Jim Nicholas, professor emeritus of both law and urban and regional planning at the University of Florida, said labeling the Department of Community Affairs a regulatory "job-killer" as Scott did during his election campaign is "laughable" because of the excessive amount of homes and commercial space that was built prior to the collapse of the real estate market.

Florida, Nicholas said, created its growth management system to reduce conflicts between neighboring counties and between cities and counties. Counties would frequently push landfills to the edge of their boundaries and push traffic and other problems into the next jurisdiction.

"We've been there -- we are doing full circle," Nicholas said. "And my view is we got people coming into office now who don't remember. They were either, frankly, living someplace else or are too young."

Why not eliminate taxes entirely?

"Gov.-elect Rick Scott, who will be sworn in next Tuesday, has no plans to back off his campaign pledge to cut property taxes by 19 percent in the coming year, even though the state's financial picture has worsened in the months since he first made that promise." "Rick Scott won't back down on promise to cut taxes".

Look for Scott to withdraw midnight appointments

"Governor-elect Rick Scott may be a professed outsider, but he could keep intact one recent tradition: Pulling back the appointments of the previous governor. ... While Scott cannot withdraw judicial appointments he can withdraw the appointments of anyone who has not yet been confirmed by the Florida Senate."

"Things Change ... A Lot"

"Yearly Roundup: Things Change ... A Lot".

Heaven help us

"It's a remarkable time for the state. Less than a year ago, few had a clue who Rick Scott was, and in three days he'll be our leader." "Rick Scott should look to past for inaugural insights".

"Bondi sets stage"

"Pam Bondi sets stage for attorney general tenure, makes notable hire".

"Driven by ambition"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Driven by ambition, he set his sights on Washington, D.C., and ended up losing control of the agenda in Tallahassee. Crist served two years as governor before he succumbed to the urge to quickly capitalize on his status as a rising star in the national GOP. Then he gradually lost ideological and political coherence -- and with that he also lost much of his ability to influence events in Florida." "Crist squandered potential to make a real difference".

"Continued rise in foreclosed properties"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board:

2010: It wasn't enough that Florida had one of the highest rates of foreclosures in the nation. It also was one of the states where a new vocabulary sprang up to describe the mess with expedited foreclosure cases: "robo-signing" and "rocket dockets," among other terms. As Florida's court system sped its processes to cut through the flood of files (rocket dockets), banks were accused of signing off on case documents without verifying contents (robo-signing). Under pressure, many banks halted foreclosures, leaving prospective buyers in the lurch. The state also began investigating foreclosure law firms, such as the David J. Stern law firm and Tampa's Florida Default Law Group, after allegations of sloppy work and falsifying documents used to complete foreclosures.

2011: It's unclear whether the state will crack down further on foreclosure firms that churn out cases. Pam Bondi, the incoming attorney general, has not indicated how she will respond to the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile banks are changing their policies to make sure case files have verified documentation. However, none of that will help the continued rise in foreclosed properties heading toward the court system. The longer it takes for foreclosures to get flushed through the market, the longer it will take for home values and Florida's economy to improve, experts predict.

Whatever

"Allen West moves to wintry Washington".

Walters recommends herself

"Walters helmed Scott's juvenile justice transition team, which issued a 203-page report that suggested many of the reforms already tested in Miami. The team pushed for statewide civil citations for misdemeanor offenders; using a GPS bracelet for monitoring misdemeanor offenders rather than placing them in residential programs and encouraging and developing Juvenile Assessment Centers throughout the state." "Wansley Walters of Miami to lead state juvenile justice office". See also "Rick Scott appoints Miami-Dade woman to head Juvenile Justice".

"Whatever it is"

"What does Florida's lieutenant governor do, exactly? Whatever it is, it cost taxpayers more than $1.1 million to have Jeff Kottkamp do it for four years." "Kottkamp's expenses top $1 million".

Maryland civics lesson

"A Maryland political operative behind misleading election day robocalls has a long and colorful history of political tricks so dirty that even in Baltimore political consultants"

"don't want to even breathe the same air as him." But a lawyer representing Julius Henson (who has admitted he was responsible for robocalls telling mostly Democratic voters not to bother going to the polls on Election Day) is arguing that his client's right to free speech protects such tactics.

Henson, a Democrat, was working for former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich (R) in his campaign against Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D). The political operative has a long history in election shenanigans, much of it in the underbelly of campaigns in Baltimore and Prince George's County.

Bits and Pieces

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".

