Fl-oil-duh

"The Obama administration on Thursday doubled its minimum estimate of how much crude oil was gushing from the Deepwater Horizon oil well, saying a panel of scientists had concluded that 20,000 to 50,000 barrels, or as much as 2.1 million gallons, were pouring into the Gulf of Mexico every day before BP sheared the well's riser pipe on June 3" "Previous estimate on oil flow doubled".

Paul Flemming: "I scooted over from Mobile to Pensacola Beach on Saturday morning. Oil had appeared on Florida shores. Gov. Charlie Crist was going to show up." Spotting a famous face (and Charlie Crist was there, too)

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Two of the many perplexing issues about the disastrous gulf oil spill involve tracking the changing directions of the oil in the ocean currents and gauging its impact on the shoreline and in the water. A coalition of 21 Florida schools and marine science organizations has proposed a sophisticated monitoring plan to provide those answers, and BP should move swiftly to grant the $100 million request. The sooner this important research begins, the quicker Florida and the nation can respond and limit the damage." "Move quickly to monitor oil spill".

More: "Panhandle officials: More skimmers needed for oil spill cleanup", "Is water at some Florida beaches toxic?", "Counties want BP out of decisions", "Crist Seeks Permanent Drilling Ban", "Obama will make stop in Pensacola", "AG McCollum asks BP $2.5 billion", "Sides are gearing up for BP lawsuit" and "Florida task force talks of lawsuits in BP oil spill – but backs off". The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "BP's obligation to Florida".

The best they could do?

"Crist was given eight candidates to choose from Thursday to replace his two ousted appointees to the Public Service Commission [former Bradenton newspaperman David Klement, and Pensacola accountant Benjamin 'Steve' Stevens]. ... Senators argued that Crist's picks were either unqualified or lacked ethnic diversity. Klement and Stevens said their rejection was political payback from the powerful utility companies that wanted the rate increase as well as retribution for Crist, who antagonized the Republican-led Legislature with vetoes of their top priority bills and fled the party to run for U.S. Senate as an independent."

"Crist will now have 30 days to chose from the following:"

• Former state senator and current PSC general counsel Curt Kiser.

• Altamonte Springs Sen. Lee Constantine.

• Miami Rep. Ron Brisé.

• Jacksonville City Councilman Art Graham.

• Former Missouri PSC commissioner Susan Murray.

• Tallahassee lawyer and economic development consultant Charles Ranson,

• Kevin Wiehle, a Senate staffer and top analyst on utility issues.

• Former PSC executive director Mary Bane.

Most received between seven and nine votes out of a possible 11, but the clear favorite was Wiehle, who received 10 votes.

McCollum in a dither

"Republican newcomer Rick Scott's self-financed television campaign has hit a nerve with Floridians weary of politicians, catapulting him into a big lead in the GOP race for governor, a new poll indicated Thursday." "Scott takes surprising primary lead over McCollum in new poll". See also "Millionaires soar in election poll".

"Rick Scott's opponents for governor are telling reporters to essentially fluff off a new poll Thursday that shows the former Columbia/HCA hospital CEO beating both Attorney General Bill McCollum in the Republican primary for governor and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink in a hypothetical November match-up."

Focus on the fraud, they say. The fraud. The fraud.

"Rick Scott has spent $15 million in half as many weeks to fund his public image repair squad's pricey and misleading paid media campaign," McCollum spokesman Kristy Campbell said Thursday. "It's no surprise he has skyrocketed in the polls since Floridians are just beginning to learn about his questionable past. His lead will evaporate when Floridians learn Rick Scott oversaw the most massive Medicare fraud scheme in American history.''

Democrats added their own e-mail titled "Fraud is not a mistake,'' along with a 2 minute 40 second Web video called Slick Rick.

Rothstein

"Debra Villegas, the former chief operating officer of Scott Rothstein's law firm, is scheduled to enter a guilty plea at 5 p.m. She's the only one of Rothstein's associates who has been charged so far in the $1.4 billion Ponzi scheme." "Former Rothstein confidante set to plead guilty today".

No-bid contracts in Jax

"A recently settled lawsuit concerning a no-bid contract in Jacksonville has taxpayers turning up their noses, for a number of reasons. Since 1992, the city’s Trail Ridge landfill has been run by Waste Management, a waste and environmental service with locations throughout the country. But when Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton began negotiations to extend the contract in 2007, things got sticky." "Group accuses Jacksonville of violating no-bid contract rules and the Sunshine Law".

Sunrail noise

"SunRail concerns prompt push for quiet zone".

The League of Cities say "jump!"

The Miami Herald editorial board asks "how high?" "A reality check for Miami's unions".

Ferré

"Senate candidate Maurice Ferré said it is wrong to spend thousands of dollars to prolong the lives of the dying for a short time." "Maurice Ferré: Cut medical costs for those about to die".

