Welcome to JesusLand

Update: "Senate approves religious license plates".

Sad day

"A legendary Tallahassee restaurant that fed politicians and lobbyists for decades has closed its doors, a victim of the economy." "Tallahassee's storied Silver Slipper serves its last meal".

Obama steps up to the plate for Florida

As the RPOFers whine, "Florida schools can forestall budget cuts. Cuban immigrants can visit relatives back home. Construction can start on a long-delayed Interstate 4 connector road. Some homeowners may avoid foreclosure."

These are the most tangible effects in Florida of President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office. Most can be traced to Obama's economic stimulus plan, which is expected to funnel $13.7 billion to Florida over the next two years.

"Our state budget would be in total collapse without it," said Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa, a Democrat and early Obama supporter.

From the "values" crowd

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The Florida House's plan to virtually scrap a petroleum cleanup program will endanger the state's water supply, pollute rivers and bays and end up creating costly bills for taxpayers." "Draining cleanup fund won't save tax dollars".

Gambling

"South Florida gambling sites wage 'fun, friendly' war for Palm Beach County's business".

Thanks dude

"The Florida House of Representatives approved legislation Friday that would increase almost all homeowner insurance rates statewide." "State House passed bill to hike home insurance prices".

Haridopolos crawls back under his rock

"House Majority Leader Adam Hasner said Friday that his chamber will not revive the debate over a highly contentious, last-minute elections bill. ... Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, said he would take a fresh look at the proposal over the weekend. But he acknowledged the long odds at salvaging something before time runs out." "House leader says controversial elections bill is dead".

More: "Election bill stalls during house session" and "Elections bill unlikely to pass".

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board calls it "a loser of a bill." "Voting bill offered at 11th hour".

"Sicko"

"State-run insurance plans for the poor and disabled can't be forced to pay for a treatment if they disagree with a doctor over whether it's necessary, a federal appeals court ruled Friday."

The decision from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said state Medicaid officials can't be excluded from determining the care of a 14-year-old Georgia girl who suffers from near-daily seizures. Her mother filed a lawsuit after the state cut the number of hours the girl was seen by a home nurse.

The ruling applies to Alabama, Florida and Georgia, where health-care advocates fear it could allow state health agencies to overrule doctors' reccomendations. They also worry it would allow for-profit Medicaid contractors to decide on treatments based cost instead of health needs.

'Glades

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Belle Glade and South Bay may add a twist to the maxim of robbing Peter to pay Paul. They may rob both Peter and Paul to pay themselves. Here's how it would work:" "EDITORIAL: Lifesaving help for Glades".

They have a point

"State workers: Pay cuts amount to 'income tax'".

RPOFers in action

"A bitterly divided House gave preliminary approval [Friday] to a controversial plan by Republican leaders to allow oil and gas drilling as close as three miles from Florida's beaches." "Offshore drilling passes first hurdle in House".

Armed and chauffeuring

The Miami Herald editorial board notes that "the number of police officers that commissioners have at their disposal has tripled since 2002; and the cost of having these officers chauffeur commissioners around South Florida has climbed to $743,845 from $211,000 annually. In too many instances, the officers serve little purpose other than to accumulate hundreds of hours of unnecessary overtime pay." "Pols who need ride should call a taxi".

Limbaugh law

"Florida Senate approves bill to track prescription drugs". See also "Senate votes to track pain pills" and "'Doctor shopping' bill passed in Florida Senate".

Truth be told ...

"Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair claimed in a lawsuit filed in March that current Commissioner Kevin Beckner had damaged his reputation during their campaign last year."

Beckner responded in court papers Friday, saying Blair couldn't be defamed because his reputation is disreputable.

In support of that argument, Beckner's lawyers presented 24 exhibits that included newspaper articles, ethics complaints and a 25-year-old sheriff's report, all meant to show Blair in a bad light.

Big of him

"State Senate President Jeff Atwater responded Friday to criticism about secretive budget negotiations, saying that he may propose rules to make the process more open." "Atwater hears calls for openness".

Cuba debate

Carlos Saladrigas, chairman of the Cuba Study Group: "By lifting all restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba, President Obama fulfilled a key campaign promise, did the right thing, but also made a very smart strategic move. These restrictions never made any sense, as the United States should have never been in the business of dividing families. That's the Cuban regime's doing." "Much more needs to change".

Frank Calzon, the executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba: "President Obama is right that the ball is now in Raúl Castro's court. President Obama insists on maintaining the embargo but lifting some restrictions opens up the way if, as the president hopes, Havana responds in kind. It is emblematic of U.S.-Cuban relations that Havana demands concessions and when they are made, responds by saying they are not enough." "Will Havana reduce repression?".

Waiting on a handout

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Somewhere in the Capitol, there are a few individuals — including our governor — who have reason to believe that Florida school districts will be granted an 11th-hour reprieve through several short-term infusions of cash. Should this venture succeed, Florida may be spared catastrophic cuts to its K-12 public education system. But if any part of it fails, our luck will have finally run out." "At the ready".

Lucky day

"Dosal Tobacco gets good news from Florida House leaders as workers protest a possible tobacco surcharge in Tallahassee". "Opa-locka tobacco firm wins reprieve on extra 45-cent tax".

Welcome to Orlando

"More porn shops, strip clubs for Orlando?".

Mommy catches a break

"Orlando Commissioner Daisy Lynum did nothing wrong when she called the police chief in the middle of the night as her son was being pulled over by a patrolman, the Florida Ethics Commission ruled Friday." "Orlando Commissioner Daisy Lynum cleared in ethics case over son's traffic stop".

Laff riot

Josh Culling, the state government affairs manager for the National Taxpayers Union, rides his one trick pony this morning: "Proposed cigarette tax hurts everyone".

