A neck-and-neck contest between Republican Bill McCollum and Democrat Alex Sink, a wild-card surge by Republican Rick Scott, and more than one-quarter of Florida voters on the fence, according to a new poll conducted for the St. Petersburg Times, Miami Herald, Bay News 9 and Central Florida News 13.

More than five months before the Nov. 2 election, the Ipsos Public Affairs survey finds Attorney General McCollum backed by 34 percent and Chief Financial Officer Sink by 32 percent; McCollum's lead falls within the poll's margin of error of 4 percentage points. ...

Sink faces no strong contenders for the Democratic nomination, though Lawton "Bud" Chiles III, son of the late governor, says he is looking seriously at jumping in the race and challenging her.

As a first-term chief financial officer who has only run for statewide office once before, Sink is not nearly as familiar as McCollum to Florida voters. The poll suggests many voters don't realize Sink is a woman since she and McCollum are virtually tied among female voters.

Money man

"Under pressure from his chief U.S. Senate rival, former House Speaker Marco Rubio released nine years of tax records on Friday, revealing how his personal income grew along with his political influence."

Rubio's tax returns show that his income increased from $82,710 in 2000 when he was elected to the Florida House to $301,864 in 2004 — the year he stepped on the political track to become House speaker, one of the Legislature's most powerful posts.

During his last year in Tallahassee, Rubio earned nearly $400,000, with the bulk of the money coming from the Miami law firm of Broad & Cassell.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who has made public his tax records and is now running as an independent candidate against Rubio, has been pushing the Republican front-runner to release his tax records since late March. The leading Democrat in the Senate race, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, released his returns earlier this week.

Unlike Crist and Meek, Rubio did not release itemized tax deductions that would show property taxes and interest paid on mortgages.

The records Rubio posted Friday on his campaign website are expected to be reviewed by the Internal Revenue Service as part of its inquiry into his use of an American Express card issued by the Republican Party of Florida.

Obamanomics

"State sees first jobless rate dip since '06". Meanwhile, "Sunshine State leads nation in mortgage woes".

Labor endorsements on the line

"The powerful Florida Education Association gave Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek a dual endorsement in the U.S. Senate race Saturday but said it won't try to split organized labor's affections between Crist's sudden new courtship and Meek's long-standing relationship." "FEA gives dual endorsement to Crist and Meek for Senate". See also "Teachers union splits endorsement between Meek and Crist".

Meanwhile, regarding the larger, overall AFL-CIO endorsement, "Meek blisters union with plea for endorsement" and "Meek Blasts Crist, Makes His Own Case to the Union".

However, "Crist, who shed the 'R' next to his name and replaced it with an 'I' — asked for the labor union AFL-CIO's endorsement for Senate today."

Crist, an independent candidate, made an unusual appearance before the union's leaders. The union traditionally supports Democratic candidates and Crist, a lifelong Republican until this month, had never sought their help.

"I'm here for several reasons. I am hear to learn, I am hear to listen and I am here to show respect. There's not enough of that happening right now in government and politics," Crist said in a soft, humble tone. "I want your help, I want your vote, I want your support, I want your endorsement and I am asking for it."

Never mind

"Although state Sen. Paula Dockery voted for a bill requiring a mandatory sonogram for women seeking an abortion, she said today she would veto such legislation if she is elected governor. ... Dockery's seemingly contradicting remarks come as she is trailing in the polls – and collecting fewer campaign contributions – than her Republican rivals in the governor's race." "As governor, Dockery says she would veto abortion bill she voted for". See also "Dockery on both sides of issue".

Spill baby! Spill!

"After the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, Congress dictated that oil companies be responsible for dealing with major accidents — including paying for all cleanup — with oversight by federal agencies."

BP, which is in charge of the cleanup, said it will be at least Tuesday before engineers can shoot mud into the blown-out well at the bottom of the Gulf, yet another delay in the effort to stop the oil.

A so-called "top kill" has been tried on land but never 5,000 feet underwater, so scientists and engineers have spent the past week preparing and taking measurements to make sure it will stop the oil that has been spewing into the sea for a month. They originally hoped to try it as early as this weekend.

Maddox fires up AFL-CIO crowd

"Agriculture candidate fires up AFL-CIO crowd by taking shots at McCollum, Rubio and Putnam " "Maddox Comes Out Swinging at Republicans".

We hardly know 'ye

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The nation barely knows Tampa".

Rethinking oil drilling

"As the Deepwater Horizon disaster threatens Florida's shores, state voters are growing more opposed to offshore oil drilling and now are evenly divided about whether to amend the state Constitution to ban the practice, according to a new St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 poll. " "Florida voters divided on oil drilling ban".

Billboards madness

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Rewrite highway bill to control billboards".

He wishes

"Over the past six months, Florida's Republican Party has been torn from within, through circumstances including the ouster of state Chairman Jim Greer and Gov. Charlie Crist's abandoning the GOP to run as an independent."

But if Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is worried that those issues endanger the party's chances in the fall, he didn't show it Thursday during a visit to promote Tampa's selection as the site of the 2012 GOP National Convention.

Steele said by the time voters go to the polls in November, Florida's internal party issues will be of little consequence.

100 left

"Experts say just more than 100 panthers are left in the wild." "Florida panther killed by vehicle".

"Governor a no-show"

"Governor a no-show at Puerto Rican 'summit'".

Haridopolos and Cannon in court

"Arguing that legislators are trying to thwart the signature-petition process, deceive voters and cling to power, a group of civil rights organizations and activists is going to court to fight a redistricting constitutional amendment that lawmakers rushed onto the ballot during the final week of the legislative session."

Amendment 7, as it will appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot, was crafted at the behest of incoming House and Senate Republican leadership to "clarify" two other amendments headed to voters — amendments 5 and 6, placed there by the Fair Districts Florida group and intended to curb lawmakers' ability to gerrymander their districts during the once-a-decade redrawing of legislative and congressional boundaries.

But in a lawsuit filed Friday in Leon County Circuit Court, lawyers for the NAACP, the Florida League of Women Voters, Democracia Ahora and former Republican state comptroller Bob Milligan called the Legislature's work an attempt to "hide the ball" from voters.

