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Politico
3 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Returning to the Capitol
Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. State lawmakers are back in Tallahassee today with less than a month to go to avoid a state government shutdown. They're starting conference committee meetings to hash out state government spending in areas like transportation, law enforcement, health care and education. Lawmakers are giving themselves a June 16 deadline to pass a budget, which will give them just a couple of weeks of cushion before the next fiscal year starts July 1. Both chambers have put priorities by the wayside to try to get to an agreement amid what had become an acrimonious back and forth that included Gov. RON DESANTIS. State Senate President BEN ALBRITTON's $200 million 'Rural Renaissance' plan to spur economic development in Florida's rural areas got punted to the 2026 session, POLITICO's Gary Fineout reported. And House Speaker DANIEL PEREZ dropped his push for a permanent cut to the state sales tax. More details about the $50 billion general revenue fund released Monday show $6 billion going toward higher education, while primary and secondary education is set for $16 billion. Health care services are teed up to receive $17 billion, and $6 billion will go toward the criminal justice system. The budget is also set to include 2 percent raises for the state's estimated 100,000 employees, even though it wasn't included in DeSantis' proposal, reports Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics. GOP State Sen. COREY SIMON, who represents the capital city, said the pay hike also includes a $1,000 minimum for all state workers and keeps state worker health insurance premiums and co-pays at their current levels, of $50 a month for individuals and $180 a month for families for rank-and-file staff. Top-level government employees only pay $8.34 for individuals and $30 for family plans. That's a significant development, given current estimates for the state group health insurance trust fund project a deficit by the summer of 2026. DeSantis hasn't elaborated on the framework. As recently as Monday, the governor continued to press for a break to property taxes and for tax cut holidays — including on items that help people prepare for hurricane season. DeSantis could decide to veto certain sections of the budget he disagrees with, as he has done in past years. And he may also keep agitating for his top priority; a survey out this morning of voters in blue-leaning Duval County found 60 percent of respondents supported undoing property taxes (more below). If DeSantis doesn't sign the budget before July 1, then the state would dive into a partial government shutdown. Should he decide to issue a full-scale veto, then lawmakers would have to return to the Capitol to come up with a new spending plan — or could try to get a two-thirds vote to override him. It'll be a lot to get through and could get heated. What to watch when it's all over? A lot of the attention in Tallahassee is expected to turn to the many vacant powerful positions DeSantis needs to fill, including lieutenant governor, state chief financial officer and Florida education commissioner. — Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... SPEAKING OF EDUCATION COMMISSIONER — 'Anastasios I. Kamoutsas, one of DeSantis' four deputy chiefs of staff, has emerged as one of the most frequently mentioned choices to replace Manny Diaz Jr., who becomes University of West Florida interim president in July,' reports Jeffrey S. Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times. 'If selected, he would follow other top aides into high level posts, including James Uthmeier as attorney general and Alex Kelly as commerce secretary.' POT REFERENDUM MOVES AHEAD — 'A campaign backed by Florida's medical marijuana industry to permit recreational use for adults has gathered enough voter signatures to trigger a state-required financial and judicial review,' reports POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian. 'The Smart and Safe Florida Committee has collected close to 378,000 petitions signed by voters and verified by county supervisors of elections, easily surpassing a threshold of just more than 220,000 signatures that triggers the state review. The committee is campaigning to place a question on next year's ballot asking voters to permit recreational pot use for people who are at least 21 years old. Organizers will need just more than 880,000 signatures filed with the state Division of Elections in order to secure a spot on the ballot by Feb 1.' ENDING UNAUTHORIZED STAYS — 'DeSantis has signed two measures adding new protections for commercial property owners and hotels dealing with unwanted squatters,' reports Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics. 'The measures make it easier for law enforcement to remove squatters in commercial buildings and hotel and motel guests who aren't paying but won't leave.' — 'Construction, real estate experts say Tallahassee raid may spark 'chilling effect,'' reports TaMaryn Waters of the Tallahassee Democrat. — 'Salzman sends 'bat signal' of truce with DeSantis in backing Diaz as UWF interim president,' reports Jim Little of the Pensacola News Journal. PENINSULA AND BEYOND TODAY — The 17-member board of governors will vote on whether to confirm University of Michigan President SANTA ONO to become the next president of the University of Florida. He's facing rejection calls from DONALD TRUMP JR., gubernatorial candidate Rep. BYRON DONALDS, Rep. JIMMY PATRONIS and Rep. GREG STEUBE given past comments he has made about diversity, equity and inclusion — and because of pro-Palestinian protests that broke out at the University of Michigan. Donalds released a series of questions he thought the board should ask, including: 'How can Floridians be sure that their tax dollars won't go toward instituting the 'Indigenous Strategic Plan,' 'Climate Action Plan,' and the 'Anti-Racism Inclusive Excellence' task force — all programs you've championed in the past — at Florida's flagship public research university?' Sen. RICK SCOTT likewise released a statement Monday night saying he had 'serious concerns' about Ono's nomination and said the board should have Ono talk about what actions he would take to fight antisemitism and protect Jewish students. DeSantis has remained neutral on the pick, reports Ian Hodgson of the Tampa Bay Times. 'The governor said: 'vote your conscience,'' board member ASHLEY BELL BARNETT told TBT. 'He's not twisting anyone's arm one way or another.' FIU PRESIDENT NUÑEZ — Former Lt. Gov. JEANETTE NUÑEZ got the nod from trustees to be Florida International University's next president. The Florida Phoenix's Jay Waagmeester writes that Nuñez 'is set to earn a base salary of $925,000 and up to $400,000 in performance incentives. In addition, her contract provides a $245,000 annual retirement supplement, $12,000 car stipend, and $25,000 moving stipend.' PUSH TO CUT WITNESS — 'Attorneys for suspended Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill want a key prosecution witness in her elder exploitation case removed from the proceedings, saying her 'contradictory and false answers' in pre-trial depositions make her unreliable,' reports Ryan Gillespie and Cristóbal Reyes. 'The 17-page motion filed Friday by Hill's defense team seeks to remove Sandra Lewis from the case against Hill, who was indicted last year. Hill is accused of exploiting a 96-year-old woman by draining her savings of more than $100,000 after getting control of her finances. Prosecutors say Hill used a document notarized by Lewis to purchase a west Orlando home in her own name, with the elderly woman as a co-signer.' — 'Father burned in holiday boat explosion in Fort Lauderdale has died,' reports Cindy Krischer Goodman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. ...HURRICANE HOLE... RAISING EYEBROWS — 'The acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told employees on Monday that he did not know the United States has a hurricane season … The official, David Richardson, has served in the Marines and worked in the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office,' reports Christopher Flavelle and Lisa Friedman of The New York Times. 'The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, said in a statement that Mr. Richardson was joking. The agency statement said FEMA would be focused on disaster response this hurricane season and said the Trump administration is in the process of reforming an agency it believes is bloated.' RINSE AND REPEAT — 'Richardson told staff Monday that the agency would be returning to the same guidance for hurricane response as last year,' reports Scott Patterson and Tarini Parti of the Wall Street Journal. 