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Orlando Sentinel: State Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, said today that "there's a high probability that there's truth to" the rumor she plans to run against freshman Democratic Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas.
"We're putting everything together now, and I expect to make an announcement soon," Adams said.
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Howard Troxler: A federal judge has thrown out Florida's laws that regulated ECOs. And Gov. Charlie Crist's administration has just decided not to appeal. That means ECOs — there were 105 registered in Florida before the ruling — will be unregulated by the state in the coming election cycle. We likely are in for an increase in this kind of politics.
And since ECOs will no longer have to disclose their finances to the state (only to the feds, and after the election), Floridians won't know who's paying for it. Critics warn that this is a tempting loophole. Why not shift more money into the unregulated ECOs, instead of going through all the bother of regulated accounts?
On the other hand, aren't these groups made up of Americans who have the perfect right to speak?
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We've seen the grim unemployment and foreclosure numbers for Florida. Now we're about to see another telling gauge about the state of Florida's economy: campaign fundraising reports. Regrettable as it may be, money matters profoundly in statewide Florida campaigns. The greatest message ever is meaningless if a candidate lacks the money to spread it across this vast state.
So while most voters blissfully ignore the quiet campaign dramas playing out more than a year before election day, initial fundraising totals are widely watched by the political intelligensia as a key indicator of a candidate's strength and viability.The three-month fundraising period that ended June 30 (reports are due July 10 for state candidates and July 15 for federal candidates), is especially unpredictable this year. With most every statewide office open in 2010, a slew of candidates is trying to make a big splash in the fundraising quarter to show their strength and scare off more rivals.
They're all courting a finite pool of donors in a terrible economy that has clobbered one of the biggest donor sectors - development and real estate. And they're doing it at the same time Florida's big kahuna of money-raising - Charlie Crist - is working overtime to drain the money swamp for himself.
We're hearing lots of spin from all sides aiming to raise expectations for their opponents and lower them for their own candidate. Let's wade into the expectations game, and summarize the conventional wisdom among the political professionals in and outside the campaigns.
Continue reading "Let's play the fundraising expectations game" »
Miami Republican Rep. Anitere Flores is sending out an email to supporters,
etc., boasting that she raised $150k in three weeks*** in her race for Sen. D-38.
Not a bad haul. But now that there's no legislative session (during which
fundraising is banned) she still has some catch-up to do to keep her competitive
with Miami Rep. David Rivera.
BRANDON - Polk County Commissioner Randy Wilkinson just announced plans to challenge former state Rep. Dennis Ross for the Republican nomination in the District 12 congresssional race.
Though he has yet to formerly file, Wilkinson announced his plans to a small group in Brandon, saying that fixing the economy would be his No. 1 priority.
The Democrats running for U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam's seat are Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards and Navy veteran Doug Tudor, who ran against Putnam last year.
Jesssica Vander Velde, Times staff writer
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An e-mail retrieved from ex-college president Bob Richburg's BlackBerry describes Rep. Ray Sansom as the "kingpin" in a plan for a taxpayer-funded building at Destin Aiport.
"Jay is positive and motivated," Richburg wrote to Sansom on July 11, 2007, several months after Sansom put $6 million into the state budget for the facility. "He and I both agree that you are the king pin in this whole operation and that the three of us need to meet and work the plan."
The e-mail, which was just turned over to investigators and includes an oblique reference to Sen. Ken Pruitt, indicates Sansom's reluctance to build Jay Odom's fixed-based operation, a fancy name for a private airport facility. And a subsequent e-mail asserts that position more forcefully but says that Odom could lease part of the Northwest Florida State College building that Sansom funded.
Continue reading "E-mail calls state Rep. Ray Sansom 'king pin' of airport deal" »
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink responds today to stories about her state plane use, saying ''my total intent is to absolutely do the right thing.''
She said her office is still investigating whether she used the plane properly for official state business and she noted that she was the only state official that asked for the Department of Management Services to develop guidelines on state plane use and post the plane travel on the internet.
