Calling the matter "an intra-party dispute," U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara concluded the arguments made by Tampa-based Democratic voter and political consultant Victor DiMaio contained no legal basis for challenging the national party. ...

The lawsuit was not connected with one filed Thursday by Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar, although some of the legal arguments were the same.

Let Them Walk

"The state is slashing the money it provides to Central Florida agencies that offer the door-to-door van and bus rides to the elderly, poor and disabled." "Transportation cuts may leave region's disadvantaged riders out in the cold".

Cuts

"Within three days of convening, the Florida Legislature all but signed off Friday on $1.1 billion in budget cuts and sent Gov. Charlie Crist bills to fix mandatory no-fault auto insurance and a glitch that had left Miami off a list of cities that should cut taxes the deepest." "Budget tamed; property tax cuts up next". See also "Both houses pass trimmed-down budgets", "Budget-cutting bills pass over Democrats' criticism", "Budget cuts hit heavily in education and health", "Legislators vote early, hit the road", "House, Senate have few differences in budget cut bill" and "Only a few issues left to be decided in state budget plan".

More: "Calling it a tax cut doesn't make it so".

Allen Update

"Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, returned to the Capitol this week for the first time since Titusville police arrested him on a sex solicitation charge."

Allen, who is fighting the charge, has been stripped of all his committee assignments by House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Andrew's Capital Grill & Bar next door to the statehouse also removed the Gorgonzola burger, which was named after Allen, from its menu. ...

Allen, former head of the Martin County Economic Development Council, did head back to Titusville on Thursday for a court hearing at which a judge ordered the trial moved to Viera and tossed out evidence that police had found $800 in Allen's freezer car, calling it "not relevant by any means," Florida Today reported.

Giuliani

"Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani swings through the state today riding poll numbers that show, in Florida and nationally, he continues to lead his Republican rivals. But those numbers mask a problem. Parts of the Republican base consider Giuliani -- who appears in Fort Myers and Ocala today -- a fundamentally flawed candidate. They see a liberal lurking behind Giuliani's tough talk on terrorism, a candidate too distant from the party's conservative core." "GOP poll boosts Giuliani for trek across Florida".

GOPers Living Within "Our" Means

The Tampa Trib editors:

Lawmakers, in Tallahassee to deal with a $1.1 billion budget shortfall, are preaching the need for fiscal austerity. But they don't deserve much credence when the state has spent more than $32 million for the planning of an unneeded Panhandle airport and, as the Tribune's Mike Salinero reports, still plans to spend about $87.3 million more in the coming years on the boondoggle.

The Panama City airport, already underutilized, is being moved into the middle of nowhere. The sole purpose is to help St. Joe Co., which plans to develop the surrounding region.

The project will destroy 2,000 acres of wetlands and encourage surrounding development that would pave over thousands more.

Flip-Flop

When Dems do things like this, even when it is the right thing to do, the GOPers go nuts with the name calling: "In reversal, Crist backs tuition rise".

Another Flip-Flop

"Bowing to widespread and intense voter backlash, Florida's Republican legislative leaders said Friday they will abandon their attempts to phase out the popular property-tax break granted to all permanent state residents." "Save Our Homes isn't on the way out". See also "Save Our Homes not dying".

Marco's World

"Government "has to live in the real world," House Speaker Marco Rubio said midweek, arguing against House minority leaders who said lawmakers can't make all the budget cuts fall on education and health care." "Hidden gems".

Not Ready for Prime Time

Freddie apparently ain't interested in winning Florida:

Former Sen. Fred Thompson promised fiscal conservatives Friday that he'd trim the cost of government by slowing the growth of Social Security benefits.

Stepping squarely onto an issue long known as 'the third rail of politics,' the Republican presidential candidate said, almost in passing, that changing the formula that adjusts Social Security benefits to keep pace with the cost of living would keep the program solvent over the long term.

While he wasn't specific, numerous academic studies have concluded that the only way such a plan could work is if it slashes future Social Security benefits by one-fourth to one-half below what's promised under current law."

No-Fault

"No-Fault Coverage To Return In January". See also "Legislature revives no-fault insurance", "Save Our Homes not dying", "No-fault insurance deal passes", "No-fault bounces back on Jan. 1" and "No-fault law is revived, reformed".

Isn't this What the Wingnuts Call "Moral Relativism"?

Luv it when the wingnuts stand by their principles:

Bob Sheehan, president of the Republican Club of Northeast Lee County, describes himself as a Catholic conservative who "absolutely" opposes abortion. But if Giuliani gets the nomination, Sheehan said, he will support him.

They urged a sweeping overhaul of Florida's sales-tax system, ending billions of dollars in tax exemptions -- on everything from legal fees to ostrich feed -- while reducing the state's 6 percent levy to 4.5 percent.

But the idea fizzled under fierce pressure from business and then-Gov. Jeb Bush. ...

Indeed, during the past nine years, lawmakers haven't raised a single tax and have approved a cumulative total of $20 billion in tax cuts, mostly benefiting corporations and wealthy Floridians.

Crist and the Legislature's ruling Republicans say they will not consider any attempt to increase taxes -- now or during next year's legislative session.

Allen Update

"State Rep. Bob Allen on Thursday denied allegations that he tried to use his legislative position to avoid prosecution on a charge of soliciting sex from an undercover police officer. ... Brevard County Judge Oscar Hotusing did not rule Thursday on whether a jury will hear the alleged comment." "Rep. Allen denies he used his position".

Hillbilly heroin addict "doesn't even miss getting high"

"No, Sen. Tom Harkin, radio talker Rush Limbaugh isn't back on drugs!"

So says the state of Florida. And Limbaugh himself, who told Page Two, as he enters his last month on probation for a narcotics arrest, that he doesn't even miss getting high and now feels like a better person.

And a much richer one: According to records, he'll have made an estimated $50 million while on conditional liberty.

"All's well that ends well," he said, contemplating the Oct. 31 finish of his 18-month probation, barring unforeseen trouble. "But I tell myself sometimes: 'I can't believe I did this s—-.' "

In a rare interview, Limbaugh - who just this week created a firestorm by calling antiwar service members "phony soldiers," prompting Iowa Democrat Harkin's comment from the floor of the U.S. Senate - says he isn't bitter. Never mind that the justice system forced him to fill out monthly reports on his whereabouts, get tested and attend therapy.

