Scott, lots of cheering, flag-waving "patriots," God and country all under one roof in small-town America. It was a clever bit of political packaging, but it seemed a little too contrived and almost Disney-esque in its slickness. Where was Hannity?

Tea partiers' support was instrumental in his decisive Republican primary victory over Bill McCollum in August that propelled him to power, but the politically inexperienced governor largely neglected them during his two-month transition, and they didn't like it.

Rep. Mike Weinstein of Jacksonville, an early Scott supporter, said: "Since he was elected, there's been somewhat of a concern by the tea party that they're losing a connection to him." Eustis, he said, "was also sort of a payback to the tea party for helping him get elected."

Back in Tallahassee, some felt the tea party gesture was a political blunder by Scott, who won with less than a majority and entered office with the highest negative poll numbers of any modern governor.

Sen. Mike Bennett, a Bradenton Republican, said that instead of broadening his political base, Scott seemed to be doing precisely the opposite.

Cannon, Scott rift

"While calling the governor 'gracious' and 'smart' Friday during an hour meeting with the St. Petersburg Times editorial board, Cannon described Scott’s budget as an 'unorthodox' plan that he’s 'perplexed by.'"

While Cannon backs Scott’s planned reorganization of economic development agencies, Cannon ruled little else out — or in.

Other issues where Cannon has questions:

• Scott originally said education would be spared from cuts in his budget. But his proposal cuts per-pupil funding by $703 and Cannon said the spending plan needs scrutiny. “I think the notion of just not replacing the federal stimulus money is I think a bitter pill, I mean it’s too big a pill,” he said.

• Scott also has proposed collapsing the Department of Community Affairs — the state’s growth management arm — and combining it with the Department of Environmental Protection. Cannon cautioned against the restructuring, though he said development decisions need to be made swifter. “I think that it’s more important that we look at the regulations themselves than we move agency deck chairs around. I would rather focus at leaving agencies intact” and rewriting regulations, Cannon said. “They approve 95 percent of the things that come to them, but they take 13 months to do it.”

• Cannon left open the possibility of backing President Barack Obama’s offer to let the state delay paying back billions of dollars borrowed for jobless benefits. On Wednesday, Scott balked at it, but Cannon called it "intriguing."

Big of him

"Scott has said no to the idea of closing some of Florida's state parks as a cost-cutting measure after touring the Department of Environmental Protection's headquarters on Friday." "Scott rejects closing state parks". See also "Scott says no to Florida state park closures".

"Dead wrong"

The Miami Herald editorial board observes that "the governor hasn’t bothered to explain why he would want to repeal legislation aimed at preventing lucrative drug trafficking and the many tragic overdoses from these ill-gotten prescriptions." "Scott dead wrong on pill-mill law".

Bottom of the barrel

"When Jeb Bush says he won't run for president in 2012, it makes Republicans want him more".

HD 103 special election results

"Sharon Pritchett narrowly defeated Barbara Watson late Tuesday in a special primary to elect a new member of the Florida House of Representatives from a district that covers Miramar and northern sections of Miami-Dade County. With all precincts in Miami-Dade and Broward reporting, Pritchett had 1,665 votes and Watson had 1,651, while the third candidate, Erhabor Ighodaro, trailed with 684 votes. The 103rd state House District, which stretches from Miami-Dade County into Miramar, is 75 percent Democratic, and all three candidates were Democrats." "Pritchett wins tight race for state House 103 seat".

Slamming Florida's unemployed

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "The truth is, being unemployed is plenty difficult — financially, mentally and personally. These days, very few people are unemployed by choice. Now, a Florida state legislator is proposing something that would make it even more difficult on the 564,869 residents who collect unemployment compensation (that's out of the 1.1 million unemployed in the state)."

Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, has introduced a bill that would require the state's unemployed to do at least four hours of unpaid service each week to qualify for benefits. Earlier, Gov. Rick Scott's economic development transition team recommended community service for those on jobless benefits after 12 weeks.

No other state has such a requirement, and Florida shouldn't be the first.

"Corporate Collision"

"A South Florida transit agency that oversees Tri-Rail is accused of mishandling the bidding and purchase of 10 new locomotives for the three-county train system."

In a formal written protest, GE Transportation alleges that the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority used bid guidelines to steer a $100 million-plus contract, which the company claims will cost taxpayers an additional $1 million per locomotive.

Even before the SFRTA board officially awards the contract -- it's scheduled to do so at its Feb. 25 meeting -- powerful state politicians, business groups and even environmentalists have blasted the agency in a series of scathing letters.

Tricky Ricky

"Scott’s budget includes big tax cuts, but not for everybody".

For sale, cheap

"State sells planes at cut-rate prices; Scott says deal saves taxpayers money".

From the "values" crowd

"Gov. Scott’s budget cuts could hit needy".

Tort deform

Aaron Deslatte: "Before he took office, Gov. Rick Scott asked a transition team of insurance-industry insiders and lobbyists to come up with recommendations for new restrictions on the right to sue. Now, as a number of his other top priorities have hit early turbulence, tort reform and insurance is one area where the new governor and Republican-dominated Legislature are perfectly in sync."

Scott had pledged to cut back on red tape, but his Office of Fiscal Accountability has so far failed to unearth a single new regulation worth killing out of the 900 he put on indefinite hold last month.

His "accountability budget" – with its deep cuts to education, eradication of most earmarks and attacks on trust funds – looks like a hard sell to skeptical legislators.

The governor now says he won't push to expand school vouchers this year.

Scott's aides even conceded he would defer to the Legislature on how to cut costs in the $20-billion Medicaid health-care program for the poor, an area that would seem right in the former health-care executive's policy wheelhouse. Senators plan to roll out the first draft of their Medicaid reform plan this week.

But tort reform is one place where Republican lawmakers can give the governor an easy win.

Wingnut laff riot

"Trump dangles potential 2012 bid before CPAC".

Mail ballots popular

"Record number of Tampa voters request mail ballots".

Bad laws

"A state lawmaker is on a mission to eliminate absurd Florida laws — and there are plenty." "Lawmaker wants bad laws banished forever".

Sad day

"A great horned owl that was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 75 in southwest Florida had to be euthanized because of the seriousness of its injuries. Bonita Springs Fire Rescue reports that a car hit the bird Thursday evening. The driver had initially thought the bird had died but then found it stuck in the car's grill Friday morning. Firefighters helped pull the severely injured bird from the grill." "Owl euthanized after being hit by car".

Last year, agencies that help Florida's homeless received nearly $7 million in state funding to assist more than 74,000 people.

But that money was wiped out of the budget unveiled by Gov. Rick Scott on Monday, which called for elimination of the state's Office of Homelessness.

His dramatic slashes to the budget target some of the state's most vulnerable groups.

