GOoPer Convention

"Tampa may be the frontrunner, according to Florida GOP leaders and other Republicans familiar with the decision process." "Tampa Has Good Shot At GOP Convention". In the meantime, "Tribune sues for access to GOP convention bid". See also "Public deserves convention facts".

Update: "Unveiling Of GOP Convention Bid Slated": "The Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau said Friday it will allow reporters to review a copy of its bid for the 2008 Republican National Convention. The move comes a day after The Tampa Tribune sued the bureau."

"Chairman Graham"

"Former Democratic Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham long ago endorsed Jim Davis in his bid for governor, but Davis went ahead and made the arrangement formal today by naming Graham his campaign chairman." "Chairman Graham".

Casinos

"After a stark disagreement between state officials and the Seminole Tribe over rules for Las Vegas-style slot machines, the contentious issue could be settled this summer in Washington." "State Presses Hand For Casino Control".

AFSCME Endorsement This Week End

"Democratic gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Jim Davis launched a weeklong campaign to win the endorsement of government workers by attacking opponent Rod Smith's Senate voting record." "Gubernatorial candidate campaigns for government workers' endorsement".

McBride

"The Campaign Begins" McBride's website is here.

Desperate

"Republican Party Chairman Carole Jean Jordan will go to Smith's and Davis' hometowns with the message that Republicans have improved the economy, health care and schools and Democrats want to tear down the success." "Point/Counter Point".

Raw Political Courage

"Taxes aren't the way to create a stable economy, an affordable housing market and an educated work force, the Republican candidates for governor said Friday." And Charlie took his most courageous stance to date, boldly announcing:

"I'm against taxes," Attorney General Charlie Crist said several times during a forum at a meeting of Florida TaxWatch, a nonprofit tax and state budget watchdog group."

Harris in Palm Beach County

"Katherine Harris is scheduled to tout her U.S. Senate campaign Monday at a Forum Club of Palm Beaches luncheon. The event is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center." "Harris Coming to Forum Club".

Running Government "Like a Business"

"A mismanaged state medical program continues to eat funds, even as enrollment falls, a deposition says." "Years atop waiting list, but still stuck in line".

"Firefighters for Smith"

"Rod Smith picks up yet another union endorsement today -- this time it's the Florida Professional Firefighters, which represents 21,000 firefighters and EMS personnel across the state." "Firefighters for Smith". See also "Firefighters Back Nelson And Smith".

No surprise there, Rod represented firefighters unions for years before running for SA. Rumor has it that the local unions that comprise Florida Professional Firefighters umbrella organization were somewhat split on the endorsement, and many of them will go their own way in the primary.

Rove Stabs Harris

"The presidential adviser speaks at a Republican dinner in Broward, which also serves as a who'swho of GOP candidates for statewide offices." "Rove harsh on critics of Iraq war" ("In a brief interview before his speech, Rove made clear his lack of enthusiasm for Harris, who trails Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson.")

Smith Flier

"As Rod Smith and Jim Davis duke it out over union endorsements in their quest to become the Democratic nominee for governor, Smith's campaign got a head start in the form of an introductory mailer sent out this week."

"Rod Smith led the fight to defeat the right-wing Republican attempts to drain taxpayers funding of the public schools through an unconstitutional private school voucher program," the flier reads. It goes on to praise Smith's efforts to defeat a watering-down of the voter-approved class-size amendment. Smith is a state senator who represents Gainesville. ...

Depending on the size of the mailing, which Spellman would not identify citing campaign strategy, the mailers could have cost anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000, said Democratic campaign consultant Gayle Andrews, a Davis supporter.

No Appeal

"The state is unlikely to appeal a federal judge's decision that Florida cannot require students to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, Gov. Jeb Bush said Friday." "Appeal of pledge ruling unlikely, Gov. Bush says".

Scholarships

"Students whose parents do not have four-year college degrees could get need-based financial aid under a $6.5 million scholarship program that became law Friday. Although students of any race can apply, legislators hope it will increase minority enrollment at Florida universities." "Scholarship aims to help minorities".

McInvale Shows Her Newfound Political Clout

Orlando Coty Council Member Patty "Sheehan enlisted the help of state Rep. Sheri McInvale, R-Orlando, who sponsored a bill allowing local governments to decide for themselves whether restaurants can permit dogs in outdoor eating areas." "Doggie dining gets governor's stamp of approva". See also "Bush signs bill allowing dogs to eat outside at restaurants" and "Dogs move up food chain at restaurants as governor signs law".

Mahoney

"Democratic congressional hopeful Tim Mahoney's campaign got a $2,100 contribution from a Virginia businessman whose home and offices were raided as part of a 2002 federal investigation looking for sources of terrorist financing. The contribution from M. Yaqub Mirza, who has not been charged with any crime, will be donated to a charity that helps victims of terrorism in Israel, Mahoney said Friday." "House hopeful's donor in 2002 probe".

Teaching To The Test

"The FCAT is the most recent example, with teachers leaving their own lesson plans or ideals about education behind so they could 'teach to the test.' So much depended on it: money for the schools that showed improvements; bonuses for the teachers within the schools that scored well on the test." "Bidding on teachers".

PIP Politics

"As any policyholder knows, the private vehicle insurance market in Florida is working much better than the private property market. One persistent problem, though, is [PIP] fraud that undercuts the state's no-fault auto insurance system." "Gear up to stop fraud".

