"This is all about incrementalism and peeling off and making small gains and trying to be competitive in what promises to be a very, very competitive election in Florida," MacManus said. "You cannot be in a position where you don't try."

Crist spoke to about 150 black Floridians, most already Republican activists, at what the state GOP billed as a historic, first-ever Black Republican Conference.

Members of a panel called "Why Am I a Republican" spoke to the conference Friday and cited the party's more conservative social positions as a potential attraction for blacks.

The panel included former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann, who lost last year as a Republican candidate for governor in Pennsylvania; FOX News analyst Angela McGlowan; Texas railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams; and Orlando's Southside Church of Christ Pastor Wesley Leonard.

Many Democrats and even some black Republicans have scoffed at the effort, saying Republicans have tried often before and achieved little more than symbolic successes among black voters. ...

Of the state's black voters, 66,000 are registered Republicans, outnumbered by the 151,000 no-party registrants and by the 1.01 million black Democrats.

Greer, chosen by Crist this year to lead the state party, said this time, it's different.

"the black Ann Coulter" told the crowd, "Liberals are for killing our babies" . . .

Charter scam

"At a time when state education budgets are strapped for dollars, and school districts are facing further budget cuts from Tallahassee and increasing angst from local taxpayers, does it make sense to duplicate services? The correct answer is 'no,' which is why parallel, competing processes for approving local charter school applications is a wasteful mistake." "Charter Schools".

Jenne

"Once the most powerful man in the county, former sheriff Ken Jenne will spend the next 10 months in federal prison." "Former Broward sheriff jailed a year and a day".

Another poll

"New York Sen. Hillary Clinton remains comfortably ahead of Democratic challengers in Florida's presidential primary, and Rudy Giuliani appears to be pulling away from the Republican pack, according to a new Orlando Sentinel poll."

Clinton has a nearly 3-1 lead over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama among likely Democratic primary voters, with 42 percent of the vote to Obama's 15 percent. And if the two were matched head-to-head, Clinton would prevail 54 percent to 34 percent, the poll showed.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards was the only other Democrat in double digits, with 12 percent support.

Giuliani appears to have beaten back a charge by former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson. The former New York mayor is now at 36 percent among likely GOP voters, with ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in second at 15 percent, according to the poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc.

Thompson, who was nipping at Giuliani's heels two months ago, has plummeted to third, with 12 percent of the vote. That's an 11-point drop since early September.

Allen out

This headline is a bit off: "AP: State Rep. Allen resigns after oral sex conviction". See also "Allen resigns from House", "Allen resigns House seat" and "Allen resigns from House, vows to appeal sex case". More: "Resignation should have come sooner, residents say".

Idiots

The Tampa Trib praises this idiocy:

The team found the biggest savings in janitorial services. The city currently contracts with 14 companies to clean city-owned buildings, mostly recreation centers. The contracts pay cleaning companies between $1.35 per square foot and $1.98 per square foot. By contrast, in-house janitors cost the city as much as $3.28 per square foot. By laying off 38 janitors and reducing the contracts to a manageable two or three, the team said the city would save $950,000 a year.

Similarly, the city employs 50 security guards, but also has contracts with three security companies. The contract guards cost between $11 and $13 per hour, while in-house guards cost between $17 and $27 per hour. The team found that outsourcing all security services would save the city $355,000 a year.

Sales taxes

"A panel of leaders studying Florida's tax system took two small but significant steps Friday. The group agreed to file bills for more detailed debate and study that would (a) require a systematic review of sales tax exemptions and (b) include Florida among states that have joined forces to support the taxation of goods sold over the Internet at the same rate as similar products sold in stores." "Tax panel wants a cut from the Web". See also "Sales tax and exemptions could be changed", "Commission talks taxes for 20-year meeting" and "Committee proposes revamp of sales taxes".

Posada

"Two men who refused to testify before a federal grand jury investigating Cuban militant Luis Posada Carilles pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Osvaldo Mitat and Santiago Alvarez, both Cuban exiles, were initially indicted on charges of criminal contempt of court for refusing to testify before the grand jury even after being granted immunity." "2 who refused to testify against Posada plead guilty".

Thompson in town

"Republican candidate Fred Thompson coming to Palm Beach County". See also "Thompson touts support for military in Panhandle rally".

Asleep at the wheel

"Crist objected Friday to a federal plan to divert water intended for his state's Apalachicola Bay and instead send it to Georgia. Crist spoke with U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne Friday morning to express his concerns about the tri-state water deal being implemented by the Army Corps of Engineers." "Plan allowing Ga. to keep more water upsets Crist". See also "Water deal helps Atlanta, not shellfish".

No increase

"Florida regulators have rejected Allstate's request for higher homeowners' premiums, hikes that would have increased rates as high as 43 percent on average statewide." "State rejects Allstate's proposal".

Whatever

"Tampa Bay area lawmakers got a sporty gift late this week from a major player back home: personalized uniform jerseys with legislators' names on the back." "Legislators get name recognition".

Whoopee!

"State agencies must treat citizens with courtesy, respect and professionalism when they ask for public records, according to an Open Bill of Rights signed Thursday by Gov. Charlie Crist." "Crist signs Open Bill of Rights".

