Good Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
The fundraising arm for Democratic Senate campaigns has pulled in nearly $3 million since Sen. <\/span>Lauren Book<\/b> took over as Senate Democratic Leader.<\/span><\/p>\n Senate Victory said the fundraising total puts it in its \u201cstrongest position to date,\u201d surpassing the previous high watermark of $2.1 million raised by then-Democratic Leader-designate <\/span>Oscar Braynon<\/b> during the same period in the 2016 election cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n The $2.9 million total includes money raised this year ahead of the Legislative Session fundraising blackout and benefited two funds: The official Florida Democratic Party committee account and the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.<\/span><\/p>\n Finance reports show FDLCC pulled down $839,750 last year, with $568,250 coming in after Book was named Democratic Leader in late April. The committee started 2022 with $622,820 in the bank. The Florida Democratic Party raised about $6 million last year, including money not raised by Book. It had $13.6 million on hand on Jan. 31.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis level of fundraising strength is truly unprecedented and speaks to Leader Book\u2019s commitment to a successful election cycle that protects the 16-seats held by Senate Democrats today,\u201d Senate Victory said in a memo outlining its fundraising efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n Senate Victory said the money will fund new hires in the \u201ccritical seats\u201d currently held by Tallahassee Sen. <\/span>Loranne Ausley<\/b> and Tampa Sen. <\/span>Janet Cruz<\/b>. Additionally, Senate Victory has worked with filed candidates in likely competitive seats and plans to share more details once new district lines are finalized. <\/span><\/p>\n \u2014 SITUATIONAL AWARENESS \u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014@Redistrict<\/strong>: Raise your hand if you expected the ultimate fate of 2022 redistricting to come down to Gov. Ron DeSantis<\/strong> (R) vs. Gov. Kathy Hochul<\/strong> (D).<\/p>\n \u2014@ChristinaPushaw<\/strong>: If you genuinely believe that Florida is the Third Reich, you are *free to leave any time*. Jews and others who were forced into concentration camps by Nazis, were not free to leave. That fact alone shows how absurd, offensive, and sick this entire comparison is.<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet<\/strong>:<\/p>\n CONFIRMED AT @cpac<\/a> 2022: @GovRonDeSantis<\/a> “America’s Governor” pic.twitter.com\/7PqbfQwzup<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) January 18, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u2014@EvanAxelbank<\/strong>: Glad to see cases dropping in FL Not that the numbers are pretty, but to see 7-day avg go from 72k to 50k in a week is welcome Feel free to keep falling, and never come back!<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Great to have our friends from @k9sforwarriors<\/a> in the Capitol today. Not all superheroes wear capes, and some of them have four legs like Bobbi! pic.twitter.com\/8MHpmxSErj<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Wilton Simpson (@WiltonSimpson) January 18, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Tweet, tweet<\/strong>:<\/p>\n It\u2019s @USouthFlorida<\/a> Day in the @FLSenate<\/a>! #GoBulls<\/a> \ud83e\udd18\ud83c\udffc pic.twitter.com\/Oj5vxMsxUW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Danny Burgess (@DannyBurgessFL) January 18, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Tweet, tweet<\/strong>:<\/p>\n @DanMarino<\/a> is my all time favorite athlete and always will be! Getting to meet him and learn how the legislature can continue supporting vital work on the #Autism<\/a> front is an experience I will never forget. #FinsUp<\/a> #FlaPol<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/t6Ftdj16je<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John Snyder (@Johnfsnyder) January 18, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u2014@MinaKimes<\/strong>: Trying to dunk on NICK FREAKIN SABA<\/strong>N for not winning enough is like saying the weather sucks in California when it rains once a year. Galaxy brain stuff.<\/p>\n Tweet<\/strong>, tweet<\/strong>:<\/p>\n #WolfMoon<\/a> rising over Ruskin on a crisp #Florida<\/a> night. \ud83d\udcf7 Carmen Skokanic pic.twitter.com\/5LzZ0XSbD3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Paul Dellegatto\u26a1\ufe0fFOX (@PaulFox13) January 19, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u2014 DAYS UNTIL \u2014<\/strong> \u2018Ozark\u2019 final season begins \u2014 2; \u2018Billions\u2019 begins \u2014 4; Red Dog Blue Dog charity event \u2014 6; James Madison Institute\u2019s Stanley Marshall Day Celebration in Jacksonville \u2014 9; XXIV Olympic Winter Games begins \u2014 16; Super Bowl LVI \u2014 25; <\/span>Will Smith\u2019s<\/b> \u2018Fresh Prince of Bel-Air\u2019 reboot premieres \u2014 25; season four of \u201cThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel\u2019 begins \u2014 28; \u2018The Walking Dead\u2019 final season part two begins \u2014 32; Daytona 500 \u2014 32; Special Election for Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 3 \u2014 35; CPAC begins \u2014 37; St. Pete Grand Prix \u2014 37; Joe Biden<\/strong> to give State of the Union \u2014 41; \u2018The Batman\u2019 premieres \u2014 44; the third season of \u2018Atlanta\u2019 begins \u2014 63; season two of \u2018Bridgerton\u2019 