'Some were confused how that would be possible, given the agency had already eliminated key programs and sharply cut its workforce.' CAMPAIGN MODE DEMOCRATIC AG CANDIDATE EMERGES — Former state Sen. JOSÉ JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ made a run for state attorney general official Monday. Rodriguez, who worked for the Biden administration as assistant secretary of Labor for employment and training, lost his state Senate reelection bid in 2020 after political operatives recruited straw candidates to siphon votes away from Democrats. 'Corrupt dealmakers have taken over Florida and we are paying the price,' Rodríguez said in a campaign video, referring to powerful interests like insurance and utilities. He also went after incumbent GOP state Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER, accusing him of 'enriching his friends and only looking out for himself.' Asked for comment, Uthmeier campaign spokesperson KAYLA LITTLE called the attorney general 'relentless' and said Florida voters 'reject soft-on-crime liberal policies.' 'Uthmeier delivers for Floridians,' she said. 'He recently convicted an illegal immigrant for stealing $1.6 million in property, dismantled an international child pornography ring, and charged a pedophile with election fraud — cases reflecting his aggressive stance on crime.' Rodriguez is the first major Democrat to announce he's running for statewide office for the 2026 cycle. The speculation about who'll run for state attorney general has been more heated on the Republican side given the state's GOP majority. Uthmeier is running in 2026 to keep his seat and has made recent moves to signal how aligned he is with the Trump administration. Little noted that he'd begun working in politics in 2015 under the Trump administration as an attorney and said he'd worked closely with senior Trump administration officials in his job as attorney general. 'While he has not personally met with President Trump in his current role, he looks forward to doing so and continuing to support a shared vision for Florida,' she said. It's not yet clear whether Uthmeier will get a clean path to the 2026 election or who Trump will endorse for the job, given that Uthmeier was the campaign manager behind DeSantis challenging Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. GOP strategist JAMIE MILLER recently said in his newsletter that Trumpworld has had conversations with former Rep. TOM ROONEY to run for the seat. JAX-WATCH — Jacksonville Mayor DONNA DEEGAN still enjoys high approval ratings in the city despite the backlash over a gun registry disclosure at City Hall (which she said she didn't know about), according to polling out this morning from the University of North Florida's Public Opinion Research Lab. The poll, which surveyed 742 voters in Duval County, found 61 percent strongly or somewhat approved of the job Deegan is doing. It also found that a majority of voters, regardless of party, support banning concealed weapons from City Hall. The survey also asked voters about how they feel on key issues. At 25 percent, housing costs are a leading concern about the issues facing Jacksonville. In the past, crime was the top concern. There was also good news for DeSantis: The poll showed that 60 percent of respondents either strongly or somewhat supported getting rid of property taxes. TODAY — There's a special election on the Miami City Commission to replace MANOLO REYES, who passed away in April. Voters will choose between former North Bay Village manager RALPH ROSADO and former Miami assistant building director JOSE REGALADO, reports Tess Riski of the Miami Herald. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAY: Florida Power & Light's George Bennett.
Politico
23-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
Not spotted: Florida's budget
Hello and welcome to Friday. It's almost Memorial Day. Do you know where Florida's budget is? And do you know where the state's legislative leaders are? Normally by this time of the year, the new state budget would have been pushed out by the Legislature, and legislators and lobbyists would be waiting for the governor's line-item budget vetoes. Gov. RON DESANTIS, during a bill signing this week, joked that 'maybe even one day the Legislature will produce a budget. We'll see. Hope springs eternal.' But here we are instead. Republican legislative leaders remain at odds over spending and tax cuts, and until they can reach a deal on top-line spending levels, they will not start working on the finer details. There could be an update as soon as Friday on whether legislators will meet next week — but prospects that anything will happen in the final week of May aren't looking good. The inaction moves Florida ever so closer to a potential shutdown of state government on July 1 when a new budget is supposed to be in place. The state House and Senate don't even have an agreement on when they will wrap up their work. The session will end on June 6 unless the Senate concurs with a House proposal to keep going until June 30. The main job of the Legislature is to pass a budget each year. The House and Senate initially pushed out starkly different spending plans that had a $4.4 billion spending gap, as the House proposed a massive $5 billion permanent reduction in the state's sales taxes. The session was supposed to end in early May, but lawmakers were forced to extend it beyond the normal 60 days due to their budget disagreement. On what was supposed to be the final day of the session, Senate President BEN ALBRITTON and House Speaker DANIEL PEREZ said they had agreed to slash taxes by $2.8 billion, including a permanent reduction in the state sales tax rate. But that deal blew up after DeSantis threatened to veto the sales tax plan, saying it would undermine efforts to cut property taxes the governor has been championing. Albritton last week also stated in a memo that many senators were also concerned about the impacts of such a large cut. Perez reacted harshly, accusing Albritton of breaking his promise. While the closed-door negotiations are still underway and offers are still being exchanged, legislative leaders are nowhere near Tallahassee. Albritton traveled to Las Vegas this week to hold a fundraiser. Senate and House rules prohibit legislators from soliciting or collecting money while they are in session — an attempt to avoid any suggestion of trading legislative votes for campaign contributions. The House ban also applies to special sessions and extended sessions, but the Senate has a provision that allows for previously scheduled fundraisers to go ahead. AMANDA BEVIS, a spokesperson for Albritton's political activities, said in a statement that 'with modern technology, previously planned travel does not prevent the Senate President from remaining actively engaged in budget negotiations.' Bevis added Albritton's 'number one priority' is working with DeSantis and the House to 'build consensus on a balanced budget that fulfills constitutional obligations, funds our state priorities and provides meaningful tax relief to Florida families.' Perez, meanwhile, is on a personal holiday trip to the Dominican Republic with his wife and family. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis will be in Kissimmee to give remarks at the Florida Parent Educators Association annual homeschool convention. Programming note: We'll be off on Monday, back in your inboxes on Tuesday. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... LATEST ON BALLOT INITIATIVES LAWSUIT — 'The fate of a new set of restrictions for Florida ballot initiatives is now in the hands of a federal court judge after a Thursday hearing about a preliminary injunction request,' reports POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian. 'A campaign to put Medicaid expansion before voters in next year's election has sued Secretary of State Cord Byrd over a newly signed law tightening controls for gathering thousands of voter petitions.' PARKS BILL SIGNED AMID OUTRAGE OVER DROPPED LAND SWAP — 'Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a Florida parks bill passed in response to his administration's proposal last year to build golf courses and lodges in state parks,' reports POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie. 