The tea party movement muscled its way into the American political psyche over the past year with huge rallies, angry voters and colorful rhetoric. It’s not clear how much voters are responding, but in Florida, at least, the Republican Party appears to have taken notice.

GAETZ COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT SPILL LEGISLATION
A Senate committee will consider tax relief for property owners affected by the oil spill later this month, along with other possible legislative changes reacting to the crisis.

The Florida TEA Party claims that two of its candidates who were bounced from the fall ballot were victims of "ticky-tack technicalities" at the state Division of Elections.

James Ferentinos and Marshall DeRosa "did not name a depository as required by statute," said Jennifer Krell Davis, communications director for the Florida Department of State.

The TEA Party of Florida squares off against 33 local tea parties and individual Floridians in federal district court in West Palm Beach Wednesday.

The TEA Party, which was sued by rival tea organizations for co-opting the name, seeks dismissal of the lawsuit.