Byrd

"The political turmoil that has surrounded the Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center since it was founded may be eased with a bill that provides long-term funding and a new slate of directors." "Bill Aims To Quiet Uproar Over Alzheimer's Center".

Broward Mayor Eyes Senate

"Broward County Mayor Ben Graber's decision to resign in November has set off a chain reaction of political moves." "Mayor resigns, eyes Senate".

"Political exploitation at its worst"

"Bush is wrong on all the basic points about eminent domain in Riviera Beach. Here's the most basic: The city hasn't used it, not that anyone listening to the governor would know that. But Gov. Bush's eagerness to castigate the city is political exploitation at its worst." "Riviera left door open, and governor barged in".

Class Size

"To revamp the class size amendment or let it be? Unless Tom Gallagher proposes a pro-murder bill, that amendment may be one of the starkest policy differences between Charlie Crist and Tom Gallagher." "Class Size And Republicans".

Mel Speaks

"The Republican senator says his party will pay a price if it doesn't push through immigration reform this year." "Martinez: GOP has work to do".

The Best They Could Do?

Another reason Harris sin't particularly worried about the primary:

McBride has dubbed his bus tour the "Pick Up The Towel" tour.

"For the past few months all I have heard is that the Republicans have thrown in the towel because the pundits say Bill Nelson can’t be defeated,” McBride said in a statement issued by his campaign. “But I’ve seen the numbers and I know I can win, so I am here to pick up the towel and provide Floridians a real choice this November."

"Jeb!" Blows His Top

"Gov. Jeb Bush didn't think much Jim Davis' demand that he ask Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Alan Levine to resign, because Levine has applied for a job with a hospital district that AHCA helps regulate." "Bush: Davis is on 'Thin Ice'". See also "Davis draws Bush's wrath" and "Chief health official criticized".

See yesterday's "Health regulator seeks big-money job as hospital district chief".

Byrd

"The ex-Florida House speaker has too much influence over the Alzheimer's research facility, lawmakers say. Others disagree." "State wants less Byrd in center".

Backup Power

"Hundreds of gas stations must have access to generators and be able to quickly get the pumps, freezers and credit card machines running after a hurricane under legislation Gov. Jeb Bush signed Thursday." "Backup power bill signed".

GOoPers Open An Office

"State GOP leaders determined to keep electing Republicans opened a grass roots campaign office Thursday in Tampa, the first of 40 state campaign offices to be opened across Florida between now and election day." "GOP opens field office in Tampa".

Whoopee!

"Floridians will get another back-to-school sales tax holiday during nine days in late July under a bill that Gov. Jeb Bush signed into law Thursday." "Another sales tax holiday slated for late July".

GOoPer Slams Smith

Smith must be doing something right, with Florida GOoPer boss Carol Jean Jordan penning this tripe: "GOP Chair: Smith 'Toed' Democrat’s Misguided Line".

Love For Sale

Our green Governor:

Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet [Wednesday] unanimously approved a plan to help Volusia County homebuilder Mori Hosseini finance a development on a 450-acre swath of hickory hammocks and slash pines.

Hosseini, the CEO of ICI Homes, is a powerful figure in state politics.He was a "Ranger" for President Bush -- the governor's brother -- during his 2004 re-election campaign, meaning Hosseini raised at least $200,000 for him. This election cycle, meanwhile, Hosseini and companies linked to him have given more than $10,000 each to Crist and Gallagher in their campaigns for governor.

Dirty Water

"In a move that could directly affect water quality in Lake Okeechobee, the Bush administration said Thursday that it plans to allow water managers to transfer water from one place to another without requiring it to meet certain environmental standards." "EPA to allow unfettered water transfers". See also "Water rule pleases managers, irks others".

"Puny" Response To "Housing Crisis"

"While lawmakers touted the spending, some advocates said the amount spent compared to the money available is puny. Nearly $940-million was available for appropriation in state housing trust funds, but lawmakers spent only $433-million. Last year, they spent $10-million more than that. 'I think it's an inexplicable outcome at a time of unprecedented housing crisis,' said Jamie Ross, an affordable housing advocate with the nonprofit 1000 Friends of Florida organization." "Affordable housing".

Jenne

"A prominent real estate developer who loaned $20,000 to Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne through Jenne's longtime secretary wrote off the loan as a bad debt on his 2004 tax filing, the builder's attorney said Thursday. Philip Procacci amended his tax filing after the debt was repaid -- but late and without all the interest outlined in the loan documents -- in summer 2005, said Procacci's lawyer, Edward O'Donnell Jr." "Developer wrote off $20,000 loan to Broward sheriff as bad debt".

No Thanks

"Bush, who grew up in Texas before moving to Florida, advised Floridians to assume some of his home state’s Texas 'swagger' as he counseled residents to take pride in getting ready for hurricanes." "Because We're Floridians Darn It".

Suing Insurance Companies

"It may be called no-fault, but car crash victims who sue insurance companies over personal injury coverage and lose can be required to pay the insurers' legal fees in some cases, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday." "Suing an insurer can become costly".

"Bill allows end-run to avoid local review"

A bill would let charter schools to bypass local school board oversight; this, even though

One-third of the state's charter schools are doing a poor job of educating students. Nearly 30 percent ended the 2002-2003 school year with fiscal deficits. Almost half failed to meet minimal reporting standards.

