It seems absurd to even consider reducing law enforcement services at a time when violent crime is rising and at least one cop killer is on the lose. But these aren't prosperous times, and we better get used to it. There are no sacred cows in this new fiscal arena.

"Disingenuous bloviating" from the "values" crowd

Daniel Ruth: "Bush's proposed 2009 budget would eliminate funding for Reading Is Fundamental, affecting some 4.6 million children nationwide, including more than 180,000 Florida students."

So much for Leave No Child Behind, unless of course it involves the cost of a - book.

By contrast, the federal government will spend just under $400 million this year building and upgrading prisons.

Log on to first lady Laura Bush's White House Web page and you find this public relations poppycock: "As a former public school teacher and librarian, Mrs. Bush has a special place in her heart for books and libraries. She knows that a love of books - of holding a book, turning its pages, looking at its pictures, and losing oneself in its fascinating stories - goes hand in hand with a love of learning."

Is there a more shopworn hustings example of disingenuous bloviating than the pol's favorite line about how much he [or she] loves the children, how children are our future, how children are the cat's pajamas?

Phooey!

You don't eviscerate one of the nation's most successful reading programs then claim to love the little dickens.

What would you call that? A weapon of mass misdirection?

If the Bush administration needs a mercenary reason to restore the RIF funding, maybe it could be this - just think of all those well-read enlistees you'll have available years down the road to serve in Iraq.

"Too Quick"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "State environmental regulators sometimes are criticized, justifiably, for not being tough enough in enforcing permit requirements and other rules against private companies and utilities that discharge wastewater into public waterways. But the way to get away with practically anything is to be another government or agency dumping or draining water. Few rules apply, and any that might are swiftly waived with no fines and conciliatory murmurs about "misunderstandings."" "Public agencies too quick to let each other pollute".

"South Floridians want universal healthcare"

"Almost two-thirds of South Florida residents believe that uninsured Americans should be able to get healthcare, but even more are concerned about rising healthcare costs, problems with prescription drug coverage and the safety and quality of care." "Poll: More, less costly healthcare needed".

"But whose fault was it?"

"As lawmakers gathered Thursday in Statuary Hall to pay respects to the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress, a clamor of bells signaling an upcoming vote went off, prompting some fierce finger pointing, aimed primarily by Democrats at Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart, R-Miami, a top Republican on the House Rules Committee."

Republicans accused their Democratic rivals of playing the politics card.

They said they believed they had an agreement with the Democratic leadership that House business wouldn't start until the end of the Lantos ceremony. And they said that Díaz-Balart, as a member of the House Rules Committee, was forced to act when Democrats reconvened the House during the ceremony because he didn't want Republicans to be prevented from objecting to a vote to hold White House chief of staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers in contempt of Congress.

The delegation thing

"Democrats nationwide are worried that the nearly tied nomination battle between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama is headed for a disputed outcome, threatening their chances to win November's election. If the deadlock continues, they fear, the nominee could be chosen in a way that angers party members - either by unpledged "superdelegates" or by the disputed delegations from Florida and Michigan." "Delegate Deadlock Feasible".

Objection!

The Palm Beach Post editorial board:"Of all the bad ideas to come up in the Legislature recently, the idea of cutting the number of judges in Florida is among the worst. That irresponsible thought came from someone in a responsible position: state Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, who is chairman of the Senate committee that decides how much money the courts will get. "

Fortunately, Sen. Crist's House counterpart sounded responsible. Florida, said Rep. Dick Kravitz, R-Jacksonville, "could become a Third World country. ... I would think that's the last thing we would want to do is cut judges." Also, such a move almost certainly would raise separation-of-powers issues about the legislative branch trying to diminish the judicial branch.

The "Third World" comment has become a cliché, but Rep. Kravitz makes a point. The court system - judges, prosecutors, public defenders - amounts to 0.7 percent of the state budget. In terms of importance, though, the courts are crucial to the state's welfare. Gov. Crist doesn't have the clenched-teeth dislike of the courts that Gov. Bush did, but too many legislators still see the judiciary as a service little different from road-building.

"Bush-McCain Republicans" Ouch!

"'Bush-McCain Republicans,' Democrat Barack Obama calls them."

President Bush is backing McCain through his body language, with protocol demanding that he not swing explicitly behind the candidate with a race still technically - and only technically - in progress.

His father's endorsement, which follows one from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, is a further nudge by GOP chieftains for conservative activists to get over their distaste for McCain and for rival Mike Huckabee to find a day job and get out.

Miami Vice

"Feds: Colombian druglords use scheme to launder euros thru Miami".

Florida-GOPer Mob War Heats Up After Botched Hit

Recall yesterday's St. Petersburg Times's editorial about the Jeb-Gang's botched hit on the "Machine Gun" McKay: "A tax commission appointed every two decades is expected to rise above legislative politics, not sink to the same level. If the attempt to railroad former Senate President John McKay and his plan to broaden the sales tax is any indication, the commission may end up serving only as an echo chamber for a Legislature that turns a deaf ear to any honest discussion of tax reform."

You see, "Machine Gun"

"Machine Gun" MacKay makes his getaway

McKay was blindsided Tuesday by an economic study that was approved without his knowledge and conducted by a former economic adviser to Bush ["Tony eye shades"* Villamil]. It claimed his plan would cost the state 53,000 jobs, a questionable assertion considering that McKay seeks no net increase in taxes.

Two of the 25 [family] commission members hired [Jebbite crew] economic adviser J. Antonio "Tony" ["eye shades"] Villamil of Coral Gables at $10,000 a month [in bag money] in December.

They didn't notify other [McKay family] commission members, who didn't know Villamil was on the payroll until this week.

