The argument, between Republican Rubio and legislative Democrats, is an elaborate game of political positioning being played in advance of a special session on property taxes to be held in June.

The underlying fact is that Crist vetoed $459 million worth of legislator’s pet projects, sometimes called “turkeys,” when he signed the state budget bill this week.

Some legislators couldn’t help but notice that amount was close to the amount by which the Legislature in the regular session forced counties to increase the property taxes they collect for schools—the so-called “Required Local Effort.” Did that mean Crist was laying the groundwork to demand a tax “cut” of the same amount? Crist said it was just a coincidence.

But Friday, Democratic House leaders seized on the vetoes as an opportunity to suggest an easy tax cut. They sent a letter to Crist and GOP legislative leaders suggesting that since Crist had cut the budget $459 million, they could eliminate the increase in property taxes they forced on the counties by the same amount.

Rubio responded within hours in a letter of his own, saying no way.

Laff Riot

It is a bit of a guilty pleasure to see "Karl Rove's Florida Frankenstein" complaining about his party's wingnuts: "'It's understandable when you have a bipartisan solution there are going to be extremists' on both sides of the issue." "Martinez takes flak on immigration". See also "Martinez: Man in the Middle" and "Sen. Martinez at heart of immigration debate".

SD 3

"Charlie Dean picked up the endorsement of the Associated Industries of Florida Service Corporation on Friday, while Dennis Baxley blasted Dean for conspiring with the trial lawyers on a 'smear' attack." "An endorsement and an attack in SD3".

No "Last-Minute Gifts"

"Millions of dollars that HMOs plowed into lobbying and political contributions over the past year may have won them a series of last-minute gifts from the Legislature, but not from Gov. Charlie Crist. On Thursday night, Crist axed legislation that would have boosted state payments to Medicaid health-maintenance organizations and ripped out existing protections for mentally ill patients." "Crist Veto Pulls Plug On HMO Proposals". See also "Crist vetoes Medicaid changes".

More: "Gov. Crist Mostly On Target In Wide-Ranging Turkey Hunt", "Crist vetoes measure for extra tenant fees", "Crist missed chance to jump-start region", "Crist vetoes baffle, raise hackles" and "Turkey list's fat targets".

FCAT Fiasco

"Former state Education Commissioner John Winn told The St. Petersburg Times on Thursday that last year's spike concerned him. In 2006, the percentage of students performing at grade level or better went from 67 percent to 75 percent. Winn said he ordered reviews by three groups, but none found anything amiss. Reached Friday by The Miami Herald, he said his comments were accurate, but he declined to answer any further questions." "Senate seeks to probe FCAT". See also "FCAT mistake fuels critics, upsets parents" ("Critics are lining up to blast the Florida Department of Education for the error that artificially boosted last year's FCAT reading test for third-graders. ")

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "When FCAT testing looms, students of one well-regarded middle school English teacher in Palm Beach County take this letter home to their parents:"

"If there is something of greater import, it is beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. I am now 13 years old, and my future hangs in the balance. If I do not perform well, worlds will collide, nations will crumble and Miss America will lose her dream of world peace."

Obviously, the note is tongue-in-cheek, but the FCAT has so warped Florida education policy that it isn't that much of an exaggeration. The overemphasis on FCAT scores was a mistake even before Wednesday's revelation of serious errors in the 2006 test. Now that the state belatedly has admitted that the test is - gasp - fallible, Gov. Crist should lead the effort to restore the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test to its original, diagnostic purpose.

Gov. Crist's reaction when he learned of the flaw - "Well, it doesn't raise my confidence" - is in itself a welcome change from the Jeb Bush regime, which wouldn't concede that anything could be wrong with the FCAT or the school grades concocted from the results.

Housing Market

"The spring home-selling season is proving to be a misnomer. Although real estate agents tout low-interest rates and a slew of bargains, many buyers are holding off. They're waiting for prices to keep falling, experts say, and for lawmakers to fix the property tax mess during a special legislative session in June." "Buyers waiting for tax solution, more bargains".

Pensacola Beach

"Souvenir shops that line this sugary white Panhandle beach display Confederate flag beach towels, window decals and T-shirts. Hooters and other bars fly POW-MIA, Marine and Navy flags and cater to the sailors and Marines from the nearby base. Vacationing Southern families usually fill the hotels and condominiums in this slice of paradise long nicknamed "The Redneck Riviera." But every Memorial Day they mostly stay away as this Florida Panhandle town becomes more like trendy Miami Beach - 700 miles and a world away. Starting in the mid-1980s, gay men from New Orleans and other nearby cities began gathering here for a three-day party that has grown into one of the South's largest gay gatherings, attracting more than 60,000 people in 2004 before hurricanes Ivan and Dennis destroyed many beach roads and buildings. Following two years of rebuilding, organizers anticipate 50,000 this weekend - and the resulting culture clash." "'Redneck Riviera' home to large gay Memorial Day bash".

New Poll

"A May 14-18 Datamar poll shows Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in a dead heat among likely Florida primary voters and Fred Thompson nipping at Rudy Giuliani's heels". "Edwards winning in Florida?" More at this FLA Politics post: "New Poll Shows Competitive Primary in Florida".

