Their resolve in the 4-0 vote rejecting an appeal of a Marion County development proposal was strengthened by the clear counsel of Tom Pelham, the state's top growth management expert, and the courageous grassroots challenge mounted by two Marion County women -- Susan Woods and Karen Reico -- to the proposal. The women, without lawyers, exposed a gaping flaw in previous local and state officials' initial approval of an amendment to the county's growth blueprint that would permit dense development. The outcome of the appeal has broad implications for all of Florida.

Thrasher's win "democracy in action"?

Mark Lane: "it's hard to think of a better example of the way closed primaries, winner-take-all contests, careful gerrymandering and an apathetic electorate combine to give us legislators very few people ever voted for. Still, only 4 percent of registered voters in his district voted for him, and that will make him senator. It's easy to wonder if that's really democracy in action. ... It's kind of like democracy. Just not as much as you may think." "District 8 Senate race not exactly democracy in action".

Wingnuttery's new mission

"The tidal wave of controversy over ACORN swept rapidly through Florida on Thursday with dozens of angry people contacting Gov. Charlie Crist's office and his political rival questioning his ties to the organization."

A top Florida House Republican, meanwhile, said the Legislature could take its own action against the national community organizing group, which has been severely damaged by hidden camera video showing workers giving tax advice to a couple posing as a prostitute and a pimp.

"The gig is up for ACORN," said state Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Boca Raton, a longtime critic of the group, which helped register hundreds of thousands of voters nationwide in the 2008 election.

Though ACORN, which stands for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has been controversial over the years, the presidential election revealed incidents in Florida and other states where ACORN workers made up bogus voter registration forms, including one for Mickey Mouse.

Crist's challenger for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010 invoked the storm in a letter Thursday.

I am shocked!

"Are Orange officials working on campaigns at the office?".

Florida Medicaid deal

"AARP and the state have agreed on a plan that requires Florida to spend up to $27 million in the coming year to move thousands of poor elderly residents from nursing homes to community-based programs." "Deal to help Florida Medicaid patients leave nursing homes".

Panhandle prayer pass

"A lunch prayer given by a rural Panhandle athletic director and requested by the school's principal didn't violate a federal court order against praying at school events, a judge ruled Thursday."

The two men had faced up to six months in jail and $5,000 in fines for violating a 2008 settlement agreement of a lawsuit against the Santa Rosa County District.

The agreement prohibited school officials from praying or promoting prayer at school events and district officials admitted a long-standing culture of promoting Christianity at the rural northern Panhandle high school.

Just another RPOFer

"At first glance, Florida’s newest U.S. Senator George LeMieux appears to offer Senate Democrats a tantalizing propsect for the 60th vote they need to pass health care reform legislation this fall."

The Broward County Republican has expressed liberal views in the past on issues like gay adoptions and was appointed three weeks ago by Gov. Charlie Crist, who has a history of crossing party lines.

But in an interview Thursday, LeMieux gave little indication he is a winnable vote for Democrats. Instead, LeMieux stressed that he had “serious concerns” about the latest health care reform proposal being pushed by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana. The Baucus plan would make more than $400 billion in cuts in Medicare funding, a deal breaker for LeMieux.

"Reservoir might be in the wrong place"

"Work crews spent nearly two years scraping away muck and blasting through limestone to lay the groundwork for a city-sized reservoir on farmland in southwest Palm Beach County. But now, after South Florida taxpayers invested almost $280 million in the unfinished project, water managers say the reservoir might be in the wrong place." "Halted reservoir construction leaves South Florida taxpayers with $280 million tab".

"Rate hike hearing fizzled out"

"Florida Power & Light Co.’s proposed $1.3 billion rate hike hearing fizzled out at 10:55 p.m. this evening after a 13-hour marathon of testimony from FPL CFO Armando Pimentel." "FPL rate hearing adjourns after 13 hours".

When will they show Bean the door?

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "How many more examples of bad judgment do Hillsborough County commissioners need to see before they show County Administrator Pat Bean the door?" "Bean's conduct again appalls".

Rubio's her man

"U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite endorsed Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate, snubbing Gov. Charlie Crist, her fellow Tampa Bay Republican and former colleague in the state Senate." "U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite endorses Republican underdog Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate".

Gettin' nasty

"Forget that talk about Kathleen Ford and Bill Foster running a respectful, amiable campaign for mayor of St. Petersburg. That prospect ended when Ford suggested out of the blue that Foster might have known more than he let on about late City Council member John Bryan allegedly being a pedophile." "Mayor's race turns ugly".

"Floridians searching for treasure"

"The economic downturn has Floridians searching for treasure. The state has millions of dollars worth of unclaimed silver, gold, jewels and other property locked away in Tallahassee, and people's interest in the forgotten treasure has increased as the economy has soured." "State seeks owners of millions in unclaimed treasures".

