Gov. Jeb Bush's office is refusing to release documents or answer questions about a $400,000 tax credit awarded to MZM Inc., whose former chief executive pleaded guilty last week to bribery and illegal campaign contributions.

Tax Rate Increase from "Jeb!"

"Bush won't be offering any additional solutions to Florida's hurricane-insurance woes during his State of the State message next week, but he said Friday that one thing's clear: Rates must go up." "Hurricane insurance 'is going to have to go up,' governor says".

"Some machines are vulnerable to hacking"

"A state advisory to all counties acknowledges that tests show some machines are vulnerable to hacking." "Voting machine security alert sent". See also "State issues new voting guidelines".

GOoPers Running Amuck

A "proposed [GOoPer] constitutional amendment aims to make every branch of government, most notably the courts, subservient to the Legislature. Such an approach would boost the bruised egos of legislators, who are tired of the courts telling them their efforts to restrict abortion and spend public money on private tuition vouchers are unconstitutional. But the courts were not created to be the servants of the politicians who write the laws." "Pre-session power grab".

FCAT Follies

"In this newly designed FCAT and standardized test crucible, the students most dependent on the public schools to improve their lives probably will become increasingly resented by the kind of knowledgeable and creative teachers they need most. The playing field for students and teachers will become even more unequal as take-home pay becomes directly correlated with standardized test results." "Think of the FCAT as a bonus".

Don't You Dare Second Guess "Jeb!"

"Two Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation to strengthen the state's role in port inspections, but Gov. Jeb Bush said on Friday that Florida already has the toughest port security in the nation." Here's why - in ports "Jeb!" claims to have the "toughest" security in the nation,

Last year alone, 127.4 million tons of cargo passed through Florida's ports and yet only a fraction of that cargo was inspected," Klein said. "That this obvious lapse in security has not been addressed on the federal level demonstrates just what a low priority port security is.

More FCAT Follies

"Critics were fuming Friday after learning that the FCAT - the standardized test that will leave a permanent mark on the academic future of thousands of Florida students - will be graded by $10-an-hour temporary workers who are required only to have a week's training and a bachelor's degree." "FCAT could be scored by temps".

Gallagher May Regret ...

attending this meeting:

In the long and bruising race for governor, it was just one of thousands of events. But the scene Wednesday in Pasco County may prove to be a watershed moment.

Tom Gallagher rearranged his schedule and showed up for a town hall meeting on insurance. The chief financial officer wasn't there long, but stayed just long enough to make a dubious impression.

"Governor still 'devious' ..."

"Gov. Bush once said that he had "devious plans" to thwart the class-size amendment. If "devious" implies clever or original, he wasn't telling the truth. That's appropriate, since it turns out that not telling the truth — which in politics hardly counts as clever or original — is his basic strategy for undoing the class limits voters approved in 2002. Gov. Bush did not tell the truth about how much smaller classes would cost. And he is not telling the truth about how well Florida can afford the real cost of lowering the number of students in each class. When he first campaigned to defeat the class-size amendment, Gov. Bush said that compliance would cost $14.3 billion through 2007. If his 2006-07 budget is approved, the state will have spent $11 billion less than that." "Governor still 'devious' on class-size amendment".

Freeloaders

"Lobbying organizations that lavishly entertain government big shots during the legislative session can't be blamed if some freeloaders violate the new gift ban or sneak some friends into a big party, the Commission on Ethics decided Friday." "Freeloaders OK at lobbyist parties".

Hereinafter Referred To As The "Gallagher Rule"

"The Florida Ethics Commission recommended Friday that the Legislature consider a law requiring state Cabinet members keep their financial holdings in blind trusts." "Ethics commission recommends blind trusts".

In any event, to Gallagher's relief, "[a]n analysis shows he lost thousands of dollars, undercutting accusations of insider information." "Gallagher's stock buys led to losses"

Potholes

"Proposals aim to stem lawsuits over sinkholes".

Trust Us ...

everything is just fine:

Just days before elections, state officials were reviewing this week whether they had a problem that could call into question tens of thousands of absentee votes.

The problem surfaced in the state's new central voter database, a multimillion-dollar project aimed at cleansing the voter rolls of errors and preventing voter fraud.

The Herald-Tribune on Wednesday found thousands of entries in the tally of historic votes that suggested people already had voted in elections that haven't happened.

The finding launched a review by state election officials who worried the entries could make it appear that legitimate voters were trying to vote twice.

