Labor endorses Broward legislative candidates

The AFL-CIO in Broward finalized its endorsements for state legislative races this past weekend, but in one of the hottest races labor activists couldn't make up their mind.

Ken Gottlieb, Tim Ryan and Eleanor Sobel -- all former legislators running for Senate District 31 -- were endorsed by the AFL-CIO. The joint endorsement shows how the Democrats will struggle to differentiate themselves for voters.

"This is the curse of term limits,'' said Dan Reynolds, AFL-CIO president. "Broward County had three excellent house members and now they will have one good senator out of the three. The problem for labor is these particular three are three top-ranking legislators statewide.''

Other candidates who received AFL-CIO endorsements in Broward legislative races include Skip Campbell in Senate District 25, Chris Smith in Senate District 29, Chris Chiari in House District 91, Mark LaFontaine in House District 92 and Hazelle Rogers and Ken Thurston in House District 94.

Skip Campbell: I'm in and I can win

With hours just left before qualifying ends for the 2008 elections, Skip Campbell, the former Fort Lauderdale state senator, has still not officially made the ballot to challenge presumptive Senate President Jeff Atwater in the District 25 contest.

But Campbell on Thursday afternoon said all his paperwork has been sent to Tallahassee and that he's definitely running for the seat that includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, despite Atwater's huge fundraising edge. Campbell said any rumors that he might not run are "all false."

"I am totally committed to this campaign,'' said Campbell.

Campbell, who said he enjoys the state Senate because he gets a chance to help people while at the same time maintain his day job as a lawyer, said he's seen too many polls that show him this will be a big year for Democrats.

"I've got to try to at least make sure that if this is a Democratic year, we have an opportunity to win this race,'' said Campbell, who lost to Bill McCollum in the 2006 race for attorney general.

Campbell said he's girding for a mean, tough race where he expects to be outspent "five to one." Atwater has already raised $1.62 million, compared to the nearly $170,000 Campbell has on hand, which includes $100,000 that Campbell lent to his own campaign.

Foreclosure victims pop tents outside Capitol

A few dozen Floridians who have fallen victim to foreclosure fraud and predatory lending are camping out in front of the state Capitol Tuesday night in hopes of pushing the Legislature into action.

The "Subprime City," as it's being called by organizing group ACORN, comes on the eve of a meeting of Gov. Charlie Crist's Task Force on foreclosure issues, called HOPE (Homeownership Promotes the Economy).

As the group set up tents and ate pizza Tuesday, some of the members who drove up from South Florida talked about why they came.

"Foreclosures are making people homeless, putting our cities at risk of more crime with vacant houses everywhere," Fort Lauderdale resident Daniel Stewart said. "And if the lawmakers don't do something about it now, don't start helping people get their homes back, we're going to show up on their front lawn until they're sick of seeing our faces."

State Rep. Franklin Sands, a Weston Democrat who is part of Crist's foreclosure task force, stopped by the encampment.

"What I hope to accomplish is some type of mechanism to keep people in their homes and go after the folks who did unscrupulous things," Sands said.

Wish list kept short at Broward delegation meeting

With the state budget in such dire straits, not many requests floated around at Wednesday afternoon's Broward delegation meeting.

Delegation Chairman Rep. Jack Seiler, a Pompano Beach Democrat asked guests and lobbyists in attendance for their feedback on items the delegation should look out for, but there wasn't much in the way of big ticket items.

Tom Barlow representing Florida Atlantic University implored the group for $3.3 million in state funding to finish construction on the university's medical school.

"We realize times are tough, but we would appreciate your support," Barlow told the legislators.

Rich calls on legislators to preserve nursing home funding

Flocked by certified nursing assistants from throughout the state Sen. Nan Rich, a Sunrise Democrat, called on legislators to not pass additional cuts to Medicaid nursing home funding.

Rich organized a press conference in front of the Senate chambers telling reporters: "We should prioritize Medicaid funding not eliminate it."

