Subject: POLITICO Florida Playbook, presented by Nuclear Matters: Rubio’s regret – Study: climate change is acidifying Florida Keys’ reef -- School superintendent is a plagiarist – RIP: Tampa Tribune -- Cuba & Puerto Rico, islands apart
From: Marc Caputo <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 4 May 2016 05:01:13 -0600

05/04/2016 06:58 AM EDT

By Marc Caputo ([email-masked]; @MarcACaputo) with Ali Breland ([email-masked]; @AliBreland) and the staff of POLITICO Florida

Good Wednesday morning. That groaning you hear on social media is the collective gasp of what used to be mainstream Republicans who wondered how Donald Trump (after engaging in some weird JFK conspiracy mongering) became their de facto nominee. But it gets worse for the GOP. Former party-switching Gov. Charlie Crist is a step closer to waltzing into Congress and Sen. Marco Rubio isn't running for reelection, making that seat (and control of the Senate) vulnerable for Republicans....

--@CharlieCrist: "Trust me, it's never too late to join @TheDemocrats. #StopTrump."

--Curt Anderson @CurtOnMessage: "update -- JFK killer found, Cruz goes whacko, Trump has VD, Carly falls off stage, StopTrump wasted donors money, Prince still gone."

REGRETS, RUBIO HAS A FEW -- "With a touch of regret, Rubio makes last days in U.S. Senate count," by POLITICO's Marc Caputo and Burgess Everett: Marco Rubio sure isn't acting like a guy who hates the Senate. Two months after he quit the presidential race, as he heads into the twilight of his single term in the chamber, the Florida senator is showing signs that the job that once deeply frustrated him isn't so bad, after all. Bashed on the campaign trail as a vote-skipping truant, Rubio has become a constant, active presence in the chamber - leaning on fellow Republicans to cough up money to combat the Zika virus and strong-arming the White House in a foreign-policy deal in the past few weeks
 alone. ...

"A couple times I've wondered, 'Boy, if we had a couple more years, we could really get some stuff done,'" Rubio told Politico, displaying some misgiving over what might have been. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f29c557fd7a7ad997699dd4a1a98e3de50c6ada6d4599aacc

KEEPING SCORE -- "Donald Trump, the best thing that's happened to f&uacute;tbol ads," by Miami Herald's Patricia Mazzei: "Oh, yes, Latin American soccer is having fun with this U.S. presidential election. First it was Mexican network TV Azteca that invoked Donald Trump last fall to ramp up excitement for a U.S.-Mexico clash. Fox Soccer Channel followed suit. Now, a month from kickoff of the Copa Am&eacute;rica Centenario tournament, Argentina's TyC Sports has debuted a f&uacute;tbol spot of its own invoking The Donald as motivation for the South American country's top-ranked national team -- and its fans.

"This year's special Copa Am&eacute;rica, celebrating the continental tournament's centennial, will be held in the U.S." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f60055af8c02fabd982366b1b3791449ca503756e8e83dbe9 

THE STONE ZONE -- "Politics is a 'blood sport': Roger Stone on his CNN ban, the 'real' Donald Trump and the billionaire's scheme to lure delegates," by Salon's Sean Illing: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333ffe97cb9a29eed0b0149714132dc87d34c41ffe665097f644

ALMOST A CONGRESSMAN -- "With Lynn out, field officially cleared for Crist," by POLITICO Florida's Matt Dixon: After Democrat Charlie Crist, a former governor a powerhouse in the party, announced he was running for an open Pinellas County congressional seat, it was largely expected his path to Washington would be cleared of any real primary challenge.

On Tuesday, that's what he got. After taking several weeks to try and figure out a new plan, Democrat Eric Lynn announced he is getting out of the race to run in a Democratic primary for state House. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f1089c26acbf8c0d6c6305596e1a899ec16eb5dd1e7dc26fe

ISLANDS APART -- "Caribbean neighbors Cuba and Puerto Rico wonder who really won cold war," by The Guardian's Alan Yuhas: "Two Caribbean islands are at a crossroads in their relationship with the US. One is plagued by corruption and debt, and dotted with crumbling homes, abandoned by families for the imperial power nearby. The other is Cuba.

