So naturally, the Legislature will want to devote tens of millions of dollars to family-friendly film production, scale back environmental protection and create tax breaks for people who buy expensive yachts and airplanes.

Wait. What?

It seems too ridiculous to be true. Yet Florida lawmakers are already promoting these business giveaways -- and more -- under the banner of job growth.

Rubio spent "big money"

Adam C Smith, Beth Reinhard and Scott Hiaasen: "Marco Rubio was barely solvent as a young lawmaker climbing his way to the top post in the Florida House, but special interest donations and political perks allowed him to spend big money with little scrutiny. About $600,000 in contributions was stowed in two inconspicuous political committees controlled by Rubio, now the Republican front-runner for the U.S. Senate, and his wife. A Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times analysis of the expenses found:"

• Rubio failed to disclose $34,000 in expenses -- including $7,000 he paid himself -- for one of the committees in 2003 and 2004, as required by state law.

• One committee paid relatives nearly $14,000 for what was incorrectly described to the IRS as "courier fees'' and listed a nonexistent address for one of them. Another committee paid $5,700 to his wife, who was listed as the treasurer, much of it for "gas and meals.''

• Rubio billed more than $51,000 in unidentified "travel expenses'' to three different credit cards -- nearly one-quarter of the committee's entire haul. Charges are not required to be itemized, but other lawmakers detailed almost all of their committee expenses.

Teaching "is ultimately an art"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "There isn't a stand-alone metric to measure the effectiveness of teachers who inspire us to pursue our careers. Every adult has a story of a teacher who touched his or her life and inspired outstanding academic performance while helping to shape good citizens. These attributes cannot be measured by scientific tests. Teaching — with all of the science it involves — is ultimately an art." "A tricky subject".

Grayson's earmarks

"Grayson fully endorses earmarks — he brags that his totaled $12 million this year, a more than 500 percent increase from the $1.9 million logged by his predecessor, U.S. Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando — and said his GOP foes are ignorant of how the process works. Grayson said the process puts more power in the hands of communities and keeps 'nameless, faceless bureaucrats' in Washington from holding sway over crucial local funding issues. ... Grayson did join other House Democrats this week in backing a ban on earmarks for for-profit companies. " "GOP makes 'earmarks' an issue in Central Florida races".

Florida fights for the right to pollute

"A political battle is heating up between Florida and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over how best to clean up the state's polluted waters."

A lawsuit filed by environmentalists has forced the EPA to begin setting hard numeric limits on nutrient pollution in Florida waters. Those waters exceeding the limits would be considered "impaired," triggering forced reductions on polluters.

The environmental groups say they were forced to file the suit in July 2008 because the Florida Department of Environmental Protection had done little to halt the degradation of rivers, lakes, springs and bays. Nutrients, mostly from fertilizers and minimally treated sewage, can trigger algae blooms that are deadly to fish and unhealthy for humans.

Legislative black caucus divided on redistricting

"A ballot issue to change the standards used for redrawing the state's political districts is dividing the members of the Democrat-dominated legislative black caucus." "Blacks split on redistrict proposal".

Florida's "closed, party-member-only, winner-take-all primaries"

Mark Lane: "In Florida, we have the same problem of sorting among big fields of primary candidates. We have a system of closed, party-member-only, winner-take-all primaries and uncontested general elections that all but guarantee candidates can take office without winning a majority." "When Florida picked a governor with Oscar-style voting".

"Senate's health-care budget ... a bloodbath"

Aaron Deslatte: "The biggest budget battle likely to play out in Tallahassee this spring turns on Republican lawmakers' deep resentment of President Barack Obama's stimulus bailout and their drive to reform Florida's beleaguered Medicaid program."

Congress is on the verge of sending Florida more than $1 billion in additional stimulus funding to help pay for the state's exploding health-care entitlement program, projected to cover 2.9 million poor people, children and seniors next year at a cost of $19.2 billion. Gov. Charlie Crist assumed the money would come when he sent his $69.2 billion budget proposal to lawmakers last month.

But Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, and Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, have assumed this money isn't on the table.

As a result, the first draft of the Senate's health-care budget released last week is a bloodbath. It would cut nursing home reimbursement rates by $122 million, hospital reimbursements by $280 million and Medicaid HMOs by $85 million -- and slash the state's Medicare Part D contribution toward prescription drugs for seniors by $66-million. House budget-writers will roll out their proposals this week, and they should look just as bleak.

Lawmakers plugged $1.8 billion in stimulus dollars into the state-federal Medicaid program in this year's budget, but that cash runs out in December, in the middle of next fiscal year. Democrats want the extra $1 billion to be used to offset that loss – and prevent wholesale cuts.

"Foul practices marring Florida's elections"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Just two weeks into their legislative session, Republican lawmakers are speeding reforms through the Capitol intended to clean up some of the foul practices marring Florida's elections."

Great, right? Profligate fundraising and spending by pols and often shadowy political groups need fixing, don't they?

But slowing down and getting their legislation right's a better course of action than signing off so quickly on changes to campaign practices that would likely serve entrenched political interests more than the public.

Normally slow's-how-we-go legislators already have fast-tracked their reform packages through committees in the House and Senate. Why the rush?

From the "values" crowd

"With Florida's economy in the tank and unemployment at a record high, more Floridians are turning to public libraries to search for jobs, apply for services and get free entertainment. But the state's help for local libraries — $21.2 million — is on the chopping block as lawmakers look to pare up to $3 billion from the state's 2010-2011 budget." "Lawmakers propose eliminating all state funding for libraries".

Free market folly

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Some legislators would 'fix' the problem by letting all companies charge what they want. Bills have been filed in the House and Senate to deregulate property insurance." "Balance insurance reform: No free-market solution for a broken market".

