Florida Political News: July 29, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Thu Jul 29, 2010 at 09:26:03 AM EDT

RPOF sued for disgorgement of Rothstein cash

"The Republican Party of Florida was sued Wednesday for $237,000 it received from Scott Rothstein's defunct Fort Lauderdale law firm. Rothstein donated to the party from accounts of his law firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, on more than 10 occasions, states the lawsuit filed in federal bankruptcy court. The political donations were not a legitimate law firm expense and the firm received nothing in return for them, according to the suit. The lawsuit was filed by Berger Singerman, the law firm working on behalf of the trustee in the bankruptcy case for Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler."

The lawsuit is one more hit for the embattled Republican Party of Florida, whose chairman, Jim Greer, quit amid a credit card spending scandal earlier this year. If convicted, Greer faces up to 75 years in prison for theft, fraud and money-laundering charges stemming from accusations that he created a company called Victory Strategies to funnel party donations to himself. Greer has pleaded not guilty.

Rothstein and his firm gave generously to politicians and candidates on both sides of the aisle as a way for him to boost the legitimacy and image of himself and his law firm. Rothstein regularly hosted lavish political fundraisers. Photos showing him with politicians -- including one in which he embraced Gov. Charlie Crist -- were auctioned off by the bankruptcy estate earlier this year.

In April, Berger Singerman sent demand letters to dozens of political groups, politicians and candidates seeking repayment of about $650,000. The Republican Part of Florida is the first to be sued, but may not be the last.

Money talks

"Two wealthy newcomers to Florida politics who are self-financing their campaigns have taken double-digit leads in the state's Republican gubernatorial and Democratic Senate primary races, according to a poll released Thursday."

Former hospital operator Rick Scott was favored by 43 percent to 32 percent who preferred Attorney General Bill McCollum in the Republican gubernatorial race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of 760 likely GOP voters taken July 22-27. Scott maintained a double-digit advantage he had compiled in an early June survey.

Meanwhile, billionaire businessman Jeff Greene shot ahead of U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek in the Democratic Senate race. Greene was favored by 33 percent of 782 likely Democratic voters to Meek's 23 percent and former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre's 4 percent. In a June poll by Quinnipiac, Meek held a 2-point edge.

The margin of error was plus or minus 3.6 percentage points among Republicans and 3.5 percentage points among Democrats.

Scott calls McLaughlin poll "trash"

"The rock-'em, sock-'em campaign by Rick Scott and Bill McCollum is driving up the negatives of both GOP gubernatorial candidates, a new poll reports."

As if that weren't bad enough, the poll itself has been called into question for its financial ties to the McCollum campaign.

The July 25-26 telephone survey of likely Republican voters found that Scott's negative numbers climbed to 37 percent while McCollum's negative rating moved up to 43 percent.

The poll by McLaughlin & Associates also indicated that the race may be tightening, with Scott leading McCollum 37 percent to 33 percent.

“The results of this poll show a dead heat, with the candidates statistically tied within the margin of error," said Timothy Stapleton, executive vice president of the Florida Medical Association, which commissioned the poll.

The FMA, which endorsed McCollum earlier this month, noted that 30 percent of respondents are still undecided in the contest, even though Scott and McCollum have spent millions on TV advertising in the past 90 days.

"Most disturbing to Rick Scott has to be the fact that as the story of his real record gets out, his negatives continue to rise," the McLaughlin analysis states. "Among undecided voters, Rick Scott has a net negative rating of only 16 percent favorable to 43 percent unfavorable." ...

Scott campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Baker declined to comment, except to call the McLaughlin survey "trash ... coming straight from McCollum."

Indeed, McLaughlin received $1.39 million from the Florida First Initiative between July 15 and July 28. Florida First is a 527 campaign fund linked to McCollum.

Scott goes into hiding

"Scott has agreed to two limited TV debates with McCollum, but balked at going on live TV statewide for one hour -- free of charge -- to debate his Republican opponent unless the location was moved away from McCollum's Orlando base to one of Scott's choosing. McCollum agreed to the move on Wednesday, but Scott insists on a public venue that organizers say they can't provide. The flap over the only statewide TV debate comes as Scott also is passing up invitations from newspaper editorial boards for interviews." "Scott, McCollum clash over statewide debate". See also "Scott Holds the Remote -- Won't OK TV Move".

Meek hits the road

"From the place where he started his petition campaign in Orlando to the Wausau Possum Festival, from Pensacola's beaches to an early voting date in his hometown of Miami, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek plans an 11-day statewide bus tour in his U.S." "Meek to begin campaign tour in Orlando".

Country clubbers tap McCollum

"The Florida Chamber of Commerce endorsed Attorney General Bill McCollum in his bid for governor. Another business group endorsed both McCollum and his GOP primary rival Rick Scott."

With the two leading Republican candidates for governor peddling their economic plans, Attorney General Bill McCollum on Wednesday received an endorsement in his bid from the Florida Chamber of Commerce. ...

Also Wednesday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce donated $500,000 to the Florida First Initiative, a political committee affiliated with McCollum that has been attacking his rival, Rick Scott, in television ads, the News Service of Florida reported. ...

McCollum has pledged to lower corporate taxes, reduce regulations and revise state laws governing civil suits. ...

Another business group, Associated Industries of Florida, announced Wednesday that it would co-endorse McCollum and Scott.

And so it begins ...

... the The Orlando Sentinel has overtly begun its campaign against Grayson, attacking his 21st Century use of the franking privilege to send a DVD to constituents, as opposed to the usual newsletter. Even though "Grayson isn't the first lawmaker to use taxpayer money to send a DVD", the Sentinel "journalists, right outa the RPOF talking points, derisively call it a "stunt".

According to the Sentinel, "the 90-minute disc features video highlights from his first term in office, including one of him grilling Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and another in which the Orlando Democrat preaches on the need to teach schoolchildren about the U.S. Constitution."

It's a stunt that drew howls from Republicans, who complained that Grayson was abusing the congressional privilege of franking that allows lawmakers to send taxpayer-paid newsletters and other mail to residents.

"This is an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars, and it goes to show that Alan Grayson is completely out of touch with Central Florida," said state Rep. Kurt Kelly of Ocala, one of seven Republicans looking to unseat Grayson this fall.

"This is just ridiculous behavior. What congressman would do this in the face of a huge budget deficit?" he asked.

Grayson said he doesn't see the video as self-promotional and that its intent was to show residents how the sausage is made in Washington.

Rubio losing money race

"Rubio collected $4.3 million from April 1 to June 30, a record for a U.S. Senate candidate in Florida. But he spent $4 million during the same period."

Rubio needs a better return on his fund-raising investment -- $1.7 million last quarter in direct mail, phone calls and online outreach — or he'll risk being outspent by Gov. Charlie Crist, who left the GOP to run with no party affiliation.

Since Rubio started raising money in February 2009, he's spent 63 percent of every dollar he's collected.

If he continues on that pace, he would need to raise $6.2 million in the third quarter of the year just to match the $8.2 million Crist had in the bank as of June 30.

Much of the Rubio's spending last quarter was directed at pushing Crist out of the Republican primary, a Palm Beach Post analysis of Rubio's expenditures show.

DWS goes after Teabaggers

"South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will help lead a nationwide Democratic campaign this fall that will try to tie Republican candidates to extreme elements of the Tea Party movement." "Florida's Wasserman Schultz leads Democrats' campaign to tie GOP to Tea Party".

Never mind

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board happily overlooks that Republican Dorothy Hukill "backed offshore drilling, sponsored the bill shielding gerrymandered districts and weakened growth-management laws." "For Florida House District 28".

Fl-oil-duh

"A University of Central Florida economist says that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has delayed the Sunshine State's recovery from the Great Recession by at least a year." "Economist: Spill will stall recovery by a year".

See also "Oil spill roundup: Wed., July 28", "Feinberg to oil spill task force: BP has done some things well, but 'data isn’t one of them'", "The 10 lessons in the 100 days of the Gulf oil spill", "Local governments: We want more say in oil cleanup" and "Crews take step toward readying permanent well fix".

Entrepreneurs in action

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "In what U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder described as 'the largest federal Medicare fraud take-down in history,' hundreds of federal agents swept five cities, including Miami, earlier this month to arrest 94 people accused of stealing $251 million from taxpayers by submitting bogus Medicare reimbursement claims." "Keep up the fight on bogus claims".

RPOFers prepare law like Arizona's

"South Florida immigrants viewed with relief a federal judge's decision Wednesday to block provisions of an Arizona law that would step up enforcement against people suspected of being in the country illegally. Others saw the injunction as a Band-Aid that could slip off as the legal battle between the federal government and state procedes, and while Florida legislators prepare laws similar to Arizona's. " "Arizona immigration ruling provides relief to some in South Florida, but hope to opponents". Related: "Democrat Sink’s careful reactions to Arizona law, federal suit and today’s injunction".

Meanwhile, the RPOFers scramble for the gutter: "Republican guv hopefuls Scott, McCollum criticize injunction blocking Arizona immigration law".

West=teabagger=RPOF

"Allen West is the darling of the tea party movement in South Florida. He's raised truckloads of campaign cash for his campaign. His name is constantly invoked at Republican gatherings." "Despite odds, challengers don't shy from taking on Ron Klein and Allen West".

Off topic

"Civil Rights Panel To Pursue Scourge Of Anti-White Racism".

Jebbie holds a press conference

"Now that Jeb Bush has taken himself out of the 2012 presidential sweepstakes, the former Florida governor is delving more deeply into humanitarian endeavors." Jebbie

is honorary chair of the Volunteer USA Foundation, which is developing a National Disaster Recovery Fund.

The fund, according to Volunteer USA President Liza McFadden, "will provide long-term support to fill gaps where insurance and FEMA funding don't exist."

The states of Alabama, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi have joined as partners in the fund, which "will allow faith and community-based non-profits that have track records of sustainable efforts helping communities rebuild to compete for funds," McFadden said. ...

Bush is working alongside Wal-Mart CEO Bill Simon, who serves as chairman of the fund.

Thrasher opens mouth, inserts foot

Republican Party of Florida Chairman John Thrasher "took aim at Democrats Meek and Grayson on Wednesday for missing the vote [to continue the funding of American military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan], ignoring Republican Young, who missed the vote because he is recovering from back surgery." "RPOF Chairman Thrasher Takes Aim at Meek, Grayson for Missing Military Funding Vote".

"Difficult to implement and of uncertain benefit"

The Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy:

Florida policymakers are embarking on another in a long series of K-12 education reform efforts likely to be difficult to implement and of uncertain benefit.

The next steps planned in Florida's accountability-based education strategy will result in new standards, new tests, and renewed attempts to base teacher pay on student test scores.

Questions exist not only about the strategy itself, but also about whether schools are funded well enough to make the kind of performance gains being sought.

Buzz continues about Haridopolos taking on Nelson in 2012

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/">Sunshine State News reports: "Having written a letter on national issues to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson earlier in the month, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, announced Wednesday that he will conduct a tour of hospitals and health-care facilities across the state, addressing health-related issues, including Medicaid. ... Just as he had in his letter to Nelson, Haridopolos continued to address federal issues -- taking aim at new health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama. ... Haridopolos also looked to brandish his conservative credentials by praising free-market solutions for health care." "Mike Haridopolos Puts Health Care on Center Stage".

Running mate race

"In the next few weeks, the candidates for governor face a decision fraught with danger: choosing a running mate for the obscure position of lieutenant governor. ... McCollum and Tom Grady? Scott and Paula Dockery? Sink and Rod Smith?" "Florida gubernatorial candidates looking at running mates".

Greer talks

"'I just hope that you-know-who drops dead'". "Jailhouse recordings show a different side of ex-Republican party of Florida chairman".

Florida Political News: July 28, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Wed Jul 28, 2010 at 10:36:07 AM EDT

Sink releases energy plan

"In Alex Sink's view of the future, homeowners could install rooftop solar panels and not pay higher taxes for lowering their electricity bills. Businesses could generate their own electricity. Innovative energy companies would flock to Florida and create jobs. And the state's giant electric companies would thrive as leaders in wind, solar and biomass energy but would not have to control the market."

That optimistic portrait is painted by Sink, the state's chief financial officer and Democratic candidate for governor, in the energy policy she released Tuesday.

Sink said the Gulf oil disaster underscored "the economic threat we face if we continue our over-reliance on oil,'' and she scolded the state legislature for allowing Florida to lag in renewable energy production and manufacturing.

If elected, she said, she "will move our state decisively toward a more reliable, clean, and job-generating energy future.''

Sink proposes a combination of fiscal incentives, policy shifts and regulations to broaden Florida's market for alternative fuels.

Sink's energy plan pushes in directions that Gov. Charlie Crist and others have sought but failed to achieve from the reluctant Republican-led legislature.

McCollum sticks his hypocritical hand in your pocket

Scott Maxwell: "There's only one thing more annoying than the constant barrage of ugly ads you see each campaign season — and that's knowing you helped pay for them."

That's right. You may be sick of watching Bill McCollum and Rick Scott beat the tar out of each other. But you're still helping fund the battle whether you want to or not.

That's because McCollum decided to stick his hypocritical hands in your pocket.

Yes, the same guy who's fighting health-care coverage for the uninsured recently filed paperwork requesting nearly $1.3 million in public money to finance his attack-based campaign.

Fl-oil-duh

"As the Obamas plan a family vacation to the oil-plagued Florida Gulf Coast, tourism leaders hope they pack their swimsuits." "Will president take a swim during visit to Gulf Coast?".

See also "Oil-spill claims: Losses caused by public perception of oil rather than actual oil may also be covered", "Exxon Valdez expert Riki Ott tells Florida to dig in for a protracted legal, environmental battle", "Travel group seeks $500 million for Gulf tourism", "Fla. tourism official: hold media 'accountable'", "Give sea turtles a chance", "Oil spill response winding down" and "100 days of oil: Gulf life will never be the same".

And then there's this: "A tow boat slammed into an abandoned well north of a bay already hit by crude from the Gulf oil spill, sending a plume of oil and gas spewing into the air". "Tug hits well near Gulf, sends oil spewing".

"McCollum tries to set the record straight"

"Attorney General Bill McCollum tries to set the record straight when it comes to his views on an Arizona-style immigration law in Florida." "Arizona-Style Immigration and the McCollum Conundrum".

Boyd, Lawson pissing match

"In separate meetings with the Tallahassee Democrat editorial board, the Democratic primary opponents accused each other of trying to mislead voters."

Lawson said Boyd's television advertisements in their Democratic primary race for the Big Bend seat in the U.S. House unfairly allege that he "took $3 million from insurance companies" while voting in the Legislature for bills that led to insurance rate increases for homeowners and medical patients. Lawson said his earnings over nearly 30 years may have approached that amount, but that he sells life insurance — not property and casualty policies — and that rates are set by the Office of Insurance Regulation, not the Legislature.

Lawson countered with accusations that Boyd has amassed $3 million of his own in a re-election fund built largely by corporate political-action committees and lobbyists, including oil interests. Lawson said BP is among supporters of the 2nd District congressman, who voted in favor of oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico.

"Ties to big-money South Florida interests"

"As U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek continues his unexpected battle against billionaire Jeff Greene for the Democratic nomination in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, Democratic candidates — nine total — are duking it out in the race to claim Meek’s congressional seat. And, as new campaign finance reports reveal, the leaders in that race have numerous ties to big-money South Florida interests." "In race to replace Meek, vested interests spend heavily".

"Attack after attack"

"Down now even in his own polls, Bill McCollum launched attack after attack against primary rival Rick Scott on Tuesday, hoping something — anything — can convince Republican voters that the TV image of Scott won't be what Floridians get as governor."

Among a volley of accusations at two separate Pinellas County events, McCollum said Scott plagiarized from McCollum's economic and jobs plan and is peddling an unrealistic and potentially devastating plan to cut the state Department of Corrections by almost 40 percent, or $1 billion. He also continued to pound Scott over his time as CEO of Columbia/HCA, saying Scott profited hundreds of millions of dollars by defrauding taxpayers through Medicare and Medicaid.

Tuff guy

"Trailing badly in the polls behind health-care executive Rick Scott in the fight for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, Attorney General Bill McCollum sought to reinforce his crime-fighting credentials". "Bill McCollum Back to Basics, His Law Enforcement Base, to Salvage Gov. Campaign".

RPOFer laff riot

"In the hotly contested Republican primary for attorney general, it doesn't take much to start controversy."

Seeking to deflect Bondi's criticism of his connections to the trial bar, Kottkamp [who briefly worked for Morgan & Morgan] cited an e-mail written last fall by Billy Howard, 43, a member of the Morgan & Morgan firm, who once dated Bondi.

In the e-mail, Howard suggested that Bondi hire the firm if she wins the race.

"Told me at church today she will use us for consumer protection if she wins,'' Howard wrote on Nov. 22, 2009. "She plans to announce this week I think, but u would know more than me as usual.''

Both Howard and Bondi now insist such a conversation never took place.

Grayson opposes "tax cuts for the rich."

The right-wingers at the Sunshine State news"Heading into the fall elections, congressional Democrats appear ready to let the Bush tax cuts expire at year end. That's going to be a tough sell on the campaign trail, even as populist Democrats try to fashion themselves as newborn deficit hawks. A one-year extension of the cuts would 'cost' the federal government $115 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Or, viewed from outside the Beltway, an extension of tax relief would save U.S. taxpayers $115 billion."

Turning supply-side economics on its head, the Democratic majority [in DC], as of now anyway, insists that higher taxes will right the fiscal ship.

Toeing the party line, Rep. Alan Grayson, a freshman Democrat facing a tough re-election fight in Florida's 8th Congressional District, stridently maintains that the Bush-era reductions were "tax cuts for the rich." He opposes any extension.

Delaying EPA’s Numeric Nutrient Standards

"Only weeks after reports surfaced that Florida U.S. Reps. Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, and Allen Boyd, D-Tallahassee, were attempting to introduce a rider that would essentially delay the EPA’s Numeric Nutrient Standards from taking effect, rumors of another rider have begun to circulate." "Environmental group alleges that another nutrient standards-blocking rider is in the works".

Two peas in a pod

"The detail from the campaign's 800-page report is a reminder of how close Greer and Crist were." "Crist campaign buys furniture and office gear from former GOP Chairman Jim Greer".

Republican lobbyist at work

"A 19-year-old Florida State University student says a Republican lobbyist conned him into sending mailers attacking Democratic congressional candidate Joe Garcia."

The fliers, which try to tie Garcia to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, were sent by a political group recently formed by student Matthew Slider. But Slider said he never saw the fliers featuring Garcia's picture over a Cuban flag with the universal "no'' symbol over it.

Slider had declined to comment on the mailer last week when a story first appeared in The Miami Herald.

Then, over the weekend, he sent out a sworn statement saying he had been tricked by Tallahassee lobbyist Evan J. Power into believing he was helping the campaign of Luis Meurice, a lesser-known Democrat also running for the seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart.

"Certainly this makes me look like an idiot,'' Slider said, adding that he felt badly that mailers with "racist overtones'' were sent out under his name. ...

Power did not respond to the Miami Herald after he had asked that the newspaper e-mail questions. He told the Naples Daily News that someone had hijacked the group's name and that he was just as surprised as Slider to see the mailers. ...

Power is also the ex-boyfriend of Erin Di Cesare, a former FSU student with no political background who was set up to front another political group that sent racially tinged attack mailers in 2009.

Class size

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board thinks the "Class size price too steep".

From the "values" crowd

"Volusia slashes school budget again".

The "McCristums"

Nancy Smith says,"take away those mostly physical differences and what you’ve got are Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum -- the McCristums -- in so many other ways two peas struggling for political survival in the same illuminated pod. Bill and Charlie, Charlie and Bill. Year after year together. At least, that's the perception. And let’s face it, these two epitomize how perceptions get to be perceptions."

Smith puts it this way:

- Both are career politicians with law degrees

- Both will make wildly outrageous, impossible statements

- Both seem to adjust their ambitions upward every 2-4 years

- Both use their offices to further their campaigns

- Both are severely ethically challenged

- Both have a Jim Greer problem

On the road

"On the fourth day of Rick Scott’s tour across the state of Florida, he made several stops in Jacksonville and surrounding areas, culminating in a Sunday visit to First Baptist Church." "Rick Scott offers stump speech rhetoric at Jacksonville barbecue". Related: "Should the GOP be afraid of this man?".

"Aronberg rejects Gelber's call for 11 debates"

"With less than a month until the primary election Aug. 24, Greenacres' Sen. Dave Aronberg shot down the idea of holding 11 debates with Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, his rival for the Democratic attorney general nomination." "Dem AG Candidates Joust Over Debates".

Passing the buck

"School burden is shifting in state".

Surge in "no party" voters in Brevard

"The latest voter registration numbers in Brevard County indicate a surge in 'no party' voters, a number that surpasses registering Democrats and nips at the heels of newly registered Republicans." "No-party voters step up in 2010".

Country clubbers flex

"The lead group fighting the proposed "Hometown Democracy" amendment collected a stunning $4.7 million between April 1 and July 16 compared to $138,573 for the group that put the measure on the ballot in November." "Hometown Democracy opponents raise nearly $5 million".

Scott does not believe in global warming

"Scott omitted the fact that he continues to leave the door open for offshore oil drilling -- despite a shift in public opinion that prompted top Republican state lawmakers to abandon the idea. ... Scott said he supports the development of alternative energy, but gave no details about what he would do as governor to boost the industry. Asked if he believes in global warming, Scott said no. "I have not been convinced,'' he said." "Rick Scott sidesteps oil drilling stance".

McCollum's "murky political committees"

"With the fate of Florida’s public campaign finance law before a federal court, Republican Bill McCollum’s campaign continues to work the margins with millions of dollars swirling around and passing between murky political committees." "With Public Cash in Doubt, McCollum Works Money Margins".

