The Friday afternoon news dump

Charlie was apparently AWOL at the Friday afternoon data dump announcing that "Florida's jobless rate hit 4.9 percent in March, the highest level in more than four years, the state Agency for Workforce Innovation said Friday. The state lost 56,600 jobs since last March." "Florida's jobless rate rises to 4.9 percent".

It ain't your great grandfather's Republican party

"For years, ultrasound machines have been powerful weapons in the religious right's arsenal to stop women from having abortions. Now conservative Florida lawmakers are pulling a page out of antiabortion activists' playbook and trying to make them part of state law. ... The ultrasound bill Traviesa [R-Wingnutville] sponsored passed the House this month by a vote of 70-45. In the Senate, a similar bill, filed by Majority Leader Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden, is awaiting approval by the full chamber." "Abortion bills about rights, not religion, backers say".

Concerning a related piece of wingnuttery over in the Senate, the Dems are responding creatively to the RPOFer attempt to protect the teaching of "creationism" in public schools: "'We're talking about academic freedom,' said Deutch. 'In an abstinence-only sex education program, a teacher may wish to answer a student's question and provide additional information that may protect a life or stop an unwanted pregnancy.' But the Republican-led Senate wouldn't buy it." "Florida Senate rejects free speech protection for sex education teachers".

"The Republican-led Senate wouldn't buy it" - well, what do you expect: it ain't your great grandfather's Republican party.

"State would lease Alligator Alley to itself"

"The state would lease Alligator Alley to itself under a plan proposed by a powerful GOP senator late Thursday evening." "Alligator Alley could be cash cow".

Thank goodness for these "powerful GOP senators" and their brilliant ideas.

Then again, anything would be better than ... believe it or not ... privatizing it: "The state could receive between $600 million and $1.6 billion in the future by issuing bonds for the only major east-west highway across South Florida instead of privatizing it, accounting firm KPMG concluded."

More from the "values" crowd

"The budget is the clearest statement of values and priorities the Florida Legislature makes each year. Lawmakers get to decide how to spend your tax money. You get decide whether they value what you value. In the budget proposed by the House of Representatives, two figures stand out."

The first is $418-million. That's how much money the House wants to spend next year to build more prison beds.

The second number is zero. That's how much money the House would spend next year to help inmates deal with drug and alcohol abuse.

"Government in the shadows"

"It's government in the shadows, according to critics of Florida lawmakers' behind-the-scenes negotiations shutting out the public and even Democratic elected officials from budget talks. Budget agreements between the two chambers normally undergo a tiered process in which lower-level appropriations chairmen wheel and deal at public conferences where residents are allowed to give input."

Not so this year. With a $5 billion budget hole to plug, lawmakers up for reelection in November would prefer to keep quiet.

"This is absolutely distressing that so many critical aspects of government decisions are being made without anybody watching," said House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber, a Miami Beach lawyer in charge of the chamber's minority party.

House GOP leaders contend that this year's private negotiations are just business as usual.

"It's the season where people make unfounded allegations," said Jill Chamberlain, spokeswoman for House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami. "We feel the process is very open and everybody had an opportunity to participate and will continue to have so in the (budget) conference."

Late Thursday evening, Senate budget chief Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey, and her House counterpart, Ray Sansom, R-Destin, revealed that they had agreed to key issues including education funding and the state land-buying program, Florida Forever.

That was news to lawmakers on the conference committees assigned to those areas and to lobbyists representing the affected entities.

The secret deals defy Gov. Charlie Crist's priority of sunshine in government.

In his first executive order, Crist created the Office of Open Government to assist the public's access to records and information about the state's sunshine laws.

Surely you're not serious?

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "The Florida Department of Transportation's track record on commuter rail services is a dubious one at best. In recent weeks, DOT has bullied South Florida officials for seeking new revenue for Tri-Rail and has pushed a questionable deal for the state's largest freight line." "Florida Department of Transportation needs to take mass transit more seriously".

"Anti-bullying bill"

"After stirring an unexpected amount of debate over an unsuccessful amendment regarding gender issues, the anti-bullying bill unanimously passed the full Florida House on Friday." "Florida House unanimously passes anti-bullying legislation".

Swap?

"This spring's property-tax end game in the capital started Friday, with a prominent senator and a procession of business leaders inveighing against a proposal to cut property taxes but replace them with taxes on sales and, possibly, services." "Bid to cut property taxes, raise sales tax stirs up capital".

"A powerful state senator held a one-man tribunal Friday to point out the pitfalls of a proposed constitutional amendment to swap some school-district property taxes for higher sales taxes. Sen. Mike Haridopolos, a Melbourne Republican who chairs the Senate Finance and Tax Committee, had tried earlier to persuade the state Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to explain what they meant when they required legislators to find the money to replace the $9 billion for schools if voters approve the amendment in November." "Powerful senator condemns tax swap".

Cheaper

"The House early Saturday passed a massive plan to make bare-bones health insurance available that wouldn't cover all illnesses, but also wouldn't cost as much. A less wide-ranging proposal has already passed the Senate, but the goal of both plans is to provide cheaper coverage so that some of the nearly 4 million uninsured Floridians might be able to get insurance." "House passes health insurance bill".

Water

Kenric Ward: "Amid the current wasteful, development-driven system, homeowners are squeezed by ever-tightening and evermore Byzantine irrigation rules. Gov. Charlie Crist ratcheted up the rhetoric this month in calling for statewide restrictions."

But without a commensurate commitment to reclaiming the cascading flows of runoff water, Crist’s “conservation” plan — if one can call it that — merely has Florida circling the drain. Clearer, less-compromised thinking is needed.

As the water picture darkens, calls for desalination are rising. When Florida’s construction business returns, expect those calls to grow louder. Yet desalination, whether from the ocean or the increasingly salty Floridan Aquifer, is no panacea. Tampa has struggled mightily with the reliability of its municipal plant, and its energy costs are enormous.

What to do? Here are four alternative ideas for the short- and long-term:

• Better manage the abundant water supplies we already have.

• Restrict growth according to our communities’ ability to provide affordable, quality water.

• Substantially raise impact fees on new development to fully support the cost of supply.

• Repair the state’s fractured water-delivery system by plugging the political and infrastructural cracks that allow our most precious resource to keep slipping through our fingers.

"Shop a little faster"

"Florida families will have to shop a little faster if they want to take advantage of the tax-free period for buying school clothes next summer. " "Budget cuts in Florida eat into tax holidays".

Off topic

The Miami Herald editorial board: "News from our Department of Poetic Justice: On April 15 -- the tax filing deadline -- the House of Representatives voted to bar the Internal Revenue Service from using private debt collection agencies to gather unpaid taxes. The measure would shut down a money-wasting IRS program that hires private firms to find delinquent taxpayers and collect debts. Problem is, the program costs more than the money that is collected. Yes, you read that right." "IRS doesn't need private tax collectors".

"Voice of the People Act"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Democracy is messy. Listening to competing viewpoints can be time-consuming and tedious. Speakers are not always articulate, diplomatic or coherent. That means government meetings will never function with auto-line efficiency. And that's just fine. Elected officials should make it a priority to listen to citizens, not shut them out and vote as quickly as possible. Thus, the importance of the 'Voice of the People Act,' sponsored by, among others, Rep. Michael Scionti, a Tampa Democrat." "Making Sure Citizens Are Heard".

FCAT Follies

"In hopes of damping 'FCAT frenzy,' as well as easing teacher and student angst, the Legislature is expected this spring to approve a major revamp of Florida's public school testing program — from the body of knowledge students are expected to learn to when they take the exam." "Florida Legislature poised to reform dreaded FCAT".

So much for corporate "altruism"

"A corporate gift of enough land for a new $200-million University of South Florida campus in Lakeland has been lauded for its public benefits. But the company donating the land, the Williams Acquisition Holding Co., stands to reap some benefits of its own." "Donating land to a college can become a windfall".

