House Speaker Dean Cannon, a lawyer from Winter Park, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, a Merritt Island college professor who is running for U.S. Senate, are poised to dominate the debate over the state's budget and job crisis.

Unlike previous presiding officers, Cannon and Haridopolos consolidated their power on the strength of a veto-proof majority delivered by the Republican landslide in November. They strengthened that clout by steering millions of dollars in campaign cash to the political campaigns of newcomers who now owe their elections in large part to them.

Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup: "Planes and Trains and a Drug Database".

"Florida is the wild, wild West"

"There have been improvements [in the way money is now raised and spent in state races]: campaign finance reports are available any time to any person with an Internet connection, no longer locked in a Tallahassee office to be read only during business hours."

But many cite myriad problems built into a campaign-finance system tilted to favor political parties, a dynamic that contributes to a partisan divide in the Capitol and concentrates power among a few lawmakers.

"Florida is the wild, wild West," said Mark Herron, an election law expert with the Florida Democratic Party. "For all intents and purposes, we are a wide-open state with no limits."

Herron's refrain was repeated by more than a dozen Republicans, Democrats, campaign finance attorneys and professional fundraisers.

• Contribution caps of $500 for state candidates are unrealistically low. It's nearly impossible to pay for a statewide campaign that way and it's too easy to circumvent the limit.

• Politicians avoid accountability by using state parties to collect and spend six-figure campaign contributions from corporate donors.

• The rise of so-called 501(c)(4) groups, which are corporations that can engage in lobbying and campaigning without having to disclose donors.

"Tea party-related transportation tale"

"Florida’s still on track to get $2.4 billion in federal funds for a high-speed rail project from Tampa to Orlando, the latest twist in a tea party-related transportation tale." "UPDATE: Florida gets more time for hi-speed rail".

"One confusing mess"

"It’s a high-speed, high-stakes game of he-said, he-said — and one confusing mess. The nation’s No. 1 transportation official on Friday gave a burst of hope to backers of a high-speed rail project in Florida by saying Gov. Rick Scott asked for more information on a proposal and therefore he was extending the deadline a week. But Scott later said it was the official who pushed for more time and insisted he remains convinced there’s no way to alleviate financial risk to the state." "Feds give more time to high-speed rail proposal". See also "LaHood gives Florida another week for high-speed rail". Related: "Despite Nelson, Scott Insists Boondoggle Rail Is Dead" and "Gov. Rick Scott's rejection of federal money for Florida's high-speed rail unleashed the un-Iorio".

"It's a dubious distinction"

"South Florida has the nation's biggest burden when it comes to monthly housing costs. ... The Center for Housing Policy said the three-county region also led the U.S. in 2008, when 39 percent of homeowners devoted more than half of their income to housing." "South Florida housing burden leads nation, study finds".

Education cuts

"Dade schools chief: Don’t cut education".

RPOFers go after the unemployed

"Partisan vote moves bill cutting unemployment weeks through committee". "Unemployment Compensation Bill Heads to House Floor".

Wingnuts wash Jebbie's feet

"After the speech, moderator and radio talk show host Neil Boortz questioned Bush on the possibility of running for president. "I am not a candidate, but I'm in the political arena," he responded. Answering another question from Boortz, Bush said so far he was impressed with Gov. Rick Scott." "Jeb Bush talks about America's issues in Marco".

"A bespectacled Jeb Bush nearly blushed at the admiration he received from a crowd of about 400 people in Marco Island. ... Bush has been coy about possible presidential plans beyond 2012". "Jeb Bush quiets presidential run talk but says country needs fixing".

Teabaggers lining up for tix

"On March 4, she’s scheduled to meet with grassroots activists at the Abacoa Golf Club in Jupiter, Fl. She’ll be making a speech about spending and constitutional issues followed by a Q & A session." "Bachmann tea partying in Florida".

"Scott's allegiance to the health care industry"

"The removal of the state's chief advocate for nursing home residents has riled those who work with the elderly and disabled and fueled accusations he was let go because of Gov. Rick Scott's allegiance to the health care industry." "Advocate for Fla. nursing home residents removed".

While the Republicans were cutting their pensions ...

... "Firefighters battle two house fires early Saturday". More: "Two firefighters suffer injuries responding to Elgin Lane blaze".

How to kill a bill

"State lawmakers file thousands of bills each year. About 10 percent make it through committees, votes in both chambers and are signed into law by the governor." "The Legislature has many ways to kill a bill".

"Likely causing a long series of dominoes to fall"

"Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants the earliest possible presidential primary date for his state. Two Democratic state Senators are trying to have the state vote in late January, leapfrogging Iowa and New Hampshire — and likely causing a long series of dominoes to fall that could end with the entire primary calendar being moved forward." "Primary brinkmanship from Rick Scott".

Ricky's unintelligible comments about collective bargaining

Update - From the who elected this idiot files: "Days after Gov. Rick Scott told a Tallahassee radio station that he was supportive of collective bargaining, he now says he wishes it weren't allowed in Florida." "Gov. Rick Scott now says he'd like collective bargaining removed from Constitution"

Unlike Wisconsin, the "governors in Michigan and Florida appear to be taking a more conciliatory approach to unions, hoping to avoid the full-fledged brawl in Wisconsin."

"That's not our path," said Michigan's Rick Snyder, who won election on a pro-business agenda. He said he wants cost savings, too, but "I and my administration fully intend to work with our employees and union partners in a collective fashion."

Florida Gov. Rick Scott told a Tallahassee radio station, "As long as people know what they're doing, you know, collective bargaining's fine, but be honest with people, be honest with taxpayers. If you're going to give these benefits to people, whether it's pension benefits or health care benefits, let's all be honest about it."

Sad irony: Ricky not kind to fellow crooks

"Time and again Thursday, the panel rejected petitions for clemency, even in cases where the Florida Parole Commission staff recommended approval." "Dispensing tough love at the Clemency Board".

Whew ... that was close

"Norman says he will fix bill that would make it illegal to take photos of farms". Background: "Photographing cows or other farm scenery could land you in jail under Senate bill".

After all, he is an expert on the fifth amendment

The man whose previous experience with the Constitution is limited to pleading the fifth, is now mired in a constitutional struggle with the Florida Legislature: "Rick Scott, lawmakers are divided over separation of powers".

"10 terms of (political) art"

Steve Bousquet: "The language of the Legislature".

Raw sewage from the RPOFers

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "For a guy chairing the Florida Senate committee safeguarding environmental preservation, Sen. Charlie Dean is fast becoming the face for dirty water. Dean, R-Inverness, is advocating a shortsighted and foolish plan to repeal mandatory septic tank inspections that are intended to reduce water pollution." "Foolish plan makes Florida's water dirtier".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Alleged South Florida pill mill boss made fortune in a few years". As Ricky sleeps, "As debate over prescription drug database rages, raids in South Florida".

Wingnuts demand filthy lakes and streams

"An upcoming Senate vote could be crucial to the implementation of the EPA’s Florida water quality rules, and much of the pressure rests on the shoulders of Sen. Bill Nelson." "Nelson’s Senate vote key to EPA water quality rules".

Senate President with ethics problems likes TABOR

"Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos has promised an exciting first week of the legislative session, with bills from his constitutional amendment challenging federal health care reform to a revised version of last year’s Senate Bill 6 scheduled to reach the floor. The so-called 'Smart Cap' amendment, which would place a constitutional limit on state revenue, is set to join the lineup, having cleared its final two committees this week." "TABOR-style revenue cap ready for final Florida Senate vote".