10: A High Bar
9: An Impatient Public
8: Finding the Money
7: Staffing his Administration
6: Fighting Red Tape Fanatics
5: A Work Force Insurgency
4: The Media Funnel
3: Ambitious Legislators
2: Runaway Rhetoric
1: Obama, Again

Florida looks for federal handout

"Gov. Crist asks feds for disaster declaration after latest Arctic blast chills crops". See also "Crist Asks Feds to Declare 35 Florida Counties Weather Disasters".

Let them eat cake

"Florida's government-owned hospitals will be in the political cross hairs after Tuesday's inauguration of Rick Scott, once leader of the nation's largest for-profit hospital chain."

The governor-elect's transition team has recommended creation of a panel to study whether government-owned hospitals -- Miami-Dade's Jackson Health System and Broward's two hospital districts among them -- are necessary.

RPOF follies

"Delmar Johnson, former executive director of the Florida Republican Party, was president, secretary and treasurer of Victory Strategies, which prosecutors say was a 'shell company' created to skim off GOP contributions."

But most of the cash went to former state party Chairman Jim Greer, newly released documents show.

Victory Strategies took in nearly $240,000 over nine months in 2009, according to bank statements. Of that money, $164,101 was paid to Greer in 11 checks. Johnson took $65,093 during that same time while a balance of $10,000 remained in the account as of Jan. 31, 2010.

Billy: "never say never"

"Given [his] losses and the fact McCollum is now 66, it would seem his political career would be over. 'I've learned a long time ago to never say never,' said McCollum, who resurrected his political career in 2006 after spending six years in the private sector following his Senate race losses." "McCollum's political career appears to be ending".

Rotten teeth

"Adam Putnam, who will soon take over as Florida's agriculture commissioner, has put a halt to the state's effort to ban chocolate milk and most high-sugar drinks in Florida schools." "Incoming state agriculture chief seeks to table chocolate-milk ban in schools".

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Stalling removal of sugary drinks from schools unwise".

The Wal-mart/Fox News Governorship

"Greta Van Susteren to kick off Scott's inaugural celebration", "Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren to kick off Scott’s $2.5 million inauguration" and "Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren headlines Gov.-elect Scott's inaugural event". Related: "Greta Van Susteren Questions Juan Williams' Palin Intellect Claim".

About Fox News generally: "Study: Fox News Viewers Are The Most Misinformed". See also "12 Wild Misconceptions Held By Fox News Viewers".

Courtesy of NAFTA, "America could become China's China"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Over the past few decades, Americans sort-of accepted politicians' claims that a global economy helped everybody. There were grumblings about the North American Free Trade Agreement, for example, but no revolts. ... Many American companies did well in 2010, and they have started pumping up their payrolls. But they're not hiring Americans, and they're not hiring in America. U.S.-based companies created fewer than 1 million jobs in America in 2010, but they created 1.4 million jobs overseas. ... America could become China's China. Great" "Want a job? Try China: American companies stingy".

No way to run a state

"With just days before Governor-elect Rick Scott takes office, a few more top-level state officials have been told they will no longer have a job. New documents show that a total of 82 high-ranking state officials have been told by Scott's transition team that they will not have a job after Jan. 3. There are still close to 400 employees who are being held over past the Jan. 4 inauguration date for up to 90 days." "Scott transition team hands out a few more pink slips".

Mack laff riot

"When asked about his political aspirations, Republican Rep. Connie Mack will only go as far as to say he's focused on fulfilling his fourth term representing Florida's Gulf Coast. But glance all around him and it looks as though he's taking every necessary step to prepare for a 2012 Senate run against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson." "Mack making moves toward Senate bid".

Florida led the way in bank failures

"More banks failed in the United States this year than in any year since 1992, during the savings-and-loan crisis — and Florida led the way." "Florida led nation's worst year for bank failures since 1992".

Scarborough to grace us with his candidacy

"Parade magazine will run an interview on Sunday with former U.S. Rep. Joe Scarborough, the Republican who represented the Panhandle for six years in Congress before turning cable news host. In the interview, Scarborough played down talk that he would join New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on an independent presidential ticket in 2012, but said it was possible he could make a political comeback. " "Joe Scarborough Mulls Over His Political Future".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Cable TV dispute threatens Penn State-Fla. game".

Florida Main Street program

Nancy Smith: "Take a good look at the Florida Main Street program. It's sneaky clever. It's all about preserving the character and vitality of decaying downtowns -- and that would be reason enough to love it -- but here's the big bonus: It pumps cash like a wildcat well into all 50 Main Street communities." "25 Years of Florida Main Street: Look How It Boosts the State's Economy".

