NYT: Ethics rules for Congress curb, but don't end trips

The New York Times writes that "Despite changes intended to curb Congressional junkets, some lawmakers and even their families continue to take trips hosted by private groups and companies that revel in their access to Washington power brokers."

Those featured include Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican, who, on a "privately sponsored trip, stayed at the historic King David Hotel in Jerusalem and attended a gala party near the Western Wall as part of a weeklong conference that lobbyists and executives paid as much as $18,500 to attend."

"Representative F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., a Wisconsin Republican, toured a prince’s vineyard and castle in Liechtenstein and spent an afternoon at a ski resort in the Alps — all at the expense of a group of European companies. And Danny K. Davis, an Illinois Democrat, got the dignitary treatment when a big donor flew him to Inner Mongolia to lobby for a new medical supplies factory in rural China."

Crist moves special election for Wexler seat

Gov. Charlie Crist just released the executive order to reschedule the special election to fill Congressman Robert Wexler's seat. The original date conflicted with Passover. Now it will be held April 13, 2010.

Read the order here:  Download Wexler Executive Order 09-265

George LeMieux for U.S. Senate?

During his first visit to South Florida since his appointment to the U.S. Senate, Republican George LeMieux received gushing praise from the hometown congressmen, U.S. Reps. Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart.

They were so complimentary you'd think LeMieux planned to be on the ballot in 2010 instead of his former boss, Gov. Charlie Crist. Then again, the Diaz-Balarts are big Crist supporters, and if LeMieux looks good then Crist does too.

"For those who thought George LeMieux was going to be someone who passed by in the Senate and perhaps not be noticed by many people, the exact opposite is the truth,'' Lincoln said after they all toured  Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. "He's an extraordinary public servant and he's doing a very impressive, admirable job as a U.S. senator.''

Mario added: "Rarely in my years have I come across an individual who has made such a difference, who has shown such passion, such great talent...We are frankly -- Lincoln and I have talked about this  -- so impressed."

Panhandle Democrats in tight primary race for Congress

A poll commissioned by Al Lawson's campaign shows him even with U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd in the Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional District.

In the head-to-head match up, Lawson took 34.9 percent to Boyd's 30.7 percent, a slight lead that fell within the 4.6 percent margin of error, the results from The Research Network poll showed.

For Lawson, the Democratic leader in the Florida Senate, this a victory, his campaign manager Josh Robinson said, especially considering that Boyd has been running television ads for weeks.

More numbers below.

Dems blame Crist, R's for tax hike on businesses

That darned federal stimulus and all its implications -- political and practical -- continue to provide fodder for partisan press releases, and thus fodder for blogs such as this one.

The latest: Florida Dems say businesses can blame state Republican leaders for the higher unemployment compensation taxes they now face. The higher taxes next year will be due to the fact that so many out of work Floridians will draw unemployment checks from the state's unemployment fund. (The jobless rate hit 11 percent in September.)

Dems point out that R's in the House could have avoided the higher tax by taking $444-million in federal funds during the spring session. Crist and the state Senate wanted to take the money, but House leaders said no way! That will mean higher taxes. R's, as you know, don't like taxes (unless they're called surcharges,' as in cigarettes...or rental cars).

Crist said today he'll try again to get the Legislature to take the money.

For more check out the correspondence here: Download Skidmoreletter and Download Flaunemploymentletter

That darned federal stimulus and all its implications -- political and practical -- continue to provide fodder for partisan press releases, and thus fodder for blogs such as this one.

The latest: Florida Dems say businesses can blame state Republican leaders for the higher unemployment compensation taxes they now face. The higher taxes next year will be due to the fact that so many out of work Floridians will draw unemployment checks from the state's unemployment fund. (The jobless rate hit 11 percent in September.)

Dems point out that R's in the House could have avoided the higher tax by taking $444-million in federal funds during the spring session. Crist and the state Senate wanted to take the money, but House leaders said no way! That will mean higher taxes. R's, as you know, don't like taxes (unless they're called surcharges,' as in cigarettes...or rental cars).

Crist said today he'll try again to get the Legislature to take the money.

