Latest news with #RepublicanPartyofFlorida
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Republican Party of Florida joins ballot initiative lawsuit in federal court
The Joseph Woodrow Hatchett U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Tallahassee, Sept. 27, 2022. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix) A federal court has given the Republican Party of Florida the green light to intervene in the legal challenge to Florida's recently enacted law (HB 1205) overhauling the processes used to collect signatures for ballot initiatives. 'We're pleased the court has recognized our stake in defending Florida's election integrity laws. This is an important first step in securing transparency, accountability, and the millions of Floridians,' Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power said in a prepared release. 'We will continue fighting to protect the integrity of Florida's ballot and ensure voters are informed and confident in the process.' Florida Decides Healthcare and Smart & Safe Florida have challenged the new law — which was a top priority for Gov. Ron DeSantis — on ground that it violates their rights to free speech and due process. Florida Decides is working to put before the voters in November 2026 a proposed constitutional amendment to expand Medicaid to lower income childless adults, as allowed under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Smart & Safe Florida wants to put an amendment to legalize marijuana for adults on the ballot in November 2026. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker listened to about three hours of testimony late last week on Florida Decides' and Smart & Safe Florida's request that he block certain provisions of the law while the legal challenge moves ahead — including a requirement that sponsors turn in completed petitions within 10 days after the voter signs the petition, as well as stepped up fines and criminal penalties. Florida legislators passed the law after citizens' initiatives to allow abortion and recreational pot nearly passed last November. Critics contend that the new law — with all of its restrictions on groups and who can collect signatures — will make it nearly impossible for outside organizations to ever place an initiative on the ballot in the future. Supporters argue the law targets fraud in the initiative process. It's the first legal skirmish over Florida's new ballot initiative restrictions In court hearing, attorneys debate palatability of new restrictions on citizens' initiatives
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.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In Trump's DC, K Street clamors for Florida-linked lobbyists
A coveted resume bullet point for lobbyists is eclipsing all others at the beginning of Donald Trump's second term: a Florida zip code. The president snapped up a bevy of top officials from his adopted home state, from chief of staff Susie Wiles to Attorney General Pam Bondi. And he continues to spend plenty of time in Florida — making appearances at galas, hosting Republicans at Mar-a-Lago and signing executive orders. That means powerful interest groups, from giant corporations to foreign interests, are flocking to the power brokers who know the Florida-centric administration best, eager for influence in the orbit of a president who's starting his second term in a far more popular place than his first — but who still remains as unpredictable as ever. Florida firms are opening offices in Washington. Washington firms are opening up in Florida. Others are tag teaming. And the race is on for new clients and hiring up top, well-connected lobbyists. Because the state legislative session in Tallahassee lasts only 60 days, some lobbyists say adding work in Washington is easy enough to juggle. 'Everybody's getting an offer from a lobbying firm up here that's trying to make the Florida connection,' said prominent Tallahassee attorney and lobbyist Dave Ramba, speaking to POLITICO in Washington during a sold-out Republican Party of Florida inauguration gala. 'Anybody that's got 10, 15, 20 years in Florida politics,' he added, 'their Rolodex is already filled.' Florida seems to be everywhere in Trump's Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who represented Florida in the Senate for 14 years, and national security adviser Mike Waltz, who represented a district in northeast Florida for six years, have already been busy at work on crises in the Middle East and Ukraine. After years of getting shut out of power on Capitol Hill, key House committees now have Florida Republicans at the helm, including Rep. Brian Mast at Foreign Affairs and Mario Díaz-Balart serving as vice chair of Appropriations. A group of people close to Trump have landed at Continental Strategy, which has been in D.C. for four years and was founded by Carlos Trujillo, a 2024 campaign surrogate who was ambassador to the Organization of American States during Trump's first term. Some of the firm's most well-connected employees are Alex Garcia, a partner who was the Trump campaign's deputy political director and coalitions director, and Lauren DeHooghe, a policy associate who was political coordinator for Trump in battleground Michigan. The firm also promoted Wiles' daughter, Katie Wiles, to director in the days after Trump's victory and brought on Alberto Martinez, former Rubio chief of staff, as a managing partner. Its strategic counselor Chris Kise and general counsel Jesús Suárez — who was election integrity counsel for the campaign — represented Trump in legal proceedings. Trujillo said Trump is viewed as the 'hottest ticket in town.' 'It's really the roller coaster of politics,' Trujillo said. 