Both leading candidates for chairman — longtime party activist and Republican national committeewoman Sharon Day and state Sen. John Thrasher — voiced confidence they had the votes to win, but in a secret ballot with more than 250 eligible voters, anything can happen.

The once mighty and disciplined Florida GOP has been mired in infighting, financial scandal and suspicion for much of the year. It's unclear whether electing a new leader puts an end to the division, as the race to succeed Jim Greer to a large extent pits the Tallahassee establishment backing Thrasher against the longtime grass roots activists backing Day.

In hindsight, it seems pretty tame.

Since January, the GOP has been rocked by a financial scandal that has stunned its members. Reports of private jets, five-star hotels and secret contracts have tainted the party, delighted Democrats and spurred calls for a criminal investigation.

And as the party meets todayin Orlando to replace ousted Chairman Jim Greer, the revelations threaten anyone tied to the party's establishment.

RPOFer "financial collapse"

"A scandal over alleged misuse of state Republican Party money and credit cards, formerly a tempest in the party teapot, is threatening to boil over and affect the party's 2010 election chances. Republicans statewide are outraged and looking for someone to blame for what appears to be the financial collapse of their party."

"How can we, with any credibility, claim to be the party of fiscal responsibility and standing up against wasteful spending, if we can't do it within our own party?" said Hernando County party chairman Blaise Ingoglia. "We can't earn people's trust without fixing that. The first step on the road to recovery is admitting we had a problem."

But at the same time party leaders and candidates are demanding an open accounting, they're also worried about public relations damage from information that may come out.

Gleeful Democrats as well as some 2010 GOP candidates, are calling for full release of records, including Gov. Charlie Crist, running for U.S. Senate, and state Sen. Paula Dockery, running for governor.

"The party would do itself a great favor if it would just release the information," said Dockery.

"If there's nothing to it, then why don't we come clean and prove there's nothing to it? If there is something, then why don't we come clean and get past it?"

Others are reluctant, including Crist's primary opponent Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Bill McCollum, frontrunner in the primary for governor.

Debate debate

"Rather than actually have a debate with each other, Gov. Charlie Crist and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio are having a debate about where and when to hold a debate in the Republican U.S. Senate race." "Crist, Rubio debate over debate".

"Crist and Marco Rubio apparently will conduct the first debate of their Senate primary campaign March 28 on Fox News Channel. Republican Party organizations in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, however, have also asked the two to hold a debate at Tampa's Pepin Center in May. The campaigns, meanwhile, are trading accusations that each candidate is afraid to debate the other." "Crist, Rubio camps dicker over debates".

Whooppee!!!

"Brown-Waite announces re-election bid".

"What to do next"?

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "The increase in a tax that goes into a trust fund to compensate unemployed workers appears to be on a slow track for the time being. That should be of help to Florida businesses and, indirectly, Florida workers who have been laid off."

House and Senate committees on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation (HB 7033 and SB 1666) that would delay the unemployment compensation tax increase for two years. Notice of the sudden jump for business owners came this winter after the state's fund to pay laid-off workers bottomed out. It went broke last summer as the number of unemployed Floridians hit record highs. The jobless rate in Florida is now approaching 12 percent.

If business owners have to pay substantially more into this trust fund, they'd have to hold off on hiring employees — or possibly even retaining current workers. So the conundrum has been painful on both sides of the fence.

Eventually, the trust fund will have to be replenished — including enough to pay back $1.1 billion borrowed from the federal government to keep the compensation checks coming.

What to do next is the question. And when is "next"?

Sansom

"A spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party helped write a citizen complaint that served as the basis for a House investigation into Republican Rep. Ray Sansom's dealings with a Panhandle college." "Democratic Party helped coordinate Sansom complaint". Related: "Other House speakers brought home bacon, but Sansom brought trouble". See also "Investigating House committee prepared for Sansom hearing".

"Nauseated by politicians' freeloading ways"

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "South Floridians nauseated by politicians' freeloading ways will be singing a Hallelujah chorus at the latest silver lining to emerge from local political corruption scandals: Elected officials are getting increasingly gun shy about accepting freebies." "Politicians finally saying no to freebies".

"Staggering unemployment"

"Staggering unemployment during an election year means the pressure on state leaders to spur job growth couldn't be greater." "State leaders limited in ways to create jobs but 'heat is on'".

"An outrage then and now"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "A year ago the Florida Legislature made it easier for developers to deplete public water supplies and destroy wetlands. Lawmakers changed the law that gave the state's water management district governing boards the final say in permitting and gave full authority to take final action on permit applications to the districts' executive directors. In effect, they shut the public out of the process. It was an outrage then and now." "Tipping the deck in favor of the public".

HD 58

"3 vie for state House District 58 seat".

Florida first in foreclosures

"The news is not that Florida leads the nation in foreclosures, even though it does. The story now is by how much. And how bad it's gotten. Here goes: The number of home loans in foreclosure in Florida at the end of last year was 44 percent higher than at the end of 2008." "Florida foreclosures soar". See also "HeFlorida (again) leads in foreclosures".

Miami mess

"Miami's top administrator stepped down, leaving his successor to oversee a crippling budget crisis and a widening federal probe into the city's finances." "Miami city manager resigns amid money mess".

Rum war

"At issue is a deal that would bring a rum producer -- and jobs and tax revenue -- to the Virgin Islands."

But Puerto Rico is crying foul, saying the deal represents a taxpayer handout to Diageo, the British liquor giant that owns Captain Morgan, and could cost Puerto Rico as much as $6 billion in lost rum tax revenues over the next three decades.

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson is said to be drafting legislation aimed at blocking the deal, enraging allies of the Virgin Islands, including the National Black Chamber of Commerce, which fired off a letter to Nelson saying his intervention would hurt the only African-American majority territory in the United States.

