|
Presented by CVS Health: Kimberly Leonard's must-read briefing on what's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State | | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | | |  Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during the Family Leader's Thanksgiving Family Forum, Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall/AP | Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed budget is the first look in a while at how he plans to govern while juggling the demands of a presidential primary. First, a look at the numbers: The “Focus on Florida’s Future Budget” that DeSantis unveiled during a press conference in Marco Island, Florida, Tuesday is $114.4 billion, which is $4.6 billion lower than the current budget. The Republican-supermajority Legislature will next consider his plan, with the session set to start Jan. 9. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the governor's proposal: 1. DeSantis wasn’t just thinking about Florida. The governor unveiled his budget plan the night before the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, debate happening this evening — and it shows. One of the most notable proposals highlights how he’s leaning into agriculture policy with less than six weeks until the caucuses in Iowa, one of the U.S.' top agriculture states. DeSantis proposes spending $100 million on the state’s rural and family protection program even though he line-item vetoed a similar provision this past spring. Because DeSantis' campaign is struggling, it's not clear whether he'll carry the same weight he has with the Legislature in the past. But several other priorities appear to line up with his principles on the campaign trail — and in some cases he was direct about why. For instance, he proposed lowering the state debt by $455 million and, in a summary document, he said the move stood in contrast with “federal fiscal mismanagement. ” He's also leaning into issues of immigration, expanding his pro-Israel bona fides and pushing conservative education policies. He wants $5 million to go toward his controversial migrant relocation program and has recommended $10 million in state spending to help make Jewish Day Schools safer. He also is pushing for the state to pay 15,000 teachers $3,000 when they undergo a civics training created by conservative scholars. 2. He wants to nix 1,000 state jobs. The proposal would mostly do so by leaving positions unfilled in corrections and health care. Other areas are getting a boost in funding, including education and teacher pay, as well as Everglades restoration funding. “This is a budget that I think is respecting the taxpayers of this state. We are living within our means; we’re even paring back expenses,” he said, per POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “We’re reducing the size of government, we’re cutting taxes, we’re eliminating more of our state debt.” Left unmentioned is that Florida, like other states, doesn’t have an infusion of federal cash this year that came as part of the coronavirus pandemic response. 3. He’s following through on promised tax cuts, of $1.1 billion largely through five different tax holidays that include back-to-school tax relief and a suspension of taxes on items that help with hurricane preparedness. Under his plan, the state would permanently cut taxes for pet medicines. 4. He aimed to show he isn’t ignoring Florida’s property insurance crisis, despite criticisms from Democrats. The budget recommends setting aside $409 million so that people can get relief from taxes, fees and assessments on property insurance for a year. The provision would only apply to people whose homes are worth up to $750,000. Another part of the plan would create a premium tax exemption on flood insurance policies starting in July and would bolster the My Safe Florida Home program, which gives grants for making homes more resilient, by $107 million. — WHERE’S RON? Gov. DeSantis will appear at the fourth GOP presidential primary debate with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com | | A message from CVS Health: Learn how we’re delivering the future of health care. More here. | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
MORE ON BUDGET — “State employees health insurance costs stay put under Ron DeSantis budget,” reports Florida Politics’ Christine Jordan Sexton. “As of June 30, 342,939 people relied on the state group health insurance program for their coverage, of which 167,488 were employees or former employees, according to state estimates. State employees haven’t had an increase in their health insurance premiums in nearly 20 years.”
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
DEM BACKLASH — “Sarasota School Board member Tom Edwards calls on Bridget Ziegler to resign amid scandal,” reports the Sarasota Herald Tribune’s Steven Walker. “Edwards, a self-described moderate endorsed by Sarasota Democrats, has been in the voting minority on the board since a conservative-leaning majority that included Ziegler rose to power last year. Following the sexual assault allegation against Christian Ziegler becoming public last week, Edwards said that last year's School Board chairwoman has become too much of a distraction for the district. ‘She is nothing but a distraction from before and only getting worse, and it will never go away as long as she sits there,’ he said.”
