Accused murderer served Capitol lattes

Ever hit the Starbucks kiosk at the Doubletree in downtown Tallahassee? Remember this woman?

Kimberly Cannon, 40, served Starbucks lattes and coffee to hundreds of Tallahassee's lawyers, lobbyists and lawmakers at the Doubletree Starbuck's kiosk. She started work there around the time of the PIP special session and worked through the budget-cutting and organizational sessions and all throughout this Spring's regular session.

But she's gone now. Leon County Sheriff's Office arrested her last Thursday, less than a week after session ended, on murder charges stemming from some sort of 13-year-old investigation in Santa Rosa County. Read the release here. Cannon has been transferred to Santa Rosa County jail.

2008 session: Green or greenwashed?

Trying to decipher whether the 2008 session was “green” or not takes a Pantone color chart. There are spots of leafy green, mottled with the gray-green of hard cash, bright acid envy, and the pallid sheen of greenwash.

With his customary good cheer, Gov. Charlie Crist declared Tuesday the 2008 session, "a banner year on the environment, I dare say."

To continue reading, go to our blog The Fueling Station.

-Asjylyn Loder and Craig Pittman, Times Staff Writers

Gift ban law heads to state high court

Nearly two-and-a-half years after the Legislature passed a law banning lobbyist gifts and requiring lobbyists to disclose fees, a lawsuit by two of the state's best-known lobbyists is headed to the state Supreme Court. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta Thursday certified to the state court the questions of whether the law was enacted properly in a special session in December 2005 and whether the law violates separation of powers and infringes on Supreme Court jurisdiction.

Plaintiffs are lobbyists Ron Book, Guy Spearman and the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists, and defendants include former House Speaker Allan Bense and former Senate President Tom Lee. The court sided with the Legislature in ruling that the law is not overly vague or broad, but revived an issue intensely discussed at the time of the gift ban's passage: whether the House followed its own rules and read the bill by title a third time before adopting it (see page 9 of the 16-page order here).

This case is mainly about the fee-disclosure requirements, however, and the order gives the lobbyists the forum they wanted all along in the state's highest court. "The case is headed to the Florida Supreme Court," Book said. "That's what we wanted."

House: No bans on plastic grocery bags

A rewrite this evening of a presumed-dead recycling bill would pre-empt cities and counties from banning the use of plastic bags as San Francisco did, at least until a state study is done by February 2010. That means no stopping the use of plastic grocery bags, newspaper bags, even drycleaning bags -- giving a nod to the interests pushing the protection: Publix and other supermarkets, retailers and Associated Industries.

Dan Berger, lobbyist and artiste

Politico features some veteran FL GOP operatives: "After they’re done making fun of him, most of B. Dan Berger’s friends envy him. “In a town full of foodies and winos, probably the best way to distinguish yourself is to take up something that none of us are actually capable of,” said pal Jason Roe, managing partner at the lobbying firm Federal Strategy Group.

"Another high-powered lobbying buddy, Ben McKay, has known 41-year-old Berger for more than 16 years.

“Dan has found a way to channel all that creativity and that Type A-plus personality into something beautiful and constructive,” said McKay, “which, quite frankly, I’m very jealous of. I think all of us are searching for a way to express ourselves.” 

House panel gives commuter trains the nod

Critics questioned a confidentiality deal between CSX and Florida, a no-fault insurance plan and even who mows the lawn along commuter rail. But after more than two hours, the House Policy and Budget Council voted to go ahead with the $650-million plan to run commuter trains in Orlando included in HB 1399, a broad transportation bill.

"I think this whole deal is troubling," said Rep. Jack Seiler, the ranking Democrat, who questioned how Rep. Gary Aubuchon, the sponsor, could say he hadn't known of the confidentiality deal from 2006.

Aubuchon called the entire plan "out of the box thinking."

But the real debate could come Tuesday morning in the Senate transportation spending committee, where Majority Leader Dan Webster faces a chairman who has said he is opposed to the plan, Sen. Mike Fasano. Webster wants to add the necessary insurance provisions in a bill, providing the Senate's first real test.

To aid supporters, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, is expected at the hearing as chairwoman of the House railroad subcommittee. And a politician who represents the home city of CSX (Jax) and Orlando.

Orlando rail gets Tampa Bay area surge

Pinellas County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan has urged Tampa Bay lawmakers this week to support the disputed $641-million plan to bring commuter rail to the Orlando area. And the Tampa Bay Partnership -- which promotes business investment -- has begun supporting the project that critics say benefits CSX too much.

