Skidmore proposes statewide protections for transgender people as Tampa enacts rule locally

2009-11-20T18:15:02-05:00

One day after the Tampa City Council voted to protect transgender people from discrimination, state Rep. Kelly Skidmore has filed a perennial state bill that would do the same.

Like the city’s new…

Get your Bill McCollum autograph today! GOP reigns supreme on eBay (updated)

2009-11-20T17:11:48-05:00

The 2010 races are fueling more than fund-raisers and flurries of press releases. They’re also spawning eBay auctions. A quick round of searches on contenders for statewide office produced hits including:

-Five copies of the Sept. 7, 2009 National Review featuring GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio—$15.65 a-piece. One seller is…

Unemployment in Florida reaches 11.2 percent; debate over federal aid continues

2009-11-20T10:37:49-05:00

This just in from the state Agency for Workforce Innovation: Florida’s unemployment rate inched up again last month to 11.2 percent, reflecting the fact the fact that 1.027 million Floridians were out of work.

That’s just a hair worse that September’s rate of 11.1 percent, but a full percentage…

Rubio within 10 points of Crist? So says Daily Kos poll

2009-11-19T15:47:41-05:00

A poll done by Research 2000 for the liberal Daily Kos web site says Marco Rubio has pulled to within 10 points of Gov. Charlie Crist in the Republican U.S. Senate primary.

A sample of Republican voters in the poll split 47 percent for Crist and…

Sink’s CFO office chief to move to campaign

2009-11-19T14:55:24-05:00

Jim Cassady, chief of staff for state of the state Department of Financial Services for Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, is going to move over to Sink’s campaign for governor—but not as campaign manager.

The Sink campaign for governor already has a top administrator, campaign manager Paul Dunn.

Dunn…

AG race could be a contest of dog lovers

2009-11-19T14:16:40-05:00

If Pam Bondi gets into the Republican primary for Florida attorney general, it could be a contest among dog lovers.

Bondi, an assistant state attorney and press spokeswoman in the Hillsborough state attorney’s office, is considering running against Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and former state health care administration Chief Holly…

Meek tries to pin down Crist on unemployment compensation aid

2009-11-19T10:15:36-05:00

Following word that Florida employers could face a major tax increase for unemployment compensation next year, Kendrick Meek is trying to pin down Gov. Charlie Crist on accepting federal unemployment aid under the stimulus package.

The fund that pays unemployment compensation claims in Florida is running dry because of the…

Rubio backer collects $$ from Crist buddies

2009-11-18T15:06:20-05:00

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint is one of the most prominent Republicans nationally to endorse Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate primary against Gov. Charlie Crist—but that apparently hasn’t hurt his ability to raise money from Crist allies in Florida.

During a campaign trip through Florida this weekend, DeMint will…

GOP “emergency meeting” tomorrow; Okaloosa party votes against Greer

2009-11-18T14:48:28-05:00

A meeting to discuss the concerns of state Republican Party officials worried about the administration of the party—including some upset at state Chairman Jim Greer—will be held tomorrow near Orlando.

Meanwhile, Okaloose County Republican Party Chairman Barbara Wall confirmed that two nights ago, the county party organization passed a resolution…

Dockery snags endorsement from former GOP chairman Tom Slade

2009-11-18T15:04:16-05:00

Tom Slade, former chairman of the state Republican Party of Florida, has “enthusiastically endorsed” state Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland for governor, according to a statement just released by her campaign.

Slade, of Jacksonville, led the state GOP during the 1990s when Gov. Jeb Bush was running for governor.…