Lobbying for a little break

TALLAHASSEE

For almost 30 years John M. "Mac'' Stipanovich has worked at the top of Florida's political world, running a successful campaign for governor, serving as chief of staff for Gov. Bob Martinez and as a lawyer and lobbyist for some of the state's best-known businesses.

Always quotable, Stipanovich was dubbed "Mac the Quote'' early on. Who knew he could write?

Now at 64 years, Stipanovich is having the time of his life on Facebook, the social networking site better known to people half his age....

Column: Hands in the cookie jar, again and again

Sometimes it seems like we are teachers, trying to inject just a little bit of knowledge into recalcitrant children.

Year after year, legislators are blistered for taking things from lobbyists who want something from them. Year after year, we write about it.

Sometimes lawmakers vote to change the rules as though they are saying, "Stop me before I sin again.''

It doesn't work.

Now we have a group of lawmakers routinely riding around the state on airplanes owned by a lobbyist who represents a gambling interest. ...

To a new speaker from an old hand

Editor's note: Like House Speaker Will Weatherford, Lucy Morgan got her start in Pasco County. She was a Tampa Bay Times reporter in Pasco from 1968 until December 1985, when she was appointed capital bureau chief in Tallahassee. She retired from that post in 2006 and has since worked part time handling special projects. She shared the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting with Jack Reed for stories about the Pasco County Sheriff's Department. She retired again Friday after penning this open letter of advice for the new speaker....

Meet Harry Sargeant, Florida Republican money man

TALLAHASSEE — Former Gov. Charlie Crist calls him "a great patriot.''

Congressional investigators call him "a war profiteer" who walked away with an extra $200 million while providing fuel to American troops in Iraq.

At Florida State University, he is something of a hero — contributing more than a million dollars to athletic programs, the business school and his old fraternity....

Imagine if Greer weren't the choice

Think about what might have been.

In October 2006 it looked as if House Speaker Allan Bense would become the next chairman of the Florida Republican Party.

Bense was completing a scandal-free run as the leader of the House and insisting he had no plan to run for another political office. He was ready to go home to Panama City and return to his private business despite some heavy pushing from lots of Republicans who wanted him to run for the U.S. Senate....

Jim Greer pleaded guilty, but why?

TALLAHASSEE — For three years, former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer denied doing anything wrong and promised a trial that would embarrass a lot of people. So why did he plead guilty to five felonies Monday, facing the certainty of spending years in prison?

And who paid Hank Coxe, a widely respected criminal defense lawyer from Jacksonville who parachuted in at the last minute and quietly negotiated the plea that brought the long-running soap opera to a close? Coxe was in the courtroom when Greer pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering charges but did not speak and did not formally file a notice of appearance with the court....

Jim Greer pleads guilty to grand theft, avoids trial

ORLANDO — After two weeks of behind-the-scenes wrangling, former GOP party chairman Jim Greer walked into court Monday morning and pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering charges that could put him behind bars for 3½ years.

Greer responded "guilty your honor'' to charges he stole and laundered GOP campaign contributions through a company he created, Victory Strategies. He declined to talk with a crowd of reporters as he left court....

Details of Bahamas frolic could emerge in Jim Greer trial

TALLAHASSEE

They headed for Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas, most of them on private planes owned by billionaire Harry Sargeant III, then the finance chairman of the Florida Republican Party.

The weekend trip began on Friday Jan. 11, 2008, for a select group of Floridians —maybe 20 or so — who helped raise money for a constitutional amendment that would increase homestead exemptions....