| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. Ruckus — The Rick Scott-Mitch McConnell feud is taking some interesting twists and turns of late. Download — POLITICO’s Burgess Everett plugs into the Senate Republican conference to get a feel for how the back-and-forth between the Florida senator and the Senate minority leader is playing out in real-time. Burgess notes that intraparty beefs normally don’t last long but this one, in his words, is “going the distance.” Back and forth — McConnell criticized Scott last week over his “Rescue America” plan, saying it could harm Scott's reelection in 2024 because it calls for a vote on all federal programs every five years. President Joe Biden has used that proposal to suggest to millions of Americans that the GOP will allow Social Security and Medicare to lapse, prompting hisses and groans from Republicans during his State of the Union address. He said, he said — Scott, meanwhile, has contended that McConnell got Scott booted from the Senate Commerce Committee — which McConnell denies — because he unsuccessfully challenged McConnell for minority leader. Scott also last week introduced a bill that would prevent cuts to the two federal programs, a move that appears to be in response to the ongoing criticism. Weighing in — Some of the choice quotes emerging: “Obviously, there’s some friction there,” said Sen. Marco Rubio about the situation between McConnell and Scott. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told Burgess: “He’s a pretty patient guy, but occasionally even Mitch McConnell has a right to stand up for himself. That’s what I think he’s doing.” Wait, there’s more — Also just posted this morning amid all this: POLITICO’s Natalie Allison reports that Club for Growth is endorsing Scott for reelection and handing out a rebuke of McConnell. “Rick Scott has consistently championed small government solutions centered around fiscal responsibility, and because of that he’s faced the unfounded and false attacks of liberal Democrats like President Biden and even establishment Republicans like Leader McConnell,” David McIntosh, president of the Club for Growth, told Natalie. Well then. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com PROGRAMMING NOTE: Florida Playbook will not publish on Monday in observance of President's Day. After the hiatus, we'll be back on Tuesday.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | |  | DATELINE D.C. | | THE NEW NORMAL — McConnell vs. Scott: The Senate beef that won’t die, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett: Rick Scott suspects he was booted from his preferred committee in an act of retribution by Mitch McConnell — after the Florida senator challenged the longtime GOP leader for his post. Scott says he’s figured out a novel strategy to deal with the alleged snub: He’s teaming up with another leading McConnell nemesis, Ted Cruz. “I’m gonna get my stuff done. I work well with Ted Cruz, and he’s the ranking member” on the Senate Commerce Committee, Scott said in an interview. “So I’ll just work with him.” — “Club for Growth endorses Scott and dings McConnell,” by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison — “Is Rick Scott looking to sunset his Senate seat?” by New York Magazine’s Ed Kilgore | 
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) departs a Senate Republican Conference policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 20, 2022. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | | | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | REMEMBRANCE — “Community observes a ‘day of service and love’ five years after Stoneman Douglas shooting,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Spencer Norris, Shira Moolten and Angie DiMichele: “While the wounds remain deep five years later, for some people, time has made them less raw. Two teachers, Felicia Burgin and Cindi Helverson, stopped by a small public commemoration at a garden outside of the school Tuesday morning, at the corner of Holmberg and Pine Island roads. It was the first time either had decided to spend Feb. 14 on campus since the attack.” STILL THERE — “‘Like an eyesore’: Why the Parkland school building still stands, five years after shooting,” by Miami Herald’s Jimena Tavel: “The walls still hold up the ceilings, but they’re pocked with bullet holes. The floors still stand, but they’re stained with pools of dried blood. In terms of infrastructure, Building 12 remains sound, but it haunts thousands who see it every day, knowing that on Valentine’s Day 2018, five years ago, 17 people were murdered in that three-story freshman building — 11 on the first floor, six on the third floor.” THE IMPACT — “After Parkland: What we’ve learned tracking school shootings for 5 years,” by Washington Post’s John Woodrow Cox and Steven Rich: “The number was staggering. In the aftermath of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High massacre on Feb. 14, 2018, my colleague Steven Rich and I reported for the first time how many children in the United States had endured a shooting at a K-12 school since 1999, and the tally was far higher than what we expected: more than 187,000. … Now, just five years later, and despite a pandemic that closed many campuses for nearly a year, the number has exploded, climbing past 338,000.” — “‘The silent toll.’ Five years after the Parkland shootings, trauma still rocks the community ‘every single day,’” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Cindy Krischer Goodman — “Technology, protocols, communication: Safety in South Florida schools since Parkland,” by Miami Herald’s Sommer Brugal and Jimena Tavel — “Manatee County to become a ‘Second Amendment sanctuary’ to combat gun control measures,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Jesse Mendoza — “U.S. Attorney to announce federal charges in Lakeland mass shooting,” by The Ledger’s Sara-Megan Walsh |  Mariana Rocha and her son Jackson Laparl, 6, visit a portrait of Rocha's cousin Joaquin Oliver, right, part of a display of portraits of the 17 students and staff of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who were killed, during a community commemoration on the five-year anniversary of the shooting, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, Fla. Family members, neighbors and well wishers turned out to multiple events Tuesday to honor the lives of those killed on Valentine's Day 2018. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo |
| | DESANTISLAND | | NEXT ROUND — Warren’s fight against DeSantis will head to appeals court, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Suspended prosecutor Andrew Warren, vowing he will “keep fighting” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is taking his legal battle against the state’s Republican governor to a federal appeals court. The former Hillsborough County state attorney on Tuesday filed a notice that he will appeal last month’s decision by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle that called DeSantis’s ouster of the Democratic elected official unconstitutional but stopped short of returning Warren to office. WHAT HAPPENS IN DORAL — “DeSantis got a glowing reception during a secretive, high-profile conservative summit at Trump Doral — then the ex-president called in,” by Insider’s Kimberly Leonard: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis brought a large crowd to its feet during a speech over the weekend to an exclusive, powerful club of conservatives — all on a South Florida Trump property. The Council for National Policy held a summit this weekend at Trump National Doral, a golf club owned by former President Trump that's just on the outskirts of the City of Miami. Trump himself didn't speak in person at the event, but he surprised the crowd by calling roughly an hour after DeSantis left the stage, five people who attended confirmed to Insider.” ‘I KEPT PRAYING DESANTIS WOULD NEVER FIND OUT’— “DeSantis’s latest target: a small college of ‘free thinkers,’” by The New York Times’ Patricia Mazzei: “[Gov. Ron] DeSantis, who is widely thought to have White House aspirations, has made ideological attacks on public education central to his politics. His administration banned instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation through third grade, limited what schools can teach about racism, rejected math textbooks and prohibited an Advanced Placement course in African American studies for high school students.” — “At 5 year mark of Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, Gov. DeSantis calls to change death penalty requirements,” by Florida Politics’ Anne Geggis — “DeSantis laughs off question about his 2024 presidential plans: ‘Wouldn’t you like to know,’” by Fox News’ Kyle Morris | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | THE AGENDA — Florida House Republicans eye school board election changes, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: Republicans in the Florida House introduced two proposals Tuesday that could change local school board elections by scaling back term limits and asking voters if the races should officially be considered partisan. The possible election reforms come on the heels of school board races in 2022 that saw heightened attention across the country and specifically in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis and his Democratic challenger both endorsed dozens of local candidates in technically nonpartisan contests. THE AGENDA PART 2 — DeSantis and legislative leaders seek to rein in legal costs for businesses, by POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian: Gov. Ron DeSantis and two top Florida lawmakers on Tuesday said they will introduce the most significant tort reform overhaul in state history, seeking to rein in skyrocketing lawyers’ fees that are tacked onto legal claims filed against businesses. DeSantis told reporters during a news conference in Jacksonville that he wants to help Florida lose its status as a “judicial hellhole” for businesses. — “Florida Senate advances fentanyl bills that would increase penalties, OK test strips,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Romy Ellenbogen — “An ‘advocate for all the right things’: Friends pay tribute to Steve Uhlfelder,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s