| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | Presented by |  | | | |  The Florida Supreme Court is seen in Tallahassee, on Jan. 11, 2024. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. Democrats have been in a wait-and-see mode over how they’ll be able to leverage abortion rights in Florida ahead of the election. They won’t have to wait much longer. The Florida Supreme Court is expected to rule before April 1 on whether to put a pro-abortion-rights referendum in front of voters on the November ballot — and Thursday is typically the decision day. Separately, the court is weighing a Florida law that makes it illegal to have an abortion after 15 weeks into a pregnancy, including in cases of rape and incest. If the state Supreme Court upholds the ban, then it’ll trigger a second, more-restrictive six week limit. Once the justices rule, Democrats will know what they’re working with and be able to articulate a clearer message on what the stakes are for abortion laws in Florida. If abortion is heavily curtailed in Florida, then it’ll affect patients all over the Southeast because they’ve been traveling here from more restrictive states to obtain abortions. Ahead of the rulings, the Republican Party of Florida has been leaning into the issue. The state party agreed in February to support abortion bans and to oppose having the issue go before voters in November. If it does, then state Republicans will urge voters to select “no” on their ballots. “I don’t think in Florida that it’s something we should run away from,” Republican Party of Florida chair Evan Power told Playbook. He also indicated that Republicans would try to put Democrats on the spot over supporting expansive access to the procedure. The amendment being considered in Florida would allow abortion procedures under any circumstances up until viability — understood to be roughly 24 weeks into a pregnancy — and afterward in cases of unspecified “health” reasons. But Democrats are fired up about making abortion a key issue for November, saying it’s a winner for them that'll energize voters. Every state ballot measure to guarantee abortion rights since the demise of Roe v. Wade has prevailed, even if it hasn’t always resulted in states subsequently electing more Democrats. Abortion rights will be prominent in the national conversation this week because the U.S. Supreme Court this morning will hear arguments in a case to decide how readily available mifepristone, a commonly used abortion pill, should be. It’s not clear how the state Supreme Court will rule. And while there’s a ticking clock for the court to issue a decision about the proposed amendment, they’re under no such time pressure for ruling on the 15-week ban. But if abortion isn’t on the ballot before voters, for instance, and a strict abortion ban also becomes law in Florida, Democrats say they’d have an especially clear argument to urge voters to elect more of them to restore abortion rights. “If the state Supreme Court elects not to put women’s reproductive freedom on the ballot, I think it will infuriate the electorate — not just Democrats, but independents and Republicans, especially women,” said Chris Korge, Biden Victory Fund national finance chair who hosted a fundraiser for President Joe Biden in January at his Miami home. “They’ll be taking away their voice on an issue that is one of the most important issues to Americans today.” “They made a bed for themselves,” Korge added of Republicans, “and now they're going to lie in it.” 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 ... | |
BIG TECH TAKEDOWN — “DeSantis puts final stamp on Florida law blocking kids from social media,” reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “Under the new law, many platforms are prohibited from allowing children younger than 14 to have an account. The measure, which also targets adult websites, aligns Florida with other states like Arkansas and Utah that have attempted to rein in social media use, drawing the ire of the tech companies and free speech advocates … Instead of targeting specific social media platforms, the law was crafted to restrict access to any platforms that deploy ‘addictive’ features, such as ‘infinite scrolling,’ algorithms and push notifications.”
