Session Eve

The usual coverage in the runup to the session, with the added twist that this is oh, so special because it is Jebbie's last.

- "State legislators consider proposals for affordable housing, liability reform, economic development". "Lawmakers' business".

- "As the last legislative session in Gov. Jeb Bush's tenure prepares to begin, he is asking lawmakers for record spending, tax cuts and a constitutional amendment to allow private-school vouchers." "Bush has ambitious agenda for final year". See also "Governor's Final Agenda".

- "The Florida Legislature will convene Tuesday to consider thousands of proposed laws, many dealing with weighty topics such as health care, education and property insurance." "Legislature Heads Off Beaten Path".

- "Normally, legislative sessions in election years tend to be light on controversy and heavy on feel-good, take-home proposals. But the Legislature isn't always completely in control of its own agenda and this year exemplifies that." "Lawmakers face bevy of problems in election-year session".




"Class Size Showdown

"This is the year Florida voters may be forced to reconsider whether they really want small classes in public schools -- and whether the state should come up with the cash to pay for them. Voters called for class-size restrictions nearly four years ago, but Gov. Jeb Bush, state education leaders and the Republican-controlled Legislature refuse to take "yes" for an answer. They say small classes are too costly and have unproven results." "Class-size showdown".




Here's An Idea

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis

is proposing the creation of a fund that he says will provide at least $140 million annually for teacher raises.

The endowment fund would be started by using $1 billion of the state's surplus, combined with interest saved by paying back borrowed money early. In addition, he proposes giving corporations tax credits for money they contribute to the fund.

Davis, a congressman from Tampa, planned to outline the ideas and other major policy proposals at a town hall meeting in Tallahassee on Monday, including the expansion of a teacher recruitment program that provides tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to those that commit to teaching in Florida.

"Davis outlines policy proposal for teacher raises".




Frustrated

"Frustrated by back-to-back hurricane seasons that brought widespread power outages and higher property insurance bills, Florida voters want better oversight of utilities and insurers, according to a South Florida Sun-Sentinel poll. About half of those polled statewide don't think those appointed to protect consumers' interests are doing a very good job. A majority said they wanted the state's appointed insurance commissioner to be an elected post, but voters were divided on whether the appointed members of the Public Service Commission should be elected." "After two nasty storm seasons, voters want better oversight of utilities, insurers".




"Most Powerful"

"With the legislative session's opening on Tuesday, the final chapter of Gov. Jeb Bush's legacy as the most powerful governor in Florida history will begin." It is not that "Jeb!" is particularly "powerful", rather it

largely because the voters made it so.

Through constitutional amendments, Floridians cut in half the size of the Cabinet, which for decades had shared executive power. Voters also gave the governor appointive powers unlike any before over boards of universities, community colleges and public schools.

"Good government".




Wingnut Wisely Backs Down

"There's nothing wrong with promoting Catholic values. But you can't impose them on others even if you own the whole town." "Pizza maker drops Catholic governance plan".




Eminent domain

"Proposals seek to limit instances of eminent domain".




GOoPers Weakened By "Leadership Rift"

"A leadership rift in the Florida Senate over who will preside over the 40-member chamber in 2009 is bound to weaken the party's 26-member majority." "Leadership rift could happen in the Senate".




Good Luck

"Board of Governors to push state to give schools more money".




National Guard Promises

Is "Jeb!" "Protecting the National Guard" of Florida? Seems as if he is a bit too willing to accept administration verbal promises:

That verbal promise was enough for some governors, including Jeb Bush. "I trust Gen. (Peter) Pace (chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) and I trust the president of the United States," said the president's brother. "They said they would find the money, and I think you could take it to the bank."

Others were more skeptical that words were as reliable as numbers in the budget. "The bottom line is, I'll believe it when I see it," said Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa.

Is that enough, particularly when "[f]ew states rely on the National Guard more than Florida, considering that our peninsula is hurricane central and the Guard is called upon to help restore order and clean up after a storm. So it is of particular importance to Floridians how the ongoing debate over the Guard's budget plays out."




Barnburner

"Get ready for a rare red-vs.-blue legislative showdown in central Palm Beach County."

Rs and Ds alike expect the clash between Democratic state Rep. Shelley Vana and Republican challenger Rob Siedlecki to be one of the top partisan state House battles in Florida this year.

Thanks to 2002 gerrymandering, only a handful of Florida's 120 state House seats are competitive between the parties. Vana's District 85 should be one of them. That's why a raft of local Republican bigs — including County Commissioner Mary McCarty, potential future state Senate Prez Jeff Atwater, state Rep. Carl Domino, county GOP Chairman Sid Dinerstein and assorted local officeholders and operatives — turned out Wednesday for Siedlecki's campaign kickoff in Wellington.

And Vana will be faced with an innovative tactic, the GOoPer Siedlecki:



will try to paint Vana as a liberal who's out of step with District 85.

"GOP, Democratic barnburner in works for House District 85 seat".




"The state issued another news release last week congratulating itself"

"The state issued another news release last week congratulating itself for its "unprecedented success" in Everglades cleanup. The state has built filter marshes that have improved the cleansing of the pollutant phosphorus from farm runoff. But Florida doesn't deserve applause just for doing what the law requires it to do. Congressmen from both parties have warned that ending federal oversight also could jeopardize federal money for the $10.5 billion Everglades restoration." "State still needs federal judge's supervision."




"Run, Jeb, Run!"

"U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris doesn't pose a real challenge to Democrat Bill Nelson in the race for U.S. Senate. Florida Republicans deserve a better candidate, and Gov. Bush is their only hope." "Run, Jeb, Run!"




Sink Viable

Adam Smith:

But if they had any sense, Florida Democrats would stop obsessing about the governor's mansion and start paying more attention to Florida's least understood office: chief financial officer. That's the Democrats' best shot for statewide victory at this point and the most realistic path to rebuilding their cash-strapped, influence-strapped and prominent-candidate-strapped party.

Wonder who's the best face to reverse the fortunes of beleaguered Florida Democrats? The consensus from Republicans and Democrats alike isn't Davis or Smith. It's Alex Sink.

"Sink may keep Democrats afloat".




Gay Adoption

The Sun Sentinel "Give[s] state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, credit for at least fighting the good fight. If nothing else, her push to pass a bill [permitting gay adoption] that would crack the state's prohibition against adoption by homosexuals is laudatory." "Ignorance and prejudice are the real winners in this bill's defeat."

Let's connect the dots and make it perfectly clear: it is the Florida Republican Party that is the party of "Ignorance and prejudice". Heck, even the Tampa Trib argues that "Gays Should Be Able To Adopt".