The industry was already dealt a blow at the beginning of the year when $75 million in Medicaid funding was cut from the state's budget. Union leaders present at Thursday's press conference said that additional cuts in the 2008-2009 budget would lower the level of service for elderly residents.

"Already we're looking after seven to nine patients a day, making sure they are fed, bathed, being their family, because many times they don't even have family," said Cloreta Morgan, a nursing assistant from Miami. "If we get to the point that we're looking after 20 or more patients, the quality of care is going to go down, you're going to have people with bed sores, and not getting all their needs met...the demands are just too high."

Dawson afflicted with "humiliating, needy and depressing disease"

State Sen. Mandy Dawson, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, told reporters Tuesday afternoon that she is pushing for $500,000 in state funding for research and information campaigns on arthritis.

Dawson, clutching a walking stick for support, organized the press conference to announce that she was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

"I woke up and couldn't get up by myself," Dawson said. "It's a very humiliating, needy, and depressing disease."

Dawson attributed her numerous absences during last year's session to the pain she felt before being officially diagnosed with the arthritis. She said she has also been dealing with pain from ulcers and stomach pains. 

She  said she would not resign from her seat and will remain as chairwoman of the Senate Health Policy committee. This will be Dawson's last session due to term limits.

"I do think I can continue to work for my constituents," Dawson said.

Dawson was arrested in 2002 on a charge of altering a pain killer prescription to get more pills. She completed a year-long court sponsored rehabilitation program. In 2005 she was reprimanded by the Senate for asking lobbyists to pay for a business development trip to South Africa, and in 2000 she was chastised by Senate leaders for missing an excessive amount of votes.

Seiler to run for Fort Lauderdale mayor

It's official. State Rep. Jack Seiler plans to run for Fort Lauderdale mayor when his term ends this year.

Seiler, a Wilton Manors Democrat and this year's chairman of the Broward delegation, filed paperwork to run for the mayor's post on Wednesday, officially ending rumors about where he would go when he leaves the Florida House due to term limits at the end of this legislative session.

Seiler, a former Wilton Manors mayor, was elected in 2000 and has since earned a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable members of the Legislature.

He will be challenging Fort Lauderdale Cindi Hutchinson to replace current mayor Jim Naugle, who is term-limited out next spring.

Broward legislators to County Commission: budget help not likely

A joint meeting between the Broward County Commission and the county's legislative delegation Tuesday afternoon returned to a familiar theme: the state government-local government tug-of-war about spending and taxes.

Broward County likely will need to make more than $100 million in cuts to its $1.3 billion general fund as part of next year's budget, in light of rising county costs, a real estate slump and a statewide property tax overhaul approved by state lawmakers and state voters. And commissioners criticized state lawmakers for passing down costs to county government (the so-called  "unfunded mandates" to use the budget buzzword) and begged the Broward legislative delegation to fight future cost shifts.

But the county's mostly Democratic legislative delegation pointed out that they had waged debates in the GOP-controlled legislature over the last year to prevent the state's property tax reform plan from causing major cuts in local government services...with limited success.

And they added that while they feel the county's pain, they might not be able to do much about it. The Legislature is looking at major cuts this year too. The state will have to find a way to cut more than $2 billion during the lawmaking session that starts Tuesday.

"The state is facing its tightest year ever," said state Sen. Steve Geller, a Cooper City Democrat and the Senate Minority Leader. "You're not going to get any relief. More likely the state is going to cut programs in a way that will force the county to pick up the slack...You aren't going to get additional help from us. More likely you'll get additional pain."

Atwater hits airwaves in reelection fight

State Sen. Jeff Atwater's reelection battle against Skip Campbell has hit the television airwaves with an ad that targets the state's insurance companies.

In the ad, called "Holding Insurance Companies Accountable," Atwater, a North Palm Beach Republican whose district includes the northern part of Broward's east coast, talks about putting some of the state's insurance executives under oath during state Senate hearings earlier this year.

"We learned they used loopholes to skirt the law," Atwater says in the 30-second TV spot. "That's unacceptable. We were promised lower premiums....What they're doing is wrong, and these big insurance companies will be held accountable."

