'Glades

"Court challenges and the resulting delays could jeopardize the deal to purchase sugar fields for Everglades restoration." "U.S. Sugar deal hits legal delay". See also "Critics call Everglades deal a "sham," stall approval".

From the "values" crowd

"Budget Cuts Likely Doom New Homes for Fla.'s Poor".

"Closing schools, cutting jobs and eliminating programs"

"Leon County Schools officials are scrambling to decide how they’ll cut $12 million from the district’s budget and are facing tough decisions that could involve closing schools, cutting jobs and eliminating programs." "Leon County Schools could eliminate jobs and close schools as part of budget cuts".

"54 percent without health insurance"

"A majority of low-income people who lose their jobs end up without health care insurance, according to a report released Friday. The report by Families USA, a non-profit group for health care consumers, shows 54 percent of people nationwide with an income of $44,100 or below for a family of four are uninsured. Florida also has 54 percent without health insurance or 208,921 people." "Uninsured population on the rise".

"Hardly the final chapter in this sordid little story"

The South Florida Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom's shameful departure from the leadership ranks is hardly the final chapter in this sordid little story. While Sansom faces multiple investigations, Florida lawmakers need to face up to the fact that they have a much bigger problem on their hands. Sansom got into trouble because he took a six-figure administrative job at a Panhandle community college late last year after steering many millions of dollars to that same college. It looked like payback, even if Sansom and college administrators insist it wasn't." "Sansom flap exposes lax rules that invite back-scratching".

Happy man

"Ray Sansom, the embattled House speaker who was dethroned last week by fellow Republican leaders, said today he's content with his new role as a committee chairman and a member of two prominent committees." "Cretul, Sansom discuss their new jobs".

"Florida's new speaker said Friday that his ousted predecessor Ray Sansom will have a committee chairmanship in the House of Representatives." "New Fla. speaker gives jobs to ousted predecessor". See also "New Speaker Appoints Sansom To Lead House Panel".

Related: "New problems plague site once meant to house airplane hangar that was linked to Sansom".

"Looking up"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Things have been looking up the past few months for Space Florida, the state's space recruiting arm charged with helping to bring more commercial launches to Cape Canaveral." "More accountability".

Minneola "a gambling mecca?"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Minneola's leaders must be truly desperate for new jobs and tax revenue. Why else would they consider the foolish and far-fetched idea of trying to turn their city of 9,400 in south Lake County into a gambling mecca?" "We think: Minneola would be foolish to stake its future on gambling".

Naugle

"Fort Lauderdale - Mayor Jim Naugle, who leaves office next month because of term limits, is so controversial in the gay community that the Dolphin Democrats political club is running ads alerting voters which candidates in Tuesday's primary have his support." "Ads advise gays which candidates have Lauderdale mayor's backing".

Will Charlie try to put in an appearance?

"President plans to visit Fort Myers". See also "President Obama to visit Ft. Myers Tuesday" and "Obama to push stimulus plan in Fort Myers".

Senate race

"Two leading Democrats in next year's U.S. Senate race are visiting Lee County this weekend to line up potential supporters and start raising name recognition. State Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami, met with Lee County Democratic leaders Friday, while U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, will have a meet-and-greet open to the public tonight in Fort Myers." "News-Press: Democratic Senate hopefuls making visit to Lee".

Yawwwnnn ...

"State lawmakers unlikely to make big changes to Florida's property tax structure".

Move over, please

"Deputy hit by passing car, thrown onto train track".

Abramson

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The Florida Supreme Court correctly ruled that a suspended lawyer can't be a judge, and Gov. Crist correctly asked that the seat be filled by appointment." "Right moves on Abramson".

Calling a "racist" a "racist"

Employees of the The St. Petersburg Times are confused about whether the boss man has given permission to use the word "racist", instead of the namby pamby "racial", in describing the RPOF's recent ... well "racist" behavior.

On the web this morning, the title of the The St. Petersburg Times editorial board's editorial is headlined "Racist jokes no laughing matter" in one place, and ""Racial jokes no laughing matter".

Earlier in the week, the obviously "racist" statements were referred only as "racial". For example, see here. The Miami Herald company is equally culpable - see here.

Why is the The St. Petersburg Times so nervous about calling these obviously "racist" GOPers "racist"?

And why would the editors feel the need in this morning's editorial to make sure everyone knows that, from the editors' perspective (and gosh knows they seem to spend plenty of time in the company of RPOFers), "The local party overall is more moderate and diverse than these [multiple episodes of outright racisism] episodes suggest."

Background: "Racist? You decide" and "Let's repeat: it was 'racist' not merely 'racial'" (scroll down).

See generally: "After All, He Is Black".

"Arctic blast"

"This week's arctic blast spelled trouble for tropical fish breeders, though plant crops went mostly unscathed." "Florida fish farms hurt by cold; plant crops mostly OK".

Damn trial lawyers are at it again

"The checks are from a $2.6 million settlement with national insurance broker Aon, obtained by the Attorney General's Antitrust Division along with the Department of Financial Services and the Office of Insurance Regulation." "Broward Sheriff's Office gets $128,000 settlement for insurance fees".

And this is a headline ...

... why?: "Dunkin' Donuts donates $15,000 to Broward crime prevention".

Cretul's a complete wingnut

About Mr. Cretul:

He's conservative [sic] -- and has backed losing candidates in recent GOP primaries, including Fred Thompson in last year's presidential race and Tom Gallagher in 2006's gubernatorial primary versus Charlie Crist.