Another Young Challenger

"Mayor Bob Hackworth confirmed Wednesday he will run for the seat in Congress held by Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores. Hackworth also said that he changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. He said he'll address the reason for the switch and other specifics of his candidacy Tuesday at 5 p.m. outside City Hall in Dunedin." "Dunedin mayor switches parties, eyes Rep. Young's seat".

Top teachers to go without

"A national program that rewards more than 11,000 of Florida's top teachers for continuing their education and going through a rigorous training program is slated to be slashed by lawmakers despite warnings from Gov. Charlie Crist to leave it alone. The Senate and House have each passed bills that would gut the program, one which has enjoyed widespread support in the educational community." "House, Senate move bills that threaten teacher merit pay".

"A no-brainer"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Environmentally conscious Floridians don't need another reason to encourage their elected officials to safeguard wildlife and wilderness lands. Protecting Florida's natural beauty should be a no-brainer." "Protecting State's Natural Beauty Provides Major Financial Rewards".

Not "completely shameless"

"It's good to see that Congress isn't completely shameless when it comes to sneaking pork into the federal budget. The U.S. Senate called on the Justice Department to investigate a budget "earmark" that funneled $10 million to connect Coconut Road to Interstate 75 in Southwest Florida -- without members of Congress even knowing about it." "The U.S. Senate is right to ask for probe of outrageous road project".

Too bad the Sentinel can't find the time to praise this other Senate investigation: Bernie Sanders on Florida "Slavery"

Here ... you do it

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Each of the past three years, Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats has had more child abuse cases to investigate. Each of those years, the Legislature has given him no more money to do it. Now the situation has reached a breaking point as lawmakers threaten to cut his budget. If that happens, Coats said, he will have to give the responsibility for child abuse investigations back to the state. When legislators act irresponsibly, this is the only prudent response true public servants can make." "Cuts put abused kids at risk".

Bucher termed out

"Pronounced "booker," the 49-year-old Democrat from West Palm Beach has just two weeks left before being forced out due to term limits. She will leave without a significant piece of legislation to her name." "Bucher nearly done holding GOP to the fire".

Read her story and you'll be less than impressed with the over hyped background of "Karl Rove's Florida Frankenstein".

"Top-to-bottom revamping"

"Complaining that today's kids may not be learning what they need to know to get a job, the state House unanimously passed Friday an education bill that mandates a top-to-bottom revamping of the education children should get in public schools." "Education faces overhaul in Florida".

More of those "state budget restraints"

"Four years ago, Florida jumped on the bandwagon to create a nationwide health information network that would allow doctors and hospitals to share the electronic medical records of patients -- replacing an outdated paper-based system that still relies on fax machines and snail mail for the exchange of patient files. But state budget restraints over the last two years have slowed development of an electronic system in Florida, leaving regional organizations that are working on their corners of the network largely to fend for themselves." "Money short for records network".

There's an idea

"It's time for the Iraqis to pay for the reconstruction of their country and the on-going presence of U.S. troops there, says U.S. Rep. Ron Klein." "Klein says Iraqis should pay for rebuilding their country".

Why is this even an issue?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Rep. Geraldine Thompson took up Daniel's fight in the Legislature and is appealing to Speaker Marco Rubio and other leaders to waive the House rules and consider Daniel's case before the session ends in two weeks. House members, please, don't turn your backs on Daniel." "Legislators should approve payment to Orange student disfigured by pit bull".

Quibble later

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "There's time for quibbling about whether homeless assessment centers recommended by an advisory board should be hidden in industrial parks or given visibility in urban neighborhoods. It's enough for now to fully commit to an approach that aims at nothing less than the eradication of homelessness." "Save homelessness plan from bureaucratic death".

Translated, the bill wants creationism - disguised as "intelligent design" - to have equal billing in classrooms. The bill is a fraud. The staff analysis notes that "there has never been a case in Florida where a public school teacher or ... student has claimed that they have been discriminated against based on their science teaching or science course work." The bill claims not to "promote any religious doctrine," but of course it does. It attempts to promote the fundamentalist Protestant view of how life developed.

Here's more of the staff analysis: "It is unclear ... if a student's performance in a science class will be measured upon his or her own view or position on evolution, or by a consistent standard applied to each student." That would be a real problem, as opposed to the non-problem this legislation claims to fix. Killing the bill would solve the problem.

Republican Sen. Ronda Storms said that Democratic proposal went too far and had it voted down on the Senate floor Thursday, saying the sex-ed measure not only didn't belong on her evolution bill, it could lead to ``prematurely deflowering kindergartners and first- and second-graders.''

Sen. Ted Deutch, a Boca Raton Democrat, countered that the sex-education bill had to be ''age appropriate'' and that it would help stop sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

Adapting Storms' language in previous evolution debates, Deutch said the bill simply gives students "the opportunity to ask about the scientific information.''

Her answer, instead, came straight from the text of her bill: 'You may teach, specifically: `scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding biological and chemical evolution in connection with teaching any prescribed curriculum regarding chemical or biological evolution.' ''

Storms at one point added: ''The bottom line is if it is not scientifically based and if it is not scientifically relevant, the answer is no. If it is, the answer is yes.'' She also pointed out that the bill says ''you may not teach religious doctrine.'' When pressed about intelligent design by Democratic Sen. Nan Rich of Sunrise, Storms said: ``Asked and answered.''

Swap

"An amendment that would repeal most school property taxes but require the Legislature to find replacement money was criticized Friday by a Senate leader as well as advocates for education and businesses including agriculture and tourism. The proposed state constitutional amendment has recieved preliminary approval but goes before the state's 25-member tax commission for a final vote next week, and at least one former supporter has changed his mind. " "Senate leader stirs opposition to tax swap".

Get a life

"Supporters of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Florida began a 10-city campaign Thursday to counteract a major argument mounted against the proposal — that it would infringe on rights of elderly couples who choose to live together..." "Campaign for gay-marriage ban seeks to reassure seniors".

"The Florida Coalition to Protect Marriage held several news conferences across the state heralding the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, including one at Beulah Baptist Church in Tampa." "Backers kick off campaign for marriage amendment".

Please, not another hack

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "When former Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Miami attorney Raoul Cantero to the state Supreme Court, many assumed Bush was sending a message to a court he perceived as activist and out-of-bounds by appointing someone with no judicial experience and a career spent representing some of Florida's biggest corporate names. It's a perception Bush never refuted."

Cantero's announcement this week that he plans to step down in September leaves Gov. Charlie Crist with a challenge. As Bush's Republican successor, does Crist choose another justice with Cantero's highly ideological background? Or does he seek out someone with the balance of skills and experience needed for this crucial job and put ideology aside?

The "values" crowd

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "The 2008-09 appropriations bills are not merely a conflict between needy schoolchildren and declining state revenues. They also represent a triumph of the interests of corporations and wealthy investors and politically connected professionals over the needs of schoolchildren." "Legislators put fat cats ahead of schoolkids".

The "Nutz" debate

We've been following Eustis Republican Senator Cary Baker's quest "to allow law enforcement to fine motorists $60 for displaying decorations resembling male genitalia -- commonly dubbed 'truck nutz' -- that attach to a trailer hitch."

Believe it or not, the Republican "Senate is expected to pass the ban next week." "Senate aims to neuter bumpers".

I ain't no urologist, but is it "glans"? Actually, no, I stand clarified: the bill refers to "reproductive glands", which make sense if you have never seen the accessory that is the subject of Republican Baker's efforts.

Fortunately, Republican Senator Cary "Baker made clear his proposal would not affect the decal that shows a 'little boy doing bad things to other vehicles. That's not my issue. My bill refers to a reproduction [sic] of reproductive glands. So, if it doesn't show the glands, it isn't covered. And the little boy decals don't show the glands.'" "Legislator crusades to ban rude 'truck-nutz' from bumpers". Well, that's a relief.

