But LeMieux, who could have to vote on drilling legislation, refuses to say what he did, and the leader of the industry group says he cannot remember. ...

LeMieux's involvement revives questions about the role he played for business clients after he stepped down as Crist's chief of staff in 2007, and how those interests could shape his views as a senator.

"Floridians are entitled to wonder about how much his prior corporate employment is going to affect his decisions," said Ben Wilcox, chairman of the board for Common Cause, a good-government advocacy group. "This is something that occurs when people go in and out of public life."

Medicare Bidding

"Five Florida members of Congress are pushing a bill that would kill Medicare's new program requiring competitive bidding for suppliers of medical equipment in nine metro areas across the country, including South Florida and greater Orlando. ... Sponsor of the bill, HR 3790, is Democrat Kendrick Meek of Miami, who is running for the U.S. Senate next year. As of Tuesday, four other Florida House members were among the 18 co-sponsors: Reps. Alcee Hastings, Ron Klein, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Robert Wexler, all Democrats from South Florida. They say they're out to protect patients, not the equipment suppliers." "5 Congress Members Want End to Medicare Bidding".

Ferre

"Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre is questioning whether county law requires him to step down from a transportation board while he runs for the U.S. Senate."

Yet Ferre acknowledged Thursday that he could face conflicts of interests if he remains on the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority and accepts campaign donations from contractors vying for county work. The board oversees five major expressways in South Florida and has spent more than $580 million in completed and ongoing projects over the past decade.

Ferre said he would not take money from contractors who do business with the board but wasn't sure about gifts from companies that may seek road work.

SunRail

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Florida legislators got the message earlier this month: Get on track with SunRail -- the proposed commuter-rail service planned to connect DeLand to Osceola County -- or risk losing $2.5 billion in federal funding for a high-speed rail service between Orlando and Tampa." "Legislature should open throttle for rail projects".

Your utility bill dollars at work

Mary Ellen Klas: "Florida Power & Light has spent nearly $5 million trying to raise customers' electric rates."

Expenses for the state's largest utility to make its case to state regulators include about $173,000 on business meals, $266,000 on lodging, $622,000 on legal fees and $870,000 for overtime pay, according to documents filed at the Public Service Commission.

And that's $1.3 million more than the company had budgeted for the rate case when it filed for the 30 percent base rate increase in March.

Customers won't have to pay the entire $5 million tab. FPL is asking the PSC to rule that customers pay $3.6 million, with the rest paid by shareholder profits.

Teacher "differential pay"?

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board:

Teachers must be an integral part of the planning for differential pay. They are the ones who can speak directly to the incentives that would entice the best teachers into some of the most challenging classroom situations. And while pay is one major component, it is not the only one. After all, if teachers were in it solely for the money they would choose another career. So pay should be combined with other incentives that ensure success at high-needs schools.

Spring safeguards

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board argues that "the state has done a poor job of safeguarding springs. State officials don't have a reliable inventory of freshwater springs, including those on private land. And even when spring protection makes headlines -- as with the high-profile attempt to set minimum flow levels at Blue Spring -- regulation bogs down in public controversy and bureaucracy." "Florida too slow with spring safeguards".

Fingerprinting caregivers

"Florida task force considers fingerprinting caregivers".

'Glades

"Rock mining that environmentalists say threatens to pollute water supplies and hamper Everglades restoration can expand to more western farmland, Palm Beach County commissioners decided Thursday." "Environmental concerns fail to stop expanded rock mining in Everglades Agricultural Area".

UF backtracks

"University of Florida President Bernie Machen said Thursday he was withdrawing a plan to eliminate faculty sick leave payouts while also considering ways to boost revenue such as expanding online classes and increasing the number of out-of-state students. Faculty members had been paid for accumulated sick leave when they left the university and had overwhelmingly opposed eliminating the perk as a budget-cutting measure. Machen cited that opposition in telling the Faculty Senate he was pulling back the plan." "UF won't eliminate faculty sick leave payouts".

Death politics

Raoul G. Cantero III, a former state Supreme Court justice appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush and Mark R. Schlakman, senior program director for Florida State University's Center for the Advancement of Human Rights are a bit late to the game in an Orlando Sentinel guest piece this morning; better late than never, one supposes: "Three years ago, the American Bar Association released a Florida Death Penalty Assessment Team report that raised serious concerns about the state's death-penalty process. Since then, neither state government nor the Florida Bar has done much to remedy the problems."

The alarming backdrop is that Florida has exonerated more death-sentenced inmates than any other state since 1973. One inmate was exonerated after he died of cancer on death row.

One of the report's major recommendations embraces a Florida Supreme Court opinion that called upon the Legislature to revisit the state's death-penalty statute. The report, like the opinion, observed that Florida is the only one of 35 death-penalty states that allows a jury to decide that aggravating factors exist and to recommend a sentence of death by a majority vote. Despite the court's strongly worded opinion, the Legislature has been unresponsive.

... Charlie Crist has voiced opposition to the recommendation.

The report also expresses concern about socioeconomic and geographic bias ...

Another issue was that the legal representation in post-conviction proceedings in death-penalty cases is often abysmal. The report attributed this in part to the fact that a state office that handled such matters in the northern region of Florida was disbanded as part of a pilot project when Bush was governor.

Meek

"U.S. Senate hopeful Meek adds endorsements from Sink, former quasi-rival Brown".

