The survey by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute says 37 percent of those polled view Martinez favorably -- his ''lowest score ever.'' The Republican senator, who was elected in 2004, scored his highest approval rating of 48 percent in February.

Martinez fared better than Bush, whose 32 percent approval rating was his lowest ever in Florida, according to the survey.

Immigration may not be the only issue hurting Martinez's popularity, said Aubrey Jewett, associate professor of political science at the University of Central Florida. Martinez took over the general chairmanship of the Republican National Committee this year, a partisan post that may alienate some Democrats, especially as it links Martinez to an unpopular president.

President Bush is wildly unpopular among Democrats in Florida -- only 6 percent of those polled approved of the way he is doing his job. His overall approval rating is 32 percent.

Details Today

"Lawmakers are expecting today to get the next key puzzle piece to solving the state’s property tax woes. House and Senate leaders are expected to announce formulas that will detail how far they will order local governments to roll back taxes and then cap increases tied to personal income growth." "Lawmakers hope to make headway with property tax". See also "State legislators at a loss for details as tax-cut special session nears" and "Key Part of Property Tax Deal Expected Friday".

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board observes that "it's not surprising lawmakers are having a tough time exorcising the devil in the details of property-tax reform. After all, these folks have spent the better part of a year ratcheting up political rhetoric." "Play fair on taxes". See also "Tax system readjusting as state starts tinkering".

Good time Charlie remains oblivious: "Ask The Governor: Snowbirds should get tax break, too".

Realtors

"A delegation from Broward County's real estate industry implored state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, on Thursday to push for the deepest possible property tax cuts during next week's special legislative session." "Large tax cuts needed to revive housing market, Broward real estate agents say".

Clinton

"One of Florida's top Democrats, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, has told Hillary Clinton's campaign that he will support her for the party's presidential nomination." "Clinton wins endorsement of Rep. Meek". See also "Wasserman Shultz, Hastings endorse Hillary".

Social Investing

"A measure banning Florida state government pension funds from investing in companies that do business in Iran's oil sector and Sudan gets signed into law today." "Crist to sign bill banning funds tied to Iran, Sudan".

"Satan"

A Florida thing:

A Florida evangelist shrugged off claims Thursday that he is illegally mixing religion and politics by telling followers that a vote for Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney "is a vote for Satan."

A watchdog group, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, hand-delivered a letter to the Internal Revenue Service last week asking for an investigation of St. Petersburg-based evangelist Bill Keller, who has used his online columns and late night TV show to assert that Romney is not a Christian because he belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Crook Consort Weighs in

"A day after Rep. Vern Buchanan had an opinion piece published in the Herald-Tribune opposing newly proposed immigration reform, former Gov. Jeb Bush was part of a coalition of Republicans having a contrary view published on the same topic in another newspaper." "Jeb, Buchanan submit dueling views on immigration". Meanwhile, Jebbie consorts with crooks; see "'Jeb!' and the Fraudsters".

Gallagher Gets A Pass

"A stock-trading ethics case that hobbled Tom Gallagher's campaign for governor last year is expected to be dismissed in his favor today by the Commission on Ethics." "Panel likely to drop Gallagher ethics case".

FCAT Fiasco

"Florida's annual A-to-F school grades will be released later than usual this year because of the mishap with the 2006 third-grade FCAT scores, officials said Thursday. The Florida Department of Education wants to re-score last year's third-grade reading test because it thinks scores were artificially high because the test was too easy." "State delays release of FCAT grades".

"Loose Cannon"?

"Democrats are outdoing themselves this year in their longstanding tradition of finding ways to lose elections they ought to win. But a maverick in the Florida party has proposed what he says is a way out of the ridiculous dilemma in which the party has planted itself regarding the 2008 Florida primary. The modest proposal comes from state Democratic Party Vice Chairman Jon Ausman, long known as something of a loose cannon." "Could The Democrats Have Their Cake AND Eat It?".

Mitt

"The Mitt Romney campaign today named its "National Hispanic Steering Committee," which includes a bunch of Floridians". "Hispanics for Mitt". In the meantime, "Maybe Jeb really is neutral".

So the narrow defeat of the state's conservative point man in the Legislature, Ocala Republican Rep. Dennis Baxley, in a Tuesday GOP primary for a state Senate seat is deepening the feeling among conservatives that the Republican Party is leaving them behind.

"I came in on the Jeb Bush wave and that wave has ebbed and it's a new era," Baxley said Wednesday.

Graham

Bill March today:

As a presidential candidate in 2003, Bob Graham took a lonely and unpopular stance against going to war in Iraq - it helped curtail his shot at the presidency and end his long political career.

But Sunday night, when Democrats now running for president debated the war, much of the discussion focused on the evidence Graham cited in 2003, and why they and much of the nation had failed to see that he was right.

"The real winner of that debate," said South Florida Democratic political operative Derek Newton, "was Bob Graham."

They Want It All

"As state lawmakers struggle to agree on how much property taxes should be lowered, public sentiment offers little clarity to help resolve the matter. The new survey says residents are even split on whether they would accept smaller local government payrolls in exchange for lower property taxes. 'They want their cake and eat it too. Is that so unusual?' said Peter Brown, assistant director of Quinnipiac University's Polling Institute, which conducted the poll." "Poll: Lower taxes but don't cut services". See also "Voters: Cut taxes, not services" and "Poll: Cut taxes, save services".

