Crist names LeMieux to Senate

GOP Gov. Charlie Crist on Friday named former aide George LeMieux to fill the seat of outgoing GOP Sen. Mel Martinez.

LeMieux, a longtime Republican insider in the state, has served as chairman of the Broward County Republican Party, deputy state attorney general and campaign manager for Crist’s 2006 run for governor. He ran unsuccessfully for the state House in 1998.

Read more…

Officials: Florida more prepared for disasters than ever before

Florida is more ready for a hurricane and other disasters than ever before, Gov. Charlie Crist and top emergency-management officers said Wednesday.

More:

Officials: Florida more prepared for disasters than ever before

Opposition squares off on growth amendment

City and county governments have treated growth-management plan changes “like Halloween candy” for developers and voters need a “veto,” the head of a controversial constitutional-amendment campaign said Thursday.
Read more…

Orange County GOP Leaders Could Lose Posts

ORLANDO, Fla. — The head of the Republican Party of Florida will soon decide whether political consultant Doug Guetzloe and sometime-ally Nick Egoroff should be purged from their Orange County party leadership posts because of disloyalty.

The RPOF’s grievance committee met Friday at the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee to vote on whether allegations of dirty tricks and party subversion were enough to banish Guetzloe and Egoroff from their party posts. Both were reelected Republican precinct committeemen in 2008.

Read More…

Four House Republicans ask for investigation into Sink’s use of state planes

A group of four House Republicans Chris Dorworth of Lake Mary, Steve Crisafulli of Merritt Island, Mike Horner of Kissimmee and Matt Hudson of Naples is asking state CFO Alex Sink to call an independent investigation of her use of the state plane.

Sink has ordered her office to conduct a thorough and immediate review into whether she misused the state plane to pick up and drop off family members. Sink reimbursed the state for the cost of those flights before questions were raised. But the lawmakers say the review might not be good enough. In this letter, they cite a story in which Sink reacts to a Miami Herald investigation of financier Allen Stanford, who struck a deal with state regulators to sell investments and move vast amounts of money offshore without government oversight.

Sink said the Office of Regulation should not investigate itself and the lawmakers are asking Sink to apply the same criteria to her office. If its good for the goose, it should be good for the gander, Dorworth said in an interview.
Continue here:
Four House Republicans ask for investigation into Sink’s use of state planes

Statement on Governor Sarah Palin

Tallahassee - Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer released the following statement today regarding Alaska Governor Sarah Palins decision to not to seek re-election and to resign her position as Governor. On behalf of the Republican Party of Florida and Republicans across the state, I would like to thank Governor Palin for her service to our Party. She worked tirelessly to defend Republican principles throughout her service in state and local government and demonstrated tremendous courage as a historic candidate on the Republican presidential ticket in 2008. We respect her decision and wish Governor Palin and her family the very best as she moves forward.

More:
Statement on Governor Sarah Palin

The K Street gang invades Tallahassee

Campaign like Lions, Vote like Sheep

One day our local Legislators will look back at the 2009 legislative sessions and realize when offered good advice to take it. Although this may come as a shock, the world does not revolve around Tallahassee.

All the rabbits have been pulled from the hat in the state budget. None are left. Next year – the election year – you will have to make the severe cuts. Re-read Machiavelli, do the worst – first. Cut in 2009 so that a break-even 2010 looks good. Assuming the state were even in a break even position next year.
Read more

State Senate and Judiciary Clobber Clerk’s Offices

Political, not Fiscal, Policy Drives 16% Cuts to Clerk’s Offices

The State Senate and the Florida Supreme Court, with the acquiescence of the Florida House, moved to make major cuts in the funding of local Clerk’s Offices during the final days of the Legislative session. In late February, well after the normal filing of bills for the Legislative Session had been completed, certain Legislators in ‘leadership’ positions late filed bills designed to remove the Clerk’s courts employees from the Clerk of Courts to the Judiciary. Along with the employees, current court fees and fines which now fund the Clerks would be diverted to the State to fund the Judiciary and the State general fund.
Read more

Why oppose SB 956?

Why is SB956 dangerous?
SB956 for the most part is a good bill. However, there are aspects of the bill that are dangerous. I do not oppose the passage of the bill. I am not calling on our officials to defeat it. I oppose passage of the bill with the language in it that harms the Republican Party. Therefore, I call on our elected leaders to amend it to reflect the concerns addressed below. Further, I am asking all State Party Officials to take action and lead the way in this process.

I have put forward an explanation below:
Read more

Senate Bill 956 – The “Cleansing” Begins

SB 956 to be read before Senate today; language to allow top down party control remains.

In spite of RPOF Chairman Greer’s promises to make the party more inclusive during the last round of RPOF elections, Senate Bill 956, which contains language that would “pack” the state parties with appointees chosen by party leadership, was filed on January 26th by Senator JD Alexander and introduced into committee on March 26th. The bill passed out of committee on April 16th, 2009, and is scheduled for a reading before the Senate today.
Read more

Next Page »