Senate considers halting Florida Forever

Florida Senate leadership is considering halting the state's premiere land-buying program, Florida Forever, as a way to save about $20 million.

UPDATE: Check out what land-buying projects in your area may not happen here.

The proposal, which is expected to be in the Senate's budget bill to be released this afternoon, would stop the state from issuing some $250 million worth of bonds to buy conservation land throughout the state.  That move would save the state about $20 million in debt and interest payments that the state would not otherwise have to make on issuing the rest of those bonds.

The Florida House, which has historically been less generous to Florida Forever programs than the Senate, is also considering the measure, House budget guru Rep. Marcelo Llorente confirmed.

"It's hard to look law enforcement officers, who haven't had a raise in years, in the eye and tell them we're buying land," said Senate Ways and Means Chariman Sen. J.D. Alexander. "It's tough to continue to borrow money that will be here three years from now while we try to keep essential services running."

Fla Chamber lobbies DC for stimulus bill

Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, was making the rounds on Capitol Hill today to encourage the state's congressional delegation to back President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus package.

Wilson said he's also trying to impart the need for the package to address education, growth management and infrastruture, from roads and bridges to water plants.

Shifting postions in the U.S. House

For those keeping score at home, U.S. Rep Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, has landed a coveted seat on the House Ways and Means Committee, though she may have to give up her seats on other committees to take it.

Ways and Means is the House's tax-writing committee, but also holds jurisdiction over  Social Security, Medicare and trade. Her office said her Fifth Congressional District has the highest concentration of Social Security and Medicare recipients in the country.

"I will work to protect Social Security benefits, find comprehensive solutions to the health care crisis facing our nation, fight to keep taxes low, and stimulate job creation," Brown-Waite said.

Sansom dealings headed to Grand Jury

North Florida State Attorney Willie Meggs says he will turn over complaints he has received about House Speaker Ray Sansom to a Leon County Grand Jury later this month.

Meggs said he has not investigated the circumstances surrounding the $110,000-a-year job Sansom accepted at Northwest Florida State College after funneling millions of dollars in state construction money to the college.

"I have received complaints from people who think it needs to be looked into," Meggs told the St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau. He would not identify the people who complained.

Senate Dems say no way on budget

Senate Democrats took a caucus position to vote against the budget in Ways and Means Thursday morning and, presumably -- if nothing changes-- on the floor.

Senate Democrats said they were concerned about the deep cuts to education and health and human services. While in some committees, Senate Democrats voted yes, in education and health and human service appropriations, Senate Democrats voted no.

"Before this session started, we said we did not want to cut education. And with programs to the elderly and health care, we did not want to cut those programs," said Minority Leader Al Lawson.

New ethics complaint against Sansom

House Speaker Ray Sansom faces a second ethics complaint.

Tampa-area activist Susan Smith today filed the complaint against the Destin Republican, who was has been under fire for taking a job at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. Smith is a member of Democracy for America.

"He has embarrassed the Florida Legislature," Smith said an interview. She alleges Sansom violated, among other things, a House ethic rules that states legislative office, "is a trust to be performed with integrity in the public interest."

Smith, 59, mailed the complaint to Sansom this afternoon. "I'm outraged so I’m going to do something about this. I’m tired of lawmakers thinking they they can act this way and get away with it."

Rep. Legg's 'concerns about ethics'

Most state legislators have remained resolutely silent throughout the past two months of the Ray Sansom controversy. But Rep. John Legg, R-New Port Richey, agreed with a constituent who e-mailed him several weeks ago, and said: "I share your concerns about ethics or I should say lack of ethics in our elected officials." 

Ali Golji of New Port Richey, a registered Independent voter, wrote to Legg to say he could "smell a rat" over Sansom as the beneficiary of a $110,000-a-year job at a college for which he helped obtain millions of dollars. "Amazing how a million changes to $25-million when there is a $110,000 a year incentive at work!"  wrote Golji. He said he has a Ph.D. in microbiology with 20 years of experience and has never made that kind of money.

The rest of Legg's reply: "I am confident that this issue will be closely scrutinized. Thank you for sharing your concerns with me." Legg wrote his e-mail on Dec. 3, and it was obtained in response to a public records request for emails from the speaker's office.   

