No serious challenger to Brown-Waite

BROOKSVILLE -- Just weeks ago area Democrats salivated at the opportunity to take on Republican Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite in this fall's congressional campaign.

They sensed an unparalleled chance at unseating the three-term incumbent by riding a generally optimistic feeling among Democrats and highlighting Brown-Waite's latest gaffe where she called Puerto Rico and Guam residents "foreign citizens."

But, as the field solidified after Friday's filing deadline, it appears no party-backed Democrat will challenger her for the District 5 seat.

Ginny Brown-Waite vulnerable?

Not without a credidible opponent she's not. Story here.

Brown-Waite explains absence from Congress

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite just issued this statement explaining her absence from Congress this week:

“At the advice of his doctor, earlier this week I left Congress and returned to Florida to be with my husband, Harvey Waite. While we are still awaiting the results of follow-up medical tests, Harvey has been diagnosed with cancer and will require ongoing treatment. As anyone who has been through serious medical issues with a loved one knows, I plan on spending as much time as necessary to care for my husband.

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. 

Dept. of Umbrage

Talk about milking it. Democrats in Central Florida are trying make more hay over some comments last week by Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, accusing the congresswoman of harboring "hatred for minorities" and demanding a formal apology.

Last week, Brown-Waite had called residents of Puerto Rico and Guam "foreign citizens" during remarks about the federal economic stimulus package. Her point, if clumsily made, was that residents of U.S. territories who don't pay federal income taxes don't deserve tax rebate checks like U.S. residents.

She later clarified her remarks and said she should have used the term "territorial," rather than "foreign." Citizens of Guam and Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens.

But the Orange County Chapter of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee, the Metropolitan Democratic Black Caucus of Orange County, the Florida Voters League Inc. and the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration office in Orlando now are trying to raise the volume.

Brown-Waite's 'xenophobic' remark draws fire

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, is getting heat for saying residents of Puerto Rico and Guam should not get federal rebate checks because they are "foreign citizens." (Times story here.)

As the story notes, residents of Puerto Rico were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917. Likewise for residents of Guam in 1950. They pay Social Security taxes and other federal levies, though not federal income taxes.

"Puerto Ricans are Americans, and we are proud of both our heritage and our citizenry," said State Rep. Darren Soto (D-49), who represents parts of Orange and Osceola Counties and is of Puerto Rican heritage.

"Unfortunately, this xenophobic, anti-Hispanic rhetoric is typical of many Republicans these days," Florida Democratic Party spokesman Alejandro Miyar said. "Ginny Brown-Waite's irresponsible remarks show a profound lack of understanding for someone who is entrusted to represent a state with hundreds of thousands of Puerto Rican residents."

Clerk responds to Brown-Waite

Lorraine Miller, the House clerk who runs the congressional page program, has issued her second statement since the resignation of Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite. The first one didn't address Brown-Waite's complaints. But this one does - kinda.

Here's an excerpt:

"On one occasion this year, Rep. Brown-Waite was not informed immediately of a page's dismissal -- the incident occurred over a weekend and she was informed on the next business day.  After that incident, Board members asked that they all be informed immediately of any such disciplinary action, and the Clerk provided that notice in the most recent case.

"In addition to immediate notification in the event of rules infractions, Page board members receive regular, comprehensive updates at scheduled board meetings, as well as frequent e-mails and update memos. Our unprecedented seven page board meetings have been extremely constructive and informative and we have received substantive input from attending members."

Updated: Republicans quit after new page sex allegations

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite resigned from the board overseeing the troubled House page program, saying the program has been poorly managed and that four pages have recently been dismissed for shoplifting and "inappropriate sexual indiscretions."

Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, and the other Republican on the panel, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, blamed the Democrats who run the House for failing to fix problems that were exposed by the scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley’s sexual conversations with former pages.

"It’s almost like the Democrats haven’t learned from the Mark Foley thing," said Brown-Waite.

Capito issued a statement that said, "Unfortunately, the problems with communication between board members that plagued the program in the past have only continued under new House leadership. Members of this board cannot productively tackle problems that may occur with our pages when questionable incidents are held from members of the Page Board."

