Last year, Florida's high school graduation rate went down and the dropout rate went up. In Florida, as in most states, the problem is even worse than official statistics portray because graduation rates routinely are inflated.

Education Commissioner John Winn said last week that the state's graduation rate fell to 71 percent from 71.9 percent. If roughly 30 percent of students weren't graduating, that would be bad enough. But an independent report last summer from the Education Research Center, financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, pegged Florida's graduation rate at 57.5 percent and the national rate at 69.6 percent. Those figures are based on 2002-2003 data, but they help explain the gap between what states report and the real graduation rates. ...

An inflated and declining graduation rate is more evidence that, despite eight years of Gov. Bush's fixation on the FCAT, Florida's high schools still are not adequately preparing students for good jobs or advancement to college. ...

Florida ranks near the bottom nationally in most educational measures, including graduation rate, teacher pay and per-pupil spending. FCAT-based grades have not proved to be the solution. Gov. Bush's push this year to make high school students declare a "major," like his eight-year fixation on creating voucher programs with no academic accountability, is similarly gimmicky. To do better, Gov.-elect Charlie Crist will have to graduate to education policies that rely less on flash and punishment and more on dollars and substance.

Last week, Florida marked another sad milestone in the battle between suburbanization and wildlife: The population of endangered Florida panthers suffered the highest death toll ever, with the discovery of the 11th panther killed this year on the state's roadways. Six deaths were in Collier County; two were in Lee. In all, 19 panthers died from all causes in 2006.

Affordable Housing Finance magazine cites the best affordable-housing developments of 2005-06 in a recent special issue.

The issue names 32 projects nationwide that used the federal low-income tax credit program or public-private partnerships to revitalize or build affordable homes.

Unfortunately, none of the developments is in Florida. Can't our state and its communities rectify that?

"Jeb Bush And His Amen Chorus Of Goose-Stepping Legislators"

As the screen door in the Governor's mansion hits Jebbie in the derriere, we are reminded yet again of what has been done to Florida by "Jeb Bush And His Amen Chorus Of Goose-Stepping Legislators" (March 17, 2003 DBN-J editorial no longer online). An editorial in the Orlando Sentinel today:

Before you cheer an agreement between Gov. Jeb Bush and legislative leaders to provide more hospital beds for the mentally ill, let's remember it came only after a judge forced the state to do something about the hundreds of sick inmates languishing in jail.

The more than 300 mentally ill people denied treatment didn't raise much concern until the head of the Department of Children & Families was fined for contempt.

Now Mr. Bush, Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio have agreed to spend $16.6 million for 531 new mental-health beds. ...

What took them so long?

Gone at Last

"With the family cat in tow, Gov. Jeb Bush headed Friday for the next chapter of his life, leaving his Capitol office for a holiday trip to South Florida with no plans to return to the office." "Gov. Bush leaves Capitol for the last time".

Whatever The Polls Say ...

"During his recent campaign for governor, Republican Charlie Crist often trotted out the cliche that the only poll that mattered was the one on Election Day. Ha! This was a candidate who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on polls and listened to them carefully."

The danger in seeking the public's approval, however, is that sometimes the right thing to do isn't necessarily popular. Crist said during the campaign that he supported automatically restoring voting rights to felons after they complete their sentences. In the Quinnipiac poll, 55 percent said that's a bad idea.

Florida is one of only three states left with the Jim Crow-era law banning felons from voting unless they go through a lengthy, complicated process. If Crist, a politician once dubbed ''Chaingang Charlie'' who made a career out of being tough on crime, can withstand public pressure on this issue, he may not make friends. But he could gain respect.

Rubio's "Disappointing Sense of Entitlement"

Rubio's "surge in salaries and personnel hardly sends a signal that Rubio will contain the growth of government. Instead, it reflects a disappointing sense of entitlement." "Disappointing Extravagance".

CD 13 - Pelosi Gives Jennings Hope

"Despite warnings that it could turn the new Congress into a partisan battleground, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refuses to rule out the possibility that Democrat Christine Jennings could be seated to represent the 13th District when the 110th Congress convenes in 12 days." "Pelosi gives Jennings some hope".

Sewage

"Fresh from a messy battle over the future of sewage here, officials agree: plans to stop spewing wastewater into the sea and instead shoot it into the ground will send it out of sight but not out of mind." "Plan to pipe sewage down raises concerns".

Code of Ethical Campaign Practices "Misguided?

"Pinellas County Commissioner Karen Seel reflects the frustration of many voters who were disgusted by the distorted, negative attacks that set a new low for local sleaze in the 2006 political campaigns. But the answer is not a government-written pledge that would encourage candidates to play nice."

A proposed county ordinance backed by Seel is well-intended but misguided. It would create a Code of Ethical Campaign Practices, and candidates in Pinellas would be asked to sign it voluntarily. The proposed oath would ask candidates to pledge to reject campaign material that distorts or misrepresents facts. They would agree to avoid making an opponent's race, gender or sexual orientation a campaign issue and speak out against anyone who raises such personal issues. ...

But policing the tenor of political campaigns, even in a voluntary way, is not government's role. That is best left to independent groups unaffiliated with candidates or the county courthouse. ...

In tone and volume, the 2006 campaigns were often depressingly negative. Yet voters did an admirable job slogging through the muck and rejecting many of those candidates who engaged in the worst name-calling. That should send a stronger signal to future candidates about how to conduct themselves than any voluntary pledge that county government hands out.

Earmarking

"The Democrats' plans to freeze earmark spending will hit lots of local programs, some of them small but close to lawmakers' hearts." "Budget freeze targets pet projects".

Election Reform?

"When Florida's infamous punch-card ballots went the way of Al Gore's presidential hopes, many thought the state's voting problems had, too. But six years later, policymakers are learning the system still isn't perfect and more changes may be needed."

Legislative leaders haven't committed to any particular fixes, and proposed legislation is only now starting to be filed — none yet includes any major election overhauls. Some election requirements aren't in the law, but left to the individual counties, where 66 of 67 elections supervisors are chosen by voters.

Perhaps A Constitutional Amendment?

Sad to say, but one suspects that this letter writer's humor would be missed by most Floridians: "The recent botched execution of Angel Diaz brings to light a severe problem in this country, that of capital punishment. In order to reform the system, we should look to the great empires of the past. As our country is quite young compared with, say, the Roman Empire in its prime, it makes sense to learn from our ancestors and model our society after theirs. What I'm getting at is a gladiatorial combat system for prisoners on Death Row." "Bring back the gladiator system".

Crosby

"A state lawsuit against the ex-wife of former Florida prisons chief James Crosby should be dismissed because she never spent or received any of his retirement money, her lawyer said." "Official's ex-wife: Drop pension suit".

