McCollum "not going there"

"It's not hard to find policy areas where Republicans Bill McCollum and Gov. Charlie Crist have differences."

Gambling, restoring ex-felons civil rights, abortion, the federal stimulus, energy and others. Attorney General McCollum is considered a conservative policy wonk and Crist is a populist who prefers to think in general terms while leaving the details to staff.

So it was a just a little bit odd recently when McCollum mailed a fundraising letter in which he said if elected governor he wants to be "a leader who will carry on the conservative legacy of Governors Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush." That's because many Florida Republicans don't consider Crist to be a true conservative.

Despite the mailer, don't expect McCollum to campaign as a Crist conservative. He's already being cautious about what he says about the current governor. While McCollum will talk about his views, he isn't always forthcoming about his opinions on Crist.

Asked about the fundraising letter and who he is more like, conservative, policy-minded Bush or Crist, and McCollum replied, "I'm not going there."

"Fla. gov hopeful McCollum: It's not about Crist".




The next time someone whines about state employees ...

... direct them to this information, summarized by Bill Cotterell: "About this time every year, the Department of Management Services puts out a neat little report containing everything you could possibly want to know about state employment, plus a lot of stuff that probably never occurred to you."

The size and cost of state personnel remain at the bottom nationally. In 2008, the average state government had 216 employees per 10,000 population; Florida had 118. Also, the average payroll expenditure was $69 per state resident nationwide, but only $38 in Florida. The state was tied with Illinois for the lowest ratio of actual employees to population, and we ranked 49th in authorized full-time positions (103) per 10,000 residents.

"State work-force report is a fascinating read".




Another fine Jebacy

"Florida's weak economy, with its high unemployment and foreclosure rates, was the state's top story in 2009, according to a vote of newspaper editors conducted by The Associated Press." "Weak economy, high unemployment Fla.'s top story".




"It feels like home"

Mark Lane: "You want to get a strong, personal grasp of Florida history? Florida history that applies right to where you are now? Here's where to start: Your home's title binder."

To the practiced eye, the average Florida land title search has a grand, multigenerational sweep that is at once comic and tragic. It is breathtaking in its scope. International in its reach. It touches aspirations and petty scams that stay strangely constant over decades.

Many concerned citizens look upon our current economic misfortunes and how we've been brought down by international fraud, experimental finance, rollercoaster land values, and unsustainable expectations falling to Earth and feel it's The End of the World as We Know It.

But in Florida, it feels like home.

"The great Florida title story".




"Goes without saying, right? Not in Florida"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "More than 100 legislators approved the bill this month that fosters passenger train systems throughout Florida. Nine people, however, soon will be charged with moving those train systems forward, helping shape, sustain and sometimes connect them"

The group of nine can pull it off if two things happen, above all others:

First, the governor, Senate president and House speaker must appoint exceptionally qualified people to the commission. Goes without saying, right? Not in Florida.

Last year Gov. Charlie Crist appointed the wife of his top lawyer to be chairwoman of a commission that handles labor issues. Sara Gonzalez's qualifications amounted to being a dermatologist's assistant.

"Making the trains work".




Duh ...

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "After three years of no pay raises for state employees, this would be a modest but meaningful incentive and career motivation that would cost taxpayers no additional money at all." "Our Opinion: Free classes for state workers is a win-win situation".




Wonder what "chain gang Charlie" thinks?

The Miami Herald editors: "Florida's Supreme Court puts an end to humiliating juveniles". "Court made right call in limiting juvenile shackles".




Just the way they like it

The St. Pete Times editorial board: "The Florida Ethics Commission is like a police agency with few weapons, little investigatory scope and no authority to lock up an individual." "Ethics watchdog needs teeth".




Corporate welfare flops

"Buoyed by more than $100 million of public assistance, Central Florida's 'medical city' is emerging with a spate of new biomedical-research and health-care buildings in a far corner of Orlando. Yet it is not the property-tax cash cow that some officials had expected." "Medical city isn't helping tax rolls".




"Reality demands a different economic model"

"Florida is a growth-a-holic that based its economy on the premise of endless expansion. For decades, new residents came in waves, bringing with them hopes for a fresh start and demand for everything from housing to stores to restaurants."

Now the state faces what once was unthinkable.

Forecasters say the days of dizzying growth are over. Last year, in fact, the state lost population for the first time since World War II. Florida will grow again once a recovery takes root, demographers say, but at a slower pace.

That reality demands a different economic model – a sustainable strategy less dependent on the arrival of others.

"Will Florida's growth-a-holic tendencies change with new reality?".




"Dirty secrets"

"2009 was the year some of our region's dirty secrets, previously only whispered about in the corridors of power, came to light." "2009: A year of corruption and arrests in South Florida". Related: Michael Mayo: "'Does it ever stop?' asks reader outraged by corruption cases".

More: "Complete coverage : The fall of Scott Rothstein".




Florida Panthers

"The Seminole Tribe has applied for a permit to expand a rock mine in a remote corner of northwest Broward County, in a proposal that could generate opposition from environmentalists concerned about the Florida panther." "Seminole Tribe applies to expand rock mine in west Broward; environmentalists concerned about Florida panther".




The rich are different

"Ivana Trump forcibly removed from Palm Beach plane".