Amendment 7 was pushed through the Legislature on the session's last day in April by incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, both of whom have blasted Fair Districts and the Democratic-leaning trial lawyers and unions who backed the $3 million signature-petition effort to put amendments 5 and 6 before voters.

Last week, Gov. Charlie Crist endorsed Fair Districts and lambasted lawmakers for passing Amendment 7, saying he would have vetoed it if he could (constitutional amendments don't go to the governor for his signature).

Crist cited reports that oil had been caught up in the loop current, which sweeps around the Florida peninsula, saying this created a "potential threat to additional counties bordering the Gulf and the Atlantic seaboard."

Crist endorses redistricting amendment loathed by RPOFers

"Crist has endorsed a redistricting amendment that is loathed by Republicans." "Charlie Crist's redistricting stance riles Republicans".

"One of Crist's rivals in the U.S. Senate race, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, already has supported Fair District's Amendments 5 and 6, as have many other Democrats." "Crist backs ban on gerrymandering".

"Eliminated homes to magically reappear"?

Joel Engelhardt: "The idea was that by buying farmland and placing strict limits on development, the number of potential homes west of Florida's Turnpike would be reduced by 6,000. Now a developer is shopping a proposal that ignores the spirit of the 1999 vote to game the system and allow nearly half of those eliminated homes to magically reappear." "Breaking a $100 million vow: Public bought land for farms, not homes.".

Off topic ...

... but Daniel Ruth is on fire today, observing that "simply because Kagan will never be confused with Jessica Alba, her fitness to sit in judgment of a zoning conflict has been questioned by several drive-by bloviators on the talk radio dial such as Neil Boortz and Michael Savage (there's a couple of beefcake boys for you), who have lambasted the nominee's physical appearance."

To which Ruth responds:

Suppose, for the sake of argument, that Sarah Palin possessed the looks of Elena Kagan. Would she have ever been elected governor of Alaska? Would John McCain have ever remotely considered her as his vice presidential running mate?

And if by some remote chance McCain — in the midst of the mother of all senior moments — had not picked the turn-tail governor to join him on the ticket back in 2008, would Palin today be the pin-up girl for Fox News, not to mention the reigning Betty Boop of the Tea Party Inquisition?

The answer is no to all of the above.

Meanwhile, Palin, an ambitious ladder-climber who spent less time in elective office than Faisal Shahzad did lingering around Times Square and who needs crib notes scribbled into her palm in case she is asked what color is an orange, has become a national political figure and potential presidential candidate to legions of fawning admirers on the basis of her appearance.

At the same time, Palin has been joined on the right-wing cuckoo perch by Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, also an elegant, stylish walking sitcom, who once famously said: "I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out under another Democratic president, Jimmy Carter. And I'm not blaming this on President Obama. I just think it's an interesting coincidence."

Interesting? Certifiably insane maybe, but at least Bachmann looked simply swell when she said it. If Bachmann found that tortured swine flu connection interesting, she must really be befuddled by things like — door knobs.

Palin and Bachmann, the Thelma & Louise of the Heritage Foundation, couldn't find the Supreme Court building with the help of Lewis & Clark, Predator drones and Google maps. Yet they are regarded as the leading philosophical torch-bearers of the Republican Party — but aren't they fetching in leather?

"Skeptical of professional politicians"

"Tuesday's election results nationwide brought a message to Florida's candidates: Voters are skeptical of professional politicians, and respond to pledges to shake up government-as-usual." "Florida politicians get lesson from voters nationwide".

The RPOF in action

"Crist's office is being inundated by phone calls and e-mails from pro-life and pro-choice groups urging him to sign or veto House Bill 1143. The so-called 'ultrasound bill' would, with certain exceptions, require women seeking abortions to view an ultrasound of the fetus." "Abortion Appeals Swamp Crist's Office".

Unintended consequences?

"A bill aimed at encouraging school prayer is drawing praise from an unlikely pairing of free speech advocates and social conservatives – even as some warn it could make it tougher for school administrators to discipline students."

First Amendment advocates say the legislation -- expected to be sent soon to Gov. Charlie Crist -- clearly enhances free speech. But they point out that it could also include consequences supporters failed to envision.

Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Association in Washington, D.C., said the legislation may unshackle student newspapers from the usual oversight of school administrators, effectively putting Florida among seven states – none in the Southeast – which have passed laws endorsing free expression for students.

Student papers running frank discussions of sex on campus, drug-use, and other provocative topics usually face few restrictions in the states that have approved such laws, LoMonte said.

“This bill certainly leaves an open question about what the standard in Florida is going to be for student newspapers,” said LoMonte, a former Tallahassee reporter with the Florida Times-Union.

Similarly, because the legislation also safeguards teachers and other school personnel, it may blunt sanctions by school administrators against personnel for speech and dress code, experts said.

Aronberg

"Questions are being raised about possible campaign finance violations involving state Sen. Dave Aronberg's campaign for attorney general." "Aronberg's campaign faces finance questions".

About that Rick Scott feller

"It was and still is the biggest Medicare fraud case in U.S. history and ended with the hospital giant Columbia/HCA paying a record $1.7 billion in fines, penalties and damages."

Now the man who ran the company at the time wants to be Florida's governor.

Rick Scott was co-founder and CEO of Columbia/HCA in the 1990s, when the FBI launched a massive, multi-state investigation that led to the company pleading guilty to criminal charges of overbilling the government.

Today, Scott is a Republican candidate for governor, running his campaign from an office in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The Chamber says "jump!" ...

"Lawmakers, Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum handcuffed current and future Florida attorneys general right before the Gulf oil-spill disaster started."

The only possible blessing at the end of the oil-slick rainbow is that politicians are more full of bluster than they are the truth.

Six days before the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and the wellhead a mile beneath it began gushing oil, Crist signed into law McCollum's chief legislative priority. The law that goes into effect July 1 caps contingency fees at $50 million on contract work for the Office of the Attorney General. It also includes transparency requirements and cost-benefit analyses of such agreements, but it's the cap that's important — certainly to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and anti-trial-attorney Republicans who boosted it.

Adult dancers flocking to Tampa

"Plans for the 2012 GOP presidential convention are in full swing, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told a news conference today." "GOP chair: 'The hard work begins' toward 2012 convention in Tampa". See also "RNC chairman in Tampa today to talk convention".

