Pro-guns, pro-business, pro-family and patriotic — sound like the GOP?

Nope, it's the Mainstream Democrats, a group of Florida lawmakers touting personal responsibility, morals, patriotism and efficient government to woo back voters in a state where Republicans dominate politics on all but the local levels.

"The Republicans started this campaign that the Democrats were liberal, left-wing wackos, and we ignored it because it was so ridiculous," said Sen. Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach, who formed the Florida Mainstream Democratic Alliance last year with a handful of Senate colleagues.

Gov. Bush and the Legislature have a record of giving private voucher schools special treatment. They kept up that record when writing guidelines for the universal pre-kindergarten program. To make the program work, the Legislature must change rules that put public schools at a disadvantage.

Bush fails to recognize another reality: If a new judge is assigned to a criminal division, he will need defense lawyers and prosecutors to handle the cases. Bush's budget proposal includes no additional funding to hire more lawyers to work for public defenders and state attorneys in Florida.

Lawmakers must not ignore this reality. In putting together the budget they should take a holistic approach: If taxpayers are going to pay for more judges, they must also provide for the other essential partners.

U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart, R-Miami, will become the next vice chairman of the House Rules committee, giving him considerable power over every piece of legislation that goes before Congress, including Social Security and the U.S. embargo against Cuba.

One of Florida's largest outsourcing efforts has spurred a battle of the titans, with telecommunication giants AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, BellSouth and MCI brawling over which should get as much as $200 million to replace the state's aging voice and data network.

It took political guts for Department of Children and Families Secretary Lucy Hadi to choose to keep state workers at the core of Economic Self-Sufficiency Services, the program that determines eligibility for food stamps, Medicaid and cash assistance. The Bush administration is bent on privatization, and Hadi might have scored more political points with the governor's office if she had backed the wholesale outsourcing of services and workers.

The St. Petersburg nonprofit company that sells goods made by Florida prisoners has severed ties with a controversial spinoff and acknowledged the alliance might have financially compromised the firm.

As has been the case since 1999, Gov. Bush's budget is less than what it seems. Yes, he proposed a 300 percent increase for the program to keep children from smoking. That $4 million total, however, would be about $70 million less than experts believe the state should be spending. The money is there, sent to the state every year as part of the 1997 settlement with tobacco companies. But Gov. Bush, who opposed the lawsuit that produced the settlement, spends the money on his own priorities.

Those include tax cuts. Two stand out. One would eliminate, at a cost to the state of nearly $50 million, the tax on liquor by the drink. In 1998, during the governor's campaign, an association fund-raiser brought in $250,000 for the Republican Party of Florida. In 2001, Gov. Bush tried to slip into the budget a cut in the drink tax, just after meeting with a lobbyist for the Florida Restaurant Association. The Post exposed it. Now, the governor intends to keep that promise, and then some. Don't expect any savings when you hoist a cold one.

Nor would most Floridians benefit from phasing out the intangibles tax on non-retirement securities accounts. Gov. Bush has trimmed it for six years, and that has meant savings for the minority of Floridians with significant stock portfolios. For Floridians without those portfolios, the governor cuts most of the Medically Needy program.

"School ban on showing 'The Passion' assailed"

A community college is drawing criticism for banning a Christian student organization from showing the controversial Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ. Indian River Community College officials defended the decision, saying they were following a longstanding practice banning student groups from airing R-rated films.

But the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, has accused the school of a double standard because it allowed other R-rated films, such as the documentary, Welcome to Sarajevo.

FIRE president David French said the college was trampling on "legal and moral rights to free speech and freedom of conscience." He said it's part of a national problem of limiting campus religious activities.

IRCC spokeswoman Michelle Abaldo said R-rated movies, such as Welcome to Sarajevo, have been shown as part of class lessons, but never by a student group. Recently, the school denied another group's request to show The Last Samurai.

Reading Gov. Jeb Bush's budget recommendations raises questions, once again, about his priorities for the state.
Tax cuts for rich people? Sure. A slush fund for business incentives? Absolutely. Making it cheaper for folks who get sloshed in bars? Might as well.

Meanwhile, Bush wants to kick seriously ill Floridians out of hospital beds. Scrimp on pre-kindergarten education. Raise college tuition by more than 7 percent.

"Florida's GOP delegates laud speech as inspiring"

After hours of discussion that nearly killed an agreement with the gambling industry, Miami-Dade commissioners set a March 8 referendum on slot machines at parimutuels.