"The system is what it is," Limbaugh, 56, said from his oceanfront compound in Palm Beach. "I became addicted to drugs because of a medical condition" - a bad back - "and I'm convinced now that most addicts come to a point where they do drugs just to stave off withdrawal. ...

A corrections spokesman this week confirmed Limbaugh has been a good boy and that the drug tests his doctor has conducted have been negative.

Out of Touch

Kudos to S.V. Date for catching Rubio's attempt to explain why the sales tax isn't regressive:

“It’s the fairest tax out there. Because you determine based upon how much you have,” Rubio said at a Wednesday news conference. “Sales tax, everyone decides how much they’re going to pay, based on what they decide to buy. If you buy a Bentley, you’re going to pay us more than if you buy an Audi. Or a — well, an Audi is pretty expensive right? A Hyundai. Or like the Prius. I guess that’s pretty expensive, too.”

Give a GOPer Twenty Bucks ...

Call me naive, but is it some sort of GOPer rule that oral sex with a prostitute goes for no more than twenty bucks a pop:

- Yesterday's Orlando Sentinel: In a deposition, she [the prostitute] said [GOP state rep Marvin] Couch only offered $20 after previously offering $30.".

- Today's Orlando Sentinel: "Allen is accused of offering $20 to perform oral sex on the undercover officer."

Well, at least they don't discriminate on the basis of gender - no Equal Pay Act issues here.

The Lawsuit

"A lawsuit accusing the national Democratic Party of stripping away the voting rights of 4 million Florida Democrats in the 2008 presidential primary was met with apprehension from legal experts as well as some party leaders uneasy about prolonging the family feud." "Top Democrats sue over Florida primary". See also "Florida Democrats file suit against DNC, cite voter disenfranchisement", "Democratic leaders sue own party", "Fla. Dems sue national party over timing of presidential primary", "Florida Democrats sue national party in primary squabble" and "Nelson, Hastings Sue DNC".

The Miami Herald editors: "When it comes to assembling a circular firing squad, you've got to hand it to the Democratic Party. Nobody does it better. The fiasco over the party's presidential primary has reached such farcical proportions that -- get this -- two of the state's most prominent Democrats are suing the national party so that party members in Florida can have a say in choosing the party's next candidate for the White House."

Think about that for a second. This is Florida, the most hotly contested battleground in national elections. Florida, where Democrats still believe they were robbed in the 2000 election. Florida, where they're still wrangling over 18,000 ''undervotes'' in a Gulf Coast congressional race in 2006. Instead of wooing Florida's pivotal voters, the Democratic National Committee decided to punish them by refusing to seat delegates selected in the Jan. 29 primary. Ever wonder why the party's symbol is a donkey?

Cuts

"House panel approves nearly $1 billion in budget cuts". See also "Senate Works To Restore Home Care For Disabled", "Legislative panels approve budget cuts House and Senate to act today on bills that would cut $1.1 billion" and "House Bill Would Cut Money For Byrd Center By Half".

No-Fault

"Bills to restore no-fault auto insurance differ on lawyers' fees". See also "No-fault deal stalls as leader rejects limits on attorney fees", "Legislation to revive PIP insurance stalls on capping lawyers' fees" and "Legislature's no-fault insurance deal in danger".

Update: "PIP To Come Back Jan. 1". See also "PIP deal survives political tumult".

Poor Charlie - he had a photo op in his grasp, yet ... "Crist turns back as talks on PIP spiral downward".

"Jeb!" Dead Enders

The "Jeb!" dead enders on the Orlando Sentinel editorial board are falling over themselves this morning:

Almost a decade after Florida reformed its schools with tough accountability standards, a national test shows the state's students are leading the nation in improved reading and math scores.

This is more than a validation of the difficult course set in motion in 1999 by former Gov. Jeb Bush, turning the FCAT into a high-stakes test used to grade schools and determine whether students get promoted or graduate. These scores should also be a call to arms to ensure this effort isn't weakened by lowering standards.

All Things to All People

"Rubio holds out for deep property tax cuts. Senate President Ken Pruitt wants to protect education funding. Gov. Charlie Crist supports both but leans with the Senate." "Dual tensions raise pressure on ballot issue".

Smokin'

"Cigar manufacturers got a reprieve when President Bush refused to sign a bill to renew and expand a children's health insurance program." "Veto Benefits Cigar Makers".

"Suspicious"

"Suspicious that cash and favors might influence transfers of inmates between prisons, Corrections Secretary James McDonough has investigated his own employees since July, but so far has found no wrongdoing." "State investigates prisoner transfers".

But while healthcare and education top the hit list, the GOP-controlled Legislature has decided other parts of the state's $71 billion budget are off-limits: Money for roads and traffic engineering consultants. Cash rebates to lure filmmakers to Florida. Grants for sporting events.

And then there are the dozens of special accounts flush with cash that legislators have refused to tap to help balance the budget. For example, there's more than $1 million from lobbyist registration fees that is sitting unused.

Some of the accounts that lawmakers won't touch are guarded by some of the state's most powerful special-interest groups, including road builders, home builders and real estate agents. ''We should be cutting 4 percent across the board,'' said Sen. Michael Bennett, a Bradenton Republican. ``That looks fair. But when you don't, you're bringing politics into it.

``You look like you are protecting sacred cows, and there shouldn't be sacred cows right now.''

As lawmakers opened up their 10-day special session Wednesday, it was apparent there is wide agreement between the House and Senate on what should get cut and what shouldn't.

* Clarify the Jan. 29 "super" homestead exemption proposal, which a judge has ruled misleading. Easy to do, perhaps, but the votes may not exist to put it back on the ballot.

* Save Our Homes "portability." Preferred by Gov. Charlie Crist, with strong support in the Senate. But constitutional issues could pose problems.

* Double the $25,000 homestead exemption. Again, preferred by Crist. As a standalone issue, however, it represents mild savings for the average homeowner.

* Modify the statutory rollback and cap. Could be easier than a statewide ballot, as Democratic votes would not be needed. But last session's battle between the Senate and House over how far to go portends a tough road. Another possibility: Making it tougher for local government to break the cap, which many cities and counties already have done.

* Highest and best. Revise an appraisal process that looks at commercial property's greatest value, not only what it is currently used for.

