St. Pete pork in the budget

Magically, the Legislature found $2.5 million to complete the total $7.5 million in full funding to create the C.W. Bill Young Government Institute at St. Petersburg College.

The college got the first $5  million for its funding last year and the earmark was among projects spared when Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a half a million in member projects last year. Young, himself, had lobbied for this institute, which the Times wrote about last year.

The issue appears to have surfaced during conference negotiations, as there's no record of the project going into budget negotiations.

Max Linn jumps on Bill Young controversy

A robo call that hit today in U.S. Rep. CW Bill Young's district: "Hey did you read this week’s newspaper article about your congressman, Bill Young steering federal funds to companies where his sons are employed? $73 million! That’s just not right. That’s why I’d encourage you to write a letter to the editor expressing your outrage. And know there is another choice this year, Democrat Max Linn."

Hire a son of Congressman Young, get money?

Two sons of U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young work for Pinellas County companies that have received millions of dollars in federal money thanks to the congressman.

Patrick Young, 20, is a security administrator in the downtown St. Petersburg office of Science Applications International Corp. and another son, Billy Young, 23, is an outreach specialist with National Forensic Science Technology Center. Both employers are big beneficiaries of Rep. Young, a senior Republican from Indian Shores who has been chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and is now the top-ranking Republican on its defense subcommittee. He has used his clout to steer millions of dollars to his sons' employers, both before and after they got their jobs. Read it here.

Simpson qualifies by petition

Democrat Samm Simpson tells us that her grass roots supporters have gathered more than 5,000 signatures to put her over the top for qualifying for the Congressional District 10 race. Max Linn has also announced he's running for the Democratic nomination to challenge CW Bill Young.

"It's imperative that we the people-not lobbyists, career politicians and those who buy their way into the political process-have a say in how we are governed," said Simpson. "We must seek rational and reasonable solutions to the serious issues facing Pinellas County and our nation during this crucial 2008 election cycle."

Max Linn v Bill Young?

UPDATE: Max Lynn: "We're going to do the David and Goliath campaign," he said in an interview this afternoon.

Linn said Young has steered a lot of federal dollars to Tampa Bay but his positions on Iraq and terrorism have undermined the United States. He said Young is in "lock step" with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. More here.

There's Buzz that former Reform party gubernatorial candidate Max Linn is likely to announce tonight that he's running as a Democrat to unseat U.S. Rep. CW Bill Young. He would face a primary against Samm Simpson.

Linn was expected to make the announcement at the Greater Pinellas Democratic Club, which tonight celebrates the 80 birthday of the club president and Democratic kingpin, the one and only Harvey Morgenstein. Happy birthday, Harvey, from the Buzz.

Bill Young: honor my earmarks

Congressional earmarks may have gotten a bad name to most folks but not U.S. Rep. CW Bill Young. The champion earmarker has sent Republican constituents a letter paying homage to his earmarks and what they've done for the Pinellas economy. "My first major earmark, early in my time in Congress, was funding to build a new hospital for veterans at Bay Pines that was so badly needed,'' going on to list everything from beach renourishment to bridge and road and MacDill projects and more.

..."Remember, every time you turn on your water faucet, the water that comes out just might be flowing from the C.W. Bill Young Reservoir that was funded by a Congressional earmark."

Arnold has his back

Rep. C.W. Bill Young got a little help from a celebrity friend and fellow Republican pol today: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger headlined a $1,000-per-plate fundraiser for the long-time Pinellas County congressman on Capitol Hill.

Turns out that Schwarzenegger, a former actor and body-building champion, has been pals with Young and his wife, Beverly, since 2003, when he visited Young while trying to convince Congress to restore $400-million the Bush administration had cut from after-school programs.

Young, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee at the time, was receptive to his cause. But what really got to Schwarzenegger was Mrs. Young's invitation for him to join her in visiting wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

"She held my hand and said, 'Before you leave to go back to California, can I take you out to the hospital, Walter Reed hospital?'" Schwarzenegger, who was in town for a National Governors Association meeting, told the crowd. "I said yes."

Enviros dig Nelson

The League of Conservation Voters released its 2007 scorecard today, and Bill Nelson was one of three senators to get a 100% rating on votes deemed key to the LCV. Mel Martinez got 13%.

