubio” which linked to this piece, an op-ed slamming legislators who voted against expanded gun controls. Another tweet read “Ayotte’s gun vote takes political toll” and linked to a piece describing how New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s approval rating tanked 15 points following her vote against background checks. It says something that the First Amendment Foundation intentionally censored out and deleted its own tweets. None of these tweets were themselves especially provocative, but considering the source — a nonpartisan organization with a seemingly narrow focus on open government and rights to free speech — this foray outside its scope is worth pointing out.
FLORIDA RANKS HIGHEST IN PER CAPITA MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES via contributor Karen Cyphers
Despite the fact that traffic fatalities are overall declining, rates of motorcycle fatalities are on the rise in Florida and nationwide, according to a study just released by the Governors Highway Safety Association. Motorcycledeaths have increased in all years except for one between 1997 and 2012, compared to traffic fatalities which declined each year between 2005 and 2010. In Florida, 287 motorcyclists died in the first nine months of 2012, giving Florida the third highest number of such crashes. Yet when considering state populations, Florida rises to the most deadly large state for motorcyclists: Nationally, there were 1.3 motorcycle fatalities per 100,000 people in the first nine months of 2012. Florida’s rate: 1.55; Texas: 1.44; and California: 0.86.
POLICY NOTES
>>>The Florida Workers Compensation Joint Underwriters Association’s MAP Committee holds a teleconference meeting at 10 a.m. The agenda can be downloaded from here.
>>>The Public Service Commission holds oral arguments 10 a.m. Tuesday in the case of the Crystal River nuclear power plant, which has been slated for closing and decommissioning.
>>>The Southwest Florida Water Management District governing board holds its monthly meeting in Tampa. Links to the agenda and back-up materials can be found here.
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Q & A WITH HOUSE DISTRICT 2 CANDIDATE MIKE HILL here, including:
Q: If you get elected how do you stop from becoming an insider yourself?
HILL: That’s going to be a battle. And I recognize that already. And I’ll share a game plan, it might be naive, but this is my game plan. First of all, you work hard; you don’t go to Tallahassee to have a good time. You go over there and you work hard, you study the issues. So, during the day, you hear from your constituents, not what Tallahassee is telling you is best, but what are the people back home telling you is best for them? And then at the end of the day you don’t go out carousing, you study, preparing for the next day. Then, at various times, you meet with likeminded people, of likeminded faith, to help strengthen your faith and your resolve. And then on weekends, come home and be with my family. That’s my strategy for not becoming an insider.
SCOTT PLAKON’S RETURN BID TO FLORIDA HOUSE ALREADY ENDORSED BY SEN. MARCO RUBIO
“I’m pleased to endorse my friend Scott Plakon as he seeks to represent the people of Florida House District 29,” said Rubio. “Scott’s integrity, hard work and passion for issues important to Floridians have become well known in our state. As a rising star in the conservative movement in Florida, Scott has often led the way in the Florida legislature when it comes to taking on some of the most important issues of our day. I’m proud to stand with conservatives across Florida in supporting Scott.”
SCOTT STURGILL TO CHALLENGE KATHY CASTOR-DENTEL
Castor Dentel, who just won a bitter race in 2012 against Republican Scott Plakon, looks like she will another tough campaign in 2014 as Republican businessman Scott Sturgill filed Monday to challenger her.
Hailing from Seminole County, Sturgill owns DurableSafety Products, a manufacturing concern which focuses on safety materials. Last year, Sturgill was elected a member of the Soil & Water Conservation District for the county.
Asked why he is challenging Castor-Dentel, Sturgill explained she is is “the wrong representative with the wrong priorities at the wrong time.”
Before Sturgill can face-off against Castor-Dentel, first he’ll have to beat Bob Cortes in a Republican primary.
You can follow Sturgill on Twitter @Scott_Sturgill.
SHAWN HARRISON TO SEEK REMATCH IN HOUSE DISTRICT 63
Republican Shawn Harrison wants his old job back.
The former State Representative is filing paperwork this week in order to challenge Democrat Mark Danish in House District 63, which includes Lutz, New Tampa, Seminole Heights, Town ‘N Country, and Ybor City. Danish unseated Harrison in 2012, narrowly winning a tight race that was not decided until the results from the last-to-report precinct were tabulated. Danish ended up winning by 600 votes.
Harrison, however, is nothing if not politically resilient. After the Tampa attorney, lost his seat on the City Council to Mary Mulhern, Harrison rebounded to win his race for the State House in 2010.
Accelerating Harrison’s plans to challenge Danish is the middle school science teacher’s vote against what Harrison describes as the largest funding increase in per-pupil education spending in state history.
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4TH FLOOR FILES features Slater Bayliss of The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners. His clients include AT&T, Florida Association of Realtors, and PGA of America. Here’s the file on Slater.
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EMAIL I’M GLAD I OPENED: “You’re Invited to Margaritas and Mischief” from the American Association of Political Consultants
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to lobbyist Jennifer Jankowski Green and political consultant April Schiff.