Whoop - dee - doo

"Prompted by reports of nepotism and lax financial controls, the Florida Senate unanimously passed a plan Friday to make Florida's more than 360 charter schools more accountable in their classrooms and on their financial statements. Charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately operated, would no longer be able to hire and do business with relatives, and they would be forced to communicate students' academic performance even when the state does not give the schools a letter grade." "Charter-school crackdown advances in Tallahassee".

The majesty of the Legislature

"Age raise for Florida watercraft operators defeated".

Claims bills

"Florida Senate OK's $30.76M award in case against BSO".

Paintballers go to the jury

"Closing arguments in Fla. terror trial of 6 men".

Charlie deigns to speak

"Crist slowly breaks silence on legislative issues".

Still waiting ...

"Florida lawmakers are relying on $2 billion in federal stimulus money to shore up their education budgets, but the state has not even sent in its application."

The federal government is waiting. And so are some lawmakers.

On Wednesday, Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith said the state has ''strategically waited'' to get all the right information, although the application ``is ready to go, it's complete.''

But Smith said he's waiting for guidance concerning a waiver application for the federal money. The waiver is needed because Florida is one of a handful of states to underfund education in recent years.

Smith's strategy is coming under fire as the legislative session winds down May 1. That's the same day Smith now expects to get the waiver guidance, which he says his office has been waiting on for weeks.

The state and federal education departments stopped short of mutual finger-pointing, with Smith saying the feds keep postponing release of the waiver information, and the U.S. Department of Education saying Florida shouldn't be waiting on anything.

''They have absolutely everything they need to complete the application,'' said Sandra Abrevaya, deputy press secretary for the U.S. Department of Education.

Weak bench

"As lawmakers struggle with questions of tax increases, the state's mammoth budget and whether the legislative session will end on time, one person has emerged as a political power in the Capitol: Dean Cannon." "Future speaker of House a power in secret budget talks". See also "Dean Cannon emerges as behind-the-scenes House budget power". Related: "Legislators meet in private over budget despite lashing from grand jury".

Meantime, "Democrats condemn secret budget negotiations".

Funny how ...

... potential strikes are all of a sudden big news: "Bruno's employees Birmingham union preps to strike".

Wishful thinking

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "To Florida House members who are waiting for leadership heavy-hitters to work out budget grievances with the Senate, here's a suggestion on a better way to spend their time: Get to work on a clean energy portfolio." "Keep it clean".

"Ludicrous for its predictability and shortsightedness"

Update: "Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says he's open to oil-drilling proposal".

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "Give oil and gas company lobbyists this: They are persistent. And so are the legislators who shill for them year after year with attempts to lift Florida's ban on drilling in state waters. But give them nothing more, certainly not the amendment passed by the Republican-dominated House Policy Council, 17-6, Tuesday to permit oil and gas exploration 3.5 miles from the state's east coast and 11 miles from its Gulf coast."

This year Dean Cannon, R-Orlando, in line to become the next state House speaker, is leading a stealth attack. He sprung the amendment Tuesday, replacing language in a bill up for its last vote before reaching the House floor. The shenanigans aside, Cannon's justification for the amendment is ludicrous for its predictability and shortsightedness.

He's using the weak economy as excuse, suggesting that Florida needs the proposed $1 million fee from each oil or gas company exploration permit approved by the governor to help alleviate budget constraints. Never mind what havoc might occur to the state's economy and budget from eventual oil operations along both coasts of this tourist-dependent state.

Drill, baby, drill remains a mantra of the state's Republican leaders. And don't forget Gov. Crist's flip-flop last year in support of off-coast drilling in hopes of winning John McCain's nod as his vice presidential candidate. Who knows where the governor will be on this proposal.

Gambling

"Crist unveiled a new gambling deal with the Seminole Indians Wednesday guaranteeing the state a two-year, $1.1 billion loan from the tribe in exchange for the exclusive rights to offer blackjack games in Florida. Republican legislators wasted no time blasting the proposal as a risky, shortsighted approach to fixing Florida’s finances." "Crist unveils new Indian gambling deal". See also "Seminoles, Crist make gambling pitch". See also "Crist gets talks rolling on new gambling compact".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board:

The refusal of Florida's leaders to responsibly address the state's budget crisis was underscored Wednesday by Gov. Charlie Crist's announcement of his latest deal with the Seminole Indian Tribe. The idea is for the Seminoles to give the state $600 million up front in return for expanded gambling. This is not sound public policy. This is a desperate attempt to avoid choosing between raising taxes or decimating education and other public services.

It's the Sales tax, stupid

"Road improvements and other big-dollar projects in Hillsborough during the next six years will be delayed." "Drop in sales tax money threatens big projects".

SunRail

"SunRail deal doesn't appeal to South Florida senators".

The gay thing

"The never-substantiated chatter about Charlie Crist being gay is likely to ramp up again with the release of a new documentary, Outrage, about closeted gay politicians." "Resurrecting the Crist is gay speculation".

Extra focus is placed on Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who supported a bill banning gay marriage last year, and the doc recounts a string of stories from Florida's alternative press, along with anonymous interviews with people who claim to have had conversations with a man who boasted of having sex with Crist, who when asked about rumors has denied them.

The doc sought out Kelly Crosby Heyniger, one of Crist's girlfriends until the end of 2007, who didn't appear on camera but gave them a statement about what broke them up: "I think I should just keep my mouth shut. Call me in ten years and I will tell you a great story." One of the final scenes of the movie is of Crist's wedding last July, and a reminder that he's considered to be one of the top contenders for the GOP nomination in 2012 (although his support of President Obama's stimulus package could complicate that). In a bit of judicious editing, ala Michael Moore, Crist tells a reporter, "If your wife can't help you in a campaign, who can?"

