The state chief financial officer and presumed Democratic nominee for governor may have found her campaign voice in the Gulf oil spill disaster that has consumed the coast of several states.

"Biggest sales job in the history of Florida politics"

Steve Bousquet argues that "If this super-rich Republican businessman from Naples (now there's a demographic for you) can get himself elected governor, it will be the biggest sales job in the history of Florida politics." "Can Rick Scott sell himself to voters?".

RPOFers cry foul

"A flurry of candidates qualified for dozens of state races before Friday's noon deadline, creating a few surprises and prompting conspiracy theories among some political observers."

The tea party is at the center of the controversy, as 19 of its candidates submitted election paperwork to run for the Legislature and one Cabinet-level race.

Republicans immediately cried foul, questioning the tea partyers' [sic] credentials and motives, suggesting their goal was to draw votes from traditional Republicans.

"The recent flurry of last-minute filings by so-called 'tea party candidates' looks awfully suspicious,'' GOP Chairman John Thrasher said in a news release.

The hardest to predict political season in Florida history

"Fire the starting gun on what promises to be the busiest — and hardest to predict —campaign season in Florida political history. The qualifying period for statewide and legislative races closed Friday, setting the field for a busy political season in Florida. With Gov. Charlie Crist vying for U.S. Senate, the governor's mansion and the entire state Cabinet — attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner — are up for grabs, the first time no incumbents have been on the ballot since Reconstruction." "No incumbents means election season is wide open". See also "Fla. closes qualifying period".

Gettin' nasty

"Naples businessman Rick Scott has used his personal fortune to buy a campaign-ad blitz and front-running status in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Now, the question is whether the money can also buy him love."

McCollum's gubernatorial prospects have taken a serious beating over the last nine weeks as Scott, a former chief executive at hospital giant HCA/Columbia, has poured upwards of $15 million into 30-second ads that have caught fire with incumbent-weary voters.

At the same time, Scott is facing charges -- most from McCollum supporters with ties to Tallahassee – that, as an investor and hospital CEO, he profited from Medicare fraud, illegal immigration and even abortions.

The $218.6 million man

Scott discloses:

Rick Scott, the political rookie who is leading the polls in the Republican primary, also filed the required financial disclosure 15 minutes before noon. Scott submitted most of his other paperwork Thursday.

The Division of Elections office was packed with candidates and politicos, many of whom wanted to know how much the former healthcare executive was worth. Scott, a wealthy Naples businessman listed his net worth as $218.6 million. Through Friday, he has poured $16 million of his own wealth into campaign advertising.

Scott attended a GOP breakfast in Tampa where he faced loyal party activists who asked tough questions about his role as CEO of a hospital chain that paid a record $1.7 billion fraud fine for overbilling federal health services.

A woman accused Scott of being an "unindicted co-conspirator,'' which prompted a testy exchange caught on audio tape.

Scott gave a heated response, calling attacks on him "not consistent,'' and repeating a now familiar response, that he was never questioned in the investigation. By the end of the confrontation, Scott raised his voice and sounded clearly angry.

Unopposed

"In all, 35 candidates won office this year with nary a vote cast, despite a ballot robust with high-profile federal and Florida Cabinet races that could attract voters favorable to untested politicians. There are also a slew of ballot measures, including an effort to inject more competition in state elections by changing the way districts are drawn. The conflict-free elections extended to congressional races. U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, who switched districts to seek the seat being vacated by his retiring brother Lincoln, had no challenger. " "Unopposed, 35 win House, Senate, Congressional elections without campaigning". See also "No surprises as Florida candidates qualify by deadline".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Federal mortgage fraud dragnet snares 86 South Florida suspects".

The end of "freedom" ...

... or at least what the RPOFers call "freedom": "Oil Spill Could Spur Support for More Coastal Management".

Connections between McCollum campaign and secretive political committees

William March: "More evidence has emerged of connections between the Bill McCollum campaign for governor and a group of secretive political committees running attack ads against his opponent in the GOP primary, Rick Scott."

The Tribune has obtained an e-mail in which ad producers for one of the groups, the Alliance for America's Future, appear to be seeking approval from top campaign officials for the ad's contents.

The Scott campaign says that's a further indication that the groups are merely extensions of the McCollum campaign, which means their failure to report donors is illegal. ...

In the e-mail addressed to individuals who work for the McCollum campaign, the Alliance or both, including McCollum's campaign manager, Matt Williams, and general consultant, Arthur Finkelstein, the ad producers say they are "Standing by for final approval" before sending the ad to television stations.

The McCollum campaign says it has nothing to do with the committees and denied Friday that it had authorized the content of the advertising.

Greene live

"Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene visits with The Palm Beach Post editorial board".

As editorial boards whine about firefighter pensions

"Firing of Hillsborough administrator exposes excessive government severance packages".

"McCollum may pay a political price"

Former Miami Herald reporter Casey Woods: "In the annals of hypocritical flame-outs, few can compete with George Rekers. The psychologist, Baptist minister and purveyor of anti-gay religious ideology is now notorious for having taken a 10-day European trip with a male prostitute who advertises on the gay-escort website Rentboy.com."

Ever since that revelation, Republican gubernatorial candidate and state Attorney General Bill McCollum has been getting politically spanked for hiring Rekers to testify in the state's legal fight to uphold a law banning gay adoption.

McCollum faced a difficult, if not impossible, task: to find a credible scientific witness to testify in support of a scientifically unproven point of view. I'm not surprised he believed Rekers was the best he could do. If you look at conflicts over gay adoption bans in Florida and other states, it's clear that the pickings are slim for ``experts'' in this largely fringe world of homophobic junk-science.

A common thread that ties many of them together is the work of Paul Cameron, a psychologist who was expelled by the American Psychological Association and censured by the American Sociological Association for distorting research about homosexuality. For decades, he has published "research'' claiming that gay men are much more likely to molest children and to die before they reach their mid-40s.

And so McCollum had his work cut out for him when he set out to find witnesses to testify that a broad consensus of the scientific community was wrong. Little wonder that one of the few he managed to drum up was Rekers.

McCollum may pay a political price for defending Florida's misguided gay adoption ban. Whoever succeeds him in the attorney general's office should learn from his experience and abandon this mean-spirited, wasteful attempt to deprive Florida's foster children of a better chance of finding a loving family.

Fl-oil-duh

"Escambia emergency responders are winding down to a skeleton crew for the weekend as oil impact in the county was light and the outlook remained good." "Responders follow as oil moves east".

More: "A shift in tactics captures more oil", "County readies oil warning signs", "Tar balls moving east along Fla. Panhandle coast", "Airborne scientists look for signs of more oil near Florida", "Crist extends oil spill emergency declaration", "100 dime-size tar balls wash ashore on beach east of Pensacola" and "Costner's centrifuges deploy for Gulf oil cleanup".

