GOoPer Games

Do Republicans in the Legislature really think they can win the debate over school vouchers by tricking the voters? That appears to be the plan emerging in the House.

Rather than simply asking the voters to change the Constitution to explicitly approve the use of tax money for private school vouchers, a proposal approved by the House Judiciary Committee would change the way courts interpret the law. The change would foreclose the legal theory used by the Florida Supreme Court to set aside one of the state's school voucher programs and have implications beyond the voucher debate.

The proposed amendment is so confusing that a constitutional scholar would have trouble making sense of it, never mind average voters. And nowhere in the amendment's language does it mention school vouchers.

Tables Still Full

"Two weeks into the legislative session, the new ban on gifts and free food for members of the Legislature and statewide officeholders has not forced lawmaking to grind to a halt. Lobbyists still patrol the halls. Tables are still full at restaurants near the Capitol during the lunch hour, and nobody appears to be on a crash diet. Clyde's & Costello's, a favorite watering hole for years, still does a brisk business as the sun goes down even if there appear to be fewer legislators around." "Tables are still full in Tallahassee".

Harris

"Senate candidate Katherine Harris, still hemorrhaging staff and dodging questions about her ties to a convicted defense contractor, is sticking to carefully coordinated public appearances." "Harris Sticks To Controlled Stops". The pundits ask: "Will Harris' splurge lure or repel votes?". See also "Critics call Harris' self-funding a gamble".

Daniel Ruth has this: "Get Ready For Kate's 2006 Grief Campaign" ("Somehow it seems fitting that Katherine Harris has decided to turn her campaign for the U.S. Senate into a nine-month wake.")

In the meantime, the editorial boards are less than thrilled:

With the May sign-up deadline for a Senate candidate looming, just seven months until the election, and Jeb Bush denying interest in the Senate, fielding a credible GOP candidate will be a major challenge.

So far, those who might win won't run, and those who might run are unlikely to win.

Harris' heedless pursuit of the seat can only mean bad news for GOP hopes to hold its Senate majority.

And it certainly opens up major questions about the real unity of the Florida Republican party.

Municipal Elections

"Hold municipal elections in the fall".

UM

"For weeks, faculty members, students, clergy, alumni, donors and community leaders, embarrassed that Florida's richest private university paid its poorest workers subpoverty wages, pressed Shalala to pay UM's contract workers a living wage and offer health insurance." "UM's low-wage workers to get pay raises, benefits".

A Little Late

"Gov Bush calls on leaders to join push for ethanol".

Compromise?

"'Compromise' may scuttle land-buying bill". On a related note, "Land cleanup may get incentives".

"Closing out another week of firings and demotions, Florida's new prison chief said Friday that more than 50 employee club funds around the state will be revamped to make sure inmates do not help pay for them and that money is not misspent." "Prison chief revamps employee funds; staff changes wind down". See also "Prison culture: Softball, scandal".

"Jeb!"'s "Misguided idea of relevancy"

There's a lot that is "offensive, but

[w]hat's most offensive about the governor's plan ... is the degree to which Bush wants to usurp local control of the public schools. [Rep.] Arza's bill would even allow the governor to take direct control of chronically failing schools.

The last thing local school districts need is for the governor to pull the educational strings from Tallahassee. And the last thing education needs is Bush's misguided idea of relevancy.

Jebbie's "Duplicitous 'all is well' posture"

Frustrated with Florida's blind eye toward Everglades pollution, U.S. Attorney Dexter Lehtinen in 1988 won a federal action that has forced the state to clean up its landmark resource, a plan still overseen by a federal judge.

Federal oversight has kept the state from bending to Big Sugar's desires to dilute water quality standards and a state attempt to weaken cleanup requirements a few years ago. Judge Federico Moreno criticized Gov. Jeb Bush's staff for a duplicitous "all is well" posture and instead demanded a better plan for the River of Grass.

65% Game

" So how much more does the proposed constitutional requirement to force school districts to spend 65 cents of every dollar for "inside-the-classroom" spending guarantee for schools? Zero, according to a legislative analysis." "Education financing debate hinges on what's instruction".

promise to put $10 million into her Senate race seems likely to deter other Republicans from challenging her for the party's nomination.

But after she made that vow on a TV talk show Wednesday night, her campaign continued to show signs of confusion and indecision. Harris first delayed and then canceled a news conference scheduled for today in Tampa, where she would have faced tough questions raised by her announcement.

Some political experts called the pledge an admirable sign of her commitment to the race; others called it a sign of desperation, noting that self-funding candidates more often lose than win.

