| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | Presented by the University of Central Florida | | 
Florida State Rep. Fentrice Driskell is seen at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., on Jan. 9, 2024. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | Good morning and happy Friday. Top Florida Democrats and Republicans are making it clear that abortion rights will be a key issue for the state in 2024. Coming fresh off a victory for Democrats in Central Florida, state House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell told reporters yesterday that the House District 35 race Democratic Rep. Tom Keen won was a “bellwether” for Florida. The party learned from voters that Democrats, as well as non-affiliated voters and some Republicans, supported “protecting womens’ freedom to choose,” she said. “It absolutely is scalable,” Driskell said. “We know what we need to do to get out of the Republican supermajority and we plan to do that this fall.” On the Republican side, some are going on offense. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio unveiled a “pro-life/pro-family memo” this week that encouraged his GOP colleagues to broaden their messaging to include support for families — through measures such as parental leave and tax credits — as well as putting Democrats on the spot for failing to specify gestational limits on abortion. Rubio also called on his colleagues to clearly state which abortion limits they support. He’s one of the few Republicans who ran for reelection in 2022 on a national 15-week ban and won, despite Democratic opponent then-Rep. Val Demings hammering him on the issue. Rubio’s memo comes as anti-abortion advocates prepare to descend on the National Mall in D.C. for the 51st annual March for Life today. Though their long-sought goal of overturning Roe v. Wade materialized in 2022, anti-abortion advocates have lost seven out of seven ballots initiatives at the state level, where voters have overwhelmingly supported abortion rights when it’s put before them. The anti-abortion movement likewise could lose that battle here in Florida. The state Supreme Court will hear arguments Feb. 7 over whether to approve language in an abortion rights’ ballot initiative that now has enough signatures to qualify for the November election. If approved, the amendment would undo abortion restrictions in Florida and allow pregnancy termination under any circumstances for up to roughly 24 weeks into a pregnancy, and later for unspecified “health” reasons. That’s not all. The justices are still weighing whether to approve Florida’s 15-week abortion ban, which would in turn trigger a six-week ban 30 days later. While the decision could land any day, the justices generally issue their rulings on Thursday mornings. — WHERE'S RON? Gov. DeSantis will make three stops in New Hampshire today. On Saturday and Sunday he’ll have events with Never Back Down in South Carolina. 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 University of Central Florida: Florida needs skilled talent to grow its $79.9 billion high-tech economy. UCF’s impactful research, innovative approaches and powerful talent pipeline provides our state with in-demand engineering, technology and healthcare talent — fostering a new generation of innovators leading the charge where industry needs it most. That’s why UCF has been ranked a “Most Innovative University” by U.S. News — and why 1 in 4 of Florida’s engineering and health graduates earn degrees from UCF. See what UCF is doing to meet Florida’s talent demand. | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | TODAY — Investiture ceremony for Florida Supreme Court Justice Meredith Sasso at 4 p.m. (Watch on the Florida Channel.)
|  Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo presides over a session in the Senate chamber at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., Jan. 9, 2024. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images) | AP | LOWER PRICE TAG — Senate approves key parts of health care expansion, reports POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian. The Live Healthy proposal is a top priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples), and it seeks to expand the state’s health care workforce and increase access in rural communities across the state by offering more than $873 million in state and federal dollars that would expand training programs and increase tuition reimbursement incentives. ONLY EDUCATION — “Florida lawmakers propose limits on school voucher purchases,” reports the Tampa Bay Times’ Jeffrey S. Solochek. “State Rep. Josie Tomkow, a Polk City Republican, has called for restricting the purchase of materials to only expenses associated with language arts and reading, mathematics, social studies and science courses … Current guidelines for using the money allow families to buy equipment that could be considered extravagant for a state-funded program.” FIGHTING HATE SPEECH — “House passes bill defining antisemitism in Florida Statutes with three ‘no’ votes,” reports Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner. “The measure (HB 187), which pends approval in the Senate, would define antisemitism in state statutes as ‘a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews’ and rhetorical and manifestations ‘directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals, their property, community institutions and religious facilities.’” LIBEL LAWS — “Bill easing defamation lawsuits against journalists, misleading AI image creators advances in House,” reports Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner. “Legislation designed to weaken decades-old legal protections for journalists and news outlets is again advancing amid arguments that it will have a ‘chilling effect’ on efforts to hold the powerful accountable. Members of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee voted 12-4 for a measure (HB 757) that would lower the legal bar in defamation lawsuits by shifting the burden of proof from the plaintiff to the defendant.” PROPERTY INSURANCE — “After years of resistance, Florida lawmakers could grow Citizens insurance,” reports the Tampa Bay Times’ Lawrence Mower. “As homeowners continue to struggle to find coverage despite years of reforms, legislators this year are moving forward with plans to allow more of them to be covered by Florida’s insurer of last resort. A Senate bill would allow owners of homes worth more than $700,000 — the current cap in all but two counties — to get Citizens insurance if they can’t find coverage on the private market.” EXPANDING WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIMS — “GOP lawmakers want parents to be able to sue over wrongful death of ‘unborn children,’” reports Dara Kam of News Service of Florida. “The proposal, approved Thursday by the House Civil Justice Subcommittee, would add ‘unborn child’ to a law that allows family members to seek damages when a person’s death is caused by such things as wrongful acts or negligence. The legislation, filed