Bob Buckhorn Takes the Ice Bucket Challenge

Rep. Kathy Castor dared Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn to take the ice bucket challenge. The Mayor used the newly opened Water Works Park to dump water on himself.

The ice bucket challenge is to raise awareness for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. You can donate to help find a cure for ALS here.

Florida Congressionial Delegation Don't Care For You If You Are Palestinian

Tariq Abu Khdeir is a 15-year-old Tampa resident and Palestinian-American. Khdeir was pinned down and repeatedly kicked in the head by Israeli police in East Jerusalem.

Max Blumenthal reports that Khdeir was jailed in a Russian compound. According to Khdeir's family, he was beaten again while held in the compound.

According to Israeli police, Khdeir was involved in a violent protest. Police allege that Khdeir threw molotov cocktails. Khdeir denied participating in the protests to ABC News. If the allegations by the Israeli police are true then why hasn't Khdeir been charged.

Khdeir's family lives in Rep. Kathy Castor's district. Blumenthal reports that Castor's office has been less than helpful.

While sources close to Abu Khdeir's family say Castor's staff has treated the family with respect even as they rebuffed their demands, a distant relative who visited Castor's field office in Washington D.C. to plead for help said she was "yelled out, intimidated, and insulted" by a staffer.

Despite my repeated requests for an interview, members of Castor's staff have refused to discuss the case with me.

In a private letter to Abu Khdeir's family, Castor pointedly stated that she had not called for the teen's release and return to the US. Instead, she assured them that she "requested for Tariq to be provided with the appropriate and needed medical care and for [her] to be kept apprised of any plans of his return to the United States." In a separate letter to the US consulate in Jerusalem, Castor merely stated that she would "appreciate being kept apprised of any plans for the return of Tariq and his parents to the United States."

Rep. Dennis Ross accused Khdeir of being guilty without complete facts.

Though all of the facts surrounding the incident remain somewhat unclear," Ross wrote, "it is widely reported that Tariq was participating in a protest in Palestine in response to the kidnapping and murder of his cousin, a Palestinian teenager."

Sen. Bill Nelson has not issued a statement on Khdeir.

Khdeir gives a more detailed account to the Washington Post.

Assuming that Khdeir was involved in the protests it still doesn't explained why Israeli police continued to kick him in the head after he was already restrained.

Can Castor, Nelson or any other member of the Florida Congressional delegation look at that video and say the police force used was justified. Members of the Florida delegation rather do nothing for a constituent than risk being attacked for being anti-Israel. Leadership is about doing what is right. Leadership is not living in fear of the next two Fox News cycles.

Kathy Castor Hosts a Fundraiser for Alex Sink

No surprise. The Tampa Tribune reports Rep. Kathy Castor will host a fundraiser for congressional candidate Alex Sink.

The event will be Dec. 17 at the new Carlton Ward photography gallery in Hyde Oark. Prices are $5,000 to be a chair, $1,000 to be a host or $250 for admission.

Castor's endorsement and fundraising support is a big help for Sink. Castor is respected by the Democratic establishment and the base.

It is no secret that I am not a Sink fan. However, I am resigned to the fact that Sink will be the Democratic nominee. Sink needs Castor's help convincing progressives to support her. Sink will not run with Obama on the top of the ballot. Sink also needs to have policy pisitions. Sink can't go on MSNBC and draw a blank when asked what she would do about the situation in Syria.

Photo of the Day

It's not everyday you see House Speaker John Boehner hugging Rep. Kathy Castor.

Kathy Castor Endorses Darden Rice

St. Petersburg City Council candidate Darden Rice announced the Rep. Kathy Castor has endorsed her candidacy.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor: "I strongly endorse Darden Rice for the St. Petersburg City Council. Darden Rice is an outspoken advocate for jobs, small businesses and a healthy and clean environment. We have worked together to protect and restore the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay and ensure that our local businesses succeed and grow. Darden and I have also collaborated on equal rights as she values the right for each citizen to vote and will work to ensure our elections are fair and successful."

Tea Party B.S. On Not Shouting Down Elected Leaders

I wrote about tea party members shouting on the floor of the Florida Senate about the Affordable Care Act being unconstitutional. The tea party claims about the Affordable Care Act are bogus. The Supreme Court ruled that ACA is constitutional.

Florida tea party groups realize that their behavior did not garner them positive publicity. Tea party groups sent an apology letter to Committee Chairman Joe Negron.

