Republican Party of Florida slapped with subpoena by feds

Perhaps the Florida Republicans who voted for Rick - Fifth Amendment - Scott knew what they were doing after all. Scott, titular head of the RPOF, and his consigliere, Enu Mainigi, are well suited to walk the RPOF through this massive criminal probe.

"Federal investigators slapped the Republican Party with a subpoena seeking financial records as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe by the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's Office, the Herald/Times has learned. The subpoena, delivered Election Day, sought documents related to big spending by top Republican honchos who were given party-paid American Express cards." "Feds subpoena finance records of Republican Party of Florida".

"Federal investigators served the state Republican Party with a subpoena seeking financial records as part of a wide-ranging corruption inquiry by the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's Office." "Feds subpoena state GOP records".




No more drilling

"The White House won't allow any new oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for at least the next seven years because of the BP oil spill." "White House: No drilling of Florida coast".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board:

President Barack Obama took the responsible course Wednesday by shelving his plan to vastly expand oil and gas drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The gulf region will need years to recover from BP’s oil rig explosion in April, and it only makes sense to limit the risks of offshore drilling in the wake of a disaster whose full impact has yet to be measured.

"Drilling lessons learned". See also "Florida's coast to be closed to drilling for 7 years" and "Oil drilling won't be allowed in eastern Gulf".




One can hope

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Ros-Lehtinen could boost hemispheric diplomacy".




Florida among the 10 worst hit states

"Here is the 24/7 Wall St analysis of the two million person problem, focused on the ten states which account for over 70% of the total, and seven states where no benefits will run out this year. "All politics is local," the late House Speaker Tip O'Neill said. It appears that is the case for the long-term unemployment issue as well."

6) Florida
Unemployment: 11.9%
No. residents losing insurance in December: 107,500
No. of weeks: 26
Total population: 18,537,969

Florida has a high unemployment rate of 11.9% - the third worst in the country - with 1.1 million Floridians out of work. In January, state unemployment taxes will almost triple for most businesses that currently pay the minimum, increasing from around $25 to $70 per employee. Governor-elect Rick Scott has also pledged to create 700,000 new jobs in the state in seven years, although opponents have been highly skeptical of this plan.

"The 10 States That Could Be The Hardest Hit By A Lapse In Unemployment Benefits: 24/7 Wall Street".

"Federal emergency unemployment benefits, which expired Nov. 30, could be part of a tax cut compromise, several news agencies are reporting. The Huffington Post reports that President Obama has asked a group of congressional leaders to work out a compromise on expiring tax cuts will also try to work out a compromise on expiring unemployment benefits." "Unemployment extension could be part of tax-cut compromise".




The Chamber exposes its wignut underbelly

"On Wednesday, the Florida Chamber of Commerce announced that former House Speaker Larry Cretul will be the staff director of the Chamber’s board of governors program." "Larry Cretul Headed to Florida Chamber".




Will he blame Sink?

"Republican Rick Scott got plenty of political mileage during the governor’s race ridiculing the Obama administration for running up the federal deficit. But now the governor-elect faces his own tide of red ink -- with taxpayer-financed, state government debt already at a record $26.4 billion, and climbing." "Rick Scott Faces Florida's Sea of Red Ink". Meanwhile, "Florida could lose more than $500 million in Medicaid money".




Brown people

"Dozens of students turned up at the Miami-Dade and Orlando offices of Sen. George LeMieux urging him to vote for the DREAM Act." "Students rally at senator's office".




Shameless

"Several agency heads ask to stay on with Scott administration".




Firing people won't solve these problems

"The governor-elect in short order must put together his own team, confront an economic crisis, resolve a budget shortfall and deal with an assertive Legislature." "Rick Scott's long list of challenges".




Why is this man smiling?

Looks like Ricky has another mini-scandal in the making: "Over a 45-day period, Mayor John Peyton’s chief of staff made $42,500 working for the Republican Party of Florida, according to expenditure reports." "Florida GOP pays Hollingsworth nearly $1,000 a day".




And this is state employees' fault?

"The state’s chief investment officer said Monday that he did not expect any fallout from an ongoing federal investigation into hedge funds but he admitted that there is not a lot of information about the investigation at this time." "State investment chief: No fallout so far from federal probe".




DREAM Act opponents ...

"The DREAM Act would cost Florida taxpayers an estimated $472 million more a year in college tuition subsidies while potentially crowding out citizens, according to a new report from the Center for Immigration Studies. The Washington, D.C.-based research organization that advocates for strict immigration enforcement and border control pegs DREAM's national price tag at $6.2 billion annually." "Florida DREAMing: $472 Million For Illegals at College".




New leaders, please

Bill Cotterell: "Has Florida ever had both political parties looking for new leaders at the same time?" "Parties seek new leaders — each in its own way".




When you elect a mortician ...

"Congress should extend all of the Bush Administration's tax cuts in its lame-duck session, but leave other big issues for the next year, U.S. Rep.-elect Steve Southerland said Wednesday." "Southerland wants GOP to 'make a statement'".




Entrepreneurs in action

"House Republicans kill global warming committee". Meanwhile, "House Republicans Stall Child Nutrition Bill".