Putnam elbows Baker aside

"State Sen. Carey Baker withdrew from the Florida agriculture commissioner race Friday, saying his campaign didn't meet its initial goals."

Baker, a Republican from Eustis, faced an uphill battle in the GOP primary against frontrunner U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow.

Baker raised about $535,000 through 2009, while Putnam's haul topped $1.2 million, according to campaign finance reports.

Laff riot

"Marco Rubio, Tom Tancredo and the Tea Party convention".

Absolutely, 100% not guilty

"Florida Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos was cleared Friday of allegations that she skirted state public records laws in a series of unusual e-mail exchanges with a co-worker."

A 24-page report by Gov. Charlie Crist's chief inspector general said Kopelousos and a top aide were not using ``code words'' when they sent e-mails with subjects such as "pancake'' and ``French Toast.''

The report also said an employee's error caused a delay in sending a state senator 8,000 e-mails in response to a public records request.

$3,000 meal tabs

"From golf-course fees to charter jets to the nation's capital, Republican Party of Florida Executive Director Delmar Johnson racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel, food and expenses to his party-issued American Express card last year." "Records: Fundraiser charged big tab to Florida GOP-issued credit card".

The photographer speaks

"It was all over the Internet. Pundits were claiming it showed Obama as weak, that he should save his bowing for terrorists."

None of these people were even there. I was. And I didn't see anything like that. Even though these critics hadn't witnessed the scene firsthand, they decided they knew with certainty what had happened.

Nothing makes my blood boil more than seeing an image, particularly one I created, used outside of its original context to promote a particular agenda. Further compounding my frustration is that it is totally out of my control when it happens. People criticize the media constantly for showing bias, or not reporting the whole truth, but here is an instance of an accurate depiction of an event being recycled and repackaged with much bias. Fair? I don't think so. ...

I've been reading a lot of the blog commentary out there relating to the moment I captured. Some of it is pretty disgusting and inappropriate, no matter what political leanings people may have.

If the president of the United States is going to be torn apart by his own citizens for showing respect to a local mayor, what does that say about us? Maybe we are a touch too arrogant for our own good? Maybe we are focusing our attention on trivial things? Maybe we could take a cue from his graciousness?

We all know what "streamlining" means

"With more than 1 million residents out of work, state lawmakers are trying to concoct the right blend of business incentives to bring jobs to Florida. Supporters hope the proposed mix of tax and regulatory changes will reel in new businesses and tempt existing ones to hire more Floridians. But some environmentalists worry that the Legislature, panicked by high unemployment, might give up too many protections of Florida's resources in the name of job creation." "State is looking at streamlining permit process for developers".

Sentinel goes after state workers again

We understand that "salaries, benefits and jobs of government employees are not exactly high priorities among the Republican primary voters" and their kindred spirits writing Tribune Company newspaper editorials.

The Teabaggers that dominate the Orlando Sentinel editorial board just can't help themselves - ignoring the fact that the size and cost of Florida's government employee workforce are at the bottom nationally, and Florida is tied with one other state for the lowest ratio of public employees to population - blithely asserting that the Legislature ought to "take a whack at generous benefits for state employees."

We understand that these on the editors dislike public employees with the gall to earn pensions* - of course, the editors dislike uppity (read union members) workers generally** - but you'd think they would at least make an effort to get their facts straight before writing junk like this:

maybe, just maybe, there are some state agencies that can function with fewer workers.

legislators also should take a look at another area Mr. Crist found too hot to touch — state employee benefits. Most state workers still get cheap health care and pay nothing toward their pensions. Raising their contributions closer to the level paid by workers outside state government could generate real savings.

the size and cost of [Florida's] state personnel remain at the bottom nationally. In 2008, the average state government had 216 employees per 10,000 population; Florida had 118. Also, the average payroll expenditure was $69 per state resident nationwide, but only $38 in Florida. The state was tied with Illinois for the lowest ratio of actual employees to population, and we ranked 49th in authorized full-time positions (103) per 10,000 residents.

Teabagging losing appeal

"National tea party gathering not attracting droves from South Florida".

NASA blues

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "President Barack Obama is right that NASA needs an overhaul. But the plan he unveiled this week, which would privatize human space flight while increasing research spending, fails to draw a clear mission for the space agency. It risks reducing NASA to a procurement office and robbing it of the vision and in-house expertise it needs. That's risky for the United States and particularly for Florida." "Plan for NASA lacks vision".

McCollum dithers

"State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink wants Attorney General Bill McCollum, one of her gubernatorial rivals, to investigate fraud at the bank where she was a longtime executive."

In a letter sent Friday to McCollum, Gov. Charlie Crist and the state pension fund director, Sink — former head of Bank of America in Florida -— asked McCollum to "immediately review" whether the alleged fraud by Bank of America and its executives has resulted in losses to Floridians. Her request came the day after New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed charges of fraud against Bank of America alleging it, former chief executive Kenneth D. Lewis and former chief financial officer Joseph Price misled federal officials and investors about the size of losses at Merrill Lynch, which it was moving to take over.

Chickenhawks speak

"Senate foes Crist, Rubio back 'don't ask, don't tell'".

Another fine Jebacy ...

"The state will be required to repay the federal government for the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance's spending on expensive meals and desserts. The state will be asking Hillsborough County to come up with the money." "State hit with job agency bill".

"Florida will never be the same"

Steve Bousquet: "Charlie Crist may or may not be the next U.S. senator from Florida, but this much is certain: Florida will never be the same."

Crist's decision to forgo a second term as governor and instead seek an open Senate seat in Washington has unleashed a torrent of political ambition that could mark the 2010 election cycle as a turning point in the state's modern evolution.

Florida outrage

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Samantha Burton wanted to make her own decisions about her obstetrical care, but the state of Florida wouldn't let her."

Claiming it was protecting her fetus, the state took away her rights as a patient and a citizen and made her a virtual prisoner in a Tallahassee hospital. A state appeals court now considering the case must slam the door on such tactics before other pregnant women are victimized.

Burton, a 29-year-old working mother with two young children, was 25 weeks pregnant when she was hospitalized in March 2009 at Tallahassee Memorial. Her obstetrician, Dr. Jana Bures-Forsthoefel, told Burton that because of ruptured membranes and premature contractions, she would have to stay in bed in the hospital for the rest of her pregnancy — potentially 15 more weeks for a full-term pregnancy.

Burton wanted to leave and get a second opinion, but the hospital blocked her departure and set up a hasty court hearing in her hospital room. Burton was sworn in and handed a telephone, with Leon County Circuit Court Judge John Cooper on the other end of the line. She had no lawyer and no legal experience, but Burton was expected to argue her case against her obstetrician and the hospital's attorney.