Villamil was hired to review a proposal that would ask voters to swap sharply lower property taxes for a broader sales tax that includes taxes on some services and goods now exempt the Legislature would decide which ones.

business forces are fighting the idea, saying it would make Florida less competitive, cost jobs and scare off employers.

Villamil's conclusion is that taxing services would make Florida less competitive and eliminate 53,000 jobs a year because taxing services would increase the cost of doing business in Florida.

is a former U.S. undersecretary of commerce and economic adviser to Jeb Bush with solid [family] credentials. He and the tax commissioner who approved his hiring, Gulf Power chief executive Susan Story, are on the board of Enterprise Florida, the state's business development arm.

"They've just been around ['da neighborhood]. They've been doing work for the state for many years," Story said of Villamil's company, the Washington Economics Group. "The name just came up."

Villamil also is a senior research fellow at Florida TaxWatch, which opposes McKay's tax proposal.

Story also chairs the Florida Chamber of Commerce, a group fighting McKay's proposal.

Commission Chairman Allan ["Bubbles"] Bense, also a chamber board member and former House speaker from Panama City, said Villamil's name "was run by me and run by Susan ["Socks"] Skelton," the commission's executive director.

Two other economists, David Denslow of the University of Florida and Hank Fishkind of Orlando, have analyzed McKay's plan for free and have said it would be good for Florida.

Multinational Corporations

- Lockheed Martin
- FedEx Latin America
- IBM
- Motorola
- SBC Communications
- Ameritech International
- Lucent Technologies
- MediaOne/AT&T
- Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc. (Vivendi)
- Microsoft Latin America
- Carrier
- Medtronic, Inc.
- Phelps Dodge
- Esso Inter-America
- Visa International
- MasterCard International
- Telefonica Data Systems
- Bureau Veritas (BIVAC)
- Merck Latin America
- Wilbur Smith Associates
- DMJM+Harris

Florida-Based Corporations

"Eye Shades" at work

- Sprint of Florida
- Florida Marlins
- Flo-Sun Sugar Corp.
- Farm Stores Inc.
- The BMI Companies
- Spillis Candela & Partners
- The Biltmore Hotel
- Trammell Crow Company
- Florida Outdoor Advertising Association
- Advantage Capital
- WCI Development Companies
- Iberia Tiles
- Florida Hospital
- Mercy Hospital
- St. Joe Companies

Financial Institutions

- ABN-AMRO Bank
- Barclays Bank
- Lazard Frères & Co.
- Banque Nationale de Paris
- HSBC/Marine Midland
- Fiduciary Trust International
- SunTrust Corporation
- First Union National Bank (Wachovia)
- Union Planters Bank of Florida (Region's Bank)
- BankAtlantic Corp.
- Hemisphere National Bank
- BankUnited
- The Equitable/AXA Advisors
- CommerceBank, NA
- PointeBank, NA (Mercantile Bank)

The Wedge is certified by
the State of Florida as a Minority Business***.

She is a principal in Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics ("ALME"). See also "Former aide to governors forming consulting firm".

Yes, that "Laffer": namesake of the Laffer Curve, referred to in this New York Review of Books piece by Jason Epstein as "the crackpot theory that led Ronald Reagan to believe that huge tax cuts in federal taxes would lead to federal surpluses, when the actual outcome proved to be a cumulative deficit of $3.5 trillion."

Perhaps most importantly, Arduin is a cheerleader for the wingnut Fair Tax proposal to change "United States tax laws to replace the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and all federal income taxes (including AMT), payroll taxes (including Social Security and Medicare taxes), corporate taxes, capital gains taxes, gift taxes, and estate taxes with a national retail sales tax, to be levied once at the point of purchase on all new goods and services." See ALME's "A Macroeconomic Analysis of the Fair Tax Proposal (.pdf)".

In a November 1983 speech to his staff at the federal Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, Thomas called affirmative action ''critical to minorities and women in this society.''

Then, his remarks got personal: ''But for them (affirmative action laws), God only knows where I would be today. These laws and their proper application are all that stand between the first 17 years of my life and the second 17 years.''

As an undergraduate at Holy Cross College, Thomas received a scholarship set aside for racial minorities. He was admitted to Yale Law School in 1971 as part of an aggressive (and successful) affirmative action program with a clear goal: 10 percent minority enrollment. Yale offered him generous financial aid.

- Only 22 percent want public schools to teach an evolution-only curriculum, while 50 percent want only faith-based theories such as creationism or intelligent design, according to a new St. Petersburg Times survey.

- 43 percent said human beings evolved over millions of years, while 45 percent said humans were created directly by God.

- 54 percent of men said humans evolved over millions of years compared with 35 percent of women.

- 52 percent of college graduates said humans evolved compared with 33 percent of those with four years of high school or less.

- 31 percent of white respondents said only evolution should be taught in schools compared with 7 percent of nonwhites.

The delegate thing

"After eight losses in a row and no victories in sight this month, Hillary Clinton's campaign renewed calls Wednesday for the votes in Florida and Michigan to count toward delegates that would help her catch Barack Obama." "Obama camp cries foul over Clinton stance in Florida".

The Miami Herald editorial board: "In Florida, 1.7 million voters cast a ballot in the Jan. 29 primary. Why should they be disenfranchised for the actions of a Republican-controlled Legislature that unilaterally decided to change the primary calendar?"

Sen. Clinton, who originally agreed with the DNC's decision, now claims that the delegations should be recognized, which is entirely self-serving because she would get the lion's share of votes. Sen. Barack Obama has not exactly been a beacon of hope for voters, either, given that he wants to deny Sen. Clinton any more delegates and is willing to toss Florida voters overboard in the process. Yet he is not wrong to argue that seating the delegations amounts to changing the rules after the game has been played.

