Florida open carry passes final House committee

Over the objections of 47 of 67 sheriffs, "concealed carry permit holders would be able to openly carry handguns -- as long as they are holstered and not just stuck down a waistband -- under a bill that passed its final House committee Thursday." "Floridians one step closer to being allowed to openly carry handguns."




Demings gets unanimous backing of the Congressional Black Caucus

"Former Orlando Police Chief Val Demings got the unanimous backing of the Congressional Black Caucus in her bid to win the Democratic nomination for Florida's redrawn 10th Congressional District. The influential organization, established in 1971, is comprised of black members of Congress." "Congressional Black Caucus backs Val Demings bid for Congress."




New's flash: Florida's Clinton supporters think Hill will win Florida

"Prominent Florida Democrats agree Hillary Clinton is stronger candidate in the state than Bernie Sanders."




"What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State"

Marc Caputo: "Jeb’s best debate night – ‘Rubio or bust’ for GOP? -- Florida budget fights begin – Medical marijuana campaign ‘will be different’." "Florida Playbook."




Immigration tussle

"Rubio, Bush tussle over immigration."




"Senate budget contradicts transparency bill"

"The House and Senate transparency bills would both bar the state from implementing an all-payer claims database — but despite the prohibition, the Senate spending plan Sen. Rene Garcia unveiled Thursday includes $4.5 million to fund one. Gov. Rick Scott and the state Agency for Health Care Administration submitted legislative budget requests asking for $5 million for such a database, which Scott needs to implement his health care transparency proposal." "On all-payer claims database, Senate budget contradicts transparency bill." See also "Senate HHS Appropriations OKs Health Care Price Transparency Bill."




Backroom Briefing

"Backroom Briefing: Pot Debate Goes from 'Trojan Horse' to Lutheran Towers."




Florida Republicans fight to preserve executions

"Saying it's time to put the "death penalty" debate to rest, the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature began taking its first steps Wednesday to find a way to preserve executions in the state." "Florida legislators vow to keep death penalty, fix law."




Tallahassee on Uber

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "The Florida Legislature should learn from Broward County as it tries to set statewide rules for Uber and other ride-hailing companies. After setting rules so stringent that Uber threatened to leave, the Broward County Commission heard from tens of thousands of residents who like the service." "What Tallahassee should do on Uber."




House, Senate far apart on transportation and economic development budget

"The Senate’s transportation and economic development budget is nearly $800 million larger than the plan put forward by the House, a difference that will no doubt be one of the last issues debated during the final weeks of the legislative session." "Nearly $800M separates House, Senate economic development budgets."

Our digest of, and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.


Florida Legislature set to boycott BDSers

"The Florida Legislature is set to ban the state from doing business with any company that boycotts Israel. The bill is a response to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, or BDS, movement, which calls for boycotts of Israeli products and companies. " "Florida lawmakers OK bills targeting anti-Israel boycotts."




"Plot to Destroy Rubio"

Ryan Lizza in the New Yorker: "The Plot to Destroy Marco Rubio."




"What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State"

Marc Caputo: "Medical marijuana makes FL ballot – Is Bush surging, Rubio falling in NH? – Rick Scott, blizzard warrior – FL gets an AK-47 factory." "Florida Playbook."




That's our Jeb: "Campaigning in style: How Jeb Bush blew through his warchest"

"In the world of Jeb Bush, the campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination has at times been a whirl of private planes and high-end affairs, according to the federal filings of Bush’s campaign and his Super PAC, Right to Rise, which can raise unlimited funds for Bush as long as it does not coordinate directly with him." "Campaigning in style: How Jeb Bush blew through his warchest."

More Jeb: "Terri Schiavo's Husband: New Jeb Bush Ad 'Disgusting'" and "Jeb Bush Pauses Policy Speech to Ridicule ‘Poor Little Donald’ Trump."




"Floridians knew it was a disgrace"

"Floridians knew it was a disgrace when it was revealed earlier this month that more than 13,000 rape kits have gone untested statewide. It looks like lawmakers might be getting the message, too." "At last, lawmakers pushing rape kit testing."




House kills moratorium on fracking

"Fracking inched one step closer to becoming a reality in Florida Wednesday when the Florida House of Representatives passed a pro-fracking bill by a vote of 73-45." "Bill to Regulate Fracking Gets Green Light in House."

