Except for Senate sponsor John McCain, most of the GOP presidential field joined with conservative talk radio in fanning fierce opposition to the immigration bill. But Martinez, who doubles as his party's national chairman, sought to spread blame equally on both sides.

Senators voted 53 to 46 to reject a motion to end debate and move toward final passage. Thirty-seven Republicans voted to oppose the bill, while only 12 voted for it. By contrast, Democrats voted 33-to-15 in favor of the bill.

"Wait till next year"

"Florida broke Democrats' hearts in 2000 and snubbed them four years later. Wait till next year, say love-struck Democrats -- and they could be right."

Democrats are optimistic about capturing Florida in 2008 due to President Bush's sagging popularity, the ongoing Iraq war and the demise of the immigration bill, in which the heated rhetoric from conservative quarters has alienated many in the state's large, fast-changing Hispanic population.

"Souring economic outlook"

If Florida's economy continues to "boom" like this ... . "A slack housing market, combined with a drop-off in new car sales, corporate income taxes and other levies are forcing the governor and legislators to draw up plans for even deeper spending cuts." "Budget officials: Let's cut deeper".

"Facing a souring economic outlook, Gov Charlie Crist on Friday ordered state government to trim up to $1 billion in spending for the budget year beginning next week." Back at the ranch. good-time Charlie sticks his head in the sand: "Crist confident promises can be kept".

"Spurred by fears that Florida's economy is slowing down, Gov. Charlie Crist and the GOP-controlled Legislature [asked Friday] that each state agency draw up plans to cut their budgets by as much as 10 percent." "Crist to ask for places to trim budget". See also "Crist’s order to state: Cut $1 billion in spending", "Budget officials: Let's cut deeper", "Crist advises agencies to tighten belts" and "Plunging revenues force search for cuts".

"Back to the barricade"

"Déjà vu? A year after resisting efforts to explore Florida waters for oil and gas, Florida's senators are back to the barricade." "Florida's senators fighting oil prospectors -- again".

How the mighty have fallen

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board ain't happy: "Now, when it's finally the day the public is waiting for, the man who so arrogantly stomped on the power entrusted him gets yet another reprieve.". See "Masilotti gets five years". See also "Corruption" ("Masilotti deserves 10 or 20 years in prison for so vastly abusing his office and the public trust by lining his pockets off secret land deals.").

"Open mind"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Crist did the right thing this week when he changed his mind and agreed to let Florida's top three research universities charge higher tuition than other state schools. Clearly this governor is willing to listen and, refreshingly, keep an open mind. " "Welcome change".

"Florida officials earned this one."

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Ultimatums typically aren't good, but Florida officials earned this one. The U.S. Department of the Interior has warned Gov. Charlie Crist to work out an agreement in 60 days to allow the Seminole Tribe of Florida to have Las Vegas-style slots, or else. If Florida doesn't act, the feds will cut their own deal and the state could lose out on millions of dollars in new revenue." "Gaming".

Attack Dogs

"Rep. Luis Garcia, the Miami Beach Democrat who is among the seven House freshmen to win over Republican seats has also been targeted by the attack mailers this week sent by the Republican Party of Florida. ... The list of House freshmen under the attack also includes: Reps. Ron Saunders of Key West, Martin Kiar of Parkland, Debbie Boyd of High Springs, Keith Fitzgerald of Sarasota, Bill Heller of St. Petersburg and Janet Long of St. Petersburg." "More Dems targeted by GOP prop tax ads".

Spoils

"Crist today named Rep. Mark Mahon, a Jacksonville Republican, to a vacant judgeship on the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which covers Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. Mahon's term will start tomorrow." "Crist sends GOP lawmaker to bench".

"Fed up"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "There's no question that city of Miami Community Development Director Barbara Gomez should be fired. But giving her a $1 million pension as a parting gift would be an insult to taxpayers. Her funding of agencies where an ex-husband and a son worked -- obvious conflicts of interest -- alone is reason for dismissal. She shouldn't be rewarded for running a housing program that awarded millions of dollars to developers for projects that were never built." "One more reason taxpayers are fed up".

Edwards

"In a short speech to a crowd of a couple of hundred at Lowry Park Zoo, Edwards delivered his signature campaign lines: 'Eliminate the two Americas that still exist in this country and build one America that works for all of us … an America that is moral and just,' he exhorted them."

It was one of a series of rallies Edwards is holding called "Small Change for Big Change." They're low-priced fundraisers - $15 a head in Tampa - intended to attract as many people as possible and raise Edwards' profile outside the few states where he has concentrated his campaign so far.

Before that, however, Edwards went for bigger change in a fundraiser at a South Tampa home, hosted by two prominent local lawyers and long-standing supporters, Steve Yerrid and Jim Wilkes.

