The U.S. Senate campaign of Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos is showing all the signs of stalling.

The biggest setback for the Merritt Island Republican came late Thursday, as word trickled out that his longtime friend and political advisor, Pat Bainter, would no longer work for his campaign. Also departing: his de-facto campaign manager and spokesman, Tim Baker. ...

But the man in charge of state Senate campaigns, Niceville Republican Don Gaetz, said he was unaware that Bainter would be his full-time consultant for the upcoming 2012 races.

"Obama's army is rumbling to life in Florida"

"A massive army is rumbling to life in Florida, though it sometimes looks deceptively like a ragtag band of recruits. " "Obama machine revs up in Fla."

"All strategy, all the time"

"A cigar-smoking data-crunching pollster, Fabrizio is the person Scott insiders point to as being the brains behind the Republican's improbable transformation from political nobody to governor of the nation's most important swing state."

Fabrizio's role as Scott's pollster and strategist didn't end with the governor's election. He still plots strategy, hones the governor's message and polls for Scott by way of the Republican Party of Florida, which has paid him more than $183,000 since Election Day.

"During the transition, there was a belief that we're here to govern and politics is over," said Fabrizio. "Well, politics is never over. Now we have to think a lot more about the big picture. And there are a lot more opportunities."

Fabrizio, 51, is all strategy, all the time.

"Florida Republicans propelled by the tea-party movement"

"Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Republicans in Congress are betting that tax breaks and government spending cuts will spark widespread hiring in their job-starved state. Some early signs indicate the bet might pay off, as companies expand or trickle into Florida to take advantage of tax refunds and low corporate tax rates while tapping a huge pool of unemployed job seekers. Business promoters appreciate the help, but acknowledge anything politicians can do is dwarfed by the natural forces of the marketplace."

"It's a hundred jobs here, 50 jobs there, it just keeps adding up," Scott boasted in an interview while touting Florida's employment-generating efforts to a recent gathering of business leaders in Washington. "The Legislature gave me more authority to make this happen. There's a lot of enthusiasm. People are excited."

Florida Republicans, propelled by the tea-party movement, are pushing similar tactics in Congress. They hope President Barack Obama and Republican leaders will strike a budget deal on debt reduction that will whack federal spending, fend off tax hikes for the wealthy and corporations, and clear a path for targeted tax incentives benefiting small businesses.

"I have never met a job creator who told me they are looking for a state with high taxes and burdensome regulations," Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said on the Senate floor this week. "If we do it the right way, [we will] lower everybody's tax rate so people have more money in their pockets to spend on the economy, to grow their business or start a new business. Because that's how jobs are created."

Economists remain skeptical that tax incentives alone will prompt businesses to begin hiring in great numbers. They say tax cuts in recent decades have had limited impact on the creation of jobs.

"Companies are already sitting on record amounts of cash, but they are not using that cash to create jobs," said Chris McCarty, consumer survey director at the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research. "So I'm not clear how creating breaks that send them more cash necessarily translates into jobs."

Taj Mahal scandal

"Lawyers for 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Paul M. Hawkes urged the Judicial Qualifications Commission Friday to throw out charges filed against him this year in connection with the Taj Mahal scandal." "Appeals court judge in Taj Mahal case seeks dismissal of charges".

"It’s not a real budget"

"Which begs some questions: If it’s not a real budget, why did the mayor release it? And how can the administration lower the tax rate and still balance the budget if it really has no intention of furloughing the city’s 4,000 employees? Part of the answer, Regalado says, is that the commission surprised him two weeks ago with a request that he produce a proposed budget by July 14. Normally, the mayor offers the commission his proposed budget in early September." "Miami mayor: Rushed budget not too accurate".

Extremists lineup behind Diebel

"The district doesn't exist yet, but Karen Diebel has already raised $97,044 to run for a new congressional seat in Central Florida. Among her early donors: U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan. ... Among her early financial backers:"

- Wayne and Fonda Huizenga: $2,500 each.

- U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Prosperity PAC: $1,000.

- U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, chairman of the National Republican
Congressional Committee: $7,000 (including $5,000 from his People for Enterprise, Trade and Economic Growth PAC, which raised and spent $1 million in 2010).

- Anita Staver: $1,000 (wife of Liberty Council leader Matt Staver).

- Cathy Gillespie: $1,000 (wife of former RNC chairman Ed Gillespie).

Connie threatens to call his daddy

"Connie Mack Demands Obama Submit Free-Trade Agreements by July 29".

"Federal investigators launch probe"

"Federal investigators have launched a probe of the state's 24 regional work-force boards to determine if they have been improperly awarding contracts to companies controlled by or linked to agency board members." "U.S. Labor Department probes Florida workforce contracts".

Weekly Roundup

"In a number of not-so-surprising revelations this week, Citizen’s Property Insurance Corp. is too big, Panhandle business owners are frustrated over the pace of BP payments and Gov. Rick Scott remains unpopular, despite recent efforts to get his message out in a flurry of radio interviews around the state." "Weekly Roundup: Rick Scott's Policy, If Not His Popularity, Reinforced". See also "The Week in Review for July 11-July 15".

"Republicans gorging on millions of dollars from business lobbyists"

Aaron Deslatte: "The Republicans gorging on millions of dollars from business lobbyists and big donors are doing so to maintain their stone-fisted grip on power. And they've done so with scientific precision for years." "Despite economy, cash rolls in to GOP". See also "Infographic: Second Quarter Party Campaign Contributions".

"Wealthier candidates ensure better government"?

Commentary by Fred Markham, a member and director of the Florida Initiative for Electoral Reform: "In the continuing judicial erosion of public campaign finance laws, a federal judge has eliminated the matching funds provision in the Florida Election Campaign Finance Act. The ruling follows and models the June 27 Supreme Court decision declaring the matching funds provision of Arizona's Clean Elections law unconstitutional."

Florida's law, dating from 1992, enabled the election of Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles and Republican State Treasurer Bob Milligan, both using only small donations to defeat well-funded opponents. Though still in effect, Florida's law was soon made moot by the Legislature through its raising of the expenditure limits to levels that ensured that only candidates raising large private donations could compete. The law has not been effective in removing big-money influence from elections since at least 1996. ...

Since the state already has a dysfunctional public campaign financing system, the loss to Florida will be slight. We will merely be treated to a yet more blatant display of special-interest funded and/or personally wealthy candidates purchasing our public offices. Through a long chain of cases, the courts have followed the logic that money equals political speech, more money equals more political speech, more political speech equals better democracy, and implicitly, that political office is the exclusive domain of those who can bring the most wealth to bear.

These rulings are clear victories for those who believe that wealthier candidates will ensure better elections and better government.

"One of just 13 Republicans not blindly following the party line"

"U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores was in his first term when he voted for the Clean Water Act in 1972. This week, Young was one of just 13 Republicans — and the only Republican from Florida — to vote against gutting the law he embraced nearly four decades ago. Florida is fortunate to have at least one member of Congress willing to take the long view and not blindly follow the party line." "Young stands apart on Clean Water Act".

FSU exonerates itself in Koch deal

"FSU faculty approves right-leaning Koch Foundation deal, with caveats". See also "Barron says Koch donation has benefited Fla. State" and "FSU's review of Koch deal suggests future donors shouldn't have power over faculty decisions" ("The deal also set up an undergraduate 'market ethics' elective that used Ayn Rand works as required readings").

FlaDems hammer Jebbie's Medicaid deform as "reckless and irresponsible"

"Democratic legislators sent a letter on Friday asking the federal government to reject Medicaid Reform launched by former Gov. Jeb Bush and the new Medicaid overhaul program passed this session by the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature. Republican leaders call the letter 'reckless and irresponsible.'" "House Democrats ask feds to just say no to all Medicaid managed care".

"South Floridians changing their driving habits?"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Are South Floridians changing their driving habits for good? The answer isn't clear, but a recent traffic study in Palm Beach County bears watching. The 1 percent drop in county traffic counts between this and last year may not seem significant, but the fact that those who stopped driving switched to mass transportation should send a clear message to state and local policymakers." "Driving habits may be changing in car-crazy South Florida".

