The KKK was the ''terrorist arm of the Democratic Party.'' Democrats, in addition to waging ''war on God,'' are still mired in sex and financial scandals. [No mention of Mark Foley, Larry Craig, David Vitter and that Bob Allen guy who was so afraid of black guys and that's why he offered a police officer $20 to perform a ...]

That's all tucked in the back of the Sarasota-based National Black Republican Association's 60-page mag, the first half of which touts Republican Gov. Charlie Crist's civil rights record and the Republican Party of Florida's minority outreach efforts that the association has helped coordinate.

The strident comments and images -- replete with a Ku Klux Klan rally snapshot that notes ''every person in this photo was a Democrat'' -- has outraged Democrats and caught the Republican Party of Florida flat-footed as well. ...

[The black Republican association's chairwoman, Frances Rice] Rice said, she wants black voters to know the Democrats' history of "slavery, secession, segregation and socialism.''

Democrats say they don't dispute the central facts about the Democratic Party's role in pushing slavery, seceding from the Union and precipitating the Civil War. And they acknowledged that those pictured in the old KKK snapshot were likely Democrats, but said that was many decades ago.

replete with what one historian calls "a totally fallacious rendition of the platform of the parties" requiring "African Americans having historical amnesia about their own history". The debate likewise plays out in Florida, with the august "Florida Federation of Black Republicans" asserting that "the platform of the Republican Party is influenced by Chrisitan [sic] values".

"Anyone who is politically curious has seen present-day Republican pundits proclaim their party to be historically 'the party of Lincoln'; what is unfailingly left out of this declaration is the historical metamorphosis of the Republican Party after Reconstruction. Anyone who does not understand this genealogy cannot hope to understand the predominately white face of today's GOP." "Why blacks shy away from the GOP". ...

Ironically, but not surprisingly, Florida had a significant role in this Republicans are Blacks' natural political home flim-flam. After all, this flim-flam is based on what I think is ultimately the biggest flip-flop in U.S. political history, that is: GOPers selling out Black Americans to gain the Presidency in 1877.

. . . a few scant years after the civil war, the Republicans sold Black Americans down the river and haven't looked back since. For those of you who don't know, The, in the 1876 presidential election, Democrat Tilden defeated Republican Rutherford Hayes in the popular vote. Democrat Tilden also defeated Republican Hayes with 184 electoral votes to Hayes' 165.

However, with 20 electoral votes (from three states including Florida) were unallocated and in dispute. Here is where the Republicans sold out Black Americans.

In the months following the Election of 1876, but prior to the inauguration in March 1877, Republican and Democratic leaders secretly hammered out a compromise. Through it, Republican Hayes was awarded the disputed electoral votes and hence the presidency (by one electoral vote).

Here was what the Republicans promised to do in return for the presidency: incumbent President, Republican Ulysses Grant and incoming Republican Hayes would remove the federal (reconstruction) troops in Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana.

With the loss of federal troop protection, "a retaliatory blood bath targeting African Americans promptly ensued throughout the South." This "famous 'Hayes-Tilden Betrayal' is said to have reversed many of the political, social and economic gains made by African Americans during Reconstruction." More: "Why blacks shy away from the GOP" ... "The Long Shadow of Jim Crow: Voter Suppression in America".

Obama comes to Florida

"Barack Obama, growing confident he will be the Democratic presidential nominee, promised a group of uncommitted superdelegates Thursday that Florida's delegation will be counted at the party's national convention this summer." "Obama vows to seat Florida delegates, plans stop in Maitland".

Bushco hood ornament at it again

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The House, to its credit, heeded her words. It passed a bill named after Ledbetter that would give people 180 days to file legitimate claims after their latest unequal paycheck. The Senate, however, blocked consideration last month by a 56-42 cloture vote cast largely along party lines."

One of the senators who voted against the Ledbetter bill was Florida's Mel Martinez. When asked about his vote during a visit to the Tribune's editorial board the other day, it became clear Martinez didn't understand the legislation.

Martinez, a former trial lawyer, said there should be a reasonable time period to file lawsuits after discovering discrimination - the purpose of the legislation. A staff member reminded him that the bill would have removed the statute of limitations, which is not quite accurate. The legislation would have required people like Ledbetter to file suit within 180 days after discovering the discrimination, a pretty short window by civil-court standards.

The senator also said that Congress has no business trying to override the court's ruling, which left us puzzled. After all, Congress is supposed to set policy, not judges.

. . . it appears Martinez voted against women like Ledbetter simply to conform with party politics, not because he thought it was the right thing to do.

Look at the label given Sen. John McCain, who has courageously worked with Democrats to get things done. Maverick is what many Republicans call him, and it's not meant as a compliment.

Still, it's disappointing to see a moderate senator like Martinez put his party ahead of people.

Buddy the dodger

"Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson was a hard man to find when lawyers for the NAACP wanted to question him as part of a federal voting rights lawsuit. For 18 days, process server Dan Neatherly tried in vain to find the elections chief and serve him with a subpoena." "18 days to serve Johnson subpoena".

'Ya think?

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "A different direction: Drilling can't be main energy answer".

Webster whines

"If I don't get my deal, nobody gets anything, said Senate Majority Leader Dan Webster, R-Winter Garden, in the final days of the legislative session. And he got his way, meaning that nobody got anything, meaning that South Florida got stiffed by Tallahassee again on money to run Tri-Rail."

And the whole hang-up was that secretly negotiated deal for CSX in Orlando. The immunity provision was so bad that Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink urged legislative leaders "to salvage this critical opportunity for Central Florida without saddling Florida's taxpayers with unlimited liability." Yet backers are appealing to Gov. Crist for a special session to salvage the deal.

"Denied their educational destiny"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "One thousand accomplished young men and women who expected to enter the University of Florida this fall will be denied their educational destiny,"

and what makes this injustice all the more disturbing is that most lawmakers won't even accept responsibility. The politicians blame a drop in taxable sales or not enough gambling, as though they are powerless to protect higher education.