Her request to go to another hospital was denied. The judge ordered Burton to remain in Tallahassee Memorial and submit to any medical treatment that doctors decided was necessary to preserve the life and health of her fetus. And because the fetus was in the breech position, the judge also ordered Burton to submit to a caesarean section whenever her doctors said it was time.

Burton, who had broken no law, was essentially imprisoned at Tallahassee Memorial and denied control over her medical care.

"Get serious"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The New Florida Initiative, a plan to increase state spending on higher education by $1.75 billion over five years and bring the university system into the knowledge-based economy, is a good idea that won't become a reality unless Tallahassee gets serious about Florida's future." "'New Florida,' new money? There's a rush to upgrade state universities".

12.3 percent peak?

"Fla. unemployment expected to peak at 12.3 percent".

"A good look in the mirror"

Steve Bousquet: "The Florida Legislature needs to take a good look in the mirror." "Longer session? Longer term limits? Don't count on it".

Detroit Iron

Daniel Ruth: "Until fairly recently Toyota was sort of the gold standard for quality and reliability for some snooty auto owners, who turned up their noses at the prospect of even remotely entertaining the purchase of a car from a U.S.-based manufacturer."

Detroit was so declasse, so ooey-gooey, so second-rate. So Detroit.

Now it is certainly true America's Big Three automakers have had more than their fair share of oopsie production moments over the years, churning out dull and quite often shoddy wheels that would only appeal to one's inner actuary. So boring.

Today's car assembly plants are, in theory at least, the ultimate in technological marvel — robotics, the very latest in computer wizardry, incredibly precise and cost-efficient production techniques, all manned by a highly trained and professional work force. More or less.

And yet people are driving around in their Toyotas and suddenly discovering they can't stop the %$#@*&^$ car they just spent a small fortune to buy.

Not to sound too much of a Luddite here, but this is a bit nuts. After all, if you just dropped $25,000 on some hotsy-totsy Camry is it really too much to ask that it — stops?

Seeing all the images of wrecked Toyotas on the roadways after drivers suddenly realized they were trapped in a four-cylinder version of HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey reminds me of a different time in the history of quality control.

Yee haw!

"Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is the keynote speaker at this year’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner, a key fundraising event for the Orange County Republican Party." "Sarah Palin to headline local GOP Lincoln Day dinner".

Resume padding

"Leon County Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey was called on the carpet by the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday for improperly using the word 're-elect' in a YouTube campaign posting and padding her legal resume." "Court recommends formal reprimand for Dempsey's campaign errors".

Delmar Johnson flew to Las Vegas and San Francisco, to New York and Boston.

He picked up $3,000 tabs at posh restaurants such as Del Frisco's steakhouse in Orlando and at cheaper spots such as Regina Pizza in Boston; he chartered jets; bought flowers for the wife of party Chairman Jim Greer; and charged greens fees at the Torrey Pines championship golf course in San Diego, according to internal RPOF accounting records and credit-card invoices obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.

Johnson and Greer have said the travel and spending were a requirement in order to move in big-league political-fundraising circles, and the party says many of the charges covered travel and meals for big donors or party staffers, as well as day-to-day operating expenses such as phone bills and copying fees.

But they have also steadfastly refused calls to open the party's finances to outside auditors in the wake of accusations by GOP critics that money was being misspent.

The contract between Greer and Delmar Johnson -- the 30-year-old staffer named by Greer to be the Republican Party of Florida's executive director -- paid Johnson's company more than $260,000 for fundraising and $42,000 for expenses. Combined with Johnson's $103,000 executive director salary, he was paid at least $405,000 by the party in 2009, according to year-end reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission.

Both Greer and Johnson are now being forced out of office amid widespread Republican displeasure with their management of party finances. ...

House Republican Leader Adam Hasner, a Delray Beach Republican, called the arrangement "a slap in the face'' for all Republicans "who have given their hard-earned money to the party to see it supporting a lavish lifestyle through secret contracts.''

Sink 'agin 'The Governator'

William March: "Florida Chief Financial Offical Alex Sink is, well, petite, but still seems quite ready to take on 'The Governator' of California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who trashed Florida on Wednesday."

At a Silicon Valley conference, Schwarzenegger glibly opined that Iowa is uninteresting, Florida is nothing but old people, and who'd want to go to either place?

What would Tebow say?

Scott Maxwell: "Wednesday's column about gay adoption prompted a tidal wave of response. Most readers said they were sick and tired of the extremists putting politics ahead of children — and were particularly disgusted by the Florida Family Policy Council's* use of phony pictures"

Rubio "temporarily" in "damage control"

"U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio backtracked Thursday from his statement that the U.S. Census should count only 'legal American citizens,' temporarily shifting his surging campaign into damage control." "Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist clash on who should be counted in Census". See also "Rubio backtracks from 'legal American citizens' census comment".

And they're off ...

"U.S. Senate hopeful Kendrick Meek announced he's in the race. Literally."

"I will be the lead sponsor of Mike Wallace's #01 race car at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Race on 2/13," he said Tuesday via Twitter. ...

But the Meek campaign is in a position where it must get creative. Although he's the Democratic frontrunner, not many know of Meek outside Miami.

In a Quinnipiac University poll released last week, 72 percent of registered voters said they hadn't heard enough about Meek to have an opinion about him. This goes up to 86 percent among voters in Southwest Florida. Kids pictured on milk cartons have more name recognition.

To make matters worse, the Republican Senate primary race gets all the attention. Gov. Charlie Crist's transformation from prohibitive favorite to underdog running behind former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio is a dramatic story with national implications. People tend to forget the winner will have to face a Democrat.

So maybe this will help.

Running government like, err, a political party

Florida Juvenile Justice Secretary Frank Peterman and three high-ranking deputies have surrendered their free take-home cars after a state investigation said the vehicles might violate federal tax rules on unreported income. The department issued the cars to Peterman and three top aides because they frequently visit field offices and must be on call to respond to emergencies. The cars are considered perquisites, or perks. "Florida Juvenile Justice officials give up car perks amid probe".

YouTube election law issue

"Leon County Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey was called on the carpet by the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday for improperly using the word "re-elect" in a YouTube campaign posting and padding her legal resume." "Court recommends formal reprimand for Dempsey's campaign errors".

Crist extends hands for federal help

"Florida will appeal to the federal government for help investigating the cancer cluster in The Acreage, Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday, just a day after state health officials said they didn’t plan to search for an environmental cause." "Crist vows to devote 'every ounce of energy' to finding Acreage cancer cause".

Mica rips "the Obama approach"

Joel Engelhardt: "Florida is focusing on an 84-mile connection between Orlando and Tampa."

The administration is offering $1.25 billion as the "down payment" on a $2.6 billion project. The goal is to achieve speeds of 168 mph.

But no high-speed train could get up to that speed while making two stops in 20 miles, the plan for the line's most popular stretch — from the Orlando airport to the Orange County Convention Center to Disney World. From there, how useful is a train crossing rural Florida to terminate at a Tampa parking garage, wonders U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park. He ripped the Obama approach, despite its billion-dollar award to Florida.

