Wingnut laff riot

The latest from the wingnuts that elected Bill Posey to Congress: "Tax protests in the coming week throughout the country -- including five set for Brevard County -- are designed to send Washington the message that taxpayers are against using their money for bailouts and increased government spending." The "Goals for Sunday include:"

# Calling attention to and collecting signatures for a petition to Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature to reject stimulus funds on 10th Amendment grounds. The 10th Amendment states the government has the power to regulate only matters delegated to it by the Constitution.

# Promoting various local political [read Republican] clubs that allow citizens to participate more in the process. ...

The event will feature U.S. Rep. Bill Posey*, political pundit Chris Ingram and local entertainer Mark Vance.

Governor Vern?

"[T]he big question over the next days is: Can he get through either meeting without someone asking him if he’s running for governor?" "Buchanan works the district".

Abusing the stim

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "The federal government isn't interested in writing blank checks for Florida and other states that have managed their finances poorly. Instead, federal stimulus money is very specifically targeted to people who are suffering most in an historic economic downturn."

But rather than spend the federal money on nursing homes, medical care for low-income Floridians and children with developmental disabilities, state lawmakers are planning to take the money with one hand -- and divert it away from its intended purposes with the other.

"Florida ha[s] resurrected the de facto debtor’s prison"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "In a little-noticed trend blamed on the state’s hard economic times, several courts in Florida have resurrected the de facto debtor’s prison — having thousands of Floridians jailed for failing to pay assessed court fees and fines. The shortsighted plan threatens to run afoul of the U.S. Constitution. It appears to generate little additional revenue relative to the misery it causes, and it should be stopped." "Debtors' prison revisited".

Whoopee!

"The House’s Finance and Tax Council will roll out legislation this week that will remove sales tax exemptions for charter fishing boats, DayJet travel service, college skyboxes, ostrich feed and mail-order magazines, Chairwoman Ellyn Bogdanoff said. The relatively big-ticket items are charter fishing boats ($11.9 million) and magazine and newspaper subscriptions delivered by mail ($11.2 million)." "Bogdanoff would repeal $25 million in sales-tax exemptions".

SunRail

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "lawmakers, overwhelmed with problems that defy easy solution, may be conflicted when facing the well-heeled industry that wants to build a commuter rail across central Florida and sees the source of money intended for Florida Forever as a good one to raid. While building a rail to link central Florida cities at some time in the future might be a smart thing to do, that time isn't now." "Our Opinion: Florida Forever trumps a regional rail".

Ethics probe

"Crist wants an Ethics Commission inquiry into a former high-level tourism official's involvement in state funding for a 'space tourism' program in which he took a six-figure job." "Crist wants Ethics Commission probe of former tourism official".

5 gears in reverse

"House sponsors are backing off a plan to strip Florida's circuit court clerks of some of their duties - but they still want to decide how much money the clerks get to spend each year." "Court clerk funds divide lawmakers".

CIs

"Supporters of 'Rachel's Law' said Monday they are girding for a floor fight after a compromise measure regulating the use of confidential informants cleared its latest hurdle." "'Rachel's Law' clears another legislative hurdle".

HD 47 gets a GOPer

"Rich Reidy, chief aide to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, announced today he will run for the Florida House in a district that includes much of the northern and northwest areas of the county."

Reidy, 51, of Lutz will run as a Republican for District 47, a seat being vacated by Kevin Ambler of Tampa. Ambler, also a Republican, must give up the seat because of term limits. The district includes Lutz, Carrollwood, Odessa, Citrus Park, Keystone, Northdale and Lake Magdelene.

AFSCME endorses Meek

"Government labor group endorses Miami rep for U.S. Senate seat". More: "U.S. Rep. Meek to visit Daytona in petition bid".

Siphoning 5.5 million gallons of water a day

"Seminole County is ready to forge ahead with construction of a $90 million plant that will siphon 5.5 million gallons of water a day from the St. Johns River, having won the last permit needed Monday night."

The governing board of the St. Johns River Water Management District approved the controversial plant on a 5-4 vote over strong opposition from Jacksonville-area residents concerned that the withdrawal of water will harm the quality and quantity of water downstream. Hundreds of people packed a meeting in Palatka to oppose the project, and thousands more sent e-mails in opposition.

