Under fire from a pack of Republican challengers, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson raised more than $1.8 million over the past three months for his re-election, his campaign reported Tuesday.

Nelson’s campaign was quick to point out that the top Republican fund-raiser this quarter, George LeMieux, had collected half the Democrat’s total since April 1.

LeMieux collected $950,000 to Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ $900,000 over the past three months. Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner of Delray Beach collected $560,000. A fourth likely well-heeled Republican, former Ruths’ Chris steakhouse CEO Craig Miller was flying around the state Tuesday, making his formal entry into the race.

“The support so far is adding to the momentum that’s building for Sen. Nelson’s re-election,” said Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith. “It’s a sign of strength and broad-based support.”

The Florida Republican Party pulled in $3.5 million in the three months ending June 30, more than three times that collected by state Democrats during the span, new finance records show.

Health care companies, a private prison firm, and utilities were among the GOP’s biggest givers — cash that tracked some of the biggest issues of the 2011 legislative session, ongoing for most of the reporting period.

Still, a relatively modest $5,000 contribution from Jacksonville Greyhound Racing is noteworthy because of its timing. The check was posted by the party on May 6 — the same day the Orange Park dog track played a central role in the chaotic closing hours of the Legislature.

A duel between the House and Senate over a tax break for the track — a political favorite of Senate Rules Chairman John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine — forced the session to spill into overtime.

 The House insisted on removing the tax break from what was considered must-pass legislation, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, later said he was “embarrassed” by the stand-off between the two chambers, which also drew veiled questions about the U.S. Senate contender’s leadership skills.

Other GOP contributions were more conventional — and cash-laden. U.S. Sugar Corp., donated $225,000, Nextera Energy, the parent company of Juno Beach-base Florida Power & Light, gave $250,000, and the Boca Raton-based Geo Group, which hopes to gain a big portion of the state’s plan to privatize prisons across 18 counties, including Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, gave $100,000 to the Florida GOP.

What’s in a name?

About $426,000 if you’re Conservatives for a Better Jacksonville, the political committee, which poured money into the Florida Democratic Party in the month leading up to Alvin  Brown’s mayoral election in May. “Conservatives,” who haven’t filed a campaign finance report yet, are headed by Mark Herron, the Tallahassee elections lawyer who usually works Democratic Party issues.

The election of a black Democrat as Jacksonville mayor has been a rallying point for Florida Democrats. And for the party, the money steered through it by “Conservatives,” amounts to more than one-third of the $1.1 million collected during the three months ending  June 30.

The Florida Republican Party’s finance total was not posted on the state Elections  Division website Monday night.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate George LeMieux on Monday became the last of the big three GOP challengers to Democrat Bill Nelson to tout his latest finance total — but he is claiming victory in the dollar race.

LeMieux’s campaign said that in the quarter ending June 30, it took in more than $950,000 — edging Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ $900,000 collected, and the $560,000 former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner of Delray Beach is reporting raising.

“With contributors from all over Florida, George’s campaign continues to strengthen and his grassroots momentum is reflected in his fundraising success,” campaign manager Brian Seitchik wrote on LeMieux’s website.

Haridopolos, who has been in the race longest, remains the leading money-raiser to date, with $3.4 million collected so far. Fund-raising details aren’t expected to be provided at least until reports are due July 15. Nelson hasn’t revealed his cash totals yet.

The Republican contest also is poised to grow further, with former Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse CEO Craig Miller to announce his candidacy this week. Miller ran for Congress in Central Florida last fall, finishing third in the Republican primary field behind Sandy Adams, the Orlando Republican who went on to defeat Democratic  U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas.

Term-limited state Sen. Mike Bennett abruptly ended his bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor on Monday, blaming a “fire in the belly” problem and frustration with spending most of his time fund-raising.

Bennett, 66, a Bradenton Republican who doesn’t live in Castor’s Tampa-area district, announced his candidacy late last month.

 At the time, Bennett said he was prepared to move to challenge the Democratic incumbent if redistricting next year didn’t tuck him into the boundaries served by Castor.

On Monday, Bennett called it quits. 

“In all honesty, I quickly realized that the ‘fire’ I was feeling was heartburn over constant fundraising, travel and the other demands of running for federal office. Traveling the world and fishing are candidly things I’m looking forward to catching up on when my term in the Florida Senate comes to an end,” Bennett said.