The program ended last summer after Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed the $2 million cost of the monitors. State officials are now relying on parents to alert them if teens run away or go missing before trial.

The 111-page proposed bill, given to House and Senate leaders Wednesday by Associated Industries of Florida, would limit people's ability to sue in about 30 different situations, including inadequate street lights and asbestos contamination.

It also would limit class-action lawsuits and ban advertising by personal injury lawyers.

The proposal promises to pit businessmen against attorneys, as was the case when lawmakers considered lawsuit-reform packages in 1999, 2001, 2002 and last year.

Of course, there is one small problem for Diaz.

He's not a Democrat.

He used to be. In fact, he was a very active Democrat who helped a number of politicians around the state get elected, including U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. But Diaz renounced his membership in the party and became an independent in 2000 following the government's seizure of Elián González.

Diaz was one of the lawyers for the Cuban boy's Miami relatives. He was very critical of Janet Reno, who was U.S. attorney general at the time, and the whole Clinton administration.

In 2002, Diaz endorsed Republican Jeb Bush for governor. And in 2004, he sat on the sidelines during the presidential race.

Gov. Jeb Bush's proposal to eliminate a $400-million health care program for the poor got a skeptical reception from legislative leaders on Wednesday.

Bill Nelson, long rumored to be considering a run for governor of Florida when Gov. Jeb Bush steps down next year, said Wednesday he will not, and instead will seek re-election to the Senate in 2006.

We think, however, that there is a more-humane and cost-effective way to get rid of the backlog: The Legislature should discard the entire clemency process and restore felons' rights automatically. The current process is an anachronistic holdover from the 19th century, when lawmakers sought to roll back blacks' post-Civil War gains. It wastes millions in taxpayers' money each year, and it robs thousands of former inmates of the chance to live productively. ...

The state has disenfranchised 500,000 people, disproportionately African-American men, by, in effect, punishing them twice: once, rightly, for their crimes, then again by not automatically restoring civil rights after felons have completed prison terms.

The state should provide every incentive for ex-felons to become full participants in civil society, encouraging them to find employment and become engaged, productive residents. The clemency process is a costly, needless stumbling block.

For Florida's Democratic Party activists to unanimously endorse Howard Dean's bid to run the national party speaks volumes about their political ineptness and strategic cluelessness.

state budget cutbacks in medical care would affect thousands.

Senate President Tom Lee has started to make good on one of his key promises -- building a firewall to cool the relationship between lobbyists and the state Legislature.

Just two months ago, after taking over the helm of the Senate, Lee railed against the power and arrogance of special interests.

Now, prompted by the debate raging over the future of a plan for a chiropractic school at Florida State University, Lee wants to keep lobbyists from serving on boards that govern the state's public universities, including the boards of trustees at each school and the statewide Board of Governors.

"We have 17.4 million Floridians," said Lee, R-Brandon. "We can't find 100 talented people who don't butter their bread with the Florida Legislature to serve on [these boards]? Give me a break."

Lee has asked two of his key lieutenants to see how far the Legislature can go in banning lobbyists from serving on key boards that often decide how state dollars are spent or whether legislators have violated ethics rules.

Key power brokers no longer retain influential posts, and other states are jostling for influence. There is, of course, Jeb Bush.

Increasing options for early voting, establishing larger precincts that require fewer poll workers and restoring the right of ex-felons to vote all are big-picture subjects that Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood could have proposed last Thursday at a joint House and Senate elections committee hearing.

Instead, Ms. Hood offered a minimalist agenda designed to avoid upsetting state lawmakers who apparently believe that the state's voting system is beyond reproach. Admittedly, the state needs to improve tracking of absentee ballots, clarify rules for making contact with people waiting in line to vote and correct overlapping registration deadlines, which were the issues Ms. Hood suggested. But the state's three-stage, trying-to-be-everything-to-everybody system of early voting, absentee voting and Election Day voting needs help. Will the Legislature act? Not likely, said Senate Elections Chairman Bill Posey, R-Rockledge. "It's really working pretty good."

Since the call to overhaul comes from the right, some fear a new constitution proposed by the current Republican Legislature would infringe on abortion and church-state separation. But any ideas out of the mainstream would not escape the Legislature, much less survive a public referendum and get past the U.S. Supreme Court.

True, it would take four to six years to test provisions in a new state constitution. By then, a Bush-appointed judiciary might be less inclined to find "penumbras" and "emanations" in the Bill of Rights or its own past edicts.

