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Welcome To Florida Politics
Thanks for visiting. On a semi-daily basis we scan Florida's major daily newspapers for significant Florida political news and punditry. We also review the editorial pages and political columnists/pundits for Florida political commentary. The papers we review include: the Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Naples News, Sarasota Herald Tribune, St Pete Times, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Tallahassee Democrat, and, occasionally, the Florida Times Union; we also review the political news blogs associated with these newspapers.
For each story, column, article or editorial we deem significant, we post at least the headline and link to the piece; the linked headline always appears in quotes. We quote the headline for two reasons: first, to allow researchers looking for the cited piece to find it (if the link has expired) by searching for the original title/headline via a commercial research service. Second, quotation of the original headline permits readers to appreciate the spin from the original piece, as opposed to our spin.
Not that we don't provide spin; we do, and plenty of it. Our perspective appears in post headlines, the subtitles within the post (in bold), and the excerpts from the linked stories we select to quote; we also occasionally provide other links and commentary about certain stories. While our bias should be immediately apparent to any reader, we nevertheless attempt to link to every article, column or editorial about Florida politics in every major online Florida newspaper.
Previous Articles by Derek Newton: Ten Things Fox on Line 1 Stem Cells are Intelligent Design Katrina Spin No Can't Win Perhaps the Most Important Race Senate Outlook
The Nelson ThingDeep, Dark SecretSmart Boy
Bringing Guns to a Knife Fight
Playing to our Strength
The Blog for Saturday, October 02, 2010
Rubio refuses to release Credit card records
"A couple of months ago, when Rubio was explaining why he often charged personal expenses on his state party card, he was adamant."
"It's not the party's credit card. It's mine. ... It's secured under my personal Social Security number,'' he insisted, contrary to the opinion of the party itself and pretty much everyone else who had a card.
So it's curious to hear Rubio explain why he won't release two years of credit card statements: "Those are party documents. The Republican Party is responsible for those things."
"There's a good reason Charlie Crist has begun airing television ads questioning the integrity of Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek in the Senate race: Crist is fading in the three-way race, and with early voting already under way he needs to halt the rising support for Rubio and Meek." "As Crist fades in polls, early vote nips at his heels".
Aaron Deslatte: "One undisputed fact emerging from Florida's 2010 primary elections is that 'convenience voting' matters more than ever. More to the point, the ease of voting from your recliner means you'll see more attack ads and mailers, earlier."
Convenience voting may also be part of the reason so many pollsters got the McCollum-Scott result wrong.
An analysis by the Republican Party of Florida found that more than 200,000 voters who hadn't voted in any of the previous four primary elections cast either absentee or early ballots this year. That's almost as many as the so-called "super voters" who cast ballots in every election.
That kind of voter churn may have been enough to throw off the weighting methods traditionally used by pollsters to predict how many seniors, minorities, Republicans, Democrats and other demographic groups are likely to vote.
"The McCollum [example] has become legend. I think there's enough data to show that it's true," said Republican political strategist Rich Heffley. "I don't think the polls have figured out how to model for pre-election day voting."
"Hispanic Republicans running this year for gubernatorial or U.S. Senate seats are making it tough for fellow Latinos to offer much enthusiasm. Some of them embrace the backward and hateful elements toward immigrants and ethnic groups that characterize a swelling nativist tide inside the Republican Party."
In a recent television debate among senatorial candidates in Florida, it was Democrat Kendrick Meek and independent Charlie Crist who favored legalizing undocumented children who are raised here as Americans and join the military or go to college. Nearly 80 percent of Hispanics (and most Americans) in polls support the DREAM Act as a no-brainer that is good for both the country and the deserving kids. (It failed to pass the Senate last week.)
Yet in the debate, it was Republican Marco Rubio who opposed it. For good measure, he endorsed Arizona's harsh immigration law and added that English should be made the nation's official language, even though it is a fading issue.
And while it was Republicans who blocked the DREAM Act in the Senate, Rubio, with a straight face, blamed the Democrats - for raising Hispanic hopes. "It's a cynical way to play politics with the lives of real people," he said.
"When Rubio faces questions about his use of a Republican Party credit card, the big salaries he handed out to staff while he was speaker of the Florida House -- moves that cut at his image as a fiscal conservative -- he calls them distractions from the real issues of the day." "Rubio sticks to script and, so far, it's working".
"It looks like Florida voters will get more opportunity to size up the main Senate candidates than we initially thought. Crist has agreed to participate in two more televised debates with Rubio and Meek." "More debates".
How convenient ...
"Former Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer is asking a judge to dismiss four of the five criminal charges filed against him by the state this year. State investigators accused Greer, 48, of Oviedo, of siphoning thousands of dollars during his time as head of the party. ... Court records show that a scheduled Oct. 18 trial date has been cancelled, and a pre-trial conference has been rescheduled for February. " "Former Florida GOP chair Jim Greer asks judge to dismiss 4 charges".
