Aspire - a three-year, $100 million contract to replace Florida's aging accounting system - is a vestige of the Jeb Bush e-administration. It's a major product of the former governor's love affair with technology and the notion that privatizing major public operations is almost always preferable. ...

As even many of Mr. Bush's Republican allies learned after enabling the chief executive to have his way for several years, accountability has to be much more than convenient political rhetoric.

It has to be measurable and non-negotiable. We are, after all, talking about protecting the interests of state taxpayers, not private investors.

Crist Blows Off Consumers

"Crist signed a bill into law Friday that is designed to increase cable television competition, but he also asked lawmakers to strengthen its consumer protection provisions in the future. Some consumer groups and local governments had urged Crist to veto the legislation (SB 529). They disputed claims it would reduce rates and argued the measure's service standards are too loose and enforcement provisions too weak." "Gov. Crist signs cable TV bill but asks for tighter enforcement".

"Think Small"

"A legislative revenue expert Friday advised the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to focus on small-scale, incremental changes rather than broad-based -- but risky -- restructuring. Alan Johansen, staff director of the Senate Finance and Tax Committee, offered that suggestion against the backdrop of the Legislature's continuing search for a way to slash property taxes in response to a public outcry over soaring and inequitable tax bills." "Think small, reform team told".

Pork

"The letter from House Speaker Marco Rubio sounded grave."

Money is so tight, he told lawmakers in February, there isn't room in the budget "for program expansions, new initiatives or member projects."

Did any of them read it?

The $72-billion budget on Gov. Charlie Crist's desk is as laden with pork as any in recent years.

"Trying Times"

"For a combative Christian political crusader like John Stemberger, these are trying times."

The front-runners for the Republican presidential nomination are thrice-married Rudy Giuliani, who openly supports abortion rights, and John McCain, who once called Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson "agents of intolerance." Charlie Crist, whom Stemberger bashed last year as a "conservative impostor, " now sits in the governor's office with soaring approval ratings after clobbering Stemberger's preferred candidate in the Republican primary.

Stemberger, the loudest voice in Florida's Christian right movement, lately looks like he's all mouth and little might. But in the same week that Falwell died, Stemberger sounds neither cocky nor chastened.

"It's not our job to be victorious. It's our job to be faithful. It's our job to stand up for truth and to speak the truth," the Orlando trial lawyer said in an office sprinkled with photos of Jeb Bush and Robert Bork and a "Beware of Attack Lawyer" warning sign.

Florida USA Targeted by Gonzo

"This week, The Washington Post, citing unreleased government documents, reported that several other U.S. attorneys were targeted for dismissal, among them Gregory Miller, the U.S. attorney for the northern district of Florida, based in Tallahassee." "'Firing list' news a surprise".

Avoiding the Ax

"In a last-ditch effort to stave off the budget ax, Miami-Dade County and municipal leaders agreed Friday to toss yet another property tax reduction plan into the mix in Tallahassee -- one that would leave hundreds of millions more in local government coffers." "County charts way to cut tax".

"Simple Justice"

"It's a matter of simple justice. When Florida wrongfully imprisons an innocent person, that person is owed more than freedom. There's no real way to make up for lost years, but monetary compensation and a chance for education open the door to the possibility of a new life." "Making amends".

Immigration

"This isn't a perfect plan, but it's a sound foundation. The demagogues -- Mr. Keller, talk show host Lou Dobbs, Republican Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville -- shouldn't be allowed to poison the discussion." "Don't sink it". See also "South Florida immigrants fearful of new Senate plan".

Rigged

"It's usually a lot easier to predict the winners in congressional and legislative contests than it is in Triple Crown horse races. That's because in most states, including Florida, legislators have carefully drawn the districts to favor incumbents or their parties. They've turned democracy on its head by picking voters for politicians. Even last year, when Democrats took control of the U.S. House from Republicans for the first time in 12 years, the two parties together held on to more than 90 percent of their seats. In Florida, GOP Rep. Clay Shaw lost, but the other 21 incumbents seeking re-election won. Six incumbents didn't even draw major-party opposition." "Go after rigged districts".

And You Married Your Cousin Because ... ?

"Rudy Giuliani bashed Hillary Clinton in a forum with business and political leaders in Orlando, then met with a group of about 20 big-dollar Republican political financiers in Tampa, during a campaign swing through Florida Friday." "Giuliani Meets GOP Financiers In Tampa". See also "Giuliani pushes experience, fight against terror".

Food Bank

"Persuaded by an energetic lobbyist, lawmakers earlier this month earmarked $100,000 of the state budget for the Florida Food Banks and Food Pantries Association, a fledgling organization that pledges to fight hunger." "Some skeptical about food-bank funding".

Subsidizing "Sin"?

"Should Florida's retirement fund be invested in adult magazines, casinos, cigarettes, condoms, beer and the morning-after abortion pill? " "State looks at holdings of 'sin stocks'".

Faith?

"State prison officials Friday denied an allegation contained in a lawsuit that agreements with two faith-based contractors to provide transitional housing for released prisoners are unconstitutional." "Faith-based corrections contracts draw lawsuit".

'Glades

"With a shove from Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez of Florida, the U.S. Senate this week followed the House in approving a $14 billion Water Resources Development Act, which would be the first in seven years. It would authorize $2.4 billion in Everglades projects, including $1.37 billion for Indian River Lagoon restoration that would restore natural areas to hold and clean water and help to alleviate shortages." "Water for the Everglades".

From the "Values" Crowd

"Maybe there wasn't enough time in the legislative session to help Florida's property taxpayers, but there was plenty of time to enrich the state's managed-care companies to the detriment of the state's mentally ill." "As HMOs gain, the ill lose".

That's Our Mel

"The chairman of the Republican National Committee said Friday his home state of Florida will face sanctions if it moves ahead with plans to hold an early presidential primary." "Martinez says GOP will punish Florida". See also "Bill set to move state up in presidential primaries".

Yesterday's news

- "Early Primary Date To Intensify Efforts Of McCain In Florida". See also "McCain Plans To Ramp Up Florida Campaign".

- "When the state's controversial no-fault law expires in October, there may also be no requirement for drivers to carry insurance." "Will auto insurance become optional?"

- "David Armstrong resigned as Florida's community-colleges chancellor Thursday to accept the presidency of Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale. ... Along with former State Board of Education Chairman Phil Handy and John Winn, who served as education commissioner, Armstrong is the third top state education official to leave office since the beginning of the year, when Gov. Charlie Crist was inaugurated." "Education official resigns".

- "One of ex-Gov. Jeb Bush's biggest technology projects, the state's dormant effort to replace its obsolete financial-management system used by state agencies, was suspended Thursday by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink." "Sink suspends Project Aspire". See also "Sink halts data project".

- "Crist Aide Going to Work for RPOF ".

- "Didn’t see the cash, Dem boss says".

- "The report explains that when federal inspectors did their own surveys in 12 Florida nursing homes, they found deficiencies in four homes that state inspectors missed, a 33 percent difference." "Nursing Home Inspections Fail The Test".

- "Martinez has been quoted as saying he is 'perfectly fine' with his home state defying the RNC and moving up its primary – and could live with sanctions. But the feathers of South Carolina Gamecocks remain ruffled. Now both parties in the Palmetto State say they’ll move their primary even earlier." "Martinez To Confront (Possibly) Mad Sandlappers".

