Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
Today’s SachsFact is brought to you by the public affairs, integrated marketing and reputation management experts at Sachs Media Group: As crowds of frozen college students descend on Florida’s beaches for Spring Break, let’s remember how the annual rite was fueled by the 1960 film Where the Boys Are. Fort Lauderdale played a starring role in the movie, which inspired thousands to come party at the beach. By 1980 the city began to crack down on raucous Spring Break activities, spreading the action to beach towns all over Florida. So Daytona Beach, Panama City Beach, Key West, Miami and others, you have a rather innocent teen movie to thank – or blame – for all the activity coming your way.
COUNTDOWN: Days until Sine Die: 54; Days until the 2015 Election: 239; Days until the 2016 Election: 610
BEST EMAIL I RECEIVED WHILE ON VACATION: “Thank you for the news piece on my cousin Ken (Plante). My family watched Ken’s career with pride and happiness. He helped many and had a kind heart. If it wasn’t for Ken and Sandy, I might not have spent the past 42 years teaching English and journalism in Central Florida. Nice work.” — Cece Schnepp Esposito
BACK FROM VACATION, THIS IS HOW LAST WEEK SEEMED TO GO
Monday was an ugly orgy of fundraising and last-minute check deliveries. The release of the gaming bill had Adams Street scratching its head.
On Tuesday, Steve Crisafulli mentioned pension reform and a bunch of freshman looked blankly at each other. The circular gaming fire squad prepared for their its showdown.
In Wednesday, Don Gaetz returned to committee in top form, spanking the insurance lobby.
On Thursday, Jeff Brandes escaped a vote in his own committee on the Uber fight when he dispatched his trusty and loyal aide, Chris Spencer, to go find Denise Grimsley.
On Friday, all was quiet until 4 p.m., when committee agendas were released for Week 2 and people realized it’s time to don their legislative battle gear and start working committee votes.
HITTING THE STREETS TODAY — INFLUENCE MAGAZINE
SCHORSCH DEBUTS LUXURY MAGAZINE TARGETING POWER BROKERS via Chris Wilkerson of the Tampa Bay Business Journal
It’s not the kind of project you might expect out of a man whose entire business model has been to disrupt the print media industry, but (the) SaintPetersBlog publisher … is launching a luxury lifestyle magazine.
“I’ve always wanted to do my own guide to the legislative session,” he said a few days before lawmakers and lobbyists made their way to Tallahassee, “and make it kind of darkly humorous.”
Influence‘s first run hits mailboxes (this) week across the state. Schorsch printed 10,000 copies of his first issue — half to be delivered directly to his target audience and the other half for the hotels and restaurants in and around the state capital where his readers will relax.
… The 134-page debut is a stark contrast to SaintPetersBlog, Schorsch’s hard news and opinion blog that has grown during the past few years to cover politics and politicians beyond St. Petersburg.
“I got a bunch of old copies of George Magazine to get a sense of the tone I was looking for,” he said.
… The magazine has a balance of news and notes as well as features, people profiles and even a Tallahassee dining guide (written by Molly and Rick Wilson) for those making their first trip to the capital this year. It is a lean-back luxury and cultural magazine that makes room for some long-form storytelling for which his blog is not ideally suited.
“I think it is solid journalism,” he said.
The first issue includes profiles on Ron Book, Darrick McGhee of Johnson & Blanton, Mac Stipanovich of Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney, Monica Rodriguez of Ballard Partners, Chip Case of Jefferson Monroe Consulting, Skylar Zander of Americans for Prosperity, Emmett Reed of the Florida Health Care Association, and an exclusive interview with House Speaker Steve Crisafulli.
The magazine will publish quarterly … Look for the next issue in June to include guest columnist and former House Speaker.
VIEW A DIGITAL VERSION OF INFLUENCE MAGAZINE AFTER 1:30 PM by clicking through this post.
INSTAGRAM AND TWEET YOUR COPY OF INFLUENCE MAGAZINE and qualify to win a $250 gift certificate to 101 Restaurant. Use the hashtag #IHaveInfluence or #FlaPol and we’ll randomly select one winner.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
I will be in Tallahassee for the first part of the week. On Monday, I’ll be hand-delivering advance copies of INFLUENCE Magazine. On Tuesday, I will be speaking in the morning to Leadership St. Petersburg and, in the evening, I’ll be taking in the fun at #Press Skits. In between all of that, I would welcome the chance to meet for coffee or something stronger. Email me at [email protected].
***Today’s SUNBURN is brought to you by Bright House Networks, a trusted provider of industry-leading communications and networking services to businesses of all sizes, from startups to large, multi-site organizations. Our Enterprise Solutions provides the fiber connectivity, cloud and managed services today’s large organizations demand, while our Business Solutions team works with small- to mid-size companies to ensure they get the right services to fit their needs and their budget. Find out why so many businesses in your area trust their communications needs to Bright House Networks. Learn more at brighthouse.com/business.***
IN MIAMI, THE CLINTONS TALK DISCLOSURE ON FOREIGN DONORS BUT DON’T MENTION THE EMAILS via Marc Caputo of POLITICO
When it came to addressing controversies embroiling their family, the Clintons were 1 for 2 during a Clinton Global Initiative University event Saturday at the University of Miami.
The Clintons appeared separately onstage – Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton first as they plugged an upcoming gender-equality report; Bill Clinton moments later in a Q&A with Larry Wilmore, host of Comedy Central’s “The Nightly Show.”
Where Hillary Clinton said nothing about her private use of email as secretary of state or her likely bid for president, the former president first tackled the controversy over the foundation accepting foreign money.
“I believe we have done a lot more good than harm,” he said, adding that donors don’t dictate what the foundation does.
“For example, the UAE gave us money. Do we agree with everything they do? No. But they help us fight ISIS,” Bill Clinton said. “My theory about this is disclose everything, and then let people make their judgments.”
… The two-day event at the University of Miami wasn’t an overt political forum as much as public-policy forum concerning climate change, public health, poverty, human rights and education. After his initial Q&A with Wilmore, Bill Clinton was joined by the persecuted Russian rock group Pussy Riot. One of the rockers said the f-word onstage; Clinton’s face expressed a measure of discomfort.
TWEET, TWEET: @TheRickWilson: let’s be honest. This isn’t Bill Clinton’s first pussy riot.
MORE FROM RICK WILSON: A must-read in POLITICO Magazine on how Republicans should handle their messaging in the Clinton email scandal
JEB BUSH IN IOWA via Katie Glueck of POLITICO
It was Bush’s first major foray into Iowa retail politics this year, but his visit this weekend proved he’s anything but a stranger.
