Federal transportation money statewide endangered

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The looming death of Tri-Rail now endangers federal transportation money statewide." "Protect Tri-Rail investment".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"Federal stimulus saves about 2,700 public university jobs".

"A poor launching pad"

"When the four-member state Cabinet meets to set state policy, one geographic area is noticeably absent: South Florida. The three-county region, far more liberal than the rest of the state, has been a poor launching pad for statewide political ambitions. The last candidate hailing from South Florida to be elected statewide: former Gov. Jeb Bush in 1998." "South Florida legislators may be in running for state's chief financial officer, attorney general".

Alex offers refunds

"When Democrat Alex Sink sought reelection as Florida's chief financial officer, she was such a safe bet to win a second term that a number of Republicans raced to her campaign with $500 checks in hand. But the stakes became much higher when Sink switched races last month to run for governor in 2010, going up against longtime Republican and party favorite Bill McCollum. Now by law she must contact all contributors and offer them their money back -- minus what has already been spent."

"Brian Ballard, one of Tallahassee's most prominent lobbyists, gave Sink a $500 check through his law firm, as did his wife, Kathryn. But Ballard is a member of the statewide finance committee for Sink's Republican opponent, Attorney General McCollum. He wants a refund." "Alex Sink offers refunds to reelection contributors".

Another failed Jebacy

"The Florida Legislature's watchdog agency on Thursday recommended against expanding an experimental Medicaid program, once touted by former Gov. Jeb Bush as a national model, unless more data can be obtained."

The Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability issued a final report saying little data is available to show the pilot program that uses private health management companies has improved access to medical care or its quality since its October 2006 launch. Such tracking information is not expected until January.

The agency also found a lack of data on whether any cost savings have resulted from the program, which began in Broward and Duval counties and later expanded to Baker, Clay and Nassau counties. Bush obtained legislative and federal approval for the pilot as a response to rapidly rising Medicaid costs.

The report says another reason to hold off on adding the Panhandle and South Florida's Miami-Dade and Monroe counties to the experiment is because that would cost the state an additional $7.1 million in the budget year starting July 1. It also cited questions raised by patients, doctors and other stakeholders and "symptoms of plan instability."

Privatization follies

"A state judge is ordering two prison officials to testify today on their role in a disputed decision to switch vendors for mental health care to inmates in South Florida."

"I direct that they appear," Leon County Circuit Judge Frank Sheffield said at a hearing Thursday.

The judge ordered the two employees, Millie Seay and Jimmy Smith, to testify in a lawsuit brought by a company that has been fired by the Department of Corrections.

The firm, MHM Correctional Services of Virginia, is seeking to block the state from replacing it with Correctional Medical Services of St. Louis, at what MHM says is $5 million more.

The lawsuit sheds light on the intense competition among firms to secure lucrative contracts with agencies in Gov. Charlie Crist's administration.

DNA

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Innocent Floridians who are arrested only to have their charges dropped or who are found not guilty at trial should not have their DNA permanently kept on file by the government." "DNA law fails civil rights test".

Tuffer

"The Legislature has made it harder for out-of-state college students to gain Florida residency." "Legislators make it harder to become a Florida resident".

Whatever

"Officials of the State Board of Administration will present the details this morning regarding the launch of the Florida Growth Fund, an investment program that will back technology and growth-related companies with a significant presence in Florida." "Florida Growth Fund to be launched this morning".

FCAT foolishness

"A record number of Florida schools earned an A from the state this year, but that success was tempered by setbacks at the high school level and a high failure rate over federal math and reading standards." "In FCAT grades, mixed signals".

Goin' up

"Tuition at Florida's public universities will rise another 7 percent in the fall as schools look to maintain course offerings, improve graduation rates and provide financial aid in light of budget reductions and a weak economy." "Universities to raise tuition another 7 percent". See also "University tuition hike approved" and "State university tuition on rise".

Luvin' the federal cash

"Florida's third-largest industry, the driver of $60 billion in economic activity, needs special attention, and Thursday, Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law a bill aimed at protecting the state's military bases." "Crist signs bill that aims to protect state's military bases".