Veto It

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board argues that "when House Bill 985 crosses his desk for his signature, Gov. Charlie Crist should see it for what it is -- carte blanche for developers to build roads across millions of acres of environmentally sensitive lands before guardians can draw up plans to protect them. And Mr. Crist should veto it." "Wrong direction".

"Few Takers"

"Most of the major presidential candidates are undecided about attending what would be history-making Spanish-language debates at the University of Miami in September." "Few takers so far for debates in Spanish".

Sarasota County Boots ES&S

"Sarasota County will have new voting machines by November, and the company [ES&S] that sold the county its controversial touch-screen system will not provide them, county leaders decided Wednesday. County commissioners unanimously voted to begin negotiating with Ohio-based Diebold for new optical scan voting machines." "County switches vote machines".

"Unified Approach to State Energy Policy"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "This year, the Legislature called for a 'unified approach to state energy policy.' What happened this week shows why Florida needs some of that unity." "After taxes, insurance, add energy as priority".

Another (Rubio Promise) Bites The Dust

"House Speaker Marco Rubio had bad news for small businesses Wednesday, saying plans to limit a taxing practice that can give huge tax bills to modest businesses in prime locations would be put off until next year." "'Highest and best use' delayed until '08".

Energy

"After taxes, insurance, add energy as priority".

State Employees Stiffed

Recall that state employees did not receive a wage increase this year. Meanwhile, "State workers lauded for productivity".

Laff Riot

The latest Q poll:

- Rudy Giuliani, 31 percent

- Fred Thompson, 14 percent

- John McCain, 10 percent

- Mitt Romney, 8 percent

Not That Hard

The St Pete Times editorial board:

While we wait for a puff of smoke from Tallahassee signaling the end of secret talks on property tax relief, we can reach two reasonable conclusions.

First, whatever agreement legislative leaders announce will be terribly complicated and impossible to digest before the Legislature's special session starts Tuesday. And second, it doesn't have to be this hard.

Here are several tax relief ideas that are reasonable, straightforward - and could be approved by legislators within a week:

Nukes

"Will Florida be a nuclear powerhouse?".

Charlie's "Haltingly Shallow Assessment"

"In applying his populist litmus test to university tuition, Gov. Charlie Crist somehow has managed to index the quality of higher education to the price of gasoline."

If this is to be his vision for Florida universities, they may as well begin petitioning OPEC for relief. Crist describes as "doomed" a bill that allows the state's top three research universities to charge higher tuitions, and he already has vetoed a 5 percent across-the-board tuition increase for this fall. Yet he has offered no hint of his own vision for these vital and financially ailing institutions. His only insight, to date, is a haltingly shallow assessment of Floridians' cost of living.

Health Insurance

"Health insurance may be required for all Florida university students". See also "State's public universities may insist students get health insurance by fall 2010".

Mahoney

"Union Ad Boosts Mahoney". See also "Mahoney draws some kudos".

Consequences

"Under pressure from state legislators, Palm Beach County administrators unveiled a scaled-down budget Wednesday that cuts property tax collections 7 percent and marks a retreat from an aggressive, years-long expansion of county government operations." "Palm Beach County may slash property tax rate by 11%". See also "Cut Taxes? Kill Puppies", "Ready for cuts?" and "Group Says Tax Cuts Will Hurt Many".

"Tangible Results"

The Sun-Sentinel editors:

Florida may have rubbed the national political parties the wrong way, but the decision to move the presidential primary has had the desired effect -- the people who count have begun to take notice.

The candidates "get it." They're coming to Florida time and time again in search for support, whether it's to raise cash, garner commitments, or both. More importantly, they're learning about the issues most critical to the Sunshine State and its 17 million residents.

Raw Political Courage

"Martinez salutes NASCAR".

Q Poll

As reported yesterday, "the honeymoon continues for Gov. Charlie Crist, still wildly popular with Florida voters who see him as far more principled than most politicians, according to a new statewide poll." "Voters strongly approve of Crist, state survey says". See also "Poll: Voters want major tax cut".

No More "Slumber Parties"

"At a time when the region's most powerful agency needs an overhaul, Gov. Crist this week made a pair of political choices to complete his appointments to the South Florida Water Management District board."

Recent news stories in The Post reveal conflicts of interest and entangled friendships, such as district Director Carol Wehle buying vacation condos with board members. People with a high school education or less have served as department heads. An ex-dog groomer was the $50,000-a-year liaison to the Palm Beach County Commission. She has dated former Commissioner Tony Masilotti, who's going to prison for illegal profiteering that involved the district.

Gov. Crist had 26 candidates for the two openings - one from Palm Beach County, one from the Treasure Coast - and many of them were excellent. ...

Instead, for the Palm Beach County slot once held by Kevin McCarty, Gov. Crist chose Patrick Rooney Jr., whose family owns the Pittsburgh Steelers and operates the Palm Beach Kennel Club. Mr. Rooney's three fine eponymous restaurants serve water, but his background doesn't qualify him for the board, despite Mr. McCarty's defense that not everything the board deals with is water-related. ...

Gov. Crist[also] chose Melissa Meeker, who was DEP's regional director in West Palm Beach during Jeb Bush's time in office and chaired a planning group organized by Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie. Ms. Meeker has qualifications, and potential conflicts.

