Florida and the nominating mess

Adam Smith writes that "some Florida Democratic party activists have begun talking about holding statewide caucuses, essentially another election day, to elect delegates to the convention in compliance with the DNC. But Thurman and Nelson dismiss that idea, saying it could cost millions of dollars. Besides, they note, more than 1.7-million Florida Democrats already expressed their presidential preference on Jan. 29." "Florida may yet decide this race". See also ""Democrats push to hold presidential caucuses in Florida.

The Palm Beach Post editorial board suggests "A Florida compromise": "Here's an idea that could address the question of fairness: Florida Democrats once considered getting around the early primary ban by treating the Jan. 29 primary as a beauty contest, and then allotting delegates during caucuses to be held later. That rejected proposal actually makes more sense now that Florida lost its delegates and the nomination is undecided."

However, "Florida Democrats say they have no plans to take a second swipe at holding a presidential selection process so that delegates from the state might be seated at the party's convention." "Florida Dems Reject Caucus".

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Our position: Obama should join Clinton in pledging to count Florida primary vote". See also "Florida Democrats rue losing clout as possible king maker in tight race".

Jac Wilder VerSteeg explains how "Obama graciously could concede the phantom Michigan and Florida delegates to Sen. Clinton and still end up with more delegates." "Nominating process weird? Let us recount the ways".

"Most of the state's 22 Democratic superdelegates -- members of Congress or members of the Democratic National Committee -- have not committed to a presidential candidate. Superdelegates can support whomever they like, regardless of how their state voted." The uncommitted superdelegates are:

U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, Boca Raton
U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, Palm Beach Gardens
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, Tampa
U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, Monticello
Mitch Ceasar, Plantation
Diane Glasser, Tamarac
Karen Thurman, Tallahassee
Jon Ausman, Tallahassee
Andy Tobias, Tallahassee
Janee Murphy Tampa
Rudy Parker, Perry
Terrie Brady, Jacksonville

"Hillary Clinton supporters:"

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson
U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, Miami
U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, Miramar
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Weston
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, Jacksonville
Raul Martinez, Hialeah
Chuck Mohlke, Naples

"Barack Obama supporters:"

U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler
State Rep. Joyce Cusack, DeLand
Allan Katz, Tallahassee

"Florida's Superdelegates". See generally "Clinton-Obama squeaker puts attention on 'super delegates'".




"Calculate The Blorp Snort"

Daniel Ruth: "This week, a pinstripe of suits from Allstate and Nationwide Insurance testified before the oxymoronically titled Senate Select Committee on Property Insurance Accountability to explain why efforts to drive down home insurance rates, including putting the state on the hook for an additional $12 billion in reinsurance coverage, were having less effect than trying to get Charles Manson to cheer up." "In Insurance Talks, Beware The Jabberwock".




Stop the presses!

"A legislative initiative to bring more accountability to charter schools gained momentum Wednesday with a Senate education committee's unanimous support for a charter-reform bill. The measure would, in some ways, bring the publicly funded schools more in line with regular public schools." "Florida may rein in charter schools".




CD 13

"Touch-screen voting machines likely performed properly and were not to blame for the large number of undervotes in the District 13 congressional election in 2006, federal investigators said in a draft report obtained by the Associated Press Wednesday." "Report: Machines didn't cause undervote in District 13 election". See also "Audit Clears Voting Machines", "Voting machines tested, cleared in 2006 election" and "Machines cleared in 2006 vote flap".




Evolution

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Florida cannot afford to deny school children the chance to acquire a clear understanding of evolution, which is the basis of modern biological science. Evolution is not politics, and it is not religion. It's just science. It belongs in the classroom, not in the Legislature." "Don't monkey around with evolution".




Florida's booming economy

"The state's housing bust is fueling a liquidation sale of construction equipment, the likes of which the world has never seen. Buyers from as far away as the Middle East are coming to Central Florida on Feb. 19 to feed on the scraps of our construction boom." "State's housing pain has become everyone else's gain".




"Grow houses"

"Hoping to take some of the profit out of indoor marijuana farming, a House committee approved a Lee County legislator's plan to toughen prison penalties for operators of 'grow houses' Wednesday." "Bill goes after marijuana 'grow houses'".




Punishment

"Proposed law would end lax punishments that for years have allowed Florida teachers who abuse students to keep their jobs." "Florida to rewrite abusive-teacher rules".

"Any public officials or employees, not just teachers, would lose their state pensions if convicted of raping or molesting children under an education ethics bill introduced Wednesday by a Senate committee." "All public employees could lose pension under teacher ethics bill".




Tuition

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "College tuition increases are unpopular, especially at a time of economic anxiety across Florida. "

But the state's university system makes a good case for an 8 percent increase in the next academic year.

Florida's public universities suffered a stinging $90 million cut in funding from Tallahassee in September. They are braced for another huge cut to complete the academic year, and expect another reduction for 2008-2009.


"College tuition hikes painful but necessary to keep Florida competitive".




"Lawmakers take aim at assault weapons"

"Backed by police representatives, two South Florida legislators called for longer prison sentences and stiff fines Wednesday for using 'assault' weapons in crimes." "Lawmakers' bill proposes expanding '10-20-Life' law".