Two ethics complaints against Gov. Rick Scott’s ownership of Solantic, Corp., the urgent care company he is planning to sell, have been dismissed, the Florida Commission on Ethics said Wednesday.

The commission found the complaints were legally insufficient to move forward. The decision was reached by the commission during its closed-door hearing Friday.

“I’m very comfortable that I’ve been transparent in all my business dealings,” Scott said Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, during a break in the annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference. “And as you know…basically everything you do is public record, and I’ve filed lots of things.”

Scott, who reported a net worth of $218 million when he filed as a candidate for governor last year, has taken an evolving public stance on Solantic. (more…)

After almost three hours of withering criticism from union representatives, a Senate panel approved legislation Wednesday that would bar governments from deducting dues for labor organizations.

Union officials testified that the legislation (CS/SB 830) was “union-busting,” designed to blunt the political power of organizations which last fall opposed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Senate sponsor John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who last year was chairman of the state GOP.

But Thrasher insisted the measure is merely to shield state and local governments from playing a role in partisan politics with the payroll deductions.

“This is what I campaign on last year, and that’s limited government,” Thrasher said. “Government should not be the tax collector for unions.”

But Dwight Mattingly, a West Palm Beach transit union worker, said the legislation will hurt.

“This bill does not empower me,” Mattingly said. “It takes away my ability to have a voice.” (more…)

About 1,000 protesters rallied Tuesday across the street from the state Capitol, blasting Gov. Rick Scott and Republican lawmakers for advancing an array of bills condemned as union-busting.

Many of those crowding the grounds of the Leon County Courthouse wore green shirts bearing the motto, “Let’s Pull Together.” The shirts also were emblazoned with the logo for AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.”

“Sure, I’m worried about what’s going on,” said Shelton Locklear, 64, a carpenter, and 31-year employee of the Polk County School Board. “They’re making us pay for pensions, that’s a pay cut for us.”

Locklear, who said he hadn’t drawn an across-the-board pay raise in three years, acknowledged Scott and legislative leaders looked certain to make the pension changes. But he said he hoped a show of political force by unions might blunt the push.

Nearby, a voter registration table was set up. And Florida AFL-CIO President Mike Williams drew a stark contrast between the crowd gathered across the street from the Capitol, and the lawmakers inside the 22-story structure.

“It’s all about taking care of the corporate executives who bankrolled the companies that put our legislators into office,” Williams told those gathered. “There’s one voice, one group that stands in the way of the right-wing ideology — it’s organized labor.” (more…)

Following the latest firefight between Democrats and Republicans, the GOP-dominated House OK’d legislation Friday that would bar state and local governments from collecting payroll deductions for union dues.

Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, in line to become House speaker in three years, if Republicans hold the majority, sponsored the measure (CS/HB 1021), which he said would keep the state out of “partisan politics.”

“There are other ways for unions to collect their dues that don’t involve state resources,” Dorworth said. On the Senate side, a former Florida Republican Party, Sen. John Thrasher, is sponsoring the measure.

The House approved the measure in a mostly party-line, 73-40 vote. The Senate bill (CS/SB 830) has at least one more committee stop before facing a full vote.

“Do not put lipstick on this elephant,” said Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, adding the measure, “is about silencing the voices of working men and women.”

The measure also allows public employee union members to demand a refund of dollars spent on any union political activity with which they didn’t agree.

Thrasher, who last year guided the state’s GOP to campaign victories that tightened the party’s grip on power in Florida, has said the measure is designed to “empower unions” by making them collect their dues rather than the state. Automatic payroll deductions for union dues has been a common practice by state and local governments, including school boards, for decades.

Union representatives have said it is part of a national effort aimed at scuttling the political influence of teachers, police, firefighters and public employees’ organizations, which campaigned for Democrats last fall and are leading demonstrations against Republican policies this spring.

Unions, including the Florida Police Benevolent Association and Florida Education Association, poured millions of dollars into Democratic campaigns last fall.

Unlike Wisconsin and Ohio, where state capitals have been engulfed in opposition to efforts aimed at ending collective bargaining, union membership in Florida is voluntary.

