U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek Endorsed for U.S. Senate by Former U.S. Senator and Florida Governor Bob Graham

“Senator Graham is the role model U.S. Senator and throughout my lifetime, I have witnessed firsthand how Senator Graham was able to better the lives of the people he represented,” said U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek. “He worked for Floridians, but also with Floridians by joining us in our everyday lives. Senator Graham understood the challenges our teachers face or the responsibilities our police officers undertake because his primary concern was the well-being of people. I will continue to seek out the guidance and counsel of Senator Graham throughout this campaign and beyond. I am honored to accept his endorsement.”

“Kendrick is a son of Florida who has lived a life of public service,” said Senator Bob Graham. “As a Trooper, he patrolled the highways and byways of our state keeping Floridians safe. When he was elected to the state legislature, Kendrick made education the centerpiece of his agenda, and now in Congress, he is giving Floridians a much needed voice at the legislative table as the public policy issues affecting the nation for generations to come are debated. He has always put the needs of our state first and during these trying times, it is people of deep substance like Kendrick Meek who will help guide our economy from recession to recovery. Endorsing Kendrick is an honor and I look forward to spending time with him and the Meek family on the campaign trail.”

Congressman Meek has received endorsements from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Congressman Ron Klein, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter, West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, Tallahassee Mayor John Marks and Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan.

He has also received endorsements from SEIU, United Teachers of Dade, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, AFSCME, and Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

Scott Arceneaux Named Florida Democratic Party Executive Director

Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman today announced the appointment of Scott Arceneaux as Executive Director for the 2010 election cycle. Additionally, Arceneaux will handle the duties of the Party's Political Director.

"Scott's proven record of success and strong leadership will help Florida Democrats end the status quo and move our state forward. I am excited to work with Chair Karen Thurman and her team to bring change to Florida," said CFO Alex Sink.

"The Florida Democratic Party is in the best shape it has been in years," said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. "We won't miss a beat with Scott."

"As we work to bring change to Florida in 2010, Scott's leadership and experience will be key to our efforts. With Scott's help, the Florida Democratic Party will continue our momentum and seize our historic opportunity to change Tallahassee by electing Alex Sink as our next Governor, electing a strong Democrat to serve with Sen. Bill Nelson in the U.S. Senate, and electing more Democrats to the U.S. Congress, the Cabinet, and Florida's Legislature," said Chair Thurman.

"I am excited to join Chair Thurman and the Florida Democratic Party, as we fight to bring change to Florida and support President Obama's efforts implementing his vision of change. Florida Democrats are organized and energized going into the 2010 campaign. I look forward to helping build upon the party's successes by electing Democrats across Florida," said Arceneaux.

Arceneaux brings to the Florida Democratic Party his extensive experience managing Democratic campaigns across the nation. Most recently, Arceneaux helped State Sen. Creigh Deeds in his stunning Virginia Democratic Primary victory in June. He served as the National Political Director for Chris Dodd's Presidential Campaign. Additionally, Arceneaux was the Executive Director for the Louisiana Democratic Party from 2001 to 2004, where he helped re-elect Sen. Mary Landrieu and elect a Democratic Governor.

FDP Executive Director Leonard Joseph To Join Obama Administration

The Florida Democratic Party today announced that Leonard Joseph, Executive Director since 2006, has been appointed by President Barack Obama to be the Chief of Staff to the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Policy.

"Over the past several years, the Florida Democratic Party has made great strides helping elect strong Democratic leaders who fight to move Florida to a better future. On behalf of the Florida Democratic Party, I would like to thank Leonard for his hard work and tireless commitment over the past several years. While Leonard will be missed, we wish him luck as he moves on," said Chair Karen Thurman.

"It's been an honor to work with the thousands of Floridians who helped in our efforts to bring change to Florida by electing Democrats. For Florida Democrats, the best days are ahead. I look forward to seeing Florida Democrats continue the momentum we have built by making gains at all levels of government in the years to come," said Joseph. "I would like to thank Chair Thurman and the Florida Democratic Party staff for their leadership and friendship."

In his role as Executive Director and prior to that as Political Director, Joseph oversaw the implementation of Chair Thurman's efforts to build a Democratic infrastructure, empower grassroots activists, upgrade technology, and modernize strategies leading to the largest for gains Democrats in a generation.

Since 2005, when Joseph joined the Florida Democratic Party, Democrats have won statewide three times by winning Florida for Barack Obama, re-electing Senator Bill Nelson, and winning our first Cabinet race since 1998 by electing Alex Sink as CFO. Additionally, Democrats have gained 3 Congressional Seats, 10 State House seats, and many county and local offices.

