A morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
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OBAMA MAINTAINS APPROVAL ADVANTAGE OVER GOP
A new Pew Research survey finds President Obama continues to hold a substantial advantage over congressional Republicans in public regard. Obama’s job approval is back in positive territory at 51% … By comparison, just 22% approve of the job Republican leaders in Congress are doing, among the lowest approval rating for congressional leaders from either party in 20 years.
Furthermore, a record-high 80% say Obama and Republican leaders are not working together to address important issues facing the country, and by nearly two-to-one (42%-22%) more blame Republican leaders than Obama for the gridlock.
RUBIO SAYS SUPER PACS HELPED DRIVE HIS PUSH FOR MOVING BACK FLA’S PREZ PRIMARY via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
Rubio helped persuade Florida lawmakers to move back the state’s presidential primary in 2016, drawing speculation about his motives. It was then-House Speaker Rubio who helped move up the primary in 2008, after all.
“All I did was let them know what the party wants,” Rubio told the Buzz. “They are pretty clear they are going to continue to penalize states,” that move up their primary, resulting in fewer delegates and distant hotels for the nominating convention.
“When we changed the primary when I was in the House, it made sense because at that time these elections were still being decided in three or four early states. In the advent of super PACs, where someone will give you $1 million and you can survive for months at a time, it’s changed. If these races are going to go on until April or June, then it behooves Florida to have its full complement of delegates.”
TELL-ALL OFFERS INSIDE LOOK AT ROMNEY CAMPAIGN
The Boston Globe notes the insider account of Romney’s presidential campaign by Gabriel Shoenfeld — to be published next week — is an attempt to persuade the Republican Party to jettison “the mechanical poll- and focus-group-driven approach embraced by the Romney campaign.”
“Romney’s campaign was marked by its discipline and the tightknit nature of top advisers. They have remained relatively loyal even in the aftermath of a stinging defeat, so a tell-all book from a former adviser could provide a provocative account of what went on behind the scenes.”
SECOND EMAIL FROM MURPHY CAMPAIGN IN 24 HOURS: “Hope you saw Patrick’s message about the latest breaking development in his race — we now have two opponents.”
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APPOINTED: Ellyn Drotzer to the Governor’s Commission on Jobs for Floridians with Disabilities.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Gov. Scott will attend Enterprise Florida’s Board of Directors meeting. 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Disney Contemporary Resort, Lake Buena Vista.
RICK SCOTT’S OBAMA SHUFFLE via Marc Caputo of the Miami Herald
Scott continued his political evolution Wednesday in opposing conservative-sought budget cuts — this time because of hurricane preparedness.
Scott’s made his comments during the Governor’s Hurricane Conference in Fort Lauderdale where he wondered if the National Guard would have the money and the manpower to help the state recover from a disaster. Under the federal budget cuts, known as “sequestration,” guard members could be furloughed, improperly trained or both.
“My biggest concern is that while they say sequestration will stop during a disaster, are they going to be ready in the meantime?” Scott asked.
But Rick Knabb, director of the National Hurricane Center, and Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the cuts wouldn’t jeopardize public safety or federal response to disasters. When it came to the National Guard, Fugate said, it was the governor’s decision to call soldiers out and an expense that states always pay for.
Oops.
So sequestration won’t really affect hurricane preparedness and response, then.
SCOTT INITIATES STATEWIDE HIRING FAIRS FOR VETERANS via contributor Karen Cyphers
Veterans on the job hunt tune in: On Friday, May 10, at ten locations across Florida, “Paychecks for Patriots” hiring fairs will be held bringing together more than 115 employers with immediate career opportunities to connect with veterans and their families.
The program, started by Gov. Scott, is a joint initiative between the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and the Florida National Guard. Staff from these agencies will assist in matching veterans and their families with employers who value the knowledge and skills attained during military service. Among the private employers represented at the hiring fairs include Allstate insurance, Aramark, AT&T, BAE Systems, Best Buy, Corrections Corporation of America, CVS, Cracker Barrel, Dollar General, HCA, Home Depot, Lockheed Martin, Lowes, Ritz Carlton, Sears, USFoods, Walmart, Wells Fargo, and more than 85 others.
More information is also available at here.
SCOTT TOUTS HERTZ’ MOVE TO FLA. ON CNBC’S ‘SQUAWK BOX’ via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times
Appearing on his favorite national cable program, CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Gov. Rick Scott had a lot to squawk about Wednesday.
He highlighted the decision by Hertz to relocate its corporate rental car headquarters, and about 500 jobs, from northern New Jersey to Estero, near Fort Myers. But getting Hertz in the driver’s seat in Florida didn’t come cheap: The state and local governments are chipping in about $19 million in various economic incentives, Scott said.
