| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | Presented by |  | | | COURTWATCH — Florida’s state Supreme Court is expected to issue a round of orders today, including possible decisions on whether to approve ballot amendments on cannabis legalization and abortion rights. Technically, though, they have until April 1 to weigh in. Everyone’s hitting refresh on this page right around 11 a.m. SPEAKING OF LEGAL MATTERS — "A panel of federal judges upheld Florida’s congressional map, turning away a challenge that alleged it was discriminatory against Black voters after the district held by former Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat, was dismantled,” reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “The decision is a substantial victory for Republicans and Gov. Ron DeSantis, who muscled the map through Florida’s GOP-controlled Legislature. The congressional map his administration crafted ultimately resulted in Republicans gaining four seats, helping the GOP flip the U.S. House during the 2022 midterm elections.” AND ONE MORE — Florida is once again telling Walt Disney World to be our guest. DeSantis and the entertainment giant have arrived at an agreement. Disney will drop its state lawsuit in favor of a settlement and DeSantis appointed a competent, experienced loyalist to oversee the district’s governance. It’s a creative solution that appears to create an escape hatch out of a jaw-dropping, can’t-stop-watching feud.
|  Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff speaks during an event with the United States Tennis Association at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. | Lynne Sladky/AP | Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff dropped into Miami Gardens yesterday to talk about how the Biden administration is trying to end child hunger — and chastise Florida for not going along with the federal government’s program. Florida is one of 15 states that didn’t apply to get federal funds for a summer food program for kids. Had Florida accepted, needy families here would be getting $120 per child divvied up across three months over the summer, which they can use to help pay for groceries though food assistance debit cards. It’s a way to try to ensure 2.1 million Florida kids who typically get free or reduced-priced lunch at school can still have a way to eat during summer break, especially as inflation is still affecting buyers when they go grocery shopping. The Biden administration has found some other ways to get kids food through various programs, including grab-and-go or delivery options in rural areas. And earlier in the day yesterday, Emhoff was at the Miami Open to announce a partnership with the United States Tennis Association to bring nutrition programs to communities. Still, his Miami visit — alongside Cindy Long, the administrator of the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service — shows the Biden administration wants to turn up the heat on DeSantis over the matter. “We're hopeful that states such as Florida will take that money to feed these children during the summer months when they're not in school,” Emhoff told reporters after meeting with students at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. “The money's there. The need is there and the food is there — so let's just get this done.” U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), who appeared at the event alongside the second gentleman, stressed they were there sending a message “not only” to the governor “but legislators” and “all of the officials who decided it was not a good idea to feed our children in the summer.” “What kind of state is that — that would refuse money to shop for groceries?” she asked rhetorically as Emhoff solemnly shook his head. “This is not only a message, this is a loud call for help, because these children all across the state need food when school is closed,” she added. “Open your eyes, see what's happening. Go to the grocery store and look and see how high the groceries are.” DeSantis’ office didn’t respond to questions about the visit or the program. Mallory McManus, a spokesperson for the Department of Children and Families, previously told reporters that Florida’s current government food programs, such as summer BreakSpots that offer lunches at places like parks and libraries, were already “successful” and didn’t come with “strings attached.” The program does require states to take on half of the administrative costs, which are estimated at $12 million in Florida, per the Orlando Sentinel. The program started as a temporary pandemic relief effort and then turned permanent after getting approved as part of a 2022 bipartisan budget agreement in Congress. Florida could still decide to opt into the program next year, and maybe even sooner. In response to a question from Playbook, Long said it would be “extremely challenging” to get the program running in Florida now, but hedged with “we would never say never.” “We're willing to work with anyone who's interested, and the door is always open,” she said. “If it doesn't happen this summer, it can happen next summer.” Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com
| | | | A message from the Florida Bankers Association: KEEP CHINA AWAY FROM OUR CREDIT CARDS Corporate mega-stores are claiming that the Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Bill would freeze out China UnionPay. In reality, this bill would benefit credit card networks that have long been affiliated with the Chinese state-owned network, and interchange mandates in general would weaken security. By helping networks that partner with China UnionPay route more transactions in the U.S., Durbin-Marshall would EXPAND the influence of the CCP. Learn more: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/?p=2780356 | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
WEBSITE SCRUTINY — “Florida tells schools not to partner with Tutor.com over ties to China,” reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “The Florida Department of Education this week warned school districts and colleges against contracting with the popular online tutoring service Tutor.com, over alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The move is the DeSantis administration’s latest attempt to rein in Chinese influence in the state. The website also faces scrutiny from congressional Republicans who claim Tutor.com poses a national security threat for its supposed data collection and sharing. At least one Florida school district has already suspended its use of the supplemental tutoring program.”
APRIL 17 DEADLINE — “Florida threatens sanctions against Broward schools over tax-share with charters,” reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “Florida education officials threatened to level sanctions Wednesday against Broward County Public Schools over the district’s long-standing feud with local charter schools. The fight stems from a tax referendum that brought in more cash for classrooms. The state claims Broward has ‘knowingly and willfully refused to comply’ with a Florida law requiring districts to share local education taxes with charters, shortchanging dozens of campuses a combined $80 million.”