Crist insists he's a wingnut

"Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday that despite being attacked from the right by former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, his rival in the state’s GOP Senate primary, he is no 'RINO.'" "Charlie Crist: I'm no RINO".

Bad form

"State Farm has started to send letters to the holders of 125,000 policies in Florida that they will no longer be insured by the largest private property insurer in Florida just as the hurricane season approaches it peak." "State Farm to start sending out policy nonrenewal letters".

"Serious ethical questions"

"A prominent law firm seeking lucrative pension work from Florida pulled out of the running Thursday after the firm's senior partner acknowledged making inaccurate statements to a selection committee."

The selection of the firm, New York City's Bernstein Liebhard, had been put on hold by the State Board of Administration after Attorney General Bill McCollum got an anonymous letter in December alleging misconduct by the firm's partners.

Bernstein Liebhard had been ranked No. 1 by a State Board of Administration evaluation panel, but a two-page letter allegedly written by a former employee said the firm's lawyers had complex financial ties to charities and investors that raised serious ethical questions.

"A virtual prisoner"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Samantha Burton wanted to make her own decisions about her obstetrical care, but the state of Florida wouldn't let her. Claiming it was protecting her fetus, the state took away her rights as a patient and a citizen and made her a virtual prisoner in a Tallahassee hospital. A state appeals court now considering the case must slam the door on such tactics before other pregnant women are victimized."

Burton, a 29-year-old working mother with two young children, was 25 weeks pregnant when she was hospitalized in March 2009 at Tallahassee Memorial. Her obstetrician, Dr. Jana Bures-Forsthoefel, told Burton that because of ruptured membranes and premature contractions, she would have to stay in bed in the hospital for the rest of her pregnancy — potentially 15 more weeks for a full-term pregnancy.

Burton wanted to leave and get a second opinion, but the hospital blocked her departure and set up a hasty court hearing in her hospital room. Burton was sworn in and handed a telephone, with Leon County Circuit Court Judge John Cooper on the other end of the line. She had no lawyer and no legal experience, but Burton was expected to argue her case against her obstetrician and the hospital's attorney.

Her request to go to another hospital was denied. The judge ordered Burton to remain in Tallahassee Memorial and submit to any medical treatment that doctors decided was necessary to preserve the life and health of her fetus. And because the fetus was in the breech position, the judge also ordered Burton to submit to a caesarean section whenever her doctors said it was time.

Burton, who had broken no law, was essentially imprisoned at Tallahassee Memorial and denied control over her medical care. Three days later, doctors performed an emergency cesarean section, but Burton's fetus was dead.

"Dropping like a rock"

"Florida property taxes dropped by $2.28 billion, or 7.5 percent, over the past three years because of tax-cutting measures approved by the Legislature and voters as well as falling real estate values, according to figures presented to a legislative panel today."

"I would classify that as dropping like a rock," said Senate Finance and Taxation Committee Chairman Thad Altman, R-Viera.

Gov. Charlie Crist famously said he wanted taxes to "drop like a rock" as lawmakers began considering tax relief in 2007. They passed the law to roll back and cap property taxes later that year and then put a constitutional amendment on the January 2008 ballot that voters adopted for additional tax savings.

"In theory"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "In theory, the way the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service preserved 4,000 acres of raw land east of Fort Myers for the endangered Florida panther seems reasonable. The ranchers who have owned the property since 1947 get to keep grazing their cattle and make a significant amount of money by agreeing to not alter the tract in ways detrimental to the panther."

But make no mistake, Florida's "state animal" loses big time.

As reported Thursday by the St. Petersburg Times' Craig Pittman, the Milicevic family ranch is only marginally useful for panthers. Cats crowded out of their South Florida domain pass through it as they cross the Caloosahatchee River into new territory. In a three-tiered ranking system devised by panther researchers, this land falls in the third-ranked "dispersal zone.''

Expect LeMieux to say "no"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Short-term fixes have caused instability in Medicare, eroding its physician foundation. The impact of these delaying tactics is already being felt by seniors. About one in four seniors nationwide looking for a new primary-care physician already have trouble finding one, according to Congress' advisory body for Medicare."

Sens. Bill Nelson and George LeMieux should take this news as a harbinger of what is to come for Florida seniors if action isn't taken now to repeal the broken Medicare-payment formula.

Consider Florida's situation: The state has an above-average percentage of Medicare patients (16 percent) compared with the rest of the country. At the same time, 48 percent of Florida's practicing physicians are older than 50 — the age at which many physicians consider reducing patient care.

Florida recently landed on an AMA list of 21 "Patient Access Hot Spots" where patients already face problems getting physician care. Couple these facts with the looming 21 percent cut, and access and choice of physician will be greatly diminished for the more-than 3.6 million seniors, disabled and military families in Florida who rely on government health-insurance programs.

This dire outlook does not even take into account the coming tsunami of baby boomers into the Medicare program. If Congress does not take action now to repeal the formula that causes these annual cuts, boomers will be in for a shock when they begin seeking health care under Medicare next year.

A start

Nationally, "the unemployment rate dropped unexpectedly in January to 9.7 percen" "January unemployment rate drops to 9.7 percent; 20,000 jobs cut".

Citizens

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Citizens Property Insurance Corp. did the right thing in dialing back its no-no decision to offer a no-bid $10 million contract to a firm to conduct 400,000 inspections. By agreeing to rebid inspection management work promised to a Jacksonville firm last year, officials at the state's insurer of last resort resorted to some common sense." "Time for Citizens to control costs".

"A habit born of frustration"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Legislating by constitutional amendment has become a habit born of frustration by Florida voters unhappy with state legislative priorities."

It's not a great way to govern on detailed matters such as how many students should be in a school classroom. That's the kind of calculation that, ideally, should be part of school-based management and home-rule systems, which put decisions as close as possible to the citizens most affected.

Constitutional amendments should deal with the broad structure of government duties and responsibilities. An example of one that sends a broad message was approved by 71 percent of Floridians in 1998, establishing a system of high-quality public education as "a paramount duty" of the Legislature.

Lawmakers have not honored the spirit of this amendment, and in 2002 voters expressed continuing frustration by passing the class-size amendment.

There you go

"Hillsborough keeping class sizes small".

Miami-Dade

"Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson won't seek 5th term".

A group of prominent Republicans is forming an organization to develop and market conservative ideas, copying a successful Democratic model and hoping to capitalize on the fund-raising and electioneering possibilities opened up by a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Republicans who are donors, board members or both include Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi; Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida; Ed Gillespie, like Mr. Barbour a former chairman of the Republican Party; Fred Malek, an investor and official in the Nixon and first Bush administrations; Robert K. Steele, a former executive of Wachovia and Goldman Sachs who was a Treasury official in the second Bush administration, and Kenneth G. Langone, a founder of Home Depot and a former director of the New York Stock Exchange.