Blitz

"The sales pitch has begun. Worried that a controversial deal that gives the Seminole Tribe of Florida the right to run casino games is going to draw lawsuits, the governor and the tribe have launched a multimedia effort to garner public support for the pact." "PR blitz begins for gambling".

Loophole

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Open primaries were supposed to let more Floridians have a say in picking politicians. Unfortunately, politicians want voters to have as little say as possible. So, they allow a loophole to undermine a constitutional amendment that voters approved in 1998."

The intent was to let all voters cast ballots in primary races where only candidates of one party were competing. State Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, tried for years to get legislators to eliminate the loophole that requires primaries to be closed if there's any opposition, even if the opponent is a candidate's mother whose name won't appear on the ballot. Legislators refused.

So, a group led by Sen. Aronberg filed a lawsuit to close the loophole. Last month, Lake County Circuit Judge Mark Hill ruled that the loophole stands. "The issue in this case is whether 'no opposition in the general election' means what it says or whether it means something else," Judge Hill wrote. "Any opposing candidate - including a write-in candidate - is opposition."

Hometown democracy

"Is the Hometown Democracy amendment the answer to Florida's developer-driven growth machine, or is it a veiled attack on private property rights?"

Members of the Tiger Bay Club of Tampa Bay got an earful of both sides of the argument Friday in a sometimes heated debate between Hometown Democracy founder Lesley Blackner and former state House Speaker John Thrasher, a leader in the move to derail the amendment.

The former House speaker's argument resonated with several club members discussing the debate afterwards.

"It sounds like government control to me," Margaret Plowman said. "I don't want the community to decide on my property. I want to decide on my property."

"Decided by a tiny minority"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "It is a frustrating truism that, without a galvanizing issue, local elections seldom fire up the electorate. Consequently, government decisions that most directly affect people often are made by officials chosen by only a minuscule proportion of voters.The quality of police protection, fire-rescue response, code enforcement and other services are too important to be decided by a tiny minority of a city's population. Yet, that happened again this month in elections in Miami-Dade County's three largest cities -- Miami, Hialeah and Miami Beach -- and a handful of other municipalities." "Change voting dates".

"is not a person who makes his living from prostitution," [Assistant State Attorney Pat] Whitaker said.

"The Scopes trial should have settled the issue" ... except in Florida

"The change that's attracting the most attention would require students to learn about evolution as part of an effort to beef up Florida science standards and create a competitive workforce for the 21st century."

The subject has been contentious for years, called into the public consciousness in 1925 by the "Scopes Monkey Trial," in which a Tennessee teacher was charged with violating the law by teaching evolution.

Dave Finnigan, an educational consultant who lives in Celebration, said the Scopes trial should have settled the issue.

56%

"A new poll shows 56 percent of voters support the Legislature's property tax cut plan that will be on the Jan. 29 ballot." "Poll finds 56% for amendment".

"The telephone survey of 700 registered voters was conducted Monday through Wednesday and has a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points." "Poll: Florida property-tax cut falls short of 60%". See also "Poll: Not enough voter support to pass tax relief".

Florida's booming economy

"Prices for consumer goods in South Florida are rising at a rate faster than in any metropolitan area in the nation. Again." "S. Fla.'s 5.1% inflation rate outpaces rest of U.S.".

Sales tax redux

"A powerful statewide panel on Friday will tackle anew the old question of whether to ease the property tax burden by shifting some of it to the sales tax, and taxing goods and services that are now tax-free." "An old idea is new again". More: "Former Senate president pushes tax reform". See the draft report in .pdf

Jenne

This morning: "Jenne arrives at federal courthouse for sentencing".

Gambling

"Is the state's deal to expand gambling at casinos owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida a jackpot or a bust for taxpayers? Indian gaming experts say that considering their weak bargaining position, state officials cut a fair deal that should pay off if the tribe aggressively expands its casinos." "Experts: Gaming deal is a winner". See also "Other gambling outfits worried about Seminoles gaming deal". More: "A history of tribal gaming" and "What's legal, what's not".

"Lobbyist swarm" . . . yuck

"More than 30 lobbyists have gotten involved in a lucrative and much-delayed recycling contract." "Lobbyist swarm shapes bid process for Dade recycling".

"Sixth borough"

"Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani is pinning his candidacy on Florida's reputation as New York City's "sixth borough," making his 19th campaign visit this year Thursday to the delegate-rich state that he needs to maintain as a key stronghold." "Giuliani visits Florida again, pinning hopes on 'sixth borough'". Rudy takes on the tuff crowd at a GOPer cesspool The Villages, after which he will "woo NASCAR fans at the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway." "Florida is essential for Giuliani's hopes".

Buddy to get busy

"Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Thursday got a campaign opponent -- and the threat of a lawsuit."

His old rival, Ken Mulvaney, has formally entered the 2008 mayor's race, which voters will decide Jan. 29. Another would-be candidate, Tim Adams, said he is prepared to sue the city to make it a three-way race after officials declared him ineligible because he can't prove his Orlando residency.

Either way, Dyer won't skate into another four years in office without a fight.

Whatever

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Local elections may not be as engaging as statewide or national races, but that doesn't make them unimportant. The winners wind up making decisions on taxes, public safety, growth and development, and other critical issues. Those powers deserve a mandate from more than a thin slice of the population." "Where are the voters?".