James Call — “House panel targets constitutional amendments,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Turner — “Bill paying $1.85M to Tampa man wrongly imprisoned for 37 years clears first House committee,” by Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | AS THE PAGES TURN — “Prosecutors seek Trump lawyer’s testimony, suggesting evidence of a crime,” by The New York Times’ Alan Feuer, Maggie Haberman and Ben Protess: “Federal prosecutors overseeing the investigation into former President Donald J. Trump’s handling of classified documents are seeking to pierce assertions of attorney-client privilege and compel one of his lawyers to answer more questions before a grand jury, according to two people familiar with the matter, adding an aggressive new dimension to the inquiry and underscoring the legal peril facing Mr. Trump.” STAYING MUM — “Girlfriend of Proud Boys leader pleaded fifth about plan to occupy government buildings,” by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney: Prosecutors say a romantic acquaintance of Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio — who provided him with a tactical plan to occupy government buildings just days before Jan. 6, 2021 — pleaded the Fifth when subpoenaed in May. Erika Flores, a Florida-based cryptocurrency advocate, “answered only brief biographical questions and then invoked her fifth amendment right not to testify repeatedly in response to more than 50 transcript pages worth of questions by the government” about the document titled “1776 Returns,” prosecutors revealed in a Monday night court filing. — “Trump must pay $110,000 in sanctions in NY attorney general, court rules,” by CNN’s Kara Scannell | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | TERMINATED — “Under state pressure, Orange County schools drop survey on suicidal thoughts, drinking, drug use,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Caroline Catherman: “The Orange County Public School system will discontinue its participation in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey on the health and safety of public school students after the state withdrew its support for the program. OCPS collected 2023 survey data from students in January but no longer plans to give that data to the CDC, terminating a grant that was in place since 2001, wrote OCPS spokesperson Renée Burke in an email Tuesday.” — “Pinellas students, parents urge school board to reconsider book ban,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Jeffrey S. Solochek — “As Leon County Schools superintendent faces DOE investigation, teachers, unions offer support,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s Ana Goñi-Lessan ‘ADVANCED INSIDE THE U.S.’ — “South Floridians arrested in connection with Haiti president’s assassination,” by Miami Herald’s Jay Weaver, Jacqueline Charles and Antonio Maria Delgado: “U.S. federal agents arrested four suspects in South Florida Tuesday on charges of playing key roles in a plot to kill Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, who was shot to death in his home by an alleged team of Colombian commandos as his presidential guards stood down. The local arrests of the owner of a Miami-area security firm, his business partner, a financier and an exporter mark a turning point in a probe that is now focused on the weapons, ballistic vests and financing that authorities say fueled the deadly plot executed on July 7, 2021.” — “As XXXTentacion murder trial continues, Drake is trying to get out of testifying,” by Miami Herald’s Grethel Aguila — “Jacksonville would put up $20 million in first round of money for possible UF campus,” by Florida Times-Union’s David Bauerlein — “This fearless Floridian is breaking the stereotype around Black surfers,” by Avery Lotz for Flamingo Magazine | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
FSU GRAD — “Lawyer: Pamela Smart, serving life sentence, asks for hope,” by The Associated Press’ Kathy McCormack: "A lawyer for Pamela Smart, who is serving a life-without-parole sentence for plotting with her teenage lover to kill her husband in 1990, argued Tuesday that a state council 'brushed aside' her request for a chance at freedom, and asked New Hampshire’s highest court to order the panel to reconsider it. Smart’s longtime attorney, Mark Sisti, argued the five-member council did not spend any time poring over Smart’s voluminous petition — which included many letters of support from inmates, supervisors and others — or even discuss it before rejecting her sentence reduction request in less than three minutes in March."
ENGAGED — Kyley Schultz, an assignment editor for social at the Washington Post, and Will Sitton, a policy adviser for Rep. Scott Franklin (R-Fla.), got engaged on Saturday in New York City at the Bow Bridge in Central Park. They even ran into singer, songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff after the engagement. Pic … Another pic BIRTHDAYS: Former state Rep. Bobby DuBose ... retired Adm. Jim Stavridis | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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