What they really lack is basic resolve. They lack the same commitment and sacrifice that typifies the tens of thousands of families and students who find a way, financially, to make their dreams possible. Now some of those same students are being told the door is shut.

House Speaker Marco Rubio opened this year's session by insisting: "We cannot have a vibrant economy without vibrant universities." Last year, Gov. Charlie Crist called for "a multiyear plan and action steps" to improve university quality and access: "It should build on my inaugural promise to create an education system that is not only the best in the country but the best in the world."

They're baaaack

"Not only are lawyers back, but trial lawyers are back in force. It's enough to make Jeb wonder how quickly times have changed. The trial bar scored a number of victories during the 2008 legislative session." See what those "victories" Were here: "Lawyers feeling the Florida Legislature's love again".

Safety, Schmafety

"County Commission wants sheriff to cut $50 million from budget. " "Broward Sheriff's Office budget cuts could affect safety".

A tuff read

Mary Ann Lindley:

I hate to think that it's just every 20 years that we can witness statesmanship in action, get a glimpse of men and women of different philosophical persuasions taking time to really listen to each other, enjoy the rare spectacle of discussions that rise above rancor and petty ambition.

That approach toward public service was being celebrated Friday in the Senate chambers where Tallahassee lawyer Dexter Douglass pulled together a reunion of members of Florida's three Constitution Revision Commissions -- the first one in 1968, represented by its two surviving members, Robert M. Ervin and Reubin Askew. That was the pivotal CRC, which rewrote the state constitution of 1885, and then was followed by two more in 20-year spaces, one in 1978 and another in 1998.

Healthy Start

"Florida Healthy Start Coalition officials were caught off guard earlier this week when they were informed that the state would cut $2 million out of their budget because of a decrease in federal funding. On Friday, Department of Health officials calmed their fears when they said there would be money to supplement the program." "Florida Healthy Start gets additional funding".

"Hapless"

Daniel Ruth thinks the internet is "Where The Hapless Rally".

Tide turning

"Florida now has more Hispanic voters registered as Democrats than Republicans. The difference is small – less than a percentage point. But it reflects a long-term demographic shift that could benefit Democrats: the increasing dominance of non-Cubans, particularly Puerto Ricans, among Floridians of Hispanic descent." "Florida Hispanic Voters Now Lean Toward Democrats".

"Florida led the nation in mortgage fraud last year and was second in foreclosures"

The Palm Beach Post's Dan Moffett: "The more investigators keep digging in South Florida the more mortgage fraud they find. Like the U.S. economic downturn, no one's sure where the bottom is. According to several reports, Florida led the nation in mortgage fraud last year and was second in foreclosures; at least 70 percent of the 300,000 foreclosed loans involved some type of fraud. The Legislature passed a bill last month increasing the criminal penalties for mortgage fraud to up to 15 years in state prison, and Gov. Crist is expected to sign it." "Bad loans, bad people".

Happy faced hypocrite

Steve Bousquet reminds us of yet another example of Charlie's two faced hypocrisy:

Gov. Charlie Crist said "God bless Gov. Chiles" as the 2008 Legislature drew to a close last week, thankful for $2.4-billion in reserves made possible by the late Lawton Chiles.

Lawmakers used $300-million of the money to avoid painful cuts for the state's sickest and poorest this year.

But the money, the settlement from Florida's lawsuit against Big Tobacco, would never have been there if Crist had gotten his way in the mid 1990s.

Crist, then a [wingnut] Republican state senator from St. Petersburg, was also among the most prominent in opposing the Democratic governor's assault on tobacco companies.

Crist was among the lawmakers who unwittingly approved a law change in 1994 that made it possible for the state to sue tobacco companies seeking to recoup Medicaid expenses for people with tobacco-related illnesses.

The following year, in 1995, Crist voted with the majority to repeal the so-called third-party liability law on a 32-7 Senate vote. But Chiles vetoed it.

Much work left to do

The Palm Beach Post's Jac Wilder VerSteeg: "legislators increased the number of students who can go to private schools using vouchers, they still refused to require voucher schools to give tests that would allow direct comparison to public schools. The FCAT-based school grades former Gov. Jeb Bush forced on Florida might be fading, but his double standard isn't. Finally, all these changes have little effect on grades in elementary and middle schools. Even when the changes are in effect for high schools, the idea that a single grade can capture a school's quality will remain bogus." "A start in high school".

He adds this: "Even as Florida inches away from using the FCAT to grade schools, new shenanigans concerning the writing portion of the test show why giving the FCAT such great weight never has made sense." "A bogus writing test"

Sorry, but ating Hugo and Fidel ain't enough

"Among the heavy-hitters [sic] attending the Republican Hispanic Conference: ... U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez; and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida."

You have to ask: how many hood ornaments can the GOPers get in one room?

"Democrats see this as simply another election-season effort that doesn't equal a lasting relationship. The state's Democratic Party says it has had Hispanic caucuses for years."

"They are doing this because they are starting to feel desperate, and they probably know that no incumbent should feel confident in this state," said Alejandro Miyar, a Democratic Party spokesman.

State voter registration numbers show that although most Florida Hispanics were registered Republicans as of the past primary, the party has lost more than 5,000 Hispanic voters since 2006.

Meanwhile, Democrats saw a registration increase of more than 13,000 Hispanics.

Imagine that, "the state acting as the collection plate for a religious organization"?

"A Tampa group that promotes healthy families would be the first of its kind allowed to ask Florida drivers to donate money under a little-noticed bill headed to the governor."

Critics, some of whom contend that the group is faith-based, say the proposed law sets a bad precedent and raises constitutional questions.

Family First, whose supporters include former Gov. Jeb Bush and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, would be the only group listed on drivers' licenses and car tag renewal forms that's not involved in public health, safety or wildlife protection.