"While I am certainly aware of the revenue shortfalls of state government, I believe that investing in this initiative will produce significant returns in the future," Duncan wrote to lawmakers Monday. Duncan is vice chairman of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority.

Supporters hope Duncan and the partnership can help provide momentum as lawmakers decide whether to approve a crucial insurance-related piece of the deal in the waning days of the legislative session.

CSX commuter rail bill gets union support

The United Transportation Union has backed the maligned commuter rail project in Orlando, giving the $641-million project a breathe of support heading into debate this week.

Citing a protection that its workers wouldn't be excluded, the union "is supporting of efforts to bring commuter rail," wrote Andres Trujillo, director of the UTU's Florida legislative board, in a letter to CSX lobbyist Craig Camuso. Union unease, along with trial lawyer complaints, had helped lead to legislation for the project being withdrawn in the Senate.

Update: The Florida AFL-CIO isn't a fan, though. "The majority of our unions remain in strong opposition to the CSX deal.  The idea that Florida is handing out almost $650 million in corporate welfare while vital services for sick children are being cut is of great concern to Florida’s labor movement," responds spokesman Rich Templin, who questions the job protections. (more)

Johnnie Byrd: lobbyist?

Former House Speaker Johnnie Byrd once harangued lobbyists (and lawmakers) who didn't follow his lead. For a month this spring, however, he changed sides, registering as a lobbyist for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association of Dover.

Byrd, a Plant City lawyer, was registered to lobby (without much notice) from Feb. 15 until he withdrew March 17. For what, the Buzz knows not. Byrd and the association didn't return calls.

But Byrd, who also expressed disdain for the press, continues other recent pursuits: Saturday radio show host on WGUL in Tampa Bay, and a columnist at Townhall.com.

Lobbyists caught in cross-fire

TALLAHASSEE — How's this for an awkward job? You are a lobbyist, charged with bringing home state money and support for the organization that employs you. But this year, money is alarmingly sparse. And your boss' boss is suing the very lawmakers you're trying to lobby.

Such is the situation facing Florida public university lobbyists, who are trying to work in the midst of an ongoing dispute over who should control university tuition — the Legislature or the Board of Governors.

Shake up at Holland & Knight

It's out with the old, in with the new at Holland & Knight.

In a clean sweep that may reflect a desire for change among its ranks, three top leadership positions at Florida's second-largest law firm have turned over in the past week. One change of Tallahassee interest:

• Martha Barnett, a Tallahassee lobbyist and former American Bar Association president who was Holland & Knight's first female partner, lost her bid for re-election as board chair, a position she had held since 2003. A majority of the policymaking committee's 24 members selected Boston trial lawyer Ralph Lepore over Barnett.

Barnett is on the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. Read more here.

Pruitt puts brakes on late-filed amendments

Senate President Ken Pruitt said Thursday that from now on, he's going to start more rigorously enforcing the two-thirds rule necessary to introduce late-filed amendments on the floor.

As a courtesy, the Senate has just sort of allowed late-filed amendments on the floor. But given the budget crisis, he wants to make sure nothing gets on to a bill that might have an unintended fiscal consequence.

Not that he won't allow any late-filed amendments anymore, but he pointed out that lobbyists (as much as he appreciates them) have used them to "game the system." In committees, Pruitt says he will leave it up to the chairmen whether they want to allow late-filed amendments.

Linda Cox, lobbyist and ex-lawmaker, dies at 61

Linda Cox, a Tallahassee lawyer and lobbyist who served three terms in the Florida House as a Democrat, died Monday afternoon following a stroke. She would have been 62 next month.

Cox had more than 23 years experience in lobbying and was a member of the law firm of Lewis, Longman & Walker. She founded the Broward chapter of the National Organization for Women and represented a Fort Lauderdale House district from 1976-1982. She was succeeded by her legislative aide, Anne Mackenzie, who remained her close friend for the past three decades.

Among the many historic photos that line the walls of the Florida Capitol is this one from 1977, Cox's first in the House, when she and Mackenzie shared pizza and political talk on a madras sofa that was vintage 1970s.

 

One last night of decadence

[Members of the Florida Legislature, lobbyists and members of the media mingle at the Associated Industries of Florida party Monday night. Scott Keeler | Times]

Heaping plates of fresh shrimp, carving stations of prime rib, cherries jubilee -- and liquor flowing like water. That was the scene Monday at Associated Industries of Florida as the business giant hosted its annual pre-session bash for legislators, lobbyists, media, business people and others in Tallahassee.

