The New Yorker's Ian Crouch has perhaps the best take on "Rubio's parched performance and water-seeking squat":

By the second minute of Marco Rubio’s official Republican response to the President’s State of the Union address last night, it was clear that the Senator’s body was betraying him. His lips caught each other in the way they do at moments of stress, when we are suddenly confronted, after long lapses of unthought, with the actual mechanics of speech. Under the hot lights, Rubio’s mouth went dry. A few minutes later, sweat trickled down his right temple, and he moved his hand instinctively to wipe it away. The dry mouth persisted, and, at times, his eyes flashed with a kind of pleading and mounting desperation: the speech was less than halfway over, with words and words to go. His hands, already large in the frame when he kept them low in front of him, flashed a few times to his lips. And then back to his temple.

By the eighth minute, he seemed to have adjusted, and it looked as if he might push through to the end. But then, three minutes later, he made a gamble and reached for a water bottle offscreen: he lurched down to his left and fumbled a bit, making a terrifyingly intimate moment of eye contact with the audience before taking a quick sip from an unfortunately tiny bottle and then ducking to put it back. He quickly returned to his speech, and spun out the final few minutes. But, by then, those eyes had turned faintly sad; while continuing to perform the words, Rubio looked as though he knew he’d made a mistake, and that all anyone would remember in the morning would be the image of him stooped to the edge of the frame, sheepishly grasping for the smallest plastic bottle of water in the District of Columbia.

It was a defensible act, and perhaps several minutes overdue, but physically clumsy to such a magnificent degree that it smudged out the actual meaning of everything he had said before and everything he would say after. That such a thing could happen, that Rubio’s very human need for water in a time of stress could become the defining moment of a fourteen-minute policy speech, will be cited by many contrarians as further evidence of the shallowness and vapidity of the media class and of the public at large.

Well, fine, but that’s scoring easy points—and no one will suggest that what Rubio said about the housing crisis, government spending, or which party cares more about solving the immigration crisis is somehow not important or worth discussing. But it is significant, too, that the people watching the speech, people who are at once an audience to entertainment and participants in the civic enterprise, found it so transfixing. Twitter, which gives quick voice to the American cultural id, was the venue for a flood of mocking and gleeful gut responses. (The best, for my money, came later, from the flop-sweat extraordinaire Albert Brooks: “I didn’t see Marco Rubio’s speech but I just got a residual check.”) Yet the flexing cleverness may have obscured a deeper feeling that we, as seasoned viewers of bland and staged political theatre, had just made an uncomfortable personal connection that we were not expecting, and did not enjoy.

Watching the video for a second time this morning, with the full knowledge of what is to come, the entire thing takes on added drama and weight, which suggests that it may linger not merely as a “Nixon moment” in political history but as a durable Web artifact. Rubio’s body seems locked in a struggle that we know he is sure to lose. If the video makes it across the threshold of a few news cycles of late-night mockery, it will be because of those eyes, which give us, in just a few minutes, a full narrative arc of dread, desperation, decision, and regret.

The Rubio crowd just doesn't get it. The Tampa Trib's Joe Henderson - who apparently wants to insinuate himself with the (previously) ascendant We-Luv-Marco crowd - wonders what all the fuss is about. He acknowledges that the "national TV stage is a bad place to have a case of cottonmouth when you're trying to look cool and presidential, and so Marco Rubio's clumsy water-bottle grab was funny for a moment."

Nevertheless, Henderson is quick to praise Rubio's predictable gaffe-control-efforts:

He immediately poked fun at himself and proved he can take a punch — or, in this case, a punch line, most of which came in the 9,200 tweets per minute that went out via Twitter right after watergaffe. He turned a negative into a positive through humor and a clever fundraiser.

He has started selling refillable bottles for his political action committee. For $25, you get a squirt bottle with the name "Rubio" on the outside, along with the message "Send the liberal detractors a message that not only does Marco Rubio inspire you … he hydrates you, too."

Andres Oppenheimer refrains from overt cheerleading, and actually acknowledges that "Rubio missed his chance", but wants his readers to know that

Rubio may recover from his “water-bottle gate,” because I found in my own experience interviewing him that he’s an intelligent, good-natured politician who will surely put this awkward moment behind him with a mix of self-depreciating humor and smart policy proposals.

not so sure he will be the “savior” who can reconnect the Republican Party with Hispanics, women, and other sectors of society unless he distances himself from his party’s right-wing extremists on immigration, gun violence, women, and other social issues, while continuing to stick to the Republicans’ small-government philosophy. Rubio’s problem wasn’t the water. It was the message!

Week in Review

"Week in Review for Feb. 11 to Feb. 15". See also "Weekly Roundup: Jim Greer Soap Opera, We Hardly Knew Ye".

"Jeb returns"

Tom Jackson: "Jeb returns; exclamation point to follow?"

No reports of golf carts filled with hookers

On the heels of the Republican Party of Florida narrowly avoiding having to answer some tuff questions in the Greer case - like "were prostitutes indeed present during a [men only] fundraising trip to the Bahamas"? - the Tampa Trib can't resist trumpeting Obama's "boys' weekend" in Florida:

"Faced with a lonely weekend of rattling around the White House without his wife and daughters, President Barack Obama arranged a golf outing with some buddies. In Florida. . . . It's a weekend with the boys, presidential style." "Obama treats himself to boys' weekend in Florida".

Crist has "no comment"

"The ex-husband of former Florida first lady Carole Crist has been granted full custody of their two daughters, after alleging that she abandoned them and hasn't returned messages in nearly two years."

Mrs. Crist and ex-husband Rome had joint custody until Feb. 1 when a family court judge in New York granted him temporary full custody. Rome said he may seek full custody permanently.

"She probably will not fight it, because she didn't fight this one,'' he said.

