Crist asked federal authorities Friday to investigate the Republican Party of Florida amid growing concerns about secret deals and misspent money.

"It's a mess,'' he said. "This thing stinks.''

"A federal comprehensive investigation is . . . fully appropriate,'' the Republican governor said. "Particularly because of the significant IRS implications throughout this thing.''

Crist's call for federal intervention followed a similar request from Florida Chief Financial officer Alex Sink in a letter to the state attorney general Friday.

At the same time, new records obtained by the Times/Herald expose how another top GOP lawmaker -- incoming Speaker Dean Cannon -- used a party credit card to charge $200,000 in a two-and-a-half-year period ending in early 2009.

The charges include more than $3,000 in personal expenses, some of which he didn't reimburse until just weeks ago as controversy swirled around the use of party credit cards. ...

Cannon, who becomes leader of the Florida House after the November election, used his party American Express for a variety of expenses, ranging from a $24.90 baby toy for a donor and a $47.47 Hooters charge to $945 for dining at a popular sushi restaurant in Tallahassee and a $1,786.43 dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, according to itemized records.

The reports, though incomplete, show Cannon spent the most in a single month in December 2006, when he swiped $41,245.48 in charges. About half -- $19,151 -- came from a single expense: a chartered jet service to New York for a party fundraiser. The same month he also racked up more than $26,000 in limousines, taxis and rental cars.

A birthday dinner at Hot Olives in Winter Park cost $2,530 -- a charge he later reimbursed to the party because it was a personal expenditure, party officials said.

But Cannon didn't reimburse another nearly $500 of personal expenses until just recently when party officials found the questionable tabs.

Gambling deal

"Florida legislators have worked out a tentative deal with the Seminole tribe that would bring the state $1.5 billion in return for allowing the Seminole Tribe to expand slot machines at its casinos and give it exclusive rights to certain games in the southern part of the state." "Lawmakers reach gambling deal with Seminole Tribe". See also "Fla. reaches $1.5B gambling deal".

Florida's wacky urologist

"Urologist stands firm, appears on national news as blogosphere erupts over sign telling Obama voters to go elsewhere". "Mount Dora Dr. Jack Cassell's anti-Obama stance sparks firestorm nationwide". See also "Health care reform starts now for Mount Dora doctor, who posts sign telling Obama supporters to seek care elsewhere".

Don't forget the giant Confederate flag

"Tampa Bay's business, political leaders form RNC host panel". See "Larger Confederate Flag Unfurled Near I-75 In Hillsborough".

Running government like a business

"Members of the Florida House tried to vote to reduce their own pay today, but the chamber ended up inadvertently giving themselves a raise — at least temporarily." "Florida House members bungle their own pay cut".

Estefan record sales to take a nose dive

"Cuban-born singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio, will host President Obama at their Miami Beach home April 15 for a Democratic National Committee fund-raiser, when the president comes to Florida to talk about cuts to the NASA space program." "Emilio and Gloria Estefan to host President Obama at Miami Beach home". See also "Obama’s April trip to Miami Beach to be hosted by Gloria and Emilio Estefan".

Teacher bashing continues next week...

"Florida House members will get their chance next week to debate at length a controversial education reform measure that would link teacher pay raises to student performance on standardized tests. And public school teachers will be packing the room in protest of the legislation."

The measure (HB 7189, SB 6) has turned into an ugly source of controversy, pitting Republican lawmakers against the teachers' union in a fight over how educators should be paid. Proponents contend that teachers should be compensated based largely on results produced. Teachers say that is already the case and that the bill unfairly targets them by not taking into account external factors that could affect a student's performance on test day.

The House Education Policy Council has scheduled an eight-hour meeting for Monday to take testimony on two pieces of legislation: HB 7189 on merit pay and HB 7053, which requires students to take more difficult classes to graduate high school. But the bulk of the day will be spent on the merit pay bill.

Rudy repays Charlie

What goes around comes around: "Giuliani sought Crist's endorsement when he ran for president in 2008, but Crist instead endorsed eventual nominee Sen. John McCain." "Rudy Giuliani To Campaign For Marco Rubio In Florida Senate Race". See also "Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to Back Rubio For Senate".

"Legislature's dictatorial stance toward teachers"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The Florida Legislature's dictatorial stance toward teachers has consequences that will go well beyond Race to the Top ['RTTT']."

Lawmakers such as Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, and sponsor of a merit-based pay plan that has angered educators, blames teacher unions for Florida's failure to win a $1 billion innovation grant from the Obama administration. ...

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan should be telling Florida officials that "reform" virtually at gunpoint isn't the kind of change Race to the Top rewards. It's not certain the Republican-led Legislature would heed the message. Hypocritically, they've criticized stimulus money, which is what RTTT is, but don't mind using it as an excuse to bash teachers. That attitude will drive good teachers away.

Too bad about term limits

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: "If only Lois could run again".

TaxWatch wingnuttery

The government haters at TaxWatch, who (as a another right wing nut once put it) want to "drown it in the bathtub", are at it again, spouting tea-baggery: "'The government sector has been held harmless as a whole as the greatest recession since the Great Depression ravages Florida,' said Dominic Calabro, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch." "Government Workers Largely Shielded from Job Losses".

We of course understand that these neo-tea-baggers equate the size of government with government regulation, and in turn "freedom". Yet for some reason - not too difficult to discern - Dems and Republicans, and their newspaper company shills, usually (but not always) present TaxWatch as some sort of neutral think tank.