Bribes?

"Delray Beach examiners accused of taking bribes for licenses for immigrants".

Had he been a mere teacher ...?

"The Keys' former schools superintendent was sentenced to probation and community service for covering up his wife's alleged theft of nearly $200,000 in school-district funds." "Ex-schools boss spared jail time".

Flight audit?

"The flights that Florida Power & Light officials took on their corporate jet have raised so many questions that Public Service Commissioner Nathan Skop on Thursday insisted the utility conduct an independent audit to ensure consumers aren't unfairly stuck with the tab." "Commissioner wants FPL to audit its flights". Related: "UPDATE: FPL exec flies to Tally on corporate jet seeking $1.3 billion rate hike".

A former House speaker and lobbyist for doctors and other business interests, Thrasher had the support of former Gov. Jeb Bush and an army of pro-business allies that helped him weather a steady barrage of hard-hitting ads largely funded by personal injury lawyers.

A bit much

"Even as Miami-Dade faces its most critical budget crisis in decades, the county is spending more money lobbying the federal government than any other county in the country. Indeed, only the governments of Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania -- a commonwealth and a state -- have spent more than Miami-Dade County this year on federal lobbyists, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based watchdog group that tracks lobbying."

Lobbyist Al Cardenas, a former Republican Party of Florida chairman who lobbies for Miami-Dade along with with Karen Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party -- a relationship that raised eyebrows among Democrats -- said Miami-Dade needs the representation.

Never mind

"A group of 15 Democrats in the Florida House will try to roll back the flood of fee increases and higher license charges that angered drivers across the state last month." "Lawmakers want fee hikes repealed".

Blue (dog) Bill

"U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson finally made clear Wednesday where he stands on health care reform, lending key support to a new compromise bill unveiled in the Senate that does not include a public option sought by many House Democrats and President Barack Obama." "Nelson sees bill as good start".

Rifqa

"In a newly surfaced online video that was apparently filmed before she ran away from her Ohio home and ended up in Florida, a passionate and vivacious Fathima Rifqa Bary shares her testimony and talks about Jesus. The nearly eight-minute video was posted on YouTube earlier this week. The video details state it was filmed by 'Minister Joe of P4CM in May of 2009 while Rifqa was in Ohio.'" "Fathima Rifqa Bary passionately gives testimony in newly surfaced video".

Wingnut theater

"The guerrilla videos were made by 20-somethings James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles, who is a journalism student at Florida International University." "Can a 'hooker' and 'pimp' defeat ACORN?".

"Gov. Charlie Crist’s press office said it received about 100 inquiries today regarding recent controversies involving ACORN, including one from Crist’s U.S. Senate Republican primary opponent, Marco Rubio." "ACORN controversy sparks citizen inquiries to Gov. Crist".

"Crowing all year"

"State officials, who have been crowing all year about the strides that Florida has made to boost its adoption rate, announced today that the state is receiving a bonus of nearly $10 million from the federal government as a result." "Florida gets $10 million from feds for boosting adoption rate".

"So far, there's little evidence ..."

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Property owners in Florida need to hope it's true, that all the new insurance companies that Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has been touting as stabilizing the Florida market are solid and available to everyday homeowners."

So far, there's little evidence, however, that if major hurricanes hit Florida, that property owners would be sufficiently covered — or that when giant State Farm Florida withdraws from the state there'll be adequate coverage available for its 770,000 customers.

CFO Alex Sink expressed appropriate skepticism earlier this month when she wrote Mr. McCarty sharply requesting more detailed information on the financial status of the 29 new companies that have come into the state since 2006. She wanted to know how many personal lines of insurance they write and to otherwise gather data to judge how well the homeowners market would be covered, given discounts they must give for storm "hardening" of homes and difficulty in finding backing in the reinsurance market.

"Pimping their children to advertisers"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "It was no small irony that the same day the Volusia County Board of Education approved a new budget, it considered opening its campuses to advertisers and granting commercial businesses naming rights to school properties. The budget included $54 million in cuts. That's to what tax cuts, Tallahassee's stingy funding and the slower economy are reducing school boards in Florida: Pimping their children to advertisers." "Your ad (not) here: Schoolchildren not for sale".

Labels: "Business groups rejoice"

Not a hard call ...

"Attorney General Bill McCollum said Tuesday his office will start keeping all BlackBerry messages and announced creation of a task force to bring Florida's public records laws into the text-messaging age." "AG: Text messages public record".

SBA

"Florida has fewer people overseeing its pension fund than other states and annual independent audits may be needed, a new report said."

A report presented to Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet on Tuesday noted that Florida's pension fund has fewer people overseeing it than most other states, and that annual independent audits may improve public confidence in investment decisions.

The findings add new momentum for state officials to ask voters to expand the three-member oversight board to add diversity and to include financial experts, and for more aggressive audits of the fund.

