Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, was wise to remind Senate Democrats that if they all finally voted against the budget, "why would (Senate President Jeff Atwater) include you in anything again?"

Starting out with a $6 billion deficit, the budget was rescued by $5.3 billion in federal stimulus dollars that give breathing room to universities, public schools and other programs until the economic slide begins chugging uphill.

The guardian ad litem program, which provides legal representation for foster children, lost $2.5 million. Funding for teacher professional development shrank 20 percent. Community care services for the elderly took a $1 million hit.

Veto please

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "It's maddening to review some of the ridiculous bills legislators consider important enough to send to the governor for his signature."

Two stand out: the well-publicized package that coddles the property insurance industry and a stealthy amendment that could keep the public and government regulators from challenging developers seeking to tap the state's waters.

Growing gambling

"The Legislature on Friday overwhelmingly approved gaming bills that could allow poker rooms at horse and greyhound racing pari-mutuel facilities to expand playing times to 18 hours during weekdays and 24 hours on weekends while eliminating betting and buy-in caps." "Kennel club gets OK to grow gaming". See also "Legislature passes gambling deal with Seminoles" and "Lawmakers expand gambling".

Background: "Crist will negotiate — again — an agreement to let the Seminole Tribe install blackjack tables and slot machines at its casinos, but this time lawmakers won't take him to court." "Bill opens way for Crist, Seminoles to talk gaming compact".

Another Crist flop

"Energy reform fizzled statewide this year, with Gov. Charlie Crist failing to have his renewable energy goals passed." "From state law's rubble, local green-energy goals".

'Glades

"The board of U.S. Sugar Corp. voted Friday in favor of Gov. Charlie Crist's latest proposal to buy much of its farmland for use in Everglades restoration. The deal -- to buy 73,000 acres of citrus and sugar cane land for $536 million -- must now go to a vote before the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District, which meets next week to review the latest proposal. The district would borrow the money, repaying the debt over 30 years with property taxes collected in all or part of 16 counties in Central and South Florida." "U.S. Sugar OK's land sale for Everglades restoration".

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "At last, Everglades restoration may actually happen".

Related: "Friendly fire: Burning in Everglades can actually be good".

Another fine Jebacy

"When the computer running the state's $2.2 billion unemployment program nearly crashed last summer, the Agency for Workforce Innovation called out for help with the 35-year-old mainframe — way out. With staffers unable to repair the system, the state shipped files to an IBM lab in the United Kingdom — and even experts there struggled with the antiquated technology." "Can Florida's 1970s-era computer handle surge in jobless claims?".

Children with keyboards

You knew this piece was going to be a laff riot when it began "[a]s an English major":

Obama gave his third prime-time press conference recently. As an English major, I paid more attention to the way Obama said things than to the things he said, and I noticed that he doesn't know how to talk about his own power.

St. Johns River lawsuit

"Florida's water regulations are preventing cleanup of the St. Johns River and other polluted water bodies statewide, three environmental groups say in a lawsuit. The groups, including the St. Johns Riverkeeper, sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, saying it allows the state to circumvent the Clean Water Act and this leads to problems such as continued algal blooms in the St. Johns." "Florida is evading clean water laws, lawsuit says".

"Leadership [sic] institute"

"In 2008, state Rep. Ray Sansom quietly inserted more than $8 million into the state budget for Northwest Florida State College to create a 'leadership institute.'" "Sansom's $8 million 'institute'".

All talk, no funding ...

"Budget reality hits GOP's get-tough-on-crime stance".

Tampa Bay area unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board:

While the Labor Department announced Friday that the pace of layoffs slowed a bit in April, the nation's unemployment rate still rose to 8.9 percent, the highest in more than 25 years. So even though there's a faint hope that the economic recession may be easing a bit, there are still plenty of families in need. That is particularly true in the Tampa Bay area, where the unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent.

Nelson

"Sen. Nelson seeks $14 million for commercial launchpad".

Tr-Rail

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Tri-Rail deserves dedicated funding". The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Why Tri-Rail should live"

Feds step in

"Local government leaders learned Friday that a $7.2 billion portion of federal stimulus dollars is available for development of communications infrastructure, including broadband capacity in underserved areas." "Stimulus dollars could bring broadband service to rural areas"

"A slump that rivals the auto industry"

"With automobile sales in the dumps, it's not unreasonable to think that consumers would be buying motorcycles as typically cheaper alternatives to cars. But the two-wheeled world of transportation is suffering from a slump that rivals the auto industry's. In fact, motorcycle sales in Central Florida and across the nation have been in decline for nearly three years, local dealers say." "Credit crunch hurts motorcycle sales".

Good riddance

"Sen. Ken Pruitt, a top state Republican who founded Florida's Bright Futures college scholarship program, will leave office early to spend more time with his family in Port St. Lucie." "Author of Bright Futures scholarships to leave state Senate early". See also "Sen. Ken Pruitt, longtime legislative leader, to step down".

Another outsourcing genius bites the dust

"Visit Florida, the state's tax-assisted tourism promotion firm, announced Friday it is replacing its president and chief executive in a reshuffling that may save $1.2 million. Chris Thompson, the group's chief operating officer, will replace Bud Nocera as the head of Visit Florida."

He wouldn't say whether the board's action was tied to criticism of Nocera in February, when lawmakers blasted him for selecting a call center in Missouri to promote Florida as a tourism destination. ...

Nocera earned $222,000 annually and last year received a $25,000 bonus. A Pinellas native and University of South Florida graduate, he was named Visit Florida's executive director in 2003 after the agency's original boss stepped down.

"Double dipping"

"The Florida legislator with the highest concentration of state employees in his district Friday appealed to Gov. Charlie Crist to veto a bill that would end 'double dipping' in the Florida Retirement System and state payroll." "Lawson lobbies Crist to veto 'double dipping' bill".

A Hillsborough thing

"For two months, Michelle B. Patty refused to answer questions about how she spent federal voter education money that she received from former elections supervisor Buddy Johnson." "Patty's radio show axed".

Classy

"Author of Bright Futures scholarships to leave state Senate early".

Police state

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "Local police agencies -- the Sheriff's Office, city police departments or the Beach Patrol -- provide law enforcement and ensure public safety. If the federal government has its way, those agencies, and thousands like them across the country, by 2014 will also be part of a domestic spying network." "Nationalized paranoia".

Senator Crist?

It is the worst kept secret in town: Crist will jump into the Senate race.

Meantime, "Check out Charlie Crist's resume. The man never stays put for long."

Six years in the state Senate, followed by an unsuccessful race for U.S. Senate and a stint as a state agency official. Two years as education commissioner. Four years as attorney general. Two-and-a-half as governor, and now he's thinking of running for the United States Senate.

It's worth recalling that when the Crist-for-Senate chatter began intensifying six months ago, it was laughed off as Democratic hooey by George LeMieux, Crist's former chief of staff and campaign guru, and still perhaps his closest adviser. ...

