|
|
|
Florida "Schools Ranked Among Worst"
A national embarassment for "Jeb!":Florida public schools compare badly to those in many states and need more money if they are to provide the high-quality education that voters want, according to a new report aimed at prodding Gov. Jeb Bush and legislators to action.
Members of Florida's Constitutional Accountability Commission put finishing touches Friday on a report that measured schools against a list of academic and funding criteria and declared them among the poorest in the country.
Voters approved an amendment to the state constitution in 1998 calling for a "high quality system of free public schools," but panel members said it isn't happening.
"Florida is not competing on a national level. That is pretty obvious," said Steven Shimp, a Fort Myers contractor serving on the 30-member panel organized by the Florida School Boards Association and Florida Tax Watch, a consumer-watchdog group. "Schools ranked among worst".
Schiavo
"Judge: Remove Schiavo's food tube". For the political subtext, see yesterday's post "'Schiavo Political Gallery'".
Voucher Madness
The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board:When a child fails a reading test three years in a row, that's cause for serious concern.
It's not a good reason to say "Here's $4,000, kid. You're on your own."
But that's just what Gov. Jeb Bush is proposing to do. He wants to expand his one-size-fits-all education solution -- vouchers -- to children who aren't meeting state achievement standards in reading. The governor doesn't specify where these children would go, or whether the private sector could do a better job of helping them to learn. And he offers no solutions for the struggling schools these students would be leaving behind. "Florida's wrong focus". In the meantime, he Tampa Trib editorial board hearts vouchers.
GOoPer Lawyer Boondoggle
GOoPer lawyers under scrutiny for billing $4.5 million in fees in a dispute over far less:For two years, a Tampa law firm reaped the rewards of its relationship with then-Florida House Speaker Johnnie Byrd.
Broad & Cassel billed taxpayers $4.5-million for legal work. Now Byrd is out of office and the firm's hefty billings face fresh scrutiny by Byrd's successor, Rep. Allan Bense, R-Panama City.
In an extraordinary step, Bense has ordered an investigation of the amount of money the firm was paid under his predecessor. "House to scrutinize law firm's hefty billings".
Dems
The post-election fallout continues:"Florida Democrats have to do something in this state to change the terms of the debate and to make more clear what the mainstream of the Democratic party stands for," said Aubrey Jewett, a University of Central Florida political science professor. "They have been perceived as more liberal than the average Floridian. You can get away with that with a couple of issues, but if it's across the board, that's a recipe for disaster."
So far, the strategy doesn't have Republicans too worried. "Democrats trying to take back issues dominated by Republicans".
Growth Management
No more referendums for local tax increases?A bill revamping growth management would make it easier for local officials to raise taxes needed to pay for Florida's continuing population boom, says the head of a state Senate panel drafting the legislation. "Growth management bill could make raising local taxes easier".
More Q Poll Analysis
More analysis of the Quinnipiac University pollHarris is almost within striking distance of Nelson, who has broad support and name recognition but has not clearly made the case to voters that he should be reelected, according to a poll by Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University of 1,007 Floridians.
The survey also shows that the 2006 governor's race would be a dead-heat between Florida's Republican attorney general, Charlie Crist, and Democratic former Education Commissioner Betty Castor if it were held today. Each would garner 30 percent of the total vote, but Crist faces a tough challenge from fellow Republican Tom Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer.
Castor would get a hard fight from political newcomer Lawton ''Bud'' Chiles, son and namesake of Florida's former governor, the poll said. "Harris winning name-recognition contest".And how about this:Nelson seems more popular among Republicans -- 52 percent of whom said they approve of him -- than among Democrats, among whom he captures only 49 percent of the vote. Nelson bucked his party recently, approving two of President Bush's Cabinet nominees. But he has attacked the president in recent days, saying Bush is trying ''to destroy Social Security'' by proposing to privatize the system.
Nelson said Friday he was happy with the numbers because they show an overall job-approval rating at 50 percent, with only 17 percent disapproving of him.More.
FlaBlog also has more.
