Vulnerable Feeney?

From the Rothenberg Political Report: "Feeney’s profile appears similar to some of his colleagues who lost in 2006, in districts that Republicans normally win easily. But the congressman’s supporters believe he’s handled the issue far better. Democrats went out and recruited Suzanne Kosmas, whom they believe will be a strong challenger to the congressman. The former state representative is proving to be a terrific fundraiser and should be a more than credible candidate for voters concerned with Feeney’s ethical questions.

"This race isn’t in the regular conversation about the most vulnerable House seats nationwide, but talking to Republican operatives, there is plenty of nervousness about this race."

Dems targeting Cuban-American seats

HIALEAH — In a packed social center in the heart of South Florida's most Republican city, elderly Cuban-American voters warmly greet a congressional candidate.

The city's longtime former mayor, Raul Martinez, is a familiar face. But he's no Republican.Instead, he is leading a Democratic challenge that hopes to break the Republican stranglehold on Miami's large Cuban-American vote in congressional elections this fall. More here.

FL's vulnerable US House members

With qualifying done for federal candidates, it looks like these are Florida's most vulnerable incumbents: Democrat Tim Mahoney, and Republicans Vern Buchanan, Tom Feeney and Ric Keller. Also we’ll keep an eye on three Miami-area seats held by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart will face, Cuban-American Republicans facing their first strong Democratic challenges in years.

At this point Buzz wouldn't bet heavily against any of these incumbents losing. How competitive most of these races wind up depends on the national climate come fall and what's happening at the top of the ticket. If national Dems had to pick one top target in, our sense is it would be Feeney. Obviously Mahoney is the GOP's sights.

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.

Dems slamming Feeney

  The Florida Democratic party has taken out online ads with Roll Call, Florida Today, the Fort Report, and BrevardCountyMoms.com (The Daytona Beach New Journal refused it) depicting Tom Feeney as corrupt.

"For a full year now, Tom Feeney has refused to come clean with Floridians about his unsavory relationship with a convicted felon, Jack Abramoff. The fact is that Feeney went on a lavish golfing trip to Europe paid for by this super-lobbyist instead of doing his job for the people of Florida," said Mark Bubriski, spokesman for the Florida Democratic party, which has taken out online ads in .  "The odds that 2008 ends up being Tom Feeney's last year in Congress, whether because of electoral defeat or legal recourse, increase with every passing day."

The full release is here.

Analyst: Mahoney FL's most vulnerable incumbent

The Rothenberg Political Report's latest U.S. House ratings of competetive races pegs Tim Mahoney's CD 16 seat as a "pure tossup"; Tom Feeney in CD 24 as "leans Republican"; Ric Keller in CD 8 and Vern Buchanan in CD 13 as "Republican-favored." Rothenberg apparently isn't seeing much vulnerability yet for the Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart or Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

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.

Kosmas raises another $300k

Former state Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, one of the candidates national Democrats are most excited about in Florida, reports raising more than $300,000 in the last quarter and has more than $550,000 in the bank for her campaign against U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney. We haven't seen his latest numbers, but he had $455,000 on hand at the start of the year.

"I am extremely humbled by the outpouring of support I have received from Floridians who are ready for change in Washington," said Kosmas.  "People are joining our campaign because they want a representative who is in line with their priorities and who can find common-sense, effective solutions to the challenges we face." 

Mahoney may skip Democratic convention

"I have better things to do in my district" than attend what recently has become a glorified pep rally, Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney told the Treasure Coast papers. The uncommitted potential superdelegate also recounted how Hillary Clinton personally called his daughter to encourage her interest in horses and suggested Al Gore could even emerge as the ultimate nominee.

OIR hits insurer who denied Congresswoman

Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty filed a complaint Wednesday against American General Life Insurance that seeks to suspend or even revoke the Houston-based company's license in Florida. The 22-page complaint details how American General repeatedly refused to provide life insurance or limited the coverage based on an applicant's future travel plans.

The most high-profile case involved U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Pembroke Pines, who in 2005 asked American General to increase her current life insurance policy. She indicated on her application that she had future plans for international travel. They denied her. Read the story here.

