Farewell

This blog is being closed and further updates will be featured on Florida Congress Watch. Check us out over there.

From the Blogs

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

The Reid Report: Melly Mel with the clientele...

Why Now?: What A Surprise

Blog to 2010 & Beyond: Mel slides out of office in his own slime

Pensito Review (Trish): Which of These Stories Will Get the Most Play? We’re Betting on the Third One

From the Blogs

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

Bark Bark Woof Woof: Behind Closed Doors

Sunshine Statements: Where's Charlie, and There Goes Mel

FLA Politics: Mel Martinez: "Karl Rove's Florida Frankenstein"

Pushing Rope: Quote of the Day

Capitol Offense: Where Is Congress on the Public Option

Today, I'm joining with Democracy for America, Health Care for America Now and Open Left in supporting the Stand With Dr. Dean Campaign. The idea is to put pressure on our members of Congress to find out where they stand on health care reform and whether or not they support Dr. Howard Dean's call for a reform that includes a public option. See Dean's statement here:



Chris Bowers has suggested that we use crowdsourcing techniques to find out where everyone in Congress stands, which also helps pressure them to take the right stand. So here's the plan:

1. Contact your member of Congress via e-mail and ask them the following questions:

1--Do you support a public healthcare option as part of healthcare reform?
2--If so, do you support a public healthcare option that is available on day one?
3--Do you support a public healthcare option that is national, available everywhere, and accountable to Congress?
4--Do you support a public healthcare option that can bargain for rates from providers and big drug companies?

Don't call, do this via e-mail because we want a written response. If they are vague in answering these questions, contact them again and ask for clarification. If they don't answer you, keep contacting them (and have your friends and family contact them) until they do give you the answers.

2. Forward the responses to me at quinnelk@hotmail.com. We're going to publish an official response from as many of our members as possible so we know where everyone is. And we'll keep a track of who isn't responding so we know who to put pressure on. Similarly, once we find out who is on board and who isn't, we know who to put further pressure on down the road.

3. If you have your own blog, post the responses there, too. The more public pressure we can put on Congress, the easier we make it for them to do the right thing.

Here is the public contact info for each of our Florida members of Congress:

Rep Gus Bilirakis R FL-9 http://bilirakis.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=44

Rep Allen Boyd D FL-2 http://www.house.gov/boyd/zip_authen.html

Rep Corrine Brown D FL-3 http://www.house.gov/corrinebrown/IMA/issue.shtml

Rep Virginia Brown-Waite R FL-5 https://forms.house.gov/brown-waite/IMA/issue_subscribe.htm

Rep Vern Buchanan R FL-13 http://buchanan.house.gov/contact.shtml

Rep Kathy Castor D FL-11 https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

Rep Ander Crenshaw R FL-4 https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

Rep Lincoln Diaz-Balart R FL-21 http://diaz-balart.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Contact

Rep Mario Diaz-Balart R FL-25 http://www.house.gov/formmariodiaz-balart/ic_zip_auth.htm

Rep Alan Grayson D FL-8 https://forms.house.gov/grayson/contact-form.shtml

Rep Alcee Hastings D FL-23 http://www.alceehastings.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=

Rep Ron Klein D FL-22 klein.ron.web@flsenate.gov

Rep Suzanne Kosmas D FL-24 https://forms.house.gov/kosmas/contact-form.shtml

Rep Connie Mack R FL-14 http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactConnie.ContactForm

Sen Melquiades Martinez R FL http://martinez.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorMartinez

Rep Kendrick Meek D FL-17 http://kendrickmeek.house.gov/contact1.shtml

Rep John Mica R FL-7 http://www.house.gov/mica/messageform.shtml

Rep Jeff Miller R FL-1 http://jeffmiller.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

Sen Bill Nelson D FL http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Rep Bill Posey R FL-15 http://posey.house.gov/Contact/

Rep Adam Putnam R FL-12 http://adamputnam.house.gov/contact.shtml

Rep Tom Rooney R FL-16 https://forms.house.gov/rooney/contact-form.shtml

Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R FL-18 http://www.house.gov/writerep

Rep Clifford Stearns R FL-6 http://www.house.gov/writerep

Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz D FL-20 schultz.debbie.web@flsenate.gov

Rep Robert Wexler D FL-19 http://wexler.house.gov/email.shtml

Rep C. W. Bill Young R FL-10 bill.young@mail.house.gov

We'll also post the results of these at the WatchBlogs dedicated to each Republican member and at the Florida Democratic News blog.

You can also sign the petition on health care here.

I'm Kenneth Quinnell and I approve this message.