Horner gets a hand

"State Rep. Mike Horner's campaign got a boost Thursday from a conservative heavy-hitter — former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. ... Horner, R- Kissimmee, is being challenged in the Aug. 24 Republican primary by Thomas Chalifoux, a former Osceola County School Board member. Chalifoux could be a threat to Horner because he has name recognition and money. A wealthy real-estate entrepreneur, Chalifoux reported his net worth to be $40 million on a 2008 financial disclosure form." "Mike Huckabee gives Kissimmee campaign a boost".

Atwater gets a bye

"Another surprise on qualifying day was a candidate who did not make the ballot:"

Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, who said as late as Thursday he would run for chief financial officer. The move cleared the GOP field for Senate President Jeff Atwater, who holds a large financial advantage over his opponents.

Rubio's bad day

"Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio is again answering questions about troubles with his personal finances after a bank sought to foreclose on a Tallahassee home he owns with another Miami lawmaker." "Senate candidate Marco Rubio in foreclosure tangle over Tallahassee property". See also "Bank forecloses on Rubio's Tallahassee home".

Florida's top cop appears to have been painted into a corner by his campaign spokeswoman, Kristy Campbell.

"The Rick Scott campaign for governor has accused Bill McCollum of illegally raising money for a secretive political group running television ads attacking Scott."

In response, McCollum has acknowledged that his campaign has sent information to political donors about at least one of three such groups, including the group's bank account number and wiring address. But a campaign spokeswoman denied that meant the campaign was directly or indirectly helping the group raise money.

Under Florida election law, it's illegal for McCollum as a candidate for state office to solicit money "directly or indirectly" for a group that isn't reporting the identity of its donors or organizers.

"We have facilitated the flow of information about the organization for people who are interested," said campaign spokeswoman Kristy Campbell. But, she added, the campaign "is following campaign finance law law to the letter and intent."

The new front-runner is a guy whose claim to fame is his connection to the biggest Medicare fraud case in American history.

He's whupping up on the career hack the Republicans used to worship.

And, as big of a mess as both of these Republicans are, both of them are leading the lead Democrat, who has struggled to get her own party's supporters enthused, much less anyone else.

If this field of "front-runners" were any weaker, we'd need the defibrillators.

Overall, the message seems to be that Floridians are ready for change — and aren't too particular about what kind.

How else to explain Republican Rick Scott — the man ousted from a health-care company fined more than $1 billion for defrauding taxpayers — having a 13-point lead over establishment darling Bill McCollum?

Seriously: This dude's company stole from you. And yet primary voters seem more smitten with his tough-on-immigrants talk and "Let's get to work" catch phrases than his actual track record. (Welcome to modern politics.)

Even the blessing of GOP messiah Jeb Bush hasn't helped McCollum much.

Republican favorite Scott qualifies

"Health care executive Rick Scott, a political phenomenon who went from virtual unknown to the leading candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the course of a mere two months, filed his paperwork to make his bid official lateThursday morning. Minutes later, Attorney General Bill McCollum, the one-time front-runner in the race, filed his paperwork and offered harsh words for his Republican rival." "New Republican Favorite Rick Scott Files for Governor".

"Republicans Rick Scott and Bill McCollum filed their qualifying papers for governor within a half hour of each other Thursday, narrowly missing each other outside the state elections office." "McCollum, Scott file for run". See also "McCollum, Scott file for gubernatorial runs" and "A kickoff, with steel-toed boots".

McCollum's "suddenly troubled campaign"

Get this: "Eager to rev up his suddenly troubled campaign, Bill McCollum on Thurday vowed as governor to mandate that all local governments freeze property taxes for at least two years."

"Republican gubernatorial front-runner Rick Scott missed the event, but it was still the largest single gathering of major statewide candidates to date in this hectic political year. It produced some striking moments:"

• Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio, who has been hazy on his immigration position, for the first time said he would not support Florida pursuing a tough anti-illegal immigration law like the one passed recently in Arizona: "I think it should be solved at the federal level.''

• Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent for U.S. Senate, said he no longer supports Florida's ban against gay couples adopting children: "A better way and approach would be to let judges make that decision on a case-by-case basis.''

• McCollum professed to be unaware of the activities of two stealth political committees attacking front-runner Rick Scott on TV -- even though McCollum's campaign advisors are directing the committees' spending and he has been urging supporters to contribute to one of them.

• Not exactly pandering to the assembled media, McCollum waxed about the limits of open government in the state legislature: "I'm not sure the Legislature is the place for open government,'' he said. "I was a legislator and you can't negotiate and do deals in the Legislature and get business done in 60 days or 90 days or whatever your session may be with open government.''

• Little-known Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Alex Snitker of Pasco County crashed the candidate forum, snatching a microphone and demanding speaking time.

"Who cares?"

"U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene 'grew up as a Democrat,'' but said the conservative climate of Harvard Business School, the oil crisis of the late 1970s and the battered Carter administration drew him to the GOP in 1982."

"For a year of my life I was a Republican, and then I quickly got back to what I really believed in,'' he said Tuesday of his long-ago bid for Congress in Southern California. Asked what he had learned from the failed race, Greene said: "I learned that I'm a Democrat.''

The lesson took another decade to sink in, according to election records that show he remained a Republican until 1992, when he moved from Los Angeles to Malibu and dropped his party affiliation. He didn't become a Democrat until 2008, when he registered to vote from his new home in Palm Beach.

"Whether I was a Republican or Democrat, who cares?'' he said at a candidates' forum Thursday in Sarasota.

Feel free to pick up the tar balls

"The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-0 and dealt a financial blow to Florida's waterfront homeowners Thursday, ruling that private beachfront property is open to the public." "Beachfront owners lose U.S. Supreme Court case over property rights".

Rubio's finances an issue

"Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio is facing foreclosure on a Tallahassee house after missing five months of mortgage payments, according to a lawsuit filed in Leon County Circuit Court. But Rubio's campaign spokesman said Rubio and David Rivera, a U.S. House candidate from Miami who co-owns the home with Rubio, have paid $9,200 owed to Deutsche Bank and the foreclosure has been withdrawn."

Rubio's personal spending has been an issue in his high-profile U.S. Senate campaign after records showed he charged $16,000 in personal expenses to a Republican Party of Florida credit card.

Rubio said he paid those charges, but later repaid the party $3,000 after a Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times report earlier this year showed he double-billed state taxpayers and the party for eight plane tickets he bought when he was a state legislator.

Every last nickel

"Long hounded by tales of underpaid and overworked employees, the Florida Department of Children and Families is once again under investigation for denying fair wages to its workers, the U.S. Labor Department confirmed Thursday." "Florida Department of Children and Families under federal scrutiny over wages and hours".

McCollum's publicity stunt on the line

"The Justice Department has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit by 20 states challenging President Barack Obama's health care overhaul."

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said Thursday that the government's defenses clash with comments Obama made during the health care debate.