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So much for appointing a majority of the Supreme Court.
In a unanimous decision, the Florida Supreme Court repeatedly said it "rejects" Gov. Charlie Crist's efforts to require the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit a new list of judges for the 5th District Court of Appeal. The court said Crist had to pick a judge from the original list he received. Crist argued he could wait until he was provided a slate of candidates with more diversity.
"The governor lacks authority under the constitution to seek a new list of nominees from the JNC and has a mandatory duty to fill the vacancy created by petitioner's retirement with an appointment from the list certified to him on Nov. 6, 2008. Because we believe the governor will fully comply with the dictates of this opinion, we grant the petition but withhold issuance of the writ," the court wrote.
The opinion can be found here Download Sc09-565
Crist said in a statement: "While I am disappointed by today’s decision that the Judicial Nominating Commission cannot reconsider these important nominations, I respect the Supreme Court’s decision and their consideration of this case. I remain committed to ensuring that the diversity of the people of Florida is represented in our judiciary. In respect to the court’s decision, I look forward to interviewing and considering the nominees for the 5th District Court of Appeal.”
Marc Caputo, Times/Herald Tallahassee bureau
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Radio Iowa: "The survey started off by asking what I thought the most important issue facing America today might be, then rolled right into, 'Who would you vote for in the 2012 Presidential primary?' - offering choices of Huckabee, Palin, Gingrich, Jindal, and JEB BUSH."
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Rep. Bill Galvano said this evening that he has not set a date but wants the hearings on Ray Sansom to begin by late this month.
The hearings are called after special investigator Steve Kahn found there is probable cause Sansom, R-Destin, broke House rules and damaged public confidence in the institution through his dealings with Northwest Florida State College. Galvano, R-Bradenton, will chair the panel.
Kos envisions Charlie Crist pulling an Arlen Specter and saving his bacon by switching to Democratic party - and would be fine with that: I predict that by the end of the year (or end of Q1 2010 at the latest), the polls in that Republican primary will be tied.
So the question will then be - at what point will Crist realize that he's in deep s---? It took collapsing poll numbers for Specter to hit the "panic!" button and switch parties. That's probably what it'll take for Crist to realize his problems, and when he does, he'll have a tough call to make: go down with his party, or pull a Specter and ditch it for better electoral prospects on a different line. That could mean a switch to the Democratic Party where he'd likely be no worse than the other senator from Florida, Bill Nelson - a marginally good Democrat, a step up from Landrieu, Nebraska's Nelson, and the Wal-Mart Twins (and no better).
Not sure Kos fully appreciates what kind of campaigner - and fundraiser - Crist is, or his ability to define and drown an opponent who poses a serious threat. Charlie ain't Arlen.
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Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida began negotiating a new gambling compact today that would bring new revenue to the state in exchange for the tribe's right to a monopoly on some of its casino games.
Lawyers for the governor and the tribe met Wednesday morning in Tallahassee to set schedules and review the issues to be discussed, said George LeMieux, a Tallahassee lawyer and Crist's former chief of staff who will be a part of the governor's negotiating team. They will resume discussions again in mid-July with a goal of completing the talks by Aug. 31, he said.
The governor must re-negotiate the agreement he signed in 2007 with the Seminole Tribe of Florida because it invalidated by the Florida Supreme Court a year ago. Since then, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that lays out the framework for what Crist should seek in his talks with the tribe.
Under those guidelines, the state would give the Seminoles the exclusive right to operate slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties and the exclusive right to banked card games -- black jack, baccarat and chemin de fer -- in Broward and Hillsborough counties. In return, the tribe would be expected to pay the state $150 million a year.
Continue reading "Governor starts gambling talks with the tribe" »
Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty wants a sit-down with the lawmaker whose rate deregulation legislation he opposed.