begins \u2014 65; The Oscars \u2014 67; Macbeth with <\/span>Daniel Craig<\/b> and <\/span>Ruth Negga<\/b> begin performances on Broadway \u2014 69; Grammys rescheduled in Las Vegas \u2014 74; federal student loan payments will resume \u2014 102;\u2019 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness\u2019 premieres \u2014 107;\u2019 Top Gun: Maverick\u2019 premieres \u2014 128;\u2019 Platinum Jubilee\u2019 for <\/span>Queen Elizabeth II<\/b> \u2014 134;\u2019 Thor: Love and Thunder\u2019 premieres \u2014 171; San Diego Comic-Con 2022 \u2014 182; \u2018The Lord of the Rings\u2019 premieres on Amazon Prime \u2014 226;\u2019 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse\u2019 sequel premieres \u2014 261; \u2018Black Panther 2\u2019 premieres \u2014 296; \u2018The Flash\u2019 premieres \u2014 299; \u2018Avatar 2\u2032 premieres \u2014 331;\u2019 Captain Marvel 2\u2032 premieres \u2014 394;\u2019 John Wick: Chapter 4\u2032 premieres \u2014 429; \u2018Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania\u2019 premieres \u2014 555;\u2019 Dune: Part Two\u2019 premieres \u2014 639; Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games \u2014 919.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2014 TOP STORIES \u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Ron DeSantis proposes special police agency to monitor elections<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Lori Rozsa and Beth Reinhard of The Washington Post \u2014 plan by <\/span>DeSantis would establish a special police force to oversee state elections, the first of its kind in the nation, and while his fellow Republicans have reacted tepidly, voting rights advocates fear that it will become law and be used to intimidate voters. The proposed Office of Election Crimes and Security would be part of the Department of State, answering the Governor. DeSantis asks the GOP-controlled Legislature to allocate nearly $6 million to hire 52 people to \u201cinvestigate, detect, apprehend, and arrest anyone for an alleged violation\u201d of election laws. They would be stationed at unspecified \u201cfield offices throughout the state\u201d and act on tips from \u201cgovernment officials or any other person.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Tweet, tweet<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Here’s DeSantis Advisor Larry Keefe in an interview with me earlier today. <\/p>\n He revealed the existence of the lists \u2013 and said many of the examples state is looking at are older than 2020 election. pic.twitter.com\/AW74HKeMEV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jay O’Brien (@jayobtv) January 19, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201c<\/span>DeSantis shakes up Florida redistricting as veto concerns grow<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Matt Dixon of Florida Politics \u2014 <\/span>DeSantis upended Florida\u2019s redistricting process over the weekend, submitting his own proposed congressional map that carves out more Republican-friendly districts and is already sparking threats of lawsuits. DeSantis\u2019 general counsel, <\/span>Ryan Newman<\/b>, formally filed the proposed map Sunday night in a move that surprised leaders in the GOP-led Florida House and Senate. The lawmakers see the highly unusual proposal as the most direct signal yet that DeSantis would veto the congressional map already awaiting a yet-to-be-scheduled floor vote in the Senate. Florida gained one seat in Congress in 2022 for a total of 28. The state Senate\u2019s proposal includes 16 seats <\/span>Donald Trump<\/b> would have won in 2020 compared to 12 for <\/span>Biden. DeSantis\u2019 map consists of 18 seats Trump would have won that year.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Al Lawson blasts congressional redistricting proposal from DeSantis<\/b><\/a>\u201d via James Call of USA Today Network \u2014 DeSantis\u2019<\/span> entry into congressional redistricting landed with a thud among Democrats, minorities and data experts. A proposal released Sunday night wipes out a seat that includes half of Tallahassee and is currently occupied by the dean of Leon County politics, <\/span>Lawson<\/b>, who served nearly three decades in the Florida Legislature before his election to Congress in 2016. A quick review of the plan shows it benefits Republicans at the expense of Black and Hispanic voters. Two decades ago, the Legislature created six minority-access districts, three for each group of historically underrepresented residents.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2014DATELINE TALLY \u2014 <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Carlos Guillermo Smith tests positive for COVID-19; several Senators absent from Capitol<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Skylar Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel \u2014 An Orlando legislator has COVID-19, and the absence of several state Senators prompted a legislative committee to cancel a meeting Tuesday. State Rep. Smith<\/strong> announced he tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday morning after experiencing moderate symptoms over the weekend. \u201cI\u2019m fully vaxxed, boosted, and now as a result \u2014 nearly 100% better!\u201d he wrote in a tweet. Smith wrote he is in isolation away from the Capitol but will continue to work remotely. The Florida Capitol has no COVID-19 protocols in place. Smith has been wearing a mask, but most lawmakers haven\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2014\u201d<\/span>Will omicron be a wrecking ball during the 2022 Session?