Buss booted

"Department of Corrections Secretary Edwin Buss resigns after only six months on the job. Buss' abrupt departure follows a pair of publicized clashes with Gov. Rick Scott's office". "Buss out as prisons chief". See also "Florida prison chief's resignation follows split with Scott over TV, privatization contracts".




Jebbie wants backdoor access

"Former Gov. Jeb Bush offered to be a confidential sounding board for newly elected Gov. Rick Scott while urging him to expand school vouchers to all students". "Advice from Jeb Bush to Gov. Rick Scott discovered in transition e-mails". See also "Ex-Gov. Jeb Bush e-mailed lessons learned to Rick Scott" and "Jeb Bush urged incoming Fla. Gov Scott to push vouchers".




Florida Chamber shills for RPOF

"The Obama administration's announcement that it plans to roll back hundreds of regulations at 26 federal agencies is drawing yawns and more sharp criticism from Florida's business community." "Obama's Red-Tape Relief Doesn't Cut It With Florida Chamber".




Comp' fraud

"Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has put together a workgroup aimed at looking at workers' compensation money service businesses. More than 25 lobbyists are invited to participate in the meeting set for Thursday in Tallahassee." "State says workers' comp fraud totals $438 million or more".




Voucher madness

"Florida’s tax credit scholarship is 10 years old this month, and the small program is only getting bigger." "'Step Up For Students' Celebrates 10 Years".




Punishing people for being poor

Rachel Maddow exposes "Scott's lies about drug use & welfare recipients 8-24-11". As Maddow explains, welfare recipients use drugs at a much lower rate than average Floridians.




As long as you're a Republican ... Fla-Baggers are happy

"Some people said they did not like the vote to increase the debt ceilhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifing, but welcomed Buchanan’s reluctance to go along with the plan."

“He gets it,” said Steven Vernon, a member of Tea Party Manatee that filled Buchanan’s third floor office.

"Rep. Vern Buchanan talks about debt ceiling vote".




CREW files FBI complaint against Vern

"Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed an FBI complaint against Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, asking that the Bureau investigate Buchanan on charges of witness tampering, obstruction of justice and bribery, based largely on a deposition of one of his former business partners, Sam Kazran." "Group asks FBI to investigate Buchanan".




Jebbie shares his wisdom

Travis Pillow: "Former Gov. Jeb Bush has been all over the news in the past few days, weighing in on the presidential campaign and calling on the candidates to 'offer a compelling alternative' to President Obama’s policies, rather than simply attacking him." "Jeb Bush on how to win Florida".




West sees the writing

"West closes door on Senate race".




RPOFers flock to Florida Family Policy Council meeting

"This weekend, the Florida Family Policy Council holds its annual policy awards dinner featuring GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann. The group will also feature a list of 'special guest participants,' which includes many of the Florida legislators who played a big role in curbing access to abortion in the state this past session." "State legislators set to appear at Family Policy Council dinner with Bachmann".




West strides world stage

"A Florida congressman who has compared the Palestinian president to a gang leader is now sitting down with the leader." "West to meet with Palestinian president".




Greer puts RPOFers under oath

"The fraud case against the ousted chairman of the Republican Party of Florida started to take its toll on top GOP officials this week when Jim Greer’s lawyers started putting top party officials and politicians under oath." "Charges against former state GOP chairman should be dismissed, says lawyer".




Bachmann goes to Lutz

"Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann will hit the Tampa area during a tour of Florida this weekend. On Sunday morning, she’ll visit Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, a conservative North Tampa congregation known as a center of GOP political activity." "Bachmann adds Tampa stop to Florida tour".




Cannon endorses Perry

"Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon has decided to endorse Rick Perry for president, a Cannon adviser told POLITICO Wednesday." "Florida speaker for Perry".




Privatization follies

"Tri-Rail gets apology for exclusion from state planning, but privatization talks remain on track".




"There is an opportunity to reverse this mistake"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "The Florida Legislature has eliminated the Correctional Medical Authority, a little-known agency that managed to save the state big money. Far from a bold stroke to meet budgetary constraints, the decision by lawmakers will go down as a misguided move that potentially could cost Florida millions. Fortunately, there is an opportunity to reverse this mistake." "Keep prison health care management authority".




What Congress can learn from the Florida Legislature, circa 1979

Robert W. McKnight, a former Florida senator and representative argues that "Congress should learn from the Florida Legislature, circa 1979".




Thursday reads

"Thursday morning reads. Related: "Six in the Morning: A six-pack of infobits you might have missed" and "Recommended Reading for Thursday, August 25".




"Curbing partisan gerrymandering a difficult balance"

"As lawmakers criss-cross the state to gather public input for how to draw Florida's political lines in the once-a-decade redistricting process, they are encountering a public that wants the Legislature to follow the new standards passed by the public in the 2010 elections."

But the fault lines that run through some areas of the state are proving that complying with the "Fair Districts" amendments, which are aimed at curbing partisan gerrymandering, might prove to be a difficult balance.

Competing interests are at play, from the political goals of elected officials to the racial politics that still divide some communities.

At the center of the storm is the 3rd Congressional District, a seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a Democrat from Jacksonville. Brown's district stretches from her hometown in the north to Orlando in the south, winding through nine counties in the process.

"I got to say it is probably the most popular district not just in Florida, but the entire country," Brown quipped.

"Florida lawmaker's 'most popular district' at center of redistricting storm". See also "Brown’s district at center of ‘Fair Districts’ storm". Related: "Round-up of media coverage of redistricting for 8/24".




Insurance kerfuffle

"Open enrollment for state employee insurance policies is now slated for Nov. 1. The delay was made in order to allow for time to deal with a legal challenge on Gov. Rick Scott's attempt to limit enrollees to only one HMO per county. And the time to make open-enrollment insurance changes has been cut by half." "Dispute over state health insurance changes forces enrollment delay".




Rubio falls flat

"The rising star gave us a glimpse of the GOP's trajectory in a speech at the Reagan Library. If his ideas are any indication, the party will continue on its current track -- against big government, but vague about the alternatives."
"Is Marco Rubio the Future of the Republican Party?"

See also "Marco Rubio Praises 'Ronald Reagan's America'". See also "Marco Rubio at Reagan Library".




Scott "unhappy"

"Scott criticized the state's 24 regional work-force boards Thursday, saying he is unhappy with reports of questionable spending and a system that allows board members to win millions in contracts from the agencies they govern." "Gov. Scott blasts jobs agencies' actions | Video".




More Water Management District cuts

"After making cuts to budgets and slashing staff positions, the St. Johns River Water Management District and Florida's four other regional water management agencies learned Wednesday they face further belt-tightening." "Governor orders water districts to make more budget cuts". See also "DEP chief touts $700 million in budget cuts by water management districts", "After $700 million in water district cuts, Florida governor wants $2.4 million more" and "Water Districts Wring Out $700 Million in Budgets".