"Merit in Second Chances"

"For a Republican Congress that spent more than a decade cutting its teeth on cutting rehabilitation programs in the name of law and order, last year's Second Chance Act was uncharacteristic for its charity and humaneness. It would offer states $86 million to underwrite prisons' efforts to ease inmates' re-entry into society. The money could pay for drug treatment, (needed by up to two-thirds of inmates in Florida), education, job training -- anything to keep inmates from committing crimes again, as a third of them do within three years in Florida." "Nation, Florida rediscover merit in second chances".

Another Delightful Jebacy

"Few regular folks have heard of the Florida Transportation Commission. The nine volunteers on its board aren't elected. They don't keep minutes of key meetings."

It's an anonymity that conceals their power to shape how the state spends billions in tax dollars on roads, rail, airports and seaports.

For more than a year, a Transportation Commission board [all of whom were] appointed by Jeb Bush when he was governor has been a key sponsor of a controversial plan to lace the state with a series of massive toll roads.

And earlier this year, the board violated Florida's open meetings law when it led a search for the person who could help decide the fate of those toll roads, the secretary of the state Department of Transportation.

The commission is required by law to nominate three finalists for transportation secretary. The governor has no choice but to pick one of its nominations.

When You "Elect" A Car Salesman ...

... you get a car salesman: "It wasn’t until the question and answer period that Buchanan ventured into the topic [of Iraq] when pushed by a question from the audience. 'It’s a bad business deal,' Buchanan responded." "Buchanan: U.S. is nation building in Iraq".

Gallagher Gets A Pass

"Under the joint stipulation that will go before the full [Florida elections] commission at its June 8th meeting, it states that 'the public interest would not be served by proceeding further.' The commission found that in July 2006 that enough evidence existed to say that former insurance commissioner Gallagher had broken state ethics laws when he purchased stock in two companies whose subsidiaries were regulated by the Department of Insurance." "Gallagher ethics charges will likely be dropped".

Whatever

"In a conference call [Friday evening], John McCain challenged his Republican presidential primary opponents to propose their own immigration reform plan or else support his, and said he’s going to make a speech on the issue in Miami June 4." "McCain To Opponents: Put Up Or Shut Up On Immigration".

Whoopee

"Crist to ballyhoo Florida in Israel".

537

"Kurt Browning seemed to have the ideal resume to preside over Florida's unpredictable voting system - a job that includes frequent clashes with fiercely independent local election supervisors."

It's Browning's fate to repair the strained relationship between election supervisors and the Secretary of State's Office at a time when a new voting system is coming.

Seven short years removed from the chaotic day of punch cards and hanging chad, Florida is again replacing its voting machines. This time, the state is junking touch screen machines for optical scanners that provide a paper trail, which Crist sees as a tonic for the Sarasota-inspired lack of confidence in old-fashioned vote counting.

Touch screens must be gone by July 1, 2008, to make way for the first statewide paper trail primary on Aug. 26, 2008. A few will remain for voters with disabilities.

That's not all supervisors face. Random audits of precinct totals. An earlier presidential primary that puts a bigger focus on Florida. More election-day data demanded by the state and less time to compile it all. A still-untested "ballot on demand" system for early voting that offers more convenience for voters and more work for poll workers.

All of it was tucked inside the elections bill Crist signed amid great fanfare Monday.

The bill is House Bill 537.

Yes, 537, the exact number of votes by which George W. Bush defeated Al Gore in Florida in 2000.

Not far.

Gov. Charlie Crist, striking back at legislators who refused to pay for many of his top priorities, axed a record $459 million from the state budget, which takes effect July 1.

Most significantly, he rejected a 5 percent tuition increase at state universities and community colleges, provoking the state's top education official to threaten a challenge.

Citing lack of affordable housing for the state's workers, Crist vetoed a bill that would have created steeper penalties for renters who break their leases. ...

-SB 1116 revising Medicaid policy. He expressed alarm at several provisions, including one requiring doctors to use name brand drugs instead of generics for transplant patients. That would increase Medicaid costs by $500, 000 in the first year, he wrote. "Even more disturbing, " he wrote, "is the fact that many of these provider-driven provisions were not discussed in an open forum, but were, instead, added to the bill at the last minute without proper public hearing."

- SB 920, which created a new license for hair technicians, estheticians, nail technicians and cosmetologists.

- SB 1104, which increased boat registration fees by $2 to help pay for removal of derelict boats. Crist said the tax would be unfair to responsible boaters.

The bill dealing with Medicaid HMOs, SB 1116, was one of the so-called conforming bills that accompanied the $71.5 billion budget that Crist signed into law [yesterday]. But this bill was changed behind closed doors in the waning hours of the session to give Medicaid HMOs a $5 million rate increase starting in January. Crist also faulted the bill for ending a current requirement that Medicaid health plans provide at least 80 percent of money they receive for mental health care on direct services to patients.

GOPers Go After Moderates

"Rep. Tim Mahoney is one of 15 moderate Democratic freshmen being targeted by GOP ads and, in some cases, telephone calls. Mahoney is targeted for both. The ads and calls claim that the Democrats have lost touch with their more conservative districts and are tied to 'their liberal speaker, Nancy Pelosi.' The ads targeting Mahoney are available on a website sponsored by the National Republican Congressional Committee." "Mahoney Target of GOP Ads, Calls".

Petition Drive

"A Miami-based citizens' group with some influential backers is preparing to launch a statewide petition drive for a constitutional amendment to lower property taxes." "Group pushes for tax-cut vote".

Out In The Fields

"The largest group of Florida tomato growers on Thursday rejected a recent deal between McDonald's Corp. and an advocacy group that would pay field workers more for the fruit." They claim that paying a decent wage

could leave them open to racketeering and antitrust lawsuits.

