Bush tried Friday to strike a delicate balance in the burgeoning controversy over whether intelligent design should be taught in science classes, reaffirming his Catholic faith while insisting that his personal beliefs should not dictate the state's public-school standards.

But Bush also called for a "vigorous discussion of varying viewpoints in our classrooms" -- a rallying cry frequently used by supporters of intelligent design.

"A healthy debate of issues challenges our students' minds," Bush said in a statement issued by his office Friday morning.

In the five-paragraph statement, the Republican governor also said: "I am a practicing Catholic, and my own personal belief is God created man and all life on earth. However, I do not believe an individual's personal beliefs should be the basis for determining Florida's Sunshine State Standards."

added that evolution should "absolutely" be part of science teachings, but he said there are gaps in the theory and he would want science teachers to allow discussions about creationism.

"What I would hope would happen is that science teachers would not feel compelled to exclude opening children's minds up to the fact that other people - a lot of people - have different views about the creation of life. I think that would be a healthy thing to have children understand, that it's not either/or, that it's not one way or the highway," Bush said.

Bush, who can't seek re-election because of term limits, will leave office in January 2007.

Silly

"Rep. Fred Brummer, R-Apopka, says anyone with the authority to collect property taxes ought to have to run for election, not be handed the job by the governor" "Bill would link tax charge to election".

Medicare

"Florida ranks above the national average in utilization of Medicare home health services. But the state lags behind the national average in services that support home care, particularly adult day care." "Long-term gains".

Tsk, Tsk Ronda

"Good-government activist Marilyn M. Smith filed a criminal complaint Friday against Hillsborough County Commissioner Ronda Storms over Storms' efforts to delay the opening of a Valrico bikini bar." "Storms Target In Bar Dispute". See also "Storms and the Bikini Bar".

Recall that the holier than thou Storms "has told Republican Party leaders she intends to run for the state Senate from east Hillsborough's 10th District". "Storms Plans Senate Bid, Insiders Say".

No

"Can you imagine Gov. Jeb Bush hiring a high-profile Democrat as his chief of staff?

"Six From Florida"

"Since 1999, 210 current members of Congress, including six from Florida, have accepted $4.4 million in contributions from Abramoff, SunCruz or the Indian tribes that hired him to promote gambling legislation, according to figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group tracking money in politics." "Abramoff plea deal could expose officials".

You'll Be Glad To Know ...

That "Floridians with $1 million in stock holdings, for instance, will now pay an intangibles tax of $375, down from $750 on the same holdings last year." "Dozen new state laws to take effect on Jan. 1". Now isn't that good, sound fiscal policy courtesy of the Florida GOP.

Gov. Jeb Bush staked out a curious position on a hot-button issue last week: Florida's K-12 science standards need beefing up, he said. But Darwin's theory of evolution should not be part of them.

Had they heard, many scientists probably would have cringed.

Darwin's theory is a pillar of modern biology. And a new state-by-state analysis by an influential education foundation concludes that Florida's standards are among the worst in the nation - with a big reason being its failure to adequately explain evolution.

The report by the Washington,D.C.-based Fordham Institute calls Florida's standards "thin," "naive," "disappointing" - and in some cases, flat wrong.

Power Deal

"The proposed merger between the parent company of Florida Power & Light, the state's largest power utility, and Constellation Energy of Baltimore presents a challenge to regulators that only will increase over time. Under the deal announced this month, FPL Group will acquire Constellation for $11-billion in stock, creating one of the nation's largest electricity conglomerates. Consolidation may create some economies of scale, but as competition vanishes regulators will need to keep a handle on rates, service and corporate behavior." "A power deal in need of oversight".

You Gotta Problem With That?

"Pregnant migrant workers forced to work".

Delightful

"Treated wastewater sunk deep underground might be leaking into Florida drinking water." "DEP, Groups At Odds Over Well Leaks Fix".

Dedge

"Justice will not be done in the Wilton Dedge case until there is an investigation into how prosecutors allowed a sleazy jailhouse thug to frame him." "Questions about a snitch".

When to Start?

"Schools start too soon? Give FCAT later in year".

Garcia and Davis

"Years before Florida Democrats fully realized how crucial Hispanic voters are to winning Florida elections, an underdog Congressional candidate named Jim Davis ran Hispanic TV ads and aggressively courted Tampa's Hispanic vote. A big reason why Davis won that 1996 race and now has a shot at becoming Florida's next governor was Skip Garcia, a Tampa power broker who died Tuesday." "A Jim Davis Mentor".