Whichever is true, if either, her emotional promise to spend her father's financial legacy on her campaign raised questions about her personal finances.

Harris' chief political strategist said Thursday that he suggested she abandon her bid for the U.S. Senate because it would be a "tough row to hoe" given the numerous setbacks the campaign had suffered.

But Harris refused. Instead, she decided to spend $10 million of her own money on the race and took her case directly to voters, using Fox News' Hannity & Colmes talk show Wednesday night as her platform.

Senate Budget

"Senate President Tom Lee said Thursday that Florida should not "do public education on the cheap" in his defense of a budget that does not include Gov. Jeb Bush's proposed property tax cut and instead spends an extra $550 million on schools. Word of the Senate's plan, unveiled at a committee meeting Wednesday, prompted support from Democrats and many Senate Republicans but skepticism from Bush and his allies." "Senate president defends education budget". See also "Senate's Budget Plan Increases Spending", "Florida Senate opposes Gov. Bush, demands $1.8 billion boost for schools" and "Gov. Bush's tax-savings plan stalled" ("One of Gov. Jeb Bush's tax-cutting ideas suffered a setback Thursday when a Senate committee declined to include his proposal to trim school property taxes by $570 million in its education budget.")

That Open Meeting Thing

"Tallahassee Democrat, AP protest closed elections meeting".

Session Developments

- Today's events: "Upcoming".

- "Legislature 2006: Developments from Thursday, March 16". See also "Thursday's Capitol Roundup".

- "A measure to curb lawsuits against businesses sails through the House and receives a cautionary welcome in the Senate." "Tort reform bill passes House". See also "House backs lawsuit shield for businesses", "House votes to limit liability suits" and "House OKs top business priority".

- "House Panel Approves Citizens Rate Boost". See also "Bill raises premium limit on insuring second homes", "House plan would charge some homeowners more for insurance". See also "We pay to keep insurers in Florida".

- "A Broward lawmaker wants slot-machine venues to pay an annual fee to nearby cities to offset expected increases in crime and traffic." "Bill tacks on new slots fee".

- "Environmental groups unhappy with provisions for development of wetlands" "Grumbles over conservation bill".

Purgatory

"Levine greatly angered Republican senators in 2003 when it was discovered he was plotting to find GOP challengers to run against GOP senators who were blocking the governor's proposal to overhaul the state's medical malpractice system." "Looks like you're forgiven, Alan".

"Black caucus wants arrests"

"While black lawmakers demanded sanctions and arrests in the death of a teenager at a boot camp, the author of a controversial autopsy defended his work." "Black caucus wants arrests". See also "Some lawmakers call for arrests of guards, others".

Wingnut Malaise

"Hundreds of Christian activists gathering in Fort Lauderdale to rally for their conservative agenda faced waning momentum."

But the momentum that brought record numbers of believers to the polls in 2004 has waned. In a year of large-scale natural disasters, Christian charitable dollars have been redirected from political causes to relief efforts. And -- perhaps most damaging of all -- scandals involving former House Majority leader Tom DeLay and lobbyist Jack Abramoff have discouraged some Christians.

Even Gary Cass, executive director of Coral Ridge Ministry's Center for Reclaiming America for Christ and a self-described soldier in the culture war, said he senses a ''general malaise'' among conservatives.

"Distorted property-tax structure"

"The real estate bubble has made some property owners rich. It's also making property owners -- not just homeowners -- angry. As property values skyrocketed, so did property taxes for all but homesteaded houses. As a result, the Legislature is considering several proposals that would ostensibly lighten the tax burden on property owners and buyers -- but worsen an already distorted property-tax structure." "How to make an unfair property tax even worse".

'Glades

Our Green Governor in action:

Growing concern in Congress that Florida is failing to sufficiently clean up water pollution has jeopardized federal funding for a massive Everglades restoration project.

Privatization Follies

"The state warned employees Thursday that computer operators in India may have had access to their personnel records, and an angry legislator demanded that Convergys produce all records showing when it learned of the illicit "offshoring" of sensitive data." "State advises workers of security concern".

Good Luck

"There is a glimmer of hope that, this year, the Legislature will approve a bill that would ask voters statewide if persons who have served their time for committing a crime should have their civil rights restored automatically. This proposed amendment to Florida's Constitution isn't the most efficient or quickest method of restoring rights to at least 500,000 persons, but the approach has the best chance of succeeding." "Restore their rights".