Conflict of interest

"Two months after naming Miami attorney Paul Huck Jr. to an influential post with the South Florida Water Management District, Gov. Charlie Crist announced a landmark deal to buy out U.S. Sugar."

The governor's surprise announcement had one unintended consequence. It effectively ended Huck's tenure on the water board just as it started -- a reality Huck has made official by resigning. Previously, Huck served as Crist's general counsel.

With his law firm, Colson Hicks Eidson, representing U.S. Sugar employees in a suit alleging the company undervalued their shares, Huck was forced to recuse himself from debating a deal that has dominated water board business for 10 months. It is likely to remain an issue for the next year as well.

What passes for thinking in Tally these days

No surprises: The less than impressive ramblings of one Robert F. Sanchez, the policy director for the wingnut James Madison Institute in Tallahassee.

What a bargain

"The fallout from a budget standoff between the House and Senate could hit taxpayers even harder this year as lawmakers braced Tuesday for overtime at $40,000 a day." "Budget impasse may cost Florida $40,000 per day".

More from the "values" crowd

"One of the most explosive issues of the legislative session -- higher education money -- takes center stage Thursday when the leaders of the state's university system plan to converge on the Capitol and bash the proposed budget of the Florida House of Representatives." "Florida university leaders poised to bash budget".

Cuba

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Cuba change will come slowly, if at all".

Outa here ...

"For the first time since the 1940s, more people moved out of Florida last year than new residents moved in from other states as the economic slump has halted years of explosive population growth in the Sunshine State. Florida reported a net loss of 9,286 domestic residents between July 2007 and July 2008, according to U.S. Census data released this month. But that loss was offset by a net gain of 77,427 new international residents, mainly as immigrants arrived from Latin America and other points abroad." "Census: More move out of Florida". See also "When it comes to the U.S. Census, language counts".

Joel Engelhardt: "In the blink of an eye, demographers this month eliminated nearly 200,000 people in Palm Beach County. They projected that the county would have exactly 194,700 fewer residents in 2035 than they projected just last year. Similar declines are forecast for Martin and St. Lucie counties and throughout the state." "The population battle".

Medicaid

"A plan to restructure the panel that recommends how the state doles out Medicaid money is headed to the Senate floor after clearing the House Wednesday." "Florida House of Representatives passes Medicaid changes".

Heaven help us

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "It's not as if we have an overwhelming bear problem in South Florida."

In fact, the black bear sighting in Weston marks the first time something like that has happened near homes in Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports in 30 years. And because of that, some hunters are quickly — and ludicrously — calling for a resumption to bear hunting, which has been banned in the state since 1994.

Talk about overreaction.

We don't have a bear problem. If anything, we have a people problem.

Whatever

"House approves bill that would limit double-dipping". The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Double, but smaller, dips".

What insurance companies want ...

"Worried about financial risks and an exodus of major insurers, Florida lawmakers started moving forward Wednesday with plans that could lead to higher property-insurance rates. The House overwhelmingly approved a bill that would lift regulations on the rates that large insurance companies can charge. " "Florida may lift insurer's rate cap".

Is it "reasonable"?

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The Florida Chamber of Commerce's top priority is House Bill 903, which would override the court's decision by removing the word "reasonable" but keeping the fee schedule. That change alone, however, would be unfair to workers with legitimate claims. If lawyers believe that they won't get fair compensation, they won't take the case. There are no limits on how much insurers can pay attorneys to defend denials of benefits."

Until last week, the Senate version of the legislation had been just as unfair. But the Judiciary Committee, by a vote of 8-1, approved a new version of SB 2072. It treats workers fairly by setting a reasonable fee schedule. It treats business fairly by not allowing hourly fees that attorneys can run up and by limiting policy increases when companies lose such cases. The only dissenting vote came from the sponsor of the original bill. This week, the new version passed another committee unanimously and is ready for a full Senate vote.

He's baaack

"Jack Latvala to run for state Senate District 16 seat".

Limbaugh law

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "End the painkiller abuse".

Not too much to ask

"In a strongly worded letter to state House and Senate leaders, Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon asked that they pay the state's settlement with a family who adopted three brothers who were raped and starved in Palm Beach County foster care." "DCF secretary asks House and Senate leaders to compensate family who adopted abused brothers".

"Bigger cuts"

"At the center of the talks: a gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and $1-a-pack cigarette tax hike that the formerly antitax House appears ready to accept. But the House wants something from the Senate in exchange: bigger cuts to higher education, state worker pay and a transportation fund." "Away from prying eyes, Florida's legislators work on compromise budget".

"Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul drew a line in the sand Tuesday, saying his chamber would consider new taxes and more gambling if the Senate agreed not to spend as much money." "House might back tax, gaming plans if Senate spends less".

Drill! Baby, Drill!

"The House Policy Council voted 17-6, along party lines, for a bill that opens state waters to exploration." "Florida House panel OK's oil drilling bill". See also "Legislators back lifting ban on offshore oil drilling" and "House GOP proposes lifting Florida's ban on offshore drilling" ("Catching opponents off guard in the waning days of the session, House Republicans unveiled a dramatic proposal Tuesday to lift Florida's offshore drilling ban.")

The Saint Petersburg Times editors:

House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon's attempt to pitch his legislation to open waters off Florida's shores to drilling as the beginning of a "mature, thoughtful conversation" about the state's energy future is an insult to Floridians and disingenuous.

A bill passed by the House Policy Council on Tuesday was the first crack in the heretofore impenetrable wall against oil and gas drilling off Florida's coast in the Gulf of Mexico. Supporters, however, used a stacked deck to get the job done.

Council members heard a well-prepared, carefully calibrated pitch from oil and gas officials using facts and figures, and a favorable industry-supported poll showing weakening opposition to drilling. The amendment, however, wasn't made available for the public to see until Monday night -- leaving no time for real debate.