In 2006, Cretul sponsored a bill that would have outlawed Florida tax dollars being spent on same-sex or unmarried partners of employees of public universities and community colleges. But with no indication that such a thing was a problem -- or something many Floridians cared about -- the proposal failed to gain traction, even in the Republican-dominated Legislature. So it died.

He's one of the most consistently pro-business legislators in the state, according to numerous groups, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida.

Cretul made national news in 1997 when, as a Marion County commissioner, he led a fight to keep an abortion clinic out of his county. He worked with the FBI in a sting that led the feds to charge the doctor with extortion, accused of wanting money in exchange for not opening his clinic.

Another failed Jebacy

"About 42,000 Medicaid patients in Broward County and 37,000 others will have their health care disrupted because the largest HMO in Florida's Medicaid reform experiment is dropping out, health officials said Thursday. The reform, started by then-Gov. Jeb Bush in 2006, moved almost all Medicaid patients in Broward and the Jacksonville area into HMO-style plans, aiming to trim the state's $16 billion Medicaid budget and improve care." "Big HMO in Medicaid reform drops Broward". See also "42,000 in Broward to have health care disrupted".

Sansom death spiral

"Sansom and the board of trustees of Northwest Florida State College met in Tallahassee last March to discuss legislation that, once passed, elevated the school above traditional community colleges."

State law requires a get-together like that be held in public. But the meeting, arranged by Sansom at the request of college president Bob Richburg, was held with little public notice at a members-only club in Tallahassee, 150 miles from the Northwest Florida State campus in Okaloosa County. ...

Caterers for the University Center Club overlooking the football stadium at Florida State University, where the meeting was held, were told not to post signs directing the public to the private room.

''For this particular event, they didn't want it open,'' said Robin Wharton, the club's private events director.

Sansom, recently ousted as House speaker, is a club member, and the event was booked as the ''Sansom dinner'' rather than as a Northwest Florida State event.

A member who reserves space -- there is no charge -- can ask for signs to be placed in the building so people can find the room. In this case, ''the host requested no signs,'' Wharton said in an interview with The Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau.

"A no-brainer" ... assuming you have a brain

"On Wednesday, President Barack Obama signed federal legislation that will raise cigarette taxes nationwide by 61 cents, bringing the federal tax to a little more than $1 a pack. The $33 billion in new federal revenue will be used to provide subsidized health insurance to 4 million children over the next four and a half years, potentially cutting the number of uninsured children in the nation in half." "Additional state tax on cigarettes considered".

George Diaz: "With public schools under siege and social-service money drying up, Florida's kids finally got a jolt of good news to go along with Thursday's morning chill: President Barack Obama has signed a bill extending health insurance to millions of low-income children."

In Florida, that means that about 253,000 children -- nearly 50,000 of them here in Central Florida -- should be eligible for coverage. Overall, there are about 797,000 uninsured children in Florida -- that's more than one out of every six children in the state ... .

At first blush, you might say, "OK, that's nice," and label this as a no-brainer.

Regrettably, the road has been long and hard and cluttered with partisan politics.

It starts with George W. Bush. The Decider decided that he didn't like the SCHIP bill, so he vetoed it twice in 2007. It seems a bit counterintuitive for a man who demanded that No Child Be Left Behind.

Bush also had a hard-line chorus behind him, including former Central Florida House Republicans Tom Feeney and Ric Keller. Feeney was particularly disingenuous, calling it "Cuba-style health care" and warning that it would encourage "illegal immigrants to flock to the United States in search of health care at taxpayers' expense."

Illegal immigrants weren't eligible for coverage, but let's not have that stand in the way of a nonsensical rant.

Bush, Feeney and Keller can continue complaining about the SCHIP program, but it won't matter much anymore. The moving vans came for all of them after the last elections.

Why not just warehouse 'em

"Facing more budget cuts, Florida Senate education leaders said Thursday they will consider asking voters to change a 2002 constitutional amendment that placed limits on school class sizes." "Legislators plan to revisit class size".

Let's repeat: it was "racist" not merely "racial"

"A longtime Republican party leader from Hillsborough County who distributed an e-mail mocking black victims of Hurricane Katrina resigned Thursday, just hours after the message was sent to the media and the state party chairman. Carol Carter, a member of the party's executive committee for much of the past 30 years, sent the e-mail Friday to less than a dozen people on her personal account."

Was the e-mail "racial" or "racist"?:

Referring to the record-setting crowd at President Barack Obama's inauguration, it reads: ``I'm confused. How can 2,000,000 blacks get into Washington, DC in 1 day in sub zero temps when 200,000 couldn't get out of New Orleans in 85 degree temps with four days notice?''

called Carter a ''loyal, hard-working Republican''but said he had chastised her.

Before she resigned, Carter followed up the e-mail with an apology, but added in the message, ''I do hope that we are going to be allowed to keep our sense of humor.'' Later in a telephone interview, she said she regretted that the e-mail became public because she realized it ``could be taken as very racial.''

''I would never take something like this to the media,'' she said. ``It's like what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.''

One penny

"The state's teachers union is betting that parents and educators are so fed up with budget cuts that they'll help pass a penny sales-tax increase to raise money for schools -- a move that likely would fail miserably in normal economic times." "Teachers union says penny tax can add up to $3.5B for schools".