Gov. Crist's maverick run for U.S. Senate is in tatters, torn by his ties to Jim Greer, his man at the Republican Party of Florida who is under indictment over a kickback scheme. The full effect of Mr. Greer's arrest may not have rocked the Crist campaign yet, but there's a whole summer of digging to come.

This is not necessarily about whether Mr. Greer is guilty. It's about why Gov. Crist refused to scrutinize Mr. Greer's behavior even as he was warned to do so by at least one key supporter months before the party became a laughingstock.

Now the former supporter - Al Hoffman, founder of home builder WCI and a former National Republican Committee finance chairman - is speaking out. Despite deep ties to the Bush family, including an ambassadorship, Mr. Hoffman cannot be dismissed as a plant, even though Jeb Bush supports Marco Rubio. Last fall, Mr. Hoffman was a $10,000 contributor to Gov. Crist's Senate campaign and served on the governor's host committee.

Yesterday's polls

"Naples millionaire businessman Rick Scott has surged into a double-digit lead over Attorney General Bill McCollum in their race for the Republican nomination for governor, a poll released Thursday shows." "Scott leading McCollum in GOP governor's primary".

"Crist is in front in the three-way race for the Senate in a new Quinnipiac University poll of Florida voters, while both of the Republican contenders for governor, Rick Scott and Attorney General Bill McCollum, lead likely Democratic nominee Alex Sink. " "Poll: Crist leads Senate race".

"One poll shows Charlie Crist maintaining his lead in the U.S. Senate race, while another finds the governor and Marco Rubio in a tie." "Poll: Charlie Crist holding on to U.S. Senate race lead".

"Outsiders with money to buy TV ads have rocked the conventional wisdom in a pair of Florida primaries, according to new Quinnipiac University polls. Former health care executive Rick Scott has surged to a 13-point lead over Attorney General Bill McCollum in the Republican primary for governor, while Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene has pulled to a virtual tie with U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary." "Quinnipiac poll: Rich execs giving long-time politicos fits in Florida's governor, U.S. Senate primaries".

Right wing Cubans marginalized

"More than half of the nation's young Hispanic voters do not identify themselves as liberal or conservative, though almost three in four say Democratic President Barack Obama is doing a good job, a poll released Wednesday shows." "Poll: Young Hispanics favor Obama, but most not aligned to any political ideology".

Fl-oil-duh

"Officials want Panhandle counties to secede from BP's unified command". See also "McCollum wants $2.5 billion from BP for Florida" and "Feds: BP agrees to expedite oil spill payments".

Just another GOPer

"A now-disbarred Florida lawyer who admitted to orchestrating a huge Ponzi scheme gave more than $180,000 to Arizona Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, contributions that McCain's Senate rival is now making an issue in their competitive primary."

Scott Rothstein was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in prison after he confessed to running a $1.2 billion fraud using faked legal settlements.

Rothstein also was a key contributor and fundraiser who bundled more than $500,000 in campaign contributions for McCain's 2008 race, according to the campaign finance watchdog Center for Responsive Politics.

The exact amount he raised from others is unknown, but Rothstein boasted to the Wall Street Journal in 2008 that he raised as much as $1.1 million for McCain.

The campaign of former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who is challenging McCain in Arizona's Aug. 24 Republican primary, demanded that the four-term senator account for and donate all of the money connected to Rothstein.

Crist all but pledges to veto "Mean-spirited" anti-choice bill

"In the Orlando area today, Gov. Charlie Crist again all but pledged to veto a bill that would require women seeking abortions to first pay for an ultrasound." "Crist criticizes abortion bill while on Orlando visit".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Crist should veto ultrasound bill".

In the meantime, "demonstrators from Operation Outcry, an anti-abortion group of women who have had the procedure, gathered in Tallahassee to urge Gov. Charlie Crist to enact legislation requiring women seeking an abortion to pay to have an ultrasound first. Crist, who has until June 22 to act on the controversial bill, has called it 'mean-spirited' and hinted strongly of a veto." "Anti-abortion group backs bill requiring ultrasounds".

Political "lessons for Florida"

Joy-Ann Reid: "From Arkansas to California, Tuesday's primaries could hold lessons for Florida."

The model of the successful businesswoman looking to replace testosterone with corporate savvy in the halls of power is one that Florida's former banker CFO Alex Sink could emulate.

Sink doesn't have the baggage of having been booted from her company like Fiorina was from Hewlett Packard, or a history of shirking her basic civic duty like Whitman, who admits she hasn't voted since 1984. But Sink also lacks a Fiorina/Whitman-sized personal fortune. She's essentially facing a November ``primary'' against nonaffiliated candidate Bud Chiles -- son of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, a Democrat -- whose name recognition likely would draw some Democrats to his camp. Still, the campaign message is there for Sink's taking. ...

Money buys critical name recognition in expensive advertising markets like California and Florida.