Citizens

Paul Flemming: "Citizens Property Insurance policyholders — and there are more than a million of you out there — have new premiums heading their way after three years of frozen rates." "Citizens rate change is more political than practical".

Florida's junior senator squandered a golden opportunity to use the bully pulpit he'll command for just 16 months.

Wednesday, he sacrificed candor in a predictable play to a partisan constituency. He reasonably equated Congress to a family who recklessly relies on credit cards to pay the bills. But he implied the runaway spending stems from Democratic control, ignoring that it began under President George W. Bush.

LeMieux really lost the high ground when he bragged that Crist and the Florida Legislature have cut spending by nearly 10 percent, or $7 billion, to balance the budget. LeMieux's omission: This year's state budget was balanced only because of $5 billion in federal stimulus dollars and $2.2 billion in new taxes and fees.

Laff riot

"Will McBride looking at challenging Alan Grayson".

"Rubio has sliced into Gov. Charlie Crist's lead"

"A Rasmussen poll of Florida voters released [yesterday afternoon] finds Crist with 14 point lead over Rubio in a GOP primary, down from 22 points in August. Rasmussen has Crist leading Meek by 12 points (compared to 20 points in the Quinnipiac poll). And while Quinnipiac gives Meek a 36-to-32 percent lead over Rubio, Rasmussen finds Rubio beating Meek, 46-to-31 percent." "One day, two polls, two views of potential Rubio-Meek Senate matchup".

Jim Saunders on yesterday morning's Q-Poll: "Former state House Speaker Marco Rubio has sliced into Gov. Charlie Crist's lead in the 2010 Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat -- though Crist continues to hold a double-digit advantage." "Poll: Rubio cuts Crist's Senate lead". See also "Poll: Gap narrows in GOP Senate race", "Polls: Rubio gaining on Crist in GOP Senate race", "Poll: Marco Rubio cutting into Charlie Crist's lead" and "Marco Rubio has cut Charlie Crist's lead in GOP Senate race by half".

As Charlie campaigns ...

... "Florida among states with highest unemployment".

Grayson

"Hoping to score another point in the healthcare debate, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson took to the House floor on Wednesday to promote a website that aims to memorialize Americans who die because they don’t have health insurance."

But the new site – called namesofthedead.com – has sparked a backlash among Republican operatives who allege that the Orlando Democrat violated House ethics rules because the new website also links to Grayson’s campaign website, where visitors can volunteer or donate money.

Within minutes of the speech, another front opened in the ongoing feud between Grayson and the GOP that started weeks ago when the bombastic lawmaker said the Republican plan for healthcare was for sick patients to simply “die quickly.”

"Let them file a complaint. I’m sure I’ll be vindicated," said Grayson, who noted that he paid for the website out of his own wallet. He said the GOP allegations were a "stretch" and that they were distracting from the issue of health care reform.

No complaint yet has been filed.

Impasse

"The Florida House of Representatives declared an impasse Wednesday in gambling talks with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and asked the federal government to stop casino games on the tribe's reservations."

After decades of fights in the courts and halls of the Legislature, a clear agreement between the state and the tribe over its games seemed closer than ever this year.

But as the two sides squabbled over money, the tribe has continued to offer blackjack and baccarat at casinos while House Speaker Larry Cretul insisted that the Seminoles lacked the authority to do so.

Here are various explanations I've heard:

(1) Believe it or not, some leaders of the Legislature still have a principled concern about expanding gambling.

(2) Some lawmakers are offended that the Seminoles have already expanded their games despite the court case. (On Wednesday, House Speaker Larry Cretul asked the feds to shut down those games.)

(3) Some legislators are interested in protecting Florida's struggling (but politically powerful) dog and horse tracks against competition — and some even want to open them to casino-style gambling, which would mean no exclusive rights for the Seminoles.

(4) Here's the most cynical explanation of all: Because some legislators would like to drag the thing out into an election year so they can put the squeeze on all interested parties for campaign contributions. (Me, I would never say such a thing.)

"With oil rigs faintly visible in the background"

"Speakers such as Jose Gonzalez, lobbyist for Associated Industries of Florida, disputed the contention that drilling destroys beaches, viewscapes and coastal tourism. To make his point, he displayed a photo of happy tourists frolicking on the beach in Santa Barbara, Calif., with oil rigs faintly visible in the background." "Drilling foes address House". See also "Oil drilling debate starts at Capitol". Related: "Alabama, Texas oil revenues below Florida estimates".

One more

"Florida is expected to gain only one new congressional seat, instead of two previously forecast." "Florida Expected To Get One New Seat in Congress".

"Corporate jets and helicopters"

"After taking the Public Service Commission to court to keep its executive pay confidential, Florida Power & Light agreed to halve the amount of executive salaries and bonuses paidfor by its electric customers. The salary decision was the second major concession FPL made on Wednesday as hearings resumed on its request to raise rates by $1.3 billion a year -- or 30 percent -- starting in 2010. The company also agreed customers should not have to pay for the company's corporate jets and helicopters for two years, a reduction of about $15 million, reducing the total requested increase $52 million to $1.25 billion."

The PSC has ordered FPL to make public the salaries and titles of the 419 employees who earn more than $165,000 but the company has refused and appealed the ruling to the First District Court of Appeal.

FPL argues that disclosing the salary detail would put it at a competitive disadvantage.

Under questioning from attorneys for the commission and other parties, [Kathleen Slattery, compensation director for FPL] acknowledged that of the 419 employees with salaries over $165,000, 27 received the equivalent of at least half their base salary in bonuses last year.