"A flagrant example of power politics at its worst"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The sweeping rewrite of Florida's election laws by the Republican majority last week is a flagrant example of power politics at its worst. Here we have legislation authored in secrecy and haste, which has been bereft of meaningful public input or comment." "Voting-law rewrite on the wrong track".

Charlie keeps his finger in the air: "Crist hints at vetoing bill to rewrite Florida election laws".

Bear watch

"Bear spotted in Broward County a 3rd time".

"Culture of corruption""

"The fallout from a fundraising scandal and toll hike at Central Florida's expressway authority has inflicted some of the worst scars that its chairman, Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, has suffered in his long political career."

But the Republican National Committee may be a victim as well. The party had confidently looked to Crotty to topple freshman Orlando U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson — considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the House — in the 2010 election.

Instead, during the past seven weeks, Crotty has spent his time responding to a grand-jury report citing a "culture of corruption" at the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority. The report said agency vendors were pressured for political donations, including $63,000 for Crotty's 2006 re-election race. Crotty became chairman in 2007.

think[s] conservatives have a much better shot at ousting Grayson with someone like Dan Webster -- who would do better in a Congressional race than a mayoral one. (Hard-liners haven't fared particularly well county-wide, but are common place in Congressional campaigns. And I sense local conservatives are eager for a return to their roots ... the likes of which Webster represents.)

Crotty has thrived and survived throughout the years. But he simply hasn't been as savvy or made as politically astute decisions lately -- and his would-be opponents know it ... and have opposition-research files that are getting thicker all the time.

The latest from the Zell Corporation

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "If SunRail doesn't pass the Legislature, it won't be because of the traps laid for it by Lakeland Sen. Paula Dockery. Or the short-sightedness driving some special interests, like the unions." "SunRail: Time to lead".

Lobbyists at work

"Bills would shield tobacco companies from posting huge bonds".

Stop the madness

Scott Maxwell:

With unemployment at sky-high levels in this state, Florida officials were forced to admit they were using tax dollars to subsidize jobs — in India.

What was even more appalling was that the jobs were at a call center for the state's food-stamp help line, part of a multimillion-dollar contract with JP Morgan Chase.

That meant Floridians who had lost their jobs were connected with someone halfway around the world who had a job, thanks, in part, to Florida tax money.

One of the people astonished by all this was Michelle Brown, an unemployed real-estate agent from Jupiter. "It's like a slap in the face," Brown said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post, which broke this boffo story. "That's a job I'd be qualified for."

People sick of paying taxes point to Wal-Mart and other mega corporations who do things cheaper and scream: Government should be run more like a business!

Overlooked in the cacophony of catchphrases were all the reasons private businesses can do things cheaper:

By offering fewer health benefits.

By not paying living wages.

And yes, they outsource jobs from America to countries that have no problem paying their workers sub-poverty wages or asking them to work in conditions that citizens of this nation would not tolerate.

Quite simply: It costs more to treat people humanely, to pay them enough to live — and to do it all in America.

"People ready to tell them what they want to hear"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "Crist's expressed commitment to diversity on courts is laudable. But the best way to address that is to fix the way candidates for judicial office are chosen and screened."

At one point, Florida had one of the most balanced judicial-selection processes in the nation, with nominating commissions chosen jointly by the Florida Bar and the governor's office in a process that emphasized candidates' experience, legal reputation and community service. But when former Gov. Jeb Bush took office, the Legislature changed that, giving the governor sole control over the makeup of the nominating commissions. As a result, governors can now stack commissions with people ready to tell them what they want to hear -- and when they thwart the governor's will, the animosity can flare as it did in the 5th District.

Another kinda protest

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "'Tea Party' protests got a lot of attention last week. A group that had gathered in Tallahassee struck some of the same themes, but this was no mere media event. "

"The Legislature needs to remember that they do not print money," these protesters wrote, "and that whether it is general revenue dollars, federal grants, matching funds or (school construction) dollars, it is all taxpayer money and it needs to be spent wisely."

Then the protesters indicted former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, and James Richburg, president of Northwest Florida State College. Both face official misconduct charges. Mr. Richburg also was indicted for perjury.

These "protesters" were members of the Leon County grand jury. They were angry that Rep. Sansom, as the House's top budget negotiator in 2007, inserted more than $30 million into the state budget to benefit Mr. Richburg's college, which then offered him a $110,000-a-year job. The money included $6 million to build an airplane hangar for Jay Odom, a jet company owner and [BTW] a major contributor to Rep. Sansom and the Republican Party of Florida.

Gay adoption

"The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments this morning on whether a department of the Florida Bar should be able to weigh in on a Miami appeals court case that will decide whether gay people can adopt children in Florida." "Florida Supreme Court considers Miami-Dade gay adoption arguments".

CIs

"'Rachel's Law' diluted for vote".

Vaccinations

"Lawmakers are adjusting a bill that would give parents more authority to delay the pace at which their children are vaccinated." "Fate unclear for bill allowing a delay of child vaccines".

Plan A includes the governor's optimism — after meeting with U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan last week — that Florida will receive a waiver for the release of $2 billion, out of the $44 billion in federal stimulus dollars for education nationwide. ...

Plan A embraces receipt of nearly $1 billion from the federal Recovery Act, which the governor has declared as essential and practical during this recession, "a historical time" that he said must be seen for what it is.

The governor's Plan A also includes a solid arrangement with the Seminole Indian Tribe to expand gambling and, in turn, gain some $400 million a year in proceeds.

Another facet of Plan A is not a new tax on cigarettes ...

Finally, Plan A depends upon incrementally positive movement in the stock market and real estate sales ... So, when asked what his Plan B was, Mr. Crist smiled winningly and said simply, "I'm for Plan A. Our backup plan is Plan A."