Bastardized Simpson site sports porn

Democrat Samm Simpson, who's seeking to oust U.S. Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young, reports that a Web-site similar to that of her campaign contains porn. A minor alteration to www.sammsimpsonforcongress.com takes you to an an eyeful that's not work appropriate.

"We are investigating the origin and owner of the domain," Simpson said in a statement. "I do not know at this moment if it was a spoof, or a deliberate attack on my person."

Manager leaves Jennings campaign

Mitch Kates has dropped off as campaign manager for the Christine Jennings campaign against Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, citing family issues he needed to focus on. "She's a hero to me," Kates said of Jennings. "She's really on a roll, she's raising a lot of money, and organizationally she's doing fabulous. Everything is going really well."

Jennings just made it into the DCCC's "Red to Blue" fundraising program proving money and structural support to candidates deemed strongest across the country.

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.

Fight brewing: State vs National Dems?

During a press conference touting a mail-in redo election on Wednesday, state Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller was asked about the Democratic Congressional delegation who dismissed efforts to redo the primary a day earlier.

Geller said the Congressional delegation didn't have all the details of the mail-in ballot proposal that's in the works, when they came up with their decision. "The Congressional delegation, unfortunately, had not been fully briefed," he said, implying they might change their minds now that they know the full story.

Not so, say Congressional delegates.

FL delegation opposes re-vote

After meeting tonight for two hours with Sen. Bill Nelson, the Democrats in Florida's Congressional delegation - Obama and Clinton supporters alike - decided to oppose not only a vote-by-mail Democratic primary but any re-vote at all.

"We are committed to working with the DNC, the FL state Democratic party, our Democratic leaders in FL and our two candidates to reach an expedited solution that ensures our 210 delegates are seated. Our House delegation is opposed to a mail-in campaign or any re-do of any kind."

---Wes Allison

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."

Ginny Brown-Waite vulnerable?

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

Mark Foley's back

PB Post chats up Foley at society gala: "..."I've been sober and happy."

So, why Friday's coming-out party? He didn't say, although I was told by organizers he bought himself a $350 ticket to the fiesta.

When asked about his future, Foley said only that he's trying to sell homes. He renewed his real estate license last year.

"I have a couple of offers on a place," he said. "Keeping my fingers crossed."

How about a long sit-down interview? Not a chance — until the FDLE finishes its investigation. The agency has been studying whether the messages broke state law but is stalled by U.S. House rules on access to Foley's computers.

"Everybody (including Barbara Walters) has been asking," Foley said. "I haven't granted any interviews. I'm waiting until I'm really cleared. I think I should be, but I don't want to upset anyone by talking."

More prescriptions for Dem primary headache

Sen. Charlie Justice and Rep. Scott Randolph, both Democrats, want the Legislature to ask Congress to rotate early primaries among certain regions starting in 2012, an idea endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State.

CFO Alex Sink has a more immediate solution: "Chill out for another week."

"Let's see what happens in Texas and Ohio. Either the waters will be murkier, which I hope they're not, or the future might be more clear," said Sink, who is a Democratic delegate. "I'm sure we'll deal with the issues then."

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.

Putnam joins the McCain train

Calling him a common-sense conservative, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow joined the other members of the House Republican leadership in endorsing Sen. John McCain for president.

Putnam, the third-ranking Republican in the House, had backed former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, whose campaign fizzled last month. He joined House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri in endorsing McCain after McCain addressed House Republicans earlier today.

"Senator John McCain is a man of great character and conviction who has done much for this country," Putnam said in a statement. "There is no candidate better qualified to serve as our nation's next commander in chief."

Crist: Show me the money

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist made landfall Tuesday in wintry Washington, buttering up the guys who hold the federal purse strings to make sure money designated for the Everglades  actually arrives.

"It's already been put into the process, we just need to get it appropriated now," Crist said at the U.S. Capitol with Sen. Mel Martinez, his host for the Senate's weekly Republican Policy Luncheon. Other special guests included Vice President Dick Cheney and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. The senators also heard from Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, whom Crist is backing.