Case in point: a new Quinnipiac poll finds former hospital magnate/Medicare-fraud-tainted-by-association GOP candidate Rick Scott beating Sink by as much as Republican Bill McCollum would. Billionaire Democrat (and former California resident) Jeff Greene polls just 3 points lower than U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek in the U.S. Senate race -- though both are below 20 percent. The common denominator: Greene and Scott together have already spent close to $20 million, while Sink and Meek have yet to fire an advertising shot.

Tax cutting freaks

"The race for Florida's Republican gubernatorial nomination -- in which billionaire Rick Scott has soared to an overnight, 13-point lead -- may have narrowed to one question: Which candidate would be better for the state's economy?" "Scott, McCollum Battle Over Jobs". See also "Lawmaker: Lower taxes on Gulf coast properties".

Whew ... not a tax increase

"Florida public universities to raise tuition costs".

FCAT follies

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Considering Pearson's track record, stiff fines are no guarantee of accountability going forward. That's why a probe that examines the state's contract with Pearson and details what went wrong is critical." "FCAT scorer flunks test".

The Palm Beach Post editors: "School tests failing stress test: FCAT grading problems offer one example.".

A survey by Quinnipiac University of 1,133 registered Florida voters shows Crist's independent bid slightly ahead of Republican Marco Rubio. Crist received 37 percent to Rubio's 33 percent while Democrat Kendrick Meek received 17 percent in the poll taken June 1 through 7.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent, edges Republican Marco Rubio 37 - 33 percent in the U.S. Senate race, with 17 percent for Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. If Jeff Greene gets the Democratic nod, Crist tops Rubio 40 - 33 percent with 14 percent for Greene. ...

"Gov. Charlie Crist leads Marco Rubio by a nose in the Senate race. Obviously there is a long time until November, but the Governor is doing very well among independent voters, almost as well among Democrats as Meek, and better among Democrats than Greene," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "With Rubio getting two-thirds of the Republican vote, the fate of Gov. Crist, who switched from a Republican to independent six weeks ago, depends heavily on his ability to appeal to Democratic voters."

Dubya-Dee

"A federal appeals court has reversed the bribery conviction of former Florida Senate President W.D. Childers. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal in Atlanta issued the 2-1 ruling Tuesday." "Federal appeals court reverses Childers conviction".

Fl-oil-da

"A decade ago, U.S. government regulators warned that a major deepwater oil spill could start with a fire on a drilling rig, prove hard to stop and cause extensive damage to fish eggs and wetlands because there were few good ways to capture oil underwater." "U.S. knew of Gulf oil spill risk".

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Tuesday marked Day 50 of Deepwater Horizon's assault on the Gulf of Mexico. The president is finally angry. Big Oil is finally paying, and we're all trying to figure out the extent of the toll wrought by the disaster." "Gone for good".

More: "Panel meeting to aid Fla. businesses hurt by oil", "Oil spill response received differently in Escambia, Santa Rosa counties", "Update: Oil spill economic recovery task force holds first meeting", "Gov. Charlie Crist, Cabinet berate BP over spill response", "It's boom times for companies cleaning up oil spill", "AP IMPACT: BP spill response plans severely flawed", "BP grant lacking, Florida complains", "BP plans to burn some oil pumping up to surface".

"In the wake of the Gulf oil spill, Florida voters oppose 51 - 42 percent increasing the amount of offshore oil drilling, a 48-point swing from the 66 - 27 percent support for drilling in an April 19 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University." "Voters Oppose Offshore Drilling In 48-Point Swing".

Rothstein Gets 50

"Ponzi King Scott Rothstein Gets 50 Years".

McCollum, Scott lead Sink

"Both Republican gubernatorial hopefuls - Attorney General Bill McCollum and businessman Rick Scott - lead Democratic frontrunner Alex Sink [in new Q poll]. Scott leads Sink 42 percent to 32 percent while McCollum leads by a 42-34 margin." "Sink scrambles".

From Quinnipiac:

Two Republicans, State Attorney General Bill McCollum and health care executive Rick Scott, lead Democrat Alex Sink 42 - 34 percent and 42 - 32 percent respectively in the race for Governor. A three-way race including independent Bud Chiles scrambles the race considerably. But a three-way gubernatorial race was tested only after Chiles announced his independent candidacy and has a larger sampling error than the rest of the poll. ...

With Chiles on the ballot, McCollum leads in the governor's race, with 33 percent to 25 percent for Sink and 19 percent for Chiles. If Scott is the GOP nominee, he gets 35 percent with Sink at 26 percent and Chiles at 13 percent.

McCollum is the best known candidate for governor with only 32 percent of voters not knowing enough about him to have an opinion, compared to 56 percent for Sink, 46 percent for Scott and 81 percent for Chiles, son of former Governor and Senator Lawton Chiles.

