| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | |  Member of the Congressional Hispanic Conference (CHC) Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on February 1, 2023 in Washington, DC. | Alex Wong/Getty Images | Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. Members of Florida’s Republican congressional delegation are furious after the Biden administration announced yesterday that private business owners in Cuba would be able to use U.S. banks. The decision, which will alter part of a decades-long embargo on the communist island nation, will allow Cubans to set up accounts and make transactions remotely, including over online platforms. Under current policy, Cubans can open bank accounts in the U.S. but can’t access their money once they return home, making it hard to import food, equipment and anything else they want to buy. The Biden administration made its announcement, which had been in the works for a while, amid an economic crisis in Cuba where residents face inflation, shortages in gas and food and frequent power blackouts — dire circumstances that could result in more migration to the U.S. Already, more than 500,000 people have left in recent years. Administration officials told reporters, per CNN, that the changes would help create jobs and grow the economy in a country with more than 11,000 businesses. But House Republicans from South Florida accused U.S. officials of complicity. Rep. Carlos Giménez, who was born in Cuba and used to be mayor of heavily Cuban Miami-Dade County, held a press conference in Coral Gables yesterday in response to the Biden administration’s announcement. In a video statement provided to Playbook, he said the administration was “crazy” if officials “actually believe there’s private enterprise in Cuba.” “It’s ludicrous; of course there’s no private enterprise in Cuba,” he said. “It’s all tied to the communist regime — the same regime that’s been oppressing the Cuban people for over 60 years. America needs to be the leader, the champion of democracy, of free elections and we are not. We are helping the dictators in this hemisphere.” Rep. María Elvira Salazar said on social media that the changes “would make a mockery of American law, considering no progress has been made toward freedom on the island and repression has intensified.” Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart raised concerns about national security risks and accused the Biden administration of circumventing Congress. Miami-based Democratic pollster Fernand Amandi pushed back on critics, urging them to think about “the long-suffering Cuban people who are the ones who have to deal with the brunt of the policy and action." “If this measure provides a little bit of ease for Cubans on the island who are probably going through the worst economic crisis of any time in the last 50 years, it should be something that should be thought about before immediately dismissed,” he said. Republicans frequently deride Democrats as being sympathetic to socialist regimes. While Florida Democrats have bristled at the characterization, they’ve also been dismayed at other times when the Biden administration seemed to undercut their overtures to the Latino community. The banking decision comes roughly a week after the Biden administration let Cuban officials tour security facilities at Miami International Airport, resulting in bipartisan backlash. The Biden administration this month also took Cuba off a short list of countries the U.S. alleges aren’t cooperating fully in fighting terrorism, and Democratic Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell said she thought Cuba should be reinstated on that list. On the banking changes, she said it was important for the U.S. to support legitimate small businesses but urged the Biden administration to “monitor the situation closely and ensure this isn’t being abused." The slew of decisions come as President Joe Biden is losing support from Hispanic voters, one of the most important and influential blocs in Florida — a state the campaign has insisted is “in play” despite former President Trump being safely ahead in recent polling. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
| | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | NUMBERS ARE IN — “Florida voucher program for home-schoolers on pace to at least double this year,” reports Ryan Dailey of News Service of Florida. “As of late last week, 39,690 applications had been submitted for the coming school year, and 31,991 vouchers had been awarded, with months to go for applications to come in, potentially increasing the number toward the maximum of 60,000.” VOTER REGISTRATION SUPPORT — “Voter outreach groups targeted by new laws in several GOP-led states are struggling to do their work,” by The Associated Press’ Ayanna Alexander. “The Florida law, signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last May, imposed a $50,000 fine on third-party voter registration organizations if the staff or volunteers who handle or collect the forms have been convicted of a felony or are not U.S. citizens. It also raised the fines the groups could face, from $1,000 to $250,000, and reduced the amount of time they are able to return registration applications from 14 days to 10 days. A federal judge blocked portions of the law earlier this month, including the one targeting felons and those who are not citizens. Even so, the law had a direct effect on the operations of Equal Ground and other voter advocacy organizations in the state before the ruling.” GUN STATS — “Florida has most mass shootings in U.S. in 2024 with latest in Fort Pierce, Sarasota,” by C.A. Bridges of USA Today Network — Florida. “Florida has now seen 16 mass shootings this year, more than any other state in the nation and two more than the Sunshine State saw by this time last year according to the Gun Violence Archive. Florida jumped ahead of the rest last month when there were three mass shootings in three days.” WATER RESEARCH — “Florida is establishing the ‘Office of Ocean Economy’ at FAU, pushing to advance discoveries,” by Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Florida’s new Office of Ocean Economy — a statewide effort to harness public and private research, education, technology and business applications involving water — will be housed at Florida Atlantic University. The effort, which envisions a collaboration among all state universities and businesses, was sponsored by Democratic and Republican state lawmakers from South Florida.” MISSING PAPERWORK — “Central Florida legislator failed to file state expense reports for months,” by the Orlando Sentinel’s Annie Martin. “Republican State Rep. Paula Stark of St. Cloud provided 'unacceptable' descriptions on reports listing expenses totaling more than $7,000 and did not file reports for six months last year, according to an email from a legislative staffer sent to Stark in March. Two former aides to Stark say they alerted Florida House staff members to issues with her office account earlier this year. Both were later fired.”