Neither Charlie nor Carole Crist could be reached for comment Friday, and a local attorney for Mrs. Crist said they would have no comment.

Did you know Carole Crist has two children by her ex-husband, Blue Star Jets CEO Todd Rome? Probably not. How would you? Neither she nor her husband Charlie are ever seen with them.

And that's the problem now. Carole apparently has "mommy issues" -- as in "I don't want to be one."

As in, "I'm a deadbeat mom."

All of a sudden, people are beginning to notice there are people in her life conspicuous by their absence.

Florida missed a Friday deadline

"Florida missed a Friday deadline to sign up for a partnership with President Barack Obama’s administration to operate a health exchange, an online marketplace that is required for each state under the 2010 federal health care law." "Feds will run Florida health exchange after state misses another deadline".

Runnin' gub'ment like a bid'ness

"Citizens agrees to reform travel after report raps $633 hotel nights in Bermuda".

"Florida ranks at the bottom of Southern states"

"With 37.6 percent of Floridians saying they are 'very religious,' Florida ranks at the bottom of Southern states, according to the latest Gallup Poll. Mississippi, with 58 percent of its residents classified as very religious, tops the region and the nation." "Gallup Poll: Florida is least religious state in the South".

Thirsty "savior of the Republican Party" sits on his hands as seas rise

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "If only South Florida's 50 state lawmakers would join forces to address issues of key regional concern, something significant might get done. After all, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach Counties are home to 30 percent of the state's population. How can we be ignored?"

State Rep. Mark Pafford, who chairs the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation, deserves credit for bringing half the region's delegation together. For if ever there were an issue that should galvanize our representatives and senators, it is the disproportionately high risk we face from climate change because of our low elevation and rising sea levels.

The Atlantic Ocean is expected to rise at least a foot along Florida's southeast coast between 2040 and 2070, according to projections outlined in a 2012 report by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.

That's enough to put 81 miles of South Florida roads, power plant properties and roughly $4 billion in beachfront homes under water.

Already, Key West has seen a sea level rise of nine inches in the past 100 years.

While some still doubt whether human activity has anything to do with climate change, it's past time for the rest of us to deal with the reality around us.

Many South Florida communities are grappling with ways to protect their shorelines. In Delray Beach, officials are seeking state approval to renourish storm-ravaged public beaches. In Fort Lauderdale, officials are reducing the number of lanes on State Road A1A because of the coastal devastation. In Palm Beach County, commissioners scuttled a breakwater proposal because of its impact on sea turtles.

Across the region, there's talk of raising seawall heights, moving drinking-water wellfields farther inland and imposing tougher development regulations along the coast.

While responsible action is being taken locally, at a national level, members of Congress continue to sit on their hands. Just last week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio acknowledged climate change is a global problem, but questioned whether our nation should do something about it since the world's largest polluters — China and India — impose no limits on carbon emissions. "The United States is a country, not a planet. If you did all these things they're talking about, what impact would it really have?"

Better if Rubio, the so-called "savior of the Republican Party," put aside tired talking points and took to heart the words of India's late spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, who so rightly said: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Joe jumps

"Joe Martinez, the former Miami-Dade Commission chairman who lost his bid to become county mayor last year, said Friday that he intends to run against U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia in 2014. . . . Martinez’s name has been floated in political circles in connection with the 26th Congressional District since Garcia, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Republican Rep. David Rivera in November. The district extends from Kendall to Key West." "Joe Martinez says he’ll challenge Joe Garcia".

"Few decline money"

The Palm Beach Post editors write that "Lots of politicians decry money, but few decline money." "Menendez, Melgen: The wrong way for a politician to say thank you".

Legislature needs to stop bowing to disingenuous special interests

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett moved quickly last week, promising to clean up a privatized tutoring scheme two days after the Tampa Bay Times disclosed how the arrangements had enriched criminals and cheats by millions of dollars with no proof it had helped students."

But the real solution would be for the Florida Legislature to stop bowing to a disingenuous special interest and abolish the program, as the federal government agreed the state could do a year ago. Lawmakers should redirect the millions flowing to a corrupt, privatized education plan to the state's 67 public school districts that can best decide how to provide help to poor students.

The Miami Herald editorial board writes that many of these privatized "tutoring firms are run by criminals, corporate lackeys and swindlers trying to make a quick buck." "Million dollar giveaway".

Bought and paid for

Bill Cotterell: "Ballard Partners is the new king of Capitol hill as the firm posts a total of $5.4 million from its 90 clients. A total of $121 million was reported in payments for lobbying this past year." "Lobbyists report earnings of $121 million for 2012". "Florida lobbyists earned more than $120 million last year in an effort to pass and defeat bills in the Republican-controlled Legislature, reports show."

An analysis of year-end reports filed this week showed that some of the biggest spenders on lobbyists were those with the most to lose or gain in the halls of the state Capitol.

This allows Republicans to publicly crow about what a bum he was while privately rejoicing that he didn't air their dirty laundry.

It was the same with Greer's handpicked legislator, Chris Dorworth.

After voters tossed Dorworth out of office last fall, Tallahassee Republicans began proclaiming how he was emblematic of ethical problems in this state.

Senate President Don Gaetz even cited Dorworth by name after accusing some legislators of using their political committees to "subsidize their filet-mignon lifestyles."

Really, Don? I mean, I agree. But back when media reported this — when Dorworth was still in office — most of you guys didn't say squat.

In fact, when I wrote about Dorworth's shady spending, one legislator fired back with a strongly worded op-ed about how wrong I was, and all the ways Dorworth "impresses" his legislative peers.

That Dorworth defender was State Rep. Matt Gaetz … Don's son.

Listen, there are some respectable Republicans in this state. I think Gaetz is one of them. (The father, that is.)