Teabaggers locked down

Scott Maxwell thinks that, as far as Rubio goes, the "question now is whether his campaign maestros know how to run a campaign that appeals to anyone other than the far right. Rubio is still churning out press releases touting his support from folks such as Liz Cheney — which doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Rubio already has the Republican base locked up. Heck, if staunch conservatives were any more smitten with Rubio, he would have to take out a restraining order."

"Do the right thing"

"Republican congressional candidate Jason Sager said this country was founded on the right of Americans to choose their elected officials."

Sheriff Richard Nugent's steadfast refusal to resign not only jeopardizes that fundamental right but also locks out other people who may want to run for that office, Sager said Thursday.

"I think he should do the right thing for the voters of this county — allow them to decide who will be their next sheriff," Sager said.

Nugent, who announced just moments before the state qualifying deadline of April 30 that he would run for the 5th Congressional District seat and oppose fellow Republican Sager, said again Thursday he will not step down.

"The law says I don't have to resign to run so it doesn't matter what my opponent says," Nugent said.

Greene takes a shot at Nelson

"Positioning himself as the outsider against three career politicians for the U.S. Senate, Democratic real estate investor Jeff Greene took a shot at an elder statesman in his own party during a visit Wednesday to a politically active Broward retirement community."

In one of his first public appearances since he joined the race last month, Greene criticized U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson for traveling last month to Cape Canaveral with President Barack Obama, who has proposed scaling back the space shuttle program that employs thousands of people.

Nelson — who has served in public office since 1972 and flew on a space shuttle in 1986 — has urged Obama to preserve NASA funding.

"I was kind of disappointed when I saw Sen. Nelson flying down with President Obama to terminate those jobs,'' Greene told about 100 members of the Kings Point Democratic Club

The 42 percenters

Orlando: teabagger central.

'Ya reckon?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Ramp up offshore drilling safety".

LaMarca to challenge Keechl

"Broward's first openly gay mayor, who has been criticized for his campaign spending, faces an election challenge from the county's past GOP leader." "Former GOP chair LaMarca to challenge Broward mayor Keechl".

Campaign-finance experts say they've never seen anything like Sen. Jim DeMint's efforts on behalf of Rubio.

DeMint, a Republican who has said he wants to surround himself with a nucleus of ideological conservatives in the Senate, has set up a personal political-action committee called the Senate Conservatives Fund to sponsor candidates. Rubio, a former Florida House speaker, has become a primary benefactor. ...

[T]his is the first time a member of Congress has used a personal PAC to campaign for another candidate in another state, said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks campaign money through OpenSecrets.org.

Sansom down to one felony charge

"A state prosecutor said Wednesday he will drop a perjury charge against ex-House Speaker Ray Sansom, citing additional information about his role in budgeting money for a state college in the Panhandle. The disgraced former speaker still faces grand theft charges stemming from his role in appropriating $6 million for an airplane building." "Prosecutor to drop perjury charge against Sansom".

Not hardly

"A billboard featuring former President George W. Bush has popped up along Interstate 95. In this election year, who's behind it? It's a mystery." "I-95 billboard features George Bush: 'Miss Me Yet?'".

Outsider fever

Adam C Smith: "Nobody in Florida should be surprised by Tuesday's results after watching long-shot Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio roar past Charlie Crist, who had been coronated by the GOP establishment; Crist was trailing so badly in the polls he dropped out of the primary."

Grass-roots enthusiasm easily trumps establishment support this year, when voters of all persuasions are fed up with the status quo.

So if you're an outsider Florida candidate like Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott or Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene, Tuesday's bellwether results should give you reason to smile. If you're a career politician like Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek or Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum, you ought to be anxious.

It's no accident that three very different candidates — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, Republican Scott and Democrat Greene — have virtually identical central messages: They're political newcomers determined to shake up politics as usual.

Scott, whose previous occupation was leading a company that ripped off the taxpayers, is within a stone's throw of the conventional Republican front-runner, Bill McCollum, and in one poll actually tied with the Democrat Alex Sink. No wonder both McCollum and Sink took notice of Scott this week and started calling him names — the McCollum campaign even favorably quoted Sink's attack on Scott.

How much of this is proof of national fed-up-ed-ness, and how much of it is a function of a weak and uninspiring field in the persons of Sink and McCollum? If our former two-term governor and all-time Republican superstar Jeb Bush were running to get his old job back, would a few television commercials from Rick Scott be buying competition so easily?

Spill, baby spill!

Notwithstanding the pressures of Tampa Bay teabaggery (the folks still looking for the words "oil spill in the U.S> Constiyution), the Saint Petersburg Times editorial board thinks the federal government needs to rush to Florida's rescue: "With oil from a destroyed Gulf of Mexico rig now apparently headed for Florida, the question becomes more urgent: What is the plan to protect the Sunshine State? The federal government needs to move quickly to ensure Florida has the containment booms, ready cash and logistics necessary to help residents and coastal areas cope with a potential economic and environmental disaster." "Time to act is now".

More: "Feds, state officials differ from scientists on when oil will hit South Florida and how bad it will be", "Drilling ban will wait for House, Crist says", "Atwater: BP can build a friggin’ oil rig, but can’t fill a hole?", "Officials paint rosier oil-spill picture for state Senate leaders", "Hurricane oil? Fierce storm could make spill worse", "Manatee group wants to prevent future drilling", "Relief mixes with dread as oil enters current flowing to S. Fla.", "Growing concern that loop current may bring oil toward Florida, top U.S. official says" and "Florida Democratic lawmakers push for united front against drilling". See also "Fla. tar balls not linked to Gulf oil spill".

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Oversee oil drilling with new vigilance".

A Tampa thing

"Maybe it takes a shock jock like Bubba the Love Sponge Clem to get Alex Sink to relax."

Typically hypercautious, the prim Democratic candidate for governor joined the infamous Tampa radio host Wednesday for a live chat.

After a few minutes of government-speak about the oil spill, she was led by her host to comment upon something no less grimy but a lot more salacious: the gay escort "rentboy" scandal that has been dogging her Republican rival, Attorney General Bill McCollum.

Sink was on it like spray tan on a prom date.

Crist's (former) friends

"'Zero' chance Mayor Bloomberg will endorse Charlie Crist".