Oh No! Not the credentials committeee

"The DNC has offered Florida and Michigan a couple ways out in compliance with party rules. First, they could hold second nominating contests, but Democratic leaders in both states reject that idea. Or they can appeal to the DNC's credentials committee, a 186-member body that usually operates in obscurity and has a complicated membership and rules process that will require deft maneuvering in this divided campaign."

Most of the credentials committee members will be appointed by the Clinton and Obama campaigns, depending on how they perform in nominating contests across the country, with Dean having already named 25. Although Obama has won more contests so far, Clinton has won most of the larger states — and larger states get more seats. So there's the potential for the committee to be closely divided if the race stays tight.

The credential committee would meet in July or August, and its decision would be in the form of a recommendation to all the delegates at the convention. They have a range of options to consider, including recommending reinstatement of all or some of the delegates divided any way they see fit between Obama and Clinton. The recommendation would become the first order of business at the convention on Aug. 25.

Orlando Sentinel shakeup

"The publisher of the Orlando Sentinel resigned Thursday, adding to the upheaval among Tribune Co. newspapers and other properties in the two months since the company went private. Kathleen Waltz had worked for Tribune for 34 years ..."

Waltz's resignation came a day after Tribune Co. told employees hundreds of jobs would be cut. They are the first such plans since billionaire Sam Zell took the financially troubled media company private last year. ...

Zell stirred some controversy among Sentinel staff in a visit a few weeks ago. He swore at a Sentinel photographer who asked about Tribune's commitment to hard news when in conflict with revenue.

Good luck

"Florida's 11 university presidents trooped to the Capitol on Thursday to make an unprecedented appeal for an additional $1 billion from the state Legislature over the next five years through a combination of tuition hikes and state aid. The presidents told House Speaker Marco Rubio, R- West Miami, that they need immediate help because Florida schools are losing the nationwide competition for faculty, students and prestige under the weight of hiring freezes, enrollment caps and program cuts." "University leaders' plea: We need $1 billion more" "University leaders seek money from state".

No drinking and counting

"A manager in the Leon County Supervisor of Elections Office has received a written reprimand and two other employees were given verbal warnings for drinking alcohol on their job site. The three [off duty] employees drank alcohol at the elections warehouse on Railroad Avenue on the eve of the Jan. 29 primary, Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho said Thursday. Sancho conducted an investigation after another employee, who has since been fired, reported the incident." "Sancho disciplines employees, but spares them their jobs".

Civil rights goes local

The Miami Herald editorial board: "These days the most progressive civil-rights efforts take place locally, even as the federal government is steadily infringing on our rights in the name of national security. This contradiction may reflect the widely disparate priorities of local and national governments. But as we advance freedoms locally we need to remain vigilant to safeguard all our precious rights at every level." "Civil rights getting boost at local level".

Obama loses Florida

"Cuban flag in unofficial Obama office enrages some".

More green

"Crist wants to spend a record amount of money on energy diversity and fighting climate change this year, and lawmakers are looking to create an energy policy that better protects the state's natural resources." "Crist, lawmakers make clean energy a priority for session". See also "Crist releases greenhouse gas scorecard for state government".

The dopes can hope

"A legal battle over Florida's Democratic primary results could cause an irreparable rift and pave the way for a Republican presidential victory in 2008, a conservative columnist [Washington Post wingnut columnist Charles Krauthammer] said Sunday night." "Pundits: Fla. fight muddled".

Gayle Harrell "pandering"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "State Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, is running for Congress, which explains her grandiose, politically expedient crusade to push immigration bills through the Legislature. Rep. Harrell is sponsoring House Bill 821. It would require local authorities to take on federal roles and report illegal immigrants to the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill also would prohibit local governments from supporting day-labor centers ...". "No immigration reform, just some campaign ads".

Whatever

"James Carville in Orlando: Clinton done "if she loses either Texas or Ohio'". More: "Carville, on who could have been the Republican frontrunner. 'If Jeb Bush’s name was Jeb Smith you wouldn’t have any of of this. It would be over.'"

Jebbie's dead hand

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board:"A tax commission appointed every two decades is expected to rise above legislative politics, not sink to the same level. If the attempt to railroad former Senate President John McKay and his plan to broaden the sales tax is any indication, the commission may end up serving only as an echo chamber for a Legislature that turns a deaf ear to any honest discussion of tax reform."

McKay was blindsided Tuesday by an economic study that was approved without his knowledge and conducted by a former economic adviser to Bush. It claimed his plan would cost the state 53,000 jobs, a questionable assertion considering that McKay seeks no net increase in taxes.

Tally's knuckle-draggers choking on their breakfasts today

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Eight years into the 21st century, it's time for Florida, from our state universities (including the three that do not include the phrasing in their anti-discrimination policies) to our state's constitution, to step boldly forward and refuse to legislate prejudice by omission or commission. Including gays, lesbians and transgender individuals as a protected class does not obligate those who object to their sexual or gender orientation to accept it; it merely forges ahead in the final frontier of inclusion." "The final frontier".

Charlie "unsure"

"Before voters passed Amendment 1 in January, Gov. Charlie Crist, top lawmakers and other backers promised it would be just the start of property tax relief. Now Crist says he's unsure what the next step should be. House Speaker Marco Rubio and other tax-cutting advocates, though, have laid out a wide range of options for the Legislature to consider during its 2008 regular session beginning March 4." "Lawmakers will look at more property tax cuts in 2008 session".

Another Jebacy

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board (whileneglecting to mention that this is another legacy of our self-proclaimed "education Governor) asks readers to "look where Florida's universities rank on national lists of top-quality schools."

It's embarrassing that only the state's flagship school -- the University of Florida -- manages to rank in the top 50 in a national magazine's annual listing of America's universities.

