For the upcoming edition of INFLUENCE Magazine, we would like to feature the folks we call “Capitol Cornerstones.”

These are the institutional, unsung lobbyists or association executives (sorry, no members or staff) who have been around for years.

They’re not rising stars. But they ain’t retiring anytime soon, either.

Bottom line: they know how the system works.

I’d really like to highlight individuals who don’t always get the attention they deserve.

If you can think of someone we should feature, please let me know by Friday, Feb. 19. Your nomination is confidential unless otherwise stated. If you have contact information you can share, that would be helpful.

Just one other note:

 — Don’t forget about our winners and losers: Each week, esteemed columnist Joe Henderson puts together the winners and losers of the week in Florida politics. They are relevant snapshots of the week’s federal, state and local news with an eye toward what made a person, action, organization or a business that week’s star, or its ultimate flub. This week’s edition includes an in-depth analysis of Hillsborough County’s failed vaccine rollout as well as insight into why Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has cause for celebratory drinks. Read more here, and don’t forget to check out the column each Sunday.

—@AlexTDaugherty: Also, this is a politically noteworthy vote for [Marco] Rubio. He and Ron Johnson of WI are the 2 GOP Senators on the ballot in ’22 who voted to acquit [Donald] Trump. Rubio has also faced rumbles of a pro-Trump primary challenge

Tweet, tweet:

—@MaryEllenKlas: In 30 years covering Tallahassee, the #Parkland bill ranks as one of the best demonstrations of legislative responsiveness and leadership. Credit to @BillGalvano @Book4Senate @JaredEMoskowitz Kevin Radar and willingness to negotiate by @joenegronfl @richardcorcoran @WiltonSimpson

—@PatriciaMazzei: I know the rest of the country doesn’t want to hear this, but it’s so hot, Miami basically skipped the spring

—@Rosebwong: I’m really excited about president’s day because it means Valentine’s Day is over

Tweet, tweet:

“Lawmakers open debate over staffing in nursing homes” via Bailey LeFever of The Tampa Bay Times — Even if some facilities don’t plan to use them, personal care attendants could become a permanent fixture in Florida’s long-term care system under two bills proposed for the upcoming Legislative Session. Senate Bill 1132 and House Bill 485 would allow the attendants to work for four months, providing they complete eight hours of training. After that, they would be required to pass a certified nursing assistant exam to continue working in their facilities. The bills were introduced by Sen. Aaron Bean and Rep. Sam Garrison. While making the program permanent could help ease the staffing shortage, experts argue it may lower nursing homes’ quality of care to dangerous levels.

Sam Garrison and Aaron Bean are working to make personal care attendants a permanent fixture in nursing homes.

“Secret search bill and trade secrets back before Legislature” via Mark Lane of The Daytona Beach News-Journal — The Florida Legislature will set up shop in a few weeks and we know what that means new proposals for circumventing the state’s public records and sunshine laws! My personal favorite is the plan to lower the Cone of Silence over searches for university presidents. Bills pushing this idea have been popping up since 2013 and as recently as last Session. The latest version is a bill filed by Jeff Brandes, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, that would allow the vetting and ranking of university presidential candidates could go ahead in secret and keep the identities of applicants confidential until 21 days before their interviews with a search committee or a meeting to decide on hiring. More than enough time to make sure everything is a done deal ahead of time.

“Ardian Zika files bill to bolster K-12 civics education” via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics — Rep. Zika on Thursday filed a bill that would “enhance” K-12 civics education in Florida, the Florida House announced. The proposal, HB 5, instructs the Florida Department of Education to create a “Portraits in Patriotism” video library. The library would house the personal stories of diverse “civic-minded” individuals and use them for instruction. Zika, a Republican, represents Land O’ Lakes. “As an American who began my journey as an immigrant, I’m a product of America’s exceptionalism,” Zika said in the announcement. The proposal, also known as the Portraits in Patriotism Act, requires the curriculum to be incorporated into regular school work.

Ardian Zika wants ‘Portraits in Patriotism’ in public schools.

“‘People should come first’: Allison Tant carries family’s legacy into Florida House” via James Call of The Tallahassee Democrat — Tant arrived at the Capitol this year with a strong sense of the purpose of government, she said. She’s a millionaire, with a reported net worth of $9 million, but her humble beginnings reflect her policy interests. The stories her parents told continue to resonate in Tant when she thinks about government and how she evaluates proposals. In an election night phone call, after her victory with 57% of the vote, Tant took a breath and laid out a legislative agenda to “mend holes” in the social safety net: Protecting funding for health and human services and fixing the state’s troubled unemployment compensation system.