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Greer backs Steele for RNC Chair

The statement from Jim Greer, the formerly prospective candidate for RNC chairman: "Michael has everything that the GOP desperately needs right now: the ability to communicate our message from a fresh point of view, an appreciation of how we can use technology to build the party, and the ability to reach out to new voters," noted Greer.  "Democrats are not the only people calling for change.  These are our priorities in Florida and they must also be our priorities on a national level."

Michael Steele's statement: "I am grateful for Chairman Greer’s support," said Steele.  "As the GOP Chairman in one of the largest states in the nation, Chairman Greer’s support is critical to our campaign and takes it to a whole new level. He has been recognized as one of the most dynamic and successful state party chairs in the country and I look forward to working with him closely."

House Democrats: Help us, Obama!

Paging Barack Obama. Barack Obama, would you please pick up the white courtesy phone?

Franklin Sands, Florida Democratic leader here. You remember me from that fundraiser in Weston, right? Good times. Good times. Look, Mr. President-elect, I have a favor to ask. I'll be blunt. Can you hurry up with that stimulus package? We could use some help with this budget mess in Florida.

House Democrats this morning turned to Washington for help, calling on Republican leaders to slow down the budget cuts in anticipation of "substantial gains under a federal economic stimulus package." During an 11 a.m. news conference, Sands said the GOP, working in secret, is rushing to make cuts that could hurt an already fragile state. (Republican response here.)

"The Republicans are proposing wholesale across-the-board cuts but they are not really thinking out these cuts as they make them," he said, a gaggle of Democrats at his side. "Slashing the budget at this time is actually very imprudent because of the imminence of the stimulus package coming out of Washington, which we hope will bail us out, which will bail out 12 years of Republican fiscal mismanagement."

Greer to announce RNC plans

Look for an announcement from Jim Greer today about the RNC chairmanship. We're taking bets: Is he announcing his candidacy or his endorsement? If it's the former, what's his pitch, and if it's the latter, who gets the nod?

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Scarborough: GOP needs to speak out on Sansom

Joe Scarborough in the Pensacola News Journal today: Though this is the most difficult column I have ever  written, it is also one of the most important. We can never allow our personal prejudices to trump our public values. When that happens, we are no longer leaders.

So how are Florida's elected leaders responding to this moral crisis?

What I have seen so far is not encouraging.

Monday, Speaker Sansom received a standing ovation from Tallahassee Republicans. He was showered with effusive praise for quitting a job he should have never taken.

It was every bit as jarring as watching Al Gore call Bill Clinton the greatest president in U.S. history minutes after Clinton had been impeached.

The scene of politicians wildly cheering their party boss for giving back ill-gotten gains was just as bizarre.

Will they now praise their children for returning stolen goods after getting caught by security guards? Will they issue a commemorative plate for disgraced Sen. Ted Stevens if he returns his Viking range to lobbyists?

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WSJ, again, bashes Crist

The Wall Street Journal editorial board has been no fan of our populist governor, particularly his approach to the property insurance crisis. Now, it's hitting him for failing to appeal a Florida District Court ruling against an initiative to expand charter school authorizations in the state.

As Chicago schools chief, Arne Duncan has found innovative ways to skirt the restrictive cap on the number of charter schools that can operate in Illinois, thus expanding opportunities for low-income kids. So it's instructive to contrast Mr. Duncan's can-do attitude with that of Florida Governor Charlie Crist, whose inaction last week handed a victory to opponents of school choice.

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Sansom meeting tried to define hangar

A year and a half after slipping $6-million into the state budget for an emergency facility at his hometown airport, House Speaker Ray Sansom led a hastily arranged meeting with local officials to explain how they might use it.

The meeting, held Dec. 10, came four days after the St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee bureau reported that the airport building was originally proposed by a friend of Sansom's, Jay Odom, a developer who wanted to park his jets in a taxpayer-funded hangar.

Officials deny the meeting was damage control. "It was to lay the groundwork of how the building was going to be used," said Tuffy Dixon, chief of the Destin Fire Control District.

