The short version is that the "expert" McCollum hired to help him fight gay adoption has been exposed as a fraud.

First, Dr. George Rekers' "expertise" was essentially dismissed as junk science by the courts. Then, Rekers' anti-gay credentials were called into question after he was caught traveling with a gay hooker who advertised his services on a porn site. (Rekers said he hired "Lucien" simply "to lift luggage" … insisting that wasn't a euphemism.)

Faced with mounting criticism about why he would try to tear a happy family apart in the first place, McCollum tried to con people into believing he didn't want to … that he was merely doing his job.

Two years ago, when McCollum was addressing Republicans in Indian River County, he promised to fight as hard as he could to keep gays from ever adopting children in this state. "We're going to go to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and we're going to argue their socks off," he said to a round of applause, according to the Press Journal of Vero Beach. "We happen to believe in this party that this state law is the right law."

This is also a guy who tried to ban gay adoption in Congress — and one of the few congressmen in all of America to oppose Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday.

Come on, Bill. Man up to your discrimination. Own it.

You can try telling your different stories to different crowds all you want. But the truth is: You're at the forefront of discrimination in this country.

You're helping lead the fight to keep innocent children away from loving parents. And you wasted more money than most Floridians make in two years paying off a discredited hack who peddles in bigotry.

That's the truth. And no amount of winks, nods or malarkey-filled insinuations will change that.

"Sink's hopes for a waltz may be dashed"

"Alex Sink's hopes for an effortless waltz to the Democratic gubernatorial nomination may be dashed. Lawton "Bud" Chiles III, the son of the late governor, is seriously looking at running against Sink in the Democratic primary for governor. He has been talking to friends and family across the state." "Lawton Chiles III poised to run for Florida governor".

McCollum's "Rentboy" scandal

Aaron Deslatte: "Who would have thought Florida politicos would be launching a Google search for Bill McCollum and "Rentboy scandal?""

It was that kind of week for the Republican gubernatorial hopeful.

First, he finds himself staring down a suddenly stiff primary challenge from former HCA/Columbia hospital chief executive Rick Scott, with a poll released showing Scott closing fast among GOP voters.

Then there's the leak of a 2007 memo McCollum wrote to the Department of Children and Families urging them to hire George Rekers to defend Florida's ban on gay adoption, a job that paid him $120,000.

Rekers, a minister and co-founder of the Family Research Council, got caught recently returning from a trip to Europe with a male escort whose "services" are advertised on a site called rentboy.com.

Back in 2007, McCollum's office went to court to defend Florida's gay-adoption ban against a suit filed by a gay South Florida man attempting to adopt two young brothers he had raised. McCollum said it was notoriously tough to find "expert witnesses" willing to say in court that homosexuals make bad parents. His office's nationwide search found two.

The one they hired, Rekers, testified that homosexuals led riskier lifestyles and were more prone to mental disorders. More recently, when caught with a "rental boy," he compared himself to Jesus Christ in defending his willingness to consort with prostitutes.

Meek takes a hit

"As U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek championed a proposed biopharmaceutical complex in 2003, his Miami chief of staff received $13,000 from the project's developer to help the aide buy a house, police records show. The developer is now awaiting trial, accused of stealing nearly $1 million from the failed project." "Meek tied to S. Florida fraud case". See also "Builder under a cloud wooed Meek".

The RPOF at work

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "State lawmakers, including one of Central Florida's own, added a new chapter in this year's legislative session to the state's sorry history of bowing to the billboard industry."

Buried in a sweeping transportation bill headed to Gov. Charlie Crist, lawmakers included an amendment that would allow more billboards in more places in Florida. The amendment was spoon-fed to lawmakers by industry representatives, and it was also swallowed by state regulators in the Department of Transportation. The groups that have served as the only true watchdogs for the industry in Florida were never at the table.

Make your mind up Billy

"Attorney General Bill McCollum says that he now supports Arizona's tough new immigration law, although he doesn't think Florida needs such a severe crackdown on illegal immigrants." "McCollum: Florida doesn't need Arizona's law".

McCollum finds some friends

"A lawsuit filed by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care legislation has a co-plaintiff: the National Federation of Independent Business." "Business group joins Fla. lawsuit against Obama healthcare plan".

Choice politics

"Crist likely to veto abortion ultrasound bill".

Wingnuts in a dither

"With Gov. Charlie Crist vetoing bills by prominent conservatives, threatening to block hometown spending projects and bolting the Republican Party to run for the U.S. Senate as an independent, lawmakers are revolting against his push to hold a special session to pass a constitutional ban on oil-drilling and rules for renewable energy programs."

House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, lambasted the governor's push as a "publicity ploy." House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, has said a session is unnecessary because state and federal law already prohibit drilling within Florida waters.

That's our Charlie

"Crist at his best, pouring on his nice-guy persona".

Spill baby! Spill!

Steve Otto: "It's not supposed to happen. But then, lots of things aren't supposed to happen in our screwy world and when they do even you Boy Scouts out there aren't always prepared." "But what if the oil slick comes here?".

Entrepreneurs in action: "BP's role in cleanup frustrates officials".

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Oil spill shows the need to better understand technology".

Bad earmark

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "If you want another 500,000 reasons why congressional earmarks are a bad system for doling out government largesse, look at the case of David Foster. He won a federal earmark for a half-million dollars despite a long record of wasting public money on failed development projects. He simply told local members of Congress he would do good things with the money, and they didn't bother to check him out. It should not be that easy." "Federal waste, Florida-style".

Where are the Dems?

George Bennett writes that "Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek's first foray into the heart of Palm Beach County's Democratic condo belt drew about 140 supporters Friday to a room called the Andre Fladell Auditorium in the South County Civic Center west of Delray Beach."

In a sign of the task Meek faces in introducing himself to voters from his own party, longtime Democratic activist Fladell wasn't there.

In fact, Fladell this week said he's willing to consider supporting Republican-turned-independent Gov. Charlie Crist's third-party Senate campaign.