The report analyzed the governing setup of a powerful but little-noticed agency, the State Board of Administration, which oversees more than $110 billion in investments.

Thrasher wins

"Overcoming a barrage of negative ads, former House Speaker John Thrasher won a Republican primary Tuesday night to replace the late state Sen. Jim King. By winning the four-man primary, Thrasher is virtually certain to become the next senator in District 8, which includes parts of Volusia, Flagler and three other counties. No Democrats ran for the seat, and the Republican nominee will face only write-in candidates in the Oct. 6 general election. Thrasher could be sworn into office quickly after the election." "Ex-House speaker wins primary for King's seat". See also "Thrasher poised to emerge from bruising legislative race".

Questions

"The Senate has sent Gov. Charlie Crist's office a long list of questions about his latest gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe. The questions are mostly technical, like the definition of net gambling profits and the state's share of profits is calculated. There are also questions about legal liability, exclusive rights to games and more." "Senate sends Crist questions on gambling deal".

Higher education

"South Florida student at center of ACORN hidden-cam scandal".

Scaredy panties

"Crist’s recent threats not to reappoint two Public Service Commissioners if they vote for a proposed $1.3 billion Florida Power & Light Co. rate hike could scare investors away from investing in the utility, an expert testified today." "Crist changes to utility regulation scaring investors, expert says".

VMT tax?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "In their promotion of a harebrained scheme to tax motorists by the miles they drive, Florida officials seem ... unglued."

They're desperate to find money to replace the billions of dollars they're losing from the gas tax, which pays for building and maintaining bridges and roads. That money's proving increasingly hard to come by, thanks to fuel prices causing people to drive less, and shift away from gas-guzzling vehicles to more fuel-efficient ones.

But for all our searching, we can find no sense behind a move to impose a new VMT tax — or vehicle miles traveled tax — that would make drivers of high-mileage vehicles pay as much tax as gas-guzzlers. It also would do far more harm than good. Why?

It would likely thwart the progress being made to get people to drive cleaner cars. Why buy a new hybrid that can get you 50 or more miles to the gallon if you're going to pay as much for each mile as someone driving a Hummer? Why, anyone would be right to ask, did the federal government just unload billions of dollars to subsidize the "cash for clunkers" program, only to see states like Florida undermine it by imposing a VMT tax? A tax, essentially, that says "it doesn't matter anymore what you drive; now it only matters how much you drive."

Never mind

"A group of 15 Democrats in the Florida House will try to roll back the flood of fee increases and higher license charges that angered drivers across the state last month." "House Dems and GOP members pushing identical bill to repeal Florida driver's fee increases".

Wading "into the debate over Florida's development future"

"With the state's housing market cratered and its population in decline, Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet waded into the debate over Florida's development future Tuesday when they rejected an appeal from developers of a 400-acre project outside Ocala." "Ocala development fight signals broader duel over Hometown Democracy".

"He settled for a single"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Barack Obama, who campaigned on 'change,' had a chance this month to hit a home run on change. Instead, he settled for a single."

Because of Mr. Obama's actions, Cuban-Americans basically can travel to the island as often as they want for as long as they want to visit not just parents, brothers and sisters but aunts, uncles, cousins and second cousins. Cuban-Americans may send those relatives unlimited amounts of money and take up to $3,000 when visiting. Telecommunication rules with the island also have been eased.

But this change applies only to those who have family in Cuba. Other Americans still can visit Cuba only on government-approved trips. It remains illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba through third countries. Travel to North Korea - for those who are into unusual, risky vacations - requires no special permission, despite the worry over the country's nuclear weapons. Travel to Cuba - which hasn't been a national security threat since 1962 - requires the government's permission

A St. Petersburg thing

"St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Bill Foster believes, contrary to the overwhelming majority of scientists, that dinosaurs and humans co-existed. He believes the world was created in six literal days, and he once complained to school officials when his son was taught about Darwin's theory of evolution in fifth grade." "Can Bill Foster's creation beliefs evolve into valid issue in St. Petersburg mayoral race?".

Penny

"Penny sales tax: Without it, Seminole schools will scramble for cash".

"In a perpetual state of trying to catch up"

Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "The magnificent energy and forward-motion of technology means that most of us, most of the time, are in a perpetual state of trying to catch up."

This is true not just in our personal and professional lives, but also in our laws and public policies. They must be steadily readjusted to accommodate the possibilities and challenges of technology.

Nowhere is this need to keep up more evident than in Florida's public records arena where once only paper documents, and maybe tape recordings, were sought by citizens and the media in order to confirm or find out more about an issue. A few years ago, it became self-evident that emails sent and received by public officials and personnel up and down the line were not private communications at all, but electronic paper trails.

PSC

"A Florida utility regulator apologized for some of her decisions and proposed new rules for conduct as the Public Service Commission sought to restore public trust."