'Ya Think?

"In an attempt to keep foster children safe, Florida has passed enough laws and issued enough regulations to fill a good-sized book. But those rules alone won't do the job." "Florida falls short on advocacy for foster children".

Cash on Demand

"The price tag for lobbying in the state Capitol is at least $26 million this year -- and could approach $70 million -- as BellSouth leads the way with a million-dollar effort." "BellSouth rings up a $1 million bill for lobbying".

No-Fault

Troxler: "the question is whether our lawmakers, who are coming back for a special session on property taxes in June, should revisit the no-fault question. Some folks want Gov. Charlie Crist to make 'em." "Are we sure we don't need no-fault?".

"Wild West"

"Florida isn't the Wild West, just yet." See why here: "Not a license to kill".

Citrus

Apparently still recovering from the decades old Anita Bryant debacle, "Florida citrus officials are proposing the highest taxes on farmers in at least a decade to fund research and marketing for the beleaguered industry." "State proposes big tax hikes on citrus farmers for second year".

Ever So Popular

Bill March: "His first regular session of the state Legislature is over, and Gov. Charlie Crist managed to get through it with his unusually high popularity levels intact, but one poll hints that maintaining that level could depend on a solution to the state’s property insurance problems."

A poll by Strategic Vision, a Republican-oriented consulting firm that regularly publishes political polls in Florida, said 69 percent of respondents approve of Crist’s handling of his job, while 20 percent disapprove.

A poll by the Florida Chamber of Commerce gave Crist an even higher rating, 75 percent approval and 6 percent disapproval. Voters in the Chamber poll, however, were much less optimistic when asked whether Florida is heading in the "right direction" or the “wrong direction”—43 percent said right, and 41 percent said wrong.

Early Primary

"The Legislature's decision to move up the state's presidential primary to Jan. 29 breaches national party rules governing the primary calendar. The rules say scofflaw states will lose half of their delegates to the national convention." "Florida going to get comeuppance for early primary".

Stickin'

"Successful trial lawyer and U.S. senator John Edwards came to Fort Lauderdale last year to help raise money for successful trial lawyer and then-state Sen. Walter 'Skip' Campbell, who was running for attorney general. Now Campbell is returning the favor, co-hosting a reception for Edwards tomorrow on Las Olas Boulevard." "Rich trial lawyers got to stick together".

Biden Goes Union

"Joe Biden picked a pipe fitters union hall in Opa-locka to show his solidarity with the AFL-CIO, which is hosting Democratic presidential candidates around the country." "Biden asks for union help".

CD 13

"Brad Friedman, author of the left-leaning The Brad Blog, wrote today about an Internet worm that appears to have affected computer systems in Sarasota County, but not the actual voting machines that were used in the controversial FL-13 election." "Computer problems for Sarasota?".

"Sense of Humor"

The Orlando Sentinel editors Suggest that "the best thing you can say about the push to increase competition in the cable-television market in Florida is that the folks who came up with the title 'Consumer Choice Act of 2007' have a sense of humor. How else can you explain that most consumer advocates oppose the bill lawmakers passed last session, and many of the state's largest cable-television providers now support it? The bill takes control away from local governments and sends it to Tallahassee in a move that could mean public-access channels get booted off TV altogether." "Veto in order".

By "consumer advocates" it is fair to suppose that the reference is to something other than Charlie's definition of "Consumer". Wait a minute, it seems Charlie has finally figured out what a "consumer advocate" really is> See "Crist Names Consumer Advocate to Citizens' Panel"; Jason Garcia seems to know: "Consumer Groups Urging Another Crist Veto".

In the meantime, the "Justice Department backs cable change".

Gettin' Desperate

"The Florida Republican Party has endorsed a proposal by a Christian broadcasting company and its web site to hold a presidential candidates’ debate in Tampa."

Townhall.com, affiliated with Salem Radio Network, which operates several radio stations in the Tampa Bay area, hopes to hold the debate in Tampa this summer, possibly late July, to be broadcast nationally.

So far, only one candidate, Mitt Romney, has committed to participate, and Townhall.com is still discussing the proposal with the others, said Chuck DeFeo of the web site. ...

The radio network and web site are aimed at a religious conservative audience which is likely to be an important constituency in what could be the two most important early primaries in the GOP race, Florida and South Carolina.

SD 3 Primary Over?

"The anti-abortion group Florida Right to Life endorsed state Rep. Dennis Baxley today in his bid for a seat in the Florida Senate, joining the National Rifle Association in backing one of the staunchest social conservatives in Tallahassee in what is expected to be a fierce Republican primary." "Florida Right to Life Backs Baxley in Senate Race".

Frosty

"Hillsborough County commissioners summoned Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson to their meeting Wednesday, where he promptly received a tongue-lashing from Commissioner Brian Blair."

Commissioners asked Johnson to explain changes in state elections law that could require Hillsborough County to spend between $2 million and $10 million on new voting machines, equipment and training. Blair said Johnson wasn't forceful enough in his objections to the new law, which is awaiting Gov. Charlie Crist's signature.

He turned his ire on Johnson after the elections supervisor told commissioners he would not support their efforts to get the bill vetoed.

"That really frosts my butt," Blair told Johnson.

"Deep into the recesses of absurdism "

Scott Maxwell takes a well deserved shot at

U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, who managed to somehow reach deep into the recesses of absurdism to come up with a reason to vote against the COPS program to put more police officers on the streets of America. Not surprisingly, the Brevard County Republican was on the losing end of a 381-to-34 shellacking in the House. I think I agree with Republican Ric Keller (heaven help us both) who reminded me Wednesday that one reason some Republicans fight this effort to put more police on the street is simply because Bill Clinton started it. Said Keller: "It's a good thing Clinton didn't invent the light bulb, or we'd be having this debate in the dark."

The caucus could lure primary candidates to the state and nurture Democratic grass-roots organizations and fundraising. But staging an alternative contest to the traditional primary could cost the party millions of dollars as well as its credibility, after years of vowing to make every vote count.

The Democratic dilemma was triggered by the GOP-led Legislature's decision to make the presidential primary one of the earliest in the country on Jan. 29. The move defied national party rules governing the primary calendar. Scofflaw states lose half of their delegates to the nominating conventions.

Laff Riot

"'Governor Charlie Crist today met with representatives of consumer groups to learn more about how rising property taxes have affected the Floridians they represent,' is the opening line of the press release from the governor’s office."

But a few paragraphs down comes the explanation that Crist met "with representatives of the following consumer groups: Associated Industries of Florida, Florida Association of Realtors, Florida Bankers Association, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Home Builders Association, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Florida Retail Federation."

"Consumer groups"? The Chamber of Commerce, the Bankers Association, the Home Builders Association, and Associated Industries, long known as the state’s most powerful business lobby? All are industry trade associations.

Fat

"Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach, and Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami Beach, believe more ought to be done to inform consumers. They introduced versions of a 'Healthy Dining Act,' which would have required restaurants to post conspicuous signs warning patrons of the trans fat content in their food. The bills died in both chambers of the Legislature this year following strong opposition from the ['consumer group', the] Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association." "Healthy Eating".