'But some environmentalists now say the law should be expanded to include other state conservation properties and address state land swaps after a recent proposal again generated bipartisan opposition.' SOCIAL MEDIA LAWSUIT GOES ON — 'A federal judge has denied Florida's motion to dismiss a lawsuit against a 2021 law punishing social media platforms for alleged censorship of conservatives,' reports Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix. 'U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle of the Northern District of Florida issued an order Thursday denying the state's motions to toss the suit brought by two trade associations representing social media giants and to compel those companies to turn over information about their internal policies.' ENERGY EFFICIENCY — Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson on Thursday announced $5 million in grants to improve energy efficiency at public water and wastewater plants in rural counties. 'These are smart, conservative investments that deliver real results for Florida taxpayers,' Simpson said in the announcement. The nine grants of up to $750,000 were available only for plants in Florida's designated fiscally constrained counties. Department officials when asked did not identify the revenue source for the grants. — Bruce Ritchie WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE? — A downtown Tallahassee hotel that is closed to the public has become an exclusive retreat for Gov. Ron DeSantis' closest allies and top advisers, reports Ana Ceballos, Alexandria Glorioso and Lawrence Mower of the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times. HARDING'S REQUEST — Former state Rep. JOSEPH HARDING asked a federal judge to end his two-year probation early, reports Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. He said 'the probation is limiting professional opportunities' and his probation officer backed his request given Harding's 'lack of a prior criminal record.' Harding was imprisoned after prosecutors indicted him for 'wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements after facing charges related to obtaining COVID relief funds.' — 'Unfinished state budget makes it hard for Florida public schools to plan,' by Central Florida Public Media's Danielle Prieur. — 'Owners of 'dangerous' dogs will need $100,000 liability insurance under newly signed law,' by Florida Phoenix's Jackie Llanos. DATELINE D.C. ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER — President Donald Trump salvaged votes for his 'big beautiful bill' by reversing a plan to extend an oil export license for Chevron in Venezuela, reports Axios' Marc Caputo. Three Miami Republicans who are critics of the regime of Nicolas Maduro were 'blindsided' when it was announced a day earlier that Chevron's license would be extended 60 days. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, announced late Wednesday that the license would expire as scheduled. RUBIO'S LOSS — 'Mauricio Claver-Carone, the Cuba and Venezuela hardliner tapped as special envoy for Latin America, will leave his position by the end of May, leaving Secretary of State Marco Rubio with some policy wins but without an important ally to navigate the Trump administration,' reports Nora Gámez Torres of the Miami Herald. — 'Florida Republicans & Democrats give initial spin after U.S. House passes Trump tax bill,' by the Florida Phoenix's Mitch Perry. — 'Moskowitz, expert in disaster management, warns FEMA 'is going to fail' during hurricane season,' by The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man. — 'Randy Fine suggests atomic bombs for Gaza after killings in D.C.,' by the Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello. PENINSULA AND BEYOND PUSHING BACK — Trustees at the University of Florida are defending Santa Ono, the lone finalist for the post of president at the University of Florida, reports Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics. Ono is angering some conservatives, but trustees sent out an email on Thursday designed to rebut criticism that Ono is too liberal to lead the school. DEPORTATIONS HAPPENING FASTER — 'Between fiscal years 2019 and 2023, under both the Trump and Biden administrations, the U.S. deported a total of 3,256 Venezuelans — averaging just 651 per year — according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 2024 annual report, which ranked Venezuela among the top 10 countries of origin for deportees,' reports Verónica Egui Brito of The Miami Herald. 'In stark contrast, nearly the same number — 3,078 Venezuelans — have been deported in just the past four months alone.' — 'FIU police chief pledges no racial profiling under pending deal to help ICE,' by The Miami Herald's Clara-Sophia Daly. — 'Florida's pandemic housing boom is over. Are we headed toward a crash?' by the Tampa Bay Times' Rebecca Liebson. — 'Nearly half of Pinellas, Hillsborough households can't afford basic expenses,' by Axios' Kathryn Varn. — 'New College alumni threaten to sue for clarity on donations,' by the Tampa Bay Times' Ian Hodgson. ...HURRICANE HOLE... GEAR UP FOR ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON — 'Federal forecasters on Thursday predicted the United States would most likely experience an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season that could yield up to 19 named storms and five major hurricanes,' reports POLITICO's Zack Colman. 'The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projected a 60 percent chance of exceeding the average 14 named storms for the season that runs June 1 through Nov. 30. NOAA officials said reduced trade winds and higher ocean temperatures that provide more fuel for cyclones will boost the likelihood of storms this season. Climate change also has contributed to heavier rainfall events that make hurricanes more destructive, National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said.' CAMPAIGN MODE 'A HORRIBLE MESSAGE' — The Democratic National Committee is going to vote via electronic ballot on whether to redo the election of two vice chair positions, including a post now held by David Hogg, reports POLITICO's Elena Schneider. Hogg, a gun safety activist from Florida, has ignited controversy with his pledge to challenge 'asleep at the wheel' Democrats. He said a move to redo this election 'truly just sends a horrible message.' 'WORSE THAN WATERGATE' — Gubernatorial candidate Rep. BYRON DONALDS (R-Fla.) called for investigations into former President JOE BIDEN and his administration during an appearance on 'Varney & Co.,' reports A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics. 'If Joe Biden could not execute the duties of his office, then why are we living under a lot of the decisions … made by the Biden White House? So there's a lot of investigations that need to occur on this matter,' Donalds said. 'This is a major scandal, in my view, the biggest one in presidential history. We can now put Watergate to bed because the autopen is now in front of us.' — 'Byron Donalds says he supports repealing Florida's red-flag law,' by Florida Phoenix's Mitch Perry. DAVEY SLAMS SALAZAR'S VOTE FOR 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' — MIKE DAVEY, a Democratic candidate running for Rep. MARÍA ELVIRA SALAZAR's (R-Fla.) seat in Congress, blasted her for supporting Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' after it passed with one vote, calling her vote 'a slap in the face to every working family in our District who is struggling with rising costs and a rigged economy, and facing the consequences from Trump's reckless tariffs.' 'While corporations and the wealthy receive handouts, vital services for hardworking families will be decimated, and their tax burdens will skyrocket,' he continued. 'This is not a plan for economic growth; it's a recipe for disaster for our District.' He said he would make her vote a focal point during his campaign, which the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considers a competitive race. Salazar's seat is on the DCCC's '2026 offensive target list' to flip, which also includes the seats of Reps. CORY MILLS (R-Fla.) and ANNA PAULINA LUNA (R-Fla.). — Isa Domínguez — 'Political dynasties battle behind the scenes in Miami special election,' by The Miami Herald's Tess Riski. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez … Alvin Malnik, American businessman and attorney … Deputy Communications Director with Progress Florida Cheyenne Drews … (Saturday) POLITICO Florida's Isa Domínguez … Rob Johnson with the Mayernick Group … (Monday) Former Rep. Rich Nugent … Law professor Ben Cavataro.