But there are other rankings that ought to worry Floridians a lot more: No. 50 in tenured faculty-student ratios; No. 2 in the South for cutting per-student spending; No. 50 in tuition. ...

Florida is one of only four of 16 Southern states that cut per-student spending on universities between 2001 and 2006. That trend will never lead to quality in Florida's universities.

5) Would turn all those frowns upside-down at state funerals.

4) Wouldn't spend all day in a Colorado mountain yelling "DEFCON 4!" into disconnected Hotline.

3) Would never shoot anybody, not even his close friends.

2) After the past eight years, there's something to be said for a warm bucket of spit.

1) May have flunked Bar exam, but I bet he can spell potatoe. . .

The constitutional challenge to Amendment 1 has begun. Lawyers also hope to get Save Our Homes thrown out. They then will seek tax rebates issued to all new home buyers who made their purchases in the past four years. This would bankrupt the state. . .

Fallback plan if the above happens: Lotto machines in middle-school cafeterias. . . .

I can't decide what to do with our $1,200 tax rebate.

Invest it? Pay off debt?

Monroe School Board Chairwoman Debra Walker says school districts most opposed to teaching evolution have lousy FCAT science scores. In fact, the most vocal opposition has come from Taylor County, where only 25 percent of 11th-graders passed the science FCAT. More scored at Level 1 (lowest) than any other ranking.

Florida delegate fight "intensifying"

William March explains how, "even with the voting and candidate boycott now over, the fight over Florida's Jan. 29 presidential primary is only intensifying." "Face-Off Fixes On Florida".

Jebbite stalls service tax proposal

"Former Senate President John McKay's controversial plan to eliminate $8 billion in school property taxes and replace the money by closing tax loopholes, raising the sales tax by a penny and taxing some services ran into serious trouble in the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission."

McKay angrily postponed a crucial vote in the Finance and Taxation Committee on Tuesday when a veteran economist predicted that the measure could cost the state $2 billion in lost productivity and 52,000 jobs a year. He's trying to get the proposal approved by the commission and before Florida voters later this year. Tuesday's committee delay is just its first steps in an already difficult climb.

"The impact on competitiveness needs to be considered," said economist Tony Villamil, who once headed Gov. Jeb Bush's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. "Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, California, would all love to take jobs away from us if we make it harder to create businesses."

Villamil's report completely contradicted another study by veteran Orlando economist Hank Fishkind who predicted a large economic boost. McKay waited a day to schedule the vote so that Fishkind could present his findings to the committee as well, but Fishkind was called away at the last minute, leaving McKay stranded.

McKay looked stunned and tried to shoot down the competing analysis.

Water war

The Miami Herald editorial board: "An 18-year water dispute between Florida, Alabama and Georgia may have gotten a nudge toward a solution thanks to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia." "Court ruling could ease water dispute".

Holder

"State Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, isn’t running around the county promising more cuts in property taxes than what just passed on the ballot in January. And for good reason. Holder said he’s concerned about the atmosphere in Tallahassee now. With budget cutting getting more and more aggressive, there is less room in the budget to slash additional revenue to make up for lost tax money that could come with further chopping." "More tax cuts? Don’t count on it, Holder says".

By the way, Holder may have a re-election dogfight. See The Spencerian's "Draft David Shapiro", and The Florida Progressive Coalition's "More on Draft David Shapiro".

Liars

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "According to records from last year, high-ranking SBA staff members knew for months that some of their securities were shaky, and that the Local Government Investment Pool their agency managed could be in trouble."

In November, after several local governments throughout Florida, including Leon County, withdrew roughly half of the fund's value, several officials, including Leon Clerk of the Courts Bob Inzer, complained that SBA officials repeatedly stonewalled them when they sought information.

It was information that, as records now show, could and should have been shared much earlier, perhaps preventing, or at least reducing the severity of a financial crisis in November that left many local governments in peril of not being able to make payrolls.

Tuesday's report not only confirms the complaints of Mr. Inzer and others, but says the team of SBA officials who were discussing potential problems as early as last August also withheld critical information from their own trustees: Gov. Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Attorney General Bill McCollum.

"Violence against union members", Ya gotta problem wit dat?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "President George W. Bush has been stepping up his campaign lately for Congress to pass a free-trade agreement with Colombia. He deserves an enthusiastic assist from Florida's delegation. ... Critics of the Colombia deal have cited violence against union members there as a reason to reject it." Phooey say the editors:

Among Florida's senators, Republican Mel Martinez has endorsed the agreement. Democrat Bill Nelson, who has voted for other trade deals, hasn't made up his mind on this one. With Congress under the control of Democrats, his support is crucial. So is the backing of Florida's Democratic House members.

Portability

"A lawyer for three new Florida homeowners has filed a lawsuit in state court challenging the portability portion of the Save Our Homes Amendment." "Lawsuit challenges portability proposal". See also "Florida's Amendment 1 Save Our Homes portability sparks lawsuit".

No early start

"A proposal to move up the starting date of legislative sessions by a month to early February died Wednesday in the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission." "Panel shoots down bid to start Legislature earlier".

Medicaid mess

"At the same time that Florida's share of Medicaid money is declining, the number of poor families on Medicaid is increasing .... The Medicaid shortage was caused by an unexpected, one-time influx of money into the state to help it recover from the seven hurricanes that struck during 2004 and 2005. As a result of the intense reconstruction efforts, per-capita income in the state sharply increased during the 2004-2006 period". "Florida losing millions in federal Medicaid money".

Early voting

The Sun-Sentinel editors argue that "early voting — both in Florida and around the nation — has pitfalls that have been exposed during the current primary campaign." "Dump early voting in primaries".

Satisfaction

"The government-affairs chief of a Muslim group and a civil-liberties attorney said Wednesday they were satisfied that Attorney General Bill McCollum is not spreading religious bias by showing state employees a film about terrorism." "Groups satisfied with McCollum's response to film about terrorism".