"Food fight!"
"In what has generally been a quiet race for chief financial officer, an issue over 'free lunch' is creating some heat."
In 2008, then-House member Loranne Ausley wrote and introduced a bill that would have removed a key part of a gift-ban provision. That law was implemented and supported, among others, by her current rival for CFO, Jeff Atwater.
Her change would have gotten rid of the provision that prevents lobbyists from buying expensive meals for legislators.
The Ausley campaign responded to the news by saying the bill was "aimed at allowing nonprofits and organizations like local chambers of commerce or civic organizations to hold a luncheon and invite a legislator without having to ask the lawmaker for cash."
But the Atwater campaign is crying foul, saying Ausley is trying to distort the truth.
Class warfare is good for America. It demonstrates that our citizenry is vibrant and active, that people react to injustices and seek the freedom embodied in the Constitution. In fact, class friction, American-style, has been happening all through our history. In it the rich are getting richer, and the rest of us earn enough to be satisfied with our lot.
Our capitalist aristocracy attempts to conjure a Hollywood image of raging peasants storming the Bastille, or Bolsheviks shooting Tsar Nicholas and his family in a cellar. But, get real, folks, this is America. Our "class warfare" results in dialogue, not violence, though some of us are occasionally tempted to smash the skulls of the financial hooligans who raid the nation's wealth.
"Two Georgia senators have introduced bills in Congress to overturn a federal judge's ruling in 2009 that was favorable to Florida in the states' lengthy battle over water. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been fighting in federal court since 1990 over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system." "Georgia senators offer bills to undo Florida's advantage in federal judge's ruling".
"Battle that is tearing apart Democrats"
The Washington Post: "The high-profile Florida Senate race started out as the first major skirmish between a tea party candidate and the Republican establishment, but with a month until Election Day it has evolved into a battle that is tearing apart Democrats."
At issue in this famously chaotic political state is whether Gov. Charlie Crist, who fled the GOP and is running as an independent, or Rep. Kendrick Meek, who prevailed in a bruising Democratic primary, is the more viable candidate against tea party favorite Marco Rubio.
At the moment, the answer, it increasingly seems, might be neither.
Rubio is surging in recent polls, while Crist and Meek's fight for the Sunshine State's Democrats has escalated and gotten more personal by the day. ...
Even so, voters in Florida traditionally tune in to campaigns late, and strategists for both parties cautioned that voters could break any which way in the final stretch. There will be six live, televised debates that promise to get a lot of attention and offer the candidates free opportunities to sway voters.
Prostitute "toe-sucking", "Political strategist and prognosticator Dick Morris jabbed at Democrats, promised big Republican wins in November and touted Newt Gingrich for president in a speech to local GOP supporters Friday night." "Former Clinton advisor blasts Dems".
"The top U.S. environmental official won't be forced into a Miami courtroom to answer for Everglades pollution. Not yet, anyway. A federal judge on Friday called off an Oct. 7 hearing that would have stymied the Oct. 8 trip to China of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. But Jackson could still face a grilling on pollution problems in the Everglades at a re-scheduled hearing." "EPA chief may still have to testify on Everglades pollution".
"Crist was invited to be the Grand Marshall at Everglades High School's homecoming. And while he was in Miramar Friday in the role of governor, he took the opportunity to remind teachers to support him in his bid for U.S. senator." "A Struggling Charlie Crist Woos Teachers".
Another fine Jebacy
The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "A grand jury has been empaneled to examine the Legislature's authorization in 2007 of $33.5 million in bonds for the 1st District Court of Appeal's lavish courthouse, set to open next month. The building - with granite counter tops, 60-inch video monitors and a fitness room - will cost the court system nearly $2 million a year in new expenses as the courts are cutting budgets in ways that hinder access to the legal system."
The St. Petersburg Times reported in August that two 1st DCA judges - Paul Hawkes and Brad Thomas, ex-aides to Gov. Jeb Bush, who put both on the court - lobbied the Legislature for that $33.5 million, which was added in a last-minute amendment. Though both insist that everything was done in the open, the state Supreme Court chief justice at the time says he got "snookered," and those who were running the Legislature - some now running for statewide office - deny any involvement.
"A competent state worker is abruptly fired — kicked to the curb in the middle of a recession — and no one will explain why."
And they don't have to. You see, this is the Florida Senate, which essentially operates as a private club, with millions upon millions of our tax dollars.
A Senate that claims to be committed to "total transparency" in all of its budget decisions is anything but when it comes to the recent personnel purge by Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, the incoming president of the Senate.
