On Friday, the Florida Commission on Ethics accepted Haridopolos' formal admission that he violated the state Constitution by neglecting to detail his investments, a $400,000 home and a consulting job that earned him $120,000 from 2004 through 2008.

Haridopolos is already putting out feelers for a possible 2012 run for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Bill Nelson, putting the Merritt Island Republican on a crash course with fellow Republican U.S. Sen. George LeMieux. LeMieux's deputy staff chief, Vivian Myrtetus, sent out an electronic Twitter message Friday that linked to a blog with the headline, "Haridopolos guilty in ethics violation.''

Democrats also pounced. Shortly after the commission approved Haridopolos' settlement agreement, the Florida Democratic Party sent out a press release with the headline "Haridopolos Kicks Off 2012 Senate Campaign By Pleading Guilty To Breaking Ethics Laws.''

Scott's lawyer finding it tuff to get the job done

"Florida's new governor has yet to name a single person to his administrative team, four weeks after the election. Instead, Rick Scott has spent much of the past month traveling the country in his new head-of-state status and naming 189 advisers to his transition team."

Scott's longtime lawyer and confidante, Enu [I urge you to plead the fifth] Mainigi, is controlling much of the selection process, searching for new hires with corporate experience. ...

Mainigi acknowledged the job of finding appointments to head the state's top agencies has been a "challenge."

To find private-sector applicants, Scott hired New York-based Gerson Group. But attracting business executives or attorneys willing to giving up their private-sector salaries for a government job in out-of-the-way Tallahassee is a hard sell, Mainigi said.

"I wish there were more direct flights," Mainigi said of travel in and out of the state capital.

Weak bench

William March: "After the Nov. 2 Republican sweep, Bill Nelson is once again Florida's lone Democratic statewide officeholder, and a flock of big-name GOP candidates are lining up for a primary battle to take him on. Half a dozen or more prominent Republicans, starting with appointed U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, state Senate President Mike Haridopolos of Merritt Island and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack of Cape Coral, have made it clear they're interested."

Meanwhile, LeMieux is getting right wing props for stabbing his former friend in the back:

When Crist left the GOP in April and began his no-party campaign, LeMieux quickly abandoned his longtime ally – a step he said was difficult – and endorsed Rubio.

"When I go and speak to Republican groups or Tea Party groups, I get a lot of recognition for that," he said. "I think that's earned me a lot of respect with conservatives."

"Does Florida Democratic Party have a race problem?"

"The head of Florida's black legislative caucus is complaining to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson that the mostly white Florida Democratic Party elite is ignoring African Americans and has all but crowned a new leader without their input." "Black caucus boss says Democratic Party ignores black voters".

"Without the public getting a whiff"

"Florida's new Republican leadership is kicking off its reign with a lot of secrets."

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, huddled in private last week with 80 other GOP legislators for "member training" at an Orlando resort, without any public notice. This is noteworthy because Florida's constitution broadly requires lawmakers to notice meetings and open them to the public if legislative action is going to be discussed.

Cannon spokeswoman Katherine Betta says no bills were discussed at the two-day session. That's kind of like suggesting 80 football coaches could spend two days in the same room without talking about a single game.

"This was an important opportunity for the members to get together completely free of distractions," Betta said. Translation: without the public getting a whiff of what was discussed.

"It stinks and certainly sets the wrong tone," says First Amendment Foundation president Barbara Petersen.

Republican Gov.-elect Rick Scott has been meeting with legislators, chatting up CNN's Wolf Blitzer, and will launch another campaign-style statewide jobs tour next week. But he's providing remarkably few details on controversial policies he proposed in his campaign.

"A fighter to the end"

"A fighter to the end, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando spent more than $1.5 million in October and November – twice as much as his Republican challenger, Dan Webster -- on an aggressive get-out-the-vote effort that ultimately fell short, according to federal election records filed Thursday." "Grayson spent until the end".

Never mind the voters

"On their big class-size test, many of Florida's school districts got failing marks this week and now owe some $38 million in potential fines — money that would be painful to hand over in another bleak budget year. ... But key Florida lawmakers already are looking at ways to inject some flexibility into the class-size rules this spring. Those efforts include finding ways to minimize fines that districts face if they fail to shrink all their classes, said state Sen. David Simmons, R- Longwood." "Legislator aims to ease class-size law, reduce fines".

The Pardon

"FSU transcript of Doors' Morrision shows good grades; Fla. considers pardon".

Teacher haters run Scott's show

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Contrary to what is best for students, Florida Republicans are once again drawing battle lines over education reform. Gov.-elect Rick Scott fell into the trap last week by appointing an education transition team tilted against traditional public schools and in favor of private schools and tuition vouchers."

Scott's education transition team is packed with advocates for private school vouchers, charter schools and changes in teacher tenure.

The right to defecate

"Push to repeal septic tank mandate called a 'copout'".

"'Coercive' Rules"?

"Meeting in one of Florida's most Republican counties, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and three other state lawmakers were encouraged to supercharge their cost-cutting agenda." "Lawmakers Urged to Repeal 'Coercive' Rules".

