|
Gary Fineout's must-read briefing on what's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Good Wednesday morning. By the numbers — The Republican Party of Florida — which was responsible for handling most of the expenses related to the inauguration of Gov. Ron DeSantis — reported taking in nearly $10.3 million during the final two months of 2022. The pitch — Ahead of the inauguration itself, prospective donors giving anywhere from $50,000 to $1 million to the party were promised close access and tickets to the various events, including a candlelight dinner at Florida State University and the inaugural ball at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. Ultimately, thousands showed up to the swearing-in while there were smaller crowds at the dinner and other events. Lumped all in — The latest state campaign filing submission doesn’t segregate who was just giving to the party and who was doing it to help pay for the inauguration. But there’s still a couple of takeaways. Same as it ever was — One takeaway is that many of the larger donors to the party — and therefore the inauguration — were not outside billionaires. Instead, they were some of the same names that have long given large amounts to Florida Republicans (and had a large amount of sway in the Legislature). Both Duke Energy and Florida Power & Light each donated $1 million but there were donations from many of the usual suspects in health care and real estate. Publix Super Markets gave $100,000, as did the law firm of Greenberg Traurig. Also on list — Other donors included hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones ($200,000) and the Stefan Brodie ($500,000), the founder of a Pennsylvania chemical company. House Republicans also steered more than $1 million to the state party in the final quarter as well. Accounting — The new report also shows that the Republican Party of Florida returned $8.5 million to DeSantis’ political committee at the end of December. Now that committee had wheeled millions of dollars into the party coffers ahead of the November election to pay for campaign staff and television ads. By returning money the committee — the Friends of Ron DeSantis — has more than $70 million in the bank… which may (or may not) wind up migrating to a federal super PAC that could, oh, help someone if they run for president. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official for Gov. DeSantis. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Florida Playbook will not publish on Monday, Jan. 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. After the hiatus, we’ll be back to our normal schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Please continue to follow POLITICO Florida. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | |  | DATELINE D.C. | | DONALDS V. REID — This isn’t something you see every day.Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds, who has gotten plenty of attention from the battle over House speaker, decided to go one-on-one with MSNBC host Joy Reid on Tuesday evening.Ahead of the interview, Donalds tweeted out that “America needs more conversation between people of all viewpoints and I look forward to joining Joy tonight to continue the dialogue.” And they're off — Well, as one might expect, the conversation between the Black conservative congressman and the liberal television host got testy at times. During the fairly lengthy segment, Reid repeatedly pushed Donalds on various issues, including the concept of removing Democrats from committees, GOP plans for the new Congress and whether Social Security should be privatized. Back and forth — She also confronted him about his voting record when it came to Donald Trump and Jan. 6. Donalds repeatedly pushed back against Reid during some of the exchanges, although she said they ran out of time before he could answer all the questions about his votes. Donalds did get to squeeze in that “Florida’s elections laws are the best in the country” when asked about ballot harvesting. The D word — Reid also pressed Donalds on whether he had the qualifications to be speaker after being in the House for just one term. She asked whether Donalds was nominated to challenge Kevin McCarthy as a “diversity statement” since Democrats put up Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Donalds challenged Reid’s diversity assertion by retorting “I was in the room when the decision was made by people who chose to nominate me,” Donalds said. “Am I to be despised for my youth because I have served one term?” — “Gaetz introduces amendment to bring C-SPAN cameras back to House floor,” by Fox News’ Jessica Chasmar
| | DESANTISLAND | | TAPPED BY DESANTIS — “New College board member’s Twitter feed: COVID conspiracies and climate-change denial,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson: “[Eddie] Speir is the founder, board chair and superintendent of Inspiration Academy, a private Christian school in Bradenton. He recently was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees as part of a conservative transformation of the state’s liberal arts honors college, and is pledging to end what he calls a ‘tyrannical ideology’ at the school that is ‘patently anti-western civilization, anti-American, and anti-Florida.’” MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS — “Can Ron DeSantis avoid meeting the press?” by The New York Times’ Michael M. Grynbaum: “His success is an ominous sign for the usual rules of engagement between politicians and the press as another nationwide election looms. Presidential candidates typically endure media scrutiny in exchange for the megaphone and influence of mainstream outlets. But in an intensely partisan, choose-your-own-news era, the traditional calculus may have shifted.” | 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to the crowd after being sworn in to begin his second term during an inauguration ceremony, Jan. 3, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. | Lynne Sladky/AP Photo |
MEANWHILE — Murphy, in State of the State, looks to ‘build the next New Jersey’ but pokes at DeSantis, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard and Carly Sitrin: Some national sweep was expected, Murphy is head of the National Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association — perches others have used to run for a higher office. Murphy used the speech to elbow Florida and its Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, saying New Jersey’s economic growth was outpacing Florida and “many of the so-called ‘business friendly’ states.” “Some governors boast that their state is ‘where woke goes to die.’ I’m not even sure I know what that means,” Murphy said, referencing a phrase DeSantis often uses when describing his state.