Teachers pull their weight ...

"Florida inched closer to winning millions of dollars in federal grant money for education. ... The competition, called Race to the Top, is part of the federal stimulus plan. It awards money to states that commit to four areas of education reform: raising standards, using data, improving teacher quality and turning around chronically failing schools."

Before Florida applied for the second round, Crist assembled a group of superintendents, school board members, teachers, union representatives, parents and business leaders to find consensus.

The working group, chaired by Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, developed a new application that found universal support.

Florida's new application includes several controversial reforms, including merit pay for teachers. Previous proposals to base a portion of teacher pay on student test scores have been unpopular among educators. This plan, however, goes beyond test scores, taking into account poverty, language barriers, parental involvement and other factors that influence student achievement.

... Union haters foam at the mouth

The union haters on The Orlando Sentinel editorial board, who one suspects have never attended a union meeting of any kind, are not loathe to attack anything any union ever does; here's yet another example: "The teachers union has made clear its self-interest in suing to block class-size referendum." "Looking out for No. 1".

Jebbie's dead hand

"Among those on the bus with Scott are Arlene DiBenigno, an adviser to former Gov. Jeb Bush and current Gov. Charlie Crist who also worked on John McCain’s presidential campaign, and Donna Arduin, who helped shape Bush’s economic agenda and now is doing the same for Scott." "On the Bus: Outsider Scott Has Insider Team".

Teabaggers = GOPers

"The 2012 presidential race may be two years away, but that’s not stopping tea party activists around Tampa, host city for the Republican National Convention, from getting prepared for it, even as they are fully engaged for the mid-term elections in November."

Just across the bay in St. Petersburg, Largo, Clearwater and other locales, the Pinellas Patriots, an area tea party organization, hope to steer their country toward what they feel is the right track.

"This is going to be a great opportunity," Eileen Blackmer, an organizer for the group said. "We’ll be meeting with party officials when they come here.” Members have already met with several notables this year, including former House Speaker and potential presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, who gave out his personal e-mail address for people to send him their thoughts and ideas directly. ...

They’ve additionally met with mid-term election hopefuls such as Florida Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum. “The great part about this is that we don’t have to go to them, a lot of them are coming to us,” Blackmer said, adding that she expects even more courting from GOP candidates during the convention.

Karena Morrison, coordinator for the Abigail Adams Project of Florida, a national, nonpartisan voter education project started by the Homemakers of America and affiliated with the tea party movement, looks forward to the Republicans coming to town and all the media focus that comes with it.

"Campaign roundup"

"McCollum down in his own poll; Bondi wins straw poll, Benson nabs endorsements from former GOP chairmen". "Campaign roundup". See also Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".

Earth to Rubio ...

"Rubio calls for cutting the size of the federal workforce ... Rubio also condemned the $787 billion stimulus -- despite having also earlier said that he would have accepted unspecified portions of the money so Florida would not be in worse financial straits." "Marco Rubio calls for federal layoffs". See also "Looking to Cut Fed Spending, Marco Rubio Hopes to Halt Obama's Economic Program".

Never mind

"A new report warns that failure to extend higher matching rates for Medicaid could be a blow to the financial recovery for many state budgets. States received higher matching rates for Medicaid starting last year as a part of the federal stimulus. But that higher rate is scheduled to expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts. The National Conference of State Legislatures on Tuesday released a budget update that shows there could be budget gaps in 25 states if Congress lets the higher matching rate expire. Congress has been split over the extension because it would add to an already growing federal budget deficit." "Stimulus flameout could impact more than two dozen states" ("The report, however, does not include any data for Florida. Florida appears to be the only state that did not give any information to NCSL")

Uphill walk for Bud

"In a state with no mountains, Lawton 'Bud' Chiles III spends every day walking uphill."

Chiles, the 57-year-old son of a Florida political icon, is waging a low-budget, grassroots campaign for governor that faces almost certain failure.

He has abandoned the party of his late father — legendary Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles — to run as an independent, a move that has irked more than a few party officials.

They worry that Chiles, who inherited much of his dad's face but not all of his homespun charisma, will steal votes from Alex Sink, throwing the race to the Republicans. Chiles doesn't buy it.

Little-known rivals

"Politics watchers around the nation are anticipating the November rematch between U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, and Republican Allen West. But before they can square off in the general election for a U.S. House seat, both face Aug. 24 primaries against little-known rivals." "Klein, West both face primary opponents who want U.S. exit from wars now". See also "U.S. House of Representatives, District 22: The job and the candidates". See also "Despite odds, challengers don't shy from taking on Ron Klein and Allen West".

Ambler gets Trib endorsement

The Tampa Tribune editorial board endorses Ambler again' Norman in the District 12 Senate Republican primary. "Ambler gets nod in state Senate race". Related: "Longtime Republican allies face off in bitter state Senate primary".

Meek on the air, plans bus tour

"Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek launched his first television ad Monday -- an attack ad against rival Jeff Greene." "In his first TV spot, Kendrick Meek takes aim at Jeff Greene". See also "With Obama White House Cautiously Behind Him, Meek Unleashes First TV Ad". Related: "Greene goes double-negative on Meek in Dem Senate primary ad war".

"Looking for some mojo in his campaign against a Palm Beach billionaire, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek is launching a 10-day bus tour that will start in Orlando next Wednesday." "Meek organizing 10-day bus tour".

Florida Political News: July 26, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Mon Jul 26, 2010 at 08:14:21 AM EDT

Strangers in town

Adam C. Smith: "There is an excellent chance that on Aug. 24 Florida will have a very rich Democratic Senate nominee and a very rich Republican gubernatorial nominee opposed by their respective party establishments. It's an unprecedented situation that has partisans on both sides wary of the potential intra-party turmoil just as a general election kicks off."

That's especially true with Florida Republicans. Gubernatorial front-runner Rick Scott has zero allegiance to the state party leadership or its favored political consultants and lobbyists-fundraisers who are doing all they can to beat him.

GOP chairman John Thrasher has rebuked Scott for criticizing the way rival Bill McCollum failed to aggressively pursue alleged mismanagement by former party chairman Jim Greer, who now faces criminal charges. Incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, both of whom stood by Greer for months and worked with McCollum and Thrasher to give Greer a secret severance package, have funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to political committees to defeat Scott. ...

Then there's the Democratic Senate primary between U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami and real estate mogul Jeff Greene of Palm Beach. The White House, the state party and the Democratic National Committee are all officially backing Meek.

Meek has already said he would be unlikely to endorse Greene in the general election, and the nomination of Greene could make longtime party stalwarts receptive to backing, at least tacitly, nonpartisan candidate Charlie Crist.

"Anti-incumbency wave"

"So fearful are they of an anti-incumbency wave sweeping the nation, many candidates seeking re-election are going to great lengths to downplay their experience in public office. They minimize their years in office and instead highlight their business experience. Others have banned the use of the word 're-elect' in their campaigns." "Incumbents worry about voter anger".

"Freedom", RPOFer style

More "freedom", RPOFer style"A public-interest group warns that food inspections at Florida hospitals, nursing homes and day-care centers will be less rigorous under a new state law."

The Center for Science in the Public Interest says that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and the state Department of Health were stripped of their inspection authority and mandate at those facilities.

The change was contained in House Bill 5311, which was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist last month.

"Florida politicians were clearly not thinking about their young children or their aging parents when they passed this bill," Sarah Klein, a staff attorney at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told Food Safety News.

"These consumers -- and anyone who is immuno-compromised -- are already at greater risk of being hospitalized from food-borne illness. Ending food safety inspections in the kitchens that feed those populations is like taking seat belts out of their cars and hoping no one has an accident," Klein said. ...

Meantime, and ironically, the Institute of Medicine -- the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences -- is urging the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to delegate more food facility inspections to the states.

Today is deadline to register

"Today is the deadline to register to vote in primary elections. Primary election day is Aug. 24, but early voting runs from Aug. 9 through Aug. 21." "Today is the last day to register to vote in primary elections".

Scott's $25 million blitz

"Does Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott measure up to his $25 million television advertising blitz up close and in person?" "Bus tour draws voters hoping to see beyond the TV image of Rick Scott". See also "Rick Scott takes bus tour to Sarasota, Villages".

Get a job

"George P Bush, son of Florida governor Jeb Bush, is beginning to spread his political wings as the third generation of the Bush dynasty." "George Bush the Third: the new kid on the block".

Fl-oil-duh

"Could American take over Britain's BP?".

"Like crabgrass sprouting in the spring"

"Like crabgrass sprouting in the spring, as the election season approaches campaign signs take root in lawns, road rights of way and almost any vacant piece of land throughout the region." "Campaign signs: Annoying eyesores or barometer of support?".

From the "values" crowd

"Spending, job cuts reality for Volusia schools".

Another fine Jebacy

Stephen Goldstein last week: "Elected officials come and go. But their policies, good or bad, may affect us for years."

Once again, Jeb Bush has failed the Florida Governor's Assessment Test (FGAT). Four years after he left office, we're reeling from the $1.5 billion cost of the biotech boondoggle he foisted on us. He promised us a silk purse of an investment, but he's stuck us with a sow's ear.

In 2003, Jeb became obsessed with luring California's Scripps Research Institute to Florida. He called it "a seminal moment in our state's history" — the magic wand that would make us a world leader in biomedical research and development and jumpstart our economy. He hurriedly called a special session of the Legislature and made it pass a one-time $310 million gift for Scripps from federal stimulus monies that were allocated for Florida. Palm Beach County anted up about $269 million to pay for land and buildings for Scripps.

Of course, some of the $310 million could have been used to offset a $40 million cut for state universities and the end of enrollment in the Healthy Kids children's insurance program that same year. But Jeb was quoted saying, "There is no better way to spend the one-time federal economic stimulus money than by investing in a project that spurs targeted economic growth. This investment will return more growth and revenues down the road." Shades of Bernie Madoff, he estimated the state return on its investment at 44.8 percent.

Estimates of the Scripps Florida economic miracle were predictably pie-in-the-sky.

Florida Political News: July 25, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Sun Jul 25, 2010 at 11:15:10 AM EDT

McCollum's political "welfare"

"Bill McCollum picked up a hefty check from taxpayers Friday -- a financial lifeline for his campaign for governor struggling to keep pace with his free-spending primary opponent Rick Scott. ... The cash infusion is a timely boost for McCollum, the state's attorney general. Fundraising totals released Friday show he was down to about $540,000, about half of the cost of a week's worth of major TV advertising." "Taxpayers give McCollum $1.3 million boost". Related: "Rick Scott's case against Florida's public financing of candidates".

"Not leaving anything to chance"

"It's not often that obscurity is an asset in a high-profile, statewide election."

But that appears to be the tactic both Democratic candidates in the race for governor are using.

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the frontrunner in the Aug. 24 primary, is biding her time while former Columbia/HCA CEO Rick Scott and state Attorney General Bill McCollum sling mud at one another in the Republican primary.

Both Sink and Moore consider the South Carolina primary an object lesson.

"I don't take any election lightly," Sink said. "My name will be on the ballot for the primary. All we have to do is look and see what happened in South Carolina. So we're not leaving anything to chance."

Moore, an independent-turned-Socialist-turned-Democrat, said, "It's not as Don Quixote as it seems. My rationale is Alex Sink is actually a relatively unknown person. She's only run for statewide office once. I've been on the ballot twice in Florida. And, she's not that exciting. She's low-keying it. She's not anywhere. A lot of people don't even know who Alex Sink is."

Four years ago, Sink ran for office for the first time as a virtual unknown in the race for chief financial officer.

The best they can do?

"The 11th Congressional District that includes most of Tampa and snakes through St. Petersburg and Bradenton is a Democratic stronghold. But the race for the seat held since 2006 by Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, has drawn four Republicans and one Democrat."

None of the challengers has held office. But one, Eddie Adams Jr., a Republican, twice has lost to Castor.

Does Scott measure up?

"Does Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott measure up to his $25 million television advertising blitz up close and in person?" "Rick Scott: Meeting the man behind the image". Related: "GOP Governor candidate Rick Scott explains space options, jobs plan".

Meek has yet to catch fire among voters

"Senate candidate Kendrick Meek remains question mark to many Democrats". See also "Meek wants muscle in message".

Fl-oil-duh

"Tropical Storm Bonnie packed less punch than expected, but it still caused delays in BP's effort to permanently plug the damaged oil well in the Northern Gulf." "Dud of a storm delays BP's fixes".

See also "As ships return to oil spill as 'Bonnie' breezes past, new concerns arise on micro-droplets oil plumes", "Ships head back to oil well, ready to resume work", "Pensacola hotels post gains despite oil spill", "video", "" and "".

Attendance counts

"The GOP primary race to succeed term-limited state Senate President Jeff Atwater in District 25 is, at least in part, a contest between styles of leadership. State Rep. Carl Domino of Jupiter trumpets the fact that he has attended all the 'delegation meetings' convened during the past several years where Palm Beach County residents met with local legislators. He says his opponent, state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale, attended fewer than half. " "Bogdanoff, Domino vie to succeed Atwater in Senate District 25 GOP race".

Movin' South

"More Corporate Relocation Inquiries Landing in Palm Beach".

RISEP report on economic stimulus investments

From the Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy: "This [.pdf] report is the third in a series that looks at the opportunity landscape in Florida before the recession, and how economic stimulus investments should be targeted towards making quality of life opportunities accessible to all communities, particularly communities of color. This installment focuses on the impact of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and its efforts to rehabilitate foreclosed and abandoned housing for the benefit of neighborhoods and residents, and the importance of creating job opportunities in local neighborhoods to fully address the economic crisis." "Recovering from Crisis: A review of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program in Florida’s economic recovery".

Boyd makes no apologies

"U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, who switched his vote on national health care, told Big Bend Democrats on Saturday he makes no apology for supporting the final package." "Democratic voters meet candidates".

"A few of W.'s friends"

TPM: "From reprisals to racist and homophobic slurs, what a few of W.'s friends did with their power."

The Federal Air Marshal office in Orlando has been plagued with scandal over the past few years, most famously for a Jeopardy-style game supervisors played with derogatory categories for African-Americans and people they thought were gay.

With the special agent in charge of the office, Bill Reese, announcing his retirement this week -- presumably due to allegations of discrimination and impropriety, although TSA officials say it's because of personal reasons -- we thought we'd recap some of what's allegedly been going in the office.

"What the whole appellate court structure is about"

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: "At least two high-profile people recently have been freed from prison after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened the law covering honest services fraud, the same law used to send three former Palm Beach County commissioners to prison."

Conrad Black, the media mogul with a Palm Beach home, was granted bail while he appeals his 2007 conviction. A federal judge also ordered the release of Kevin Geddings, the former North Carolina lottery commissioner convicted in 2006. Geddings is seeking to have his conviction vacated in light of the Supreme Court ruling. Prosecutors actually support his release.

In last week's column, I asked whether ex-Commissioners Mary McCarty, Warren Newell and Tony Masilotti had been treated unfairly or "unethically," since they had been imprisoned based on a statute the Supreme Court now has called into question.

Whether what happened to them is unfair or unethical, though, is separate from the question of whether it was legal. The law was fully in force when the three went to prison. Obviously, it was legal to use it.

The fact that people can go to prison for acts that suddenly no longer are crimes is awful but inevitable. At least in this country, we try to perfect our system, which is what the whole appellate court structure is about.

'Glades

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "It's another ambitious land purchase that promises to aid the massive restoration of the Florida Everglades. This one, though, seems simpler and more doable. Unlike the state's ongoing efforts to purchase 73,000 acres of U.S. Sugar property south of Lake Okeechobee, the purchase proposed by the federal government appears to pass muster as a more straight-forward deal. It should be pursued to improve both Florida's natural habitat and the water quality flowing into Lake Okeechobee." "New Everglades restoration deal helps Lake Okeechobee".

Going negative

"Once the friendliest contest around, the Democratic primary race for attorney general is turning negative as the primary nears." "Democratic attorney general contest turns negative".

The "age" thing

"Candidates hope voters look past young age".

Florida Political News: July 24, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Sat Jul 24, 2010 at 11:49:09 AM EDT

Our "Do-Nothing Legislature"

Aaron Deslatte: "Gov. Charlie Crist is fond of citing past presidents when he explains his own moves, and this week he called lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a special session that he knew would be as savory as a taste of turnip stew."

GOP lawmakers lambasted the governor for using them as a prop in his independent U.S. Senate campaign. Democrats, including Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, and Crist feigned outrage that lawmakers would be so rude as to not place a constitutional ban on near-shore oil-drilling before voters this fall.

The ensuing political theater gave almost everyone what they wanted. Except for voters, who appear to favor the idea of voting to ban oil drilling – already barred under state law -- come November.
Be the first to know. Click here to get breaking news alerts.

"Today, I'm calling this legislature the Do-Nothing Legislature. And I'm going to give them hell for it," Crist told reporters shortly after lawmakers adjourned the session in just over two hours.

"To have the Legislature disrespect them so much and to thumb their noses at the people in this way is absolutely astonishing," the governor added.

Open mouth ...

"Rick Scott's statewide bus tour stumbled Friday as he endured tough questions about the fraud at his former company and appeared to misstep on volatile questions from voters."

The bumps in the road for the bus tour began the night before at a stop in the Villages, when someone asked what Scott would do as governor to keep Obama off the Florida ballot in 2012, suggesting he was born outside the country. Scott appeared surprised and responded, "I'll have to look into it.''

Asked Friday whether he thought Obama was a citizen, he said, "I assume he is or he wouldn't be president.'' Moments later, a campaign spokeswoman clarified: "He's not a birther.''

In Clearwater, Scott talked to Sean O'Flannery, a high school government teacher, about the difficulty of judging schools statewide, because what works in one place may not in another.

"And also a school's color,'' Scott said. "If you're 70 percent African-American, you are going to deal with different issues.''

McCollum's campaign and Democrats seized on this. A McCollum spokeswoman said his comments "suggest he believes minority students shouldn't be held'' to the same standards as others, an insinuation Scott adamantly rejected.

"Greene is fabulously wealthy"

"Florida Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene is fabulously wealthy, that we know. But the depth and scope of the billionaire's fortune was revealed Friday when he filed his financial disclosure form, only a short while before the deadline. The 56-page document shows a dizzying and diverse array of investments, from real estate to stock and government bonds." "Extent of wealth emerging".

Related: "Five years ago, the Summerwind, a three-story, 145-foot luxury yacht owned by Senate candidate Jeff Greene, dropped anchor and plunged into controversy over severe damage to a coral reef system officially recognized by the United Nations as one of the world's most irreplaceable treasures. " "No love in Belize for candidate".

Amendment 3 goes down

"A judge Friday removed from November's ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that would have given an extra property tax break to some homeowners, saying its ballot title and summary are misleading. Tallahassee Circuit Judge John Cooper said Amendment 3's ballot language did not tell voters that the exemptions were available only on property bought on or after last Jan. 1. He said voters who bought property earlier might think they were eligible for the exemption." "Fla. judge takes property tax measure off ballot".

Scott shatters Crist's record

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott has shattered Gov. Charlie Crist's record for spending on a Florida election, reporting Friday that he burned through $22.6 million — almost all of it his own wealth — in his first three months as a candidate."

It took Crist two years and hundreds of personal appeals to donors to raise and spend $19.8 million en route to winning the Governor's Mansion.

Scott's $218 million in personal wealth has turned the tables on what had been a forgone Florida political conclusion: that longtime Republican stalwart and state Attorney General Bill McCollum would be the standard-bearer for the GOP in the fall elections.

McCollum on Friday reported raising just more than $1 million in the last quarter, while he spent $4.3 million in a futile effort to keep pace with Scott.

The veteran Florida politician's campaign is down to its last $540,000, though McCollum accepted $1.26 million in public funding this week.

But with a double-digit deficit in the polls, he was already in trouble. Even that lifeline of public financing made available to match his own fundraising comes at a price: Halfway through Scott's six-day bus tour across the state, he has blistered McCollum as a career politician with his head at the taxpayer trough.

McCollum, Scott's "deceptive pandering"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Attorney General Bill McCollum claims his opponent in the Republican primary for governor, health care executive Rick Scott, has plagiarized parts of his economic plan. But both men are rehashing the same tired and outdated plans for reviving Florida's economy. Their promise to cut corporate income taxes and property taxes — and still invest more in education to spur economic development — is deceptive pandering that even the Republican-led Legislature hasn't stooped to in recent years because it knew it couldn't deliver. Neither can McCollum or Scott." "Scott, McCollum offer plans that don't add up".

Fl-oil-duh

Update: "Bonnie fizzling in the Gulf".

Mark T. Brown, professor of Environmental Engineering Sciences and director of the Center for Environmental Policy at the University of Florida writes that "few have noted that BP, like Exxon and other oil companies implicated in past spills, will likely pay nothing for perhaps the most important consequence of its mishap: Damage to hard-to-quantify but essential natural benefits provided free of charge by a healthy Gulf of Mexico. " "The oil spill's hidden toll".

See also "Tropical Depression Bonnie could draw oil up from the depths to form new slicks", "Some areas of the Gulf reopened" and "USF Scientists: Oil Plumes Below Gulf Surface Are From BP Spill". The Sun Sentinel editors: "Tropical system brings more uncertainty, worry to Gulf coast".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Technician: Deepwater Horizon alarm system purposely disabled".

Charlie's Rothstein blues

"Another year, another opportunity to raise money. That's Gov. Charlie Crist. Sadly, though, this year's birthday celebration won't include one of Crist's richest and most colorful pals who a) isn't rich anymore, and b) can't make it to the party. Yes, the governor turns 54 Saturday, and he and his wife, Carole, are using the occasion to beat the drum for more campaign cash. " "Birthday Boy Charlie Crist Needs $100,000: Scotty, Come Back ..." ("Call this party the 2nd anniversary of Rothstein's $52,000 'cake'").

