Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica.
SO WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA?
Business leaders, experts and elected officials will gather … to discuss Florida’s future at the annual Future of Florida Forum hosted by the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation … the Omni Orlando Resort … opening session focuses on educating the future workforce, with keynote speaker Devin Fidler, research director of the Institute for the Future, followed by a panel Chancellor Marshall Criser III of the State University System of Florida, Ed Moore, president of the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF), and Chancellor Madeline Pumariega of the Florida College System.
Chamber spokeswoman Edie Ousley … expects results to be shared from the group’s Small Business Index Survey, which gauges the health of small businesses in Florida … Other guests planned for Monday include Florida
The event includes the #BringABook initiative, a partnership between the Chamber and Volunteer Florida where organizers ask business, community and elected leaders attending the forum to bring new or gently used elementary-school-level books.
FOLLOW THE ACTION at #FutureofFL.
NBC/WSJ POLL: DONALD TRUMP AND BEN CARSON LEAD GOP; HILLARY CLINTON LOSES GROUND via Mark Murray of NBC News
Donald Trump and Ben Carson are running neck and neck in the national Republican presidential horserace … Carly Fiorina is now tied for third place with Marco Rubio, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
And on the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton has lost ground to Bernie Sanders — she leads him by just seven points with Joe Biden in the race, and 15 points without the vice president. That’s down from Clinton’s 34-point lead over Sanders in July and her whopping 60-point lead in June.
Trump is the first choice of 21 percent of Republican primary voters … followed by Carson at 20 percent and Rubio and Fiorina tied at 11 percent each. Jeb Bush, meanwhile, is at 7 percent, John Kasich at 6 percent and Ted Cruz at 5 percent. No other Republican gets more than 3 percent.
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MARCO RUBIO RAMPING UP CAMPAIGN WITH MORE TIME IN EARLY STATES via Catherine Lucey and Kathleen Ronayne of The Associated Press
Rubio says he’s about to start spending a whole lot more time in Iowa and the other early voting states … “There were obviously other things we needed to do … We need the resources to be able to have staff here and be on the air and do the things a campaign requires. But, we were just here a few days ago. We’re going to be back a lot more.”
Rubio’s trip this week to Iowa was only his eighth this year, far fewer that many of his competitors — some of whom are staking their bids to win the lead-off caucus state by visiting all of its 99 counties … The joke about Rubio is that he is only competing in Ankeny, the Des Moines suburb where his state chairman resides. Iowa Republican strategist Doug Gross, who has not endorsed a candidate, says voters like Rubio but “they haven’t taken him for a test drive.”
INSIDERS: RUBIO WINS IN WALKER’S DEMISE via Katie Glueck of POLITICO
Scott Walker’s exit is a big win for Rubio … That’s the consensus of Republican insiders in Iowa and New Hampshire, with about 40 percent of (the) POLITICO Caucus members picking the junior senator … as the one most likely to benefit from Walker’s decision to quit.
“The second the news broke they were aggressive in courting Walker supporters to find a home in the Rubio camp and it worked to their benefit,” said a New Hampshire Republican … “He is offensive to no one in the GOP … As such, as candidates drop out, they may naturally gravitate to Rubio. He is the one candidate who could unify a very angry, fractured party.”
An Iowa Republican … agreed. “Many of Walker’s early supporters were decidedly not for Bush. If that holds, a new conservative voice that both holds principle and has engaged to get things done could benefit. Rubio most closely fits that mantle.”
RUBIO TELLS IOWA AUDIENCE THAT THE GOP ESTABLISHMENT DOESN’T LIKE HIM, EITHER via S.V. Date of the National Journal
With Republicans flocking toward presidential candidates with zero experience in government … Rubio … told a packed town-hall audience that the national Republican Party doesn’t really like him, either … “Four years ago, for the United States Senate, the establishment was actively trying to undermine my candidacy … The truth of the matter is, when I decided to run for the presidency, all the same people that told me not to run for the Senate came out of the woodwork again and said, ‘It’s not your turn; you haven’t been around long enough; we’re all going to line up behind somebody else’ … And that’s fine. That’s OK.”
CONSERVATIVE CROWD BOOS DONALD TRUMP FOR CALLING RUBIO A ‘CLOWN’ via Shane Goldmacher of POLITICO
Conservatives booed Donald Trump for calling … Rubio a “clown” at the Values Voter conference of activists … “You have this clown, Marco Rubio,” Trump said, as the crowd erupted in boos. “I’ve been so nice to him.”
