Politics

Lauren Melo seeks to eliminate DEI from state agencies and medical institutions

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

A new measure would nix race-based objectives and policies from being implemented within state agencies and medical institutions that provide higher education.

Naples Republican Rep. Lauren Melo has filed a bill (HB 731) that would impose limitations and restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within state agencies, medical institutions and health care providers.

The bill aims to eliminate DEI offices and officers in state agencies, prevent race-based policies in examining or licensing boards, and ensure that state grants and contract recipients are not mandating DEI training in health care and medical education sectors.

State agencies applying for federal health care related grants for the purpose of DEI would be required to publish on their respective websites all materials, requirements and instructions related to the federal grant applications that are in the agency’s possession.

They would further be required to submit a copy of the federal grant proposal to all members of the Health Policy Committee in the Senate and the Health and Human Services Committee in the House.

The bill defines DEI as “any effort to manipulate or otherwise influence the composition of employees with reference to race, sex, color, or ethnicity, other than ensuring colorblind and race-neutral hiring in accordance with state and federal antidiscrimination laws.”

This includes any effort to promote differential treatment or provide special benefits to an individual based solely on their race, color or ethnicity. The bill further states that policies, training or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation need written approval from the Attorney General to comply with laws or court orders.

The bill notes that the term “DEI” does not include equal opportunity or equal employment opportunity materials designated to inform a person about the prohibition on discrimination based on protected status under state and federal law.

State agencies would be prohibited from promoting views on unconscious bias, cultural appropriation, transgender ideology and similar topics as their official stance. Furthermore, state agencies would be restricted from spending appropriated funds or funds from any other source to establish, sustain, support or staff a DEI office or contract, employ, engage or hire a person to serve as a DEI officer.

Any person would be able report violations to the Attorney General, who could file suit for a court order to compel the state agency to comply.

Examining or licensing boards would be restricted from implementing race-based policies or making decisions based on personal characteristics. Individuals cannot be excluded from these boards based on race, color, ethnicity, gender or sex. The bill would allow individuals to take private legal action against boards or individuals for violations.

However, if the action was performed at the behest of the board or superior officer, employee or agent, the cause of action may only be brought against the person or persons responsible.

Health care providers and medical institutions within the Florida College System, state universities or trade schools that offer health care-related degrees, doctorates and certification programs would be required to certify to their governing boards annually beginning Dec. 31, 2025, that they do not require employees, contractors, vendors or agents to ascribe to, study or be instructed by DEI materials using state funds.

The Florida Board of Medical Examiners would be required to publish annually a list of all health care providers and medical institutions of higher education that have provided the required certification. Medical institutions would further be required to use standardized methods for admissions which would be based on knowledge and critical thinking skills for science and medical training admissions.

If passed, the bill would come into effect July 1.

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Politics

Mike Waltz sees no NATO path for Ukraine

Published

29 minutes ago

February 24, 2025

May Greene

He says Europe needs to step up.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is a no on adding Ukraine to NATO.

He says Ukraine’s defense is something European allies can help to fund, but requiring American mutual defense for Kyiv is a nonstarter.

“We are absolutely committed to NATO writ large, our Article 5 treaty agreements with other NATO countries, but the security guarantees for Ukraine is a different conversation,” the Donald Trump appointee said on “Fox & Friends.”

“One of the things that we fully support is both France and the United Kingdom and other Europeans saying they would be willing to enter into very strong security guarantees for the future of Ukraine. That’s a different conversation.”

Waltz’s position aligns with that of the Trump administration overall, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who recently said he does not believe that “NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement” and that “there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine.”

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered to resign in exchange for NATO membership, but that assurance likely won’t be tested anytime soon.

Though Waltz opposes Ukraine in NATO, he still advocates for an arrangement where the U.S. offers security guarantees in exchange for rights to the country’s rare earth minerals.

“Our position has been (that) 50% of something that is much larger growing the pie is better than the 100% of where they are today,” Waltz said.

