Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica.
I got a super sneak peek at a slick new CATECOMM product that every coalition worth their salt is going to want to get their hands on before session starts ramping up. The name? Rocket Lobby. If you’re into suspense, visit RocketLobby.com now and watch that rocketship roar. Rocket Lobby officially launches 10 a.m.
As for the news, there has been no grand unifying theory this week, just a firehose’s worth of stories and data points. Developments in Florida politics are flowing so quickly that one reporter, Brandon Larrabee of the News Service of Florida, tweeted out “Everybody, please stop all making news at the same time on the same day. We reporters thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.”
It really is that kind of news week. Reading Sunburn today, you’ll note that there are almost forty blurbs — all of them important and/or interesting.
It’s as if everyone returned from Labor Day vacation and said, “Hey, I need to send out a press release today.”
That’s fine. But as Brandon said, just not all at once people.
WHERE I AM TODAY…
The Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists‘ 11th annual conference kicked off yesterday and continues this week in Tampa.
The conference includes nearly a dozen topical breakout panels:
•Ethics: What Everyone Needs to Know to Stay Out of Trouble
•Medical Marijuana: The Impact of the New Rules and Their Status
•Florida’s RFP/Procurement Process and the Rules That Govern It
•Gaming: A Review of the Statutes and Issues Moving Forward
•New Strategies in Digital Media for Advocacy
•Cybersecurity: Protect Your Data and Yourself While You Are Online
•Beat Reporters: The Great Questions of 2016 and Beyond
•Media’s New Direction (rumor-mongering, to blogging, to hard news)
•The Chiefs of Staff and Their Role in The Process
•Water Policy: The Statutes and Rules Necessary to Protect Our Most Valuable Natural Resource
Other invited speakers include House Republican Leader Dana Young, Republican Party of Florida chair Blaise Ingoglia, Florida Democratic Party chair Allison Tant, Department of Management Services Secretary Chad Poppell, lobbyist and former appellate judge Paul Hawkes, and many more.
The association’s mission “is to establish and maintain high standards for the lobbying profession,” including ethics, its website says.
SPOTTED: Jeff Kottkamp, Sen. Charlie Dean, Sen. Jeff Brandes, Rep. Dwight Dudley, Rep. Shawn Harrison, Rep. Ed Narain, Rep. Darryl Rouson, Rep. Dana Young, Chris Spencer, Matt Dixon, Barney Bishop, Jennifer Green, Fred Leonhardt, Charlie Dudley, Winn Peeples, Andrea Reilly at the first day of the FAPL conference at the Grand Hyatt.
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JEB BUSH SAYS TAX CODE OVERHAUL WILL STIMULATE ECONOMY via the Associated Press
Bush laid out a tax overhaul plan Wednesday that calls for a lower corporate tax rate for businesses and immediate tax deductions for business investments to help create millions of jobs and boost economic growth.
For individual taxpayers, Bush proposes doubling the standard deduction, eliminating the so-called marriage penalty, expanding the popular Earned Income Tax Credit and ending the estate tax and Alternative Minimum Tax. But he would end the deduction for paying state and local taxes and limit the mortgage interest deduction popular with homeowners.
He outlined the plan on a visit to North Carolina, a coveted swing state that holds its primary March 1 along with several other Southern states. President Barack Obama won the state in the general election in 2008, but Republican nominee Mitt Romney carried it in 2012.
“We need to jump-start our economy, and we can do that by fixing our broken tax code,” Bush said. “It’s a disaster.”
He spoke at Morris & Associates, a manufacturing firm with 100 employees, to show how small businesses would benefit from his proposal. The company makes cooling equipment for scores of businesses, from poultry processors to nuclear power plants.
Bush said the tax code is “full of special favors, carve-outs, phase-outs and subsidies — that you pay for, one way or another.”
“My plan works whether you’re on Main Street or Wall Street,” he said. “No special favors. No special breaks.”
