Posted: under Politics, Lifestyle.
“Gov. Rick Scott acknowledged Tuesday what his staff had refused to disclose: He flew to Colorado over the weekend to attend a secretive policy retreat hosted by powerful conservative donors Charles and David Koch.”
“It was very interesting,” Scott said. “They wanted basically to know what am I doing in Florida.” 
Scott said he gave an overview of his agenda since taking office in January: education and Medicaid reform, tax breaks for businesses, drug testing welfare recipients and overhauling the public employee pension system.
“Scott’s schedule over the weekend listed no events, unusual because he has worked most weekends.”
[Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric] Jotkoff blasted Scott for flying off to “kiss the Koch Brothers’ ring” while wildfires were spreading across the state.
“Gov. Scott attends private weekend retreat hosted by influential Koch brothers“. More: “Fla. Gov. Scott attended meeting hosted by billionaire Koch brothers in Colorado“.
If Scott had any class – and he doesn’t – he would have nixed the Koch brother’s Colorado party and attended the funerals of the two state employees who just last week were burned to death in the line of duty.
FLAPolitics/ 06/29/2011
Scott misses Firefighter funerals to kiss Koch derriere
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona,Editor
Jun 29 2011
Posted: under Business: United States & Latin America..
Coca-Cola Femsa SAB agreed to pay 6.55 billion pesos ($555 million) in stock for the Coke bottling operations of Grupo Tampico SA, marking the company’s first all- share transaction.
Mexico’s largest soft-drink bottler will give closely held Grupo Tampico 63.5 million newly issued Coca-Cola Femsa shares valued at 103.20 pesos each, it said yesterday in a statement. Mexico City-based Coca-Cola Femsa will also assume 2.75 million pesos in net debt. The stock fell the most in two months.
The transaction would be Coca-Cola Femsa’s largest since 2003 and follows a 27.7 billion-peso share merger of Mexico’s second- and third-largest bottlers this year to form Arca Continental SAB. Using shares instead of cash may help persuade more small bottlers to be acquired, Chief Financial Officer Hector Trevino said in a telephone interview yesterday.
“There are a lot of bottlers in Mexico and Latin America that don’t want to get out of the business,” Trevino said. “On the other hand, they are small and they see the advantages of having bigger scale and geographic diversification.”
Coca-Cola Femsa fell 93 centavos, or 0.8 percent, to 109.01 pesos at 4 p.m. New York time in Mexico City trading, the biggest decline since April 26. The shares have gained 6.7 percent this year, compared with a 27 percent advance for Monterrey, Mexico-based Arca Continental. Read More:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-29/coca-cola-femsa-to-acquire-grupo-tampico-s-bottling-operations.html
Bloomberg/ Black/Harrsion/ 06/29/2011
Coca-Cola Femsa to Pay $555 Million in Shares for Tampico’s Mexico Bottle
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor
Jun 29 2011
Posted: under Politics, Lifestyle.
The Florida State Fair Authority announced today that the State Fairgrounds in Tampa has been selected as the host site for the September 12, 2011 Republican Presidential Debate hosted by CNN and the Tea Party Express.
“We are pleased to be selected as the site of this debate as it fits with our mission of supporting education and community service,” said Chuck Pesano, Executive Director for the Florida State Fair Authority. “It’s important that we, as citizens, have the opportunity to learn about those running for public office.”
September will be a busy month for Republican presidential debates in Florida. Fox News is sponsoring a Sept. 22 GOP presidential debate in Orlando.
St.PetersburgTimes/ Smith/ 06/29/2011
Florida State Fairgrounds to host CNN/Tea Party Express debate
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor
Jun 29 2011
Posted: under Politics, Lifestyle.
Michele Bachmann downplayed tensions with Sarah Palin here Wednesday morning.
“They want to see two girls come together and have a mud wrestling fight,” the Minnesota congresswoman said. “And I’m not going to give it to ‘em.”
The first question at a morning rally came from a woman who wanted to know if media reports of divisions between the two tea party darlings are true.
She said she has “great respect” for Palin.
“This race is wide open,” Bachmann told the crowd of more than 200. “We can accommodate all the candidates who want to come in. We’re going to stick together, and we’re going to see this thing through.”
Politico/ Hohmann/ 06/29/2011
MicheMichele Bachmann: People want to see me ‘mud-wrestling’ with Sarah Palin
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor
Jun 29 2011
Posted: under Politics, Lifestyle.
Like Republicans in Congress, the leading GOP candidates for U.S. Senate in Florida are divided over Libya. George LeMieux supports the mission but not the president sidestepping Congress, while Adam Hasner and Mike Haridopolos oppose the effort.
George LeMieux: “I support our efforts in Libya to prevent Muammar Gaddafi from massacring his own people. Gaddafi is a terrorist who has the blood of his people on his hands as well as that of Americans. However, President Obama is acting in violation of our Constitution by falling to seek Congressional authority for this war; he should obtain authorization immediately.”
Mike Haridopolos: “Sen. Haridopolos does not believe that we should have gone into Libya because it did not pose a direct threat to the United States and we are already stretched thin in Afghanistan and Iraq,” spokesman Tim Baker said. “Additionally, he believes that we are not in an economic position to launch into a third war. Sen. Haridopolos does not support the ongoing war in Libya because the President has not made clear what the mission is nor sought Congressional approval for the war.”
Adam Hasner: “I’m opposed to the way in which this President took us to war in Libya, and the fact he is keeping us there without Congressional authorization and support. But now that the President has committed American troops and put them in harm’s way, he must clearly define victory and achieve it with certainty. If we fail in Libya, it will be another instance where President Obama’s foreign policy missteps endanger America by making us less trusted by our allies and less feared by our enemies around the world. If President Obama isn’t willing to define the mission, what victory looks like, or how we are going to achieve it, then he needs to pull our military out as soon as possible.” … Read more
St.PetersburgTimes/Leary/ 06/29/2011
Florida GOP Senate candidates divided on Libya
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor
Jun 29 2011
Posted: under Politics, Lifestyle.
