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. Bring in their team to help you with state and local government issues, ballot initiatives, regulatory issues and grassroots campaigns. They can also help you push back against fake consumer groups. Visit TuckerHall.com to read about their team.***
ARE THE SCANDALS FADING? via Michael Hirsh of National Journal
With Congress back in session Monday, the Republican-led House swiftly turned its attention to what has been an issue of overriding national concern to the GOP in recent weeks: nailing President Obama in a scandal. Any scandal.
But even as three separate House committees set to work digging into the IRS imbroglio, there was a growing sense that the worst may be over for the Obama administration, scandal-wise, for the moment. Obama’s new pick to run the IRS, Danny Werfel, made his first appearance at a House Appropriations subcommittee Monday. Nonetheless, what is still missing is any evidence that any of this alleged misbehavior was directed from the White House or even the IRS’s Washington headquarters, as House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., keeps alleging. (“We’re getting to proving it,” he told CNN on Sunday.)
As for the Benghazi scandal, Obama critics have been somewhat muffled since the administration released e-mails indicating that there was no cover-up of intelligence (although the GOP may have partly achieved its goal there, with Hillary Rodham Clinton’s favorability ratings dropping).
So, one set of scandals may be fading. Is there another to come?
HAS OBAMA GONE OFF MESSAGE? via First Read
Beginning the sixth month of his second term in office, President Obama yesterday hosted — along with Vice President Biden — a daylong White House conference on mental health. This comes after Friday’s event on student loans, last Tuesday’s trip to New Jersey to talk about rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy, and the even earlier national-security speech at the National Defense University.
And these different events raise this question: What is the White House’s overall message? Because right now it’s all over the place. The above events are all worthy, don’t get us wrong. But they seem disconnected from whatever larger narrative the president offered up in January during his inaugural and State of the Union.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE BROKEN INTO FACTIONS
The Washington Post reports that the vote to avert the fiscal cliff on New Years Day “marked a breaking point for House Republicans, who had disintegrated into squabbling factions, no longer able to agree on — much less execute — some of the most basic government functions.”
Ever since, Boehner has cautiously tried to steer his party away from that bitter moment, with varying success. A short-term strategy, which conservatives called ‘the Williamsburg Accord,’ emerged from a bruising mid-January retreat. It restored enough unity to permit the House to dodge a government shutdown, badger the Senate into passing its first budget in four years and open investigations of the Obama White House.
But beyond those limited efforts, the House has not approved ambitious legislation this year. Lawmakers have instead focused on trying to re-brand the party around kitchen-table issues — although even some of those bills have run into trouble. And the most momentous policy decisions, including an immigration overhaul and a fresh deadline for raising the federal debt limit, have no coherent strategy to consolidate Republicans, much less take on the Democrats.
RUBIO SAYS IMMIGRATION BILL MUST BE IMPROVED TO PASS
Ahead of this month’s Senate floor debate on immigration, Sen. Marco Rubio says in a “Constituent Mailbox” video : “[I]mmigration … is complex because it is all interwoven. … That’s why you have to do E-Verify and border security, but … [y]ou also need to relate it to a guest-worker program. … Because our economy does need temporary workers in certain sectors like agriculture. And if you do not find a legal way for people to come here and be able to do that, then they will come illegally … Related to all of that … are the other issues involved in immigration reform. For example, the 11 million that are here now. … [I]t’s better to understand who they are and legalize them now so they can start paying their taxes, and start proving who they are and what they’re here for. …
“I give you my word, that if this issue becomes one of those old-fashioned Washington issues where they start horse trading, one part of it for another part of it — if each of these are not dealt with as separate issues, even though they are dealt with in one bill — then I won’t be able to support that anymore. I made that very clear from the beginning, and I continue to make that clear now. …
“[T]here will have to be improvements. Because the good thing is the American people … have clearly said that they are prepared to responsibly deal with those that are here illegally, but they are only willing to do so if we can take measures that ensure that this problem will never happen again … [I]f we can make sure we put in place enforcement mechanisms and a guest worker program that ensures this will never happen again in the future, we’re going to have responsible immigration reform. And if we don’t have that, then we won’t have immigration reform, and I think our country will suffer for it.”