Very scary

"Herald-Tribune: Dems brace for Crist Senate run".

"Crist's cop-out"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The battle to hold Florida's public servants accountable got a welcome boost last week from State Attorney Willie Meggs in Tallahassee. Then it suffered a withering blow from Gov. Charlie Crist."

Mr. Meggs persuaded a grand jury to indict former House Speaker Ray Sansom for funneling millions in taxpayer dollars to Northwest Florida State College to build an aircraft hangar sought by a friend and major political contributor. College President Bob Richburg, who had lined up a six-figure job for Mr. Sansom, also was indicted.

The same day the grand jury issued its indictment, Mr. Crist decided against asking the Florida Ethics Commission to rule on whether a former employee in the governor's Office of Trade, Tourism and Economic Development violated the law when he helped set up a $500,000 grant for a company, then took a position with the company at more than double his state salary.

Mr. Crist's cop-out came after the governor's own investigators concluded that the employee, Brice Harris, had violated state ethics laws.

Sink

"It's getting easier for homeowners at risk of foreclosure to negotiate with lenders, but expertise is critical in making progress with a massive overload of bad loans." "CFO Sink holds round table on foreclosures".

Flori-duh, a national laughingstock (yet again)

The New York Times editors over the week end:

Since 2000, Florida has been synonymous with badly run and undemocratic elections. This distinction has not come to it by chance. Many of the state’s election officials and legislators work hard to keep eligible voters from casting ballots. The Florida Legislature is at it again, threatening to pass new rules that would make it harder for eligible voters, especially those from minorities and those who are poor, to register and vote.

Republican state legislators, who are behind the latest bills, want to make it illegal for anyone to get within 100 feet of a line of voters. That provision would criminalize election protection programs ...

· Strip out ID provisions that allow seniors and people with disabilities to easily prove who they are at the polls.

· Limit voters who move within 29 days of an election to provisional ballots. (The House version is more permissive, allowing voters to change their addresses until the day before election day -- but would still require a trip to the supervisor's office to present proper identification, rather than allowing voters to verify their addresses at the polls.)

· Hamstring local supervisors of elections, often the last line of defense against Tallahassee-backed partisan attempts to disenfranchise voters, by forcing them to bow to the state Division of Elections on voter-roll purges and elections-equipment audits. Most problems with voting equipment in Florida were discovered by supervisors, not the Division of Elections.

· Make it illegal for anyone -- including volunteer advocates on hand to help voters who might otherwise be blocked from casting their ballot -- to come within 100 feet of voters on Election Day.

· Intimidate volunteer groups, like the League of Women Voters, by threatening them with potentially massive fines and even criminal sanctions if they don't turn in completed voter registrations within a short time (48 hours in the Senate version, five days in the House.)

Yippee! More tax breaks

"A House panel is promoting a tax bill that's high on new tax breaks and short on revenue." "House to consider bill that seeks taxes on mailed magazines, newspapers". Related: "House panel tax plan only adds to budget gap".

Off topic

"Broward judge in Anna Nicole Smith case is accused of exploiting 83-year-old neighbor".

Our "vacuous Republican governor"

Mike Thomas:

Could our cerebral Democratic president and vacuous Republican governor be political soul mates, two men without an ideological foundation or purpose other than the pursuit of power, adulation and making people happy?

"Vacuous" is putting it nicely

Who elected this dope anyway?

Crist said Monday educators are hyping the impact of budget cuts to panic Floridians into writing their legislators as state spending decisions are made in the final days of the legislative session.

Sad

Wonder why Florida's newspapers are in trouble? Here's a hint.

What's next? Drilling in the River of Grass?

"['Rep. Dean Cannon, the Orlando Republican who is slated to become House leader in 2010'] is launching a bill to raise money by allowing oil and gas companies to seek permission to drill in Florida's coastal waters." "Legislator's proposal backs oil drilling [as close as 3 miles] off Florida's coast".

The rest of the RPOFer brain trust seems eager to get on board the stupid express: "Policy Council vice chairman Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said there is plenty of time to discuss the topic. ... The House is contemplating oil drilling but refused to take up Gov. Charlie Crist's major green energy plans this session, said Eric Draper, lobbyist for Audubon of Florida." "House may rethink oil drilling ban".

Where's Charlie?

"Wealthy polo-loving crowd jarred by horses' deaths".

Sansom scandal

"On the same day Ray Sansom went before a grand jury to defend against charges he slipped $6 million into the state budget for a friend's jet business, a contractor sent out a notice describing the project as an "airplane hangar." " "Bid notice rebuts Ray Sansom". Background: "The rise and fall of Ray Sansom".

Back at the ranch:

Perhaps the reaction by state lawmakers to former House Speaker Ray Sansom's indictment should have been expected. They already were demonstrating how out of touch they are by their efforts to dismantle growth management, starve higher education and interfere with the right to vote. But their casual dismissal of the grand jury's indictment and scathing criticism of the political process reaffirms that the legislative branch of government has lost its way.

RPOFers at work

"A proposed tax on bottled water sank in a House tax council on Monday, signaling its demise this legislative session."

The House Finance and Tax Council voted down a bid to apply the state's 6-cent sales tax to bottled water.

"Water is an incredibly valuable resource in Florida; we have shortfalls all the time," said Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, who tried to attach the amendment to a wide-ranging committee bill to make changes to the tax code.

"We are allowing a commercial business to take from our natural resources, and then force onto taxpayers the cost of alternative water supplies, and yet we're refusing to tax either the product or the taking of it from the ground," he argued.

Limbaugh law

"A proposed prescription-drug monitoring system is ready for a vote in the House and Senate, after an hour of debate in its last major committee stop." "Plan to monitor pain pills nears final vote".