And Then There's That Minimum Wage Thing To Boot ...

"A sweeping Senate immigration bill is hitting resistance from some South Florida employers who say the proposal could create more problems than it solves." "Some South Florida employers find fault with immigration plan".

"Feeble"

"Property tax reform for this year can't work unless legislative leaders and Gov. Crist enter the June 12 special session with a fair amount of agreement on what they want to do."

Monday's feeble gathering reveals a lack of urgency that could result in a rushed and flawed approach on a complex and technical subject that affects every Floridian.

House and Senate tax negotiators spent the day viewing a lengthy presentation that told them what they surely already know: Homeowners protected by the Save Our Homes tax cap are paying disproportionately less than business owners, landlords, snowbirds and newcomers. As legislators fritter away valuable time, local governments must plan next year's budgets on little more than hype and anxiety.

Negotiators have scheduled just one more meeting, on June 4, before the special session. As the problems from Save Our Homes reveal, the consequences of even a single change in the tax code can be far-reaching.

By putting off a decision on the framework for a deal, negotiators limit scrutiny that could help them develop a more cohesive, effectivebill.

"Critical Equipment Shortages"

"Facing critical equipment shortages as hurricane season approaches, the head of the Florida National Guard [Maj. Gen. Doug Burnett, a gubernatorial appointment who answers to Crist] has threatened to withhold some gear demanded by the U.S. Army, an internal guard document shows." "Will the Guard be ready?".

And He's Not A Crook Either

"Romney says he is not intolerant".

No Debate

"A Republican presidential candidates debate that was to have been held in Tampa later this summer and broadcast over a conservative religious radio network has been cancelled after John McCain and Rudy Giuliani refused to participate." "Tampa Presidential Debate Cancelled".

Kucinich in Tampa

"Dennis Kucinich, accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth, will make his first campaign stops of the 2008 season in the Tampa Bay area Saturday, supporters have announced."

Kucinich will hold a $25 a person fundraiser at Mis En Place restaurant across Kennedy Boulevard from the University of Tampa at 1 p.m., then hold a rally at the Courtside Grille oin Fountain Parkway in Feather Sound, then come back to Tampa for a dinner with the League of United Latin American Citizens Saturday evening.

Whatever

"Kottcamp to launch "shuttle experience"".

PIP

"House Democrats are asking the governor to include extending Florida's no-fault auto insurance law in the special session next month." "Extension sought for PIP insurance".

FCAT Follies

"Parents hate it. Students dread it. Teachers live and die by it. Like it or not, high-stakes testing will remain a way of life in Florida".

On Thursday, Gov. Charlie Crist said he still wants to learn more about the mistake that led to inflated scores on last year's reading exam before making any changes to the state's extensive testing program -- and its many consequences.

The public deserves answers from the state Department of Education and the testing service - Harcourt Assessment - that secured the $39 million contract to write FCAT questions.

Despite the clamor for school accountability, the all-important testing services are escaping serious oversight by the agencies that employ them. Harcourt, which is in the last year of its four-year contract, now must prove to the public that it can handle the assignment at an A-grade level.

Florida's former education commissioner said he was so concerned about last year's record spike in FCAT scores that he ordered three groups, including an outside group of testing experts, to "triple check" the numbers.

After further review, John Winn says, he was told that no problems were found.

"Did they do as diligent job as maybe they've done this year, looking back?" Winn told the St. Petersburg Times on Thursday. "I guess, obviously not." ...

Winn's comments came a day after his replacement acknowledged that last year's scores on the third-grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test were bungled, prompting an outcry from teachers and lawmakers and further eroding public confidence in the FCAT-heavy school system that Winn helped build under former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Watch Your Mouth

"Former state Rep. Ralph Arza [a Hialeah Republican] pleaded guilty Thursday to witness tampering charges months after leaving an obscenity-laced phone message with a colleague. He was sentenced to 18 months' probation and will not be eligible to seek public office again until 2010." "Ex-Rep. Arza pleads guilty to witness tampering". See also "Disgraced Ex-Rep. Pleads Guilty".

19 Years

"Former Broward teen Minouche Noel finally received $8.5 million from the state after being paralyzed by state-contracted doctors as an infant." "$8.5 million settlement arrives after 19 years".

Crist has line-item veto power and gets to decide the fate of the hundreds of spending items tucked into the 428-page document that directs all state spending from July 1 through June 30, 2008.

Those Silly GOPers

"Stung by a "True Confessions" attack ad linking state Rep. Charlie Dean to Democrats, a political handler in his state Senate campaign filed a complaint Wednesday with the Florida Elections Commission."

"I SUED the Republican Party!" says the headline on the supermarket tabloid-style mass mailing, featuring an unflattering photo of Dean pointing at the side of his head. The piece also promises, "The secret Bill Clinton & Charlie Dean don't want you to know!"

The mass mailing was sent by Floridians for Traditional Values, an independent "electioneering communication organization" not run by any candidates in the special election to replace former Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon. Argenziano, now a member of the Public Service Commission, is supporting Dean in the race, which includes eastern parts of Leon County. ...

Dean, who was Citrus County sheriff for 15 years, is now a Republican House member. But as a Democrat, he supported Gov. Lawton Chiles' re-election against GOP nominee Jeb Bush in 1994 and Clinton's re-election in 1996, the Traditional Values flier says.