Check out this delightful cast of characters from the TaxWatch website:

Chairman
David A. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO, PSS World Medical

President & CEO
Dominic M. Calabro, President & Chief Executive Officer, Florida TaxWatch

Chairman-Elect
Marshall Criser, III, President - Florida, AT&T

Treasurer
John Zumwalt III, Chairman & CEO, PBS&J [in the news today]

Secretary
Michelle Robinson, President - Southeast Region, Public Affairs, Policy & Communications, Verizon

Immediate Past Chairman
Michael A. Jennings, Vice President Government Relations, Prudential Financial

Chairman Emeritus
Mark C. Hollis, Retired President and Vice Chairman of Publix Super Markets, Inc.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AT LARGE

* John Baker, President & CEO, Patriot Transportation Holdings
* Barney Barnett,Vice Chairman, Publix Super Markets, Inc.
* Martha Barnett, Partner, Holland + Knight
* Rober E. Coker, Senior Vice President, United States Sugar Corporation
* Steve Evans, Retired IBM Vice President
* Ed Hannum, President & Chief Operating Officer, AvMed Health Plans
* Martha Korman Zumwalt, Executive Director – Premier Accounts, American Reprographics Company
* Ron LaFace, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig [Of Black Jack Abramoff fame]
* David Mann, Executive Vice President, SunTrust Bank Florida
* Paul Noland, Sr. Vice President, Domestic Business Development, Walt Disney World Resort

End of an era

"With next shuttle launch, end of an era rockets closer".

PBSJ gets a GOPer pass

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Records show the FEC had ample evidence last year that, for decades, Tampa-based engineering company PBSJ had given illegal campaign contributions to political candidates as it sought government contracts. But the commission's Republicans refused to pursue sanctions, forcing a 3-3 deadlock until the statute of limitations ran out this week." "Toothless watchdog on campaign finance".

Frequent fliers

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Florida's Juvenile Justice Secretary Frank Peterman has had to reimburse the state for nearly $27,000 in taxpayer-funded travel between Tallahassee and Tampa, after newspapers reported that he was flying back and forth to spend long weekends at home in St. Petersburg."

Frequently, that meant he was working about three days in the capital, a practice not lost on Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, who has been pushing legislation to require all state agency heads and other top state officials to live within 50 miles of Leon County upon 90 days of their appointment. ...

Some spectators watched the reversal, speculating that lawmakers themselves are often in line for high-paying state agency positions after their terms in the Legislature expire. That doesn't mean they'd necessarily want to pack up their families and relocate to the capital for an appointment of possibly just a few years.

However nice it would have been for Tallahassee to mandate residence of highly paid state officials, the reality is that the provision was more punishing and political than practical in today's working world.

In a global economy and a virtual world, employees are not necessarily tethered to an office desk in the city where their company or agency is headquartered. Employees, even elected ones, are mobile, virtual and yet reliable — or eventually found out and let go.

The key, as always, is accountability and fairness.

Kosmas

"Kosmas touts health care reform’s benefits for children".

"Step down" letters

"An anti-government group is asking more than 30 governors to step down, but the office for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist won't confirm if he's among them. ... Investigators do not see threats of violence in the group's message, but fear the broad call for removing top state officials could lead others to act out violently. ... The FBI expects all 50 governors will eventually receive such letters." "Crist 'aware' of governor letters from anti-government group".

Greer's lawsuit came a day after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an investigation into whether he fraudulently siphoned party money into a consulting company he owned.

Greer's attorney, Damon Chase, said the Florida GOP wants to smear his client. The party requested the criminal investigation to avoid honoring the January severance contract that would have paid Greer consulting fees totaling $124,000, plus healthcare upon his departure earlier this year, Chase said.

Instead of settling this, they are fighting,'' Damon said. >u>"Get out your Shakespeare books because everybody is dying.''

"Due to lack of adequate documentation for certain cash disbursements, we were unable to form an opinion regarding the amounts recorded as expenses in the accompanying combined statement of revenue, expenses and changes in net assets," according to Thomson Bock Luger & Co.'s audit of RPOF released Wednesday. ...

On the day Chairman Jim Greer was run off in January, amid questions of financial shenanigans, a Shred-it mobile document-destruction truck was parked outside RPOF headquarters in Tallahassee.

To replace Wexler ...

George Bennett: "For South Florida voters who sent liberal Democrat Robert Wexler to Washington seven times, this month's special congressional election offers a chance to stay the Democratic course or deliver an upset even more improbable than Republican Scott Brown's January win in a Massachusetts special Senate election."

America's first U.S. House race of 2010 pits Wexler's chosen successor, Democratic state Sen. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton, against Republican Ed Lynch and no-party candidate Jim McCormick.

Early voting begins Monday and the general election is April 13 in a heavily Democratic District 19, which includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties. Wexler left the $174,000-a-year job in January to head a Middle East think tank.

Deutch isn't known for the "fire-breathing liberal" style of Wexler, but promises a similar voting record.

He supports the sweeping health-care legislation approved last month over unanimous Republican House and Senate opposition. He says he would have voted for the $787 billion economic stimulus bill and cap-and-trade limits on carbon emissions in the House last year. He supports immigration reform that includes a "path to citizenship" for many illegal immigrants. He's for "reasonable" gun control.

­Lynch and McCormick are both running on fairly conservative platforms.

Lynch, who got 27.2 percent when he challenged Wexler in 2008, favors repealing the health-care law and starting over with elements such as limits on malpractice awards in lawsuits.

Drill debate

The Miami Herald editorial board: "President Obama's expansion of offshore oil and gas drilling in Florida may be good politics, but it's bad policy. Whether opposition is based on environmental concerns or an economic wisdom that says dirty beaches are bad for the tourism industry, drilling -- until recently when the economy tanked -- has been very unpopular among Floridians." "Drilling plan: Good politics, bad policy".

"There was plenty of backlash Wednesday when President Barack Obama announced his plan to expand offshore oil drilling in Florida. Where it came from, however, is a stark illustration of how far the debate has shifted." "Opposition to drilling erodes".

Background: "Obama offshore drilling plan spares South Florida".

Tally update

"There were a few jocular April Fool's Day references in today's four-hour budget debate on the House floor, but members wound up tricking themselves with a couple of embarrassingly big numbers." "House votes for pay cuts: $67.2B budget includes measure to abolish retirees' subsidies". See also "Senate OKs Florida Retirement System contributions" and "2010 Legislature summary".