RPOF gets behind Posey

Looks like State Sen. Bill Posey will be the Republican nominee for the 15th Congressional District. Rep. Stan Mayfield has dropped out and endorsed Posey on Monday. RPOF had a press conference touting Posey's endorsements by Mayfield, Congressman Tom Feeney, and State Rep. Ralph Poppell today.

Florida 13: All but over

The congressional task force investigating the contested election for the Sarasota-area U.S. House seat, District 13, on Friday dismissed the case, likely closing the books on Christine Jennings' last hopes.

As you might recall, back in November 2006 Jennings narrowly lost to Republican Vern Buchanan in the race to fill the seat vacated by Republican Rep. Katherine Harris.

But some 18,000 people in a Democratic-leaning area of the district who voted in the U.S. Senate race that day for some reason never registered a vote in the House race , leading Jennings to claim that faulty touch-screen voting machines were to blame.

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.

Castor going for two

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, plans to kick off her reelection campaign later this month at Valencia Garden, the venerable Spanish restaurant on West Kennedy Boulevard.

Castor, 41, a freshman, said she wants to return to the House to continue pushing to end the war in Iraq, expand health insurance and improve access to college education.

A reliable Democrat who serves on the House Rules and Armed Services committees, Castor easily won her first election to Congress in 2006 with 70 percent. District 11, which was held for more than a decade by Jim Davis, who resigned to run for governor, includes parts of Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties.

Her campaign party is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 21.

Congressman Mayfield? Haridopolos? Posey?

Succeeding Dave Weldon in Congress? Sen. Bill Posey says he won't run if Sen. Mike Haridopolos will. Rep. Stan Mayfield is already in. The Sentinel has more here.

Diaz-Balart v. Martinez

The Herald: "Raul Martinez, the charismatic but controversial former Hialea hmayor, is returning to politics to challenge one of the most powerful Republicans in the Cuban-American community: U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart.

Martinez's expected announcement Tuesday in front of HialeahCity Hall pits two South Florida political titans -- both admired by large numbers of Cuban Americans. The campaign will be deeply acrimonious with charges of corruption, and challenges of who's tougher on Fidel Castro's Cuba. Martinez, 58, a Democrat, is the most serious challenger Díaz-Balart, 53, has faced in his 15 years as U.S.congressman. "

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."

Cash pours in for Kosmas

The Democrat challenging Congressman Tom Feeney, Suzanne Kosmas, says she's raised more than $350,000 in the first three months of her campaign. Her campaign says she outpaced Feeney's best fundraising quarter of his entire Congressional career.

Ken Pruitt touts Gayle Harrell

Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt is sure to be back in the district this afternoon, since he's guest starring at a $100-a-plate fundraiser for state Rep. Gayle Harrell who is running for the spot to unseat Democratic Congressman Tim Mahoney.

But first, Harrell faces a three-way race in the Aug. 26th Republican primary, as she's running against Palm Beach City Council member Hal Valeche and political newcomer Tom Rooney. Our sister publication, CQ, rates that race as "no clear favorite."

Wexler's impeachment push

Nearly 100,000 people have signed up so far on Robert Wexler's online petition site promoting impeachment hearings for Dick Cheney: "Our constitution mandates that the House of Representatives hold vice presidents and presidents accountable when they commit high crimes. Serious and substantive allegations have been made against Dick Cheney,'' says Wexler.

It may not lead to hearings, but it's turning Wexler into a darling of the angry left netroots.

Crist: Take a hike Saunders

With Burt Saunders challenging Rep. Connie Mack for re-election, Charlie Crist today made clear he stands firmly with his old boss and mentor's son: ""Congressman Connie Mack has proven over and over that he knows how to fight and win for the people of Southwest Florida, our state and our nation, and I wholeheartedly endorse his re-election."

RPOF Chairman Jim Greer: "While it is disappointing that Sen. Saunders would abandon the deep-rooted values of the Republican Party of Florida in exchange for his own personal gain, his decision to run as a non-party affiliate is another example of why Congressman Connie Mack is better suited and more qualified to serve the people of the Fourteenth Congressional District."

Can Pruitt help bring down Mahoney?

Ken Pruitt will serve as honorary chairman of state Rep. Gayle Harrell's campaign to defeat U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Port Charlotte.