"Unfinished agenda"

Steve Bousquet: "He rode a wave of optimism into office four years ago, but Gov. Charlie Crist leaves behind a very different Florida when his term expires next week." "Charlie Crist's legacy — an unfinished agenda".

Perhaps Mr. Putnam will help

"Florida agriculture loses $273M in December freeze".

Haridopolos scrapes bottom of the barrel

Even the public employee pension haters on the Orlando Sentinel editorial board have to ask "what on Earth was Senate President Mike Haridopolos thinking when he hired a firm with ties to a legally compromised consultant — to advise him no less on reforming the Florida Retirement System?"

He was thinking that Charles LeCroy "is an expert in the field," said a Haridopolos spokesman — never mind that Mr. LeCroy was sentenced to six months in prison in 2005 after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud for engaging in a scheme to obtain municipal-bond business from the city of Philadelphia.

Then there is the massive Jefferson County, Ala., bribes-for-bonds investigation involving Mr. LeCroy. The Securities and Exchange Commission is pursuing a civil case against Mr. LeCroy concerning that one. ... it's astonishing that Mr. Haridopolos would be so reckless in his choice of advisers.

Panhandle Blues

"Gov.-elect Rick Scott returned to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs Wednesday: the staunchly Republican Panhandle that played a important role in his winning election as Florida's next governor." "Scott gets a hero's welcome". See also "Scott calls on Panhandle base for support".

Blah, blah, blah

"Scott said he's asking business owners and executives to give him a list of regulations that interfere with their companies, then he's asking state agencies what the effect would be of eliminating them. But he said he hasn't begun identifying specific items he plans to eliminate." "Gov.-elect Scott vows to streamline regulations".

Blame public employee pensions

"As unfunded liability grows, more are calling for employee contributions and reduced benefits". "Local Governments Seek Pension Relief".

Let's cut their pension ... as they die in record numbers

"Florida again among top five states for law enforcement fatalities".

"The idiot saying all this"

"Last Jan. 28 there was a column in this newspaper about why Gov. Charlie Crist could still win the U.S. Senate race."

And who was the idiot saying all this?

That would be [Howard Troxler].

Rubio beat Crist by 19 points.

Wait, I got more.

About Charlie

"Outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist will linger in some short-term memories for his failed independent Senate run and his pardon of singer Jim Morrison. People thinking longer term will recall a governor who persuaded Republicans and Democrats to work together but blundered away his potential for success at the national level." "Economy, missteps sank Crist's political career".

'Glades

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The effort to restore the Florida Everglades is closing out the year with a flourish. A federal judge in Miami threw his support this month behind a plan by the Environmental Protection Agency to build a vast new series of marshes to filter polluted runoff before it enters the River of Grass." "Keep Everglades on track".

Solar

"The battle over who should pay for solar energy".

Officials' pensions

"Bill would reduce Florida's contribution to elected officials' retirement funds".

Subsidizing Star Island

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "The state's utilities could generate 40,000 of the 700,000 jobs Rick Scott has promised Florida — if the governor-elect gives a price break to companies that move to Florida or expand their operations here. And then passes those costs onto consumers."

That's what an economic development transition team has recommended to Mr. Scott, but it's a recommendation Mr. Scott ought to guard against.

Last minute appointments not so lame

Kevin Derby: "Lame-duck governor names Hernando County sheriff and Enterprise Florida appointments in his last days in Tallahassee ... In the dying days of his term, Gov. Charlie Crist has made a number of key appointments that will shape the future of the Sunshine State for years to come -- in fact, 14 already this week. " "Rush of Appointments as Crist Prepares to Leave".

Enough with the "ineffective, expensive punishment-first philosophy"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "To Floridians worried about Gov.-elect Scott's ultra-conservative bent, the only thing more alarming than news he is being advised to shake up the prison system might be news that Mr. Scott is being advised to use Texas as a model."

In fact, the recommended approach should be encouraging to Floridians regardless of party or ideology. Texas is at the forefront of states that have scrapped an ineffective, expensive punishment-first philosophy. If Mr. Scott follows suit, Florida could benefit from a focus on prevention and rehabilitation.

Second amendment remedies

"Teen accidentally shoots sister, 10, in leg in Pompano".

Desperation

The Sun Sentinel editors: "The desperation exists because schools in Florida operate on a shoestring. Legislators treat them as an annoyance, while ambitious politicians use them as cannon fodder for political campaigns." "School fundraising getting out of control".

"Florida corruption tax"

"Florida ethics officials need more authority to investigate and more power to punish public officials and others for what amounts to a 'Florida corruption tax' that is eroding public trust and stealing taxpayers' money, a statewide grand jury said Wednesday." "State ethics officials need more authority to punish corrupt public officials".