"Conflict", what conflict?

Steve Bousquet: "As the saying goes, the fox is often guarding the henhouse." "Some conflicts of interest".

Gallup: only 39% of Floridians "conservative"

Poll results here.

SA wants to try him as an adult?

"Orange County boy, 8, arrested at school after police called".

Unable to indict even a ham sandwich

"Florida’s 19th Grand Jury on Public Corruption issued its final report late last week, slamming the Broward County School Board in a 51-page report detailing the 'gross mismanagement and apparent ineptitude' of board members who squandered millions of taxpayer dollars in the nation’s sixth largest school district." "Grand Jury blasts Broward School Board for incompetence, corruption, but identifies no guilty individuals".

Hate from Jax

"Project SOS, a Jacksonvile-based abstinence education program, has received more than $6.5 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services since 2002 — including $454,000 in September 2010. This despite the fact that the group has been cited for teaching false information about HIV and is a supporter of Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa, one of the most outspoken advocates of legislation in that country that prescribes the death penalty for homosexuals." "Federally funded Jacksonville abstinence program has ties to ‘Kill the Gays’ Ugandan pastor".

What a difference four decades makes

"Four decades ago, a respected political think tank rated the Florida Legislature as one of the best in the country for its enlightened leadership, expert staff and bipartisan willingness to tackle tough issues."

Today, the Legislature's longest-serving member has a very different way of describing it.

"It's terrible, just terrible," said Sen. Dennis Jones, a moderate Pinellas County Republican in his 31st year of lawmaking. "You just don't have the camaraderie you had years before."

Jones and others are exasperated at what they see: excessive and often scripted partisanship, obsessive and loosely regulated special-interest fundraising and harshly negative campaigning.

Orlando Sentinel editors chagrined

"Siplin wins ethics appeal".

GOPers at "work"

"State leaders weigh in on possibility of federal government shutdown". "Possible Federal Government Shutdown 2011 Casts Shadow on Florida".

Miami-Dade recall

"A judge threw out the county mayor’s challenge that claimed the petitions seeking the recall election, set for March 15, were flawed." "Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez loses court challenge on recall election".

Tuff morning

"City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt bounced his candidate's qualification check so he paid in cash and will be permitted to run in the March 8 election." "Cash payment allows Bunnell official to run despite bad check".

Bondi’s proposal, set to be formally discussed at a March 9 Cabinet meeting, would reverse a major change that took place in April 2007 at the urging of former Gov. Charlie Crist, who said the civil rights restoration process in Florida was too cumbersome and cruel to many ex-offenders.

Crist’s changes streamlined the restoration process to allow tens of thousands of felons to regain their right to vote, sit on a jury and obtain various state licenses without having to undergo a lengthy review and hearing process.

Non-violent criminals are eligible to get their rights restored without hearings if they have completed their sentences and pay restitution if required.

Violent criminals, sex offenders and others are still required to wait years before their petitions were considered. Bondi drew support from the rest of the all-Republican Board of Clemency: Gov. Rick Scott, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

RPOFers on verge of suing one of their own

"An intense last-ditch effort to save high-speed rail in Florida collapsed Thursday with Gov. Rick Scott rejecting the plan, and then angry lawmakers accused him of overstepping authority and threatened legal action."

The proposal to divert responsibility to a group of cities, including Tampa and Orlando, was presented to Scott’s office Wednesday. He saw nothing to change his mind — a stance critics attacked as politically motivated and profoundly stubborn.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson deemed it “one heck of a mistake.” U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said she was “devastated” by the loss of potential jobs.

In Tallahassee, Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, said he hoped U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood would grant Florida more time before reallocating the $2.4 billion to other states so lawmakers can explore challenging the governor on constitutional grounds. The deadline had been today and LaHood’s office showed no sign of backing away from that.

“I believe that he exceeded his executive authority and in a very strong sense we have a Constitutional crisis on our hands,” Altman said. Senate Republican leader Andy Gardiner acknowledged there are concerns about the “parameters” of the governor’s use of his executive power. He did not reject the possibility that a fellow caucus member would have a legitimate basis for suing the Republican governor. Altman noted that the Legislature voted to accept the federal money and build high-speed rail in a special session.

“We have a law on the books,” he said, and quoted the portion of the Florida Constitution that reads: “The Governor shall take care that the laws of Florida are faithfully executed.”

Haridopolos ethics violation

"Senate President Mike Haridopolos should get a letter of admonition, but no fine, for financial disclosure violations, a panel of his colleagues recommended Thursday after he submitted a written apology."

Haridopolos failed to fully disclose his financial interests for five years - 2004 through 2008. He omitted information such as his earnings from teaching at the University of Florida and the names of his consulting firm's clients. He also misstated the values of a home and mortgage.

Democratic Party officials earlier had demanded that Thrasher, a former Florida Republican Party chairman, and Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, recuse themselves because they have endorsed Haridopolos in the U.S. Senate race.

Asked if he should have stepped down, Thrasher said, "Hell no. Absolutely not." He accused the Democratic Party of playing politics.

Scott doesn't deny violation

PolitiFact: "The majority of the evidence and a legal expert side with Alexander in this argument about the sale of the state's two airplanes. Alexander said the sales were 'not proper,' and cited specific state statutes. Most germane is a statute that requires the governor to spend the money allocated for a specific purpose in the state budget. The governor's office offered no rebuttal, and as such, we see no evidence that Alexander's wrong. We rate his claim True." "Scott overstepped on sale of planes".

"Making Fredo Corleone look like Nathan Hale"

Daniel Ruth: "You can’t escape the nagging suspicion that if state Sens. Mike Haridopolos, R-Brave, Brave Sir Robin, and Greg Evers, R-Barney Fife, were ever taken prisoners of war they would give up the nuclear codes, the formula for Coca-Cola and the D-day invasion plans under the brutal duress of a noogie." "In Florida Legislature, profiles in jelly".

Redistricting "brawling is starting in the courts"

"After a hard-fought political campaign, voters approved two measures last fall that would change how Florida's congressional and legislative districts are drawn every decade."

Now, the real brawling is starting in the courts.

Two lawsuits filed in the wake of last November's election could determine the fate of the two amendments to Florida's constitution, which supporters say will help end gerrymandering, the process of tailoring districts to favor a particular party, incumbent or demographic group. ...

The day after voters approved the changes, two U.S. representative from opposite sides of the aisle challenged the constitutionality of the amendment dealing with congressional districts. U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown, a Democratic, and Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican, asked a federal judge in South Florida to stop its enforcement, claiming it violates a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. That section prohibits any dilution to the ability of racial minorities to elect their preferred candidates.

In their court papers, members of the NAACP and Democracia Ahora called the plaintiffs "entrenched incumbent members of Congress" who wanted to take away the new protections against political gerrymandering. The two civil rights groups said the amendments offered extra protections for minority voters that previously was missing from the state constitution. The NAACP and Democracia Ahora also argued that their rights on this matter wouldn't be represented by newly elected Republican Gov. Rick Scott, nor his secretary of state, Kurt Browning.

Browning was a public leader opposing the amendments, and three days after Scott took office in January, the state quietly withdrew a request for federal approval, or "preclearance," that is required under the Voting Rights Act. The request was filed in December before then-Gov. Charlie Crist left office. The "preclearance" process vets any changes that could dilute the voting power of minorities. ...

The withdrawal of the request for approval from the U.S. Department of Justice "appeared calculated to delay and possibly thwart implementations of the amendments," the civil rights groups said.

