Howdy and welcome to Friday.
Flashback— Almost 5 months in the past, Florida Republicans have been break up over a invoice that may write same-sex marriage into federal legislation, and shield interracial marriages. Six GOP members from the state voted for the invoice when it got here up in July — only a few months earlier than they have been all on the 2022 poll.
Minimize in half— Quick ahead to Thursday and the quantity dropped to 3: Kat Cammack, Carlos Gimenez and Michael Waltz voted together with nearly all of the Home (together with all Florida Democrats) on Thursday to ship the measure to President Joe Biden, who is predicted to signal it into legislation.
The checklist— The three Republicans who flipped have been Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Brian Mast and María Elvira Salazar. When she voted for the invoice the primary time, Salazar was one of many solely Republicans within the state who had a probably robust reelection battle. (She received by greater than 14 factors over Annette Taddeo.)
Salazar’s response — In a press release, Salazar defended her post-election turnabout by contending the laws lacked enough protections for spiritual establishments: “I’m disillusioned to see the ultimate Home model of the Respect for Marriage Act didn’t embody full protections for church buildings and People with sincerely held spiritual beliefs. I voted for the primary model of the invoice as a result of I consider in human dignity and respect for all people. Nonetheless, we can not move legal guidelines that advance one curiosity and bypass long-held authorized protections for others.”
Zinged— Democrats zeroed in on Salazar’s flip. Tommy Garcia with the Democratic Congressional Marketing campaign Committee mentioned that “María Elvira Salazar’s vote change reveals Floridians that she is prepared to say and do something to get elected. Salazar’s shameless vote in opposition to the Respect for Marriage Act sends a transparent message that she doesn’t consider individuals’s proper to marry whomever they love needs to be protected.”
Different explanations— Diaz-Balart and Mast likewise contended that the laws — which was amended within the Senate to incorporate extra language associated to spiritual protections that wasn’t within the earlier model they did vote for — additionally didn’t go far sufficient. Mast throughout debate blasted the Home for refusing to contemplate additional amendments due to worries that sending it again to the Senate would doom its passage because the present time period of Congress it coming to an finish. “What the hell are we doing?” Mast requested on the ground.
— WHERE’S RON? — Nothing official for Gov. DeSantis.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or every other nugget for Playbook? Get in contact: [email protected]
SHARP DIVIDE OVER GRINER RELEASE— Florida’s Republicans and Democratic members of Congress break up sharply over the information that President Joe Biden reached a deal that resulted in Russia releasing WNBA participant Brittney Griner in trade for Russian arms vendor Viktor Bout, nicknamed the “Service provider of Dying.”
A few of the strongest criticism got here from Rep. Michael Waltz, a former Inexperienced Beret and Republican from northeast Florida. On Twitter, Waltz known as the discharge “absolutely shameful” and questioned why the U.S. couldn’t safe the discharge of Paul Whelan, a U.S. Marine veteran accused of spying by Russia. “Celebrities over veterans?” he additionally tweeted. On Fox, Waltz mentioned that whereas he was “joyful” for the Griner household, he mentioned the transfer would encourage “unhealthy guys” to “preserve taking” People hostage.
Sen. Marco Rubio in a press release that it’s a “reduction when a U.S. citizen comes residence” however he criticized the Biden administration for forsaking different People. “What’s extra, Putin and others have seen how detaining high-profile People on comparatively minor fees can each distract American officers and trigger them to launch actually unhealthy people who belong behind bars.”
Florida Democrats, nevertheless, praised Biden for arranging the return of Griner. “Thanks @POTUS for saving an amazing American champion Brittney Griner from this illegal Russian prosecution!” tweeted Rep. Darren Soto. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said on Twitter: “Relieved Brittney Griner is coming residence. Thanks, @POTUS, for bringing her again. I’m assured we won’t relent till all People wrongly convicted overseas are freed.”
NO VACANCY — “Maxwell Frost, future Gen Z congressman, denied D.C. apartment over bad credit,” by Washington Submit’s Azi Paybarah: “Rep.-elect Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), the primary member of the Gen Z technology elected to Congress, mentioned Thursday that an organization in Washington rejected his software to lease an house due to his bad credit report rating. Frost declined to establish the constructing, the scale of debt or credit score rating, however mentioned the constructing the place his software was rejected was within the Navy Yard neighborhood, which is simply over a mile from the U.S. Capitol.”
— “3 South Florida Republicans flip to vote ‘no’ on protection for same-sex and interracial marriages,” by South Florida Solar-Sentinel’s Anthony Man
— “Vern Buchanan calls possibility he will resign ‘laughable and ridiculous,’” by Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles
— “Byron Donalds says House Oversight committed to ramping up investigations,” by The Floridian’s Jackson Bakich
GONE— Florida Republican who sponsored ‘Don’t Say Gay’ resigns after federal indictment, by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon: Republican state Rep. Joe Harding resigned from workplace sooner or later after a federal grand jury indictment in opposition to him was unsealed alleging he defrauded a federal pandemic-related small enterprise mortgage program.“ Immediately, I’m resigning from my place for a similar two causes: I really like individuals, and I really like Florida,” Harding mentioned in a press release. “I consider in Floridians and wish what’s finest for them, and I consider their leaders needn’t be encumbered by distractions which can be mine alone.” His resignation is efficient instantly.