"The 'drill, baby drill' crowd"

"When state House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon proposed in April to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling in state waters, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was blunt in his opposition."

"I can't believe some Florida lawmakers might actually be serious about allowing oil drilling within ten miles offshore," Nelson, D-Fla., responded on Twitter.

Now Nelson is campaigning hard against an offshore oil drilling plan moving rapidly through Congress. This week, Cannon responded with …. thanks?

"I want to thank you for opposing that measure and helping to raise awareness of this important issue for our state and nation," Cannon, R-Winter Park, wrote in a June 18 letter, which he released to reporters late Thursday.

Voter initiative process "rescu[ed]"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "The Hometown Democracy folks will declare it a victory that the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that people who sign petitions for constitutional amendment can't revoke their signatures later on."

What the decision means to no-growth advocates of the Hometown Democracy amendment is that the thousands of signatures they've already collected will count toward putting their amendment on the ballot in 2010, even if thousands of those folks no longer want the ballot to go forward.

In short, what the Hometown Democracy amendment to the state constitution will do is require direct voter approval of thousands of land-use amendments, no doubt to the extent that voters will eventually ignore rather than embrace their right to vote on myriad public issues.

Double dipping

"Crist on Thursday signed into law new rules that will limit state employees' ability to collect a paycheck and a pension from the same agency." "Gov. Charlie Crist limits 'double-dipping' for state workers". See also "New law prevents 'double dipping' by state workers".

Laff riot

"That Gov. C. is hot, hot, hot".

Limbaugh law

"Florida will launch a new program to monitor prescription drug sales next year to crack down on illegal pills under a bill signed by the governor." "New Florida law takes aim at illegal pill trade".

NSB

"New Smyrna trims list of city manager candidates". Related: "NSB's budget outlook for 2009 pleases officials".

"Cancer free"

"Recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his pancreas, state Sen. Jim King sent a memo Thursday that said he was moving from a hospital to a rehabilitation facility 'cancer free.'" "Sen. King says he's 'cancer-free'".

Four other Florida Republicans have expressed interest in the race — Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, state Sen. Andy Gardiner, former state Sen. Daniel Webster and state Rep. Steve Precourt — but Cretul has suddenly emerged as a leading contender after spending two days in Washington meeting with officials from the National Republican Congressional Committee and Republicans in the Florida delegation.

Yee haw!

"Florida's GOP congressional delegation endorse McCollum".

"Business and development interests" lose one

"The Florida Supreme Court has struck down a law that let voters revoke their signatures on petition drives. The 4-2 ruling Wednesday was a victory for Florida Hometown Democracy. The group is sponsoring a ballot proposal that would give voters a say in how their communities are planned. The revocation law was sought by business and development interests opposed to Hometown Democracy." "Hometown Democracy wins challenge to petition-revocation law". See also "Fla. justices strike signature revocation law".

Look ... a black helicopter!

"Property appraisers to use aerial photos under new bill".

Charlie's betrayal

"A decade ago, then-Gov. Jeb Bush created the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund to use market earnings from the Florida tobacco settlement as an ongoing source of money to finance anti-smoking campaigns and the state's KidCare health insurance program."

The trust fund is a testament to the late Mr. Chiles' passionate defense of children even under the most trying fiscal times in the early 1990s when the state faced a recession. He pursued tobacco companies with a vengeance, and the state's multibillion-dollar suit became a national model to raise money for health programs for kids.

Fast forward to Gov. Charlie Crist, who has promised to protect the state's most vulnerable. Again this year the Legislature raided the Chiles trust fund to cover other state needs. And again this year Mr. Crist didn't fight the move.

Instead of expanding healthcare insurance for kids whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to buy private insurance, with its ever-escalating costs, legislators raided the trust for $700 million.

They made a stealth move this session and inserted obscure language into the budget that allows the governor to extract $700 million from the fund. ...