Agriculture Down

"Bad year for Fla. agriculture as hurricanes devastate crops, spread citrus diseases".

Who Makes These Rules?

"OK, it's time for a little contest. How quickly can the Florida Department of Health put the kibosh on a proposed rule that would require foster families to have either a dishwasher or a divided kitchen sink?" "Rule deserves to sink".

'Glades

"Replace Flamingo Lodge in Everglades".

Massive Confusion

"Ban on lobbyist gifts generates massive confusion among legislators".

Too secure for our own good?

Unintended consequences:

Is the state becoming too secure for its own good?

That's the question raised by a Florida TaxWatch report released Wednesday. It offered the mag lab and foreign students as anecdotal evidence that tighter U.S. security and immigration policies are hurting the state's economy in areas such as banking, commerce, health care, education, research and tourism.

Dedge

"Compensation for people who have been wrongly imprisoned leads the list." "Dedge case raises issues for lawmakers".

Florida Hate on the Rise

"Hate crimes jump in state". See also "Hate Crimes Rose In 2004, With St. Pete Topping List", "Hate-crime reports on the rise", "Reports of hate crimes up 20%" "Hate crimes up in state" and "Reported hate crimes up 21 percent in 2004".

FCAT Foolishness

"Standardized testing, rather than serving students, is turning into an epic Wagnerian opera that ain't over till the FCAT lady sings." "Tests spoil educational harmony".

Troxler Retrospective

"Is truth stranger than fiction? In 2005, it may have been a tossup".

Business Saavy GOoPers

"Three months after allegations erupted that one of its top executives took kickbacks from a contract vendor, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has dropped the vendor [Quantum Claim Services of Texas]." "State-run insurer drops contractor".

Deutch v. Slosberg

"Senate hopeful Deutch courts condos".

But They Can't Vote?

"The Florida Department of Children & Families is reviewing a policy that allows convicted felons to obtain child-care licenses." "Child Welfare".

Delightful

"Boca Raton company defrauded cancer patients, prosecutors say".

Just Pay 'Em

"It's another FEMA bureaucracy story. Airboat owners from West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie and Loxahatchee answered a call for airboats to help rescue people stranded on rooftops after Hurricane Katrina. Signing on with a Tennessee company, Cat 5 Disaster Services, the three were among about 30 other boat owners who were promised payment for their efforts. And their efforts were extraordinary. They worked 15-hour days for two weeks, in and around New Orleans. They navigated through putrid water, dodging submerged cars, fences, gunfire, bodies and debris to rescue dozens of people." "Pay airboat operators for Katrina rescue work".

FAU

"Give FAU its fair share".

Scripps

"Boca Raton makes final pitch to land Scripps project".

On Tuesday, Bush spokesman Russell Schweiss clarified Bush's position somewhat: Evolution "is a scientific theory and he's not opposed to it being taught in classrooms," Schweiss said. "But he doesn't think it should necessarily be dictated in the standards."

Florida's science standards do not mention evolution by name but do reference some of its core principles. They were slated to be reviewed next year, but state education officials decided a few weeks ago to postpone the process until 2007 or 2008.

Gift Ban Leaks

"Secretive fundraising committees controlled by state legislators and fueled with money from business and special interests are being scrutinized as a likely legal method for buying legislators' lunches and a whole lot more." "Political watchdogs see leaks in gift ban".

Geller

"Geller denies his cozy deals are lobbying".

Class Size

"The state Department of Education announced Tuesday that it plans to force the six districts to take money from their operating budgets to pay for new classrooms to comply with the law." "Classes still too big, state says School officials face financial penalties, but plan to appeal any sanctions". See also "Broward, Dade class sizes OK", "District class sizes on target" (Alachua) and "Area Schools Meet Limits On Class Size" (Tampa)

Not a Solution

"'65 percent solution' could erode class size restrictions".

The Year In Politics

"With Republican Gov. Jeb Bush on his way out of office after the 2006 election, the race to replace him got off to an early start in 2005" "Busy year in politics as candidates prepare for 2006".

More GOoPer "Business Saavy"

"Eight million dollars is a sizeable amount to pay a tenant for a piece of land already owned by the state. The money is going to Florida Crystals and the Fanjuls, a family familiar with the art of the deal." "A sweet deal for Big Sugar appears to be a bad investment for taxpayers".