"The governor's race was close even before Chiles entered it. But now, it's a whole new and even closer ballgame. The dynamics of a three-way race will force the Republican and Democratic candidates to reconsider their strategies," said Brown. "Ms. Sink remains relatively unknown after four years as Florida's chief financial officer. Scott, a political unknown until his multi-million dollar TV ad buys, is actually better known than she at this point."

"a tough row to hoe"

"If Gov. Charlie Crist thinks he can reap votes from Florida's agriculture industry, his vetoes of ag-related legislation make that a tough row to hoe." "Agriculture Industry Rips Crist Vetoes".

Pataki Backs McCollum lawsuit

"Attorney General Bill McCollum’s lawsuit against the federal government for new health care laws backed by President Barack Obama is getting the support of former New York Gov. George Pataki who has been active in the political fight of repealing the new laws." "Pataki Backs McCollum's Suit Against Obama Health Plan".

Sink pushes Crist to embrace tax reduction plan

"Tax breaks for Gulf coast property owners could be part of the mix in a proposed special session sparked by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill which Gov. Charlie Crist is looking to call as early as next month. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink pushed Crist to embrace the tax reduction plan Tuesday as the governor and Cabinet heard presentations from BP along with state environmental, wildlife and revenue officials about the effects of the massive spill." "Gulf Coast Tax Breaks Another Special Session".

Obama's approval a negative 40 - 54 percent in Florida


From Quinnipiac's latest poll: "President Barack Obama's job approval is a negative 40 - 54 percent, his lowest point ever in Florida and down from a 50 - 45 percent approval April 19, right after his call for increased offshore drilling."

"Clearly, the gulf oil spill has changed the way Floridians view offshore drilling and almost certainly is responsible for the drop in President Obama's approval rating," said [Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]. "Voters disapprove 54 - 37 percent of the way Obama is handling the spill."

"LeMieux wanted GOP boss to stay"

"Crist says he wasn't aware of Jim Greer's financial freelancing, but he apparently received plenty of input from two of his closest political advisers about the party boss." "Crist Advisers Wrangled Over Greer".

"Contest is far from over and may have many twists and turns"

Larry J. Sabato, Director, of the U.Va. Center for Politics, last week:

Florida—Gov. Charlie Crist (R) shocked his state twice. First, he decided against a second gubernatorial term, preferring to seek an open U.S. Senate seat. Then, ... Crist abandoned the GOP and filed as an Independent for the November election, ceding the Republican nod to Rubio.

So far Crist has a slight, shaky edge over Rubio (and likely Democratic nominee Kendrick Meeks, who is mired in third place). ...

Even though he is being opposed by a wealthy businessman (Rick Scott), state Attorney General Bill McCollum, is the likely GOP gubernatorial nominee. That is not to say that McCollum is not being tested early; Scott may spend as much as $30 million before the Aug. 24th primary, and he has gained ground on McCollum.

Meanwhile, state CFO Alex Sink, a mild-mannered banker originally from North Carolina, will likely be the Democratic nominee (despite a possible late challenge from Bud Chiles, son of the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles). Sink might become the first woman governor of the Sunshine State. McCollum appears to be the November favorite, and he has ex-Gov. Bush’s backing, though McCollum is a bit dull and has already lost two U.S. Senate contests in Florida. Further, McCollum’s task is now complicated by Crist’s independent bid for Senate. Sink will try to combine the moderate Crist vote with Meek’s Democratic base—which is easier said than done. While we give an early edge to the Republican, this contest is far from over and may have many twists and turns. LEANS REPUBLICAN HOLD.

Laff riot

The The Orlando Sentinel editorial board thinks employers ought to be "fair" to their employees ... at least if the employee is a teabagger:

North Florida State Attorney Robert "Skip" Jarvis is facing a federal lawsuit for firing one of his assistants. Her offense? Engaging in political activity.

KrisAnne Hall spoke at Tea Party rallies and in other conservative forums, and defied Mr. Jarvis' order to stop. She and other assistants in his office serve at his will, so it might be a challenge to prove that he didn't have the legal authority to can her.

Legality is one issue, fairness is another. And the latter is a much tougher case to make.

$254 million to grade FCAT tests?

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida agreed last year to pay NCS Pearson, the nation's leading scorer of standardized tests, $254 million over five years to score the annual Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and report those scores back to the state in a timely manner. But Pearson is failing the timeliness test. Some results due in May may not be available until the end of June, throwing a wrench into school districts' planning for the next school year. With other states also reporting problems getting accurate and timely results from the company, Florida should hold Pearson accountable for its tardiness. " "Make company pay for FCAT failures".

Rothstein


"How much prison time for Scott Rothstein? S. Fla. lawyers take a guess". See also Michael Mayo's "Will Rothstein's sentence be real?",

'Ya reckon?

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Florida should say "no thanks" to Arizona-type immigration law".