Mr. Chiles' son, Lawton ''Bud'' Chiles III, rightly calls this latest raid of the fund a betrayal of his father's legacy.

Sansom

"But the solicitation for legal support, through a new trust monitored by Tampa CPA Nancy Watkins, is already making some elected officials uneasy. Tallahassee lawyer Mark Herron, who has set up several such funds for elected officials, said the Legislature's 4-year-old ban on lobbyists' gifts has made creating such funds more difficult." "Some potential donors uneasy".

You gotta problem wit dat?

"Expect higher fees, longer waits as clerk-of-courts offices cut staff and budgets".

A Brooksville thing

"Fla. city dress code requires underwear, deodorant".

Never mind that glowing stuff

"After more than two million pounds of nuclear waste has piled up in South Dade over 35 years, Florida Power & Light is quietly seeking a zoning change to allow six acres of its Turkey Point site to be used for new above-ground storage casks." "With nuclear waste piling up, FPL seeks Turkey Point rezoning".

Entrepreneurs on the run

"State officials plan to announce the findings of a Medicaid fraud investigation in Miami-Dade County at a news conference. ... Both federal and state governments have recently cracked down on Medicaid and Medicare fraud." "FL officials discuss Medicaid fraud investigation".

Everybody's above average!

"Broward, Palm Beach County schools graded A overall".

Bean headed

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The recession has forced both public and private employers to shed millions of workers. So it is no surprise that Hillsborough County Administrator Pat Bean finds more layoffs will be necessary to balance the county budget through 2011. But the spending plan she brought to the table comes nowhere close to meeting the challenges of a fundamentally changed economy." "Bean's bungled budget plan".

T.K.

A bit much from the The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Wetherell's legend".

Poverty on the rise

"The number of low-income children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches is on the rise in Florida, costing $62.8 million more than budgeted this year." "School lunch aid for kids is on the rise".

Good luck

"Scholar, fundraiser sought to lead Florida State University".

"Only about 100 Florida panthers survive"

"A rare Florida panther has been caught on camera in the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary." "Rare panther caught on camera in SW Florida".

Rail revival

"Efforts to revive Florida's high-speed rail line hit a milestone with the state's decision to review guidelines issued Wednesday on applying for federal money for the project." "Florida high-speed rail plan revived".

Tuition increase

"The board that oversees Florida's public universities will decide whether to approve a 7 percent differential tuition increase recommended for approval earlier this month. ... The board will also hear from university presidents on budget reductions." "Board to vote on state university tuition increase".

According to the annual Diplomas Count report by the Maryland-based nonprofit Editorial Projects in Education (which publishes Education Week and other academic journals), just 57.5 percent of Florida students completed high school on time with a regular diploma in 2006. The national average was 69.2 percent, ranking the state fifth-lowest in the nation.

"About $51.5 million a year is spent on the FCAT alone," Weston wrote in a Sun Sentinel column. "That price does not include the extra FCAT coaches schools hire." Nor does it include the hundreds of millions of dollars a year distributed to schools as rewards (or withheld as punishment) for FCAT scores. "Here's an idea: Get rid of the test and spend the money where students will actually enjoy themselves." Or at least learn something.

Better yet: Quit grading schools and using FCAT scores either for ransom or punishment. Use them exclusively to diagnose where the needs are, and invest there. And don't say it's working until graduation rates improve dramatically.

"Prototype"

"With a conservative South Carolina senator breaking Republican ranks to endorse Marco Rubio in the Florida U.S. Senate primary, the race between Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist is becoming a prototype for the battle over the future direction of the Republican Party."

George LeMieux, a Crist campaign spokesman, denied that the race was in any way a reflection of an internal Republican Party battle. "This election is going to be about Charlie Crist and whether he has done a good job as governor and can do a good job in Washington," LeMieux said.

RPOFers in a tizzy

"A new economic report, commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund, says the latest federal proposal to curtail greenhouse gases will have ''very modest or even negligible'' costs for the Florida economy over the next 15 years." "Report: Energy plans won't harm Florida economy".