"Tea Party leaders in Florida as represented by The Florida Alliance have long rejected organized and planned tactics by groups like Code Pink, MoveOn.org and Occupy Wall Street to shout people down in meetings," the Alliance wrote in the letter, which has today's date on it. "Our compatriots were responding from an over-abundance of passion for freedom. They were spontaneously trying to participate in a process that has been frustrating and opaque for years and their response was not pre-meditated and not intended to interfere in your process. However, speaking over a sitting Senator who is using his allotted time to represent his constituents is unacceptable."

Tea party groups don't believe in shouting down elected leaders!?! Let's go to the video. Remember this townhall meeting with Kathy Castor that nearly turned into a riot. You can barely hear Castor above the shouting.

WMNF Interview With Ayele Hunt

Ayele Hunt is the organizer of I Am Choice. The rally in St. Petersburg encourages people to vote. Local Democrats Kathy Castor, Rick Kriseman and Jessica Ehrlich will speak at the event. The highlight of the rally is feminist icon Gloria Steinem making an appearance.

Hunt organized I Am Choice to make citizens aware of Amendment 6 of Florida ballots. This blog has urged voters to vote no on Amendment 6. If it becomes law, Amendment 6 would put more needless restrictions on women seeking an abortion. Hunt pointed out, in her WMNF interview, that Florida operates under the Hyde Amendment. Federal money for abortions is only in the cases of rape, incest or the women's life is in danger due to the pregnancy.

Information on I Am Choice rally.

GOTV Rally When: October 20 Where: Jannus Live, St. Petersburg Time: Doors open at 11:30 AM

GOTV Vote Rally at Jannus Live

Gloriia Steinem will headline the GOTV Rally at Jannus Live, in St. Petersburg. Rep Kathy Castor, State Rep. Rick Kriseman and congressional candidate Jessica Ehrlich will also speak against the rally.

Steinem is at the rally to urge voters to vote no on Amendment 6.

This proposed amendment provides that public funds may not be expended for any abortion or for health-benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. This provision does not apply to an expenditure required by federal law, a case in which a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, or a case of rape or incest. This proposed amendment provides that the State Constitution may not be interpreted to create broader rights to an abortion than those in the United States Constitution. With respect to abortion, this proposed amendment overrules court decisions which conclude that the right of privacy under Article I, Section 23 of the State Constitution is broader in scope than that of the United States Constitution.

Never mind previous legal decisions on a woman's right to privacy. Let's make an amendment that turns back the clock on the reproductive rights of women in Florida.

Please vote no on Amendment 6.

GOTV Rally

When: October 20

Where: Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Time: Doors open at 11:30 AM

Polytechnic is About Crony Capitalism Redux

Brannon Jordan of the Florida Democratic Party released this statement on Gov. Rick Scott signing the split of the Polytechnic from USF.

Tallahassee, FL – Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Brannon Jordan today issued the following statement condemning Gov. Rick Scott for signing a bill to create a Polytechnic University in Lakeland, a pet project of Sen. JD Alexander. “This move is nothing more than an appalling and wasteful power play by the Republicans in Tallahassee. The people of Florida didn’t ask for this university, they don’t need it and can’t afford it.”

Rep. Kathy Castor released this statement.

""Governor Scott's decision will harm existing Florida universities and students. The governor's costly decision follows the GOP-controlled legislature's extreme cuts to higher education and will result in more crowded classrooms and possible damage to Florida's reputation. Great universities are built over time with students, faculty and community support. Unfortunately, Governor Scott turned a blind eye to the best interests of our great states."

The Democratic establishment keep talking as if Scott and J.D. Alexander made Polytechnic independent for conservative education idealogy. This was about crony capitalism. Alexander gets a university he needed to justify building a major road that will increase the value of real estate owned by Blue Atlantic. Scott approved the Sunrail line that would run by warehouses owned by Blue Atlantic. Alexander has used the legislative process to enrich his family's company. Polytechnic was about crony capitalists using tax dollars to enrich themselves. Scott may complain about a government takeover of health care. Scott was forced to step down from Columbia/HCA because of the health care provider's massive overcharging of Medicare and Medicaid. Scott and Alexander aren't fiscally conservative when tax dollars are lining their pockets.

Mayor Buckhorn Promotes R & D Jobs

Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Kathy Castor want to create research and development jobs through the Moffit Cancer Center.

