Haridopolos flip flops

"Senate President Mike Haridopolos on Friday abruptly fired a consultant tied to an Alabama banking scandal, a day after the Orlando Sentinel disclosed his contract." "Haridopolos fires consultant tied to Alabama banking scandal". See yesterday's "Haridopolos hires crook to attack public pensions".




Death penalty "faulty"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board writes that "if the new governor, who encourages "bold" thinking, wanted to be really "bold" on criminal justice, he would recommend that Florida end the death penalty."

# It's faulty. Florida leads the nation in exonerations from Death Row.

# It's costly and time-consuming

# It has lost credibility. ...

The politics of the death penalty might make Mr. Scott hold back, even if he were inclined to be as "bold" as we would like on this issue. But if the new push is to be "smart" on crime in Florida, it's anything but smart to keep the death penalty.

"Smart Justice: Rick Scott wants 'bold' ideas, so end capital punishment".




Idiots

"GOPers Remove 'Labor' From House Committee Name".




Big of him

"The addition of two new Florida congressional seats from a higher census count could set off a scramble in Manatee-Sarasota. Florida Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Bennett might be interested in running if one of the new U.S. House seats were to materialize in the Tampa Bay area." "Congressional boost piques local interest".




Voucher madness

"[A] policy analyst for a Washington think tank who has long supported vouchers has issued a memo suggesting the plan recommended by Scott's team couldn't possibly pass muster with the Florida Supreme Court. And, said Andrew Coulson of the Cato Institute, that could end up jeopardizing the future of two existing Florida school voucher programs for children from low-income families and those with disabilities." "Local leaders question governor-elect's school-voucher reform plan".




"A dim future for Floridians"

"T]he team that Gov.-elect Rick Scott asked to advise him on how to reform the state's growth and environmental regulations proposed something bold:"

Merge the state's environmental, growth management and transportation departments into a single agency called the Department of Growth Leadership.

And permitting decisions from any state agency should consider "job creation and economic development" as being just as important as having clean water and air, the regulatory reform committee told Scott this week in a 79-slide report.

Those recommendations spell out a dim future for Floridians who aren't fond of pavement, predicted environmental activist Linda Young of the Clean Water Network.

"Scott's environment team says goal is to 'help make … development happen'".




The gifts keep a comin'

"Oil debris still washing up on Panhandle beaches".




Heaven help us

"A Florida lawmaker doesn't want to hear 'Season's Greetings' or 'Happy Holidays' on Dec. 25 — just 'Merry Christmas.'" "State senator: Make 'Merry Christmas' official greeting". See also "Orlando lawmaker files resolution to make 'Merry Christmas' Florida's official December 25 greeting".




A Christmas story (with lawyers)

"The state is going after more law firms that have been accused of misconduct in their foreclosure proceedings." "State expands foreclosure probe".




Coronation of a crook

"Florida Gov.-elect Scott's inaugural celebrations begin Monday around the state".




Neil Rogers

"In the spring of the bicentennial year (1976, for the history challenged), a radio host from Rochester, N.Y., hit the Miami airwaves on WKAT-AM and not only went on to set the radio dial on fire. More important, he branded South Florida humor and political discourse over the ensuing 30 years. While the myth of Howard Stern was spreading through syndication, Neil Rogers berated, shamed and entertained a brigade of 'Neilies' (as his loyal listeners were known) to become the most significant talk radio icon this town has ever seen." "A voice, a talent, a true Miami original". See also "South Florida radio legend Neil Rogers dies".




On the job

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board are "happy to report that House members who represent folks in our area answered the bell for the lame-duck session votes. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach; John Mica, R-Winter Park; and Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, all cast votes on a food safety measure and a spending bill needed to avert a government shutdown. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Reps. Brown, Kosmas and Mica." "House members skip lame-duck votes".