Putnam tagged with "stunning hypocrisy"

"Republican Adam Putnam drew heat Thursday over a television ad touting his support for wind power and solar energy, with Democratic opponent Scott Maddox saying the agriculture commissioner candidate has a lousy record in Congress on green issues."

Maddox cited six bills from 2007-2009 that Putnam voted against that would have provided environmental grants to businesses, tax credits for wind facilities, and solar energy breaks for companies and residential customers. Putnam failed to vote on an energy-efficient loan program that went before the U.S. House earlier this month, Maddox said.

"These votes by Congressman Putnam hurt everyday Floridians," Maddox said.

Putnam has been airing a campaign spot that depicts a child marveling at a pinwheel blowing in the wind. On camera, Putnam promotes the need for more alternative energy.

"Only in Washington do you see that stunning hypocrisy," Maddox said of his opponent.

Mason Dixon has Sink by Seven

Mason Dixon has Sink by seven:

The survey of 625 likely voters, which has a margin for error of plus-or-minus 4 percentage points, found that Sink can credit her advantage to those always-crucial independent voters, among whom she led 44-percent to 37-percent in the survey.

Florida "entering the 21st century"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Don't look now, but Florida is one big step closer to entering the 21st century." "Is Florida ready to join 21st century?".

More M-D numbers

"A new poll indicates Florida's three races for Cabinet seats are all toss-ups, while the controversial Hometown Democracy amendment holds a solid majority, but less than the 60 percent needed for passage. An amendment modifying the state constitutional limits on public school class sizes, meanwhile, is trailing distantly in the new Mason-Dixon Polling & Research survey."

• In the attorney general's race, Republican Pam Bondi of Tampa leads Democrat Dan Gelber of Miami Beach 38 percent-34 percent with 26 percent undecided and 2 percent for no-party candidate Ken Lewis.

• In the CFO race, Republican Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach leads Democrat Loranne Ausley of Tallahassee 29 percent to 27 percent, with 37 percent undecided and 7 percent for other candidates.

• In the agriculture commissioner race, Republican Adam Putnam of Bartow leads Democrat Scott Maddox of Tallahassee 36 percent-32 percent with 28 percent undecided and 4 percent for no-party candidate Thad Hamilton.

• Amendment 4, the Hometown Democracy amendment, which would require that changes in local governments' land-use plans be approved by voters, leads with 53 percent "yes," 26 percent "no" and 21 percent undecided responses.

• Amendment 8, which would loosen the limits on class sizes passed in a 2002 constitutional amendment referendum, trails with 35 percent "yes," 53 percent "no" and 12 percent undecided responses.

"Rubio has a terrible memory or an aversion to telling the truth"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Marco Rubio has a terrible memory or an aversion to telling the truth. Neither trait is desirable in a candidate for U.S. Senate. Despite mounting evidence that he was a driving force behind a ridiculously expensive new courthouse in Tallahassee, the former state House speaker insists he is as surprised as anyone by this monstrosity. He needs to tell voters what really happened — or perhaps a grand jury will do it for him." "Marco Rubio must be frank about the "Taj Mahal" courthouse".

Biden in town

"Vice President Joe Biden praised Florida's Democratic slate at a reception attended by about 450 Democratic donors in Hollywood." "Biden praises Fla. Democratic candidates". See also "VP Joe Biden Stumps for Kendrick Meek" and ""100 percent" for Meek".

"Rhetoric in Senate race is heating up fast"

"With Election Day less than six weeks away, the campaign rhetoric in Florida's U.S. Senate race is heating up fast. Gov. Charlie Crist is on the airways with a new ad in the state's major television markets challenging the credibility of his two opponents in the Senate contest."

In the 30-second ad, "What Do we Really Know about Marco Rubio and Kendrick Meek," the announcer says Meek, a Democrat, steered government contracts to an indicted developer who gave his mother a Cadillac. It says Rubio, a Republican, is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service for using a Republican Party credit card to pay for personal meals, trips, and a family reunion.

"Marco Rubio and Kendrick Meek. What we don't need in Washington," the ad concludes as pictures of the governor pop onto the screen briefly with the announcer introducing him, "Charlie Crist. An honest, independent leader for a change."

Florida's fat cats feeding Scott

Aaron Deslatte: "Look for Tallahassee interest groups to make an investment unlike any other in this fall's elections – certainly bigger than it would have been had kingmakers in the capital city not tried to save money by crowning Bill McCollum the Republican gubernatorial nominee."

Now many of those same lobbyists and corporate interests are working feverishly to raise cash for Scott as a way to get into his good graces.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce, for example, invested more than $2 million in McCollum ads, but had to endorse Scott last week – even though Democratic nominee Alex Sink had been a Chamber board member back in her banking days.

Scott is holding a fundraiser Sunday night at New York's Yankee Stadium, where donors are expected to write big checks to the Republican Party of Florida to help finance his campaign. The invitation RSVPs to Bridget Nocco, a lobbyist whose clients include HCA and U.S. Sugar Corp.

HCA was fined $1.7 billion for committing Medicare fraud during the 1990s when Scott was its chief executive. And U.S. Sugar Corp. poured millions into an ad campaign trashing Scott in his primary, even as Scott blasted the company's attempt to sell off its land holdings to taxpayers as a give-away to "special interests" who run the show in Tallahassee.