It also notes that Dean was a Democratic State Committeeman before he was sheriff and that he once sued the state and national GOP.

Pick Up the Pace

"The current pace of property tax discussions could prevent lawmakers from reaching their goals for the approaching special session, the state House Democratic leader said in a letter sent Wednesday to his Republican counterparts." "Democratic leader urges GOP to move faster on property tax".

The GOPer Immigration Imbroglio

"As Mitt Romney campaigns in Florida today, he is likely to face questions about the new immigration proposal in Congress."

Since the proposal's unveiling last week, immigration has become a tightrope for presidential candidates, eager to appear tough on national security without alienating a rapidly growing Hispanic electorate.

Romney, who will visit Jacksonville and Lakeland today, has campaigned more aggressively in Hispanic-rich Florida than any of his GOP rivals. But his immigration stance is at odds with some of the state's most prominent Republicans, including Sen. Mel Martinez, who helped craft the legislation, and Gov. Charlie Crist, who supports allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush -- whom Romney has name-dropped as a potential running mate -- has told friends he is ''disappointed'' with Romney's position. ...

Romney supporters insist the former Massachusetts governor's views come from a policy perspective, not a political one.

''The governor receives high praise for his position on immigration in Florida and throughout the country because of his strong support of legal immigration, not amnesty,'' said spokeswoman Gail Gitcho.

Romney advisor Al Cárdenas, a Cuban-American lawyer and former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said: ``The criticism he has received has been over the top and unfair. . . . I am confident that he will [put] forward an immigration proposal that Floridians and Hispanics alike will find fair.''

Mahoney

The Hill: "Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.), the freshman member who barely beat the name 'Mark Foley' in the most bizarre race of the last election, has had a shaky transition to life in Congress. And Democratic leaders have taken note." "‘Very candidly, this isn’t the greatest job I’ve had’" (via Naked Politics).

Nelson

"President Bush's choice for consumer czar withdrew his name from consideration - two days after meeting with Sen. Bill Nelson, who had opposed the appointment." "Nelson claims victory".

FCAT Follies

The Orlando Sentinel trumpets this headline today: "FCAT scores rise across the state". Deep in the article we read that "As in years past, younger students did better than high-schoolers. Seventy percent of the elementary students could read as they should, but, like last year, 48 percent of the state's 10th-graders failed FCAT reading. ... State officials also said they were concerned to see the scores of black and Hispanic students fell slightly this year in reading, widening the performance gap with their white classmates. Minority students had posted improvements in previous years."

There's much more: "FCAT fiasco: Scores wrong", "State to rescore last year's FCAT exams for third grade, saying they were flawed", "Last year's problem overshadows rising 2007 FCAT scores", "In 2006, a set of tests was scored incorrectly, drawing critics' scorn" and "So can 3rd-graders read or not?"

Anderson

"The family of a Panama City teen who died after being roughed up by juvenile boot camp guards last year will receive $5 million under a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Charlie Crist." "Crist signs $5 million claims bill for Panama City family". See also "Gov. Crist signs Anderson bill", "Governor signs bill giving family full $5 million in boot camp death" and "Crist Signs $5 Mil Payment for Anderson Family".

The Primary Thing

"Howard Dean isn't getting much help from Florida's top elected Democrats as he tries to convince the state to back off plans to hold one of the country's earliest presidential primaries. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink on Wednesday said she opposes a plan to make Florida's Jan. 29 Democratic primary nonbinding and officially meaningless. Sen. Bill Nelson also opposes that idea." "Democratic primary: binding or not?".

One Man's Turkey ...

"Shoot Only Turkeys, Gov. Crist". See also "Crist the turkey hunter".

"The Clock is Ticking"

"There's no apparent sign of consensus developing on what to do with mandatory no-fault insurance, needed auto coverage that is plagued with fraud. The Florida Senate wants to keep it, with modifications. The Florida House wants something new. Regardless, the clock is ticking." "Auto Insurance".

Tuition Hike

The Tampa Tribune editors think "" "Crist Should Sign Tuition Hike To Save People Time And Money". Their point is that

By raising tuition on the front end, students could save thousands of dollars now spent waiting for needed, chocked-full classes to open.

Imagine the money Florida families could save if inefficiencies were removed so that their children could graduate in four years, instead of the five or six years it increasingly takes. It's not just tuition costs, either. Housing and living expenses figure in, too.

In the long run, the savings for families could well exceed the extra $221 that UF and FSU want to charge students each semester to add more academic advisers and increase the number of undergraduate class offerings. USF hopes to increase tuition by $170 per semester.

On a daily basis, the increase represents what a student might spend on a cup of Starbucks coffee. Is a better education worth a daily cup of coffee?

Veto This Thing

Howard Troxler brings to our attention "The little House bill that could (be vetoed)".

Shut Up And Count

"At a meeting of Florida's elections chiefs, many were critical of a new state law mandating a change from touch-screen voting machines to optical-scan machines."

Some supervisors said ending the use of touch-screen systems was a step backward. Others said they are worried about making major changes while state lawmakers are preparing to cut local property taxes, which could lead to budget cuts in county election departments. Indian River County Supervisor of Elections Kay Clem called the move a "a huge waste of money.''

''To go back to a paper ballot system is insane,'' said Clem, a Republican. "At a time when people need property tax relief and insurance relief, to waste money like this goes against my fiscal conservatism.''

Petition Drive

"Property tax anger sparks petition drive".

