After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton
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November 1, 2019 - 6:00am
Politics
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By Kevin Derby
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who moved to Florida last year, reaffirmed his commitment to life on Monday as speculation continues to grow that he will take another shot at the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.
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Tea partiers in Eustis were ecstatic about Gov. Rick Scott's lean and mean budget.
The Florida Progressive Coalition, not so much.
"Governor Scott's budget proposal is disappointing to say the least.What he's trying to do here is shift the costs of government from those who can afford it -- the wealthy and corporations -- to those who can least afford it. Cutting jobs, slashing education funding and reducing state employee compensation is no way to improve the state," said FPC leader Kenneth Quinnell.
By Nancy Smith
Appearing on CNN News Tuesday morning, Gov. Rick Scott described his "jobs budget" to a national audience. It's a budget, he said, that calls for more than $5 billion in spending cuts and returns $2 billion to taxpayers.
For Floridians who paid attention to Monday's budget unveiling at a tea party event in Eustis, the governor didn't say much new.
CNN News anchor C.J. Holmes pressed Scott on the dichotomy of a governor calling himself a "jobs governor" yet slashing 8,700 jobs from the state payroll.
By Kevin Derby
The leaders of the Florida Senate and House weighed in on Monday after Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his $65.8 billion proposed budget in Eustis.
The GOP leadership that controls both houses praised their fellow Republicans proposed budget -- which is $5 billion less than the one the Legislature passed the year before under Gov. Charlie Crist -- for cutting back on state spending and not raising taxes.
By Kevin Derby
Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his budget Monday at a tea party event in Eustis, touting his $65.8 billion budget proposal as a "jobs budget."
Here are some of Scott's prepared remarks:
"When I ran for governor, I offered Floridians a specific, detailed plan -- seven steps to 700,000 jobs in seven years.
By Kevin Derby
Rich Lowry over at National Review has a piece up calling for former Gov. Jeb Bush to enter the 2012 presidential race. Lowry lists out eight reasons why Bush should run in 2012 and 2016 which seems to be the former governors plan.
By Kevin Derby
David Drucker over at Roll Call has an interesting political tidbit -- U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will be sitting outof the Republican presidential primary and will not back any of the leading potential candidates. According to Druckers article, Rubio, who backed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2008, will wait to endorse any of the candidates.
By Kevin Derby
Bob Riley 2012?
Charles Dean from the Birmingham News reports the former Alabama governor is kicking over throwing his name in the hat for what is shaping up to be a crowded battle for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012 -- and a familiar face from Florida is encouraging him to jump in.
One important opinion leader and player on the national political stage encouraging Riley to run is Joe Scarborough, noted Dean in the article. More below:
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E-mail advisories from tea party and 9/12 groups say protesters are expected at Gov. Rick Scott's budget unveiling in Eustis on Monday.
"Protest groups have already contacted the city asking where they will be allowed," one e-mail stated. "It would be good to remind folks that we should not engage them, and let's have plenty of our own signs."
Describing the security measures in place at the First Baptist Church, where Scott is scheduled to speak at 1:30 p.m., a 9/12 organizer explained:
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