We Can Hope

"Florida Republicans could be in deep trouble this cycle." " For GOP, Perilous Polling" ("Pollster Matt Towery, a former Newt Gingrich aide, thinks the shift toward Democrats could make the Florida governor's race a lot more competitive for Democrats.")

"Personnel purge"

"The personnel purge at the Department of Corrections continued Thursday with the forced resignation of deputy assistant secretary Greg Drake, who was in charge of security operations at DOC’s 128 penal facilities across the state." "Assistant secretary resigns under pressure".

Not Enough

"Contract workers at UM will get higher wages and affordable healthcare, but faculty, students and union leaders who advocated for their cause say the fight is not over." "Striking workers at UM to get raise". See also "University of Miami to raise minimum wages of contract workers".

All "Jeb!" All The Time

For the "Jeb!" cultists out there, "Online, Jeb PR machine never off".

Tobacco Ballot Proposal

"A proposal requiring the state to spend $57 million annually on an antismoking campaign was approved for the Nov. 7 ballot." "Supreme Court OK's tobacco ballot question".

Thanks "Jeb!"

Remember this little gift from the GOoPers

With the blessing of Gov. Jeb Bush and the Legislature, phone companies successfully petitioned the Public Service Commission for higher local rates, claiming the result would be a more competitive market. They said long-distance rates would decrease, rendering the local increase “revenue-neutral.”

But the companies never articulated that equation in plain dollars-and-cents terms. And once the hikes are phased in over four years, BellSouth, Sprint and Verizon could raise their local rates up to 20 percent a year - without PSC approval. The Attorney General's Office found the legislation so objectionable that it tried, unsuccessfully, to appeal the PSC's decision.

DJJ

"In opposing the court-ordered investigation, DJJ has shown disregard for the boys and girls being detained and for the judges charged with ensuring not just their proper treatment but the public's safety. The agency's opposition — and, especially, quick placement of J.C. and three other teens after the probe was ordered — prove the need for the investigation to continue." "Make DJJ do its job".

FCAT Foolishness

"Think about that. In some cases, the state puts more faith in the one-shot FCAT than in the day-in-day-out observations and work of full-time teachers. And since the state is using temps to evaluate written portions of the FCAT — which are the most subjective parts of the test — the state is putting more faith in temporary workers than in its full-time teachers." "Low-account grading for high-stakes tests".

Session Developments

- "Legislature 2006: Developments from Wednesday, March 15". See also "Legislature briefs".

- "Capitol Roundup".

- "Some Florida lawmakers are losing confidence in the state's juvenile-justice agency, saying its head, Anthony Schembri, has told 'lies' too many times." "Lawmakers decry DJJ chief's 'lies'".

- "Senate chairman unveils hurricane insurance proposal".

- "As thousands of Florida felons apply -- and wait -- to have their civil rights restored, lawmakers have vowed to bring relief to a system that is clearly overwhelmed." "New push to ease clemency backlog".

- "House likely to OK liability reform". See also "House opens debate on how lawsuit damages are divided up".

- "There's no consensus on what to do with Florida's no-fault auto insurance law. Some insurers say overhaul or scrap it. Healthcare providers and attorneys say leave it as is." "If insurers get way, drivers can say bye to PIP".

- "House Tackles Recruiting" of student athletes.

- "Florida condominium associations want to change laws with two bills, which would allow the associations more self-governing power." "Condo associations press for greater governing power".

- "Panel OKs Letting Pharmacists Give Shots".

- "Developer urges committee to loosen eminent domain bill".

- "Watered-down bill on nursing home generators clears Senate panel".

Crist

"GOP front-runner says he's running "like we're 20 points behind.". "Crist Happy to Meet and Greet"

Cleaning House

"New Corrections Department Secretary James McDonough fired nine high-ranking officials Wednesday amid allegations of favoritism, partying and a steroid ring." "State prison chief cleans house".

Tactics

"A lobbying group formed by State Farm, the state's largest insurance company, came under fire for intimidation tactics." "Tactics anger lawmakers".

New Chief Justice

"The Florida Supreme Court unanimously elected Justice R. Fred Lewis on Wednesday as its 52nd chief justice, a position that rotates among the seven members every two years. ... Chiles appointed Lewis to the Supreme Court effective Jan. 1, 1999." "Lewis selected next Supreme Court chief justice".

Circular Firing Squad

"Two of the Republican party's biggest supporters are facing off in a duel over a bill to let employees leave their guns in locked cars at work. And Rep. David Simmons again wasn't able to avert the showdown Wednesday between business owners and gun activists." "Conservative lobbies don't resolve dispute over guns at work".

