See also "Florida Voters of Both Parties Undecided on 2016 Senate Candidates."

"What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State"

Marc Caputo: "As redistricting turns – How Trump ‘punked’ Jeb – Rubio’s spy-hard spin – DeSantis super PAC grows – Randolph scores Rep. Ellison endorsement – Seminole County: bear-proof trash, or else!" "Florida Playbook."

U.S. Senate race to replace Marco Rubio wide open

"A poll released Wednesday by St. Leo University found the majority of Florida Republicans and a near majority of Florida Democrats have no preference yet in the U.S. Senate race to replace Marco Rubio, though Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly and Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy lead."

The poll, by St. Leo University Polling Institute, in St. Leo, Fla., was of Florida residents who identified themselves as "likely voters." It finds that 56.5 percent said "don't know" or are undecided. Jolly, of St. Petersburg, got 11.6 percent, to lead the field. Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera got 8.2 percent, Orlando businessman Todd Wilcox got 6.8, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis of Ponte Vedra Beach got 6.2, and Dr. Ilya Katz of Sunny Isle Beach got 4.1

The Democrats face a similar problem: 46.9 percent said they were undecided. Murphy, of Jupiter, drew 16.9 percent, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando drew 7.1, Lateresa Jones of Havana, Fl., 6.3, and Palm Beach Gardens lawyer Pam Keith 4.4.

Heirs of gangster want payment from Cuba

"Lansky helped turn Cuba into the “Las Vegas of the Caribbean” in the 1950s by establishing a flourishing gambling industry that became a symbol of corruption. After Fidel Castro took power, the casinos were shuttered and the properties nationalized." "Heirs of gangster Meyer Lansky want payment for hotel Cuba seized."

Enterprise Florida claims are "largely unverified"

"The state’s business-recruitment agency, which Gov. Rick Scott uses for international trade missions, needs to do a better job of separating anticipated overseas sales figures from the actual sales, according to the Legislature’s accountability office. . . . Mary Alice Nye, chief legislative analyst for the office, told the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee that many of the sales numbers reported by Enterprise Florida remain 'largely unverified and may overstate performance.'" "State watchdog scrutinizes Enterprise Florida overseas sales stats." See also "Enterprise Florida’s numbers don’t add up."

"No matter how hard he tries, nothing has helped reverse his slide"

"At a weekend conference in Miami, fundraisers questioned the direction of the campaign and worried it’s too late for a rebound. During a foreign policy speech in Washington, people slipped out of the room to go see rival Chris Christie instead. The jebbush.com domain was redirected to Donald Trump’s website because the Bush campaign failed to lock it down." "This is what it’s like to be a Bush stuck at the bottom of the polls."

"Stop the madness"

Tampa Trib editors: "We wish the members of Florida’s congressional delegation who are threatening to sue in federal court over the state Supreme Court’s redistricting would instead stop the madness." "Anger with Florida Supreme Court redistricting decision nothing but sour grapes."

"A special session that collapsed in failure, years of lawsuits and millions in wasted tax dollars"

The Palm Beach Post editors: "With a 5-2 vote, the Florida Supreme Court has finally begun to give Floridians what they demanded by a 63 percent margin five years ago: an end to politically rigged congressional districts."

All it took was two Legislature-drawn maps that were struck down as unconstitutional, a special session that collapsed in failure, years of lawsuits and millions in wasted tax dollars.

Deutch-Frankel District Swap

"The Democratic establishment, including the chairwoman of the national party, made it clear on Tuesday that it backed two South Florida congressional representatives switching seats in the aftermath of the Florida Supreme Court ruling on redistricting." "Democratic Establishment Gives Seal of Approval to Ted Deutch-Lois Frankel District Swap."

It all depends on what you mean by "dem"

"During an eight-hour deposition, attorneys grilled a map-drawer for a coalition of plaintiffs challenging the state Senate lines, questioning his process, his personal politics, and emails that indicate the challengers were looking to 'draw additional dem seats.'"

“Try to carve dem districts that honor the statutes,” read a Nov. 21, 2011 email from Brad Wieneke, an employee with a company then called Strategic Telemetry, a Washington-based Democratic consulting firm.

John O’Neill, a 24-year-old contractor hired by the firm, has drawn both congressional and state Senate maps for a coalition of plaintiffs that in 2012 filed a lawsuit challenging both sets of political lines. The firm’s client is the Fair Districts Now Coalition, a group the helped pass anti-gerrymandering provisions in 2010.