In addition to cutting the homelessness office, Scott's budget calls for moving trust funds that pay for indigent criminal defense and domestic violence and rape crisis programs into general revenue coffers.

He also wants to end programs that encourage state contracting with minority businesses and suicide prevention efforts in public schools.

And he proposes killing the state's Coastal Clean-up Trust Fund, ending taxes on waste tire disposal, dry cleaning, batteries, fertilizer and other pollutants.

Scott's "deceptive" tax cut claims

"The $540-per-household figure Scott used to sell his budget plan is intended to appeal to voters who would relish a hefty tax cut, even over two years. But he failed to factor in that more than half of those tax cuts would apply only to employers, not regular Floridians. In calculating the savings, it appears clear that Scott and his office simply divided the entire tax cut as projected by Scott -- $4.1 billion -- by the entire number of Florida households -- 7.5 million -- to reach their average savings of $540. That's easy math. But it's deceptive." "Scott’s budget includes big tax cuts, but not for everybody". Related: "Gov. Rick Scott overstated budget cuts, legislators say".

12,000 school jobs axed

"12,000 jobs axed, but Florida schools fear more cuts". See also "Senators Take Aim at Scott’s Education Budget".

Florida insurers laffing all the way to the bank

"Health insurers that overcharge Florida consumers won't be required to issue rebate checks here, one of a raft of consequences emerging after a federal lower court judge declared the Affordable Care Act void."

Emboldened by Florida federal Judge Roger Vinson's decision that mandatory insurance is unconstitutional and the entire health act invalid, Republican state officials have taken the position that the law is not in effect in Florida.

As a result, they will not enforce a new rule requiring insurers to spend 80 to 85 percent of consumers' premiums on health care services.

They've snubbed $2 million worth of federal health reform planning grants meant to help states regulate their insurance industry and set up state-based insurance markets for individuals and small businesses.

It appears that Florida's stance leaves insurance companies to decide for themselves whether to comply with health reform rules.

A family friendly company

"Disney profit leaps 54 percent as theme parks bounce back". Meanwhile, "Disney is offering a 25-cent pay raise to workers on the lower end of the pay scale, but they want 35 cents."

Dear fellow teabagger ...

Bill Cotterell: "Gov. Rick Scott has upset some state employees, among others, with a message his information-control office posted late last week and early this week. It coincided with the rollout of his budget and came on the heels of the Pensacola federal court ruling that President Obama's national health care plan was not exactly what the Founders had in mind when they wrote about life and liberty."

Scott got his political start with a campaign called "Conservatives for Patient Rights," a prelude to his race for governor. So it's not surprising that his "Dear Team" message began:

"This week, a federal judge ruled Obamacare unconstitutional, as many of us predicted. This over-reaching law hurts small businesses, doctors and patients — and infringes on our freedom. To pay for Obamacare, the federal government enacted some of the largest tax hikes in our nation's history.

"I call on President Obama and the federal government to immediately repeal the six tax increases that are part of Obamacare. Furthermore, the federal government needs to roll back the 18 new or higher taxes put into place to pay for this massive spending bill."

Copies of his message came bounding into my e-mail inbox Friday afternoon, from people who didn't like the governor's office being used to champion one side of a hot political issue. I suspect most were unhappy with Scott's using his public megaphone to champion the side of the issue that they, personally, don't share.

The critics were no happier with the next part of Scott's missive, about his budget recommendations.

"In these tough economic times, there will be deep cuts. In fact, my budget will cut $5 billion in state spending while also cutting taxes. It will be one of the most fiscally responsible budgets in the nation.

"In the days ahead, the special interests and those who support big-government solutions will attack my budget. They don't recognize — as you and I do — these times require a bold new path.

"... During these attacks, I ask you to stand with me. Let's tell them that enough is enough."

Blowing smoke?

"Companies spar over legality, 'fairness' in legislative battle". "Dosal: Big Tobacco Blowing Smoke Over Tax".

Budget blues

"The House Appropriations Committee pondered Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget Thursday afternoon and began the long, difficult process of crafting a budget despite a large shortfall." "House Appropriations Begins to Grapple With Rick Scott Budget".

Rick Scott’s priorities

"On Wednesday, state Sen. Joe Negron, R-Palm City, questioned Gov. Rick Scott’s budget staff about the priorities of a proposal that would provide additional funding to the state’s Medicaid program while slashing spending on education." "Unlike Scott, Negron wants immediate savings on Medicaid". See also "State senators weigh Medicaid limits".

Haridopolos "out of whack"

"Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos told a University of Florida audience Thursday that state workers must face benefit cuts to help balance the budget. Speaking before some of the UF faculty and staff who make up that workforce, he said the state can no longer afford the health care and retirement benefits now provided to public employees. The benefits are "out of whack" with those received in the private sector, he said." "Haridopolos: Public employees must take benefit cut".

Limbaugh breathes a sigh of relief

"Scott's proposal to repeal a state law designed to crack down on 'pill mills' before it has been implemented doesn't sit well with top cops in Volusia and Flagler counties." "Cops wary of repeal of pill mill crackdown". Fred Grimm: "Move to kill Florida pill-mill database not appreciated in Kentucky". The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Scott irresponsibly wrong on abolishing drug database". The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Editorial: Gov. Scott's call for repeal of pill mill law ill-advised". The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Scott's pill puzzler" ("What's disconcerting is what this tactless and irresponsible surprise says about the governor's leadership and communication skills, or lack of them.")

Scott forcing taxpayers to subsidize business expenses

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "President Barack Obama has a reasonable plan to help states like Florida that have borrowed billions from Washington to cover jobless benefits during this period of record unemployment . But Republican Gov. Rick Scott would rather force Florida taxpayers to subsidize business expenses and cut state spending on education and other state needs. " "Help turned down; pain turned up".

Primary battle

"Battle lines are forming over whether or not Florida should continue to hold its presidential primary election weeks before other states, a plan opposed by national party leaders." "Battle brewing over Florida's 2012 presidential primary date".

RPOFers slam the unemployed

"Unemployed Floridians would work harder to earn fewer state benefits under a pair of proposals on the fast track in the Florida Legislature. On Thursday, a divided House committee approved a bill from Republican leaders that would:"

• Make it easier to fire employees. [As if it isn't easy enough already]

• Put more burden on workers to prove they deserve benefits if employers appeal.

• Reduce weekly unemployment checks from the state from 26 weeks to as few as 12.

Arizona-style legislator threatened by "political activist"

"Martin County Circuit Judge Kathleen Roberts set bond today at $450,000 for Manuel Pintado, the self-described 'political activist' from Massachusetts accused of threatening state Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, because he disagrees with Snyder's proposed immigration bill." "$450,000 bond set for Mass. man charged with threatening state lawmaker".

