Sunrail 'on life support' after pivotal vote

[Senator Lee Constantine, center, answers questions from the Capitol press on the Sunrail debate. Scott Keeler, Times]

Backers of the $1.2-billion purchase of CSX rail track in Central Florida for a commuter rail project suffered a major defeat Thursday in the Senate. By a 23-17 vote, senators refused to allow a late-filed amendment to be taken up that was crafted to win over crucial votes of South Florida Democrats -- by providing a new rental car tax for Tri-Rail in that region. Twelve of those no votes were Republicans, an ominous sign indeed for a project being pushed by Gov. Charlie Crist and much of the Central Florida business community.

"It doesn't look good," said former House Speaker John Thrasher, a member of the army of lobbyists pushing the project known as Sunrail. "I'd say it's on life support at best."

 It was the last bill the Senate took up Thursday. A final vote was not taken, but it looks as though Sunrail's leading opponent, Sen. Paula Dockery (right), R-Lakeland, is in a commanding position.

Senate refuses to resurrect 'leadership funds'

The Senate refused Thursday to resurrect leadership funds that were banned 20 years ago. The action came on an unrecorded voice vote with Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, in the chair. The amendment by Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, would have allowed the incoming Senate president and incoming minority leader to control special interest-funded slush funds in election campaigns but the Democratic opponents, led by Sens. Ted Deutch, Nan Rich and Arthenia Joyner, argued that it would have increased the amount of special interest money in the process.

Defeat of the amendment was a victory for Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg. Wise was trying to amend Justice's bill (SB 216), which bars cities and counties from spending tax money to influence the outcome of local referendums. Justice is trying to get a "clean" bill, without controversial amendments, to Gov. Charlie Crist's desk.

Florida GOP leader Jim Greer weighs in on Arlen Specter

"I kind of feel two ways about it,'' state GOP Chairman Jim Greer said of Arlen Specter switching parties. "Sen. Specter owed a great deal of allegiance to the Republican Party because of the support and resources they provided in the last election. But ... we should have tried to make efforts to recognize Sen. Specter's position on certain issues. The party could have been a little more receptive to his political views." Asked about the influence on the GOP of groups like the Club for Growth, Greer said, "You cannot be so rigid that at the end of the day what you end up with is less than what you started with."

Greer sees no bearing on potential U.S. Sen. candidate Charlie Crist, another Republican supporter of the stimulus package. "The political circumstances are significantly different, number one because of the electorate (in Pennsylvania vs. Florida) and number two there has been a longstanding uncomfortable relationship with Arlen Specter and the Republican Party. That doesn't exist with Charlie Crist."

After spat, Rep. Baxter Troutman barred from Senate floor

Rep. Baxter Troutman and Sen. Mike Haridopolos had some sort of dispute on or near the Senate **House floor, prompting the Senate Sergeant's Office to temporarily ban the Winter Haven Republican from the Senate floor. Details are sketchy.

"If I've been banned from the Senate floor, it's news to me," Troutman, at right in photo, said. "Haridopolos and I had an issue, we still do over an issue."

Over what? "Over just last minute emotions, man. Stuff just starts to build up. I'm not even sure of the bill number," Troutman said. "That's all that I'm aware of."

Rep. Baxter Troutman and Sen. Mike Haridopolos had some sort of dispute on or near the Senate **House floor, prompting the Senate Sergeant's Office to temporarily ban the Winter Haven Republican from the Senate floor. Details are sketchy.

"If I've been banned from the Senate floor, it's news to me," Troutman, at right in photo, said. "Haridopolos and I had an issue, we still do over an issue."

Over what? "Over just last minute emotions, man. Stuff just starts to build up. I'm not even sure of the bill number," Troutman said. "That's all that I'm aware of."

Florida GOP names regional finance chairmen

They are: Dr. A.K. Desai, regional co-chairman for Tampa Bay, is currently serving on the State Board of Education; Marty Fiorentino, regional co-chairman for Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, president of the Fiorentino Group; Fred E. Karlinsky, regional co-chairman for Ft. Lauderdale, Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate; David Rancourt, regional co-chairman for Tallahassee and North Florida, with Southern Strategy Group; and Brent Sembler, regional co-chairman for Tampa Bay, vice chairman of the Sembler Co., a development firm. John Rood of Jacksonville already had been named finance chairman and Steve Burton of Tampa co-chairman.

State GOP chairman Jim Greer: “I am confident in their ability to work with our party’s gracious donors to build the financial resources necessary to ensure that Republicans retain the governor’s mansion, United States Senate seat, and critical Cabinet positions, while building on Republican majorities in our state House, Senate and Congressional delegation.”

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Senate approves revised growth management bill

After stripping out elements of a House bill that the state's growth management chief said would have undermined the state's growth management laws, the Senate voted 28-12 for the measure and sent it back to the House.

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, sponsored the bill and said that the compromise has the support of Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham. "Right now (Pelham) is supporting it,'' Bennett said. "That's what he told us earlier, but we've had some changes of his heart before. We just got assurances of the governor's office that if this growth management bill goes down it will receive their approval.''

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Florida House might allow bestiality to remain legal

The Florida House looks like it's going to let bestiality remain a proud tradition in Florida. The Senate unanimously passed a measure to outlaw bestiality. Of course everyone in the House says they're against bestiality. But because the measure didn't clear all of its committees, it probably won't come up in the House, said Rule chairman Bill Galvano.

"I try to be supportive of the rules," Galvano said, noting that numerous worthwhile bills might not make it through the process.

That said, Galvano said he opposes bestiality.

So does Rep. Baxter Troutman. He never put the measure on his council agenda. "It wasn't something on my list," said Troutman.

Other House members have privately said they don't have time to take the issue up. Indeed. The House right now is on break. Plotting another celebration of boot day, are we? Or how 'bout another Cinco de Mayo celebration before May 5?

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Senate sends workers comp bill to House; bargaining chip?

The Senate is sending its version of the workers' compensation bill to the House, with Senate President Jeff Atwater saying, "We like ours better."

The bill (SB 2072, HB903) is a fight among trial lawyers, big business and workers. The Senate version is the one trial lawyers want. The House version retains the ban on hourly attorney fees for workers comp cases and maintains the current caps, established in 2003 but called into question by a Florida Supreme Court ruling in October.

Word is the two chambers are using this bill, plus three bills dealing with surplus lines insurance, Citizens' insurance rates and a proposed "free market" plan for big private insurers, as end-of-session bargaining chips.

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Confidential informant law headed to Gov. Charlie Crist

The Senate just passed HB 271, the law protecting confidential informants, by unanimous vote.

The bill, sponsored by Tampa Bay Sen. Mike Fasano in the Senate, was proposed after the death of FSU graduate Rachel Hoffman of Pinellas County, a confidential informant for Tallahassee law enforcement authorities who was killed in May 2008.

The House passed the measure, so now it goes to the governor.

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Department of Corrections chief urges state not to privatize prison

Prison Secretary Walt McNeil is pleading with legislative leaders not to privatize Suwannee Correctional Institution, saying inmates would be among the most "dangerous and violent" and a private company could not adequately ensure public safety.

McNeil sent a letter to Senate President Jeff Atwater (read it here) arguing against the move, which still remains alive. (The House is opposed.) But McNeil said the Department of Corrections is not against privatization, suggesting the Legislature look at another facility.