After about a dozen firings, the bloodletting finally ended Thursday: "There are no more dismissals planned," Haridopolos said in a memo to senators.
The self righteous Saint Petersburg Times editorial board whines about Grayson this morning: "Negative campaign advertisements that distort the truth and mislead voters are all too common in politics. But a recent ad by U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson violates all standards of decency. The Orlando Democrat manipulated his Republican opponent's words and compares him to the terrorist-backing Taliban. He owes former Florida House Speaker Dan Webster an apology but has declined to give it." "Apology required".
"Regulators shut down small banks in Florida and Washington state on Friday, lifting to 129 the number of U.S. bank failures this year as loan defaults have mounted and economic distress has lingered. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over Wakulla Bank, based in Crawfordville, Fla., with $424.1 million in assets and $386.3 million in deposits". "Regulators close small Florida, Wash. banks".
"A statewide poll today gives GOP nominee Rick Scott with a 49-43 percent lead over Sink, the Democratic candidate for governor. The Quinnipiac University Poll indicated that voters aren't very enthusiastic about either candidate, but distaste for Obama seems to be the tie-breaker."
Sink's favorable and unfavorable standing was deadlocked at 39 to 39 percent, while 41 percent of those surveyed had a favorable view of Scott and 40 percent felt unfavorably toward him. However, likely voters disapproved of President Obama by a 56-40 percent margin, and that was dragging down Sink. Scott's TV ads have tied her closely to the president, showing video clips of her saying his economic plan was good for the country.
"Rick Scott’s millions in TV advertising may annoy voters, but it won him the Republican nomination and is pushing him to a 6-point general election lead," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"It’s no surprise that Scott’s campaigning and advertising has been trying to tie State CFO Alex Sink to President Barack Obama. The president’s low ratings, especially among independents who are likely to decide the governor’s race, are a problem for Ms. Sink’s campaign."
"Scott's edge in the horse race may be tied to the public perception that he would be better able to rebuild the state's economy, 48 - 39 percent, than can Ms. Sink. On rebuilding the economy, Scott enjoys a 48 - 34 percent lead among independent voters. ... From September 23 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,151 Florida likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points." "Scott Leads In Florida Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds".
"Republican governor candidate Rick Scott named his campaign co-chairs [yesterday], which immediately caught the attention of the folks at Democrat Alex Sink’s campaign. They were quick to send a note reminding us all that several of them had asked Scott to essentially drop out of the race in August, citing Florida Independent reporting in the process." "Scott’s campaign co-chairs once called on him to withdraw from race".
LeMieux Blocks Unemployment Benefits
"Led by Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla., Republicans shut down a Democratic effort to extend unemployment benefits in states with the highest jobless rates." "LeMieux Blocks Extension of Unemployment Benefits".
Poll: Rubio holds solid lead
"Republican Marco Rubio holds a solid 13-point lead over Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running as an independent in the race for Florida's U.S. Senate seat, with Democrat U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek a distant third at 18 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday."
With a 46-33 edge over Crist, Rubio, a former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and a favorite of the tea party movement, is benefiting from strong voter anger at the federal government, likely voters tell the independent Quinnipiac University survey, conducted by live interviewers.
"In a recent campaign ad, GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott accuses his opponent, Democrat Alex Sink, of funneling no-bid contracts to her former employer while failing to disclose a conflict-of-interest."
Tuesday, Sink called the ad "total lies -- just like he played in the Republican primary."
"On the surface, the governor's race between Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink looks like a contest between Scott's personal millions -- and big contributions from special interests -- versus Sink's legions of small donors."
And indeed, since Scott won the nomination on Aug. 24, he's gotten money from fewer than 900 individual donors -- compared to more than 7,700 who have given to Sink.
In reality, though, those contributions may barely matter. The big expenditures in the race are being financed by oversize contributions – some in the six or even seven figures -- funneled through both of the state's major political parties.
"In the Tampa area to tout his education plan, Rick Scott was greeted with lots of questions from parents."
Scott's Democratic opponent, Alex Sink, released her plan a month ago. She has said she does not want to expand the voucher program at this time, and while she also supports merit pay for teachers, she wants to base it on more than test scores, taking into account the views of principals and even parents.
Sink notes that she understands Florida's educational needs because both her children graduated from public schools here. She also served on the PTA.
Scott's two daughters attended mostly private schools, said Scott's wife, Ann. The couple's younger daughter, Jordan, spent her last two years of high school at a public school in Connecticut.
"Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson's slender hopes for retaining his 8th Congressional District seat would be all but dashed if he were in a one-on-one race with Republican Daniel Webster, a Sunshine State News Poll shows." "Head to Head with Webster, Grayson Would Be 'Cooked'".
