Having the responsibility of delivering the largest swing state for President Donald Trump this election cycle is a pretty daunting task, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appears to be up to the task, finds himself in a bit of a food fight.
For those of you who have gotten to know Gov. Ron DeSantis pretty well, you know that the good governor has a pretty healthy appetite, and usually never passes up a meal, unless of course First Lady Casey DeSantis is calling him in to change a diaper or two.
DeSantis has jokes. The father of three took time off from traversing the state and pushing his legislative agenda, and sat down to ask Floridians to help him decide who had the better chicken sandwich, Chick-Fil-A or Popeye's.
For me, it's Chick-Fil-A, all the way, as long as they hold that darn pickle!
POLITICO newsman Gary Fineout offers up a third choice for the Tallahassee crowd.
"With all due respect to the corporate titans, you could also visit either of the Lindy’s near the Capitol"
Read more here
After his lunch, DeSantis got back to work joining Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Kevin Thibault for a groundbreaking ceremony of the Tyndall Flyover, a new project at Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) that will improve access and security to the base."
Then after a snack, Governor Ron DeSantis proclaimed November 4-15, 2019, as Paychecks for Patriots weeks in Florida. If you didn't know, "Paychecks for Patriots is a partnership with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), the CareerSource Florida network, the Florida National Guard, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) and participating Florida employers to hold job fairs for veterans and their families. 2019 marks the seventh year the state of Florida has hosted Paychecks for Patriots."
“As a veteran myself, I am proud that our state is committed to helping veterans and their families gain meaningful employment and make Florida the most veteran-friendly state in the country,” said Governor DeSantis. “I encourage veterans looking for work to attend one of more than a dozen career fair events across the state in the month of November.”
Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis goes to Washington and makes the rounds, meets with Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio. Patronis even found time to be a fan, posting a selfie of him and Rubio.
Proud Papa – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Steve Bovo is proud of his boy Omar De La Rosa after he was elected to the Hialeah City commission
“Florida’s Rx drug supply chain needs fixing, more transparency” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Yesterday, the Florida Senate met in two separate committees to discuss the issue of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in the prescription drug supply chain. Both meetings had diverse panels representing the various interests in the matter as they attempted to move toward reform.The Senate Committee on Health Policy met in the morning with four panelists from the Small Business Pharmacies Aligned for Reform (SPAR), Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, and Florida Association of Health Plans Inc. They discussed issues including transparency, contracting, payments, steering, and clawbacks.
One of Florida’s rising young legislators, Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R) could be one of those “ones to watch” this upcoming legislative session. Sabatini and Rep. Bryan Avila’s ‘Stolen Valor’ legislation should pass with flying colors, and so should his ‘seed to sale’ law that would allow for more licensed growers in the state.
When a Lefty meets an almost-Righty –“Full stream of election 2020 conversation with Florida’s top Republican, top Democrat” by The Tampa Bay Times
Republican Party of Florida chairman Joe Gruters and Florida Democratic Party chairwoman Terrie Rizzo join Times Political Editor Steve Contorno.
“Pam Bondi to join White House impeachment response team” by Sun-Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello - Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi will be hired by the Trump White House to help with its impeachment response, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.
Bondi, who has worked for lobbyist Brian Ballard since leaving the attorney general’s office earlier this year, will join the White House communications staff “temporarily” in order to help with messaging during the ongoing impeachment inquiry, Post reporter Josh Dawsey reported. They will also work on “special projects."
“Prosecutors: Roger Stone lied because ‘truth looked bad’ for Donald Trump” by Orlando Sentinel’s Ashraf Kahlil – Prosecutors in the trial of Roger Stone told jurors Wednesday that the longtime Donald Trump confidant repeatedly lied to Congress “because the truth looked bad” for the president.
The opening arguments in the case against Stone, a longtime Republican operative and provocateur, made clear that the president will be a central figure in the trial, even though the charges aren’t directly related to his interactions with Trump. Stone is accused of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election.
“Amendment 4: Florida Supreme Court begins to tackle case of when ex-felons can vote again” by Associated Press’s Brendan Farrington – Tallahassee — The Florida Supreme Court began considering Wednesday whether a voter-approved constitutional amendment restoring the voting rights of felons who complete their sentences means they also have to pay court-ordered fines, fees and restitution.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis believes that's the case and signed a Republican-sponsored bill requiring legal financial obligations be met before voting rights are restored. But he asked the court to clarify the amendment after advocates for felons sued in federal court.
We are the Champions? Florida Democrats are out saying that momentum is on their side as 2020 approaches. Is the “Blue Wave” moving along, or are Progressives in for a rude awakening next November?
“We are excited to continue to grow on the successes we had last night - and work to elect more Democrats at the municipal level in 2020 and beyond,” said MVP Director Lisa Peth. “This is about building a bench, and we know that when more Democrats run, more Democrats vote, and more Democrats win.”