Bushco in Action

The Palm Beach Post editors: "In 2002, when his brother was running for a second term as Florida's governor, President Bush held a ceremony in the Oval Office to pledge his commitment to the Everglades. With no Bush needing to worry about an election, the president is trying to make the case that he can break that pledge." "BUSH'S MISGUIDED VETOES: Help the Everglades".

Privatization Follies

The Miami Herald editors:"Privatize toll roads? Try another route"

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that turning over Alligator Alley and several other state toll roads to a private vendor is a bad idea -- a really bad idea, in fact. No private vendor would pay Florida $500 million in up-front cash without the certainty of guaranteed profits -- likely in the double digits, mind you -- for the 50-year life of Florida's generous offer to lease toll roads.

There is no mystery, either, where revenues and profits would come from. Take a look in the mirror; then be prepared to empty your pockets for the foreseeable future to pay ever-increasing tolls.

Sorry to say, Gov. Charlie Crist and state lawmakers are considering exactly this -- leasing toll roads to help cover a $1 billion shortfall in Florida's $71 billion budget. No doubt, this is a sign of how eager Gov. Crist and state lawmakers are to find an easy fix -- something less drastic than, say, restructuring our inefficient tax system or eliminating needless tax exemptions -- for Florida's budget crisis.

"Questionable appraisals"

"Several major state environmental land purchases, including the massive Babcock Ranch tract in Lee and Charlotte counties in southwest Florida, were based on questionable appraisals that may have improperly inflated values, a state audit said Tuesday." "State may have paid too much in land deals due to faulty appraisals".

Target 2010

"When the time comes to divvy up the power after the 2010 census, Florida is expected to gain three additional seats in Congress -- one of which would be attributed to its growing number of illegal immigrants."

Florida's population is expected to surpass that of New York in the next national count, which would make the Sunshine State the third most populous after California and Texas, according to an analysis of census statistics and population data issued by a Connecticut demographer.

Having more seats in Congress -- 28 instead of 25 -- would also give Florida more Electoral College votes, forcing presidential campaigns to lavish more attention on the state.

That shift, analysts say, is expected to help Republicans in Florida, who control the state Legislature, which redraws district lines when seats are added. The same is true in the border states of Arizona and Texas.

"We will have a larger congressional delegation giving us a stronger voice in Congress as our population continues to grow," said Erin VanSickle, spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Florida.

Dean

"Leon County Demoratic Chairman Rick Minor is worried Democrats remain so peeved with the DNC over its early primary sanctions that they won't cough up green for Howard Dean when he's in town Oct 9." "Leon Democrats: Don't diss Dean!".

Pledge

"Barack Obama pulled his Florida political director out of the state. Hillary Clinton nixed her brother's appearance at the Weston Democratic Club. John Edwards rebuffed a Fort Lauderdale banquet honoring gay Democratic activists. When the Florida Democratic Party holds its state convention in three weeks, all of the major Democratic candidates for president will take a pass." "No-show Democrats stick to their pledge".

Whatever

Charlie (not Howard) "Dean gets a warm welcome to Senate".

PIP

"Florida drivers could sue each other for the medical costs of a car accident until Feb. 15 under an amendment Republican leaders will unveil today." "House panel OKs no-fault alternative". See also "No PIP until at least Feb. 15", "PIP's return not if, but when", "PIP Transition Proves Awkward" and "No-fault fix clears first obstacle in House". The Sun-Sentinel editors: "It's not the most satisfying reform, but PIP auto insurance is too important to let die".

The Orlando Sentinel editors slam the Legislature's delay in re-establishing no-fault: "Hmm. Couldn't be that [Sen. J.D. Alexander of Winter Haven], is in the lap of State Farm, whose Florida administrative headquarters operate in his district, could it? Or that State Farm would love to replace PIP with a system mandating bodily-injury protection, and that it would reap record profits from the more expensive bodily-injury protection? And it couldn't be that lawyers, who'd get to gallop to Florida's courtrooms to do battle over bodily-injury claims, would benefit. Could it?" "A bad turn for Florida".

Primary Lawsuit to be Filed Today

"Democratic Florida Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar have scheduled a news conference at the U.S. Capitol for 10:30 a.m. Thursday to discuss their promised lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee’s decision to sanction Florida on its 2008 presidential primary. The lawsuit is expected to be filed [Thursday]." "Nelson’s Primary Lawsuit Going In Hopper [Today]".

Update: "AP NewsBreak: Nelson/Hastings suing DNC over presidential primary".

Ain't Goona Happen

"By the end of this week, the Florida Legislature will be well on its way to chopping $750 million out of the state's budget, cutting spending for schools, health care for the poor, prisons and other services. But Wednesday, a Senate subcommittee took a first step to cut something that primarily benefits the governor, other top officials and themselves: their access to the state's airplane fleet." "Possible sale of state planes could clip bigwigs' wings".

Tuition Increase

The News-Journal editorial board: "Even with a lawsuit pending over the breadth of its powers, the Board of Governors of the State University System is moving confidently ahead: Last week, it increased tuition for the state's 11 universities by 5 percent -- defying the Legislature's stance that it, not the board, has authority to set tuition." "Universities' tuition hike essential". More from the St Pete Times' editors: "University board: We'll make our stand".

Chance Chat

"Every once in a while, it's worth making the effort to chat with the person next to you on a plane. That's what a Broward County woman did a few months ago with state Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton. The woman, whom Deutch did not name, told him how state assistance for her severely disabled daughter was being halved, leaving her and her husband with about six hours a day of help." "Airplane chat gets push for disabled off ground".

"A Senate committee amended a health care budget bill to allow families caring for the severely disabled to be able to get more than the capped amount of personal care approved by lawmakers this spring. Democratic Sen. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton was the force behind the amendment, which would help 1,000 families who would otherwise have to place their loved ones into institutions." "Hope on the horizon for families of disabled?".

Airport from Nowhere

Florida's version of the bridge to nowhere: "Only 13 commercial flights leave the Panama City-Bay County International Airport every day."

That's expected to change now that nearly $200 million in state and federal funding is being used to build a new airport that could become a destination for major airlines and a selling point for future development on thousands of surrounding acres owned by the politically connected St. Joe Co.

Once a titan in the paper mill industry, Jacksonville-based St. Joe now creates housing developments and stands to benefit greatly from the increased value of the land once the new airport is built.