Next week, she finishes her job for a consulting company that does business with the district. "When I started my own company back in February," Ms. Meeker said, "I counted on the district being a client. Now I won't work for South Florida or its clients." She also said, "I hope to improve the district's reputation and ... the public's trust, so the district can move forward with its huge agenda." She and Mr. Rooney can start by breaking up the slumber parties.

That legislative gamesmanship is reaching Olympian heights this week is not breaking news here in the capital city. But for an issue of such seriousness to voters, property-tax relief ought not be so up in the air, so vague and fraught with trust-me politics with less than a week to go before the special session that's meant to please most of the voters most of the time.

"Not So Fast"

"Florida finally has this whole election thing nailed down. By the November 2008 general election, there will be a paper trail. No more disputing who won and who lost. All possible election gremlins will have been banished."

But not so fast. If stem-cell research is on the 2008 ballot, Floridians could need more than a paper trail to figure out which side won and which side lost.

Last week, the Florida Supreme Court approved the language of a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the state to spend $20 million a year for 10 years on embryonic stem-cell research. That's clear enough. But the court also approved the language of an amendment that would forbid the state to spend money on embryonic stem-cell research. Uh-oh.

Florida now faces the possibility that both could pass. If that happens, the state would be required to do what it is forbidden to do. Or forbidden to do what it is required to do. Either way, a mess.

SD 3

"Dean, Franks take primary".

Special Session

"State Rep. Bill Galvano hasn’t given up on expanding the agenda for next week’s special session of the Florida Legislature. Although the primary reason for the session is property tax reform, Galvano told [Jeremy Wallace] Monday that he’s still working on House and Senate leaders, hoping they will carve out time to pass an expansion of the state’s insurance program for low-income children." "Galvano looks to add to taxing agenda".

Wild About Charlie

"Florida voters are still swooning over Gov. Charlie Crist. A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows a staggering 70 percent of voters say they approve of the job Crist is doing. Just 12 percent disapprove of Crist's performance. What's more, though critics have long accused Crist of pandering on popular issues, a full 60 percent said they believe Crist acts on principle rather than what's popular. By contrast, 69 percent said 'most politicians' make decisions based on what's popular rather than principle." "Voters Still Wild About Charlie, Expect Big Tax Cuts".

Rubio's "Ideas" Flop

"The $441 check is a drop in the bucket compared to what the party has invested in the 100 Ideas concept, but the book was never intended for the best seller lists." "100 Ideas royalties roll in".

"Launching Pad"

The Tampa Trib editors heart their Charlie:

Crist has been criticized for using an appearance in the Middle East to boost his credentials as a possible vice-presidential candidate. But Florida is a big, diverse state which should be proud to be a launching pad for White House hopefuls.

What Crist must remember on his goodwill tours is that he can only be helpful to Florida's economy, to its foreign friends, and to his political party if he is first successful at home, and that means being most helpful to Florida residents for whom he works.

'Glades

"The Public Service Commission rejected a proposal to build what would have been the nation's largest new coal-burning power plant near the Florida Everglades in a decision Tuesday that won praise from environmentalists and Gov. Charlie Crist." "PSC rejects coal burning power plant near Everglades". See also "PSC bars coal-fired plant".

Lessons Learned

"Six years after his death, 9-year-old Michael Bernard continues to teach child-abuse investigators in Palm Beach County and statewide how to better protect vulnerable children. Government doesn't always learn from mistakes, but the oversight of two grand juries has ensured that government won't forget the lessons from his death." "Out of little boy's death come lessons for state".

FEMA Follies

"Palm Beach County still owed $13 million by FEMA for storm damage to schools".

Laff Riot: "Mental Heavy-Lifting"

"Some lawmaker, presumably a House Republican, left behind a sheet of talking points at yesterday’s property-tax committee meeting where s/he was prepared to battle Democratic House Leader Dan Gelber over the Legislature’s possible need for a 2/3rds vote to force local governments to cut property taxes."

"It’s nice to know they’re worried about me," he said. "Maybe preparing multiple answers to questions I haven’t asked will improve a plan that doesn’t exist."

The memo’s "Best Answer" to the nonexistent question provides a tiny glimpse into the political spin underlying the debate. It suggests the legislative rank-and-file should be content to leave the mental heavy-lifting to the Legislature’s presiding officers and the courts, and that such questions smack of "political posturing" and "partisan politics."

The underlying message: sit down, shut up and smile. After all, as the memo points out, "I am an optimist."

"Recalling an Unpleasant Moment in History"

"An exhibit at the library titled "Days Without Sunshine: Anita Bryant's Anti-Gay Crusade" marks the 30th anniversary of an important, albeit divisive, moment in South Florida history. It was in 1977 when singer, former Miss America pageant contestant, and citrus pitchwoman Anita Bryant launched her crusade to repeal a Miami-Dade County ordinance banning discrimination against gay men and lesbians. Soon thereafter, televangelists like Jerry Falwell, Jim Bakker and Pat Robertson became outspoken opponents of gay rights. " "Gay Rights".

NRA Alert!

"Prosecutors in Broward County will ask judges to order people accused of violent crimes to surrender their concealed weapon licenses." "Prosecutors in Broward, Palm Beach may go after gun licenses of defendants".