Happening today — House Minority Co-leader Evan Jenne holds an online media availability, joined by Reps. Joe Casello and Christine Hunschofsky, 12:30 p.m. Zoom link here.

Legislative committee meetings

The Senate Select Committee on Pandemic Preparedness and Response will receive an update from the Florida Department of Education, noon, Room 412, Knott Building.

The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee will receive updates from Agency for Health Care Administration on graduate medical education programs, supplemental payment programs and more, 1:30 p.m., Room 404, House Office Building.

The House Public Integrity & Elections Committee will receive updates on research institutions and foreign donations to public entities, 1:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building.

The Senate Judiciary Committee meets to consider SB 54, from Sen. Danny Burgess, to end Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system, 2:30 p.m., Room 412, Knott Building.

The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee meets to consider SB 72, from Sen. Brandes, to shield businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits, 3:30 p.m., Room 110, Senate Office Building.

The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee meets to consider SB 514, from Sen. Ray Rodrigues, to create a Statewide Office of Resiliency on sea-level rise and other issues, 3:30 p.m., Room 37, Senate Office Building.

The House Appropriations Committee will hear an update from Ben Watkins, director of the Division of Bond Finance and matters that influence bond ratings, 4 p.m., Room 212, Knott Building.

The House Ways & Means Committee will workshop issues on remote commerce, 4 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building.

Florida is resuming in-school testing, but not all parents are on board.

“Reefer madness in Florida” via Christine Jordan Sexton of News Service of Florida — Get ready for reefer madness on Wednesday, Feb. 18. That’s when members of the state’s two physician licensing boards begin working on the practice standards Florida-licensed physicians must follow when ordering smokable medical marijuana for their qualified patients. The Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine are required to have the rules adopted by July 1. As members of the boards, meeting collectively as the Joint Committee on Medical Marijuana, begin working on rules laying out when smoking is acceptable, they will be reviewing the findings of a new state report that shows smoking medical marijuana is popular among patients who qualify.

“Long-term care COVID-19 deaths top 10,000” via Jim Saunders of The News Service of Florida — With an additional 59 deaths reported Friday, total long-term care deaths reached 10,034 — with the vast majority involving residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. State leaders have worried since the early days of the pandemic about the threat of COVID-19 to long-term care residents, who are particularly vulnerable to the disease because of advanced ages and underlying health conditions. According to a report released by the state Department of Health, long-term care facilities were linked to about 35% of the 28,565 deaths of Floridians from COVID-19. In all, 28 counties have had more than 100 long-term care deaths, with Palm Beach County topping the list with 974 deaths and Miami-Dade County next with 964.

COVID-19 deaths in long-term facilities are reaching alarming numbers. Image via AP.

“As COVID variants spread, Florida slow to release details” via Kate Santich of the Orlando Sentinel — Since Jan. 7 — one week after a COVID variant first found in the United Kingdom was detected in Martin County — the Florida Department of Health has ignored repeated inquiries for timely information on which other counties had confirmed the presence of the strain. It made a single disclosure, showing variant cases through Feb. 1, but did not publish the information on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, and it has not updated the data since. Reported cases of the mutation have spiraled from 147 to 347 as of Friday. And the lack of transparency has continued without explanation, despite ongoing updates from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has reported state-by-state totals for much of the nation.

“Ron DeSantis warns ‘lockdowner’ Joe Biden not to ‘target Florida’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Florida’s Governor continued this weekend to rail against a potential travel ban floated by the Biden White House, calling the President a “lockdowner” looking to target the Sunshine State. “Biden is a lockdowner. His advisers are lockdowners. Lockdowns don’t work,” said DeSantis, who went on to make a vow to the administration and its allies. “We’re not turning back, and they will not be able to get away with targeting Florida.” The Governor says the travel ban trial balloon was tantamount to a “political attack against Florida” intended to “punish a state that is doing it better than what his experts have recommended.

—”‘This strain is in blue states’: DeSantis blows off coronavirus mutations in Florida” via David Edwards of Raw Story

Ron DeSantis shrugs off COVID-19 variants. Image via Colin Hackley.

“CDC school guidance may have little effect in Florida” via CBS Miami staff reports — New guidelines from the CDC about reopening schools during the coronavirus pandemic might not change anything in Florida, as state Education Commissioner Corcoran is urging districts to “stay the course.” As debate rages over how to reopen schools in various cities and states across the country, the CDC issued guidance Friday that includes mitigation strategies, indicators of COVID-19 transmission and testing for coronavirus in schools. Before the guidelines were published Friday, Corcoran released a prepared statement mostly focused on reiterating that Florida ordered schools to offer in-person instruction in July.