"More than 200 construction workers and business executives joined forces Thursday in the shadows of downtown Fort Lauderdale's high-rise development to rally against a state referendum to rein in growth." "Battle intensifies over state referendum on controlling growth".
Thank you, Mr. Obama
"When the federal home buyer's tax credit program finally sunsets on Thursday, more than 65,000 Floridians will have taken advantage of the incentive program, claiming more than $455 million, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office." "More than 65,000 Floridians got tax credits for buying a home".
"The first shot came from the Republican Party of Florida, which last week ran an ad on behalf of candidate Rick Scott blasting his Democratic rival, Alex Sink, blaming her for billions in investment losses suffered by the pension fund as the stock market cratered. Sink called the charges 'ridiculous' and responded with an ad defending the pension fund's strength." "Attack ads over state pension fund draw return fire in governor's race".
Atwater fires back
"Senate President Jeff Atwater, who thus far has stayed relatively quiet in his bid for chief financial officer against Loranne Ausley, fired back against his Democratic opponent this week over allegations that he was not serious about ethics reform." "Atwater Fights Back Over Ausley Ethics Slams".
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The records of nearly 200 doctors accused of peddling prescription drugs illustrate how intractable this drug epidemic is in Florida. An analysis by St. Petersburg Times reporters shows that greedy or irresponsible doctors from all specialities have helped fuel this addiction. Legislators need to provide more tools to combat this scourge, which kills an average of seven Floridians a day." "Better drug controls needed".
"Republican Marco Rubio commands a double-digit lead among likely voters in Florida's U.S. Senate race, harnessing a split among Democrats over their nominee Kendrick Meek and independent Gov. Charlie Crist, a poll issued Thursday shows."
Rubio, a tea party favorite, was favored in the three-way contest by 46 percent of 1,151 voters surveyed by Quinnipiac University between Sept. 23 and 28. The poll was Quinnipiac's first limited to the likely voters for the Nov. 2 general election and claimed a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
Crist, who left the GOP in April to run for the Senate without party affiliation, was favored by 33 percent and U.S. Rep. Meek was preferred by 18 percent in the three-way race.
"Tea party activists say they'll try to serve subpoenas today on Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson and Orlando political consultant Doug Guetzloe in an attempt to prove they conspired to create the Florida Tea Party and field a spoiler candidate in Grayson's race." "Tea party activists subpoena Grayson, aim for other candidates".
NPAs key to Florida governor's race
"More than 2.5 million of Florida's 11.1 million registered voters claim no party affiliation or belong to an assortment of parties other than Republican or Democrat. That minority likely holds the key to the Governor's Mansion and who will live there for the next four years." "Florida governor's race may be decided by nonaffiliated voters".
Grayson's anti-GOP message is getting swamped in CD 8
"Alan Grayson rode into Congress in 2008 with searing, vitriolic attacks on the Bush administration and Capitol Hill Republicans. Grayson's anger is still there, but the votes appear to be going against him as he seeks re-election in Central Florida's closely fought 8th Congressional District." "Is Alan Grayson's Swagger Too Yesterday for 2010?".
RPOFers undermine Scott's shot at Sink
"Two of Florida's top Republicans are criticizing claims made in one of their own party's political ads savaging Democrat Alex Sink for her role in problems with the state's pension fund."
Attorney General Bill McCollum and Senate President Jeff Atwater have both addressed the State Board of Administration's handling of the $117 billion retirement fund in comments over the past two days. The men do not defend Sink by name or overtly refute the ad. But their comments do run counter to key claims made in the commercial.
"Crist, running for the U.S. Senate without party affiliation, continues to be hammered from both sides by Republican Marco Rubio, the front-runner in the race, and Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek." "Rubio and Meek Camps Continue to Fire Away at Charlie Crist".
"A new and powerful political action committee tied to Republican strategist Karl Rove, fueled by out-of-state corporations and billionaires, is swooping into Florida to put its money behind front-running U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio."
American Crossroads has spent nearly $250,000 so far on pro-Rubio mailings aimed at absentee voters, according to a report filed this week with the Federal Elections Commission.
The group can shell out unlimited money on Rubio's behalf, thanks to a controversial Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that allows corporations and wealthy individuals to funnel money directly to campaigns.
"Guns bought in one state often end up being used in crimes in another state, and a coalition of the nation's mayors thinks tougher laws could reverse that trend. More than 2,600 of those guns traced to crimes last year originated in Florida. That's second only to Georgia." "Florida ranks second in illegal guns traced to crimes, study shows".
The choices for the "Anybody But Rubio" crowd
Joy-Ann Reid: "The unvarnished, dispassionate truth about the U.S. Senate race in Florida is that the ambitions of either Gov. Charlie Crist or Rep. Kendrick Meek have to die, so that the other's Senate dream can live." "Meek or Crist? Democrats must decide soon".
