Gov. Rick Scott continues to have a busy first month in office. He touched base with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in a telephone call on Friday before heading off to Orlando to speak to the Florida Realtors Forum in Orlando. Earlier in the week, he met with golf legend Jack Nicklaus
Orlando saw more than its share of Florida Republican leaders on Friday. Besides Scott, U.S. Rep. John Mica spoke in Orlando, addressing the joint meeting held by TEAMFL and the Florida Transportation Commission. Mica, the chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, spoke on what his committee plans to tackle in the next two years Staying in Orlando, Mayor Buddy Dyer filed paperwork last week to run for re-election in 2012
U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, who is being mentioned as a possible candidate to jump into what could be a crowded Republican primary field to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, had a busy week. Besides voting for the health care repeal, Rooney pushed bills dealing with mental health services for veterans and active duty military personnel and one mandating military tribunals for prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay Another possible GOP hopeful for the U.S. Senate, Congressman Connie Mack, is taking aim at the Davis-Bacon Act, arguing that changing that labor law, which requires the federal government to pay the prevailing wage on work projects, can save more than $1 billion annually The Polk County Commission unanimously voted to make Jim Freeman, who was serving in an interim capacity, its county manager last week. Freeman, who has worked for Polk County for more than two decades, beat out four other candidates
Attorney General Pam Bondi Thursday named Richard Lawson as the Economic Crimes Director of her team. While Lawson was plucked from Gardner Brewer Martinez-Monfort, he also handled economic crimes for Hillsborough Countys State Attorney Freshman Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, joined with Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey to file a bill increasing penalties for public servants convicted of using their offices for criminal activities. Berman has had something of a busy month so far, opening her new office and filing a bill giving businesses tax credits if they hire Floridians in temporary housing Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, has a new staffer. Anne Bell, who worked for Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam when he was in Congress, joined the Dockery team last week
Despite losing his seat to Republican Dan Webster in November, former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson shows no signs of going away. In a message sent out to supporters Thursday, Grayson railed against the new Republican majority in the U.S. House, calling its leadership callous sellouts for looking to repeal the health care law Florida Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan held a town hall event in West Bradenton Saturday, where he focused on the states continuing unemployment problems While there was speculation that newly inaugurated U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio would give the Republican response to President Barack Obamas State of the Union address Tuesday, the honor fell to Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859