New AG face

"Fort Lauderdale attorney Jim Lewis cut ties to the Republican party Tuesday and announced he would run as an independent in Florida's attorney general race, mirroring a similar backlash toward party affiliations across the state and country. Lewis, 52, a trial lawyer and former assistant state attorney from Orlando, said he saw the switch as his best chance for winning a race in which he is among the lesser known candidates." "Fort Lauderdale attorney announces independent run for attorney general".

Vasilinda and oil

"Two years ago, state Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda sidestepped an all pro pass rusher to win a seat in the Florida House. But now she's battling for her political life in an August primary against a former Leon County Democratic Party chairman - in large part because of a pair of 2009 legislative votes she cast in favor of offshore oil drilling. Challenger Rick Minor calls Vasilinda 'big oil's number one Democrat.'" "Oil vote threatens incumbent in Democratic primary". More: "Oil vote may cost Fla. House Democrat her primary".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Medline Industries, a large medical products company, is laying off 275 people in Clearwater, a new state document shows. On Tuesday, Medline filed a notice with the state saying it would lay off 275 people between August 20 and October 15. It lists a location at 4750 118th Avenue North in Clearwater." "Medical company to lay off 275".

Rubio and ABC union haters run wild

"Rubio, ABC Assail Union 'Card Check'".

What did he know ... ?

"Crist says he wasn't aware of Jim Greer's financial freelancing, but he apparently received plenty of input from two of his closest political advisers about the party boss." "Crist Advisers Wrangled Over Greer".

"Countrywide Crackdown"

"Some 200,000 homeowners -- including thousands in Florida -- will share in a $108 million settlement announced Monday by the Federal Trade Commission." "Countrywide Crackdown Means Cash for Florida Homeowners".

Fl-oil-duh

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida's future is on the line this summer. The nation's worst oil spill threatens the state's beaches, its economy — in many ways, its very identity. With tar balls washing up on Pensacola Beach and "hundreds of thousands" of oil patches in the gulf, the battle to limit the damage is engaged. It will be a long, hard struggle." "Fighting for Florida's future".

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Detailed studies done to help the Legislature weigh the risks of drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico conceded that a blowout was a possibility but glossed over the difficulty of stopping leaks and cleaning up the resulting spill." "Shocked by the improbable".

"BP is paying residents of Florida's Panhandle for income they have lost because of the oil spill -- but that may not be enough to keep small businesses afloat." "Workers begin getting money from BP -- but will it be enough?". See also "Report: If Gulf oil spill washes ashore, cost to Florida could be $10B".

More: "Spreading oil from leaking well found 3,300 feet below Gulf surface", "Update: Boom still planned for Franklin today", "Gulf oil spill: Get the latest information on the disaster", "Slow-footed spill response", "BP: Spilled-oil revenues to benefit wildlife", "Florida Cabinet to BP: $25 Million Not Good Enough", "Crist, Cabinet accuse BP of moving too slowly", "BP not paying much yet to Fla. businesses", "Spreading Gulf oil spill changes response to crisis", "Underwater oil clouds confirmed in Gulf; some from BP spill, but oil in Loop Current is not", "BP says it will burn off some oil captured in Gulf", "", "BP: Spilled-oil revenues to benefit wildlife", "Oil spill facts seem as murky as stricken waters" and "BP exec grilled on oil spill by Crist and Cabinet".

Pension investment policy

"A panel headed by Gov. Charlie Crist has revised the investment policy for Florida's state retirement fund to reduce its reliance on the stocks while adding hedge funds." "Fla. panel revises pension investment policy".

"It's all getting to be a bit too much"

Mike Thomas: "It's all getting to be a bit too much. Listening to Florida complain about oil drilling is like listening to a crack addict complain about drug pushers."

BP stuck its giant, steel proboscis into the Gulf floor because we need what is down there.

Florida burns more than 20 million gallons of gasoline a day. Have you seen video of that well shooting out oil like a fire hose? Every day or two, we burn as much oil as has come out of that well since it blew on April 20.

Only Texas and California guzzle more gas than Florida.

Our consumption has grown at twice the national average during the past five years.

We are the nation's SUV.

I was here during the 1973 oil embargo and got a taste of how long Florida would last without gasoline.

Not long at all. No gas. No tourists. No economy.

So what does Florida contribute to the nation's oil supply to balance out what it consumes?

Nothing.

Entrepreneurs in action (Pt 2)

"The delayed release of scores from the 2010 FCAT is 'absolutely unacceptable' and the testing company at fault will face 'significant financial penalties,' Education Commissioner Eric Smith said today . Pearson, the company responsible for scoring the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test this year, has run into problems matching test scores with student information files, according to the Florida Department of Education." "DOE blasts FCAT testing company for delays".