House seats most vulnerable to a party switch

Here's an "inaugural ranking, in descending order, of the six House seats in Florida most vulnerable to a party switch this fall", from one Louis Jacobson, a Saint Petersburg Times staff writer:

1. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach. Kosmas is a Democratic freshman who represents a slightly Republican-leaning district — a situation that by itself would be enough to make her vulnerable in a year shaping up to be strong for the GOP. ...

2 (tie). Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello. Boyd, a conservative "Blue Dog" Democrat, is well-funded and has survived seven terms in a Panhandle district not especially friendly to Democrats. ...

2 (tie). Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando. Grayson, an acid-tongued freshman Democrat who represents a slightly Democratic-leaning district running from Ocala to Orlando, has drawn fierce national opposition.

4. Open seat being vacated by Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow. Democratic and Republican operatives alike agree that this district— represented by Putnam for five terms — could be a sleeper race. The Republican frontrunner is former state Rep. Dennis Ross, while Democrats are counting on Polk County elections supervisor Lori Edwards. ...

5. Open seat being vacated by Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami. In an unusual move, Mario Diaz-Balart is switching districts to seek the seat being vacated by his retiring brother Lincoln. The Democrats [have] put up their 2008 nominee, Joe Garcia, who came within six points of knocking off the incumbent in 2008. The likeliest Republican is state Rep. David Rivera, who is considered close to Marco Rubio — and whose political aspirations could benefit from those ties this year.

6. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton. Klein, a second-term Democrat, represents a competitive district long represented by Republican Clay Shaw.

Daily Rothstein

Not the guy you want to get on the wrong side of: "Warren Sapp: Rothstein's firm owes me more than $100,000 |".

Never mind that special session talk

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Crist says he will delay a call for a special session, but prepare for more high-profile vetoes." "Crist puts off special session on drilling". See also "Special legislative session on drilling remains tentative".

Good luck with that

"Florida regulators say FPL should refund $14 million to customers for 2008 outage".

HB 1565

"Crist should veto dangerous HB 1565" "Stop the Lobbyists' Bailout Act".

"This money is just a start"

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "Florida now has $25 million of BP money to spend on promoting the state's battered tourism industry. It can't hurt."

But like just about everything to do with the disaster that followed the April 20 fire and eventual collapse of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, this money is just a start.

Greene talk

"Little-known Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene tried to make inroads in South Florida with a speech to the Kings Point Democratic Club in Tamarac." "U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene puts insiders on notice".

HD 76

Republican "Laird A. Lile announced his candidacy for the District 76 Florida House of Representatives seat this morning." "Naples lawyer announces bid for Florida House seat".

"McCollum is no longer ignoring Scott"

Bill Cotterell: "Laws affecting homosexuality will figure in Florida's elections. Both Democratic candidates for attorney general oppose the ban on gays adopting children. If elected, they will probably drop the appeal of circuit court rulings that struck the statute."

Meanwhile, the current attorney general, running for governor, will have to answer not just for his defense of that law — which he can justify — but how he went about making his case. Attorney General Bill McCollum says the Department of Children and Families hired George Rekers, a minister and psychologist, as an expert witness to testify for the adoption ban.

McCollum's lead in the Republican primary race is slipping. Challenger Rick Scott of Naples, a newcomer with more political baggage than a whole squad of rentboys could carry, has hit McCollum with a series of TV spots promising "accountability" in government. McCollum is no longer ignoring Scott, but it will be hard for him to talk about government accountability — with what might be called a "straight" face — considering his insistence that DCF retain Rekers.

McCollum explains that he wouldn't have hired Rekers, if he knew then what he knows now. That's surely true, as is the argument that an attorney general has to defend statutes — but not every law on the books.

Former Attorney General Bob Shevin refused to defend a newspaper editorial "right to reply" law that fairly shouted its unconstitutionality. Another time, Shevin filed a rare "confession of error," rather than defend the convictions of two men railroaded in a murder case.

If McCollum thinks he had to defend the gay-adoption ban, if he thinks it's a good idea to pay anyone $300 an hour to say all gay people make bad parents, he can explain that in the fall campaign.

But he'll be talking to an electorate that, increasingly, thinks the underlying issue is no big deal.

Jobs, jobs, jobs

"75 grads of training program get oil spill jobs".

Garcia hits the trail

"Democrat Joe Garcia officially launched his congressional campaign Tuesday, setting his sights for the second time on U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart's seat in Washington -- this time by attacking Tallahassee." "Joe Garcia kicks off campaign for Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart's former seat".

Greene "can't be written off"

"The flamboyant Democratic U.S. Senate candidate proved Monday that he can't be written off, launching a statewide TV ad campaign estimated at roughly $1.3 million a week." "Flamboyant billionaire takes his long-shot Senate run seriously". See also "Billionaire Jeff Greene, checkbook in hand, charges into the Florida Democratic Senate primary".

Meek needs to work Broward and Palm Beach Counties

"Squeezed between a newly independent Gov. Charlie Crist and an aggressive new Democratic rival in the U.S. Senate race, Kendrick Meek faces unexpected and formidable foes in the fight for Florida's biggest pot of Democratic voters: Broward County." "Democratic stronghold no cinch for Meek, may go wobbly over Crist in Senate race". See also "Meek faces battle to win support of PBC Democrats".

The boy scout gets nasty

"McCollum takes gloves off: Rick Scott is "embarassment" and "fraud"".

Spill baby! spill!

"University scientists are forecasting that oil from the spill off Louisiana could reach Florida's Key West by Sunday." "Scientists: Spill could reach Fla. Keys by Sunday". See also "Scientists watching where oil spill headed next", "Tar balls rolling in current toward Florida Keys; just days away", "Marine life in danger as Gulf spill on track for Southeast Florida coast", "Tourism officials planning major promotional surge for beaches", "Oil spill shuts down 19 percent of Gulf fishing" and "La.'s state bird, brown pelican, imperiled by oil".

The right call

The Miami Herald editorial board: "A second chance". The Tampa Tribune editors: "Court gives juvenile lifers a chance for redemption". The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Court takes stand for justice".

Jobless

"State extends jobless benefits for 100,000". See also "Florida extends unemployment benefits, but not all are eligible".

McCollum's "real" rentboy.com scandal

The Tampa Trib publishes this guest column today by Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida:

The biggest scandal surrounding infamous anti-gay crusader George Rekers isn't that he hired a travel companion from rentboy.com to accompany him on a two-week European vacation.

