Florida’s new Democratic members of Congress are already displaying teamwork.

Incoming Reps. Ron Klein of Boca Raton, Tim Mahoney of Palm Beach Gardens, and Kathy Castor of Tampa are jointly hosting a reception for friends and family who will be swarming the Capitol for Thursday’s swearing-in ceremonies at the start of the new 110th Congress.

The three new Florida Dems will be offering Florida delicacies including alligator tail and Key lime pie.

Florida’s two new Republican congressmen — Vern Buchanan from the Sarasota area and Gus Bilirakis from Tarpon Springs — will be having their own open houses in their offices.

Tim Mahoney called on Mark Foley to meet him in eight debates — one in each county of congressional District 16 — between now and Nov. 7.

Mahoney made the challenge Wednesday morning at a breakfast “Hob Nob” sponsored by the Jupiter, Tequesta, Juno Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Foley said the debate schedule would depend on the congressional schedule this fall, but he noted that the two candidates have appeared together at a number of forums such as the Hob Nob, and that more were scheduled.

Mahoney said that’s not good enough — he said he wants structured formal debates, not three-minute quickies like the Hob Nob format.

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Robert Wexler and Ron Klein are heading to Israel next week to meet with top Israeli leaders and visit Kiryat Bialik, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s sister city, which has been hit by Katyusha rockets fired by Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon.

Wexler is traveling as a member of the House International Relations Committee and the ranking Democrat on its Europe and Emerging Threats subcommittee. Klein will be spending his own money, according to his congressional campaign spokesman.

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Clay Shaw raised nearly $1.3 million during the past three months, an amount his campaign says tops any Republican running for the House.

Shaw’s fundraising effort brings his cash-on-hand to more than $3 million. His campaign notes that Shaw raised more money last quarter than the two Democratic candidates for governor combined.

More than 80 percent of Shaw’s contributions came from more than 800 individuals in South Florida. Since January, the campaign said, Shaw has received contributions from 2,400 individuals.

Shaw’s opponent, Democrat Ron Klein, raised about $800,000 for the same period.

State Sen. Ron Klein says it’s time for Rep. E. Clay Shaw Jr. to “get off the fence,” and take a stand on a bill scheduled for a committee vote Wednesday on whether to permit oil and gas drilling
beyond 100 miles off the coast.

Klein issued a press release Tuesday calling on Shaw to “fight to protect Florida against those who are trying to plant oil rigs along the state’s beaches.”

Shaw’s office called the suggestion ridiculous because even if the bill becomes law there won’t be any oil rigs directly along the state’s beaches.

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