A deal for 1.9 million bucks

"Bing Energy of Chino, Calif., announced Thursday it would move its headquarters and production facility to Florida. The company is working with Florida State University to build fuel cells and expects to grow from 12 to 244 jobs in about seven years. Bing chief financial officer Dean Minardi said the company received a $1.9 million tax rebate from Florida's Qualified Target Industry program." "Bing Energy to move headquarters to Florida, lured by prospect of tax cuts".

We'd like to see the guarantee that this is anything but 1.9 million bucks for merely 12 jobs?

"Florida cannot fire its way to excellence"

A teacher bill won a favorable vote in the Senate education committee yesterday,

with its sponsor saying, "We're not here to punish teachers."

The bill, SB 736, overhauls how teachers are evaluated and paid, relying in large part on student growth on standardized tests to judge instructional quality.

It is Florida's second foray in as many years into the controversial arena of teacher merit pay. The Legislature passed a bill last year, but then-Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed it.

The new bill leaves untouched current pay plans — based largely on years worked — for teachers already on the job. But new teachers would get raises based on their performance and would not have the tenure-like protections current teachers have.

All teachers, however, would be evaluated under the new system that would use student growth on tests as a key measure but try to take into account factors outside a teacher's control, such as youngsters' absentee rates. ...

The new bill also is "very troubling to teachers" for its heavy reliance on student testing and its assumption that getting rid of some teachers would dramatically improve schools, said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association, the statewide teachers union.

"Florida cannot fire its way to excellence," Ford said.

More Scott backsliding

"Scott said this week that he won't ask the Legislature to take up his proposal this spring for "education savings accounts." He had previously spoken favorably of the idea, which was advocated by his education transition team but was also likely to spark legal challenges."

One option the governor will advocate is to pump up an existing program that allows students to transfer out of struggling schools. He wants the list of schools students can flee to jump dramatically.

RPOFer stewardship of tax dollars

The wingnuts like to say it is "our" tax money.

However, Scott Maxwell points out that "By now, you probably know that some of your elected officials are fighting to overturn your vote for Fair Districts. But did you know they're spending your money to do so? Yes indeed — to the tune of $300-an-hour legal bills." "You're spending $300 an hour to overturn your own vote".

Scott's scheme to fire hundreds of correctional officers DOA

"The chairman of the Senate Budget Committee declared Gov. Scott’s plan to fire hundreds of correctional officers 'dead on arrival.' ... Fasano expressed shock when Scott budget aide Bonnie Rogers defended putting more inmates in private prisons, so as to save $2.8 million by dismissing 619 prison guards, even though state prisons have thousands of unused beds."

“What the governor wants to do is put 619 families on the unemployment line so we can move prisoners from the public sector to the private sector,” Fasano said.

Rogers, former chief of staff in the Department of Corrections, said the seven private prisons can reconfigure their space to house up to 1,500 more inmates. The private prisons are paid per inmate housed — meaning potentially more profit for the private firms.

To save the Florida Panther

"A coalition of environmental groups has petitioned the government to start transplanting Florida panthers to Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp." "Groups want to put Fla. panthers in Ga. swamp".

On the campaign trail, he pledged to slash government spending. But victory cast Mr. Scott as the expectant groom trying to wedge a 40-inch waist into 30-inch trousers. His proposal: Cut services, shrink state agencies and slash about 7 percent of the state's work force to squeeze into a $66 billion budget.

His plan hewed closely to his promises of Tea Party thrift. His vow to hold education harmless in the process? Not so much.

Under Mr. Scott's plan, education funding would shrink by $3.3 billion. That would reduce Florida's already anemic per-student spending — traditionally in America's bottom 20 percent — by 10 percent, or $700 per student.

Rail dreams

"Dyer: Gov. Rick Scott's budget may include cash for SunRail"

"Scott being a real pill"

Mike Thomas supposes "Gov. Rick Scott includes dope dealing as one of the Florida industries he hopes to stimulate." "Scott being a real pill about drug database". The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Scott irresponsibly wrong on abolishing drug database".

Scott wants to cut unemployment benefits

"President Barack Obama’s plan to give states more time to pay back billions borrowed for jobless benefits ran into a key obstacle Wednesday: Florida Gov. Rick Scott."

The newly elected Republican, and frequent Obama critic, is pursuing his own ideas to deal with the crushing debt caused by persistently bad unemployment, a spokesman said.

He wants to use state money to cover some of the interest owed to the federal government and reduce the benefits a person can get — a proposal that advocates for the unemployed are planning to protest on Thursday in Tallahassee.

"Band-aids and quick fixes from a federal government that spends money faster than it is printed will not solve real problems," Scott spokesman Brian Hughes said.

Scott’s reaction could be trouble for Obama, who is counting on support from hard-hit states to pressure reluctant Republicans on Capitol Hill. His plan is part of his 2012 budget to be released Monday.

Under Obama’s plan, Florida could hold onto between $400 million and $500 million over the next two years.

"A schedule for early presidential primaries"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Who says bipartisanship in Washington is dead? For the first time, the Democratic and Republican national committees fully agree on a schedule for early presidential primaries." "Follow rules and move Florida's primary back".

For sale

"15 bids received for Florida's 2 state aircraft".

Night of the long knives at Corrections

"The Department of Corrections is terminating 14 top executives this week and moving two others to posts in combined, streamlined regions just in time for the arrival of Gov. Rick Scott's new prisons chief from Indiana." "14 DOC execs terminated as of Friday".

Stoopid is here

Stoopid has arrived. (See yesterday's "Waiting for Stoopid").

"Scott will push lawmakers this year to increase the number of charter schools."

To help push that agenda, Scott enlisted the help Wednesday of controversial education expert Michelle Rhee.

In the Senate pre-K-12 Committee on Wednesday, Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, asked Rhee why Florida needed an overhaul of its public school system by pointing to a report from Education Week, which recently ranked Florida as the No. 5 education system in the country.

“How can we be such an inept public school system and rank so high?” Montford said.

Rhee suggested the ranking showed more changes were needed.

From the "values" crowd

"On the spreadsheet, the Florida agency that helps poor and desperate people is in trouble. Gov. Rick Scott's proposed budget lays off 1,849 Department of Children and Families employees and slices $278 million out of the agency that oversees homelessness and health care; substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health." "Scott's proposed DCF cuts draw concern".

More kids take AP tests

"Report shows student success on AP exams".

Flo-oil-duh

"Former Gov. Charlie Crist and former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink held a joint news conference to promote an oil drilling ban as a constitutional amendment." "Crist, Sink promote oil drilling ban proposal". See also "Drilling opponents campaigning for constitutional amendment".