Alumni of his father’s administration showed up to cheer him on. Memories of his brother’s White House tenure were still fresh. On big stages, in smaller venues and with groups of reporters, the former Florida governor couldn’t avoid the family legacy.
For better and for worse, the Bush name continues to loom large in the first-in-the-nation caucus state — and the third Bush to seek the presidency was reminded of that over and over during his two-day swing.
Not long after his arrival … one of the mob of reporters chronicling his visit got right to the point: how did he intend to deal with Bush fatigue, at a time when his brother’s name is still toxic in some circles?
“Work hard, show my heart, talk about my record, let people know who I am,” Bush responded, sounding prepared for the question. “I think it’ll be fine. There’s a lot of people, including myself, that love my brother, love my dad. But I’m going to have to get this on my own, Everybody knows that. I have enough self-awareness to know that this is an opportunity for me to be able to share who I am and my leadership skills.”
>>>In advance of his trip, Bush’s Right to Rise PAC released a new two-minute web video showcasing Bush touting his conservative accomplishments as Governor of Florida. The footage of Bush is from last month’s CPAC conference. Watch it here.
BUSH BRINGS ON INFLUENTIAL EVANGELICAL FIGURE via David Brody of CBN
Jordan Sekulow is joining “Team Bush” as a senior adviser for Bush’s Right to Rise PAC. Read what he says … “Governor Bush knows how to take bold conservative ideas and put them into action. While we must continue to fight the bad policies and unconstitutional overreaches of the current administration, it is time for conservatives to start talking to all Americans about how we, as a nation, can lead again at home and abroad. I am excited to begin a conversation with conservatives about Governor Bush’s pro-life, pro-family, tax-cutting record in Florida and the ideas we need to put into action to give every American a chance to rise up.”
Jordan Sekulow is the executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). He’s also is host of Jay Sekulow Live!, which is a syndicated radio program where he interviews elected officials and conservative leaders. … Sekulow is a big get for Jeb Bush. It provides him with an important evangelical voice that can help trumpet his conservative credentials within the evangelical community.
CHOOSE YOUR NEWS: “Birth of a charter school and Jeb Bush’s vision for education” via the Miami Herald OR “Charter school hailed by Bush ended in ruin” via the New York Times
BUSH REMARKS ON ETHANOL HAVE IOWANS READING TEA LEAVES via Jon Ward of Yahoo News
Nine potential presidential candidates, including Bush, trekked to Iowa specifically to sit on a stage and answer questions not from a journalist, but from businessman Bruce Rastetter, a “pork and ethanol giant” who has become a political player in the state over the past several years. Iowa political observers said they’d never seen anything quite like it. However, after Bush sat down with Rastetter, listeners were left debating what he’d actually said … the RFS “has worked, for sure” and “has been a benefit” because it has “reduced our dependence on foreign oil.” … he also gave a nod to the more conservative elements of the GOP who oppose government support for industry and corporations.
MARCO RUBIO SNAGS TOP DONOR AHEAD OF 2016 via Eliana Johnson of the National Review
Jeb Bush’s decision to run in 2016 has prompted plenty of speculation about whether there will be enough top-dollar donors, particularly in Florida, to accommodate Marco Rubio’s own presidential aspirations.
These days, depending on how much money one has, it only takes one, and Rubio, it seems, has him. He is Miami billionaire Norman Braman, a former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles and the owner of a string of high-end Florida auto dealerships. He is one of the top five donors to Republican causes in the state of Florida and a longtime Rubio backer who has resisted the gravitational pull that the Bush campaign has exerted on many donors.
If Rubio runs for president, and he is expected to make an announcement next month, Braman says he will “provide substantial financial support” to his campaign. He declined to give an exact number, but the figure is rumored to be around $10 million. Braman says he will not found his own super PAC, but that if a pro-Rubio super PAC is formed, he will “certainly” be contributing. “I’ve known Senator Rubio for a number of years and I’ve watched his career for a number of years and honestly believe he’s the finest candidate,” Braman says.
In a phone interview with National Review Online, Braman focuses on one of the issues that threatens to dog Bush as the primaries get underway. “Rubio represents the future,” he says. Rubio, who has been keeping a low profile while his former mentor, Bush, has been crisscrossing the country vacuuming up cash — he’s had to ask donors to keep their contributions under a million dollars — will have to tap that sentiment if and when he jumps into the race.
“He’s the only candidate I’ve seen that has come up with answers to our problems in detail,” Braman says. “All the other candidates that I’ve seen, all they do is just complain.” In Rubio, he says, “I’ve seen somebody who isn’t just complaining about the present situation but has a plan to do something about it.”
MEANWHILE … TECH GLITCHES COULD MAR 2016 ELECTION via Jeremy Wallace of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“Habitual” technology failures in an “obsolete” and glitch-prone state voter registration system could have devastating effects in 2016 if not addressed quickly, elections officials across the state say.
The aging state computer system is used to check in voters locally, ensuring their eligibility, before they cast ballots. … local elections supervisors say the state system is prone to crash, sometimes for days, precluding efforts to verify that eligibility. … the state has been slow to upgrade the hardware, despite millions in federal funding.
In a memo to local elections officials … the state said it was moving to address the problem this month. Still, several county elections officials expressed alarm that Florida has not been more aggressive in fixing the issue, especially since it has already affected the outcome of at least one local election.
With the state’s next presidential primary barely one year away, elections officials say they are increasingly worried — especially given Florida’s reputation for election problems.
Officials who recall the 2000 presidential election and the ensuing “hanging chad” debacle here fear the potential for another unflattering return to the spotlight.
***Conversa is a women- and minority-owned, full-service public affairs, public relations, design and research firm, specializing in the development of campaigns that help you listen, understand, engage, and interact with local and global audiences. We’ve helped organizations ranging from Fortune 500 clients and national nonprofits to small businesses and international associations define messages, protect interests, influence opinion leaders, and create the conditions necessary for social change. To learn more about how we get people talking, visit www.Conversaco.com.***
PIC DU JOUR: U.S. Rep Gwen Graham embracing civil rights icon U.S. Rep. John Lewis during this past weekend’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the march on Selma. Photo here.
ALAN GRAYSON TO ARGUE THAT ESTRANGED WIFE COMMITTED BIGAMY via Mike Schneider of The Associated Press
An outspoken liberal congressman from Florida will argue in court … that his 24-year marriage should be annulled because his estranged wife committed bigamy, the opening salvo in an acrimonious divorce case a judge likened to an episode of the TV series “House of Cards.”