So now, with an announcement expected very soon and Crist doing his best not to tip his hand, it seemed the logical place to search for clues as to his intentions was to visit LeMieux. His sixth-floor law office in downtown Tallahassee has a panoramic view of the Capitol across the street.

He scoffed at the idea that former House Speaker Marco Rubio of Miami, who already has entered the Senate race, would be a threat by running to the right of Crist in a Republican primary — the way Tom Gallagher did in the 2006 governor's race.

"Marco Rubio supported the largest tax increase in Florida history when he wanted to raise the sales tax by two or three pennies," LeMieux said of Rubio's 2007 tax swap (the Democratic Party already is using that as an anti-Rubio talking point).

[w]hen you throw in Charlie's other failed initiatives — dropping property taxes like a rock, creating affordable health insurance, implementing a California-style renewable-energy policy, increasing education funding and becoming vice president — he has accomplished ... practically nothing.

Many Republicans are becoming anxious their popular standard bearer will leave his office up for grabs and set off a number of potentially testy GOP primaries. Democrats are giddy at the prospect of gaining a toehold in GOP-dominated Tallahassee.

Crist's potential campaign for higher office dominated the conversation at the Broward County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day dinner on Thursday.

Budget update

"The House began a marathon debate Thursday over a $66.5 billion budget that papers over a $6 billion shortfall with billions in federal stimulus dollars, salary cuts for state workers and nearly $800 million in new fees." "Final vote on Florida budget today".

Jim Saunders: "Battling over public schools and hundreds of millions of dollars in increased fees, Florida lawmakers are almost sure today to approve a $66.5 billion budget -- and hope the recession-battered state can weather the next year."

House Republicans and Democrats argued for hours Thursday about whether the spending plan will pump enough money into school classrooms and meet the state's other needs.

Republicans said they have listened to parents and teachers and made education spending a top priority, slightly increasing school funding while dealing with a $6 billion budget shortfall caused by the troubled economy.

"This budget says that education is the number one issue of importance (to lawmakers and the public)," said Rep. Anitere Flores, a Miami Republican who is chairwoman of the House PreK-12 Appropriations Committee.

But Democrats questioned the Republicans' claims and criticized plans to help balance the budget by taking steps such as increasing fees on driver's licenses and vehicle registrations.

"I compare this budget to a chocolate pie," said Rep. Ron Saunders, a Key West Democrat who is a top Democrat on budget issues. "It looks pretty good until you take a bite and find out it is made out of mud."

But House Majority Leader [sic] Adam Hasner, R-Boca Raton, accused Democrats of not offering solutions to deal with the state's worst budget problems in decades. He called Democrats the "party of no."

Half-**sed Hasner at work

"Thirteen state House Republicans sent a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday, asking him to veto a bill one of their fellow GOP leaders sponsored. Ten of the 13 lawmakers voted against the bill to create a prescription drug database in Florida. Three of the Republicans - [House Majority Leader [sic]] Adam Hasner of Boca Raton, Anitere Flores of Miami and [wannabe Speaker] Dean Cannon of Winter Park - did not vote on the original bill." "Drug database access worries some in Florida House". See also "Drug database access worries some in Florida House".

In the wings

"Fla. Sen. Aronberg set to run for attorney general". See also "Attorney General Dave Aronberg?".

The delightful Rooney family

"A gambling deal awaiting final legislative approval in Tallahassee Friday lays the groundwork for slots and possibly a new card room in Palm Beach County for the Rooney family, whose various members own the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Palm Beach Kennel Club." "Rooneys say gambling deal could open up another card room in Palm Beach County". See also "Rooneys say gambling deal could open up another card room in Palm Beach County".

Zell upset with public employees

The Zell Corporation is unhappy that some public employees have sick leave buyback programs: "It's admirable that some government employees never get sick, and that they love going to work every day. But please, people, take the sick and vacation days given to you, or lose them. You're not doing your employer, or taxpayers, any favors by hoarding the time. You're only creating a budgetary nightmare." "Vacation time policies must change".

The League of Cities says "Jump!"; the Zell Corporation shrieks, "how high!"

Kosmas making a mark

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board:

first-term Democrat Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach has launched a new bid to double the one-year waiting period [retired Congresspeople "must wait after leaving their seats to lobby their ex-colleagues"]. Her commendable effort deserves enthusiastic support from both parties, which still have plenty to prove when it comes to their sincerity about ethics reform.

Ms. Kosmas already has lined up the backing of at least one Republican: fellow freshman Bill Posey of Rockledge. This kind of bipartisanship is a welcome about-face for Mr. Posey, who introduced tin-hat legislation in March that would require all presidential candidates to submit a birth certificate when qualifying to run. That proposal was red meat for the fringe members of his party who still refuse to accept that Barack Obama is a U.S. citizen and eligible to be president.

Crist on verge of dumping Kottkamp?

"Crist says he hasn't made up his mind whether Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp would share the ticket with him if he seeks reelection." "Crist hedges on a running mate". But see "Crist says he remains confident in Kottkamp".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Jeff Kottkamp may wind up actually achieving something as lieutenant governor. His remarkable lack of judgment and ridiculous travel expenses should convince more civic-minded Floridians to push for a constitutional amendment to abolish the office." "Taking taxpayers for a ride"

Space Florida

"Space Florida President Steve Kohler resigns".

Fed handout saves the day

"Florida's universities dodged a bullet this year, but lawmakers bridged a $6 billion shortfall with $159 million in federal stimulus dollars, and that has administrators worried about the future." "Stimulus funds offer some universities breathing room".

Off topic

Wingnuts in a dither:

To the dismay of many conservatives, the Vatican's own newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, has offered what one antiabortion Catholic blog called "a surprisingly positive assessment of the new president's approach to life issues" — so positive, in fact, that a spokesman for the National Right to Life Committee was moved to criticize Pope Benedict XVI's daily.

5 gears in reverse

"Republican lawmakers, confronted by a backlash from voting rights groups and Democrats, have abandoned their plans to overhaul the state’s voting rules before the legislative session ends Friday." "Republicans Withdraw to Revise Florida Voting Rules".

"Early start"

"The race to succeed orthopedic surgeon Ed Homan as the state representative in House District 60 is off to an early start. The primary election is more than a year away, yet Republican Joseph Wendt filed papers with the state in February." "House District 60 race cranks up early".

'Glades

"Bringing in another buyer could help lock up the 180,000 acres of farmland Gov. Charlie Crist covets for Everglades restoration." "Dealing with other buyers could help state get all of U.S. Sugar's land".

The "values" crowd

"State Budget Would Slash Art Funding".

There's an idea

"The cost of foreclosing on homes and businesses will rise sharply under a bill lawmakers are expected to approve today, a change that one state leader predicts may persuade lenders to try harder to work out alternatives with struggling borrowers." "Bill increases costs to foreclose".

Thurman

"In her life after Congress, Thurman has been working to provide Florida Democrats with the tools that she lacked back in 2002. Never again does Thurman want to see Democratic candidates lose because they don’t have the ability to micro-target voters or because they can’t ensure that Democratic votes make it to the ballot box on Election Day." "Life After Congress: Thurman Helps Florida Democrats Find Tools to Win".