The bill adds Family First to the forms, which allow motorists to donate $1 to specific causes.

The American Civil Liberties Union will ask Gov. Charlie Crist to veto the bill, contending it violates the separation of church and state.

"Clearly, it's a troubling constitutional issue," said ACLU attorney Larry Spalding. "We're having the state acting as the collection plate for a religious organization."

Merrill said Family First is an educational and research group, not faith-based. Crist has not taken a position on the bill (SB 630).

Family First uses Web sites, e-mails and radio spots to promote what it calls a pro-family agenda with the help of leaders like Dungy and his All-Pro Dad program, which emphasizes responsible fatherhood and reading the Bible. (The St. Petersburg Times has agreed to help promote an "All-Star Dads" event June 21 at Tropicana Field organized by Family First).

Merrill, a Tampa lawyer, was an unpaid adviser to Bush, who allowed Merrill to send "Family Minute" e-mails to state workers that emphasized strengthening families but which some recipients said carried religious overtones.

Merrill has been an outspoken critic of same-sex marriage. In the mid 1990s, Family First, known as the Florida Family Council, criticized a decision by the Walt Disney Co. to offer health coverage to partners of gay employees and circulated a protest letter to state lawmakers. In an NPR interview in 1996, Merrill accused Disney of putting domestic partnerships "on a same footing with heterosexual marriage."

"Florida moving in the opposite direction"

"Mass transit should be a top priority right now for Florida and its major cities. Gas prices are soaring. Road congestion threatens the environment and growth. Cash-strapped governments are looking to stem the bleeding from serving the ever-outward suburbs. Mass transit is attractive because it makes financial sense. So why is Florida moving in the opposite direction?"

Hey Mel, wanna talk to your guys?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The latest bid for more drilling came in a package of energy proposals from Senate Republicans. The drilling proposal would sink a bipartisan compromise on oil and natural-gas rigs in the Gulf reached just two years ago." "There they go again".

CSX

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "CSX Transportation and proponents of an Orlando commuter-rail project promise they'll be back before the Legislature next year, locomotives smoking. They have one more year to convince Florida lawmakers to buy 61 miles of track for $650 million, though the railroad would use the tracks at night and during off-peak hours. That's not all the contract says, of course. There's also the part about rerouting dozens of daily trains - as many as 56 - on another CSX track that runs through downtown Lakeland and Plant City. And there's the part about taxpayers paying for the damages from any accident, even those caused by the freight trains." "Commuter Rail Needs Rescuing With Frank Explanations".

Tuition

"Florida's Board of Governors settled the dispute about university tuition this morning by reducing their recommended 8 percent hike to meet the legislatively-approved 6 percent increase."

But board members said they want the revenue from that increase to go specifically to decreasing the professor-to-student ratio and creating more need-based financial aid. ...

Today's decision to go with the 6 percent increase appeases the argument temporarily while a lawsuit, filed by the board against the legislature, moves through the court system.

Florida's booming economy

On the heels of this story yesterday, "10 suspects questioned in migrant smuggling at Miami-Dade, Monroe border", we get more delightful news: " More than 80 people were arrested in a federal sweep of four companies that allegedly arranged fraudulent marriages to earn immigrants citizenship, even organizing wedding photos with bridal gowns and elaborate, but fake, wedding cakes, federal officials said Friday." "Federal marriage-for-citizenship sting nets 80 arrests".

Except for the things "industry lobbyists" didn't want

"The bill runs to more than 200 pages, so oft-changed and densely packed that lobbyists who studied it intensively for two months still aren't entirely sure what's in it. The bill now awaits Gov. Charlie Crist's signature."

"It's great!" Crist exclaimed in an interview Tuesday. "Of course it's great. Are you kidding? We've finally moved Florida and the Southeast to the forefront on climate change!" [sic]

The only compromise Crist acknowledged was a last-minute amendment in the House that forbids Florida from mimicking California's low-carbon standard for cars. Auto industry lobbyists successfully pushed the measure through.

Chain-gang-Charlie ...

... is up to his old tricks: "Early release not a solution for Florida's crowded prisons".

And this is news?

"Crist stopped at MacDill Air Force Base Thursday, where he briefly thanked veterans for their service, shook hands with a Norwegian Army general and played coy to a question about his girlfriend." "Gov. Crist thanks troops at MacDill Air Force Base".

We're number 1!

"Florida again leads the nation in boating fatalities." The solution?: more of that government regulation we Floridians supposedly hate - "the commission has approved a plan to phase in mandatory boater education requirements over the next 11 years. State officials say this could reduce fatalities by as much as 25 percent. Last year, 70 percent of all boating accidents involved operators with no formal safety education; for fatalities, that number was 85 percent." "State No. 1 in boating fatalities with 77 in 2007".

Not mentioned in the story ...

... she's a RPOFer: "Floridians unfortunately can expect local officials to rip apart plans managing growth another 12,000 or so times this year because too many state lawmakers couldn't care less. And because too many lawmakers also are doing their very best to make it easier for developers to run roughshod over them."

Take Volusia County's Sen. Evelyn Lynn. In one of the more pathetic and ultimately harmful moves we've seen in the Legislature in a long while, Ms. Lynn last Friday delayed a vote on a proposal to toughen local growth plans. The delay, coming on the last day of the legislative session, effectively killed the bill.

What's particularly depressing here is that Ms. Lynn has plenty of company among legislators intent on weakening blueprints designed to sensibly manage how communities and regions grow. Earlier in the session, Rep. Dean Cannon managed to pluck from the bill a needed reform allowing local governments to make major changes to their growth plans only if they can produce a supermajority vote.

Just say "no" to Wal Mart

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "During tough economic times, it is tempting to invariably go for the cheapest price available, but in the long run, the loss of character that comes to communities when we abandon them is a much higher price to pay and diminishes our quality of life in the long run." "Locally owned".

