The American Express statements, which party officials said will be made public in the next two weeks, will reveal about $7 million in purchases between January 2007 and Feb. 20 of this year, and offer a window into the culture of excess that the party has now ended, party chairman John Thrasher said.

"Gosh, no — those guys were pikers" compared to the RPOF

The RPOF has taken the privatization quid quo quo for campaign contributions to new extremes, As Paul Krugman reminds us, Jeb Bush "blazed the trail" Jebbie was:

an aggressive privatizer, and as The Miami Herald put it after a careful study of state records, "his bold experiment has been a success — at least for him and the Republican Party, records show. The policy has spawned a network of contractors who have given him, other Republican politicians and the Florida G.O.P. millions of dollars in campaign donations."

What's interesting about this network of contractors isn't just the way that big contributions are linked to big contracts; it's the end of the traditional practice in which businesses hedge their bets by giving to both parties. The big winners in Mr. Bush's Florida are companies that give little or nothing to Democrats. Strange, isn't it? It's as if firms seeking business with the state of Florida are subject to a loyalty test.

So am I saying that we are going back to the days of Boss Tweed and Mark Hanna? Gosh, no — those guys were pikers. One-party control of today's government offers opportunities to reward friends and punish enemies that the old machine politicians never dreamed of.

Republicans, who control both chambers, are pressing the change and commercial health maintenance organizations have courted them heavily. The Florida GOP, its candidates and their fundraising committees received $1.4 million from HMOs like Aetna, Humana, Centene and others. That's three times the $440,948 given to the Democratic Party, its candidates and their committees.

Miguel "Mike'' Fernandez of Coral Gables has suddenly become one of the biggest donors to the Florida Republicans by giving $15,000 on Feb. 8 and $90,000 on March 18, according to state records. On April 13, Fernandez announced he and fellow investors were putting $150 million into the purchase of several Medicaid HMOs that will be combined into his new company, Simply Healthcare Plans.

Rubio's "campaign of losers"

Daniel Ruth is on fire today: "If the race to become Florida's next U.S. senator was merely a contest to see who could line up the endorsements of the most failed presidential contenders, well then Marco Rubio would be well on his way to savoring the refreshing waters of the Potomac."

Rarely has a candidate attracted a more impressive list of concession speeches to his campaign quiver — Mitt Romney, who inspired the nation for a good 20 minutes or so before he got to Iowa; Mike Huckabee, for whom there will always be Kansas, and, finally, Rudy Giuliani, who ran as a fiscal conservative yet managed to blow tens of millions of dollars and earn zero delegates. And just yesterday Rubio locked up the Dick Cheney air-kiss, which should cinch the "Constitution? We don't need no stinking Constitution!" vote.

Say, there's some keen political savvy for you.

At this rate, the Rubio campaign is probably trying to line up that pivotal nod of support from the Harold Stassen estate.

The rap on Crist is that he hasn't been Republican enough — especially by vetoing two bills, one the insane union-busting teacher tenure debacle, which it seems was cooked up by GOP state chairman and Florida Sen. John Thrasher after he talked to his daughter, and another that would have allowed Republicans to raise gobs of unaccounted for de facto legalized bribes to fund phony political committees.

And oh, yes, there was the whole Barack Obama man-hug thing, when the governor apparently committed an act of political treason by appearing with a president to accept gobs of stimulus money when he could have been having lunch with Jeb Bush, the official state sourpuss. What fun.

For all these trumped-up Tallahassee Tokyo Rose-esque transgressions, Crist is now being encouraged to turn in his Grover Norquist decoder ring and ride off into the sunset in disgrace — for the good of the party, of course, of course.

In fact, Charlie Crist has been a loyal Republican. He simply hasn't opted to sign up with the hand-wringing of spats who dominate the Roundhead wing of the GOP.

Budget blues

"House and Senate budget chiefs agreed Friday on money for Florida Forever and a range of other issues, but will spend the weekend haggling over items ranging from crisis pregnancy counseling to trading state-run prison beds for private ones." "Legislators inch toward budget pact".

From the "values" crowd

"State lawmakers pondered money for libraries, students and state workers as the session heads into the final stretch with the budget still unfinished." "State lawmakers still debating school, library funding". See also "Mental-health programs, drug treatment on Fla. budget chopping block".

"Crist one step away from a perilous path"

Steve Bousquet: "By extending the guessing game about his future, Crist owns this news cycle, and the next and the one after that, as he ponders whether to run for the U.S. Senate as an unaffiliated or independent candidate. By dangling himself as a middle-ground alternative to Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek, Crist is drawing more attention than he ever could otherwise."

Crist would be targeting the political center: not just independents, but partisan voters with little enthusiasm for Rubio or Meek. He doesn't need a majority to win, only one more vote than the next candidate. The GOP governor fond of quoting Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan appears to be on the verge of abandoning his political party as a means of preserving and prolonging his political career.

Still, Crist is one step away from a perilous path. He faces fundraising challenges and a likely shakeup of his campaign staff. He'll be called disloyal, a traitor, an opportunist.

If he runs as an NPA candidate of no party affiliation, will voters see him as the refreshing third option they've been waiting for, or as a typical politician who will do anything to survive?