More Crotty

"Why Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty would meet with political hatchet man Doug Guetzloe is mystifying. Mr. Crotty met with his longtime nemesis to talk about -- can you believe this? -- ethics." "A silly summit". Background: "When Crotty met Guetzloe: Mayor sought old foe's advice".

34

"Family denounces botched Florida execution at funeral in Puerto Rico".

Tax Fix?

"Opportunistic tax policy is like snake oil. It preys on people's ignorance. It also makes it difficult to tell the difference between tax scammers and tax reformers. Some of both are lobbying their ideas around the state, hoping to soften opinion in their favor on the approach of the next legislative session. A little castor oil might help to sift through the ideas . . . as an emetic for the most indigestible ones, like a governor commission's proposal to eliminate the property tax and double the sales tax instead, or impose an outright cap on tax collection, or let homeowners carry tax savings as they move from one homesteaded property to another." "Property tax fix?".

Now That The Bushco Elections Are Over

"Proposed cuts in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services budget would hit two national wildlife preserves in Florida ... The Bush administration's planned cuts to wildlife services will eliminate 79 full-time positions in the Southeast. Also eliminated would be animal population studies, public education programs, exotic species control and enforcement patrols of sanctuaries." "Taking An Ax To Preserves".

Applicants Wanted

"Crist seeks conservative applicants".

Mel Tanking

"And the [Quinnipiac University] poll found that slightly more than half of Floridians think Bill Nelson is doing a good job in the U.S. Senate while only 42 percent think Mel Martinez is doing a good job." "Latte Drinking Republicans?".

No Conflict?

"Gov.-elect Charlie Crist and newly appointed state management secretary Kevin Hyde dismissed concerns about potential conflicts of interest over Hyde's law firm's representation of a company that the state is investigating."

Foley & Lardner, the Jacksonville firm for whom Hyde works, is representing Convergys Corp., which is under investigation for losing personnel data.

Crist said Monday that Hyde has had no role in the Convergys case while working at Foley & Lardner.

The state started a $350 million contract with Convergys in 2002 to outsource human resources, payroll and benefits processing for more than 120,000 employees.

However, a subcontractor is believed to have outsourced the information to India and much of it has been lost - including employees' Social Security numbers, medical records and other personal information. ...

Hyde said his work at Foley & Lardner never veered close to the Convergys case and that he notified Crist's transition team of the possible conflict.

CD 13 Audit Continues

"A state inquiry into whether the 18,000 undervotes in the District 13 congressional election were caused by a voting machine malfunction began its final phase Thursday."

State elections officials pulled computer chips from a random sample of Sarasota County's iVotronic voting machines for analysis.

The source code on those chips will be compared to the code the manufacturer, Electronic Systems and Software Inc., has on file with Florida's Division of Elections to ensure there are no discrepancies or modifications, said DOE spokesman Sterling Ivy.

First DCA Catches A Break

"Gov. Jeb Bush told reporters Thursday he won't fill the vacancy on the First District Court of Appeal, leaving that for Gov.-elect Charlie Crist." "Crist's Xmas Gift: Bush to Let Him Pick Judge".

"Jeb!" Finds The Cash

"Bush announced plans to add new beds to treat inmates with psychiatric problems and eliminate a long backlog in service that has stirred controversy." Jebbie's "decision, to be approved by a legislative budget commission in early January, comes as Lucy Hadi, chief of the state Department of Children & Families, was threatened with jail time and a fine after her agency failed to shift a number of jail inmates deemed incapable of standing trial over to state psychiatric hospitals for treatment." "Lawmakers OK $16.6M for new beds for mentally ill inmates". See also "Plan may ease backlog of mentally ill inmates" and "Deal will move mentally ill from jails to hospitals".

"Time and again, the Florida Department of Children and Families requested enough money to keep mentally ill prisoners out of jail. And nearly every time, Gov. Jeb Bush and the state Legislature said no. Suddenly, that's a problem." "Rush for treatment".

Rate Hike

"Regulators on Thursday approved a 16 percent increase for the homeowners insurance rates that USAA charges its 200,000 Florida policyholders." "Regulators approve rate increase for USAA homeowners insurance holders".

Hiring

"Crist promises political affiliation plays no part in how he'll fill his administration -- but political philosophy it is on the mind of top transition advisers." "Crist looking to fill jobs".

Enviromental Appointments

"Environmentalists cheered Republican Gov.-elect Charlie Crist's choices Thursday for new leaders of the agencies responsible for protecting Florida's environment and overseeing growth management."

Michael W. Sole was named secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. Tom Pelham, 63, returns to a job in charge of the Department of Community Affairs, which is the state's land planning agency.

"I know both men personally and, speaking from my organization's perspective of deep concern for the health of our nation's Everglades, Gov.-elect Charlie Crist could not have made a better choice," said Thom Rumberger, chairman of Everglades Trust, an advocacy group. ...

Linda Young, who heads the Clean Water Network and has been a vocal critic of the Bush administration's environmental record, applauded Pelham's selection as ''an absolute dream choice'' and was optimistic about Sole.

The Other Castro

"Raul Castro signaled a new leadership style in comments published Thursday, promising fewer speeches, more power sharing, and a willingness to hear different views as he fills in for his 'irreplaceable' brother Fidel." "Raul Castro signals more openness to divergent ideas than Fidel". Meanwhile, "when it comes to Cuba policy, the Bush administration keeps backpedaling toward the past." "Cuba Policy".

Miami

"In a spiteful mood, seven Miami-Dade County commissioners Tuesday voted as a majority to override Mayor Carlos Alvarez's veto of two measures making it tougher for citizens to petition their government. The commission is unhappy with two recent petition drives -- a measure calling for a vote on a strong-mayor proposal and another for a recall vote for Commissioner Natacha Seijas." "Straight to the point".

McCain-Feingold

"A federal court on Thursday loosened restrictions on corporations, unions and other special interest groups that run political advertising in peak election season. The 2-1 ruling said groups may mention candidates by name in commercials as long as they are trying to influence public policy, rather than sway an election. The ruling came in a challenge to the so-called McCain-Feingold law designed to reduce the influence of big money in political campaigns. The law banned groups from using unrestricted money to run advertisements that name candidates two months before a general election or one month before a primary." "Judicial panel rules issue ads OK during elections".

Siplin

"Democrats in the Florida Senate are raising money to help re-elect fellow Democratic Sen. Gary Siplin, the Orlando legislator convicted earlier this year of felony grand theft." "Democrats solicit cash for Siplin in '08".