After the booing, Trump tried to attack Rubio for his support of a comprehensive immigration package two years ago, saying there was “nobody weaker” on immigration. The attacks received a damp reception. Trump eventually retreated back to safer ground, attacking Democrats and promoting himself. Earlier in the day, Rubio had been cheered repeatedly by the crowd, especially when he broke the news that Speaker John Boehner was resigning.
TWEET, TWEET: @RealDonaldTrump: Marco Rubio is a member of the Gang Of Eight or, very weak on stopping illegal immigration. Only changed when poll numbers crashed.
— “Rubio knows how to take on Donald Trump. Jeb Bush doesn’t.” via Greg Sargent of the Washington Post
MY TAKE: HOW TO EFFECTIVELY TAKE ON RUBIO via Florida Politics
There is a right, smart way to take on Rubio and there is a dumb, ineffective way to challenge him … here are some do’s and don’ts … DON’T talk about Rubio’s youth … DON’T talk about Rubio’s personal finances … DON’T talk about the non-scandal involving Rubio’s use of a Florida GOP credit card to pay some personal expenses … DO talk about the house Rubio co-owned that was foreclosed on (which he eventually sold), not because the foreclosure is an issue, but because it links Rubio to David Rivera … DON’T take on Rubio’s staff, which is pound-for-pound the best in the Republican field … DON’T swim in Rubio’s end of the pool, which is foreign policy … DO challenge Rubio to go beyond his plaintive wailing about American exceptionalism … DO question what is Rubio’s domestic agenda … DO question what, if anything, Rubio accomplished while House speaker … DON’T bring up the fact that Rubio’s wife is an ex-cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins. Almost every married man in America … wishes their wife were an ex-cheerleader for an NFL team.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Rubio takes his campaign to The Villages, the Central Florida retirement community that has become a key stop for GOP candidates.
IT’S MAKE OR BREAK TIME FOR JEB BUSH via Ed O’Keefe and Matea Gold of the Washington Post
Bush is entering a critical phase of his Republican presidential campaign, with top donors warning that the former Florida governor needs to demonstrate growth in the polls over the next month or face serious defections among supporters.
The warnings, expressed by numerous senior GOP fundraisers in recent days, come as Bush and an allied super PAC are in the early stages of an aggressive television ad campaign they say will help erase doubts about his viability.
… Bush also is facing fresh scrutiny for comments that critics say bear echoes of remarks Mitt Romney made during his 2012 GOP presidential bid, part of a pattern of awkward statements that Bush or his campaign have had to clarify.
Campaigning in South Carolina last week, he said that Democrats often win over black voters by telling them “we’ll take care of you with free stuff.” Romney made similar comments during his 2012 presidential bid. Democrats said that Bush’s remarks were part of a pattern of Republicans insulting minority voters.
BUSH’S CAMPAIGN BUILT FOR LONG HAUL via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times
Back at ‘the Pit,’ as his team calls its dreary, fifth-floor campaign headquarters with a sweeping and equally dreary view of rooftops in Miami-Dade’s Little Managua area, advisers seem keenly aware that, perception-wise, their candidate has reached a critical juncture. …
[H]is foothold in states voting in February: A dozen paid staffers and two offices in Iowa. … A dozen paid staffers in New Hampshire, with two offices and the likelihood of two or three more soon. … Eight paid staffers in South Carolina and, soon, three offices up and running. … At least seven paid staffers organizing in Nevada, where as few as 40,000 Republicans could turn out for the caucuses. …
Five or six months from now, analysts may look back at this point in the Republican primary and see that Bush was already doomed. His campaign money and organizational muscle may be insufficient to overcome the GOP’s antagonism toward nominating a third Bush and another establishment-backed moderate. …
After growing fast early on, the campaign cut expenses and some salaries but declined to be specific. When a reporter visited last week, fewer than a dozen people worked quietly in what looked more like a vast storage area for unused desks, tables and bookshelves than a bustling presidential campaign headquarters.
BUSH ORGANIZES JEWISH REPUBLICANS IN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel
Bush announced his Jewish leadership team … a national group that includes people who have worked with previous Bush presidents, board members of the Republican Jewish Coalition, and a smattering of Floridians … headed by Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the only Jewish Republican in the U.S. House until he was defeated in the 2014 Republican primary by a tea party challenger.