As Chief of Staff, Joseph will work with Assistant Secretary for Policy David Heyman, overseeing the Office of Policy, which strengthens homeland security by developing and integrating Department-wide policies, planning, and programs in order to better coordinate the Department's prevention, protection, response and recovery missions.

Senator Aronberg Continues Prove Into Private Contractors' Salary Hikes

From the Senate Dems:

State Senator Dave Aronberg (D-Greenacres) on Wednesday put a second state agency on notice that he is seeking documentation related to the growing controversy involving taxpayer financed salary raises for the state’s private contractors.

The records are being sought under Florida’s public records laws.

“I am aware of at least two contracts that appear to include automatic salary increases for private vendors doing state work,” wrote the Greenacres Democrat to Michael Sole, Secretary of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection. “These contracts, accounting for hundreds of millions of state dollars annually, appear to include these routine raises as a standard contracting procedure. If this is accurate, it is troubling that state agencies have routinely increased the salaries of private contractors…[while] rank and file state employees – from highway patrol officers to nurses in our state hospitals – have become targets for pay cuts to offset state revenue losses.”

The move by Aronberg follows a similar public records request he sent earlier this week to the state Department of Transportation. Aronberg began his investigation less than two months after legislative attempts by Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee) to halt the little-known practice were unsuccessful during the last days of the 2009 Legislative Session.

Aronberg, an ardent watchdog on privatization and consumer issues, said he was concerned that as Florida’s economic crisis has deepened, the salary hikes to the privately contracted employees appear to be continuing without public scrutiny or legislative oversight. For example, salary hikes for one private contractor went into effect just weeks before the Legislature convened in January for a special session to cut the budget.

“Without disclosure of these private contractors’ spending arrangements, there is no feasible way for legislators to fulfill our proper legislative oversight obligation,” Aronberg wrote. “As a result, untold amounts of tax dollars that could have been used to stave off cuts to law enforcement or other critical public service personnel are being transferred from the State’s coffers into the pockets of private contractors.”

To that end, the Senator filed a request under Florida’s public records laws seeking, among other things, a listing of all private consultant contracts that include the so-called “escalation clauses” approved by DEP from fiscal year 2006 until present, the total amount paid to each of these contractors in escalation clauses, and the amount already committed for the next fiscal year.

Senator Aronberg said he expects to file similar requests with additional state agencies.

“Our struggling taxpayers are getting hit on both ends,” Aronberg said. “Not only are they losing critical programs and services due to budget cuts and layoffs, but they’re simultaneously subsidizing financial bonuses state agencies dole out to private contractors. It’s like ‘Robin Hood gone bad.’ We’re robbing from the poor to give to the rich. And no one is stopping the holdups.”

Meek Hails Historic House Committee Vote to Provide Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Americans

The House Committee on Ways and Means took a historic step today towards providing quality, affordable health care for all Americans by passing its version of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act. The legislation matches President Obama's principles for fixing our health care system by reducing skyrocketing costs, promoting competition among insurance plans to increase choices for patients, and increasing access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

"This time has come for Congress to act. The skyrocketing cost of health care is bankrupting our nation. Guaranteeing all Americans quality, affordable health care is not only the right thing to do for American families, but also an economic imperative that will put our country on a long-term path towards economic recovery and fiscal stability."

"At the same time, I recognize that the bill could still be strengthened. I have already successfully worked with the committee to incorporate provisions that will redistribute unused residency slots around the country to high-need states such as Florida and promote quality and cost-saving alternatives to hospital-based care, including Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC), nursing homes, and home health centers. As a representative of Florida, with over 3.1 million Medicare beneficiaries and the largest senior and retiree population in the country, I will continue to work with House leadership to ensure that this legislation meets our state's unique health care needs," said Meek.

"In Florida, over 3,500 people lose their health insurance each week, according to a report issued by the non-profit consumer group Families USA. Simply put, the status quo is unacceptable. I am proud to support comprehensive health care reforms that control costs, preserve choices, and increase access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans."

The bill includes many important provisions, including the creation of a health care exchange where consumers can select their preferred insurance option, including the choice of a new public health insurance plan; an end to denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditions; and increased incentives that focus on cost-saving preventive and wellness care.

Herald/Times video: Charlie Crist's fundraising double talk

Charlie Crist won't do what he said he'd do (as usual).

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