That has outraged some longtime residents and environmentalists who have fought the plan at every step.

"The state of Florida is having to cut budgets and yet they're giving millions of dollars on this airport that nobody wants or needs," said Jimmy Long, a longtime Bay County resident who for decades has hunted near the proposed airport site.

Opponents of the project think St. Joe's political muscle greased the way for the state and federal grants. Rummell [St. Joe's chairman and chief executive officer] has made significant contributions to the campaigns of President Bush and his brother, former Gov. Jeb Bush. Rummell was named a "Pioneer" for bundling contributions of $100,000 or more for the president.

Castor's Dilemma

Dubya's veto "of a bill to renew and expand a children’s health care program could lead to pressure on Tampa’s freshman Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor to switch her vote yet again on the measure."

Castor initially voted for the House version of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill, but then voted against the final version negotiated with the Senate. She said the final version wouldn’t serve as many children as the version she favored, and relied too heavily on cigar taxes—she had been stung by criticism over the taxes, a problem in her district.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave Castor and seven other Democrats a pass to vote “no” as the bill passed 265 to 159, but now Pelosi is not ruling out an override attempt. She’s likely to need those eight votes, plus some Republican switchers, to get the needed two-thirds vote—290 of the 435 House members. ...

Castor had no immediate comment on her plans, and House Democratic leaders have decided to put off an override vote until October 17.

Dawson

"Sen. Mandy Dawson, one of the Florida Legislature's most absence-prone members, was back at her desk Wednesday, on the mend from what she said was the latest in a long string of health troubles." "Ailing Sen. Dawson returns to work in Tallahassee".

Blast from the past

Scott Maxwell:

The man, after all, is Marvin Couch.

And 11 years ago, Couch was at the top his game.

He was a second-term legislator and gaining prominence as a member of the "God Squad" in Tallahassee -- a group of family-values lawmakers determined to bring morality back to government.

But then, on a February night back in 1996, Couch was caught with a prostitute in his car. He'd picked her up down on the Orange Blossom Trail and was looking for oral sex [and in the GOP tradition he tried to negotiate the price].

Suddenly, he didn't seem so godly. Or statesmanlike.

You know there's a problem ...

when an editorial board cites anything from the wingnut Heritage Foundation: "Children's Health Insurance Bill Justified President's Veto".

Striding the World's Stage

The lightweight Orlando Sentinel editors stride the world's stage:

If [Venezuela's] Mr. Chavez was guilty only of nepotism and bad math skills, we could laugh this off. But his quirky power plays run deep, from nationalizing telecommunications companies to his plan to do away with presidential term limits to shutting down independent media.

While Iraq Burns ...

"The leader of a group accused of plotting terrorist attacks in the U.S. said on an FBI videotape played at trial Wednesday [in Miami] that he sought to raise an 'Islamic army' to fight a guerrilla war."

Narseal Batiste was also recorded saying he needed boots, black uniforms and machine guns for his soldiers. ...

The so-called "Liberty City Seven" are accused of plotting to destroy the 110-story Sears Tower in Chicago and bomb FBI offices in five cities to ignite a war aimed at overthrowing the U.S. government.

Mohammed did eventually provide the group with boots ...

"the GAO in its report [Tuesday] said it does not believe 'the prior test results adequately demonstrate that the voting systems could not have contributed to the undervote.'"

"Congressional investigators will perform further tests on Sarasota's contested voting machines, possibly pushing any resolution of the disputed 2006 election into 2008. The Government Accountability Office, which is investigating whether faulty voting machines caused some 18,000 ballots to register no choice in the congressional race, told a House task force Tuesday that it needs to conduct further testing before it can conclude that the machines weren't at fault."

Special Session begins Today

"When lawmakers convene a special session today to plug a $1.1 billion hole in the state budget, Democrats will be flexing their muscles." "Special session starts today". "This session, known as Special Session C, deals with two issues: cutting the budget and reinstating personal-injury protection for motorists. 8 Days of the session, today through Oct. 12, no weekends":

$1B Approximate amount to be cut

1.4 Approximate percentage of budget

$40,000 Cost of session per day

1 Number of special sessions still to come this month

Proposed cuts

$147.5M Teacher merit pay plan

$228M Cuts in public education: K-12 public schools (at least $138-million; universities (at least $68-million); universal prekindergarten ($22-million)

Proposed increases

5 Proposed percent increase in state university and community college tuition ($11.4-million)

5,000 Proposed additional slots to the KidCare health insurance program ($3.8-million)

Adding to the pressure: living up to the rosy expectations he's stoked by promising deep tax cuts to all and a booming economy as a result.

The reality is that property tax cuts aren't as big as promised, the property tax amendment he's pushed is not as popular as hoped, the economy is faltering, state tax collections are down, and the state has a $1.1 billion hole in its $71 billion budget.

''I'm willing to face everything,'' Crist said Tuesday. ``I mean, my gosh, I have to face everything. I don't have a choice.''

That's our Mel

"The White House on Tuesday reaffirmed a vow to veto a massive water resources bill that supporters say promises a badly needed $2 billion kick-start for stalled Everglades restoration. The move, expected as early as this week, sets up a high-stakes face-off between Congress and the White House, with some key Florida lawmakers planning to lead an override campaign that could be the first of the Bush presidency." "State lawmakers fighting for Glades bill".

Will RNC and Bushco sycophant Mel Matinez "lead an override campaign" against his beloved benefactor, Dubya?

Meanwhile, Mel's fans at the Orlando Sentinel, think his quitting as RNC head is a "Wise move". Incredibly, the editors pen this:

Mr. Martinez said he would not be an "attack dog" when he took the RNC post. Both Republicans and Democrats would do well to choose chairmen who take the same approach. They shouldn't have to resort to personal attacks to win arguments over principles.

Another Special Session?

"House Speaker Marco Rubio says he has "agreed with Senate President Ken Pruitt to hold a tax special session later this month". "Rubio's answer to WSJ piece: Tax cuts".

Everglades a political issue? 'Ya think?

"Has the Everglades become a political issue among Florida’s congressional delegation? None of the Republican House members of Florida’s congressional delegation signed a letter sent today to President Bush urging him not to veto the Water Resources Development Act, which authorizes $1.4 billion for the Indian River Lagoon clean-up and millions more for Everglades restoration projects. All nine of Florida’s Democratic representatives signed the letter." "Is Everglades letter political?".