LIFE IN A HURRICANE PRONE STATE — “New-look Florida Legislature tackles old problem – homeowners insurance,” by USA Immediately Community-Florida’s John Kennedy: “Lawmakers have taken the method that they are going to give the business what it desires in a determined bid to cease them from leaving a high-risk state. The insurance coverage business bought lawmakers to do a whole lot of what it wished in Could. And the identical theme is predicted to dominate subsequent week’s session. Whereas little is understood about why Florida insurers turn into troubled — some analysts say poor investments and unhealthy administration are in charge.”
— “Mobile home owners struggle to find insurance in Florida’s ‘dysfunctional’ market,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Trevor Fraser
PRE-SESSION READING— “Agency details the top concerns in Florida’s troubled insurance market,” by Information Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders: “With Florida lawmakers poised to start out a particular legislative session, a financial-ratings company issued a report Thursday that warned about the potential of extra insolvencies of property insurers and mentioned long-term adjustments are wanted within the state’s troubled insurance coverage market. The AM Finest report pointed to points such because the market’s heavy reliance on Florida-based insurers, which it mentioned have ‘weaker steadiness sheets than the bigger nationwide carriers and are overly depending on reinsurance for steadiness sheet safety/short-term capital.’”
— “Despite Hurricane Ian, Florida’s October revenues beat expectations by $140M,” by Florida Politics’ Grey Rohrer
FIRST GLANCE— Trump cash haul spiked after 2024 launch – but not as high as in the past, by POLITICO’s Jessica Piper: The principle fundraising committee powering former President Donald Trump’s marketing campaign raised greater than $4.1 million on-line within the two weeks after he launched his 2024 bid — a sum that, whereas important, lags properly behind the eye-popping fundraising numbers he has posted previously. The previous president’s digital fundraising efforts are detailed within the newest marketing campaign finance submitting from WinRed, the broadly used GOP on-line donation processor. Trump, whose on-line fundraising prowess has set him aside from different GOP politicians, raised greater than $850,000 for his joint fundraising committee on WinRed on the day of his marketing campaign launch and greater than $750,000 the next day, a POLITICO evaluation discovered.
AS THE PAGES TURN— Trump’s push for a special master in Mar-a-Lago docs case comes to an end, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein: Former President Donald Trump’s quest for out of doors supervision of the Justice Division’s investigation into delicate White Home data seized at his Mar-a-Lago property got here to an finish Thursday, after he did not problem an appeals courtroom ruling rejecting such oversight. Trump had per week to contest the problem earlier than the total bench of the Atlanta-based eleventh Circuit Court docket of Appeals or on the Supreme Court docket, however he didn’t. The appeals courtroom formalized its ruling Thursday afternoon ending the so-called ‘particular grasp’ course of a decrease choose established in September.
— “Justice Department asks judge to hold Trump team in contempt over Mar-a-Lago case,” by Washington Submit’s Spencer S. Hsu, Josh Dawsey, Jacqueline Alemany, Devlin Barrett and Rosalind S. Heldermen
REAPPRAISAL — “‘Trump obsession is very bad’: Senate Republicans confront their problems after poor election showing,” by CNN’s Manu Raju, Clare Foran and Ted Barrett: “And a few prime Republicans mentioned the occasion’s refusal to reject Trump as their customary bearer — mixed with the 2020 election denialism that’s central to his platform — in the end did them in and can price them once more in future cycles. ‘It’s only one extra knowledge level in an awesome physique of information that the Trump obsession may be very unhealthy for Republicans, however regular Republicans are doing extraordinarily properly,’ mentioned retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, whose open seat was picked up by a Democrat.”
— “Trump Organization conviction unlikely to impact West Palm Beach golf club lease,” by Palm Seaside Submit’s Alexandra Clough
— “Trump hosts event featuring QAnon, ‘Pizzagate’ conspiracy theorist at Mar-a-Lago,” by ABC Information’ Olivia Rubin, Will Steakin, and Katherine Faulders
AHEAD — “DeSantis leads Trump in head-to-head 2024 GOP primary race: poll,” by New York Submit’s Victor Nava: “Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has a transparent lead over former President Donald Trump within the occasion of a two-man race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, in keeping with a brand new survey. The Yahoo Information/YouGov ballot launched Thursday discovered that 47% of registered Republican or Republican-leaning impartial voters say they might vote for DeSantis, 44, if their state main or caucus have been held right now. Simply 42% of the identical cohort mentioned they might help the 76-year-old Trump. The ballot reveals a 14-percentage level swing towards DeSantis since mid-October, when 45% of registered Republicans or GOP-leaning independents supported Trump, whereas 36% mentioned they might again DeSantis.”
