Crist teaches Rubio's kids a lesson

Gov. Charlie Crist showed up early for House Speaker Marco Rubio's good-bye ceremony and played teacher to Rubio's children. (House photos | Mark Foley)

So begins Rubio's 100 year journey

Standing before the portrait that will hang in the House for a century, Speaker Marco Rubio displayed his charm, humor and self-styled passion for big ideas in a long, emotional farewell.

"I always wanted us to be focused on what people are taking about when they are at dinner," said the 36-year-old Miami Republican, the first Cuban-American to attain such power in the Legislature.

“I've always been motivated by the hope that I can be an advocate for what I believe is right to do. I leave here today with full peace in my heart because I know I have done my best, the best I can do, I have tried and done. I just hope it was good enough.”

But the most heartfelt moment came when Rubio told the story of his parents growing up poor in Cuba – his father sleeping on a bed made from wood crates, his mother playing with dolls fashioned from Coke bottles - and coming to America to raise a family that prospered while their own dreams went unfulfilled.

“What was that magic moment, when they decided 'You know what, it’s not going to happen for us. We’ve got to make it happen for them'? I picked up on that as a very young child.”

Rubio paused, crying.

Making room for Marco

Rubio on the tax swap: 'I'm happy'

[Rubio on the House floor Friday. Times photo | Scott Keeler]

A few days ago, House Speaker Marco Rubio added criticism of the plan to trade school property taxes for higher sales tax and other revenue sources. His remarks seem to spell trouble for the proposal. But the “tax swap” passed the Taxation and Budget and Reform Commission on Thursday and is now headed for the November ballot.

"I'm happy the people of Florida are going to get a chance on changing the way we fund public schools,” Rubio said in an interview Thursday afternoon. "Most people agree that property taxes is a horrible way to fund education. The bigger argument is how do you replace the revenue. I continue to believe consumption taxes are superior.”

What gives? He's for the plan, then against it, and now for it again. (see the jump for the answer and more)

Where everybody knows Marco's name

Like any establishment in downtown Tallahassee, Clyde's and Costello's has been hurt by the gift ban. It's not like it used to be, veteran politicos say.

But Wednesday night, the dimly lit Adams Street bar was brought to life by someone who has rarely stepped inside: House Speaker Marco Rubio.

The term-limited, 36-year-old from Miami appeared before Republicans and Democrats, lobbyists, friends and family and gave a preview of his farewell address to be delivered next week on the House floor.

"I see the press is here and I know they will report on the blogs that my four children accompanied me to a bar. Which is on par in some sections of the state Florida," joked Rubio, adding he could remember visiting Clyde's only once before.

"All I can tell you guys is this is my ninth session and it's been an extraordinary experience."

From Rubio, signs of frustration

As Marco Rubio's time as House speaker dwindles, he finds himself double-teamed by the Senate and Gov. Charlie Crist. Last weekend, he decided to vent.

After the House devolved into partisan chaos over a decision by Rubio's team to block Democratic debate on an education bill, Rubio dashed off a series of e-mails to reporters. He offered opinions on the Senate, Crist and issues such as a proposed gas tax cut. But the speaker sent the message from his personal account and insisted the information was off the record, meaning the contents could not be quoted.

Then he agreed to sit down with two St. Petersburg Times reporters to discuss the e-mails. Story here. (Times photo | Scott Keeler)

A property tax feast in the House

[Proponents of the 1.35 percent property tax plan meet this morning with Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who has signed on as sponsor of the bill. Times photo | Scott Keeler]

Gearing up for an election year, the Florida House moved forward on several property tax bills today, including one to cap property taxes at 1.35 percent of taxable value. The proposal would effectively set millage rates at 13.5.

Rubio calls swap 'potential recipe for disaster'

House Speaker Marco Rubio says he has always viewed the revenue cap and tax swap as working in concert. But now that the cap has been killed by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, Rubio says the swap is "a potential recipe for disaster."

It's a marked difference from last month, when Rubio excitedly promoted the swap plan before the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. "You're our last hope," urged Rubio, who appointed seven of the 25 members. "If you’re waiting on the Florida Legislature to cut taxes, it isn't going to happen."

But Rubio told reporters this afternoon that the swap must work with a cap on government revenue. Otherwise, governments could get creative in raising fees or taxes to get more money, he said.