Who won the cold war again? Within 24 hours on Sunday, Puerto Rico's governor, Alejandro Garc&iacute;a Padilla, announced that the American territory would default on nearly $370m of debt, after years of failure to put the island's finances - or its relationship with the US - in order. The next morning a cruise ship full of tourists set sail for Havana, bringing American dreams, dollars and capitalist sense into Cuba's future. Once seen as parallel case studies in cold war politics, the islands have seemingly switched roles." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f135c3c80098511a5e98ae173a52d95250c6405ba77d3ac5f 

--Danny Rivero @TooMuchMe: "Reality of new travel to Cuba: as cruise ship was en route to Havana, it passed Cubans on rafts, fleeing to the U.S." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f8159300fbcc503d5ae41904a7e564291003e27add26f07f3

--"'Forced Exile,' Say Puerto Ricans Leaving Island Amid Financial Crisis," by NBC News' Leonor Ayala Polley: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333fceb9cd2526e4b2b817232e158afe5f9b55c357054c64159c

RYAN MAKES A 'PROMESA' -- "Puerto Rico Default Underlines Need to Prevent Bailout, Pass PROMESA," by Julia Slingsby on behalf of Speaker Paul Ryan's office: "Yesterday, Puerto Rico defaulted on a $422 million loan, exacerbating the financial crisis in the U.S. territory. Without congressional action, things in Puerto Rico are going to go from bad to worse. The House bill, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), prevents a federal bailout by taxpayers and is needed to stop the bleeding. Right now, it's being finalized by the Natural Resources Committee after negotiations with the Treasury Department and additional input from House Republicans. PROMESA is
 the best hope for Puerto Rico to get to a place where it can pay its debts and get on a path to fiscal health." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f9a2daf82a24915aa8ca4d6a7ed0d314ff1e997d76313f410

PLAY BALL - ELSEWHERE! - "AP source: Games in PR likely to be moved because of Zika," by AP's Steven Wine: "There's a very good chance the Miami Marlins' two-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Puerto Rico will not be held there because of concerns about the Zika virus, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams said no decision had been made." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f160fec49bdcc6dbd24ad98fcdceb0b0a9b14d7d53a02ace6

BIG MONEY -- "Negron, Galvano give April boost to Senate majority committee," by POLITICO Florida's Matt Dixon: After Democrat Charlie Crist, a former governor a powerhouse in the party, announced he was running for an open Pinellas County congressional seat, it was largely expected his path to Washington would be cleared of any real primary challenge. On Tuesday, that's what he got. After taking several weeks to try and figure out a new plan, Democrat Eric Lynn announced he is getting out of the race to run in a Democratic primary for state House. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f1089c26acbf8c0d6c6305596e1a899ec16eb5dd1e7dc26fe

RIP TAMPA TRIBUNE -- "Former workers, local leaders reflect on Tampa Tribune after its shutdown," by POLITICO Florida's Bruce Ritchie and Matt Dixon: Gil Thelen, former publisher and president of The Tampa Tribune, hadn't heard the news Tuesday that his old newspaper had been shut down, bought out by the rival Tampa Bay Times. "Wow," he said. "I will react on a gut level - it's dreadful to see the Tribune go. It's been a stalwart in the Tampa community for over 100 years. For it to be gone is just hard to fathom." There were similar comments from readers, elected officials and former employees on Tuesday when the newspaper immediately ceased publication after 121 years. "Sad to hear that
 the Tampa Tribune has been bought by the Times,"l tweeted state Rep. Dana Young, a Republican from Tampa. "The Trib is such a long-time part of Tampa history." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f05a626515c65c2a1079f1384d6d2d261a84ac79dd0edc0ce

** A Message from Nuclear Matters: Nuclear energy plants play a vital role in achieving our clean-energy and carbon-reduction goals. Florida's nuclear energy fleet supports more than 2,270 jobs and provides $1.9 billion to the state's GDP. Learn more at NuclearMatters.com. **

HIGHEST FORM OF HYPOCRISY -- "Editorial: Apology owed in plagiarism case," The Gainesville Sun: "By committing plagiarism, Alachua County Public Schools Superintendent Owen Roberts failed to meet the standards that his district sets for students. He owes them and the rest of the district an apology rather than excuses. He should use the mistake as an opportunity to teach students about the importance of academic integrity at a time when information is so easily copied from other sources.

"As The Sun reported last week, Roberts' 2014 self-published book, 'A Framework for Improving School Systems in the 21st Century,' used large chunks of text from other sources without proper attribution. They include four paragraphs from Wikipedia and 10 paragraphs, nearly verbatim, from a book on education written more than a decade ago." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f2e09f9ad91115095c5a93331436b669eacbb0e0eb4e058ba

ASK NOT.... -- "Did Boynton Beach's new mayor plagiarize JFK's inauguration speech?" by Palm Beach Post's Alexandra Seltzer: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f7381b771ff8dcdf70949c6d763d99ddc4a211073ad7ef6ae

'THE STARS ALIGNED' -- "'A fire burning' to keep expanding school choice policies in Florida, Miami-Dade lawmakers says," by Times/Herald's Kristen Clark: "The Legislature's approval of a massive education bill and other innovative policies this spring has reinvigorated the 'school choice' movement in Florida, a key Miami-Dade lawmaker said Tuesday. In the past few years, 'there was a complacency,' state Rep. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, said. 'What I heard from my colleagues was, "so much has been done, we have to see what works." I'm saying, "we don't have time for that. ... I was pleasantly surprised this session. The stars aligned and we were able to push some things through... a lot of
 revolutionary things.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333fed0740899e03f712c12c313dd03dc54dbfe8aa45565e3f99