"Seven House Republicans joined 38 Democrats Wednesday in voting against an oil and gas fracking bill, but the measure easily passed with overwhelming GOP support."

HB 191 would establish a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing while a study is conducted and regulations are developed. It also pre-empts local governments from banning the oil and gas extraction process.

"Despite some Republican dissent, House easily passes fracking bill."




"Killing the Sunshine"

"Killing the Sunshine Law before our very eyes."




$1 billion in tax-cuts

Jim Turner: "Several House Democrats expressed apprehension Wednesday about a nearly $1 billion tax-cut package that Republican leaders unveiled this week." "House tax-cut package: Too much or not enough?"




Medical MJ

"Medical marijuana will be on the 2016 Florida ballot."




Funny how that works

"Black motorists in Florida are nearly twice as likely as white drivers to receive tickets for seat belt violations, according to a report released Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union"

The ACLU report specifically criticized Tampa Police and Miami for failing to follow Florida law by not providing racial data to the state on seat belt citations.

"ACLU says racial disparities in Florida seatbelt citations."




If the James Madison Institute likes it . . .

"Direct primary care arrangements allows doctors to collect fees from patients on a monthly basis. In direct primary care arrangements, doctors do not bill insurance companies. The fees cover a variety of primary care services that can be provided in doctors’ offices."

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Fred Costello, said that most primary care contracts don’t require any written notice before being cancelled.

"The bill is endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business and organized medicine such as the Florida Medical Association. It also is supported by the conservative James Madison Institute." "Health committee advances ‘direct primary care’ bill."

"State coddling for-profit colleges"

"Miami lawmaker Rep. José Javier Rodríguez blasted Florida’s for-profit college oversight agency on Tuesday — questioning whether it has the 'political will' to crack down on misbehaving schools."

Rodríguez’s harsh words came nearly three months after the disastrous closure of Coral Gables-based Dade Medical College. Dade Medical’s roughly 2,000 students were left in limbo because the school never gave the state a plan to “teach out” the students at another college, which is required by Florida law. Violating that law is a misdemeanor.Florida’s for-profit oversight agency, the Commission for Independent Education, has the power to refer Dade Medical owner Ernesto Perez to prosecutors because of how the closure happened. But so far, the CIE — which is dominated by for-profit college executives — has taken no action.

"In a letter e-mailed to CIE Executive Director Samuel Ferguson, Rodríguez wrote he was “deeply disappointed” in the agency’s response."

“Most telling is the commission’s repeated and continued failure to simply be available to students in Miami,” wrote Rodríguez, who is a Democrat. “Despite repeated assurances to me since early November that plans are underway to send staff to South Florida to meet with and assist affected students, three months after the closure we continue to wait.”

"Under its own agency rules, the CIE is supposed to send a staffer to any school that closes."

The CIE is part of the Florida Department of Education. Its next board meeting is on Thursday. Rodríguez urged the agency to consider referring Dade Medical’s “improper closure” to law enforcement — an action that, he said, would send a message that the state takes the issue seriously.

“In my view, such a signal has so far been seriously lacking,” Rodríguez wrote.

Florida Department of Education spokeswoman Cheryl Etters said Dade Medical’s closure will be discussed by the CIE on Thursday. She did not provide any response to Rodríguez’s letter.

A recent Miami Herald investigation, Higher-Ed Hustle, showed how the CIE routinely dismisses student complaints — even those alleging fraud or other illegal activity.

"State coddling for-profit colleges, lawmaker says." See also "Higher-Ed Hustle."




"What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State"

Marc Caputo: "Rubio’s ‘Survivor’ campaign – Bush’s big spending, low return – Todd Wilcox’s big-name finance and campaign team – Clinton names FL press secretary from de Blasio World." "Florida Playbook."




Pastor Protection Act

"Senate Judiciary Committee approves Pastor Protection Act, which would allow clergy to turn away gay couples seeking to marry." "Florida lawmakers OK religious protections, delay LGBT rights vote." See also "Senate panel passes 'Pastor Protection' bill."




Bill would end automatic fees for public records violations

"Advocates decry bill ending automatic fees for public records violations." See also "Senate committee approves bill that weakens public records law."




Horse racing

Nancy Smith: "Legislators, Don't Vote to Kill Horse Racing -- Demand Facts."




What will NRA want next?

