GOP insurgent challenges Brown-Waite, cites her Scozzafava support

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's support for New York Republican Dede Scozzafava's doomed campaign is emerging as an issue in the Brooksville Republican's re-election.

Republican Jason Sager, a political neophyte from Brooksville, filed to run against Brown-Waite in 2010, telling the Times' Tony Marrero that he stands for conservatives concerned about a government that has strayed from the principles of the Founding Fathers.Sager said he was concerned about Brown-Waite's support for Scozzafava.

The congresswoman, an Albany, N.Y. native, refused to answer questions about why she went to New York to campaign for Scozzafava just days before the state lawmaker dropped from the race and endorsed the Democrat. But in an interview last week, Brown-Waite said Scozzafava was being unfairly attacked and had a solid Republican record.

Brown-Waite punches back at AARP

The tiff between U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite and AARP continues. The Brooksville Republican responded today to an AARP letter that blasted her for spreading misinformation in the health care debate.

In her response (see letter here), she stands by her damning analysis of House Bill 3200, calling the 40-million-member advocacy group "a mouthpiece for this President at the expense of what is best for America's seniors."

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GOP poll: Bill McCollum 48%, Alex Sink 37%

Aug 4-5 poll of 600 likely Florida voters (MoE +/- 4%) by Public Opionion Strategies for the pro-Republican Florida Justice Reform Institute: Bill McCollum 48, Alex Sink 37. McCollum leads Sink among indepdendents 51 percent to 25 percent, and he wins 16 percent of Democrats, compared to Sink receiving 7 percent of Republicans. More from the pollster's memo:

• Bill McCollum is polling strong among the largest pocket of swing voters. Along the I-4 corridor McCollum is at 50% and Sink trails with 36% and 13% are undecided.
• Republicans even have an edge on the generic state Legislative ballot. When asked the generic ballot forty percent of voters choose a Republican candidate with a Democrat candidate receiving only 32% of the vote, with 27% undecided.
• Voters are growing angry (again) with the national political environment and growing dissatisfaction with President Obama. Forty-five percent of likely voters approve of Obama compared to 50% disapprove. And the state mood is upside down only 32% percent believe Florida is headed in the right direction and over half (58%) say Florida is on the wrong track.
• Almost two thirds of voters approve of Charlie Crist. Sixty-two percent approve of Crist to 35% disapprove. Crist approval is solid across party lines and ideologically he has a strong approval among moderates 67% approve and 32% disapprove.

Olbermann blasts Brown-Waite on health care

MSNBC's liberal firebrand Keith Olbermann blasted Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite on Monday night's Countdown for her cozy relationship with the health insurance industry. He included the Brooksville Republican in a larger segment that noted Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats who received big money from special interests and oppose a public health care plan.

Olbermann highlighted Brown-Waite's stuttering delivery of the much-quoted "drop dead" speech and then noted the $369,255 she received in campaign contributions from the insurance industry in past years.

For the full dress-down, read below.

Brown-Waite moves office; controversy follows

BROOKSVILLE — In the world of politics, minutiae matters as much as foreign policy and conspiracies occupy every street corner.

In a word: everything is, well, political. And so maybe it's not surprising that U.S. Rep Ginny Brown-Waite's recent decision to move her district office is causing a fluster among her loyal detractors.

Green Party gets subpoena power

Florida Green Party officials have won a legal battle in Pasco County that they believe could expose a 2008 election conspiracy and prompt a formal state investigation.

In a ruling believed to be the first of its kind in Florida, a judge granted the party's request to subpoena financial records and question a former candidate to determine whether she fraudulently entered a state legislative race.

Read more here.

Putnam, Brown-Waite want taxes simplified

U.S. Reps. Adam Putnam and Ginny Brown-Waite introduced a bill Tuesday to streamline tax season for seniors. Dubbed the "Seniors' Tax Simplification Act," it would create a new one-page form that would capture the most common income reported by senior citizens. Aides to the lawmakers said the IRS estimates 11 million seniors would be eligible.

Bye bye Buddy Johnson

TAMPA -- Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson conceded his re-election race tonight, after a day of counting early vote results showed a commanding lead by his challenger, Phyllis Busansky.

"You may not have seen the last of Buddy Johnson," he said. "I'm proud of my staff. I'm proud of the voters. Congratulations to Phyllis Busansky."

“I’m absolutely thrilled," Busansky said from her home Thursday night. "I ran on restoring confidence in this office and that’s what we’ve done.” When asked what she planned to do her first day in office, she said, "I have no idea. Until two minutes ago I wasn’t at all sure I was going to win.”

More here.

Hernando voters furious with attack on Obama

An advertising circular appearing in 70,000 Hernando County mailboxes features a controversial advertisement simulating a conversation between Osama Bin Laden and three apparent terrorists saying to wait for Obama to take office before attacking next. A McCain-Palin logo appears underneath.

The half-page ad, which appeared in Spring Hill-based the Scene Magazine, is paid for by Concerned Citizens for America. The group does not appear to be registered as a Florida political committee.

A number of Hernando residents are peeved. "I'm from New York and I'm really offended," said Dawn LaDuca, an Obama supporter. "My nephew ran out of those towers. It really pisses me off."

Voting in Tampa Bay? Know Your Candidates

Just in time for the start of early voting on Monday, the St. Petersburg Times' Know Your Candidates Web site is up and running. Click here to review federal, state and local races and ballot questions in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. A print version of the information will be in Wednesday's Times.

--Joni James, Times state editor