Discrimination lawsuit

"A state contract for U.S. Census publicity triggered a lawsuit by minority-owned public relations firms, who say they were discriminated against." "State is sued for discrimination over Census publicity contract". See also "Lawsuit alleges Fla. not giving black-owned firms fair chance".

Crist's pants on fire

"Crist is one of the nicest guys in Florida politics. He is polite, soft-spoken and never forgets to say thank you, and he has an ability to remain calm at times others would lose their cool."

But threaten to beat him in the Senate Republican primary, and he will attack, as former state House Speaker Marco Rubio is learning. Crist, who calls himself a "happy warrior," still smiles, but he is proving he will throw anything and everything at Rubio to try to win what is becoming one of the closest watched races in the country. Many of Crist's attacks are exaggerated, take words out of context, are not true or are over the top. Rubio has also exaggerated or taken out of context some of Crist's statement or actions, but not to the same extent.

Budget process

"The grand jury that indicted former House Speaker Ray Sansom expressed itself clearly on the matter of openness and transparency in the legislative sausage-making known as the final budget process." "Joint bill would open Florida budget process to the public".

'Glades

"The South Florida Water Management District extended the deadline to seal the $536 million U.S. Sugar land deal." "U.S. Sugar-Everglades deal kept alive".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "South Florida water managers made the sensible decision this week to keep alive for now a major land purchase for Everglades restoration. While the deal to buy farmland is too sweet for U.S. Sugar, the move is a historic opportunity to return the natural water flow to South Florida." "Everglades deal worth keeping".

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators subpoenaed members of Hillsborough County Attorney Renee Lee's staff on Friday and seized e-mail messages related to an ongoing inquiry of pay raises, officials confirm." "FDLE subpoenas county attorney staff, seizes e-mail records".

"'You don't get any faster track than that'"

"In a lean budget year, a $24.8 million medical negligence claim against the University of South Florida Tampa is progressing through the legislative process early in the session, raising eyebrows over the Senate leadership's interest in the case."

The bill, the costliest claim to be heard in the Senate so far, passed through the Health Regulation Committee in a 5-2 vote this week. If it becomes law, the university's insurance providers would be on the hook for the amount awarded to Amara and Daniel Estrada in a 2007 wrongful birth case.

"You don't get any faster track than that,'' said J.M. "Mac'' Stipanovich, a USF lobbyist Thursday.

At least four of the partners in Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley of West Palm Beach, the law firm that represented the family in the case, contributed the maximum allowed donation of $500 each to the campaign of Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, last year.

Jayrn Emhof, Atwater's spokeswoman, dismissed the notion that campaign contributions were a factor, noting other claims bills have also been heard in committee this month.

"The toughest test of his inauguration pledge"

Mary Ellen Klas writes that, "as legislators embark on the last session of Crist's term, the governor faces the toughest test of his inauguration pledge: Does he reject the growing list of exemptions and expend some political capital to push the recommendations from his Commission on Open Government Reform? Or does he allow the Legislature to use the state's dark budget forecast as its reason for not making improvements to the state's Sunshine Laws?" "The Sunshine governor's open government agenda is being eclipsed".

Florida for sale

"The legislation that could allow some companies to stamp their corporate logo on Florida license plates as a way to bring in some cash for the state -- and save drivers some money -- is likely to get a vote in a Senate committee next week. ... There's an obvious question that arises immediately: What type of companies would be able to advertise on tags? Would the state be able to discriminate against certain companies in accepting the logos?" "Florida Legislature to vote on letting corporations buy space on license plates".

Imagine that: Your drive from Daytona Beach to DeLand colored not only by billboards left and right but also by painted billboards on pavement. Imagine the financial benefit to the state. Guard rails, too, could be prime advertising space. The money could help pay for roads.

What about public schoolteachers? Their outer clothing could be emblazoned with ads, and revenue used to offset budget cuts in schools. Students could opt in, too, and sport corporate logos like NASCAR drivers do, with bonus money to schools that convince half or more of their students to sell out.

Obscene? Absurd? Degraded? Yes on all counts, but not much more than Mike Fasano's proposal to turn Floridians' license plates into mini billboards.

Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who chairs the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee, asked his staff to develop a plan that would emblazon corporate logos on license plates. The aim is to generate revenue for the state, which is facing further budget shortfalls. To sweeten the deal for drivers, Fasano proposes to bribe them. Drivers would get to choose what corporate logo they'd want. In exchange, they'd get a $30 or $35 discount next time they renew their license tag. Fasano isn't clear how much money the scheme would raise, but he thinks the idea has wheels.

It may. But it shouldn't. Count the reasons.

RPOFer test scores

"Florida's unemployment rate reached 11.9 percent in January, tying the highest number on record." "It's not getting any easier for Florida's jobless". See also "Florida jobless rate at 11.9 percent". Related: "Online anonymity frustrates Fla's record jobless".

As Florida burns ...

... the Legislature is hard at work: "Florida bill would curb kids' tanning-salon use"

Tea-baggers in a dither


"Government meetings have to be open to the public, but that doesn't mean citizens have a right to speak at them, a Florida appeals court ruled today." "Court: Citizens don't have right to speak at government meetings".

"Crist's tunnel vision"
The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Charlie Crist, the 'People's Governor,' might also like to be remembered as the 'Insurance Governor.' He proudly proclaims that the average bill for property insurance statewide has dropped 16 percent since he took office three-and-a-half years ago, and no doubt many homeowners are grateful for that."