The RPOF's latest desperate attack on Sink

The "GOP claims Alex Sink gave bonuses to state pension workers who lost billions." That claim, however, is just not true:

- [I]n addition to getting the number wrong, the ad also is inaccurate in suggesting the money is gone.

- It's a fair question to ask whether Sink, as a member of the SBA [with Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum.

- It is not accurate to imply that she alone was making the investments. Could Sink have done more? It's a good question but the ad doesn't ask; it concludes she knew all.

- Did Sink approve the bonuses? Not directly. It was included in the 2007-08 SBA budget, MacKee said, and Sink and the other trustees approved the budget. On this point, the RPOF is again misleading.

- More importantly, the ad inaccurately implies that the bonuses were linked to the investment losses.

No class (action)

"A Florida judge has rejected a legal maneuver could have enabled thousands of Republican contributors to seek refunds of up to $7.5 million they gave to support a GOP Senate candidacy by Gov. Charlie Crist. Circuit Judge Jack Schoonover in Naples refused Thursday to certify a lawsuit brought by two GOP donors as a class action covering at least 2,000 similar contributors. The decision means donors would have to sue individually for refunds." "GOP quest for Crist refunds blocked".

Say what?

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Palm Beach County Senior Judge Roger Colton opened his afternoon foreclosure session by telling homeowners that he'd heard all their stories before, and he would give them a maximum of five months before letting lenders take their homes."

That was not the intent of state legislators this year when they appropriated $9.6 million to reduce the foreclosure backlog. Though the state has set a goal of reducing the more than 500,000 cases by 62 percent within a year, that goal should be met by handling each case based on its merit and not by watching the clock. That's particularly important given the fraud perpetrated by lenders - many of which knowingly issued loans to buyers who couldn't afford them - and their attorneys.

Talkin' agriculture

"Candidates for Florida governor said today that the most important issue facing the state's agricultural community is hiring legal farmworkers."

Democrat Alex Sink and Republican Rick Scott pledged to help farmers in streamlining the process of hiring workers and promised not to enact policies that would hurt family farms.

Sink and Scott, along with candidates for attorney general and agriculture commissioner, spoke during a luncheon at a Farm Credit-Agriculture Institute of Florida forum. It was attended by about 100 farmers and agriculture experts.

The session was not a debate; the candidates had 10 minutes each to speak, took several questions from the audience and were not allowed to ask questions of each other.

Heritage Foundation continues to lose credibility

"Obama Plan: Higher Taxes, Fewer Jobs for Florida".

A math thing

"U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings is accusing his GOP election rival with distorting the nine-term Democrat's voting record."

Republican candidate Bernard Sansaricq said in an interview with the Sun Sentinel that Hastings was absent 57 percent of the time. Hastings said his opponent is repeating that figure at speaking engagements and constituents are asking about it.

Congressional records show that during his 18 years in Congress, Hastings has voted or appeared for calls to the floor 89.8 percent of the time.

Rubio's Party card

"A Republican consultant claims Marco Rubio had at least $4,000 of kitchen remodeling work charged to his Republican party credit card. Rubio's campaign dismissed the claim." "Political consultant: Rubio charged $4K in home remodeling work on GOP credit card".

Grayson, Webster and "a road map for success in 2012"

"If the stakes weren't so high — control of Congress — you could think of it as a political experiment."

With the national spotlight trained on them, Central Florida voters will choose between two political opposites whose views and strategies align closely with the core beliefs of their parties. Whoever emerges to represent Florida's 8th District — and proves that his message works — could hand his party a road map for success in 2012.

On one side is freshman U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, a tough-talking Democrat whose unapologetic embrace of the health-care overhaul, stimulus spending and an anti-war policy boils liberal politics down to its essence.

On the other side is Republican Dan Webster, a quiet former state lawmaker who has adopted the conservative mantra of stopping an out-of-control Washington spending the country into oblivion.

The third rail

"In classic fashion for the nation's biggest retiree state, Social Security is jumping to the front of the U.S. Senate race. Each of the three major candidates – no-party candidate Charlie Crist, Democrat Kendrick Meek and Republican Marco Rubio – says he's the only candidate who can be trusted to preserve the program in its current form." "Crist, Meek, Rubio using Social Security's future to lure voters".

Tribune editors say Rubio's excuses "won't wash"

Rubio is in trouble when he starts losing people like the ultra conservative Tampa Tribune editors. They write that "Rubio, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, dismisses inquiries about his use of a party credit card as 'an internal party matter.' That won't wash."

[T]he former state House speaker should arrange the release all of his credit card bills. His credibility is at stake.

The law is clear that donations should be used solely on party-related events. But Rubio has yet to give a good explanation of why he used the party card for personal bills and expenses.

Some confusion in card use is understandable. For instance, Rubio's account of how his travel agent accidently charged the GOP card for a family trip is entirely plausible.

But he has yet to give a good explanation of why he needed to use the card so extensively - at least $16,000 worth in personal bills. After all, it is a simple feat to pull the correct card out of one's wallet.

Why use the GOP card for any personal expense? Were Rubio's personal credit cards maxed out?