STILL WAITING — “In Warren vs. DeSantis, here’s what the judge might be considering,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Sue Carlton and Dan Sullivan: “U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle made it clear when the three-day trial ended in Tallahassee in early December that his would not be a quick decision. The case has far-reaching implications, from freedom of speech to the reach of executive power.” — “DeSantis is polling well against Trump — as long as no one else runs,” by FiveThirtyEight’s Nathaniel Rakich | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | CLOSURE — Ex-Trump Org. CFO Allen Weisselberg sentenced to five months in jail for tax fraud,” by POLITICO’s Joe Anuta: Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg was sentenced to five months in jail and five years of probation in Manhattan state court Tuesday after pleading guilty to tax fraud. The judge said Weisselberg, once chief financial officer for the real estate firm founded by former President Donald Trump, could have faced more time in jail had he not taken a plea deal. — “Tampa Bay internet celebrity ‘Baked Alaska’ gets 60 days for Jan. 6 riot,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Dan Sullivan — “Jury chosen to hear Proud Boys Jan. 6 sedition trial,” by The Associated Press
| | | | JOIN NEXT TUESDAY TO HEAR FROM MAYORS AROUND AMERICA: 2022 brought in a new class of mayors leading “majority minority” cities, reshaping who is at the nation’s power tables and what their priorities are. Join POLITICO to hear from local leaders on how they’re responding to being tested by unequal Covid-19 outcomes, upticks in hate crimes, homelessness, lack of affordable housing, inflation and a potential recession. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | WILL THERE BE MORE TO COME? — “Governor, Cabinet to consider more than 15,000 acres in land deals, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet next week will consider land deals to conserve more than 15,000 acres, including more than 12,000 acres outside Tallahassee. DeSantis on Tuesday in Bonita Springs announced he was signing an executive order with environmental initiatives, including land acquisition. The governor did not mention any specific land deals but reiterated his goal is "to leave Florida to God better than we found it." NEXT GOAL — “ DeSantis outlines plan to spend $3.5 billion on environment projects in second term,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Turner: “Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans Tuesday to spend $3.5 billion in his second term on environmental projects such as restoring the Everglades and addressing water quality problems. 'This may be a bigger, more comprehensive executive order than we did four years ago. But I think that’s the right thing to do,' DeSantis, who was reelected in November, said while at Coconut Jack’s Waterfront Grille in Bonita Springs.” — “Wilton Simpson seeks to shield gun and ammo sale data from corporate tracking,” by Florida Politics’ Renzo Downey | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | STEEP FALL FOR DEMOCRATS — While Florida Republicans reported raising more than $10 million for the final two months of the year, Florida Democrats had one of their worst reporting periods in years. Democrats reported Tuesday that they took in a little more than $171,000 in November and December. The party took in more than $1.1 million during the same time period four years ago. The report came in a day after Florida Democratic Party chair Manny Diaz abruptly resigned following the disastrous midterms. In his lengthy statement, Diaz complained about the lack of financial support coming into the party accounts. The latest report shows that the largest donations received by the state party was money that came from the Senate Democrats ($30,000) and House Democratic leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell ($25,000) as well as money from Charlie Crist’s political committee. — “ Alex Berrios announces run for Florida Democratic Party chair,” by Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles — “Florida judge gives ‘ghost’ candidate OK to travel to Sweden,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Martin E. Comas — “John Rutherford endorses Daniel Davis for Jax mayor, disses LeAnna Cumber,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski — “LeAnna Cumber’s latest ad slams ‘sellout’ Daniel Davis,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | ‘THESE WEREN’T CALM DAYS’ — “Bolsonaro eyes return to Brazil as US stay pressures Biden,” by The Associated Press’ Joshua Goodman: “The Biden administration is under growing pressure from leftists in Latin America as well as U.S. lawmakers to expel Jair Bolsonaro from a post-presidential retreat in Florida following his supporters’ brazen attack on Brazil’s capital over the weekend. But the far-right ex-president may pre-empt any plans for such a stinging rebuke. On Tuesday, he told a Brazilian media outlet that he would push up his return home, originally scheduled for late January, after being hospitalized with abdominal pains stemming from a 2018 stabbing.” DETAILS — “Florida says it’s helping feds deal with migrant surge but not directly intervening,” by Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas: “Florida’s emergency response to the influx of migrants from Cuba and Haiti arriving by boat will be one of surveillance and not interdiction as 150 to 200 troops and officers work with federal Homeland Security officials ‘to increase coastal vigilance and provide improved situational awareness on migrant activities,’ state emergency operations officials said in a statement on Tuesday.” — “Federal court hearing in Miami on transportation mask mandate,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders — “A ‘humanitarian crisis’: The Bail Project comes to Jacksonville to get people out of jail,” by Florida Times-Union’s Katherine Lewin — “GOP-controlled county commission: What does it mean for development, code enforcement and elections?” by Palm Beach Post’s Mike Diamond — “Lights out? Elon Musk tunnel idea getting dimmer in Fort Lauderdale,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Susannah Bryan | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — “Florida doctor gets 20 years for urine-testing scheme that cost insurers $125 million,” by Miami Herald’s Jay Weaver: “In one of South Florida’s biggest healthcare fraud cases, an osteopathic physician approved medically unnecessary urine tests and treatment for patients suffering from alcohol and drug addiction that cost private insurance companies more than $125 million over a decade. Michael Ligotti, who owned a medical clinic in Delray Beach that profited from the scheme, was sentenced Monday to a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison in Miami federal court by U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz. He had pleaded guilty in October to conspiring to commit healthcare and wire fraud and was ordered to surrender his Florida medical license.” BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Tommy Gregory ... Toni Large, president at Large Strategies INC | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
