Sink wants action

"Decisions on oil-spill response in Florida's Panhandle are emanating from Alabama and Florida's chief financial officer is not happy with how it's going." "Sink irked with slow turnaround on oil-spill response plans".




Oil politics

"Drill ban could rattle Fla. Senate race".

Meanwhile, "U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, a Democrat from New Smyrna Beach, joined her House colleagues Wednesday in introducing legislation that would ensure oil companies are held accountable for paying economic damages resulting from spills." "Legislation seeks to hold oil companies accountable for spills". Back at the beach: "Floridians can expect oil sheen to creep in". See also "Oil could cause 'catastrophic' wildlife damage".




Crist update

"Seminole Tribe gives warm welcome to Gov. Charlie Crist". More: "Jeb Bush endorses Marco Rubio; GOP leaders ask Crist for money back", "Florida's natural treasures hang in balance as oil spill looms", "Oil spill puts fragile world in peril", "Oil could cause 'catastrophic' wildlife damage" and "GOP donors to no-party candidate Crist: Return our money".




Never mind the corruption

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "With the plague of official corruption that has infected Florida in recent years, it's disconcerting that a majority of state legislators couldn't agree on a series of antidotes before their regular session ended last week." "Crack down on corruption next year".




'Glades

Joel Engelhardt: "In a hole, so stop digging: Too much mining in Everglades farm belt.".




Why Crist could not win the RPOF primary

"Charlie Crist faces the toughest decision of his term as governor: whether to sign or veto a bill antiabortion advocates call the "most significant pro-life measure that's ever happened in Florida's history." "Veto choice a defining moment". See also "Abortion veto choice is defining, or redefining, moment for Charlie Crist" and "Abortion description law worries doctors, politicians".




RPOPers can't get it done

"Why the state Legislature failed to pass a law banning bestiality".




"De facto pay cuts"

"A House member whose district includes thousands of state employees urged Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday to veto "de facto pay cuts" in the state budget." "Lawmaker urges Crist to help state workers".




Will the whining ever cease?

"How Business-Friendly was the Legislature This Session?".




About that "antigay psychologist who testified for Florida

"An antigay psychologist who testified for Florida in the state's gay adoption case took a trip to Europe with a gay male prostitute from Miami but says no illegal behavior or sex occurred." "Antigay activist took trip with male 'assistant'". See also "On the web| NewTimes: Christian right leader George Rekers takes vacation with 'rent boy'".




Rubio the "frontrunner" ... except for the polls

"With Gov. Charlie Crist reshuffling the U.S. Senate race as an independent candidate, Republican Marco Rubio reaffirmed his frontrunner status Wednesday by announcing a widely anticipated endorsement from former Gov. Jeb Bush." "Jeb Bush endorses Rubio".




Sale on

"EBay pulls Crist portrait sale, then it resumes".




"Until April 20"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "The chants of "Drill, baby, drill" have become just an echo in the weeks after the April 20 oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico."

"It was just a year ago, in the closing days of the 2009 legislative session, when state Rep. Dean Cannon, an Orlando Republican who is now in" line to become the next Speaker f the House, introduced a bill that would have lifted the prohibition on drilling as close as three miles to the Florida coast. Since then, the debate has been passionate and nonstop." "Our Opinion: Rethinking drilling".




Race change for Burns

"Burns drops out of U.S. Senate race to run for state seat".




Imagine that

"The Florida Senate did not reappoint Daytona State College's most experienced trustee last week, putting her future on the board in doubt and adding fuel to a political fire that has college President Kent Sharples counting potential votes against him."

Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, said she doesn't know why Bennett wasn't approved. ...

Bennett, a onetime lobbyist for Volusia County schools who will soon be retiring as an Osceola Elementary teacher, wonders whether her name was removed because she backed Sharples in a recent dispute with Trustee Forough Hosseini, who along with her husband, Mori Hosseini, have been leading campaign contributors of Crist's.

"I don't know what happened," Bennett said this week in a telephone interview. "Mr. Hosseini called me in January and told me he controlled all the boards and made sure I knew it.

"DSC trustee's name left off list of Senate reappointments".