The Madame Defarge of Citrus County fretted the Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed manatee protections are a capitulation to the United Nations' Agenda 21 conspiracy http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifto impose a world government on the populace under the duplicitous guise of trying to protect nature.

You never know. Once you start safeguarding a rain forest or two, can Fidel Castro lighting up a Cohiba in the Oval Office be that far behind?

Who would have guessed James Bond nemesis Ernst Blofeld was sitting over in the Fish and Wildlife offices, stroking his cat and conspiring to rule the world through a 1,200-pound pile of floating blubber?

The notion the U.N.'s Agenda 21 environmental program is really a dark, treacherous confederacy to bring America under the thumb of Dr. No has been a pet fantasy of Glenn Beck and his hand-wringing fellow travelers for quite a while. Mattos and her tea party lemmings have fallen for the talk show weeper's unhinged theory that there is a black helicopter hovering behind every water hyacinth-chewing manatee in Kings Bay.

If Citrus County residents feel the proposed federal rules protecting the beasts are unfair, or too broadly drawn, or too much of an imposition on those who want to boat in Kings Bay, fine. That's why socialist/Marxist/despotic agencies like the Fish and Wildlife Service solicit public input regarding proposed rule changes and regulations on matters like trying to spare manatees from being run over by idiots in speedboats.

Tea party acolytes frequently whine that their views are not taken seriously and that they are unfairly dismissed as a cabal of dim-witted, extremist malcontents. Gee, why would anyone arrive at that conclusion?

"Marco Rubio named as vice presidential contender"

Jeremy Wallace: "Remember back in February when new U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio was keeping a low profile after his big election victory in 2010 and staying away from national interviews."

Scratch that.

In the last week, Rubio, the Miami Republican, has been anything but quiet as he has inserted himself into the debate over the debt ceiling and made waves for his strong criticism of President Barack Obama.

On Monday night, Rubio was on Sean Hannity’s television program. The next day it was Rush Limbaugh’s radio program and a quick appearance on the FOX News morning show Fox and Friends. On the same day he squeezed in an interview on the Hugh Hewitt radio show, another conservative program. The appearances came just a few days after Rubio penned an essay for the conservative National Review. ...

Rubio’s elevating his profile just at a time that his name is being kicked around as a vice presidential contender. Rubio has stated he is not running for vice president in 2012, but still a buzz persists over how his being a young Cuban American could be a draw for whoever the GOP nominates for president in 2012. Just before Rubio was on Hannity’s program, FOX political analyst Dick Morris declared Rubio should be the GOP vice presidential candidate. Hannity says on his show that he too has been saying that for months.

Gouging public employees

"Miami budget proposal: 22 furlough days, citywide".

Not a peep about Legislators cashing in while in office

"Orlando lawmaker wants to ban jurors from cashing in immediately after trials".

Hispanic U.S. births will have a "transformative effect"

"A Pew Hispanic Center study released Thursday ... shows that for the first time since the 1970s, Mexican immigration has sharply declined, and births have become the main driver of growth among Mexican-Americans."

The lack of jobs here, combined with increased border security, has slowed the flow of new arrivals. Births accounted for 63 percent of the 11.4-million-person increase during the past decade, as Mexican women had more children than other women, including other Latinas.

When the Mexican births are combined with those of other Hispanic groups, the results are striking: One of every four children born in the U.S. is of Hispanic heritage, according to the study, which did not provide state-by-state data.

Co-author Mark López, associate director of the center, said that although the study did not focus on the implications of the numbers, they will have a transformative effect.

"Scott slightly more popular than a hemorrhoid"

Scott Maxwell: "just when you thought Gov. Rick Scott's popularity couldn't sink any lower, here comes another anchor.

The first-time governor — less than a year into his term, typically a honeymoon period for newly electeds — now has an approval rating of 27 percent.

That makes him one of the least popular politicians in the United States and only slightly more popular than a hemorrhoid.

And keep in mind: These poll results come from Sunshine State News, a proudly conservative and pro-business outfit."

Water Management District jobs slashed

"Water management districts moving ahead with layoffs". More: "Between 80 and 100 workers of the South Florida Water Management District's 1,723 employees will be laid off before Aug." "S. Fla. water managers to cut 80-100 jobs".

Deference to corruption required

"The list of applicants to take over the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability includes the current interim head of the office and the Secretary of the Senate. This marks the first time that the head of OPPAGA will be decided by just legislative leaders. Lawmakers earlier this year changed the law to make it easier to hire and fire the person running the watchdog agency." "Thirty people apply to take over watchdog agency".

"Scott quick to initiate haphazard changes"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Scott's professed priority is to create jobs and make Florida more business-friendly."

So far, the results have been modest. A few mid-size relocations have been announced with great fanfare, but virtually all were in the works before Scott became governor. There is no questioning the governor's determination to lure companies, but many in the business world believe that Scott, despite his corporate background, may be doing more harm than good.

Corporations are not likely to commit to a state that is in upheaval — as Florida seems to be as Scott seeks to eliminate longstanding policies with little thought about the consequences. ...

Yet Scott has been quick to initiate haphazard changes — jettisoning development policies, revamping water controls — that leave the state's future standards uncertain.

"Sargeant blistered at the suggestion that there was anything improper"

"A former CIA agent was put on the hot seat Thursday, forced to explain why he wired $9 million to Jordanian leaders who controlled whether his generous new employer would keep a multi-billion-dollar contract to provide fuel to troops in Iraq. Former agent Martin Marty, who works for Gulf Stream billionaire Harry Sargeant, blistered at the suggestion that there was anything improper about the payments from Sargeant's Boca Raton-based company." "At billionaire's fraud trial, former CIA agent denies anything improper about $9 million payment to Jordan".

"Use of prisons in partisan gerrymandering"

"The strategic use of prisons in partisan gerrymandering". More on gerrymandering: "Round-up of media coverage of redistricting for 7/15", "Northeast Florida voters want to stick together" and "‘The Villages’ want to be kept together".

Wingnuts run wild

The wingnuts are running wild at the new "Florida Political Press".

"Florida pipeline sale ignites antitrust concerns"

"Consolidating ownership raises specter of less competition and higher prices for consumers". "Proposed Sale of Florida Gas Pipeline Ignites Antitrust Concerns".

"From negative to stable"

"Budget belt-tightening and frugality has prompted rating agency Standard & Poor’s to boost its Florida credit outlook from negative to stable, an upgrade that will translate into more favorable interest rates. The rating agency touted recent legislative actions to both reduce spending and hold some revenue back for a rainier day." "Scott on S&P Upgrade: 'That's Good ... That's Great'".

Ander who?

"From his perch on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw looked to reduce the size and scope of the federal government this week by trimming some fat from Congress itself. Crenshaw, a former president of the Florida Senate who has represented parts of the First Coast and the northern part of the state since first being elected to Congress back in 2000, used his position as chairman of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee to cut congressional expenses." "Ander Crenshaw Looks to Cut Congressional Fat".

Tort deform

Gary Fineout: "A Senate panel plans to look into whether additional medical malpractice changes are needed in Florida law. Sen. Garrett Richter, chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, says his committee is looking at important issues that were not addressed during the 2011 session." "Senate turns its attention to medical malpractice".

Koch krap

"Progress Florida, petitioners call for cancellation of FSU/Koch deal".

Speaking of crap

"The Caloosahatchee River is in trouble — and with it, the residents and businesses that line its banks. The river, like many Florida waterways, has been inundated with large-scale algal blooms, likely brought on by an abundance of nutrients found in failing septic tanks, home fertilizers and industry runoff." "Nutrient runoff and algal blooms hurt the bottom line along the Caloosahatchee".

Stail waitin' on them jobs, Ricky

"Scott faces tough task meeting jobs pledge, official says".