Tea Party called a "front group" for Grayson

"GOP congressional candidate Bruce O’Donoghue is intensifying his campaign to brand the Florida Tea Party as a front group for Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) In an interview with POLITICO Thursday, O’Donoghue called the Florida Tea Party a 'sham,' alleging that the organization was coordinating with Grayson and fielding a third party candidate, conservative activist Peg Dunmire, in an effort to split the Republican vote in the November general election." "Republican claims tea partier a Grayson stooge".

Unemployment report

"Florida labor officials are hoping that May's unemployment report improves for the second straight month. The Agency for Workforce Innovation will announce the May figures [today]." "State announces May unemployment numbers".

Fl-oil-duh

"Harvesting oysters in Apalachicola Bay is going ahead full bore through the end of August." "Oyster harvesting ongoing in Apalachicola Bay".

"$20 billion fund expands assistance", "Franklin officials visit Pensacola", "Oyster harvesting ongoing in Apalachicola Bay", "Airborne scientists look for signs of more oil near Florida", "100 dime-size tar balls wash ashore on beach east of Pensacola", "Heavy tar washing up in Destin area", "Fla. sets up website for oil spill job seekers", "BP head says he wasn't in loop, enrages Congress; Heavy tar washes ashore in Destin as tar balls strike Pensacola", "Gulf oil full of methane, adding new concerns" and "Florida company ready to set 'bugs' loose against oil".

Bud's lawsuits

"Independent gubernatorial candidate Lawton 'Bud' Chiles III is a defendant in seven lawsuits stemming from a construction business currently in bankruptcy and a foreclosed condo development." "Florida gubernatorial hopeful Bud Chiles a defendant in seven lawsuits".

"What's a voter to do?"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "A television commercial provided by the Florida First Initiative — and who wouldn't be in favor of putting Florida first? — attacks Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott, linking him to problems with the hospital corporation of which we was CEO."

The campaign of Mr. Scott's chief opponent in the GOP primary, Attorney General Bill McCollum, denied any ties to the commercial. But the St. Petersburg Times reported that Florida First Initiative used Mr. McCollum's name in fundraising, that his finance director solicited money for the group and that the group uses the same ad producer and media buyer as Mr. McCollum's campaign.

So, why doesn't Mr. McCollum just run the commercial himself?

The answer is in the shadowy world of so-called 527 organizations, such as Florida First Initiative, which are not subject to limits on contributions or spending and often disguise who is behind them. Those issues were made even more challenging this year when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that special-interest groups, from unions to corporations, may spend freely in support of national candidates.

What's a voter to do?

Libertarian battle

"Florida political history will be made Aug. 24, when two candidates from a third party face off on the primary ballot, according to state elections officials."

Registered Libertarian Party voters in some areas of Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties will get to choose between Ellen Paul and Franklin Perez, who both qualified to run for the District 33 seat in the Florida House.

Tuition

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Florida tuition: still a good deal".

Havana bound

"Mayor Pam Iorio sent Obama a letter Wednesday asking him grant the airport status as an authorized port of entry and exit for the flights. ... In February 2009, U.S. Rep. Kather Castor, D-Tampa, asked Obama to lift travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans." "Mayor wants flights to Cuba from Tampa airport".

Sink filed her qualifying papers for the office Wednesday morning, and is expected to be the only politically prominent candidate in the Democratic primary.

Her campaign has been contacting key supporters for advice on a candidate for lieutenant governor, a step usually taken later on in the race.

Because Sink is the presumptive nominee, party activists said, there's no reason she shouldn't act quickly.

"You get two for the price of one – two people raising money, two people giving speeches and contacting voters," said Democratic strategist Screven Watson.

Former University of South Florida President Betty Castor, a close Sink political ally, said she didn't know what candidates were being considered, but, "I know there's some conversation going on, and the fact that they're beginning the process now suggests they're leaning toward an early pick."

"From hug to embrace"

"A Republican no longer, Gov. Charlie Crist just can't seem to get enough of President Barack Obama or Democratic priorities. The independent is behaving more like the independent he is in Florida's wildly unpredictable Senate race, standing with the president, courting organized labor and vetoing legislation to ban embryonic stem cell research at the state's universities."

"Looking to cobble together a broad coalition of voters, including Democrats and independents, Crist has:"

—Vetoed a bill that would have required women to get an ultrasound before having an abortion, a move that upset many Republicans.

—Cozied up to labor unions, teachers unions and trial lawyers.

—Told the St. Petersburg Times that he is willing to consider overturning a Florida law that bans gays from adopting.

Scott allegation

"[T]he claim that a man died at one of the company's hospitals after being turned away was new to us. Could it be true?"

On the day he died, Anguiano was found unconscious on the lawn of a hotel and taken by ambulance to Columbia Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. Meyer gave him a full physical, but decided against further tests, according to court records. Anguiano had not eaten in three days and had been drinking and smoking marijuana. He was given some juice and crackers, and hospital security escorted him out. He was found dead on the hospital grounds two hours later.

Hospital officials said Meyer treated Anguiano for roughly seven minutes, which violated hospital rules, according to court records.

Meyer was suspended. She sued the hospital and lost. The Nevada Supreme Court eventually concluded the hospital acted with the reasonable belief that it was furthering quality care.

Sansom

"In court, attorneys for the men emphasized that the project was a legitimate and routine expenditure for college classrooms as well as a staging area for emergency operations during hurricanes, not an airplane hangar for one of Odom's businesses, as the state claims. The state says Odom needed hangar space to store airplanes for his company, Destin Jet." "State attorney calls Ray Sansom case one of 'theft'".

"Former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom and two co-defendants charged with grand theft were back in court [yesterday] to ask a judge to dismiss the case against them. State Attorney Willie Meggs, meanwhile, wants Circuit Judge Terry Lewis to send the case to a jury and set a trial date. Lewis heard arguments for more than two hours Wednesday, but did not rule. He refused last month to dismiss charges of grand theft and conspiracy against the men." "Ex-House speaker Sansom wants corruption charges dropped". See also "Defense lawyers in Sansom case seek dismissal".

RPOF's Mendelsohn mess

"Federal prosecutors have added five criminal tax charges to the indictment of Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, a Broward County eye doctor and political power broker."

In the newest charges, filed Tuesday, Mendelsohn is accused of failing to report on his tax returns about $715,000 he received from 2003 to 2006 — money that Mendelsohn took from political funds under his control and spent on himself, his mistress and his children's education, prosecutors say.

Mendelsohn, 52, a Republican fundraiser who served on Gov. Charlie Crist's 2006 gubernatorial transition team, already faces 32 charges of fraud and lying to federal agents.

More arrests are expected as part of a wider influence-peddling investigation, prosecutors have said. One likely target: former state Democratic lawmaker Mandy Dawson, who is suspected of receiving $87,000 from Mendelsohn through a one-time Dawson campaign aide, according to sources familiar with the case.

Agents are also investigating Tallahassee lobbyist Stephen D. Hull, who helped create and manage the political committees along with Mendelsohn.

South Florida ports' business surges

"After a dismal 2009 -- a year those in international business say they'd prefer to forget -- trade through South Florida ports is showing double-digit growth in 2010 as the economies of Latin American trading partners revive." "Trade surges 18% through South Florida ports".