Noticeably absent from the list … Sheldon Adelson, the nation’s top Jewish political donor and bankroller of the Republican Jewish Coalition. The rollout of the list isn’t surprising. “Jeb has a long history of being very friendly to the Jewish community.”
Floridians in the group include … Ronald Krongold and his wife Glenda … Fred Karlinsky and his wife Autumn … Mel Sembler his wife Betty and son Brett … Ned Siegel and his wife Stephanie.
BUSH PLANS ENERGY POLICY ROLLOUT THIS WEEK via Michael Bender of Bloomberg Politics
Bush will unveil a national energy plan next week that is a key part of his pledge to spur 4 percent economic growth … talks about the plan during a campaign event at Rice Energy Inc., a company based about 35 miles outside Pittsburgh … The main engine of his plan to reach that goal is a proposal released earlier this month to reduce taxes by $3.4 trillion over a decade, leaving a net revenue loss of $1.2 trillion … reduce the budget deficit, but not by raising taxes … he’s proposing a combination of immigration reform, regulation policies that he introduced … and [his] energy proposal.
The meeting with donors … will be with top Bush energy advisers: Marcus Peacock, Jeff Kupfer, and Brian Yablonski … The three reflect how the former governor has talked about energy from the campaign trail—boasting of his environmental record in Florida, and promoting fracking as a technological achievement—and suggest where his energy plan may be headed.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Bush begins the day in Miami, and later travels to St. Louis, MO for a fundraiser, which is closed to the press.
— “Hillary Clinton campaign seeks endorsement from Jacksonville Mayor” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
MEANWHILE … MICHAEL BLOOMBERG SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING PREZ BID?
“Speculation increased Saturday that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is gearing up for an independent run for president,” Newsmax reports via Taegan Goddard.
ICYMI (BUT HOW COULD YOU MISS IT) — JOHN BOEHNER OUT
House Speaker John Boehner is set to resign from Congress on Oct. 30. That decision will help prevent a government shutdown, and sets off a leadership scramble. In a press conference at the Capitol, Boehner told reporters that he made his decision that morning.
TWEET, TWEET: @TheOnion: Boehner Resignation Leaves Massive Leadership Vacuum in Congress Intact
FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON BOEHNER’S DEPATURE: TOM ROONEY ‘PISSED’; VERN BUCHANAN CALLS IT ‘OPPORTUNITY’ via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Shortly after … Boehner shocked the political world … a few friends joined the speaker in his office to reflect on the decision and offer their support. Among them was Tom Rooney [who] considers Boehner one of his closest friends in Congress … was “pissed” that the pressure exerted on Boehner by more conservative members of the chamber had reached a breaking point.
“How somebody’s going to do anything different with the hand they’ve been dealt I don’t know, good luck,” Rooney said … “We can shut the government down, we can default on the debt but in the end who people blame and the ramifications that has for our nominee could be very damaging.”
The news of Boehner’s resignation drew cheers from some Florida GOP House members and expressions of regret from others, while … Vern Buchanan … offered one of the more measured responses … an “opportunity for new leadership to address the crippling dysfunction in Washington … The paralysis and gridlock that have frustrated so many Americans must end … It is my hope that Speaker Boehner’s resignation will serve as a wakeup call that leads to a positive agenda on behalf of the American people.”
Ted Yoho … was jubilant about Boehner’s departure … David Jolly and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen praised Boehner’s service. “John has been an incredible leader for our Republican Conference and a tremendous Speaker for our Congress since 2011,” Ros-Lehtinen wrote … Jolly [said] “The honor of John Boehner this morning stands in stark contrast to the idiocy of those members who seek to continually divide us. The shutdown caucus as I call them has a small victory.”
THE GOP CIVIL WAR INFECTS 2016 via Shane Goldmacher of POLITICO
Within minutes of Boehner’s announcement, John McCain was pleading for a GOP cease-fire … “Let’s stop fighting with each other … Let’s sit down together and work out our differences with a common agenda to elect the next president of the United States, keep our majorities in the House and Senate, and put the brakes on this internecine strife.”
But a truce is not on the conservative agenda, either in Congress or on the presidential campaign trail.