“Data needed for Florida redistricting delayed by COVID-19” via The News Service of Florida — Blaming coronavirus-related delays, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Friday that data Florida lawmakers will use to redraw legislative and congressional boundaries won’t be delivered until September. The bureau had planned to start providing census data to states on Friday and complete the rollout by March 31. In a blog post, James Whitehorne, chief of the bureau’s Redistricting and Voting Rights Data Office, wrote that COVID-19 delays had pushed back the timeline. The data is now expected to be released to all states at one time before Sept. 30. Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Simpson have not assigned lawmakers to fill redistricting committees.

This is ridiculous reporting — “Florida is a COVID-19 nightmare — Even for vaccinated people” via Francisco Alvarado of The Daily Beast — As extra-contagious mutations of the coronavirus gather strength like a hurricane churning off the Atlantic coast, Floridians see no sign of respite. While they have yet to issue formal guidance on congregating by vaccinated people, state and national health experts have assured the general public that the vaccines are effective even, if perhaps less so, against the variants surging nationwide. But in a state with a long history of pandemic recklessness and where mask mandates are nonexistent, vaccinated Floridians don’t want to risk getting infected by going out in public. Here, getting a shot offers little more than a modicum of relief.

“More than 1 million Floridians fully vaccinated against COVID-19” via Chris Persaud of The Palm Beach Post — More than 1 million people in Florida and almost 100,000 in Palm Beach County have now received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Florida health officials reported Saturday that 1,028,315 people statewide and 95,783 in Palm Beach County had both the two-dose coronavirus shots. Statewide figures include 19,816 immunized out-of-state residents, about 2% of the total. So far, 4.8% of Florida’s residents and 6.5% of Palm Beach County’s have been inoculated. Nationwide, about 3.7% of Americans have been fully vaccinated. Florida’s vaccine reports show its efforts to immunize its oldest residents is falling behind.

“Publix will expand vaccine sign-ups starting next week” via Lisa J. Huriash of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel — With a new infusion of COVID-19 vaccines, Publix is increasing the chances for people to book an appointment. Instead of just Wednesdays and Fridays, Publix will add Monday sign-ups starting next week. Publix this week nearly doubled the number of counties where it’s distributing the vaccine in Florida, expanding to 593 stores in 41 of the state’s 67 counties. On Friday, those spots went quickly. More than 27,000 appointments were made in less than two hours, said Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous. The Publix supply is part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which supplies vaccines and the allocation distributed through the state of Florida.

“Lakeland receives additional $787K to aid renters, homeowners” via Sara-Megan Walsh of The Lakeland Ledger — Lakeland officials will vote Monday on how to best spend more than $787,000 in federal relief funds to help those residents feeling the financial impact of the COVID pandemic. The city received a second infusion of $787,276 to assistant residents through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Community Block Development Grant program in September, according to Annie Gibson, the city’s Housing Program Supervisor. “HUD is recommending we concentrate on foreclosures associated with rental assistance and with the vaccine distribution,” she said. The city’s proposed plan calls for approximately one-third, or $262,276, to go toward the city’s Emergency Rental Relief Program.

“A new study identifies seven U.S. virus variants with the same worrying mutation.” via The New York Times — In a new study, a team of researchers reported seven growing lineages of the coronavirus, spotted in states across the country. All of them have evolved a mutation in the same genetic letter. It’s not clear yet whether this shared mutation makes the variants more contagious, but because it appears in a gene that influences how the virus enters human cells, the scientists are highly suspicious. It’s difficult to answer even basic questions about how prevalent the new variants are in the United States because the country sequences genomes from less than 1% of coronavirus test samples.

“Anthony Fauci sees ‘sobering’ data on South Africa variant” via Grace Hauck and John Bacon of USA Today — Data on the South Africa variant of the coronavirus is “sobering,” and current vaccines are less effective against it than the original virus or U.K. variant, Dr. Fauci said Sunday. Fauci, speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” said less is known about the South African variant than the U.K. version, which has proved to be more transmissible than the original version of the virus. “But we do know that it (South Africa variant) evades the protection from some of the monoclonal antibodies, and it diminishes somewhat the capability and the effectiveness of the vaccine to block it,” Fauci said. Fauci said there was “still some cushion left,” so that current vaccines do provide some protection against it.

Anthony Fauci is warning about the COVID-19 South African variant.