Unhappy Homeowners

"Hurricane season is gone. But it has left behind many unhappy homeowners without storm shutters complaining that their contractors have vanished, gone bankrupt or are way behind scheduleHurricane season is gone. But it has left behind many unhappy homeowners without storm shutters complaining that their contractors have vanished, gone bankrupt or are way behind schedule." "Delays, fraud hound those who want storm protection".

"Will It Really Be Different This Time?"

Brian Crowley reminds us that, like Charlie, Jebbie "pledge[d] to have the most open government in Florida’s history." "Will It Really Be Different This Time?".

The Wal-Mart Effect

"Wal-Mart enjoys a strong reputation with Florida shoppers -- one that might even influence their vote in the 2008 presidential election." "Pols beware: Floridians love giant retailer Wal-Mart". See also "Who's Better: Bush, Nelson, Martinez...or Wal-Mart?"

Growing

"Florida added 321,697 residents in 2006, according to population estimates released Thursday by the Census Bureau. In sheer numbers, that puts the Sunshine State second only to Texas in new residents, but many of the new Texans are former Louisianians chased there by Hurricane Katrina." "Florida population continues to grow". See also "Florida growth goes from wild to mild" ("Population experts point to economic factors that are cooling the Sunshine State's appeal.")

Doing The Right Thing

"Florida health officials are not letting new Medicaid rules risk the health of infants born to illegal immigrants. Because of this stance, neither infants nor the medical professionals who care for them in Florida will suffer needlessly." "Florida Does Right By Babies".

Crotty

"Make room for another name on Doug Guetzloe's ever-growing list of unlikely political bedfellows: Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, a longtime political adversary."

Crotty, widely considered the region's most powerful elected official, acknowledged this week that he met privately in August with the controversial anti-tax activist to discuss an ethics complaint.

The meeting at Guetzloe's office took place several weeks before Orlando's political establishment was rocked by revelations that hundreds of thousands of dollars had flowed to Guetzloe's consulting firm from a client list studded with prominent individuals and institutions.

Crotty was not a Guetzloe client, but the mayor wanted Guetzloe's help to find out who was behind a complaint filed against Crotty with the state Ethics Commission over his private dealings with prominent land developer Daryl Carter.

The county mayor said he had heard the former chairman of the Ethics Commission -- Richard Spears -- had solicited Guetzloe to file a complaint against Crotty and that Guetzloe had declined.

"Is this justice?"

"Former Palm Beach County Commission Chairman Tony Masilotti, at the center of a web of insider deals, faces up to five years in prison. Two associates, developer Daniel Miteff and attorney Bill Boose, are fighting prosecution and could end up in prison for much longer. Other Masilotti allies have not been charged at all. Is this justice?" "In Masilotti case, more than guilty are guilty".

McCollum

"Attorney General-elect Bill McCollum announced the first appointments of his senior management team Thursday." "McCollum Names Senior Management Team".

Big Plans

"Insurance reform, a new child adoption agency and anti-murder legislation top Charlie Crist's priorities as he prepares to become Florida governor. The governor-elect's game plan is a work still in progress as he also develops a playbook for his first 100 days in office." "Crist crafts his 100-day plan".

The Economy

"What happened to Florida's economy on Gov. Jeb Bush's eight-year watch could be told by numbers:"

-- Good ones, like almost 1.4 million more jobs in Florida now than when he took office. And a jobless rate that hit an all-time low of 3 percent during his tenure. It's a touch higher now, but still well below the national rate.

-- Bad ones, like a strikingly higher cost of living, mostly because of skyrocketing home insurance costs that Bush seemed powerless to do anything about. And property taxes that have increased as property values have gone up, and as local governments have provided the school buildings and services to match population growth, another hallmark of the Bush years.

-- And numbers not yet clear in what they mean, like hundreds of jobs and the promise of more in what Bush calls the "knowledge economy." They're jobs brought by Bush's drive to shift Florida away from low-wage tourism-reliant work to a tomorrow where the stereotypical Florida worker wears a lab coat instead of a Disney character costume.

Optimistic About Charlie

Palm Beach Post Editorial Writer Elisa Cramer: "Maybe it's the magic of Christmas, that time of year when hope visits even unexpectedly, when renewal peeks around the calendar."

Not to be maudlin or anything, but ... I think Gov.-elect Charlie Crist might not be bad for Florida.

I know, I know. He hasn't even been sworn in yet. And, no, I did not vote for Mr. Crist, who ran his Republican primary campaign trying to out-Jeb his opponent. And, yes, I thought his selection of state Rep. Jeff Kottkamp, R-Cape Coral, as his running mate further signaled that Floridians would be in for a continuation of Gov. Bush's ideological policies on everything from public schools to stem-cell research to ex-felons' civil rights to teen pregnancy. And, of course, all of that still is possible.

But ... I am encouraged by what Mr. Crist has done since being elected Nov. 7.

Cuban "Political Juice"

Daniel Ruth:

It was just a few short days ago that the Drive-by Bloviators of the Right-Wing Talking-Head Chattering Class were harrumphing away in glee when federal authorities swept through meatpacking plants across the country to haul away illegal immigrants who were caught red-handed being gainfully employed. ...

Yet, Cubans entering this country every bit as illegally as Mexicans crossing the border enjoy special legal status largely because of the political power of South Florida's Cuban community.

By this perverse logic, if a Cuban and a Mexican entered a bank at the same time to rob it, the Cuban would be given a pardon - and a toaster - while the Mexican would go to prison for life.

Well, wielding political juice is very American, too.

Jebbie Ignored DCF Warnings and Lies About It

"At the urging of Gov. Jeb Bush, lawmakers will meet in an emergency session next month to provide up to $18-million in beds and services to help clear local jails of the mentally ill." "Session is called to solve DCF crisis".

Jebbie, while you were cutting intangibles taxes for your wealthy friends, you were repeatedly warned about this impending crisis, and you did nothing; indeed, you slashed the funding requests that would have .

Let's us put this in its proper context (and kudos to th eOrlando Sentinel for calling Jebbie on this):

For five years, the Department of Children & Families has asked for the money to start more community-based programs for the mentally ill.

Gov. Jeb Bush slashed every request -- in one year by 95 percent -- even as DCF pointedly said the services could help keep the severely mentally ill out of jail, according to an Orlando Sentinel analysis of agency records.

Speaking earlier this week, Bush said neither his office nor DCF could have predicted the "explosion" of mentally ill inmates but that both responded when the problem reached a crisis point.

Jebbie's "Halo Intact"

Notwithstanding incompetence like that described above, Jebbie's poll numbers remain high (88% of Florida GOPers think Jebbie is a "good" or "great Governor" Q Poll released yesterday) and the media is filled with stories like this: "Jeb steps out with halo intact"

See also "Poll: Gov. Bush remains popular as he leave office", "Gov. Bush Makes Grade In Poll" and "Poll: Bush still popular as he leaves".