But some critics, who say there is no burning need for an emergency operations center at the airport, question the events. "It's CYA time," said former Destin Mayor Ken Beaird. "They got caught and now they're trying to justify … an aircraft hangar." (story here)

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The freshmen take over the mansion

You can't tell the players without a scorecard and the governor's staffers had 'em, even though these guests all wore name tags. (The scorecard is a pocket guide called "2008-2010 Freshman House Members," to help distinguish Eric Eisnaugle from Erik Fresen). Gov. Charlie Crist rolled out the welcome mat at the Mansion Tuesday for the 43 freshman legislators -- not the last time they'll get the royal treatment.

In the Mansion library, Crist debriefed Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, on her recent campaign, and asked her to call on him anytime. In brief remarks, he gave shout-outs to Jones; Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale; Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee; Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale and Rep. Tom Grady, R-Naples. "There's a lot of you," Crist told the large group. "You've got a lot of power, whether you know it or not." 

Reaction to Jeb announcement

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez: “I understand his decision. Jeb would have been a great candidate and senator. The good news is that Republicans still hold the advantage with a deep field of potential candidates.”

Florida Democratic Chairwoman Karen Thurman: ""It is clear that Florida will be a central battleground in the 2010 election. Over the past several years, Democrats have made major gains in Florida winning three of the six statewide elections. On November 2, 2010, Florida will be electing another strong Democrat to the U.S. Senate, who will work to implement President-elect Barack Obama's vision of change and join Sen. Bill Nelson in representing the Sunshine State in the tradition of Bob Graham and Lawton Chiles."

State GOP Chairman Jim Greer: “While we are disappointed in former Governor Bush’s decision not to seek this U.S. Senate seat, Florida Republicans can rest assured that we have a number of outstanding potential candidates. Under the leadership of Republicans like Senator Mel Martinez, former Governor Bush, and Governor Charlie Crist, the Republican Party of Florida has created a formidable cadre of qualified candidates for higher office, and we look forward to seeing their ideas for the future—including lowering taxes on families and businesses and reigning in government spending—in action during a spirited campaign.”

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio: "Obviously, I'm disappointed. (But) I trust his decision-making process and his ability to make the right decision for him and his family...The U.S. Senate is an opportunity that I'm going to seriously explore and will make a decision within the next two weeks."

Jeb's not running

Jeb Bush: "After thoughtful consideration, I've decided not to run for the United States Senate in 2010. While the opportunity to serve my state and country during these turbulent and dynamic times is compelling, now is not the right time to return to elected office.

“In the coming months and years, I hope to play a constructive role in the future of the Republican Party, advocating ideas and policies that solve the pressing problems of our day. We must rebuild the Party by focusing on the common purposes and core conservative principles that unite us all –- limited government, a strong national defense and safe homeland, and the protection of liberty tempered by personal responsibility."

Schools bear brunt of fiscal pain

Schools are carrying the bulk of the nearly $1-billion in spending cuts Florida lawmakers will make this week to balance the budget, including a $14-million cut to Pinellas schools and a $26-million cut to Hillsborough schools, according to details released Tuesday.

Meeting on the second day of a two-week special session to cut the state budget by $2.3-billion, lawmakers said they are trying to shield classrooms from the deepest cuts. The proposed trims amount to $465-million, including a 2 percent reduction in the state's base budget of $3,886 per pupil, or $85.42.

It will be up to Florida's 67 school districts to determine which programs to scale back to implement the cuts between now and June 30. (more here)

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A legislator cutting his own taxpayer expenses

State Rep. Mike Scionti, D-Tampa, is putting his taxpayer money where his mouth is. The second-term legislator says cost-cutting in his own office has saved $17,000. Among his budget reducing measures: He opted not to attend any of the annual national legislative conferences for a savings of $2,500; he declined the use of a Blackberry offered to each Florida House member; he cut newsletter and other expenses.

"Setting the goal was the easy part. Actually achieving the savings meant finding different ways to cut costs both big and small without diminishing services," Scionti said in a statement. "I believe that we can solve our state’s budget crisis using the same approach that allowed me to save taxpayer money in my district office -– by taking a serious look at all options."

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Florida woman invited to inauguration

Cynthia Russell, a builder from Newberry, Fla., was officially selected to attend the Obama inauguration because of her role as a grass-roots supporter. She gets to attend the swearing-in, the parade and the "neighborhood inaugural ball."

