Supporters of the Obama plan claim that it will save or create 3 million jobs by doubling the production of alternative energy; weatherizing 75% of federal buildings and two million American homes; computerizing America’s medical records; updating thousands of schools, community colleges, and public universities; expanding broadband access; and investing in science, research, and technology. Obama also plans to cut taxes on most middle income families and inject a massive amount of cash into the states to fund highway and other infrastructure programs. Critics charge that it’s a bad idea to try and spend our way out of the problems that have been created, in large part, by too much government spending.

The following email was send out from Mayor Peyton following the Obama address…

Dear Friends:

On Thursday morning, I had the tremendous honor of being one of a select few elected officials to hear President-elect Barack Obama present his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan at George Mason University. I was honored to be invited to Washington, D.C., along with 20 other metropolitan mayors, as the President-elect addressed the country on the importance of taking swift action to restore trust and confidence in our nation’s economy and provide jobs for millions of Americans. This visit is indicative of the ongoing work that the city is doing to ensure that Jacksonville’s message is being heard at the federal level.

As part of my time in D.C., the other mayors and I first attended a briefing with Robert Nabors, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, on the new administration’s economic stimulus plan. This was a great opportunity for the leaders of cities like Jacksonville to convey to the new administration how local governments are poised to put federal dollars to work in our communities, immediately.

Since discussion of a potential infrastructure plan first started, I have been working to make sure Jacksonville’s message is heard. Along with the city’s independent authorities and three beaches communities, we have developed a list of construction-ready projects that could break ground within 90-120 days and would pump more than $760 million into our local economy. With assistance from the federal government, Jacksonville could begin to address its own rising unemployment and foreclosure rates, do our part to help restore the nation’s economy and complete needed infrastructure projects.

As a city, we understand that we cannot rely solely on federal funds to jump-start our local economy or meet local infrastructure needs. However, supplemental investments from the federal government will assist us in staving off additional financial crises caused by the nationwide recession, and continue to help keep Jacksonville’s residents working.

As the national discussion continues to focus on the new administration’s economic recovery plan, know that Jacksonville has a seat at that table and is prepared to make good use of federal dollars as they become available. Despite the seemingly never-ending bad news regarding our nation’s economic stability, today, I am hopeful. Capital project funding is the quickest economic stimulus available, particularly if it is matched by additional local funding. President-elect Obama is committed to taking dramatic action to lift our nation to its feet so that our cities and communities may once again grow and prosper, and I am committed to working with his administration to do that for Jacksonville.

Respectfully yours,

John Peyton
Mayor

Bean got started early, launching his campaign way back at the end of 2007. In the fourth quarter of that year he raised $46,680. He followed that up with a $151,975 total for the first quarter of 2008. Since then, however, Bean has taken his foot off the gas, adding only about $14,000 to his bank account since the end of March.

Meanwhile, getting a slightly later start, Councilman Graham picked up only $5,600 during the first quarter of 2008. He picked up the pace in the second quarter with $36,720. Fundraising slowed over the summer, when Graham picked up $8,450 in the third quarter. Finally, new fourth quarter numbers show Graham’s fundraising picked up again and he added $27,050. By comparison, during the fourth quarter of 2008, Bean took in only about $1,500… all of it bank interest on the $200,000 war chest that he’s currently sitting on.

As the numbers stand right now…

Aaron Bean (R) - $212,607 raised, $13,124 spent
Art Graham (R) - $77,880 raised, $3,617 spent

The cost at the door is $20, if you can get a seat. The Chamber reports that all seats to the event have sold out, but there may be some no-show spots that can be filled by folks who arrive without a ticket.

According the Politics1.com blog, “Greer is influential among more centrist RNC members, so his endorsement is a boost for the more conservative Steele.”

Now, Greer will turn his eyes on winning re-election as Chairman of the Florida party. Earlier today, Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp endorsed Greer’s re-election bid. Kottkamp’s endorsement was followed by National Committeeman Paul Senft and National Committeewoman Sharon Day. As Greer was the governor’s hand-picked choice for the post, it seems likely that the rest of the state party leadership will fall in line over the next day or so.