Slattery said that because of the economic downturn, FPL cut back on its incentive pay in the fall of 2008. She acknowledged that in 2009, FPL executives are entitled to a 25 percent bonus based on performance goals -- including the successful completion of the rate case.

AG

"Dems running for Florida attorney general mostly agree on issues".

"Cases like this can create unpredictable political fallout"

Mark Lane writes that "in corruption-rich South Florida, there was the 32-count federal indictment of Alan Mendelsohn handed down at the end of September."

Mendelsohn is from the shadowy world of, well, ophthalmology. He's raised millions for political campaigns and was politically connected enough to be part of Gov. Charlie Crist's gubernatorial transition team.

And he bragged about his ability to buy influence in Tallahassee. Bragging that turned up on FBI recording equipment.

The charging documents said he ran three corporations and three political action committees to move money around covertly. Money that often landed in his personal bank accounts. Money that went to a mistress's expenses, children's tuition and even SAT-prep courses, according to the 30-page indictment.

Prosecutors charge that Mendelsohn was ripping off a guy who in turn had been ripping off people through a Ponzi scheme. That he was shaking down would-be influence buyers.

Which is reassuring. People who believed they were buying influence and bribing politicians ended up doing no more than subsidizing a lobbyist's mistress's lifestyle. Kind of restores your faith in the system.

Mendelsohn's trial is slated for May, which could put it uncomfortably close to the summer's primaries. And cases like this can create unpredictable political fallout.

"Call it ObamaRail"

Joel Engelhardt: "With the call by Senate President Jeff Atwater for a special legislative session on commuter rail, an issue that has been shuffled and shunted for years has reached crisis stage." "Runaway political train".

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "A special December session of the Legislature is being pushed by Gov. Charlie Crist and Senate President Jeff Atwater to show the Obama administration that Florida is serious about supporting rail transit. ... All indications are that a key factor in winning the competition for a share of $8 billion for high-speed rail will be a commitment to funding local and regional rail projects. Florida's risk in convening the Legislature is that lawmakers will send Washington the wrong message. That could spell disaster." "Make a smart bet on a fast train".

Mike Thomas has more: "There's nothing like stimulus dollars to stimulate choo-choo mania. And so here we go again with three train proposals coming down the track. Call it ObamaRail, the result of an $8 billion pot of money set up to fund high-speed train projects. That has created an immediate scrum among the states anxious to get a piece of it." "How far will this latest run for trains take us?".

Crist's lead in late August was 55-26 percent in the poll, but has fallen to 50-35 since then. Half the Republicans surveyed still don't know enough about the former state House speaker, which pollster Peter Brown said should worry Crist.

Gov. Charlie Crist's lead over former state house speaker Marco Rubio in the 2010 Republican U.S. Senate primary has been cut in half from 55 - 26 percent to 50 - 35 percent, but the Governor tops the leading Democrat, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, 51 - 31 percent among all voters, while Rubio trails Meek 36 - 33 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

"Getting the cold shoulder"

"Senate President Jeff Atwater's call for a special legislative session on transportation is getting the cold shoulder from his counterpart, House Speaker Larry Cretul." "Session on transportation issues in limbo". But see the The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "SunRail is back on track".

From the The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Make a smart bet on a fast train".

McCollum edging Sink in Q Poll

In today's Q-Poll,

Republican State Attorney General Bill McCollum edges Democrat State CFO Alex Sink 36 - 32 percent in the 2010 race for Governor ... . McCollum has a commanding 43 - 7 percent lead over State Sen. Paula Dockery in a primary for the GOP nomination, not surprising since 91 percent of Floridians don't know enough about her to have an opinion. ...

McCollum benefits from not only better name recognition than Sink, but a higher job approval than she enjoys. Voters approve 53 - 19 percent of McCollum's performance as attorney general; by 38 - 23 percent they give Ms. Sink a thumbs up as CFO.

"McCollum retains a lead, but almost a quarter of the electorate is undecided, giving Ms. Sink plenty of opportunity with 13 months until Election Day," said Brown. "As far as the Republican gubernatorial nomination goes, Ms. Dockery has a long, long way to go to become competitive.

"Crist is concerned"

"Crist's chief of staff, Eric Eikenberg, will resign in two weeks to take command of the governor's increasingly competitive race for the U.S. Senate. Eikenberg's last day as chief of staff will be Nov. 2."

Two weeks ago, Eikenberg denied persistent rumors that he was about to quit. The suddenness of the change is sure to fuel speculation that Crist is concerned about his fight for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate with former House Speaker Marc Rubio of Miami, who raised more than $1 million in the past quarter and appears to be slowly gaining ground in polls.

"Ignominy"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Former House Speaker Ray Sansom caught a break early this month when a Tallahassee judge dismissed most of the criminal charges filed against him by a grand jury earlier this year. But he's not out of hot water -- he still faces an official House inquiry, headed by one of the state's former top prosecutors. While that investigation is ongoing, legislative leaders should ask themselves how this scandal occurred -- and what they can do to prevent future ignominy." "Sansom case a transparency lesson".

NoBama for Crist this time

"President Barack Obama will make his second trip to Florida as president next week, but don't expect Gov. Charlie Crist to join him this time. Obama's last trip -- to Fort Myers on Feb. 10 -- came as he was pitching his economic stimulus plan. At the time, the Republican governor's embrace of the $787 billion spending plan earned him the wrath of fiscal conservatives." "Obama's next Florida visit won't be featuring Gov. Charlie Crist".

