They didn't exactly sugar-coat it:

Continual state budget cuts and a draining of funding for new campus construction has left the University of South Florida trying to "minimize" disaster. That was the message from USF Chief Operating Officer John Long, at a USF Board of Trustees workgroup on finance Thursday morning.

"That's really where we are at now," Long said. "Trying to avoid catastrophe."

In the past few years, USF and other state universities have seen their state funding shrink by close to 50 percent -- $300 million cut from the universities this year alone. Meanwhile, a tax on utilities that pays for the Public Educational Capital Outlay fund, used to build new educational buildings on campus, has shriveled -- partly because people have stopped using land-line phones and have become more energy efficient. In the past, USF has set aside reserve funds to help pay for at least basic maintenance on its existing buildings, but this year legislators said they expected universities to use those reserves to cover state cuts. ... Read more

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Quinnipiac Polling Institute: U.S. Rep. Connie Mack holds a wide lead in the race for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, getting 40 percent of the vote to 7 percent for former Sen. George LeMieux and 8 percent for Tea party favorite Mike McCalister, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Another 41 percent are undecided.
 
A general election matchup is too close to call as Mack gets 42 percent to Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's 41 percent.
 
Gov. Rick Scott's job approval has risen above 40 percent for the first time, although he still remains underwater with a negative 41 - 46 percent rating from voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds.
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The onslaught has begun.

Millions of dollars in political ads are flooding Florida TV, including two new spots Wednesday by President Barack Obama's campaign and an anti-Obama ad from a super PAC, the new breed of political action committee powered by unrestricted donations.

The volleys come after several weeks of building intensity and set the table for a congested summer and fall in the country's largest swing state.

"Not only will it be incomparable, it's uncharted territory for everybody," said Florida Republican strategist Adam Goodman, who is concerned about finding air space for legislative and congressional races. "Your stuff is going to have to be pretty damn good to break through that clutter." (story here)

We heard today that Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno was displeased that the Connie Mack campaign yesterday sent out a statement from Fortuno blasting Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in addition to endorsing Mack.

This was it: "Connie and I entered the Congress on the same day and I admired how he fought for freedom -- every American's Constitutional freedom. Connie always used to tell me, 'Freedom is the core of all human progress,' and from his fights on against tyrants like Hugo Chavez to the advent of his Penny Plan, Connie Mack has always been an incredible champion of freedom and prosperity. All conservatives know, and all Americans know, that we must stop Washington's endless appetite for the people's money and it's constant desire to do more and control more. Electing Connie Mack to the U.S. Senate and defeating liberal Senator Bill Nelson will help make sure conservatives have another champion for freedom in the Senate, and that Harry Reid, President Obama, and Washington's other Lockstep Liberals can't inflict any more damage on the nation." ... Read more

The state Republican party is running a TV spot for state Senate candidate Lizbeth Benacquisto featuring Jeb Bush. She faces no primary or general election opponent so far. 

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla:

"I am proud to endorse George LeMieux in his election to return to the U.S. Senate. I served with George and have seen firsthand his commitment to reducing our national debt and stopping Washington's out-of-control spending. During his time in the Senate, George was a proven leader. He passed necessary legislation to prevent Medicare fraud and offered the 2007 Solution, a roadmap to balance our budget. America is facing a difficult time and it is imperative we elect people like George LeMieux to go to Washington to make the difficult decisions that will save our country for future generations."

As the Board of Governors begins working through the many issues involved in creating the new Florida Polytechnic, with the hope of admitting students beginning next fall, one thing they certainly need to get set up ASAP is a Florida Polytechnic governing board. 

The Board and Gov. Rick Scott both put out calls earlier this month for applications to that 11-member board, with the deadline set for the end of May. Both parties called for applicants from across the country to help start the university from scratch.

So far, seven people have applied: four people for the five BOG-appointed slots, and five people for the six slots Scott will appoint. Two people applied to both entities. ... Read more