Read more on Florida politics at the Florida Progressive Coalition blog (http://flaprogressives.org) and the Florida Progressive Coalition Wiki (http://quinnell.us/sspb/wiki/).

MARTINEZ: JUDICIAL NOMINEES DESERVE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE

From Mel Martinez:

U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today said he was hopeful the Senate could find a way to work together to give judicial nominees an up-or-down vote and end the unprecedented filibusters of nominees.

At a press conference today with other freshman Senators to urge that judicial nominees be given an up or down vote, Martinez said:

“On January 4th, I was sworn in as Florida’s 33rd Senator, and I am so proud to be able to represent Floridians in the U.S. Senate.

“As part of my duties as Senator, according to the Constitution, I have the obligation to provide ‘advise and consent’ on judicial nominees. I am unable to fulfill this duty when qualified judicial nominees are denied the opportunity for an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.

“I have not been a part of the partisan struggles of the last 12 years, and I know there is a lot of water under the bridge on both sides regarding judicial nominees. But I think we need to put the partisanship behind us and look at ways to resolve this in a way that doesn’t exacerbate the partisan atmosphere of the Senate even further. We need to do a better job of working together to do the people’s business.

“However, as I traveled the highways and byways of Florida, one of the issues I heard about time and time again was that people wanted to see judges confirmed. I promised I would fight for up-or-down votes for all judicial nominees. I am still hopeful that we can come together, but I will vote if necessary to end the unprecedented filibustering of judicial nominees from having their vote on the Senate floor.

“It is an integral part of maintaining a high-caliber judiciary that nominees are treated fairly and with respect. If we continue down this path and leave nominees in limbo for years – as has become common practice – we will be unable to recruit high-level attorneys to leave private practice and serve our federal judiciary. These people deserve their vote on the Senate floor.”

Tell the Party of No - "Yes We Can"

From the Blogs

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

Fried Gator: Arne: The new 'Decider,' at least for Florida education

It's Official -- Meek Is In

From the press release:

Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) announced this morning that he is running for Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2010.

Joined by his family outside his home in North Miami-Dade County, Congressman Meek laid out his vision for the future of Florida by emphasizing his commitment to alleviating current problems such as the increase of foreclosures throughout Florida, rising unemployment rates, the loss of senior citizens’ retirement funds, ending the war in Iraq, and resolving healthcare inequalities.

“Public service and a commitment to make a better life for the people of Florida has been my mission. I've given Florida a strong voice on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and was appointed by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to the House Leadership,” said Congressman Kendrick Meek. “But never in my
lifetime have the people of Florida been faced with so many big problems. Our state needs bold leadership at every level, and that is why I've made the decision to run as a candidate for the United States Senate. This race is not about me -- it is about Floridians. I am running for Florida, and I am asking Floridians to run with us in this race.”

“Thanks to the leadership of President-Elect Obama, change has come to Washington. But it won’t be easy. There will be opposition from many powerful forces who have stopped us before. We cannot let obstructionists stand in the way of helping the people of Florida,” Congressman Meek added. “I want to be a fighter for Florida with a
strong voice that won’t let the special interests stand in the way of what’s right. Too many in our country are hurting. Too much is at stake. We have no time to waste.”

Congressman Meek was first elected to public office at the age of 27. He is currently serving in his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Meek is the lone Democratic Floridian sitting on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, is a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and also serves on
the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Congressman Meek is the Co-Chair of Speaker Pelosi’s “30-Something” Working Group, which articulates Democratic positions to the public on critical issues before the U.S. Congress.

Prior to his election to the U.S. Congress, Congressman Meek served eight years in the Florida House and Senate and was a captain in the Florida Highway Patrol. He graduated from the Miami-Dade Public School System and received his bachelor’s degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Congressman Meek is married to the former Leslie Dixon of Brooklyn, New York for seventeen years, and they have two children, Lauren and Kendrick Jr. Congressman Meek is the son of former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek.

The complete text of Congressman Meek’s statement appears below. Remarks of Congressman Kendrick Meek (as prepared for delivery):

Thank you everyone for coming here today. This is a day of great joy and emotion for my entire family.

Earlier this morning, pastors and faith leaders gathered here in our Florida home to pray and reflect on this momentous occasion, and more
importantly, for those who are hurting in our state and country.

Today I stand before you…

• A son of Florida, born and raised in Miami
• Educated in our public schools and a graduate of Florida A & M University
• Who proudly wore the uniform of the Florida Highway Patrol
• Who served in both the state House and Senate
• And for the last six years served the people of this 17th District in Congress

Public service and a commitment to make a better life for the people of Florida has been my mission. I've given Florida a strong voice on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and was appointed by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to the House Leadership.