Then the governor — apparently forgetting for the moment that another rental car company, Alamo, has long been headquartered in Fort Lauderdale — told CNBC’s viewers: “I hope everybody rents more Hertz cars so we can add more jobs in Florida because what I believe in is American business building businesses in Florida and adding more jobs.”
TWEET, TWEET: @ItsWorkingFL: On @SquawkCNBC this morning @FLGovScott discussed FL’s growing economy and @Hertz moving HQ to FL.
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OP-ED OF THE DAY – COLLEEN CASTILLE: THE RIGHT PATH FOR FLORIDA’S WATER FUTURE Full column here
While sources of fresh water in Florida are becoming scarce, some municipalities are taking the bull by the horns and examining their local water consumption to determine the best course of action and diversify their water portfolio. These folks understand that the time to act is now — water shortages, while daunting, can be prevented.
Among the measures being considered are “drought proof” water sources, like seawater desalination. Drought proof water sources are not impacted by drought or dry conditions. These sources can supply water where we need it, when we need it.
Seawater desalination is the process of removing virtually all mineral and most biological elements from ocean water, making it suitable for drinking. Considering seawater desalination means Florida could rely on seawater as a fresh water source, one that is available during drought, expanding our access to fresh, affordable water. This would also relieve pressure on Florida’s sensitive natural resources.
As former Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, I understand the dynamic obstacles Florida faces with respect to our unique environment. Considering drought proof water sources is a worthy investment for Florida’s future.
PUTMAN AND ROONEY CELEBRATE COCA-COLA’S $2 BILLION CENTRAL FLORIDA CITRUS INVESTMENT via contributor Karen Cyphers
Coca-Cola Co., with Florida Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam, announced that it will invest $2 billion in Florida to support the planting of 25,000 acres of new orange groves in Florida, reviving now idle groves in Polk, DeSoto and Hendry Counties with the planting of 5 million new trees. US Representative Tom Rooney also welcomed the announcement, taking pride in his district which includes DeSoto County and southern Polk. Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta, teamed with Cutrale Citrus Juices and Peace River Citrus Products to support the planting of these acres. Through this collaboration, Coca-Cola will procure all of the fruit produced by these trees over the next 20 years. The investment is expected to create an estimated 4,100 new jobs and add more than $422 million per year to Florida’s economy.
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EGLIN WELCOMES EXPANDED F-35 TO BASE, SETS TO INCREASE FLIGHT SCHOOL JOBS
Eglin Air Force Base, already home to one of the first operational squadrons of F-35 fighters, has just welcomed its newest stealth jet that features additional capabilities.
Eglin’s F-35 squadron currently has nine limited-capability “Block 1” versions of the jet that it uses to train instructor pilots and test pilots, and is set to receive an additional 13 new “Block 2” stealth jets with expanded abilities. The biggest difference between the original and the new F-35s is in its software, including a state-of-the-art distributed aperture system, a series of sensors that lie within the skin of the jet providing a complete spherical view in both day and night.
This system is unique to the F-35. Eglin plans to train 45 pilots in the F-35 by the end of the year, and students from all military branches are among those learning to fly the impressive machine through the Eglin schoolhouse. The addition of these new aircraft will add more permanent personnel to Eglin’s 33rd Fighter Wing schoolhouse which now employs more than 1,300 people.
By the end of the year this is expected to increase to about 1,900 with an additional 300 to join in 2014.
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMMISSIONS NEW PORT ST. JOHN POWER PLANT via Florida Today
Nearly 100 local leaders and Florida Power & Light executives gathered today for the commissioning of the Cape Canaveral Next Generation Clean Energy Center.
The ceremony concluded with the American Flag being raised over the natural gas facility that went online two weeks ago, producing enough electricity to power about 250,000 homes.
“This is an exciting day for FPL and the local community,” said Neil Nissan, an FPL spokesman. “Compared to the old plant this energy center is going to be drastically cleaner and a lot more fuel efficient.”
The plant will have 41 employees and is expected to generate electricity for the next 30 years.
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PERRY THURSTON PLAIN MISSED THE MARK via Nancy Smith of the Sunshine State News
The Dems who made a case for Thurston’s heroics said they were proudest of his ability to fire up the party’s base by trashing the procedure used to pass Gov. Rick Scott’s manufacturing sales tax exemption. They said Thurston’s repeated promises that Democrats would sue if Scott signs a bill that passed 12 votes short of a two-thirds majority was lawyerly confident and no-nonsense scary, reinforcing his leadership credentials.
Maybe. But Scott made a speech throughout the session that warmed a lot of Floridians to eliminating the manufacturing sales tax exemption. “We only have 4.3 percent of our jobs in manufacturing,” he said over and over. “That’s way below the national average. With investment in our 15 seaports, the fact that we’re a right-to-work state, and have lower business taxes, we should have way more manufacturing jobs than the rest of the country as a percentage. This is our opportunity to level the playing field.”