The biggest scandal isn't even reports that Rekers, the 61-year-old founder of the rabidly anti-gay Family Research Center, received nude, sexual massages from his 20-year-old male escort.

The real scandal is that Attorney General Bill McCollum paid Rekers $120,000 in taxpayer money even though Rekers was a long-discredited ideologue that two courts had already deemed worthless as an expert witness.

Specter spectre?

The The Saint Petersburg Times wrote the other day that "Crist's transformation came only after it was clear he was facing defeat in the Republican primary against Marco Rubio. He essentially makes the same point [as did Specter] that the GOP had moved away from his more moderate views. But Crist denies Specter's plight holds any implications for himself."

You can expect to see and hear these words in print, on the radio and on television over the next few months:

Charlie Crist
switched parties to save one job ...
His ... not yours

"Abortion-bill strategy"

"Florida House and Senate leaders have swamped Gov. Charlie Crist's office with 139 bills in the past week, the latest tactic in an ongoing election-year battle between Crist and a legislature dominated by the Republican Party he recently spurned." "Abortion-bill strategy, election-year politics prompt massive influx of bills to Crist".

Some incumbents that have little to worry about

With the superficial anti-incumbent analysis being spouted by the talking heads today, there are some incumbents that have little to worry about; Kathy Castor's one of 'em.

"A field of four Republicans and one Democrat are looking to challenge Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor in Florida’s 11th Congressional District. Stretching around most of Tampa Bay, including most of Tampa and parts of St. Petersburg and Bradenton, the district remains one of the more reliable Democratic districts in the state. Nevertheless, some Republicans are optimistic they will do better there come November."

First elected in 2006, Castor clearly has some advantages as she seeks a third term. She won her two races with 70 percent of the voters in the district backing her. The district also backed Barack Obama with 66 percent support over Republican presidential candidate John McCain in the 2008 general election.

Castor has also raised a good deal more than her Republican rivals -- more than $265,000 in individual contributions and more than $191,500 in PAC contributions, and she had more than $357,000 cash on hand at the end of the first quarter of 2010.

Mike Prendergast leads the Republican field so far due to a sizable financial advantage. His campaign has hauled in more than $105,000. He is also gaining attention from Republican leaders in Washington. The National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas, will be hosting a fundraiser for Prendergast on Saturday.

A retired army colonel, Prendergast also served as an aide to former U.S. Senator Bob Graham and as a legislative liaison in the Secretary of the Army's Office. "I’ve invested myself in a career of leadership," said Prendergast. "I learned a great deal about the legislative process."

Lake O

"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday it has no choice but to destroy fragile estuaries around Lake Okeechobee to keep residents living around its eroded dike safe." "Army Corps on edge as Lake O fills with rain and strains against its feeble dike".

RPOFers feel the sting

"Crist has antagonized Republican legislative leaders by vetoing some of their major bills."

And indications are that inflammatory atmosphere will continue as Crist weighs the merits of dozens of bills pending on his desk, including a $70.4 billion state budget.

Crist has already vetoed two priorities for GOP leaders: One bill, strongly opposed by the state teachers union, would have eliminated job protections for teachers and would have made it easier to fire them. The other bill would have allowed legislative leaders to re-create so-called "leadership" funds where they could collect and distribute campaign contributions for legislative races.

Hard feelings remain as Crist must now decide the fate of 190 bills, including 139 pending in his office and 51 that he has yet to receive as of noon Tuesday.

Sink

"Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said Tuesday taxpayers could save at least $700 million a year by changing the attitude of state government from "bigger is better" to 'smarter is better.'" "Sink unveils government plan that is 'smarter,' not 'bigger'".

Crist to speak in union territory

"Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, up until last month a Republican, will step into a bastion of Democratic politics this weekend with a speech to the AFL-CIO of Florida as the union umbrella group vets candidates for possible endorsement."

Crist will speak at the AFL-CIO's endorsing convention in Jacksonville on Friday, and union officials will make a decision in a closed-door meeting on Sunday on who will get the union's endorsement in several races, including the United States Senate contest in which Crist is now an unaffiliated candidate.

Union cuts

"Miami offers unions cuts up to 12%".

Cat fund

"An advisory council to the fund reported Tuesday that it has enough cash and bonding ability to pay off more than $25 billion in losses if necessary. A financial adviser to the fund said Florida could withstand $17 billion in storm losses without having to seek additional bonding." "Catastrophe Fund: Good for $25.5 billion in losses".

When it comes to Rentboy.com vs. a Cadillac Escalade, I'm goin' with Rentboy as the lead story — and yet, who cannot admire the stink surrounding U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the leading Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate?

As [Troxler's] colleagues at the Miami Herald report, Meek went to bat in Congress for the benefit of a Liberty City developer who (1) helped Meek's then-chief of staff buy a house, and (2) hired Meek's mother as a consultant, paying her $90,000 and paying for the aforementioned Escalade.

This developer, Dennis Stackhouse, has since been arrested on charges that he stole nearly $1 million from the failed project. He is awaiting trial. Meek has said he didn't know at the time that his mother was working for Stackhouse, and says that his now-former chief of staff's deal with the developer was "inappropriate."

"People can be fooled"

"A judge has allowed grand theft charges against former House Speaker Ray Sansom to stand, moving the case of a $6 million airport building closer to trial."

While the appropriation had to go through official channels, "that doesn't mean that the plan of the defendants was not possible," Circuit Judge Terry Lewis wrote. "People can be fooled."

Spill baby, spill!

"The Coast Guard reported that 20 tar balls along the shore on Monday night at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West. Samples are being sent to a laboratory for analysis." "Potential oil threat to South Florida is anybody's guess". See also "Tar balls found off Key West, Coast Guard says".

More: "BP promises $25 million to Florida for advertising", "BP gives state $25M to promote tourism" and "Lawsuit seeks closing of BP platform in the Gulf".

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Clamp down on Big Oil". The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Failure of oversight on drilling".

And while we're on the subject of oil: "Jindal gets in on the action".

Knuckle-draggers outraged

"The court ruled 5 to 4[*] that denying juveniles who have not committed homicide a chance to ever rejoin society is counter to national and 'global' consensus and violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment."