More From The "Values" Crowd

"A review showed Miami-Dade and the state education department got reduced grants when U.S. officials flouted their own regulations to benefit those with political ties." "Federal grants went to Bush allies".

a host of questions to quell her latest crisis.

"I don't know the answer," Harris' congressional spokeswoman, Kara Borie, said repeatedly Wednesday to questions about Harris' connections to a defense contractor at the center of a bribery case.

Harris, who is running for U.S. Senate, released a flood of documents Thursday evening as she tried to combat questions about her actions days after federal prosecutors publicly linked her to Wade, who is at the center of a bribery case.

a partial series of documents, requested by the Tribune, that relate to her attempts at obtaining federal tax dollars for dozens of special interests since 2004.

Among the documents: An April 26 letter to defense appropriations subcommittee Chairman C.W. Bill Young, the Largo Republican, in which Harris seeks $10 million for a Navy project backed by Wade.

In the letter, Harris emphasizes the importance of the project, asking that it be added to her list of five priorities and identifying it as her new No. 3 choice.

The puzzled looks and cryptic press statements simply won't cut it anymore.

Gallagher on the Hot Seat

"Tom Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer, released his tax returns in his quest to become governor and unleashed a flurry of new questions." "Money deals raise concerns".

"Let Sancho do his job"

"As Leon County's supervisor of elections for the past 18 years, Ion Sancho has made quite a name for himself as one of America's leading elections experts. His operation has had such low error rates that it earned national acclaim even amid Florida's 2000 presidential election snafu. But as a zealous soldier in election-reform battles extending far beyond Leon County, he has made a few politically connected enemies - in his own backyard and elsewhere." "Political theater".

How Dare Anyone ...

question Jebbie, as Congressman Henry Waxman did the other day ("'Jeb!' Gets A Letter"):

Bush said he did nothing more than he's done for 1,000s of other people who have emailed him with a problem: He forwarded it to someone who could address the issue.

In this case, Bush said he forwarded an email he received from a Carnival executive to then-FEMA Director Michael Brown. The executive said he was having trouble getting FEMA to commit as to whether they wanted to use one or two of the company's ships. The executive told Bush he needed to know one way or the other so that the company would know if they needed to cancel reservations for future cruise passengers, Bush said.

"That's what I did and that was the end of it," Bush told reporters Thursday. He then criticized FEMA for not fully utilizing the ships as it could have.

"So mark it down as a fiasco, but don't mark it down as me doing anything wrong." he said.

Jeb!" engaged in a little, ahem ... "constituent service"

The More Things Change ...

the more they stay the same: "Lawmakers dip into soft money to dine". See also "Lawmakers boost stipends amid protests of lobbyist ban".

New Budget

"Jeb!"

increased his annual state budget request on Thursday by $420 million, including money to create a merit pay program for teachers and reduce a proposed tuition increase for university students.

Other new spending requests include state and federal money to stockpile medication in case Florida is hit with an influenza pandemic, increase Medicaid fees paid to doctors and other health care providers and beef up emergency preparedness.

Even with the added expenses, Bush's spending blueprint, unveiled a month ago, for the budget year that begins July 1 will drop by $78.5 million to $70.7 billion due to a reduced estimate of Medicaid spending needs. His proposed budget will be considered by the Florida Legislature, which begins its 60-day regular session Tuesday.

Smith Kicks FCAT

"State Sen. Rod Smith is still on the gubernatorial campaign trail, but he's using his last year as a senator to try to undo Gov. Jeb Bush's legacy: the consequences for students and teachers based on the FCAT. Smith plans to file a bill next week that would repeal state laws that require kids to take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and allow the state to grade schools." "Bill would repeal, review effects of FCAT". See also "Smith And The FCAT".

On Second Thought ...

"FDLE: Commissioner's son not a part of prisons probe".

Get Two Or More Wingnuts Together ...

and the level of debate sinks to this level:

"As was discussed in our telephone call, the Florida Retail Federation's interest is ensuring safe workplaces for employees and customers and thus we oppose HB-129, which would eliminate our right to institute workplace rules and control access to our properties. We have no interest or intention of supporting the banning of Bibles in private vehicles in business parking lots. It is unfortunate that Bibles were interjected into this debate."

One Unhappy GOoPer

"Just imagine how outraged Republicans would be if a Democratic lawmaker sponsored legislation requiring abortion clinics to provide voter-registration material. There would be quite a stink -- and rightly so." "Republicans should oppose voting bill aimed at hunters".