What Helen Ferre is reading — “Cover-up claims engulf Andrew Cuomo as scandal over nursing home deaths grows” via Shannon Young and Anna Gronewold of POLITICO — When Gov. Cuomo’s top aide told Democratic lawmakers this week why the administration slow-walked information on nursing home deaths, she appeared to be trying to dispel smoldering rumors of a cover-up. Instead, the aide, Melissa DeRosa, threw gasoline on a fire that by Friday had enveloped Cuomo’s legacy of effective leadership during the COVID-19 crisis, something he hoped to parlay into a fourth term next year. Republicans demanded Cuomo’s impeachment. There were calls for his top staffers to resign. And members of the governor’s own party began to turn on him, publicly and forcefully.

—“Cuomo keeps a low profile and avoids reporters at Oval Office meeting with Biden as Republicans and Democrats demand he resign for covering-up the true COVID-19 death toll in New York nursing homes” via Mary Kekatos and Harriet Alexander of The Daily Mail

What Richard Corcoran is reading — “Rhode Island kept its schools open. This is what happened.” via Susan Dominus of The New York Times — Gov. Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island “Every day that a child is out of school,” she said, “is a problem for that child.” As bad as the numbers were in Rhode Island, she was about to bear down on a conviction she had held since the spring: Schools must remain open for in-person learning. Raimondo, who has two children in private school, has said that she sees school openings as a matter of equity. The preponderance of evidence suggested that schools could be safe for reopening, provided mitigation measures were in place. Administrators and teachers alike came to recognize that they might have to generate new systems on the fly no matter how much they trained.

Every day out of school is a problem for the child, says Gina Raimondo.

“Oxford-AstraZeneca begins a vaccine trial for children. It’s the youngest group yet to be tested.” via Kim Bellware of The Washington Post — Oxford University announced it started testing its coronavirus vaccine in children as young as 6 in a move that expands coronavirus vaccine trials to the youngest age group yet. The Oxford trial will include 300 child volunteers ages 6 to 17, with 240 of them receiving the vaccine codeveloped with drugmaker AstraZeneca; the remaining participants will receive a control meningitis vaccine that has been proved safe in children but is expected to mimic side effects of a COVID-19 shot, the university said in a statement. Before the Oxford-AstraZeneca trial, testing had not included children younger than 12. Three other companies, Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen, have announced plans to start trials for younger children this spring.

—”First known patient reinfected with South Africa coronavirus variant is in critical condition” via Meryl Kornfield of The Washington Post

“The body is far from helpless against coronavirus variants” via Katherine Wu of The Atlantic — The immune system is comprehensive, capable of dueling with just about every microbe it meets. It’s archival, ace at memorizing the details of its victories and defeats. It might be complicated, but it is also, simply put, cool as hell. But the immune system is not doomed to be discombobulated by a never-ending barrage of shape-shifting variants. For every trick the virus plays, the immune system arguably has an equally impressive one. Vaccines remain an essential ally, armoring the body before it encounters the virus. And although the variants have opened up gaps in that chain mail, the pliancy built into our bodies can at least buy time to repair them.

The body is amazingly resilient when it comes to dealing with virus variants. Image via Reuters.

“Scientists said claims about China creating the coronavirus were misleading. They went viral anyway.” via Craig Timberg of The Washington Post — Scientists from Johns Hopkins, Columbia and other leading American universities moved with rare speed when a Chinese virologist, Li-Meng Yan, published an explosive paper in September claiming that China had created the deadly coronavirus in a research lab. The paper, the American scientists concluded, was deeply flawed. And a new online journal from MIT Press, created specifically to vet claims related to SARS-CoV-2, reported Yan’s claims were “at times baseless and are not supported by the data” 10 days after she posted them. But in an age when anyone can publish anything online with a few clicks, this response was not fast enough to keep Yan’s disputed allegations from going viral, reaching an audience in the millions on social media and Fox News.

After threatening a reporter, T.J. Ducklo is out. Image via AP.

“On Parkland anniversary, Biden calls for tougher gun laws” via The Associated Press — Sorrow reverberated across the country Sunday as Americans, including Biden, joined a Florida community in remembering the 17 lives lost three years ago in the Parkland school shooting massacre. “In seconds, the lives of dozens of families, and the life of an American community, were changed forever,” Biden said in a statement released Sunday. The president used the occasion to call on Congress to strengthen gun laws, including background checks on all gun sales and banning assault weapons. There was no time to wait, the president said. “We owe it to all those we’ve lost and to all those left behind to grieve to make a change. The time to act is now.”

“Biden to sign executive order reestablishing White House faith office” via Jack Jenkins and Adelle M. Banks of Religion News — Biden is expected to sign an executive order on Sunday reestablishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, undoing Trump’s efforts to reshape an agency that went largely unstaffed for most of his tenure. Biden echoed his recent remarks to the National Prayer Breakfast, bemoaning widespread physical and economic suffering due to the coronavirus pandemic, racism and climate change. Biden is expected to appoint Melissa Rogers, a First Amendment lawyer and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution to oversee the office.