Faces in the crowd included Sen. Al Lawson, Rep. Marty Bowen, Allan Katz, John Wark, Marnie George, Rep. Adam Hasner, Steve Uhlfelder, Vivian Myrtetus, Jack Cory, Anne Mackenzie, Richard Pinsky, Jeff Ryan, CFO Alex Sink, Sen. Charlie Dean, Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, Chris Mobley, and Rep. Joe Gibbons.

The nice evening brought out a big crowd but there appeared to be light attendance among legislators. That might have had something to do with the requirement that lawmakers and staffers regulated by the ban on gifts, meals and drinks had to pay their way at $32 a person.

On Tuesday, the Legislature gets down to the business at hand of shrinking the state budget, by $543-million this year, up to $2.5-billion next. Come to think of it, what better metaphor for this session than a carving station?      

Recalling the novelty of 'cellular phones'

In preparation for another legislative session that starts next Tuesday, researchers at The Buzz are combing through our files in search of story ideas. We came across this fascinating piece from the May 8, 1990 South Florida Sun-Sentinel, back when cellular phones were a new status symbol in Tallahassee and lawmakers said they might even need to ban their use during meetings. It would be years before those primitive brick-sized phones would shrink to the size of the one lobbyist Ron Book is seen using here.

Nothing dies on the Internet

A new game going around the capitol:

* Google "LeMieux Report"
* Look five links down and get this link.

The web page pulls up a current edition of the LeMieux Report newsletter and one that appears to be a practice template.

It included draft text that serves as a place-holder like: “This is where an endorsement would go for The LeMieux Report — a glowing review — from a really important business or political figure, like Governor Charlie Crist." As well as:  "Copyright 2008 The LeMieux Report. All Rights Reserved.  Insert any other type of disclaimer copy here that is needed to appease the Florida Bar"

Roasting of Sen. Steve Geller

Lesley Blackner staying put

Lesley Blackner, the environmental attorney and major force behind Hometown Democracy, is continuing her fight to get the initiative to the ballot. 

Rumors were swirling last week, in part because Hometown Democracy didn't make the 2008 ballot, that she was giving it all up to become a purse designer. While Blacker has been making cloth purses for a few friends as encouragement to dump their leather bags for environmental reasons, she's not giving up the Hometown Democracy initiative.

"I don’t know where that came from," Blackner said. "No, it's not true." 

But, if she saw a widespread need or interest for her cloth purses, she would make more and donate her proceeds to Hometown Democracy, she added.

Connie Mack vs. Charlie Crist?

The Florida Hospital Association has hired former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack to help persuade Gov. Charlie Crist to keep the certificate of need process for building new hospitals. Crist has said he wants to deregulate that process.

Crist has called Mack one of his mentors. Mack works for Liberty Partners of Florida, has also signed up to lobby the executive branch for BellSouth, Florida Power & Light, Florida Institute for CPAs, University of Florida Foundation and Callery-Judge Grove (a residential development planned in South Florida).

A Capitol awash in cash

The price tag for influencing state government in Florida: More than $200-million.

In the second year that lobbyists have had to disclose how much they made peddling their clients' wishes to lawmakers, state agencies and the governor, a St. Petersburg Times analysis found one of the nation's largest lobbying corps earned roughly five times the payroll of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007. (story here. And see below for a note about these numbers.)

McCain's lobbyist friend, the FL connection

Not clear how long the Buzz will last on this New York Times piece about McCain's old lobbyist companion, but it seems south Florida has always been good to the Arizona senator: "...That February, Mr. McCain and Ms. Iseman attended a small fund-raising dinner with several clients at the Miami-area home of a cruise-line executive and then flew back to Washington along with a campaign aide on the corporate jet of one of her clients, Paxson Communications. By then, according to two former McCain associates, some of the senator’s advisers had grown so concerned that the relationship had become romantic that they took steps to intervene..."

The cost of lobbying: $85 million

That's how much was spent to lobby the Florida Legislature in 2007, according to this report. At the top: AT&T with $620,000.

It only includes, by law, compensation for outside individual and firms. Full time, salaried lobbyists do not need to disclose their fees.

Note: the totals represent a range, not hard numbers. So if a contract is $10,000 to $19,999, then $15,000 is reported. Anything $50,000 and above represents the actual figure.