"Florida's sordid reputation"

"Sarasota family's tragedy becomes potent symbol in the war on prescription drug abuse".

Book burning next?

"Proposal to shutter Miami-Dade libraries draws fire".

"Young stays feisty"

"Young stays feisty and motivated".

The "Under Attack" report notes that in Florida, the top 5 percent of earners saw their income increase 54 percent since 1986, compared to a 17 percent gain for the middle 20 percent. It said only six states have a wider income gap than Florida does.

The report also said Florida stands out for its lack of labor unions, with just under 6 percent of the state's workers organized compared to the national average of 12 percent. Emily Eisenhauer, of the Research Institute, cited anti-union bills pursued in Tallahassee as part of Florida's assault on the working people.

"The actions in the Legislature that have made it more difficult for unions are not helpful for the middle class," she said.

Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, majority leader for Republicans in the Florida House, dismissed the idea that more unions will help the recovery.

"I personally believe unions exist to perpetuate unions," he said. "A union will never be satisfied. They will always want more."

Florida's middle class is in jeopardy. Florida workers have fared worse than the nation as a whole in terms of wages, benefits and employment levels. There has been a decline in the number of employers who provide their workers with health insurance which means that family illness can too easily lead to substantial costs, medical debt, and bankruptcy. And as employers replace traditional pensions with 401(k)-type plans, middle-class workers can no longer count on a secure retirement. Manufacturing jobs, which tend to offer better pay and benefits, have declined as a proportion of Florida jobs since the 1980s. Job growth has predominated in the service sector, where pay is lower, and employers are less likely to offer health and retirement benefits. ...

Florida's middle class is in even greater danger today as Governor Scott, who ran on a platform of creating 700,000 jobs, has signed a budget that will lead to job losses. Dubbed the "Pink Slip" budget by progressives, Scott has targeted healthcare and education. Most devastating, Florida has now cut its unemployment benefits, already meager at a $275 weekly maximum, the fourth lowest in the country, limiting them to 23 weeks while the unemployment rate, at a record high 11.5 percent in 2010, continues to be significantly higher than the national average. In June of 2011, Governor Scott signed a bill further limiting benefits, steadily reducing their maximum duration as unemployment falls below 10.5 percent, further squeezing unemployed workers in a state where one-third of those out of work have been jobless for over one year.

Scott's numbers even worse

"A poll released Wednesday by the usually right-leaning Sunshine State News shows Republican Gov. Rick Scott's approval rating at 27 percent among Floridians, with 58 percent disapproving of the job done by the first-year governor."

Sunshine's survey mirrors a Quinnipiac University poll in May that showed Scott's approval at 29 percent, suggesting the governor's attempt at overhauling his image with robo-calls and self-styled letters to newspaper editorial pages hasn't paid off.

The numbers also stand in contrast to what appeared as a brief surge of popularity for the governor in June. A survey released then by Viewpoint Florida gave Scott a 45 percent approval rating among Floridians.

Viewpoint Florida is run by Republican campaign operatives Randy Nielsen of West Palm Beach and Pat Bainter of Gainesville.

Nielsen's Public Concepts and Bainter's Data Targeting show up in the Florida Republican Party's latest finance reports, which also provide insight into the party's effort to enhance Scott's image.

Harris Media, a Austin, Texas-based public-relations firm which has opened a Tallahassee office and hired one of the governor's daughters, drew $23,927 for web ads and $11,638 for website work from the state party.

Two State Board of Education vacancies for Scott to fill

"State Board of Education member Mark Kaplan has announced that he is resigning effective July 20, opening another opportunity for Gov. Rick Scott to make an appointment to the seven-member board. ... Besides Kaplan, there is another vacancy on the board still waiting to be filled by the resignation of Susan Story in November, the spokeswoman said." "Florida Board of Education member resigns to take job in Minnesota".

Frankel keeping pace

"Former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel said Wednesday that she collected $440,000 for her congressional campaign during the past three months, keeping pace with Democratic rival Patrick Murphy, who earlier reported pulling in $450,000." "Frankel keeps fund-raising pace with Democratic rival".

And so it begins

"Political divides were on display Wednesday as Florida House and Senate committee members visited Santa Fe College for one of 26 meetings scheduled to gather public input on the redrawing of the state’s legislative and congressional districts following the 2010 Census." "Politics reigns as sides meet to discuss redistricting". See also "Redistricting road show: The Villages hears about redistricting plans".

Scott applies his wisdom to Homeland security issues

"Gov. Rick Scott conducted a four-hour meeting Wednesday with federal, state and local emergency management and public safety officials, detailing the state’s response to possible terrorist attacks and natural disasters." "Gov. Rick Scott Hosts Homeland Security Threat Assessment".

Mica leads charge to gut EPA

"Pointing to a long-running fight in Florida, the U.S. House on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would restrict the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to require tougher water-quality standards."

U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, was a key sponsor of the measure, which passed 239-184. Mica and other supporters said the EPA has overstepped its authority in Clean Water Act disputes with states.

Can the rest of the Teabaggers be far behind?

"While Mike Haridopolos can run off a litany of elected officials who have endorsed his campaign — state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, House Speaker Dean Cannon, state Senator and former acting Republican Party chair John Thrasher, Congressman Connie Mack — Adam Hasner has been racking up statements of support from prominent talk radio hosts. Alongside Mark Levin and Hugh Hewitt, he can now add Joyce Kaufman, the South Florida talker who helped promote the campaign of now-Rep. Allen West and (almost) went to work for him in Washington." "Joyce Kaufman endorses Hasner".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Members of the Orlando police SWAT team raided a time-share and credit-assistance telemarketing business Wednesday, holding employees at gunpoint and confiscating computers and other equipment. Officers said H.E.S. Systems, 4401 E. Colonial Drive, was ripping off people by falsely claiming it could lower credit-card interest and also was running a time-share scam. The raid was part of a continuing investigation into businesses that, according to investigators, have scammed thousands of people worldwide out of at least $8.5 million." "Orlando police raid telemarketing firm". More entrepreneurs in action: "Pawn shop wants burglary victim to pay $1,150 for her jewelry".

Good news, bad news

"First, the good news: Florida foreclosures are down 60 percent for the first half of 2011, compared to the same period last year. Next, the bad: The decline in foreclosures does not reflect a rebound in the housing market, but, as expected, a delay in the foreclosure process". "Foreclosures Down in Florida, but Court Funding Threatened". Related: "Foreclosure filings on the rise again in Southwest Florida", "Foreclosures drop in Florida but it could be just a temporary dip" and "Orlando loses its foreclosure infamy for now, report shows".

RPOFer's scam allegedly cost taxpayers $1.4 billion

"Sargeant, a top GOP fundraiser, is a past finance chair of the Florida Republican Party".

U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman in 2008 said Sargeant's Boca Raton-based company earned $210 million on the contracts that had then cost taxpayers $1.4 billion. He asked then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates to investigate. The investigation is ongoing.

On the backs of the workers

"Miami-Dade mayor: Rein in spending, cut taxes and 1,300 jobs".

Where are tyhe Hispanic Democratic candidates?

The Sun Sentinel editors wonder "why has the state not seen a growing number of Hispanic Democratic candidates?" "Democrats need to have more Hispanic candidates".

Rubio whines "it will be Obama’s fault"

"Republicans from across Florida took aim at President Barack Obama this week for bringing up the possibility of freezing Social Security, Medicaid, military pay and veterans’ benefits if a federal government shutdown occurs."

Already the subject of talk about a possible future presidential campaign -- and a leading possibility for the vice presidential spot on the 2012 Republican tickert -- the new U.S. senator from Florida fired away at Obama.

Appearing on the Hugh Hewitt radio show Tuesday, Rubio took off the gloves and ripped into Obama over federal budget negotiations.

Asked by Hewitt if seniors in Florida would be impacted by not getting Social Security checks, Rubio insisted, if that happens, it will be Obama’s fault.

Will the Crist rise again?

