Session News

- "Coming up at the Capitol".

- "Legislature 2006: Developments from day 52, April 27". See also "Legislative news briefs" and "Tallahassee Ticker"

- "Insurance issues on agenda". See also "You may pay for insurer's woes", "Legislators plan to chip in $920 million to reduce surcharges on home insurance", "'No guarantees' as House debates insurance" and "'Obscene' insurance rate increase ahead for condo owners".

- "Last year lawmakers wanted to extend term limits for state legislators from eight years to 12 years. Now they're not so sure.". "House revisiting long-term debate".

- "Senate nearing vote on 'soft money'".

- "Legislators dish out $54.5M for SUS".

"A tax 'holiday' in late May will give Floridians extra incentive to stock up on hurricane supplies before the June 1 start of hurricane season." "12-day tax break lets state stock up for hurricanes". See also "Bush OKs hurricane items tax break" and "Bush signs hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday into law".

- "Lawmakers mull funding a study on property tax reforms".

- "State lawmakers from both political parties are uniting to pass legislation aimed at bolstering affordable housing for working people, the poor and the elderly." "Legislature set to boost affordable housing".

- "Courtroom interpreter bill passes House".

- "The Senate passed a bill preventing the school year from starting any earlier than two weeks before Labor Day. A similar bill has been passed in the House." "Later start-date support grows". See also "Senate plan blocks early school start".

- "Anti-bully bill would give power to schools".

- "Asked about Siplin’s last-minute move, McInvale, who said she had not spoken to Siplin about the amendment, said: 'He doesn’t like me.'" "Dog Eat Dog".

- "Legislation to create a state council to study the social disparities among black males has moved through the House and is set to pass through the Senate." "Panel will be formed to help black men, boys".

Big Of 'Em

"Farms let many go to rally in Orlando":

Workers at two of the state's largest farm companies won't be penalized if they take the day off Monday to trek to a huge Orlando rally in support of immigration reforms, company officials said Thursday.

Representatives of A. Duda & Sons Inc. and Taylor & Fulton Farms said they support their workers -- many of whom are in the country illegally -- and the message they are taking to the streets and to Congress.

Nice

"The Florida House gave Speaker Allan Bense an early farewell Thursday by unveiling a portrait of him that will hang in the House chamber for decades -- and by giving him a 1977 Corvette." "Bense can motor away with gift".

Immigrant Passion

"A planned work stoppage on the heels of rallies is intended to raise awareness throughout the country." "Immigrants pool their passion".

I Am Shocked

"Ethics panel clears Crist and Gallagher". See also "Sen. Mike Bennett cleared".

Picking Up The Tab

"Picking up the pieces after Poe Financial Group's breakdown will fall to the state's insurance pool -- and possibly Florida residents." "Burden could fall on policy holders". See also "Loans Could Help Insurers Survive Storm Of Claims".

"Innocence-protection bill is a must-pass"

"In the past five years, five men have been cleared of heinous crimes because DNA evidence proved they were innocent. One man died on death row. The other four spent a combined 92 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit." "Kill DNA deadline".

Housing Crisis

"But Florida legislators apparently live in a bubble. While out here in the real world many Floridians are struggling to find decent, affordable places to live, the leadership in Tallahassee seems poised to keep a lock on a treasure chest of money legally dedicated to easing the affordable housing crunch." "Housing crisis left hanging".

Cuban Oil Drilling

"Citing fears that Cuba plans to drop oil rigs near the coast of Key West, Florida's Sen. Bill Nelson planned legislation that he says could tie Fidel Castro's hands." "Nelson: Block Cuban oil drilling".

Racial Slurs

A couple of weeks ago, a high ranking Jebbie appointee was caught "referring to civil rights leader Jesse Jackson as Jesse James and to U.S. Sen. Barack Obama as Osama bin Laden". Now another "Jeb!" crony apparently "used racial epithets over a period of months". From the Miami Herald editorial board:

In today's world of mean-spirited politics, it is commonplace for powerful people to use dirty tricks and unsavory tactics to gain an edge. But the win-at-all-costs mentality crosses the bounds of decency and moral turpitude when foes resort to racial slurs and personal invective. Those are the tactics of unprincipled, disreputable bullies -- and anyone who engages in them should suffer the consequences of their actions, including public condemnation and censure.

This is why it is important to have a definitive determination of the accusation by four public officials and Miami-Dade schools' Superintendent Rudy Crew that state Rep. Ralph Arza, a powerful education leader, used racial epithets over a period of months to denigrate Mr. Crew. Mr. Arza denies that he made the comments.

The four officials described Mr. Arza's alleged comments to Miami Herald reporters, but asked that their identities not be revealed. Some apparently fear possible retribution from a leader who wields considerable power in the Legislature and is close to Gov. Jeb Bush -- who has declined to comment. Nevertheless, we urge the four officials to take a public stand against what they themselves believe is hateful speech.

Mr. Crew says he is considering filing a complaint against Mr. Arza with the House Rules Committee. We urge him to do so, thereby formally requesting that the legislative body live up to its duty to review allegations of loutish behavior by members and mete out punishment when it is deemed appropriate.

From The "Values" Crowd

"Past and current members of a state-mandated watchdog committee for disabled people and foster children criticized state government Thursday for the 'the breakdown and probable elimination' of the group." "Advocate group for disabled fighting for its life".

Scripps

"Palm Beach County is not asking for much in return for spending $255 million to build Scripps Florida's headquarters in Jupiter. All it wants is a guarantee, in writing and under penalty, that Scripps will stay for 15 years and maintain 545 jobs. That request is downright modest compared to the tens of thousands of jobs Gov. Jeb Bush promised in trumpeting the project, or the 30-year commitment the county counted on. But rather than concede to a series of reasonable offers, Scripps simply insists it won't bet its California assets on the Florida venture." "Scripps plans to come up with a compromise proposal today". See also "Gov. Bush lawyer to suggest ways to resolve Scripps dilemma".