So here’s the problem: Talking lawsuit, Thurston runs the risk of sounding anti-job creation. Most voters aren’t going to look at insider legislative rules, they want action on the economy.
While Thurston might run in a “safe” Broward County district, a district so blue Alex Sink took nearly 80 percent of the gubernatorial vote there in 2010, other Democrats aren’t so lucky. They face tooth-and-nail dogfights in districts where finding employment — not putting one party or the other in office — remains voters’ top goal.
This is going to be an honest-to-goodness leadership decision. It will be interesting to see what Thurston does with it.
STATE BUDGET PACKS MILLIONS IN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS’ DISTRICTS via News Service of Florida
When asked about a $14 million line item for a college building in his home district that started out at $300,000, Senate President Don Gaetz, responded “I would expect it doesn’t hurt that the senator from Northwest Florida is also the president of the Senate.” The Niceville Republican often peppered his comments on his votes or views on an issue by saying he takes into account that he has to go home to the “folks” of northwest Florida. As with other legislative leaders overseeing the state’s purse strings, the Senate president departed from Capitol at the end of the legislative session with plenty for the folks back home.
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BLAISE IGNOLIA FILES FOR HD 35
Republican Party of Florida Vice Chairman Blaise Ingoglia tweeted on Wednesday that he’s running for the House District 35 seat Rep. Rob Schenck will have to vacate because of term limits. The well-known Spring Hill home builder is known for hosting seminars and making videos on “Government Gone Wild”, which have gone viral around the country.
He’s a rising star in the GOP, but Ingoglia has also been accused of using deceptive real estate practices.
The district runs from the Hernando County coast south of Weeki Wachee inland through Spring Hill and Brooksville.
CHRIS LATVALA WEIGHS HOUSE RACE IN 2014 via Anna Phillips of the Tampa Bay Times
Chris Latvala, son of Republican State Sen. Jack Latvala, said on Wednesday that he is thinking of running for State Rep. Ed Hooper’s seat in 2014. Hooper, who has held the District 67 seat covering much of Clearwater and Largo since 2006, is barred from seeking re-election because of term limits.
With Hooper’s seat up for grabs, two Republican candidates have already filed to replace him — Christopher Shepard and Frederick Thomson. Latvala said he would not make a decision on whether to enter the race until after this summer.
… “Political campaigns are rough,” he said when asked what concerns he is weighing in deciding whether to run.
“It’s do I want to go through the campaign and do I want to serve the residents of District 67 and do I think I would do a good job of it,” he said.
Looking at his Facebook page, it appears the only person who hasn’t assumed he is running is him. On Monday, he posted a new picture of himself wearing a shirt and suit jacket.
“That would be a great picture to use on a mail piece next year,” wrote one commenter.
POLITICAL GODFATHER MIKE FASANO ENDORSES CHRIS SPROWLS FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 65
Describing him as a “great public servant”, the political godfather of North Pinellas and Pasco’s, Mike Fasano, is endorsing Chris Sprowls for State House District 65.
The endorsement isn’t much of a surprise as Sprowls is one of Fasano’s proteges. Fasano joins Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and State Attorney Bernie McCabe in endorsing Sprowls.
Rep. Fasano released a letter Wednesday asking Pinellas nieghbors to join him in supporting his good friend Chris Sprowls: “I have known Chris since he was a young man. He is a lifelong Republican and a great public servant. He has spent the last few years as a prosecutor in the Pasco/Pinellas State Attorney’s Office where he has ensured that those who prey on our most vulnerable citizens are brought to justice. He has garnered the respect of law enforcement officers and the gratitude of our community… Now we must call on Chris again by sending him from the courtroom to the capital. In the years to come, our state will face many challenges and we need principled policymakers like Chris in the Florida House of Representatives.”
TWEET, TWEET: @ChrisSprowls: Today I was lucky to receive the support of the most tenacious legislator I have ever seen. Thank you! @fasanomike
SEMINOLE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN KAREN ALMOND ENDORSES CORTES IN HD 30
Seminole County School Board Chairman Karen Almond endorsed Bob Cortes for House District 30. Almond has over twenty-one years of service to the Seminole County School District, and she was awarded the Casselberry Police Department Citizen of the Year award in 2001. Karen Almond joins fellow school board member Amy Lockhart and dozens of other county and regional leaders in endorsing Cortes in HD 30.
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REVOLVING DOOR
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CORRECTION: In a story Monday about a ruling involving the facility running barrel races in Gretna, Sunburn cited a News Service of Florida story which incorrectly said, based on information from the source, that the parent company of Gretna Racing would appeal a DOAH ruling saying its license was invalid. Neither Gretna Racing, nor its parent company PCI Gaming, was actually a party to the case, and thus has no apparent standing to appeal. An intervenor in the case is the Florida Quarter Horse Track Association, which shares leadership with Gretna, and of which Gretna Racing is a member. The actual party which lost was the state Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.
