Attorneys for the Florida Department of State say county election supervisors can eject outside observers from central computer rooms as they receive and add precinct results.

Their ruling hinges on where votes are actually counted, a process that state law requires be open to observers. They contend that "tabulation" occurs at individual precincts and that computers in the central room are merely "accumulating" those results.

Florida law allows political parties to designate tech-savvy observers who can watch votes being "tabulated." However, another 2001 law requires that votes be tabulated at the precincts where they are cast.

Those totals are then sent to the central computing room, usually by phone line."In the situation of a modem transfer, no "counting" of the votes occurs, but merely a tabulation of ballots already counted at the precincts," interim Elections Director Sarah Jane Bradshaw's four-page opinion informed Dent.

"I think when you look at splitting the hairs, the difference between tabulation and accumulation, if you look, the Legislature was very clear in 2001 that they wanted the tabulation at the precinct level," Browning said. "There's no tabulation of precinct results; there is an accumulation of precinct votes, and I stand by that opinion."

"Legislators brag, university system suffers"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board writes that our "legislators and the governor still want to call the shots, saying they want low tuition, high quality and access for all -- good goals if they were willing to pay for them, which they are not."

Florida is dead last among states in tuition and fees for its universities: $3,361 compared to a national average of $6,185. It is dead last in the ratio of students to faculty: 31 students to instructor, compared to a national average of 25-1.

Puh-leez pass me a ballot

"Several Leon County polling places ran out of ballots Tuesday, causing headaches for voters." "Some precincts ran out of paper ballots Tuesday".

"Clogged toilets"

The Sun Sentinel's Douglas C. Lyons: "Charlie Crist, the people's governor and Amendment 1's cheerleader in chief, says his new budget will protect public schools from the amendment's budgetary fallout. But where's the governor getting the money to protect the schools? That's the big unanswered question. Will uncut lawns and clogged toilets join all those portables as the icons of a public school education?" "Tax cuts pass; now brace for service cuts".

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "City and county leaders have taken plenty of unwarranted and unfair political attacks from a Legislature that morphed tax inequity into a crusade against local taxes. But those same local leaders need to do some soul-searching of their own. Their best defense with voters is a clearly stated, publicly scrutinized annual budget whose spending goals enjoy broad community support. If voters embrace and understand the way their local government spends taxes, they won't be so eager to cut them." "Amendment 1 will force governments to deal with revenue cuts".

Gay bashing on the ballot

"A citizen initiative to ban gay marriage will be on the November ballot, the only one of more than 50 active petition drives that qualified Friday at the deadline for signature verification."

Hometown Democracy, which would have required voter approval of local growth plan changes, was the only other proposal that appeared to have a chance before the 5 p.m. deadline, but it missed the mark.

Officials, though, ran out of time before they could process all signatures due to a deluge of petitions submitted in the past month and the diversion of county election workers to preparing for and carrying out Tuesday's presidential primary election.

It couldn't immediately be determined if there were enough unprocessed signatures to have placed Hometown Democracy on the ballot.

Isn't that a private school?

"The University of Miami received $80 million in a state grant to expand its nascent genetic research institute, Gov. Charlie Crist announced Friday in South Florida's latest move to expand its biotech research hub." "Crist announces $80 million investment in UM genetic institute".

Pruitt sees the light

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Ken Pruitt, the leader of the Florida Senate, says compensation for the wrongfully convicted is one of his top priorities this year. It's about time. Alan Crotzer, who spent 24 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit, deserves recompense. Yet a year ago Pruitt prevented Crotzer from receiving $1.25 million offered by the state House of Representatives." "Innocent Inmates Deserve Compensation".

Big sugar

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Most lawmakers from sugar-producing states, including Florida, have been all too eager to do the industry's bidding. We're still waiting for Florida's two senators, Republican Mel Martinez and Democrat Bill Nelson, to stand up to Big Sugar." "Our position: Ever-expanding handouts for Big Sugar can't be justified".

Ruth on voting

Ruth: "You go to the polls, select what public trough-feeder you prefer, and that is pretty much that." "Take A Pencil And Fill In The Circle".

Posey's big plans get a boost

"State Sen. Mike Haridopolos of Indialantic has decided not to run for Congress and instead will endorse fellow Republican state Sen. Bill Posey of Rockledge." "Haridopolos passes on run for Congress".

DCF

"A spokesman for the Department of Children & Families was arrested Friday on child pornography charges and officials believe at least one of the child victims has been or is in state custody." "DCF spokesman arrested on child porn charges". See also "DCF worker arrested on charges of sex with teens".

Not so "independent"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "There were problems during Tuesday's elections that left confused voters angry they weren't allowed to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries."

A lot of folks registered with no party affiliation, which means they weren't allowed to vote in partisan elections because Florida has what's called a "closed" primary. That means Democrats can vote for only Democrats and Republicans can vote for only Republicans, and everyone else can vote only in non-partisan races -- such as city-council races -- and on issues such as the Amendment 1 property-tax cut that was on the ballot Tuesday.

A lot of voters register at the Division of Motor Vehicles when they get their drivers licenses. It's a simple process, and since Florida started doing it 13 years ago, more and more people have registered without party affiliation -- so-called independent voters.