And the Supreme Court’s decision last month in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission potentially will allow the organization to take unlimited contributions from corporations and individuals to use to advertise for or against political candidates.

"This administration as well as Citizens United — when you combine the two the prospects for funding these types of efforts are greatly enhanced," Mr. Coleman said.

Deutch - Lynch

"After a long night of uncertainty, Republican Edward Lynch emerged Wednesday as the victor in the special congressional primary, eking out a narrow win over Joe Budd."

Wednesday morning it seemed like a list of possibilities could keep the outcome in doubt even longer:

A technical glitch in Palm Beach County kept questions about the final tally lingering into the predawn hours.

Then there was talk of a mandatory recount because the margin of victory was so narrow. Some spoke -- erroneously -- of a runoff.

And, with no Republican given much of a chance of actually winning the general election April 13, some wondered why it even mattered.

Wednesday it appeared that only 46 votes separated Lynch and Budd. Lynch had 3,320 votes to Budd's 3,274. Curt Price was a distant third with 1,566 votes.

But even that might change -- Budd started the day saying he hoped that provisional ballots, cast by people whose voting status is questioned at the polls, could close the gap. Military absentee ballots are not due until 10 days after an election. If the race is within half of 1 percent, state law provides for a recount.

By Wednesday afternoon, however, Budd concluded he would not get that close and conceded.

"When it rains, it pours"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Welcome to Florida, land of perpetual sunshine."

That's the image the eternally optimistic Gov. Charlie Crist is trying to sell with his latest (and last) state budget recommendations. Crist wants to boost education spending, buy environmentally sensitive land, increase spending for the state's overburdened court system and pour nearly $10 billion into economic development.

Florida needs all these things. But Crist's plan to fund them runs up against the maxim that better defines Florida's current budget forecast: When it rains, it pours.

According to the Division of Bond Finance, Florida can expect its bond payments to increase to $2.4 billion by 2015 -- a 20 percent increase. That's assuming the state doesn't continue the land-preservation program, and that demand for new schools will continue to decline.

If the Legislature follows Crist's recommendations -- and doesn't find additional revenue sources -- Florida's debt, and the interest it pays, could grow even more precipitously, consuming money that could otherwise have been spent on schools, roads, public safety and other state priorities.

Brogan shows "courage"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "It is encouraging to see a state leader with the courage to offer an intelligent, if challenging, strategy for revitalizing the state's economy. Florida University System Chancellor Frank Brogan wants Florida to gradually double its annual investment in the state university system." "Brogan offers strategy to remake our economy".

Troxler calls bullsh**

Howard Troxler: "As you might recall, the public just won historic victories against Florida's two biggest electric companies."

Progress Energy Florida and Florida Power & Light came in asking for something like $1.5 billion in annual rate increases. They lost.

Now, amazingly, here is the reaction of the Florida Legislature:

The Legislature is threatening the job of the public's lawyer who won the rate cases, Public Counsel J.R. Kelly.

In an unprecedented move, the Legislature has reopened interviews for Kelly's job while he still holds it.

Make no mistake — this is a new trick. Never, under the state's venerable old public counsel, Jack Shreve, did the Legislature dare such a thing.

Laughably, the Legislature claims this is just a sudden burst of good government.

I have a two-syllable reply, and the first syllable refers to the male version of a cow.

At the least, this is a thuggish attempt to warn Kelly not to fight so hard for the public.

At the worst, they really mean to fire him. All it would take is a flick of a wrist from an obscure committee.

The control of this committee alternates between the Senate and the House. This is the Senate's year.

The president of the Senate, Jeff Atwater, is in charge. This is his doing.

Class size

Mike Thomas "argued for the class-size amendment when it went on the ballot in 2002 and have defended it against Jeb Bush's diabolical plots ever since." "Be reasonable, not literal, on class size".

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Make belated class-size fix".

"Unless you look at history"

Bill Cotterell asks whether, "if Crist's polls and political handlers say he'll lose on Aug. 24, would Crist file as an independent — skipping the primary and saving his cash (now $7.5 million on hand) for November, when his odds are better in a three-way race?"

Or,

another Rubio-as-giant-killer scenario has Crist running for four more years as governor, with Attorney General Bill McCollum and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp keeping their current jobs. Sayers of sooth see this as a way for Crist to reunite the Republican Party and, in 2012, maybe have Sen. Rubio's support in a race against Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat — leaving Kottkamp the Governor's Mansion and a two-year head start on keeping it.

- [In] 1970, when the U.S. Senate rejected Judge G. Harrold Carswell's appointment to the Supreme Court and then-Gov. Claude Kirk got him to run for the Senate. Congressman Bill Cramer was the GOP establishment choice that year, just as Crist is now, and he beat Carswell. But he lost the general to an obscure state senator, Lawton Chiles, who'd beaten an ex-governor — while an equally unknown Reubin Askew overtook an incumbent attorney general for the Democratic nomination and then beat Kirk.

- 1978 was just an anomaly, as an obscure state Sen. Bob Graham beat a two-term attorney general to succeed Askew. And 1980 was the exception that tests the rule, with a U.S. senator losing the Democratic primary to a Cabinet officer who then lost to a Republican.

- 1986 was just a fluke, when everybody knew Insurance Commissioner Bill Gunter and Attorney General Jim Smith would slug it out for governor. Except, they both dropped out. Smith dropped back in, joining Senate President Harry Johnston's ticket for lieutenant governor, but they wound up running against each other and cancelling each other out.

- [W]e should have foreseen how Smith, losing a Democratic runoff, would become Republican Gov. Bob Martinez's co-chief of staff[*]. Then, when Democrat George Firestone resigned — as, of course, everyone expected when they'd re-elected him a few months earlier — Smith was named secretary of state.

- [M]aybe we shouldn't have been surprised when Chiles started running for re-election to the Senate in 1988, quit, so then Askew ran for a while and quit. Then-congressman Buddy MacKay lost the Senate race that year to Connie Mack but — of course! — Chiles and MacKay were back 15 months later, teaming up for governor and lieutenant governor.

- Smith got Jeb Bush into a runoff for the GOP nomination for governor in 1994 and then dropped out, later becoming a stand-in nominee for agriculture commissioner. Having been attorney general as a Democrat and secretary of state as a Republican and losing bids for governor in both parties, he had to run for the ag job.

- Jeb Bush led by wide margins in all the 1994 polls, so Chiles was re-elected, assuring us that "the he-coon walks just before the light of day," whatever that means.

- In 1998, then-Secretary of Agriculture Bob Crawford remained a Democrat but endorsed Bush for governor and went on to take Bush's place on the elections canvassing commission that certified the 2000 presidential election.