Voucher Madness

"This year, lawmakers appear to be closer than ever to enacting legislation (SB 256, HB 7041) that would tighten rules on how state money is handled by the schools and parents. The House passed its version of the bill on March 29. The Senate is scheduled to debate its version next week." "Voucher controls within reach after 2 years of slipping away".

JJ

"Shutting down juvenile boot camps was the least the Legislature could do in response to the death of Martin Lee Anderson, a 14-year-old inmate in the Bay County camp. Not only are the brutal tactics in some boot camps unnecessary, they appear to be counterproductive. With one exception, boot camps have a troubling failure rate. Even the Pinellas County facility, which has avoided controversy, found that 90 percent of those young people who successfully complete the program are rearrested." "Last chance for juvenile justice".

Gallagher and Citizens

"Will Gallagher Benefit Politically From A Bailout Of Citizens Insurance?"

Privatization Follies

"One dollar is now the standard Gov. Jeb Bush will use to privatize an entire government agency? The latest report on the much-maligned People First system comes from the Legislature's program analysis office, and it is blistering." "No more blank checks".

"No such group apparently exists"

"More than once Thursday as he explained the so-called "65 percent solution" linked to a proposal to weaken the class-size amendment, sponsor Sen. Ken Pruitt referred to research by 'First Class Education Florida.' No such group apparently exists. A search of the state Division of Corporations records, the state Division of Elections database and the Web failed to turn up the name." "Pruitt's 'research group' not in Florida".

Consumer Warrior

"Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist said Thursday his office will be meeting with oil company executives next week to gather information about rising gasoline prices' Crist, a Republican candidate for governor, criticized oil company mergers, saying they have led to 'less choice, less competition and higher prices."" "Crist's office to address rising gasoline prices".

Public Records

"The compromise state legislators are inching toward for getting public records online may be as good as it gets for now." "Online records: Progress".

Knuckledraggers Unite

"he mere mention of embryonic stem-cell research was voted off a biomedical research bill Thursday, effectively ending the debate over the controversial issue this session. But supporters of embryonic stem-cell research saw the vote as yet another sign that state money for it could become a reality next session — at least in the Senate." "Stem-cell debate ends, for now".

FCAT Follies

"Can FCAT graders make the grade?"

"Rahm Hearts Ron And Phyllis"

"From The Hill comes news that DCCC chief Rahm Emanuel plans to beef up a fundraising program that will particularly help the 22 Democratic challengers nationally deemed strongest by the party. Two Floridians made the mighty 22 list: state Sen. Ron Klein (no surprise) challenging Clay Shaw, and former Hillsborough County Commissioner Phyllis Busansky (something of a surprise) who is challenging Gus Bilirakis for the Pinellas/Pasco/Hillsborough district held now by Mike Bilirakis." "Rahm Hearts Ron And Phyllis".

Web Attack

"Crist Attacked In Web Ad By Anonymous Creator".

Byrd

"The legislation that created the center in 2004 set up the board to run it and specified that the board members would appoint their own successors. The legislation passed Thursday by the Senate calls for them to be appointed instead by the governor and legislative leaders." "Byrd Center Funding Hits Impasse".

The Legislature's policy wonks said Wednesday no one knows whether taxpayers are saving big money with People First, the accident-prone privatization of state personnel services.

Gov. Jeb Bush's biggest "outsourcing" initiative - a nine-year, $350 million contract with Convergys Customer Management Group Inc. - was projected to eliminate 73 percent of human-resources jobs in state agencies. But while the number of positions in state agency personnel offices fell from 1,187 to 316 - and was projected to drop to 179 next year - many departments have had to pull employees off their regular jobs to cover for departed personnel workers and fix People First mistakes. ...

"The net cost impact of People First cannot be reliably determined, as DMS has not established a methodology to capture project cost savings," said the OPPAGA report.

Jebonomics

"The Florida Senate on Wednesday voted to eliminate the last vestige of the tax on stock and bond portfolios, putting the last stake in the heart of a tax Gov. Jeb Bush calls 'insidious.'" "Lawmakers pass permanent tax cut for investors". See also "Senate repeals levy on securities".

And So It Begins

"The Web site, www.sorrycharlie.com, has several veiled suggestions that Crist, a bachelor, is gay." "Crist Attacked In Web Ad By Anonymous Creator".

Session News

- "Coming up at the Capitol".

- "Legislature 2006: Developments from day 50, April 25".

- "Lawmakers sent the governor a measure that will help billboard owners keep uncluttered views in front of their ads." "Path is cleared for bill on sign views".

- "Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey has abandoned his plan to help Bank of America avoid a lawsuit and keep millions of dollars in disputed bank fees." "Fasano backing off bank's break on fees".

- "Bush signs bill changing how lawsuit damages are divided".

- "$23 Billion OK'd For Health Care".

- "House refuses to separate class size, '65 percent solution'".

- "Antibullying Bill Passes House 116-0".

- "Bills Shielding Constitution On Capitol Agenda".

Harris Watch

"Once again undercutting U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris, Gov. Jeb Bush said on Wednesday that House Speaker Allan Bense 'would be a great United States senator.'The governor's remark revives the on-again, off-again speculation that another Republican will wrestle Harris for the GOP nomination. Bense wraps up the legislative session on May 5; the last day to qualify as a U.S. Senate candidate is May 12." "Harris rival? Bush praises Bense". See also "GOP urging Bense to enter race".

Also of note: "Harris Hits New Low In Poll".

Storms vs. Castor

Storms is out of line:

[T]he six-year-old incident is not the villainous plot that Storms makes it out to be. Neither does it justify her repeated and vicious attacks on Castor.

"She bullies the public, bullies the staff and tries to bully other commissioners," Castor told us. "I am not going to take any more."

Storms remains unrepentant. "It is not impolite to point out hypocrisy."

Many of Storms' constituents like her take-no-prisoners style. But come fall, they should consider how such shrill and exaggerated pronouncements will play in Tallahassee, where members must demonstrate respect to gather votes and win the day.

Kerry

"Sen. John Kerry prepared for Saturday's Democratic fundraiser in Miami Beach with some sharp words for Republicans running for statewide office." "Kerry to boost Fla. Democrats".