The Mind of a Developer

"Flagler is America's fastest-growing county because of its attraction to the residential home market. Nothing else is spurring the growth -- not local industry, not commerce, not even proximity to a major metropolitan area that discovered its latest bedroom. Flagler is one of those newly minted exurbs of sprawl for sprawl's sake. The more homes go up, the healthier local governments' tax revenue, at least for a while. But what happens when home-building slows down? Real estate, the engine of economic growth, runs out. Demands for government services don't, nor does the need for tax revenue." "Economic subsidy".

Calendar It

"Don't mess with school calendar." "Local autonomy".

Cutting Off Your Nose ...

to spite your face: "If FEMA doesn't make changes, Florida should walk away." "FEMA Wastes Money On Reimbursements".

I get it, if Dubya's folks don't get their act together and clean up their reimbursement program at FEMA, Florida should refuse future to participate in the reimbursement program in the future? Brilliant, simply brilliant.

And Neither Was/Is Worth a Toot

The Buzz issues a reminder to the Smith campaign: "MEL Martinez is Florida's junior senator. BOB Martinez is the former governor." "Bob, Mel and Rod".

'Glades

"Financed by a minimum $10 assessment from each landowner, the proposed Everglades Area Stewardship District can distribute that money for everything from improving school buildings and public safety, to building roads and providing better living conditions in the struggling communities." "New tax district proposed for Glades".

Al-Arian

Remember Mel Martinez' sleazy campaign tactics:

Al-Arian played a role in the 2004 U.S. Senate race only because Republican Mel Martinez linked him directly to his Democratic opponent.

One Martinez flier included photos of hooded terrorists brandishing guns, with the words: "Evil was in her midst," referring to former USF President Betty Castor.

Martinez won by 1 percentage point.

said U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key, who is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Tallahassee, has tried to play the terrorism card in another way.

"She made a claim that she was told that a man of 'Middle Eastern heritage' was captured in Indiana with explosives and - and that was a flat-out lie. She was trying to say she'll be tough on security," Bedier said.

Officials in the town Harris identified as the target said they had never heard of the plot and had never talked to Harris, who said the man "had plans to blow up the area's entire power grid."

Now That The Election Is Over

"Florida rescuers who navigated toxic floodwaters around New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina haven't seen any of the money they were promised for their efforts." "Airboaters await pay for Katrina rescues".

A FCAT Thing

"Gelber said he thinks schools are starting classes too early in August to have more time to prepare students for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test." "Lawmaker wants to push back school start date".

More GOoPer Business-Savvy

"State Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, has pitched the concept as a business-savvy way to pump more money into schools without raising taxes." "A new report blows a big hole in the 65 Percent Solution to school improvement" ("Florida schools need more money, not the hocus-pocus of arbitrary spending formulas.")

But He's Not Serious, You See

"If Gov. Jeb Bush is serious about ensuring the integrity of Florida's electoral process, he shouldn't just order an investigation into whether the kind of optical-scan voting machines used in Orange County are vulnerable to hackers. He should mandate a paper trail for electronic voting equipment, too." "Proof positive" See also "State Must Give Voters Hack-Proof Voting Machines".

Schiavo

"Schiavo, who described himself as a lifelong Republican, said his experience with political leaders 'has opened my eyes to just how easily the private wishes of normal Americans like me and Terri can be cast aside in a destructive game of political pandering.'" "Schiavo right-to-die case captured the attention of the world".

Glossed over in all this is Jeb Bush's sordid behavior - you remember Jeb's foiled attempt to have FDLE "kidnap" Schiavo, foiled only by local police authorities. Jebbie's gross misbehavior is ignored here as well.

More Judges Needed

"Justice should be a constant goal for the state, one not subject to political whim." "State's formula says to add judges; so add them".

As an aside, it is nice to see the media, as in this DBNJ editorial, correctly characterizing Florida Taxwatch as a "conservative organization".

Deal With It

Shouldn't the ID controversy be part of the 2006 debate? The Orlando Sentinel editorial board is glad it isn't: "Fortunately, the fight won't come so quickly to Florida, which has delayed review of its public-school science standards at least a year -- long past what is sure to be a heated 2006 governor's race." "Stick to science". (Note that the Sentinel neglects to mention Bush's embarassing assertion that evolution "does not need to be in the curriculum." You can discuss that bit 'o wisdom from Florida's self-proclaimed deep thinker here. See also "Creationism redux".

