Florida Democratic Party News Clips – July 25, 2012

OFA UP WITH NEW AD: “ALWAYS” 

WRITING WHINY OPEN LETTERS INSTEAD OF SHOWING UP FOR WORK, Connie Mack competing with Charlie Rangel for most missed votes [Tampa Bay Times] “Over the first half of the year the Fort Myers Republican missed more than 31 percent of the House votes taken this year. That gives him the seventh worst record in the House. But most of the other chronic vote-missers have some extenuating circumstances…Exclude those representatives, and Mack’s record is worse than every member of congress except Democrat Charlie Rangel of New York.”

ANOTHER OPEN LETTER?! Connie Mack can’t quit Adam Smith [Politico] “In the latest installment of the long-running drama between the Florida GOP congressman and the reporter he loves to hate, Connie Mack’s Senate campaign has issued yet another press release disparaging Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.”

MACK’S HOMETOWN PAPER REFUSES TO ENDORSE HIM The U.S. Senate scenario [Naples Daily News editorial] “Now we better understand why U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, R-Fort Myers, refuses to debate his opponent for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. Dr. David Weldon of Melbourne is a bright, extremely well-informed and experienced candidate who has a strong conservative vision for the future…The Daily News withholds our endorsement”

ADDING TO THE IMPLOSION, Connie Mack’s campaign violated election law, filing says [Tampa Bay Times] “A Jacksonville lawyer has filed an FEC complaint against Connie Mack’s Senate campaign for allegedly violating federal election law through the purchase of Brooks Brothers clothing.”

ON THE CONGRESSIONAL FRONT — EHRLICH, FITZGERALD CLOSING IN 

Democrats say robo polls has upside for Jessica Ehrlich in contest with C.W. Bill Young [Tampa Bay Times] “The DCCC is touting a robo poll in Florida’s 13th Congressional district that shows longtime Rep. C.W. Bill Young below 50 percent…A polling memo makes the case for Ehrlich”

Fitzgerald closing gap on Buchanan? [Sarasota Herald Tribune] “Fitzgerald’s campaign is releasing his own partial internal polls that show the race is far closer…Dustin Ingalls, Fitzgerald’s pollster, says in a memo that the 16th Congressional District leans slightly in favor of Republicans, but ‘this is definitely a winnable seat for Democrats.'”

RICK SCOTT’S ADMINISTRATION WASTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS  State loses yet another round in prison privatization saga [Miami Herald] “Yet another legal setback for Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature in their efforts to expand privatization in state prisons.”

Audit finds Florida poorly spent federal stimulus grants meant for energy projects [Palm Beach Post] “Florida received the third-highest amount of energy-related stimulus money in the nation but ranks nearly last in the amount spent thus far on the programs, according to an audit released by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam’s office Tuesday.”

OTHER NEWS WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Florida GOP racking up legal bills in Jim Greer case [Tampa Bay Times] “The party has already paid more than $260,000 to three Tallahassee lawyers who are defending the party, former chairman John Thrasher, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon against a civil suit brought by Greer over the agreement. And there is no end in sight.”

Budget office: Obama health law reduces deficit [AP] “President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul will shrink rather than increase the nation’s huge federal deficits over the next decade, Congress’ nonpartisan budget scorekeepers said today, supporting Obama’s contention in a major election-year dispute with Republicans.”

Giving Healthcare to the Poor Lowers Health Costs for Everyone [US News and World Report guest column by Rep. Randolph] “Under the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama finally attempted to meet the challenge of stopping these hidden middle-class costs”

Coalition presents 15,000 petition signatures urging Gov. Scott to protect Silver, Rainbow springs [Florida Current] “Members of the Florida Conservation Coalition on Tuesday gave Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. petitions they said were signed by more than 15,000 people calling for more protection for Silver and Rainbow springs in Marion County.”