Looking for a place to live

"State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials say the ... Florida black bear weighing about 180 pounds, is the first live bear reported in Broward County since 1978." "Rare bear spotted near homes in Broward County". Related: "Woman attacked by wild hog".

Breathing space

The Tampa Tribune editors: "Thanks to leadership in the state Senate, Florida Forever, the state's model land preservation program, has been given new life."

Late last week, Al Lawson, the chamber's minority leader from Tallahassee, Carey Baker, a Eustis Republican who chairs the General Government Appropriations Committee, and Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, teamed to pass legislation that would allocate $3.5 million to the program for the upcoming budget year - enough to issue $50 million in bonds

The little train that could ...

"SunRail plan survives close vote, chugs on".

Speaking of trains ...

"Tax on car rentals could help Tri-Rail".

"An important step"

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an important step when she indicated the U.S. government's willingness to review its deportation policy for Haitians." "Give Haitians Temporary Protected Status now".

Raw political courage

"Legislators may consider reviving tax holiday for school supplies".

Tea party twits

Joel Engelhardt: "Wednesday's 'Tea Party' in hundreds of cities, including West Palm Beach and Stuart, wasn't the free-form protest tinged with anarchism so happily embraced by some liberals. This Tea Party was the button-down Republican version. Lots of advance work. Pre-made signs distributed to protesters. T-shirts and mugs adorned with clever logos. The Tea Party concept is as pre-calculated as the 'grass-roots' Republican protest led by Washington campaign veterans that temporarily stopped the Miami-Dade County presidential election recount in 2000."

The Tea Party concept represents a skillful, organized effort to pressure the government to continue to cut spending on the old, the poor and the sick. It pits groups that want to help people against those who don't want tax money going to help others, at least until they need help themselves. Newfound debt defiance is not as simple as the right-wing talking points, even those chanted in a rising chorus, would have Americans believe.

End socialism in America? Eradicate Social Security and Medicare and food stamps and unemployment compensation? If that happened, the next protest wouldn't be a pre-planned, button-down event. And it wouldn't be peaceful.

"Vulgar"

"A bill is moving through the Senate that would prohibit students at Florida public schools from showing their underwear in a 'vulgar' manner." "Britches come up in Senate panel debate".

Which makes one wonder what happened to

Death politics

"Governor sets executions for two Death Row inmates".

'Ya think?

"Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, said Monday that the debate over President Obama's choice to smile and shake the hand of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez — a frequent critic of the U.S. —distracted from the real issues at the recent Summit of the Americas." "Mack calls debate over Obama's Chavez handshake 'distracting'".

Big whup

"One day after dropping out of the race, former [RPOFer] state Rep. Marty Bowen endorsed U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam for Florida Agriculture Commissioner." "Bowen Endorses Putnam in Ag Race".

"Rachel's Law"

"A push to toughen police oversight of confidential informants lost steam on Monday, even as 'Rachel's Law' cleared a final hurdle before heading to the House floor." "Weakened 'Rachel's Law' moves forward in House".

PBC Impact fees

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Palm Beach County commissioners will once again consider a sticky revenue-generating option today: hiking impact fees on new construction." "Struggling housing industry can't handle higher impact fees right now".

Bond games

"Palm Beach County's patronage-based system for choosing its bond underwriting team has been costly for taxpayers and opened a wide door for corruption, according to a long-anticipated review released Monday." "Clerk: Palm Beach County's corruption-prone bond system cost taxpayers up to $1.3 million a year".

The budget conference process was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., but Sunday afternoon, leaders said it would be delayed. The Senate suggested the meeting be scrapped because the two chambers aren't yet in sync on a bottom line.

KidCare

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "No more excuses. This year Florida lawmakers must repair past blunders that harm the children of the state's working poor families ...". "Fix KidCare now".

Florida's Panhandle: "Capital of Dumb and Nasty in the United States"?

"It is no secret that, "in the Florida Panhandle, with its stereotype of a Republican bloc-vote of retired military officers, the Christian right and unreconstructed Good Ol' Boys ... there [never is] much of a presidential race ... [in 2000' Bush won the region with roughly 70 percent of the vote] ... The issue's unspoken subtext is whether the region has become a Capital of Dumb and Nasty in the United States." "The Redneck Riviera, where Bush can't lose" (scroll down).

The latest: "Okaloosa's tarnished image" and "To the powerful, like Sansom, go budget spoils" ("a grand jury said that putting billions of dollars into the hands of politically ambitious people is a recipe for cronyism and back-scratching.") See also "Crist's ex-aide won't face ethics investigation for Space Florida job scandal" ("Harris, a Pensacola native, oversaw space and defense projects for the Office of Trade, Tourism and Economic Development, a part of Crist's office.")

More about Okaloosa: "Dee Thompson-Poirrier, director of animal control for Okaloosa County, understands the uneasiness. She said there was a lot of backlash in the community when she investigated the goat case last year in nearby Walton County."

When Thompson-Poirrier pushed to have a rape kit done, she said she heard: "It's just a goat lady, get a grip. A lot of people said you're wasting your money. You're wasting the court's time."

'Splain this to us Charlie. Willya?

"Although state lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Crist say there's plenty of money to run public schools in the fall, Seminole County school officials say their district may face a $35 million shortfall." "Seminole schools expect hefty budget cuts".

Pigs at the trough

The pigs dispensed with pretenses a long time ago: "Almost $4 million in political contributions washed through the state Capitol since January, far more cash than lawmakers reaped during a similar period last election season, according to new campaign-finance reports." "State lawmakers rake in campaign cash".

That leaves dumb and dumberer

"Former state Rep. Marty Bowen of Haines City says she's dropping out of the 2010 race for state agriculture commissioner, leaving the Republican side of this Cabinet contest a two-man race between U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow and state Sen. Carey Baker of Eustis." "Marty Bowen folds tent in 2010 Ag race".