Watch the YouTube video here.
RUBIO TO ADDRESS HOUSE CONSERVATIVES IN CLOSED-DOOR HEARING ON IMMIGRATION REFORM via contributor Karen Cyphers
Wednesday will mark the first bicameral discussion on immigration reform , according to National Journal, in which the House will host several influential Republican senators for a closed-door policy summit featuring disparate views on the issue. While the Republican Study Committee has previously invited senators to attend House meetings, Wednesday’s forum will the “first time in recent memory that multiple senators” attend to discuss and debate the merits of a legislative agenda. The event will be moderated by RSC chairman Steve Scalise. By inviting both advocates and opponents to the meeting suggests Scalise’s strategy of getting “out in front of divisive policy fights before they spring up unexpectedly”… and also reflects the overall lack of consensus among conservatives on how to approach immigration reform.
Three senators have confirmed their attendance: Florida’s Marco Rubio, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Mike Lee of Utah. All three “rode tea-party support to 2010 victories” but have widely different viewpoints on immigration. Rubio supports providing an eventual pathway to citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants prior to installing border-security triggers, but acknowledges that the Senate bill must be improved; Paul supports the idea of eventually legalizing those who are living the US illegally as long as they aren’t treated more favorably than those who have been waiting in line; and Lee is opposed to a pathway to citizenship or special treatment for ag workers. National Journal compares Wednesday’s hearing to a court proceeding in which House conservatives will be exposed to intensive lobbying efforts from like-minded Senate colleagues who wish to gain support for their policy positions.
REP. JOE GARCIA STANDS BY STAFFER IMPLICATED IN ABSENTEE BALLOT INVESTIGATION via by Patricia Mazzei of the Miami Herald
Congressman Joe Garcia moved quickly to contain the fallout of an election-fraud scandal that rocked his office but said Monday he’s not going to fire a key staffer implicated in the case.
Garcia, a Miami Democrat, said Communications Director Giancarlo Sopo told him he was not involved in a plot last year to submit hundreds of fraudulent absentee-ballot requests — though investigators with the Miami-Dade state attorney’s office searched the home of one of Sopo’s relatives Friday in connection with the attempt to manipulate the Aug. 14 primary.
“He said he did not do that, and I take him at his word,” Garcia told The Miami Herald. “If I find that’s not the case, he’s not going to be put on administrative leave — he’s going to be let go. Until that happens, I am neither the prosecutor nor the judge and jury.”
GRIMM COLUMN: QUARANTINE ELECTIONS IN FLORIDA’S 26TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
“We’re calling the game off down in District 26. Suspending the democratic process. Citizens of District 26 will have to get by without a voice in the U.S. House of Representatives until they can come up with congressional candidates not inclined to subvert elections.”
“Sure, this sounds drastic. But it now looks as if the shenanigans leading up to the Aug. 14 primary were symptoms of a bipartisan epidemic. District 26 needs to be quarantined until political scientists can isolate the contagion infecting the electoral process.”
FLORIDA LAWMAKERS MOURN DEATH OF SEN. FRANK LAUTENBERG
Florida lawmakers react to the death of New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg, 89, the last World War II veteran in the Senate.
Sen. Bill Nelson: “To Frank Lautenberg, being a U.S. Senator meant being a dedicated public servant. And for decades, he set an example of the finest tradition of service to our country.”
Sen. Marco Rubio: “As one of Congress’ last World War II veterans, Frank Lautenberg was a real American hero. I have been privileged to serve with him in the Senate for over two years and to have gotten to know him as public servant and the great person he was. Frank served his country and state with courage and dignity, and I will always remember the way he tirelessly championed the cause of veterans like him who have sacrificed so much for America.”