CIs

"With the parents of a slain police informant looking on, Gov. Charlie Crist signed a law that will require police departments to adopt policies to protect people like their daughter." "Crist signs law to protect informants".

"This should be a no-brainer"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "With the cost of a college education soaring all over the country, including in Florida, reforming college-loan plans is taking on a new urgency. Fortunately, there is a proposal on the table that won't be a burden on taxpayers and could ease the staggering debt load for young people entering the workplace. This should be a no-brainer for Congress. When it comes to legislation, though, nothing is ever easy." "Invest in education, reform loan program".

Empty suit Charlie

Mike Thomas points out that the current "Legislature undid more of Charlie Crist's 2007 insurance reforms, which threatened to bankrupt the state when the next big hurricane hits."

Thomas continues, exploring Charlie's inability to get anything done:

When you throw in Charlie's other failed initiatives — dropping property taxes like a rock, creating affordable health insurance, implementing a California-style renewable-energy policy, increasing education funding and becoming vice president — he has accomplished ... practically nothing. But he has been darned likable doing it, which more than qualifies him for the U.S. Senate. But now comes the Club for Growth, a group of deep-pocketed, archconservative mullahs who purge the Republican Party of moderates like Charlie.

These guys make Jeb's NCNA (pronounced N-C-N-A) group look like a bunch of terrorist-coddling wimps. And they're getting darned mad about all this money the Democrats are making them spend.

Lest you doubt their power, they created Ric Keller from a single-cell organism and put him in Congress to defend Big Macs against trial lawyers. The Club seems to be aligning itself with Charlie's would-be foe in a Republican Senate primary: former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, who thinks it's high time we broke out the waterboards again.

Tone deaf

Steve Bousquet reports: "At a time when he faces an ethics complaint over state-paid travel, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp had a state trooper drive him and his family to suburban Atlanta last weekend for a surprise birthday party for a Tallahassee lobbyist."

In a state-owned vehicle, Kottkamp and his wife joined lobbyist Steve Metz and family members at a Saturday night concert in Peachtree City, Ga., featuring soft-rock singer Kenny Loggins.

Metz is registered to represent 34 clients before the executive branch, including the Florida Bar, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Walt Disney World as well as parimutuels, pharmaceutical firms and financial companies.

Budget update

"With a $6 billion budget deficit, lawmakers had to cut back on programs that helped Alzheimer's patients and foster kids -- but they still managed to fund a few pet projects at universities and even nicotine patches for smokers trying to kick the habit."

So, when Lake Wales Sen. J.D. Alexander wanted more money for the University of South Florida in Lakeland and Miami Rep. David Rivera sought more for Florida International University, the Republicans traded offers and counter offers in public. ''We've done it all out in the open,'' said Alexander, who won $5 million more for USF while Rivera secured an additional $11 million for an FIU medical school.

Not every issue was agonized over. Alexander inserted $500,000 in the budget for Lake Wales charter schools with nary a peep. Nor was there any talk about the $250,000 Rivera inserted for the FIU Democracy Conference.

Senate President Jeff Atwater made sure the caretakers of a girl who had been horribly abused in state care received money. And House Speaker Larry Cretul helped maintain money for a University of Florida dental program that Miami Rep. Juan Zapata had once attempted to strike from the budget.

Democratic Sen. Nan Rich of Weston acknowledged that Republican legislative leaders were more open than ever. But she said there's not much to celebrate when they cut $1.6 million from a program helping kids age out of foster care. Legislators also trimmed a batch of programs helping seniors and Alzheimer's patients by $2.75 million.

No joke

Troxler is serious:

Let's look at some of the good things our legislators did this year.

No, really!

"Oldie-goldie Republicans such as Jeb Bush ..."

Mike Thomas: "Oldie-goldie Republicans such as Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney and John McCain are going on tour to re-energize the party. This is like watching Pat Boone and the Captain & Tennille go on tour to re-energize pop."

At the tour's first stop in Virginia, Jeb performed a great solo on the need for Republicans to move beyond Reagan nostalgia and look ahead. I cheered and raised a burning Bic, but Rush Limbaugh went into an OxyContin flashback, declaring it all a plot to undermine his governor goddess.

"Federal stimulus money will jump-start stalled cleanup projects"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "By most measures, $20 billion is jaw-dropping sum, but it's a drop in the bucket in the big picture funding cost of the entire Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). Nevertheless, the $279 million in federal funds earmarked largely for Glades restoration projects mark the single-largest amount that Congress and the White House have allocated since the joint federal-state project was approved in 2000. It's a start, finally." "Glades funds at last".

Public employees

"[T]he $66.5 billion budget Florida lawmakers are set to approve Friday will mark another year of frozen wages for Okoh and tens of thousands of other state workers who battle swine flu, guard dangerous prisoners or provide a gamut of other government services." As of 2008,

The average state government worker's salary of $38,313 was almost 4 percent lower than the $39,762 average for all workers in Florida. Compared with the population it serves, Florida has the lowest state payroll in the country, the state [DMS] report shows.

Firefighters (a/k/a "public employees") at work ...

"[T]he 30,000-acre blaze in the Big Cypress National Preserve has been reduced to 10 smokers - hot spots that are still smoldering and generating smoke." "Alligator Alley fire is 90 percent contained".

NASA

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "It's a critical time for the U.S. space program. The shuttle is scheduled to stop flying as soon as next year. NASA has started whacking jobs, and layoffs on Florida's Space Coast could reach 10,000. The United States is facing a gap of five years or more in sending astronauts into orbit, and problems plaguing NASA's next manned program mean a longer delay. Yet there's a maddening lack of urgency, and interest, among federal and state policy-makers." "Stop delaying on space".

Deal? No Deal?

Update: "Late-hour gambling talks to salvage a deal with the Seminole tribe derailed today, when the Senate backslid on its previous offer to partially limit card games at Seminole resorts. After meeting with Seminole representatives, the Senate retooled its offer to restore full card games blackjack and baccarat at all seven tribal facilities, including Hard Rock casinos in Hollywood and Tampa. The new Senate offer also would put the tribe's annual payment to the state at $150 million. Previous offers would have required the tribe to pay at least $200 million." "Legislative gambling talks hit snag".

"Florida's historic Hialeah Park racetrack would return. The Seminole Tribe's Hard Rock casinos would keep their slot machines and card games. South Florida's parimutuels would bear a lower tax burden. And tracks around the state could seek bingo-style slot machines in the future."

Those are the major provisions of a last-minute compromise reached in dramatic fashion late Wednesday by House and Senate leaders. If approved by the Seminole Tribe, the plan would bring the state a minimum of $150 million in annual revenue sharing from the Seminole Tribe, and allow the state to use another $150 million set aside by the tribe this year when its previous gambling agreement with the governor was voided by the court. ...

It includes a plan to allow slot machines at Seminole casinos outside of Miami-Dade and Broward -- the tribe has seven reservations -- and the exclusive right to blackjack and baccarat at its Hard Rock casinos in Broward and Hillsborough counties.