DMV employees ought to do a better job explaining Florida's rules to people when they register. ... Yes, these employees have to be careful. The law prohibits them from steering registrants to one party or another, but they ought to be able to clearly explain that if someone registers as an independent, that person can't vote in party primaries.

Florida cash flow

"The year-end accounting of presidential campaign finances shows Florida donors were unbothered by a campaign boycott and oblivious to the momentum about to roll from other states." "Democratic boycott mattered little to donors". See also "S. Florida donors fill presidential candidates' coffers" and "Dems' donors open pockets".

But see: "The backlash over the national Democratic Party's shutout of Florida appears to have deflated donors' willingness to pony up campaign cash, resulting in a decline in contributions for the Democratic presidential contenders in the most recent quarter." "Democratic fundraising sags in Florida".

'Ya think?

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Florida Must Face Reality That Prolonged Foster Care Hurts Kids".

Gambling

Steve Bousquet: "With Florida mired in a deep economic slump that shows no signs of ending, Crist could be leading a much-needed dialogue about Florida's tax structure."

Instead, he has decided to increase the state's addiction to gambling - despite promising not to do so in his 2006 campaign.

Crist proved again this week, with the solid victories by John McCain and the property tax cutting Amendment 1, that he has great political instincts.

But gambling is another story, and embracing it is a sure sign of desperation.

The spending blueprint Crist is sending to the Legislature is propped up with $405-million in new money from various forms of gambling. But most of the new money, $248-million, comes from what Crist calls "enhancements" to the Florida Lottery. These include instant-ticket lottery vending machines in high-traffic areas - low-income neighborhoods where desperate people try to bet their way out of poverty; a new $30 scratchoff ticket, and two-a-day Cash 3 and Play 4 drawings.

Crist promised as a candidate in 2006 that he would not expand gambling, and on a plane trip on Oct. 18, 2006, said he would not rely on gambling money to pay the state's bills.

A bigger-than-ever Florida Lottery will benefit not just Crist's budget, but also GTECH, the gaming giant that holds the exclusive contract to design and run online lottery games. GTECH's lobbyist just happens to be Crist's good friend Brian Ballard. GTECH has given $152,000 to the Republican Party since 1996. ...

Taxpayer, beware: You'll hear a lot about how all this gambling revenue will "enhance" education - scratch- off lottery tickets helping to pay Junior's teacher.

Speaking of education, there's another ticking time bomb in Crist's budget - one that taxpayers can't possibly stomach.

The same governor who has been calling for property tax relief for a year would squeeze $338-million more property taxes from taxpayers next year for public schools so they aren't affected by the tax amendment he championed.

Can't we avoid that with a few thousand more slot machines?

As Herbert Hoover put it: "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage"

Dara Kam: "Crist isn't merely a politician who has spent his entire adult life trying to win votes — he is a brand. Some critics and even admirers snicker at 'the people's governor' moniker that Crist has used so often it has become his trademark. But it works with voters, and it worked exceptionally well for Crist during the election Tuesday." "Victories bolster Crist as political heavyweight".

"Oops! We did it again"

Elisa Cramer: "'Ethnic voting is a sorry reality of American politics,' state Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, the House minority leader, said this week."

What would this campaign - this country - look like if, instead of exploiting ethnic and racial frictions, candidates acknowledged and discussed them, paying close attention to the history that helped shape them and furthering the progress that is helping to ease them?

Such self-propelled divisive politics should worry Democrats. "We're getting close to the point," said Rep. Gelber, "where we're creating a divide in our own party. I fear we're going to end up with an 'Oops! We did it again' moment, where we find a way to create divisions in our own party and end up losing the election."

Obama

"Barack Obama's campaign ditched its familiar Motown tunes this week, warming up California crowds with Ricky Martin's bilingual soccer anthem, 'The Cup of Life.' Obama also hosted a 'Latino Town Hall' in Los Angeles, said he should learn Spanish, and dispatched his top surrogate, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, to Hispanic centers in New Mexico." "Obama scrambles for Hispanic votes".

The proposal to the Legislature for the next budget year, which begins July 1, is $869 million below current spending even after the Legislature slashed it by $1.1 billion in October due to declining tax revenues.

What Crist calls "The People's Budget," includes spending cuts for most state agencies, but it would allocate more money for children's health insurance, energy diversity programs and 1,331 new full-time state jobs - most of them to staff new prisons. [a/k/a "The (Incarcerated) People's Budget"].

To balance the budget, Crist wants to tap $1.1 billion from the state's reserves, including unspent money from trust funds normally earmarked for specified purposes, and he has proposed increasing fines on overweight trucks to bring in an estimated $34 million.

"A national elections laughingstock"

The Palm beach Post editors: "Palm Beach County retained its status as a national elections laughingstock with another glitch-stalled release Tuesday of accurate voting results."

Supervisor of Elections Arthur Anderson, missing his own irony, boasted: "This office performed in our standard fashion."

Congressional fights heating up

"Central Florida will have some of the nation's most competitive congressional races this fall, and at least one of the challengers has begun an aggressive fundraising drive, according to Federal Election Commission reports due Thursday."

Democratic former state Rep. Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach raised $363,000 -- twice as much as Rep. Tom Feeney of Oviedo, the three-term Republican she'd like to unseat. And that's one of what could be three hot races in Central Florida.