CNN MOVES PRIME-TIME GOP DEBATE TO 8 P.M. [FROM 9 P.M.] via Alex Isenstadt and Hadas Gold of POLITICO
Eliminating the long gap between its main event and the earlier forum for second-tier candidates … the earlier debate with candidates who polled at least 1 percent in three national polls will start at 6 p.m. EST, ending at 7:45 p.m. … candidates will not give opening and closing statements though they will have a 15- to 20-second window to introduce themselves. Candidates will also have one minute to respond to questions and 30-second rebuttals, if their name is invoked by another candidate.
HILLARY CLINTON COMING TO NORTH PALM BEACH FOR OCT. 2 FUNDRAISER via George Bennett of the Palm Beach Post
Hillary Clinton will visit the North Palm Beach home of prominent trial lawyer Fred Cunningham for an Oct. 2 fundraiser … a $2,700-a-head price tag. Cunningham is a former president of the Florida Justice Association who has raised money for several Democrats. After the North Palm Beach event, Clinton is expected to go to previously announced fundraisers that day in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. It’s unclear whether Clinton will appear at any public events while she’s in Florida.
FDP VICE-CHAIR ALAN CLENDENIN NOT BACKING AWAY FROM CRITICISM OF DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics
Debbie Wasserman Schultz was in Tampa … for a fundraiser for the Florida Democratic Party, and when she confronted Alan Clendenin, things got a little chilly. It was “as good as it always goes,” says Clendenin of the strained meeting … Although the two mix like “oil and water” (in Clendenin’s words), the tension was even greater than usual because the day before, Clendenin had posted a story about Wasserman Schultz on his Facebook page penned by Charles Pierce in Esquire, that blasted DWS’ accomplishments as party chair … When asked about the post … Clendenin was not backing down, saying that, “I’ve gotten a lot of feedback, 95 percent of it has been supportive and positive.”
MARCO RUBIO CANCELS FUNDRAISER FOR IRAN VOTE via The Star Tribune
Rubio has called off a Minneapolis fundraiser planned for Thursday because the Florida Republican needs to be in Washington to vote on the Iran nuclear deal.
Rubio spokesman Alex Conant confirmed late Wednesday that the Minneapolis Club fundraiser was off. A U.S. Senate vote on the deal struck between the Obama Administration, Iran and other nations was initially expected to come at the end of the week but is now expected on Thursday.
Conant said the fundraiser would be rescheduled. Another Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, is also scheduled for a Minneapolis fundraising stop on Thursday.
ALAN GRAYSON SUPPORTS IRAN DEAL via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times
Grayson announced support for the Iran nuclear deal this evening, giving President Obama a clear advantage among Florida Democrats.
Grayson also aligns with his U.S. Senate rival Patrick Murphy.
FLORIDA CHAMBER TO HOLD D.C. FLY-IN WITH STATE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
The Florida Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday said it would lead a “Washington, D.C. fly-in” to meet with members of Florida’s congressional delegation.
Chamber board members will be “urging support of job creators and pushing back against burdensome regulations.”
RICK SCOTT HEADED TO KENTUCKY via Arek Sarkissian of the Naples Daily News
Scott is on the way with reasons why Florida’s businesses are doing better than those in the Bluegrass State.
… Enterprise Florida announced a new radio advertisement that asks business owners if they are sick of employee unions and big government.
“Good news is on the way,” script for the ad states. “Florida Governor Rick Scott is coming to Kentucky to share Florida’s success story.”
In a press release on the new ad, Scott said he planned to tout Florida’s sterling credit rating over Kentucky’s economic struggle.
SCOTT’S ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISOR TAPPED AS WATER DISTRICT HEAD via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics
Scott‘s environmental policy coordinator has been hired to run the Suwannee River Water Management District … Noah Valenstein will take over as executive director for the Live Oak-based agency, which manages water resources in 15 counties in north central Florida. Valenstein’s resume … shows he also had early Republican cred … He interned for both former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and past Senate President Toni Jennings in the late 1990s.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Gov. Scott will highlight job growth at a 3:15 p.m. press conference at Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, 100 Tensolite Drive in St. Augustine.