Meek's visit to Palm Beach County came as polls show Crist drawing considerable Democratic support and leading Florida's three-way Senate race, with Republican Marco Rubio second and Meek a distant third.

Innocence commission

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "As Gov. Charlie Crist thumbs through the budget, looking for pork to cut, he should leave the $200,000 earmarked for the establishment of an innocence commission in Florida. It will be money well spent."

As envisioned, an innocence commission would audit Florida's cases of wrongful conviction the way the National Transportation Safety Board examines plane crashes. Each detail of what went wrong would be studied to determine whether new procedures should be adopted to prevent similar errors in the future.

Florida needs this. People like Alan Crotzer and Wilton Dedge spent years behind bars before DNA evidence confirmed they actually were innocent of the crimes they were convicted of committing. But there are plenty of cases where there is no DNA to resolve guilt or innocence with such certainty. Preventing wrongful convictions in the first place is often the only way to avoid miscarriages of justice for those crimes with no possibility of DNA exoneration.

What a difference some 60 days and nearly $5 million can make in a campaign season. Chances are, if back in March you had asked anyone in the state of Florida who Rick Scott was, the response would have been a deer caught in the headlights meets Banjo Boy in Deliverance.

But that was before Scott, a bazillionaire with plenty of time on his hands, decided to enter the Republican primary campaign for governor, to succeed Charlie Crist, the Martin Luther of the Grand Old Pogrom.

Now, in the wake of a $5 million advertising campaign touting his bona fides as a true ideological rock-ribbed Republican, Scott has managed to become an actual contender for the nomination and trails Florida's attorney general by a mere 14 percentage points in a recent poll.

McCollum flip-flops on Arizona-Style Immigration Law

TPM: "The Arizona anti-illegal immigration law is now catching on in the race for governor of Florida, with state Attorney General Bill McCollum saying that he would back bringing it to Florida -- after his new opponent in the GOP primary, former health care executive Rick Scott, began pushing it." "McCollumn Switches to Supporting Arizona-Style Immigration Law, After Opponent In Primary Backed It". See also "Bill McCollum: Florida should copy Arizona’s immigration law" ("Attorney General Bill McCollum has had a dramatic change of heart on Arizona's new immigration law. Here's what he said on April 27: "I think Arizona has its own unique problems. I don't think Florida should enact laws like this -- quite that far out.")

Josh Marshall: "Scott has been in the race for all of a month. And he's already giving McCollum, who was considered the de facto nominee, a run for his money." "That Didn't Take Long". See also "Bill McCollum: Florida should copy Arizona's immigration law".

It ain't just McCollum: "Florida candidates back Arizona immigration law".

"Is Gov. Crist posturing? Of course"

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Is Gov. Crist posturing?"

Of course. So are many Florida politicians as the expanding oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico changes minds. But as The Post has said consistently, the risk of drilling too near the state is too great. Tourism provides roughly 20 percent of all taxable sales in Florida, a state that runs on the sales tax. Visit Florida, the state's tourism promotion agency, calculates that the direct economic impact from tourism is $65.2 billion. That figure doesn't include the economic benefit from commercial and sport fishing.

Further, the House last year refused to pass compromise legislation that would have required utilities to produce more energy from renewable sources. We understand that renewables can't at this point produce energy efficiently in bulk, but other states are far ahead in an effort that would reduce dependence on foreign sources and create jobs. If Republicans resist Gov. Crist's call for a special session on energy, they will look worse than their flip-flopping former partymate.

McCollum "happy to hire sleazy services"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Attorney General Bill McCollum and George Rekers have this in common: They were both happy to hire sleazy services, and they knew what they were getting for the money. Now both are having trouble explaining themselves."

McCollum personally chose Rekers, a notorious antigay psychologist, as an "expert'' witness in Florida's legal effort to defend the state's indefensible ban on gay people adopting children. That decision is under renewed scrutiny following reports that Rekers traveled for two weeks in Europe with a gay male escort from Miami. Rekers denied having sex with the escort and said he paid him to carry his luggage. Taxpayers paid more than $120,000 for McCollum's poor choice of Rekers for the state's case. Neither man's explanations are reassuring.

Rail on line

"The federal Railroad Administration has given Florida approval to begin designing, obtaining land and building the nation's first major high-speed rail line." "Tampa-Orlando high-speed rail plan gets OK".

Spill baby, spill!

Paul Flemming: "What are my hopes that this thing will be capped, Gulf microorganisms will semi-magically eat up the already-spilled oil and the 11 lives lost and Louisiana shoreline already despoiled are the full extent of this disaster? That's an easy numeric expression: Infinite. The chances that will happen? Let's just say it approaches zero." "This oil spill, by the numbers, is almost unfathomable". See also "As Gulf oil spill spreads, a rush to stop the gush" and "".

Big of him

"Democrat Diane Rowden, running for the District 44 House of Representatives, blasted her incumbent Republican opponent for his pro-oil drilling stance and for maintaining a deafening silence since the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. ... However, Schenck said he has reconsidered his stand on oil drilling and will consider joining Gov. Charlie Crist and other legislators to vote to put a constitutional amendment to ban oil drilling off the Florida coast on the November ballot." "GOP Rep. Schenck says he's willing to reconsider pro-drilling stand".

The Sun Sentinel editorial board puts union hating aside for a moment: "State schools, unions must succeed second time around".

"Sugar-sand beaches"

"Florida's Panhandle on Wednesday boasted of famous sugar-sand beaches and clear Gulf waters." "Florida tourism plummets".

Nelson hits a wall

"Nelson's hard-charging reaction to the gulf oil disaster ran into a wall Thursday, a reminder of how influential the industry remains. Nelson and two other Democratic lawmakers, eager to show the public they are going after BP, wanted a quick passage of a bill to increase a cap on damages from oil spills to $10 billion from $75 million." "Sen. Bill Nelson loses out on bid to increase damages cap".

Canker lawsuit

"Despite a court ruling that says Broward property owners are due $11 million, Florida doesn't want to pay for citrus trees cut down during a canker epidemic." "Court upholds $11M citrus canker payout, but Florida vows to appeal".