DCF

"The Department of Children & Families will continue using foster children to improve the troubled system, despite the arrest of a top agency employee who used one of those children to create pornographic pictures, agency head Bob Butterworth said Wednesday." "Child welfare agency chief pledges to continue changes".

Crist's proposed solutions rely too much on high-risk, fiscally imprudent strategies. Some of his priorities are well-placed. Others seem shockingly contradictory. A review of Crist's bigger budget initiatives reveals that the governor has left the Legislature with a lot of work to do.

As Charlie looks adoringly into McCain's eyes

For "the 'send 'em all home' crowd"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "You can almost hear the 'send 'em all home' crowd working themselves into an uproar over a projection showing a tripling of the U.S. Latino population by 2050. ... The study by the Pew Research Center predicts that, 42 years from now, Hispanics could amount to 29 percent of the total U.S. population."Predicted surge in Hispanic population doesn't tell whole demographic story". More: "82% of population growth will come from immigration".

"'Taxation is complicated,' Bense said." 'Ya reckon?

"Arguing that the Amendment 1 property tax cut did not go far enough, members of a powerful commission that has the unique ability to place issues directly on the ballot is moving ahead with a series of deeper property tax reductions."

On Tuesday, a subcommittee of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission debated a measure that would exempt 25 percent of the value of homes as well as nonhomesteaded residences in exchange for a one-percentage-point increase in the state sales tax. It would also place a 5 percent cap on property assessment increases. Another measure would replace $8 billion in school property taxes by eliminating many of the exemptions from the sales tax.

It's a regular head scratcher

On Monday, the Finance and Taxation Committee approved a cap on the amount of taxes and fees that could be collected by state and local governments. The increases would be limited to population and inflation growth and the cap could only be broken with approval from voters. ...

But the difficulty of the commission's task was underscored Tuesday when the Finance and Taxation Committee got bogged down on the intricacies of the two latest property tax plans, leading committee members to delay a decisions on the measures until their Feb. 25 meeting.

Sin taxes

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, has introduced a bill to raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes by $1. ... Increasing the cigarette tax is worthy of consideration so long as the money is used to help treat indigent Florida residents with diseases caused by smoking. The legislation should specify - and guarantee - that the money will go to the 40 safety-net hospitals that provide 97 percent of the state's charity care. These hospitals are facing a reduction in funds because of the state's gloomy revenue picture." "Increase Cigarette Tax To Help Hospitals".

Why is this Palm Beacher smiling?

Mr. Crist goes to DC

"Crist went to Washington on Tuesday with a list of federal priorities he wants the state's congressmen to address and left with a lengthy list of state issues they want him to consider." "D.C. lawmakers and Crist exchange requests for help".

Education agenda

"The flexibility to add students in excess of class size requirements is one of a number of proposals the Florida Legislature will be considering during its 2008 regular session, which opens March 4."

Other major education issues on the Legislature's agenda include bills that would require teacher misconduct to be fully investigated, expand a voucher program for poor chidren, permit single-gender classes and schools, and ban students from wearing low-slung pants that let their underwear show.

Perhaps the biggest education issue on the Legislature's agenda, however, will be class size, which has been hotly debated almost every year since 2002 when voters put class size limits in the Florida Constitution through a citizen initiative.

"Trustees weren't told about meetings concerning troubled securities for months"

"Key managers at a government-run fund knew they had a crisis brewing with questionable securities at least two months before they alerted stakeholders or their own bosses, new records suggest." "Fund didn't share worries".

Back to court

"An unheeded warning that the Amendment 1 property tax cut is vulnerable to legal challenge is about to be tested in court. A lawyer for three new Florida homeowners has filed a suit in state court questioning the provision in Amendment 1 that allows people to carry accrued tax savings under Save Our Homes to a new home - a concept known as 'portability.'" "Portability faces challenge".

Whatever it takes

"A former GOP state lawmaker from Pensacola will be the secretary of Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday. Holly Benson has spent the past year heading the Department of Business and Professional Regulation." "Ex-GOP lawmaker Benson to lead state health agency".

"Benson led efforts to rewrite the state's Medicaid plan that provides health insurance for the poorest of the poor, a program championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush. The plan involved pilot programs that used flexibility in federal regulations to try and wring more savings from greater use of managed care networks. Not long after coming into office, Crist announced that the experiment wasn't working and would not be expanded to the rest of the state." Remarkably, Benson is more than happy to flip-flop on this:

Benson said today that she agreed with Crist's evaluation.

Wild, wild life

"Majestic cranes may make their way here", "Crist visits Washington seeking funds to restore River of Grass" and "Sick manatee rescued from Wakulla".

"Amendment slated for 2008 ballot"

Discussion on gay-marriage ban heats up"".

HD 103

"Oscar Braynon II, who first plunged into the world of politics at age 15, will go to Tallahassee as the next state representative for District 103 after defeating former Opa-locka Mayor Myra Taylor in a special election Tuesday. Braynon will fill out the remaining term of Wilbert ''Tee'' Holloway, who left the Legislature in November 2007 when Gov. Charlie Crist appointed him to fill a vacancy on the Miami-Dade School Board. The legislative seat comes before voters again in November." "Miami Gardens' Braynon wins state House race".

Mel waiting for directions from Dubya

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "To bring our nation back into line with international law and our own moral code, some members of Congress are trying once again to outlaw any techniques that meet the definition of torture. A section of the intelligence authorization bill passed by the House, largely along party lines, would clearly and unequivocally bar the use of any interrogation tactic not authorized by the U.S. Army Field Manual by the CIA and civilian contractors."