W.D.

"Former Senate President Childers out of prison".

Gambling

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Although The Herald's Editorial Board opposed allowing slot machines in parimutuels as part of our long-standing opposition to statewide gambling, we can't help but cheer for Hialeah Race Track's revival." "Hialeah Park still a high stakes bet". See also "If gaming deal fails, Seminole tribe to take it to feds".

Brilliant mistake

"Toll agency borrowed $1 billion at variable interest rates -- that are now soaring".

"Politically motivated"?

"The brother of former House speaker Ray Sansom is soliciting contributions for a legal-defense fund, with a sort of money-back guarantee if the Panhandle lawmaker beats 'politically motivated' charges of official misconduct and perjury." "Sansom's brother solicits for legal-defense fund".

Imagine that

"The University of Florida medical school received an F and the University of Miami a B on a scorecard designed to measure ethical policies on professors' relationship with the pharmaceutical industry, the Pew Prescription Project announced Tuesday." "Study finds inadequate ethics policies at Florida medical schools".

Deportation

100 "U.S. citizens whose parents face deportation - are demanding a say in the immigration debate." "More than 100 kids sue over parents' deportations".

Bought and paid for

"Crist is in the midst of a furious fundraising schedule to kick off his U.S. Senate campaign, apparently aiming at building a large cash hoard - the kind that scares off competition - for the campaign's first financial reporting period."

That presents a problem for a sitting governor: coordinating his government work with political events, while avoiding having taxpayers pay for political travel. ...

June 30 will be the last day of the quarterly financial reporting period, the first of Crist's campaign. The report will come out next month.

Crist faces a primary challenge from former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, who expects to be a financial underdog.

Last week, Crist had fundraisers in Clearwater, Tallahassee, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. In each case, he [ironically] had state business in the same city or nearby either immediately before or immediately after the fundraiser.

"In danger of extinction"

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Just last year, Florida discovered it had become a destination state, for the wrong kind of market. Driven by an insatiable, and lucrative, demand from Asian food and medicinal retailers, the state's freshwater turtles have been pulled from our waters at such a rapid rate, conservationists feared they were in danger of extinction." "Proposed harvesting ban best way to save Florida's turtles".

Charlie all smiles

"Iorio meets with Crist to seek Encore funding".

The RPOFer base in action

"Hoisting anti-tax signs and speaking out against government spending, Tea Party movement supporters on Tuesday let Palm Beach County commissioners -- and particularly Burt Aaronson -- know they are watching."

Aaronson drew the ire of the Tea Party crowd after comments he made at a May 19 commission meeting when he questioned why more of the anti-goverment-spending group didn't show up for a county discussion about national health care proposals.

Since then, Aaronson has been swamped with e-mail from Tea Party supporters, taking him to task.

A good start

"Eric Draper's ag commish campaign begins".

Tax games

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Give Attorney General Bill McCollum credit. He can tell when a barn is really a house, unlike state Sen. Charles Dean and some Citrus County officials." "When a barn is really a house".

FSU

"With Wetherell's departure, trustees ponder next president of Florida State".

DNA

"Civil libertarians argue that a DNA bill signed into law by Florida's governor vastly expands the government's powers." "New Florida law requires DNA in felony arrests". See also "New Florida law requires police to collect DNA in felony cases".

'Glades

"A federal judge in Miami has lifted an injunction that prevented the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from building a one-mile bridge on a road through the Everglades." "Judge lifts injunction, Everglades work to resume".

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson joined Lawton "Bud" Chiles III to protest the "raid" on the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund, created and maintained with proceeds from the state's tobacco-company lawsuit settlement. Chiles backed off an earlier threat to sue over the fund transfer, saying an obscure late-night action by the Legislature made it legal. ...

But Chiles said his new organization, "Worst To First," will run a grassroots movement to rally 1 million people opposing budget policies of Crist and the Republican-run Legislature. He said it is not intended to hurt the governor's campaign for the U.S. Senate, but that Crist is not staying around for a second term to be held accountable for budget decisions made now.