Charlie Has Been Warned

"Leaders of business ['consumer'] groups and their lobbyists cautioned Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday against shifting more of the tax burden their way in his drive to slash property taxes." "Business interests caution Crist on property tax relief".

That's Our "Jeb!"

"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a habit of developing new ways to undermine its own credibility. But the corps outdid itself last year when it bought dozens of drainage pumps to protect New Orleans from hurricane flooding."

Not only did a Deerfield Beach company with strong ties to Jeb Bush and the Republican Party win the $32 million contract, Moving Water Industries Corp. also sold the government its typographical errors. The corps sent out bids for the pumps with specification language copied verbatim from the company's catalog, typos included. The phrase "abrasive resistance steel" should have read "abrasion resistant." The bid request also parroted other erroneous references in the catalogue, including the type of steel required. ...

The appearance of a rigged deal is further enhanced by the connection with Mr. Bush. The former Florida governor worked for MWI in the 1990s and helped create a legal dispute with deal-rigging charges that remain unresolved. Plaintiffs, including the U.S. Justice Department, have challenged the company's sale of $74 million worth of pumps to Nigeria with taxpayer-backed loans. Cynics who connect the dots can look at the deal as a fine example of publicly financed election campaigns.

Florida's Booming Economy

"The cost of living is rising faster in South Florida than the average for the rest of the nation. And you can guess what is to blame: gas prices and housing costs." "Prices are rising faster for South Florida than rest of the nation".

Cult Status

"According to The Hill, which interviewed three new aides in the Weston Democrat's office and said they talked about their boss 'in such a way that it seems as though they believe she has reached cult status.'" "http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2007/05/debbie_wasserma.html".

Imagine That

"Mounting a campaign to erode public support for Gov. Charlie Crist's reforms, the Florida insurance industry claims he has overstated the rewards, and underplayed the risks." "Insurance industry report refutes Crist".

Florida Political Blogs

The Florida Progressive Coalition has an interesting piece on the Florida political blogosphere, such as it is: "What’s Wrong With the Florida Progressive Blogosphere?".

Going Nowhere

"A consultant conceded her proposal to shift the focus of certain state universities to undergraduate studies almost exclusively is going nowhere after hearing more criticism of the idea at a symposium Tuesday." "Consultant concedes university role switch won't work".

Tuition Increase

The Palm Beach Post editors: "After further review, the differential tuition legislation awaiting Gov. Crist's signature makes even more sense. If the governor can't sign it, he at least shouldn't veto Florida's small step toward having a world-class public university system." "Don't veto tuition plan".

State Song

"Competition for new state song".Back Scratching

"Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has launched a statewide investigation of student-loan practices, asking 46 institutions of higher learning to explain their relationships with companies that lend money to students. ... Investigators want to know whether universities have been receiving perks from lenders, and, if so, whether the schools steered students toward companies with less-favorable loan terms." "Colleges' ties to lenders scrutinized". See also "They dine on lender dimes" ("Sources of student loans routinely sponsor events for college aid officials.").

Elián II?

"A father who lives in Cuba appeared in court in Miami to battle for custody of his daughter. All parties are under a gag order." "Elián's memory shadows Cuban custody case".

Sly

"Rubio's latest plan, however, isn't about tax burdens or equity. It's about tax ideology. Momentously cutting the property tax locally is a first step toward abolishing it and replacing it with a sales tax -- a dream of conservative ideology. Meanwhile, inverting the homestead exemption to cover the greatest majority of the assessed value on most properties would not only cut taxes for property owners, but make moving easier, as a homesteaded property owner's limited tax bills under Save Our Homes would become portable. It's yet another short-term attempt to resuscitate the latest real estate boom. This would make life better for those who already have it best, but undermine the mission of already burdened city and county governments aiming to preserve a good life for the rest." "Rubio's plan: Sly step to sales tax shift". See also "House tax relief plan raises questions".

Dem Plans

"From new homeowners and buyers to poor seniors and business owners, many Florida taxpayers would get a break under a revamped plan by Democrats in the House of Representatives that seeks to trim nearly $4 billion from next year's tax rolls."

The plan creates a system of so-called ''super'' tax exemptions to give relief to those who need it most, but it excludes one taxpayer group: longtime homeowners who have no plans to move and have seen their tax bills freeze -- or even drop -- because of the state's tax cap.

House Democrats first proposed the idea during the regular lawmaking session, only to see it go nowhere until Republican House Speaker Marco Rubio recently embraced a version of it in preparation for a June special session on taxes.

Whatever

"Remember Stan? Gov. Crist won't let you forget him".

Growth

The Sun Sentinel editorial board asserts that "in reality, you could be looking at 400,000 more residents squeezed into Broward in the next 13 years -- and you thought the roads were crowded now -- which presents planners and government officials, and the public as well, with challenges and decisions to make." "Growth".

Bushco's Boy

"Sen. Mel Martinez could not say no when President Bush asked him to serve as head of the Republican Party, even knowing the position would make him a bigger political target and sometimes create conflicts with his elected position. It was not just that Bush is his country's and party's leader, but the president also lifted Martinez out of an elected county position and made him a Cabinet member. Then, less than four years later, Bush's political team helped Martinez win his Senate seat." "Martinez struggles to balance".

Challenging Reagan

"You would think with a name like Reagan, you’d be pretty safe in avoiding a GOP primary."

But State Rep. Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton, knows otherwise now.

Sarasota Republican Marie Nisco has filed to run against Reagan next year in state House District 67. Reagan has already declared his intention to seek a final two-year term in the Florida House. Term limits prevent him from running again in 2010.

Touch-Screens

"Not satisfied with banning touch-screen voting machines, a citizens panel now wants to end [Sarasota] county's relationship with the company that provided them." "Citizen panel's advice snubs touch-screen maker".

Cash "Shamefully Left on the Table"

"It's imperative that Gov. Charlie Crist and leaders of the Florida Legislature add the KidCare health insurance program to the agenda for June's special session. Otherwise, Florida could walk away from millions in matching federal funds needed to provide health care to low-income children - money that Florida has shamefully left on the table for other states to grab." "Fix KidCare If You Really Care About Kids".

How Rude

"For the second straight year, rude Miami drivers have earned the city the title of worst road rage in a survey released Tuesday." "Miami tops rude driver list; Tampa 16th".

"Get Serious"

"A transportation bill on Gov. Charlie Crist's desk could lock in Florida's worst planning mistakes well into the next century. HB 985 would allow investor-owned companies to lease existing toll roads and build new ones. It's bad enough to pawn public assets to raise immediate cash. But this legislation also would pave the way for more sprawl and worsen congestion. Developers would have every incentive to make money twice - first by building expressways to nowhere, then by building up entire communities around the roads. Crist's veto would tell lawmakers to get serious about transportation and growth management." "Transport bill deserves veto".

Feeney

"Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff may yet help the political fortunes of U.S. Rep Tom Feeney of Florida." Read how here: "Scandal leads to new post for Feeney". More: "Feeney to take GOP's top spot on space panel".