McCarty, accused by Rep. Bill Proctor of misleading the governor and the public in his opposition to Proctor's HB 1171, today sent Proctor a three-page letter in which he applauds Proctor's "commitment to helping solve the problems confronting the Florida property insurance market" and suggests a face-to-face meeting this summer. The letter responds to a number of Proctor's questions and assertions against McCarty, and it includes a couple of detailed attachments.
Continue reading "McCarty lauds Proctor's 'commitment,' seeks sit-down on HB 1171" »
Call it the "openness tit for tat game."
Following the example set weeks ago by her Republican opponent for governor, CFO Alex Sink will begin posting her daily schedules online. Her press office announced the move this afternoon, on the heels of reports about Sink's and McCollum's travels on the state plane that have drawn ethics complaints against both.
McCollum announced he was posting his daily schedule online in May, after Sink called for online logs of state plane use by elected officials including themselves and the governor.
Sink's schedule can be viewed here: www.myfloridacfo.com/CFOCalendar.
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When the numbers are good, why wait until the actual reporting date? Republican agriculture commissioner candidate Adam Putnam says he raised more $250,000 this quarter, bringing his total haul to about $750,000.
"Our campaign continues to gain momentum as we begin our 6th full month on the trail. The good news keeps on coming and I wanted to take a moment to share some of it with you," Putnam said in an e-mail to supporters. "Yesterday we ended our second campaign fundraising quarter with over $250,000 raised. This comes on the heels of our record breaking first quarter. With the generosity of friends and supporters like you it is just another reminder to me that I have the most selfless and giving supporters in our great state."
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Bad news for Jeff Kottkamp. Republican strategist Sally Bradshaw floated a significant name for attorney general in that Ron Sachs video below: AHCA Secretary and former Pensacola state Rep. Holly Benson. "She's a bright, articulate young woman and a lot of people are looking to her as a potential opponent to Kottkamp in that race," Bradshaw said. "And with legislative and executive experience she could be formidable."
UPDATE: Struggled mightily to pin down Benson on likelihood of her running, but with little success: "I'm focused on being secretary of AHCA, and I haven't given it much thought," Benson said.
So, unlikely? "When somebody of Sally Bradshaw's caliber throws it out there you have to think about it ... I'm flattered,'' she said, suggesting that any decision would be months away as she's focused on national health care issues playing out.
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She's not even from there, but Orlando magazine ranks state Sen. Paula Dockery as the fourth most powerful figure for Orlando, ahead of Mayor Buddy Dyer and incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon. (Story here)
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St. Petersburg Times' editorial board on Wednesday:
On Gov. Charlie Crist's signing of Senate Bill 2080: Piece by piece, this governor has systematically dismantled what little protections there are for Floridians fed up with traffic and overdevelopment. Read full editorial.
On latest study of private school voucher students' test scores: Without evidence that vouchers give poor children a better education, there is no reason to continue this experiment. Vouchers do not appear to be providing a better education. They are stripping resources from public schools, and they violate the state Constitution. Read full editorial.
Attorney General Bill McCollum "misused his public position in violation of the law'' by using the state plane to divert flights from Tallahassee to the Sanford airport, close his to Longwood home, according to Ken Quinnell, a Democratic activist who filed an ethics complaint against the Republican AG today.
The arrival of the complaint Tuesday now makes it even. Chief Financial Alex Sink, a Democrat who is running for governor, drew an ethics complaint Monday from Republican activist Jose Blas Lorenzo, Jr.
Both complaints accuse the cabinet officials of wasting taxpayer money. Both complaints cite the plane logs that show that each of them had planes diverted to their hometown airports on the way to or from official business. And both provide copies of their appointments calendar.
According to the Herald/Times review Sink diverted the plane 44 times, and had state business 30 of those times. McCollum diverted the plane 53 times, almost always to and from state business.