These statistics -- from a 2005 accountability report and a 2004 Auditor General's review -- paint a grim picture of Florida's grand charter-school experiment. There are successful exceptions, among them the Reading Edge Academy in DeBary and the Chiles Academy in Port Orange. But it should be obvious that the state's rules for starting a charter school are too lax.

"Strikingly Similar Platforms

"With strikingly similar platforms, two Democratic candidates for Florida governor are campaigning far in advance of the Sept. 5 primary." "2 Democrats on common ground".

"Saving manatees"

"Bringing scientific certainty to listings of imperiled species and writing specific recovery plans make sense. But they cannot turn out to be false promises that lead to a decline in manatees. Floridians would quickly see through such a farce, and they won't stand for it." "Saving manatees".

"Jeb!" v. Riviera Beach

"Bush has questioned the legality of Riviera Beach's effort to get around a state restriction against the power to condemn for private redevelopment projects by executing a contract before he signed it into law." "Bush questions Riviera eminent domain plans". See also "Gov. Bush bashes Riviera Beach efforts to condemn for private projects", "Bush fires salvo in state battle with Riviera".

Davis Steps Up Attacks

"As promised, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis has continued his weeklong critique of Rod Smith's record on labor issues. Today's statement: 'In 2001 and then again in 2002, Smith voted to eliminate the Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security.'" "Davis v. Smith, part III".

Expect an Appeal

"Judge: It's unconstitutional to make students stand for pledge". See also "Judge rules pledge law violates Constitution".

Point of Information: U.S. District Judge Kenneth Ryskamp is a Reagan appointee.

The early line on Smith is that he is a charming, inspirational orator. But maybe he comes across on the stump as Elmer Gantry meets Ron Popeil because his opponent, Tampa Congressman Jim Davis, is more charismatically challenged than an eggplant.

Still, having all the hustings persona of a stuffed elk hasn't affected Davis' ability to raise money - he's closing in on $2 million - or his lead in the polls, not only over Smith but also the two Republican challengers, state Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher or Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist.

But Smith has tightened the race, too, narrowly trailing Gallagher and Crist. Translation: This is a political junkie's dream come true, a legitimate horse race.

Although this sort of talk drives candidates in the middle of a tight race absolutely bonkers, should Smith come up short in the primary, you could argue he is delivering a heckuva campaign to become Davis' running mate.

Yes, that, for Smith, was the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard.

Nevertheless, Smith is one of those rare, virtually extinct political animals: an electable North Florida Democrat.

Revolving Door

"Bush's chief health care regulator, Alan Levine, has applied for a high-paying job managing a group of South Florida hospitals that will be among the first to execute big changes to the Medicaid program in Florida." "Bush aide puts toe in job market". See also "Levine Leaving?"

Boot Camps

"Law puts end to boot camps". See also "Bush signs Anderson Act", "Bush launches 'respect' programs to replace youth boot camps", "Bush signs bill to change boot camps" and "Act may prevent other parents' pain".

But It Isn't A "Tax"

"Floridians will pay a 1 percent assessment on property and casualty insurance policies for a decade to repay a bond sale of up to $1.5 billion that was approved Wednesday to replenish the state's Hurricane Insurance Catastrophe Fund." "Prepare to shell out more". See also "Insurance rates to see one-percent increase".

Class Warfare

Troxler:

"The proposed sales tax deduction," notes a Washington outfit called the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "would primarily benefit higher-income taxpayers rather than help the lower-income taxpayers who most need relief from the burden of the tax."

Battle of Riviera Beach

"The battle between Riviera Beach and the state over the city's proposed $2.4 billion redevelopment escalated Wednesday when Gov. Jeb Bush questioned the validity of the city's contract with its master developer. Riviera Beach believes it can use eminent domain proceedings against dozens of property owners because the city signed an agreement with its master developer a day before Bush signed into law a bill that makes such takings illegal." "Bush fires salvo in state battle with Riviera".

"What's Gov. Bush Got Against Tampa?"

"[T]o sink Tampa's Riverwalk while sending another $4 million to a St. Pete museum shows the governor either is disingenuous, is playing politics or just doesn't like Tampa." "What's Gov. Bush Got Against Tampa?"

No No Fault

"Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have extended the life of the state's no-fault auto insurance beyond a 2007 deadline because it lacks sufficient protections against fraud. The legislation would have continued no-fault, also known as personal injury protection, or PIP, until Jan. 1, 2009. With the veto it will automatically expire on Oct. 1, 2007, but Bush pointed out that the Legislature will have another chance to deal with the issue before then." "Governor vetoes bill extending no-fault auto insurance in '07".

Whatever

The wingnuts at Frontpage Florida are aghast that "Moveon.org Activists Behind Smith Party ".

"Weeding Out" Illegal Teens

"The state of Florida will begin screening thousands of teenagers arrested every year to weed out those who are in the United States illegally." "Arrested teens to face state check of immigration status". In the meantime, Foley plays to his base: "Florida's shores vulnerable to more immigration, Foley warns".

LOL

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher today announced a statewide coalition of more than 100 teachers, administrators and home-schoolers who have agreed to serve on his “Teachers for Tom” statewide leadership team." "Teachers for Gallagher".

This primary race may be over.

Jenne

"Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne accepted an undisclosed $20,000 loan from a prominent South Florida real estate developer who did business with his agency, sources familiar with ongoing investigations of Jenne said Wednesday." "Investigators take look at $20,000 loan from developer to Broward sheriff".

Babcock

"State tries to avoid federal purse strings".