"The Smell Test"

"Crist has a chance to make an appointment that will signal a more cooperative approach to school accountability, and he can thank lawmakers."

The Legislature, not known as a bloodhound when it comes to detecting the scent of political conflict, did the governor a favor this spring by passing on the appointment of Akshay Desai to the state Board of Education. ...

Desai's appointment failed even the Legislature's weak smell test, which gives Crist the chance to find a replacement. He already has used his appointments to various state agencies and boards to put his own stamp on government, including his bipartisan approach and strong advocacy for consumer and environmental issues.

With the education board, Crist has not done nearly so well. The seven-member board sets public school standards, oversees failing schools and charter schools, and chooses the education commissioner. Crist has said he would like to see a less combative approach, but his first selection was to reappoint T. Willard Fair, who recently told a public audience that he doesn't "trust" elected school boards. His second selection, Desai, was as notable for his Republican fundraising prowess as for his educational credentials.

Is Anyone Surprised?

"Florida's colleges are woefully understaffed in police and mental health counselors, according to a draft report on safety ordered by Gov. Charlie Crist in response to last month's massacre at Virginia Tech University." "Fla. colleges fall behind on safety".

Jebbie's "Way to Reward Republican Donors"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The failure of Project Aspire, whose original budget grew from $81 million in 2003 to an expected $100 million this year, once again disproves Jeb Bush's claim that privatization means cheaper, better public service."

During Gov. Bush's tenure, oversight of private contracts, as numerous audits showed, often was just that - an oversight. In some cases, including with BearingPoint, the company hired to manage the overhaul of the 25-year-old accounting system, there were obvious conflicts. BearingPoint, which abandoned Project Aspire days before it was scheduled to end in December, had been awarded a separate $126 million state contract in 2004 by then-Gov. Bush's State Technology Office director, Kim Bahrami - who soon after quit, to work for BearingPoint.

With the Council on Efficient Government, Ms. Sink also is investigating the $92 million private contract for MyFlorida MarketPlace, the state's purchasing system, and PeopleFirst!, the $350 million takeover of the state's human resources services. If she does nothing else during her first term in office, halting the misguided rush to privatization - which under the former governor was a way to reward Republican donors - will be enough.

A Cynic Might Say That This Explains ...

"This state lags behind others in the number of people with college degrees. ... Florida will continue to lag behind while other states produce an educated work force that strengthens their local economies." "For state to prosper, universities must aim high".

"Laidback"?

"Hanging out in Orlando this weekend for the GOP’s quarterly meetings, it was clear the two major political parties have very different levels of concern about moving up the presidential primaries. Both national parties have threatened to take away half of the state’s delegates for the national conventions. While Democrats are begging Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean not to penalize them and candidates who campaign here, Republicans have a much more laidback approach." "GOP chair not worried about lost delegates".

Local Anxiety

"The uncertainty over what type of property tax reform state legislators will approve has led county officials to make changes to the upcoming budget workshops." "Budget sessions face uncertainty".

"Trash Talking"

"Gov. Charlie Crist made an impromptu stop at City Hall to talk to West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel about property tax reform today, putting the two sides of the tense debate on colorful display." "Frankel and Crist Face Off Over Property Taxes". See also "Tax-cut trash talking".

Delightful

"In Florida, another dubious milestone was reached Wednesday as the average price of unleaded hit $3 even." "Drivers pay through hose".

Anderson

"After a first regular session that ended in a property tax relief stalemate, Gov. Charlie Crist marks a somber victory today at a bill-signing ceremony." "Crist signs Anderson relief package".

Huh?

"Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent will officially be chosen tonight as the next president of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections. The move comes just months after her county became ground zero in the latest battle over touchscreen machines." "Embattled supervisor to lead group".

Mitt Losing Jebbie?

"Ana Navarro, a Florida Republican activist and fundraiser who has worked with Jeb Bush on immigration issues in the past, said the former governor told her last weekend that he is 'disappointed' that Romney has denounced the immigration bill in television advertisements." "ABC says Jeb May Be Unhappy With Mitt Over Immigration".

"Legal Fix"

"As the Senate tackles immigration overhaul, a South Florida activist hopes it will take up a provision that would prevent Haitians from being deported back to the island." "Activist seeks legal fix for Haitians".

Is Charlie A "Fornicator"?

"The TV reporter who interviewed Heyniger this week used the opportunity to ask her about rumors about the governor's sexual orientation, a topic that came up several times during the campaign last year. Heyniger dismissed the rumors as false." "Governor's girlfriend is Palm Beach mom".

It Was A Very Good Year

"The year 2005 was the insurance industry's greatest ever with more than $40 billion in profit. 2006 was even better, with more than $50 billion in profit. Car insurance is profitable in Florida, and homeowner's insurance premiums are going through the roof. Now the insurance industry wants to make a good deal even better by eliminating Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance." "End of PIP profits insurers, not you".

Poor Mel

Yesterday: "Some of Martinez's fellow Florida Republicans were more direct, making it abundantly clear they want nothing of the plan. 'The Senate's amnesty plan does nothing to secure our borders and is a slap in the face to every law-abiding immigrant who wants to come to America the right way - legally,' said Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville. Republican Reps. Tom Feeney of Oviedo and Vern Buchanan of Longboat Key had similar criticisms." "Martinez Tries To Preserve Bill".