Troxler's Wish List

"Legislators have time to make that sausage nutritious".

Citizens

"Do Floridians care whether lawmakers wipe out their coming property insurance 'assessments' rather than give them the cash to pay those assessments? At least two Floridians might: Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, who as the two Republican candidates in the governor's race stand to gain or lose politically based on the approach chosen." "Citizens' path could steer governor's race".

Teacher Offensive

"Teachers unions have gone on the offensive to criticize the Republicans' approach to education and the party's attempts to increase class-size limits." "Teachers protest bills to increase class size".Session News

- "Today in Tallahassee".

- "Legislature 2006: Developments from day 50, April 25". See also "Legislative news briefs", "Capitol Digest" and "Capitol Roundup".

- "A proposed state constitutional amendment that would prohibit courts from relying on a legal doctrine used to overturn a school voucher program passed Tuesday in the Florida House." "House OKs amendment to strike voucher case legal doctrine".

- "House, Senate at odds over cable TV competition".

- "Portable Property Tax Plan On Hold". See also "Tax cap 'portability' headed for study" and "Legislators may delay property tax changes".

- "House OKs guns in Florida's forests".

- "Under the legislation, county governments couldn't object to development on ['agricultural enclaves that are at least 75 percent surrounded by development'] on the grounds that it represents urban sprawl." "Agricultural enclave bill clears House".

- "Parents could pay for state insurance for under-4-year-olds".

- "House and Senate budget negotiators wrapped up their work Tuesday night, agreeing to increase public school funding by $1.8 billion but leaving a handful of other issues for leaders of their budget committees and chambers to decide." "School Dollars Almost Done". See also "House, Senate agree on most education budget issues" and "Fla. schools set to gain $1.8 billion".

- "House passes bill to study obstacles facing black men".

- "Backers hope budget saves Lake Okeechobee study".

- "Transit Planners Told 'Take The Blinders Off'".

- "Florida lawmakers would find it harder, though not impossible, to raise huge sums of cash for shadowy political accounts they control or use, under a new campaign-finance measured approved Tuesday by a state Senate panel." "Bill limits groups run by lawmakers".

- "State agency says some probation laws need changing".

- "Legislators consider loan plan for insurers".

- "Senate President Tom Lee's push to limit shadowy fund-raising committees connected to state lawmakers was first watered down Tuesday then roughed up by the Senate Judiciary Committee." "Cracking down on Cash". See also "Campaign reform advances in Senate", "Committee cracks down on soft money" and "Senate plan restricts lavish political donations".

- "Gay students added to anti-bully bill".

- "Big out-of-state wineries may face mail-order ban". See also "Big-money lobbying campaign prompts legislators to limit mail-order wine sales".

- "Bill requires seat belts on worker vans".

- "Two bills designed with sports fans in mind sailed through the state House on Tuesday while bills that address recruitment and steroid use among high school athletes face slower going." "House Takes On A Sporting State Of Mind". See also "Spring training bill passes in state House".

- "House bill gives prosecutors final say in closings".

- "Their bill to require more driver vision tests makes it out of a Senate committee." "Senators quiz high school students".

- "Attorney General Charlie Crist has pushed the bill -- which he has dubbed the 'anti-murder' bill -- for more than a year." "House OKs 'anti-murder' law".

- "Lawmakers to take up housing aid for critical workers".

- "Bill would allow Palm Beach County to have elected School Board chairman". See also "Black caucus objects to school-board measure".

- "Several top Senate Republicans joined Democrats in voting Tuesday for a measure to provide state money for embryonic stem cell research, opening the door for continued debate on the controversial but potentially promising type of medical research." "Stem cell research cash approved by committee". See also "Senate panel approves paying for embryonic stem cell research" and "Stem-cell supporters see hope for '07".

- "Boot camp funding redirected". See also "Legislature set to dismantle juvenile boot camps" and "Boot camps to be shut down".

GOoPer Flip-Flopping

Another Republican flip-flop:

Now that immigration is a hot issue, the state Senate is backpedaling on legislation to grant in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants. ... Now that immigration is a hot issue, Senate President Tom Lee of Valrico and other senators are more concerned about short-term politics than the long-term welfare of these children and the state's economy.

Holy Land Exemption

"The Holy Land Experience, Orlando’s self-proclaimed 'most inspiring destination,' moved a step farther from the property appraiser’s grasp Tuesday when the Florida House of Representatives gave preliminary approval to a property tax exemption for its biblical displays." "A Hole for The Holy Land".

Schiavo Backs Davis

"Michael Schiavo backs Davis in governor's race", "Schiavo backs Davis for Florida governor" and "Schiavo endorses Davis for governor".

Harris

"U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris ended a week-long tour of Florida here on Monday, again shrugging off questions about a corrupt defense contractor and trying to blast Sen. Bill Nelson for being too liberal." "Harris Finishes Florida Tour On Longboat Key".

Death Politics

"A condemned Florida inmate renews the death penalty debate, as his argument against lethal injection will be heard today by the U.S. Supreme Court." "Top court looks at Fla. death row".

Exploring For Oil In Big Cypress

"With a political stake driven through a proposed $120 million land buyout ['a scathing report ... concluded the federal government basically had been bluffed into making an inflated offer'], a powerful Florida pioneer family is reviving efforts to hunt for new oil and gas reserves under the sprawling Big Cypress National Preserve." "Colliers hoping to renew the hunt for oil".

Immigrant Walkout?

The Tampa Trib editorial board:

The last thing immigrants in Tampa and across the country should do next Monday is walk off the job to demonstrate the role that undocumented workers play in the United States.

Charlie In The News

"Florida's attorney general has asked medical officials to investigate autopsies by Dr. Charles Siebert, the examiner who concluded that Martin Lee Anderson died of natural causes." "Crist urges search for autopsy 'flaws'".