Boehner’s surprising decision … sparked widespread celebration within the conservative movement … “What a great day for America,” David Bossie, president of Citizens United, gushed.
Movement leaders and activists see the downfall of the House speaker as a coup that’s been years in the making … whose momentum they hope will now yield not only more rigidly conservative leadership in Congress but also a Republican presidential nominee who is one of their own. The GOP civil war, in other words, is raging as much on the 2016 stage as it is in Washington.
MARY THOMAS, NEAL DUNN DIFFER ON JOHN BOEHNER RESIGNATION via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
Panama City doctor Neal Dunn said … it was time for Congress to “come together and partake in a health dialogue,” while his opponent, Mary Thomas, said “the conservative movement must seize this opportunity to lead Congress” and enact its agenda. Their responses were in keeping with a narrative that has cemented early in the campaign.
Dunn’s statement … “I will continue to advocate for the issues that truly matter … repairing our economy, growing jobs and prosperity, repealing Obamacare, supporting our military and making this world a better place for future generations.” Thomas’ response was much more aggressive, calling out Boehner by name … “I was the only candidate in FL2 with the guts to call for a new Speaker of the House … the conservative movement must seize this opportunity to lead Congress to: fully and immediately repeal Obamacare; defund Planned Parenthood; rein in deficit spending; secure our borders; and defeat ISIS. These are the issues that I’m focusing on in my campaign.”
TWEET, TWEET: @RepDanWebster: My goal is for the House to be based on principle, not on power & for every Member to be involved in the process
TWEET, TWEET: @RepDennisRoss: Day 2 of making phone calls for #majoritywhip – appreciate all the feedback and encourgement!
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ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: GrayRobinson’s Fred Leonhardt hosts a meet-and-greet reception for U.S. Senate candidate Todd Wilcox on Monday, October 5 starting 5 p.m. at The Edison, 470 Suwannee St. in Tallahassee. RSVP with Jennifer McDougald at jenniferm@
PATRICK MURPHY, ALAN GRAYSON BOTH WOO VITAL BLACK VOTERS IN THEIR OWN WAYS via George Bennett of The Palm Beach Post
With African Americans making up 28 percent of Florida’s Democratic electorate, the nationally watched primary between Grayson and Murphy
Murphy … has garnered a slew of endorsements from black elected officials and last week highlighted his co-sponsorship of a bill backed by prominent blacks in Congress. Orlando liberal Grayson … met with members of the Black Lives Matter movement last week and touted his efforts against police militarization in black communities.
GOP SENATORS DEFEND SENATE VERSION OF NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP via Gary Fineout of The Associated Press
State Sen. Tom Lee and state Sen. Bill Galvano … testified during the second day of a trial that could decide the state’s political landscape … “I don’t know if we ever reasonably disagreed, I know we disagreed,” testified Galvano … who was in charge of the Senate redistricting committee. Lee … said he pushed for a district that would keep most of eastern Hillsborough County in one district … testified … that he had no plans to seek a seat in Congress for himself and said he did not push for changes to benefit himself. He told reporters outside the courtroom that “there’s nothing wrong with legislators going in and trying to amend the map … I realize everyone’s seeing ghosts here because of what we have been through.”
HOUSE, SENATE PLAN TO STAR WITH STAFF-DRAWN SENATE MAPS IN NEXT REDISTRICTING ROUND via John Kennedy of the Palm Beach Post
In an exchange of letters … House and Senate redistricting chiefs are vowing to work better together when they begin drawing new Senate district boundaries next month … Galvano … and his House counterpart, Jose Oliva … say they are hoping to have a smoother sail when it comes to the Oct. 19-Nov. 4 special session to revise Senate lines … agreed to have staff draw several “base” maps for Senate districts.
“While disagreements between the chambers may still arise, I will commit to doing my best to understanding the positions advanced by the House, agreeing where our two chambers can agree, compromising where a principled compromise can be reached, and working past disagreements when agreement or compromise is elusive,” Galvano said in his note to Oliva.
Oliva said, “Knowing our mutual goal, I trust that we can quickly agree to these terms. I would like to begin the base map-drawing process as soon as possible.”
FIGHT OVER FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL MAP FUELED BY SENATE POWER STRUGGLE via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald
Lee … took the stand … in the ongoing trial over how to configure Florida’s 27 congressional districts and said that he did not draw a district to benefit himself and he had no intention of running for Congress. It was a rare, personal moment in the unprecedented process that has reshaped how redistricting works in Florida … it also exposed how the congressional trial is really just a practice run.