HAD ENOUGH - "Lisa Edgar leaving PSC as Bragg, 10 others apply for seat," by POLITICO Florida's Bruce Ritchie: Former Public Service Commission chair Lisa Edgar said Tuesday she will leave the commission next January after serving 12 years on the panel. Edgar survived an unexpected confirmation fight in 2013, with the Senate voting 26-13, after some lawmakers accused her of favoring electric utilities over customers' needs. In a statement Tuesday, Edgar noted that she had been appointed by three different governors and served as president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333fb4441e74452fad9fa39ef2fa94c8f5ce4883dd2b338906fb

COUGH, COUGH - "Group hits Bondi again on challenge to federal rules," by POLITICO Florida's Bruce Ritchie: A left-leaning group has produced another ad critical of attorneys general whose states, including Florida, are challenging a federal rule on power plant carbon emissions. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f08340fe8d537f04bca937b78f204680259a7789e254fe630

DYING -- "More acidic seawater now dissolving bit of Florida Keys reef," by AP: "Seawater - increasingly acidic due to global warming - is eating away the limestone framework for the coral reef of the upper Florida Keys, according to a new study. It's something that scientists had expected, but not so soon. This is one of the first times scientists have documented long-term effects of ocean acidification on the foundation of the reefs, said study author Chris Langdon, a biological oceanographer at the University of Miami.

"This is what I would call a leading indicator; it's telling us about something happening early on before it's a crisis," Langdon said. "By the time you observe the corals actually crumbling, disappearing, things have pretty much gone to hell by that point." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f965e7681adbc7c26c3b3ed5c07bcb489979432c1f2e6dc27 

KILLED -- "Florida panther found dead on State Road 29, 10th roadkill since April 1," Naples Daily News: "Florida biologists recovered the remains of an endangered Florida panther on Tuesday, the 10th wildcat roadkill since April 1. The male panther, between 2 and 3 years old, was found on State Road 29 about a 1/4-mile north of U.S. 41 East. The panther did not have a tracking collar.

"Panther deaths are on a record-setting pace in 2016, with 18 roadkills so far this year and 21 overall deaths. That compares to 30 roadkills in 2015 and 42 panthers found dead overall. Most of the dead panthers have been found in Lee and Collier counties." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f5d9e97355230caff5311fdeba0025b4947a7c0f2310a8a18

RESPECTING SEMINOLES -- "FSU SGA passes resolution banning headdresses at games," by Tallahassee Democrat's Perry Kostidakis: "In a resolution passed on April 20, 2016 by the Florida State student government, the wearing of Native American headdresses has been discouraged at Florida State athletics. Resolution 15, as described in a document obtained by the FSView, states that 'the wearing of any Native American headdresses shall no longer be permitted into athletic arenas at FSU.'

"The resolution was voted yes by 27 members, no by four and five abstained. However, according to the Student Body Statutes (401.1) resolutions are simply 'formal expressions of the opinion or will of the Senate,' rather than binding university policy." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f081544938d5b397f2e108b7218be79c945637324c40050c8

MARIJUANA MOVES -- "Brevard seeks more input on pot decriminalization," by Florida Today's Dave Berman: "County commissioners say they need more input from State Attorney Phil Archer and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey before deciding what to do about a citizen proposal to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Commissioners heard the proposal Tuesday from Melbourne resident Ronald Wilson, who...said he believes current marijuana laws in Florida can ruin people's lives by giving them a criminal record, hurting their ability to find jobs, join the military or get admitted to a college." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f591c6defd538bccdbb8c022e342103284ef6d1988636f5e1

-- "Florida's marijuana grow seizures down," by Tallahassee Democrat's Karl Etters: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f23612fe1787626a1a02b5412fa0c9eca608bd593c2e1d114

PUNISHING INSANITY --"Mentally ill in solitary: 'We're not addressing the problem, we're making it worse:' In Florida, one in five mentally ill prisoners is in solitary confinement. For Kristopher Pena, being diagnosed with schizophrenia began a nightmare," by The Guardian's Matthew Teague: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f35f798e7e5e308ff459c35515112c24df5cce2a09faced6c

HELPING -- "Tampa council considers parking ticket credit for food donations at," by Tampa Tribune's Christopher O'Donnell: "A parking ticket is never welcome, and certainly not around the expensive holiday season. Now, the fine could become an opportunity for giving instead. Some Tampa City Council members want the city to let drivers pay part of their parking fine with donations of canned or nonperishable food. The program would run for about a month over the winter holidays with the food donated to local nonprofit groups that run food banks."