Given that the ethics law appears to apply to each of them for the similar allegations, does this mean these two rivals now have one thing in common: their ethics defense? Download Ethics Complaint Sink Download Ethics Complaint McCollum
So says the Club for Growth after commissioning a June 13-14 poll of likely Republican voters (MoE +/- 4.38 percent). Similar to the Sachs/Mason-Dixon findings released this week, Charlie Crist was leading Marco Rubio 51 to 21. But add extra information to the equation (like Crist supported the stimulus package and Rubio is a rising star pal of Jeb Bush) and the numbers tighten significantly. Of course, that begs the 10 media market question of whether Rubio will have the resources to get such information out to Florida voters.
Concludes the pollster: Charlie Crist begins the Florida GOP primary in a borderline position, not in the overwhelmingly strong position that many commentators suggest. If Marco Rubio has the resources to get a positive message out about his background, record, and priorities, the race will likely become very competitive. Florida primary voters are strongly conservative and heavily against more spending and debt from Washington. Crist’s record of support for the Obama stimulus, for tax increases, for government health care, and for “cap and trade” all make it harder for him to prevail.
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has hired lawyer Mark Herron to represent her in her ethics complaint on charges that she used the state plane to transport her family and to commute to her Tampa home. Tallahassee lawyer and Republican activist Jose Blas Lorenzo filed the complaint against Sink.
Meanwhile Democratic activist Ken Quinnell brags today on his Twitter page that he's just filed a complaint against Attorney General Bill McCollum ''for misuse of the state plane.'' No word back from Quinnell, but stay tuned.
The Herald/Times reported today that as far back as February state auditors began examining the state aircraft manifest and found numerous examples of possible commuting by state officials. The investigation seems to have avoided any review of Gov. Charlie Crist's flight logs but it gave a detailed review of Sink's trips to Tampa and McCollum's trips to Sanford, raising questions about whether they were traveling home for official business or personal convenience.
The audit was prompted after the Sun-Sentinel broke the story that Lieutenant Gov. Jeff Kottkamp had used the state plane to travel to his Fort Myers home with his wife and family, and the state never billed him for reimbursement.
Gov. Charlie Crist today disappointed environmentalists and signed into law a bill that removes from public input the of water management district boards on surface water and consumptive use permits. Environmentalists had urged Crist to veto SB 2010 arguing that by allowing those decisions to be made by the water management districts executive director, instead of the elected board, they will be shielded from public input and debate.
They also warned that the bill carves out special exemptions for certain large land holders to get 50-year permits to use Florida water with no public review.
Crist said he was sensitive to those concerns and, in a letter accompanying his signing of the bill, urged the WMDs to continue to make their water permit decisions in the open. "I am asking the governing boards and executive directors to continue to include surface water and consumptive use permits on all board meeting agendas or other public meetings for discussion and transparency purposes.''
Eric Draper of Audubon of Florida said they will fight to get the language repealed next year. "In the past at least we've had a chance to get in front of those people and say, 'Hey, this isn't a good idea,'' he said. "We didn't always get the votes...but this takes a decision about resources and puts it behind closed doors, eliminating the opportunity for a public hearing.''
FAU president Frank Brogan, interested in the chancellor's job leading Florida's state university system, was until very recently on the Board of Governors committee working to select the next chancellor.
He resigned that post June 1, according to to this very brief letter: Download Brogan letter.
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Count Sen. Charlie Dean in the Haridopolos for Senate Prez 2010 camp.
Dean is endorsing Sen. Mike Haridopolos for the Senate presidency, the two just announced in a press release. Dean's support comes on the heels of an endorsement by Sen. Mike Bennett, who announced last week he is giving up jockeying for the presidency to support fellow Republican Haridopolos.
"It is my honor to endorse Senator Haridopolos," Dean said in a prepared statement. "Mike is a good friend and you can always count on Mike to follow through with his commitments, lead by example and I have gained great respect for him."
No word yet on who will get leadership spots under Haridopolos, but their support probably helps their chances.
"Charlie brings both insight and vital leadership in helping ensure our success in the future," Haridopolos said. "He will play an important role in the Senate.”
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TAMPA — State Sen. Victor Crist is among at least eight people who have said they will seek to replace Phyllis Busansky as Hillsborough County's supervisor of elections. (Story here.)