Rubio has been plagued by debt. In 2005, he owed more than "$1 million with mortgages on three homes, a home equity line of credit, a car loan and more than $150,000 in student loans."

All this, coupled with what appears to be casual, if not cavalier, use of donors' money undermines Rubio's compelling message of fiscal frugality.

"Florida will the third state to seek a waiver"

"Florida will become the third state to seek a waiver of the controversial medical-loss ratio provision of the Affordable Care Act, the remnants of President Barack Obama's health-care reform law signed in March." "Florida Seeks Waiver to Avoid Losing Health Insurers".

"Grit and pride"

"Alex Sink says grit and pride were legacy of famous ancestors, Siamese twins Chang and Eng".

Crist singles out LeMieux

"Crist lamented Washington's hyper-partisan shift Friday, singling out his one-time top adviser and campaign 'maestro,' George LeMieux, the man whom Crist appointed to the U.S. Senate just a year ago." "Independent Charlie Crist takes on old ally, Sen. George LeMieux, during editorial board interview".

Special session in November?

"Crist and House Speaker Larry Cretul clashed last week over using federal stimulus money for rebate programs." "House Republicans hint at special session in November to tackle energy rebates".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Federal authorities say Pinellas businessman Shannon Wren for years dealt in counterfeit computer chips, risking the lives of military personnel and potentially endangering national security." "Defense contractor confirms indicted Florida businessman sold counterfeit computer chips".

HD 97

"Candidates for Florida House District 87".

More entrepreneurs in action

"http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/22/1835833/florida-led-nation-in-mortgage.html">Herald: Florida led nation in mortgage fraud, federal commission says".

"Accounting is long overdue"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "It's possible the Florida State Board of Administration wasn't fully informed by Wall Street brokers three years ago when it cavalierly bought exotic mortgage-related securities just weeks before the credit markets crashed. But newly disclosed e-mails and internal documents show SBA staff members were just as eager to buy the securities as Wall Street was to sell. It was a reckless pursuit of higher returns that disregarded federal regulations, and those SBA staffers involved should have been fired. "

National embarrassment may succeed where old-fashioned accountability hasn't. Just this week, Congress' Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission sought documents aimed at understanding the forces at play when the SBA bought the tainted securities. That should force Crist, McCollum and Sink to provide a full public explanation of what happened inside the SBA in 2007 rather than place all of the blame on Wall Street. Such accounting is long overdue to the people of Florida.

Attack ads

"Kendrick Meek Attacks Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist on GOP Pledge". See also "Crist tags Rubio, Meek as corrupt pols in new ad".

"Mischievous, filibuster-proof, lame-duck Senate session"

"Meek or Crist could provide Dems with a mischievous, filibuster-proof, lame-duck Senate session". "Will Obama Use Florida Law to Push Defeated Agenda?".

Crist sets record!

Scott Maxwell: "Charlie Crist sets record for fastest flip-flop".

Luvin' the Obama

"At a time when President Barack Obama's poll numbers have waned and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the GOP's favorite target, some Democrats have distanced themselves from the administration and Democratic leaders in Washington."

But two South Florida Democratic congressional candidates in fierce races are taking part in fundraisers hosted by Obama and Pelosi in the coming weeks.

Joe Garcia, in a feisty race with Republican state Rep. David Rivera, will hold a brunch headlined by Pelosi Sunday in Hialeah, days after the Republican National Committee's "Fire Pelosi'' bus tour rolled through Tampa. U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, facing the well-financed Republican Allen West in Broward and Palm Beach, will tap donors for checks at an event hosted by Obama Oct. 11 at the Coral Gables home of former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning.

Unlike Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Alex Sink -- who made sure to get off the stage before Obama was introduced at a recent Miami Beach reception -- Garcia and Klein are betting that private appearances with the country's top Democrats won't hurt them.

The audit also, however, essentially exploded a dye pack in the party's own coffers that stained money spent by some of the state's best-known Republicans. ...

Marco Rubio is similarly responsible for the awful judgment of former House Speaker Ray Sansom. In addition to being indicted on corruption charges unrelated to his party credit cards, Mr. Sansom charged thousands on his card for items, including flower arrangements, that the audit found probably were not related to party business. As House speaker, Mr. Rubio picked Mr. Sansom to be his budget chief. In that role, Mr. Sansom diverted $6 million to a donor, the move that led to his indictment. He also misused his office to secure a university job made for him, a job he didn't get when the story broke.

Mr. Rubio is running against Gov. Crist for the Senate. Mr. Rubio misused his own credit card. Mr. Rubio, however, was allowed to repay the party $2,400 for items that included a $134 haircut. So he gets a grace period but Gov. Crist doesn't? Moreover, the audit related only to expenses since 2007, when Mr. Greer took over. Mr. Rubio has had a party credit card since 2005.

Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, who is a candidate for chief financial officer, reimbursed the party for $1,600. Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Orlando, the speaker-designate, repaid almost $500 for improper charges. Both made good after their personal expenses became an issue.

The selective audit indeed shows ridiculously lavish spending. Auditors didn't even bother checking the spending of individuals who spent less than $50,000. Of $7 million charged on Republican Party of Florida cards, auditors said, about $381,000 was not for legitimate party expenses and another $98,000 was suspect.