The 2006 elections are more than 1 ½ years away, but the field for statewide races is starting to form. Rep. Joe Negron is the first to jump into the race for attorney general.

Florida legislative leaders vowed to end the infighting and tackle tough issues during their session that begins in March.

Florida State University's president and provost Wednesday stood by their trustees' decision last week concerning the proposed chiropractic program.

Instead of taking a stance on the proposal, trustees handed its fate over to the Board of Governors.

it seems disingenuous of Mr. Bush to turn to the Board of Governors - whose creation he fought every inch of the way - to do what he could have done himself months ago.

The secretive religious group that spent more than $500,000 buying ads to support the candidacies of President Bush and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez may have violated federal election law by accepting a foreign contribution.

A spokesman for the Federal Elections Commission says federal law prohibits foreign nationals from contributing money to buy ads in a federal election within 60 days of the election.

It is nevertheless not a point of pride for Florida - where annual personal income growth is at 5.6 percent - to consider it OK for public service workers' income growth to be less than half that. Above all, it sends a no-foolin' message that public service work is a career choice of last resort.

Private-sector managers know in their bones and on their bottom lines that employees are their greatest asset - their loyalty, their talents, their intelligence, their sense of mission. It is an insult, no question, that government workers are thought by this administration to be the exception to that work-force rule. Morale is almost certainly at an all-time low among state employees, many of whom entered public service with their heads held high and great optimism that they would make a difference.

A writer for Gov. Jeb[!] Bush's office [Lloyd Brown] resigned Tuesday, citing news reports detailing allegations of plagiarism and sexual harassment while a senior editor at a Jacksonville newspaper.

Without mentioning the problem-plagued privatization of personnel services, Gov. Jeb Bush cheerfully conceded Tuesday that the state has made mistakes in "outsourcing" but said his confidence in "downsizing" of government remains unshakable.

While the state contribution may work in more rural areas, providers in urban areas say it falls short of their needs.

Wal-Mart supporters filled several rows in the auditorium. Dozens of workers from nearby stores, some still in their blue smock uniforms, showed up to the meeting carrying blue signs that said "Wal-Mart yes."

Mark Telfer, manager of the Palm Harbor store, said the employees were paid to attend the meeting.

New Port Richey store manager Eric Hirons was among eight people to testify on behalf of Wal-Mart during the public-comment portion. He told commissioners his corporation is a good neighbor.

Wal-Mart has taught me to care about the community," Hirons said, noting that he is involved with a Rotary Club and a youth basketball coach.

on Tuesday sent the Legislature a $61.6-billion budget proposal for next year that boosts school spending and cuts taxes while raising college tuition and cutting health care to the poor.

Tax breaks were lavished chiefly on wealthier Floridians and corporations that have always supported the Republican governor ...

Tuition would jump at state universities and community colleges.

sizzling real-estate market and rebuilding after last year's four hurricanes ...

State regulators Tuesday gave Florida Power & Light Co. permission to start collecting a monthly surcharge from consumers to help pay hefty storm bills from Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne.

And I guess I could make the argument that a lot of it was ideologically driven and that some of these professors made their political beliefs well known.

A mysterious committee backed by members of a secretive religious group whose members are forbidden to vote spent more than $500,000 on newspaper ads last year supporting President Bush and U.S. Senate candidate Mel Martinez.

The Thanksgiving 2004 Committee raised the money from residents of 18 states, plus $377,262 from Bruce Hazell of London, England. None of the money was raised in Florida, according to a report filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

The group of men who formed the committee belong to the Exclusive Brethren, a reclusive religious group with roots in England and Australia. The group includes members from Knoxville, Tenn., Omaha, Neb., and other U.S. cities.

Members of the Exclusive Brethren do not vote, read newspapers, watch television or participate in the outside world, according to published reports.

"We are clueless on this one," said Martinez Senate spokeswoman Melissa Shuffield.

Florida State University's Board of Trustees could have sent some clearer smoke signals to the Board of Governors, which will meet in Gainesville on Jan. 28 to make a decision about whether FSU should proceed with developing a chiropractic degree program.

But in coming up with a hybrid suggestion for the BOG to consider, FSU's board did two things: It showed respect for the opinions of its faculty, and it attempted to bring back some order to a process that has been politically motivated from the beginning when two lawmakers, of their own volition, four years ago began pushing to create the first such university-based degree in the United States.