Joe Henderson: "Leaders at the National Rifle Association always think several moves ahead and they are relentless. With the consent of the Legislature, Florida has morphed from a state with reasonable gun restrictions 10 or 15 years ago to what we have now, and it’s not stopping." "If the NRA wins on open carry for Florida, what will it want next?"




House backs fracking

"The House on Tuesday voted down 20 amendments offered by Democrats to a bill that would bar local governments from banning oil and gas fracking, setting the stage for what could be a contentious debate and vote on Wednesday." "House votes down Democrats' fracking bill amendments."




Senate considers larger education budget

"Senate budget writers are considering a larger education spending increase than Gov. Rick Scott sought, though lawmakers are still considering how to offset an increase in local property taxes that helps pay for the historic number." "Senate Unveils Boost in Education Spending."




House goes after "sanctuary cities"

"Immigrant groups are on the edges of their seats this week as a bill which could significantly impact their way of life makes its way through the Florida House of Representatives." "House to Vote on Cracking Down on 'Sanctuary Cities'."




"Committee ejects speaker for outburst"

"Senate committee ejects speaker for outburst over divorce bill."

"Political rumor mill spinning"

Matt Dixon writes: "When most members of the Florida House look in the mirror, they see a state senator looking back at them."

That dynamic will be on full display during the 2016 election cycle after a legal challenge led to redrawing of the state Senate districts. Along with the new maps came opportunities that will boost the number of former House members in the upper chamber. They currently hold 31 of the Senate’s 40 seats.

"Roughly 15 House members are now considering running for Senate seats, a dynamic that has the political rumor mill spinning in the wake of the legal challenge."

Combined with the fact that 30 House districts will have no incumbent running in 2016, more than 35 percent of the chamber could be new members next year.

Much more here: "New Senate maps will shake up House campaigns."




Columnists debate Jolly’s Stop Act

"Faceoff: Tribune columnists debate David Jolly’s Stop Act" See "Henderson: Stop Act proposal on fundraising is a Jolly good idea" and "Jackson: The trouble with Jolly’s feel-good, check-squashing legislation."




A Florida growth industry: rent-by-the-week motels

"Lawmakers are backing a bill they say will free up millions in state dollars to help homeless families get out of rent-by-the-week motels and into apartments and homes." "Florida housing bill would help homeless families, backers say."




What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State

Marc Caputo: "Bondi v. Legislature over Medicaid fraud – Rubio snags IA endorsements, but looks stuck – Jeb tumbles to 4% in FL poll – Abortion-ban bill hits FL House committee agenda –Shaq balls with Gainesville PD." "Florida Playbook."




"Abusive financial manipulations"

The Tampa Tribune editors argue that "Sen. Jack Latvala of Pinellas County deserves legislative support in his effort to halt abusive financial manipulations by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, which is shifting its costs to county governments." "Fix abusive state billing system."




Dead again

Kevin Derby: "The second week of the legislative session in Tallahassee offered something of a contrast to a relatively calm first week as a lower state revenue estimate caused some concerns and campus carry once again looks dead in the Senate." "Some Turbulence Swirls in Second Legislative Week as Initial Budget Proposals Loom."




"Good for them — and great for the rest of us"

The Miami Herald editors: "Thankfully, Florida lawmakers, just weeks into the 2016 legislative session, have already shot down two gun-related bills that would have added practically nothing to Floridians’ safety and security. Good for them — and great for the rest of us." "Legislative gun bills are being shot down."




More Poodles in pain

One of Florida's few bona fide political chatterers find "shocking" Jeb "Bush’s barrel-bottom support in Florida: 4%. He’s in single digits elsewhere, but this is the state where he built the Florida GOP. What happened?"

Actually, it isn't all that surprising. Jeb's Florida "success" was a fiction created by a largely compliant stable of media poodles. For more, see "Poodles in pain."




Bondi gets it

"Pam Bondi has waged legal battles over everything from Obamacare to same-sex marriage, but now, after five years as Florida's attorney general, the Republican finds herself in a rare position: She is openly clashing with the GOP-controlled Legislature." "Medicaid special-interest bills pit Bondi against GOP lawmakers."




Rubio, "the young guy stuck in the past"

"Even most Cuban Americans support normalization of relations with Cuba — and 77 percent of those younger than 50 support Obama’s policy, according to Miami pollster Fernand Armandi. He said those who remain opposed are a shrinking group: older, Florida-based Republicans born in Cuba."

And Marco Rubio. . . .

