While some Republican governors have hinted that they would reject federal funds for transportation projects, Rick Scott has not stated that he would turn down more than $2 billion to help with high-speed rail projects.
Florida congressional Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, are encouraging Scott to accept the money when he takes over in January While he did not say that he would run against Nelson in 2012, outgoing U.S. Sen. George LeMieux ripped into congressional Democrats and the Obama administration in a speech he made in Tallahassee on Tuesday. LeMieux took aim at Beltway Democrats for massive spending and fiscal irresponsibility -- points he has made repeatedly during his tenure in the Senate. If LeMieux runs in 2012, this theme will clearly be one of the cornerstones of his campaign As speculation continues to grow that Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman may be on her way out, some party leaders are starting to express interest -- that they would be up for the job if it becomes vacant. Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Mark Siegel and outgoing House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands of Weston have both expressed interest in the position if Thurman decides to step down
While former President George W. Bush insisted this week that his brother would not run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, former Gov. Jeb Bush continues to remain in the spotlight. Jeb Bush will be speaking with Robert Putnam from Harvard University atthe National League of Cities' Congress of Cities and Exposition which will take place in Denver in December. Bush and Putnam will be speaking on how government can help immigrants assimilate into their new communities Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be heading to Naples later in the month for a book signing. Gingrich has a busy month lined up promoting his new novel on the American Revolution as well as a documentary he and his wife made on John Paul II. Three of Gingrichs book-signing events are scheduled for Iowa -- something that will only increase speculation that the former House speaker will be gunning for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 ... Former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez is talking up the chances of a dark-horse candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012: current U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. While Cornyn is not exactly the most active of possible candidates, he has received praise from Republicans all across the nation for his leadership of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
Fresh from crushing Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek at the polls, U.S. Sen.-elect. Marco Rubio joined 10 other Republicans in signing a letter calling for a ban on earmarks. The letter was signed by some of the leading conservatives in the Senate -- including Cornyn, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolin and U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma -- and it was also signed by six Republicans, including Rubio, who were elected last week Some Florida Democrats are not exactly chomping at the bit for outgoing U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to continue leading congressional Democrats. Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, who chaired the Florida Democratic Party and came out on the losing end in the race to be commissioner of agriculture and consumer services last week, told the Wall Street Journal that Pelosis leadership made Democrats outside the Beltway an easier target While South Florida U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is not out of the picture to take over leading the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Beltway observers are saying U.S. Rep. Steve Israel of New York is the favorite to take over the chairmanship
Not only is Sen. John Thrasher of Jacksonville the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, he is now chairman of the Duval County delegation in the Legislature, replacing Rep. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville. Rep. Lake Ray, R-Jacksonville, one of the experts in the Legislature on ports issues, was elected as vice chairman While voters may want change, officeholders are not exactly in a rush to leave office. There are 13 members of the Jacksonville City Council who are eligible to run for another term next year -- and 12 of them have filed to do so Speaking of the Jacksonville City Council, Arthur "Brad" Tredinnick, who served as the president of that legislative body, passed away at the age of 79. Tredinnick was the youngest president of the council in Jacksonvilles history when he wielded the gavel in the early 1960s but, after an unsuccessful bid to be city finance commissioner, he generally remained on the political sidelines, focusing on his insurance business and charitable work, though he occasionally served in an appointed capacity on committees.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (85) 727-0859.