Florida's contribution made it the fifth-largest giver behind California, $4.3 million; Washington, D.C., $3.3 million; Texas, $1.95 million, and New York, $1.85 million.

Jesse James Hardy may lose his 160-acres of swampland if a Collier County judge supports the government's right to take his property to make way for a restoration project.

Attorney General Charlie Crist called in to a popular area radio show Monday evening to deny he is gay, taking the offensive against a small but potentially damaging rumor at the outset of his campaign for governor.

"No, man. No. I love women. I mean, they're wonderful," Crist said after a local radio personality who's friendly to him, Dave McKay, asked bluntly, "Are you a homo?"

The two discussed Crist's dating life with women.

"Yeah, well, fortunately I have, uh, I'm very blessed," Crist said.

State employees could see a 2.5-percent pay raise Dec. 1 and would have the option of setting up "health savings accounts" under the budget Gov. Jeb Bush will send to the Florida Legislature today, aides said Monday.

Florida's public schools, already graded on students' test performances, could lose money if those youngsters don't improve.

some state officials said they feared the potential loss of 10 percent of state funding was Draconian. Such a loss could leave struggling districts unable to provide important academic programs or even necessities such as bus transportation.

to take some of the sting out of the law. It reduces the amount of money that actually would be "at risk," so officials "don't endanger basic services to students," according to the department's memo on the plan.

In a high-stakes battle expected to mirror the 2003 struggle over medical-malpractice-insurance reform, a potent business lobbying group will begin pushing Florida lawmakers to enact curbs on civil lawsuits during this year's legislative session.

Supporters tout the proposals as a way to ensure Florida's continued economic growth, but one detractor described them as "worthy of 19th century robber barons."

The proposals backed by Associated Industries of Florida would attempt to limit civil liability - and in some cases eliminate it - for an array of businesses including accountants, construction companies, retailers, utility companies, manufacturers and insurance companies.

The case has bounced between two trial judges and the 1st District Court of Appeal for nearly six years landing in court the day after Gov. Jeb Bush signed the state's original voucher program into law. Four of the five rulings issued so far have concluded the law is unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court is expected to schedule oral arguments this spring. The state's first brief is due Tuesday.

It's a big issue,"A ton of money, ... state money, goes through faith-based organizations."

Donors, including some of Florida's wealthiest residents, are more than happy to pick up the tab for the gallons of champagne, truckloads of flowers and big-name entertainers headlining this week's festivities.

the Bush administration's infatuation with outsourcing is like an adolescent love affair: The attraction is so overwhelming that it impairs sound judgment. This has led to multimillion-dollar decisions that were premature and inadequately supported by careful study.

Uhlfelder, 58, said he's been considering for some time making this year his last as a legislative lobbyist. But an embarrassing shouting match last week with Senate President Tom Lee may have been the deciding factor.

"This is a wake-up call ... I screwed up," Uhlfelder said. "Maybe this is a defining moment. I've been struggling whether to continue to do legislative projects ... I want to be known more as a public servant and less as a lobbyist."

Uhlfelder said that if he does give up lobbying the Legislature, he'll continue contract and real-estate law, his other specialities. Current lobbying clients range from educational concerns to American Express.

outmatched by older voting devices that use pencil and paper ballots, according to a South Florida Sun-Sentinel analysis.

Voters using the ATM-style voting machines in November were 50 percent more likely to cast a flawed ballot or have an unregistered vote in the presidential race, compared to voting machines employing simple paper ballots.

When Senate President Tom Lee talks about reforming growth management, he has more in mind than simply changing who says when about who builds what. He means to pay for it with taxes.

Yes, t-a-x-e-s.

is trying to win doctors' support for his plan to turn much of Medicaid over to private insurers.

that they are still committed to restoring the Everglades and ready to move forward on several key projects.

Some Florida State University professors have been circulating a parody map showing the campus of the future, with a new Bigfoot Institute, a School of Astrology and a Crop Circle Simulation Laboratory.

It's a not-so-subtle jab in a growing debate over a proposal to build a chiropractic college on this campus -- the first such school at a public university in the nation.

The long legal saga pitting the parents of a severely brain-damaged woman against her husband may be winding down -- if, as widely expected, the U.S. Supreme Court refuses this week to consider an appeal filed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

"It's a long shot," said Barbara Weller, a member of the Gibbs Law Firm in Pinellas County, which assumed the case late last year. "If we get a miracle from God, we'll win, and that's what we're all praying for."