Brown-Waite said two pages were dismissed after they allegedly stole merchandise from a shopping mall in September. The congresswoman said "the amount was substantial."

Members of the page board weren’t told about the incident for a week, she said.

Two other pages were recently dismissed from the program because of "inappropriate sexual indiscretions." She said the indiscretions involved the student pages — and not any adults — but that other pages were "enablers and...observers."

Put her down as a maybe

Democrats in the U.S. House today resurrected debate on the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or S-CHIP, after making a few tweaks designed to win over the dozen or so Republicans needed to dozen or so Republicans needed to override President Bush's veto of the original.

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, has been widely viewed as a popular supporter. But based on her speech on the House floor this afternoon, Buzz wouldn't count her among those who might be turned.

"You can take horse manure and roll it in powdered sugar and it doesn't make it a doughnut. That, ladies and gentlemen, I think is kind of what we have here today."

Fishing for staff, with a grin

You probably don’t need the Buzz to tell that our nation’s capital can take itself a tad too seriously, especially over at the Capitol. But if you’re looking for proof, Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, has taken some snarky digs after her office dared to slip a little humor into an ad for a legislative aide.

The ad, which was posted on the U.S. House job site and copied on other Capitol Hill job boards, says Brown-Waite “seeks a Legislative Assistant to handle her Homeland Security Committee work and other issues as assigned. Candidate must be hard-working, have a cheerful personality, be extremely well-organized, and know how to cook a delicious bass…. Please send cover letter, resume and recipes…”

Ginny "knows" Rudy, likes Mitt

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite supports Mitt Romney in the 2008 race for the White House. This much we know. But ask the Brooksville Republican why she didn't pick fellow New York native Rudy Giuliani and the conversation gets awkward -- very awkward.

"A lot of people say to me, 'Well you're from New York, why don't you support Giuliani?'" Brown-Waite said during a stop at the Times' Brooksville office. "Um, let me put it this way: I know Giuliani. I'm supporting Mitt Romney."

Huh? When asked what about Giuliani, 63, she doesn't like, she replied: "Um, Giuliani." Pressed again for details, she didn't elaborate. "I prefer not to say at this point," she said. "I prefer not to say period. OK? I know him -- let me put it that way."

Reporters kept pushing for details (including whether they'd ever dated ) but GBW wouldn't even say how she knew Giuliani. "I've known him in the past," she said. "More than 10 years ... less than 40."

--John Frank

Ginny Brown-Waite v. Charlie Crist

BROOKSVILLE - U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite and Gov. Charlie Crist butted heads this week about a popular insurance program for low-income children, creating a rare rift between a prominent Republican and the seemingly bullet-proof governor.

More here.

GBW: Calling out the Governor

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, wants Gov. Charlie Crist to clarify his support for reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Crist, a Republican, sent members of the Florida delegation a letter Wednesday morning supporting S-CHIP, as its known, a federal-state program that provides insurance to kids who aren't quite poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. It did not express specific support for a bill reauthorizing the program that passed the House this evening, though Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, added it to the congressional record as being in support of the bill.

That prompted Brown-Waite's rapid response. The bill would cut billions from Medicare Advantage, a health insurance program for seniors, to help pay for expanding SCHIP by $50-billion. Brown-Waite opposes it, but the AARP supports it on grounds that it strengthens varous elements of the program.

"I appreciate your thoughts on the SCHIP reauthorization currently in the House, but I think you should be more careful with federal legislation that receives your comments," she wrote Crist Wednesday. "I am disappointed that your letter fails to mention that SCHIP funding should not come at the expense of Florida's seniors."

Heckuva job Albertie

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite is unimpressed with the way President Bush is standing by embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in the controversy surrounding fired U.S. attorneys. "I see this as another, "Good job, Brownie,' " said the Brooksville Republican, referring to former Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown, in a taped interview for an upcoming Political Connections on Bay News 9. "It's almost like the president has an intense loyalty to the people he appoints. In this case, though, I think it's misdirected. ... I would like to see Mr. Gonzales admit his mistakes and/or step down."

Also Newt Gingrich balks at national cat fund idea. More of today's print Buzz is here.

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.