A press release went out today from Citizens Against Government Waste and it mentioned several members of Congress from Florida.  Including Suzanne Kosmas of Orlando.  Below is the press release ——–

(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today released its preliminary analysis of the House version of the fiscal year 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.  There are 272 projects costing taxpayers $156 million.  This represents a 10.1 increase in projects and a 15.6 increase in spending from fiscal year 2009.

As usual, appropriators loaded the bill with pork.  House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) requested seven projects worth $7,193,000, while Ranking Member Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) requested five projects totaling $2,750,000.  Here are some outrageous examples of wasteful spending that members of the House added to the bill:

• $500,000 by House appropriator C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) and Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and John Sarbanes (D-Md.) for the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail in Maryland.  According to a press release on Rep. Sarbanes’ website, “the trail commemorates some of the most important events of the War of 1812 including the battle at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem.”  Eliminating the deficit would be much more patriotic.

• $500,000 by House appropriator Bill Young (R-Fla.) and Reps. Ron Klein (D-Fla.), Suzanne Kosmas (D-Fla.), Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.), Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), and John Mica (R-Fla.) for the Florida National Scenic Trail.  The trail runs from Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola to Big Cypress National Preserve west of Miami.  The funds will be used to acquire approximately 267 miles of gaps in the trail, according to Rep. Wexler’s website.

• $150,000 by House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee member Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) for the restoration of Cotrill’s Opera House in Thomas.  The fat lady is singing and it is for the end of fiscal sanity.

• $150,000 by House appropriator Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) to help restore Tarrytown Music Hall.  In the past, Tarrytown has received $20,000 from the Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson, as well as other contributions ranging from $1,000 to $40,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Rotary Club of Tarrytown, and several individuals, all for a new air conditioning system.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.

Randy Wilkinson

Randy Wilkinson is currently a county commissioner (District 2) in Polk County. Everyone who is involved in politics in Polk County has wondered at one time or another what he was going to do for the 2010 race.  There has even been speculation that he was going to run for the seat being vacated by Adam Putnam for Congressional District 12.  If he chose to do this it would put him in a Republican Primary with Dennis Ross of Lakeland and Thomas Snyder of Winter Haven.  Ross has picked up many endorsements including Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Paula Dockery.

Other rumors for a Randy Wilkinson run would be for Florida State House district 66.  If he entered this race it would put him in a 4-way race.  Currently Leviticus Reed of Winter Haven, Ben Albritton of Wauchula, and Gary Newberry have filed to run for the seat being vacated by Baxter Troutman who is term limited.

What about running for School Board?  Randy previously served on the school board and could go back.  I guess we will have to wait and see.

Randy has planned an announcement on Thursday in Bartow @ 4:30.  The event will be held at Blunt Park, which is across the street from the courthouse.  If it rains the event will be held at 395 Tyler St in an old farmhouse.

Paula Dockery

Lakeland, FL – Florida State Senator Paula Dockery (R – District 15), today announced her endorsement of Dennis Ross for Congress. In announcing her endorsement, Senator Dockery said, “After careful consideration and soul searching, I have ruled out a run for the Congressional seat being vacated by Adam Putnam. During that decision making process it became clear that my passion for public policy is in state government and not at the Federal level. Having said that, I can think of no one better to succeed Congressman Adam Putnam, then my dear friend and former Colleague, Dennis Ross.”

Senator Dockery continued, “I know something about standing your ground when the going gets tough, and gladly accepting the consequences of that stance. I have a deep appreciation for the courage and spirit it took for Dennis to stand his ground when contentious issues arose in the Legislature.

“Dennis has always put the best interests of his constituents and taxpayers first. Dennis has walked the walk and not just talked the talk. Dennis has proven to be a fighter for the principles he believes in. For this and so much more, it is my pleasure to endorse my friend, Dennis Ross and I look forward to his service in Congress.”