ADAM PUTNAM HEADED TO ISRAEL TO TALK ABOUT WATER ISSUES via Kevin Derby of the Sunshine State News
Putnam will speak at the WATEC Israel 2015 event next month on water issues … will talk about “Implementation of Water Scarcity Solutions Worldwide – Lessons Learned from Different Regions” on Oct. 13 in Tel Aviv and focus on water issues in Florida.
PAM BONDI WANTS ALL OUTSTANDING RAPE KITS TESTED via Melissa Montoya of the News-Press
Bondi estimates there could be thousands of sexual assault kits in the state of Florida that remain untested.
Bondi asked during a Wednesday news conference for the legislature to make sure crime labs are well-funded during the next session to be able to tackle a possible backlog.
“We are committed to doing everything possible to give the full funding to our labs that we need,” Bondi said during the event at The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
“That’s why this session is going to be so very, very important to increase awareness because we know that there are thousands of untested rape kits out there,” Bondi said.
During the last session, lawmakers allocated $300,000 to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a survey of local sheriff’s offices and police departments to determine if any kits remain in evidence lock-up without analyses. Those survey results are due to the legislature in January when the session begins, according to an FDLE spokeswoman.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong will join officials from the University of Florida and the department for a ceremony highlighting the transition of the UF Health Pediatrics Gerold L. Schiebler Center building from the department to the university. Event begins 2 p.m. at the UF Health Pediatrics Gerold L. Schiebler Center, 1699 SW 16th Ave. Building A in Gainesville.
MUST-READ COLUMN: SCRATCH-OFF BENEATH THE SURFACE, FIND MORE TO STORY (RE: LOTTERY) via Mark Woods of the Florida Times-Union
When Gov. Rick Scott accepted the resignation of the Florida Lottery secretary, it was an easy column. Maybe too easy.
Through the years, I’ve criticized what the state legislature did with education funding. I’ve mocked how the state piously cracks down on other types of gambling while touting the lottery at every turn. And, yes, I’ve been known to occasionally question our governor.
So when Cynthia O’Connell’s resignation letter joined the pile on the governor’s desk — seemingly the latest in a line of scandalous exits — it was like a columnist Daily Double. It was an easy pitch to hit. Too easy, I’d say after talking to people close to O’Connell, lottery officials in other states, and eventually the former secretary herself.
“Reports that I abused travel and leave, and spent tax dollars on personal items, are false,” she said.
… She made 70 trips for lottery business that year. Several of the out-of-state trips were paid for by national lottery organizations. Most of the in-state trips involved driving.
At one point, after she went to Philadelphia to help secure a contract with a retailer, the governor’s office questioned spending $143 on a hotel room, circling the amount and writing, “Anything cheaper?”
… It all started with reports that in 2014 she spent $30,000 on travel, took nearly nine weeks vacation and used a corporate credit card for personal purchases at department stores, grocery stores and hair salons.
It turns out that each detail isn’t quite what it seems at first glance.
Start with the credit card. The one in the middle of the stories was an American Express, in her name, with bills coming to her house. She says she paid for all personal purchases made with it, not taxpayers.
Then there’s the matter of vacation time and work ethic. O’Connell took the job in 2011. In her first year on the job, she took 2.5 days off. The next year, basically the same. In 2014, she took substantially more leave, primarily for personal reasons ranging from taking care of her aging mother to getting remarried. But even then, it wasn’t nearly nine weeks. And citing the weekdays she took off doesn’t take into account the weekends she was working — 18 days in 2014, or nearly four weeks of work.
She made 70 trips for lottery business that year. Several of the out-of-state trips were paid for by national lottery organizations. Most of the in-state trips involved driving.