They're a comin' outa the woodwork

"Baker said he hasn't ruled out a potential Senate run." "St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker considers U.S. Senate run".

"Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum and Democratic Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink batted down speculation about next year's governor's race as both attended the annual Voters Coalition dinner here tonight." "Attendees of Voters Coalition dinner speculate on McCollum, Sink".

A Miami book burning

Embarrassing ...

"Miami school officials can remove from library shelves a book about Cuba that depicts smiling children in communist uniforms but avoids mention of problems in the country, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday." "Miami school board can ban book about Cuba".

A .pdf version of the opinion can be found here. Pages 72 through 79 of the majority decision reflects the decrepitude of the court - in those pages, the majority makes certain findings as to purported factual errors in the book (to wit: Cuba is a bad place), justifying it being removed from library bookshelves; in the following pages the court comically claims that it is not upholding "banning" of a book.

The vigorous dissent by Judge Wilson (beginning on page 118) takes issue with the majority's claim that it is not partaking in "book banning", writing that he does

not believe that he First Amendment permits a school board to ban a book for the purpose of suppressing the viewpoints expressed in the book, when the educational content of the book is otherwise innocuous. Vamos a Cuba, which is simply a part of an apolitical, superficial geography series, is only 26-sentences in length. ...

Having read the book and independently examined the entire record, I agree with the district court that the School Board’s claim that Vamos a Cuba is grossly inaccurate is simply a pretense for viewpoint suppression, rather than the genuine reason for its removal. The record supports the district court’s determination that the book was not removed for a legitimate pedagogical reason.

'Glades games

"Crist's administration decided to put the full burden of his billion-dollar-plus Everglades initiative on taxpayers in southern Florida so as not to worsen the state's already strained budget, newly released court records show." "U.S. Sugar deal too costly for state role".

The free market for thee

"Republican lawmaker Carl Domino of Jupiter is sponsoring a bill to require all Florida pharmacies to buy biometric identification equipment for people filling prescriptions. Only one company, the one that took the legislation to Domino, could carry out the mandate." "Lawmaker's measure would drive drug ID business to one firm".

Unions breathe a sigh of relief

"UM's Donna Shalala won't pursue old Cabinet post".

'Ya gotta problem wit' that?

The Daytona Beach News Journal editors: "Local governments are generally required to conduct the public's business in the open. Twice in the past six months, three local governments, the Palm Coast City Council, the Bunnell city administration and the Flagler County Commission, conducted or sanctioned secret negotiations with two private companies involving hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in incentives." "Enough with secret tax handouts".

Privatization

"Medicaid officials don't expect their $250 million computer system to run trouble-free until summer."

That was the forecast from Medicaid administrator Alan Strowd, who acknowledged to a state Senate health care committee Thursday that technical glitches have created headaches for providers and beneficiaries since the system went online about seven months ago.

"I would expect it would be sometime in the summer that we're in a steady stage," said Strowd, chief of the Medicaid Contract Management bureau.

Florida hired Electronic Data Systems more than three years ago to develop and maintain the system for the state's $15 billion Medicaid program. Since the system debuted in the summer, beneficiaries have complained that they can't access the system and providers have had problems getting proper payments.

Strowd said the contractor might bring on additional staff. The state has requested that a consultant review the system and is conducting its own review

"I'm not looking for zero errors," said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. "But you're saying it's going to be into the summer before we can expect our constituents to be able to get through on the call lines?" ...

Gaetz also raised the issue of Medicaid providers who have encountered billing problems.

"They live hand to mouth," Gaetz said. "They've got to meet payroll on Friday, and they've got disabled people relying on them."

The Senate thing

The Tampa Trib editors: "Crist's interest in the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez in two years might seem a blessing for the Republican Party."

But Crist's dallying with the Senate post could end up damaging his reputation, his party and the state. He needs to think hard about his next move but make his intentions clear - and soon.

While Crist is popular now, his support could sink like a rock should he turn his attention from the office he took over just two years ago. Florida is in a fiscal crisis. It needs strong, focused leadership, not a leader with an eye on the next rung up the political ladder.

Setting his sight on another office scarcely halfway through his first term is hardly the way to show voters that he puts the people first.

And it would surely give ammunition to critics who claim he is an opportunistic politician only interested in the next campaign.

We don' need no stinkin' gov'ment regulation

"A North Florida resident has been diagnosed with salmonella poisoning linked to a nationwide outbreak, the state Department of Health reported late Wednesday." "Florida reports first salmonella poisoning linked to peanut plant".

"Endangered towns on Lake Okeechobee"

Joel Engelhardt: "The endangered towns on Lake Okeechobee find themselves in the uncomfortable position of seeking aid and comfort from the enemy. The enemy in these parts is the state, which is insisting on buying 180,000 acres of fertile farmland to convert into who knows what." "Big deal threatens small towns".

"So is it?"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board:

When the city voted on Jan. 28 to approve Ordinance No. 09-0-05, which allows the Tallahassee Fire Department to collect a fee for intervening at the scene of a car accident, several residents and at least one representative of the insurance industry cried that the fee would be act of double taxation.

So is it?

"Business leaders" share their wisdom

"The road out of recession starts at the school house, bypasses red tape at city hall and the state house and ends in Washington, D.C. with help from the federal government." "Business leaders, experts say road to recovery starts with local government".

Gimme a ballot ...