Here are the scores of Florida members of Congress: Jeff Miller, (R)   10; Allen Boyd (D)  65; Corrine Brown (D) 85; Ander Crenshaw (R) 5; Ginny Brown-Waite (R)   20; Cliff Stearns (R)   15; John Mica (R)  5; Ric Keller (R) 15; Gus Bilirakis (R) 15; CW Bill Young, B. (R)  35; Kathy Castor (D)  95; Adam Putnam (R)  5; Vern Buchanan (R) 25; Connie Mack (R)   5; Dave Weldon, D. (R)  5; Tim Mahoney (D) 75; Kendrick Meek, K. (D) 85; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) 30; Robert Wexler (D)  85;  Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) 90; Lincoln Diaz-Balart, (R)  20; Ron Klein (D) 75; Alcee Hastings, (D)  90; Tom Feeney (R)  5; Mario Diaz-Balart,(R)  15. 

Addicted to earmarks

WASHINGTON - As Republicans in Congress try to regain the high ground on federal pork and use the issue to embarrass the Democrats, they are running into a stubborn fact: Their members like bringing home the bacon, too. ...

In Florida, three of the five House members receiving the most money were Republicans.

The delegation was led, as usual, by Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores, the top Republican on the House appropriations subcommittee that controls military funding. He raked in $169-million in earmarks in 2007-08, mainly for defense contractors in the Tampa Bay area. That was more than all but two members of the House - John Murtha, D-Pa., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss. A fellow member of the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello, was second among Floridians with $83-million, largely for projects at military bases in his district. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, was third with $40.7-million. Republican Reps. Ander Crenshaw of Jacksonville and Cliff Stearns of Ocala rounded out Florida's top five. Story here.

U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young running again

Rep. C.W. Bill Young, the white-haired Republican who has brought hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money to Pinellas County, has decided to run for re-election.

Young hasn't made a formal announcement, but he confirmed Thursday that he planned to file for his 20th term and that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will headline a Washington fundraiser for Young on Feb. 25.

Young, the senior Republican on the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, said he wanted to run for re-election so he could address the needs of the military.

"When we leave Iraq with victory and the Iraqis have a stable operation, we're going to have to do a lot of rebuilding," he said. "We're going to have worn out our equipment. That's what I do -- that's my job -- to make sure the military has the proper equipment."

Max Linn v Bill Young

The Buzz is that former Reform party gubernatorial candidate and potential congressional candidate Max Linn will have an ad in tomorrow's St. Pete Times bashing CW Bill Young over earmarks and pork spending.

Clues from C.W.

Don't expect any announcements about whether C.W. Bill Young will run again until after the new year.

Young said in an interview Thursday that he likes to wait until the election year to make an announcement.

"I just do not want to put voters in Pinellas County through long campaigns," he said. "You know from years of exposure to me, I don't do anything political in the off-year. I don't think people want a two-year campaign."

So what about all the money he raised this year?

"The only reason I raised money this year is just for those that are interested to know that I can raise money if I need to. That was just a little tweak to let folks know I can raise it if I have to," he said.

So when will you announce? January? February?

"You should assume I'm running for reelection unless I tell you differently."

Justice: "Pretty Darn Close" to running, IF

IF Congressman C.W. Bill Young retires.

At the Young Democrats Breakfast, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced this morning that State Sen. Charlie Justice may soon have "big news."

So when Buzz caught up with Justice this is what he had to say:

"(Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz) has been very supportive of my career and she’s been very encouragaing of me to run for Congress....If (Congressman Young) retires, the seat hasn’t been open in 40 years, everyone should take a good look at it. Am I looking at it? Absolutely. Does that mean 100 percent that I'm going to run? No, but it's pretty darn close."

Young Retirement Rumors Denied, Again

Ahh, how the rumors fly at a convention. Buzz has heard twice today that Congressman C.W. Bill Young is going to retire and that his wife Beverly Angello Young will run for his seat.

Young spokesman Harry Glenn checked with his boss Saturday afternoon and said that nothing has changed with the Congressman and that he has not decided if he will run again.

Democrats going after Young, Buchanan and Feeney

The ads are airing in the members' districts. No audio was available and the DCCC would not say how large the ad buy was.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committ is launching a radio ad campaign against Reps. C.W. Bill Young, Vern Buchanan and Tom Feeney.

The ads highlight the Republican incuments' votes on Medicare deductibles and, using the standard DCCC language, urge listeners to call the congressman and tell him "to put seniors first."

Congressman Charlie Justice?

Who was that fellow in DC last week talking with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Chris Van Hollen and DCCC staffers about possibly running against Republican U.S. C.W. Bill  Young? None other than state Sen. Charlie Justice.

"A lot of people have been asking me to at least think about it, consider it,'' said the St. Pete Democrat, who is doing just that and said his running would not necessarily depend on Young, R-Indian Shores, retiring.