FRANK ARTILES WANTS TO KILL A FLORIDA BLACK BEAR via Elaine De Valle of Political Cortadito
State Rep. Frank Artiles … wants to be a bear killer. Among the nearly 2,000 permits pulled for the two-day Florida bear hunt being allowed for the first time in more than 20 years this October, is one to Frank Anthony Artiles in Miami-Dade. Not only does Artiles want to kill a bear … He can’t wait, getting the permit on the very first day he could.
FSU FOOTBALL FAN WITH A PERMIT? BRING GUN, LOCK IT IN CAR via the Associated Press
Florida State University football fans going to the game this weekend can bring their guns – if they have a concealed weapon permit and they keep them locked in their cars … permitted gun owners could keep guns locked in parked cars. But that doesn’t go far enough for Florida Carry Inc., a gun rights group that sued the school seeking to allow any legal gun owner to keep guns locked in their cars, whether they have a permit or not.
JEFF BRANDES CALLS FOR REFORM OF ‘BROKEN’ DRIVER LICENSE SUSPENSION POLICIES via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald
With more than three-fourths of the driver license suspensions in Florida the result of incidents unrelated to driving, the head of the Senate Transportation Committee said … it is time to reform the system.
“I believe that Florida’s policy on driver license suspensions is broken, and far too many Florida residents have had their driving privileges suspended or revoked for reasons unrelated to their driving behavior,” said Sen. Jeff Brandes … in a letter to committee members … “Our goal is to take a deep dive and make sure we are suspending people’s driver licenses that should be suspended and, if there is an opportunity to reinstate people’s driver licenses, then we should prob look to do that where it’s responsible …”
— “Gov. Scott in favor of statewide decision for rideshares” via the Associated Press
— “Victor Crist wants to have a beer summit with Jeff Brandes regarding regulating Uber” via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics
SARASOTA OPTS TO DEREGULATE UBER — AND TAXIS via Emily Le Coz of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Sarasota city commissioners unanimously voted … to abandon their months-long quest to regulate ride-hailing services such as Uber and, at the same time, decided to strip existing regulations on taxicabs, in a surprise move … the vote made one person angry. Taxicab driver Patrick Vancil threw his taxi ID badge at commissioners upon leaving the chambers …“I won’t be needing this anymore …”
Since entering the Sarasota market in December, Uber has threatened the traditional taxicab business with its hundreds of drivers offering cheaper fares … The venture has been successful … But it’s also been largely unregulated. The city intended to change that and drew up a proposal to regulate Uber the same as taxis.
SHOW OF UNITY BY TAX COLLECTORS MAY DOOM DRIVER’S LICENSE IDEA via the Miami Herald
In a show of solidarity, Florida’s elected county tax collectors will formally oppose a state proposal to change the way motorists get and renew driver’s licenses — a move likely to end talk of changing the way licenses are issued.
The tax collectors’ statewide association is developing a position paper supporting the current system in which most drivers get their licenses on demand from tax collectors. The statement will be issued jointly with the state after review and input from Terry Rhodes, executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Rhodes has said repeatedly that the state would not push for change without the tax collectors’ support.
Rhodes’ agency has been studying a proposal to switch to a centralized license issuance system that it says would make it easier to add security safeguards, but motorists would wait up to two weeks to get their licenses by mail. About 35 states currently use the so-called central issuance system, which also would expand the role of a private vendor in producing licenses. A number of tax collectors have voiced strong opposition to the idea, and their criticism intensified at a statewide conference last week.
TWEET, TWEET: @ChristineSexton: .@TB_Times rips off my Planned Parenthhod reporting and takes full credit #shameonyou
TWEET, TWEET: @MarcACaputo: I proudly worked for The @MiamiHerald & w/@TB_Times. You guys should be ashamed for this. And if not, I’ll happily shame you. ‘ckyall
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MUSIC INDUSTRY LAWYER ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR FORIDA’S SENATE SEAT via POLITICO Florida
A music industry lawyer and record producer known for his high-profile clients and his support for legalizing medical marijuana is making a run for the U.S. Senate as an independent.
