"No Flow"

"Senate President Tom Lee, an advocate for openness and disclosure in politics, held a closed-door meeting with GOP senators Thursday morning to try to put to rest a party schism over the 2008 Senate presidency. ... Lee said he held the meeting behind closed doors because he felt that the presence of outsiders would inhibit 'the back-and-forth flow of information.' As it turned out, Lee said, 'there was no flow.'" "Lee holds GOP meeting to quell bickering over Senate presidency".




Senate President Bennett?

"A political fight in Tallahassee instigated partly by Bradenton's maverick state Sen. Mike Bennett has put the Republican in line to be president of the Florida Senate within four years." "Bennett maneuvers for top spot".




The Davis-Martinez-Nelson Team

The Buzz notes is "not sure Mel Martinez is thrilled by the news, but Jim Davis [yester]day introduced Sen. Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez’s Permanent Protection for Florida Act in the U.S. House. The bill aims to permanently shield offshore oil and gas drilling. Reps. Hastings, Allen Boyd and Corrine Brown and are cosponsors.". " Davis Introduces Martinez-Nelson bill".

Unfortunately, the"Drilling bill [was] not received well on [the] Hill". Indeed, "No Republicans endorse a bill filed in the U.S. House, but Florida legislators remain hopeful." "Fatal blow for drilling legislation?"


See also "Senators plan to press for oil, gas drilling off Florida", "More drilling off Florida likely, lawmakers say", "Vying bills differ on how close drilling could be to Fla. coast", "Gulf drilling well-received on Capitol Hill" and "The man with his sights set on Area 181" ("A senator from New Mexico is determined to allow drilling off the Florida coast. Meet Pete Domenici.")




Orlando Sentinel Hearts "Jeb!"

"Another A+".




Nevins Compromised

The Daily Pulp has the scoop on "Sun-Sentinel political writer Buddy Nevins’ speech to local Republicans." And it ain't pretty; among other things, Nevins has compromised his ability to report on the Gubernatorial race. See "What Was He Thinking?"




That Law Stuff ... It's Hard, Ain't It Charlie

Serial bar exam failure "Charlie Crist, attorney general and candidate for governor, got a crash course in Florida tax law this week." "Crist, a renter, gets tax law lesson".




Whatever

"President Bush will lend his considerable fund-raising powers to Florida Republicans tonight and is expected to help pull in about $3 million in a few hours at a Central Florida event." "President to raise funds today".




More From The Values Crowd

Playing politics with "life":

Florida's stopgap, however, fails many poor, seriously ill Floridians. Since enrolling in Part D, an estimated 70,000 cancer patients, transplant recipients and others face an unaffordable "share of costs" for drugs that they rely on to survive. After receiving a letter from Florida's Democratic congressmen, Gov. Bush dismissed the matter on Feb. 2: "It's under review."

The governor claimed to not have the authority to issue an executive order, but he also hinted at partisanship: "You know, I find it a little ironic that many of the people who oppose policies that we've done always want me to use my executive powers that don't exist to try to solve problems. You know, there are some limitations to what you can do just by edict. We're not in a hurricane. Those powers are much broader during emergencies."

If Mr. Bush truly does not understand the emergency that these Floridians are facing, he can ask the Florida Transplant Survivors Coalition, the National Kidney Foundation, the National Mental Health Association of Florida, retirees, lawmakers and physicians. Or he can check out the hospital emergency rooms some patients are resorting to for needed medication.

On Wednesday, the Agency for Health Care Administration said only the Legislature can approve the money to help those 70,000 increasingly desperate patients. It's already been two weeks since Gov. Bush said he had "engaged the staff to give me a briefing" on the issue. The legislative session begins on March 7. By choosing to wait, Gov. Bush is gambling that those 70,000 people can hold out until then.

"Help these 70,000. Soon."




Another Great GOoPer Idea

"The measure offered by House Republicans would allow insurers to increase premiums by double-digit percentages without approval from state regulators." "Insurance".




To Replace Campbell

"Graber, 57, said he will hold on to his County Commission seat and title as mayor through September, when he will officially resign to appear on the Democratic primary ballot for state Senate." "Broward Mayor Graber to run for state Senate".




Wingnuts Eat Their Own

"The Terri Schiavo Foundation created by her parents and brother and sister, shot off a disappointed response to Martinez's comments the other day on "Political Connections" on Bay News 9 that he had concluded the matter should have been left to state courts:" "Mad At Mel".




Voucher Madness

"We send our children to school to learn to read, write and think, and if we're lucky, to learn the difference between intellectual integrity and dishonesty. The job gets harder when those chiefly responsible for ensuring that the educational system works at its best instead do their utmost to undermine it -- and do so through intellectually dishonest means. An example was on display Wednesday as Gov. Jeb Bush yet again distorted the meaning of public education in defense of the indefensible -- subsidizing private schools with public money and calling it "choice," and claiming to want to "save our students" while sabotaging our students' public schools." "'Save Our Students' all right, from governor's scheme".




Black Bears

"Many of the bear deaths are happening near sensitive environmental areas where explosive growth is increasing traffic." "Black bear deaths set record; road crossings under design".




Lobbyist Suit

"Lobbyists plan to sue presiding officers of the Florida Legislature today to block enforcement of a new law that prohibits them from giving lawmakers gifts, including food and drink." "Lobbyists to sue to block new disclosure demands" See also "Lobbyists want to halt gift-ban law" and "Lobbyists to sue over gift ban".