Crist campaign mischief?

"The National Journal, with all of its Florida political sources, reported that two of them anonymously (of course) said former House Speaker Marco Rubio "has been calling around to top Republican donors and activists in the state" and mulling a switch of races, from U.S. Senate to Florida Attorney General." "Rubio National Journal race-switch report "untrue"". See also "Rubio denies rumors about AG race".




Stim "paying off"?

"Florida's approximately $15 billion, three-year take of federal-stimulus spending is already starting to pay off, agency heads told Gov. Charlie Crist Wednesday." "Agencies: Stimulus paying off".




What's the problem?

"Despite the recession, the number of millionaires in the Miami- Fort Lauderdale area continues to grow -- almost 7 percent between 2007." "Number of millionaires in South Florida rises".




"Why is Florida abdicating its responsibility"?

"Crist keeps hailing the federal stimulus package as a magic job-saver -- on Wednesday he pointed to $2 billion of the money helping 26,000 teachers stay employed in Florida."

The governor's pronouncement came a day after President Barack Obama pledged $12 billion for the nation's community colleges. It's a wise investment that would help prepare a new workforce during the next decade just as new technologies offer opportunity.

True, these are extraordinary times. The current hardened recession has prompted local and state governments to look to Washington to save the day. But the federal government already is facing a whopping deficit as it funds two wars, tries to fix the banking mess and Detroit auto catastrophe and ventures into healthcare reform.

The question for Mr. Crist, who is running for the U.S. Senate, and for the Florida Legislature, which has given fiscal conservatism a bad name as it squeezes public schools, colleges and universities to the brink of mediocrity, is:

Why is Florida abdicating its responsibility to fund public schools to ensure quality education mandated by the state's constitution?

"Florida's public schools are at risk".




Just plain "mean"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Lists like the one rating Orlando the third 'meanest' U.S. city for the homeless get noticed, no matter how arbitrary or unfair they might be." "Orlando third "meanest" city & Racial testing gap".




Amendment 4

"Letting voters decide on changes in comprehensive land-use plans will not kill jobs or force a referendum on every new growth opportunity, supporters of a "hometown democracy" amendment said Wednesday." "Supporters say Amendment 4 won't kill jobs".




Heatin up

"Herald/Times video: Marco Rubio swipes at Charlie Crist".




Keep the spikes up next time, Debbie

"U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz sprained her ankle and fractured her left leg sliding into second base during a softball game in Washington." "Congresswoman injured during softball game".




"Wise Latina woman"

The Saint Petersburg Times:

The phrase "wise Latina woman" has become inextricably linked with Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. The jurist again faced tough questions Wednesday about the meaning behind those words, which she used in a 2001 speech to law students at the University of California at Berkeley. In her speech, Sotomayor seemed to suggest that a "wise Latina woman" might reach better conclusions than a white man.

Earlier this week in response to criticism, Sotomayor said the remark "was bad, because it left an impression that I believed that life experiences commanded a result in a case. But that's clearly not what I do as a judge."

We asked some local Hispanic women how they interpreted the "wise Latina" remark and the debate around it.

"Sotomayor debate hits home for Latinas".




Delusions of grandeur

"Crist: Florida a role model for national health care reform". See also "Crist says his little-sought health plan should be national model".




"Out-of-sight raises the city has been giving its unions"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board loses it this morning: "With the local economy gasping, property values plummeting and the city of Tampa dealing with a $52 million budget deficit, it is outrageous Tampa unions refuse to forego raises."

Mayor Pam Iorio, who has resolved not to award any city employees pay increases, has declared an impasse in the city's negotiations with the police, fire and general employee unions.

The mayor should hold firm. And Tampa City Council, which ultimately will decide the contracts, must finally put an end to the out-of-sight raises the city has been giving its unions, particularly fire and police. ...

Not giving the union raises would save the city $12 million ...

That cost is a pittance compared to the sacrifices being required in the private sector, where pensions are rare and many companies have stopped contributing to workers' 401k accounts during these hard times.*

In contrast, the unions enjoy a generous pension ...

"City must not buckle to union demands". See also, this gem from the Trib's fellow travellers on the The Sun-Sentinel editorial board:"State workers' benefits going overboard".




Whoopee! A name change

"In an effort to make Hillsborough County stand out among Florida counties seeking to lure new high-tech businesses, the Interstate 4 Economic Corridor is going by a new name – the I-4 Green Tech Corridor." "Interstate 4 corridor slated to go 'Green'".




"The bullet train may be back"

Pamela Hasterok: "That woebegone plan for a train to zip commuters from Orlando to Tampa and travelers from Miami to Jacksonville at 120 miles per hour re-emerged this week after five years in cold storage. The Florida Department of Transportation applied for $2.5 billion in federal stimulus money to restart the train line voters approved in 2000. The money would go toward building the original first leg between the Orlando airport, the convention center and Tampa, with a stop in Lakeland." "Bullet train lives again, sort of".