Not a Good Start

"The first legal challenge to the Democratic National Committee's refusal to seat Florida's delegates to the party's national convention next year was thrown out of federal court Friday."

Calling the matter "an intra-party dispute," U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara concluded the arguments made by Tampa-based Democratic voter and political consultant Victor DiMaio contained no legal basis for challenging the national party. ...

The lawsuit was not connected with one filed Thursday by Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar, although some of the legal arguments were the same.

"Judge Rules DNC, Florida Clash Is 'Intra-Party Dispute'". The plaintiffs now "plan to file with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta."

More: "Clock ticking on primary calendar mess".




Let Them Walk

"The state is slashing the money it provides to Central Florida agencies that offer the door-to-door van and bus rides to the elderly, poor and disabled." "Transportation cuts may leave region's disadvantaged riders out in the cold".




Cuts

"Within three days of convening, the Florida Legislature all but signed off Friday on $1.1 billion in budget cuts and sent Gov. Charlie Crist bills to fix mandatory no-fault auto insurance and a glitch that had left Miami off a list of cities that should cut taxes the deepest." "Budget tamed; property tax cuts up next". See also "Both houses pass trimmed-down budgets", "Budget-cutting bills pass over Democrats' criticism", "Budget cuts hit heavily in education and health", "Legislators vote early, hit the road", "House, Senate have few differences in budget cut bill" and "Only a few issues left to be decided in state budget plan".

More: "Calling it a tax cut doesn't make it so".




Allen Update

"Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, returned to the Capitol this week for the first time since Titusville police arrested him on a sex solicitation charge."

Allen, who is fighting the charge, has been stripped of all his committee assignments by House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Andrew's Capital Grill & Bar next door to the statehouse also removed the Gorgonzola burger, which was named after Allen, from its menu. ...

Allen, former head of the Martin County Economic Development Council, did head back to Titusville on Thursday for a court hearing at which a judge ordered the trial moved to Viera and tossed out evidence that police had found $800 in Allen's freezer car, calling it "not relevant by any means," Florida Today reported.

"Allen back at Capitol after arrest".




Giuliani

"Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani swings through the state today riding poll numbers that show, in Florida and nationally, he continues to lead his Republican rivals. But those numbers mask a problem. Parts of the Republican base consider Giuliani -- who appears in Fort Myers and Ocala today -- a fundamentally flawed candidate. They see a liberal lurking behind Giuliani's tough talk on terrorism, a candidate too distant from the party's conservative core." "GOP poll boosts Giuliani for trek across Florida".




GOPers Living Within "Our" Means

The Tampa Trib editors:

Lawmakers, in Tallahassee to deal with a $1.1 billion budget shortfall, are preaching the need for fiscal austerity. But they don't deserve much credence when the state has spent more than $32 million for the planning of an unneeded Panhandle airport and, as the Tribune's Mike Salinero reports, still plans to spend about $87.3 million more in the coming years on the boondoggle.

The Panama City airport, already underutilized, is being moved into the middle of nowhere. The sole purpose is to help St. Joe Co., which plans to develop the surrounding region.

The project will destroy 2,000 acres of wetlands and encourage surrounding development that would pave over thousands more.

"State Helps Boondoggle Take Off".




Flip-Flop

When Dems do things like this, even when it is the right thing to do, the GOPers go nuts with the name calling: "In reversal, Crist backs tuition rise".




Another Flip-Flop

"Bowing to widespread and intense voter backlash, Florida's Republican legislative leaders said Friday they will abandon their attempts to phase out the popular property-tax break granted to all permanent state residents." "Save Our Homes isn't on the way out". See also "Save Our Homes not dying".




Marco's World

"Government "has to live in the real world," House Speaker Marco Rubio said midweek, arguing against House minority leaders who said lawmakers can't make all the budget cuts fall on education and health care." "Hidden gems".




Not Ready for Prime Time

Freddie apparently ain't interested in winning Florida:

Former Sen. Fred Thompson promised fiscal conservatives Friday that he'd trim the cost of government by slowing the growth of Social Security benefits.

Stepping squarely onto an issue long known as 'the third rail of politics,' the Republican presidential candidate said, almost in passing, that changing the formula that adjusts Social Security benefits to keep pace with the cost of living would keep the program solvent over the long term.

While he wasn't specific, numerous academic studies have concluded that the only way such a plan could work is if it slashes future Social Security benefits by one-fourth to one-half below what's promised under current law."

"Thompson: Slow growth of S.S. benefits".

And with whom was Fred sharing this wisdom, why the dopey "Americans for Prosperity Foundation convention".




No-Fault

"No-Fault Coverage To Return In January". See also "Legislature revives no-fault insurance", "Save Our Homes not dying", "No-fault insurance deal passes", "No-fault bounces back on Jan. 1" and "No-fault law is revived, reformed".




Isn't this What the Wingnuts Call "Moral Relativism"?

Luv it when the wingnuts stand by their principles:

Bob Sheehan, president of the Republican Club of Northeast Lee County, describes himself as a Catholic conservative who "absolutely" opposes abortion. But if Giuliani gets the nomination, Sheehan said, he will support him.

"GOP poll boosts Giuliani for trek across Florida".