The group also accuses Florida Sen. George LeMieux of joining the campaign on Puerto Rico's behalf.

A spokesman for Nelson said ``a number of lawmakers question the wisdom of using billions of dollars of American taxpayers' money to build a rum plant in the Virgin Islands for a foreign company.'' ...

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Maurice Ferre, a native of Puerto Rico who is trailing in the polls, has sought to turn the controversy into a campaign issue, estimating there are 750,000 Puerto Ricans in Florida -- a potent voting bloc. Ferre has criticized his primary rival, Rep. Kendrick Meek, for not siding with Puerto Rico.

A spokesman for Meek said he was still reviewing the issue.

"The year for watershed protection?"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "State lawmakers say all the right things about protecting the springs, preserving fragile aquatic life, assuring the continued attraction of these natural wonders to tourists. But they just can't seem to bring themselves to restrict development and pollution in spring watersheds." "Clean springs".

He did it while standing in front of two easily visible teleprompters.

It was unclear whether the devices were placed there for him or for other speakers at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference, or CPAC, at which he was a keynote speaker. A HuffPost reporter, however, watched his speech from the front row and Rubio could clearly be seen looking intently and repeatedly at the teleprompters. He also had a stack of papers with him at the lectern and flipped through them as the speech progressed, perhaps unwilling to take any chance he would flub the swipe at Obama.

The first major speaker at CPAC -- a mecca of conservative thinkers and activists -- Rubio drew a crowd that packed a hotel ballroom in Washington, each attendee eager to get a glimpse of the man who has come to personify conservative re-ascendance in the age of Obama. The speech itself was a rather standard red meat affair, with the expected swipes at his primary rival, Gov. Charlie Crist, and even more at the president and his administration.

When he spoke about capturing terrorists, one audience member had a suggestion.

"Waterboard them!" the man yelled.

Rubio smiled, and the audience laughed.

Yaaawwwnnn ...

"Jeb Bush Predicts 'Tsunami' For Republicans In November".

"Where's our trusty attorney general? MIA"

Scott Maxwell argues that the RPOF "may want to rethink their decision to pin all their chances on two-time loser Bill McCollum."

This is, after all, a time when residents are sick of the status quo, career politicians and toe-the-line partisanship. McCollum epitomizes all three.

He wants to fix rotten big government — and wants even more for you to ignore the fact that he has been part of said government for 30 years.

Republicans have other options. State Sen. Paula Dockery is a no-nonsense leader who commands respect from both sides of the aisle and makes Democrats nervous.

Or, if the GOP kingmakers are hell-bent on McCollum, they should persuade him at least to act like he gives a flip about good government, transparency, social justice — heck, just about anything other than his 15th campaign for public office.

Most recently, McCollum has come under fire in his current job as attorney general for showing no interest in investigating the credit-card scandals in the Republican Party of Florida.

Basically, public officials are prohibited from taking gifts from special interests. Yet, now it looks as if multiple legislators had Florida GOP-issued American Express cards that special interests were helping pay off.

So where's our trusty attorney general? MIA.

The usual suspects

"Citrus growers, cattle ranchers, sugar farmers and utility operators told federal environmental regulators Thursday that they are all for keeping rivers and lakes clean, but they don't want to go broke doing it."

The overriding fear was cost. A coalition of foes -- including Associated Industries of Florida, Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Stormwater Association, Florida Tax Watch, Sugarcane Growers Cooperative of Florida and some 60 other organizations that collectively wield considerable political clout -- has put the estimate at $50 billion, a staggering price tag for a state reeling from a collapsed housing market and high unemployment.

The EPA's economic analysis put costs at no more than $140 million a year -- only $5 million to $10 million more than rules proposed by Florida's Department of Environmental Protection.

Entrepreneurs in action

Fred Grimm: "Ghosts don't work cheap in Miami-Dade County."

Wackenhut, according to the county auditor in 2008, had billed the county millions for phantom security guards along the Metrorail line -- "ghosts posts'' they were called, back when naïve taxpayers mistook this practice for scandalous duplicity.

The county even sued, feigning an interest in recovering the ghost money. That suit was in addition to a 2005 whistle-blower lawsuit filed by a Wackenhut sergeant who claimed she was fired for exposing the ethereal nature of her fellow security guards.

Wackenhut, meanwhile, sued the county back, claiming the ghostly allegations had besmirched the company's reputation.

But it looked as if a powerful vendor finally might be made to pay for its sins, despite Wackenhut's cadre of powerful lobbyists (including the conflicted Carrie Meek, the former congresswoman collecting checks from both the county and the company).

Retribution, as it turns out, was just another illusion.

The Miami-Dade Commission will consider a settlement of the Wackenhut imbroglio on Thursday. The headline will say that Wackenhut agreed to pay $7.5 million. A spectral voice in the background whispers, "Beware of the details.''

More entrepreneurs in action

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "With her organization under intense scrutiny for sweetheart deals and inflated executive compensation, how did Florida's Blood Centers CEO Anne Chinoda react? She accepted a 13 percent hike in her already bloated pay package last year. Amid the worst recession in decades. And less than two months before the nonprofit decided to lay off 42 employees." "Resign, Ms. Chinoda".

PSC ethics

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "It's too early to declare victory for Florida utility consumers. But the state Senate is poised to approve next month the most sweeping ethics reforms in the history of the Public Service Commission. Now House Speaker Larry Cretul just needs to make sure his chamber follows suit." "Reforms at PSC overdue".

No deal for Sansom

"Unable to reach a deal to avert a spectacle that could embarrass some of the state's top politicians, the Florida House plans to begin its disciplinary hearing of Rep. Ray Sansom next week." And

there could be plenty of drama.

Sansom has scheduled as witnesses several current and former lawmakers, including former House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami, and future Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Melboune.

