U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate, is getting ready for Gov. Charlie Crists big political announcement tomorrow.

Meek will be holding a media event in Washington right at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow to respond to Crists announcement. Speculation continues to grow that Crist will announce he will leave the Republican Party and continue his Senate campaign as an independent.

When Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, was asked about the amendment she filed and then withdrew on the House floor today that would impose a five-cent tax increase on each gallon of gas, she said that every war in American history required tax increases, and that the nation is currently in a two-front war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

She also said the measure would raise more than $490 million and would cost the average Floridian $29 a year. Under her amendment, the funds raised would go to veterans benefits, transportation throughout the state and energy programs.

In one of the more surreal moments of the House session, Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf and Ramblin Man by the Allman Brothers kicked in and a customized Harley motorcycle was wheeled on the floor.

The chopper was a prop for House members, led by Ron Reagan, to give a bunch of gifts to Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, including two cycle jackets and a helmet signed by every member of the House. They also gave him a license plate. Speaker Cretul is a long time biker who owns his own customized cycle.

While leaders in the Legislature are crowing over their success in crafting together a budget that does not raises taxes, one member of the House came out in favor of raising taxes today. Calling her measure a no free lunch effort, Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, attempted to amend a bill providing assistance to National Guard members by adding a 5 cent tax on gasoline to fund veterans assistance programs and transportation and energy projects.

The Senate has voted out Gov. Charlie Crist's nominees, and Crist is none too happy about it. Here's his message to the lawmakers:

Rallying around concerns that Gov. Charlie Crist's nominees were neither professionally qualifiied nor diverse enough, senators refused to confirm Ben Stevens and David Klement for seats on the Florida Public Service Commission, the state agency charged with regulating utilities.

Senators voted 21-17 against Klement, former editorial page editor of the Bradenton Herald, and 23-14 against Stevens, past president of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Despite his prominent opposition to two redistricting amendments on the November ballot sponsored by Fair Districts Florida, Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, won reelection as chairman of the Florida Black Legislative Caucus.

It is an honor to continue to lead this esteemed Caucus as it proceeds to advocate on behalf of the African American communities all over this State, said Siplin.

Members of the House now have copies of the $70.378 billion budget sitting on their desks. The 72-hour cooling-off period started at 2:59 p.m., with copies of the budget on the desks of all members of the Legislature, the governor, the chief justice and all members of the Cabinet. The final vote will be Friday.

While there have been some representatives who took time out in their farewell remarks to offer thanks to former House Speaker Ray Sansom, Baxter Troutman went above and beyond that. Sansom resigned in disgrace in early 2009. Besides offering prayers and thoughts for Sansom, even saying that his heart was broken, Troutman said Sansom was the victim of a needless Salem witch hunt. Sansom is currently facing theft and conspiracy charges.

Is Jacksonville in play in the U.S. Senate election? U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the leading Democratic candidate, seems to think so. Meek is in Jacksonville tonight to complete his paperwork to qualify for the election. Meek, the first candidate for statewide office to make the ballot by petition, will be hosting an event tonight in Firefighters Local 122 Hall tonight.