In an emotional appeal, a utility regulator apologized Tuesday for casting a ``cloud'' over the Public Service Commission, but insisted she broke no rules in dining with an executive of Florida Power & Light as it sought a $1.3 billion rate increase.

Commissioner Katrina McMurrian sounded choked up after Commissioner Nathan Skop suggested she had engaged in "completely unacceptable'' behavior by having a meal with FPL Treasurer Paul I. Cutler in New York before a March 10 utility conference.

The tense exchange came as the PSC proposed new rules to restore public trust in an agency that has been rocked by investigations and allegations of too-cozy ties and private discussions with the powerful utilities it regulates. FPL and Progress Energy are asking for rate increases of about 30 percent.

Whatever

"Florida's method of grading high schools altered".

Water war

"Ga. sets appeal of water ruling in motion".

"Challenges remain"

"Florida's top insurance regulator said Tuesday that the market is improving, but he acknowledged that many challenges remain." "Insurance companies await fate of State Farm policies".

McCollum, frontrunner GOP candidate for governor, took no stand last week when asked about the "personhood" question that anti-abortion activists are trying to place on Florida's ballot. The proposed amendment to the state Constitution would establish a human being's "personhood" at the start of biological development, which its sponsors define as fertilization.

That would outlaw abortion and, critics fear, might also lead to bans on oral contraceptives and intrauterine devices, because they can prevent a fertilized egg from developing,

Asked about the initiative, McCollum campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gravitte said that McCollum is firmly "pro-life" but "will not be commenting on hypothetical issues … if this proposal ends up on the ballot voters will certainly know where General McCollum stands."

But history draws a connection between McCollum and the "personhood" initiative, since he co-sponsored similar legislation in Congress in 1988. Then-U.S. Rep. McCollum signed on to California Rep. Bob Dornan's House Joint Resolution 529, which would have assigned to "preborn" persons the protections of the Fifth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments governing rights to due process, citizenship and freedom from slavery.

The resolution defined "personhood" to mean "from the moment of conception and without regard to age, health, or condition of dependency."

I feel better


"A special panel of lawmakers is finalizing a new long-range financial outlook that anticipates potential deficits in each of the next three budget years." "Lawmakers finalizing Fla. long-term outlook".

Thrasher redux?

"Republican voters in Florida Senate District 8 will head to the polls today in a special primary election to replace longtime lawmaker Jim King, who died of pancreatic cancer in July. ... Candidates include Jacksonville City Councilman Art Graham; Duval County School Board member Stan Jordan; Ponte Vedra Beach businessman Dan Quiggle; and former House speaker John Thrasher." "Special primary election today".

"he campaign to fill the Florida Senate seat vacated by the death of Sen. Jim King has turned nasty with biting, vicious television advertising and racially tinged mailers because of a court ruling that invalidated regulations against secretive political groups." "Senate campaign full of name-calling, negative ads".

Pay as you go

"Facing a likely future of dwindling gas-tax income, some Florida transportation officials are promoting a new way to raise money for highways and bridges: charging motorists by the mile." "New tax avenue? Florida motorists would pay by the mile".

Early voting cut in Jax

"Voting may soon get a little less convenient for Jacksonville residents. To deal with budget cuts, Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland is eliminating 10 precincts and scaling back early-voting hours." "Jacksonville early voting sites a budget victim".

Imagine that: "the interests of business above those of the public"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Pinellas County commissioners decided last week that before they grant a tax break to a specific company to spur new jobs, they don't need to know its name. The decision — based on legalities rather than sound public policy — illustrates why the law governing Florida's Qualified Target Industry incentive program must be changed. It is an affront to the taxpayer and elected officials, and puts the interests of business above those of the public." "Put a stop to secretive tax breaks".

"Crist suggesting heads will roll "

"The Public Service Commission is under even more pressure with a citizen demanding a commissioner recuse herself in the FPL rate case and Gov. Charlie Crist suggesting heads will roll if the panel approves a rate increase." "Crist puts still more pressure on PSC". See also "Crist to PSC: Rejecting rate hikes will factor in reappointments".

"The electric company is flying high ..."

"Armando Olivera, Florida Power & Light president, generally commutes by helicopter from Miami to company headquarters in Juno Beach. When he goes to Tallahassee, he travels on a corporate jet the company plans to replace by a new one paid by all of us customers to this monopoly."

In the critical debate over FPL's rate increase, its secret executive compensation policy and its questionable links to Florida's regulators, there has been no discussion about the core of the problem: The electric company is flying high in the chopper while its customers are down in the real world.

Mad Men

"Utility regulators to consider plan to restore public trust".

TPS

The Miami Herald editorial board: "From religious and business leaders to local Republican and Democratic members of Congress to hip-hop artists -- all are calling on the Obama administration to grant temporary protected status to thousands of undocumented Haitians living in the United States." "Let the Haitians stay".