So the civil rights groups, along with the League of Women Voters and five voters from Monroe County in the Florida Keys, filed another lawsuit ... They said the absence of a preclearance process will deprive them of their rights under the Voting Rights Act.

It could take months before the legal battles over the redistricting amendments are over. But Florida has some time. Redistricting plans don't have to be approved and implemented until June 2012, one of the latest deadlines in the nation.

Wingnut of the week

"The head of Florida's major business organization bluntly told legislators Thursday state employees should "have some skin in the game" with pension payments put into investment accounts — and consider themselves lucky to have jobs." "Associated Industries leader takes aim at state's pension plan".

Unemployment cuts

"Bill cutting unemployment benefits to 20 weeks advances".

"Scott doesn't seem to get it"

Gary Stein: Rick Scott "doesn't seem to get it."

Scott's tone-deaf missteps — the pill mill database debacle and his creative, confusing math on the budget— have been well-chronicled.

Sure, Scott has his fans. The tea party loves him, which is why he unveiled his budget in tea party-loving Eustis.

I know it's early. We may some day say Scott was one of Florida's great governors.

Will Scott at least become a decent governor that people support and have confidence in? If so, he's off to a lousy start.

He may not care. He spent $73 million of his family's money to barely get into the governor's mansion, and he surely has many millions under the sofa cushions.

But it will take more than his millions to make people actually believe in him.

Teabagger flip-flop

"Republican U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent on Thursday backed off his call to use the $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail funds rejected by Gov. Rick Scott to pay down the national debt. Instead, he shocked tea party activists by urging the money be sent to Tallahassee for other Florida transportation projects. Tea party activists across the state were quick to criticize Nugent’s comments, saying the Tea Party Caucus member had it right the first time." "Tea Party Turncoat? Rich Nugent Flops on Spending Rail Funds".

We're the "Oxy-tourism Capital"

"The reasons for Florida to implement the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program — despite Gov. Rick Scott's opposition — are painfully apparent." "'Welcome to the Oxy-tourism Capital'".

Florida dragging its knuckles on Health Care Reform

"Florida and 25 other states suing to stop President Barack Obama's health care overhaul say in a new legal filing that they should be allowed to stop following the law immediately. ... The Justice Department wants the judge to order the states to follow the law pending an appeal to a higher court." "Florida, 24 states want to stop implementing health reform now". Related: "Nurse Practitioners to Rally Across Florida".

"People with the historical perspective of a fruit fly would oppose high-speed rail"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "High-speed rail in Florida, despite bipartisan support and millions of state and private dollars already invested in it, turned out to be surprisingly easy for Gov. Rick Scott to kill. All he had to say was no."

Scott's objection appears to extend beyond his fear of cost overruns and operating deficits. He seemed more interested in making a political statement than in giving serious consideration to a project that supporters said would create 24,000 jobs.

Raw political courage

"Legislators, Retailers Like Sales Tax Holiday".

Will Rivera of Miami survive three criminal investigations?

"Will freshman District 25 U.S. House member David Rivera of Miami survive three criminal investigations in Miami-Dade? What does he say about probes into his campaign disclosures and finances? Is it all just politics?" "Rep. David Rivera says his 'official conduct most transparent of any member of Congress'".

Mack on the trail

"Mack hosting town hall meeting in Fort Myers".

Gettin' rid of those silly gun permits

"Florida Ballot Initiative, a political action committee led by Jupiter’s Richard Antolinez, is seeking to gather enough signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the 2012 ballot that would dictate that 'no permit shall be required' to bear arms in Florida." "Political action committee wants to eliminate permits 'for any manner of bearing arms in Florida'".

Personhood amendment

"A proposed fetal personhood amendment, which would outlaw abortion and some forms of birth control, has been called radical and outrageous by pro-choice activists. But even staunchly anti-abortion organizations and legislators are expressing concerns with the initiative, which they fear could end up backfiring." "Florida Catholic Conference, Family Policy Council decline to endorse fetal personhood".

AIF and the Chamber drafts legislation

"The Florida House and Senate both are taking up major rewrites of the state's growth management laws, according to the key committee chairmen in each chamber. Gov. Rick Scott has proposed eliminating the Florida Department of Community Affairs and laying off most employees while moving its planning functions to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Meanwhile, a coalition of groups, including the Associated Industries of Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, is drafting proposed law revisions." "Legislators pushing ahead with major rewrite of growth management laws".

Teabagger town halls

"The two town halls couldn’t have been any more different — one a blue-jeans-and-ball-cap affair, rowdy and filled-to-capacity near an impoverished urban strip — the other a smaller confab of polo-shirt-and-Bermuda-shorts clad seniors in a sleek conference room outside Orlando. But one sentiment resonated through both Rep. Allen West’s Pompano Beach gathering in south Florida and Rep. Dan Webster’s in Winter Garden: voters are still angry, they still don’t trust Washington, and they’re saying, 'hell yeah, shut down the government if you have to.'" "Town hall 'rage' over spending in Florida".

Tri-Rail

"Clearing a legal challenge, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority approved a $109 million contract for new Tri-Rail locomotives Friday." "$109 Million Tri-Rail Contract Awarded After Challenge".

Palm Beach GOPers on pins and needles

"Decision on presidential run coming soon, Gingrich tells PB County Republicans".

State employees win one

"A Senate committee proposed a modified bill Thursday that focuses more on shoring up the Florida Retirement System and less on using the savings to close the state budget gap."

Leaders of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee pushed a compromise that would require most state workers to contribute up to 2 percent of their salaries to their retirement funds, while elected officials, senior management and anyone making more than $75,000 would pay 4 percent of their salary into the retirement system.

The measure by Sen. Jack Latvala, a St. Petersburg Republican, also removes a requirement that new employees in the Florida Retirement System enroll in 401(k) plans and activates employee contributions only to pay for any unfunded liability in the retirement fund. The committee will vote on the proposal during the first week of the legislative session in March. ...

The changes came after hours of testimony from police, firefighters, teachers and civil servants — and the fifth death in a month of a police officer gunned down in the line of duty.

Panhandle politics

Lucy Morgan: "White Gadsden County officials successfully conspired to remove or demote every black supervisor in county government, multiple lawsuits claim." "Gadsden County government embroiled in race plot scandal".

"Fear not, hungry, thirsty and gift-deprived lawmakers"

Scott Maxwell: "Florida is facing a fiscal crisis. There's talk of slashing everything from public safety to help for the disabled. So what burning issue are some of our legislators pushing?"

Gifts for themselves!

Specifically, they want more freebies.

After all, what's the point in being a "public servant" if you can't get free steak dinners and open bar tabs?

But fear not, hungry, thirsty and gift-deprived lawmakers. Here comes Senate Bill 1322 to the rescue.

Pill mill politics

"Lawmakers explore pros and cons of tracking pain pill prescriptions". See also "Drug database should be in use" and "House may fight pill mills with tighter controls over 'dispensing' docs".

[T]here is a big bust for the employee unions pending in Florida. Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, has sponsored a bill (SB 830) that would end employer deduction of union dues and make unions get written permission from members to use dues money for politics.

If they lost payroll deductions and were required to make pro-rata refunds to members who don't authorize donations to parties or candidates, the already weak public-employee unions would be hobbled. It's called payback.

Thrasher, a former House speaker who was interim chairman of the Florida Republican Party last year, sponsored the famous (or notorious, depending how you look at it) Senate Bill 6. It would have ended teacher tenure and tied pay raises to student performance, if Gov. Charlie Crist hadn't vetoed it last year.