"Akin to hitting the jackpot"

"For some Broward municipalities, it's akin to hitting the jackpot in the midst of a losing streak. The state's new gambling rules - which reduce taxes on pari-mutuels and allow casinos to expand - will mean a windfall for Broward County and its cities that are home to or near the gambling facilities." "Broward cities near casinos expect millions from Seminole gambling compact".

What the RPOF calls "freedom"

"Reports of a vast number of redfish deaths in the St. Johns River have Jacksonville residents, and many more throughout Florida, worried. The river is host to hundreds of species of birds, fish and other wildlife and, at 310 miles long, it flows through 12 of Florida’s 67 counties. Since May 25, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has received at least 49 reports of dead fish in the river. Catalina Brown, a scientist with the FFWC, says the deaths cannot be attributed to the recent gulf oil spill, but are instead the result of a recent rise in algal blooms — blooms perhaps exacerbated by local industry runoff." "Is industry runoff to blame for hundreds of fish deaths in the St. Johns River?".

Breathless

"In the wake of its former chairman Jim Greer’s long-ranging fiscal abuse, culminating in his arrest Wednesday, the Republican Party of Florida cut up all but one of its credit cards. Now it will seek reimbursement for unauthorized expenses on those cards. Meanwhile, a report by an ad hoc Oversight and Governance Committee is expected to be released this month recommending changes to the party’s fiscal controls." "Republicans await new fiscal controls".

HD 115

"With Rep. J.C. Planas, R-Miami, retiring from the House because of term limits, a fight is shaping up to replace him with three candidates who have hit the ground running. Two Republicans and a Democrat sparring in the 115th House District have posted impressive -- even jaw-dropping -- fund-raising figures at the end of the first quarter of 2010." "Money Flows into House Race in Miami-Dade".

Tea baggers fielding congressional candidates

"A new third party with a familiar name calling for scaling back the size and cost of government has emerged in Florida hoping to take advantage of voter discontent. The Florida Tea Party is fielding three congressional candidates across Florida in the 2010 election cycle and hopes to have as many as 20 candidates running for seats in the Legislature." "Florida Tea Party Challenges Dems, GOP on Government, Taxes".

Rotten teeth

"Florida slow to rid public schools of sugar-laden beverages".

"What I know about it is only what I’ve read about in the newspapers," Crist told Candy Crowley on "State of the Union." "It's an unfortunate situation. It's very disappointing, and sometimes people disappoint you. And that’s what happened here."

Greer, 47, of Oviedo has been indicted on six felony counts of grand theft, money laundering and running an organized scheme to defraud. He is accused of using a company called Victory Strategies to launder money.

The lawyer for Greer has said that Crist knew about Victory Strategies from the beginning. Crowley wanted to know if that was true.

"Absolutely untrue," Crist said. "Sometimes desperate people say desperate things, and it's very sad."

Choice politics

"With only a few days left before a controversial abortion bill must be delivered to Gov. Charlie Crist's desk, abortion foes are working on Plan B in their campaign to pressure Crist to sign the bill."

The bill in question, HB 1143, includes a section that would require pregnant women to view a sonogram of the fetus or listen to a description of the sonogram before they could receive an abortion. Abortion-rights supporters oppose the sonogram as an unnecessary and cruel intrusion under the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.

With the ultrasound issue thoroughly dissected in the press and political forums, anti-abortionists are raising the specter of taxpayer-financed abortions.

"We're trying anything and everything to show Gov. Crist that by vetoing this bill he's going against the centrist grain," said Adam Goldman, vice president of Florida Right to Life. "Bringing up the taxpayer strategy is part of that."

By vetoing the law, abortion opponents say, Crist will be opening the door for tax money to be used to pay for abortions.

Good luck with that, Charlie

"Crist says if elected to the U.S. Senate he may not caucus with Democrats or Republicans. 'I'll caucus with the people of Florida.'" "Crist secretive on how he'll lean if elected to Senate".

Fl-oil-duh

"Oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico was expected to move east today, driven by winds that for three days have been pushing tar balls and gooey flecks of crude onto some of Florida's most spectacular beaches. More sticky bits of oil washed ashore Sunday, appearing along Pensacola Beach and the sugar-white sands of Gulf Islands National Seashore." "Irate residents want action as more tar washes ashore in Pensacola". Related: "Tar balls stain beaches in Escambia County".

See also "USF scientists to talk about underwater oil plumes", "Fla. pilots capture 'before' picture of Gulf coast", "Oil spill tar balls reported farther east on Florida coast", "Government warns of `siege' as BP shows some optimism over new containment cap", "Oil spill battle to continue into fall", "Birds rescued from oil released into safety of Merritt Island refuge", "Gulf residents fear another impact of spill: lost oil jobs", "Tiny tar balls reported farther east on Fla. coast", "Some oil spill events from Sunday, June 6, 2010", "", "Many Gulf fed'l judges have oil links", "", "" and "Long road to oil cleanup looms over Gulf Coast".