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: “Senator Lautenberg did so much for the people of this country. His work fighting to protect our environment and the health of our children and grandchildren made our world a better place. He helped improve the GI Bill for the 21st Century to make college more accessible to veterans; wrote the ‘Toxic Right to Know’ law that enables communities to know what pollutants are in their neighborhoods; helped ban smoking on airplanes; and wrote legislation that ensured domestic abusers could not possess guns. These are just a few of his many accomplishments in the U.S. Senate.”
***Moffitt Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida. Learn more about our personalized approach to cancer treatment at either of our two locations at MOFFITT.org.***
COLLEGE REPUBLICAN STUDY ECHOES RNC AUTOPSY via contributor Karen Cyphers
The College Republican National Committee released a 95-page study on Monday, finding much the same as the Republican National Committee did in its “autopsy” following the 2012 debacles: namely, that young people perceive the GOP as old-fashioned and lacking diversity. The study surveyed 800 registered voters ages 18-29 nationwide, and held focus groups of young Obama voters in Florida, California and Ohio. Obama won 60 percent of the young vote, compared to Romney’s 37; and won the young vote against McCain by 66 to 32.
The new report once again suggests that same-sex marriage is an issue of high importance. About half of young voters said that same-sex marriage should be legal nation-wide, a quarter said that it should be up to states, and 30 percent disapprove of it anywhere. But how does this factor into voting preferences? About 60 percent of young voters said they would consider voting for a Republican candidate that they disagreed with on same-sex marriage, while the remaining said that they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who opposed same-sex marriage. This aside, the CRNC survey found that young voters are more focused on economic issues than social ones. Yet the vocabulary of the right turns young voters off. Instead of messages such as “reducing big government” or “cutting government spending”, young voters feel the same messages are more effective when spoken in the positive, i.e. “fixing the national debt”. The report concludes that the GOP must convince young voters that it is the party for entrepreneurs and start-ups, not just for those who are already successful; and that Republicans shouldn’t concede “caring” and “open-minded” to the left.
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS SHAKE UP COMMUNICATIONS STAFF via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
The Florida DemoCratic Party has shaken up its communication shop, adding three new people, including Lois Frankel campaign alum Joshua Karp as communications director.
Casey Nesselhauf has been hired as research director; and communications staffer Max Steele has been promoted to press secretary.
“As we build on the victories of the last election, Joshua, Casey, and Max will be valuable assets to the Florida Democratic Party,” Chairwoman Allison Tant said in a statement. “Their combination of Florida experience, relationships, and political savvy will make our party even stronger, and ensure we are holding Rick Scott and the Florida GOP accountable.”
Follow them on Twitter: @CaseyJN, @JoshuaKarp, @MaxASteele
KASICH, SCOTT AND REAGAN, SITTING IN A TREE… by contributor Karen Cyphers
Popular Ohio Governor John Kasich and Florida’s more besieged Rick Scott walked the same chancy line during their state’s respective legislative sessions, backing the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare to the chagrin and resistance of party hardliners and legislative leadership. But in the mind of Kasich in a Sunday op-ed to USA Today, the two conservative governors are not alone. They are joined by … well, Ronald Reagan, in spirit. Kasich describes the litmus test that Americans still apply to political decisions even two decades after the Republican icon left office: “What would Reagan do?”
Countering the assumption that a modern-day Governor Reagan would have rejected federal funding for Medicaid expansion simply for being anti-tax, Kasich points to the multiple instances in which Reagan expanded Medicaid. Kasich goes onto charge that while there are serious, ongoing concerns with federal health care reform — namely the federal takeover of the insurance market — Medicaid expansion is also consistent with efforts to limit the economic impact of the various other changes under Obamacare.
And maybe Kasich is right… Maybe a governor Reagan, faced with the unwinnable conundrums born by the federal control of health care, would ultimately accept federal dollars in the short term. (Think Sen. Negron’s alternative, which accounted for various contingencies). But Kasich should also consider a second question — one that plenty of pundits have posed — in asking whether Reagan could be elected today. Both Kasich and Scott chipped off support from their base for the unthinkable act of doing at least as much as they could with the options given. Reagan, under today’s scrutiny, would probably be seen to color a little too much outside these impossible lines.