Happy man

"Gov. Crist 'very happy' about Orlando Utilities Commission halting coal-plant deal".

The poor thing ...

"The Florida Supreme Court recently disbarred attorney Angelo Cappelli, 37, a former Republican state House candidate from St. Petersburg who is facing charges of grand theft and perjury." "High court disbars former candidate".

Brogan

The Palm Beach Post editors: "President Frank Brogan's indefensible secret deal with Florida Atlantic University's former chief fund-raiser is not a firing offense. But failing even to mention the deal Tuesday during Mr. Brogan's annual evaluation ought to be a firing offense for the FAU trustees." "Brogan's non-evaluation".

"'The first African-American governor of Florida'"

"Hailed as "

"the first African-American governor of Florida," Gov. Charlie Crist told a largely black audience Thursday he is "honored" to use his power to settle the Martin Lee Anderson civil case, restore civil rights of ex-convicts and reconsider the use of standardized testing in schools.

Crist also told a gathering of minority business owners that — despite budget cuts that are taking six jobs out of the state's Office of Supplier Diversity — his administration is committed to carving a bigger slice of state government's economic pie for historically disadvantaged firms.

'Ya think?

"It's an expensive mistake to create a parallel charter school approval process".

"Even in Texas"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "For weeks, a de facto moratorium has existed on Death Row executions across the nation. The reprieve granted Thursday to Florida inmate Mark Dean Schwab is the fourth stay issued by the U.S. Supreme Court while it ponders a case challenging the use of the same lethal-drug combination administered in Florida. State officials should have known the court would block the execution, but chose to ignore the obvious in a wrongheaded effort to carry out Schwab's death sentence."

"Even in Texas, which leads the nation in executions, at least two scheduled death sentences have been put on hold voluntarily until the Supreme Court issues its ruling. 'It seems the common-sense thing to do at this point,' said a prosecutor in Houston. Indeed it does. It's too bad common sense was so obviously lacking in Tallahassee." "No rush to execute"

The state's cash-flow problems will yield fewer dollars for public schools, universities, and the state's poorest and sickest residents even as spending demands grow, in part because of the sluggish economy.

"Florida is behaving as though we were in a national recession," said Amy Baker, coordinator for the Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

For Gov. Charlie Crist and the Republican-controlled Legislature, the forecast promises a financial and political headache as they figure out painful new spending cuts in a crucial election year.

"Winging it, cheerleading and leaving the last guy happy"

Even a broken clock is right twice a day - Mike Thomas writes today that "for someone who has thrived on good luck, can Charlie Crist survive long without it?"

Crist could spend the next three years slashing budgets in a state teetering on recession. ...

A media-commissioned poll shows only 34 percent of voters think the state is headed in the right direction, while 44 percent say it is headed the other way.

Voters give Tallahassee lawmakers harsh marks for their tax-cutting proposals and were very sour about insurance rates.

But despite all that, Charlie gets a pass so far, with 57 percent of voters expressing support. That sounds good. But if you're keeping track, it indicates a downward spiral from positive numbers that once registered above 70 percent.

The Crist style seems based on winging it, cheerleading and leaving the last guy happy.

It works for a while, but invariably people want results. So far, on the matters that most concern them, they haven't seen any.

And the longer they don't, the more Crist's credibility and poll ratings will drop.

That's our Charlie: all things to all people

"The Tampa Bay Rays secured a powerful ally Wednesday in their quest to put an iconic stadium on St. Petersburg's waterfront: Gov. Charlie Crist. But they also found new adversaries in the Legislature." "Proposal has foes, friend in Tally".

Gambling

"Calling it a 'very historic day for Florida,' Gov. Charlie Crist agreed Wednesday to let the Seminole Tribe of Florida operate casino card games now banned in the state and slot machines at seven sites, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa." "Tribe strikes deal to expand gambling". See also "Crist OKs gaming deal with Seminoles", "Crist, tribe sign deal to expand Indian gambling, state gets cash" and "Gov. Crist bets deal will mean $100M a year for state, but lawmakers could sue". More: "Q&A: State currently limits cards, Vegas-style slots" and "State to get $325 million in first 3 years of deal" ("Here are key details of the 42-page pact between the Seminole Tribe and Gov. Charlie Crist to operate Las Vegas-style slot machines, blackjack, baccarat and other card games in return for sharing revenue with the state.")

And in case you've forgotten, the Tampa Trib editors remind us this morning that Charlie is simply fabulous: "Crist Deals State Strong Hand In Taxing And Limiting Casinos". But the Sun-Sentinel has this: "Florida lacked leverage for better Seminole gambling deal". We're confused.

"The sub-prime loan industry collapse"

"The sub-prime loan industry collapse that is roiling Wall Street has caused a $2.2 billion spiral in at least one state investment pool, managers told Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet on" "Sub-prime loan collapse hurts state investment". See also "State's portfolio touched by market worries over lending industry".

"A fine idea at the time ..."

"Orlando utility shelves coal-gasification plant".

Will Florida schools continue "continue backsliding"?

"Lawyers argued Wednesday over who should have authority to set tuition and fees at Florida's 11 public universities in a lawsuit that the system's leader said could determine whether the schools will continue backsliding." "Former senator, governor want college board to set tuition rates". See also "Lawsuit over tuition gets under way".