Both men, and others, say they will testify if needed. But the mere fact of being put under oath in a messy ethics investigation could prove uncomfortable, particularly for Rubio, who is surging in his U.S. Senate race against Gov. Charlie Crist.

Among the potential witnesses for House prosecutor Melanie Hines is former Sen. Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey, who worked closely with Sansom in putting together the state budgets in 2007 and 2008. Carlton has told investigators that had she known the $6 million could have benefited Odom's corporate jet business, she would not have signed off on it. Sansom has said the money was solely for an emergency management and training center at the airport.

"Give me Marco Rubio or give me death!"

Joel Engelhardt writes about "how to pull off a good ol' American grass-roots political movement. In the 1960s, drugged-up youths took to the streets, and the FBI feared a Soviet plot. Now, sober-minded Americans take to the streets and deny that they're part of a political plot. Unless you count FreedomWorks."

"Media Matters, a liberal watchdog group, has tracked some FreedomWorks money."

The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation [DeVos also owns the Orlando Magic], financed by the Amway fortune, gave $100,000 in 2007. The Sarah Scaife Foundation — remember Hillary Clinton and the "vast right-wing conspiracy" that now seems so quaint? — gave $200,000.

On Tuesday, 50 leaders of the supposedly leaderless Tea Party met with Republican National Party Chairman Michael Steele. It was a great chance for Tea Partiers to tell Republicans where to get off. After all, Tea Partiers know that the GOP needs them more than they need the GOP. For Mr. Steele, it was a great chance to link Republicans to the Tea Party.

He should know better. The Tea Party isn't about political parties. It's about do-it-yourself venting. With the help of patriotic organizations — nonpartisan or not — like FreedomWorks, anyone can set the water to boil. I'm hard at work on my slogan — "Give me Marco Rubio or give me death!" — and ready to party.

Nelson speaks to "the cancer cluster in the Acreage"

"U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson called on mustering the 'full research capability of the federal government' to find the cause of the cancer cluster in the Acreage." "Nelson: Acreage cancer cluster deserves federal government's 'full research capability'".

Statewide space symposium

"A statewide space symposium convened by Gov. Charlie Crist in Orlando on Thursday heard repeatedly from industry executives, academics and experts that Florida had to adapt to a new U.S. national space policy that favored commercial rocket companies or give up its ambitions to be a world-class launch center." "At Charlie Crist’s space summit, Florida space backers told to get with Obama's program, let go of the past".

Local election laws

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board writes this morning: "Florida's elections system was crafted around local control. State government provides a basic legal framework, but elected supervisors in each county choose the equipment, hire the pollworkers and oversee ballot counts. It's not a perfect system -- but it's better than the alternative of overly politicized management from Tallahassee. The elections debacles of the last decade, and the slowness of the state Legislature to pass meaningful reforms to elections laws, prove the value of local input."

In 2006 -- in the midst of headline-grabbing debates over the accuracy of electronic voting systems -- Sarasota voters decided to exercise that prerogative. They approved a charter amendment that required paper ballots and set up a system of audits and potential recounts in close or disputed elections.

Voters there weren't trying to buck state elections laws; they just wanted more assurance that their votes would be handled accurately. What they got was a lawsuit -- filed by the Florida Division of Elections and Secretary of State Kurt Browning, saying that Sarasotans had been too presumptuous.

Last week, the Florida Supreme Court smacked down that argument, ruling that local voters have the right to demand higher standards of vote integrity and that the bulk of the Sarasota rules posed no conflict with state law. The court did discard one provision, which kept county officials from certifying votes to the state until all challenges had been resolved -- but other than that, Sarasota's elections will be held to a higher standard than those of other counties.

Greer to show at booting out ceremony

"Ousted Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer says he's coming to Saturday's executive committee meeting to preside over the election of his replacement."

But Greer will leave the party with only a handshake.

Party officials acknowledged Wednesday that there were negotiations to continue paying Greer his yearly $130,000 salary and other benefits as severance. But they said the agreement was never formally "executed." Greer's ouster was precipitated by lavish spending, subpar fundraising and a grassroots rebellion.

As recently as last weekend, Greer had been expected to avoid the meeting and the furor over a secret fundraising contract he inked with former Executive Director Delmar Johnson that boosted Johnson's pay last year to at least $408,000. Greer also spent lavishly on charter planes and fancy restaurants. ...

But Greer, who has refused to comment since the Johnson news broke, has told party officials he'll be there. And if he shows, Greer may have to answer a question many RPOF executive committee members have been asking: whether he got any part of the nearly $200,000 in fundraising commissions secretly steered to Johnson last year.

The reality is the bleak economic picture in the Sunshine State would look a lot darker without the federal money.

The tale is in the numbers, even if there are disputes over the precise figures. Without the federal help, the state would have been forced to lay off thousands of teachers and would be facing an even deeper budget crisis. Yes, the state still lost more than 1 million jobs in 2009 and the unemployment rate has risen to 11.8 percent. But it would have been even worse without the stimulus package.

As job creation, it's better than road construction. New data released by a U.S. House transportation committee and analyzed by several non-governmental organizations show that dollars spent on public transportation produce twice as many jobs as dollars spent on highway construction.

SunRail's groundbreaking is especially timely in a state approaching 12 percent unemployment. It's also one more promising element in a federal stimulus package already doing much good. ...

In Florida, the stimulus saved 25,000 teachers' jobs and thousands of additional jobs in county and city governments -- cops, firefighters, garbage collectors. It saved tens of thousands of homeowners from foreclosure, thus preventing the further gutting of communities through darkened lots, and it subsidized local government programs, including in Palm Coast and Volusia County, that fix and sell homes to lower and middle income buyers.