But if Florida Republicans want citizens to take their newfound commitment to ethics seriously, they need to start speaking out against bad behavior when it happens — not just when it's easy.

Rubio not ready for prime time

Marco Rubio's monumentally bad performance in his response to the State of the Union Address - wherein he was "sweating like Nixon" - has overshadowed the monumentally bad message he attempted to convey in his "speech".

Paul Krugman put it this way: "the G.O.P. reply, delivered by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, was both interesting and revelatory. And I mean that in the worst way. For Mr. Rubio is a rising star, to such an extent that Time magazine put him on its cover, calling him 'The Republican Savior.' What we learned Tuesday, however, was that zombie economic ideas have eaten his brain."

In case you’re wondering, a zombie idea is a proposition that has been thoroughly refuted by analysis and evidence, and should be dead — but won’t stay dead because it serves a political purpose, appeals to prejudices, or both. The classic zombie idea in U.S. political discourse is the notion that tax cuts for the wealthy pay for themselves, but there are many more. And, as I said, when it comes to economics it appears that Mr. Rubio’s mind is zombie-infested.

Meanwhile, "Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s political action committee, Reclaim America, is hitting back at what it says is excessive coverage of his famous water break during his State of the Union response speech — it’s selling Rubio water bottles." "Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s political action committee, Reclaim America, is hitting back at what it says is excessive coverage of his famous water break during his State of the Union response speech — it’s selling Rubio water bottles." See also "Marco Rubio’s PAC: Drink Water to Send Liberals a Message".

Voting reform bill

"A proposal designed to expand early voting days and limit the length of ballots unanimously passed a House subcommittee Wednesday, but Democrats warned the measure would need to change to continue to attract bipartisan support." "House panel passes voting reform bill". See also "Dems want into the election-reform game".

See also "Obama, Nelson join push to rein in long voting lines". Related: "Federal election commission may take back seat to Florida reforms".

Scott crows

"Rick Scott: Verizon’s Growth in Lake Mary is ‘Proof We have Made the Right Choices’". See also "Democrats Trying to Plant Spikes in Rick Scott’s Manufacturing Tax Breaks".

Whistle blower "calling foul" on campaign finance reform

"The man who blew the whistle on former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer is now calling foul on House Speaker Will Weatherford's self-described campaign finance reform."

"It's the same old money laundering and money hiding approach that's been in place as long as I can remember in Florida politics,'' said Allen Cox, former vice chairman of the Republican Party and the man who exposed Greer's secret strategy to steal party funds.

Cox said he hoped Greer's case would serve as a catalyst to end the tradition of legislators using party funds to skirt state law and live lavish lifestyles. Greer on Monday pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering charges for setting up a consulting firm and steering party money to his personal account.

A bill moving through the House attempts to crack down on political slush funds known as Committees for Continuous Existence, which legislators use to cut themselves checks and get around a 10-year-old law that bans legislators from accepting meals, travel and entertainment from lobbyists. The proposal bans the committees and imposes new disclosure rules on spending done by political committees and candidates. The legislation is a priority for Weatherford.

Absent from the bill, however, are any rules that would require the state's two dominant political parties to disclose details of how they spend millions of dollars in contributions. Cox thinks that will encourage legislative leaders to continue to use their parties to finance dinners, travel and entertainment — and escape public scrutiny.

Now he's all-about-bipartisanship?

"Jeb Bush didn’t say whether or not he’s likely to run for president in 2016, but in a speech at Saint Leo University he did suggest the late Lyndon Johnson would be a role model." "Former Gov. Jeb Bush talks immigration, bipartisanship in Florida". See also "Jeb Bush gets warm reception during return to capital".

Here's a real yawner: "Jeb Bush discusses public school alternatives with Florida legislative leaders". See also "Jeb Bush touts "parental trigger" in Capitol homecoming".

Was Greer paid to plead guilty?

"For three years, former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer denied doing anything wrong and promised a trial that would embarrass a lot of people. So why did he plead guilty to five felonies Monday, facing the certainty of spending years in prison?"

And who paid Hank Coxe, a widely respected criminal defense lawyer from Jacksonville who parachuted in at the last minute and quietly negotiated the plea that brought the long-running soap opera to a close? Coxe was in the courtroom when Greer pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering charges but did not speak and did not formally file a notice of appearance with the court.

For more than two years, Damon Chase, the Lake Mary civil lawyer who represented Greer, hurled insults at party officials insisting the investigation was an attempt to destroy Greer. Chase even predicted that everyone would die in the end like a Shakespearean tragedy. Instead, Chase stood silently beside Greer as he answered, "Guilty, your honor'' five times.

If someone decided to make a philanthropic gift of money to help Greer pay a lawyer or help his wife and five children, it would not be against the law, Cox said. . . .

Asked if anyone had paid money to Greer in return for his guilty plea, Chase responded by email: "I can neither confirm nor deny it. Sorry.''

[Delmar] Johnson, who took an immunity agreement to testify against Greer, said: "I think he was paid. I couldn't imagine why else he would make that change. But I don't think any of us will ever know.''

Using Charlie to motivate GOP donors

"The Republican Party of Florida is using the possibility of former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist running for his old job as a Democrat to motivate donors." "State GOP uses Crist's potential run to raise money".

"If you can't win fair, change the rules"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board: "If you can't win fair and square, change the rules."

Florida is a prime example of this phenomenon -- as is often the case with underhanded efforts to influence election results.

President Barack Obama carried the state, and registered Democrats outnumber Republicans here. Yet Republicans hold a 17-10 advantage in Florida's congressional delegation, a 26-14 advantage in the state Senate and a 76-44 advantage in the state House.

State legislative leaders say the 2012 redistricting process was transparent and resulted in maps designed without regard to party interests.

But emails obtained by The Associated Press show that party officials worked with political consultants in drawing districts. The emails show that consultants routinely traded information about redistricting and how it would affect Republican incumbents, The AP reported last week.

