Protesters at Crist's wedding?

Even by our standards, this is pretty tacky: GaySoFla.com reports a gay rights group called Impact Florida is planning to protest the Dec. 12 wedding of Charlie Crist and Carole Rome:

“Our objective will be to celebrate the Governor’s fundamental right to marry,” says Impact Florida spokesperson Lorna Bracewell, in an exclusive interview with GaySoFla.com. “The demonstration will be peaceful and respectful,” the singer/songwriter and Tampa Bay native assures the online LGBT magazine. Bracewell believes that the Governor’s wedding provides a unique opportunity to shine a light on the injustice and unfairness of Amendment 2. “Governor Crist, an outspoken proponent of Amendment 2, is getting married. He is exercising the same fundamental right millions of Floridians are now denied because of the passage of Amendment 2,” Bracewell observes.

It's worth noting that Florida law banned same-sex marriage before Amendment 2 passed.

Inaccuracies taint consultant's record

TAMPA — For years, Florida's largest environmental consulting firm, Biological Research Associates, has helped private companies win government permits to pave over wetlands and destroy wildlife habitat. Even government agencies, including the state Department of Environmental Protection, have hired the firm known as B.R.A.

But over the years, records show, B.R.A. has produced information of questionable accuracy:

• In Hillsborough County, B.R.A. reported finding no wildlife habitat on a development site, only to have county officials discover more than 100 acres still being used by wildlife. That part of the property was thus off-limits for development.

• In Miami-Dade County, B.R.A. said mining near Everglades National Park would have no effect on endangered wood storks there. A federal judge called the assessment "patently absurd."

• In Levy County, B.R.A. told state officials that a zoning change for a rock mine had been approved by a unanimous vote of the County Commission. Actually, the commission had not even considered it. (story here)

Growth won't pay the bills in Florida

For years, governors and legislators relied on population growth to create jobs, avoid raising taxes and shield the state from recession. They saw Florida's population swell annually by 2 to 3 percent, enough to add a city the size of Miami or Tampa each year. By marketing itself as a low-tax, low-cost retirement haven, Florida literally bet its future on growth.

Every few years, an event would expose weaknesses in Florida's economic system: a recession in 1991, a school overcrowding crisis in 1997, a steep drop in tourism after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. But the growth machine always roared back to life — until now.

With the mortgage crisis, the credit crunch and the flatlining of the population, the twin industries that buffered Florida through two previous recessions, real estate and construction, are weighing down Florida's economy, complicating a recovery and making it likely Florida will be among the last to bounce back.

"This recession is not only going to be bad for us. It's going to be worse than the nation's," said David Denslow, a University of Florida economist. The primary reason: Florida's residential construction boom grew at twice its normal rate and "we got overbuilt." (story here)

Jeb Bush: Expand medicaid reform

From today's Tampa Tribune:

Critics cleverly use problems and popular complaints already inherent in today's health care system to discredit and undermine reform policies. First, government will always rely on private companies to ultimately deliver care to patients - the state is the payer, not the provider. We can always do a better job of rooting out fraud, waste and mismanagement, but a government takeover is not the answer, since government interference and mandates are what led to the problems we have today.

More here.

Few have courage to fight gay adoption ban

For 31 years, Florida has barred gays from adopting children — the only state with such a blanket prohibition.

On May 11, 1977, the day the state Senate passed the law, freshman Sen. Don Chamberlin of Clearwater asked his colleagues: "Will we sleep better knowing we have institutionalized shame for those who have already felt shame?

"Is there sufficient justification to deny one child — one parent — the joy of being a family?" he asked.

Other senators praised his courage, but only four voted with him: Betty Castor of Tampa, Jack Gordon, Kenneth Myers and Lori Wilson. Chamberlin could give the same speech to the Senate tomorrow, and the result likely would be the same.

Steve Bousquet's column is here.

Huckabee book tour stops in Tampa

TAMPA -- Mike Huckabee's national book tour stopped in Hyde Park today, and while it had the look and feel of a whistle-stop campaign for another presidential run, the former Arkansas governor says it's so much more.