Like his rivals for the Democratic nomination for president, Edwards faces a command performance in Orlando today: an appearance before 1,000 Hispanic elected officials from across the nation attending a conference. The influential Latinos are a constituency no Democrat can ignore.

Hacks

The Tampa Tribune editorial board does its best to dumb down the electorate, arguing that its wonderful to slash public employee rolls because (as the Chamber of Commerce would have them believe)

most government workers also have been getting raises far more generous than typically available in the private sector.

A week after the World Trade Center attack, then-Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Whitman reassured the public that "their air is safe to breathe." She was wrong. One recent study shows that 70 percent of Ground Zero workers suffer some respiratory illness, and another finds that rescue workers and firefighters have very high rates of a serious lung-scarring disease.

Where's Mandy?

"Mandy Dawson, who missed more sessions of the Florida Senate this year than any of her colleagues, seemed to have vanished from the public eye."

The Fort Lauderdale Democrat, whose district stretches from Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach Gardens, was absent for more roll call votes this year than any of her fellow senators and skipped the entire three-day special session on property tax reform this month.

But Friday evening, Dawson spoke by cell phone and e-mail with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. She suffers from a degenerative spinal disease and has already had two operations to relieve the pain. Now, she said, she is worried she might also have cancer.

"A wink and a nod,"

"'I oppose the expansion of gambling,' Republican Gov. Charlie Crist said repeatedly during his campaign."

Granted, he said it with a wink and a nod, as casino boss Donald Trump hosted fundraisers for his campaign, and the gambling industry and the Indian tribes poured in millions of dollars. But he said it.

"I oppose the expansion of gambling,'' he said.

Crist refused to elaborate. At one point, a campaign spokeswoman explained: "When [he] says he's against the expansion of gambling, that's just what he means.''

But by "expansion,'' apparently he didn't mean the gradual but unmistakable march toward more ways to gamble at more places for more hours with more money. Because that is what is happening.

Privatization Fiasco

Credit the The St. Petersburg Times editorial board for asking a

fundamental question: Why does the state and its stable of privately run providers keep making the same mistakes that have plagued the child welfare system for years?

* When Democrat Bill McBride lost his bid for governor in 2002, he won just 36 percent of the vote in one of Miami-Dade's most heavily Hispanic, reliably Republican state House districts. Last year, McBride's wife and fellow Democrat Alex Sink was elected chief financial officer and carried 53 percent of the vote there.

* In Florida's virtually tied 2000 election, overwhelmingly Republican Cuban-Americans made up about 75 percent of Florida's Hispanic electorate. Today? More like 40 percent.

* Jeb Bush in 2002 performed more than 7 percent better in Central Florida's Osceola County, with its booming population of non-Cuban Hispanics, than Charlie Crist did in 2006.

Whether it's temporary disenchantment with President Bush, fallout from the immigration debate or part of a political and demographic shift, Democrats in Florida and nationally are making major strides with crucial Hispanic voters.

Promises, Promises

"Florida's insurance rates, promised by Gov. Charlie Crist to drop by nearly a fourth, are in fact heading up." "Rates could rise".

Florida's Looming Financial Disaster

Well, that didn't take long

"Florida's economy is sputtering so badly that Gov. Charlie Crist and the GOP-controlled Legislature may be forced to order cuts in the more than $71 billion state budget that lawmakers passed less than two months ago."

Since March, the state has taken in millions less in sales taxes than it anticipated, and there's no sign that the trend will change anytime soon. Barring an economic turnaround, the shortfall could be as much as $1.2 billion for the current fiscal year and the one that begins Sunday, according to state budget analysts. ...

The situation is so dire that it threatens to unravel one of the big promises made by Crist and Republicans during the recent June special session on property taxes -- a pledge to have the state replace as much as $1.6 billion in school funding that would be returned to taxpayers in 2008 if voters approve a new super homestead exemption for homeowners on Jan. 29.

Republicans and Crist say they hope the property-tax rollbacks, coupled with a property insurance package passed in January, will stimulate the economy and replenish the state's bank accounts in the coming months.

Gambling

"The legislation allows bingo halls to sell instant tickets, which are very similar to instant tickets sold by the Florida Lottery." "Crist allows assist to local parimutuels".

Hi-Lo

"Florida got a high mark of B for teacher evaluation and compensation Wednesday from a Washington, D.C.-based group that likes the state's use of student test scores to assess teachers and its pioneering merit pay program."

The state also received a C in four other areas, but it received an F in preparing the state's special education teachers in the National Council on Teacher Quality's first State Teacher Policy Yearbook.

The report got a cool reception from the Florida Department of Education.