As part of a separate legal challenge to the congressional map, a map drawn by O’Neill was enacted by the Florida Supreme Court, which invalidated the lawmaker-drawn plan. Attorneys for the plaintiffs have filed formal objections to the Senate’s request to have Wieneke testify during trial and to enter old redistricting emails, among other things, as exhibits.

"The early part of O’Neill’s deposition — conducted by Jason Zakia, an attorney from White & Case, LLP who was hired by the Senate — focused on the nuances of the map-drawing process, how districts were measured, and O’Neill’s thought-process when working through the maps."

In one exchange, Zakia repeatedly asked about the reference to “dem” that was found in emails on more than one occasion. Zakia believed it was reference to the Democratic Party, but O’Neill dodged the question several times before forcing out an answer. “I’m serious,” Zakia asked. “What else could this possibly mean?” “Demographic,” O’Neill responded.

Part of Amendment 1 Challenge tossed

"Judge Tosses Part of Amendment 1 Challenge, But Environmentalists Claim Success."

"What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State"

Marc Caputo: "Scott’s Seminole gambling deal’s long odds – Trump threatens Jeb donor for ‘hater’ ads – Marco’s ‘mostly false’ Obamacare claim – Zoo Miami’s flood watch – for third time, Florida gator catches thief." "Florida Playbook."

"Tough questions for agency heads"

"Some agency heads will have an easier road to Senate confirmation than others. All of them, Senate President Andy Gardiner told POLITICO Florida, will be given the chance to explain why they should be confirmed." "Gardiner promises tough questions for agency heads."

Rubio claims he killed Obamacare,

"Presidential hopeful Marco Rubio is taking credit for potentially sounding the death knell for Obamacare, claiming legislation he introduced eventually prevented Washington from giving billions of tax dollars to insurance companies." "Rubio says he prevented a $2.5 billion taxpayer bailout for Obamacare."

Gambling

"Rick Scott, Seminole Tribe Sign Tentative $3 Billion Gaming Pact." See also "Florida reaches $3 billion gambling deal with Seminole Tribe" and "Scott touts $3B gambling deal with Seminoles."

Trump "banned" from entering St. Pete

"Playing off of Trump’s earlier words, [St. Petersburg Mayor Rick] Kriseman tweeted Monday that he was banning Trump 'until we fully understand the dangerous threat posed by all Trumps.'" "St. Pete mayor Kriseman says Trump banned from city." See also "Kriseman, social media backlash to Trump’s Muslim comments."

Corizon’s decision is a richly deserved blow to Gov. Rick Scott’s push to privatize health care in Florida’s prisons, which he pitched to voters as a money-saving idea in his 2010 campaign. Responsive legislators slipped a provision into the 2011 budget.

Negron has had it with "'Soft' social services"

"To pay for a big boost in public university funding, Florida’s next state Senate president will look to cut spending on what he calls 'soft' social services."

Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who was designated last week as Senate president for 2017-18, explained to POLITICO Florida he hopes to achieve his primary goal — a $1 billion increase in new money for state universities tied to their performance — by shifting some spending approved during prior sessions.

Won't miss you when you're gone

"Despite other contenders placing their bets there, former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is putting his chips on New Hampshire, a state where his family has had mixed results over the years."

Bush is sounding confident about his chances in New Hampshire. "I believe I'm gonna win New Hampshire, to be honest with you," Bush told the media last week, NBC reported. "I honestly believe it."

But a poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, released last week offered Bush little reason for optimism in New Hampshire. The former Florida governor took only 5 percent, putting him in eighth place. Trump led with 27 percent followed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, with 13 percent; U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., with 11 percent; Gov. Chris Christie, R-NJ, with 10 percent; Dr. Ben Carson with 9 percent; Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio, with 8 percent; and businesswoman Carly Fiorina with 6 percent. Bush was also had the worst numbers of any of the major candidates in New Hampshire where’s he upside down with Granite State Republicans with 45 percent seeing him as unfavorable while 38 percent view him in a favorable light.

SYG

"'Stand your ground' changes revived in Senate." See also "Proposal to Shift Burden of Proof in Stand Your Ground Cases Potential Reality in 2016."

