But that heft and goodwill doesn’t seem to have paid off in Washington. With the 114th Congress opening this week, just one member of the Florida congressional delegation holds a coveted committee chairmanship and no one from the Sunshine State is in the president’s inner circle.

“It has bothered me since I got here,” said Rep. Dennis Ross, a three-term Republican from Lakeland. “Florida should be leading the charge instead of being in the rear with only one committee chairman. We’ve got a great delegation. We’ve got good people. But we’ve got to assert ourselves more in leadership roles.”

Assignments to 21 House and 20 Senate committees are still being settled in Washington, but members of the local delegation say they’ve been advised where they’ll land in 2015. The process is critical to what legislation is pursued, where tax dollars flow, and to political careers.

"Jeb!" declares "The Right to Rise"

"Jeb PAC: Right to Rise." See also "Jeb Bush Takes Big Step Toward 2016 With Leadership PAC."

Well, Joe, there was this Batista thing

Joe Henderson "can’t imagine what it was like to be in Cuba when Fidel Castro seized power, and if you didn’t live through it, you can’t either."

Yoho's pandering to his political base is not an act of courage

The Gainesville Sun editorial board: "U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho needs to stop acting like pandering to his political base is an act of courage."

Yoho, R-Gainesville, has settled into a bad habit as he starts his second term in Congress. He regularly says outlandish statements or takes symbolic actions that grab headlines, but do little for the well-being of his constituents.

The latest example is Yoho’s quixotic bid to be speaker of the House. That effort fell predictably short Tuesday when John Boehner, R-Ohio, handily won the speakership.

Florida concerns in the new Congress

"Political clashes over immigration and Cuba have thrust Florida concerns to the forefront of the 114th session of Congress, which opened on Tuesday with festive swearing-in ceremonies mixed with signs of infighting to come." "Florida concerns at forefront in new Congress."

"This is, unfortunately, the Florida way"

Scott Maxwell: "Florida was dragged kicking and screaming into an age of equality."

The drawn-out delay was thanks to Attorney General Pam Bondi, a constitutional amendment and most every governor this state has ever had ... including Charlie Crist.

This is, unfortunately, the Florida way. We were also one of the last two states in America with a ban on gay adoption.

The adoption ban finally fell when courts found that no one could provide a single legitimate reason to deny foster children a home with loving gay parents. (The state's supposed anti-gay "expert" turned out to be a quack who was later found traveling with a gay hooker.)

The state tried to grasp at straws of legal nonsense with gay marriage, too.

At one point, Bondi tried to argue that marriage was meant only for couples who planned to breed and provide "enduring family relationships" ... an odd stance for a woman who is twice divorced with no kids of her own.

Still Bondi fought and fought. She was part Anita Bryant, part George Wallace — trying to put a pretty face on discrimination while blocking the doorway to equality. And to the 21st century.

Bondi claimed she was obligated to defend this constitutional amendment. Interestingly, she felt no such obligation to defend the Fair Districts amendment against gerrymandering. She let legislators run roughshod over that.

The courts shredded Bondi's anti-gay arguments — the same way judges of all political stripes have shredded similar arguments in other states.

That and spending millions of his personal fortune . . .

The Tampa Trib editors: "It was no surprise that Gov. Rick Scott’s second inaugural address Tuesday focused on cutting taxes and creating jobs. After all, the governor was re-elected largely due to his commitment to bringing new jobs and enterprises to Florida." "Scott stays on track," "Florida's Leaders React to Rick Scott Starting a 2nd Term," "Inaugural Guests Came to Say 'Thank You, Rick Scott; Well Done'," and "Gov. Rick Scott wants Florida to be ‘global leader in job creation’."

"Scott urges Northerners to move here"

"Scott takes oath of office, urges Northerners to move here."

Prisoner release remains a mystery

"The Cuban government has promised to release 53 political prisoners but which names are on the list and exactly how many prisoners have been released remain a mystery." Human rights activists search for signs of Cuban prisoner release."

"Rick Scott Shows No Signs of Slowing Down." See also "A more seasoned Scott settles in for second term."

