Bondi has mounted a vigorous defense on Florida's behalf, saying that her job is "not to write the law, but to defend it." In response to a federal lawsuit aimed at forcing the state to recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in other states, Bondi's office delivered an awkwardly worded brief that claimed "disrupting Florida's existing marriage laws would impose significant public harm."

"Florida's marriage laws, then, have a close, direct, and rational relationship to society's legitimate interest in increasing the likelihood that children will be born to and raised by the mothers and fathers who produced them in stable and enduring family units," Bondi's office said in court documents.

That sounds like the attorney general questions whether gay couples can raise children as well as heterosexual couples, even though the courts earlier struck down Florida's ban on gay adoptions. . . .

Bondi should follow her counterparts in Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania who have refused to defend their states' same-sex marriage bans. The law once upheld slavery, denied women and blacks the right to vote, segregated schools and banned interracial marriage. In time, the courts will continue to act as they did in those situations and overturn all discriminatory same-sex marriage bans. It makes no sense to defend them, and Florida should abandon a fight it cannot win legally or morally.

Meanwhile, back in Dade County Circuit Court, the FlaBaggers are in a dither: "Opening arguments began this week at a state courthouse in Miami as a judge ponders a challenge to the Florida Constitution’s recognition of only traditional marriage in the Sunshine State."

Attorney and social conservative leader John Stemberger of Florida Family Action and Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel looked to defend the law.

“Overall, the legal arguments presented for same-sex marriage were surprisingly weak,” Stemberger insisted on Thursday. “After the first short legal argument, the other lawyers arguing spent a lot of time reading stories, citing antidotal evidence, misrepresenting the impact of multiple cases, and generally dispensing an assortment of inappropriate political rhetoric before the court. In contrast, Mat Staver had a command of the law, the Constitution, legal procedure and the social science research. His case was compelling and clear. Not surprisingly, none of the plaintiffs' gay-rights lawyers ever cited, let alone mentioned. the only clear and controlling legal precedent before the court -- Florida's Constitution and its marriage definition.”

[Apparently dissatisfied with how his "compelling and clear" argument was received by the court,] Stemberger gave Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel low marks for her handling of Wednesday’s proceedings.

Scott and Crist "spit-balling allegations of improper conduct at each other"

Aaron Deslatte: "Emissaries and critics of Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist have been busy spit-balling allegations of improper conduct at each other like it's summer school."

It's among the oldest of American political traditions: trash your opponents under the veneer of news media credence. . . .

Here are some of the claims so far: Crist improperly benefited from his close ties to Orlando super-lawyer John Morgan. Scott reaped investment gains from a French oil company involved in drilling in Collier County, which presents a supposed conflict of interest.

Democrats have filed ethics and elections complaints over Scott's use of a private airplane owned by his wife's holding company. The Republican Party of Florida has lodged a complaint with television stations that a Florida Democratic Party ad put up last month "contains intentionally false and misleading statements," by manipulating headlines to play up Scott's refusal to answer questions in a lawsuit related to the $1.7 billion Medicare fraud settlement at his old company, HCA/Columbia.

Florida polices ethics and elections violations through two commissions empowered only to investigate complaints lodged from the public. In other words, they can't self-start investigations, and they are at the mercy of clever campaigns that manipulate this process.

Before any compliant becomes the political equivalent to being "charged with a crime," the commissions have to establish the legal sufficiency of the complaint and then an early investigation must find there is "probable cause" that a law was broken. That determination can take months and usually isn't made until well after the campaign season is over. So, it makes for good strategy to fire off complaints and use them to disparage opponents, even when evidence is paltry. The substance is almost universally paper-thin. Most get dismissed without any finding of "probable cause."

Some news organizations generally try to avoid being manipulated into writing about complaints until probable cause has been found. In today's ever-compressed news cycle, many go reported but under-investigated by journalists.

He probably thinks he's entitled to a disability pension

"Officer hospitalized after shooting in parking lot."

Entrepreneurs in action

"Four Floridians convicted in N.C. mortgage fraud."

All dressed up . . .

"Thanks to a new push by local Democrats, every single sitting Republican faces a challenger this year. The question is whether that really matters when none of those challengers has any cash to spend." "Miami-Dade Democrats Get on the Ballot But Trail Big in Fundraising."