"Critical shortages"

"Florida State University and the University of Florida are teaming up on a $10-million plan to better recruit and prepare math and science teachers for Florida's public schools -areas where there have been critical shortages for years." "FSU and UF match wits on science shortfall".

Violations?

"A state elections board on Wednesday found enough evidence to continue an investigation into whether Martin County Commissioner Susan Valliere and her husband violated campaign laws last year, according to the activist who accused her." "Both sides claim win in election rules spat".

On a separate note: "Heard rebuts group's charges" ("Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard on Wednesday fired back at a new watchdog group led by a former commission candidate that has accused her of breaking campaign finance rules.")

Kill it?

The Palm Beach Post editors: "The property-tax amendment on the Jan. 29 ballot would not pass today, according to polling that was released this week by The Post and a media consortium. Defeat of the amendment would be good for Florida, because it would increase the chances for real tax reform. There are many reasons to dislike the amendment. Chief among them is that the proposal would help most those taxpayers who need help the least, and would cost Florida's public school system about $3 billion over five years. The amendment is flawed because it was the product of a rushed political compromise dictated to the state House by the state Senate and Gov. Crist." "If tax-poll numbers hold, Florida stands to benefit".

The Venice effect

"The picket lines and angry crowds at City Hall over the past year were replaced by the standing ovations Wednesday as three new City Council members were sworn into office."

Continuing a historic groundswell of support that swept the three slow-growth candidates into office by a landslide, nearly 150 people packed the council chambers for an inauguration that surprised some city leaders. ...

"This was such a surprising and exciting election," said Joan Turner, a recent retiree from New Jersey and a registered Republican who voted for the three Democrats. "We wanted to be here after working so hard pounding the streets for them."

The new council members worked as a team to unseat three well-connected incumbents, attracting a broad group of volunteers angered by recent development proposals.

That silly eighth amendment thing

Doesn't this sound nice: "Crist and the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court called for a major overhaul of the state's mental health system on Wednesday to better address the needs of the severely mentally ill." "Psychiatric overhaul urged". See also "A call to treat mentally ill, not jail them".

Meanwhile, back in the real world: "Jeremiah Thomas was known as a 'frequent flier' among prison guards for the way the schizophrenic killer bounced back and forth between two lockups.

In one prison, he got medical care for his hallucinations, self-mutilation and other bizarre behavior.

In the other, he was repeatedly gassed with pepper spray, tear gas or Mace for acting like a mentally ill person, yelling or refusing to comply with orders.

Still, the case has cast an unwelcome spotlight on DOC for two major reasons:

• It recalls the ''culture of brutality'' that McDonough began stamping out last year after headlines over guards stealing, distributing steroids and beating inmates -- or pounding each other in frequent beer-soaked, steroid-fueled brawls connected to prison-league softball rivalries.

• It could potentially expose the need for far more mental health-treatment beds in the Florida State Prison in Starke as well as the entire prison system, which has as many as 16,000 potentially mentally ill inmates out of a population of 95,000.

The state is starting to acknowledge some of the problems via a new Medicaid program designed to divert more mentally ill prisoners to treatment facilities. But Thomas' lawyers say more needs to be done.

Worshiping at the feet of multinationals

The brain trust at the Orlando Sentinel see things only in black and white: "Only South Florida Democrats Alcee Hastings and Robert Wexler voted against their state's and nation's economic interests." See what they are talking about here: "A way to boost economy".

Reagan appointee steps in

"U.S. District Court Judge [and Reagan appointee] Anne Conway issued an order Wednesday delaying his execution for the "relatively short time" it will take for the U.S. Supreme Court to consider questions about lethal injection -- an issue not likely to be resolved until next summer." The knuckle draggers are furious: "Not backing down, Florida officials quickly filed an appeal in hopes of carrying out the execution on schedule tonight at Florida State Prison in Starke." "Court halts execution of convicted child-killer Mark Schwab".

Allen

The Palm Beach Post editors miss the boat: "Florida has its own Larry Craig, a hypocritical politician guilty of a morals charge who wants to remain in office as much as his colleagues want him to quit. ... House rules allow the ultimate punishment for Rep. Allen, and it should come soon." "Not a man of the House". Do they really think anyone convicted of the lowest level misdemeanor ought to be expelled? Do they call for the expulsion of serial drunk drivers? The Orlando Sentinel has a more balanced take on this issue: "Be consistent", and of course so do we: "You go, Bob!"

Sink continues to raise her profile

"State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced Wednesday new financial initiatives that she says will help Florida financially prepare for the threat of climate change." "Democrat: Sink proposes climate initiatives".

"The results are all wrong"

Bill Cotterell: "Sometimes, the government does the right thing and the results are all wrong."

That's what happened last month when Circuit Judge Mark Hill in Tavares refused to quash a quirk in Florida election law that keeps tens of thousands of people from having any voice in our primaries. The Legislature could change it, but it won't, because both parties like cheating. Or, more precisely, they like having someone cheat for them.

The Florida Constitution was amended in 1998 to allow "open" primaries. That means, if only Democrats or only Republicans seek an office, everybody gets to vote in the primary for that office. That's because whoever wins the nomination will be the officeholder.