"A grand jury decided Wednesday not to investigate the legislative dealings that went into construction of the new First District Court of Appeal." "Jury: No probe into courthouse".
"U.S. Department of Energy officials say Florida will not lose federal grant funding for its 'cash-for-clunker' air-conditioner rebates if state officials miss the Thursday deadline to authorize spending the cash. But the program still is frozen and probably will remain so until the Florida Legislature returns to Tallahassee in November." "Florida will keep AC rebate money but program frozen".
"One of the more bizarre spectacles"
Howard Troxler's "sixth in a series of columns on key votes taken by the Florida Legislature since the last election." "How they voted, Part 6: the bad CSX deal".
"A company that owns and operates offshore drilling rigs asked a federal judge Wednesday to throw out the latest moratorium on deep water oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico." "Company asks judge to overturn drilling moratorium".
"In one of the most closely watched U.S. House races in the nation, Republican Daniel Webster now holds a 7-point lead over Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson in Central Florida's 8th Congressional District, according to a new Sunshine State News Poll."
Sunshine State News, an acknowledged conservative outlet, had the poll conducted by Voter Survey Service, a division of Pennsylvania-based Susquehanna Polling and Research to conduct the poll. "Live calls were made from the VSS telephone call center in Harrisburg, Pa., and the survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.14 percent."
Webster, a former state senator, leads the freshman congressman 43-36 in the survey of 559 likely voters conducted Sept. 25-27. TEA ("Taxed Enough Already") Party candidate Peg Dunmire drew 6 percent and NPA hopeful George Metcalfe garnered 3 percent, while 9 percent remained undecided (2 percent cited "other" and 1 percent refused to state).
Digging deeper, the numbers look even worse for Grayson as 51 percent of respondents said they had an unfavorable view of the Orlando-area congressman. ...
Webster’s image with Republicans is healthy (58/4 favorable to unfavorable) but 30 percent still don’t have an opinion of him and 7 percent still don’t know him.
Female voters are anything but ambivalent about Grayson -- "They really loathe him," Lee reported. With Grayson's 33/53 favorable/unfavorable rating among women, Webster’s lead among females is much stronger (45/33 over Grayson) compared to a statistical tie (41/40 Webster) among males.
Susquehanna Polling and Research has had some success in recent Florida polling. According to Mark Blumenthal at Pollster.com, Sunshine State News/VSS/Susquehanna Polling was particularly accurate in predicting Rick Scott's recent victory in the Republican primary for Governor; he noted that only
two pollsters -- Public Policy Polling (PPP) and Sunshine State News/VSS/Susquehanna Polling and Research -- land in the center ring of the bullseye. Their final surveys yielded the smallest undecided percentages and were also the only two to show Scott ahead.
"Floridians rallied at the old Capitol Tuesday to demand that Gov. Charlie Crist expand the state’s unemployment compensation program by executive order. Leaders of the rally, organized by a number of liberal organizations including Florida New Majority and South Florida Jobs with Justice, said that the Legislature was standing in the way of the state obtaining more than $440 million in federal funds. " "Capitol Ralliers Demand Crist Reform Unemployment System".
MSM goes after Grayson
"Rep. Alan Grayson's new TV ad called "Taliban Dan Webster" makes a series of biting accusations, alleging among other things that Webster, a former Florida House speaker, wants to make divorce illegal, even for abused women, and that Webster said women should submit to their husbands. Is it true?" "Grayson invokes Taliban against rival".
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Rick Scott is a fine one to preach about accountability. The Republican candidate for governor ran a hospital company that paid record fines for Medicare fraud. Yet Scott and his allies falsely suggest that Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is entirely responsible for shortcomings in the management and performance of the state’s investment funds. It’s a cynical attempt to silence questions about Scott’s role in illegal activities in his hospitals by smearing Sink, and voters should see through it." "Rick Scott's cynical smears".
"Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam crossed the most taboo of Florida’s partisan lines Tuesday as he campaigned for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services: The University of Florida graduate took his message to the campus of his school’s hated rival, Florida State University." "Adam Putnam Pushes Message on Opponent’s Turf".
No can do
"A city commissioner who won re-election last month by a wide margin is at the center of a criminal investigation after nearly 80 absentee ballots were requested from a computer belonging to him, Volusia County's elections supervisor said Friday. " "Daytona leader faces absentee ballot probe".
"As the Florida Department of Environmental Protection prepares to discuss proposed water pollution standards that are opposed by businesses and farmers, Florida ’s two United States senators – who don’t often agree – both think federal officials should back off." "U.S. Senators Agree: Water Regs Should Wait".
teabaggers run wild
"A Central Florida group aligning itself with the tea party movement is pushing for the ouster of two Florida Supreme Court judges because the two men voted to strike from the ballot a proposed constitutional question on the federal healthcare law. Citizen2Citizen, partnering with the Central Florida Tea Party Council, launched its campaign to boot Justices Jorge Labarga and James Perry from the state's high court." "Central Florida group seeks ouster of 2 high-court judges".