<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics <\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Florida could shield whites from \u2018discomfort\u2019 of racist past<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Brendan Farrington of The Associated Press \u2014 A bill pushed by <\/span>DeSantis that would prohibit public schools and private businesses from making white people feel \u201cdiscomfort\u201d when they teach students or train employees about discrimination in the nation\u2019s past received its first approval Tuesday. The Senate Education Committee approved the bill that takes aim at critical race theory on party lines, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. Democrats argued the bill isn\u2019t needed, would lead to frivolous lawsuits, and said it would amount to censorship in schools. They asked, without success, for real-life examples of teachers or businesses telling students or employees that they are racist because of their race.<\/span><\/p>\n Tweet, tweet<\/strong>:<\/p>\n By the way @bsfarrington<\/a> is a privileged white male who should give his American Pravda job to someone from an oppressed identity group. If he really was an ally that\u2019s what he would do.<\/p>\n \u2014 Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a (@ChristinaPushaw) January 19, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201c<\/span>Senate wants to boost benefits for foster families but can Wilton Simpson get the money he needs?<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics \u2014 The Florida Senate is pushing ahead with the second round of changes to the state\u2019s foster care system, a top priority this Session for Simpson. The question is: Can Simpson get the funding he needs in the state budget to make it happen? A Senate committee Tuesday unanimously agreed to introduce a bill that would boost the amount of money paid monthly to relatives and non-relatives who take in children, as well as provide a $200 monthly subsidy to foster parents and other caregivers who bring in preschool children to help cover the cost of child care or early learning programs. The measure is supported by the Florida Coalition for Children, the Children\u2019s Home Society of Florida and the Florida Foster and Adoptive Parent Association.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFlorida\u2019s<\/strong> <\/b><\/a>\u2018dire\u2019 insurance market could get boost under Danny Burgess bill<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics \u2014 One way Florida may try to bolster the state\u2019s rickety property insurance market is by pushing ahead with a bill that would allow domestic insurers already in the state to start selling what is known as surplus lines insurance, a type of coverage that is less regulated than traditional policies. The measure unanimously cleared the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday. Sen. <\/span>Burgess<\/b>, the sponsor of SB 1402, said Florida was following the lead of 21 other states. While committee member Sen.<\/span> Annette Taddeo <\/b>voted for the bill, she asked Burgess to explain what happens if a surplus lines carrier becomes insolvent. He admitted that \u201cthere\u2019s inherent risks in doing this. That is made abundantly clear to consumers when they are electing this coverage.\u201d The bill comes when Florida\u2019s property insurance market is in \u201cdire\u201d shape.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Travis Hutson files amendment addressing home rule concerns with preemption bill<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics \u2014 Sen. <\/span>Hutson<\/b> has filed an amendment to a controversial preemption bill (SB 280) that could soften the blow to home rule. The legislation would still require counties and municipalities to provide a business impact estimate before passing local ordinances, but the amendment makes clear governments can outsource estimation to outside groups. Hutson also added to a list of exemptions for the estimate requirement. The law also allows a legal avenue for businesses to sue governments to stop ordinances from going into effect. But Hutson\u2019s amendment empowers local governments to lift any stay on enforcement if they win in court, even if they are waiting on an appeal.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Measure to prevent citizen initiatives from \u2018diluting\u2019 constitution advances<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics \u2014 The proposed measure (HJR 1127), carried by Lithia Republican Rep. <\/span>Mike Beltran<\/b>, would limit the subject of citizen initiatives to procedural matters or the structure of government or the constitution. While the measure passed the House Public Integrity and Elections Committee, the proposed constitutional amendment received pushback from Democrats and activist groups. Lawmakers in recent years have imposed a variety of restrictions on the citizen initiative process to limit paid signature gathering and shorten the time for acquiring signatures. Proponents say that work is part of a broader effort to reserve the constitution for functional matters, not policy matters. Democrats contend proposed limitations to the amendment process are a response to the public passing constitutional amendments after the Legislature failed to act on popular policies.