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Weatherford Bringing in the Bucks for Fall Campaign

January 12, 2012 - 6:00pm

Speaker-in-waiting Will Weatherford continues to overshadow all other House candidates in raising cash for this fall's elections, collecting $130,400 during the final three months of 2011, new reports show.

In all, the Wesley Chapel Republican, who is set to become House speaker in November, has amassed a total of $397,150 to help fuel his re-election bid in District 61. Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa, has the next-highest amount, with $248,324.

Weekly Roundup: They're Back at the Capitol

Michael Peltier News Service of Florida

January 12, 2012 - 6:00pm

State lawmakers kicked off an election-year, budget-cutting, once-a-decade-political-remapping session this week as Gov. Rick Scott called for further tax cuts and $1 billion more for education while assuring Floridians that good times are returning.

Ushered into a January session in a constitutionally mandated effort to draw new political boundaries in time for the 2012 elections, legislative leaders took little time to caution voters of potentially painful cuts as they work to craft a budget that may fall up to $2 billon short of last year.

Obama Thumbs Nose at Founders With One-Man Rule

Michael Barone

January 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

Of course President Obama is not concentrating on campaigning, White House press spokesmen assured us -- as the president headed off to Chicago for three fundraisers and a drop-in at his campaign headquarters, two days after a high-roller fundraising choked off traffic five blocks from the White House, with the assistance of a score of D.C. police cars.

Vasilinda: Closure of Jefferson Will Devastate Community

Submitted by Anonymous on January 13, 2012 - 5:27pm

State Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, wants the state Department of Corrections to reconsider closing the Jefferson Correctional Institute in Monticello.

The facility was one of seven state prisons the department announced Thursday among a statewide consolidation plan that is projected to save $14.9 million this year and $75.8 million in the next fiscal year.

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Senate Proposes a Stand-Alone Bill to Privatize Prisons

Submitted by Anonymous on January 13, 2012 - 5:07pm

The Senate has proposed, this time as a stand-alone bill, an effort to privatize correctional facilities located in 18 South Florida counties.

Last September, Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford sided with Florida Police Benevolent Association attorneys who argued that lawmakers should have put the potential privatization of the prisons in South Florida into a separate bill, rather than as a proviso to the budget.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has contested the ruling to the 1st District Court of Appeal.

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Changing Times

January 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

Senators Give Haridopolos Discretion to Delay Budget

Jim Turner

January 12, 2012 - 6:00pm

Faced with a $2 billion budget shortfall, and receiving word Thursday that little change is expected in the projected revenue stream, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, got bipartisan backing Friday from senators to delay -- if necessary -- the session for the budget process.

Sens. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and Chris Smith, D-Oakland Park, gathered the signatures as a sign of support, giving Haridopolos the discretion to hold off the budget process while awaiting updated revenue projections made closer to the start of the next fiscal year.

Prep Time

January 13, 2012 - 6:00pm

Running Competitiveness Aground

George Will

January 13, 2012 - 6:00pm

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Thanks to globalization, and to containerized shipping that began in 1956 and makes globalization work, commodities swiftly move vast distances around the planet. Wal-Mart alone imports 400,000 containers a year.

Gallagher Joins Fort Lauderdale Law Firm as Consultant

Submitted by Anonymous on January 13, 2012 - 3:39pm

Tom Gallagher, a three time gubernatorial candidate who once served as Floridas chief financial officer, has joined the Fort Lauderdale law firm of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate PA, as a consultant. according to the Insurance Journal.

The firm also has a Tallahassee office.

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