Upon receiving Senator Dockery’s endorsement, Dennis Ross said, “I am truly honored and excited to have the support of my friend of nearly 20 years, and former colleague in the Florida Legislature, Senator Paula Dockery. Paula and Doc have been dear friends to Cindy and me for as long as we can remember, and no political endeavor would be complete without them. The citizens of Florida know Senator Dockery to be a tenacious fighter on their behalf. Her selfless and tireless work on behalf of hard working taxpayers everywhere should serve as a model to all who aspire to public service.”

Ross went on to say, “Beyond her principled leadership in the Florida Legislature, I know Senator Dockery as a friend, a colleague, and a devoted wife to Doc. I value our friendship, I will continue to look to her for advice and guidance, and I look forward to Paula continuing to serve the people of Florida for many years to come.”

In addition to Senator Dockery, Dennis Ross has earned the endorsement of: Former Governor Jeb Bush as well as Members of Congress Gus Bilirakis, Ginny Brown-Waite, Jeff Miller, Connie Mack, Tom Rooney, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Vern Buchanan. Local leaders have also endorsed Dennis’ bid for Congress including, GOP National Committeeman Paul Senft, Form er Polk GOP Chair Jean Burt, The Reverend Lynne Breidenbach, and Florida Federation of Republican Women President Linda Ivell.

Senator Paula Dockery currently represents District 15 in the Florida Senate which encompasses portions of Polk, Osceola, Hernando, Sumter and Lake counties. She currently serves a Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee and serves on the Environmental Protection Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee and the Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight.

Senator Dockery has been prominently mentioned as a possible candidate for Governor of Florida and will make her future plans known at a later date.

You can find out more about Dennis Ross’ campaign by visiting http://www.electdennisross.com

Carol Browner

Carol Browner is the Energy Czar appointed by Obama.  When asked if she has read the Cap & Trade bill she states that she has read vast portions of the bill.  This means she has not read the full bill that was fast tracked through congress.  It has been reported to Central Florida Politics that Congressional members did not even receive the full bill until 3:00AM.  The Bill totaled 1500 Pages 500 of which were amendments.

Matthew Falconer

An email went out today from the Matthew Falconer campaign.  Below is the email.   Falconer has announced that he will be running for Orange County mayor. —————-

I have determined our public policy has decimated our local economy and jeopardized our future. I have seen high taxes, fees and regulations put thousands of small businesses out of business.  They in turn have laid off one million Floridians. Without structural reforms to the way we govern I see no short term improvement in our economy and way of life.

For these reasons I have decided to run for and be the next Orange County Mayor. I plan to take the reforms outlined in our Orange County Taxpayer Budget Review Board report (www.TaxpayerBudgetReviewBoard.org) and reform local government. Quite simply I plan to rebuild local government.

A leader today needs to have the basic belief that government as usual is not sustainable. Our local government has the same business model as General Motors, and our economy shares the same fate. Change is never easy, and reform is even more difficult. But I believe I was born for this storm. I have dedicated a thousand hours to research and I have a plan, not a dream.

I will put principle over politics, taxpayers over special interests, and help bring our local economy back to health one job, one small business at a time. If we push aside the social issues that divide the taxpayers on a federal level, we all share the same struggles and dreams. In local politics, it is no longer left versus right. It is taxpayer versus government. And the government is winning.

I have a plan to correct this injustice, but I will need all of the help I can get. Please visit my web site, www.MatthewFalconer.com and see my plan. Please email me your ideas, suggestions, and encouragement. I am taking this step to ensure the future of my children and yours. Let’s fix our broken government together and give our children the same chance we had at the American Dream.

Join the fight to save your job, your business, and your future. Please join me at my annoucement party July 1st, 5:30 p.m. at the former Village Tavern on Conroy Road next to Friday’s.

FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R), who is the establishments pick to fill Sen. Mel Martinez’s seat, issued a fundraising request wrapped around this weekend’s July 4th celebration.

In the email request Crist reminds voters that it’s he, not Marco Rubio, the other Republican in the running to become the next Florida Senator, who has the support of national Republicans:

“I am honored to have the support of Republican leaders such as U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander, John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and my friend and mentor former U.S. Senator Connie Mack.”