"We all know he does his share of bringing home money for Florida and for the distruict but there's concern that on the big issues there are parts where he's out of touch,'' Justice said of Young, citing Iraq and No Child Left Behind.

Justice, whose name is also in the mix of potential St. Pete mayoral candidates,  would not have to resign his senate seat to run for Congress, so taking on Young might boost his name recognition if Young waits awhile to retire. "I don't get into campaigns to raise my name i.d. for future races or to set myself up for mayoral race,'' said Justice, who would face a likely primary challenge from Samm Simpson. "If I  did it I would run to win."

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.

CW Bill raising big bucks

Rep. C.W. Bill Young says he has raised about $216,000 this year and has $594,000 in cash to ward off Democratic challengers if he decides to run again.

But will he? The Indian Shores Republican says he still has not decided if he will retire this term. He said in an interview with the Times today that his job is heavily focused on grim matters - the war, injured soldiers - but he still enjoys his work and is satisfied.

He doesn't have a time frame when he will decide about whether to retire.

In the meantime, his fat war chest may ward off possible challengers. Asked if it was a sign he was running again, Young said, "I think you should take it as a sign we are prepared to back up whatever decision we make."

A new gig for Bill Young

The new government institute at St. Petersburg College is poised to receive $5-million in state money thanks to a lobbying effort by Rep. C.W. Bill Young.It will be named the C.W. Bill Young Government Institute, and Carl Kuttler, the college president, says he has the perfect candidate to run the place: Young himself. More here.

Castor defends Young

Rep. Kathy Castor is distancing herself from state Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman's recent charge that Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, had let down veterans by not doing more to fix problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

"It was a little too political," the Tampa Democrat said of Thurman in a Political Connections interview airing at 11 a.m. on Bay News 9 (and later on Channel 342, Bay News 9 on demand). "Congressman Bill Young has devoted a large part of his career to serving veterans and the war wounded."

Young money

If you're trying to read the tea leaves in Rep. C.W. Bill Young's FEC report to determine whether he will run again, consider this:

Young raised $15,748 in the first quarter, nearly all from contributions on the last day of the quarter, mostly from the Van Scoyoc lobbying firm where two former aides now work. The $15k doesn't sound like much, but could the last-day posting hint of a campaign that is kicking into gear?

And Young is already sitting on a big piggy bank. With the new money, he's got $433,729 in cash.

 

A third term for W!!!!

The former Democratic challenger to CW Bill Young often laments that she didn't get more respect from those of us in the MSM. But Samm Simpson doesn't help herself sending us an urgent e-mail with an article about Dick Cheney saying the administration may challenge the 22nd Amendment to stay in office beyond 2008.

"I've been concerned about this for a long time.   Spread this around.  We can't let this happen,'' Simpson wrote in her e-mail to a bunch of journalists and Bill Nelson, and Rep. Young.

Uhm, Sam? The date of that "article" was April 1. The byline is Philip McKrack.

Rudy's Pinellas friends (updated)

Rudy showed some strength in Florida's biggest belleweather county, Pinellas. County chairman Tony DiMatteo called Pinellas "Giuliani country.

Among the Pinellas Rudy endorsers: state Sen. Dennis Jones; Sheriff Jim Coats; State Reps. Peter Nehr and Rich Glorioso; County Commissioner John Morroni; Pinellas County Tax Collector Diane Nelson; Former Speaker Pro Tempore Leslie Waters; Former State Senator Curt Kiser; Mayor of Safety Harbor Andy Steingold
Mayor of Belleair Bluffs Chris Arbutine; Mayor of Oldsmar Jim Ronecker;Vice Mayor of St. Petersburg Beach Mike Finnerty; Tarpon Springs Mayor Beverly Billiris; Former Mayor of Reddington Shores J.J. Beyrouti; Commissioner of Safety Harbor James McCormick; Commissioner of Safety Harbor Joe Ayoub; Crist Campaign Chair for Pinellas County Margie Milford; Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board member John Millford; Vice President Pinellas County Veterans Liaison Counsel Anthony Rizzo; Florida State University Board of Governors Member Frank Harrison; University of South Florida Student Body President Barclay Harles; county GOP vice chairman Neil Brickfield.

UPDATE: Contrary to what we, and probably most everybody else at St Pete High thought we heard, US Reps Brown-Waite and Young were NOT ENDORSING Giuliani today when they joined a crowd of people identified as Giuliani supporters. Brown-Waite is a Romney supporter, and Young says "it's just too early" to endorse. Our bad.