A $2,800 Dinner For Two

"U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris faces new questions about her relationship with a scandal-plagued defense contractor." "Fancy dinner haunts Harris".

She musta just ate and ran "Harris estimates her share of lavish dinner at $100". Now she's "Battling a report that she was a guest at a $2,800 dinner with a man later convicted of bribing a congressman ... ." Id. See also "Harris: Letting contractor buy $2,800 dinner was 'oversight'" and "Contractor picked up dinner tab for Harris". In her own words: "Katherine Harris responds".

A related story via Florida News; this you ought to read: "Must-Read About Katherine Harris".

In the meantime, birds of a feather: "Martinez Sticks By Harris".




Jebonomics

"Potential in Jeb plan to steer students to blue-collar futures".




Session News

- "Legislature 2006: Developments from day 46, April 21". See also "Capitol Roundup".

- "Tax relief 2006".

- "Agencies may face eight-year review cycle".

- "Bill removes travel as insurance factor".

- "House panel OKs class-size weakening". See also "Class size benchmark may be put off another year".

- "Bill Passed In House Gives Immigrants' Children Tuition Break"

- "Legislature passes sales tax holiday".

- "Lawmakers torn on Citizens storm tab".

- "Bill outlaws lying during investigations".

- "House passes bill to end time limit on DNA tests". See also "House OKs bill to boost DNA evidence testing".

- "A proposal to create special tax district to benefit Broward's seniors may not happen unless lawmakers reach a compromise." "Deal may save seniors tax bill".

- "Legislature struggles with teacher bonus plans".

- "Hurricane Sales Tax Break Sent To Bush For Signature".




Scripps

Neverending story:

Florida will find out on Monday just how serious Scripps is about staying in Palm Beach County.

Scripps lawyers and County Commissioner Burt Aaronson will sit down, in public, for one last stab at a contract to move the project to Jupiter.

"Scripps".




"Dynasties...not royalty"


"The magazine found 'some Florida Republicans now fear that their party has moved so far to the right that a loss of power is inevitable' and offers us a few sample quotes". "JebQ"


"The piece also draws such conclusions as, given Bush's conservatism that 'if Jeb Bush were president right now, the world would look about the same as it does now.' And that the governor's road to the White House is blocked -- perhaps permanently -- by his lineage, since this nation is 'into dynasties...not royalty.'" "Jeb and GQ".




"[T]he gloves have come off"

"[T]he gloves have come off in a fight for the surplus in education construction funds." "State Is Right To Put Extra Dollars Toward Public School Construction".




Imagine That

"The Senate unanimously approved a plan Friday for making state agencies justify privatization projects." "Senate wants privatization justified".

One might ask why this took 7 years?




"Could not make the leap"

"Guy Tunnell could not make the leap from small-county sheriff to statewide office. His successor must have better judgment and more self-control." "Restoring FDLE's image".

In the meantime "Ex-Pinellas sheriff gets in line for top FDLE post" ("Of several potential candidates contacted by the St. Petersburg Times, some of whom have made short lists in the past, only Rep. Everett Rice, R-Indian Shores, a former Pinellas County sheriff, has publicly expressed interest. Rice is running in a highly competitive race for state attorney general.")




"Rapidly growing furor"

"Jeb Bush and state lawmakers face a rapidly growing furor over the death of a 14-year-old boy at a juvenile boot camp, with about 1,500 demonstrators accusing authorities Friday of a cover-up, and Florida’s chief law enforcement officer resigning under fire." "March on Capitol shows growing furor over boot camp death". See also "Boot camp death spurs Tallahassee rally; Sharpton, Jackson attend", "2,000 protest in march on Capitol" and "Students planned sit-in with precision".

In the meantime, Jebbie is lost, as the PBP editorial board explains:

Bush met on Thursday with the parents of Martin Lee Anderson, the family's lawyer says, the governor did not actually apologize but was "apologetic" for the 14-year-old's January death following a brutal mugging by guards at a Panama City juvenile boot camp.

That's a slight improvement but continues the four-month pattern in which Florida's top elected official has not given the scandal his full attention. His meeting with the family came only after a daylong sit-in by students outside the governor's Capitol office. Their peaceful but pointed protest highlighted the lack of a prompt and complete investigation despite a reluctantly released videotape that destroyed attempts to deny that the beating took place.

The governor who once considered ordering state troopers to kidnap Terri Schiavo was silent when a medical examiner's autopsy ridiculously blamed the teen's death on the benign sickle-cell disorder. There's been no push from the governor for release of the results of a second, February autopsy, which apparently shows that the teen died as a result of the beatings.

"Sit-in gets Jeb's attention"

Note the Error: in the editorial above. The writer asserts that Jeb Bush "once considered ordering state troopers to kidnap Terri Schiavo". In fact, Bush actually ordered FDLE special agents to kidnap Terri Schiavo, but were foiled by local police authorities. This is a critical distinction, and failure to grasp it reflects an inability to recognize how extreme Jeb Bush is.




Gallagher Internal

From The Buzz yesterday, the "Gallagher gubernatorial campaign is touting to key supporters an internal poll astonishing in size. In a memo from consultant David Johnson, the campaign says it surveyed - get this - 3,000 likely Republican voters.":

Interesting media market numbers:
Tampa Bay: Crist 43% Gallagher 21%
Orlando: Gallagher 30% Crist 27%
Miami/FTL: Gallagher 35% Crist 24%
Jacksonville: Crist 30% Gallagher 28%
Mobile/Pensacola: Gallagher 31% Crist 23%
Ft. Myers/Naples: Gallagher 28% Crist 27%

"Gallagher's Poll". See also "More On Gallagher's Poll"




Gettin' Higher ...

"Thought your insurance couldn't get any higher? If only. The state-run insurer of last resort wants a third rate increase." "Citizens surprise: 3rd hike planned".




Even Spookier Than Her Husband

"Lynne Cheney, the wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, told north Florida Republicans Friday they need to work to help re-elect GOP members to Congress, win the U.S. Senate race in Florida and keep Republican control of the governor's office." "Hundreds turn out for fundraiser with Lynne Cheney".




"A Dogpatch John Kerry"

Ronda Storms will not enjoy reading this in the Trib this morning

And here's a Dogpatch John Kerry moment for you.

Commissioner Ronda Storms, who first proposed imposing the 60 percent approval threshold, now dithers whether she would support her own idea.

How … liberal.

"Is Someone Committing Democracy?" If you enjoy Storms stuff, there was this piece yesterday: "Storms, Castor Trade Insults At Meeting". See also "Storms Losing Tallahassee Support?"




Immigration Issue

"Across Florida and across the nation, immigration reform dominated the public discourse during the two-week congressional recess that followed contentious discussions at the Capitol - a debate that galvanized immigrants and led to rallies nationwide." "Voters give politicians earful on immigration".