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Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. speaks during a press conference. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP | SIGNED — “DeSantis aims to 'end the squatters scam' in Florida with new law,” reports Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — Florida. “Homeowners soon should be able to quickly remove squatters from their homes with a new law signed on Wednesday by DeSantis. DeSantis signed the "Property Rights" bill (HB 621) in Orlando, saying the law was the first of its kind in the United States.” ‘CLIMATE CHANGE’ — “In DeSantis’ Florida, climate change doesn’t exist,” reports Grist’s Kate Yoder. “In Florida, the effects of climate change are hard to ignore, no matter your politics. It’s the hottest state — Miami spent a record 46 days above a heat index of 100 degrees last summer — and many homes and businesses are clustered along beachfront areas threatened by rising seas and hurricanes. The Republican-led legislature has responded with more than $640 million for resilience projects to adapt to coastal threats. But the same politicians don’t seem ready to acknowledge the root cause of these problems. A bill awaiting signature from Governor Ron DeSantis, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race in January, would ban offshore wind energy, relax regulations on natural gas pipelines, and delete the majority of mentions of climate change from existing state laws.” — “LGBTQ advocates have questions about Florida's chaplain bill,” reports WMFE’s Danielle Prieur.
| | | | Access New York bill updates and Congressional activity in areas that matter to you, and use our exclusive insights to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | HOUSING PUSH — “Disney affordable housing project moved forward by Orange County board,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Stephen Hudak. “Disney’s first affordable housing project cleared a critical hurdle Tuesday — but just barely. Just when it appeared Orange County commissioners might turn down a proposed land-use change needed to develop 114 Disney-owned acres into a 1,400-unit multifamily housing project in Horizon West, Mayor Jerry Demings took charge. At his urging, commissioners voted 4-2 to send the proposed change in the county’s comprehensive land-use plan to Tallahassee for a state review, a mandatory step in the approval process.” — “Downtown homeless congregation could be test for new law signed by DeSantis,” reports Ari Odzer of WTVJ.
| | | | A message from the Florida Bankers Association:   | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | GETTING INVOLVED — Former President Donald Trump again gave a shout-out to a Florida politician on Truth Social last night, raising more questions about how he plans to get involved in shaping the state. He called U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis “a very effective lawmaker” as he endorsed him for reelection. SUNSHINE STATE TIES — “Florida donors with state business fueled end of DeSantis presidential run,” reports the Washington Post’s Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey and Hannah Knowles. “A state coronavirus response contractor, CDR Enterprises, gave $1 million to his aligned super PAC Fight Right in the final weeks of the campaign. The DeSantis administration has issued purchase orders to the company worth $158 million to help distribute vaccines, treat patients and provide other services, sometimes through no-bid contracts, according to state records. Herzog Railroad Services — a Missouri company the DeSantis’s team hired to build a $35 million Orlando commuter rail extension — gave $250,000 around the same time to Never Back Down, another aligned super PAC. And a casino magnate, Jeffrey Soffer, gave $1 million in late July — on the same day that the campaign announced massive layoffs. DeSantis came out in support of Soffer’s controversial bid to transfer a casino license to his Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach weeks after leaving the presidential race.” YOUTH VOTE — “Is Biden in trouble with young voters? Some in Florida are concerned,” by the Tampa Bay Times’ Kirby Wilson. “Some in the demographic say he’s too old to get results. Some are dissatisfied with Biden’s policies. And some, Biden supporters fear, are simply unmotivated to vote.” INTRAPARTY FEUD — “'Full of racists': Florida Democrats slam Democratic Party leadership for ousting Black county chairs,” reports Liv Caputo of the Floridian. “The Florida Democratic Party is under fire from some African American members accusing its Central Committee of racism for ousting two embattled black county chairs but choosing to keep a third white one in office.”
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MAR-A-LAGO DOCS CASE — “Hurry up and wait: Trump’s classified documents case is mired in delays that may run past election,” by The Associated Press’ Eric Tucker. “The case against Donald Trump seemed relatively straightforward in August 2022 when FBI agents searched his Mar-a-Lago estate, with authorities citing evidence that the former president hoarded enough classified documents to fill dozens of boxes and obstructed the government’s efforts to retrieve them. But nine months after he was indicted, there are mounting doubts that the case can reach trial this year.”
— “It’s payback time for Rudy Giuliani; Creditors want his luxury Palm Beach condo, hidden assets,” reports Dan Christensen of the Florida Bulldog.
| | | | A message from the Florida Bankers Association: CONGRESS: OPPOSE THE DURBIN-MARSHALL INTERCHANGE BILL:
In today's digital age, where cyber threats loom larger than ever, safeguarding your personal information is paramount. So why are some DC politicians considering a bill that puts YOUR credit card data at greater risk of being hacked and exposed to foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party? The Durbin-Marshall Interchange Bill jeopardizes the financial data of hardworking Florida families. This controversial bill would shift billions of dollars’ worth of consumer transactions to untested networks. Imagine a world where your credit card details—your hard-earned money—is easily stolen by Chinese hackers. Interchange mandates undermine our safe and convenient payments system, prioritizing corporate greed over YOUR data security. Congress: OPPOSE the Durbin-Marshall Interchange Bill. Learn more: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/?p=2780356 | | | | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody… Ben Porritt, senior vice president corporate affairs for Brightline Trains | | | | 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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