Candidates from both parties are lining up to run against five-term Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando. And Indialantic Republican Rep. Dave Weldon's decision last week not to run again for his Space Coast seat has set off a scramble of potential candidates.

"The I-4 corridor is going to be seeing plenty of action," said David Wasserman, who studies House races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Fundraising will be especially key this year, he said. "The question is whether candidates with relatively little name recognition can break through the cacophony of the presidential race."

The figure includes $206,153 raised in the last three months of 2007, and fundraiser Carlos Curbelo said the campaign is satisfied with its pace.

''We'll raise whatever money is necessary to make sure our message gets out,'' Curbelo said.

The Miami Republican faces a spirited challenge from former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, a Democrat who entered the race last week and has not yet filed any fundraising reports.

Martinez's campaign sent out a fundraising e-mail appeal this week and on Thursday mocked Díaz-Balart's figure as anemic.

"Looking for uninsured people"? It won't take a Sherlock Holmes

"Health or social workers would visit some of the state's poorest neighborhoods looking for uninsured people to help them get medical attention or get enrolled in government health care programs under a plan proposed Thursday by Gov. Charlie Crist." "Crist proposes outreach health program for poor uninsured".

Hearting Charlie

This "eternal optimism and populist bent" stuff is getting tiresome: "Crist rolled out a $70 billion budget recommendation today that reflects his eternal optimism and populist bent as much as it does his penchant for risk." "Crist unveils new $70B state budget". The "Governor Sunshine" stuff is likewise getting boring, especially since:

In the face of a serious economic downturn tied to Florida's slumping housing market, he has a big mountain to climb to make good on several promises:

# That education would be held harmless if Amendment 1 passed.

# That its approval would not significantly affect the quality of services funded by local property taxes.

# That passage would be only the beginning of more tax relief.

Insurance fight

"An appeals court again rejected the state's attempt to immediately stop Allstate insurance companies from writing new policies in Florida, providing a timeline for regulators to submit paperwork supporting their decision to suspend the insurance giant's licenses." "Court: Allstate can still write policies in Florida, for now". See also "Court upholds Allstate ruling", "Florida probes Countrywide's mortgage handling" and "Fla. latest state to put Countrywide's lending under microscope".

"Pathology of misery"

"Florida's foster care system often resembles a tax-financed carousel that perpetuates the pathology of misery it is supposed to break." "Fix foster care system".

Out here in the fields

"Burger King said net income for the quarter rose to $49 million, or 36 cents per share, from $38 million, or 28 cents per share in a year earlier." Meanwhile, "Burger King has faced pressure from a coalition of farm workers, which asked the chain and its suppliers to increase wages for tomato pickers by a penny per pound. Burger King and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange have refused the deal, which McDonald's and Yum Brands Inc. have accepted." "Burger King 2nd-quarter profit rises 29 percent on Whopper sales".

The word "pigs" comes to mind.

Will we see "fundamental, even revolutionary reductions"?

Troxler: "The people of Florida spoke clearly Tuesday when they passed Amendment 1 to cut property taxes, especially on their homes."

The chance for a tax cut - any cut - outweighed the claims that it was too much or too little, or that voters should have held out for a better deal.

The question now is what happens next. Will Florida's political leaders think this is enough? Or will they follow through with more?

There are two possibilities.

The first is for the state to raise taxes elsewhere, such as by closing loopholes in Florida's sales tax, and "swapping" that money for property taxes.

The second is to make fundamental, even revolutionary reductions to the scope of local government in Florida, far beyond the nips, tucks, parade cancellations and layoffs that have sufficed so far.

Civics

"Crist joined two legendary figures in Florida politics Thursday to announce a new initiative to encourage civics education." "Crist, Graham team up to prevent 'civics illiterates'".

Day care

"For many Florida parents, staying home with their children constitutes a luxury they can't afford. But many low-income working families find child care barely affordable, as well. So parents find their own solutions. Across the state, tens of thousands of parents leave their children in licensed, registered, inspected day care centers. But tens of thousands more opt for church-run centers, which have their own oversight mechanisms but aren't inspected by the state -- or family child-care homes, many of which aren't licensed or inspected by anyone." "Standards for safety".

Basking in the star power of a popular governor, Republican faithful spent Wednesday giving Charlie Crist the credit for Amendment 1's surprise victory.

Others wondered where the polls went astray.

Critics are quick to point out that history isn't exactly littered with voters turning down lower tax bills, particularly a measure that would slash $9.3 billion over the next five years and give the average homeowner a $240 annual windfall.

"Is there another time when we've put out that bait and the people haven't taken it?" Sandy D'Alemberte, a former lawmaker, Florida State University president and former president of the American Bar Association, said dismissively.

It is of small consolation that the voters in Leon County defeated Amendment 1 by a 2-to-1 margin while statewide it was supported by 64 percent on Tuesday.

Exceeding the 60-percent support required for passage, voters defied the polls that indicated the amendment wouldn't pass — that said voters wouldn't risk trading small property-tax reductions for some homeowners for cuts in an array of local-government services.

No doubt the economic concerns that set off alarms on Wall Street and among investors and savers during the week before Election Day sent many Florida voters running for cover. Better to say "yes" to whatever modest tax cut might possibly trickle down to them than look to the greater good.

"Other issues"?