Gambling

"Legislators are still at odds over whether to expand casino gambling, but they appear ready to quietly revive a dead industry in Florida: quarter horse racing. But some say the new tracks are just a bid to get card rooms." "Quarter horse racing may be revived".

"A special House committee sweetened the pot Monday for pari-mutuel gambling operations that face tougher competition from Seminole casinos. Tracks and jai-alai frontons operating in Southeast Florida would get longer hours for their card rooms, far bigger pots and a lower tax rate on their slot machines, in return for a guarantee of $140 million in tax revenue for the state." "House panel OKs gambling-expansion bill".

"Current practices threaten to decimate freshwater turtles"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission should follow the lead of Gov. Charlie Crist, who sides with biologists who warn that current practices threaten to decimate freshwater turtles." "Protect Florida's freshwater turtles".

Diaz

"When Miami Mayor Manny Diaz leaves office in November, he departs with a mixed legacy: from a construction boom that reshaped downtown to a fire fee fiasco and controversy over a $3 billion public works megaplan. Among his lesser-known accomplishments: Establishing Miami's first Office of Faith-Based Initiatives." "Miami mayor's legacy includes faith-based department".

Never mind

"A year after Florida legislators promised to pay for the lifetime care of a girl beaten into a coma because of state negligence in investigating her abuse, they have failed to budget any money to help her." "State lacks funding for child abused at Lake Worth home".

"Obama liberates Cuban policy from fossils"

"Calling it 'extending a hand to the Cuban people,' the Obama administration on Monday announced it is lifting travel and gift restrictions for Cuban Americans, allowing them to travel freely to the island and send additional financial help to family members." "Restrictions on Cuban Americans' travel to Cuba to be lifted". See also "Obama lifts restrictions on travel for Cuban-Americans" and "Obama to allow travel, money transfers to Cuba".

More: "SW Fla. Cuban residents say they're ready to go".

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board reminds us that

something more powerful than Castro's grip on Cuba held American presidents hostages after 1991 -- the Cuban community's grip on South Florida politics. Neither Bushes nor Bill Clinton could afford to alienate the most powerful constituency in the southern part of the state. So a smarter foreign policy for the United States, the kind of foreign policy that adopts the rest of the world's trading and travel norms with Cuba, were blocked by the views of a relative few. That community had a dream -- to one day reclaim the pride and property it had lost to Castro's leveling socialism in Cuba. It would not tolerate anything less than an uncompromising hard line toward Castro. Or it would wait him out.

Still, Obama is not lifting the trade embargo. There couldn't possibly be a threat of "subversion, or other activities endangering the security of the United States" to justify its prolongation. Castro's regime is repressive and unfree, but so are the regimes of several countries -- from China to Saudi Arabia to every country of North Africa -- with which the United States maintains normal relations.

Gambling

"The Florida House is poised to pass its gambling package this afternoon, giving South Florida racinos a tax break in return for at least $140 million for education."

The Senate Ways and Means Committee, meanwhile, takes up its own gambling bill, with competing interests pushing amendments to alter or expand the deal.

The House proposal would reduce Broward and Miami-Dade racinos' tax rates from 50 percent to 36 percent in return for a minimum of $140 million in revenues dedicated to education.

The deal is less sweet for the state than it seems. The parimutuels are estimated to generate $133 million next year in cash for the state. But the bill reduces the annual permit fee the seven tracks pay to operate slots from $3 million to $2 million apiece, with the lost $7 million coming from the $140 million.

Bad grades

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board gives out grades: "Welcome back from the Easter/Passover holidays, Florida legislators. We hope you got plenty of rest, because judging by your midterm report card, you have a lot of work ahead to prevent this session from being labeled a failure. Let's review:"

•Commuter rail — D-minus
•Budget — C-minus
•Pension reform — A-minus
•Growth — C

"Consumers will have little choice but to be gouged"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "Is your telephone bill too low?"

Are you worried that state officials have too much authority to investigate complaints against your phone-service provider? If so, the Florida Legislature has a bill for you. It's called the "Consumer Choice and Protection Act." and if it becomes law, it will mean that consumers will have little choice but to be gouged, and little protection either.