Wingnuttery (Follow Up)
The Gaineville Sun gives it to Dennis Baxley, R-OcalaDART:for filing the silliest bill of the season: one that purports to protect "free inquiry and free speech" on campus by telling professors they can't "introduce controversial matter into the classroom that has no relation to the subject of study and serves no legitimate pedagogical purpose."
Baxley, it seems, recently heard a conservative commentator call universities "indoctrination centers for the political left," and so he has resolved to protect free speech with the blunt instrument of state censorship.
There are only two problems with Baxley's "fix." A little thing called the First Amendment (he ought to read it sometime), and a state constitutional amendment that gives the Board of Governors, not the Legislature, the power of university governance. Fortunately for Baxley, the federal and state constitutions do not censor political showboating. See yesterday's post, "Wingnuttery".
Off Topic
The St Pete Times has this today: "The role of bloggers".
Leadership by Cliche
Yesterday, it was reported "Jeb!" considers hislatest plan to expand the use of private school vouchers is as "American as apple pie."
This governor is fond of dressing up cliches to look like public policy, but, as usual, he is using the wrong cliche.
The correct cliche would be, "Out of sight, out of mind."
And that's what's wrong with Bush's passion for moving children out of public schools and into private schools. "Education by cliche".
"Rigged System"
InFlorida and other states where lawmakers draw the lines for legislative and congressional districts, incumbents are protected and voters are neglected. It's a rigged system ripe for reform. "Rigged system". See also "Give Job To Separate Panel".
Thanks "Jeb!", Dubya
"At the Republican Party of Florida, the focus is on organizing support for Bush's plan to privatize a portion of Social Security, not the federal budget cuts that could hit this state." See "Florida to feel federal budget cuts".
Prison Privatization Follies
Withconflicting cost and benefit numbers, a Senate budget committee ordered a special audit Thursday to determine whether privatizing prisons really saves Florida taxpayers any money. "Costs of prison privatization are disputed". See also "Private prison savings debated".
"Jeb!" Steps In
"Jeb!"is blasting the campaign for slot machines in South Florida for seducing voters with a "hollow promise" for better schools, and warning of an "industry-led drive toward Las Vegas-style casino development."
In his starkest terms yet, Bush, a staunch gambling opponent, wrote in a letter to the Christian Coalition of South Florida that passing the March 8 referendum in Broward and Miami-Dade counties would create a "snowball effect," leading to casinos across the state.
Gambling opponents are seizing on the letter from the state's chief executive -- who has the power to veto any legislation regulating the slot machines -- as a weapon against the industry-financed campaign that wants to bring slots to seven racetracks and jai-alai frontons in the two counties. "Bush's letter slams slots drive". See also "Legislator leads effort to repeal slots vote".
Social Security Snow Job
"Treasury Sec. Snow makes Tampa pitch for Social Security plan". The St Pete Times puts it this way:
What would solve Social Security? In a moment of candor, Snow put two fixes on the table that actually would make the 70-year-old retirement program whole far into the foreseeable future: altering the formula for benefits and lifting the cap on payroll taxes. ...
A combination of the two - slowing the rise of future benefits and increasing payroll tax revenues - would save Social Security all by themselves. Snow has the formula in hand. Even though Snow has the solution,he was in town to push private investment accounts, and he did so dutifully. "Moments of candor".
"Fair Elections"
All of Florida's67 counties should receive financial support from the state to be sure that voters have access to the most reliable means of having their votes counted accurately. "Fair elections".
"Schiavo Political Gallery"
"DCF seeks delay for Terri Schiavo". In the meantime, it is politics as usual in this tragic case:"I'm not going to grandstand," Gov. Bush said Wednesday, responding to demands that he intervene in the Terri Schiavo case. "I'm not going to do something that would be completely inappropriate and disrespectful of the laws of the state of Florida." Such an attitude would represent a change of heart for the governor, but there is no sign that he has had one. "Schiavo political gallery". See also "Let Schiavo case come to a close".