"Mixed" is putting it politely

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Whenever the Legislature convenes a new session, there is anticipation about what will be accomplished. Just as predictably when the session ends, there is disappointment about what was left undone. The 2008 Legislature was no different." "Legislature ends with mixed reviews".

A "golden opportunity." "Historic legislation." "A giant step."

Praise abounds for Gov. Crist's political victory in getting his "Cover Florida" health insurance proposal through the Legislature. But the 3.8 million uninsured Floridians have little reason to celebrate if similar policies are any precedent."

"Florida Health Choices" plan, which will use $1.5 million in state money to create a corporation to negotiate rates, collect premiums and handle claims for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. "Today," Gov. Crist said, "we have made great progress in providing uninsured individuals and small businesses choices in how to access health care coverage."

So, uninsured residents will now have the power to choose - between unaffordable health care and insufficient health care. A golden opportunity, indeed.

Whatever

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board doesn't dig "Florida's two-state suggestion".

OJT for millionaire RPOFer hack cancelled

"The chief of staff in training for de facto Senate President Jeff Atwater is officially off the payroll, Atwater said Wednesday. Millionaire 'Budd' Kneip of Palm Beach Gardens earned a $7,000-a-month salary from the state for one month and two days to learn the ins and outs of the legislature, which was dealing with a $5 billion budget deficit." "Atwater aide removed from payroll".

"Big winner"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "During the legislative session, the Florida Land Council did what the group does best: Kill any proposal to manage growth. That shortsighted action, however, likely will bring on an alternative that the council and every developer in Florida dislikes even more: the Florida Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment that would require voter approval for every change to local growth plans." "This year's big winner: Hometown Democracy".

Cat's outa the bag

"A Michigan Supreme Court ruling -- that the state's law banning gay marriage also prohibits same-sex benefits offered to government employees -- is energizing opponents of a similar amendment on Florida's November ballot."

Though the wording of Michigan's same-sex marriage ban is not identical to the proposed Amendment 2 facing Florida voters in November, opponents say it will pave the way for the same ban on domestic-partnership benefits.

Don't worry, be happy

Mike Thomas reminds us that Chain Gang Charlie

scored a political coup with his plan for a gas-tax holiday. It landed him on the front page of The New York Times, where the governor said his job is to "respond to the people and try to make them happy."

Heaven help us

"More than 1,000 people, including St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and other elected officials, gathered at the Gibbs High School football stadium to celebrate the National Day of Prayer and to ask God to help them eradicate crime, homelessness, poverty and unemployment." "Praying is fine, but it takes action to solve problems".

Here's a plan

"Here's a way for Barack Obama to nudge Hillary Rodham Clinton out of the race: Step up and join her call to count the votes of 1.75-million Florida Democrats."

No, the all but inevitable Democratic nominee is not obligated to recognize Florida's disputed Jan. 29 primary. Nor does he need to buy into Clinton's suspect argument that Florida deserves 100 percent of its delegates at the national convention.

But if Obama wants to eliminate one of Clinton's last rationales for staying in the race, and if he wants to curb the considerable skepticism about his interest and ability to compete in America's biggest battleground state, he should start mending Sunshine State fences and speak out about counting Florida's votes.

"That could potentially open the floodgates for superdelegates to come on board if he was that gracious and that comfortable in his inevitability to win the nomination,'' said Bob Buckhorn, a Democratic consultant in Tampa who backs Clinton. "It would go a long way to ease the anger that remains over Florida's votes not counting."

Missed it

"Oliver North attracts hundreds to 'American Heroes' book-signing in The Villages".

"Obsession"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "For nearly a decade, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test has been treated as though it alone could determine whether each student is progressing or failing, whether teachers should get bonuses or be fired, whether schools should be rewarded or shut down. That obsession won't end with the new high school grading plan lawmakers passed last week, but it begins the conversation." "Wise shrinking of FCAT's role".

Never mind

"Almost one-third of the money designated for programs to help educate condo owners and pay for enforcement of condo laws will be diverted for unrelated state expenses as a result of the current budget crunch." "Florida takes $10 million from condo trust fund".

"God went only 1-for-2"

Troxler: "God went only 1-for-2 in the Florida Legislature this year. He did get a new state license tag bearing the slogan, 'In God We Trust.' But the Legislature did not approve a more Christian-themed tag featuring a cross, stained glass and the slogan, "I Believe."" "Make specialty auto tags harder to get and keep".

Ethanol

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida can lead the way in finding alternatives to corn in ethanol".

"Florida Hometown Democracy"

"The state's revised statement on how much a proposed growth-management amendment would cost taxpayers is still vague and misleading, a lawyer for the plan's supporters told the Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday."

BTW, did you know that "State law requires financial statements only for citizen initiatives, not amendments placed on the ballot by the Legislature or the state's tax and constitutional-revision commissions." "Lawyer: Growth proposal's cost still vague".

Puffing Charlie

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Crist came out a winner with a number of key victories this legislative session. But it's the sweeping energy bill passed unanimously by both chambers last month that may help form his most lasting legacy." Don't get us wrong, but all the legislation does is

offer perks to utilities, local governments and consumers to use renewable energy; require all gas to consist of at least 10 percent ethanol by 2010; urge certain state employees to work from home; mandate that state buildings meet tough green energy standards and require building codes for new construction and appliances to address energy efficiency.

"Wannabes aren't terrorists"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Yet after spending millions on the two mistrials, federal prosecutors plan a third trial beginning Jan. 6. This is fiscally irresponsible and, worse, erodes confidence in the administration's war on terror. Agron summed it up best: 'It seems to me like they are looking to perhaps save face for a case they made a big deal out of at the time of the arrests and has not gone their way.' The Justice Department should drop the case. Wannabes aren't terrorists, and spending millions more won't make them so." "Give Up On 'Liberty City Seven' Case".