The biggest winner may be Hialeah. Lawmakers agreed to allow the famous track to reopen with card rooms and quarter horse racing. After operating live racing and simulcast races for two years, it can offer Las Vegas-style slot machines.

Life

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Joe Harris Sullivan has been a Florida prisoner for 20 of his 33 years. Just days shy of his 14th birthday, he was sentenced to life without parole for raping an elderly Escambia County woman. He expected to die behind bars, but this week the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would review his case and that of another Florida juvenile offender to consider whether sentencing a person under 18 to life without parole is cruel and unusual punishment — and unconstitutional." "Life for juveniles needs reviewing".

'Glades

"The economy's recent nosedive could push Gov. Charlie Crist's monumental land deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. back at least six months." "Everglades land deal faces six-month delay".

Tampa Trib declares end of minority voting problems

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "It's time to loosen the federal grip. The argument that rigid federal control is essential to protect the rights of minority voters is hollow. ... The high court should recognize it is time to stop penalizing counties for sins of the distant past." "Stop punishing county for sins of distant past".

"Progress Energy gets a bye, customers get the bill"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board:

In Florida last week, Progress Energy announced that the $17 billion nuclear power plant it plans to build in Levy County will be delayed at least 20 months, and won't produce electricity until at least March 2018. But not only does Progress Energy want to keep billing its existing customers for the plant's costs. The company wants to increase that charge from $5 per month to $8 per month by January.

"How stimulating it will actually be is unclear"

"Florida's 11 public universities will receive $160 million in federal stimulus money, but how stimulating it will actually be is unclear. School leaders, facing the toughest financial troubles they've ever seen, say they are hesitant to use the limited-time offer for anything recurring, such as jobs, raises, or propping up flagging programs. " "Are Florida's universities spending $160 million in stimulus money wisely?".

"A prescription for a disaster for Florida patients and taxpayers"

Dartland is executive director of the Consumer Federation of the Southeast, in the The Daytona Beach News Journal this morning - "The Florida Legislature passed May 1 the biggest threat to consumers this year: a bill that serves no purpose but to drive up health care costs for patients, employers and taxpayers. It is a bill Gov. Crist should veto immediately as soon as it hits his desk."

The legislation, (SB 1122/HB 855), would punish patients, state workers and taxpayers with higher health care costs by destroying the Preferred Provider Network (PPO) that has helped to restrain rising health care costs for decades. Florida PIRG, the Consumer Federation of the Southeast and the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans all have issued warnings that the bill is a prescription for a disaster for Florida patients and taxpayers.

"Endgame"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Kurt Browning may be one less double-dipping state employee in Florida, thanks to a bill that would end the most egregious abuses of the state retirement system." "Endgame to a state scam".

Alex Leary gets a tip ...

Alex Leary gets a tip from somebody (wonder who?): "Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink put her fiscal watchdog image on display Monday in the state's largest TV market."

''Floridians expect us to spend their money wisely and efficiently as possible, and I will continue to lead by example in these tough economic times,'' she said in a news release for the visit to a call center in Largo that had been consolidated with others to save an estimaged $2.2 million annually.

But delivering the message was not cheap. The taxpayer tab for flying Sink and three staffers on a state plane: $2,400.

The trip, billed by her office as a ribbon cutting, is no different than similar ones that Gov. Charlie Crist or other top elected officials make regularly.

... Speaking of trips

"Crist is coming to town May 19 for a luncheon co-hosted by The Chamber, Daytona Beach/Halifax Area and the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County. The event will be at the Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. The public is invited." "Crist set for Daytona visit".

Florida's "tide of Medicare fraud"

"Miami's R. Alexander Acosta told a U.S. Senate panel that fixes need to be made at the top to stem the tide of Medicare fraud." "Improve Medicare oversight, U.S. attorney from Miami tells Senate".

SunRail

"Only days removed from a stinging defeat in the Florida Legislature, prominent backers of the proposed Central Florida SunRail say they're exploring ways to keep the commuter rail system alive." "Commuter rail backers look for options".

"Holier-than-thou"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Is it a church-state violation for an elected official to be holier-than-thou? With Lake Worth Commissioner Cara Jennings, it should be." "Jennings failed her own test".

"More political than practical"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is an example of a good program created for political reasons -- but never adjusted to the facts of the real world. Now, the bruising economy is forcing state lawmakers to face a harsh reality: Bright Futures is unsustainable as currently conceived. Their solution? Trim the program around the edges and pray for a miracle. This approach -- also more political than practical -- won't work, either." "Bright Futures at a crossroads".

Space Florida

"Kottkamp, who heads the board of Brevard-based Space Florida, said Wednesday to 'stay tuned' for potential changes to be made at the maligned economic development agency tasked with transitioning the state's economy into the post-space shuttle world." "Kottkamp: 'Stay tuned' on Space Florida front".

Something's got to give

"The kind of sprawling suburban-style growth that consumed thousands of acres of formerly rural land in the Tampa Bay area in recent years has turned large tracts of intact habitat into island-like pockets of habitat. Those pockets are often too isolated or too small to support large populations of birds, making breeding difficult." "Migratory birds on the move".

Seatbelt stop

"Starting June 30, Florida police will be allowed to stop and cite motorists for not wearing their seat belts." "Seat belt law just got tougher". See also "Gov. Charlie Crist signs tougher seat belt law".

CIs

"Crist is scheduled to sign a bill requiring police departments to adopt policies to protect confidential informants." "Gov. to sign bill named after murdered informant".

Floridians should know that lawmakers don't deliberately set out to make a mess of things. In good times, political shenanigans and partisan politics are less noticeable. However, tough times require that lawmakers set aside ideology in favor of negotiation and statesmanship. The 2009 Legislature blew this test.

Thank 'ye Mr. President

The Palm Beach Post editorial board points out that

the Republican-dominated Legislature had about $5 billion from the federal stimulus package that didn't earn a single GOP vote in the U.S. House. That includes $1.1 billion for education that the state will get only if the feds overlook the sub-par share legislators have given to schools recently. So if Florida's Republican lawmakers want to pat somebody on the back, it should be President Obama.

CANF wants more

"Just weeks after Congress eased travel restrictions to Cuba for exiles with family members on the island, the calls for even broader change in U.S.-Cuba policy are growing stronger. But the possibility is dividing South Florida's Cuban community."

"We have to do something," Cuban American National Foundation President Francisco "Pepe" Hernandez said Thursday. "If not, I'm going to die old, without seeing change in Cuba."

The foundation, the most powerful Cuban exile group in the United States, this week urged the Obama administration to "break from the past" and open dialogue with the Cuban government. Once a hard-line supporter of tough sanctions against Cuba, the group sent a 14-page report to the Obama administration calling for an easing of restrictions.

It all depends on what you mean by "received"?

"In a case watched by elections officials across Florida, a judge Monday effectively upheld Palm Beach Mayor Jack McDonald's one-vote victory in a February runoff by rejecting a challenger's claim that as many as 14 additional ballots should have been counted."