Cloudy Days

Cotterell:

Currently, there are dozens of proposals before the Legislature to create or reauthorize shady spots in the sunshine. Some are routine re-enactments of exemptions that protect the privacy of personal information the government has on us, or sensitive security data that would be useful to terrorists.

But some of the proposed exemptions are mystifying.

Citizens

"State senators said Wednesday that escalating property values in coastal counties may force them to back away from a proposal to move the owners of $1 million homes out of a state-run insurance company. The idea, which has surfaced in both the House and Senate, is aimed at shrinking the size of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state's insurer of last resort for many homeowners in hurricane-prone coastal counties." "Plan to shrink Citizens hits a snag".

"Partisan Firestorm"

"A Republican effort to resurrect school vouchers in Florida touched off a partisan firestorm Wednesday, with Democrats calling it a power grab and an attack on the independence of the courts." "House panel moves to re-establish school vouchers".

Is Abramoff Representing The Seminole Tribe?

The Florida GOP is sure acting like he is:

A draft of slot regulations unveiled this week would, among other cumbersome restrictions, force the pari-mutuels to choose between slot machines and poker tables. Pari-mutuel officials point out that the proposed state rule would force them to forfeit their card room licenses, but competing slot machine casinos owned by Indian tribes would be exempt.

It almost smells like the state wants to give the Seminoles and others a leg up on the pari-mutuels. Having lost at the ballot boxes, and in a Broward courtroom, perhaps Florida's anti-gambling Puritans figure they must squeeze pari-mutuel slot machines into failure.

We're Good With That

"Two Democratic legislators pushing a bill that would spend $150 million in state money on embryonic stem-cell research are coming to the conclusion that Republican opposition to the controversial practice — especially during an election year — means they have little chance of success this session. But they say an unintended carrier for their idea is speeding through the legislature: a Republican-sponsored cancer and Alzheimer's research bill." "Democrats say biomed bill opens door for stem cell research". See also "Move Florida to the front in stem-cell research race" ("Florida will have trouble keeping up with California and overseas researchers because in Florida stem-cell research is viewed through a prism distorted by ideology-driven political resistance, not science.")

Mea Culpa

"The number of children in Florida's low-cost health insurance program has plummeted in recent years, sparking outrage among families struggling to get into the program and advocates accusing KidCare officials of creating too many barriers for needy families. But on Wednesday, legislators pinned the blame on themselves and praised KidCare officials for recent strides to improve the beleaguered program." "Lawmakers take blame for KidCare problems".

Who Cares

"Gingrich Discusses Health Care".

Voucher Madness

"Voucher bill heading for House floor vote". See also "House voucher bill urges private school accountability, background checks".

Harris Challenger ...

tight with his cash. "Rooney's Bucks".

Strange Bedfellows

"The state Senate's champion for Gov. Jeb Bush's constitutional amendment preserving school vouchers has hired as his lawyer one of the state's most influential foes of school vouchers. Sen. Ken Pruitt, who will be Senate president next session, paid Tallahassee attorney Ron Meyer $10,000 last week using money from his Floridians for a Brighter Future, according to the political committee's Web site." "Pruitt hires anti-voucher lawyer".

Charter Schools

"Approve tougher oversight of charter schools".

Leon COunty Update

"The board approved a motion designating its liaison, Commissioner Jane Sauls, to work with Mr. Sancho's office and report back to her colleagues; asking Secretary of State Sue Cobb to expedite the review and certification process to enable Leon County to legally use the equipment from IVS; and informing the U.S. Department of Justice of Leon County's "good-faith efforts" so that federal officials don't intervene." "The right course".

Income Reduction

"A Senate committee approved a measure Tuesday that would bar lawmakers from being paid by any agency or organization that receives state funds while they are in office." "Legislation bans certain source of outside income for lawmakers".

However, the bill would prohibit teachers and university professors, among others, from serving. "Senate leader wants to bar `double dipping'".

Tort "Reform"

"Stakes High In Tort Reform Struggle".

A GOoPer Thing

"Former Corrections Secretary James Crosby tried to shut down an investigation into the scandal-ridden prison system by threatening one of his employees, whose father is the head of Florida's law enforcement agency, according to an agency report released Tuesday." "Report: Crosby tried to stop prisons probe".

Education Experts

"GOP plan for sixth-graders". See also "Middle, high school changes gain in House".

Early Start

"Revised bill would let public schools start in early August" "".

Hmm ... Could It Be A Race Thing? ... Or Just Politics?