This all happened after state voters approved the "Fair Districts" constitutional amendments meant to remove partisanship from the creation of maps.

Murphy on reducing the deficit

"Saying they are 'committed to a new era in Congress where bipartisan solutions are the norm,' newly elected U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, and 31 other freshmen from both parties joined Thursday to endorse a bipartisan statement of principles on reducing the deficit." "Jupiter's Murphy leads bipartisan group of U.S. House freshmen for deficit reduction".

Collins report mere hackery?

"A major study questioning the financial health of local governments' pension programs came under fire in a Florida House committee Wednesday, with one analyst saying it was 'way off.'" "Study that faults health of local pension funds is criticized".

More: "Actuarial and financial investment experts told lawmakers Wednesday that an oft-quoted study by two non-profits is exaggerating the problems facing pensions for city and county workers throughout Florida." ("Actuarial and financial investment experts told lawmakers Wednesday that an oft-quoted study by two non-profits is exaggerating the problems facing pensions for city and county workers throughout Florida.")

Which makes one wonder: who paid for the Collins report in the first place? Here's a hint: the right wing, pension haters at "TaxWatch" are up to their elbows in it. See "Our new joint report with FloridaTaxWatch - 'Looking At Florida's Municipal Pensions' - February 2013".

Moreover, Florida State - which houses the Collins Institute - has a sordid record with respect to funding issues. See "FSU Accepts Funds From Charles Koch In Return For Control Over Its Academic Freedom". The Tampa Bay Times editors put it this way:

Florida State University's economics department needs to reconsider its relationship with billionaire Charles G. Koch, who pledged $1.5 million to the school as long as professors hired with the money hew to Koch's Libertarian philosophy. The arrangement reeks of pandering and undermines academic freedom, the cornerstone of American higher education.

Under the terms of a 2008 deal with the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, FSU's economics department is scheduled to receive $1.5 million over six years to hire professors. But faculty members hired with foundation money must be approved by an advisory committee handpicked by Koch. That means Koch effectively holds veto power, an arrangement rarely found in the academic community and that threatens independent thinking.

Scott beckoning lobbyists to the Governor’s Mansion

"When Rick Scott captured the Republican nomination for governor in 2010, he openly made fun of lobbyists backing his opponent for 'crying in their cocktails.' But as he seeks a second term and needs to raise tens of millions of dollars, Scott not only has made peace with lobbyists, but he is beckoning them to the Governor’s Mansion to help get his agenda through the Legislature." "Gov. Rick Scott turns to lobbyists to help push his agenda".

Corporate shills at work

"Legislative leaders who want to make newly hired public employees join an investment fund similar to the 401(k) plans in the private sector -- rather than having the guaranteed monthly pensions now favored by four out of five government workers -- got a tactical boost Thursday from Florida TaxWatch." "Pension swap gets a boost".

"Reality of sea level rise"

"South Florida delegations urged to recognize reality of sea level rise".

"We’re not in Eustis anymore, Toto"

Fred Grimm writes that Rick "Scott seems to have mistaken the $70 million he spent in his 2010 campaign with political genius. Winning an election with less than 50 percent of the vote in an election with less than a 50 percent turnout ought not to be the stuff of great hubris."

Ah, but as Shakespeare’s Rick lamented, “What do I fear? Myself? There’s none else by. Richard loves Richard; that is, I and I.”

Rick, a political novice after all, mistook the noise generated by tea party crazies in an off-year election for something more substantial.

It wasn’t just that he whacked $5 billion out of the state budget, laid off thousands of state workers and made unseemly cuts to education, leaving Florida school teachers among the lowest-paid in the nation. It was that he did it which such glee, unveiling his budget two years ago before cheering tea party activists at Eustis and The Villages (a place in the news lately because locals think their electric meters are part of a United Nations takeover conspiracy.)

We’re not in Eustis anymore, Toto (that’s my line, not Shakespeare’s). Governors, in a state like Florida, got to govern the whole damn shebang. Our King Richard seems to have figured this out. Scott has finally endorsed rolling back the so-called “voter reforms” that led to hours-long waits at urban polls.

And Scott’s proposed budget suggests a $1.2 billion increase in public school funding, including $480 million to provide $2,500 annual raises for those once-disparaged teachers. He’s bumping up the money for higher education, earmarking $75 million for the Florida Forever land-buying program and budgeting $60 million toward Everglades restoration. None of these line items are much palatable to the tea party. But he’s not running for the post of tea party martyr.

There are mean cuts in his budget, to be sure — 3,647 state jobs would be eliminated. State workers are looking at their seventh straight year without a raise. Scott shorts both mental health and substance-abuse-prevention programs. But at least he’s not couching these miseries as political triumphs. “ No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity,” as that other Richard said. Of course, he said that not long before he was clubbed and stabbed to death by an army of his unhappy constituents.

The rehabilitation of Rick Scott still seems a formidable task, though his handlers have something that poor Richard III’s champions lacked in their centuries-long rehab efforts — a $100 million campaign war chest.

But his tea party allies must be feeling much betrayed by his sudden lurch toward political moderation. And his enemies, inside the party and out, will be out to further sully his reputation before next year’s primaries.

Florida remains first in foreclosures

"Florida first in foreclosure woe for fifth straight month".

"The skids are greased"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The Florida Legislature’s House Government Operations Subcommittee last week approved a bill that Chairman Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, characterized as making 'minimal changes' to the Florida Retirement System (FRS), which covers state employees, many county employees, first-responders and teachers."

Starting Jan. 1, the bill would bar newly hired employees from entering the most popular program the FRS offers. That “defined benefits” program, which covers more than 500,000 employees, offers a guaranteed retirement payout. House Bill 7011 would not affect current employees, but would put all new employees into 401(k)-type “defined contribution” plans. They are not guaranteed, and as many people discovered in 2008-2009, they tank when the market does.