"Only On Paper"
"The state's formula for calculating class size often shows small classes on paper. The reality can be very different." See "Smaller classes often exist only on paper".
Scripps "Plan B"
Even thoughthe strides Palm Beach County made this week toward identifying its top two sites for Scripps, state legislators Thursday expressed their increasing frustration with the county's lack of progress and issued a vague threat — hurry up, or they're going to "Plan B."
Exactly what "Plan B" is has not yet been decided, but House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, said it could mean some form of growth management legislation that would be aimed at speeding up the process to break ground on Scripps. "State lawmaker presses for progress on Scripps". See also "Disney-like powers for Scripps?"
Another Gift from Choicepoint
Choicepoint, personal records, the mob, whatever ...The personal records of more than 10,000 Floridians that wound up in the hands of an organized crime ring came from public databases collected, stored and sold by local and state governments to ChoicePoint Inc., a company spokesman said Thursday. "ChoicePoint says it bought records of 10,000 Floridians".
You remember Choicepoint, don't you?
Wingnuttery
Alleged sentient being,State Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, has introduced an "Academic Bill of Rights" aimed at giving conservative students legal footing to challenge liberal bigotry. "Bill doesn't get to the root of academia's liberal bias".
And by the way, who wrote that silly headline.
About that Bill
GOPlegislative leaders are turning to a Democrat to look over a $3.8 million legal bill from a politically influential law firm that represented the Florida House in a case dealing with a controversial computer system. "GOP leaders seek Democrat's help".
Public Shootouts Approved
Unbelievable:A House panel okays a bill that would let people shoot attackers in public, not just in their homes. "Bill would relax rules on self-defense". The Senate also passed a similar bill.The proposals, unanimously approved by two House and Senate committees Wednesday, would expand the common law doctrine of "your home is your castle" -- which now gives people the right to use force against a home intruder -- by allowing them to shoot to kill and face no fear of prosecution. "Law would expand the right to shoot".
Ultimate Stupidity
"The state wants to allow private groups to take over "failing" public schools. But privately managed schools don't seem to perform any better." See "'The ultimate sanction'".
Medicaid Fraud
Jumping the gun a bit:Despite public protests and concerns from some legislators about Gov. Jeb Bush's call to overhaul Medicaid, state officials already are moving to hire consultants to help write the plan to move millions of patients into managed-care networks and other insurance over the next two years. "State hiring consultants to map out Medicaid overhaul".
Poll
One wonders who was polled when you read thatFlorida voters believe Gov. Jeb Bush has done well in handling the economy and the environment, but didn't feel as strongly on two areas that have been among his highest priorities - education and taxes, according to a poll released Thursday. "Poll: Bush strong on economy, results mixed on education".
Seriously, can anyone name a single thing "Jeb!" has done with respect to either the Florida economy or the enviroment?
To be sure, "jobs" have been created, but these "jobs" are largely low wage positions with little or no benefits; this is evident because "Medicaid rolls have climbed 44 percent since Bush took office six years ago", and there has been a "53 percent increase in the number of people receiving food stamps during the past four years".
Convergys Scandal
Excuses, excuses:A top Convergys executive and the chief state manager of the People First system told legislators Wednesday that service is improving in the privatized personnel system.
But a skeptical Tallahassee lawmaker contradicted some of the optimism expressed by Chris Emerick, the Convergys vice president for public-sector operations, and Taylor Smith, the deputy Department of Management Services secretary in charge of the troubled project. "People First progress touted".
Resist "Power Grab"
Florida residentshave seen their secretaries of state mishandle and politicize election duties. Neither Katherine Harris nor Glenda Hood has inspired faith in the state's ability to deliver voter-based reforms. ...
[Now] the governor threatens to touch off a new round of upheaval with a Tallahassee power grab.
Gov. Bush used new federal requirements in the Help America Vote Act calling for uniformity in voting as cover for two bills that would centralize authority over elections with the secretary of state, an appointee of the governor. The legislation would give the secretary power to fine and pursue criminal charges against county supervisors who disagreed with the state's interpretation of elections law. It also would give the state the final call in settling disputes among supervisors, and it would make new requirements for voter-registration groups and petition drives. "Resist governor's grab for more election power".