Budget blues

"Major changes in Florida's Medicaid program, including a first step toward using private insurers through a voucher system, are part of a nearly $70 billion budget bill and related legislation passed by the Senate on Wednesday." "Florida Senate passes nearly $70 billion budget". See also "Florida House budget cuts aid to education, hikes tuition", "Fla. Senate passes nearly $68.6 billion state budget", "Florida Senate budget banks on gambling, stimulus money" and "Budget action sets up fight over health care, schools, roads".

Steve Bousquet: "Florida House approves budget plan on party-line vote".

Teacher bashing has its negatives

"Florida, viewed by many experts as a strong contender, fell short in its bid in part because its "impressive" reform plans had little buy-in -- and plenty of outright opposition -- from teachers unions".

"Florida has a hill to climb to win support from its teachers, or at least to demonstrate the support among teachers for its reform agenda," stated the federal government's review of Florida's rejected grant application.

Despite that message, state Education Commissioner Eric Smith said the merit-pay plan working its way through the Legislature could improve Florida's chance of receiving the federal grant because all districts would be required to participate -- not just those that could work out agreements with unions.

The U.S. Department of Education wants teacher reviews tied to students' academic growth, and wants that information used for promotion, pay and retention decisions. But it also wants the "broad stakeholder support" from teachers that Duncan stressed.

In Florida there is virtually none.

That can be tied to the distrust and outright feud between Florida Republican leaders and teacher unions that has developed during the past 20 years.

The teachers unions have routinely supported Democrats, including Democratic candidates for governor. Republican former Gov. Jeb Bush was fervent in his opposition to teachers unions and remains a major force in Tallahassee. His Foundation for Florida's Future is a big backer of the merit-pay plan that would take away much of the teachers unions' power to negotiate teacher pay and benefits.

Education Commissioner Smith conceded that lack of union support over merit pay is a "big problem" and said he would try to earn it.

But school-board members and union officials complain that Smith and state officials have been unwilling to consider their concerns about the Race to the Top education-reform plan. They complain, too, that they were blindsided by the Legislature's merit-pay plan, which seemed to come out of nowhere with no input from school boards and teachers working on the front lines of education.

"I've never seen teachers as angry as they are right now," said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association.

Ford, who called the state's Race to the Top application "fatally flawed," said he remains willing to negotiate but thinks the Florida Department of Education has a "take-it-or-leave" attitude and wants to create a "great school board in Tallahassee."

School boards have complained as well that the Department of Education seems intent on taking control of local districts.

Huh?

"Obama’s April trip to Miami Beach to be hosted by Gloria and Emilio Estefan".

And you, Dr. Cassell, are free to move elsewhere ...

"A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care 'elsewhere.'"

"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."

The sign reads: "If you voted for Obama … seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years." ...

Cassell may be walking a thin line between his right to free speech and his professional obligation, said William Allen, professor of bioethics, law and medical professionalism at the University of Florida's College of Medicine.

"So you'd think"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida has been one of the hardest-hit states in the housing crisis. So you'd think — you'd hope — that state and local officials here would make the best of government aid meant to help new home buyers and neighborhoods slammed by foreclosures."

Can you sense the outcome? By last month Florida had committed to spend just 12 percent of a $91 million allotment of federal housing stabilization funds that began rolling in a year ago, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Those dismal totals left it among the slowest states in putting to work their federal dollars in the program, which has a September deadline.

By contrast, a couple of the other worst-walloped states, California and Nevada, had committed 43 percent and 52 percent of their funds, respectively.

The last Democrat who won a governor's race in Florida was Lawton Chiles over a rookie Jeb Bush in 1994 — 16 years ago! Despite Chiles' gigantic legacy and beloved memory, he did not win because he was a nice fellow, but because he knew how to get the most votes. Saint Lawton could throw a punch. He took a joy in beating Republicans that was pure FDR or, if you will, James Carville. The young Bush did not lose an ideological debate to Chiles; he lost a knife fight. ...

If Alex Sink were going to run for governor, she would need to get out there and stick it to the Republicans. If McCollum sues over the health care bill, she ought to sue him. She ought to go nuclear against the Legislature on a daily basis, even cuss at it in person a little bit, no matter how nice she is. Good grief! If a Democrat running for state office can't run against this Legislature, then the Florida Democratic Party ought to disband and turn the opposition over to somebody who can.

"Alex Sink is no Nancy Pelosi"

Joy-Ann Reid: "Alex Sink is no Nancy Pelosi. For starters, Sink is a proper, unobjectionable moderate, so much so that she appears almost without ideology. "

As Florida's chief financial officer Sink has avoided the political hardball that has made U.S. House Speaker Pelosi a hero of the left (not to mention damned effective), and the cartoon villain of the right.

Pelosi is from a safe, liberal district in San Francisco. Sink is running to govern a state that, after a brief respite in November 2008, can sometimes seem like Alabama with palm trees.

Still, Sink could learn a few things from Pelosi about how powerful women lead, since at the moment, only one of the two is compelling significant numbers to follow.

On paper, Sink is the perfect candidate. A woman already elected statewide, running less than two years after Florida Democrats went to war with their own party to try and make Hillary Clinton the Democratic nominee for president. The former bank executive has issued a "business plan'' for the state and is running a pragmatic, "no politics'' campaign.

And yet, the latest Mason Dixon poll shows Sink running 15 points behind her likely Republican opponent, the "all politics'' attorney general of Florida, Bill McCollum, who is busy putting aside the boring business of being the state's top lawyer to pursue a Don Quixote-like quest to strip his fellow Floridians of newly won healthcare benefits. (One that nearly every legal expert says is a colossal waste of time, not to mention money Florida doesn't have.)

Tally update

"2010 Legislature Summary".