STU ROTHENBERG: ‘GWEN GRAHAM HAS POTENTIAL TO KNOCK OFF STEVE SOUTHERLAND’
“Democratic prospects of taking back the House in 2014 may be remote, but two Democratic congressional challengers I interviewed recently have the potential to knock off GOP incumbents next year. At the very least, their races are worth watching,” writes Rothenberg on his blog. “In the Florida Panhandle, attorney Gwen Graham, daughter of former Florida Gov. and former Sen. Bob Graham, is mounting what looks to be a potentially serious challenge to two-term GOP Rep. Steve Southerland.”
***The Public Affairs Consultants Team of Jack Cory, Keyna Cory and Erin Daly would like to thank the Members of the Florida Legislature and the Governor for another great Legislative Session. So far this year PA clients have received over $1 billion of new appropriation funds as well as state and local government contracts. Now they begin preparing for the next Legislative Session by traveling the state, from Pensacola to Key West, coordinating grassroots programs with their clients and Members of the Legislature as well as local governments. For over 20 years, the P A Team has successfully helped their clients through the legislative, state and local government process by providing governmental consulting, lobbying and grassroots programs. They “Cover Florida like the Sun”.***
SCOTT GETS NEW SETS OF WINGS, PUTS OLD PLANE UP FOR SALE via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times
Scott, the first governor in Florida history (and likely the last) to travel on his own personal plane, has a new set of wings.
Scott has a 2008 Cessna Citation Excel jet and is selling his other plane, a 2004 Hawker, which is listed for sale at $1.495 million. The purchase price of the new plane was not immediately available. The new plane, like the old one, is owned by Columbia Collier Properties, a Naples business whose registered signing manager on legal documents is First Lady Ann Scott.
The tail number on Scott’s old plane ended with his initials, “RS.” The tail number on the new plane ends with “AS,” which must stand for the first lady of Florida. Among the features on the new aircraft is stand-up headroom with a dropped aisle that runs the length of the cabin.
TWEET, TWEET: @SaintPetersBlog: On news that Rick Scott has new wings, I am reminded of line from David Mamet: “Never feel sorry for a man who owns his own plane.”
SCOTT SEES TUITION VETO AS A MONEY-MAKER via John Kennedy of the Palm Beach Post
Scott has begun using his veto of a 3 percent tuition increase for college and university students as a money maker– for his re-election campaign.
Scott’s Let’s Get to Work fund-raising committee issued a blast email urging contributors to give at least $10 to “join us in fighting the newest tax increase on Florida families — rising tuition.” Scott’s committee has raised $4.8 million already this year, mostly from big donors.
SMALL-DOLLAR DONORS FILL SCOTT’S CAMPAIGN COFFERS via the News Service of Florida
More than 120 of the 155 contributions to the “Let’s Get to Work” political committee in May came in chunks less than $100.
Among the contributions were Ponte Vedra Beach stock broker Arvin Hanigan and Tallahassee librarian Carol Kimball, who each chipped in $10; Pembroke Pines retiree Jose Ricardo, who ponied up $5; and Ocala retiree Carolyn Packard, who dropped $3 on the governor. While the monthly total is down from $652,814 in April and $3.26 million in March, the campaign didn’t lack when it came to deep-pocketed contributors in May.
Bayfront 2011 Development in Miami gave $50,000; Sarasota homebuilder Neal Communities of Southwest Florida added $8,828.75; and Fort Myers developer Shawn McIntyre and James W. Holton, a Madeira Beach real estate developer and attorney with beachfront holdings, each contributed $25,000. For the year, “Let’s Get to Work” has pulled in $5.39 million, while spending $548,330.
In May, the committee spent $43,078, of which $32,535 went to consultants, including: $4,250 to Kevin Hofmann of Tallahassee; $11,250 to Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates of Alexandria, Virginia; and $11,908 to Forward Strategies, a Tallahassee political consulting firm run by Meredith O’Rourke, who once raised campaign cash for former Gov. Charlie Crist.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: On Tuesday, Scott will sign SB 1852, Funding from the National Mortgage Settlement. The Governor will also be available to the media following the bill signing in his office.