The governor's office received applications from five other people: Republican David Agliano, 52, who owns the former Valencia Garden restaurant; former state Rep. Bob Henriquez, 44, the circuit administrator for the Florida Department of Children and Families in Pasco and Pinellas; Craig Latimer, 56, a Democrat, who was Busansky's chief of staff in the elections office and is now heading the office until a replacement is appointed; Joe Robinson, 55, a Republican, and an engineering consultant; and Michael van Hoek, 50, a Democrat and a program director for career education at Southwest Florida College.
Former Tampa Tribune editorial page editor Rosemary Goudreau, 53, said she has mailed her application; Lee Nelson, a Democrat who ran and lost to Busansky in the August primary, announced Monday on his Facebook page that he completed his application and sent it to the governor's office.
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Today the Environmental Protection Agency approved California's longstanding application to set tougher auto emission standards as a tool for curtailing greenhouse gases. Gov. Charlie Crist wanted Florida to follow California's lead on tighter auto emissions, but the Legislature blocked his initiative, with help from lobbyist Wade Hopping. For the whole story, click here.
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The silly season is well under way. Here's an e-mail, with typos left intact, being distributed among gay and lesbian Democratic activists. It refers to Dan Gelber backer Darryl Rouson's comments here -- for which he subsequently apologized and repudiated -- a few years ago
Subject: Homophobic Legislator Endorses Dan Gelber
I think the caucus needs to take and active roll to call upon Dan Gelber to renounce his endorsement by Rep. Daryl Rousson, who believes "...lesbianism and homosexuality is morally wrong..." and believes that "the law is supposed to discriminate sometime!"
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That's the suggestion of Ron Sachs, whose PR firm is working for a mystery group of pro-drilling investors and whose "Sachs Poll" on the Florida political landscape also happened to include a series of questions on drilling.
The results of that industry-funded part of the poll: 55 percent of likely voters (80 percent of Republicans, 36 percent of Democrats and 51 percent of independents) generally support drilling for oil off Florida's coast. That number goes higher of course, when Mason-Dixon, threw in sweeteners like, Would you support drilling if it provided lots of money for schools, health care, roads, in Florida? (71 percent support). Would you support drilling if it generated thousands of new jobs? (72 percent support). If you were convinced it was environmentally safe (78 percent) or not visible from shore (65 percent). Or if offshore drilling resulted in you being surrounded by gorgeous dancing girls or boys, candy, and showered in hundred dollar bills (kidding).
Continue reading "Is Sen. Nelson out of touch with Florida on drilling?" »
State Sen. Paula Dockery, who lately had/has been considering running for Adam Putnam's seat and running for governor, today endorsed Republican former state Rep. Dennis Ross for the Congressional seat.
“After careful consideration and soul searching, I have ruled out a run for the Congressional seat being vacated by Adam Putnam. During that decision making process it became clear that my passion for public policy is in state government and not at the Federal level. Having said that, I can think of no one better to succeed Congressman Adam Putnam, than my dear friend and former Colleague, Dennis Ross....I know something about standing your ground when the going gets tough, and gladly accepting the consequences of that stance. I have a deep appreciation for the courage and spirit it took for Dennis to stand his ground when contentious issues arose in the Legislature."
That doesn't mean Dockery will necessarily challenge Bill McCollum for governor, of course, and the word is no decision is imminent on that. That Sachs Poll by Mason-Dixon released today found McCollum leading Dockery among Republican voters 53 percent to 4 percent.
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Sen. Mike Haridopolos, who is slated to take over the Senate presidency from fellow Republican Jeff Atwater in 2010, plans to announce later today he's endorsing Wellington Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto in her bid for the Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Dave Aronberg, who is running for attorney general against fellow Democrat Dan Gelber.
"I think she is the best, most qualified candidate," Haridopolos told the Times/Herald. "We're rallying the troops around her."
She might need troops. Former state Rep. Sharon Merchant, a Republican, has said she plans to run for the seat that runs from West Palm Beach to Fort Myers.