And, as an added bonus, the Republican Senator's bill "would also allow police to stop drivers who display any 'obscene word, image or device.'" "Senate aims to neuter bumpers". More: "Florida Senate amendment takes on truck accessories".

Three-card Monte

"Under Webster's plan, the Lawton Chiles Endowment health care program would spend an estimated $500-million to acquire the 78-mile toll road that cuts across the Everglades from Fort Lauderdale to Naples." "Senator wants endowment fund to lease Alligator Alley".

"Simplistic sound bites"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Sen. John McCain and Gov. Charlie Crist want to suspend collections of federal and state gas taxes this summer. That might sound appealing to motorists whose budgets are stretched thin by the seemingly daily rise in the price of gas, but McCain and Crist need to focus on real solutions instead of simplistic sound bites." "Gax tax proposal: tiny gain, new pain".

"Both parties"?

"A routine ceremonial resolution over a free-trade agreement with Colombia exploded into an angry political spat in the state House of Representatives Wednesday after both parties tried to exploit the issue for election-year gain." "Both parties"? Read this story and decide whether it is even remotely accurate to "both parties tried to exploit the issue for election-year gain"? "Colombia deal leads to legislative spat"

Brilliant

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board explains that Senate version of the "so-called Foreclosure Prevention Act... would let home builders receive hundreds of millions in 'rebates' from taxes they paid up to four years ago during a period of record profits for them. Automakers and other corporations would get tens of millions in tax credits, even though they have not paid enough in taxes to qualify for the rebates." "Pigs at home in Congress".

"There's more than one way to skin a property owner"

"In the past year, Florida legislators and voters both directed local governments to reduce their property taxes. But there's more than one way to skin a property owner."

Service fees are a more insidious way than property taxes to bankroll local governments. Fees aren't subject to the Save Our Homes cap or to legislative- or voter-ordered roll backs.

And piling such fees on residents now makes a mockery of the tax-cutting orders given local governments by legislators and voters. Local leaders should be paying for basic services such as fire protection through property taxes. If they are struggling to balance their budgets, they need to look first at cuts in less essential services, or at ways to operate more efficiently.

Whatever

"The state's sales-tax holiday for hurricane supplies became another victim of Florida's bad budget year and sour economy Thursday." "Florida scraps hurricane-season sales-tax holiday".

Florida Forever

"House leadership has agreed with the Senate to provide $300 million in the upcoming state budget for the Florida Forever land-buying program, according to a House staff member." "Lawmakers give Florida Forever land-buying program $300 million".

Water wars

"A federal proposal that would let Georgia keep more water during droughts instead of letting it eventually flow into Apalachicola Bay means Florida would be "bearing the brunt" of problems created in dry times, Gov. Charlie Crist said Friday." "Fla. Gov. Crist criticizes tri-state water sharing proposal".

Tuff talk

"Crist warned lawmakers Thursday that they would pay a political price if they don't accept his health-insurance plan. House Republicans say he'll have to take their industry-backed plan, too."

His plan would guarantee coverage, regardless of an individual's health, and pay basic doctor and hospitalization fees — though higher-cost treatments would not be included.

But the House wants to create a so-called "marketplace" of options — with the insurance industry determining what will and won't be covered — that would be available to uninsured workers only through their employers.

House members Thursday took up Crist's plan, which the Senate passed unanimously a day earlier, and voted to blend it with their own, setting it up for final passage and a showdown over the differences as soon as today.

As Charlie spins

"Ask the Governor: School funding rose despite budget cuts".

Redo?

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Show Courage, Mr. Speaker: Block University Governance Redo".

Standards?

"A bill that would make standards for reading, math and other public school subjects tougher, more detailed and more relevant at every grade level passed in the House but a procedural dispute over the measure then brought other business in the chamber to a virtual standstill Friday." "Standards bill passes without school grading changes".

Merit?

"A national program that rewards more than 11,000 of Florida's top teachers for continuing their education and going through a rigorous training program is slated to be slashed by lawmakers despite warnings from Gov. Charlie Crist to leave it alone." "House, Senate move bills that threaten teacher merit pay".

Autism

Elisa Cramer: "Senate Bill 2654, which last week unanimously passed its third Senate committee and is now ready for a full vote of the Senate, would require health insurers to cover screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. It also would prohibit insurers from denying, refusing, restricting or terminating coverage of a person with autism. House Bill 1291 would go even further." "Make insurers cover autism".

A real "innovative idea"

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Boy's idea to feed the homeless makes its way through Tallahassee's halls of power".

"As dangerous as sea lice"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Almost two years ago, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales intoned that the government had arrested seven domestic terrorists in Miami for plotting to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago and FBI headquarters in Miami. 'Left unchecked," Mr. Gonzales warned, "these homegrown terrorists may prove to be as dangerous as groups like Al-Qaeda.'"

In fact, the Miami 7 apparently were as dangerous as sea lice. They had no bombs or weapons to carry out this plot. They pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda only at the urging of an FBI informant. In December, a federal jury deadlocked on charges against six and acquitted one. On Tuesday, another jury failed to reach a verdict.

The government now must decide whether to try the men again. That should be an easy decision. At this point, the prosecutors look like bigger clowns than the defendants.

Herrera and the boy's father, Abraham Candelario, filed a lawsuit in 2006 against Ag-Mart, grower of SantaSweet and Ugly Ripe tomatoes, alleging that the pesticides used while Herrera worked in the company's fields during her pregnancy caused their son's birth defects.

The lawsuit claimed that at least three of the chemicals used in the fields were mutagenic, meaning that they caused deformities in lab animals at high doses. Investigations by health officials in Florida and North Carolina did not connect the birth defects to the pesticides.

Last month Ag-Mart agreed to settle the lawsuit after an expert said in a deposition that Carlitos' mother was "heavily exposed" to a "witch's brew" of pesticides during the first trimester of her pregnancy.

Carlitos fussed briefly in court Wednesday but quickly fell asleep on his mother's shoulder while photographers snapped his picture.

ANSTEAD, Judge, specially concurring:

Article I, Section 6, of the Florida Constitution provides:

“The right of employees, by and through a labor organization, to bargain collectively shall not be denied or abridged.”

For the most part, the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over collective bargaining involving private employees. But the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 151, specifically excludes agricultural workers from its provisions. Therefore, the National Labor Relations Board is without jurisdiction to resolve disputes between agricultural workers and their employers. And while there is Florida legislation governing collective bargaining by public employees, there is no such legislation in the private sector.

The appellant, District Lodge 57 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO, claims that the agricultural workers of this state are being deprived of their right to collective bargaining by virtue of the lack of specific legislation nationally or in this state, spelling out and enforcing their rights of collective bargaining as guaranteed by Article I, Section 6, Florida Constitution. Judicial implementation, including a mandatory injunction to compel the employer to bargain, of the right to collective bargaining was sought and property denied in the court below. However, the point raised is not without merit.

The appellee employer, Talisman Sugar Corporation, raises three grounds for denial of relief to the appellant. The first ground asserted is that Section 6 gives no right to collective bargaining to any group.[FN1] This assertion appears contrary to our Supreme Court's statement describing the right to collective bargaining:

“It is a constitutionally protected right which may be enforced by the courts, if not protected by other agencies of government.” [FN2]

The Supreme Court was referring to the right of collective bargaining of public employees before legislation was enacted establishing guidelines for the enforcement of the right. But there can be little doubt the court found there were definite rights involved when the Legislature was challenged:

“The Legislature, having thus entered the field, we have confidence that within a reasonable time it will extend its time and study into this field and, therefore, judicial implementation of the rights in question would be premature at this time. If not, this court will, in an appropriate case, have no choice but to fashion such guidelines by judicial decree in such manner as may seem to the court best adapted to meet the requirements of the constitution, and comply with our responsibility.” [FN3]

The right to collective bargaining by agricultural workers is granted by the same Section 6 as relied on by the public employees.