U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson says his wife, Lolita, was still married to Robert Carson when she and the multimillionaire congressman married in 1990 in Virginia. Grayson, a Democrat and highly successful trial lawyer, said the marriage to Carson wasn’t dissolved until 1994 in Broward County, Florida.
But Lolita Grayson says she divorced Carson in Guam in 1981, and she disputes that she was divorced in Broward County. She also said she isn’t the “Lolita B. Carson” cited in a dissolution of marriage final judgment that Alan Grayson, 56, says is proof that she was still married to Carson when they wed. Neither side has found Carson.
If the marriage is annulled, Alan Grayson would avoid having the court divide personal property or decide whether he owes Lolita Grayson alimony. In court papers, Lolita Grayson puts her husband’s worth at $31 million.
Besides bigamy, the divorce has featured mutual allegations of battery, accusations by Lolita Grayson of financial abandonment by the congressman and a trial delay caused by Lolita Grayson’s leaking breast implants.
During a recent pretrial hearing, when attorneys were arguing over who had access to the couple’s financial documents, Circuit Judge Bob LeBlanc likened the scenario to the well-known Netflix political drama.
“This is starting to sound like ‘House of Cards,'” LeBlanc said.
YES, TREY RADEL IS BACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA via Ledyard King of the News-Press
Trey Radel’s decision to resurface after lying low for more than a year is good news for his Twitter account.
Known as one of the most prolific social media users in Congress when he served in the House, Radel went uncharacteristically — though understandably — silent after resigning last year following his guilty plea to misdemeanor cocaine possession.
Radel, given to sharing random thoughts about such pressing issues as the Sky Mall catalogue found in airplane seat pockets, dropped out of public sight for nearly a year. But expect to hear from him a lot more often now that he’s used Twitter to announce the startup of his new media messaging firm.
Radel, a Fort Myers Republican, didn’t seem to know what kind of reception he’d get when he tweeted about his new career. So far, so good, apparently.
“Dear world of @Twitter thanks for being surprisingly kind! Looking forward to a great year!” he tweeted.
At least one fan is glad he’s re-emerged.
“Good to see my friend @treyradel tweeting again and back in business!” tweeted Francisco Gonzalez, vice president of advancement for the conservative James Madison Institute based in Tallahassee.
1ST DCA JUDGE NIKKI ANN CLARK ANNOUNCES JUNE 1 RETIREMENT via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics
First District Court of Appeal Judge Nikki Ann Clark is retiring effective June 1. … Clark said she has been a judge 22 years and before that worked as an attorney for 17 years. “That’s enough,” said Clark, 63. “It’s time to turn that page and start that new chapter.”
Clark said she planned to send her retirement letter to Gov. Scott … (who) will appoint a judge to replace Clark. That appointee will have to be retained by voters in a merit retention race.
Then-Gov. Charlie Crist appointed her to the 1st DCA in 2009. Prior to that, Clark was a Leon County Circuit Court judge for 16 years, originally appointed by then-Gov. Lawton Chiles, a Democrat. There, she heard a number of high-profile cases, including one involving 15,000 Republican absentee ballots in Seminole County during the 2000 General Election and recount efforts.
Her decision to allow the absentee ballots to be considered resulted in a barrage of hate mail and love mail. Reflecting, she laughed and said that she even got a letter of apology from someone who had previously sent her hate mail.
‘It wasn’t just a good time, but an incredible time, even on those days that it’s been extremely difficult,” she said.
TERMS SUCH AS ‘CLIMATE CHANGE,’ ‘GLOBAL WARMING’ WERE OUTLAWED BY RICK SCOTT ADMIN, FORMER FLORIDA DEP EMPLOYEES SAY via Tristram Korten of the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Department of Environmental Protection officials have been ordered not to use the terms “climate change” or “global warming” in any official communications, emails, or reports, according to former DEP employees, consultants, volunteers and records obtained by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.
“We were told not to use the terms ‘climate change,’ ‘global warming’ or ‘sustainability,’ ” said Christopher Byrd, an attorney with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of General Counsel in Tallahassee from 2008 to 2013. “That message was communicated to me and my colleagues by our superiors.”
Kristina Trotta, a former DEP employee in Miami, said her supervisor told her not to use the terms “climate change” and “global warming” in a 2014 staff meeting.
“We were told that we were not allowed to discuss anything that was not a true fact,” she said.
This unwritten policy went into effect after Gov. Rick Scott took office in 2011 and appointed Herschel Vinyard Jr. to lead the approximately 3,200-employee agency, with a budget of $1.4 billion, according to former DEP employees. Vinyard resigned in November.
“DEP does not have a policy on this,” Tiffany Cowie, department press secretary, wrote in an email.
But former DEP employees from offices around the state say the order was well known.
TWEET, TWEET: @SenDarrenSoto: FL is most vulnerable state to climate change yet FDEP won’t even use the words “global warming”
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Gov. Scott will visit Miami to highlight the state investments to expand NW 57th Avenue. Press conference begins 1:30 p.m. at Casa Maiz Restaurant, 7395 West 4th Ave. in Hialeah.
SPOTTED at the Gasparilla MusicFest: Attorney General Pam Bondi
ANDY GARDINER USES POWERFUL POST TO FOCUS ON SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald
As Andy and Camille Gardiner drove home from the hospital with their newborn son Andrew, relatives crowded into their Orlando home to greet them. Andrew had just been diagnosed with Down syndrome and, as the car neared their home, they circled around the block to buy some time.
“We drove around for a while, just the three of us, and we made a commitment then, to Andrew,” Andy Gardiner recalled … “We were going to raise him just like every other child. We were going to push him and expect him to do things. So, here we are.”
Gardiner’s promise to his son that September day 11 years ago has shaped the trajectory of his 15-year legislative career. He became an advocate for children with special needs. Now, as the newly sworn-in president of the 40-member Senate, he has pledged to improve opportunities for Andrew and tens of thousands of others like him.
Gardiner, 45, is one of the most powerful politicians in Florida. He’s using his two-year term, the capstone of a long career, to usher in an array of legislation aimed at providing a path to economic independence for, as he says, people with “unique abilities.”
The list of bills ranges from expanding scholarships for students with disabilities, to promoting employment, adoption and creating university and college programs for students to graduate with a meaningful degree. The bills are on a fast track in the Senate, and many are moving in the House.