The case involved Terrance Jamar Graham, who was convicted of robbery in Jacksonville, Fla., when he was 16. He received a short jail term and probation but was arrested again at 17 for taking part in a home invasion. The judge in the case sent him away for life.

Let's hope not

"City and state arson investigators suspect the weekend fire that virtually destroyed the home of Gov. Charlie Crist's former spokeswoman was deliberately set." "Former Crist aide's home burned".

45 bills

"Lawmakers on Monday sent Gov. Charlie Crist 45 bills, including ones dealing with sexual predators, space, spring training and hurricane insurance. He now has until June 1 to sign or veto the bills." "Florida House sends Gov. Crist 45 bills".

Another fine Jebacy

"Orlando now leads Florida and most of the nation for underwater mortgages, according to a report released last week by CoreLogic Inc. Only Las Vegas and Phoenix surpass it. The California-based researchers determined that 55 percent, or 285,004, of the area's mortgaged homes are worth less than their outstanding mortgage." "With Orlando No. 3 in nation in underwater mortgages, homeowners ponder leaving".

"Almost a compulsion"

"The son of former Gov. Lawton Chiles said Monday he feels "almost a compulsion" to run for governor and will probably enter the Democratic race by the middle of next week."

Lawton "Bud" Chiles III said he is talking with family members and political allies about challenging Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink for the party's nomination to succeed Gov. Charlie Crist. ...

"This is almost a compulsion," said Chiles. "I feel like I've got to either leave the state or do this."

Rubio lead widens

Brandon Larrabee: "Former House Speaker Marco Rubio now holds an eight-point lead over Gov. Charlie Crist in the campaign for an open U.S. Senate seat, according to a survey released by Rasmussen Reports [yesterday]." "Poll: Rubio reclaims lead in U.S. Senate race".

Caveat: Rasumussen tends to poll more older, whiter, and "higher social status" voters, which happens to be consistent with the teabagger demographic. More here.

No surprise, then, that a Rasumussen poll would show Rubio doing well.

Cloaked teabaggers

"New, mystery conservative group gunning for Charlie Crist".

Greene hits the air

"Billionaire and Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene is hitting the airwaves with two ads depicting him as a political outsider and successful businessman." "Billionaire Greene airs first 2 Senate ads".

"Phony farmers"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Crist got it right in vetoing the tax break for phony farmers that the Legislature passed this year."

The bill would have enabled huge landowners and developers to avoid paying their fair share of property taxes by hiding behind an exemption meant to protect working farms. The measure was an abuse that could have robbed state and local governments of tens of millions of dollars.

Just do it

"Sixty-nine percent of Florida voters support allowing gay men and lesbians to serve in the U.S. military, according to a new survey released Monday by Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay-rights group." "69 percent of polled Florida voters say let gays serve in the military". See also "Poll: Most Florida voters say let gays serve in the military".

The best they can do

The right wing "media" does its best to equate FlaDems expenditures with RPOFer excesses: "Party On! Democrats Do It, Too".

That's a lotta lap dances

"Organizers say the 50,000 convention delegates, protesters and media that will descend on Tampa for the 2012 convention could pump as much as $170 million into the local economy." "Tampa expects GOP windfall".

Don't underestimate Crist

Kingsley Guy has "learned in the course of covering Florida politics to never underestimate the skills and resiliency of Gov. Charlie Crist. He faces a tough challenge in his independent bid for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by George LeMieux, but if anybody can pull off a victory, it's Charlie." "Crist's candidacy: It's a mistake to underestimate the governor". In the meantime, "National Conservative Leaders: Crist Is Not to Be Trusted".

Swamphens infiltrating ecosystem

"Lost in the recent furor over the fearsome exotic Burmese python is another invasive species that has spread quietly over the past 14 years from the man-made marshes of Broward County to Lake Okeechobee and beyond. Neither ugly nor dangerous to humans, it nevertheless poses a significant threat to South Florida's fragile wetlands ecosystem." "Non-native swamphens infiltrating Florida's ecosystem".

Barely Florida Forever

"After neglecting to fund Florida Forever for the first time in its 20-year history last year, the Legislature wised up this past session and provided $15 million for the state's land preservation program. Although that's a drop in the bucket compared to the $300 million that previously had been appropriated every year, it still will give the state and willing local partners the ability to preserve some significant lands during a time of declining property values." "Partnering to preserve Florida".

Constantine dances

"The process required some fancy footwork for state Sen. Lee Constantine, an Altamonte Springs Republican who is chairman of the nominating council that recommends applicants to the commission. Constantine resigned from the council Monday and instead said he'll apply for the PSC himself." "Three lawmakers among applicants for PSC".

"Green corridor"

"Crist is reviewing a bill passed by the Legislature last month that would help establish a 'green corridor' PACE program among several South Florida cities. The measure would allow the communities to purchase clean energy systems for residents' homes." "Crist weighs bill to help cities go green".

But Webster has experienced a sharp downturn in his political fortunes that raises questions about whether he can even win the Republican nomination in the Orlando-based 8th District.

One month after announcing his candidacy, Webster finds himself trying to fend off at least two serious primary opponents and on the defensive over disclosures that he billed meals to a state Republican Party American Express account.

It’s a surprising turn of events for Webster, a former state House speaker and 28-year legislative veteran who carries endorsements from popular former GOP Gov. Jeb Bush and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

But insiders say Webster’s troubles were predictable and are due in no small part to a key misstep: his initial announcement back in October that he would not run for the 8th District seat, a move that opened the door for businessman Bruce O’Donoghue and state Rep. Kurt Kelly to launch campaigns of their own.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37323.html#ixzz0oBg8ZnrI

The rich are different

"Can two very rich men, each with serious personal baggage, convince disgruntled Florida voters that lack of political or government experience is a virtue in this tumultuous election year?" "Wealthy Florida candidates say lack of experience is a benefit".

Entrepreneurs in action

"The Associated Press has learned that an independent firm hired by BP substantiated the complaints in 2009 and found that the giant petroleum company was violating its own policies by not having completed engineering documents on board the Atlantis when it began operating in 2007." "BP's own probe finds safety issues on Atlantis rig".

See also "Deep sea oil plumes, dispersants endanger reefs", "Oil may be entering Gulf current, could reach PBC" and "Worry that Gulf oil spreading into major current".