Thanks "Jeb!", Dubya
Floridians should be thankful we have that pipeline to the oval office:Floridians' lives could be slammed by domestic spending cuts proposed by President George W. Bush in his quest to trim a bloated U.S. budget deficit, according to an analysis released this week. "Florida to feel federal budget cuts".
Whose On First?
It's a cluster:The Board of Governors and legislature have been at odds since the amendment created the board to oversee universities. The amendment, pushed by former Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, followed the legislature's elimination of the Board of Regents, which previously managed community colleges and universities. In their place, lawmakers set up the state Board of Education, which is responsible for management of kindergarten through graduate school.
Under HB1001, lawmakers would get oversight over how all university dollars are spent — including the power to set tuition and fees — while the Board of Governors would approve degree programs, oversee admissions policies and define the mission of each university.
There is no mention in the bill of the State Board of Education, but Chairman Phil Handy recently said his group is now in charge of kindergarten through community college. "Lawmakers define role in state university system".
Protecting Health Care Providers
This story - "Jeb!"'s administration protecting thousands of cases of possible criminal wrongdoing by health care providers - ought to be getting more coverage than it has:Officials with the Florida Department of Health painted conflicting pictures Wednesday of the agency's failure to tell prosecutors about thousands of cases of possible criminal wrongdoing by health care providers, then muddied the scope of the failure more by trying to clarify matters. "Legislators Question Agwunobi".
Voting Classes
The Tampa Trib doesn't like this idea much:O nce again, state Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey wants to impose another mandate on Florida's public schools.
Last year Fasano backed a law requiring every Florida classroom to display an American flag at least 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Schools in possession of smaller flags flew into a needless scramble after the law passed, seeking to meet the law's arbitrary dimensions.
This year the lawmaker is proposing a bill mandating that school boards and supervisors of elections provide voter education classes to high school seniors.
Fasano's aim is commendable. He wants to underscore the importance of voting among young people and increase their presence on the voter rolls. But this government mandate simply isn't needed. "No Mandate For Voting Classes".
"Jeb!": Vouchers "American as Apple Pie"
More school vouchersNearly 200,000 schoolchildren around the state, including 32,000 children in Miami-Dade County alone, could receive vouchers to attend private school under a far-reaching package of education reforms unveiled Wednesday by Gov. Jeb Bush. In defense of this massive vouvher/privatization scheme - even though vouchers have repeatedly been ruled unconstitutional - "Jeb!" gives us rarely seen rigorous argumentation:"I think it's frankly as American as apple pie to give people choices when what's provided them isn't working," Bush said. Perhaps there are "two Americas", as John Edwards argued last year, because some Americans don't think the new voucher plan is all that all-American:Henry Levin of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education questioned whether such an expansion is justified given the lack of data showing whether students in private schools are succeeding. "New vouchers `as American as apple pie,' Gov. Bush says". And,Critics said that giving the worst-performing students vouchers and letting them disappear into a private school system with no public accountability is no way to solve the problem.
"They said vouchers. And I said no," said Wayne Blanton, director of the Florida School Boards Association, about his briefing from Bush's office on the issue.
Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Art Johnson said it also could create problems with the balancing of schools for enrollment purposes.
Bush's announcement came Wednesday even though "Opportunity Scholarships" — his first and smallest voucher program, for children at schools receiving an F grade two out of four years — have been declared unconstitutional by a state appeals court because they send public money to religious schools. The Florida Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in the case this spring.
"The governor is just showing a lack of respect for the courts," said Ron Meyer, the lawyer for voucher opponents who successfully argued the case before the 1st District Court of Appeal. "Added school choice sought". See also "Bush outlines reading voucher proposal" and "Gov. Bush Tucks Vouchers Into Education Bill".
In Addition to More Vouchers ...
... "Gov. Bush proposes education reforms".