CD 13 Testimony Ends

ES&S presented its evidence yesterday: "Confusing ballot design probably caused the high rate of undervoting in the District 13 congressional race as well as other races across the state, an elections expert testified Wednesday."

An inconsistent layout of the electronic touch-screen ballots used in Sarasota County as well as Charlotte, Sumter and Lee counties appear to have caused voters to skip certain races, said Michael Herron, a government professor at Dartmouth College who specializes in election irregularities.

Herron testified on the second day of a hearing in Leon County Circuit Court in which Democrat Christine Jennings and a group of voter plaintiffs tried to persuade Judge William Gary to force Election Systems & Software, the maker of Sarasota County's electronic voting machines, to surrender the computer code in those machines for analysis. ES&S is fighting to keep the code secret.

Wednesday marked the end of testimony in the hearing, in which Gary might not rule before the weekend. Attorneys in the case have until midday Friday to submit final written arguments.

Raw Political Courage

Grubbing for votes:

With Fidel Castro’s health waning, Gov. Jeb Bush, Gov.-elect Charlie Crist and other federal and state officials reaffirmed their support of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba in hopes it will lead to the communist government’s downfall upon his death.

"The hour is upon us and the time is now," U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., told supporters of the U.S.-Cuba Democracy political action committee at the group’s annual luncheon.

Appointments

"Two ex-attorney general workers on Crist's staff".

"FCAT or bust."

"If Florida really is serious about giving teachers financial incentives to work harder, it might begin by listening to a few of those miracle workers first."

Once again, though, education commissioner John Winn has driven performance pay into a standardized ditch. His bumper sticker might as well read: "FCAT or bust."

The latest meltdown, oddly enough, is with an effort called STAR (Special Teachers Are Rewarded). Well-intentioned lawmakers wrote the program into an appropriations bill last spring mainly as a way to block Winn from an administrative fiat called E-Comp.

Winn had managed to unite teachers, principals, superintendents and school boards together in collective disgust over E-Comp, which aimed to hand out teacher bonuses based almost entirely on Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores. Now, he has managed the same feat with the legislative alternative. ...

Lawmakers had intended to allow districts to consider performance measures that go beyond the FCAT, but they put Winn in charge of approving or rejecting each STAR plan. Yet as the end-of-the-year deadline looms, only a handful of the state's 67 school districts have been approved.

"There's wide agreement among all the education stakeholders that we need to rethink the current salary system," says Jim Warford, Winn's former K-12 chancellor who now heads the Florida Association of School Administrators. "But again we find ourselves with another missed opportunity because of the lack of leadership in the Department of Education and their failure to work collaboratively with districts to build consensus."

Insurance Fix

"Florida voters aren't convinced the state should solve its insurance woes by wading further into subsidizing the hurricane-battered industry, a new poll shows." "Voters weigh in on insurance woes".

Nelson

"Iraq a year away from 'point of no return,' Nelson says".

Johnson in Trouble?

"A treasurer for former state Rep. Randy Johnson, R-Celebration, could be hit with more than $12,000 in fines after a Florida Elections Commission investigation of Johnson's campaign spending." "Randy Johnson's treasurer comes under scrutiny".

Friendly Divorce?

"Ousted Florida prison chief James Crosby and his ex-wife are being accused of divorcing solely to protect his retirement assets in a lawsuit filed by the state." Recall that this matter arose out of one of the many outsourcing scandals during Jebbie's tenure: "Crosby signed an agreement to plead guilty to taking kickbacks from a subcontractor this summer." "State accuses former prison chief, wife of fraud in lawsuit".

Butterworth

"Inspired choice". See also "New DCF boss to tackle huge challenge hands-on".

And this is interesting, Butterworth is "a supporter of limited adoptions by gay couples. ... He said he has not discussed the matter with Crist, who has said he supports the current law in Florida, one of the only states to ban gay adoption. Crist had previously said that he had no opinion on the matter." "Butterworth supports gay adoption".

Cuban Broadcasting Investigation?

"Rep. William Delahunt has called for a congressional investigation into the U.S. Office of Cuban Broadcasting, following its decision to air anti-Castro programming aimed at Cuban audiences on local Spanish-language TV and radio stations." "U.S. Rep. wants investigation into broadcasting office".

Whoopee

"President signs measure extending sales tax deduction on federal returns".

Orlando

"Ousted Orlando Commissioner Ernest Page was sentenced to 31/2 years in prison Wednesday for trying to profit from his position on the City Council." "Ex-Commissioner Page sentenced to 3 1/2 years on corruption charges".

Gallagher Speaks .. To Louisianians

"Tom Gallagher to Louisianans: Stablize Insurance Market, Promote Competition".

Vicious Cycle

This is hardly a surprise, the "Jeb!" administration has woefully underfunded the criminal justice system; consider the 20th Judicial Circuit:

Because of chronic underfunding of the circuit, [State Attorney Steve] Russell points out, overworked prosecutors juggle a heavy caseload; the attorneys' low salaries cause high turnover, which results in a backlog of cases; defendants sit in jail awaiting trial, straining resources at the county level.

It's a vicious cycle that hurts prosecutors, counties, the plaintiffs and defendants. As Russell says, the lack of funding needs to be addressed, if not by the Legislature then by the statewide prosecutors' association that sets funding levels based on population and attorney workload.

Russell presented his case last week in a meeting with Charlotte County's legislative delegation. Among other things, he noted that the 20th Judicial Circuit is:

Florida's largest, comprising 1.1 million people and 5,400 square miles in Charlotte, Lee, Hendry, Glades and Collier counties.

The state's second fastest-growing circuit, adding 52,000 people last year alone.

The second-lowest funded circuit.

The circuit's public defender, Robert Jacobs II, will also request relief from the Legislature. Jacobs said this week that his office gained only nine additional employees this year, out of 30 positions requested. In 2005, Jacobs' office handled 38,250 cases.

Jacobs pointed out that public defenders' starting pay in the 20th circuit ($41,000) is even lower than that of state attorneys ($43,000), and that most entry-level attorneys carry significant student loan debt.

Hawkes in Hot Water?

Remember Jebbie's First DCA appointment, Paul Hawkes? Martin Dyckman described Hawkes as "a political hatchetman in the House speaker's office when named to the 1st District Court of Appeal at Tallahassee". Seems Mr. Hawkes may be in a little trouble:

Though newly released emails (as well as friends and family) tie him closely to House Speaker Marco Rubio’s office, First District Court of Appeal Judge Paul Hawkes said he had nothing to do with the Miami lawmaker’s decision to open an inquiry into fellow 1st DCA Judge Charles Kahn.