Dancing as fast as she can

Nancy Smith, in the wake of the right wing's Hobby Lobby disaster, tries to change the subject as fast as she can, writing that "the issue with Alan Grayson is a matter of character. It's a need to see leaders behave with basic decency. Grayson has failed on both counts. He offends women deeply -- this woman at least. With Grayson in tow, the Democratic Party -- so often calling itself the Party of Women and Children -- fails too." "What Alan Grayson's Divorce Antics Say about Him."

"The nation's most costly statehouse slugfest"

"Florida's gubernatorial race is already living up to predictions it will be the nation's most costly statehouse slugfest this year. So far, Gov. Rick Scott and challenger Charlie Crist have amassed a combined $54 million, with Scott holding a 3-to-1 advantage."

And the race is taking on a familiar theme of businesses vs. lawyers.

U.S. Sugar Corp., Florida Power & Light, Florida Blue, the developers of The Villages and Walt Disney World, among others, are steering millions of dollars into incumbent Republican Scott's coffers to try to defeat Democratic rival Crist.

Scott's biggest contributors belong to the industry that made him a millionaire many times over. Health-care companies, executives and employees have pumped $3.75 million into his campaign and ad-buying funds, led by Miami managed-care executive Mike Fernandez; Florida Blue; and prison health-contracting and oncology companies.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers on Wednesday released a state-by-state analysis on the consequences of states' decisions when it comes to Medicaid expansion, putting numbers to what has long been the driving motive for support among business leaders in the state: the economy. Florida, which has refused to accept $51 billion to expand Medicaid over the next 10 years, ranked second in opportunities missed for jobs, better health and economic impact.

It's past time for Scott — who ran for office on the slogan "Let's get to work" — to move off the sidelines and insist Republican legislative leaders accept Medicaid expansion money to improve the personal health of Floridians and the economic health of the state. And with the governor and Republican lawmakers ignoring the issue, voters should be prepared to hold them accountable in the fall elections.

"The White House has a Medicaid expansion argument for Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Republicans: It creates jobs."

A state-by-state report released Wednesday estimates that Florida will lose out on 63,000 new jobs, mainly in health care, from 2014-2017. That’s the three years that the federal government would have paid the entire cost of providing health care to 848,000 people.

John Romano: "In his heart, Scott might still despise Obamacare, but it seems he no longer wants to debate it. He dodges questions and has toned down his talking points."

The Council of Economic Advisers released a study on Wednesday that suggested Florida's refusal to expand Medicaid — a key component of the president's health care plan — is actually costing the state more than 63,000 jobs in the next three years.

Granted, this was a study produced by a White House group, and so there will be accusations of partisan mathematics.

But this report is not an outlier. The Florida Hospital Association commissioned a similar study by the University of Florida last year; it predicted that Obamacare would create about 122,000 jobs by 2023. Furthermore, these would be higher-paying job opportunities than we are accustomed to seeing in Florida.

And now the governor, whose mantra has been job creation, is faced with explaining why the state would willingly pass up tens of thousands of desirable jobs, not to mention why it would fail to provide preventive health care for poverty-level residents.

You might recall that the governor seemed to recognize the benefits of Medicaid expansion last year when he reversed his position and endorsed the acceptance of federal funds.

But the problem is, he has never followed up. . . .

Some might call that a flip-flop. I would suggest it is leadership.

Nearly a dozen Republican governors have championed the idea of Medicaid expansion. Instead of worrying about polls, instead of allowing the fringe of their party to dictate their decisions, instead of abandoning people in need, those governors eschewed partisan politics to do what was right for their residents.

Around here, Rick Scott no longer wants to talk about it. His silence is our loss.

Walk off

"Florida’s first openly gay legislator is automatically reelected after his GOP opponent is disqualified - her filing fee check bounced." "David Richardson, Florida’ first openly gay legislator, reelected when GOP opponent’s filing check bounces."

"GOP Cabinet incumbents build up cash"

"Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater continued building large fundraising edges over their Democratic challengers during the first three weeks of June, campaign-finance reports show." "GOP Cabinet incumbents build up cash for re-election campaigns."