RPOFer laff riot

"Florida Conservatives Set to Shine at CPAC".

As Florida burns ...

"The House Foreign Relations Committee is chock full of Florida lawmakers, a reflection of the state delegation’s diversity." "Florida lawmakers influence foreign affairs".

Evaluation scheme don't work

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Evaluation scheme undermines schools".

Pension two step

Even the right-leaning Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board believe Scott's "proposal to require state employees to contribute 5 percent of their earnings to their pensions needs to be scaled back or phased in over a period of several years. The immediate impact of that contribution would inflict too much of the pain of budget reductions on workers who haven't had a pay raise since the recession hit." "Scott should focus on the state budget deficit".

Collins Institute's Partisan Pension Report

One wonders what Leroy Collins would make of this report from the institute bearing his name: "Trouble Ahead: Florida Local Governments and Retirement Benefits – Full Report" (.pdf).

Notwithstanding the corporate media's fawning over the "report"*, one expects Governor Collins wouldn't think much of it: the glossy ten page document includes a grand total of 8 footnotes, which at first glance expose the report's sources to be highly partisan, biased and unbalanced; they include (all underscoring supplied):

- "'Response to Cities’ Alarms: Pension Rules are Stacked in Favor of the Unions, Not Taxpayers.' The Palm Beach Post, Nov. 19, 2010."

- "Kraig Conn, legislative counsel for the Florida League of Cities**, is the source for this information reported in: Kenric Ward. 2010. Local Governments Seek Pension Relief. Sunshine News***. http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/print/1878321."

- "Kraig Conn, Legislative Counsel, Florida League of Cities, Power Point Presentation. 1011 Pension Reform Proposal. http://www.
floridaleagueofcities.com/News.aspx?CNID=3930"

- "Randall G. Holcombe. 2011. Protecting Florida’s Cities through Pension Reform. James Madison Institute**** Backgrounder. No. 66.
January. www.jamesmadison.org"

- - - - - - - - - -
*See "Florida cities face underfunded pension benefits", "Study: Fla. cities, counties can't afford promised pensions", "Study: Retirement benefits for state workers a 'time bomb'" and "Public pensions get more scrutiny".

**The "League of Cities" is an advocacy organization that has of course been pushing to gut employee pensions for years.

***Sunshine News is an acknowledged right wing news source.

****The James Madison Institute (JMI) is Florida's hard right version of the Heritage Foundation; that the JMI it is cited as a source seriously undermines the credibility of the report.

Obamanomics

"Unemployment applications hit lowest level since 2008". See also "Florida foreclosure activity falls to July 2007 level". But see "Dip in foreclosure filings doesn’t mean worst is over".

'Glades

"S. Fla. board: Scott plan to cut water district taxes 25 percent threatens jobs, Everglades cleanup".

One man's terrorist ...

"A top investigator from Cuba has been detailing a string of 1997 bombings at some of the island's most luxurious hotels as part of the U.S. trial against a former CIA operative accused of lying about his role in the attacks when he later sought American citizenship. ... Posada spent a lifetime using violence to destabilize communist political systems throughout Latin America before seeking U.S citizenship in 2005." "Cuban official describes bombings at US trial".

Ricky makes a visit

"Scott scheduled a visit Thursday to the Department of Management Services, which oversees a variety of state functions including building construction, purchasing and personnel. ... The agency recently came under fire for its role in building an opulent Tallahassee courthouse critics have dubbed a 'Taj Mahal.'" "Scott touring troubled Fla. management agency".

Whether it was his billions in cuts to Medicaid or to schools, legislators said they weren’t sure what Scott specifically wanted to do in his budget, which would further widen a $3.6 billion shortfall next year due to nearly $2.4 billion in proposed tax cuts.

The criticisms and tough questions weren’t limited to Democrats; Scott’s fellow Republicans were skeptical of what many thought were skimpy details in his $65.9 billion budget.

The bipartisan concerns underscored a growing sense in the Legislature that Scott’s proposal is rooted in unrealistic political calculations, not the subtle calculus it takes to run the nation’s fourth-most populous state.

But, hey, it's becoming increasingly clear that not everyone views the truth as that big of a deal. And some people thought Scott's budget was the bee's knees!

So, for today's column, I'm offering a few thoughts of my own — along with grades from a bipartisan panel of political observers whose reactions ran the gamut.

But first, the lies.

That's actually a word I don't use very often. In fact, I checked our archives to confirm that, in all my years of writing a column for the Sentinel, I've never called someone a flat-out "liar."

That changes today.

Rick Scott claimed time and time again that he wouldn't cut school spending.

He said it a variety of different ways. He vowed to "keep the school budgets the same." He said he'd hold education harmless. He even summed up his entire education budget plan in two words: "No cuts."

Those assurances allowed moderate and conservative voters who also cared about education to feel comfortable voting for him.

And yet, on Monday, he unveiled a budget that proposed more than $3 billion worth of cuts to Florida schools.

He cut it based on nearly every measure — total revenue, general state revenue, even per-pupil funding, a category in which Florida already lags the rest of the nation.

Scott tried to rewrite history this week by claiming he never really promised not to cut school funding. But the Pulitzer Prize-winners over at Politifact.com shot down that claim, too, rating it "False."

I suppose, if you want, you can argue that cuts to Florida's schools are needed. But there's no debating he lied.

As for the budget, itself, so many details remain vague that the verdict is still out.

Dumping sewage into the ocean

"Two Miami Republicans have filed bills that would allow sewage treatment plants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties to delay reducing their discharges into the Atlantic Ocean." "Legislation would relax deadlines for reducing pollution in Atlantic Ocean".

Arrest somebody

"Three top Senate Republicans violated their chamber's own open meeting requirement when they discussed the state budget at a private dinner with Gov. Rick Scott, a First Amendment attorney said Tuesday." "Florida senators violated open meeting rules at Governor's Mansion, First Amendment lawyer says".

Dealers dancing in the streets

"Gov. Scott seeks to kill drug database that would combat pill mills".

Waiting for Stoopid

"Former District of Columbia public schools chancellor Michelle Rhee is meeting with Florida lawmakers to talk about improving instructional quality." "Ex-DC school chief Rhee visiting Florida lawmakers".

Who is this Rhee person? She's a "failed" union-hater in bed with, among others, the delightful Wal-Mart Corporation:

The urban education reform movement just got a much-needed reality check as D.C. Democratic primary voters fired Mayor Adrian Fenty, and effectively along with him one of the movement's biggest superstars, District schools chief Michelle Rhee. Chancellor Rhee was as a key, polarizing figure in Fenty's reelection campaign, which ended when he was defeated in the Tuesday primary by his challenger, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray.