Asked if the swap should be taken off the ballot -- a vote the TBRC will make later this week -- the Miami Republican said, "I'm very concerned there is a swap without a cap. If you're not going to do a revenue cap, you shouldn't do a swap."

Marco Rubio, then and now

Amid the ugly partisan meltdown on the floor of the Florida House Friday, it's worth recalling House Speaker Marco Rubio's reassuring rhetoric as he gaveled his first regular session to order in 2007.

"True legislative bipartisanship, the kind envisioned by those who designed this system of government, the kind our people deserve, is one where both parties share a common vision of the future, and spend all their time and energy debating how to bring that vision into reality. That is what I hope the culture of the Florida House will be," Rubio said on March 6, 2007. "For too long politics has been about scoring political points rather than solving problems. By adopting and adhering to this one simple rule, our work here will become about problem solving." Want more? The transcript of Rubio's 2007 speech is here.

Meanwhile, check out this photo of the handwritten note tucked inside the House seal on the chamber doors listing eight of Rubio's council chairs, the only ones with permission to leave the chamber during this marathon session. These are the ones with a Get Out Of Jail Free card.

 

Election-year politics play out on House floor

House Speaker Marco Rubio made a highly unusual move moments ago -- one that cut to the heart of South Florida politics -- when he held up a procedural vote on a resolution supporting a free trade agreement with Colombia.

The reason: Democratic Rep. Luis Garcia of Miami Beach was not in the chamber. Rubio, R-Miami, asked for a sergeant to go find Garcia.

Members often miss votes, but Rubio wanted Garcia around. Perhaps he thought Garcia was ducking the sensitive issue. Perhaps he wanted to put Garcia, who snatched a Republican seat in 2006 and is up for re-election in November, on record opposing the measure.

After all that, Garcia voted with Republicans and later said, "I think that definitely was something done to embarrass me."

For Rubio, family is not far in the Capitol

The half-brother of House Speaker Marco Rubio's wife is getting an intimate look at state government this session.

Carlos Fleites, a student at Tallahassee Community College, was looking to learn more about the political process and Rubio asked chief of staff Bob Ward if he knew of any part-time work outside the House, Rubio spokeswoman Jill Chamberlin told the Buzz. Ward sent Fleites' resume to his Senate counterpart, David Coburn.

Fleites has been working in Senate Administration, providing assistance to lawmakers and committees. He earns $12.32 an hour, the standard rate for same level part-time state employees. "He is an excellent employee and we are happy to have him as a part of the Senate," said Kathy Mears, spokeswoman for Senate President Ken Pruitt.

Dems: Rubio 'reeks of corruption'

The Florida Democratic party is jumping hard on this Herald story, sending a release liberally sprinkled with the c-word (corruption):

"TALLAHASSEE - Despite budget cuts that will gut education, healthcare and law  enforcement, Republican Speaker Marco Rubio "quietly slipped tough-to-spot  language in a state budget plan last week that helps a friend and political  money-man bid on a major fuel contract in a $265 million turnpike overhaul  proposal."

"Does he have no shame? The only people 'better off' with Rubio's budget are Rubio and his political friends. It takes incredible contempt for the people of Florida to corruptly slide millions to a wealthy friend while millions of regular folks are hurting because of the recession he helped create," Florida Democratic Party spokesman Alejandro Miyar said. "...Rubio's pattern is disturbing and reeks of corruption."

Anti-immigration forces target Rubio

House Speaker Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and the first Cuban-American speaker of the House, is under attack from anti-immigration forces that contend he is "working behind the scenes to kill the very bills intended to help you and your family." This YouTube video is being circulated by bordercontrolnow.com and urges people to call Rubio's office and complain.

UPDATE: House staff says the immigration bills are scheduled to be workshopped next week -- likely Monday -- in a special meeting of the State Affairs Committee. Rubio's spokeswoman Jill Chamberlin said the office has gotten roughly 400 calls about the bills, 300 in support and 100 in opposition.

Democrats: 'What is Marco Rubio hiding?'

A Miami Herald story raising questions about a home equity loan House Speaker Marco Rubio obtained has prompted an attack by the Florida Democratic Party. "What is Marco Rubio hiding and why does he think he can get away with it? This doesn't pass the smell test," spokesman Alejandro Miyar said in a news release.

Rubio, in a statement provided to the Buzz, writes: "Home equity loans are public documents, recorded with the county clerk. Failure to list them as a liability on my 2005 and 2006 financial disclosures was a oversight which has since been corrected."