Stanton

"As Largo's city manager for 14 years, Steve Stanton worked with Rep. C.W. Bill Young's office, but never met the long-term Florida congressman face to face. But Tuesday, as a fired transgender official, Susan Stanton, chatted with Young in his Capitol office for almost an hour." "Stanton uses status to lobby". See also "Stanton Lobbies Congress Over Discrimination", "Stanton takes a shot at Sarasota job" and "Stanton a Sarasota job finalist".

Mel's Quandry

"Bipartisan deal on immigration is near". See also "Time running out to strike immigration reform deal".

Efficient Killing

Here's a shocker from the pro-death Tampa Trib editorial board: "Medical doctors still will not administer the lethal dose - the American Medical Association forbids doctors from participating in executions and most medical professionals take oaths preventing them from doing harm. But it doesn't take an advanced degree to learn how to inject a needle without inflicting extreme pain." "With Fixes In Place, Crist Is Right To Lift Ban On Death Penalty".

'Ya Think

"Youngsters who completed Florida's preschool program arrived at kindergarten better prepared to learn than children who did not take part or dropped out, state officials announced Tuesday." "Wee ones in pre-K do better, state says".

GOPers Gut FEC Investigations

"Chance Irvine, a former GOP legislator from Orange Park and the outgoing chairwoman of the commission, called on Crist to veto a comprehensive elections bill that moves Florida's presidential primary to Jan. 29 and includes nearly $28 million to replace touch-screen voting machines with paper ballots."

Irvine, who was appointed to her post by former Gov. Jeb Bush, is upset with a provision slipped into the bill by the Florida Senate that would sharply limit the number of investigations that could be undertaken by the Elections Commission. She called the measure ''regressive'' and said it would undermine ''open and honest elections'' in Florida.

''Governor, if you would like to disband the Florida Elections Commission, please do so openly and honestly,'' wrote Irvine, who will preside today over her last meeting as chairwoman. "Don't leave the people of Florida thinking election laws are being enforced after you sign this bill.''

The legislation says a person filing a complaint must have personal knowledge of an election law violation, instead of relying on hearsay information from others or newspaper reports. A complaint, however, could be based on public records.

''It makes it more difficult for frivolous complaints to be launched,'' said Rep. David Rivera, a Miami Republican. "If Chairman Irvine believes she's better able to make elections law, she could consider running for office again.''

Rep. Dan Gelber, a Miami Beach Democrat, said Democrats were opposed to the change, but were warned by Republicans that the bill would die if they pushed any last-minute amendments. Gelber predicted that state attorneys will wind up being asked to pursue election law cases because of the new measure.

Feeney

"The Florida Democratic Party has launched an attack against U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, who is under federal investigative for his relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff." "Democrats target Feeney". The Dems even have a website collecting all the negative Feeney press - and there is a lot of it: Feeney's Full of It

Citizens

"For the second time in two years, a Leon County judge has certified a class-action lawsuit against Citizens Property Insurance for homeowners continuing to press for their unpaid 2004 hurricane claims." "Judge OKs class-action suit against Citizens Insurance".

Florida Wants National Help

"Florida consumers would save $4.1 billion on property insurance premiums each year - or $539 per household - if the state's disaster insurance fund was backed up by a similar national pool, a group of actuarial consultants estimated Monday. " "Report: Floridians could save big on insurance if state fund backed by national pool".

A Good Start?

The Tampa Trib editors: "Finally, lawmakers are talking about a tax plan that will grow stronger as it is debated and modified."

House Speaker Marco Rubio has wisely, if belatedly, dropped his proposal to replace property taxes with a higher state sales tax. Now he's talking about exempting from taxes a high percentage of the value of each homesteaded property. This approach is more understandable and fair.

However, Rubio's target of taxing only 20 percent of a home's value is too aggressive. Taxing half the value, which would give most taxpayers a noticeable cut, would be a better starting point for debate.

Taxpayers should be encouraged because excitement is growing about this simple plan to make Florida's property tax system more equitable and competitive.

Weldon Seeks an Eighth Term

"Dave Weldon of Indialantic announced today that he would seek an eighth term in Congress, setting up a likely 2008 match-up with Democrat newcomer Paul Rancatore. ... Weldon has about $353,000 cash-on-hand for his bid, according to recent election reports. Rancatore, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, also recently declared but has not yet filed a fundraising report." "The doctor is 'in'".

California Cue

"Florida Democrats are looking for a way to salvage the party’s importance in the presidential primary season, fearing the Republican-imposed date of Jan. 29 will drive candidates away from the state." "Florida Democrats May Want To Take A Political Cue From California".

Cable Bill

Troxler:

My favorite part of the big cable TV bill just passed by our Legislature is that it transfers complaints about poor service to Tallahassee.

Yep. I can just see the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the agency assigned to this task, swinging into action.

That includes customer service. That includes price. That includes the requirement to serve all areas. No need for any such pesky rules at the local level. Instead, we'll have one-stop licensing of video companies at the state level.

Now, in the real world, there is conflicting evidence on whether merely going from a one-company local monopoly to a two-company duopoly really solves all evils, or even reduces prices in the long run.

But for the Legislature, this bill was ready to pass from the instant that Florida's cable and telephone industries made a devil's deal with each other. The cable guys dropped their opposition to the phone guys, on the condition that they got to play by the same new rules.

It was like watching kings dividing up the peons.

There's just one, teeny little remaining hurdle for House Bill 529: the governor.

Making Life Easier For Developers

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "House Bill 7203 makes life easier for developers. Tired of those painful and potentially costly state reviews of local land-use laws? Just turn to the HB 7203 pilot program, which allows significant changes to local growth plans, now allowed twice a year, to be considered anytime according to no particular schedule. That change - to be tested in Broward and Pinellas counties and Miami, Hialeah, Tampa and Jacksonville - is aimed at making it harder for residents fighting development on their own time to track changes. The old way was meant to assure a comprehensive look at all the changes at one time. By allowing piecemeal consideration, this approach gives developers an unnecessary advantage." There's more: "Veto pro-sprawl bill".

Low-Income Senior Homestead Exemption

"Local governments are moving quickly to boost the maximum homestead exemption for poor seniors, which has stood at $50,000 for years. That $50,000 figure includes the standard $25,000 exemption offered to all homesteaders, along with an additional $25,000 for seniors meeting certain income requirements. A constitutional amendment overwhelmingly approved by Florida voters last year allows local governments to double the low-income senior exemption to $50,000. Add in the normal $25,000 exemption and that's a total of $75,000 in property value that poor seniors won't pay taxes on. Although approved by voters last year, local governments only recently began taking up the increased homestead exemption because the Legislature first had to pass a law spelling out how it would work -- something it did this spring." "Seniors likely to get a homestead boost".

Whatever

"Crist called it a town hall meeting, but a Monday evening event came across more like an antitax rally. Crist fired up a crowd of more than 500, most of them Haitian-Americans, by promising that the Legislature will bring tax relief. Audience members here, a place that usually supports Democrats, roared their approval." "Crist's tax message wins crowd approval". See also "Crist rallies North Miami town hall meeting on property taxes".

Lobbyist's Blues

"A long-time lobbyist has lost his livelihood after pleading guilty to a felony charge of misappropriating public money while serving as a faculty member at the University of Florida." "Lobbyist barred from lobbying". See also "Once a professor and a lobbyist, now a felon".