Florida’s is one of the most stable, well-funded retirement systems in the country. If the Legislature shuts out new employees, it also shuts out the money they invest in the defined-benefit plan. To keep promises to current employees, somebody — the state, school boards, county commissions — would have to make up the difference, which would be billions of dollars over many years. . . .

The skids are greased, so the numbers might not matter.

Privatization follies

"Thus far, privatization and consolidation have not provided the cost savings Florida’s prisons officials had hoped for." "Closings costly for state prison budget".

2013 Session Outlook

"2013 Session Outlook: State and Local Administration".

"The anti-Rubio choice for tea party"

"Come 2016, Sen. Rand Paul could be the anti-Rubio choice for tea party faithful".

"So-called Christian reform school"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "The state of Florida long ago should have shut down the Lighthouse of Northwest Florida, a so-called Christian reform school whose operators have been accused of child abuse. Instead it took a Tampa Bay Times investigation to finally help trigger this week's closing." "Step up to protect children".

Contribution Limit Fight

"League of Women Voters: Don't Raise Contribution Limit". See also "Campaign expert finds House fundraising proposal troubling".

"If business did business the way the state of Florida does business"

The Miami Herald editors: "If a private business did business the way the state of Florida does business, it soon would be out of business. A report on state contracting procedures — the way the state goes about buying goods and services from the private sector — makes it clear that the system is haphazard, inconsistent and desperately in need of a thorough overhaul. . . . Among the abuses:"

• The Department of Management Services is not allowed to seek competitive bids for legal services, health services, artistic services, lectures, training and education services and substance abuse and mental health contracts — an estimated total $8.4 billion a year.

• Legislators have also carved out exceptions for 32 vendors whose services don’t have to go through the state’s Web-based contracting database, known as MyFlordaMarketPlace. This online system handles only about $1 billon of the state’s contracts.

• David Wilkins, a retired executive tapped by Gov. Rick Scott to review contracting, found a the state’s guidelines woefully inadequate. Some agencies adhere to strict performance standards, but some don’t. Uniform contract standards are non-existent, and often the providers can lowball their bid to get in the door and then file cost overruns.

• If a vendor doesn’t deliver, often there are no penalties, either. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has spent $48 million to settle dozens of bad contracts and grants that he described as “hogwash” because the state did a poor job in cutting the deals. Mr. Atwater’s office figured it was cheaper to settle the contract at a loss than take the seller to court.

• The loophole lobbyists and their clients love: Insert language directly into legislation to get what you want. In 2012, a lobbyist close to then-House Speaker Dean Cannon wanted to allow billboards on state lands. Surreptitiously, language to get that done was inserted into a must-pass bill to fund water management districts. Next thing you know, the board that runs the Everglades had granted a company led by its own former board member a lucrative, 10-year contract to manage the so-called “public information systems” on its lands.

All Floridians — especially Republicans, fund-raisers and campaign contributors — deserve a full accounting of what happened. The party should reveal all that happened — not continue to simply blame everything on Greer, as executive director Mike Grissom did immediately after Greer's plea. . . .

All Floridians — especially Republicans, fund-raisers and campaign contributors — deserve a full accounting of what happened. The party should reveal all that happened — not continue to simply blame everything on Greer, as executive director Mike Grissom did immediately after Greer's plea.

"For the past three years," Grissom said in a statement, "Jim Greer has tried to damage the reputation of the Republican Party and its leaders, but the truth is now known that Jim Greer broke the law, stole from the (state party) and then he said and did everything he could to cover up and distract attention from his crimes. Everything Jim Greer has said and done over these past few years should be considered in that light."

Were prostitutes indeed present during a fundraising trip to the Bahamas organized by Greer and the party's then-finance chairman, Harry Sargeant III? Did the Republican Party of Florida work to suppress the votes of black people? Was Greer retaliated against because he supported former Gov. Charlie Crist's U.S. Senate bid? And what about the reports of lavish spending, including at luxury hotels and restaurants, by the party that prides itself on financial conservatism?

It's curious that Greer decided to admit wrongdoing on the morning jury selection was to begin when he and his lawyers repeatedly had said the case was bogus and that he would be cleared. But it doesn't really matter whether Greer fell "on his sword for a lot of other folks" with his guilty plea in Orlando, as one of his lawyers claimed.

Adam C. Smith: "You could practically hear the gasp of relief from Florida Republican leaders Monday when ex-GOP chairman Jim Greer pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering charges, sparing them a sordid, two-week trial."

The whole sorry story of the Florida Republican Party under Jim Greer is exhibit A on how near-absolute power, combined with astronomical campaign accounts, can and did breed breathtaking arrogance and entitlement, if not outright corruption, among party leaders professing conservatism.

Don't buy the hogwash about this being an unfortunate chapter isolated to the tenure of one buffoonish chairman hand-picked by former Gov. Charlie Crist. That is as much nonsense as Greer's contention that he was the victim of intolerant Republican hard-liners out to destroy him because he supported Crist's moderate ways.

now a Democrat, may or may not have been seriously damaged by trial testimony, but he still is tarnished. If he runs for governor again, he has plenty to answer for. He anointed Greer party chairman and ignored repeated red flags while standing by him until the end. And in his legendary enthusiasm for raising campaign money, Crist repeatedly showed suspect judgment in embracing less than savory political benefactors: longtime friend Harry Sargeant, accused of war profiteering and illegal campaign donations; convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein of Fort Lauderdale; and Alan Mendelsohn of Hollywood, now serving a four-year sentence for public corruption.

Rubio's name may not have surfaced during the trial, but he epitomized the culture of the state GOP in recent years as much as anyone. As legislative leaders today talk about reforming the campaign finance system, so politicians can no longer operate personal slush funds, they are talking about Rubio and plenty of others.