"It should be the House that yields and accepts the tax"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "On the matter of raising new revenue to fill the $5.5 billion budget shortfall, Florida's House and Senate remain light-years apart."

The House is stymied by key Republican leaders' promise to adopt no new taxes this year. That pledge, however, hasn't kept the House from proposing to raise other revenue generators, such as turnpike tolls and driver-license fees, and tapping into federal-stimulus money that members once talked of rejecting. At this point in the session, the Senate is showing more responsibility.

Even so, the Senate abandoned a review of sales-tax exemptions, which was supposed to lead to removal of some tax breaks to increase revenue. What the Senate is keeping, however, in its version of the state budget is a $1 tax hike on a pack of cigarettes, for a total of $1.34 per pack; and a $1 per ounce tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco. It is estimated that the increase would bring about $1 billion in revenue, some of which could be used to offset the $1.2 billion that taxpayers spend annually for treatment of smoking-related illnesses.

The House so far has stuck to its guns, refusing to get on board with the tobacco tax hike, but not completely ruling it out, either. When the budget bills go to conference, it should be the House that yields and accepts the tax.

Back in business

"U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, made a name for himself suing alleged war profiteers, including one case against the security company Custer Battles. The company had a contract to help replace Iraqi currency with money that did not bear the likeness of ex-ruler Saddam Hussein, but the firm overbilled the government." "Appeals court puts Rep. Alan Grayson's Iraq profiteering lawsuit back on track".

"An increasingly bitter irony"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "Florida's desperation to supply new sources of fresh water to land once drained for people to live on is an increasingly bitter irony. Having strained groundwater supplies with more demand than the aquifer can sustain, the insatiable growth machine and the regional water management district board that services it have cast a gleaming eye on surface waters." "The wisdom of pumping".

"It all comes down to business. And politics"

Daniel Shoer: "What a double-standard."

Florida enforces a no-tolerance policy to criminalize users of illegal drugs like marijuana that do not have anywhere near the addictive quality of prescription opiates like oxycodone. Instead of tackling addiction, we overburden the jails and courts with minor offenses and let doctors keep on prescribing for true addicts.

It all comes down to business. And politics. And the money that goes to politicians from special interests like the pharmaceutical industry.

"Pay cuts or furloughs?"

Bill Cotterell: "Furloughs or pay cuts? Pay cuts or furloughs? It's a choice of two bad options that legislators will be making in the coming weeks. Right now, it looks like pay cuts, which are worse for state employees." "Bill Cotterell: Furloughs or pay cuts? Both hurt".

When Grover says "Jump!" ...

"In a political career spanning nearly two decades, Republican Gov. Charlie Crist has one tie that's bound him to the conservative cause: staunch opposition to taxes. That's being tested now like never before." "Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's anti-tax reputation comes under strain".

"Sweetheart deal"?

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "It may be a blessing that the eroding economy claimed Gov. Charlie Crist's ambitious plan to buy 180,000 acres for Everglades' restoration."

Many details about the deal to pay U.S. Sugar $1.75 billion for the land were questionable. It was not clear the state needed that much acreage and its agreement to lease the farmland back to U.S. Sugar for seven years at bargain-basement prices made many suspect this was more a sweetheart deal for the sugar company than a historic environmental feat.

"Tabled"

"In June 2007, a statewide school board organization voted unanimously to sue the state of Florida over inadequate education funding. Two weeks ago, that same organization voted unanimously to put the suit on hold." "Daily News: State school board tables idea to sue Florida over inadequate education funding".

See you in Havana

"Can Cuba cope with an onslaught of Americans?".

Pathetic

"By definition, they're looking for an educator to be chancellor of the state university system. By need, they're looking for a politically savvy powerhouse. " "Political pedigree key for Florida university chancellor post".

AG race

"State Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, and former state senator and 2006 gubernatorial hopeful Rod Smith are friends who talk regularly. Depending on how the political dominoes fall in coming months, the Democratic allies might be having some interesting conversations about the 2010 race for attorney general." "Pals Aronberg, Smith mull run for state top cop".

Hillsborough

"Two Hillsborough lawmakers push to end a requirement for publicly funded art in state buildings." "Art falls out of political favor".

And it looks like it will, but not for Senate.