New man

"Charlie Crist unleashed: A wide-ranging interview with the newly independent one".

Ultrasound protest

"Dozens of protesters took their fight to Gov. Charlie Crist's doorstep this morning, carrying signs urging him to veto House Bill 1143, the controversial bill requiring women to get an ultrasound before an abortion." "Foes of abortion ultrasound bill protest outside Crist home".

Vetoes

"Pressure is intensifying on newly independent Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to either sign or veto a controversial 11th-hour bill passed by the Legislature that opponents argue makes it more difficult for women seeking abortions." "Planned Parenthood rallies across the state, calling on Crist to veto pre-abortion ultrasound bill".

"The governor, already at odds with his former GOP colleagues, is likely to veto millions in spending for local projects." "Crist poised to veto special projects".

Red lights

"Crist signs Florida bill legalizing red light cameras". See also "Crist signs bill legalizing red light cameras".

Tampa strip clubs hiring

Tampa's notorious adult entertainment industry is about to get some serious stimulus spending, courtesy of the Republican Party*.

"A Republican National Committee panel recommended Tampa during a closed-door meeting, rejecting Salt Lake City and Phoenix. The decision came amid calls from Hispanic groups and others to boycott Arizona after it adopted a law to crack down on illegal immigrants — although Steele insisted that the Arizona immigration uproar played no part in the convention choice. He said it was 'purely a business decision.'" "Tampa to host GOP presidential convention in 2012". See also "Tampa wins bid to host '12 convention". The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "A grand victory". The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "GOP convention a big plus".

See also "Sarasota Republicans upbeat over 2012 convention", "The heart behind Tampa's successful RNC bid: Al Austin", "2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa: Your questions answered", "What they're saying about Tampa and the 2012 Republican National Convention" and Republicans pick Tampa

Limo alert: "GOP convention will present traffic challenge to Tampa".

- - - - - - - - - -
*Just last month: "The Republican National Committee (RNC) is investigating how and why it spent nearly $2,000 for "meals" at a bondage-themed strip club in West Hollywood featuring topless dancers simulating lesbian sex. The GOP confirmed Monday that it reimbursed a California consultant for $1,946 spent at Voyeur, a bar/lounge that's described on one Web site as 'classic slutty' where 'you might not be completely shocked at the almost naked women writhing on each other, but you will undoubtedly be in awe.'" "$2,000 strip-club bill leaves GOP blushing".

Charlie switches

"Crist personally renounced the Republican Party Wednesday, making over his voter registration to 'no party affiliation' to match his remodeled U.S. Senate bid and spurning any requests from donors who want their money back." "Charlie Crist changes voter registration and his mind about giving donor refunds". See also "" and "".

Tea-Baggers frantically look ...

... for the words "offshore oil-drilling" in the Constitution: "Offshore-oil-drilling ban might be on ballot".

"Reasonable and necessary"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Calling the Florida Legislature back into session to discuss public policy, current and future, about the oil spill in the Gulf is a reasonable and necessary act of governance. Yes, it's bound to be assessed for its political implications from all points. So what else is new?"

"This session will be a way for lawmakers of every stripe to go on the record formally regarding life beyond the oil spill, lifting the ban on drilling, alternative energy incentives or continuing the status quo. It may not be convenient, it may not ensure a way for lawmakers to have smooth sailing in their own re-election campaigns this summer, but few issues arise with as much immediate impact and demand for steady, thoughtful problem-solving." "Session on drilling issues is Job One".

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Crist right to give voters chance to save the coast and economy". The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Fix federal regulations; nix state session to ban offshore drilling"; The Sun Sentinel editors: "Special session to ban oil drilling will waste taxpayer money without accomplishing much".

Related from the The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Raise the cap on oil spill liability".

Vasilinda challenged

"Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda's 2009 vote in favor of drilling in Florida waters was already the key reason Rick Minor challenged her in the Democratic primary. The April 20 Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent ongoing spill insures the vote will be even more central in the Aug. 24 primary election for state House District 9." "Oil drilling vote sparks Florida House primary challenge".

"The trouble with constitutional amendments"

Bill Cotterell: "The trouble with constitutional amendments is, they assume that now is forever — that an opportunity or threat perceived today will not change over time."

About 80 years ago, when Florida wanted people to move down here, we stamped into the constitution a ban on a state income tax. We don't exactly need people to move to Florida anymore, and we do need a less regressive revenue source than the sales tax, but any legislator who proposes a state income tax won't need term limits to get forced out of politics.

Laff riot

"Ex-governor says leaders must focus beyond the present".

Spill baby, spill!

"Just the threat of oil smearing Florida's beaches and coastal wetlands has already prompted anti-drilling demonstrations and moved Gov. Charlie Crist to propose a special legislative session to consider a constitutional ban on drilling in state waters, which extend 10 miles into the Gulf."

Key state lawmakers, meanwhile, have at least temporarily dropped a proposal to allow drilling in those state waters.

On the federal level, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has introduced legislation in Congress to raise the liability cap for offshore-drilling damages from $75 million to $10 billion.

Whether more significant backlash occurs — such as the possibility of President Barack Obama dropping his proposal to allow drilling in more of the Gulf and in a big of part of the Atlantic Ocean — remains to be seen, as various investigations and congressional hearings have only just begun.

"It's too early to tell, but we haven't heard much from Sarah Palin lately," said Richard Charter, senior policy adviser for marine programs at Defenders of Wildlife, referring to the "drill, baby, drill" sentiment expressed by the former vice-presidential candidate. "Obviously in Florida, the effort to sell the beach to the oil industry appears to be deader than a doornail."

Sold!

"Crist portrait sells for $7,700 in eBay auction".

Charlie needs cash

Mike Thomas believes "There is no rush to stop something that isn't going to happen anyway. Unless, of course, you just told the Republican Party to pound sand and are in desperate need of some public campaign financing. And that's what this is all about." "To Charlie, session means gusher of dollars".