The Dem Debate

Missed this Bill March piece the other day: "South Florida political operative and blogger Derek Newton said Biden did 'better than I expected,' and Edwards was badly advised to attack Clinton and Obama on the Iraq war. 'He would benefit by being the safe adult in the room. He could get people who are interested and energized by Hillary and Obama, but may not vote for them if reservations about them don’t get resolved.' ... A final comment from Newton—'The real winner was Bob Graham,' whose opposition to the war in his presidential campaign in 2003-04, discussed in the debate, now appears prescient." "Who Won Democrats’ Debate? Some Don’t Know, Some Don’t Care".

Thompson Desperate for Florida Supporters

The Thompson for Prez campaign has enlisted the support of a "A "Howdy Doody-Looking Nimrod"": "U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, has formally committed to support former Sen. Fred Thompson in the Republican presidential primary, Putnam’s spokesman Keith Rupp said Tuesday. The decision followed a long phone conversation on Friday, during which Thompson asked for Putnam’s support, and Putnam agreed enthusiastically, Rupp said. What specific role Putnam may play in a Thompson campaign is yet to be determined, Rupp said. " "Putnam Makes It Official: He’s A Thompson Backer". See also "Putnam for Thompson".

Local Fear

"Local government officials kept it polite Tuesday as they urged members of Hillsborough County's legislative contingent not to overdo it when they return to the Capitol to cut property taxes." "Leaders Fear Deep Tax Cut".

"South Florida’s Property-Tax Squeeze"

"Retirees seeking to downsize homes or move closer to the grandkids are getting caught in South Florida’s property-tax squeeze." "Seniors can get caught in a tax trap".

Death Politics

"So much for a jury of your peers. Following this week's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, prosecutors gain new ability to stack juries in favor of the death penalty -- even when potential jurors assert their ability to follow the law." "Tainted logic".

Winton

The Miami Herald editors: "Crist should put a quick end to speculation about whether suspended Miami City Commissioner Johnny Winton will return to office. The governor should reject Mr. Winton's request to be reinstated to his seat on the commission. The reason is as clear as sunshine: Mr. Winton disgraced himself, his office, his fellow commissioners and city residents in a drunken fight with police at Miami International Airport last year." "No-contest plea isn't an acquittal".

Lawmakers revealed the date they plan to put constitutional tax reforms to voters, but little else on Monday as they inch closer to agreement ahead of a June 12 special session. ...

The committee met three days after House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt announced the framework of a deal for lowering taxes for homeowners.

It calls for rolling back property-tax rates levied by cities and counties before November and basing the amount of reductions on a tiered system that would target the biggest cuts to local governments that raised taxes the most in the past five years.

The proposals would also require 60 percent of voters in January to approve a new, super homestead exemption that would be tied to the value of the individual home.

Monday's meeting was supposed to outline proposals for lowering property taxes for businesses and rental properties and low-income seniors, but Democrats spent most of the time complaining about the lack of details in Friday's announcement.

The governor, back from a weeklong trip to Israel, also needs to get engaged. Crist made a cameo appearance Monday at a legislative committee meeting on tax relief, expressed optimism and received applause. For a governor whose own future could turn on the outcome of the property tax debate, that is simply not good enough. He needs a firm grasp of the details, and he needs to offer more to a skeptical public than vague assurances that everything will be just fine.

The Tallahassee Democrat's SD 3 Endorsements

"Of the two Democrats competing for their party's nomination, the Tallahassee Democrat editorial board recommends Mark Ravenscraft, former president of the Democratic Club of North Florida and owner of a marketing firm here. Suzan Franks, a homemaker from Citrus Hills is also running. Of the three Republicans seeking their party's nomination, we urge voters to support former Citrus County Sheriff and state Rep. Charles S. Dean of Inverness. He is far more moderate and skilled at consensus-building than outgoing Rep. Dennis Baxley of Ocala. A third contender is Don Curtis, a career forester from Perry, who lacks public policy experience equal to the challenges of this important Senate seat." "District 3". See also "Primary election today for state Senate, House vacancies".

Troxler

"Here's a question that has come up a lot lately: How come the government keeps letting people build new stuff in a drought?" "A ban on growth won't help drought".

First Generation

"A scholarship program heralded by former Gov. Jeb Bush as a way to increase minority enrollment in Florida's colleges and universities was given no additional money by lawmakers this year, severely limiting the number of students who will benefit." "Budget limits first-generation college grants".

Claims

"Facing criticism for thousands of 2004 and 2005 hurricane claims still open, Citizens Property Insurance seeks to rein in the lawyers and freelance adjusters it alleges are whipping up disputes in order to pocket large fees." "Citizens asks for time limit on claim disputes".

"Charlie!"

"Perhaps the most astonishing political story of 2007 has been the rise of Charlie 'Just Call Me Charlie' Crist, a people's governor who seems more interested in genuinely winning the hearts of Floridians than forcing Floridians to drink his own personal flavor of Kool-Aid."

Crist has been so successful in his short tenure - standing up to the insurance lobby, tearing down walls to public records, delivering an election paper trail and even (gasp) making it easier for most ex-felons to vote - that he has emerged as a potential Republican vice-presidential candidate. As the candidates for president beat up on one another in this longest of primary seasons, a running mate who could swing the GOP toward the center while delivering Florida could prove crucial in overcoming the negative public perception of President Bush.