Of the counties in the Tampa Bay area, Pasco pays at least $90,000; Hillsborough $75,000; and Pinellas $55,000. Hernando did not employ an outside lobbyist.

Show LeMieux the money

Shortly before Gov. Charlie Crist's former chief of staff left government to return to his old law firm, the firm landed a $500,000 contract with the state Transportation Department. George LeMieux, whom Crist nicknamed "the maestro" for his role in the governor's 2006 victory, said he played no role in the state's decision to hire his firm.

The agency confirmed that and said LeMieux's firm, Gunster Yoakley, was selected because of the expertise of a partner in railroad law. The one-year contract seeks the firm's advice as the state pursues purchase of the Florida East Coast Railroad, a key corridor bisecting heavily congested South Florida.

The contract is one of two assignments LeMieux has secured since leaving Crist's administration last month. He's also now a paid consultant, expected to earn about $10,000 a month, to state Republican Party chairman Jim Greer, meaning that LeMieux will continue to play a strategic role in the 2008 presidential election and beyond.

Full story here.

The Crist-Ballard-McCain axis of influence

Gov. Charlie Crist is campaigning out of state for the next two days with John McCain in advance of the Super Tuesday election results. Joining them is Tallahassee lawyer-lobbyist Brian Ballard, a Crist ally and leading Florida fund-raiser for McCain. Read the full story here.

Lobbyist Ballard now wears a Rays uniform

Your attention, please. Now lobbying for the Tampa Bay Rays ...

Despite the strong support of Gov. Charlie Crist, the American League baseball team has thrown in the towel for 2008 on the question of seeking a big state sales tax subsidy to help finance a new waterfront stadium in St. Petersburg. But at the same time, the Rays have signed lobbyist Brian Ballard to represent their interests in Tallahassee. The Rays thus become the 108th client Ballard or his firm, Smith & Ballard, is registered to represent before the Legislature.

Most all other pro sports franchises have already qualified for a $60-million sales tax rebate to help pay for stadium construction or improvements. But with Florida facing as much as a $2-billion budget shortfall in an election year, even the Rays' hometown legislators say the timing is terrible for a sports-related tax giveaway. Read more here.

Justice attacks campaign loophole

Sen. Charlie Justice has filed a bill to go after the campaign finance laws often used by people, companies and political operatives to raise millions of dollars within a couple of weeks or even days on surprise smear ads.

His bill would cap contributions to political committees called "electioneering communication organizations" to $500 by a person or group. Right now, ECOs can raise and spend whatever they want, running issue-related ads, as long as there's no coordination with a political candidate. Currently, the committees have to tell the state who gave them money and how they spent it, but often that information gets reported weeks after the committees have gone dark. That said, ECOs are subject to the same reporting deadlines as other candidates and committees.

Buzz can't help but wonder if such a "clean-up" law, as Justice calls it, would make elections boring.

More money-chasing than legislating

Florida lawmakers spent this week at the state Capitol, but many of them didn't accomplish much until the sun went down. By day, legislators were on light duty, meeting in committees to review programs and proposed laws.

By night, they flocked to clubs, law firms and trade-group suites to collect campaign checks from lobbyists and their clients. The ritual of plain white envelopes changing hands in the shadow of the Capitol is nothing new. What's different, lobbyists and some legislators say, is the frequency and intensity of the solicitations. (story here.)

Christmas card of the year (so far)

The Buzz would like to congratulate Southern Strategy Group for the Christmas card of the year, at least so far:

LeMieux law firm hangs shingle; what's next?

Speculation is growing that Gov. Charlie Crist's chief of staff, George LeMieux, will leave the administration by Jan. 1 and return to the practice of law. Here's one revealing sign: His old law firm, Gunster Yoakley & Stewart, has established an office in Tallahassee at the SunTrust building at 215 S. Monroe St. (see photo from the lobby directory). The building, catty-cornered from the Capitol, is a major center for lobbying firms.

LeMieux went from serving as Crist's chief of staff in the attorney general's office, to a two-year marathon in charge of the campaign (dubbed "The Maestro" by Crist), then to a hectic seven-week transition followed by a grueling first year in office. Under the state Constitution, LeMieux cannot lobby the governor's office for two years after he leaves.

"Whenever the day is that I decide I need to do something else, it will be with heavy heart, because I'll miss it," LeMieux told The Buzz. "As challenging as it is to work with this governor, you try to do the right thing every day, and really help people. It's awesome."

