Attkisson wants 'tax swap' on 2008 ballot

A Republican lawmaker is planning a ballot proposal that could include higher sales tax and other fees in an effort to do away with property taxes.

Rep. Frank Attkisson, who played a key role in the Legislature’s tax debate, is eyeing the November 2008 ballot and has already secured a prominent public relations firm to sell the idea.

Attkisson, 51, was reluctant to discuss his effort or disclose who he was consulting with. “I’ve talked to a lot of people with a lot of ideas.” But he said he feels a consumption tax, such as a sales tax, is better than property taxes — a position in line with the thinking of House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami. “I think the speaker is right on the money on that one,” Attkisson said.

Rest of story here.

Pinellas County suspends attorney

In the first official fallout from the controversy over the purchase of Pinellas Property Appraiser Jim Smith's private land, the County Commission voted unanimously this afternoon to suspend County Attorney Susan Churuti with pay.

Commissioners, however, didn't approve the second part of the motion by Commissioner Karen Seel, which was also to suspend County Administrator Steve Spratt. Seel said she had lost trust in both Churuti and Spratt and "my trust can't be retrieved." Commissioner Susan Latvala echoed Seel's concerns, saying new documents keep appearing "that we've never seen before."

Brogan's back

Former Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan will oversee a 25-member "Blueprint Commission" that will recommend ways to improve the state's juvenile justice system.

DJJ Secretary Walt McNeil announced on Tuesday formation of the commission that includes public officials, judges and juvenile justice experts. The panel will make recommendations to Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature. Areas of study will include: juvenile recidivism, the over-representation of minority youths, and "alarming" trends involving girls, who make up the fastest-growing segment of the juvenile justice population.

Susac to move from PSC to DEP, ASAP

Jeremy Susac, 32, has been picked to become director of the Florida Energy Office at the Department of Environmental Protection.

Susac has worked for the Public Service Commission since 2003, first as a senior attorney, then as chief advisor to Commissioner Katrina McMurrian. The Florida Energy Office is the state's primary center for energy policy under Gov. Charlie Crist. In addition to developing and implementing Florida's energy policy, the Florida Energy Office coordinates all federal energy programs delegated to the state, including energy supply, demand, and conservation. Susac's last day with the Commission is August 2nd.

In January, Crist named Susac to serve as one of the Public Service Commissioners after removing two Jeb Bush appointees, Isilio Arriaga and Ken Littlefield, as not consumer friendly enough. But it turned out the governor did not have direct authority to install replacements; rather, the nominating process had to begin again. When it was over, Susac did not make the cut.

-- Asjylyn Loder and Alex Leary

Taking on street gangs

The Florida Legislature is getting tough on gangs.

Legislation was announced today that expands the definition of street gangs under the current statute to any group involved in organized criminal activity, including street gangs, terrorist organizations and hate groups. It would also make it easier to enforce current laws against recruiting others to such activities.
“We see the problem firsthand here in Palm Beach County ,” said House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, who was a co-sponsor of the original anti-gang bill last session. “These well-organized and well-equipped street gangs represent a violent form of domestic terrorism that we must confront."

More detail here.

Where's that Florida money for Thompson?

The likely presidential candidate raised less than $150,000 from Florida in June, despite the large number of top drawer GOP fundraisers who have stayed on the sidelines. FL ranks as Thompson's sixth biggest donor state, behind Tennessee, Texas, New York, Virginia, and California.

Among the Florida names on the list? Johnnie Byrd and family and associates, former James Madison Institute chief Edwin Moore, Holland & Knight COO James Darrell Kelley, and a bunch of insurance industry folks.

Cocktails with Clinton in Destin

Bill Clinton will be in Destin next Monday evening for a fund-raiser for his wife's presidential campaign. The location of the Hillary-for-president event is Harbor Docks on U.S. Highway 98. The host, Charles Morgan III, is Harbor Docks' owner (he donated money to John Edwards in 2004).

Also on Monday, Mitt Romney will address the Space Coast Tiger Bay Club at the Imperial Hotel in Viera at 12 noon. 

Jennings campaign botches tax payments

From The Hill: "Democratic congressional candidate Christine Jennings went more than a year without paying taxes on both of her campaign committees’ payrolls, Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports show.

“When Christine recognized the problem, she took steps to fix it — to correct the problem,” spokesman David Kochman said. “That includes contracting with a payroll service.”