"Devils Haircut"

"U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown is asking the U.S. Justice Department to investigate raids of barber shops in Orlando by the Florida agency that regulates businesses and the Orange County Sheriff's Office. ... The congresswoman says the raids, carried out in a SWAT-like manner in August and September, were overkill." "Brown asks for probe into barber shop raids".

TeaBaggers show their stuff

"Tea Party Nation Founder: It's 'Wise' To Only Let Property Owners Vote".

Big of her ...

"Justice's Wife Giving Up Role At Advocacy Group With Tea Party Ties".

Laff riot

"Republicans from Florida agreed with Boehner and opened fire on the administration. Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney hammered the Obama administration and Democrats for not backing extending the tax and pointed to the newly released national unemployment rate as to why all Americans needed tax breaks."

“When will Democrats finally decide they’ve had enough of sticking it to small businesses?” demand Rooney. "This has been one of the most anti-business, anti-small business congresses and administrations in our nation’s history, and the numbers tell the story. Nineteen straight months of 9.4 percent unemployment or higher, the longest stretch since the Great Depression.

"The American people spoke loud and clear on Nov. 2, and they have had enough of this Congress and this administration punishing small businesses who are trying to make ends meet and hire new workers," said Rooney, who is a possible candidate to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. “No more new taxes, no more costly mandates, no more excessive regulation.

“Congress should act immediately to extend all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, so that small businesses and job-creators can have the stability they need to grow and hire new workers,” continued Rooney. “Then we need to begin rolling back the new taxes and costly mandates of the last two years, so we can get the federal government off the backs and out of the wallets of our small businesses.”

Rooney was not the only possible U.S. Senate candidate sounding off on the matter. U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, who also has his eye on challenging Nelson, targeted the Democratic senator when he commented on the issue on Friday.

"The liberal policies of President Obama and Bill Nelson over the last two years have done little, if anything, to get our economy moving again," said Mack.

Welcome to Lobbyist-land

"Two weeks after legislators passed a law enabling more stringent legislative oversight of the rulemaking process of state agencies, the new law is already having the effect of delaying some new regulations." "Rulemaking Law Already Affecting State Agencies".

Some call it "Freedom"

"As homeless seek safe haven, counties seek out solutions".

"Disclosure violations"

"The Florida Supreme Court has ordered a public reprimand and a $5,000 fine for Yvonne Colodny, a Miami judge who admitted to election law and financial disclosure violations" "Miami judge fined for violating campaign contribution law".

"Florida Republicans ... predictable — and downright wrong"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The partisan rhetoric from Florida Republicans criticizing President Barack Obama's rational decision to reverse his oil drilling plan for the eastern Gulf of Mexico was predictable — and downright wrong."

Obama's embrace of a drilling ban won't kill Florida jobs; it will save them. As the painful events of last summer illustrated, even a spill far from Florida shores kills jobs. Far more Floridians have been harmed financially by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill than the 1,000 to 2,500 new jobs the U.S. Minerals Management Service anticipated in Florida from expanded drilling in the eastern gulf.

"A fierce and unwavering attack on GOP policy"

"Grayson is going out how he came in: With a fierce and unwavering attack on GOP policy ... the Orlando Democrat took to the House floor to blast Republican calls for an across-the-board extension of the Bush-era tax cuts." "Grayson rips GOP tax cut plan as boon to Limbaugh, Hannity and Bush". More: "WATCH Him Show How The Bush Tax Cuts Benefit The Network Personalities".

"Livelihood in the marshy headwaters, forests and fields"

"Idled workers who once built condos in Florida's boom-to-bust housing market are finding a new livelihood along the marshy headwaters, forests and fields surrounding the Everglades."

From the banks of the Kissimmee River to the canals snaking through South Florida, workers are moving the earth to restore a natural water flow, while their paychecks are pouring dollars into Florida's economy.

Bracing for expected federal budget cuts next year, Everglades promoters are touting restoration as a job creator and an economic boon for an employment-starved state. It's all part of a lobbying pitch to persuade Congress to keep the money flowing.

Campaign contributors look for payback

"The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority will defer consideration of a request by U.S. Rep John Mica, R-Winter Park, to consider converting Tampa International Airport's security screening from the federal Transportation Security Administration to a certified private screening program." "TSA or private agency will wait for new Tampa airport director".

"Moonshine bust"

"Officials say the 40-year-old sold several containers of moonshine to a restaurant manager in Sebring. According to a Polk County Sheriff's office report, an officer made a traffic stop on McGuire's Mustang and found 83 glass containers of moonshine in the trunk." "Moonshine bust in Sunshine State".

A number of the executive board members said they were miffed that they first learned about the month-old subpoena in Thursday's editions of The Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times.

Smith has it locked up

"Former lieutenant governor candidate Rod Smith appears to have locked up the votes to become the next chairman of Florida's beleaguered Democratic Party." "Rod Smith gains momentum in bid for state Democratic chairmanship".