Florida's polo crowd in a dither

"Reports: Horse death toll up to 21 at Florida polo club".

Billy gets an early start in the race for Governor

"Florida AG's office to be featured on Oprah".

Grayson speaks

"There are 53 new members of Congress this year. This month, I became the first one of us to pass a bill through the U.S. House of Representatives. It wasn't a bill to rename a post office, or establish a commission. It was a bill to crack down on the extravagant bonuses that American International Group and other government-owned financial institutions have been paying out, wasting taxpayer money." "Alan Grayson: The real deal about bonus pay".

Instead of tea bags ...

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Organizers of last week's 'Tea Party' protests billed them as a bid for participants to 'take back' their country. "

Floridians have another, more practical opportunity to take back their state -- one that doesn't involve tea bags. This one is a statewide campaign to restore some integrity to the now-corrupt system of drawing legislative and congressional districts.

Florida lawmakers go through the redistricting process every 10 years, supposedly to adjust the boundary lines to population changes revealed by the census. But the party in control of the Legislature seizes the chance to design districts that serve only to protect its majority.

Theme park blues

"Universal Orlando attendance falls 20 percent".

Yellow bellies

"It seems simple enough. Elected officials face a large gathering — 1,300 showed up last year - and state their positions on a key issue. Some commissioners, however, cited a county attorney's opinion that such a gathering constitutes a public meeting. Not to be deterred, PEACE agreed to advertise the meeting and record it." "Cowardly commissioners".

"Pirates"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board:

the bill would let phone companies raise rates on lots of people who have basic land-line service. Those customers tend to be low-income or elderly, or both. Until now, basic customers, including those who had perhaps one add-on service, such as caller ID, have been protected from a law that allows phone companies to raise rates up to 20 percent a year on customers who subscribe to a larger menu of add-on services.

Stoopid is ...

"The current system for dealing with mentally ill people who commit crimes is, by all accounts, broken. And expensive:"

It costs Florida taxpayers tens of millions of dollars every year.

People with schizophrenia or other mental illnesses who get arrested are sent to expensive mental health facilities, where they're stabilized for the sole purpose of appearing in court. Most get released on time served, only to get sick again for lack of medication and treatment. They commit more crimes and the process starts all over.

Tristam

"Correcting America's dark chapter of torture".

Almost Amway

"Chinese drywall watchdog was imprisoned for fraud in 1990s Ponzi scheme".

"Double dipping"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "For the second consecutive year, Florida lawmakers have rejected a bill that would have banned public employees from 'double dipping,' or collecting both a pension and a paycheck at the same time. Lawmakers have until the end of session on May 1 to change their minds, but that seems unlikely." "Work special: paid twice for one job".

Whoopee!

"A proposal that would give Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University a lead role in a new space transportation research-and-development institute got unanimous support from the Florida House." "ERAU-led space project gets House OK".

Like a similar Senate version, the House bill would ban two forms of voter ID at the polls now used mainly by older voters and require paid initiative-petition circulators to register with the state. It also would require people whose address changed in the month before an election to cast provisional ballots, prohibit anyone from interacting with voters in a floating 100-foot zone outside polling places and make it more difficult for third-party groups to register new voters.

The bill allows political committees registered in other states to be active in Florida without complying with the Sunshine State's campaign reporting requirements, which are stricter than other states. Legislators would be allowed to create leadership funds to solicit large donations from special interests and lobbyists, and it repeals a 2008 law that allows senators and others who hold a four-year term to run for a federal office without resigning.

Absent from the bill is an expansion of early voting hours or locations. That was a major concern of election supervisors in the 2008 election. Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order expanding early voting hours, a factor that was cited as helpful to Barack Obama's Florida victory.

lost all sense of shame with their 11th-hour bill to roll back voting rights in Florida. The legislation is so disgraceful it is no wonder a Republican-led House committee debated the bill for all of 6 minutes Friday before silencing public comment and approving the bill along party lines. This fast-moving train needs to be stopped cold.

The RPOFer economy

"There were 893,000 Floridians out of work in March, up a tenth of a percentage point from February, but more than double the rate a year ago." "Florida jobless rate soars to 9.7 percent".

Charlie ready to jump

Aaron Deslatte:

Crist is leaning toward moving to Washington. His closest advisers admit it. Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer is planning for it.

Even potential primary opponents such as former House Speaker Marco Rubio sound resigned to the likelihood that Crist is going to give up the Governor's Mansion to join the world's most exclusive club in 2010.

If the governor decides next month to run for the U.S. Senate rather than re-election, as is widely expected, get ready for the wildest election cycle Florida has seen in modern history: five races for open statewide offices. That, in turn, leads to a dizzying number of other offices opening up as politicians jump for newly opened opportunities for promotion.

"Somewhat more sensible, ... more humane, ... more intelligent"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Florida budget compromising resumes on Monday in the Legislature, and may the Senate's somewhat more sensible, somewhat more humane, somewhat more intelligent state budget win the day. Its cobbled-together $65.6 billion budget accepts federal stimulus dollars, but it also raises taxes on tobacco, garnering $1 billion, and it expands gambling at seven Seminole Indian tribe casinos in the Sunshine State, raising at least $400 million a year." "No contest: Senate budget is reasonable one".

Background: "Lawmaker: Budgets 'get the job done' in hard times", "Divided House passes $65.1 billion budget" and "The House and Senate, with their positions on taxes and gambling staked out, are heading for a showdown next week." More: "Florida House approves fee-laden budget plan" and "Divided Florida House OK's budget plan". Related: "Grand jury calls on Florida Legislature to make budget process transparent".