Where's the love?

"Some key Dems uncommitted as Meek heads to Palm Beach County".

"On the spot"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Abortion bill puts governor on the spot".

AG poll

"A poll released [yesterday] shows that state Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, a Republican, are leading their respective primary races for attorney general. The survey, conducted by Mason-Dixon Poll & Research Inc., has an error margin of plus or minus 4 percent." "Poll: Most voters undecided on Florida attorney general races".

Budget blues

"Back when government coffers were flush, the spring legislative session could seem like Christmas, with lawmakers delivering packages of goodies to their home districts. But these are different times, and the $70.4 billion budget approved by lawmakers this year left little room for anything more than staples -- like finding socks and underwear under the tree. " "New budget bill reflects hard times".

Needs improvement

The Miami Herald editors: "Insurance bill needs improvement".

The characters on Green Acres were smart enough to send Mr. Haney on his way but not Florida's Attorney General Bill McCollum.

When George Rekers, the 61-year-old founder of the rabidly anti-gay Family Research Council showed up full of junk science, discredited testimony and a willingness to say anything to defend Florida's ban on gays adopting McCollum saw an ideological bargain at any price. ...

Here is how it played out: Bill McCollum needed "expert" testimony for a case in which he defended Florida's ban on adoption by gay couples. Unable to find a reputable witness, McCollum paid Mr. Haney - er, I mean George Rekers -- $120,000 in taxpayer money. This after McCollum knew Rekers was a long discredited ideologue that multiple courts had already deemed worthless as an expert witness.

He paid an unqualified zealot who will endorse McCollum's anti-gay political posturing under the guise of "expert testimony." Bill McCollum did it because he was willing to pay for a discredited witness who would ignore the clear scientific facts and the real, lived experience of millions of gay parents and their children to bring a hateful, ideologically-driven message about gay people.

Hiring rent boys like Lucien for European trips is one thing, hiring political rent boys like Rekers, paid to move an extremist agenda is something entirely different. Floridians want their money back. Perhaps McCollum can call Arkansas for help.

All they got?

"Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) has drawn national attention from his provocative comments geared to his left-wing base and made himself a target for Republicans in November."

But for now the GOP is focusing on sorting out the crowded field of candidates in the competitive Orlando-area district – a field that was upended when Daniel Webster entered the race several days before the state’s April 30 filing deadline. Webster, a widely-respected conservative leader who has been both state House speaker and state Senate majority leader, was once viewed as a field-clearer when he mulled the race last year but his indecision has created a logjam of credible candidates.

Scott luvs the Tea-Baggin'

Nathan Daschle, Executive Director of the Democratic Governors Association: "Two developments this weekend should keep perennial GOP candidate Bill McCollum up at night."

First -- after Utah Senator Bob Bennett's defeat, an emboldened Tea Party is looking for even more establishment candidates to take down. Republicans like longtime strategist Ed Rogers admit that Bennett's loss is "proof that the Tea Party movement is a huge presence in the GOP organization."

Second -- polling out this weekend suggests the Tea Partiers' next victory could be over Florida Attorney General McCollum, an establishment darling who just shed 26 points in his primary against a Tea Party candidate.

The Tea Partiers have found their ideal candidate -- one who speaks their language and is putting in the resources to back it up. Just a few weeks ago, former health care executive Rick Scott joined the race and has since run hard to the right. Scott has already poured nearly $5 million in ads on TV and launched his first radio spot -- a self-titled "Florida Conservative Commentary" to discuss his close relationship with the Tea Party. In the weeks since he announced his candidacy, Scott has risen from a virtual unknown to capturing 24 percent of the vote.

Crist's special session gambit

"If oil and gas companies have the most to lose from a constitutional ban on offshore drilling, then Gov. Charlie Crist's U.S. Senate campaign might have the most to gain."

Or as former governor and senator Bob Graham puts it, "There is significantly more upside than downside for him."

Crist on Tuesday said lawmakers will return to the Capitol for a special session "in the next couple of weeks."

After six special sessions during his first three years as governor, Crist knows his office attracts significant media attention as he wields control over the limited agenda of an emergency legislative session.

But the political risk for Crist, some say, is if voters decide the real emergency is his political standing instead of oil flooding the Gulf of Mexico.

Dem Crist defectors

"Prominent Broward Democrat Lori Parrish open to supporting Crist’s indie Senate bid".

The Charlie might win, and he ain't really that bad, approach - including the rumor "that President Obama does not intend to support Meek too actively, in the interest of allowing the already-ahead Crist to defeat the avowed administration opponent Rubio" - comes in for some criticism in a dKos post yesterday: "Some Observations on the Florida Senate Race" ("I humbly suggest that Mr. Crist's coronation as the next US Senator from Florida is premature")

Big oil advances

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "On Monday, Gov. Crist announced that he had formed the Oil Spill Legal Advisory Council.... One of the council's first moves should be to get big advances from the three companies whose executives batted blame back and forth. The legal threshold for such a move is fairly high, but especially after the Senate testimony Florida has public relations on its side. The money would be held in escrow and any balance returned if - and we'd sure like this to be the case - damage in Florida turned out to be less than feared." "Florida needs big advances: Get them from companies passing buck on oil leak.".

Whoopee!

"Florida attorney general starts website about Gulf of Mexico oil spill".

"Decision that will define Crist's ideology"

"It is another decision that will define Charlie Crist's political ideology, but more importantly, it's a choice that could lead Florida to an inequitable process for restricting abortions. That alone is justification enough for Crist to veto HB 1143, a one time nondescript health care bill that has been hijacked for ideological causes." "Abortion bill puts governor on the spot".

Sink

"Responding to questions from state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner Kevin McCarty offered a presentation to the Cabinet on Tuesday on what his office has done about two financially unstable insurance companies." "OIR Defends Policies Before Cabinet".