Politico
21-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
Florida's property tax revolution off to slow start
Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. For months now Gov. RON DESANTIS has been talking about the need to give homeowners relief on property taxes. It's gotten plenty of coverage from media outlets and led to much online banter. There's also been finger-pointing between the governor and House Speaker DANIEL PEREZ because of how it plays into the ongoing stalemate over tax cuts and the budget that has paralyzed the Legislature. Here's the bottom line though: There is no master plan yet. And there are no firm details. It's also highly unlikely — despite some speculation — that Florida will eliminate all property taxes. The governor has offered some general concepts — including suggesting a sizable $1,000 rebate this year to homeowners who are eligible for a homestead exemption (which shields part of the value of their home from taxes.) But he hasn't rolled out his own legislation, something he and his staff have done on countless other topics. DeSantis has continued to question how much money local governments are spending. And during a Tampa event on Tuesday, DeSantis again touted the idea that Florida residents with a homestead exemption should not pay taxes at all. 'To say that you buy a home and then every year for the rest of your life they're just going to keep sending you a bill … that's not the American way,' said DeSantis. The governor on Tuesday also posted a lengthy discussion on social media with state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, during which he again mentioned wiping out taxes for those with homestead exemption and said it would only cost the state $300 million to assist small and rural counties with the cost of such of a move. The state Senate this spring called for an in-depth study of potential impacts, but that idea has gone nowhere amid the budget dust-up. Perez did create a select committee, but that panel has just started its work. DeSantis has already called the committee a 'dog and pony' show and suggested its real goal is to undermine the push to cut property taxes. And when the committee asked DeSantis to come testify, he brushed that aside and said 'that's not the role of the chief executive.' Any major changes on how property taxes are charged and collected would need to go to voters, which could be done during the November 2026 elections. But if lawmakers really, really wanted it sooner, they could decide to hold a special election. Back in 2007 the Republican-controlled Legislature also passed a bill that forced local governments to roll back their tax rates. Through it all, Florida continues to have an affordability crisis and signs point to it being a major issue for next year's elections. How long before frustration in this arena prompts decisive action? And who is supposed to take the lead? Former Lt. Gov. CARLOS LOPEZ-CANTERA, a former state legislator and former Miami-Dade property appraiser involved in the last big property tax overhaul effort nearly 20 years ago, said lots of ideas were in the works at the time. But in the end, he said then-GOV. CHARLIE CRIST 'took the oxygen out of the room.' 'He wanted a bumper sticker approach but he had the biggest microphone,' Lopez-Cantera recalled. Crist's big idea was to create a way for people to transfer or 'port' their tax savings from their old home to a new home since people with a homestead exemption have a cap on how much the value of their home can increase each year. Lopez-Cantera suggested that if DeSantis came out with his own detailed proposal now, 'that would be the defining moment' that many legislators would follow. Senate President BEN ALBRITTON previously suggested a methodical deliberative approach to property taxes, noting the complexity of how cuts would impact cities, counties and school districts. KATIE BETTA, a spokesperson for Albritton, says that chamber still has an 'all of the above' approach about how to get a final product. She added that 'if the governor has any ideas, the president would be open to those as well.' Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... THE DESANTIS HOUR — Is Gov. Ron DeSantis moving more firmly into podcast host territory? For the second time in recent weeks, the governor sat down for an extended conversation with a political ally and posted it on social media. DeSantis on Tuesday evening dropped an hourlong chat with state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia and discussed many of his usual suspects in talking points, including immigration and his push for congressional term limits. But he and Ingoglia also veered into a conversation about sports, including how DeSantis isn't too keen on the transfer portal in college sports. DeSantis also revealed he's having commemorative bats made out of the huge oak tree that used to be in front of the governor's mansion and which was split in half due to Hurricane Idalia. The governor predicted the University of Florida may beat the University of Georgia this year and speculated on whether the Gators can win up to 10 games this upcoming season. He was a tad more skeptical about the prospects of Florida State University. WHAT LAND PROPOSAL — 'While Gov. Ron DeSantis sidestepped the issue, state Rep. Kim Kendall said Tuesday she will work to close 'loopholes' in state law that allowed a proposed land swap in St. Johns County to proceed within less than a week's notice,' reports POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie. 'DeSantis, during a press conference in Tampa, deflected a question about the proposal, which was supported by the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of State Lands.' NO DEFENSE FOR THIS STATE LAW — DeSantis said during a press conference Tuesday he supports Florida Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER's position to remain on the sidelines in the legal battle over a Florida law passed in the aftermath of the Parkland massacre. The National Rifle Association challenged the part of the law that bans the sale of rifles to adults under 21 years old and recently appealed the case up to the U.S. Supreme Court. Although the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the constitutionality of the ban earlier this year, DeSantis said he considers the law to be unconstitutional. Most GOP members of the Florida House agree. During this year's legislative session, the House passed a bill to repeal the ban for the third time, but it ultimately failed to move in the Senate. Senate President BEN ALBRITTON declared the legislation 'dead' in late April. Despite opposition from his predecessor, Sen. RICK SCOTT (R-Fla.), who told POLITICO it was a 'good bill' in the aftermath of the Florida State University shooting, DeSantis has continued to advocate for the repeal of the law. 