Ileana at Work

"International fashion models are accustomed to first-in-line treatment at Miami Beach night clubs, the best tables at haute restaurants and first dibs on the latest size 0 fashions. But do they deserve their very own immigration status? U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen thinks so, and has filed a bill that's about as welcome as a pair of dimpled thighs at a Calvin Klein runway show." "The Skinny On Model Immigration".

Privatization Follies

"A subcontractor hired by Cincinnati-based Convergys Corp. used overseas scanning and indexing services to save money without telling the Cincinnati-based company that operates Florida's new privately run personnel system, attorney John Newcomer toldThe Tallahassee Democrat in Sunday's editions." "Lawsuit claims personnel data sent overseas to save money".

Palm Beach County

"Hispanics are swaying Palm Beach County's culture and economy as that county's largest minority group." "Hispanics now biggest minority group".

Cotterell

2005 Retrospective.

Dem Primary Heats Up

Jeremy Wallace:

Democrat Jan Schneider is proving that she is far from raising a white flag on her third attempt to win a seat in Congress.

Although the Sarasota lawyer is lagging behind fellow Democrat Christine Jennings when it comes to fund raising and overall political buzz, Schneider said she's confident she'll catch up.

Proof of that, she said, came last week when she received $2,500 from a political action committee run by U.S. Senate minority leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. In addition, Schneider said she's expecting to set up a fund-raiser with Reid in February to bring in more cash for the 13th Congressional District race.

Reid's support for Schneider comes three weeks after U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., came to Sarasota to help Jennings raise money for her campaign. Political action committees for former presidential candidate John Kerry, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel have all contributed to Jennings' campaign, giving Washington political insiders the idea that Jennings is the favorite to win the primary.

FSU Rejects Money

"A drug he invented has brought in cash and fame, and he donated even more for a new building. But the school's president tired of his demands and sent it back." "Keep your millions, FSU tells professor".

Our Green GOoPers

The next time you see a GOoPer politician in a canoe, remember this:

Although federal officials rarely balk at building on Florida wetlands, developers are pressing for state authorities to get the final say for issuing half the permits.

That's because developers believe the state will approve permits much faster than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the agency that is supposed to protect Florida's swamps and marshes.

Charlie's PSC Ploy

"Attorney General Charlie Crist hopes to get elected governor by saying that Floridians should elect their utility regulators. As a campaign strategy, it might work. As a strategy to reduce electric and phone bills, it won't work." "PSC could use changes, but not one Crist wants".

Scripps

"Environmentalists bolstered by victories, but battle with Scripps far from over".

"Jeb!" Sends A Signal

After paying lip service to the importance of science being taught in public schools, Governor "Jeb!" sent a signal that could not be clearer:

Bush ... noted that the federal ruling came in a case that involves Pennsylvania's Dover Area School District.

"It is one school district in Pennsylvania," he said.

Bush said: "Yeah, but I don't think it should actually be part of the curriculum, to be honest with you. And people have different points of view and they can be discussed at school, but it does not need to be in the curriculum."

GOoPers Weigh In

"The Toughest General Election Foes?". See also "GOoPers Fear Smith?"

Pesticide Woes

"Pesticide woes draw legislators' attention". In "The politics of pesticides", the PBP editorial board notes that an "inherent conflict of interest exacerbates enforcement problems. The state entrusts primary regulation to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, instead of health officials. The agency has ties to agrochemical companies and farmers. The Post recently interviewed four former state scientists who described a politicized system in which agrochemical companies shape decision-making and growers are left to regulate themselves."

Zinging GOoPers

Here's a taste: "So, the end result is that the Republican Party of Florida paid $48,180.86 for Jones, King, Bennett and Farkas to have a Canadian spree. That means that 1,927 of the party faithful who, upon urgent request dutifully sent in their $25 donations, are the chumps who paid the bill." "It was a grand ol' party!".

Privatization Follies

"Despite assurances by Convergys that personal information on state employees is safely kept on computers in the United States, a once-secret lawsuit against a former subcontractor alleges that private data was sent to India, Barbados and possibly China." "Suit: State worker info outsourced".

Out of Control Debt; Short Term Fixes

Not good:

Florida lawmakers are spending $1.6 billion this year just to cover the state's soaring debt. ...

With Florida getting a recent windfall of $3.2 billion in tax receipts from hurricane rebuilding and a housing boom, the state is moving further away from a debt ratio that could trigger worries on Wall Street, officials concluded.

