FL DEMS TAP FOUR NEW VICE CHAIRS FROM ACROSS THE STATE

Chairwoman Allison Tant: “I am thrilled to announce the new members of our leadership team who I am confident will position the party to take back the governor’s mansion in 2014. Democrats saw firsthand in 2012 that our power is not in Tallahassee but in communities across this state where hardworking Floridians are feeling the consequences of Rick Scott’s wrong priorities, which continue to put corporations ahead of middle class families. From Jacksonville to Miami, Democrats will be working more aggressively than ever to register and turnout out voters to defeat this Governor who has proven time and again he is simply not our side.”

NATIONAL SPOLIGHT ON FL DEMS PUSH FOR VOTING RIGHTS

Voting Rights Bill Will Honor Desiline Victor, 102-year-old Florida Voter [MSNBC] “Desiline Victor, the 102-year-old Florida voter who stood in line for hours to cast her ballot, may see her determination memorialized in a voting-rights act with her name on it.  The Advancement Project, along with civil rights organization Florida New Majority and Florida State Senator Oscar Braynon, have introduced a legislative effort aimed at protecting and improving the right to vote in Florida. The organizations are joining Desiline Victor, whose experience was referred to by President Obama during his State of the Union address. Victor was the oldest guest ever to attend a State of the Union address. Senator Braynon’s bill–SB 888 or Desiline’s Free and Fair Democracy Act–hopes to “modernize the state’s voting system and enshrine the right to vote into state law,” according to an Advancement Project press release.”

RICK SCOTT CAN’T EVEN CONTROL HIS OWN STATE PARTY

Adam Putnam Touts His Opposition To Rick Scott’s Medicaid Stance [Tampa Bay Times] “This is awkward. The Republican party of Florida, led more or less by Gov. Rick Scott, fired off a mass email on behalf of Agricultiure Commissioner Adam Putnam, touting Putnam’s disagreement with Scott over expanding Medicaid coverage im Florida under the Affordable Care Act. A state party spokesman stressed that no one at the party had anything to do with it, despite the disclaimer that it was paid for by the RPOF.”

MEDICAID FIGHT STILL LOOMS

Activists Urge the Florida Legislature To Expand Medicaid Coverage [Creative Loafing] “Next week, the Florida Legislature convenes for its 2013 session, and one of the issues members will vote on is whether to approve the deal with the federal government to expand Medicaid coverage. Gov. Rick Scott made national headlines last week by announcing that he supports the plan, which would have the federal government pay 100 percent of all Medicaid spending in Florida for three years, and 90 percent after that. But Scott doesn’t have the last word — the Legislature does. This afternoon in South St. Petersburg, a number of activists called on the Legislature to approve the deal.”

Rick Scott Shifting Stance On Obamacare: From ‘Devasting’ To ‘High-Quality Health Care’ [Huffington Post] “Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has said a lot about President Barack Obama’s health care reform agenda over the last four years. After making his name in politics fighting against what Scott called ‘government-run’ health care, last week Scott said his state should take part in Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion.”

Scott No-show As Governors Talk Medicaid [Palm Beach Post] “Florida Gov. Rick Scott was again a no-show at the National Governors Association annual meeting this year as the states’ chief execs met with President Obama and White House staff to discuss looming budget cuts that will impact virtually every sector of their economies…When asked why Scott skipped this year’s meeting, spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said in an e-mail the governor had other things on his agenda today and over the weekend.”

HOUSE DEMS ANNOUNCE MORE LEADERSHIP

House Democrat Deputy Whips Announced [Orlando Sentinel] “The House Democrats announced their deputy whips for this year’s session today. Reps. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville, Jose Rodriguez, D-Miami, Hazelle Rogers, D-Lauderdale Lakes, and Joe Saunders, D-Orlando, were selected by House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, and House Whip Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee. ‘Leader Thurston and I are happy to congratulate Representatives Berman, Fullwood, Rodríguez, Rogers, and Saunders for agreeing to serve our caucus and the residents of Florida,’ Williams said in a release. ‘Deputy whips are an important position, which includes the careful review of all legislation that comes before the Florida House of Representatives.'”

SEQUESTRATION LOOMS OVER FLORIDAS FAMILES

Sequestration Will Hit the Youngest and Oldest Floridians [Tampa Bay Times] “Nearly 1,000 Florida National Guard employees would face furloughs for 20 percent of the year, potentially disastrous as spring wildfires and summer hurricanes strike. Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are exempt from sequestration. But many other social programs will face cuts, from subsidized child care and Head Start for the youngest Floridians to Meals on Wheels for seniors, according to a state-by-state White House report.”

AFP TELLS US WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW: RUBIO IS *REALLY* CONSERVATIVE

Marco Rubio Is Really Conservative, Groups Say [Tampa Bay Times] “Last week, two groups issued vote scorecards that put Rubio squarely in the conservative camp. Americans for Prosperity gave the Florida Republican a 100 percent score on issues it rated. He got a 100 percent from the American Conservative Union, too. ‘The AFP Scorecard is the best way for our activists to keep a close eye on Washington, and confront them when they don’t vote responsibly,” said AFP-FL State Director Slade O’Brien. “We are pleased to announce Senator Rubio is the only US Senator to receive a lifetime rating of A+.'”