Cleaning up the Legislature's mess

"Gov. Charlie Crist issued an executive order that allows Floridians who had exhausted 79 weeks of jobless benefits to be eligible for up to 20 more weeks." "Aid for the long-term jobless".

"The starring role some thought was his destiny"

"Night after night for two years, Rep. Kendrick Meek forcefully built a case that Democrats had a better vision for the country. The effort helped craft a message his party used in November 2006 to regain control of the House after 12 years of Republican rule."

Now Meek is trying to make the argument for himself. He wants to jump from representing a Miami congressional district in the U.S. House to representing the state in the U.S. Senate.

Those late-night speeches helped edge him in that direction. Most of America was asleep or getting its political fix from Jon Stewart, but Washington noticed.

"It established his reputation as a fighter," said Rep. Adam Putnam, a Florida Republican.

Nancy Pelosi, who became House speaker in the Democratic takeover, heralded Meek as emblematic of a wave of young leaders, and he quickly ascended the ranks, gaining a prestigious seat on the Ways and Means Committee.

But Meek, 43, has never fully assumed the starring role some thought was his destiny.

False choice

"Who's more likely to be the champion of the common man? A multimillionaire businessman or a politician who began more than two decades of public service in 1981?" "Multimillionaire Candidate May Have Less Disconnect than Career Politician".

More Rubio teabaggery

"Tying Gov. Charlie Crist to Democrats on Capitol Hill, Republican gubernatorial candidate Marco Rubio said Florida and America are 'paying the price for a lack of leadership.' ... And challenging backsliding Republicans to stand up for free-enterprise principles, the former Florida House speaker said, 'We don't need two Democratic parties.'" "Rubio Links Crist and Democratic Agenda".

"Bits and Pieces"

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".

More entrepreneurs in action

"Burned in Ponzi scheme, Nadel victims have their say".

What goes around ...

"A feud over Florida’s multi-million dollar anti-smoking ad campaign has been settled. St. John & Partners Advertising and Public Relations has withdrawn its legal challenge to a decision by the Department of Health to choose Coral Gables-based Alma DDB, a part of the large advertising firm DDB, to handle the contract. ... Alma DDB’s relationship with tobacco companies went beyond ties to its parent company. Additionally, one of the top executives at Alma DDB had listed on the company website that he once worked for British American Tobacco." "Fierce battle over state's anti-smoking ad contract ends quietly".

Wingnuts run wild

"A failed effort to fast-track Arizona-style immigration bills by state Rep. Kevin Ambler during this week’s special session has the legislator critical of his colleagues and House leadership."

Ambler — who is also a candidate for the District 12 Florida Senate seat — voted against adjourning the special session called by Gov. Charlie Crist to discuss an amendment to ban offshore oil drilling, losing to a majority of House members who closed the session without a vote on drilling or any other issue.

"Great Recession paradox"

"When Jeff Greene, a k a the Meltdown Mogul, recently brought his Democratic campaign for the United States Senate to a poor Miami neighborhood rife with the kinds of subprime mortgages that he became a billionaire betting against, did he: "

A) Arrive in a Cadillac Escalade S.U.V., before stumping for energy conservation;

B) Tell the crowd that he was “fed up and frustrated” with Washington while suggesting job-creation ideas previously proposed by Washington politicians;

C) Receive a raucous welcome as an outsider who could turn Florida around.

The answer? All of the above, of course.

Call it the Great Recession paradox. Even as voters express outrage at the insider culture of big bailouts and bonuses, their search for political saviors has led them to this: a growing crowd of über-rich candidates, comfortable in boardrooms and country clubs, spending a fortune to remake themselves into populist insurgents.

Desperate

"Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) endorsed New York congressional candidate Chris Cox Wednesday. Cox is locked in a Republican primary in New York’s 1st Congressional District. Cox, who is largely self-funding his bid, is the son of New York GOP Chairman Ed Cox and the grandson of former President Richard Nixon." "Jeb Bush backs N.Y. Republican Chris Cox for Congress".

Class size lawsuit

"The Florida Education Association, the statewide union, has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of a proposed amendment on school class sizes. ... The complaint contends the amendment cannot be lawfully submitted to voters because the ballot summary is misleading." "Education union files suit against class-size amendment". See also "Teachers union files suit to take class-size amendment off ballot".

FCAT Follies

"State slaps an extra $11.7 million fine on contractor that missed FCAT deadlines".

Fly me to Havana

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "It's possible to go to Cuba, but it sure isn't easy."

Travel restrictions, a relic of the Cold War confrontation with the communist island, tightly limit access. The policy is supposed to isolate Havana and encourage democratic reform.

Rep. Kathy Castor is right that a more open approach may bring more success. The Tampa Democrat is so far the only member of Congress from Florida to support a bill to allow free travel to Cuba.

Florida's influential Cuban-American lobby has long lobbied hard against any softening in policy. But the bill is getting broad support elsewhere, including backing from Republicans in 11 states.

Opening travel is a good idea, we think, for many reasons. It would be economically beneficial to many states, including Florida and especially Tampa.

CD 12

"Jobs, government belt-tightening and alternative energy are top priorities for candidates seeking the District 12 Congressional seat."

The district, which encompasses most of Polk County, a part of eastern Hillsborough County and a sliver of western Osceola County, is represented by Adam Putnam, a Republican, who is running for state agriculture commissioner.

District 12 is a mix of suburban and rural areas, mostly occupied by a conservative base with a strong Republican presence.

The race has five candidates: two Republicans, two Democrats and one from the Tea Party.

Yaaawwwnnn

"More jobs, tax cuts key for three Republicans in House District 83 race".

"Why would McCollum interfere"?

Steve Bousquet: "Bill McCollum is in the fight of his life in a Republican primary for governor against Rick Scott, the guy with the checkbook on steroids."

McCollum needs every last Republican vote he can find, especially in a big place like Hillsborough County.

So why would McCollum interfere in a Republican primary for a Tampa state Senate seat and distort the record of one of the candidates, Rep. Kevin Ambler?

He wouldn't, his campaign says, insisting that McCollum has done nothing of the kind.

But it looks different to Ambler.

See for yourself.

The concert pianist agin' the attorney

"Two political newcomers are vying to challenge Republican incumbent Gus Bilirakis in November for the District 9 congressional seat. Retired concert pianist Anita de Palma is running against attorney Phil Hindahl in the Aug. 24 Democratic primary. " "Rookie Dems vie in District 9".

Florida Political News: July 23, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Fri Jul 23, 2010 at 15:07:52 PM EDT

McCollum likes some bailouts, his own

"Sagging in the polls and running on empty, GOP gubernatorial candidate takes state subsidy" "The Taxpayer Bailout of Bill McCollum".

Castor breaks ranks

"U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, is signing onto a bill that would lift decades-old travel restrictions to Cuba, becoming the first member from Florida to do so."

"Now is the time to remove the obstacles and hassles that have prevented Cuban Americans without direct family ties and other Floridians from traveling to Cuba, and for our region to reap the benefits that freedom of travel can bring,'' Castor said of the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, which was authored by Rep. Bill Delahunt, D-Mass.

But her position puts her at odds with what has been the standard line among Florida's congressional delegation.

"Jeb Bush Quietly Raises His Profile"

The best news for Dems in quite a while is that the man who makes "people cringe" "has been slowly, quietly, but certainly raising his profile. He gave a feisty interview to a New York Times political writer in June in which he said his older brother probably would not respond to President Obama's continued attempts to draw contrasts between his own administration and the previous one. Jeb defended his brother and predicted only one term for President Obama, who he compared to 'Hubert Humphrey on steroids.'" "Will Jeb Bush Set Sights on the White House?"

David Letterman:

The brother of former President George Bush, Jeb Bush, is running for president. Yep, and the campaign slogan is, 'I'm going to finish what my brother started.' So Jeb Bush is running for president. I don't know about the rest of the country, but thank God, ladies and gentlemen, the comedy recession is over!

"Bizarre attack ad"

"A Florida State University student heads a group that sent out a mailer faulting a congressional candidate for the Gulf oil spill because he once worked for the Department of Energy." "Student's bizarre attack ad targets Democrat Joe Garcia".

Fed tax credit helping

"Tax credit spurs boom in home sales".

Tea Party = Chamber = Rubio

"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is backing Marco Rubio's bid for the Senate, pledging to help the tea party-favored candidate emerge from a tight three-way race in Florida."

The organization plans a Saturday rally in Orlando to announce Rubio, a former state House speaker, as its latest candidate to benefit from some $75 million the business group plans to spend on political campaigns this fall. The organization declined to detail how it would help Rubio but it is already airing ads aggressive against Democratic Senate candidates in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Fl-oil-duh

"The nation's biggest travel trade group said the BP oil spill will cost the tourism industry between $7.6 billion and $22.7 billion, with most of the economic damage falling on Florida's shoulders." "Florida may lose billions in tourism".

"Work to permanently choke off the oil well that had been spewing into the Gulf of Mexico was at a standstill Friday after ships around the site were ordered to evacuate ahead of the approaching Tropical Storm Bonnie." "Oil spill work on hold as Bonnie approaches".

See also "Some areas of the Gulf reopened", "Brewing storm races toward BP's leaky well; Spill chief says capped well holding up, will remain in place during storm", "Feds Open 26,000+ Miles of the Gulf to Fishing", "No oil tax relief expected in Palm Beach County" and "Warnings and watches posted from Palm Beach County down through Keys for Tropical Storm Bonnie".

"The Legislature's neglect"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "With Congress finally passing the federal extension to unemployment compensation benefits and the president expected to sign it, about 250,000 Floridians whose benefits had run out over the past couple of months will soon be tossed a financial lifeline. But some Floridians will be needlessly left behind because of the Legislature's neglect."

During Tuesday's special session debacle, Democrats pleaded with Republican leaders to consider the issue and were disregarded. Getting something accomplished would have ruined House Speaker Larry Cretul's Crist-bashing party. The Ocala Republican blamed Crist for wasting taxpayers' money on a worthless special session. Now lawmakers may have to return to Tallahassee — and cost taxpayers — again.

HD 85

"Two political newcomers are vying to win the Republican primary next month and seize a chance to oust Democratic state Rep. Joseph Abruzzo from his District 85 seat."

The candidates, both steeped in religious schooling, have different views about several issues, with the clearest difference on the controversial issue of illegal immigration.

Tami Donnally, a religious school administrator in Greenacres, said she would support state legislation similar to Arizona's new immigration law, which will require police, while enforcing other laws, to check a person's immigration status if there's a reasonable suspicion that they are here illegally.

"If you're stopped for something, you have to produce paperwork," she said. "That makes sense to me."

Her opponent, D.J. DeRenzo, said he wouldn't support such a law in Florida.

Herald AG endorsements

The Miami Herald editorial board makes its attorney general recommendations. See also "Republican AG Candidates Set to Debate July 31" and "Dave Aronberg, Dan Gelber Talk About Everybody's Business".

Bought and paid for

"Senate President Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach, Republican candidate for chief financial officer, announced Thursday that he has more than $2.1 million in the bank for his campaign. He now enjoys a healthy financial advantage over his Democratic rival in the CFO race, former Rep. Loranne Ausley of Tallahassee." "Atwater Holds Strong Financial Advantage vs. Democrat Ausley in CFO Race".

"Bizarre foam"

"Beyond the fish kill: St. Johns River now also plagued by bizarre foam". In the meantime, the Teabaggers struggle to find the word "foam" in the U.S. Constitution.

"One of the most flawed candidates in history"

"With a new poll showing Bill McCollum's hopes fading in the Republican primary for governor and Rick Scott inundating him with a tidal wave of television ads, McCollum is fighting back with his best weapon – attacking the Medicare fraud history of Scott's former hospital company."

McCollum strategist Shannon Gravitte said ...

"It's inconceivable that Florida Republicans would elect a man whose claim to fame is having orchestrated the largest taxpayer ripoff in history," ...

"The only people celebrating if Rick Scott emerges from this primary are the Democrats, who will face one of the most flawed candidates in the history of Florida politics."

Live and in person

"Republican Rick Scott seemed to push the right buttons Thursday, appearing before about 300 Sarasota County GOP activists, calling for tougher immigration laws, a smaller state government and turning Florida into a hub of job creation." "Scott No Longer Just on TV, But on Campaign Trail".

Wingnuts run wild

"Opponents to the 'Health Care Freedom Act' says court has no authority to change wording." "State offers compromise move to keep Amendment 9 on ballot".

Entrepreneur in action

"Sarasota man found guilty of $37 million Ponzi scheme".

Will Rubio disavow Teabaggers?

TPM: "Remember back in the day, one of the reasons Trent Lott got into trouble after his Strom Thurmond comments was that it turned out he had long-standing ties to a neo-segregationist group called the "Council of Conservative Citizens", the successor group to the White Citizens Councils from the Civil Rights Era. "

Well it turns out that the good folks from the CofCC have been setting up shop at Tea Party events down in Florida. And now a prominent leader of the Florida CofCC is lambasting the Tea Party for not embracing the NAACP's claim the Tea Party is a racist group.

Of course the Tea Party is racist, crowed a blog post on the Council's website yesterday -- and it would be proud of its racism if it weren't wussy.

The post was written by James Edwards, a radio show host and author of Racism Schmacism. ...

Edwards is right. The Tea Party is hiding the truth about itself: Racist groups are quietly welcomed at its starchy street fairs, even right here in Florida.

Last January, a state chapter of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC) set up shop at a Tea Party rally in Invernness, Citrus County. Senate candidate and Tea-Party darling Marco Rubio headlined the event, while the CCC handed out pamphlets and swag.

The rich are different

"Belize said Jeff Greene's [145-foot luxury] yacht damaged a coral reef, racking up $1.87 million in unpaid fines." "Jeff Greene denies his anchor damaged reef".

Perhaps she has a point

This is off topic: "A legislative candidate from Wisconsin can't use a profane, racially charged phrase to describe herself on the ballot, an election oversight board decided Wednesday."

Ieshuh Griffin, an independent running for a downtown Milwaukee seat in the state Assembly, wants to use the phrase, "NOT the 'whiteman's b----.'"

But the state's Government Accountability Board voted to bar that wording, agreeing with a staff recommendation that it is pejorative and therefore not allowed.

State law allows independent candidates to have five words describing themselves placed after their names on the ballot as long as it's not pejorative, profane, discriminatory or includes an obscene word or phrase.

Griffin, who is black, argued her case to the five white, retired judges on the board that regulates elections. She said the phrase was protected free speech.

"Say it ain't so"

Bill Cotterell: "What's this? Political people playing political games in an election year? Say it ain't so."

Tuesday, the serious thinkers of the Florida Legislature convened a special session at the behest of Gov. Charlie Crist. So did about 140 other House and Senate members.

Crist wanted a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2 ballot to ban offshore oil drilling. The Republican leaders of the Legislature wanted a new governor but, since that can't happen until January, they settled for kicking Crist around for a couple of hours before wandering off.

Each side got what it wanted.

Gay hater

"Conservative Christian activist Jack Thompson -- who once had to prove his sanity to the Florida Supreme Court -- isn't crazy about Robert Kuntz's candidacy for Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge. Thompson is fuming that Kuntz, 50, an attorney who is an elder at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church in Palmetto Bay, sought and accepted an endorsement from Unity Coalition, a local Hispanic gay-rights group." "Activist rips judge candidate over endorsement".

Florida Political News: July 22, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Thu Jul 22, 2010 at 10:00:19 AM EDT

McCollum, Scott fight helping Sink

"The biggest winner in the Republican gubernatorial ad war roaring on the airwaves could be one of the candidates spending the least: Democrat Alex Sink."

Republicans Rick Scott and Bill McCollum are scheduled to pour more than $34 million into television ads — mostly bashing each other — through this week. But a new poll out Wednesday suggests both men's attacks are breeding explosive levels of voter dissatisfaction about Scott and McCollum.

The two candidates are squaring off in a bare-knuckles Aug. 24 primary that has seen each side accuse the other of profiting from abortions and trying to one-up each other on cracking down against illegal immigration. Scott's adds sneer that McCollum is a "career politician"; McCollum's say Scott was involved in "the biggest Medicare fraud in American history."

The Democratic firm's survey suggested that 23 percent of the overall electorate had a favorable impression of Scott, while 41 percent had an unfavorable one.

The voter snapshot was even worse news for McCollum. The poll found 16 percent of the electorate viewed the 20-year Longwood congressman and sitting state attorney general favorably, while a whopping 51 percent had a poor impression of him. The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 3.26 percentage points.

527 attack

"Buoyed by another $140,000 this week from Freedom First Committee (state Sen. Mike Haridopolos’ 527), Florida First Initiative released Tuesday a new television ad attacking his rival, Rick Scott, on his tenure as CEO of Columbia/HCA, the largest for-profit hospital chain in the U.S. Florida First Initiative has associations with Scott’s opponent, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum." "New 527 ad attacks Rick Scott’s past as CEO of Columbia/HCA".

More Pruitt?

"Ken Pruitt: Maybe Soon, Right Back Where He Belongs".

"Cretul was especially callous"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "If what was on display in Tallahassee Tuesday qualifies as leadership then Florida is a rudderless ship in perilous seas. In just two hours the Legislature convened, decided to not even debate Gov. Charlie Crist's proposed constitutional amendment banning oil drilling 10 miles off Florida's coast and adjourned."

House Speaker Larry Cretul was especially callous in brushing aside Senate President Jeff Atwater's attempt to add economic relief to the agenda. Instead, he created six committees to study economic relief proposals and then appointed some of the House's least experienced lawmakers to chair them. What does this say about Mr. Cretul's concern for Panhandle residents who have seen their tourist season fizzle because of the oil churning in the Gulf?

Bad stocks

"When he was a state legislator, Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek failed to disclose his stock ownership in a medical-waste company that eventually went bankrupt and whose officials were accused of cooking the books. Meek's campaign said the stock was worthless when he left the board of Miami Lakes-based Med/Waste in 2000." "Kendrick Meek failed to disclose stock".

"Partially plagiarized"?

"With one month left in the costly and caustic Republican gubernatorial primary, the leading candidates both tramped across voter-rich Miami on Wednesday, with Rick Scott rolling out his long-awaited economic plan and Bill McCollum dismissing it as 'partially plagiarized.'" "Bill McCollum, Rick Scott duel in Miami-Dade". See also "Will voters be buying Rick Scott?".

Fl-oil-duh

"Crist signed an executive order Wednesday that could give homeowners and businesses in the Florida Panhandle stronger footing to seek financial relief from plummeting home values as a result of the BP oil spill." "Crist orders 'interim' valuations of property affected by BP spill". Related: "Gov. Crist signs executive order to help property owners send tab to BP", "Crist orders counties to reconsider property tax bills in wake of oil spill" and "Crist wants damage estimates".

See also "For oil spill victims, fair compensation requires a crystal ball", "Storm system unlikely to pose big threat; heavy rain forecast", "Report critical of the BP claims process", "Oil spill workgroup leaders not from Panhandle", "Storm system may hit us, then impact oil-spill cleanup" and "Ships ready to leave leaky well as storm brews".

Brown-Waite at the trough

"Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite raised more than $120,000 in the months before she made the surprise announcement that she wouldn't seek re-election because of health reasons."

Brown-Waite's impending retirement didn't curb her campaign spending, either.

In the first three months of the year, she spent more than $65,000. Those disbursements included $24,500 spent on voter surveys and direct mail. In the second quarter, she spent more than $30,000 on fundraising consultants.

Dave Levinthal, spokesman for the nonpartisan watchdog group Center for Responsive Politics, said Brown-Waite's actions may have been legal, but they didn't follow the spirit of campaign laws.

"It seems to be a legitimate question to ask why someone would be spending time and resources fundraising when, in their mind, they're no longer a candidate," Levinthal said. "It's definitely not typical to conduct a campaign that way."

Campaign finance records show Brown-Waite used her campaign credit card liberally, paying for airline tickets, expensive dinners in Vail, Colo., and a night at the swanky Ritz Carlton hotel in Washington D.C. Since January, her campaign charged nearly $8,500.

He "received a check the next day"

"When a Democratic National Committee member sent an e-mail asking whom he should support in the Democratic Senate primary, at least one result came quickly."

The DNC member, Jon Ausman of Tallahassee, received a check the next day from the campaign of billionaire candidate Jeff Greene, hiring Ausman for political consultation and strategy.

Six days after that, Ausman announced his endorsement in another e-mail: He was endorsing Greene.

He signed the endorsement e-mail as a DNC member but didn't mention that he was being paid by Greene. He says he provided 35,000 e-mail addresses in exchange for the money.

Federal handout, please

"Florida's citrus industry didn't get much help from the Legislature or Gov. Charlie Crist this year. Growers are hoping for better results in Washington, D.C." "Florida Citrus Industry Looks to Capitol Hill for Help".

Blah, blah, blah

"With the House and Senate adjourning instead of forwarding a proposed constitutional amendment banning oil drilling in Florida waters, candidates for statewide office promptly offered their opinions on the Legislature’s quick session." "Charlie Crist, Statewide Candidates Sound Off on Short Legislative Session". See also "Who's to blame for session meltdown?".

River talk

"Roundtable discussion of St. Johns River pollution receives mixed reviews".

Unemployment comp fix

"State Rep. Kevin Rader, D-Bonyton Beach, is making good on the vow he made Tuesday to pressure Gov. Charlie Crist to address a Florida statute snafu that will prevent some unemployed Floridians from receiving recently extended federal unemployment benefits." "State Rep. Kevin Rader formalizes his appeal to Crist for Florida unemployment fix".