Something's gotta give
"The bear had a collapsed lung and broken ribs. The bear also had a hole in its side leading to some speculation that it may have been shot. The bear showed no signs of improvement and was euthanized Tuesday." "Fla. black bear possibly hit by car was euthanized".
"The chief judge of Florida's 1st District Court of Appeal on Monday tried to address controversy about the court's new $48-million home and elicited further controversy among his fellow judges in the process." "Chief judge's letter on building draws ire".
"The loan went 'sour"
"The demise of a Bradenton Bank carries the fingerprints of [Republican] state Sen. Mike Bennett. The veteran lawmaker, according to a Wall Street Journal report, obtained a $1.8 million loan from Flagship National Bank of Bradenton. The loan went 'sour' and the community bank was eventually seized by federal regulators." "Loan Linked Sen. Mike Bennett to Failed Florida Bank".
"Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson has long portrayed himself as a friend to the ailing St. Johns River. He even made a point to visit portions of the river affected by a mysterious foam that materialized this past summer. But on Sept. 16, Nelson appeared to side with industry, writing a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson urging a delay in finalizing the criteria that would affect the lower St. Johns to allow 'ample time to fully consider' public comments." "Sen. Nelson joins effort to convince EPA to delay Florida water quality standards".
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida can be a toss-up when it comes to statewide elections, but its legislative and congressional races are almost never competitive. The simple reason: The Legislature draws the districts to favor specific political parties and protect incumbents. Now two constitutional amendments on the Nov. 2 ballot give Floridians a historic opportunity to level the playing field. For better democracy, the Times recommends approval of Amendments 5 and 6. " "'Fair Districts' puts voters in charge".
AFL-CIO targeting Rubio
"The AFL-CIO is targeting Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio in a new mailer that calls him anti-worker."
The issue: Rubio's supposed opposition to extending unemployment benefits for out-of-work Americans.
"How do we know Marco Rubio is a bad choice for workers?'' asks the mailer, which began circulating Sept. 20. "His anti-union voting record says it all. Our jobless rate is almost 12 percent, but Rubio still opposes extending unemployment benefits to the workers who need it most right now.''
"More than 1,000 space-related workers are scheduled to be let go Friday in the first round of layoffs related to the imminent demise of the space shuttle program." "Space Job Losses Start This Week".
Ausley slams Atwater
"The Florida Legislature is not following the law that requires audits for lobbyist-compensation reports, a candidate for state chief financial officer said Monday." "Ausley slams Atwater for not auditing reports".
"Prominent conservatives from across the nation, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former presidential candidate Gary Bauer, struck back Monday against an advertisement released over the weekend by Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson. Grayson compared his Republican opponent -- former Florida House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader Daniel Webster -- to the Taliban." "Conservatives Strike Back at Alan Grayson's 'Taliban Dan' Ad".
"Republican contributors to Gov. Charlie Crist's independent campaign for the U.S. Senate aren't giving up their quest for refunds. The attorney for two GOP donors said Monday he will appeal a Naples judge's denial last week of class-action status in the case. The ruling means each contributor to the Crist campaign would have to seek a refund through individual court action." "Florida GOP donors appeal ruling on Crist refunds".
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The highest profile constitutional amendments on the Nov. 2 ballot involve easing limits on class sizes, forcing voters to decide changes to land-use plans and changing the rules for drawing congressional and legislative districts. But there are two other constitutional amendments and a nonbinding resolution on ballot, and voters should reject all three:"
Amendment 1: This amendment would repeal the constitutional requirement for a public campaign financing system for statewide candidates. It was sound policy when voters approved it in 1998, and it is sound policy now. ...
Amendment 2: This is a well-intended effort by the Legislature to provide an additional homestead property tax exemption for members of the military and the Florida National Guard who are deployed overseas. But it is unfair in its application and creates another loophole in a property tax system already full of special breaks. ...
Budget referendum: This is a politically motivated, nonbinding resolution calling for the U.S. Constitution to be amended to require a balanced federal budget without raising taxes.
"Rubio is favored by 40 percent of likely voters, up from 38 percent last month; Crist's support has dwindled to 28 percent from 33 percent, according to the Mason-Dixon Research & Associates survey of 625 likely Florida voters. The margin of error: plus/minus four percentage points."
The poll found that Meek is gaining on Crist, with his support rising to 23 percent of likely voters, up from 18 percent. Nine percent are undecided.