| 
The Southernmost Point Buoy is seen in Key West, Florida. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images | BALLOT CONSIDERATION — “The Florida Keys are considering changing their form of government,” reports WLRN’s Julia Cooper. “Monroe County is considering a measure for the 2024 general election ballot that would change its form of government. It’s a way of getting much-needed funding for infrastructure projects in the Florida Keys.” LOOKING BACK — “Mayor Dan Gelber led Miami Beach through an ongoing identity crisis. What’s his legacy?” asks the Miami Herald’s Aaron Leibowitz. “In his six years as mayor of South Florida’s premier tourist destination, Gelber, 63, brought a steady hand and quick wit that he utilized to try to build consensus around the direction of a city in transition — often in the face of backlash from residents and colleagues who weren’t shy about telling him why they believed he was wrong. Core to Gelber’s vision was reshaping the city’s identity, particularly in South Beach, from a late-night party town that had become unpopular among many residents, to a cultural destination that would attract older, more tranquil crowds.” | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | | | 
Republican Party of Florida Chair Christian Ziegler addresses the Republican Party of Florida Freedom Summit, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Fla. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP | WHERE THINGS STAND — Three-quarters of executive committee members for the Republican Party of Florida support holding a special meeting in Orlando on Oct. 17 about embattled GOP chair Christian Ziegler, reports Florida Politics' Jacob Ogles. NEW STATE REP — “Mike Redondo wins Special Election for HD 118, keeps seat in GOP hands,” reports Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner. “Redondo rode a wave of GOP support toward capturing the seat fellow Republican Juan Fernandez-Barquin vacated in June for an appointment as Miami-Dade County Clerk. DeSantis called a Special Election to replace him the following month … Florida law prohibits state legislators from fundraising while a Session is ongoing, which could prove disadvantageous for Redondo, who has just 11 months before he’ll have to defend his seat next year.” REPLACE WITH WHAT? — “Details still scarce in DeSantis’ health care plan,” reports Florida Politics’ A.G. Gankarski. “It is so complex, so complicated that it’s a big, big undertaking because so many people have different types of interests in the system and the status quo. So when you go in and do that, man, the lobbyists are going to come out and everything. You’ve got to strike though. So you’ve got to get a plan, and we’re working on a plan,” DeSantis said during an radio interview in New Hampshire. MORE DONORS DEFECT — “DeSantis campaign in turmoil as 2024 Republican primaries loom,” reports the Financial Times’ Alex Rogers and Jamie Smyth. “Oil baron Harold Hamm, who contributed to the DeSantis and Haley campaigns, reportedly gave a big check to a pro-Trump super PAC in October, despite telling him to drop out of the race earlier this year. ‘I don’t think I ever was against Donald Trump,’ Hamm told the Financial Times. ‘I thought other folks ought to have a chance — and they have had that opportunity, but Donald Trump has a heck of a base. He is sure a long ways ahead,’ Hamm added. ‘It’s just math.’” — “A look at GOP governor records of DeSantis and Haley, with both vying for a presidential nominee,” reports the Florida Phoenix’s Mitch Perry — “Why DeSantis doesn’t have a prayer in Iowa,” by the New Yorker’s Benjamin Wallace Wells — “Florida court’s redistricting decision muddies waters for 2024 election,” reports Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello | | | | A message from CVS Health:   | | |
| | DATELINE D.C. | | | 
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.). | Rebecca Blackwell/AP | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), who criticized the Biden administration on Sunday for its Cuba policies after the arrest of a former U.S. ambassador on charges of spying for Cuba, is returning two donations that she received from that same ex-diplomat. Last year, Salazar received two donations totaling $750 from Manuel Rocha, the former career Foreign Service diplomat and ex-U.S. ambassador to Bolivia who was arrested on Friday after being accused of being a spy for Cuba since the early 1980s. It’s the only donation he appears to have made to any federal politician, according to FEC records. On Sunday, Salazar posted on X after Rocha’s arrest, using the opportunity to call on the Biden administration to toughen its stance on Cuba: “Havana doesn’t sleep in its effort to infiltrate our country and cause harm. The regime continues to be a danger to our national security. Biden administration, wake up!” After POLITICO inquired about the donation, a campaign spokesperson said Salazar would return the money and that she had no personal relationship with Rocha. “The Congresswoman believes that Rocha should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and has completely betrayed the Miami exile community and United States of America,” the spokesperson said in a statement. — Daniel Lippman NEW BILL — “Florida Democrat Maxwell Frost pitches bill to fight DeSantis book bans,” reports The Messenger’s Nicole Gaudiano. The legislation, called the Book Bans Act, “would give school districts up to $100,000 to oppose challenges to educational and library materials. While book banning is unpopular, he said, school districts have been unable to fight conservative-led challenges to books because the costs are too high.” | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
BIRTHDAYS: Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and co-founder of Promise Fund of Florida ... Former state Rep. Carlos Lacasa
| | A message from CVS Health: Whether in the community, at home or virtually, consumers want health care that is convenient, personalized and affordable. And we’re delivering. By connecting each step of your care – from a medical appointment to a trip to the pharmacy to ongoing check-ins with your care team – we’re making healthier happen together.
Learn more. | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