Hawkes’ son, House Counsel Jeremiah Hawkes, emailed a draft of Rubio’s letter Dec. 4 requesting that the Judicial Qualifications Commission share its investigative files on Kahn, who is the target of an as-yet private complaint. The email was sent to an assistant of Rubio’s staff chief, Richard Corcoran, Paul Hawkes’ former legislative aide and consulting partner.

Attorneys for Democrat Christine Jennings and a group of 11 voters argued in Leon County Circuit Court that Election Systems & Software should hand over the source code that runs the paperless electronic voting machines used in Sarasota County in November.

Only by analyzing the computer code inside Sarasota County's voting machines can it be determined whether a software bug ate the 18,380 votes missing from the election, Dan Wallach, a computer scientist from Rice University who specializes in voting technology, said in court.

ES&S is fighting the demand, arguing that opening the code would violate the company's trade secrets and expose them to devastating financial harm.

MIT political scientist Charles Stewart said Jennings would have won the race by as many as 3,100 votes if there had not been an "excessive" undervote in the Nov. 7 election in Sarasota County. More than 18,000 voters went to the polls but failed to cast a vote in the high-profile contest to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key.

Based on his analysis, Stewart estimated that of those undervotes, as many as 14,000 were excessive, meaning they exceeded what would normally be expected in such a race.

But ES&S, Buchanan and the state, who will present their own academic experts, continue to argue that there is no proof that the touch-screen machines didn't work properly. They cited a state report released Tuesday that showed after two separate tests of the voting system that "there is no evidence to support the position that the iVotronic touch screens caused votes to be lost.

Miguel DeGrandy, an ES&S lawyer, said Jennings' academic experts were only advancing their opinions on why there was such a large undervote.

"The opinions they set forth are mere academic speculation," DeGrandy said. "These experts do not provide a specific theory as to why the equipment may have malfunctioned."

The state has filed an interesting set of questions in Leon County Circuit Court that it wants some of the voters of District 13 -- those who filed a lawsuit challenging the Congressional election --to answer. The questions appear to seek answers that could support the theory that the 18,000 under vote in Sarasota County might have been due to user error. Yet, one question drew chuckles from Buzz, imagining crowds of voters gulping down cocktails before hitting the polls last month. ...

The Jennings campaign issued a press release last night calling the questions offensive. An attorney for the voters, Lowell Finley of California, also decried the questions in a court hearing today, saying the questions reflect the state's defiant attitude about the court challenge.

Crist Picks Butterworth for DCF

"Republican Gov.-elect Charlie Crist appointed Bob Butterworth, his Democratic predecessor as attorney general, Tuesday to lead the state's perennially troubled social services agency." "Crist taps Democrat to cure DCF's ills". See also "Butterworth will lead DCF", "Crist names `fixer' to lead DCF", "Crist taps Democrat as DCF secretary", "Democratic 'fixer' added to Crist staff" and "Crist taps Democrat Butterworth to head social services agency".

The Tampa Trib likes it: "Gov.-elect Charlie Crist's pick of former Attorney General Bob Butterworth to head the Department of Children & Families is a masterly choice and the first good news for the embattled agency in a long time." "Butterworth Inspired DCF Choice". So does the Daytona Beach News-Journal, "Public before politics", and the Orlando Sentinel, "Putting parties aside".

The Palm Beach Post, in saluting the appointment gives us a little Charlie history:

This is the best choice for social services secretary since Lawton Chiles picked Jim Towey in 1995. The Florida Senate, with Mr. Crist as a member, blocked that appointment as misguided payback for Gov. Chiles' defeat of Mr. Bush the year before.

More Faith-based Prisons Coming?

"The state should create more faith-based prisons and prepare a better exit strategy for all prisoners if it wants to lower the number of inmates who are released only to commit more crimes, a task force recommended Tuesday." "Prisons can help felons get out and stay out".

Mahoney

"Newly-elected U.S. House Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, made his first appearance in Charlotte since the election last week." "A happy blue in red country".

High Time

"America has hidden behind anti-Castro exiles so long it is clear any rational Cuba policy must grow from weariness in their ranks. That time is about here." "It's high time U.S. talked to Cuba".

Death Penalty

The Palm Beach Post editorial board:

The better answer for Florida would be to do away with capital punishment, which is losing favor across the country. The Death Penalty Information Center reports on a new Gallup poll showing that a majority of Americans favor life without possibility of parole, which Florida added in 1994, over execution. The number of executions this year is down by nearly half since 1999. That year, almost 300 people nationwide were sentenced to death. This year, it will be about 115.

Rate Hikes

- "BellSouth customers in Florida may pay an extra 50 cents per line for a year to make up for money the company spent dealing with last year’s hurricanes, state phone regulators decided Tuesday. The Public Service Commission approved the company’s request to let it pass on the costs to consumers. BellSouth can assess the charge anytime after Jan. 19." "Florida BellSouth customers to pay 50 cents a month for hurricanes".

- "Two Allstate property insurance companies can raise their rates by 8.2 percent, state regulators ruled Tuesday, a move that will affect roughly 400,000 customers. Allstate Floridian Insurance and Allstate Floridian Indemnity had originally requested average statewide rate increases of 22.5 percent and 33.2 percent, respectively. " "State approves 8.2 percent rate hike for Florida Allstate companies". See also "Scaled-back Allstate rate hikes approved".

Clean Campaigns?

Troxler: "A clean campaign pledge? Can't hurt".

"Egregious Miscarriage of Justice"

Daniel Ruth "While Gov. Jeb Bush will be vacating his public housing in just a few days, Richard Paey will still remain a 'guest' of the state for the next 23 years, a victim of an egregious miscarriage of justice that would embarrass even the most inept banana republic. Of course, that could change. Leadership might be afoot!" "Mercy Plea Travels A Painful Road".

"Action or Apathy"

"Jeb Bush's environmental footprint on Florida[?] By all accounts, he's left a lasting one -- either through action or apathy. It's a mixed bag of accomplishments and missed opportunities." "Governor's environment record has hits, misses".

'Glades

"A proposed natural gas-burning power plant on the edge of the Everglades west of Wellington cleared a major hurdle Tuesday, winning the unanimous support of Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet." "New FPL plant out west gets OK". See also "Bush, Cabinet OK power plant" and "Cabinet approves FPL natural gas plant".

Whatever

"Jeb Makes First Post-Gubernatorial Commitment".

Nelson

The Palm Beach Post joins the Miami Herald editorial board ("Visiting Syria, seeking an opening") in praising Nelson's trip to Syria: "Nelson made right trip".