Instead, with Gov. Charlie Crist now an all-but-confirmed candidate for Senate, the quickly developing race is for governor.

At least six Republicans and the fastest rising star in the state Democratic Party are now either running for governor or headed in that direction if Crist announces he will seek Mel Martinez's vacant Senate seat next year.

The oddity of the campaign will be fully on display Tuesday morning in Tallahassee at a meeting of the Florida Cabinet, which threatens to be mistaken for a gubernatorial candidates' forum.

The Senate mix

Adam C. Smith: "If Charlie Crist isn't planning to run for the Senate in 2010, he certainly seems to relish encouraging people to think so. The Crist-O-Meter moves toward the Senate this week based on several factors". See what they are here: "Crist not looking like Senate run is in doubt".

Aaron Deslatte: "Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson, who had previously said he would retire to his Osceola County ranch after he's term-limited next year, now says he may run for governor if Crist opts not to. That scenario (many [including us] consider Crist all but certain to lunge for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez) would likely put him up against Attorney General Bill McCollum (and maybe ex-Speaker Marco Rubio) running for the right to face Democratic CFO Alex Sink." "Bronson for governor?"

The best they can do?

"Hasner's passion for his party is hard not to notice: from a pair of custom-made red-white-and-blue boots made of elephant skin to an office full of photos with Republican politicians. Outside his office hang shots of Hasner with Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Gov. Jeb Bush." "Florida news, photos and Florida Legislature updates from Tallahassee".

See you in Havana

"Cuba watchers are waiting to see how Cuba will respond if President Obama, as expected, lets Cuban Americans travel freely to the island." "After Obama olive branch, next move is Cuba's".

Randy Schultz: "You can argue about whether Barack Obama has kept most of his campaign promises. ... But on Friday, the president is set to keep a campaign promise that has major symbolic importance for Florida, especially South Florida."

President Obama will announce at a Caribbean trade meeting that the U.S. will end the restrictions on travel and remittances between Cuban-Americans and Cuba. The president already has eased some of the restrictions that George Bush tightened in 2004, when he was running for reelection and wanted votes from the hard-line exiles in Miami-Dade County. Now, Mr. Obama is expected to announce that, starting in the fall, Americans who have relatives in Cuba can visit whenever they want, stay as long as they want and send as much money as they want to their families.

This encouraging turn of events comes as President Barack Obama signals moves to increase travel and trade between the United States and the island. Now he may have a powerful new ally in adopting more rational U.S.-Cuba relations that will serve America's economic interests and the Cuban people's humanitarian ones.

"Not bad for a registered Republican"

"[T]he soft-spoken Rev. Joel Hunter of Longwood does [has] an evangelical church of 12,000, a talent for building diverse coalitions and a prominent spiritual advisory role in the administration of President Barack Obama, a Democrat. Not bad for a registered Republican who came to Central Florida in 1985 to take charge of a small flock that grew into one of the region's largest megachurches." "Where Obama turns for spiritual advice: Rev. Joel Hunter of Longwood".

"Micromanaging and dictating"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Memo to the Legislature: Micromanaging and dictating how districts will spend their money — whether mandating school board salary caps or requiring board votes for interstate travel — is not appropriate." "Let school districts decide".

"Indian cigarettes"

"In an attempt to suppress the sale of tax-free cigarettes sold on Florida's Indian reservations, state senators want the tribes' smokes labeled 'Indian cigarettes' and any non-Indian caught with them forced to pay a $1,000 fine and face misdemeanor charges." "State senators want Indian cigarettes labeled, barred from non-Indians".

The "Fee" thing

Aaron Deslatte: "Even though the House and Senate budgets are still miles apart on some sticky proposals — the tobacco tax and a gambling expansion top that list — this weatherman predicts it's 99 percent certain that a sizable chunk of these increases will become law."

The main motivation is the cloudy conditions next year.

"Well, fool you once"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "This year, the subterfuge offered up by rail's opponents again has rail backers on their heels. But it shouldn't. Most of it is so preposterous that only the most pliable or hapless legislator would fall for it. And only the most inept and ineffective legislators and lobbyists championing SunRail would let them fall for it. Here's a sampling". "Don't let traps stop SunRail".