Merchant says she'll launch her own GOP campaign soon for the treadwear-testing West Palm Beach-to-Fort Myers seat of Aronberg, D-Greenacres.
Benacquisto has already gotten endorsements from Atwater and former Senate President Ken Pruitt, who is next month leaving his Port St. Lucie seat.
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St. Petersburg Times editorial board: But for the public's access to records detailing the long-running conversation between Northwest Florida State College President Bob Richburg, former House Speaker Ray Sansom and developer Jay Odom, Floridians might never have learned the truth behind the proposed $6 million facility at a Destin airport. Read editorial.
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From a press release:
"A new statewide poll conducted for Ron Sachs Communications shows Attorney General Bill McCollum leading Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink 41 percent to 35 percent in the race for Florida Governor, with 24 percent undecided.
"McCollum enjoys high name recognition from 87 percent of registered Florida voters, while Sink is recognized by 61 percent.
Sen. Mike Fasano was surprised. As he looked at the SUV parked at a wedding recently, the Senate's transportation budget chief noticed a vanity license plate that simply said "Senate President." Fasano knew it didn't belong to Senate President Jeff Atwater, who drives a blue Honda Odyssey minivan. So Fasano checked around and found out the specialty plate belonged to former Senate President Tom Lee.
Fasano was even more surprised to find out that, contrary to his suspicions, such plates for former House speakers and Senate presidents became legal thanks to a little-noticed provision slipped into a transportation bill in the House in 2006, Lee's last year in the Legislature.
"Someone had to have told the leaders, 'Hey, you can get a specialty plate for the rest of your life,' " Fasano said.
Continue reading "Senate president vanity license plate targeted" »
Top Florida officials misused state resources to travel between the capital and their homes, costing taxpayers at least $51,000 and raising potential IRS violations, according to state investigators' findings that were removed from a final auditor's report.
Meanwhile, Tallahassee lawyer Jose Blas Lorenzo Jr. also filed an ethics complaint Monday accusing Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink of ''abusive, unauthorized use of state aircraft'' following reports by the Herald/Times and other news outlets.
Sink, along with Attorney General Bill McCollum and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, spent $51,000 of taxpayer money from July 1, 2008, through Feb. 15, 2009, commuting to their homes or taking ''unnecessary legs during business trips,'' according to the Department of Management Services' March 3 audit. Sink spent the most -- $27,200 -- while McCollum spent $12,600 and Kottkamp spent $9,900, according to auditors.
But those details, as well as recommendations and conclusions, were left out of the final report. "We did not have any manpower to further investigate that," said Cathy Schroeder, DMS spokeswoman.
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Read full story here. Examples follow:
Continue reading "Findings removed from final auditor's report on state plane use" »
Howard Troxler: Think of the ongoing Ray Sansom affair in Tallahassee as a combination of Hee Haw and our own little Watergate. Not only is it not going away — it keeps getting bigger and better.
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Jay Odom, the developer who has been indicted along with Rep. Ray Sansom, has resigned from the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority. (More here from the NW Fla Daily News.)
Appointed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush, Odom was a founding member of the panel, which was created by Sansom and others in 2005. Odom and his authority recently angered environmentalists with a proposed toll road through a nature preserve. (Story here.)
Odom had earlier stepped down as a member of the board for Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
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Hitting up fellow lawmakers and taxpayer advocates alike, Miami Republican Rep. David Rivera is blasting out emails in a final fundraising pitch for the quarter. Rivera, who faces fellow Miami Republican Rep. Anitere Flores for state senate, reminds anyone with an email list that there's just a day to go to contribute.
At least one lawmaker (anonymously) groused that Rivera was using state email accounts to solicit contributions, however it appears legal. Rivera solicited via his private email account. In his other email pitch, to taxpayer-types, Rivera fashions himself as the property-tax cutter who will stop tax-cutting legislation from dying in the state Senate.