[B]y 2010, Gardiner was sponsoring legislation requiring ultrasounds for first-term abortions, and had already moved several other bills to revise how students with disabilities were treated by educators. Then-Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed the ultrasound bill, but Gardiner said he was motivated by the medical data that showed that 90 percent of the pre-natal diagnosis of Down syndrome end in abortions. He also believes that if more people understood that most stereotypes about the condition are wrong, that medical science and treatment has progressed — even in the last decade — and that children can lead vigorous normal lives, parents would have less to fear.
JACK LATVALA WANTS COMMERCE SECRETARY TO BE CONFIRMED BY SENATE via Matt Dixon of the Naples Daily News
Latvala wants the state’s top commerce official – informally dubbed the jobs czar – to be subject to Senate confirmation.
Currently, that position is filled by the board of Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private economic development arm. Governors usually get their hand-picked commerce secretary. Along with being given deference from other members, the governor chairs the Enterprise Florida board and appoints six members.
The Senate confirmation process would give the Legislature much greater sway over the state’s top commerce official, and add a hurdle for governors to overcome when picking the jobs point-person. The confirmation includes a bit of political wrangling as the Governor’s Office works to drum up enough votes to pass its pick through the Senate, which can use the confirmation process to leverage things from the governor.
“I just think it’s important for someone who has that type of authority, who runs a state department, to get confirmed,” Latvala said.
The confirmation proposal is part of a larger push to rein in Scott’s control over economic development deals.
DANA YOUNG LOOKS TO MAKE HER MARK AS MAJORITY LEADER via Michael Auslen of the Tampa Bay Times
[Dana] Young is coming into her own as a rising GOP star …The 50-year-old legislator represents Tampa in the Florida House, part of a strong bloc of Tampa Bay leadership in the Capitol. She is the first Republican woman and just the second woman from either major party to be named majority leader in a chamber that’s never elected a female speaker.
Since her first election in 2010, Young has taken on key bills, including one that shook up port regulations her very first term, an unusually high-profile piece of legislation for a freshman lawmaker. She keeps a photo and pen from the bill signing with Gov. Rick Scott at Port of Tampa in her office at the Capitol.
This session, the only legislation Young has sponsored are a controversial package of gambling reforms that would upend gaming in the state, the cornerstone of which is 316 pages long and highly technical.
It fits her reputation as a lawmaker who’s policy smart and politically strategic. She’s adept at figuring out whose support she’ll need and staying two steps ahead to get that support, said state Sen. Jeff Brandes … who was elected to the House alongside Young and now represents the same district in the Senate.
Despite her uncompromisingly right-wing politics, she’s allied herself with Democrats, particularly those from Tampa Bay. Together, they form an increasingly powerful bloc in Tallahassee.
With Young as majority leader for two years and a likely contender for top committee positions in 2017 … local leaders hope to see favorable bills and budget appropriations in the coming years.
JANET CRUZ SAYS FLORIDA IN ‘DIRE STRAITS’ WITH LIP FUNDS NOW OFF THE TABLE via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics
[T]he Scott administration recognized what had been reported weeks earlier: Florida is losing $1.3 billion of federal money that would otherwise go to help hospitals treat poor and uninsured patients.
When Eliot Fishman … director of the Children and Adults Health Programs Group in the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) at CMS, told attendees at an Orlando health-care conference in mid-February that the federal government wouldn’t extend Florida’s “Low Income Pool” program, Scott press aide Jackie Schultz downplayed the comment. But on Friday, Schultz admitted that the feds won’t provide the funding.
“It is disappointing that the federal government is not extending the federal LIP program, which was started by the federal government in 2005 to help low-income people in Florida access health care,” she said in a statement. “We would be extremely disappointed if the federal government did not agree to an alternative funding solution soon.”
“There was a warning they (the federal government) had no plans to extend it,” says Democratic House Minority Leader Janet Cruz … “Yet our governor added it to the budget, and what we have to do is take a look at this and say, we are in dire straits here.”
Tampa General Hospital is slated to lose $85 million if that LIP money is not replaced in the budget, and it could cost state hospitals a total of $2.2 billion, according to Bruce Rueben, president of the Florida Association of Hospitals.
BILLS FOR FRACKING REGULATION FILED AGAIN AFTER YEARS OF OPPOSITION via Bruce Ritchie of Florida Politics
Bills that would regulate hydraulic fracturing and restrict the public disclosure of chemicals used in the process have been filed again after similar bills died amid opposition in previous years.
Hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, is a process of using sand, water and chemicals under pressure to extract oil and gas. Critics say the practice represents a threat to groundwater and drinking water supplies but the energy industry says it is a safe method of producing domestic energy.
Bills that would require disclosure to state agencies of chemicals used in fracking were filed the past two years but failed to pass. In 2014, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection cited the Dan A. Hughes Co. for fracking at an oil well in Collier County in violation of a permit.
Republican state Rep. Ray Rodrigues from Estero and sponsor of the bills for now the third year to provide for regulation of fracking, said the controversy over the Dan A. Hughes Co. operation adds a sense of urgency to establish a regulatory framework.
“I think what occurred in Collier County was a wake-up call that fracking is much closer to Florida than some people believed last year or the year before that,” Rodrigues said. “It is not a theoretical exercise anymore.”
In response to the Hughes incident, Democrats in the House and Senate have filed bills to ban fracking.
SOME FLORIDA COLLEGIANS COULD CARRY GUNS UNDER PROPOSAL via William March of the Associated Press
Four months after a mentally ill gunman wounded three students at Florida State University, state legislators are considering a bill that would allow holders of concealed weapons permits to carry their weapons onto public university and college campuses.
Supporters, including the National Rifle Association, say permit holders shouldn’t be forced to abandon their weapons simply because they walk onto a campus. They point out that permit holders must be at least 21, pass a background check and take a safety class or have served honorably in the military.
State Rep. Greg Steube … the bill’s sponsor … said an armed student or employee may have been able to stop former FSU student Myron May’s Nov. 20 shooting spree before police arrived and killed him just outside the library.
“Why are we stripping people’s inherent right to self-defense just because they’re on a college campus?” he said. “Why can they not carry on campus when they can carry at a shopping plaza, a restaurant, a mall, a park?”
Opponents include Florida State University President John Thrasher, formerly a powerful legislator, along with the other 11 public university presidents, the campus police chiefs and the system’s Board of Governors.
Eight other states allow concealed carry permit holders to bring their weapons to campus and 23 states leave it up to the school.
