Crist commutes sentence in Tampa manslaughter

From the Times' Meg Laughlin: Jennifer Martin, who was convicted of manslaughter in a 1998 car crash that killed a passenger, had her sentenced cut in half Tuesday by Gov. Charlie Crist. She will be released Wednesday from prison.

Martin, 30, was sentenced in 2000 to 16 years in prison for her role in the Interstate 4 crash that killed Josh Nicola, 23, and severely injured Scott Schutt, 23.

Crist's decision followed a clemency hearing last week at which Martin's former prosecutor had sought mercy. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink had championed Martin's clemency bid after reading a story in the St. Petersburg Times.

The other two members of the state's clemency board, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and State Attorney General Bill McCollum, also voted to commute Martin's sentence.

Cabinent signs order rescinding rights

Gov. Charlie Crist and his fellow Cabinet members quietly signed an order Wednesday to revoke the civil rights mistakenly restored to 11 felons.

State auditors conducted a review of the Parole Commission that found a 6 percent error rate in sample of 203, meaning that 13 felons were granted the rights without authorization. Two felons are still incarcerated and no action was necessary to rescind their rights.

"There's human error involved in a lot of things that happen," Crist said. "These people are trying to do the best that they can and sometimes mistakes occur. When they do, you try to rectify it and that's the best that you can do."

An opinion piece in the St. Petersburg Times today, written by Mark Schlakman, suggests more work needs to be done.

EPA limits on water pollution get political

The EPA's decision to set water pollution limits in Florida is quickly becoming a political issue -- and given the potential effect on big business and big agriculture, one that is attracting a litany of special interests.

Michael Sole, the state's Department of Environmental Protection secretary, briefed the Cabinet on Tuesday. All members, in particular Attorney General Bill McCollum who called the EPA's actions "outrageous," appear ready to go to court to challenge the federal government if they don't like the number set in January.

Already one legislative committee heard from DEP about the issue and a second group of lawmakers will get briefed this afternoon.

The forces aligned against the EPA -- led by Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, who expressed skepticism in global warming yesterday -- are making presentations with heightened rhetoric about a standard that the federal government hasn't even set yet. Likewise, the environmental groups that settled the lawsuit with the EPA continue to parade the same series of enlarged algae bloom photos to prove their point.

But in an interview, Sole clarified a few points that should quiet the crowd's draconian predictions -- if they listen.

Alex Sink to return more Rothstein cash

Democratic Gov. candidate Alex Sink has announced she'll return more cash from suspected Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein. The total now: $6,000. Sink initially returned money directly from Rothstein, his wife, his firm AAMM Holdings. But now the campaign has identified contributions from another Rothstein-tied corp., WAWW.

Said the Sink campaign: "These are very serious allegations. The campaign is returning or donating to charity any contributions from Mr. Rothstein, his wife, his law firm and his other corporate entities. If it becomes clear that others were involved in this matter, it’s our intention to return those contributions as well.”

Rothstein, a predominantly Republican fundraiser, decided to switch sides in the governor's race, much to Sink's recent dismay and the joy of Republican Bill McCollum's campaign, which has hammered her over receiving the cash. No mention from the McCollum camp that Republican Gov. Charlie Crist or that Republican CFO candidate and Senate President Jeff Atwater or that Republican Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff or that the Republican Party of Florida got more from Rothstein. All, too, say they're returning cash, as is the Florida Democratic Party.

Will the Democratic contender for CFO please stand up?

The son of former Gov. Lawton Chiles, Democrat Bud Chiles, who is considering a bid for Chief Financial Officer, better make up his mind. Republican candidate Jeff Atwater, the president of the Florida Senate, tweets today that he raised another $500,000, pushing his donations to $1 million.

Deutch 'disappointed' in Crist, McCollum

Sen. Ted Deutch, "very disappointed" that the governor and attorney general on Tuesday didn't advance CFO Alex Sink's proposal to expand and better train the SBA trustees, said today he will file legislation to "expand the scope" of the SBA.

But he stopped short of supporting a bigger board of trustees, which now consists of just the governor, AG and CFO. Sink wants the trustees to grow by at least two people. His legislation, which has failed in past sessions, would instead expand the SBA's Investment Advisory Council from 6 to 9 members.  Each member would be required to have financial knowledge and experience, and must represent local government employees, firefighters, police, teachers and state employees, and Florida Retirement System retirees.

“CFO Sink has worked to increase transparency, accountability and oversight of Florida’s pension fund since coming into office and yesterday’s reforms were just the latest example," said Deutch, D-Boca Raton. "My legislation aims to support these important priorities by giving a greater voice to investors and retirees, ensuring the highest level of integrity and eliminating any potential conflicts of interests.”

Deutch 'disappointed' in Crist, McCollum

Sen. Ted Deutch, "very disappointed" that the governor and attorney general on Tuesday didn't advance CFO Alex Sink's proposal to expand and better train the SBA trustees, said today he will file legislation to "expand the scope" of the SBA.

But he stopped short of supporting a bigger board of trustees, which now consists of just the governor, AG and CFO. Sink wants the trustees to grow by at least two people. His legislation, which has failed in past sessions, would instead expand the SBA's Investment Advisory Council from 6 to 9 members.  Each member would be required to have financial knowledge and experience, and must represent local government employees, firefighters, police, teachers and state employees, and Florida Retirement System retirees.

“CFO Sink has worked to increase transparency, accountability and oversight of Florida’s pension fund since coming into office and yesterday’s reforms were just the latest example," said Deutch, D-Boca Raton. "My legislation aims to support these important priorities by giving a greater voice to investors and retirees, ensuring the highest level of integrity and eliminating any potential conflicts of interests.”

Akerman Senterfitt attorney to lead financial regulation office

The Cabinet, at the urging of CFO Alex Sink, just selected longtime Akerman Senterfitt attorney J. Thomas Cardwell to serve as commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation, a move that will bring him from a career in the private sector to state service.

Cardwell has served as general counsel for the Florida Bankers Association for more than 20 years. He will start with OFR on Aug. 24, making $133,000 - the same salary as the Office of Insurance Regulation commissioner.

"We are looking forward to your many years of service to Florida," Sink told Cardwell, a UF law school graduate.

Attorney General Bill McCollum chimed in: "I've known him since law school, and I can't think of a better person to do the job."

Sink risks political whiplash in So Fla

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democratic frontrunner for governor in 2010, will be working opposite ends of the political spectrum in South Florida over the next two days.

Tomorrow night (along with Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, a potential Republican contender for attorney general in 2010) she will address Democratic leaning trial lawyers at the Florida Justice Association's annual conference at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Aventura.

On Friday, she is the keynote speaker at the Republican leaning Latin Builders Association's monthly meeting at the Hotel Sofitel in Miami.

As a statewide officeholder, Sink -- like her Republican opponent for governor, Attorney General Bill McCollum -- has a built-in public platform for speaking to influential groups around Florida without costing her campaign a cent.

Poll shows tight governor's race

Democrat Alex Sink holds a narrow 38-34 lead over Republican Bill McCollum in the 2010 governor race but voters give him a higher job approval rating, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.

Sink, the state's chief financial officer, received approval from 39 percent, while McCollum, the attorney general, received approval from 51 percent.

"One reason may be that in the survey he is identified as a Republican and she a Democrat,'' Quinnipiac University pollster Peter Brown said. "In Florida, as in much of the nation these days, the GOP label is not necessarily a plus..."

Brown also said Sink got a small boost in the head-to-head matchup from voters who like that she would be Florida's first female governor.

All the numbers are here.