But Mr. Crist's tunnel vision about keeping insurance rates low led him last year to unwisely veto the Consumer Choice Bill, which would have allowed some of the largest insurers to raise rates without going through the usual regulatory process. The Democrat's editorial board thought that letting the free market work on the state's troubled insurance industry was a good idea last year, and we think it's still a good idea.

The consumer choice concept is back in the Legislature again, with House Bill 447 and Senate Bill 876 (lacking a sexy name this year, the bills are simply called "Residential Property Insurance"). The biggest change this time around, according to House sponsor Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, is that all licensed insurance companies would be covered rather than a couple dozen solid, sound companies.

One thing that has not changed is Mr. Crist's distaste for the idea. He vows another veto.

Now, cheap usually sounds good. But there is nothing usual about property insurance in Florida.

Gambling

"A proposed gambling compact that would give four Seminole casinos exclusive rights to blackjack and other banked card games in Florida continues to hold the state capitol in thrall with the ulimate outcome still unclear. Thursday, a powerful House committee takes up the issue." "Senate Gaming Compact Restrains Governor". Nancy Smith says folks should "Think twice before you bet against the governor's Seminole gambling compact." "It's All About the Money".

Ya reckon?

"Florida Democrats may be gearing up to face Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate race this November, but polls suggest that Gov. Charlie Crist would be a tougher opponent." "Crist Tougher vs. Meek".

"Tempting and easy to blame the teachers"

Bill Cotterell acknowledges that "it's tempting and easy to blame the teachers, but they don't work on assembly lines. They shape what we send them and trying to reach a kid whose home life is chaotic, even dangerous, will probably fail more often than not." Much more here: "Teachers carry on as state, unions battle". Related: "Bill would tie teacher pay to performance, student test scores" ("The question: Should teacher pay — and job security — depend on how students score on standardized tests?")

More: "Teacher merit-pay plan passes key Florida Senate committee" and "Senate panel passes GOP bills requiring teacher merit pay, new grad standards".

It never ends

"Late results, fouled cartridges hampered Tuesday's Palm Beach County election tallies".

"BACK-WAX brouhaha"

"Florida has a long history of dirty politics."

Take the legend of Sen. George Smathers supposedly declaring in North Florida that Claude Pepper was a "shameless extrovert" with a "thespian" sister. Or the Florida GOP sending mailers calling a legislator "Dr. Date Rape." Or even Mel Martinez's campaign calling Bill McCollum "the new darling of the homosexual extremists."

But this week Charlie Crist broke new ground in attack politics in his U.S. Senate campaign. Marco Rubio, he charged, may be a back waxer.

"He's trying to pawn himself off as a fiscal conservative. And yet just in recent weeks, two weeks ago it has come out in news accounts he had a Republican Party of Florida credit card, that he charged a $130 haircut or maybe it was a back wax," the governor of America's fourth-largest state told a startled Greta Van Susteren on Fox News Monday night.

Crist "media blitz"

"Crist used the taxpayer-funded state plane Wednesday for a four-city media blitz that promoted a pro-business initiative but ended with a Miami campaign fundraiser." "Crist combines bill signing tour on state plane with campaign stop".

Meantime, "An independent Charlie Crist bid for the US Senate would work to Marco Rubio's advantage, because Crist would win more Democratic votes than Republican ones. In a hypothetical three way contest Rubio leads with 34% to 27% for Crist and 25% for Kendrick Meek." "Crist's Conundrum".

Run "Jeb!", run!

"The eldest son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in a North Carolina political appearance that he doesn't expect his father to make a run for president in 2012." "Jeb Bush's son: 2012 run by dad unlikely".

'Glades

The Miami Herald editors: "Like everything involving the Everglades, the state's agreement to purchase 72,800 acres of U.S. Sugar Corp. land for $536 million has its share of champions and critics. But though it's less than perfect, the deal is worth doing." "The eldest son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in a North Carolina political appearance that he doesn't expect his father to make a run for president in 2012.". Related: "Crist's grand Everglades deal under assault".

McCollum blows his top

George Bennett: "Attorney General and GOP governor candidate Bill McCollum dropped by tonight's Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee powwow and sounded at first like a federal candidate before throwing his likely Democratic opponent, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, into the mix." "McCollum slams Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Sink, health care overhaul".

DMS on the chopping block

"Senate Looking to Break up DMS, Streamline Data".

"Bad news" for Meek and LeMieux

Kevin Derby writes that "While the recent Public Policy polling numbers are getting a lot of attention for showing Marco Rubio crushing Charlie Crist by 32 points, the poll also offers bad news for U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the likely Democratic Senate nominee, and U.S. Sen. George LeMieux."

A Fasano special

"The Legislature is staring at a $3.2 billion deficit, but state Sen. Mike Fasano has tentatively lined up $750,000 for a health care clinic in the regional hurricane shelter that bears his name." "Sen. Fasano seeks $750,000 for health care clinic".

"Legislative leaders at least could be honest ..."

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "As the Legislature debates bills that would deal the state in for a piece of the red-light camera action, legislative leaders at least could be honest about their motives."

Sure, the bills most likely to pass have "traffic safety" in their titles. Yes, legislators — like county and city officials — claim that safety is the goal. Still, the Republican-led Legislature claims to worry about the reach of government and to respect the rule of law. Since the bills to authorize red-light cameras violate both of those principles, the real motive can be only one thing: money.

Whatever

"Fingerprint matches increase, but not arrests as Crist claims".

Hillsborough out of control

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Put an end to county circus".

911

"A Florida House panel has approved a bill aimed at barring the public from hearing 911 calls, unless a judge rules in favor to make an exception." "House committee passes 911 privacy bill". See also "Bill limiting public access to 911 recordings passes legislative hurdle".

Takes one to know one

"Florida lawmakers push for clampdown on exotic-reptile trade". Related: "Republican party reptile".