… BUT TUESDAY WILL BE A BEAR — TWEET, TWEET: @Fineout: Looks like Tuesday will be a marathon day in Tally: Budget forecasts, pres primary on House floor, Medicaid expansion, Cabinet mtg … and Sen. Ring’s committee on Tuesday will take up the let’s undo the double dipper law passed by @fasanomike
***Smith, Bryan & Myers is an all-inclusive governmental relations firm located in Tallahassee. For more than three decades, SBM has been working with our clients to deliver their priorities through strategic and effective government relations consulting that has led us to become one of Tallahassee’s premier governmental relations firms today.***
FIRST IN SUNBURN — FLORIDIANS FOR FAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES RELEASE VIDEO CITING REASONS TO REPEAL ALCOHOL SEPARATION LAW
Floridians for Fair Business Practices is releasing a new video that argues convenience and common sense are two reasons why Florida should repeal its “outdated” wall of separation between liquor stores and other retailers.
“Convenience” is the second in a series of digital ads, and is now available on YouTube.
“For me as a mom, it’s the most convenient way for me to shop,” said one consumer featured on the video. Other comments include: “I enjoy the advantage of getting my liquor where I get my groceries. It’s that simple,” and “You’re selling liquor either way so why not put it together,” and “It’s just common sense.”
FFBP, a coalition of retailers and business groups, supports House Bill 107, sponsored by Rep. Greg Steube, which includes language that would repeal the Prohibition-era alcohol separation law.
“It is important to address the needs of retailers and their customers in the state,” Steube said. “Updating the grocery model will enable both liquor and grocery stores to expand their product offerings for responsible adult consumers.”
$105 MILLION IN FINES FROM CAMERAS via Lloyd Dunkelberger of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Nearly a million Florida motorists were cited last year for violations under the state’s red-light camera program used by the state’s cities and counties.
Of the 941,000 notices of violations, the bulk of motorists – 648,000 – paid the $158 fine, with $75 going to the local governments and $83 to the state. Some 37,000 motorists challenged the notices, with 12,000 eventually paying the fine, 19,000 having their violations dismissed and 6,000 still pending as of last October, according to a new report from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Another 256,000 notices were either unpaid or not contested during the 60-day period, moving those cases into traffic court where motorists can formally contest the violations but also face the possibility of a more serious uniform traffic violation, which carries higher fines and driving penalties.
In total, the state and the 80 or so local governments that use red-light cameras received some $105 million in fines in the 2013-14 budget year, according to the state Department of Revenue.
City, county and law enforcement organizations support the cameras as a measure that is making Florida roadways safer. But some motorist advocates and lawmakers question whether the red-light cameras are more important as a $105 million a year revenue source rather than as a safety measure. And among the chief critics is Senate Transportation Chairman Jeff Brandes.
In the first week of the 2015 session, Brandes renewed his effort to scale back the red-light camera program.
Part of his frustration is that the new report from state highway safety officials was unable to determine whether the cameras were making Florida roadways safer – largely because of inconsistencies in how the local governments report their crash data to the state.
CHARLOTTE’S WEB RIVALS SLUG IT OUT IN THE PRESS via Ryan Ray of Florida Politics
Jon Moyle, an attorney for Holly Moseley, has just fired a shot across the bow of blogger Jacob Engels and Sunshine State News (SSN). Moyle issued a strongly-worded missive to the managing editor of the conservative media outlet regarding a column attacking Moseley, who is Executive Director of Charlotte’s Web advocacy group Realm of Care.
Writing in SSN, Engels charged last week that Moseley, who also sits on a Charlotte’s Web rulemaking committee, maintains an inappropriate business relationship with Charlotte’s Web developer Joel Stanley and that Moseley has violated Florida’s Sunshine Law by secretly coordinating with him in private.
“First it was Bob Wallace of Chestnut Hill Nursery in Alachua, white-lying his way onto the medical marijuana rule-making panel,” read the column. “Now, sadly, it’s committee members Joel Stanley, owner of the “Charlotte’s Web” strain, and Holly Moseley, the ‘patient representative’ on the panel. They failed to disclose to [board chair Patty] Nelson, to fellow committee members and to the public that they have a business relationship. It is a serious breach of ethics and possibly a criminal violation.”
“Both statements are false,” wrote Moyle. “Only speculation and conjecture support your suggestion that my client violated the Sunshine Law. She did not.”
While her husband Peyton Moseley does have a relationship with Stanley in his capacity with non-profit medical marijuana group Ray of Hope 4 Florida, Holly does not formally work with Stanley.
“The Department of Health was aware of the position held by my client with the non-profit and the relationship Joel Stanley has with my client’s husband,” continued Moyle. “Your suggestion of active concealment is false.”
… The letter seems to have hit its mark. the column, titled “Charlotte’s Tangled Web: Now Look Whose Ethics Are Questioned,” has been removed.
HEALTH CARE EXPANSION OR NOT, SAFETY NET HOSPITALS FARED WELL IN 2014 via Phil Galewitz of Kaiser Health News
Hospitals that treat many poor and uninsured patients were expected to face tough financial times in states that did not expand Medicaid under the federal law known as Obamacare. That’s because they would get less Medicare and Medicaid funding under the Affordable Care Act, while still having to provide high levels of charity care.
But in some of the largest states that did not expand Medicaid, many safety-net hospitals fared pretty well last year — even better than in 2013 in many cases, according to their financial documents. KHN looked at the performance of about a dozen such hospitals in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia and Kansas, which released their 2014 financial results.
An improving economy was the single, biggest reason shared by all of the strongly performing hospitals because it helped reduce the number of patients who couldn’t pay their bills and increased local property and sales tax revenues earmarked for publicly supported hospitals.
Another factor for some hospitals was the increase in insured patients who bought coverage through the health law’s insurance exchanges. For instance, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health saw a 30 percent drop in charity care, which officials attributed to seeing more insured patients.
Still, the biggest fiscal challenges lie just ahead — with significant Medicaid funding cuts starting late next year under the Affordable Care Act. The health law’s drafters anticipated the number of uninsured Americans to decrease dramatically, in part because they expected a nationwide expansion of Medicaid. Therefore, beginning in October 2016, the law calls for cuts to special Medicaid funding for hospitals that typically see a disproportionate share of the poor. In addition, other Medicaid funding that supports indigent care in certain states (and that predates the 2010 health law) is slated to expire in Florida in June and in Texas, next year.
***Aerospace supporters — including representatives from industry, government and academia — will be in Tallahassee on March 25 for Florida Space Day. The group aims to raise awareness about issues affecting Florida’s role in America’s space program, as well as issues affecting the technology development and businesses related to that program. The theme of this year’s Space Day is: “Florida … Transforming the Business of Space.”***
CONSERVATIVE SOLAR PROPONENTS DECRY ATTACK ON BALLOT INITIATIVE AS CAMPAIGN OF DECEPTION via Ivan Penn of the Tampa Bay Times
Conservative solar proponents accused Americans for Prosperity of launching a “campaign of deception” against a ballot petition that would allow those in Florida who generate electricity from the sun to sell that power directly to others.