Whoopee!

"State Farm, the state's largest private insurance company, agreed to deepen previously proposed rate cuts, resulting in a savings of $23-million, or an average of $23 for each policyholder. The savings are part of a larger agreement ending a number of very public battles State Farm has been waging with the Office of Insurance Regulation and the Attorney General's Office." "State Farm to give refunds". See also "Insurer agrees to boost discount" and "State Farm agrees to lower rates".

"Lawmakers tried to lower insurance rates and regulators are getting tougher, but the bottom line still is below expectations. More than 3 million Florida homeowners will see modest rate cuts on their homeowner policies in the next year, including a 9 percent cut requested by State Farm Tuesday." "Lackluster rate cuts filed".

"A potentially historic shift"

The WSJ via the Miami Herald: "New evidence suggests a potentially historic shift in the Republican Party's identity -- what strategists call its "brand." The votes of many disgruntled fiscal conservatives and other lapsed Republicans are now up for grabs, which could alter U.S. politics in the 2008 elections and beyond."

Some business leaders are drifting away from the party because of the war in Iraq, the growing federal debt and a conservative social agenda they don't share. In manufacturing sectors such as the auto industry, some Republicans want direct government help with soaring health-care costs, which Republicans in Washington have been reluctant to provide. And some business people want more government action on global warming, arguing that a bolder plan is not only inevitable, but could spur new industries. ...

The most prominent sign of dissatisfaction has come from former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, long a pillar of Republican Party economic thinking. He blasted the party's fiscal record in a new book. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he said: "The Republican Party, which ruled the House, the Senate and the presidency, I no longer recognize."

Some well-known business leaders have openly changed allegiances. Morgan Stanley Chairman and Chief Executive John Mack, formerly a big Bush backer, now supports Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. John Canning Jr., chairman and chief executive of Madison Dearborn Partners, a large private-equity firm, now donates to Democrats after a lifetime as a Republican. Recently, he told one Democratic Party leader: "The Republican Party left me" -- a twist on a line Ronald Reagan and his followers used when they abandoned the Democratic Party decades ago to protest its '60s and '70s-era liberalism.

"Sputtering"

"Republican John McCain brought his sputtering presidential campaign to the state Capitol on Tuesday, talking about hurricanes and climate change while raising money and paying a courtesy call on Gov. Charlie Crist." "McCain campaigns in the Capitol". More: "McCain tells Crist what he wants to hear on insurance, drilling".

FCAT Follies

"Florida's high-school students typically do poorly on the state's standardized reading tests, a problem officials have blamed on schools, teachers and even the students themselves." "FCAT woes: Real problem is test itself, some critics say".

No-Fault

The News-Journal editors: "Crist made the right call when he put the state's no-fault auto-insurance law on the agenda for the special legislative session that starts today in Tallahassee. Now the issue rests in the hands of lawmakers, who can expect a siege of special interests trying to tweak -- or stymie -- legislation that would reinstate some form of personal-injury protection coverage for drivers." "Revive 'no-fault,' slow down for fix". See also "No-fault auto insurance stuck in neutral", ""No fault" insurance on legislative agenda" and "Personal-injury protection debated".

More: "Compromise may be reached on continuing with PIP" and "What the PIP bill would do".

Recall that "It's taken years for the Legislature to create a potential crisis over no-fault auto insurance. Because of that delay, the Legislature has only 10 days to avoid the crisis." "Make it nobody's fault".

I am shocked!

"Money intended for job creation in Miami-Dade County's poorest neighborhoods was used for loans to politically connected people and their companies." "Political insiders got poverty funds".

He meant to say "Judeo-Christian" before he said "Christian"

"Clarifying remarks he made this weekend that the United States was 'founded primarily on Christian principles,' GOP presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain said Tuesday he believes the founding fathers were inspired by 'Judeo-Christian' values."

In the capital Tuesday for a fund-raiser and meeting with Gov. Charlie Crist, McCain insisted that he did not mean what he said.

5-Year old urged to make "ideological value judgment"

"A judge deciding whether a [5-year-old] Cuban girl should remain with her foster parents in Florida or return to Cuba with her father warned both parties Tuesday against pulling the girl into a political debate about living in Cuba."

Attorneys for the girl's Miami foster parents requested an emergency hearing Tuesday before Circuit Judge Jeri B. Cohen to relate the child's apparent anxiety about the possibility of returning to Cuba. A court-appointed therapist told the judge by phone that the girl appeared very fearful Monday during a scheduled meeting when she was asked about Cuba, and repeatedly said she did not want to go there.

The judge ordered another court-appointed therapist, scheduled to meet with the girl and her father later Tuesday, to begin broaching with the girl the idea of living with her father. But Cohen also instructed both her father, Cuban farmer Rafael Izquierdo, and the foster parents, wealthy Cuban-American couple Joe and Maria Cubas, to refrain from discussing with the girl a potential return to Cuba.

"You're making a 5-year-old make an ideological value judgment about Cuba. The issue is not, 'Do you want to go Cuba?' The issue is, 'Do you want to be with your father?' We need to change the issue here," Cohen said.

Charlie decides not to file frivolous appeal

Charlie called Bob about whether the state should appeal a verdict against the state for "an 8-year-old former Palm Beach County girl who was beaten nearly to death after state child-welfare workers released her broken body to a mother they knew didn't want her." You may recall that "legislators have for years ignored Marissa Amora and refused since 2005 to pay what a jury ordered for her lifelong care: $26.8 million."

The following deeply analytical legal discussion occurred between the two distinguished legal minds:

"I called back the governor and said we really have no grounds to appeal and he said, 'Fine. Then do not appeal,' Butterworth said.

Don't Forget the Paintball Guns

"They may not have gotten far in carrying out their plans, but seven South Florida men wanted to form an alliance with al-Qaida to wage holy war against the United States, a prosecutor charged Tuesday in his opening statement at their trial in Miami federal court.The centerpiece of the group's violent agenda, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Gregorie, was a plot to ['blow up the 110-story Sears Tower in Chicago -- the tallest building in the United States'] and the FBI headquarters in North Miami Beach."

Gregorie told jurors the former Chicago deliveryman was serious about the plans he described, such as poisoning salt shakers in restaurants and provoking gang warfare to create chaos and panic. ...

