Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics – March 10

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.

Days until the 2015 Election: 238; Days until the 2016 Election: 609

Today’s SachsFact is brought to you by the public affairs, integrated marketing and reputation management experts at Sachs Media Group: Almost unnoticed amid commemorations of the 50th anniversary of bloody civil rights events in Selma was the peacemaker role played in the aftermath by former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins, whose birthday is remembered today. President Lyndon Johnson dispatched Collins to Selma, where he worked with the Rev. Martin Luther King to avoid further bloodshed. Collins, who was born on this date 106 years ago, was far more progressive on civil rights matters than other Southern governors. His work on civil rights did irreparable harm to his political career – but forever secured his reputation as an enlightened leader.

Now, on to the ‘burn…

DRIVING THE NAT’L CONVO – OBAMACARE EXPECTED TO COST LESS via Max Ehrenfreund of the Washington Post

 The health-care law will cost $142 billion, 29 percent less than what was projected in 2010 for the period between 2015 and 2019, according to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office.

SOME HOSPITALS LOSE, SOME WIN UNDER POSSIBLE LIP REVAMP via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics

Behind the scenes of a looming budget stalemate, it turns out Florida and officials of the federal government are negotiating a revamped funding formula for hospitals that could cause a dramatic change of fortune for them.

Florida has already been told it won’t receive the more than $1 billion in federal aid it has been getting as part of the Low Income Pool (LIP) program. The program is a pot of supplemental Medicaid dollars, mostly money collected from local taxpayers then matched with state and federal dollars.

Under a revised formula under consideration, Florida’s teaching hospitals would lose $166 million in payments while for-profit facilities would gain $173 million.

Specifically, hospitals are being told by CMS that the federal government won’t allow the LIP funding to be used to increase rates for hospitals with ties to local taxing districts that produce the program’s money The changes would essentially raise the base rates of all hospitals evenly, regardless of mission.

The news has made teaching hospitals and other not-for-profit community based systems antsy. Many of them contribute the local money or intergovernmental transfers that are used to draw down matching Medicaid funds.

FLORIDA SENATE PANEL TO CONSIDER TODAY MEDICAID EXPANSION PROPOSAL via Kathleen McGrory of the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

A Senate committee will consider a controversial plan Tuesday that would extend federally subsidized health insurance to more than 800,000 poor Floridians — but require a waiver from the federal government to pay for it.

The proposal (SPB 7044) would establish a state-run private insurance exchange available to Florida residents who earn less than $16,000 in annual income, or $33,000 for a family of four. Beneficiaries would be required to work or attend school, and pay monthly premiums.

It won’t be the first time Florida lawmakers debate the issue. The Republican-led Legislature refused to expand Medicaid in 2013 as part of the Affordable Care Act. But the question of federal funding has resurfaced in the Senate, because the state now risks losing a separate pot of federal money that helps hospitals pay the costs of treating uninsured, under-insured and Medicaid patients.

Senate President Andy Gardiner has said expanding Medicaid could help the hospitals that would be affected by covering some of the health care costs for low-income Floridians.

MORE FROM THE HEALTH CARE/KRATOM BEAT — SENATE COMMITTEE SCHEDULES KRATOM LEGISLATION via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics

The war on designer drugs no longer is limited to synthetic substances.

Kratom — an herb derived from the leaf of a tropical tree indigenous to areas of Southeast Asia–has been gaining popularity in kava bars and smoke shops as the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency labeled it as substance of growing concern.

It also has been the radar for Sarasota County – which banned the sale of kratom at convenience stores last year along with synthetic marijuana – and Palm Beach County, where the commission has wrestled for more than a year on whether to ban the herb – which can have combat fatigue but in high doses can have sedative narcotic effects — or just require stores to place warning signs.

Now the Senate delves into the issue … when the Criminal Justice Committee will take up SB 764, by Sen. Greg Evers. The bill would add kratom to the list of Schedule I controlled substances, meaning substance is considered to have a high potential of abuse and has not current accepted use for medical treatment in the United States and does not meet medical safety standards. The bill would make it a third degree felony for anyone to possess, sell or possess with the intent to sell.