The Florida Constitution shields workers from being forced to join a union. The constitution, though, also guarantees workers’ right to collective bargaining, a provision Republican Gov. Rick Scott last month said he would like to see repealed.

The House looks poised to take another swipe at former Gov. Charlie Crist, with Speaker Dean Cannon saying Monday that veto overrides could be coming this week on a couple of bills.

The House is looking to revive legislation killed by Crist that would give party leaders in both chambers enhanced authority over campaign cash they collect. The leadership funds legislation and another vetoed bill, shielding farm land from certain local fees, were both advanced Friday by the House State Affairs Committee.

The House has scheduled lengthy floor sessions Thursday and Friday. A two-thirds vote there would position the measures for similar Senate action.

Candidates for governor could rake in up to $10,000 in individual contributions – currently capped at $500 – under campaign finance measure approved by the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee this morning by a 7-5 vote.

The bill (SB 1690), sponsored by freshman Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, would recreate the state’s pre-1991 tiered campaign contribution caps.
Under the proposal, individuals, political committees or CCEs could contribute a maximum of:
-$10,000 to a candidate for governor;
-$5,000 to other statewide candidates;
-$2,500 to state House or Senate candidates or other multi-county offices;
-$1,000 to candidates for county-wide offices or judges, including judges up for merit retention.

Lawmakers did away with the tiered system in 1991 after the state created public financing for candidates.

Diaz de la Portilla said the change is necessary because campaigns are so expensive.

“It’s a reality that you need to raise money in order to run for office,” he said. “By raising the limits back to a tiered system, I think those candidates for public office can spend a lot less time making phone calls for contributions, keeping track of contributions and more time talking to voters.”

House Speaker Dean Cannon  and Senate President Mike Haridopolos sent memos Monday to  lawmakers, noting they could still consider a number of overrides to vetoes made last spring by former Gov. Charlie Crist.

But is the real target here new Gov. Rick Scott?

The memos warning that the Republican-led Legislature is ready to exert its muscle, follows Scott’s decision Friday to freeze at least until July $235 million in contracts for SunRail, the Central Florida commuter rail hailed by Cannon, Haridopolos and most other Orlando-area lawmakers.

 The delay threatens the $1.2 billion rail project. And it comes just weeks after the Republican governor antagonized many lawmakers — and was unsuccessfully sued by two of them — after refusing the federal government’s offer of $2.4 billion for high-speed rail linking Tampa to Orlando.

The two leaders’ notes are worded cautiously. But the intent is clear: Scott can mess with lawmakers, but they can mess right back.

” I am directing the committee chairs to evaluate potential veto overrides in their area and, should they find a candidate for an override, to conduct a public hearing on the bill,” Cannon wrote. ” The House will take up any override formally recommended by a committee.”

Haridopolos wrote, “Over the past few weeks, several members of the Senate have also expressed an interest in considering some of the remaining vetoed bills, and it is my desire to be open and inclusive in considering these requests.”

 Budget vetoes and slightly more than a dozen bills are eligible for override, the leaders wrote. Included are one measure that would shift the state’s Department of Management Services away from sole oversight by Scott and put it under the authority of the governor and the three independently elected Cabinet officers.

Another would create so-called leadership funds. These accounts would give legislative leaders total control of what typically is millions of dollars in campaign cash they raise but must deposit within the state’s political parties.

The three U.S. Senate candidates began the last month of their campaigns exactly like their standings in the polls: GOP candidate Marco Rubio had $5.5 million left in the bank; independent Charlie Crist had $1.39 million and Democrat Kendrick Meek had $415,042.

Reports of fundraising activity in September were due Oct. 15, but there is always a lag in the posting by the Federal Election Commission.  While Rubio’s has been available online for awhile,  Crist’s just turned up over the weekend and Meek’s still hasn’t. His campaign provided a copy today of his latest campaign finance report.

Overall, Rubio has raised $16.9 million, Crist $13.3 million and Meek $7.8 million.

In a fundraising appeal over the weekend, Crist emphasized Rubio’s Saturday appearance in Orlando with tea party darling Sarah Palin. “Contribute now to stop Sarah Palin and Marco Rubio from handing Florida over to the radical right,” he wrote in an email to ‘concerned citizens.”