Circuit Judge David Crow ruled against McDonald foe Gerry Goldsmith, who filed a lawsuit claiming up to 13 absentee ballots and one provisional ballot were improperly rejected by elections officials.

While siding against Goldsmith, Crow said the Palm Beach County elections office should have used a "better procedure" to collect absentee ballots from the post office on Election Day.

Crow's ruling also says Florida legislators should clarify a portion of state law that says an absentee ballot must be "received" by the elections supervisor by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

In what is believed to be the first attempt by a court to define when a ballot has been "received," Crow agreed with Goldsmith that a ballot that reaches a designated elections post office box by 7 p.m. should be treated the same as a ballot that reaches the elections office itself by that deadline.

But Crow said Goldsmith failed to prove that the 13 disputed absentee ballots did in fact reach the P.O. box by that time.

Gambling

"Crist and members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida will be on hand Wednesday as legislators continue work on the remaining unresolved issue of the session -- the gambling agreement. Crist and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp arrived at a meeting of the gambling negotiators late Tuesday to keep the pressure on as progress stalled on the main issues dividing the House and Senate on a gambling deal." "Seminole gaming pact still elusive in Tallahassee". See also "Gambling deal near, but not for blackjack". Related: "House says no deal on blackjack".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: " Florida needs a compact with the Seminole Indian Tribe before it can reap a penny from the expansion of gambling at the tribe's casinos. That reality has been lost on too many state lawmakers, who have allowed Florida's struggling parimutuel industry to hijack the debate in an effort to expand gambling at dog and horse tracks and jai alai frontons statewide." "Save Seminole deal".

"He's a candidate"

"Three months after starting to raise money for a U.S. Senate race, former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio on Tuesday confirmed the obvious: He's a candidate." "Marco Rubio makes it official, announces Senate run". See also "Rubio to run for Senate".

Adam Smith: "Crist [if he runs] would be the overwhelming favorite against Rubio, but the Miami Republican could be a potent challenger in this uncertain political climate, with many in the GOP still livid about Crist campaigning for President Barack Obama's stimulus package."

The influential group Club for Growth heralded Rubio's entrance and praised his conservative record while contrasting it with Crist's.

If Rubio can show viability through grass roots support and money raising, say backers, he could draw significant financial support nationally from Republicans eager to embrace a staunch conservative.

"Charlie Crist left us," said Tony DiMatteo, a Republican state committeeman from Crist's home county of Pinellas, citing Crist's support for the stimulus package and his appointing a Democrat to the Florida Supreme Court.

"We don't need another Arlen Specter," said DiMatteo, adding that Crist leaving the governor's office could make that and other Republican-held Cabinet seats vulnerable. "We need Republican senators, and Marco Rubio would be one of those senators."

SunRail dreams

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "Is there hope for SunRail, the commuter-rail project proposed to link west Volusia County with the downtown Orlando area and Osceola County?" "Worth another try". Related: "Negotiators agree on state budget, after one last SunRail discussion".

NASA news

"In a major turnaround, the Obama administration intends this week to order a review of the spacecraft program that NASA had hoped would one day replace the space shuttle, the Orlando Sentinel has learned." "Obama plans to order full review of NASA's Ares I, Orion plans".

"This time there is some unusual opposition"

"With a nudge from Gov. Charlie Crist, the great Florida property tax debate is back on."

Proposed property tax cuts, approved late Friday with little fanfare, hold big savings for businesses and first-time home buyers while creating new winners and losers. But this time there is some unusual opposition: the business community.

Running government like a business

"The Legislature's Republicans have fulfilled their longtime promise to run government like a business. State government now resembles a mix of Chrysler, Lehman Brothers and Bernie Madoff." "Zing! gives legislators the business".

Jump on in ... the water's warm

"Scientists believe a fish kill in a Sarasota County lake was likely caused by a toxic algae bloom." "Scientists test fish kill in Sarasota river".

Kottkamp lawyers up

"Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp has hired a high-powered legal duo to defend him against an ethics complaint over his use of state planes." "Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp hires top legal talent for ethics complaint defense".

"Disaster averted"?

"Bolstered by $907 million in federal stimulus money and $800 million in new fees, lawmakers are boasting that they held public schools harmless from the deep cuts and protected their constituents from tax increases." "Big Bend schools, taxpayers feel budget pinch". Related: "Central Florida schools say budget disaster averted".

Alexander "in no particular hurry"

"When the 2009 session's regular business ended Friday, just 120 of Crist's appointees — including several agency heads — had won a confirmation vote by senators, who are required to approve their appointments."

The others, named to the boards of dozens of state and local agencies, were passed over, even though the confirmation process is rarely controversial or contested.

Sen. J.D. Alexander, R- Lake Wales, who chairs the Ethics and Elections committee that oversees confirmations, said last week that no one from Crist's office had pushed for the appointments, and he was in no particular hurry to push them through.

"Americans didn't vote for a Rush to failure"

"The national Democratic Party has come up with five ideas for needling Rush Limbaugh on a West Palm Beach billboard, and is asking Democrats to vote for their favorite."

Out of "tens of thousands of submissions," party leaders have picked these five top contenders, Jen O'Malley Dillon, Democratic National Committee executive director, said in an email sent today to supporters.

* "Americans didn't vote for a Rush to failure"
* "Hope and change cannot be Rush'd"
* "Failure is not an option for America's future"
* "We can fix America, just don't Rush it"
* "Rush: Say yes to America"

"Florida's public universities dodged deep cuts"

"Florida's public universities dodged deep cuts in the state budget package coming up for a vote this week but will still have to consider slashing their spending the next two years, university officials say." "Budget trade-offs spare Florida universities for now".

"Fundamental changes in how [we] consumes water"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board - "Tuesday's drought summit at the Tampa Convention Center made one thing clear: The region needs to make fundamental changes in how it consumes water." "Summit on water falls short".

From the "values" crowd

"The Sunshine State's gloomy economy is forcing lawmakers to concede a politically incorrect reality: Bright Futures, the merit-based scholarship that has helped send more than 1 million students to public college in Florida, has gotten too expensive for the state." "Scholarships may have dark future".

Limbaugh law

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "It's rare these days for the Legislature to pass a bipartisan bill that could deal effectively with a serious problem. It's rare for members of both parties to clap when a bill passes. But last week in Tallahassee, both happened."

Publicity over the Rush Limbaugh doctor shopping case probably stalled things in 2004 and 2005. But this year the House sponsors - Reps. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, Kurt Kelly, R-Ocala, and Marcelo Llorente, R-Miami - got input from all groups early. Even still, the issue went down to the last week, when even good bills can get trampled in the rush.

During debate, legislators recounted tragic anecdotes from their districts. The Senate passed it 39-0. The House passed it 103-10. In a session of failure on most big issues, this success deserves a standing ovation.

"Precisely the kind of tract that should be preserved"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "At first look, a proposal for Hillsborough County to sell Cone Ranch to private investors seems preposterous. After all, the 12,000 undeveloped acres near the headwaters of the Hillsborough River is precisely the kind of tract that should be preserved. And the county already owns it." "Round up facts on Cone Ranch deal".