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | LEADER CHOSEN — “U.N. expert, former prime minister is named to lead Haiti’s transitional government,” by the Miami Herald’s Jacqueline Charles. “A longtime United Nations development expert who once served as a top aide to former President Bill Clinton after Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake has been selected as the country’s next prime minister. This will be Garry Conille’s second crack at Haiti’s top government job. He was voted into the job in late 2011 by Haiti’s parliament after five months of political gridlock. But following tensions with the president at the time, Michel Martelly, Conille was forced to resign.” SHUTTING DOWN — “Should Broward close some schools in 2025 or 2026? The latest considerations,” by Scott Travis of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Broward School Board members could decide Wednesday how quickly they want to start closing schools to deal with dwindling student enrollment. Superintendent Howard Hepburn plans to bring to the School Board on Wednesday two proposals that would close eight schools: One that would take effect in the 2025-26 school year, and another that would take effect a year later. No school names are listed.” HOUSING POLICY — “Impact of density bonuses on Sarasota affordable housing still uncertain,” by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Heather Bushman. “A controversial developer incentive intended to address the rising affordable housing crisis is continuing to stir local debate, as opponents fear the new policy will exacerbate the issue rather than ease it as supporters predict.”
| | | DATELINE D.C. | | | TODAY — Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is holding a press conference in Hialeah on hurricane preparedness. The senator also held similar events in Mexico Beach and St. Pete Beach yesterday. SCOTUS DECLINES CASE — “US Supreme Court rejects challenges to Florida’s use of 6-member juries,” reports News Service of Florida. “The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected constitutional challenges to Florida’s use of six-member juries in most felony trials, with Florida one of only a handful of states not requiring 12-member juries in criminal cases. The Supreme Court, as is common, did not explain its reasons for declining to take up 13 cases about the issue. But Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote a dissenting opinion that said the court should reconsider a 1970 ruling in a Florida case, saying the constitutional right to trial by a jury is not met by six-member juries.”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Democratic Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell's campaign purchased the ScottforLeader.com domain to parody incumbent GOP Sen. Rick Scott, where it links off to negative articles about the senator and puts him on the spot over key issues, including abortion rights and opposition to Medicaid expansion. The campaign is hosting an accompanying event in Miami today where Mucarsel-Powell will sign a pledge to never cut Social Security and Medicare. TRUMP STAMP OF APPROVAL — “Matt Gaetz notches Trump’s ‘Complete and Total Endorsement,’” by Florida Politics’ Drew Wilson. “Trump’s endorsement comes after Republican Aaron Dimmock launched a bid to primary Gaetz just ahead of the qualifying deadline for federal candidates.” ANOTHER DELEGATION BACKING — “Donald Trump endorses Vern Buchanan over MAGA-wannabe Primary challenger,” by Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles. “The support comes as Buchanan faces a Primary Election challenge from Inspiration Academy founder Eddie Speir, who has run as an anti-establishment, ‘America First’ alternative.” HOPPING IN THE RACE — “21-year-old marketing manager takes on Jessica Baker in HD 17,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski. “Bryson Kade Morgan, a 21-year-old marketing manager for the Texas Roadhouse chain, is looking to take a bite out of the Republican supermajority in Tallahassee by defeating the wife of one of the region’s most proven political consultants.”
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | |  Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) talks to members of the media as he walks to the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol on April 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. | Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images | VEEPSTAKES — “Marco Rubio wants to be Trump’s vice president. He doesn’t want to audition,” reports the New York Times’ Michael C. Bender and Patricia Mazzei. “Mr. Rubio has taken a low-key approach in aiming to become the next Republican vice-presidential nominee, a strategy with a clear logic: Mr. Trump is known to bristle when anyone gets too close to his limelight … But it is unclear whether Mr. Rubio’s quiet campaign will work. The soft touch has perplexed Mr. Trump, who has privately wondered how much the senator wants the job, according to two people familiar with the former president’s thinking. In effect, Mr. Rubio needs to show that he wants the job, without showing that he wants it too much.” GREATEST THREAT? — “Why Democrats worry Marco Rubio as Trump veep could bedevil Biden’s bid,” by Vanity Fair’s Adrian Carrasquillo. “The harsh reality for Biden’s reelection campaign is that the president needs more goodwill among Latinos — a lot more. Polls suggest he is stronger with Spanish-speakers than Hispanics who predominantly speak English. That is likely why the president recently brokered a relationship reset with Univision, America’s largest Spanish-language network, which offered him a lengthy sit-down after the network gifted Trump with a much-criticized softball interview in November. But a Rubio vice presidential nomination could throw a big wrench in Biden’s Spanish-language-media forays, providing Trump with a weapon he’s never had before: a bilingual, bicultural MAGA minister able to seamlessly switch from English to Spanish, sharing the campaign’s message directly with voters.” MAR-A-LAGO DOCS — “Judge Cannon rebukes Trump prosecutors over gag order request,” by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney. “The judge overseeing the criminal case against Donald Trump for hoarding classified documents at his Florida home has again chided special counsel Jack Smith’s team for its tactics — this time over a request for an order preventing Trump from repeating baseless claims that FBI agents carrying out a search at Mar-a-Lago last year were authorized to kill him. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon turned down the gag order request Tuesday as she delivered another sharp warning to prosecutors that they need to make more concerted efforts at dialogue with Trump’s counsel before bringing disputes to the court.”
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