Bondi stands with "Liberty Council" crowd

"Attorneys for gay couples, the state of Florida and proponents of so-called traditional marriage squared off Wednesday in a lawsuit seeking to overturn a ban on same-sex marriage enshrined in the state constitution by voters in 2008."

Attorney General Pam Bondi, whose office intervened in the case just last week, takes the position that U.S. Supreme Court rulings – including the one last year that struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act – give states sole power to define marriage. Florida defined it as between one man and one woman in the 2008 voter referendum.

"Jeb!" struggles for relevancy

"Florida Celebrates 15 Years of A+ Plan for Education."

Crist concedes his attacks on teachers union were a mistake

"A group representing the liberal wing of the state Democratic Party has issued a report that compares Charlie Crist’s and Nan Rich’s stances on education, favorably for Rich and less so for Crist. The report, by the state party’s Progressive Caucus, notes that as a former Republican, Crist backed drastic changes in education proposed by former Gov. Jeb Bush."

Crist has since said his backing of vouchers and attacks on the public school teachers union were a mistake.

What are Jeb's views on Fluoride?

DWS jumps Jebbie because he, "like most prominent members of the Republican Party, won't accept the science of climate change. When asked if he believed that global warming was primarily man-made, Bush claimed, 'I'm a skeptic. I'm not a scientist.'" "In Massachusetts, Bush and Baker Ignore Threat of Climate Change." See also "Jeb Bush Faces Political Hazards in Backing Charlie Baker."

"Tonya Harding of Florida politics" forgives all

The Scott-McCollum "primary fight was marked by nastiness."

Among other accusations, McCollum attacked Scott’s record of heading a company that committed massive Medicare fraud and Scott sought to link McCollum to former state Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, convicted of defrauding the party.

One McCollum TV ad said Scott “pocketed $300 million … ripping off taxpayers” as CEO of the Columbia/HCA hospital chain. The company had paid a $1.7 billion fine for Medicare fraud.

At one point, McCollum said Scott was spending “obscene” amounts of his own money on the campaign, accusing him of buying the governor’s office. Scott eventually spent nearly $75 million of his money on the primary and general election campaigns.

Scott, meantime, portrayed McCollum as an entrenched, self-serving politician who “spent his entire life feeding at the public trough either as a politician or as a lobbyist.”

After the Florida Department of Law enforcement began investigating another Scott health care company, Solantic, during the campaign, Scott said at a news conference “(you) abused the power of your office and abused the public trust” and called McCollum “the Tonya Harding of Florida politics.”

Scott contended in a widely criticized television ad that McCollum “backed Jim Greer’s efforts to hide financial regularities” in the state party, and asked in a newspaper ad, “What is Bill McCollum hiding?”

PC Games

"Charlie Crist’s latest left turn has drawn the critical eye of the Republican Party of Florida."

Crist’s campaign gift of a NASCAR sponsorship for Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway triggered a formal complaint from the RPOF claiming the sponsorship’s market value far exceeds the $3,000 limit for in-kind contributions to a statewide candidate.

Driver Josh Wise’s No. 98 Ford will be covered with Crist for governor artwork during the nationally televised race Saturday. Wise’s car is owned by Mike Curb, a musician and record company executive and former lieutenant governor of California. (One of Crist’s friends, Mitch Bainwol, is a former Washington lobbyist for the Recording Industry Association of America.)

The complaint, filed by RPOF executive director Juston Johnson with the Florida Elections Commission, says a previous corporate sponsorship of a Josh Wise car cost $55,000. Johnson also quotes an online post by Wise in which the driver said, “We try to get 55-60K per race.”

“Nice try,” said Crist campaign spokesman Brendan Gilfillan, who said the GOP got its facts wrong. The sponsorship was an in-kind contribution to Crist’s political committee, Charlie Crist for Florida, which is not subject to the $3,000 limit.

“We appreciate them drawing more attention to the car, though,” he said.

Gov. Rick Scott’s campaign noted that the official car-by-car entry list on NASCAR’s website lists the sponsor as “Charlie Crist for governor.” The name of Crist’s political committee is Charlie Crist for Florida — but the actual lettering on the car itself says “Charlie Crist for Florida 2014.”

The best they can do?