'Some people stay on for the entire ride — others jump off. For us, we never left.' Since the election, Continental has signed on at least 16 federal lobbying clients including Google Cloud and Centene, the U.S.'s largest Medicaid managed care company. Additional clients haven't posted on the lobbying disclosure database yet, and the firm also says it signed numerous public affairs and crisis communications clients. Trujillo said he expects to end the year among the top 10 lobbying firms in terms of revenue, citing Continental's connections not only to top officials, but also people who work in mid-level roles — relationships he said were crucial to navigating government bureaucracy. 'A lot of firms have great access to individuals,' Trujillo said. 'We have great access, but we also have an exceptional understanding of the process … and the process of how the Trump administration actually works.' Among the other top benefactors of the incoming administration is Ballard Partners. No longer the new kid on K Street, the firm has now been in Washington since the first Trump administration, and founder Brian Ballard is a longtime Trump friend and fundraiser. It also counts top officials among its alums: Wiles, Bondi and Trent Morse, deputy director of the White House's Presidential Personnel Office responsible for recommending political appointees. 'It's the first time we have had a president elected from the state of Florida,' said Justin Sayfie, a partner at Ballard who works out of Washington and Miami. 'That means that there are a number of Floridians who are serving in the administration, and that means that firms with Florida ties can be helpful in the new environment in Washington.' The firm has brought on almost 60 new federal lobbying clients since the election, including oil giant Chevron, The Walt Disney Co. and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, an aerospace company and rival to Elon Musk's SpaceX. Florida firm Rubin, Turnbull & Associates is also opening an office in Washington and hired Caroline Wiles, another daughter to the chief of staff who worked on the Trump campaign, as vice president of federal affairs. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, the top-earning lobbying firm in DC, has additionally opened an office in Florida. Lobbyists and their clients see policy issues that have been big in Florida cropping up nationally. Trump aims to end diversity, equity and inclusion in government hiring practices? So does Florida. Trump wants to ban transgender athletes from women and girls' sports? Happened in Florida almost four years ago. 'It's been said that, where Florida goes, the rest of the country goes, whether it's politics or policy,' said Rachel Cone, senior managing partner at the Southern Group. 'So I think it is fair to assume that — especially with a lot of the leadership transitioning to D.C. — Florida policies or ways of doing things here might also transition with them. As Florida's largest lobbying firm, we are well-positioned to help translate Florida-born policies to businesses who may be encountering them at the federal level.' The Southern Group opened its federal lobbying arm, TSG Advocates, in Washington this year, hiring three lobbyists with more expected. It's closing on a townhouse on the northeast side of Capitol Hill, behind the Supreme Court, with Cone saying the firm's building a strategy for 'the next 100 years.' Lobbyists said clients are excited about potential new business but that there's also uncertainty given the slashing and firing of the federal workforce under Musk's DOGE. Countries want help negotiating trade deals and have questions about Trump flirting with acquiring Greenland and taking back the Panama Canal. 'There are countries out there that are really excited about this White House, because they see the president as a deal maker, and they want to get in on that action,' said Chase Kroll, founding partner of TSG Advocates who has congressional expertise after working in D.C. for 15 years. He called the firm's Florida connections 'highly marketable' with 'a lot of clients coming in' and recruits wanting to join the firm. 'It's incredible,' Kroll said of the relationships. 'It's sort of obnoxious to do the name-dropping game, but you know who all the people are from Florida who run the White House, run State … All of these things are just lining up for us to help clients.' Numerous firms partied it up in D.C. on inauguration weekend. Continental had a 'Florida 47' party at the Jefferson, which included guests like Rubio, Wiles, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), multiple ambassador nominees and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Ballard rented out Mastro's Steakhouse and drew Rubio and other top officials. BGR Group had an inauguration lunch for clients at the Hay Adams and held a nighttime reception at Georgetown hotspot Cafe Milano. The Southern Group's party, hosted at client Siemens' offices, likewise included numerous ambassadors and Florida legislators as well as Diaz-Balart and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.). 'The snow was coming down as we were having a good time,' Cone said. 'They had these big glass walls in their offices, so you could get a really good view of it. For Floridians, that was kind of a unique experience.' (Just days later, in perhaps a natural sign of the new D.C. connections, those Floridians would see a rare snowstorm blanketing Tallahassee.) Capital City Consulting owner and founder Nick Iarossi — who is based in Tallahassee and just expanded into Washington as managing director of BGR Group — said last week he was sitting in the lobby of the West Wing with clients ahead of meetings and bumped into several senior officials from Florida, including Bondi. 'It was almost like you picked up Florida and placed it in the White House,' he said, adding that it was a 'wild' experience but also that Florida was 'getting its due.' 'For a long time, we've been the really large state that was generally ignored in Washington from a power structure perspective,' he said, 'and now it's like we took all the years that we were the stepchild in Washington, D.C. and all at once snapped the pendulum back in a way that now we are, as a state, by far the nucleus of power.' Kimberly Leonard reported from Washington and Miami.