However, a strike all amendment awaits the measure. If adopted the bill would place kratom in the Schedule V, meaning that there is a low potential for abuse and has a currently accepted use for medical treatment in the United States. Additionally, only those under the age of 21 who possess, sell, manufacture or deliver kratom would face the felony charges.

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STATE INVESTIGATES CYBERATTACK ON SCHOOL TESTING SYSTEM via Gary Fineout of the Associated Press

Florida’s new online standardized test was the target of a cyberattack that caused delays at some schools, officials said Monday.

The state’s top law enforcement agency has launched an investigation right as school districts are in the middle of giving the test, based on new standards linked to Common Core. The vendor providing the test has maintained no student data was obtained through the attacks, state officials said.

Many districts suspended the test early last week amid problems that were blamed on software glitches. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said those were fixed, but that a cyberattack hit servers Thursday. Tests were delayed at some schools and one large school district had to halt it entirely that day.

Stewart said her agency has been working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

“We will continue to provide them with any information possible to ensure they identify the bad actors and hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Stewart said in a statement.

IF YOU READ ONE THING TODAY — FEWER THAN 1 IN 5 UNEMPLOYED FLORIDIANS GET BENEFITS via Michael Van Sickler of the Tampa Bay Times

A study released Monday ranks Florida among the four stingiest states in paying unemployment benefits for those who haven’t had a job for 26 weeks or less. And it’s not just because of problems with the much-maligned online CONNECT system.

According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington D.C. non-partisan think tank that focuses on issues facing low-and middle-income workers, 81.3 percent of the state’s short-term unemployed didn’t receive benefits last year. Only 18.7 percent —  less than one out of five of Florida’s short-term unemployed — did. While that might seem low, three other states — South Carolina (14.8 percent), South Dakota (15 percent), and Louisiana (16.9 percent) — had even lower recipiency rates.

Florida’s rate is 16 percentage points below the U.S. recipiency rate of 34.7 percent (no great shakes either — that means more than 65 percent of the nation’s short-term jobless workers didn’t get their unemployment insurance). So as miserly as the U.S. rate is, Florida’s rate is more than twice as stingy.

What’s even more alarming: the rates don’t include those who have been out of a job longer than 26 weeks, or the long-term unemployed. Including those would push the rate even lower.

“State (unemployment insurance) programs are failing their critical goals of income replacement and supporting economic growth,” the study states.

BEHIND RICK SCOTT’S PLAN TO LIMIT CONSUMER PROTECTION QUOTAS via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times

Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet meet (today) for the first time since their gathering in Tampa more than a month ago — a meeting that did nothing to end tensions surrounding the forced ouster of a top state law enforcement official by the governor’s office.

Scott has made no secret of his desire to remove three other state officials who oversee banking, tax collections and insurance — all of whom also report to at least one Cabinet member. In telephone conferences with all three agencies, Scott’s office has crafted new performance measures he wants to apply to evaluate banking regulator Drew Breakspear, revenue director Marshall Stranburg and insurance commissioner Kevin McCarty.

But in a proposal that should generate talk Tuesday, Scott wants to drop a proposal by McCarty’s Office of Insurance Regulation for specific goals in protecting consumers from illegal and unethical insurance industry practices.

Scott’s seven-page list of revised OIR benchmarks would strike out McCarty’s stated goal to “protect the public from illegal, unethical insurance products and practices” by pursuing enforcement actions in most cases.

McCarty set a goal for his agency this fiscal year to take action in 85 percent of all cases in which market conduct examinations find violations. Scott would eliminate that provision, but he can’t do it without Cabinet members’ support.

Scott’s office said: “We want OIR to enforce the law, but we do not want to encourage agencies to penalize companies by having quotas.”

BLOG POST OF THE DAY — SCOTT’S OBSESSION OR HOW TO TURN FRIENDS INTO ENEMIES via Nancy Smith of Sunshine State News

Rick Scott won — he got the job. It cost $100 million to do it. So, what battle is he fighting now that makes him lean so hard on the cash-drained, war-weary donors who carried him to victory last November?

No need at all.

But that’s what the Florida governor is doing, hitting up his biggest 2014 contributors — dialing for six-figure dollars to keep stoking his political committee, “Let’s Get to Work.”

For what? What important mission?

For … TV ads.