Charlie!'s populism comes across with such natural assuredness that it's difficult to separate from the calculating approach of the modern politician. He has been so overtly governed by what he calls the right thing to do - has he mentioned lately that we, the residents of Florida, are his bosses? - that in five months he's cleansed Florida of the scent of eight years of Bush decree.

It was Jeb Bush who campaigned with an exclamation point after his name. But it is Charlie who warrants one. Where Jeb! was plodding and ideology-driven, Charlie! is engaging and idea-driven. Charlie! is the guy who bends an ear to hear, well, anyone who stops him on his way. He's the governor who set up one-on-one, five-minute sessions with any resident with a gripe.

Did I mention that he made it easier for ex-felons to vote? Jeb! tried to make it harder, contorting himself so pitifully that he went against his own ideology of sparse government to build an elaborate bureaucracy to ploddingly review every case. What did Charlie! do? He tore down the bureacracy and gave all but the most violent offenders their rights automatically. "To not do so is more than reckless or irresponsible," the new governor said. "It is unjust."

But with Charlie!, it's hard to tell whether the populist approach is some sort of fantastically orchestrated political act, designed to win the center that Republicans following the George W. Bush model have shunned. ...

More important for Floridians is a larger question: Is Charlie! committed to the state? Or are Floridians just the arm candy he's using so he can become arm candy for John McCain or Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney? Is Charlie! all show or a natural? It's up to Floridians to pop the question.

Tuff Guy

"Growing up near Detroit, Rep. Vern Buchanan said he’s really no stranger to tough neighborhoods or gang violence. But sitting in downtown Bradenton earlier today, Buchanan could hardly contain his astonishment at having to talk about gang violence in this area." "Buchanan gets crash course on gang violence".

Strike?

"As the countdown toward a launch of Atlantis on the first space shuttle flight of the year was set to begin, another clock ticked away Monday toward a possible strike by several hundred workers at Kennedy Space Center. The 569 space workers who last weekend rejected a contract offer from United Space Alliance could go on strike as early as Saturday, just a day after the first attempt to launch Atlantis, officials said. The company is the space agency's primary contractor for preparing space shuttles for launch." "Space center faces workers' strike".

Adoption Law Challenged

"Unmarried men who fail to register with the state as potential fathers before a child is adopted should lose their parental rights, an adoption agency lawyer told the Florida Supreme Court on Monday." "Agency challenges state adoption law".

"Are You Two Chuckleheads Certifiably Insane?"

Daniel Ruth: "As bold, decisive, visionary moves go, this latest flummoxocity on the part of the Democrats falls somewhere between King Arthur's flaccid assault on the Castle Arrrghh in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' and Uday and Qusay's escape plan."

This was supposed to vault Florida to its rightful place at the top of the presidential primary food chain. ... But the Democrats, who never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity, are now flirting with turning their presidential primary into a banana republic debacle that makes Hugo Chavez look like a walking "Federalist Papers." ...

At the moment, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman is holding talks with national Chairman Howard Dean on how to resolve the ballot brouhaha. Party spokesman Mark Bubriski said an agreement is expected this summer.

However, one plan under active consideration would call for a meaningless nonbinding beauty queen vote Jan. 29 with the actual delegates determined at a later date by party caucus.

A simple question for Thurman and Dean - are you two chuckleheads certifiably insane?

My PDA Did It"In an email to supporters of his GOP-sponsored 'No More Property Taxes' initiative, House Speaker Marco Rubio said that part of the framework for property tax cuts that he and Senate President Ken Pruitt agreed to last week includes a flat exemption for owners of non-homesteaded property. 'Wrong,' Rubio admitted Monday, blaming it on drafting the email from his PDA." "Rubio says 'never mind' on pieces of prop tax letter to supporters".

Brain Trust

"George P. Bush, a nephew of President Bush, has contributed to the prospective presidential campaign of Fred Thompson and signed an e-mail asking friends and associates to do the same, The Politico has learned. ... The involvement of a Bush family member highlights a stream of former Bush-Cheney aides and supporters who are signing on with Thompson, in some cases quietly." "Key Bush backers rally to Fred Thompson" (via The Buzz).

Some might remember that BearingPoint was behind the failed $472 million prototype computer system that put Bay Pines Veteran's Hospital into chaos in 2004. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson wanted the politically well-connected company put on the federal suspended-vendors list, but the Bush administration refused.

That same year, the company was awarded a $126 million contract by former Gov. Jeb Bush's director of the State Technology Office, Kim Bahrami, who promptly quit to work for BearingPoint.

The company also raised eyebrows in work it did for the Department of Children and Families, where in 2004 former DCF Secretary Jerry Regier and two other top employees left the agency when it was discovered they had taken gifts from lobbyists, including one who represented BearingPoint.

Floridians want answers to the collapse of this $89 million computer project. Those responsible for Project Aspire should be held accountable.

Economy On Hold

"Across the state, the tax debate is sending a tremor through the economy as many companies that rely heavily on government spending are suddenly seeing work dry up." "Tax-plan impasse in Tallahassee ruffles economy".

From Charlie and the "Values" Crowd

As Charlie makes golf course deals in Jordan (with adoring reporters in tow), we have this back home in Florida: "On the job, Constance Jones helps investigators with child abuse cases, and when she gets home her focus is on her teen daughter and son."