Some close friends have urged Crist to drop out and remain a loyal Republican, quickly and enthusiastically endorse Rubio, stockpile his campaign money, finish his term as governor and focus on defeating Democrat Bill Nelson in 2012. Crist has little enthusiasm for this, which political insiders call "rehab."

"GOP, or not GOP — that is the poll question"

Paul Flemming: "Our prince of a governor faces a decision. Some would say he's already made up his mind. I prefer to think he's dithering, pacing the dark reaches of the mansion's backyard, over there by the grotto, perhaps along the lines of a certain Dane immortalized by Mr. Shakespeare." Read it here: "Hamlet has nothing on the drama of a Senate race".

Tally update

"The State Report". See also "House Readies for Busy Final Week".

Closed primaries

St Petersburg Times: "As suspense builds over whether Gov. Charlie Crist decides this week to skip the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate and run as an independent candidate in November, there is a broader issue at play. The governor would not be confronted with this difficult decision and more Florida voters would have a voice if primary elections were open to more voters and more hospitable to more mainstream candidates." "Florida's voting system leaves too many out".

"Republicans are having a tough time agreeing on things"

"Florida Republicans are having a tough time agreeing on things as the 2010 legislative session winds down. Amendments backed by Republican senators derailed a key insurance bill Thursday, while Sen. John Thrasher - who doubles as the state Republican Party chairman - barely advanced one of his largest priorities on virtual charter schools despite heavy GOP opposition." "GOP senators fight over insurance, virtual schools".

Charlie's angels no more?

"If Gov. Charlie Crist surprises no one and announces next week that he'll mount an independent bid for U.S. Senate, a lot of his Republican friends and financiers will face an ugly choice. Do they abandon a politician they have supported, in some cases, for more than a decade, or do they break from the party? For even the governor's most stalwart allies, it's not a easy decision." "If Crist runs for Senate as independent, will fundraisers flee?".

"Dwindling road dollars"

Jane Healy: "Dwindling road dollars a reminder for the pols".

RPOFer pushes "abuse tax breaks"

The St Pete Times editors: "At a time Florida is closing parks and cutting jobs to cope with declining tax revenues, state Senate budget Chairman J.D. Alexander is pushing to allow big landowners to further abuse an already abused property tax break. The legislation could cost local governments millions of dollars that communities desperately need to avoid further cuts to child care, public safety and other essential programs." "A galling abuse of tax breaks".

Governing by lottery ticket

"Machines that sell scratch-off lottery tickets have proved profitable. The state may buy more." "State may buy more lottery ticket vending machines".

LeMieux

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "LeMieux thrust himself into the debate on energy and climate in his meeting with the Sentinel's editorial board last week. For Congress to pass sweeping legislation, he said, 'There has to be an open mind and an ability to work together — and I'm one of those kind of folks.' It's time we saw whether, in fact, he is." "LeMieux’s time to shine".

Rubio gets his

"Florida Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher said Friday that Gov. Charlie Crist's name didn't emerge at the huddle of the GOP's executive board, but those attending clearly see him as central to the troubled era of ousted chairman Jim Greer." "New party chairman blames Gov. Crist for Florida GOP's troubles under Greer".

"Heavy- handed and hypocritical"

The St Pete Times editors: "So much for the party of personal freedom. The Republican Party of Florida last week reminded all its officials — from lowly precinct chairmen to elected legislators — that they would be stripped of their party standing if they voiced support or gave money to any non-Republican candidate. The real message: Don't support Gov. Charlie Crist's bid for U.S. Senate if he drops out of the Republican primary to run with no party affiliation."

The Republican Party's tactics are heavy- handed and hypocritical from a party now ripe with scandal and under federal investigation.

Florida tourism boon?

Douglas C. Lyons: "Arizona’s immigration flap could be Florida’s tourism boon".

The explosion heard 'round the peninsula

"As the drilling rig Horizon burned on the oily surface of the Gulf of Mexico, a small group of environmentalists, government officials and oil speculators gathered at a hotel in Jacksonville to discuss environmental impact of offshore drilling — in the Atlantic Ocean." "Gulf rig explosion 'heard' in Florida as officials ponder Atlantic oil exploration".

Charlie's last hope

Anthony Man: "Political friends and foes of Gov. Charlie Crist are united: He has no hope of winning the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate — unless something huge strikes to take down the frontrunner, former House Speaker Marco Rubio."

As Crist edges closer to abandoning his candidacy and running as a no party affiliation candidate, he might be getting that political gold, but it's too late.

The simmering questions over Rubio's use of a Republican Party credit card haven't made much of a dent in his standing. Rubio picked up the endorsement of former Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday — a day after Rubio repaid the party $2,417 for double-billed flights, an expense he blamed on an accounting error.

But now the website Politico reports, the criminal investigation into the credit card usage is "raising concerns about its potential effect on GOP front-runner Marco Rubio's campaign and providing hope to Democrats who believe it could be the story line that stalls the conservative's momentum."

The problem for Crist is he faces an April 30 deadline to make a decision on the Senate race. That's when candidates for federal office need to qualify for the ballot. So there isn't time to figure out if the latest developments in the credit card issue have an effect. And not nearly enough time to know if federal prosecutors or the Internal Revenue Service will come up with anything that damages Rubio.