Going after DROP

Bill Cotterell: "There's a bill pending on Gov. Charlie Crist's desk to cut the interest rate on pensions in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan from 6.5 percent to 3 percent for those who enroll after July 1. That will probably touch off a rush to join DROP, among those who can."

Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, has urged Crist to veto the reduction but that doesn't seem likely. Poltically, Crist's newly independent U.S. Senate race doesn't benefit by him being nice to state workers; conversely, he has a lot to lose by protecting a high interest rate for retirees who are piling up pension payments and still working.

To be brutally frank, most of the Floridians Crist will be asking to vote for him don't have jobs that let them stockpile pensions for five years while still earning their pay checks. Some of them don't even have jobs. Having alienated the Republican regulars by leaving the party (they were mad at him anyway), Crist needs to do something to look conservative.

Gambling

"South Florida Tracks See Growth in Gaming Compact". Related: "Seminole Gaming Deal Could Face Legal Challenge".

"Sound vaguely obscene"

"'Naked credit default swap' may sound vaguely obscene, but it's actually a complex financial instrument that helped make Palm Beach real estate investor Jeff Greene a billionaire."

His Democratic U.S. Senate opponents, Kendrick Meek and Maurice Ferre, say Greene and his credit default swaps were part of the cause of the 2007 economic crash.

CDS's are controversial, and Congress is considering banning the kind Greene used. But experts say that doesn't make him responsible for the crash.

Crist's "curious foundation"

"When Gov. Charlie Crist declared he would run for Senate with no party affiliation, he was joined by a rowdy platoon of Democrats, independents, a few Republicans and a handful of activists pushing everything from renewable energy to the legalization of medical marijuana."

It was a curious foundation for a guy who owed his political life to the GOP.

Now that Crist has abandoned the party, he is hastily recalibrating his political GPS.

He has relocated his headquarters to St. Petersburg, adopted a conspicuously populist tone and cast himself as a public servant fed up with partisan sniping.

If he is to become Florida's first independent to win a statewide election, he must walk the tightrope of a three-way race without a party safety net. Standing in the way are former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a favorite among conservatives, and the likely Democratic nominee, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek.

Convention dreams

"Florida Republicans hope the choice of Tampa for their party's 2012 national convention is a political coup that will help swing Florida to the GOP side in the 2012 presidential race and boost the party's fortunes this year as well. The convention, some believe, also could be a career-boosting showcase for the party's rising young star, Marco Rubio, if he wins this year's Senate race." "GOP hopes holding convention in Tampa translates into votes".

Tom Jackson: "Thus do we return to the story in which the former Florida governor was a centerpiece, but his memory appears to have confused. In a Reagan Day Dinner speech last week that 640 rapt listeners otherwise regarded as flawless, Bush praised Pasco as a harbinger of state and national election outcomes, using the interminably contested 2000 showdown between brother George W. Bush and Al Gore as evidence."

Challenged by dates?

As Jeb recalled it, the entire Bush family was watching election returns from the Texas governor's mansion when he learned Pasco had fallen into W's column. That's all he needed to know to predict the rest of "Florida, Florida, Florida" (as Tim Russert, the late host of "Meet the Press," presciently called it) would flow his brother's way.

Ultimately, Florida did slip into the Bush column, although with historic narrowness and, notably, without a majority in Pasco.

Late arrivals

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "House Speaker Larry Cretul gets credit for making his three appointments, in March. But appointments from Senate President Jeff Atwater and Gov. Charlie Crist? Crane your neck and check your watch all you want. They've not arrived. What's keeping them?". "Run to catch the trains"

Tea Baggers can't find the words "DADT" in the Constitution

"More than two-thirds of Florida voters say gays should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military, a poll showed." "Poll: Most Floridians say let gays serve in the military".

"Support dropping like a rock"

Jane Healy: "With his support, well, dropping like a rock, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist had almost no choice but to run as an independent in his race for the U.S. Senate. Running without a party is an uphill battle. But here are two things that might make it work: Go for broke. ... Revel in his independence. Now that he's an independent and freed of the shackles of party-line positions, he should make the best of it." "Jane Healy: Crist's paths to victory: I-4 and independence".

"Political juice, economic reality"

"The $1.4 million in raises for law-enforcement agents in the state's Fish and Wildlife division may smack of a political payoff to a friendly labor union, but other unions say there are bigger forces at work." "Union Rules: What About the Rest of Us?"

Tally update

"If Gov. Charlie Crist wants to be nice to the Legislature – though really, there’s no indication he does – he may this week officially call the special session he’s already said he’ll likely pursue. Crist has said he wants lawmakers to return at the end of May, most probably the week of May 24, for the special session on banning oil drilling and alternative energy policy." "In Tallahassee This Week".

"Last time they had power ..."

Tom Blackburn: "Gov. Crist may be half-gone, but there is no sign of brilliant replacements coming in to take charge of government."

Last time they had power, Republicans gave us a Great Recession, two wars, securities regulators who didn't regulate, mine inspectors who didn't inspect, drilling supervisors who didn't supervise, prisoners they couldn't figure out what to do with and an empty bank account - the faults of cheap government without the cheapness. Those are the good old days to the young hotspurs for whom the party has sacrificed proven vote-getters.

Dictatorships regularly hold purges. In a democracy, however if a party discards three kings in the name of ideology, you have to wonder what game the party thinks it's playing.

PolitiFact gives Billy a little love

"Democrats misquote McCollum on subprime mortgage crisis".

Good luck with that

"Donna Milo, a transgender conservative Republican running in the GOP primary for Congress, will speak Monday night to a gay Republican club in Fort Lauderdale." "Transgender candidate a label-free conservative". See also "Transgender conservative Republican takes on Broward-based U.S. Rep. Wasserman Schultz".

We all know tourism is in the dumps.

Great Recession. Freezing winter.

Oil spill. Media coverage of oil spill.

So what do Bill McCollum, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio want to do?

They want to start a tourism boycott against Florida!

Their plan is to adopt an Arizona law aimed at keeping illegal immigrants out. Unfortunately, the law is doing a much better job of keeping tourists and convention-goers out.

Raw political courage

"Marco Rubio: We need good neighbors, not big government".