But the single mother from Holly Hill can't afford health benefits through her job at the state Department of Children & Families.

Her $23,000-a-year salary qualifies her children for another subsidized state and federal health insurance program, known as KidCare. But two years ago, legislators cut state employees from the program to save money.

So now her children go without insurance, and a recent emergency for her 15-year-old daughter added up to more than $5,000 in hospital and ambulance bills, on top of past bills she hasn't paid.

Legislation this past session that would have allowed children of state employees back into KidCare didn't pass. Proposals to ease the application process for all families also failed.

Talk, Talk, Talk

"When property tax negotiations broke down more than a month ago, top lawmakers boldly predicted the kinks would be worked out before the special session even began."

All legislators would have to do, House Speaker Marco Rubio said, is show up to approve the plan June 12.

But with a week to go, few details have been released to confirm such optimism. The discussions have been almost exclusively private, and among only a handful of people.

Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt broke the silence Friday by releasing the outlines of an agreement to roll back local tax bases and cap future growth. They also called for super-sized homestead exemptions.

Undercutting the upbeat announcement, however, was the lack of specifics.

"A Republican Golden Retriever"

The LA Times Saturday:

After eight years of the popular but polemic Jeb Bush, Crist's aisle-crossing style has won him unprecedented approval ratings for a Florida governor, and a reputation for compassion and moderation. He is, in a Miami columnist's characterization, "a Republican golden retriever who throws his arms around just about everyone."

When Crist ran for the GOP nomination to follow Bush into the governor's mansion, he cast himself as the next best thing to the president's archconservative brother.

But in fewer than five months in office, Crist has often swum against the GOP tide. He restored voting rights for ex-convicts, even though they tend to vote Democratic. He has proposed expanded stem cell research. Crist has increased teachers' pay and last week made sure that future electronic voting will retain a paper trail, needed for recounts in the event of another of Florida's infamously close elections.

Help Wanted

"The negative impact of the Bush administration's ill-considered and unprecedented purge of U.S. attorneys last year is being felt all over the country, including Florida. As the Sentinel recently reported, just one person applied to succeed U.S. Attorney Paul Perez in Florida's Middle District, one of the country's top jobs for prosecutors. Mr. Perez was not fired, but resigned to take a private-sector position. The prosecutor's job has been re-advertised, and its application deadline has been extended." "A tainted job".

Consequences

"With Florida lawmakers hoping to slash property taxes across the state, officials of the [taxpayer-funded hospital] districts wonder whether they could face cuts in the money they use to care for low-income or uninsured people". "Hospital districts: Tax reform bodes ill for charity cases".

The "Religious Left"

"About 1,500 Christians are expected in Washington today for a nationally televised forum with the leading Democratic presidential candidates, in what organizers describe as a turning point in the debate over the role of faith in politics."

''The religious right has tried to paint progressives as if they are a bunch of people on the fringe who are out of touch with mainstream America, and that's just not the case,'' said the Rev. Tim Simpson, a Presbyterian minister and spokesman for the Jacksonville-based Christian Alliance for Progress. "We think theological reflection is the responsibility of every Christian voter . . . How should a Christian think about this war? How should a Christian think about torture?''

Efforts to resurrect the religious left -- a political force that many say has been largely dormant since the Civil Rights movement -- coincides with growing disarray among religious conservatives. The Center for Reclaiming America for Christ in Fort Lauderdale shut down in April after a decade of lobbying for conservative Christian causes. The Rev. Jerry Falwell's recent death prompted soul-searching among evangelicals about his legacy of uniting them with the GOP.

None of the leading presidential candidates can lay claim to the evangelical community. Pastor Rick Warren, author of the popular book The Purpose-Driven Life, invited Democratic Sen. Barack Obama to an AIDS conference at his California church. The Rev. Joel Hunter, pastor of a Central Florida megachurch of 15,000 people, gave up the presidency of the Christian Coalition of America last year because it resisted his efforts to focus on poverty and global warming.

''There are precious lives lost from abortion, but if we don't address climate change, there will be even more lives lost that come with the degradation of the environment,'' Hunter said. "Aren't those lives as important as the lives that we could save if we could do something about abortion? It's a more complex consideration.''

"Tough Campaign"

"Donovan Brown hasn't been in the newspaper in months. Not since he ran for the state Legislature last fall. Not since he disappeared from the campaign trail and turned up in a mental health facility after a breakdown. Not since he left the hospital and lost the race." "Bouncing back from a tough campaign".

'Glades

"It's tough to imagine a more inappropriate project than Florida Power & Light Co.'s plan to build a coal-fired plant near the Everglades, the hydrological heart of South Florida that has been drained, polluted and abused to the brink of destruction." "No Coal Plant For Everglades".

That's Our Mel

Florida's "gay-bashing, reactionary ogre", who is also known as "Karl Rove's Florida Frankenstein", gets some love from those impartial folks at Florida Trend magazine: "Senator Mel Martinez is helping the GOP woo Hispanic voters". See also "Swinging Hispanic Vote".

Immigration Battle Comes To Florida

"Florida will be the setting for a set-to over immigration in the battle in the Republican presidential primary Monday."