Donna Embarasses Herself

""Former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards, Teamsters President James Hoffa and civil rights leaders marched with striking service workers and about 200 supporters Tuesday at the University of Miami." Shalala's hypocrisy knows no bounds:

University President Donna Shalala has said the school would not take a position on the unionization of striking janitors at the campus. But the university took out an ad Tuesday in The Miami Herald criticizing the union's organizing tactics, which it said are disrupting the school's academic programs."

"'Trust us' doesn't cut it"

"State needs to be open on FCAT":

"Trust us" doesn't cut it.

It doesn't cut it when Florida refuses to allow a paper trail on electronic voting.

It doesn't cut it when private companies promise they'll be careful with state employee personnel records.

And it doesn't cut it in the latest dustup over the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Senate Minority Leader Les Miller, D-Tampa, and Sen. Walter "Skip" Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale, sued Education Commissioner John Winn on Monday, requesting more information on a contractor's use of low-wage, temporary employees to grade the FCAT.

Otto

"Storms-Castor Cage Match Is Possibility".

'Glades

"A project to restore water flows for marshes and prairies in Everglades National Park has mushroomed in cost and suffered delays because of government indecision and inability to communicate, a new federal audit has concluded." "Audit cites agency fights, indecision for Everglades delay".

Dem Security Initiatve ...

gathers steam:

Once a container passes customs, it's free of any further inspections. State Sens. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, and Walter "Skip" Campbell, D-Tamarac, and state Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Dania Beach, want to change that.

Scripps

"This is a time for creative, constructive ideas. Instead, Commissioner Newell made the snarky suggestion that environmental groups that blocked construction at the county's first choice, Mecca Farms, put up money to help Scripps stay. 'If it (Scripps) doesn't happen,' he said, 'you've got to point a finger someplace.' Not only is he wrong on the blame, he's acting like the kid who missed out on the cookie line after recess." "All hands on Scripps deck".

State Moves To Seize Company

"The state Department of Financial Services on Tuesday filed papers in a Leon County Circuit Court to put Poe's Southern Family Insurance Co. under state management, meaning the state would take control of the insurer's operations because it failed to meet minimum financial requirements." "Florida moves to seize control of Poe's 3 home insurance companies". See also "Insurer Poe set to go under".

"Just read between the lines"

Voucher madness:

Rather than tell the plain truth - that this bill is a dodge to continue an illegal voucher program - the measure claims that its goal is to "enable children in this state to achieve a greater level of excellence in their education." These tactics are more of the same from a governor and Legislature who have refused to pay for "a greater level of excellence" in education. That's why Florida is near the bottom in every credible ranking of per-pupil school spending. Just read, Florida. Just read between the lines.

Eminent Domain

"If ever a court case showed the need for state legislative action to straighten out a mess in the making, it's the one in Hollywood involving the city's attempts to use eminent domain to take private property and turn it over to another private entity." "Eminent Domain".

Bushco Hypocrisy

Bushco turns blind eye to the presence of right-wing Cuban terrorists living in the United States, including notorious Cuban terrorists Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada Carriles.

For three decades, both Bosch and Posada have been under the Bush family’s wing, starting with former President George H.W. Bush (who was CIA director when the airline bombing occurred in 1976) and including Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and President George W. Bush.

Privatization Follies

"A new legislative audit found that a private company's handling of its governmental duties is still beset with problems." "Still more problems found in work handled by vendor".

Six Democratic Reps from Palm Violated House Rules

"The House Rules and Calendar Council chairman has ruled that six Democratic representatives from Palm Beach and Broward counties violated House rules by lending their names to a fund-raiser during the session, but he found the violation to be "inadvertent" and ordered only a minor punishment." "6 House Democrats face minor penalties". See also "Six lawmakers said to have broken rule".

What The NRA Wants ...

the NRA gets: "So after all the gamesmanship, the bill (SB 208), which would require businesses that sell hunting and fishing licenses to also provide customers with voter registration applications, is headed for the Senate floor just the way the NRA wants it." "A Round for the NRA". Troxler writes about it (and a range of other political issues) in a column today: "Hunting for votes, Republicans take to great outdoors".

Session News

- "Legislature zeroes in on key issues as session heads into final stretch".

- "Legislature 2006: Developments from day 49, April 24". See also "The day in Tallahassee, Monday, April 24, 2006" and "Capitol Roundup".

- "House, Senate Ease KidCare Cut".

- "Lawmakers look to study property tax before making reforms". See also "Tax breaks may languish" "Legislators back off property tax changes".

- "Legislature conflicted on immigrants' tuition bill".

- "Key Education Laws Ready For Senate Floor". See also "Weaker class-size rules advance in Senate", "Senate panel OKs class-size revision" and "Second Senate committee OKs weakening class size limit".

- "Senate panel moves to open cable TV competition, but not now".

- "The anti-bullying bill that is wending its way through the Legislature is well intended. But if it isn't amended to keep current anti-bullying rules intact in several of the state's largest school districts, the bill could have some bad unintended consequences." "Fix anti-bullying bill".

- "Death penalty changes shot down".

- "State bill could force homeowner associations to build up emergency funds".

- "Senate weakens eminent domain bill". See also "Lawmakers look at limiting power to seize property" and "Panel adds protection for Riviera Beach to condemnation bill".

- "Eight-year term limit may stand".

- "Felons close to an open door for DNA testing".

- "A House insurance bill would set aside $920 million to cover a portion of the shortfall for state-run insurance pool and reduce its exposure." "State House to vote on insurance proposal".

- "Hearing aids to be paid for by Medicaid under budget agreement".

- "The House gave final passage Monday to Gov. Jeb Bush's space-industry legislation, but not without a futile fight by Rep. Bob Allen, whose district encompasses Kennedy Space Center." "State's space agencies to merge".

- "House speaker wary of requiring generators at gas stations".

"Klein breaks ranks"

"Boca Raton Sen. Ron Klein broke with other Democrats Monday on a bill that would create an independent state board with the power to approve charter schools. The proposal (SB 1030) passed the Senate Education Committee in a 4-3 vote with Klein voting in the majority and Republican and retired educator Sen. Evelyn Lynn opposed to the bill." "Klein breaks ranks on charter school bill".