Yee Haw!

"The governor-elect went on a whirlwind tour of Florida on Wednesday, stopping in cities -- including Miami -- that played an important role in his victorious campaign." "Gov.-elect Rick Scott's victory lap brings him to Miami".

No quorum for Alvarez

"A lack of a quorum forced the cancellation of a special Miami-Dade County Commission meeting called Wednesday to consider setting a recall election for embattled Mayor Carlos Alvarez." "Meeting to set recall election canceled".

Blame Mel

"Florida's representation in government underwent a huge change in 2010 and voters can either blame or thank former Sen. Mel Martinez, depending on how they feel about it. Republican Martinez's December 2008 announcement that he would not seek a second term created a domino effect that led to an election year unlike Florida had seen in more than a century."

If Martinez had just stayed put, Gov. Charlie Crist probably would have run for re-election. Same with Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Attorney General Bill McCollum. Instead, Florida has a new U.S. Senator, a new governor and three new Cabinet members.

And it was a year when tea party fervor over federal spending helped Republicans take back four U.S. House seats, including two candidates considered safe when the election cycle began.

As head of Wal-Mart's emergency response team, Koon oversees a network of emergency responders [?] led by 40 executives who watch over the company's assets from a 4,000-square-foot response center near the company's Bentonville, Ark., headquarters.

Koon, 39, comes from Wal-Mart headquarters in Arkansas, where he has been director of the company's emergency management operations since February 2009.

A former surface warfare officer in the Navy, Koon worked nearly seven years in the White House Military Office. He also worked for SRA International, a Virginia-based homeland security consulting firm.

Bits and Pieces

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".

On the verge of disaster

"A week before he will be sworn in as Florida's 45th governor, Rick Scott brought his boardroom brand of politics to Tampa on Tuesday during a meeting with 16 lawmakers from the Tampa Bay area." "Scott meets with bay area lawmakers".

"A good ol' boy fatwa"

Daniel Ruth writes that "it would only take Grady Judd getting his badge all in a wad to launch of a good ol' boy fatwa turning Polk County into a First Amendment nuclear winter. " "A case of excessive ego in the first degree".

Haridopolos off and running

"Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos has visited Washington to talk about his expected Senate bid against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who won a second term with 60 percent of the vote in 2006."

George LeMieux, who filled the last 15 months of Republican Mel Martinez' term through an appointment, might also seek Nelson's seat.

LeMieux is returning to Florida to make room for Marco Rubio, a former speaker of the Florida state House who won election to the Senate this year.

Scott hires lightweight

Is this really the best he could do?

"Scott announced Monday that Indiana Department of Corrections Commissioner Edwin G. Buss will take over the same agency in Florida ... Buss, 45, was appointed to the Indiana job in August 2008 after working as superintendent of two state prisons. He was named the state's prison superintendent of the year in 2005."

In Florida, he will preside over the state's $2.4 billion corrections budget, which Scott has promised to cut by $1 billion.

Buss dealt with budget issues in Indiana, where lawmakers refused to build prisons or cut sentences for certain crimes to handle overcrowding. Indiana has about 29,000 inmates compared to 102,000 in Florida.

To offset the costs in Indiana, Buss cut the prison staff by almost 1,000, according to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.

Blaming public employees ...

"Local Governments Seek Pension Relief".

... as "police fatalities surge"

"Police Fatalities Surge In 2010"

PPP poll

"A poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to national Democrats, shows that Florida Republicans can expect close primary battles in the presidential race as well as the contest to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson." "PPP Poll Shows Close GOP Primary Battles in 2012".

LeMieux to relax at his old digs

"U.S. Sen. George LeMieux will return to Gunster law firm after leaving office. H. William Perry, the firm's CEO and managing partner, announced today that LeMieux will resume his legal practice Jan. 4 and provide corporate counseling to the firm's clients." "Sen. LeMieux plans to returns to law firm".

Scramble to replace Frederica Wilson

"The election of Democrat Frederica Wilson to Congress last month set off a scramble to replace her in the Florida Senate -- and triggered another race for a Florida House seat. The two elections, scheduled for early in the new year in a pair of overlapping, predominantly black and heavily Democratic districts, will test candidates' ability to draw supporters to the polls so soon after a heated election season left voters fatigued by politics." "Crowd jostles for vacant seat in Florida Senate".

Deja vu

"In Florida, the more things changed in 2010, the more they remain the same heading into 2011."

This year, voters elected a new governor and lieutenant governor -- who will take office Tuesday -- and a new Cabinet. Voters also gave Republicans in both the state House and Senate even greater majorities.