Friends in high places

"As more political skeletons emerge from Gov. Charlie Crist's closet, one remains buried -- and fully employed -- in the Broward County Sheriff's Office. Nearly five months after Sheriff Al Lamberti was presented pictorial evidence of his undersheriff, Tom Wheeler, kibitzing with Ponzi king Scott Rothstein, an internal investigation has yet to reach a conclusion about misconduct." "Crist Cronies Are the Law in Broward County".

Charlie's big day

Today "will be a big day for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, with Crist switching parties from Republican to independent -- really, it will be official this time on a legal document." "Crist To Change Voter Registration To Independent Wednesday". More Charlie: "Crist Camp Edits Out 'Conservative' From His 'Consistent Leadership'".

"Spill Baby, Spill"

"Sen. Bill Nelson to CNN: It's going to take disastrous oil spill to clamp down on big oil". See also "'Spill, Baby, Spill': Oil Hearings Bring Out Political Drama". More: "Blame game on Capitol Hill".

RPOFers in a dollar dither

"Crist's decision to run for the U.S. Senate as an independent has left a bunch of big-name contributors with a decision to make: Do they follow the angry dictate of furious Republican Party officials and demand their money back? Or not?"

When the Orlando Sentinel spoke with more than a dozen big Crist donors, most remained behind him.

"I'm going to stick with Charlie Crist," said New York businessman Howard Lorber, a frequent contributor to candidates of both parties, who gave Crist $4,800 in May 2009.

"I've known Charlie for many years, and I am loyal to him now," agreed Orlando attorney and GOP fundraiser Kenneth W. Wright, who gave $4,800 last summer.

Contrasting is state Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who did not sign the open letter but wants Crist to return the $4,200 Gaetz gave him last year.

"The day that Charlie Crist walked away from those of us who have carried him on our shoulders for so many campaigns, I put a Marco Rubio sticker on the back of my Jeep," Gaetz said. "I've asked for my money back. And when I get it — and I fully expect to get it — I plan on sending it to Marco Rubio."

A few donors contacted by the Sentinel declined to say what they will do.

More than 1,000 contributors have given Crist the maximum amount of $4,800 apiece. Among them are some big names: Cardenas; Republican fundraiser (and former Jeb Bush partner) Armando Codina; former state senator and Florida education secretary Jim Horne; ousted Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer; and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Cape Coral, who recently quit as Crist's campaign chairman.

"Scholastic skullduggery"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "For years, Florida high schools have airbrushed graduation rates by shifting to adult-education centers thousands of pupils whose poor grades would blemish schools' pristine numbers."

Outrageous.

The state never should have tolerated this scholastic skullduggery. Shameful.

Floridians ought to be alarmed at the sleight-of-hand that makes marginal students and mediocre benchmarks disappear. Moreover, the cooked books raise legitimate concerns about whether state school districts are more committed to poor students or good statistics.

Think of it as scholastic cosmetic surgery: a little nip-and-tuck of foundering students with sagging grades dramatically lifts the school's graduation rate.

Middling reviews

"President Obama receives middling reviews in a new Mason-Dixon poll of Florida voters, six months before they cast ballots in a high-stakes election widely viewed as a referendum on the Democratic administration." "Obama gets mixed reviews from Florida voters, poll shows". See also "Poll: Obama receives mixed reviews from Tampa Bay voters" and "Poll: Fla. voters evenly divided over Obama's job performance".

Union vote

"Democratic congressional candidates seek union vote in Port St. Lucie".

Reid calls Crist

"On the heels of new public polling showing Gov. Charlie Crist (I) leading the Florida Senate race -- mostly thanks to Democrats and Independents, who seem to be choosing Crist over Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) -- comes confirmation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reached out to Crist by phone recently."

The Wall Street Journal first reported news of the call [yesterday] morning. The paper said that news that Reid is communicating with Crist, who will be looking for a party to caucus with if he gets to the Senate, is evidence that Reid might be hedging his bets in the contest.

Nonsense, Reid's office told TPMDC.

Florida's "Millionaire Astroturfer"

"The Senate race isn't the only GOP war going on in Florida. Surprise late-entry gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott -- the former CEO of the the Columbia hospital system and a leading astroturfer during the health care town halls in 2009 -- is threatening to dismantle Republican party plans to replace Gov. Charlie Crist (I) with state Attorney General Bill McCollum." "Millionaire Astroturfer Thwarts GOP Plans In FL-GOV Race".

Spill baby! Spill!

"The first two oiled birds found after a massive oil spill on the Gulf Coast have been cleaned and released in what could be the start of several relocations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the birds Monday at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge northeast of Vero Beach." "First birds found in oil spill start relocations". See also "State prepares to handle spill", "Will spill hit us? Odds are murky" and "Gulf Coast puts up last line of defense against oil spill". More: "Locals express frustration at Oil Spill Summit in panhandle".

RPOFers at work

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Two amendments in HB 1143 are classic examples of how bad legislation gets passed in the Florida Legislature."

They were taken up by House Republicans at literally the 11th hour of the session, without benefit of committee hearings, expert testimony, staff analysis or time for public comment.

The amendments, which deal with abortion, are based not on science or even fact, but, rather, ideology. Because of these flaws, Gov. Crist should veto HB 1143.

The poison amendments, if signed into law, will bring a slew of lawsuits upon the state, using precious tax dollars for a legal defense that could far better be spent on law enforcement or beefing up underfunded programs for children and elders.

One amendment would require a woman seeking an abortion in the first trimester to submit to and pay for an ultrasound, even though her doctor doesn't consider it necessary. She must either look at the image or listen to a description of it by her doctor.

Lawyering up

"Florida officials say they aren't planning to sue oil giant BP PLC any time soon, but Gov. Charlie Crist named two former state attorney generals to lead a topflight advisory legal team today — just in case." "Former AGs join Florida's oil spill advisory team". See also "Legal advisory council to help with claims" and "Florida may file suits as early as Monday to fight cap on Gulf oil leak claims".

The Chamber of Commerce speaks

The Palm Beach Post editorial board, channeling the Chamber of Commerce, thinks that if private sector employees have crap pensions, then it only makes sense that Florida's overworked and underpaid public employees get treated the same way: "For the first time since 1998, reports show that the Florida Retirement System is not fully financed."