"Flagrant neglect"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board writes that "the reality is that years of neglect are now coming home to roost in this current financial disaster, as a recent report by the LeRoy Collins Institute noted."

"To characterize Florida's recent treatment of its higher education system, we borrow from the harsh old grading scale at Princeton. Six was a garden-variety F, but there was an even worse mark: a 7, for 'flagrant neglect,'" said the report.

Embarrassing

Daniel Ruth: "A respected scholar in the field of human evolution, on a day marking the birthday of the creator of the science of evolution, giving a speech in a setting inextricably linked to the study of biology, which indeed would reflect upon Darwinism, was considered too controversial?" "Evolution? Darwin Day? Big Problem".

Florida's booming economy

"10 suspects questioned in migrant smuggling at Miami-Dade, Monroe border".

Astroturf

"Flanked by a group of Republican senators, Hispanic business leaders Wednesday announced a grass-roots effort to convince the House to pass the Colombia free trade agreement." "Hispanic leaders call for free trade with Colombia".

"Business leaders" and "Republican senators"? Doesn't sound very "grass-roots" to us.

"Not an option"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board tells Hill that "Florida is not an option".

One man's "pork" ...

"With $6 billion less to spend this year, lawmakers were reluctant to push the 'pork' for their districts, at least overtly, in the pared-down $66.2 billion budget, and Crist's red pen likely will be left with a lot more ink if he can even find the questionable spending in the 408-page document." "Lean budget prods lawmakers to trim pork ahead of Crist".

are mounting the most formidable effort in years to alter the political face of South Florida. Victories in any of the contests could lead to significant changes in U.S.-Cuba policy, relaxing hard-line restrictions on travel and financial support that have grown increasingly unpopular among Cuban-Americans.

Thanks Evelyn

"Ormond Beach state Sen. Evelyn Lynn [R-whatever the developers want] whatever says she only was trying to help rural areas around the state lure more development. But the result was that Lynn last week helped derail a proposed rewrite of Florida' growth laws in the dying hours of the legislative session." "Volusia lawmaker's intervention scuttles growth-limit bill".

As paint-ballers rot in jail ...

... "Terror suspect Posada feted in Miami".

More on Bushco's terrorist

Credit the The South Florida Sun-Sentinel for publishing this even-handed LA Times story about who many to be Bushco's terrorist: "Venezuela's ambassador in Washington, Bernardo Alvarez, condemned the celebration of Posada as a mockery of justice and evidence of a Bush administration double standard in fighting terrorism."

"This is outrageous, particularly because he kept talking about violence," Alvarez said of Posada. "He said that the whole thing now is 'to sharpen our machetes'" for a confrontation with leftist regimes in Latin America.

The U.S. government has never given Venezuela a formal answer to its three-year-old request for extradition of Posada, despite the fact that a treaty providing for such cooperation has been in effect since 1922, the ambassador said.

Posada is alleged to have masterminded the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1976 on which all 73 on board were killed, including a youth fencing team returning from a tournament in Caracas.

He also is suspected of plotting a series of hotel bombings in Havana in the late 1990s, one of which killed an Italian tourist.

He has boasted of his many attempts to kill Castro and has allegedly been involved in, according to court documents, "some of the most infamous events of 20th century Central American politics."

Posada was serving time in a Panama prison for a 2000 assassination attempt on Castro when outgoing Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso pardoned him and three accomplices in August 2004 in what some observers saw as a favor to President Bush to rally the Cuban-dominated Florida vote for his re-election.

"The spectacle of a wanted international terrorist being publicly feted as a hero in Miami makes a mockery of the Bush Administration's commitment to wage a war on terrorism," he said of Posada's coming-out party.

How high?

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "It hasn't even been 10 years yet since Palm Beach County — with voter support and a $100 million public purse — carved out an ambitious, inspiring program to preserve agriculture as a land use and a way of life on prime farmland. And yet, once again, county commissioners are considering lifting development restrictions to appease yet another request from builders." "Proposal to build on preserved land in Ag Reserve an insult that should be rejected".

"Values"

"Florida's universities are raising tuition, laying off employees and limiting enrollment to make it through what has turned out to be one of the toughest budget years in recent history." "Florida universities raise tuition, cap enrollment, freeze jobs".

Whatever

"State officials are getting the word out that if you want to stop smoking, there is free help available. A state program launched in December is offering free nicotine gum, lozenges and nicotine patches to smokers." "Florida's smoking-cessation program helps you butt out".

Stop the madness

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Privatization of the state's only tuberculosis hospital"

"is not a feasible option for the State of Florida." That was the conclusion just last year by an Atlanta-based planning firm the state hired to evaluate A.G. Holley Hospital in Lantana. Then why did state legislators, in the closing hours last week of this year's session, call for the Florida Department of Health to negotiate with a private company to design, build and operate a new, 50-bed replacement for A.G. Holley? ...

Efforts to privatize A.G. Holley began under Jeb "private-is-better-than-public" Bush and appealed to Lantana leaders who want the state to move A.G. Holley so the town can restore the land to its tax roll. But the state has not shown that a private company should be entrusted with curing TB patients and protecting the public from the spread of the airborne disease in the meantime. Privatizing A.G. Holley would cut public health in the name of cutting the budget.

Do we really believe that ...

... after ruining this man's life, that handing him a check means that Crotzer has emerged with his "spirit not only intact but expanded." "Crotzer gets his first check to pay for being wrongly jailed for 24 years".

"A Pig In A Poke"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The panel, appointed every 20 years to tackle tax and budget issues too controversial or complex for the Legislature, failed its core mission. It kicked the hard part, how to replace the lost revenue, right back to lawmakers. Voters are offered a package of unknown contents. We're reminded of the ancient trick by swindlers to put a cat in a bag and sell it to an unsuspecting customer as a young pig. When you open the bag, the cat jumps out and runs away." "Voters Hungry For Tax Reform Are Offered A Pig In A Poke".