Early voting is becoming so popular that some Florida voters want it for every election. And some are showing up at Broward elections offices hoping to vote early in next Tuesday's Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here. and Wilton Manors city elections. But there's no early voting offered for those elections or the March 10 contests in 11 cities, towns and villages throughout Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports." "People showing up to vote early – even though there's no early voting for Tuesday's city elections".

Game over

"The most twisted judicial race in Palm Beach County - and possibly Florida - history ended Wednesday when the state Supreme Court ruled that suspended attorney William Abramson is not fit to serve on the bench." "Abramson can't take bench, state supreme court rules".

And there were many

The Tampa Trib editors: "Buddy Johnson has proven to be one of Jeb Bush's biggest mistakes." "Buddy's Bungled Budgets".

In Jebbie's footsteps ... "Buddy Johnson asked vendor for job while he was Hillsborough elections supervisor".

Slow down

"Black bear released into nature preserve with broken legs after collision with car".

Try a defined pension plan next time

"One in five Bernard Madoff investors from Florida".

Black history

"A civil rights group is asking the Florida Attorney General's Office to enforce a 1994 state law requiring black history to be taught in all school districts." "Fla. group asks state to enforce black history law".

Bed tax

"Extra beds in Pinellas County Jail may hold state inmates — for a price".

State farm

Mike Thomas: "State Farm says business is business, and it can't do business in Florida." "Don't fence me off from 'good neighbor' State Farm".

Layoffs

"More people sought unemployment benefits than expected last week, and laid-off workers found it harder to land new jobs as the economy struggled to show signs of life. Sour economic indicators Thursday also plagued the retail industry; the sales declines last month for many major stores raised concerns about the industry's health. However, productivity rose sharply in the final months of the year, the government said -- but only because layoffs cut the number of hours worked more than output fell." "Pink slips, rejection letters abound".

"Abortion doctor"

"Medical board considers penalizing abortion doctor".

Snapper

"Florida wildlife officials have cut the fishing season for red snapper in state waters in the Gulf of Mexico." "Florida cuts red snapper season in Gulf of Mexico".

After more than a decade of rather heavy-handed speakers such as Tom Feeney, Johnnie Byrd and Marco Rubio — all of whom excelled at laying down the law and ensuring members were ideologically in lockstep — the anointing of Rep. Larry Cretul as speaker Monday night suggests a new, if brief, era of understatement.

He emphasized that his primary focus will be the state budget crisis, and he said Floridians should not expect "hair-raising speeches" or "knee-jerk reactions'' from him. There are plenty of those in Tallahassee already. The low-key, little-known legislator said he has no higher political ambitions and has not promised anyone anything in return for support. Those could turn out to be strengths as he inherits a leadership team assembled by Sansom. Such an unencumbered House speaker should see the state's problems more clearly and be able to deal with them more honestly.

Charlie delaying Senate announcement until after the Session

"Crist put the political rumor mill in overdrive Tuesday when he gave the strongest indication yet that he is considering a run for the U.S. Senate." "Crist coy about possibility he will run for U.S. Senate in 2010". See also "Crist to decide on Senate run in May".

"Crist confirmed he is mulling over a potential bid and will make a decision sometime after the 60-day spring legislative session slated to start March 3. Crist has been heavily courted by Washington Republicans to get into the race, with his stratospheric approval ratings and transformative centrist politics." "Crist confirms he might run for U.S. Senate". Speaking of "stratospheric" - "Poll: 73% dig Charlie Crist".

"Crist said Tuesday he's waiting until after Florida's legislative session ends in May to announce whether he will enter the U.S. Senate race, a statement that suggested to several political insiders that he's inclined to run." "Crist's Coyness Hints At Senate Race". But Tally begs to differ.

Barack, Mel and Charlie ...

"The White House on Tuesday amped up the pressure to speedily pass a giant economic-stimulus package, with President Barack Obama dialing three Republican governors -- including Florida's Charlie Crist -- to thank them for backing the measure. But even as Obama spoke with Crist -- along with Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut -- Republican senators, including Florida's Mel Martinez, rolled out an alternative plan that narrows spending and focuses on tax breaks." "Obama thanks Crist for support of stimulus plan".

Sugar deal souring

"A Florida Senate panel today skewered state officials who put together Gov. Charlie Crist's deal to purchase U.S. Sugar, signaling a potentially tough road for the project in the upcoming legislative session." "State lawmakers skewer U.S. Sugar deal".

Laff riot

"Martinez presents his stimulus plan". More funnies: "Campaign aims to strengthen marriages, reduce divorce rate in Florida" and "Bilirakis Is Homeland Security Watchdog".

Jerk

"Eight years after he and four of his U.S. Supreme Court colleagues effectively decided the 2000 presidential election, Justice Antonin Scalia visited this hotbed of recount passion Tuesday and was asked to reflect on the momentous Bush vs. Gore decision." "Scalia on 2000: 'Get over it'".

As Charlie flirts with Obama ...

"Property values are plummeting across Central Florida -- by double digits in many areas -- leaving school districts and local governments bracing for service cuts and tax-rate hikes in the next budget year." "Tax hikes: Another bitter pill for Central Florida homeowners".

Buddy

"Auditors say former Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson mishandled grant money, failed to properly oversee finances within his office and broke state law by overspending his budget." "Audit faults Buddy Johnson". Background: "Buddy Johnson's troubles".

Privatization follies

"The GEO Group Inc. said in a statement Tuesday that inmates in two of the Reeves County Detention Center's three units remain under staff view in a central area of the complex. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based company says inmates remain 'cooperative and compliant.'" "Company says Texas prison's damage 'significant'".