So, Mr. Speaker, will you run for mayor?

With fresh speculation that term-limited Marco Rubio may run for Miami-Dade mayor, one of the mortgage brokers who visited with him Tuesday asked the question: What's next?

"I'll give you the answer that I'm not supposed to give, a political answer. But the truth is, the job I do is a huge job. I take it very, very seriously. And I'm focused. I have like eight weeks to go as speaker of the House in terms of the legislative session and I want to do the best job I can here. And then we'll focus on the future. Honestly, there used to be a time when I could answer that question standing here.

But I have four kids, I have a wife, and they have a role to play in this as well. Well, maybe not the six month old  ... Although being a Rubio, he'll learn how to speak fast. I don't have an answer for you today. Except to tell you I love public service. I would love to continue to serve in some future capacity if it's right for me, if I'm right for the job and the job is right for my family.

Rubio: 'I don't want to be a prophet'

House Speaker Marco Rubio more or less acknowledged this afternoon that the Legislature will not do more on property taxes. But that won't stop the House from trying.

"I don’t want to be a prophet," Rubio told the Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers. "I have no interest in being proven right three years from now. ... I'd much rather solve the problem. I'd much rather say we were part of the solution, not part of some sort of prophetic leadership that said, 'I told you so.'

"But that's where we're headed. Unless we do some meaningful things on this issue, that's where we're headed. These problems that we face, they don't go away by themselves."

Rubio said the 1.35 percent tax cap proposal is due for a hearing next week in the House. Amendment 1 will help with portability, he said, but will not stimulate the economy, as Gov. Charlie Crist repeatedly suggests. "That is not going to help us rebound, and we knew that going in."

So was Rubio's presence required?

After lengthy debate, the House schools and learning council just approved a proposed education governance overhaul to restore an elected education commissioner, strip the Board of Governors of its power over state universities and create a new system of "state colleges.''

House Speaker Marco Rubio even stepped into the meeting room to make a (silent) appearance.

Chancellor Mark Rosenberg said after the 9-6 vote, "many of those who voted for it had reservations, and that tells you this is not a done deal."

-- Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler, Times staff writer

Rubio re-fires '100 Ideas'

House Speaker Marco Rubio this morning helped launch 100Ideas.org -- and his political future.

The organization is designed to further the "idea-raising" concept Rubio helped design and used as a platform for the House agenda. Now he will help the organization of the same name raise money and spread the word through speaking engagements. Of course it will keep the term-limited Miami Republican in the public eye.

"People have wonderful ideas in this state .. and where do those ideas go, how do they get to Tallahassee? I think today we can be less complacent than we were in the past,"  board chairman William Holly (pictured center) said during a news conference at the Florida Press Center.

It's alive! -- 100 Ideas

We haven't heard much lately about the "100 Ideas" concept that dominated the House Republican agenda last year. The Buzz is the GOP consciously kept quiet because while many of the ideas passed the House, many others died in the Senate.

But now, 100 Ideas is back, in a different form.

Tomorrow, House Speaker Marco Rubio will join members of the recently formed 100Ideas.org Inc. to announce its goals and launch a new Web site. The foundation could help keep Rubio in the public eye as he heads toward the legislative pasture due to term limits.

Is Rubio a 'pessimist' or a realist?

When Gov. Charlie Crist took a shot at "pessimists" during his speech tonight, was he talking about House Speaker Marco Rubio?

Of the three speeches given today, Rubio's was the most downbeat. But does a blunt take on the state's budget, insurance and tax challenges qualify as pessimism?

"We have all the reason to be optimistic, but we’ve got to do the things to justify that optimism,” Rubio told the Buzz after Crist's address.

"The reality is we have a very significant economic downturn. ... It’s not that we’re pessimistic about it; this has to be addressed. The facts are the facts. I believe Florida has everything it takes to be successful. But we do have to confront the challenges of our time. And if we confront them with boldness, with vision, then Florida's vision is going to be better than our history."

Rubio: property tax cuts must continue

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio stands during the Pledge of Allegiance on opening day of the 2008 Florida Legislative session. [Scott Keeler, Times]

Rubio has just begun his speech opening the 2008 session. (Here is the text) Rubio, in his final final year in the House, called for a cap on all government revenue and spending and for the 1.35 percent tax cap proposal.