Charlie's Tuition Flip-Flop

"Thousands of new college students will start paying a premium next year to attend a trio of Florida's top-ranked public universities." "Tuition will jump at 3 universities". See also "Crist reverses stance on tuition hikes", "Crist allows higher tuition" and "Crist signs tuition increase".

"They Daytona Beach - News Journal editorial board": "Florida losing in tuition game".

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Crist made a brave decision Wednesday in changing his mind and signing legislation that allows a tuition increase at the state's major research universities - the University of Florida, Florida State and the University of South Florida." "Colleges: From Doom To Bloom".

Citizens

"Citizens Property Insurance takes on policies as homeowners opt in to the state-run insurer and private insurers back away from the Florida market." "Citizens Property sees growth spurt".

That's Our Trib

The Tampa Tribune editorial board shows its stripes (yet again). See <"Conservative Roberts Court Moves Carefully To The Right".

Ain't No Senator's Son

"A jury on Wednesday convicted the son of Sen. Bill Nelson on charges of battery on a police officer and resisting arrest stemming from an incident that occurred after a re-election party in November. Charles William Nelson, 31, faces a maximum penalty of six years in prison but could also get no jail time." "Senator's son convicted of battery on police officer".

End of an Era

Breaking news from Waldo: "Speed-trap police chief hangs up his radar gun".

The Oil Thing

"Florida’s two senators on Wednesday wrote a stern letter of warning to colleagues they will try to block efforts underway to direct or fund seismic surveying for oil and gas off the nation’s coasts." "Florida Senators Warn They’ll Block Efforts to Allow Seismic Surveys Off Coast". See also "Tampa Bay Area House Members Unite Against Drilling Bill".

Global Warming

"Floridians are worried about increasingly destructive storms, rising sea levels and other results of human-caused climate change, but they're also frustrated by having little ability to do anything about it. Todd Sack, chairman of an advisory committee studying how Florida should respond to global warming, says that's something he has already learned by listening to ideas from people across the state." "Climate-change panel in motion".

Another Special Session

"Fall Back: September Session on PIP Likely". See also "Finding no fault with PIP, Crist wants to keep it".

Book

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Billboards don't have to be a tolerated nuisance in our landscapes. We could function fine without them. But outdoor advertisers have big political clout. Politicians routinely vote to allow the commercial blights along our expressways and busy streets that benefit of only a few people, including, of course, the owners of billboards."

A ... worrisome aspect of this [Miami-Dade County] ordinance is the role played by lobbyist Ron Book. Make that roles. Mr. Book lobbies for Miami-Dade County in the Legislature. He also lobbies the Miami-Dade Commission on behalf of his other clients. Mr. Book was a consultant for the billboard company during its negotiations with North Miami. Mr. Book says he became part owner of the billboard company only after the settlement was struck. Then he lobbied Miami-Dade commissioners, on behalf of North Miami, he says, to amend the county's billboard ordinance. Conflicted? That's an understatement.

The ubiquity of Mr. Book's lobbying is no secret. But no lobbyist who works for a government should be able to petition that same government on behalf of another client, much less for his own financial interests.

No "Back Pumping"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Crist's five new appointees to the South Florida Water Management District board soon will decide whether to consider 'back-pumping.' This destructive practice of pumping water - laden with pesticides and nutrient-rich fertilizers - back into the lake from farm canals hasn't happened since the last drought in 2001." "Forget back-pumping".

Romney's Thug

"Jay Garrity, the aide to presidential candidate Mitt Romney who is under investigation in New Hampshire for allegedly pulling over a New York Times reporter and telling him to stop following Romney’s car had an earlier run-in with the press - in Florida’s Capitol."

Palm Beach Post Tallahassee bureau chief S.V. Date says that Garrity, who is now on paid leave from the campaign while New Hampshire authorities investigate, tried in April to prevent Date from following Romney into the Florida Senate Office Building, and then again when Date tried to board an elevator Romney was taking to meet with Republican state senators.

After Date reminded Garrity (pictured here) that the building and the elevator were open to the public in Florida, Garrity, wearing a Secret Service style lapel pin and an ear bud, responded that such measures were necessary because of numerous security threats against the former Massachusetts governor.

"Old Lion"

Daniel Ruth: "An Old Lion Of Wetlands Is Roaring Mad".

Chamber Takes It In The Shorts

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "On Tuesday, Gov. Crist rejected an attempt to weaken public participation in Florida politics. The governor vetoed Senate Bill 900, which the Florida Chamber of Commerce had supported so strongly. The bill would have placed unreasonable restrictions on the gathering of signatures for petitions to amend the Florida Constitution. Notably, organizers would have had just 30 days to turn in signatures for verification, but opponents would have had 120 days to challenge those signatures. In addition, people could not have signed a petition in a county where they did not live - even if they were signing just a short distance from home." "Sign up for democracy".