Meek’s campaign quickly responded, dubbing  Crist’s criticism of Rubio’s association with Palin as another case of “political amnesia.” Two years ago, staffers pointed out, Crist campaigned with Palin and even deemed her fit to be the next U.S. president.

Republican congressional candidate Allen West’s money-raising numbers — $838,450 last quarter, more than $2 million overall — are among the most impressive in the nation.

But his burn rate has raised a few eyebrows.

West has already spent $977,853, including more than $500,000 on a direct mail effort that so far has yielded about $400,000 in contributions. But West and his team are confident the strategy will pay off in the long run.

Read about it in this week’s Politics column.

Republican congressional candidate, YouTube celebrity and fund-raising phenom Allen West has raked in more than $2 million in contributions for his challenge of U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton. But he’s already spent $977,853 — primarily on a direct-mail campaign with a group of Washington firms.

Reports filed Thursday show West raised $838,445 in the first quarter of 2010 to Klein’s $456,263. It was the second quarter in a row that West out-raised Klein in their nationally watched race. Overall, West has $1.1 million cash on hand while Klein has nearly $2.7 million in the bank.

Democrat Chris Craft’s report shows why he dropped his challenge of U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta. Craft raised only $29,909 in the first quarter before announcing his departure March 26.

Rooney raised $200,974 in the quarter and has $579,527 cash on hand. He was outdone during the quarter by his younger brother, Michigan U.S. House hopeful Brian Rooney, who raised $325,041 and has $443,005 on hand for his race up north.

Republican congressional hopeful Allen West, whose viral YouTube video helped him raise $677,586 in the last quarter of 2009 and gain national attention, raised $838,449 during the first quarter of 2010, his consultant said.

West has raised more than $2 million overall for his challenge of U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton. West’s campaign, which has spent heavily on a direct-mail effort, has more than $1.1 million cash on hand, consultant Ed Brookover said this morning.

Klein had nearly $2.4 million cash on hand as of Dec. 31. He hasn’t released a first-quarter report. Reports are due Thursday.

Senate GOP leaders are still steamed over Gov. Charlie Crist’s veto of a campaign finance bill (HB 1207) would have allowed legislative leaders to have fundraising accounts separate from those of the state parties.

Lawmakers outlawed the “leadership funds” more than two decades ago, and Crist in his veto letter wrote that they “allowed legislative leaders to solicit and accept campaign contributions during the legislative session from lobbyists and interest groups outside of the public view.”

An outraged Senate President-Designate Mike Haridopolos blasted Crist yesterday for not reading the bill and today Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander, never a big fan of Crist’s to begin with, said the governor’s comments were inaccurate. Lawmakers are prohibited from raising campaign money during the legislative session but the governor is not. And Crist has kept busy fundraising for his U.S. Senate primary against former House Speaker Marco Rubio throughout the legislative session that began more than five weeks ago.

“So that seems a bit hypocritical to have some of the complaints that he raised in his veto when I believe the bill, although it may not go as far as some would like, could have provided more transparency on fundraising for House and Senate leaders in the party than we’ve had,” said Alexander, R-Lake Wales. “But he’s the governor and that’s his prerogative.”

Crist on Wednesday defended his veto. “I just think it was the right thing to do,” Crist said. “Given the current climate, dealing with those slush funds, the last thing we should do is put the stamp of approval on them. So we vetoed them.”

Haridopolos got even more riled at Crist’s characterization of the “slush funds” and had this to say on Thursday: “You can’t say you shouldn’t be fundraising during session when you’re doing it yourself and you have the extended veto period. I mean, if you want to go completely clean, that’s great. But you can’t say it’s okay if you do it and it’s not okay if we do it.”

Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a campaign finance measure pushed by GOP lawmakers that would have given powerful legislative leaders the ability to open “leadership funds” to influence elections.

Crist said in his veto letter that the accounts, done away with by lawmakers more than two decades ago, “allowed legislative leaders to solicit and accept campaign contributions during the legislative session from lobbyists and interest groups outside of the public view.”

The bill (HB 1207) also would have shed light on electioneering communications organizations, or ECOs, that advertise against candidates or issues without having to identify who they are.

Crist, who is running for U.S. Senate, liked that part of the proposal and asked lawmakers to send him back a revised version.