Critics of the stimulus still abound. They point to a national unemployment rate at 9.7 percent and accumulating debt. They also ignore what even Republicans such as Ben Bernanke (the Federal Reserve chief) and Henry Paulson, former treasury secretary, say was averted: a depression. Unemployment is high and in Florida, where a decade of speculative home-building wrecked an economy enslaved to developers, it may get higher still. But had opponents of a stimulus had their way, conditions most likely would have been far worse.

Enough voucher madness

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "With Florida facing a $3 billion deficit and striving to maintain momentum in improving public schools, this is an odd time to talk about expanding tuition vouchers for private schools."

Yet voucher supporters are pushing legislation that would divert more tax money to the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and raise the value of each voucher. Legislators should keep the focus on improving public education and reject this legally suspect bid to siphon more public money away to private schools.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Miami-Dade, Wackenhut near settlement in alleged overbillings for Metrorail guards".

CPAC next stop for Rubio

"Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio will make the biggest speech yet in his Senate campaign, telling the Conservative Political Action Conference he's the better choice to represent their views. He will speak Thursday to more than 3,000 conservative activists in Washington." "FL Senate hopeful Rubio addresses DC conservatives". Meantime, "Crist camp mocks Rubio on eve of CPAC speech; CPAC says Crist wasn’t considered for speaking invite".

"In less than one year, the Republican challenger to Gov. Charlie Crist has leaped from sleeper candidate to near-front runner in the polls."

Rubio's marquee appearance in front of thousands of politicians, activists and opinion makers at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington marks yet another milestone in one of the most astonishing turnarounds in Florida politics.

How will he continue to pitch himself as a political outsider -- the quality that made him a star on the anti-establishment tea-party circuit -- even as he picks up congressional endorsements and raises money with the Washington elite? Will his political liabilities weigh more heavily under the intense scrutiny bestowed on leading candidates? ...

At a time when being an incumbent can be a career killer, the former House speaker frequently adopts the posture of a fight-the-power revolutionary, referring to ``our movement'' and decrying the "establishment.''

But his schedule this week doesn't look like a path blazed by an insurgent. Wednesday night, he was slated to attend a fundraiser at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Washington co-hosted by the former ambassador to Barbados. After his speech to CPAC -- Glenn Beck, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney also are on the program -- he's got back-to-back receptions. One is hosted by lobbying powerhouse Peter Madigan, a top fundraiser for Republican presidential nominee John McCain. The other is hosted by a few members of Congress, former Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter, Liz, and former White House advisor, Mary Matalin.

"People raise their eyebrows when they see him doing these fundraisers,'' said Matt Nye, an activist in the Republican party and tea party movement in Brevard County. ...

In recent days, Rubio has landed potentially money-raising endorsements from anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist, former presidential candidate Steve Forbes and the No. 3 Republican in the House, Mike Pence of Indiana.

NASA

"Bill Nelson: Manned space program isn't dead yet". Related: "State's Lt. Gov. tells Port Salerno audience White House making 'huge' mistake with space exploration decision".

"No taxation without representation"

Michael Bender: "The power to raise property taxes would rest solely with elected officials under a constitutional amendment proposed for the November ballot."

The amendment would revamp the supervision of hospital and children's services districts across the state and make the South Florida Water Management District, which covers 16 counties and includes about 7 million people, the biggest voting district in the state and among the largest in the country, according to the National Association of Election Officials.

"It's something called 'no taxation without representation," said state Rep. Carl Domino, a Jupiter Republican sponsoring the amendment (HJR 493) discussed Wednesday in the House Government Affairs Committee.

As Crist grubs for wingnut votes ...

... his administration underscores his wingnut bona fides.

"State child-welfare administrators have appealed the adoption of an infant foster child by a gay Hollywood woman -- the second challenge to Florida's gay-adoption law currently under review. Joe Follick, a spokesman for the Department of Children & Families, said his agency appealed the decision last month by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Maria Sampedro-Iglesia to approve Vanessa Alenier's adoption of a relative taken into foster care shortly after his birth." "State challenging gay adoption in Hollywood case".

Government work

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "Florida's unemployment rate is nearly 12 percent, while across the nation it is close to 10 percent. So Job One everywhere has become the creation or salvation of jobs."

Statewide, offshore drilling is being sold as a major job provider. And if you wonder why Northrup Grumman is running advertisements in the Tallahassee Democrat concerning a multibillion-dollar federal defense contract — well, jobs in Florida are part of the picture.

The background is this: Faced with an aging fleet of flying refueling tankers, the federal government sought bids for a new generation of aircraft based on commercially available wide-body planes. Northrop Grumman won the contract in 2008, but Boeing protested. The Government Accountability Office upheld the protest based on eight of the 110 points Boeing raised, so in 2009 a new draft "Request for Proposal" was released.

But this time, Northrop Grumman is the one feeling misused and says it cannot make a successful bid unless new changes are made.

"Innocence commission"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "This year the Legislature can prove that it is not just tough on crime but also fair by creating an innocence commission to prevent more wrongful convictions. It should also simplify the wrongful conviction compensation law". "Justice for the wrongly convicted".

There's always tomorrow

"Legislation that would delay an unemployment compensation tax increase for two years is on a fast track to early passage in the Florida Legislature."

Two similar bills received final committee approval Wednesday in the House and Senate, both by unanimous votes.

A sponsor, however, warned that the tax paid by employers must increase eventually.

Medicaid

"Medicaid revamp faces obstacles in Tallahassee".

"A full-throated scream"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Whispered discontent over the skyrocketing costs of warehousing Florida's prison population has become a full-throated scream." "Reform Florida's sentencing laws".

Sanchez nomination moving

"A federal review of a failed grant program may clear the way for Senate confirmation of Obama administration appointee Frank Sanchez of Tampa." "Tampa's Frank Sanchez may get confirmation hearing for commerce job".

"Serious" candidates

Bill Cotterell: "We fret about the influence of money in politics, how candidates sell out to special interests for campaign cash that, once in office, is repaid with votes on public policy."