BTW, He's a GOPer

"Federal prosecutors on Wednesday strongly urged a judge to sentence disgraced former Palm Beach County Commissioner [Chamber of Commerce hack and and Republican] Tony Masilotti to a full five years in prison, saying Masilotti's "crimes were egregious violations of the public trust designed to financially better himself to the tune of nearly $10 million." "Prosecutor: Send former Palm Beach County commissioner to prison for 5 years".

Privatization Fiasco

Saint Bob is missing the boat:

"Just because the state contracts out does not mean we're not responsible," Mr. Butterworth said. The private foster-care contractors "are here to stay, but the big thing is the oversight."

Not Cool

"Everybody does it seems to be the rule, so it must be OK, right? It's not OK. State law bans government employees with purchasing power over $15,000 from accepting gifts and freebies. Yet, state law didn't seem to deter some high-ranking Broward County school officials from accepting free, paid trips by companies with school district contracts." "Conflicts".

Ds: Clinton 38, Obama 15, Gore 13, Edwards 8, Dk 15.

Rs: Giuliani 27, F Thompson 21, McCain 13, Gingrich 7, Romney 6, DK 18.

Whoopee

"Crist vetoed a priority of the Florida Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night, killing legislation that would have made it more difficult to get citizen initiatives on the ballot. The measure, SB 900, would have required groups collecting signatures of more than 600,000 registered voters needed for a ballot initiative to submit signatures to elections officials within 30 days -- down from the current four years." "Initiatives won't get tougher under Crist". See also "Veto thwarts attempt to limit ballot initiatives" and "Crist Kills Chamber Ballot Push", "Crist Kills Chamber Ballot Push" and "Man Of The People—Or At Least, The Citizen Initiative".

Touch-Screens

"Palm Beach County commissioners voted Tuesday to accept $4.9 million in state money to switch to a paper-based, optical-scan voting system. Still unaccounted-for is $3.36 million in county money to complete the transition from the current touch-screen voting machines." "End of touch-screen voting moves closer in Palm Beach County".

Trifecta

"The GOP trifecta: Dean, Schultz, Kelly" See also "GOP holds Senate, House seats", "Voters pick Republicans to fill state Senate, House seats" and "Dean wins election".

Lawsuit

"Crist's $460 million in budget vetoes has led to a Supreme Court challenge, but it's over money he left in the spending plan."

The suit was filed late last week by a group of traffic schools, who along with a powerful legislator, want to cancel a competitor's contract to print the state drivers handbook.

But the challenge has larger implications in the perennial battle between the governor and the Legislature over the power of the purse strings. ...

Fasano inserted ''proviso'' language in the $72 billion state budget that directs the state to print the handbook without advertisements. He added $1.5 million in another part of the budget to pay for the advertising-free handbook.

Tiff

"Sen. Bill Nelson on Tuesday blamed a fellow Gulf Coast senator for stalling his proposal to create a commission to study national disaster insurance. But a spokesman for Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama says that's not true." "Nelson Blames Senator For Stalling Insurance Study".

Tuition Flip-Flop

"Crist huddled behind closed doors Wednesday with Florida university presidents and told them he would sign into law legislation that allows three state universities to charge higher tuition than the other eight schools. Crist, who last month described the measure as doomed, has been heavily lobbied by the universities and some of Florida's most influential business leaders to let Florida State University, the University of Florida and the University of South Florida enact the tiered tuition system." "Blog: Crist to OK tuition hikes at 3 universities".

Backstop

"Crist says he is confident that the sweeping property-insurance changes he and lawmakers have made this year -- which have the state shouldering more of the financial risk from hurricanes than ever before -- won't come back to haunt Florida. But members of a powerful commission charged with evaluating Florida's financial health said Tuesday that they want to know far more about the peril now facing the state." "State's storm burden 'a grave concern'". See also "CFO says state can go it alone with hurricane risk".

Immigration Reform

"Sen. Bill Nelson joined with his Florida colleague, Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, in voting today to resurrect full debate
on the Senate immigration bill. And while Democrat Nelson said his 'inclination' is to ultimately vote for the bill, he left open the possibility he may not. " "Nelson, Martinez Vote To Restart Immigration Reform".

'Ya Think

"Disney accused of profiling black teens".

Busy Bee

"Crist signed 15 bills into law Tuesday, including a measure that allows Palm Beach County to give a wedge of nearly 2,000 acres of land to Broward County. And he vetoed three measures, including one that would have made it more difficult for petition gatherers to submit signatures to get citizens' initiatives on the ballot and another that would have allowed hunting on the Babcock Ranch Preserve." "Crist's busy day:15 bills now law".