It's a warning legislators ignore at taxpayers' peril. Legislators refused this year to force state employees to contribute a token amount - 0.25 percent of their pay - toward retirement. Instead, taxpayers who more and more cannot count on guaranteed fixed-pension payments for their own retirement are forced to pay to make sure that state employees get theirs.

No longer, though, must government provide top benefit packages to retain underpaid employees. Barron's magazine, citing a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, showed that the average state and local employee out-earns his counterpart in the private economy, with an hourly wage of $26.11 vs. $19.41. Benefits drive the disparity even higher, to $39.60 an hour for public employees against $27.42 for private workers.

Wingnuts a comin'

"The recommendation on where to hold the Republican National Convention is expected Wednesday, and the conventional wisdom is that it's Tampa's to lose." "Tampa favored as decision nears".

Because BP said so

"Attorney General Bill McCollum says it's not necessary to have a special legislative session to deal with the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico that could threaten Florida's beaches." "McCollum says there's no need for special session".

Meantime, "Crist said Monday he wants a special legislative session soon -- maybe as early as the week of May 24 -- to deal with two timely issues: a proposed constitutional ban on drilling for oil off Florida's coast and tax incentives for utilities to diversify and explore renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power." "Gov. Charlie Crist closer to calling special session on drilling". See also "Crist aims for special session ‘in a couple weeks’".

In the cross hairs

"Rubio, Meek take turns defining Charlie Crist".

Fair trade

"The two little-known Democrats who hope to unseat U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, criticized free trade and told a union retirees group today that they want to stop U.S. jobs from going overseas. Business consultant Jim Horn of Palm City and middle school teacher Ed Tautiva of Wellington also decried the influence of special interests in politics during remarks to 70 members of a United Auto Workers retiree group." "Democratic congressional contestants blast free trade in Port St. Lucie forum".

Daily Rothstein

"The exotic cars owned by a high-profile South Florida lawyer accused of concocting a Ponzi scheme are on display for potential bidders in a mult-million-dollar government auction." "Scott Rothstein's exotic cars go up for auction".

For the Bush acolytes, watchdogs were to be well-muzzled and kept on short leashes. Criticism was equated with disloyalty.

One of Bush's few failures with the Legislature was an effort to merge the Auditor General's Office with the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.

Toward the end of his two terms, when the People First contract with Convergys was ravaging the state human-resources system, the Legislature asserted itself a little more strongly. Then-Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, was head of the Senate Governmental Operations Committee, which did a thorough investigation of Bush's biggest outsourcing initiative.

One result was creation of the Council on Efficient Government, which would evaluate the "business case" for the biggest state contracts and make recommendations for improvements. The idea was to get some outside, unbiased eyes on these contracts — acknowledging that administrators who are good at running prisons or colleges might be no match for the sales staff of a multinational software conglomerate or insurance company.

A seven-member panel of experts was assembled — not just guys from out of town with briefcases, but people with genuine expertise from government and the private sector. But now, maybe because Convergys has faded from the news and People First seems to be running better, the reformist ardor has cooled.

The state budget pending before Gov. Charlie Crist will abolish what's left of the Council on Efficient Government and cut OPPAGA's budget by about 34 percent. Both entities are victims of their own success.

OPPAGA is the Legislature's eyes and ears throughout state government. OPPAGA and the Auditor General's Office produce reliable, expert assessments of where the money goes and how well agencies operate. Legislators don't always want to hear an objective, professional analysis of such things — especially if it occasionally contradicts the conventional wisdom.

OPPAGA is expected to absorb part of the cuts by not filling vacancies (that old myth that, if a job isn't filled, the service it would provide must not really be needed) and through other efficiencies. The CEG, though, won't survive.

SunRail

"Short of actually driving the first spike into a new piece of steel track, builders of the SunRail train are poised to make their most high-profile move in creating the commuter system: Buying the locomotives and coaches." "SunRail gets set to buy trains".

HD 91

"With Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Ft. Lauderdale, leaving her seat to run for the state Senate, an intriguing contest is shaping up in House District 91. ... While the district is Republican-leaning -- and there are three serious candidates for the GOP nomination -- there is also a strong Democratic candidate in the race.
" "With Bogdanoff Leaving, Candidates Jump in Race for House Seat".

Same old, same old

Robotic RPOFers at the Pasco County Ronald Reagan dinner

seemed captivated by Bush, who urged Republicans to advance campaign themes this election year that emphasized "entrepreneurial capitalism," a "zeal for reform," "bedrock principles," and a drive to "restore personal responsibility."

Bush accused President Barack Obama of advocating a redistribution of the wealth in the U.S., while also causing an "avalanche" of government spending. He said the nation’s deficit and rising debt would either force world financial markets to decide the nation’s future, or voters could take action this fall.

Entrepreneurs in action

"The battle to fend off a huge oil spill is mostly drawn now, with Florida having had 19 days to arm itself with volunteers, floating booms and heavy equipment, while the slick in the Gulf of Mexico has been reinforced each week with more than a million gallons of crude." "As oil spill grows in the Gulf, Floridians worry and wait". See also "BP scrambles with new plan as colossal oil spill grows", "Tampa Bay officials prepare for oil hitting here", "After cap failure, BP mulls oil leak options", "With no clear plan, experts brace for worst on oil spill" and "With no clear plan, experts brace for worst on oil spill".

Daily Rothstein

"One of the lawyers who goes way back with Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein is a target of a federal investigation and expects to be indicted, the former partner's attorney told a judge during a Friday court hearing. Howard Kusnick, who first practiced years ago with Rothstein in their small firm in Plantation and later joined the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm in downtown Fort Lauderdale, is a target of the federal investigation that brought down Rothstein, said Kusnick's civil attorney, Rachel Kelman." "Attorney: Former Rothstein law partner is target of federal investigation, expects to be indicted".