It's not just teachers' unions. The AFL-CIO, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and Service Employees International Union are labor pillars of the Democratic Party. Even the Police Benevolent Association, which backed Crist and Gov. Jeb Bush, spent heavily on TV spots opposing Scott last year.

So while he denies wanting to avenge SB 6, Thrasher's new bill would cut a cash pipeline to the Democrats.

Similar struggles are brewing in other states. Is Florida next? We hope not. ...

GOP Sen. John Thrasher of Jacksonville, is proposing to hit Florida's public-employee unions in the wallet by making it harder for them to raise and spend money. Unlike Mr. Scott's proposal [to gut pensions], Mr. Thrasher's doesn't have fairness or financial justifications behind it.

Mr. Thrasher, a former state GOP chairman, sponsored a bill last year that would have imposed a merit-pay system on teachers. Then-Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed the bill under heavy pressure from the state's top teachers union. Mr. Thrasher took a thrashing.

Now Mr. Thrasher appears bent on settling scores with a bill that would bar government agencies from deducting union dues from employees' paychecks. It also would prohibit unions from using dues for political activity without members' written consent. Naturally, he denies his legislation is payback. He insists it's about giving public employees "a choice."

But public employees already have that choice. Florida is a right-to-work state, so employees, including government workers, can't be forced to join a union. If they don't, they don't have to worry about getting dues deducted from their paychecks. And members have to authorize the deductions.

Thrasher's bill is a solution in search of a problem. ...

Here's what's really going on with the bill: Eliminating paycheck deductions will only make it harder for the unions to raise money to bankroll their operations. Forcing them to jump through another hoop and get written consent for any political spending will reduce their clout even more.

That clout already is at a low ebb in Florida. Unions usually support Democrats, who now hold all of one statewide office — U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson — and are at historically weak levels in the House and Senate. If Mr. Thrasher's bill appears on track to pass, it'd invite Wisconsin-style protests from unions desperate to hang on to what little power they have left in Florida.

Teacher haters press on

"Despite pleas from teachers, Republican legislators pushed bills to reform how the state pays and evaluates educators. ... The new model would tie at least 50 percent of teachers’ salaries and contracts to student performance, replacing a structure that values seniority and uses a last-in, first-out layoff policy." "Lawmakers move ahead on teacher bills". See also "Teacher pay overhaul moving forward".

See also "De-Glitched Teacher Pay Bill Sprints to Senate Floor". Related: "Local teachers plan rallies to have their voices heard".

West laff riot

"One night after dismissing a suggestion he run for president in 2012, freshman U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation, said America needs a leader who will 'scare the bejesus' out of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadenijad." "West tells Jupiter town hall gathering: Washington has 'spending problem'".

Ricky losing jobs

"Layoffs likely, PBC schools financial officer says".

"One of the most explosive sessions in years"

"With Florida's economy in the doldrums, a budget shortfall of at least $3.6 billion and a desire to cut taxes, new Gov. Rick Scott and a conservative Republican Legislature see a chance to eliminate or curtail programs they see as unneeded or wasteful."

The legislative session set to start March 8 could be one of the most explosive in years with thousands of state jobs on the line along with cuts to key government services. Rank-and-file state employees, who haven't seen a pay raise in five years, will lose ground again with changes in their pension and health benefits.

Scott and legislators are taking dead aim at education, social services and even law enforcement, with police agencies concerned that they'll have to release some inmates to save housing and feeding costs.

The right-wing media

Nancy Smith blathers on about "Sen. J.D. Alexander's Curious Plane Thing".

Sales surge

"Investors fuel home sales surge across the nation and South Florida".

Ricky's slow start

"Agency chiefs for the departments of health and healthcare administration have yet to be named, and the newly named head of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities resigned before ever starting the job." "Gov. Rick Scott lags in naming agency heads".

"All state politics is local"

"On the same day the Florida Legislature's budget and appropriations committees met in Tallahassee, a consensus emerged during a public forum in our backyard: All state politics is local."

Gov. Rick Scott's proposed budget — and changes being considered by the Legislature — will substantially affect state departments and agencies, the 110,000 employees who work in them, and the services they provide.

But, since Florida — either intentionally or by default — delegates so many responsibilities to local governments and private-sector providers, the impacts of the state budget are magnified locally.

Bulldozers popping wheelies

"Scott and the Cabinet on Tuesday approved a development plan for more than 5,000 acres in Volusia County after the Florida Department of Community Affairs reversed its opposition under a new administration." "Governor and Cabinet reverse growth agency decision on major development".

Teabaggers go to Tally

"Those expecting a wild legislative session this year might not have to wait long." "Tea party to help kick off state legislative session".

TABOR follies

"‘Smart Cap,’ Bill Protecting Citizens' Pocketbooks, Advances in Senate Budget Meeting".

Wingnut of the week

"Public Unions Force Taxpayers to Fund Dems".

Gay haters on alert

"Gay-Marriage Decision Puts Florida on Notice".

Rubio's "death spiral"

"Marco Rubio warns of ‘death spiral’ debt". See also "Marco Rubio Returns to the Florida House".

Rail fail

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "A bipartisan group of federal, state and local leaders should continue its last-ditch effort to satisfy Gov. Rick Scott’s concerns about high-speed rail. Two days of private talks this week give both sides a chance to step back from the political posturing over federal spending and focus on what’s best for the Sunshine State." "Taking risk out of rail".

See also "Scott's rail decision highlights conflicting assumptions" and "Gov. Rick Scott's office, federal officials talking high-speed rail; Scott unmoved".

An ugly visual

"Gov. Scott visits Apalachicola, eats oysters".

No longer "an electoral afterthought"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Florida may be a fundraiser's paradise, but until the last presidential campaign it was an electoral afterthought. That changed in 2008, when the Legislature defied the rules of the Republican and Democratic national campaign committees and moved the state's primary to the last Tuesday in January." "Hold to the primary date".

Public employee unions pressing pension fight

"Florida legislators are not embracing the sweeping employee pension reforms being advanced by Gov. Rick Scott. At a House hearing Wednesday, members grilled a Scott staffer on the financial impact of requiring all new employees to enroll in 401(k)-type investment plans and on how employees might react to contributing 5 percent of their salaries -- both key Scott demands." "Lawmakers backing away from Scott's stringent pension-reform plans".

"Highly partisan opening week of the 2011 Legislature"

"Senate Republicans said Wednesday they are intent on making good on last fall's campaign promises -- setting the stage for a highly partisan opening week of the 2011 Legislature. In party-line votes, the GOP-ruled Budget Committee OK'd four high-profile bills that touch on many of the issues raised by Republican Gov. Rick Scott and other Florida GOP candidates during last fall's contests." "Senate GOP sets campaign pledges up for early votes when session starts".

Bondi whines

"Legal wranglings continue in the Florida-led lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of federal health care legislation." "Florida's attorney general calls U.S. Justice Department request in health care lawsuit a delaying tactic".

Under the changes — proposed in an amendment by Sen. Jack Latvala, a St. Petersburg Republican — the Senate would no longer require that all new city employees enroll in a 401(k) style retirement plan and potentially threaten the financial health of traditional defined benefit plans.

If cities want to end enrollment in their traditional pension plans, they can negotiate with unions to have new employees join a defined contribution plan.

The proposal also removes a requirement that employees’ final retirement benefit be based on five years of service, as the Senate bill originally planned, and allows cities to include up to 300 hours of overtime when calculating retirement benefits, since many cities now require police and fire to work overtime hours, Latvala said. The bill still prohibits employers from including unused leave and other forms of compensation when determing retirement compensation.