PUTNAM DOESN’T SEE GOP PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR via Aaron Deslatte of the Orlando Sentinel
A few short months ago, Putnam was being touted as a potential primary challenger to unpopular Gov. Scott, a fellow Republican whom some GOP politicos fear could damage their party down the ticket in 2014.
But in mid-April, Putnam quietly opened his re-election account and downplayed any chance he could switch to the governor’s race. So far, only one other person — Democrat Thad Hamiltonout of Sunrise — has filed to run for agriculture commissioner, a Cabinet office.
“I’m certainly not aware of any discussions about a primary for governor,” he said.
Asked why he launched his re-election without much fanfare, Putnam quipped: “I’m going to keep up this ‘quiet’ thing because we got good press out of it.”
***On Memorial Day, Walmart launched the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment for our returning heroes. This video details how government, business and community can all come together to connect our servicemen and women with the employment resources they need.***
BECKHAM RAISING FLORIDA’S HOPE FOR MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESURRECTION via contributor Karen Cyphers
2010 was a sad year for Florida’s Major League Soccer fans: both state teams, the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the Miami Fusion, were wiped from the league’s ranks. But David Beckham is raising hope of a Florida MLS resurrection. Beckham was in South Florida last week visiting Marcelo Claure, billionaire president and CEO of Brightstar Communications and owner of Bolivian football club Bolivar, together exploring the possibility of Miami for an MLS expansion team. There are currently no MLS teams south of DC. In 2008 Claure attempted to bring an MLS team to Miami but lost out to Portland and Vancouver; and still wishes to add another club to his ownership roster.
Beckham is open about his desire to purchase an MLS franchise: when he signed with the LA Galaxy, his contract included an option to start a new team at a discounted price of $25 million. On Saturday, Beckham met with South Florida political leaders including Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez, and Jose Sotolongo, executive director of the Miami-Dade Sports Commission. But of course all of this depends on having a soccer-specific stadium. During the 2013 legislative session, various bills and amendments would have added greater opportunity for the funding of Major League Soccer programs, but none prevailed.
GOVERNOR AND CABINET TO RECOGNIZE FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR AND EXPEDITION TEAM FOLLOWED BY FREE PUBLIC SCREENING
On Tuesday, Gov. Scott and the Florida Cabinet will issue a resolution recognizing the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a project to connect the remaining natural lands, waters, working farms, forests and ranches from the Everglades to Georgia.
Last year, a team of explorers spent 100 days traveling over 1,000 miles through the heart of Florida on an Expedition to document and build support for the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Expedition team of photographer Carlton Ward Jr., biologist Joe Guthrie, conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt and filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus will be on hand as Cabinet members acknowledge the vital importance of the corridor to Florida. Following the Cabinet resolution, the team will host a free public screening of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition documentary at the IMAX Theater at the Challenger Learning Center at 6:30 pm. The film, produced by Elam Stoltzfus, chronicles the team and their fascinating encounters during the journey by foot, bike, and canoe from the Everglades to the Okefenokee Swamp.
SUPREME COURT SETS ARGUMENTS ON CONSERVATION MEASURE
The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments Sept. 19 about a proposed constitutional amendment that would require setting aside money for land-conservation and water projects, including Everglades-related projects. The hearing will focus on the ballot language, which justices must review before proposed constitutional amendments can go before voters. The proposal, which would go on the 2014 ballot, is backed by a group known as a Florida’s Water and Land Legacy, Inc. In addition to getting approval of the ballot language, the group will have to submit 683,149 petition signatures. As of March 31, the group had raised nearly $507,000 in cash and about $87,500 in in-kind contributions to fund the effort.