Remarkably, the audit has little to say about Rubio

Daniel Ruth: "Sheesh, Neville Chamberlain's Munich peace treaty with Adolf Hitler had more credibility than the Republican Party of Florida's whitewash audit of its spending irregularities."

You would think the party of Richard Nixon and Dick Cheney could do a better job when it comes to cover-ups instead of simply offering what amounts to: "The dog ate our expense accounts."

It also probably doesn't help the GOP's veracity that among all the accounting/auditing experts in the country, party chairman John Thrasher, R-"I Hold In My Hand A List of Communists In The State Department," hired the same guys who counted the numbers for Enron. ...

Still, you get what you pay for.

Remarkably, the audit has virtually precious little to say about the "Toga Party!!!!" spending by the likes of former House Speaker Marco Rubio, who is now locked in a bitter Senate campaign fight against Crist; outgoing Senate President Jeff Atwater, now a candidate for chief financial officer; incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon; or other Republican officials who also used their party-issued credit cards for personal expenses.

Instead, the audit simply notes the three were asked about their tabs and they all had perfectly wonderful explanations for the monies spent on the Republican dime — and besides they reimbursed the cash after they got caught — so everything is simply peachy.

"Who paid for what? How much?"

"A Republican Party of Florida investigation into party finances revealed that former party chairman Jim Greer and Gov. Charlie Crist spent a weekend with their families at Disney World in 2009."

The cost: more than $13,400.

The tab: picked up by Republican Party of Florida donors.

"My family paid for our personal expenses,'' an angry Crist responded Saturday.

Who paid for what? How much? And how do we know?

Bits and Pieces

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".

Teabagger lives in wrong district

"Even though the 22nd Congressional District takes in parts of Plantation, [CD 22 candidate Allen] West said doesn’t live in the district. He lives in the district represented by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston." "Congressional candidate Allen West doesn't live in the district he's running in" ("Charles Zelden, a professor of history and legal studies who specializes in politics and voting at Nova Southeastern University, said living outside the district may be legal, but it’s not great politics.")

PSC appointments

"Charlie Crist Passes Up Insiders, Taps Brown and Balbis to PSC". See also "Crist chooses Palm Beach Gardens man to oversee FPL, other utilities".

SD 25

"Two veterans of the Florida House are fighting for an open state Senate seat representing coastal areas of Broward and Palm Beach counties. State Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff is a Fort Lauderdale Republican who has long been part of the inner circle of GOP leadership in Tallahassee. State Rep. Kelly Skidmore is a Boca Raton Democrat who has grabbed headlines fighting to regulate pain management clinics and prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians." "Two veteran legislators battle for coastal Senate seat".

See also "Florida Senate District 25 candidates".

Delightful

"Big issues surround plan to privatize hospital district".

"'Right Size Class Size' campaign"

"Supporters of Amendment 8 kicked off the 'Right Size Class Size' campaign Tuesday, hoping to convince Florida voters that relaxing class-size restrictions is the reasonable, most cost-effective and least-disruptive way to serve a changing student population in the Sunshine State." "Amendment 8 Proponents Urge Easing of Class-Size Caps".

Vague

"Gubernatorial Candidates Vague on Insurance Solutions".

Crist on the attack

"With four recent polls, including one from Sunshine State News, showing that Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running for the U.S. Senate without party affiliation, is trailing Republican former House Speaker Marco Rubio by double digits, the governor is taking to the airwaves to attack." "Under Fire from Kendrick Meek and Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist Runs TV Ad Targeting Rubio".

Federal Funds Help Floridians Avoid Poverty

"Billions of dollars in federal stimulus have prevented an estimated 225,000 Floridians from falling into poverty. They are among the 1.2 jobless Floridians who have received $3.7 billion in unemployment compensation from funds in the Recovery Act of 2009." "Federal Unemployment Funds Help Floridians Avoid Poverty".

FCAT follies

"FCAT testing company pays Florida $14.7 million fine, revamps systems".

Big of 'em

"If an appeals court reverses a South Florida judge and rules that Florida's ban on adoptions by gay couples is valid, the state's child welfare agency won't remove the two children at the center of the challenge, the head of the agency said Monday." "Florida child welfare agency won't take gay man's kids". See also "Gay man can keep his adopted boys, chief of Florida child welfare agency says".

Cold, dead hands

"Republican candidates for statewide office pledged during the weekend to continue defending the Second Amendment -- and took aim at Democrats who, they said, are working to undermine the right to bear arms." "GOP Candidates Pledge to Defend Right to Bear Arms".

Mr. Fixit

"Crist said Florida could start a trend toward less polarized, less partisan national politics by electing him, a no-party candidate, to the U.S. Senate." "Crist: Florida could change polarized politics by voting for him". See also "Charlie Crist's plan: Be all things to all voters".

Mike Thomas: Charlie Crist: In favor of everything except taxes

You might want to try the union hiring hall

"Fla. website aids jobless construction workers".

Scott: all business all the time

"Rick Scott wants more private property insurance companies in Florida, and that means rates could rise, at least in the short-term."