Democrats praised Crist’s veto while his partisan colleagues blasted it.

“If Governor Crist was serious about giving the people of Florida real election reform and providing accountability for the campaign activity of leaders in the Legislature and at the state’s political parties, he would have made this the law of our great state,” Senate Majority Leader Alex Diaz de la Portilla said in a statement.

“Instead, the veto indicates he may be more interested in protecting the status quo and scoring points in his quest for higher office, than he is in providing the people of Florida real and meaningful election reforms,” Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, said.

But Sen. Dan Gelber lauded Crist’s action.

“It was the right thing to do. Floridians are tired of the shenanigans that are increasingly defining state government. The bill was a step in the wrong direction, and I think Gov. Crist recognized so. We need to put an end to cash register politics, not enable it,” Gelber, D-Miami Beach, said in a statement. Gelber is running statewide for attorney general.

Gov. Charlie Crist is remaining mum as the clock ticks down on the midnight deadline to act on a bill that would allow legislative leaders to revive campaign accounts known as leadership funds to impact elections.

Crist can sign the bill (HB 1207) into law, veto it or do nothing and allow it to become law on its own if he does not act by midnight tonight.

Crist’s response to what he will do with the bill was to ask a reporter if he should sign it.

“I’m not sure yet. What would you advise? You’re a citizen too,” Crist asked Jim Ash, Capitol bureau chief of the Tallahassee Democrat and Gannett News Service.

“I’m not allowed to say,” Ash demurred.

“You’re not allowed to say?” Crist asked.

The exchange took place in an elevator en route to the 22nd floor where Crist was scheduled to give a speech to chiropractors.

When pressed, Crist said he hasn’t made up his mind.

“No, not yet. Not yet. Sort of focused on the chiropractors now. Trying to compartmentalize,” Crist said.

Republican lawmakers in both the House and the Senate quickly pushed the measure through both chambers and sent it to Crist last week. Most Democrats, including Sen. Dan Gelber who is running for attorney general, object to the funds.

Gelber repeated his request of Crist to veto the measure in a letter sent this afternoon.

“I don’t believe this is or should be a partisan issue. These committees fell into ill repute years ago when Democrats were in control of the legislature and that is why they were outlawed. Now, with voter confidence in their government at a frighteningly low level, is not the time to bring them back. These leadership funds would allow staff working for legislators to actually fundraise during the legislative session. That sends the wrong message and I believe would result in the kind of cash register politics that justifies the dim view of government that Floridians seem to have,” Gelber, D-Miami Beach, wrote.

The proposal would essentially renew a law barred two decades ago that permitted the House Speaker, Senate President and minority leaders in both chambers to have “leadership funds” used to dole out money to candidates without oversight by political committees.

Legislative leaders would be allowed to raise campaign cash and give it out to candidates outside of the state political parties’ coffers under a measure on its way to Gov. Charlie Crist for signature.

The proposal would essentially renew a law barred two decades ago that permitted the House Speaker, Senate President and minority leaders in both chambers to have “leadership funds” used to dole out money to candidates.

The measure would also crack down on “electioneering communication organizations,” or ECOs, in the aftermath of a recent court decision that allow the political groups to run attack ads without revealing much of who’s behind them.

Sen. Ted Deutch, a Boca Raton Democrat who is running for Congress, and other Democrats objected to that portion of the election reform (HB 1207) because they don’t want “to let people see the six figure contributions that are coming in from special interests. We should ban them.”

The bill creates “affiliated party committees,” or APCs, much like the old leadership funds lawmakers outlawed 20 years ago because they gave lobbyists too much influence in the legislature.

Republicans argued that the change would shed light on a practice that’s already taking place in the shadows.

“Money’s being raised,” said Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, who is slated to take over as Senate President next year. “We want to make it so the funds aren’t in one big pool. We want to separate it out so people can be accountable…. this is sunshine. People deserve to know when they see the commercials on TV where the money came from. We are opening up the books.”

Sens. Paula Dockery, a Lakeland Republican running for governor, and Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, were the only Republicans to vote against the measure.

Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, and Democratic Sens. Jeremy Ring of Margate and Gary Siplin of Orlando joined Republicans in the 25-11 vote.