Special session

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

Former House Speaker Ray Sansom is under indictment. Gov. Charlie Crist has removed about 40 officeholders due to corruption charges, including numerous ones across South Florida.

Yet the Legislature failed to pass several bills that would have held public officials to higher standards and given prosecutors more tools to crack down on corruption. Now the governor is considering calling the Legislature back soon for a special session to take care of this unfinished business. He has received a plea to do so from the sponsor of several of the failed bills, Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach.

We agree anti-corruption laws need to be strengthened. But politics and precedent argue against hauling legislators back to Tallahassee this year to do it in a special session.

Lawmakers did pass at least one anti-corruption bill — from a Democratic rival of Sen. Gelber for attorney general, Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres — that would let counties hike penalties for official misconduct. The Legislature should have done more, but it also neglected other critical issues.

If special sessions were called every time the Legislature failed to act on important issues, its part-time members might never get out of Tallahassee.

Always flirting

"National Dems Flirting With Crist?".

Ultrasound protest

"About 20 people showed up at a state legislator's office today to protest a controversial abortion bill passed last month, urging Gov. Charlie Crist to veto it. The demonstration took place in front of the office of state Rep. John Legg, a supporter of House Bill 1143, which contains a provision requiring all women seeking elective abortions - even those in the first trimester - to first get an ultrasound." "Protesters want Crist to veto abortion bill".

Awaiting veto

"A bill that could raise some insurance premiums for property owners and reduce the costs of processing claims for insurance companies is waiting for Gov. Charlie Crist’s signature or veto." "Bill allowing insurance rate hikes awaiting Crist's decision".

Wingnuts run wild in South Florida

"Mirroring what’s happening nationally, the Southwest Florida tea party movement has grown from a fledgling group, with five members in the Naples chapter two years ago, to a large group anxious to announce on street corners its views about limiting government."

Estimating the numbers involved in the local tea party movement is difficult. The group doesn’t have membership dues or regular meetings, but last month’s Tax Day rally marked the second year of boisterous protests. Meanwhile, new splinter groups such as the Southwest Florida 9.12 project — named for the day after 9-11, when Americans were united — boasts 900 members, Cape Coral 9.12 organizer George Miller said. ...

According to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, 18 percent of Americans identify themselves as tea party supporters and they tend to be Republican, white, male, married and older than 45.

The poll said supporters hold more conservative views than Republicans. Political observers say the movement has influenced state races.

Tea partiers threw their support behind then long-shot Marco Rubio in the Florida Senate race.

As a bonus, at no extra charge, Rekers testified in Miami-Dade Circuit Court that he also considered American Indians to be in the same risky category.

Best I can tell, Rekers has never disparaged the fitness of gays or Indians to hump his baggage. George Rekers comes with a lot of baggage.

Rekers, 61, of North Miami, a Baptist minister and a retired professor of behavior science, has long provided academic cover for the Christian right's anti-gay agenda. He's written books, delivered lectures and provided pithy quotes that intimate a scientific basis for opposition to gay adoption and gay marriage.

On McCollum's tail

"Poll: Former healthcare exec Rick Scott trails Bill McCollum in GOP primary". See also "Poll: Scott's TV ad erodes McCollum's lead in GOP", "Poll: McCollum losing support to political newcomer" and "Poll: Newcomer Scott closes in on McCollum in GOP governor's primary".

Oil slick

"BP looks to charter Panhandle boats". But see "PNJ: Oil spill threatens beach livelihoods".

Miami-Dade losing clout in Tally

"Miami-Dade's legislative delegation, an experienced, powerful group that delivered state dollars to South Florida for local projects, will face heavy turnover -- and possible loss of clout -- this fall. Ten of the delegation's 25 members won't be returning to their seats next year, as they run for higher office or face term limits. The group includes Anitere Flores, a Republican in charge of the House K-12 education budget; Alex Diaz de la Portilla, the Senate majority leader; and David Rivera, who controls the budget in the House." "Miami-Dade to lose key players in state legislative delegation". Related: "Broward lawmakers leave Legislature with few wins".

Another fine Jebacy

"Florida high schools have been boosting their graduation rates for years by transferring thousands of struggling students to adult-education centers and then removing them from school rolls as if they didn't exist."

Those who have fallen behind and are unlikely to earn diplomas no longer are part of the equation when school districts compute their overall graduation rates, so the percentage of graduates looks much better than it really is. ...

Although the state for years gave its blessing to the practice, Smith said Florida lacks "truth in advertising" by excluding adult-education transfers from the graduation count.

Special session on drilling?

"Crist leaning toward special session to curb drilling".

Luvin' the stim

The Tampa Tribune editorial board loves that stim money. Perhaps a "journalist" will ask Rubio if he opposes federal support for the Tampa-Orlando line:

The nation's first downtown station for a super-fast passenger train is going to be in Tampa. Being first has huge advantages in the hot competition for federal dollars for high-speed rail.

Money follows good plans, and Florida's plans are the best.

Congress will have a vested interest in making sure the Tampa-Orlando line gets going on schedule. The first round of funding competition has made it obvious that the fastest trains are too expensive to be built across every state that wants them.

But it's also hard to see what could stop the momentum that will lay tracks across Florida and bring significant and lasting economic stimulus.

Rothstein

"A top staffer in Gov. Charlie Crist's office and Fort Lauderdale lawyer Scott Rothstein were flying high in 2008."

Shane Strum and Ponzi king Rothstein chatted on Rothstein's chartered jet on their way to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, where Crist was on John McCain's short list for vice president.

The two men's conversation, witnessed by others on the plane, focused on how Rothstein's law firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, could represent the state in a class-action suit states were pursuing against pharmaceutical firms.

Drill ,baby, drill! dead enders

"State Rep. Dean Cannon of Winter Park spent part of the fall, winter and early spring steering a public inquiry into the profits and perils of offshore drilling."

Last week, he took off in a small plane on a different kind of fact-finding mission, piloting himself and state Sen. Mike Haridopolos of Merritt Island over the graveyard of the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon and the enormous carpet of crude oil now drifting across the Gulf of Mexico.