Leaders in the House and Senate have concluded that the outcome of the trial will have a direct impact on the drawing of something more personal than congressional districts — the Senate map — because how the case is resolved could decide how much input legislators will have in shaping that plan.
“A lot of this is about precedent as we proceed with developing the Senate maps,” said Lee … “There are a lot of strategic decisions that will come back based on how the court treats the maps.” How the court decides will not only dictate how the Senate maps are drawn, it will decide how the Fair Districts amendments are applied in the future, Lee said.
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ACTUAL PRESS RELEASE: “Florida Man Arrested for Illegally Obtaining More than Four Million Pounds of Citrus” via Adam Putnam’s office.
OSCAR BRAYNON’S PUSH FOR AGENDA OF HIS BOSS, FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE, RAISES QUESTIONS via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald
State en. Oscar Braynon II … at a February meeting of Florida’s Board of Physical Therapy … stood up to speak about a controversial issue: colleges offering unaccredited physical therapy assistant programs … The Florida Legislature wanted students from unaccredited physical therapy assistant programs to get licensed. It didn’t matter that the physical therapy board was concerned that unaccredited programs might be of poor quality, and pose a threat to public safety.
What Braynon never told the board: He himself was employed as “senior vice president of government and senior relations” by a for-profit college, the University of Southernmost Florida … that college was about to unveil its own unaccredited program. Getting the Board of Physical Therapy to go along on licensing was essential to his boss’ bottom line.
DARRYL ROUSON FILES LEGISLATION TO BAN CONFEDERATE FLAG ON PUBLIC PROPERTY IN FLORIDA via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics
St. Petersburg House Democrat Darryl Rouson has filed legislation … that would ban the display of Confederate flags and symbols on publicly owned or leased property. It will serve as a companion to Orlando Democrat Geraldine Thompson’s bill in the state Senate … “I can understand people wanting to honor the legacy of their Southern History, but when history and symbolism to others becomes distasteful we should be sensitive to it, and reconsider how we honor history.”
The legislation calls for prohibiting the display of flags & emblems associated with Confederate States of America on any publicly owned or leased property. It also would allow injunctive relief for interested parties who file civil action against governments who display the flag on public property.
GANNETT’S ANTI-CORRUPTION BILL GETS SENATE SPONSOR via Matt Reed of FLORIDA TODAY
State Sen. Don Gaetz … will sponsor the anti-corruption legislation supported by Gannett news sites … said he was moved by their statewide call … for the Legislature to remove two barriers to prosecution. Today, government contractors who participate in bid-rigging, bribery or fraud are not included in the definition of “public servants” subject to Florida’s public-corruption laws. And prosecutors have been stymied by a requirement that they prove defendants had corrupt thoughts or intent, a much higher burden of proof than for any other type of crime.
Through their fees and taxes, residents and businesses absorb the cost of fraud, inflated contracts steered to political supporters, and kickbacks paid in return. Prosecutors and a statewide grand jury have called it Florida’s “corruption tax.” The legislation does not yet have a House sponsor.
FIGHT OVER “WHISKEY AND WHEATIES” RETURNS TO CAPITOL via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics
Supporters are hoping the third time’s the charm in repealing the state’s Prohibition-era law that requires retailers to sell hard liquor in a separate store from groceries and other wares … State Rep. Carlos Trujillo, a Miami Republican, filed this year’s bill … For three years now, various lawmakers have carried legislation – nicknamed “whiskey and Wheaties” bills – pushed by Walmart, Target and other big-box retailers that would ease regulations on the sale of alcohol.
The bill … would repeal the requirement of a stand-alone liquor shop, allowing retailers to sell distilled spirits in their main stores and allow minors to continue to work at such integrated outlets … Trujillo now will be point man in an effort that has antagonized other big chains, including Publix, and the alcohol- and drug-abuse prevention community.
BILL WOULD DELETE CRAFT DISTILLERY SALES LIMITS via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics
A bill filed … in the Florida Legislature would remove limits on how many bottles Florida’s craft distilleries can sell directly to consumers … sponsored by state Rep. Greg Steube … The measure continues to chip away at restrictions placed on craft distillers, those producing 75,000 or fewer gallons of booze per year. It would, however, still prohibit distillers from selling any bottles larger than 1.75 liters.