View the ad here.

So far, Atwater, who is set to become the next Senate President, has raised more than $1.1 million against Democratic challengers Robert Ostrov and Campbell, who ran a failed bid for Florida attorney general in 2006.

Former Broward rep urges lawmakers to get tough on metal theft

Former Rep. Chris Smith, the Fort Lauderdale Democrat running for the state Senate seat now held by Mandy Dawson, showed up on Tuesday to testify in favor of a GOP-sponsored bill that would increase regulation of metal scrap dealers in an effort to crack down on metal theft.

Smith, who is an attorney, said he has become a victim of copper theft, pointing out that he had thousands of dollars worth of copper stolen from air-conditioning units servicing a strip mall that he bought. Smith went out of his way to say that no one had paid his way to come to Tallahassee to testify in favor of the bill sponsored by Rep. Baxter Troutman. The bill was eventually approved by the Policy and Budget Council

"I am here as a citizen and a businessman,'' said Smith, who said copper theft was a "major problem in urban areas."

Geller says he'll run for Broward commission seat

Sen. Steve Geller announced Tuesday that he plans to run for the Broward County Commission after he leaves his state Senate seat in 2008.

Geller, D-Cooper City, said Tuesday that he will be opening a campaign finance account this week to begin his run for the County Commission in 2010.

Right now, Geller, who serves as the Senate's minority leader until he is term-limited out in 2008, said he plans to run for Commissioner Sue Gunzburger's District 6 commission seat. But he said that could change if voters approve a proposed referendum to add two countywide commission seats, a plan moving through the county's Charter Review Commission.

"Until we know what seats will be available, I can't say with certainty I will be running for seat 6," Geller said.

Geller's Cooper City home lies outside the southeast Broward commission district, but its boundaries line up with the heart of his current Senate seat. And the longtime state legislator said he has conducted polling that shows he has greater name recognition in the area than Gunzburger does.

"It's an area I've represented to 20 years," he said. "It's a seat where I have practiced law for 25 years."

So far, no one has filed plans to run with the Broward Supervisor of Elections, but Gunzburger did issue a statement Tuesday morning saying she plans to run for re-election.

"I'm not panicked about this challenge, so let's first get past the 2008 elections," she said in a press release.

Geller was elected to the Legislature in 1988 when he won a seat in the Florida House, and he has served in the Senate since 1998. Geller has focused heavily on local government issues. Most of the county's parimutuels lie in his district, and he has gained a reputation as the Legislature's resident expert in gaming regulation.

Dinner and a (drag) show to raise money for LaFontaine

Mark LaFontaine, who hopes to become the first openly gay member of the Florida Legislature by winning the seat about to be left open by state Rep. Jack Seiler, is getting a little help from a current openly gay elected official.

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat and openly gay member of Congress, will help LaFontaine raise money at two events on Jan. 13.

Frank, who serves as the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, will appear at a closed-door fundraiser at a Wilton Manors home that morning. But for the evening event, the campaign was looking for something "a little more off-beat," said Stephen Gaskill, LaFontaine's spokesman.

Their choice? Lips, a bar and restaurant in Oakland Park, known for "drag dining."

"We thought it would be something that people would turn out for," Gaskill said. "There are always fundraisers for $100 or $150, where you get the same thing. We thought it would be fun to have dinner and a show at an unusual location."

Definitely not your typical campaign fundraiser. Check out info here.

Seiler, Ring to lead Broward delegation in 2008

The Broward legislative delegation voted Thursday to name Rep. Jack Seiler, D-Wilton Manors, the delegation's chairman. The delegation also voted to make Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, the delegation vice chairman. Seiler and Ring will lead the largely Democratic, 25-member delegation. Seiler served as this year's delegation vice chairman. He will replace this year's chairwoman, Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston. During the nomination, delegation members praised Seiler's dedication and humble, "quiet leadership." "When Rep. Seiler speaks...people listen," said Sen. Steve Geller, D-Cooper City. "His words are valued in Tallahassee. His ideas are valued in Tallahassee." The delegation also used the meeting at the Broward County Government Center in Fort Lauderdale to honor former state Rep. Mike Davis, who died of cancer earlier this year. "I think we can all agree he was an example of a compassionate person, who cared deeply about his public service and he did it in a very quiet, dignified way," Rich said. A special election for the seat is set for Nov. 20.