Rubio inserts his nose into the Chamber's derriere

Labor relations expert Marco Rubio argues that "the role unions play should not come at the expense of the individual liberties of the American worker. Unionization under duress not only threatens fundamental and inalienable rights, it also endangers America’s long-term economic recovery by further burdening job creators." "Card Check Would Harm Economy, Violate Rights of Workers".

Greene

"Jeff Greene's personal life, not his politics, sets him apart".

5% to Chiles could tip the Governor's race to the GOP

"Lawton 'Bud' Chiles III, son the of the late governor, looks like more than a long shot in his independent run for governor. But don't underestimate his potential significance in the race or how worried many Democrats are about him. Chiles, running to the left of Democratic front-runner Alex Sink, is highly unlikely to pull many conservative voters, but he is poised to attract liberals disaffected with Sink's cautious campaign style. Chiles could win just 5 percent of the vote and deliver the Governor's Mansion to the GOP." "Chiles' entry could tilt race GOP's way".

Crist to sign Condo bill in Dem-world

"A politician normally needs a Democratic voter registration card to get an audience inside the gates of South Florida's vote-rich retiree condos."

But Republican-turned-independent Gov. Charlie Crist, who's pushing hard for Democratic votes in his U.S. Senate race, might visit Dem-heavy Century Village of West Palm Beach and Wynmoor of Coconut Creek for ceremonial signings of a condominium reform bill.

Rothstein

"Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein, the Fort Lauderdale lawyer who spent the past five years handing out millions of dollars in campaign contributions to Florida politicians, says he has spent the past few months working undercover for the FBI. The admission, made in letters and other documents filed in a bid to reduce the federal prison sentence he will get Wednesday, does not identify the people who may soon learn they have legal problems of their own." "Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein says he's been working undercover for FBI".

State investigators say Greer and the party's former executive director, Delmar W. Johnson III, secretly set up a shell company called Victory Strategies to divert party money and enrich themselves. Greer was charged Wednesday with fraud and money laundering.

What's more, Chase said Crist's former right-hand man, now U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, first proposed the idea that they earn a fundraising commission to save the party money and replace the $30,000-a-month contract with fundraiser Meredith O'Rourke.

Meek in Brevard

"U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek extolled his track record and leadership abilities Saturday to a banquet hall full of Brevard County Democrats as he continued to vie for the party's nod in his run for the open Senate seat in Florida." "Democrats push for open seat".

Raw political courage

"LeMieux: Obama not doing enough for Florida".

Fl-oil-duh

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "It's Florida's turn. As the oil from the Deepwater Horizon blowout threatens to damage the Florida Panhandle — prompting fears that it won't stop there — the question remains, is the state doing all it can to mitigate the approaching disaster? The answer had better be 'yes.'" "Deepwater Horizon debacle hits home". More: "Crist, Buffett visit beach, try to console Panhandle residents and lament fouling of paradise", "Beyond BP: Who coordinates a long-term response?", "Crist, Buffett: Oil won't spoil your Florida visit", "Obama lets frustration show on trip to oil spill region" and "Garrison Keillor: As the oil spill spreads, a nation sits immobilized".

And then there's the Niger Delta

"It's Day 47 of what we regard as an utterly unacceptable environmental disaster. We watch in horror as the first tar balls wash onto the Florida Panhandle's sugar-sand beaches."

It's Day 32 in Akwa Ibom. Not that anyone in the Niger River Delta has bothered to count the days since an offshore spill added another million gallons of crude to an already devastated estuary.

Oil bursting from an oil rig operated by a subsidiary of ExxonMobile has polluted the sea, poisoned tidal marshes and escalated the miseries caused by Niger oil extraction.

But the word "unacceptable'' has no meaning in Nigeria's bleak oil fields.

The Guardian of London reported last week that the Niger Delta's aging pipes, terminals, pumping stations and offshore oil platforms spill more oil each year than what has leaked from the wreckage of the Deepwater Horizon.

Niger's marshes are just as fragile as those at the mouth of the Mississippi. Nigeria's wildlife is as vulnerable. Local farmers and fishermen have endured much more hurt than their counterparts along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The African Commission on Human Rights in 2001 and Amnesty International in 2009 documented dramatic human suffering from some 300 spills a year. Fishing and farming have been ruined. Drinking water has been poisoned. Incessant gas burn-offs pollute the air. Amnesty International reports significant and escalating health problems. Wetlands have been transformed into vast apocalyptic landscapes drenched in thick black syrup.

The national government admits that 2,000 major oil spills, some years old, still await cleanup. Nigeria has tough-sounding environmental laws, of course, but no enforcement by a government utterly corrupted by big-oil money.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Office Depot has agreed to pay a $4.5 million refund for allegedly using a bait-and-switch scheme to overcharge local governments around Florida." "Office Depot agrees to $4.5 million in refunds for overcharges".