Only Two?

"On Thursday, Day Two of University of Miami janitors' strike, professors who refused to cross the picket lines on campus had to find new classrooms: in churches, temples, houses and the little park off Grenada Boulevard and U.S. 1." "UM janitors' strike turns park into classroom".

Canaveral National Seashore

"Recent travails of our treasured Canaveral National Seashore point to the greater pending wreckage of the nation's entire park system by a president who came into office promising the funds long denied by the Republican-led Congress to keep the parks and seashores clean, accessible and safe." "National park smokescreen".

BOG

"A tentative agreement confirms that the Board of Governors has full control and authority over Florida’s state universities, a plaintiff in a lawsuit said Thursday, but state education officials downplayed its significance." "Proposal would give Board of Governors power to raise tuition".

HD 53

"Democratic hopes for an easy campaign to replace state Rep. Charlie Justice in heavily Democratic House District 53 have hit a speed bump. St. Petersburg attorney Charlie Gerdes says he's jumping into the race for the Democratic primary, presenting a potentially
formidible challenge to Democratic St. Petersburg City Council member Richard Kriseman." "Competition in 53".

Citizens

"Angry homeowners at a public forum vow to march on the state capital to get lower premiums from the state-run Citizens Insurance." "Public demands lower insurance fees".

Katherine Harris, the Longboat Key congresswoman running for U.S. Senate, is refusing to honor a pledge to reveal her requests for federal earmarks - so-called pork barrel spending.

The material Harris is withholding includes a letter she wrote in April 2005 on behalf of a defense contractor who funneled illegal contributions to her 2004 campaign.

The contractor, Mitchell Wade, pleaded guilty in federal court last week to bribing one congressman and disguising his over-the-limit contributions to Harris and another Republican member of Congress so they would insert his projects into appropriations bills.

Smith Wants Paper Trail

"Rod Smith's bill tackles touch-screen machines" "Candidate wants voting paper trail". See also "Bill pairs paper record with electronic vote".

Taxpayers To Take Hit For Citizens?

"All taxpayers, not just homeowners, should pick up Citizens Property Insurance's shortfall, a task force studying Florida's property insurance problems has recommended to the Legislature." "Task force: Prop up insurance with tax". See also "Insurer determined to remake its image" and "Florida delegation wants backup insurance".

GOoPers Break Own Rules

Silly rules:

Florida's top GOP official told the Broward Republican Party that its members broke the rules when they endorsed Attorney General Charlie Crist for governor without notifying his opponent.

But Florida Republican Party Chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan also says the local party acted in ''good faith,'' and that its interpretation of the rules ''may have been reasonable.'' She also called for the guidelines to be clarified. In the future, Jordan wrote Feb. 24 to local party chairman Shane Strum, candidates should be given 10 days notice before an endorsement.

In an election year when the party wants to look strong and unified, the unprecedented endorsement infuriated supporters of Crist's rival, Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher. Jordan has not spoken publicly about the Jan. 30 endorsement. Her office declined Wednesday to release the letter, which was sent to Strum four days after he and two other Broward party leaders met with Jordan in Tallahassee.

Crist's chief of staff, George LeMieux, is the former chairman of the state party. Two other former chairmen serve on Crist's Broward committee.

Lawsuit Limits

I wonder who is behind this delightful little group (for some reason the reporter neglects to tell us): "Organization opens statewide campaign to limit lawsuits".

Our Green Governor

Congressional leaders Wednesday criticized Florida's performance in cleaning the Everglades as they grilled U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton about the potential demise of a court order overseeing the $1.1 billion project.

made no decision on whether to join Gov. Jeb Bush in seeking to end the 1992 order, which allows a federal judge in Miami to oversee the cleanup. ...

[Bush] has lobbied leaders of Interior and other agencies to join his request, less than a year after the judge ruled that the state has violated some of the order's pollution limits. Congressmen from both parties have warned that ending the order could jeopardize federal spending on a larger $10.5 billion Everglades restoration.

Our Green Keller

Club for Growth's boy, Ric [sic] Keller has tried to brush up his (previously nonexistent) green bonafides ("Keller Finds His Green Streak"). Today, Scott Maxwell observes that if

he's serious about all this, Keller will have the opportunity to tell the Bush administration how "nearsighted and irresponsible" its plans are right to the administration's face -- when Vice President Dick Cheney comes to town later this month to help Keller raise money for his next campaign.

