Week 6 in Tally: Compensation scandal fallout
It’s President’s Day, and a time to reflect on the nation’s highest office (or maybe we’ve done enough of that and just want the day off!). It’s not a state holiday for the Florida Legislature, so they will be back at it with a busy week.
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
Where was the oversight? Last week was both embarrassing and gratifying for the Florida Legislature with the jaw-dropping revelations that the state-funded Florida Center Against Domestic Violence had paid its CEO at least $7.5 million in compensation over the last three years.
The embarrassing: After the Miami Herald called attention to FCADV head Tiffany Carr’s reported a salary of $761,000 in 2018, legislators were silent and left the funding stream untouched. After the Herald reported the agency was stonewalling state auditors who were asking questions, the Florida House started investigating. The triumph: After months of deflecting, FCADV caved to the House pressure and turned over documents. The alarming numbers in them prompted the House to issue subpoenas to Carr, her top staff, and 11 members of the coalition’s board of directors.
How could this happen? The answer is a window into the power of good connections in Florida’s capital city.
Follow up: The House on Wednesday will be voting on legislation to end the status of FCADV as the sole source contractor. But many questions remain: How much state money was used to pay Carr? Why was paid time off allowed in such staggering amounts? Why did no one ask more questions?
What took so long? Stories about excessive compensation and absent oversight don’t do much to engender trust in our institutions, but neither did the developments last week in Palm Beach County. We learned last week that in 2016 the county’s elections system was allegedly hacked in a ransomeware scam. The former supervisor of elections says she will “swear on a stack of Bibles” that didn’t happen but the current supervisor doubled down and says it did. Ouch.
Immigration equation: Also ouch-worthy is the amendment a Florida Senate committee put on a version of the E-Verify bill that is a top priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Lawmakers voted to carve out exceptions to the bill to require Florida businesses to check the immigration status of new hires using the controversial federal program. Exempted would be casual laborers, independent contractors and the agriculture industry, potentially the largest Florida industry to hire undocumented workers. The move raises all kinds of constitutional questions, not to mention political ones. House Speaker José Oliva is skeptical.
Bankrupt but vigorous and vital: On the same day the Florida House voted to subpoena executives of FCADV based on revelations exposed by Miami Herald reporters, the Herald’s parent company declared bankruptcy. It was a day many of us won’t forget. But as our publisher and executive editor, Aminda Marqués González explained, the reorganization was voluntary, not unprecedented, and we’re not going away.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Posturing: That’s what we call the brash move by a Florida House committee to unveil a bill calling for the merger of New College into Florida State University and Florida Polytechnic University into the University of Florida, and limit tuition assistance grants for state students attending Florida private colleges or universities. When ideas like this emerge late in session, it is usually as part of another, less transparent, agenda. Remember this is the same Legislature that brought you the late-session greased deal to build three toll roads up the spine of the state last year. If the university shake-up is a legit proposal, its success will depend on how much friction we see.
Biden buzz: Former Vice President Joe Biden may have finished poorly in New Hampshire, but he still leads in Florida polls, thanks in large part to his standing with Hispanic and black voters. Last week he announced he’s launched several grassroots coalitions throughout the state.
Bernie heartburn: In a state where the word “socialist” is usually translated as “communist,” presidential candidate and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ strong showing in Iowa and New Hampshire are creating anxiety among some Democrats. They fear the self-described “democratic socialist” might hurt candidates in state legislative and congressional races.
WHAT’S AHEAD THIS WEEK
Abortion bill heading to governor: A bill that that would require parental consent for minors getting abortions has already passed the Senate and is awaiting final approval in the House. Expect that to happen Wednesday.
Rally for Amendment 4: Legislators have indicated they are unlikely to revise the law they passed implementing Amendment 4, despite a pending lawsuit. On Tuesday, hundreds of former felons will rally in Tallahassee to demand changes.
WHAT WE’RE READING
Moody about face: Despite substantial evidence that showed showed Nathan Myers and his uncle spent nearly 43 years in prison for a murder they didn’t commit, despite a conclusion by the Jacksonville State Attorney’s Office, two circuit judges and two legislative special masters that her deserved compensation, the Office of Attorney General didn’t agree. That was Friday. By Saturday, AG Ashley Moody reversed course.
Do us a favor: Send this to a friend to receive our weekly newsletter on politics and policy in the nation’s most important battleground.
Help us cover the 2020 session: Tell us what questions you would like to see answered in stories and from legislators.
Invest in us: Statehouse reporting and local political journalism relies on devoted readers like you. But we can continue to do what we do only if readers subscribe. Please consider unlimited digital access to the Miami Herald for less than $1 a month here.