McCain sides with Florida on oil drilling

During a televised debate, three of the Republican presidential candidates -- Rudy Giuliani, Sam Brownback and Tom Tancredo -- declined to rule out oil drilling off Florida's coast.

Tancredo said he would drill "in any place you can find resources," while Giuiani and Brownback said they would consider the environmental impact.

John McCain ducked: "I wouldn't drill off the coast of Florida unless the people of Florida wanted to."

Fred Thompson, who seemed taken off guard when asked about drilling in the Everglades during a recent visit to Tallahassee, didn't get a chance to clarify his remarks during the debate.

Broward Dems to host fundraiser for Jenne's son

Rep. Jack Seiler, whose name has been bandied about as a possible candidate to serve as Broward County sheriff, is one of two Broward Democrats hosting a Tallahassee fundraiser on Sept. 17 for Rep. Evan Jenne, the Dania Beach Democrat and son of Ken Jenne, the embattled Broward County sheriff who resigned from his post on Tuesday after he agreed to plead guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion charges.

Rep. Franklin Sands, the Weston Democrat who will be the next House Democratic leader, is also listed on the invitation as a host to the fundraiser, which will be held at The Governors Club on the eve of the Sept. 18 special session when lawmakers are expected to slash the budget by at least $1.1 billion.

Seiler is one of several people who have been mentioned as potential candidates to serve out the remainder of Jenne's term in office. Crist appointed Maj. Al Lamberti to serve as interim sheriff but has said he wants to conduct a comprehensive search for a permanent replacement.

Naugle gets the boot

Broward County commissioners have unanimously tossed Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle off a tourism board, saying his recent comments on gays are driving away visitors.

Read more here

Shaq tells talk-show host he's gunning for sheriff job

Basketball star Shaquille O'Neil, fresh off wrapping up his six-part reality show on overweight middle-schoolers, told television talk show host Regis Philbin Monday that he now wants to run for sheriff. More here. O'Neil is a reserve officer for the Miami Beach police department and takes the job seriously.

Limbaugh calls Stacy Ritter a "babe."

Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, caught up in a feud with the Broward County Commission, today on his radio show called former state legislator and current county commissioner Stacy Ritter a "babe." More here.

Crist signs $8.5-settlement for Minouche Noel

The wait is over.

Nearly two decades after state-contracted doctors paralyzed Minouche Noel in a botched back surgery, Gov. Charlie Crist put his signature on an $8.5-million settlement for the 19-year-old and her parents.

"No amount of money can repay them for what they have suffered," Crist said. "But what we have done today is just. And it is right."

A group of South Florida lawmakers, including bill sponsors state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, and state Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, joined the governor at the YMCA of South Broward to watch him sign the multimillion-dollar claim as Noel looked on.

Also in the group, former state Rep. Chris Smith, who sponsored the bill last year and watched it die in the last hours of his final term.

"Governor, this is a long time coming," Smith said.

Bogdanoff backs off sales tax swap

State Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a Fort Lauderdale Republican and staunch defender of Marco Rubio's plan to swap sales taxes for homeowner property taxes, admitted to a group of South Florida Republicans that legislators will need a back up plan when the special session starts June 12.

"We are a bicameral legislature and the House likes the idea. The Senate doesn't," Bogdanoff told the Davie/Cooper City Republican Club Thursday. "And when one won't move to the other's position, you gotta come up with Plan B. So we're on Plan B. The Senate will not, absolutely will not, buy into an increase in sales taxes."

So what's Plan B?

"We'll be going back over the next couple of weeks to work it all out," Bogdanoff said.