That’s right. And these aren’t ads to sell Florida in target states where the governor is trying to steal away businesses and lure tourists. No. They’re to show Floridians what a great job he’s done to keep Florida working.

… OK. But why? Why do I need to hear that? What is this ad actually for? And how many more of them will there be in the next four years? Media market ads during the campaign cost Scott upward of $60 million. Granted, 2014 involved an intense TV ad campaign. Even Scott dumped $12.8 million of his own money into the kitty. But it was crammed into one year, not four. How much will his loyal donors be asked to shell out by 2018?

The questions A-list donors are asking are these: Why is it so important to get the message out now? Are we being asked to pay for Scott’s next run for higher office? Are the ads maybe to ward off opponents’ lame-duck quacks and keep him relevant? Or is this a self-aggrandizement thing? Something to shore up his legacy as Florida’s promise-keeping jobs governor?

All I can tell you is, behind boardroom doors, it isn’t going over well, this old-fashioned stick-up. Scott’s once-friendly corporate bro’s — the ones I’ve talked to at least — are royally cheesed off. As one of them told me Friday, “Nobody’s coming around to break our kneecaps if we don’t give, but we’ve got legislation we need the governor’s help on. Who is going to say ‘no’ during session? We wanted a little time to recover after last year, but he’s got us over a barrel.”

I asked another corporate donor, “Isn’t the governor afraid when his second term ends, when they don’t have to kiss the ring anymore, his friends will come to hate him?” The answer I got: “Some of them already do.”

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, DEMS SLAM SCOTT OVER ‘BAN’ ON USE OF “CLIMATE CHANGE” via Bruce Ritchie of Florida Politics

In a statement issued Monday, the nonprofit Earthjustice law firm said the “anti-science rhetoric” is dangerous for low-lying Florida, which it said has more to lose from the effects of sea-level rise than any other state.

“This (is) like the governor saying that the 1969 Moon landing was faked and then telling state workers to never use the words ‘Moon landing,’” David Guest, managing attorney of Earthjustice’s Florida office, said in the written statement.

The Florida Democratic Party cited the report in an email seeking donations.

“Climate change is scientific fact,” the email said, “and Rick is misleading Floridians about how dangerous this problem is! Will you help us hold him accountable?”

In response on Monday, John Tupps, deputy communications director for Scott, said only that there was no such policy.

Lauren Engel, DEP communications director, added in reference to the story, “It is simply not true.”

Scott had said before 2014 that he was not persuaded that climate change is real.

ADAM PUTNAM ASKING LAWMAKERS FOR LEGAL AUTHORITY TO PROTECT “FRESH FROM FLORIDA” BRAND via Matt Dixon of the Naples Daily News

Putnam is asking lawmakers for the ability to go to court to protect the brand that has come to define his department: “Fresh From Florida.”

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has the slogan trademarked, but lacks the legal authority to go to court to protect the brand if it identifies misuse by outside groups or businesses.

Tucked in the department’s 24-page agency bill, SB 1050, is a provision that would allow DACS to go to court, or take any other action, to protect the “Fresh From Florida” brand.

“We already have the trademark, but not the explicit authority to defend the trademark. In statute, other entities already have this authority, for example universities and water management districts,” said Erin Gillespie, a department spokesperson.

“It is just updating the language to be clear that we can defend the trademark if need be,” she added.

Currently, the Department of State would go after a company misusing the brand, but shifting that authority to the DACS save “valuable time,” according to a bill analysis.  Gillespie said the department has not identified any current misuse, but wants to take a “proactive” step to be able to handle any future issues.

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BEST NEWS OF THE DAY — FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT ASKS PSC TO LOWER CONSUMER ENERGY BILLS Full story here

Florida’s largest electric utility is asking the state for permission to cut energy bills for most of its 4.7 million customers.

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today filed updated fuel cost projections for 2015 with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), requesting to reduce customer rates beginning May 1, thanks primarily to projected savings on natural gas costs.

If approved by the PSC, FPL’s typical 1,000-kilowatt-hour residential customer bill would decrease by $3.00 a month. With this reduction, FPL’s typical bill will be approximately 30 percent lower than the latest national average.