"African-American lawmakers vowed Tuesday to continue fighting an uphill battle to restore the voting rights of felons who have paid their debt to society." "Felon-voting change faces hurdles".

Session Developments

- "Major calendar events in and around the Legislature today".

- "Legislature 2006: Developments from Tuesday, March 14".

Petition Process

"The people of Florida have made it clear that they want the right to petition state government for change, so unless lawmakers offer an alternative, they should stop trying to create barriers to citizen-backed state constitutional amendments." "Making Petition Process Painful Inept Way To Guard Constitution".

Heaven Help Us

"The Republican- controlled House is ready to pass a sweeping education bill that would overhaul the state's education system." "An 'A-plus-plus' of changes".

Bad Bill

"Once again lawmakers are back with a bill that would sabotage the state's growth management laws and promote the paving of agricultural lands." "A Bad Farm Bill Resurfaces".

Election Year Litigation

"Attorney General Charlie Crist sued a New York company Tuesday because the insurance broker allegedly lied to companies and obtained improper commission fees." "State lawyer sues insurance company".

Secretary of the Interior?

"Frustrated by a purported disconnect between environmental agencies and nature lovers, several lawmakers want to elevate the job of protecting Florida's environment to a statewide elected office." "Broader Interior proposed".

"She's finished," said Jim Kane, the chief pollster for Florida Voter, a nonpartisan polling organization. "It's a matter of when, not if, she's going to do it."

Ms. Harris was not granting interviews on Monday, and a spokeswoman, Morgan Dobbs, would not reveal when or what her announcement might be. But a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee said the committee expected Ms. Harris to stay in the race, and some analysts who have followed her tumultuous political career said they would not bet on her withdrawing.

"I have learned in watching Katherine Harris not to make predictions," said Jennifer Duffy, who analyzes Senate races for The Cook Political Report.

Or, in the words of Rick Wilson, a Republican strategist in Tallahassee: "The God's truth is, it's impossible to know what's in her head."

Troxler

"Local politics is more than rhetoric, it's about neighbors".

Session Developments

- "Today in and around the Florida Legislature".

- "Legislature 2006: Developments from Monday, March 13".

- "Two South Florida lawmakers killed their high-priority bill that would have made it tougher for juries to recommend the death penalty -- a decision rooted in election-year politics and a Republican Party struggle over the next leader of the Florida Senate." "Conservatives reject stricter sentencing rules".

- "Two bills on bullies get legislators' attention". See also "Plans target bias, bullies".

- "Lawmakers seek repeal of law allowing phone-rate hike". See also "Three legislators seek to limit law allowing record phone rate hikes" and "Consumer groups fighting phone rate increases".

- "Legislature set to renew autopsy exemption".

- "Panel: Remove spending caps on affordable housing".

- "Joint committee blasts DJJ".

- "Bill would limit eminent domain". See also "Bill severely limits developers access to seized land".

- "Bills target public-records law".

Leon County Standoff

"Sancho and County Commission Chairman Bill Proctor met privately with Cobb and Division of Elections Director Dawn Roberts for two hours to discuss the long-running standoff between the supervisor's office and the three companies whose voting equipment is certified by the state." "Secretary, Sancho meet".

Unfortunately, "Tallahassee Democrat Political Editor Bill Cotterell, Associated Press reporter Brent Kallestad and cameraman Dave Heller also were threatened with eviction from a hallway outside Cobb's closed conference room by Capitol Police for trying to attend the meeting". "Public meeting turns private when Cobb restricts access to reporters".

"Charges of cronyism and bid-rigging"

"The interim secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections told lawmakers Monday he was determined to fix the department's contracting system, which is under investigation by state and federal authorities amid charges of cronyism and bid-rigging." "Interim prisons chief probing no-bid deal". See also "No-bid prison medicine contracts were mismanaged, new boss says".

Oh Yeah, It's Election Day

Broward: "Apathy, high costs of March elections spur possible shift to November ballot".

More From The "Values" Crowd

"The head of Florida's healthcare agency says the state's Medicaid program will resume paying for the feeding supplements for disabled and seriously ill children and adults as officials sort through a growing controversy over alleged cutbacks in state funding." "Disabled funds cut in dispute".

"School presidents fuming"

"State education Commissioner John Winn wants to cut Florida's universities and community colleges out of their share of a $480 million budget surplus, dedicating the money instead solely to kindergarten through grade 12 schools. The unprecedented request, which was revealed Friday in a letter to University Chancellor Mark Rosenberg, has school presidents fuming and readying their lobbyists for a legislative assault." "Universities ready to fight for share of surplus money".