The full letter is available below.

Dear Friends, As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s independence, I am reminded of the very reason I first heard the call to public service. I strongly believe there is nothing we cannot accomplish as Americans if we work together in a principled way to create for our children a nation stronger than the one we inherited.

When my friend Senator Mel Martinez announced his plans to retire from the United States Senate, I had to ask myself how I could best continue to serve the people of this state I love. After much thought and prayer, Carole and I have determined that while serving as your Governor has been the privilege of a lifetime, I must take my fight for the people of Florida to the United States Senate.

Our country is facing the most profound public policy questions of my lifetime – questions relating to the economy, taxes, the role and size of government, healthcare, and national security. How these questions are answered will have a lasting impact on the nation we love.

My common sense conservative approach to government has provided real results for the people of Florida, and I believe can help right the ship in Washington. You have trusted me to fight for the people of Florida for nearly two decades. As a State Senator, as Education Commissioner, Attorney General and most recently as your Governor, I have worked to protect the quality of life for families and businesses here in the Sunshine State.

Throughout my career, protecting Floridians has been my top priority. I have fought to keep criminals off the streets and away from our children.

In the State Senate, I fought for legislation that requires criminals to serve 85 percent of their sentences, as Attorney General I led the fight against criminals who prey upon our children establishing Florida’s cybercrime unit, and then in my first months as Governor, signed legislation that requires brutal felony offenders who violate probation to go back to jail where they belong.

Education has also been a top priority for me. We’ve seen Florida’s excellence in education continue to increase with Florida earning a top-ten ranking in education last year. We’ve also fought to strengthen Florida’s families and as a result, we have seen a record increase in adoptions in Florida. And I’ve continued to support your Second Amendment rights, including signing a bill to protect your right to safely take your gun to work.

Finally, we’ve cut taxes in an historic way, standing on conservative values of keeping taxes low for families and business by passing the largest tax cut in our state’s history. 

I am honored to have the support of Republican leaders such as U.S.
Senators Lamar Alexander, John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and my friend and mentor former U.S. Senator Connie Mack.

I hope you will join our campaign, as you have so many times before.

Visit online today at http://www.CharlieCrist.com to join as a volunteer and contributor to our cause. Your contribution of any amount will help us continue our fight for less taxes, less spending, less government and more freedom, and your contribution made today will count toward the important first quarter of fundraising.

Thank you for your support! God bless you, the great state of Florida, and the United States of America.

Doug Guetzloe

The State of Florida has dropped it’s appeal of Federal Court Judge Stephen Mickle’s ruling that struck down the electioneering statutes in the State of Florida as a violation of an individual’s First Amendment right to unfettered free speech.

The case, Broward Coalition, et al vs. Browning was brought by the Institute for Justice against the state last October.

The State of Florida dropped their appeal last week when they declined to appeal Judge Mickle’s ruling to the Federal District Court of Appeal in Atlanta.  Judge Mickle’s ruling strikes the entire electioneering communications statute and now allows individuals and organizations to speak freely about political issues and candidates.

Specially mentioned in the Judge’s ruling was the statute that State Attorney Lawson L. Lamar used to prosecute anti-tax activist Doug Guetzloe in 2006.  Guetzloe is the only person criminally prosecuted for first amendment free speech under this statute.  Lamar spent nearly a year “investigating” Guetzloe, eventually obtaining all this personal and business bank records and illegally releasing those to the media even though they had nothing to do with the investigation.  Lamar then charged Guetzloe with 14 misdemeanor counts and asked the court to find Guetzloe guilty and sentence him to 14 years in prison for not placing a “paid political advertisement” disclaimer on a campaign flyer.

Judge Jeffrey Arnold, a Lamar ally, then sentenced Guetzloe to 60 days in “work release”; $8,500 fine and 3 years of probation.  During appeals, the 5th District Court of Appeal struck down the absurd sentence and fines and maintained one misdemeanor count for re-sentencing.  Since that time, Judge Mickle enjoined the state from enforcing the law and in a final ruling threw out the entire law.