"We have a great team in place; I am especially excited and honored to have Senate President Ken Pruitt serve as my honorary campaign chairman," Harrell said in a statement announcing her team, which includes Brian Brooks as campaign manager; Randy Nielsen as consultant; pollster Gene Ulm; media consultant Adam Goodman; national fundraiser Trey Richardson and Jody Thomas.

Mahoney is one of the most targeted Democrats in Congress, though last week The Fix's weekly roundup removed Mahoney from its list of top 10 most competitive races.

Another Bilirakis challenger

Democrat Michael K. van Hoek of Valrico is running to unseat Republican Gus Bilirakis in Hillsborough/Pasco/Pinellas Congressional District 9. He joins Democratic lawyer Bill Mitchell of Tampa. From the release: “For far too long, we seem to have moved away from the notion that the House of Representatives is indeed the ‘People’s House,’” said van Hoek, an active member of the East Hillsborough Democratic Club and the Hillsborough Democratic Executive Committee . “I feel that it’s time for regular, everyday people to start getting involved in our government at the national level. For many working folks in our District, the U.S. House is nothing more than a group of politicians who have nothing in common with us. Even the language they speak is foreign to many of us. It’s time for Congress to more accurately reflect the voice of the people it represents.”

Christine Jennings Campaign Taking Shape

Democratic campaigner Mitch Kates has signed on with Christine Jennings as she takes on U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan in a Sarasota rematch that appears to be a priority for the national Democratic Party.

"Christine Jennings is an amazing candidate and I was honored to get the call to help with her campaign," Kates said. "She's definitely a premiere race for the party."

Kates, formerly "Jason the Terrible" on the professional wrestling circuit, is a St. Petersburg resident who made a name for himself in Tampa Bay politics after managing state Sen. Charlie Justice's competitive election against Kim Berfield last year.

Rooney on a roll in CD 16

Tom Rooney gets some love from Roll Call and anonymous Republicans, who brush off Gayle Harrell: "...Harrell's primary attribute, local Republicans sources agreed, is her name recognition in the district. Unlike Valeche, a promising candidate who is relatively unknown throughout the district, Harrell¹s state House seat sits entirely within the Congressional district.

"But given that perceived advantage, some Republicans are quietly questioning
why she hasn¹t done more with her head start. "Considering the advantage of being in office, raising money, I think it shows weakness in her campaign," a source said. "Face it, if you are already in public office and you¹re in the fourth term in the Legislature, you should be lapping the field." "

Joe Garcia v. Diaz-Balart

It's getting some Buzz on the net, and Garcia appears to be encouraging it. Sure would be an interesting race. See here. And here.

One term Mahoney?

CQ: "Republicans eying the political map for the 2008 national House campaign agree that the race in Florida’s GOP-leaning 16th District presents one of their strongest opportunities for a partisan pickup — if not their very best. Freshman Democratic Rep. Tim Mahoney has been targeted by Republicans as a “fluke” winner ever since a scandal caused the sudden and shocking downfall of his predecessor, Republican Mark Foley, just weeks before Election Day 2006."

More here.

Gus wants to know

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, has a few questions for the Transportation Security Administration about pipeline safety after a trio of teenagers drilled into a pipe carrying ammonia in the Riverview area of Hillsborough County, causing evacuations.

At a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee on another matter Wednesday morning, Bilirakis asked TSA Adminsitrator Kip Hawley about pipeline security. The congressman had been troubled to learn that the agency was unable to answer questions from Tampa Bay-area reporters about security and inspections, a spokesman said, and he worries about the damage that terrorists might cause.

“I want to let you know that I am going to be contacting TSA about the security of these pipelines, especially in the Tampa Bay area," Bilirakis told Hawley. He plans to follow up with a letter. He added, “I hope that you will ... take this matter very seriously and respond to my inquiry expeditiously.”

Hawley said, "Yes, sir."

You can see the video here.

Money bags Klein and Buchanan

A couple of Florida's rookie members of Congress - Republican Vern Buchanan and Democrat Ron Klein - are on CQ's list of top 10 incumbent fundraisers. With $1.8-million, Klein comes in at no. 4, while Buchanan, with $1.4-mil, comes in at no. 10.