Delightful

"The commission, down to four members, has been in turmoil over allegations that some PSC commissioners and staff socialized and exchanged e-mails and phone calls, with near-daily contact with the utilities it regulates, particularly FPL, the state's largest electric company." "FPL to again make case for increase in base rates".

Gambling

"The Seminole Tribe's head of gambling on Tuesday delivered a blunt, public message to the Florida Legislature: You can allow unlimited gambling statewide, or you can have our $150 million a year. But you won't get both." "Seminole Tribe decries failure to reach gaming deal".

Another fine Jebacy

"Florida ranks third in rate of child deaths due to abuse, neglect".

"Things are just way too cozy ..."

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Things are just way too cozy when the spouse of an elected official goes to work for a company whose interests depend on the politician's vote. The appearance of a conflict is enough to make sensible people have serious doubts about their public officials." "Broward needs lesson on ethics rules".

Save Our Homes

"Retired Florida State University President Talbot 'Sandy' D'Alemberte regaled an appellate court with a "magic potion" tale and invited the judges to a "house of mirrors" as he challenged homeowner tax breaks in two cases Tuesday."

D'Alemberte, now a law professor at the school, represented recently arrived Florida residents in one argument to the 1st District Court of Appeal and out-of-state owners of second homes in another.

Statewide review

"Crist ordered a statewide review Tuesday of screening loopholes that allow felons to work as caregivers of Florida's children, elderly and disabled, and said changes could come as early as December." "Gov. Crist orders statewide review of system that allows felons to work in child and elder care".

Obama in the house

"President Barack Obama is planning a trip to Florida next week that mixes politics and policy, including a stop in Tampa".

The White House is still planning the three-city visit — and only a fundraiser in Miami on Monday evening is confirmed — but Hillsborough County is a major political and news media base that would be attractive to a president trying to advance a wide-ranging domestic agenda.

"The public's interest be damned"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Crist's call last week for a statewide grand jury investigation into public corruption at state and local levels runs the risk of being a political stunt by a U.S. Senate candidate. A grand jury, with the help of the statewide prosecutor, could be useful in shining a spotlight on one of the growing malignancies in Florida's politics: shadowy third-party political groups."

Ideally, the governor should also push the Republican-led Legislature to consider several anticorruption proposals offered by its members, including more transparency in the state budgeting process, stricter campaign finance requirements for 527s, and tougher ethics laws and enforcement of elected officials.

And Crist also could have embraced the most radical reform of all: The much-needed citizen petition being circulated by Fair Districts Florida that would require the Legislature to consider fairness and community boundaries, not just partisan advantage, when drawing political districts every 10 years. The current process allows legislative leaders to draw safe districts for themselves and their allies, the public's interest be damned.

PBA

"Police Benevolent Association backs Crist for U.S. Senate".

Fraud

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "License to commit fraud".

PSC

"Meeting for less than half an hour, the Public Service Nominating Council on Tuesday sent Gov. Charlie Crist the names of four previous nominees to fill an unexpired term on the state utility board. The list includes the two people Crist chose Oct. 1 to fill two open seats on the Public Service Commission: David Klement, former editorial page editor at the Bradenton Herald, and Benjamin 'Steve' Stevens." "Four on list for PSC replacement".

McCollum, too, has sought to moderate his image. He declined last month to take a stand on a proposed constitutional amendment that would define a fetus as a person -- thereby outlawing abortion and possibly birth control -- even though he co-sponsored a similar initiative in Congress.

A campaign spokeswoman said McCollum did not see the 1988 congressional resolution as a contraception ban, but said he would not comment on the proposed amendment unless it makes the ballot.

"Senate skeptics are multiplying"

"After failing once before, proponents of coastal oil drilling will target the state's senate."

The aggressive push for oil drilling off Florida's shores is backed by a coalition of powerful, well-financed business interests who are determined to succeed where they failed before: the Florida Senate.

But even as proponents insist they will corral the votes they need, Senate skeptics are multiplying -- and they include the chamber's presiding officer and several key Republicans who sound increasingly hostile to the idea.

Senate President Jeff Atwater, who is running for state chief financial officer, is not convinced that Floridians increasingly support drilling. Moreover, he says that it is not a priority in 2010.

"The oil drilling matter is not on the Senate agenda for the coming session,'' Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, said flatly.

Obama coming to a town near you

"Obama's fundraising trip to Miami grows to stops in Jacksonville and Tampa".

Disney dollars

"Walt Disney World isn’t taking many chances when it comes to the 2010 elections. The giant resort was generous to both the Republican Party of Florida and the Florida Democratic Party during the third quarter of the year, new state records show. Disney gave the Republicans more money in direct contributions: $90,000 vs. $50,000 for the Democrats. But the Democratic Party got more freebies from the resort: $121,161.60 worth of rooms, food and tickets compared with $47,670.60 for the state GOP." "Disney World spreads the wealth with its campaign cash".

SunRail

Jim Saunders: "A controversial proposal to build a commuter-rail system in Central Florida could come back to state lawmakers this year. Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, expressed support Monday for holding a special legislative session in December to consider approving the 61-mile SunRail project, which would connect Volusia and three other counties." "December special session considered for SunRail". See also "Legislature may meet to discuss commuter-rail funding" and "SunRail special session likely set for December". Related: "Florida's high-speed-rail pitch has stiff competition".