According to prosecutors, the group had a military-style structure and claimed to be part of the Moorish Science Temple, which embraces some tenets of Islam. That organization maintains the United States was originally settled by Moors, whose descendants should have their own nation and independent government.

Deputy FBI Director John Pistole said at the time of their arrest that their plans were "aspirational rather than operational." Other government agents said they posed no real threat because they had no actual al Qaeda contacts or means of carrying out attacks and no weapons other than a cosh [blackjack] found in one man's car. ...

An FBI agent testified in pretrial hearings that they studied martial arts and trained with paintball guns. The first three dozen jury candidates were asked if they had any paintball experience.

One former policeman said he had trained with paintballs while on the force. Another man said his son played paintball at birthday parties. Another jury candidate turned to her neighbor and whispered "what?" when the judge asked if they had ever "gone paintballing."

New Poll

"The state's largest teachers' union released a poll Tuesday night that shows more Floridians are concerned about rising property insurance than how much they pay in property taxes." "New Poll: Insurance Cuts Needed More than Tax Cuts".

Last week, the four first-tier Republican presidential candidates skipped a nationally televised debate before a black audience. Three of the four also turned down invitations to a Spanish-language debate hosted in Miami earlier in September by the Univision network. And with the exception of Arizona Sen. John McCain, all of the party's candidates have taken increasingly strident stands against any immigration reform that would permit illegal immigrants to qualify to remain here.

Casey Klofstad, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Miami, said the controversies represent a "sea of change" among Republicans that contradicts the diversity-minded intention of putting Martinez in charge.

"All these things happened and then he looks to step down. Is this the motivation? I have no idea. But they are close enough in time that [it suggests] the party or Martinez are showing some expressions of frustration," Klofstad said.

Martinez's approval ratings have plummeted in recent months. A Quinnipiac University poll released in July showed that only 38 percent of Florida voters approved of his performance as senator -- down 12 points in six months.

"He's awfully lucky he's not up until 2010," said political scientist Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia in July.

... Speaking of lame GOPers

"The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began targeting U.S. Rep Tom Feeney of Oviedo and seven other House Republicans with radio ads Monday over their votes against expanding a children’s health insurance program." "DCCC targets Feeney during drive time".

Scott Maxwell has a bit of fun with Feeney this morning:

With our nation at war and struggling with everything from immigration to the economy, Congress made time last week to address the truly important stuff -- a mean newspaper ad [by Moveon.com]. ...

Mean words indeed. See how they even rhymed his perfectly pleasant-sounding name with words that don't sound pleasant at all? Nice and patriotic people don't do such things.

So you can see why Congress needed to take a break from dealing with Iran to take a stand against character attacks.

Sure, it seemed a little strange to hear indignation about name-calling coming from guys like Feeney -- who based his entire last campaign on calling his opponent a "crazy" tinfoil-hat-wearing lunatic.

More Hypocrisy

Maxwell has more: "Colorado Democrat Mark Udall's office said Monday that he was preparing a counter-resolution that accuses [hillbilly heroin] Rush Limbaugh of referring to veterans and servicemen and women who oppose the war as 'phony soldiers.'"

Rush complained that his words were taken out of context. But the Chicago Tribune noted that moments after Rush insisted he had never referred to any actual soldier as a "phony soldier," he called U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient, a "phony soldier" as well.

That doesn't sound very patriotic. Draft a resolution!

So will Central Florida lawmakers be condemning Rush "in the strongest possible terms" as well?

Well, Brown-Waite agreed with Rush that his words had been "misconstrued," but vowed to protect troops from "personal attacks, from whatever organization might make them."

Said Keller: "I oppose personal attacks against Gen. Petraeus and other soldiers, regardless of whether they're launched from the right or left."

And a spokeswoman for Feeney said the issue needs to be handled "on a case-by-case basis." She called the MoveOn.org ad particularly "disgusting" and reminded us all: "Congress uses resolutions for the very purpose of expressing its collective opinions."

Udall's resolution, introduced Monday night, says that Congress condemns "the personal attacks made by the broadcaster Rush impugning the integrity and professionalism of Americans serving in the Armed Forces."

There were 19 co-sponsors Monday night. None were from Colorado.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., asked other senators to sign a letter of censure.

Charlie recalls he's the governor at the "last-minute"

After spending weeks burnishing his national political bona fides, Charlie decides to make "a last-minute entrance into two legislative feuds Monday, ordering lawmakers to take up the expired no-fault auto-insurance law when they meet this week and prompting them to hold another special legislative session to fix a property-tax proposal that a judge invalidated." "Crist calls for action on taxes, auto insurance". See also "Include no-fault on session agenda, Crist tells leaders", "Session time set for PIP, taxes", "Crist wants no-fault law considered", ""No fault" auto insurance joins legislative agenda", "Session to weigh no-fault future", "Motorists, insurers wait, watch", "Lawmakers to deal with no-fault, tax relief at separate sessions" and "PIP added to session".

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board credits Charlie for showing a teensy-weensy spine: "Crist finally acted as governors -- as leaders -- must. He abandoned his maddening 'I remain hopeful' and 'I'm cautiously optimistic' comments and announced Monday that extending no-fault will be added to the agenda of lawmakers, who are returning to the capital this week to tackle the state's budget crisis. He wouldn't have done that, however, if lawmakers didn't appear all-but-ready to give no-fault another go." "Extend PIP".

Sorry about that "merit pay"

"State lawmakers expect to snip $147.5 million promised for teacher merit pay out of the budget this week, a temporary move to help solve this year's financial crisis. Legislative leaders hope to restore money for performance pay in the spring, before checks are to be cut. But even if they don't, many Florida educators will not care." "Merit-pay cut may not be a problem".

Supreme's Decide Election Case

"Supreme Court justices on Monday sharply critiqued Washington state's primary election system, with several suggesting that it violates political parties' First Amendment rights. Washington allows primary candidates to identify which parties they prefer, even if they aren't the parties' official nominees. In a case watched by political professionals nationwide, justices wondered Monday whether Washington is infringing on protected rights of free association." "State's primary laws get harsh critique".

Another Man of the People

"Sen. Carey Baker, a Eustis Republican, will raise cash for his re-election bid Tuesday night at the Tallahassee office of the Florida Retail Federation, a big business player in the Capitol." "Baker gets a helping hand from Retail Federation".