The leading candidate for president in 2016 used his party credit card to charge everything from groceries to personal flights to family reunion expenses — charges for which he had to reimburse the party [only] after they were exposed by the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald.

Rubio has declined to release two years of earlier party credit card statements, so we don't know the scope of his spending. But he has never denied telling a disenchanted former supporter, political analyst Chris Ingram of Tampa, that during that period he charged to the party card — and later paid off, he told Ingram — $4,000 to $5,000 in new flooring for his home.

Greer falls on his sword

"Update: Former Florida GOP chairman Greer pleads guilty". See also "Jim Greer: I'm guilty on five counts" and"Mike Haridopolos on Jim Greer Shocker: Vindication for Myself and RPOF".

Background: "Jim Greer Trial: The Who, What, When, Where, and Why".

The Miami Herald editors: "Guilty, your honor".

"Tallahassee, where probity goes to die"

Daniel Ruth: "In three weeks the 2013 session of the Florida Legislature will commence, otherwise known as the annual gathering of beagles rolling over to have their tummies rubbed by the Capitol's Sugar Daddy class."

There are even more professional candymen attempting to canoodle the governor's office and state agencies, with 4,925 registered influence-peddlers roaming the executive hallways.

Since 72 percent, or $50.4 billion, of the state's $70 billion budget is set aside for contracts, it is little wonder the sway of Florida's lobbying corps is pervasive and pernicious. So much money, so little time.

There are myriad reasons for the growing ooomph of lobbyists in Tallahassee, not the least of which is no other state in the Southeast dedicates more of its budget to private contractors to provide goods and services. There are more fingers in this honey pot than at a state fair blueberry pie eating contest.

Because of term limits, the Florida Legislature has become little more than a master class of money changers, training its members how to go forth and multiply as lobbyists after they are forced out of office after eight years.

It is certainly in the selfish interests of an amateur class of elected representatives who have no clue how Tallahassee works to pay deference to lobbyists. After all, lobbyists know more about writing bills, hiding appropriations goodies and avoiding public scrutiny of favors rendered.

And the term-limited politician also knows eventually he or she will need a job.

But an ideal poster child for turning one's political juice into a lucrative career as a paid huckster is former House Speaker Dean Cannon, who opened up his own lobbying business a block away from the Capitol building before his term even expired.

You might regard this sort of thing as utterly shameless. In Tallahassee, it's considered to be astute estate planning.

By Florida's gelded ethics laws, Cannon is barred from lobbying his former colleagues in the Legislature. As Richard Nixon once said, that would be wrong. Let the snickering begin. For as a practical matter that prohibition is a distinction without a difference.

Freshman class

"The freshman House class of 44 members is tied for the second-largest ever since term limits took effect in 2000. (There were also 44 new members in 2010 and 2008, and the record is 63 in 2000.)"

The freshman Senate class of 15 members, meanwhile, ranks in size behind only the freshmen classes of 2002 and 2010.

In total, the new group of legislators includes nearly the same number of Democrats and Republicans, though 10 of the 15 new senators are Republican.

"Anti-shushing" bills

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editors write that "a pair of "anti-shushing" bills filed in the Legislature would not be necessary to ensure the right of Floridians to speak before public bodies before they take official actions." "Don't 'shush' the public".

Bill would require government to sell land

"Federal and state agencies and local governments own 27.7 percent of Florida's 34.2 million acres, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection." "Hays bill would allow government to buy land only if equal amount sold".

'Glades

"Federal and state agencies and local governments own 27.7 percent of Florida's 34.2 million acres, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.".

"Federal and state agencies and local governments own 27.7 percent of Florida's 34.2 million acres, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.". See also "Federal and state agencies and local governments own 27.7 percent of Florida's 34.2 million acres, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.".

FlaBaggers claim legislative leadership support

"In light of November 2012's electoral setbacks, some are ready to write off the 'tea party' as a movement whose time has come and gone, but don’t tell that to Florida’s grassroots activists. 'I think [legislative] leadership is very supportive of what we’re doing, [even if they won’t] come out and stand at a microphone and say it,' Slade O’Brien, Florida state director of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), tells Sunshine State News." "Florida Tea Party Faithful Alive and Well, Anticipating Shining Victories from 2013 Legislature".

Committee votes to raise campaign contribution limits to $10,000

"A House plan to eliminate controversial political slush funds and raise campaign contribution limits to $10,000 in Florida won approval on a bi-partisan vote Monday. But the top priority of House Speaker Will Weatherford faces a fight. Senate critics and ethics watchdogs warn that the bill will create new loopholes, allowing political parties to control big checks with little accountability, concentrate power in the hands of incumbents, and make the system less democratic."

Those criticisms did not dissuade the House Ethics and Elections Subcommittee Monday, however, which passed HB 569 on a 10-2 vote. Democratic Reps. Katie Edwards of Plantation and Mike Clelland of Lake Mary joined Republicans who predicted the bill will result in "dramatic change." Clelland defeated Rep. Chris Dorworth, a Republican designated to become House speaker in 2014, after Dorworth’s used his political committee for personal expenses.

Mandatory Medicare cuts regardless of whether the state expands coverage

Lloyd Dunkelberger: "Sarasota could be one of the 'hardest hit' counties in the nation if Florida lawmakers don’t expand Medicaid coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act, Gwen MacKenzie, president and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System testified today."

Addressing the Senate Select Committee on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, MacKenzie said hospitals and other health-care providers are facing mandatory Medicare cuts under the federal law regardless of whether the state expands Medicaid coverage.

In Sarasota County that cut could amount to a $145 million loss in funding for the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System alone over the next decade, MacKenzie said.

Astronomer Phil Plait writes in Slate that "Picking out one United States legislator for antiscientific thinking is quite a chore since the field is so crowded."