About 20 friends and well-wishers gathered at the Shore Club hotel on Collins Avenue in South Beach as Steven Machat, dressed in all-white after Labor Day, announced his run for the U.S. Senate seat that’s being vacated by Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio.
“We live in an America where the American dream isn’t possible anymore,” Machat told the crowd. “I was a registered Democrat, I was a registered Republican. I’m an American first and I’m running as an independent.”
He said he’s now running on a platform of “unity, community, and the American dream.”
CHRIS SMITH FILES FOR 2016 BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION RUN via Florida Politics
Former Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chris Smith filed … for a run in Broward County Commission in 2016 … will take on incumbent Commissioner Dale Holness in District 9 in central Broward. “Just filed for Broward County commission District nine. Excited to start this new chapter of Servitude …”
KRISTIN JACOBS FILES FOR RE-ELECTION IN HD 96 via Florida Politics
Freshman Democratic Rep. Kristin Jacobs filed … for re-election in House District 96 … the first and only candidate for the Broward County House seat … one of the final incumbent lawmakers to refile for 2016 … securing her second term should be a cinch. The Coconut Creek Democrat is unlikely to draw any in-party competition, and with the district’s heavy Democratic tilt, she doesn’t need to worry about a GOP threat, either.
SAVE THE DATE: A joint fundraiser for state Reps. Mike Miller and Mike La Rosa, hosted by House Majority 2016, will be on Tuesday, September 15 at 5 p.m. in the Governors Club BC Room, 202 1/2 South Adams Street in Tallahassee.
SAVE THE DATE: House Majority 2016 will hold a fundraiser for Miami Republican state Rep. Carlos Trujillo on Wednesday, September 16 at 5 p.m. in the Governors Club Private Dining Room, 202 1/2 South Adams Street in Tallahassee.
SAVE THE DATE: Republican state Reps. Elizabeth Porter, Larry Metz, and Ben Albritton will be fundraising in the Governors Club Library on Thursday, September 17 at 4:30 p.m. At the same time is a joint fundraiser for state Reps. Cyndi Stevenson, Rene Plasencia, and Mike Miller also beginning 4:30 p.m. in the Governors Club Boardroom. Over in the Governors Club Library is a fundraiser for state Reps. Jason Brodeaurand Frank Artiles, which starts at 6:30 p.m. All three events, organized by House Majority 2016, are at 202 1/2 South Adams Street in Tallahassee. In addition, state Rep. Manny Diaz Jr. will host a fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. in the Beer Industry of Florida offices, 110 S. Monroe Street, Suite B in Tallahassee.
SAVE THE DATE: House Majority 2016 will hold a joint fundraiser for Republican state Reps. Heather Fitzenhagen and Holly Raschein on Tuesday, October 6 at 5 p.m. in the Governors Club. Also at 5 p.m., State Rep. Greg Steube will be there for a separate fundraising reception. Both events are at 202 1/2 South Adams Street in Tallahassee.
SAVE THE DATE: State Rep. Ray Pilon is hosting a fundraising reception Thursday, September 17 to support his House District 72 re-election effort. Event begins 5:30 p.m. at the home of Jay Liles, 1962 Vineland Drive in Tallahassee. RSVP to Jay Liles at [email protected].
SAVE THE DATE: State Rep. Shawn Harrison is hosting a fundraiser on September 24 for his House District 63 re-election campaign. The event, sponsored by the Florida Health Care Association, begins 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Pelican Room, 2900 Bayport Drive.
SAVE THE DATE: State Rep. Brad Drake will host a fundraising event on Thursday. October 8 beginning 4:30 p.m. in the Governors Club, 202 1/2 South Adams Street in Tallahassee.
APPOINTED: Carlo Zampogna to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Board of Trustees.
APPOINTED: Douglas Harrison and the appointment of Karen Harrington to the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners.
NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS
Brian Ballard, Sylvester Lukis, Wansley Walters: Ballard Partners: RedCoach USA; Citrus Health Network
Chase Daniels: Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
Thomas Griffin, The Fiorentino Group: Children’s Campaign
Robert Hawken, Leath Consulting: National Association of Settlement Purchasers
Kelly Mallette, Ronald L. Book PA: Miami Ocean Studios
Catherine Neslund: Mosaic Fertilizer
Danielle Scoggins: Florida Association of Realtors
NFL LOBBYISTS GO ON OFFENSE via Darren Samuelsohn of POLITICO
Cynthia Hogan, the league’s top lobbyist and a former senior attorney to Vice President Biden, told POLITICO the NFL would brief the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce Committee on player safety and pro football’s new efforts to pay for research into head injuries. … Has the only full-time lobbying operation run by a major sports league in Washington …
While the NFL appeals the Brady decision, the league’s 32 team owners are expected to discuss how they might seek to limit Goodell’s future role in discipline. Hogan acknowledged there could be a change coming. “I think that any time you’ve had as much litigation as the league has had, you know, it’s an obvious time to take a look at things,” Hogan said. “I’m sure the commissioner will put something in progress there. It makes sense to do it.” One thing the NFL wants to protect in Washington: Its antitrust exemption
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NEW GEEK TOYS via Joseph Bernstein, BuzzFeed
Apple revealed a new iPhone and an Apple Pencil, among other things.
SURVEY: LESS THAN 1-IN-5 BLACKS, ONE-QUARTER WHITES BELIEVE U.S. CLOSE TO RACIAL EQUALITY via Full poll results here
Large numbers of Americans – both black and white – agree that race relations today are better than they were 50 years ago. However, fewer than half of each race believe things have gotten better in the past decade … study was conducted in conjunction with the National Bar Association … fewer than one in five African-Americans believe the country is close to achieving racial equality, while fewer than one in four whites share that perspective. Only one-fourth of Americans believe the nation is close to achieving racial equality, and younger Americans – and particularly younger blacks – find the least reason to be optimistic about race relations.
CONTEXT FLORIDA: 10 BIG QUESTIONS, COLLABORATION, TEACHER SHORTAGES AND HOMELESSNESS
Today on Context Florida: Peter Schorsch answers 10 big questions Florida politics faced in the summer; before Donald Trump, that is. The questions include what does Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign rollout look like; Can Marco Rubio remain in the top tier of presidential candidates and is Florida ready for Hillary? Michael Preston asks if there any greater struggle between instructor and student than the dreaded “group assignment”? By working together, employees harness the power of multiple brains. Collaboration adds to the cognitive complexity of the group. Those still teaching are not at all surprised about the teacher shortages across the country, says Catherine Martinez. All college graduates have to take on enormous debt, and teachers are the lowest paid, in close competition with preachers of any other college graduates. Teachers need to feel that they are valued and secure members of the system. Martinez notes that the direction of the federal government and local state governments means the teacher shortage will get worse, not better. Marc Yacht believes accepting the challenge to address homelessness requires cooperation among community agencies including health, law enforcement, schools, and municipal services. However, Yacht says agencies currently addressing these issues are typically underfunded and have marginal effect on a very large problem.
Visit Context Florida to dig in.
STUDY FINDS MORE SHARKS OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST via the Associated Press
A newly released federal study shows a record number of sharks swimming off the coast from Florida to North Carolina … Eight people have been attacked by sharks along the North Carolina coast this year, the most since a Florida group began counting attacks 80 years ago … researchers captured or tagged 2,835 sharks from Florida to North Carolina in April and May. That compares with 1,831 sharks tagged in the most recent survey in 2012.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of our 30-under-30 rising stars, Katie Ballard.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD: Kaylee Noelle, baby number 4 of the Brian Burgess clan. Burgess says “Mom and baby are healthy. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes!”