Ah, but there's a catch. After 64 percent of the people passed the constitutional amendment, the Division of Elections ruled that write-in candidates are real contenders - even when they're not. The division reasoned that any nonparty opposition is enough to close an otherwise open primary.

"Crist needed a reminder that he's governor of Florida"

Charlie apparetly has too much on his mind .. like being the VP nominee and all that. The Palm Beach Post editors think "Charlie Crist needed a reminder that he's governor of Florida"

After he agreed to a three-state deal to let Georgia keep more water for metro Atlanta residents, the governor changed his mind. He now opposes federal plans to cut the amount of water flowing from Georgia's Lake Lanier to Florida. The lake feeds the Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay, home of the Panhandle seafood industry.

His aides say Gov. Crist never went along with the idea of cutting Florida's share, only to holding more meetings to work out a plan for Florida, Georgia and Alabama to share Lake Lanier's water. That wasn't the understanding others had at the tri-state meeting, brokered by Bush administration officials to whom Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue had appealed.

It's GOPer fealty to developer interests (and campaign contributions), stupid

"Angry over what they see as years of uncontrolled growth, the neighborhood activists have stormed city halls in Sarasota and Venice in elections held over the last eight months. In the process, they have unseated five incumbents, all Republicans, while still maintaining a mantle of bipartisan support."

What irks the GOP chairman is the claim that these elections have nothing to do with political affiliation and everything to do with incumbents and their stands on growth issues.

The Sarasota and Venice elections resulted in Republicans losing control of and Democrats taking over the two city commissions.

Robinson says the group's impact is anything but nonpartisan.

"The casualties are all Republicans," he said.

"It's all about intimidation and trying to get their agenda in front and they'll use whatever means including trying to paint a guy trying to do a job as being a bad person if he doesn't agree," [Sarasota County Commissioner Paul] Mercier said.

Profiles in journalism

Little things like this are important for journalists to get right: Gary Fineout writes that Jebbie "once demanded that reporters be removed from the office of Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan after then Sen. Kendrick Meek and Rep. Tony Hill staged a sit-in to protest Bush's end of affirmative action. Bush was caught on camera saying 'kick their a---- out.'"

Surely Fineout knows that, by saying Jebbie's order to "kick their a---- out" referred to "reporters" is merely recycling Bushco spin. Here's what really happened when "Jeb!" was faced with

an impromptu sit-in by two African-American state legislators, state Sen. Kendrick Meek and Rep. Tony Hill, who in 2000 were protesting the implementation of Bush's One Florida plan repealing affirmative action in state contracting and higher education. Irritated by the legislators' refusal to leave his offices following a failed attempt at renegotiating the plan, Bush admonished staff -- within earshot of a television reporter -- to "throw their asses out." Bush's staff later tried to "convince" the reporter not to air the remarks, but they were splashed across the airwaves anyway, forcing the governor to backpedal into a cover story that he was actually referring to the media's asses, not the lawmakers'.

Saint Marco gets a twofer

In a golden opportunity to shift attention away from his gross incompetence in the special sessions, Rubio has seized the opportunity to remind everybody that the RPOF, while having no problem with drunks and DUI convicts, simply will not put up with fellow GOPers soliciting gay sex.

"Since he was convicted last week of misdemeanor sex solicitation in connection with a public men’s room arrest, the Merritt Island lawmaker has been under intense pressure from House Speaker Marco Rubio to resign."

Allen maintains his innocence and has vowed to appeal.

But the Florida House is a different world and operates under far different rules than the criminal justice system.

"If he doesn’t do the right thing and resign immediately, we’re prepared to begin the process to remove him from office," said House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach.

If Rubio is forced to appoint a committee to investigate Allen, tradition suggests the resolution could come quickly.

Sign here

"Charlie Crist on Tuesday signed into law a bill that would implement property tax cuts if voters approve a proposed state constitutional amendment that's on the Jan. 29 presidential primary ballot." "Crist signs property tax-cut implementing bill". See also "" and "".

Jenne

"Ex-Broward sheriff's wife begs for leniency in his sentencing".

Not gonna happen

Curt Kiser argues that the "State needs tax reform, not relief".

Count 'em all

The News-Journal editors: "For votes to count, they must be counted, and accurately. Americans expect tallies to be quick, as well."

It doesn't always work that way. Ongoing problems with electronic vote-counting machines have eroded voter confidence and raised anxiety about the potential for tampering. In an era when voter-participation levels are already low, it's a problem local, state and federal leaders should confront. . . .

Fortunately, Florida is moving toward a mandate that puts every vote cast on a paper ballot -- creating a permanent record that can't be altered by machine glitches or memory failures. Paper ballots can be counted quickly, using optical-scan machines that read the marks voters use to indicate their choices -- but they can also be easily audited, even counted by hand if necessary.

Other states should follow suit, pushing for the accuracy and accountability of paper ballots, as well as open disclosure of any voting-equipment problems. Voters deserve to know their votes will be counted. These measures are common-sense steps to provide that assurance.

Good luck

"Despite the state’s dire financial straits, a judge who heads a Supreme Court project aimed at getting mentally ill offenders out of Florida jails expressed optimism Tuesday that the Legislature will decide that treatment is cheaper and more effective in the long run." "Adviser: Don’t jail mentally ill".

Murdering murderers

"Judge rejects attempts to stop execution by lawyers for child-killer Mark Schwab".