“We’re thrilled to be able to reduce rates while we continue to deliver clean power and outstanding service for our customers,” said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL. “The investments we’ve made in converting our old, oil-fired power plants to modern energy-efficient centers that run on clean natural gas continue to deliver benefits. U.S.-produced natural gas is critical to reducing emissions and keeping our customers free from the past’s reliance on foreign oil, and the projected decrease in cost is an excellent added benefit for our customers.”

On track to continue to be the lowest in Florida for a sixth year in a row, FPL’s typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill with the rate reduction will be more than 10 percent lower than it was in 2006, nearly a decade ago.

ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Americans for Prosperity will host a press conference on solar energy policies beginning 12:15 p.m. at the Florida Press Center, 336 E. College Avenue in Tallahassee.

FLORIDA CHAMBER, RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CALL FOR EXTENDING SEMINOLE COMPACT Full story here

Two major pro-business groups, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association are calling for renewal of the gambling agreement between state lawmakers and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

In a television ad … Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, urge the state to extend the Seminole Gaming Compact. An essential portion of the Compact, which allows blackjack and other games at the seven Seminole Hard Rock Casinos, expires in July 2015.

Under the current agreement, the Tribe pays the state at least $1 billion over five years. “The Seminole Compact: Partnership” is a 30-second spot calling the Compact a “partnership made in Florida that works for Florida.’’ The ad tries to strike a balance between extending the Compact and expanding gambling to more facilities in Florida.

Both the Chamber and the Restaurant and Lodging Association have been vocal opponents of gambling expansion, including several attempts to allow the construction of destination resort casinos. Last week, Tampa Republican Dana Young, the House majority leader, filed a bill that could permit two destination casinos in South Florida and slot machines at two more greyhound tracks.

“Florida is changing, which is why we need to extend the Compact and limit gambling,” Wilson said in a statement. “Changing it could lead to the expansion of gambling, which simply is unacceptable for a state that has worked hard to grow its economy and develop a family-friendly image.”

HOUSE BILL WOULD LET DISTRICTS START SCHOOL YEAR EARLIER via The Associated Press

The Florida House is moving a bill that would let school districts begin the school year earlier.

A House committee on Monday voted for a wide-ranging bill that would place limits on the number of standardized tests that could be given in public schools.

The Florida Senate is considering a similar bill. But one major difference is that the House bill would let school start as early as Aug. 10. Currently districts can only start school two weeks before Labor Day.

State legislators put restrictions on the start date after parents complained about districts starting the school year in early August. Some parents contended districts pushed up the date to give students extra time before annual standardized tests.

Theme park operators also complained about early school start dates.

‘WHISKEY AND WHEATIES WAR’ CONTINUES WITH ONLINE AD via James Rosica of the Tampa Tribune

Walmart and Target are continuing their PR blitz to repeal a Florida law that compels them to sell hard liquor in a separate retail store.

he national big-box stores and their allies, who formed Floridians for Fair Business Practices, released a second online video aimed at persuading lawmakers to “repeal the outdated state law.”

In the latest clip, a crew interviewed customers, whose comments focus on the theme of “Convenience” – which, conveniently, is also the title of the video.

As one man put it, “I enjoy the advantage of getting my liquor where I get my groceries. It’s that simple.”

The proposed repeal is largely a battle of business models. On the side of whiskey and Wheaties integration are Walmart, Target, drugstore chain Walgreens and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Those who still favor separation include supermarket chain Publix and the ABC Fine Wine & Spirits chain, both headquartered in Florida; the Florida Independent Spirits Association, representing smaller, independent liquor stores; the Florida Baptist Convention; and the alcohol and drug abuse prevention community.

A House bill (HB 107) with repeal language already has cleared one of its three scheduled committees; a related Senate bill (SB 468) hasn’t yet been heard.

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ACLU CHALLENGES USE OF PRISONERS IN REDISTRICTING CASE via the Associated Press

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is challenging a small Florida county’s use of prisoners in the drawing of its political districts.

The civil rights group on Monday filed a lawsuit in federal court in Tallahassee, alleging that Jefferson County’s 2013 districting plan amounted to “prison gerrymandering.”

The lawsuit alleges that by counting the more than 1,100 inmates at the Jefferson Correctional Institution as residents for redistricting purposes, Jefferson County watered down the voting strength of other districts.