Saved from ourselves?

"The U.S. Senate could spare Florida from losing $3.5 billion in education funding that was at risk when House lawmakers wrote their version of a massive economic-stimulus bill. A draft version of the Senate bill includes a provision that would allow the education secretary to waive a rule that would penalize states that didn't meet funding requirements. This clause could have cost Florida $3.5 billion because its education funding has dropped in recent years. According to one lawmaker, the state budget already is short about $600 million in K-12 education.""

Neither of Florida's two senators knew who inserted the new language ... .

"The court rejected lawmakers' limp arguments"

The Tampa Trib editors write that "it was good news last week when the Florida Supreme Court ruled initiatives to prevent favoritism in legislative and congressional redistricting could be placed on the ballot in 2010 if the amendments' sponsor, FairDistrictsFlorida.org, can collect enough signatures from the state's voters."

To make the ballot, each amendment will need 676,811 signatures. These are petitions worth signing.

"The overall goal of the proposed amendments is to require the Legislature to redistrict in a manner that prohibits favoritism or discrimination, while respecting geographical considerations," wrote Justice Fred Lewis for the court.

The proposed amendments would require that districts be compact and respect community boundaries. The districts should be as equal in population as feasible and should not discriminate on the basis of race or language.

Approving these standards will improve the process. Wedges should not be driven between communities, counties and voters, yet that's what politically driven redistricting does. Removing selfish political motives from the process is the main goal of FairDistrictsFlorida.

The Republican-dominated Legislature, of course, fought the ballot initiatives, arguing the language is misleading and violates the single-subject rule. But the court rejected lawmakers' limp arguments.

"'Without the arts in our country . . . well, we wouldn't have a country'"

"Scott Maxwell: We need to trim luxuries - but the arts are a necessity".

Whoopee!

"Crist spent the morning touting the state's $36 billion sports industry, an economic engine that continues to hum despite the worst recession since World War II." "Florida's sports industry thriving during recession".

One man's "'impressive'"

"Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith said Tuesday that Florida needs to make sure the dismal economy does not undercut its 'impressive' academic progress during the past decade." "School funding 'a real concern,' Florida's schools chief says".

CSX deal

"Dockery pleads with Crist to redo CSX deal".

Ain't goin' to Disneyland (or World ... or whatever)

"Parks and resorts reported revenue of $2.67 billion, down 4 percent." "Disney profits down 32 percent".

Whatever

"Manny Diaz to make it to the White House".

Ponzi schemer

"Miami Beach concert promoter Jack Utsick has rejected court orders to return to Miami, where he is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly fleecing his investors out of millions." "Feds want promoter Jack Utsick in Miami for Ponzi case".

Outa here

"State Farm defends decision to leave Florida".

Guns, guns ...

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "We don't intend to reargue the Second Amendment. "

The Supreme Court decided that in a way that most gun-rights groups and President Obama say they can live with: Americans can own firearms, but government can restrict that ownership.

Still, the fatal shooting of one child by another west of Lake Worth shows that with the constitutional right of gun ownership comes the societal responsibility of gun ownership. A 9-year-old boy is not able to point a .40-caliber pistol at his 11-year-old friend and fire, never thinking that the gun was loaded, unless adults fail in their responsibility.

"U-turn"

"After complaints from advocates, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said Tuesday that it will modify its policy for issuing drivers licenses to immigrant crime victims." "Florida's DMV does a U-turn on policy for immigrant crime victims".

Subsidy

"Delta Air Lines, the world's largest airline, may get a government subsidy to resume nonstop flights this year between Tallahassee and three Florida cities, including Fort Lauderdale." "Your tax dollars may subsidize Delta flights to Tallahassee, other Florida cities". See also "Tax dollars may subsidize nonstop flights to Tallahassee".

Fire fee

"It was 2007 when City Commissioners first began talking about a special assessment district, which assesses charges against a property to pay for things such as road improvements. In Deltona's case, it was to fund fire services and an activity center -- a 900-acre area the city is planning to develop near Interstate 4. The issue created such a public outcry that leaders killed it. Now another proposal laying the groundwork for a fee to pay for fire services is on the agenda for tonight's 6:30 commission meeting." "Deltona rethinks charge for fire service".

Local school districts said they're working with Gov. Charlie Crist's office and members of Congress for a fix. ...

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez will push his proposal to address the issue this week. A spokesman for the Republican said he planned to reach out to other states that may be in similar circumstances.

No Republicans in the House voted for the bill when it cleared the chamber last week, and Martinez has not yet decided whether he supports it, spokesman Ken Lundberg said.

That was the case before the economic crisis, which made matters worse. The $819 billion economic recovery bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week and scheduled for a Senate vote this week includes billions in aid to the states. It should help Floridians, but it won't help them nearly as much as it could because Florida legislators refuse either to provide adequate services or fund them at levels that would draw down Floridians' deserved share in federal dollars.

"State should stop cruel and unusual punishment"

"When federal Judge Timothy J. Corrigan ruled three weeks ago that spraying mentally ill inmates with skin-blistering chemicals violates the Constitution's ban against cruel and unusual punishment, it seemed that Florida might finally put an end to a horrible, unnecessary practice. Instead, the state is fighting the ruling." "Sick policy: Gassing mentally ill inmates".