Best in the Country

"Gator Nation has more to brag about: Gainesville is the best city in the United States. That's according to Cities Ranked & Rated: More Than 400 Metropolitan Areas Evaluated in the U.S. and Canada" "Gainesville named nicest place to live".

Pigs at the Trough

"Three capital city groups squabbling over a half-million dollars in business to produce a hurricane awareness campaign have been paid nearly $6-million by the state over the past three years, most of it to the Florida Association of Broadcasters, state records show. Late last week, Gov. Charlie Crist canceled a $450, 000 contract awarded to Ron Sachs Communications after it was contested by the Florida Association of Broadcasters and Mike Vasilinda Productions."

The contract would have been a big breakthrough for Sachs, who has worked largely in the private sector - winning 11 state contracts the last three years worth $94, 289.

Vasilinda's company has earned $276, 600 with 48 contracts during that period, not including what he receives as subcontractor on a lucrative contract with the Lottery Department.

The big player is the Florida Association of Broadcasters, created as a not-for-profit trade organization and headed for the past two decades by Pat Roberts, who has five full-time employees at the Tallahassee headquarters. Its 120 television and 500 radio station members pay dues based on their market size.

After Crist yanked the contract, Sachs, Vasilinda and Roberts engaged in a name-calling contest and said the controversy ruined some longtime friendships.

Crotzer

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Mr. Crotzer was moved to tears when he got an official apology from Sen. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami. He deserved the apology. But he also deserves compensation for the 24 years Florida stole from his life. The Legislature must find a fair and faster way to provide financial justice for Mr. Crotzer, and for any others the state has injured. " "Pay for 24 stolen years".

History Lesson

Martin Dyckman:

The schedule Florida is abandoning was set in 1971 at the urging of House Speaker Richard A. Pettigrew, who believed that Florida needed a centrist like Muskie to win its primary and hold the state in November against Nixon, who had defeated Hubert Humphrey (and Wallace) in 1968. Florida's primaries had been meaningless, coming late in the year and attracting few candidates. Pettigrew's law required all presumed candidates to be listed unless they disavowed the ambition.

The real winners, as it turned out, were the Republicans. Wallace, running as a Democrat again, embarked on a strident antibusing campaign just as federal court desegregation orders were beginning to take effect in Florida. The Republicans, encouraged by the White House, took advantage of an early 1972 legislative session to put a nonbinding but emotionally charged antibusing straw vote on the March primary ballot. Seeing the danger from Wallace, some Democrats had already called for the primary to be changed. But Pettigrew refused. He insisted on the right of the voters "to choose from a complete slate of contenders instead of from among only those contenders who deem it politically expedient to run in Florida."

Wallace won with 41.6 percent. Muskie ran not second but fourth, behind Humphrey and Henry Jackson, with only 8.9 percent. The media pronounced him politically dead. McGovern, who had not been expected to run well in this conservative state, suffered nothing from his fifth place finish.

Pettigrew's primary finally paid off four years later, giving Jimmy Carter the opportunity to dispose of Wallace in a Southern state. Meanwhile, President Gerald Ford, threatened by Ronald Reagan, gave Florida a new Bay Pines veterans hospital. But then other states began to steal a march, to the point where the two distinguished former Florida governors who ran for president -Reubin Askew in 1984 and Bob Graham in 2004 - were forced out before their own people had a chance to vote.

But that won't be fixed by yet another futile rush to be first. Those who ignore history are almost always condemned to repeat it. Suppose, for example, that the Republican front-runners fracture the establishment vote, leaving Sam Brownback to be pronounced the Florida winner?

Desai

"The State Board of Education will meet Tuesday morning in Orlando, but Gov. Charlie Crist has been silent so far on what he plans to do with Dr. Akshay Desai, a prominent GOP fundraiser and St. Petersburg physician and CEO of Universal Health Care." "No word yet on whether Crist will keep Desai".

Conservation

"Not enough water is being conserved under the South Florida Water Management District's restrictions to cope with the worst drought in recent memory. In a region that relies on new development to underwrite its economy, resource conservation remains a hard sell. In truth, though, the era of blithe -- or blind -- belief in the infinite state of such essentials as drinking water ended long before now. It's just that not enough policymakers took notice." "Water conservation a public/private duty".

Jebbie Not As Fat

To the extent anyone cares:

Former Gov. Jeb Bush, looking tan and leaner than his Tallahassee days, gave a lengthy interview to Eliott Rodiriguez of CBS 4 in Miami that aired last Friday. Bush used the opportunity to talk primarily about ethanol, but he also spoke about his adjustment to domestic life, his own political future, and property taxes. ...

Bush did say that he liked House Speaker Marco Rubio's original proposal to swap a higher sales tax for getting rid of property taxes on homestead property. Bush said he thought it would create "a huge economic surge for the state." (The interview was done before Rubio unveiled his new plan that no longer calls for the swap.)

- Holding some state primary elections in 2007 for the 2008 national elections.

- A primary campaign in which at least some of the Democratic candidates refuse to campaign here because of a national party boycott.

- A Florida Democratic primary that's merely a straw ballot, with the state's national convention delegates chosen by a caucus or state convention held later.

Florida's Democrats, Independents Support Global Warming Intervention

"Almost three of four Floridians think state lawmakers should take immediate steps to combat global warming. In a St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll, 71 percent of those polled said they support immediate legislative action to cut green house gas emissions ... Democrats and independents most strongly favored government action to curb greenhouse gases, with 81 percent of Democrats and 83 percent of independents agreeing, according to the poll ... Florida has lagged behind other states in coming up with ways to cut greenhouse gasses." "Poll: Most Floridians favor action on global warming".

Shameful

"Recent reports show that 45 of the 50 democratically elected state governments in the United States, including Florida, imprison their citizens at a faster pace than any of the foreign governments headed by dictators."

The National Council on Crime and Delinquency has issued a report titled, "U.S. Rates of Incarceration: A Global Perspective", showing the incarceration rates for the worst dictatorships -- the number of persons in prison for every 100,000 population -- ranges from a low of 57 in Pakistan to a high of 207 in Libya.

By comparison, prison policies made in Tallahassee locked up 499 state citizens for every 100,000 population in 2005.

Flood

"Citizens will offer windstorm coverage to commercial-property owners statewide starting June 1 -- the official start of the 2007 hurricane season. It could find itself flooded with applications." "Citizens steels for flood of business".

National Guard

"National Guard units in Florida and every other state are running low on equipment needed to respond to local disasters. When a unit is deployed to Iraq, it must leave some of its vehicles behind when it returns home." "Replenish National Guard To Safeguard Homes, Cities".

A Buschco Thing

"If you've been worried sick about what would become of ex-Governor Jeb 'No Futuro' Bush since his big brother totally screwed his chances for ever being elected president, here's some great news. Jeb is now officially on the board of Tenet Healthcare, at an annual pay of $474,500--for 13 days of work per year." And isn't this so ... Bushco:

It's a special board seat created just for Jeb, at the suggestion of an old Bush family friend and fundraiser. (Do they even have any family friends who aren't also fundraisers?)

By the way, former US attorney Carol Lam was prosecuting a Tenet owned hospital when she as fired. The case had gone to trial but the jury failed to reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared. Alberto Gonzalez's chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, then wrote to Harriet Miers suggesting that Lam and several others be removed. Much more here at DailyKos.