"Gov. Rick Scott and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera on Wednesday dashed off a missive in defense of Tampa’s last large-scale cigar factory." "Gov. Scott seeks break for Tampa’s last cigar factory."

Koch brothers stand with Rick Scott

"Gov. Rick Scott is getting help from Americans for Prosperity, which has begun phone banking and canvassing across Florida." "Koch brothers' group assists Scott campaign."

Weatherford insists on sharing his wisdom

"Even though he faces term limits in November, Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, shows no signs of heading to the sidelines as he continues to support Republicans in congressional and legislative races across the Sunshine State. Only 34, Weatherford is expected to be a future candidate for higher office." "Will Weatherford Shows No Signs of Leaving Political Stage Despite Being Term-Limited."

Scott "honors" group key to his re-election bid

"As Gov. Rick Scott tours the state this week honoring military veterans, he is honoring a bloc of voters that could help in his difficult re-election fight." "Gov. Rick Scott honors veterans, a group key to his re-election bid."

Florida spends $5M to lease test questions from Utah

"When students take a new standardized exam next year, many of the questions they'll tackle will come from Utah — despite a push for a 'test specifically designed for Florida's needs.'"

Florida will spend more than $5 million to lease test questions from Utah. The deal will help the state roll out its new Florida Standards Assessment as planned next spring — a timeline officials concede would be hard to meet if they had to develop and then field test their own questions.

But the decision has prompted critics to suggest Florida is moving too quickly to replace FCAT.

Florida is leasing questions because of a "rushed, compressed time frame," said Kathleen Oropeza of Fund Education Now, an Orlando-based parent group. "It's not a thoughtful, careful transition. … It's not in the best interests of children."

Some superintendents also questioned how test items created for Utah would work in Florida, which has a demographically different school population

The Republican has starved public schools and higher education, disregarded voting rights and privacy rights, and dismantled environmental protections. He has little feel for Florida and sides with electric utilities, property insurers, developers and the National Rifle Association over the concerns of families struggling to pay bills, afford health insurance, find quality public schools for their kids and keep their neighborhoods safe.

Yet Scott could win re-election in November.

As we head into July, the race appears essentially tied and Charlie Crist is not maximizing his greatest assets as the likeable guy who understands Floridians and their priorities. Instead, the Republican-turned-Democrat is uncharacteristically committing too many unforced errors.

Cashing in on medical marijuana

"If Amendment 2 passes in November, expect medical marijuana to dominate the business of the Florida Legislature in 2015, and probably long after that, say lawyers, lobbyists and a growing number of marijuana information consultants."

Already there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of entrepreneurial ideas afloat to cash in on medical marijuana as an industry in Florida.

"Things haven’t exactly gone Rivera’s way"

"David Rivera hasn’t impressed in his political comeback so far but he is now playing a political card that could get him back in the game by opposing Common Core."

Rivera shocked the political world at the start of May when he filed to run against Joe Garcia despite facing an ongoing FBI corruption probe. The Republican establishment, hoping to knock off Garcia who has faced scandals of his own, quickly rallied behind Carlos Curbelo as South Florida congresspersons who served with Rivera -- like Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart -- fell in line against their former colleague.

Things haven’t exactly gone Rivera’s way. He has next to nothing for an online campaign presence. There were even rumors that Rivera would drop out of the congressional race and look to get back to Tallahassee by running for the Florida House. Despite the buzz, Rivera stayed in against Garcia.

But Rivera has found a campaign issue as he tries to catch up with Curbelo. Polls show Republicans overwhelmingly oppose Common Core. Rivera is starting to play up his opposition to Common Core while Curbelo backs it.

Strange Bedfellows

"Strange Bedfellows: Marco Rubio For Obama on Middle East, Alan Grayson Against"

Wingers whinge

The wingers whinge that "Obamacare health plans obtained through Florida’s federal exchange are eminently affordable -- when applying generous government subsidies." "Taxpayers Float 91 Percent of Florida Obamacare Enrollees."

Mostly True

"Mostly True." "PolitiFact Florida: Gov. Scott and cutting the cost of prepaid tuition".

First general pay raises for state employees since Crist

Bill Cotterell: "The state of Florida is handing out a little over $23 million in performance rewards for top performers in state agencies."