The changes were commended by many police and firefighter unions ...

Still unresolved are differences between the unions and the Senate over proposed changes to the Florida Retirement System, which handles pension accounts for all state, county, school districts and some cities.

Scott defends his pill mill decision

"Scott accused the private foundation raising money for a statewide prescription drug database of wasting money, his latest attack on the system created by lawmakers two years ago. But officers of the organization say they haven't misspent any of the more than $400,000 in private donations they've raised so far and they have an independent audit to prove it." "Fla. drug database fund-raiser disputes Gov. Scott's claim his group wasted money".

FMA fights NRA

"Emergency room doctors, psychiatrists and pediatricians should not be able to ask a patient whether he or she owns a gun, a panel of Florida lawmakers said Tuesday, giving the OK to a proposal that pits two of the state's most politically powerful lobbying interests - the National Rifle Association and the Florida Medical Association - against each other." "Doctors fight NRA, while guns on campus bill stalls in Fla. Senate". See also "NRA, medical establishment clashes in Senate committee debate" and "Doctors Fight NRA While Guns on Campus Bill Stalls" ("Florida's two most powerful lobbies clash ").

When can we expect Scott to get to work?

Ricky is having a real hard time getting to work:

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has yet to name the state's top transportation official, but already he has installed the agency's chief of staff, hired its lawyer and pulled the trigger on a major decision to blow up plans for high-speed rail.

Scott is planning an ambitious overhaul of how the state provides health care to 3 million Florida Medicaid recipients, but he still hasn't named a chief for the Department of Health or for the Agency for Health Care Administration.

The agency directors Scott has hired had little-to-no input on his controversial budget recommendation.

One, Carl Littlefield, resigned Monday only 17 days after being nominated as director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities ...

RPOF run legislature putting locals out of business

Scott Maxwell: "Florida lawmakers are helping put our local bookstores out of business — and putting brick-and-mortar stores of all kinds at a competitive disadvantage to online retailers. They do so by forcing local companies to collect sales taxes while giving a break to out-of-state retailers." "Internet tax break hurts local businesses".

Expect more posturing

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Assuming that Gov. Scott is willing to listen and not just keep posturing, he should hear out backers of the project about their plan to address his supposed concern that the deal would lack protection for state taxpayers. Unless the governor changes his mind by Friday, Florida could lose $2.4 billion for the 84-mile rail line that would link Orlando and Tampa. An Orlando-Miami link could follow." "Not quite end of line for high-speed rail: 'Privatization' plan could bring $2.4 billion".

Unemployment gutted

"Amended bill would not increase compensation tax on some businesses". "Unemployment Compensation Reform Bill Passes Senate Committee Hurdle".

Shocker: teabaggers hate unions

"Tea Parties to Counter Public Employee Unions".

Medicaid cuts will cost the state in long run

The Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy: "Any Medicaid service cuts are unlikely to yield significant savings in state general revenue in the short term, as there is little to cut without reaching the bare federal minimum or causing significant harm to the Floridians who must rely on Medicaid. Beyond the short term, such cuts will cost the state much more than they save." "Cutting "Optional" Services Would Hurt More Than Help".

Dumping Industrial pollutants into state waters

"Environmental groups say the governor’s choice to head the Department of Environmental Protection has a conflict involving industrial pollutants dumped into state waters. ... Scott 'has appointed a man whose professional career has been dedicated to ensuring that the very regulations that he would now oversee are significantly weakened,' the petition to the EPA states." "Environmentalists complain over Scott pick for agency chief".

Environmental groups the target of "free market" wingnuts

"Florida voters shot down Amendment 4 — aka 'Hometown Democracy' — during last November’s election, but the group that sprung up to oppose it is still kicking, and has sent supporters a video to rally the troops for its next battle." "Anti-Amendment 4 group still around, hints at plans to 'take the fight to' environmental groups".

Stoopid of the day

Some genius named Don Oehlrich shares this wisdom with us today, courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel:

The demonstrations in Wisconsin have made me reflect on how the workplace has changed over the past 100 years. When unions first appeared in the early 20th century, the country was very different than it is now. There were little or no government protections of workers, the work force was not mobile, workers could be fired at will, and media were limited to newspapers and radio.

Speaking of Stoopid

The libruls on the The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board managed to juxtapose this asinine editorial cartoon with this hypocritical editorial: "Sacrifice and grief".

Here's the editorial page.

Believe it or not

"Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) is now to the right of Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) on the question of allowing public sector workers to unionize." "FL Gov. Gives Thumbs Up To Public Worker Organizing". See also "Scott supports collective bargaining".

More: "Poll: 61% Oppose Cutting Collective Bargaining For State Employees" (Gallup/USA Today nationwide poll)

Plutocrats at the doorstep

"Tampa reflects growing trend: self-financed candidates".

An easy target

"As Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson ramps up his 2012 re-election campaign, a 'nonpartisan' group is working to soften up his Republican competition. Progress Florida launched a website -- DirtyHari.org -- to attack state Sen. Mike Haridopolos, Nelson's first announced GOP opponent. The PF-sponsored site, which bears the fetching headline, 'Haridopolos Exposed,' assails the Senate president for his 'cushy UF teaching gig,' 'extreme positions' and 'double-dipper hypocrisy.'" "Progress Florida: Bill Nelson's Left-Jabbing Fist".

Florida for sale

"Push on to privatize high-speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando".

"Good luck with that"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Trying to get a second date with someone who summarily rejects you the first time is never pretty. The repeated wooing of Gov. Rick Scott by supporters of an Orlando-to-Tampa high-speed rail line is fast becoming Exhibit A. ... Others hope they can get Mr. Scott to give high-speed rail another look by arguing, yet again, its virtues. Good luck with that." "Spurning rail advances".

Jobs, jobs, jobs!

"Orlando is fast-food capital of country". See also "Miami ranked No. 4 fast-food capital in US".

Inspector Clouseau in action

"Scott ordered an investigation into cost overruns at the state's agency for the disabled Tuesday, saying he wanted more information on continuing deficits." "Scott 'uncovers' ongoing deficit at agency for disabled". Related: "Scott would cut range of social-service programs".

"Scott on political crash course with J.D. Alexander

"Scott is on a political crash course with the Florida Senate's powerful budget chief, J.D. Alexander, who wrote a letter Tuesday asking the governor to cite the "legal authority" for the way he sold two state planes. Alexander said he believed the Feb. 11 transaction was unlawful." "Senator questions sale of state planes".

Education issues

"Major cuts to school budgets as federal stimulus funding dries up. Tying teacher evaluations to student performance on standardized tests. Expanding vouchers and virtual school programs. The upcoming legislative session is likely to be a pivotal one in shaping the future of education in Florida." "Lawmakers to take up decisive ed issues in session".

Rail fail

"Scott waved off efforts Monday by high-speed-rail supporters to assure him that the $2.7 billion project would not cost Florida taxpayers any money, dismissing them as 'all these hypotheticals.'" "Scott dismisses new high-speed-rail assurances".

"Federal officials on Saturday balked at a scaled-back plan for high-speed rail proposed by U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, giving hope to advocates for an entire Orlando-to-Tampa line, but underscoring the efforts' shaky status." "Plan remains on shaky ground".

See also "Scott being pushed to kill SunRail, too". Related: Howard Troxler's "'The stupidest thing you have ever written in your life'" (background: "The boos are loud, but hardly unanimous").

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Tampa-Orlando connection deserves a chance to work".

