Gov. Charlie Crist had harsh words for the Republican-controlled Legislature in the media event a few moments ago where he announced his veto of teacher performance pay. Crist said he vetoed the bill due to its impact on special education, its encroachment on local control and the way legislators sped the measure through committee without including the input of teachers, students and parents.

Reaction is pouring in from both sides after Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed the teacher performance pay measure. Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, the chief sponosor of the legislation, said, "It goes without saying that I am disappointed this legislation has been vetoed by Gov. Crist, and I continue to think that one day it will be fully implemented in our state.

Gov. Charlie Crist announced in a press conference that he vetoed a controversial bill authorizing teacher performance pay, a decision that could imperil his standing with the Republican Party. The bill, proposed in the Senate by Republican Party of Florida Chairman John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, has drawn massive oppposition from teachers' unions and drawn national attention. Lawmakers and everyone else have been waiting on tenterhooks since the bill arrived on the governor's desk last week.

The Senate approved a long-awaited gaming compact Thursday that expands gaming rights at Seminole casinos and nets at least $1 billion for the state. Senators voted 29-9 in favor of the compact, moving it quickly past the floor. The compact still needs to pass the House and be signed by the governor to be passed into law.

The House Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning met Thursday to tackle redistricting at both the congressional and state levels. It also released its My Florida Census site, which will help the federal government count as many residents of the state as possible. We found 18 streets in Osceola County that the census did not account for, said Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. The areas of concern are areas of new construction.

Glad we're getting down to business. Senators started session at least 20 minutes late this morning and spent 5 minutes regaling allwith tales from their softball game last night. Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Delray Beach, is apparently quite the baserunner. "He reminded me of the days of Bob Hayes," said Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee. And Senators broiught their professional competitiveness to the field "Sen. Negron taught us what it's like to not hit a homerun," Lawson said.

Pamela Cothran Marsh has been nominated by President Barack Obama to be the new U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida, replacing Thomas Kirwin. Marsh is currently Of Counsel for Akerman Senterfit, a national law firm with 15 offices, including seven in Florida. From 1999 to 2006, Marsh served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Tampa Division for the Middle District of Florida. Previously, she was an associate at Annis, Mitchell, Cockey, Edwards & Rohen.

The lobby of the Capitol has been draped in childrens artwork as Florida celebrates Childrens Week. Some of it apparently strayed over toward the governors office. Next to the portrait of Lawton Chiles, therewas a pair of hands, cut out and colored. Written on them was, These hands are for Gov. Chiles + Debbie Withers. Having focused on education and childrens programs like Florida Healthy Start during his two terms in office, it was a fitting tribute to Chiles, one of the truly legendary figures in Florida politics.

The Governors Inn, a historic hotel in downtown Tallahassee, held a re-opening tonight and honored four living former governors by naming rooms after them. With Gov. Charlie Crist and former Gov. Bob Martinez in attendance, the inn unveiled rooms in honor of Martinez, Reubin Askew, Bob Graham and Claude Kirk. This was a home away from home, said Martinez, as he reflected on his years as mayor of Tampa and his many trips coming to Tallahassee since 1993, when his service in George H. W. Bushs administration ended.

Tomorrow, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum will make the first series of recommendations regarding his economic and job creation agenda for Florida. Entitled Real Solutions. New Jobs: A Roadmap for Floridas Future," the annoucement will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the University of Tampa. The event is open to the media, so anyone with credentials can feel free to pop in and get the details live.

Despite the concern of several lawmakers, the Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committe confirmed Wednesdaytwo new members of the FloridaPublic Service Commission, the quasi-judicial body that regulates stateutilities.

So, how are you feeling about your federal income tax bill this year? The White House says things are looking up. The administration credits its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for increasing the average tax refund by "nearly 10 percent." By the numbers, the White House reported:

Naples businessman Rick Scott, best know for leading Conservatives for Patients' Rights, declared his candidacy for governor this afternoon. Scott will be running as a Republican despite the fact that Attorney General Bill McCollum and Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, are already in the race.

Today often-left-behind St. Lucie County wasn't. U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla. announced St. Lucie won a competitive $286,298 grant for Indian River and St. Lucie habitat conservation planning from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "This grant will give some relief to local taxpayers and landowners by providing federal funds to support conservation efforts," Rooney said. "This funding will help identify areas of need and find potential habitats for some of Florida's threatened and endangered species."

The proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting could be getting some company. GOP Senate leaders have directed staffers to draft an alternative proposal to the Fair Districts amendment on the November ballot. Advocates for Fair Districts contend that the party in power -- currently the Republicans -- distort the redistricting process for partisan gain. The group wants to apply more objective standards to maintain community integrity and improve representation.