But Marco Rubio (R-Fla) deserves a bit of extra attention; for one thing he sits on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. For another, he appears to be one of the Republican White House hopefuls for at least the next election cycle. For a third, I’m still not terribly happy about his comments on the age of the Earth.

So, given all that, when he casts doubt on the human influence on global warming, and even the existence of global warming itself, I take notice.

More: "Marco Rubio questions human impact on global warming". See also "Marco Rubio Not Convinced Climate Change An Actual Problem (VIDEO)" ("Rubio said that climate change was not a proven fact, and that even if it was, it would not be cost-effective for the U.S. to take action.").

Crist credibility an issue in Greer's criminal trial

Lucy Morgan's story today about the Florida Republican all-male outing with the "golf cart [allegedly] filled with prostitutes" also touches upon an issue that could come back to haunt Mr. Crist: back in 2009, then Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer signed a

fundraising agreement between Victory Strategies and the GOP as chairman of the party, and [Florida GOP Executive Director] Johnson signed for the newly created company.

Greer has insisted that Crist and others knew about the corporation and knew he was collecting extra money to handle fundraising after longtime fundraiser Meredith O'Rourke[*] was terminated in January 2009.

Crist, in a written affidavit on May 10, 2010, said he was not aware of Victory Strategies, did not authorize the creation of the company and did not know Greer was receiving additional money for his fundraising efforts.

Had he known of Greer's plans, Crist said he would have insisted that Greer fully disclose his involvement to the GOP's executive board.

Crist has also suggested that Greer and his lawyer, Damon Chase, were attempting to tamper with witnesses in May 2012 when Chase contacted John Morgan, the senior partner at the law firm where Crist now works.

Chase, in telephone calls and emails, pushed Morgan to get Crist to change his testimony and sign a new affidavit saying he knew Greer was getting paid extra for fundraising or face embarrassing personal questions. Chase even furnished a new version of the affidavit for Crist to sign. Chase contends he was merely trying to get Crist to tell the truth.

Morgan and Crist refused to cooperate and reported the encounter to authorities as possible witness tampering. A short time later prosecutors re-interviewed Johnson and asked about the Bahamas trip. Chase's new affidavit is now part of the evidence against Greer.

The substitute affidavit would have put Crist's testimony more in line with statements given by Sargeant, Ballard and Jay Burmer, a GOP consultant with close ties to Crist.

Sargeant and Burmer, in separate affidavits, say they were aware that Greer and Johnson had taken over fundraising and would be paid additional money. Ballard, asked about it by prosecutors in November 2011 said Crist knew Greer and Johnson had taken over fundraising duties to save money.

"He (Crist) said it would be cheaper to have, to do it this way, that whatever Delmar and Jim Greer would cost, would be compensated for, would be less money than they were currently paying out,'' Ballard testified. At the time the party was paying O'Rourke $30,000 a month for fundraising.

"I was surprised when Greer was charged with a crime relating to setting up a company to do fundraising for RPOF, as Greer and Mr. Johnson were acting with the knowledge and approval of Gov. Crist,'' Sargeant said.

In that connection, Florida's Attorney General just last week

released a deposition that contradicts a sworn statement by former Gov. Charlie Crist, who said that he did not know that then-Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer would be paid extra to raise funds for the party.

That disclosure comes four days before Greer stands trial in Orlando, charged with six crimes: fraud, money laundering and four counts of grand theft. He’s accused of funneling $125,000 in state party funds into his personal bank account.

During the lunch hour Florida’s attorney general’s released the deposition of powerful Tallahassee lobbyist Brian Ballard, a confidante of Crist and one of the major fund-raisers in Crist’s 2006 campaign for governor.

When Ballard was questioned under oath nearly two years ago, he told Greer’s attorney that he and Crist discussed revamping how the party did fund-raising and that the change would involve paying Greer extra.

“So, it was clear then in his conversation with you that he was quite aware of and approved of an arrangement for fund-raising wherein Greer … would be compensated?” asked attorney Don Lykkebak.

“That was my understanding,” said Ballard.

- - - - - - - -

*The O’Rourke matter a story in itself, and was the subject of an FDLE Investigative Report: "Men-only meetings and Greer’s thirst for power".

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Hello Managed Long-Term Care, Goodbye Crystal River Nuke Plant".

"The intergalactic capital of Medicare fraud"

"New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is at the apex of his career, the highest-ranking Hispanic in congressional history as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and one of the “Gang of Eight” senators leading the charge for immigration reforms."

Not bad for the son of pre-Castro Cuban migrants — his mother a seamstress, his father an odd-jobs carpenter — who grew up in a Union City tenement and was the first member of his family to go to college.

Menendez, 58 and a Democrat, today faces several serious allegations for his links to Salomon Melgen, a West Palm Beach eye doctor and wealthy donor under investigation by the FBI.

Carl Hiaasen provides some details: "Living in the intergalactic capital of Medicare fraud, South Floridians are accustomed to the sight of blue-jacketed federal agents swarming a doctor’s office and marching out with boxes of files."

Normally this is unpleasant news for the doctor, and so it is for Salomon E. Melgen, a prolific eye surgeon whose medical facilities in Palm Beach County were raided Jan. 29.

But it’s even worse news for Sen. Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat who is friends with Melgen. The doctor has donated a fortune to Menendez’s political campaigns, and brought the senator on vacation jaunts aboard his jet. . . .

U.S. healthcare officials have been scrutinizing the doctor’s practice for years. Of particular attention to the government was his billing methods for eye injections, laser treatments and other surgery.

For example, auditors found that Melgen was billing Medicare $6,000 to $8,000 for a vial of eye medicine for which he should have been reimbursed $2,000.