“So let’s grow together in an economic partnership, and of course, the U.S. would protect our assets for which we are invested in. This could mean trillions, not only for the Ukrainian people, but for us, and stability for the region, and that economic investment is one of the best security guarantees that Ukraine could hope for.”

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Politics

Rubin Turnbull climbs to No. 4 with $2.89M earned in Q4 of 2024

Published

60 minutes ago

February 24, 2025

May Greene

Rubin, Turnbull & Associates approached the $3 million mark in the fourth quarter, improving upon its No. 5 finish in Q4.

The firm led by Bill Rubin and Heather Turnbull filed reports showing it earned at least $1 million lobbying the Legislature and another $1 million lobbying the executive branch. That is the top bracket for firm-level ranges, meaning Rubin Turnbull & Associates likely earned more.

Florida Politics ranks lobbying firm earnings based on the middle number of the per-client ranges listed on compensation reports. Contracts are reported in $10,000 increments. Compensation reports also include firm-level ranges, which can give outsiders a rough idea of a firm’s minimum and maximum earnings.

Rubin Turnbull’s median estimate in the Legislature was $1.45 million last quarter while the firm’s executive branch report showed an estimated $1.44 million in pay, for an overall total of $2.89 million.

In addition to the named partners, the firm’s fourth-quarter team included Melissa Akeson, Jacqueline Carmona, Erica Chanti, Kevin Comerer, Jodi Bock Davidson, Christopher Finkbeiner, Zachary Hubbard, Matthew Sacco and Sharonda Wright-Placide. They represented 122 legislative clients and 118 executive branch clients in Q4.

BusPatrol was the most lucrative contract, paying $180,000 overall — $90,000 for legislative lobbying and the same amount for executive lobbying. HCA Healthcare was in the mix as well, accounting for $71,000 on each report.

Though it didn’t hire the firm for legislative work, Binance.US, a major cryptocurrency trading platform, split the top spot with BusPatrol on Rubin Turnbull’s executive branch report with a $90,000 contract.

Based on per-client ranges, Rubin Turnbull & Associates could have earned as much as $3.76 million in Q4. The closing quarter puts the firm’s annual tally at $11.38 million, placing it in the No. 6 spot in the 2024 full-year rankings.

Florida lobbyists and lobbying firms faced a mid-February deadline to file compensation reports for the period covering Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. Compensation reports for the first quarter are due to the state on May 15.

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Politics

Ron Book re-enters Top 5 with $2.88M earned in Q4

Published

2 hours ago

February 24, 2025

May Greene

After a short break, the lobbying firm led by Ron Book has re-entered the Top 5 in Florida Politics’ lobby firm rankings.

Book and lobbying partners Rana Brown, Kelly Mallette, and Gabriela Navarro represented 100-plus clients during the reporting period, amassing $2.38 million in legislative lobbying revenues and tacking on an additional $500,000 lobbying the executive branch for a grand total of $2.88 million in Q4.

If Florida Politics were counting down the Top 25 firms by legislative revenues, Book & Co. would have landed at No. 4 last quarter. Of note: The firm, to our knowledge, is the only one in Florida to have a Nobel Peace Prize nominee on the team — U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz nominated Book late last year in recognition of decades of advocacy and nonprofit work.

Three contracts on the firm’s legislative compensation report measured in at $100,000 or more. Performance Title Services provided the biggest payday at $186,000 for the quarter, followed by Title Clerk Consulting Company at $160,000 and Ashbritt at $100,000.

A handful of other clients beat the $50,000 cap on range reporting. They included Related Ross Miami Project/Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, The SEED Foundation, 7-11 and Florida Power & Light Company.

Ashbritt was at the top of the executive branch report with another $100,000 payment followed by 7-11 at $51,000 and Hard Rock Stadium at $45,000.

Overall, Book’s team reported earning no less than $1 million in legislative lobbying pay and between $250,000 and $500,000 in executive branch pay. At the top end, the firm may have earned as much as $3.32 million.

With 2024 done and dusted, Book’s firm held onto the No. 5 spot in the annual rankings with $11.64 million earned across all four quarters last year.

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