Scott and the teabaggers

"In the six weeks since Scott came out of the shadows and announced his candidacy, he's spent more on advertising than McCollum has raised in his campaign. The tab is about $11 million, and there's little sign Scott's piggybank will be empty any time soon. He said he will take all the $500 contribution checks he can raise by law. But at of the end of this week, he had not filed any contributions with the Florida Division of Elections."

You can't seem to turn your TV on these days without seeing Scott hawking his conservative ideals. ...

Where Scott is getting support is among tea party members, whose rising voice was heard on May 11 when tea party-backed Rand Paul won the GOP nomination in Kentucky for the U.S. Senate.

Scott said he is not running as a tea party candidate but relates well with their members. "I have spoken at a lot of tea party events. I agree with many of their principles."

Barry Willoughby, a tea party member from Naples, said Scott's entry into the gubernatorial race caught many tea partiers off guard.

"Rick Scott came out of nowhere," Willoughby said. "He caught many in the tea-party movement by surprise.

"I have never met him, but on the surface I absolutely agree with what he has said about accountability in government, limited government and following the law."

But, Willoughby said, he hasn't decided yet whether to vote for Scott or McCollum.
"I'm very torn, that's for sure," he said. "I don't see how the tea party could go against what he has said."

"Not pretty to see McCollum ... challenged from the right"

Jane Healy: "Suddenly the governor's race has heated up now that, out of nowhere, Rick Scott has decided to challenge Attorney General Bill McCollum for the Republican nomination. Unfortunately, the competition seems headed the wrong way."

It's not pretty to see McCollum, who has been the darling of the conservatives, challenged from the right.

It seems to bring out his worst instincts. But that is what Scott, the Naples multimillionaire, is doing. Jumping into the race full force by spending a zillion dollars on television ads, he is mounting a serious challenge to McCollum.

So what is the ugly potential here? It's that the race devolves into a dogfight over issues that have little to do with being governor and ignores Florida's pressing problems.

Scott has grabbed attention by trying to make Arizona's controversial immigration law — which gives police far more leeway in questioning immigration status — an issue for Florida. Huh? If there's anything that needs to be addressed as a federal issue, it's immigration. Having different laws in different states doesn't lead to immigration reform. It just shifts the problem to another state.

Yet McCollum seems to have fallen for this gambit, now making statements that lend a sympathetic ear to the Arizona law.

For his part, McCollum is equally shrill when it comes to health care.

The Tampa Trib is outraged

Of all the things to editorialize about, the Chamber of Commerce Tampa Tribune editorial board is outraged that a bill in Congress "would add chilling new complexities to political advertising". God forbid, "it would put business interests at a disadvantage. The bias has a partisan flavor and arises from fear among Democrats that a Supreme Court ruling in January will allow conservative-leaning corporations to buy elections." "Another bad campaign bill".

"Four things"

Howard Troxler: "As I've said before, we need four things:"

(1) Fair, competitive districts.

(2) Honest campaign money that cannot be laundered through no-limit committees controlled by individual legislators.

(3) Once (and only if) we pass those first two ideas, longer terms for legislators, 12 years instead of eight. Yes, really.

(4) Smarter, better-informed voters who actually hold the Legislature accountable for its actions. More on that theme over the rest of this year.

Look. We can never pass enough "ethics" laws to make Babylon "ethical."

Only true competition, and the threat of being held to account by the voters, will change things.

In other words, the answer to the sins of democracy is more democracy.

Rothstein

"Telling his story for the first time, Scott Rothstein detailed how his life spun out of control in a 12-page letter he wrote to the judge who will sentence him on Wednesday." "For first time, Scott Rothstein tells of his shame".

Dean Cannon and his study

Steve Otto reminds us about the $200,000 study

funded by the Florida House - of oil drilling off the state's coast. Doesn't that sound like a good idea?

... on April 14 - a week before the explosion - The Willis Group, which conducted the study, presented its findings to something called the House Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning. The study concluded any potential oil spills would be rare, small and easily contained.

The study, according to the WUSF report, was commissioned by Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Orlando, who is scheduled to become the next speaker of the House and who has been a proponent of offshore drilling. A spokesperson for current Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, said the study was a "rush job."

I guess you can understand why nobody in Tallahassee has been rushing to tell us the rest of what The Willis Group learned for your $200,000.

Orange Jefferson-Jackson Event

"The Republican positions on gay adoption, health care, gays in the military, abortion and the environment took a beating Saturday night as a slew of Florida Democratic candidates made their pitches at a fundraising dinner downtown. Alex Sink, Democratic candidate for governor, was the keynote speaker at the 2010 Jefferson-Jackson Gala, thrown by the Democratic Party of Orange County at the Orlando Marriott Downtown." "Democratic candidates take jabs at Republicans at Orlando gala".