More Increases Wanted

"Property insurers are seeking further rate increases in Florida, despite once again setting record profits." "Insurers ask for higher rates".

Keeping Secrets

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "With a special session about to begin and an agenda that includes some of the most significant public business in years, secrecy is once again the rule in the state capital." "Easier, not better". More from the Sun-Sentinel editors: "Special legislative session won't teach voters much".

McCain's Mess

McCain didn't help himself in Florida with this: "Several Jewish organizations criticized John McCain on Monday after the Republican candidate said he would prefer a Christian president over someone of a different faith. ... Amid the criticism, Democrat Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, an Orthodox Jew, came to the defense of his Senate colleague." "Jewish groups criticize Sen. McCain". Meanwhile, "McCain On Second Lap of Tallahassee Fund-Raisers".

Another RPOF Snoozer

Too much time on their hands:

Last week, the state Republican Party sent a mailer to Florida Democrats, bashing the Democratic candidates over the boycott and urging Florida Democratic voters to switch parties.

Monday, they announced a new web site that “highlights the recent announcement by the Democrat presidential candidates that they will obey Democrat National Committee rules and boycott the state of Florida unless they are coming here to collect a campaign check.”

RPOF "Standards"

"The Republican Party of Florida has announced the criteria for participation in the televised debate to be held at its Presidency IV convention Oct. 21, and though the standards aren’t restrictive, they still could rule out some candidates with small but devoted followings. According to those standards, candidates must have at least 1 percent support—without counting the error margin—in three of six independent polls commonly done in Florida between Aug. 1 and Oct. 7. The companies are Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, Inc., Insider Advantage, American Research Group, Inc., Quinnipiac University, Rasmussen Reports, and Strategic Vision, LLC. " "GOP Debate Standards Could Rule Out Some Candidates".

Mahoney

"Congressional Quarterly’s first round-up of 2008 House races says there’s 'no clear favorite' in freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney’s bid to hold his seat against the winner of a three-way GOP primary." "13 months out: Mahoney toss-up, Klein favored".

FCAT Follies

The Miami Herald editors write that

a singular, obsessive focus on the FCAT has distorted the importance of the test. Schools have tried to motivate teachers by giving them bonus pay. They have offered students free iPods and pizza for good scores.

Worse, though, is that an over-the-top emphasis on the FCAT can have negative repercussions on other studies. Some schools are so desperate to improve their FCAT scores that they short-change other curricula, such as art, health or history.

Questions Remain

"To widespread relief, the Florida Supreme Court moved last week to revise a ruling that could have forced cities and counties to go back to voters to approve money already borrowed for some redevelopment projects."

The same ruling could have had devastating consequences for school districts that rely on lease-borrow financing to build schools.

School leaders would have faced a double bind -- forced to build classrooms under a voter-approved constitutional mandate to reduce class sizes but required to seek voter approval in an era where a resounding political mantra is "cut taxes."

That dilemma was removed Friday when the justices clarified a unanimous Sept. 8 decision that said before local governments borrow money to be paid back with property-tax dollars, they have to win voter approval -- as it says clearly in the state constitution. ...

The revised ruling, which reversed a 1980 state Supreme Court decision, still faces a legal protest from local governments (for which a hearing is scheduled for Oct. 9). ...

The decision could still wreak havoc on how redevelopment projects are financed. Until now, local governments have been able to use tax-increment funds to leverage money for needs wholly within a redevelopment project -- which range from building sewers to helping build new edifices. Now they will need voter approval to do so.

But who votes -- only residents of a redevelopment district? Or all residents of the city? The county? The justices, basing their decision on the "plain language" of the constitution, haven't been plain enough on that point. And it could prove the most critical point to the future of redevelopment in this state.

And Then There's Florida

"Eight states are suing the Bush administration over new rules that block expansion of a health insurance program for children from low-income families. The coalition of states includes New Jersey, Maryland, Arizona, California, Illinois, New Hampshire, New York and Washington, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said Monday." "Eight states sue over child health coverage".

Bilirakis gets another challenger

"Former Plant City Mayor [Democrat] John Dicks today made it official: He’s running next year for the congressional seat now held by freshman GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor. ... Bilirakis already has one other Democratic opponent, William D. 'Bill' Mitchell, a Tampa employment lawyer and Navy veteran. " "Dicks Files For House Seat".

Careening "from crisis to crisis"

Howard Troxler:

Our state careens from crisis to crisis. We apply quick fix after quick fix and hope that something sticks. Our policy consists of cute catch phrases - "drop like a rock," "biggest tax cut in history."

In January, our Legislature met to "fix" our state's insurance crisis, and ended up making things worse. It put the people of Florida on the hook for more risk without changing the problem.

Next, our Legislature proposed to "solve" property taxes. It passed a one-time cut and proposed a gimmicky, longer-term cut that has been thrown off the ballot. These ideas were passed within 72 hours of the time legislators first saw them.

The automobile insurance laws of Florida have been thrown into confusion with the expiration of no-fault insurance. Having had years to address it, the Legislature now will talk about making a fix after the fact.

The election "reform" passed last spring has wreaked havoc with the presidential primary, committed the state to another rushed switch of voting machines, and opened the door for further mischief.

On Wednesday, the Legislature will convene yet again for our latest state "crisis," this one a shortfall in the state budget. Here's betting the result does not put Florida on a stable long-term path.

"No deal"

Mike Thomas has a problem with "a developer teaming up with the city of DeBary to push for construction of a marina on this stretch of river. It would add about 250 boats to river traffic."

One would assume from the upscale nature of the project that these would not be johnboats. They would be the big, beefy boats that hit manatees like linebackers armed with chain saws.

DeBary City Council member Chris Carson argues this could help manatees because boaters would take care of the river. Council member Jack Lenzen argues docks would provide manatees refuge, presumably from all the boats.

In environmental jargon, they argue marinas act as mitigation for marinas. So we might as well line the entire St. Johns River with them, creating one huge sea pig love fest.

Throw in some road paving and utilities offered by the developer, and DeBary is ready to deal.

I say no deal.

I cannot argue that adding 250 boats to the crossfire will wipe out manatees. But add in all the other boats. Add in the pollution. Add in development and shoreline destruction.

Add in that the St. Johns River Water Management District is allowing utilities to suck the water out from under Blue Spring. Keep adding and adding and adding.

