Nobody has ever accused me of being disrespectful of people of faith. Any faith. Im on the lunatic fringe of respect and tolerance for belief systems ranging from Anglicanism to Zoroastrianism.
I have long been puzzled by the enthusiasm with which many young liberal bloggers cheer on proposals to raise tax rates on high earners. I can understand why they might favor them, but not why they seem to invest so much psychic energy in the issue.
Sen. Marco Rubio and six Florida congressmen -- all Republicans -- earned top scores from the conservative Club for Growth for their votes on key issues last year.
Rubio's 97 percent score ranked him 10th in the Senate and garnered a "Defender of Economic Freedom Award." Other senators receiving the award were Pat Toomey, R-Pa.; Dan Coats, R-Ind.; Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; Jon Kyl, R-Ariz; and Jim Inhofe, R-Okla.
Five senators boasted perfect scores in 2011: Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; Tom Coburn, R-Okla.; Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; and Mike Lee, R-Utah.
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR
March 1, 2012
Pull out the streamers and raise the pita Its an exciting day in the world of Sunshine State News: March 1, 2012, marks our second anniversary delivering Floridas political news and insight to all of our dedicated readers. Thanks to so many of you who have written, phoned and emailed to give us your feedback and tell us you like what were doing!
With Mitt Romney winning primaries in Michigan and Arizona on Tuesday night, the race for the Republican presidential nomination shifted to states that hold contests in the days to come -- including the 10 primaries and caucuses held on Super Tuesday next week.
Jackie Fulford, the judge who ruled unconstitutional the prison privatization measure approved by the Legislature last year and is now deciding whether state employees can be forced to contribute to their retirement, stirs strong feelings in Florida legal and political circles.
To some she's a hard-working judge who keeps politics out of her opinions.
To others, though, -- such as Senate President Mike Haridopolos and Gov. Rick Scott -- her privatization ruling was an example of overreach by Florida's judiciary.
Newly approved Senate district maps came under fire at the Florida Supreme Court Wednesday as critics sought to overturn the Legislature's reappointment plans.
Attorneys representing the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, the National Council of LaRaza and the city of Lakeland argued that the Senate maps violated the voter-approved Fair Districts amendments to the state Constitution.
Paul Smith called the Senate lines "clear violations" that favor incumbents and "build in significant advantages for the Republican Party."
Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts eked out a close win in Michigan over former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, but romped to victory in the Arizona Republican primary.
Great victory in Arizona tonight, Romney said before thanking a cheering crowd in Michigan for his win in the Great Lakes State. We didnt win by a lot but we won by enough, and thats all that matters."
The Florida Supreme Court hears oral arguments Wednesday morning in what could be a landmark redistricting case, after a series of shifting coalitions triggered a week and half of topsy-turvy decisions.
Justices are preparing to hear a redistricting case for the first time since voters adopted the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts amendments in November 2010. So far, the court has seemed divided on when and whether to accept motions beyond an initial filing deadline -- and how deep the justices have to pore over the result of the once-a-decade process.