Slots
Gamblingopposition is growing. Advocates for taxable gaming in Broward and Miami-Dade counties have no one to blame but themselves for botching what appeared a slam-dunk in November, especially considering the size of pro-gaming electoral majorities in the two South Florida counties. "Keep Promises For Schools".
Note to Readers
Work in Tallahassee in advance of the session precludes me from posting again until Thursday. My apologies.
In the meantime, please take a gander at the sites listed in the right margin; in that connection, there is a new Blog DeLeon post, "There But For ... ". Also, there's a new blog on the block: "Editengine".
Trial on "Florida's Enron Connection"
Going to trial this week:The state's three-year-old lawsuit against Alliance Capital Management finally goes to trial next month. In 2002, the state of Florida sued the company, which served as a manager for the state's pension fund. The basis for the suit:According to records, the firm bought 7.6 million Enron shares for the Florida retirement fund, including 2.7 million shares after Oct. 22, 2001, when the SEC announced it was investigating Enron. "Alliance Capital trial set to begin".
These links put the trial in context, political context that is: Talking Points Memo and a St Pete Times editorial,"Florida's Enron connection". Here are some additional links.
"Jeb!" Back-Peddling
"Bush appears to be back-peddling from a surprise plan to have the executive branch exert greater control over Florida elections." See "State Shouldn't Take Power From Elections Supervisors". But see "Uniform standards will help all voters".
The Election Is Over ...
And the Bush brothers are lame ducks - so, Florida now gets treated like this:There are also hurricane-stricken parts of Florida where people still have tarpaulins covering their roofless homes. The tarps are cracking and deteriorating, leaving homes vulnerable to water damage and mold formation when it rains. FEMA says it can't help them.
Yet the agency was all too happy to throw money into the breeze in Miami-Dade County, spending about $31 million on hurricane relief assistance in an area that was not struck by a hurricane. Then the agency wouldn't listen when confronted with numerous allegations of fraud.
Yes, there is something very strange going on. "FEMA Saga Gets Stranger".
According to Jake
Teacher Pay: Cartoon.
Good Luck ...
... you'll need it:Fed up with the selfish way congressional and legislative districts are drawn to protect incumbents and political parties in power, two South Florida legislators are leading a campaign to remove redistricting from the hands of politicians.
Democratic state Reps. Tim Ryan of Dania Beach and Anne Gannon of Delray Beach are leading a citizens' initiative to create an independent redistricting commission to take over the once-a-decade process of drawing the state's political maps. "Campaign seeks to end drawing of election districts favoring incumbents".
Voucher "Showdown"
"Legal showdown looms over state's voucher law":The fate of Gov. Jeb Bush's controversial school-voucher law could hinge on how the Florida Supreme Court interprets a single sentence in the state constitution.
The 1999 law created the first statewide voucher program in the nation and allows students at failing public schools to use state scholarships, or tuition vouchers, to attend private schools, including religious ones. It has spurred a long fight about public education, separation of church and state, and religious freedom.
But does the program constitute an expenditure of public money "in aid of" religious institutions, which the constitution prohibits?
As lawyers file briefs and prepare for oral arguments, which could be held this spring in Tallahassee, the case of John Ellis "Jeb" Bush, et al., v. Ruth D. Holmes, et al., is being watched by legal scholars and school advocates nationwide. More.
Election "Reform"
Election issues in Tally:When the legislative session begins March 8, some lawmakers want to standardize the early voting period leading into Election Day and create additional precincts to cut down on long lines and waits.
And under the shadow of a high-profile governor's race in 2006, the Republican-led Legislature must also decide whether to permanently repeal the state's runoff election, which has been set aside the past two election cycles. As to the latter issue,"I think you're going to see a lot of gubernatorial politics involved in most election law legislation that moves through these chambers over the next two years," said Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon. "That's just a reality."
Three Republicans, Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher are all preparing campaigns to seek their party nomination for governor while a handful of Democrats are evaluating their chances.
The presumed candidates haven't yet said whether they want the runoff or the repeal. But each is expected to weigh in on the side that is most politically beneficial. "Early voting, runoffs among election laws in need of streamlining".