In 1986 he ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida. In the primary election Pajcic slightly led the second-place finisher, state Attorney General Jim Smith; but, as neither had received 50%, per Florida law, a runoff primary was held. During the brief campaign before the run-off, Smith's rhetoric was seen by many as unprecedented in its vitriol for an intraparty contest.

[I]n a televised debate, the candidates were asked if, should they fail to win the nomination, would they endorse their runoff opponent in the general election against the Republican nominee. Both Smith and Pajcic answered in the affirmative. However, when Pajcic emerged victorious, Smith evaded the issue of an endorsement for several days [something about riding his tractor around his panhandle farm].

"GOP fundraiser's hefty pay"

Why is this man smiling? See "Florida GOP fundraiser's hefty pay riles donors".

"Long on hope and somewhat short on reality"

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Optimism is one thing; a realistic state budget apparently is something else. But that's where state lawmakers are now that Gov. Charlie Crist has put forth a $69.2 billion budget plan that is long on hope and somewhat short on reality." "Governor's budget leaves much to be desired".

Private colleges

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: Painful choices await state legislators as they prepare to go Lizzie Borden on a budget that'll require lots of whacks to resolve what could be a $3 billion deficit. Gov. Charlie Crist isn't much help, putting off tough decisions until later (when he's no longer governor).

The editors find it "hard to generate a lot of sympathy when the recently departed president of Nova Southeastern University raked in salary and benefits totaling $1.2 million in 2008. Or when it's unclear whether private schools are resorting to belt-tightening measures such as job or salary freezes, layoffs, furloughs, or employee benefit reductions."

We cringe at cuts to education. But the state needs to make responsible cuts. Difficult cuts. One way to accomplish that is to continue helping private college students — but only those who truly need the help.

"Massive unemployment-tax hikes"

"The race is on to head off massive unemployment-tax hikes that threaten most Florida businesses at the end of April." "Unemployment-tax hikes may be delayed".

Rubio scores "an easy victory"

"Former House Speaker Marco Rubio scored an easy victory over Gov. Charlie Crist in a straw ballot of Big Bend Republicans on Wednesday."

Crist shrugged off the 71-15 vote by the Capital City Republican Club. The secret vote was at least the 17th straight win Rubio has taken among county Republican Executive Committees, party clubs and other grassroots organizations.

But even as the economy soured and GOP fundraising lagged, Johnson earned more than perhaps any party leader in Florida history -- at least $408,000 as executive director and chief fundraiser for the Republican Party of Florida. His total pay was more than triple what party chairman Jim Greer made.

But even as the economy soured and GOP fundraising lagged, Johnson earned more than perhaps any party leader in Florida history -- at least $408,000 as executive director and chief fundraiser for the Republican Party of Florida. His total pay was more than triple what party chairman Jim Greer made.

Nearly $200,000 of that came through a contract signed by Greer and Johnson naming Johnson as the party's chief fundraiser. That contract was apparently never divulged even to senior members of the party's executive committee.

Anger over the party's flailing finances prompted an unusual combination of grass-roots activists and big-ticket donors to force Greer's resignation last month. And that was before party elders knew of Johnson's fundraising contract – and his outsized earnings.

Now a number of prominent donors are coming forward to complain they were kept in the dark about the contract, and they want Johnson to refund what he was paid.

Desperate Charlie to "Play the leadership card"

Adam C. Smith: "Crist supporters across Florida are in varying degrees of panic, and for good reason: Two polls released this week show the once inevitable Republican U.S. Senate nominee trailing Marco Rubio by 12 points and 14 points among Republican voters. A third poll released last week showed Rubio ahead by 3 points."

"Inside the political echo chambers of Tallahassee and Washington, conventional wisdom is setting in that Crist is past the point of no return and doomed to experience one of the most stunning political downfalls Florida has ever seen. Meanwhile everyone — from his closest supporters to fiercest enemies — has an opinion on what the governor needs to do:"

Start carpet bombing the TV airwaves with negative ads about Rubio. Give up and run for re-election as governor. Make a hard turn to the right and relentlessly flog everything Barack Obama does. Run as an independent. Run as a moderate. Apologize profusely for endorsing the stimulus package. And on and on.

Crist's plan? Play the leadership card.

Plug 'em in

"City, county hope to plug in electric cars".

"Misleading histrionics"

Scott Maxwell: "The judge's ruling said exactly what most people would want to hear in an adoption case."

It said that the 1-year-old boy who had been living with his foster parents was "happy and thriving" — and that a permanent adoption made perfect sense.

It should be a simple story with a happy ending.

Except it is not.

That judge's ruling — which focused solely on the child's well-being — enraged some on the religious right.

Why? Because the little boy's adoptive parents are gay.

So now those who profit from division are pouncing.

On some twisted level, you can see why they have been reduced to misleading histrionics.

Because they are losing the fight.

Florida is the last state in the U.S. with an outright ban on gay adoption. And three court rulings in recent months suggest the archaic law may be on its last legs.

The rationale for preventing balanced, loving parents from adopting children — when the state has a backlog of needy children, no less — is hard to justify in concept.

Never mind

"After inquiry, four Juvenile Justice officials give up take-home cars".

PSC

"A Florida Senate committee unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that would tighten the ethics requirements on the Public Service Commission, but the measure was immediately criticized as too soft on the companies the commission regulates." "Panel approves bill to tighten rules on PSC".

A Governor scorned ...

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Optimism is one thing; a realistic state budget apparently is something else. But that's where state lawmakers are now that Gov. Charlie Crist has put forth a $69.2 billion budget plan that is long on hope and somewhat short on reality." "Governor's budget leaves much to be desired".

"House lawmakers scorned Gov. Charlie Crist's budget proposal on Tuesday for relying on close to $2 billion that Florida may not have to spend next year."

That includes a property tax hike that Crist is counting on school boards in Hillsborough and about two-dozen other counties to levy for education.

Crist's $69.2 billion plan would boost spending on education and the environment while cutting business taxes and reinstating a sales tax holiday. All told, his proposal would increase spending by about $3 billion despite steep rises in Medicaid and other costs.

Crist is including in his budget federal aid for Medicaid, raids on state reserves and $432 million resulting from a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe in addition to a projected $2 billion growth in state revenue.

'Glades

"Even before its justices rule, the Florida Supreme Court has erected a potential legal hurdle to Gov. Charlie Crist's $536 million land deal with the U.S. Sugar Corp. The court has agreed to hear a challenge of plans to bankroll the $536 million purchase with bonds issued by the South Florida Water Management District." "Florida Supreme Court to hear case over U.S. Sugar land deal".

Raw political courage

"PBC school district cites tea party movement; says 1,600 jobs could be cut this year".

Anti-tax madness

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Online retailer Amazon.com just reported the company's biggest profit. Will that news be enough to motivate Gov. Crist and the Legislature?"