"Of three of the biggest political names in Florida, only one -- former Gov. Charlie Crist -- has a favorable rating topping 40 percent, according to a new Sunshine State News poll."

The former governor, who bolted the Republican Party and ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate as an independent in 2010, enjoys a 42 percent favorable rating -- besting both U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson.

Just eight months after losing to Rubio, Crist now holds a 42-33 favorable/unfavorable rating compared with Rubio's tighter 38-34 ranking.

Nelson, who is up for re-election in 2012, has a 32-27 favorable/unfavorable score. Surprisingly, 41 percent of respondents expressed no opinion or were "not aware" of him, an astonishingly high figure for a two-term senator and former congressman who has held elective office for four decades.

"No fairness in allowing BP to rush for the exit"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Barely a year has passed since BP established a claims fund to compensate victims along the Gulf of Mexico for the worst oil spill in American history. Yet the oil giant is ready to wrap things up and declare the disaster over. In a letter this month to the third-party claims administrator, BP says the gulf's 'recovery had occurred by the end of 2010' and suggests it's time to close the checkbook."

To their credit, U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio are on the same page in dismissing the letter and in demanding that BP honor its obligations. "They are trying to disengage," Rubio said. Adam Putnam, the state's agriculture commissioner, said flatly: "They still have a lot of claims in line before they start closing the purse." The federal government needs to continue with its environmental impact study, and Florida officials should demand from BP full payment for losses. Many victims and communities will need years to recover, and there is no fairness in allowing BP to rush for the exit.

'Ya got a problem wit dat?

"Nutrient runoff and algal blooms hurt the bottom line along the Caloosahatchee".

Florida news tidbits

"Will Florida’s “Health Care Freedom Amendment” help you escape “ObamaCare”? Probably not. Plus: five more bite-sized bits of Florida news!" "Six in the morning: A six-pack of Florida news tidbits".

We can't have that, now can we

Phoney Politifact can't bring itself to acknowledge that this assertion - "PolitiFact: Gov. Rick Scott says public pensions would have required taxes to climb" - is entirely untrue. To do so would bring itself into conflict with the defined benefit pension plan hating editorial boards, and we can't have that, now can we.

Governor's office has no response

"A 2006 study for the Farmworker Association of Florida found that 79 percent of Lake Apopka farmworkers felt their exposure to pesticides had affected their health. In May, Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $500,000 in the state budget requested by Sen. Gary Siplin to treat ailing farmworkers. ... There was no response to a request for comment on Wednesday from the governor's press office." "Senate Agriculture Committee to study plight of Lake Apopka farmworkers".

Private citizens on the horizon?

"Frustrated by the inability to win changes from state lawmakers, the chairman of the state-created Citizens Property Insurance Corp. said on Wednesday that legislators should privatize part of the company." "State-backed Citizens could be privatized". See also "Malone discusses privatizing state-backed Citizens".

"Doctors say they've been gagged by new state law"

"Thousands of doctors who say they've been gagged by a new state law banning their discussion of gun ownership with patients urged a federal judge Wednesday to stop enforcement of the statute — legislation pushed by firearm advocates and signed into law last month by Gov. Rick Scott." "Doctors ask court to lift restrictions on gun questions in examine room". See also "Doctors ask federal judge to block new gun law" and "Fla. docs ask judge to block gag law on guns".

The Florida Democratic Party didn't have the same success, raising just $1.1 million, nearly identical to what it raised the past two off-year election cycles during the same quarter. This year, however, $426,000 of its collections came from a political action committee formed by Republicans to elect Alvin Brown, the Democratic mayor of Jacksonville.

The largest donations to Republicans came from the state's electric monopolies, health care companies, hospitals and insurers. The biggest sum came from Juno Beach-based NextEra Energy and its affiliate Florida Power & Light Co. which contributed $280,000. U.S. Sugar Corp. and its affiliates gave $275,000. Individuals and companies affiliated with Anderson Mining gave $190,000. Tenet Healthcare Corp. contributed $160,000. TECO Energy gave $145,000. And HCA and several of its Florida affiliates gave Republicans $110,000.

The largest Democratic Party donor was a group called Conservatives for a Better Jacksonville. It gave $426,000 to successfully elect Brown. The group was financed primarily by Republican fundraiser and former St. Joe Co. head Peter Rummell. Other major contributors to the Democratic Party included Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, which gave $124,624, and the Florida Police Benevolent Association, which gave $41,000.

Private prison giant, the GEO Group, gave the party $100,000 after it succeeded in persuading the Legislature to privatize additional prisons in Florida.

The best they can do?

"Florida 2012 Senate race grows larger". See also "Newest U.S. Senate candidate makes stop in Tampa".

The benefits of incumbency

"Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson will report raising $1.85 million for his re-election the three months that ended June 30. The amount the campaign announced Tuesday is nearly double the highest total raised last quarter by any of the Republicans hoping to challenge him. In all, Nelson has more than $6 million in the bank for next year's election." "Sen. Nelson doubles nearest GOP foe in fundraising". Related: "GOP field seeking Nelson's seat continues to grow; as does Nelson's campaign chest".

Mica would eviscerate the Clean Water Act

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "U.S. Rep. John Mica, the Winter Park Republican whose district hugs the east coast of Florida and stretches from near Jacksonville to the Orlando area, should appreciate the benefits of clean water. Yet Mica is sponsoring legislation scheduled for a House vote today to eviscerate the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce the Clean Water Act." "Do we want more of this?".

Lipstick on a pig

Aaron Deslatte: "Buoyed by complete control of state government, Florida Republicans are killing Democrats in the dash for campaign cash this year, and the GOP is putting that money to use to improve the governor's public image."

The first-year governor has had sagging poll numbers in a string of surveys during the past three months. And the political pollsters, consultants and direct-mail gurus that entered Scott's campaign orbit last year are reaping the biggest payouts from RPOF coffers this year: upward of $500,000 in the past three months.

Direct-mail shop Public Concepts ($145,941.24), Scott pollster Tony Fabrizio ($119,250) and Scott's campaign phone-bank firm Advantage Inc. ($79,503.67) led the charge.

Another robo-call shop called Election Connections.com was paid $69,948.12 for its phone calls to voters, and Harris Media — Scott's Texas-based public-relations firm, which since his election has opened a Tallahassee office and hired his daughter — was paid $23,927.16 for Web ads for Scott and $11,638 for website work. Donna Arduin, the resident economic adviser who wrote Scott's "777" jobs plan last summer, was paid $46,000 for the three months.

RPOF Executive Director Andy Palmer said the governor has "a great story to tell the voters" about five straight months of declining unemployment, $205 million in property-tax cuts and his push to crack down on "pill mills."

"The calls and web ads are a very efficient way to directly keep voters informed about what the governor and Republican leadership is doing to get our state back to work," Palmer said.

Scott rams head further into the sand

"Feds Moving on Health Care Law, Gov. Scott Not Budging".

"Republican political player snared in controversy"

"Harry Sargeant, a onetime Republican political player snared in controversies over a corruption probe and pricey war-time oil shipments, took the witness stand Tuesday in a contract dispute that reads more like a spy novel."

The case is replete with palace intrigue in the desert kingdom of Jordan, $2.7 billion in fuel contracts, a retired CIA agent, a general known as "the pasha" and a federal corruption investigation swirling around Sargeant, who refuses to comment about it.

The civil lawsuit was filed by Jordan King Abdullah II's brother-in-law, Mohammed Al-Saleh, who accused the Delray Beach multimillionaire of cutting him out of the contracts to supply fuel to U.S. troops in Iraq.

Sargeant's defense: Saleh was paid for his work with the International Oil Trading Co. But, Sargeant said, Saleh wasn't entitled to profits from contracts that didn't involve him.

Another fine idea

"Under a new law pushed by Gov. Rick Scott, the district cannot collect more than $284.9 million in property taxes next year -- 30 percent less than it collected this year. To accomplish those cuts, water managers sliced about 30 percent from each of four distinct tax programs that make up the district's total tax rate." "Water managers' 29 percent tax-rate cut means $27 tax savings on $200,000 home".