"Tax Experts"

"Tax experts offered one more reason Tuesday why Florida's property tax system is so difficult to fix: By shifting the tax burden to local governments, lawmakers have kept the state tax rate low." "Commission takes a fresh look at the property tax burden Post a comment". See also "Bense urges commission to work quietly on property tax issues" and "Panel may get say on tax plan".

"A far cry"

"Almost six months after Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature passed what they called major insurance reforms aimed at reversing skyrocketing homeowners' bills, state regulators concede that rates charged by Florida's biggest insurers are down by 10 percent or less. "

That's a far cry from the 25 percent to 40 percent reductions that were promised.

In fact, an Orlando Sentinel review of rates shows, many Central Florida homeowners will actually see a year-over-year increase in their premiums, thanks to enormous rate increases imposed by the industry in late 2006.

Self Defense?

"State's self-defense law could cut both ways".

Tax Break

"In the flurry of confusion as state lawmakers hammered out a property-tax-relief bill, a piece of it -- which could save small businesses money -- got little attention. Now, the plan that legislators say would keep a million small-business owners across the state from paying what's called a tangible-personal-property tax is part of a larger, controversial amendment on homeowner taxes that will get a thumbs up or down by voters in January." "Ballot measure could sink small-business tax break".

Who Knew?

"Since 1973, Florida statutes have mandated that agencies and municipalities must rate bidders in certain consulting fields on the basis of their technical and professional expertise -- without regard to price. The statute applies to consultants in several areas, including architecture, engineering, surveying and mapping." "Law excludes price in ranking consultants".

Mixed Results

"The Florida Department of Law Enforcement released its crime statistics for 2006 yesterday, and the results are mixed." "What goes up also comes down". See also "Florida murders, gun crimes jumped in 2006".

"Another troubling turn" for Feeney

"The controversy over U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney's 2003 golf junket to Scotland with corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff took another troubling turn recently when the congressman created a legal-defense fund. It's not quite what you'd expect from someone who says he didn't do anything wrong and isn't being targeted by investigators."

Mr. Feeney, a three-term Republican from Oviedo, has always insisted he was duped about the trip -- told it would be bankrolled by a think tank instead of Mr. Abramoff, who is now in prison for bribery. But the feds are still asking questions.

Another Special Session

"The state's no-fault auto insurance law expires Oct. 1 if the Legislature doesn't renew it. In 2006, legislators approved a patch on the law, but Gov. Bush vetoed it. This year, they took no action in either the regular session or the special session on property taxes."

If no-fault expires, thousands of Floridians who now buy personal injury protection (PIP) on their auto policies and lack health insurance will have no coverage if they are injured in an accident. With good reason, the hospitals expect that many of these people will seek treatment in emergency rooms, and they won't be able to pay.

This isn't an election year, so a special session in September wouldn't interfere with elections or summer vacations. It would be a mistake to let no-fault expire.

"Conservation: our ace in the hole"

"For a growing state whose appetite for electricity is expanding more rapidly than its population, there is no silver bullet that will solve every energy problem Florida faces. But there is one step the Sunshine State must take to avoid enormous inconvenience and expense in the 21st century: conservation." "Energy waste".

Meek

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek's

mother was among the consultants and lobbyists a Boston developer paid while seeking support for a biotech project that has only cleared a lot in an impoverished neighborhood for a parking garage, according to a newspaper investigation.

Dennis Stackhouse first proposed building a $250 million biopharmaceutical park in Miami's Liberty City neighborhood four years ago.

As the project stalled, Stackhouse diverted more than $500,000 from a Miami-Dade County poverty agency through double billing and dubious expenses and spent hundreds of thousands more on political insiders, according to a Miami Herald investigation.

Among the insiders was former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek, who received at least $40,000, a leased luxury sport utility vehicle and a 2,600-square-foot rent-free office for her foundation, the newspaper reported Monday.

Congressional records show she was paid while her son, who now holds her seat in Congress, sought millions of federal dollars for the project.

Laff Riot

"Vice President Cheney could take a lesson from Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who wants to make government more transparent to the public." "Crist Could Show Cheney A Better Way".

"Gravy Train"

The Tampa Trib editors: "Crist should veto an ill-conceived bill that would allow school board members to duck public scrutiny in raising their pay. When they campaign for these part-time positions, candidates often talk about a call to public service. Yet once elected, some seem to place an immediate call to the gravy train." "Veto Automatic Raises". See also "School boards should set own pay".

Justice?

