| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | Presented by the University of Central Florida | Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Thirty-five states, including all five U.S. territories and four Tribes, plan to join the newest permanent federal summer food program for kids. Florida isn’t one of them. The Sunshine State is among 15 states, all led by Republican governors, that hasn’t signed onto the program. The assistance helps children who normally rely on free or reduced price school meals to access additional nutrition during the summer months when school is out. It’ll provide families with $120 per eligible child for the summer, totaling $2.5 billion in federal spending. A spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration didn’t respond to a request for comment. But other Republican governors have given varying reasons for not participating, from asserting it amounts to welfare to concerns about the overall cost, according to the Washington Post. Iowa GOP Kim Reynolds, who endorsed DeSantis for president, said there was no need for it when childhood obesity rates are so high and it doesn’t promote nutrition, Axios reports. In a gaggle with reporters at the Pennsylvania Farm Show last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he anticipated the current sign-up would cover roughly 70 percent of eligible children. Holding a chocolate milkshake, he recalled his canvassing of all 50 states to join the program. “We made a concerted effort,” said Vilsack. “We also explained to states in the first year of implementation, there’ll be some glitches and barriers but we’ll work with states to get over it.” As governors talk to governors about the program and as grocery stores start seeing more dollars and farmers begin seeing more sales, Vilsack said he was confident USDA could get all 50 states into the program. “People will realize, ‘Hey, we need to get into this,’” he said. The food program is based on a temporary pandemic-era program designed to augment existing federal summer food programs. Instead of relying on congregate sites where families and children have to find transportation to access federal food benefits, eligible families will receive benefits directly to their EBT card so they can use it to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets and other retailers. Asked why states didn’t sign up, Vilsack demurred. But the effort to convince states to participate is still ongoing. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who helped create the program, told POLITICO that “we’re continuing to do outreach with the states.” “This is just about children having a chance to have a healthy meal every day in the summer, and it would be a shame to see governors not want to do that,” Stabenow said. — Marcia Brown, with help from David Kihara — WHERE'S RON? Gov. DeSantis is back in Florida. 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 ... | |
TAKING ON BIG TECH — “As mental health concerns grow, Florida lawmakers want kids off social media,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher. “Lawmakers want to stop children under 16 from creating accounts on social media sites like Facebook and TikTok, likening those apps to casino gambling, cigarette smoking and drinking. Florida House Speaker Paul Renner cited mounting concerns that social media is hurting the mental health of young people. He accused social media companies of hooking children with addictive features in pursuit of profit.”
— The restrictions advanced in the Florida House Judiciary Committee despite parental rights concerns, reported POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury
|  A Pride flag flies over a festival. | George Walker IV, File/AP | ‘SUBLIMINALLY INDOCTRINATED’— “Florida Republicans eye new target: Flags,” reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “Flags heralding support for LBGTQ+ pride, Black Lives Matter and even Donald Trump would have to be taken down in classrooms and government buildings across Florida under new legislation introduced Wednesday by House Republicans.” DEI-NIED — “Florida Board of Education bans public funding for college diversity programs,” reports News Service of Florida’s Ryan Dailey. The rules prohibit colleges from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and nix a sociology class from the core curriculum at state colleges. SHORTFALL — “Where have all the teachers gone? State needs more than 4,000,” reports WMFE’s Danielle Prieur. “The Florida Education Association says the shortage that comes halfway through the school year is critically impacting English language learners and special education students. The state also needs almost 3,500 support staff including bus drivers and cafeteria workers.” REPORT — “DeSantis' contentious election crimes office sees decline in cases,” reports POLITICO's Gary Fineout. “Florida’s election crimes office that was created by Gov. Ron DeSantis saw its workload drop off in the past year and many cases it handled ultimately did not result in prosecutions, according to a new report. In its annual report turned in this week the Office of Election Crimes and Security — which reports to Secretary of State Cord Byrd — said it handled more than 1,300 complaints and initiated nearly 400 investigations during the past year.” UNDERAGE WORKING — “Florida lawmaker walks back labor bill; won't let minors work on roofs,” by Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network - Florida. “A controversial bill that would have allowed teenagers to work as roofers was amended to limit 16- and 17-year-olds to residential construction projects lower than 6 feet, a change softening a measure that critics called child exploitation.” NEW REGS COMING — “House health care panel OKs bills placing mandates on hospitals, insurers, health plans,” reports Florida Politics’ Christine Jordan Sexton. Among the mandates are requirements to go smoke free, mandating coverage of skin cancer screenings and sharing hospital data with a state registry to improve public health and how care is coordinated. — “More background checks for FL healthcare workers? A physician lawmaker calls them humiliating,” reports Florida Phoenix’s Jackie Llanos — “Closing cold cases: Lawmakers want Florida to collect DNA from every state inmate,” reports the Tallahassee Democrat’s Elena Barrera — “Age verification mandate for accessing porn sites advances in House,” reports Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles BUSINESS NEWS — “With merger scuttled, South Florida-based Spirit Airlines faces an uncertain future. Is bankruptcy a possibility?” by The Associated Press’ David Koenig. “Some Wall Streeters who follow Spirit are tossing around the B word – bankruptcy. The judge had even hinted at such an outcome during the trial.” | | | | 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 | | | | 
Karla Hernandez-Mats, president of the United Teachers of Dade. | Lynne Sladky/AP | REVIVING — “Miami-Dade teachers union says it's cleared a key hurdle to recertification,” reports WLRN’s Kate Payne. “More than 30 percent of its members have signed statements, known as showing of interest cards, to formally affirm that they want to keep their union. That’s a requirement set by the state agency overseeing labor groups, known as the Public Employees Relations Commission or PERC.” NEW COLLEGE CURRICULUM — “New College of Florida faculty approved a resolution Wednesday afternoon expressing their disapproval of the recently announced online degree program in collaboration with billionaire GOP megadonor Joe Ricketts,” per the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Steven Walker. “The faculty approved the resolution in an overwhelming 25-1 vote, sources told the Herald-Tribune, citing a lack of consultation from the administration on its decision to launch the program. The vote appears to hold no impact on whether the college launches the program, but formally shows the group's position on the issue.” | | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
ALL IN ON THE PALMETTO STATE — ‘Big comedown’ as DeSantis abandons New Hampshire, by Kimberly Leonard and Lisa Kashinsky. Stuck in the single-digits in New Hampshire polls even after a distant second-place finish in Iowa, DeSantis is decamping to what he hopes will be a warmer political climate — throwing himself into campaign events in South Carolina on Saturday and Sunday, a campaign official confirmed. Largely bypassing New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Tuesday, is a clear acknowledgment that DeSantis will get thumped by Donald Trump and Nikki Haley here.
LAYOFFS — “Shake-up by a desperate DeSantis opens wider path for Haley in New Hampshire,” reports The New York Times. “As DeSantis’s team licked its wounds on Wednesday, his super PAC, Never Back Down, trimmed operations in several places, including Nevada. Other staff members were also laid off, including almost the entire online “war room” team, a person with knowledge of the matter said. Those who were cut had their email accounts immediately suspended. It was unclear how many people in all lost their jobs. MAGA BLACKLIST — Trump seeks revenge on ex-DeSantis operative, reports POLITICO’s Daniel Lippman. Trump and people in his inner circle have told down-ballot Republican candidates not to hire Republican strategist Jeff Roe or his political consulting firm after Roe worked to elect Ron DeSantis, according to four people familiar with the conversations. The admonition against hiring Roe represents an attempt to choke off revenue for his consulting firm, Axiom, in an act of political retribution. Roe was a top strategist for the DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down. Roe resigned in mid-December after the Washington Post published a story detailing backbiting at the super PAC. MORE BURNING BRIDGES — “Trump's GOP revenge tour,” by Axios’ Zachary Basu. “The Trump campaign's new threat against House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.) confirms what many suspected: Anyone who endorsed a rival candidate before the Iowa caucuses is now a prime target for retribution. The rush of Republicans who endorsed Trump in the weeks before his blowout win in Iowa on Monday clearly saw the writing on the wall, as the campaign is now signaling its intent to destroy Good over his early backing of DeSantis.” | | | | A message from the University of Central Florida:   | | |
| | DATELINE D.C. | | |  Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., joined at left by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP | TODAY — A bipartisan group of lawmakers including GOP Reps. Ana Paulina Luna and Matt Gaetz as well as Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz — all of Florida — are holding a press conference at 10 a.m. about a resolution to provide proxy voting to new moms in Congress. — “Florida man sentenced to 5 years after attacking 6 officers on Jan. 6,” reports the Washington Post’s Tom Jackman | | TRANSITION TIME | |
— Jessica Lipscomb is now city editor for the Miami Herald. She previously worked at the Washington Post, where she was deputy editor of the Morning Mix team.
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| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
BIRTHDAYS: Former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Florida … Former Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul
| | 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 | | | | |