Ahem ... try increasing wages

Frank Cerabino: "In Georgia, crops are rotting in the fields because migrant workers aren't there to pick them. 'We don't have a workforce,' said Bryan Tolar, the president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, a group that represents about 700 farmers and agricultural businesses in that state. 'Where are we supposed to get it?'" "Crops rot as Georgia feels effects of immigration law".

Teabagger: Manatee protection "against the Bible and the Bill of Rights"

"Everybody knows what the tea party members oppose. High taxes. Big government. Obama's health care plan. High-speed rail."

Now, for at least some local tea party members, there's one more to add: manatee protection.

A Citrus County tea party group has announced that it's fighting new restrictions on boating and other human activities in Kings Bay that have been proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"We cannot elevate nature above people," explained Edna Mattos, 63, leader of the Citrus County Tea Party Patriots, in an interview. "That's against the Bible and the Bill of Rights."

Weiner in town

"Shamed former New York congressman Anthony Weiner escaped to Miami with pregnant wife Huma to celebrate their anniversary." "Anthony Weiner escapes to Miami".

Another Rubio publicity stunt

"The mother of Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who died after an 85-day hunger strike, gave emotional accounts Tuesday of her son's death in captivity to dismayed lawmakers."

A sober-faced Sen. Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, led Reina Luisa Tamayo to meetings with senators and House members who listened in rapt attention as she described Zapata's ordeal at the notorious Kilo 7 prison in Camaguey province.

Rubio, elected to his first Senate term last November, held up what he said was incriminating evidence of a different sort.

Displaying a recent newspaper article about increased U.S. tourism opportunities in Cuba, Rubio criticized President Barack Obama for loosening the decades-old travel ban.

The Obama administration this year started allowing students and church groups to travel to Cuba.

"Scott still suffering from dismal approval ratings"

"Despite a recent public relations push funded by the Republican Party of Florida, a new poll released this week shows that Gov. Rick Scott is still suffering from dismal approval ratings."

The new poll from Sunshine State News shows that Scott has little support from either Democrats or independent voters and that he is drawing support from just 48 percent of Republicans. Scott was given low marks from voters regardless of where they live. A whopping 70 percent of voters from Southeast Florida disapprove of Scott, but even in Republican bastions he is drawing low marks. Only 36 percent of voters from Southwest Florida and 33 percent of voters in North Florida and the Panhandle approved of the job he is doing.

Millionaires club

"Millionaires make up almost half of the 40-member Florida Senate and nearly one-third of the 120-member Florida House. Fifty-one of the lawmakers that filed financial disclosure forms by the July 1 deadline were millionaires." "Florida legislature home to dozens of millionaires". See also "Florida Legislature Home to Dozens of Millionaires".

What's a manager to do?

"Hefty severance payouts in Miami could become thing of the past".

"Don’t touch Medicare"

"With debt ceiling negotiations going on in Washington and the political positioning for 2012 already beginning, Florida Democrats and interest groups have a clear message for candidates and incumbents: Don’t touch Medicare." "Dems Ramp Up Entitlement Program Rhetoric".

"Homeless paid to loiter"

"Police: Homeless paid to loiter at vice mayor's home".

Bondi fires foreclosure fraud investigators

"A newspaper reported on Tuesday that two foreclosure fraud investigators who had been going after banks and law firms accused being of foreclosure mills were forced from their jobs ... despite positive job reviews." "Bondi forced out foreclosure fraud investigators".

Orlando Sentinel renews Grayson attack

"Alan Grayson has announced he's running for Congress again after getting booted from office in 2010. Seems like only yesterday the pugnacious Democrat was saying the Republican health care plan was for sick people to die quickly." "Today's Buzz: Does Alan Grayson belong back in Congress?".

"What Would Charlie Crist Do?"

Could it be that Ricky "Scott finally heeded what the people were saying? That when he runs again, he wants to win by more than a whisker? That someone savvy now has enough of his ear to convince him that this was really not one he wanted to bulldoze through?"

Scott saw a distressing (or heartening, depending on where you sit) lack of falling-in-line even with some in his own party. We Floridians may spar over everything from health care to the death penalty, but a whole lot of us agree our parks are worth saving the way they are.

Maybe for Scott the deal was sealed on late-night cable, when Stephen Colbert took a poke at a prewritten letter on Scott's website that supporters were supposed to sign and send to newspapers extolling the many virtues of … well, Scott.

When a rock star of a comedian always hungry for daily political absurdity rates you his current favorite governor, this is a not good thing.

Let's consider how governors past might have handled this one.

Jeb Bush would have quickly grasped the political punch of the opposition and perhaps tabled the plan for further study. Charlie Crist would have been in populist heaven and killed it immediately, with a big shiny sword if possible.

So who would have guessed Scott would go all What Would Charlie Crist Do on us, talking of "national treasures" that belong to taxpayers and how it would be "unfair to proceed with a plan that so many Floridians are so adamantly opposed to."

"Fewer lawmakers, stronger representation"

"More than two dozen state legislators filled the stage at the News-Journal Center [in Daytona Beach] seeking input Tuesday night on how Florida's political boundaries should be redrawn." "Voters request fewer lawmakers, stronger representation".

The comeback of Grayson, which comes just months after a crushing loss in the 2010 election, might be overshadowed by Demings, another high-profile Democrat from Central Florida.

In an email, Demings told supporters that she wants Capitol Hill to be the next stop in a career that saw her become the first black female chief in the city.

State lawmakers are in the midst of the once-a-decade process of redistricting, and no one knows what the congressional boundaries will look like in the 2012 election. Further complicating the matter is Florida’s population boom, which adds two U.S. House seats to the 25 districts now in the state.

It is widely thought that one of the new seats will be put in Central Florida and early talk from Tallahassee suggests that the Republican-controlled Legislature is aiming to create one Democratic-leaning seat so that the GOP can have the advantage in several other districts in the region.

The candidates did not indicate Monday which seat they intend to seek — the new one or one in an existing district.

Floridians like Romney

"A slipping economy has Floridians moving away from President Barack Obama and warming up to Republican Mitt Romney, a Sunshine State News Poll shows. The survey of 1,000 likely voters shows that 54 percent disapprove of the job Obama is doing while just 38 percent approve." "U.S. Jobless Numbers Dragging Obama Down in Florida".

Contributions to GEO Group's PAC exceed state limits

"The GEO Group Inc., a Boca Raton-based private prison firm, has scrapped its state-level political action committee after an audit by the Florida Department of State found it was taking in contributions that exceeded state limits." "GEO Group scraps state-level PAC".

Florida GOP's ideological battle against health care reform

The Sun Sentinel editorial board argues that "Florida's GOP legislators need to call a truce in their ideological battle against anything that's even indirectly related to health care reform." "GOP hurting most needy with war on health care".

Meanwhile, "Federal regulators charged with implementing the Affordable Care Act stated Monday they are trying to work with states to start up the law’s health care 'exchanges' -- exchanges are one-stop consumer markets for buying insurance."

But they said they will install a federal health care exchange if a state refuses to set one up on its own.

The news carries weight for Florida, because Gov. Rick Scott, who first came onto the political scene as a staunch opponent of the federal overhaul of health care signed into law by President Barack Obama last year, is not moving from his stance that state agencies should not begin implementing the law.

Steak salesman jumps into RPOFer race

"Former Ruth's Chris CEO joins an already crowded Republican field". "Craig Miller Set to Enter GOP Primary to Take on Bill Nelson".

Lostsa luv for incumbents

"Republican incumbents David Simmons and Lizbeth Benacquisto outpaced other Senate candidates in raising campaign cash during the second quarter of 2011, new reports show. Simmons, R-Maitland, raised $91,640 between April 1 and June 30, while Benacquisto, R-Wellington, pulled in $62,165. Candidates faced a Monday deadline for filing campaign-finance reports, though not all had been posted on the Division of Elections' website as of 7 p.m. The reports show that fundraising for the 2012 elections was dominated by incumbent senators and by House members running for Senate seats." "David Simmons, Lizbeth Benacquisto Have Strong 2Q".