Firemen, deputies resuscitate child - Now let's gut their pensions

"Deputies were on scene within three minutes after the 911 call and took over CPR. Fire rescue crews then attempted to resuscitate the boy and he regained a pulse." "Child pulled from Lauderdale Lakes pool hospitalized in 'critical' condition."

"Na-na-na-na-boo-boo"

Joe Henderson skewers the thinking of climate change deniers: "halfway through September and no hurricanes had yet devastated the Eastern Seaboard. Ergo: Climate change is a myth. Na-na-na-na-boo-boo." "It’s inconvenient to address climate change."

Good question

"Clinton wondered aloud, "Do you really want to put decisions for funding Florida’s infrastructure in the hands of [Gov.] Rick Scott?" "Clinton in Orlando: Florida needs infrastructure investment."

"Scott’s big idea"

"Gov. Rick Scott sees his biggest assault to date on the state’s corporate income tax as a move poised to ignite Florida’s economy for generations to come."

But a growing tide of lawmakers already are skeptical, with some viewing it as downright dangerous to the state’s bottom line.

demonizing undocumented immigrants and manufacturing a problem where there isn’t one. One bill would automatically aggravate the penalty normally imposed on citizen if it’s committed by an undocumented immigrant. A first-degree misdemeanor, for example, would become a third-degree felony. A second-degree felony would be bumped up to a first-degree felony, doubling prison time. Prosecutors and judges use aggravating factors to harsh up their sentences all the time. But they usually cite the heinousness of crimes, not the skin pigment or nationality of the criminal, for their decision. At least not explicitly so.

Hutson’s second bill takes its inspiration from the same discriminatory poison. It more directly criminalizes an undocumented immigrant, if that individual remains in Florida in spite of a deportation order. Now, considering the Obama administration’s war on undocumented immigrants, a harsher war by far that either George W. Bush’s or Bill Clinton’s, it’s a wonder there are that many deportable immigrants left: they’ve been deported at an average rate of 400,000 a year on Obama’s watch, every year he’s been president. Well over half have been non-criminal deportations. Obama’s version of Operation Wetback–the Eisenhower-era policy of mass cruelty so beloved and of course so mischaracterized by Operation Trump– slowed down last year in the face of criticism, but not so significantly as to reverse the battering of families and removal of unproblematic immigrants.

That wouldn’t matter to Hutson. If he finds individuals who have deportation orders in Florida, whether they’ve been charged with crimes or not, he would automatically slap a first-degree felony on them.

Packing guns along with laptops and textbooks

James Call: "Bills for six proposals have completed committee assignments and wait scheduling for floor debate when lawmakers return to Tallahassee in January"

A proposal allowing university students to pack a gun along with laptops and textbooks for a political science class could be the first bill passed by the Florida House and Senate when they convene the 2016 legislative session in January.

Bills lifting a guns on campus ban have passed in committees in both chambers and await floor action when lawmakers return to Tallahassee next month.

Florida "poverty reaches new heights"

"More than 350,000 Central Floridians are living in poverty — more than ever before — according to new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau. And many of the poor are children."

The Census Bureau's latest findings, released last week, also showed the number of kids and teens living in poverty grew substantially across Central Florida, even in relatively affluent Seminole County, where it went from 11.6 percent to 14.2 percent.

All politics is local

"Doral Mayor Luigi Boria pays $325 fine for breaking state campaign finance laws."

Jeb Supporters Get Desperate

"Top Jeb Bush political donor in Miami: I'll vote for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump." See also "Bush's biggest donor: Trump a 'bullyionaire'."

"All Testing, All the Time"

"A Truly Horrible Idea: All Testing, All the Time."

"A Tale of Two Chambers"

resignation exposes a "chapter in a story being written by Scott’s administration that could easily be titled 'A Tale of Two Chambers.'"

Tension with the Senate has left the fate of some of Scott’s top appointments, which must get Senate confirmation, in limbo. Chief among them is Panuccio, whose open clashes with senators have led many to believe he would not get a confirmation vote for the second consecutive year, which means he would have to vacate his post. . . .

He needed to pass three committees, including those chaired by [Senators] Latvala and Detert, prior to a full Senate vote. Many of Scott’s other agency and department heads were only given two confirmation hearings.

In addition, department heads that oversee transportation, children and families and environmental protection have all had one confirmation hearing before the 2016 session even began. Panuccio has not yet received a hearing.