Although the Department of Management Services calls them "bonuses," as do most employees, that's not technically what the maximum $600 payments are. Everybody used to get bonuses, in lieu of pay raises, in some lean budget years. The current round of payments is based on productivity, the highly subjective difference between being "outstanding" or merely "commendable" day after day.

The budget Gov. Rick Scott recommended for the fiscal year concluding on Monday included the first general pay raises since Charlie Crist was well-liked by the Florida Republican Party. Last year's legislative session produced $1,400 raises for employees making less than $40,000 and $1,000 pay hikes for those making more than that.

"A low-water mark for Scott"

"Gov. Scott signed the last bill left over from the spring legislative session on Wednesday, leaving unscathed an almost historically high amount of the legislation approved this year."

In addition to the line-item vetoes he issued to strike items from the nearly $77 billion budget, Scott vetoed precisely one bill of the 255 approved by the Legislature, or 0.4 percent of the measures that passed. That is the lowest since at least 1986, according to state records.

It's also a low-water mark for Scott, who nixed 10-12 bills in each of his first three years.

An alarming number of charter schools are closing within a year or two of opening, leaving students behind, families distressed and taxpayer money lost.

In the past two years, a Sun Sentinel investigation found 15 charter schools have shuttered in Broward, and another seven have closed in Palm Beach County. This represents an unprecedented failing in the 18-year-old industry and demands a thorough examination by Florida lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott.

Eight of these schools closed within a year; five closed in less than 90 days. And local officials bearing witness to this train wreck have been forced to sit on their hands because state law is skewed to favor bad apples.

GOP gets desperate at Leadership Blue

"The Florida Republican Party made an appearance at the Democratic Party’s Leadership Blue event this afternoon with a plane towing a banner chiding gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist for not releasing his wife’s tax returns: www.CharliesTaxReturns.com #WhatsCristHiding."

The plane buzzed the beach outside the Westin Diplomat Hotel, where the daylong event is being held. At a brief press conference by the pool, Republican Party chairwoman Leslie Dougher criticized Crist, a former Republican, for not releasing his wife’s tax returns, while Scott has released he and his wife’s return.

"Florida Democrats are taking political gamble"

"Florida Democrats are taking a political gamble, placing all their chips on Charlie Crist. The spin from most of the 1,000-plus Democrats from across the state convening Saturday in South Florida for their state party's annual fundraising gala and strategy session is sunny optimism." "Florida Democrats placing heavy bet on Charlie Crist"

FlaBaggers in a dither

"'Duck Dynasty' star's book tour stops in Florida."

FlaDems "daunting challenges"

"Even as former President Bill Clinton fired up party activists and donors in Broward, Florida Democrats have daunting challenges in this year’s election and beyond." "Bill Clinton fires up Florida Democrats, who face big election-year challenge." See also "Florida Democrats update their brand, jettison Jefferson and Jackson," "Bill Clinton rallies Florida Democrats at Hollywood party gathering," "Bill Clinton Says Dems Need to Get Voters to Show Up," "Cheered by Bill Clinton, Florida Democrats see victory ahead" and "Get voters to polls in mid-terms, Bill Clinton tells Fla. Democrats."

"Why Jeb Bush might not run for president"

We think this is a bit harsh, from the conservative Daily Mail: "Why Jeb Bush might not run for president."

Good luck with that

"Florida religious leaders are calling on Gov. Rick Scott and state officials to restore the civil rights of former felons. A group of clergy and activists will lead a march through Opa-Locka on Sunday to highlight Florida's status as one of three states that permanently deny ex-offenders the right to vote unless restored by the governor or a clemency board." "Clergy call on Gov. Scott to restore voting rights."

The best they can do?

Nancy Smith: "Really? Carole Crist Whose Husband Wants to Be Governor Owes Florida Money?"

Muckraker takes on paper pusher

"Alan Cohn has a better-known name and face than a typical political newcomer, thanks to three years as a local television investigative reporter whose career has included significant scoops exposing public corruption."

His long TV journalism career gave him experience with politics and public issues. He says it also showed his commitment to public service.

But all that won’t elevate him from his position as a decided underdog as he moves from television into politics, challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland for a congressional seat.