Our Consumer Warrior

"Having taken on the insurance companies during a January special session and the recently finished regular legislative session, Gov. Charlie Crist turned his sights on the petroleum industry, signing a letter with 21 other governors asking Congress to investigate the cost of gasoline." "The new insurance industry?". See also "Crist seeks inquiry into gas price spike".

Felons

"Providing better job-training, literacy help and health services for convicted felons is not being soft on crime, it's protecting the public safety, the head of Florida's prison system said Tuesday in announcing a new program to cut the rate of ex-cons." "DOC leader: New program needed to curb recidivism".

• A tiered approach that gives homeowners a percentage tax break based on the value of their homes. For example, homes with a market value of $600,000 would pay taxes on 30 percent of the first $200,000, 40 percent on the next $200,000, and 10 percent on the last $200,000.

• A flat percentage exemption on all homesteaded property regardless of the value.

• A percentage based on the median value in each county. Under this option, homes could be taxed at 50 percent of the median value in a county, for example.

Florida's "Hub of Election Controversy"

"Confirming Palm Beach County's status as a hub of election controversy and ceremonial burial ground for out-of-favor voting systems, Gov. Charlie Crist visited West Palm Beach on Monday to sign a bill that bans nearly all paperless electronic voting in Florida. The legislation also seeks to put Florida in the national spotlight for something other than election meltdowns by making the state's 2008 presidential primary one of the earliest in the nation. The new Jan. 29 primary date has drawn the wrath of traditional early-primary states and the national political parties." "Paperless votes scrapped; state's '08 primary to be one of earliest". See also "End of a ballot era: New law changes the way we vote".

Whoopee!

"Get ready to see a lot of Rudy Giuliani in Florida. As Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday signed a bill making Florida one of the earliest presidential primary states, Giuliani was already gearing up to take full advantage. " "Giuliani's primary goal: Florida".

Tuition Increase

"The University of Florida will be the only state university charging freshmen a new tuition add-on fee this fall to help pay for more faculty -- if the proposal becomes law." "UF would go it alone for now on tuition fee". See also "5 reasons a tuition hike makes sense".

"Florida drops farther behind in help for disabled"

"The idea behind creating a separate agency for Floridians with disabilities was noble, focusing attention on people long underserved."

But the execution verges on the ignoble. Lawmakers have never fully funded the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and former governor Jeb Bush turned it into a proving ground for his privatization experiments. This year, the agency's budget went from bad to worse -- with a 16 percent funding cut, cookie-cutter caps on services and no provision for more than 13,000 people currently on a waiting list for help.

Huh?

"The Florida Legislature ended its annual session without achieving its No. 1 goal: reducing property taxes. Legislators did, however, vote to increase property taxes by $546 million. It happened because of the way Florida allocates money for schools. The new state budget, effective in July, increases spending on education and orders local school boards to charge higher property taxes to pay for it." "After promising cuts, legislators actually hiked property taxes in spring session".

Immigration

"Nelson said he's troubled by the temporary worker program that would provide 400,000 visas a year for workers coming to the United States to meet labor needs. He said he was concerned that the temporary program could 'start to create the very problem we're trying to overcome now. That suddenly they get here and they disappear and they're illegal.'" "Nelson voices concerns".

The Miami Herald editors: "The compromise immigration bill that the Senate is debating this week isn't what we would have prescribed to address the nation's labor shortages and millions of illegal workers. Still, the bill engages a needed discussion about immigration -- and it creates a chance for reform." "Senate opens door to immigration debate".

Yesterday: "Sen. Mel Martinez, pilloried by conservatives in his own party, went on CNN Sunday to defend the immigration accord that he and other Republicans reached Thursday with Democrats and the White House." "Martinez defends immigration measure".

Scott Maxwell

"One of the more interesting ideas floating around Tallahassee nowadays calls for making sure that none of Florida's retirement fund is invested in "sin stocks" and other allegedly naughty moneymakers."

The idea's not completely wacky. We could probably all agree, for instance, that we'd rather not invest in a company that has anything to do with the genocide in Darfur. And Darfur is one example cited by state Rep. Andy Gardiner, the Orlando Republican who is pushing for the portfolio review. Also pushing: Kissimmee Republican Frank Attkisson.

But Gardiner also suggests that gambling companies are sinful.

And so the slippery slope starts.

"Up and Up"

"Gas prices continue on the up and up".

Costly

"Florida will be the most populous - and politically costly - state with a January date." "Governor signs early primary bill into law".

"Education On the Cheap"

"When Gov. Charlie Crist describes himself as "the people's governor," he's usually arguing to cut taxes or lower homeowner-insurance rates in the admirable effort to make the average Florida family's dollar stretch a little further. But as much as cutting taxes and keeping costs low are part of his DNA, Mr. Crist will do the people great harm if he cuts too deeply when it comes to the state's crowded, poorly funded university system. Florida's college students simply can't get a great education on the cheap." "Quality matters".

Charlie's Kinda Girl

"She's blond. She's tan. She's a mother of two, a former beauty queen who auditioned for NBC's Fear Factor by eating a live earthworm and hiding four lizards in her mouth." "No fear in dating the governor".

Daniel Ruth on the Cable Thing

"In theory, the new regulations will permit cable companies to pursue statewide licenses offering television, Internet and TV services, ostensibly bypassing historically local municipal control. And, of course, the bill signing also dragged out that old saw about how these new rules will create competition and thus a Brigadoon of stellar customer service. Which we all know will eventually amount to a Matterhorn of hooey." "Cable TV Still Tunes Into Frustration".