Clinton v. Obama on electability

If sweating the details wins elections, Hillary Clinton stands to be the Democrat who runs away with Florida's crucial Hispanic vote. Last week was the latest example, as she went after Barack Obama for saying in a televised debate that he would unconditionally meet with leaders of hostile foreign countries like Cuba or Venezuela in his first year as president.

"She is so smart to jump on these issues because it displays how moderate she is. It positions her in the center and confirms her position as the only Democrat who's going to get a large percentage of the Cuban vote," said Dario Moreno, a Florida International University political scientist and expert on Hispanic voters. "Among Cuban-American voters right now in Florida, it would probably be Republican Rudy Giuliani leading, followed by Hillary."

Full story here.

Dumping on the tax plan

An economic adviser to former Gov. Jeb Bush is warning about the "unintended consequences" of the Legislature's property tax plan. Writing for Florida TaxWatch, Tony Villamil said the proposals have brought uncertainty to the property tax structure and "violate a principle of best practices of public finance, which is simplicity and transparency in the levy of taxes."

He said the mandates are not only confusing but also unfair to certain taxpayers and take away local government flexibility. Read the analysis here.

Changes in Crist's press office

Anthony De Luise, a former director of public information at the Florida Public Service Commission and former TV news producer, is Gov. Charlie Crist's new press secretary. DeLuise, who also served as a deputy press secretary and agency spokesman in the Jeb Bush administration, replaces Erin Isaac, who was promoted to communications director.

De Luise is a former producer for WFLA-Channel 8 in Tampa. Crist issued a statement calling De Luise "a great fit" for his press office.

Crist's office also announced the promotion of Lisa Meyer from chief speechwriter to deputy communications director.

CNN/YouTube to GOP: Tell us what you want

After a weekend spent in crisis mode, organizers of the CNN/YouTube GOP debate seemed more hopeful on Monday that the event will indeed go off in St. Petersburg. Just maybe not on Sept. 17, as first thought.

CNN and the Republican Party of Florida are now floating possible new dates to the Republican field. "People want to make a way to make this happen," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, who spoke with several campaigns over the weekend. Baker said the campaigns are tied down by overcrowded schedules, not a fear of the debate's format.

Bob Allen: I'm staying put

State Rep. Bob Allen, whose legal troubles are by now well known, moments ago sent e-mail to fellow lawmakers that makes clear he has no intention of stepping down.

Dear Fellow Colleague,

All of our lives we have heard that "Innocent Until Proven Guilty" is the foundation of our judicial system. It is what makes America unique. As lawmakers, I know more than anyone you understand and appreciate this important principle. 

You never realize how important that is until you are accused of something terrible and you have to defend yourself. It is my nature never to hide, but to straightforwardly answer the obvious general and specific questions about these charges. However, our judicial process requires me to work through my legal counsel and the judicial system. 

I am vigorously pursuing the plea of Not Guilty. This is an outrageous accusation that I intend to disprove through the judicial system. (Read the full letter in comments.)

Needed: Copy editor at Florida Press Center

How do you publish a correction on an office building?

Owners of the Florida Press Center in Tallahassee, where most of the capital press is located (including The Buzz), recently repainted the place and had a new sign installed next to the front door. One minor problem: The sign says "336 W. College Ave," and the building is at 336 East College Avenue.

"It will be corrected," said Dean Ridings of the Florida Press Association, owners of the three-story building (he said he thought a mock-up of the sign by the contractor was just that -- a mock-up). The mail carrier making his rounds Monday asked whether the papers still wanted their mail sent to the, uh, new address.

State Rep. Darryl Rouson?

Darryl Rouson, the energetic former St. Petersburg NAACP leader, has picked some tough fights over the years - from St. Pete Times board of directors to the peddlers of drug paraphernalia. Now he’s looking at another doozy of a challenge: running as a a Republican for the overwhelmingly Democratic state House 55 seat to be vacated next year by Frank Peterman. "I’m 65 percent leaning towards doing it,’’ said the 52-year-old lawyer who is friends with Gov. Charlie Crist. "I was approached by some people who felt no black Republican has come along that could really make hat seat competitive,’’ he said the district that includes south Pinellas, and a sliver of Hillsborough and Manatee counties. "But with my activism record, with my knowledge of the district and with my relationships that I’m building in Tallahassee I could probably be strong enough to attract enough cross-over democrats to win that seat.’’