A competing political blog, The Miami Herald's Naked Politics, was first to report the creation of Gunster Yoakley's new Tallahassee office.   

'Slap on the wrist' rejected by ethics panel

For many years, the Florida Commission on Ethics has endured criticism as a "toothless tiger" that doles out mild punishment for serious violations of the public trust. But developments Friday suggest that may be a thing of the past.

In a case involving a prominent South Florida politician, the panel rejected a proposal to slap a $1,000 fine on Broward County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin for voting to approve applications for county grants written by her husband, Richard Rubin, on behalf of the city of Southwest Ranches.

The panel voted to increase the fine to $15,000.

"A thousand dollars sounds to me like a slap on the wrist," said ethics commission member Charles Lydecker. "There's a price to pay for a breach of ethical conduct."

Don't call him a lobbyist (yet)

As a former lawmaker who was termed out in 2006, ex-Rep. Ron Greenstein is barred from lobbying the House for two years. So why is he listed as one of 14 contract lobbyists employed by the Florida Retail Federation on the powerhouse group's website?

That's a mistake, says John Rogers, the retail lobby's general counsel. Greenstein was hired to advise the federation on Democratic House primary races in the 2008 cycle, not to lobby his former colleagues.

"That's coming down," Greenstein said when told of his listing on the site. "I'm just a consultant to them." Greenstein represented a Northwest Broward district for eight years and also is a part-time House employee through May 2008, working with the Democratic caucus. (Frank Terrafirma advises the group on GOP races).

UPDATE: The retail federation updated its website Nov. 8, removing Greenstein from its list of contract lobbyists.

 

Put away the clubs, GOP donors

The Legislature's on-again, off-again effort to get a property tax plan right the second time has been likened to a mulligan in golf, a do-over. So it's fitting that as the session goes right down to the wire Monday, it has now forced the postponement of a Senate Republican fund-raiser and annual golf tournament at The Villages retirement complex. The Republican Party has told guests to cancel their room reservations and wait for word of a do-over.   

Senate to House: Stick to the tax basics

The House's sudden and unexpected proposals for a 3-percent cap on all property assessments and a sales tax swap are outside the special session call and will be ruled out of order on the Senate floor today, President Ken Pruitt said.

"The issues within the call are fair game to be debated," Pruitt said at an 8:15 a.m. meeting

"I've been through too many of these to where at the end of the day if you start taking up stuff outside the call then that just create a lot of chaos," Pruitt told reporters. "We’re going to stay true to the call. We're going to take the issues that the governor, the speaker and I agreed to and go ahead and move those issues forward."

A TV reporter invoked Rep. Dan Gelber's line equating Republican House moves to a "toga party." Pruitt did not bite. "The great ideas come from the House and it's the Senate’s role to work with our House to finally get a product at the end of the day that the people of the state of Florida can be proud of."

UPDATE: Sen. Jim King has reaffirmed Pruitt's position but some fellow Republicans feel otherwise. Sen. J.D. Alexander said other issues should be considered given the legislation only came out Friday. Sen. Victor Crist said he did not intend to withdraw amendments. And Sen. Mike Bennett expressed support for a 3-percent assessment cap.

Thurman's lobbying

Karen Thurman isn't the first state Democratic chair with a side gig lobbying, but one of the biggest critics of her handling of the primary controversy is now raising more questions about Thurman's lobbying activities. She's already taken some heat for earning $3,500 per month helping former state GOP Chairman Al Cardenas lobby on behalf of Miami-Dade.

Now, Democratic state committeeman George Maurer has sent a memo to Democrats criticizing Thurman for lobbying for eAppeals, a firm the helps appeal denied health care claims. Federal records show that eAppels has paid Thurman at least $160,000 (and $110,000 to former Democratic Rep. Ron Klink of Pennsylvania) since 2005, the year Thurman took the $100,000-a-year job as party chair.

Potential conflict or politically savvy UCF move?

The fight for higher education dollars could get very ugly next month, what with the governor recommending more than $250-million in cuts that would - among other things - put off funding for UCF and FIU's long-sought medical schools.

But UCF could have a powerful weapon for the special session: former Jeb Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger consultant Donna Arduin, who is getting paid almost $20,000 to serve as an "economic development" consultant through the end of this year. That contract took effect in March, and she'll update the board of trustees tomorrow on the state budget picture.