HD 52

The Buzz: "Former USF St Pete CEO Bill Heller jumped into the House District 52 race today, immediately winning the endorsements of most leading Pinellas Democrats. ... Heller, who faces Democrat Liz McCallum in the primary, received endorsements from state Reps. Frank Peterman and Charlie Justice; St Pete city council members James Bennett, Rick Kriseman, Rene Flowers and Leslie Curran; School board member Linda Lerner; and former Education Commissioner and USF President Betty Castor. The seat being vacated by Republican Frank Farkas is probably the single most competive House seat in Florida. In '04 Bush won it with 52 percent and Betty Castor won it with 55 percent. Heller made it clear he's no rigid partisan when we asked him about having donated to Charlie Crist's gubernatorial campaign." "Heller's In HD 52".

McBride Making The Rounds

"Will McBride, the little-known but well-connected Central Florida attorney who some Republicans hope will emerge as a legitimate challenger to Katherine Harris in the GOP U.S. Senate primary, is beginning to make the rounds." "McBride Begins to Move".

"The Democratic Message"

The Dems have a "platform". "FDP Says: 'Democrats United'".

"Democrats plan to tour the state this week, promoting a party message on issues like education and insurance that they hope will garner votes in November's elections. ... Democrats will head to Fort Lauderdale, Miami Gardens, Jacksonville and Tampa to bring their message to those cities. At a Tallahassee press conference, they focused mainly on class size and hurricane insurance." "State Democrats plan tour".

Fourth-Grade Reading and Math Scores Down

"Statewide reading and math scores have dropped among fourth-graders for the first time since the FCAT was launched five years ago." "Hand in hand".

Education Top Issue

"A recent poll in the Tampa Bay area by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research for The Tampa Tribune shows education topping the concerns of hundreds of residents". "Poll Shows Education Is Concern Locally".

Adoptions

"Lawmakers should pay close attention to Florida adoption lawyers who fear a judicial opinion issued earlier this month could once again threaten the security of adoptions." "Case Points Out Weakness In Florida's Adoption Law".

Arranging The Deck Chairs

"The Department of Management Services announced a series of management changes Tuesday, including promotion of a veteran executive to set up the new Council on Efficient Government that will evaluate government privatization projects." "DMS picks council leader".

"Billboard Pollution"

"Thirteen Southeastern states, including Florida, want an exemption to the Highway Beautification Act to allow the rebuilding of all billboards damaged during recent hurricanes, even those that failed to meet regulations on size and siting." "Making Billboard Pollution Eternal".

"Prince of Porkchoppers"

"The victim of an SUV accident last week is remembered as 'the most popular politician in Florida' during the 1960s and early 1970s." "Florida politicians recall 'prince of porkchoppers'".

Scalping

"After six decades, the state is set to overturn a law that forbids the reselling of tickets for more than $1 above face value. A bill that passed the House and Senate in the recent session calls for nothing short of legalized scalping. If signed into law by Gov. Jeb Bush, it will impose no penalties for selling a ticket at any price, provided the seller offers certain protections, including a refund if the event is canceled." "Florida close to legalizing scalping".

Huh?

"The National Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education, the political action committee of the National Education Association, has officially endorsed Gus Bilirakis’ candidacy in Florida’s Ninth Congressional District." "NEA Backs Bilirakis".

Boyd

"U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd told retirees Tuesday that American security in the world economy depends on how well the nation handles the impending retirement of the post-World War II generation and the stress it will put on Social Security and Medicare. ... In Congress, Boyd has co-sponsored a bill with Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., to allow younger workers to divert part of their Social Security taxes into private accounts. But like President Bush's plans for changing the system, the Boyd-Kolbe bill went nowhere." "Boyd: We must focus on retirees".

Jenne

"As a state and federal investigation of Sheriff Ken Jenne and his agency intensifies, the mystery deepens. If Jenne is 'anxious to clear' his name, as he has said, why does he remain silent?" "Ken Jenne".

GOoPers Restrict Foriegn Travel

"A civil rights group criticized a new law, signed Tuesday by Gov. Jeb Bush, that restricts colleges and universities from using state funds for travel to countries classified as terrorist states by the U.S. government." "ACLU raps new law banning state-paid travel to terrorist nation". See also "Law bans travel to `terrorist states'".

Silver Springs

"Pollution, homes loom over Silver Springs".

"$400 million in business tax breaks"

"Five economic development bills signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Jeb Bush include about $400 million in business tax breaks and will increase state spending for research and development and space activities." "Bush signs bills to provide $400 million in tax breaks". See also "Governor signs high-tech incentives package".

Masilotti

"Politicians who misuse their office for personal gain should not get a pass from possible prosecution by leaving office. Subpoenas issued by federal prosecutors are a welcome sign that Palm Beach County Commission Chairman Tony Masilotti's land deals, which The Palm Beach Post exposed, will be scrutinized." "'Chairman' Masilotti? Title no longer credible".

"He's more of a clown than a leader. Now he's the focus of a federal probe. The FBI and IRS are looking into questionable land deals, including one that secretly netted his family $1.3 million in profit, and the question looms large as to whether Masilotti used his public position to push the deal through." "Remove Masilotti as chair".

"Dems Label GOP as 'Corrupt'"

"A Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed only 1 percent of likely voters named "political corruption" as the most important problem in the state. Nearly 20 percent named education, with immigration and hurricanes rounding out the top three." "Dems Label GOP as 'Corrupt'".