FL DLCers

The Democratic presidential candidates may be skipping the Democratic Leadership Council's "national conversation" in Nashville, but a good number of Florida Democrats are attending the confab for centrist Democrats. Among those we've heard of attending: state Reps. Lorrane Ausley, Debbie Boyd, Rick Kriseman, Luis Garcia, Keith Fitzgerald, Franklin Sands. Also, we understand St. Pete Council member Jamie Bennett is there and Gainesville mayor Pegeen Hanrahan.

A look at 'Golden Rule Charlie'

He has been profiled by Time, The Economist and the Los Angeles Times, among others. Now Governing magazine (a sister publication of the St. Petersburg Times) takes the measure of Gov. Charlie Crist in an article in its August issue by Alan Greenblatt.

A Panhandle sheriff gets the boot

The sheriff of rural Gulf County in the Panhandle was suspended from office by Gov. Charlie Crist late Friday, hours after he was indicted by a grand jury in Port St. Joe. Sheriff Dalton Upchurch faces a misdemeanor charge of mishandling a drunk driving case.

The grand jury probe followed an FDLE investigation of Upchurch's conduct in a DUI case from last February, the Panama City News-Herald reported. Upchurch had already sent in his resignation, effective Tuesday. His acting replacement is Sheriff Maj. Joseph Nugent.

Karen Thurman swipes at Crist

We overlooked this Netroots Q and A with Karen Thurman the other day, where she makes no apologies for her side gig lobbying alongside Al Cardenas and takes a gentle jab at Charlie Crist: "The Governor really hasn’t extended himself as much as the media has made it seem. He supported stem cell research, but not the most promising embryonic stem cell research. He supported insurance reform, but didn’t propose a plan to make it happen. He held a climate summit, but used executive orders to make change instead of forcing the Legislature to get to work on this pressing issue...."

Reality starting to confront Crist

Little by little, the walls are beginning to close in on Gov. Charlie Crist. Let us count the ways. Florida is in the throes of its worst tax revenue shortfall in years. Homeowners are still in a foul mood about insurance. Crist's e-mail in-box is full of messages from consumers upset that their rates aren't going down or angry that they have to pay more for sinkhole insurance.

What Crist called "the largest tax cut in Florida history" can be reduced by local officials willing to take the heat for a super-majority override vote. Crist's headache du jour is House Speaker Marco Rubio, the man with the "100 ideas" book and the self-anointed heir to the conservative Jeb Bush legacy that, little by little, Crist is disassembling. More here.

More trouble for Siplin?

An Orlando TV station is reporting that the Florida Commission on Ethics today found probable cause in a case against State Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando. More here.

The complaint came from a deputy who stopped Siplin at a roadblock last fall and said Siplin threatened to take his job if he did not let him through.

You never forget your first: Gus takes two.

Freshman Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, scored his first legislative victory Friday, seeing two of his ideas make it into the homeland security bill that won final approval from Congress late Friday.

The first provision requires those coordinating the development of rail security plans to be American citizens. The second requires the physical testing of rail tank cars used to carry hazardous materials.

Both are designed to thwart terrorism. The bill also includes $4-billion over four years for railroad and public transportation security. President Bush is expected to sign it.

Bilirakis serves on the homeland security committee.

Rubio's gambling money

House Speaker Marco Rubio has long opposed gambling, a stance that grew from spending six years of his childhood in Vegas. This week, the Miami Republican amplified his objection in an op-ed piece that took a subtle shot at Gov. Charlie Crist.

But a review of Rubio's recent campaign finance reports shows he has received money from the industry. During his 2006 re-election campaign, Rubio received the maximum $500 contribution from, among others, Calder Race Course, New Hollywood Greyhound Track, Palm Beach Kennel Club, and Hazel Park Harness Raceway. And the committee he formed to attain the speakership, Floridians for Conservative Leadership, got $2,500 from Calder Race Course in 2003.

Buzz asked Rubio about the disconnect. "My contributors buy into my agenda -- I don't buy into theirs," he said by way of e-mail. "I have consistently opposed gaming and they chose to contribute to my efforts nonetheless."

Smoke in her aye?

No, says U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. The Tampa Democrat says she's trying to dampen a whopper of a cigar tax, but not at the expense of the children's health insurance the new tax is supposed to fund.