“Florida could require engaged couples to read ‘healthy marriage’ guide” by Orlando Sentinel’s Steven Lemongello – Couples would have to read a new “Florida Guide to a Healthy Marriage” before getting a marriage license if a new bill becomes law next year.The bill (SB 682) filed Tuesday by Republican state Sen. Dennis Baxley, would create a Marriage Education Committee to write a marriage guide for newlyweds “to combat the rising cost of divorce to Florida’s citizens.”The guide would complement the Family Law Handbook already produced by the state, which Baxley said did not provide enough positive advice to go along with advice on divorce.
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, your friendly openly-gay state legislator, doesn’t like this bill so much. “I’m sorry. Something tells me that the Florida legislature is NOT going to give me good advice on how to maintain a “healthy marriage” with my husband.”
“Mexican President declines Trump’s help, cowers to drug cartels” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – A suspect in the massacre of 9 Americans in Mexico has been arrested south of the Arizona-Mexico border with two hostages and arsenal of weapons.But even though there is a suspect in custody, the ongoing cartel war continues, and the Mexican government looks poised to do nothing about them.The Mexicans have cowered down to the drug cartels.After the massacre earlier this week, President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. assist Mexico in waging “WAR” against drug cartels and “white them off the face of the earth” after gunmen shot and killed 9 Americans in the state of Sonora.
“Top Ukraine Diplomat Testified Giuliani Spearheaded Pressure for Investigations” by The New York Times’Nicholas Fando – WASHINGTON – THE top American diplomat in Ukraine identified Rudolph W. Giuliani, President Trump’s personal lawyer, as the instigator behind the drive to get Ukraine’s president to announce investigations into Mr. Trump’s political rivals, telling impeachment investigators last month that Mr. Giuliani was acting on behalf of the president.
House Democrats on Wednesday released a transcript of the private testimony by the diplomat, William B. Taylor Jr., as they named him as the first of several witnesses who will testify publicly next week in a slate of impeachment hearings. They will begin laying out a case that Mr. Trump abused his office to secure political favors from Ukraine.
“National Republicans in position to take on Charlie Crist” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Moderate or “Blue Dog Democrat” Rep. Charlie Crist has a big fat bullseye on his back, as the prominent and likable former governor of Florida is being targeted by a slew of Republican congressional candidates and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in the 2020 presidential election cycle. George Buck, Jr., who served in both the U.S. Army and Air Force Reserve, is a retired firefighter that has just been given the NRCC’s Young Gun “On the Radar” designation. The designation is given to a Republican congressional candidate who tops the $100,ooo cash on hand benchmark needed to garner “On the Radar” status Republican committee.
“Iowa Poll: Biden falls to 4th place” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – If she hadn’t already started to, she is doing it now the political fat lady has begun to sing her farewell song to Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, this as the latest Quinnipiac Poll in Iowa finds Biden trailing frontrunner Sen. Elizabeth Warren by 5 points.Mayor Pete Buttigieg is right there alongside Warren with 19 points, but will America as a whole, support his alternative lifestyle?
“Scott, Rubio Honors Parkland Victims With School Safety Legislation” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – The sunshine state state is still feeling the effects of the Parkland shooting.In response, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson (R) joined Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott in introducing the Luke and Alex School Safety Act, which honors Luke Hoyer, Alex Schachter and the 15 victims of the shooting that took place last year.Specifically, this legislation creates a Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Best Practices that will help schools and their faculty, parents and other community officials identify the best school safety measures and resources that should be implemented.
“For Mexico ambush victims, there was no safety in numbers” by the Los Angeles Times’ Kate Linthicum – LA MORA, MEXICO— Over the last few months, members of the close-knit Mormon community in this mountain hamlet began taking new precautions.
Tensions were rising between the criminal group that controlled La Mora, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, and another cartel that controlled territory in neighboring Chihuahua state.
After two local men went missing while crossing a stretch of desert not far from here, the Mormons — dual U.S.-Mexican citizens who have lived and farmed here for decades — decided that when they traveled, it would be in large caravans only. There was safety in numbers, they believed.
“House Democrats credit healthcare narrative for narrow wins” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Democrats who ran and won on healthcare in the 2018 midterm elections because Republicans failed to effectively counter-message, are once again poised to run on that very issue in the 2020 presidential election cycle.The winning political line Democrats are pushing is “expanding access to healthcare,” or preserving the embattled Affordable Care Act.After this past Tuesday’s elections in Kentucky and Virginia, where Democrat took control of both chambers of the Virginia legislature and won the governor’s mansion in Kentucky, progressives are crediting their healthcare narrative as the reason for the victories.
“House Democrats credit healthcare narrative for narrow wins” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Democrats who ran and won on healthcare in the 2018 midterm elections because Republicans failed to effectively counter-message, are once again poised to run on that very issue in the 2020 presidential election cycle.