Yet, as Floridians and their state government approach 2011 and face the prospect of change in governance, there is a strong sense of deja vu. ...

The recommendations on health care, including Medicaid, are dominated by a diatribe against the federal health-care reform law; what the state really needs are practical proposals on health care, including elder care, that control costs while providing quantifiable improvement in services.

Similarly, the proposals on education, made by a committee that didn't include a single teacher working in today's public classrooms, are heavily weighted toward private-school vouchers and the addition of charter schools -- even though directing public dollars to most private schools violates the state's constitution and charter schools in Florida have not generally outperformed conventional public schools.

The rest of us to subsidize business power bills

"The transition team of Gov.-elect Rick Scott is quietly mulling a plan to have residential power customers pick up the tab for a cut in business utility rates, the News Service of Florida reports." "Scott reportedly weighing plan to cut business power bills, with citizens paying the difference".

Florida's consumer confidence

"Florida's consumer confidence level remains unchanged in December".

Will commissioners appoint the next Miami-Dade mayor?

Jackie Bueno Sousa: "The Miami-Dade County Commission is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss the anticipated mayoral recall election. But the most interesting aspect of their discussion could center on a little-noted uncertainty: whether commissioners, in the event of a mayoral recall, will appoint the next county mayor." "2011 could be a year to recall in Miami-Dade".

Another fine Florida resident

"Think Progress has discovered that recent television commercials featuring Florida resident and former Gov. Mike Huckabee rallying viewers to sign a repeal petition against Obama’s health care reform measures are part of a campaign managed by 949 Media Group, a firm run by a notorious scam artist known for bilking struggling homeowners seeking to renegotiate their mortgages." "NWF Daily News: 'They just don’t know what’s out there': State funding to help pay for employment programs".

Scott puts off rail decision

"Gov.-elect Rick Scott told reporters Tuesday he is awaiting a feasibility study on a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando due in February before deciding whether to take billions in federal dollars for the project, according to the St. Petersburg Times." "Scott says high-speed rail study due in February".

Martinez mixed up in torture cover-up?

"Over the weekend, The Miami Herald used documents unearthed by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks to publish an interesting account of how the U.S. government worked to convince Spanish officials not to pursue an investigation into accusations of torture made against senior U.S. officials — an effort that included pressure brought by former Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla." "WikiLeaks: Former Sen. Martinez worked to squelch Spanish torture investigation".

Southwest Florida rebound

"Southwest Florida's rebound is hardly robust".

Fasano goes after elected official pensions

"If the Florida Legislature is going to make up the $3.5 billion deficit facing the state by reducing spending, Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, thinks elected officials should start by cutting their own benefits. Fasano filed a bill this month that would reduce the contributions the state makes to elected officials’ retirement funds from 3 percent to 2 percent. Judges’ contributions would fall from 3.33 percent to 2 percent. The bill would apply to all levels of government, including local elected officials." "Sen. Mike Fasano Seeks Cuts in Retirement Benefits for Elected Officials".

Martin County commissioners adopted, and the state approved, new growth rules to which several environmental groups objected. An administrative law judge upheld the approval, and the Martin County Conservation Alliance and 1000 Friends of Florida appealed.

The conservation groups lost the appeal. But the three-judge panel, in a 2-1 decision with Judges Hawkes and Thomas in the majority, further ruled that the environmental groups and their lawyers should be punished for filing the appeal.

Walkin' on sunshine

"Gov.-elect Rick Scott started his new job a week before officially taking office, with an inaugural road show starting in his Naples hometown and winding up with a down-home barbecue in Clewiston. Scott and his caravan flew in two twin engine private jets, with a stop at Disney World, to kick off four days of inaugural festivities before he becomes Florida's 45th governor Jan. 4." "Jetting through turbulent times, Gov.-elect Rick Scott stays sunny and promises work on job front". See also "Scott's tour stresses his campaign promises".

Give her a break

There are plenty of reasons to disagree with Deborah Cox-Roush, but this ain't one of them: "Old DUI case surfaces in contest to be head of Florida Republican party".

Mor of them anti-bidness regerlations

"When one of South Florida's largest home builders received a federal permit seven years ago for a development called Islands of Doral, the approval came with some conditions."

To compensate for destroying 415 acres of maleleuca-infested wetlands in West Miami-Dade County, Century Homebuilders agreed to set aside another 47 acres and create a wetlands preserve by removing the exotic species and replanting with spikerush, pond apple and other native foliage.

Century never completed the job.