Smith On A Roll

"The Alachua state senator's campaign has been on a roll for about a month since he helped forge two coalitions that defeated two of Gov. Jeb Bush's legislative priorities on education. One blocked lawmakers from putting a constitutional amendment allowing private school vouchers on November's ballot. The other would have weakened a class-size reduction amendment voters approved in 2002." "Opponent Makes Inroads On Davis' Home Turf".

says he hunts down legislators' pet projects, particularly those that don't serve a statewide purpose or are not vetted by a government agency, and strips them from the budget on principle. By what standard, then, does he veto old people in nursing homes?

The largest single cut Bush made Thursday in his final and record-total $449-million in vetoes was $91-million to pay increased Medicaid costs for poor elderly people.

Bush took similar liberties with indigent medical care and emergency trauma centers, vetoing $20-million for Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital and $500,000 for a Tallahassee Memorial Hospital trauma center. Is serving the medically indigent and critically ill merely a local responsibility?

The governor has correctly chided lawmakers over the years for approving budget items without discussing the ramifications. But his vetoes of nursing homes and trauma centers subject him to the same criticism. How does he justify cutting money for programs that were fully debated and prescribed under law? Nursing home patients are not budget turkeys.

Issues For The I-4 Corridor

A West Central Florida poll: "When it came to the question of restricting growth, political affiliation didn't matter. Region didn't matter (voters were surveyed in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties). Overall, 71 percent agreed that state and local government should do more to restrict growth in Florida. The poll's margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points." "Poll Shows Voters Are Fed Up With Bay Area Growth". See also "Voters See Education, Taxes As Main Issues".

Get Ready To Answer This Question, Please

"Four years after Florida voters told lawmakers to reduce class sizes in public schools, the state has made only minimal investments in new classrooms and remains without a road map for how to fund the multibillion-dollar plan."

Now, as the 2010 implementation deadline looms, the question moves to the next governor -- and the uncertainty continues.

Three of the candidates running to succeed Gov. Jeb Bush in November -- Republican Charlie Crist and Democrats Jim Davis and Rod Smith -- agree that it's time to find a way to pay for new classrooms and teachers without new taxes. But they offer few, if any, details on how to do that.

The fourth candidate, Republican Tom Gallagher, says the current plan would break the bank -- and he's "going to do every single thing we can to change it."

Troxler

"Court review of campaign rhetoric: a slippery slope"..

Drilling "On The Clock"

"Final amendments to immigration legislation were still being debated on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon when Majority Leader Bill Frist convened a meeting to break the deadlock on another pressing issue: offshore oil and gas drilling." "Drilling debate on the clock".

"Florida has one of the lowest graduation rates in the country"

"High school graduation season has just concluded, and there's good reason to celebrate every single graduate. But Florida, alas, has far too many students who never get to experience that pomp and circumstance. ... The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research recently reported Florida has one of the lowest graduation rates in the country with just 61 percent of its students graduating in four years with a high school diploma. The institute doesn't count GED diplomas." "Florida Needs To Refigure How It Counts High School Graduates".

"'Rod Rocks Tampa Bay'"

Blown away by a speech Rod Smith gave in December, Francine Simmons decided to throw a house party for the Democratic candidate for governor Monday.

She thought maybe 20 or 30 people would show up. This is Tampa, after all, home of his primary challenger, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis.

Instead, 100 turned out.

Smith, a state senator from Alachua, was showered with applause as he arrived at Simmons' Citrus Park home with his two sons and launched an emphatic attack on the Republican administration. "We can win Florida again for the Democratic Party," Smith shouted.

Do Something

"[I]f the state doesn't act quickly a new development that will house 22,000 residents will raise nitrate levels even higher, polluting the springs irrevocably." "Development, pollution muddying Florida's historic Silver Springs".

Pruitt

"A needed look at Pruitt":

When Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, refused to investigate incoming Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, that was politics. When a Broward County Democratic committeeman filed a formal complaint to force the issue, that was justifiable politics. ...

Did Sen. Pruitt get a free house for helping his friends' construction business? Did Sen. Pruitt use campaign committees to pay off friends? Why did Sen. Pruitt's education charity raise $264,000 but spend only $7,500 on scholarships, its top priority? Did public money pay Rep. Bogdanoff's office rent on a building she owns?

Mr. Cimoch's complaint to the Florida Commission on Ethics promises a departure from the politics that have protected Sen. Pruitt and Rep. Bogdanoff. If that's political, Sen. Lee made it necessary.

"State seeks evidence of non-discrimination"

"Insurance companies say that by dipping into Floridians' private credit data -- learning who pays bills late and who's maxed out their charge cards -- they're able to save their policyholders money by sorting out "bad" risks from good ones. That claim's hard to swallow." "Florida's score".

"Bush is the lamest"

Of Lame ducks Tony Blair, Dubya and "Jeb!", "Gov. Bush is the lamest. His successor, whoever it turns out to be, started battling three other wannabes for the job before the Legislature met. Mr. Bush's allotted two terms are up right after the new year begins. He took office as a Republican surge filled the Legislature with ill-prepared zealots, whom he commanded with decreasing ease as they either self-destructed or learned the ropes. This year, they ignored Mr. Bush's scramble to make his school vouchers constitutional after the fact and did nothing with his devious plan to avoid paying for constitutionally required smaller class sizes." "No reason to duck out after 8 years".