Scott's proposal to revamp the insurance market coincided with a call to limit lawsuits against insurance companies, small businesses, car companies and also doctors who perform surgeries under the auspices of the state. Known as "tort reform,'' lawsuit limits are the key concern of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which endorsed Scott last week.

Scott's Democratic opponent, state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, said in a statement that Scott was on the side of "Big Business'' instead of the little guy by making it tougher for them to access the courts.

Gerrymanders of the world unite!

"Organizers of a business-backed effort to defeat two constitutional amendments intended to prevent legislators from gerrymandering legislative and congressional districts said Monday they hoped to raise $4 million for commercials in the six weeks left before the Nov. 2 general election." "Foes announce $4-million campaign against redistricting reforms".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Lawmakers and influential business groups will do just about anything to hold on to power. So don't think for a minute that U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown and Mario Diaz-Balart and their deep-pocket allies are fighting for democracy and minority rights by opposing two constitutional amendments concerning redistricting. It is a cynical alliance driven by self-interest and aimed at preventing voters from having real choices in legislative and congressional elections." See also "See also "Lawyers, Unions Bankroll FairDistricts Crusade".

Home builders say Jump!

"Federal wildlife managers agreed Tuesday to reassess whether the wood stork still merits endangered-species status, a step prompted by a petition from Florida home builders." "Wood stork's endangered-species status to be reassessed".

"Florida ranks dead last"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Tallahassee lawmakers all give lip service to children's health and educational well-being, yet in proportion to our size and wealth, Florida ranks dead last in per-child state spending among the 50 states. More than 18 percent of Florida's children, for instance, do not have health insurance - double the national average." "Rallying for Florida's children".

Scott Maxwell: "Politicians need to show up to support Florida's children". The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Making children a Florida priority".

Lay down with dogs

"Gov. Crist assails today's 'hard-right tack' of Republican Party".

RPOF lying about Ausley

The RPOF advertisement says: "Loranne Ausley 'voted six times to tax your savings.'" Politifact weighs in:

We rate this claim False.

Atwater whines

"Atwater says Crist's view on coastal oil drilling shifted abruptly this year".

LeMieux hammered by Students Working for Equal Rights

"The U.S. Senate blocked the defense authorization bill that included the immigration reform measure known as the DREAM Act, with Florida Sen. George LeMieux supporting a Republican filibuster. The Florida Immigrant Coalition and Students Working for Equal Rights, both of which support the immigration measure, issued a press release denouncing the bill’s failure and criticizing LeMieux." "Immigrant-rights groups criticize LeMieux for joining filibuster of defense bill".

Campaign roundup

"Thrasher and Gianoulis tied in Senate race, Report says conservative group is running "misleading" ads." "Campaign roundup for Tuesday".

West getting paranoid

"The Ron Klein-Allen West congressional contest took another nasty turn with the dissemination of a lien supposedly against West's house bearing West's Social Security number."

The copy of the 2005 document, circulated by the Florida Democratic Party as part of a campaign mailer for Klein, inadvertently bore his Republican opponent's Social Security number, party officials said. They called it an "oversight."

West's campaign spokesman Josh Grodin wasn't buying that explanation.

Crist free to spend

"Until a judge rules on a lawsuit demanding contributions be returned to former supporters of Charlie Crist, he can continue spending money on his bid for Senate." "Judge: Crist can spend campaign cash, for now". See also "Judge: Crist can spend campaign funds".

The right to defecate

"Rep. Coley and Sen. Lynn say they will propose bills to roll back measure that was intended to protect Florida's springs." "Public backlash building against legislative mandate on septic tanks".

"All over again"

"In April, Ted Deutch became the newly elected representative of the 19th congressional district. Now, he's trying to do it all over again." "Deutch, Budd compete for seat in U.S. House District 19".

Meek supports DREAM Act

"Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek joined a rally for passage of a bill to give younger illegal immigrants a chance to become legal residents." "DREAM Act gets support".

'Glades

"Rejecting argument that the EPA boss is too busy, a Miami judge stands by his order that she appear in court to explain Everglades cleanup failures." "Judge reaffirms order for EPA chief to appear in court over Glades cleanup".

The biggest cause for the shift is in the Senate, always the brake on the more ideologically driven House. The Senate's contingent of GOP moderates has dwindled, and its next president, Mike Haridopolos, is determined to go right.

For years, "the Florida Senate has been the -- let's just say the graveyard for some good ideas from Republicans," said Haridopolos, speaking at a recent GOP "unity" event in Tampa.

"We have a potential alignment of the House and Senate leadership that hasn't happened in probably 15 years or more," incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon told supporters at the same event. "The Senate President and Speaker of the House not only like each other, but they're hard right-wing conservatives."

So is Scott, who, paired with a like-minded Legislature, could fast-track right-wing policies that have languished for years.

"Republicans can't stop indulging in political wrangling"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "It's one thing for Republican legislators to carry on their feud with Gov. Charlie Crist on a party level. It's quite another when the feud hurts thousands of Floridians by denying them hundreds of dollars in promised rebates."

When Gov. Crist quit the Republican Party to run as an independent in the U.S. Senate race, it heated up a low-grade fever of antipathy that had been percolating between the governor and GOP leaders in the state House and Senate. Mr. Crist vetoed some of their pet legislation this year, like SB 6, which he said imposed draconian measures on teachers.