"A day after Floridians voted to lower their property taxes, several members of a constitutional commission said they now want to shift the focus to making those taxes fairer. Taxation and Budget Commission Chairman Allen Bense, though, said Wednesday that he thought the panel should concentrate, instead, on other issues." "Property tax issue shifts to commission after voters OK relief". See also "Taxation panel divided over next step on property taxes".

We know what these "other issues" are, don't we: "It's the tax commission, not the Jeb commission".

Primary News

"To hear Mitt Romney tell it, Florida didn't anoint John McCain. It merely narrowed a scrambled Republican field to a two-man race." "Presidential field thins as Florida alters race".

"Latino voters swung behind Sens. Hillary Clinton and John McCain, handing them wins in the Florida primary, analysts said Wednesday, while blacks overwhelmingly voted for Sen. Barack Obama."

Florida's black Democrats voted for Obama 3-to-1, according to reports by The Associated Press, exceeding predictions by pre-election polls and continuing the support that black voters gave him in South Carolina.

But his lackluster performance among non-blacks — he had 33 percent of the Democratic vote overall — baffled Barbara Cheives, a diversity consultant in West Palm Beach who has donated money to Obama's campaign.

It was bad enough Florida Democrats got dissed by the national committee, which essentially said Florida's primary vote is meaningless because the state party abided by a decision to hold an early primary.

Now add to that the spectacle of Hillary Clinton hypocritically trying to use Florida to her advantage moments after the polls closed Tuesday evening. ...

Again, you can take issue with the DNC's tactics. Fact is, though, the candidates pledged to go along with the ban on Sunshine State campaigning.

But here's the deal: if you're not going to fight for Florida inside Florida, don't show up to claim victory, and then zip out of town in a whirlwind.

Voters keep saying integrity matters. As the election year heats up, the Clinton camp needs to keep that in mind.

Giuliani's entire raison d'etre for the presidency was that he was mayor of New York City on one of the worst days of this nation's history. Did he prevent the attacks? No. Did he capture the guys who plotted it? No. Did he rebuild the World Trade Center? No.

In reality he was simply "Being There," the Chance the Gardener of catastrophes.

Giuliani's insane strategy to dedicate virtually all of his time and money to Florida as a launching pad to the White House was more obviously misguided and delusional than 99.9 percent of the contestants on "American Idol" thinking they are the next Frank Sinatra.

Dying for his act

Poor Mike Thomas, professional contrarian, is really dying for his act this morning: "Offshore drilling could reduce global warming" ("If global warming is that big a problem, then slowing it with some benign gas rigs off our coast is a harmless price to pay.")

As Floridians ready themselves for their $240 tax cut ...

... we have a "crisis" in higher education

Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell on Wednesday explained to faculty members the proposal that has his support to address higher-education-funding woes.

At a general faculty meeting, Wetherell laid out the university's financial problems and how they could be solved by the state picking up the tab on the required local effort on property taxes for local schools and investing some of that money into higher education.

"We've got a crisis on our hands," Wetherell said. "The state of Florida has got to step up."

Recently, the FSU board of trustees approved slicing $30 million from spending in response to the state's poor financial climate.

Not exactly "legal giants"

"Crist, who sometimes recalls his days as a college quarterback, simply 'called an audible' under a blitz from the federal government when he signed a casino gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, his lawyer told the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday. But he was constitutionally off-sides, replied a former House speaker who argued that governors can't unilaterally legalize new forms of gambling without running it by the Legislature." "Attorneys argue gambling deal before Supreme Court". See also "Seminole gaming tug-of-war in Supreme Court's hands".

Another tax break

"Another big property tax break is headed to Florida voters, but this one would benefit only owners of vast swaths of vacant land. The proposal: Keep your land green forever, and you'll never pay property taxes on it again. If voters agree, thousands of acres worth billions of dollars could be saved from development. But the property also would vanish from tax rolls of counties already coping with reduced revenues after last year's tax rate rollback and Tuesday's voter-approved tax cut." "Untouched and untaxed".

CD 15

"State Sen. Mike Haridopolos is poised to announced whether he'll seek the congressional seat of the retiring Rep. Dave Weldon. ... Meanwhile, Haridopolos' Senate colleague Bill Posey,
R-Rockledge, said he wouldn't seek the seat if Haridopolos does." "Posey waits for cue from colleague".

Stop the presses!

Always nice to see an editorial board write a pro-union piece:

Jonathan Tasini is a forgotten footnote in Democratic Party history. He challenged Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2006 Democratic Party primary for U.S. Senate in New York. But Tasini's place as a champion for writers' rights is more secure. Understand what he accomplished, and you may begin to understand why television and movie writers are on strike, why their demands are fair, and why the conglomerates opposing them are being greedy and deceitful.

Just judging from the cable news we watched this evening and how the major newspapers are playing it on their websites, it doesn't look like they get much of a pop.

Most of the website front pages of the newspapers I'm looking at either don't mention the Democratic result out of Florida or put it under the fold with some conspicuous notation that the 'win' had not delegates. Nor, at least in the headlines I'm seeing, does there seem to be any real mention of the margin of her win, which was substantial.

For the record I'm looking at the Boston Globe, New York Times, WaPo, USAToday, Dallas Morning News, LATimes, Stl. Post-Dispatch and others. The standard seems to be some form of the Post-Dispatch's small related item "Clinton wins primary but no delegates."