Budget blues

The Tallahassee Democrat: "The Senate voted 36-0 on Wednesday to approve a $68.6 billion spending plan, setting up negotiations with the House, where leaders insist on spending $1 billion less." "Fla. Senate passes nearly $70 billion state budget; House is expected to OK its budget today". See also "House Hunkers Down for Thursday Budget Vote".

"The Florida Senate approved a bipartisan, $69.5-billion budget Wednesday that relies on gambling and federal stimulus money to both cut taxes and grow government spending."

The Senate spending plan, approved on a 36-0 vote, hinges on about $3 billion in federal stimulus money to fund the ever-expanding Medicaid health-care program for the poor and to increase classroom spending. Per-student funding for public education would increase by $39, to $6,905 per student.

Next up: The House will vote on its budget Thursday – a more austere, $67.2 billion plan. Then, the Republican-led House and Senate will spend the final four weeks of the legislative session, which ends April 30, in a give-and-take to produce a spending plan that meets their constitutional requirement of producing a balanced budget.

The biggest differences between the two chambers: The Senate relies on a yet-to-be-approved gambling deal with the Seminole tribe to provide $412 million and anticipates that $880 million in extra federal funding for Medicaid will be approved by Congress. The House budget includes neither windfall.

The House also began debating its smaller $67.2 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, and will take a vote today. The two chambers then will have a month to work out their differences.

The Senate budget bill (SB 2700) passed unanimously, but the chamber was divided over a provision directing state health care officials to seek a Medicaid rule waiver from the federal government that would allow for the voucher system. It also would let Florida require some Medicaid patients to pay for part of their health care costs for the first time.

Big of 'em

"Senate sets aside for panel to investigate wrongful convictions".

Teacher-bashers on a roll

"House lawmakers have been warned: Republican leaders do not want to see any amendments to the widely opposed 'teacher tenure' bill because they want to push it through to the governor's desk, Speaker Larry Cretul said Wednesday." "Widely opposed teacher-tenure bill is on fast track in Florida Legislature".

Not so bright

"Bright Futures Downsize Wins Full Senate OK".

McCollum's folly

Billy tries to explain himself: "Why I sued the feds on health care law".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board gets the better of him: "Nearly 4 million uninsured Floridians, seniors facing the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole and young adults who can remain on their parents' insurance policies longer are substantially better off now that health care reform is law. That hasn't stopped Attorney General Bill McCollum and 12 other state attorneys general from challenging it in court and wasting taxpayers' money."

McCollum's lawsuit makes dubious claims about the new law's constitutionality, and it reads more like a political manifesto than a legal argument. This is more about the Republican's campaign for governor and rallying the party base than about sound constitutional reasoning.

There are other elements of this misguided adventure that smell funny. McCollum hired Baker & Hostetler, a Washington firm where McCollum used to work, to represent the states. Two partners in the firm already were advocating against the reforms, and this looks like a way for an old friend to pay them to keep making the case. And despite suggestions by McCollum to the contrary, no other state has yet agreed to share the cost.

The suit also was filed in federal court in Pensacola instead of in Tallahassee. By filing in Pensacola, the plaintiffs were certain to have the case heard by a judge appointed by a Republican president. Senior Judge Roger Vinson, who drew the case, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan. Had the suit been filed in Tallahassee, the plaintiffs could have been heard by Judge Robert Hinkle, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton.

This looks like judge shopping and offers further evidence that the lawsuit is more about Republican Party politics than constitutional principles.

"From Delaware down to central Florida"

"President Barack Obama's call Wednesday to expand offshore oil and gas drilling -- as close as 125 miles off Florida's coast -- angered environmentalists in the state and left some Florida Democrats looking to distance themselves from the plans. Under the proposal unveiled by Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, oil and gas exploration would be allowed in the eastern Gulf of Mexico 125 miles from Florida's west coast. On the Atlantic side, the Outer Continental Shelf from Delaware down to central Florida would be open to drilling, but only after studies that could take years." "Obama drilling plan spares South Florida". See also "Obama's drilling plan stuns Fla. environmentalists, encourages GOP" and "Drilling plan hits a nerve nationwide, locally".

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "President Barack Obama is willing to sacrifice Florida and other coastal states for a far-reaching energy bill. His call on Wednesday to vastly expand drilling for gas and oil off the Florida coast is an unreasonable concession in a bid to win congressional support for more responsible energy policies." "Obama's misstep on drilling".

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "It is reassuring the president has provided safeguards for vulnerable areas, particularly Florida's Gulf Coast, where drilling would be permitted no closer than 125 miles. ... Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, who has vigorously fought to protect Florida's beaches, was satisfied with the precautions." "President Obama wades offshore".

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Obama's proposal to expand offshore drilling nationally has environmentalists fretting about what it could do to the country's shorelines and wildlife, including Florida's. But because his proposal shouldn't bring drilling near Florida's coast, the state's beaches and the tourism industry that depends on them should do just fine. What's more, the president's plan actually should work to help knock down a separate proposal in the Legislature that could harm the state by permitting rigs just a few miles offshore." "President Obama’s offshore drilling proposal shouldn’t harm Florida".

Related: "A weaker Florida gets drilling, a strong California does not". See also Mike Thomas: "Conserve — and drill? We must do both".

DMS

"The Florida Senate voted to break up the "embarrassing" Department of Management Services today, creating a new personnel agency and sending property-management functions to other state offices." "Fla. Senate votes to break up DMS".

a/k/a a pay cut

"Government employees would begin paying into the Florida Retirement System, under a bill approved Wednesday by the Florida Senate." "Senate OKs Florida Retirement System contributions".

Using RPOF as "slush fund"

"Crist's handpicked former GOP chairman is the subject of a criminal probe concerning a secret contract that funneled party money to a consulting company he owned, the party and the state's top law enforcement agency disclosed Wednesday."