“From a national perspective, the Republican Party is at a crossroads. Many Republicans around the country are concerned about the future of our Grand Old Party. Fortunately, here in Florida we have developed a roadmap for success that can be used as a national guiding light for Republicans,” said Kottkamp. “While Republicans lost control of the House and Senate in Washington, D.C. here in Florida Republicans continue to flourish because we have remained true to our principles: lower taxes, control spending, and limit the reach of government into the lives of Floridians.”

Greer’s current opposition includes Eric Miller and Mark Cross, the GOP State Committeemen from Martin and Osceola counties, respectively. To read JaxDaily’s recent interview with Mark Cross, click here. To read our interview with Eric Miller, click here.

“In designing this concept, we spent a great deal of time reviewing our customers’ shopping preferences. We wanted to make sure that the new store would be a true fit for the neighborhoods it serves,” said Dan Portnoy, Winn-Dixie’s chief merchandising and marketing officer. “We focused only on those items and services that were most important to our customers, and, as a result, we were able to aggressively cut costs and lower prices throughout the store.”

In addition to enhanced produce and meat departments, the 48,000-square-foot store also has an in-store pharmacy where customers will find 30-day supplies of more than 400 generic drugs for $3.98 every day. Other features include newly designed warehouse-style shopping carts and popular staple items available for purchase by the case.

SaveRite closed the store on Tuesday afternoon, allowing time for associates to work through the afternoon and evening to lower thousands of prices. The company welcomed area leaders and residents to a preview on Tuesday evening where SaveRite donated $5,000 to Paxon Improvement Association. To celebrate the store’s new format, SaveRite will also host a Family Fun Event on Saturday, January 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In 2003, Redman narrowly lost his first bid for the seat to then-incumbent Suzanne Jenkins.

But he came back and was first elected to serve in 2007, when he finished far ahead in a four-candidate field during the primary, but failed to garner the magic 50% required to avoid a run-off against second place finisher George Banks. Redman won the brutal and expensive run-off fight that followed, despite nasty allegations from Folio Weekly questioning his business dealings and personal character.

State Attorney Willie Meggs said Wednesday he will ask a grand jury to look into Speaker Sansom’s dealings with Northwest Florida State College. Sansom opened the Legislature’s special session earlier this week by announcing his resignation, effective Jan. 31, from a $110,000-a-year job he started last November at the campus. It seems that Sansom, a Destin Republican who was House budget chairman for the past two years, had steered more than $25 million in state funding to the college.

Scarborough’s take on the issue seems to be extremely valid, particularly given his own personal ties to the State House Speaker.

Here is his very candid column from today’s Pensacola News Journal…

Sometimes it is easier to keep your mouth shut.

When I was in Congress, keeping quiet about Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich would have made my life easier. But it would have hurt the conservative cause.

In 2004, I wrote a book warning GOP party bosses that their reckless fiscal policy would destroy the economy and crush our Republican majority.

In 2006, I wrote a Washington Post column telling Republican candidates to force Donald Rumsfeld to give generals more troops so they could save Iraq.

Every time, most GOP members kept blindly following their party bosses. The refusal to challenge their leaders led to the collapse of our party. Telling the truth about my own party may not have won popularity contests, but it has earned respect from conservatives who now expect nothing less than the truth from me.

It’s time for Tallahassee Republicans to do the same.

(more…)

]]> http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/08/joe-scarborough-speaks-the-truth-about-the-sansom-scandal/feed/ http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/06/jeb-bush-wont-run-for-senate/ http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/06/jeb-bush-wont-run-for-senate/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:28:28 +0000 Austin Cassidy http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/06/jeb-bush-wont-run-for-senate/ This afternoon, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush released the following statement on the 2010 United States Senate race in Florida for Senator Mel Martinez’s Senate seat:

“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided not to run for the United States Senate in 2010. While the opportunity to serve my state and country during these turbulent and dynamic times is compelling, now is not the right time to return to elected office,” said Bush.