At what point do all the additions become so withering that this small herd of manatees collapses?

Piling on to find the breaking point is good for developers but bad for the precious things we are losing.

The "Liberal" St. Pete Times

Yet another example of Florida's "liberal" St. Pete Times dissing unions and negotiated health care benefits - quoting their fellow ink stained wretches on the SSJ editorial board no less: "UAW retirees, the last of what the Wall Street Journal referred to as 'an industrial aristocracy of blue-collar workers.' When times were good, GM found it easy to offer the Cadillac of health care coverage to retirees and their spouses."

You see, the St. Pete Times' liberal editors apparently think its time to recognize the "reality" that "fewer employers are offering their workers medical insurance at all - down from 69 percent of companies in 2000 to 60 percent this year. As for retirees, companies are increasingly turning to fixed health benefits that shift the burden of managing medical expenses to individuals. And Medicare is rapidly becoming unsustainable, with the hospital-insurance trust fund expected to fall short in 12 years." "Painful new reality on health care".

You'd think the traditional media would spend time attacking the "reality" of "fewer employers are offering their workers medical insurance" instead of folks who are fighting to stop the trend (the "reality") - of course that would entail saying something positive about unions, and we can't have that can we.

The Florida Elections Commission at Work

Lucy Morgan: "Sometimes a courtroom victory leaves one wondering about the cost of justice."

Take the case of the Wakulla Independent Reporter, a tiny newspaper published in the Florida Panhandle that the Florida Elections Commission effectively shut down for more than a year.

Thanks to the generosity of the ACLU, which financed a lawsuit against the state agency, the publisher won: The state threw in the towel after the case went before a federal judge.

But the publisher and the ACLU will not be allowed to recover any of the $80,000 in fees and expenses they say it cost them.

Publisher Julia Hanway says it was her good fortune that she had an attorney, Robert Rivas, and a law firm, Sax & Sachs, willing to take the case.

"If it wasn't for them, I would never have been allowed to print another issue of the Wakulla Independent Reporter, and the FEC's relentless pursuit of their admittedly incorrect position would have been allowed to stand."

It started in 2005, when the commission accused the free tabloid newspaper of being an "electioneering communication," in violation of a law that requires those who spend more than $100 to publish election materials to register and report contributions and expenditures.

Newspapers are exempt, but the commission said the Reporter was masquerading as a newspaper, that it was advocating an antigrowth agenda and campaigning against certain Wakulla County commissioners.

Midway through his tenure, in his second inaugural address, Bush sent shudders through the state bureaucracy by dreaming aloud about what a tribute to Florida's maturity it would be if "we could empty out some of these buildings" surrounding the Capitol. He was talking about strengthening families to reduce delinquency, drug use and crime - but Bush unabashedly considered shrinking the size of government a virtue in itself.

And he did it.

What was an ideological approach to shrinking government is now an economic one. Lawmakers come to Tallahassee this week to trim $1.1 billion from the state's spending.

Tuff Guy

Eric J. Smith "he is the micromanaging superintendent who bulldozed over employees' concerns, increasing teachers' workload but not their pay and stripping principals of their powers. Smith may also be Florida's next education commissioner."

Smith's boyish looks and slight Southern lilt belie his hard-charging nature. That style worked in Charlotte, where there was no teachers union. But in Anne Arundel County, the strong and long-established union was used to negotiating — not jumping at dictates.

"His DNA was not based on relationship-building," said school board member Eugene Peterson, recalling Smith's tenure. "Some people's strength is building relationships. Some people's strength is getting it done. His strength is laying out a vision and, come hell or high water, getting it done."

Stupid

"Crist is considering privatizing Alligator Alley for an up-front payment of $500 million, even though a new Department of Transportation study shows the state could reap twice that if it kept the road and borrowed against future proceeds itself." "I-75 tolls would increase under proposal".

Destroying the Ecosystem

"Every day, the mulch industry grinds up cypress trees, leaving stumps in place of giants that can take decades to grow back to harvesting size. It's a practice that environmental advocates say is harmful and unnecessary, and they have been calling for its end." "Big demand cutting into cypress trees' legacy".

Boosting Florida's political power

"A new study finds that the population of undocumented immigrants could boost the number of Congressional seats in the Southern border states - Florida, Arizona and Florida [sic] - at the expense of Northern and Midwestern states like Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and New York." "Undocumented immigrants to boost Florida political power?"

'Glades

"For years, Washington reneged on its commitment to pay its share of the Everglades restoration. Congress promised a 50-50 split with the Florida Legislature, but from 1999 to 2006, Florida outspent it more than 2-to-1."

Now, President Bush says he won't sign a bill giving the Everglades new federal funding for the first time in more than six years because its weight would bust the federal budget. The Water Resources Development Act, he says, is filled with unnecessary spending for too many projects.

Unnecessary? The Everglades, the country's largest subtropical wilderness, desperately needs water from reservoirs and wells to replace water that development and agriculture either polluted or depleted. Without the redistribution, the ecosystem that supports plant and animal species not found anywhere else on Earth could die.

No-Fault

"Florida's no-fault auto insurance law expires Monday, and chances to extend the measure now look dim." "'No no-fault' zone is ahead for Florida drivers".

Obama Visit

"Barack Obama hinted during a Tampa fundraiser Sunday that if he’s the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, he’ll seat a Florida delegation at the party’s national convention, despite national party sanctions prohibiting it." "Obama Hints He’d Seat Florida Delegation". See also ""Obama To 'Do What's Right'".".

Political Pawn

"The phalanx of lawyers is preparing for the second round of an international custody battle that pits a Coral Gables foster family against a Cuban farmer. The governor of Florida won't rule out the possibility that the state will appeal the outcome." "Custody battle taking a toll on young girl".

"The big-money boys are being driven bug-eyed crazy"

Howard Troxler: "The argument being made against Florida Hometown Democracy by big-money groups translates to:"

AAAAHH! AAAAH! AAAAH! If you vote for Hometown Democracy, your tongue will turn purple. Florida will sink into the sea. Evil people who smell bad are behind it. Only an IDIOT would vote for it. ...

Yep, the big-money boys are being driven bug-eyed crazy at the thought of voters taking over control of growth in Florida. They can't mount a coherent campaign. All they can do is jabber threats and insults.