John McCain plans to defend his controversial immigration reform bill in a speech in Miami, and will suggest that opponents in the GOP primary are bashing the bill for political gain.

In response, Mitt Romney, an opponent of McCain who has taken a stand against the bill, will hold a conference call for political reporters with one of his top supporters in the state and one of the state’s top Hispanic GOP activists, Al Cardenas.

Cardenas has been a leader for years among anti-Castro Cuban immigrants in Miami, and was Jeb Bush’s pick just after Bush took office in 1998 to be chairman of the state Republican Party.

Poor "Jeb!"

"In the last couple of weeks, as the immigration issue has caused divisions in the GOP presidential primary—reflecting the divisions in the party—Jeb Bush’s stance has become a key question."

Last week, Bush denied news reports saying he was "disappointed" with Romney for opposing the bill. But then he and Ken Mehlman, Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign manager and a former Republican national chairman chosen by George Bush, co-authored a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece praising the bill.

In a little-noticed reaction, some right-wing bloggers—the kind who have been writing that Jeb Bush is the true conservative who could rescue the movement from the failures of George Bush—began to change their minds.

"He has a lot going for him, Right-wise, but at least for the moment, I think I’m officially over Jeb. What did Jesse Jackson say? Stay out the Bushes?" was the reaction of one regular blogger on The Corner, a rightist political site.

"Why is it that proponents of this immigration bill never address what the bill will actually do?” said David Frum, who blogs for the rightist National Review Online.

Gators a Nuisance

"Beset by nuisance alligators, Florida may make it easier to hunt them".

Is This News?

"Crist said he and Abdullah discussed the possibility of Florida and Jordan working together to increase tourism in both places. Abdullah is interested in developing golf resorts near the Dead Sea, and Crist said Florida businesses could help make that happen." "Crist weighs Jordan alliance".

"Green Power"

"Lewis Hay, FPL Group's chairman, didn't use a big block of time at the annual meeting to talk about green power because he saw An Inconvenient Truth the night before. He did it for the stockholders. Energy company executives talking green are decreasingly man-bites-dog. Back when Vice President Dick Cheney was presiding as an energy planner, Mr. Hay's comments to the stockholders - and his follow-up article in The Post May 27 - would have seemed more surprising. Mr. Cheney said that conservation might be a personal virtue but never a policy. He thought he spoke for big business. If America had had more personal virtue and less Cheney over the past six years, we might not have $3 gasoline today." "Business changes with the climate".

Art?

"Budget shell games an art".

Local Budgets

"Relief for taxpayers could mean a big hit for local governments that rely on property taxes for revenues." "Helping taxpayers may hurt revenues". See also "Tax reform could gut county budget".

Off Topic

"'By the end of next year,' President Bush said on Thursday, 'America and other nations will set a long-term global goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.' Welcome words -- six years late. For all its apparent necessity, there was something nakedly shameless about Bush's announcement, shameless for its timing, its motive, even its substance." "Bush van Winkle".

Throughout this spring's 60-day regular session, Republican Senate President Ken Pruitt and his top deputies said they wanted to hatch a property-tax plan that would ultimately be supported by all 40 of the Senate's members, including its 14 Democrats.

It was a sentiment that clearly irritated Republican House Speaker Marco Rubio, who commands a 78-42 majority in the House and wanted GOP leaders in both chambers to forge ahead with particularly dramatic -- though controversial -- tax cuts.

But that session ended without a property-tax deal. And now, as lawmakers prepare for an 11-day special session on the subject later this month, Senate leaders appear a little less concerned about unanimity.

Draft Dodger in South Florida

"A record-breaking crowd of Broward Republicans turned out Saturday night to fill the local party's coffers with cash and get a close-up look at a top-tier presidential candidate. They got a dose of tough-on-terror talk from Rudolph Giuliani." "Giuliani visits, raises cash". More on Rudy's embarrassing comments here: "Giuliani in Broward: Dems in denial on terror". See also "Former Broward County Republican party chairman Pozzuoli signs up with Giuliani".

By the way, did you know tuff talking Rudy managed to avoid the draft. See "Giuliani's Vietnam Deferments May Cause Problems For '08 Run". See also "Draft questions cloud Giuliani’s chances".

New York Magazine reminds us that one of several deferments Rudy managed to wrangle was actually obtained for him by his boss:

Rudy Giuliani, speaking about terrorism and the Iraq war, said last week, "It is something I understand better than anyone else running for president." How long will John McCain—a real-life war hero down seventeen points in the polls—stand for such bluster, considering the lengths Giuliani went to to stay out of Vietnam?

He won’t mention Rudy’s military history—yet. It’s too early in the primary cycle to go negative. But opponents know this is the warrior-mayor’s biggest weakness. “If Giuliani is the nominee, we’re going to hammer him with ads, and it’s going to be easy because the issue is simple: He’s a draft dodger," says Jon Soltz, an Iraq vet who served as a captain and runs VoteVets.org, a left-leaning version of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. "Giuliani gets a zero-zero," says General Wesley Clark, an adviser to the group. "he wasn’t willing to risk his life for his country, and he has no relevant experience that’s in any way useful to be commander-in-chief. He hosted the U.N. and had a large police force."

