After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

Wondering what's become of former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez? JP Morgan Chase and Co. has hired him as chairman for Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is urging the Legislatures presiding officers to pass measures authorizing tax relief and other financial aid for businesses and individuals affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Gov. Charlie Crist has said that the special session, scheduled from Tuesday of next week to Friday, willconcentrate only on advancing a state constitutional ban on offshore oil drilling through the Legislature in time to get it on the November ballot.

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the likely Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate election, released a Web video on Monday morning blasting rival independent candidate Gov. Charlie Crist for calling a special session of the Legislature next week.

Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, the Democratic candidate for state agriculture and consumer services commissioner, praised U.S. Sen. Bill Nelsons bill, authorizing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to study the ecological and other impacts the oil spill in the Gulf will have in the years to come.