"Environmental groups leery of proposals"

"Amid a national recession, the state's growth engine has sputtered to almost a complete stop. And now, lawmakers are debating a series of proposals that would again revamp growth-management laws and regulations." "State rethinking growth laws".

The Tampa Tribune editors: "The Legislature is on the verge of overreacting to pleas from developers and builders to scrap Florida's strongest growth rules to try to revive the homebuilding industry." "Slow-growth panic risky to taxpayers".

"Sen. Paula Dockery, a veteran Republican from Lakeland considered to be the "mother" of Florida Forever, has a plan to rescue the largest environmental land-buy program in the nation from budget cuts." "Florida Forever's future uncertain". See also "Making 'Forever' last".

"At an 'ever increasing risk of ... failure'"

"The state's $2.2 billion unemployment insurance program — a safety net crucial to the welfare of jobless Floridians — relies on 35-year-old computer technology that is antiquated, "well beyond its useful life" and at an "ever increasing risk of ... failure," according to documents obtained by the Orlando Sentinel." "Florida jobless-benefits computer at 'increasing risk of ... failure'".

Privatization follies

"Move to privatize Northeast Florida State Hospital becomes political football".

Poor Mike

Mike Thomas:

My right to raise my children without interference from the government is being trumped by the state's right to protect my child's right not to be injured by the negligence of others.

Charlie covers his eyes

"The GOP's struggle over its future and the party's fitful steps to attract minorities are on full display in the differing responses of Republican governors to a major Supreme Court case on voting rights. ... State officials in Florida, South Carolina and Texas have taken no position in the Supreme Court case". "Differing views in GOP on voting rights case".

Double whammy

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Capital city businesses as well as residents are going to feel proposed state budget cuts in ways that many areas of the state will not if lawmakers go forward with pay reductions for all state employees." "Furloughs are better: But universities are hit twice".

"State's revised land buyout offers a better compromise"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Maybe for Gov. Charlie Crist the third time in his dance with U.S. Sugar will be the charm. The latest version of the governor's proposal to buy land for Everglades projects is much improved over the previous two offers. The price is about a third of the $1.75 billion first offer, and it buys less than half of the original 180,000 acres. Now, the deal is affordable -- a concession to the recession -- and some of the unattractive features have been removed or changed for the better." "On sugar deal, it's try, try and try again".

Related: "Dexter W. Lehtinen: This plan helps politicians, does little for River of Grass".

No word on the honorary degree

"Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman elected president of an African country, is scheduled to speak at the University of Tampa commencement." "Africa's first female president to speak in Tampa".

Back to normal

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "There's enough intolerance in the world that some people don't consider transgender people normal and will be upset that Lake Worth has chosen Susan Stanton to be the next city manager. In fact, if she accepts the job, Ms. Stanton could be the most normal city manager Lake Worth has had in years." "Good choice in Lake Worth".

"Guts and imagination"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Florida lawmakers want to put Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and the state's hurricane catastrophe fund on firm financial footing. It is going to take guts and imagination." "Lawmakers must confront painful property insurance challenge".

"This wasn't 1926. It was last week"

Tristam:

It was a weird show. There they were, a judge and a lawyer from Florida's 6th Judicial Circuit, defending a rule before Florida Supreme Court justices that would turn state judges into autocrats of records. Judges would decide if and when electronic recordings of court proceedings would be made available to lawyers, public defenders, the media or the public. This wasn't 1926. It was last week.

Smith back in action?

Joe Follick "called former state Sen. Rod Smith, the Alachua Democrat who narrowly lost the 2006 gubernatorial primary to Jim Davis, to address the buzz that he is interested in jumping in the attorney general race in 2010. He was coy, but clearly more warm to the idea of re-entering politics than he was just a few months ago." "Attorney General Rod Smith? Stay tuned".

"Against all common sense"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Against all common sense, the Indian Street Bridge planned for Martin County is on the fast track to receive $128 million in federal stimulus money - the most expensive project on Florida's list. But putting the Indian Street Bridge on the fast track actually would put major job creation for the region on the slow track." "How to waste stimulus? On Indian Street Bridge".

Local elections

"The cities of New Port Richey, Port Richey, San Antonio and Zephyrhills are conducting municipal elections Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m." "City elections Tuesday".