The doctor’s attorneys said he was using the same vial to treat more than one patient; therefore, multiplying the charges was proper. That explanation might have made sense to, say, a kindergarten class, but the auditors didn’t go for it.

Melgen was ordered to repay $8.9 million to the agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid. He did.

Not many ophthalmologists can write a check that large, but not many ophthalmologists have their own jet, either.

Now Melgen is appealing the case and wants that money back. Twice during his tribulations, Sen. Menendez has reached out on his friend’s behalf to key federal officials.

Initially Menendez complained that the Medicare rules for billing eye injections were too ambiguous, and in a meeting last year he suggested that Melgen was being treated unfairly.

The senator’s office told the Post that Menendez didn’t do anything wrong, and was unaware that his buddy was the subject of an active fraud investigation until the FBI raid in January.

"Are you bleepin' kidding me?!"

Scott Maxwell turns "Florida's morass of shady ethics and finance laws into a game called 'Are you bleepin' kidding me?!'" "Questions on politicians, gifts and cash".

Pigs at the trough

Mary Ellen Klas: "In the last two years, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has agreed to let the state lose $48 million. That's the amount of taxpayer money Atwater spent to settle dozens of bad contracts and grants that he said could have been avoided had the state done a better job cutting the deals." "State's flawed contracting process comes under fire".

"Even by Tallahassee standards, the scene was notable: lobbyist Brian Ballard dining with a nursing home executive, Gov. Rick Scott and a top aide at a pricey restaurant just blocks from the Capitol."

That Ballard's clout could command a private dinner with the governor for a client speaks to the influential lobbyist's fundraising finesse. Equally important is Ballard's talent for helping his clients land lucrative state contracts: $938 million this year alone, according to a Times/Herald analysis of contracts in the $70 billion state budget.

"Is that all?'' joked Ballard, who said he had never added it up. "A big part of my business is protecting contracts, and outsourcing. Outsourcing saves (the state) money."

Ballard is not alone. The lobbying offices that line the moss-covered streets of Tallahassee have grown exponentially larger in the past two decades as governors and legislators have steered a greater share of the state's budget to outside vendors.

$150 million in public money and country club memberships aren't enough

Beth Kassab: "Welcome to Florida, where state dollars are as plentiful as sunshine when it comes to padding private-sector budgets."

That was the message received by biotech outfits such as the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, lured here in 2006 with more than $300 million in state and local dollars.

Now, just seven years later, Sanford-Burnham is tapping Florida's incentive spigot again.

Apparently the lavish package that included more than $150 million in public money from the state plus money from the city and county and private donations such as memberships at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club simply wasn't enough.

Beginning this year, and for the next eight years, the state will cut an annual check to Sanford-Burnham for up to $3 million out of the state's cigarette-tax collections. Combine that with the $3 million grant the state gave the institute last year and that adds up to at least $27 million — on top of the original handout that set a local record for size and generosity.

Take a moment to pick your jaw up off the ground, and I'll try to answer why taxpayers are still being asked to prop up these biotech institutes, which were heralded as Florida's path to new wealth and prosperity.

Rumor has it the rescuers actually have pensions

"Two people were rescued from the second floor of a house by firefighters". "Two rescued as fire engulfs house in Pompano Beach".

Closing unfair loophole

The Palm Beach Post editors: "The Florida Senate’s Commerce and Tourism Committee on Tuesday advanced a measure (Senate Bill 316) that would close the unfair loophole that has cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars — if not billions — in taxes on Internet and mail-order sales. It’s about time. The trade-off was a somewhat wobbly promise of revenue neutrality. If that’s what it took to get around the phony claim that this is a 'new tax,' fine." "Make Amazon and others stop freeloading in Florida".

Privatization follies

Florida has allowed crooked tutoring companies to continue earning tax dollars year after year.

After nearly a decade, Florida last year won a waiver from the federal law that requires private tutoring. The state was set to shut down the program when lobbyists for the tutoring industry stepped in. They convinced state lawmakers to keep the money flowing.

Florida has spent $192 million on private tutoring firms in the past two years.

The companies are paid at a dramatically higher rate than conventional public schools. In the 2009-10 school year, the most recent period for which numbers are available, the state spent $9,981 per student — about $11 an hour. Florida spent $58 an hour, more than five times as much, on private tutoring.

Florida schools officials say the money could have paid for extended school days or extra instruction in high-poverty schools.

Tutoring companies, many of which meet high standards and offer quality instruction, say they provide a needed service.

But researchers disagree over whether government-funded tutoring is worth the money. Studies are inconclusive or contradictory.

The debate often takes on political undertones, with Republicans in favor of subsidized tutoring — known in education jargon as supplemental educational services — and Democrats against it.

Kids arrested for behavior that once warranted a mere trip to the office

"Thousands of Florida students are arrested in school each year and taken to jail for behavior that once warranted a trip to the principal's office — a trend that troubles juvenile-justice and civil-rights leaders who say children are being traumatized for noncriminal acts." "Thousands of student arrests alarm Florida justice leaders".

Trial may reveal sordid details of Florida GOP trip

Lucy Morgan: "They headed for Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas, most of them on private planes owned by billionaire Harry Sargeant III, then the finance chairman of the Florida Republican Party."

Those who attended have differing memories of how many were there or what occurred, and no one is very anxious to talk to a reporter about the gathering.

The five-year-old gathering has gained a life of its own in the criminal case against former Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer, who has been charged with money laundering and grand theft for allegedly diverting about $200,000 in party funds to a corporation he created. The trip itself isn't tied to Greer's legal problems, but details of the weekend could surface in testimony at his trial, which begins with jury selection Monday in Orlando, or remain secret, depending on which lawyers win out.

The Bahamas trip included an impressive outdoor seafood dinner with then-Gov. Charlie Crist, Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas Ned Siegel, Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer and a handful of Tallahassee lobbyists and big campaign donors.