Whether the field manual provision survives in the intelligence authorization bill is up to the Senate, which is expected to take up the measure in the coming weeks. Senators should ignore President Bush's promised a veto. This is a vote of conscience.

Mr. Preznit, how high should I jump?

To his credit, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., will support the measure. A spokesman said that through Nelson's work on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, he has come to the conclusion that using the field manual tactics exclusively is in our nation's best interests and best represents what we stand for.

Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, however, has not made a decision. We urge him to draw a clear line between the way the United States comports itself with prisoners and how Fidel Castro does.

The delegate thing

"A prominent civil rights leader [NAACP chairman Julian Bond] has told the Democratic National Committee that refusing to seat delegates from Florida and Michigan would disenfranchise both states' minority communities." "NAACP Head Wants Barred Delegates Seated".

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "The Democratic National Committee made a boneheaded decision when it stripped Florida and Michigan of all of their delegates to this summer's national convention. But the time to have reversed course was before Jan. 29, not now." And they have a point.

Now that presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are in a tight race for the nomination, some are demanding the delegates won by Sen. Clinton in Florida and Michigan be allowed to count to her total. They argue that not doing so disenfranchises voters.

They are right. The voters are being disenfranchised. But rules are rules, the DNC told us, and having penalized Michigan and Florida for not following them, the DNC must now stick to its guns.

After all, Clinton's was the only name on the ballot in Michigan. How is that an election? And there was no campaigning in Florida. If Clinton, Obama and former Sen. John Edwards had aggressively campaigned in the state, the outcome might have been different. Democratic voters knew going into the polls that the Florida primary was a beauty contest, and its results need to stay that way.

Some are whispering "lawsuit." If that occurs, Florida could be at the center of election controversy again. And we can do without the drama.

His spend-now, worry-later bridge also misleads taxpayers who aren't paying close attention. For months Crist's big emphasis has been on tax cuts for property owners; specifically, cuts in tax revenue for local governments.

But his budget violates the spirit of promised cuts by increasing the state's property-tax bite for schools by $338 million. That increase could reduce the small tax reduction some property owners expect to see next year.

Third stooge gets a challenger

"Annette Taddeo, a Colombia-born business executive, told The Miami Herald Saturday she will challenge Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for her seat in the U.S. Congress. ... Taddeo's move adds the last piece to a high-stakes Democratic Party election-year strategy to unseat the three incumbent South Florida Republican Cuban-American lawmakers: Lincoln Diaz-Balart, his brother Mario and Ros-Lehtinen." "Herald: Ros-Lehtinen latest to face a challenger".

"They don't know how to think their way out of a paper bag"

"The Florida Department of Education held its final public hearing Monday on new science standards that for the first time require evolution to be taught in the state's public schools."

You will not believe what this guy is saying. Go here to find out.

"I'm a Christian who believes that God created the world in seven days," said Julie Williams, who came from Perry in the Panhandle to speak against the standards. "There are a lot of proven facts in the Bible." ...

She said the current "political meltdown over Darwinian theory" was proof that too many people had received a poor-quality science education.

She noted that the school districts with some of the lowest science scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test were the ones complaining loudest about the new standards.

"Do we want these boards setting science policy in Florida? I think not." ...

Florida, [Christopher Parkinson, a biology professor at University of Central Florida,] added, needs better science education because too many students arrive in college unprepared. "They don't understand science," Parkinson added. "They don't know how to think their way out of a paper bag."

At a press conference in front of Brevard County's GOP headquarters on Monday, Posey's most seasoned Republican opponent, state Rep. Stan Mayfield of Vero Beach, withdrew from the race and endorsed Posey. Mayfield said he made the move to avoid the kind a primary battle that might have weakened the GOP's chances in the November general election. ...

The impact of the state party's move wasn't lost on Alan Bergman of Indialantic, one of three other Republicans -- all political newcomers -- challenging Posey for the seat.

He ain't no "political analyst"

Mike Thomas: "I am not a political analyst." You got that right. Anyway, he asks us to "consider this scenario, which no longer seems so far-fetched:"

Barack Obama goes into the convention having won the majority of primaries and delegates. But he doesn't have enough delegates to win the nomination.

And so the superdelegates -- a group of politicians and political insiders -- go into their star chamber and pick Hillary Clinton.

The fallout not only would cost Democrats the November election but would haunt them for many elections to come.

Many blacks in Florida were blocked from voting when they erroneously popped on lists of convicted felons.

Many more who did vote had their ballots tossed out for technical errors -- for example, writing in Al Gore's name as well as punching it on the ballot. The problem was compounded by antiquated machines in rural counties.

More than half the rejected Florida votes in 2000 were cast by black voters. In its report, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights referred to "injustice, ineptitude and inefficiency." ...

And so consider the fallout if eight years later, Democratic Party bosses basically do the same thing that they accused the Republicans of doing. They defy the will of the voters, including the vast majority of blacks, and rig the election for their candidate.

"Goebbels would be proud"

"Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and Muslim leaders will meet today to address concerns that McCollum showed the controversial film Obsession to his staff during work hours in state buildings."

McCollum sent an e-mail to his 500 employees in January, urging them to attend one of three screenings of the film in order to understand "the terrorist threat to Florida and the West by radical Islam." Employees taped up posters of the crescent moon and star of Islam imposed over the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

Muslim leaders from the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles and the Council of American Islamic Relations describe the film as an "anti-Muslim propaganda film."

"We are gravely alarmed that a respectable, high-level official such as yourself would be promoting such inflammatory anti-Muslim propaganda through your office, " wrote MPAC executive director Salam Al Marayati on Jan. 23. "The office that hate crime victims turn to for legal aid and justice is itself igniting the fire of bias and fear through such events."

McCollum said the UF administrator "has chilled free speech on the UF campus."