—“Biden’s economic point man draws praise — and pushback” via Megan Cassella, Tyler Pager and Marianne Levine of POLITICO

—”Why Biden’s pick for Iran envoy is ‘a proxy for everything’” via Michael Crowley of The New York Times

“Biden has started erasing Donald Trump’s legacy. Now the hard part starts.” via Annie Linskey of The Washington Post — Biden launched his administration with nearly 50 executive actions, variously described in the media as “a barrage,” “a blitz,” and “a burst.” However, if the sheer number of orders struck the public, the team that spent more than six months planning them struggled with the opposite problem: resisting the temptation to craft even more orders and reverse larger chunks of Trump’s agenda. But now that Biden has undone the most easily reversible Trump policies, the hard part begins. While liberals are pushing Biden to do more, goals such as expanding health care and strengthening gun control would probably require new laws, which are much harder to enact.

“Impeachment over, Biden agenda faces GOP seeking to unify in opposition” via Alex Leary of The Wall Street Journal — The reality for President Biden is that in pursuing priorities from pandemic relief to measures to address climate change and infrastructure renewal, he will have a difficult time achieving the bipartisanship the Senate showed in the trial that failed to convict Trump. By the Sunday morning after the impeachment trial, it was clear that one cause will be to rally in opposition to Biden’s agenda, and the GOP’s most strident voices were already signaling that fight. “My goal is to win in 2022 to stop the most radical agenda I’ve seen coming out of the Democratic presidency of Joe Biden,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham on Fox News.

A majority in the Senate found Donald Trump guilty. Just not enough to ban him from running. Image via AP.

“Late-night talks and a moment of chaos: Inside the Democrats’ eleventh-hour decision to forgo impeachment witnesses” via Mike DeBonis and Tom Hamburger of The Washington Post — The debate among the House impeachment managers raged through the night, as the hours and then minutes ticked down early Saturday before what was widely expected to be the final day of Trump’s Senate trial. After weeks of bending to political pressure to ensure a speedy proceeding, some on the House team wanted to make one final, furious push to demand a more intensive investigation, to call witnesses to talk about Trump’s behavior before, during and after the mob attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6.

“Mitch McConnell, denouncing Trump after voting to acquit, says his hands were tied” via Carl Huse and Nicholas Fandos of The New York Times — Sen. McConnell said he believed that Trump was undeniably guilty of a “disgraceful dereliction of duty” on Jan. 6, when he incited and then failed to do anything to halt a deadly assault on the Capitol. There’s no question — none — that Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day,” McConnell declared. But minutes before he spoke, when it came time for the most powerful Republican in Washington to hold Trump to account on the charge of causing the riot, McConnell said his hands were tied. It could not be done, he argued. He voted to acquit.

—”This is how bad Mitch McConnell really is” via Jennifer Rubin of The Washington Post

“Marco Rubio and Rick Scott vote to acquit Trump over role in Capitol riot” via Alex Daugherty of The Miami Herald — Florida’s two senators voted to acquit Trump on Saturday, as Scott and Rubio stood with a twice-impeached President who continues to exert immense influence over the Republican Party. Five weeks after a pro-Trump mob bent on overturning the results of the 2020 election entered the Senate chamber with weapons and zip ties, forcing Rubio, Scott and their colleagues to evacuate, the two senators declared that any effort to convict Trump for inciting an insurrection was unconstitutional. Before the trial began Tuesday, Rubio and Scott were clear on how they would rule as jurors, with Rubio calling the trial “stupid.”

“As impeachment ends, federal inquiry looms as reminder of Trump’s role in riot” via Alan Feuer and Nicole Hong of The New York Times — The acquittal of Trump at his second impeachment trial will hardly be the last or decisive word on his level of culpability in the assault on the Capitol last month. While the Justice Department officials examining the rash of crimes committed during the riot have signaled that they do not plan to make Trump a focus of the investigation, the volumes of evidence they are compiling may eventually give a clearer and possibly more damning picture of his role in the attack. Case files in the investigation have offered signs that many of the rioters believed, as impeachment managers have said, that they were answering Trump’s call on Jan. 6.

Donald Trump’s role in The Capitol riot is still under federal investigation. Image via AP.