Politico
20-02-2025
- Business
- Politico
In Trump's DC, K Street clamors for Florida-linked lobbyists
A coveted resume bullet point for lobbyists is eclipsing all others at the beginning of Donald Trump's second term: a Florida zip code. The president snapped up a bevy of top officials from his adopted home state, from chief of staff Susie Wiles to Attorney General Pam Bondi. And he continues to spend plenty of time in Florida — making appearances at galas, hosting Republicans at Mar-a-Lago and signing executive orders. That means powerful interest groups, from giant corporations to foreign interests, are flocking to the power brokers who know the Florida-centric administration best, eager for influence in the orbit of a president who's starting his second term in a far more popular place than his first — but who still remains as unpredictable as ever. Florida firms are opening offices in Washington. Washington firms are opening up in Florida. Others are tag teaming. And the race is on for new clients and hiring up top, well-connected lobbyists. Because the state legislative session in Tallahassee lasts only 60 days, some lobbyists say adding work in Washington is easy enough to juggle. 'Everybody's getting an offer from a lobbying firm up here that's trying to make the Florida connection,' said prominent Tallahassee attorney and lobbyist Dave Ramba, speaking to POLITICO in Washington during a sold-out Republican Party of Florida inauguration gala. 'Anybody that's got 10, 15, 20 years in Florida politics,' he added, 'their Rolodex is already filled.' Florida seems to be everywhere in Trump's Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who represented Florida in the Senate for 14 years, and national security adviser Mike Waltz, who represented a district in northeast Florida for six years, have already been busy at work on crises in the Middle East and Ukraine. After years of getting shut out of power on Capitol Hill, key House committees now have Florida Republicans at the helm, including Rep. Brian Mast at Foreign Affairs and Mario Díaz-Balart serving as vice chair of Appropriations. A group of people close to Trump have landed at Continental Strategy, which has been in D.C. for four years and was founded by Carlos Trujillo, a 2024 campaign surrogate who was ambassador to the Organization of American States during Trump's first term. Some of the firm's most well-connected employees are Alex Garcia, a partner who was the Trump campaign's deputy political director and coalitions director, and Lauren DeHooghe, a policy associate who was political coordinator for Trump in battleground Michigan. The firm also promoted Wiles' daughter, Katie Wiles, to director in the days after Trump's victory and brought on Alberto Martinez, former Rubio chief of staff, as a managing partner. Its strategic counselor Chris Kise and general counsel Jesús Suárez — who was election integrity counsel for the campaign — represented Trump in legal proceedings. Trujillo said Trump is viewed as the 'hottest ticket in town.' 'It's really the roller coaster of politics,' Trujillo said. 'Some people stay on for the entire ride — others jump off. For us, we never left.' Since the election, Continental has signed on at least 16 federal lobbying clients including Google Cloud and Centene, the U.S.'s largest Medicaid managed care company. Additional clients haven't posted on the lobbying disclosure database yet, and the firm also says it signed numerous public affairs and crisis communications clients. Trujillo said he expects to end the year among the top 10 lobbying firms in terms of revenue, citing Continental's connections not only to top officials, but also people who work in mid-level roles — relationships he said were crucial to navigating government bureaucracy. 'A lot of firms have great access to individuals,' Trujillo said. 'We have great access, but we also have an exceptional understanding of the process … and the process of how the Trump administration actually works.' Among the other top benefactors of the incoming administration is Ballard Partners. No longer the new kid on K Street, the firm has now been in Washington since the first Trump administration, and founder Brian Ballard is a longtime Trump friend and fundraiser. It also counts top officials among its alums: Wiles, Bondi and Trent Morse, deputy director of the White House's Presidential Personnel Office responsible for recommending political appointees. 'It's the first time we have had a president elected from the state of Florida,' said Justin Sayfie, a partner at Ballard who works out of Washington and Miami. 