Those two images so far have defined the red-hot and increasingly hostile battle for Florida's Republican U.S. Senate nomination between Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Both men hope to use the images to paint the other as out-of-step on fiscal issues.

A picture of Crist hugging President Obama was used in Rubio's online fund-raisers and to ridicule the governor for being one of the few Republicans to support the federal stimulus plan.

The image helped transform Rubio's campaign from long-shot to front-runner. A Public Policy Polling survey showed Rubio up 60 percent-28 percent on Tuesday.

Crist is attempting to claw his way back by casting Rubio as dishonest with other people's money. Crist reminds voters that Rubio used his state party-issued credit card to ring up $16,000 in personal expenses, including $135 at a Miami barber shop.

Rubio said he used his own money to pay those bills and recently told Fox News that barber shop charge wasn't for just a haircut.

Crist, on the same cable channel Monday night, suggested Rubio may also have received a back wax.

The landslide margin reported by Public Policy Polling (PPP) of North Carolina is being read as another sign of deterioration -- if not impending implosion -- by a campaign that had held a similarly commanding lead just three months ago.

The PPP polling was done March 5-8, well after the dust-up over Rubio's questionable GOP credit card expenditures.

Tally today

"2010 Legislative session daily summary". See also "In Tallahassee today, it's teachers, texting and reptiles".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"As state economists confirmed the $3.2 billion shortfall that Florida is facing next year, a bill advanced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday that could shrink Florida's budget gap by one-third."

The economists' deliberations coincided with the advance of legislation in Congress that could pump more than $1 billion into Florida's Medicaid program.

Medicaid is the biggest budget buster that lawmakers face this session, as high unemployment has forced more people to seek government assistance. Last year's federal stimulus package provided enhanced federal Medicaid funding only through the end of the 2010 calendar year, six months shy of the end of the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Senate voted 66-34 to end debate on a sweeping bill that includes extending the Medicaid stimulus through June 2011. Florida's Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson voted to advance the bill.

Republican Sen. George LeMieux said he voted no because it would add $100 billion to the federal deficit without a clear means of paying for it. In a statement, LeMieux said he cast his vote "with a heavy heart," agreeing that many proposals in the bill would help Florida.

Rubio "helped push loads of hometown spending"

"Republican U.S. Senate front-runner Marco Rubio brags on his Web site that he didn't officially request budget pork in his last four years as a leader in the Florida House."

But during Rubio's eight years in office — including the final two when he was House speaker — he unofficially helped push loads of hometown spending: $250 million, according to a Times/Herald analysis of little-known budget documents.

Turnaround?

"State economists Tuesday found some good news in the fact that there wasn't any more bad news on the fiscal horizon." "State economists predict revenues will increase for first time in 3 years". Related: "New state jobless figures to suggest turnaround or new high".

Entrepreneurship

"An inmate and three relatives have been charged with tax fraud in a second federal indictment stemming from an IRS tax scam that was run out of a jail near Key West." "2nd Florida Keys inmate indicted in prison tax scam".

"Poll incident"

"Poll incident in Pompano Beach livens up otherwise dull Election Day in Broward, Palm Beach counties".

Free records

"Floridians could get public records free of charge if it takes less than 30 minutes to produce them under a Sunshine law overhaul bill unanimously approved by its first Senate committee Tuesday." "Public records could be free".

Dead wood

"AP: Crist names power co. chief to Fla. school board". More: "Crist Reappoints Bush Staffers to State Board".

Return of "the old-fashioned chain gang"

"With budget cuts paring back landscaping along city roads, Orlando is bringing the old-fashioned chain gang to The City Beautiful." "Prisoners to mow Orlando medians".

It must be OK then ...

"As lawmakers waited Tuesday for the latest state revenue estimates, state Senate budget writers learned that other states are being forced to make widespread cuts in funding for popular school programs." "Lawmakers hear how other states have cut education".

Sales Tax Holiday

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board likes the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday.

Counties benefit in direct proportion to the size of their school-age population, but all counties and even the state treasury benefit from this almost perfect form of tax relief — which provides an automatic economic stimulus for local and state governments as well as businesses.

Gov. Charlie Crist has recommended that the Legislature set aside 10 days for the tax holiday that Floridians enjoyed from 1998 until 2007 (during which it lasted between seven and 10 days). It was suspended last year on the theory that the state couldn't afford any loss of revenue during the recession.

But a study by the Washington Economics Group indicated that a proposed tax holiday would generate $1.7 billion in economic activity, of which close to $1 billion stays in the Florida economy.

Absolutely, 100% not guilty

"The Republican Party of Florida is demanding the Florida Democratic Party drop an elections complaint. A GOP lawyer wrote to the Democrats today saying a complaint filed last week has no merit." "State GOP: Democrats' complaint has no merit".

'Glades

The Tampa Tribune editors: "Florida environmentalists are worried that a Monday New York Times article could derail a $536 million deal to purchase 73,000 acres from U.S. Sugar as part of the effort to rescue the Everglades. It would be better for the deal to be derailed if taxpayers are being fleeced. But that is not at all clear, despite the Times' effort to put the proposal in the worst possible light." "Proceed carefully with Glades". Related: "Key vote nears on Crist's Everglades restoration purchase of U.S. Sugar land".

No nooses

"Long characterized as a symbol of racial terror, the noose might soon be banned in the state." "Lawmakers push measure to ban public display of noose".

911 exemptions

"A controversial proposal under consideration in the Florida Legislature would exempt 911 calls from the public record." "Bill prohibits release of 911 calls".

PSC

"PSC inspector general requests FDLE investigation".