He laid down an implicit challenge to Senate President Ken Pruitt and Gov. Charlie Crist, who sold Amendment 1 on the promise that more is to come.

"Just remember this: If we do nothing, later this year property tax owners are going to get their tax bill and it is going to look a lot like the one they got last year. They are going to be angry. Maybe some have property tax fatigue.' But if we do nothing, come November, voters are going to have incumbent fatigue.' "

Pruitt: Rubio tougher to love than gov

After talking about his respect for Gov. Charlie Crist during his opening remarks at the beginning of the session, Senate President Ken Pruitt turned to House Speaker Marco Rubio.

"Speaker Rubio, I love him too. He’s a little tougher love, but I genuinely love this man," Pruitt said.

Pruitt and Rubio tensions

"...Rubio continues to eye his role as an eventual springboard to future office and Pruitt remains his willing straight man. But different philosophies and a series of battles between the House and Senate have damaged the Pruitt-Rubio collaboration. And now the pair face their toughest challenge yet: cutting the state budget by $2-billion.

"Adding to the stress, they must govern as their own power threatens to wane amid preparations for fall elections. All 120 House seats and half of the 40 Senate seats are on the ballot. ..."

Story here.

Marco Rubio's brush with disaster

Buried in a political column that ran in the Florida Times-Union is this tale about House Speaker Marco Rubio:

"A funny thing happened on the way to the St. Johns County Republican Club Lincoln-Reagan dinner at the TPC clubhouse on President's Day. Guest of honor Marco Rubio, speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, was flying to the affair from Miami, when his plane caught fire and made an emergency landing in Palm Beach County. He rented a car and arrived at Ponte Vedra in time to speak. Now that's dedication! Marco, the first Hispanic - he's of Cuban descent - and second-youngest person in state history to preside over the Legislature, is an engaging speaker.

"I'm really glad to be here; I mean really glad," Marco said, referring to his harrowing flight. About 175 Republicans in the audience enjoyed Marco's talk, which combined humor with more serious observations, such as "Florida is one hurricane away from the largest tax increase in the state's history; a full-scale affordability crisis has led to a state of anxiety in the state." (No kidding! Even the birds are nervous.)'"

Rubio won't back down on taxes for Pruitt

Senate President Ken Pruitt has said the Senate does not want to wrangle again over property taxes. But that will not stop House Speaker Marco Rubio from trying.

“I understand if they don’t want to hear it ...  it won’t happen,” Rubio said today in an interview with the St. Petersburg Times editorial board. "But we have to at least be able to say we tried, that we recognized the circumstances our state is facing economically, that we understand the challenges and the opportunities that we have and we did everything we could in our time there to make those things happen.

"Ultimately if the Senate doesn't want to do it, we’re not going to be angry. We have to accept that's how a bicameral process works. But I can’t allow those pronouncements to be what sets our agenda."

Rubio: Evolution battle "will go on"

From our sister blog, The Gradebook:

So maybe it's not over. House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami, who is often described as a likely future governor, told the Florida Baptist Witness in this story yesterday that the evolution battle "will go on for quite some time" and that the House "may have sufficient votes" to act on an academic freedom proposal being pushed by religious conservatives.

Click here to read more.

Rubio: Castro resignation a 'joke'

Marco Rubio, the first Cuban-American to become speaker of the House, does not share the celebratory feeling over the news from Cuba. It only "confirms that Fidel Castro is increasingly senile and out of touch with reality."

"It's a joke. This is a complete joke, guys. He's not the president of Cuba. When was he elected?" Rubio told reporters. "He has nothing to resign because he's a dictator. ... What he's done is he resigns so people can say 'Oh look in Cuba they actually have a legitimate system of government.' "

He continued, "The only news in Cuba that will ever matter is the day that they announce they are having free democratic elections."

Audio here.

University leaders seek $1-billion more

UPDATE: The university presidents and Chancellor Mark Rosenberg made an appeal for $200-million in additional funding for five years, with some coming from tuition increases but most from the state -- a real challenge given the current state of budget affairs.

The group also pitched an "accord" with the state to demonstrate the benefits (i.e., a certain level of graduates) of more funding. About the time the accord is delivered, in mid March, the Legislature will be, as Rep. Joe Pickens aptly stated, "mired in a budget crisis."

(original post below)

Rubio, the philosopher, takes last stab at taxes

A year ago, House Speaker Marco Rubio was launching an ambitious sales tax swap to eliminate property taxes on primary homes. It died, and a watered down Amendment 1 made it on the ballot.