Related: "Haitians up pressure for special immigration status".

"'Any time you rock the boat, these scumbags come out'"

"Public Service Commissioner Nancy Argenziano and a lobbyist who owns riverfront land with her in western North Carolina said Monday utility companies are trying to smear her for 'rocking the boat' about cozy relationships between the PSC and businesses it regulates."

"I've never said I'm 'Saint Nancy,' but I'm clean," said Argenziano. "Any time you rock the boat, these scumbags come out against you."

Property records in Swain County, N.C., disclosed to Tallahassee reporters late last week by a confidential source, indicate Argenziano and Roger Pennington own property near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pennington is registered to lobby for the Florida Municipal Electric Association and, although city utilities are not regulated by the PSC, they sometimes intervene in PSC cases affecting investor-owned companies.

Pennington said he does not lobby the PSC and, although still registered with the House and Senate, "I don't think I've talked to a legislator about a PSC issue" for about two years. He said he has never talked with Argenziano about any regulatory matters.

Florida laff riot

"If a resolution filed in July garners enough support, Florida voters may be given the opportunity to amend the state constitution and essentially opt out of federal health care reform."

Filed by Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, and Rep. Scott Plankon, R-Longwood, HJR 37 would “protect Florida's citizens from being put into a federally mandated (health care) system that they may not think is best,” Baker said. ...

Marti Coley, R-Marianna, is one of the resolution’s 22 co-sponsors, and said it’s about sending a message to the federal government.

Tea bag lunacy

The Palm Beach Post editorial board:

Those at Saturday's rally lost whatever credibility they might have had by depicting Mr. Obama in protest art flavored with racism. They lost credibility by showing up only now, eight months after Mr. Obama took office, to show concern about the nation's debt. They did not travel to Washington when the debt grew during the Bush administration from roughly $5.73 trillion to about $10.6''trillion. You also wonder why those who are unemployed and lack health care oppose reforming a system that bases health care on employment.

Silly RPOFers "concerned about the liberal politics at play"

"Florida’s Medicaid population surged by about 300,000 this fiscal year as the overall budget shrunk and as the state lost population and became a national leader in home foreclosures and unemployment. Experts forecast that another 143,000 people will be added next year, regardless of congressional action."

Rising Medicaid enrollment would have been a budget buster for Florida and other states had Obama and Congress not approved the federal stimulus package that boosted the federal share of the program from 55 percent to 67 percent of every Medicaid dollar spent.

Legislators this spring shifted about $790 million in Medicaid stimulus money out of the program to prevent budget cuts elsewhere. They also transferred another $900 million out of the program after passing a new tobacco tax earmarked for Medicaid.

Without the two budget transfers, Florida would not face a $1.5 billion Medicaid deficit next year, said state Sen. Nan Rich, a Weston Democrat who sits on the Senate’s health budget committee with Sen. Gaetz.

“The Medicaid deficit is a problem of the Legislature’s making,” Rich said. “But I’m very concerned with any talk of expanding Medicaid in Florida. We already don’t know what’s going to happen with the Medicaid program we have. So it’s a big concern when they start talking about growing the program.”

Still, Rich said, she supports expanding the Medicaid rolls as an alternative to a public-option plan.

Republican lawmakers say that’s a bad move. Rep. Will Weatherford, a Wesley Chapel Republican slated to be Florida House speaker when the Medicaid expansion tab might come due, said he’s concerned about the liberal politics at play.

Never mind

Charles Flowers, "Just one year after Florida lawmakers crafted a plan to compensate victims who were wrongly imprisoned, the extraordinary requirement that the victim prove 'actual innocence' of the crime he or she did not commit is frustrating the claim of the first to seek relief."

James Joseph Richardson, one of the most obvious petitioners imaginable for compensation under the 2008 law, was recently denied the $1.1 million the law allows. Already a casualty of the justice system, he is being wronged again.

Richardson was falsely accused of poisoning seven of his children to death in Arcadia more than 40 years ago. Prosecutors claimed he did it for insurance money, though he had no policy. He spent 21 years in prison — four of them on death row — before he was freed in 1989 after new evidence showed prosecutorial misconduct and implicated the family babysitter, who had heated and served the children's food.

Raw political courage

"Utility panel chairman: No one should tell us how to vote".

Florida Chamber thugs in action

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Developers are lobbying the Cabinet's members - Gov. Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson - to put unneeded growth over state law. At issue is a case that would have allowed a Marion County landowner to build 20 times the number of homes allowed on 400 acres northwest of Ocala."

Two citizens, acting without lawyers, challenged the county's decision to allow nearly 800 homes. An administrative law judge ruled for the citizens. Susan Woods and Karen Lynn Recio argued that a 45-year supply of residential land more than adequately meets the area's growth needs. The judge not only found the county's analysis - prepared by the developers - to be wrong, he found that it covered too large a territory and too long a time frame.

