U.S. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, isn't the only politician wrestling with the concept of public campaign financing.

McCain is waiting for regulators to tell him whether he can opt out of the federal financing scheme since he used his earlier participation as collateral for a bank loan. An adverse decision would make McCain subject to spending limits that would severely hobble his efforts.

Often derided as "welfare for politicians," public campaign financing is under serious attack in the Florida Legislature. The idea is to level the playing field for novices by offering state matching money in exchange for a pledge by the recipient to limit spending.

On Thursday, the House Ethics and Elections Committee voted 4-3 for a proposal by Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, that could be the last nail in the coffin for Florida's reform plan. The retired dentist wants to give voters a chance in November to erase public campaign financing from the state Constitution.

Critics argue that at a time when lawmakers are looking to cut more than $2.5 billion, it doesn't make sense to bankroll politicians running for statewide office, especially since Republican leaders in 2005 virtually gutted the concept by nearly doubling the spending caps.

As a result, Gov. Charlie Crist was able to draw $3.3 million from the state coffers and still spend a record $22 million on his successful race in 2006. Overall, candidates for governor and the Cabinet received about $11 million in public money in 2006.

The House Ethics and Elections committee passed Hays' resolution 4-3 on Thursday, with Rep. Loranne Ausley of Tallahassee and two fellow Democrats voting against.

Ausley pointed out that one of the state's most popular Republicans, Bob Milligan, owes his successful campaign for a former Cabinet post to public campaign financing.

Ben Wilcox, executive director of Common Cause Florida, said the loss of the program would set back for efforts to fight the potentially corrupting influence of big money on campaigns.

"By raising the spending limits, it took away the public benefit," Wilcox said. "Instead of stripping public financing entirely, they should sit down and work on some reforms."

Duval County Tax Collector Mike Hogan, a former Jacksonville lawmaker, got his 15 minutes of fame this week wearing another hat, that of Taxation and Budget Reform Commissioner.
A star chamber of former lawmakers, business leaders, university presidents, lobbyists and community leaders throughout the state, commission members are appointed by the governor and legislative leaders. The vaunted panel meets only once every 20 years and has the power to put measures directly on the November ballot.
Hogan hitched his wagon to the Americans for Prosperity bandwagon and submitted a proposal that would severely restrict government revenue and spending growth to roughly the rate of inflation, with only a few exceptions.
A powerful TBRC committee gave tentative approval to Hogan's proposal, but that was only half the story _ or at least half of his idea.
Critics, including the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties, complained that the proposed constitutional amendment would be disastrous because it would handcuff local governments but do virtually nothing to stop lawmakers _ as they are fond of doing _ from erasing their own red ink by foisting unfunded mandates on the locals.
Hogan's solution for that is another constitutional proposal that would ban the practice.
"No county or municipality shall be bound by any general law that is an unfunded mandate," Hogan's proposal states. It goes on to define unfunded mandates, and prescribe only very narrow exceptions to the rule.
The problem is that both of Hogan's proposals have to muster 17 votes on the full 25-member commission to reach the ballot. If the government growth cap flies, a good possibility in the Republican-dominated body, local governments are going to have to hold their breath that the unfunded mandate provision meets with equal approval.
Right now, it's revenue caps, 1, unfunded mandates, 0. Unfunded mandates has yet to be debated by a single committee, although it's early yet.
Both proposals are on the commission website. "http://www.floridatbrc.org/"

Duval County Tax Collector Mike Hogan, a former Jacksonville lawmaker, got his 15 minutes of fame this week wearing another hat, that of Taxation and Budget Reform Commissioner.

A star chamber of former lawmakers, business leaders, university presidents, lobbyists and community leaders throughout the state, commission members are appointed by the governor and legislative leaders. The vaunted panel meets only once every 20 years and has the power to put measures directly on the November ballot.

Hogan hitched his wagon to the Americans for Prosperity bandwagon and submitted a proposal that would severely restrict government revenue and spending growth to roughly the rate of inflation, with only a few exceptions.

A powerful TBRC committee gave tentative approval to Hogan's proposal, but that was only half the story _ or at least half of his idea.