Susan Wright's lawsuit against RPOF to be mediated

"Susan Wright filed a lawsuit against the Republican Party of Florida who she says fired her because she questioned expenses made by top party officials and on behalf of Gov. Charlie Crist. Both sides have agreed to hold a mediation session in the case next month." "Republican Party will try to settle whistleblower lawsuit".

Rubio, Ros-Lehtinen rally anti-choice crowd

"The anti-[choice] National Right to Life Committee last week spoke out in support of a new abortion bill filed by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami." "Group says ‘abortionists’ use a lack of a parental notification law as ‘selling point’".

Another privatization strategy

"What’s next for privatized camping in state parks?".

"Clean water is not a jobs killer"

The Miami Herald editors: "When you go swimming at the beach, do you mind if there’s a little sewage in the water? ... Clean water is not a jobs killer — certainly not in Florida, which counts on its beaches and natural assets to lure millions of tourists and billions of dollars here. Yet U.S. Reps. John Mica, an Orlando-area Republican, and Nick Rahall, a West Virginia Democrat, have sponsored a bill that seeks to gut the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate water quality, wetlands protection and the removal of mountain tops in coal mining." "Keep it clean".

Teabaggers dig deep

"South Florida Congressman Allen West reported on Monday that he raised more than $1.5 million during the second quarter of this year, another sign of his ability to draw support from around the country. ... Democrat Patrick Murphy, a Fort Lauderdale businessman, reported raising $450,000 in the second quarter." "Allen West raised $1.5 million in three months". See also "U.S. Rep Allen West answers his critics with $1.5 million in campaign fund-raising". But see "Dem. opponent in race for West’s seat raises $450,000 in second quarter".

SunRail's intangibles

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "SunRail's long-term success will largely hinge on intangibles: affordable pricing, great service and staying power." "Run SunRail right".

On the back of Miami-Dade's working stiffs ...

"Seeking to close a looming budget deficit, new Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is seeking to reduce expenses by having county employees double their contributions for their healthcare." "Gimenez: County workers will pay more for benefits".

Florida's unbanked population

"According to a new study, Florida, the country's fourth-most-populous state, also ranks fourth in the amount of unbanked money circulating through its economy — nearly $9 billion in household wealth, including $2 billion held by the state's fast-growing Hispanic population." "Higher fees could boost state's 'unbanked' population".

LeMieux rakes it in

"It takes loads of money to win a statewide campaign in Florida, and George LeMieux is proving himself a formidable money-raiser in the crowded Republican U.S. Senate primary. LeMieux, who served 16 months in the U.S. Senate, reported raising more than $950,000 over the past three months."

That's not nearly as much as the $2.6 million raised by Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos in his debut fundraising quarter earlier this year — and Haridopolos added another $900,000 since April — but considerably more than the $560,000 raised last quarter by former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, who had been known as one of the most prolific money-raisers in the Legislature.

Republican legislators in Florida have been waging a partisan war on it ever since, not caring about the collateral damage.

The latest victims are senior citizens and people with disabilities in Florida who are covered under Medicaid.

Last month, a joint legislative panel turned down a $2.1 million federal grant that would have made Florida eligible for an additional $35 million to move Medicaid patients from nursing homes into assisted living facilities or their own homes. A majority on the panel, all Republicans, wanted nothing to do with the money because it was provided under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — what critics call Obamacare.

But Florida legislators already have left on the table at least $54 million — by rejecting grants, returning them or not applying for them — simply because the programs are part of the Affordable Care Act.

Florida is in no position to be turning down health care help. More than one in five residents is without insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. And legislators cut funding for Medicaid and other health care programs by more than $1 billion in the budget they approved.

The federal funds legislators have shunned would have gone to a wide range of worthy causes. Wellness programs for people with chronic diseases. Construction of community health centers. Help on Medicare premiums and prescription-drug costs for low-income seniors. Hospice care for children.

RPOF-Baggers battle for control

Kenric Ward writes that "the arrival of the tea party movement -- which burst onto the scene after the 2008 elections -- brings a whole new dynamic to P5", the Republican Party of Florida's Presidency summit set for Sept. 22-24 at the Orange County Convention Center. Ward continues:

"From what I have been hearing, there are a lot of tea party members who were chosen to be delegates to P5," said Robin Stublen, a tea party leader from Charlotte County. Other counties report that top tea activists have entered local lotteries for delegate credentials.

"I believe it is going to have an impact on the outcome. There is no doubt going to be a strong showing for Ron Paul," Stublen said.

If so, that's a far cry from P4, when Rudy Giuliani was seen by many as winning the summit debate and John McCain's forces were able to quash a planned straw poll.

like others in the tea party/patriot movement, Stublen reserves a healthy dose of skepticism about the conservative credentials of party operatives at P5.

"Let's face it, if everyone who attends were a conservative and voted for conservative candidates, Romney and Jon Huntsman would not have enough votes to field a football team on Sunday," he said.

"As we know, that is not the case. A lot of people are CINO -- Conservative In Name Only."

Doug Guetzloe, a former consultant to the breakaway Florida TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party, believes that the generic tea movement has lost steam.

"The movement has declined dramatically. They showed no presence at the caucuses and they have no real numbers. A few got in by lottery, but they are leaderless," said Guetzloe, a lifelong Republican and a delegate to all five Presidency summits.

[GOP strategist Brett] Doster disputes any notion that Florida Republicans' conservative credentials have gone wobbly.

"The party has always been conservative. Crist ran as a conservative and governed left of center. That is one big reason why he is no longer the titular head of the party," Doster said.

Noting that the tea party is "largely made up of Republicans who had felt disenfranchised by weak Republican leadership," Doster predicted, "they will be at P5 in force to try to hold Republicans accountable to their campaign promises."

Stearns fronts attack on Planned Parenthood

"Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, is mulling over the possibility of launching an investigation into Planned Parenthood at the request of an anti-abortion group that has written a report hoping to get Planned Parenthood defunded." "Stearns considering launching investigation into Planned Parenthood".

"Gotcha all covered"

Nancy Smith writes that "Pat Rooney, Liz Benacquisto, Herschel Vinyard, Gov. Rick Scott: Gotcha all covered" "Campground Decision, Yes! Funeral Bill, Oh, No!".

Poll of Florida Republicans to be released this week

"In conjunction with Voter Survey Service (VSS) of Harrisburg, Pa., [right wing] Sunshine State News will release the results and analyses of its first three Florida polls of the year on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. ... [T]he Sunshine State News Poll was conducted as an automated poll; the 1,000 Floridians surveyed come from a list of Republicans with a solid vote history in either the 2006 or 2008 primaries." "Sunshine to Release Voter Survey on Barack Obama, Rick Scott, Bill Nelson, Others" ("VSS is the same firm that in 2010 conducted some of the most accurate polls taken of races in the Florida primary and general election.")

Foreign affairs, Florida style

"With its 29 electoral votes, Florida is seen by many as the grand prize of all the swing states, and its diverse population means both Republicans and Democrats have opportunities and obstacles to overcome in the state."

President Barack Obama started to shore up Hispanic support early on, visiting Puerto Rico last month in an effort to boost his support among the 847,500 voters who have flocked to Florida from the island. Many of them have sought out jobs in Central Florida along the “Interstate 4 corridor,” a haven of swing voters perennially targeted by national campaigns.

Meanwhile, Republicans are jumping on perceived chinks in Obama’s foreign policy that are apt to upset key demographics in Florida -- Cubans and Jewish voters.

A Gallup poll released this week showed Obama’s support among Jewish voters remained strong at 60 percent in June, but was a decline of 8 points from May.