“In the coming months and years, I hope to play a constructive role in the future of the Republican Party, advocating ideas and policies that solve the pressing problems of our day,” he continued. “We must rebuild the Party by focusing on the common purposes and core conservative principles that unite us all – limited government, a strong national defense and safe homeland and the protection of liberty tempered by personal responsibility.”

Bush also took the opportunity to speak highly of President-elect Obama.

“While fundamentally different ideologies divide Republicans and Democrats, we can not allow politics to come before the needs of our people and communities,” he said. “We must raise the level of debate to reflect the American people’s desire for change and bi-partisanship, embodied by November’s historic election. President-elect Obama ran a tremendous campaign and I am proud to call him my President. I am confident Republicans will find productive ways to work together with the new administration to advance reforms both sides of the aisle can support.”

Without Jeb Bush in the race, Republicans will likely host a crowded and competitive primary. Expect to see several hopefuls throw their hats into the ring before Easter.

]]> http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/06/jeb-bush-wont-run-for-senate/feed/ http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/05/fed-economic-struggles-continue-in-2009/ http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/05/fed-economic-struggles-continue-in-2009/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:41:12 +0000 Austin Cassidy http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/05/fed-economic-struggles-continue-in-2009/ As expected, consumer spending slowed in early 2008 amid declines in real estate values and the run-up in energy prices. A tax rebate stimulus temporarily boosted spending in the second quarter, but growth in consumer spending remained restrained.

Slowing economic activity led to weakening labor markets. Nonfarm payroll employment began to decline in January as firms increasingly held back on hiring, raising the unemployment rate. Layoffs were widespread, and employment in residential construction and parts of the manufacturing sector bore the brunt. The American economy slipped ever deeper into a full-blown recession.

But sometimes it’s easy to be optimistic that the start of a new year will be new opportunities and a fresh start. To those who might think that way, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta offers up a dose of hard reality. The Fed seems to think that the Southeast is in for “more of the same” for 2009, in terms of our region’s overall economic health. A direct path to recovery is unlikely, and, as we have seen, events will arise to knock us off the path to a more stable economic environment.

The Jacksonville Business Journal reports…

In its EconSouth publication, [the Fed] suggested employment levels in the Southeast could get worse before improving. And it’s probable consumer spending and personal income will remain held back until employment picks up.

Energy markets remain uncertain, EconSouth noted. Prices, which fell as sharply in the latter half of 2008 as they rose in the first half, could go up again if global economic conditions improve and spur business and consumer demand.

Housing activity has shown some recent signs of stabilizing, but recovery is unlikely to occur quickly, EconSouth said.

But plans for expansion in auto and aerospace manufacturing should help bolster the region’s economy in 2009. Notably, a new Kia plant will open in West Point, Ga. It began training workers in March 2008 and will begin production in late 2009.

In 2008, the Southeast’s economy struggled with financial market turmoil, housing market and credit crises, rising food and energy costs and job losses. By the third quarter, the unemployment rate was at its highest level since the 1991 recession. Consumer spending slumped as consumers felt the pinch of soaring energy and food prices, the credit crunch and uncertainty about the economy.

The rate of home foreclosures was high in Georgia during 2008, particularly in metro Atlanta. Real estate loan problems also led to the failure of five of the state’s banks last year.

]]> http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/05/fed-economic-struggles-continue-in-2009/feed/ http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/05/over-a-million-powerball-tickets-sold/ http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/05/over-a-million-powerball-tickets-sold/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:32:24 +0000 Austin Cassidy http://www.jaxdaily.com/2009/01/05/over-a-million-powerball-tickets-sold/ Sunday was the first day to purchase Powerball drawing tickets here in Florida, and the results suggest that the multi-state lottery will be a popular item here in the Sunshine State. By the end of the business day, more than 1.3 million tickets had been sold.

Florida became the 30th state, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S Virgin Islands, to offer the game.

The next Powerball drawing will be held on Wednesday, for an estimated jackpot of $105 million. But the odds of winning are pretty long - or 1 in 195 million to be exact.

To learn more about the game and read stories from some of the recent winners, visit Powerball.com.

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