"Leadership"

"Republican lawmakers are reviving leadership funds, which legislators used in the past as a place to funnel unspent campaign money in return for choice committee chairmanships." "Once-reviled funds on way back".

"Sacrificing is for suckers"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board writes that, "in the Wonderland that is Washington, D.C., members of Congress have been letting their belts out. As South Florida's Sun Sentinel recently reported, federal lawmakers voted themselves a 5 percent increase in their own budgets last year. They spent those taxpayer dollars for staff salaries — sometimes in six figures — office expenses and perks. In Florida's delegation, the perks included chauffeured car trips, pricey auto leases and an office aquarium."

Florida's two U.S. senators have annual budgets for office expenses of more than $4 million each, while the state's 25 House members each get about $1.5 million. When their budgets are combined with their Senate and House colleagues', the total of less than $2 billion almost gets lost amid this year's $3.6 trillion federal budget and $1.6 trillion projected deficit. Cutting congressional office expenses won't balance the budget.

But when lawmakers refuse to hold themselves back in tough times, it sends a message to struggling Americans: Sacrificing is for suckers.

Consider these office expenses last year from Florida House members:

Democrat Corrine Brown of Jacksonville, who represents a district where the per capita income is only two-thirds of the U.S. average, spent almost $8,000 last year for herself and her staff to ride in chauffeured cars or SUVs.

Democrat Ron Klein of Boca Raton, a self-described deficit hawk, increased his office spending by $30,000.

Democrat Alcee Hastings of Miramar spent the most on staff. He paid two of them — one his longtime girlfriend — about $160,000 each. Both fell just below the $168,000 limit for congressional staff salaries.

Republican Mario Diaz-Balart of Miami leased a Honda Odyssey minivan for $803 a month.

Republican Tom Rooney of Tequesta spent almost $2,500 on an aquarium in his office. He also spent $628 on bottled water.

Among Florida's House members, the top 10 office spenders last year were split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. The group included four members whose districts cover parts of Central Florida: Republicans Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville and Cliff Stearns of Ocala, and Democrats Alan Grayson of Orlando and Ms. Brown of Jacksonville.

Republican Adam Putnam of Bartow was the most frugal member of Central Florida's delegation. His office spent just 76 percent of its budget allotment.

"'Corruption County' bill"

"In another effort to shed its "Corruption County" label, the scandal-plagued Palm Beach County Commission has sparked a bill that would give all 67 counties the ability to strengthen penalties against crooked officials. " "Palm Beach County-inspired bill would let counties set stricter ethical standards".

Red light bill

"House committee OKs red light bill".

Census based aid

"As the 2010 Census approaches, a study shows South Florida and the rest of the state are on the short end of federal funding determined by the count." "Florida lags in U.S. aid based on Census". More: Dan Moffett writes that the "State must count on illegals: Florida needs their help in the census".

Slashing workers

"Florida taxpayers could save hundreds of millions by severely cutting pension and insurance benefits for state employees, the head of the Legislature's fiscal watchdog agency told House and Senate members Monday." "Lawmakers look at savings possible by slashing state worker benefits".

Sugar scam

"With lawmakers already frustrated over a lack of oversight, recent reports on the state's landmark $536 million Everglades agreement with U.S. Sugar Corp. may add momentum for a legislative response in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the controversial deal, a key House lawmaker said Monday."

Meanwhile, a scheduled meeting of the South Florida Water Management District's Board this week to extend the closing deadline for the contract that ends March 31 is also likely to provide a venue for renewed scrutiny of the May 2009 agreement for the district to purchase nearly 73,000 acres from the sugar company.

The deal originally called for the taxpayers in the water management taxing district's 16-county area across South Florida to spend $1.75 billion for 187,000 acres, about 300 square miles. Facing tough financial times, though, the agreement was renegotiated. If approved, the state will have the option to purchase an additional 107,000 acres.

Recent articles in The Miami Herald and a weekend piece by The New York Times have reignited debate over the already controversial transaction, potentially the most expensive land purchase in state history.

Florida's fiscal outlook

"Many eyes in the Capitol will be focused Tuesday on an obscure team of economists who meet periodically to update Florida's fiscal outlook."

Known formally as the Revenue Estimating Conference, the forecasters will review an array of economic trends to fine-tune a consensus estimate of how much money the state can expect to take in this year from a multitude of tax sources.

The bottom-line estimate is critical: The House and Senate use it to assemble the state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Crist gettin' nasty

Michael Bender: "Crist, in his appearance on Fox News last night, insinuated that the $135 Rubio spent at a salon might have been on a back wax. (The initial issue with the expenditure, of course, was that Rubio charged it to his Florida Republican Party credit card.) Crist said Rubio paid the party back 'after he got caught.'" "Crist on back waxing, Everglades restoration and Jeb Bush".

The Florida web takes a right(er) hand turn

"In Florida there are no rules governing who can get press credentials and start writing about state government and its major players in the Capitol. ... Florida the Capitol Police issue credentials after confirming the name of each employer and doing a criminal records check. There are no formal rules defining who can be a member of the press."

As a result, two years after traditional newspapers and television stations started laying off reporters and substantially cutting back on coverage of state news, a virtual herd of newspeople are going to work for Web-only publications. Some of the websites are clear about their ownership and purpose. Others are not.

A couple of the better-financed news Web operations have moved into the Florida Press Center, taking offices once occupied by newspapers that cut staff or eliminated capital bureaus. One of the new groups -- Sunshine State News -- has set up shop in a former Miami Herald suite with new furniture and a staff of about a half dozen reporters and editors who say they plan to emphasize business and politics on a free website.

The folks at Sunshine will not disclose the names of investors who are financing the operation. ...