No raises for years, and now a pay cut

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "After three years without any pay raises, it now appears that all [state employees] who earn $45,000 and more will take a 2-percent cut under the state budget being finalized this week in the Legislature." "Mixed signals".

"Overzealous prosecution no substitute for rational policy"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "A slam-dunk, 9-0 decision by the Supreme Court is as rare lately as a bipartisan vote on Capitol Hill. So when the justices issued a unanimous decision this week to ban the use of identify-theft laws to prosecute immigrants, it is clear that they found an indisputably flagrant abuse of the legal process. Was it ever." "Court strikes blow for immigrant rights".

The budget raises an historic amount of taxes, fees and licenses -- about $2 billion worth -- on smokers, drivers, property owners, sportsmen, university students and sportsmen.

Pumped with $5 billion in federal bailout cash, the budget provides a small boost in per-student spending for K-12 schools, and trims a wide array of Medicaid reimbursements to doctors and hospitals and applied a 2 percent reduction to the salaries of state workers earning more than $45,000 yearly.

All by himself

"Crist conjures specter of veto".

"Lawmakers threw a lifeline to school districts"

"Running counter to its practice of pummeling local governments with unfunded mandates, revenue caps and such, Florida lawmakers threw a lifeline to school districts over the weekend, providing them a way to raise additional revenue for big-ticket capital and technology projects." "Throwing a rope".

May we respectfully suggest ...

... that the Florida Turnpike be renamed? See "Sliver of Orlando road to be named for President Obama".

Big of him

"Thousands of state employees are angry about an impending pay cut, but Gov. Charlie Crist said today he appreciates their 'humble public service.'" "Crist thanks government employees for 'humble public service'".

Remembering the session

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Lawmakers would have you remember the 2009 legislative session this way: They did what they could to help Floridians, only, darn the luck, they were handcuffed by a bleak economy."

Here's how you should remember it: Lawmakers used the economy as justification for killing measures they didn't like, regardless of the benefit to the public. Lawmakers then used the economy to prop up other measures that for years they wanted to embrace but couldn't without a scapegoat — like the weak economy.

SunRail

"Negotiators agree on state budget, after one last SunRail discussion".

RPOFer right-wingers have their candidate

"Former House Speaker Marco Rubio to run for U.S. Senate in 2010".

Stepping aside for Charlie?

"Greer rules out congressional bid".

Where are the anti-government freaks now?

"Swine flu, budget cuts put big demands on health department".

Property insurance

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Everyone in Florida soon will pay more for property insurance. Gov. Crist will determine how much more."

By signing one of the two major bills and vetoing the other, he can make the added expense for most Floridians modest and necessary, not dramatic and needless in a way that would slow economic recovery.

HB 1495 is 103 pages long. HB 1171 runs just five pages but would be much more significant and costly if it became law. We will deal with HB 1171 in the accompanying editorial.

Oh goody ... lets build a development

"Black bear spotted in Lee County". Related: "Charges dropped in shooting of protected birds".

"Pet project"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "When Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, added $5 million to the state budget at the last minute for a pet project at the University of South Florida Polytechnic, he said he "hadn't thought about it or I would have done it sooner." In fact, he shouldn't have done it at all." "Reject $5 million favor".

Hasner flops

"Hasner says elections bill dead".

HD 26

"A retired Ormond Beach police officer plans to challenge for the open state House 26 seat in the 2010 elections. Vince Champion, a 44-year-old Republican, announced his candidacy Monday for the position being vacated because of term limits by Pat Patterson, R-DeLand. " "Ex-Ormond cop enters state House race".

"Creating colonies of desperate men"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "In three years, the number of people living in legal limbo on a spit of sand under the Julia Tuttle Causeway has grown to 66 from seven."

They are there because state and local elected officials have acted with willful ignorance and fear-mongering to perpetuate the illusion that isolating sexual offenders somehow makes a community safer. They are wrong. They are instead creating colonies of desperate men who live in squalid, inhumane, unsanitary, dangerous conditions.

These same elected officials -- the lawmakers you sent to Tallahassee and members of local councils and commissions -- will react with shock and horror when the tinderbox they created is leveled by storm or fire, crippled by disease or explodes in violence.

Laff riot

"Limbaugh dismisses Jeb".

Medicare reform will have "huge implications" for Florida

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "Congressional Democrats are maneuvering to ensure that [medicare] reform isn't derailed by the usual bugbears -- specious claims of 'socialized' medicine or the end of personal choice or the beginning of big new bureaucracies."

Any health-care reform will have huge implications for Florida, a state with the third-highest rate of uninsured individuals (20.7 percent in 2007, after Texas and New Mexico), and the second-highest for children (19.5 percent, after Texas).

Barring that, any reform affecting Medicare would have a disproportionate effect on Florida, which has the highest proportion of people 65 or older (16.8 percent, equivalent to 8.2 percent of the nation's elderly population).

Florida's elderly are projected to account for 27 percent of the state's population by 2030. If you're middle-aged today, Medicare reform will affect you.

Collateral damage

"Florida's new 'double dipping' bill aimed at stopping government workers from drawing both a paycheck and a pension could force Kurt Browning to leave office before the next statewide election in 2010." "Bill may squeeze out secretary of state".

"A culture of duplicity"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "A culture of duplicity remains within the top ranks of the Florida State Board of Administration, the agency that oversees billions of dollars of investments for the state pension and other government agencies. "

The seeds were sown in the Wall Street furor, when the SBA's top managers abandoned prudence and due diligence for the lure of the fast buck. But an investigation by the St. Petersburg Times has found that despite a change of executive director, the agency's top managers, throughout the current market downturn, have repeatedly misled clients and investors — even when lower-ranking employees balked at the misinformation.

The roots of this deception trace to December 2006. Over the next year, financial advisers from three Wall Street firms persuaded the SBA staff to buy billions of dollars of risky securities. By the summer of 2007 — as the subprime debacle unfurled — SBA staff began to mislead pension plan members, SBA's appointed advisers and local government investors about the mounting losses.

Thousands of state workers will get a small pay cut, school taxes could rise by $380 million statewide and the Florida Forever environmental land-buying program was spared after legislators Sunday cleared up some final roadblocks to balance Florida's budget. ...

Lawmakers this week also will start reconciling differences over the expansion of casino gambling, an issue that could net the state $500 million and provide Gov. Charlie Crist with a political win.

Crist, who has struggled with the Legislature over the issue, suggested a veto might be in the offing if lawmakers fail to ink an acceptable deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

''If it doesn't happen, you know, I may have to cut things out of this budget that are put in there. And the members are, I think, acutely cognizant of that,'' Crist said.

Is that a threat?

''Oh no. Not at all,'' Crist told reporters.

"Legislature let Floridians down this session"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "This session of the Florida Legislature started with incoming House speaker Ray Sansom being forced from his position after lawmakers learned of his shenanigans in directing tax money to his future employer. And it just went downhill from there."