Daniel Ruth argued yesterday that

if there is any fairness in this insane case of prosecutors gone bonkers, with a little bit of luck and a whole lot of justice, come Sept. 20, it's possible the last tile will drop in Richard Paey's favor.

Since May 2004, the 48-year-old Paey has been an inmate in the Florida prison system, serving a 25-year term after his conviction on seven counts of drug trafficking, possession and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.

And it's all first-degree balderdash.

"I think it will fire up our economy. Florida is like a thoroughbred and ... she's been held back," he said moments after signing two new laws on the matter. "We'll have an opportunity to get this engine going again, fire this baby up and make sure that this economy will not just boom, but have a sonic boom. I believe that will happen, and that will benefit the treasury, and the people again."

But will it? Can the rollback in city and county taxes and - if voters approve on Jan. 29 - a much larger homestead exemption "fire up" the state's real estate market enough to make up as much as $6 billion a year in lost revenue, as Crist has frequently suggested?

That is doubtful, according to economists both inside and outside state government.

The legislative staff analyses for the tax measures do not mention any increased tax collections that might offset the reductions.

"It's not feasible," said Bruce Nissen, a Florida International University professor and director of its Center for Labor Research and Studies. "It doesn't make sense.

Even Randall Holcombe, a Florida State University economics professor who said he generally accepts the idea that cutting tax rates increases economic activity, said it doesn't seem likely that the cuts will lead to the flood of documentary stamp tax collections from real estate sales as Crist suggests.

Paying Attention

"Florida voters have more reason to pay attention earlier than they have in decades because the state is set to hold one of the first primaries. In 2000 and 2004, the presidential nominations were all but clinched by the time of Florida's March ballot and barely one in five voters turned out. Next year, Florida voters will go to the polls Jan. 29, the earliest of any big state scheduled so far. In addition, the Legislature recently voted to put a big tax cut issue on that same ballot, and a number of local governments around the state are looking to add municipal elections to the same day." "Early or not, 2008 is on voters' minds".

Dems Claim "'Republicans Giving Up On Latinos'"

"When 1,000 Hispanic elected officials and community leaders from across the country gather in Orlando later this week, they'll hear from seven major Democratic candidates for president, but none of the major Republican candidates."

"Republicans Giving Up On Latinos" was the headline on a Democratic Party news release about the event. The release called it a "sign of conceding the Latino vote in Florida to Democrats," and noted that in 2006 Democrats won the Florida Hispanic vote for the first time in 30 years.

Leaders of the association say they're disappointed.

But some Florida Republicans, who acknowledge they would prefer that their candidates show up, scoff at the idea that GOP-oriented Florida Hispanic voters suddenly have converted or that the presidential candidates are giving up on them.

The reason the candidates aren't coming, said state Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, is that NALEO, even though it's nonpartisan, "absolutely is a Democratic-oriented organization - just because most Hispanic elected officials outside Florida are Democrats."

Touch-Screen "Dawdling"

"The state Legislature -- prodded by Gov. Charlie Crist -- did the right thing by mandating paper ballots in every Florida county. And it included money to help finance the switchover for counties that opted for touch-screen equipment. But some counties say the amounts authorized by the state aren't enough. And supervisors in others are looking for loopholes that might allow them to keep using touch-screen machines, at least during early voting." "State and counties dawdling over replacing touch-screens".

Gross

Bill Cotterell: "As probably everyone in Tallahassee knows by now, the House and Senate strained mightily to come up with a $1,000 one-time salary additive for state workers, in lieu of a percentage pay raise for the 2007-08 fiscal year. ... The bottom line? $673, after taxes. That's less than $13 a week in take-home pay."

And speaking of pay hikes and bonuses and our legislators, did you know that members of the House and Senate will get a 3-percent raise next week?

(We'll pause here so those who just crumpled up the paper and hurled it across the room can retrieve it. Back with us? Good.)

'Glades

"U.N. officials on Monday removed the Florida Everglades and another site from a list of world cultural sites at risk". "Florida Everglades removed from world heritage danger list".

Say What?

"Florida prison officials say lethal injections give inmates a 'humane and dignified death.'" "Panel's recommendations on executions don't satisfy foes".

Local Budget Cuts

In WPB, "Police, fire take flak, but other budgets swell, too".

"Crist has been somewhat of a disappointment"

The St Pete Times editorial board yesterday: "He has been governor for less than six months, so it's a little early for any kind of definitive assessment of Charlie Crist's leadership. But I think we can say that Crist's record so far has been a mixed bag, with more to applaud than to criticize."