"We're working on it. If we can make it more equitable to (taxes on cigarettes), we will," Castor told reporters in her office Friday. "But our first priority is children's health."

Castor, a freshman, represents several cigar-making operations in West Tampa and Ybor City, and cigar makers fear a downturn in sales if Congress approves the tax increase to pay for an expansion of the State Childrens Health Insurance Program, known on Capitol Hill as S-Chip.

The current federal tax is about 5 cents per cigar. The Senate version calls for a 53-percent excise tax on the tobacco used to roll cigars, with a cap of $10 per cigar. The House version seeks a 44-percent excise tax, with a $1 maximum tax per cigar. Floridians in both chambers are working to trim the proposed taxes before the House and Senate vote on the bills next week.

Congress wants to expand the program to cover up to 6-million more children who are poor, but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. President Bush has vowed to veto the increase.

Romney/Giuliani say no to YouTube

GOP frontrunner Rudy Giuliani told Miami radio host Jim Defede Friday that he likely won't be coming to the CNN/YouTude presidential debate Sept. 17 in St. Petersburg. "I don’t think we can," the former New York mayor said in an interview that is scheduled to air Monday. "I think they would have to change the date. We have either five or six events that day. There was a little annoyance on the part of my campaign. (CNN and YouTube) just select a date and don’t think we have anything else to do." Hear Giuliani here.

Meanwhile, a group of GOP online strategists have started a online to save the debate. And Gov. Charlie Crist weighed in, saying he would personally ask the candidates to attend if need be. "I think the importance of Florida speaks for itself. We’re the fourth largest state ... We're the first megastate to have a primary. The importance that goes along with that is obvious."

UPDATE: Romney out, too. "Because of a travel schedule that will have us elsewhere in the country that day, our campaign had to decline the CNN/YouTube debate invitation,"  Romney Florida spokeswoman Kristy Campbell said. "We still have another six debate invitations during that 11-day time span in September that are under consideration – and it is an especially busy month as the end of the third quarter approaches."

Dean to Florida: drop dead???

Might the Democratic National Committee foist on America's biggest battleground state some kind of unwanted delegate selection plan for the presidential nominating process? The party rules allow that scenario, which sounds possible from Howard Dean's comments the other day to a South Carolina TV reporter. 

Remember that the DNC carved out Jan. 29 for South Carolina to hold the first southern Democratic primary, only to have Florida leaders schedule the Sunshine state for the same day. Fl Democrats are trying to keep a straight face as they blame it all on Florida Republicans.

Here's what Dean told News Channel 15 in Myrtle Beach: "Well, the Florida drama is not over yet. So I think South Carolina will be well represented. ... My understanding is that South Carolina is not likely to move and that Florida is going to have a different electoral procedure than they think they’re going to have."

Poll: Thompson Giuliani neck and neck in FL

Mason-Dixon shows Rudy Giuliani with 21 percent support among likely Florida GOP voters, and Fred Thompson with 18 percent, within the poll's 5-point margin for error. John McCain was at 11 percent and Mitt Romney at 7 percent. Among the Democrats, Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama 31-17 percent lead with John Edwards trailing third at 12 percent.

See more here.

Former PSC member Rudy Bradley fined $5,000

Former Public Service Commission member Rudy Bradley of St. Petersburg was fined $5,000 Friday for his role in a notorious case in which he was fed a memo written by Verizon as part of a rate hearing, read from it to argue the utility's position, and kept it secret.

A unanimous Commission on Ethics punished Bradley for violating a law that bars private communication between PSC members and utilities they regulate on the merits of a pending case. Any contact must be disclosed within 15 days. The largest fine the panel can levy is $10,000. Full story in comments.

Worth less, but taxed more?

Already, we've heard about a quirk that might raise taxes this year for 100,000 Tampa Bay area homeowners who benefit from the 15-year-old Save Our Homes amendment, even though their property values have fallen.

Now, it turns out, the property tax "fix" approved by the Legislature last month contains another wrinkle that could raise tax rates.

To find why, go here.

Grand jury will review Pinellas land deal

A Pinellas grand jury agreed Thursday to investigate the County Commission's controversial purchase last month of Property Appraiser Jim Smith's private land for $225,000.

It is thought to be the first such examination of a local government in Pinellas County since 1995. That year, a grand jury focused on Kenneth City Police Department officials. To read more, click here.