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Amid gloom and doom, GOP parties

An e-mail went out today announcing a reception honoring RPOF Chairman Jim Greer at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando this coming Friday. The break will be a nice respite for lawmakers who have been hearing gloom-and-doom stories all week long about the impact of their cutting the state budget.

The host committee includes Gov. Charlie Crist, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, Sen. Jeff Atwater, House Speaker Ray Sansom and several lawmakers.

See the e-mail and full list on the jump.

Ads demand Crist investigate Sansom

A Tallahassee Republican has spent more than $6,000 of his own money to run ads in the Tallahassee Democrat urging Gov. Charlie Crist to launch an investigation into the dealings of House Speaker Ray Sansom.

The half-page ad pictured at left (click to enlarge) is scheduled to run tomorrow. A full-page ad costing about $4,100 was published today.

"The whole thing just infuriates me, the arrogance," said Ray Bellamy, a Tallahassee orthopedist and FSU faculty member who financed the ads for Common Cause. Referring to the money Sansom secured for Northwest Florida State College, Bellamy added: "It's one thing to do these pork projects when economic times are good and you are benefiting your district. It's a far different thing when you are making a job for yourself and lining your own pockets at a time in which you are preaching from a podium that says 'fiscal responsibility.' "

"RINO of the year" Crist

Human Events columnist AWR Hawkins is blasting Charlie Crist for naming Jorge LaBaraga to the Florida Supreme Court -- a guy praised by the likes of the St. Pete Times editorial board and state Sen. Alex Villalobos -- instead of Frank Jiminez:

Crist went from nominating someone Ronald Reagan could be proud of in Jimenez to nominating a man supported by the kind of people opposed to choice in education and who are held in high esteem by the ACLU. Has Crist no conservative convictions at all?

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Crist: Cut less, borrow more

Gov. Charlie Crist carefully avoids direct criticism of the Legislature. But he voiced disappointment Tuesday that lawmakers' preliminary budget-cutting plans take more money from schools than he proposed. Crist wants them to cut less and borrow more, from bonding for prison beds, a budget stabilization fund and the Lawton Chiles health care endowment.

"What are we supposed to do? Sit around and admire that money? It's there for a reason," Crist told reporters at the Governor's Mansion. "The reason is to utilize it when you're in tough times. Here we are." Lawmakers are leery of increased borrowing because of the interest payments and the fact that Florida's ratio of debt to revenue is already above prudent levels.

Budget humor: Rename trust funds?

In Senate General Government appropriations, there was a discussion about whether someone could donate to trust funds to replenish them, say for marine animals, and whether such a contribution would be tax deductible.

Sen. Chairman Carey Baker said he didn't know why anyone would donate to a trust fund, knowing there's a good chance the money would go for something else.

"Where's the trust?" asked Sen. Steve Oelrich.

"We should, maybe, consider changing the names of those to ... the 'not-as-trusting' trust funds?" Baker said.

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Senate bid by Jeb Bush iffy, friends say

Republican excitement over the prospect of Jeb Bush running for U.S. Senate has given way to increasing speculation that the former governor will stay out of the race.

Bush declined to comment for this article but was expected to make an announcement perhaps as early as this week. Even with his father on national TV Sunday touting Bush as a terrific potential future senator or president, friends say family considerations could outweigh the pull of public service.

Bush may conclude after completing his methodical review process that there are other ways he can help rebuild the GOP besides a Senate career that would take a toll on his consulting business and be difficult for his family.

"I know it's a big struggle for him,'' said former state Republican chairman Al Cardenas, who believes Bush is still undecided. "As his friend I think maybe he's better off where he is. As a Republican who loves his party so much, I know we need him." (story here)

RNC Chair Greer and RNC Secretary Sharon Day?

Candidates for RNC chairman -- Saul Anuzis, Ken Blackwell, Mike Duncan, Katon Dawson, Chip Saltsman and Michael Steele -- are participating in an Americans for Tax Reform debate right now in D.C. RPOF Chairman Jim Greer, who is suggesting he might jump in if no one impresses him, is there listening but not speaking.