"It's one thing for Bill McCollum to defend free speech at a university campus. But it's another for him to endorse this anti-Muslim film and make it available during work, on taxpayer money," said Ahmed Bedier, executive director of Tampa's Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"Staff asked for it," said Bill Stewart, assistant deputy chief of staff for McCollum. But the e-mail to the staff about the film said McCollum had presented the film to private groups. In August, McCollum praised the film at a screening for about 200 people in government and business which included Adam Hasner, now the majority leader in the state House, and Orlando lawyer Jonathan Kilman, counsel to Charlie Crist during his campaign.

men in traditional Middle Eastern dress burn an American flag while Middle Eastern music plays. The planes fly into the twin towers. Bleeding people run from the train station in Madrid and from the subway bombings in London. Peaceful scenes of Muslims at market and prayer are interspersed with violent scenes and fanatical speeches of extremists advocating violence. ...

Jack Shaheen, an Oxford University research scholar and author of four books on racism, stereotyping and propaganda, describes the film as "very convincing."

"Goebbels would be proud. This film has a place in cinema history with the racist film Birth of a Nation and the Nazi film Triumph of the Will because it so cleverly advances lies to vilify a people."

Copes, the spokeswoman for McCollum: "With this film, you don't get the best, most complete information on terrorism, but it's probably more than you started with."

Assault weapons

The Sun-Sentinel editors believe that "the assault weapons proposal filed in the Florida Legislature is a good starting point. What's really important in the proposal aren't the increased penalties that call for a minimum mandatory 25-year-prison term for using a semiautomatic or automatic weapon in a crime. There is already a 15-year penalty in place for that, so its questionable whether the added years would really be a deterrent. What's more important is that the bill would be an additional tool for prosecutors going after people who use false identification to acquire the weapons — and also those who knowingly and willfully sell to people using a false or invalid ID. Buyers and sellers could face up to 15 years in prison and face up to $25,000 in fines, greatly enhanced from existing penalties." "Assault weapon bill is a start, at least".

FCAT Follies

"Even schools regarded as stellar performers by the state will fall short of U.S. standards, chiefly because of the different ways the FCAT is used to measure achievement." "FCAT scores that spell success in Florida likely to fail federal standards".

Brilliant Mistake

"The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission moved forward a measure for the November ballot that would ask voters to tie government growth to the inflation rate after it is adjusted for population and student enrollment growth." "Panel looks to tie government growth to inflation rate".

"If cleared by a second committee, the proposed state constitutional amendment would go to the full Taxation and Budget Reform Commission for a vote on whether to put it on the November ballot." "State panel wants ballot item to limits local taxes". See also "Plan would give voters a budget veto".

Skimpy reasoning

Scott Maxwell: "Normally, these people would rather pass a cactus through their small intestine than a new tax. But apparently the rules change when we're talking about something of which they disapprove. In this case, we're talking strip clubs. (So maybe we should clarify to describe this as one of those things about which politicians claim they disapprove.)" "Why it might soon cost more to see less".

Local government investment pool

"Florida chose Federated Investors Inc. on Tuesday to take over management of its local government investment pool, hoping the private investment firm will help reassure investors who withdrew more than $15 billion in a panic last year." "Federated Investors to manage local government investment pool".

CD 13

"GOP seeks to avoid repeat of 13th District primary battle". On a related subject, see "Touch screens innocent, but already convicted" ("Results just in: The touch-screen voting machines that the losing candidate says cost her a Florida congressional seat work just fine. Yet touch screens are headed for the scrap heap.")

Same old ...

FPL "wants to build three turbines on 6.3 acres in Blind Creek Park, just north of the nuclear plant. The park is oceanfront land bought for preservation with state and county money. "

FPL is trying to rush a state decision at a Thursday hearing in Tallahassee before the Acquisition and Restoration Council, an advisory board. A decision could come on Friday. If the council approves the plan, Gov. Crist and the Florida Cabinet would cast the final vote. ...

This latest tactic, designed to keep residents from making any public comment, is more of the same. Gov. Crist believes in renewable energy. But FPL is flashing the wrong kind of "green power."

Sales tax hike?

"A former Republican Miami legislator rolls out a massive tax proposal for the November ballot today for his fellow members of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. Carlos Lacasa, an attorney, wants to give homeowners and businesses a 25 percent exemption on the value of their property and make up the lost revenue with a 1-cent hike in the 6 cent state sales tax." "Taxation and Budget Reform Commission hears property tax plans".

Raw political courage

"Add Gov. Charlie Crist to the list of people unwilling to accept the Cincinnati Reds moving their spring training from Sarasota to Arizona." "Crist bats for baseball".

'Glades

Joel Engelhardt: "Undermining the Everglades".

The Orlando Sentinel editors are at it again

Recall the Orlando Sentinel's editorial earlier this week, titled "Fattening Up: Local and state governments are overly generous to employees", when the editors actually wrote the following:

While businesses cut back on health-insurance benefits and replaced expensive pensions with 401(k) plans, few governments have done the same.

bringing pension plans and expensive vacation and leave policies in line with businesses.

The Sentinel's editorials are decided by the newspaper's 12-member editorial board. Their backgrounds, detailed above, are diverse, as are their opinions. The newspaper's editor and publisher are on the board, too, but usually participate only in broad, philosophical discussions.

The board meets each weekday to thrash out the issues of the day. Generally, an editorial writer proposes a stand, which should reflect thorough research and weighing of the facts.

The board then debates the issue before nailing down a position. After hearing all sides of the issue, the board always should be asking itself: "What is in the community's best interest?" ...

The daily discussions also reflect broad, philosophical positions that we have arrived at in earlier discussions. For instance, we don't debate anew each day whether we want to protect the Everglades or raise the standards in our schools.

