Blogs from around the state

Florida Politics Wednesday Morning Reads: Tax liens, Disney and the Marching 100

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and happy Wednesday.

Political Pulse Wednesday Morning Reads: Tax liens, Disney and the Marching 100

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and happy Wednesday.

St. Petersburg Why it’s a good thing Rouson (and soon Crist) will say good riddance to John Morgan

Yesterday, Marc Caputo reported that St. Petersburg Democrat Rep. Darryl Rouson is out of work at the heavy-hitting trial lawyer firm Morgan & Morgan.

St. Petersburg Morning must-read: Marco Rubio op-ed – “What Boston means”

This morning’s must read is an op-ed  from Marco Rubio titled “What Boston means.” 

Rubio employs some pretty strong language against President Obama, charging that “he is failing to explain to the American people the consequences of this conflict, why it is important, what the stakes are, and who our enemy actually is.”

St. Petersburg Political godfather Mike Fasano endorses Chris Sprowls for State House Districct 65

Describing him as a “great public servant”, the political godfather of North Pinellas and Pasco’s, Mike Fasano, is endorsing Chris Sprowls for State House District 65.

The endorsement isn’t much of a surprise as Sprowls is one of Fasano’s proteges. But isn’t that saying something in and of itself?

Fasano joins Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and State Attorney Bernie McCabe in endorsing Sprowls.

St. Petersburg Tell-all offers inside look on Romney campaign

The Boston Globe notes the insider account of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign by Gabriel Shoenfeld — to be pu

St. Petersburg Pinellas Commissioner Janet Long endorses Darden Rice for St. Pete City Council

Today, St. Pete City Council candidate Darden Rice received the endorsement of Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long. 

“I have worked with Darden for several years and have seen firsthand how well she works effectively with others. She is an exemplary young leader who will help lead our region to accomplish thoughtful, sensible, and reasonable policy for job creation, transportation, and conservation,” said Long.  

PolitiJax Florida Morning: Weatherford hits back at Fins - Sanford wins special election - no 'evidence' of retaliation at Citizens

Below is a brief look at today's Florida Morning. Here is the full version.

@Mdixon55 

Rubio meets with conservatives who want immigration bill to move to the right

St. Petersburg Sunburn for 5/8 — A morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics

A morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.

St. Petersburg Scott’s Inspector General: No retailiation in firing of Citizens’ corporate integrity team

A draft report from Gov. Rick Scott’s chief inspector general backs Citizens Property Insurance Corp. leaders who maintained that the four members of the firm’s Office of Corporate Integrity weren’t fired as a retaliatory move.

St. Petersburg Nine things you may not have known were in the state budget

Nine things you may not know were in the state budget, via the News Service of Florida.

St. Petersburg Brandes’ red-light camera amendment spares costs of appeal, while improving upon important safety law

The passage of a 226 page omnibus transportation, which cleared the Florida Senate unanimously and the House with a vote of 114-1, includes provisions intended to remedy various administrative problems with red-light camera ticketing.

PolitiJax Restaurant planned at Bostwick building, if a pile of problems can be resolved

Partners in a St. Johns Town Center wine bar said Tuesday they have a contract to buy the landmark Bostwick building in downtown Jacksonville, and want to open a restaurant there.

But they’re still sifting through information about the condemned 111-year-old building at Bay and Ocean streets, and said they’re trying to understand costs for restoring the site before taking it over.

Naked Politics IG Report finds irregularities, but not retaliation in firing of Citizens Insurance investigators

Last October, four corporate investigators at Citizens Property Insurance Corp. were called into a conference room, asked to sit down, and told their services would no longer be needed.

The bearer of the bad news was one of several company executives who had been implicated in a six-month investigation into corporate misbehavior, large severance packages and sexual harassment at the state-run insurer.

Naked Politics Miami-Dade mayor sees no voter 'animosity' toward him over short-lived Dolphins stadium redo deal

@PatriciaMazzei

The Miami Dolphins’ short-lived quest for a subsidized stadium renovation could have turned out a lot worse for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez: Voters could have handed him a resounding political defeat at the polls had they rejected the deal he negotiated.

But the Florida House of Representatives effectively canceled the referendum, for now shielding the mayor and county commissioners from much of the fallout.

Political Pulse Photos: Scott's teacher-pay tour lands in Ocoee

Gov. Rick Scott paid a visit to Ocoee Middle School to tout the $480 million in his new state budget earmarked for teacher pay raises, Tuesday.