"A simple message"

"Rick Scott will take center stage in his inaugural on Tuesday with a simple message: conservative governance can work." "Rick Scott Gives GOP an Economic Game Plan in Inaugural Address." See also "Scott will use inaugural address to promote Florida as tax haven."

"Florida's impoverished children need Legislative champions"

The Miami Herald editors think "Florida's impoverished children need Legislative champions on both sides of the aisle - again." "A sick situation."

"Florida political factchecks"

"The torrent of many of the distortions and half-truths in the state’s top election battles this year had roots in South Florida." "Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and other local politicians lead South Florida political factchecks."

Surge of GOP voters

"Coast Guard reports surge in Cubans trying to reach Florida."

Wingers in a dither

"Leaders of the Florida Republican Party that supported the state’s 2008 ban on gay marriage were mostly silent Monday as throngs cheered South Florida couples given the right to wed." "Republican leaders silent as gay marriages become legal in Florida." See also "On gay marriage, Jeb Bush ready to move on."

an executive order establishing nine-member [judicial] nominating councils — later renamed commissions — to determine who would be considered for appointments. They were put into the Constitution in 1972.

Askew meant them to be beyond anyone's control, including his own.

To each panel, he appointed only three members. The Bar chose another three. Those six then selected three non-lawyer public members.

The purpose, Askew said, was to appoint "only the most qualified, conscientious and dedicated persons" to the bench.

He meant it. For 30 years, under four governors, and with only a handful of questionable exceptions, the nominating commissions lived up to what Askew and the public expected of them.

The current governor, Rick Scott, has rejected nineteen of the Bar's [nomination] lists. Scott makes no secret of wanting commissioners — and judges — who share his conservative, pro-business and pro-development policies. He wants no dissents on the commissions. He doesn't care much about diversity on the bench either, and minority appointments have dwindled sharply.

Although voters defeated an amendment that would have let Scott pack the court with replacements for three justices who must retire at the same time his term ends, he already owns the nominating commission that will recommend their successors. So whoever is the next governor will be bound by Scott's whims on the matter.

Even the wingnuts . . .

Even the Tampa Tribune editorial board . . . "Several months after Gov. Rick Scott called for a comprehensive review of standardized testing in public schools, the state’s education commissioner is finally getting the effort underway." "Editorial: Standardized school testing review long overdue."

"Curry Dodges a Bullet"

"Lenny Curry can breathe a little easier as he ramps up his bid to challenge Alvin Brown in the Jacksonville mayoral race." "Lenny Curry Dodges a Bullet: Mike Hogan's Out of Jacksonville Mayoral Race."

"Florida’s public records laws' interpretation under assault

"Public records advocates say that while Florida’s public records laws remain strong, enforcement and interpretation are under assault." "Florida keeping records under wraps."

"And fall it shall"

Joe Henderson: "Florida is about to join what Hillsborough County Circuit Court Clerk Pat Frank called “the ranks of rationality.” That is a great way to phrase it, because starting Tuesday the state’s legal barrier against same-sex marriage is scheduled to fall. And fall it shall." "Florida to take a step toward fairness and equality."

Meanwhile, "Rural county at center of gay marriage fight."

Sophistry

The privatization freaks think it is great to divert what otherwise would be tax dollars to religious schools; they buy into the sophistry that

parents, not the state, decide whether their child is best served by a religious or secular private school. There is no promotion of religion.

"A modest set of priorities"

"Scott will take the oath of office as Florida’s 46th governor, then set out a modest set of priorities for his term." "More seasoned Rick Scott plans low-key ceremony to start second term as Florida governor."

Our Wal-Mart Gub'ner

"A business lobbying organization, health-care companies, casino operators and Wal-Mart are among the latest contributors helping to cover the cost of Gov. Rick Scott’s inauguration activities Tuesday." "Wal-Mart, casino, AIF among latest inaugural donors."

"Bondi is sustaining furious criticism"

Bill Cotterell: "Bondi is sustaining furious criticism by advocates who insist she puts her own feelings ahead of the law, justice and fairness. It's become personal, with gay activists bringing up Bondi's own marital history — as if being twice divorced disqualifies her from defending parts of the Florida Constitution she is sworn to uphold." "Playing your cards right means knowing when to fold 'em."