AND BACK HOME— “Florida GOP likes DeSantis far more than Trump in new poll,” by NBC Information’ Marc Caputo: “Florida Ron DeSantis is the preferred political determine amongst Republican voters who favor him excess of his fellow Sunshine State Republican — and attainable 2024 rival — former President Donald Trump, in keeping with a brand new ballot obtained by NBC Information. The survey, carried out by the GOP agency Ragnar Analysis Companions, reveals that 86 % of Republican voters have a positive impression of the governor within the wake of his historic 20-percentage level thrashing of Democrat Charlie Crist in his re-election, whereas solely 10 % have an unfavorable view.”
KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY— “Jack and Chris Latvala: a money trail and continued influence in Pinellas politics,” by Tampa Bay Instances’ Tracey McManus: “Within the 5 years since he resigned from the Florida Senate amid a sexual misconduct investigation, Jack Latvala has continued to affect Pinellas County politics by quietly unloading thousands and thousands of {dollars} from his political committee to help native and state candidates and different Republican committees. The spending has drained many of the $4 million that remained in his Florida Management Committee when he left workplace in January 2018, a battle chest as soon as earmarked to assist fund his bid for governor. A lot of that cash discovered its solution to the household companies as Chris Latvala continued his political journey from state consultant to county commissioner.”
PAGING ERIC EIKENBERG— “Everglades Foundation seeks criminal contempt finding against its former top scientist after settlement deal implodes,” by Florida Bulldog’s Dan Christensen: “The Everglades Basis is as soon as once more going after its former prime scientist and has requested a Miami-Dade choose to carry him in felony contempt of courtroom – a discovering that might hit Thomas Van Lent within the pockets and put him behind bars for as much as a yr. The struggle between the muse and Van Lent started quietly in early April when the muse sued its longtime director of science and coverage, alleging that within the weeks earlier than he give up on the finish of February, he mounted a ‘secret marketing campaign of theft and destruction of delicate Basis supplies in preparation for his departure,’ in keeping with the criticism.”
BETWEEN THE LIONS — “Tensions simmer as conservative moms, Florida educators differ on school books,” by Information Service of Florida’s Ryan Dailey: “With a Jan. 1 deadline looming, a state Division of Training workgroup is crafting a coaching that every one faculty library staff should use in choosing books and different supplies. However rigidity has simmered as a result of some members of the panel don’t consider its suggestions go far sufficient. The group, which incorporates mother and father and college media specialists, was shaped to hold out a part of a brand new legislation (HB 1467) handed throughout the 2022 legislative session.”
— “‘Privileged’ Cuban migrants are not refugees nor exiles, book to be presented at FIU claims,” by El Nuevo Herald’s Nora Gámez Torres
— “School Board member defends against criticism over welcoming Proud Boys’ support,” by South Florida Solar-Sentinel’s Scott Travis
— “Rogue iguana causes widespread power outage in Lake Worth Beach,” by South Florida Solar-Sentinel’s Shira Moolten
— “Group looks to launch incorporation effort for Perdido Key area,” by Pensacola Information-Journal’s Jim Little
— “‘All I do is work’: Miami airport service workers protest low wages, demand sick leave,” by Miami Herald’s Anna Jean Kaiser
‘TEETERING ON THE EDGE’ — “‘Not enough money to save them all.’ Volusia grapples with double whammy,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher: “Kate Rose stays awake at night time fascinated about her household’s oceanfront residence perched perilously on the sting of the eroded shoreline. The subsequent storm might ship it crashing into the ocean, similar to a few of her neighbors’ houses in Wilbur-by-the-Sea. The small neighborhood suffered a number of the worst injury from back-to-back hurricanes that tore by means of Volusia County this yr. The subsequent storm might ship it crashing into the ocean, similar to a few of her neighbors’ houses in Wilbur-by-the-Sea.”
— “OnlyFans model accused of murdering boyfriend in Miami to stay jailed until trial,” by Miami Herald’s David Ovalle: “The OnlyFans mannequin accused of murdering her boyfriend in Miami received’t be getting out of jail to await trial. A Miami-Dade choose on Thursday dominated that Courtney Clenney should stay behind bars as she awaits trial for the killing of Christian Obumseli on April 3 inside their luxurious Edgewater house. Clenney, 27, is charged with second-degree homicide with a lethal weapon in a case that has attracted worldwide media consideration. The choose notified attorneys hours earlier than Thursday morning’s listening to.”
BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Webster Barnaby … Rick Hirsch, former Miami Herald managing editor
(Saturday) Former state Rep. Daisy Morales … Jeff Greene, actual property investor and Democratic candidate for governor in 2018
(Sunday) Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox
Comments are closed.