Privacy

"State justices studying privacy vs. technology".

Cotterell

Allen Boyd "has quietly settled a nagging little lawsuit that grew out of a late hit in his 2004 re-election campaign." "Boyd-Kilmer suit is a lesson for '06".

Good Luck

"At first glance, the news that the state Legislature might revisit Florida's counterproductive ban on gay adoptions sounds encouraging. But in an election year, skepticism is called for." "Lift adoption ban".

Shuuush

"Voting along party lines, a Republican-controlled House committee Wednesday rejected a resolution seeking information from the Bush administration about the Pentagon's spying program on dissident groups." "Wexler stifled in unveiling spying like that on Lake Worth peace group".

"Unprecedented Success" or "Failure"?

How green is our Governor?

The "unprecedented success" of environmental protection announced by the state in Wednesday's annual report on South Florida came as a shock locally.

"I believe it has been an unprecedented failure," said Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah of fresh water released from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River. ...

Sanibel Councilman Steve Brown said he has seen enough.

"If any of us did that or any company did that, we would be in criminal court," Brown said. "They have to stop lying. It hasn't been a booming success, it has been a dismal failure."

Sorry, Dad

"Details are emerging about the second of two dustups involving corrections workers and softball events. He allegedly was involved in both." "FDLE chief's son implicated in fight - again".

Defending Initiatives

"[A] coalition of more than 30 groups, ranging from labor unions to the League of Women Voters, launched a campaign to defeat proposals that would limit citizen initiatives and make them more difficult to get on the ballot and pass." "Groups boost ballot initiatives". See also "Coalition Defends Citizen Initiatives".

released e-mails Tuesday detailing Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's role in pushing a $236 million federal contract for Carnival Cruise Lines to house Hurricane Katrina victims.

In a letter, Rep. Henry Waxman of California called on Bush to explain his role in the award of the "lucrative contract," which was given to the Florida-based company without a full competitive bid process. The e-mails Waxman released were provided to Congress by Michael Brown, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Carnival Cruise Lines contract has turned out to be enormously expensive," Waxman wrote to Gov. Bush, the president's younger brother. "The e-mails from Mr. Brown provide the first confirmation of your involvement in the award of this contract and the first details of your contacts with Carnival and FEMA."

According to Waxman, Bush forwarded to Brown, then the FEMA director, an e-mail from a Carnival advertising executive proposing that the company's ships be used for housing two days after the Aug. 29 storm.

The Carnival official, Ric Cooper, has been a major political donor to the Florida and national Republican parties, including $65,000 to the state GOP in 2002, and $50,00 to the RNC in 2004, Waxman said.

Less than three hours later, Brown replied to Cooper, saying he thought it was a "great idea."

Peas In A Pod

"Cheney will headline a Boca Raton fundraiser on Monday for Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale, underlining the competitiveness of his reelection campaign." "Cheney to stump for old pal Shaw".

Gay Adoption

"A House Republican leader said he would consider lifting or modifying the state's 30-year-old ban on gay adoption, but only if the Senate takes similar action." "Gay Adoption Issue Arises In House". See also "Lawmaker would weigh vote on gay adoption".

Ion Investigation?

"Leon County Commissioner Ed DePuy suggested Tuesday that a grand jury should investigate why the Supervisor of Elections Office was unable to get voting equipment for the disabled by a January deadline." "DePuy: Sancho should face jury".

GOoPer Goals

Crist says he

would establish nine policy councils including education, public safety and ethics. He wants to keep Gov. Jeb Bush's tax cuts, promote adoption of kids in foster care and allow homeowners to shift tax benefits to a costlier home.

Saying Florida's cities and counties have grown too fat from taxes collected on exploding property values, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher called for capping their revenue potential Tuesday as part of his campaign's economic plan.

Otto

"The Democrats smell an opportunity in Florida's 9th District, where retiring Republican Congressman Mike Bilirakis is attempting to turn the reins over to his son Gus the Younger. There is going to be a primary, but early on it appears former Hillsborough County Commissioner Phyllis Busansky might have the stuff to give the younger Bilirakis a race." "Dollar Signs Clearly Mark Campaign Trail".

Limousine Liberals

The fight to unionize the custodians at UM:

[L]abor disputes have played out on college campuses across the nation, but anger at one of the perceived villains, university President Donna Shalala, sets this one apart.