In the Post, there's a snarky piece by Dana Milbank: "Much Ado About No Delegates: The only piece missing from Sen. Hillary Clinton's Florida victory party Tuesday night was a victory." Ouch. CNN has a small related headline: "Clinton trumpets win with no delegates at stake."

"Simple[tons]"

Floridians have chosen to amend the constitution for 244 bucks. "Floridians gave themselves a property tax break Tuesday." "Tax cut's decisive approval defies odds, dismays counties". "Property tax-cutting amendment wins, easily tops 60 percent". See also "Tax plan passes: The people have spoken", "Tax cut receives winning assist in S. Fla.", "Crist gets the credit, while critics predict that services will suffer", "Florida property tax changes approved", "Voters Approve Tax Plan" and "Florida voters approve property tax amendment". Mike Thomas: "Florida property-tax measure vote correlates to housing woes".

The News-Journal editors: "If you want to cut your property taxes, said Gov. Charlie Crist before Tuesday's election, 'then vote 'yes' on Amendment 1. It's that simple.'"

Dealing with the results will not be so simple. Florida voters have added another constitutional amendment on property taxes that is fundamentally unfair. Reform of Florida's taxation system is now far more difficult.

How will the state make it up? Gov. Charlie Crist is proposing that the state increase the amount of property taxes that the state requires the local school districts to levy. But it makes no sense to increase property taxes for school districts while restricting property-tax revenue for cities and counties.

Slots win

"Slot machine supporters hit the jackpot Tuesday as Miami-Dade County voters approved the installation of the devices at three pari-mutuel facilities, with tax dollars from gambling funneled into a state education fund." "Slot machine proponents hit jackpot in Miami-Dade County".

Charlie's "Daily Double"

Steve Bousquet: "The biggest winner Tuesday night may have been Gov. Charlie Crist, who made two risky bets that both paid off." "Double wins put Crist in control".

"Endowed with high voter approval ratings and an ambitious agenda, Gov. Charlie Crist cashed in his political currency to back two campaigns and on Tuesday won the Daily Double." "Not-on-ballot Crist gets two victories". Crist won big yesterday: "The Arizona senator's victory accomplished a double win for Gov. Charlie Crist, who endorsed him last Saturday. A property-tax initiative pushed by Crist also won big, exceeding expectations in pre-primary polls."

Charlie didn't do so well in places that have books and stuff: "Leon County voters turned down Amendment 1 by 2-to-1 margins." "Leon doesn't follow state voting trends".

Buddy Dyer

"Buddy Dyer re-elected as Orlando mayor, Ings wins commission seat, 2nd seat headed for runoff".

Impact of the Dem early primary penalty

"No delegates and no candidates. And yet more than a million Democrats turned out to vote in Florida. In Sarasota, more than half of registered Democrats came to the polls."

The highest turnout in decades, despite a campaign boycott by all the Democratic candidates, was proof to political experts of both parties that the Republicans may not have a big advantage going into the general election after all -- even if they were here for a six-month head start.

"Their candidates haven't done a day of campaigning, there's not a single delegate riding on this, and the Democrats are going to the polls and voting," said Mac Stipanovich, a longtime Republican Florida strategist who is working on Sen. John McCain''s campaign. "I think they'll be back in November."

"What the Democratic nominee has lost is the ability to get into Florida and establish the necessary relationships you have to have with the ground forces, the people who will lick the envelopes, who will make the phone calls, the grassroots people who need to be energized and mobilized," said Democratic strategist Karl Koch.

"What you're going to see is a Democratic nominee who is immediately going to drop resources into here, staff, money, and probably overly concentrated trips from the candidate or surrogates at the start of things."

As for the delegates ...

The Miami Herald editors: "the issue becomes whether any candidate is willing to take on the establishment of the respective parties and fight to have the decision reversed at the conventions. We urge them to do so if they want to maintain any credibility with Florida's voters, particularly in the Democratic Party. Sen. Hillary Clinton said days before the vote that she would support seating the delegation. Our appreciation for that statement, however, is tempered by her knowledge that she was ahead in the state polls, making her move appear entirely self-serving." "Florida voters' efforts should count". See also "What could have been for Dems".

Allen's seat

"Voters in Brevard and Orange counties on Tuesday set the field for a Feb. 26 special general election to determine who replaces state Rep. Bob Allen in the Florida House." "Sasso, Campbell win nods in race for Bob Allen's legislative seat". See also "Campbell, Sasso leading in House Dist. 32 race".

Crotzer

"The Legislature has a responsibility to address an issue it has kicked down the road for years: compensation for the wrongfully convicted. Lawmakers need to put aside their differences and bring Florida into the ranks of those states that have an automatic system for providing recompense to people wrongly incarcerated - sometimes for decades. It is not just a duty but a moral imperative." "Do right by those Florida wronged".

That's it for now

"Although Gov. Charlie Crist has promised that the successful property tax amendment Tuesday is just the first step, don't count on another property tax cut from the legislature this year."

Because that constitutional amendment is projected to cut $9.2 billion in property taxes during the next five years, Senate Minority Leader Steven Geller said he doesn't expect the state Senate to cut property taxes any further in 2008.

Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, pointed to the hits that local governments have been forced to take through a five-year, $15 billion property tax rollback mandate that the legislature passed last summer. And now the amendment will mean $7.7 billion less for counties, cities and special districts and $1.5 billion less for public school districts.

"We're not going to do more," Geller said.

That stance could stall the plans of state House Speaker Marco Rubio, who said Tuesday he planned to push for further property tax cuts regardless of whether the ballot measure passed.

Realism

The Palm Beach Post editors: "According to the Florida Association of Realtors, the median price of single-family homes in the state dropped every month, compared with 2006." "Real-estate recession needs realistic sellers".

"Jeb's supposed education 'legacy'"

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Florida doesn't need a renewed fight over school vouchers. But if cronies of former Gov. Jeb Bush are going to foist that battle on Floridians, at least they could do so openly and honestly."

Instead, they want to have a fight over school vouchers without uttering the dreaded words, school vouchers. They know that they never could win approval of a constitutional amendment that said this: "Florida taxpayers shall provide tuition vouchers for K-12 students to attend private schools, including religious private schools." Instead, they want the ballot proposal to have this heading:

"Freedom to Choose Among Public and Private Providers of Public Services." The text of the proposed amendment would further explain that individuals "may choose among public and private or sectarian providers of state-funded public services for services such as health care and education."

Using that kind of deceptive language instead of talking straight up about school vouchers would undermine public confidence in other proposals from the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. ...

[W]hy, with so many other problems, is the commission still getting hung up on school vouchers?

For one thing, six of the 25 voting members served on Gov. Bush's staff or were appointed by him to prestigious posts. Five of those six are on the Governmental Procedures and Structure Committee, which on Friday introduced the school voucher proposal. The key member is Patricia Levesque, Mr. Bush's former education adviser who now is executive director of two - count 'em, two - vanity foundations whose purpose is to protect Jeb's supposed education "legacy."

Charlie playing football

"Win or lose, Amendment 1 is unlikely to be the final word on property tax relief in Florida. Gov. Charlie Crist, who led the campaign to pass the proposed state constitutional amendment Tuesday, said it's just one step in a process he compared to a football game." "Win or lose, amendment may not be end of tax cutting". See also "Supporters, foes of property tax plan make final push", "Despite millions spent, nobody can predict if Amendment 1 will pass" and "Proposal's fate in voters' hands".

"A proposed state constitutional amendment on property taxes weighed as heavily as the direction of the country on the minds of Florida voters Tuesday." "Property taxes weigh on Floridians voting in presidential primary".

"Regardless of whether voters accept or reject Amendment 1 in today's presidential primary election, Florida will not be a different place on Wednesday." "Heavy lifting".

"Resistance is futile"

"Picture this: You're trying to get away from the primary election returns that are pouring forth on every TV channel, radio station, even your cell phone and home computer -- so you jump in the car and go for a relaxing long drive Tuesday night. No such luck. Resistance is futile. For the first time, the numbers will even be flashing from billboards." "Sign of the times -- billboard results".

Another Jebacy

"Florida's Medicaid pilot project has failed -- and the state should forget any notion of expanding it."

Two studies, including one by the inspector general of the state agency that oversees Medicaid, have detailed serious problems with the pilot programs now under way in Broward and four other counties.

The Medicaid pilot needs to heal itself first. That is the point of doing a test. You don't replicate a pilot project that hasn't worked.

Early voting

The Tampa Trib editors: "Florida needs to rethink its drawn-out system of voting for two weeks prior to an election day. Voting started Jan. 14, and much has changed since then." "The Frustration Of Premature Voting".

Broken

"With Floridians completing their presidential primary voting today, it's worth mentioning again that Democrats and Republicans have to modernize the system that determines who runs for president." "Change primary system".

Time for Charlie to put on a happy face

"A University of Florida survey has found consumer confidence dipped to its lowest level in more than 15 years."

Economists at the university's Survey Research Center at the Bureau of Economic and Business Research said one measure in particular - consumers' confidence about national economic conditions - dropped to the lowest point since August of 1992.

The overall measure of how confident consumers are in Florida slipped in January to the lowest level in 16 years.

"Consumer confidence in Florida reflects the same conditions we had during the recession of 1990-91," said Chris McCarty, director of UF's Survey Research Center. "Florida is almost certainly in a recession now, and the country is not far behind. Most economists agree that we are in for at least two quarters of very low growth."

Four of the five measures in the index dropped.

Democrats and Republicans still outnumber independent voters. Florida leans Democratic statewide, with 4.1 million Democrats and 3.8 million Republicans. By comparison, there are 2.2 million unaffiliated or minor-party voters.

But the gap is closing.

Since 2000, the number of unaffiliated and minor-party voters -- those who shun the two major parties -- has swelled by nearly 900,000. Meanwhile, the GOP has added 543,512 members, and the Democratic Party 477,773.

The crowd cheered when Clinton's motorcade stopped. She stepped out and smiled and waved, posed for pictures with supporters and even answered a question from a reporter.

When asked whether this meant she was breaking the Democratic boycott and campaigning before Florida's primary Tuesday, Clinton said, "I just wanted to say hello to a few people who were nice enough to wait for me."

She then promised to return on Tuesday.