Like rats on a sinking ship


"Three days after announcing he was temporarily stepping aside as speaker of the Florida House, Ray Sansom will be forced tonight to fully give up the job." "GOP moves to oust Sansom".

It seems "Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom's unprecedented and 'temporary' transfer of power couldn't survive the weekend."

House Republicans plan to caucus this evening in Tallahassee to name a new GOP leader under party rules -- the first move in an effort to permanently severe Sansom's grip on the speakership, according to numerous GOP legislators involved in the negotiations.

"Over the weekend, people have raised questions, and that made us stop and think," said Rep. Dean Cannon, a Winter Park Republican who is slated to be speaker in 2010 and was involved in the negotiations.

The leading candidate to permanently fill the office for the next two years remains Rep. Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, the speaker pro tem whom Sansom tapped Friday to temporarily fill in while Sansom's legal problems played out.

Stop the madness

Bill Cotterell: "With the Convergys contract running out in 2011, the Legislature directed OPPAGA to contract with some outside consultants to advise DMS on what to do for an encore. Should they bring personnel back 'in house?' Find another company? Maybe some combination of in-housing and out-sourcing?

OPPAGA hired EquaTerra, an expert on such stuff. That was kind of cool — they outsourced the study of the outsourcing.

the briefcase brigade recommends that DMS keep Convergys, with some pricing and service improvements, but also have a Plan B ready in case the company balks at what the state wants — and what it's willing to pay for it.

Something rotten in Denmark ...

"Appraisers at Florida's top environmental agency raised sharp questions late last year about the logic behind the $1.34 billion price attached to Gov. Charlie Crist's mammoth land deal with U.S. Sugar Corp."

But it's unclear whether the appraisers at the Department of Environmental Protection ever got satisfactory answers, according to a Palm Beach Post review of more than 2,000 internal e-mails at the agency. In some cases, the questions paralleled objections of critics who say the public is paying an inflated price for the 180,000-acre deal, a keystone of Crist's vision for Everglades restoration.

"Price-gouging"

"More than 10,000 Floridians complained to state agencies about steep increases in the price of gasoline after Hurricane Ike last year. At least two retail stations in North and Central Florida have agreed to settlements of price-gouging allegations for about $6,000. A grab bag of such settlements with small-scale businesses is typical after a disaster." "State probe of gas hikes targets Morgan Stanley over claims of gouging".

Ileana sent her flowers

"U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, has been selected a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. She was one of four vice presidents selected at the DNC's recent winter meeting. Wasserman Schultz is a rising Democratic star in Congress." "Wasserman Schultz gets national Democratic post [Broward Politics]".

RPOFers stepping aside for Charlie

There's a reason the doltish Mack is the only RPOFer in the race, and that reason has a happy face. For more, see yesterday's "Charlie 'freezing the field'". dKos ran the numbers the other day, and here they are: "FL-Sen: Most candidates unknown; if Crist runs, he wins".

Bill Cotterell shares his thoughts on the Senate race, or lack thereof:

First, Jeb Bush decided not to run, preferring to work with his foundation in Miami on education reform and to help reconstruct the Florida Republican Party in the Obama era. Then, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink disappointed Democrats by saying she wouldn't go for it. Last week, Attorney General Bill McCollum and U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello, bowed out within a half-hour of each other — saying, like Sink, that they will seek re-election to their current jobs next year.

That leaves Gov. Charlie Crist — with his 67-percent approval ratings, his new bride, his disarming "Hi, I'm Charlie" manner and his reputation for using one job as a springboard upward. National party leaders, needing to keep the Florida seat to deny Obama a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority in the Senate, have been pushing Crist to run but the governor has neither filed his re-election papers nor shown an interest in anything else.

"I'm focused on Florida," is the most Crist will say about his present or future plans.

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami and state Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, have announced their candidacies. No major Republican has announced, and, with Bush and McCollum out, the putative GOP frontrunner is a case of mistaken identity — U.S. Rep. Connie Mack of Naples, who inherits statewide name recognition and a conservative Republican pedigree from his father, the two-term U.S. Senator.

Gambling deal

"The Seminole Tribe of Florida will defend its gambling deal with the state before a House panel today." "Seminole Tribe to defend gambling deal Monday at House panel hearing".

Cuba policy change

Obama's "campaign pledges have Lee and Collier counties' Cuban population - a combined 27,000, according to the U.S. Census - anxious to see if Obama's presidency alters U.S.-Cuban policy." "For Cubans in SW Fla., Obama may mean hope".

"Just a marketing facade"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida talks a great game about its government basking in the sunshine when it comes to making public records available. But that's just a marketing facade." "Follow-through is needed to make public meetings, records more accessible".

Other people's money

"With tough economic times putting the brakes on local developers' desire to expand, international investors could help prop up South Florida's commercial real estate market."

Nakheel Hotels, managed by the Dubai government, bought 50 percent of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel for $375 million. A subsidiary of Japanese investment firm Sumitomo paid $260 million for the Miami Center office tower. Hong Kong-based Swire Properties, which developed most of Brickell Key, paid $41.3 million for 5.5 vacant acres just off Brickell Avenue. And a Mexican company affiliated with the Jose Cuervo Group became partners in 396 Alhambra, a planned $130 million office project in Coral Gables.

