"Rick, Mitt, Ron, Michele, Newt, and all the others are swarming over Florida, just the way friends and family descend on the state when it gets cold up North. Only they're not coming for sun and surf. They're coming for money and votes." "Florida voters have big impact in presidential race".
Guide to this week’s Presidency 5
"Here’s a guide to this week’s Presidency 5 conference, which will be held in Orlando, and will draw top Republican presidential candidates." "GOP presidential revs up in Orlando". See also "For 3 days, candidates court GOP core".
Marco goes a fundraisin'
"Rubio, in the keynote address at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce convention, told the crowd gathered to hear him that he was proud to be in a room 'with job creators.'" "Rubio, in speech to hometown crowd, praises ‘job creators’".
"We're not just The Villages"
"Welcome to Florida, Republican presidential hopefuls! We understand you'll be spending some time touring our fair state before the Sept. 24 straw poll. We hope you make yourselves at home. Maybe you'll even stick around. We've got plenty of property for sale. But, listen: We're not just The Villages." "Hey GOP! See these places".
Suppression, Florida style
"Florida rolled back its early voting time to one week from two in an overhaul that also makes it more difficult for groups such as the League of Women Voters and the Boy Scouts of America to conduct voter registration drives." "GOP-led states change voting rules ahead of 2012".
Smith loses it
We understand she hates unions, but Nancy Smith borders on the unintelligible with this: "Teamsters' Short Memory Makes Complaint Laughable".
Perry to attend "Pastor Policy Briefing"
"GOP presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry may join Focus on the Family’s James Dobson and other conservative figures during a two-day 'Pastor Policy Briefing,' in Orlando, Fla., an October event being organized by David Lane, who also directed fundraising for Perry’s August prayer rally, 'The Response.'"
After it’s done, the Orlando event will live on as part of a two-hour compendium of similar pastor briefings, which will be sold for broadcast in homes and churches as part of a coordinated effort targeting unregistered Christian voters.
"Perry invited to attend Florida pastor policy briefing as part of Christian voter drive".
3 Florida cities among the 20 weakest-performing cities in the country
"According to a recent Brookings Institute report, three big metro areas in Florida — Lakeland, Palm Bay and Miami — are among the 20 weakest-performing cities in the country in the struggle to recover from the recession." "Three Florida cities included in national report on areas with weakest economic rebound".
Smith urges Palm Beach's quarrelsome Dems to make nice
"Florida Democratic Chairman Rod Smith urged Palm Beach County's famously quarrelsome Democrats on Saturday to make nice for the next 14 months to help President Obama, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and other Dems next year." "Stop fighting each other and start fighting for party, state Democratic leader tells county group".
Scott defends his administration's performance
"Gov. Rick Scott on Monday defended his administration's performance on job growth, saying his strategy of smaller government and less regulation was encouraging private employers to add positions." "Gov. Scott: Less government means more private jobs".
Medicaid deform
"Feds ask for changes to Florida Medicaid Reform Pilot".
The Week Ahead
"A busy week ahead features the Presidency 5 event and the first round of legislative committee meetings leading up to the 2012 session. " "The Week Ahead for Sept.19-Sept. 23".
Wage violations
"Department of Labor expands enforcement of wage violations".
"High Performance Government"
"Members of the state's Government Efficiency Task Force are meeting today to discuss suggestions aimed at saving the state $3 billion. The task force is required to convene every four years, and includes five appointees each by the Speaker of the House, the Senate President, and the governor."
Some members already have offered written recommendations, from efforts to achieve immediate savings to long-term reforms of how the state spends money. Former House Speaker Larry Cretul has suggested wide-ranging legislative reforms under the banner of "High Performance Government," a slogan that dates to his time in office that ended in 2010.
Cretul, who has since joined the Florida Chamber of Commerce, is recommending sweeping reforms for the process of budget negotiations between the chambers, including public disclosure of "any documents or communications by the Speaker of the House to the Senate President regarding the content of the budget process" and "plain‐language explanatory comments on budget spreadsheets," as well as timely disclosure of proviso language during budget conferences.
He would also require budget writers to identify and "reduce, phase out or eliminate nonessential functions of government," and set aside a dedicated savings fund to preserve the state's bond rating.
"Government efficiency task force has $3 billion in savings in its sights".
"Perry's scare tactics"
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Rick Perry's scare tactics".
"1,600 special districts in Scott's cross hairs"
"Fresh from cutting $210 million in taxes and scores of jobs at Florida's water management districts, Gov. Rick Scott is sizing up a new target in his drive to shrink government. The rest of Florida's more than 1,600 special districts, and the $15.5 billion in taxpayer money they command, are suddenly in Scott's cross hairs." "Special tax districts with power to tax at risk of cuts".
Redistricting update
"Weatherford: We want redistricting options by November". See also "Redistricting chief: Get your maps in".
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