Given Democratic rules, it is entirely possible for one candidate to win a majority of Feb. 5 states, and enjoy the Election Night ratification that comes with a network map displaying the geographic sweep of their accomplishment, while his (or her) opponent ends the night with the most delegates.

On the Republican side, it is possible for one of the candidates to win the overall popular vote in California, but end up with fewer delegates than a rival, since most of the delegates are awarded in winner-take-all congressional district races.

Crist was to anoint him as the best choice for Florida Republicans, and the two of them, starting in St. Petersburg, would fly from city to city in Florida, revving up supporters and donors.

There may be no move Crist has made as governor that stunned so many friends and political insiders as his last-minute endorsement of McCain on Saturday. ...

For Crist, the move is a risky one, but one with a big payoff if it makes him look like a kingmaker.

In becoming the first governor of an early election state to endorse, Crist risks antagonizing allies, damaging the prospects of the Amendment 1 tax initiative so closely associated with him and, if McCain loses, raising questions about his influence.

Supporters of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who has led by more than 20 points in statewide polls since July, insist Florida's Tuesday primary is important because of the state's size and diversity.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's followers, meanwhile, downplay the pending results, saying the election is nothing more than a beauty contest because the Democratic National Committee has said Florida's delegates won't count at the nominating convention.

But independent strategists say a close finish would be difficult for the voters in New York, California and 20 other states to ignore when they go to the polls in the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday elections, which could decide the nomination.

"If you see Obama coming within 10 points of Hillary Clinton in Florida," said Florida Democratic political consultant Robin Rorapaugh, who is not working for either candidate, "I think you'll see some problems for her, because there has been no campaigning in a state that has been strongly behind Hillary Clinton from the beginning."

On Sunday, Obama supporters were claiming momentum.

Out here in the fields ... slavery

"It should have been shocking to hear that two weeks ago, federal authorities indicted six people from Immokalee on slavery charges. But most Floridians have learned enough in recent years not to be too surprised by revelations regarding brutal violations of human rights in the state's farm fields. ... As politicians remain stuck on the issue, the Immokalee story shows that the state has more immigrants living as slaves, hoping to be freed." "End the new slavery".

"Conservation ethic"

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Instilling this 'conservation ethic' will depend on water managers showing that it applies to everyone, from mansion dwellers to condo commandos, and from golf courses to mom-and-pop restaurants. If people get into the habit during the current cutbacks, the habit will be easier to keep when the rains return." "State water challenge: Use less, don't pay less".

Amendment 1 "is far less than meets the eye"

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "We recommend voting "no" on this amendment that —at worst — further pre-empts local governments' ability to respond to their communities circumstances, needs and willingness to pay for services. While a narrow group of homeowners may benefit modestly, most Floridians will be quickly disappointed and disillusioned by an amendment that is far less than meets the eye." "In Florida, stakes are big in Republican race".

In the meantime, the "Sides stretch truth on tax plan".

Crotzer

"Alan Crotzer deserved better treatment from Florida's criminal court system. He spent 24 years in prison for a rape and robbery he did not commit. And when DNA evidence finally freed him, he deserved better than the treatment he got from the state. He had no job skills, no way to support himself, little help with readjusting to a life outside of a concrete cage." "Fair compensation".

Crist's reputation for moderate bipartisanship won't necessarily help McCain win voters skeptical of his conservative credentials, but the governor's backing is a big boost any candidate would relish.

Also speaking at the dinner is state House Speaker Marco Rubio, a supporter of Mike Huckabee.

“Nobody’s going to be broken-hearted if John McCain is our nominee,” Rubio said.

Of the three leading Democratic candidates, former Sen. John Edwards offers the most consistent economic message. He is both the underdog in the race and the champion of the underdogs -- those who believe that a combination of Wall Street, Washington lobbyists and powerful corporations have led an assault on the economic well-being of the middle class. Despite the populist tone of his message -- or maybe because of it -- his campaign has failed to catch fire.

The Latino vote

"Latinos are the fastest-growing group of voters in the United States. But in Florida, where many Hispanics aren't wed to one party or the other, their support has even more weight — a swing vote in a swing state."

One of the reasons Florida's Latino vote is so difficult to peg is that the community is so diverse. Unlike other parts of the country, where Mexicans dominate, Hispanic voters in Florida have ties throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. For candidates used to courting Latino voters over a plate of tacos, this might mean an Argentine steak and a Colombian three-potato soup to boot.

Add to the mix an old guard of Cuban exiles who arrived in the 1960s and stand as a durable Republican core.

"Cuban-Americans are the largest Hispanic group in Florida, but they are no longer a majority of the vote," said Democratic strategist Joe Garcia, a former director for the Cuban-American National Foundation. Diluting their GOP support further, younger Cubans tend to take a less strident anti-communist line.

"The Cuban-American influence has diminished," Garcia said.

Amendment 1: "tax revolt is far from over"

"Regardless of how Amendment 1 fares on Tuesday this much is certain: Florida's latest property tax revolt is far from over." "Property-tax battle will rage on". More: "Amendment 1: What it would do".

"The property-tax amendment would fail if the vote were today, but a push by the governor may save it." "Crist blitz could save tax amendment". See also: "60 percent OK seen as biggest hurdle for tax amendment" and "'Yes on 1' supporters optomistic despite low numbers in polls".