"I don't know, 2012 is a long way away," Huckabee said while sitting in a tour bus that arrived at 9 a.m. from an earlier book signing in Sarasota. "What I want to do is help people understand that the Republican Party is not dead."

As he stepped from the bus, a line of about 75 fans, clutching copies of his recently released book, Do the Right Thing, cheeredl. "I love that man," shouted Dennis Krause, a 28-year-old from St. Petersburg. "I'd love to see him run in 2012."

-- Michael Van Sickler, Times staff writer / Times photo by Daniel Wallace

TAMPA -- Mike Huckabee's national book tour stopped in Hyde Park today, and while it had the look and feel of a whistle-stop campaign for another presidential run, the former Arkansas governor says it's so much more.

"I don't know, 2012 is a long way away," Huckabee said while sitting in a tour bus that arrived at 9 a.m. from an earlier book signing in Sarasota. "What I want to do is help people understand that the Republican Party is not dead."

As he stepped from the bus, a line of about 75 fans, clutching copies of his recently released book, Do the Right Thing, cheeredl. "I love that man," shouted Dennis Krause, a 28-year-old from St. Petersburg. "I'd love to see him run in 2012."

-- Michael Van Sickler, Times staff writer / Times photo by Daniel Wallace

A conversation with Rep. Rachel Burgin

St. Pete Times columnist Ernest Hooper sits down with new state Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Brandon, who has received her fair share of criticism for being too young (26) and inexperienced.

ERNEST: When you were first chosen to run, you received a lot of criticism, but you seem to handle it well.

RACHEL: What do you do? It gave me a whole new appreciation for people who do get put in that situation. I had people who said all kinds of things — that I was insidious, that I was an immoral individual, that I had blackmail information. Some people in politics are ugly. I think it discourages people who really want to get involved, and I have to say I really don't care. The only time I cared at all was when someone said I was overweight. (story here.)

Sansom is college's million-dollar man

Last spring, the agency overseeing Florida's colleges made a list of budget requests in what was one of the leanest years in modern history. Northwest Florida State College was slated to get $1-million for a building project.

Yet when lawmakers signed off on the budget in May, the school had snagged $25.5-million — the single largest project of any college.

For that, it could thank state Rep. Ray Sansom, the Destin Republican who controlled the House budget.

The assistance, documented in a memo the St. Petersburg Times obtained this week through a public records request, highlights the close relationship between Sansom and the college president, Bob Richburg.

Last week that affiliation burst into public view when Sansom was given a $110,000 job as a vice president at the college. (story here)

State plane goes to highest bidder

The $1.35-million bid for the state-owned King Air 300 was accepted today by the Florida Department of Management Services. George Levin of Fort Lauderdale has seven days to complete the purchase.

From DMS: “With tightening budgets and increasing costs, we’re seeing a decline in air travel with the State Bureau of Aircraft Operations, much like it in commercial air,” said Secretary Linda South. “Our air service will continue to provide safe and efficient service to those who serve Florida with our two remaining aircraft.”

The funds from the sale return to the Bureau of Aircraft Operations trust fund to support ongoing state aircraft fleet operations. The state’s remaining aircraft fleet consists of a Cessna Citation that seats eight and a nine-seat King Air 350. The Bureau of Aircraft Operations operates that fleet, which serves Florida’s government leaders.

Atwater announces key staff members

Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, on Wednesday announced a series of high-level staff changes, most of which were already known. Palm Beach County business and civic leader Robert "Budd" Kneip is chief of staff; Richard Herring will be special counsel to the Senate president. Jaryn Emhof is communications director and Karen Chandler, who was communications chief under former Senate President John McKay, will be director of administration. Susan Miller remains a senior executive assistant.

"I wm very excited about the team we have assembled," Atwater said. "They come from diverse backgrounds and bring with them a wealth of knowledge in many areas."

Among Atwater's appointees is P.K. Jameson, who will serve as one of three Senate policy advisors along with Craig Varn and Paul Whitfield. Jameson had been staff director of the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee, headed by Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico. Before that, Jameson was chief of staff to former House Speaker Johnnie Byrd of Plant City. Read Atwater's full announcement here.