Mike Hansen headed to top of House staff?

The Buzz is Mike Hansen will become chief of staff to incoming Speaker Ray Sansom.

Hansen was formerly budget director for Gov. Jeb Bush and was brought into the House by Marco Rubio in 2006 along with a slew of other Bush loyalists. Before that, Hansen was staff director for the House Appropriations Committee.

Sansom, R-Destin, has kept a low profile so far and made few staffing decisions. It's unclear what current COS Bob Ward will do. Sansom is in Europe with Gov. Charlie Crist (see photo, courtesy Crist's office) and could not be reached.

Comments

It thought DWE would be COS

ok, I will bite. Who is DWE?

Mike Hanson is a great policy wonk. He will serve the House quite well!

Its a Richard with Ears

GOP Re-tooling with more Tools.

Who paid for Sansom's travel at nearly $12,000? We did. Smaller government and less taxes except when I want to take a European vacation. They should just stay over there.

Unfortunately, 3:19, if Charlie & co. decided to stay over there and swan around the Riviera, they'd probably find some way for us to pick the tab...I can't believe I made phone calls for these people to get elected.

This is evidence of the complete and total failure of Chip Case at RPOF. He mismanaged the program so badly that the party can't even win elections in jerrymandered districts. He's a complete and total loser.

Chip Case is a complete and total loser. I'm glad Ray realized this and made a move.

Mike Hansen is a smart and talented guy who has earned that reputation, along with being reasonable. Good for him and good for Speaker Sansom for recognizing his abilities.

Thanks Mike . . .I mean 3:41.

this means that appropriations will be handled out of the speakers office and not out of the approps suite

[Annie Oakley]

It also means that the trust funds will continue to be raided.

I hope you folks who have to slice and dice people you don't care for get the help you need.

Chip Case is a Rhodes Scholar compard to Bill Helmich.

5:29 you've obviously never met either one of them. I'll give it to you that Bill Helmich is no Frank Terraferma, but he knows what he's talking about when it comes to the house districts, their make up, etc. Chip Case wouldn't know a voter file if it handed him a doughnut (oh wait he's not fat anymore).

Yep, raid those trust funds - fees charged by the State to provide services then stolen (oops, I mean "raided") by the Legislature and Governor so they can take trips to Europe and all other sorts of junkets!!!

Remember in November and perhaps Sansom will be the MINORITY leader.

My only question is why House Republicans are losing seats while Senate Republicans are still thriving?

5:59, you obviously do not know both of them to have such a jaded opinion.

6:05

I will tell you why Senate Republicans are still doing well. His name is Joel Springer.

6:06 knowing both of them is EXACTLY the reason for such a jaded opinion

joel springer is a mean spirited weirdo pervert. Chip case is a class act as is Mike Hansen.

5:59 PM said: "Remember in November and perhaps Sansom will be the MINORITY leader."

I'm ROFLMAO!!!!!

6:59 has never met Joel Springer. He is a real pro and one of the best political operatives I've ever met. He & Frank Terraferma are the best legislative minds in this state.

[terminator]

is Joel Springer any relation to Jerry Springer?
I thought that's the reason the Senate is such a freakshow circus!
Why even our esteemed Gov, Chuckles Crist was a former member of the "upper" chamber.
Have they figured out who's going to be the next President over there yet?

Joel rocks.

[Lifelong Republican]

Hansen is a class act and the consummate professional. We, the citizens need him in that spot, especially if a miami dade member is getting approps.

[Lightening]

Bob Ward is a total professional and a complete class act. He will be sorely missed.

Bob Ward will still work in the Speaker's office. He really is a class act, as is Hansen.

Too bad Tom Philpot is heading to law school. Otherwise, they should have hired him!

I hope Bob Ward sticks around in some capacity, he rocks.

Why didn't Sansom hire Richard Corcoran?

You wanna-be insider a-holes realize none of this means anything remotely important in the grand scheme of life, right?

[Glad to be out of there.]

Even though Mike came with the group from Jeb's office - I hope he remembers his past in the House and respects those quality staffers who have paid their dues and really understand the process. It is really unfair how the veterans there have been treated by Rubio. It used to be a quality operation ans still is in many ways. Bob Ward is a class act but Rubio never let him do his job. The monkeys in the Whips Offfice need to all go. Spread those high salaries to those that actually earn them.

Wonder who will replace Jeremiah Hawkes as General Counsel?

Unfortunately, Mike doesn't "get it" and neither does his new boss.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/

Remember in November.

8:14 is an unhappy loser who posts the same link in every post. How about you get a job? Or maybe you can just commisserate with Barry Hussein Obama about all that is wrong with America and just overlook what is good.

Pessimists like you have no place in politics.

Speaker Bahl will keep things afloat

9:42 is an insider that speaks the truth. Bahl has an EGO bigger than most members of the Legislature. Bahl is a clown.

Bahl?

Ward is staying on board. He's got a big job with Speaker Sansom.

Matt Bahl

[terminator]

Lifelong Republican:
would that be Juan Zapata?

Chip is a good guy, you people need to leave him alone.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that somebody could have wrecked the party worse than Marco, but congrats Ray you've done it.

Hopefully Cannon can salvage that sinking ship.

Bob Ward is going to be the Parliamentarian.

[Our Money's Worth]

Is there anyway we can make him Speaker?

How about a General Counsel who doesn't have to get his daddy to write briefs for him?

Who is Matt Bahl?

Leave Jeremiah alone. He's a good kid. But he can't last long. My money is on Carlos Muniz. He needs something to do.