Arduin stressed to the Buzz that she is not a lobbyist and won't be doing any lobbying for UCF. She said she merely developed an "economic impact model" for UCF's planned medical school and surrounding community.

She does have an insider's view of the budget, thanks to her recently re-upped $10,000-a-month consulting contract with House Speaker Marco Rubio to advise the House on budget matters.

Fred's Tallahassee money raisers

The sponsors for Fred Thompson's fundraising event in Tallahassee Tuesday: Sebastion Aleksander, Lamar Bailey, Marty Bowen and Brian Barnard, Melvin Blank, Wilbur and Cheryl Brewton, J. Everett Drew, Marc and Chollet Dunbar, Peter and Susan Dunbar, Bill Grant, Jerry Livingston, Hal Middlebrooks, Ed and Kathleen MooreFoyt and Kellie Ralston, Tim Revell, Sandy and Robin Safley, Clark Smith,

An 'extremely urgent' matter

Voters who have signed no-growth Florida Hometown Democracy petitions are getting letters from a group using the new petition revocation law to prevent Hometown from reaching the 2008 ballot. It's a first-of-its-kind test of whether a revocation effort can be effective. More here.

It's Apryl in Tallahassee

They're calling it "Ladies Night Out." Women lobbyists will hold a fund-raiser Sept. 19 at Finnegan's Wake, an Irish pub in Tallahassee, for Apryl Fogel, a Republican seeking the state House seat to be vacated next year by the term-limited Bob Allen. (You remember Bob Allen).

Fogel herself is a lobbyist (Florida Council for Behavioral Healthcare) and is one of three Republicans seeking the District 32 seat. The host committee: Patricia Greene, Victoria Zepp, Rachael Bjorklund, Lena Juarez, Lori Killinger, Linda Cox, Monica Rodriguez, Lori Weems, Allison Tant Richard, Keri Rayborn, Pat Mixon, Joy Ryan, Wendy Dodge and Karen Koch. "Men welcome to join ladies for festivities," the invite says. Sean Campbell and Dawn Hooley are the others in this race.

State: Groups can't do issue polling

In a decision that is likely to jolt Florida's political world, the state Division of Elections has ruled that political committees are prohibited by law from paying for issue-oriented polls. Candidate polls? Those are legal, the state says, but issue-oriented polls are not. For decades, interest group political committees all along the political spectrum have been doing issue polling.

The legal opinion, issued last week, was authored by Gary Holland, an attorney in the elections division. It was issued in response to a request by Jon Kislak of Florida Red and Blue Inc., the group opposing efforts to put a ban on same-sex marriages into the state Constitution. The effect of this opinion is that groups keenly interested in, say, the Jan. 29 property tax referendum are barred by law from sampling public opinion on the issue. Read the opinion here.

AARP poll: Florida up for grabs

AARP today releases a poll of 501 Florida members who may vote in the Democratic primary and 503 in the Republican primary, showing that seven in 10 are following the presidential primary at least somewhat closely. Iraq and financial security are top issues, but large proportions of AARP voters don't know much about the candidates stances on issues like Social Security, saving incentives, or pension protection.

"The race for the White House is up for grabs in Florida, according to this poll," said Jeff Johnson, manager of the Divided We Fail initiative for the Sunshine State.  "This election may turn on whether candidates can connect with Floridians 50+ on real-world issues that deeply affect their lives - having affordable, accessible, quality health care, and getting the tools they need to achieve lifetime financial security."

Asked to rate candidates on how well they have addressed financial security, 35% of Republican AARP members said Rudy Giuliani had "very or somewhat well," 31% said John McCain; 28 said Mitt Romney, 17 percent said Fred Thompson, and 9% Mike Huckabee.  Those who rated "very or somewhat well" in addessing access to health care: 47 % Giuliani; 37% McCain; 35% Romney; 22% Thompson; Huckabee 12%.

Among Democrats rated well on addressing financial security: Hillary Clinton 56%; John Edwards 42%; Barack Obama 38%; Joe Biden 23%; Bill Richardson 18%; Chris Dodd 14%; Dennis Kucinich 10%. On addressing health care: Clinton 76%; Edwards 56%; Obama 49%; Biden 27%; Richardson 23%; Kucinich 15%; Dodd 14%;

New political shop in Tally

The Markham Group, a democratic consulting firm with offices in Little Rock and DC, is setting up shop in Tallahassee. Markham partner Paul Neaville, former Rod Smith campaign manager, has brought on board Todd Wilder. Wilder is  Smith's former political director, though he went on to help Charlie Crist in the general election. He'll be doing lobbying, public affairs, grassroots and political campaigns.