Under the terms of a settlement approved this month by U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King in Miami, the builder now must perform the wetlands work it originally pledged to complete and pay a $400,000 fine plus $60,000 in other regulatory fees -- an unusually stiff penalty in a wetlands-violation case.

Panther habitat shrinks

"More Florida panthers are born, but habitat shrinks".

Attack on public employee pensions

"Rick Scott targets government pension plans as a way to cut costs, suggests employees should contribute".

"The same interests that contributed to Putnam"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Even before Adam Putnam is sworn in, the incoming state agriculture commissioner has alerted Floridians there's a new sheriff in town."

[W]e're troubled that Mr. Putnam, who was so eager to call for a timeout in the sugary drinks debate, has been curiously tight-lipped on whether he thinks flavored milk — larded up with 20 to 30 grams of sugar — is unhealthy enough to be punted out of schools.

We're sure the state could have taken that important step and allowed itself to become part of a conversation about nutrition.

And we're unsettled that the protests that brought to a close the Board of Education's sugary drinks discussion in May — from sugar and dairy farmers — are the same interests that contributed to Mr. Putnam's statewide campaign.

Whooppee!

"Rick Scott stops in Orlando on pre-inauguration tour".

Entrepreneurs in action

The Miami Herald editorial board: "When it comes to the unsavory and downright illegal, South Florida owns the market in healthcare scams. Miami-Dade County is the nation's epicenter of Medicare fraud. Broward County is the state's biggest black market in prescription pain killers like oxycodone." "Pill mills still going strong".

A provision that takes effect in January prevents health insurers from directing big chunks of premium dollars to excessive executive pay packages or bloated overhead and requires that more money go to medical care and health care quality improvement. Yet Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is contemplating asking for a three-year waiver to give insurers extra time to adjust to the new rules, which means Floridians would continue paying more for less. That would be a mistake that would undermine reform.

Too many consumers who purchase health coverage on the individual insurance market have been paying for expenses that have nothing to do with health — such as high corporate salaries, lavish bonuses, huge profits and blitz marketing campaigns.

"Florida's coughing, wheezing job market"

"It seems like just the thing Florida's coughing, wheezing job market needs: With corporate profits rebounding nicely in the past year, the nation's biggest companies are sitting on almost $1.7 trillion in earnings."

Flush with cash, those businesses must be ready to hire, right? Their strong financial position must mean that stubbornly high jobless rates — 12 percent statewide, 11.9 percent in Central Florida — will soon march downward?

Not necessarily. ...

While the nation's biggest employers hoard cash and delay hiring, small businesses are still focused on just staying afloat. Unable to lean on overseas earnings, and with fewer places to cut, they have not experienced the same rebound in their bottom line.

That's painfully true in Florida, where so much rides on the construction industry.

Scott "sour-grapers"

Nancy Smith whines that the "people bummed because the governor-elect's inauguration plans are too lavish are the same sour-grapers who voted against him or recommended against him in the Republican primary and the midterm election." "Lavish Inauguration for Rick Scott? Says Who?".

Great Scott!

"Rick Scott's transitions teams offered proposals that face resistance, rejection and scrutiny from legislators." "Rick Scott must sell, not order, many ideas on his list of proposals".

Ricky will no doubt take credit ...

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The Great Recession ended more than a year ago, according to the national panel of experts that makes those judgments. Maybe Florida didn't get the memo."

Unemployment here is stuck in double digits — it hit 12 percent statewide in November, .... The housing market is still in the tank. Tax collections are still short of projections.

Yet there is good reason, even for skeptics, to believe better days are coming ...

Pigs at the trough

"Scott plans to mark his ascension to the most powerful post in the state with a black-tie inaugural ball, a candlelight dinner with donors, a parade and barbecues and breakfasts with supporters across the state."

These series of inaugural bashes are being paid for by dozens of $25,000 checks from many of the special interests who will have business with the governor and the Republican-led Legislature in the months to come. ...

Brian Ballard, the prominent Tallahassee lobbyist who is serving as one of the finance chairmen for the committee, said that neither Scott nor people in the transition are asking for donations. Instead he said that many organizations and people are stepping forward themselves with the money.

Ballard echoed Rooney and said that those who are giving money to the inauguration are doing it to celebrate the election of Scott and Republicans. He said no one giving money should expect to get anything in return from the governor-elect. Scott spent more than $70 million of his own money on his campaign.

"Giving money to the inauguration would be one the silliest things you could think of doing if you wanted to curry favor," Ballard said.

"Details, details"

Bill Cotterell: "During the campaign, Scott said he would sell the state's executive jet, require drug testing for welfare recipients and reduce the size and cost of the state work force. He didn't mention that the luxury jet shown in his TV ads is not the little one acquired by that old tax-and-spend liberal Jeb Bush a few years ago, that there are constitutional and practical problems with drug testing or that Florida already has, per capita, the smallest and least-costly work force in the nation."