Gas bags

Scott Maxwell wonders about the gas bags comprising the central Florida Legislative Delegation: "Makes you wonder if these guys aren't really so powerful, after all. Or maybe they're just less powerful than the special interests. Or maybe, just maybe, these folks never really wanted the commuter-rail project as much as they led their puckered-up friends back home to believe." "Looks like all the legislative keister-kissing didn't pay off on commuter rail".

Them lazy judges

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Rarely do people with professional careers leave their jobs at the office, and so it is with judges, who most certainly take work home with them to be as prepared as possible. Still it's concerning that on a recent Friday afternoon - an average Friday afternoon - Tribune reporter Thomas Krause found the courthouse close to vacant. No felony judges were on the bench. One judge went home at 1:30 p.m. Most everyone agreed that Fridays are slow." "Audit Will Benefit State Court System".

Raw political courage

"Crist welcomed Marissa Amora and her family to the governor's mansion this morning where he signed a bill into law that will pay the girl $18.2 million in the next 11 years." "Crist signs bill giving Lake Worth abuse victim Marissa Amora $18.2 million". See also "Crist signs bill giving abused girl $2.9M with promise of $18.2M".

Out here in the fields

"Man sought for robbing migrant workers around South Florida".

"The biggest hole"

Joel Engelhardt: "The biggest hole in the Everglades Agricultural Area does not belong to a mining company digging for road-building materials. It belongs to the government - the South Florida Water Management District - digging to restore the Everglades. It's also not a hole, actually. It's a ditch, an enormous, important ditch. At 20 miles long and 100 feet wide at the surface, it's about half the length and a fifth the width of the Panama Canal." "Digging into the Everglades".

'Ya think?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The truest test of leadership is how government responds in tough times."

Florida's Legislature largely failed that test during its session that ended Friday.

Who is the Lt. Gov again?

"The state plane carrying Gov. Charlie Crist had to make a U-turn over Georgia and return to Tallahassee after three controls malfunctioned. " "Plane carrying Gov. Crist makes emergency landing".

Here's an idea

"Tonight the city of Margate takes up the issue. Its resolution calls for "its citizens to sever the ties that said citizens have with the State of Florida and formulate and establish their own state of the Federal Union of the United States."" "Some angry South Florida leaders want to create a separate state".

"'It's based out of frustration with the state Legislature ignoring the cities in South Florida," said North Lauderdale Commissioner Rich Moyle. 'They don't really care too much what happens with South Florida.'" "North Lauderdale wants to split Florida into two states".

"The bills are due"

Tom Blackburn the other day: "We lived rich. Now, the bills are due".

Farce

"Some politicians,"

love to talk about running government like a business. But if any private company treated its employees the way lawmakers have treated state workers, it would deserve to go out of business.

Slim

"Tens of thousands of Broward homeowners should be given more money for many of the trees destroyed by the state during the controversial citrus canker eradication program, a Broward jury decided late Tuesday." "Citrus owners get slim award: $34 a tree".

Most disappointing is that the governor promised to hold education harmless when he campaigned in January for Amendment 1, the state constitutional amendment that allows homeowners to take their property-tax cap with them when they move. Critics said the amendment's passage would hurt public education, but Crist promised education would be held harmless.

Harmless. That was his word.

Harmless. Tell that to the teachers in Pinellas County who face pay cuts and the closure of seven to 10 schools.

Harmless. Tell that to Hillsborough students who will likely see fewer librarians and school nurses, as well as overcrowding in elective classes not covered by the class-size amendment.

Harmless. Tell that to Broward and Miami-Dade schools, which will take about a third of the $900-million cut and expect to have to lay off social workers and guidance counselors.

Harmless. Tell that to the schools cutting summer school programs, school security, and art and music classes. ...

None of this sounds very harmless at all.

and, incredibly, another $86 million to operate a private prison.

Florida's prison population is expected to soar from about 96,000 inmates today, to 120,000 inmates by 2012.

Slash

"The University of Florida, the state's highest-rated institution of higher education, announced layoffs, reductions in degree programs and a steep cut in undergraduate enrollment as part of a plan to cope with severe budget cuts from the state." "University of Florida cuts 400 jobs, undergrad enrollment".

"Gaining admission to the University of Florida will become even harder as it slashes undergraduate enrollment by 4,000 students, lays off 138 faculty and staff members, and eliminates some courses and degree programs to make up for the loss of $47 million in state money." "UF will cut jobs, slash enrollment".

Budgeting "$86 million to operate a private prison", while at the same time "slash[ing] undergraduate enrollment by 4,000 students, lays off 138 faculty and staff members, and eliminates some courses and degree programs to make up for the loss of $47 million in state money".

This is what Charlie calls the "Legislature's 'Golden Age'"?

Who knew?

The ever vigilant Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "Amid the clamor of Florida's 2008 legislative session, a bill slipped through nearly unnoticed -- yet within the next 18 months, every person who registers a vehicle in this state will know about it."

At least, they'll know enough to wonder "What's 'Family First?'"

That's because, starting in October if Gov. Charlie Crist doesn't veto the bill, everyone who registers a car or renews its registration in Florida will be asked whether you want to donate a dollar to the Tampa-based organization -- though you won't be told what the organization does, or what the money will be used for.

The bill doesn't go into much detail either, referring to Family First merely as "a nonprofit corporation." In reality, the group is a conservative-leaning organization, also known as the Florida Family Council, that says it's "dedicated to strengthening the family," through radio spots, e-mails and Web sites. While not overtly sectarian, the group approaches the issue of family preservation with a clear religious bent. And while it's not to be confused with the more openly political, Orlando-based Florida Family Policy Council, Family First has weighed in on political issues in its time, including drafting a letter in 1998 chastising the Disney Corporation for offering benefits to gay and lesbian partners of its employees.