“New York prosecutors investigating Trump’s Manhattan properties” via Corinne Ramey and Emily Glazer of The Wall Street Journal — New York prosecutors are investigating financial dealings around some of Trump’s signature Manhattan properties, extending the known range of the criminal probe of the former President and his company, according to people familiar with the matter. The people said Manhattan prosecutors are examining loans Trump took out on his flagship Fifth Avenue building, Trump Tower; 40 Wall St., an art deco skyscraper in New York City’s Financial District; Trump International Hotel and Tower, a hotel and condominium building at Columbus Circle; and Trump Plaza, an apartment building on Manhattan’s East Side. All of the loans under scrutiny were made to Trump by subsidiaries of Ladder Capital Corp., a New York City-based real estate investment trust.

“GOP freshmen of color eyeing Dem-dominated minority caucuses” via Melanie Zanona and Sarah Ferris of POLITICO — Freshman Rep. Donalds wants to pull off something Washington has never seen: Membership in both the liberal Congressional Black Caucus and the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus. Donalds said both groups are a natural fit for someone like himself. And he isn’t afraid to defy norms in a Congress where being a lawmaker of color has historically meant belonging to the Democratic Party. Donalds is among several freshman GOP lawmakers considering joining a racial minority caucus such as the CBC this year, looking to add Republican voices to tight-knit congressional groups that Democrats have historically dominated.

Byron Donalds looks to join minority caucuses on both sides of the aisle. Image via Colin Hackley.

“‘Obamacare’ sign-ups reopen Monday as Democrats push for more aid” via The Associated Press — HealthCare.gov’s market for subsidized health plans reopens Monday for a special three-month sign-up window as the Democratic-led Congress pushes a boost in financial help that could cut premiums by double digits. During the coronavirus pandemic, this enrollment period is an early test of Biden’s strategy to use the Affordable Care Act as a springboard toward health coverage for all. Advancing on a parallel track, the new COVID-19 relief bill from House Democrats would offer a generous, though temporary, increase in subsidies for people covered by the law known as “Obamacare.”

“Fundraiser: Palm Beach is new mecca for GOP” via Christine Stapleton of the Palm Beach Post — Blair Brandt was home in Palm Beach when a mob of Trump supporters stormed The Capitol building during the early afternoon of Jan. 6. He did not consider how the insurrection would impact his new political consulting and fundraising business for conservative donors and candidates. Still, the riot has impacted his clients — donors and corporations he advises on political strategy and giving. The question is how and when donors will support a fractured Republican Party as well as conservative candidates and causes in the aftermath of the insurrection. And as he listens to clients, donors, and prospective candidates alike, the focus is all about flipping control of Congress in the 2022 midterm elections.

The impeachment trial gave the most thorough account of The Capitol riot yet. Image via AP.

“The decline of Proud Boys: what does the future hold for far-right group?” via Jason Wilson of Yahoo! News — During the Trump era, the far-right Proud Boys rode high, enjoying presidential support, recruiting thousands of men, and, as the self-nominated nemesis of leftist Antifa activists, participating in a string of violent street altercations around the country. Law enforcement agencies have connected at least 10 Capitol arrestees with the Proud Boys in criminal complaints and affidavits. Those charged include leaders like the Florida combat veteran and conspiracy theorist Joe Biggs and Washington state’s Ethan Nordean, whose prominence rose in the group after being caught on film attacking an anti-fascist during a 2018 riot in downtown Portland, Oregon.

—”First they guarded Roger Stone. Then they joined The Capitol attack.” via Christiaan Triebert, Ben Decker, Derek Watkins, Arielle Ray and Stella Cooper of The New York Times

—”With impeachment over, 9/11 probe leaders lend weight to calls for an independent commission to investigate Capitol attack” via Dan Balz of The Washington Post

Florida Republicans are pinning their hopes on Ivanka Trump’s potential Senate run. Image via AP.

“NRCC will ‘absolutely’ support Republicans who backed impeachment, finance chair says” via Shia Kapos of POLITICO — Rep. Darin LaHood, a vocal ally of Trump, said Thursday that the campaign arm of House Republicans won’t seek to punish members of the conference who supported impeaching the former President. The Illinois Republican was named finance chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee on Wednesday, just as the organization unveiled its strategy for retaking the House after the party made a surprisingly strong showing in the 2020 election. Capturing the chamber in 2022, LaHood said in a phone interview, is a prize worth more than threatening to starve fellow Republicans of precious campaign cash.

“Personnel note: Scott announces Matt Moon as NRSC’s Deputy Executive Director” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Another alumnus from U.S. Sen. Scott’s past campaigns has come on board with the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “I’m thrilled to announce Matt Moon as deputy executive director of the NRSC for the 2022 cycle,” said Scott, who this year chairs the campaign arm for Senate Republicans. Moon’s prior work includes serving as communications director for Scott’s 2014 reelection campaign for Florida Governor. He also worked as a senior adviser to U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and as deputy research director for the Republican National Committee. He recently served as vice president for advocacy at Business Roundtable, where he lobbied for the tax cuts signed by Trump in 2017.