But Rubio, beginning his eighth and final year in the House, is not giving up. The sales tax swap has given way to plans to cap all property taxes at 1.35 percent and a strict limit on government revenue and spending. Rubio likes them both but deemed the total cap, tied to inflation and population growth, a more "comprehensive" approach.

"Even as fiscally responsible as we thought we were being, we allowed state government to grow faster than the ability of our economy to sustain it. We are now paying the price for that. So we need to put in place some limitation that in the future will prevent us from doing the same."

Rubio disclosed that House staff has been working on the concept with the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which took it up earlier this week. "If they can't get it done, then we're going to try."

Rubio also exploring revenue and spending cap

House Speaker Marco Rubio is pursuing legislation similar to the revenue and spending cap considered this afternoon by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

"Speaker Rubio is a strong ally," said Adam Guillette, Florida director of Americans For Prosperity, a group that worked with TBRC Commissioner Mike Hogan. Guillette said he had planned to meet again with Rubio tomorrow but is putting it off until later in the week or next week.

Charlie and Marco celebrate, SUS not so much

Gov. Charlie Crist and House Speaker Marco Rubio were celebrating this morning, announcing a new $80-million genomics institute at the private, $30,000-a-year University of Miami, where Rubio earned his law degree.

Not celebrating are state university system officials who are about to see their budget fall by a collective $150-million or so this year and even more the next.

The state is supplying UM with the $80-million through an incentive fund Jeb Bush created for the likes of Scripps. Officials say the UM project is an economic development tool that will generate 1,274 jobs and "$3.2-billion in gross state product" over 20 years. The cash comes from the same pot being used to lure to Florida, with a $60-million gift, a public university in Oregon.

Oregon Health & Science university will open a vaccine research institute in Port St. Lucie, which perhaps not coincidentally is the district of Senate President Ken Pruitt. They say they will hire all new staff, not bring people from Oregon.

Rubio and Crist lawyers spar over gambling

House Speaker Marco Rubio's attorney told the Florida Supreme Court Wednesday that Gov. Charlie Crist went "over the line" and exceeded his authority in allowing the Seminole Tribe of Florida to operate casino gambling without legislative approval.

Lawyers for Crist and the tribe countered that the governor had the right to enter into a deal with the Indians, and that lawmakers had 16 years to pass a law requiring legislative approval -- but didn't.

The justices sharply questioned both sides, pointedly challenging their claims, in a full hour of argument in a case that represents a major test of a governor's power to enter into contracts.

Rubio's attorney, former House Speaker Jon Mills, said Crist made a "dramatic and historic change in gambling policy and public policy in Florida" in dealing with the tribe, and that the legislature was wrongly
excluded.

Rubio discloses fundraising efforts

House Speaker Marco Rubio, who was told earlier by a House lawyer that he did not have to disclose names of people who have contributed to his fundraising concerns, released the list this morning.

Most of the money is for Floridians for Property Tax Reform, one of the groups pushing the 1.35 percent tax cap. He got $175,000 from Norman Braman, a Miami car dealer who owned the Philadelphia Eagles, $100,000 from the Florida Association of Realtors, and $50,000 from private prison operator The Geo Group.

Greer loves that Democratic boycott

Delegates are an insider issue, but everybody understands a "slap in the face" like a boycott, state GOP chairman Jim Greer said in a taped "Political Connections" interview: "What I think is going to have a residual benefit to the Republican nominee and the Republican party for years to come is the fact that Democrats running for the highest office in the land, the presidency, signed a pledge that they would not come to Florida and talk about the issues that are important to voters in this state,’’ Greer said in a taped "Political Connections interview to air Sunday on Bay News 9. "Our founding fathers would roll over in the graves if they had ever heard of such a thing."

Tampa Bay political junkies get one-hour! of Political Connections Sunday on Bay News 9 at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Also on the show: State Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman, state House Speaker Marco Rubio, and Sen. John McCain.

Crist snubbing Giuliani?

That's what we wondered when we saw that Charlie Crist had cancelled longstanding plans to appear at the Orange County Lincoln Day dinner featuring Rudy Giuliani Saturday to attend instead the Pinellas Lincoln dinner featuring John McCain (and Marco Rubio).