Sunshine's corporate papers were initially filed by Justin Sayfie, a former communications director for Gov. Jeb Bush.

"Lame excuses"

The Tampa Tribune editors: "If the groundwater around or beneath the homes of Florida lawmakers had been contaminated and they didn't find out about it until nearly two decades later, you can bet they'd quickly pass a law to make sure they'd never be kept in the dark about such things again."

The public deserves the same concern.

The state Department of Environmental Protection discovered a plume of paints and other toxic chemicals from a now-vacant defense plant had contaminated groundwater in an area of St. Petersburg in 1991. But 17 years went by before residents were informed.

Since the discovery, the plume, according to Sen. Charlie Justice's office, has "migrated 200 acres, affecting two apartment complexes, three neighborhoods, community parks, schools and the waters of Tampa Bay."

Such an inexcusable delay should never be tolerated again. When the environment is contaminated, affected residents need to be notified as quickly as possible. It is a matter of public health.

Yet, Justice, a St. Petersburg Democrat whose district includes part of Hillsborough County, and Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, have twice had to file bills that would mandate timely disclosure to residents of contamination of groundwater, surface water and soil.

The legislation failed to win passage last year, and this year appears to face tough sledding, too. Concerns have been voiced about compliance costs for companies and the additional expansion of government.

ES&S settlement

"The nation's largest voting-machine company probably won't be called a monopoly for much longer in Florida and other states. Under a proposed settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and nine states that include Florida, Election Systems & Software will divest itself of its hardware, software and other assets it acquired after the $5 million purchase of Premier Election Solutions, a division of Diebold Inc. The state and federal governments released the draft settlement agreement Monday -- on the same day that the Justice Department and a group of attorneys general from states including Florida filed a civil anti-trust suit in Washington federal court." "Lawsuits pull the plug on voting-machine monopoly".

Yesterday's news

"2010 Legislature summary".

Hammering teachers

"The sponsor calls it a 'hammer.' The head of Florida's statewide teachers union says it's more like a 'nuclear weapon.'"

It's a provision in a wide-ranging teacher quality bill penalizing school districts that fail to adopt merit pay plans by cutting part of their state funding and forcing them to make up for it by increasing local property taxes.

The bill (SB 6) sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, also would reduce teacher job protection and make it easier for school officials to fire teachers. The legislation has drawn union opposition.

Thrasher, who also chairs the Florida Republican Party, said Monday his bill needs the penalty provision as an incentive for districts to adopt performance pay plans.

Only eight of Florida's 67 school districts participate in the current Merit Awards Program. Just five local teachers union leaders support Florida's application for about $1 billion in federal Race to the Top stimulus funding. The application features a pay plan similar to the one in Thrasher's bill.

The penalty provision would cut state funding in an amount equal to 5 percent of what a district spends on salaries for teachers, principals and other school-based administrators. Districts also would have to raise property taxes an equal amount.

That would be a clear violation of the Florida Constitution, which gives school boards the authority to run local schools and determine taxing rates and a provision that guarantees employees the right to collectively bargain, said Ron Meyer, a lawyer for the teachers union. Meyer said several other parts of Thrasher's bill have similar constitutional problems.

"Wily coyotes"

"Though the number of coyote sightings is growing, especially in rural areas, efforts to trap and control the predatory animals remain sporadic and low-tech." "Florida tries to fend off wily coyotes".

Poor kids

" Florida community colleges face crunch, can't meet student demand".

"Partisanship at its most self-defeating, train-wrecking worst"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "At last week's Broward legislative delegation meeting, the majority Democratic members seemed to take umbrage that the sole Republican among them, state Rep. Ellen Bogdanoff, is taking the lead on getting an anti-corruption Broward bill passed in the Legislature. This is partisanship at its most self-defeating, train-wrecking worst." "Skip the partisan sniping".

Rothstein report

"As her husband's billion-dollar fraud scheme was imploding last Halloween, Kim Rothstein went shopping for more shoes at Nordstrom. She liked expensive shoes. And Louis Vuitton handbags. Gucci accessories. Evening dresses by Zola Keller. Shirts, sweaters and jeans from Cache Luxe. She could burn through thousands of dollars on a shopping outing, or drop nearly $5,000 buying from a chic Los Angeles boutique online." "Kim Rothstein shopped so much that it's now all a blur".

Public records

"Open government advocates and a state senator who's had her own problems obtaining public records are backing a sweeping bill making it easier for people to get government records." "Getting public records could be easier under bill developed by Crist panel".

Insolvency

"Several more small startup property insurers in Florida are headed for insolvency, leaving tens of thousands of homeowners looking for a new company as hurricane season approaches June 1." "More new Florida property insurers in trouble".

Going local

"Six Orange County cities will go to the polls on March 9, 2010, to elect representatives and decide charter amendments. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m." "Orange elections: Voters to go to polls in 6 cities". See also "Polls open without problems and with few voters in Broward, Palm Beach counties".

Limit term limits

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board points out that "six states have repealed their legislative term limits. Battles or debates are ongoing in nine others to change or repeal term-limit laws, including in Florida, for good reason: Term limits work better in theory than in fact. They diminish voters' say. They reduce elected representatives' influence and accountability when those representatives are in their last term. Term-limited representatives who spend half their time learning the system and the other half racing the clock for influence end up yielding power to lobbyists, who know they'll outlast every term-limited representative. Democracy isn't improved. It's damaged."

The proposal to change Florida's term-limit system would mostly add to the harm.

State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, is proposing a constitutional amendment that would increase state senators' terms from four years to six years and increase state representative's terms from two years to four years. Senators could then serve two terms for a total of 12 years, increasing their total potential service by four years. House members could serve three consecutive terms, also increasing their potential service to 12 years. (Bennett's proposal is formulated in Senate Bill 598 and House Bill 495.) ...

