With Republicans controlling the Senate, it appears Democrats will be hard-pressed to flip the chamber next year. So far, most Republican incumbents in the Senate are cruising to victory in 2014 with next to no Democratic opposition.

But if Brandes can expect a fight, the same can’t be said of any of his fellow Senate Republicans in 2014. Democrat Scott Landry has been in the race for a few months now but he hasn’t given Tom Lee a reason to sweat yet. Joe Negron can expect a spirited primary challenge from underdog Brandon Michael Cannon over poker rooms and gambling but there’s no Democrat in the race yet. Jack Latvala should have no problem dispatching Zahid Roy in the primary yet again.

But most Senate Republicans have nothing to fear so far in 2014. The likes of Republicans Greg Evers, Aaron Bean, John Thrasher, Dorothy Hukill, David Simmons, Thad Altman, Wilton Simpson, Bill Galvano, Nancy Detert, Lizbeth Benacquisto, Rene Garcia and Miguel Diaz de la Portilla have not even drawn opponents yet. Granted, that could change but, with less than a year to go, most Republican incumbents have little to worry about in 2014.

Hedging his bets

"Morgan & Morgan invests heavily in politics, not just to Democrats but also Republicans who in recent years have much more say in how far state leaders go in curbing lawsuits. "

Since 2010, the firm has given about $175,000 to the Florida Democratic Party and nearly $200,000 to the Florida GOP. Morgan, a registered Democrat, calls himself a big supporter of state Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Trinity, in line to be Florida House speaker, and calls Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi "one of my closest friends."

"The old party never forgives"

Nancy Smith: "Candidates can be moderate and still win elections, but the ones who do it by switching parties and feigning middle-of-the-road principles plain turn voters off."

The old party never forgives, the new party never trusts. That's just how it is.

And, by the way, I'm not talking specifically about Charlie Crist. There are more shameless ship-jumpers out there than just Charlie filing papers to run and making holier-than-thou speeches about what they believe.

Campaigns work 'round the holidays

"The special election to fill the late C.W. 'Bill' Young’s seat in Congress is riddled with numerous challenges for the candidates, not the least of which is having to campaign during the holidays." "District 13 campaigns must work around the holidays".

This time, Secretary of State Ken Detzner is telling the state’s supervisors to eliminate any remote sites — such as libraries or other public buildings — where voters could drop off an absentee ballot during early-voting hours.

Detzner says his directive is meant to clarify a state law that stipulates the return of absentee ballots be restricted to the office of the supervisor of elections.

But it’s only his interpretation of the law, and state elections supervisors should challenge that interpretation before agreeing to eliminate the popular remote sites. If Detzner’s interpretation is upheld, state lawmakers should change the statute to allow for the remote sites.

The supervisors this week were once again caught by surprise by Detzner and left to wonder why they are being told to eliminate a practice that makes it easier to vote. . . .

Detzner, a member of Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, continues to spar with some elections officials over the state’s renewed effort this year to purge ineligible voters from the rolls.

During the last election cycle, the purge attempt turned disastrous when the majority of names the state sent to local elections supervisors turned out to be eligible voters mistakenly placed on the purge list.

Critics claimed the move targeted minorities more likely to vote for Democrats rather than the Republicans now in power in Tallahassee.

Those same critics say this latest directive is meant to influence the March special election for the District 13 U.S. House seat representing most of Pinellas County by making it less convenient to cast an absentee ballot. Pinellas voters cast 105,000 absentee ballots in 2012, more than any other county in the state.

Rather than make the voting process better, these moves have instead given life to claims that the state is more interested in preserving a particular party’s political power than in preserving the integrity of the vote.

The state’s meddling needs to stop.

Miami-Dade’s science teacher of the year ranked "barely effective"

"When Miami-Dade’s 2012 elementary science teacher of the year finally got her annual evaluation last May, she was confused."

Despite the top honor from her peers for her work with Howard Drive Elementary fifth graders, the official record ranked Julie Rich as barely effective due to her students’ poor test results — in reading.

“It makes no sense,” said Rich. “I’m just trying to get a fair evaluation. I felt really offended by this because I’m not even being judged by the subject I teach.”

Nor are thousands of other Florida teachers.

As the Department of Education prepares to release another batch of evaluation results Monday under the state’s new job review process, local school boards and state officials are still struggling to improve a system that judges as many as two-thirds of the state’s teachers on the test scores of students they’ve never met or on subjects they don’t teach.

“Charlie Crist for Florida,” the political committee backing the one-time Republican governor, posted contributions totaling $1.28 million on its website as of Nov. 23. The soft money includes $100,000 from the Institute of Cardiovascular Excellence in Ocala.