For more check out the correspondence here: Download Skidmoreletter and Download Flaunemploymentletter

Federal judge allows EPA to set pollution limits

TALLAHASSEE -- A federal judge on Monday authorized the Environmental Protection Agency to set limits on the flow of pollution into Florida's waterways, rejecting a challenge from Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson and a coalition of major agricultural, business and utility groups.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle approved the settlement between the EPA and environmental groups, which filed a lawsuit in 2008 asking the federal government to intervene because the state wasn't enforcing clean water laws.

The judge was critical of the state Department of Environmental Protection's 11-year delays in setting water quality standards, asking repeatedly, "How much more time do you need?" He also was openly skeptical of the main arguments articulated by attorneys for the state and business groups, including most points made in a recent press conference.

"What you want me to do (is say that) even if Florida's regulation is inadequate, let it go, not do what the act requires because economic times are hard and (water quality) is worse somewhere else?" the judge asked. "That would be a lawless decision."

The EPA is expected to announce its first set of standards in January 2010, despite protests that the limits will cost businesses too much money. Opponents are expected to continue to fight those limits in the future.

Business groups fight federal 'tax' on clean water

Especially in this economy, everything is labeled a "tax" if you don't want it. Add this one to the list: The Environmental Protection Agency's plans to uphold clean water laws and limit how much nutrient pollution is allowed in Florida's waterways.

A group of big business and anti-tax interests, joined by former state DEP secretaries Virginia Wetherell and Colleen Castille, warned the yet-unannounced regulations would amount to a "federal water tax" that would hurt the economy. They are calling on the state's congressional delegation to stop the EPA from imposing restrictions -- which they argue (with questionable math) -- would cost Florida utilities $50 billion with consumer footing the bill.

For more, read this piece when the EPA intervened to end a lawsuit filed by environmental groups in 2008. In the meantime, marvel at this great Web site name the group launched: www.donttaxflorida.com. Surprisingly, it wasn't taken until PR guru Ron Sachs bought it Nov. 10.

Here we go again: Wasserman Schultz, Meek to hold town hall

This just in: U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Kendrick Meek will hold a town hall meeting on the just-passed healthcare legislation from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Southwest Focal Point Senior Center in Pembroke Pines.

Can't help but wonder if the last-minute notice is intended to prevent opponents from having enough time to organize a protest. Remember Wasserman Schultz's last town-hall meeting with constituents on healthcare was over the phone in August.

Meek held a orderly public forum in early September that looked nothing like some of the raucous confrontations with members of Congress that popped up around the country.

UPDATE: Wasserman Schultz's spokesman, Jonathan Beeton, said 56,000 constituents received notices in the mail Saturday and Monday about the meeting. He blamed the late notice to the press on the flurry of activity leading up to and after Saturday's vote in Congress. He also said radio talk show host Joyce Kaufman has been rousing anti-healthcare reform activists this week, so there may be a crowd.

More proof of Crist's endors... er... 'support' for Obama-nomics

A week after Gov. Charlie Crist tried to distance himself from Barack Obama's stimulus package that he stumped for, Crist's penmanship is coming back to haunt him. In the letter of endors-o-supportment Crist and other governors said:

“We are writing to express our support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which passed last week in the House and is under consideration currently in the Senate.”

Here's the letterDownload Stim

Two Florida Dems vote against health care bill Meek calls "historic legislation"

Florida Dems Suzanne Kosmas -- a freshman legislator who ousted a Republican in 2008 -- and Blue Dog Dem Allen Boyd were among just 39 Democrats voting against the health care bill as it narrowly cleared the House with a 220 to 215 vote margin. South Florida Democrats Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Kendrick Meek, Ron Klein, Alcee Hastings and Robert Wexler voted in favor.

Citing editorials in the Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times in support of the measure, Meek said the legislation will "stem our state’s epidemic of the uninsured. The time came for Congress to act, and we delivered on our promise to the American people."

South Florida's Republicans voted no, with Mario Diaz-Balart calling it a "monstrosity" that will "kill jobs, devastate Medicare, impose huge tax increases and force states to make reductions in education and public safety funding."