Bits and Pieces

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".

Haridopolos' ethics violations

"Senate President Mike Haridopolos will find out today whether the Florida Commission on Ethics will accept his mea culpa for failing to properly fill out his financial disclosure forms five years in a row and put this episode behind him. " "Fla. ethics committee to weigh Haridopolos' apology".

"The state Ethics Commission is considering a proposed settlement of financial disclosure violations by Senate President Mike Haridopolos. ... The report could include a recommendation to the Senate on a penalty." "Fla. Ethics panel considers Haridopolos settlement".

The "spats-and-ascot set" get what they paid for

"Trial lawyers are getting the bum's rush at the Legislature, where a Republican supermajority -- led in the Senate by right-minded President Mike Haridopolos -- will push aggressively for tort reform next year. The Senate Judiciary Committee expects to pass several business-friendly bills under its new chairwoman, Anitere Flores, R-Miami, who co-sponsored a workers' comp reform bill when she was in the House last session." "GOP Has Trial Lawyers On The Run". See also "First liability bill filed for 2011 session".

Developers laffing all the way to the country club

"The Florida Department of Community Affairs has withdrawn two controversial proposed rule changes because of the Legislature's override of the governor's veto of HB 1565."

"Both proposals faced opposition from industry groups. One proposed change would have established a requirement that local governments demonstrate the need for more development by comparing population growth projections with the amount of development already allowed. ... The other proposed change would implement requirements of 2008's HB 697, an energy bill that required local government growth plans to discourage urban sprawl and include greenhouse gas reduction strategies." "Agency withdraws proposed growth rules because of veto override".

The best he can do?

"Crist dropped fresh hints about his future Thursday, saying he will go home to St. Petersburg when his term ends next month and may join a national group that seeks alternatives to partisanship."

Crist said he plans to go to New York City Dec. 13 for the launch of No Labels, which advocates practical solutions to the nation's problems beyond party labels and has bipartisan support. A Crist friend and supporter, Democrat Nancy Jacobson, is a leader of the new group.

Lamenting the Republican Party's swerve to the right, Crist said: "There's still some reasonable Republicans, like my parents and my wife.''

Crist also said he's in "serious'' talks with trial lawyer John Morgan about joining the high-profile Morgan & Morgan personal injury law firm.

"Then came the fireworks"

"Gov.-elect Rick Scott met with members of Florida's congressional delegation in Washington on Tuesday and heard a litany of concerns: jobs, Medicaid funding, foreclosures and the BP oil spill."

Then came the fireworks.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, started it, urging Scott not to spend time and energy trying to repeal the new health care law. But Scott, unflappable at the head of the table, said that's exactly what he's going to do, calling the law the biggest "job killer ever in the history of this country."

Sansom gets a job

"A former charter school dean says she was ousted so ex-Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom could be hired. Melanie Newton burst into tears when she told the Northwest Florida Daily News that Okaloosa Academy Charter School had selected her replacement before firing her." "Woman says ex-Fla. speaker's hiring political".

Outsider goes inside

"After his way-outside-the-Beltway shock pick of conservative radio talker Joyce Kaufman for chief of staff didn't work out, Republican U.S. Rep.-elect Allen West announced his top aide will be Jonathan Blyth, a former chief of staff to two House members and a veteran of more than 20 years in Washington." "Rep.-elect Allen West taps Beltway insider Jonathan Blyth for chief of staff".

Klein "defeated but unbowed

"Defeated but unbowed, South Florida Congressman Ron Klein gave a farewell address on the House floor Wednesday evening that claimed progress on health-care and insurance reform. " "Klein cites progress in goodbye speech".

RPOFers demand tax cuts for the wealthy

"Florida Republicans Hammer Dems for Not Extending Bush Tax Cuts". But see: "House Passes Middle Class Tax Cuts".

Medicaid cost kerfuffle

"Forecasts for the cost of Florida’s Medicaid program were set to be agreed upon Thursday, but because of discrepancies between the estimates of two state agencies, they were delayed." "Discrepancies Delay Florida’s Cost Forecast for Medicaid".

"Privatization of public waters"

"As Nestle, the nation’s largest bottler of spring water, begins preliminary testing of potential withdrawal sites along the Wacissa River in Jefferson County, residents in the area are pushing back against the further privatization of public waters." "Nestle draws fire for plans to pump more water from North Florida springs".

'Ya reckon?

"Legislative changes may favor insurers".

Teacher hater at the top of Ricky's list

"Scott announced Thursday that he has formed a transition team of education and community leaders to help him create 'a new education system for a new economy.'"

Topping the list is Michelle Rhee, the controversial former chancellor of Washington, D.C., schools who has become something of a rock star in the world of education reform. Sharply critical of teacher tenure, she butted heads with the teachers union and fired or forced out hundreds of educators and other employees before she resigned recently. ...

Other members of the team, dubbed by Scott as his "Champions for Achievement," include Patricia Levesque, executive director of Bush's Foundation For Florida's Future.