The lawsuit also says that under the maps for county commission and school board, prisoners make up more than 40 percent of the population in the county’s District 3, given that district an unfair advantage compared to the county’s four other districts.

ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION GAINS MOMENTUM IN FLORIDA via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times

Florida would become the 25th state to allow people to register to vote online under one of a series of voting proposals awaiting consideration by the Legislature. … It’s an idea Democrats have pushed for years without success. Now Republicans are also supporting it — but only after the 2016 presidential election.

Twenty states now allow online registration, including Georgia, South Carolina and Louisiana. Four more have passed laws to implement it, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Under Florida law, a person who wants to vote must mail or deliver a voter registration form to an elections office, a decades-old system that elections supervisors say is cumbersome and expensive.

A bill by Rep. Kathleen Passidomo … would create an online voter registration system in 2018, after the next presidential election. Her bill (HB 1161) has the best chance of passage, because Republicans control both houses of the Legislature.

The League of Women Voters of Florida says it should be done sooner, and that people already have waited far too long for a basic convenience that’s now a matter of routine in nearly half of the country.

Florida has a long track record of controversy in its handling of elections. A series of lawsuits followed a decision by the Legislature in 2011 to limit dates and times of early voting but in response to intense criticism, lawmakers expanded maximum early voting days and locations the following year.

The state has one of the nation’s most restrictive voter registration systems, prohibiting people from registering fewer than 29 days before an election.

DENNIS BAXLEY HAULS IN NEARLY 80K TO START SENATE BID via Ryan Ray of Florida Politics

Baxley raised $79,500 during the month of February for his bid for the Florida Senate, according to campaign finance reports recently released by the Division of Elections. That brings his war chest to a total of $94,610 overall.

“We are pleased to receive this much support this early,” said Baxley in a statement Monday.

The man who proudly accepts the title of “Father of Stand Your Ground” is an inveterate campaigner, having run and won seven campaigns since 2000. He now gears up for a run in the deeply conservative Senate District 5, currently held by Inverness state Sen. Charlie Dean.

Baxley faces an opponent in fellow House member state Rep. Jimmie Smith. The retired U.S. Army veteran faces long odds against Baxley. Smith raised $10,126 in February, bringing his total to just under $23,000.

Baxley’s maxed-out contributors include Wal-Mart, the Fontainebleu Resort in Miami, and Building a Better Economy, a political committee run by former state Rep. Daniel Davis.

ATTENTION JEFF BRANDES – WHEN CARS READ MAPS via Emily Badger of the Washington Post

 The digital navigation maps of the future will likely be three-dimensional, more precise, and rely heavily on feedback from cars on the road to help driverless cars maneuver with ease.

CONTEXT FLORIDA: CRIME, HEALTHY FLORIDA WORKS, BIG SUGAR AND ANDREW’S CAPITAL GRILL

On Context Florida: One of the truthful boasts in Gov. Scott’s curiously brief speech to the Legislature last week may not have been good news to all who heard it, says Martin Dyckman. By 2013, crime in Florida had fallen 60 percent from its high point in 1988, which was 10 percent better than the national decline. But there are some to whom this might be a dark lining in a silver cloud. Florida Senate and Senate President Andy Gardiner took a significant step on an issue with profound impacts on Florida taxpayers, businesses and, ultimately, our economy, says Tom Feeney. The Senate filed SPB 7044, the “Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange” (FHIX), based upon A Healthy Florida Works Plan. You think you live in a representative democracy. According to Diane Roberts, you don’t. You live on a sugar plantation. You call it “Florida.” You may reside far from the muck farms and wouldn’t know a cane field from a pawpaw patch, it doesn’t matter. Florida’s state government works for Big Sugar. In Casablanca, “Everybody goes to Rick’s” Cafe Americain. In Tallahassee, Florence Snyder says everybody goes to Andrew’s Capital Grill.

Visit Context Florida to dig in.

FSU ASKS JUDGE TO THROW OUT LAWSUIT FROM JAMEIS WINSTON ACCUSER via Gary Fineout of the Associated Press

Florida State University late Monday asked a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit filed by a former student who said top NFL prospect Jameis Winston sexually assaulted her back in 2012.

