The week starts, as the last several have, with a focus on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, with President Barack Obama planning to hit Pensacola during a three-state tour on Monday that acknowledges the effects of the spill go beyond Louisiana.
"He felt it was extremely important that he also visit the other states, so we'll be visiting those three states (Alabama, Mississippi and Florida) and visiting with the governors of those states," said Carol Browner, the presidents energy and climate change czar who has been heavily involved in oil spill response monitoring.
BP officials continue to get hauled before government officials. After last weeks turn before the Cabinet and Gov. Charlie Crist, officials from the company have been summoned to Washington again next week. Theyve gone before Congressional committees, and on Wednesday of this week company representatives are expected to meet with officials from the White House.
Politically, this week is dominated by qualifying, which for legislative candidates, the gubernatorial candidates and Cabinet candidates starts Monday at Noon and ends Friday at Noon.
Many of the candidates will be in one place too at the Florida Press Association meeting Thursday in Sarasota.
On Tuesday the Florida Public Service Commission meets for a limited agenda, where it is expected to approve a voluntary case dismissal and a tariff agreement with Tampa Electric Co. The panel is handling a light agenda as it awaits the addition of two more commissioners, the interviews for which took place on Thursday. (Tuesday 9:30 a.m., Room 148 Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services must respond by Wednesday to Attorney General Bill McCollum's lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the the federal health care bill. The federal government had sought more time but U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson denied the governments motion to give it another month.
The state's case against former House Speaker Ray Sansom goes on without a trial date in the immediate future. However, Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis has ordered State Attorney Willie Meggs and lawyers for Sansom and fellow defendants Jay Odom and Bob Richburg to be in court Wednesday to argue several motions regarding the dismissal of the charges. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Leon County Courthouse, Monroe St., Tallahassee. Also, Friday, 10 a.m.)