Go eagles

"Their discovery underscores the feel-good story of the eagle's rebound, and it proves environmental efforts are gaining ground in the battle to remove nonnative trees from the refuge's natural habitat. Thanks, too, to the persistence in cleaning polluted storm water from the area, the eagles found a new food source in the nearby Stormwater Treatment Area's expansive swath of standing water." "Eagles' appearance in local preserve good news for environment".

Congratulations

It is refreshing to read about someone other than the usual logrolling swells receiving recognition: "The National Safety Council at a convention last month in Chicago recognized [Volusia County school bus driver Louise] Fink with the Joseph M. Kaplan Award for Florida. She was the only school bus driver to get the title in the commercial driver category." "Volusia school bus driver receives national award".

Gambling

"Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce a deal Wednesday with the Seminole Tribe of Florida allowing Las Vegas-style slot machines and card games at its Hard Rock casino in Hollywood and six other sites, in exchange for $100 million or more in annual cash. ... Under the pact, revenue sharing by the Seminoles with the state would grow each year, depending on the success of the games, but the tribe would guarantee a minimum of $100 million each year." "Seminole slots deal expected". See also "Governor needs time to do state's business".

Not if he wants the NRA vote ... when he runs for Gov

"If Attorney General Bill McCollum wants to develop a successful statewide anti-gang strategy, he should include Palm Beach County's successful anti-gun strategy." "To get at state's gangs, start getting their guns".

"Inmates jump the line"

"In the past year, two lawyers and two prison consultants shared nearly $1.2-million in fees for helping 371 inmates jump the line and get improper transfers, the investigation shows." "Inmate's call spawned transfer probe".

Anderson

"The parents of Martin Lee Anderson, the teen who died in a North Florida boot camp, flew to Washington on Tuesday for meetings with U.S. representatives and to meet with Justice Department officials who are conducting a civil rights investigation of the death." "Boot camp parents head to Congress".

Meanwhile, "Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum ... said his office will take no further civil or criminal action in the death of Martin Lee Anderson, but will help Anderson's family seek "the justice they deserve." "No state charges in Anderson case". See also "McCollum wants to help Anderson family".

Tancredo out

"Tom Tancredo, the Colorado politician who once compared Miami to 'a Third World country,' is the only Republican presidential candidate who will be absent from the Univisión Spanish-language debate in Coral Gables next month." "Outspoken congressman to miss debate in Spanish". More Tancredo: "Tancredo campaign ad sets off bomb".

Alligator attack

"Man killed by alligator attack while fleeing police".

Florida's booming economy

"With the state government facing a $2 billion shortfall in next year's budget, many analysts point to the state's slumping housing market as the primary reason for the economic decline and the drop-off in state tax collections. ... Randall Holcombe, a Florida State University economics professor, said a drop in the economy was almost inevitable following the combination of a national real estate boom and the dramatic retail bump following hurricanes in 2004 and 2005." And get this: "Oddly enough, hurricanes are pretty good for the fiscal health of the state,' [Holcombe] said. We had a lot of construction in the state.'" "Economists Unsure of Forida's Path".

Now, the first independent survey of that strategy indicates it's not working.

Fifty-three percent of registered voters said they support the tax package, seven points short of the 60 percent needed to pass a constitutional amendment.

"At 53 percent, basically you can't give it away," said pollster Thom Eldon.

Charlie hasn't "'really reached a total conclusion'"

"Crist won't say whether he intends to take sides in the race in the 12 weeks remaining before Florida's Jan. 29 primary. But it looks more and more like he won't. State politics - particularly the continuing struggle over property taxes - are getting in the way."

Although Giuliani leads in polls nationwide, Romney leads in the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan. South Carolina appears in polls to be a virtual three-way tie among Giuliani, Romney and Thompson.

That leaves only Florida on Jan. 29 to restore Giuliani's momentum and air of inevitability before the biggest day of the primary season, Feb. 5. On that day, when 22 states hold primaries, most experts expect both parties' nominations will be, in effect, decided.

"Florida is the slingshot state into Feb. 5," said former Gov. Bob Martinez, a Giuliani backer. "If Giuliani won Florida by the margins he's holding right now, it's a big story."

If Giuliani doesn't clinch the nomination on Feb. 5, it opens up the possibility of an indecisive primary season and a nomination decided at the convention - something that hasn't happened in either party in decades.

Crist hasn't ruled out picking a candidate to endorse in the primary. Some political allies continue to urge him to make an endorsement and get involved in the campaign; if he picked the eventual winner, he would reap big political IOUs.

If the measure fails, it would leave Crist vulnerable to accusations that he hasn't fulfilled his most important campaign promises to cut property tax and property insurance rates. He may want to preserve his political capital to get the tax measure passed, rather than spending it on a presidential candidate.

"Whether I will or will not - I haven't really reached a total conclusion," Crist said recently when asked again whether he'll endorse.

With all due respect ...

Which is worse? This: "Three of the top 10, highest-paid public university chief executives in the country work in Florida, according to a report released today by The Chronicle of Higher Education." Or this: "Still, none of the higher-paid presidents at public institutions made as much as the schools' head football coaches." "With pay reaching $726,000, 3 Fla. educators among highest paid in U.S.".