The Cabinet usually backs up such strong rulings. But Tom Pelham, who runs the state's growth management agency, worries that lobbyists for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Land Council and Florida Farm Bureau will persuade the Cabinet to overturn the ruling, a decision that would further chip away at Florida's growth management laws.

Wexler

"While some Democrats press for a 'resolution of disapproval' against U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., for shouting 'You lie!' at President Obama during a joint session of Congress last week, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, hopes his party lets the matter die." "Wexler: Dems should accept Wilson’s “You lie” apology and move on".

'Ya think?

"Is growth management in South Florida a lost cause?".

"Another wallop from Washington"?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Even as the recession has cut into tax collections in almost every category, governments in Central Florida and across the nation are fighting for all the taxes they're owed from online travel companies. Now those governments are at risk of getting sucker-punched by Congress."

At issue are bed taxes that local governments impose on short-term lodging. The hotels and motels collect those taxes based on the retail prices they charge their guests. But online travel discounters, such as Expedia and Orbitz, have been remitting taxes on the lower wholesale prices they negotiate with hotels for rooms, instead of the higher prices they charge customers. The difference adds up to tens of millions of dollars in lost tax revenue for local governments. ...

Congress has been considering a proposal, the Travel Promotion Act, to create a fund to pay for marketing the United States to international travelers. And lobbyists for the online travel companies have been trying to persuade federal lawmakers to get them off the hook with an amendment in that legislation.

A version of the act passed the Senate without the amendment. However, it could resurface when the House takes up the bill.

Florida members of Congress from both parties are supporting the Travel Promotion Act. They need to make it their business to ensure that the bill doesn't pass with a giveaway to the online companies.

Governments in Florida already have taken it on the chin during the recession. They don't need another wallop from Washington.

Wingnut hoax?

"FDLE: No credible reports of threats toward Fathima Rifqa Bary".

"Difficult-to-trace e-communications"

"The growing use of difficult-to-trace e-communications has raised concerns about public officials circumventing open-government laws." "Critics say technology is enemy of open government". See also "Phone flap raises public records issues".

State Board of Education

"The state Board of Education is meeting in Miami, where they will consider next year's budget request and revising high school accountability requirements." "Fla. Board of Ed meets in Miami; budget on agenda".

Big Oil has three powerful votes on its side. State Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, the Senate president in 2010, and Mike Cannon, R-Winter Park, who'll be House speaker next year, are sponsoring pro-drilling bills in their respective chambers. Gov. Charlie Crist, once an opponent of drilling, is now a proponent. Crist is dropping pretenses of moderation -- and sacrificing a history of sound bipartisan Florida policy for his electoral strategy.

The renewed push for oil drilling is orchestrated by a group called Florida Energy Associates. There's not much "Florida" about it. The group is financed by Texas-based oil producers. It has contributed $35,000 to Republican lawmakers and $20,000 to Democratic lawmakers since May. It's producing most of the propaganda designed to soften public opposition to drilling.

Your tax dollars at work

"Because Crist is careful to avoid using state aircraft to get to personal and political events, should Crist's campaign repay the state for security at nonofficial events? No, he says." "Charlie Crist: My campaign shouldn't repay state for security at nonofficial events".

Related: "Florida taxpayers spent nearly $300,000 protecting visiting politicians" ("The FDLE said it cost $1.34 million for agents to provide security for Crist in the past fiscal year. First lady Carole Crist's security expenses totaled $78,000, and it cost $31,000 more to protect the 'first family,' which the FDLE describes as Gov. and Mrs. Crist, or times when Mrs. Crist's two daughters are in Florida.")

After all, they're developers

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "In Florida, there is one thing tougher than fighting city hall: fighting a powerful developer." "People vs. powerful".

Yaaawwwnnn ...

"Gov. Crist's 'maestro' heads to Washington".

Let's pretend it never happened

"Former House Speaker Ray Sansom wants to quash perjury charges on grounds that State Attorney Willie Meggs had no right to ask him what the Legislature intended in funding a $6 million airport project." "Former House Speaker Sansom trying to quash perjury charges".

Wingnut-world

"Florida among states trying to halt health care changes".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"For all the debate about the federal stimulus program, of this Don Winstead is certain: Without the stimulus, Florida's budget problems would've been catastrophic." "Stimulus bails out state's bottom line".

Sunshine

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami, and Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota, are proposing a constitutional amendment that would:"

# Require public notice for open meetings of two or more members of joint legislative conference committees — which is where important pending legislation is hammered into final form.

# Require a three-fourths vote, instead of simple majority, to approve any nontechnical — that is, important and possibly sneaky — amendments in the final five days of a session.