13th Congressional District

"Longboat Key businessman Vern Buchanan continues to lead all candidates in the 13th Congressional District when it comes to fund-raising."

In the meantime, "on the Democratic side, retired banker Christine Jennings continues to lead Jan Schneider by a considerable amount. Jennings raised another $206,000 over the last three months, giving her over $600,000 for her campaign. Schneider raised $33,150 in the first quarter and now has just $122,514". "Buchanan continues to lead fund-raising".

Florida Netroots

The Buzz suggests in "Online Jim" that "If Florida's governor's race were decided by netroots activity, Jim Davis would win.". In that connection, Davis will be conducting another "Keeping Florida's Promise Online Town Hall tonight".

Rod Smith has engaged the blogosphere as well.

'Glades

"A federal audit of the plan to improve the flow of water into Everglades National Park found numerous problems and assessed plenty of blame." "Delays, high costs plague Glades plan".

527s

"The money continues to flow from the legislator-controlled slush funds even as the Senate president works to halt it." "Lawmaker loophole lingers".

"Florida's campaign finance laws are meaningless as long as politicians can rake in as much money as they want through their slush funds." "Rein in 527s".

Nelson

"Nelson: Gas Rally About Energy, Not Memo".

Overdue

"Bush should have fired Mr. Tunnell, whose stunning lack of judgment made him unfit to lead the 1,900-employee agency."

Mr. Tunnell's downfall began with a gross conflict of interest in the questionable death of a 14-year-old boy who attended a boot camp run by the Bay County Sheriff's Office. While FDLE was investigating the death, Mr. Tunnell sent supportive e-mails to the Bay County sheriff. Mr. Tunnell is a former Bay County sheriff, and he started the boot camp. That got FDLE kicked off the case.

Then last week, before demonstrators marched to protest the boot-camp death, Mr. Tunnell mocked U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois by referring to him as Osama bin Laden, and he insulted the Rev. Jesse Jackson by calling him Jesse James. The racist stench of the insults was unacceptable for a top manager.

Scripps

"Scripps talks bear some fruit".

Tasers

"Unless partisan disagreement gets in the way, legislators can protect both citizens and law enforcement from misuse of Taser" "This year, pass Taser bill".

More Privatization Follies

In "Making the case", we read that the privatization scandals will result in legislation of some sort this year:

Lawmakers, perhaps embarrassed because they'd dropped the ball early in the Bush administration by failing to build in sufficient safeguards, last year tried to compensate. In an unusual display of near-unanimity, they passed legislation designed to promote efficiency by requiring legislative review of major state contracts.

Mr. Bush vetoed that bill, saying it unconstitutionally intruded on executive authority.

Since then, Sen. Nancy Argenziano, perhaps the effort's most outspoken advocate, has worked with representatives of the governor's office, including Department of Management Services Secretary Tom Lewis, to resolve the constitutional questions surrounding last year's failed legislation.

Now it appears that those problems are resolved, as SB 2518 passed the Senate on Friday and a companion bill made its way toward the House floor. Ms. Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, whose district includes part of Leon County, says DMS concerns have been addressed and the agency now supports the bill.

Outrageous

"Bank of America may get off hook":

Florida House legislators introduced an amendment Monday that might give Bank of America a free pass on a multimillion dollar lawsuit.

20 Miles

"What your parents told you years ago still applies today to efforts to open Florida's costal waters to oil drilling: Just because someone else is doing something irresponsible doesn't mean you should, too. Yet that's the specious argument being pushed by U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., who has filed a bill to allow natural-gas exploration 20 miles off Florida shores." "Protect the Everglades".

Eminent Domain

"Let's make sure eminent domain protections work".

Dems Sue

"Two state senators [Democratic leader Sen. Lesley "Les" Miller Jr., D-Tampa, and Sen. Walter "Skip" Campbell Jr., D-Tamarac] on Monday sued the Florida Department of Education on Monday because officials won’t give them the names or credentials of temporary workers hired to grade a high-stakes student-performance test." "Senators sue for FCAT info". See also "Dems sue for info on test graders", "2 legislators sue top education official" and "Senate Dems sue to uncover qualifications of FCAT scorers".

Clay and Alcee

Yesterday, in the Sun-Sentinel: "Two neighboring S. Florida congressmen serve sharply different districts".

"State needs better ways to rescue troubled youth"

"The young protesters who crowded the state Capitol and staged a respectful sit-in in the lobby of Gov. Jeb Bush's office want answers about the death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson. So do Anderson's parents." "Boot to boot camps".

Crunch Time

"The legislative session is in the home stretch, drawing to a close May 5. Unlike the frenzy last year over the Terri Schiavo case, nuts-and-bolts issues such as homeowners insurance and tax policy have been lawmakers' focus this year. It's also Gov. Jeb Bush's last legislative session. Bills usually pass committees in the House and Senate, then are approved by the full chambers before being signed into law by the governor. But leaders such as Senate President Tom Lee and House Speaker Allan Bense can allow last-minute amendments, and Bush can veto bills he doesn't like." "Crunch Time In Tallahassee".

Bush Appointee "Disgraced Himself

Another fine appointee:

Tunnell, a Bush appointee, disgraced himself and his agency's reputation by his handling of the Anderson case, which occurred at the very boot camp Tunnell started when he was the Bay County sheriff. There are also allegations that he made disparaging remarks against African-American leaders who protested Anderson's treatment.

Death Politics

"A man on Florida's Death Row for killing a police officer says the state's execution method can cause excruciating pain. The [SCOTUS] will hear arguments Wednesday." "State's execution method disputed". See also "Florida's lethal-injection process" and "What the Supreme Court will consider".

"All-out campaign" By Wexler Against Slosberg

"Bad news for local Democrats hoping for a quick or quiet end to intraparty hostilities between U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler and state Rep. Irving Slosberg: Wexler seems ready to wage the kind of all-out campaign against Slosberg he did two years ago against former elections chief Theresa LePore." "Commentary: Tensions rise as Wexler turns up heat on Slosberg".