"Wrong way up"

"While frustrated, most Floridians don't appear to blame Gov. Charlie Crist. His popularity has slipped some, with 57 percent of those polled saying he is doing a good or excellent job. In May, a similar poll done for the St. Petersburg Times by the same companies showed about 62 percent of those polled gave Crist high marks." This, however, is remarkable:

pollster Thom Eldon noted that Crist's popularity should be much higher within his own party: Republicans gave him a 62 percent approval rating.

Slow going

"The commission now processes 6,000 cases annually compared with 1,000 cases before the rule went into effect. But despite its progress, a backlog of thousands of cases has hampered the process for some former felons. There are 298,000 former felons who are eligible for review, according to state prison system data. Combine that with the roughly 3,000 inmates released from Florida prisons every month, commission officials can't keep up." "For ex-felons, fight for rights drags on".

Welcome to Florida

"Giant toads pose danger to dogs, cats".

"Somewhere between dismal and forget it"

Bill Cotterell observes that

if this year's "bonus" was small, the outlook for next year is somewhere between dismal and forget it. The Revenue Estimating Conference will meet this week to advise House and Senate appropriations managers on how the state's various financial sources are performing for the budget they will be building in the 2008 session.

Last week, we got a glimmer of how bleak the numbers are likely to be. The Office of Economic and Demographic Research had done a dour forecast on Aug. 1, but collections for August and September were running $93.5 million below even those deliberately pessimistic projections.

Sales-tax collections, the mainstay of the treasury, were off by nearly $40 million in each of those months. Amy Baker, coordinator of the EDR office, said the earliest arrival date for any significant economic recovery is now pushed back into 2009.

During last month's budget-cutting session, when lawmakers trimmed $1.1 billion from this year's state spending, state Rep. Frank Attkisson, R-St. Cloud, specifically mentioned that state employees ought to be worried about their jobs when the regular session rolls around next year.

Stop the presses!

I don't mean to go overboard on this, but the Sun-Sentinel editors blew me away with this editorial today: "A strike by Hollywood writers is being noticed, largely because a few of America's late-night television programs are having to plug in re-runs to fill air time."

In the process, Americans are learning a truth masked by the million-dollar contracts handed to big-name stars. Namely, that the thoughts, personalities and voices behind the characters on their favorite shows, or the funny lines in monologues by popular late night TV hosts, aren't necessarily written by the stars. They're just uttered by them.

The real brains and genius is often provided by a largely anonymous corps of writers. Their strike demands sound reasonable, but the most important result from the strike could be the attention they've gotten

In the process, Americans are learning a truth masked by the million-dollar contracts handed to big-name stars newpaper owners.

The real brains and genius is often provided by a largely anonymous corps of writers copy editors and writers. Their strike demands sound reasonable, but the most important result from the strike could be the attention they've gotten

"Top-to-bottom review"

"Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, worried about the effect of the subprime loan market's collapse on the Florida treasury, has ordered a top-to-bottom review of the state's investments, including the $138 billion pension fund and billions more invested for pre-paid college and disaster recovery." "State probes security for tax dollars". See also "Sink takes stock of investments".

"A better grip"

The Tampa Trib editors: "Requiring supermajority approval rather than a simple majority is an ideal way to discourage willy-nilly land-use changes requested by landowners and developers. It's much more sensible than putting all land-use amendments to a public vote, as proposed by the Florida Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment." "A Super Way To Get A Better Grip On How Counties And Cities Grow".

One doubts Rudy is thinking "Game over man!"

"Mitt Romney is outpacing other presidential contenders in fundraising in the Panhandle, pulling in nearly three times as much as Sen. Hillary Clinton and 14 times the amount raised by Sen. John McCain." "News-Herald: Romney top fundraiser in Panhandle". Remember, "they mostly come at night ... mostly": "Game over man! Game over!"

A new St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll shows America's biggest battleground state is up for grabs by either Republicans or Democrats, and that neither of the front-runners for their party nominations, Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Rodham Clinton, has Florida locked up yet.

"Florida is poised to be both a bellwether and maybe even a shocker and a bit of a surprise for presidential politics in 2008," said pollster Kellyanne Conway.

Former New York Mayor Giuliani beat Clinton by 5 percentage points among the 800 registered voters surveyed Nov. 4-7, and Arizona Sen. John McCain was neck-and-neck with Clinton in head-to-head matchups. But independent voters, strongly disenchanted with the Iraq war, President Bush and the direction of the country, make Florida's 27 electoral votes ripe for Democrats to pluck.

Florida Democrats overwhelmingly favor Clinton, who had 48 percent support compared to 24 percent for Barack Obama. Eight percent favored former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. Clinton's strongest area was Tampa Bay, where she had 60 percent support among Democrats but still lagged Giuliani and McCain in Tampa Bay.

Among Republican voters, former Tennessee Sen. and Law & Order star Fred Thompson is proving to be nowhere near the force many had expected when he entered the race in September.

Touch screens

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Sen. Nelson's bill goes further than a House bill that would allow touch screens if accompanied by printers to deliver a paper trail. Sen. Nelson distrusts printers, which can jam without voters noticing, rendering the paper record unreliable. OK, but couldn't that problem be dealt with by innovation, not an outright ban?" "Nelson heavy-handed with touch-screen ban".