House: Single people need prenups too

When it comes to marriage, lawmakers suggest perhaps it's never too early to think ahead.

The Florida House unanimously approved a proposal standardizing the state's prenuptial agreement laws.

The sponsors? Two unmarried legislators: State Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Dania Beach, and state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres.

"Why are you sponsoring the uniform premarital agreement?" asked state Rep. Jack Seiler, a Wilton Manors Democrat and the bill's only married sponsor.

"Because one day we would like to get married," Jenne said.

Expanded slots rules go to gov

Looser rules for Broward's Las Vegas-style slots are on their way to Gov. Charlie Crist, after clearing the state Senate in a 30-9 vote today.

The proposal by state Sen. Steve Geller, a Cooper City Democrat, and state Sen. Dennis Jones, a Seminole Republican, would expand casino hours, add 500 slot machines per casino and permit ATMs at the gaming facilities as long as they remain off the casino floor.

The final bill will not change the state's 50 percent tax rate on the casinos money from the racetracks and jai alai frontons.

Throughout Senate debates, lawmakers have touted the millions flowing to state coffers since two of Broward's four parimutuels added the new casinos late last year.

Parimutuel executives have argued the changes are necessary to help them compete with Indian casinos like the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which are not regulated by the state.

A similar proposal by state Rep. Jack Seiler, a Wilton Manors Democrat, squeaked through the Florida House in a tight 61-52 vote Monday, after the bill sparked heated debate on gambling expansion.

Settlement for Broward teen to head to Senate

A Broward teen paralyzed after a botched back surgery nearly 20 years ago could finally receive an $8.5-million settlement from the state.

The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee voted unanimously this morning to send the settlement for Minouche Noel to the full Senate, after the woman was paralyzed in 1989 by a state-contracted doctor.

A Broward County awarded her and her family $8.5 million, but under Florida's Constitution, governments have sovereign immunity, shielding them from major financial damages. And lawyers representing Noel and her family have spent years working to get the Legislature to approve the full settlement.

"This case has been around a very long time," said state Sen. Nan Rich, a Weston Democrat. "This family has suffered a very long time."

The House approved the settlement for Noel, now 19, and her parents in a unanimous vote last month.

Lawmakers say the settlement for Martin Lee Anderson, the 14-year-old boy killed in a state-run boot camp, has opened the door for additional settlements for people like Noel.

"Thank God for Martin Lee Anderson," state Sen. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami, said quietly just before this morning's vote.

House approves bill allowing some foster children to get licenses, open bank accounts

A proposal designed to make it easier for foster children to get their driver's licenses, open bank accounts and get health care is on its way to Gov. Charlie Crist, after a unanimous House vote this afternoon.

The proposal by state Rep. Rich Glorioso, a Plant City Republican, would make it easier for certain foster children to get their driver's licenses by allowing caseworkers to sign the required paperwork without accepting legal responsibility for the young driver.

The proposal -- sponsored in the Senate by state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston -- also would allow some foster children to open their own bank accounts and expand their access to healthcare and support services.

"This bill allows these kids to be normal kids," Glorioso said when introducing the bill on the House floor Tuesday.

In final days, some Democratic bills get bumped from House votes

With the end of the legislative session in three days, cracks in legislative bi-partisanship showed Tuesday when Republicans in one House Council voted to keep several Democratic bills from getting a vote on the floor.

House Republicans kept the Democratic bills off of Wednesday's calendar with party line votes this evening in the chamber's last Rules & Calendar Council meeting of the session.

One bill by Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach, to make it a crime for parents to leave small children in the car for more than 15 minutes previously had received unanimous approval in House committee votes. And a similar bill by Sen. Mandy Dawson, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, passed the Senate 37-2.

The proposal also was on Tuesday's agenda but House leadership adjourned before discussing the bill.

"I feel as though we have been less than fair in the bills we've put on the calendar," said Minority Leader Dan Gelber, of Miami Beach, after the votes.

Slots for Marlins?

Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller said in each of the series of meetings he's had with House and Senate leadership two things have popped up: Marlins and Slots.