As a second ground for denying the appellant relief the appellee appropriately relies on the Supreme Court's decision in Dade County Classroom Teachers' Ass'n., Inc. v. Legislature, quoted above, where a similar petition on behalf of public employees was denied by the court. The court ruled that the problem presented was one for legislative attention and not one for the courts.

And the third ground raised by the appellee also has merit. That is the claim that the Supreme Court has specifically held that no right to act as the exclusive bargaining agent is granted the appellant under Section 6.[FN4]

On the basis of the latter two points, the petition was properly dismissed in the court below, and the arguments of the appellant should be directed to the appropriate legislative body, not the courts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FN1. In this proposition appellant relies on Miami Water Works, Local No. 654 v. City of Miami, 157 Fla. 445, 26 So.2d 194 (1946) which has been “explicitly disaffirmed” by the Florida Supreme Court in Cannery, C., D., W. & A. Emp. v. Winter Haven Hosp., Inc., 279 So.2d 23 (Fla.1973) at page 25. Another case relied on by appellant, Sax Enterprises v. Hotel Union, 80 So.2d 602 (Fla.1955), recognized a duty on the part of private employees to “afford to the employer a fair opportunity to engage in negotiations.” Surely, if the employees had a duty to bargain with the employer, the reciprocal duty would rest with the employer to bargain with the employees.

FN2. Dade County Classroom Teachers' Ass'n., Inc. v. Legislature, 269 So.2d 684 (Fla.1972).

FN3. Dade County Classroom Teachers' Ass'n., Inc. v. Legislature, cited above.

FN4. Dade County Classroom Teachers' Ass'n., Inc. v. Ryan, 225 So.2d 903 (Fla.1969).

Yee Haw!

"Florida wasted little time in seeking to get executions back on track after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Kentucky can continue using lethal injection to carry out the death penalty.""Court upholds lethal injection".

Billy boy is a droolin': "Attorney General Bill McCollum asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to allow Florida to proceed with the execution of child killer Mark Dean Schwab, shortly after the high court ruled that lethal injection is not cruel and unusual punishment."

And chain-gang Charlie is looking to burnish his tuff guy bona fides: "Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Crist asked for a 'very short list' of the worst death-row inmates so he can sign his next death warrant." "McCollum seeks go-ahead on Schwab execution". See also "State seeks executions after U.S. court ruling" and "Florida to resume lethal injections".

DThe Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "Support for the death penalty has become so knee-jerk that it's rare to find a candidate for any public office in Florida willing to voice opposition to capital punishment." "The death penalty question".

It is so obvious ...

... even a RPOFER can see it:

"It's easy to find. You can fly over it and see all the treated effluent bubbling to the surface because that water is less dense and warmer … and rises quickly to the surface," said Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, chairman of the Senate's Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee. "This sewage is treated to the lowest possible standard under Florida law. It's a practice that just isn't proper."

Haridopolos flip-flops

Mike Haridopolos, the Indialantic Republican, "Hypocritical pig at the trough", and all-round wingnut (he's "'shocked' that the panel appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist and legislative leaders wasn't "a more fiscally conservative group"), was stumping across the state 18 months ago telling crowds at town-hall forums that Florida needed radical property-tax reform." Now he's flip-flopped

Now he has become the fiercest public critic of a sweeping constitutional amendment that a tax-reform commission could put before voters in November. If approved, it would eliminate $9.5 billion in property taxes now collected by schools, and require that the money be replaced by a package of other consumption-based taxes.

That puts Haridopolos in an awkward position.

Slated to become Senate president in two years, the politically tough job of proposing tax increases to offset the cuts would fall mostly to him. And he doesn't like it.

Never mind

"At a time when Floridians are raging about unfairness of the property tax system, lawmakers attempted to root out one apparent and overlooked conflict of interest: county property appraisers appraising their own homes. But a measure that would have required state officials or appraisers who reside elsewhere to do the job has joined a long list of bills to get whacked of much of their substance because of state budget woes." "Appraisal legislation meets the budget ax".

Another deep thought from Mr. Happy Face

"Gov. Crist suggests cutting Florida's gas tax for summer". See also "Crist: Cut Gas Tax Temporarily".

Actually it ain't Charlie's "idea", he is simply "echoing the calls for a national gas-tax holiday by Republican presidential candidate John McCain". "Crist wants to slash state's gas tax".

Our Legislature at work

Republican "Sen. Carey Baker's bid to ban what he termed an "obscene" -- but increasingly popular -- attachment usually seen on pickups was run off the road Wednesday. Baker, R-Eustis, wanted to allow law enforcement to fine motorists $60 for displaying decorations resembling male genitalia -- commonly dubbed "truck nutz" -- that attach to a trailer hitch." "Senate panel says nuts to 'truck nutz' proposal". See also "Legislature briefs: Flags can fly year-round under Senate bill".

When Florida's traditional media demands action ...

... the Legislature folds like a cheap suit: "A bill that would eliminate triple-dipping and place new restrictions on public employees who try to double-dip won approval Wednesday from the House Council on Governmental Efficiency and Accountability." "Public trough may shrink".

"Trough"?

Here's an idea ... why not home school everyone?

"No more field trips. Smaller summer school and sports programs. Fewer art and music teachers. Pricier school lunches. Less busing for students in magnet and choice programs." "On chopping block for schools: field trips, summer programs".

Will the house stand tall against government regulation?

"Animals could be safer under a bill being passed by a Senate committee that would punish people who sexually abuse them" "Senate panel passes bestiality bill".

Our earlier report: "Can't we at least agree on this?". "Sen. Nan Rich, Weston Democrat 'took up this bill because she believes animal abusers eventually hurt other people ... But Rich has not been to get the bill before a committee. She has asked [Republican]* Sen. Paula Dockery, chairwoman of the criminal justice committee, to take it up. Dockery could not be reached for comment.' There appears to be 'backlash' from a certain part of the State:"

Dee Thompson-Poirrier, director of animal control for Okaloosa County, understands the uneasiness. She said there was a lot of backlash in the community when she investigated the goat case last year in nearby Walton County**.

When Thompson-Poirrier pushed to have a rape kit done, she said she heard: "It's just a goat lady, get a grip. A lot of people said you're wasting your money. You're wasting the court's time."

"The now-infamous Coconut Road interchange" earmark

"The Senate is likely to call for some sort of investigation Wednesday into Rep. Don Young's 2005 earmark for the now-infamous Coconut Road interchange in southwest Florida. At issue: Who set aside $10 million in a 2005 transportation bill, after it had already won final House of Representatives and Senate passage, to study the interchange?" "$10 million earmark to be probed".

Laff riot

"Public school students would take the FCAT later in the year and social studies would be included in the test for the first time under an overhaul of state education standards tentatively approved Wednesday by the Florida House."

The rewrite of the public school curriculum is a priority for House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, who has dubbed the bill "world-class education standards." The House is expected to take a formal vote on the bill today.

Water war

Your tax dollars in action: "Orange County has set aside $1 million to fight a legal war with the South Florida Water Management District over access to water." "Orlando area's water wars are draining us of common sense".

Maybe it is the insurance companies ...

... and not the big, bad trial lawyers, after all? The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "The situation is just the latest evidence that Florida continues to have a medical crisis on its hands, even if the debate over malpractice reforms has quieted in Tallahassee. Four years ago, voters approved three malpractice-related constitutional amendments, including one that limited the amount of money attorneys can collect from jury awards, but it obviously didn't fix the problem." "Malpractice insurance costs must be addressed" "".

A little history

Remember Steve Pajcic?

Pajcic was raised in Northwest Jacksonville. He attended Annie R. Morgan Elementary School, Paxon Middle School, and Paxon High School. At Paxon High, he was valedictorian and student body class president. Pajcic then attended Princeton, where he played on the basketball team with future NBA player and Democratic presidential candidate, Bill Bradley. After graduating magna cum laude from Princeton, Pajcic attended Harvard Law School, graduating with honors.