Sorry, Charlie

"Utility regulators should not delay a vote this year on Florida Power & Light Co.’s proposed $1.3 billion rate hike, Public Service Commission staff recommended today. Gov. Charlie Crist asked the panel to hold off on FPL’s rate case and on Progress Energy Florida’s proposed $500 million rate increase until next year when his new hand-picked commissioners join the panel on Jan. 1." "FPL hearings should go on despite Crist’s objections, PSC staff says".

"'HNIC'"

"In a radio interview last week, Kathleen Ford referred to Princeton professor Cornel West's description of an 'HNIC,' or Head Negro in Charge. Today at City Hall, a diverse group of community leaders gathered to denounce Ford's words. She has her defenders in the black community as well." "Taking sides on Ford's words".

AIF laff riot

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Last week,"

AIF President Barney Bishop demanded an ethics investigation of ... Nancy Argenziano, for using a PIN to communicate with the staff member she fired. Mr. Bishop's odd logic is that if Ms. Argenziano disapproved of secret communications with an FPL employee, she should oppose secret communications with staffers. As The Post reported, Associated Industries ran its news release on Ms. Argenziano past FPL.

Ms. Argenziano may be guilty of grandstanding - as we have seen, she's good at it - but she's hardly the worst of the Public Service Commission's problems. The issue is contact between regulated utilities and the people who do the regulating. AIF's selective outrage is just a load of what Ms. Argenziano sent that lobbyist [to wit: "a 25-pound box of manure"].

Deutch closing it out

"As state Sen. Ted Deutch rolls out more than a dozen endorsements for a congressional seat, he appears to be sending a message to potential opponents." "Deutch grabbing endorsements for Wexler's seat".

Foley

"Since Sept. 22, Foley, a Republican, has done recorded three shows for Seaview, with topics ranging from national health care and the economy to David Letterman’s sex scandal to a brief comment on his own downfall. ... Foley, who resigned after sending lurid electronic messages to teenaged boys working on Capitol Hill, represented large portions of Martin and St. Lucie counties from 1995 to 2006," "Ex-Congressman Mark Foley to take his radio show live".

Rolling in utility cash

"A pair of energy giants, Florida Power & Light and Tampa-based TECO Energy, were the largest donors to political parties and candidates in the latest reporting period that ended Sept. 30. Their six-figure donations led a lengthy parade of deep-pocket contributors and come as state policymakers are engaged in a debate over how to promote alternative energy sources while balancing the cost to utilities and their customers. "

FPL gave $329,000 in political contributions in the July-to-September quarter, including $181,000 to the Republican Party of Florida and $130,000 to the Florida Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, TECO made $213,000 in political contributions, with $145,000 going to the Florida GOP.

The donations by FPL and TECO helped the Republican Party of Florida fatten its bank account by $3.9 million in the quarter, while the Florida Democratic Party fortified its coffers by $2.5 million, according to reports filed with the state Division of Elections.

Rooney

"St. Lucie County Commissioner Craft lags behind U.S. Rep. Rooney in campaign contributions".

Biotech

"Florida should spend more money and change tax, environmental and other laws to help grow, attract and retain biotechnology industries, according to a report issued Monday." "Fla. biotech report urges funding, law changes".

Imagine that

"State works to disparity in minority youth arrests".

But they do, Mr. Thomas. They do ...

Mike Thomas this morning:

Imagine the howling if the Florida Chamber of Commerce used tactics like this against a Democrat.

"Jobs are the only ammo that can slay it"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "As states such as Florida that have been slow to spend transportation stimulus dollars start approving projects, the promised jobs finally should start showing up in greater numbers. That's essential, because while loan modifications and government purchase or guarantee of mortgage-backed securities can ease the foreclosure crisis, jobs are the only ammo that can slay it." "To save homes, create jobs".

"The Scrooges in the Legislature"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Floridians long have complained about the sorry state of education in the Sunshine State. Voters struck back in 2002, passing a constitutional amendment that created the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program, a move to provide an educational springboard for every Florida 4-year-old who enrolled. Now, just when the state has stumbled on something that's making inroads at a developmentally critical time in children's lives, the Scrooges in the Legislature are shortchanging the program." "Give kids an early chance".

Charlie's "placeholder"

"Florida's new senator, George LeMieux, is working hard to avoid being seen as a figurehead who is keeping a Senate seat warm for former boss Gov. Charlie Crist." "Florida's new senator battles 'placeholder' stigma".

"How to combine health care and responsible revenue"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board:

To smokers, July's $1 increase in Florida's tax on a pack of cigarettes (from 27 cents) may seem unfair. But the cigarette tax isn't primarily about fairness. It's about responsibly raising revenue for useful public uses from sources that can bear the burden. Smoking isn't a necessity. It's indisputably harmful. It costs society billions in losses from illness, early death and broken families, bane to a healthy economy. People have every right to smoke. But taxing smokers is more responsible than not taxing them. It defrays the public health costs of smoking, discourages young smokers from picking up a $5-a-pack habit ($8 in Rhode Island), and encourages others to quit.

The same principle should apply to soda. There's no question anymore, according to the Centers for Disease Control, that the country's obesity epidemic is due to a combination of more sedentary habits and an overly rich and copious diet. Close to 10 percent of the country's caloric intake is from carbonated drinks. Restaurant portions could use some downsizing, to be sure. But so could carbonated and juiced-up drinking habits. Thirst-busting drink containers from convenient stores are beginning to resemble semi trucks' fuel tanks.

hundreds of donors who in the past gave to Charlie Crist and other Republicans are rethinking which party to back in 2010 or are hedging their bets by also sending money to Sink.