Ban of Gifts

"During its annual meeting Friday, Volusia County's legislative delegation just said no -- to proffered flashing, strap-on noses meant to evoke the spirit of Rudolph the Reindeer. Lawmakers weren't being rude, as they quickly explained to donor Gail Camputaro, executive director of the local Council on Aging. They just had no intention of violating the Legislature's new ban on gifts." "Delegation earns a glowing report".

The Other Castor

"Betty Castor is the perfect choice to head the University of South Florida's Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions." "Castor Returns To Public Life".

Davis

"Soon to be ex- U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, D-Tampa, announced today that he is donating to the University of South Florida his files documenting eighteen years of service in the Florida House of Representatives and United States House of Representatives." "Rep. Davis donates 18 years of files to USF".

Cabinet Says "No"

"A plan to expand cargo operations at the port of Fort Pierce was rejected by Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet Tuesday when they denied an application to moor barges over state-owned submerged land." "Cabinet torpedoes St. Lucie port plan".

Ex-Cons

"A task force commissioned by Gov. Jeb Bush to study problems ex-cons have re-entering society issued a sweeping final report Tuesday calling for new education programs in prison and greater collaboration with community groups." "Keeping ex-cons from going bad again".

For Your Listening Pleasure

"Taxpayer-funded TV and Radio Martí are spending $377,500 to air select programs on South Florida broadcast stations over the next six months, using loopholes in a law that prohibits the propaganda channels from distribution within the United States." "Radio, TV Martí to be aired locally".

STAR Stinks

In a lengthy editorial today, the Daytona Beach News-Journal explains and eviscerates the Legislature's silly Special Teachers are Rewarded program: "STAR cannot accurately and fairly measure educators' performances. It will take power from local school districts in deciding bonuses and puts it in the hands of the state. Worse, it will add unnecessary stress to the classroom. The right move for the next governor and Legislature is to kill it." "No shining STAR".

Nelson

The Miami Herald editorial board has a more sophisticated view of Nelson's trip to Syria than Bushco and its allies:

This was Sen. Nelson's third meeting with President Assad. Other U.S. lawmakers have met with him, too. All of which makes White House criticism of the Nelson visit bewildering. Diplomatic relations are the responsibility of the executive branch, but legislators -- particularly those like Sen. Nelson with oversight responsibility in the realm of international security -- have an obligation to visit other countries on fact-finding missions.

34 Minutes

The Tampa Trib editorial board agrees that the "Botched Execution Demands State Scrutiny Of Lethal Injection", noting that

Bush promised an inquiry Thursday and then suspended the death penalty in Florida on Friday.

Bush rightly set up a commission to examine the process of lethal injection. Most people think of it as a painless way to die - certainly less gruesome than the electric chair. But there is some scientific evidence - though none certain - that the three-drug cocktail administered by the state can cause extreme pain. The killer just can't say anything about it because he's paralyzed.

Normally, Gov. Jeb Bush would deserve credit for his actions following Diaz's death. He halted executions in Florida until a panel can study the Diaz fiasco and determine what went wrong -- a course governor-elect Charlie Crist says he will follow. But Bush has had plenty of opportunities to turn away from a barbaric practice. Most notably, Bush should have known about a study published in the Lancet, an esteemed medical journal, that casts doubt on the supposed painlessness of lethal injection.

The study, performed by University of Miami researchers, found that in many cases (as in Florida) untrained personnel administered lethal injections. In 43 of the 49 executions studied, the level of anesthetic in the executed men's bloodstreams was lower than the amount required to render a patient unconscious for surgery.

Bush should also have known of the plentiful evidence of botched executions. He might have paid attention to proceedings in California and opinions of medical experts who called the supposed sterility and humanity of lethal injection into question.

More Appointments

Charlie makes 3 more appointments:

- "Craig Fugate, who helped Gov. Jeb Bush navigate through several devastating hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, will stay in his role as director of the state's emergency management system, Gov.-elect Charlie Crist said Monday."

- "Crist also announced two other key agency heads. Kevin Hyde, a Jacksonville attorney who specializes in labor and employment law, will be the new head of the Department of Management Services, the agency responsible for oversight on many of the state's contracts. Monesia Brown was his pick as director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the state's labor agency.

Last Chance

"Citizens Property Insurance"

customers who wish to sound off on skyrocketing premiums or offer suggestions on improving customer service can speak to top company executives at a public hearing in Largo this afternoon.

The hearing is the last of three ordered by the state Cabinet in September when it rejected the 2007 operating plan for the state-run insurer of last resort.

Wading Ashore in Florida

"Tightening patrols on Florida's long shore will be a challenge, but as long as large groups of foreigners can wade ashore undetected, homeland security exists in name only." "Tighten Florida's Porous Border".

Ethanol

"In one of his last initiatives as governor, Jeb Bush on Monday announced the creation of the Interamerican Ethanol Commission to promote the use of the alternative fuel throughout the Americas and slowly wean the region off gasoline." "Florida, development bank, Brazil push for ethanol".

Housing Crisis

"The soaring cost of housing has forced people at all income levels to rethink what 'affordable' really means." "Tough choices". For more check out this excellent site: "Fla Workforce Housing".

Lake Okeechobee

"Lee County has another ally in the battle to control excessive releases from Lake Okeechobee, and this one should have some power to change things. Florida's Senate president is very interested in the issue of water quality, local legislators said Monday during a Lee County legislative delegation meeting in Fort Myers." "Legislators: Lake O will be a state priority".

527s

"At the state level,"

the Florida Legislature this year also declined to put a $500 limit on contributions to 527 groups involved in local and state races - for the obvious reason that incumbents tend to benefit more than challengers from 527s. Many lawmakers also set up their own 527s, as incoming Senate President Ken Pruitt did to tout Bright Futures scholarships.

State lawmakers did require 527s to disclose donors more quickly, but the politicians still benefit from huge contributions. Does that matter? Politicians in Tallahassee will say it doesn't. The best ones even will do it with a straight face.

On Drilling

The Naples Daily News editorial board: "By making the ban — albeit one that allows drilling closer to Florida than the previous moratoria did — into law, Congress has recognized a reality of modern life: While protecting the environment is important, we need fossil fuels." "Gulf drilling".

Castor

"Last week, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Castor to the House Rules Commmittee, a rare selection for a freshman." "Castor Names District Staff".

Voucher Nut Annoyed

The Miami Herald's story on Sunday, "Exam has changed how teachers teach", annoyed Voucher nut John Kirtley: "Voucher guru peeved by story".

Rubio

Out in the blogosphere, there is this post at dKos on Rubio and the House GOPers: "Democrats Need To See This – FL Republicans are slick!".