Rhee brazenly politicized her job as Schools Chancellor in a way that may be unprecedented for education bureaucrats. Back in the spring, the charitable arm of Wal-Mart and other corporate foundations threatened to yank millions they had donated to break the teacher's union if Rhee was not retained. Then Rhee not so subtly hinted to a reporter that she would not work for Gray. Finally, the weekend before the election, Rhee hit the campaign trail along with Fenty to round up votes in the wealthiest ward in Washington.

D.C. voters responded with a resounding rejection of her, her boss and their education policies.

Big of them

"FPL cannot reduce $13.8 million refund to its customers".

Corporate media slams pensions

The The Miami Herald editorial board, the same editorial board that was coerced into endorsing Ronald Reagan, boldly exclaims: "Taxpayers due fairness in public pensions". We don't recall those editors jabbering much about "fairness" as Florida's already underpaid and overworked state employees took wages freezes and cuts over the past few years.

And the next time you reading a Chamber of Commerce whine about public employee pensions, recall that "Florida has the dubious distinction of being among the top five states in the nation for the number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty for the third year in a row."

Fraudsters breathe a sigh of relief

"Scott wants to reform prison system".

Reaganites smiling

"On the spreadsheet, the Florida agency that helps poor and desperate people is in trouble. Gov. Rick Scott's proposed budget lays off 1,849 Department of Children and Families employees and slices $278 million out of the agency that oversees homelessness and health care; substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health." "Scott's proposed DCF cuts draw concern".

I’ve got one word for you: CONCRETE

"For now, Gov. Scott doesn't want to kill the state agency that protects Floridians from bad development. But he does want to leave the Department of Community Affairs in the same condition as the witch's winged monkeys left the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz." "Last straw for DCA? Gov. Scott goes after growth-management agency on false premise". See also "New DCA Secretary outlines ideas for growth management".

From the "values" crowd

"Tallahassee debates making unemployment benefits tougher to access".

Bad hair day

"Joe Biden and John Mica Clash Over Federal Funding of High-Speed Rail".

Circular firing squad

"Florida's Republican delegation is sparring over the GOP's proposed $32 billion in cuts to the current federal budget, while taking political fire from the left and right." "Florida Republicans in Crossfire Over Federal Budget".

Voucher madness

"Scott won't push for voucher expansion this year".

Scott PSC laffer

In light of "last week’s confusion over pulling and resubmitting of the nominees by Scott. Though he has renominated Crist’s appointees on the PSC, it is still unclear how much Scott is on board with the commissioners. Under state statute, Scott would have had to appoint someone from a list of the people submitted by the PSC nominating commission." "PSC Laughs Off Scott’s Nomination Flap".

"A gift to special interests"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida legislators carried out a coup against state regulators in November. Now some in Congress, including some from the Sunshine State, are hoping to pull the same power play on federal regulators."

This bad Tallahassee idea isn't any better in Washington.

State legislators struck first when they overrode a veto by then-Gov. Charlie Crist on a bill requiring legislative approval for any agency regulation that would cost businesses or the economy in the state more than $1 million over five years. That's a ridiculously low bar, considering that Florida's economic output tops $700 billion a year.

The new state law, sponsored by Republican Rep. Chris Dorworth of Lake Mary, is a gift to special interests whose lobbyists have the ear of legislators and would rather not be bothered by rules from state agencies. It could delay the roll-out of other laws, even ones with broad support, by a year or more. Mr. Dorworth's law already has put the brakes on a new state measure to crack down on pill mills.

The rich are different

"To help contain ballooning Bright Futures costs, lawmakers voted last year to hike scholarship requirements step by step for the next several years. Gov. Rick Scott wants to speed that up, which means that fewer students would likely qualify for the state tuition scholarship next year." "Scott wants to speed up hike in Bright Futures requirements".

Publicity stunt

"Florida's two remaining state planes are on the auction block. The Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) will take bids starting at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at its Tallahassee headquarters. One is a jet-powered 2003 Cessna Citation Bravo and the other is a 2000 King Air 350." "Florida agency taking bids to sell last 2 aircraft".

Tea Party entertainer Lloyd Marcus of Volusia County extended his act, singing popular songs, such as "My Girl," with the lyrics changed to praise Tea Party favorites such as Sarah Palin and bash President Barack Obama.

The crowd also heard from Dr. Jack Cassell, the Mount Dora urologist made famous last year when he posted a sign on his office door last year declaring "If you voted for Obama…seek urologic care elsewhere." Arriving in medical scrubs, Cassell drew enthusiastic applause when he declared that last year's federal health-care reform bill has "got to go in the garbage."

Outside, Anna Jacobson of Sarasota set up a table to sell a variety of t-shirts, hats and pins with conservative messages – including one declaring "Original right-wing extremist." She wore a pink pin that read: "Hot chicks vote Republican."

But it calls for reducing overall spending by $4.6 billion compared to the current fiscal year and reducing the state workforce by 8,681 employees, or nearly 7 percent. Scott said about 2,000 of those positions were unfilled.

Pre-K through university budgets — which Scott had pledged to protect during his campaign — would face $3.3 billion in cuts, dropping from $22.4 billion this year to $19.1 billion. For public schools, per-pupil spending would fall by about $700, a cut that would be partially offset by Scott's push to require all teachers to begin contributing 5 percent of their earnings to their pensions. Those dollars are currently paid for by the local districts and state. ...

Scott also would all-but-eliminate the state's Department of Community Affairs, the growth-management agency he's called a "job-killer," slashing its budget from $778 million to $110 million. Total employees would drop from 358 to 40. ...

Other agencies with big cuts include Transportation ($441.5 million), the Agency for Persons with Disabilities ($173.9 million); and the Department of Children & Family Services ($178.5 million).

The DCF savings would come partially from privatizing the state's three remaining publicly operated mental-health facilities in Chattahoochee, Macclenny and Gainesville. Florida has already privatized five other mental health facilities.

But despite Scott's promise to save $4 billion over two years by creating a "patient-directed" Medicaid system — mostly likely some manner of health maintenance organization — his recommended appropriation for the agency that oversees Medicaid would rise by $1.2 billion next year, to $22 billion.

Medicaid itself would grow by $2 billion in the governor's budget to account for enrollment growth, although the plan would cut the rates the program pays to hospitals, doctors, nursing homes and managed-care companies by 5 percent. Next year, the governor hopes the federal government and state lawmakers will agree to largely privatize the program.

Another agency Scott isn't cutting is his own office; its budget would nearly double to $638 million as Scott attempts to streamline economic development efforts and bring them his control.

"It will drill more holes in our already badly damaged public education. It will further eliminate the life rafts hundred of thousands of Floridians have had to turn to for basic survival because their jobs, their benefits and their homes have disappeared," Rich, D-Weston, said in a statement.

would virtually eliminate the Department of Community Affairs, which oversees growth and whose decisions are aimed at protecting taxpayers from having to pay for the roads, schools and other costs generated by ill-planned developments.

