"Plenty of prominent politicians may be squirming"

"When former state Republican party chairman Jim Greer goes on trial next year on charges of fraud and money laundering, plenty of prominent politicians may be squirming as the inner workings of the party are exposed."

There's former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, who recommended Greer for the post and earned $150,000 consulting for the party while Greer was chairman. Now a candidate for U.S. Senate, LeMieux is trying to distance himself from his part in the Charlie Crist-Jim Greer political team, while Greer says LeMieux knew about most everything Greer did that led to his indictment.

Current and former legislators, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, could see their freewheeling spending of state party money put back on display.

And there's Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and former state party chairman and current state Sen. John Thrasher. They signed a secret $124,000 severance package with Greer, so he would resign and keep his mouth shut.

"They just destroyed my life for no reason," a tearful Greer said of the legislative leaders last week on WTSP-Ch. 10.

"Greer trial may expose GOP's secrets".




"Florida has a deficit of nearly 981,000 jobs"

"Two years after the official end of the recession, Florida still has a jobs deficit of nearly 981,000 jobs, and some groups of workers are faring far worse than others in the economy, according to the annual State of Working Florida report to be released on Sunday by the Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy at Florida International University."

In 2010 almost 20% of the labor force was underemployed, with younger, less educated, male, and African American or Hispanic workers more likely to fall into this group. Unemployment continued to increase for nearly all groups in 2010, with the exception of workers with a Bachelor’s degree who actually experienced a slight decrease in unemployment.

"Florida jobs deficit still near 1 million".




Higher ed slidin' into the sewer

"USF's Board of Trustees approved a plan Friday to set "market-based" tuition for five professional graduate degrees – electrical engineering, entrepreneurship[*], information systems, nurse anesthesia and public administration." "USF seeks big price hike for professional degrees".

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*A degree in "Entrepreneurship"? Heaven help us.




OMG!!! Teabaggers outraged!

"Obama to spend Labor Day at union rally".




The annual labor day insult (Part One)

Ed. Note: A more thorough post, covering the Florida newspaper media's traditional union-bashing on Labor Day, will be posted this evening.

The Tampa Tribune editorial board - writing from Florida's historic bastion of union hate - is to be commended for publishing words this writer has not seen in more than a decade of reviewing Florida's traditional newspaper editorials:

Labor Day is time to remember why historic union achievements should command respect.

The Trib editors cannot leave it at that, quickly adding:

It is also a good time to remember why excessive union ambitions demand restraint.

"The disunion of labor".

The Miami Herald editorial board wants to talk about "free trade" today: "Politics on trade trumps common sense". The notoriously anti-union Tribune Company is all about the Everglades and John Mica this weekend, although the Orlando Sentinel was kind enough to publish a guest column about why unions are needed.

The Sarasota-Herald Tribune editors overlook the matter of unions - even though a monster labor fight is going on in its own backyard (.pdf)* - instead focusing on the issue unemployment. See .Too little labor. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune has apparently never covered these gross violations of labor law by Sarasota County; funny that.

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*We are advised that Sarasota County has appealed the case; the appeal remains pending.




Another dead panther

"Florida Panther found dead in southwest Florida". Related: "Rarely seen Florida panther caught on video near Everglades National Park".




Saving Florida from itself

"Between Central and South Florida are landscapes that, while not unpopulated or unexplored, have largely remained remote or lost to most Floridians who aren't cowboys. This week, federal officials will unveil a strategy and a wish list for protecting those lands — which lie mostly within vast cattle ranches — along with their waters and wildlife." "Feds step up push to preserve Everglades headwaters in Central Florida".




Ricky gets an $80 grand office makeover

"A little more than halfway through Scott's first year in office, the state has spent $79,805.69 to expand his chief of staff's office, paint walls, and replace carpet elsewhere in the first-floor executive suites." "Tidying up, ripping up office costly" ("Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putman's office this year received $108,604 in renovations, including $85,973 in new carpet. Offices for the Republican-controlled Legislature received $200,000 in new carpet.")




Big hair wigs and heavy hairspray all the rage

"Strippers prepare for GOP convention".




Is Ricky's endorsement a campaign's death knell?

"Scott said he intends to stay on the sidelines indefinitely in the presidential race, but it's pretty obvious where his heart resides. ... the governor is forever talking about the terrific job Rick Perry has been doing in Texas, and how he wants to emulate and surpass him to make Florida the No. 1 state for job growth. He may not endorse a candidate, but clearly Rick Scott is a Rick Perry guy." "Gov. Rick Scott sounds like Rick Perry fan".