"Florida's immigrants"

"Although some groups in Florida -- such as undocumented agricultural workers, students and Haitian refugees -- would be satisfied with piecemeal legislation on visa programs that would help them, they unanimously support a comprehensive legalization program. The pro-immigrant coalition has the support of large Hispanic advocacy groups and community organizers at the grass-roots level. In addition, it has earned the backing of labor unions and businesses." "Florida's immigrants pin hopes on Obama".

Meantime, and "as the economy collapsed last year and many financial workers found themselves unemployed, the dozen U.S. banks now receiving the biggest rescue packages requested visas for tens of thousands of foreign workers to fill high-paying jobs, according to an Associated Press review of visa applications."

The major banks, which have received $150 billion in bailout funds, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign workers over the past six years for senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the median income for all American households.

"'You Can't Get There from Here'"

"Broward County legislators are used to feeling a little left out as an overwhelmingly Democratic delegation in the GOP-dominated Legislature, but now some say the feeling starts before they arrive at the Capitol. Ever since Delta stopped offering direct flights between Florida's capital and its second-largest county, lawmakers and lobbyists have lamented that the Fort Lauderdale-to-Tallahassee travel motto could be 'You Can't Get There from Here' -- at least not without taking a 19-seat propeller plane, making a seven-hour drive, flying directly from Miami or connecting in Atlanta." "Broward lawmakers lament loss of air bridge".

"Mysterious signs"

"Mysterious signs suggesting that Oakland Park should oust City Manager John Stunson have been appearing along the roadside lately." "Signs call for ouster of Oakland Park city manager".

"Dining, dancing and disclosing"

George Bennett: "All those federal corruption takedowns have heightened Palm Beach County commissioners' awareness of the state's gift-disclosure law. But commissioners still lag far behind the dining, dancing and disclosing pace set by former Boca Raton mayor and current commission applicant Steven Abrams." "Abrams' gifts give disclosure new meaning".

'Glades

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "When the state's top economic development official visits Clewiston and the Glades region for three days of tours and meetings this week, he shouldn't be surprised if he finds some skepticism and outright hostility mixed with the courtesy the region is famous for delivering." "Glades finally gets a visit, but will Glades get help?".

Off topic

"Fla. co. finds legendary British warship sunk in 1744".

"Few new shopping centers"

"Few new shopping centers while economy's dropping".

Fort Lauderdale

"With two seats open and two other contested races, the face of the Fort Lauderdale commission will soon change." "Plenty of commission candidates but few specifics".

Nearly 200 jobs by 2016

"The La Jolla, Calif.-based Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies opened the doors Saturday to its chemistry and biology laboratories in Port St. Lucie. Scientists there will study a variety of medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and AIDS. Officials say the facility is expected to employ nearly 200 people by 2016." "Biotech research institute opens in Florida".

From the "values" crowd

"Florida's jobless rate topped 8 percent in December, the highest level in 16 years. Despite a growing number of people out of work, the state's unemployment trust fund has $1.1 billion in it as of mid-January, and unemployed Floridians' jobless benefits are among the lowest in the nation. By comparison, as unemployment rises nationwide, five states' funds are insolvent, and 13 are at risk." "Florida's meager unemployment benefits squeezing families, state economy".

"Who's in charge over there?"

"The half-step departure Ray Sansom engineered from his role as House Speaker spread unease instead of calm Saturday, leading some top Republicans to consider permanently replacing him."

The development came toward the end of a day of questions about who is running the House, if Sansom's ''recusal'' from his duties is allowed by the rules, and how long his temporary successor, Rep. Larry Cretul of Ocala, can properly hold the position.

''Who's in charge over there? Who's steering the ship? This is strange,'' said Miami Republican Sen. Alex Villalobos, echoing a broad array of legislators.

Charlie "freezing the field"

"Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio faces a tough political task if she decides to run for the U.S. Senate: build a local political base into a statewide campaign in one of the nation's largest states."

So far, her political career has taken place in a single county, with limited fundraising experience and statewide exposure. She'll also have less history of involvement in partisan politics than most of the other candidates.

But that apolitical reputation could be an advantage in a general election.

Here's what Crist said last week when asked -- for at least the 87th time since December -- whether he was giving some thought to seeking the Senate in 2010.

"No. I'm not really thinking about politics. I'm thinking about our budget . . . .

We've got a regular session coming up. That's my focus right now."

That kind of bobbing has become an instant tradition in Tallahassee. And political operatives and fundraisers who would otherwise be organizing for other candidates are, for the moment, treading water.

"He is definitely freezing the field," University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett said.

The "Peoples Governor"

"We don't know what he shoots, but Florida's governor is set to hit the tees later this month to raise some coin from prominent Republicans. He is hosting the first-ever "Driving to Victory" Annual Charlie Crist Golf Tournament at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens this Saturday. To play, the minimum contribution to the state GOP is $5,000. Lunch is $2,500. The event will be chaired by newly minted Republican Party of Florida finance chairman John Rood, and the host committee includes Tallahassee superlobbyist Brian Ballard, former finance chairman Harry Sargeant and other GOP check-writers and bundlers." "Crist will hit the tees".

"Florida education too poor to get help"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "The stimulus bill passed in Congress on Wednesday was just being dissected on Thursday, when the ugly discovery was made that Florida's education system doesn't have a seat at the table."

Language in the bill "will stop Florida from receiving stabilization fund dollars for education," Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona Beach, wrote in a letter to presidents of all 11 public universities.