Crist also raked in more than $36,000 at a fundraiser last week at the home of Tallahassee trial lawyer Don Hinkle, including $15,000 from lawyer Darryl Parks. Parks is a law partner of Benjamin Crump, the attorney who represents Trayvon Martin’s parents.

However, "Scott, a Republican whose unpopularity in polls has left him vulnerable, has demonstrated no weaknesses on the fund-raising front so far: collecting $5.84 million for the same time period through his own electioneering group, Let's Get to Work." "Scott blows away Crist in first-month fundraising".

Florida's all-star empty suits

USA Today - Potential 2016 GOP candidates "Marco Rubio" and "Jeb Bush".

Scott's self-congratulatory letters

"Gov. Rick Scott has sent congratulatory letters to law-school grads, lottery winners, new-business owners and others that tout the state's advances under his watch, at a cost to taxpayers of at least $11,370."

With Scott's re-election on tap for 2014, along with his near-automatic propensity to reel off his jobs and economy mantra in public comments, don't expect the letter-writing campaign to slow or the questionable language to disappear from such messages.

The use of letters highlighting positive accomplishments isn't unusual by government agencies and elected officials, it's just that Scott hadn't always employed such a bulk of correspondence, said Susan MacManus, a political-science professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Mica peddling KSC

"NASA is in the midst of a huge yard sale at Kennedy Space Center, peddling unused hangars, assembly buildings, launch complexes and even a landing strip to commercial space companies. But at the request of U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, Congress soon may be asking whether the space agency is cleaning out the closets thoroughly enough." "Mica questions whether NASA has let go of enough unused KSC property".

"Radel scandal running its course"

Bill Cotterell: "Immediately after the revelation of Radel’s case, Democrats expressed the appropriate hope that he gets help and that rehab will work. At the same time, they recalled that Radel supported Republican efforts to require drug-testing of welfare recipients."

That’s not a precise comparison, but close enough for politics. Leaders should vote for what they consider good public policy, no matter what goes on in their personal lives. But the hypocrisy of one standard for the poor and another for the privileged was underscored by Radel’s admission.

Meanwhile, "Republicans Gear Up to Replace Trey Radel in Congress".

Charter school follies

"Sen. Clemens says he's frustrated by the battle for dollars between charter and traditional public schools. He sponsored a bill to insert a specific need requirement in the law authorizing the creation of charter schools." "Senator wants to tighten charter school focus".

Jeb Perpetuates Another Wingnut Myth About Obama

"Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) called out President Barack Obama for closing the U.S. embassy to the Vatican, questioning whether the decision was political "retribution" for Catholic opposition to the Affordable Care Act." "Jeb Bush Perpetuates Myth That Obama Is Closing The Vatican Embassy".

Week in Review

"Week in Review for Nov. 27, 2013".

Scott gettin' desperate

"Rick Scott has some thinking to do as names drop off his short list to be Florida’s next lieutenant governor, leaving two Tampa Bay Republicans in the mix. . . . It’s not the most impressive of short lists but the lieutenant governorship hasn’t exactly helped Florida politicians over the years." "Tampa Bay May Hold Rick Scott's Next Lieutenant Governor".

"Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman has confirmed she’s being vetted as a possible appointee to become Gov. Rick Scott’s lieutenant governor but stopped short of saying she would accept the job if it’s offered." "Murman flattered by Lt. Gov. consideration".

Groundwater contamination . . . no problem

"The Legislature provided about $10 million a year for the Dry-cleaning Solvent Cleanup Program at DEP until 2009 when funding was cut to $4 million for the following three years. 'Legislators do not understand or realize the potential health risk that exists,' said Phil Leary, lobbyist for the Florida Groundwater Association and an alliance of cleanup contractors." "Support urged for dry cleaning contamination sites program that saw sharp budget cuts".

Several elections supervisors also criticized the directive from Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, saying it will cause unnecessary inconvenience for absentee voters who return their ballots in person.

Pension haters in a dither

"City of Tallahassee pension plan is 91 percent funded" (similarly "the Florida Retirement System defined benefit plan, which serves 517,000 teachers, state workers, law enforcement professionals and county employees that include those for Leon, was 86.2 percent funded as of October.")

"Don't tell Nan Rich she can't win"

Nancy Smith: "Don't tell Nan Rich she can't win. She won't believe you."

This is a Democrat who knows who she is, what she wants to do and why. In her marathon, year-and-a-half run for governor of Florida, she didn't expect help from the men in her party, and certainly she hasn't had any.

'Glades

The Miami Herald editors: "Delicate balance in the Everglades" (subscription required).

FlaGOP fights for freedom to be uninsured

"GOP Attacks Florida Democrats on Obamacare".