For the last three months of 2009, Amazon made $384 million. The company attributed the news to strong holiday sales and cost-cutting. Though e-commerce still represents less than 4 percent of all sales nationwide, online holiday buying increased an estimated 5 percent from 2008 and totaled about $27 billion.

Whatever the numbers for Floridians were, Florida will get very little of the sales-tax revenue the state should be getting. Unless online retailers have a physical presence in Florida, they aren't required to collect the sales tax for the state, as traditional retailers must do. Online and catalog buyers are supposed to remit the money. Obviously, most don't.

As the governor and Legislature debate the budget, one common goal should be to make Florida a full partner in the national effort to collect sales taxes from online sales.

Luvin' the Rubio

"Republican Marco Rubio scored another straw-ballot victory today at a luncheon of the politically savvy Capital City Republican Club." "Rubio claims edge over Crist with Capital City Republican Club".

The AIF snaps its fingers ...

"Legislation would shield theme parks and other businesses from lawsuits that can be filed even if parents sign a liability waiver for their children." "Florida bill protects against lawsuits".

Good luck with that

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "Florida needs leaders who will address the growing public health crisis that is substance abuse." "Our Opinion: Deal with addiction".

"Beware of surprises as Legislature crafts testing scheme"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board:

For 10 years, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test -- alternately known as the FCAT or the bane of student and teachers -- has held the reputation of every public school and the academic fate of every student in its grip. It's too much power to give a single test, however well-intentioned some of its aims. The Legislature appears ready to move beyond the FCAT. It's a welcome development if lawmakers intend to restore to classroom teachers what the FCAT took away -- the bulk of the authority to determine a student's capabilities. If lawmakers are merely replacing the FCAT with another method of high-stakes, punitive testing, they're wasting time and deceiving educators, parents and students by changing the test's name, not means.

Whatever

"The man who wrote the Medicaid Reform plan, Alan Levine, said the program faces an uncertain future because no one is championing Bush's legacy in the Capitol." "Jeb Bush's Medicaid plan faces uncertain fate".

Deutch

"The Associated Press has declared Ted Deutch the winner in the Democratic congressional primary, while Joe Budd and Ed Lynch are neck and neck in the three-way Republican race for the District 19 U.S. House seat. " "Deutch called the Dem winner in District 19". See also "Lynch wins Rep. primary, will face Deutch |".

To trial ...

Steve Bousquet: "A last-ditch attempt by Rep. Ray Sansom to dismiss or delay charges that he damaged the Legislature's integrity failed Tuesday as a panel of his colleagues voted to put the former speaker on trial later this month." "As Sansom watches, House panel votes to put him on trial".

Class size

"Republican legislative leaders Tuesday said they want voters to revamp a 2002 constitutional amendment that limits class sizes, warning that school districts will face widespread problems if changes are not made." "Proposed amendment would ease class-size limits". See also "Do-over on class size proposed".

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "A commonsense proposal to ask voters to adjust the class size amendment in November is taking hold in Tallahassee. Unless changes are made, the class size requirements will hit with full force when a new school year begins in August." "Making class size limits make sense".

Florida businesses "threatened"

"The race is on to head off massive unemployment-tax hikes that threaten most Florida businesses at the end of April. Under a deal struck among Gov. Charlie Crist, Republican legislative leaders and the state's leading business groups, the plan is to delay most of the pain for two years." "Legislation seeks to head off major unemployment-tax hikes".

Interesting word choice, "threaten".

Wingnuttery

"Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio has come out against including illegal immigrants in the national census -- even though doing so could significantly reduce Florida's political power and share of federal funding."

Rubio's stance sets him at odds not only with Gov. Charlie Crist, but also with Republicans in the Florida Legislature who are cranking up efforts to track down and find every resident who lives in the state.

Rubio's opposition is largely theoretical -- the census has already started and illegals are being counted -- but it reflects his efforts to appeal to hard-line conservatives in the contest against the more moderate Crist.

Another one bites the dust

"South Florida transplant Armando Gutierrez says he wanted to serve in Congress – but he also saw a chance to find a way to bring major league baseball to Orlando."

So rather than possibly strike out at both, Gutierrez unexpectedly stepped out of the batter's box Tuesday and ended his bid to take on U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando. In a press statement the 28-year-old -- who wasn't registered to vote here six months ago -- said he was devoting himself solely to the improbable task of bringing big leaguers to play in Orlando.

Winter Park traffic-signal businessman Bruce O'Donoghue filed to run Monday, joining attorney and failed-2008 GOP primary candidate Todd Long. Those two and Rep. Kurt Kelly, R-Ocala, who won an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, are the front-runners.

However, two Tea Party activists -- former pilot Dan Fanelli and Lake County homemaker Patricia Sullivan -- are also running. So is doctor Ken Miller, who recently jumped in after first challenging U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D- New Smyrna Beach.

And the list could get longer. Former Ruth's Chris Steakhouse CEO Craig Miller is looking at a run and was said to be in Washington meeting with GOP officials.

Silly

"Florida high school students can weigh in on the importance of Florida's 'Government in the Sunshine' and win cash prizes in a contest announced by Gov. Charlie Crist this week." "Contest challenges students on Florida's Sunshine laws".

Given that harsh landscape, shouldn't the state take some correspondingly tough steps to make ends meet, just as families and business owners throughout Florida are having to do with their own budgets?

Last week, however, Florida's governor said, "Tut, tut."

Or words to that effect. He proposed a spending plan for the new fiscal year that, he said, "ensures a bright and prosperous future for our state."

He offered up everything to everyone. Corporate income tax cuts on the first $1 million in profits and a 10-day back-to-school sales-tax holiday.

Job security for nearly 130,000 state employees (no furloughs, layoffs or salary cuts). And even incentives for employees. He suggested giving agency heads the "flexibility to use unspent appropriations to provide salary increases for employees in occupations that are experiencing excessive turnover … [and] merit pay increases … to deserving employees."

He recommended upping per-pupil spending by $179; increasing funding for community colleges by $67million; and even boosting bonuses for nationally certified teachers by $10.2 million.

What Mr. Crist neglected to offer up was a budget even remotely based on reality

More Mendelsohn

"Justice Department prosecutors now say they'll likely charge more defendants in March as part of the public corruption indictment against one-time major Republican fundraiser Alan Mendelsohn."

Mendelsohn, a Broward County eye doctor, is accused of raising more than $2 million to influence Florida legislators -- including secretly paying $87,000 to an unidentified former public official and spending hundreds of thousands more on his children's education and his former mistress. ...

Mendelsohn's indictment was the first stemming from a long-running corruption investigation by the Justice Department into Mendelsohn and a major campaign contributor Joel Steinger, former chief of Mutual Benefits. Steinger received immunity from prosecutors in that probe. But Steinger, his brother Steven, and two lawyers are under indictment in Miami in a separate, massive fraud case related to Mutual Benefits' sale of life insurance policies belonging to people dying of AIDS and other illnesses.

