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Is it security or a needless perk?
Hard to tell where the line is these days as Florida spends thousands of dollars a year to provide drivers and door openers for people who have been designated "dignitaries."
For two years we taxpayers have been footing the bill for personal security services for Mel Martinez, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, when he travels in Florida. The cost since January is more than $20,000.
That's in addition to the baby sitting/security services provided for Senate President Jim King and House Speaker Johnnie Byrd. The cost of that is thousands more.
The nice looking guys wearing suits with gizmos in their ears can be seen hanging around good restaurants (they don't eat), attending football games, fundraisers and various other events.
Without this duty, agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Capitol Police might be out catching criminals like regular cops.
This weekend FDLE is squiring Martinez around as he celebrates homecoming at Florida State University. Martinez is among former graduates who are being honored. On Friday he was a featured participant in a parade through downtown Tallahassee.
Seated in a vintage Ford convertible, Martinez was followed closely by an armed police officer riding a bicycle. Behind him in another convertible was former St. Petersburg Times editorial writer Diane K. Roberts, another honoree.
Guess who was in more danger of being shot?
One might wonder if all these trips Martinez is making to Florida were designed to help him win friends for a future race.
The former Orange County chairman's name popped up this week as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being abandoned by Bob Graham. Martinez was long considered a possible candidate for governor in 2006.
Under Florida law the governor, and sometimes the lieutenant governor, get security provided by FDLE agents. Last year, in a post-9/11 move, lawmakers changed state law to allow the House speaker and the Senate president to request personal security from Capitol Police.
Typically Florida provides security when governors from other states, the president or members of his Cabinet travel in the state, if it is requested and the governor orders it.
Martinez has asked 13 times since January - mostly on trips to Orlando. One trip was to a World Series game. Another was to a football game.
The security includes a car and driver, so a politician doesn't have the hassle of getting from one place to another on his own.
No agents accompany U.S. Sens. Bob Graham and Bill Nelson when they visit Florida and none are provided for Attorney General Charlie Crist or Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.
Bush says he authorizes it for Martinez and any governor or foreign dignitary who requests it. Some suspicious souls believe the governor is doing it for Martinez because he wants to help him win an election. Bush insists he's not taking sides.
Martinez aides say it's routine for all federal Cabinet members. Arrangements are made by security agents, not Martinez, says aide Doug Duvall.
Others who have requested security this year include 15 governors, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and three other Cabinet members.
Florida's governor gets similar help when he travels outside the state.
Governors are understandable, especially one who is the brother of the president. But would anyone recognize Martinez or most other members of the president's Cabinet?