The woman filed a lawsuit against the university board of trustees in January, asserting that university officials had knowledge of her alleged sexual harassment and discrimination by the star quarterback and this created a hostile educational environment for her. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including reimbursement for tuition, damages for emotional pain and suffering and loss of past and present earning and earning capacity.

Lawyers for the university’s board of trustees contend the lawsuit should be dismissed because it does not show that FSU was responsible for her harassment, but they also maintain that they offered her assistance.

But the court filing also asserts that while the woman was provided services by the school’s victim advocate, no top officials at the school were even aware that she had accused Winston of rape until a few days before the case became public in November 2013.

The woman wound up leaving school after the investigation against Winston was reported. Winston was not charged by prosecutors in 2013 and he was cleared by the university following a two-day student conduct hearing last year. University lawyers maintain FSU was not responsible for the treatment that she received once news about the investigation became public.

“Regrettably the media’s reporting of (the woman’s) allegations led to an Internet and social media backlash – harassment that FSU did not cause and in an environment that FSU could not control,” states the FSU court filing.

TAMPA BAY TIMES‘ CAPITOL REPORTER FACES DUI CHARGE Full story here

Michael Auslen, the youngest member of the Times‘ Tallahassee bureau, was pulled over after officers were alerted to a speeding and swerving vehicle at approximately 11:15 p.m. this past Saturday evening.

In an affidavit, Auslen admitted to drinking at a local bar but couldn’t specify the exact location. His reported location at the time of arrest would place him nearest Cheeks Lounge or Zingales Billiards & Sports Bar.

With a blood alcohol level of 0.175, Auslen was two times over the state’s legal limit of 0.08.

HAPPENING TONIGHT — ANNUAL CAPITOL PRESS SKITS TO SKEWER POLITiCAL ELITE via James Call of Florida Politics

News will take a backseat to humor Tuesday night when the Capitol Press Corps presents the 60th edition of the sometimes Annual Press Skits; a tradition that began when the senior members of Florida’s political/media class were toddlers.

“It’s become ingrained in the culture of Tallahassee, said Steve Bousquet, appearing in his 21st Press Skits show. “You almost have to be a part of Tallahassee to get the jokes and they serve as sort of a release valve for lawmakers and reporters often caught in an adversarial relationship – I mean, they get to take shots at us as well.”

The Press Skits is a peculiar Tallahassee tradition where politicians and reporters bond while acting out their Catskill’s Borscht-Belt fantasies.

Mary Ellen Klas observed a connection between lawmakers’ willingness to take part in a night of jokes at their expense and the ability to demonstrate “statesmanship” in the performance of their official duties.

That in turns almost demands more civility on the part of reporters as they go about fulfilling journalism’s mission to afflict the comfortable.

Klas and Bousquet have a long-running skit, “Eye-Witless News” in which, as co-anchors of a newscast, they skewer lawmakers, the process and the news media.

“We had some fun with it,” Senate President Andy Gardiner ominously told reporters last week about the videos lawmakers produced for the show.

The House brought down the house last year with a parody of a Snickers commercial where Democratic Leader Mark Pafford morphed into Speaker Will Weatherford.

No one has yet topped former Gov. Bob Graham’s farewell performance at the 1986 show. A term-limited Graham appeared on stage in a crisp white uniform and declared himself governor for life. Graham was followed on stage by the FAMU Marching 100, which played Hail to the Chief and When the Saints Go Marching as he strutted and existed the stage.

“It’s just a really fun event that allows us to bond while serving a good cause,” said Press Corps President Mitchell. “I’m really proud of the fact that we have increased our giving over the last two years to over $20,000 in scholarships each year. Our industry is evolving, but the Barbara Frye Scholarship helps us encourage and cultivate new journalists. And that wouldn’t happen without the Press Skits.

This past year 11 scholarships were awarded, you can read more about the scholarship and the recipients here.

The show is at 7 p.m. at the Moon Nightclub, doors open at 6.

TWEET, TWEET: @MDixon55: Welcome back to… “Is @BylineBrandon auditioning for a Village People cover band or practicing for #pressskits?”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY belatedly to lobbyist Shawn Foster. Celebrating today is Amy Ritter, Emily Thoemke and former Tampa Bay Times reporter and now TIA comms guru Janet Zink.