House leadership - mostly Rep. David Rivera of Miami - wants money to help build the Florida Marlins a stadium. Senate leadership won't even hear the proposed bill. Geller could make that happen.

Senate leadership - primarily Geller - wants gaming expansion that would allow so-called video lottery terminals at 25 parimutuels in the state. House hasn't been keen on it. Rivera could change that.

Could there be a trade? Possibly.

Geller said this morning that it sure would make the Marlins bill - a $2 million a year hit to the state's budget -  "easier to stomach" if the state stands to make $1 billion extra from gaming.

"It's certainly possible you might see Marlins. It's certainly possibly you might see a VLTs," Geller said, only half denying there's "specific" trading going on.

Last week, after the Marlins bill passed the House floor, Geller was asked the whether he would trade Marlins for VLTs. He responded: "It's possible."

Rivera says he would be "appreciative" of Geller pushing the Marlins, if the House helps push his VLTs, adding that House Speaker Marco Rubio would never agree to a "trade."

Agree to disagree

One day after Senate Democrats unveiled their plan for property relief, the proposal took a little friendly fire at the Senate’s weekly Democratic Caucus meeting.

One Democratic senator questioned whether the average homeowner would understand how they would benefit from the plan. Another suggested the proposal focused too much on taxes and too little on cutting local government spending.

But the main target: a proposal to increase the Save Our Homes cap to allow homeowners to take some of their existing tax savings with them when they move to a new home.

The current Save Our Homes amendment caps the increased in property assessments at 3 percent a year. The Senate Democrat plan would increase that cap to 6 percent.

Sen. Steve Geller, Senate Minority Leader, explained the increase is necessary to make the "portability" of tax savings immune from constitutional challenge.

Senate Republicans, including Sen. Mike Haridopolos, of Melbourne, already have questioned the Democratic proposal. They say they are opposed to the short-term tax increase that would result from increasing the Save Our Homes cap. And today a couple Senate democrats joined the chorus.

Sen. Dave Aronberg, of Greenacres, called the tax increase "a political risk," adding that it's "going to be difficult to sell."

And Geller spent much of the one-hour meeting trying to explain why the increase was necessary.

"Check into it yourself," Geller told Aronberg. "But do me the favor of checking into it instead of just questioning it.

Geller added that the plan is "a work in progress."

But with homeowners around the state trapped in their homes, Sen. Tony Hill, of Jacksonville, was willing to fight for a portable Homestead exemption, even if it meant rallying public support in a referendum petition drive.

"If you take portability off, I'm going to be out there collecting signatures," Hill said.

Racinos place their bets on new slots rules

Executives from two Broward parimutuels seized the opportunity to turn a state Senate committee site visit Friday into a chance to lobby for loosened regulations.

Members of the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee spent Friday touring Gulfstream Park and Mardi Gras Racing and Gaming Center to see how the racing venues are doing since adding Las Vegas-Style slots last year.

And when the six lawmakers arrived at the two Hallandale Beach racing tracks, they were greeted with pitches, packets and Powerpoint presentations before most of them even had a chance to see any of the racinos’ new slot machines.

As parimutuel representatives argued, taxes, operating fees and other expenses haven’t left them with enough money to compete with the hotel, dining and entertainment mecca gamblers find at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood.

“All we need is about five little tweaks in the law and you’ve got a tourism engine like we’ve never seen in this county,” said Dan Adkins, President of Mardi Gras Racing and Gaming Center. “With the hole we have in the budget in this state, we need to take a hard look at this money.”

Racino owners say they would like to see a lower tax rate, longer hours of operation, more slot machines, higher jackpots and permission to put ATMs on the property.

One bill sponsored by Sen. Steve Geller, vice chair of the committee, contains just about all of these provisions thanks to talks with parimutuel representatives when crafting the bill. And it could start moving through Senate committees in the next couple of weeks.

The committee tour continues today as Senators head to Pompano Park Harness Track in Pompano Beach and the Hard Rock.