In 1974, Pajcic was elected to the first of six terms to the Florida House of Representatives, where he showed particular interest in educational issues. In 1986 he ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida. In the primary election Pajcic slightly led the second-place finisher, state Attorney General Jim Smith; but, as neither had received 50%, per Florida law, a runoff primary was held. During the brief campaign before the run-off, Smith's rhetoric was seen by many as unprecedented in its vitriol for an intraparty contest. In a televised debate, the candidates were asked if, should they fail to win the nomination, would they endorse their runoff opponent in the general election against the Republican nominee. Both Smith and Pajcic answered in the affirmative. However, when Pajcic emerged victorious, Smith evaded the issue of an endorsement for several days. Eventually, Smith came out and openly endorsed the Republican candidate, Tampa mayor Bob Martinez. This split in Democratic ranks was a major contributor to the election of Martinez as only the second Republican governor in Florida history, as even Martinez himself acknowledged in later years.

St. Johns

"A national environmental group today named the St. Johns River one of the 10 most-endangered rivers in America because of Central Florida's growing thirst for drinking water. Though some take exception to the designation, the American Rivers organization says it is alarmed over plans to take millions of gallons of water from the scenic river that meanders 310 miles past Orlando north through Jacksonville." "Plan to tap St. Johns River alarms eco-activists; water district downplays fears".

Rein 'em in

"The Florida Senate approved a bill Wednesday that imposes a host of new mandates on Florida's property insurers, including new standards for setting rates and paying claims." "Senate Bill Reins In Insurers".

Unfunded mandate proclaims that ...

... Gangs are bad things: "Florida House passes bill to crack down on gangs, but funding lacking".

Don't hold your breath for the media apologies

"Sen. Gary Siplin jubilant after high court dismisses ethics complaint".

Red dogs?

"A group of Republican senators who helped kill legislation in 2005 to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case may stand with Democrats again this year to oppose a controversial abortion bill." "There's Bipartisan Opposition To Abortion Ultrasound Bill".

Castor kicks derrière

"The author of a plan to allow drilling as close as 25 miles off Florida withdrew it Wednesday but plans to bring it up again soon. Florida lawmakers, this time led by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, have blocked drilling that close to Florida, saying it could harm the state's environment and tourism."

Castor, a Tampa Democrat on the House Rules Committee, blocked the amendment Wednesday by threatening to have it declared non-germane to the bill being debated, which would tighten regulations on beach water-quality monitoring.

Castor called it "ridiculous, not just ironic" that Peterson was trying to allow drilling as part of a beach water-quality bill, arguing it would harm marine life, beaches and the state's tourism.

Peterson's amendment would not have allowed drilling for oil but only for natural gas, which he said would not hurt the environment.

But most Florida lawmakers have opposed both types of energy production. U.S. Reps. John Mica, R-Winter Park, and Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic, are the only Floridians among the 167 co-sponsors of Peter- son's proposal.

Misleading headline

"A unanimous nod from the Florida Senate on Wednesday brought Gov. Charlie Crist closer to his goal of offering health insurance to uninsured Floridians." "Florida Senate approves Crist health plan". More accurately, "health insurance to uninsured Floridians". See also "Senate OKs low-cost health insurance plan".

By these words, the media is giving the RPOFers undeserved credit for making it sound as if they actually are doing something meaningful about Florida's health insurance crisis.

Putting aside the merit, or lack thereof, of the plan, these headlines like this are highly misleading: The headlines might read "Senate approves Crist plan to permit insurers to sell cheap plans with paltry coverage" or "Senate OKs to drop health insurance minimum standards".

Aside from the headline, the latter article ("Senate OKs low-cost health insurance plan") is particularly informative as to how the insurance industry is using the dispute to try and escape regulation:

But insurance companies say there's little incentive for them. So the industry is working with House members to get something they have been seeking for years: less regulation and an end to mandates that policies cover specific illnesses and services, such as pregnancy or dermatology.

The House approach, opposed by Crist, would create a so-called "farmers' marketplace" of insurance options — with the industry setting coverage limits — that would be available to uninsured workers only through their employers.

House Healthcare Council Chairman Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, said Crist's plan creates a government-driven program rather than letting the free market take the lead in determining coverage.

Triple or nuthin'?

Your tax dollars at work: "The controversial terrorism prosecution of six South Florida men again ended in uncertainty Wednesday after the second jury selected to hear the case became so divided over the evidence it could not agree on any verdicts."

"Weary prosecutors gave no immediate indication whether the government would try the case a third time. Given the serious nature of the allegations, it could be difficult for the Justice Department, which has made fighting terrorism its No. 1 priority, to abandon charges the men sought to join forces with al-Qaida in attacks against the Chicago Sears Tower and Miami FBI headquarters, former prosecutors said." "Second mistrial declared in alleged Liberty City terror plot".

The Miami Herald editorial board says "enough is enough". "Terror-trial jurors have spoken -- again"

We're Looking forward to hearing Diaz-Balart's praising Raul's changes

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "There is a tale of two Castros going on in Cuba. Fidel, the old boss, was bombastic, full of fire. Raul, the new one, is low-key and pragmatic. It's obvious which Castro has the strongest influence in Cuba now. It is Raul's country, and he will run it as he sees fit. By slowly rolling out a series of reforms over the past few weeks, Raul has made it clear that incremental capitalism is welcome in Cuba." "Our position: New policies in Cuba are finally starting to amount to something significant".

"Citizens rate freeze"

"Citizens Property Insurance rates would be frozen for the third consecutive year, and private insurers would have to base premiums on state-approved hurricane predictions under a bill approved Wednesday by the Senate." "Senate solidly behind Citizens rate freeze".

Energized

"A sweeping energy bill that seeks to increase renewable energy production and reduce Florida's greenhouse-gas emissions is moving toward a vote in the Senate today with few remaining issues." "Energy bill moves toward vote in Senate".

From the "values" crowd

"Begun in 1979, the program reserves 0.05 percent of the construction cost of a state building — up to $100,000 — for publicly displayed works of art. The state has spent $11.5 million on the program over the last 29 years, or about $400,000 a year. Glorioso's [R-Plant City] proposal (HB 1331) would end the set-aside." "Bill would end Florida's Art in State Buildings program".

Class size

"Florida's progress in lowering class sizes in public schools could be frozen in place for the next two years, under a measure that has attracted bipartisan support and even won the blessing of the state teachers union." "Deal made on class size".

Stop the madness

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "CS/HB 1259, would require school districts to share their scarce and growing scarcer construction dollars with charter schools, as well as their money targeted for reducing class sizes. Charter schools already get state construction money after they've been open three years, and they currently get $7,126 per pupil in state funds." "Our Opinion: It's no year to underwrite nonpublic schools".

"Jaw-dropper"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "The real jaw-dropper, though, is not that the good workers got bonuses. It's that Gen. Milligan has not yet decided whether to award bonuses to top executives, including former Board of Administration Director Coleman Stipanovich. Under his leadership, panic nearly emptied the Local Government Investment Pool, which supposedly places money from cities, counties and school districts in safe, short-term investments." "After run on the bank, why a run on bonuses?".

Funny to see them librul' editors whine about rank-and-filers getting bonuses ("it's great that some public employees pitched in when needed under less-than-perfect conditions. But that is, or should be, the standard work ethic of any job.") One suspects they have no problem with the concept of "merit" pay for private sector employees.

Poll

"Yet another poll suggests presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain will fare better in Florida if he faces Democrat Barack Obama rather than Hillary Clinton in November. The Rasmussen poll of 500 likely Florida voters also suggests that picking Gov. Charlie Crist as McCain's running mate wouldn't have much impact in the state." "Poll likes McCain's odds over Obama in Florida".