How far downhill, remains to be seen -- because it will take awhile to figure out exactly what lawmakers did on Friday, the last day of the regular legislative session. Even as the Legislature returns to Tallahassee this week to finish work on the budget, many representatives and senators will be wondering exactly what slipped through in the waning hours of the regular session. And their constituents will be waiting as well.

On the whole, lawmakers turned in a sorry performance this year. They did little that was targeted at helping the tens of thousands of Floridians who are out of work. Even worse, they cruelly rejected $444 million from the federal government that would have extended unemployment benefits, and passed a bill that will make it much harder for injured workers to find attorneys when they're denied benefits. ...

But wait -- there's insult to go with that injury. Lawmakers approved a bill that deregulates the phone industry, making it likely that rates will increase and giving the Public Service Commission less authority over consumer complaints. Meanwhile, legislators stymied most efforts to restore fairness to Florida's loophole-ridden, unbalanced tax structure. And they raided several trust funds to balance the budget, including wiping out the popular Florida Forever program meant to preserve environmentally sensitive land.

They'd prefer it if employees called in sick ... ?

Allowing employees to cash in on unused sick and vacation leave saves employers money because it avoids overtime costs required to fill vacancies caused by absent employees. Some people can't figure that out - "Dominic Calabro, president of Florida TaxWatch, a nonpartisan [right-wing, business backed] government watchdog group based in Tallahassee, called the benefits 'excessively generous.'" "Cashing out: Unused sick time and vacations turning costly in South Florida".

All white

"The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit challenging the at-large method of electing the town commission of Lake Park, which is 48 percent black but has never elected a black commission member since it was incorporated in 1923, by the count of federal officials." "U.S. suit challenges Lake Park elections".

Tri-Rail

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "The Florida Senate rejected last ditch efforts to revive a bill that carried South Florida's best chance to financially fortify Tri-Rail. The outcome shouldn't have surprised anyone except those who believe in the Tooth Fairy, e-mails promising easy money from Nigeria and the likelihood that compromises oncomplicated policies can occur on the last day of the legislative session." "The Florida Senate rejected last ditch efforts to revive a bill that carried best chance to financially fortify Tri-Rail".

Flunked

"In the shadow of a monstrous budget deficit, lawmakers this session proposed big ideas for Florida's schools."

Loosen the class size mandate. Raise high-school graduation standards. Scale back teacher tenure. Pay teachers first.

Each enjoyed huge support from some group, be it teachers, administrators or former Gov. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future.

But not one is going to happen, at least not this year.

"Unsavory option"

"State lawmakers gave school boards the unsavory option of raising taxes if they want to replenish their construction budgets." "Local school boards get permission to raise taxes".

"Lawmakers stepped back from the brink"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Florida lawmakers stepped back from the brink Friday and, to their credit, did not scuttle a bill that would make it easier for low-income working families without health insurance to buy KidCare insurance for their youngsters." "KidCare wins".

See you in Havana

"Cuba travel agencies appear to have put their troubled past behind -- and business is booming thanks to the new relaxation of travel restrictions to Cuba. But it all began with a murder 30 years ago." "Selling trips to Cuba once was deadly".

"Cuts target successful subsidy"

Bill Cotterell: "Charlie Reed, when he was chancellor of the university system, used to say 'we're cheap and proud of it' when budgeting for education in Florida." "Adoption under the ax".

Property taxes

"Property tax breaks headed for 2010 ballot in Florida".

Hillsborough

"When Hillsborough voters go to the polls, the federal government is watching."

Hillsborough is one of only five counties in Florida monitored by the U.S. Department of Justice. It dates back decades, when elections officials didn't provide Spanish-language ballots despite the county's traditionally large Hispanic population.

As a result, the county must get federal approval before implementing new voting procedures, such as merging polling stations or changing county commission districts. The extra layer of electoral oversight stems from the voting rights law, enacted in 1965, which has opened government elections to millions of blacks and other minorities in the South.

But a case being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court seeks to remove the provision of the act that singles out Southern states and counties with a history of voter discrimination.

"Rampant mortgage fraud"

"To combat rampant mortgage fraud, Florida legislators are imposing tough new laws in an attempt to keep crooked brokers out of the industry. " "Florida's mortgage brokers face tighter regulation".

"This is typical"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board reminds us that unions are bad, very bad ...

This is typical.

Lawmakers frequently attack local governments for overspending, but they eagerly approve union-backed requests, such as pension enhancements, that drive up local taxpayers' costs.

The latest measure amends the "Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights," which already grants officers extraordinary rights.

Thanks to past union lobbying efforts, during disciplinary investigations the accused officer must be informed of all the names of accusers. The accused must be provided witness statements before being interviewed by internal affairs, which allows the officer to fashion a response to the accusers.

The new measure requires that officers under investigation be given not just the testimony but also all other evidence, including video and audio recordings, and GPS information prior to the interrogation. ...

As if this change wasn't enough to stack the deck in favor of miscreants, the legislation also gives the accused officer the option of seeking the appointment of a review panel if he thinks investigators have violated his rights.

If criminals were allowed such leniency, few bad guys would go to prison.

I-4 corridor "a 'hotbed' for extremists

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The Sunshine State lags behind only California (84) and Texas (66) as top sanctuary for hate groups with 56 — up from 39 in 2000."

Central Florida, in particular, plays a shameful part. The Ku Klux Klan, black separatists, neo-Nazis, racist skinheads and neo-confederates hug the Interstate 4 corridor from Tampa/St. Petersburg through Orlando. Andrew Rosenkranz, Florida regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, calls that strip a "hotbed" for extremists.

Hate-mongers such as the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement, which in February staged an Orlando meet-and-greet, and the Confederate Hammerskins, a neo-Nazi strain that organized a St. Patrick's Day shindig in Orlando, increasingly are infecting Central Florida with the call of racism.

"Is there room in the Republican Party for Charlie Crist?"

"It's a crazy question, considering the GOP these days is only marginally more popular than the flu, while the Republican governor of America's biggest battleground state enjoys astronomical approval ratings." Adam Smith writes, however, that

it's worth pondering now that moderate Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania has become a Democrat, and the political world is convinced that the moderate Florida governor is about to run for the U.S. Senate. If Crist runs and wins, he will join Maine's Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe — a pair reviled by many conservatives — as the only Republican senators who supported President Barack Obama's stimulus package.

"If you agree with Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe on some of these issues, you might as well become a Democrat,'' said former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a Republican who is likely to run for the Senate, whether or not Crist does.

•Whether to ban the use of state dollars for travel to Cuba or other "terrorist states"

•Whether to decimate a program to clean up underground petroleum storage tanks

•Whether to use money from a cigarette tax increase to fund expansion of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.

Also unresolved: terms for a gambling compact with the Seminole tribe.

House Idiots

Randy Schultz:

Admit it. When Columbus sailed off for the New World, he didn't ride a bicycle.

Huh?

But Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Palatka, sponsor of House Bill 1219, wanted to make the point - such as it was - that the nation needs power. Too much to get from such piddling sources as wind and sun. And he was prepared to reach high in making his point.

House members, Rep. Van Zant said, could express their "reverence in our Creator" by allowing companies to drill for the oil and gas that God had blessed Florida with in abundance. Rep. Van Zant, who holds two degrees from Baptist seminaries, knew this turf. Earlier in debate, he had said, "We worship a God who made (the oil), and if we ran out, I think he could make some more." Now, that is renewable energy.

But for those who enjoy the most simplistic arguments, Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, had one. A vote for the drilling bill "is a vote for our way of life. A vote against it is a vote for OPEC." Perfect. Patriot vs. traitor.

End of an era

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board:

The decade's protracted and bitter shareholders battle that ended the Davidsons' control of the newspaper and the severance of the directors and top executives Tuesday does not eclipse the family's vast and varied contributions to our community over generations -- through the newspaper and other endeavors. We are acutely aware and appreciative of that legacy as we move forward to provide News-Journal readers and advertisers the best newspaper possible within the limits of our talents and resources.

Rubio misses the cameras

"[T]he latest Buzz is that Republican former House Speaker Marco Rubio will announce for the U.S. Senate this week. The big question is whether Jeb Bush publicly endorses Rubio or whether he stays on the sidelines, letting everyone assume he prefers Rubio over Crist." "Marco's moment?"

RPOFer pusillanimity

"Despite plans to push a broad tax review, legislators chose to pass the easiest single tax, and not much more." "Legislature's scorecard for 2009: 1 new tax, little reform".

RPOFer stem cell politics

In 2007, House Minority leader Franklin

Sands defeated a proposal from Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, that would have banned spending any state dollars on [stem cell] research. This year, House GOP leaders wrote the prohibition directly into their spending plan for 2009-10.

The issue remains in play today, with Senate leaders still mulling the issue.

Sands tried in vain this spring to strip the language out of the budget proposal. Friday night, Sands complained that his priority issue has become mired in campaign politics. Flores and Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, are vying for the same Senate seat, Sands said, and it appears that Rivera has decided to "co-opt" the stem-cell issue.

"It's not because Rivera has a burning passion about it," Sands said. "He's been in the Legislature a long time and he never broached the issue. It's only now that he's running against Anitere Flores - it was her issue."

Rivera called the allegation "demeaning" to all members who disagree with Sands on the subject.

Sunshine

The St. Pete Times editors: "It will require a citizens' initiative to place a new constitutional amendment on the ballot that would force the Legislature into the sunshine. The Legislature can ignore a grand jury presentment. It cannot ignore the will of the people." "Out of the shadows".

Tom Nickens: "The public's business should be conducted in public, regardless of whether it's being done in city hall, the county courthouse or the state Capitol. " "Infuriating, depressing session".

Another Bushco flop

"Florida must adopt managed-care for Medicaid statewide or could lose federal funding, lawmakers were told."

Some legislators want to kill Medicaid managed-care entirely.

''We've done the experiment. It has failed,'' said Durell Peaden, the Senate's health care budget chief. ``The reports are unsettling. People couldn't get to specialists, couldn't get adequate care. And they couldn't do it cheaply.''

Laff riot

"Romney, Jeb Bush kick off GOP rebranding effort".

Still the same

Pamela Hasterok wrote last week that,

while Florida traded a conservative governor for a moderate, the political result may be the same. The extreme wing of the Republican Party holds as much sway under Crist as it did under Bush.

Legislators gave billions in tax breaks to businesses, directed public money to private schools and made it easier to develop rural land during Bush's years at the helm.

During Crist's first term, they're continuing huge sales-tax breaks for businesses, expanding programs that send public money to private schools and making it even easier to develop away from cities.

With Crist absent or uninvolved, legislators are returning to their old ways.

More than SunRail

Aaron Deslatte: "Not just Orlando area got slighted in session". More: "Dockery the Winner In CSX Battle" and "How SunRail failed: Gripes, grudges and Paula Dockery's gift to senators".

Space

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Florida's Space Coast is headed for an economic calamity. NASA's shuttle program is on course to shut down as soon as next year, and no later than 2011. By some estimates, at least 6,500 jobs will be lost at the Kennedy Space Center. Thousands more related jobs in the area also will go away." "Shake up Space Florida".

"Tumult and malaise"

"The 2009 lawmaking session that is not quite over will best be remembered not for what lawmakers did, but for what they went through."

The one-time Speaker of the House was indicted in a political scandal that by extension condemned the furtive budget process. Not since the Great Depression had the Florida economy been so bad. Republicans were forced to raise taxes and to accept the federal largess of a Democratic president.

It was at once a period of tumult and malaise, and it is not yet over. Unable to agree on a spending plan -- their only constitutional duty during the 60-day session -- lawmakers return Friday to sign off on a $65 billion budget that is a case study in compromise.

"Leftovers"

"State employees are used to getting budget leftovers, and they know there won't be any pay raises in this tough economy." "Fate of state employees' salaries up to Senate, House chiefs".

St. Pete

Adam C. Smith on the next St. Pete wannabe:

Wagman is proud only three employees signed union cards.

Anonymous Sink attack website

And so it begins:

On Friday, an anonymous Web site surfaced (DontBankonSink.com) hammering Chief Financial Officer Sink for her ties to Bank of America, where she was head of Florida operations until her retirement in 2000.

Registrant:
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States

Domain Name: DONTBANKONSINK.COM
Created on: 28-Apr-09
Expires on: 28-Apr-10
Last Updated on: 28-Apr-09

Administrative Contact:
Private, Registration
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
(480) 624-2599 Fax -- (480) 624-2598

Behind the curve

Sun-Sentinel editors: "Far to the north, in a rural state known for long, cold winters and with barely one fifth as many residents as Florida, on April 3 the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously struck down the state legislature's effort to ban gay marriage as unconstitutional, upholding the most important constitutional principle underlying the American way of life — equal protection." "Same-sex marriage: State should uphold equal protection".

Whoop-dee-doo

"After two years of Republican Gov. Charlie Crist clearing a path for his party to the political center, is the traditionally arch-conservative Florida House following suit?"

"It's probably less fiscally conservative than we've been in the past," said House Speaker Pro Tem Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton. "But we've listened to a lot of our constituents who have said, 'I can live with this tax or I can live with a little bit of an increase.'"

After 60 days in the annual legislative session, the GOP-dominated House has agreed to changes condemned in years past as a violation of the party's "small government" principles.

And as lawmakers head into overtime this week to wrap up the state budget, Republican House leaders say they'll support a cigarette tax hike along with $800 million in new fees for drivers, court costs and state park visitors, among others.

Raw political courage

"Budget plan regains $13 million for libraries".

Palm Beach patronage

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "For nearly two decades, Palm Beach County relied on a rotation system to supposedly avoid controversy in the selection of bond underwriters. But controversy arrived nonetheless, with a federal probe resulting in criminal charges against former Commissioner Mary McCarty and a plea deal that will send her to prison." "End AAA-rated patronage".