He is not against change, he stressed, bristling at criticism that he is the young guy stuck in the past.

"Marco Rubio’s cold war."

Scott cuts Department of Health personnel, Florida leads nation in new HIV cases

Steve Bousquet: "Florida leads the nation in new HIV infections, but it's not being treated as a crisis by Gov. Rick Scott or the state's top health officer, Dr. John Armstrong."

As the disease has spread, Scott and Armstrong have imposed four years of personnel cuts in the Department of Health that have shrunk the size of county health departments.

State lawmakers are now asking whether the spending decisions have produced a sicker population in a state where HIV infections have risen each year since 2012 as they've declined across the country.

"Although Florida is among the nation's fastest-growing states, Scott has pushed every year to trim the state work force, and nearly one quarter of those reductions have been in the Department of Health."

The 67 county health departments, largely funded by the state health agency, have declined to 10,519 positions compared to 12,759 in the year Scott took office.

"It's indicative of the neglect of this administration across the board in social services," said Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens. "We have a rise in AIDS and we have a reduction in public health spending. We're now cutting just to be cutting."

"Florida leads country in new HIV cases after years of health department cuts."




Charter madness

"A pair of virtual charter schools in Palm Beach and Broward counties may soon shut down, following concerns over poor student performance, allegations of ethical breaches and hostility between the schools' governing board and management company." "Virtual charter schools in Broward, Palm Beach could close following audits."




"What would Jose Martí do?"

The Tampa Trib: "As the U.S. and Cuba move toward a normalization of relations, all sides lay claim to Martí as their own in the debate over whether it’s time yet."

Academics who decipher Martí’s views based on the totality of his work rather than individual quotes say the freedom fighter may have been in favor of some hallmarks of Cuba’s current government — guaranteed education and health care for all and resistance to U.S. domination — but not of the one-party system that has kept the Castro family entrenched for more than half a century.

Neither would Martí have embraced the president deposed by the Castro revolution, researchers say — Fulgencio Batista, whose supporters founded the dissident movement in the U.S. By the same token, Martí may have rejected the dissidents’ preferred means of overthrowing the Castros — continued isolation and economic embargo.

"All sides of the Cuba debate now ask: What would Jose Martí do?"




Trump taunts Jeb for turning to "mommy" to help floundering campaign

"Donald Trump is now taunting Jeb Bush for turning to his "mommy" to help save his floundering campaign -- but the former Florida governor says his mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, is ready to rumble." "Trump knocks Bush for turning to 'mommy'." See also "Donald Trump Jabs Jeb Bush on 'Mommy' Ad."




Guns-on-campus proposal likely dead

"A Senate committee chairman won’t give it another hearing." "Guns-on-campus proposal likely dead for 2016 session."




"Symmetry between Scott and the House"

"A revised forecast trimming the amount of money lawmakers have to spend this year by almost $400 million has made Scott’s robust [tax cut] plan – aimed almost entirely at helping businesses — a lot tougher sell."

This could expose the tensions between the House and the Senate.

Signs of symmetry between Scott and the House isn’t unusual.

Last year, the two sides allied in blocking the Senate’s bid for a privatized form of Medicaid expansion, a clash that left budget talks at impasse and forced a special session in June to avoid a possible government shutdown.

The House and Senate also deadlocked in two special sessions on congressional and Senate redistricting last year, deepening divisions among Florida’s ruling Republicans.

But this year’s two-month session, which just completed its second week, has been marked by public displays of harmony between leaders.

"Scott on tax-cut plan: ‘I’m going to sell it to them every day’."




Bill would radically change how Florida's school districts are organized

"The measure (HJR 539) would mark a dramatic change in how school districts are organized in Florida. The Constitution requires all districts to be made up of whole counties, though a handful of public schools are stand-alone."

Caldwell’s proposal would also allow existing city or county governing bodies to serve as school boards and would get rid of a requirement that school board elections be nonpartisan.

But it would also raise a series of questions about the financing of schools and the logistics of untangling a district if a city is allowed to start its own school system. The amendment doesn’t spell out the legal steps that would be needed to approve a new district, though Caldwell said any move would likely have to be supported by local residents and then return to the Legislature to be ratified.

The proposal stems from the frustration some parents have as counties have grown larger and administrators seem more remote, Caldwell said.

"City School Districts? Lawmaker Mulling Proposed Constitutional Amendment." See also "Florida Legislature pondering move to school districts by city."