So they balked at his proposal to put a constitutional amendment banning oil drilling off Florida's coast on the Nov. 4 ballot, mostly, it appeared, out of spite. ...

Thousands of Floridians -- in good faith -- invested in energy-saving technology believing they would get partially repaid by the state government for their efforts. Now these consumers are in limbo because the Republicans running the state can't stop indulging in fruitless political wrangling. Shameful.

Second amendment remedies

"Republican candidates for statewide office pledged during the weekend to continue defending the Second Amendment -- and took aim at Democrats who, they said, are working to undermine the right to bear arms." "GOP Candidates Pledge to Defend Right to Bear Arms".

Scott a "Pants on Fire" liar

Bidnessman and would-be-gubner, Rick Scott actually claims that "'the stimulus has not created one private-sector job'". According to PolitiFact, "with thousands of Floridians employed because of stimulus-funded programs — not to mention jobs for a company in which Scott owns stock — we rate his statement Pants on Fire." "PolitiFact: Stimulus created private-sector jobs in Florida, unlike Scott claimed".

Obama on his way

"U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, will get a fat wad of reelection cash and Republican challenger Allen West will get a campaign talking point next month when President Obama comes to South Florida for a Klein fund-raiser." "Bennett on Politics: Obama fund-raiser means cash for Klein, talking point for West". Related: "Ron Klein and Allen West biographies".

Flat tuition rate

"Florida's full-time public university students could soon be paying a flat tuition, no matter how many classes they take, under a plan being considered by the state board." "Florida public universities may adopt flat tuition".

Pulling together as a community

"The ongoing court fight over Volusia County's school impact fees gathered steam this week with a lawsuit filed by the developer of an unfinished adults-only community in DeLand. In a 10-page complaint, the developer and owners of a portion of the Victoria Gardens development are seeking a refund of more than $515,604. The lawsuit relies in part on a 2000 Florida Supreme Court decision that banned collection of fees from the Aberdeen community in Ormond Beach because no one younger than 55 was allowed to live there." "Adult community sues over school fees".

Florida's retirees turn right

"Senior citizens make up one-fourth of the state's electorate, and they usually turn out for midterm elections while younger voters often stay away from the polls."

The tendency of senior citizens this year to turn away from Democrats reflects a generational shift that was apparent two years ago when most voters 65 and older backed Obama's Republican opponent, John McCain. It has been intensified this year by the emergence of the tea party movement, which has attracted an older crowd to its rallies.

"UF Considers Eliminating Fall Semester"

"The University of Florida is considering a proposal that would give incoming students the option of taking classes during the spring and summer terms only, bypassing the fall semester, to ease the strain on its crowded facilities." "University Of Florida Considers Eliminating Fall Semester For Some Students".

AFL-CIO goes after Scott

"Continuing to assume the role of one of the most politically aggressive organizations operating on the progressive side of the aisle, the AFL-CIO sent out 2.5 million pieces of campaign mail on Monday targeting Republicans in roughly 50 congressional and gubernatorial races."

But it's some of the specific attacks -- in addition to the sheer size of the campaign -- that stick out for their directness. The AFL-CIO takes Kentucky Republican Rand Paul to task for casually dismissing the death of two Kentucky coal miners. The federation pastes harrowing footage of the 2007 Minnesota bridge collapse, to attack that state's gubernatorial candidate, Tom Emmer, for voting "against funds that may have prevented" that catastrophe. It takes on Florida Gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott by insisting that Florida taxpayers paid for his "fraud-fueled, million-dollar fortune" and it mocks Oregon gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley for moving his residence to Washington during his NBC career to avoid paying higher taxes.

Coming on the heals of a two-million mailer campaign that the union launched last week, the latest batch underscores the extent to which the AFL-CIO has determined that brass-knuckled politics is the path to victory in a tough electoral climate.

Amendment 4 and "the case of St. Pete Beach"

"As Floridians prepare to vote on Amendment 4 this November, they may have a valid sketch of the measure in real-world application with the case of St. Pete Beach, a name that pops up among arguments from advocates on both sides of the issue." "St. Pete Beach: Face of Amendment 4 in Action?". Related: "Does Amendment 4 Go Too Far?".

"One of the most powerful in the House"

"Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Lake Placid, was named House Appropriations Committee chairwoman last week by incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, who will take over if Republicans maintain control of the 120-member chamber. ... Here are five questions for the woman who will be one of the most powerful in the House in the coming two years, and her responses." "Five Questions for Rep. Denise Grimsley".

"Forward to the Constitution"?

"The line-up of speakers at Saturday afternoon’s 'Forward to the Constitution' Tea Party rally in St. Augustine read like a who’s-who of Republican candidates in statewide elections." "At rally, North Florida Tea Partiers assert their independence".

DWS under fire

"Wasserman Schultz receives award for support of small business while GOP foe Harrington rips into her record". "Small-Business Issues Shaping Race in CD 20".

What can the next Governor do?

"Not Clear What Next Governor Can Do for Foreclosure Crisis".

Golden parachutes

The Orlando Sentinel editors question "the golden parachutes offered to those who run nonprofit and public-private institutions. They're often too big, veiled in secrecy and subject to arbitrary changes." "Severance pay for agency executives is too generous for these economic times".