Florida's "own anti-Axis of Evil foreign policy"

"Now that Florida is pursuing its own anti-Axis of Evil foreign policy, which countries should it target in the next round?" "Travel To Cuba".

GOP Convention?

"When Stephen Hogue,"

Tampa's police chief and a very fine man, heard of the prospect of 500,000 protesters descending on Tampa should the city be awarded the convention, the first words out of his mouth were: "Where will they all sleep?"

Isn't that precious?

Oh, chief? Do you honestly think hundreds of thousands of grumpy people angry about the war, global warming, racism and social injustice are worried about hotel reservations?

They will sleep wherever they want.

In 2004, security costs associated with the GOP convention in New York were $75 million, involving more than 30,000 officers from various law enforcement agencies.

Tampa's bid estimated security costs for a 2008 convention at $9 million using a mere 1,500 officers.

Those figures are probably accurate for providing a secure environment around the St. Pete Times Forum and/or Brigadoon. Then what?

Tough Issue

A tough issue for Mel:

Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, said Martinez "seems to see the benefits (of immigration), but he doesn't understand or think about the costs." Camarota said Martinez represented "the employers" who want access to cheap labor, "but the concerns of his constituents (who oppose amnesty or increasing the cap on legal immigration) didn't seem to loom very large." Martinez acknowledged that "sometimes our phones ring and they're hot," referring to what he called some "ugly, ugly" calls from angry citizens. But he said he also received support from farmers, contractors and tourism industry leaders who pleaded for more workers.

Florida's Tax Structure

"Home sales have slowed and median prices are leveling off. The end of the property tax windfall isn't far behind, so you can bet Tallahassee and local governments are in for a squeeze." "Taxing Dilemma".

Humor

"Jeb Bush should look at new job possibilities after snubbing NFL".

Gov. Bush defended the Rev. Dozier, calling him "sincere" and a "good man." But the governor predictably misses the point, which is the danger of turning one's own religious beliefs into public policy. The governor put the Rev. Dozier on the commission that screens applicants for judges in Broward County. On that commission, the Rev. Dozier has stated his preference for "God-fearing" judges. If you're keeping score, that's a constitutional error.

Out of such mistaken thinking came the assaults on the court system during the Terri Schiavo controversy and the relentless effort to have government sanctify marriage as between a man and a woman. Sanctification, though, is better left to religion, while civil rights are better left to government.

Also this month, Mr. Crist and Mr. Gallagher appeared before the Florida Family Policy Council, the state affiliate of the Rev. James Dobson's fundamentalist Focus on the Family. At that event, Gov. Bush called fundamentalist Christians the "bread and butter" of Florida politics, adding: "People who act on their faith are a large number of people in our state. Most people believe in God. It isn't that novel."

Same point, missed again. Belief in God and acting on faith can take people in different directions, not just to what the Florida Family Policy Council decrees is in keeping with that faith. One reason that the thinking in Tallahassee and Washington is so narrow on many issues is that those in power are appealing to groups with very narrow interests. Makes you want to vomit.

Crist on the Air

You can view Charile Crist’s first campaign commerical at his website www.charliecrist.com .  "Crist's Ad".  See also "Crist touts fight against crime in first TV ad in governor's race""".

Mahoney vs. Foley

"Mahoney, who switched his voter registration from Republican to Democrat last July, will be the best-financed challenger Foley has faced." "Mahoney tries to appease country folk".

How Extreme Are They?

A reminder as to how extreme the GOoPers are. Leading Republican candidate in the 13th CD, Vern Buchanan

has been pretty consistent on his stance on abortion rights -- opposing legal access to the procedure in all cases.

He has even criticized some candidates in the race for not really being "pro-life" because they allow exceptions when a woman has been raped, is a victim of incest or when her life is in jeopardy.

But, during a candidate's forum in Sarasota on Thursday, Buchanan raised a few eyebrows when he appeared to add a new exception.

Buchanan said in the rare event that both the mother's life and the child's life are at risk, he would permit an abortion.

Buchanan said in a later interview that he still would oppose access to an abortion if just the life of the mother was at risk. He said he was just trying to spell out a case where if it was clear that the baby couldn't be saved, he wouldn't force a woman to carry a baby that wouldn't likely survive and could imperil her life as well.

Flanagan is the only other candidate in the race who is opposed to abortion rights and offers no exceptions. Republicans Tramm Hudson and Donna Clarke both have said they oppose legal abortion, except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the mother is at stake.

Pre-K An Issue?

"This year's gubernatorial campaign will be swirling with issues from property insurance to off-shore drilling. A new strategy by the Five Promises to Parents Campaign aims to put improving the state's new pre-kindergarten program at the top of that list." "Group wants preK a focus of governor's race".

Jeb Watch

Elisabeth Bumiller, "White House Letter: Like it or not, Bush III is being primed to run".

Fenney Embarasses Himself ...

yet again:

Poor Tom Feeney. There he is, trying to protect Americans from a crazed, runaway judiciary -- and protect the judiciary from dangerous foreign notions like decriminalizing homosexuality.

And wouldn't you know it, he gets his fingers slapped by one of the few judges he professes to admire: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Feeney is the guy who (as speaker of the Florida House) carved himself a custom-made congressional district that includes a big hunk of Volusia County. He's been trying to get his fingers into judicial business since he was first elected to the U.S. House in 2002. For Feeney, "separation of powers" is a one-way street: Congress' powers are all-encompassing. The judiciary's powers are what Congress says they are.