Earth to Jupiter

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Jupiter Island is the Martin County oceanfront enclave where even during the down real estate year of 2007 the median home sale price was $3.5 million. Cameras photograph cars entering the town, on public roads. Within Jupiter Island is a county beach, yet the town wants to decide when the beach that it doesn't own will be open."

That's elitism. Sen. Obama may have used the wrong words when he said that "bitter" voters "cling" to guns and religion, and resent illegal immigrants, but he wasn't wrong. In Pennsylvania, which holds its primary on Tuesday, and states like Ohio and Michigan where so many good jobs have disappeared, some voters indeed are disillusioned. The global market doesn't provide a steady income or health care.

But because Sen. Obama is a Democrat, and because he made the remark at a fund-raiser in the Democratic bastion of San Francisco, right-wing media led the surge to call him a member of the "liberal elite." The charge is especially amusing coming from Rush Limbaugh, whose humble Palm Beach digs have a market value of $36.5''million. But this isn't about honesty. Republicans want working-class Americans to associate "liberal" and "elite" the way they associate "child" and "molester." Then the GOP tries to woo "family-values" voters by condemning same-sex marriage while delivering little that helps a family's economics.

So Sen. McCain's pounce was predictable. His timing, though, was off. This week, The Huffington Post caught the McCain campaign plagiarizing recipes as Cindy McCain's family favorites. Hey, it happens. But two of the recipes were for Ahi Tuna with Napa Cabbage and Farfalle Pasta with Turkey Sausage. That's just what the average American dines on each night.

Medicaid fraud

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Marissa Amora had her day in state court three years ago. Today, finally, the 9-year-old will have her day at the state Capitol."

In considering a settlement, legislators should be mindful of the poor treatment Marissa has received from Medicaid and the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Although Marissa needs nearly $18,000 a month for daily nurses, Medicaid pays about $4,200 a month. Since 2004, Medicaid has not paid for Marissa to have needed physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy. At times, Medicaid has refused to pay for her feeding formula, injected through a tube in her stomach. The disabilities agency last year spent $18,000 on unsafe modifications to Marissa's bathroom and an outdoor wheelchair ramp that was not pressure-treated. The agency refused to erect a railing on the wide front porch of her house.

Everyone agrees that Marissa's case is a tragedy. But until now, legislators have been content to simply lament her plight. Marissa's medical needs are extensive, expensive and will be lifelong. She does not need pity. She needs the state to pay.

Believe it or not

The Palm Beach Post's Jac Wilder VerSteeg: "Cop, baby sitter and bus driver?".

Here's a hint: There isn't one.

The same impossibility should dictate that the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission give up trying to find a smart and responsible way to concoct a formula that would force all governments in the state to collect just exactly the right amount of taxes. There is no one-size-fits-all formula. But as business, education and political leaders in Colorado found out, there is a one-size-ruins-all formula.

"Deciding between rhetoric and lives"

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "The lack of health insurance kills six Floridians a day, according to a recent report by Families USA. People die because they don't get the preventative health care that would catch serious conditions such as cancer while they're still treatable, or because progressive illnesses like heart disease and diabetes aren't controlled with medication and oversight. The group estimates that 2400 Floridians between the ages of 25 and 64 died in 2006 because they lacked insurance."

"A separate report, published by the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, All Children's Hospital and Nemours, estimates that one in every 10 Florida children don't get the basic health-care services they need to grow up healthy."

"There are alternatives, but thus far, lawmakers refuse to consider them." "A deadly choice".

Hiaasen on "Happiness"

Carl Hiaasen begins his column this way this way: "Happiness is a warm gun in a steaming hot car." "Firearm law adds danger to workplace".

The VP thing?

Beth Reinhard gives us "four reasons why Crist isn't vice presidential material:"

- "Crist has all of 16 months of governing under his belt. He hasn't been tested on the national stage, and he has no foreign policy experience."

- "Crist's biggest asset -- his ability to help deliver the nation's fourth largest state -- declines in value as long as Barack Obama is the Democratic front-runner. McCain won Florida's Jan. 29 primary and has less reason to worry about a state that Obama lost and hasn't visited in months."

- "Crist's moderate politics and bachelor lifestyle could rankle conservatives suspicious of McCain. Imagine their reaction if McCain picked a single man who has never owned a home, prefers to 'change hearts and not the law' on abortion, and has distanced himself from a campaign to ban gay marriage."

- "Crist's enviable approval ratings have only one way to go as the economy falters, some pollsters say. He's going to sign a budget next month that will include massive cuts to public schools and social services."

- "He's the popular governor of the largest battleground state in the country. By most calculations, a Republican who wins Florida wins the White House."

- "Crist came through with a clutch endorsement for McCain that helped him win the Florida primary and made him the front-runner for the nomination."

- "Both McCain and Crist are Republicans known for reaching out to Democrats."

- "Crist is a lot of things McCain is not. He is young. He is telegenic. He is good at raising money. He can draw African-American voters. He is a great campaigner."

Out here in the fields ...

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board asks if "it really going to take an act of Congress to get Florida's tomato pickers a raise?"

The men and women who work the fields in Immokalee earn 45 cents on average for every 32-pound bucket of tomatoes harvested. It is a meager wage that has not been raised in more than 20 years. Yet when a couple of fast food giants generously agreed to pay workers an added penny per pound, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange sabotaged the deal and has refused to negotiate even after congressional leaders offered to be intermediaries.

The extra penny was to be paid directly by McDonald's Corp. and Yum Brands Inc., which operates restaurant chains like Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. It wouldn't have cost the growers a nickel. Even so, the Growers Exchange has reportedly threatened its members with a fine of $100,000 if they participate. This is hard to understand.

Florida's migrant farm laborers are among the worst paid workers in the state. They haven't had a piece rate increase in a generation, and the Growers Exchange wants to keep it that way.

Medicaid fraud

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Too many questions remain about Florida's experiment with Medicaid reform to expand it. Medicaid pilot programs in Broward and four other counties were created to save the state money without reducing the quality of health services for people with low incomes. Two years later, we still don't know if the experiment worked. However, studies have found serious problems. That's why the Legislature should reject any proposal [by House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami] to expand these so-called reforms." "Higher copays, fewer services, more fraud".

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "Florida legislators have the resources of an entire state government -- including voluminous expert opinions on almost any subject they might face -- at their beck and call. And when those experts agree that something is a bad idea, they should probably listen." "Failure to learn".

Cyber-predators

"Barely a year ago, Attorney General Bill McCollum and legislative leaders were ready for a statewide assault on the cyber-predators who stalk online chat rooms in search of sex with children. But as the House and Senate begin budget negotiations, Florida's fiscal restraints have eliminated two of the seven specialized strike forces — in Tallahassee and Fort Myers e_SEmD and two others are barely hanging on in Tampa and Pensacola." "Florida budget cuts endanger cybercrime investigations".

RPOFers confused by the "forever" part

The Miami Herald editorial board: "for some unfathomable reason, the Florida House has dropped Everglades cleanup funding altogether from its version of the 2008-09 state budget. It has also allocated zero dollars for Florida Forever, the state's popular land-acquisition program that conserves green space throughout the state." "Fund Glades cleanup, Florida Forever".

DCA carrot on the chopping block

The Florida Communities Trust is "a nationally recognized feel-good program that doles out grants to cities and counties to buy parks, especially if it helps the municipality meet its growth-management plans. Now the Florida Legislature wants to take DCA's carrot away." "Agency that controls Florida growth could lose popular grant program".

"Innovative" excuses

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Marco Rubio couldn't call it his 101st innovative idea, because it's the same old politics."

Why else would the Florida House speaker, as The Miami Herald reported, slip tough-to-spot language into a state budget plan for the possible enrichment of a longtime personal friend and big-time political supporter? That would be Max Alvarez, president of Miami-based Sunshine Gasoline Distributors, owner of more than 60 gas stations in the region and supplier for 100-plus more. ...