The latest is that of Tampa's freshman U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor.

Other names of possible Democratic candidates for Martinez's seat in 2010 include Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, state House Minority Leader Dan Gelber, former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis, and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

Charlie's folly

Charlie's self-promotion scheme may backfire because, "when homeowners get their property-tax bills in the fall, they may wonder what happened to the $240 cut politicians promised them for approving a tax amendment in January." "Promised $240 tax cut likely to be eclipsed on many Florida homeowners' bills".

Better than nothing?

"The future of 22 of Florida's delegates to the Democratic National Convention might well depend on the meaning of the word 'shall.'"

So says Jon Ausman, the dean of Florida's Democratic National Committee delegation, who is launching another salvo in the battle between state and national party leaders over the 210 delegates that the national party yanked after Florida scheduled its primary early.

Instead, he has combed the rules of the DNC and found what he says is a violation: the DNC committee that penalized the state for leapfrogging its primary ahead of Super Tuesday did not have the authority to break the rule that says DNC members and Democratic members of Congress, so-called superdelegates, shall be seated as delegates. Florida Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Corrine Brown are among Florida's 22 superdelegates, who can support whomever they choose.

"There's no provision whatsoever where the Rules and Bylaws Committee has any authority by whatever stretch of the imagination to say members of Congress and DNC members cannot be delegates," said Ausman, one of the delegates at stake.

While "The People's Governor" strides upon the national stage ...

"As many as 60,000 Florida students could get shut out of state universities during the next few years because of enrollment caps and budget cuts, a state education group predicts." "Florida state universities could turn away 60,000 students by 2012, report says".

"More hearings may come soon"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The Florida Senate committee hearings on property insurance may have uncovered more questions than answers last week. Lawmakers still are searching for ways to stabilize insurance rates for Florida homeowners. More hearings may come soon." "Some answers for Florida homeowners".

Strange bedfellows

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "When Republicans and Democrats approved a plan last year to dramatically expand Florida's hurricane catastrophe fund, increasing taxpayers' exposure to risk in the process, the idea was that the compromise was worth it."

The trade-off, the thinking went, would be a meaningful reduction in homeowners' insurance rates across the state.

That the anticipated lowering of premiums hasn't happened is the source of continuing acrimony between state officials and industry representatives. They insisted that they didn't promise the reductions politicians promoted.

In an effort to break the impasse — or at least improve the likelihood of an eventual solution — Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and House Speaker Marco Rubio are proposing some changes that, while not without some political risk, acknowledge realistically that homeowners must pay more for the privilege of living in a high-risk state.

Cuba

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Cubans are making good on an opening presented to them by Raul Castro to speak up and engage in a debate. How far the country's communist leaders are willing to let this debate go is a major question mark. But if Cubans are willing to speak now, risk potential reprisal later, then the global community needs to take note and act accordingly. Especially the United States, which has sat on its hands for way too long." "Public criticism of Cuban government warrants notice by Washington".

She doth protest too much"

"Ginny Brown-Waite: I know Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but let's debate tax reform".

Service taxes redux

"The great property tax debate of 2008 continues. Former Senate President John McKay, a Bradenton Republican, faces a preliminary vote this afternoon over his plan to wipe out $8 billion in local school taxes and replace the money by closing tax loopholes and taxing some services. A key panel of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission takes up the measure, and a host of others, at 1 p.m. today in the Senate Office Building." "Property tax debate far from over".

No property taxes if ...

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission has come up with a simple move that could cut taxes, control growth, sustain agriculture and protect open lands all at once. The panel recently unanimously voted to propose a state constitutional amendment that would eliminate property taxes on land that owners agree never to develop. The measure will go before voters next November." "Property Tax Break Proposal Could Save Natural Florida".

Cutting courts?

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida's court system today is not your father's court system. There was a time when judges did little more than preside at trials and render judgments, but that model tends to recycle problems rather than solve them. "

Today's state courts have adapted to meet modern needs, with drug treatment options, subsidized divorce mediation programs and innovative court structures. When the time for budget-cutting comes, it would behoove lawmakers in Tallahassee and local county officials to keep in mind that if the problem-solving elements of the state courts are eliminated, Florida will be buying itself much more expensive social and criminal justice problems down the road.

"At their own peril"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Lawmakers who think they've escaped the wrath of voters simply because of the setback suffered last week by the so-called Hometown Democracy movement do so at their own peril." "Our position: Legislators would be smart to OK alternative to Hometown Democracy".

Gambling

"It's shaping up as a breakout year for Florida's growing gambling business." "Times: State gaming on a roll".

More regressive sales taxes?

"A Miami member of the powerful commission that can put tax issues directly before voters will ask the panel Monday to approve a multibillion dollar property tax cut plan. The proposal by Carlos Lacasa would let homeowners and businesses exempt 25 percent of the value of their property from taxes in exchange for a penny increase in the six-cent sales tax." "Panel member to propose super-exemption on taxes".

Tally Tiger Bay

"U.S. Rep. David Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, is the featured speaker at the Capital Tiger Bay Club luncheon. ... Tiger Bay is a non-partisan group that meets a couple times a month to hear candidates and public officials discuss political, business and social issues." "Chairman of House Appropriations Committee to speak in Tallahassee".

"An ironic twist"

"In an ironic twist, the state's reliance on the FCAT and other standardized tests to boost student achievement and hold schools more accountable, is forcing the district to take back teachers it deemed incompetent."

In a few cases in which teachers have been fired for poor performance, the district essentially ignored student test scores. That prompted a district court of appeals to call for the reinstatement of those teachers. The court cited state law requiring that student performance play a starring role in how teachers are evaluated.

The decision can be expensive. The district is paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in back pay to fired teachers whose students' FCAT performance wasn't considered in their dismissals.