Rhee, helping Scott transition, creates new advocacy organization

Michelle Rhee, who resigned as chancellor of D.C. public schools in October and joined Gov.-elect Rick Scott’s transition team for education, unveiled a new education reform advocacy organization this morning called Students First.

Scott names controversial former D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Rhee to transition team

Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott named controversial former Washington, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee to his education transition team Thursday.

The press release from the Scott transition says the education transition team will “help him find innovative ways to create a new education system for a new economy.” The release adds, “The transition team will assist Scott in identifying innovative ideas from the private sector, success stories from other states, cost-saving opportunities and legislative priorities that will help reduce the size of government, improve the education system in Florida and meet the workforce needs necessary to create 700,000 jobs over the next seven years.”

Nelson votes for failed earmark moratorium

The Senate defeated an amendment for a two-year moratorium on earmarks in the food safety bill sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., by a margin of 39-56. Seven Republicans voted against the ban, and seven Democrats — including…

Former Rep. Foley considering run for West Palm Beach mayor

After resigning from his U.S. House seat in late September 2006 amid allegations that he sent sexually explicit instant messages to House pages, former Rep. Mark Foley, a Republican, is considering a comeback run to become mayor of West Palm…

Progressive groups unveil deficit-reduction plan

Our Fiscal Security, a partnership of progressive policy organizations Demos, the Economic Policy Institute and the Century Foundation, unveiled a deficit reduction plan Monday, devoting more attention to revenue increases than other proposals and keeping an “expansionary” fiscal…

First Republican candidate for Florida Senate in 2012 announces

Former Florida Republican candidate for governor Mike McCalister is running for the 2012 Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in a bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, reports The Buzz.
McCallister was an unknown in the governor’s race…

Greer civil suit over severance package thrown out

Former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer sued his employer for cheating him out of a $123,000 severance package, but it turns out he can’t bring the suit while he is under a criminal indictment on charges that…

On Meet the Press, West talks TSA, deficit

Undoubtedly due to his post-election tea party stardom, Rep.-elect Allen West, R-Fort Lauderdale, was a guest on Meet the Press Sunday with regulars like MSNBC commentator Richard Wolffe and Wall Street Journal editorial page editor Paul Gigot. The panel discussed…

Sen.-elect Rubio joins earmark ban, despite requesting $43 million as state legislator

Sen.-elect Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined a Senate effort for a moratorium on earmarks Monday, despite having requested $43 million in earmarks as a Florida House member between 2000 and 2008.

LeMieux’s poll numbers undistinguished as he ends Senate term

Public Policy Polling surveyed the popularity of appointed U.S. senators who didn’t run for reelection in 2010, and all of them except for Ted Kaufman — who turned into a popular progressive voice on…