# Set a "reasonableness" standard for circuit judges to use in ruling whether a legislatively produced document is a public record — rather that perpetuating the Legislature's authority to shield many of its documents from public view.

# Require the budget to be written in plain language showing the source and purposes of all funds instead of publishing a bare-bones document that rank-and-file members — especially new ones — can't translate.

There isn't a thing wrong with any of these upgrades, and we urge an intelligent three-fifths of lawmakers to support putting this on the ballot in 2010. Then an intelligent 60 percent of voters should wisely vote "yes!"

Who needs taxes ... we have tourists

"A mysterious ripple in the waters near West Palm Beach has a name - the Muck Monster - and has been fodder for David Letterman. Today, the Muck Monster may have something else: tourists." "Mysterious 'monster' may be cash cow for city".

"Students who truly need financial help"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Now that skimpy budgets have led legislators to revise the 12-year-old program, lawmakers should look at limiting eligibility requirements and channeling more money to students who truly need financial help." "Reform Bright Futures".

PSC follies

"A shelved grand jury report from 1992 recommended ways to curb criticisms now facing state utility regulators." "Troubled PSC ignored past reforms".

Oh yeah ...

"Nearly lost amid all the candidate maneuvering in high-profile Florida campaigns for Congress, governor and others in 2010 is this bit of news: Some residents of Volusia and Flagler counties will be voting this week." "Don't forget about this year's elections". Related: "3 vie for New Smyrna mayor's post".

DCF

"Number of kids missing from state custody dropping".

Charlie Crist is swimming in campaign money, and polls consistently show him to be among the most popular politicians in America.

But something ominous and unpredictable is brewing in Florida, and a growing number of Republicans are starting to consider the unthinkable: the people's governor could lose his campaign for U.S. Senate.

"It's rare that I talk to anyone that's got a good thing to say about the governor right now. It's hard to find a real Charlie Crist ally,'' said former state Republican Chairman Tom Slade. "Charlie Crist is a marvelous politician, but rarely do you use the word statesman with Charlie Crist. That's his vulnerability, getting branded as another self-centered politician, and he doesn't have many more opportunities to muff up before that happens.''

His state is losing population for the first time in 60 years. Unemployment and foreclosures are soaring. Taxes haven't dropped like a rock as he promised, and Florida remains one hurricane away from bankruptcy. County Republican parties are openly revolting against Crist, while a charismatic young rival, Marco Rubio, is being hailed on the cover of William F. Buckley's National Review magazine as the future of the GOP. ...

[T]alk to veteran Republican activists across Florida, from local organizers to elite operatives to big-money bundlers, and there's a sense Crist could be in trouble. Probably not, but just maybe. ...

The polls don't show it yet, but warning signs abound for Crist. Local Republican executive committees and clubs in every corner of the state are holding symbolic "straw poll'' votes where Rubio doesn't just beat Crist, but consistently trounces him 8- or 9-to-1.

"I do think Charlie is vulnerable. People are really unhappy in general, but Republicans seem very, very unhappy with Crist,'' said state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, recounting that 200 people showed up earlier this month to see Rubio at a Lakeland Republican club meeting that normally would have drawn a few dozen.

"When that was over, I don't think one person left there planning to vote for Crist,'' said Dockery, who is neutral in the Senate primary.

Crist knows he has problems with the Republican base

'Ya think?

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Nelson playing it too safe on health care".

Wait until FDLE investigation is over

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The integrity and impartiality of the Public Service Commission is under well-deserved scrutiny for a series of allegations about improper relationships with utility officials it regulates. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the agency for possible ethics violations involving PSC staff and some commissioners. The state Senate may hold hearings with an eye to reform the agency, too. With its integrity and impartiality in question, the PSC should table for now the rate increases requested by Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy until after the FDLE probe is finished." "Put rate hikes on hold".

Related: "Troubled PSC ignored past reforms" and "Turmoil at Florida's PSC has familiar ring to it".

"Low voter turnout expected for Tuesday election"

"The late state Sen. Jim King took pride in cutting deals and working across party lines. But as four Republican candidates prepare for a special election Tuesday to succeed King, they have offered almost-unflinching conservative messages to try to attract loyal GOP voters in what is expected to be a low-turnout race." "Primary may decide King successor".

"The Sunshine Socialist State"

Stephen Goldstein: "Tallahassee is the capital of a 'corporate socialist state,' thanks to Republicans!"

The party of no always says yes to redistributing taxpayer money to private corporations. Give a buck to a single mother, and you're branded a Marxist. Give taxpayer millions to a single business, and you're hailed a captain of capitalism.

So, let's take a break from all the propaganda about keeping Obama from socializing medicine, and start making the case for ending rampant "corporate welfare" throughout America — starting right here in the Sunshine Socialist State.

Billy getting desperate

Aaron Deslatte: "Republican Bill McCollum and Democrat Alex Sink want to go national, baby."