All In The Family

"Orlando Republican Rep. Steve Precourt is lending a helping hand to Damon Baxley, the son of Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, who is looking to succeed his father in the Florida House." "Central Florida Rep. Helps Baxley's Son".

Selling Florida's Infrastructure

The Tampa Trib editorial board: "Florida lawmakers were smart to place tight restrictions on the sale of taxpayers' highways to the highest bidder. Under the final version of the new transportation bill, Florida could lease the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and a few other toll projects to private operators, but the contract would have to be approved by a legislative committee, which guarantees an open process with plenty of debate." "Florida Right To Move Slowly In Leasing Roads To Investors".

Water Policy

"It is an opportunity Gov. Crist did not expect, but it is one he can use to transform the most important public agency in South Florida."

The new governor now will appoint a majority of the South Florida Water Management District's nine governing board members, who represent areas and interests throughout the district's 16 counties. The governor's first choices have been: Eric Beurmann, a Republican lawyer with business experience and environmental credentials from Miami-Dade County; Charles Dauray, a west coast developer who has held leadership positions with the local, state and national Izaak Walton League of America; and Shannon Estenoz, a Broward County resident, civil engineer and Everglades expert.

Those choices alone help to balance a board that under Jeb Bush had no credible environmental representation. But Gov. Crist still must name a board member from Palm Beach County after Kevin McCarty's resignation. The unexpected resignation of Lennart Lindahl also opens a spot for a Treasure Coast member.

Rumors abound that Gov. Crist will appoint Patrick Rooney Jr., from the family that owns the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Palm Beach Kennel Club, which Mr. Rooney manages. Mr. Rooney has been active in private school and children's activities. While those are good community causes, they are not qualifications for the water district board.

At Least We Don't Have An Intangibles Tax

Yesterday: "Florida has spent $2.4 billion in public funds and 20 years cleaning up leaky fuel-storage tanks, the kind that gas stations use, the kind that can ruin a water supply. Even so, all that effort has fixed only a third of the problem. The to-do list still includes nearly 13,000 known spills, making Florida No. 1 in the nation in contaminated sites, according to a recent report by the federal Government Accountability Office." "Fuel-spill cleanups plague Florida".

Follow Florida?

"Congress should follow Florida with optical-scan voting machines." "Make every vote count".

Whatever

"A conservative government watchdog group releases a report today on how well lawmakers did crafting a $72 billion budget. Florida TaxWatch holds a 9:30 a.m. press conference to announce what it considers to be budget 'turkeys.'" "TaxWatch targets budget 'turkeys'".

The Best He Could Do

"A two-for-one shot from Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer this morning, with Hillary Clinton in South Florida and Gov. Charlie Crist signing the elections bill that moves up the state's presidential primary:" "Greer: Dean Should "Come Clean" on Primary Threats".

Slots

"The lion's share of state tax dollars raised by Broward's slot machines will never find their way back to Broward County. In the budget year that starts July 1, state officials are estimating that the Las Vegas-style slots operating in three Broward casinos will raise more than $223 million for education projects in Florida." "Most profits from Broward slots will benefit schools elsewhere in Florida".

"If I could have changed anything," he told Education Next magazine, "it would have been to better communicate to parents, teachers and principals both the need for reform and the incremental nature of progress that can be made."

The Orlando Sentinel was given an advance copy of the interview. In it Bush, who left office in January, talks about school choice, the drive to raise standards for student performance, merit pay for teachers and changes he favors in the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Peterson of Education Next [a publication of the Hoover Institution] said he gave the Sentinel a preview of the interview in hopes of attracting a wider audience for the former governor's remarks than the policy makers and political leaders that the journal typically reaches. The interview will be available online and in print.

The Hoover Institution is a politically conservative think tank that has ties to President Bush's administration and supports many of his policies. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State George Shultz and former Attorney General Edwin Meese are among its fellows.

Florida's Booming Economy

"Across the region, unexpected medical bills, rising homeowner insurance, property taxes and other costs of living have plenty of lower- and middle-income consumers on the verge of losing their homes." "Foreclosure crisis looms, housing analysts say".

And Rubio Would Give Them A Pay Cut?

"South Florida firefighters return from battling northern blazes".

Poor Things

"At a time when Florida's religious right could use a pep talk, two of the staunchest conservatives running for president tried Saturday to offer inspiration."

About 700 people attended the dinner hosted by the ''pro-life, pro-family and pro-marriage'' Family Florida Policy Council, in what has become the largest annual gathering of its kind in Florida.

''Please don't give up now,'' said Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who was followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. ``We can win this fight.''

It's a challenging time to be a religious conservative in Florida: Brownback and Huckabee, who received standing ovations, are considered long shots in the 2008 race. The council's political arm is struggling to pass a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Florida.

Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Crist -- who passed up an invitation to the event -- is winning accolades for his moderate approach.

Partly because of his influence, measures to restrict abortion and expand adult stem-cell research failed in the recent legislative session.

Where do social conservatives in Florida go from here?

Carl Hiaasen

"To make a bigger political splash, Florida is moving its presidential primary back to Jan. 29."

The new date is too early to please some Democratic and Republican strategists, but not early enough to satisfy many Floridians. It isn't because of state pride that we want to be the first to host the presidential contenders; it's because of dread. We want to get this exhausting spectacle over with as soon as possible.

January is too far off. By then, our new voting machines could already be installed, and ready to malfunction.