Feds to "investigate"?

"State investments downgraded during the subprime mortgage meltdown have been targeted in a federal probe. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has asked the State Board of Administration to hand over hundreds of pages of documents related to the buying and selling of at least 10 different securities, according to a letter dated Feb. 22." "Feds investigate state investment pool".

Lehman Brothers "employee" Jebbie is in the middle of all this - will he be investigated by Dubya's keystone kops? More: "Saint Jebbie gets another pass".

"Equity" layoffs

"Most workers won't see raises or one-time bonuses, but the biggest bill affecting them includes a plan for equity [sic] layoffs." "Florida legislative session not kind to state workers". By contrast, you will be shocked to learn that

The business lobby said the legislative session was surprisingly good ...

A "values" crowd budget

"Broward to cut $100 million: parks, libraries, police on list" and "Florida legislators' low expectations met in session". Background: "Necessity, not politics, ruled '08 session".

Good luck

"Bullard demands respect from Senate head".

Who can blame him

"The top federal prosecutor in north Florida, who was previously named in a public list of several U.S. attorneys targeted for firing, announced his resignation on Monday to take a job with a private law firm." "Federal prosecutor resigns to become partner in law firm".

Out here in the fields

"Burger King Corp. says it is conducting an internal investigation into blog postings that criticize a Florida farmworker group, allegedly made by a top official using his young daughter's screen name."

A newspaper said last week on that the blog postings were reportedly made by Stephen Grover, the No. 2 burger chain's vice president for food safety, quality assurance and regulatory compliance. He has been a key part in the company's feud with the farmworker group, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, over improving work and wage conditions for tomato pickers.

e-mail criticized the company and expressed sympathy for Florida farmworkers.

Burger King has said it has a strong vendor code of conduct that mandates zero tolerance for worker exploitation and abuse and is open to responsible suggestions for improvement. But it says it is not ready to join the deals signed by its competitors. Last year, Grover raised several objections in interviews, including that the company sees no legal way to pay workers in a completely separate industry.

Florida's booming economy

"Orlando-area home values keep sinking".

Troxler

Howard Troxler gets snarky with "The good ideas they passed — no, really".

Lifestyles of rich and fat old GOPers

"Book's critique of The Villages lifestyle fires up debate".

The lawyers at the Trib weigh in

The Tampa Tribune editorial board:

Yes, some states have a history of developing tactics to skirt the 15th Amendment, which prohibits states from denying citizens the right to vote based on race. But requiring proper identification is hardly the modern-day equivalent of 19th-century poll taxes, which discouraged blacks from voting in the South, as some activists claim.

Ain't dead yet

"Central Florida commuter-rail supporters are preparing to spend as much as $52 million in the next year to keep their plan on track, despite the Legislature's rejection of the deal last week." "Commuter rail far from dead, Mica and Dyer vow". The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Our position: It falls to Crist and lawmakers to fight and save commuter rail".

"An agency notorious for cronyism"

"The Department of Corrections, an agency notorious for cronyism, has a number of double-dippers at its highest levels. Those who have been allowed to 'retire' and return to work drawing a salary and a monthly retirement check include at least six prison wardens and two deputy secretaries of the department." "Six wardens among double-dippers at Florida Department of Corrections".

Yesterday's news

- "Hispanic evangelicals hold potent votes, experts say".

- "Crist says he'll OK tuition increase".

- "Things tough all over Florida".

From budget cuts for child abuse investigators to the defeat of a bill to move the mentally ill from jails into treatment, Butterworth said legislators did little to help Florida's sick and neglected.

"I'm very upset," said Butterworth, who will lose 250 jobs in the Department of Children and Families under the 2008-09 budget. And it took last-minute maneuvering to maintain a program where the state subsidizes adoptions of foster children.

Does he have a blind spot where lawmakers are concerned, and could it backfire in an election year as the effects of budget cuts sink in?

No, Crist insists. Lawmakers wisely resisted the temptation to raise taxes, he says.

"Pay to play"

"The way things stand, the perception (if not yet 100 percent the reality) is that politicians do the bidding of lobbyists whose arms have been twisted for contributions in exchange for, as some wag put it, 'the attention of the mighty.'" A worthy piece this morning from The Tallahassee Democrat's: Mary Ann Lindley, "It's pay to play in the Legislature".

Puffing Charlie

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, which apparently should be confused with the Republican Party of Florida, actually published this headline - to a news story, not an editorial - this morning:

Crist wrings success out of legislative session

Crist wrings failure out of legislative session

Crist stands by and does nothing during legislative session

to extract or get by forceful effort or means

Yee Haw!

"Start measuring those vice presidential mansion drapes [and the in-house tanning bed], Charlie Crist, because a new poll suggests John McCain will need all the help he can get in must-win Florida. Quinnipiac University's latest poll shows Hillary Rodham Clinton beating McCain in Florida 49 to 41 percent, while McCain is essentially tied with Barack Obama, 44 percent to Obama's 43 percent." "McCain needs Crist's help in Florida, poll suggests" ("The April 23-29 poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points").

"A new poll suggests presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain has lost ground in Florida, which could increase the odds that he would pick Gov. Charlie Crist as his running mate." "Crist: A Rising Star?".

RPOFers take in the shorts

Those "reading is Fundamental" programs apparently worked: "For the first time since 1984, Democrats have edged past Republicans in voter registration in Pinellas County, considered by some to be the birthplace of the Florida Republican Party." "GOP Voters Are No Longer In Majority In Pinellas".

"Political whims, fickle public attention and outdated standards"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "The system that compensates victims of state negligence must be improved. Now, victims languish for years, subject to political whims, fickle public attention and outdated standards." "Victims' wait for justice is yet another injustice".

Poor Lil' Marco

"Despite an attempt from House Republicans to reignite divisive property tax battles with their Senate counterparts, lawmakers agreed this morning to a package of less ambitious changes." "Property tax bill goes to Crist".