"Cautionary tale of power politics"

Adam Smith: "The property tax amendment on the Jan. 29 ballot was hastily assembled out of spare parts and leftovers by a Legislature short of time. It's a cautionary tale of power politics. The result is a plan that provides meager savings to the average homeowner and exposes the state to a lawsuit." "The accidental amendment".

Florida Forever

The St Petersburg Times editors: "Florida's visionary plan to keep its natural treasures out of the hands of developers is running low on money and set to expire in 2010. Any lawmaker who won't renew it is asking to be replaced."

The push to renew Florida Forever is falling on such deaf ears in the Legislature that seven different planning and environmental organizations have formed a steering committee to push for a constitutional amendment. They are even approaching members of the independent Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which has the authority to place amendments on the 2008 ballot.

Dubya's dead enders

"Just 33 percent of the state's registered voters rated Bush's job performance 'excellent' or 'good,' and 50 percent called his handling of the situation in Iraq 'poor,' according to the poll conducted for The Miami Herald, the Palm Beach Post, the St. Petersburg Times and Bay News 9. The survey has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points." "Bush approval hits all-time low in Florida".

Property tax fight

"Voters have less than three months to decide whether to approve the biggest change to the property tax system in 15 years. They face a four-part ballot proposal in January that promises tax breaks for homeowners, businesses and people who own second homes in Florida. It would:"

# Make the savings from the "Save Our Homes" tax cap portable. The new proposal would allow homestead owners to apply up to $500,000 of the sheltered amount to a new home if they move.

# Double the $25,000 homestead exemption for homes worth at least $75,000. One caveat: The extra exemption does not apply to school taxes.

# Give nonhomestead property its own Save-Our-Homes-style break, with a 10 percent cap on annual increases in assessed values.

# For businesses, exempt the first $25,000 of the value of equipment.

How voters decide in January probably will depend on what kind of property they own and their willingness to cut the $631 million in taxes Brevard County governments collect to help pay for police, roads, libraries and other public services.

North versus South

"Florida's 6-cent sales tax is the lifeblood of the state budget, producing more than $20 billion a year for lawmakers to spend on everything, including schools, prisons and healthcare for the poor. Nearly 12 percent of all state sales-tax collections during the fiscal year that ended June 30 came from Miami-Dade. That news doesn't surprise some South Florida politicians, who have argued for years that Miami-Dade doesn't get its fair share of money spent by state government. North Florida politicians traditionally have accused South Florida of getting too much state money." "Miami-Dade helping bail out state".

More Jebacies biting the dust

"In case anybody needs more proof that Jeb Bush has left the Capitol building, Democrats and Republicans look ready to join hands and overhaul a pair of education issues long identified with the former Republican governor. Both the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and the class-size amendment look poised for big changes next year." "Bipartisanship shows on education issues".

"Ruthless, but effective"

Tom Nickens: "Business groups fear the [Florida Hometown Democracy] amendment will get the required 60 percent approval if it makes it on the ballot. So they have formed their own organizations to fight back under misleading names such as Floridians for Smarter Growth and Save Our Constitution. While most Floridians have something else on their minds (like property taxes and homeowners insurance), the combat over the Hometown amendment is raging."

Business groups fear the amendment will get the required 60 percent approval if it makes it on the ballot. So they have formed their own organizations to fight back under misleading names such as Floridians for Smarter Growth and Save Our Constitution. While most Floridians have something else on their minds (like property taxes and homeowners insurance), the combat over the Hometown amendment is raging.

Here's just one snapshot: [executive vice president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Mark] Wilson said Floridians for Smarter Growth recently reviewed Hometown Democracy's public expense reports and identified Hometown's top 60 paid petition gatherers, who were being paid $1.10 per signature. Floridians for Smarter Growth invited those 60 to a meeting and offered $3.02 per signature for its competing amendment.

You can guess what happened. The business group lured away 40 of those 60 signature gatherers. And Wilson said he has issued standing orders to always pay 50 cents more per signature than Hometown Democracy. Yet it's clear he's far more interested in blocking the amendment he opposes than getting his own on the ballot.

Ruthless, but effective.

Charter schools

The Miami Herald editors: "The Florida Constitution gives local school boards oversight responsibility for all public schools in their districts. The Florida Legislature, in a 2006 law, gave some of that responsibility to a state agency in Tallahassee. Is this a conflict? It certainly seems so from our vantage point. The Florida School Boards Association thinks so, too. So it has asked members to sue the state to clear up the matter. This is a good idea. All South Florida school districts should join the lawsuit." "New law boosts charter schools".

Wingnuts in a dither

"Rudy Giuliani probably will benefit most from the smorgasbord of conflicting presidential endorsements this week by social and religious conservatives, according to a handful of political insiders in the Florida conservative movement. The reason they gave: The endorsements show that the social and religious conservatives haven't found a compatible candidate to unify behind. That means there will be no unified, conservative opposition to Giuliani in the Republican primary race." "GOP Endorsements Likely To Benefit Giuliani Most".

Will the Disney execs ask before pouring cash into Rudy's campaign?

Hiaasen channels Robertson

Nor will you catch me cavorting at Disney World, either. As I've stated before, God intends to smite the theme park with ''earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor'' for opening its doors to gay customers. ...

Does Rudy Giuliani share these views? He hasn't said, and I haven't asked.