Garbage in ...

"Now that he's term-limited out of office, Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio has found a new part-time job."

Rubio will get $69,000 during the next nine months to teach one class per semester at Florida International University in Miami, officials announced Thursday.

FIU is still reeling from budget cuts that are forcing layoffs and program eliminations. School officials say half of Rubio's pay will come from private sources.

"Faculty and staff at other universities facing spending cuts were quick to criticize the hiring of state Sens. Mike Haridopolos at the University of Florida and Evelyn Lynn at Florida State University."

Haridopolos, R- Melbourne, the presumptive Senate president in 2010-11, is paid $75,000 a year to teach a history course in the fall and run an intern program. Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, announced she would finish her $2,300-a-week contract for free after it was disclosed she helped create and fund the $1million program FSU hired her to run.

"House Speaker Marco Rubio lands teaching job at FIU".




"Scammers"

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "Florida's reputation as a haven for real-estate scammers is long established."

By rights, this state should have the toughest, savviest regulation in the country -- officials have seen it all. Yet Florida leads the nation in mortgage fraud, helped in part by a system of negligent regulation that puts the fiscal future of too many residents in the hands of known criminals.

"State stood by while mortgage fraud grew". More: "State regulator defends role in mortgage mess".




That would be a "no"

"First District Court of Appeal Judge Clay Roberts, who was the top legal adviser to then-Secretary of State Katherine Harris, is among the applicants along with two judges who ruled in recount cases and a member of President Bush's legal team."

Other hacks with the entitlement bug include "former GOP legislators, Dudley Goodlette, who most recently was legal adviser to the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, and Charles Canady, a former congressman and current state appellate judge." "50 candidates seek 2 Fla. Supreme Court openings".




Hike

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "On its face, State Farm's request to increase rates for hurricane coverage by an average of 47 percent statewide is outrageous and unjustified. If so, it should be rejected. But if the company has based its application on a state-approved formula and solid numbers that don't export profits to its parent company, the implications are ominous after two storm-free years." "Big Insurer's Bid To Up Rates Scary Blow After Two Calm Years".




"What's left is voter mistrust"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Take a good decision - bringing The Scripps Research Institute to Palm Beach County - and contaminate it with hidden agendas, bad decisions and ham-handed politics. Add budget cuts ordered by state legislators and voters. What's left is voter mistrust. In some cases, it's justified." "Budgets can stay sound if politics stays sound".




Wexler

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Even if U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler has been open about where he lives, including commenting on it in his book, his home residency status comes off as an arrogant ruse to evade congressional state residency rules. Maybe that's not his intention, and maybe it's perfectly acceptable, but it nonetheless comes across as deception, nonetheless." "Wexler's official residency should be investigated".




"$308 million computer system"

"The state of Florida has sent out emergency payments to 5,600 Medicaid providers that haven't been reimbursed in a month because of a computer glitch. Holly Benson of the state Agency for Health Care Administration said Friday that about $48 million in emergency payments have been sent. The problem was a glitch in the agency's new $308 million computer system that would not allow care providers to properly file claims." "Computer glitch delays money to Medicaid providers".




Whatever

"ADA hailed 'great act of justice' for civil rights".




Out here in the fields

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Florida Tomato Growers Due Amends".




"Deeply troubling">

"To have one-third of the 120 seats on this year's ballot decided without a vote is a deeply troubling sign. But it's nothing new. It was this way long before term limits kicked in eight years ago." "It's troubling when a third of 120 seats go uncontested".




"Commanding lead"

"Obama, who struggled to attract Hispanic voters in the Democratic primary, now has a commanding lead with the group, a study released Thursday found." "Obama tops among 66% of Latinos, study finds".




"Most people have begun to see through the scheme"

"Crist is the one who signed off on this ever-maddening Department of Transportation quest to turn over public roads to private companies. He holds out hope, apparently, that the companies will shower his depleted budget with cash in such a way that he can deny their investment will be repaid by sky-high tolls."

Most people have begun to see through the scheme at this point, though, which may explain why resident and consumer groups and the county governments on both ends of the Alley have formally opposed the lease. Now that the DOT has received statements of interest from six different suitors, it is also clear that South Florida motorists could someday be entering a global marketplace.

Each of the six teams includes foreign companies — from Spain, Portugal, France, Brazil. One, from Italy, is made up only of foreign investors. Their interest merely underscores the inexplicable politics of outsourcing a publicly owned road.

"Bad idea on roads gets more absurd".




Imagine that

"Candidates' ads shun the use of 're-elect'".




More Max

"The site, www.mustchangecongress.org, implores viewers to join a national movement to oust Republican incumbents, but the fine print reveals that donations go to Linn's campaign alone. It floods visitors with videos, pictures and quotes from Sen. Barack Obama but doesn't mention that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has not endorsed Linn." "Linn's Web site draws scrutiny".




Another fine Dem

"Florida trial lawyers are targeting Orlando state Sen. Gary Siplin with a leaflet mailed to voters accusing him of favoring insurers and telephone companies over consumers. But a national school-voucher group with nearly $1million in its Florida political war chest also is weighing in — praising the incumbent Democrat for his support of taxpayer-funded school-voucher programs." "Mailers duel over state Sen. Gary Siplin's voting record".




Voodoo

"Voodoo-doll brouhaha prompts extra security for Deltona leaders".