With such a vivid view of the disaster, did the two Republicans in line to lead the state Legislature next year respond like many Floridians — especially those in the Pensacola area — with disgust and rage toward the oil industry? No.

Will the two Central Floridians renew their efforts to lift a ban on exploring for oil and natural gas in the thin strip of state-controlled waters within 10 miles of Florida's coast?

At a news conference, Mercado described Cannon, R-Winter Park, as "a big man in politics" who is nonetheless largely unknown to his constituents. She also pointed to the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as evidence that what she called Cannon's "diligent" work to bring offshore oil drilling to the waters off Florida's coasts had been misguided.

"He's been working for Big Oil," she said.

Cannon denies having connections to any particular industry.

Crist "finally his own man"

Stephen Goldstein: "By abandoning the Republican Party and choosing to run for the U.S. Senate under 'No Party Affiliation,' Charlie Crist has had a cross between a bar mitzvah and enlightenment: He's become not just a man, but finally his own man, seeing clearly the stand he should have taken all along." "Independent Charlie: Crist standing tall as his own man".

"A perfect storm"

Randy Schultz: "On March 3, 2000, the Minerals Management Service - the federal agency in charge of offshore oil and natural gas drilling - issued Safety Alert No. 185."

Two accidents had occurred on rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Neither had caused a major problem, but the alert emphasized to companies drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf that the MMS considered a backup system to avoid a massive discharge of oil "to be an essential component of a deepwater drilling system…"

Yet 19 days ago, a company drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf didn't have an adequate backup system. A rig exploded, and a massive discharge of oil threatens an area from Louisiana to North Carolina, with Florida right in the middle.

As with 9/11 and the financial crisis, the oil leak from the Deepwater Horizon rig appears to be a terrible but preventable event. Plenty of state politicians are seeking to exploit this potential disaster, but U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., can claim to have been doing the hard work on drilling all along. He said Thursday that "it's increasingly looking like the oil industry and federal regulators ignored warning signs that there were problems with this backup equipment that was supposed to stop oil spills."

Laff riot

Kingsley Guy takes eight (8) paragraphs to say precisely nothing, which is to be predicted when the headline of his column is this: "Florida's past budget sanity is one reason we're in better shape than many other states".

Crist

"Crist scooped a bunch of oysters out of Apalachicola Bay today and assured skeptical residents that 'we're all in this together' as the Gulf oil spill threatened their livelihoods." "Gov. Crist tells 300 coastal workers "we're all in this together"".

fluffing the tea-baggers

Alex Leary relates that "Cook handicappers rate the Grayson and Kosmas races a 'toss-up' while Boyd's is considered 'lean Democratic.' With the GOP expected to pick up 30 or more House seats nationwide, it's likely one of these Florida Democrats will fall." "Health care reform votes might make Democrats vulnerable in midterm elections".

Poor Myriam

Poor Myriam Marquez, she doesn't understand that artists don't like to hang with wingers. "When it comes to showbiz, it pays to not be stingy".

Meek largely unknown

George Bennett: "With Meek still unknown by most Democrats, the post-­partisan Crist is drawing significant support from Democratic voters. A Mason-Dixon poll showed 48 percent of Democrats favoring Crist and 36 percent preferring Meek. " "Democratic Senate candidates scuffle against each other and governor for recognition".

Yee haw!

"Bush drew standing ovations at the Pasco County Ronald Reagan dinner and lavished praise on Rubio, who he formally endorsed earlier this week in a move given added loft by rival Charlie Crist’s earlier decision to break with the Republican Party and continue his Senate campaign as an independent." "Bush, Rubio Rally GOP: 'Remember when Florida Had Republican Governor?'".

Card games

Yesterday: "Fla. GOP opens some credit records".

What's a RPOFer to do?

"A high-stakes First Amendment battle that could either halt state funding to all church-run social service programs or create an unprecedented flood of government-backed sectarian groups may soon come before the Florida Supreme Court."

Confronted with a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of a state corrections program that allows Christian ministers to rehabilitate prisoners, the First District Court of Appeal has asked the Florida Supreme Court to define a century-old constitutional provision that prohibits diverting state dollars toward sectarian institutions.

The ban, one of the strictest in the country, bluntly states: ``No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.''

In the broadest interpretation of the provision to date, the First District Court of Appeal ruled that the law does allow the state to direct funds to faith-based groups, as long as the money isn't used to advance religion.

If the state appeals the decision, the Florida Supreme Court could weigh in and set new guidelines on a religious ban long under attack by Republican leaders.

"Lesson learned"

It helps to actually invite teachers into the process.

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida's first application for a federal Race to the Top education grant failed when only five of the state's 67 teachers unions gave their support."

The state was schooled in a necessary, if obvious, lesson: Reform will succeed only if teachers are intimately involved and on board. They are the ones in the classroom, and they know better than politicians what will work.

Lesson learned. Last month, in hopes of getting a $700 million grant in the second round of applications, Gov. Charlie Crist convened a diverse group that included a teacher of the year and representatives from teachers unions, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and others that share a common interest — improving students' education.

"The Republican Party's temper tantrum"

Scott Maxwell: "Politicians are sometimes compared to dogs. But that's unfair ... to the dogs. Dogs, after all, are loyal."

Compare that to many of today's politicians, who would drop their own mother into an icy pond if they thought it would earn ''em an extra half-point in the polls. Nothing proves that better than the Republican Party's temper tantrum over Charlie Crist running for the U.S. Senate as an independent.

Party bigwigs say Charlie's a pandering flip-flopper who sticks his finger in the wind to make decisions.

That's not news. That's just Charlie!

It's just that, until last month, Charlie was doing his pandering, flip-flopping best for the Republicans.

Shaking up Florida DOT

The Miami Herald writes: "Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower's call for a big modification of the construction plan for the Port of Miami tunnel has shaken up Florida Department of Transportation officials. No wonder. The mayor literally asked that the plan be turned on its head, with construction beginning at the port instead of on Watson Island."