"How embarrassing. And predictable"

The Miami Herald editors: "Lawmakers don't usually side with pill traffickers. But that's what the Florida Legislature unwittingly did during its brief, vengeance-fueled special session last month. In the lust to override lame-duck Gov. Charlie Crist's vetoes on a handful of bills, the overwhelmingly Republican Legislature passed a law that requires legislative approval for any new government rules that cost more than $1 million over five years."

"But it turns out the measure had a nasty side effect: It also halted the imposition of new regulations on the state's pill mills, which help feed an illegal pill pipeline. How embarrassing. And predictable." "Tallahassee's pill mills". Meanwhile, "Fla. officials say prescription pill abuse rivals ’80s crack cocaine epidemic".

Haridopolos flip flops

"Republican leaders in Florida have criticized the Obama administration's decision to extend a ban on new oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for the next seven years, saying the moratorium impedes economic growth and keeps the nation dependent on foreign oil."

Yet the same GOP leaders opposing the White House's decision aren't likely to revisit changing state law during the next legislative session to allow drilling in Florida's territorial waters.

State Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, won't ask fellow lawmakers to reconsider lifting the state ban because Florida is still reeling from the BP disaster, his spokesman David Bishop said.

Fl-oil-duh

"Floridians welcome offshore drilling ban".

Hatless

"The Secretary of Homeland Security urged Congress to pass the DREAM Act as a way to improve immigration enforcement." "U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson heads off hat trouble".

No more drilling

"The White House won't allow any new oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for at least the next seven years because of the BP oil spill." "White House: No drilling of Florida coast".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board:

President Barack Obama took the responsible course Wednesday by shelving his plan to vastly expand oil and gas drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The gulf region will need years to recover from BP’s oil rig explosion in April, and it only makes sense to limit the risks of offshore drilling in the wake of a disaster whose full impact has yet to be measured.

One can hope

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Ros-Lehtinen could boost hemispheric diplomacy".

Florida among the 10 worst hit states

"Here is the 24/7 Wall St analysis of the two million person problem, focused on the ten states which account for over 70% of the total, and seven states where no benefits will run out this year. "All politics is local," the late House Speaker Tip O'Neill said. It appears that is the case for the long-term unemployment issue as well."

6) Florida
Unemployment: 11.9%
No. residents losing insurance in December: 107,500
No. of weeks: 26
Total population: 18,537,969

Florida has a high unemployment rate of 11.9% - the third worst in the country - with 1.1 million Floridians out of work. In January, state unemployment taxes will almost triple for most businesses that currently pay the minimum, increasing from around $25 to $70 per employee. Governor-elect Rick Scott has also pledged to create 700,000 new jobs in the state in seven years, although opponents have been highly skeptical of this plan.

The Chamber exposes its wignut underbelly

"On Wednesday, the Florida Chamber of Commerce announced that former House Speaker Larry Cretul will be the staff director of the Chamber’s board of governors program." "Larry Cretul Headed to Florida Chamber".

Will he blame Sink?

"Republican Rick Scott got plenty of political mileage during the governor’s race ridiculing the Obama administration for running up the federal deficit. But now the governor-elect faces his own tide of red ink -- with taxpayer-financed, state government debt already at a record $26.4 billion, and climbing." "Rick Scott Faces Florida's Sea of Red Ink". Meanwhile, "Florida could lose more than $500 million in Medicaid money".

Brown people

"Dozens of students turned up at the Miami-Dade and Orlando offices of Sen. George LeMieux urging him to vote for the DREAM Act." "Students rally at senator's office".

Shameless

"Several agency heads ask to stay on with Scott administration".

Firing people won't solve these problems

"The governor-elect in short order must put together his own team, confront an economic crisis, resolve a budget shortfall and deal with an assertive Legislature." "Rick Scott's long list of challenges".

Why is this man smiling?

Looks like Ricky has another mini-scandal in the making: "Over a 45-day period, Mayor John Peyton’s chief of staff made $42,500 working for the Republican Party of Florida, according to expenditure reports." "Florida GOP pays Hollingsworth nearly $1,000 a day".

And this is state employees' fault?

"The state’s chief investment officer said Monday that he did not expect any fallout from an ongoing federal investigation into hedge funds but he admitted that there is not a lot of information about the investigation at this time." "State investment chief: No fallout so far from federal probe".

DREAM Act opponents ...

"The DREAM Act would cost Florida taxpayers an estimated $472 million more a year in college tuition subsidies while potentially crowding out citizens, according to a new report from the Center for Immigration Studies. The Washington, D.C.-based research organization that advocates for strict immigration enforcement and border control pegs DREAM's national price tag at $6.2 billion annually." "Florida DREAMing: $472 Million For Illegals at College".

New leaders, please

Bill Cotterell: "Has Florida ever had both political parties looking for new leaders at the same time?" "Parties seek new leaders — each in its own way".

When you elect a mortician ...

"Congress should extend all of the Bush Administration's tax cuts in its lame-duck session, but leave other big issues for the next year, U.S. Rep.-elect Steve Southerland said Wednesday." "Southerland wants GOP to 'make a statement'".