This past session, the law was changed again to two bottles annually per customer of each brand of liquor that a distiller makes. If a craft distiller produces only one type of liquor, however, four can be sold.
FIRE ASSOCIATIONS TO PROVIDE CLARITY TO CONFUSING ALARM LAW SPONSORED BY STATE SEN. WILTON SIMPSON via Katie Mettler of the Tampa Bay Times
After … widespread confusion about a new state law governing smoke alarms, the Florida Fire Chiefs Association and the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association have issued clarifications to their members and plan to address the law’s ambiguous language with state agencies.
In a joint memo … both associations tried to outline the law’s original intent … explained that it was intended to save contractors money by allowing them cheaper alternatives for smoke alarm installation, and was never meant to negatively impact fire safety efforts across the state.
But since the law went into effect in January, agencies across Tampa Bay have paused or halted their programs because they thought the new law banned the type of alarms they had in stock. Despite the effort to clear up confusion, some agencies still aren’t convinced they can resume their outreach with those alarms.
FLORIDA HOUSE DEMOCRAT PROPOSES STATE LAW TO LEGALIZE POT via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics
Four states in the country now allow for the legal consumption of marijuana, and Tallahassee House Democrat Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda would love Florida to become the next state to do so … “I think that’s where we ought to be, frankly,” she said of her bill … that removes cannabis from being classified as a Schedule 1 drug. “It’s a medicinal product, it’s a natural product.
“I just think we’ve had a lot of trouble trying to control it. The drug war has not worked. There’s lot of people in prison because of marijuana charges and selling and all of that sort of thing.”
Rehwinkel Vasilinda noted the success of legalized pot in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska, and says that the issue has bipartisan support among Floridians, though not necessarily those holding office in the state House or Senate … said she doesn’t want a Florida version of legalized pot “to be a big corporate exercise.”
CHARLES MCBURNEY APPLIES TO BE JACKSONVILLE-AREA JUDGE via Larry Hannan of the Florida Times-Union
State Rep. Charles McBurney is one of 33 people to apply for two circuit judgeships in the Jacksonville-based 4th Judicial Circuit that are becoming vacant this year when Mallory Cooper and Lawrence Haddock face mandatory retirement. McBurney, chair of the Judiciary Committee in the Florida House, would follow the example of his predecessor, Chief Judge Mark Mahon, if he were appointed … a special election would be planned to replace him in the Florida House. His term is now scheduled to run until the end of 2016 when he would be term limited out of office.
— “State Senator Joseph Abruzzo’s divorce from hot wife will cost him $$$$” via Jose Lambiet of GossipExtra.com
POLICY NOTES via Legislative IQ powered by Lobby Tools
RICK SCOTT HEALTH PANEL HOLDS TAMPA MEETING
The Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding, created by Scott to examine the state’s health-care industry, visits Tampa for one of a series of statewide meetings beginning 1 p.m. at the University of South Florida, USF Gibbons Alumni Center, 11810 USF Sago Dr. in Tampa.
GULF COUNTY DELEGATION HOSTS PUBLIC MEETING
The Gulf County legislative delegation – Tallahassee Democratic Sen. Bill Montford and Monticello Republican Rep. Halsey Beshears – hold a public hearing in preparation for the 2016 Legislative Session. Meeting begins 5 p.m. at the Robert M. Moore Administration Building, 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd. in Port St. Joe.
FRANKLIN COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS
The Franklin County legislative delegation – Tallahassee Democratic Sen. Bill Montford and Monticello Republican Rep. Halsey Beshears – meets with constituents in advance of the 2016 Legislative Session. Meeting begins 7 p.m. at the Franklin County Courthouse Annex, 37 Forbes St. in Apalachicola.
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COSTLY SCRAMBLE FOR NANCY DETERT’S SENATE SEAT via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Starting this month, state Rep. Greg Steube plans to hold four fundraisers in the span of 15 days as he attempts to jump from the House to a state Senate seat … arranged because Steube … can’t raise money during parts of October, November, January and March — and all of February — when the Legislature is in session … also a sign of just how much cash must be raised to be competitive in a Senate race.