"Could it Happen Here?"

"Could it happen here? Could Florida execute a man in the face of evidence suggesting he is innocent?"

Probably, yes. Florida leads the nation in the number of people freed from death row after their innocence was established: 25, all men, who lived for years within a few hundred yards of the gurney-equipped execution room.

The majority were freed after DNA testing established irrefutable proof of their innocence. But dozens of people were executed before Florida established special procedures for exploring genetic testing after deadlines for appeals had passed.

And what about the cases where there is no DNA evidence? Time to prove error in those cases can be extremely limited: About a year to raise an appeal at the state level, and once that's decided, another year to bring a federal habeas corpus claim. After that time, defendants -- even innocent ones -- must clear extraordinary hurdles to have claims of new evidence (or prosecutorial misconduct) heard, says Seth Miller of the Innocence Project of Florida.

Guns

In the Miami Herald's "second in an occasional series about the presidential candidates' views on issues important to Florida", we read about the candidates views on gun control and how that plays in Florida. "Campus killings' political impact slight".

Orlando Sentinel Supports "Right to Organize" (In Peru, Panama and Colombia)

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida could be among the big winners from a new deal that congressional Democrats and Republicans and the Bush administration struck last week in Washington, D.C., on trade policy. ... The deal between the parties, announced Thursday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sets reasonable labor and environmental standards for U.S. trading partners. They would have to guarantee their workers the right to organize while barring forced and child labor. They would be required to enforce their environmental laws and comply with several international environmental agreements." "Promote free trade".

Green Goals

"Florida lawmakers this year passed an ambitious energy bill that touches everything from construction to alternative fuels to energy awareness. Among other things, HB 7123 earmarks $20-million for an experimental ethanol plant at the University of Florida, sets goals for state fleets to use fuel made from plant materials and expands a sales tax holiday for energy-efficient appliances. The bill now awaits Gov. Charlie Crist's signature." "Cleaner, greener future".

A Florida Disaster; Where are the Pols?

The drought not be as sexy as a hurricane or a tornado - where the pols get to roll up their shirt sleeves and pose for photo ops - but it seems to be just as damaging to the state. Perhaps the private sector and the free markets will take care of it.

"Leaky, aging pipes in South Florida are losing millions of gallons of water, even as the region struggles with a crippling drought, experts said." And then there's this:

As the drought continues, officials say they are also losing the region's wildlife.

Low water levels are causing snakes, alligators, frogs and turtles to inch closer to busy roads, trying to find new water sources that aren't so crowded, said Richard Hilsenbeck, associate director of land acquisition for The Nature Conservancy in Tallahassee.

At Everglades National Park, birds are unable to find food for their offspring, which then die and are eaten by vultures, said Randy Smith, South Florida Water Management District spokesman.

"No hatchlings at all have survived," Smith said.

Slow to the Game

Nice to see McCollum jumping on the bandwagon:

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has turned this light on universities, and he has uncovered some startling practices. Financial aid directors at six different universities have been suspended for allegedly holding stock or accepting consulting fees from preferred lender Student Loan Xpress. Also, eight schools have paid $3-million to reimburse students who weren't told about revenue-sharing agreements.

In Florida, the St. Petersburg Times' Tom Marshall already has reported on one public university, Florida State, that marketed $20-million in loans to graduate students last year without disclosing that the loans were being resold at a profit. Marshall also reported that Florida A&M University students were being steered to one of only two preferred lenders and that financial aid directors at more than one university have served on the advisory boards of companies with preferred lending status.

The most serious question McCollum will face in his investigation is whether any university officials are profiting personally from steering students to certain companies. Beyond that, he and university system chancellor Mark Rosenberg will need to examine whether universities are steering students in an attempt to help them get the best deal or to enrich the university or the lending company.

A Better Way to Kill People?

The St. Pete Times editors: "Florida's death chamber is about to reopen. The Department of Corrections has issued a new set of protocols for lethal injection that it believes will prevent any more botched executions. That's wishful thinking."

The department's new procedures still do not require that a doctor oversee the execution process. There would be added training for those assigned to the task, and more exacting protocols for how things should proceed, but the execution team will not have to have the kind of medical qualifications that such a highly technical process demands.

Even the report by a commission appointed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush to review Florida's lethal injection procedure said that "qualified medical personnel" are needed to perform "a humane and lawful execution." And the doctors on the commission appended a statement that the trend in the country is to require "sophisticated medical techniques and personnel to administer the lethal injection."

But because it is difficult to find doctors willing to violate their ethical code to participate, medical expertise has been eliminated from consideration. ...

The commission urged the department to explore other "more recently developed" chemicals for use in executions and to reconsider the use of any paralytic drug in order to make executions "less problematic." But the department decided to stick with the same badly flawed approach that has the potential to cause the inmate great pain.

Packing 'Em In

"Broward County's population is expected to grow by almost 400,000 in the next 13 years, county planners say. Although the newcomers will generate thousands of jobs, the price of their presence will be steep." "Already crowded, Broward to get 400,000 more residents by 2020, planners say".

Property Tax Poll

"Floridians want property tax relief now. But like the Legislature, they're not sure how to get there."

Fifty-one percent of people surveyed in a St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll say legislators made the right decision to call a special session next month rather than trying to rush a plan during the regular session that ended May 4.

But when they were asked to choose between five possible ways to reduce property taxes, which had been discussed by lawmakers, no clear winner emerged.

Charlie Not Hearting the Heartland Parkway

"Earlier this year, a proposed 152-mile toll road in Central Florida looked well on its way to becoming a reality. The state's top transportation officials deemed the road - the Heartland Parkway - a priority worthy of an expensive engineering study. State lawmakers later passed a bill that would make it easier to build toll roads like this one. But now, the project appears stalled. More than three months after the engineering study was recommended, the Florida Department of Transportation still hasn't set aside the money needed for the study. More importantly, the key political support of the Jeb Bush administration is gone." "Road sees nothing but red (lights)". See also "Crist stalling Jeb-backed tollway".

Greenbelt

"The state's greenbelt law, which allows Florida farmers to avoid paying millions of dollars in property taxes, appears safe for now." "Greenbelt stays loose for now".

A Palm Beach County Thing

"As prosecutors investigate several deals involving Palm Beach County Commissioner Warren Newell, he has taken a giant step back from the operations of his civil engineering firm and a fledgling local bank he helped found." "Palm Beach County commissioner takes leave from job amid investigation".

Upon Closer Review ...

"Gov. Charlie Crist and Florida lawmakers got glowing reviews in March when they scrapped the state's former performance-pay plan for teachers."

But it remains to be seen whether the new plan will get a warmer reception once teachers consider the fine print.

Already, there is grumbling.

Contrary to a wave of misleading newspaper reports, the new plan continues to put a large emphasis on standardized tests, including the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, to determine who the best teachers are.

And because the Legislature did not increase funding for performance pay, some observers are skeptical that the new plan will result in more teachers getting bonuses.

Those Wacky GOPers

Sometimes even elected GOPers have a hard time with the party regulars: "When state Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, spoke to the East Manatee County Republican Club on Thursday, he quickly learned the group was not pleased with him ... ."

