Sunburn — The Morning Read Of What’s Hot In Florida Politics — 6.17.22

By Peter Schorsch   

Good Friday morning.

You couldn’t blame Republican leadership in Tallahassee for confusing former state Rep. Mike Hill with the creepy “Michael Myers” character in the Halloween movie series.

Hill used to represent his Pensacola district in the state House.

We could understand if that memory would cause GOP leadership in Tallahassee to awaken in the middle of the night, sweating profusely. They’ve done everything they can to erase the memory of Hill’s homophobic and nonsensical ravings.

They rebuked him, disavowed him, and banished him into irrelevance. When he ran for re-election as an incumbent in 2020 with enough baggage to fill a cruise ship, they were relieved when he lost.

I mean, his political career should have been DOA the moment he laughed at a joke about stoning gays, but he just keeps coming back.

Hill filed to regain a seat in the House, challenging incumbent Rep. Michelle Salzman in the Republican Primary. She beat him two years ago, and it was easy to see why.

During the early days of the pandemic, Hill turned his back on a constituent who asked him for help to navigate Florida’s broken unemployment system.

He mocked efforts to protect the public from COVID-19.

He filed a bill to overturn Florida’s widely praised “red flag law” that allows law enforcement to temporarily seize the weapons of someone deemed a danger to the public or themselves.

Hill was unsuccessful.

The red flag law, however, is a success. The state reported it had been used nearly 6,000 times, possibly saving us from the horror of another Parkland or Pulse.

These and other examples show Hill is not a serious lawmaker. But if the good people of House District 1 choose him, here’s what they will get:

Nothing.

Republican leadership exiled Hill from any impactful role after his widely condemned laugh at the “joke” about gays. Even Gov. Ron DeSantis joined the chorus. If Hill somehow upsets Salzman, voters will have sent a guy to Tallahassee who brings them bupkus.

He won’t get anything close to an important committee assignment. Any bill he offers will land in the circular file.

Of course, current GOP leadership will try to ensure Hill doesn’t darken their door.

Upon the news that Hill was in the race, Speaker-designate Paul Renner had a rapid response: He forcefully endorsed Salzman.

“Michelle Salzman is a strong conservative and the fresh voice we need in Tallahassee,” Renner said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Rep. Salzman to continue delivering for her community in Northwest Florida.”

Renner didn’t mention Hill, but perhaps he heard the Halloween music. Maybe sometime Hill will go away for good, but it looks like this is not that time.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

Tweet, tweet:

—@AbbyDPhillip: J. Michael Luttig is a dyed-in-the-wool conservative and he is issuing an unvarnished warning that (Donald) Trump and his allies are “executing that blueprint” to overturn the next election in 2024 “in open and plain view of the American public.”

—@TamaraLush: Basically, the Jan. 6 committee is urging America to use their version of the CrimeStoppers phone number. Except we don’t even get McGruff the Crime Dog as a mascot.

—@RonFilipowski: Jason Miller, under oath, is a completely different person than the one we see on TV.

—@RachelVScott: Are Republican members of Congress are watching the Jan. 6 hearings? Rep. @MaElviraSalazar told me she has not watched and doesn’t plan to. “I have not because my district, we’re thinking about inflation, gas prices, the eggs finding workers to go to the shop.”

—@RonDeSantisFL: Great to be with the Florida Cattlemen’s Association tonight. Florida is one of the largest cattle states in the nation and I’m grateful for the support of thousands of cattlemen whose hard work benefits our state and their communities. Thank you for having me.

—@ChristianCamara: @ChristinaPushaw is without a doubt the most effective Press Secretary in the country, and those who would vociferously disagree are proof of it.

—@Fineout: There is still time if someone — oh, who could that be? — wanted to create a real kerfuffle and file a candidate against incoming Senate President @Kathleen4SWFL — who is currently running unopposed.

—@StephHayes: Each day in Fla is like a Calvinball of terror

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