In a news release Saturday, Conservatives for Energy Freedom, part of a bipartisan coalition leading the ballot petition, said inaccurate statements have been circulating in e-mails from Americans for Prosperity.
The e-mail criticizes the ballot initiative as an effort about “money, and using government and taxpayers to prop up the solar industry. The solar industry cannot survive without taxpayer-funded subsidies and mandates.”
In addition, the e-mail asserts that the coalition, Floridians for Solar Choice, is merely “a front group for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)” and that the environmental group is funded by liberal, California-based activist Tom Steyer.
Steve Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance, said his organization has never received money directly from Steyer and “there is no Tom Steyer money associated with this effort at this point.” Smith said the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund is “providing some early support for this effort.”
Tory Perfetti, Florida director of Conservatives for Energy Freedom and Floridians for Solar Choice, said statements about mandates for subsidies or purchases of solar over any other form of energy also are inaccurate.
“This ballot initiative will open up the energy market in Florida to freedom of choice and allow commerce to be conducted through the free market,” said Perfetti, a conservative Republican. “This initiative will not mandate the purchase of solar nor will you find anywhere in the ballot language anything which says that solar will be subsidized, so to say otherwise is false.”
Chris Hudson, Florida director of Americans for Prosperity, said his organization will hold a news conference (this) week in Tallahassee to discuss concerns about the solar and the ballot initiative. He said the bottom line is, “We should not favor one source of energy over the other in the Constitution or anywhere else. Solar cannot compete in a free market. It relies on government mandates and taxpayer funded subsidies to make it feasible.”
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR LIST OF THE 25 MOST POWERFUL POLITICIANS IN TAMPA BAY Full story here
The top five: #5 Kathy Castor … [B]andied about as much as any Democrat outside of South Florida when it comes to potential 2016 Senate nominees. #4 Jeff Brandes … If Rand Paul is the most interesting man in politics … definitely on the short list for most interesting lawmaker in Tallahassee. #3 David Jolly … An activism-oriented congressman … “The most underestimated man in America,” says Ingram. #2 Bob Buckhorn … “the most masterful Democratic politician in the state of Florida right now,” says GOP political consultant Chris Ingram. #1 Richard Corcoran … “The type of guy that’s not going to continue what is going on in Tallahassee with special interests, corporate welfare and things like that,” says Mike Fasano.
#7 Dana Young … [S]killfully worked her way through House Leadership since she took the open seat … in 2010, the last time she’s had to sweat out an election. #8 Jack Latvala … reputation as a power broker of sorts took a hit last year, when his favored candidate to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Bill Young, Kathleen Peters, failed to make it out of a GOP primary. #12 Rick Kriseman … While Bob Buckhorn generates headlines … Kriseman has kept his head down while pushing his progressive agenda in St. Petersburg … the Tampa Bay area’s (if not all of Florida’s) coolest city. #13 Kevin Beckner … 2014 was also a banner year for Hillsborough County … joining the 21st century in equal rights … Kevin Beckner was there all the way. #15 Wilton Simpson … GOP State Committeeman Bill Bunting calls Simpson “probably the most honest politician I’ve ever seen.”
#18 Blaise Ingoglia … determined to bring Florida’s 29 electoral votes into the Republican column in November of 2016. #19 David Gee … combination of intelligence, capability and compassion make him “the real deal,” says Ingram. #23 Ken Welch … often credited for his style as a true professional,” says Gypsy Gallardo, magazine publisher and chief architect of the 2020 Plan. #24 Karl Nurse … a respected voice on the board since he was picked by Rick Baker … going back to 2008 … the first white person in nearly three decades to represent the predominately black, low-income neighborhoods that comprise District 6.
LENNY CURRY CAMPAIGN SET TO ROLL OUT DETAILS OF HIS VISION FOR JACKSONVILLE via Nate Monroe of the Florida Times-Union
Republican mayoral contender Lenny Curry, whose opponents have characterized his campaign as one devoid of ideas and a clear vision for Jacksonville, is rolling out a detailed plan this week that adds policy heft to his stump-speech promises of restoring the city to greatness.
Curry’s plan essentially adds detail to the “four pillars” he’s vowed to focus on as mayor:
Bolstering public safety … Adding 147 new police officers to the streets, which, with an estimated cost of up to $20 million, is the costliest part of his overall plan. He also wants to restore funding to the wide-ranging Jacksonville Journey initiative, a Peyton-era series of programs and efforts seeking to address the root causes of crime with summer jobs projects, programs to help ex-offenders fit back in at home and support for neighborhood-based nonprofits.
Expanding economic opportunity … He would move an employee directly into the mayor’s office to act as a small-business liaison focused on working with businesses in their first year of operation. He would also put a premium on customer service with city employees, and he hopes to create a “fast track, one-stop” permitting process.
Ensuring children have access to high-performing education … Though education is not under the direct or formal purview of City Hall, Jacksonville mayors have long sought to partner with the Duval County School District on improving local schools.
Strengthening neighborhoods … Curry wants to give more power to the city’s Citizen Planning Advisory Councils — expanding support staff, responsibilities and membership. He also would give those groups more input into the development and prioritization of capital projects.
RAQUEL REGALADO: I AM RUNNING FOR MIAMI-DADE MAYOR via Doug Hanks of the Miami Herald
School board member Raquel Regalado … plans to run for Miami-Dade mayor, saying the county needs a “different direction” than the one offered by Carlos Gimenez, who has held the office since 2011.
“I think the decisions being made right now are having such a dramatic impact on our lives,” Regalado, 40, said in an interview … referring to Gimenez. “I don’t think we need to raise taxes. I do think we need to re-evaluate how we’re conducting business, and rethink our priorities.”
Anticipated for weeks, Regalado’s announcement brings Gimenez, 61, his first official opponent as he gears up to run for his second full term on a pledge of flat taxes, administrative competence and shared prosperity. It also draws a formal political dividing line between the mayors of Miami-Dade and Miami, where Regalado’s father, Tomás Regalado, serves as mayor.
Regalado has already released two anti-Gimenez videos – one criticizing his Feb. 26 State of the County speech and the other slamming a mega-mall project he wants to bring to Miami-Dade. She also joined billionaire activist Norman Braman in suing both Miami and Miami-Dade over SkyRise Miami, a project that city voters approved in August that won a county subsidy with Gimenez’s backing after the successful referendum. Regalado and Braman claim the county dollars violate the referendum’s description of a privately funded project.