Scott would pare $23 million and 97 workers from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, whose law-enforcement staff is notoriously shorthanded and underpaid.

He would cut more than 1,800 jobs and $178 million in the Department of Children and Family Services, though the once-troubled agency has in recent years made remarkable progress in protecting abused and neglected children.

We wonder what the impact will be of cutting Veterans Affairs from $81 million to $45 million and eliminating 506 jobs when veterans complain about current services.

[When] he gets into the things that will impact people directly, things that might not be relevant to a retired CEO living on the beach of Naples.

Foremost among them is his proposed $3 billion education cut.

Given that personnel costs take up about 80 percent of a school district's operating budget, this means either large across-the-board pay cuts for all teachers or mass layoffs. The latter option would hit the newer teachers hardest. These are the next generation of teachers expected to educate our kids.

Reading specialists would go. Kids would be crammed into elective classes like sardines. A lot of popular programs would be whacked. A lot of moms and dads would be very upset.

This all would hit as academic requirements and standardized tests are made tougher. It's a good bet that Florida's 12-year string of student learning gains would end and schools would start seriously backsliding.

Two words when that happens: Train wreck. ...

This budget is going nowhere.

"To Scott, it's all about national politics"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "With the release of his first budget, Gov. Scott looked and sounded more like a presidential candidate than someone concerned about Florida's future."

He announced the budget not on the usual nonpartisan stage in Tallahassee but to a tea party audience in Lake County, northwest of Orlando, where he polled 16 points better than Alex Sink. Warm-up speakers blasted President Obama and praised U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson, who declared the health law unconstitutional. Defending his budget cuts, Gov. Scott told the crowd, "We're doing this for the sake of our children and grandchildren."

That comment might be credible in Washington or certain states. Florida, though, is not $14 trillion in debt, like the federal government. It is not facing a $22 billion deficit like Texas, the state Gov. Scott seems bent on emulating. But to Gov. Scott, it's all about national politics.

Voucher madness

"A proposal touted by Gov. Rick Scott to radically expand school vouchers is unlikely to gain any traction in the state Legislature anytime soon, key lawmakers say." "Legislators unlikely to act on Scott's plan to expand vouchers".

"Insurers fear they will lose money"!!!

"As arguments about the constitutionality of healthcare reform reverberate through courtrooms in Florida and across the nation, two provisions that have already kicked in are sparking opposite reactions from insurers."

The requirement that children under 19 be granted insurance regardless of preexisting conditions has caused Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and many other insurers to stop offering child-only coverage.

Insurers fear they will lose money because parents might sign up for coverage only when their children become sick. That is scheduled to change in 2014, when the law requires that virtually everyone have health insurance — a provision that a federal judge in Pensacola declared unconstitutional on Jan. 31.

But the provision requiring many employers to insure adult children up to age 26 through their parents’ plans has glided into practice with virtually no opposition because healthcare consultants, insurance companies and major employers believe cost increases will be minimal and benefits widespread.

Libertarian Party of Florida

"For decades, the Libertarian Party of Florida has sat on the political sidelines watching the Republicans and Democrats run up the score. So says Libertarian AM talk show host Adrian Wyllie, who last week announced his bid to become the party’s next chairman." "Libertarian Party chair hopeful wants to ‘lead the party out of obscurity’".

West formally teabags

"West to join Tea Party caucus".

Special Elections

"When Frederica Wilson won Kendrick Meek's former congressional seat last November, she set in motion a special election for two legislative seats. And that election is set for Tuesday in South Florida." "Two South Florida Legislative Seats Up in Special Elections".

Wham, bam ... never mind

"A scheduled vote on a bill that would change the rates of unemployment compensation taxes and the way jobless claims are paid out was postponed in a state Senate committee meeting Monday. Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, who filed Senate Bill 728 and who chairs the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, said she had wanted to rush through a committee vote but put it off to allow more time for discussion, debate and to make any changes." "Reform of Jobless Benefits Tax Slows Down in Senate".

Ricky's "first performance review is bad"

Stephen Goldstein: "I am Rick Scott's boss — and so are you. He's the governor of Florida, not the king of Scott-land! Voters merely hired him for four years, and there's no guarantee we'll renew his contract."

Unfortunately, his first performance review is bad: The governor doesn't understand where he sits on the state organization chart or the seriousness of his having sworn a solemn oath to uphold the state Constitution.

In office barely more than a month, he is already taking part in a blatantly partisan effort to trash the Constitution and overturn a legitimate vote. Floridians have been election-queasy since the U.S. Supreme Court intervened in our electoral process and selected George W. Bush president. We don't look kindly upon anything that smacks of overturning the popular will. ...

In one of his first official missteps after taking office, Scott withdrew Florida's request for a required review of our new redistricting standards by the U.S. Department of Justice that was filed in December. In a case of the fox guarding the hen house, he appointed as secretary of state (and head of elections) a man who had campaigned against the redistricting amendments.

Scott's obstructionism makes him a party to a sorry series of plots by elected officials afraid they will no longer be able to choose their voters.

Here come union bashin'

"A leading Senate Republican has filed a bill that could strip unions of some of their political strength, barring payroll deduction for union dues and prohibiting dues from being used for political activity without written consent."

The unions remain one of the last bastions of Democratic power in the state of Florida, pouring money into Democratic candidates’ campaign coffers. They strongly supported Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, who lost to Gov. Rick Scott in a razor-thin election in which other Republican candidates rolled easily to victory.

GOPers "on the taxpayers' dime"

"They rented an exclusive waterfront mansion, wined and dined at five-star restaurants and hired family members and friends, all on the taxpayers' dime. Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's 2012 convention team based in the Tampa Bay area raked up nearly $1 million in charges – using a line of credit backed by federal funding – before they were fired by the newly elected party chairman last month." "RNC's former Tampa convention team spent $1 million".

Scott does bidness' bidding, fires elderly advocate

"For years, [Brian Lee] the 39-year-old advocate who led the program -- created during the 1960s Great Society legislation to safeguard elderly people -- has had a tense relationship with leaders of the powerful nursing home and retirement home industries, who said he often overstepped his authority." "State’s top elderly advocate removed from job".

Entrepreneurs in action

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "If the allegations of a whistle-blower lawsuit prove true, a bank trusted with doing international trades on behalf of Florida's public pension fund fraudulently skimmed money when it exchanged currency." "Pension funds need closer eye".

Sales-tax cheats

"Comparing Florida's tax collection apparatus to an 'honor system,' a Miami-Dade grand jury has urged Tallahassee to ease budget woes by going after convenience stores, car dealers and other small businesses holding back sales tax dollars." "Florida should pursue sales-tax cheats, grand jury says".