After all, Shalala, who was President Clinton's secretary for Health and Human Services, has spent much of her public career as an advocate for the poor. When she left the administration in 2001, she lamented her failure to ensure every worker in America had affordable health coverage.

Now, UM's maintenance staff, many of them immigrants from Cuba and Haiti, are emerging from the shadows, embraced by a growing coalition of students, clergy and community leaders. They are demanding that Shalala open university coffers to take care of the 485 people who keep it clean and manicured.

Embarrassed that one of Florida's wealthiest private universities pays its bottom-rung workers poverty wages, the coalition vows to keep ratcheting up the pressure until the university revises its contract with the Massachusetts-based UNICCO Service Co., which employs UM's maintenance crew. They want the workers to receive medical benefits and a living wage -- the amount necessary to pay for the basics in a given community.

In Miami-Dade County, that's now $11.23 an hour, compared with the average $7.52 an hour that UNICCO says it pays.

was featured in an inopportune article in the New York Times this month. In it, she discusses her 9,000-square-foot presidential residence on the waterfront -- where her dog has the choice of four beds, and where she doesn't make enough use of her 29-foot motorboat.

The interview brought her national scorn, including this "Note to the Haves" from The Washington Post: "When involved in labor disputes, skip the luxury home profile."

Shifting Responsibility

"The state's clerks of court are proposing a bill that would shift the onus of identifying confidential information in court filings from the clerks to those filing the documents, even as the Florida Supreme Court is in the midst of a two-year endeavor to balance open records laws with privacy concerns." "Florida clerks of court want confidentiality shifted".

FCAT Follies: From "Farce" To "Administrative Fiat"

In their obsession with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, state bureaucrats have now elevated it from high stakes to sweepstakes. Education Commissioner John Winn will play the role of Ed McMahon, knocking on teachers' doors to award $2,000 bonuses for the winning student test scores.

This all borders on farce, except that Winn and Gov. Jeb Bush's Board of Education have now adopted it by administrative fiat.

Off Topic

"For a president who goes out of his way to say he reveres the sacrifices of America's veterans, George W. Bush's budget proposals are an odd way to show appreciation." "Devalued vets".

Apparently Not

"Didn't Harris Learn Anything From Last Campaign Scandal?"

"Formidable Opponents"

"Prompted by angry customers, Florida's insurance agents said Tuesday they've got a plan to strengthen troubled Citizens Property Insurance Corp. but acknowledged that it faces two formidable opponents: Gov. Jeb Bush and the insurance industry." "Insurance industry proposes cures for Citizens".

"Harris Lied"

Tom Lyons:

Let's not make this fuzzy: U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris lied.

Harris repeatedly misled journalists and the public about her conversations with defense contractor Mitchell Wade. I see no other way to look at this.

Wade, one target in a long federal investigation that is still under way, has now pleaded guilty to bribing one member of Congress and making illegal campaign contributions to two others, all to seek the kind of defense contracts that made MZM Inc. so profitable.

I wrote two columns in the past about the $34,000 in illegal campaign contributions Harris accepted -- without knowing they were illegal, it seems -- from MZM, its employees and some of their spouses.

But for months, there was a mystery: What the heck had Wade, MZM's CEO, wanted from Harris in return for that money?

"Jack Abramoff-itis"

"State capitols across America have been stricken by what some are calling 'Jack Abramoff-itis' - a sudden, urgent desire to tighten the rules on lobbying." "State Lawmakers Revamp Lobbying Laws".

Voucher Madness

The wingnuts want to overturn the voucher ruling via legislation, namely PCB 3 in the House Judiciary Committee:

You could politely describe it as "radical." Some critics might prefer the word "nutty."

As written, the proposed amendment says four things:

(1) Florida courts cannot limit the power of the Legislature, except where the Constitution specifically says so.

(2) The Constitution cannot be "interpreted" to limit the Legislature's power. The limit has to be "expressly contained" in the Constitution's wording.

(3) When the Constitution tells the Legislature to do something a certain way, it can still do it other ways too.

(4) The amendment is retroactive, reaching back in time.

In short, PCB 3 pretty much says the Legislature can do whatever it wants, unless the Constitution specifically says: "You can't do X, and [only then] the courts can stop you."

Conventions?