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Corrections over counties: Jason Pizzo says Florida must prioritize DOC mission in addressing struggling prison system<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Daniel Figueroa of Florida Politics \u2014 <\/span>Chris Doolin<\/b> started, as he said, by putting a flag on the beach. \u201cWe know that (the Department of Corrections) is struggling. We know that the Legislature has to deal with the challenges they have,\u201d he told the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. He spoke to the committee following a presentation from Department of Corrections Secretary <\/span>Ricky Dixon<\/b>. Dixon runs the country\u2019s third-largest prison system. But the infrastructure used to house and rehabilitate Florida\u2019s 80,000 incarcerated inmates and 144,000 supervised offenders is crumbling. The state prison system needs to fall at or below a 3% vacancy rate among officers to operate at safe and adequate levels. The department is currently sitting at a nearly 32% vacancy rate.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>$5K bonuses for police recruits, part of pro-cop agenda, advance in Legislature<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Michael Moline of Florida Phoenix \u2014 A key plank in <\/span>DeSantis pro-cop, election-year agenda sailed through its first committee test in the Florida House on Tuesday, when only a single Democrat voted no. The measure (HB 3) calls for $5,000 signing bonuses for people who join state or local law enforcement agencies, whether transferring from police jobs in other states or entering the profession for the first time, plus additional bonuses and benefits for cops. When DeSantis first suggested the idea in October, some critics warned he wanted to reward cops fleeing workplace vaccine mandates in other states. He\u2019s up for re-election this year and possibly eyeing a run for President in 2024. DeSantis disavowed that intent at the time, insisting the idea was to succor officers who feel they are being \u201cmistreated\u201d in their existing jobs.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Florida resiliency plan scrutinized for failure to address prevention, aid smaller communities<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Kelly Hayes of Florida Politics \u2014 The Florida Department of Environmental Protection presented its first Resilient Florida plan on Tuesday evening. The plan provided a preliminary outline for the Resilient Florida Grant Program, the state\u2019s new annual $100 million commitment to tackle issues around sea level rise and mitigation efforts. The program was established under SB 1954, a 2021 legislative priority of House Speaker <\/span>Chris Sprowls<\/b> signed into law by <\/span>DeSantis last summer. <\/span>Adam Blalock<\/b>, the DEP Deputy Secretary for Ecosystems Restoration, presented the proposal to the committee. Pinellas County Democratic Rep. <\/span>Ben Diamond<\/b> criticized the framework of the grant program, saying it focused too heavily on the inevitability of sea-level rise rather than addressing the root issues that cause it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2014 TALLY 2 \u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014\u201d<\/span>Which incumbents could be forced to face off under the Senate map headed for a floor vote?<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>League of Women Voters slams Senate\u2019s proposed redistricting maps<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics \u2014 The League of Women Voters of Florida President blasted the Senate\u2019s two redistricting plans as unconstitutional. Their missive argued the maps \u201cviolate the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act and Florida\u2019s Constitution because the new district maps don\u2019t adequately reflect the growth of minorities in the state since the 2010 Census and they unfairly favor one party over another.\u201d That\u2019s especially noteworthy as the League served as a high-profile plaintiff in a successful challenge of maps produced by the Legislature a decade ago. The criticism from the League this year could portend more litigation.<\/span><\/p>\n Tweet<\/strong>, tweet<\/strong>:<\/p>\n It\u2019s time we start treating leftist organizations as radical leftist organizations. They have no interest in fair districts https:\/\/t.co\/htggecaFec<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Evan Power (@EvanPower) January 18, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201c<\/span>New Florida House map settles disputes in old drafts<\/b><\/a>\u201d via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics \u2014 Unlike a prior effort in November, when the House drafted two maps, only one map hit the state website. That could be an indication the House Redistricting Committee now wants to work off a single document. The map dropped less than a week after a chief House Redistricting Committee workshop. The map (H 8009) seems in many places to settle draft disputes in regions where two choices had been laid out before. For example, prior drafts disagreed about drafting House Districts 1 and 2. One map (H 8005) stacked HD 1 to cover the northwestern-most portion of Florida, with HD 2 located almost entirely to its south until hitting the coast. But the other (H 8007) Imagined an HD 1 that included all the low-density areas of the westernmost district in the Panhandle but encompassed a denser HD 2.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/book-1-scaled.jpg\")
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