Florida's outstanding debt this year totals a whopping $22.5 billion -- more than double what it was 10 years ago. But its debt ratio -- the relationship of red ink to black ink -- is down to 5.36 percent, lower than a couple of years ago when it topped 6 percent for the first time. ...

The political side of Florida's rising red tide has led Democrats to attack Gov. Jeb Bush and the Republican-controlled Legislature for adding $6 billion in new debt since 1998 even as $14 billion in tax cuts have been handed out, mostly to wealthier Floridians and businesses.

Trump

Apparently "Real estate mogul and gaming magnate Donald Trump will play host for his second fundraiser for Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist -- this time at Trump's Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach."

Top Florida Stories

After the hurricanes, Florida's top stories included:

(2) The long, bitter fight over the fate of Terri Schiavo finally ended. The brain-damaged woman died from dehydration in March after her feeding tube was disconnected despite efforts by President Bush, Congress, Gov. Jeb Bush and her parents to keep her alive. Her husband had argued that she never wanted to live in a bedridden state with no hope for recovery after she collapsed in 1990. For the last two weeks of her life, the once-shy woman was the center of worldwide media attention.

(6) The ongoing battle over offshore drilling off Florida's shores. Congress is expected to take up the matter next year. Some in Congress have proposed that natural gas drilling be allowed as close as 20 miles from the shores of Florida and other coastal states. Other proposals have set distances of 125 miles or 150 miles for oil and gas exploration and production. Such legislation would lift existing congressional and presidential moratoriums on offshore drilling that extend to well beyond 200 miles from Florida's beaches.

(9) Many Floridians spend the year fighting with insurers over claims from one of 2004's four hurricanes, or dealing with rate increases, or having trouble obtaining insurance at all.

GOoPers Fear Smith?

"'Rod Smith would be harder to handle than Jim Davis,' former Republican Gov. Bob Martinez says in a taped TV interview airing today on Bay News 9." "A who's who of who puts fear in politicos' hearts".

"The contradiction and the embarrassment"

This editorial exposes a curious twist in the corporate voucher scheme that will ubdoubtedly be addressed by an appellate court:

If courts threw out the conviction of James Isenhour, it would serve Gov. Bush and John Kirtley right. It would not, however, do anything for Florida taxpayers.

Isenhour, an Ocala man who operated a private school, diverted $268,125 from a corporate-tax school voucher program, and last month a jury convicted him of stealing from the state. But there's a hitch. His lawyer says that Isenhour didn't steal from the state because the state never had the $268,125 in its treasury. The trial judge, when he was considering whether to grant bail while Isenhour appeals, indicated that he gave at least some credence to the objection.

In fact, the argument is baseless. Corporations donate to private scholarship organizations authorized by the voucher law and receive in return a dollar-for-dollar tax break. If the money didn't go to vouchers, it would go to the treasury. So when Isenhour stole the money, he stole from the state.

The problem is that Gov. Bush's administration and the Legislature set up the tax-break policy — after the GOP received a $100,000 donation from Mr. Kirtley — so that, if necessary, they could make the same ridiculous claim that Isenhour is making. Florida's constitution forbids giving state money to religious schools. The state Supreme Court is expected to rule soon whether a program that takes money straight from the treasury for vouchers to religious schools violates the constitution. If the high court strikes down that program, the governor hopes that the tax-break scheme launders the money sufficiently to protect the so-called "corporate vouchers." ...

Fortunately, prosecutors at Isenhour's trial had to argue that the money he stole did, in fact, belong to the state. That's how they got a conviction. The contradiction and the embarrassment belong to Gov. Bush. To prevent similar thefts, the Legislature should end voucher schemes, put the money in the Treasury and disburse it to the public schools, where it belongs.

Looming Population Crisis

"Florida has to get serious about its transportation and affordable housing woes." "Population".

Oops!

From the Orlando Sentinel: "Florida Democrats next week will do some fundraising of their own Jan. 3 at Miami's Orange Bowl when Penn State squares off against Florida State. The $1,000 per-person package includes a tailgate party, team cap and game ticket. The two teams are powerful. But spelling apparently is not a strength for the Democratic hosts. In their invitations, Democrats hyped the rivalry between veterans Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden by calling them 'coaching ledgens.'"

Feeney Foolishness

"Corporate accounting scandals shocked Congress into passing a law three years ago that shields investors from predatory businesses. But before those protections have fully taken effect, Rep. Tom Feeney and others think some of them need to be rolled back." "Feeney seeks changes to investor protections".