Most voters are showing no sign of buyer's remorse. Crist's approval rating is above 70 percent, and even Democrats, who have some major policy differences with this Republican governor, like working with the guy. He has made surprisingly good appointments and has shown a strong commitment to open government, consumer interests and environmental protection. The political debate seems more civil since Crist arrived in Tallahassee, largely because of the St. Petersburg native's style and persona. Charmin' Charlie makes it almost impossible not to like him.

So yes, after eight years of Jeb Bush, Crist is a refreshing change. He bills himself as "the people's governor, " and he plays the role brilliantly. He is no policy wonk, micromanager, cultural warrior or ideologue. However, for all of his strengths, on some of the biggest issues facing Florida - hurricane insurance, property tax relief and the needs of higher education - Crist has been somewhat of a disappointment.

Spillover Effect

"Water utility managers are concerned about red ink in their future as South Florida lawns turn brown under tough watering restrictions. South Florida utility managers are reporting significant drops in water usage - and revenues - since a drought triggered strict water restrictions in April. West Palm Beach, for example, has lost about $500,000." "Water restrictions drain utility revenues".

"Federal HIV/AIDS funding drops in South Florida — again"

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Either the federal government is clueless to South Florida's status as a national epicenter for the AIDS epidemic, or it just doesn't care."

How else to explain why this region just saw its federal Ryan White Program funding for uninsured HIV and AIDS patients drop, for the second year in a row? Broward County's grant fell from $15 million last year to $13.1 million, and Palm Beach County is getting $7.7 million this year, down from $8.3 million last year and $9.5 million the year before.

Those numbers are going in the wrong direction, especially considering the local population of HIV/AIDS patients is rising, not falling.

Because of the cutbacks, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Bob LaMendola reports, thousands more South Floridians with HIV and/or AIDS will have to do without vital services like nutritional counseling, substance abuse treatment, pain therapy, transportation and other assistance that helps make their lives more livable.

we would urge voters to support the candidacy of Ms. Franks, who served in the New Hampshire Legislature from 1992 to 2000 and served on her local board of education, and thus should know her way around a statewide political process. A relative newcomer to Florida, Ms. Franks may not have this state's inner workings down pat, but she has a genuine interest in problem solving and a willingness to listen that suggests her potential to grow and make a difference in the least partisan of the two legislative chambers.

Mr. Dean, a retired Citrus County sheriff, is utterly devoted to his party, saying he will march to the tune of his leaders almost regardless of where they take him.

Ms. Franks' vow to be an independent fighter is more in the spirit of Ms. Argenziano, who took on the leadership, lobbyists and the lions of party politics, but ultimately won broad respect for her effectiveness.

Campaign-finance records show that Greer, Crist and the state GOP have been whipping up enormous support for Dean among Republican contributors and business interests. His final report, submitted late Friday, showed $506,633 in contributions and $248,743 worth of in-kind contributions of services and materials, primarily from the Republican Party.

Dean said his spending totaled $421,192 for the campaign.

Franks, by contrast, reported total financing of $65,336 - including $3,900 of her own money and about $48,000 worth of in-kind services and materials provided by supporters. The Florida Democratic Party accounted for at least $33,000 of her financing, along with several donations from county Democratic chapters.

"Reform"?

Randy Shultz argues that "to call this a tax 'reform' amendment would be like calling The Sopranos a show about psychotherapy."

Florida's property-tax system has two big problems. Save Our Homes gives homesteaders, especially long-time homesteaders, artificial protection from taxes. Landlords, business owners and snowbirds get no such protection. And because of that artificial protection, homesteaders who want to move within Florida stay put because they would pay much more, even in a smaller house. That hurts the real-estate market.

According to the original script, the Legislature would have adjourned Friday after an 11-day special session that produced an amendment to fix those problems. Instead, the Legislature adjourned after just three days, producing an amendment that wouldn't fix those problems. So, why were the Republicans smiling and shaking hands?

Because they had done something, and it was clear when the session opened that Florida would get something but no more. Something turns out to be something that almost everyone can vote against.

Legal Fight on the Horizon

The Buzz, in "More legal questions raised about tax deal", reports that "an updated analysis [on the Legislature's property tax 'reform' by a law firm representing municipalities] argues the proposed constitutional amendment contains a misleading statement in which everyone would get a minimum $50,000 homestead exemption. But only those who switch to the new program get the higher amount; those who elect to stay with Save Our Homes keep the standard $25,000. It also argues that, if approved by voters on Jan. 29, the plan would violate equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution "by creating two classes of homestead property taxpayers.".

Citizens

"Florida's state-run insurer finally is acting like a real insurance company: It isn't paying claims."

In some parts of the state, lawyers are making a living suing private firms for slow-pay or no-pay. In addition, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. still hasn't settled about 3,500 claims from the 2004 and 2005 storm seasons. At a hearing last week in Broward County, aggrieved policyholders vented to the task force that is reviewing the claims. Citizens officials responded that they were unprepared for the surge and are trying to do better. Actually, both sides have a point.