'That means that there are a number of Floridians who are serving in the administration, and that means that firms with Florida ties can be helpful in the new environment in Washington.' The firm has brought on almost 60 new federal lobbying clients since the election, including oil giant Chevron, The Walt Disney Co. and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, an aerospace company and rival to Elon Musk's SpaceX. Florida firm Rubin, Turnbull & Associates is also opening an office in Washington and hired Caroline Wiles, another daughter to the chief of staff who worked on the Trump campaign, as vice president of federal affairs. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, the top-earning lobbying firm in DC, has additionally opened an office in Florida. Lobbyists and their clients see policy issues that have been big in Florida cropping up nationally. Trump aims to end diversity, equity and inclusion in government hiring practices? So does Florida. Trump wants to ban transgender athletes from women and girls' sports? Happened in Florida almost four years ago. 'It's been said that, where Florida goes, the rest of the country goes, whether it's politics or policy,' said Rachel Cone, senior managing partner at the Southern Group. 'So I think it is fair to assume that — especially with a lot of the leadership transitioning to D.C. — Florida policies or ways of doing things here might also transition with them. As Florida's largest lobbying firm, we are well-positioned to help translate Florida-born policies to businesses who may be encountering them at the federal level.' The Southern Group opened its federal lobbying arm, TSG Advocates, in Washington this year, hiring three lobbyists with more expected. It's closing on a townhouse on the northeast side of Capitol Hill, behind the Supreme Court, with Cone saying the firm's building a strategy for 'the next 100 years.' Lobbyists said clients are excited about potential new business but that there's also uncertainty given the slashing and firing of the federal workforce under Musk's DOGE. Countries want help negotiating trade deals and have questions about Trump flirting with acquiring Greenland and taking back the Panama Canal. 'There are countries out there that are really excited about this White House, because they see the president as a deal maker, and they want to get in on that action,' said Chase Kroll, founding partner of TSG Advocates who has congressional expertise after working in D.C. for 15 years. He called the firm's Florida connections 'highly marketable' with 'a lot of clients coming in' and recruits wanting to join the firm. 'It's incredible,' Kroll said of the relationships. 'It's sort of obnoxious to do the name-dropping game, but you know who all the people are from Florida who run the White House, run State … All of these things are just lining up for us to help clients.' Numerous firms partied it up in D.C. on inauguration weekend. Continental had a 'Florida 47' party at the Jefferson, which included guests like Rubio, Wiles, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), multiple ambassador nominees and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Ballard rented out Mastro's Steakhouse and drew Rubio and other top officials. BGR Group had an inauguration lunch for clients at the Hay Adams and held a nighttime reception at Georgetown hotspot Cafe Milano. The Southern Group's party, hosted at client Siemens' offices, likewise included numerous ambassadors and Florida legislators as well as Diaz-Balart and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.). 'The snow was coming down as we were having a good time,' Cone said. 'They had these big glass walls in their offices, so you could get a really good view of it. For Floridians, that was kind of a unique experience.' (Just days later, in perhaps a natural sign of the new D.C. connections, those Floridians would see a rare snowstorm blanketing Tallahassee.) Capital City Consulting owner and founder Nick Iarossi — who is based in Tallahassee and just expanded into Washington as managing director of BGR Group — said last week he was sitting in the lobby of the West Wing with clients ahead of meetings and bumped into several senior officials from Florida, including Bondi. 'It was almost like you picked up Florida and placed it in the White House,' he said, adding that it was a 'wild' experience but also that Florida was 'getting its due.' 'For a long time, we've been the really large state that was generally ignored in Washington from a power structure perspective,' he said, 'and now it's like we took all the years that we were the stepchild in Washington, D.C. and all at once snapped the pendulum back in a way that now we are, as a state, by far the nucleus of power.' Kimberly Leonard reported from Washington and Miami.