"As you know, this proposal would cap all property taxes at 1.35% of taxable value while preserving Save Our Homes and all Homestead Exemptions. This plan cuts property taxes in Florida by 26% statewide," Rivera wrote.
"Unfortunately, once again, our effort to bring much needed property tax relief to the people of Florida died in the Florida Senate.
"Now I have decided to seek an open seat in the Florida Senate and take our fight for lower property taxes directly into that arena."
--Marc Caputo
State Rep. Bill Galvano weighed in on the Ray Sansom controversy on Sunday's Political Connections show on Bay News 9. Here's a clip. The full interview is on Ch. 342, Bay News 9 on Demand.
UPDATE: U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite responded to the criticism for the first time in an interview with the Times. She denied she did anything wrong and suggested she had no more information than someone watching C-SPAN. Not to mention, she said, she lost money. But a 2010 Democratic opponent isn't buying it. He wants the SEC to investigate.
From the Cleveland Plain-Dealer: As financial markets tumbled and the government worked to stave off panic by pumping billions of dollars into banks last fall, several members of Congress who oversee the banking industry were grabbing up or dumping bank stocks. ...
... For example, Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, a Florida Republican, bought Citigroup stock valued between $1,001 and $15,000 on Oct. 2, the day before the House passed the financial rescue bill and President George W. Bush signed it into law, records show. She opposed the bill.
Eleven days later, she bought $1,001 to $15,000 worth of Bank of America stock. It was on the same day that then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told leading banks that he expected them to accept billions in bailout money to prevent a financial meltdown.
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A June 24-26 Mason-Dixon poll for Ron Sachs Communications (MoE +/- 6 in primary questions, 4 in general election) shows Charlie Crist leading Marco Rubio in the Republican U.S. Senate primary 51 percent to 23 percent. Just 52 percent of likely primary voters had heard of Rubio, while Crist was almost universally recognized.
Get this: Among Republican voters who recognize both candidates, 33 percent back Crist and 31 percent back Rubio.
In the Democratic senate primary, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek is leading U.S. Rep Corrine Brown 27 percent to 12 percent, but 61 percent, remain undecided. More than half the Democratic voters did not know either Democrat.
In a general election, Crist leads 48 percent to 26 percent over Meek, with 26 percent undecided. Crist also leads Brown by 55 percent to 24 percent, with 21 percent undecided.
Continue reading "Poll: Rubio and Crist in dead heat among GOPers who know both" »
Add Frank Brogan, Florida Atlantic University president and former lieutenant governor, to the list of people reportedly interested in leading Florida’s public university system.
Brogan, who in 1981 earned his master’s degree from FAU, has not yet submitted an application for the chancellor’s job. Nor did he return phone calls requesting comment. But speculation about his interest has been growing in recent weeks, and several sources close to the search say he plans to apply for the job by next week’s deadline.
The Board of Governors committee leading the national search for a new chancellor plans to hold a conference call on July 13, to review all applications and decide which of them to interview in person on July 17. That means applications have to be submitted to the search firm by the end of next week, Friday, July 10.
From Sunday's St. Petersburg Times editorial: But as tempting as it may be for Floridians to embrace the measure because they're fed up with elected officials' failure to rein in growth, it is the wrong approach. Hometown Democracy identified a problem, but its solution would lead to gridlock. Read full editorial here.
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Washington Times: The Club for Growth, a conservative anti-tax group, is considering running ads in the Republican Party's Senate primary race against Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for supporting higher state taxes and President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus spending package. ...
"We recently interviewed Marco Rubio and were impressed. We are very concerned about the two major tax increases Charlie Crist recently signed and believe there's no excuse for his active support of the Obama big-government 'stimulus' spending bill," said David Keating, the club's executive director. "We are actively considering the race."
"There's not a set timeline for endorsement, but we look forward to completing our research on his record and that of his opponent, as well as our assessment of the competitiveness of this race before making a decision," Mr. Keating said.
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From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, The Buzz offers the latest news in Florida politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
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