Garcia draws another GOP challenger

Kevin Derby: "National Republicans are increasingly turning their attention to Miami-Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo to dispatch freshman U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., even as Curbelo draws another major primary opponent." "South Florida Congressional Race Heats Up".

Radel swarm

"GOP leader: Rep. Radel should step down". See also "Calls for Trey Radel's Resignation Grow Louder" and "Florida GOP chair calls for Radel to step down".

Low wage employers all atwitter

"On the heels of new unemployment figures showing a hiring surge in recent months, Florida businesses have mixed news as they consider hiring decisions for next year. The Department of Revenue released the 2014 unemployment tax rates Tuesday, showing the minimum rate will drop by 42 percent. The minimum wage, though, will jump 14 cents to $7.93 per hour starting Jan. 1. The direct wage for tipped employees will also rise 14 cents to $4.91 per hour." "Businesses to see conflicting cost pressures next year".

Florida's wildfire-beating firefighters still waiting

"Several of the people who make the money for Florida’s market-beating pension fund are getting major raises -- some as high as $25,000 -- to bring the state’s fund managers closer to what they might make on Wall Street or in other state capitals." "SBA hands out hefty pay increases".

Florida's crime-beating and wildfire-beating cops and firefighters are still waiting for their raises

Miami’s foreclosure rate falls

"Miami’s foreclosure rate falls to 9.9 percent".

Runnin' Gub'mint like a bidness

"Struggles Continue With New Unemployment Computer System".

Florida's new method for counting and calculating income to determine Medicaid, CHIP, and the Premium Tax Credits and Cost-Sharing Reductions available through the new Health Insurance Marketplace

The Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy reports that "starting January 2014, Florida will begin using the concept of Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) when determining eligibility for its Medicaid and CHIP programs."

More than just a number, MAGI is a new method for counting and calculating income under the Affordable Care Act.

Specifically, MAGI will provide a basis for aligning, simplifying and streamlining eligibility across Medicaid, CHIP, and the Premium Tax Credits and Cost-Sharing Reductions available through the new Health Insurance Marketplace.

The "translation" between the current system and MAGI is not completely straightforward, however. In fact, as a result of the differences between the two systems, some Floridians who are Medicaid-eligible under current rules will become ineligible in 2014, even if nothing about their situation changes. On the other hand, some who are ineligible under current rules will be able to qualify once MAGI is implemented.

How about proper staffing levels?

"Jim Karels led the independent investigation last summer into the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona, which killed 19 members of a firefighting "hot shots" team and was the deadliest wildfire since 1933. With Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam last week having raised concerns about a potentially difficult 2014 fire season, Karels said there are lessons from the Arizona fire that apply to Florida." "Florida Forest Service director reflects on lessons learned from Arizona wildfire deaths".

"Economic statistics aren’t all they sometimes appear to be"

Rick Scott's pals on the Tampa Trib editorial board write that "he took great satisfaction last week in the release of new jobs numbers and unemployment rates that give plenty of reason for optimism in a state hit particularly hard by the great recession. Florida added 44,000 jobs last month, more than any other state in the nation. Here in the Tampa Bay area, 7,100 jobs were added last month and nearly 40,000 over the past year, which leads the state."

However, even they acknowledge that

the positive economic statistics aren’t all they sometimes appear to be. For instance, economists say one reason the unemployment rate is dropping is because the long-term unemployed have given up looking for work and no longer show up in the statistics.

Allegations of altered calendars, private email accounts and dilatory provision of text messages

"A persistent critic of Gov. Rick Scott filed lawsuits on Monday accusing top Florida officials of flouting the state’s public records laws by failing to turn over emails and other documents."

The lawsuits contend the Scott administration altered calendars of one top aide, relied on private email accounts and waited more than a year to hand over text messages of another aide.

The lawsuit against Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi says her office refused to hand over notes from meetings Bondi kept on her iPad and didn’t provide emails from private accounts that deal with state business.

Tallahassee attorney Steven Andrews, who is embroiled in a land dispute with the governor and members of the Cabinet, said he decided to file the lawsuits after failing to get records he has been seeking for months.

Crist defends Obamacare

"Health law may take toll on Democrats at polls". See also "Crist defends Obamacare at Palma Ceia fundraiser".

Cuba suspends consular services

"In a startling move, the Cuban government's diplomatic mission in Washington announced Tuesday that it was suspending consular services until further notice — in effect no longer issuing passports or visas for travel to Cuba." "Cuba indefinitely suspends consular services in U.S.".

The documents dated in August - less than two months before the opening of online marketplaces established by President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare law - showed the agency in charge had only "recently learned" that building the financial management functions was "beyond (its) currently available resources."