***Today’s SUNBURN is sponsored by Corcoran & Johnston Government Relations. One of Florida’s Top Lobbying Firms, Corcoran & Johnston has demonstrated the ability to navigate government and successfully deliver results for clients, time and again. To learn more visit www.corcoranfirm.com.***
FMA BOOSTS LEGISLATIVE STAFF FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL 2013 SESSION
The Florida Medical Association, among the heavyweights in legislative health care advocacy, has made several changes to its governmental affairs leadership team following its successful 2013 Session. The primary change involves the increased role that Executive Vice President Tim Stapleton will once again play in the legislative and political arenas, serving as the primary liaison to the Governor’s office, Senate President and Speaker of the House, and managing teams of contract lobbyists and political consultants. “Over the last few years, the FMA has achieved numerous legislative victories that have made Florida a better place to practice medicine,” writes Tim. “However, every successful organization strives to improve continuously…”
To that end, the following staff changes were made: Monte Stevens, who joined the FMA in 2012 following a decade of legislative health care experience with AHCA and OIR, assumes the role of director of governmental affairs and public policy. Holly Miller, Esq., will take on a more active role in FMA lobbying efforts as governmental affairs counsel, adding to her role as the FMA’s primary contact with the Board of Medicine, and will play an important role in working with legislators and legislative committee staff on key issues. Jeff has been with the FMA for 16 years and provides the team with organizational knowledge, and legal and policy expertise. Katie Ballard, in addition to working with Sarah Hickman on FMA PAC fundraising, assumes the role as director of legislative affairs in which she will continue to foster strong relationships with legislators and staff; and Eric Carr joins the FMA as legislative and political grassroots coordinator, in which he will rebuild the association’s legislative key contact program. Michelle Jacquis, longtime FMA legislative staff, serves as director of policy management and legislative operations, in which she will continue to track all bills of interest and facilitate information as bills move through the process.
GAETZ, WEATHERFORD OBJECT TO MILITARY TECH FURLOUGHS via the News Service of Florida
Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford called Monday for exempting Florida National Guard federal military technicians from planned furloughs.
The technicians, whose jobs include such thing as aircraft maintenance, face furloughs because of sequestration — the federal budget-cutting requirements that took effect early this year. Gaetz and Weatherford wrote letters to Florida’s congressional delegation and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arguing that the technicians should be spared, and they raised the issue of National Guard preparedness during this year’s hurricane season. “
As you are aware, it is the National Guard we turn to for protection of lives and property and the restoration of services and order when storms destroy communities in our state,” the letter to Hagel said. “Historically, Florida, as much or more than any other state, suffers from hurricanes and tropical storms and therefore relies heavily upon the National Guard during and in the aftermath of these natural disasters.”
***Today’s SUNBURN is brought to you by the Florida Medical Association: Affordable, safe, patient-centered health care in Florida starts with a physician-led team, with all health care professionals playing valuable and appropriate roles. Learn more here.***
EMAIL I’LL PRETEND I DIDN’T OPEN: “Typical Teresa Campaign Launches in Orange County”
HEADLINE OF THE DAY: “In Senate re-election bid, Simpson releases the hounds” via Michael Van Sickler of the Tampa Bay Times
WILTON SIMPSON GIVES BLAISE INGOGLIA WITH EARLY ENDORSEMENT IN HOUSE RACE
Ingoglia’s campaign for the Florida House received a gift from State Senator Wilton Simpson — an early endorsement in the race for District 35.
“I am honored to offer my strong support and endorsement to Blaise Ingoglia’s campaign for State Representative, District 35”, stated Simpson in a release exclusive to SaintPetersBlog. “As a community leader and successful businessman, I appreciate Blaise’s commitment to making Hernando County an even better place to work, worship and raise a family. I ask you to join with me in supporting Blaise Ingoglia for State House, District 35”.
For his part, Ingoglia said, “I am humbled and honored for the endorsement and the support of State Senator Wilton Simpson. Through his businesses, philanthropy, and now as a legislator, Senator Simpson is a true leader in every sense of the word.”
Ingoglia is running for the 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.
***SUNBURN is brought to you in part by Bascom Communications & Consulting, LLC, a top-notch public affairs, political communications and public relations firm. Visit www.bascomllc.com to read about their growing team, success stories and case studies.***
APPOINTED: Kim Kaszuba to the Sixth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission; Kip R. Beacham, Steven D. Kramer, Timi Tucker to the Eighteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission; David Earle to the Nineteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.