Some observers pointed to Obama’s May 19 speech -- urging Israel to withdraw to its 1967 borders, including some land swaps, as a way to generate a two-state solution to the protracted conflict with Palestine -- as the reason for the slide. Republicans blasted the speech and are hoping that it could dent Obama’s support among Florida’s 614,000 Jewish population.

Republican National Committee spokesperson Ryan Tronovitch said that that, along with Obama’s controversial policies toward Cuba, “could prove to be critical in a close race in Florida”.

"The trouble with privatization"

Bill Cotterell points out that "the trouble with privatization, not just in prisons but everywhere [is that] employees providing the services owe allegiance to the company paying their salaries, not to the taxpayers who fund state contracts with those corporations." "Profits and prisons aren't a perfect pair".

Whistle blower accuses Scott of "lying and cheating"

"The sale of the Solantic urgent care chain to a New York private equity group this month marks Florida Gov. Rick Scott's exit from health industry management."

While critics blamed Scott's bottom-line, bonus-focused management for encouraging a culture of cheating at his first health venture, Columbia/HCA, a close look at Scott's subsequent ventures shows the same pressures at work.

Executives who have worked under Scott described his style as incentive-based, to a fault: Top performers received top rewards, so long as they continued to meet their numbers.

Bottom performers had to improve or leave. As a result, some ex-employees and consultants allege, Scott's managers occasionally took extreme steps.

Solantic appeared to employ "stretching" even as its sale to Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe was announced in April.

Change of ownership paperwork with the state Agency for Healthcare Administration includes two years of financial data. Solantic's accountants provided the same set of start-up numbers for multiple clinics and characterized the projections as conservative.

At Solantic's Tamarac clinic on West Commercial Boulevard in Broward County, the paperwork projected Solantic would see 6,500 patients in 2012. A year later, accountants boosted that projection to 10,600 patients.

That would require a 37 percent increase in patient visits in a single year, without an increase in staff. With overhead of more than $1 million, that was the volume required to convert a new clinic's anticipated first-year net loss of more than $365,000 into a net profit of just over $23,000 in year two, the records showed.

"It's terribly simplistic, and it gets you into trouble," said Jerre Frazier, an attorney and accountant, of managing by picking desired financial results and working backward to the point of care. But that was how Scott operated, he said.

Environmentalists and mining companies polarized over 'Glades

"For years the Palm Beach County Commission has hosted summits, workshops and studies on rock mining in the Everglades Agricultural Area in the hope environmentalists and mining companies could reach some agreement on how, when and where mining should be allowed." "Firms, environmentalists polarized on Everglades mining as moratorium expires".

Florida's "mancession"

"Nationally, the mancession seems to have eased. Unemployment for men fell to 9.7 percent last month, while the jobless rate for women rose to 8.6 percent. But in Florida, the mancession lives on. In 2010, the jobless rate for men in Florida was 12.3 percent, compared with only 9.7 percent for women." "Florida can't escape 'mancession' as women face easier job search".

Scott and the GOPers intent on putting Floridians out of work

Rhonda Swan, for The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Despite rhetoric to the contrary, Gov. Scott and the Legislature seem intent on putting Floridians out of work."

In addition to the 1,600 state employees laid off this month, an estimated 3,000 to 3,500 nurses could lose their jobs because of Medicaid cuts.

So much for this year's legislative session being about adding jobs.

Shortsighted lawmakers lowered the minimum staffing standard for nursing homes by about 8 percent to help them deal with a $187 million cut in Medicaid reimbursements. What's worse, they did it in secret, inserting the measure into a budget conforming bill the night before the session ended. No debate, no public input. No one to say, "bad idea."

As The Post's Stacey Singer reported, the lower standard means 70,000 nursing home residents may get less time with a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or certified nursing assistant. The result will be more health problems.

And adding thousands more to Florida's ranks of unemployed does little to help the economy.

Another wannabe

"Central Florida restaurateur Craig S. Miller plans to enter the Florida Republican U.S. Senate primary next week. Miller will join an already crowded primary field including Mike Haridopolos, Adam Hasner, George LeMieux, Mike McCalister and others." "New candidate entering Republican U.S. Senate primary".

"Foolishly short-sighted measure"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "In Florida, the Dry Tortuga National Park was first protected by President Franklin Roosevelt through the Antiquities Act. The law also originally preserved Biscayne National Park."

The act has not been used to simply tie up land but to preserve tracts of exceptional value to the American people.

And the president's authority is not unchecked. As the Wilderness Society points out, Congress can diminish — or expand — the size of a monument and can designate a monument as well.

But the law does give the president a chance to keep national wonders from being forever lost due to short-sighted political concerns.

This week the House Appropriations Committee, which includes St. Petersburg's Rep. Bill Young, is likely to address the proposal [to gut the Antiquities Act and the president's ability to designate national monuments].

"Items that may have fallen through the cracks"

Travis Pillow's "six-pack of news items that may have fallen through the cracks over the weekend." "Six in the morning: Monday catch-up".

Webster squeaks

"The latest news from the negotiations between President Barack Obama and federal lawmakers over the federal debt limit is hardly encouraging, and while there’s still time, legislation offered by one Central Florida lawmaker offers a contingency plan for a worst-case scenario. ... Fellow Florida Republicans Bill Posey, Richard Nugent and Dennis Ross have signed on as cosponsors." "Dan Webster’s just-in-case debt limit legislation".

"Peek into finances of members of Congress"

"Citizens can peek into the personal finances of the members of Congress thanks to annual financial disclosures required by federal law. The law, written by the people who are subject to its provisions, doesn't require many details." "South Florida members of Congress disclose finances".

"Bo's Bridge"

"Even in a state known for political boondoggles like a Taj Mahal courthouse and an unneeded aircraft hangar, the Garcon Point Bridge stands out."

Nicknamed "Bo's Bridge" for its biggest backer, former House Speaker Bolley "Bo" Johnson [a Milton Democrat], the bridge over eastern Pensacola Bay was built using bogus traffic projections, faulty financing and shoddy construction practices. The day it opened in 1999, it had already incurred hefty fines for environmental destruction. Now Bo's Bridge is broke, and the taxpayers are likely to be stuck with millions of dollars in debt. ...

Bo's Bridge would have never been built if not for Johnson, a real estate wheeler-dealer who grew up amid the rough-and-tumble of Panhandle politics. His father, a former Santa Rosa County commissioner, was once accused of trying to hire a hit man to rub out someone who'd crossed him. ...

The week the bridge opened, Johnson was convicted in an unrelated case of taking "consulting fees" from road builders, casinos and other companies while speaker and not reporting it on his taxes. He spent two years in federal prison.

Good luck with that

"The Elton John AIDS Foundation delivered a second letter to Florida Gov. Rick Scott today, expressing the foundation’s concern over the Scott administration’s continued consideration over reducing eligibility for Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program." "Elton John AIDS Foundation once again urges Scott not to cut AIDS Drug Assistance eligibility".

From the home of Medicare fraud

"Medicare anti-fraud system launched".

"Secret deportation list"

Jackie Bueno Sousa: "What is it about secret lists of names that immediately instill uneasiness? That’s the feeling I get when I think of the U.S. government’s undisclosed list of almost 1,000 Cubans eligible for immediate deportation to Cuba — and with our secretive approach in general to the deportation of criminal immigrants." "Our secret deportation list: It may be legal, but...".

Scott appears "combative, callous or indifferent"

Lloyd Dunkelberger points out that "while pollsters generally agree Florida's Rick Scott is among the most unpopular governors in America -- if not the most unpopular -- the reasons behind his bad numbers are harder to pinpoint."

A series of polls over the last two months show large segments of Florida's population, ranging from women to Hispanics to independent voters, have been turned off by the governor.

Some polling data suggests his plunge in popularity -- which was never that high, given his narrow victory over Democrat Alex Sink in November -- is related to some of his policy decisions, including calling for a more austere state budget that included the elimination of thousands of state jobs and major cuts in school spending.