Drill Baby! Drill!

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "If you've filled up at the pump lately, you know that gasoline is more than $3 per gallon in most areas of Florida. High-priced gas could mean big problems for the state. Fewer people from around the nation and world will jet to Daytona Beach, Orlando and Miami to visit and spend money. Fewer Florida families will visit beaches and attractions in other parts of the Sunshine State." "Drilling delays threaten development of energy".

This is particularly true of teachers, who traditionally earn modest salaries offset by a broad benefits package, but also state workers, many of whom have not received pay raises in years.

The proposal is included in the budget that Scott will unveil Monday at a rally of tea party supporters in the Lake County community of Eustis.

Employees say the pension measure is the equivalent of a pay cut.

Bits and Pieces

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".

"Like Jeb Bush, Scott is given to hyperbole"

Randy Schultz: "On Monday, when Gov. Scott announces his budget, expect to hear the word "bold" or something like that. Maybe more than once. Like Jeb Bush, Rick Scott is given to hyperbole."

Whatever the language, it takes money. Investment. Bringing people who will bring big research grants that bring big innovations, all of which brings jobs in big numbers.

Gov. Scott focuses on taxes and regulations, and you don't want to be a state that repels companies because of either. But Silicon Valley became Silicon Valley in high-tax California, where politics seem to incubate in the faculty lounge at Berkeley. Massachusetts has been called Tax-achusetts, but it has MIT, Harvard and all the other universities in and around Boston, a cluster that created the Route 128 Corridor, the Bay State's Silicon Valley.

Jeb Bush likes the label "education governor," but focusing education on a standardized test wasn't "bold." It was dumb.

Voucher madness

"A proposal touted by Gov. Rick Scott to radically expand school vouchers is unlikely to gain any traction in the state Legislature anytime soon, key lawmakers say." "Legislators unlikely to act on Scott's plan to expand vouchers".

See you in Havana

"Florida airports preparing for demand for flights to Cuba".

Florida's shameful rate of uninsured kids

The Sun Sentinel editors: "The Washington-based health policy reform foundation's analysis ranked how well states and the District of Columbia guaranteed that kids receive effective health care. Rankings were based on things like state insurance-coverage rates, infant mortality and childhood obesity rates."

Over the past decade, a significant national expansion in children's health coverage reduced the number of states saddled with uninsured-kid rates of 16 percent or more from 11 to three. Florida's among the lagging trio with a shameful uninsured rate of 17.8, trailing only Texas' 18 percent.

Ricky's "questionable" corporate tax giveaway

"If Gov. Rick Scott succeeds in phasing out Florida's corporate income tax, it will mark a fundamental shift in the philosophy that has guided the state's tax policy for the last 40 years."

Florida voters approved the tax in 1972, after then-Gov. Reubin Askew had promoted it as a way to help shift the financial burden from everyday citizens to corporations while providing more money for important state programs like schools.

Now Scott is pushing to eliminate it, saying the tax is a drag on business and job growth. He frames it as part of a relentless initiative to reduce taxes, government spending and regulations and make Florida the top economic development state.

"No company in this country is even going to consider doing business in another state," Scott said last week as he promoted his tax-cutting plans.

Scott will reveal his tax-cutting plan details along with the rest of his 2012 spending plan today. But in general, he wants to phase out the 5.5 percent corporate income tax over the next seven years, starting with a 2.5 percent cut this year. Scott contends that will help the more than 1 million jobless Floridians by generating economic growth.

But the cuts would exacerbate a shortage of cash for education, transportation and health care programs. And it is questionable how much eliminating the corporate tax would do to revive the economy.

That makes me feel better

"Stearns leading investigation into health care waivers".

Webster at the federal trough

Well, that didn't take long: Grayson slayer, Dan Webster wants to make it easier for Floridians to dip their snouts into the federal trough. "U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster is among those who want to ease the red tape that often accompanies federal money".

Chambers of commerce have "lost their way"

Scott Maxwell writes that "on the national, state and even regional level, the big chambers [of commerce] have lost their way, becoming little more than a tool for corporate America, advancing agendas that come at the expense of the middle class — and sometimes even the small businesses they claim to represent."

The best example at the state level involves Fair Districts — the popular amendments that Floridians overwhelmingly passed last year. Not only did the Florida Chamber of Commerce oppose Fair Districts in principle, it actually funded the opposition.

You'd be hard-pressed to argue that it did so on behalf of Main Street USA. ...

The list of chamber-backed issues at odds with most of Main Street America continue at all levels.

In Tallahassee, the Florida chamber wants to shift more of the property-tax burden on to homeowners and make it easier for development to encroach into rural areas.

And at the federal level, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is fighting one of the few immigration-reform ideas to receive widespread public support: requiring businesses to electronically verify the status of their hires.

That's right. It's not some group of amnesty-loving liberals challenging the Arizona state law. It's the U.S. Chamber — which vowed to fight it the way to the Supreme Court.

Hiring illegal immigrants, after all, can be good for profit margins.

If these positions sound like the talking points of Corporate America, it's because they are.

"Shortsighted political posturing"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida lawmakers' hopes of thwarting Cuba's offshore drilling ambitions by isolating it from oil companies that do business in the United States is shortsighted political posturing that won't work. Florida would be better served if Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, instead of pandering to the hard-line Cuban immigrant community, focused on ensuring Cuba has the best spill-prevention and recovery technology. Just as the Cuban embargo has failed, so will attempts to dictate whether Cuba drills." "The wrong approach on Cuba oil".

More from the values crowd

"With Florida’s unemployment rate at 12 percent, those receiving jobless benefits may soon receive less and have to do more to get that, while the amount that businesses and the government spend on benefits would be reduced." "GOP urges strict rules for jobless: 'Get real'". See also "House Would Toughen Unemployment Rules".

"Hot spots" in Havana

"Cuban bloggers like Yoani Sanchez and young exiles who reach out to their counterparts on the island are part of a covert U.S. campaign to undermine the Castro government, according to a secret Cuban video leaked to an Internet site. The video also alleges that Washington launched a secret effort in 2008 to create 10 Wi-Fi “hot spots” around Havana, using illegal satellite telephones to connect up to 250 computers to the Internet independent of Cuban government controls." "U.S. tried to help Cubans bypass government Internet, video alleges".

Raw sewage

"According to the Department of Health, there are more than 2.6 million septic sewage systems in Florida serving about a third of the state's population. But less than 1 percent of the state's systems — about 17,000 — are being inspected and serviced. In most cases, septic systems are only checked when they fail. And that's the problem. Leaky septic tanks are major sources of water pollution, officials say." "PolitiFact Florida: Citing cost, some want to flush state septic tank inspection rule".