Sansom

"Ray Sansom, the ousted Speaker of the Florida House, was indicted Friday on a felony charge that he falsified the state budget to get $6 million for an aircraft hangar sought by a developer friend and major GOP donor."

A scathing grand jury report concluded that Sansom ``because of his friendship and political contributions violated the trust that the citizens of Florida should expect from its elected representatives.''

The 46-year-old Destin Republican was booked into Leon County jail at 3:35 p.m. Friday and was released on his own recognizance. He said he would be vindicated at trial.

old Florida bait and switch -- come, buy cheap land! -- turned out to be overpriced swampland barely good enough to pitch a tent.

Except this latest $6 million deal wasn't socking it to naive Northerners: It stuck it to Florida taxpayers in another old game of wheeling and dealing in conference committees in Tallahassee.

That's where House and Senate leaders work out their differences in bills and -- gobble, gobble! -- turkeys begin to fly off the budget books.

The deal in question was greased by almost $125,000 in campaign contributions from airport developer Jay Odom to the then-upcoming House Speaker Ray Sansom and a GOP fund that Sansom partly controlled.

Blame the teachers

"Fla. lawmakers challenge teacher tenure".

Class size games

"The Florida House approved a measure to send a class-size amendment to voters in a push to loosen requirements to keep classes small." "Florida class-size measure moves closer to ballot". See also "House passes bill giving voters a say in class sizes".

"Choice of bad and really bad"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "They haven't begun to give each other high-fives yet, but state lawmakers are admiring their handiwork in crafting a plan to fund education that 'holds schools harmless.'"

Translation to South Florida: Get ready to be ripped off -- again. The budget proposal, cached in CS/HB 5005 and similar bills, is worse than the Legislature's usual bait-and-switch tactics. This one gives South Florida schools a lose-lose option: Transfer tax-millage money from capital funds to the general fund in order to cover shortfalls in education spending. Or, leave the funds there and find other ways to make up for the shortages. Either option carries dire consequences for South Florida.

Bring it

"Greer: Rubio ought not challenge Crist".

DCF

"When former Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth took over the Department of Children and Families in January 2007, he vowed that the state would stop paying attorneys to fight lawsuits filed by families with valid claims against his agency. Since then, DCF has settled with 104 plaintiffs, paying a total of more than $6.1 million. Butterworth's successor at DCF, former state legislator George Sheldon, has continued that approach. In some cases, Sheldon said, it is better to help children who truly have been harmed by the agency's mistakes than to continue racking up legal fees." "For DCF, results don't match new policy on payouts".

Down payment help

"A plan to turn federal tax credits into down-payment help for fledgling homebuyers is gaining steam at the Capitol. The full Senate approved a state budget proposal Thursday that would allow first-time homebuyers eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $8,000 to sign it over to the state. In exchange, the state would provide an equivalent amount of money upfront to help the homebuyer make a down payment." "State eyes plan to aid homebuyers".

Empty suit

"Gov. Charlie Crist's schedule shows many blank days".

See you in Havana

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "The Obama administration took a larger step toward revising U.S.-Cuba policy this week. Now, though, comes the hard part. What next?" "Obama takes first steps on modernizing U.S.-Cuba policy, but hard work still left to do".

Waiting on a miracle

"Parents have phoned, written and rallied for months to urge Florida lawmakers not to sacrifice public education in the process of plugging the state's $6 billion budget hole."

GOP lawmakers say they have answered that call, shielding kindergarten-through-grade-12 school funding from spending cuts next fiscal year. But those plans depend on receiving federal stimulus money earmarked for education, for which Florida may or may not be eligible - and lawmakers may not know if Florida qualifies until the legislative session is nearly over.

Even if the money comes through, it will not prevent cuts to programs that serve some of Florida's least privileged children. Mentoring programs, legal aid and foster care all face reductions in the spending plans for 2009-10 that lawmakers advanced this week.

It adds up to plenty of fodder for critics, who are accusing GOP leaders of gambling with the future of Florida's children and balancing the budget on the backs of the neediest.

"The insanity of all insanities"

"Miami-Dade Judge Steven Leifman, tapped by the Florida Supreme Court to help reduce the number of mentally ill in Florida's corrections system, calls it 'the insanity of all insanities.'" "State considers overhaul of offenders' mental health system".

From the "values" crowd

" Florida lawmakers propose less money for upkeep of schools".

Dirty little secret

Mike Thomas writes about one of the dirty little secrets about the death penalty:

It goes like this: To get seated for a death-penalty trial, a juror must say during the selection process that he or she is willing to sentence someone to death. This tends to weed out the softies and liberals ... giving prosecutors more of a law-and-order jury — one more likely to convict.

Noted Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz claimed prosecutors in Texas used this tactic to get a conviction against Andrea Yates, who drowned her five children in 2001.

"The prosecutors ... never really expected, nor even wanted, the jury to return a death sentence," he wrote in an analysis. "They manipulated the death penalty processing order to get a pro-prosecution jury, more likely to reject the insanity defense and return a verdict of guilt. This tactic, well known to those who practice criminal law, is becoming more widespread in states which authorize the death penalty."

"Wave of euphoria"

"Today, a wave of euphoria is sweeping across the Bay area over prospects for improved U.S.-Cuba travel and trade, mostly because of the Obama administration's fresh outlook on relations between the two countries." "Tampa has a thirst for Cuba trade, travel".

Yee Haw!

Kosmas gets a break: "The Florida Republican Party chairman confirmed to the Buzz that he's thinking of running against Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach in 2010." "Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer considers U.S. House seat, punctures Marco Rubio's Senate hopes".

"Good luck"

"Owed child support in Florida? Good luck".

SunRail

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida needs SunRail". Related - Jane Healy: "Jane Healy: How legislators and governor can be incredibly dumb".