Dems Reaction to Mark Sharpe's Candidacy

Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe (R) announced that he will run for District 11 House of Representatives seat. In the past Castor has ran against walking punch line candidates like Tim Fasano. Redistricting has changed things. Due to the uncertainty, the Florida Democratic Party fired off an email stating their support of Castor.

Statement from Scott Arceneaux, Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party:

“Congresswoman Kathy Castor has a strong record of fighting on behalf of the families of the Tampa Bay area, always putting the interests of the people of Florida ahead of the special interests in Washington,” said Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux. “She is a principled leader working hard to create jobs, improve schools, and protect consumers and the environment. Elected to Congress in the last cycle with overwhelming support, she is a proven fighter on behalf of the people in her district, and we are confident that her constituents will send her back to Congress next fall.”

The Hillsborough County Democratic Party is demanding that Sharpe step down from the Commission.

“Voters in Hillsborough County have a right to full-time representation," states Chris Mitchell, Chair of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee. “Today's announcement makes it clear that Mark Sharpe will be paying attention to his US House campaign, and that is not what people expected when they voted for him last November.”

Candidates hold elected office and run campaigns all the time. I wish both parties would dump this attack. It does say that the Florida Democratic establishment is taking Sharpe's candidacy seriously.

Looks Like Mark Sharpe Is Running

It certainly seems like Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe is going to run against Rep. Kathy Castor. Sharpe talked to The Buzz on his policy positions. It is clear that Sharpe is going to run as a moderate.

Sharpe on the use of military force.

"Before you send a man or woman overseas, you better understand what you're going to do, how you're going to get in, and how you're going to get out," Sharpe said. "I want to have that conversation about military affairs."

Sharpe does not support the Paul Ryan budget plan. Sharpe is interested in using the nearly as bad proposals from the Simpson-Bowles deficit commission.

"They spent a lot of time working on it and it just kind of got dropped. It ought to be part of the conversation," Sharpe said.

Mike Haridopolos would not support Paul Ryan's Medicare proposal. Republican presidential Jon Huntsman said, "I respect the president of the United States." Now Sharpe is positioning himself as a centrist. This is an interesting development. However, it is too early to proclaim the return of the Rockefeller Republicans.

Side note: Sharpe's position on gay rights is right-wing. Sharpe is one of the seven county commissioners that refused to sign a proclamation for GaYBOR DAYS. The only commissioners to sign proclamations were Democrats Kevin Beckner and Les Miller.

Why Mike Bennett Won't Run For Congress

Florida Sen. Mike Bennett is racist and in the pocket of developers. Bennett fits in perfectly in the legislative backwoods known as the Florida legislature. Bennett will never go on to the next level. That is why I laughed when Bennett said he felt a "fire in the belly" to run against Congresswoman Kathy Castor.

Bennett is a C list politician. Castor is a rising star being groomed a leadership role by Nancy Pelosi. Castor's district is one of the safest Democratic districts in the country. Castor's district is bound to look less gerrymandered after redistricting. Castor is still going to keep a solid amount of Democratic voters.

Bennett said that he has "heartburn over constant fundraising, travel and the other demands of running for federal office." Really? Judging by how good Bennett was at shaking down developers for campaign contributions... please.

Bennett has raised $1,318,749 from his campaigns for the Florida House and Senate. Lawyers& lobbyists and real estate are the top two industries that have contributed to his campaigns. Bennett isn't running because he has a problem raising cash. In fact: raising money is the only thing Bennett is competent at. Bennett is afraid of getting his ass kicked by Castor.

Will Justice Department Challenge Florida Election Law

The Florida Congressional delegation asked the Justice Department to investigate the new election law signed by Gov. Rick Scott.

Florida Democrats Seek Investigation of Radical Elections Overhaul

Deutch Authors Letter to Department of Justice

(Boca Raton, FL) Today, the Democratic congressional delegation of Florida united to express their serious concerns over H.B. 1355, the radical and far-reaching overhaul of Floridians’ voting rights currently awaiting Governor Rick Scott’s signature. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-19), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-23), Kathy Castor (FL-11), Frederica Wilson (FL-17), Wasserman Schultz (FL-20), and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) request an evaluation of the bill to determine possible violations of the Voting Rights Act. The Department of Justice has the authority to review state law and block implementation if provisions are determined to disenfranchise voters.

“The role of government should never be to curtail the registration of newly eligible voters or hinder Americans from exercising the most fundamental democratic right afforded by our Constitution,” the delegation writes. “We are confident that any honest examination of this legislation will determine that it is in clear violation of the Voting Rights Act.”