"Millionaire's amendment" appeal

"Republican candidate for governor Rick Scott submitted his appeal brief to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal in Atlanta at noon Tuesday, claiming that the federal district court's argument was flawed when it upheld the Florida law on public campaign finance in light of a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the 'millionaire's amendment' as an attempt to level the playing field." "Rick Scott files legal challenge to public campaign finance law".

Circumventing voting rights

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The public’s deep distrust of government helped fuel Amendment 4, the so-called 'Hometown Democracy' initiative on the November ballot. St. Petersburg is only feeding that distrust with a deceitful maneuver designed to circumvent residents’ voting rights if Amendment 4 becomes part of the Florida Constitution. City officials should work to defeat the amendment on its merits, not design a sneaky way to circumvent it." "A deceitful ploy".

A Hillsborough thing

Howard Troxler: "Joe Redner at 70 radiates health and serenity. And why not? He put his demons behind him years ago; he presides over a diversified business empire. He seems to be a happy man. Of course Redner is most known for his marquee, world-famous business, the Mons Venus nude-dancing club on Dale Mabry Highway." "Once more unto the breach for Joe Redner".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Craigslist scheme preying on unsuspecting Florida renters".

Florida Political News: July 21, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 10:43:54 AM EDT

"'Tone-deaf' and 'twiddling their thumbs'"


"In dramatic political theater, the Republican-led Florida Legislature rejected Gov. Charlie Crist's call for a constitutional amendment to ban oil drilling near Florida's shores, calling it a 'simple solution designed to produce sound bites, photo ops and political attacks.'"

A special session called by Crist lasted just 49 minutes in the state House — from 12:02 p.m. to 12:51 p.m. — before legislators beat a path out of Tallahassee without any hearings or votes, despite objections from Democrats and state senators from both parties.

On a patch of grass behind the Alden Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach, representatives from business and environmental interests gathered Tuesday after the legislative special session had ended to blast state lawmakers for their inaction.

"The Florida Legislature today, in an act of cowardice, decided to ignore the people of Florida and, moreover, they said we cannot trust the people of Florida," said Fred Jackalone, director of Sierra Club Florida.

Jackalone blames the oil industry for having a "big foothold" in Tallahassee.

Robin Grabowski, executive director of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, said she is disappointed Florida residents won't get a chance to voice their opinion on drilling off the Florida coast.

When Florida's legislators quickly gaveled in and gaveled out their special session Tuesday, they also walked away from an opportunity to deliver tax breaks and economic relief to businesses struggling in the oil-ravaged regions of the state. ...

They ignored a request by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink to streamline the claims process and require BP to respond to claimants in 15 days, just as insurance companies do after a hurricane.

And they rejected calls from legal experts who want the state to strengthen the laws detailing BP's responsibility for paying for its pollution and economic damages.

Sink, a Democrat and candidate for governor, accused lawmakers of being "tone-deaf'' and "twiddling their thumbs.''

Cretul said Crist's "surprise proclamation" allowed "too little time for reflection and review" of the proposal - which is nonsense.

The task was profoundly simple: Approve a referendum to prohibit drilling in state waters - three to 10 miles off the coast - and let voters decide.

Last year, Cretul and his fellow House leaders didn't worry about allowing time for reflection when they launched a surprise late-session plan to allow drilling off our beaches. The proposal was devised by the oil industry and railroaded through the House with virtually no public discussion. Fortunately for the people of Florida, the state Senate refused to go along.

And yet Cretul now has the gall to attack Crist because he wants to give citizens a voice on the critical decision.

Poll shows Crist ahead

"Public Policy Polling (PPP) released a poll Tuesday showing that Gov. Charlie Crist, an independent candidate in the race for the U.S. Senate election, is the clear leader in the race. Crist came in with 35 percent support, while former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the likely Republican candidate, pulls second at 29 percent and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Democrat, places a distant third with 17 percent. Libertarian candidate Alex Snitker is fourth with 4 percent. The poll found 15 percent undecided." "New Poll Finds Charlie Crist Leads Marco Rubio in U.S. Senate Race".

Tea-foolery

"Organizers expect a big turnout at a rally to oppose the drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico." "Rally opposing drilling moratorium scheduled".

May God have mercy ...

"Prominent conservative media critic Dan Gainor has offered $100 to the first member of Congress who punches 'smary [sic] idiot' Alan Grayson (D-Fl.) in the nose, reports Media Matters." "Right-Wing Media Critic Offers Cash For Assault On Congressman Alan Grayson".

"The oiliest things in Tallahassee"

Scott Maxwell: "The oiliest things in Tallahassee have always been the politicians. And there ain't a well cap big enough to stop all the hot air, hypocrisy and money-wasting that were oozing through the capital this week."

Bold leadership for tough times.

Still, they had to offer some sort of explanation for why they weren't doing anything. And heaven knows the last thing they wanted to do was tell the truth — that many of them still want to drill, baby, drill.

So instead, they decided to trot out an allegedly philosophical objection — that a constitutional ban on drilling was unnecessary because drilling is already banned in this state.

It sounded good … if only they hadn't argued precisely the opposite a few years ago. That was back when some of these same guys they were fighting mightily to constitutionally ban gay marriage … even though that, too, was already banned by state law.

Renewable energy hopes

"Senate President says he is still hopeful that renewable energy legislation can be considered this summer." "Light has not yet gone out for renewable energy supporters".

Fl-oil-duh

"Scientists huddled Tuesday to analyze data from the ocean floor as they weigh whether a leaking well cap is a sign BP's broken oil well is buckling. They aren't sure whether the leaks mean the cap that stopped the flow last week is making things worse. Meanwhile, as Floridians see their white sand beaches getting fouled by the spill, many are angry at their Gulf Coast neighbors for allowing offshore drilling." "Is well cap making disaster worse?; Resentment, oil wash ashore in Florida".

See also "Pressure readings still not perfect for Gulf oil well", "Relief tunnel should reach Gulf well by weekend", "A Coast Guard lab blasts tar balls to smithereens to see if they're from BP's spill or a ship's bil", "Will tourists return to Panhandle when oil stops?", "BP's altered photo distorts spill center activity" and "Messy cleanup of BP oil spill damages the Gulf".

Rubio opposes unemployment comp

"Joining his party leaders -- and clashing with his senatorial opponents -- Marco Rubio opposes extending unemployment benefits for jobless Americans."

Florida's unemployment rate may be stuck in the double digits, but Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio is standing with his party leaders in Washington in opposing the extension of unemployment benefits for millions of jobless Americans.

For Republicans to use the jobless as pawns in a partisan fight over deficit spending only made life more difficult for struggling families and ignored economic realities.

Unemployment rates decreased a bit in Florida and 38 other states in June, but other economic indicators suggest the nation is far from out of the woods. New residential construction declined in June nationwide, and recent earnings reports from banks and several big companies have been disappointing. In Florida, the unemployment rate has dropped for the third straight month, but more than 1 million residents are searching for work and the BP oil spill has created further uncertainty.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Palm Beach County firm and president charged in time-share fraud case".

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"Rick Scott, hoping to take the Republican nomination for governor away from Attorney General Bill McCollum, took what looked like a step in that direction Tuesday, getting a warm reception in his first appearance before the Hillsborough County Republican Party." "Local GOP activists like Scott's message".

Tell that to my kids

"Cutting class sizes isn't worth expense".

Florida Political News: July 19, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 07:45:43 AM EDT

Special session

Steve Bousquet and Mary Ellen Klas: "This week's special session of the Legislature is expected to generate more anger about the governor and his political ambitions than about the Gulf spill."

Amid mounting bitterness between the independent governor and Republican legislators, a special session prompted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill will open Tuesday. But rather than focus on a referendum to ban offshore drilling in the Florida Constitution, as the governor wants, the gathering is likely to be a gripe session with most of the rhetoric aimed not at BP or the oil industry, but at Crist himself.

He wants to use Tallahassee politicians as a foil, and lawmakers appear to be playing into his hands. Crist, who quit the GOP and launched an independent run for the U.S. Senate, is eager to condemn legislative inaction as more proof that partisan politics is a dismal failure.

"They put the interests of special interests or their party ideology ahead of what's right for the people,'' Crist said. "They've lost their way. They've completely lost their way, and the people know it. And if they go down this path, they'll demonstrate it in regrettable glory.''

"Jeb!" exposes his wingnut underbelly

"Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will be in Louisville for a July 26 fundraising event to benefit Republican U.S. Senate nominee Rand Paul." "Rand Paul getting fundraising help from former Florida governor Jeb Bush".

'Glades restoration

As the Teabaggers frantically try to find the word "Everglades" in the U.S. Constitution, "The federal government says it will announce a major restoration project for a portion of the Florida Everglades. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is scheduled to announce details Monday in Kissimmee. It says the project will restore and protect wetlands and improve water quality in the northern Everglades. Officials say it will provide habitat for rare and endangered species." "US set to announce Everglades restoration project". See also "Deal to be announced today to preserve nearly 26,000 acres of Everglades".

'Ya reckon?

Scott Maxwell: "Is FCAT a failure? Yes".

A "clumsy exchange"

"Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene had just finished a meeting on the Space Coast, when he was stopped by a reporter."

The governor was calling for a special session to ban offshore oil drilling, and Greene was asked if he supported a constitutional prohibition of the practice.

Greene said he opposed drilling, but he wouldn't address the constitutional question.

Then he said he hadn't given it much thought. Then he said, "I can't see why I'd be against it."

Greene turned and spoke briefly with an adviser. Then he offered up a clarification.

He was "definitely in favor" of the constitutional ban, he said. It was the best way to protect Florida's beaches.

The clumsy exchange crystallizes the challenge facing Greene.

"Hard-knocks campaign for Meek"

"It's been that kind of hard-knocks campaign for Meek, who got into the race 18 long months ago, before any other major candidate."

Who would have expected what happened next?

Marco Rubio became a Republican phenomenon, Gov. Charlie Crist reinvented himself as an independent, and a little-known Palm Beach billionaire named Jeff Greene became a Democratic contender.

A shoe-leather campaign that collected 125,000 voter signatures hasn't taken Meek farther than a distant third place in the polls, behind Crist and Rubio, and with Greene closing in.

So five weeks before the primary, the Miami congressman finds himself shoring up support in his own backyard. His seven stops on Sunday included a gospel music-infused church in Lauderdale Lakes, a Miami union hall, and heavily Democratic condominiums in Aventura, Sunrise and Deerfield Beach. Vouching for Meek at most of the stops was Debbie Wasserman Schultz, his popular Democratic colleague representing South Florida in Congress.

AG

"Dave Aronberg, Dan Gelber Find Failings in Federal Immigration Policy".

Luvin' the billionaire

"As part of his outreach for contributions and counsel as an independent U.S. Senate candidate, Gov. Charlie Crist recently had a tete-a-tete with New York billionaire Tom Golisano" "Crist Cozies Up to New York Billionaire".

Teabaggers = RPOF = McCollum

Will Florida's traditional media ever get around to asking Billy what he thinks about the Teabaggers? After all, he is the Teabagger fav:

"Bill McCollum may not be the flashy politician that a lot of people are looking for right now, but he's the consistent conservative," said Everett Wilkinson, chairman of the South Florida Tea Party. "He's shown his leadership."

As Grayson yawns ...

"Bruce O'Donoghue of Winter Park — one of the leading candidates trying to unseat Democrat firebrand U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson — told the Orlando Sentinel that he's the victim of a former employee who embezzled from his company."

O'Donoghue is one of seven Republicans in the Aug. 24 Republican primary in Florida's 8th Congressional District. The winner will face Grayson and Florida Tea Party candidate Peg Dunmire in the general election.

Fl-oil-duh

"BP now faces a Herculean task of cleaning up the region's oily mess. While BP has hired thousands of people to boom, skim and burn large amounts of crude, the bulk of an estimated 200 million gallons of oil that spewed into the water is actually beyond human reach. As a result, the ultimate cleanup will be left to nature and to colonies of oil-chomping microbes." "Nature's burden: Clean up bulk of spill".

See also "Gulf forecast: Cloudy with a chance of tar balls", "RICO law made to combat Mafia used in BP lawsuits", "Where will spilled Gulf oil go? Three months later, officials and residents are still asking" and "Seep near oil well prompts demand for BP monitors".

"Only thing missing is a No. 1 foam finger"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Some candidates cling to the idea that businesses will flock to Florida if only it had a tax climate even more favorable than it already does. Rick Joyce, the former president and co-CEO of Dixon Ticonderoga, and Republican candidate for state House, crowed that "exceptionalism" is being No. 1, not No. 5, though it isn't helping Nevada all that much. The only thing missing is a No. 1 foam finger." "Tax cut sound bites".

Florida Political News: July 18, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 11:16:41 AM EDT

FlaDems "handed a golden political opportunity"

"Florida Democrats showcased their 'new face' for the 2010 campaign season Saturday with predictions that the economy, corruption and the Gulf oil spill will persuade voters to reject the Republicans who have run the state for almost 20 years."

If the Republican-controlled Legislature rejects Gov. Charlie Crist's call for a constitutional amendment banning offshore oil drilling in Florida waters, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said Democrats will be handed a golden political opportunity.

RPOFer/Teabagger Simpleton

"Florida GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio is out with a new web video laying out the argument that his recently released '12 simple ideas to grow the economy and create jobs' are smart simply because MSNBC host Rachel Maddow disagrees with them." "Marco Rubio: If Rachel Maddow Says I'm Wrong, Then I Must Be Right".

Jefferson-Jackson

"State Democrats rally around candidates". See also "Democrats raise $700K for state party at Hollywood dinner".

Jeb-worship

Mike Thomas, who always has had "A Bush of his own", parrots Bushco talking points yet again this morning in "Is FCAT a failure? No".

Mikey's "evidence"? Well, you know, those mystical, unidentified "piles of data". For a related story, with a privatization kicker, see Michael Mayo's "Test company deserves 'F' for this year's FCAT".

"Cristophobia"

Thomas Tryon: "Republicans in Florida's Legislature have developed a bad case of Cristophobia."

This "disease," based on my observations and according to the definition I've conjured up, has observable and well-defined symptoms, including:

Obsessive and long-lasting reactions to Charlie Crist's exit from the Republican Party and his independent run for U.S. Senate.

Anxiety over Crist's prospects of winning the Senate race.

Compulsive attempts to undermine almost anything Crist does as governor.

Petulant acts of retribution -- even when they may lead to alienation and the potential for severe loss.

Cristophobia is not a disease, of course; it's a political disorder.

Make it Sink's special session

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board write that "it would be unconscionable for Mr. Crist and the Legislature to ignore Floridians facing a crisis on par with a major hurricane. Now. In this session."

Yet consumed by his desire to keep Mr. Crist from scoring a political triumph with his constitutional drilling ban — something he knows Mr. Crist would hawk in his independent run for U.S. Senate — Mr. Cretul signaled he won't entertain other drilling-related business. At least not till he and Senate President Jeff Atwater convene when they're good and ready — perhaps in September — another special session addressing remedies for the spill.

Mr. Cretul says the remedies issues are too complex to successfully address in a special session next week. But he, other lawmakers and their staffs have had months to devise plans dealing with the Gulf disaster. What have they been doing since it began way back on April 20? Or since early June when oil starting soiling Florida's beaches?

Ms. Sink's include providing tax rebates for residential property owners hit by the spill. Temporary tourism tax incentives applied to coastal businesses harmed by the spill would help. Mr. Gaetz would allow coastal Northwest homeowners to revise tax bills to account for depressed property values due to the spill.

Lawmakers have the ability to help thousands of Floridians. Now. But that presents a problem for Mr. Cretul, who believes that allowing Mr. Crist's constitutional amendment to collapse without other bills blocking the view is what's best for Florida.

Scott

"Candidate Scott stumps door-to-door in Broward".

"Streamlined voting stacks races on ballots "

"'Be careful what you wish for ...' The old proverb has come to mind more than once for Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall as her office prepares for an Aug. 24 primary that will include more than 100 different ballot scenarios. "

Two years ago, McFall lobbied Volusia's cities to switch to even-numbered election years, and most signed on, creating up to $300,000 in savings for the cash-strapped local governments while also promising higher voter turnouts now that they'll be paired with races for governor, Congress and others.

But there's a price to that kind of efficiency. Adding cities to ballots already crowded with federal, state, judicial and county races is stretching resources thin -- while threatening to test the patience of voters.

Fl-oil-duh

"BP will continue running tests on the gusher in the Gulf, which has been temporarily plugged by a containment cap." "Plug still working, but tests continue".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The presidential commission investigating the BP oil disaster needs to work fast over the next six months to answer three critical questions: What caused the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig to explode and sink in April, unleashing hundreds of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico? How competent is the oil and gas industry to drill in deep water? And what tools and regulatory authority does the government need to make drilling safer and to better respond in a crisis?" "Panel investigating BP needs to work fast".

See also "For US, ongoing battle against changing oil 'Blob'", "Oil is plugged, but for how long? No sign of leaks, but data puzzles scientists", "Fail Whale: Giant Oil Skimmer Won't Work In Gulf Spill Cleanup", "Scientists get another day to study Gulf spill cap" and "".

Don't forget the RPOF's pre-spill drilling fervor

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Legislative leaders such as incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos and incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon didn't want the session because it will highlight their pre-disaster fervor to allow drilling within 3 miles of Florida beaches. In 2009, they almost got the Legislature to approve drilling. That near success and the suspicion they'll bring it back when the current disaster subsides provide the best case to put anti-drilling language into the state constitution. The deadline to make this year's ballot is Aug. 4. Making it, especially in the face of GOP resistance, is doubtful." "The eye of the oil spill: Major cleanup and legislative issues remain.".

Special session doublespeak

Howard Troxler writes that, "if the Legislature really thinks the right thing to do about the oil spill is 'nothing,' then by all means, do it."

Of course, doing nothing this week means no immediate help for the Panhandle and Floridians already hurt by the spill. Maybe later, the Legislature says.

It also means not using the opportunity to talk about alternative energy or Florida's energy future. We have been bizarrely paralyzed on this subject for years.

Most of all, it means Florida voters will not get to vote in November on whether to amend our state Constitution to ban drilling in Florida waters.

Because that would be "smoke and mirrors," and a waste of time, and all that.

One House member, a Republican from Oviedo named Sandy Adams, even announced she is filing a motion to censure (that is, formally reprimand) Crist for calling the session. Her idea was trumpeted by the House Republican office via a news release.

Adams (who, as it happens, is running for Congress) wants Crist rebuked for "the unnecessary spending of taxpayer dollars for a special session set solely to enact a redundant constitutional amendment banning an activity already banned by Florida law," the GOP statement said.

Well.

There's Amendment 9, for one. That's the one that declares that laws such as the big federal health-care reform, often called "Obamacare," will not count in Florida.

Not only is Amendment 9 constitutionally dubious, it is an entirely political gesture, intended to whip up the faithful in November.

Also, the Legislature is using this November's ballot to hold an unusual, non-binding, "advisory" referendum to ask Floridians …

Do you think the federal budget should be balanced?

I am pretty sure the answer is going to be "yes." Did they need to call a statewide election for it? Or were they just slapping another bumper sticker on the ballot?

"Out of bounds"?

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "State Sen. Dave Aronberg's attempt to tar his opponent in the Democratic primary for attorney general with the BP oil spill is out of bounds." "Candidate's cry of BP link out of bounds".

The trend is clear

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Florida homeowners are caught between a rock and a hard place. Despite not suffering from a severe storm since 2005, and regardless of reforms intent on stemming rate increases, consumers across the state are still suffering insurance premium shock."

The trend is clear. Gov. Charlie Crist may have vetoed legislation last month that would have made it easier for insurers to raise property insurance premiums, but as homeowners' policies come up for review, the rates just keep going up. And more increases could be on the way.

Foreclosures

"Foreclosures remain a big part of South Florida's housing market, but some analysts say the outlook might be improving." "Broward foreclosure rate dips; PB County rate flat".

No rush

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Arriving in mailboxes near you: ballots for the Aug. 24 statewide primary election. But that does not mean it's time to vote. The early arrival of ballots should signal voters that it is time to educate themselves so they can vote responsibly, and they should avoid rushing to return them." "No rush to return mail ballots".

Yaaawwwnnn

"A merit-pay plan for teachers proposed by gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum on Friday is not too different from one rejected by Gov. Charlie Crist this year." "McCollum proposes merit-pay plan for teachers".

Florida Political News: July 16, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Fri Jul 16, 2010 at 08:32:10 AM EDT

"Oil industry already declaring victory" against Crist

"Crist's bid to ask voters to ban oil drilling off Florida is in deep trouble, with the House backing away from a vote and the oil industry already declaring victory."

In a poisonous political atmosphere, it now appears nothing will be accomplished next week, and the hostility between the independent governor and Republican-led Legislature will be worse than ever.

Teabaggers ponying up for Rubio

"Crist raised $1.8 million for his independent U.S. Senate campaign in the past three months, trailing Republican Marco Rubio but conserving millions of dollars more for the last few months of the campaign."

Rubio reported a monster-sized $4.5 million haul earlier this week -- replacing Crist as Florida's fundraising champ. Still, Crist's latest donations were up from the $1.1 million he collected in the previous three months before he ditched the Republican Party.

"I couldn't be more delighted. It's uncharted territory,'' said Crist, who leads the polls.

What's more, Crist said he has $8.2 million in the bank, compared to Rubio, who has $4.4 million. Crist has been increasingly leaning on Democratic donors. ...

Rubio blew through $4 million between April and June, mostly on television, mail and fundraising, according to Burgos. Crist's expenses were far less -- roughly $1.2 million. ...