Wingnut Party

"Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is in Tallahassee today to talk to House Republicans about health care policy. Republicans will be there. Democrats won't." "Newt's in the House".

"Nelson right to threaten a Senate filibuster"

"The timing of Ms. Norton's resignation could help Florida's cause. Sen. Nelson said he can block her replacement if the nominee also favors drilling too close to the beaches. Under Senate rules, only one member need object to prevent further consideration of a nominee. Former Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., used a similar technique on Ms. Norton, refusing to confirm her choices for key administrators until she explained why she transferred an Everglades restoration coordinator and closed an Everglades office in West Palm Beach." "Block the latest threat to the state's beaches?"

"Rotten union thugs"

Poor central Florida:

Truth be told, though, even the most optimistic of Washington liberals don't consider Feeney vulnerable. While Democrats nationwide are expected to make gains, Feeney occupies a heavily Republican-drawn district (drawn that way by the Legislature when he was running it as speaker). And his two Democratic challengers, Andy Michaud and Clint Curtis, have little name recognition, money or even support from their party, at least so far.

Still, the hyperbole and fear-mongering in Feeney's letter sounds a bit like a man on edge. A man usually known for proudly touting his beliefs is resorting to attacks on virtually everyone who has ever upset him, which is not the way confident incumbents usually play the campaign game.

Portability

"Big money is at stake in a push to make exemptions portable from house to house." "Worrisome tax issue has lawmakers scrambling".

Big of 'Em

"A federal agency developing a plan for oil and natural-gas drilling off Florida's shores has agreed to hold a public hearing in Tallahassee on April 6 after initially snubbing the state, Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez said Monday." "Drilling hearing in April".

Voucher Madness

"Jeb Bush's blind spot on school vouchers is showing again. And it remains frustratingly difficult to understand why this self-described champion of accountability suddenly forgets the concept when it comes to public money flowing into private hands." "Blind spot".

Good Luck

"Women's rights advocates are once again uniting in hopes of persuading state lawmakers to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. But with opposition high, their chances of success appear slim." "Advocates renew call for ERA".

Incompetence or Arrogance?

Is it incompetence, arrogance, or a combination of the two?

As the GOP senator, Martinez is expected to build support among House Republicans, who hold 18 of Florida's 25 congressional seats, but six weeks later none have endorsed the drilling plan he and Nelson introduced.

One big reason is that many members are angry that Martinez didn't consult them.

It was Nelson's staff who invited many of the Republicans to the oil-drilling meeting, which was held in Nelson's office. Some never heard from Martinez's staff at all. And at least one Republican House member was left completely out.

Many Republican members and their staffs are upset by the lack of communication from Martinez's office in recent weeks, but they are not surprised.

Complaints started immediately after Martinez was sworn into office a year ago and have not subsided.

"Maybe Republicans really do like Rod Smith. Smith, a state senator from Alachua and one of the two leading Democratic contenders for governor, has staked much of his campaign on the claim that he can appeal to independent and GOP voters. And it looks like he's already attracted one: Rep. Joe Pickens, R-Palatka, who gave Smith's campaign $500 last fall." "Crossover Cash".

Did You Know ...

that

Florida last fall received a waiver from traditional Medicaid, a waiver which allows the state to cut off health care benefits once an existing beneficiary receives a specified dollar amount of health care-- with even weaker standards for Floridians using Medicaid funds in conjunction with employer-paid health plans. Instead of providing a robust system of health care for the uninsured, many states such as Florida and Utah are on track to leaving many of those currently covered by Medicaid with worse benefits and at risk from financial ruin from any serious illness.

Regulating Political Committees

Note how the GOoPers are trying to water down the effort:

Fresh off instituting the nation's most stringent ban on gifts from lobbyists, Florida's lawmakers may tackle an even bigger confluence of special interests and politicians: the millions of dollars that flow through political committees.

Democrats in the Florida Legislature are pushing a bill that would bar elected officials or candidates in the state from controlling or conducting business with any committees that are established in the state.

House Republicans are crafting a plan that would require quicker reporting of who is paying for what in the shadowy world of soft money financing.

Unlike campaign accounts, which have a $500 limit on contributions, committees can accept larger contributions of tens of thousands of dollars.

Sunshine Week

"Florida newspapers conduct audits of local governments and advocate protecting open access laws." "Papers urge readers to watch government".