Extending terms to six years in the Senate and four years in the House diminishes accountability and places bigger distances between the elected and their constituents. ...

Bennett also proposes to impose term limits on county elected officials, including constitutional officers such as sheriffs, tax assessors, clerks of courts and county commissioners. Years of service in those offices would also be limited to 12. That's an overreach. If county voters choose to impose term limits on their own county representatives, that should be up to them.

The best term limits remain in every voter's hands, and they're exercised at the ballot box.

Though only a temporary lawmaker, filling the final 16 months of retired Sen. Mel Martinez's term, LeMieux has been relentless in trying to generate notice, whether through news releases or Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or extensive travel.

The 40-year-old Republican, a former chairman of the Broward GOP, says he is working hard to represent Florida and communicating in ways that reflect a changing society. But there is a clear end game: The part-time senator wants a full-time gig.

Until recently, LeMieux was someone who was defined by his lack of public persona, the behind-the-scenes conductor of Gov. Charlie Crist's political machine. Since Crist appointed him in September, LeMieux has been rapidly working to transform himself into a viable brand of his own.

For now, that ambition points in a provocative direction: The seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who is up for reelection in 2012.

Florida's "slavery problem"

"A traveling museum is bringing attention to the slavery problem that still exists in Florida's agricultural industry." "Museum highlights modern-day slavery problem in Florida".

Wingnuttery

"South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, a hard-line conservative who's challenging the national Republican Party leadership, came to Tampa on Saturday backing conservative U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio."

He has friends in Florida. State Rep. Will Weatherford of Wesley Chapel introduced DeMint, calling him "Doctor No to earmarks to nowhere," and county party Chairwoman Debbie Cox-Roush called him "the only senator with a 100 percent conservative ranking."

A hero to the tea party movement, DeMint shook up the GOP by forming the Senate Conservatives Fund, a PAC to back conservative Senate candidates, some of whom were running against Republicans backed by the party.

NASA

"In the latest sign that his NASA vision is in peril, President Barack Obama will announce today his plans to host a space summit in Florida on April 15." "Obama plans space summit in Florida to defend his vision for NASA".

Whatever Jebbie wants ...

Today's Mike Thomas column is a real laffer. He begins with a little background about the latest wingnut crusade in Tally:

Florida legislators' arch-enemies, the teacher unions, are the focus of reforms [sic].

Tallahassee is sticking a load of dynamite under the old schoolhouse.

The public-education model in Florida is about to go ka-boom.

All it will take is for legislators to sign off on some pending bills. That is a given, as conservatives now firmly control the state capital.

And their arch-enemies, the teacher unions, are the focus of the reforms.

Gone will be teacher tenure and the job security it provides. Gone will be across-the-board raises and layoffs based on seniority.

The traditionally moderate Senate has taken a hard turn to the right. The new 500-pound gorilla is Sen. John Thrasher, just appointed as the Republican Party chairman. He is a former speaker of the Florida House, a close ally of Jeb Bush, the man who helped steer Jeb's revolutionary [sic] accountability reforms through the Legislature in 1999. And his fingerprints are all over these new reforms.

Together again: Jeb & John.

For Jeb, it is about finishing the job he started more than 10 years ago, making Florida a national model for 21st century education.

Teachers effectively join most other employees in Florida as at-will workers[*]. That vastly diminishes the power of teachers unions[**]. And don't think that isn't an added perk for Republicans [and their allies like Thomas].

Teachers will be under more pressure. Like an NBA player in the last year of his contract, those who haven't been putting in the effort will have to up their game.

Will the good ones flee? I seriously doubt it. But I also think the state has to put a big chunk of merit pay money on the table to make this work and attract people into the profession.

"Playing it safe"

"As state lawmakers grapple with how to close a $3.2 billion budget gap and shrink unemployment ranks, Florida's leading candidates for governor are playing it safe. Neither Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum nor Democrat Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has advanced a bold agenda to influence any of the major policies that either could inherit on inauguration day in January." "Leading candidates for Florida governor cautious on issues".

But Jebbie said ...

... he fixed it with the FCAT ...

"Floridians concerned about K-12 education got a sobering, and worrisome, assessment courtesy of a 2009 report from the Florida Reading Council. The study showed that 55 percent of Florida's college freshmen required some sort of remedial class work." "Editorial: Dump FCAT in high school, rely on college placement exams".

Hypocrisy alert

Aaron Deslatte: "On the eve of a budget-balancing session in which they'll have to tap federal stimulus cash for the third year running, Florida's Republican legislative leadership held a press conference to call on Washington to rein in its expanding fiscal waistline." "Partisanship is Legislature’s watchword".

Bought and paid for

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida's business community is lobbying the friendly Republican-controlled Legislature for new laws that would make it much harder for injured people to collect damages. Maybe a few legal tweaks are needed, but these bills would tilt the law too heavily toward insulating businesses from liability." "Protect the people".

Bad hair cut

Adam C Smith: "A fired-up Charlie Crist charmed a hometown crowd in St. Petersburg Saturday, and made it abundantly clear we'll be hearing a lot about Marco Rubio's state GOP credit card spending in the coming months. Credit card statements from 2007 show Rubio charged $134.75 at a tony Miami barber shop." "Crist gives Rubio a buzz cut for $135 bill at barbershop".

Never mind

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Florida voters thought they had good reasons 18 years ago to limit terms in the Legislature to eight years."

They were striking a blow against arrogant, career politicians whose name recognition and rich campaign coffers empowered them to operate without much fear of losing an election.

