Cognitive Dissonance

"Gov. Jeb Bush and his Republican allies will go into his final spring legislative session arguing that the state has too much money, and therefore must cut taxes by $1.5 billion. They also will go into the session that starts March 7 arguing that voters must repeal or water down the class-size amendment in November because the state cannot afford it." "Too much money, too little money".




Negron Hopes To Pad Money Lead

"By the time the gavel drops next week to start the 60-day legislative session, a period when he and most other lawmakers can't accept campaign contributions, Negron expects to have completed a 12-day, 11-event, nine-city fund-raising blitz to pad his big financial lead in the four-man Republican AG primary." "Negron looks to pad his money lead in state attorney general race".




When Government Fails To Act ... "Liquid poison"

"When water in Lake Okeechobee gets too high from heavy rains, it can't go where it used to go naturally. So millions of gallons of polluted water are released into rivers, poisoning them." "Liquid poison".




From the Bold, Innovative Ideas Crowd

Proclaiming that the GOoPer "Members of the Florida House of Representatives are in the process of developing a bold vision for the future of Florida", we get this particularly bold "Idea of the Week" from the Republican Party of Florida:

Publish the Names of People that Solicit Prostitutes.

"100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future" (via this diary at FLA Politics and, in turn, the Republicans at Sayfie).




"Shutting Voters Up"

"As it stands, constitutional amendments give citizens a single avenue in which to speak loudly on matters of policy. Floridians should look askance at any lawmaker who wants to throw up roadblocks." "Shutting voters up".




Credit Foley

While the chattering classes were focused on

Cheney's hunting accident two weeks ago, U.S. Rep. Mark Foley was pleading with other members of Congress and the media to hear him out about a more serious issue dealing with the Port of Miami.

"I had no idea it was going to turn into this," the Fort Pierce Republican said.

What "it" has become is one of the biggest issues in politics today: a Dubai company spending $6.8 billion to take over management of six U.S. ports, including Miami's.

Foley, who represents most of Charlotte County, was the first member of Congress to formally question the administration on the deal during a committee hearing Feb. 15.

"Foley's focus on ports deal".




"Undermining Open Government"

"A lobbyist for the Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers wants state lawmakers to change the law and relieve clerks from having to redact protected information from court files." "Undermining open government".




"The magic of true education"

FCAT time:

Well, it's the start of FCAT week in the public schools, and we can be certain that every student will get a good night's sleep, a hearty breakfast and a chance to show what a great job the state is doing in educating our children.

Hold that last thought.

"Testing vs. learning".




"In Spite of" Bush's Policies

"During the next two months, state legislators will help determine whether Jeb Bush's governorship will showcase the most radical, most ambitious change in Florida public education in decades — not because of his policies, but in spite of them. The issue is neither student testing, which began in the 1970s and ramped up in the '80s and '90s, nor vouchers, which the Florida Supreme Court recently ruled were unconstitutional. Rather, it's an issue that Bush has fought hard for five years: a requirement that public schools provide small, private-school-size classes to all 2.6 million children in the state." "Class size battle brews in Florida Legislature".




GOoPer Flip Flop

At one point

House Republicans even voted to kill the fund altogether and, at Gov. Jeb Bush's urging, joined the Senate in capping trust-fund spending at $243 million a year beginning in 2007 -- less than half of what was originally intended.

But today, many of those who supported the raids and the cap have changed their tune.

Now

there is growing momentum in the business community and the Republican-controlled Legislature to repeal the spending limits that legislators placed on a trust fund created in 1992 to help Florida residents buy or rent reduced-cost housing.

"GOP, business groups make reduced-cost homes priority".




Harris' "Culture of Corruption and Incompetence"

"'It's become no surprise to anyone who remembers the 2000 election that Katherine Harris is part of the Republican culture of corruption and incompetence,' said Mark Bubriski, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party." "Senate bid by Harris hits some bumps".




Stupid Is As Stupid Does

"Gov. Bush has gotten himself into such a bind that he thinks he needs a constitutional amendment to get himself out of it. The governor's self-inflicted wounds wouldn't be such a big deal, except that he has dragged a lot of Florida's students into the mess with him." "Jeb picks wrong method to make vouchers legal".




Hedging Their Bets

"overlapping donations illustrate the uncertainty that many in both parties, particularly the GOP, are grappling with as they prepare for a new political era that will begin when Gov. Jeb Bush leaves office in January. But government watchdogs say they also reflect the price of political influence for special interests that want a hand in shaping everything from tax loopholes to legal reform. Faced with a campaign that lacks a clear favorite, they say, many of Florida's power brokers want to avoid alienating a future governor by backing the wrong candidate." "Political donors hedge bets by splitting cash".




Schneider

"Count Jan Schneider among those happy to see fellow Democrat Christine Jennings bringing in national political players such as U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, to help her campaign. ... But instead of being worried about her opponent's national connections, Schneider said she's happy to see it. She said national Democrats, particularly in Congress, haven't exactly been a resounding success of late, offering mostly criticism and few solutions on important issues dealing with senior citizens and veterans." "Schneider happy to see support".