'I understand why [the Legislature] did it because it was an emotional time, but I don't think that that's consistent with the state Constitution,' the governor added. — Isa Domínguez — 'Pride lights no longer allowed on Florida bridges, and most other colors too,' by Sharon Kennedy Wynne of the Tampa Bay Times. — 'Gov. DeSantis signs legislation allowing digital record-keeping in Florida pawn shops,' by Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. — 'Proposed law now awaiting governor's approval could make planning harder for local governments,' by Central Florida Public Media's Molly Duerig. — 'Pasco-Hernando State College picks DeSantis ally as interim president,' by Ian Hodgson of the Tampa Bay Times. PENINSULA AND BEYOND BEAR HUNT DEBATE — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans to consider approving black bear hunting later this year at their meeting in Ocala. Bear hunting opponents are calling on the panel to delay a decision. The last bear hunt in 2015 led to protests across the state and was cut short after the first weekend, when 304 bears were killed. At a meeting last December, commissioners received a briefing on the status of the bear population and asked agency staff to return in May with hunting options. Final rules for a hunt could be approved in August. Agency staff describe the Florida black bear as a conservation 'success story' with more than 4,000 now compared to about 300 in 1974. In a memo, staff said it 'is important to balance species numbers with suitable habitat and maintain a healthy population.' Some opponents say people are moving into bear habitat and creating nuisance encounters. They say a hunt should not be held until a thorough population study is completed. The commission agenda says the discussion could be postponed until Thursday or until a later date. Public comment will be limited to two hours. The Florida Channel will livestream the meeting. — Bruce Ritchie STATEWIDE TOUR LAUNCH — The progressive group Equal Ground announced a statewide legislative debrief tour to point out the Legislature's failure to pass a budget on time or pass legislation the organization contends would protect citizens' constitutional rights. The group will make 15 stops starting in June until August. 'Florida lawmakers have once again failed to address the pressing needs of Floridians, instead allowing in-fighting to derail the 2025 Legislative Session and using their power to silence Florida voters by attacking the citizen-led ballot initiative process,' Executive Director GENESIS ROBINSON said. — Isa Domínguez — 'These school cops in Florida ordered to help ICE arrest immigrants, records show,' by The 74's Mark Keierleber. — 'Attorneys battling over shielding 2 plaintiffs' names in case over Florida's immigration law,' by Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida. — 'New salmonella outbreak tied to same Florida grower with tainted cucumbers last year,' by JoNel Aleccia of the Associated Press. CAMPAIGN MODE GETTING CROWDED? Republican state Sen. Jay Collins is considering a run for governor in 2026, reports Javier Manjarres of The Floridian. 'Sen. Collins, who supports President Trump and is also a staunch ally of Governor Ron DeSantis, has been testing the waters and has spoken to several donors and supporters of both Rep. Donalds and Governor Ron DeSantis about the job.' — 'Casey DeSantis in no hurry to launch run for Governor, says people are 'tired of politics,'' by A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics. DATELINE D.C. WELCOME BACK — Secretary of State and former Sen. Marco Rubio got quite the homecoming on Capitol Hill, where he clashed with Democrats who just a few months ago supported his nomination for the post, reports Abigail Hauslohner and Adam Taylor of the Washington Post. Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he regretted voting to confirm him, while Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen said, 'I don't recognize you.' AND ON DOGE CUTS — Rubio defended 'decisions including major budget cuts and the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing,' a committee which he was once a part of, reports NPR's Michele Kelemen. — 'Congressional Democrats push Trump to restore $2.5B in public health grants,' by Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix. WHO WILL SHAPE FEMA — The Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council met for the first time on Tuesday, 'with the future of the nation's disaster agency on the line,' reports E&E News' Thomas Frank. Among the people who will 'shape the agency's future' are some notable Floridians, including Tampa Mayor JANE CASTOR, Miami-Dade County Sheriff ROSIE CORDERO-STUTZ and Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director KEVIN GUTHRIE. — 'US set to extend Chevron Venezuela waiver by another 60 days,' reports Bloomberg news. TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP MAR-A-LAGONE FOR THE SEASON — 'With Mar-a-Lago's club closed for the season, it appears President Donald Trump is beginning to make his annual summer sojourns to his property in New Jersey,' reports Palm Beach Daily News' Kristina Webb. 'Trump will be at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, from May 23-25, according to a notice posted by the Federal Aviation Administration that said presidential-level temporary flight restrictions are forthcoming for that area.' ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN — 'Travis Kelce is officially a Florida man. What we know about his current situation,' by Madeleine Marr of the Miami Herald. BIRTHDAYS: Former Sen. George LeMieux … Former Rep. and Florida House Speaker Tom Feeney.