Floridians "setting the social-media network aflame"

"Inspired by large protests in Wisconsin, government workers are setting the social-media network aflame with plans for public demonstrations in Florida on March 8." "Social Media Explodes With Florida Teacher Protest Chat".

Pain for Floridians, yet relatively little accomplished

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "U.S. House Republicans brought their narrow agenda into sharper focus early Saturday by voting to slash domestic spending by $61 billion for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year. The House plan would cause significant pain for Floridians and accomplish relatively little in reducing this year’s $1.6 trillion deficit." "GOP plan big on ideology, pain".

"Floridians should brace for potential cutbacks to some of their most cherished government programs — including Head Start and law enforcement — as both parties in Congress grapple over ways to rein in deficit spending." "House budget would slash many popular programs". Thomas Tryon: "Forum on state budget sure to generate heated debate".

Lethal injections lunacy

"For years, Illinois-based Hospira Inc. worried about its drugs being used across the country for lethal injections. So, a company spokesman says, Hospira sent letters to all the states annually — including Florida — stating its opposition to the drugs' use to carry out death sentences."

But the states, including Florida, continued using at least one Hospira product in the three-drug "cocktail" approved for executions.

There was nothing illegal about that, but their continued use of Hospira products to execute inmates ultimately compelled the company last month to announce its decision to stop all production of its trademarked anesthetic, Pentothal. The supplies that states already have on hand are set to expire this year.

"Hospira provides these products because they improve or save lives and markets them solely for use as indicated on the product labeling," wrote Kees Gioenhout, Hospira's vice president of Clinical Research and Development, in a letter sent to Ohio in March. "As such, we do not support the use of any of our products in capital punishment procedures."

"Protests across Florida"

"Critics of Gov. Rick Scott's proposed budget reductions and tax cuts plan protests across Florida as legislators convene two weeks from today." "Floridians plan protests around the state".

Another cop killed ... when will the pension talk settle down?

"Crawford, a 25-year-veteran, was pronounced dead at Bayfront Medical Center. He was 46." "St. Petersburg police officer killed in shooting" ("Just last month, two St. Petersburg police officers - Jeffrey A. Yaslowitz and Thomas Baitinger - were killed"). See also "Fla. cop critically wounded in shooting".

Scott's "shameful bow to the nursing home industry"

The Tampa Tribune editors: "In an obvious and shameful bow to the nursing home industry, Gov. Rick Scott has fired the state's long-serving long-term care ombudsman who runs the program charged with overseeing senior living providers around Florida." "Investigate dismissal".

Too much tea

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Killing Florida's prescription-drug database may play well with the tea party, but Gov. Scott and Republican legislators should listen to doctors, pharmacists, police chiefs and sheriffs, who say the database will save lives." "Rethink repeal of drug database: Kentucky sheriff has message for naysayers: 'I'm tired of it'".

Rooney luvin' the pork

"U.S. Rep Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, hopes Pratt & Whitney considers bringing some jobs back to Palm Beach County now that the House has gone along with a Rooney amendment killing an alternate jet engine made by rival General Electric. Hawkish conservative Rooney found himself allied with President Obama and pitted against Speaker John Boehner last week when he successfully pushed to cancel the second engine to save $450 million this year and $3 billion over the next few years." "Rep. Rooney hopes that House's rejection of jet engine bill will lead to more Palm Beach County jobs".

"Medicare is next"

Mike Thomas: "Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee are planning to slash Medicaid, a health-care program for low-income residents. Pay attention, because this is only the beginning. Medicare is next." "Florida has no choice but to cut Medicaid".

Southerland's "political-prestige coups"

"Just six weeks into his first term, the Big Bend congressman has scored a pair of political-prestige coups in defending Republican budget plans on a national stage." "Southerland on national stage".

Knuckle-draggers panting for "Jeb!"

"There is probably a very good reason why, in the goo-goo eyes of so many in the Greek chorus of Republicans chanting and panting for his return to the hustings, Jeb Bush stands as an electoral colossus of the Club for Growth, the Rambo of the Cato Institute, the beefcake boy of the National Review."

Consider the current crop of GOP presidential pretenders positioning themselves for a run against President Barack Obama next year.

Bits and Pieces

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".

"Florida ... in Shadow of Wisconsin"

"Florida Union Negotiations Begin in Shadow of Wisconsin Walkout".

"Talk about a missed opportunity"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Some state laws are more equal than others."

Take Senate Bill 2000, essential legislation that established the Correctional Policy Advisory Council to examine Florida's penal policies and devise recommendations to reduce the state's burgeoning incarceration costs.

The Florida Legislature approved the measure and the governor signed the bill into law — last year. Commission members were selected, but the panel has yet to meet. Unfortunately, the commission never received the funds to operate, and now the law establishing it is set to expire on July 1. Talk about a missed opportunity.

In the past 40 years, Florida has seen its prison population spike from 8,793 to around 102,440 today. Since 1988, the Florida Department of Corrections' annual budget has spiraled accordingly, going from $502 million to $2.4 billion. Crime isn't the problem; crime rates have gone down. It's the type of inmates entering the system — a majority of whom have committed non-violent offenses or are in for possessing small amounts of illegal drugs.

Castro has RPOFers scrambling

"Cuba’s plans to drill for oil south of Florida Keys has lawmakers scrambling".

Workers take on "millionaire Tea Party favorite"

"In the latest round between Gov. Rick Scott — the millionaire health care mogul and Tea Party favorite — and state workers, score one for the workers." "Prisons workers put the squeeze on Gov. Scott".

Developer dancing in the streets

"The governor and his business supporters see the DCA as a meddling bureaucracy that slows down worthy building projects, impeding any chance of recovery for the state's comatose real estate market. Yet the agency's supporters counter that one of Florida's most robust real estate booms crashed, not because of DCA's review process but because of overbuilding and inflated real estate prices." "TScott hopes to slash agency others say has minimized sprawl".

Renewable energy jobs

"Proponents say a solar and biomass clean energy industry will bring in-state investment". "Renewable Energy Could Mean Home-Grown Florida Jobs".

Rhee wrong

"PolitiFact Florida: Michelle Rhee right about per-pupil spending, wrong about student performance".

Loan squabble

"Toll-road agency, state squabble over ever-growing loans".

"Bids not death"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Jobs-creating train deal merits bids not death". "Scott’s high-speed imprudence".

Ricky's pill mills

"The governor’s proposal to scrap a state registry to track prescriptions issued by ‘pill mills’ prompted an emotional protest Monday." "‘Oxy Moms’ at Dania Beach rally urge Gov. Rick Scott to keep pill registry".

It was a fine idea at the time ...

"After six years of being able to accept unlimited amounts of campaign cash but not a cup of coffee from lobbyists, two legislators are hoping to loosen the state law that bars lawmakers from receiving gifts from the public."

Sen. Dennis Jones, a Seminole Republican and dean of the upper chamber, and Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Republican restaurateur from Panama City, have teamed up to weaken the law that was once hailed as one of the toughest legislative gift bans in the country.

"All the things her constituents wanted to hear"

"Even hoarse with a cold, Congresswoman Sandy Adams said all the things her constituents wanted to hear -- at least, those inclined to go out on a weeknight and listen to a discussion on debt and federal spending." "Adams talks debt, spending with constituents".

Posada

"The Cuba-born Posada spent decades crisscrossing Latin America as a Washington-backed Cold Warrior and is considered the nemesis of former Cuban President Fidel Castro. Posada faces charges of perjury, obstruction of justice in a terrorism investigation, and immigration fraud. Prosecutors allege Posada lied while seeking American citizenship during immigration hearings in El Paso, making false statements about how he sneaked into the U.S. in March 2005 and about having a Guatemalan passport under a false name. They also allege he failed to acknowledge planning a series of 1997 hotel bombings in Cuba that killed an Italian tourist." "Judge ruling if trial of ex-CIA agent can continue".