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) documents shed more light on the problems facing the agency as it worked on the marketplaces established by the law commonly called Obamacare and on its revelation this week that at least 30 percent of the marketplace is still being built.

"The prospect of a delay...even for a few days, would result in severe consequences, financial and other," CMS said in a "justification and approval" document explaining the lack of competition for the contract.

The contract, valued at nearly $12 million, was awarded on August 9 to Novitas Solutions, according to the documents. Novitas has numerous contracts with CMS, including to administer doctor and hospital claims in the federal Medicare program for elderly Americans.

Just a few weeks before the financial-management contract was awarded, according to emails released last week by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, CMS officials were becoming increasingly concerned about the status of the federal insurance marketplace, asking for assurance that the lead contractor was not "going to crash the plane at take-off."

On Tuesday, CMS's deputy chief information officer, Henry Chao, author of the "crash" email, told a congressional panel that 30 to 40 percent of the federal marketplace was still under construction.

Invisible to consumers are what Chao called the "back office systems." Those include accounting and payment systems to send premiums to insurers and transfer funds to insurers that attract more than their share of customers with high medical costs.

The no-bid contract awarded to Novitas includes these systems.

Novitas is a subsidiary of Diversified Service Options, which is wholly-owned by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.

about how Novitas was awarded the contract and the work it is doing, Florida Blue spokesman Mark Wright said a company official told him, "We're not going to be able to get into this right now."

How nice to read that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is being handed no bid contracts. Background: "Blue Cross is top donor in Florida politics but its investment has produced mixed results" (the contributions since January 2013 "include $867,000 sent to Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-controlled Legislature"). That said, it was mighty big of the "Florida Blue CEO [to] Refuse[] to Play Along with David Gregory's Concern Trolling".

"Florida’s prison lockup rate higher than Cuba’s"

"There is a fast way to save big bucks on prisons, say a growing chorus of conservatives and liberals alike: Stop putting so many people behind bars." "Florida’s prison lockup rate higher than Cuba’s" (subscription required).

Woman in wheelchair shot

"S. Florida woman in wheelchair shot, wounded".

Will Rubio remain "slavishly loyal to his tea party masters?"

Stephen Goldstein: "The millions of victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines are lucky Florida's Sen. Marco Rubio and tea party-Republicans don't represent them; if they did, they wouldn't be sending help to the victims anytime soon."

Instead, they'd be playing politics — dithering, posturing, and holding aid hostage until they got cuts in some program that helps poor kids or ailing seniors.

Impossible as it may be for civilized people with a moral compass to imagine, the sight of dazed, destitute, injured, dying and helpless people, through no fault of their own, doesn't seem to affect people of a certain disposition (aka tea party Republicans); their empathetic screws are loose, if they ever even had them.

Shedding crocodile tears, Rubio said he "watched with great sadness as Hurricane Sandy hit various eastern seaboard states and destroyed towns, property and lives." He "offered . . . prayers that the people impacted by Sandy would find strength in God's love and the company of their loved ones in its aftermath."

They'd better merit divine intervention, because Rubio lifted a finger, but it wasn't to help them. He claims he's opposed to holding natural disaster relief hostage to cuts in social programs. In his first chance to help, he voted against "the Hurricane Sandy supplemental bill . . .

It took Congress three months to approve a $50.7-billion aid package. But, even then, in his second chance to show a smidgen of human decency, Rubio voted against it — along with 35 other tea party Republicans in the Senate and 179 House members. A year after Sandy struck, many victims are still destitute, their homes still not rebuilt, their lives shattered.

First, South Florida suffers unthinkable devastation from a storm like Sandy. . . .

And second, I'm afraid that we'd be treated no better than the victims of Sandy, by tea party/GOP members of Congress, who'd block aid from getting to us — and by insurance companies replacing Citizens who sold us policies that don't really cover us. Where will Marco Rubio be when Floridians need him? If there's any pork in a Florida relief bill, will he refuse to vote for it and remain, as usual, slavishly loyal to his tea party masters? Or will he hold his nose and abandon his "principles" in the interest of suffering Floridians? Or will he do none-of-the-above and "watch with great sadness," "offer prayers" and hope we find "strength in God's love"?

We have reached a moral low-point in America, when everything that has been our collective strength slowly but surely has been eroded. Government, which has historically been the protector of all people, has been vilified as our common enemy. No one knows for sure what's left that we can rely upon or how much of our social and emergency infrastructure has been compromised or dismantled.

Perhaps Rubio has the answers. If not, maybe he'll shed some of his hallmark crocodile tears.

Rubio laff riot

"Florida's Sen. Rubio targets foreign policy, decries divisive Obama".