Florida women for Romney

The Romney campaign has announced its Florida chapter of Women for Mitt, a group of more than 40 headed by former Lt. Governor Toni Jennings, U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, State Reps. Jennifer Carroll, Anitere Flores, Trudi Williams and Marti Coley and former Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood. The chapter's statewide chairs are Bev Kilmer and Joyce Malone.

"As a proven leader with a track record of success in both the private sector and in public service, Governor Romney is the best equipped candidate to lead our nation as we face a new generation of global and domestic challenges," Jennings said. Full lineup in comments.

Pruitt, Atwater swing for 2008

Not letting the House have all the fun, Senate President Ken Pruitt and Sen. Jeff Atwater are taking a trip to Turner Field in Atlanta for a Braves-Mets game. The Aug. 31 fundraiser is for the Senate Majority 2008 campaign.

Republicans cooling YouTube debate in St. Pete

Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani may have better things to do than answer YouTube users' questions in St. Petersburg. Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney is also frowning on the plan.

"I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman," Romney told the Manchester Union Leader this week.

The news comes just a week after the debate’s location was announced, and just days after Democrats fielded questions in YouTube videos, including one from a cartoon snowman that worried about global warming. Story here.

Stephanie Garry, Times staff writer

Hope still alive for wrongfully convicted Crotzer

A prominent pastor in Tallahassee has taken up the cause of Alan Crotzer, the former St. Petersburg man who spent more than 24 years in prison before being freed by DNA evidence. Pastor R.B. Holmes Jr. of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church sent a letter to state Sen. Daniel Webster asking him to support a bill that would pay Crotzer (pictured) $1.25-million.

"Your endorsement of this measure would carry a lot of weight and your compassion will give an innocent man, who will never be able to reclaim the 24 years he lost, an opportunity to start a new chapter in his life," wrote Holmes, who is also on the FAMU Board of Trustees. "Please give Alan and his new family a fighting chance at a decent and deserving future."

Webster, R-Winter Garden, took some criticism in the past session for holding up bills to compensate Crotzer. But Webster and Senate President Ken Pruitt said that the bill had not made it out of committee and they only wanted to hear bills that had done so. (Times photo | Scott Keeler)

Gelber responds to Rubio's 'monolithic' view

Rep. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, the House minority leader, responded to House Speaker Marco Rubio's comments about the Democratic Party:

"There is no denying that there is a battle raging for the soul of the Republican Party, and in no place are the battle lines clearer than the issue of global warming.  While some in their party continue to deny the reality of climate change, fortunately many others like Governor Crist understand that now is the time to work across party lines to solve one of our generation's greatest challenges.

"Some people said we could not go to the moon, and others said we would never defeat communism.  Yet even in the face of deniers and doubters, our nation has proved repeatedly that our collective actions can overcome any challenge we face."

Rubio: 'No vast right wing conspiracy'

If House Speaker Marco Rubio challenges Gov. Charlie Crist in 2010 (a purely speculative scenario) July 25 may be remembered as a defining moment. On Wednesday, the term-limited Republican had pieces in the Miami Herald and Florida Baptist Witness criticizing Crist's approach to climate change and for acquiescing to efforts to expand gambling in Florida.

But don't buy the hype over a conservative-moderate Republican showdown, Rubio says. "There's no vast right wing conspiracy ... I think people want the drama. But that is not what this is about. I support 99 percent of the things the governor wants," he told the Times today. "The Republican Party is a big enough party for people of different viewpoints to fit in nicely. That's what makes us different from Democrats. The Democrats, in my opinion, are pretty monolithic. No Democrat could write the op-ed piece I wrote (on energy) because they would get excommunicated from the party."

Rubio also addressed criticism that, as speaker, he could have prevented gambling legislation from coming up. "I think by and large speakers should reserve from doing that as minimal as possible. It demoralizes the institution and it undermines your committee process."

Oink! Oink! Bill Young

Porkbusters.org reports today that U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young  leads House members in earmark requests in this year's defense spending bill. Young, R-Indian Shores, has requests for 59 projects, seeking money for things like Atmospheric Water Harvesting and the Follage Penetrating Acoustically Cued Imagery Sensor. Rep. John P. Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat, ranked second with 46 earmark requests. You can see the entire list here.