Jennings wants to review what she calls the touch-screen machine's DNA, its electronic source code. The system's closely guarded electronic brain is not fully accessible even to the state. On Tuesday, Ms. Jennings will ask Circuit Judge William Gary to grant her access. To ease public worries about electronic voting, the judge must do so.

case is about more than who fills the only still-being-contested seat in the 110th Congress. It's about the viability of touch-screen voting. ...

Ms. Jennings' best argument is the least technical. If the machines are not to blame, why wouldn't the manufacturer allow the most thorough review? If it's to protect company secrets, the court can maintain confidentiality. Such scrutiny is more likely to become the rule as states become more aggressive. For instance, Minnesota requires that the source code be made available in races that require recounts. Imagine if this race decided who gets the majority in the House? For the sake of voter confidence, manufacturers must be subjected to more scrutiny, not less.

In the Blogosphere

Check out these posts at dKos: "FL-13: Carl Hiassen lays the smackdown" and "Little King Jeb!'s Reign Ending" ("If he is a candidate, what does his record in Florida tell us about his executive skills?").

Outsourcing Florida

"Are Florida taxpayers saving money by having an outside leasing agent negotiate big real estate deals?" We just might find out because "Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, chairs the Governmental Operations Committee. Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, whose district extends into Leon County, serves on the committee. She chaired it for the past two sessions and - although a Republican - she aggressively questioned both the value and the methods of Bush's zest for 'outsourcing.'" "Senate will study Bush's 'outsourcing'".

And He's "Fresh" Too

"Still two weeks away from showing Florida how he will rule, Gov.-elect Charlie Crist already has dropped hints as to how he will not: in the style of his predecessor and fellow Republican Jeb Bush."

His office two weeks ago signaled its willingness to withdraw two key Board of Education reappointments Bush made in October. The board has been seen as Bush's best means of keeping his hand in education policy after he leaves Jan. 2. If Crist appoints his own people to those slots, he immediately could have an majority of the seven-member panel loyal to him.

Next, Crist announced that he had made a mistake by soliciting donations of as much as $500,000 to pay for his inaugural festivities. He imposed a $10,000 cap on contributions and canceled the inaugural ball because he thought a fancy party would send the wrong message when so many Floridians are suffering financially.

And then last week, Crist announced that he would create within his administration an Office of Open Government to "assure full and expeditious compliance with the open government and public records laws of Florida."

It was a stark contrast with Bush, whose office and agencies through the years often added barriers and extra costs to the dissemination of public documents.

"Venice Rising"

Jeremy Wallace writes that "the growing influence of voters in the southern portion of Sarasota County was hard to miss this past week. Both of the major political parties in Sarasota turned to Venice residents to lead them into the presidential elections and what many expect will be an ultra-competitive year for other races in Sarasota in 2008."

Clout?

"Though the GOP is now the minority, the state's political importance keeps its lawmakers influential."

Democrats may have won control of Congress, but the Republican-dominated Florida delegation will still wield power as some of its youngest and newest members move into key committee assignments.

"Seniority [and] historical knowledge is what we lost," said Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida in Tampa. "But we gained in up-and-coming members' political clout."

"Code of Ethical Campaign Practices"?

"To combat the venom and distortion found in so many political contests, Pinellas County leaders want candidates to promise they'll be nice. Under an ordinance being crafted, candidates would be asked to sign a pledge that requires they follow a Code of Ethical Campaign Practices." "Ladies and gentlemen, act like it".

Wild Florida

"'Glades biologists pursue voracious foe: Burmese python". See also "Protecting wild Florida".

Residency Requirement

"More than five weeks after the Nov. 7 election, Hernando County voters are no closer to an answer."

They booted the 14-year veteran from the five-member county commission and replaced her with Rose Rocco. But Robinson, a Republican, and her supporters said not so fast.

They went to court to reclaim the seat in the 28th largest of Florida's 67 counties - a growing bedroom community of 160,000 located 50 miles north of Tampa, best known as the home of Weeki Wachee, the City of Mermaids.

Robinson's argument: Rocco didn't live in the district on Election Day, which, according to Robinson's interpretation of a state statute, is required.

Circuit Judge John Booth issued an injunction last month that blocks Rocco from being sworn in until someone decides how to interpret the residency requirement.

Gulf Oil Drilling

The Tampa Trib editorial board acknowledges that "some environmental groups are riled up by congressional approval of expanded offshore oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The measure poses some risk." Nevertheless, the Trib finds it "An Acceptable Drilling Bill".

Its So Easy ...

"To see how cozy the deal-making can get in the world of wetland mitigation banking, look at what happened when the Orlando-Sanford Airport built a runway through a swamp." "I'm a public official (and Ecobank rep)". See also "The 'bad apple' of wetlands banking".

More: "The bulldozing of large parts of Florida, the subject of a recent report by the University of Florida's GeoPlan Center, is plainly visible in the Wesley Chapel area of southeast Pasco County." "Fast-Growing Wesley Chapel Requires Rigorous Attention".

Yet more: "Companies controlled by retired Boston developer and GOP donor Gerald W. Blakeley Jr. and his family were hoping to make up to a 130 percent profit by selling the [South Florida Water Management District ] polo fields and farmland near Port Mayaca in Martin County. The water district board was all set to vote on the deal. The district planned to pay the Blakeleys' companies $68.1 million for 2,270 acres. That's about $30,000 an acre, more than double the $13,000 an acre the firms paid for the land last year." "Deal lends itself to doubt".

See generally "Special Report: Vanishing Wetlands".

Death Politics

Florida's botched "execution immediately added fuel to the debate over lethal injection as states grapple with what critics call an uncertain science. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in January held up Florida's executions until September, when the state resumed capital punishment after formalizing its procedure."

The execution immediately added fuel to the debate over lethal injection as states grapple with what critics call an uncertain science. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in January held up Florida's executions until September, when the state resumed capital punishment after formalizing its procedure.

For the second time in less than a year, Florida has suspended executions and has formed a commission to investigate. California has also called a halt to executions as it reviews.

States have responded differently to the high court's ruling. Florida resumed its execution schedule. Other states chose to halt their schedule until the courts determine whether their procedures violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

Those that chose not to question their procedure in light of the Supreme Court ruling may now be forced to whether they like it or not.

Volusia County Delegation

"Homelessness. Mental illness. Addiction. Volusia County's legislative delegation heard plenty about all three Thursday -- from city and county officials as well as service providers. Delegation members readily admitted that problems in Volusia County -- as well as Flagler County, which held its delegation meetings earlier -- are mounting faster than local leaders are finding solutions." "Behind with solutions".

"The New Green"

"Fears from accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl have been eclipsed in recent years by an admirable safety record at this nation's nuclear plants and recognition of the economic and environmental downsides to oil, natural gas and coal as fuels. While renewable sources of energy such as solar power are still in the developmental stage, nuclear is the new green." "Go green with nuclear".