-- "Sally Bradshaw opening bookstore in Midtown," by Tallahassee Democrat's Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f02744281863206cdb1af2819a7ef28e5b443fe356c694be9

-- "Sorry, fellas: Melbourne's Kate Upton's engaged," by Florida Today's Jennifer Sangalang: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f38943a3157e36b899f06613d625ceeaf1ad759e7557c47a3

-- "Teens capture close encounter with great white shark off Central Fla. coast," by Click Orlando's Loren Korn: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333ffc22713a3e30fc1e54dfbd703fcdf1136e8c3eefd3ef13ba

-- "Insurer sues lab company, alleging addiction treatment kickbacks," by Palm Beach Post's Pat Beall: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f04baee858282ba90bcbc291f9e862239c88701f278cc17e9

-- "Man who believed he was going on date robbed at gunpoint, police say," by WESH's Amanda Ober: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f6c1d30b4f71b3e2253373c8b42db1b63cbccf92316405a62

-- "Marion County firefighter arrested on video voyeurism charge," by Ocala Star Banner's Austin L. Miller: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f01939fc653bd952e27508dac5cf25cf3a263ff958c455e46

--Tom McLaughlin @TomMnwfdn: "The application period for alligator hunting permits runs from 10 a.m., May 6 through May 16. More than 5,000 available from FWC"

BAD DAY FOR DOGS...

--"Woman, son beat up after freeing dog from hot car in Clay," by Action News Jax's" Brittney Donovan: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333ff8634cfcb4e93a75a078e8fd85a7c38ebedbc33629a72ac7 

HEAD -- "Two robbers force way into apartment, kill victim's dog, put victim in its cage, police say," by The Gainesville Sun's Christopher Baldwin: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333ffec9da8620e39f0f8941e2f91639a74bc99d5c0ebdabde5f

** A Message from Nuclear Matters: America's fleet of nuclear energy plants support 475,000 jobs nationwide and provide more than 62% of America's carbon-free electricity. Our existing, state-of-the-art nuclear energy plants play a vital role in achieving our clean-energy and carbon-reduction goals.

In Florida, nuclear energy plants provide 12 percent of the state's electricity and a large majority of our carbon-free electricity. The existing nuclear energy plants in Florida also support more than 2,270 jobs and provide $1.9 billion to the state's GDP. To help keep Florida working, we need the state's technologically advanced nuclear energy plants continuing to work for all of us. Join us at NuclearMatters.com. **

FOR MORE political and policy news, check out Politico Florida's home page: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333fc9f76345524182d8c65f5efce34379ad18640280d09b540b And please follow out staff @mdixon55, @christinesexton, @dducassi, @jessicabakeman and @bruceritchie on Twitter.

SUBSCRIBE to the Playbook family: POLITICO Playbook  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f9dc36a2625191f72fdfec1cd8268d9cfe05fdf313a2fbdc2 ... New York Playbook  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f5affd3535f4126d364de7405d8ac3494e867c0edd35cfa90 ... Florida Playbook  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f77c307c23530553e83e81ca5a8f8e865edcbe7c3b0115e73 ... New Jersey Playbook http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333fd580bde0097a3db2beedb6a917cc261f7320158265b46fa3 ... Massachusetts Playbook http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f016a3727a7d2845eeeffbfe4d3d9f2a70c5bdd8ebd00e77e ... Illinois Playbook  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333fe871bd69619fe6110448b0a67aa3f2a7f7c77942394d4ea4 ... California Playbook http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f78dda270b821f16ad29fb79373d47211c4bd4f01fb9c069c ... Brussels Playbook 
 http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f33609964483536aec13076b678f0b56e02a60ebee661fdf4 ... All our political and policy tipsheets http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f9dc36a2625191f72fdfec1cd8268d9cfe05fdf313a2fbdc2

To view online:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f151fc311aa70c3051148e28b8471c00b9051720b0000b8f6
 To change your alert settings, please go to http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=88b81661f5c6333f9c1c3e28726f993556cb9b7a0d8d5fbd98443c29a77321ad or http://click.politicoemail.com/profile_center.aspx?qs=42cf2477368fb747bb630958b780b3c098a5bbb6a268733eb07ebb89b4016c850b251e282f98bd8c9d622f91e191646fd8b2a50a90af4bb4This email was sent to [email-masked] by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

To unsubscribe,http://www.politico.com/_unsubscribe?e=00000154-7b6a-dd55-a177-7bfbdd300000&u=0000014e-f116-dd93-ad7f-f917f9830001&s=b0f2d6f740c486d0a123cf1241f4b272e2e029abb69ee3c4ef2c0fc9dcdb7457853ca458e7fe2d1dbb18779be39e6bfa1b3b6b0bcd68471a851874581cebac3b