Rebate fuss

Stephen L. Goldstein: "Appliance Rebate Program aided Floridians and helped save energy". But see "Kingsley Guy: Cash for appliances is simply throwing more borrowed money around".

Social sites

"Times: Florida House bill relaxes campaign disclaimer rules for social sites".

Entrepreneurs in action

The Sun-Sentinel editors: "It appeared that state lawmakers had a remedy to address Florida's image as the nation's pill mill capital for prescription drug abuse. Unfortunately, few things are as they appear during the legislative session. Reining in rouge pain clinics was supposed to be a quick fix. Now it appears to be stalled." "Pain clinic fix stalled in the Legislature".

Whooppee!

"Scott, a former hospital chief executive and out­spoken opponent of President Barack Obama's health care reform, said on April 19 that his fan page on the social networking website Facebook already reaches more people than the pages of Dockery and McCollum, who have been running for months." "PolitiFact: Rick Scott outpaces the GOP gubernatorial field on Facebook".

Webster's mess

"Webster's late entry means he's lost top-tier allies who could have helped him, namely former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings and former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, two Republicans who appear firmly loyal to O'Donoghue." "Former Florida Sen. Dan Webster challenges Alan Grayson".

"House is trying to stack the deck in favor of the building industry"

The Tampa Trib editors: "The Florida House of Representatives leadership is holding the state's lead planning agency hostage in the waning days of the session. By refusing to act on bills reenacting the Department of Community Affairs for another 10 years under the state's sunset review process, the House is trying to stack the deck in favor of the building industry. And taxpayers and residents lose when developers are allowed to build without regard for the public costs of their projects." "Playing games with DCA".

Webster's announcement — presuming he makes it — would upend the crowded field of largely unknown Republicans already vying to topple the Democratic political brawler.

Webster's wife, Sandy, sent out an e-mail at 12:24 a.m. Wednesday telling supporters to gather on the football field of Central Florida Christian Academy at 5:30 p.m. today for a "major political announcement" on the District 8 congressional race.

an even-keeled and well-respected figure in local politics, a good contrast with the polarizing Grayson, whose verbal grenades have made him a darling of liberal cable TV shows and a target of conservatives locally and nationally.

Webster still has strong allies in the Legislature, where he spent 28 years — two of them as House speaker — before retiring in 2008. That could help him quickly raise campaign cash, a necessity given that Grayson has about $1.5 million in his campaign chest and a willingness to spend additional millions from his own pocket.

Meek may have Company

"Billionaire real estate developer and financier Jeff Greene is mulling whether to enter the Democratic Senate primary in Florida, according to a senior Democratic source, the latest twist in a race that has resembled nothing so much as a soap opera in recent weeks."

Greene, who became a billionaire over the past few years by pioneering credit default swaps, had been considering whether or not to run as an independent for Senate but with Gov. Charlie Crist (R) seemingly moving toward an independent run of his own Greene is apparently now weighing the idea of challenging Rep. Kendrick Meek for the Democratic nod.

Greene's massive personal wealth makes him a force to be reckoned with if he decides to run -- particularly in a state as large (and expensive in which to run) as Florida. According to one well-place source, Greene is reportedly soliciting advice -- on an informal basis -- from Democratic consultants Doug Schoen, Joe Trippi and Paul Blank. Neither Schoen nor Trippi returned emails seeking comment on a Greene candidacy or their involvement.

While Greene's wealth would make him viable, his past would seem to make him a ripe target for political opponents. In a profile of Greene written by Forbes magazine when he became one of the 400 richest people in the world (net worth: $1.5 billion), it's revealed that former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was the best man at Greene's wedding, former madam Heidi Fleiss lived with Greene for a year after getting out of jail, and he engaged in an extended legal fight with director Ron Howard.

National Democrats have acknowledged privately that Meek, while running a credible campaign, is still not likely to have the financial lift to put the state in play in the fall. The Crist vacillation about an independent bid coupled with former state House Speaker Marco Rubio's ongoing problems with his use of a state party credit card during his time as speaker has brightened Democratic prospects in the state, however.

If it happens, a Greene candidacy would provide further drama -- and unpredictability -- in a race that is already shaping up to be one of the best (and certainly most entertaining) of the 2010 cycle.

A history lesson


Bill Cotterell: "He was the people's governor, a toiler in the political vineyards who remained an independent-thinking, policy-driven and principled leader and put his sense of what's right for Florida ahead of party loyalty."

A shift in the political winds, both nationally and here in Florida, helped and hurt him at the peak of his political potential. Big-name state politicians bailed on him, but he listened to the voice of the people — and won.

Yet it cost him in the long run. His former friends had no place for him, once his term as governor was done, and he looked around to find he didn't have many allies.

No, not Charlie Crist, the Republican governor who seems likely to file as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate next week. The governor who did it his way, the last man to win a statewide race with neither "Dem." nor "Rep." next to his name on the ballot, was Sidney Catts — the Prohibition Party nominee for governor in 1916.

Everything points to an independent run. There's nothing indicating he'll stay with the party that nurtured his career from his time as a young aide to U.S. Sen. Connie Mack to the state Senate in 1992, a sacrificial-lamb run for the Senate against Bob Graham in 1998, a Tallahassee sinecure in DBPR under Gov. Jeb Bush, election as education commissioner in 2000, attorney general two years later and governor in 2006. ...