Critics, including the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties, complained that the proposed constitutional amendment would be disastrous because it would handcuff local governments but do virtually nothing to stop lawmakers _ as they are fond of doing _ from erasing their own red ink by foisting unfunded mandates on the locals.

Hogan's solution for that is another constitutional proposal that would ban the practice.

"No county or municipality shall be bound by any general law that is an unfunded mandate," Hogan's proposal states. It goes on to define unfunded mandates, and prescribe only very narrow exceptions to the rule.

The problem is that both of Hogan's proposals have to muster 17 votes on the full 25-member commission to reach the ballot. If the government growth cap flies, a good possibility in the Republican-dominated body, local governments are going to have to hold their breath that the unfunded mandate provision meets with equal approval.

Right now, it's revenue caps, 1, unfunded mandates, 0. Unfunded mandates has yet to be debated by a single committee, although it's early yet.

Both proposals are on the commission website. "http://www.floridatbrc.org/"

By 9:30 p.m. early evening jitters melted into lusty cheers in an opulently appointed tavern at the Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg.

After bankrolling Gov. Charlie Crist's "Yes on 1," campaign to the tune of $1 million, the Florida Association of Realtors was holding an election night victory party for Amendment 1. Given that early polling suggested a nail-biter, party plans were made with crossed fingers.

Not long after the polls closed on Jan. 29, it was clear the $9.3 billion property tax slashing measure was headed for the state Constitution. Just as Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp was bounding onto a temporary stage to claim victory, fireworks exploded over Tampa Bay.

"There goes the last of our money," joked FAR immediate past president Nancy Riley, nodding to the pyrotechnics.

But just like most things in the Amendment 1 debate, all was not as it seemed.

Riley acknowledged to reporters the next day that the fireworks were not part of the FAR party. They were evidently sponsored by a venture capital conference going on at the Viony on the same day.

Gov. Charlie Crist enticed several Tallahassee reporters to the resort with an implied promise that he would be there to give his reaction to the election results. But Crist deflated coverage plans by giving only a 2-minute pep-talk before the polls closed. Then it was off to a private plane and Miami and another victory party for presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain, the man Crist endorsed only a few days before.

And Amendment 1's promise of a $240 windfall for the average homeowner?

That remains to be seen, with experts acknowledging that at least some of the promised savings will be eaten up by increased assessments.

Just like the disappointed reporters who had to make do with a lieutenant governor, homeowners may be in for a surprise when it comes time to reap all of the promises of Amendment 1.

Viewers and listeners trying to navigate TV and radio airwaves laced with Amendment 1 hype can thank the state's business community, which contributed $4.1 million to "Yes on 1."

The PAC, which lists its contributors on its website, continued putting up big numbers last week, with a $25,000 check on Jan. 24 from the legal powerhouse Gunster Yoakley.

The West Palm Beach firm is the official home of George LeMieux, a former assistant attorney general and until late last year, Gov. Charlie Crist's chief of staff. Crist is the number one cheerleader for the $9.3 billion tax-cutting measure on tomorrow's ballot and one of Crist's closest friends.

Opponents at "Florida is Our Home, Inc." reported topping the $1 million mark, largely with the help of teacher, labor, firefighter and government worker unions.

Some of the latest polls suggest Amendment 1 is supported by a majority of voters, but its fate is too close to call. InsiderAdvantage showed support at 57 percent, still three points shy of the 60 percent majority needed for passage.

It's ripe, it's tempting, it's just out of reach.

One of the biggest Republican prizes in the wide-open race for the presidential nomination is the endorsement of Gov. Charlie Crist, who remains frustratingly aloof.

The rumor mill will be humming furiously again today when Crist meets with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and steps out to talk with reporters at 2:25 p.m..

According to Crist's schedule, the two will discuss, "issues important to Floridians including establishing a national catastrophe fund, Everglades restoration, and property tax cuts."

The timing could be perfect for Giuliani. His momentum has slowed to crawl after ignoring early primary states to concentrate on winning Florida.

A ride on Crist's coattails, while the relentlessly polite governor still has stellar approval ratings, could be invigorating for the Giuliani campaign.

When asked about his presidential choice by different reporters on different occasions, Crist has given the same deadpan reply:

"Who do you think I should endorse?"