To recap: After receiving several deferments as a student, Giuliani applied for an occupational deferment as a law clerk, but his application was rejected. Giuliani appealed their decision, and asked the federal judge he was clerking for to petition the draft board for him. Which the judge did. When his deferment expired in 1970, Giuliani became susceptible to the draft. He received a high number and was never called. Giuliani "has made it clear that if he had been called up, he would have served," says Katie Levinson, Giuliani’s spokesperson. He was opposed to the war in Vietnam on "strategic and tactical" grounds, she says. Asked to clarify what tactics Giuliani opposed, Levinson declined to offer specifics.

Low Turnout Expected

"10-percent turnout optimistic in District 3 special election".

Gibbons

"High energy has helped state Rep. Joe Gibbons sell himself to Broward voters throughout his political career." "Gibbons' ways sway voters, lawmakers".

All in a Name

"A power struggle back in 2006 led to the National Federation of Republican Women to rescind the charter of the 57-year-old Florida Federation of Republican Women, whose leader, Anne Voss of Tampa, then created the Florida Republican Women's Network. It so happens that many of the network's loyalists happened to be backers of former state GOP chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan, who nearly beat Charlie Crist's hand-picked choice for state GOP chairman, Jim Greer."

Greer's recent instruction, per Florida statutes, that the network apply for permission to use "Republican" in its name did not go over so well.

"We are prepared to defend our rights to call ourselves Republican and to join with other Republican women to have our voice heard and our impact felt in the public arena. Anyone threatening to silence us should understand that we will not acquiesce to intimidation or unfair treatment, " said an e-mail from Voss and Judith Albertelli, an Republican activist from Jacksonville.

By week's end, it appeared Greer had at least temporarily resolved one of the most bitter disputes within the Florida GOP: The Voss/Albertelli group can use "Republican" in its name but won't be chartered by the state GOP, while its arch enemy leaders of the Florida New Federation of Republican Women will work more directly with the state party.

Searching for the Right Wingnut

Some of the GOPers

now helping the Law & Order actor's prospective '08 campaign: RZ "Sandy" Safley formerly with Mitt Romney, Curt Kiser (formerly with Rudy Giuliani) and Jack Latvala. It says something about a candidate who can earn endorsements from such moderate Pinellas Republicans as well as glowing words from former Florida gubernatorial candidate and Florida Right to Life president Ken Connor and Florida Family Policy Council president John Stemberger.

The buzz is we can expect state Reps. Denise Grimsley, R-Lake Placid, and Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, to jump on board if Thompson gets all the way in. Lobbyist/politico Oscar Juarez of Orlando, another former Baker organizer, is enthusiastic about his longtime friend Thompson and may jump ship from John McCain, and former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has been calling a bunch of Florida GOP money raisers lately urging support for Thompson.

Wait Till Next Year

The Palm Beach Post editorial board suggests that"given the array of dramatic changes the Legislature is considering, however, he may have to add "next year."" "Consider state tax vote in January, not September".

Out Here In The Fields

"Man bridges gap between field and courtroom".

Class Size

"The classroom landscape is changing in Florida, producing the ingredients for possible compromise on a constitutional mandate requiring smaller class sizses. This is a job tailor-made for Gov. Charlie Crist." "Flexible fixes for class sizes".

"Intriguing"

"One of the more intriguing scenarios for Florida's Democratic presidential primary is the prospect that a long-shot candidate could wind up on Jan. 29, overwhelmingly ahead in presidential delegates."

The Democratic National Committee rules bar any delegates going to a candidate who gets less than 15 percent of a state's vote or to someone who campaigns in a state, like Florida, that violates the party's primary calendar. Florida awards 208 delegates in the Democratic primary, compared with 172 for the earliest states - Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina - combined.

So if, say, Joe Biden or Chris Dodd or Kucinich avoids campaigning in Florida - no speeches, no baby kissing, no money raising - they could well wind up with a mother lode of delegates so long as they can get at least 15 percent of the vote. We asked Kucinich if he'd consider skipping Florida in order to win a ton of delegates.

Whatever

"Rubio's tax talk draws a crowd".

Disappointing

The Tampa Trib editors find it "disappointing to hear Mark Lunsford make an excuse for his 18-year-old son, who is charged with a felony for fondling a 14-year-old girl" "Romance No Excuse For Young Lunsford". I guess Charlie's boy has ended his political career before it started; see ""Crist pushes Lunsford to run for state House

Gross

"I Give I Take It Pays!".

"The Worst Haircut Since Moe Howard"

Daniel Ruth was on fire yesterday about "Chump Tower":

Trump has collected a tidy fortune flitting about the land selling the rights to use his name for various real estate ventures. In the case of Tampa's Mump Towers, SimDag paid $2.8 million to the mogul simply to stick his name over the door.

You can hardly blame Trump if people want to give him obscene amounts of money just to be associated with the worst haircut since Moe Howard.

But wait! There's more!

How We Got Here

"To understand why Florida has stumbled on its way to cutting property taxes, look no farther than your living-room window." "Property-tax landscape is far from being even".

"In Washington by a Fluke"

"Democrat Rep. Tim Mahoney and Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan have a unique tie that both are trying to shake: a lot of people think they're in Washington by a fluke." "New Florida congressmen trying to prove they belong".

"Sorry, Hillary"

Adam Smith: "Sorry, Hillary, but [Alex] Sink told us the other day not to necessarily expect an endorsement in the presidential primary."