Crist sometimes refers to Republicans as the party of Lincoln, Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt. Those last two are instructive, too. Reagan used to say he didn't leave the Democratic Party, it left him, and TR so alienated Republicans of the robber baron era that he wound up trying a comeback as a Progressive — when that term had a much different meaning, represented by a Bull Moose.

Reagan never looked back. Roosevelt couldn't return to the GOP in 1912, and neither could Catts go home to the Democrats in the Roaring Twenties. It's ancient history, but something Crist has to consider before making the leap next week.

RPOFer "day of tea-party-esque memorials"

"Not content to simply shape Florida law, House leaders advanced Wednesday a series of bills aimed at muzzling or stalling President Barack Obama's health, legal, environmental, space and fiscal agendas."

The balanced budget bill was part of a full day of tea-party-esque memorials, bills and proposed constitutional amendments that sought to influence national policy. ...

Memorials carry no weight. They are messages to Congress that often go overlooked. Still, the measures inspired passionate debate Wednesday, with Republicans occasionally standing together in unity on the House Floor during various arguments.

• A nonbinding referendum asking voters whether the U.S. Constitution should be amended to require a balanced budget "to stop the uncontrolled growth of our national debt and prevent excessive borrowing by the Federal Government, which threatens our economy and national security.''

• A nonbinding constitutional amendment against healthcare mandates.

• A memorial urging Congress to require that enemy combatants and terrorists be tried in military court, not civilian court. The bill passed on a board vote of 83-28.

• A memorial designed to block new water-quality standards opposed by agricultural and business interests.

• An anti-communism memorial in support of giving Taiwan a voice in the United Nations.

• A memorial urging Congress to reject Obama's cap-and-trade legislation or any other regulations on energy use.

Wingnuts run wild

"Florida lawmakers to vote on proposal against 'forced’ health care".

From the "values" crowd

The Miami Herald editors point out that "there are dozens of bad calls in the competing budgets in Tallahassee as legislators try to close a $3.2 billion hole in conference committee. Among them:"

• Raiding once again the road-building trust fund, about $160 million in gas taxes that would go instead toward balancing next year's budget. In a state desperately in search of jobs, Florida should be getting more crews on the ground. ...

• Slashing crisis stabilization, mental health and alcohol counseling programs, endangering children's programs and services for the homeless. ...

• Gutting the Department of Juvenile Justice's rehabilitation programs by $16 million to send the money to the Department of Corrections. The Senate would rob programs that rehabilitate young offenders. Instead, the money would go to help a prison that's under capacity stay afloat.

That's beyond foolish -- it's reckless disregard for children at risk and for taxpayers who eventually will have to pay even more as these young people become adult criminals.

Rubio claims he "has nothing to hide"

"Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio said Wednesday he has nothing to hide about his use of a credit card issued through the state GOP and that all of the party spending should be made public." "Rubio says he has no fear of credit card probe". See also "IRS Investigating Rubio's Tax Returns".

Insurance company shills turn tail

"Top Florida lawmakers are indicating that they're not likely to give Gov. Charlie Crist a second chance at vetoing a bill that would deregulate rates on property insurance premiums. The sponsor of the legislation for the second straight year, Bradenton Republican Mike Bennett, said it's not a good time to push the measure (SB 876) when Crist - at odds with his own party - has already told lawmakers he'll veto anything he views as increasing insurance costs." "Insurance dereg bill goes down in Fla. Legislature".

Cantor jumps Crist

"Cantor: I Won't Support Crist Under Any Circumstances".

The Sansom scandal

"In a courtroom within sight of the Capitol where he once reigned supreme, former House Speaker Ray Sansom and two co-defendants asked a judge Wednesday to drop criminal charges against them for a second time." "Sansom requests dismissal of charges -- again".

Still the same

"Florida's public schools will receive the same amount of money per student next year that they are getting now, House and Senate lawmakers decided Wednesday... Earlier this session, both the Senate and Gov. Charlie Crist had recommended boosting per-student funding - unlike the House, which initially proposed a slight decrease." "Schools to get same amount of money next year".

Daily Rothstein

"Rothstein's sentencing delayed for 1 month".

"Pregnant moms may face more barriers"

"The Florida House budget bill that went into conference committee this week eliminated the Healthy Start Coalitions all over the state and folded their function of caring for pregnant moms and their babies into county Health Departments. Monday, however, Healthy Start was restored to the budget with a 5 percent cut in its funding." "Healthy Start stays in budget".

Another unfunded mandate

"Tougher graduation rules may leave some kids behind".

Mikey and his merit pay

Mikey Thomas thinks Tennessee has the right ideas for merit pay: "If this makes Republican legislators gag, too bad. This is more important than vendettas and petty politics." So far so good.

But he quickly goes off the track, writing that "If unions balk, they look unreasonable by rejecting what the Tennessee unions accepted. They will be blamed, and rightly so, for costing our schools $700 million." "Let's try merit pay Tennessee's way".

Perhaps Mikey should be paid based upon the number of people that subscribe to the Orlando Sentinel because of him and buy products advertised in the Sentinel because of the advertisements in the Sentinel.

