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Crist's first TV ad hammers DeSantis on masks — Rick Scott suggests removing Biden from office — U.S. sends aid to Haiti, but is it enough? — Florida's unemployment site still a jalopy

Politico / Gary Fineout / August 17, 2021

The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted information that there were 17,216 new Covid-19 infections reported by the state for Sunday and 16,476 new infections reported for Saturday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported on its dashboard that 15,962 beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients. The Florida Hospital Association reported Monday that 51.5 percent of adult patients in intensive care units are infected with Covid-19.

Turning away — The chaotic and tragic scenes rising out of Afghanistan have blown away much of the national coverage of Gov. Ron DeSantis' management of Covid-19, shifting instead to President Joe Biden's competence in managing a crisis.

Growing — But the Republican governor's quest to block mask requirements for school children continues to generate resistance. Miami-Dade County, the state's largest school district, appears poised to approve a mandate this week without a way for parents to easily opt-out. Hillsborough County, another large urban district, appears to be recalibrating as well.

Next move — The State Board of Education is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday where it could — stress could — impose financial sanctions against the two districts that have already defied DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran. (All eyes are on Corcoran and whether he will recommend that the governor suspend recalcitrant local officials.) The Biden administration has already said it will help out any district financially if they're punished for bucking the governor.

‘Common sense' — Democrats have long hammered DeSantis over his Covid-19 response, and now Rep. Charlie Crist is the first one to go up on television with an ad tagging the governor. Crist is launching a "five figure" statewide cable buy against DeSantis Tuesday evening, including in the two counties that backed a mask mandate. "Florida leads the nation in new Covid cases, jammed hospitals and deaths," says Crist in the ad. "And now Ron DeSantis wants to defund schools where they're asking kids to wear a mask. That's not what we need, we need common sense and we need to do what's right."

— WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis.

Rationale — "‘I don't know what the threshold of acceptable pain in this community is. I don't know what the acceptable threshold or statistical probability of a single child dying is in this community,' he said. ‘Just like I don't know what the threshold that anyone should accept as appropriate for teachers, custodial staff, police officers who may have underlying conditions, and that's not a crime, or not who may be hospitalized, who may be intubated or who may perish.'"

Befuddled — "The company scored a win in a legal battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who banned vaccine passports back in April. The cruise line won in federal court, but now faces an appeal. 'It's beyond bizarre. It's shameful,' Del Rio said. ‘I mean, come on, give it up. This is a pandemic we are talking about, people are dying every day, Florida now is the epicenter of the epicenter. What does it take for common sense to rule?' he added."

On message? — While Senate Republicans have widely lambasted Biden for his administration's handling of the troop withdrawal, Scott is the only one so far to bring up the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment, which lays out the presidential order of succession. So, President Kamala Harris?

Fewer VIPs — The annual report also details how much Florida taxpayers spent protecting out-of-state VIPs, including members of the Trump family and governors. The effect of Covid-19 clearly played a big role. In 2019-20, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement spent more than $274,000 as it provided security for more than 50 visits by outside officials. But in the fiscal year that ended on June 30 state law enforcement spent slightly more than $33,000 on 17 details — including ones for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, former second lady Karen Pence, and Lara Trump. FWIW, Florida did not spend any money providing security for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's much-scrutinized March trip to the state.

BALLARD HEADS WEST — Ballard Partners, the Florida-based firm that made a name as one of the top lobbying shops in D.C. during the Trump administration, is wading into the California market via a strategic partnership announced today with Sacramento-based Resolute Company. Resolute's nine partners specialize in tech, social media, finance, energy, education, water, health, education and gambling, and will expand Ballard's reach from its existing offices in Florida, D.C. and Tel Aviv into the largest state in the nation. "Ballard Partners is committed to fully serving our clients' needs wherever they may arise," Brian Ballard, the firm's founder, said in a statement. The partnership comes as Ballard has quickly added more Democrats and lobbyists with ties to the Biden administration following four strong years because of Ballard's relationship with former President Donald Trump. The firm also recently named former Florida Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler the managing partner of its D.C. office. (From POLITICO Influence)

AZAR'S NEW JOB DRAWS FLAK — The University of Miami announced earlier this month that former Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar will join the university with a teaching and policy research position this fall. The hire was lauded by UM officials as well as former HHS Secretary — and UM President — Donna Shalala, a Democrat. Shalala said she's "looking forward" to having Azar, who helped with Operation Warp Speed, the effort to create Covid-19 vaccines, join her in her classroom "to offer students an exceptional learning experience."

On display — But one group is ripping the university for hiring the former Trump administration official. Accountable.US says it is putting up a billboard in Miami that criticizes UM for hiring Azar. The billboard — splashed in UM's colors of orange and green — says "Live your lives and drop Alex Azar." "Azar's hiring goes against the University of Miami's proclaimed values, and runs afoul of its own immigration advocacy," said Accountable.US president Kyle Herrig. "The university's administration owes their students, teachers, alumni, and communities a serious explanation for why they think this enabler of cruelty is worth compromising those values for now."

PROGRESSIVES BACK HARDY — Three progressive Democratic legislators — all from central Florida — are jumping into the primary for Florida's 20th Congressional District and are endorsing state Rep. Omari Hardy in the crowded field. Hardy is one 11 Democrats running in the South Florida contest to replace the late Rep. Alcee Hastings. Fellow Reps. Anna Eskamani, Carlos Guillermo Smith, and Travaris McCurdy announced Tuesday that they are supporting Hardy over other Democrats, including Rep. Bobby DuBose and state Sen. Perry Thurston. Eskamani, who flirted with a bid for governor, said "Hardy has been one of the strongest voices pushing back against special interests that dominate Florida politics" and that the special election is for "the soul of our party."

RESPONSE — "U.S. sends more aid to Haiti after quake but much more needed," by POLITICO's Jonathan Custodio: Members of Congress are also keeping a close eye on the situation on the ground in Haiti, said Rep. Frederica Wilson, who represents the Little Haiti area in Miami. The Congressional Haitian Staff Association is working with the House Appropriations Committee and the Haitian Consulate General's office in Miami to assess how much funding should be directed to disaster response efforts in the southern part of the country, which has suffered the most damage, Wilson said. "I'm sure [a number will be reached] by the end of the week," she said. "I don't think, right now, I can put a total price tag."