"The Democratic National Committee announced the 10 cities besides Orlando vying to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention: Anaheim, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, and San Antonio. Vying for the Republican convention are 31 cities [including]: Tampa, Miami, Orlando ... ." " Orlando's Competition".

Keller Finds His Green Streak

"President Bush's disdain for our national forests has hit a new low. First he made it easier for the timber industry to log public forests under a program mockingly named Healthy Forests. Now Bush wants to sell off pieces of national forests in 35 states, including Florida, for development." And you will not believe who has gone green on this, Ric Keller (of all people) called the plan "financially shortsighted, environmentally reckless and harmful to our water supply," in the midst of his reelection fight. "Taxing our forests".

Shocking Assault On Florida Families

"Gay adoption gets a glance from leaders":

A three-decade ban on gay adoption, a conservative bulwark that sets Florida apart from all other states, crumbled ever so slightly Monday when a Republican committee chairman signaled his willingness to reconsider the policy.

Rep. Bill Galvano of Bradenton, chairman of the Future of Florida's Families Committee, said he would consider scheduling a vote on legislation that would allow gays to adopt children that they are already permitted to nurture as foster parents. Critics say the double standard is bigoted, makes it even harder to find permanent homes for the 3,500 children awaiting adoption in Florida and tears children away from the only loving parents they have ever known.

Penny Wise, Pound Foolish

"Sunken vessels litter Florida's waterways because legislators ended removal program".

"Overturning Florida's wrongful convictions"

"After years of controversy, Florida lawmakers finally seem to understand the importance of DNA testing in previously closed criminal cases. To date, 25 people have walked free -- 22 of them from death row -- because DNA tests proved their innocence." "Errors at trial".

Huh?

Marion Hammer, a Florida lobbyist for the National Rifle Association

wouldn't speculate on possible revisions to the bill, including outlawing the sale of real guns that resemble fake ones.

It Must Be True, Then ...

As governor's worry about the status of their respective guard units, "Jeb!" offers this deep thought: "I trust the president of the United States. They said they'd find the money and I think you can take that to the bank," said Republican Jeb Bush of Florida." "Bush calms some governors on Nat'l Guard". See also "GOP Governors Say Bush Missteps Hurt Them".

"[T]he real Republicans"

Gettin' nasty:

The suburbs north of Tampa have caught an early glimpse of the bruising political season to come. ...

[Rep. Kevin Ambler of Lutz is] pictured alongside Gov. Jeb Bush and House Speaker Allan Bense, but Ambler's head is decidedly lower than the other two. "Will the real Republicans please stand up?" the pamphlet asks.

The mailing represents the start of what will be a wave of similar tactics in the 2006 campaign as well-financed groups known as 527s seek to punish their political enemies and reward their friends.

Ambler is being targeted by a group financed by Publix, Food Lion and other retailers because he voted against their interests last month. Ambler, a lawyer, supports the legal doctrine known as joint and several liability, which can force wealthy defendants in some lawsuits to pay more damages than their share of fault.

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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

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.

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".

GOoPers In Action

"His career in the Legislature has this hallmark: He is shameless, literally. He never blushes no matter what he gets caught doing. This makes him the perfect instrument for anyone who needs to get something done." "On principle, Farkas likes to do favors for buddies".

"Yank their pants down in the light of day."

Kreegel update:

Infuriated by mysterious attacks in his 2004 primary race that sensationalized lawsuits and documents relating to paternity, malpractice and an alleged incident of criminal mischief, Kreegel has sued some of the best-connected figures in the Capitol.

"I'm sick of the behind-the-scenes crap," Kreegel said last week. "These people only survive in the cloak and dagger world. In the light of day, you can't get away with it."

Kreegel's lawsuit seeks punitive damages from what he claims are false allegations in a 2004 campaign flier of an arrest. But he said another goal of the suit is to target his attackers to "yank their pants down in the light of day."

Among the revelations in the lawsuit's depositions: The intent of the attacks had little to do with who represented the Charlotte County district. Instead, the attack was launched by lobbyists and funded through a short-lived political committee to influence an internal battle to become the Florida House speaker in 2009.

Quid Pro Katherine

"But new information disclosed by the U.S. Justice Department on Friday shows Harris failed to mention one key detail back then -- that the company's president had asked her to put in a request for federal funding for his company." "Harris didn't tell all about donations". "Harris didn't tell all about donations".

6th Graders?