And the reason, in a nutshell, is that the Florida Legislature has reduced all public education budgets so drastically that schools from kindergarten through college can't meet this critical requirement: that only states that can fund schools for the next two years at the levels they had in the 2005-06 school year are eligible.

That would not include Florida's 11 public universities, which FSU President T.K. Wetherell described wearily as "being so underfunded they're giving us up for dead."

Laff riot

"Greer said he backed Steele in hope of moving the party in the same nonideological, pragmatic direction he and Crist have for Florida's GOP." "RNC Race Is Win For Florida GOP Boss".

What rules?

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Under state law, [County] commissioners and senior staff can accept gifts worth more than $100 if they are not from a lobbyist or developer who has appeared before them in the previous 12 months. But those gifts must be publicly reported. They have not been [by PBC Commissioners]" "And cut off political treats".

"EPA intervention welcome to rescue Florida waters "

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Let the bureaucrats spin this any way they want, the truth is, Florida's performance in preventing nutrient pollution of its surface waters is so bad that even the Bush administration -- no champion of environmental protection -- could no longer let it slide. Citing the state's failure to meet Clean Water Act requirements and the likelihood that pollution will worsen without federal intervention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Jan. 14 announced that it will establish water-quality standards for all lakes, rivers and estuaries in Florida during the next two years.". "Nutrient overload".

They said it

The Tampa Trib editors:

The New York Times is not just a company, but an institution. It is a major player in American democracy. It should not fall into the hands of a capitalist with loyalties to a foreign state.

"Bad neighbor"

Randy Schultz asks: "Does Florida intend to let private property insurers cripple this state?" "Like a bad neighbor ...".

Off topic

"Report: Michael Phelps photographed smoking pot?".

No tax cap

"The Florida Supreme Court has knocked a proposal for a property tax cap off the 2010 ballot. The proposal is a citizen initiative that would cap property taxes at 1.35 percent of the highest taxable value of a home, business or other real estate, although voters could approve exceptions. ... In an opinion posted Friday, five justices said the proposal was exempt from the single-subject requirement, but its ballot summary was misleading." "Fla. Supreme Court knocks tax cap from 2010 ballot".

Naugle

"Fort Lauderdale mayor's gay comments haunt new campaign".

Updike

Tristam on Updike: "Metaphors fusty, still Updike kept writing". Maxwell: "Updike brutally honest on race".

Shush!

"Lawmakers may help shield health insurance data".

Cuba

"Fidel Castro on Thursday threw his first punch at President Barack Obama after several weeks of praise for the new leader, demanding the U.S. return Guantanamo Bay military base to Cuba and criticizing the U.S. defense of Israel. " "Ailing Castro throws first punch at Obama".

Ritter

"A vote by Stacy Ritter and her colleagues left the Panthers arena underinsured and benefited a firm that paid her husband at least $50,000 in fees." "Broward mayor's vote aided lobbyist husband's client".

Sounds of silence

"For a place that once pulsed with music, Overtown is eerily quiet. There are more vacant lots than buildings on the stretch of Northwest Second Avenue that gleamed with lights and life when it was Miami's Little Broadway 50 years ago. Now, if you stand in the cavernous tunnels under the highways that devastated the neighborhood, the only sound is the whoosh of cars overhead." "Bygone musical days: The sweet sound of Miami's Overtown".

Off the attack?

"A recurring theme at a conference of campaign professionals, political scientists and journalists Friday was how ineffective many attack ads proved in Florida and elsewhere in 2008." "Expert says attack ads are losing traction".

Who cares?

"What would Jeb say?" (scroll down).

Gross

"Jeb Bush hobnobs at dinner with Obama, Palin".

Kosmas

"Winning the campaign to represent Florida's 24th congressional district marked only the beginning. Suzanne Kosmas -- the first Volusia County resident to be elected to Congress in nearly two decades -- went to Washington amid the pomp of the inauguration of the first black president in the nation's history and the controversy over how to combat the worst economy since the Great Depression." "Kosmas 'honored, humbled' by Congress challenge".

Sea cows

"A tubby, slow-moving airship ascended over South Florida to track tubby, slow-moving marine mammals as state biologists rode the Goodyear blimp to count manatees." "S. Fla. power plant upgrades could endanger manatees".

Property insurance

Michael Mayo: "Time to cure Fla.'s sick property insurance system".

Marlins new home in jeopardy

"Miami-Dade counts on future boom tourism years to pay for a $609 million stadium. Declining hotel-tax revenue will test that optimism." "Tax revenue for Florida Marlins stadium falling short?".

Progress?

"Scott Maxwell: Is Progress Energy's rate hike justified? Face it: Power company wins, you lose". But see this, from the Maitland Housewife: "Pay a little now - or pay big-time later".

Florida being "bilked"?

"Counties and cities all over Florida are waging a war against online hotel-booking companies like Priceline and Expedia, alleging the companies are bilking them out of millions in tax dollars. In January, Broward County became the latest Florida government embroiled in a legal battle over whether online hotel-booking companies owe tourism taxes. As much as $200 million could be at stake statewide, according to Broward's attorney in the case." "Florida counties battle online companies over bed taxes".

Fewer?

"Budget cuts means less substitute teachers".

Can't get their acts straight

"Florida Gov. Charlie Crist worked the phones last week with members of his state's congressional delegation, including House Republicans. Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, the Republican vice chairman of the National Governors Association, planned to be in Washington on Monday to urge the Senate to approve the plan." "GOP governors press Congress to pass stimulus bill".