H.B. 1355 contains unprecedented restrictions of the voting rights of Floridians. It all but eradicates voter registration drives conducted by volunteer-based, third party groups like the League of Women Voters, the Boy Scouts of America, and the NAACP. The legislation will also force dozens of legitimate voters to cast provisional ballots by eliminating a decades-old law enabling Floridians with proper identification to update their names and addresses at the polls due to a military family move, marriage, or divorce. H.B. 1355 also slashes the early voting period from 14 days to 6, posing a special challenge to working Floridians and elderly voters who cannot wait on the long lines of Election Day. Additionally, the bill places new restrictions on the validity of absentee ballots, determining them illegal if signatures do not closely enough match those on older state documents.

Read more »

Kathy Castor On Republican Budget

WMNF has an interview with Rep. Kathy Castor. The Tampa Democrats says the Paul Ryan budget would privatize Medicare. Castor wants to after after the tax loopholes that allows several corporations to not pay taxes.

Kathy Castor Against Medicare Privatization

Rep. Kathy Castor comes out against Paul Ryan's plan to privatize Medicare. Ryan proposed repealing the Affordable Care Act.

The Congressional Budget Office scored the House Republicans bill Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act. CBO estimated repealing health care reform would add $145 billion to the deficit by 2019. The federal budget would lose the $130 reduction that the Affordable Care Act legislation created. Repealing Obama's signature legislation will not increase access to health care.

Under H.R. 2, about 32 million fewer nonelderly people would have health insurance in 2019, leaving a total of about 54 million nonelderly residents with insurance coverage would be about 83 percent, compared with a projected share of 94 percent under current law...

The CBO scored that Ryan's budget would increase the deficit and health care premiums for seniors.

Under the proposal, most elderly people who would be entitled to premium support payments would pay more for their health care than they would pay under the current Medicare system. For a typical 65-year-old with average health spending enrolled in a plan with benefits similar to those currently provided by Medicare, CBO estimated the beneficiary's spending on premiums and out-of-pocket expenditures as a share of a benchmark amount: what total health care spending would be if a private insurer covered the beneficiary. By 2030, the beneficiary's share would be 68 percent of that benchmark under the proposal, 25 percent under the extended-baseline scenario, and 30 percent under the alternative fiscal scenario.

Federal payments for Medicaid under the proposal would be substantially smaller than currently projected amounts. States would have additional flexibility to design and manage their Medicaid programs, and they might achieve greater efficiencies in the delivery of care than under current law. Even with additional flexibility, however, the large projected reduction in payments would probably require states to decrease payments to Medicaid providers, reduce eligibility for Medicaid, provide less extensive coverage to beneficiaries, or pay more themselves than would be the case under current law.

This is about Republicans destroying the Great Society programs. This has nothing to do with lowering the deficit or improving health care.

More on Castor's Gulf Coast Bill

Kathy Castor is the sponsor of the Gulf of Mexico Economic and Environmental Restoration Act of 2010. The bill will address payment to the victims of the BP spill and environment clean-up. The Tampa Tribune editorial board has voiced it's support of the bill.

Some fishermen and hoteliers, meanwhile, have gone under or taken tremendous economic hits as Americans changed vacation plans to avoid the predicted damage. Across the country people have stopped buying Gulf shrimp, oysters and game fish, even though tests have, for the most part, indicated most of the catch is safe. The Gulf Coast "brand" has been damaged.

But Castor's bill would help pay for the efforts of the Gulf Coast states affected by the spill â Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana â to rebrand the region. The message is simple: The beaches are beautiful, the water clean and the food safe.

The Tampa Tribune is asking Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson to sponsor a Senate version of the bill. Rubio went on the CNN show The Situation Room to proclaim his support for offshore drilling as oil from the Deep Horizon pipe gushed into the ocean on a video screen behind him.



Sen. Nelson has a good environmental record. Nelson is Castor's best option in the Senate.

One thing the Obama administration can do is get rid of Kenneth Feinberg. People have become increasing unhappy with the way Feinberg as handled claims against BP. The Obama administration can restore confidence by sending Feinberg back to the Treasury Department. Feinberg has only paid out $44.1 million of the $20 billion from BP's compensation fund. Feinberg has been accused of being more concerned with protecting BP's interest than that of Gulf Coast residents. The Castor bill would speed up the claims process.