"Rubio seems to be in a solid position to win, while Crist is fading,'' Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker said. "Crist is bleeding Democrats to Meek and independents to both Meek and Rubio.''
He said Meek could "pull off a major comeback, but it is largely predicated on his ability to convince Crist's new-found Democratic friends that the former Republican's campaign is hopeless and it is time for them to come back to their party.''
"That will be a tough challenge, but it is now the only apparent way for Rubio to lose,'' he said.
"A federal plan to tighten ozone rules would more than quadruple the number of Florida counties in violation of air-quality standards and smother 47,769 jobs statewide, industry reports say." "EPA Ozone Rule Could Kill 47,769 Florida Jobs".
Early voting surge
"With thousands of Floridians voting early and by absentee ballot, political candidates must ramp up ads and perfect their message weeks before Election Day." "Early voting surges in Florida".
"Florida likely to gain two new seats in Congress"
"The top two candidates for chief financial officer offer voters a stark contrast — Jeff Atwater, the Republican Senate president and banker from North Palm Beach, and Loranne Ausley, a Democratic former House member and a pedigreed lawyer from Tallahassee." "Candidates for CFO provide a contrast".
"The number of Floridians on food stamps has dipped slightly over the past year, but Department of Children and Families workers are still seeing a load of about 57,000 cases per month." "Thousands of Floridians Still on Food Stamps".
"Positioned between Rick Tyler and Lewis Jerome Armstrong, Charlie Crist sits in an unfamiliar spot on the ballot for the Nov. 2 general election." "Crist in an unfamiliar spot on the Senate ballot".
"[B]oth gubernatorial candidates support paying public school teachers based on their performance in the classroom."
But this area of common ground has come under new fire, with the release of a study showing that performance-based pay for teachers does not translate into improved outcomes for students.
Last week, researchers at Vanderbilt University's National Center on Performance Incentives released the results of a three-year study of a bonus program for 300 middle-school math teachers in Nashville. Half of the participating teachers were eligible to receive bonuses of up to $15,000 based on their students' performances on a statewide standardized test. The other teachers were not eligible, representing a control group.
The results: about one-third of eligible teachers received bonuses, the average being $10,000. But on comparison, the bonus offer for teachers did not raise students' scores.
Authors of the study claim it is the most scientifically rigorous examination of merit pay, to date. Matthew Springer, the center's director, said the study was important given the "currency" that merit pay has gained in politics and policy debates.
"Meek spent this past weekend touring what he called his own 'yellow brick road,' visiting labor unions, service worker conventions and airports and promising workers he will keep more jobs in Florida and prevent the privatization of Social Security if elected to the U.S. Senate." "Meek woos unions, undecided voters".
West on fire
"West, 49, is challenging two-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, and has turned his national notoriety — and an endorsement from Sarah Palin — into a fundraising juggernaut, collecting more than $4 million." "The colonel aims for a House upset".
Amendment 4
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Amendment 4, the so-called 'Hometown Democracy' amendment to the Florida Constitution on the Nov. 2 ballot, sounds appealing to voters coping with urban sprawl and traffic jams while irresponsible state legislators gut growth management laws." "Amendment 4: No way to control growth".
"Last week's order by Federal District Judge Alan S. Gold directing EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to show up in his Miami courtroom -- or else -- is one more in a long series of attempts by frustrated South Florida jurists to make the government comply with its responsibility to clean up the Everglades. Bravo, Your Honor -- and good luck with that." "Foot-dragging over the Everglades".
"Kendrick Meek seems the dream Senate Democratic candidate, but as an underdog in a three-way race he faces a challenge in convincing fellow Democrats that he can win."
On paper, the 44-year-old Meek appears to be a dream candidate for the Democratic party. A loyal disciple in Congress and the Florida Legislature known for scuffling with former Gov. Jeb Bush, a Republican. The first statewide candidate to qualify for the Florida ballot by gathering voter signatures, about 125,000 in all. The victorious underdog in last month's Democratic primary against a hard-charging billionaire.
Still, Crist -- who cast off his lifelong Republican affiliation just five months ago to avert a drubbing by Marco Rubio in the GOP primary -- continues to peel away enough Democrats to keep Meek at bay. But the tide is turning, according to a Mason-Dixon poll released Saturday that showed Meek within striking distance of Crist.
"With a little over a month remaining before the Nov. 2 election, the three-way race for U.S. Senate is turning into a two-man race -- for second place."
A statewide poll released Saturday night shows Republican Marco Rubio building on his lead over independent challenger Charlie Crist, while Democrat Kendrick Meek appears to be closing in on Crist in the closely-watched contest.
Rubio is favored by 40 percent of likely voters, up from 38 percent last month; Crist's support has dwindled to 28 percent from 33 percent, according to the Mason-Dixon Research & Associates survey of 625 likely Florida voters. The margin of error: plus/minus four percentage points.