Calling for billions in tax and spending cuts, Gov. Rick Scott will unveil a budget Monday that's as much a policy roadmap as it is a sweeping political statement.

Even Scott's venue for rolling out the budget drips with political symbolism -- a tea party rally he helped establish in the small rural town of Eustis where activists will also celebrate a Florida court ruling against President Obama's health plan.

Scott's first proposed budget is his best chance to make good on his campaign promise to run government like an efficient business. It also sets the tone of his relationship with the Legislature, which has to turn his plans into a balanced budget.

The $5 billion question: Is Scott's budget realistic?

Report: Florida already is a low-tax state

The most recent publication by the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy: "The current emphasis in Tallahassee on cutting state taxes obscures important facts about Florida's tax system and about choices available to balance the budget and meet the needs of Floridians."

Florida is a low-tax state. In addition, the amount paid by corporations relative to total income in Florida is shrinking. Moderate- and low-income taxpayers are paying a greater share of the tax load.

Despite a budget gap that exceeds $4 billion, Florida's leaders are not considering a balanced approach including closing tax loopholes to fix the budget shortfall.

Closing loopholes to raise revenues for state needs is an alternative to the path of tax and spending cuts being taken by political leaders this year. Reforming the tax structure would minimize cuts to services and make the tax system more fair.

Meet Nicholas Ruiz III

Some Florida flavor over at Crooks and Liars: "Blue America Chat With Nicholas Ruiz III", the would be successor to Sandy Adams.

Another Rivera scandal?

"In the final weeks before Election Day last fall, the Miami-Dade Republican Party paid $150,000 to a political consultant with close ties to the party's then-chairman, U.S. Rep. David Rivera."

But party officials cannot explain exactly what they got for the money.

The party made the payments in October and November to the firm of consultant Esther Nuhfer without any written contract, and the party does not have any detailed invoices of the expenses -- the party's largest expenses in at least six years, records show.

GOP to accuse Nelson of being a bibliognost

"The punch is coming at him in slow-mo:"

L ... I ... B ... E ... R ... A ... L.

Even in the earliest moments of his 2012 re-election campaign, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson can see the windup. Twice before Republicans tried to discredit him as a liberal. Twice they failed.

"A familiar refrain from court-bashers"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Now that Florida's new governor is unveiling his policy agenda, and legislators are getting ready to take a crack at it in their annual session, it might be easy to forget there's a third, and equal, branch of state government: the court system."

Unlike other parts of state government — say, the departments of health, education or transportation — the courts are an independent branch of government. And their mission is critical to every Florida citizen and business: to uphold and interpret the law, protect freedoms, and peacefully resolve disputes. Last year, they handled 4.5 million cases.

Yet the budget squeeze that legislators have applied to courts in recent years has not only stressed their operations, forcing them to cut nearly 300 staff and to freeze the number of judges, despite caseloads swollen with foreclosures. It also has put judges in a vulnerable position as they carry out their constitutional responsibility to check the power of legislators.

That vulnerability was apparent last year after a majority of the state Supreme Court's justices removed from the ballot three poorly drafted constitutional amendments proposed by the Legislature. Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos accused the justices of "trying to legislate from the bench," a familiar refrain from court-bashers everywhere. House Speaker Dean Cannon called the court's rulings on the amendments "threats to freedom." He then called for a "dialogue" between legislators and the justices.

Such a dialogue could be one-sided when legislators are holding the purse strings and justices are teetering atop a system already knocked off balance by budget cuts.

We don' need no stinkin' gubment regerlations

"The troubled school underscores the limits of Florida's charter-school law, which strips away many of the accountability requirements faced by other public schools. Even when charter schools appear to have broken the law or failed their students, they have multiple chances to improve or appeal, a process that can stretch for months or longer. Six months into the school year, there are no computers at Imani. Textbooks are still missing from some classes." "Shut Orange charter school now, its ex-teachers urge".

"Special interest legislation at its worst"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "A powerful Republican state senator wants to let online travel companies skip collecting some taxes while requiring Florida hotel booking desks to collect them all. This is special interest legislation at its worst, advantaging out-of-state companies over those who hire Floridians. Neither the state's tourism industry nor fellow Republican leaders should stand for it." "For a fair tourist tax".

"All stick and no carrot"

Even Mike Thomas, who regularly oils Jebbie Bush's feet, notes that "for all the talk of merit pay in Tallahassee, I have yet to see legislators throw any serious money on the table."

Their dealings with teachers have been all stick and no carrot. I support merit pay and Bush's reforms, but it's time to show us the ladder to the serious money for top teachers. ...

There used to be 50 percent turnover among teachers in the first five years. And that was during a time when they had at least modest annual raises. Most teachers haven't had a raise in years. And soon they could be paying 5 percent of their checks into the pension fund. Meanwhile, the pressure to raise test scores is increasing as budgets and supplies are decreasing.

Legislator has nuthin' better to do?

"Critics say bill on 'simulated' obscenity goes too far".

Voucher madness

"Scott's advisers propose giving every family nearly $6,000 per child to spend at the school of their choice: Public, private, charter or virtual."

The idea is bold and -- opponents say -- extreme. The plan has the potential to remake Florida's education system, considered one of the nation's worst a decade ago but gaining in reputation after years of reforms. It would give parents more say than ever before in where their children go to school, and is attracting national attention because it would be the most aggressive voucher program in the country. No state has a universal voucher system.

Research has shown few benefits from vouchers on student or school performance. But new studies also cast doubt on some of the major criticisms: That private schools would skim the best students while public schools fall apart. Some public schools actually have improved slightly when faced with more competition from private schools.

Regardless, using taxpayer money to fund private schools -- many of them religious and without the same testing and accountability standards as their public counterparts -- is perhaps the most contentious issue in the nation's ongoing education debate.

If the idea advances, it may also say a lot about Scott, who ran on a platform of jobs, jobs and more jobs, but has indicated a willingness to consider legislation on a variety of marquee conservative issues.

Scott's appetite for far-reaching and potentially polarizing changes draws comparisons with former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Pass the tea

"Freshman GOPer Didn't Know Gov't Pays Her Health Benefits". More: "New GOP Bill Would Allow Hospitals To Let Women Die Instead Of Having An Abortion".

Race to the bottom

The right-wingers on the Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Scott's proposal to bring public employees' pension benefits more in line with those found in the private sector." "Scott's pension plan: Promote fairness; cut cost".

The shameless worker-haters* on theMiami Herald editorial boards join the fray: "Taxpayers due fairness in public pensions".

- - - - - - - - -
*"Miami Herald Embarrasses Itself".

Canaries in the coalmine

"Dozens of sick raccoons picked up in Fla. county".