A limit on terms was supposed to guarantee a steady stream of new blood. It would force lawmakers to be more accountable. It would weaken and humble them.

Ask a voter today if they're in favor of all that, and the answer will probably be: "You're darn tootin' I am!"

But Florida's experiment with term limits has made clear to careful observers that an arbitrary eight-year limit has very bad side effects. Lobbyists have gained power. Term-limited lawmakers tend to focus on short-term results and ignore long-term consequences. They cater more to the special interests than to the electorate.

Many members do not understand the complexities and history of issues such as growth management, property taxes, water and health care, to name a few.

Unknown, freshly elected representatives immediately begin campaigning for leadership positions. Those who wait get left behind.

"Two ways to test the commitment to democracy"

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "Florida voters have two ways to test the commitment to democracy of every voting bloc from Tea Party conservatives to "post-racial" liberals. One: Participate in the 2010 Census. Two: Vote in favor the Fair Districts amendment proposals at the state and federal levels." "Our Opinion: A clean slate".

SeaWorld

Pierre Tristam: "Disturbingly recent exceptions aside, civilized nations now agree that burning fellow human beings at the stake, torturing them or enslaving them is inhuman. The day will come when civilized nations will agree that imprisoning wild animals in zoos, whipping them about in circus acts from city to city or forcing them to do tricks for our amusement in such places as SeaWorld, Marineland and Epcot is as cruel to the animals as it is lewd of the people watching them."

This isn't to argue against domestication or even the slaughtering of animals. We are animals and predators. But domesticating an animal for help or companionship and certainly killing an animal for sustenance will always be more morally defensible than taming one for entertainment or "education." (The less defensible gobs of cruelty in the chicken farms and the feedlots of the West, where cattle are turned into walking mummies of drugs and fat, have more to do with a nation's gluttony than sustenance. But that's another story.)

Places like SeaWorld love to claim that their shows give people a close-up of something unique that fosters an appreciation for nature and conservation. Florida residents give the lie to that invention. They've been converging on SeaWorld from subdivisions that have plowed under entire ecosystems and obliterated the habitats of 111 plants and animals (at last count). That's not about to change.

"SunScam State"

The Palm Beach Post's Randy Schultz asks: "Aren't you tired of it? Aren't you tired of Florida in general, and South Florida in particular, being the scam capital of the Southeast?"

We all know about the political corruption. Three former Palm Beach County commissioners are in prison. Two ex-West Palm Beach city commissioners did time and are out. Broward County features Scott Rothstein, the Bernie Madoff Mini-Me, and other political scandals at various levels. Miami-Dade for decades has been known as the county that runs on graft.

But it's so much more. It's Medicare and Medicaid fraud. As a senator, Bob Graham started a whole task force on that 13 years ago. It's auto insurance fraud, which South Florida has exported to Orlando and Tampa Bay. It's boiler-room, white-collar scamming in my hometown of Boca Raton.

And now, it's pain-pill smuggling.

Phony veterans

"Beware the phony veterans. That was the message from some state lawmakers gathered at the VA Primary Care Clinic here on Friday." "New state bills introduced to combat phony veterans". See also "Impersonating military vets for donations would be felony under state rep’s bill".

The RPOFer economy ...

... a house of cards, which is now collapsing: "Foreclosures swamping county, courts".

"Take it or leave it"

"The Florida Senate has come out with a new Seminole Indian gambling deal — and this time, the chamber is telling Gov. Charlie Crist and the tribe: Take it or leave it."

The new Senate bill has the same terms as last year's version. It would give the tribe blackjack at four of its seven resorts, including the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood and the Coconut Creek casino, in exchange for at least $150 million a year.

"A sly way to get around the law"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "State law doesn't allow them. Local governments get around the prohibition by treating red-light infractions as code enforcement violations, like overgrown grass, as opposed to moving violations."

It's a sly way to get around the law. Cities have been getting away with it for years, putting up cameras that spy on drivers and snap a digital photo automatically when a vehicle is perceived to have crossed against a red light. It's time for the Legislature to clarify the law. Either cameras are allowed or they're not. There should be no middle ground cities can exploit, as they do now, resulting in a patchwork of rules and penalties from one city, and sometimes one suburb, to the next. A Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge was right when he ruled that traffic laws are state laws, that red-light cameras are a mode of enforcing traffic laws, but that absent a state law allowing traffic cameras, they may not be used. The judge ruled that traffic ticketing may only take place when a live law enforcement officer is present.

"Tough love or political terror"

Mary Ann Lindley: "Week One of the Florida Legislature has wrapped up, and everyone's hands are tied, with instructions to cut and chop and spend no money before its time."

I don't know if it's tough love or political terror that Speaker Larry Crutel has invoked in his long list of ways to say "no," but all House members got the memo Thursday: no new taxes, never, ever.

Likewise, Florida TaxWatch, calling upon its own white-collar task force of prominent Floridians, on Thursday delivered 87 ways to shape up government through "cost savings." ...

The concept of investing in a better state — in our universities, early-learning efforts, preventive health and public safety programs — and getting something valuable back in the long run seems to remain beyond consideration, even though it could be done with a more fair and broad-based tax structure.

Yet while legislators are instructed not to spend a dime or raise a dime of taxpayers' money, that doesn't mean they don't happily collect and spend money to advance their own ambitions.

Right down to the end of the day on Monday, before the session convened on Tuesday morning, lawmakers around town were fundraising at breakfast, lunch and the cocktail hour — and not subtly.

Big spenders

"The top 10 spenders were evenly split among Democrats and Republicans." "Florida Congressmen spend tax money on luxury cars, high salaries and perks".

Walking with the dinosaurs

"Top home-school texts dismiss Darwin, evolution".