Klein Agin' Shaw?
Now this is doable: "State Sen. Klein seen as likely 2006 opponent for Rep. Shaw" ("Shaw nearly lost in 2000 to Democrat Elaine Bloom, but his district was redrawn to bolster GOP numbers and he was reelected with more than 60 percent of the vote in 2002 and 2004").
PSC Politics
To be sure, "Jeb!"appointed the PSC members who sometimes act like employees of the power and telephone companies they are supposed to regulate. But it was the Legislature that nominated them. The governor's choices are restricted to a list sent him by the Public Service Nominating Council, an obscure eight-member panel appointed by legislative leaders who more often than not have intended to please the utilities. "Wrong way to fix the PSC".
Off Topic: Greenspan
Tom Blackburn: "Fed chief a garden-variety chump".
Pressure Building on Privatization
Cotterell:Department of Management Services Deputy Secretary Taylor Smith, who inherited Convergys from ex-Secretary Bill Simon (who inherited it from Cynthia Henderson, who established People First at Bush's behest) told Berfield's subcommittee last week that DMS must "stay the course." He's convinced People First can be running right by June 1.
Legislators, important ones, are unconvinced. The Tallahassee Democrat's political editor puts it this way:Bush can say "outsource" and they can say "privatize" - like he says "po-tay-to" and they say "pa-tah-to." But that Gershwin lyric was from a tune called "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off."
It's inconceivable - right now, anyway - that they'd call off Convergys. But the 2005-06 Republicans are less awed and more comfortable in the majority than were their predecessors. But it is possible they might "call the whole thing off" because most legislatorsplan to be here when Bush is gone. And it's the legislators, not Bush, getting the late-night phone calls from employees who just found out, in an emergency room, that their insurance renewal didn't get posted. "Time for a hard look at 'outsourcing'".
Crap Jobs
Jeez, I wonder how this could be? low-income working families ... make up the fastest-growing share of the 2.3 million Floridians now receiving Medicaid -- a program Gov. Jeb Bush is looking to revamp. Heck,The sharp rise in Medicaid rolls comes even as Florida leads the nation in job creation. Could it be that the "jobs boom" is nothing more than a bunch of crap jobs with either no health insurance coverage or, where coverage is made available to employees (for a fee of course) it is too expensive for employees?
Florida's health insurance crisis has exploded under "Jeb!":Medicaid rolls have climbed 44 percent since Bush took office six years ago, and the program's costs this year are projected to gobble up about 25 percent of Florida's proposed $61.6 billion state budget. To stem the climbing costs, Bush has unveiled an ambitious but controversial plan to steer more recipients into managed-care programs, with a goal of reducing fraud and unnecessary treatment. Of course, these "reforms" are really devices to cut coverage and save money:But many lawmakers already are voicing fears that Bush's initiative may ultimately lead to cuts in health coverage for the poor. And some say there is likely a link between Florida's rising Medicaid rolls and the number of low-paying jobs being created. "Medicaid rolls climb despite jobs growth". See also "Proposed Medicaid overhaul to be dominant health care debate" and "Medicaid proposal has many on edge".
And if the Medicaid Explosion Weren't Enough ...
... Here's another symptom of the "Jeb!" economy":Florida had a 53 percent increase in the number of people receiving food stamps during the past four years, bringing almost 483,000 individuals into the program. "A Foreboding Statistic".
"Mad Rush To Privatize"
Troxler:Maybe you've seen the ongoing news about the private company that Gov. Jeb Bush hired to mess up the state's personnel system.
As you know, the private sector is always better than the bloated, incompetent government. So naturally, when Bush set out to mess up the state's personnel system, he knew the private sector would do a much better job of messing it up.
So far, it has worked. The job has been behind schedule and over budget since it started. The contract signed in 2002 with the company, Convergys, was for $278.6-million over seven years. So far, it has been amended six times, expanded to $350-million and extended to nine years. "Common sense is lost in mad rush to privatize".