Naked Politics Miami-Dade delays putting affordable-housing developer on vendor list, citing federal probe

@PatriciaMazzei

Miami-Dade commissioners delayed a decision on Tuesday to certify 11 affordable-housing developers because one of the firms, Carlisle Development Group, is under investigation by a federal grand jury.

Naked Politics Miami Dolphins owner promises to give away most of his fortune to charity

via @doug_hanks

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross pledged Tuesday to give away to charity the bulk of his estimated $4 billion fortune once he dies, joining a list of prominent billionaires in the so-called “giving pledge.”

Naked Politics Bondi enlists businesses to help fight sex trafficking in Florida

Attorney General Pam Bondi is turning to Florida businesses to expand her “zero tolerance” campaign to crack down on human trafficking in the state, which has seen an increase of teen runaways, the homeless and immigrants as prime victims.

Naked Politics Marco Rubio pushes back against Jim DeMint/Heritage Report

@learyreports

Sen. Marco Rubio, who kept silent yesteday as the Heritage Foundation released a study asserting massive costs under immigraiton reform, sharply pushed back today and offered up his parents as evidence of the immigrant contribution.

Naked Politics Democrat leader Darryl Rouson leaves Morgan & Morgan, rumors fly

@MarcACaputo

So much for getting cushy high-paying jobs once you get in the state Legislature.

St. Petersburg Democrat Rep. Darryl Rouson is out of work at the heavy-hitting trial lawyer firm Morgan & Morgan because he needs to focus on politics right now, said John Morgan, the firm’s founder.

St. Petersburg Univ. of Florida launches HiPerGator, the state’s most powerful supercomputer

The University of Florida today unveiled the state’s most powerful supercomputer, a machine that will help researchers find life-saving drugs, make decades-long weather forecasts and improve armor for troops. 

The HiPerGator supercomputer and recent tenfold increase in the size of the university’s data pipeline make UF one of the nation’s leading public universities in research computing. 

St. Petersburg What an interesting host committee behind this fundraiser for Darden Rice

Progressive leader Nancy Loehr and former Sheriff Everett Rice.

Progress Florida chief Mark Ferrulo and major GOP donor Jim Holton.

Republican activist Joe Triolo and incoming House Democrat Leader Darryl Rouson.

And, of course, there’s me and Michelle.

What an interesting host committee there is for a fundraiser for City Council District 4 candidate Darden Rice. The event is at Triolo’s home on May 17 with a suggested contribution of $100.

Post on Politics Rep. Gayle Harrell: Probably no announcement before July on congressional bid

Harrell

State Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, tells PostOnPolitics she’s not ready to make an announcement on whether she’ll run for the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast congressional District 18 seat held by freshman Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter.

Naked Politics Political leaders fill Allied Veterans' defense witness list

From the Associated Press:

Some of Florida's top political and law enforcement leaders are named as defense witnesses for a Jacksonville lawyer charged with being the mastermind behind a veterans' charity that prosecutors say was actually a gambling operation.

St. Petersburg George LeMieux, Scott Maddox listed as witnesses in gambling case

Some of Florida’s top political and law enforcement leaders are named as defense witnesses for a Jacksonville lawyer charged with being the mastermind behind a veterans’ charity that prosecutors say was actually a gambling operation, reports the Associated Press.

Naked Politics FAMU hires new band director, but Marching 100's return still uncertain

Florida A&M University announced that alum Sylvester Young will be the new director of the school's Marching 100 band. Young is a 1969 FAMU graduate who once marched in the esteemed but now embattled band.

St. Petersburg Sunshine State Awards announces 2013 finalists for top journalism in state

The 2013 Sunshine State Awards have released their list of finalists in the running for Florida’s top journalism honors, which is open to all print, broadcast and online journalists in Florida.  The competition recognizes quality journalism and is judged by out-of-state professionals.

Among the many categories, a few stand out as relating to politics, government and public affairs.

St. Petersburg Former Crist spox Andrea Saul named new communications director for Lean In

Andrea Saul, former press secretary to presidential candidate Mitt Romney and communications director to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, is setting on a new course as leadership with Facebook’s COO Sheryl Sandberg in the role of communications director for Sandberg’s  Lean In project.

Florida Politics Soto asks Rick Scott to veto foreclosure bill

TALLAHASSEE -- Democratic Sen. Darren Soto is asking Gov.