"A shameless, self-interested ploy"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida has been dominated for so long by one political party — first Democrats and now Republicans — it's hard to imagine what true competitive elections for Congress and the Legislature might look like. And it appears no one in Tallahassee wants voters to find out."

In a shameless, self-interested ploy, Republican legislative leaders and a few Democrats are rushing to try to thwart a pair of November ballot measures that would level the playing field. The citizen amendments, which would need approval by 60 percent of voters, would change the rules for drawing political districts. Now some lawmakers want to put their own constitutional amendment on the ballot in hopes of undermining the citizen amendments and maintaining the status quo. It's an indefensible power grab that would confuse voters and serve no interest other than incumbent politicians.

Greer's "fine hotels and pricey restaurants"

Adam C Smith: "The ousted party chairman charged nearly $500,000 to his American Express card to eat well and live well: spa treatments, flowers, flights, fine hotels and pricey restaurants. In a month ending in March 2008, he dropped $41,421.31 in Las Vegas, Washington and Beverly Hills, according to billing statements obtained Wednesday by the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald. " "Jim Greer charged big on Florida GOP credit card".

"Chill"

"Sen. John Thrasher, chairman of the maligned Republican Party of Florida, has a lot to contend with."

Things are heating up in the legislature with less than 10 days to go before the session’s end.

Federal investigators are snooping around former high-ranking GOP officials, including his predecessor at the Party Jim Greer, and their credit card spending.

And Gov. Charlie Crist is considering abandoning the party that helped him to victory in the state Senate, two Cabinet seats and the governor’s mansion.

Crist’s consideration of dropping out of the GOP primary against former House Speaker Marco Rubio and running as an independent in the fall has Crist’s former allies (and those who weren’t big fans of the governor to begin with) coming out in droves to distance themselves from the former sure-bet for U.S. Senate.

Thrasher offered some advice to Crist’s critics, including House Speaker Larry Cretul: Chill.

"Environmental turkey shoot"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Legislators have two weeks left in their 2010 session to show Floridians they care about the environment. Or they can continue turning the session into an environmental turkey shoot." "The bull's eye on a state environmental agency, and meek support for a solar energy program, make this legislative session disappointing".

Pay cut

"State employees, who escaped a salary reduction last year, might get hit with pay cuts in the budget being resolved by House and Senate appropriations officers late this week." "State workers could face pay cuts".

Thanks, Charlie

"Teachers unions are getting out the message: Thank the governor for his veto. But the unions are stopping short of making a political endorsement." "Unions thank Crist for SB 6 veto".

"It's not personal, Charlie. It's just politics. That's the message Gov. Charlie Crist is receiving from a handful of Republicans who abandoned his campaign - or threatened to - in anticipation that he'll run for U.S. Senate as an independent. Crist's reaction: 'So be it.' In the meantime, the state's largest teachers union confirmed Wednesday it will air a 'thank you' ad on television supporting Crist's tenure bill veto." "Merit-pay veto wins Crist a teacher-paid TV ad, loses him some GOP friends".

Voucher madness

"Crist is expected to sign a bill today that will usher in the most sweeping expansion of private-school vouchers in Florida history." "Crist set to approve historic expansion of school vouchers".

A little help?

"Even as high-ranking state Republicans distance themselves from Gov. Charlie Crist, some of his biggest GOP donors are vowing to stick with him even if he leaves the party and runs as an independent for the U.S. Senate." "Key donors backing Crist".

Rasmussen poll

Rasmussen's latest poll results at dKos:

FL-Gov: Bill McCollum (R) 45%, Alex Sink (D) 38%

In Florida, they also see a significant tightening in the gubernatorial race. Is it possible that being out in front on the HIR lawsuit is hurting presumptive GOP frontrunner Bill McCollum? Hard to say, but he went high-profile on that issue in the past few weeks, and his numbers have sunk like a stone.

Not so bright

"Legislators are making changes to the Bright Futures scholarship program that some believe could cut off many middle class families." "Bright Futures May Dim for Middle Class".

"Nursing Home Funding Cut"

"Lawmakers continued hammering out a Health and Human Services budget Wednesday, but Senate and House negotiators failed to agree on how to resolve a funding cut that removes nearly $200 million in Medicaid funding to nursing homes." "Negotiators Fail to Resolve Nursing Home Funding Cut".

Laff riot

"With rumors swirling through Florida political circles that Gov. Charlie Crist intends to abandon the Republican Party, Crist shared a stage Wednesday with Attorney General Bill McCollum, frontrunner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, at an event commemorating crime victims." "'Old Buddies' Crist, McCollum Smile Up a Storm".

Honesty gap

"GOP references remain in Crist's campaign website, contrary to allegations".

Civics

"A bill requiring middle school students to take a civics class and pass an end-of-course test is on its way to Gov. Charlie Crist." "Civics requirement bill on way to Crist".

As Florida burns ...

"The Florida Senate has voted to ban the sale of smoking pipes and similar items except at stores that mostly sell tobacco products." "Senate cracks down on smoking pipes".

Voters say 54 - 40 percent that it's a "bad idea" for McCollum to file a lawsuit challenging the federal health care overhaul. Voters say 38 - 28 percent, including 41 - 27 percent among independent voters, that it makes them less likely to support his gubernatorial bid ...