Entrepreneurs in action

"House Republicans kill global warming committee". Meanwhile, "House Republicans Stall Child Nutrition Bill".

"Medicaid inappropriate scapegoat for Florida's woes"

A report from the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy: "One certain target for budget cuts as legislators begin balancing next year’s Florida budget will be the Medicaid program."

In attempting to build a case for slashing Medicaid, however, critics have overstated and even misrepresented the nature of both recent trends and future projections.

Medicaid is an inappropriate scapegoat for Florida's budget woes, particularly because the health and well-being of the most vulnerable Floridians who must rely on it hang in the balance.

RPOFers likely to abandon early presidential primary effort

"Florida Republicans likely will abandon their effort to force the state into the ranks of early presidential primary states in 2012. If the event includes a straw poll, it could be the most important pre-primary test of the 2012 candidates, thrusting Florida into the campaign limelight in late 2011. If it doesn't include a straw poll, it could signal the end, at least for now, of the state's attempt to have an early influence on presidential politics." "GOP likely to abandon early primary, may revive straw poll".

This way to the septic tank ...

Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo: "Speaker Dean Cannon summoned all 80 Republican House colleagues to a closed, two-day training seminar Monday, with no notice beforehand to the media or public."

The purpose of the party-funded retreat was to teach the finer points of lawmaking to the 41-member class of House freshmen, including a crash course in rules, amendments, floor debate and other arcane details of the legislative process.

All about "Jeb!"

"Florida's Eric Smith is among education chiefs from five states on a panel created by former Gov. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education to push for public school policy changes." "Fla. education chief on Jeb Bush foundation panel".

Who says RPOFs don't have a HCR plan?

"If you've checked out your company's health-plan changes for 2011, you've probably seen higher co-payments, deductibles and premiums in the forecast. That's because Florida employers' health-care costs are expected to rise 6.1 percent next year — and they plan on shifting more of the burden to workers." "Companies prepare to pass higher health costs along — to you".

"Bring 'em on!"

"You've probably seen that Florida politicians are super-stoked about gearing up to fight and block health-care reform. And if these guys have better ways to deal with the millions of Floridians who lack health insurance, bring 'em on!" "Solutions, Mr. Speaker?"

Raw political courage

"Florida Congressmen Attack WikiLeaks for Posting Classified Documents".

Homeless

"Some members of the incoming class of Republican congressmen are so frugal that they will sleep in their Capitol Hill offices." "Florida Freshmen Won't Bed Down at Capitol".

Whooppee!

"The report from America's Promise Alliance found that Florida had 147 schools in 2008 where fewer than 60 percent of students who started as freshmen were still enrolled four years later." "Report: Florida has fewer 'dropout factories'".

Open season on the Florida black bear

"After a decade of wrestling over the protected status of the manatee, Florida wildlife managers adopted a new system of assessing extinction risks last year that essentially put them out of the controversial, litigious business of declaring things 'endangered.'"

The new approach split the old list in two. One simply adopted the federal endangered species list, which already ranks the manatee, Florida panther, wood stork, crocodile and many of the state's highest profile at-risk denizens. The second state-only list lumped 61 others under a single "threatened'' category -- a status subject to review under a new suite of biological measures.

Now, some of those first reviews are in. The findings suggest the new approach could produce some of the same old debates.

Preliminary reviews, if they stand up, would knock half of 10 mammals off the state's list -- most notably the Florida black bear, an animal whose shrinking habitat has increasingly pushed it into potentially dangerous encounters with suburbanites.

Illegal Haircuts

"Two attorneys said Tuesday they will inform the Orange County Sheriff's Office and a state licensing agency today to expect lawsuits over a series of raids earlier this year at barbershops in the Pine Hills area. ... Johnson said his clients, 12 area barbers, are suing on essentially the same grounds." "Lawyers to announce suits over barbershop raids".

"Florida's favorite punching bags"

Scott Maxwell: "I know it's not terribly popular nowadays. But I thought I'd take a moment to say thanks and congratulations to one of Florida's favorite punching bags — the public school teacher."

The latest reports show that Florida has its best graduation rate ever. And there will be all manner of politicians, bureaucrats and pundits heaping praise upon themselves for supposedly making this happen.

But I had a novel idea — thanking the teachers.

See, teachers have become the boogeymen in most of the efforts to dismantle public schools. They are portrayed as lazy incompetents who don't care about education, their students or anything other than collecting a union-protected paycheck.

We see these unfair portrayals in the halls of Tallahassee, from think tanks eager to siphon money away from public schools and into private ones, and even in the pages of this newspaper.

RPOF stooges want more

"Energized by high-profile election victories of the people they most wanted to see win — Rick Scott for governor, Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate, and Allen West for Congress — they want even more." "Tea party activists in South Florida hope to build on election sucess".

Meanwhile, the "spats-and-ascot set" are laffing all the way to the country club.

"Jeb!" speaks

"Jeb Bush says President Obama could win re-election in 2012 and that Republicans have yet to offer a “compelling alternative” to current policies." "Jeb Bush says Obama can win again".