“Judge Mickle is a hero to the people.  He got it right.  The State of Florida has no right to use election laws to silence the people in their free expression of political ideas and candidates.  This is great day for Florida and a great day for America,” stated Guetzloe, Chairman of the anti-tax, grassroots organization, Ax the Tax.  Guetzloe is also the Host of The Guetzloe Report, a news-talk radio show broadcast every weekday from 11-noon on WEUS AM 810.

What does this ruling mean? For that we asked Doug this evening

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Guetzloe has spent in excess of $100,000 defending himself from the vicious political persecution of State Attorney Lamar.  The Guetzloe case has attracted the support of many national conservative organizations that include: Townhall.com; Sam Adams Alliance; Center for Competitive Politics; Citizens in Charge Foundation; NewsMax.com and others.

Guetzloe’s attorney, Fred O’Neal was also very pleased with the ruling and noted that the case law that Judge Mickle used in his ruling was the case law that was provided to State Attorney Lamar’s office when they began their bogus investigation of Guetzloe.

State Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, issued a statement criticizing Secretary of State Kurt Browning’s refusal to appeal, saying it “will essentially allow shadow organizations to funnel millions of dollars to political campaigns without regulation or disclosure.”

Justice’s legislative aide, Bethany Linderman, said he was looking at all his options including new legislation.

The Institute for Justice, a libertarian legal organization based in Arlington, Va., challenged the law on behalf of four nonprofit groups and their leaders

Institute lawyer Bert Gall said Browning’s decision was an acknowledgment that U.S. District Judge Stephan Mickle ruled correctly. Mickle wrote that the Legislature has the power to regulate elections but not “purely political discussions about elections.”

“In America, the right to free speech means that the government cannot make it harder for some groups to speak because it doesn’t like what they have to say,” Gall said.

He said Mickle’s ruling is part of a growing body of case law questioning regulations such as Florida’s that have flourished since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal McCain-Feingold law, the popular name for 2002 revisions to the nation’s campaign finance law.

Gall sued on behalf of the Broward Coalition of Condominiums, Homeowners Associations and Community Organizations; University of Florida College Libertarians; National Taxpayers Union and national Taxpayers Union Foundation.

Mickle granted a preliminary injunction in October that prevented the law from being enforced and then issued a final ruling in May.

Alex Sink’s efforts at government transparency may have come back to harm her.

In April, her office announced that state travel logs chronicling the flights of state employees on state planes would be posted on line by the Florida Department of Management Services.

On Monday, a state employee filed an ethics complaint against Florida’s Chief Financial officer alleging that she misused the state plane.

Jose Blas Lorenzo Jr., an attorney who works for the Department of Education, filed the complaint. He said he was “incensed” by some of the information he has read in news articles about Sink’s use of the plane and did some research of his own. He figures that since announcing her plans to run for governor, Sink has racked up $11,000 in plane travel that’s unrelated to her official duties.

“I am just concerned, very concerned,” Lorenzo said. “I live in the state, my children grew up here, I pay my taxes, I work for the state, what example is she setting?” he asked.

In his complaint, Lorenzo claims that on at least one occasion, Sink flew on the state plane on the first leg of a flight with a destination for a vacation in the Bahamas.

He said that on other occasions Sink has used the plane to drop off her husband, Bill McBride, or pick up her son.

Sink, a Democrat, is running for governor. Calls to her office for comment were not immediately returned. However, according to published reports, she has ordered her office to conduct a review of her plane use.

Attorney General Bill McCollum, who is a Republican candidate for governor, was also subject of the joint stories by the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald for travel to his home in Central Florida.

“McCollum has spent several personal days campaigning and not used a state plane, that’s indicative of something,” Lorenzo said.