The Democratic front-runner, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, collected $1 million in the past three months. That leaves him with $4 million in the bank, slightly less than Rubio. Meek spent less than $700,000 during that time period, compared to $5.8 million by his chief opponent in the Aug. 24 primary, billionaire Jeff Greene.

... but Crist still ahead

"But the increase in Crist's overall fundraising total is good news for the governor's Senate bid, as are polls that continue to show him with the advantage in three-way race for Florida's open Senate seat. The TPM Poll Average for the contest shows Crist with 36.6% of the vote, Rubio with 32.6% and embattled Democratic party candidate Kendrick Meek -- who faces an increasingly tough primary of his own -- with 14.7%" "AP: Crist's Fundraising As An Independent Goes Up". But see "Crist Fund-Raising Machine Sputters".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Clear Channel wants trees that block its billboards in South Florida cut down".

Fl-oil-duh

"BP stopped the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico for the first time in almost three months. Pressure tests over the next two days will determine whether a new cap on the well can remain in place." "Gulf oil spill choked -- and now we wait"

See also "Sea creatures cause tar ball scare in Sarasota Co.", "BP chokes off the oil leak, waits to see if it holds; Fla. cheers long-awaited news", "Some have trouble believing BP stopped oil leak", "House panel OKs overhaul of oil drilling agency" and "Gulf geyser stops gushing, but will it hold?".

"Bondi's "I can see Russia from my back porch!" moment"

Daniel Ruth: "Think of this as Pam Bondi's "I can see Russia from my back porch!" moment. ... Ah, the woman is a natural — in any party." "Bondi's shifty response to sudden right turn".

"A quiet death"

"NASA's plans to return astronauts to the moon by 2020 died a quiet death Thursday when a key Senate panel approved a new course for the agency that terminates the Constellation moon-rocket program and instructs NASA to build a new rocket for a yet-undefined mission." "Plan kills NASA's Constellation moon mission, adds shuttle launch".

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Better course on space". The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Bill Nelson space plan looks like the better deal".

HD 104 and 108 endorsements

The Miami Herald editorial board endorses in "HD 108" and "HD 104".

Scott's "speech"

"Republican candidate for governor Rick Scott wasted no time Wednesday and immediately filed an appeal of federal Judge Robert Hinkle's decision to deny his request for an injunction to block the release of state funds to his rival under Florida's public finance law."

He also asked for the fast-tracked ruling since the state is scheduled to cut a check to Attorney General Bill McCollum, Scott's GOP challenger, by Aug. 6, a week after Scott files his expense report. The millionaire health care executive is expected to show he has exceeded a $24.9 million spending cap, triggering the release of public funds.

More nukes?

"Activists and supporters shared their thoughts on Florida Power & Light's proposed expansion of the Turkey Point nuclear power plant." "FPL's Turkey Point expansion plans debated".

Gelber BP Issue

"The fire ignited by Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, over the loose ties Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, has with BP will likely continue a slow burn over the next five weeks leading up to the Aug. 24 primary. And despite polarizing his own party and being criticized on his ethics, Aronberg says he plans to continue to fan the flames." "AG Race: Dave Aronberg Won't Back Down from Dan Gelber BP Issue".

Publicity stunt for failing campaign

"A Republican state lawmaker is calling for a censure of Gov. Charlie Crist over his move to bring legislators back to Tallahassee next week to vote on a proposal that would constitutionally ban offshore oil drilling in Florida. Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, also a candidate for Congress, announced Thursday that she was filing a resolution to censure the governor during next week's session." "Lawmaker Wants Crist Censured".

Good luck

"Labor leaders Thursday called on Gov. Charlie Crist and the leadership of both houses to expand the focus of the special session to change state statutes so unemployed Floridians will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits. " "Florida AFL-CIO Calls for Special Session to Tackle Extending Unemployment Benefits".

Ballot secrecy

"Ballot secrecy compromised in Fla., other states".

State parties in a predicament

"With his retinue of notorious celebrity friends, including former pimp Heidi Fleiss and boxer/convicted rapist Mike Tyson, and his previous history running for office as a Republican, billionaire Jeff Greene is not the kind of candidate the Democratic machine would necessarily put up for U.S. Senate."

Many Republican officials see multi-millionaire businessman Rick Scott’s controversial past running a chain of hospitals that ultimately admitted to massive Medicare and Medicaid fraud as insurmountable baggage in the general election for governor.

Yet both candidates have made inroads in their respective primary battles, and their success puts the state parties they hope to represent in a predicament: stay neutral in the intra-party races or actively offer endorsements.

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"Commissioner refuses to say how wife paid for $435,000 home".

Let's try another one

"Billionaire self-funded Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene has a new campaign manager. The last one quit after two months." "Greene deals with campaign staff shakeup, defends job creation claims".

It's your Party, Connie

"Representative Connie Mack sent a letter to Florida legislators and Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday, urging them not to pass immigration legislation at a special session next week." "Mack sends letter to legislators urging them not to pass Arizona-style immigration legislation".

McCollum laff riot

"McCollum spoke with passion about the lawsuit he filed in conjunction with 19 other states that questions the constitutionality of the federal health care reform bill, calling it a 'landmark on individual liberties,' and guaranteeing that it would find its way to the Supreme Court." "Bill McCollum: Health care lawsuit is ‘landmark on individual liberties’".

"Slimy accusations, divisive strategies"

Scott Maxwell: "Last week, gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott's campaign went after his Republican primary opponent, Bill McCollum, for having previously supported New York City's "pro-homosexual rights" Mayor Rudy Giuliani."

The claim was as steeped in distortion as it was intolerance. Suggesting McCollum is gay-friendly is almost as silly as suggesting he is charismatic. The guy is at the forefront of discrimination in this country, leading the charge to take foster children away from loving parents who happen to be gay. ... when you consider all of his tactics — slimy accusations, divisive strategies and his past involvement in a scandal — this guy who claims to hate career politicians sure seems to be a quick study.

Second session?

"With the Legislature going into special session next week to consider backing a constitutional amendment to ban oil drilling in state waters, Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, is now ready for a second oil-related session to be held at the end of summer -- and he has the backing of the House speaker." "Senate President Jeff Atwater Calls for Second Special Session".

Too old for those civics classes

"In a meeting with the Tallahassee Democrat editorial board, prior to an evening forum with Leon County Republicans, four of the GOP contenders in the 2nd Congressional District praised Attorney General Bill McCollum's federal lawsuit challenging the new law. They generally agreed that the federal government has exceeded constitutional limits and said the nation's economy can only be revived by reducing deficits and holding down taxes." "GOP contenders for Congress air views".

"Potential spoiler"

"A crowded race for Kendrick Meek's seat features experienced politicians and a big-fundraising potential spoiler." "District 17 candidates stress economic development".

Florida Political News: July 15, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Thu Jul 15, 2010 at 11:33:44 AM EDT

"Rubio accuses the Obama administration of 'insanity'"

"Senate hopeful Marco Rubio accused the Obama administration of 'insanity' and 'incompetence' in its handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, while steering from his own support of offshore drilling in a campaign stop Wednesday." "Rubio calls federal oil spill response "abysmal""."

More wingnuttery: "Rubio releases economic plan heavy on tax cuts".

McCollum's political stunt

"Florida is backing Arizona in its fight with the federal government over who can enforce U.S. immigration laws, Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday." "Florida joins states supporting Arizona immigration law with court brief".

"Financial bonanza for Florida television stations"

"The independent committees being used by both candidates in the Florida Republican primary for governor could end up providing a financial bonanza for Florida television stations at a time when broadcasters have been suffering financially during the recession."

The reason: The independent committees don't get the big discount campaigns get when they buy television ads. They have to pay full price, which could be a premium of 50 percent or more over the usual prices for political ads.

Both Bill McCollum and Rick Scott are using independent committees instead of their campaigns to do some of their campaigning.

In McCollum's case, that's to avoid going over the $24.9 million spending limit he agreed to as a condition of receiving public financing money for his campaign. Spending by the independent committees doesn't count toward that limit.

Scott has another reason for using his independent committee. He's not taking public financing, but under the public financing law, if he spends more than $24.9 million, McCollum gets extra public money to equal the amount by which Scott goes over that figure.

But there's a catch: Federal law and FCC rules say a television station must give a political campaign its "lowest unit rate" for all advertising purchases.

Special Session

"The first bills filed for next week's special legislative session have nothing to do with what Gov. Charlie Crist called lawmakers together to discuss."

# Enable law enforcement officials to check on a person's residency status during routine stops or arrests, using the federal E-Verify program created for employers to check on a worker's status.

# Require proof of legal residency or citizenship for receipt of certain public benefits. The prohibition would not include emergency or crisis care or immunizations for communicable diseases.

# Prohibit a person from working for any state agency if he can't prove he is a legal resident or citizen. The proposal doesn't include any measures to penalize private employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Two Florida men charged with running commodities scheme".

McCollum defends Millionaire's amendment

"Republican Bill McCollum's struggling gubernatorial campaign scored a big victory Wednesday when a federal judge rejected an attempt by his primary opponent, Rick Scott, to stop him from receiving potentially millions of dollars in campaign funds from taxpayers."

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle refused to throw out Florida's campaign finance law that gives candidates public money to combat well-heeled opponents -- such as the freespending Scott -- who don't follow state spending caps. Scott is expected to blow through the state's $24.9 million cap for the governor's race by this weekend, leaving McCollum eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match of any spending over that amount.

However, Hinkle said the U.S. Supreme Court may ultimately disagree with him.

FCAT follies

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Now, after being billed more than $3 million in fines for leaving the state in the lurch, NCS Pearson has produced late results that do not track with each student's scores from the previous year. The drop in scoring -- most of it in schools serving high-achieving students -- is suspect and deserves an independent look." "Florida earns F for accountability".

Fl-oil-duh

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Is anybody genuinely afraid that the oil and gas industry won't have sufficient influence in Washington as the commission dissects what went wrong with the Deepwater Horizon well and recommends changes to improve drilling safety and emergency response procedures?" "A gusher of oil lobbyists: Charges that the industry will get short shrift are silly.".

See also "BP: Well Test Back On Track After Cap Repair", "Congressman To BP: Stop Stonewalling On Oil Well Data", "BP begins testing new cap over Gulf oil leak", "Oil hits Louisiana's largest seabird nesting area", "Suit filed seeking more details on dispersants" and "AG: Firms other than BP could be liable for spill".

"Typical Tallahassee sleight of hand"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Faced with a $3.2 billion budget deficit last session, state lawmakers engaged in a typical Tallahassee sleight of hand. They quietly grabbed federal stimulus dollars - while loudly decrying the program - gobbled up gambling money and raided trust funds to cobble together a $70.4 billion budget." "Reining in spending habits".

That Columbia/HCA thing

"The question dogs gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott wherever he goes: What was your role in Columbia/HCA's Medicare fraud?"

On Tuesday night, it was asked by a shouting, finger-pointing attendee at a South Florida Tea Party meeting in Delray Beach.

Scott, the front-runner in the GOP primary, calmly gave the same explanation he gives in his TV ads: The company made mistakes and he accepts responsibility because he was CEO.

"He didn't answer it,'' Harry Klein said after his confrontation with Scott. ``I wanted a simple answer that would have told us what happened. He did not answer the question.''

Foreclosures

"Tampa area foreclosures on track to outpace 2009" and "Volusia, Flagler foreclosures still high".

Scott and Greene "unknown and untested"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Rick Scott and Jeff Greene have earned vast sums of money in the private sector, but they are unknown and untested politically. Private business executives have to recognize that running for public office requires more transparency, particularly when their opponents have long public records." "Public deserves answers".

Greene loses manager

"Florida Senate candidate Jeff Greene, the free-spending real-estate billionaire challenging Rep. Kendrick Meek for the Democratic nomination, has lost his campaign manager a little more than a month before the August primary." "Greene loses campaign manager".

PSC diversity

"Gov. Charlie Crist responded to critics who said his appointees to the state Public Service Commission didn't offer enough diversity and on Wednesday appointed two blacks to the embattled utility board."

Crist named Miami state Rep. Ron Brisé, a Democrat, and Jacksonville Councilman Arthur Graham, a Republican, to replace David Klement and Benjamin ``Steve'' Stevens, who were ousted by the Senate when it failed to confirm them. Their primary reasons: because they either lacked diversity or experience.

Rubio still hot

Howard Troxler: "As matters stand today, Rubio is still being edged in the polls by his principal rival, Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent, partly because Crist is in the oil-spill limelight. Crist is a rock star too, just of a different brand, his main assets being likability and a genial populism. Rubio, in contrast, has a focused message that he delivers brilliantly in settings such as the one Tuesday in Gulfport. The test is translating it into all the superficialities of modern elections. " "Though Crist has the cameras, Rubio's still red hot".

Rekindling the enthusiasm

"Two black legislators and a former lawmaker trying for a political comeback started a campaign Tuesday to rekindle the enthusiasm President Obama sparked two years ago." "Group of current, former lawmakers trying to rekindle minority voting spirit".

'Glades

"Opponents Lash Out at Water District Over Land Deal".

"This is one scary goober"

Nancy Smith: "Either Bill McCollum doesn’t know a principle from a prawn or he’s as slippery as a Mississippi swamp. Either way, this is one scary goober." "Bill McCollum: Pardon Me While I Pick Your Pocket".

McCollum veers right(er)

"Bill McCollum: Health care lawsuit is ‘landmark on individual liberties’".

Thomas on Meek

Mike Thomas: "This is a column about waste, fraud, abuse and self-destruction by U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek." "Why would Meek oppose savings for Medicare?".

"An imperfect plan"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Members of a U.S. Senate subcommittee were scheduled today to take up a new blueprint for space policy from the panel's chairman, Florida Democrat Bill Nelson. It's an imperfect plan — not surprising for the product of a bipartisan compromise. But it's better than the likely alternative." "Better course on space".

Florida Political News: July 14, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 09:53:49 AM EDT

"McCollum's campaign may well be doomed"

"Republican Rick Scott is on an unprecedented spending spree. He's poured more than $21 million — and counting — into his race for governor."

Attorney General Bill McCollum, the one-time frontrunner and Republican establishment favorite, has one hope to keep up: Florida's public financing system for statewide campaigns.

That's the system that Republicans — including many of the people supporting McCollum — have for years derided as "welfare for politicians." GOP legislators even put an amendment repealing the system on the November ballot this year.

Today, lawyers for Scott and McCollum go into federal court in Tallahassee, where Scott has sued to throw out a portion of the law that provides matching money for a candidate whose opponent exceeds a state-mandated spending cap, as Scott says he will do. If Scott's motion prevails, McCollum's campaign may well be doomed.

Wingnuts run wild

"With the push for an Arizona-style immigration law already playing a central role in the Republican primary for governor, a pair of Florida legislators Tuesday sought to add the issue to next week’s special session on oil-drilling." "Arizona-Style Immigration Bills Filed for Special Session". See also "State Rep. Ambler files immigration bills for special session".

Special session

"Pressure is mounting for legislators to expand the special session next week to revamp Florida's laws to help ailing Panhandle residents recover from the financial hit of the oil disaster. A committee of the Senate's leading Republicans and Democrats, along with Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, are urging Gov. Charlie Crist and the House to go beyond the debate over putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot when they meet July 20-23 to including economic relief for thousands of businesses, individuals and governments." "Charlie Crist may ask lawmakers for Panhandle relief". See also "No deal reached yet on how to handle special session".

New poll

"As a new poll showed Gov. Charlie Crist holding his lead over Marco Rubio in the Senate race, Rubio began a series of policy announcements with a speech advocating tax cuts he said are necessary to prevent national decay."

Rep. Kendrick Meek, meanwhile, released a new video underlining his claim to be "the only Democrat" in the race for Florida's Senate seat.

He also got an endorsement from the Florida Planned Parenthood chapters, which cited his 100 percent voting record on Planned Parenthood's women's health, gender equality and reproductive rights issues.

The July 9-11 Reuters/Ipsos poll of 600 registered voters showed Crist, a no-party candidate, maintaining his lead over Republican Rubio 35 percent to 28 percent, with Meek at 17 percent. The poll has a 4-point error margin.

Crist held almost the same lead with Jeff Greene listed as the Democratic candidate instead of Meek.

Most other recent polls have also shown Crist narrowly ahead of Rubio.

Crist also got favorable ratings on his job performance from 53 percent of poll respondents.

Money talks

"Since jumping into Florida's Republican gubernatorial primary in April, millionaire hospital executive Rick Scott has spent a fortune beating the heck out of the Republican establishment's choice, state Attorney General Bill McCollum. McCollum is now nearly out of money, and hoping Florida's public financing laws will bail him out. Though the race is not over yet, Scott is looking more and more like a frontrunner -- a development that could leave Republicans with an eccentric, disgraced CEO to carry their flag into the open race for governor in the fall." "How A Super Rich Republican Is Burying And Bankrupting A GOP Favorite In Florida".

Out-of-state rats take work from Floridians

"Work got under way in April on a $200 million Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority project, and the parking lots at SWA have been filling up with out-of-state license tags ever since." "Half of jobs at PB County solid-waste project going to out-of-state workers".

Fl-oil-duh

"A pivotal moment in the Gulf oil crisis was derailed Tuesday evening when officials announced they needed more time before they could begin choking off the geyser of crude at the bottom of the sea." "Key test on Gulf oil spill cap hits unexpected snag".

"As sea turtle nesting season gets into full swing on Volusia and Flagler county beaches, a large-scale effort is under way to rescue sea turtles trapped by the growing oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. " "Rescuers rush to save sea turtles, move eggs to safety".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Kenneth Feinberg made clear that the oil compensation process will be claimant-friendly and Florida will not be overlooked." "Oil claims chief eases Floridians' fears".

See also "BP says no to Crist's request for $50 million", "Apalachicola Bay oystermen fight for livelihood -- and identity", "Gulf oil to keep flowing while cap is analyzed", "Gulf Oil Still Gushing After Cap Efforts Suddenly Halted", "Now that new cap is on leak, BP prepares for tests to see how it holds oil", "", "Gulf oil to keep flowing while cap is analyzed", "Scientists say Gulf spill altering food web", "Turtles relocated from Gulf released into Atlantic" and "Obama administration bills BP for $99.7 million".

Rubio's same old song and dance

"Marco Rubio outlined almost two dozen ideas Tuesday to revive the economy and deal with the Gulf oil spill, and took some digs at his former GOP rival, Charlie Crist." "Rubio lists his plans for Senate".

Consider these shining points of light:

• Extending the Bush-era income tax cuts.

• Cutting corporate taxes.

• Eliminating inheritance, capital gains and dividends taxes.

• Opposing a cap-and-trade plan to limit carbon pollution.

• Repealing health care reform and replacing it with a tax cut for those who buy their own health insurance and more limits on malpractice lawsuits.

... Speaking of Teabaggers

"Tea Party Billboard Compares Obama To Hitler, Lenin". Related: "Right Wing Rallies Around Tea Party After NAACP Condemns Movement".

"Deep ties to utility companies"

"Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce his replacements for his two ousted appointees to the state utility-regulation board on Wednesday, and will choose from a list of eight applicants that includes many with deep ties to utility companies." "Utility links color Florida Public Service Commission picks".

Perhaps we should be increasing wages?

Mike Thomas apparently has a problem with supply and demand: "If illegal immigrants go, produce prices would skyrocket".

Greene's jobs

"Billionaire Senate candidate Jeff Greene is spending millions on TV and campaign mailers casting himself as the 'proven job creator,' but proving how many jobs he has created isn't so easy." "Greene's jobs record unclear".

Bondi ... never mind

"Pam Bondi is running for attorney general as a conservative Republican, but for much of her adult life she was a registered Democrat." "GOP attorney general candidate Pam Bondi has Democratic roots".

FCAT follies

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Public school accountability will not work unless there is confidence in the accuracy of the testing system. This year's delayed FCAT results and potential anomalies have raised enough questions that the state should not release school grades until an audit is complete. " "School grades and FCAT uncertainty".

"Manufactured outrage"?

"Dave Aronberg should drop his manufactured outrage over Dan Gelber's alleged links to BP."

Sen. Aronberg of Greenacres faces Sen. Gelber of Miami Beach in the Aug. 24 Democratic primary for Florida attorney general. The job is enormously important. Incumbent Bill McCollum, a Republican running for governor, has shown how politics can sidetrack the office. Under Mr. McCollum, Florida is wasting resources by opposing federal heath insurance reform and trying to keep gay people from adopting children.

Sen. Aronberg, by focusing on an irrelevant aspect of the BP disaster, is showing no better sense of priorities than Mr. McCollum. Here's the so-called issue:

Sen. Gelber worked for the Akerman Senterfitt law firm, which in May accepted BP as a client after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill. After he learned in early June that BP had hired the firm, Sen. Gelber took several weeks to wrap up his cases and then resigned. Sen. Gelber said in an interview he didn't leave immediately because that would not have been professionally responsible.

Goin' down

"Lenders on pace to take back 50,000 South Florida homes this year".

Scott "deceitful" and "heartless"?

"The St. Petersburg Times hammers Florida gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott today in an editorial that describes him as "deceitful" and "heartless." The editors accuse Scott of "shamelessly exploiting the tragedy of a family of a severely disabled young woman" in order to "burnish" his pro-life bona fides." "Florida Gov Candidate Assailed By Local Newspaper".

Teabaggers can't find "Everglades" in the U.S. Constitution

"Tea partiers and a Republican political action committee say they will descend on South Florida Water Management District headquarters today to protest the agency's purchase of U.S. Sugar property for Everglades restoration." "Tea Parties Boiling Over Crist's U.S. Sugar Deal".