Latvala said he did not want to “pile on” when asked about Panuccio’s resignation, but has had notable fights with him in the past.

During an early October meeting, Latvala slammed Panuccio after he criticized a lobbyist for the AFL-CIO who said during testimony that the Scott administration has made it tougher for people to receive unemployment benefits.

"I, frankly, don't like your attitude," the St. Petersburg Republican said before a surprised committee room. “I think there's an arrogance in the way you present this that's a sense of entitlement, and I just think it's wrong. We're here to serve the people.”

Background: "Governor’s jobs chief submits resignation."

"Now you’ve gone from fixin’ and got to meddlin"

The Tallahassee Democrat's editorial board wonders "What ever happened to the conservative notion that the government that governs best is the government closest to the people?"

Or home rule, local control, citizen input, and all those other feel-good, grassroots concepts that candidates pledge allegiance to in every election year? Florida’s Republican-run Legislature seems oddly committed to centralized regulatory and fiscal controls.

Business interests trump local control far too often, when cities and counties try to regulate certain activities within their borders.

This helped to rein in the greed of developers, who were building malls and housing tracts and passing the infrastructure and pollution costs along to the taxpayers. Often, counties and cities – whose commissioners depended on the builders for campaign money – winked at common-sense land use facts, eager for the property tax revenues new developments promised.

But surely Florida can have sensible local control without creating a crazy quiltwork of conflicting and overlapping state, county and city regulations. It’s hard to put on paper, but you know it when you see it – that certain, undefinable quality long-time Sen. W.D. Childers of Pensacola used to express as, “Now you’ve gone from fixin’ and got to meddlin’.” . . .

So far, 20 counties (including Leon) and nearly twice as many cities (including Tallahassee) have passed resolutions barring fracking. Those rules would be wiped out by [pending] bills, one of which has passed its first House committee.

Like a big shopping mall or theme park, fracking would be a development of regional impact, requiring more than local licensing. That’s what the Department of Environmental Protection, and some federal agencies, can provide.

But what’s the harm in letting a county say “no thanks?” If a neighbor gives the go-ahead, any environmental damage won’t stop at the county line, but there seems to be no reason that counties not wanting this supposedly safe and efficient form of exploration should have it forced upon them.

Instead of providing uniform protection, it seems more likely that statewide pre-emption would just give the oil industry one-stop shopping for its permits. Instead of persuading 67 county and 400-plus city governments that its work is safe and desirable, the companies would just need the nod of one friendly governor.

Maybe if the current administration had not banned the terms “global warming” and “climate change” from official correspondence – maybe if Gov. Rick Scott’s position on all things environmental was not “I’m not a scientist” – perhaps state pre-emption would be a sensible standardization of the rules.

But for now, and the foreseeable future, we see the benefit in letting the local governments say no.

"Jeb is not even in the conversation"

Anthony Man reminds us that, because Florida awards "all its delegates to the winner, and none to candidates in second or third place [in the March 15 primary], Florida can catapult a candidate toward the nomination." What about Donald Trump?

Those who discount the power of anti-establishment primary voters in Florida can look to 2010, when Rick Scott defeated then-Attorney General Bill McCollum in the primary for governor . . . .

"They're going to fight very hard to win Florida," said Kevin Wagner, a political scientist at Florida Atlantic University. "The optics of not winning your own state, that's really hard to overcome. I can't imagine that either one of them is going to give ground here."

[Myra Adams in National Review Online] said "Rubio and Jeb both have to win Florida, or they are done." Adams and political insiders of both parties said it would be hard for a Floridian who has won office before and touts support from the state to go on after losing the state's primary. It would damage a key selling point for a Florida-based candidate, that he'd have bring a big home-state advantage in the November election, when Florida awards 29 electoral votes, more than 10 percent of the total needed to win the presidency.

Bush entered the race with a huge lead in fundraising and as a favorite of many in the party establishment, but failed to catch fire. He's in fifth place, at 5 percent support among Republicans, in a Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday. Rubio is hoping to become the go-to candidate if the outsider candidates fade. He's in a three-way tie for second place, with 17 percent of the vote in the Quinnipiac Poll.

"At this point, Jeb is such a non-factor. Jeb is not even in the conversation. He has kind of disappeared," Adams said. "Rubio has momentum. But his poll numbers are really not going up."