Bud Chiles slammed Gov. Charlie Crist and lawmakers Monday for emptying the $1.26 billion Lawton Chiles Endowment fund of more than half its assets - calling it "sleight of hand leadership" that takes the public "trust" out of trust funds. But after threatening legal action for months, the younger Chiles said he no longer thinks he could prevail in a lawsuit

The fund supports health and education services for children and the elderly. Lawmakers and Crist decided in January to take $700 million from the fund this month to stave off a deficit this fiscal year.

"It probably is legal," Chiles said. "It certainly doesn't make it right."

Can Rubio pull it off? ...

... It all depends on whether the basest elements of the RPOFer base will stand for this:

It's a closed primary, so independents and Dems, who seem to love Crist, won't have a say in the matter.

The Club for Growth will undoubtedly throw its considerable fundraising heft behind Rubio, and the conservative grassroots and teabagging crowd already see Rubio as one of their own. Crist, for his part, is a constant target of Florida (and even national) wingnut radio. True blood conservatives either hate him already, or WILL hate him before long.

That leaves Crist with ill-respected national GOP leaders as his "base", and they can be used as a foil to further attack him as a creature of DC entrenched interests. Really, that's not a good place to be in this political environment. More and more conservative politicians looking to curry favor with their shrinking but influential base will cast their lot with Rubio. Don't be surprised if some 2012 presidential hopefulls also roll the dice on Rubio. It would provide instant Conservative cred. I'd certainly do it if I was Palin, Sanford, Gingrich, or Romney.

"Nelson vowed Monday to tie his chamber in knots"

"U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson vowed Monday to tie his chamber in knots to stop a federal energy bill that would allow drilling as close as 10 miles from western Panhandle beaches, including Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key and Destin." "Sen. Nelson hints at filibuster over bill on offshore drilling". Background: "Nelson speaks out against Gulf drilling". See also "Nelson's anti-drilling fight goes today to Florida Panhandle".

'Glades

"Though the Obama administration has pledged a record amount for Everglades work, a difference with the state has the money on hold." "Federal, state dispute holds up Everglades money".

Your friendly HBA at work

"The Florida Home Builders Association is asking the federal government to upgrade the status of an endangered bird [the wood stork] its attorney calls an 'albatross' for the state's economy. The association wants the wood stork listed as threatened, not endangered. Habitat loss has forced the white wading bird to expand its foraging grounds from the Everglades into more developed parts of South Florida." "Fla. builders want endangered bird reclassified".

Meek on the move

"U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek snagged the endorsements of two fellow Florida Democrats this morning when U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Ron Klein publicly backed his campaign for U.S. Senate." "Kendrick Meek endorsed by two South Florida members of Congress".

Respecting a picket line ...

.... is a "dangerous mistake"? "Diaz says Obama made 'terrible mistake'". Sorry, Manny ... but your parents obviously brought you up wrong - you do not cross a picket line; period.

Related: "Hundreds of firefighters picket Orlando City Hall".

Another fine Florida export

The Tampa Tribune editorial board:

If an inmate from Florida has to be shipped to another state to serve out a term, so be it. That's the price an inmate may have to pay for breaking the law. The law would mainly target inmates who don't have community ties or relatives in Florida, which makes sense. It requires DOC to weigh the proximity of the prisoner's family to the out-of-state facility.

That Florida may have to rely on out-of-state prison does raise the question of whether the state sentencing policies need review. ...

[T]oday's sentencing polices may put drug and other nonviolent offenders in the slammer for many years.

The issue for both taxpayers and lawmakers is: Should more money be allocated to build yet more prisons to house the burgeoning inmate population, which could reach nearly 105,000 by next summer? Or should more resources be spent on drug rehabilitation programs and other services that could reduce the prison population and recidivism rates?

Regulation-free insurance

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Crist received the 'State Farm' bill Friday and has until June 27 to sign it, veto it or let it become law."