"I hope that's why, but I don't think so,'' said Orange County GOP chairman Lew Oliver, who is McCain's regional chairman. More likely, Oliver said, Crist simply wanted to ramp up attendance in his home county's Lincoln Day dinner. Hmmm. Or maybe Crist wanted to keep an eye on Rubio in his backyard.

Huckabee's mysterious Tally stop

Gov. Mike Huckabee said in a speech on Wednesday that he had just gotten in from Tallahassee. Huckabee touted later that he met with lawmakers.

UPDATE: A meeting with lawmakers was supposed to be organized by House Speaker Marco Rubio, but Rubio said through his spokeswoman that "the timing was such that they were unable to set up a meeting on such short notice," according to the Speaker's press spokeswoman Jill Chamberlin.

Yet, when asked for clarification of the Tallahassee meeting on Wednesday night, Huckabee said that he met with lawmakers and made phone calls.

When asked if he had met with Gov. Charlie Crist, Huckabee answered, "I wish I did, but I didn't."

On talk radio, Rubio disses Amendment 1 again

House Speaker Marco Rubio appeared on talk radio in Tallahassee Friday morning to discuss his interest in looking at possible consolidations or eliminations of state agencies or departments to reduce duplication and save money. That's a highly controversial subject in Tallahassee, the seat of state government.

On Preston Scott's morning show on WFLA-100.7, Rubio reiterated his lack of enthusiasm for the property tax Amendment 1 on the Jan. 29 ballot that Gov. Charlie Crist has been eagerly stumping to get passed. "I'm going to vote for it," Rubio said, "but I feel uncomfortable supporting it because I don't think it's going to do enough. I do not believe that an annual savings or $220 or $240 is going to stimulate our economy. The problem of property taxes in Florida remains unresolved."

Know any good strippers?

Okay, so it's just coincidence.

But the odd juxtaposition was too good to pass up. Photo taken on SW 8th Street near West Miami.

Rubio eyes leaner gov't amid budget gloom

House Speaker Marco Rubio hadn't had a chance to fully review Gov. Crist's proposed education budget, but he told the Buzz earlier today that, "Obviously they are suggestions but they are something we will take very seriously."

But Rubio knows that increased spending is tough to imagine in the current budget climate. Where some seem doom and gloom, the faithful conservative sees opportunity.

"There’s no doubt this is a year of tough decisions. And I hope we will make the tough decisions this year. Because that's how we can capitalize on the future. We need to get government back to where it needs to be, get back to having a government that’s the proper size based on what people can afford. If we do the right things this year, then we’ll be set up for success."

A Senate dancer partner Rubio would die for

House Speaker Marco Rubio's proposal to swap property taxes on primary homes for higher sales tax went down in flames last year after the Senate rebuffed the idea as a tax hike.

But in Indiana, the two legislative chambers may be headed toward agreement that would make it the first state to adopt such an idea (subject to voter approval). Check out this story from the Indy Star.

"It looks like this is getting legs and picking up steam," said Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, one of two authors of the amendment. "The people of this state have a pretty decent chance of seeing their homestead property taxes disappear."

Rubio sets sights on condos

House Speaker Marco Rubio has created a special committee to make recommendations on laws governing condo and homeowners associations. Read the memo.

The panel will hold meetings across the state and submit a report for the upcoming session.

Budget crunch forces new committee week

House Speaker Marco Rubio just announced another round of council meetings, for the week of Feb. 11, to deal with the "deteriorating" budget.

"As Chairman Sansom has explained to us all, the budget situation is deteriorating; it is therefore critical that we begin to take serious steps to reduce the recurring expenditures," he wrote to members. "Therefore, I am allocating a full day for each council to meet to work through their recommendations for initial budget reductions for consideration by the entire House during the first week of the Regular Session.  It is my hope that these cuts will establish a sound base from which we will need to further adjust state expenditures as we develop the 2009 fiscal budget in the General Appropriations Act."

Rubio joins anti-slots campaign in Miami

House Speaker Marco Rubio said he plans to help campaign against the slots machine measure on the Miami-Dade ballot, though he has yet to speak with the anti-campaign that was formally announced in Miami Wednesday.

"I'll be as aggressive as I can be," said Rubio, adding he thinks the anti-campaign, "is right on the issue."

-- Joni James

Will Rubio join the anti-slots fight in Miami?

A group calling itself No Casinos Miami has formed to fight the gambling proposal on the Jan. 29 ballot in Miami-Dade. A formal announcement will come Wednesday. The coalition describes itself as "a left-right bipartisan group that includes animal protection groups, Christian conservative groups and anti-gambling advocacy organizations."