Mitt strives for relevancy

"Romney, introduced as “hopefully” the next president, raises money for State Sen. Thrasher".

"Shame! Shame!"

"Police waded through a crowd chanting 'Shame! Shame!' and 'The banks got a bailout! The people got sold out!' to evict three families from a low-income apartment complex in Miami’s Liberty City yesterday. Miami police also arrested a housing activist and a tenant for interfering with the evictions." "Crowd protests Miami evictions it claims are illegal".

"Enough to sink Alex Sink"

Ron Sachs, director of communications for the late Gov. Lawton Chiles from 1992-96, writes this morning that: "Florida's stunning 2010 leadership turnover will bring a new U.S. senator, governor, attorney general, chief financial officer and commissioner of agriculture. Dual-edged voter emotions — anger about the status quo and near-comatose boredom with existing campaigns perceived to lack passion, ideas and momentum — are the formula for a revolution in our strangest-ever political year."

But the real Florida excitement is in the governor's race, where the picture is even murkier. The Democratic front-runner, CFO Alex Sink, could become our first woman governor, but her path is blocked by Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum, anointed by no less than former Gov. Jeb Bush. McCollum is behind in his own party, however, from a relentless paid air-war assault from the right by former health care executive Scott.

The real wild card is Lawton "Bud" Chiles III, who has never held elective office (though neither did Jeb Bush) but whose family pedigree and name already register at 19 points in a recent Quinnipiac poll. Voicing strong ideals and policy ideas, Bud is running as an independent because he says no one's speaking about the most important issues, such as children's health and the toxic effect of too much money in the political process.

There are terrible twin ironies for Bud Chiles. The first: No one is likely to hear his good message absent a well-funded campaign, which he is too late and too disinclined to mount. You can rail against the power of money — but not raising or spending it makes you a coffee-klatch candidate.

The second irony is even worse for this Lawton Chiles — and the Democrats. With such a late entry, rather than becoming a new generation political messiah, Bud Chiles is better positioned to become the Democratic Party's pariah.

Despite his good name and good intentions, Chiles has a better chance of winning the title of "2010 spoiler" than being elected governor of Florida. His candidacy would win the votes of some Democratic and independent voters, and the math of his campaign surely adds up to a victory — but most likely for the Republican nominee, either McCollum or Scott.

This late in the game, a Chiles candidacy could not be enough to elect Bud Chiles, but it would be enough to sink Alex Sink.

Adverse possession claims

The Sun Sentinel editors: "In a state known for shady land deals and dubious get-rich schemes, should anyone be surprised that a centuries-old legal doctrine has become the latest fraud in the housing crisis? From selling "valuable" swampland to claiming ownership on foreclosed property, how far has Florida really come?"

Not very — so Florida can now boast of a new scheme that has squatters, swindlers, trespassers and other ne'er-do-well low-lifes trying to gain control of abandoned property. A Sun Sentinel examination found that in recent months, adverse possession claims have been filed on about 200 homes in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Adverse possession dates back to the English Renaissance, when squatters were allowed to take over abandoned farms if they were willing to live there, work the property and pay taxes on it. In Florida, the doctrine is still used to recycle abandoned property or settle boundary disputes, but there's a seven-year waiting period in which the owner loses the rights to the property because of a failure to pay taxes and liens.

"Strange Bedfellows"

"Bill McCollum's offensive against Rick Scott's well-publicized "mistakes" at Columbia/HCA is shining a light on McCollum's own health-care record in Congress." "Scott, McCollum: Strange Bedfellows on Health Care".

FCAT follies

"A pair of Senate Democrats Wednesday called on the State Board of Education to investigate delays in the scoring of the state’s FCAT tests and its contract with test assessment company NCS Pearson." "Senate Dems Want FCAT Contract Query".

Spending by Scott may give rivals additional public funding

"Millions of dollars have already been spent during Florida's wild election season and tens of millions will likely be spent between now and November. But who could be footing a big part of the bill? Florida taxpayers." "2010 campaign may cost taxpayers more".

Fl-oil-duh

"Florida's elected chief financial officer said Wednesday that the state should explore selling off its 15 million shares of plunging BP stock, although she stopped short of saying it should definitely dump the holdings." "Florida owns 15 million BP shares; CFO Sink says state should weigh selling".

See also "Tar balls discolor waters off Okaloosa County" and "Escambia Co. continues to bear brunt of spill in Florida".

Trapping tourists

"City voters could cast ballots for Mary Jane come November should a budding effort to decriminalize marijuana possession in the city gain traction." "Campaign underway to decriminalize marijuana in Miami Beach".

"Not as bad as Detroit"

"South Florida among areas hardest hit by recession ... but not as bad as Detroit".

Now OK to fly Spirit again

"Spirit Airlines made a deal with its pilots on Wednesday that will end their strike, and the airline said it would fly again starting Friday. ... Spirit carries roughly 16,000 passengers per day, or about 1 percent of the nation's air traffic. Its biggest hub is in Fort Lauderdale, with flights to U.S. cities including Detroit and Atlantic City, N.J., as well as the Caribbean and Latin America. Spirit is privately held and based in Miramar, Fla." "Spirit Airlines make a deal to end pilots' strike".

"How quaint, how yesterday"

"George W. Bush and Karl Rove showed the power of old-fashioned, shoe leather campaigning in 2004 with an army of volunteer door knockers and phone bankers. Barack Obama built on their lesson in 2008, building a massive, volunteer-driven campaign in every neighborhood in every swing state — and some not-so-swing states."

How quaint, how yesterday.

Look at the political landscape in America's biggest battleground state in 2010 and it's clear nothing beats the power of blitzing the airwaves with TV ads.

Two complete unknowns — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene and Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott — are leading contenders thanks entirely to spending millions on carefully scripted, focus-grouped ads airing in every corner of Florida.

A Hillsborough thing

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Hillsborough County commissioners Wednesday took the difficult but necessary step of firing Administrator Pat Bean but then, incredibly, decided to bring County Attorney Renee Lee back to work." "A necessary firing, curious rehiring".

Trailing newcomer Rick Scott by 13 points in a recent statewide poll and unable to match the millions of dollars Scott has spent on television ads, McCollum looks vulnerable. It is a stunning shift for a seasoned politician who seemed to have a lock on the race just two months ago.

Lobbyist and strategist J.M. "Mac'' Stipanovich, who helped mastermind Republican Bob Martinez's winning campaign for governor in 1986, marveled at the "nerve'' of Scott to have "scammed the taxpayers'' while in business and now "taking that money and trying to scam them again.''

"Commitment to public transportation"?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida's commitment to public transportation reminds us of famed matrimonial mind-changer Elizabeth Taylor's commitment to husbands." "Whither mass transit?".

Bud says "no"

"Democratic Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson is making an 11th-hour appeal to Bud Chiles to drop his independent bid for governor, suggesting his late father would not want him to damage Democrat Alex Sink's chances in the governor's race." "Chiles rejects Aaronson appeal to quit governor's race".

