Yesterday was a huge day in local and state news, so let's begin.
There were hundreds – or perhaps thousands – out in downtown Tampa late yesterday afternoon for an Awake the State protest bashing Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature's proposals on public education and unions – public and private. CL's Elizabeth Graham files our report.
Meanwhile, the Florida Tea Party announced yesterday they are sending a no tax pledge form to all the members of the Legislature, giving them a week's deadline to do so.
After we attended the rally, we jetted over to Blake High School in Tampa for last night's one and only live televised debate for mayor between Rose Ferlita and Bob Buckhorn. It was a fascinating and spirited affair, and showed that for the first time with just 2 candidates up there, Ferlita was prepared to take directly to Buckhorn, who appeared cautious in not wanting to be too aggressive against his female opponent. Ferlita was derided by Buckhorn and co-moderator Adam Smith for waiting until today to release a detailed plan, but she's sounding confident about it, saying last night it will expose Buckhorn's as having "gaping holes." Meanwhile, Buckhorn did snag a big Dick Greco supporter earlier in the day with an endorsement, David Straz.
And we were in on a conference call with Congresswoman Kathy Castor yesterday, describing her recent trip to Afghanistan. Castor says all troops need to be out of the country by 2014, but a new Rasmussen poll says the majority of the public doesn't want to wait that long.
the report here.
This article appears in Mar 3-9, 2011.