But by holding our election earlier -- say, on a slow Thursday during the next couple of weeks -- we could ignite a nationwide trend that would properly devalue the primaries and bring some sanity back to politics.

Turkey Hunt

"This week is expected to be a busy one in the governor's office - and for all interested parties waiting in the wings to see if Charlie Crist vetoes or lets pass various pieces of legislation or special projects that show up as line items in the state budget." "Will he or won't he?", "Crist faces veto decision on legislative goodies". See also "Millions allotted for pet projects" and "After 'Veto Corleone,' expect Crist to have lighter budget touch".

On the Road Again

"Crist is campaigning again -- this time to break a legislative deadlock over property taxes that some fear could harden even more and turn Floridians against the popular chief executive."

But some of Crist's supporters say his recent flurry of town halls and television sound bites are doing little to focus the debate and raising tax-cutting expectations beyond what he calls "the doable." ...

Stumping across the state, the Republican governor is offering sunny rhetoric and big promises as he and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp host town halls, consumer roundtables and television appearances aimed at spurring lawmakers toward resolving the tax dispute in a June 12-22 special session

"Who Knew"?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board asks: "Who knew cutting taxes would be this hard? After bickering for 60 days, lawmakers gave up during their regular session with nothing to show for it but growing frustration from taxpayers. So it's encouraging that leaders have finally agreed that the best way to cut taxes is to create a fairer system that expands property-tax exemptions. Now promises need to become reality." "Making sense". See also "Homeowners weigh property tax proposal" ("After arguing for months about the best way to save people money, Republicans have largely agreed on a new proposal to revamp Florida's property tax system by exempting most of a home's value from the tax rolls.")

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Whether it's the dramatic approach House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, proposed or the more moderate plan House Democrats offered, the first two attempts at resolving the property-tax standoff in the Legislature have one good thing in common: For the most part, they do away with Save Our Homes." "Ending Save Our Homes key to any tax reform".

The St Pete Times editorial board: "There is a glimmer of hope in the debate over property tax relief because House Speaker Marco Rubio has given up on a tax swap that was politically and economically unworkable. But it is only a glimmer because the Miami Republican remains determined to cut property taxes so deeply it would devastate local government programs and services." "Moving ahead on tax relief".

"Cheap Water"

"The drought lingers, despite recent rains, forcing a miserable choice on the South Florida Water Management District. Some coastal wells are low on fresh water; encroaching salt water could ruin them. In the northernmost Everglades, water is almost 2 inches below safe levels for birds, fish and plants. Should the district take water from wildlife and use it to save wells that serve Palm Beach and Broward counties?" "The end of cheap water".

Decisions, Decisions ...

"Would Florida Republicans prefer Brit Hume or Sean Hannity? Those are the likely moderators for Florida's national televised Republican presidential debate in October, state GOP chairman Jim Greer told party activists Saturday." "State is gaining clout, GOP told".

Those Pesky Petitions

The Chamber is unhappy: it has spent years purchasing legislation the old fashioned way, yet upstart "liberal" groups keep getting in the way via the petition process:

For the past three years, the Florida Chamber of Commerce has lobbied lawmakers to impose new limits on groups that gather voter signatures for ballot initiatives.

The chamber contends that it's much too easy to amend Florida's Constitution, that a profit motive leads to fraud in signature gathering, and that voters should know whether petition circulators are being paid by interest groups.

The group has lost high-profile ballot battles in recent years, like the 2004 amendment that raised the minimum wage, and is fighting a proposed 2008 initiative that would require voter approval for land use changes.

But the chamber's success in the Legislature has outraged groups active in ballot initiatives, many with liberal agendas hostile to the chamber's probusiness philosophy. ...

"This is a nightmare, " said Dianne Wheatley-Giliotti of Palm Harbor, a leader in the League of Women Voters of Florida. ...

Other critics of the legislative changes include the Florida AFL-CIO, American Cancer Society, Common Cause, Florida Public Interest Research Group, Humane Society and People for the American Way.

"Crash Course"

"Port St. Lucie mom Jodi Walsh received a firsthand crash course in the inner workings of state politics this year. This political novice-turned-activist persuaded a Treasure Coast lawmaker to take up her push to get legislators to better define and clarify its law on verbal child abuse - which hurts mentally and emotionally rather than physically." "Mother persists on verbal child-abuse law".

The Early Primary Thing

Mark Lane

So what happens next? Here are the three likely outcomes:

1. Each party gets into a rules fight at the convention over how many Florida delegates to seat. The frontrunner will want as many as will make him or her look good. Which, unless Florida's voters are wildly out of step with the nation, could turn out to be about the number the state would get anyway.

The primary system will then be declared broken, and everyone will go into a two-year huddle to come up with something less absurd.

2. At least one of the parties will worm its way out of the sanctions by declaring that the primary won't be binding on its delegate-selecting process. The delegates will be chosen later based on the primary results, but without delegates for candidates who dropped out.

The primary system will then be declared broken, and everyone will go into a two-year huddle to come up with something less absurd.

3. Or, not wanting to anger an important swing state, the parties will revise the rules informally and ratify the changes at the convention.

The primary system will then be declared broken, and everyone will go into a two-year huddle to come up with something less absurd.

Whatever happens, Florida, the state that demonstrated that the electoral college doesn't work, the state that demonstrated that touch-screen voting doesn't work, soon will be the state to demonstrate that the presidential primary system doesn't work, either.