But the investigation of Jim Greer is complicated by the disclosure that Republican Party officials offered him a severance package at the time of his January departure to absolve him from any financial wrongdoing and pay him $124,000 to remain as a consultant for a year.

The previously undisclosed severance documents, obtained first by the Herald/Times, were signed by top party officials, including current party Chairman John Thrasher and leading lawmakers who helped oust Greer amid intense concerns that he had been using the party coffers as a personal slush fund.

McCollum's "blatantly political use of his office"

Bill Cotterell: "In a blatantly political use of his office, we saw an attorney general put ambition ahead of his job last week."

President Obama had just signed a big health care bill that polls indicate the state's constituents don't want. As 13 attorneys general asked a federal court to nullify it, the state's top elected legal officer meekly ignored an enormous financial burden on his constituents and waived the state's sovereignty.

Did we mention that this guy wants to be governor? Fortunately, the current governor is unafraid of Washington, and a gutsy band of legislators — knowing they wouldn't succeed — took action anyway.

April Fool! All of the above really happened. Just not around here.

"Nearly half of all home loans are 'underwater'"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "In Florida, the epicenter of the national mortgage crisis, government efforts to rescue the housing market have been a huge disappointment. As of January, only 21,111 borrowers in the state had been able to take advantage of the Obama administration's main lifeline for struggling homeowners, the Home Affordable Modification Program, even though nearly half of all home loans are 'underwater' -- the borrower owes more than the home is worth. In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, only 7,532 were helped." "New lifeline for struggling homeowners".

Good luck with that

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "The Florida Legislature is setting its sights on rubbing out some of the state's most outdated and nonsensical laws, like the requirement that sheriffs live close enough to the county seat to get there by horse, or rules that regulate telegraph services that don't even exist any more."

While "The Repealer Project" is a fine effort to clean the state's books of the cobwebs of archaic irrelevance, it passes right over one of the state's most shameful laws, long since ripe for repeal: the 1977 ban on gay adoption.

Florida remains the only state in the nation to prohibit gay men and lesbian women from adopting children — reprehensible not just for the pure ignorance and discrimination on which the ban is based, but also for its blatant hypocrisy. The state allows gay men and women to foster children, and history has shown the homes they provide are no less nurturing than straight couples' homes, and yet the ban prevents them from making their parenting bonds permanent.

What does that mean in real terms? Thousands of foster children languishing in state care are deprived of the many loving homes that would open up if the ban were dumped.

Whoop dee doo

"Shula, wife like Crist in Florida US Senate race".

Citizens bashing

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Imagine state government setting up a company to compete against private businesses. Suppose this government company begins selling products and services below cost, driving companies out of the market and leading to layoffs. Now, imagine the government business, realizing its prices are too low, decides to recoup losses by taxing private citizens and the few remaining businesses. How would any of this be good for consumers, taxpayers or businesses?"

The example may seem farfetched, but it's exactly what's been happening in Florida, where state-sponsored Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is now the biggest homeowners insurer in the state, sets prices at predatory levels, pushes insurers out of the market and has inadequate financial reserves to pay policyholders should a hurricane hit.

If a catastrophe does occur, Citizens, with the consent of the insurance ommissioner, can level taxes for any shortfalls upon the home, auto, boat and business insurance policies of all Floridians. Essentially, taxpayers are forced to subsidize a government enterprise that competes directly with private insurers and will ultimately force insurers to leave the market. Call it the public option.

Census

"What boycott? Close to 9 in 10 Hispanics say they intend to participate in the 2010 census, with immigrants more likely to say the government count is good for their community and that personal information will be kept confidential, according to a new poll." "Poll: Close to 9 in 10 Latinos to fill out census". Related: "On Census Day, Florida’s catching up".

"Lagging"

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "The South as a region, and Florida in particular, are trailing behind most of the nation in setting basic standards and goals for renewable energy. The result is to keep away the world community of business and investment and the jobs therein. ... Why Florida, and the South really, persist in lagging behind is something that lawmakers better have a magical explanation for come election time, and on a personal note, for their children who will be moving to other states to find work." "Florida's lagging".

'Glades

"A Miami federal judge, saying he is out of patience regarding Everglades restoration, ordered the state to restart a reservoir project that could derail the controversial land purchase." "Ruling puts Big Sugar land buy in peril". See also "Judge orders restart of Everglades reservoir project and questions governor's massive land-buy plan" and "Everglades deal in jeopardy after judge's ruling".

As the 60-day legislative session nears the midpoint, House and Senate leaders are advancing a gamut of ideas designed to play to their political base, from cutting taxes on corporations to a referendum asking Congress to balance its budget. There is ballot language denouncing the federal health-care reform.

Another fine RPOFer

"Gov. Charlie Crist apparently has no problem with a Senate campaign supporter calling President Barack Obama 'the black one' and primary opponent Marco Rubio 'a Hispanic who can run his mouth.'"

Retired Col. Bud Day, who was featured in Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads that attacked former Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's military record, endorsed Crist and then spoke to the Northwest Florida Daily News about the race.

Day said Obama is "a politician who can run his mouth at Mach 1, a black one" before making similar comments about Rubio.

Raw political courage

"Legislators propose raiding state trust funds to balance budget".

Awakening the Sleeping Giant

"Teachers, parents and students turn into lobbyists as they make hundreds of phone calls and send hundreds of thousands of e-mails to protest an education bill." "Massive protest targets education bill in Florida Legislature".

There's always tomorrow

"Crist signs bill delaying unemployment tax increase".

"Another underhanded attack on growth management"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The Florida Legislature showed last week why it can't be trusted."

Measures that would have allowed developers to escape local regulations and could have shut down Hillsborough County's Environmental Protection Commission were slipped into a jobs bill that looked to be heading for passage until local officials objected.

Fortunately, Hillsborough state Sen. Ronda Storms ensured the damaging provisions were stripped from the legislation before it was unanimously approved by the full Senate.