New commercials

"With six weeks to go until the primary, the two leading Democrats battling it out for their party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by George LeMieux released new commercials to hit Florida's airwaves." "Dem Candidates in U.S. Senate Race Release New Ads".

Federal help, please ...

"With 30 state banks failing since 2007, and BP oil lapping at Gulf shores, the Florida Bankers Association is pleading for relief from Washington." "Florida Banks Plead for Relief from Regulators".

"Algal blooms and fish kills"

"Recent algal blooms and fish kills in the St. Johns River have begun to make their way into the increasingly heated 2010 election cycle."

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, along with Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Tallahassee, recently made headlines when they proposed to add a rider to an amendment that would impact funding to the EPA and likely halt regulation of runoff into the St. Johns.

Now Crenshaw’s Republican primary opponent, Troy Stanley, is calling out the congressman for his ties to industries polluting the St. Johns.

Reaping the rerwards

"Mel Martinez to be Fla. chairman for JPMorgan Chase".

Gaming the election process

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Once again in Hillsborough County and other communities throughout Florida, write-in candidates have gamed the election process, slamming precinct doors in the faces of hundreds of thousands of registered voters and violating the spirit of the state constitution. It's time for the Legislature to call this what it really is - a sham - and finally take steps to stop it." "Disruptive write-ins".

McCollum counter sues

Yesterday: "Outspent by Rick Scott, his independently wealthy GOP opponent, Bill McCollum asked a court to rebuff Scott's bid to deny him matching campaign funds from the state." "Cash-strapped Bill McCollum files to keep public funds".

"Historic policy shift"

"Seven former political prisoners from Cuba smiled and gave victory signs Tuesday after they and their families were flown to freedom [sic] in Madrid, the first of 52 dissidents the Cuban government has promised to free in a historic policy shift." "7 Cuban dissidents find freedom in Spain". Related: "Tiny plastic foam boat carries Cuban migrant to US".

Florida Political News: July 10, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Sat Jul 10, 2010 at 09:12:01 AM EDT

Oil Company shills in a bind

"Crist's call for a special session on oil drilling has put some coastal Republican lawmakers in a tough spot."

House leaders are generally cool to adding a proposed constitutional amendment banning on drilling to the ballot. They point out that Florida law already bans drilling in state waters. They call the governor's move a political stunt. ...

But lawmakers also know that banning drilling is a political slam-dunk in an election year with images of oiled pelicans, tar balls and empty beachfront hotels on voters' minds.

State law already bans drilling in state waters, which stretch from 3 to 10 miles offshore. It is a policy that was long embraced by leaders of both political parties as necessary to protecting Florida's tourist economy. But during the past two annual legislative sessions — before the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion began spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico — a push by a shadowy group of drilling interests prompted two Republican leaders to aggressively push to overturn the law. Incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, have since pledged to drop the issue for at least a year until more is known about what went wrong at Deepwater.

But that is no guarantee that the industry's assault won't resume in 2012 — particularly because its ultimate goal extends beyond tapping what limited reserves may lie under state water. The industry's greater interest lies in sending a signal to Washington that Florida is no longer a no-drill state.

"I'm going to be governor for about six more months and I think I would not be doing my duty as governor if I didn't call for this special session," Crist said.

Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla disagreed, saying "the only future Charlie Crist is concerned about is his own political one."

Yet again, Crist’s biggest friends seemed to be Democrats.

"I commend the governor for agreeing to call for a special session to ban near-beach oil drilling, despite the resistance from special interests and some members of the Legislature," presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee Alex Sink said, leaving little doubt there would be unhappy elephants in the room when the session is convened.

Crist risks "runaway Legislature"

Gary Fineout: Crist is "running the risk that lawmakers could return and use the four-day session to strike back at the independent candidate for U.S. Senate."

Within hours after his announcement, there were groups already starting to urge legislators to use the special session to override some of Crist’s most recent vetoes, including his veto of a property insurance bill.

Crist could also find his budget vetoes targeted. House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, initially threatened to sue over the budget vetoes, saying Crist exceeded his legal authority to wipe out mandates that were included in the state’s $70 billion budget. But a special session could give legislators a way to undo the veto without going to court. It takes a two-thirds vote in each chamber to override a veto.

An override, however, would require a handful of Democrats to vote with Republicans. Many Democrats are siding with Crist with the push for a constitutional ban and may be unwilling to go along with an override without getting something in return.

Scott, Arizona dreamin'

Beth Reinhard wonders whether"Rick Scott running for governor of Florida -- or Arizona?"

Scott, a multimillionaire healthcare executive who has never run for office before, landed on the radar screen in Florida with a blitz of television ads touting Arizona's popular but controversial crackdown on illegal immigration. ...

Then Scott used President Obama's recent speech on immigration reform to call for Florida businesses to use E-Verify, the computerized database that verifies -- with debatable accuracy -- if a job applicant is a legal resident. Scott's campaign noted that the system is currently in use in South Carolina, Mississippi, Utah and, of course, Arizona.

And this week, Scott blew up Florida politics by suing the state over its public campaign financing system, following a similar case in -- you guessed it -- Arizona. Florida's so-called "millionaire's amendment'' would allow rival Bill McCollum to subsidize his campaign with tax dollars if Scott spends more than $24.9 million of his own money.

In the Arizona case of McCormish v. Bennett, a trial court ruled that matching funds are a violation of the First Amendment. An appeals court reversed the decision, and the U.S. Supreme Court, without ruling in the case, blocked further distribution of state money to candidates.

Meek, Greene Medicare kerfuffle

"U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek is trying to kill a fledgling program that the federal government claims will deflate Medicare costs by requiring competitive bids from companies that provide medical equipment like oxygen tanks and wheelchairs."

The Miami congressman's legislation -- which is backed by the medical supply industry and opposed by AARP -- has formed a new line of attack for rival Jeff Greene in the Democratic Senate primary. Greene pointed to tens of thousands of dollars that Meek has received from medical suppliers before and after he introduced the bill.

"This is yet another example of a broken political system where corrupt politicians, like Kendrick Meek, put special interests ahead of the needs and well-being of Florida's citizens,'' Greene's campaign said in a statement.

Meek said the competitive bidding program needs to be scrapped because it would allow illegitimate and inexperienced companies to get into the game. He noted the program's 2008 false start. ... Meek's office pointed to the broad support for his legislation from 252 members of the House, including 18 of the 25 members from Florida.

Scott steps in it

"Rick Scott is reaching into his corporate past to woo a key electorate in the Republican primary for governor and bolster his claims as a 'pro-life leader.' But a father says Scott has 'grossly overstepped the bounds of decency.'"

As antiabortion issues begin to dominate Scott's contest with Attorney General Bill McCollum, Scott's lack of a voting record stands in contrast to McCollum's lengthy history from two decades in Congress and repeated bids for elective office.

But as he courts core conservative voters, Scott is thrusting a Texas family's 20-year-old turmoil into an increasingly bitter dialogue on the topic of life.

The family suggests Scott is distorting its misfortune for political gain.

Wingers turn on Kottkamp

"Kottkamp is now a Republican candidate for attorney general, and he is coveting the very voters who despise Crist the most: conservative Republicans. " "Gov. Crist's rejection of GOP has complicated life for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp".

Fl-oil-duh

Steve Otto: "You stare out across the sugary beach to the water and wonder what's coming, if anything. Remember that apocalyptic movie "On the Beach'' with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner? The world pretty much had blown itself up and a nuclear cloud was blowing slowly south toward Australia. The Australians spent their final few months whooping it up on the beach, singing Waltzing Matilda and waiting for the end to come. It's sort of like that on Florida's gulf beaches". "Column: No oil, so life goes on in St. Pete Beach".

See also "New cap, ships could contain Gulf leak by Monday; relief well done by end of July?", "Feds say new cap could contain Gulf leak by Monday" and "Value of oil skimming Gulf flotilla is uncertain".

Scott, McCollum debates set

"Republican gubernatorial candidates Bill McCollum and Rick Scott confirmed on Friday they'll hold at least two debates before their Aug. 24 primary, setting up early August showdowns that could reshape their race for the GOP nomination. The first debate will be held in Miami on Aug. 7. The second meeting, to take place Aug. 5, will be in Tampa." "McCollum, Scott agree to August debates in GOP primary for Florida governor".

Wingnut laff riot

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: "People who last year were chanting 'Drill, baby, drill' have an interesting new defense:"

Environmentalists are responsible for the BP spill because they forced oil drilling so far offshore instead of letting oil companies drill on land and closer inshore, where the technological problems of dealing with blowouts would not be as daunting.

By that logic, people who advocate for increased U.S. dependence on foreign oil would be the most blameless because they're for drilling in Saudi Arabia and other places so far away a disaster wouldn't be our problem.

Haridopolos sits on his hands

"State Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos said he came to Thursday’s Clean Energy Summit not to talk, but to listen. True to his word, he spent much of his time as moderator scribbling notes as participants discussed the economic and environmental benefits of reducing Florida’s dependence on fossil fuels — and the challenge of making it happen. For the most part, Florida policymakers seem stuck on the latter, torn between politically powerful utilities and their frustrated customers." "Clean Energy Summit: Florida lawmakers lack political will to push renewable projects". Meanwhile, "Rep. Rehwinkle Vasilinda calls for alternative energy discussion at special session".

Bud's choice

Bud Chiles is "hoping to capitalize on his family’s name recognition. But instead of tapping into the goodwill his father built up over the years in his political party, Chiles III filed as an independent. As a result, his decision to run has put his family in an awkward position: whether to back a family member who many feel has a slim chance of winning and will likely siphon votes from Democratic candidate Alex Sink, or to endorse the party Lawton Chiles helped build, after more than a decade of Republican control of the governor’s mansion." "Bud’s run forces Chiles family, friends to pick sides".

Right wing SCOTUS may put McCollum in money bind

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Floridians who doubt the necessity of the state's public campaign finance law should consider the maneuvers of Rick Scott."

Scott, in a battle with Attorney General Bill McCollum for the Republican nomination for governor, has spent more than $20 million of his personal fortune in the race, according to reports.

McCollum, meanwhile, is at a big financial disadvantage, though he's actually raised more money from contributors.

But under Florida's constitution, McCollum - and other candidates - will be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match from state taxpayers should Scott exceed a $24.9 million limit set by the "Millionaire's Amendment."

It's called that for a reason - to prevent multimillionaires such as Scott from buying elections. The amendment gives lesser-financed candidates the chance to "compete effectively," as the amendment passed by voters in 1988 states. ...

But this week, Scott sued to have the law declared unconstitutional. He argues the law has "significantly chilled" his First Amendment rights. ...

Scott may prevail because of a recent decision by the nation's highest court. Ruling on a challenge to an Arizona law that is similar to Florida's, justices stopped Arizona officials from allocating matching public funds to candidates in its public campaign finance program. The justices agreed with a lower court's opinion that the law violates the First Amendment rights of candidates relying on private money.

RPOFers have other plans for the session

"State Rep. Kevin Ambler of Tampa is drafting an Arizona-style immigration enforcement bill that he wants the Legislature to consider during its special session later this month." The geniuses running the Legislature are in a dither, with the Teabaggers nipping at their heels:

It remained unclear Friday afternoon how House and Senate leaders would respond to Ambler's proposal. Senate President Jeff Atwater did not respond to a request for comment; Jill Chamberlin, spokeswoman for House Speaker Larry Cretul said only that he is still reviewing the governor's special session proclamation.

Exports

"The federal government is touting progress made on the president’s goal to double national exports in the next five years, and a prominent Florida business advocate says that the state could be following suit if it makes the right choices. " "Florida, Nation on Track to Double Exports in Five Years".

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"Hillsborough County Republicans today filed the second of two lawsuits seeking to block Democratic candidates from competing for county commission seats." "GOP files 2nd suit, this time to keep Saul-Sena off ballot". See also "Lawsuit filed against Saul-Sena".

Florida Political News: July 7, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 08:57:13 AM EDT

Teabagger agenda taking hold

"Across the state, Floridians are paying close attention as state lawmakers begin to craft a tough, Arizona-style immigration law that would grant law enforcement officials broad authority to act as immigration investigators."

Under the proposed law, criminal suspects and traffic law violators would need to show proof of legal residency if questioned. Insufficient documentation could result in a trip to a local federal detention center.

They raise the specter of tourism boycotts and say the state's many Latin American business partners could interpret the law as an unfriendly, or, worse, racist gesture. They also argue that overwhelmed police might have less time to pursue violent suspects and that undocumented workers could move further into secret underworlds of illegal employment.

Encouraged by the leading Republican candidates for governor, some Republican state lawmakers already are planning to draft legislation that mirrors portions of Arizona's law. The Arizona law, which takes effect later this month, has a number of offensive provisions. It requires police to verify the immigration status of anyone they stop for any other reason, and it leaves them vulnerable to lawsuits if they do not. Imagine setting such an ultimatum in Florida's melting pot and essentially requiring all minorities to carry proof of their legal status with them at all times. ...

Yet Florida's leading Republican candidates for governor, Attorney General Bill McCollum and health care executive Rick Scott, are tripping over themselves to support Arizona's law (Scott is wrongly claiming in a television ad that McCollum opposes the law).

Sea cows

"Speed zones to change in Broward waterways to help manatees".

Another fine Jebacy

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "The department's findings don't say much for the years-long efforts to 'reform' public school education with a seamless 'K-20' approach. The damning I-don't-have-a-clue-after-high-school statistic is actually worse than Florida's previous 30 percent figure, although state education officials pass that change off on the way the survey was conducted." "Education in Florida too often ends with high school".

Prosecution gives "the four horsemen." a pass

"Ousted Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer calls them 'the four horsemen.' But Bill McCollum, Mike Haridopolos, Dean Cannon and John Thrasher do not appear on the prosecution's witness list. While Gov. Charlie Crist is named 62 times in the investigative report on Greer and could be called as a witness by both the prosecution and the defense, the four top Republicans are nowhere to be found." "Apocalypse Now: 'Four Horsemen' Getting a Free Ride?".

What did McCollum know, and when?

"Greer, arrested in early June, faces theft and fraud charges and up to 75 years in jail. He is accused of bilking the party by skimming donations into Victory Strategies, a shell company he created with another party official who is now cooperating with the prosecution."

Asked what he knew about Victory Strategies and when, McCollum said he knew nothing about it prior to an internal party audit, which in mid-March revealed Greer's stake in Victory Strategies.

McCollum's recollection differed from that of former party vice-chairman Allen Cox, who told FDLE investigators that he showed McCollum a copy of the party's contract with Victory Strategies, on Jan. 9.

McCollum said he could not remember exact dates, only that "that I turned over the information when it became knowledgeable to me." [sic]

Within hours, McCollum's primary opponent Rick Scott, again leapt on the story. "These latest revelations coupled with what already had been public knowledge raises serious questions about what McCollum knew, when he knew it and why did he fail to act earlier," the campaign charged.

Crist haters run wild

"Gov. Charlie Crist angered his former fellow Republicans with high-profile -- and highly politicized -- vetoes of an ultrasound abortion bill and teacher performance pay. But eight other Crist vetoes jilted businesses or agriculture, or just contradicted previously stated positions, with potentially damaging impacts to Floridians and the state's economy." "Charlie Crist's Vetoes Hurt Florida, Economy".

Lightweight laff riot

"Marco Rubio Opposes Elena Kagan's Nomination to the Supreme Court".

"On a collision course with" Billy

"Kenneth Feinberg, the man in charge of private claims made against BP, is on a collision course with Florida's attorney general, Bill McCollum." "Case for claims puts oil czar on the spot in Fla.".

An ugly visual

"Rick Scott and Political Dancing with Hispanic Seniors in Miami".

Gambling a done deal

"It's finally, and officially, a done deal: The federal government has signed off on Florida's blackjack gambling deal with the Seminole Indian tribe."

Now ratified by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees state-tribal compacts, the $1 billion deal authorizes the tribe to offer blackjack at five casinos in Florida until 2014. The tribe also gets exclusive rights to Las Vegas-style slot machines except in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, where voters have already approved slots.

This was the third gambling deal between Gov. Charlie Crist and the tribe since 2007. The first was thrown out by the Florida Supreme Court, the second rejected by the Legislature. All the sides finally came to a revenue-sharing agreement during the legislative session that ended in May.

Fl-oil-duh

"Mother Nature will steer oil away from Florida beaches at least for a week, but money from energy giant BP will begin flowing faster to local governments in Northwest Florida, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson promised on Tuesday. " "Nelson: BP money on the way".

See also "Tar-like balls on area beaches probably not from spill" and "BP: $1.9M check on way to Escambia".

CD 24

"Undecided leads the crowded field in the Republican primary in the 24th Congressional District that includes northern Brevard County, a candidate's survey indicates."

About two-thirds of Republican voters responding to the survey said they remain undecided in the five-way GOP primary for the congressional seat now held by Democrat Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach.

The telephone survey of 300 likely voters in the Aug. 24 Republican primary found that 65 percent of respondents are undecided; 17 percent support Craig Miller, who commissioned the survey; and 11 percent support Sandy Adams.

Three other candidates split the remaining 6 percent. Totals did not add up to 100 percent because of rounding.

Buchanan on a roll

"A series of lawsuits that were once considered a threat to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's political career are quietly fading away, strengthening Buchanan's bid to win his third term this fall."

Heading into the 2008 election, Buchanan faced 13 lawsuits, ranging from accusations of illegal fund raising to claims of malfeasance at his auto dealerships.

But none of the suits have gone to trial, and that is among the reasons Buchanan is not facing serious opposition as he campaigns for a third term.

Five cases alleging that Buchanan's dealerships deceived customers and falsified documents to sell cars have been dismissed. Three suits filed by former Sarasota Ford employees who say they were wrongfully fired for refusing to mislead customers have been sent to arbitrators.

In yet another case, which alleges Buchanan failed to uphold a contract with a former business partner, a judge issued a key ruling in favor of Buchanan two weeks ago.

Thank you, Mr. LeMieux

"Jobless benefits running out for 147,000 Floridians this week".

Jebbie's next job?

"The person who chairs a major political party should be solid on four fronts: politics, of course; fundraising; public policy; and dealing with the media. Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida would be a safe, blue-chip choice who would hit all four marks." "Republicans' Dilemma: Michael Steele's Replacement".

We do a agree that "Jeb!" excels at "dealing with the media". Indeed, they outright worship him. For example.  And then there's this: "[C]lear and electrifying as the day's cobalt-blue sky"

"Sprinting to Primaries"

"After a long Independence Day weekend, politicians in two of the closest races in Florida are hitting the campaign trail hard as they ramp up efforts before the Aug. 24 primaries. The close contest for the Republican gubernatorial nomination between Attorney General Bill McCollum and health care executive Rick Scott took center stage Tuesday morning." "After Long Weekend, GOP Gov, Dem Senate Candidates Sprinting to Primaries".

And so it begins

"Top shuttle contractor schedules layoffs". See also "First big layoff scheduled as shuttle program winds down". Related: "Space Coast jobs: Proposals aim for part of $40M in grants to create jobs after shuttle".

Uppity employees

The The Orlando Sentinel editorial board thinks state employee pensions amount to "beyond soaking taxpayers". They write that

The system, which includes county and some city workers, along with state employees, has features that most private-sector workers would love to have. Members can retire with full benefits after 30 years, regardless of their age. Retirees get 3 percent cost-of-living increases every year, regardless of inflation.

And unlike public employees in 45 other states, Florida's don't have to contribute a dime to their pensions. In this year's legislative session, a bill died that would have required employees to put up a measly one-quarter of 1 percent of their salaries toward their pensions. So did proposals to raise retirement ages and reduce higher payouts for some employees.

Legislators took one small step, dropping the interest rate on payouts for employees in the DROP early retirement incentive program from 6.5 percent to 3 percent a year. But Mr. Crist vetoed even that change.

Meanwhile, some cities in South Florida with their own pension systems have decided to follow the lead of private employers. They're putting new employees in 401(k)-type plans rather than more-expensive guaranteed plans. Some are upping employee contributions to their pensions, or raising retirement ages.

Not good for "Bud"

When

Lawton “Bud” Chiles, III, independent candidate for governor of Florida, filed his financial disclosure form last month, he listed his annual income as $143,000, his net worth as $1.3 million and an additional $1,763,546 in assets as of Dec. 31, 2009. But in the six months since that reporting date, his fortunes threaten to decrease sharply. The latest of several foreclosures on investment properties he owned has diminished his holdings by $150,000. And a development company he lists as a $550,000 asset is in default on an $11.5 million loan for which Chiles may be personally liable.

Blast from the past

"Saving Jeb By Smearing Columba".

"Kill one office, set up two? Ridiculous!"

"Attorney General Bill McCollum thinks the best way to move forward with job creation and business growth in Florida is to replace the state office that oversees economic development." "Bill McCollum: Replace Economic Development Office to Create Jobs".

Paris Hilton endorses Billy

Self-made man Paris Hilton Steve Forbes endorses Billy: "The top priority for Florida's next governor will be fostering an economic climate that makes it easier for businesses to grow, prosper and create jobs. Florida is suffering from one of the country's highest unemployment rates, and it will take years to replace the more than 900,000 jobs the state has lost during this deep recession."

It is for this reason, among others, that I am supporting Attorney General Bill McCollum in the Republican gubernatorial primary. His economic plan will accelerate Florida's recovery and facilitate the creation of more than half a million jobs over the next six years.

I've known Bill for many years, since his days as a congressman representing Orlando. He's an experienced leader with a fine record on the issues that matter to Florida Republicans. When he says he will cut business taxes and remove regulatory roadblocks to job creation - he's going to do it.