Voters approve 51 - 25 percent of the job McCollum is doing as Attorney General and give him a 38 - 18 percent favorability rating, with 41 percent who don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

Ms. Sink gets a 39 - 26 percent approval rating for her job as CFO and a 22 - 15 percent favorability rating, with 61 percent who don't know enough about her to form an opinion.

"Attorney General Bill McCollum clings to a slim lead over CFO Alex Sink in the governor's race, a lead he has held since last August. He is better known than she and voters grade him somewhat better for the job he is doing. While most would rather be in his shoes, on the up side of a close race, November is a long way off," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Ms. Sink's low voter recognition is a double-edged sword: She has an opportunity to introduce herself to a majority of the electorate, while McCollum has the chance to define her in an unflattering way.

Crist to be called as a witness?

"The planners of the airport project that ended former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom's political career in scandal deliberately concealed the location of the building, according to newly surfaced documents." "Gov. Charlie Crist may testify in Ray Sansom case".

Privatization flopping

Bill Cotterell: "Just as the state reshuffles some of its contracts with the private prison industry, we get a report that says maybe the whole business is not such a good deal."

"Privatization of prisons, as reflected in state law, is expected to operate at lower costs and produce lower recidivism rates, compared to prisons operated by the state," said the [Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy]. "But with over a decade of experience, there is no good evidence to conclude that Florida is getting the results that it expected and as the law requires, both in terms of cost and rehabilitative impact on offenders."

Greer an expensive date

"Jim Greer more than doubled the Republican Party of Florida overhead, an analysis shows." "GOP's Jim Greer outspent his predecessor".

McCollumn's healthcare attack backfiring

"Attorney General Bill McCollum's lawsuit against national health care may be costing him politically, as new statewide poll shows the race for governor tightening." "McCollumn's lawsuit against national healthcare hurting him in new poll".

"Voldemort" returns

"With lame duck Republican Gov. Charlie Crist weighing an independent bid for the U.S. Senate, Democrats are more convinced than ever that a shadow captain is guiding the ship of state."

Former Gov. Jeb Bush was a driving force behind the controversial merit-pay plan for teachers that Crist vetoed Thursday.

But other prized elements of Bush's conservative agenda — corporate tax breaks, a move to water down a class-size mandate, expanded corporate vouchers, property-insurance reforms — still dominate the remaining two weeks of session.

"He's going to get more done this year than he could when he was here," said Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee. "Jeb Bush and (former aide) Pat Levesque knew more about that merit-pay bill than anyone else up here. There are a lot of angry Republicans now that it's vetoed, but they just don't understand. That's not the way it's supposed to work up here."

House and Senate leaders, betting that conservative Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum will win the governor's office in November, say they will try to pass the merit pay bill again next year.

It's a year that the Bush influence could be stronger than ever.

More "reform"

"Educators, parents and students cheered and then took a collective sigh of relief when Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a bill that would have upended the current system of paying and firing teachers."

While that proposed law dominated daily news coverage, a handful of others that could change the state's education landscape significantly moved forward without nearly the same level of public attention.

And those are almost certain to become law -- or, in one case, go to the voters to change existing law.

They are:

• Adding more rigorous math and science classes to graduation requirements and replacing high school FCATs in those subjects with end-of-course exams in algebra, geometry and biology.

• Asking voters in November if they approve of changing the 2002 class size amendment, which meets its final deadline for implementation this year. ...

• Expanding the state's voucher program for low-income kids so private schools could eventually collect as much as 80 percent of the per-student money given to public schools by the state.

Run Marco, Run!

"Former House Speaker Marco Rubio hasn't been elected to the U.S. Senate — he hasn't even won the Republican primary — but already his name is being floated as a possible 2012 presidential contender."

One of the latest mentions comes from Richard Land, a national conservative figure and president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

"The longer nobody catches fire, the more space there is for Marco," Land recently told Politico. "It wouldn't be unheard of for a freshman senator from Florida to be the nominee — particularly one who was speaker of the (Florida House).

"He's got more experience than Obama had," Land continued. "There are a lot of Hispanics in this country who would find someone with Marco's ethnic background very appealing. Although I like Sarah (Palin), I think Sarah's got a lot more impediments to a nomination than Marco Rubio does."

Budget blues

"With just a dozen days left before their scheduled adjournment, the House and Senate are finally ready to get to work on negotiating a state budget." "Florida Legislature will soon negotiate state budget". See also: "Florida Legislature will soon negotiate state budget".

"Man bites dog"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "It's as unlikely as a headline that reads: Man bites dog. But here it is: Florida's Legislature has an antibusiness bias. How else, in a state with a 12.3 percent unemployment rate, can you explain a tax policy that ultimately gives a competitive advantage to out-of-state, online retailers over homegrown shops that employ Floridians?" "Make Florida's sales tax fairer".

McConnell tiptoes

"Sen. Mitch McConnell endorsed Crist when the governor announced his Senate bid nearly a year ago. But with Marco Rubio's campaign surging and rumors swirling over a possible independent run by Crist, McConnell was more lukewarm in his support in an appearance Sunday on CNN's 'State of the Union.'" "Senate GOP leader more tepid in Crist endorsement".