Said Neaville: "I made a lot of friends in Florida during the year and a half I spent there, and Todd is certainly one of them. It will be fun to engage in Florida politics again."

Karen Thurman swipes at Crist

We overlooked this Netroots Q and A with Karen Thurman the other day, where she makes no apologies for her side gig lobbying alongside Al Cardenas and takes a gentle jab at Charlie Crist: "The Governor really hasn’t extended himself as much as the media has made it seem. He supported stem cell research, but not the most promising embryonic stem cell research. He supported insurance reform, but didn’t propose a plan to make it happen. He held a climate summit, but used executive orders to make change instead of forcing the Legislature to get to work on this pressing issue...."

Report: No FIU penalty for illegal lobbying

It's most unusual that a state university would face the grim prospect of appearing before the Commission on Ethics. But Florida International University (FIU) finds itself in that position as a result of its own making: For more than four years, an investigation has concluded, the school used public funds to pay an outside lobbyist, Fausto Gomez, in violation of state law.

FIU fired Gomez earlier this year. State agencies can only pay salaries to lobbyists who are full-time employees, and the law (11.062) states that a person who takes money under those circumstances can be banned from lobbying for up to two years.

The FIU case will go before the ethics commission Friday with a staff recommendation that the school face no fine or other action because it was FIU general counsel Cristina Mendoza who brought the matter to the attention of the ethics commission in the first place. As advocate James Peterson wrote in an eight-page report: "The forthright candor of the University officials is also noteworthy." Read the full report here.

Could this happen in Tallahassee? Ya think?

New York State is notorious for having some of the weakest campaign finance laws of any state. But Gov. Eliot Spitzer and legislative leaders have agreed on a package of reforms including a ban on campaign contributions from registered lobbyists. Read the New York Times' coverage here.

Gift ban madness

The Legislature passed a law in late 2005 requiring lobbyists to disclose income and barring lawmakers and staffers from accepting anything of value from lobbyists. Not even a cup of coffee.

The goal was to curtail a crass lifestyle of government workers living off the largesse of lobbyists.But campaign contributions weren't covered. So a form of madness has ensued. A blueberry muffin is now the symbol of undue influence in Tallahassee, not a $50, 000 campaign contribution. More here.

From the builders, 'a sincere apology'

The Florida Home Builders Association has issued a "sincere apology" after an earlier web site posting that threatened to withhold campaign donations to legislators in 2008 unless they sponsored the group's priority: a cap on impact fees on new homes. The mea culpa message from president John Wiseman in an open letter to lawmakers notes that the builders' PAC met on Thursday and "reconsidered its prior action."

The builders' earlier stance smacked of a quid pro quo. It also was ironic. It was the same builders group whose political director, Wayne Bertsch, prompted then-Senate President Tom Lee to return a $20,000 campaign donation 18 months ago after criticism of Lee's fund-raising activities. See it here.

Thurman's side gig with Cardenas

From the Herald: "For strange bedfellows in Washington, consider the partnership between two of Florida's best-known partisans: Democrat Karen Thurman and Republican Al Cárdenas. Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, gets $3,500 a month from Cárdenas, former chairman of the Florida Republican Party, to help him lobby the new Democratic leadership in Congress on behalf of Miami-Dade County."

AIF's business champs

Associated Industry today releases its 2007 legislative voting records scorecards and its 2007 "Champion for Business" Award winners. “The 2007 legislative session was generally a mixed bag.  The business community enjoyed some key legislative victories including “guns in the workplace” and the defeat of tort reform weakening legislation.  But much work remains to be done.  Property and casualty insurance legislation is, at best, a stop gap measure and we are all hoping for another hurricane season like last year.  On property taxes, we heartily supported Governor Charlie Crist’s compromise proposal, but we want to continue to work on more meaningful reform in the next session that will benefit all ad valorem taxpayers.”

The business champs: Rep.Trey Traviesa, R-Tampa; Rep. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness; Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla; Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City.

Feeney starts a legal expense fund

U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, who is under federal investigation for his ties to Jack Abramoff, has opened a legal expense fund.

Feeney established the Tom Feeney Legal Expense Trust, according to Political Moneyline.

Documents were filed with the House of Representatives stating Feeney "has incurred legal expenses in connection with his official duties and position in Congress, and matters bearing on his reputation or fitness for offce."