- "They chided Galvano for pushing a bill that would provide health care to children of immigrants who are in the country illegally."

- "Others also questioned why the Legislature is not tough on illegal immigration."

- "Galvano was the lead sponsor of a plan to expand the state's Kidcare health insurance program for working-class families. In that legislation, which passed the House but not the Senate, Galvano wanted to provide insurance for children of immigrants in the country illegally, he said, to avoid unpaid emergency room visits, which a doctor's appointment could prevent."

- "That answer did not appease the audience."

Help

"Ailing Lake Okeechobee and the estuaries on Florida's east and west coasts that often are the dumping ground for the lake's dirty waters got a big boost from the state's lawmakers this year, with two bills that could speed cleanup and prevent continued pollution. Legislators approved a bill that mandates planning to help clean the lake and protect the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers. The measure also changes bonding rules to provide money through 2020 - an additional $2 billion." "Pay up, learn lesson".

A Holiday for Voting

"On most federal holidays, you will not find government offices open."

But new legislation on Florida's presidential primary would mean early voting for the Jan. 29 election will include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday.

Optical Scanners

Jeremy Wallace:

After months of investigating, a citizens advisory group set up to find a new voting system for Sarasota County is expected to make its final recommendation to county commissioners this week.

On Tuesday, members of the Citizens Oversight Committee on Voting Systems say they will recommend one of three vendors for a new optical scan voting system.

Latest Poll

"Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani are leading their closest presidential rivals 2-1 in Florida, the battleground state suddenly poised to have a major say in deciding the presidential nominees."

But a new St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll shows that despite their big leads -- Clinton tops the Democratic field by 23 percentage points, and Giuliani leads the GOP slate by 14 -- the frontrunners have not secured Florida's support nearly nine months before the primaries.

That's especially true for the GOP, where one in three Republicans is either undecided or supporting someone not yet in the race.

Money Changes Everything

"Last year, 140 seats in the Florida Legislature were up for grabs. But a new study by the National Institute on Money in State Politics shows that few of these contests ever became competitive."

Crunching campaign finance data, the institute declared that only 12 races became real contests -- with a whopping 61 seats settled unchallenged and another 67 becoming one-sided because of the vast disparity in cash between the candidates.

Florida's competition numbers were among the lowest in the nation. But they reflected the region. Neighboring Alabama was even worse, with only 6 percent competitive, while Georgia had a mere 7 percent of its legislative seats proving financially competitive, the study found.

Weakening Local Control

"At the height of the recent legislative session, cities and counties faced more than a dozen proposals that would cost them money or preempt their ability to write rules on everything from fireworks to fertilizer to fire hydrants. State lawmakers say the changes create uniform statewide rules. But local leaders say they weaken local ordinances. And they could leave residents looking to the distant state capital instead of the local city hall next time they have a complaint." "Lawmakers flex muscle, weaken local restrictions".

"Corrupted by Special Interests"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "The cable television deregulation bill the Florida Legislature sent Gov. Charlie Crist does what one would expect from a lawmaking process corrupted by special interests." "TV deregulation fails consumers".

Obama

Adam Smith: "Name one of our state senators. Mike Fasano? Charlie Justice? Victor Crist? Now imagine him winning the White House in four years. Nutty as it sounds, that's precisely the career trajectory Barack Obama is on the way to accomplishing. Anyone who underestimates the Illinois senator's prospects at winning the presidency isn't paying close attention." "The easy case for President Obama".

That's Our Mel

A lot of coverage about the Howard Dean and DNC's objections Florida moving its primary up; yet

hardly anyone has mentioned Dean's counterpart with the Republican National Committee, who also has been unable to control Florida lawmakers bent on violating the his [Republican National] committee's schedule, too.

Considering he is Florida Sen. Mel Martinez and his party controls the Legislature, you might think he'd have a bit more sway than Dean. But unlike Dean, Martinez has been virtually silent on the matter, except to remind Florida Republicans that they would lose half of their delegates to the national convention by scheduling such an early primary.

"Once I made sure they knew they couldn't come to me and say 'Gee, Mel, but you're the chairman' ... then that's all I did, " Martinez said. "The party's rules are inflexible, but the party also understands that the states are free to do what they will. They just need to know the consequences of what they do."

Martinez predicts other states will want to move up their primaries now, too. "It is probably going to be a free-for-all. For the future ... we may need to think about a national primary day or something like that."

Blog Talk

"A weblog created to constructively look at Broward judges' performances on the bench is now raising concerns that the comments have gone too far. Critics say what they viewed as funny and informative discourse about doings at the county courthouse has degenerated into bitter and vile attacks on judges and attorneys. The growing concern has pitted factions of the courthouse against one another and launched charges of censorship." "Broward court blog is going too far, critics claim".

Pigs at the Trough

"Mike Vasilinda vs. Ron Sachs, Round 2".

"The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007"

Broder: "Blessed with the wonderful title of 'The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007,' the legislation has the valuable goal of assuring that there is a paper trail to verify the accuracy of touch-screen and electronic-voting systems."

The measure is a response to problems that marred last year's election, with disputes in several states and districts about the accuracy of reported voting tallies on new touch-screen systems. One controversy, involving 18,000 potentially missing votes in Sarasota County, is still unresolved.

Democrats, whose House candidate in that Florida district was the apparent victim of the possible machine malfunction, are understandably eager to enact remedial legislation. The bill, written principally by Reps. Zoe Lofgren of California and Rush Holt of New Jersey, came out of committee last week and is slated for early action on the floor.

has run into a buzz saw of criticism from the people who actually manage elections. The National Association of Secretaries of State, facing a division in its own ranks, has taken no position.

But the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Association of Counties have declared its deadlines impossible and the funding inadequate.

Rubio Speaks ...

"A fair, simple tax proposal".

"Bold Talk"

"The Legislature probably has closed the book on property insurance for 2007. Unfortunately, a year that began with the state threatening to stare down the industry will end with the state blinking. Since the industry won almost everything in 2005 and 2006, anything less than a clear victory for consumers in 2007 leaves Floridians justifiably disappointed. Most frustrating is that during the [regular] session the Legislature gave back some of the gains from January's special session and backed off from some of the bold talk." "A retreat on insurance".

The "Republican Din" Dims

"Broward lawmakers had more success than in past years getting their heavily Democratic voices heard over the Republican din in the state Capitol. They didn't get everything they wanted. Legislators still left Tallahassee without property tax relief or a streamlined health insurance program for the state's poor children. Property taxes will be addressed in a special session starting June 12. But Broward lawmakers did take the lead on issues such as election reform and revised gambling rules, placing a host of bills on the governor's desk by the end of the regular session May 4." "Democratic-led Broward delegation gets voice heard".

Huh?

Amazing:

Conservative pundit Ann Coulter has been cleared of allegations that she falsified her Palm Beach County voter's registration and voted illegally — this, after a high-level FBI agent made unsolicited phone calls to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to vouch for Coulter.

The caller wasn't just any G-man. According to PBSO documents, he was Supervisory Special Agent Jim Fitzgerald, of the FBI Academy's Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, Va. — the closest reality gets to the serial-killer catchers on CBS' Criminal Minds.

So why would an FBI profiler who went after the Unabomber take time from his busy day to even think about a municipal election snafu?