"Mouse Trapped"

"In a sign that negotiations between Walt Disney World and its largest labor group [approximately 30,000 employees] may be growing hostile, organizers with Service Trades Council plan to publicly air[ed] short film ... that boosters said 'documents the story of the workers who make the magic happen and their struggles in these tough economic times.'" "Disney union produces documentary, plans information picket". See also "Cast members reveal the dark side of Disney".

"Reality bites back"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Florida lawmakers have decided they want a say over many of the state's rules and regulations, grunt work usually left to state agencies. They think Florida's businesses need protection from bureaucratic Voldemorts and their diabolical regulations."

Makes a great sound bite, until reality bites back. Which it has.

"Most politicians wait"

Scott Maxwell writes that, regarding Ricky, "most politicians wait until they get into office before they start breaking their promises."

Good luck with that

Mike Thomas: "The plot to weaken the class-size amendment failed when voters rejected Amendment 8. ... lawmakers must replace a political strategy designed to undermine the class-size amendment with a workable strategy to implement it." "Voters spoke, so make class-size law work". Meantime, "35 school districts face penalties for violating Florida's class-size law". Related: "State: Palm Beach County school classes among most overcrowded".

Not going quietly

"PSC's Nathan Skop Not Your Traditional Lame Duck".

"Talking points that deal with reality"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "DREAM Act opponents need some talking points that deal with reality." "Wake up to reality of DREAM Act: Facts don't support opponents' arguments".

Privatization follies

"Florida sued over sale of millions of drivers' personal info to private firm".

Public employee pensions in Ricky's crosshairs

"In his quest to meet with every state legislator before he takes office, Gov.-elect Rick Scott on Tuesday held sitdowns with 12 South Florida lawmakers to make introductions and to hear what was on their minds. ... His first question to each group: 'Can I ask you guys your thoughts on pension reform?'" "Scott meets with South Florida legislators at Fort Lauderdale hotel".

Jeff Davis smiling

"Cantor: States Need The Power To Overrule The Federal Gov't".

"No labels"

"In a bid to become the "tea party of the center," a group of moderate Republicans and Democrats has launched a "No Labels" movement. Banking on the idea that heightened partisan polarization will lead to more political gridlock and voter frustration, founder Nancy Jacobson believes the American public is hungry for a pragmatic approach to governance.
" "'No Labels' No Way to Win, Conservatives Say".

'Ya reckon?

"Higher Education a Key to Creating Jobs in Florida".

LeMieux attacks federal employees

"LeMieux, Rooney propose tougher spending cuts; Big Labor hits from left". "GOP Devalues Obama's Puny Pay 'Freeze'".

But, aren't all men created equal?

"The Florida Times-Union ran a piece this morning on a Jacksonville groups’s renewed call to oust a Muslim man from the city’s Human Rights Commission, and now a man associated with that group is speaking out." "Jacksonville ACT! head discusses call to oust Muslim man from Human Rights Commission".

Where do Teabaggers stand on this?

"Recent reports of a proposed 'personhood' amendment that would potentially outlaw all types of abortion, as well as birth control, may have raised eyebrows, but the amendment doesn’t seem to be making much popular headway thus far. And while state legislators do have the authority to overrule the signature-gathering process, whether they plan to do so remains an open question." "Could the legislature push fetal personhood amendment onto ballots?".

"So much for blind justice"

Daniel Ruth writes that, as "recently retired Justice John Paul Stevens has noted, the process of determining who lives, who dies, hasn't always been fair. Or just. That is not only terrifying; it is a horrific indictment of judicial malfeasance on the high court."

Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 after a four-year moratorium, more than 1,100 people have been executed across the country, including 69 inmates in Florida. But Stevens, in an essay for the New York Review of Books, has argued he now believes the death penalty to be unconstitutional based on a pattern of "judicial activism" on the nation's highest court grounded in racism, a deck stacked toward convictions and political motivations grounded in hysteria.

So much for blind justice.

Bits and Pieces

Kevin Derby: "Political Bits and Pieces".

Anonymous attacks in RPOF race

"With Florida Republicans set to choose a new leader in January, an anonymous attack campaign has been launched against Hillsborough GOP chief Deborah Cox-Roush, who is running for state party chairwoman." "Anonymous attacks slam Hillsborough GOP chief seeking top party job". Related "Another candidate for Fla GOP Chair".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Minority firms worry high-speed-rail project will pass them by".

This bodes well for 'Glades restoration

"The South Florida Water Management District lost one of its strongest Everglades advocates on Tuesday -- but it could actually bode well for restoration efforts. The Obama administration tapped Shannon Estenoz, a district governing-board member and veteran environmentalist from Plantation, to be its point person on Everglades policy." "Obama administration taps Shannon Estenoz to help shape Glades policy". See also "South Florida water manager gets federal Everglades post".

Whatever

"Members will have to vote to let Wilson wear hats in U.S. House".