Tracking the 2008 Florida 'bundlers'

Ralph Nader's Public Citizen released a report Thursday listing what is says are nearly 1,900 individuals across the country, including 100 in Florida, who are bundling campaign contributions by funneling them from relatives, friends, co-workers, clients and business associates, to presidential candidates.

Many prominent Florida names are on the list and most of them (61) are helping Mitt Romney. But what's noticeably missing are the amounts of money raised by each bundler. PC's explanation is that the campaigns won't release those totals, as President Bush did in 2004 in naming "pioneers" (who raised at least $100K each) and "rangers" ($200K or more). Check out the list here.

Sign of renewal energy 'progress'

Progress Energy officials joined Gov. Charlie Crist for an announcement at the mansion on Thursday: The St. Petersburg-based utility is building a new biomass plant in rural North Florida that will turn waste wood into electricity.

"When you have the political will of a governor like Gov. Crist and business leaders like you have with Progress Energy, great things can happen," said S. Glenn Farris, president of Norcross, Ga.-based Biomass Gas & Electric, who joined Crist and Progress CEO Jeff Lyash at the event.

BG&E will sell its electricity to Progress at the plant, which will be built in Telogia, Fla., in Liberty County southwest of Tallahassee.

By the time the plant is finished in late '08 or early '09, it will generate 75 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 46,000 homes. Progress executives emphasized that biomass is one of several solutions to America's dependency on fossil fuels, which is why the utility is also continuing to seek expansion of nuclear power in Florida.

Will grand jury weigh in on Smith land deal?

Hours after Property Appraiser Jim Smith called Pinellas County Commission Chairman Ronnie Duncan in March to sound off about his “devastated” land, Duncan took a drive past the vacant parcel on his way home. Duncan saw no evidence of the destruction Smith alleged county work crews committed doing flood repairs. Nonetheless, the chairman’s decisions propelled the county’s purchase forward.

Duncan is among a cast of public officials whose actions led the county to quickly buy Smith’s parcel on Brooker Creek last month for $225,000.

But did any Pinellas officials break the law — criminal, ethical or civil?

That’s among the questions a grand jury could be asked to consider today by Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe. Any official involved in the land sale — and its aftermath — could be subject to the grand jury’s review. To read more, click here.

Making a mockery of Rubio

Remember that tale in the St. Petersburg Times about the city of Miami being exempt from a larger tax cut? Well, the $23-million story hasn't gone away. Today, Miami New Times takes a look at the "morass" and how it came to happen.

The aggressively-toned story places blame, in part, on House Speaker Marco Rubio and includes an unflattering photo illustration of him. The Miami Republican did, however, say that the exemption was a mistake and insisted he would work to fix the problem. The New Times article was written by former SPT reporter Tamara Lush.

Rubio vs. Crist - the sequel

Not only has House Speaker Marco Rubio criticized Gov. Crist's energy initiatives with an op-ed piece in the Miami Herald, but he also submitted this column on gambling to Florida Baptist Witness.

"Recent votes in the Florida Legislature, Gov. Charlie Crist's actions to allow pro-gambling bills to become law, and public opinion polls suggest gaming proponents are growing increasingly successful in convincing Floridians to accept expanded gambling," Rubio writes. ..."[F]loridians who oppose gambling must also send a message that there is an electoral price to be paid for supporting gambling. Second, we must mobilize against any efforts to expand gambling anywhere in our state. I have pledged my commitment to work against a gambling referendum that will take place in January in Miami-Dade."

What gives? Is Rubio simply expressing his views (he contacted Baptist Witness to clarify something in an earlier article) or is there something deeper at work? Will there be a Rubio-Crist showdown in 2010?

Fire chiefs call for PIP session

The Florida Fire Chiefs' Association wants Gov. Charlie Crist to add PIP to the special session.

"It is our view that the loss of PIP will hurt all Floridians – not just accident victims – through increased health and auto insurance costs and a loss of access to healthcare services for those least able to pay," said Rick Talbert, FFCA President. The resolution is here.

Romney returns

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney returns to Florida on Saturday with an 11 a.m. "grassroots meet-and-greet" at the Sharaton Miami Mart Hotel and a 6 p.m. address before the Seminole County Lincoln Reagan Day Dinner in Maitland.

This is the fifth Lincoln Day Dinner the former Massachusetts governor has attended this year, according to his campaign. And it's his second visit to South Florida in three weeks.