FLORIDA HOUSE REPUBLICANS COMPLAIN OF LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM MARTINEZ

The St. Petersburg Times has a story this morning noting that freshman U.S. Senator Mel Martinez is not too popular among his fellow Republicans in the House and their staffs. The issue tends to be that House staffers complain that Martinez and his office doesn't communicate well with them, if at all.

Several House members were unusually candid in the story about their efforts in dealing with Martinez. And the Times says that even contributors, friends, and advisers have said that the Senator and his staff have lost touch with the folks back home who matter to the point that getting phone calls returned or meetings scheduled was difficult at best.