Kathy Castor's Gulf Coast Bill

Rep. Kathy Castor is the sponsor of the Gulf of Mexico Economic and Environmental Restoration Act of 2010. The bill will set up a Council a State to deal with recovery payment. Castor is unhappy with the slowness of the current payment system set up by the Obama administration and BP America. Keith Overton, Vice-President of TradeWinds Resort told Creative Loafing's Mitch Perry that he has had difficulty dealing with BP Kenneth Fineberg, administrator of the BP Disaster Victim Compensation Fund.

“What’s strange is that when you to talk to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility and they say we’re not paying claim s just yet in that region…yet a property adjoining us has been paid $317,000, and we’ve been paid nothing. “ When CL spoke to Overton directly after the news conference, he said he was referring to the Alden Beach Resort Hotel off of Gulf Blvd.

Overton said that in lieu of receiving any compensation, he’s had to make up for the loss of revenue by reducing all his employees paychecks by 6.5 % since the repercussions of the spill began affecting bookings in the spring. There’s also the fact that the “brand in Florida has been significantly damaged,” Overton said, referring to the tourism industry overall.

Every Gulf Coast state will have to submit a restoration plan to the Council a State. Each state will have to clean the local environment, and submit research on how the spill will affect the state environmentally and financially.

(A) IN GENERAL- The Council shall require a State submitting a State comprehensive restoration plan under this section to ensure that the plan addresses the effects in the State of the Gulf oil spill with regards to the economy, the environment, and public health, both physical and mental.

(B) SPECIFIC ELEMENTS- The Council shall require a State submitting a State comprehensive restoration plan under this section to ensure that the plan specifically addresses the following elements:

(i) Environmental restoration and remediation, including in coastal and marine ecosystems.

(ii) Academic and applied research regarding the economy, environment, and public health.

(iii) Seafood marketing.

(iv) Tourism marketing.

(v) Coastal land acquisition.

(vi) Ecosystem resource planning and coastal and marine spatial planning (as that term is defined in Executive Order 13547 (75 Fed. Reg. 43023)).

(vii) Renewable and clean energy production and development, energy conservation, and related retrofitting projects.

Castor's bill will give grants to each state that has green plans. The plans must be approved by the Council.

(1) CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT- The term `clean energy project' means any electricity generation, transmission, storage, heating, cooling, industrial process, or manufacturing project the primary purpose of which is the deployment, development, or production of an energy system or technology that avoids, reduces, or sequesters air pollutants or anthropogenic greenhouse gases, including projects based on the following energy technologies:

(A) Solar.

(B) Wind.

(C) Geothermal.

(D) Biomass.

(E) Hydropower.

(F) Ocean.

(G) Fuel cell.

(H) Advanced battery.

(I) Carbon capture and sequestration.

(J) Next generation biofuels.

Castor believes she can get bipartisan support for this bill. She is even going to attempt to enlist the support of Senator-elect Marco Rubio. I don't share her optimism. I hope I am wrong. This is an outstanding bill. The payment process has been too slow. John Kerry and Joe Scarborough had a fascinating conversation about America missing a financial opportunity by not going green. They are right. Republican global warning denialist will cite the Exxon-backed Institute for Energy Research as scientific fact. Castor's best hope is to past the bill during the lame duck session.

Kathy Castor on Nancy Pelosi

Kathy Castor is sending out mixed signals about whether or not she supports Pelosi as Minority Leader. I am not sure if Castor is speaking Pelosi running or what she would do if she was in Pelosi's shoes.

Despite the beating, Pelosi wants to remain in command. That's caused discomfort among some Democrats, including Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa. "I was surprised the speaker wanted to return as minority leader," Castor told the Buzz in an e-mail. "I would have been in favor of a fresh start."

I wonder if Pelosi is wishing she told President Obama that there would be no health care bill without the public option. Obama, Rahm Emanuel and David Alexrod thought people being mandated to buy health insurance would be politically more popular than a volantary public option.

Nelson and Castor on Light Rail

Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Kathy Castor spoke at USF about light rail. Nelson wants the Florida Department to handle management over light rail construction. Nelson warns against mismanagement that could cause delays. Castor stumps that many Florida contractors would get jobs on the light rail project.





Nazih Haddad, Chief Operating Officer for Florida Rail Enterprise said the light rail line would (likely) extend Downtown Tampa to the Orlando International Airport. The Tampa International Airport makes more sense than downtown. The City of Tampa has been trying to get light rail to TIA. There has been no clear word on if that will happen. Stay tuned.