"Double dipping"

"Florida ends 'double dipping' by teachers, other government workers on July 1".

McCollum's health care record is "eerily aligned" with Scott's

"Bill McCollum's offensive against Rick Scott's well-publicized "mistakes" at Columbia/HCA is shining a light on McCollum's own health care record in Congress."

Anyone who's been paying attention to the increasingly acrimonious Republican gubernatorial campaign knows by now that Scott was chairman and CEO of the HCA hospital chain when it was fined $1.7 billion by federal authorities.

After a decade at the helm, Scott resigned in 1997, and his TV ads openly admit that "mistakes were made." If Columbia/HCA tried to cover its financial tracks in the 1990s, its erstwhile CEO today is well aware that his record will be under microscopic scrutiny on the campaign trail.

McCollum's health care record is less well-known, and it was eerily aligned with Scott's.

At the time Scott was taking fire at HCA, McCollum was promoting a softer approach to the problem of health care fraud, and earning contributions from Scott's company.

FCAT follies

"The total damages could climb well above the $25 million liability cap outlined in NCS Pearson's contract with the state. In Miami-Dade alone, top district officials predict they will have to spend $2.3 million as a result of the delays. Broward Superintendent Jim Notter estimated that the delayed results could cost his already cash-strapped district $1.8 million."

Despite criticism from several state lawmakers and school district officials, Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith said the state would not terminate its contract with Pearson ... Board of Education Chairman T. Willard Fair[*] was more forgiving. "It could have happened to anyone who got the contract,'' said Fair, president of the Urban League of Greater Miami.

during his second run for governor in 1998 Bush teamed up with the conservative African-American Director of the Urban League of Greater Miami, T. Willard Fair, to establish Florida's first ever charter school in Miami's iconic black community Liberty City. The Liberty Charter School served as an effective campaign prop for Bush and he received 17% of the black vote this time around. Soon after taking office Bush severed his ties with Liberty Charter and appointed T. Willard Fair to the Florida Board of Education where he remains to this day giving slavish devotion to a man who he once told, "In my judgment, there is no greater person on this Earth than you. I love you."

Paper loss too small to threaten fund

"Florida's pension fund, the fourth-largest in the nation, has seen the value of its BP investments plunge more than $67 million since the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig, but the paper loss is too small to seriously threaten the fund's $112.4-billion bottom line, managers said Tuesday." "Florida's pension fund not seriously threatened by BP stock investments".

"Test of star power versus volume"

"In a test of star power versus volume, the Democratic and Republican candidates for Florida agriculture commissioner boasted of their law-enforcement credentials today. Democrat Scott Maddox called a news conference with television lawman John Bunnell. Maddox also announced endorsements by Sheriffs Larry Campbell of Tallahassee, David Harvey of Wakulla County and Louis Roberts of Jackson County." "Candidates for agriculture commissioner post tout sheriffs' endorsements". See also "Putnam, Maddox Summon Law Enforcement Backing in Ag Race".

Fl-oil-duh

"First the state of Florida was to reimburse counties for oil-spill expenses, drawing from the $50 million BP sent the state. Then counties were supposed to file directly with BP – initially including cities within their boundaries, but then, changing in the same day, not. For a while the state was going to pay for protective boom until it wasn't and now it is." "Reimbursement claims frustrate Florida counties".

See also "State Legal Team Hears Complaints About BP Claims", "For small Florida towns, oil stress edges out serenity", "Procedure change calls for counties to file claims with BP, not state of Florida", "Florida's small towns take oil cleanup into their own hands" and "Oil spill putting Obama at the forefront of crisis".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Obama offers more than rhetoric".

"Undoubtedly the right call"

The Miami Herald editors: "The U.S. Supreme Court won't win any popularity contests with its 7-2 decision offering a second chance to a convicted cop killer on Florida's death row, but it was undoubtedly the right call." "Test of justice".

Thrasher gets Dem opponent

"Emmy award-winning journalist Deborah Gianoulis, a fixture on Jacksonville television as an evening news anchor for almost 25 years, announced Tuesday that she was running as a Democrat against Sen. John Thrasher of Jacksonville, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Thrasher’s district stretches from Nassau County, through Jacksonville and Duval County, and includes parts of St. Johns and Flagler counties before ending in Volusia County." "News Anchor Deborah Gianoulis Jumps in Race Against Thrasher".

Teabagger lies

"The GOP candidate for Senate said Gov. Charlie Crist's veto of a state abortion bill would allow government funds to pay for the procedure. An examination of the law indicates otherwise." "Is Rubio right to say Crist's veto will alow tax-funded abortions?".

The Miami Herald editorial board: " Women in Florida are the rightful beneficiaries of Gov. Charlie Crist's veto of HB 1143. The bill required most women seeking abortions in the first trimester to submit to and pay for an ultrasound and either view it or have it be described by a doctor. The measure, approved without debate or committee hearings by the Legislature, was a blatant intrusion by the state on the patient-doctor relationship." "A necessary veto".

DWS on Castro

"U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Broward County is denouncing anti-Israel statements made this week by former Cuban President Fidel Castro, which she calls 'outrageous' and 'anti-Semitic.'" "Fidel Castro's statements on Israel called anti-Semitic".

Scott's campaign spokeswoman criticized the way McCollum is hiding his involvement in the attacks.

"Bill McCollum has sunk to a new low even for a career politician," Jennifer Baker said. "The outrageously false allegations are pathetic, and Bill McCollum should be embarrassed to be associated with such trash."

The 30-second advertisement makes numerous allegations against Scott's hospital chain, Columbia/HCA, for profiting from mistreatment. The most inflammatory claim suggests one of the hospitals in 1997 "turned away a poor man and left him to die outside their door."

Scott's campaign said the man was treated and released, and after his death the emergency room physician was suspended. Baker added that it's ridiculous to suggest Scott played a role in the incident, and noted the Las Vegas hospital in question provided $8 million worth of uncompensated care the same year.

Scott's campaign — which has spent at least $15 million on its own advertising — responded with a negative advertisement against McCollum.

The spot labels McCollum "a career politician," and suggests he is responsible for the mortgage crisis. It notes his votes in Congress and efforts as a lobbyist to loosen bank loan regulations.

And it features a toppling circle of dominos.

What do the two efforts have in common? Both take on rivals of Republican Bill McCollum. And, interestingly, McCollum's team says they know nothing about either effort.

A third group dubbed led by Mary Cheney, daughter of the former Vice President - Alliance for America's Future - recently spent nearly $2 million on TV ads attacking Rick Scott.

McCollum's team knows nothing about these ads either. Apparently it is all just a coincidence.

Except that McCollum's ad guy - Chris Mattola - is working with both the Alliance and Florida First.

And McCollum supporter Stafford Jones, chairman of the Alachua County GOP, also is part of Florida First and and he was involved with Don't Bank on Sink.

