See also "Hillary Clinton Holds Commanding Lead Over 2016 Primary Rivals in Florida" and "Not-So-Favorite Son? Scott Walker Catches Jeb Bush in Florida in 2016 Poll."

Jeb, the “headbanging” conservative

"7 Things We Learned Writing a Cover Story About Jeb Bush."

Email games

"News that Hillary Clinton used a private email account during her time as Secretary of State draws contrasts and similarities to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and current Gov. Rick Scott, both of whom have drawn criticism for using private email." "Clinton email controversy raises questions about Jeb Bush, Rick Scott."

More than that, Jeb Bush aides used private domain for public business.

Runnin' Gub'mint like a bidness

"Computer testing woes persist, but exam completion rate jumps."

Jeb trails Walker by two points

"Govs. Scott Walker and Jeb Bush are locked in a dead heat as the favorites for the Republican presidential nomination, according to a new poll."

With 18% and 16%, respectively, Wisconsin's Scott Walker and Bush, the former governor of Florida, lead the pack of prospective Republican presidential candidates according to a nationwide Quinnipiac poll released Thursday of Republican and Republican-leaning voters. That's within the poll's 4.2 percentage point margin-of-error for the Republican side.

See also "Jeb Bush has Big Lead Over Marco Rubio in the Money Chase."

"One Bush Too Many"

"Jeb Bush May Be One Bush Too Many for Rank-and-File Iowa GOP."

Bondi has solid lead in 2016 GOP Senate Primary

"If U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., decides to run for the presidency in 2016 and not for a second term, out of the three officials in the state Cabinet, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi holds a solid lead over the other two Republicans in a potential 2016 primary." "Pam Bondi Ahead of Fellow Cabinet Members in 2016 GOP Senate Primary."

Ethics fines for Rivera

"The judge recommended to fine against the former Miami congressman for double-billing taxpayers and misreporting income while he was a Florida state lawmaker." "Judge recommends $58,000 in ethics fines for David Rivera."

Scott stops pissing up a rope

"Scott drops fight to drug-test welfare applicants."

Jax runoff?

"A new poll shows that Jacksonville voters casting their ballots later this month should expect a May runoff in the mayoral election." "Alvin Brown, Lenny Curry Headed to Runoff in Jacksonville, Poll Shows."

Rubio proposes to cut corporate taxes

"Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah outlined details of a tax overhaul that would reduce the number of tax brackets for individuals and drop corporate tax rates, all in an attempt to boost economic growth." "Sens. Rubio, Lee float tax plan to cut corporate rates, individual brackets."

Meanwhile, "Jeb Bush has Big Lead Over Marco Rubio in the Money Chase."

Florida would be hit hardest. The state's 1.6 million sign-ups through the federal exchange are the most of any state, according to the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The 756,000 sign-ups in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties are the highest of any metro area. Greater Orlando, with about 193,000 sign-ups, ranks eighth.

Legally, the court has no reason to gut the law. Practically, a ruling for the plaintiffs would be a disaster in Florida and across the nation.

"Problems in the state's prison system"

"The head of a Senate committee probing problems in the state's prison system has received a stream of unsolicited letters from current and former employees describing poor working conditions and a reluctance to root out corruption." "Prison employees detail troubles in letters to lawmaker."

Florida Supreme Court to hear Fair District arguments today

"The Florida Supreme Court is taking up a legal challenge to the state’s congressional districts. The high court will hear arguments Wednesday in a long-running legal battle over whether the Florida Legislature followed voter-approved standards for drawing the boundaries for the state’s 27 congressional seats." "Florida Supreme Court takes up challenge to new districts."

"Devoid of depth, leadership."

The Miami Herald editors: "Gov. Scott’s speech devoid of depth, leadership." "How about some specifics?." See also "Gov. Rick Scott gives upbeat State of the State address, avoids pressing issues."

"All but Medicaid"

"Hundreds of people gathered in the Capitol on Tuesday to hear speeches from Gov. Rick Scott and top lawmakers underlying their policy priorities at the start of the 2015 legislative session." "Session opens with broad agreement on all but Medicaid." Related: "House, Senate Leaders Show Signs of Agreement, Differences."

Scott Cheerleaders

The Scott cheerleaders at the Tampa Trib write that "Four years in office have not greatly sharpened Gov. Rick Scott’s oratorical skills, which even he poked fun at during his State of the State Address on Tuesday. But his tenure has sharpened his understanding of his adopted state." "A boost for Florida and Scott."