Nearly 500 individuals who gave to Crist's 2006 gubernatorial campaign have crossed over and written checks for up to the $500 maximum to Sink this year, according to an Orlando Sentinel analysis of campaign-finance data.

Their contributions account for about $200,000 of the $4 million Sink has raised to date, bolstering Democratic optimism that she represents the party's best shot in a dozen years to win back the Governor's Mansion.

By comparison, McCollum has collected nearly $1.9 million since entering the race in May. Of that, only about $22,000 came from 68 contributors who gave to Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim Davis in 2006.

Listen to NOAA

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Florida, and U.S., should heed NOAA's concerns over environmental impacts from oil drilling".

"Watchdogs can be put on short leashes"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Last week Gov. Charlie Crist's inspector general blew the whistle on a state-funded corporation that had made a series of improper loans to insiders. It was a textbook example of how inspectors general — the in-house watchdogs in government agencies — serve taxpayers by exposing waste, fraud or abuse."

But for all the good they can do, these watchdogs can be put on short leashes or forced out by their masters, the politically appointed leaders of their agencies. When that happens, taxpayers also end up losing.

•Giving inspectors a fixed term of appointment that wouldn't match the term of their agency leaders. And those leaders would have to cite a cause for firing their agency's watchdog.

•Subjecting inspectors to confirmation by the state Senate or both chambers in the Legislature, and requiring an agency chief planning to fire one to notify legislative leaders first.

•Providing inspectors with separate budgets that can't be cut by their agencies.

An Okaloosa irony

"Okaloosa asks for $299 million in stimulus money".

Oily

"Parties rake in oil, gas cash".

Daddy's little boy

"Matt Gaetz hasn’t just jumped out to a big fundraising lead in the race for the District 4 state representative’s seat; he’s lapped the field a couple of times. When candidate quarterly contributions were released last week, Gaetz, a 27-year-old Fort Walton Beach attorney with no prior political experience, reported raising $167,685." "Gaetz’s cash unmatched in state rep race".

Rail

"Florida officials like their chances of winning billions of federal dollars for a high-speed train, but almost every contender from California to Georgia insists its rail pitch is the best." "Florida's high-speed-rail pitch has stiff competition".

AIF still ain't over that box of manure ...

... Argenziano sent them.

"Argenziano's PIN messages reveal a distrust of fellow commissioners, especially Edgar and Skop, a constant skepticism about the veracity of Florida Power & Light's data, and a double standard: "

While Argenziano insisted that her aide write down all communications with lobbyists, she relied on communicating with him through BlackBerry PIN messages that didn't leave a paper trail and a Google e-mail account whose data resides outside the state server.

That contradiction, and the fact that Argenziano held herself out as an outspoken critic of the PSC, prompted Associated Industries of Florida to question her impartiality in the rate case and call for the agency's inspector general to investigate her.

The records "show that she is violating her code of conduct, her oath of office and she's had ex parte communications with people that she's not supposed to have had,'' said Barney Bishop, president of AIF, a business lobbying group that has sided with Florida Power & Light in its request to raise base rates by $1.3 billion.

Gambling

"State gambling agreement with Seminole tribe may still be far away".

Another fine Jebacy

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Not to sound like a broken record, but the state of Florida is facing another big budget deficit - $2.7 billion at last count. Medicaid is a big budget-buster, and unfortunately, it's clear that state lawmakers aren't sure how to address the increasing costs of a badly needed program."

One thing they can do is reject programs, like the

much-publicized initiative under former Gov. Jeb Bush to operate the program more like an HMO - [it has had] dubious results, and the near-term outlook isn't that promising. With a new state budget cycle looming, and talk that federal health care reforms will have a major impact on the Medicaid program, state lawmakers have reason to be concerned.

Currently 2.7 million people are eligible for Medicaid in Florida, and that number is expected to increase. Cutting Medicaid benefits would only force recipients to either delay health care or force them into hospital emergency rooms, and both would put an even greater strain on Florida taxpayers.

Instead of grasping at straws, state legislators should approach their counterparts in the Florida congressional delegation and urge them to make sure the federal government continues to give its fair share to the program. Right now, the federal government pays 67 percent of the program's expenses, thanks to federal stimulus money, and even more for a children's health insurance program covered by Medicaid. Florida could do better.

State legislators could push Washington to revamp the funding formula to meet Florida's needs, but that means the Republican majority in Tallahassee will have to go beyond berating Medicaid and work with their congressional delegation to ensure that legitimate concerns aren't given short shrift.

Coastal alliance

"4 states in Southeast form coastal alliance".

"The ongoing scandal"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Crist has good reason to be sick of the ongoing scandal, after being dragged into the investigation of political fundraiser and South Florida eye doctor Alan Mendelsohn."

Mendelsohn was arrested last month on 32 counts of fraud for promising to broker influence with several elected officials, and collecting political contributions that he is accused of diverting for personal expenses. The FBI says it taped Mendelsohn claiming that he'd successfully bribed Crist (who was then Florida's attorney general) to back off an investigation of an insurance company -- a claim that was later proven to be false.