Qualifying period

"Qualifying for governor, state Cabinet and legislative seats runs through noon Friday. The sign-up period also includes hundreds of city and county officeholders across the state." "Candidates head to the starting line".

"That-was-then, this-is-now"

"As the Republican governor of Florida, Charlie Crist backed U.S. sanctions against Cuba and signed a state law hiking costs on agencies that book trips to the repressive regime. But as a newly independent candidate for the U.S. Senate, Crist is slated to collect checks from some of the same people who successfully fought to overturn the law last year and who advocate opening a dialogue with Cuba."

Crist's position on Cuba is the latest example of his that-was-then, this-is-now political strategy as he tries to build a statewide campaign outside the traditional Republican party. The heavily Republican Cuban exile community backs strict limits on travel and remittances to Cuba, which they see as financially propping up the communist dictatorship.

The Obama administration lifted virtually all restrictions on Cuban Americans' travel to the island last year, overturning a Bush administration ruling that had limited their trips to once every three years.

Crist said Monday that he supports the Democratic administration's decision last year to maintain the long-standing trade embargo but allow Cuban-Americans to freely visit their relatives and send them money. At the time, President Obama said the former policy under a Republican administration had failed to foster democracy and hurt the Cuban people.

HD 26

"With Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, term-limited and running an underdog campaign for the Republican state CFO nomination, a battle is developing to replace him in the 26th District House seat with serious candidates from both parties in the mix. " "Strong Candidates Vie for Open House Seat in Flagler, Volusia".

Duh

"PolitiFact Florida: Crist veto won't lead to taxpayers funding abortions".

"This is almost true"

Howard Troxler: "Pushing and shoving erupted briefly Monday on the coast of Florida's Panhandle beaches when the number of politicians seeking camera opportunities exceeded the available beachfront."

No injuries were reported, but local authorities in Pensacola were forced to impose a system of permits for beach access for political speechmaking based on rank.

Presidents will continue to have unlimited beach access, followed by state governors, U.S. senators, state Cabinet members, U.S. representatives, state legislators, and last, locally elected officials.

Whew! At least it ain't a "tax"

"Florida's 11 public universities are poised to increase tuition by 15 percent for the second year in a row." "Florida college costs creeping up".

Fl-oil-duh

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "To understand why South Florida counties aren't counting on BP or the federal government or the state when it comes to dealing with the oil spill, consider what happened last week in the Florida Panhandle." "On our own if the oil comes: For South Florida, a lesson from Pensacola.". See also "Gibbs: Administration may seize claims processing", "Sen. Nelson takes look at area's oil impact" and "Gulf Coasters skeptical of Obama, BP promises".

Waldo Proffitt: "A word from BP's sponsors".

PSC choices

The Miami Herald editorial board: "In a year when anti-incumbency is all the rage, we can name at least two incumbents who deserve a second term: Florida Public Service Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano and Commissioner Nathan Skop, an engineer and lawyer with an MBA. They have a solid record of making informed, impartial decisions in regulating the state's power, communications, natural gas and water industries." "Argenziano, Skop set right course for PSC".

I am shocked, shocked

The union haters on The Sun Sentinel editorial board find it "Hard to sympathize with Spirit pilots".

Scott in the Panhandle

"Attorney General Bill McCollum announced his candidacy more than a year ago and was the presumptive GOP nominee until Scott entered the race in April. A Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed Scott with a 13-point lead over McCollum."

The presumptive Democratic nominee is state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. Lawton "Bud" Chiles III, the son of the late governor, is running as an independent.

Scott, 57, of Naples, is the former CEO of the Columbia/HCA hospital chain. He is running as a non-politician in a year when many are angry at politicians. He's delivering a conservative message, which he took to a multi-stop tour in the Panhandle, the most conservative part of the state.

Florida's Gulf Coast has Obama on the horns of a dilemma

"Newly released Census data show that Florida's Gulf Coast has grown more rapidly than any other coastal region of the country. It's a population shift that has the Obama administration on the horns of a dilemma." "Gulf Power Rising in Florida".

Romney strives for relevancy in Florida

"Mitt Romney Backs Bill McCollum and a Dozen Other Florida Republicans". See also "Mitt Romney in Jacksonville today to support Florida endorsements".

Corrine Brown hangs up

"Voters and politicians alike are up in arms over so-called 'unfair districts' in the state of Florida. The boundaries of congressional districts are redrawn every 10 years, but many argue the boundaries are set merely to benefit incumbent politicians."

Amendments 5 and 6 are proposed measures supported by Fair Districts Florida that would ensure that both legislative and congressional districts could not be drawn to favor a particular politcal party or incumbent. Service Employees International Union, based in Washington, D.C., has donated at least $225,000 in support of the amendments. In May, governor and senatorial candidate Charlie Crist pledged his support for the proposed amendments.

On Thursday’s "First Coast Connects," a Jacksonville public radio program, Rep. [Corrine] Brown was set to be interviewed about a recent lawsuit she filed requesting the redistricting amendments be stricken from the forthcoming ballot. Unfortunately for host Melissa Ross, along with many listeners hoping to hear the congresswoman’s defense, Brown hung up within the first five minutes of the interview.

Sink in Spanish

"Democrat Alex Sink launched a Spanish version of her campaign website. She joins Republican Bill McCollum in the effort to target Hispanic voters in their language." "Democrat gubernatorial candidate launches website in Spanish".

Greene's "odd baggage"

"Boxer Mike Tyson was the best man at his wedding. Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss lived in his guest house. And the television ads for Jeff Greene's out-of-nowhere bid for Florida's Senate seat are financed by a fortune made from betting on the fall of the housing market. Too much baggage for a candidate?" "Dem surprises Fla. Senate race despite odd baggage".

Jones Act

"Fla. Republicans ask Obama to waive Jones Act".

Them evil "generous" public employee pensions

The The Tampa Tribune thinks the solution to local government economic woes includes getting rid of those "generous" public employee pensions.

They write this morning that "State and local governments need $50 billion from the federal government so they won't have to lay off teachers, firefighters and police officers, President Obama has told Congress."

Florida, for example, has not done all it can to raise revenue and cut costs. Public pensions remain generous, sales tax loopholes abound and while some public jobs have been eliminated, painful cuts have mostly been avoided.

HD 58

"Strip club magnate and frequent political candidate Joe Redner, switching his sights from local to state government, has filed to run for the state House seat from Tampa's District 58. Redner, running as a no-party candidate, qualified for the ballot on the first day of qualifying for state offices Monday. So far, the only other candidate to file is the incumbent, Rep. Janet Cruz, a Democrat." "Redner to run for seat in House".

Until the Republican Party chairman resigned last January amid a storm of controversy over his financial dealings, McCollum was one of Greer's most steadfast supporters. Now the GOP gubernatorial candidate, with his campaign sinking in the polls, can't seem to run away from him fast enough.

McCollum's primary opponent, Rick Scott, alleges that Greer and the Republican Party "cleared the field" for the attorney general's run for governor.