Feeney muscled an amendment onto a child-protection bill three years ago, severely restricting federal judges' authority in criminal cases by requiring them to explain themselves whenever they departed from federal sentencing guidelines in criminal cases. That move was seen as a major threat to judicial independence by judges all the way up to the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist. (The amendment was later stricken down, along with the sentencing guidelines.)

But Rehnquist's criticism couldn't have hurt as much as last week's blast from Scalia.

Citizens

"Floridians upset over Citizens increases".

Our Legislature At Work

"Florida college and university academics who travel to Cuba, Iran and other "terrorist" nations for research would no longer be allowed to use state funds under a bill that unanimously passed both chambers of the Legislature." "Scholars fear law restricting travel".

"Federal prosecutors have issued grand jury subpoenas to obtain bank records from Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne, who is under investigation for alleged misconduct involving private consulting work, a newspaper reported in a story published Saturday.Jenne" "Prosecutors seek sheriff's financial records".

South Florida Key To Dem Primary

"South Florida was the region with the highest voter turnout in the 2002 Democratic primary. In Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade, 418,551 Democrats voted — 31 percent of the statewide vote."

"I think Broward is the crown jewel in the primary with Palm Beach a close second," said Mitch Ceasar, chairman of Broward County's nearly 500,000 Democrats. "Broward and Palm Beach are the battlegrounds."

Palm Beach County has more than 300,000 Democrats. In 2002, 108,000 — 36 percent — voted.

Robin Rorapaugh, who orchestrated McBride's primary victory in 2002, said both candidates will have to work hard in South Florida and will have to search for Democratic voters throughout the state who don't normally vote in the primary.

Veterans

"Gallagher, Davis jostle for veterans".

Misrepresentation

"There's little doubt who Manatee County Sheriff Charlie Wells is endorsing for Congress these days. Wells is in television ads several times a day in Bradenton touting Longboat Key Republican Vern Buchanan for the 13th Congressional district. And he is prominently featured in a new pro-Buchanan mailer hitting Bradenton-area mailboxes this week. So, it came as a pretty big surprise when Wells said he checked Republican Mark Flanagan's Web site and saw a picture of himself prominently displayed on the front page." "Sheriff miffed at Flanagan photo".

McBride Who?

"At first glance, Will McBride, a young immigration lawyer from Orlando, doesn't appear to have the political experience to make him a threat to Harris for the nomination - particularly with such a late start and only 100 days to go before the primary."

But he does have connections to the nation's most powerful conservative political circles, including a wealthy and politically active family and ties to a secretive Washington-based organization of influential religious and social conservatives.

So far, McBride is keeping his nascent campaign under the public radar.

He does not respond to requests for media interviews and hasn't sought coverage of campaign activities. But friends say he is making appearances and starting to put together a campaign team.

Disgusting

"Jeb!"'s slush fund:

Gov. Jeb Bush has a problem not many Floridians are facing. He has more than $1.8 million that he doesn't know what to do with.

The Foundation for Florida's Future, the nonprofit that Bush revived last August, has been taking in piles of cash that the governor apparently had planned to use to support ballot initiatives on class-size and private-school vouchers.

During the just-completed, 60-day legislative session, the foundation received a stunning $739,211 in contributions as Bush carefully worked the Legislature to accept his ballot proposals. Some of the largest donations included $500,000 from Cast-Crete Corp., a Tampa-area company headed by conservative activist Ralph Hughes; $100,000 from The Villages, the retirement development led by GOP rainmaker Gary Morse; and $30,000 from companies controlled by Miami developer and Bush-Cheney fundraiser Sergio Pino.

(Bush, it's worth noting, has criticized lawmakers before for raising money while meeting in special sessions, though the governor defended his foundation's fundraising by saying he was not actively seeking out the contributions.)

Gingrich Hearts "Jeb!"

Gingrich likes Jebbie in 2012 or 2016:

Probably '08 is a little bit tricky, but " '12 or '16 isn't. And he's a young enough guy (53) that he has a great future," Gingrich said on the Political Connections television show airing [Saturday] on Bay News 9. "I just think his natural, personal ability is so great that people are going to realize he is not his father and he's not his brother. He's a very unique, charismatic leader with extraordinary capabilities. ... Jeb Bush may well be the most innovative (governor) in the entire country."

Power Struggle

Bill March has the scoop on the GOoPer feud, and it is a hoot: "Party Infighting Divides GOP Women's Group".

Pigs at the Trough

"Florida's professional lobbyists, who fought to keep their earnings secret, earned at least $17.4 million in just three months to lobby the Florida Legislature, a review of new disclosure forms shows." "Review: Lobbyists earned $17M".

Bush Spin

"Despite all the effort, the decline this year in 10th-grade reading scores is startling."

Judging from the buzz that came from Gov. Jeb Bush's office last week, there was nothing but good news in the latest round of fourth- through 10th-grade FCAT scores. ...

But the governor's office was silent about the continuing deterioration of 10th-grade reading scores.

Since 2001, the number of 10th-graders reading at grade level or above on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test has dropped from an already dismal 37 percent to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the number of 10th-graders reading at Level 1 - the lowest level on a scale of 1 to 5 - has jumped from 31 to 38 percent.

Wrong

"Gov. Bush and Republican legislative leaders still can't admit that they were wrong on insurance." "Democrats take chance to make insurance case".