Lobbyist barred from lobbying

TALLAHASSEE -- A long-time lobbyist has lost his livelihood after pleading guilty to a felony charge of  misappropriating public money while serving as a faculty member at the University of Florida.

Dr. Paul Wharton, 51, entered the plea last week before U.S. District Judge Stephan Mickle in Jacksonville.

The judge sentenced Wharton to two years of house arrest, five years' probation, a $10,000 fine, $252,000 in restitution and 2,000 hours of community service.

"It has been a very humiliating process and a very painful and expensive process," Wharton said Monday. "I've already lost quite a lot of career opportunities."

Read the full story here.

Former Feeney fundraiser leaves post

A former fundraiser for Rep. Tom Feeney and other Floridians has dropped her lucrative side job raising money to concentrate on running the office of an Arizona congressman under federal investigation.

Patricia Roe is the chief of staff to Rep. Rick Renzi but had continued fundraising for him on the side, essentially doubling her already six-figure salary.

Roe is married to Jason Roe, Feeney's former chief of staff who resigned from Mitt Romeny's presidential campaign recently after it was reported that the FBI was investigating Feeney in the Jack Abramoff scandal.

Roe had also done fundraising work for Reps. Clay Shaw, Mario Diaz-Balart and Lincoln Diaz-Balart.

Party on, Tom Feeney

Rep. Tom Feeney, who's been in the spotlight this week for his role in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, is going forward with his "Feeney Spring Break Bash" fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Washington, D.C.

Feeney spokeswoman Pepper Pennington, "It's going to be the fourth annual year of the event. ... We're all looking forward to having a great time."

Read the full story in the washingtonpost.com gossip column here

Abramoff email sent to Feeney

Rep. Tom Feeney has insisted for years that he didn't know convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff paid for their luxury golfing trip to Scotland in 2003.

But an e-mail obtained by the St. Petersburg Times on Wednesday shows that Abramoff's office sent specific instructions on how to report the trip expenses to a handful of people, including Feeney's congressional assistant.

Full story here

Republican leaders stand behind Feeney

Two U.S. House Republicans, John Doolittle of California and Rick Renzi of Arizona, recently resigned from their committees after learning they were targets of FBI investigations.

But Bartow Rep. Adam Putnam, the third-ranking Republican in the House, said Rep. Tom Feeney's situation is different. "The execution of the search warrants on Renzi and Doolittle is clearly another level..." he said.  "It is not fair to put Tom in the same category."

"We're monitoring the news reports and the developments closely," Putnam said. "But it appears to be a routine information request dealing withi the larger Abramoff scandal, and the trip that Tom was part of, he was lied to about the source of funding for it."

Roes in the spotlight for different scandals

It's been a bad week for the Roes.

As we reported last night, Jason Roe, Rep. Tom Feeney's former chief of staff, abruptly resigned from Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. It came after the St. Petersburg Times reported the FBI was seeking an email Roe sent the newspaper about Feeney and convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Roe's wife, Patricia, did some fundraising work for Feeney before becoming chief of staff to Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Arizona. Last week, federal investigators raided Renzi's wife's office in a scandal unrelated to Abramoff. This week, Renzi resigned from his House committees.

Feeney's $20,000 trip to Scotland

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff treated Rep. Tom Feeney and others to a Scotland trip in 2003 that began with a trans-Atlantic flight on a private jet and featured twice-daily golf at world-famous locales.

New court documents released Tuesday show Abramoff's expenses for the luxury trip averaged about $20,000 per person for each of the eight people who went, not the $5,000 Feeney estimated in the travel report he filed in Congress. Full story

Feeney's former aide resigns

On Monday, the St. Petersburg Times reported that the FBI was seeking an email that Rep. Tom Feeney's former chief of staff sent to the newspaper. On Tuesday, that staffer resigned from his new job with Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

Jason Roe abruptly resigned as deputy camapign manager, the National Journal is reporting tonight. "Jason informed the campaign on Tuesday that he decided to resign, citing familial obligations," Romney spokesman Matt Rhoades said in a prepared statement. "We understood and accepted what must have been a hard decision."

Roe told the Times on Monday he has not been contacted by the FBI about convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and has no knowledge of any investigation. But, he said, he was not surprised to hear federal agents are asking questions.

"I'm sure they're doing due diligence," he said. "I guess it would be my expectation they would look into everything" associated with Abramoff.