(Photo Credit: Reuters)
If President Obama wants to add some star power to his reelection campaign, he’s got a volunteer waiting in the wings.
Beyonce, who stumped for Obama in 2008, said that she’ll “absolutely” campaign for him again. “I did the first time and I will again,” the singer said in an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan that aired Monday.
“I think he’s doing a great job. I think he’s fantastic. I think he needs another term, he needs more time,” Beyonce said.
When Morgan asked if her husband Jay-Z actually “has the president on the speed dial of his cellphone,” Beyonce smiled coyly and said she didn’t know but called the Obamas “amazing” and “wonderful.”
On performing during their first dance as president and first lady in 2009, the singer said: “It was really powerful and overwhelming. I kept telling myself, ‘OK this is not about you; you have to do this for them. You have to do this for history.’”
Politico/ McDevitt/Click/ 06/28/2011
Beyonce: Obama needs another term
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor
Jun 28 2011
Posted: under Business: United States & Latin America..
OSX Brasil SA (OSXB3), the oil services company controlled by Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista, is targeting billions of dollars in contracts from state-controlled Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4) after winning a construction license.
The Rio de Janeiro-based company plans to submit bids to build some of the 21 rigs to be contracted this year by Sete Brasil, a joint venture between Petrobras and state-run pension funds, Chief Financial Officer Roberto Monteiro said yesterday in a telephone interview. OSX currently only has orders from OGX Petroleo & Gas Participacoes SA, also owned by Batista.
OSX received a license last week allowing it to build a shipyard in Rio de Janeiro state and will start clearing land in coming days, Monteiro said. Petrobras approved the construction of seven deep-water rigs in February for $4.64 billion, or $662 million each, as part of a program to add 28 rigs to its fleet.
“By getting the license now we are able to start construction in the next few days,” Monteiro said from Rio de Janeiro. “Now we are moving full steam ahead.”
OSX plans to finalize an $850 million project finance loan for its second offshore platform in one to two months, he said. OSX is seeking a better rate than the 4.25 percent over Libor that it paid for a similar 8 ½ year loan last year, he said.
Brazil’s oil and gas industry needs $400 billion in goods and services through 2020 for production and refining projects, according to the ONIP industry group.
Read More:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-28/batista-s-osx-targets-petrobras-rig-orders-after-winning-license.html
Bloomberg/ Millard/ 06/28/2011
Billionaire Batista Targets Petrobras Oil Rig Orders After Winning License
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor
Jun 28 2011
Posted: under Politics, Lifestyle.
Three groups sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Tuesday, urging the federal government to reject the latest changes to Florida election laws. The Fair Elections Legal Network, Florida Public Interest Research Group and Florida Institute for Reform and Empowerment want the feds to refuse to “pre-clear” the new law, which Gov. Rick Scott signed a few weeks ago.
The groups cited three specific objections: reducing early voting from 14 days to eight, and eliminating early voting on the Sunday before the election; imposing new registration requirements and shorter filing deadlines on third party groups that register voters; and requiring voters who move from one county to another to file a provisional ballot when they update their voting address.
Federal approval of voting-law changes in Florida is required because of past cases of discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities in five counties: Collier, Hardee, Hendry, Hillsborough and Monroe.
St.PetersburgTimes/ Bousquet/ 06/28/2011
Groups urge federal denial of voting-law changes
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor
Jun 28 2011
Posted: under Florida: Politics, Lifestyle, Comments, Politics, Lifestyle.
Democratic-aligned Public Policy Polling:
Rick Scott was already tied with John Kasich as the least popular Governor in the country in PPP’s polling but now he has that designation all to himself. 59% of voters disapprove of Scott, up from 55% when PPP last polled the state in March. Only 33% think Scott’s doing a good job.
Scott’s numbers with Democrats are pretty much identical to where they were on the last poll. His standing with Republicans has actually improved a little bit, from 57/27 in March to now 63/30. Where he’s really seeing a decline is with independents. He was already unpopular with them at a 31/54 approval spread but his numbers with them are even worse now at 27/64.
One potential future match up that would surely be a dream for political observers is a 2014 match up between Scott and his predecessor Charlie Crist. … Read more
St.PetersburgTimes/ Leary/ 06/28/2011
PPP poll: Charlie Crist, as a Democrat, would ‘crush’ Rick Scott
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor
Jun 28 2011
Posted: under Politics, Lifestyle.
Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann, the House Tea Party Caucus leader who kicked off her presidential campaign today in Iowa, made a well-received stop in Jupiterat a tea party gathering back in March but doesn’t appear to have much of a Florida campaign organization.
Palm Beach Town Councilman and major GOP moneymanBill Diamond — a key Florida financier for Rudy Giuliani‘s 2008 presidential bid and recently part of the Draft Donald Trumpmovement — says he’s a Bachmann backer and hopes to raise money for the Minnesotan, but isn’t too clear on her campaign structure in Florida.
Bachmann’s spokeswoman is Alice Stewart, a veteran ofMike Huckabee‘s Arkansas administration and presidential campaign who worked on Rick Scott‘s primary campaign in Florida last year. Stewart said Bachmann, who’s been spending lots of time in Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina, doesn’t have any Florida trips on her schedule now.
Bachmann’s consultants include Washington-based Ed Brookover, who’s also a consultant for U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation.
PostPolitics/Bennett/ 06/28/2011
Some Michele Bachmann Florida links…
Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor
Jun 28 2011