Crist's rhetoric suggests he is wary of giving any insurance company more free rein, but we urge him to sign the legislation. It's voluntary, offers property owners the chance to keep the insurance company they want and the state an opportunity to rebuild its property insurance marketplace.

The State Farm bill, so named because it may persuade the largest private homeowners' insurer to reconsider its decision to stop selling property insurance here, would give a property owner the chance to select more expensive coverage, free from regulation, from a well-capitalized company that could actually pay claims in the aftermath of a major hurricane. ...

The state needs more private insurance companies and the private capital they bring. This is a good deal for consumers and the marketplace. Crist should sign it

Fees not taxes (?)

"State park fees on the rise".

Luv 4 sale

"Former state House Rep. Joe Negron continues to show he can quickly raise money in a short campaign." "Negron front-runner in raising cash for senate race".

Atwater gets a challenger

"State Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, has filed papers to run for chief financial officer of Florida next year, creating a likely primary fight against Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, according to the Florida Division of Elections Web site." "Patterson intends to enter state Cabinet race".

Cotterell

Bill Cotterell: "Government spends, everyone watches".

Gambling

"Crist visited Hialeah Park and praised the horse track's planned reopening -- but the still-pending Seminole gambling compact is essential to the track's future. " "Gov. Crist praises Hialeah Park revival plans". See also "Crist backs gambling deal; now it's up to Seminole Tribe" and "Gov. Crist sign bill giving Seminole Tribe exclusive rights; steps still to be taken".

"Bantam rooster of a bygone era"

"The bantam rooster of a bygone era in Florida politics and a Pensacola political patron of enormous influence will fly the coop this week, but his legal fight goes on." "Childers' prison time up this week".

Editorial board experts ...

... share their brilliance with the rest of us. The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Avoid another classroom 'firestorm'".

T.K. the candidate?

"Florida State University president T.K. Wetherell expected to step down". See also "FSU President T.K. Wetherell to resign".

On the campaign trail

"Crist visited a VA medical center in Miami on Monday to promote a bill to help disabled veterans but didn't talk - until pressed - about contaminated colonoscopy equipment there that led to blood tests for more than 2,000 area veterans." "Governor visits Miami VA hospital".

Friend 'o Charlie's

"Crist threw his considerable political influence into his hometown's mayoral contest Monday, endorsing businessman Deveron Gibbons for mayor." "Gov. Charlie Crist endorses Deveron Gibbons for St. Petersburg mayor".

"The dismissal reeks"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Pasco County School Superintendent Heather Fiorentino seems to have forgotten the painful lesson most residents learned during those years when county commissioners let subdivisions pop up all over the countryside without important checks."

Rising rooftops means more schools are needed. So planning and growth management are critical to a successful school system.

Yet Fiorentino has canned Assistant Superintendent Ray Gadd, a 28-year employee who for the last five years put his heart into relieving school overcrowding and bringing sanity to a county that too often has let developers have their way.

Last week, Fiorentino informed Gadd she wasn't renewing his contract, which former Superintendent John Long extended before he retired in 2004. The dismissal reeks.

New rules

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Raising the bar for our schools".

"That's changing"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "For a long time, students in Florida's public universities were getting a lot for a little, paying very low tuition for a top-notch education. That's changing." "Education's dilemma". The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Tuition increase justified, but not at this pace".

Imma gettin' me one of those

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial Board: "If Oak Hill approves a citizen's request -- as it should -- it will become the third town in Volusia and Flagler counties to accommodate golf carts as a legitimate mode of transportation." "Greener cities".

Decisions ... decisions

"State Rep. Marcelo Llorente is pulling out of a three-way Republican primary for the state Senate in 2010 and setting his sights on the Miami-Dade County mayor's office in 2012." "State Rep. Marcelo Llorente drops bid for state Senate seat".

The maximum contribution to a federal campaign is $2,400, but Crist in many cases is reeling in $4,800 donations — $9,600 per couple — with half the money set aside for the primary and half for the general election.