Details, details. That was raw, red meat for the voters, but now comes the difficult drudgery of delivering. So Scott appointed advisory task forces on different areas of government to help him turn campaign ideas into policy.

Lots of governors spoke of "reinventing government" — Chiles even gave his aides a book with that name — and every inaugural speech marks "a new beginning." But judging from many suggestions by Scott's transition teams, he obviously told his advisers to be bold, to learn from the past but not be bound by it. ...

Yet another team said 12-week limits on unemployment compensation, perhaps moving people to public-service labor after 12 weeks unless they can show they're looking hard for jobs, would help spur economic recovery. It would probably hold down UC costs for employers, providing them more money to hire the unemployed — who would have one more incentive to find a job.

A disdain for state workers runs through some of the Scott policy recommendations. The Health Department is described as having a "show up for work culture." An efficiency team said the Department of Management Services "lacks sufficient strength of leadership or institutional mandate."

And 483 employees in the governor's office and agencies under his direct control were notified last week about their future. Four were told they'll keep their jobs, 70 were let go and the rest were asked to stay 60 to 90 days.

Those departing aren't just the department heads and senior managers, most of whom change with every administration. These firings dipped down to the receptionist and clerical level, and the message was clear:

Work as if keeping your job depends on finding a cheaper, more productive way of doing it — which still might not be enough.

Phosphate mining kerfuffle

"Phosphate Institute rebuts Sierra Club allegations; reclaiming land for pastures ... Hundreds -- even thousands -- of Central Florida jobs could be lost if environmentalists succeed in halting phosphate mining in the state, industry sources say." "Florida Mine Battle Pits Environmentalists vs. Jobs".

Luvin' that state spending

"ACHA Awards $19 Million Patient Records Contract".

"Florida is a 900-pound political gorilla"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "The latest numbers from the U.S. Census confirm that Florida is the 900-pound gorilla of American politics. That's up from 800 pounds in the 2008 election, when the state had just 27 electoral votes. Thanks to a 17 percent increase in population from 2000 to 2010, Florida's electoral prize will grow to 29 votes in 2012 -- the same number as New York."

Floridians are not predictable. In 1992, the state went for G.H.W. Bush. In '96, Bill Clinton prevailed. In 2000, as you may recall, it was quite close in Florida and G.W. Bush ended up winning by 500 or so votes, plus five votes in the Supreme Court. Bush won again in 2004. Then Barack Obama surprised John McCain two years ago, winning the state by two percentage points.

The Sunshine State is the ultimate Swing State. That why, although we're fourth in population, we're first in the hearts of presidential wannabes.

Republicans will hold their national convention in Tampa in 2012. No surprise there. The GOP nominee can accept the nomination and then immediately begin campaigning for Florida's 29-vote electoral haul.

As a very large swing state, Florida has a great deal of political clout. This raises a question: What are Floridians getting in return for their role as national kingmakers?

The answer seems to be: not much[*]. Comparatively speaking, the state gets a poor return on the tax money it sends to Washington, D.C. Floridians have experienced more economic pain in the recession than residents of most states. Although the state's population grew impressively -- at least during the first half of the decade -- job growth hasn't been impressive at all.

Where's Ricky and his transition team on this?

"Several companies told investors they were profitable while telling state insurance regulators the opposite. ... State regulators have approved $718 million in rate increases — despite five years with no hurricanes." "Florida homeowners brace for insurance rate increases".

Fl-oil-duh

"BP oil spill hit Florida hard, but claimants remain frustrated". See also "To fix Gulf's woes, think years and billions of dollars".

"As a new cabinet prepares to take over the state’s executive branch, Florida officials are waging a multi-pronged campaign to appeal to oil spill claims administrator Kenneth Feinberg." "Florida officials maintain pressure on Feinberg during transition".

We hope for better judgment from their colleagues. And we hope Gov.-elect Rick Scott, though he touted the Arizona law in his campaign, doesn't go there now.

State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, has introduced a bill that would allow police in Florida to ask people they detain and suspect might be illegal immigrants to prove otherwise.

Lay down with dogs ...

Too late, the Orlando Sentinel editorial board whinges about "the frenzy to rip apart growth management in Florida."

The editors can't seem to understand that when you bite onto some of the Chamber of Commerce/AIF/TaxWatch/James Madison Institute/Teabagger agenda - like hating unions, slamming public employee pensions, and running progressives like Alan Grayson out of office - you are stuck with the rest of their agenda, like pumping raw sewage into Florida's steams and lakes, gutting the public school system and paving over what is left of Florida's environment.