Whatever

"Bills letting motorists donate to charities go to governor".

Atwater drinks the tea

"Jeff Atwater is the presiding officer of the Florida Senate, one of the three most powerful politicians of the fourth largest state in the nation." "Powerful Atwater embracing Tea Party".

Imagine that

"Insurance legislation could benefit property insurers -- at the expense of customers, one lawmaker says." "Property insurance revamp could favor insurers, lawmaker says". Related: "Legislation could raise insurance rates, but industry says it is necessary".

Road spending

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Florida unemployment reached a new high of 12.3 percent in March, far above the national average of 9.7 percent. Yet state lawmakers could make those numbers worse with a House plan to redirect $466 million in transportation dollars next year to help pay for everything from prisons to schools." "Lawmakers shouldn't cut road spending".

Editors fight for yachtsmen

How many folks would buy a yacht, but for the sales tax? Please. The Sun-Sentinel editorial board are apparently moved by this issue: "Tax cap on yachts makes sense".

Medicaid fraud

"Most of Florida's 2.7 million Medicaid recipients in all 67 counties would be placed in private managed care plans under a pair of bills up for a House vote." "Florida House set to vote on Medicaid overhaul".

PThe Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The Legislature's proposed overhaul of Florida's $18 billion Medicaid program would benefit insurance companies, not patients and taxpayers." "First, show that reform works: Legislature rushing to shift Medicaid to managed care".

"Jeb!" lapdogs unleashed by their owner

Jebbie's lapdogs have been unleashed by their owner to attack poor Charlie. Mike Thomas "reports" this morning that Crist "has been liberated from caring what the party's conservative base thinks about him."

He has salvaged his Senate campaign, he has his populist mojo back, and he has taken his revenge on Jeb Bush.

For months Bush professed neutrality in the Rubio-Crist race. But time and again he lauds Rubio and takes shots at Crist. His disdain peaked in February when he called Crist's support of Obama's stimulus program "unforgiveable.''

Merit pay and the elimination of teacher tenure, also in the bill, are unfinished business from Bush's rein as governor. The House and Senate were lined up deliver them. All Bush needed was Crist.

But Bush has all he political instincts of a water buffalo[*].

He is obsessed with policy.

For Crist, policy simply is a tool for achieving political success.

Crist certainly wasn't going to take a bullet on merit pay for a guy who was so obviously out to end his political career.

The two never talked about the bill. Crist mocked a phone message that Bush left, urging the governor to sign it.

The teachers' unions had best enjoy this victory while they can. They have another year in which their members' job security and pay raises won't depend on the quality of their work. But many of the legislative leaders behind merit pay will be back next year. Bill McCollum is far out front in the gubernatorial race.

And Jeb isn't going anywhere.

Major RPOFer miscalculation

"Republican lawmakers who rammed a teacher tenure bill through the Legislature this session hoped for an education revolution but instead unleashed a revolt — a grass roots movement of parents and teachers armed with a thorny election year issue that could dog politicians to the polls."

Democrats started eyeing newly vulnerable Republicans to target for voting for the bill. And the Democrat-leaning teachers union, which had complained of being shut out of the process, began sharpening its swords.

"Clearly, there may be some more opportunities because of what went on here," said Jeff Wright of the Florida Education Association, the state teachers union. "We suddenly have a lot of our members who are interested in running for office." ...

Among those who should feel nervous, Democrats said: Republicans in tight election races such as Reps. Rob Schenck of Spring Hill, Chris Dorworth of Lake Mary and Marti Coley of Marianna. ...

The FEA's Wright said that while the teachers union "seeded'' the growing protests, paying for television ads and urging teachers to organize, even union leaders were surprised by the spontaneous parent-led demonstrations around the state against the bill.

"We'll take credit for it, sure," he said. "But this became so much more than FEA."

"Who is running the asylum?"

"Crist's stump speech transformed Saturday into a full-throated defense of his veto of Senate Bill 6, as teachers in this GOP bedrock rallied and vowed to 'remember in November.'"

Crist attacked the GOP leadership for taking an extreme approach and not listening to the public.

"We got calls in our office," Crist said, "that not only were arms being twisted, they were being broken … to convince them to vote for this thing."

He added later: "You have to kind of scratch your head and think: Who is running the asylum?"

Rubio: Just another RPOFer

Florida's political journalists, such as they are, are starting to slowly observe that Emperor Rubio has no clothes. Beth Reinhard writes this morning, if only in passing, that as "a state lawmaker, he pushed $250 million in pet projects, voted for Crist's climate change initiative and blocked measures to crack down on illegal immigration."

The theme of Rubio's bus tour, "take a stand,'' suggests that he is willing to say what he believes, no matter the cost. Yet much of what he says is straight from the Republican playbook: lower taxes, less spending, smaller government.

RPOFers never cease to entertain

"Greer is neither apologizing nor going quietly."

In a lawsuit filed in Sanford two weeks ago, he accuses his successor, state Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, and two state legislators, House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon, R- Winter Park, and Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, of offering him a secret $123,000 severance deal and then cheating him out of the money.

Greer would not agree to be interviewed for this story, nor would many of his closest friends.