As a sitting governor, Crist has a massive fundraising advantage. And looking at the last session, the governor earned chits with virtually every big money group except trial lawyers. Developer and Realtors? Check — the growth management bill. Business community? Check — capping workers' compensation attorney fees. Doctors? Check — the bill requiring insurance companies to make payments to out-of-network doctors.

And if Crist signs the insurance deregulation bill, maybe insurance companies will even forget about his old populist, anti-insurance corporation rhetoric and cough up some campaign checks.

"Crist is part of this story"

Randy Schultz: "The State Farm Bill, which would allow Florida's largest property insurers to charge whatever they want, finally got to Gov. Crist on Friday. Here's another story that explains why the governor who wants to be a U.S. senator should veto House Bill 1171. And Gov. Crist is part of this story." "Don't bet the (State) Farm".

"Red ink" for Florida's unemployed

"When Gov. Charlie Crist signed legislation this month extending unemployment benefits for jobless Floridians, officials called the measure a 'lifeline' for people struggling financially."

But lost in the news was a bigger problem.

Florida's unemployment fund will run dry in just two months, forcing the state to borrow billions from the federal government to keep checks flowing to recipients.

By the end of 2010, the state fund will be more than $2.7 billion in debt, according to official estimates, and by early 2012, the debt could grow to $3.2 billion.

Florida pays for jobless benefits by taxing employers on the wages of workers. For more than 25 years, it has taxed only the first $7,000 of an employee's wages — an amount sufficient when unemployment was low.

The new legislation, however, requires companies to be taxed on the first $8,500 in salary until 2015. At that point, the figure falls again to $7,000.

Taxing the higher amount helps reduce the size of the trust-fund shortfall, according to Tamela Perdue, general counsel of Associated Industries of Florida, the powerful business lobby that supported the bill.

But Perdue acknowledged the increase wasn't nearly big enough to erase the projected debt, and it does nothing to pay off the interest. To cover that, she said, businesses might face a surcharge.

"I'm sure they're not going to be happy about it," she said. "But what we've done, this still isn't enough."

If business interests successfully blocked an attempt to get them to pay the finance charges, lawmakers might have to raid the state's general fund — a tough sell in tight budget times. And though businesses might defeat any surcharge effort, there's little they can do to avoid paying back the loan principal.

Tristam writes ...

... we should read: "Satisfaction at GM dealership -- irony, spiders and all". Tristam's personal site.

"Tight enough to choke this state to death"

Tim Nickens: " Florida is well on its way to strangling itself, and it might just finish the job next year. If that sounds too pessimistic, look at what's headed toward the November 2010 ballot:"

• The Legislature just put on the ballot a constitutional amendment that would lower the cap on the increase in annual assessments of nonhomestead property to 5 percent.

• Hometown Democracy announced last week the state has verified enough signatures to get its amendment on the ballot that would require local governments to seek voter approval for local land use changes. This is killing a fly with a sledgehammer ... .

• Sen. Mike Haridopolis, R-Indialantic [who is in line to be the next Senate president], will again push lawmakers next year to put on the ballot a plan to cap state and local revenues to essentially population growth plus inflation.

Hometown Democracy

Jane Healy: "They may see themselves as victims, but local elected officials have no one to blame but themselves for last week's announcement that backers of Florida Hometown Democracy, a proposed constitutional amendment to manage growth, have garnered enough signatures to get it on the 2010 ballot." "Local elected officials to blame for Hometown Democracy's support".

Tax bills to jump

"When they tear open their tax notices this fall, longtime South Florida homeowners are in for a jolt. Those who bought before the housing bubble inflated (roughly from 2003 to 2007) will almost certainly see their tax bills jump, even as their home values plummet."

Here's what's going on: In simplest terms, the tax you pay on your home is determined by two factors: the assessed (taxable) value of the home and the tax (or millage) rate set by local governments.

The assessed value is set at the time you buy your house, pegged roughly to the amount you paid. Then it is readjusted annually by the assessor. But, since 1992, Save Our Homes has capped increases in the assessed value at the inflation rate (or 3 percent, whichever is lower) even as market value soared, sometimes by double digits.