But never in my lifetime have the people of Florida been faced with so many big problems. Our state needs bold leadership at every level, and that and it is why I've made the decision to run as a candidate for the United States Senate.

This race is not about me -- it is about Floridians. I am running for Florida, and I am asking Floridians to run with us in this race.

Around our dinner table, we gather to bless our food, give thanks to this country, and hold conversations like every family does who see an uncertain future

We know that so many Floridians don't know who to turn to for answers.

The high school senior who asks their principal, how can I afford college tuition?

The service industry worker who asks their union leadership, can I ever rebuild my retirement account?

The senior on a fixed income who asks their doctor, how can I afford my health care coverage and the medications I need to get healthy?

The father and mother who asks their lender, how can we save our home and avoid foreclosure?

In the last eight years, we have seen incompetence and bad decision-making by too many in Washington. We have sacrificed our children and grandchildren's future by saddling them with unprecedented deficits. We borrow money from foreign countries in order to give tax breaks to the wealthiest people. And now we have
corporate bailouts with some CEOs abusing tax-payer dollars, continuing with their multi-million dollar salaries, bonuses, corporate jets – and yet they refuse to be accountable to how OUR tax dollars are being used to bail them out.

Today, I call on those corporate leaders to not take one dime in salary or bonus until their business is back on solid ground and they have paid the government back every dollar.

As we vote on public policy in the Congress, I have always put the public first. And as we set forward on a course for change, so ably lead by our new President-elect, all of us who serve this country need to set our own agendas aside, work together, and make bold decisions that help everyday Americans.

We must work quickly to see that no more Florida families are the victims of foreclosure. We must create good paying jobs and put people back to work. And we have to stop the bleeding as millions of people have seen their hard-earned retirement funds take a disturbing hit.

These have to be the guiding principals in any stimulus plan that we pass in Congress.

I'm anxious to work closely with Senator Daschle to finally achieve access to health care for all Americans.

We must work urgently to solve the increasing problem of Climate Change – before it's too late.

Immigration reform must be handled appropriately and compassionately.

And as soon as it is safe to do so, we must bring our soldiers home from Iraq. And we must pay close attention to the unrest that we see
in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Thanks to the leadership of President-Elect Obama, change has come to Washington. But it won't be easy. There will be opposition from many powerful forces who have stopped us before. We cannot let obstructionists stand in the way of helping the people of Florida.

This is why I've decided to run for the U.S. Senate – to be a fighter for Florida with a strong voice that won't let the special interests stand in the way of what's right.

I stand here today, with my wife Leslie, our children Lauren and Kendrick Jr., my mother Carrie Meek, my sister Lucia Raiford and mother-in-law Lois Johnson.

We gather here as a family because public service is our family's calling.

So, after extensive conversations with Floridians all across our state, I am running for the U.S. Senate.

Too many in our country are hurting. Too much is at stake. And we have no time to waste.

Thank you.

From the Blogs

Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida: Florida Likely to Elect Democratic United States Senator in Place of Homophobic Senator Mel Martinez

From the Blogs

Pensacola Beach Blog: Mulling Over Mel

Clean Up the City of St. Augustine, Florida: Many eye Senate race after Martinez says he won't run for re-election

Clean Up the City of St. Augustine, Florida: Good riddance to bad rubbish

Clean Up the City of St. Augustine, Florida: Mel Martinez will not seek re-election in '10

Bark Bark Woof Woof: Did Martinez Do Florida GOP a Favor?

boiling mad: Florida Senator Mel Martinez will not seek re-election in 2010

Interstate4Jamming2: The Mel Martinez Decision...So What Now?

Daily Kos: FL-Sen: Open seat in Florida

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Who will not replace US Senator Mel Martinez: Jeb Bush

Talk to Me: Mel Packs It Up

Pushing Rope: Why Mel Martinez Is Out

ReidBlog: Martinez says 'no mas'

Seminole County Democrats: Open Florida U.S. Senate seat in 2010!

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): Mel Martinez's Hypocrisy on Housing

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): Sen. Martinez: Kid's Health Insurance "Divisive"

Clean Up the City of St. Augustine, Florida: FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION FINES SENATOR MEL MARTINEZ $99,000FOR FEDERAL ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN ACT VIOLATIONS

Clean Up the City of St. Augustine, Florida: Senator Mel Martinez Leaving Senate Because He's Been Fined By FEC and Smells Like a Loser