"Under Gov. Jeb Bush's proposed makeover for middle and high schools, students would begin tailoring their course selections to their future career as early as sixth grade." "Pick a major while you're still a minor".

Smith Declines To Politicize Execution

Seems that "that Gov. Jeb Bush could sign Rolling's death warrant in the midst of [Rod] Smith's campaign." Smith says he's not interested in politiciizing the execution by attending. "Rod Smith pulls the switch on photo opportunity".

Big

"Putnam gives Florida voice at U.S. House leadership table".

Jebbie's "Red tide"

Mismanagement at its worst:

Like a going-away present to taxpayers, Gov. Jeb Bush is looking to highlight his final year in office with a record $1.5 billion package of tax cuts. But a burden even bigger than these tax breaks is drawing scant attention from Bush and other political leaders.

With Florida's outstanding debt now totaling $22.5 billion -- more than double what it was 10 years ago -- taxpayers this year will have to cough up $1.6 billion just to cover debt payments.

That's real money. Steered elsewhere for a year, it could effectively eliminate the state's 14.5-cent-per-gallon gas tax, or slash the state's 6 percent sales tax by half a cent.

Bush talks a lot about the state's new triple-A bond rating. And the governor wants to slow down the rising tide of red ink by recommending the state pay $710 million cash instead of issuing more debt for environmental programs.

"Outright Scam"

"From almost any public-minded perspective, President Bush's plan to sell off up to 300,000 acres in the national forest system and 500,000 acres within the Bureau of Land Management [including sales in the Ocala National Forest] is a mistake. From some vantage points, it looks like an outright scam." "Endangered lands".

Gallagher's Buddy?

"[I]n taped interview for Political Connections airing today [Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles] Bronson carefully avoided criticizing Gallagher for voting on a pipeline project as member of the Cabinet without informing his colleagues that he owned stock in a company benefiting from the project." "Bronson's Buddy".

Not Her First Time

"A revelation last week that illegal campaign contributions had been made to Rep. Katherine Harris was not a first." "Harris received illegal funding in earlier case".

Decisions, Decisions

"A company owned by a United Arab Emirates investment firm is seeking to renew its license to provide services to ships docking at Port Everglades. County commissioners will decide Tuesday whether to renew the license for ISS Marine Service Inc., the steamship agent at Port Everglades for at least five years." "UAE-based company set to renew license at Port Everglades".

Kenny Boy

The Buzz observes thAT

[T]his ought to be a joyful time for Pruitt. But it's not, because he's hip-deep in controversy involving his extensive fund-raising network and his ties to the Florida Home Builders Association and West Palm Beach political consultant Randy Nielsen.

Father of Sleepy Child In A Jam

"Always an inside player, Mayor Rich Crotty dealt himself into a real hole this time. We reported last week that Crotty voted to rezone land in West Orange for one of the area's biggest real estate brokers -- Daryl Carter of Maury L. Carter & Associates. This 2002 vote cleared the way for a $20 million sale, from which we can assume Carter profited handsomely. Two weeks later, Carter cut Crotty in on a Palm Beach land deal that more than doubled Crotty's investment in a year, netting him $112,000." "Crotty offers lame rationale for cozy deal".

"Panicked [GOP] lawmakers"

We like it when "[p]anicked lawmakers fear that Democrats now have an election-year opportunity", we like it a lot:

The deal also rankled Republicans because it fueled long-standing complaints that the Bush White House does not consult enough with Congress and takes GOP support for granted.

"Isn't there supposed to be some give and take?" said Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fort Pierce. "There's a disconnect (at the White House) about the value of Congress — until they need us for something they want."

Panicked lawmakers fear that Democrats now have an election-year opportunity to portray themselves as tougher in fighting terrorism than Bush and his allies.

Student Credit

Students deserve the credit, not Jebbie:

It is charitable to take the view that Gov. Bush agreed to adjust his "moderate" tuition increase because he listened to Florida's university students and realized that his proposal was excessive. That view will be correct if the governor makes the case to the Legislature for "a more moderate increase" than his initial 5 percent increase for resident undergraduates and 7.5 percent for out-of-state and graduate students.

For now, credit clearly goes to the Florida Student Association and others who rallied on the Old Capitol steps in Tallahassee against the increase. That boost would have come, they noted, on top of tuition increases that have totaled 26 percent over the past four years. Moreover, it was the sole increase proposed in Gov. Bush's $71 billion budget, at a time when the state is anticipating an extra $3.2 billion this year and next.