It was yet another underhanded attack on growth management by legislators intent on giving developers whatever they want.

Privatization follies

Update: Al Lawson to the rescue:

GOP leaders in the Florida Senate appeared Tuesday night to back off on a controversial budget proposal that would force the closure of two state prisons in order to open a cheaper private one.

Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, said Senate budget chief JD Alexander and Senate President Jeff Atwater have agreed not to require the state to shutter two as-yet unnamed prisons and privatize one to fill the private Blackwater River Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa County.

That privatization plan, from Senate Ways and Means Chairman Alexander, appears in the proposed 2010-11 budget that the full Senate will begin considering today.

Lawson, who filed an amendment late Monday that would strip the Blackwater plan from the budget entirely, said Tuesday night that he will file another that will leave it up to the state Department of Corrections how best to fill the private facility.

The fate of the empty complex is now the subject of an intense political fight in the Capitol.

The lawmaker who writes the Senate budget says opening Blackwater River Correctional Institution in Milton will save the state millions of dollars.

But opening privately-run Blackwater could force the closing of two state prisons. And the influential labor union for correctional officers says 639 guards would lose their jobs during a time of record unemployment.

Gov. Charlie Crist said he doesn't oppose private prisons, but he doesn't want to lay off state workers. "I want to do everything to protect jobs, jobs jobs,'' he said Tuesday.

Personal responsibility

"Ousted House Speaker Ray Sansom on Tuesday filed a motion to dismiss criminal charges against him, saying it is 'impossible as a matter of law' to have endeavored or conspired to commit the theft of U.S. currency. The former House budget chairman says it was up to the Florida Department of Education -- not him -- to make sure a building he got funding for in 2007 was not misused." "Ex-House Speaker Ray Sansom seeks dismissal of criminal charges".

Gutting the clerks

"Clerks of Court bemoan more budget cuts".

"The dam is already broken"

"The death knell for democracy? Or a vital protection for First Amendment rights?"

Those two views represent the extremes of the wide range of reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling on Jan. 21 that clears the way for corporations and unions to directly finance advertising that supports or opposes candidates for federal office.

Yet many experts believe the impact might not be as tumultuous as critics fear -- as long as authorities enforce the ruling's demand to require disclosure of the funding sources for political ads.

One reason it might not be a dam-breaker, some reasoned, is the dam is already broken.

Opinions of the ruling are largely split across partisan lines, with Democrats complaining the ruling destroys a century of established law barring direct corporate involvement in politics and Republicans hailing it as a victory for free speech.

Opponents of corporate campaign funding hope the new rules include strict standards requiring disclosure of funding sources as called for in the order written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, and stipulating that corporations making independent expenditures cannot coordinate their messages with candidates. Coordination would make the ads contributions and not independent expenditures, the court said. ...

The ruling should have no impact on Florida's campaign finance laws [which govern state offices only], said Jennifer Davis, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of State.

Good luck with that

The Orlando Sentinel editors think "Florida and teachers unions need to work together for Race to the Top second chance".

Scott Maxwell has a better take:

Lawmakers were thrilled to tick off teachers with a merit-pay plan ... until the feds slammed them for not working well with teachers. So then the pols who preach personal responsibly to others decided to blame the teachers ... for a plan teachers opposed in the first place.

Yee haw!

"Bay area wows RNC visitors".

Never mind my record

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "In the debate broadcast Sunday with Gov. Crist, Marco Rubio was blunt about the need to cut benefits in the future to keep Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid solvent. Too bad he hasn't been as forthcoming about his own record." "Rubio's selective answers: Clear on Social Security, evasive on his own record".

'Ya reckon?

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "According to the Innocence Project of Florida, Caravella is the 252nd person in the nation to be exonerated by post-conviction DNA testing, and the 12th in Florida. DNA is a major tool to ensure justice, but unfortunately, there are still some resisters." "Caravella case proves worth of DNA testing".

Big of him

"Haridopolos seeks 'Innocence Commission' funds".

While the innocent languish in prison

"Clock runs out and company goes unpunished for illegal campaign contributions".

<Budget blues

"House, Senate to vote on Fla. budget".

"Desperate homeowners

"The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America is heading back to South Florida after drawing more than 24,000 desperate homeowners to a February mortgage-modification marathon in West Palm Beach." "Group that helps prevent foreclosures returning to South Florida in April".

Birther back in the saddle

"U.S. Rep. Posey seeks re-election; submits petitions to qualify for ballot".

Swell

"Cover Florida plan lags, even as ranks of the uninsured swell " "Cristcare: Political Triage".

And they live longer too ...

Gerald Ensley: "A Pew Research Center poll found that 40 percent of Republicans described themselves as 'very happy,' compared with only 25 percent of Democrats. I'm pretty sure it's because Republicans don't worry about as much as Democrats."

Democrats think about issues and the common good. Democrats worry about the homeless, the abused, the downtrodden, the environment and world peace.

Republicans just worry about themselves. They don't worry about the poor, don't worry about the environment, don't worry about those different from themselves. That would be easier.

Being a Republican means everything is black and white: government is bad, private business is good.

Being a Republican means you don't have to study issues or consider new policies. You just oppose whatever the Democrats come up with.

Florida next?

"Obama to allow oil drilling off Virginia coast".

Pre-k

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "In 2002, Florida voters said they wanted free, high-quality prekindergarten classes to be available to all 4-year-olds in the state, voluntarily, of course, and a constitutional amendment won 59-percent approval, casting in stone this visionary concept. ... Nevertheless, the Florida Legislature this year stood ready to reduce funding for the program, with the Senate cutting nearly 10 percent from the funding, or about $255 per child for the year, and also increasing the teacher-student ratio to one for 12 instead of the preferable one for every 10 tots." "Our Opinion: Investing in tots".

The Mason-Dixon Polling & Research survey released Monday shows that 51 percent of registered Florida voters approve of McCollum's lawsuit, while 39 percent are opposed.

