Jeremy Ring: The former Yahoo executive led an ultimately unsuccessful push to allow high school students to count computer coding as a foreign language, even going toe-to-toe with his own caucus over the proposal. But the Margate Democrat also sponsored legislation to give more protections to people with autism when dealing with law enforcement, and backed legislation to reaffirm Florida’s commitment to keep state dollars from funding state sponsors of terror in Iran. Ring just finished up his last year in office, and his political future remains uncertain. Could a run for CFO be on the horizon?
Chris Sprowls: The freshman lawmaker clinched the House Speakership for 2021– 22 while pushing a legislative agenda filled with conservative public policy. He carried a well-received public school choice bill, and was the lead on some of the House’s health care priorities.
Session, but seems content to settle into the lobby corps as a grinder, quietly tallying such wins and staying out of the headlines.
American Airlines, Delta and other major air carriers: Lawmakers finally leveled the playing field on jet fuel taxes by removing a 1996 exemption on jet fuel taxation for certain airlines. The legislation also lowers the current jet fuel tax rate from 6.9 cents per gallon to 4.27 cents per gallon for all carriers.
Bascom Communications and Consulting: With direct access to both chambers’ legislative leaders and a massive book of blue chip clients, BCC is simply the most powerful public affairs shop in the state capital.
DEAN CANNON: The former House Speaker scored victories on bills (FMPA, FADA) this
Children, dentists and MCNA: A contentious Medicaid children’s dental bill finally cleared the Legislature. Republicans Rep. Jose Felix Diaz and Senate President-designate Joe Negron pushed the bill despite vigorous opposition from HMOs. It eliminates dental care from the list of minimum services that managed-care plans are required to offer and was backed by Fort Lauderdale-based MCNA Dental, repped by Southern Strategy Group, Paul Stanford, and The Mayernick Group.
Dana Young: Left the House as Republican Leader after forging strong relationships on both sides of the Rotunda in both parties. Running unopposed for state Senate seat with beaucoup campaign cash. Got her bill passed and signed into law this year that protects pets and “vulnerable people” locked in hot cars. The kicker: Her House farewell speech was a virtual mic drop, clocking in at a record 44 seconds. As the Talking Heads put it, “Say something once/ Why say it again?”
More House Members: Many House leaders had a good year, but a few stood out: Future Speaker Jose Oliva continued to consolidate power and influence. Those looking for conflict between Corcoran and Oliva were disappointed. Rep. Ray Rodrigues scored a rare feat by getting his solar amendment on the primary ballot. Rep. Jose Felix Diaz got language into law to expand health care for children of legal immigrants and is making a name for himself as the go-to man on controversial issues such as gambling.
Americans for Prosperity-Florida: As an economic incentive package picked up steam in the Senate, Americans for Prosperity-Florida began to push back. It called the proposal, which included film incentives and Scott’s $250 million Enterprise Florida Fund, “corporate welfare.” It began a direct mail campaign to voters who lived in districts of lawmakers who supported the proposal. It worked: The package wound up in the legislative trash heap of 2016.
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