Meanwhile, "Democrats Respond to Scott's State of the State By Going on the Attack."

"We hold ribbon-cuttings for convenience marts"

"For decades, this state has cultivated and celebrated low-wage jobs. We offer tax breaks and incentive deals to theme parks and grocery stores. We hold ribbon-cuttings for convenience marts." "Orlando growth must get beyond low-wage jobs, government projects."

No-Shows

"Medical Marijuana, Gambling Both No-Shows on First Day of Session."

Cuba the new normal

Michael Putney: "While many Cuban Americans denounce establishing diplomatic relations with the devil, others are preparing to do business with him." "Cuba and the new normal."

Grubbing for wingnuts

"At a gathering of the nation’s conservative political activists last week, Sen. Marco Rubio won back at least some of the trust he’d lost in 2013, when he helped broker a bipartisan immigration plan." "For Sen. Marco Rubio, immigration shift could win the right but hurt elsewhere."

About those private emails

"News that Hillary Clinton used a private email account during her time as Secretary of State draws contrasts and similarities to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and current Gov. Rick Scott, both of whom have drawn criticism for using private email." "Clinton email controversy raises questions about Jeb Bush, Rick Scott."

Rubio strives for relevance

"Sen. Marco Rubio is teaming up with another conservative senator to release a tax overhaul bill that would reduce the number of tax brackets for individuals and drop corporate tax rates, all in an attempt to boost economic growth." "Sens. Rubio, Lee float tax plan to cut corporate rates, individual brackets."

There were 1,666 lobbyists registered as of late last week. That’s more than 10 for every lawmaker in the House and Senate.

There were 1,183 pieces of legislation on file — counting resolutions, memorials to Congress and actual proposed laws — of which a few hundred, at best, are likely to reach the governor’s desk.

And they’ve got 60 days to do it starting Tuesday. There’s always a late-session scare about going into overtime, but somehow they work it out.

That means a two-month ban on political fundraising for 88 House members who have already signed up for re-election in 2016. So have 13 state senators, along with six current or former House members hoping to move up to the Senate.

But their parties and various political front committees can still pass the hat for the campaign season that never really ends

"Rubio looks increasingly like a candidate"

Jeff Henderson writes that "Rubio looks increasingly like a candidate who will run in 2016, [but] he needs badly to get some daylight between himself and Bush. At the very least, Rubio’s comments at CPAC were a good start in that direction." "Marco Rubio Uses Common Core to Distance Himself from Jeb."

"The latest screwball idea making its way through the Legislature"

Carl Hiaasen: "The latest screwball idea making its way through the Legislature: Allowing guns to be carried on college campuses." "Lawmakers cooking up recipe for a bloodbath."

"Better pay, less testing"

"Volusia teachers rally for better pay, less testing."

"Looming flood insurance crisis"

The Tampa Tribune editors believe the "best way to fix the state’s looming flood insurance crisis is to create a marketplace that makes it easier for private companies to sell policies. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, who pushed last year to create a private market, is back this year with another proposal that would give private companies and customers a range of coverage options while at the same time giving assurances to lenders that the policies meet or exceed those offered by the federal government." "A legislative session with key decisions for Florida’s future, and Tampa’s, too."

"Five lawmakers and five key issues to watch"

"With the Florida Legislature set to open the 2015 session, here are five lawmakers and five key issues to watch this spring in Florida’s capital." "Five people, five issues to watch in Florida’s 2015 session." See also "Gov. Scott faces big hurdles to push his legislative agenda." See also "Florida's hot legislative issues: Guns, gambling, pot."

Meanwhile, "Walker scores with conservatives; Bush still has work to do."

"Capital comes to life"

"Political prime time: Capital comes to life for session."

"Massive gambling overhaul"

"A massive gambling overhaul bill will hit lawmakers’ desks on the first day of the legislative session, but its sponsor is holding back on exactly what’s in it." "GOP leader’s gambling bill heads to Florida lawmakers." See also "Expansion of casino gambling draws dire warnings, praise."

No-bid contract

"Ocoee hires state rep as consultant in no-bid contract."

"Flood of tests"

"Florida’s largest teaching union, the Florida Education Association, thinks Gov. Rick Scott’s order suspending the standardized 11th grade English test this year falls too short to address the flood of tests faced by students and teachers." "Teachers union: Scott testing order not enough."