Everybody bemoans how they spend that money on advertising that panders to the extremes of whatever they represent.

And yet, when somebody comes along without special-interest financing and a stable of slick campaign consultants, the conventional political wisdom says, "Ha! You're not a serious candidate — if you were, businesses would have given you $500,000 and you'd have a fleet of advisers to test-market your messages and package you like toothpaste." Running a campaign of ideas, issues and principles is terrific, once you figure out how to let anybody know you're doing it.

Meggs' money

"FDLE forwards 'deferred compensation' complaint to state attorney Meggs".

Morgan v. Snyder

"John Morgan, who has had a Web site up for nearly two months proclaiming his intention to run as a Democrat to challenge two-term state House Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, filed his paperwork this week for the office. ... Republicans hold a 45 percent to 30 percent advantage over Democrats among registered voters in the district." "Democrat files to challenge House Rep. William Snyder".

Patient protection bill

"Nurses rally for Fla. patient protection bill".

Sorry, Sarah

"The Florida House last year voted to allow exploration for oil and natural gas in state waters, but the Senate did not bring it up for a vote. This year the issue may not come up for a vote -- but it will still weigh heavily in the upcoming session's background." "Drilling's priority diminishes".

Too many of them believe stonewalling will silence critics who include many of the party's own grass roots supporters. It's time for state and federal authorities to investigate to determine if campaign finance and tax laws have been broken.

The most obvious question is whether state Republican Party staffers, leaders and elected officials misspent political contributions for personal gain — and should have paid taxes on that compensation. Millions of dollars in soft money has been raised by the party in recent years. Much of it, apparently, went to pay American Express bills that were never fully disclosed in campaign finance reports. While state law requires such transparency, an elections division ruling let the party off the hook.

He's content to let the next state party chairman, due to be elected this weekend, conduct an internal audit before calling the authorities in. Surely many of the entities that the attorney general investigates wish they were given such leeway to clean up their books. McCollum's office is likely not the appropriate state agency to investigate — a state attorney, statewide grand jury or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would seem more likely — but his answer suggests he's more interested in saving the party embarrassment than getting at the truth.

Setbacks for Sansom

"State Rep. Ray Sansom's attempt to have a fellow lawmaker removed from a panel investigating his ties to a state college has failed, and Sansom's defense was handed two other setbacks late Tuesday."

Sansom argued Monday that Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach, had a conflict of interest because he works for the same law firm as the lawyer representing witnesses for Northwest Florida State College.

Sansom, R-Destin, also said Gibbons was biased because he told a reporter that Sansom could be trying to delay the tribunal.

But Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, the chairman of the five-member committee, said Tuesday night that Gibbons could stay because the review was not like a judicial setting, but instead a review by Sansom's colleagues. He added that Gibbons' statements did not rise to the extreme and stressed that any disciplinary action would be voted on by the 120-member House.

As head of the House budget, Sansom steered $35 million in extra or accelerated money to Northwest Florida State College, including $6 million for an airport building that a developer at one point was eyeing for his corporate jet business. He later took a $110,000 job at the school on the same day he was sworn in as speaker of the House.

The tribunal is to begin Monday, and Sansom will be limited by a decision Galvano made Tuesday granting a motion by the House's special prosecutor, Melanie Hines.

PSC ethics

"A bill to raise ethical standards at the Public Service Commission sailed through the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday, clearing the way for Senate floor debate as early as the first week of the 2010 session next month." "Bill to reform PSC ethics earns quick endorsement".

Sink gets frugal

"Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, a Democratic candidate for governor, continued Tuesday to emphasize the theme of a more-businesslike approach to state government. To save money, the former bank executive is calling on state agencies to eliminate jobs of middle managers as they retire or quit." "Sink emphasizes cost-saving measures for state agencies". See also "Sink wants to thin state's bureaucratic herd".

Meantime, Billy bares his fangs: "It didn’t take long for Attorney General Bill McCollum’s campaign to slap Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s proposal to save $10 million a year by leaving her agency’s middle management positions unfilled after workers retire or leave the state. The GOP candidate for governor’s campaign called Sink’s announcement a political publicity stunt by her official state office." "UPDATE: Sink-McCollum smackdown, Part II".

"The right to participate"?

"A Tallahassee appellate court will soon weigh in on whether Florida's Sunshine Law gives citizens the right to be participants, not merely spectators, in government meetings." "Court to decide public's right to speak, be heard".

Entrepreneurs in action

The Miami Herald editorial board: ""

The hotel bellman worked without breaks for a 16-hour shift when he was asked, but didn't get the contracted gratuity in his paycheck.

A landscape subcontractor promised Guatemalan workers $100 a day for a week's work but disappeared on pay day.

People in low-paying jobs -- U.S.-born and migrants alike -- are overly susceptible to unscrupulous employers who exploit them, as the South Florida Wage Theft Task Force has found.

Activists call this "wage theft,'' and they have enlisted Miami-Dade Commissioner Natacha Seijas to their cause. The result is a county ordinance, cosponsored by Commissioners Audrey Edmonson and Jose "Pepe'' Diaz, prohibiting wage theft. The County Commission will consider the ordinance on Thursday. Commissioners should adopt it.

Recovering back wages owed workers will put more money in the local economy, send a message to crooked employers and create a more level playing field for honest employers.

Yaaawwwnnn ...

"Bushes in Naples: George W. and Jeb show personal side in appearance".

Paper or plastic?

"Should plastic shopping bags be banned? A state panel addressed the question, but offered no answer Tuesday." "Report could spur debate on plastic-bag ban in Florida".

Tea partiers in a dither

Jeremy Wallace: "Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele was still at a summit with tea party activists in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, when people connected to the movement hatched plans to protest his arrival in Charlotte County for meetings with top Republican fundraisers later this week." "Tea party to protest Republicans".