A check of campaign contributions found that Lorenzo supported Charlie Crist in his run for governor, donating $200 in 2006 and $150 in 2005

Charlie Crist & Marco Rubio

Gov. Charlie Crist continues to run far ahead of Republican challenger Marco Rubio, leading the former House speaker by a margin of better than 2-1 in a new poll of Florida’s U.S. Senate race today.

The Mason-Dixon Florida Poll of 625 registered voters indicated that 51 percent would vote for the governor, if the Republican primary were held today, compared to 23 percent favoring Rubio. But about 47 percent of those surveyed did not recognize Rubio’s name, while only 3 percent didn’t know who Crist is.

On the Democratic side, the poll indicated that 27 percent of voters favored U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, while 12 percent liked Rep. Corrine Brown of Jacksonville. A staggering 61 percent of Democrats were undecided.

In a head-to-head matchup between Crist and Meek, the Republican governor leads 48 to 26 percent in the poll, with 26 percent undecided. Crist had a slightly bigger margin, 55-24 with 21 percent undecided, if Brown were the Democratic nominee.

Brown has not said she’ll run for the Senate but is considering the race. Meek has been running for several months.

Rubio, a former House member who was speaker for the 2006-08 term, is running to Crist’s right — challenging the governor for accepting federal stimulus money. Crist has virtually ignored his lesser-known challenger.

The poll, conducted by phone late last week, has an error margin of plus or minus 4 percent overall, and 6 percent for the Democratic and Republican primary breakdowns due to the smaller survey size.

Bill McCollum

It seems that this Gubernatorial Election is going to be one to watch. The Florida Democratic Party released something today as Breaking News: Bill McCollum Announces Campaign Theme Song.  However it was just a horrible attempt at humor.  Below is the message:

———————–
Given Attorney General Bill McCollum’s light work schedule (As the Palm Beach Post reported Florida attorney general’s schedule shows part-time workload), we thought he might appreciate a little music to get started this Monday morning…

“10-to-2” (Sung to the Tune of Dolly Parton’s 9-5)

Tumble outta bed
And stumble to the kitchen

Pour myself a cup of ambition
Yawnin’, stretchin’, try to come to life

Jump in the shower
And the blood starts pumpin’

Out on the streets
The rush hour’s endin’

For folks like me on the job from 10 to 2

Chorus:

Workin’ 10 to 2
What a way to make a livin’
Barely gettin’ through
All my AG’s opinions
It’s just such a grind
And all I’m lookin’ for is credit
It’s enough to drive me
Crazy if I let it!

10 to 2,

So I had another notion
That, well, maybe I
Could just win a fair promotion
Want to move ahead

‘Cause the governor’s office beckons
I swear THAT guy works even LESS, I reckon’!
Mmmmm…

That’s my dream
To move up that ladder

It’s my fourteenth campaign
But what’s that matter?
I’ve got a dream that just won’t go away

On a political track
That just won’t end
Waitin’ for the day
My ship’ll come in
And the tides gonna turn
An it’s all gonna roll my way

2nd chorus:

Workin’ 10 to 2
What a way to make a livin’
Barely gettin’ through
All my AG’s opinions
It’s just such a grind
And all I’m lookin’ for is credit
It’s enough to drive me
Crazy if I let it!

10 to 2, might knock off at 1 if I can do
After givin’ out

A no-bid contract or two
It’s a politicians’ game
No matter what they call it
And I’ve spent my life
Campaignin’ ‘cause I want it!

3rd chorus:

Workin 10 to 2
What a way to make a livin’
Runnin’ fourteen times
It’s all hand-shakin’
And fund-raisin’

Yeah I’ve lost two times
Okay, so there – I admit it
It’s enough to drive me
Crazy if I let it!

Fade:

10 to 2, might knock off at 1 if I can do
After givin’ out
A no-bid contract or two
It’s a politicians’ game
No matter what they call it
And I’ve spent my life
Campaignin’ ‘cause I want it!
————————————————-
In my numerous attempts to contact McCollum’s campaign for statements regarding issues they have yet to contact Central Florida Politics at all.  So I have stopped trying to obtain an official statement.