Regalado’s planned run for mayor sets up a battle between a two-term school board member with little administrative experience and a long-time public administrator now in his fifth year as Miami-Dade’s top executive.
***CoreMessage is a full-service communications and issues advocacy firm with the experience, relationships and expertise to help you get your message out. Connected at the state Capitol and throughout Florida, the CoreMessage team unites issues with advocates, messages with media and innovative solutions with traditional tactics to get results. Follow CoreMessage on Twitter and visit them on the Web at www.coremessage.com.***
APPOINTED: Brad Swezey to the Cape Canaveral Hospital District, Brevard County.
4TH FLOOR FILES returns with a profile of Albert Balido. Balido’s firm represents a wide range of interests, including Florida Crystals, the Cities of Miami and Frostproof, Hewlett Packard Co., the Florida Education Association and the Southern Poverty Law Center, to name a few. Here’s the file on Albert.
ICMI — PERSONNEL NOTE: BALLARD PARTNERS ADDS LEGISLATIVE EXPERT JESSICA BAKER Full story here
Florida lobbying house Ballard Partners announced today it is adding legislative expert Jessica Baker to its team based out of Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Baker, a graduate of Florida State University College of Law, will be working out of the Jacksonville office and in Tallahassee, during the 2015 legislative session.
Ballard President Brian Ballard cited Baker’s legal insight and knowledge of the legislative process, adding that she will become a “vital resource” for clients.
“She’ll be a great addition working in the Jacksonville office with professionals like Susie Wiles and Tony Boselli,” Ballard said in a statement Monday. “We look forward to watching her thrive.”
Prior to joining Ballard, Baker served a lobbyist at Sachs Sax Caplan, P.L. in Tallahassee, specializing in education and transportation issues.
“Ballard Partners is the most prestigious government affairs firm in Florida and I am honored to join the strong and successful team that Brian has assembled,” Baker responded. “I look forward to working in Tallahassee and helping to grow the Jacksonville practice, too.”
DEP’T OF REVOLVING DOOR — PETE ANTONACCI RETURNS TO LOBBYING
Antonacci, most recently the general counsel to Gov. Rick Scott, is back in the lobbying game just days after leaving the EOG.
In a press release, GrayRobinson announced that Antonacci would be rejoining the firm where he worked from 2000 until 2012, when he was appointed to an opening as state attorney in Palm Beach County. Then, when that office was filled by Dave Aronberg in the November 2012 elections, Antonacci was tapped to head up Scott’s in-house legal team.
“We are honored Pete chose to return to GrayRobinson,” said GrayRobinson President Byrd “Biff” Marshall. “After serving the state in several important roles, his experience will be invaluable to the firm’s capital city practice.”
In the three days since Antonacci’s return he has registered to represent Accelerated Learning Solutions, Inc., Meadowbrook, Inc. — a private charter school management company and an insurance concern, respectively — as well as the National Notary Association, according to filings with the Florida Lobbyist Registration Office.
Antonacci found himself front and center in the kerfuffle over the ouster of former FDLE chief Gerald Bailey when it was revealed that he took an active role in Bailey’s firing, including personally delivering the directive that Bailey was to “Retire or resign.”
Per state law, Antonacci is barred from lobbying the executive branch for two years, but is free to pursue influencing the House and Senate.
NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS
Melissa Akeson, Heather Turnbull, The Rubin Group: Southwest Airlines
Sebastian Aleksander, The Aleksander Group: Facebook
Michael Anway, Holland & Knight: Florida Chamber of Commerce
Peter Antonacci, GrayRobinson: Meadowbrook, Inc.; Accelerated Learning Solutions, Inc.; National Notary Association
Brad Ashwell: FL 501C3 Civic Engagement Table; Florida Alliance for Consumer Protection
Jessica Baker, Ballard Partners: City of Palm Beach Gardens; Florida Airports Council; Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations
Albert Balido, Anfield Consulting: Loops Nursery and Greenhouses
Brian Ballard, Wansley Walters, Ballard Partners: Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola, Inc.
Margaret Barnard: Florida Apartment Association
Brady Benford, Derek Bruce, Lila Jaber, Gregory Munson, Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A.: NorthStar Contracting Group, Inc.; Orange County Clerk of Courts
Barney Bishop: DISC Village
Travis Blanton, Jon Johnson, Amy Christian, Darrick McGhee, Johnson & Blanton: Health Care Navigator, LLC; American Heart Association
Ellyn Bogdanoff, EBS Consulting: Florida Taxi Cab Association
Ron Book, Rana Brown, Kelly Mallette: City of Marco Island; Gold Coast Beverage Distributors, Inc.; Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners; Automated Healthcare Solutions
Ron Pierce, Edward Briggs, Natalie King, RSA Consulting Group LLC: David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts; Community Health Centers of Pinellas Inc.; Tampa Family Health Centers
David Browning, Towson Fraser, Jerry McDaniel, Stacey Webb, Southern Strategy Group: Instructure, Inc.
Al Cardenas, The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners LLC: Miami-Dade County Clerk Of Courts
David Caserta: Area Stage Company; Broward County; Film Florida, Inc.
Michael Cusick: St. Marks Refuge Association, Inc.
Jim Daughton, Warren Husband, Steve Metz, Greg Black, Patricia Greene, Aimee Diaz Lyon, Andy Palmer, Metz, Husband & Daughton: National Association of Vision Care Plans
Chris Dawson, GrayRobinson: University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc.
Scott Dick, SKD Consulting, Inc.: Novium, LLC
Cesar Fernandez: Uber Technologies, Inc.
Edgar Fernandez, Anfield Consulting: City of Miami; Florida Water Advocates; Polk County Board of County Commissioners; Varsity News Network; WaterSmart Software
Julie Fess, Canopy Strategy Group: FLGR Development, LLC
Andreina Figueroa, ADF Consulting: Academica
Adam Giery, Strategos Public Affairs: Compasslearning, Inc; Early Childhood Initiative, Inc.; VMware, Inc.
Ron Greenstein: SRG Technology
Cory Guzzo, Floridian Partners: Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc.; Liberty Mutual Group;
Russell Hale, Akerman LLP: Mears Transportation Group
Nick Iarossi, Capital City Consulting: Zimmerman Advertising
Joe McCann, Baker Donelson: Florida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology, Inc.; Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association
Rhett O’Doski, Advantage Consulting Team: Evans Properties, Inc.