Spokesman Doug Hurd told the Buzz the group has reached out to House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami. Rubio's anti-gambling views are well known and are at the center of a struggle with Gov. Charlie Crist over the Seminole tribe compact. But will Rubio sign on? His friend state Rep. David Rivera is helping lead the effort to pass the initiative, which asks voters to authorize Las Vegas-style slots at pari-mutuels.

Brace yourself for politics in 08

"If you like craziness with your politics, you're probably going to like Florida more than ever in 2008. Round 1 is the property tax vote on Jan. 29. It comes in tandem with the early-bird presidential primary that Democratic candidates are boycotting. They act as if our 27 crucial electoral votes were some dreaded disease.

"As for an election on Jan. 29, when was the last time you voted during Super Bowl Week? While New Yorkers Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani look toward Florida as a fire wall against setbacks in Iowa and New Hampshire, the tax vote will pit populist Gov. Charlie Crist against a dangerous coalition of firefighters, teachers and others with Democratic Party ties."

More from Steve Bousquet here.

Diaz de la Portilla helping Huckabee

Along with Marco Rubio and David Rivera, Miami state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla is hosting the 12/26 $200-per-person Mike Huckabee fundraiser at the Miami home of Carlos and Michelle Pastor.

Rubio stumps for tax plan in St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG -– Among 20 supporters gathered in front of City Hall Wednesday, House Speaker Marco Rubio received the rock star treatment. Handshakes, hugs and impassioned thank yous.

Standing next to a tax-cut crusader, Rubio announced his support of citizen petition to amend the state Constitution and cap property taxes at 1.35 percent of a home’s value. Organizers say they already have 20,000 signatures. (They need 611,000 to make the ballot.)

“One in five Floridians is looking to leave Florida because of the affordability issue,” Rubio said. “They’re not leaving because their mortgages are bad ... but because the government is forcing them out of their homes because of property taxes.”

At the end, David McKalip, a St. Petersburg neurosurgeon leading the local group Cut Taxes Now, held out a petition for Rubio to sign. “There you go,” Rubio said. “Now you’ve got 20,000 and 1.”

Rubio hits the road, and Crist is cool with that

House Speaker Marco Rubio should be in mid-speech right now in Sarasota, the first stop on a tour to promote the 1.35 percent tax cap plan. This afternoon he goes to St. Petersburg (we'll have more on that later) then heads to Panama City. He's in Brooksville tomorrow.

Could the appearances, and any news attention that follows, hurt passage of the Legislature/Charlie Crist proposal on Jan. 29? Voters are already somewhat puzzled by many plans and numbers that have been tossed about in the past year.

Crist says he's not worried, and that he appreciates Rubio's effort (we trust he's being sincere when he tells us that). "Every effort we can put forward is good. I applaud it," the governor said last night. "The one the Legislature passed will be the only one Jan. 29. I look forward to more thereafter and I look forward to helping."

How to move Rubio's 100 Ideas

For months, a stack of Marco Rubio's 100 Innovative Ideas sat in the gift shop at the State Capitol. "I couldn't give them away," shopworker Gilda Morris said.

So last Thursday Morris tapped the buyers' psyche. She put up a big sign that read "free" and placed the books in a more prominent spot. By Friday, they were gone. We wonder if Gov. Crist put a few under his tree.

Feeling left out? You can still get one on Amazon. But not for free.

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.)

Rubio's tax roadshow

UPDATE: A "Declaration Rally" is set for Dec. 17 at Miami-Dade County Auditorium.

The dates have changed, but Marco Rubio is still getting on the road to promote the 1.35 percent tax cap.

The Republican House Speaker from Miami will appear at a news conference 2 p.m. Wednesday outside City Hall in St. Petersburg. A stop earlier in the day is slated for Sarasota, followed by an appearance in Brooksville on Thursday. Still to be scheduled are events in Panama City and Miami Dade. (The original plan was for Rubio to make the rounds this Saturday.)

Cut Property Taxes Now, the citizen group behind the plan, is scrambling to collect more than 611,000 signatures by the end of January to make the Nov. 2008 ballot -- a feat even Rubio concedes is unlikely. Hey, there's always 2010.