Meanwhile, Republican National Committeewoman Sharon Day of Broward has announced her candidacy for RNC Secretary: "Many of you, like me, see the outcome of Election Day as a true opportunity rather than a crisis. We have an opportunity to rebuild our Party and to look to our future as the Republican National Committee. While I may be disappointed in the outcome on Election Day, I am not angry and I am not distressed. While others may see our demise, I see our rebirth. While others may see our Party as one without strength, I see our Party ready to be renewed,'' she wrote in an e-mail to RNC members.

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Florida connection to new DNC leadership

Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, who ran Jim Davis' gubernatorial campaign, will be the new executive director of the Democratic National Committee. O'Malley, who ran John Edwards' Iowa campaign and then helped lead Barack Obama's battleground state campaigns, is to join the new DNC Chairman, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.

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Under fire, Sansom quits college job

Besieged by criticism over taking a job at his local college after steering millions to the school, House Speaker Ray Sansom announced moments ago that he is reluctantly resigning.

"This has not been an easy decision for me to make," Sansom said, reading from a prepared statement at the outset of a two-week special session to cut $2.3-billion from the budget. "I accepted my position at the college with pure intentions and for good reasons."

His resignation is effective Jan. 31, according to the college.

"Unfortunately, some have disagreed with my decision to work at the college. While I do not question their motives, I strongly object to their conclusions. In all my years in public service, I have sought to act in a manner worthy of the trust that the people have placed in me."

Sansom, R-Destin, took the $110,000 a year vice president job at Northwest Florida State College on the same day in November that he was sworn in as speaker. It was then revealed that over the past two years alone that Sansom secured about $35-million in extra or accelerated funding for the school as well as pushed through legislation favored by college president Bob Richburg. At one point, the two men appeared to circumvent open meeting law by arranging a gathering of the college trustees in Tallahassee to talk about a bill that expanded the school's ability to offer bachelor's degrees.

But while Sansom strenuously defended his actions, pressure mounted statewide for him to resign. Additional questions arose in the weeks that followed, including why he secured $6-million for a building at Destin Airport that was once sought by a private developer and major Republican donor, Jay Odom.

President Jeb Bush

Former president George H.W. Bush said on Fox News Sunday today that Jeb would not just be an outstanding U.S. Senator.

I'd like to see him run," Bush said. "I'd like to see him be president some day.

"As president, it's about service, service for the greatest country on the face of the Earth and the honor that goes with it," Bush said. "I think Jeb fits that description....I mean, right now is probably a bad time, because we've got enough Bushes in there."

"He'd be an outstanding senator. This is a guy that really has a feel for people, the issues in Florida and nationally. And his political days ought not to be over, says his old father."

Florida, this budget session could hurt some

Florida legislators will start the new year in familiar fashion: by cutting aid to schools and other programs, borrowing money, skimming cash surpluses and hiking traffic and court fees to patch a $2.3-billion hole in a leaky state budget.

The special session that begins Monday marks the third major round of cuts in 10 months and is the result of a prolonged nosedive in tax revenues caused by the recession-racked real estate and credit markets.

Barred by the state Constitution from deficit spending and firmly opposed to new taxes, the state's Republican leaders are in a budgetary corner, forced to further constrict spending.

"Times are bad for Floridians," said Senate Majority Leader Alex Diaz de la Portilla of Miami. "We're going to have to make decisions here that no one will really like." (story here)

Charlie Justice v Ray Sansom

Like a lot of Florida Democrats, State Sen. Charlie Justice of  St. Petersburg is not shy about discussing the swirling controversy over Republican House Speaker Ray Sansom getting hired by Northwest Florida State College after funneling millions of dollars to the school.

"It is a distraction to some degree and it makes it harder for us to go back and say, ‘I’m sorry, Florida’s in a tough budget. We had to cut’ when they read about the money that’s spent on other things,’’ Justice said in a Political Connections interview airing on Bay News 9 today at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

But said he sees no problem with himself helping secure millions of dollars to the University of South Florida, where he works as an academic adviser.

“I think the broadest line should be drawn  between those of us …who were working for the university prior to getting elected. If you get elected and you’re a chairman of a committee that funnels money and then you get hired, certainly that doesn’t look as good,’’ he said, adding that his USF funding efforts went through the normal budgetary review, rather being added with little review at the last minute like Sansom’s.