The winning political line Democrats are pushing is “expanding access to healthcare,” or preserving the embattled Affordable Care Act.
After this past Tuesday’s elections in Kentucky and Virginia, where Democrat took control of both chambers of the Virginia legislature and won the governor’s mansion in Kentucky, progressives are crediting their healthcare narrative as the reason for the victories.
“A majority of Americans say 2020 election is 'significant source of stress,' according to new survey” by the USA Today’s Savannah Behrmann – WASHINGTON– It’s a year away, but the 2020 presidential election is considered to be a “significant source of stress” in a majority of Americans, according to a new poll.According to the annual “Stress in America” survey from the American Psychological Association, 56% of U.S. adults identified 2020 as a “significant" stressor. That is an increase from the contentious 2016 match-up, when respondents were asked the same question just three months before the election, and 52% of adults reported that the presidential election was incredibly stressful.According to the poll, the topic of the upcoming election is proving to be more stressful for survey respondents who identified as Democrats, compared to those who identified as Republicans, by nearly 25%.
@realDonaldTrump -The story in the Amazon Washington Post, of course picked up by Fake News CNN, saying “President Trump asked for AG Barr to host a news conference clearing him on Ukraine,” is totally untrue and just another FAKE NEWS story with anonymous sources that don’t exist....
The LameStream Media, which is The Enemy of the People, is working overtime with made up stories in order to drive dissension and distrust!
@RepJerryNadler - This is a reckless abdication of US leadership. Despite our country's standing as the second-highest emitter of greenhouse gases, the President is leading our nation down a path that will make it the only country in the world to reject the Paris Agreement.
@USRepKCastor - This is a horrendous decision and proof that we need bold congressional action to solve the climate crisis!By ignoring science and the rising costs of the changing climate, Trump takes America backwards & sides with corporate polluters over Americans fighting for the future.
@marcorubio - .@NicolasMaduro plan in #Venezuela:
-divide opposition by co-opting or bribing some into endorsing early fraudulent @AsambleaVE
“election”
-those who don’t agree forced to boycott fake election
-electoral council manipulates votes to guarantee regime takes over natl assembly
@SenRickScott - Great win for Florida’s economy, infrastructure and job
Thank you @SecElaineChaofor approving vital grants for 3 of our big projects in Orlando’s Lake Nona community, Miami Underline and @JAXPORT
@RepTedDeutch - Two weeks ago, the House passed @VernBuchanan& my bill, the #PACTAct to protect animals. Last night, the Senate passed it, too! Thanks @SenBlumenthal, @SenatorDurbin, @SenFeinstein& @SenToomeyfor introducing this bill in the Senate & for standing up against animal abuse!
@RepStephMurphy - We owe all those who fought to defend liberty and answered the call of duty our deepest gratitude and respect. I was incredibly honored to recognize Vietnam veterans at a ceremony today in #WinterSprings and to thank them for their service.
@mattgaetz - While we have the America-First President that we voted for, we have the America-Last impeachment strategy. Dems have put American workers and farmers last by focusing on impeachment over policy.
@MarioDB - I commend the admin's most recent Cuba policy change. In the spirit of that PPD, I encourage the admin to review the visa process that permits regime accomplices such as Haila Maria Mompie to travel to the U.S., while deserving, anti-regime #Cubans continue to face difficulties.
@GovRonDeSantis - .@FLCaseyDeSantisand I were excited to host our friends in the Indian American community for the the first-ever Diwali celebration at the Florida Governor’s Mansion. We hope everyone had a terrific time as this year’s Festival of Lights comes to an end (No chicken sandwiches were seen at the event)
@RepDMP -Fighting the Upside Down on Halloween because someone has to. #StrangerThingsDay
"Yacht placed ‘under arrest’ at boat show over $4 million dispute" by Sun-Sentinel's Ron Hurtibise - A $4 million yacht placed ‘under arrest’ at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show over a payment dispute. With four parties battling in court over a $4 million yacht, there was only one way to be sure the wrong person doesn’t get possession of it.Put the boat under arrest.U.S. marshals boarded the 74-foot yacht at Bahia Mar on Sunday just after the close of the five-day Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show where it was displayed by the manufacturer, Sunseeker International.The marshals presented a signed order by U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga authorizing the boat’s “arrest” — which in global maritime law is an action intended to remove a vessel from the control of parties involved in a dispute until it’s settled.
Florida mom’s murder probe nets brother-in-law on child porn charges; latest in string of family arrests" by Fox News Hollie McKay - The brother-in-law of murdered Florida woman Nicole Montalvo is the latest of several former relatives now under arrest as a result of the investigation into her death.
Nicolas Rivera, 28, was apprehended by federal authorities Monday after detectives allegedly discovered child p*rn images during the Montalvo probe. Rivera, who faces eight counts of child p*rnography, has been identified as a “person of interest” in the woman's slaying.