As the state appears to lean toward the right, the Republican McCollum draws 49 percent support compared to 34 percent who would vote for Sink, a Democrat, according to the poll of 625 registered Florida voters. ...

McCollum appears to be picking up momentum. The last time Mason-Dixon polled the race, in June, McCollum had a 6 percentage point lead. Now he's up 15 percentage points.

Voters have begun to view McCollum in a better light, with 39 percent saying they have a favorable view of the attorney general -- a 10 percentage-point increase since the last Mason-Dixon poll. In that time, Sink's numbers haven't moved, with 24 percent of voters expressing a favorable view of her.

Meek arrives

"U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek on Monday gave elections officials the last of the petitions signed by voters to get him on the ballot, capping an almost year-long effort intended to build momentum for his U.S. Senate race." "Kendall Meek turns in petitions to get on Florida ballot". See also "Meek touts success using petitions to get on ballot" and "Meek turns in petitions for Senate run".

RPOFer "food fight"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The food fight among dueling leaders of Florida's Republican Party over who misspent money is demeaning for the party faithful and its donors. As the GOP conducts an audit of spending, officials should consider tougher rules to tighten use of state party credit cards and other funding sources."

What's obvious is that both sides played fast and loose with donors' money.

Gov. Charlie Crist, deeply behind in his bid for the U.S. Senate against former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, used Sunday's Fox News debate to accuse his opponent of using his party credit card and political committees for ``personal enrichment.''

But Mr. Crist's Senate campaign benefited as well from charges on a party credit card by former state GOP Chairman Jim Greer. Mr. Greer's lavish spending on the job led to his ouster months after he and Mr. Crist stonewalled his GOP critics.

While no expenditures seem to have involved taxpayers' money, the image of Florida Republicans -- the party that touts fiscal conservatism -- is one of freewheeling big spenders. New GOP Chairman John Thrasher will have to crack the whip as he tries to unify a party riven over the Crist-Rubio contest.

Mr. Rubio used his party credit card for some personal expenses and double-billed state taxpayers and the GOP for eight plane tickets when he was in the House, the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau reported. Mr. Rubio has acknowledged mistakes and made some reimbursements for personal items and double-billing.

More questionable is that not much of the $600,000 contributed to Mr. Rubio's two political committees seems to have gone for their intended purpose -- "to support state and local candidates who espouse conservative government policies.'' Over 18 months, just $4,000 from one committee went to candidates. Far more went to political consultants, administrative and operating costs and to Mr. Rubio and his relatives.

The sky is falling

"Corrections chief: Cuts might free 2,500 inmates".

"Brief slap fight ensues ..."

Howard Troxler nails the debate:

CRIST: I signed the largest tax cut in history and Speaker Rubio supported the biggest tax increase in history.

RUBIO: You did not! I did not!

CRIST: Did too.

RUBIO: Did not!

(Brief slap fight ensues.)

Yee haw!

"Fanfare, flags and a marching band greeted the team selecting the site for the 2012 Republican National Convention during a tour of Tampa hot spots Monday." "Tampa makes bid for 2012 Republican convention". See also "Tampa woos RNC for 2012 convention".

Aronberg and Gelber vs. McCollum

"State Sens. Dave Aronberg and Dan Gelber are fighting each other for the Democratic nomination for Florida attorney general, but sounded Monday more like they were fighting against outgoing Attorney General Bill McCollum."

``The once great office has been diminished because in the past few years we've had people in the attorney general's office who cared more about protecting their political careers than protecting public safety,'' Aronberg told Suncoast Tiger Bay club luncheon, referring to McCollum and former Attorney General Charlie Crist.

Gelber likewise, scoffed at McCollum suing to overturn the healthcare overhaul.

"We have an attorney general who believes it's his job every single day [to be focused on] a frivolous lawsuit directing the attention of his office, like there's not enough pill mills or gangs in town that he can spend his time doing this,'' Gelber said. "It's clearly nothing other than a political attempt to advance his gubernatorial campaign.''

Crawling out of their holes

Marco Rubio gives wingnuts like columnist Mike Thomas an excuse to crawl out of their holes into the sunlight: "Classic Charlie Crist is far cry from Marco Rubio’s truthful conservatism".

Teacher bashing fails

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida's surprising failure on Monday to win an initial Race to the Top education grant should send a signal to Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature:"

For reform to succeed, it's important to work as partners with the teachers who would carry it out. Unfortunately, the Legislature is headed in the other direction.

Delaware and Tennessee, Monday's two winners, put together applications that had substantial backing from the teachers and their unions. Florida's application, in contrast, had support from only 59 of 67 school districts and just five teacher unions and scrambled until the last minute to get that. ...

The Department of Education and the Legislature need to reach out to teachers for their help in crafting a better system for performance review and pay. The teacher unions need to reach out to education officials and state lawmakers and be willing to compromise. Otherwise, the Republican legislative leaders are going to do what they want and Florida can forget about Race to the Top money as it sinks to the bottom.

Tally update

The Tallahassee Democrat's "Legislature summary". The Saint Petersburg Times's "State Report".

McCollum, "champion of the insurance industry"

Daniel Ruth: "In the time it took for Vice President Joe Biden to do his very public impression of Rahm Emanuel, Bill McCollum couldn't get to the courthouse fast enough as a champion of the insurance industry, oops, sorry, make that the common man."

Florida's attorney general has become the macho man among his brethren from 12 other states in leading the opposition to President Barack Obama's health care reforms, claiming it is unconstitutional for the federal government to tell people to do stuff.

Who knew?

Pension bashing continues

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board, shilling for the Chamber of Commerce, wants you to know that State and County employees actually have the temerity to ... get this ... have pensions:

The [pension] fund, which covers county and some city employees, in addition to state employees, gets money from their agencies — which ultimately comes from taxpayers. As its assets decline, taxpayers must make up the difference.