“David Jolly and Charlie Crist could face off again, this time for Governor” via Adam Smith of St. Pete Catalyst — A lot of political dominoes are teetering in Pinellas County as U.S. Rep. Crist considers running for governor. But the fellow who held that seat before Crist says his eyes are squarely on the Governor’s Mansion and not his old south Pinellas seat. “I’m building out an infrastructure to run for governor of the state of Florida as an independent candidate in the next cycle, and Charlie’s decision doesn’t change that whatsoever,” said former Republican U.S. Rep. Jolly. Jolly and Crist are on parallel and intertwined paths. Crist unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate as an independent candidate, and Jolly is now preparing for an independent run against Crist for Governor.

Happening Wednesday:

“Jason Holloway rolls out first round of endorsements ahead of HD 67 run” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — The same day former Darryl Rouson legislative aide Holloway filed to run for Florida House District 67 in 2022, he rolled out a trove of endorsements from current and former elected officials in Pinellas County. Holloway is seeking the mid-Pinellas seat currently held by Rep. Chris Latvala, who is not seeking reelection because of term limits. Both Holloway and Latvala are Republicans. The endorsements include Florida GOP Chair and Sen. Joe Gruters, former Rep. Larry Ahern and his wife, Maureen Ahern, former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and St. Petersburg City Council member Robert Blackmon, all Republicans.

“Andrew Gillum’s political committee reports its January spending four days late” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — A political committee chaired by Gillum failed to report any financial activity in 2021. The state informed Forward Florida that beginning Sunday, the committee will begin racking up $500-a-day fines. Officials with the political committee say they filed the report Sunday afternoon, which should stop the accruing of further fines. The report showed the committee had two expenditures, including $13,500 in quarterly software costs with NGP Van and $719 in legal fees with the law firm Perkins Coie. Bureau of Election Records chief Kristi Reid Willis sent a letter to Gillum after the committee missed a Wednesday filing deadline. “Even if you end up filing your report late, we cannot waive the statutory fines,” the letter reads.

Tony Montalto is working to address the cause of the Parkland shooting. Image via AP.

“Daniella Levine Cava fires airport company targeted for poor working conditions” via Douglas Hanks and Taylor Dolven of The Miami Herald — Levine Cava on Friday dismissed a large airport vendor accused of poor working conditions, delivering a major win to labor leaders in her first big break with the prior administration. Levine Cava informed Eulen America that its contract at Miami International Airport would terminate on Aug. 12, exercising her power as the chief administrator overseeing vendors across the Miami-Dade government, including at county-owned airports. She announced the decision in a memo to the County Commission, which ratifies MIA contracts. The company provides ramp, cargo, cleaning and baggage-handling services to American, MIA’s largest carrier, and Delta.

“Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer remarries in private ceremony, he announces on social media” via Cristóbal Reyes of The Orlando Sentinel — Dyer announced Saturday on social media that he married girlfriend Susan Galloway, to the glee and surprise of political and community leaders. Attending the outdoor ceremony was a small group of relatives both virtually and in person, the Mayor said in a post to his Facebook page. The news sparked immediate congratulations from constituents and local business and political leaders to Dyer and his now-wife, many of whom referring to her as “First Lady Susie.” “Congratulations to both, and enjoy a very special Valentine’s Day!” Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón said in a tweet replying to the announcement.

“Tampa Bay Transit Authority board defends its purpose as it faces possible dissolution” via Veronica Brezina-Smith of The Tampa Bay Business Journal — The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority plans to connect with delegates and share a unified message while trying to stop a bill that could disband the organization. TBARTA held an emergency legislative subcommittee meeting on Friday morning to discuss Senate Bill 1130 that Sen. Brandes filed earlier this week. The bill would ultimately disband TBARTA by 2022 and delegate the assets, projects and funds to appropriate stakeholders. Brandes said he believes local transit agencies and municipalities can successfully take on projects rather than TBARTA and push them forward.

Not what you’re thinking — “Maskless Manatee Commissioner found at topless bar” via Chris Anderson of The Sarasota Herald-Tribune — Manatee County commissioner James Satcher used to hang out in strip joint parking lots. That’s right, he did, only it’s not as sleazy as it sounds. Satcher’s ministry, which is called Acts of Love, goes to such establishments to save strippers’ souls from the “devil’s clutches,” as he told a group of parishioners last summer in a sermon posted on Facebook. Satcher sent his fellow commissioners an email this week telling them that he will now be going maskless at meetings. Satcher, it seems, is asking that people respect his personal decision, no matter how inconsiderate it is, even though he and his ministry do not appear to be respecting the decisions others make.