Fitzgerald is mum. But when the bureau heard about this from Page Two, it immediately launched an internal review of the agent's involvement.

"We're looking into it," bureau spokeswoman Ann Todd said.

She declined to say whether Fitzgerald acted on his personal behalf or as an FBI agent or on someone else's orders.

County Supervisor of Elections Arthur Anderson, meanwhile, decried what he called "FBI intrusion." He referred the Coulter case to PBSO after poll worker Jim Whited [a staunch Republican] originally reported the incident.

"This doesn't bode well in terms of the public's impression that celebrities receive preferential treatment," Anderson said. "I'm curious about how anyone can justify the FBI's intrusion."

Brilliant

"The issue seems so simple, it is surprising Florida's Department of Environmental Protection doesn't get it. Divers and ocean advocates are worried. Marine ecologist Brian Lapointe of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, who specializes in nutrient pollution, is concerned. All fear Lake Worth's plans to dump 4 million gallons of nutrient-rich effluent into the ocean each day will harm Horseshoe Reef, one of South Florida's most beautiful and pristine reefs." "Pollute now, test later risks Horseshoe Reef".

Pathetic

"Comedian Jon Stewart often jokes that the only way to get young people to vote is to institute a draft. Florida's uneven property tax structure and insurance crisis may be the next best thing to catch their attention -- threatening their ability to afford the American dream."

Jay Solly, 27, a member of the Broward County Young Republicans, says an increasing number of new members come in asking questions about property taxes and wanting to do something about them.

"They don't want to talk about the war. They don't come in asking about presidential candidates. They want to talk about what is hitting them, and it all starts from being priced out of a dream," he said. "They want to know what they can do at the grassroots level. 'Whose fault is this?' These are young people who are starting to pound their fists on the table."

Luv Those "Fiscal Conservative" Values

"Luckily for the Miami-Dade delegation, House Speaker Marco Rubio is one of their own -- a big reason why the county made out so well this lawmaking session." "Lawmakers: Miami-Dade made out well this session".

The Rules are Different Here

Beth Reinhard yesterday"

Outsiders don't seem to understand why we get to move up our presidential primary to Jan. 29, making it one of the first in the nation.

So what if we're the only state that didn't play by national party rules allowing only four small states to vote before Feb. 5? We're Florida, right?

We're so sick of those states babbling on about their historic place in presidential politics, their quaint meetings with candidates in living rooms. We don't know much about history and charm, but we do know this: Their combined populations could fit into Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

One Boston Globe columnist sneered this week: "With its now-routine ballot controversies, single-issue voting blocs, and big-money media markets saturated with campaign ads, Florida is the antithesis of old-fashioned retail politics: It's a political Wal-Mart.''

Now that's offensive. We're at least as fabu-less as a political Target.

More Exemptions

"Protecting against identity theft and encouraging economic development were the leading reasons legislators gave this year for approving more than 20 exemptions to state public record laws, according to a report from the Florida First Amendment Foundation." "Bills aim to thwart ID theft".

Posada

Eugene Robinson: "I'll wager that the evidence against Posada, which I find compelling, is more solid than the secret evidence against most of the detainees at Guantanamo. But Posada's alleged crimes were against the Castro regime. George W. Bush's stance toward Cuba has been even more hardheaded and counterproductive than the policies of his predecessors. The zero-tolerance policy toward the Castro government has been popular, however, among the most strident exiles in Florida - the old men who will greet Posada when he comes home to Miami and a comfortable retirement." "When is a terrorist not a terrorist?".

The Sun Sentinel editors yesterday: "the Posada case puts U.S. international credibility in question. ... One thing's for sure. Posada should not be treated as a hero in Miami, or anywhere else. Violence won't bring freedom to Castro's Cuba any more than it brought liberty after Fulgencio Batista's rule."

Hiassen: "The Great Equalizer"

Carl Hiassen: "In the absence of a sane growth-management policy, nature is becoming the great equalizer in Florida."

A 17-month drought has made a puddle of Lake Okeechobee and has parched the Biscayne Aquifer. Parts of the Everglades are drying up, while advancing seawater endangers the well fields that serve hundreds of thousands of residents in Broward and Palm Beach counties. ...

Drought cycles here are nothing new, but this is the first one to occur with 18 million people encamped on the peninsula. They might cut back on sprinkling their geraniums, but they won't stop taking showers or washing their laundry.

The state's primitive, low-tech economy revolves around cramming as many humans as possible onto every available acre. Few in Tallahassee have the guts to admit that it's time to change course. ...

One way to gird for the future -- and protect families who already live here -- would be to impose building moratoriums in those counties where the water shortage is most acute.

This is way too simple and sensible. Moratoriums can't be enacted unless local leaders are willing to stand up to developers, a rare occurrence indeed. The state is requiring counties to recycle water for nonpotable uses, but that doesn't curb the liquid appetite of sprawl.

What If

Randy Schultz wonders what might happen if our friends in Tally "couldn't lie for a day"; here are some questions that one might pose:

"Former Jeb Bush Budget Director Donna Arduin, why are you telling House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, that abolishing the property tax for homesteads and raising the sales tax wouldn't help the wealthy at the expense of the poor when every other study shows that it would?"

"Marion Hammer, chief lobbyist in Florida for the National Rifle Association, where is the evidence that letting employees bring guns to work in their cars wouldn't also pose a threat to the employees who aren't packing?"

The Justice Effect

"Republican Senate President Ken Pruitt, Majority Leader Daniel Webster and President Pro Tempore Lisa Carlton took the rare step of picking sides in a primary last week, when they publicly lined up behind one of the GOP contenders in the special election to succeed former Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon."

But their decision appears to have at least as much to do with Sen. Charlie Justice, a freshman Democrat from St. Petersburg, as it does with Richard Corcoran, the candidate they endorsed in the race for Argenziano's 13-county, north-central Florida Senate seat.

Justice slipped into a Republican-held Senate seat last November following a GOP primary in which former state Reps. Kim Berfield of Clearwater and Frank Farkas of St. Petersburg tore each other to shreds.

People in the Capitol say Senate leaders want to head off a repeat performance by interjecting themselves into the Argenziano contest, which features a three-way primary between Corcoran, the former chief of staff to House Speaker Marco Rubio, and state Reps. Dennis Baxley of Ocala and Charlie Dean of Inverness. ...

Internal polling has Dean, a well-known former sheriff in Citrus County, as the front-runner. Baxley, meanwhile, is a favorite of the National Rifle Association and evangelical groups, and could be at an advantage in an ultralow-turnout election likely to be decided by particularly conservative voters.

Blame the Firefighters

GOPer flack and alleged columnist Mike Thomas knows why property taxes are so high:

Major beneficiaries of the [local government] revenue spike have been politically powerful police and firefighter unions, which enjoy lucrative pension plans.

"It's Hard to Imagine a Worse Time"

"This month, drought-weary Floridians have seen 200 wildfires burn close to 100,000 acres and fill the air with smoke across the state. The Legislature saw the same thing and yet still decided to approve a provision that prevents local governments from passing new laws that ban fireworks. It's hard to imagine a worse time for state lawmakers to cave in to fireworks industry lobbyists than when the state is brown, dry and ready to go up in flames." "New fireworks threat".