"Dramatic changes in how NASA functions"

"Obama wants to make dramatic changes in how NASA functions, jettisoning plans to return to the moon, letting private companies handle human transport into lower orbit and focusing the nation's space agency on new rocket technology. But Obama's failure to extend the space shuttle program, which is expected to end by early 2011, and his decision to cancel the moon program launched by George W. Bush in 2004, means the imminent loss of at least 7,000 jobs in Florida and a sense of betrayal along the Space Coast."

private enterprise is only expected to generate 1,700 jobs in Florida, far short of the 7,000 jobs evaporating with the end of the space shuttle program.

Barack Obama wants to stop this silly notion of flying Buck Rogers around the solar system, and turn a bloated manned spaceflight program at least partially over to the private sector.

You might think the Republicans would cheer him. Instead, many have joined with Democrats in howling like wolves on a full moon.

Ideology comes in second to the politics of dispensing dollars from Washington.

Crist flip-flops

"More than $16 billion and eight years later after voters put class-size limits into the state constitution, GOP lawmakers are once again trying to weaken the caps while teachers and Democrats are lining up to fight it." "Florida GOP aims to weaken class-size amendment as final caps take effect this year".

The Miami Herald editorial board: "After years of supporting Florida's voter-approved class-size amendment, Gov. Charlie Crist now wants it to go away with a little creative math."

He's proposing another constitutional amendment for voters to remove the limitations that would kick in next school year. Those caps would require 18 students per class in kindergarten to third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grade and 25 in high school.

The governor wants to abandon this wildly popular mandate with a squishy school-wide average. He would let each public school use a school-wide average, factoring the number of students overall with the number of teachers.

Presto, problem solved.

Winding down

"Democrat Robert Wexler announced in October that he was leaving Congress. But his congressional campaign committee still spent $346,998 during the fourth quarter of 2009, a new report shows. The Wexler campaign paid more than $120,000 in "end-of-career bonuses" to Wexler congressional staffers who doubled as campaign workers. It also spent more than $87,000 on mailings, including 150,000 thank-yous to voters in Palm Beach-Broward congressional District 19 who elected Wexler seven times." "Wexler spent $346,998 in campaign funds after announcing retirement".

Meantime, George Bennett reports that "Polls open Tuesday to pick party nominees for Wexler's congressional seat".

Daily Rothstein

"DNA taken from the jacket of Scott Rothstein's murdered law partner matches the man who is charged with strangling her and dumping her body in a canal, according to police reports reviewed by the Sun Sentinel." "Police: DNA in Rothstein law partner's slaying matches suspect" ("Defense lawyers question why Rothstein wasn't interviewed"). Related: "Melissa Lewis spent her last day alive asking two law firm colleagues about preparing a will, according to police interviews in the files of her murder case." "Michael Mayo: Just before murder, Melissa Lewis inquired about will".

"City clears police chief's role in Rothstein-related crash".

I am shocked, shocked ...

"Incumbent Rooney has fiscal advantage in race to keep his state District 16 seat". Related: "Craft, of St. Lucie, named 'recruiting dud' in Congress race by Politico.com".

Tea partiers outraged!

"Florida's schools, working parents and waterways would fare well in President Barack Obama's proposed budget for the next fiscal year. In what was expected to be a lean budget full of bad news, Obama asked Congress on Monday to spend $263 million to help restore the Everglades and millions more to help Florida parents pay for child care and college tuition." "Florida schools and working parents could fare well in Obama budget".

RPOFer Car salesman shares his wisdom

"Buchanan: Let military prosecute terrorists".

You know Mr. Buchanan, the fellow whose " ethics issues stem from pressuring his employees to make contributions to his campaign committee and improper use of corporate resources for campaign purposes. Rep. Buchanan was included in CREW’s 2008 report on congressional corruption."

Wimps

"State backs down, won't ban throwaway bags".

Yee haw!

"Tampa is once again a finalist for the Republican National Convention, competing for the honor against Salt Lake City and Phoenix." "Tampa again eyed for GOP convention".

When government is run like a business

Steve Otto passes on this letter he received from one Doris Weatherford - an author of several what he calls "outstanding" books on women - about the Trib's recent stories on the Tampa Bay Work Force Alliance; she writes that

This is what can be expected when voters accept that mantra that 'government should be run like a business.' It isn't at all unusual for business executives to spend big bucks wining and dining themselves. Stockholders view it as routine and rarely call for accountability, while the IRS sanctions it by making entertainment a legitimate business write-off. The agency's head, Rebecca Gilmore, is a Republican appointee who ran her office like a business - and spent freely on what she called 'corporate meetings.' Apparently no one explained to her that people paid with public funds are held to much stricter standards than those in private enterprise. The realty is that Florida state employees (and even volunteers who donate their time to state commissions) often lose personal money when they conduct state business. Especially for travel, official reimbursement rates seldom cover actual costs.

More important, the agency's name itself denotes the hypocrisy of Jeb Bush's administration. In other states, this governmental function is called the 'employment service' - but Jeb substituted the private sounding 'Agency for Workforce innovation' at the state level, and regional bodies followed with similar names and attitudes."

"Ethics loopholes"

"Florida lawmakers will take up legislation Tuesday that would outlaw private conversations between Public Service Commission staff members and utility companies, a response to criticism that the agency is too close to the utilities it regulates." "Legislature to grapple with plan to tighten ethics loopholes at PSC".

Gunfight

"No charges for man who shot 4 suspected burglars".

Yet Gov. Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul, all self-proclaimed fiscal conservatives, are vowing to roll back slated increases in unemployment compensation taxes. That means the state will have to continue borrowing from the federal government at a tremendous clip to meet jobless claims.

Crist is calling on legislative leaders to postpone 2010 increases in unemployment taxes. Cretul, R-Ocala, says he wants rollbacks for the next two years so that the minimum state tax amount per worker is around $25 and not the current $100.30.

This is in direct response to Associated Industries, the powerful business lobbying group, and Florida employers who are balking at up to 12-fold increases in per-worker taxes at a time when many businesses are struggling. Last year, the minimum annual rate for unemployment taxes was only $8.40 per worker. Now it's $100.30. The maximum annual rate also rose from $378 per employee in 2009 to $459 in 2010.

This sharp boost occurred because Florida failed to properly prepare for a significant recession when times were good.

Florida trailing even Georgia

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Facing yet another multibillion-dollar budget shortfall when they convene for their annual session next month, Florida legislators are bound to slap more spending cuts on state agencies."

But before they take a fresh whack at funding for the state court system, and turn Lady Justice into Venus de Milo, they should consider the consequences, and take advantage of an alternative.