Silly season

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Hillary Clinton and John McCain think they can buy your vote for $25. That's about how much a typical motorist would save if the two presidential candidates get their way and the federal gas tax is suspended for three months this summer. Even that scenario requires a willing suspension of disbelief — that the tax cut will actually be reflected in retail gas prices and that increased consumption won't drive the price even higher." "Gas tax gimmick an insult to voters".

For some reason Charlie's mimicry of McBush on this issue is given a pass.

Leave it to the Tribune Company

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The federal government shouldn't be in the propaganda business either".

Suing CSX

Thomas doesn't want you to think that the RPOFers are alone in the blame for the CSX thing. "So the lawyers got their lap-dog Democrats in the Senate to block the deal." See what he means here: "Lawyers' grease trumps saving gas as rail deals falter".

"A fine idea at the time ..."

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "'Sounds good in theory...'"

The responsible way to complete that sentence is " ... but does it work?" The irresponsible way to complete that sentence is " ... so let's do it." Under the sway of politicians and bureaucrats who sometimes are too "bold" [sic] for the state's own good, Florida has tended to say, "So, let's do it."

The theory was that reimbursing some expenses of bid presentation would encourage more bids, and that the increased competition would result in lower costs. Sounds good in theory. Or at least plausible. The problem is that DOT acted on the theory without legal authority to do so and without keeping track of whether it worked. ...

Though DOT got skewered for acting precipitously, the Legislature - following in the ideological footsteps of former Gov. Jeb Bush - has established its own "so let's do it" record. On the sounds-good theory that private business does a better job for less than government can, Florida got suckered and/or embarrassed in privatization deals involving human resources, prisons, foster care, purchasing, schools and even the purging of alleged felons from voter lists.

With its grand privatization schemes, however, Florida has looked even worse paying the winners.

It was a fine idea at the time

Now it's a brilliant mistake

Laff riot

Luv them tuff talkin' country clubbers:

Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, credited Rubio for a $66.2 billion budget that includes no tax increases or gambling money and little cash from reserves.

"Wherever you're going and whatever you plan on doing, sign me up, big guy, because I'll be there," Pruitt told Rubio after the session adjourned. "And I'll be there to watch your back."

Wingnuttery on hold

"A souring economy and a worrisome election year forced Florida's Republican-led Legislature to moderate its politics in the session that ended Friday because it had no other choice." "Necessity, not politics, ruled '08 session".

"The absurd world of public education in a state that put tax exemptions ahead of schoolchildren"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Three months after Pinellas voters approved higher property taxes so teachers could get better pay, the school system is now actually considering a 2 percent pay cut. Welcome to the absurd world of public education in a state that put tax exemptions ahead of schoolchildren, where superintendent Clayton Wilcox is forced to choose among budgetary options that are bad and worse." "School cuts: from bad to worse".

"Winners and Losers"

- The AP has a lengthy review of what it desribes as the "Winners and Losers in the 2008 Florida Legislature". More: "Florida legislation that passed and that failed".

- "Tampa Bay area's legislative rewards small in lean budget year".

- "In spite of a leaner budget year for Florida, Palm Beach County has pulled in millions in state money for projects ranging from environmental cleanup to a medical school at Florida Atlantic University." "Big projects for Palm Beach County survived cuts in state budget".

- "State may cut Skyway bridge suicide patrol".

- "Broward County had a number of projects and programs funded, albeit at reduced levels, in the state's $66.2 billion budget scheduled to take effect July 1" More here: "Broward County programs and projects funded in state budget".

- "Baggy pants won't be outlawed, but the bullies will have to be stopped. Students and teachers will have more time to prepare for the FCAT." "Revisions in FCAT are among changes in education".

In the end, though, losers do win ("Lawmakers: Pay losing contract bidders") so long as you are a government contractor.

Sorry Randy, but the future is now

The Palm Beach Post's Randy Schultz: "After the sort of soul-searching only higher education can produce, the University of Florida has come to an important conclusion about that Tasering of a student back in September: UF would do it again."

The tortured 52-page report by the wonderfully named Committee on a Civil, Safe and Open Environment doesn't say that directly. The next time, campus police would try other options and use more sense. Good thought. But after you get past all the supplements, footnotes and amens to the First Amendment, you reach this key phrase: "Conduct is not protected." And conduct, not speech, got Andrew M. Meyer, UF student and journalist wannabe, Tasered.

Mr. Meyer had a blog, which these days is like saying you have a driver license*.

In the first weeks after the incident, though, Mr. Meyer got his fame cameo, including an appearance on the Today show. "Don't Tase me, bro!" T-shirts were selling on the Internet. Ah, but the last posting on the donttaserme blog, linked from theandrewmeyer.com, was more than three months ago. It concludes with a warning to be "vigilent." Obviously, that vigilance doesn't apply to proofreading**.

If this had happened most places, the reaction would have been muted. At a university, though, it became An Issue.

Admittedly, if you watch the Sunday gasbags or Washington reporters at news conferences [or read the commentary of Florida's traditional media political writers], the art of asking probing, revealing questions can seem dead. Like Mr. Meyer, they care more about their questions than the answers. Could there be a future in journalism for Mr. Meyer after all? If so, don't let me be around to see it, bro.

War stories

"South Florida residents fought to help create, defend the Jewish state". See also "Israel's 60th anniversary events in South Florida".

"Flood of foreclosures"

"Pressed by desperate homeowners in South Florida, members of Congress are promoting legislation to try to stem the tide of home foreclosures and prevent further erosion of property values. The House is expected to pass a bill this week that would encourage lenders to refinance troubled home mortgages on easier terms, backed by the Federal Housing Administration. The idea is to stabilize the real-estate market and prevent housing prices from plummeting because of a flood of foreclosures." "Under pressure from South Florida homeowners, House to act on mortgage crisis".