Floridians should be disgusted as well. Most recently, the weakness of Florida's anti-corruption statutes played into the decision of a Tallahassee judge who shut down most of the corruption charges pending against former state House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, and Bob Richburg, former president of Northwest Florida State College. A grand jury had indicted the two men of conspiring to appropriate millions of dollars for an airport building meant to benefit political donor Jay Odom -- after which Sansom was given a six-figure job on the college's payroll. "One can understand the frustration and indignation" of the grand jury that indicted Sansom on official misconduct charges, Circuit Judge Terry Lewis wrote. But what the men did wasn't, strictly speaking, illegal.

Chinese drywall

"U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is urging state lawmakers to provide financial help to homeowners dealing with Chinese drywall." "Nelson seeks funds to replace drywall".

He now wants to empanel a statewide grand jury to root out corruption in Florida politics. This comes after the FBI arrests of several public officials and big-money political players and lobbyists in Broward County.

Among those indicted: Alan Mendelsohn, a Broward ophthalmologist who was a member of Mr. Crist's gubernatorial transition team in 2007. Mr. Mendelsohn has pleaded not guilty to federal fraud charges involving raising more than $2 million for political action committees and fabricating his political clout to pad his own pockets. He also falsely claimed he could bribe Mr. Crist, according to federal investigators.

Mr. Crist preferred not to talk about his relationship with Mr. Mendelsohn, a major fundraiser for his 2006 gubernatorial campaign, during a press conference last week. Instead, when asked about Mr. Mendelsohn, the governor noted that in the past two years he has had to remove more than 30 public officials from their offices because of corruption charges. "It's obvious to me that something's wrong with the system.''

In Florida's political theater, this is what is called the climactic moment -- the Aha! that leads to . . . where?

Campaign finance reform?

Tougher ethics rules?

Disclosure of the membership of "electioneering communications organizations'' that can raise unlimited amounts of money to influence elections? ...

In truth, Mr. Crist has spoken his lines in the reform script but has done little to advance the plot.

RPOFer AG blues

William March: "2 new entries could crowd GOP attorney general race".

LeMieux puff piece

"Crist appointee says he consults the governor at least a couple of times a week. Republican leader says George LeMieux is not a 'seat-warmer.'"

Try not to laff too hard at this: "Five weeks into the job, he has turned into a conservative critic of Democratic health-care proposals and the free-spending ways of Congress." "Florida's newest U.S. senator brings young dad's view to national decisions".

RPOFer run "Tallahassee is Wall Street before last year's crash"

Aaron Deslatte: "Florida Power & Light, the utility seeking a $1.3 billion rate hike, is the biggest giver to the Republican Party of Florida:"

The RPOF's next-biggest giver was the Florida Medical Association, which has had to distance itself from Mendelsohn, its former finance chairman. The FBI indicted him for siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions to pay for a love nest with his mistress and other perks. He also allegedly gave $87,000 to a so-far-unnamed "former public official."

Interests have been funneling large checks to top political leaders for years. Florida's campaign-finance laws allow it, lawmakers take huge checks for political bank accounts that are separate from campaigns. ...

But a growing number of players in Florida politics feel that the current system — embodied by Mendelsohn, who cut checks to virtually every influential politician in Florida — is out of control.

"Tallahassee is Wall Street before last year's crash," said one longtime Tallahassee lobbyist, who requested anonymity for fear of angering clients and politicians.

"A few people [are] raising obscene amounts of money and spending it on everything in sight like there's no tomorrow."

Perhaps, Crist agrees.

Charlie's the "last one in, first one to claim credit"

Randy Schultz writes that, "Charlie Crist used to play football. As a politician, he likes to jump on the pile after others have made the tackle, then pop up to show that his uniform is dirty." Ouch.

Schultz proceeds to give Crist a well deserved spanking:

The governor acted nearly a month after the arrest in Broward County of three politicians on corruption charges growing out of an ongoing FBI operation. For his cover story, Gov. Crist claimed that he acted because those arrests followed the removal from office of three Palm Beach County commissioners, also on federal corruption charges. The governor wants the grand jury to cover South Florida and Southwest Florida.

More likely, Gov. Crist showboated because of another case. One week after the arrests of the politicians, federal agents arrested a Broward ophthalmologist and political fixer named Alan Mendelsohn. He is charged with using $350,000 in campaign contributions for his own use. In 2006, Dr. Mendelsohn served on Gov.-elect Crist's transition team. That sort of political gum can be hard to get off the bottom of your shoe.

If the governor had wanted to make public corruption a real priority, though, he didn't have to pull this stunt. He could have done something meaningful, and done it before now. ...

Conveniently, the governor also didn't include Leon County - Tallahassee, the Legislature, state government - as a target area for his "statewide" corruption grand jury.

With any luck, the Florida Supreme Court will reject the governor's request. There's a question of whether the statewide prosecutor, who would run the grand jury, even has jurisdiction on this issue. Moreover, all three South Florida state attorneys now have anti-corruption units. What they need are tougher laws from the governor, not grandstanding.

This, though, is the same Charlie Crist who as attorney general didn't oppose a big phone-rate increase until long past the time that anyone could stop it. Others do the work, and the governor seeks the headlines. He got them last week. Last one in, first one to claim credit.

Must placate them, thar "business groups"

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "County, business groups must reach consensus on ethics reform".

Rubio at work

Jim Saunders: "Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio tried to build support in Volusia and Flagler counties Saturday, criticizing 'big government' solutions to the nation's problems."

Trying to appeal to conservatives who are unhappy with the direction of the Democratic-led country, Rubio pointed to federal efforts to deal with problems such as health care and job creation.