Rubio touts the 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future book he compiled and talks breathlessly about "world-class" school standards, but he's having trouble getting the ethical basics right. He failed to disclose a $135,000 home-equity loan from some political allies. Now, it's the gas contract for Mr. Alvarez, whose family members and corporations have contributed at least $9,000 to Rep. Rubio since 1999, the Herald reported. The only innovation has been in the explanations Rep. Rubio has invented.

One man's "common sense"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida's lawmakers are closing in on a state budget that reflects too little concern for the needy, too little creativity to stem government waste and, glaringly, far too little common sense." "Some of legislators' budget cuts don't even make financial sense".

"Fewer choices"

"Pregnant women in South Florida face fewer choices for medical care as more doctors stop delivering babies and avoid taking on high-risk patients." "More S. Florida obstetricians stop delivering babies, cut services".

From the "values" crowd

"Among the cuts considered: Eliminating health care coverage for 19,000 chronically ill Floridians; cutting dental and hearing coverage for 146,000 elderly; and significantly lowering reimbursement rates for hospitals and health departments who serve the poor." "Tampa Bay area services brace for big budget cuts".

Do these people believe what they're saying?

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "South Florida Water Management District board member Melissa Meeker said that her recent trip to Israel posed no conflicts of interest, though an Israeli publication reported that she was there to check on potential deals between the district and two military contractors based in Florida. The fact that she had to deny it is the problem." "Next time, travel lighter".

"Growth Machine"

Alan Farago in CounterPunc writes that the "Miami Herald notes the undercurrent of disappointment that replacements for the two Cuban American governing board members appointed by Bush, well-connected to the development and agriculture industries like Big Sugar, were not carefully matched by Crist."

But Crist gave the Growth Machine an appointee who runs part of the Disney operation-- what bluer chip symbol than that, to assuage the concerns of the Growth Machine? And he appointed a Miami graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School-- presumably as adapt at balancing competing interests as Crist's appointed chair of the governing board, Eric Buermann.

No doubt Miami Cuban American developers are disappointed. So, too, the dynastic ambitions of former Governor Jeb Bush. In their extreme zeal to promote unsustainable growth, they've done enough to impose massive costs on the state of Florida and the nation. Let them now tend to their cash flows.

Florida: In the news

"'Dr. Phil' staff helps post bail for teen charged in videotaped beating".

"Florida's war on knowledge"

Our apologies for missing this column by Elizabeth Bird, chair of the anthropology department at USF, the other day:

As Florida professors watch with dismay what seems to be the systematic dismantling of our university system, we find ourselves, for once, speechless. Anything we say will surely sound self-serving; as our esteemed Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt has put it, we should "suck it up and deal with it."

"GOP-written budget cuts"

Last week, Florida "Democrats spent more than 14 hours over two days lambasting the GOP-written budget cuts they said would kill children, leave elderly hospice patients to die alone and protect 'out-of-state megacorporations' -- prompting House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, to complain they had come to the Capitol solely to 'point fingers, play games and hold press conferences.'"

The rhetoric is ultimately aimed toward November, when Democrats hope to ride a wave of anti-George W. Bush sentiment (and, they hope, anti-Republican sentiment) to more gains in the Legislature.

Democrats have added a net of eight House seats since 2006, and a poll last week by Quinnipiac University showed the public gave lawmakers an abysmally low 32 percent approval rating.

In the House, where Republicans hold a 77-43 majority, Democrats think at least 10 GOP seats could be in play this fall.

In the Senate, they've recruited former Sen. (and 2006 attorney general candidate) Skip Campbell to take on the incoming president, Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach.

Term limits

"Term limits will sweep through the Legislature again this fall, with five veteran senators and 29 House members being shown the door. But a new study by a pair of Florida Atlantic University political scientists shows that the 1992 voter-approved measure has contributed to a lack of competition for legislative seats." A study shows that challengers often

prefer to wait for a seat to open rather than compete against an incumbent; legislative gerrymandering that has carved districts loaded with one party's voters (mostly Republican); and an inability of Democrats to field candidates across the state.

Their findings bolster those of University of Central Florida political scientist Scot Schraufnagel, who in 2006 found term limits had done little to change the racial or professional makeup of the Legislature.

FRAG funding

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "State legislators can send a strong signal to one sector of higher education by funding Florida Resident Assistant Grants to the tune of $2,700 or so per student."

The grants would come in very handy this year, as the crunch at state universities sends more students to private and independent colleges in Florida.

The independent colleges in the state do have capacity and can take up the outflow, especially graduates of two-year community colleges. However, the private not-for-profit colleges say they need assurance of stability in FRAG funding.

A fine idea at the time

"It looked like a big victory for gay and lesbian Floridians and their allies: A state Senate committee overwhelmingly approved legislation last week that would ban discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation", but without gender identity protections. However,

big statewide gay rights group, Equality Florida, supports only the legislation sponsored by state Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, because it includes gender identity protection. The Skidmore version is stalled in the House and hasn't gotten a hearing or any Republican co-sponsors.

Stratton Pollitzer, deputy director of Equality Florida, called Skidmore "an incredible hero to us."

Rand Hoch, president of the gay rights organization Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, said he's discussed the issue with many legislators and the all-inclusive legislation Pollitzer wants is less likely to pass.

State Sen. Dave Aronberg, D- Greenacres, said the Deutch legislation [without gender identity protection], which he's co-sponsoring, is much more realistic.

"Martinez is in the cellar"

"The latest Quinnipiac poll notes that ... 49 percent approve of Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson's performance and 25 percent disapprove, while Republican Sen. Mel Martinez is in the cellar. Thirty-six percent approve of Martinez's performance and 37 percent disapprove." "Martinez loses ratings game".

And the candidate is? Betty Castor?

Might it all just be ... 'ya know ... BS?

"Despite promises to avoid raising property taxes that pay for schools, a plan from state House Republicans would hit property owners in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough and 17 other counties with tax increases, according to a Palm Beach Post analysis."

The House education budget calls for a total of $8 billion in property taxes to be collected from Florida's 67 counties. That's the same amount as this year, which is how Republican leaders explain their pledge to hold property taxes steady.

But the analysis shows that because lawmakers give little consideration to individual counties when setting the budget and do not have to take into account the same factors as cities and counties when setting their tax rates, property owners in 20 counties would pay more taxes next year under the House plan.

"Cone of death"

Randy Schultz: "The federal government determined that Bear Stearns, a company once worth $15 billion, was too big to fail."

So, wouldn't the federal government also determine that a state worth about $700 billion is too big to fail?

A state like, say, Florida?

In Florida, a catastrophic hurricane season is our potential subprime problem. It wouldn't sink us, but it would be a damaging torpedo, coming after 2004 and 2005. What would the feds do?

Florida's economy in 2006 was $713''billion, or about 50 Bear Stearnses. Even in 2006, when the real-estate bubble burst in late summer, this state's gross domestic product increased at a faster rate than the nation's. If Washington didn't abandon the Gulf Coast after Katrina, Washington wouldn't abandon Florida. The problem in Florida is that homeowners pay for hurricane insurance based on the idea that Washington wouldn't help. We are overpaying for what won't happen.

Reps. Klein and Mahoney want to change that. Their bill would create a system under which the federal government would help pay catastrophic insurance claims not with direct payments but through government-backed bonds. States would qualify for the program by having their own first levels of repayment, as Florida does with the Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. ...

In the Midwest, it's been a bad year for floods. The federal flood insurance program, which Midwestern politicians support, is $18 billion in debt because policies are subsidized to make them cheap. The Midwest allowed a lot of building near rivers. Hmm. Sounds like Bear Stearns-type gambling. Florida is storm-proofing homes. So, why is there disaster insurance for the flood zone but not the hurricane zone?

simple concept, except to McCain.

When country clubbers say "jump!"

The Sentinel editorial board says "how high?" "Seven of Florida's nine U.S. House Democrats, including Orlando Rep. Corrine Brown, put partisan politics above the interests of their country and constituents in voting to shelve the U.S. free trade agreement with Colombia." Get this?