Mehlman To Bring Excuse Machine To Sarasota

"Ken Mehlman, chairman of the RNC, has agreed to be the keynote speaker at the Lincoln Day Dinner on March 26, put on by the Sarasota Republican Party." "Mehlman in Sarasota".

Good Enough?

"A Senate committee last week approved sensible [sic] legislation that would require only companies owning eight or more gas stations within a county to have generators on hand. Plus, they would be allowed to comply with mobile generators rather than installing permanent ones. The bill also would force only new or remodeled stations, and those within a half-mile of interstate highways and evacuation routes, to rewire their operations for backup power." "Storm Season".

"Cynical Contradictions"

"Sen. J.D. Alexander, a Polk County Republican and the co-chairman of the legislative commission, has no objections to improving safety standards and housing conditions. But he doesn't want migrants to have access to health care and other social services. Alexander's position sums up the astoundingly cynical contradictions that are victimizing migrants' rights in Florida and elsewhere." "Splitting indifference".

GOoPers "drive a stake through the heart of public education"

"The Florida Supreme Court told Gov. Bush and the Legislature that they can't use vouchers to chip away at public schools. The response, from some in the GOP, is to quit chipping and start bombing. Rep. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, who will be the next House speaker, last week proposed a constitutional amendment that would let any public school student in Florida get a voucher to attend private school. Alarm at the prospect is bipartisan. "The effect it would have," said Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, 'is to basically drive a stake through the heart of public education./" "Voucher fans light fuse to detonate the schools".

Protecting Newspapers

"Bill would protect the news media from lawsuits". For the Orlando Sentinel's double standard on this, see "Oh ... The Hypocrisy".

Flash: Boyd Criticizes GOP!

"Rep. Allen Boyd Jr., a Democrat who represents Leon County and more than a dozen other Panhandle counties, blamed Republicans for letting the number of lawmakers' pet projects skyrocket." "Boyd points finger at GOP for too many congressional pet projects".

"War of Words"

"Rapidly deteriorating relations between U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler and state Rep. Irving Slosberg could have big implications for south-county Democratic politics. Wexler, the rock star/600-pound gorilla/favorite condo grandson of south county, declared last year he'd remain neutral in local Democratic primaries, including Slosberg's bid for a state Senate seat against attorney Ted Deutch. It was during a recent discussion of that endorsement policy that Wexler's top local aide, Wendi Lipsich, says Slosberg repeatedly used a vulgar term to describe her boss." "War of words grows between Wexler, Slosberg".

Welcome Back

"Former Vice President Al Gore used his time in Palm Beach County Sunday to blast the man he lost the presidency to five years ago, in the very state that he lost it in." "Bush misleads, Gore says".

Dem Challenger?

"Attorney Maria Sachs, 'energized' after making the rounds in Tallahassee last week, said she'll announce her plans this week. She's mulling a primary challenge of state Rep. Richard Machek, D-Delray Beach, while Democratic wishful-thinkers have tried to steer her toward the potentially open [state Rep. Anne] Gannon seat." "Sachswatch".

"Relevant learning opportunities."

"Bush's proposal to dramatically overhaul Florida's education system would give him a much stronger hand in turning around struggling schools, force educators to rethink their priorities for fine arts and physical education and require middle-schoolers to pick college-like majors. ... In their 107-page bill, the governor and his supporters say they want to mold Florida schools into a tougher, more career-oriented system that gives children 'relevant learning opportunities.'" However,

Opponents have drawn their own battle lines, focusing on the bill's intent to eliminate physical education and fine arts courses from high school graduation requirements, and its plan to let the governor usurp school districts and reform chronically failing schools on his own.

Wingnuts Salivating

"The "Health Transformation Summit," featuring Gingrich and sponsored by the Center for Health Transformation and the American Legislative Exchange Council, will take place from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. in the House Chamber. " "Gingrich to speak in House Tuesday".

Yes, that "American Legislative Exchange Council": "How ALEC and the Rightwing Operates in the States".

It's been a tough couple of weeks for Katherine Harris and her U.S. Senate campaign.

The vice president comes to town and mentions the race - but not her name.

A defense contractor admits to handing Harris illegal campaign money, although a federal prosecutor says she was unaware it was illegal.

High-level Republican Party operatives restart their efforts to recruit another candidate for the race.

Then Saturday, Harris issued a provocative statement to Republicans at a conference in Memphis with regrets that she could not join them. The reason: >u>She's praying and strategizing this weekend for a "major announcement next week about my candidacy."

Fortunately, No Mention of his Mother

"The two Democratic candidates for governor offer praise for some of Jeb Bush's work." "To them, Bush wasn't all bad".