It suggests the chamber is happy to cede its role in making independent, merit-based judgments on behalf of its members to become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Republican Party. ...

Just how did Scott go from notorious scoundrel to the right candidate for governor of the fourth-largest state? In the chamber's view apparently only one answer matters: He's not a Democrat.

Teabaggers run wild in St. Augustine

"The four-hour 'Forward with the Constitution Rally' was organized by tea party groups in an 11-county region in northeast Florida, and was far and away the largest event of the 2010 campaign season in Florida."

If the rally had a headliner, it was Marco Rubio, the U.S. Senate candidate who received a thunderous welcome at high noon under a brilliant sun.

"This election is nothing less than a referendum of our identity as a nation and as a people,'' Rubio said, calling 2010 an historic moment "when people were pushed to the brink.'' ...

Speaker after speaker tossed red-meat to the audience. ``Fox News isn't fair and balanced, they're right,'' said Pam Bondi, the GOP nominee for attorney general and a Fox News analyst. ...

Others who spoke included the candidates for governor, Rick Scott; chief financial officer candidate Jeff Atwater; Mike Yost, a Republican candidate for Congress; and Alex Snitker, the Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. Senate. ...

The first-time candidate, with his wife Ann standing beside him, focused a good part of his 15-minute speech on criticism of President Obama, Washington and the federal government. ...

More than two dozen colorful exhibition booths hawked items such as bumper stickers that read, "End slavery, abolish the IRS'' and T-shirts that read, ``Beware of liberals posing as Americans.''

A handmade sign read, "Obama bin lyin,'' and eight-year-old Bryce Danforth of Palm Coast held a toy rifle with a sign affixed that read, ``I'll take my guns and freedom. You can take a hike.''

The worst?

Lucy Morgan: "Chief Judge Paul M. Hawkes of the 1st District Court of Appeal got the lowest Florida Bar poll rating ever given an appellate court judge up for merit retention."

Hawkes, a 53-year-old former legislator from Citrus County, was appointed to the court in 2003 by Gov. Jeb Bush. He previously served as a consultant to the House of Representatives and worked for Bush's budget office.

"One more time"

Howard Troxler is on a mission: "One more time:"

Make them move.

Make. Them. Move.

Kick the 1st District Court of Appeal out of the Taj Mahal. The court robbed the money for its new palace from the public. It snookered the taxpayers. It grabbed $48 million, and worse, it did it by last-minute trickery and sleaze and political connections in the Legislature, and even worse than that, it did it by driving the public further into debt with a sneaky law to borrow most of the money.

Amendments 5 and 6

"Amendments 5 and 6 on Florida's ballot in November seek to erase gerrymandering. Supporters want the state's constitution to require political districts be drawn without benefit or harm for any candidate or party. Next year will begin in earnest the laborious, contentious every-10-years process of redistricting. Those lines determine who represents you in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C." "Ballot to address legislative districts".

That gerrymandering thing

"Ever wonder why some congressional districts are just plain odd-looking on a map? Florida Gulf Coast University professor Peter Bergerson said it often comes down to one word — gerrymandering." "Collier linked to Miami-Dade in Congressional District 25, but that might change".

"One flip too many"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Crist has flipped so much over the past few months that he could try out for the Olympic gymnastics team."

He was for the teacher merit pay bill, and then was against it. He was for the federal economic stimulus plan, and then was against it, and then was for it again. He was for expanded oil drilling - after having been against it - and then was against it. He was against the federal health law, and then was for it. All these flips on issues, of course, came after the governor's biggest flip - running for the Senate as an independent right after he had been calling himself a "proud Republican."

Some of those flips, whatever the motivation, left the state in a better position. The merit pay bill, which the Legislature crafted without consulting teachers, was terrible. Other flips may cost the governor votes or win him some. But Gov. Crist is considering one more big flip that could hurt people the governor claims to be helping.

This week, Gov. Crist said that he might drop the state's appeal of a lawsuit challenging Florida's ban on gays and lesbians adopting. Just months ago, as a presumed Republican candidate, the childless governor was reiterating his belief that children do best "in a home with one man and one woman." Now, with most GOP social conservatives probably set to vote for Marco Rubio, the governor wants to broaden his appeal.

Scott was "cautioned year after year" about the fraud

"Rick Scott has said he would have immediately stopped his former hospital company from committing Medicare fraud -- if only 'somebody told me something was wrong.'"

But he was cautioned year after year that the financial incentives Columbia/HCA offered doctors could run afoul of a federal anti-kickback law that seeks to limit conflicts of interest in Medicare and Medicaid.

The warnings were contained in the company's annual public reports to stockholders that Scott, now the Republican candidate for Florida governor, signed as Columbia/HCA's president and chief executive officer.

Do what I say ...

"Marco Rubio took the stage in front of 2,000 cheering supporters in Sarasota earlier this month and delivered a stark warning: Government debt is destroying America."

For 16 months, Rubio has carried this message of fiscal responsibility to great applause across Florida.

What Rubio does not tell the crowds is that he has gone deep into debt and struggled to make his payments, with Deutsche Bank initiating foreclosure proceedings on one of his homes in June.