The fund does not, however, get a single dollar from the employees themselves. That makes Florida's system different from its counterparts in 44 other states, where employees contribute a share of their salaries to their retirements. That's also normal for private pension funds.

A task force from Florida TaxWatch, a Tallahassee think-tank [comprised of business types], has estimated that requiring new members in the state fund to contribute 5 percent of their salaries, the median level in other states, would raise $1.2 billion — $245 million for the state and $952 million for local governments.

In another example of reckless generosity, Florida's fund gives retirees a 3 percent cost of living increase in their pensions every year, regardless of inflation.

Capping those increases at inflation or 3 percent — whichever is less — would reduce the payout for state and local governments by $150 million next year, TaxWatch says. It also would help close the funding gap by reducing the growth in future benefits.

Some lawmakers understand the need to reduce the burden of pensions on taxpayers, but the plans now moving in the Legislature are too timid to be taken seriously. Last week, a Senate committee approved a bill to require employees to contribute — get this — one quarter of 1 percent of their salaries.

Lawmakers are going to run into opposition from employee unions no matter what cuts they propose. They might as well make meaningful ones, and make a real difference in solving the pension fund's problems.

"Florida's average total compensation cost for state employees was $47,027, which included 74 percent wages and 26 percent benefits; average wages were $34,834," said OPPAGA. "Florida's average state employee wages were ranked 32nd among the 41 states to the survey."

It also noted the Department of Management Services Annual Workforce Report, which said Florida ranks last in state personnel costs, at $38 per resident, and is tied with Illinois for the lowest ratio of state employees to population, 118 per 10,000 residents.

Club for Dopes

"A new player has waded into Florida's U.S. Senate race, though, technically, it's not taking sides. Club for Growth Action is airing radio ads along Central Florida's I-4 Corridor condemning Gov. Charlie Crist's Everglades land deal with U.S. Sugar." "Crist Hammered by Growth". See also "Everglades deal blasted in anti-Charlie Crist radio spot".

FlaDems do some grading

"Democrats Hand Out Midterm Grades for House Session".

"The equation is alarmingly simple"

Alberto M. Carvalho, superintendent of Miami-Dade Public Schools writes this morning that "the numbers don't lie, and the equation is alarmingly simple: Shrinking property values + less money from the state = a projected $190 million shortfall for Miami-Dade's public schools next year." "State must ante up funding".

Crist desperate gettin' desperate

Adam C Smith: "Crist this week launched the first negative ad of the Republican Senate primary, reminding us that, whether or not he wins the race, we are in the midst of one of the most stunning political stories Florida has ever seen."

Crist already is well defined among voters, so it may be easier to turn voters off to the much lesser known Rubio than to make them enthusiastic about the governor.

Tally update

The Miami Herald editorial board over the week end: "Legislative roundup". See also "Florida Legislature tosses out costly claims bills" and "Fla. lawmakers have short week due to holidays".

Laff riot

The Orlando Sentinel editors explain "why Gov. Crist might soon need to grab a great big Sharpie and veto legislation that lets property insurers impose great big rate hikes on policy holders without regulatory review. The reason comes straight from one of the insurance industry's top lobbyists, Mark Delegal, who represents State Farm. Mr. Delegal told a Senate committee Wednesday that, if left alone by regulators, the industry will be 'the best protector of consumers.'" "More insurance headaches".

What ended Florida's real-estate boom?

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Every legislative session, pro-growth lawmakers try to weaken growth rules. This year the pretext is to restore lost construction jobs, as if a worthy motive validates the false assumption that state and local governments have somehow stopped developers. It was overbuilding, the collapse of the housing and financial markets and the related recession, not growth restrictions that ended Florida's real-estate boom." "'An awful lot of development'".

On the cheap

Bill Cotterell on Florida's "Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, which just cranked out another one of its reliable studies about the size and cost of state employment".

"Florida's average total compensation cost for state employees was $47,027, which included 74 percent wages and 26 percent benefits; average wages were $34,834," said OPPAGA. "Florida's average state employee wages were ranked 32nd among the 41 states (in the lower quartile) that responded to the survey."

It also noted the Department of Management Services Annual Workforce Report, which said Florida ranks last in state personnel costs, at $38 per resident, and is tied with Illinois for the lowest ratio of state employees to population, 118 per 10,000 residents.

A desperate man

"Mica meets with Flagler officials to discuss economy".

"Duct tape, bailing wire — and considerable help from the feds"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Refusing to acknowledge the obvious need for more revenue and a fairer state tax system, the Republican-led Florida Legislature is once again cobbling together a roughly $68 billion state budget with duct tape, bailing wire — and considerable help from the feds." "State lawmakers aren't facing the crisis".

Wingnuttery

"As Florida legislators hit the halfway mark in their 60-day session, they are following a simple election year recipe: sprinkle in a little policy, then pour on plenty of politics. For Republicans, it's been a triumphant four weeks: They've spared businesses from massive hikes in unemployment taxes and are poised to pass at least $80 million in business tax breaks. On party-line votes, they've passed resolutions crusading against healthcare reform and growing deficits in Washington." "GOP ideology driving Republican-led Legislature's agenda".

Enough

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "On Thursday, Anthony Caravella officially became the 11th person exonerated in Florida by DNA evidence after serving 25 years for a rape/murder he did not commit." "State should consider where justice went astray".

USF

"USF gets money for a new pharmacy school, but not where it expected".

Mica, Brown and Kosmas

"Three more candidates have surfaced for U.S. House seats that include parts of Volusia and Flagler counties. They are vying for seats held by longtime House members who have run uncontested several times in previous elections: John Mica, R-Winter Park, and Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville."

Meanwhile, the crowded field of Republican challengers to succeed Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, narrowed by one candidate: Sean Field Campbell, Merritt Island, dropped out and is endorsing Sandy Adams of Orlando.

Jails to remain open

"2 Volusia libraries probably closing".