Politico
08-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
Priming the pump on property taxes
Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Gov. RON DESANTIS and the Republican Party of Florida are priming the electorate early on the issue of property taxes. Having toughened restrictions on citizen-led ballot efforts, the governor and fellow Republicans are doing everything they can to build success for a yet-to-be-agreed-upon property tax cut initiative. While DeSantis is feuding with state House Speaker DANIEL PEREZ over what direction to go on lowering the tax, he's also floating the idea to voters through his many public appearances — in which he often brings up property taxes no matter what the announced topic of the day is. He and other proponents of cutting property taxes say local governments' budgets have swelled in recent years as property values have gone up. 'We are headed into a property tax revolt,' state Sen. BLAISE INGOGLIA (R-Spring Hill) said about the issue during a roundtable in Tampa on Wednesday. DeSantis is using the megaphone of his office before any major outside force has created opposition around the issue. Plenty of concerns voiced by members of both parties surround the idea of reducing or outright killing property taxes: What would it do to school budgets? How would cities and counties pay for public safety? Would they just raise sales taxes? But as of now, there isn't a voice bigger than the governor's telling voters to start thinking about the ramifications. Though no other state has successfully abolished the tax amid opposition from teachers' unions and business groups, DeSantis is getting a head start on messaging. On top of that, the Republican Party of Florida has been taking up the governor's cause, running with the idea that the 2026 election will put some type of proposal to reduce property taxes before voters, even though it's still unclear what exactly that will look like. (Perez has said he agrees they should be lowered but tasked members to study it and come up with a detailed plan.) 'The governor used the bully pulpit that he has to really highlight the issue,' said EVAN POWER, Republican Party of Florida chair. 'That makes people think about it a little bit more.' RPOF is boosting messaging around property taxes with its own campaign called the 'Rollback Rate.' Florida Republicans want their volunteers to pressure city and county commissioners to adopt the 'rollback rate,' meaning the rate that would generate the same revenue as the previous year (new construction not included) and keep homeowners' tax bill the same even if their property values have risen. RPOF already sent out fundraising emails about the push this week. Power said the goal is for the party to be able to say it delivered on lower property taxes this year. A 2026 amendment on property taxes, if passed, wouldn't take effect until 2027. At least one city councilmember, TERRANCE FREEMAN of Jacksonville, has said publicly he's up for it. (Freeman is considering a bid for the state House, Florida Politics reported.) Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... VETO INCOMING — 'DeSantis suggested Wednesday that he would veto a major sales tax cut being shaped by the Florida Legislature, a move that threatens to disrupt ongoing budget negotiations between legislative leaders,' reports POLITICO's Gary Fineout. 'Late last week, state Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez announced a 'framework' on the budget that includes a $2.8 billion cut in taxes, with the largest part tied to a permanent reduction in the sales tax rate. The two leaders last week didn't specify the actual rate change, but DeSantis said it would reduce the rate from 6 percent to 5.75 percent. 'DeSantis ripped into the proposal, saying it would 'kill' efforts to reduce property taxes and repeating his past criticisms that sales tax cuts will benefit out-of-state visitors and tourists over Floridians.' SPRINGS APPEAL — The Florida Springs Council said Wednesday it will appeal an administrative law judge's Monday order backing the state on a rules challenge. Judge GARY EARLY said the rules defining prohibited groundwater pumping that is 'harmful' to springs and rivers 'are not an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority.' The Springs Council said it will file a challenge with the First District Court of Appeal. A department spokesperson said Tuesday the ruling 'affirms DEP's authority to move forward with implementing enforceable criteria that will ensure meaningful protections for Florida's springs.' — Bruce Ritchie TRIAL FIT FOR A JUDGE — Broward Circuit Judge and former Senate Democratic Leader GARY FARMER 'is demanding a trial over charges that he acted so inappropriately from the bench that he should be suspended' in filings to Florida Supreme Court, reports Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics. — 'DeSantis says he'll sign state parks protection bill,' Jim Rosica of USA Today Network — Florida. — 'Advocates claim victory as several anti-LGBTQ bills fail this legislative session,' reports Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — Florida. — 'Low-performing nursing schools could face harsher penalties under this bill,' reports Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix. PENINSULA AND BEYOND DISCOURSE OVER ONO — 'DeSantis said Wednesday he will not intervene in the University of Florida's presidential search as some Republicans — including gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds — call for it to be tanked over lone finalist Santa Ono's past support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'While Donalds suggested UF should 'go back to the drawing board,' DeSantis expressed faith in school trustees picking a president who will follow the state's laws prohibiting DEI. The GOP governor insisted he will 'let the process play out' at UF and touted the top University of Michigan official packing up and moving south.' DONE AND DOGED — 'The National Science Foundation canceled a teaching grant at the University of West Florida this week just one day after the DeSantis administration's DOGE team publicly blasted the spending,' reports Andrew Atterbury. 'The rapid-fire move illustrates the turbulence facing colleges under President Donald Trump's policy changes — and Gov. Ron DeSantis' swift reforms of higher education in Florida. UWF officials confirmed NSF 'did terminate' the $871,000 grant Tuesday, on the heels of scrutiny from DeSantis and other state officials who targeted its 'social justice' component.' — 'Sand Key condo evacuated for 'potential structural issues,' officials say,' by Emily Wunderlich of the Tampa Bay Times. — ''Let's build bridges.' Many Miami Catholics hope conclave continues legacy of Francis,' by Lauren Costantino of the Miami Herald. — 'Mosquito season begins in South Florida. Is climate change making it worse?' by Denise Hruby of the Miami Herald. — 'Disney plans new theme park in Abu Dhabi,' by Wall Street Journal's Ben Fritz and Isabella Simonetti. — 'Hotel workers union launches campaign to highlight 'resort fee ripoff' at Orlando hotels near Disney,' by Orlando Weekly's McKenna Schueler. ...HURRICANE HOLE... STORM FORECAST — 'AccuWeather forecasters are warning the first tropical storm of the year could spin up in May before the official start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season,' reports Cheryl McCloud of USA Today Network — Florida. Fifteen tropical cyclones 'have formed before June 1' since 2003. TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP ANOTHER FLORIDIAN OUT — 'President Donald Trump plans to withdraw his nominee to be surgeon general just one day before Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat was scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, according to three people familiar with the decision granted anonymity to discuss the matter,' reports POLITICO's David Lim. 