But because President George W. Bush badly wants the deal approved, and union leaders want it buried, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resorted to a parliamentary maneuver to block a vote.

So who are those Florida Democrats really representing?

Poor Devos family

"Florida House members voted Wednesday night for a Democratic amendment that bans the state from giving tax subsidies next year for professional sports franchises, including the Magic and the Houston Astros' spring-training ballpark in Osceola County. Last month, Orlando closed on the first in a series of bond sales to pay for the $480 million arena. The $31.8 million in bonds are to be repaid with state sales taxes, thanks to a 14-year-old tax break meant to keep professional sports teams in Florida. The city already has the bond money. But the investors who bought the bonds could be out of luck if the House measure survives, city officials said." "House vote could jeopardize bonds for Orlando Magic arena".

Daniel Ruth

Ruth notes, among many things this morning, that "presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain announcing he was going to seek the counsel of former Gov. Jeb Bush on education issues, ... would be like seeking out Uday and Qusay [Hussein] for advice on how to pick up women". "A Femme Fatale, McCain And The Trigger-Happy Steal The Spotlight".

Revenue Cap

"The third time may be the charm, or it could be a strikeout, for a proposed state constitutional amendment that would cap state and local taxes, fees and other revenues. The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will take it up again Monday after twice delaying a vote. The panel ran out of time at each of it's last two meetings after spending hours hearing what officials, lobbyists and taxpayers - mostly taxpayers - had to say about the proposal that could chop billions of dollars from government budgets." "Tax Panel Tries To Put Revenue Cap On Ballot, Again".

Imagine that: "election-year distinctions about political ideology"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Bitter divisions among Florida lawmakers over the state budget this session no doubt mirror the distress of many Florida families that are concerned about their own domestic well-being during this economic downturn. So it is important, as down-to-the-wire negotiations get under way this week, that a real effort be made to resolve differences in the interest of all Floridians, rather than to continue making election-year distinctions about political ideology." "Fiscal heartburn".

"Tough new citizenship exam"

"A tough new citizenship exam asks applicants what year the Constitution was written and what Benjamin Franklin did. But according to some of the men and women who passed, examiners could stump aspiring Americans by asking them how hundreds of superdelegates could end up choosing the Democratic Party's presidential nominee." "South Florida's new citizens put their faith in superdelegates".

FCAT follies

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board insists on giving the FCAT credit where there is no evidence that the FCAT qua FCAT has done anything to improve education. See "FCAT has some merits".

Two can play that game

"Under fire for inviting an anti-embargo congressman to a campaign fundraiser, Democrat Joe Garcia sought to turn the tables Friday, assailing his Republican rival for accepting campaign contributions from companies with ties to the Cuban government." "Garcia blasts Diaz-Balart ties".

"A little leverage"

"What's another buck, more or less, when you're talking about 65 billion of them? For the House and Senate budget negotiators who start next week to seek compromises on Florida's state spending, the difference of only $1 means a little leverage. It puts five issues of children's health and social services on the bargaining table, in case lightning strikes in the final three weeks of the 2008 legislative session." "Ausley: $1 allows budget debate".

Diping

Lucy Morgan: "Many government employees do their jobs, retire with benefits and return to government service in another capacity. No harm there. But when a highly paid employee 'retires,' only to return to the same job soon after to collect both pay and pension, that has a bad odor wafting all around it." "Double dip, a tip and me".

Perhaps if our "delusional Governor" showed a little leadership ...

"Crist is campaigning hard around the state for his health insurance plan, aimed at offering coverage to 3.8 million uninsured Floridians."

But fellow Republicans in the Legislature are intent on budget cuts that health-care officials say will add tens of thousands of people to the uninsured.

With legislators headed into final budget negotiations, the second-year governor's characteristic sunny optimism is clanging against a sour economic picture that threatens to undermine his election-year agenda.

From his climate-change proposals to opposition to tuition increases and support of pay raises for state employees, Crist is getting battered by a Legislature focused chiefly on Florida's bottom line. ...

"We like the guy, but we don't have a printing press for money," said Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller, D-Cooper City. "Anybody's initiatives that cost money just aren't getting passed."

to ease the $3 billion in budget cuts — and breathe life into his stalled agenda.

Crist plans to renew his pitch for a central element of his budget proposal — diverting $400 million from the multibillion-dollar Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund into endangered health programs.

The fund draws money from the state's 1998 settlement with tobacco companies reached under the Democratic governor. In January, Crist said he spoke with Chiles' widow, Rhea, who gave her approval to using the money for health and human services this year.

"A very different reality"

"In January, Gov. Charlie Crist broke with tradition and gave the press a sneak peek at his eye-popping proposal to increase public school spending by $1 billion. The move was timed to help Crist sell a $9.3 billion property-tax cut to voters and answer critics who warned about the cost to education."

A very different reality comes crashing down this week when the House and Senate begin negotiating a $65 billion-plus budget that could slash education next year by as much as $298 million.

'Ya reckon?

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "No myth: Cuts will hurt".

Bloody Bill

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Abolishing the Electoral College, however, would mean amending the Constitution. Even if the idea got through Congress, it could mean redebating issues of the 18th century as the states decide whether to ratify it. Maybe Sen. Nelson can work on this after he persuades his own party to work out a compromise on convention delegates." "Is it 2000? Or 1787?". The The Miami Herald editorial board: "Primary system needs an overhaul".

Count 'em

"Nearly eight years after the chaotic 2000 presidential election, the state's top elections official wants to make sure all ballots are counted by hand the next time there's a close contest." "Official says Florida should manually recount all close votes".

Gambler

"In January 2007, about a dozen prominent Tampa Democrats gathered for lunch at the ritzy Palm Restaurant at the invitation of Miami lobbyist and businessman Chris Korge, the top Florida fundraiser for Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton. The goal was to make sure they were all onboard for the coming Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. One invitee, not surprisingly, was Frank Sanchez, a former Clinton administration official. 'Before I could even get my introduction out,' Sanchez said, "one of the people there reminded me that I'd had two presidential appointments," implying he owed a debt of loyalty to the Clintons. But Sanchez, long active in Democratic politics, was about to take the biggest gamble of his political life." "Gamble On Obama May Pay Off".

Leftover cause

"Jack Davis has accomplished a feat few can match: He's poised to get a Florida law named after him. The six-grader's cause: Making it easier for restaurants to donate their leftover food to homeless shelters and charities. Jack, of Coconut Grove, started writing letters to lawmakers after a family vacation last summer in Tennessee, where a hotel manager told him the leftovers at a breakfast buffet would be thrown away." "Bill to help feed hungry named after 11-year-old advocate from Coconut Grove".

Paul supporters collide with the RPOF

"The push to put Paul supporters into GOP leadership roles is a byproduct of the energy generated by the candidacy of Paul, a Texas congressman whose policies are sometimes at odds with more traditional Republican leaders."

Orange County Republican Chairman Lew Oliver led a move to block a group of Paul supporters from becoming precinct captains at this month's party meeting.Oliver said that some of Paul's supporters want to turn the local party into a "debate society" that spends too much time on "ludicrous resolutions" instead of focusing on electing candidates in the upcoming election.

"It's an extraordinarily disruptive influence," Oliver said of Paul's local backers.

A similar fight played out recently in Pasco County. The county Republican chief there called on Paul supporters to pledge loyalty to the party in front of the group's members.

State Party Chairman Jim Greer said similar struggles are occurring in other Florida counties and states. But, for now, it's not a major concern, he said.

"Open primaries?"

"State Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg and State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, have filed bills (HB 1189 and SB 2726) to open Florida's primaries and let unaffiliated voters weigh in on the presidential choices. There's little enthusiasm so far from legislative leaders, and Crist sounded ambivalent. 'It wouldn't offend me,' he said of the idea." "Should Florida hold open primaries?"