"Not only did Greer use his position as party chairman to endorse McCollum and push out other candidates, the party also funneled over $1.7 million in RPOF funds to McCollum’s gubernatorial campaign," the Scott campaign said in a statement.

"When the party’s finances were first called into question, McCollum sought to keep the party’s financial records under Greer from becoming public and stalled a formal criminal investigation into the matter."

The investigation, which McCollum referred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, resulted in Greer's indictment on six felony charges of fraud, theft and money laundering.

"Brew-ha-ha?"

"In less than two years, freshman Democrat U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson has built a national reputation as a bare-knuckle brawler whom conservatives love to hate, an unapologetic supporter of health-care reform and government regulation."

But come Election Day, he stands to gain from an unlikely source: the Florida Tea Party.

The fledgling Florida Tea Party has put forward Peg Dunmire against Grayson in the race for Florida's 8th Congressional District. Grayson, Dunmire and whichever Republican wins that party's August primary will face off in the November general election.

As a third-party candidate and political newcomer with scant campaign funding, Dunmire has little chance of winning. But with a spot on the ballot listed under the Florida Tea Party mantle, she could attract votes from disaffected conservatives — votes that would otherwise likely go to the Republican candidate.

The "endorsement game"

Bill Cotterell: "Florida's state employee unions are making their political endorsements, which are interesting in a couple of ways."

Candidates who get the backing of the Florida AFL-CIO, Police Benevolent Association or American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will proudly proclaim those endorsements as proof of their commitment to working-class families. Those who don't get labor's backing usually just ignore it or call it proof that their opponents are bossed by big labor — or, at least, sufficiently liberal to win union backing.

Conversely, business endorsements also can be taken either way, depending whether you get them or don't. Those who are endorsed by Associated Industries of Florida — Marco Rubio, for instance — see it as proof of their common-sense business approach to public policy. Those who don't will call the winners tools of big business.

In a center-right state like Florida, a lot of candidates don't even bother seeking a labor endorsement, unless they're running in large urban areas where it can generate some volunteer help and organizational support.

Fl-oil-duh

"In Florida, beaches remained open and active, though two large plumes of oil were detected south of Pensacola Bay and officials closed a portion of state waters to fishing, crabbing and shrimping." "Pressure mounts as Gulf oil spill nears". See also "Where do you send your donation for an oil spill?", "Tar balls attract politicians" and "Obama plans fourth tour of Gulf oil spill".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Federal spill effort needs more focus".

Paul Flemming: "BP has had its chance; bring on Craig Fugate".

"A free pass from Washington"

Carl Hiaasen:

This is what millions of dollars in campaign contributions buys -- a free pass from Washington. The federal Minerals Management Service basically worked for Big Oil.

It was a relationship that flourished during the Bush-Cheney years, and not much changed when Barack Obama took office. Despite serious safety issues throughout BP's North American operations, the MMS blithely accepted the company's word that everything was peachy on Mississippi Canyon Block 252 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Even today, in the midst of the worst oil spill in history, the Obama administration is still relying largely on BP's word, although by necessity and not choice.

Commuter rail

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Why business supports commuter rail".

"Too tough"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The Great Recession may have technically ended last year when the national economy began growing again, but you'd have a hard time convincing many Floridians. They are still coping with double-digit unemployment, plummeting property values, and historically high foreclosure rates. Against this grim backdrop, raising tuition and fees to the max at Florida's 11 public universities is a tough sell — too tough." "Slow tuition, fee hikes".

Slack

"Florida gives insurance companies some slack".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "While there are tentative signs the economy is recovering in Florida and the nation, it is far from a solid comeback. So it is essential that the Senate push hard this week to pass legislation that sends additional Medicaid money to states depending on it to balance budgets and ensure poor residents have access to health care. Concerns about the federal deficit are legitimate, but they cannot be an excuse for failing to care for the neediest Americans still struggling with the impact of the recession." "Medicaid, COBRA money is essential".

Crowded Florida Political Races

"Independent, Third Party Candidates Crowd Florida Political Races".

FCAT follies

The Miami Herald editorial board: "How could a huge testing company like NCS Pearson leave Florida students, parents and schools in the lurch, waiting for FCAT scores that will tell them whether they made the grade or need extra help in reading or math?"

That's the $254 million question that begs for an independent auditor to answer.

The Florida Department of Education maintains it selected NCS Pearson because its bid came in $200 million lower than its competitor, CTB McGraw-Hill, which held the previous state contract to oversee FCAT testing and scoring. But now NCS Pearson blames computer glitches that have mismatched test results with each child's demographic information.

"It just shows his trustworthiness is gone,'' added John Stemberger, of Florida Family Policy Council, who dismissed as "nonsense'' Crist's insistence that he is personally against abortion. "I think there's absolutely going to be political consequences.''

The only groups left applauding Crist: Democrats and abortion-rights advocates, who said the legislation "firmly placed the government between doctors and their patients and resulted in women losing healthcare coverage they currently have today.''

But even some Democrats hit the governor, worried that his shift is designed to align himself with social moderates and liberals to win the election. Kendrick Meek, a Democratic rival, said the governor "can never escape his anti-choice past."

The rich are different

"Meek, who despite being the pick of his party’s establishment for U.S. Senate finds himself in a virtual tie with out-of-nowhere Democratic primary rival Jeff Greene, blasted the Palm Beach billionaire’s scant voting history today." "Meek rips Dem Senate rival Greene as 'billionaire…who only voted four times in his life’".

Daddy's boy

"Son of governor Lawton following dad's footsteps". See also "Bud Chiles Tries to Walk in his Father's Footsteps" and "Chiles takes campaign walk through Ybor City".

"Fat cats" in a dither

Fred Grimm: "Power boys do love YOLO, Fort Lauderdale's slickest pickup joint, where they can valet their Italian sports cars, order Cristal and make believe that pretty girls in tiny dresses are oblivious to pot bellies, thinning hair and acute Viagra dependency."

Wednesday night was different. The lobbyists, builders and business titans who gathered at YOLO, just across Las Olas Boulevard from Scott Rothstein's old law offices, were more interested in deluding voters than young women. ...

They came to kill Hometown Democracy, or at least raise a couple of hundred grand toward defeating the proposed constitutional amendment. ...

Fat cats hate restrictions they'd endure under Amendment 4, which would require voter approval before Florida cities or counties approve developments prohibited by comprehensive land-use plans.

The amendment would cripple Florida's construction industry and stifle the state economy, they argue.

The catch phrase among the YOLO set was "job killer.''

Despite such foreboding, polls indicate 61 percent of Florida's likely voters are apt to vote yes. It hardly matters whether the amendment would actually improve governance. Just the fact that the YOLO gang opposes No. 4 inspires a yes -- make that hell yes -- vote.

It's just too much to hear talk of good government from the same selfish interests who transformed South Florida into mindless sprawl, creating Ground Zero for a nightmare recession with a giant inventory of foreclosed houses, deserted shopping centers and unsold condos.