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.

Ginny's and Connie's voter explosion

Check out the relative population growth of the country's Congressional districts since the 2002 redictricting. Florida CDs 5 and 14 rank 4th and 9th nationally:

Fastest Growing                                   Net Gain          Percentage

Ariz      6          Flake (R)                       232,704             +36.3%

Ariz.     2          Franks (R)                     218, 296            +34.0

Nev.      3          Porter (R)                      213,847             +32.1

Fla.      5          Brown-Waite (R)          172,046             +26.9

Calif.     44         Calvert (R)                     151,903             +23.8

Texas   10         McCaul (R)                    152,433             +23.4

Texas   22         Lampson (R)                  147,482             +22.6

Texas   3          Johnson, Sam (R)          145,683             +22.4

Fla.       14         Mack (R)                       138,326             +21.6

Calif.     45         Bono (R)                       138,013             +21.6

Congress smacks down Bush veto on Glades money

Congress this week sent President George W. Bush the most stinging rebuke of his administration so far, as some of his most loyal partisans joined in voting to override his veto of a massive water and environment bill that directs billions of dollars toward the restoration of the Everglades as well as continued recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

The Senate voted Thursday to override the veto, 79-14, far more than the two-thirds majority needed to overturn Bush’s veto. That followed a resounding 361 to 54 vote in the U.S. House Wednesday. Together the two votes turned the $23.2-billion Water Resources Development Act into law, despite Bush’s objections to the cost.

The bill, which has been in the works for six years, directs $1.8-billion toward the Everglades restoration project, which has stumbled because of the lack of promised federal funds. Florida members of Congress -- including some Republicans who had never before bucked a Bush veto -- praised the bill’s passage as a key to getting the massive environmental reengineering project back on track.

“It took Congress six years to pass it and a misguided president one day to try to kill it,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.  “Fortunately, common sense prevailed.  Everglades restoration now will receive a much needed boost.”

--Wes Allison and Craig Pittman

CW Bill Young, R-Earmarks

After being zinged by voters for unflattering pet projects like the Bridge to Nowhere and favors to big political donors, many members of Congress this year vowed to cut the pork they stuff into federal spending bills.

But that hasn't slowed Rep. C.W. Bill Young, who will send more money home than all but one member of the U.S. House. Young, 76, a Republican from Indian Shores, has slipped $128-million for pet projects into federal appropriations bills, mostly for defense contractors and colleges in Pinellas County. More here

Wexler: Impeachment time

“Vice President Dick Cheney and the Bush Administration have demonstrated a consistent pattern of abusing the law and misleading Congress and the American people. We see the consequences of these actions abroad in Iraq and at home through the violations of our civil liberties,” Wexler said. “The American people are served well with a legitimate and thorough impeachment inquiry. I urge the Judiciary Committee to schedule impeachment hearings immediately and not let this issue languish as it has over the last six months.”

With a base like this...

We thought this piece on the war between Congressional Democrats and their anti-war base was especially timely after chatting the other day with liberal blogger Matt Stoller, the president of BlogPac who gave his glowing take of the convention here. The 29-year-old former Miami resident's not a big fan of some Florida Democrats:

Debbie Wasserman Schultz: "She gave $1,000 to Dan Lipinski...He's an extraordinarily conservative Democrat, a Rush Limbaugh listener in a plus-10 Democratic district. I don't know if she's progressive or not, but I have my doubts where her loyalty lies. I don't believe these people any more." She seems to have charmed him into softening his skepticism, based on his post on the event linked above.

Allen Boyd: "He's awful. There's no question he's a terrible congressman. He's a terrible person...Lots of people are dead because of the moral cowardice of these people." A few minutes later Buzz asked Steny Hoyer about the influence of MoveOn and the liberal netroots on the party and, while he repeated his condemnation of MoveOn for its Gen. Betray Us ad, he spoke of how much the party appreciates such activists. The feeling wasn't exactly mutual from Stoller:

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."