In contrast, it's hard to know what to make of Bill's primary opponent. Rick Scott boasts about his experience building HCA/Columbia, a massive network of for-profit hospitals that at one time employed one in every 1,000 American workers. For some reason, he doesn't like to talk about how that story ends - being ousted as CEO by his board of directors, massive federal fraud charges and unprecedented company fines totaling $1.7 billion.

Florida Political News: July 7, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 08:55:11 AM EDT

Teabagger agenda taking hold

"Across the state, Floridians are paying close attention as state lawmakers begin to craft a tough, Arizona-style immigration law that would grant law enforcement officials broad authority to act as immigration investigators."

Under the proposed law, criminal suspects and traffic law violators would need to show proof of legal residency if questioned. Insufficient documentation could result in a trip to a local federal detention center.

They raise the specter of tourism boycotts and say the state's many Latin American business partners could interpret the law as an unfriendly, or, worse, racist gesture. They also argue that overwhelmed police might have less time to pursue violent suspects and that undocumented workers could move further into secret underworlds of illegal employment.

Encouraged by the leading Republican candidates for governor, some Republican state lawmakers already are planning to draft legislation that mirrors portions of Arizona's law. The Arizona law, which takes effect later this month, has a number of offensive provisions. It requires police to verify the immigration status of anyone they stop for any other reason, and it leaves them vulnerable to lawsuits if they do not. Imagine setting such an ultimatum in Florida's melting pot and essentially requiring all minorities to carry proof of their legal status with them at all times. ...

Yet Florida's leading Republican candidates for governor, Attorney General Bill McCollum and health care executive Rick Scott, are tripping over themselves to support Arizona's law (Scott is wrongly claiming in a television ad that McCollum opposes the law).

Sea cows

"Speed zones to change in Broward waterways to help manatees".

Another fine Jebacy

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "The department's findings don't say much for the years-long efforts to 'reform' public school education with a seamless 'K-20' approach. The damning I-don't-have-a-clue-after-high-school statistic is actually worse than Florida's previous 30 percent figure, although state education officials pass that change off on the way the survey was conducted." "Education in Florida too often ends with high school".

Prosecution gives "the four horsemen." a pass

"Ousted Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer calls them 'the four horsemen.' But Bill McCollum, Mike Haridopolos, Dean Cannon and John Thrasher do not appear on the prosecution's witness list. While Gov. Charlie Crist is named 62 times in the investigative report on Greer and could be called as a witness by both the prosecution and the defense, the four top Republicans are nowhere to be found." "Apocalypse Now: 'Four Horsemen' Getting a Free Ride?".

What did McCollum know, and when?

"Greer, arrested in early June, faces theft and fraud charges and up to 75 years in jail. He is accused of bilking the party by skimming donations into Victory Strategies, a shell company he created with another party official who is now cooperating with the prosecution."

Asked what he knew about Victory Strategies and when, McCollum said he knew nothing about it prior to an internal party audit, which in mid-March revealed Greer's stake in Victory Strategies.

McCollum's recollection differed from that of former party vice-chairman Allen Cox, who told FDLE investigators that he showed McCollum a copy of the party's contract with Victory Strategies, on Jan. 9.

McCollum said he could not remember exact dates, only that "that I turned over the information when it became knowledgeable to me." [sic]

Within hours, McCollum's primary opponent Rick Scott, again leapt on the story. "These latest revelations coupled with what already had been public knowledge raises serious questions about what McCollum knew, when he knew it and why did he fail to act earlier," the campaign charged.

Crist haters run wild

"Gov. Charlie Crist angered his former fellow Republicans with high-profile -- and highly politicized -- vetoes of an ultrasound abortion bill and teacher performance pay. But eight other Crist vetoes jilted businesses or agriculture, or just contradicted previously stated positions, with potentially damaging impacts to Floridians and the state's economy." "Charlie Crist's Vetoes Hurt Florida, Economy".

Lightweight laff riot

"Marco Rubio Opposes Elena Kagan's Nomination to the Supreme Court".

"On a collision course with" Billy

"Kenneth Feinberg, the man in charge of private claims made against BP, is on a collision course with Florida's attorney general, Bill McCollum." "Case for claims puts oil czar on the spot in Fla.".

An ugly visual

"Rick Scott and Political Dancing with Hispanic Seniors in Miami".

Gambling a done deal

"It's finally, and officially, a done deal: The federal government has signed off on Florida's blackjack gambling deal with the Seminole Indian tribe."

Now ratified by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees state-tribal compacts, the $1 billion deal authorizes the tribe to offer blackjack at five casinos in Florida until 2014. The tribe also gets exclusive rights to Las Vegas-style slot machines except in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, where voters have already approved slots.

This was the third gambling deal between Gov. Charlie Crist and the tribe since 2007. The first was thrown out by the Florida Supreme Court, the second rejected by the Legislature. All the sides finally came to a revenue-sharing agreement during the legislative session that ended in May.

Fl-oil-duh

"Mother Nature will steer oil away from Florida beaches at least for a week, but money from energy giant BP will begin flowing faster to local governments in Northwest Florida, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson promised on Tuesday. " "Nelson: BP money on the way".

See also "Tar-like balls on area beaches probably not from spill" and "BP: $1.9M check on way to Escambia".

CD 24

"Undecided leads the crowded field in the Republican primary in the 24th Congressional District that includes northern Brevard County, a candidate's survey indicates."

About two-thirds of Republican voters responding to the survey said they remain undecided in the five-way GOP primary for the congressional seat now held by Democrat Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach.

The telephone survey of 300 likely voters in the Aug. 24 Republican primary found that 65 percent of respondents are undecided; 17 percent support Craig Miller, who commissioned the survey; and 11 percent support Sandy Adams.

Three other candidates split the remaining 6 percent. Totals did not add up to 100 percent because of rounding.

Buchanan on a roll

"A series of lawsuits that were once considered a threat to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's political career are quietly fading away, strengthening Buchanan's bid to win his third term this fall."

Heading into the 2008 election, Buchanan faced 13 lawsuits, ranging from accusations of illegal fund raising to claims of malfeasance at his auto dealerships.

But none of the suits have gone to trial, and that is among the reasons Buchanan is not facing serious opposition as he campaigns for a third term.

Five cases alleging that Buchanan's dealerships deceived customers and falsified documents to sell cars have been dismissed. Three suits filed by former Sarasota Ford employees who say they were wrongfully fired for refusing to mislead customers have been sent to arbitrators.

In yet another case, which alleges Buchanan failed to uphold a contract with a former business partner, a judge issued a key ruling in favor of Buchanan two weeks ago.

Thank you, Mr. LeMieux

"Jobless benefits running out for 147,000 Floridians this week".

Jebbie's next job?

"The person who chairs a major political party should be solid on four fronts: politics, of course; fundraising; public policy; and dealing with the media. Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida would be a safe, blue-chip choice who would hit all four marks." "Republicans' Dilemma: Michael Steele's Replacement".

We do a agree that "Jeb!" excels at "dealing with the media". Indeed, they outright worship him. For example.  And then there's this: ""[C]lear and electrifying as the day's cobalt-blue sky ""

"Sprinting to Primaries"

"After a long Independence Day weekend, politicians in two of the closest races in Florida are hitting the campaign trail hard as they ramp up efforts before the Aug. 24 primaries. The close contest for the Republican gubernatorial nomination between Attorney General Bill McCollum and health care executive Rick Scott took center stage Tuesday morning." "After Long Weekend, GOP Gov, Dem Senate Candidates Sprinting to Primaries".

And so it begins

"Top shuttle contractor schedules layoffs". See also "First big layoff scheduled as shuttle program winds down". Related: "Space Coast jobs: Proposals aim for part of $40M in grants to create jobs after shuttle".

Uppity employees

The The Orlando Sentinel editorial board thinks state employee pensions amount to "beyond soaking taxpayers". They write that

The system, which includes county and some city workers, along with state employees, has features that most private-sector workers would love to have. Members can retire with full benefits after 30 years, regardless of their age. Retirees get 3 percent cost-of-living increases every year, regardless of inflation.

And unlike public employees in 45 other states, Florida's don't have to contribute a dime to their pensions. In this year's legislative session, a bill died that would have required employees to put up a measly one-quarter of 1 percent of their salaries toward their pensions. So did proposals to raise retirement ages and reduce higher payouts for some employees.

Legislators took one small step, dropping the interest rate on payouts for employees in the DROP early retirement incentive program from 6.5 percent to 3 percent a year. But Mr. Crist vetoed even that change.

Meanwhile, some cities in South Florida with their own pension systems have decided to follow the lead of private employers. They're putting new employees in 401(k)-type plans rather than more-expensive guaranteed plans. Some are upping employee contributions to their pensions, or raising retirement ages.

Not good for "Bud"

When

Lawton “Bud” Chiles, III, independent candidate for governor of Florida, filed his financial disclosure form last month, he listed his annual income as $143,000, his net worth as $1.3 million and an additional $1,763,546 in assets as of Dec. 31, 2009. But in the six months since that reporting date, his fortunes threaten to decrease sharply. The latest of several foreclosures on investment properties he owned has diminished his holdings by $150,000. And a development company he lists as a $550,000 asset is in default on an $11.5 million loan for which Chiles may be personally liable.

Blast from the past

"Saving Jeb By Smearing Columba".

"Kill one office, set up two? Ridiculous!"

"Attorney General Bill McCollum thinks the best way to move forward with job creation and business growth in Florida is to replace the state office that oversees economic development." "Bill McCollum: Replace Economic Development Office to Create Jobs".

Paris Hilton endorses Billy

Self-made man Paris Hilton Steve Forbes endorses Billy: "The top priority for Florida's next governor will be fostering an economic climate that makes it easier for businesses to grow, prosper and create jobs. Florida is suffering from one of the country's highest unemployment rates, and it will take years to replace the more than 900,000 jobs the state has lost during this deep recession."

It is for this reason, among others, that I am supporting Attorney General Bill McCollum in the Republican gubernatorial primary. His economic plan will accelerate Florida's recovery and facilitate the creation of more than half a million jobs over the next six years.

I've known Bill for many years, since his days as a congressman representing Orlando. He's an experienced leader with a fine record on the issues that matter to Florida Republicans. When he says he will cut business taxes and remove regulatory roadblocks to job creation - he's going to do it.

In contrast, it's hard to know what to make of Bill's primary opponent. Rick Scott boasts about his experience building HCA/Columbia, a massive network of for-profit hospitals that at one time employed one in every 1,000 American workers. For some reason, he doesn't like to talk about how that story ends - being ousted as CEO by his board of directors, massive federal fraud charges and unprecedented company fines totaling $1.7 billion.

Florida Political News: July 6, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Tue Jul 06, 2010 at 08:45:43 AM EDT

Greer to depose McCollum before the Aug. 24 primary

Steve Bousquet: "The Jim Greer saga took a new twist Monday when the attorney for the indicted former Republican Party boss said he'll call Attorney General Bill McCollum as a witness and seek to disqualify him from any role in prosecuting the case."

At an Orlando news conference, attorney Cheney Mason said Greer committed no crime when he and former party executive director Delmar Johnson formed a consulting firm, Victory Strategies, that received $200,000 from the party.

"The civil lawsuit that was filed over that agreement resulted in an indictment," Mason said. "There will be a lot of interesting turns and twists in revealing that. The bottom line is, from what we know at this point, based on the documentary evidence, this is a significantly politically motivated prosecution."

Haridopolos and Cannon helped negotiate a severance pact with Greer, and the two legislators have helped to raise money for McCollum to pay for TV ads criticizing his GOP primary opponent, Rick Scott. ...

Mason said the prosecution of Greer was politically motivated by the conservative wing of the Republican Party of Florida, which didn't like Gov. Charlie Crist and decided to attack him by going after Crist's handpicked party leader, Greer.

"FP&L and its alter-ego henchman, AIF"

Howard Troxler: "The purge is complete. Four of the five members of our state Public Service Commission who voted against raising electric rates in January have now been canned by the Legislature. Such a housecleaning is unprecedented in the three decades since the PSC switched from an elected body. It is proof of two things:"

(1) The Florida Legislature absolutely does not care or fear what anybody thinks.

(2) The electric industry, and in particular Florida Power & Light of Miami, is able to take out any commissioner that it chooses.

To quote Michael Corleone in Godfather II: "If history has taught us anything, it's that you can kill anybody."

I even admit a certain admiration for FP&L and its alter-ego henchman, Associated Industries of Florida.

I tip my hat to them. To quote another Godfather character, Virgil Sollozzo: "My compliments."

No one will ever serve on the PSC again without this ax hanging over his or her head.

Fl-oil-duh

"As engineers bore deeper into the seafloor toward the source of the oil still spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, BP PLC is growing more confident that the relief well it expects to complete in August will succeed where all previous efforts to contain or kill the gusher have failed." "Relief well is last best hope to contain gusher".

See also "Tar balls in Texas mean oil hits all 5 Gulf states" and "Could Tropical Storm Bonnie be on her way into the Gulf?".

"Florida not serious about solar energy"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "For a state with the Sunshine State nickname, Florida has a lot of nerve. The state has enough sunshine to be a national leader in developing solar as a renewable energy source. Unfortunately, there's little political will among short-sighted state leaders to make that happen." "Solar rebates reveal a dim energy future".

Recession? What recession?

"Seeking a lift from Florida's economic doldrums? Tallahassee and Gainesville may have just the ticket. While the Sunshine State suffers from double-digit unemployment and is mired in one of the worst real estate downturns in its history, Tallahassee and Gainesville aren't feeling the pain so acutely." "Tallahassee, Gainesville Resist Recession".

Grayson, Paul work together

"In what might be the one issue that could unite anti-Wall Street liberals, angry tea partiers, laissez-faire libertarians and suspicious conspiracy theorists, Congress is close to forcing open the books of the nation's central bank."

The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which passed the House on Wednesday and offers a major overhaul of the nation's financial regulatory system, contains a provision for a one-time, limited audit of the Federal Reserve, the controllers of the nation's money supply.

Such scrutiny of the central bank's books was championed by Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, current darling of small-government advocates and a critic of the Fed and its policies for 30 years.

Paul introduced his plan for a full audit in February 2009; his efforts were soon joined by Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando ... . Grayson is widely credited with helping convince skeptical members of the majority party about the need to analyze what the central bank did with hundreds of billions of dollars in bailout funds provided to big banks during the financial system's meltdown.

Citizens

"Florida's public insurance carrier says someone fraudulently changed its address through the U.S. Postal Service. Citizens Property Insurance is trying to warn roughly 1 million policyholders and new applicants that checks and correspondence from June 14 to June 28 may not have been received. Even worse, it worries the information could be used for identity theft." "Mail for Citizens insurance fraudulently diverted".

45 jobs?

"A $10 million state economic stimulus plan created by Gov. Charlie Crist has generated just 45 new jobs in its unfinished first year. Last January, as he announced the Economic Gardening Business Loan Program, the governor expressed confidence it would produce 'a large number of new sustainable jobs' while planting the seeds 'that our homegrown businesses need to flourish.'" "Charlie Crist's $10 Million Economic Stimulus Plan Generates 45 Jobs So Far".

Prescription drug deaths far outpace those caused by illegal substances

"According to a report released Thursday by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission, 5 percent of all deaths in 2009 were attributable to prescription drug use, far outnumbering those caused by illegal substances." "Report: Prescription drugs kill far more in Florida than illegal drugs, Oxycodone deaths at record high".

Fewer teabaggers this year

"Organizers estimated about 1,200 to 1,300 people came to Coast Stadium in Viera [in Brevard County] to hear speakers and speak out themselves against excessive government spending, intrusiveness, public corruption and other issues they said violate the Constitution."

That's a little less than half the estimated turnout for a similar event held July 4 last year, said chief organizer Matt Nye, who attributed the turnout to competing holiday events.

The big issues Scott said he's seen are jobs and citizens' desire for immigrants to follow the rules.

Tea partiers "believe in limited government, fiscal responsibility, free market and the rule of law, which are things I also believe in," he said. ...

Vendors sold patriotic T-shirts and jewelry, and conservative political groups and candidates for local and state races or their representatives spoke with passers-by and passed out fliers.

"Companies run by friends or business associates"

"The man who oversees $134 billion of public money has recommended investing some of it in companies run by friends or business associates, and he doesn't see any conflict in doing that." "Florida pension agency head blurs line between state, personal business".

"Shifting population spurs a redistricting battle"

"Traditional bastions of GOP power – including Central Florida -- are lagging at a time when partisan anger at the Obama administration is growing and conventional wisdom suggests their numbers should be surging."

This week, a Leon County Circuit Court judge will hear final arguments in a challenge to the Legislature's amendment by the Florida League of Women Voters and the NAACP. Meanwhile, Brown, Diaz-Balart and the Legislature are suing to invalidate Amendments 5 and 6. Both court fights could go to the Florida Supreme Court in August, although they might not be resolved before election ballots get printed.

An Orlando Sentinel analysis of voter-registration data shows the percentage of new voters registering with the GOP is shrinking, compared to those choosing to be Democrats, independents or a growing number of third-party alternatives.

Central Florida, for example, no longer can be banked on as a rock-ribbed Republican bastion.

Of the 17 Republican-held state House districts located primarily in Lake, Volusia, Seminole, Orange, Brevard and Osceola counties, the percentage of registered GOP voters fell an average of 4.8 percentage points – declining from 43.5 percent to 38.7 percent -- since 2002, the analysis found.

Meanwhile, Democratic numbers inched up, from 36.4 percent to 37.2 percent. And no-party-affiliation voters grew from 15.4 percent to 18.2 percent.

The six GOP-held state Senate seats in the same area have seen Republican registration fall from an average of 44.6 percent to 40.2 percent, while the Democratic percentage has held flat at nearly 37 percent and NPAs have grown on average from 15.2 percent to 17.7 percent.

"A home invasion in broad daylight"

"Committing the political equivalent of a home invasion in broad daylight, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene stumped Monday afternoon in the needy Miami neighborhood represented in Congress by rival Kendrick Meek and his mother for almost two decades." "Senate candidate Jeff Greene invades rival Kendrick Meek's home turf".

Details from The Reid Report: "(Video) Greene in the hood: Liberty City Stack-attack, and 'you people'", "Greene in the hood (sort of) take 2 … tea time" and "Greene in the hood, take 3 **UPDATED**".

That book learnin' stuff

"High school graduates in Florida are increasingly skipping college. ... Researchers found about 35 percent of Florida's 2009 graduates had no plans to attend college, two points above the 33 percent recorded in 2008 and worse than the national average of 30 percent." "Florida high school graduates foregoing college".

Florida Political News: July 5, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Mon Jul 05, 2010 at 10:24:05 AM EDT

Scott has "more baggage than J-Lo on a camel safari"

Carl Hiaasen: "In the Republican race for governor, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum finds himself trailing a candidate who has more baggage than J-Lo on a camel safari."

The polls show McCollum chasing Rick Scott, whose singular claim to fame was building Columbia/HCA into a healthcare conglomerate that perpetrated the largest Medicare fraud in the history of Medicare.

Only in the rancid political swamp of Florida would a guy like Scott have the gall to run for office, bankrolling his run for the governorship with the fortune he accumulated while his empire soaked U.S. taxpayers for hundreds of millions dollars.

His campaign mantra, slightly paraphrased: "Hey, lighten up! I never got indicted!''

Naturally, a centerpiece of Scott's campaign is railing against healthcare reform. That's because he got filthy rich off the current system -- bloated, inefficient and highly lucrative to those who know how it manipulate it.

McCollum's biggest problem is McCollum. He is epically dull, and he just can't help it. Watching him speak has pretty much the same effect as 20 milligrams of Ambien.

Crist-Dems

William March: "You may never have heard of Peggy Land, unless you're a Tampa Democratic political insider. ... she has also been a faithful Democratic political donor - some $20,000 to the party and its candidates over the last decade or so, plus more from fundraisers in their home, and none to Republicans. So who is Land backing in the U.S. Senate race? Gov. Charlie Crist, a former Republican running as a no-party candidate."

Land isn't a big political name, but Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish is. Last week it created a shock wave when Parrish, godmother of Democratic politics in the state's biggest Democratic county, hosted a fundraiser for Crist.

A dozen other prominent Broward Democrats co-hosted, including state Rep. Ari Porth of Coral Springs - the only Democratic legislator to break ranks and back Crist openly, except Rep. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg, a former Republican and longtime Crist ally.

"All we're doing is saying out loud what everyone else is whispering about," Parrish said. Neither Meek nor billionaire Jeff Greene, challenging Meek in the primary, can beat Rubio, she said. "So if we don't unite on someone, we'll send a right-wing ultra-conservative to Washington."

The number of Democratic insiders and major donors backing Crist so far is small, but experts say it will increase if Greene wins the primary.

RPOFers "are tripping over themselves"

Anthony Man: "As tea party activists try to figure out how to maximize their muscle in the 2010 elections, the movement is moving more indoors and concentrating less on outside sign-waving protests. ... Among the signs of strength in South Florida:"

Close to 300 people showed up last week at the first public meeting of a new Boca Raton-area branch of the tea party movement. On Saturday, a Broward tea party group joined forces with a separate Fort Lauderdale contingent, which expanded its weekly protest to three hours and a roster of dozens of speakers.

A coalition of 16 tea party groups, and similar organizations such as chapters of the Glenn Beck inspired 9-12 movement, is working to block the state's plan for the South Florida Water Management District to buy land owned by U.S. Sugar and use it for Everglades restoration.

And the tea party enjoys so much influence in the Republican Party that candidates are tripping over themselves to proclaim their allegiance to the movement.

Medicaid morons

"If you thought the debate over health care ended when the federal government approved a major overhaul to the system earlier this year, think again. Health care has emerged as a major issue in Florida's gubernatorial race, with the two Republican candidates vowing to take every action possible to stop what they call Obamacare from ever seeing the light of day in the Sunshine State."