Foreclosures

"Hispanics hit hard by foreclosure".

Swine flu

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Swine flu no big deal in Florida thanks to efforts to thwart it".

"Florida hasn't reaped much"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "It's easy to find fault with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act a year after President Obama signed it. Florida hasn't reaped much from it."

The act's worst excesses, its expenditures that have little to do with creating jobs and more to do with letting lawmakers fatten their favorite constituencies, continue to pop up.

Exhibit A: $325,394 in stimulus money for the University of Florida to determine how the environment affects the mating decisions of female cactus-bugs.

The project has created one research technician's job. Defenders of the project say it could uncover a hormone in the insect that may aid medicine. And that would create jobs … how?

We'd also love to hear from anyone who can explain how $59,845 in stimulus money for Florida International University graduate students to analyze an explosion of lawsuits in 17th-century Peru and Mexico is going to put 21st-century Floridians back to work.

Several other handouts from Washington that on the surface might seem to have public value — $34,000 for Oviedo police to buy 42 Tasers, for instance — similarly chafe us because they simply don't do anything to get the state working again. ...

It has, by state and federal accounts, saved or created about 35,000 jobs in Florida.

But in 2009, the state lost 1.1 million jobs and unemployment rose to 11.8 percent from 9.4 percent. Which leads to our greatest frustration with the Recovery Act — the sometimes slow-as-molasses spending of its billions. Florida ranks 47th in spending its federal-stimulus largess.

NASA

"Sometime next month, if all goes well, a 154-foot-tall white rocket will rise from a launchpad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in a crucial test of the ambitions of upstart space company SpaceX —- and of President Barack Obama's new policy for NASA." "SpaceX rocket launch: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch will be test of commercial space business".

CD2

"When it comes to Panhandle politics — in both physical stature and clout — Al Lawson looms large."

A state lawmaker for 27 years, the Tallahassee Democrat is the longest serving member of the state Legislature, having risen through the ranks to Senate minority leader. Lawson is now making a run at the Congressional seat held by another Panhandle stalwart, seven-term incumbent Allen Boyd.

The jump from being a big fish in a small pond, to its cliche opposite, however, could be proving tricky for the unofficial “Dean of the Legislature.” National observers, strategists and some state party members have started taking notice of Lawson’s small fundraising numbers, and of a strategy, they say, that might work when running for a safe state seat but misses the mark when it comes to running for Congress, despite the anti-incumbent fervor roiling the Washington establishment.

Another RPOFer in CFO mix

"Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, has filed papers to run for state chief financial officer next year, creating a likely primary fight against Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, according to the Florida Division of Elections website." "Patterson ready to run for CFO".

Wingnuts of the world unite

Chris Cillizza: "Former Florida state House speaker Marco Rubio will make a stop in the nation's capital this week to raise money for his Senate primary at an event headlined by, among others, Jeb Bush Jr."

"Jebby," as Bush Jr. is known, is the son of the former Florida governor, who hasn't taken a public position in the GOP primary fight between Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist, although many of his past aides -- as well as his son! -- are backing the former state legislator.

Among the other boldface names sponsoring the Rubio event on Wednesday night are Bush White House political director Matt Schlapp, former ambassador Mary Ourisman, and former Tom DeLay aides Brett Loper and Drew Maloney.

Millionaires row

"The three running Rooneys are grandsons of late Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney and sons of Pat Rooney Sr., the longtime Palm Beach Kennel Club president who handed the reins to Pat Rooney Jr. a few years ago." "Tom and Pat aren't the only Rooney candidates".

At the trough

Aaron Deslatte: "House and Senate leaders are pushing an elections bill this year to resurrect what are known as 'leadership funds' — political committees unconstrained by the statutory $500 limit on campaign contributions that thus can enable legislative leaders to collect huge checks from donors."

The funds were once a way for lawmakers to raise huge sums that the leaders could then hand out to pay for polling, campaign staff and other expenses of legislative races. The funds were outlawed in 1989 during a round of "good government" reform. Lawmakers promptly got around the ban by raising gobs of money for the state parties, which then turned around and spent big on legislative races. Though state law prohibits the parties from "earmarking" dollars to be used — or directed — by specific elected leaders, the parties and politicians know who raised what.

The reason "leadership funds" have come back into vogue is that the Republican legislative leadership doesn't trust the Republican Party of Florida to spend its money wisely. That's why incoming House and Senate leaders Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos yanked close to $1 million out of RPOF accounts last month after the much-reported scandals — lavish credit-card spending, a secret fundraising deal — surrounding ousted Chairman Jim Greer.

Cannon, R-Winter Park, and Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, are storing the cash in another type of political fund called a "Committee of Continuous Existence." But Florida law limits what the money can be spent on.

Big of 'em

"A Fort Lauderdale man who spent three years and seven months in prison for a robbery he didn't commit will become the first wrongfully convicted person to receive compensation under a new Florida law." "Lauderdale man to get $179K under wrongful conviction law".

Meek

"U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek honored for efforts to get a missions group home from Haiti".

Inappropriate browbeating

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "There's nothing like a good old-fashioned power-and-turf struggle to kick off another legislative season. Some lawmakers are rattled by the possibility of two citizen-driven amendments that are meant to help take some of the political machinations out of drawing legislative and Congressional districts."

There is no way to take all the politics out; this is about power and it's about people, after all.

But for three hours last week, two powerful lawmakers [Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park] inappropriately browbeat Miami attorney Ellen Freidin, chair of the FairDistricts Florida petition campaign that last year the Supreme Court ruled was ready for the ballot this fall.

"Bill would let public involvement flow"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Water is one of Florida's most precious assets -- too often taken for granted. When high-level decisions about water are made behind closed doors, protecting that asset becomes a critical public concern."