So how did Greer, a politician who had risen no higher than deputy mayor of Oviedo, come to head the state party?

Bushco dead enders

"With lame duck Republican Gov. Charlie Crist weighing an independent bid for the U.S. Senate, Democrats are more convinced than ever that a shadow captain is guiding the ship of state. Former Gov. Jeb Bush was a driving force behind the controversial merit-pay plan for teachers that Crist vetoed Thursday. But other prized elements of Bush's conservative agenda -- corporate tax breaks, a move to water down a class-size mandate, expanded corporate vouchers, property-insurance reforms -- still dominate the remaining two weeks of session." "Former Gov. Jeb Bush and his conservative agenda still a driving force in Florida".

Weatherford waltzing

"With a $440,000 campaign war chest and a string of legislative victories this session, state Rep. Will Weatherford looks poised to waltz into office again this November." "Weatherford's star is rising".

"Sharper vision for NASA"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The sharper vision for NASA that President Barack Obama provided last week is good for the space program, private industry and the state of Florida." "Obama's new ambitions for space".

Redistricting

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Fair Districts Florida got enough signatures from fed-up residents to put amendments on the ballot this fall that could end the gerrymandering."

So naturally, Tallahassee's ruling elite hates it.

Imagine what it could do to districts like U.S. Rep. John Mica's, which snakes its way through much of Central Florida to include his home in Winter Park and other Republican strongholds in St. Johns and Flagler counties.

Make it more competitive, for starters, which is reason enough for power brokers to oppose it.

But those running Tallahassee aren't content to merely campaign against the amendments. They'd rather make democracy a farce by gaming the system.

Led by future Senate President Mike Haridopolos of Merritt Island, they're working to put another amendment on the November ballot that would gut the Fair Districts Florida amendments. Provisions that largely preserve current practices would subordinate Fair Districts amendments. For the good of Florida, don't you know.

Mr. Haridopolos says his amendment wouldn't gut Fair Districts but would help "clarify it." How Orwellian of him.

Mr. Haridopolos says his amendment also would prevent the Fair Districts measures from harming minorities. He notes that state Sen. Gary Siplin of Orlando and U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown of Jacksonville, both Democrats and both African-American, oppose Fair Districts' effort.

"A short-sighted decision"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Florida unemployment reached a new high of 12.3 percent in March, far above the national average of 9.7 percent. Yet state lawmakers could make those numbers worse with a House plan to redirect $466 million in transportation dollars next year to help pay for everything from prisons to schools. The Senate needs to reject such a short-sighted decision that would undermine the state's future and eliminate jobs instead of creating them." "Lawmakers shouldn't cut road spending".

Pathetic Pasco

Tom Jackson: "Conditions ripe to reconsider tourist tax".

"Mischief galore in this year's legislative session"

Jane Healy: "If you thought things couldn't get worse in Florida when it comes to managing growth, think again. There's mischief galore in this year's legislative session." See what she means here: "Will the Legislature fall for Deseret Ranch deal?".

SB4

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Crist has another education bill on his desk, SB 4, and this is one he should sign. This bill — in stark contrast to the clumsy overreach of tenure-killing and morale-deadening SB 6 that Crist properly vetoed last week — creates a precise map for a better high school education. This is reform done right. Passed with bipartisan support, the bill sponsored by Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, will eventually require students to take geometry, Algebra II, biology, chemistry or physics, plus one equally rigorous science course, in order to graduate from high school." "Crist should sign SB 4 education bill".

Fifth year without a pay raise

"State employees and retirees feel targeted as Florida Legislators scrounge for money to patch together a recession-stricken state budget in the final two weeks of their 2010 session."

Pending proposals, at various stages of the legislative process, would:

- Require all state workers to pay for health insurance. About 27,000 employees, including top managers and legislators themselves, now get state-paid coverage.

- Require employees to pay into the Florida Retirement System for the first time in 30 years. The FRS is entirely employer-paid now but the Senate has passed a bill to make members contribute one-fourth of 1 percent of gross earnings, which supporters and opponents concede is just an opening ante.

- Abolish the retiree health-insurance subsidy of $5 for each year of service, up to 30 years, saving the state about $200 million.

The 2010-11 budget will mark a fifth year without a general pay raise for state employees, and will undoubtedly lead to layoffs and elimination of most vacant positions. In dozens of interviews as the House and Senate budget bills were steered into a joint committee for compromise, employees said they expected to take a whack along with everything else in the budget, but the tab is mounting for them.

Florida for sale

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The Legislature's proposed overhaul of Florida's $18 billion Medicaid program would benefit insurance companies, not patients and taxpayers." "First, show that reform works: Legislature rushing to shift Medicaid to managed care".

Budget blues

"Talk of the Legislature heading toward overtime emerged Friday as House and Senate leaders struggled to reach agreement on how much money they have to spend in the 2010-11 budget. With a mid-afternoon deadline looming for setting the start of negotiations this weekend, the two sides remained snagged over whether to include $880 million in long-anticipated Medicaid cash from the federal government." "House, Senate Still Looking for Budget Bottom Line". See also "Fla. lawmakers nix plans for Saturday budget talks" and "House, Senate cancel budget talks".

'Ya reckon?

Darryl E. Owens: "Tea-party movement displays tinges of racism".