Unless the law is invalidated by the courts or repealed, it will significantly influence any decisions made on health care by Florida's next governor.

Nowhere is that more true than for Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor and disabled.

By 2014, the law requires Florida and the other states to provide Medicaid coverage for anyone earning less than 133 percent of the federal poverty line -- which is $29,000 for a family of four.

It would be a major change for Florida Medicaid, which currently offers much lower coverage for many categories and provides no coverage for childless adults, who would be covered under the new law.

The expansion of Medicaid could substantially reduce the number of Floridians who have no health insurance -- with state officials estimating 1.3 million uninsured residents fall below the poverty guidelines in the law.

The federal government will also cover the entire cost of the expansion in the first three years, although the federal share will eventually drop to 90 percent. Proponents note that it is still a match well above the traditional 55 percent federal support for Florida Medicaid.

Nonetheless, state officials estimate by 2019 Florida could face an additional cost of $1 billion a year for the expansion -- an issue that worries legislative leaders since Medicaid now accounts for more than quarter of the $70 billion state budget. ...

Supporters of the federal health care law say it would be foolish to turn down the offer of $10 in health care coverage for every $1 put up by the state under the Medicaid expansion. ...

State Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, who is running for attorney general and said he would drop McCollum's lawsuit if he is elected, also questioned the opposition to the law. "I just think it's nutty what we're doing," Gelber said, saying Florida --with its economy based largely on small businesses and with nearly 4 million uninsured residents --is the state "most poised to benefit from the law."

"Disrespect among legislators for state employees"

Bill Cotterell: "The 2010 Legislature put proviso language in the state budget forbidding government agencies from paying Bar dues for employees who are required to be lawyers. You can't be a lawyer around here without admission to the Bar, so this amounts to a $265 cost-shift to state-employed lawyers."

It's easy to have no sympathy for lawyers, who can probably afford $265 more easily than most state employees. Maybe they can work in the private sector for a firm that covers their dues, while paying them much better than the state.

But is that what we want? Is that good for the taxpayers?

It's like the 2-percent pay cut last year and the interest rate reduction on DROP accounts this year, both vetoed by the best-known lawyer working for the state. It's like the 0.2-percent pension contribution sought by the Senate or abolition of retiree health-insurance subsidies tried by the House, two ideas that failed in a year with (again) no raises.

The principle of the thing is just a basic disrespect among legislators for state employees.

Fl-oil-duh

"A massive Taiwanese oil skimmer completed a second day of tests amid rough seas, while Florida officials downplayed a study that suggests the spill could hit South Florida." "Bad weather hampers Gulf clean-up efforts".

See also "As oil gushed, BP quickly hired lawyers, scientists and experts to fight lawsuits", "Official downplays forecast of oil on South Florida beaches", "Migrating birds could fall victim to Gulf oil spill", "BP costs for oil spill response pass $3 billion" and "Drilling off Cuba could be sticky".

"Decisions by nominating council smack of payback"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Florida's utility consumers suffered a serious blow last week when the panel that approves nominees for the Public Serivce Commission rejected two worthwhile candidates with a meritorious track record."

Commissioners Nathan Skop and Nancy Argenziano, whose terms have expired, were seeking reappointment to the PSC. The PSC Nominating Council, dominated by state lawmakers, didn't even bother to show a sense of fairness in rejecting them, however. Neither one made the list of 18 applicants cleared for interviews next month.

This makes no sense at all given their credentials and experience and the absence of these qualities among some applicants who cleared this first hurdle on the road to appointment. The exclusion of Commissioners Skop and Argenziano means they won't be back after their four-year terms expire at the end of this year.

Apparently, the grievous failing of both commissioners is to possess the intelligence to make fair and impartial decisions on utility-rate cases and the backbone to resist pressure to rubber-stamp requests for increases.

What he means is that he and his fellow lawmakers want a PSC that will do whatever the utilities want.

The Public Service Nominating Council made its intentions clear by failing to nominate PSC Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano and Commissioner Nathan Skop, both of whom had dared to reject the industry's demands.

It was a disgraceful display that shows the industry's remarkable control of the regulatory system

Wingnut lies

"As Florida lawmakers prepare to introduce their own version of Arizona's strict immigration law, Republican state Rep. Ritch Workman has been championing the cause by painting the state's illegal immigrant population as the scourge of fiscal conservatism, business owners and taxpayers. ... We rate Workman's claim False." "PolitiFact: Facts don't support Rep. Workman's estimate of Florida's illegal immigrant cost".

Florida Political News: July 4, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Sun Jul 04, 2010 at 10:26:53 AM EDT

The RPOF's "Star-spangled cesspool"

Scott Maxwell: "Today, as we celebrate the birth of our nation, let's look at the current state of our political system — as seen in the investigative reports involving Jim Greer and the Florida Republican Party."

They reveal a star-spangled cesspool.

Details about why the former GOP chairman was charged with fraud, grand theft and money-laundering reveal everything from lie-filled press conferences to details about the inner workings and involvement of one of Central Florida's most powerful law firms.

GrayRobinson — the law firm that Greer asked to set up his secret corporation — willingly provided investigators with private information about the firm's dealings with him.

Whatever happened to attorney-client privilege?

Well, GrayRobinson said it takes client confidentiality very seriously, but that Greer's partner in the deal, Republican Party of Florida director Delmar Johnson, waived that privilege.

But it seemed interesting that one guy could waive privilege for another.

I spoke to several legal experts who found it interesting too. ...

I just have trouble envisioning GrayRobinson being so willing to spill the beans about work it might have done for someone like Jeb Bush or Bill Nelson … regardless of who else said it was OK.

What we see is a firm that seemed willing to help Greer set up a secretive corporation when he was a power player — and just as willing to help rat him out after his fall from grace.

Here's the thing: Greer wasn't a public official. He ran a private, political organization.

There are, however, plenty of public officials — including house speakers past and present — revealed to have run up massive bills for questionable expenses on the party credit cards as well.

And much of that was underwritten by special interests who wanted laws crafted in their favor.

One of Jebbie's many passes

"Crist was downplaying the potential political fallout from his connections to the indicted ex-party chairman Jim Greer when he made this analogy to the Greer mess: 'Jeb's feet weren't really held to the fire when that guy at Corrections got popped.' Crist was referring, of course, to Jim Crosby, the former prison boss who's still serving time for taking kickbacks from contractors. For those who have been under a rock for the past 18 months, Jeb Bush is a strong supporter of Crist's Senate rival, Rubio." "Slapping Jeb".

Choice politics

"The story of a severely premature girl has made its way into Florida's race for governor, where businessman Rick Scott and his principal rival, Attorney General Bill McCollum, have made accusations about each other on abortion positions." "Preemie birth case ignites GOP race for governor".

"Corrupting influence of big money in Florida"

"Nothing better illustrates the corrupting influence of big money in Florida politics than the charade two Republican candidates for governor are playing to collect piles of cash from special interests."

Attorney General Bill McCollum and health care executive Rick Scott are coordinating with third-party groups, avoiding the fundraising limits and disclosure rules their own campaigns must follow. The outrage is not that they are violating any laws but that their cynical manipulation of the system is legal. The average voter will need a crystal ball to ascertain before the Aug. 24 primary exactly who is trying to influence their vote — and who these men would be beholden to if they moved into the Governor's Mansion. ...

McCollum's campaign is coordinating directly with at least two third-party groups. And those groups have already received more than $1 million from other third-party groups controlled by the incoming Republican legislative leaders, Sen. Mike Haridopolos of Melbourne and Rep. Dean Cannon of Winter Park.

McCollum racks up the wingnut vote

"Attorney General Bill McCollum has won the support of a social conservative who once blasted him as pandering to the gay community."

John Stemberger, who heads the Florida Family Policy Council, endorsed McCollum's candidacy for governor this week.

"The millions of value voters in Florida who are concerned about the future of issues related to life, marriage and family should thank Bill and (his wife) Ingrid McCollum with their support for governor," said Stemberger, who ran the successful campaign to define marriage in the state Constitution as being between one man and one woman.

Stemberger's endorsement follows that of Dennis Baxley, founder and former director of the Christian Coalition of Florida, who criticized Scott for presiding over a hospital chain that performed elective abortion

Fl-oil-duh

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida needs more than a temporary congressional deal to protect its coast from another BP drilling disaster. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, has filed a bill to make permanent a moratorium approved by Congress in 2006 that bans drilling in federal waters within 235 miles of Tampa Bay and 125 miles of the Panhandle. That ban expires in 2022. The buffer is essential to protect the state's economy, and it includes airspace that is vital for military training. Congress should make it permanent." "Florida needs a permanent drilling ban".

"Workers from all over the state are going west to look for jobs related to the cleanup of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill." "In search of oil-cleanup jobs, Floridians go west".

See also "Gusher of oil brings geyser of litigation", "Heavy-hitting Tampa trial lawyer Steve Yerrid building legal team to take on BP", "EPA chief: I wouldn't swim off Panhandle", "Hopes ride on giant oil skimmer in Gulf of Mexico" and "In Pensacola Beach, business plunges amid oil crisis".

"Details, schmetails!"

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott is ... unburdened of any detailed policy proposals or deep knowledge of Florida government."

- His take on last year's sweeping overhaul of Florida's growth management laws? "I'm not familiar with that," said Scott, a former health care executive.

- How about the state's proposed $536 million deal to buy 73,000 acres from U.S. Sugar Corp. to restore the Everglades? "I don't know all the details, but here's my impression: It's great.

- Any concerns with Florida's Bright Futures scholarship program? "Right now it's fine, but we have to look at how can we continue to afford it and if we can't how can we spend those dollars better."

Enuf' with McCollum's hackery

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Critics of health care reform such as Attorney General Bill McCollum need to quit claiming that it will overburden state finances by opening Medicaid to a flood of new poor and low-income recipients."

A recent study confirms the federal government will absorb nearly all of the cost of expanded Medicaid while giving Florida the benefit of sharply reducing the number of uninsured low-income adults and bringing an influx of billions of dollars in new federal spending.

Leading a multistate effort, McCollum has filed a lawsuit to upend the new health care reform law. Part of his argument is that the law "infringes on Florida's constitutional status as a sovereign,'' by requiring the state to expand Medicaid eligibility to people and families with incomes less than 133 percent of poverty. The suit says that Medicaid could require the state to cover 1.7 million new Floridians at a cost to the state of up to $1.6 billion in 2019.

But a report by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured offers a very different perspective, one that shows what a boon health reform is to states like Florida. The study predicts that by 2019 Florida Medicaid will cover 951,000 previously ineligible people, including nearly 700,000 who would not have had insurance otherwise. That translates into a reduction by more than 44 percent of the number of low-income adults in Florida without health coverage. Yet the cost of this will be almost entirely borne by the federal government. Florida is estimated to pay only 1.9 percent, or $1.2 billion over six years.

Welcome to RPOF-World

Randy Schultz: "A few days ago, the [Palm Beach Post] Editorial Board met with Allen West."

The retired Army lieutenant colonel challenged U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, for the U.S. House 22 seat in 2008 and will do so again in November if he wins the Republican primary. Last year, Col. West gave a stemwinding speech in which he urged people to "fix bayonets" and "take back the country." It was a YouTube sensation, and brought in lots of donations. Col. West referred to the "tyranny" of the Obama administration. So we wanted to know what he considers examples of "tyranny."

As it turns out, "tyranny" to Col. West means President Obama's criticism of the Supreme Court during his State of the Union address. It means extracting $20 billion from BP upfront to compensate victims of the company's negligence. It means the stimulus package, the financial bailout and the health care bill.

Tyranny? Elected representatives cast those votes. Most of those representatives will go before the voters and have to defend their records. Those who believe that parts of the health care law are unconstitutional will get to make their case in court. That's democracy, not tyranny. In a democracy, sometimes your side loses.

Pensions are bad things

It is only fair that nobody has a decent pension because, you know ... most nonunion employees are forced to live with cheesy 401(k) plans. So, it is only fair that we all join the race to the bottom.

That isreasoning of one John R. Smith, chairman of the South Florida business group BizPac [sic], who Sun Sentinel writer Josh Hafenbrack chose to quote in his piece attacking defined benefit pension plans:

The state's benefit package contrasts with the private sector, where many companies have cut 401(k) contributions. John R. Smith, chairman of the South Florida business group BizPac, said public pension benefits should more closely resemble those offered in the corporate world.

"There's a basic fairness [sic] in this union pension problem," said Smith. "If those of us who are paying their pensions and salaries are suffering, public employees should suffer too."

Florida Political News: July 3, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Sat Jul 03, 2010 at 09:00:55 AM EDT

The nastiest primary in the Nation?

"You might not expect a race between the uber-boring Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and the uber-rich former hospital exec Rick Scott to be a barn-burner. But the Florida Republican gubernatorial primary -- a race no one really expected to happen in the first place -- is making a strong claim for the title of nastiest primary race of the year." "The Nastiest Primary? GOP FL-GOV Race Takes It To The Next Level".

The RPOF tapes

Aaron Deslatte on the secret Greer-Johnson recordings: "Greer – whose personal financial problems are detailed throughout evidence released by the state – repeatedly returns to the subject of the $123,000 in severance he maintains he was owed for leaving the party chairmanship."

House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, Thrasher and McCollum – the "four horsemen" as they are called in the recording -- all claimed the contract was never "executed."

"What do you think they're going to do about this agreement, just hope that I never bring it up?" Greer says, referring to the severance deal.

Greer tells Johnson, "I'm kind of at the point now if they'd just shut up and stop attacking you and I, I'd forget about the money …. Just go away."

Greer did not go away. After the RPOF announced in April it had forwarded the case to state investigators, Greer filed a civil suit over the $123,000 in severance, accusing RPOF leaders of signing the severance deal and then pretending they didn't. His suit is on hold while the criminal case is proceeding.

Greer then asks Johnson if they should "bring everyone down… I can't believe they did this to us," he said.

RPOF an "ugly, sexist place to work"

"Police documents released this week in the Jim Greer alleged fraud case make the Republican Party of Florida out to be a fairly ugly, sexist place to work." "FL GOP Sexism Allegations: Party Chair Talked 'Orgasms' To Female Fundraiser".

Rivera-Cancio pissing match

"A congressional rival of state Rep. David Rivera accused him Friday of lying about his ties to a businessman who facilitates trade with Cuba and called on him to resign as chairman of the Miami-Dade Republican Party."

Mariana "Marili'' Cancio publicized a video Friday on Rivera's website showing businessman Ariel Pereda standing behind him at his campaign announcement in February.

However, Rivera, a hard-line proponent of the Cuban embargo, said on Spanish-language station WQBA-1140 AM Thursday that he had not seen Pereda since 2006.

The interview followed a Miami Herald story detailing Rivera and Pereda's close friendship and political ties. Public records show Pereda chaired a fundraising committee for Rivera.

McCollum's conflict of interest

"Evidence in the state's criminal case against the state Republican Party's former chairman has Attorney General Bill McCollum's political opponents arguing that he has a conflict of interest. Florida Democrats and Rick Scott, McCollum's opponent in the GOP gubernatorial primary, are calling for an independent investigation of former GOP Chairman Jim Greer." "Independent probe sought in Greer case".

But we do think "Jeb!" was a great Guv ...

"Poll: 26% Of U.S. Clueless On Who We Declared Independence From".

"Likely impossible to know Scott's true wealth"

"Rick Scott reported an eye-popping net worth of more than $218 million last month in forms filed with the state Division of Elections."

But the Republican candidate for governor also has tens of millions of dollars tucked in a trust under his wife's name and in a family limited partnership. He has amassed a complicated network of investments, holdings and companies designed to shield against legal and tax liabilities, according to a St. Petersburg Times review of his financial holdings.

In fact, it's likely impossible to know Scott's true wealth. ...

Campaign spokesman Jen Baker said Scott followed the state's instructions in filling out the disclosure, noting that Democrat Alex Sink did not detail husband Bill McBride's income or stock portfolio. But, unlike McBride, Scott's spouse has been a principal contributor to her husband's campaign, funneling $2 million from her trust fund toward a 527 group promoting his candidacy.

"You can blame the Legislature"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "What little credibility the Public Service Commission had is now gone. You can blame the Legislature for depleting it."

The Legislature, you see, dominates a nominating council that sends along the names of people it wishes to serve on the PSC to the governor. And the utilities regulated by the PSC dominate the Legislature.

This week, they conspired to purge two of the remaining three PSC commissioners who had rejected the biggest electricity-rate increases in Florida's history. Weeks earlier, the two other PSC members who'd rejected the rate hike were sent packing.

Now, the nominating council's busily narrowing its list of PSC finalists, which it contends are the best qualified to regulate the utilities. But the list doesn't include the proven pair — Nancy Argenziano, who chaired the PSC, and Commissioner Nathan Skop, who would have succeeded her as chair. Both avoided scandal, aggressively pressed the utilities to make their case and, when the utilities didn't, stood up for consumers by bouncing the unjustifiable rate hikes.

Constitutional "bait-and-switch"

"A lawyer for four voters challenging a proposed state constitutional amendment on health care called it a 'bait-and-switch' today."

The ballot summary for Amendment 9 promises things not even mentioned in the amendment itself, Mark Herron said in an interview.

He filed the Circuit Court lawsuit in Tallahassee a week earlier. It seeks to remove the amendment from the Nov. 2 ballot.

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the proposal in reaction to passage of Democratic President Barack Obama's national health care overhaul.

The amendment would block Obama's plan in Florida if it could, but legal experts and even one of its sponsors have said it can't do that because federal law is supreme over state law.

Instead, the amendment would prevent the state from passing a similar law by prohibiting Floridians from being forced to obtain insurance coverage or be penalized if they don't.

Teabaggers whine about "ticky-tack technicalities"

"The Florida TEA Party claims that two of its candidates who were bounced from the fall ballot were victims of "ticky-tack technicalities" at the state Division of Elections." "TEA Party Claims Double Standard at Division of Elections".

Rubio on the trail

"The campaign trail took former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the leading Republican candidate in the battle for the U.S. Senate seat, to Daytona on Saturday. Rubio campaigned at the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR race before heading to St." "Political Bits and Pieces".

Greene's APPCO saga

"[J]ust as the polls show him gaining on longtime Democratic front-runner Kendrick Meek, one of Greene's investments is generating some embarrassing headlines."

The APPCO saga provides voters with a mere glimpse of Greene's empire, as he has refused to release his tax returns, unlike the other candidates in the Senate race, and delayed disclosing other information about his personal finances.

"Mr. Greene's background is a mystery,'' Meek said in a recent debate in West Palm Beach. "One of the businesses that he owned went into Chapter 11 . . . jobs are being risked. . . He talks about these jobs that he creates, and that's the reason why his candidacy in this race is a big question mark.''

In recent weeks, rent, utilities and taxes went unpaid at the stores. Managers say they ran out of gas, cigarettes and beer. Repairs and landscaping were ignored.

Dozens of people are out of work while the bankruptcy filing is sorted out.

Fl-oil-duh

"A new computer model shows oil from the massive Gulf of Mexico spill has as high as an 80 percent chance of reaching the Florida Keys and Miami. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the forecast Friday. It shows a 61 to 80 percent chance of sheen, tar balls or other oil remnants coming within 20 miles of Florida's eastern coast, from the Keys north to the Fort Lauderdale area, by the 120th day of the spill on August 18." "Computer model shows high chance of oil hitting South Florida by mid-August".

See also "Florida already uses $50 million from BP; gets promise of $2.7 million more", "Holiday brings little to celebrate on Gulf Coast" and "Florida Seafood Safe, Plentiful, Say Commercials, Grocery Stores".

"The characters, the drama, the gaffes"

Steve Bousquet: "The Fourth of July isn't just for fireworks and flying the flag. This holiday weekend traditionally ushers in the fall campaign season in even-numbered years. That makes it a good time to reflect and reminisce about elections past — the color, the characters, the drama, the gaffes." "There's no road trip quite like a political campaign, and the fun's about to begin".

"Property values plunge"

"Property values in Broward County plunged 11.7 percent last year — the third yearly drop in a row — marking one of the worst declines in history. As a result, residents face tax increases and service cuts as local leaders confront budget deficits." "Broward County property values plunge".

St. Johns river

"The St. Johns River has been surrounded by its fair share of controversy as of late, and a recently begun Seminole County construction project is only adding to it. Though many initially disapproved of the Water Management District’s approval of a permit that allowed for the removal of 5.5 million gallons of water a day from the St. Johns, the project’s latest steps have gone largely unnoticed in the local media. Much to the dismay of the St. Johns Riverkeeper, the project has been steadily moving along." "New project draws water from the St. Johns, could worsen algal bloom".

Politics giving way to reality

"As the BP oil blowout saturates Northwest Florida's already fragile economy with despair, a special legislative session in the coming weeks is becoming increasingly likely."

Republican legislators had been unwilling to agree to a special session because they felt it would give erstwhile GOP Gov. Charlie Crist a high-profile platform from which to seek a constitutional ban on oil drilling while he's running for the U.S. Senate. But it now appears election year politics are giving way to economic reality.

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"Florida to get $170.2 million to improve schools".

Innocence Commission

"Newly installed Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady hit the ground running on Friday, only the second day of his administration, by announcing the creation of a much anticipated Florida Innocence Commission." "Canady creates panel on innocence".

Campaign "trackers"

"They lurk, cameras at the ready, during every meeting of the Cabinet, three statewide candidates in their crosshairs. When Congressional hopeful Al Lawson of Tallahassee gives a speech, they're usually poised for a bone-headed remark. Even longshot gubernatorial candidate Bud Chiles drew one recently as he hunted for elusive supporters in Ybor City." "Political candidates tracked for slip-ups on video".