"The campaign for the largest property tax cut in Florida history could easily be mistaken as an election bid for Gov. Charlie Crist." "Governor's image is on the line with tax vote".

"Crist is in political heaven. His face adorns dozens of billboards along Florida's highways. His tax-cut rallies make for lively TV ads. Riding on high poll numbers a year after taking office, he's returned to his favorite job, campaigning, to plug a Republican politician's favorite cause, tax cuts." "Tuesday vote on amendment a win-win for Crist".

Mary Ann Lindley, the Tallahassee Democrat Editorial Page Editor gives Charlie the usual pass, even though he's pushing "the grand scheme to make voters think there really can be a free or at least very cheap lunch." "Crist's legacy: A lot rides on Amendment 1".

And ain't this a delightful tactic: "'If Florida voters reject the constitutional amendment on the Jan. 29 ballot, lawmakers might interpret that as a sign people aren't interested in such tax cuts,' ..." "Vote nears on property-tax amendment, Floridians still want answers" ("Crist ... has cautioned that the Legislature might not have the willpower for another time-consuming do-over if Amendment 1 is defeated.")

Meanwhile, out on the fringe: "House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, who last year led the failed charge to replace the property tax on homes with a higher sales tax. ... and some House Republicans have been working on a ballot initiative that would limit property taxes to 1.35 percent of a property's taxable value. And though they won't have enough signatures by this week's deadline to make the November ballot, the idea could materialize in the Legislature this spring." "GOP leaders' big ideas".

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Amendment 1 certainly isn't perfect. It won't resolve the inequities in Florida's property tax system. But don't believe much of what opponents [including those icky unions] are saying. Amendment 1 would cut property taxes. It would cap tax increases on businesses, rental property and second homes. And it would make it easier for thousands of families to sell their homes and buy new ones." "Our position: Amendment 1 would help residents buy another home". Oh, really?

Even Mike Thomas gets it: "Amendment 1 appeals to our primitive urge to stick somebody else with the taxes. It creates even greater inequities in a tax system distorted by Save Our Homes." "Tax reform? Don't look for it in amendment".

"Does anyone see something wrong with this picture?"

The Tampa Trib editors: "Florida universities are considering layoffs, tightening admissions and raising tuition because of the state's budget crisis. "

Meanwhile, state leaders are giddy about their $118 million incentive package that lured an outpost lab from the Oregon Health & Science University to Port St. Lucie.

Does anyone see something wrong with this picture?

It's unconscionable that at the same time Florida's universities are facing the worst fiscal crisis in a generation that taxpayers' dollars would go to another state's public university.

The prestigious journal "Nature" declared the arrangement an "unprecedented move" and noted it is believed to be the first time a state has financed a research facility for another state's university.

Certainly, that's not a distinction for which state leaders should be proud.

But as it turns out, this unprecedented deal is far more complex and muddy than what it might seem. And the clumsy nature in which key information is being disclosed to the public that's footing the bill speaks volumes about the willy-nilly nature of Florida's biotech investment.

Open government and all that

"Openness a treasured state principle" and "Access to records critical to democracy".

Slots

"Voters in Florida's largest county will reconsider Tuesday whether they want slot machines installed at three pari-mutuel facilities, with tax dollars from the new gambling attraction bolstering a state education fund.." "Miami-Dade County voters to decide on pari-mutuel slot machines".

Fix it

"Faced with paying upfront for improvements, as much as $5,000, then waiting for a state [My Safe Florida Home grant program] reimbursement, low-income residents are finding the program is out of their financial reach. It wasn't supposed to be this way." "Many Low-Income Floridians Can't Afford Hurricane Grants".

"Unacceptable"

"Marissa Amora greeted the important men from the state as she does everyone - with a smile and a hug, offered from her wheelchair."

the state's treatment of Marissa Amora, who was beaten nearly to death in 2001 after DCF workers refused to investigate her Lake Worth home, has been unacceptable. It was so unacceptable that a jury in 2005 ordered DCF to pay Marissa more than $26 million for a lifetime of medical care.

Yet two weeks after special masters for the Legislature heard testimony in November about Medicaid's failures, Medicaid rejected medicine that helps Marissa breathe. Medicaid had refused to pay for a wheelchair and stroller for Marissa. Cramped in the wheelchair she'd long ago outgrown, Marissa must endure surgery next month to put rods in her spine, which has curved so much that her lung capacity, a doctor told Dawn Amora, has diminished by 30 percent. The resultant pressure on Marissa's intestines has harmed her digestive system.

Medicaid wouldn't pay extra hours for nurses to help Marissa when school was closed for three weeks during the winter break. Will Medicaid also refuse to pay for around-the-clock nurses when Marissa returns home from surgery?

Medicaid has refused for three years to pay for Marissa's physical, occupational and speech therapy. Medicaid has paid only a fourth of what the state agreed Marissa needs each month for nurses, and only two-thirds of what it was billed by doctors and pharmacists.Senate Bill 46 and House Bill 443 would free Marissa - finally - from the uncaring, unreliable Medicaid system that has shortchanged her too much already. Legislators unwilling to support the claims bills should ask themselves, as Ms. Amora asked of Dr. Agwunobi: Would you - as a working parent of a girl with injuries so severe that no insurer will cover them - want Medicaid for your child?