Unlike other targets of budget cuts, the court system is a separate, equal branch of government. Yet since 2007, legislators have slashed funding for courts by more than 10 percent and eliminated almost 300 jobs.

Florida's courts already are lean compared with their counterparts around the nation. The state has fewer trial judges per 1,000 residents, at 4.5, than the national average of 7.3. Georgia has more than twice as many judges as Florida per 1,000 residents, at 10.7.

Yee Haw!

"An RNC spokeswoman declined to name cities vying for 2012, but The Associated Press has reported that Phoenix and Salt Lake City will join Tampa as possible locations." "Tampa among 4 finalists for 2012 Republican convention".

"Merit" ... RPOF style

"Might C.W. Bill Young's wife or son succeed him in congress?".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Nearly half a billion dollars is flowing through the Florida economy like fresh rain on saw grass, with long-overdue federal funds reviving efforts to restore the Everglades. " "Everglades dollars make jobs, aid nature".

Offshore drilling

"Florida State University scientists pledged this morning to dig deeper into the potential environmental effects of offshore drilling at an afternoon symposium." "FSU scholars pledge in-depth examination of off-shore drilling".

"Florida's Tea Party movement"

"Getting your arms around Florida's Tea Party movement is like trying to hug a jellyfish:"

There's no good place to grab on, and if there were, you'd probably get stung.

Ask U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, a conservative Republican from Bartow who sees potential in the movement's amorphous energy and anger — if it can be harnessed.

"Anger alone will not retake the majority for the Republican Party," Putnam warned party members recently. "It's just a passion. It is not a plan for government."

With their commitment, zeal and sometimes wacky signs, Tea Partiers could be the next big thing for the GOP.

"'Unless the whole point is political'"

"Amid allegations that it was politicizing the job of the public advocate on utility cases, the Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight decided to move ahead and seek applications for the job, thereby forcing Public Counsel J.R. Kelly to compete with others to keep his job."

Rep. Jim Waldman, a Coconut Creek Democrat, said that the legislature went through the process of seeking applicants for the office two years ago when Kelly was first hired and the law only requires that he be reconfirmed. He doesn’t see a need to open it up for new applications "unless the whole point is political."

We are drowning

Myriam Marquez: "South Florida has the sun and surf, the dazzling nightlife, the cruise ships and national sports teams."

It's an international tourist mecca during the winter months, and trade through our airports and seaports pumps billions of dollars into our economy.

We also have a glistening skyline with thousands of empty condos, high unemployment, a growing number of poor people and unskilled workers, and our best and brightest students are being lured to other states offering better career opportunities.

We are in a word, drowning.

Bill solves corruption!

"Florida attorney general unveils public-corruption hotline".

Running government like a business

"The head of Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice has reimbursed the state $28,811 for travel expenses between Tallahassee and his home in St. Petersburg." "Fla. juvenile justice chief reimburses state". See also "Juvenile justice chief repays $28,000 in travel bills".

"Cost-cutting ideas"

Bill Cotterell: "The Florida Department of Law Enforcement recently gave a Senate committee a list of cost-cutting ideas that, if adopted throughout Florida government, would radically change state employment. ... What FDLE tossed out are not necessarily recommendations but ideas. Saying they could be done doesn't mean anyone wants to do them, but here are some of the major points:"

# Allow agencies to implement furloughs, rather than layoffs, to meet budget deficits. The trouble with that is, the state saves some money but the work doesn't get done.

# Reverse the 2001 "Service First" personnel actions that moved nearly 17,000 state employees from Career Service to Selected Exempt. That would mean they'd start paying for health insurance again, but they'd get some job security in return. Some legislators have proposed just making everybody pay, without returning those SES employees to Career Service.

# Provide some early-retirement incentives, as some cities and counties have done, to help the state shed higher-earning employees and replace them with younger, lower-earning workers (or take the opportunity to consolidate jobs and not replace folks).

# Increase the period for vesting in the Florida Retirement System from six years to 10.

# Don't let everybody join the Deferred Retirement Option Plan. Letting department heads approve DROP applications would mean they could tell some senior employees to just go ahead and retire, replacing them (or not) with lower-paid workers. Those in critical positions could be approved for DROP, which allows their pensions to be banked for up to five years while they continue working. But you run into favoritism and discrimination with that option.

# Offer buyouts to employees nearing retirement or running out the DROP clock. This would be a better deal for the state than having to lay off newer employees, many of whom have had some extensive training at the taxpayers' expense.

And here's one idea that probably no legislator has looked at in years, if ever. Bailey said the Legislature should "examine the number of commissions and councils and the number of participants on those commissions and councils, to determine where eliminations, reductions or consolidations might be appropriate."

"Sort of"

"Gov. Crist can keep count -- sort of".

"Florida rail projects an economic sling-shot"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "One of the more promising lines out of President Obama's State of the Union address, at least for Floridians:"

"There's no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains." Instead, Central Florida should have them, especially since a good portion of European and Chinese tourists to the United States make the area's fantasy-rich theme parks a choice stop on their itinerary.

Obama followed with an even better line, and $1.25 billion in federal money to underwrite it: "Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Fla., where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act."

It's not the $2.65 billion Florida was seeking. But it won't be just $1.25 billion, either, if Florida makes good on what Obama is calling a down-payment on the state's 21st century infrastructure. Florida's share this time around is taken from the $787 billion stimulus package Congress passed in February. The package included $8 billion for high-speed rail development in 31 states, including 13 major corridors. (California is getting $2.5 billion.)

Even if Florida got the full amount it requested, it wouldn't have the capacity to spend it in the next two years. The high-speed rail line, which would stretch from Tampa to Orlando International Airport along Interstate 4 (with stops in Lakeland and Walt Disney World) wouldn't be running until 2015. Between now and then, Obama is promising more.

Med school

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Approve FAU med school".

Bad timing

"President Obama has killed NASA's $100 billion plans to return astronauts to the moon on the seventh anniversary of the space shuttle tragedy that triggered the return to the moon plan." "Obama's budget proposal kills NASA moon mission on Columbia anniversary".

TeaBaggers planning counter-protest?

"Opponents of offshore drilling near Florida's coasts are hoping to draw a figurative line in the sand with a statewide protest later this month." "Drilling opponents to join hands in Feb. 13 protest".

"The governor said he did not know ..."

"Crist said Monday the federal government has agreed to reimburse the state for treating victims of Haiti's earthquake. The governor also said he never requested emergency medical evacuations be halted, only that the state receive help in responding to them. The flights were suspended for several days last week but restarted Sunday after the White House said it was told hospitals in Florida and elsewhere have enough space for the victims. One such flight was expected to arrive in Florida Monday night."

"Florida never said we wanted to stop taking Haitians. All we said was that we would appreciate help continuing to help our friends from the island," the governor said. "And that's exactly what has happened."

The governor said he did not know what triggered the suspension of military medical evacuation flights.