Whatever

"Future Governor Stops In Tampa". See also "Crist Plays Ball, Has Barbecue On Tour Stop", "Crist continues inauguration celebration" and "Crist takes kids to ballpark".

"The Numbskulls Prevailed"

Carl Hiassen: "It's one of the last unsettled political races in the country, and naturally it would be in Florida, the same state that spectacularly botched the 2000 presidential election and spawned the national stampede to electronic voting. At the time, many people warned against switching to touch-screen devices -- and costly ones -- that offered no paper trail. But the numbskulls prevailed, the machine manufacturers got rich, and now here we are." "Comic echo of 2000 election -- it's not funny".

More on CD 13:

The Sarasota Herals editorial board: "Some partisans and media outlets have called on Christine Jennings, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House, to end her contest of the Nov. 7 election -- which, according to the official count, she lost by 369 votes to Republican Vern Buchanan. Those calls are premature." They explain "why" here: "The case for Jennings".

The Tallahassee Democrat editoral board:

On Nov. 7, and in early voting, more than 18,000 votes were - as was said to occur to human beings in bloody El Salvador in the '80s - "disappeared."

Votes simply didn't show up in that particular race, suggesting quite selective indifference if, as the elections supervisor there blithely suggests, Sarasota County voters just didn't give a flip about who would replace Katherine Harris in Congress.

It's a dubious assumption, given that they voted enthusiastically in other races on the same ballot - those for Florida's governor, where the undervote was just 1,800, for example, and the U.S. Senate race, where the undervote was just 1,600. Nor did a similarly large percentage of "undervotes" show up in adjacent counties in that same congressional district.

At this point, on principle, they want a look at the software - specifically something called the "source code," which Election Systems & Software, the company that manufactures the paperless iVotronic machines, hasn't released, claiming proprietary information. ...

Judge Gary, the ball's in your court.

From the "Values" Crowd

"Experts say botched execution was probably painful".

Centerfield

"Gov.-elect Charlie Crist's centrist approach to leadership is suddenly catching on with fellow Republicans, perhaps another sign that Gov. Jeb Bush's my-way-or-the-highway style is waning."

House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt last week gave Democrats unprecedented access -- at least on paper -- to power in both chambers, showing the GOP is ready to share after a decade in command of the Legislature.

Pruitt went the furthest, handing five committee chairmanships to Democrats last week, giving them influence over health policy, government operations and Everglades oversight. ...

What remains to be seen is how much the Republican outreach will mean. The GOP holds an almost 2-to-1 advantage in House seats and a 26-14 edge in the more volatile Senate. That means Democrats are certain to be run over plenty.

"Suburban Wasteland"?

"Without careful planning, Florida could become a suburban wasteland. There has to be a better way." "What will it be?".

'Glades

"Vote near on plan to build two new power plants in Everglades Agricultural Area".

Eight Year Honeymoon

Who writes headlines like this? "Rising property insurance rates mar Bush's legacy" As if, but for the insurance issue, Jebbie has a "legacy" that is unmarred? This man has enjoyed an eight year media honeymoon.

Compassion?

To be sure, there is an occasional hopeful sign on the religious right, like Longwood's Rev. Joel Hunter, who split with the Christian Coalition last month., or "Steve Hill, megachurch pastor of Heartland Fellowship Church in Dallas, [who] said Christians have 'slammed the door on the Gospel' by focusing so narrowly on what they oppose, and on strident moral grounds." Unfortunately,

That message will not appeal to all conservative evangelicals. Four state branches have split from the Christian Coalition in the past few months — three of them saying the group abandoned its core mission by weighing in on issues like Internet law and tax reform instead of focusing on traditional morality.

California megachurch pastor Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life" and one of the country's more influential religious figures, was criticized by the National Clergy Council for inviting Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to an AIDS summit because the Democrat supports abortion rights.

Hunter says that mentality — the idea that collaborating on an issue with secular or Democratic groups sacrifices one's conservative credentials — impedes real progress.

"We have become so label-conscious and so polarized in our views that if you are outspoken about these issues, you're afraid of getting put in the wrong camp or being misunderstood," Hunter said. "I think it's an image thing, which is also a huge problem.

"Being called a liberal, to a conservative — or at least to a traditional conservative, a narrow conservative — that's the kiss of death," he said.

"Merit" Pay

"On Tuesday, when members of the Martin County School Board approved a teacher merit-pay program, they did it despite objections from the very people expected to benefit from the plan." "Process for merit pay plan debated".

Gambling Man

"A once-powerful Palm Beach County lobbyist who allegedly conspired with former County Commission Chairman Tony Masilotti risks far tougher corruption charges - and much more prison time - after walking away from a plea deal." "Pulling plea raises ante for lobbyist".

Restoration

The Palm beach Post editorial board remids us that "Florida remains one of three states that don't automatically restore the rights of felons after they serve time. It is a hangover from racism after the Civil War. All the good ideas from the Governor's Ex-Offender Task Force to turn ex-convicts into productive members of society will amount to nothing if the Legislature refuses to end the unproductive stripping of their rights." "To keep ex-felons clean, restore their legal rights".

"Solving The Insutance Problem"

"The condition of the Florida property/casualty insurance (residential and commercial) industry is critical. If not corrected without more massive premium increases, this one problem will escalate to the point that overall economic growth will be severely impacted, businesses (especially hotels/condos in coastal areas) will be forced into receivership, and some residents may leave the state permanently. Worst of all, many citizens may lose their home due to inability to pay triple-digit premium increases." "Competition 1st step to solving insurance problem".

"Low Hanging Fruit"

Under Jebbie's education "reforms",

Florida's high-school graduation rates have remained among the lowest in the nation. And the percentage of high-school sophomores with proficient reading scores has slightly dropped during the Bush administration. One of Bush's former education officials, Jim Warford, said Bush focused on the lower grades for his reforms because it was easier and would yield more results, to the detriment of "ignoring" the harder-to-fix higher grades until his latter-term reforms.

"We were picking the low-hanging fruit," he said, "and we were fighting the wrong problem."

Cuba Meeting

"Led by U.S. Representatives Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican, and William Delahunt, a Massachusetts Democrat, the group arrived in Cuba for a weekend visit on Friday afternoon and met that evening with National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon." "U.S. lawmakers meet with leaders in Cuba".

Tancredo

"Tancredo may yet speak in 'Third World' Miami".

Divisive

"Jeb!"" is

"the most divisive governor we've had since these polls started being taken" in the 1970s, said Robert Crew, an American politics professor at Florida State University. "He's carved out certain conservative theories and stuck to them, and that appeals to a more narrow segment of the population."