Tampabay.com
JANUARY 26, 2012

Capitol Buzz for Thursday, 1/26

With an eye toward Thursday night's presidential debate, here's what we're watching on Day 17 of the legislative session.

Five Stories To Think About Today

 * Santorum: Presidential candidate Rick Santorum is scheduled to attend the Florida Leadership Prayer Breakfast, where Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon are expected.

* Senators are slated to take up a bill limiting use of phones and texting while driving.

* A Senate panel also looks at a bill to reduce hurricane assessments on homeowners' policies.

* Students and higher education advocates will "Rally in Tally" on tuition and other issues.

* Rep. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, has a news conference to demonstrate self-driving cars and promote his bill allowing their testing.

 

Three Issues You Missed Yesterday

* Animal rights activists who take secret pictures or videos to expose cruelty on farms will still legally be able to do so after lawmakers slashed “Ag-Gag” proposals in the House and Senate this week.

* In Miami, Mitt Romney slams Newt Gingrich on Spanish-language radio: 'I don't think Reagan would have agreed with Gingrich'

* With state House members hoping to move up to the state Senate and Senate Republicans hoping to retain a solid majority, there are many conflicting agendas emerging behind the Senate redistricting map.

 

Who To Watch Today/Quotable Quotes

 * "Since you're presenting--you're presenting here, what if I started asking you questions about your sex life? About-" -Rep. Mack Bernard

"OK, I think, I think we're gonna go to Rep. Soto. Rep. Soto, you're recognized." -Chairman Eric Eisnaugle

"That's a real life line, chairman, that's a real life line right there. Chairman, I've been married 18 years and I'm asking, 'What sex life?'" -Mark Delegal

--An awkwardly funny exchange Wednesday during public debate at the House Civil Justice Subcommittee's hearing on PIP reform legislation.

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About the blog

For Florida political news today, the Buzz is your can't-miss-it source. Tampa Bay Times writers offer the latest in Florida politics, the Florida Legislature and the Rick Scott administration. Keep in mind: This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the Tampa Bay Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.

E-mail Times political editor Adam Smith: asmith@tampabay.com

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