Scott's downward track was noted first with a Quinnipiac University poll in May, showing 57 percent of Florida voters disapproved of Scott, with 29 percent supporting him.

In mid-June, polls from Republican and Democratic pollsters continued to show more Floridians disapproved of the governor than approved of him.

His best poll, from the Republican firm Viewpoint Florida, showed 51 percent of voters disapproved, with 45 percent in support.

A poll from Public Policy Polling showed 59 percent of Floridians disapproved of Scott, with 33 percent in support.

"I think that voters are tired of him being so controversial and looking like he just wants to pick a fight with everyone," said Tom Jensen, director of the Democratic Public Policy Polling.

Quinnipiac said Scott's numbers were lowest in the roughly dozen states where that university does its surveys, including some of the largest swing states.

Taken as a whole, the polls showed Scott drawing the strongest opposition from Democrats, women, younger voters and minority groups.

The PPP poll showed Hispanic voters disapproving by 69-28 percent and black voters, a strong Democratic constituency, by a 90-4 percent.

"Mianigi prefers to stay in the shadows"

A lenthy puff piece by Mary Ellen Klas: "The most influential person in Gov. Rick Scott’s inner circle is unknown to most people in Florida, including Tallahassee’s political elite who make it their job to know everything."

That’s because Enu Mainigi, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer and the governor’s confidante, prefers to stay in the shadows. ...

Mainigi is a devoted Republican, but acknowledges she is more socially moderate than Scott. She’s married to John Walke, a Democrat and director of the clean air program for the National Resources Defense Council.

Ricky wants 500,000 more registered RPOFers

"Scott implored nearly 200 St. Lucie County Republicans on Friday that the party needs 500,000 more registered voters statewide. The additional voters are needed to ensure the GOP's dominance in the state government, to unseat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and to further the conservative agenda, he said." "Scott attempts to rally GOP voter registration during dinner in Port St. Lucie".

SunRail spurs

"When Gov. Rick Scott gave the green light for building SunRail — the commuter train linking DeLand with Poinciana through downtown Orlando — the good news wasn't limited to those along the Interstate 4 corridor." "SunRail's approval spurs talk of link to Lake, northwest Orange".

"Romney may be able to have it both ways"

"Looks like Mitt Romney may be able to have it both ways on the Florida GOP's Presidency 5 straw poll in September. On the one hand, Romney has declared he won't be campaigning for Florida's straw poll in Orlando, or others elsewhere. But Romney is making sure he spends a lot of time with Presidency 5 straw poll voters just before it takes place." "In for straw poll".

You can thank Ricky for this

"SunRail costs up by almost $5 million because of Scott's delay".

"Not suspicious types"

"Talk about an early start. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater last week opened a campaign account to start raising money for 2014. Good thing we're not suspicious types. Otherwise we'd be speculating about whether someone was amassing money for a re-election campaign knowing he could transfer it to a gubernatorial campaign should the opportunity present itself." "2014 fundraising".

Rubio's Teabaggery

"One of Marco Rubio's first national backers in his seemingly quixotic campaign against Charlie Crist was Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina. Now Rubio has written the forward to DeMint's new book about the tea party movement, The Great American Awakening: Two Years That Changed America, Washington and Me." "Forward by Rubio".

Hastings asks court to throw out harassment claims

"Congressman Alcee Hastings asked a court Saturday to throw out claims that he subjected a former employee to sexual harassment and retaliation when he was co-chairman of an independent U.S. agency. The Florida Democrat said the case should be handled according to congressionally-approved administrative and judicial remedies — and not the U.S. District Court in Washington, where the plaintiff, Winsome Packer, lodged her complaint. " "Hastings calls for dismissal of sexual harassment case".

Obama's ambassador hits town

"Jon Huntsman, former Utah governor and ambassador to China, makes his first visit to the Tampa area." "Huntsman visits Bay area, believes record will win GOP voters".

Contracts awarded to companies linked to Workforce board members

"Florida's 24 regional work-force boards pride themselves on helping unemployed Floridians get back on the job. But they're also pretty good at finding work for their board members." "State work-force agencies gave board members big contracts".

Barriers to Hispanic health care access

"Research conducted by California Latinas for Reproductive Justice shows that immigrant women feel their culture is creating a barrier to proper health care access." "Survey: Latinas say 'service providers not understanding their culture' is a barrier to health care access".

Nelson holds Puerto Rican town hall

"Democrat [sic]* leaders, including U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, held a town hall meeting Saturday to listen to the concerns and garner the support of Puerto Ricans living in Central Floirda [sic]." "Nelson, other Dems reach out to Puerto Ricans in Orlando".

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*The alleged journalist who penned this piece is less than informed about the names of the major U.S. political parties: it is the "Democratic" Party not "Democrat" Party. As explained in an old New Yorker column by Hendrik Hertzberg, "there’s no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. 'Democrat Party' is a slur, or intended to be—a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are subjective, of course, but 'Democrat Party' is jarring verging on ugly. It fairly screams 'rat.' At a slightly higher level of sophistication, it’s an attempt to deny the enemy the positive connotations of its chosen appellation." "The 'ic' Factor".

"Gasbags posing as seasoned courtroom veterans"

Carl Hiaasen: "A true headline among the flurry of stories posted on Yahoo following the Casey Anthony verdict: 'Kim Kardashian weighs in.' It’s fairly horrifying that anyone gives a rat’s ass about Kim Kardashian’s take on the Anthony case. On the other hand, she couldn’t be more clueless than some of the motor mouths who landed TV gigs as 'legal experts' during the trial coverage."

Never have the airwaves and bandwidths of this country been so clogged with gasbags posing as seasoned courtroom veterans, or lightweight has-beens seeking to jump-start their careers.

High on Casey-mania, cable networks such as HLN were frantic to fill airtime with talking heads, and by the end of the trial you wondered if they were just yanking random lawyers out of the hallways and shoving them in front of the camera.

"Sentimental journey"

The Miami Herald editors: "With last shuttle flight, Florida must hustle to keep and grow an $8 billion business". "Sentimental journey".

Courtesy of the "values" crowd

"At an age when most professionals hit their peak earning years, [this teacher] is now trying to figure out if he can still afford basic cable TV, Friday night pizza and the cellphones that keep him in touch with his teenage daughters." "Salary setbacks test teachers' love for the job".

"Orange County to lead the state in growth"

"Orange County is expected to lead the state in growth for the next 30 years, adding nearly 670,000 residents by 2040, according to the latest projections from theUniversity of Florida." "Orange expected to lead Florida growth next 30 years".

Palm Beach Post hit piece on firemen

In an unbalanced hit piece on fire-rescue personnel, The Palm Beach Post whinges that "more than half of Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue's employees were paid over $90,000 [presumably pretax] in the 2010 budget year, according to a Palm Beach Post analysis of the department's payroll. ... The department serves property owners in unincorporated areas and 17 municipalities." "More than half of county's fire-rescue employees earn more than $90,000".

The story carefully fails to mention how many hours a week - over and above 40 hours - these fire-rescue personnel work (hence the reference to annual salary rather than hourly rates); whether the numbers cited are gross, pretax income; how much was overtime is included in the calculations; and conveniently neglects to mention the 3% pay cut received on July 1 due to the FRS legislation in Tally. Also unmentioned is how frequently the average fire-rescue worker is up to her elbows in our blood, urine, vomit and feces as they save our corpulent No dearth of girth in Florida">asses.

Meanwhile, "Many South Florida cities amass large reserve funds".

Graham likes Iorio

"We asked former Sen. Bob Graham who the future strong statewide Democratic candidates are, and, intriguingly, he tossed out just one name. ... Pam Iorio". "Bob Graham names one promising Democrat for Florida: Pam Iorio".

"Crass thoughts"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Not that local officials are thinking of anything other than public safety when they install red-light cameras, but maybe they should entertain the crass thought -- for the first time, no doubt -- that these cameras will not turn out to be the ATMs of law enforcement." "Traffic cameras won't end budget woes".