Rubio endorses Huckabee in Miami

Dec. 10 - 10:08 am: As expected, House Speaker Marco Rubio endorsed Mike Huckabee this morning in Miami. So did state Rep. David Rivera.

"Mike Huckabee gives conservatives the best chance at the presidency," Rubio told the Buzz. "It's a combination of conservatism and common sense." Rubio and state Sen. Dan Webster will serve as state co-chairs for the campaign.

Dec. 9 - 5:09 pm: The rumor the Buzz heard earlier about Marco Rubio endorsing Mike Huckabee is true. The two met for an hour today at the Courtyard Marriott in Miami, before the Univision debate. Tomorrow morning, the House Speaker will express support for the once-longshot GOP presidential candidate.

The move underscores Huckabee's ascendancy and Fred Thompson's fall as the conservative choice in Florida. Rubio had been courted by Thompson but never pulled the trigger.

Rubio v. Crist delayed

You'll have to wait a bit longer for the legal showdown between Gov. Charlie Crist and House Speaker Marco Rubio over the gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe. The Florida Supreme Court today moved oral arguments to Jan. 30 from Dec. 12.

Rubio spokeswoman Jill Chamberlin sought to dispel any talk that the schedule change was a defeat for Rubio. "Moving the date for oral arguments to January gives the court time to review deliberately this important case," she said. "The date change has no bearing on how the court will resolve the case. Regardless of what the Dept. of Interior does, our state Supreme Court has the ultimate authority to determine whether the governor validly bound the State to the compact."

Marco and Huckabee?

At Presidency IV the rumors flew fast and furious that Marco Rubio was about to endorse Fred Thompson. Didn't happen. As the Univision debate in Miami looms, the rumors are flying that the House Speaker  is about to endorse Mike Huckabee, who has reached out to him recently. We haven't reached Rubio yet, but his pal David Rivera, also officially neutral for now, said he hasn't heard of any pending endorsement from Rubio.

Reporter's notebook: Rubio vs. Crist

It's been pitched as both a battle for the soul of the Republican Party and a desperate attempt by a state lawmaker to stay relevant. Whatever the case, the rift between House Speaker Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist is the talk of Tallahassee. Here are more thoughts:

"Our conservative compass seems to be lost," said Rep. Frank Attkisson, R-Kissimmee, who supported Tom Gallagher in the GOP primary. "I think (Rubio) has treaded water as long as he can. I think you see him saying 'Where in the world is the conservative? Is there an empty suit in the governor's office.?' "

"The volume has been turned up but I'm not sure it really has had any impact," said Rep. Jack Seiler, D-Wilton Manors. "I think (Rubio) is trying to position himself as the heir-apparent to Jeb Bush but I don't know if that's a recipe for success right now. ... The governor is popular and remains popular."

Smiles no more: Rubio-Crist battle heats up

House Speaker Marco Rubio is the only powerful politician in Florida consistently challenging Crist's middle-of-the-road, let's-all-get-along agenda.

By his words and actions, Rubio, 36, makes it clear that he believes that he - not Crist - is the true Republican. That is stirring talk about the Miami lawmaker's political motivations beyond 2008, when term limits force him from the Legislature. (Story here.)

Rubio will campaign for property tax plan

Backers of the 1.35% property tax plan already landed Marco Rubio's endorsement. Now they are putting him to work.

Rubio is scheduled to make a four-city fly-around Dec. 15. It would start in St. Pete then go to Orlando and somewhere in the Panhandle before ending in Miami. The date may change, organizer David McKalip told the Buzz, but Rubio is committed to helping garner support -- and signatures -- for the petition drive.

Rubio heads to Aspen

UPDATE 11/29: We learn today that Rubio is not going after all, due to family reasons.

Fresh off a Disney cruise with his family, House Speaker Marco Rubio is heading this week to Aspen, Colo., for a meeting at the Aspen Institute. Rubio was named this month as a Aspen-Rodel Fellow, a group of "true rising stars" of American politics.

According the Web site, the program brings leaders together "to discuss broad issues of democratic governance and effective public service."

Among those joining Rubio: Mike Bishop, majority leader, Michigan State Senate; Rachel Kaprielian, assistant majority leader, Massachusetts House of Representatives; and Lawrence Wasden, attorney general, Idaho.

Gulfstream wants in on Rubio's gambling suit

Gulfstream Park wants to join House Speaker Marco Rubio's lawsuit against Gov. Charlie Crist over the Seminole gambling c