Jebbie's "Vanity Legislation" and His "Real Legacy"

"Despite the many necessary housekeeping items, these [education] bills amount to vanity legislation designed to cement the outgoing Gov. Bush's education 'legacy.'"

Bush claims to be for limited government, but when it comes to education, he always thinks Tallahassee knows best. The most sweeping example, in the House bill, would let the governor take over any district deemed to be "in a state of educational emergency." But the governor's real legacy - insufficient budgets, unconstitutional voucher programs, obsessive reliance on high-stakes testing - threaten to turn all of Florida into a state of educational emergency.

Pay Raise?

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board:

If people of modest means can't afford to serve in the Florida Legislature, that lawmaking body cannot be truly representative of the population it serves. Floridians who prefer a "citizen legislature" to one consisting mostly of wealthy lawyers and businessmen should support a proposal to raise legislative salaries from $30,000 to $50,000 a year.

13th Congressional District

Jan "Schneider said last week that she went to the Supervisor of Elections office and found out it would be pretty simple to dump her Democratic registration after a lifetime of being with the party. ... Schneider is one of seven candidates -- including three Democrats -- running to replace U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key, in the 13th Congressional District. Schneider says the national party seems to lack direction and has been meddling in her primary battle with fellow Democrat Christine Jennings, a retired Sarasota banker. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, are among the national leaders who have given money to Jennings for the 2006 campaign. Schneider decided to stay a Democrat".

In the meantime,

Tonight, Schneider is scheduled to be a guest on "The Colbert Report," a late-night comedy show on Comedy Central.

Schneider said she expects to have a laugh about the party's lack of direction in Washington with Stephen Colbert, the snarky host of the 30-minute program that airs at 11:30 p.m.

"Concerned Citizen[s]" or Paranoid Wingnuts?

"E-mail landed Truth Project on Pentagon's 'credible' threat list":

With the zap of a single e-mail, a group of graying peaceniks known as The Truth Project was catapulted into the clutches of the mightiest military power on earth.

The group and its activities — mostly handing out leaflets at local high schools and meeting at Lake Worth's Quaker Meeting House — were branded a "credible" potential threat by the Pentagon, its existence posted in a secret electronic gallery of suspected terrorists.

Cotterell

"Leadership training needs funds".

"Lawmakers singing from wrong hymnal"

"Somewhere along the line, the road to Tallahassee got confused with the road to Damascus. That's the only way to explain the strange forgetfulness that drifts over some lawmakers once the campaign signs have come down and the next legislative session is in sight. Was it voters who put them into office, or something more . . . divine?" "The (un)anointed".

Jebonomics

In "Governor: We need cash for rainy day", we are reminded that "much of the new cash swelling state coffers stems from Florida's hot housing market and rebuilding from the eight hurricanes that slapped the state during the past two years."

"Housing crisis? Legislative leaders don't think so"

"Judging by events of the past week, legislative leaders are unmoved by arguments to scrap a monetary cap on a state trust fund that helps working Floridians become homeowners." "Housing crisis?"

Private School Grants

"Lawmakers, public colleges split on private school grants".

"Transportation Morass"

"Count House Speaker Allan Bense among those conservative Republicans who see wisdom in giving voters a chance to help themselves out of the state's transportation morass by adding just $2 to the daily cost of renting a car." "A needed option".

Citizens Bailout

"Florida lawmakers may resist a bailout of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., but it's the right thing to do. Otherwise, homeowners socked by skyrocketing insurance premiums will be forced to pay even more to resolve the deficit facing the state's insurer of last resort." "Use Hurricane Windfall To Fix State-Run Insurance Pool".

False Light

"Florida lawmakers are running short on time to patch a hole in the First Amendment created by some misguided state-court rulings. Their failure to act could pinch the flow of information vital to a vibrant democracy." "Let the truth be told".

Conservation Spending Stagnant

Despite all Jebbie's blather,

The state has not increased funding for land acquisition since it launched its land-buying program - now called Florida Forever - in 1990. It issues $300 million a year in bonds, which are paid back from documentary stamp taxes on the sales of stocks, bonds and real estate.

Class Size Money Diverted With State's Approval

From yesterday's Orlando Sentinel: "State officials complain that Florida can't afford the cost of reducing class sizes in public schools, but hundreds of millions of dollars designated for that purpose during the past three years has been diverted to other education expenses." Hundreds of millions were diverted from class size reduction, "even as Gov. Jeb Bush and other opponents of class-size limits approved by voters were warning that the process was getting too expensive." This diversion occured, "all with the state's blessing" letting "Jeb!" and his cronies create the false impression that hundreds of millions have been spent to reduce class size, supporting the (specious) argument that reducing class size is just too expensive. "Money to cut size of classes is diverted" ("The DOE report indicates officials knew that not all of the money allocated for new teachers was going for its stated purpose of making classes smaller.")

In the meantime,

[a]s lawmakers consider how to allocate funds to implement the class-size amendment, they should remember this: The overwhelming support for the initiative was a primal scream from voters calling for public schools to improve. If small classes are good for private schools -- they are, in fact, a primary selling point -- then they can be good for public schools, too. The amendment may, indeed, be a blunt, rigid instrument by which to achieve the goal of smaller classes. But residents are interested in the result -- better public schools. This is what lawmakers have to deliver.

Crunch Time

"The legislative session is in the home stretch, drawing to a close May 5. Unlike the frenzy last year over the Terri Schiavo case, nuts-and-bolts issues such as homeowners insurance and tax policy have been lawmakers' focus this year. It's also Gov. Jeb Bush's last legislative session. Bills usually pass committees in the House and Senate, then are approved by the full chambers before being signed into law by the governor. But leaders such as Senate President Tom Lee and House Speaker Allan Bense can allow last-minute amendments, and Bush can veto bills he doesn't like." "Crunch Time In Tallahassee".

Bush Appointee "Disgraced Himself

Another fine appointee:

Tunnell, a Bush appointee, disgraced himself and his agency's reputation by his handling of the Anderson case, which occurred at the very boot camp Tunnell started when he was the Bay County sheriff. There are also allegations that he made disparaging remarks against African-American leaders who protested Anderson's treatment.