In that connection, the editors whine this morning that

It's appalling how Gov.-elect Rick Scott and legislative leaders have vilified the Department of Community Affairs — the state's invaluable growth management arm — as a prelude to dismantling it.

But more appalling than the campaign to assassinate the character of DCA and that of its principled secretary, Tom Pelham, who's exiting his post in January, is what the enemies of sensible growth management have in store as replacements. Last week, a task force formed by Mr. Scott recommended that a dramatically weakened DCA join — or get swallowed up — by the much larger departments of transportation and environmental protection.

The remnants of the DCA no longer would responsibly manage growth, but morph from watchdog to lapdog. They'd enter what the task force report called a "partnership" with developers interested in, what else, "good growth." Florida, effectively, would end up with the kind of regulatory integrity that federal overseers offered the offshore drilling industry — none.

The governor-elect's task force actually calls for eliminating state oversight of local growth plans, including the review of particularly large developments that cross county lines and transportation concurrency, which ensures that developments don't overwhelm existing roads and interchanges.

Other scenarios for DCA's future are similarly gloomy.

No consequences

"Senate Confirms U.S. Marshals Director With Private Prison Ties".

Runnin' gub'ment like a bidness

"Ash Williams, executive director, State Board of Administration: 'I categorically did not 'intervene on Bayview's behalf.' This is the story of how he did." "It paid to know Florida's pension fund boss; firm got deal despite red flags". See also "A risky bet on the boss' friend".

Out here in the fields

"Cold facts: Farmworkers struggle to eat, pay bills after Florida freezes".

Sink not retiring

"Stung by a narrow defeat in a governor's race she says she never expected to lose, Alex Sink is retiring from public office, but not from public view."

To fill a void, and continue the policy work begun by her campaign, Sink told The Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times that she wants to establish a nonprofit, nonpartisan, Brookings Institution-style think tank to advance the policies she focused on during her campaign and to keep herself in play for her next political move.

"I'm not closing any doors,'' said Sink, 62. ``I'm at the stage of my life when I've learned never to say never.''

Since she conceded defeat the morning after the election, Sink said she has been on a ``roller coaster'' about her loss. She alternates between being pleased with the narrow margin in a year when many Democrats were trounced by double digits and second-guessing whether her campaign could have done more to find votes.

"Losing sucks, no matter how much you lose by,'' Sink said recently, as she prepared to move from Tallahassee back to her Thonotosassa home outside Tampa. "Coming so close doesn't take the sting out of it because so many people were so invested in a future with me.''

Sink hopes to tap into her cross-party support to advance causes she is passionate about, such as small business, children's issues, education, lowering the state's insurance risk, the exploding costs of incarcerating prisoners and the battle over redistricting.

When you put the teacher hating aside ...

"[U]nlike its predecessor, which led to student sit-ins and teacher sick-outs, this bill is finding widespread support from educators and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Even [OMG!!!] the teachers' unions are willing to consider it."

You see, unlike its predecessor,

This time, educators, parents and union leaders have contributed to a proposed bill that would reward the state's top teachers with merit pay.

Time to buy that yacht

"Consumers catch a break as Palm Beach County sales tax falls a half cent".

"Ambition got the best of him"

Jane Healy, in her last column, writes that "Crist must really, really wish now that Mel Martinez hadn't given up his U.S. Senate seat last year. It brought out the worst in Crist — his penchant for lunging desperately after the next political opportunity."

So after one term as governor, Crist left the post with much undone. ...

He governed as a moderate, and didn't stoop to denounce opponents just because they didn't agree. But in the end, ambition got the best of him. A cautionary tale.

"Cozy relationship"

"Broward prosecutors investigating the public corruption case against former County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin have spent a significant amount of time looking into her family's close ties to the former town manager of Southwest Ranches, John Canada, court records show." "Wasserman-Rubin's ties to ex-town manager investigated".

Fed's point man

"John Hankinson Jr., a veteran of many of Florida's biggest environmental battles, is now the federal government's point man for one of the nation's most pressing challenges: cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history." "To fix Gulf's woes, think years and billions of dollars".

Crist's "future uncertain"

"He rode a wave of optimism into office four years ago, but Gov. Charlie Crist leaves behind a very different Florida when his term expires next week. Crist himself has changed, too. Long stripped of his once-sky high popularity and no longer a Republican, he departs as a failed United States Senate candidate with his political career finished for now, his future uncertain." "For changed Crist, 'it was a difficult time to govern'".