Sen. Nancy Detert’s announcement … she is leaving her post to run for the Sarasota County Commission is jump-starting what is expected to be one of the most hotly contested and expensive Senate races in Florida. If all three Republican candidates seeking the seat stay in the race, the cost should easily top $1 million and could exceed $2 million.
The contest could get even more expensive, and nasty, if the two lawmakers who are vying for the Senate presidency … Jack Latvala and Joe Negron … get involved in the Sarasota Senate race in a big way.
HAPPENING TONIGHT: State Rep. Kathleen Peters will host a fundraiser on Monday, Sept. 28, to support her re-election to Pinellas County House District 69. Event begins 5:30 p.m. at Bascom’s Chop House. 3665 Ulmerton Rd. in Clearwater. RSVPs at [email protected]
SAVE THE DATE: Sarasota Republican state Rep. Ray Pilon is hosting a fundraiser for his House District 72 re-election bid. Event is Wednesday beginning 5:30 p.m. at the Gold Coast Eagle Distributors, 7051 Wiregrass Court in Sarasota.
SAVE THE DATE: Team Latvala – state Sen. Jack Latvala and his son, state Rep. Chris Latvala – host a joint re-election fundraiser beginning 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 at the Florida Retail Federation, 227 South Adams St. in Tallahassee.
SPOTTED at Yankee Stadium raising money for House Majority: State Reps. Richard Corcoran, Jose Oliva, Travis Cummings, Carlos Trujillo, and lobbyists Dean Cannon, Nick Iarossi, Chris Schoonover, Kyle Ulrich, Jim Daughton, Andy Palmer, Chris Dorworth, Chris Clark, Cameron Cooper, James Kotas, Van Poole, and Derek Whitis.
NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS
David Bishop, Solaris Consulting: Regional General Hospital
Paul Bradshaw, Christopher Dudley, Mercer Fearington, Clark Smith, Southern Strategy Group: Gulf Coast Aggregates; Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
Jennifer Ferris, C. Sha’Ron James: Department of Financial Services
Danny Jordan, Jeanette Yeager, One Eighty Consulting: Knowledge Services
Mac Stipanovich, Douglas Bell, Marnie George, Michael Harrell, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney: AbbVie; DraftKings; FanDuel
Jason Unger, GrayRobinson: RD Management
PERSONNEL NOTE — STEPHANIE SMITH TO JOIN UBER IN FLORIDA via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics
Uber … seeking to secure its presence in Florida, has taken on former Florida-based lobbyist Stephanie Smith to head up its external affairs in the Sunshine State. Smith will leave her Atlanta-based post as AT&T’s director of public affairs for Florida and Georgia. She’ll have a hand in Uber’s media and public relations and lobbying efforts. The 35-year-old has long been known in the Capitol for her sunny disposition and seemingly ever-present smile … was the special events coordinator for then-Gov. Jeb Bush and a business development liaison in his Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development.
SPOTTED on the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2015 list of Up & Comers: Cardenas Partners’ Justin Day and Tampa Airport’s Gina Evans.
CONTEXT FLORIDA: JOHN BOEHNER THE MODERATE, TRUMP V. MARCO RUBIO AND SUMMER READING
On Context Florida: The moment Jac Wilder VerSteeg long feared has happened: House Speaker John Boehner is throwing in the towel, resigning not just the speakership, but also his seat in the House. What is the moment VerSteeg feared? When he will remember John Boehner as a “moderate.” Peter Schorsch says there is a right, smart way to take on Republican Marco Rubio and there is a dumb, ineffective way to challenge him. What we are seeing out of Donald Trump this week – attacking the first-term U.S. senator and former speaker of the Florida House as a “disloyal” and “sweaty” “lightweight” – is the latter. Trump’s tactics remind Schorsch of the same losing strategy Charlie Crist employed against Rubio during the 2010 Senate race. Fall is Chris Timmons’ favorite time of the year. Yet, the beginning of fall is also the end of summer reading, which he calls reading at its most ambitious. Unfortunately, that ambition turns to a curse as autumn approaches.
Visit Context Florida to dig in.
UF STUDENT ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL GATOR HIDE AT FRAT HOUSE via the Associated Press
A University of Florida student is in legal trouble after an alligator hide was found drying in his fraternity house’s backyard … Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said 22-year-old Cristov Dosev was charged with illegal possession of an alligator skin after the discovery … it is illegal to possess any alligator parts without the proper permit.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jennifer Guy and Beth Laytham.