The idea was to keep people from being taxed out of their rapidly appreciating homes by ensuring that they were taxed at less than market value.

But it gave longtime owners a huge financial advantage over bubble-era buyers, who paid much more for their homes and had much higher assessments as a result.

Now, it's payback time.

"Hard-charging" Kendrick

"Democrat Kendrick Meek on Saturday promised a hard-charging U.S. Senate campaign that will make Charlie Crist sweat." "Meek vows aggressive Senate campaign against Crist".

Pathetic

"With a reputation as a conservative crusader during 20 years of voting in Congress for pro-life, gun rights and business issues, Bill McCollum is an unlikely candidate to follow the moderate political path set by the man he hopes to replace as governor, Charlie Crist."

But McCollum has dropped the code words of bygone social battles as he prepares his campaign. Instead, the early front-runner for the GOP nomination is echoing Crist's political tenor and wooing the governor's base of moderate Republicans and Democrats.

As happened with Crist, McCollum's move to the middle has alienated some on the Republican right, who claim McCollum's conservative credentials are tarnished by votes supporting stem cell research and protections for homosexuals.

In his first major speech as the Republican front-runner for governor, Attorney General Bill McCollum sought to link his likely Democratic opponent, Alex Sink, with the ''socialism'' advocated by President Barack Obama.

McCollum told about 400 people at the Miami-Dade Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day dinner that his administration would be ''open to all ideas'' but added that there were important distinctions between the two parties. The current administration is ''nationalizing'' the private sector, he said, and driving up the federal deficit.

''Their candidate for governor, their leadership team in the state, will be the leadership team not just of the individual who is running, but of the national party,'' McCollum said. ``Do you believe we want to take a chance in electing somebody who is going to be affiliated with and associated with that kind of thought process?''

20-to-1

"Former Republican state Rep. Joe Negron of Stuart has better than a 20-to-1 money advantage over Democrat Bill Ramos as they head toward an Aug. 4 special election for the seat of retiring state Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie." "Negron has 20-to-1 money edge in special Senate race".

"In a walk"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The amendment to the energy bill in the U.S. Senate would funnel the government's share of potentially even greater royalties to Washington. Lots of lawmakers, however, say states should share in them. If they can alter the bill to reflect that before all members of Congress vote on it, the once controversial bill — ever a threat to Florida's environment and economy — could win in a walk." "Fight the rising tide".

Poor little Jebbite

Mike Thomas struggles to make himself relevant this morning: "Pixies can't power Florida — so let's drill".

There is a difference

We daresay that no other editorial board in the state has either the will or the freedom to publish an editorial like this - The Daytona Beach News Journal editors: "Three single-payer bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress, including one with 79 sponsors. None is getting a hearing as part of the debate shaping policy. Why not? A single-payer option may not be the best way to fund universal health care. But its record abroad and its economic efficiency, compared with existing systems, makes it, at a minimum, an option that should be considered." "Single-payer silence".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"Tampa Bay area drivers soon will see the benefits of federal stimulus dollars as two major road projects are jump-started. Stimulus money, combined with innovative financing arrangements, enabled the state to move up the Hillsborough project by three years and the Pinellas project by two years. The projects will create jobs and further economic opportunities — both primary goals of the federal stimulus money." "The miracle on U.S. 19".

Tuition increases

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Nobody questions that a college education is still a bargain in Florida, with full-time undergraduate tuition not even half the national average." "Tuition increase justified, but not at this pace".

Running gubment like a bidness

"The federal probe of former Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson led agents two months ago to the chic, South Tampa offices of Schifino Lee Advertising & Branding. This is where Johnson and the firm's top ad representatives put together the voter education campaign that's now part of an FBI investigation into whether Johnson illegally spent millions in taxpayer money during his fight for re-election. " "His ads cost taxpayers $643,016".

Sad day

"A wild whooping crane came to depend on feeders when wintering in Spring Hill and will have to be sent to a zoo." "Whooping crane bound for zoo".