Dem Poll: Feeney in trouble

Take this memo from a respected Democratic pollster with as many grains of salt as you wish: "The results of our survey among likely general election voters in Florida’s 24th Congressional District reveal that Congressman Tom Feeney approaches the 2008 campaign as a severely wounded incumbent with three strikes against him: 1. An electorate that is intensely dissatisfied with the country’s direction and with President Bush; 2. An appealing challenger in Suzanne Kosmas; and 3. Several areas of significant vulnerabilities including, but not limited to, his involvement with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. "

More here .

Boehner bashing?

Two-year-old Bethany Wilkerson holds on to her mother during a news conference in front of All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg today. Her parents, Dara and Bo Wilkerson of St. Petersburg, and Bill Newton, (right) Executive Director of Florida Consumer Action Network, responded to criticism of a TV ad featuring the family. [Martha Rial | Times]

The family of 2-year-old Bethany Wilkerson held a news conference today in St. Petersburg to criticize House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, who they say unfairly attacked them. They are not happy about the way Boehner has criticized a TV ad featuring them.

Bo and Dara Wilkinson of St. Pete Beach say Bethany is alive today because of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, which paid for an operation to fix a heart defect at All Children's Hospital.

They spent much of the week in Washington, lobbying Congress to override President Bush's veto of a bill to expand the program. Republicans managed to defeat the override attempt Thursday.

"We have put everything on the line by telling our family’s story, and his accusation that the TV ad is 'misleading' is incomprehensible,'' Dara Wilkerson said in a statement.

The Wilkersons are featured in a new TV ad being aired by a coalition of liberal groups that has been pushing SCHIP on Capitol Hill, including US Action and MoveOn. In a statement, US Action accused Boehner of making a “vicious” attack on the Wilkersons. US Action's local affiliate, the Tampa-based Florida Consumer Action Network, coordinated the press conference.

Boehner indeed branded the ad as “despicable” and "misleading," and he accused MoveOn and friends of exploiting a “two-year-old girl with heart condition.” But his statement didn’t criticize Bethany or her parents directly. You can view his statement here.

-- Abhi Raghunathan and Wes Allison

Rooney outraising Harrell in CD 16

"Tom Rooney, the political newcomer, raised more money than state Rep. Gayle Harrell during the current campaign cycle, leaving Rooney with the largest campaign war chest among Republicans in their fight to reclaim the seat once occupied by former Rep. Mark Foley."

More here from the Treasure Coast papers.

$250 to see Feeney's pad

Check out the black tie optional fundraiser dubbed the "Feeney Penthouse Party," for Congressman Tom Feeney.

Feeney v. Kosmas

Former state Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, is challenging U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney of Oviedo for his Republican-leaning Orlando area seat. "I am running to bring a moderate, common-sense approach to decision making," said Komas,63, who served in the Florida House 1996-2004. "I will be an independent and effective voice for working families, children and seniors in this district, dnd ensure that their interests - not the special interests - are represented in congress. This is a time for change in Washington, and I will work towards building consensus rather than engaging in lock-step partisan politics."

Challenging Gus

Former Plant City Mayor John Dicks announced Monday that he'll challenge first-term Rep. Gus Bilirakis for the ninth congressional district in 2008. Dicks, 54, an attorney, served on the Plant City Commission for nine years, including three one-year terms as mayor.

"Partisan politics and political bickering has become more important in Congress than finding solutions – we need a change.  Florida's working families deserve a congressman who is focused on getting things done for the people he represents," Dicks said in a staement. "I can be an effective leader for our district on both sides of the aisle."

His press release doesn't mention it, but Dicks is running as a Democrat. In recent years the district has gone increasingly Republican, and Bilirakis won with 56 percent of the vote last year. But Dicks has gotten encouragement from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and he met with Chairman Chris Van Hollen and other leaders in August in Washington.

Handicapping FL's congressional races

CQ, our sister publication, pegs Congressional District 16 (Tim Mahoney) as Florida's most competitive U.S. House race, listing it as "No clear favorite" in its latest rankings. It's followed in competitiveness by DC 13 (Vern Buchanan), which "leans Republican."

Among other competitive races, the CDs 8 and 24 seats held by Ric Keller and Tom Fee