'The decision to pull Nesheiwat comes after reports that she obfuscated facts about her medical education. Conservative activist Laura Loomer, who is close to Trump, seized on the controversy in recent days and encouraged him to pick someone else.' ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD — 'It's no secret that President Donald Trump loves gold décor. His Trump Tower penthouse in Manhattan is laced with it, as are many of Mar-a-Lago's most opulent rooms,' reports Andrew Marra of the Palm Beach Post. 'Now Trump is remaking parts of the White House in the same gilded image. And to do so, he is turning to a veteran Jupiter cabinetmaker.' CAMPAIGN MODE 'BUSINESSWOMEN FOR BYRON'— Donalds' gubernatorial campaign 'launched its 'Businesswomen for Byron' coalition,' with Donalds' wife ERIKA DONALDS taking the helm as the coalition's honorary chair, reports Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. 2028 SPECULATION — 'In an interview with NBC News' 'Meet the Press,' Trump suggested national security adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance — in that order — as potential candidates,' reports NBC News' Matt Dixon, Henry J. Gomez and Allan Smith. 'That he mentioned Rubio at all struck a senior White House aide as notable, given that it was the first time Trump had so publicly identified him as a favorable prospect. And the development, while not exactly surprising to anyone aware of Rubio's long-held White House ambitions, quickly injected the elements of competition and rivalry that Trump has long enjoyed fostering among those who work for him.' NOT SO FAST, SHERIFF — Lee County Sheriff CARMINE MARCENO is not only facing a federal corruption investigation while he's considering running for Congress; he may also have to answer to 'insulting and profanity-riddled' audio recordings where he talks about the governor, CASEY DESANTIS and IVANKA TRUMP, reports Bob Norman of the Florida Trident. DATELINE D.C. TODAY — Former Rep. TED YOHO (R-Fla.) will be joining a panel at 10 a.m. at the Hudson Institute in Washington to talk about the importance of the U.S. funding anti-malaria efforts and what could happen to such programs under the Trump administration. Yoho testified on the issue during a House hearing on USAID earlier this year. (Watch the event live.) TEMPORARILY ICED OUT — 'Since Trump's return to Washington, Ballard has established a reputation as perhaps the go-to lobbyist in town,' reports POLITICO's Rachael Bade and Caitlin Oprysko. 'Stories about his firm often note that he once employed White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and Attorney General Pam Bondi. They routinely mention that his relationship with Trump goes back decades. Ballard represented the Trump Organization on and off over the years and he's been a top fundraiser for the president's campaigns. 'His image as a Trump whisperer has allowed his firm to rack up a staggering 130 new clients since the November election, including Chevron, JP Morgan, Palantir, Netflix, Bayer, United Airlines and T-Mobile. In April, POLITICO's parent company, Axel Springer, hired Ballard Partners to engage with the administration. Ballard's firm hauled in $14 million during the first three months of 2025 — more than triple its lobbying revenues from the same time a year ago. 'But there is a chasm between Ballard's reputation and how he's currently perceived in the West Wing.' — 'Pam Bondi makes another claim on the Epstein files. Even Republicans are skeptical,' by David Catanese of McClatchy. — 'Jared Moskowitz introduces bipartisan FEMA reform bills to speed disaster aid deployment,' reports Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: Rep. Vern Buchanan … Journalist Kimberly Moore.
Politico
06-03-2025
- Business
- Politico
Florida's menu of property tax cut options
Presented by Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Gov. RON DESANTIS wants property taxes gone — or reduced, at the very least. State lawmakers started looking at the big picture of what it would take during a state Senate Finance and Tax Committee meeting Wednesday. Some came out of the meeting skeptical and wanting a lot more information, as local governments use property taxes to pay for schools, police officers, firefighters, waste management and many other services. Any cut in funding could impact those services or cause local governments to raise taxes elsewhere. At the same time, lawmakers know the cost of living is crushing residents, so they're looking at other ways to limit Floridians' property tax bills, though they're expected to consider their options and come up with a plan rather than advance multiple measures at the same time. State Sen. BRYAN AVILA (R-Hialeah Gardens), who chairs the Finance and Tax Committee, said during Wednesday's meeting that members would be 'taking time to look at each proposal' that's been introduced. Here's a look at some of the ideas lawmakers are discussing: Increasing the homestead exemption. Legislation from state Sen. BLAISE INGOGLIA (R-Spring Hill) would ask voters to consider raising the homestead exemption. Right now, homeowners can apply to have the first $25,000 of their primary residence's assessed value exempt from property taxes, then the second $25,000 exempted from non-school taxes. Ingoglia wants to raise the cut off to $75,000 and have it indexed every year with inflation, which he estimates would cut taxes by $2.6 billion. He told Playbook the current exemption was 'really not offering any relief,' whereas with his bill, 'as people's homes go up in value, so does their homestead exemption.' He would, however, support going even further. 'We should be as aggressive as we can with the largest property tax cut that we can pass through constitutional amendment,' he said. Going beyond homesteads. A bill in the state House, from Rep. RYAN CHAMBERLIN (R-Belleview), would have a constitutional amendment go before voters asking whether they want to raise property tax exemptions on homes to $100,000. It would apply not just to primary residences, but to all property. Limiting assessments. A couple proposals have been introduced to ensure people don't get taxed more just because their home is worth more after they harden it against storms. Creating carve outs for vulnerable groups. Legislation from state Sen. ANA MARIA RODRIGUEZ (R-Doral) would cap off the assessed value of a homestead property to the amount it was the year a resident turned 65, provided they meet income thresholds. Limiting how much local governments can collect. Another bill from Chamberlin that he's working on with state Sen. JAY COLLINS (R-Tampa) would only allow localities to increase their property tax collections by 2 percent year-over-year. Anything extra that's collected would need to be rebated to residents or used to pay off debt. Increase early-payment tax discounts. Under current Florida law, homeowners get a discount if they pay their taxes earlier than their due date of March 31. The property tax discounts are tiered by month, with people getting a 4 percent reduction if they pay their taxes in November and others getting a 1 percent discount when they pay in February. State Sen. KATHLEEN PASSIDOMO (R-Naples), urged her colleagues during Wednesday's committee hearing to 'start being more creative' with ideas for tackling the issue, floating higher discounts when taxes are paid early as a possibility of what might be considered. Start with a study. Lawmakers could also decide to punt the decision until they learn more. State Sen. JONATHAN MARTIN (R-Fort Myers) and Chamberlin filed legislation to have state officials estimate what could replace the property tax under a full repeal. — Gary Fineout contributed. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... EYES EMOJI — Another sign of a gubernatorial run ahead? State Sen. DANNY BURGESS (R-Zephyrhills) introduced two bills on Hope Florida — the initiative led by Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS. One would move the program under the jurisdiction of the governor's office and the other would exempt personal identifying information of people who participate in Hope Florida from public records. MANDATE PROTECTIONS — 'DeSantis on Wednesday called on Florida lawmakers to make a series of pandemic-era medical protections meant to block federal Covid-19 vaccine mandates permanent, as state health officials scramble to address a potential measles outbreak in Miami-Dade County,' reports POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian. 'The protections are due to expire in June, and legislation sought by the Florida Department of Health in this year's session seeks to make them permanent. DeSantis said during a news conference in Tampa that although the pandemic has died down since the Legislature first approved the protections in 2021, he cannot predict future crises.' CORPORATE SHOWDOWN — 'Fresh off a newly minted lawsuit against Target, the state's massive pension fund is preparing to be more aggressive about suing companies and corporations over everything from actions deemed detrimental to shareholders to corporate governance,' reports POLITICO's Gary Fineout. 'DeSantis and the two other trustees who oversee the roughly $200 billion Florida Retirement System on Wednesday agreed to set aside $20 million for a litigation fund to hire law firms to represent the state in securities-related lawsuits against businesses. 'The move came after another vote to officially ratify last month's Target lawsuit, which alleges the retailer misled investors and created a backlash over an LGBTQ marketing campaign.' DOGE IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS — 'State lawmakers have Florida's public universities in their sights as they — and DeSantis — look to scale back spending with their own DOGE-style efforts,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'The state House, on the Legislature's opening day, began probing university expenses by scrutinizing costs racked up by former University of Florida President and Sen. Ben Sasse, alongside other schools that were questioned in state audits.' FLORIDA CRYSTALS LAWSUIT — The Clarkson Law Firm on Wednesday filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court in California against Florida Crystals, one of the state's top sugar producers, over burning sugar cane as part of its harvest practices. The lawsuit claims Florida Crystals and the Fanjul Corp. violate consumer laws by stating their products are earth-friendly despite pollution from burning. In response, Florida Crystals told POLITICO it is the only sugar grower in the United States whose products are certified 'regenerative' organic, meaning they conserve soil, biodiversity and water. — Bruce Ritchie — 'Democrats see Republican leaders in Legislature borrowing a lot of their ideas,' reports Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. — 'Florida's demand for immigration aid surges amid policy changes,' reports Juan Carlos Chavez of the Tampa Bay Times. — 'Florida groups call for clarity on immigration enforcement at schools,' by Central Florida Public Media's Danielle Prieur. — 'Florida's undocumented students could be banned from most public universities,' by Central Florida Public Media's Danielle Prieur. — 'Civil, voting rights groups condemn DeSantis' push to restrict ballot initiatives,' by Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix. CAMPAIGN MODE FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Democrat JOSH WEIL, a progressive congressional candidate in the 6th District, is out today with his first TV ad of the season. Weil is running against President DONALD TRUMP-endorsed state Sen. RANDY FINE (R-Melbourne) for the deep-red district's seat, which opened up after Rep. MIKE WALTZ became national security adviser. The 30-second ad describes Weil as 'one bad-ass candidate.' The spot shows Weil, who's a teacher, with his students and sons. 'I'm not a career politician. I'm a math teacher, and I know the numbers aren't adding up for Florida families,' Weil says in the ad, in which he promises to help lower grocery costs and protect Social Security. It's a $250,000 spot running through March 12 on broadcast, cable and digital channels, per spokesperson JOE CAIAZZO. The general election is April 1. UTHMEIER CHALLENGER? — 'In a hypothetical primary matchup against Attorney General James Uthmeier, [Matt] Gaetz was favored 39 percent to 21 percent, according to a recent survey of likely Republican voters by Tony Fabrizio, one of the nation's top pollsters who works for Trump and several GOP clients,' reports Axios' Marc Caputo. Gaetz is considering running but 'a race against Uthmeier would be no slam dunk for Gaetz. Fabrizio's poll found 40 percent of GOP voters were undecided.' PROPOSAL ON TERM LIMITS — 'In November, as Miami residents vote on a new mayor and city commissioners, they could also weigh in on a proposal to create lifetime term limits for elected officials — a major shakeup to a system that currently allows elected officials to, under the right circumstances, spend decades in City Hall,' reports Tess Riski of the Miami Herald. PENINSULA AND BEYOND FSU ERASES DEI — 'Florida State University is taking a deep dive into its websites, scrubbing them of keywords, according to a list that includes the terms 'women,' 'diverse,' 'systemic' and 'cultural relevance,'' reports Tarah Jean of the Tallahassee Democrat. Whether this list came from the government or university is unclear. BROWARD RESPONDS TO DOGE PUSH — DeSantis wants to DOGE local governments like Broward County, which he claims has had a 82 percent increase in its budget, reports Lisa J. Huriash of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The county spokesman said it is 'not clear how the 82 percent figure was derived,' given general government services 'have increased by 39 percent' in the last five years, 'or less than 8 percent each year.' These services fund 'the provision of public safety, constitutional officers, and other traditional government services.' ICE PARTNERSHIP — 'Miami-Dade County jails could soon be handing out deportation orders to inmates under an agreement required under Florida law that won formal approval this week,' reports the Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks. — 'In Key West, testing shows cruise ships stir up as much sediment as a hurricane,' by NPR's Greg Allen. DATELINE D.C. TRUMP'S SENATE FIXER — When it comes to bringing Trump's agenda to the Senate, Sen. RICK SCOTT (R-Fla.) has become a key 'liaison in Congress,' reports Axios' Marc Caputo. 'In a sign of Scott's influence, he brought Elon Musk on Wednesday to the weekly closed-door lunches with Republican senators at the conference's steering committee, which Scott chairs.' NATURAL PARK FIRINGS — More than 750 U.S. natural park employees have lost their jobs in the wave of federal layoffs the Trump administration has ordered, reports Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick. Florida's Everglades National Park is among those affected, losing 15 workers. — 'Byron Donalds backs James Uthmeier's probe of Andrew and Tristan Tate,' by A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics. TRANSITION TIME — KRISTIN QUIRK has joined the Republican Party of Florida as a fundraising specialist, reports Florida Politics. She previously worked as the director of membership and partnership at the Florida Senior Living Association and served in positions in the state Senate and Florida House Majority office. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN — 'Thief in Florida swallows stolen Tiffany diamond earrings worth $770,000,' per the Tampa Bay Times. BIRTHDAYS: Juan Alfonso Fernandez-Barquin, clerk of the courts of Miami-Dade County ... state Rep. Taylor Yarkosky.