Rubio resolved the foreclosure case, but debt has been a constant companion. In 2005, he carried more than $1 million in debt with mortgages on three homes, a home equity line of credit, a car loan and more than $150,000 in student loans.

Such deals seem to contradict the principles Rubio espouses on the campaign trail: calling for balanced budgets as he strained his own, and criticizing government waste as he arranged unadvertised government jobs for himself.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Authorities find 36 dead alligators in truck".

Crist slams audit, demands apology

"Crist lashed out at Florida Republican Party leaders Saturday over 'a sham' internal audit that suggested party donors may have funded personal vacations and expenses for him and his family. But his hastily called news conference raised as many questions as it answered." "Crist blasts GOP leaders for 'sham' audit". See also "Crist calls Republican Party audit a 'sham'".

RPOFers running elections like a business

"Less than two months before the general election, Florida's voter-registration rolls still include thousands of dead people and felons who by law should have been removed."

Statewide, as many as 14,892 voters dead as long as two decades were still registered as of July. As many as 9,766 felons who have not gotten their voting rights restored under Florida law remain registered. ...

State elections officials pledged to clean up the rolls two years ago after a Sun Sentinel investigation found they included 28,000 people who had died and 33,000 ineligible felons.

More than half of those names were removed or deemed eligible voters. But the rest, along with newly added felons, remained on the rolls as of July, the most recent data available.

Just another DFE?

"Hayes, a doctor since 1998, said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post that Solantic's medical director asked him to inflate patients' costs by ordering potentially unnecessary medical procedures. Hayes said he also was told to sell more of the clinic's prescription drugs, despite cheaper alternatives at a pharmacy."

"Ethically and morally I just couldn't do that," Hayes said. "Just because you walk through the door with a runny nose doesn't mean an automatic X-ray and breathing treatment and lab work."

The campaign dismissed Hayes as a disgruntled former employee ["DFE"], the same phrase used to reject a handful of women who filed lawsuits alleging Scott and Solantic would not hire overweight workers. Solantic settled those cases.

More entrepreneurs in action

"Nonprofits serving poor, sick or foster children and poor or sick senior citizens are among the dozens of agencies awaiting nearly $1 million in reimbursement for overpayment to Office Depot, state records show."

The 129 organizations submitted claims for $908,752.54 as part of the Florida Attorney General’s $5.9 million settlement with Office Depot, an initial list of claims obtained by the Daily News shows.

The list exposes for the first time the extent to which nonprofits weren’t informed of “option 2,” a price plan once on the Boca Raton office supply giant’s nationally available contract with Los Angeles County. Option 2 was more expensive than the contract’s “option 1” price plan for 85 percent of the hundreds of Florida government and nonprofit agencies that were on it.

Among those that weren’t explained the options is the Gainesville-based Partnership for Strong Families, a nonprofit serving foster children in a 13-county region of North Florida.

Mickey Mouse hearts RPOFers

"Mickey Mouse appears to be quite fond of state Rep. Dean Cannon."

Shortly after Cannon, a Winter Park Republican in line to be the next speaker of Florida’s House of Representatives, opened his campaign for re-election last year, Walt Disney World wrote him a check for $500, the maximum amount allowed by state law.

Disney didn’t stop there. In February, according to state campaign-finance records, the giant resort gave Cannon eight more checks worth $500 apiece — each one issued by a different Disney entity, from its time-share unit to its cruise line to its gift-card processor.

Since the start of 2009, Disney has donated $578,000 — including $525,000 in money and $53,000 in tickets, rooms and meals — to the Republican Party of Florida, which commands sizable majorities in both chambers of the Legislature. That’s nearly double the $320,000 that Disney gave the GOP for the entire 2008 election cycle.

Disney has given the Florida Democratic Party a combined $246,000 in contributions and goods ahead of the 2010 elections. It gave the Legislature’s minority party only $214,000 during the full 2008 cycle.The resort has also steered six-figure checks to other entities, including $250,000 to a political committee set up by the Florida Chamber of Commerce and $220,000 to an organization that helps candidates who support tighter limits on lawsuits. It didn’t make any similarly sized donations to organizations during the 2008 elections.

In addition to writing bigger checks to the parties and special-interest committees, Disney has begun using its many corporate entities to donate cash — a strategy that allows it to funnel more money to individual legislators.

"Signs that the election season is in full force"

Jane Healy: "Now that Florida has early voting, it doesn't take long for the November election to rev up. Already there are signs galore that the election season is in full force."

Sign No. 1: Newfound positions. It didn't take long for U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist to roll out new positions on the gay-rights issues. Only four years ago, he crucified Jim Davis, his Democratic opponent for governor, for supporting adoptions by same-sex couples, saying he "turned his back on our values." ...

Sign No. 2: Waste, waste, waste. That's exactly what you hear from so many candidates when they are asked how they would find the money to keep government running. No one wants to talk about a tax increase, so instead they simply say they will find "waste" — or its close brothers fraud and abuse.

Courtesy of the "values" crowd ...

... who have been running Florida for many years.

Scott Maxwell: "The statistics about how we treat our children in this state should make you sick."

We have one of the highest child-abuse rates in the country. We have more uninsured children than 48 other states. Our graduation rates lag.