"This year's most visible third-party campaigns are being mounted by prominent Republicans who fell victim to tea party-backed candidates who labeled them as too accommodating to Democrats. Crist left the Republican Party in April when it became clear that Marco Rubio, a tea party favorite, would win the party's Senate nomination. Republican officials hope Crist's independent campaign will pull about as many votes from Democrat Kendrick Meek as from Rubio. That probably would lead to a Rubio win, unless Crist can take huge numbers from both rivals." "Third-party candidates could tip close elections".
Boyd in "a tight race in a season of voter discontent"
Bill Cotterell: "The first time he ran for Congress, U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd had his mother reply to some harsh attacks with a homespun TV ad saying she'd like to wash his opponent's mouth out with soap."
Boyd's furious fight with Panama City businessman Steve Southerland could qualify both candidates for a lathered-up dishrag this year. It's a tight race in a season of voter discontent that has drawn two independent candidates into the fray. Both national parties and political-action committees are betting hundreds of thousands of dollars on the outcome Nov. 2.
"When Miami-Dade County commissioners voted to raise the property tax rate early Friday morning, they said they preserved a host of vital services, like libraries and fire boats and court-appointed guardians who help troubled juveniles..
Also tucked in among the saves: A photographer who shoots commissioners and the mayor at awards ceremonies and ribbon cuttings, and six other positions in the Government Information Center, which is responsible for creating videos for Miami-Dade TV such as Get To Know Your County Commissioner.
Total cost to taxpayers: $684,000. ...
Several commissioners who voted in favor of the tax-rate hike did not return calls seeking comment Friday. Sally Heyman, who voted in favor of the hike, said commissioners were handed packets showing services saved while they were on the dais, with little time for review.
Are you actually going to drink the Kool-Aid and commit social suicide in November? Seriously, are you really going to let clones of Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck kill the middle class? They claim to channel the "original intent" of our founding fathers, but they're nothing but a bunch of four-flushers, shilling for corporate fat cats — and laughing all the way to the bank.
Now that the party of Lincoln has been taken over by the tea party, Palin, Beck, and Limbaugh, their candidates vow to go to Tallahassee and Washington to destroy the Obama health reform legislation, rob the middle-class of millions of dollars the Democrats are saving them, and increase big-business profits.
Carl Hiaasen: "The myth of Republican frugality is graphically exemplified by an ornate new state courthouse, about six miles from downtown Tallahassee."
The boondoggle was a Republican operation from start to finish, and election-year amnesia has afflicted almost everyone involved.
Marco Rubio, for example, was the House speaker at the time the courthouse bond issue was tacked onto a 142-page transportation bill.
For such a young fellow, Rubio has frequent memory lapses. Just as he supposedly couldn't remember all those personal expenses he put on his GOP American Express card, he now says he can't remember the hefty courthouse appropriation.
Rubio insists the project was a state Senate priority and that he had nothing do with it.
Unfortunately, his version of events is disputed by his old buddy and former House budget chief, Ray Sansom, now awaiting trial for allegedly steering $6 million in public funds to build a jet hanger for a rich crony (another suspect budget item that Rubio cannot recall).
Sansom says Rubio personally assured him that the new First DCA courthouse was a top priority, and that Hawkes repeatedly reminded him of Rubio's interest.
Also at odds with Rubio's claim of non-involvement is an e-mail circulated among the judges on the building committee for the new district courthouse.
Jane Healy: "In their quests to become governor, Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink are expected to meet for a debate before Election Day. Here are three areas that no debate should ignore:"
1. How much do they really care about the environment?
2. How much do they really care about kids?
3. How much do they really care about improving the economy?
The Buzz the other day: "Alex Sink is up by 7 in the governor's race. No, wait, Rick Scott is up by 6", the latter according to the rightwing Rasmussen Reports poll.
The big differences: How they modeled, Mason-Dixon polled over two days (Sept. 20-22), while Rasmussen polled on one day (Sept. 22). Mason-Dixon uses live operators to poll. Rasmussen uses Interactive Voice Response (i.e., "robo" polls). The biggest difference between the two pollsters could be how they screened their likely voters.
As we saw during the just-ended primary, many polls (including Mason-Dixon) showed McCollum with a good lead with less than a week to go before the election, but he lost. We can't say how Rasmussen called the election because his polling outfit refused to post/poll the Florida Republican primary race -- something Scott supporters said was evidence of a pro-McCollum bias (something Rasmussen Reports denies). Of course, now the Scott people can't get enough of how great Rasmussen is.
"Florida's massive treasure chest of pension money"
"Six candidates for statewide office explain how they will safeguard Florida's massive treasure chest of pension money." "Wanted: $140 billion watchdog".
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