The right to defecate

Mark Lane: "Florida is 30 percent wetlands, has a high water table and any place you might dig a hole isn't too far from a lake, swamp, river or creek. In a place like this, having a lot of poorly maintained, older septic tanks causes problems. They generate nitrates that pollute lakes and springs. This can set off algae blooms and fish kills." "Septic tanks a Florida dilemma". The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Fix septic-tank bill".

Lawmakers' work was "demolished by five unelected justices on the Supreme Court,'' he said.

His frustration sounded like the gripes of a sore loser. He might remember that the majority of the court was appointed by Republican governors, and that justices are not beholden to legislators but to the law.

"A break to drug dealers"

The Sarasota Herald Trib editors:"In their haste to be business-friendly, Florida lawmakers this month unintentionally gave a break to drug dealers." "Legislative malpractice".

"The bruises are still sore"

"Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel says he has suspended a pair of party precinct organizers after they publicly snubbed Democratic County Commissioner Burt Aaronson. It's the latest reminder that while the Dems' Nov. 2 midterm beatdown is over, the bruises are still sore." "Democratic party organizers suspended after snubbing Palm Beach County commissioner".

Kissing Ricky's feet

"With hundreds of appointments to make across the state, though, locals wonder: Who will the new governor rely on most for advice on local issues?" "Focus now on Scott filling posts".

"This Is Not Florida"

"Minnesota was set to hit the reset button Monday in another close election as workers began the tedious task of reviewing more than 2.1 million ballots in the governor's race - one at a time and under the watchful gaze of volunteers and lawyers for Democrat Mark Dayton and Republican Tom Emmer. The recount follows on the heels of a 2008 standoff over a U.S. Senate seat for Minnesota that stretched into the following summer." "Minnesota election tradition? Ready, set, recount".

We're almost finished our review of "This is not Florida" by Jay Weiner. You can order it in time for the holidays at Books and Books.

'Ya think?

"Activists fear developer bias on planning commission".

Teabaggers nowhere in sight

"Port seeks dredge earmark".

Perhaps he'll get a job?

"For nearly two decades in Congress, Rep. Lincoln-Diaz Balart has been the voice, the passion and the drive behind efforts to keep economic and political pressure on Cuba's Fidel Castro. ... Diaz-Balart plans to remain active: He will lead a nonprofit inspired by his father's White Rose, the first anti-Castro exile group, founded in January 1959."Pulpit to change; passion will not".

Yee Haw!

Aaron Deslatte: "Central Florida can expect more clout".

Tally update

"State Capitol Briefs".

"Dark days are ahead"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida lawmakers have decided they want a say over many of the state's rules and regulations, grunt work usually left to state agencies. They think Florida's businesses need protection from bureaucratic Voldemorts and their diabolical regulations. Makes a great sound bite, until reality bites back. Which it has. ... If this is the Legislature's idea of easing the regulatory burden in Florida, dark days are ahead." "Unintended consequences".

Empty suit rails at Obama

"On his first day as Florida's new House speaker, Rep. Dean Cannon took a clear shot at President Barack Obama's new health-care reform law."

"Should it really be the role of government to require people to purchase a health insurance product they don't want, raise taxes to give that same product to others who can't afford it, and commandeer our state government and its resources to carry it out?" Cannon, a Winter Park Republican, told House members after being sworn in two weeks ago.

"Or, should we work to limit government and empower the private sector?"

On numerous fronts, Florida policymakers have already answered that question.

"It's not Rick Scott, anymore"

"A self-made millionaire Republican is campaigning in Florida on a platform of spending cuts and less government."

It's not Rick Scott, anymore.

This is Gary E. Johnson, a former New Mexico governor and advocate for the legalization of marijuana, who's putting out Florida feelers in a possible bid for the presidency in 2012.

Johnson's campaign-style stops in Tallahassee, Melbourne and Orlando last week reveal that the presidential race is already at a low boil in the nation's largest swing state.

Without Florida, Republicans say, they can't recapture the White House.

Where're West and the Teabaggers?

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "The priorities of the newly-elected Congress may be taking a troubling turn."

[T]he idea of denying citizenship to certain American-born children is a favorite of many politicians who often talk glowingly about the importance of the purity of the Constitution. Yet here they are, wanting to play games with the 14th Amendment, which states pretty clearly in Section I: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside." It dates back to 1868.

Opponents of King's bill say it would clearly be unconstitutional, but backers of the poorly-conceived idea say the 14th Amendment is irrelevant. King says the 14th Amendment would not apply to the children of illegal immigrants because their parents should not be in the country anyway. He refers to it as the "anchor baby industry." Interesting that the Constitution only applies when it serves your purpose.

Hopefully, both parties will find a way to work together during the new session to find a path to comprehensive immigration reform. Mean-spirited bills that play with the Constitution and aim to appease the political base are not the way to do it.

The Q-Man speaks

"A "Repeal Amendment" empowering states to revoke federal laws is gaining traction among conservative lawmakers across the country. Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos is among the legislators leading the charge."