Plan B

"A little known but powerful panel is positioned to pick up the pieces on property taxes if voters reject the Legislature's proposal. " "Tax flop? Panel is backup". See who is on the panel here.

Privatization Fiasco: Twice As Expensive, Inferior Results

"Florida began handing over its child welfare duties to private agencies a decade ago, vowing children would be safer."

The Legislature mandated the privatization to begin in 1997.

Gov. Jeb Bush took on the effort as a point of personal pride and the statewide transition to private foster care in all 67 counties was completed in 2005.

DCF now acts as a supervisor of child welfare and a pass-through agency for funding to 20 private community agencies overseeing about 500 subcontracts for case management, direct care, foster care placement, mental health and adoption.

A state audit last year showed the cost of the current child welfare system rose 83 percent per child over six years. Statewide annual funding per child grew from $9,800 in 1998 to $18,000 in 2005.

Perhaps more surprising, the audit found that children are suffering abuse at a higher rate ... .

Villalobos Backstabber To Be Senate President

"Looks like a pair of Central Floridians will be running the Florida Legislature come 2010. Sen. Mike Haridopolos, a Republican from Melbourne [one of the senators behind Villalobos' ouster] whose district includes most of Osceola County and much of Brevard, says he's gathered enough commitments from fellow GOP senators to ensure he'll become Senate president after the 2010 elections. That would be put him in line to serve opposite Rep. Dean Cannon, a Winter Park Republican who had already locked up the job of House speaker for the same two-year term. (The two already have some history, as each served as his respective chamber's lead negotiator on property taxes for much of this spring.)" "Dominoes fall for Haridopolos".

Political Developments

The week in review from The St Pete Times.

That's Our Connie

"Speaking to a gathering of Lee County Republicans in Estero today, Mack said he wouldn’t compromise in his position opposing amnesty, even as members of Congress face pressure to pass some sort of immigration legislation soon." "Congressman spoke on immigration to a gathering of Lee County Republicans in Estero on Saturday".

Elimination and Reduction of Services to the Disabled

"The Florida Legislature approved eliminating and reducing some services next month to developmentally disabled people under the state's Medicaid waiver program. The Legislature cut services to put a dent in a projected $153 million deficit next year at the state Agency for Persons with Disabilities." "Families fear cuts in services".

Gambling

"Gambling apparently is no longer the sin it once was in Florida. The state may not be another Nevada, but a bevy of gaming-related legislation passed in the spring legislative session offering players more slot machines, bigger poker pots and longer hours of operation." "State Betting On Gaming Expansion". Meanwhile, "Slot machine gamble has yet to pay off in Broward County".

'Glades

"Legislation awaiting Gov. Charlie Crist's signature doubles the annual Everglades cleanup fund to $200 million through 2020 with an emphasis on improving the quality of water from the Kissimmee River Valley and other basins that drain into Lake Okeechobee, often called 'the liquid heart of the Everglades.'" "Runoff cleanup is taking shape".

TV/Radio Marti

"Rep. Bill Delahunt interviewed Radio and TV Marti officials Saturday about improving the federally funded broadcast to Cuba. Delahunt, D-Mass., also met with a group of mostly Democratic Cuban exiles, urging them to get more involved in public debates over the future of the Communist island." "Congressman pushes better TV/Radio Marti".

Citizenship Petitions

"According to U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, immigrants filed 46,884 citizenship petitions in Florida during the first four months of 2007, a 75 percent increase from the same period last year." "U.S. Citizenship applications soar in South Florida and throughout the country".

Florida's Booming Economy?

"In signing the tax cut, Crist insisted that sunny days lie ahead. 'Cutting local property taxes will ignite the real-estate market in the state of Florida," the governor said. "And Florida's economy will continue to boom and create a better bottom line for Floridians and for our state.'" "Tax cut, real-estate glut".

"A Practice That Ought to Stop"

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board observes that

a number of public servants are also moonlighting, so to speak, by working to drum up donations and dollars for charities and philanthropic efforts. ...

Still, it's a practice that ought to stop. No matter how much public officials and donors deny any tit-for-tat, politicians who seek donations from individuals and companies, especially those with business before them, raise conflict-of-interest perceptions.

Let's face it, the reason many public officials are asked to help in fundraising drives is because of their office. That's what provides the public platform, the public persona that convinces many to give.

Charities and philanthropic agencies need all the help they can get. Mixing Good Samaritan efforts with politics may generate dollars for good causes, but it also raises doubts over whether some favored treatment will be extended down the line.