"Mixed Messages"
Not encouraging:Senate President Tom Lee has not even presided over his first Opening Day, yet he's sent out mixed messages that undermine some of his upright intentions to clean up the way business is done around here.
Lee has been saying one thing and doing another. Not that this is illegal. "Lee sends mixed messages".
Cashing In
"Florida lawmakers don't get rich on their salary. But some have seen their fortunes rise since taking office. (First of two parts)" See "What's it worth to run the state?.
Embarassing
Under "Jeb!",the size of the state work force, job security of employees and buying power of their paychecks has eroded through six years of reorganization, privatization and revision of work rules. And this is particularly nice:Florida has fallen from fifth to ninth in average salaries among 14 Southeastern states. And the pay of the typical Career Service worker has fallen from $92 above the regional average, under Gov. Lawton Chiles, to at least $536 below it. The latest DMS figures are for 2003 and do not include employment data for last year - when employees got a one-time $1,000 "bonus" Dec. 1 instead of a pay raise. "Under Bush, state jobs lose ground".
If you think this Blog is Vacuous ...
... Katherine "Harris has begun pioneering her way into cyberspace, becoming among the first members of Congress to have a Web log, or blog." If you dare, go.
Charter School Boondoggle
Let's see, bring in the ole private sector to run charter schools and what happens?Management fees and other overhead costs are shortchanging students and bleeding the finances of Orlando-area charter schools run by one of the nation's biggest school-management companies, audit records show. Less money spent per student and much more on administration than the "govment" schools the wingnits hate so much:
Imagine Schools Inc., operator of 10 schools in Central Florida, spent as much as 50 percent less per student on instruction last year but about two to six times more on administration than other public schools in Osceola and Lake counties, where most of the students who attend area charters live, an Orlando Sentinel analysis found. Hey, at least test scores are ... actually, their worse than the "govment" schools":At the same time, despite promises to provide innovative, high-quality education, the company's campuses were posting a lower percentage of A's and B's on annual school grades than the Osceola and Lake districts. "Overhead saps cash at most Imagine charter schools".
Outreach
"A group with neo-Nazi roots will fly a banner over the Daytona International Speedway today." See "Supremacists planning pitch at race".
Whatever
"The Florida Mainstream Democrats say the party must cater to the Panhandle to remain competitive." See "Democratic group puts focus on North Florida".
Newbies
ThreeDemocrats, who have never run for statewide office, will face a critical test in their gubernatorial campaigns in April when they file their first campaign fund-raising reports. "Democrats will face first test in April". And, regarding Scott Maddox's relationship with the candidates, are "Tensions on agenda in Democrats' tent"? More at Florida News.
Settlement
Remember this:A computer company fighting the Florida House has claimed vindication now that the chamber's new leader has decided to pay for a controversial software system and stop a costly legal fight. "State House, computer firm settle lawsuit".
Yipes
Pesky forms:The Florida Democratic Party is re-filing state and federal campaign finance forms from as far back as 2003 to report hidden salaries of party employees.
Both federal and state laws require political parties to individually list each employee's paycheck in the legally required reports. In October 2003, the FDP stopped reporting each employee's salary, instead reporting one lump sum for total payroll. And for the subtext, its an Ausman-Maddox thing:Party Chairman Scott Maddox attributed the mistake to confusion about new software. The lump sum reporting of payroll began nearly 14 months before the need for corrections came to Maddox's attention last week. Maddox said he had no idea why the salaries weren't individually listed, nor did he know why the software switch was made.
Maddox received an e-mail in November 2004 from Jon Ausman, a longtime state party activist and member of the Democratic National Committee, which said the lump-sum reporting "makes it more difficult for reporters and investigators to determine who is being paid what."
Ausman said Friday that his intention was to "gently" nudge Maddox into ending the lump sum reporting.
Maddox said he wasn't aware of that e-mail, adding that his salary and that of all FDP employees was publicly reviewed at the party's meetings. He said he welcomed the full disclosure. "Fla. Democrats amend reports that hid payroll".
|
This is our Main Page
Previous Articles by Derek Newton: 