Death Politics

"A man on Florida's Death Row for killing a police officer says the state's execution method can cause excruciating pain. The [SCOTUS] will hear arguments Wednesday." "State's execution method disputed". See also "Florida's lethal-injection process" and "What the Supreme Court will consider".

"All-out campaign" By Wexler Against Slosberg

"Bad news for local Democrats hoping for a quick or quiet end to intraparty hostilities between U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler and state Rep. Irving Slosberg: Wexler seems ready to wage the kind of all-out campaign against Slosberg he did two years ago against former elections chief Theresa LePore." "Commentary: Tensions rise as Wexler turns up heat on Slosberg".

Jebbie's "Vanity Legislation" and His "Real Legacy"

"Despite the many necessary housekeeping items, these [education] bills amount to vanity legislation designed to cement the outgoing Gov. Bush's education 'legacy.'"

Bush claims to be for limited government, but when it comes to education, he always thinks Tallahassee knows best. The most sweeping example, in the House bill, would let the governor take over any district deemed to be "in a state of educational emergency." But the governor's real legacy - insufficient budgets, unconstitutional voucher programs, obsessive reliance on high-stakes testing - threaten to turn all of Florida into a state of educational emergency.

Pay Raise?

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board:

If people of modest means can't afford to serve in the Florida Legislature, that lawmaking body cannot be truly representative of the population it serves. Floridians who prefer a "citizen legislature" to one consisting mostly of wealthy lawyers and businessmen should support a proposal to raise legislative salaries from $30,000 to $50,000 a year.

13th Congressional District

Jan "Schneider said last week that she went to the Supervisor of Elections office and found out it would be pretty simple to dump her Democratic registration after a lifetime of being with the party. ... Schneider is one of seven candidates -- including three Democrats -- running to replace U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key, in the 13th Congressional District. Schneider says the national party seems to lack direction and has been meddling in her primary battle with fellow Democrat Christine Jennings, a retired Sarasota banker. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, are among the national leaders who have given money to Jennings for the 2006 campaign. Schneider decided to stay a Democrat".

In the meantime,

Tonight, Schneider is scheduled to be a guest on "The Colbert Report," a late-night comedy show on Comedy Central.

Schneider said she expects to have a laugh about the party's lack of direction in Washington with Stephen Colbert, the snarky host of the 30-minute program that airs at 11:30 p.m.

"Concerned Citizen[s]" or Paranoid Wingnuts?

"E-mail landed Truth Project on Pentagon's 'credible' threat list"

With the zap of a single e-mail, a group of graying peaceniks known as The Truth Project was catapulted into the clutches of the mightiest military power on earth.

The group and its activities — mostly handing out leaflets at local high schools and meeting at Lake Worth's Quaker Meeting House — were branded a "credible" potential threat by the Pentagon, its existence posted in a secret electronic gallery of suspected terrorists.

Cotterell

"Leadership training needs funds".

"Lawmakers singing from wrong hymnal"

"Somewhere along the line, the road to Tallahassee got confused with the road to Damascus. That's the only way to explain the strange forgetfulness that drifts over some lawmakers once the campaign signs have come down and the next legislative session is in sight. Was it voters who put them into office, or something more . . . divine?" "The (un)anointed".

Jebonomics

In "Governor: We need cash for rainy day", we are reminded that "much of the new cash swelling state coffers stems from Florida's hot housing market and rebuilding from the eight hurricanes that slapped the state during the past two years."

"Housing crisis? Legislative leaders don't think so"

"Judging by events of the past week, legislative leaders are unmoved by arguments to scrap a monetary cap on a state trust fund that helps working Floridians become homeowners." "Housing crisis?"

Private School Grants

"Lawmakers, public colleges split on private school grants".

"Transportation Morass"

"Count House Speaker Allan Bense among those conservative Republicans who see wisdom in giving voters a chance to help themselves out of the state's transportation morass by adding just $2 to the daily cost of renting a car." "A needed option".

Citizens Bailout

"Florida lawmakers may resist a bailout of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., but it's the right thing to do. Otherwise, homeowners socked by skyrocketing insurance premiums will be forced to pay even more to resolve the deficit facing the state's insurer of last resort." "Use Hurricane Windfall To Fix State-Run Insurance Pool".

False Light

"Florida lawmakers are running short on time to patch a hole in the First Amendment created by some misguided state-court rulings. Their failure to act could pinch the flow of information vital to a vibrant democracy." "Let the truth be told".

Conservation Spending Stagnant

Despite all Jebbie's blather,

The state has not increased funding for land acquisition since it launched its land-buying program - now called Florida Forever - in 1990. It issues $300 million a year in bonds, which are paid back from documentary stamp taxes on the sales of stocks, bonds and real estate.

Class Size Money Diverted With State's Approval

From yesterday: "State officials complain that Florida can't afford the cost of reducing class sizes in public schools, but hundreds of millions of dollars designated for that purpose during the past three years has been diverted to other education expenses." Hundreds of missions were diverted from class size reduction, "even as Gov. Jeb Bush and other opponents of class-size limits approved by voters were warning that the process was getting too expensive." This diversion occured, "all with the state's blessing" letting "Jeb!" and his cronies create the false impression that hundreds of millions have been spent to reduce class size, supporting the (specious) argument that reducing class size is just too expensive. "Money to cut size of classes is diverted" ("The DOE report indicates officials knew that not all of the money allocated for new teachers was going for its stated purpose of making classes smaller.")

In the meantime,

[a]s lawmakers consider how to allocate funds to implement the class-size amendment, they should remember this: The overwhelming support for the initiative was a primal scream from voters calling for public schools to improve. If small classes are good for private schools -- they are, in fact, a primary selling point -- then they can be good for public schools, too. The amendment may, indeed, be a blunt, rigid instrument by which to achieve the goal of smaller classes. But residents are interested in the result -- better public schools. This is what lawmakers have to deliver.