Recall

"The Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections mailed absentee ballots last Friday for the March 15 election to consider whether County Mayor Carlos Alvarez should be recalled." "Absentee ballots for recall election sent to voters".

Why are these folks smiling?

Rivera dropped that state Senate campaign early to run for Congress. With Nuhfer’s help, Rivera went on to easily win the congressional race, defeating Republican opponents in the primary and Democrat Joe Garcia in November.

But Rivera’s nascent Washington career is in jeopardy, as criminal investigators in Miami and Tallahassee comb through his personal finances and campaign accounts — including the Senate account that fattened Nuhfer’s pocketbook. Investigators also are focusing on Rivera’s tight relationship with Nuhfer.

Rivera has denied any wrongdoing. Nuhfer did not return messages seeking comment.

"Unscrupulous, opportunistic multimillionaire with a shady past"

Stephen Goldstein: "You've been had. In his proposed budget, Gov. Rick Scott is throwing Florida households crumbs, a pathetic, estimated $134 a year in tax savings, according to PolitiFact Florida. He gives corporations the greatest savings, planning eventually to do away with the tax on their income. Like a typical Republican, he's taking money from government, the middle class and the poor — and redistributing it to the private sector."

Elected by just 48.9 percent of voters, with no clear mandate, Scott was an enigma when he took office. At best, Floridians hoped he'd be a wonder-working businessman with an entrepreneurial magic wand to cure the state's ailing economy. At worst, they feared he'd turn out to be an unscrupulous, opportunistic multimillionaire with a shady past who would drive the state into a ditch.

It turns out the worst we might have feared from him is the best we can hope for, now that he's presented his first budget. The question is not if he will be bad, but how disastrous. When the nation needs healing from being torn apart by fringe political groups and sectarians trying to inject religion into the state, Scott presented his budget to an adoring tea party rally in a church in Eustis.

"He's just getting warmed up"

Howard Troxler: "To recap the criticism of recent days: Our new governor is, let's see, an idiot, an ideologue, a reactionary, a Luddite, a fool and a raving lunatic. ... I suspect he's just getting warmed up." "The boos for Gov. Rick Scott are loud, but hardly unanimous".

Feds saying no to Ricky bypass

"Federal officials on Saturday balked at a scaled-back plan for high-speed rail proposed by a powerful Florida congressman, giving hope to advocates for an entire Orlando-to-Tampa line but underscoring the efforts’ shaky status."

U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, late Friday announced a plan to dramatically shrink the project to an Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World link.

Chairman of the House transportation committee, Mica contends it’s the best way to get the project rolling and overcome the problem presented by Gov. Rick Scott’s rejection of $2.4 billion in federal funding.

But Sen. Bill Nelson spoke with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Saturday and said later that federal officials are saying no to Mica’s plan, which would be limited to 21 miles in the Orlando area. The idea was to connect large metropolitan areas and quickly move people between them. ...

What happens next is unclear. Mica’s sudden plan paired with the apparent disapproval by the Department of Transportation made for a lot of unknowns Saturday and time is running out.

A loose coalition of Florida officials has until Friday to come up with an alternative that bypasses the state and transfers the money to some other entity, such as a regional transportation board or local government.

"A level playing field"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The bookstore chain Borders did not cite Florida's outdated sales tax law last week when it announced it would shutter four of five Tampa Bay stores as it enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. But the competitive disadvantage for the state's retailers that the Florida Legislature refuses to address is at least partially to blame. As long as Internet-only sellers such as Amazon.com can get away with not collecting state sales tax and effectively sell their products for at least 6 percent less, Florida merchants pay the price. It's past time for lawmakers to work toward a level playing field." "Internet tax loophole costs Florida billions".

"Ideological organization with an issue ax to grind"

"Florida has paid less than $6,000 for its landmark challenge to President Obama's health care law largely because a business lobbying group is picking up an undisclosed share of the remaining legal costs."

While Florida, joined by 25 other states, won a favorable ruling last month from a federal district judge, the cost the states have split so far amounts to $46,000.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi told a state House committee this month that most of the rest is being covered by the National Federation of Independent Business, a group that opposes the law because of what it considers unconstitutional costs and regulations on firms and people. ...

"I'm not sure most voters understand that a lawsuit by their states is being funded by an ideological organization with an issue ax to grind," said Ethan Rome, executive director of Health Care for America Now, a Washington-based group whose contributors include unions and others who support the act. "In this case there appears to a serious perversion of the process." ...

Some legislators said they were troubled that a business group with its own agenda is playing such a prominent financial role.

"My concern is if it's a lawsuit on behalf of the people of Florida, then I would believe it should be the people of Florida footing the bill," said state Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, a member of the House Health and Human Services Committee. "When you have an outside party paying, then every aspect of the AG's office might be up for sale. This type of thing raises all kind of red flags."

NFIB officials declined to say how much the group is spending.

"Not gonna, no," said Bill Herrle, NFIB's Florida executive director. "Good luck."

Feel free to move to Texas, Ricky

"If Florida Gov. Rick Scott has an idol, it's probably Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Everywhere he goes, Scott extols Perry's work in making the Lone Star state business-friendly."

But Texas's pending state budget gap, $13.4 billion, dwarfs Florida's, according to a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

As a percentage of their 2011 budgets, the Center said, Florida's deficit is less than half the size of Texas's.

As of December, Florida had the third-worst unemployment rate in the nation, at 12 percent, and it had the nation's 3rd worse foreclosure rate for 2010, according to RealtyTrac.

Texas's 8.3 percent jobless rate was better than most, and its foreclosure rate 29th worst -- both better than Florida, but worse than some states with higher taxes and stricter business regulations.

Meanwhile, Texas was also No. 1 in the nation in food stamp recipients, averaging 3.5 million during 2010, while Florida, with almost as large a population, was fourth with 2.6 million.

According to figures compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Texas in 2010 was also:

•Fifth in the nation in the percentage of its population at "near-poverty" income levels – less than 139 percent of federal poverty level -- while Florida was 18th.

•Fourth in its incarceration rate, while Florida was seventh.

•33rd in median annual income while Florida was lower, but not much, at 38th.

"Hold the bad actors accountable for their crimes"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "There's no other way to say it: The state agency charged with protecting consumers from dishonest real estate agents, appraisers and instructors is falling down on the job. We need better responsiveness by the state and law enforcement officials to quickly pursue the most egregious cases and hold the bad actors accountable for their crimes." "Crack down on real estate fraud".

While the rest of us were sleeping

"Firefighters discovered a body inside a house in Seffner early this morning. Firefighters found the body when they got inside the house at 2509 Giddens Ave., Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said. ... Six pieces of equipment and 18 firefighters responded to the fire, the department said." "Firefighters discover body inside Seffner house".

"Fairness . . . that’s a budget buster"

Fred Grimm: "All this talk about compensation for wrongful convictions. Not in Florida. Not for the likes of Anthony Caravella."

Why, it’s Caravella who owes Florida — $71.93 a day. Comes to $682,615.70 for the 26 years Anthony mooched room and board off the Florida penal system, taking up valuable prison space for a crime someone committed.

The lousy freeloader. He’s damn lucky the Florida Legislature doesn’t send him a bill.

