Possible Replacement

"Only one person so far has said he's willing to consider a run against Harris in a Republican primary." "Rep. Harris' troubles prompt calls to possible replacement candidates".




Get Ready For the Gutter

It won't be long now:

In a sign that the race for governor may become nastier than imagined, the same Republican consultant who helped Vietnam War veterans attack John Kerry in 2004 has put together a political committee in Florida and has already raised at least $508,000.

Almost all the money for the group -- $500,000 -- has come from a single contributor, Cape Coral real estate executive Greg Eagle, a supporter of Attorney General Charlie Crist's bid for governor. Eagle's son Dane is on the payroll of the Crist campaign and travels with Crist to campaign events.

Yet the Crist campaign maintains it knows nothing about Floridians for a Better and Brighter Future, which according to Internal Revenue Service records was organized in late December, and whose president is Christopher LaCivita, a veteran GOP consultant and strategist.

Crist "does know Greg Eagle and he is a supporter and a friend, but he didn't know he had any specific contributions," said Crist spokeswoman Vivian Myrtetus.

"Kerry attacker now a Crist backer".




"Questions Plague Gallagher Campaign"

"Tom Gallagher's business career and stock market trading have led to the biggest problems so far in his campaign for governor: a series of news stories raising ethics questions about mixing business and his public duties." "Questions Plague Gallagher Campaign".




Knuckledraggers



The Scripps Research Institute's decision to start work with human embryonic stem cells in California bolstered hopes in Florida that similar work, and money, can come to Palm Beach County.

But there's a bit of a problem.

A measure in the Florida Legislature this session would allocate $150 million over 10 years for adult and embryonic stem-cell research, but even advocates say its chances appear dim in the Republican-dominated Statehouse.

The biggest opponent remains Gov. Jeb Bush.

"Scripps won't rule out stem cell work in county".




Save Our Homes?

"Save Our Homes portability catches on".




Good Riddance

"Interior Secretary Gale Norton's resignation will offer a new opportunity to halt the federal government's drive to drill for oil and natural gas off Florida's shores, Sen. Bill Nelson said Friday." "Nelson: Norton resignation new opportunity to block drilling".




Bousquet

"Tax cuts: Bush's pride, schools' pain".




GOoPers Undermine Campaign Reform

The

effort by Democrats to block lawmakers from controlling political committees with special interest money is drawing Republican support, and one top House Republican isn't happy about it.

And who is the "top Republican"?

Rep. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, the House majority leader whose job is to keep GOP lawmakers in line on key issues, suggested to other GOP lawmakers that they not endorse the Democrats' bills.

"Not all jump on finance reform bandwagon".




Voucher Madness

"Bush's prized Opportunity Scholarship voucher program would be paid for with corporate tax credits instead of money from the treasury, under a bill that cleared a House committee Friday. The proposal (HB 7041) was approved on a 15-5, party-line vote, with Republicans voting yes and Democrats voting no. It is on the House Education Council agenda for Tuesday, after which it could be heard on the floor." "House proposal would use corporate tax credit for Opportunity Scholarship vouchers". See also "Soft money attracting heightened scrutiny".




More Voucher Madness

"About 700 children in a voucher program that the Florida Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional could remain in private schools at taxpayer expense under a bill that cleared a House committee Friday." "Bill Allows Transfer Of Vouchers".




Relocation

"Lawmakers look at relocation for mobile home owners".




Splitting Districts

"School districts could not be divided into rich and poor sections under a plan lawmakers revised Friday to let voters split up the state's largest districts." "Panel OKs New Plan To Split Districts".




"So few parks for so many people"

"Last year, attendance in Florida's 158 state parks neared 20 million. Something had to give. But as the state turns people away from their own parks, it has a responsibility to step up its efforts to provide them alternatives: new parks, new access and amenities at underused and undeveloped state land." "Entry denied".




Sunshine Debate

"Annual Debate On Again To Limit Sunshine Law".




Senior Tax Break

"A law that allows low-income seniors to defer payment of their property taxes may be revised to make the tax break available to more homeowners." "More seniors may get property tax break".




Session Developments

"Legislature 2006: Developments from Friday, March 10".




Circle of Political Life

"Fla. senators get funds for military companies, many of them donors".




Not So "Brilliant"

"There are supposedly currently some of the most brilliant Republican political minds in modern history at work, but the way the botched the U.S. Senate race in Florida is nothing short of stunning." "After hampering Harris, what is GOP's next move?"