Taxpayers on hook for legal bill of disgraced Speaker

"Florida taxpayers should foot most of the nearly $1 million legal bill of disgraced former House Speaker Ray Sansom, a Florida judge said Friday." "Judge: Taxpayers should pay legal bills for Ray Sansom."

Florida overtakes California with the most people on Obamacare

"The Senate has supported health care expansion for the last couple of years, even passing its own version two years ago. The more conservative House, now led by Speaker Steve Crisafulli, has been staunchly opposed."

Republican Gov. Rick Scott previously has voiced support, though he retreated from the issue during last year’s re-election campaign.

Last weekend, however, the Senate’s Republican leader called on the state to expand Medicaid in a speech to a business-friendly civic group.

Sen. Bill Galvano of Bradenton said funding health care for the working poor is a problem that “cannot be ignored,” according to news reports.

“It’s like many things in politics,” he said. “They don’t want to do it unless they absolutely have to do it, and they don’t see that they absolutely have to do anything about it.”

At the same time, Paulson notes that Florida has overtaken California as the state with the most people — 1.6 million enrollees —signing up for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

“That in itself is interesting because clearly there’s been no support from the Republican leadership, from the governor,” Paulson said. “It’s ironic at the very least."

A poverty thing

"Why Almost 1 in 4 Floridian Driver Has No Car Insurance: Poverty."

"State’s auditor general issues scathing audit"

"The state’s auditor general issued a scathing audit about lapses of many kinds on Florida’s unemployment website." "Auditor: Florida’s jobless claims website in disarray."

Scott missed that press conference

"Harris leaving Brevard for Virginia?"

Fact-checking the Legislature

"When the Florida Legislature convenes Tuesday, it will kick off a 60-day session during which legislators and Republican Gov. Rick Scott will fashion a budget and set policies on topics including K-12 tests, guns on college campus and whether to allow online voter registration." "Fact-checking some claims tied to bills so far."

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Shamed Speaker Redeemed; Other Court Battles Focus on Sunshine."

Privatization "at any cost"

Paula Dockery: "Generally when a crisis occurs in a large organization, the CEO is expected to acknowledge and address the problem, keep stakeholders up to date on progress and be held accountable for the problems that occurred."

Why is it then that Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott has been AWOL on the crisis within our prison system?

And yet when disturbing reports started surfacing — about a mentally ill prisoner who was scalded to death at Dade Correctional or a nonviolent offender seeking medical treatment who was punished and gassed to death instead — there was a shocking lack of concern from the governor. The silent indifference was so unsettling that former DOC Chief Jim McDonough exclaimed, “Where is the outrage?”

To date, the governor has not directly acknowledged the problems, answered questions nor communicated a plan of action. Instead he let his third DOC secretary, Mike Crews, take the heat. Crews resigned amid the growing scandal.

Crews admitted that during the re-election campaign, the governor’s then chief of staff, Adam Hollingsworth, told him he needed to take a bullet for the governor. Crews expressed frustration that the governor and his staff were more concerned with crafting news releases than with doing what needed to be done to keep the institutions safe and secure.

This behavior came from the very administration that touts accountability, transparency and business acumen. . . .

The cynic in me is starting to believe that the Scott administration doesn’t want to fix the problems at the department and doesn’t want to fully investigate the abuse that has been and still is occurring. In the meantime, people in state supervision are dying and the state is exposed to costly litigation and liability.

Perhaps this is the means to an end and Scott’s true mission is to fully privatize Florida’s prisons — at any cost.

Goosestepping in lockstep

"Dean Cannon: Better Florida Economy Means Fewer Fights in Session."

"Like a wolf howling in the middle of the Tundra"

Nancy Smith: "The outlook might get brighter next week for the Everglades Foundation and its allies, but for now their voice crying out to buy U.S. Sugar Corp. land is like a wolf howling in the middle of the Tundra." "Not a Single Legislative Delegation Makes Buying U.S. Sugar Land a Priority."

"Failed Republicans who are playing politics"

"This week, mailers from a newly formed political committee called Moving Tampa Forward described [Jackie] Toledo’s opponents as failed Republicans who are playing politics and stated that Toledo was the “target of vicious personal attacks.”" "Accusations fly in heated District 6 race."