Harris Rumblings

Scott Maxwell:

"The chances are better than they ever have been," said veteran pundit Susan MacManus of the University of South Florida.

Quite simply, the GOP is just too calculating, power hungry and, most importantly, too smart to let this train wreck continue.

A potential contender: State House Speaker Allan Bense, whose name was recently tested against Nelson in a poll conducted by a GOP firm, according to the Tampa Tribune.

"My wife asked me this morning, 'What are you going to do?,'" Bense said.

"If I had to bet, I'm 50-50, but I'm inclined to head home."

He would not rule it out, though.

Not A Joke ...

but it should be:

The Tribune's editorial board discussed some of the nation's most pressing issues with U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, a Bartow native who, at 31, is one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress.

Higher Education

"Plan would hurt universities".

Citizens

"All Florida homeowners with insurance policies must pay to cover the shortfall, according to state law. But roughly one-third, or 1.7 million, will pay much less than others." "Some surcharges to bail out Citizens blow other bills away".

Nelsan

"Sen. Nelson Lashes Out At Bush On Oil".

Privatization Follies

The biggest example of outsourcing gone astray is Florida's nine-year, $350 million contract with Convergys Corp., a Cincinnati-based company hired four years ago to process the paychecks and benefits of state employees. The governor's office predicted the deal would save $20 million a year and eliminate 1,000 government jobs.

Unfortunately, Tallahassee is abuzz with talk of the company's screw-ups. Convergys has been late issuing paychecks, has failed to achieve the expected savings and stands accused of compromising personal information by sending personnel databases to India. Complicating matters is the company's claim that its records are not subject to Florida's open record laws, a stand the state disputes.

•The Department of Children and Families had to sue a private firm it hired to investigate child-abuse complaints because the company billed for services never rendered.

• The Department of Juvenile Justice was about to eliminate its maintenance division, but did a panicky turnaround after discovering the private company would cost far more.

•The head of the now defunct commission overseeing the state's five privately-run prisons stands accused of fraud. A state review found that rather than protecting taxpayers, the commission was more concerned with boosting the profits of politically influential firms.

• A law enforcement investigation last year concluded that insider information might have helped a company win a $126-million technology contract to run the state's computer servers. The contract was canceled.

The scope of the state's privatization effort is massive, having outsourced services from foster care to debt collection. The amount of money involved also is staggering. Legislative analysts estimate that between January 1999 and June 2004, the state outsourced at least 138 projects, including four contracts totaling at least $2.25 billion. In the Capitol, lobbyists for private vendors are constantly pushing for more work.

Florida's governor has been an aggressive privatizer, and as The Miami Herald put it after a careful study of state records, "his bold experiment has been a success — at least for him and the Republican Party, records show. The policy has spawned a network of contractors who have given him, other Republican politicians and the Florida G.O.P. millions of dollars in campaign donations."

What's interesting about this network of contractors isn't just the way that big contributions are linked to big contracts; it's the end of the traditional practice in which businesses hedge their bets by giving to both parties. The big winners in Mr. Bush's Florida are companies that give little or nothing to Democrats. Strange, isn't it? It's as if firms seeking business with the state of Florida are subject to a loyalty test.

So am I saying that we are going back to the days of Boss Tweed and Mark Hanna? Gosh, no — those guys were pikers. One-party control of today's government offers opportunities to reward friends and punish enemies that the old machine politicians never dreamed of.

Housing Crisis

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "It's time for state Senate President Tom Lee and House Speaker Allan Bense to stop playing with money needed to address Florida's affordable-housing crisis." "Will they lead?"

Entreprenurship

"Tampa insurance company dropping storm-damaged homes". On a related note: "Seeking insurance policy" ("Gallagher says the state's last-resort insurer is getting 40,000 applications a month. A spokesman for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. confirms the number, which shows how out of whack the state's insurance non-market will remain after the Legislature's attempt at reform.")

Bundling

"The latest financial reports show a twist on maximizing corporate giving to Florida campaigns:"

Form a laundry list of companies, then have each give the limit of $500 to the candidate of your choice.

This method enabled a driving school operator in Ponte Vedra Beach and a commercial real estate developer in Boca Raton to contribute thousands of dollars to the campaign of gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist.

Fifteen companies headed by Kenneth L. Underwood of Ponte Vedra Beach contributed $500 each to Crist on March 31 - just two days after the companies were created.

The timing is a coincidence, said David Lewis, executive vice president for marketing of National Safety Commission, one of Underwood's companies. Each company, Lewis said, represents "a significant geographic expansion of our business," and was formed after the firm received permits from the states where all will operate.

Alleged Dem Shalala Disses Unionization

"The University of Miami will not take a position on the unionization of striking janitors at the campus, school president Donna Shalala said in a letter to a newspaper published Saturday." "UM's Shalala won't weigh in on unionization of striking workers".

Claims Against The State

"When legal claims against the state exceed $200,000, lawmakers have to okay the payment. But since 2001, they almost never do. They don't even talk about it." "The state owes them money, and legislators can choose not to pay".

Slots

"Rules outlined for slot machines in Broward".

Albania Had Nuthin' On These GOoPers

"Bill Herrle, a vice president of the Retail Federation, whose members include Walt Disney World, Wal-Mart and Publix, said the group is still actively recruiting opponents to run against Ambler in his Hillsborough County district. The issue, he said, is about more than tort reform --

it's about enforcing "philosophical discipline" to Republican lawmakers who stray too far from party beliefs."

An Issue For Harris

With Representative B's penchant for $1000 bottles of wine, she should be all over this issue: "Proposed Wine Limits Hard to Swallow".

Gallagher

"Gallagher pollsters dig deep to find good news".

Who Decides?

"Eminent domain: Who defines the greater good?"

Good Luck

"If, as recent polls indicate, barely half of Florida adults can identify the three branches of their state and federal governments or understand the concept of "separation of powers," the push for more civics instruction in public schools seems warranted. Maybe. But first Florida should take a closer look at what schools are doing already and consider other factors that may be even larger contributors to an apparent though insidious decay of citizenship." "Keeping citizens engaged".