Last week, the two 2010 gubernatorial candidates got into dust-ups over — of all things — what McCollum thinks about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and how Sink feels about the Obama administration's health-care push.

Putting aside the fact that neither state officeholder has or will wield much influence over either issue, it makes for interesting theater.

And it's enabled both candidates so far to say little about the state's economy, tax policies and budget. Instead, each is trying to tap into voter emotion about national issues in hopes of costing the other votes next year.

Delusions of grandeur

"Florida governor's race need more choice, says possible candidate Dockery".

It's the workers fault, stupid ...

Chamber shill Jackie Bueno Sousa has just solved public employers' economic problems:

Too often, local-government hiring is insular and prone to cronyism. Furthermore, government-employee turnover, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is about a third that of the private sector. Generally, losing many employees is bad; but too little turnover is equally problematic, as it prevents the replacement of stale workers and trite ideas.

"They looked microscopic"

Randy Schultz: "If you want to follow the race for governor next year, break out the Red Bull."

At this point, Attorney General Bill McCollum (Republican) and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (Democrat) are the prohibitive nominees. Mr. McCollum will run as the Lifetime Achievement candidate. He spent 20 years in the U.S. House and lost a Senate race in 2000. Ms. Sink will run as Chief Bookkeeper. In civilian life, she ran Bank of America's Florida operations. Now, she invigorates supporters by sending out e-mails about how her office has saved the public some money here and there.

But campaigns for governor are about big ideas, not line items. Last week, offered a chance to look big, Mr. McCollum and Ms. Sink looked small. In fact, they looked microscopic.

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"A recent report by a presidential panel urged stronger cooperation between the United States and other nations trying to make advances in human spaceflight." "Presidential panel urges global space effort".

Funny how that is ...

"More than a third of the customers, politicians and business leaders who praised Florida Power & Light at three South Florida forums on a proposed $1.3 billion rate hike have financial or family ties to the company and its employees, a Sun Sentinel analysis found. Nearly another third who backed the utility have connections to FPL through business and civic organizations." "Backers of FPL often have ties to utility".

Grayson

Scott Maxwell doesn't think RPOFer Rich Crotty can put up a sufficient fight against Alan Grayson:

That's why Republicans should look elsewhere for their candidate.

Instead of cycling through the same old list of possible contenders like Crotty and state Sen. Dan Webster, they should look for new blood — someone, for example, who started in politics less than three decades ago.

State Sen. Andy Gardiner comes to mind.

The 40-year-old is a rock-solid conservative with a good reputation — a guy who cut his teeth helping small businesses with the Apopka Chamber of Commerce and who now works as an executive with Orlando Health.

Republicans would be wise not to underestimate Grayson, who's making a name for himself in Washington, and a savvy campaigner to boot.

But this community needs a good race with solid candidates and healthy debate.

And some fresh candidates with fresh ideas might just make that happen.

Gas

"Gas prices continue slow decline".

Health care rally

"Unlike the protesters who marched to the U.S. Capitol [yesterday*], it was supporters of the president's health care reform plan who gathered for a rally at Al Lopez Park. The skies cleared for the arrival of the Health Insurance Reform Now! tour bus on a nationwide trek to push for the president's plan. The stop in Tampa followed a 14-city tour, including a stop in Orlando this morning." "Health care reform supporters rally in Tampa".

- - - - - - - - - -
*These geniuses carried "signs — reflecting the growing intensity of the health care debate — depicted President Barack Obama with the signature mustache of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler."

Yee haw!

- "Dr. Robert Dreyfus, a retired dentist, spoke before Barber, decrying the state of public education, which he compared to Zimbabwe’s education system despite America’s sizable spending advantage. He also rebuked President Barack Obama. 'Within 200 years we went from ox carts to the moon,' he said. 'And now Obama and his crew come along and they want to create a thugocracy.' 'Yes, they want change,' he said. 'They want to change our nation from a democratic republic to a socialist facist (society).'" "Tea Party speakers urge crowd to take back government".

- "Protester Doug Caton ... held a sign suggesting Obama wasn’t born in the United States, a long-discredited rumor." "Naples holds anti-Obama tea party, participants are 'ready for a revolution'".

Brilliant

"State lawmakers try to halt health care changes".

"In the absence of responsible political leadership"

Carl Hiaasen: "The place has been totally out of control for too long. In the absence of responsible political leadership, it took a crushing recession to expose the Ponzi formula that made Florida look so prosperous. Now, hundreds of thousands of homes and condos sit empty -- unfinished, unsold or foreclosed. Local governments that run on revenues from sales taxes and property taxes are slashing services. Many small businesses are closing, big businesses are laying off workers, and new jobs are scarce." "Yeah, we're shrinking, but not enough".

Another view from Jane Healy: "Local politicians can't ignore drop in state's population".