But the Legislature closed the doors last year, when it passed a new law taking the authority to grant permits to pull water from the Floridan Aquifer and destroy wetlands away from appointed water-management district boards. Instead, these decisions -- which can involve the use of millions of gallons of water per day -- are made solely by the districts' executive directors. (The new law explicitly bans the water- management district's governing boards, who are appointed by the governor, from "interfering" in permit cases.)

Lawmakers also stripped the public of the right to appeal permits, while preserving developers' ability to appeal denials. It was a fairly blatant attempt to stack the deck in favor of out-of-control growth and reckless use of resources.

The new law went into effect in July, after Gov. Charlie Crist signed it.

FCAT follies

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Done right, end-of-course tests could be a promising tool."

Critics long have assailed Florida's annual test, which assesses student mastery of reading, writing, math and science. They say FCAT, first given in 1998, robs teachers of creativity, forcing them to focus on preparing students to pass the high-stakes test, which holds sway in third-grade promotion, high-school graduation and school accountability grades.

Similar criticism has sparked growing interest since 2002 in end-of-course tests.

Because those tests more narrowly measure how students comprehend content in specific courses, they better align with curriculum standards. That helps teachers zero in on course standards, and frees them to present the material in innovative ways.

Ethics stuff

The Miami Herald editors: "State law requires prosecutors to prove that a bribe or other benefit in exchange for an official's vote or favor actually occured. The prosecutors say this hamstrings attempts to root out public corruption. They propose a looser standard that would require them to prove that a public official failed to disclose a potential benefit or conflict of interest behind a vote -- even if the official didn't actually vote on the issue."

If the benefit wasn't disclosed it would be a criminal offense with tougher penalties than currently apply. [Broward County State Attorney Michae] Satz used the example of an officeholder pushing for approval of a particular contract who "takes a bathroom break just before the vote to avoid declaring a conflict.''

Such a law would make government more transparent and make it easier to prosecute crooked officials. The Legislature should approve this proposal in its upcoming session.

And the, you know ... unionized cops

"Tampa gets what works to fight crime".

From the "values" crowd

Bill Cotterell: "State employees are understandably reluctant to talk on the record about any developments in their offices, especially when the news is bad. There is a widespread fear of getting fired for making even the most mild, accurate comment about what's going on in different agencies." "Closing child-care center devastating for state employees".

Imagine that, ... government programs

"Crist, once known for his support of prison chain gangs, is embracing an inmate rehabilitation effort often seen as 'soft on crime.'" "Crist, others support inmate rehab programs in tight budget".

"The Children in Need of Services/Families in Need of Services, or CINS/FINS, program has drawn national accolades. About 85 percent of those who spend time at a CINS/FINS shelter - typically two weeks - do not commit a crime within six months of being released, according to the state." "Fla. program diverts troubled kids from court".

Alex Sink, Democratic candidate for governor, told a hometown crowd of Tampa Democrats that her Republican opponent, Bill McCollum, needs to "wake up."

Citing the scandal over credit card abuse in the state Republican Party, Sink said McCollum, a Republican and the state attorney general, has neglected his duty in refusing to mount a criminal investigation.

That scandal was a popular subject at the event, the Hillsborough County Democratic Party's annual fundraising dinner, named the Kennedy- Graham Dinner.

"Thank goodness the Democratic Party's not built on credit cards," said Tampa's Democratic elder statesman, former U.S. Rep. Sam Gibbons. The scandal, he said, "shows carelessness and greed, which have long marked Republican rule."

Battle for the RPOFer base

"So much for nice guy Charlie. The Republican Gov just sent out this Valentine's Day email that's pretty darn short on sweetness." "Charlie Crist's Valentine for Marco Rubio".

Rubio responds with "Charlie and the Desperation Factory:"

Desperate Charlie Crist is at it again. At a time when his poll numbers are lagging and he sees Marco Rubio raise $860,000 in ten days while continuing to attract support from respected conservatives Mike Pence and Grover Norquist, Crist is launching yet another false, negative and personal attack on Rubio under the cover of a sweet Valentine’s Day treat.

HD 58

"Democratic and Republican primary elections last month in state House District 58 had one of the lowest voter turnouts in Hillsborough County election history. This month, district voters again have an opportunity to say who they want as their state representative." "District 58 voting is starting Monday".

"One of the lowest rates in the country"

"A year ago this week, President Obama signed into law the controversial $787 billion stimulus plan intended to pour billions of dollars into all 50 states and create millions of jobs."

But that's not how it has worked in Florida. The money is here -- but the jobs aren't. At least not yet.

Since Obama signed the bill last Feb. 17, nearly $7.7 billion worth of grants, contracts and loans have flowed into Florida, cascading into the coffers of state and local governments, nonprofits and even private businesses.

Targeted for everything from road projects to teachers' salaries, green-energy programs to cancer research, the money was sent with orders to spend it as quickly as possible to put people to work and help lift the economy out of the recession.

But by the end of 2009, only 15 cents of every dollar sent to Florida had been spent, one of the lowest rates in the country, according to an Orlando Sentinel analysis of federal-stimulus-grant progress reports.

Hiaasen slams Rubio

Carl Hiaasen: " Marco Rubio's campaign to win the Republican Senate primary revolves around the now-famous hug that Gov. Charlie Crist shared with Barack Obama during a presidential visit to Fort Myers last year. Now Rubio, the darling of Tea Party conservatives, is getting uncomfortably squeezed himself."

Last week, a committee of the Florida House of Representatives put Rubio's name on a list of witnesses who could be subpoenaed to testify about the Ray Sansom scandal. ...

How did a self-proclaimed guardian of tax dollars fail to notice all that money pouring into some puny college in his pal's home district?

It's a good question for the House panel investigating this mess, but Republican leaders aren't eager to put Rubio on the hot seat and spoil his shot at the open U.S. Senate seat.