Matt Willhite seeks changes at Port of Palm Beach — Willhite, a Wellington Democrat, is looking to update the port’s charter eliminating certain bond requirements for the board of commissioners, allowing for annual pay adjustments and other technical changes. “Thousands of people rely on the Port of Palm Beach for work, making it one of Palm Beach County’s largest employers,” Willhite said. “The Port exports 100% of the raw sugar that is produced in the Glades area and has been an asset to our neighbors in the Caribbean, especially when they have needed resources after natural disasters such as hurricanes. The Port of Palm Beach has been an asset to Palm Beach County for decades, and it is crucial that we do what we can to ensure the Port’s success.”

“With a seat at the table, Jennifer Andreu brings a fresh perspective to Plantation” via Carol Brzozowski of Florida Politics — Addressing how she felt becoming the first Black elected to the Plantation City Council in November, Andreu calls it “an honor and a privilege, and I don’t take that lightly.” However, she says, she is taken aback that in the year 2021, it is the first time for many municipalities that a Black person is elected to a position where they get a seat at the table of making decisions that impact their communities. Andreu has held many jobs in her career in education, from schoolteacher to principal. She’s directed administrative efforts in the areas of business, personnel, and federal and state compliance.

“Nick Sortal: Longtime journalist turned Plantation city maverick” via Carol Brzozowski of Florida Politics — If Plantation Council member Sortal has his way, the Broward County city will move from a strong mayor to a city-manager form of government. As the city’s population approaches 100,000, putting it among the 30 largest in Florida, Sortal believes it’s time. “The city was formed in 1953,” he says. “We’ve never even had a charter review. We still have only ‘him’ language. We finally got a charter review committee in 2018. We reviewed the charter but didn’t get it on the ballot for 2020 because of COVID.

Nick Sortal is a journalist-turned-maverick.

“More Cubans are floating their way to South Florida’s shores” via Eileen Kelley and Austen Erblat of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel — In a busy start to 2021, the Coast Guard has seen many more Cubans venturing across the Florida Straits on their way toward South Florida. The latest instances of Cubans saved at sea came this week when the Coast Guard found three survivors who were marooned on a desolate island while trying to reach the U.S. Over the last four months, the Coast Guard had stopped 58 Cubans before they reached Florida, marking an uptick in the number of at-sea interceptions. It’s only February, just a few months into the fiscal year, and that number exceeds the 49 Cubans who were stopped at sea during a 12-month period the previous fiscal year.

“The 2023 Jacksonville mayoral race is already unprecedented, and costly” via Nate Monroe of The Florida Times-Union — JAX Chamber President Daniel Davis raised $1.3 million in January for a political committee he controls, an unprecedented sum more than two years out from a 2023 Jacksonville mayoral race Davis has not yet formally announced a campaign for but is certain to join. The contributions come from a broad swath of establishment Republican donors, civic leaders and business owners, many of whom backed current and term-limited Mayor Lenny Curry. Davis isn’t saying anything about a campaign for the moment, but he doesn’t have to: Money talks, and so does just about everyone else in town, that Davis was gearing up to run and bagging huge contributions was a poorly kept secret.

Tweet, tweet:

“Zack Snyder cut Justice League movie trailer brings fresh look at new villains” via Jennifer Bisset and Sean Buckley — Snyder‘s version of Justice League is almost here, and we’ve been gifted with a new trailer for the HBO Max original, which hits on March 18. The extensive new trailer offers much to dissect. It features more of Cyborg, as well as a new score, and this time it’s not in black and white. Snyder had a reported $70 million budget to improve the visual effects, add new scenes with more characters like new supervillain Darkseid, and pay for the fresh Junkie XL score. The main difference between the streaming and the theatrical versions might just be the added violence and profanity.

To watch the trailer, click on the image below:

What Richard Reeves is reading — “Can New Orleans celebrate Mardi Gras without reckless abandon?” via Dan Levin of The New York Times — One year into a global pandemic that has upended daily life and devastated service and tourism industries that could take years to recover, cities like New Orleans have grappled with how to salvage annual celebrations that draw thousands of visitors. Last year, Bourbon Street became a hot spot for the coronavirus, and experts said Mardi Gras may have accelerated the spread. New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana have struggled to contain the virus, with a recent surge finally leveling off over the past couple of weeks. City officials announced a sweeping crackdown that included shuttering all bars for the final weekend and through Fat Tuesday.