"A return to Florida's past growth management mistakes"

"A recommendation to Governor-elect Rick Scott that the state transportation, environmental and planning agencies be combined suggests a return to Florida's past growth management mistakes, a University of Florida planning expert said Tuesday."

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."

"Expert says recommendations to Scott would risk past growth mistakes".




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."

"Scott says he may withdraw some of Crist's final appointments".




"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.

"A few New Year resolutions".




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.

"'Relax' Robocaller's Lawyer Argues 'Dirty Tricks' Are Free Speech".




Bits and Pieces

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".