Compensation? This is a Legislature bent on cutting public school and state university budgets, pension costs, healthcare for the poor and disabled, nursing-home services for the elderly. Some pathetic case from Miramar, IQ of 67, busted at 15 and imprisoned for the next 26 years for a crime he didn’t commit, released March 25 without job skills? Get real.

Let’s examine the only facts that matter: Anthony Caravella hasn’t established a political action committee, hired a lobbyist or ponied up crucial campaign contributions. He belongs to a politically impotent constituency: Floridians whose lives were ruined by shoddy police investigations, negligent prosecutors, oblivious judges. A bunch of convenient stooges for a justice system in need of quick and easy convictions. In 1983, Caravella, young and slow minded, was easily bullied into confessing to a rape and murder that, 26 years later, DNA testing proved he didn’t commit. ...

The list goes on; ruined lives for whom wrongful incarceration compensation remains an illusionary concept. Sorry guys but fairness . . . that’s a budget buster.

"Flamingo express"

"Senators from Florida, New York, Rhode Island and West Virginia called on Florida Gov. Rick Scott to enact a program they say would better track the growing trade of abused prescription drugs to other states in what the Drug Enforcement Agency has called the 'flamingo express.'" "4 senators ask Florida to end 'flamingo express' prescription drug trafficking".

Scott makes the traditional media relevant again

Antonio Fins: "Thank you, Gov. Scott. Thanks for making me, and my colleagues, relevant. No, I'm not being sarcastic or facetious. At least not totally. Allow me to explain." "Scott unwittingly empowers the press".

Will any of this create the promised 700,000 jobs?

"Christmas could come early for Florida businesses if Gov. Rick Scott can push through his economic plans. Companies will pay less income tax. Fewer regulators will scrutinize development plans. And, businesses will get some relief on unemployment taxes. But, will any of the new governor's ideas actually help him create the 700,000 jobs he promised during his campaign?"

Scott's office did not return calls for this article. However, his speeches and public documents lay out his agenda. Among his biggest ideas:

• Cutting corporate taxes. Scott would lower the corporate income tax from 5.5 percent of profits to 3 percent by January 2012. By January 2018, the tax would disappear entirely, according to Florida TaxWatch analysis.

• Reducing the unemployment compensation tax burden [sic]. The minimum tax rate last year was about $25 per employee, but that will jump to about $72 this year. Scott's proposals won't undo that big tax increase, but they might reduce the size of business' tax increase by about 10 percent.

• Eliminating regulations. Scott has proposed rolling the Florida Department of Community Affairs – an agency that tries to manage growth - into the Department of Environmental Protection. Local governments would pick up more responsibility to control development.

Cutting the corporate income tax might be the toughest idea to pull off, because Florida's already facing a $3 billion budget deficit.

Plus, less than 2 percent of Florida's businesses actually pay the income tax, which might dull its job-creating impact.

Special

"Even though retired, some special tax board members continue to receive advantages". "For some Fla. officials, part-time duties, full-time benefits".

"Arrogant disregard for Legislature"

"With impeccable timing, Democratic state Rep. Rick Kriseman filed a bill Wednesday calling for a constitutional amendment permitting the recall of state officials, including the governor." "Scott goes off the rails".

Poor things

"Lobbying income dipped nearly 4 percent last year".

House wants to overrule judges

"House unveils constitutional amendment that asks voters to give lawmakers final say over court rules." "Power struggle over courts could result in more control for Florida Legislature".

2012

"Florida threatens to shred 2012 calendar".

Florida's flip-flopping fop

"New Senate President Mike Haridopolos is friendly, polite and politically ambitious - along the lines of Charlie Crist, albeit distinctly more conservative than the former Republican governor. And like Crist, the boyish, 40-year-old college history professor wants to be a U.S. senator and he's confident he won't make any of the missteps that befelled Crist." "New Fla. Senate president pushes conservative plan".

12 years of RPOF rule

"The curse of negative home equity Hundreds of thousands of South Floridians are underwater on their mortgages, which could have profound impact on the region’s economic recovery, or lack of." "The curse of negative home equity".

Second amendment stoopid

"Fla. dealer imprisoned 3+ years for machine guns".

Derailing rail

Mike Thomas tries to gin up his sliding readership numbers this morning: "There is much confusion over Rick Scott's decision to derail high-speed rail. I will now clear up the confusion by compiling questions and comments guaranteed to anger both sides." "High-speed rail: Your questions answered".

Expect "a high-profile jab at Obama"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Scott's reaction this week will show if he is more interested in his state's welfare or in taking a high-profile jab at President Barack Obama at the state's expense." "Let region build train".

A teabag for the first ten who show up

"U.S. Rep. Adams to hold listening session".

Florida next?

"In all the swirl and drama of events in Wisconsin and all the competing fiscal accounts, one thing is pretty undeniable: the crux of the fight isn't about reductions in benefits, it's about the future of collective bargaining for public sector employees. Killing collective bargaining rights doesn't do anything to solve the current fiscal crisis. That's why pretty much everyone sees that this is a push to break the unions. There's an active disagreement about whether that's a good thing. But everyone gets that that's what this is about."

It strains credulity to see this as anything but a political effort to destroy organizations that are critical foot soldiers for Democratic candidates at election time.

Public-employee unions and their Democratic Party allies are enraged at Republican Gov. Scott Walker's proposals to curb collective bargaining and to require that workers shoulder a larger share of their pension and health-care costs.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott also is calling for pension reform -- requiring a 5 percent employee contribution and introducing 401(k)-style plans for new workers.

Alarmed that such reforms are sprouting up across the country, public-employee unions and their Democratic allies are spoiling for a fight. The disruption in Wisconsin is part of a national strategy to halt unfavorable legislation -- apparently by any means necessary.

Though Florida is officially a "right-to-work" state, one union has demonstrated the ability to organize sizable protests by members.

Last year, the Florida Education Association mobilized teachers to pack legislative hearings and jam phone lines to protest Senate Bill 6, which would have abolished tenure in the K-12 system and tied pay to performance. Their efforts paid off when Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed the measure.

Last week's walkout by Wisconsin teachers might re-stoke the FEA's fires as GOP lawmakers resurrect education reform legislation here. Gov. Scott's pension initiatives upped the ante by including tens of thousands of additional government workers.

Shills masquerading as newspaper editors

The League of Cities/Chamber of Commerce shills masquerading as newspaper editors embarrass themselves yet again by parroting anti-public employee talking points:

Gov. Rick Scott's proposal to make public employees in the Florida Retirement System pony up for their pensions has created quite a clamor in Tallahassee. All that noise shouldn't drown out what a respected think tank recently called "potentially a ticking time bomb for Florida citizens": the separate retirement plans that more than 200 cities finance and run for their employees.

This month the LeRoy Collins Institute, a nonpartisan research organization[*], warned that some cities have promised retirement benefits that "they cannot afford to keep."

Those benefits include health coverage and generous pensions. Dozens of Florida cities are paying $1 or more to retired police and firefighters for every $3 they're spending on working cops and firefighters, according to the Florida League of Cities. ...

Cities bear much of the blame for their predicaments. They've made extravagant promises in negotiating pension plans with employee unions. ...

Here's what's really crazy: One of the primary sources of money for police and fire pensions is a tax on property insurance premiums. If that tax generates more money than the previous year, state law forces cities to use the extra dollars to boost retirees' benefits instead of helping pay for what cities already owe. The League of Cities says that law, passed in 1999 under heavy lobbying from police and fire unions, has forced local governments to spend $400 million from the tax to sweeten benefits.