A COUP FOR CAPITOL INSIGHT AS RICHARD REEVES JOINS CANNON & CRETUL’S FIRM
Capitol Insight announced Richard Reeves as the newest addition to its government affairs team. Prior to joining Capitol Insight, Reeves served as managing partner at SCG Governmental Affairs, where he specialized in insurance, education, workforce, utilities and appropriation issues, among others. Reeves’ expertise afforded him the opportunity to follow United States Senator Bill Nelson from his 1990 gubernatorial campaign to his role as Insurance Commissioner and all the way to his successful campaign for his United States Senate Seat in 2000.
“Capitol Insight is excited to welcome Richard to our growing team of government relations and political consulting experts,” said former Speaker Dean Cannon, president of Capitol Insight. “Richard’s reputation precedes him, and his unique track record of being able to work with both sides of the aisle will be invaluable to our collective team.”
Reeves’ expansive knowledge of Florida politics and legislative affairs has facilitated his success within the political arena, building strong relationships with Florida House and Senate leadership, members of the Cabinet and key decision-makers throughout the State of Florida. It was this demonstrated political acumen that led Reeves to take on the role of finance consultant for United States Senator Marco Rubio’s successful campaign for Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
“I am honored to join Capitol Insight’s results-driven team,” said Reeves. “In a short period of time, Capitol Insight has proven to be a force in the political arena, and I look forward to working with this experienced team to collectively advance our clients’ goals.”
Reeves joins Dean Cannon, Cynthia Lorenzo, Larry Cretul, Kirk Pepper and Alan Suskey as part of the Capitol Insight team.
JONATHAN TORRES ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR FFYR CHAIR
At the Florida Federation of Young Republicans (FFYR) Quarterly Meeting held in St. Augustine this past weekend, the President of the Tampa Bay Young Republicans (TBYR), Jonathan Torres announced his candidacy for Chairman of the statewide organization.
Jonathan Torres, the 33 year-old Senior Digital Media Account Executive and past Director of Digital Integration for the Republican National Convention has been at the helm of the Tampa Bay Young Republicans since November and an active member since 2008. Since November, the Hillsborough County-based organization has grown to almost 70 members from its single-digit numbers in late 2012.
“When people join a political organization they want to see leadership and action when it comes to taking a stance on key issues,” said Torres. “We have capitalized on numerous issues this year with TBYR, and I feel that the level of activism and leadership can be improved at the state level.”
Torres expresses concern with the geographic makeup of the organization’s Executive Board. “With Florida being one of the largest states in the continental U.S., it’s unfortunate that half of the board members are from the northeastern region of the state” said Torres. The “I-4 Corridor”, known for being the state’s political bellwether, has no representation among the current slate of elected officers. In the coming weeks, Torres plans to unveil ideas and solutions addressing the internal and external opportunities for improvement of the organization.
***A message from the National Multi Housing Council and National Apartment Association: In communities across America, apartments work – helping people live in a home that’s right for them. And demand continues to grow. Learn how apartments and their 35 million residents contribute $1.1 trillion to the economy at www.WeAreApartments.org.***
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Holly Benson.
HEADLINE OF THE DAY: “Colonoscopy probe shows Americans paying out the ass for health care” via MSN.com.
WORTH READING: Buzzfeed looks into a civil war erupting within “one of the country’s most in-demand political consulting firms,” McKay Coppins writes. Ohio-based Strategy Group for Media has worked with at least 40 Republicans in Congress, and boasts work for 2012 presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann and other clients including 2016 hopefuls Rand Paul and Ted Cruz. “But even as the firm’s clients, and the strain of Republicanism they represent, appear to be consolidating their gains in Washington, the Strategy Group is in a state of crisis,” Coppins writes. Indeed, the head of the firm “is waging war on three of his former top aides in a bitter dispute that is, at its heart, over what it means to be truly Christian in American politics.”