by the House and Senate sponsors of the six-week abortion ban, has drawn intense pushback from abortion providers and their allies.” — “Maternity care is at the center of several new bills in the Florida legislature,” reports WFSU’s Reagan McCarthy FINDINGS — “Poll: 72 percent of Floridians OK with teacher strike option, despite ban,” reports Florida Politics’ Gray Rohrer. “The poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy on behalf of Hedge Clippers, a group of labor and community activist groups dedicated to combating the influence of billionaires on tax, labor and education policy.” SPECIAL DELIVERY — “Florida lawmakers target 'porch pirates' and 'smash-and-grab' retail crimes,” reports the Tallahassee Democrats’ Benjamin Taubman. “The bill (HB 549) aims to discourage would-be package thieves by lowering the threshold for the crime. Now, it's a third-degree felony to steal property "valued at $100 or more, but less than $750," when taken from a dwelling or just outside one, such as from a porch or stoop. Under this proposal, accused porch pirates would be charged as felons if they steal a delivery worth as little as $40.” LITTER LAWS — “Florida lawmaker proposes bill to outlaw balloon releases,” reports 7News’ Lynn Martinez. “If enacted into law, the bill would categorize balloons as litter, aligning with concerns about the ecological impact of balloon debris.” | | | | JOIN 1/31 FOR A TALK ON THE RACE TO SOLVE ALZHEIMER’S: Breakthrough drugs and treatments are giving new hope for slowing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. But if that progress slows, the societal and economic cost to the U.S. could be high. Join POLITICO, alongside lawmakers, official and experts, on Jan. 31 to discuss a path forward for better collaboration among health systems, industry and government. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
BIG BET — “Jeffrey Soffer renews push for gambling at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach,” reports the Real Deal. “The Aventura-based billionaire developer, whose Fontainebleau Development owns the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, spread more than $300,000 in contributions to the Republican Party of Florida and political action committees supporting Florida legislators in recent months, according to the Miami Herald.”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | | | 
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. | Phil Sears/AP | CALL ME — Chief Financial Jimmy Patronis — who is one of only two statewide elected Republicans to stay on the sidelines of the GOP contest for president — had an explanation on why he hasn’t endorsed former President Donald Trump or Gov. Ron DeSantis so far. No one has asked him. “Gov. DeSantis has not called me, Donald Trump hasn’t called me,” said Patronis this week. “The only person who called me and asked for an endorsement is Vivek [Ramaswamy].” (Ramaswamy ended his campaign for president earlier this week after finishing way behind the Trump, DeSantis and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley.) But Patronis was quick to add his endorsement wasn’t going to mean much in the early nominating contests. “Look, I don’t expect these guys to call me. I’m nobody,” he said. “A state elected official in the state of Florida is not going to make a difference in Iowa, or New Hampshire, a South Carolina or any of those places.” Many other prominent Republicans in the state have endorsed, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who threw his support to Trump on the eve of this week’s Iowa caucuses. The other statewide elected Republican who has not endorsed in the presidential race is Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. — Gary Fineout SELF REFLECTION — DeSantis regrets anti-media strategy: ‘I should have gone on everything,’ reports POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard. In an interview Thursday with radio host Hugh Hewitt, the Florida governor expressed regret over how his presidential campaign had initially shunned most news outlets in favor of friendly, conservative platforms. “I came in not really doing as much media,” DeSantis said. “I should have just been blanketing. I should have gone on all the corporate shows. I should have gone on everything.” TRUMP COLUMN — “DeSantis won’t get any help from Nevada’s Governor, who is now endorsing Trump,” reports Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski. GOP Gov. Joe Lombardo’s endorsement “comes less than a day after Trump claimed DeSantis wasn’t even running in Nevada’s Feb. 8 contest, an allegation called ‘fake news’ by DeSantis’ campaign.” | | | | A message from the University of Central Florida:   | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | |
WE ARE FAMILY — Bipartisan House group ramps up push to allow proxy voting for new moms, reports POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna. The resolution, led by Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), would allow moms to spend time with their newborns, and supporters argue it removes a barrier to public service experienced by many women. Just 12 women have given birth while serving in the House.
DUNN DUNN DUNN — U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) is the latest member of Congress to endorse Trump. | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | | | | | YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS: From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics. | | | | |
RIP — “Former president, senators attend Palm Beach funeral for Melania Trump's mother,” reports the Palm Beach Daily News’ Kristina Webb
BIRTHDAYS: Dan Holler, chief strategist for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) … Curtis Morgan, editor at The Miami Herald … Former state Rep. Jayer Williamson … (Saturday) Rick Oppenheim, former CEO of RB Oppenheim Associates ... J.D. Hicks with J.D. Hicks & Associates ... Former state Rep. Al Jacquet … (Sunday) Former state Senate President Tom Lee … Jon Costello, president at Capitol Strategy Group ... Will Holley, partner Firehouse Strategies | | A message from the University of Central Florida: Florida offers a high-tech economy with booming opportunities. Home to the fourth-largest tech workforce in the U.S. — and aiming to be in the top three by 2030 — Florida is a destination of choice for high-tech industries including cybersecurity, experiential tech, aerospace and healthcare.
At its heart in Orlando, the University of Central Florida leads as a metropolitan research university fueling this tech talent surge. It’s why we’ve committed to educating more than 25,000 engineering and technology students annually and recruiting 150 new faculty with $40 million in state support. Through future-focused initiatives that align with industry demand, we are ready to meet Florida’s needs and cultivate the skilled workforce of tomorrow. Find out why UCF is a leader in providing Florida’s tech talent. | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