Gary Rutledge, Jon Costello, Diana Ferguson, Rutledge Ecenia: American Heart Association
Jim Smith, Mercer Fearington, Southern Strategy Group: United Insurance Holdings Corp. and its Subsidiaries
Alan Suskey, Suskey Consulting: City of Madeira Beach
Jason Unger, GrayRobinson: Accelerated Learning Solutions, Inc.
IN SOUTH FLORIDA, THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT LOOKS MORE AND MORE LIKE THE BUSINESS OF POLITICS via Patricia Mazzei of the Miami Herald
The new operatives roaming the halls of local South Florida governments come from political campaigns and public-relations firms, not from high-powered law firms that usually supply big-name lobbyists. In some cases, the consultants aren’t lobbyists at all … don’t write legislation … care less about how elected officials will vote and more about what the public will think.
The shift might appear subtle. But appealing to public opinion –- more like an advertising firm launching a product or a political campaign promoting a candidate –- has become big business in the competitive world of Miami public relations.
Consider the most significant proposals that have come recently before local governments: David Beckham’s Major League Soccer stadium. The Miami Dolphins’ renovations to Sun Life Stadium. The Miami Beach Convention Center. Miami-Dade County’s new sewer pipes. Uber’s and Lyft’s push to legalize rides-for-hire.
All have involved deep-pocketed companies hiring firms such as Schwartz Media Strategies and Kreps DeMaria not to speak to politicians but to shape public opinion to reporters and on social media.
A new crop of firms is competing for the business. … Democrat Ben Pollara and Republican Jesse Manzano-Plaza joined forces to create a new communications division at LSN Partners, a local lobbying firm. Pollara ran the statewide medical-marijuana referendum last year. Manzano-Plaza worked on the 2012 Miami-Dade schools bond referendum.
In January, Schwartz Media alumna Kelly Penton Chacon became director of ASGK Public Strategies’ new Miami office. The firm, which was co-founded by former White House adviser David Axelrod, who is no longer involved in the company, bills itself as a corporate communications shop that also organizes referendum campaigns. Penton Chacon, a former city of Miami communications director, was involved in the Fair Districts Florida campaign in 2010.
THE SCENE AT SMITHAPALOOZA
On Saturday, about 150 Tallahassee politicos gathered for the fifth annual SmithAPalooza at 5th Avenue Tap Room to raise money for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Big Bend. All proceeds will go directly to Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and this year, $3,400 was raised for the organization. Spotted at SmithAPalooza were people from every walk of the process, from organizers Ryan Smith, Kevin Reilly, Cory Guzzo, and Dan Dawson to veteran politicos like Jim Rimes and Joe Clements .. from lobbyists from A-list firms, including Floridian Partners, Rutledge & Ecenia, and Capitol Insight to up-and-comers like Herbie Thiele, Kevin Cleary, and Harold Hedrick. Even a reporter or two came to show their support.
All in all, another year, another successful SmithAPalooza.
***The Fiorentino Group is a full service government relations and business development firm providing a broad range of consulting services to clients looking to influence public policy and create new business opportunities. The Fiorentino Group’s team of advocates is one of the largest in the state and has decades of experience in state, local and federal government relations and new business development.***
CONTEXT FLORIDA: LEROY COLLINS & SELMA, VOTING RIGHTS, HONEYBEES AND EDUCATIONAL ICEBERGS
On Context Florida: State troopers, sheriff’s deputies savagely attacked voting rights marchers at Selma, Ala., with clubs, tear gas and cattle prods on March 7, 1965; Martin Dyckman says two great Americans rushed to the city to try to take command of the perilous situation. One was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., determined to lead a second march – regardless of the consequences – two days later. The other was former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins, President Lyndon Johnson’s civil rights mediator. His mission was to delay the second march. You’d think 50 years was long enough for Florida lawmakers to get something right. But when it comes to ensuring all Floridians have equal opportunity to exercise their right to vote, and then overwhelmingly choose to use it, Daniel Tilson says that most of us know we’ve still got a long way to go. Bruce Ritchie notes that according to Florida beekeepers, honeybees play a “sweet role” in agriculture and the economy but they need help – and state funding – to maintain a healthy population. Florida State Beekeepers Association, after a veto by Gov. Scott in 2014, is trying again by requesting $3.5 million for an apiary research center at the University of Florida. Florida’s educational ship of state hit an iceberg last week, says Catherine Martinez, a result of the 2011 “Student Success Act,” passed by the Florida Legislature and quickly signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott.
Visit Context Florida to dig in.
TRIMMEL GOMES LAUNCHES ‘THE ROTUNDA’ WEEKLY POLITICAL PODCAST Full story here
Veteran broadcaster and communications expert Trimmel Gomes announced … his newest venture, The Rotunda, a weekly podcast focusing on the people and stories shaping Florida politics.
The inaugural episode … on iTunes and other platforms, gives listeners an overview of opening week of the 2015 legislative session. Issues will include those such as the infamous “bar fight” with state Rep. Frank Artiles.
Gomes also serves up interviews with Marc Caputo and Matt Dixon, and delves into the subject of recreational marijuana with state Sen. Dwight Bullard, who talks about the influence of hip-hop on the movement.
Episodes of The Rotunda are delivered straight to a phone, tablet or computer, by subscribing via iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and RSS Feed. Subscribers will have episodes downloaded automatically when released.
UBER LAUNCHES MOMENTUM, A NEW PRINT MAGAZINE FOR DRIVERS Full story here
Valued at $41 billion, transportation technology firm Uber is taking the big next step in ridesharing by going backwards, more or less, with a print magazine.
Momentum is the new publication designed specifically for the nearly 150,000 Uber drivers. The magazine takes its name from the company’s partner rewards program, which offers discounts and perks such as discounted auto maintenance, health insurance and savings on phone plans.
Set for a quarterly run, the magazine will be rolling out in six Uber markets: Boston, New York City, Chicago, Ohio, Oklahoma and San Francisco.
The inaugural issue – filled with pro-Uber feedback from drivers – provides a variety of lifestyle and business articles. Tips include staying healthy behind the wheel, updates on Uber’s regulatory successes and where to find the best restrooms in a city.
Momentum is a kind of ad hoc employee handbook – notable because Uber drivers are not technically employees.
Momentum also represents a good amount of positive marketing, assuring drivers that Uber is the way to go in ridesharing, just as they need to attract riders by demonstrating that the Uber app is the best on the market.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY belatedly to Ryan Smith. Celebrating today are Melissa Akeson of The Rubin Group and Jeb Bush spox Kristy Campbell.
