It's All About Charlie

Charlie Crist was a lame duck. Boxed in. Irrelevant.

But now, with bold use of the veto pen and bold campaigning, Crist has estranged fellow Republicans and become a force to be feared in the Capitol.

His newfound aggressiveness -- rooted in his own political survival -- is leaving its mark on legislation that touches the lives of every Floridian: schoolchildren and teachers, homeowners, anyone who pays an electricity bill, and the growing ranks of Florida's poor.

Just a word of ``concern'' from Crist's lips is enough to put a major bill like the House's Medicaid reform effort in jeopardy. His overt threat to veto a property-insurance bill Wednesday resulted in the House shelving the bill. Some lawmakers fear he might even veto the entire $69-plus billion budget if it doesn't suit his tastes.

``Maybe they were surprised by the fact that I take the job of governor very, very seriously,'' Crist said. ``And when there's a time to exercise the authority and the trust people put in you, you need to do it. And I'm going to keep doing it.''

The legislative session ends next Friday and the atmosphere is hostile, a sharp contrast to last year. Heading into this session, Crist's agenda and budget were written off by legislators. The governor was expected to veer to the right.

Instead, Crist vetoed education legislation, which has heightened the likelihood that the Governor is positioning himself to leave the GOP primary, if not the party itself.

To starve Crist of headline-grabbing vetoes, Republican legislators are dialing back some of their more controversial measures and offering an olive branch or two.

Senator J.D. Alexander said he's prepared to come back and write another budget if the governor rejects it. If the governor vetoes the budget, that would prompt a special lawmaking session, raise Crist's profile and antagonize the Legislature all the more.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/21/1591611/crist-wields-new-power-in-final.html