SAIL AWAY — “Key West could see larger cruise ships under new DEP proposal,” reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is proposing permanently allowing larger cruise ships to dock in Key West, putting forward a significant port lease modification after the legislature blocked Key West voters from imposing restrictions on ships in 2021. The department's recommendations would allow cruise ships nearly 50 feet longer to dock at the Key West harbor by expanding the sea bottom where cruise ships can dock by about 1.3 acres.” AS DECISION ON NEW REGULATIONS LOOM — “Airbnb promotes Florida operations as biggest contributor to tourist taxes,” by Florida Politics’ Drew Dixon. “According to the report [from the company], Florida Airbnb rentals generated the most tourism tax revenue in the U.S. Florida accounted for $387 million in tourism taxes in 2023, more than any other state in the country. The company has now accounted for a total of more than $1 billion in tourism taxes in Florida.” VIRUS SPREAD — “Florida reports 11th measles case of 2024, this time linked to international travel,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Caroline Catherman. “The case was identified in South Florida’s Martin County, in an individual age 55-59. It was linked to travel outside of the country, according to data from the state health department’s web-based reportable disease surveillance system.” | | | | 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. | | | | | |  A sign near an entranceway to Walt Disney World on May 22, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images | TOMORROW — “Disney World governing board set to pick a new District Administrator,” reports Florida Politics’ Gabrielle Russon. “The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board meets Wednesday, with the meeting agenda including plans to pick Stephanie Kopelousos to oversee district operations.” BUT FIRST — “Orange County commission showdown for Disney’s first affordable housing project,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Stephen Hudak. “With a critical vote scheduled for Tuesday, an affordable-housing project proposed for Disney-owned acres in west Orange County has the backing of hoteliers, a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity and a schoolteachers union, but its future neighbors are less enthralled … Community residents say their roads are already congested and their schools are over capacity, and this new development will make things enormously worse.” … CRISIS IN HAITI … — “'A criminal economy': How US arms fuel deadly gang violence in Haiti,” by Al Jazeera’s Jillian Kestler-D'Amours. “From handguns to semi-automatic and even military-style firearms, the range of weapons and ammunition streaming into Haiti goes largely unchecked amid weak state institutions, corruption and challenges in monitoring the country’s vast coastline … The funding for that weaponry and other gang operations comes largely from drug trafficking, kidnappings, extortion and other criminal activities.” — “Will Haiti have a transitional government soon? Disagreements lead to more delays,” reports the Miami Herald’s Jacqueline Charles. “Among the issues still unresolved: Will the [proposed presidential council] consist of nine voting members, or seven members and two non-voting observers? While seemingly minor, the differences over the panel’s makeup underscores the delays in finalizing the formation council, which the U.S. and Caribbean leaders are counting on to help stem the tide of violence that has engulfed the capital since Feb. 29 and plunged Haiti deeper into a humanitarian crisis.” … BACK IN FLORIDA … ALL ABOARD — “Tri-Rail eyes expansion service to the VA center from its Mangonia Park station,” reports Mike Diamond of the Palm Beach Post. “Tri-Rail is taking another look at having its trains travel westward from its Mangonia Park station to the VA Medical Center, one of the Palm Beach County's largest employers. The line would serve employees as well as the thousands of veterans who receive services at the VA hospital every year.” COMMUTER DANGERS — “Deadly scooter accidents highlight a new technology at odds with South Florida lifestyle,” by the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Shira Moolten. “The region’s reliance on cars makes it a deadly place for scooter-riders, often silent, unexpected or barely visible at roads and intersections. The deaths of two students in a matter of weeks have underscored the dangers of a growing new technology at odds with South Florida lifestyles.” — “How LVMH helped turn an abandoned Miami warehouse district into a luxury hot spot,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Deborah Acosta.
| | | | A message from the Florida Bankers Association:   | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | |  Rep. Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) speaks during an event outside the U.S. Capitol, on April 17, 2023. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | JUST BEFORE HER BIRTHDAY — “Trump calls on Republicans to challenge DeSantis’ lone Florida supporter in Congress,” reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “Former President Donald Trump wants a Republican to mount a primary challenge to Rep. Laurel Lee, the lone member of Florida’s congressional delegation to endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis in his unsuccessful bid for president. Lee, who won a crowded GOP primary two years ago in a safe red district, served as Florida’s top election official under DeSantis and resisted calls by a faction of vocal Republicans and Trump supporters to do a complete audit of the 2020 election in the state.”
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NET WORTH JUMP — “Trump’s net worth hits $6.4 billion, making him one of the world’s 500 richest people,” reports Bloomberg’s Tom Maloney. “Facing a deadline to post a bond of more than $500 million in a New York fraud lawsuit, a state appeals court tossed him a lifeline, slashing the amount he’d have to post to $175 million — an amount he says he’ll cover. Around the same time, his social media company Trump Media & Technology Group wrapped up a 29-month-long merger process, meaning shares worth billions of dollars on paper are now officially Trump’s.”
PALM BEACH PALS — “Trump turns to his ‘old cast’ to raise millions for 2024 and the PAC paying his legal bills,” reports CNBC’s Brian Schwartz. “Veteran investor John Paulson has called allies on Wall Street to make the case that it’s time to help Trump become president again … The hedge fund founder is hosting a splashy fundraising dinner for Trump April 6 at his house in Palm Beach, Florida. But Paulson is not the only GOP kingmaker who is privately gearing up to help Trump. Republican megadonor Rebekah Mercer was spotted earlier this month at a private party with other Trump allies in Palm Beach, according to a person familiar with the matter.”
| | | | 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: U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee … Scott Dudley with the Florida League of Cities ... Sam Miller, former executive vice president with the Florida Insurance Council … (was Sunday) Fred Menachem, ThriveDX senior director of communications
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