No sooner was the list of witnesses in the Sansom probe announced than it was also revealed that Sansom might agree to a legislative rebuke that would spare Rubio and other GOP lawmakers the embarrassment of testifying.

Rubio says it's a complete failure, although the many Florida teachers whose jobs were saved by those federal funds might disagree.

In any case, Rubio was having fun up on stage, playing the role of Mr. Tax Tightwad. He never mentioned his indicted buddy, Ray Sansom -- ``one of the best people'' he ever interacted with.

That questionable character endorsement could haunt Rubio in the months ahead. It's worse than a hug -- it's a big wet kiss.

Who knew? ...

... Myriam Marquez thinks "labor unions" are a grand idea ... ahem ... as long as they are limited to Cuba:

Lincoln Diaz-Balart will leave the U.S. House with no regrets and on a mission. No, not to become Cuba's next president, he says, but to help Cubans chart a new destiny.

Diaz-Balart's strategic prowess on Capitol Hill in the 1990s stopped any presidential move to end the U.S. embargo of Cuba.

Led by Diaz-Balart -- probably the man Fidel Castro hates the most -- Congress codified the embargo into U.S. law so it's no longer simply a White House policy. Now Congress has to change the law to end the embargo. Or Cuba has to free all political prisoners; allow political parties, labor unions and a free press; and set a date for multiparty elections for a U.S. president to lift the embargo.

"Run, Sarah, run"

Unfortunately, the best thing the Dems have going for them, Sarah "Palin Plans To Duck The Media At High-Profile Florida Appearances".

Leonard Pitts writes a letter to Sarah, pointing out that

something is wrong when we celebrate mental mediocrity like yours under the misapprehension that competence or, God forbid, intelligence, makes a person one of those "elites'' -- that's a curse word now -- lacking authenticity, compassion and common sense.

So no, this is not a clash of ideologies, but a clash between intelligence and its opposite. And I am tired of being asked to pretend stupid is a virtue. That's why I'd welcome the moment of truth your campaign would bring. It would force us to decide once and for all whether we are permanently committed to the path of ignorance, of birthers, truthers and tea party incoherence you represent, or whether we will at last turn back from the cliff toward which we race.

If the latter, wonderful, God bless America. If the former, well, some of us can finally quit hoping the nation will return to its senses and plan accordingly. Either way, we need to know, and your candidacy would tell us. If you love this country, Mrs. Palin, you can do it no greater service.

Run, Sarah, run.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Only one story, amid an orgy of overwrought media coverage during South Florida's Super Bowl week, stopped [Fred Grimm] cold."

Other reports cataloged the influx of celebrities and high rollers; the effect so many big spenders had on stores, restaurants, luxury hotels; the lucre NFL bacchants injected into the local economy.

The Miami Herald's Jennifer Lebovich and Carol Marbin Miller reported a less glorious aspect of Super Bowl economics -- hundreds of teenage hookers shipped here to service the party-boy frenzy.

Their story seemed all the more jolting, juxtaposed against reports out of the Haitian disaster about children stolen away from orphanages and survivor camps by child traffickers.

No thanks

"Offshore drilling protesters join hands". See also "Protesters across Florida rally against offshore oil drilling", "Hundreds in Lake Worth protest oil drilling" and "Naples protesters drill home the message: No oil rigs off Florida's Gulf coast".

"Sheldon ready for a challenge"

"The arrival of thousands of Haitians to hospitals and youth shelters poses a significant challenge to the state's oft-criticized child-welfare agency -- and its chief is ready." "Florida Department of Children & Families Secretary George Sheldon ready for a challenge".

"Texters and talkers "

Mark Lane: "In Florida, it's legal to talk on a cell phone, send text messages, look up the nearest donut place on Google and check your e-mail while driving."

We tend to be a live-and-let-live state when it comes to road rules. A late adopter on highway safety legislation. As a state, we usually think that a good time to act is when the federal government tells us we have to or lose federal money. Florida's road-law motto: Aw, do we gotta?

But enough people have been scared or hurt by texters and talkers in Florida intersections that there are at least 14 bills forbidding texting or cell phone use while driving awaiting March's legislative session.

Most would make violations a noncriminal offense that could get you points on your driving record. A few propose hefty fines. Given the budget situation, expect interest in fines.

Sometimes a lot of bills on one topic is a sign of a Legislature poised for action. Sometimes it's a sign there's no agreement about how to act. The latter may be the case here.

Grayson at work

"Grayson hopes to mitigate ruling".

Mike Thomas agrees with himself

Apparently upset that his defined contribution (401(k)) plan ain't working out so well, reliable brown noser Mike Thomas* attacks public employee pensions (so-called "defined benefit plans"), whining that if he had his life to live over, he would work for the government." He begins by insulting public employees generally, saying :

I would be a bureaucrat, a paper shuffler, a guy who stands behind the counter and gets to you on my own sweet time.

Even better, I would be a firefighter.

Pension plans helped bring down the auto makers and the airlines. They are budgetary bombs on timers, set to go off on somebody else's watch.

At the end of last year, 92 percent of corporate pension funds were underfunded. And the federal insurer of pension funds was $22 billion in the red.

This is why these pensions are vanishing from corporate America, replaced by savings accounts in which employees take responsibility for their retirement.

But government is slow to change, which is why government is becoming the last bastion of union employees and defined pensions.

layoffs in the public sector are a third what they are in the private sector, according to University of South Florida economist Chris Edwards. If the people who run this newspaper ran the government, the county administration building would be half empty and production would be up. Edwards calculates that public sector jobs pay, on average, 34 percent more than private jobs.

[i]n 2008, the average state government had 216 employees per 10,000 population; Florida had 118. Also, the average payroll expenditure was $69 per state resident nationwide, but only $38 in Florida. The state was tied with Illinois for the lowest ratio of actual employees to population, and we ranked 49th in authorized full-time positions (103) per 10,000 residents.