The Puerto Rican Vote

"For more than a decade, Puerto Ricans have slowly moved from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt. And nowhere is the change more noticeable than in Florida, which has supplanted New Jersey as the No. 2 state for mainland Puerto Ricans, behind New York. The number of Puerto Ricans in Florida was estimated at 656,300 in 2004, the latest year available, up 165 percent since 1990." "Puerto Ricans choose Florida; influx could cause political rift".

Brown-Waite

"Since her narrow upset of veteran Democratic Rep. Karen Thurman in 2002, Democrats say, Brown-Waite has committed several of the sins they believe will drive voters to their party in November:"

She has aggressively supported the war in Iraq, even as the death toll climbs and its popularity plummets. She accepted $14,000 from former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in her last election and $1,500 from a former DeLay aide who pleaded guilty in a corruption scandal.

She supported changing House ethics rules to allow DeLay to remain as leader if indicted, as well as expanding corporate tax cuts and allowing police to search library records. A Congressional Quarterly analysis shows she has voted with her party more than 90 percent of the time since she got to Washington.

Sugar

"Congress' tinkering with sugar policy worries cane growers".

"Clock's Ticking"

"Clock's ticking for students at state universities".

Hypocrite

The education Governor?

As part of an unprecedented $448.7-million line-item veto of state funding, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush slashed a total of $5.8 million in grants to public libraries, pilot projects for library homework help and web-based high-school texts, and funding for a joint-use library in Tampa.

[I]t defies understanding why Mr. Bush, who is admirably [sic] called "the education governor," has vetoed a $2.2 million appropriation for Florida public libraries. The money, about a fourth of the $10 million requested by the Florida Library Association, was intended to help public libraries recover from the last five years of reduced state funding in our growing state, where 8.7 million citizens hold library cards.

Another Complaint Against Pruitt

"A Democratic opponent of Senate President-to-be Ken Pruitt filed a complaint Friday against Pruitt with the Internal Revenue Service, alleging misuse of money from a registered charity that the Port St. Lucie Republican ran. Stan Smilan, a retired airline pilot in Lake Worth who is running against Pruitt, cited articles in The Palm Beach Post showing that between 2003 and 2004, Pruitt raised $264,434 for his Partnership for Better School Funding but spent only $7,495 on scholarships for needy students, a stated top priority of the charity." "Pruitt foe alleges misuse of charity".

"Crist rewriting history?"

Crist Claim: "'I've never voted for [a tax increase], and I've never supported one," he told supporters last week."

Facts:

But was Crist rewriting history?

As a U.S. Senate candidate in 1998, Crist supported a penny-a-pound tax on sugar companies to clean up the Everglades. "I wouldn't call it a tax; I'd call it a fee," Crist said then.

Two years earlier, Crist backed a rental car tax for a stadium for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and said he did so because the tax was subject to voter approval in a referendum.

As a state Senate candidate in 1992, Crist was asked by the St. Petersburg Times in a questionnaire if Florida's tax base was sufficient to maintain the state's quality of life.

"Probably not; no," Crist wrote. "The elimination of unfair and unjustified exclusions and exemptions could assist in the improved revenue base necessary to help maintain and improve our quality of life."

His Better Half

"The accomplished Laura Gallagher helps define her husband's campaign, and, perhaps, him as well." "Tom Gallagher's formidable running mate".

Nelson Takes A Stand

"As a protest to offshore drilling, Sen. Bill Nelson refused to help confirm Dirk Kempthorne as the new Interior secretary." "Nelson refuses to support Interior secretary". See also "Sen. Nelson votes against Kempthorne nomination".

To Replace Harris

"Immigration and term limits produced some of the biggest distinctions among the seven candidates running to replace Katherine Harris in Congress during a Thursday forum." "Few fireworks at first forum for candidates".

Foley

"Rep. Mark Foley of West Palm Beach doesn't just watch the birdie, he tracks it. In the political game of jockeying for face time on camera, he's a master." "Working the angles".

"Suarez versus Carollo yet again"

"In his bid for a state House seat, Miami ex-Mayor Xavier Suarez will run up against the brother of former nemesis and ex-Mayor Joe Carollo." "Same names, but a new face in race for House seat".

"Blah, blah, blah"

One hopes Jebbie doesn't really believe his own "blah, blah, blah"

"The Democrats go 'Blah, blah, blah.' Republicans deliver. Democrats talk. Republicans act," Bush said.

"If the next governor of this state is a Democrat -- God forbid -- the education policies of this state will be driven by the teachers unions," Bush said. "The unions only care about the adults . . . and because of that we need to elect a Republican governor."

Setting a sentimental tone for the governor's address, the audience watched a video montage of his career set to Paul Anka's The Times of Your Life. Bush served as chairman of the Miami-Dade Republican Party from 1984 to 1986.

"A Sunny Start"

"'What if Florida's neighborhoods could talk?' asks Attorney General Charlie Crist in the 30-second spot that begins airing [Saturday] in some markets across the state. Crist faces Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher for the Republican nomination in the campaign to succeed Gov. Jeb Bush." "A Sunny Start". See also "Gallagher wants debate, downplays ad timing".

The Buzz: "The Crist campaign won't release details, but our spies tell us he bought $1.4-million worth of ads to run for four weeks in the Tampa Bay area, Orlando, Fort Myers and Jacksonville and for one week in West Palm Beach." "Crist's TV Spot".