Kenneth Quinnell, director of the Florida Progressive Coalition, calls it "nothing more than a political stunt that will end up going nowhere. It shows a stunning ignorance of the Founding Fathers and their goals in creating the Constitution."

In Quinnell's view, the Constitution was created "as an explicit reaction to the abject failure of the Articles of Confederation, which gave sovereign power to the states."

"The Federalists (including James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and George Washington) explicitly sought to remove power from the states and give it to the federal government, hence the name," Quinnell says.

Could it "get any more botched up?"

Nancy Smith wonders if "Everglades restoration get any more botched up?" "Is Everglades Restoration a Dream Too Far?".

Another fine Jebacy

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The public is incensed -- justifiably so -- about a courthouse building that includes etched glass, granite and mahogany when the state faces another budget deficit and high unemployment. The building is even modeled after the Michigan Supreme Court -- which Hawkes, a former Republican state lawmaker appointed to the court by then-Gov. Jeb Bush, flew to see at the expense of the contractor." "Tallahassee's Taj Mahal".

Winger of the Week

Guillermo I. Martinez.

Chamber of Commerce at work

The Sun Sentinel editorial board, like its sister in Orlando, continues to parrot the Chamber of Commerce/AIF anti-pension drumbeat, arguing today that "with the state facing another multibillion-dollar budget gap, with many local governments struggling to balance their budgets, and with basic services still on the chopping block, lawmakers can't responsibly ignore benefits that are often more generous than other states' or private companies'." They continue mouthing the big business line about pensions:

Members of the Florida Retirement System, which covers state, county and some municipal employees, get a deal that many in the private sector would envy.

It is not mere coincidence that the different editorial boards are publishing essentially the same editorials, down to the same, though slightly doctored, phrasing, as follows:

- The words "So far the pension reform wave hasn't washed over Florida" appeared in the Orlando Sentinel editorial on November 20, 2010.

- yet this almost identical phrase appeared in the Sun Sentinel today, November 28, 2010: "So far, the national pension reform wave hasn't washed over Florida".

A middle schooler couldn't pass this off without appropriate attribution. Perhaps one of the editors might offer up an explanation?

For more on the Florida media's concerted attacks on pensions, see "The Orlando Sentinel editors are at it again".

"The sooner we cut it ..."

"Rick Scott met with [Northeast Florida] lawmakers Wednesday to hear about their priorities for the spring legislative session in an informal give-and-take that also provided a glimpse into what Florida's next governor hopes to accomplish."

State Rep. Bill Proctor, a St. Augustine Republican who represents most of Flagler County, outlined a proposal that drew general agreement from the rest. He suggested state employees less than 10 years from retirement would see no changes, while others would keep the benefits they've earned but be shifted into a program that replaces guaranteed pensions with defined contribution plans, similar to a 401(k).

Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville, said it was just a matter of time before old-fashioned pensions disappeared altogether.

"I don't think a defined benefit program will exist anywhere in five years," Weinstein said. "The sooner we cut it, the more financially sound we'll be."

Calling Mr. Scott ...

"Backlash Feared As Some In GOP Push Social Issues".

"RPOF struggling to shake off a cloud of scandal"

"For a Republican Party of Florida struggling to shake off a cloud of scandal, the Nov. 2 election may have been the easy part." "Choosing RPOF leader calls for delicacy".

Them thar silly lawrs

"The law not only requires more teachers, it means more classrooms are needed." "Local schools fined over class sizes".

Bastiat laffing in his grave

"Scott’s choices for his economic team have been hits with free-market advocates and business groups." "Gov.-elect Rick Scott’s economic team embraces 'free market' approach".

Cox-Roush circus

"Two years after taking over as chairwoman of the Hillsborough County Republican Party, the state's largest local GOP group, [Deborah] Cox-Roush is running to lead the entire state GOP."

So far, she is competing against three declared candidates in January: Pinellas County's Tony DiMatteo, Jefferson County's Dave Bitner, and Sid Dinerstein of Palm Beach County.

Born in a small Ohio town, Cox-Roush, 57, started working when she was 6 years old and sold ice cream with her grandmother at the Ohio State Fair.

That grew into a family catering business that now operates in five states. Cox-Roush moved to Atlanta when the company won a contract for the 1996 Olympics.

In 2000, she came to Tampa at the urging of her mother, who held the food service contract at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

As long as it doesn't cost money ...

"Newly elected state Sen. Lizbeth Ben­acquisto [the Wellington Republican, who defeated Democrat Kevin Rader on Nov. 2 to claim the District 27 seat], who made waves during the campaign by running a television commercial revealing she had been raped as a teen, is launching task forces in all the counties in her district to come up with ideas to help rape victims." "State Sen. Benacquisto of Wellington seeks ideas to better help rape victims".

"Seminoles are angry"

"After nearly two years, the tribes learned that what they'd been told were some teeth and bones turned out to be partial remains of 56 men, women and children moved from an ancient burial ground so significant that it would have been eligible for listing on the National Registry of Historic Places." "Tribes angry, Everglades projects halt after workers dig up major burial ground but don't tell".