They invented this Ponzi-scheme economy based on perpetual growth that forces older residents to pay ever-escalating taxes to finance roads and other infrastructure in new developments.

Fl-oil-duh

"Obama to visit Gulf Coast as pressure mounts for BP to step up response".

"Winds continued to blow two patchy, orange oil plumes from the Deepwater Horizon spill toward the white sands of the western Florida Panhandle on Sunday as skimmers worked to collect the crude before it came ashore." "Fla. Panhandle battles 2 massive oil plumes". See also "BP accused of offering businesses 'shut-up' money, not real financial help", "Sen. Nelson offers ideas for oil spill", "Oil gets thicker on Ala. shores, Fla. threatened", "Florida Skips Offshore Oil Binge but Still Pays", "Piece of oil rig washes up on Florida beach", "Oil spill: Salazar tours Pensacola Beach" and "Sensors deployed to better track oil spill in Gulf".

"Unless you live in Florida, in 2010"

"If your home's value dropped last year, and property tax rates remained the same, then logic would dictate you'll see a smaller property tax bill. Unless you live in Florida, in 2010. " "Tax bills could rise despite cuts by county".

Supreme Court guts efforts to level playing field

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "In Florida, former health care executive Rick Scott has spent more than $12 million to become the front-runner for the Republican nomination for governor. Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene is virtually tied for the lead in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Yet the U.S. Supreme Court continues to gut efforts to level the playing field and allows those with the fattest wallets to have the loudest voices and drown out everyone else. " "Big money drowns out other voices".

Complaint against Argenziano dropped amidst flurry of allegations

"An ethics complaint against Public Service Commissioner Nancy Argenziano was dropped last week because the complainant withdrew her claims, saying the document was forged by a Tallahassee attorney who promised to help her find work with Florida Power & Light."

In a sworn affidavit presented to the Florida Commission on Ethics, Cynthia Gray wrote that she was working as an investigator for attorney Steve Andrews but had no knowledge of the ethics complaint filed against Argenziano last October.

She said Andrews had once asked her to sign a blank complaint, which she did at a Tallahassee bar, but it was not the document filed against Argenziano. She said Andrews later told her that, ``as a result of signing the complaint, he would assist me in becoming employed with Florida Power & Light Corporation as an investigator'' with the help of FPL lobbyist Brian Ballard.

Andrews vehemently denies the allegations and, in a letter to the Ethics Commission from his lawyer, said he has computer data that proves Gray signed the actual complaint. He said he never discussed the ethics complaint "with anyone employed by or associated with any utility company.''

"She's a very good investigator except that I think Argenziano got to her,'' Andrews told the Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times.

Gray was reached by phone but would not comment. Ballard said he has "never hired Steve Andrews for anything'' and called the allegations "ridiculous.''

FPL spokesman Mark Bubriski said the company never hired Andrews, didn't know anything about Gray and "no one knew anything about'' the complaint.

The twisted events prompted the Ethics Commission's executive director, Phil Claypool, to call it "the most bizarre situation I have seen during the last 30 years.''

Someone had to say it

"It's hard for me to feel bad for all the Pensacola business owners hurt by the oil spill when they voted for McCain/Palin 'Drill, baby, drill.'" "Zing!"

Boyd

"In any other year, a bland 14-year congressman with plenty of campaign cash and a winning track record in a politically safe district would not have to work hard for re-election."

But Allen Boyd, the "Blue Dog" Democrat representing the conservative Big Bend and Florida Panhandle in Congress, is campaigning like he's in trouble. And opponents in both parties, or neither party, think he can be beaten in this year of independent newcomers and anti-incumbent sentiments.

"I think he's vulnerable," said Clyde Simpson, the Jefferson County Republican chairman and head of the 2nd congressional district GOP caucus. "And I think he thinks so, too."

Critics want Boyd identified with Obama administration policies on financial bailouts, cap-and-trade environmental legislation and changing positions on national health care.

Boyd has drawn one well-known Democratic primary challenger, state Sen. Al Lawson of Tallahassee, and five lesser-known Republican opponents. There are also two serious independent candidates for the November ballot, but they could hurt the Republican nominee by splitting the anti-Boyd vote if he wins his primary.

The audacity of employees unionizing

Randy Schultz gives us sum old fashioned union hating, whining - consistent with League of Cities talking points - that "too many cities and counties ... allow employees, especially police officers, to count overtime toward their pensions. Too many still allow employees to accrue unused sick time and vacation, then get a big payout when they retire. Too many still allow employees to retire with full pensions after too few years of service." "Remake state governments".

Mack on the move?

"U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV is picking fights with fellow Republicans over immigration policy, stirring a political hornet's nest that observers say might signal an interest in a higher office." "Congressman Mack's Immigration soapbox may be Mack hint".

It says more about McCollum than about Scott

Steve Bousquet: "Rick Scott has been running for governor only two months, and nearly half of Republicans in a new poll say they'd vote for him."

Scott has never run for office. The former chief executive of the Columbia/HCA hospital chain moved to Florida seven years ago this month when he and his wife Annette paid $11.5 million for a house in Naples.

Practically overnight, Scott has become the face of anti-incumbent fervor in Florida.

His polling surge may or may not continue, and it might say more about his GOP rival, Attorney General Bill McCollum, than it does about Scott.

DWS denies conflict

"Congresswoman says no conflict with husband's banking job" "Wasserman Schultz enters banks-versus-merchants battle over debit card fees".

Pressuring LeMieux

"As part of ongoing nationwide sit-ins and other actions, a group of Florida organizations battling for immigration reform held simultaneous rallies yesterday in front of the offices of U.S. Sen. George LeMieux to pressure him to endorse the DREAM Act and the AgJOBS bill. The DREAM Act 'offers a path to legal status to deserving high-school graduates who stay out of trouble and attend college or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years.' The AgJOBS act, meanwhile seeks 'to improve agricultural job opportunities, benefits, and security for aliens in the United States, and for other purposes.'" "Activists continue campaign to pressure Sen. George LeMieux to support DREAM Act".

California dreaming

Howard Troxler: "Last week the voters of California took a radical step and more or less abolished party primary elections. If it's true that what happens in California politics eventually gets exported to Florida, this raises interesting questions for us."

Starting in 2012, California will use a "top two" system. Every candidate, regardless of party, will appear on the first election ballot. All voters can vote for any of them.

The top two vote-getters, again regardless of party, will face off in the second election. There could be two Democrats, two Republicans, two independents, whatever.

In other words, California has wiped out one of the major roles of political parties: choosing party nominees.

The main argument for this change, supported by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is it is supposed to produce more moderate candidates and reduce polarization.

"It's a flat-out lie"

Scott Maxwell: "However, rarely is a lie so provably debunked as the one that opponents of Fair Districts are spreading."

It's been told in many fashions. But basically, defenders of gerrymandering are trying to con you into believing that the only people pushing for Fair Districts are Democrats and liberal sympathizers who want to wrest control away from Republicans.

It's a flat-out lie.