What Special Interests?

"Florida lawmakers weigh curbs on citizen initiatives":

An indoor smoking ban, smaller class sizes, a hike in the minimum wage and universal pre-kindergarten were all placed in the Florida Constitution through the initiative process with a simple majority vote by the electorate. But state lawmakers are unhappy with the initiative system, which many claim allows "special interests" to buy a spot on the ballot.

Democracy For America candidate forum

"More than 150 Democratic activists turned out for a Democracy For America candidate forum Friday night in Largo featuring Democratic gubernatorial candidates Jim Davis and Rod Smith. They saw something unusual: Democratic rivals trying to avoid a circular firing squad." "Democratic rivals display a lesson in being gracious".

Privatization Follies

"State and federal investigations into the state prisons agency are focusing on the agency's contracting with private outside vendors, the new head of the Department of Corrections told lawmakers." "State and federal probes focus on prison contracts".

Ugly Nonetheless

"Welcome to the Florida Senate, where the small size of the group — only 40, with slightly more than half of those belonging to the ruling party — makes for leadership struggles that, although not quite as bloody as the fight that saw Imperial Rome's Senate slay Julius Caesar, have been ugly nonetheless." "Power plays reveal ambitious depths of Florida Senate".

Leon County

"The state has requested a meeting with Leon County officials regarding contingency plans for helping disabled people vote without assistance in the event of a special election, saying the county puts Florida at risk for a federal lawsuit over noncompliance." "State: Leon backup voting system jeopardizes federal compliance".

Insurance

"Florida lawmakers are giving serious attention to the insurance industry's call for raising rates without state approval. The stumbling block is how to sell something sure to be unpopular with voters in an election year." "State may regulate insurance rates less".

Same Old, Same Old

"Term limits have sparked tremendous turnover in the Florida Legislature but haven't done much to change the look of state lawmakers, a new study by the University of Central Florida shows. UCF political scientist Scot Schraufnagel has been dissecting legislative life before and after 2000, the year that the eight-year term limits approved by voters in 1992 forced 66 legislators from office." "Meet the new Legislature --same as the old Legislature".

Good Question

"Are politicians ever happy?"

To Replace Katherine

"Although the Manatee County Republican Party Chairman has kept a low profile for the last two months, he confirmed this week that he is still considering getting in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris in Congress." "Flanagan Still Looming in Congressional Race".

Padding Jebbie's Pockets

"Gov. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future just got half a million bucks richer. A Tampa-area construction company headed by conservative activist Ralph Hughes late last week gave Bush's group a whopping $500,000, according to figures disclosed by the foundation on its Web site." "A hefty donation".

Sunshine Sunday

- "Celebrate Government In The Sunshine".

- "Floridians shouldn't have to worry whether lawmakers will defend the state constitution's requirement that public records and meetings be kept open to the public. Yet Florida's open-government tradition is most threatened during legislative sessions. There are slightly more than 1,000 exemptions to the state's exemplary government-in-the-sunshine rules, and legislators proposed dozens more even before the 2006 session started last week." "A new year, a new fight for public's right to know".

- "Let's face it: Not everyone wants Floridians to have easy access to records." "The secret keepers".

- "Chapter 119: It's all about Sunshine." "A need to know".

- "Lawmakers are considering dozens of exemptions to the state's open government laws." "Sunshine Law isn't always illuminating". See also "Chipping away at open government".

- "Florida laws break down barriers".

- "For the second time in three years, a statewide audit by news organizations revealed that Florida's local government agencies often fail to provide citizens with unfettered access to public records." "Audit: Agencies Often Fail Sunshine Laws".

- "States Have Reduced Public's Access To Records Since Sept. 11". See also "Despite law, access to public records often has hurdles".

- "This is a day to remember the value of government transparency, which is vital in these times when the administration in Washington and the legislators in Tallahassee have been striving to keep the public and press in the dark." "Sunshine Sunday".

- "Government in the sunshine is still a strong state policy and a model for the nation -- well, sort of!" "The public can only benefit from laws that foster open government".

Daniel Ruth: "Dark, Cloudy Forecast For Sunshine Law".

- "How informed would you be if you had never seen video footage of the beating of a Fort Lauderdale homeless man or the fuzzy videotape of Bay County officers manhandling 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson? Most people consider those types of images an essential part of living in an open, democratic society. But some lawmakers in Tallahassee want to take that away. They mustn't succeed." "For open, accountable government". See also "Troubling proposals".