At both stops, Rubio said greater federal involvement in the economy would lead to the government picking "winners and losers" and limit the ability of people to build businesses.

Rubio also said he is concerned that political leaders are passing along problems to future generations, which could threaten the ability of children to do better than their parents and grandparents.

"'Shysters' promoting a 'shell game'"

"The aggressive push for oil drilling off Florida's shores is backed by a coalition of powerful, well-financed business interests who are determined to succeed where they failed before: the state Senate. But even as proponents insist they'll corral the votes they need, Senate skeptics are multiplying — including the chamber's presiding officer and several key Republicans who sound increasingly hostile to the idea." "Is offshore drilling doomed yet again in the Senate?".

Steve Bousquet: "Senate President Jeff Atwater, who's running statewide for chief financial officer, is not convinced that Floridians increasingly support drilling. Moreover, he says the issue is not on his priority list for 2010."

Beyond Atwater's lack of enthusiasm, several veteran Republican senators — some representing beachfront districts — are on record as saying they would not vote for a drilling bill. They include Sens. Victor Crist, R-Tampa; Dennis Jones, R-Seminole; Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland; and Durell Peaden, R-Crestview.

"Once you ruin those pristine beaches, they're ruined forever," said Peaden, a retired doctor who worked for Texaco before he went to medical school. He describes out-of-state oilmen as "shysters" promoting a "shell game" at the expense of Florida's tourism economy.

"It's all about campaign money," Peaden said. "And it's one big crapshoot."

"Void in Palm Beach-Broward condo belt"

"Wexler’s departure leaves power void in Palm Beach-Broward condo belt".

Gelber slams Aronberg on vouchers

Beth Reinhard asks "When is a voucher not a voucher?" She answers her own question:

When you're a Democratic candidate for attorney general and you voted for one of the education legacies of Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

In the kickoff debate of the attorney general race on Sunday, state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach pointed to two key votes that set him apart from rival state Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres. One was Aronberg's vote for "vouchers.''

Tossing out the politically charged word in a room full of liberal Democrats was like waxing poetic about ACORN in front of a bunch of Republican conservatives. Aronberg was indignant.

"I've never had a Democrat distort my record,'' he said. "I have never voted for a voucher.''

Except that he did.

"Aronberg voted for legislation tweaking one of Bush's signature voucher programs, which awards income tax credits to corporations that give private school scholarships to poor kids. This amounts to as much as $118 million in tax dollars that otherwise would be going into the state treasury and, critics charge, could be spent on public education. The 2009 bill allowed insurance companies to participate in the program, increasing the pool of donors and potentially allowing more kids to get scholarships."

Aronberg remained steadfast Friday, saying he has "never voted for a bill that created vouchers or expanded the voucher program.'' It's true that the 2001 legislation creating the program predates Aronberg's arrival in the Senate. And it's true that in 2008, he voted against legislation that increased the available tax credits from $88 million to $118 million. The 2009 bill did not raise the $118 million cap.

Gelber, who got the union's "Champion of Education'' award Friday, suggested Aronberg was making a distinction without a difference.

"He voted for the program and I voted against it. It couldn't be clearer,'' he said. ``I want to fix public education, not privatize it.''

"How different is that ... ?"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom was indicted for secretly diverting $6 million in the state budget to a man who had donated big money to Rep. Sansom and the Republican Party of Florida. How different is that from what Gov. Crist and a few legislators did for a man who promised to bring 500 jobs to St. Lucie County in five years?" "Reform political budgeting".

A Ferre-Stone connection?

In case you missed this Adam Smith column yesterday, here's the link: "Maurice Ferre and the trickster's hand".

Boyd bucks

"A vocal group of critics apparently has not hindered U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd’s ability to raise copious amounts of campaign cash. The past two quarters have been two of the Monticello Democrat’s most lucrative in his seven-term congressional career."

Campaign reports filed Friday show that Boyd has raised $282,273 during the October quarter. During the three months period before that, Boyd brought in $374,353, his biggest quarter ever, campaign finance reports indicate. ...State senator Al Lawson, Boyd’s lone primary opponent, brought in $22,845 over the past three months, less than half of what he was able to bring in during the previous quarter, but said he is on pace to meet his goal.

"We are on target to where I need to be, which is between $150,000 and $200,000," he said. "We don’t need a lot of money to win this race."

Lawson, who served 18-years as a member of the Florida House before becoming a state senator, said that district name recognition will help him overcome fundraising deficits.

Sunday Healy

Jane Healy: "Have lessons been learned on Burnham, DVDs or bears?".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Debt collectors resort to threats and lies, victims say |".

Al Zell warming to Grayson

An editorial from the The Orlando Sentinel editorial board that's not a total anti-Grayson slam? And nice words for Barney Frank as well!?! Stop the presses!

A better rationale for an audit [of the Fed] comes from Mr. Grayson and others who have argued for an accounting of which banks have been getting taxpayer-backed loans.

Fed officials have warned that identifying borrowers could damage their reputations among investors and discourage other banks that need credit from getting help. In response, House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank has suggested the central bank's loans be disclosed, but with a time lag to prevent immediate bumps in the financial markets. That's the kind of reasonable approach that lawmakers should be considering as they aim for more transparency at the Fed.

"Major sticker shock"

"Parents shopping for Florida prepaid-college plans are in for some major sticker shock when annual enrollment for the program opens Monday." "Prepaid-college prices: Prepare to be shocked".

"All-American Road"

"The Florida Keys' Overseas Highway officially made an 'All-American Road'".