Meek's mess

"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 ""Kendrick Meek attacked by rival over ties to developer"". Related: "Dems Greene, Meek trade salvos over Meek’s ties to accused developer".

Pill mills threaten legal pain

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Pain clinic owners are threatening to sue the state if Gov. Crist signs into law legislation designed to shut down "pill mills" that do nothing more than supply drugs to dealers and addicts." "Sign 'pill mill' crackdown: Disregard threat of suit by cash-only clinics.".

Spill baby! Spill!

"Despite media reports Sunday morning that oil giant BP has succeeded in connecting a mile-long pipe to capture the oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, a BP spokesman said the 'operation is still under way' and did not confirm the reports." "Despite media reports, BP says efforts to connect mile-long pipe to cap oil is not a success".

"Researchers from the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology, meanwhile, say they have detected large oil plumes from just beneath the surface of the sea to more than 4,000 feet deep."

Three or four large plumes have been found, at least one that is 10 miles long and a mile wide, said Samantha Joye, a marine science professor at the University of Georgia.

Michael Mayo wonders whether, "For South Florida, will oil spill bring harm — or just hype?".

Researchers Vernon Asper and Arne Dierks said in Web posts that the plumes were "perhaps due to the deep injection of dispersants which BP has stated that they are conducting."

Despite the “sunshine state” moniker, the oil industry’s grip on the state is so strong that solar energy is losing market share rather than gaining as an energy resource. The legislature, starved for money to balance the budget, had to kill a rebate program that subsidized building owners when they add solar energy systems to their property. Florida, despite its abundance of renewable energy potential, has yet to see policy that diversifies the energy needs of the state, and sources like solar energy require extraordinarily heavy subsidies to be palpable to most owners.

While the recession is pushing most prices downward, energy costs are rising across the country, whether fossil fuels or notFlorida is heavily dependent upon fossil fuels, making renewable energy resources someone else’s profit center, judging from California, Oregon, Washington, and Minnesota’s contribution to the top ten cities using renewable energy. Florida, with vast agricultural lands beset by freezes that destroyed much of the cold-sensitive citrus crop this year, has yet to consider energy crops like sugar cane, sorghum, switchgrass, or other biofuels.

So while Florida sits and watches the oil slick move closer to its shores, some big questions deserve to be asked, and answered. Individuals without the means are generally conserving energy by driving less, biking more, and slowing their lives down to match the pace of their income. All of this is natural conservation of energy is occurring without nannies and big brother shaking a code book at people and may, in the long run, do more to reduce energy consumption than anything else.

It will take a fundamental shift in thinking to really abandon oil, foreign or otherwise, in Florida or elsewhere.

"The GOP's new political exiles"

Myriam Marquez: "Immigrants are the GOP's new political exiles".

"You can add 'shameful' to 'embarrassing'"

The Sun Sentinel editors: "The fact that Florida has the strictest law in the country banning gay adoption is embarrassing enough."

Now, when you add the George Rekers fiasco — a combination of hypocrisy and tens of thousands of wasted tax dollars — you can add "shameful" to "embarrassing." The only hope is some good will come out of all this, and Florida lawmakers will get rid of an archaic ban on gay adoption that has no place in 21st century society. ...

Earth to Rekers: If you want somebody to help you with your bags, pay a bellman five or 10 bucks. They'll be happy to oblige.

Earth to McCollum: Drop the state's appeal of the gay adoption ban.

Crackin' down on slavery ...

... will have consequences*: "Florida has been knocked out of the top five rankings of the best states in which to do business by Chief Executive Magazine, but it still holds a spot in the list of the top 10 business-friendly states."

"Florida is in good company [sic] in the rankings." Neo third-world states like, "Texas and North Carolina continue to hold onto their respective first and second place rankings from last year. They are followed by Tennessee, Virginia, Nevada, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Utah and South Carolina." "Florida Falls in Ranking of Business-Friendly States".

- - - - - - - - -
*We are only being half facetious. After all, "Slavery is not just the shameful stuff of history books - not in Florida". "Modern Day Slavery".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Medicaid payments from the state to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and rural health clinics frequently relied on inaccurate rates and unsubstantiated claims, resulting in potentially millions of dollars in overpayments during the 2007-09 period reviewed by state auditors." "Medicaid Struggles to Follow the Money, Auditors Find".

Entrepreneurs whine

"Business groups say the Legislature's latest raid on the state Transportation Trust Fund will put a screeching halt to new road projects and throw 11,000 workers off the job." "Road Raid Would Kill 11,000 Jobs".

The vetoes begin ...

"Gov. Charlie Crist on Saturday shot down two bills sent to him by state lawmakers, a move that could strain an already tense relationship with the GOP-controlled Legislature."

Crist vetoed measures being pushed by the state's agriculture industry, including a bill that would have made it harder to take away tax breaks enjoyed by farmers and other large land owners across the state. ...

The other bill, HB 7103, vetoed by Crist on Saturday would have blocked local governments from regulating land used for farming if there was already a state law in place.

CD1 default

"Three challengers have emerged to take on Congressman Jeff Miller, a Republican who was first elected in 2001. Miller represents the Panhandle's 1st Congressional District, which reaches from the Alabama border to Washington County. The district includes Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach." "With No Democrat in the Race, Independent Candidates Challenge Jeff Miller".

Tuff guys

"Marco Rubio and four other Republican hopefuls stumped at Central Florida's largest gun show Saturday, courting a powerful force in Florida politics: gun owners. Rubio, a Miami native, made his rounds at the Central Florida Fairgrounds to meet gun enthusiasts and suppliers while displaying his support for the Second Amendment — the one protecting the right to keep and bear arms. Rubio received his concealed-weapons license last summer after announcing his Senate candidacy." "5 key Republican candidates get backing at Orlando gun show".

Marco Hookin' them tea-baggers

"Rubio continues to court conservatives in Senate race".

Back at the ranch ...

"Poll: Voters tilt back toward Democrats".

"What kind of message"?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board asks "What kind of message would that send the very kids that schools struggle to teach character and ethics? That it's okay to ignore the law when the chips are down, or when it saves money? Schools should honor the count, and count on voters to loosen the cap." "Honor class-size caps".

"Election-year need for campaign cash"

"Ousted utility regulators blame the Senate's election-year need for campaign cash for their defeat." "Amid political fray, PSC regulators fired".