Haridopolos, Atwater wash teabagger feet

"A second wave of tea party activists gets back to work in Tallahassee Thursday, meeting with top state officials on budget and policy issues. In the wake of Tuesday's tea rally outside the old Capitol, 138 tea party leaders will set up shop in the Knott Building, where they will hear from Senate President Mike Haridopolos, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and others." "138 Tea Leaders Take Party Inside Capitol".

Scott-flop

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Scott's State of the State speech Tuesday hit all the expected notes - except one. He talked about budget cuts, tax cuts and job creation. But he was silent on immigration, the issue he exploited to defeat Bill McCollum in last fall's GOP primary."

Back then, Gov. Scott embraced an Arizona-style immigration bill, and his ads played - over and over - a clip of Mr. McCollum saying that would be the wrong approach for Florida. Mr. McCollum flip-flopped, appearing at one point with Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, who touted Arizona's approach. The move didn't save Mr. McCollum. But Rep. Snyder followed through with a bill the House Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, will consider today.

"Elections expensive"

"Low turnout makes elections expensive".

"NRA handed rare defeat"

"The NRA was handed a rare defeat Wednesday when Senate Republicans scrapped plans to allow some people to bring guns on college campuses." "NRA handed rare defeat in Florida bill that would have allowed guns on campus". See also "Lawmakers: No guns on campuses" and "Senate committee changes mind about guns on campus".

Today in Tally

"The House Education Committee has scheduled a seven-hour hearing on a controversial bill (HB 7019) that would end teacher tenure and create a performance-pay system. It is the final committee hearing for the proposal before it can be debated on the House floor. The Senate version (SB 736) is scheduled for a final vote today. ... In the afternoon, the Republican-led House is expected to pass an unemployment tax cut along party lines. The bill, which would mean fewer benefits for out-of-work Floridians, would be the first substantial legislation approved by the chamber this session. Also Thursday:

Prisons: Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Ari Porth, D-Coral Springs, will hold a press conference to promote their bills to eliminate mandatory prison sentences for drug offenses and non-violent crimes. ...

Tax cap: A constitutional amendment (SJR 958) that would cap state tax collections ....

Chamber snaps its fingers ... unemployed hosed

"The Florida House of Representatives tentatively approved a plan Wednesday that would slash unemployment benefits for out-of-work Floridians and pass much of the savings on to businesses."

The sweeping legislation would both cut the maximum number of weeks unemployed workers could receive state payments from 26 to 20 and reduce the tax charged to businesses to pay for the program. It would also make it easier for businesses to deny benefits.

A top priority of the state's business lobby, the unemployment-compensation package was the first substantive measure taken up on the floor of the House in the 2011 legislative session, which opened Tuesday. An estimated 400,000 Floridians now receive unemployment benefits, as the state's unemployment rate remains stuck around 12 percent.

"More Madison Avenue ad exec than CEO"

"Scott wants to run government like a business. But so far, the governor has been more Madison Avenue ad exec than CEO."

Still, Florida faces a harsh reality. The state has a budget deficit approaching $4 billion, and Florida's once-dependable revenue sources — which pay for state services, whether its property taxes, various fees for services or the remaining federal stimulus funds — are coming up short.

Medicaid costs continue to take an ever-increasing bite out of the state's budget. And as Florida's jobless rate continues to hover above 12 percent, more Floridians are turning to food stamps and unemployment compensation for help. Cuts, deep ones in education programs and health and human services, are a foregone conclusion. There's no way to avoid it.

Beyond the tough talk, there weren't many specifics in Tuesday's speech to convince Floridians that Scott's ideas will actually improve the state's economy and generate those 700,000 promised jobs.

Sorry Ricky, rail would've been a moneymaker

"Three weeks after Gov. Rick Scott put the brakes on high-speed rail, the Florida Department of Transportation on Wednesday released a study showing the line connecting Tampa to Orlando would have had a $10.2 million operating surplus in 2015, its first year of operation. The study showed the line would have had a $28.6 million surplus in its 10th year." "High-speed rail is profitable, study says".

RPOFers "shout down" tenure compromise proposal

"The Florida Senate has scheduled a final vote for today on a controversial education bill that could end tenure for teachers and tie their pay to student learning gains. The bill would also require a much more stringent annual review process for teachers." "Full Senate, House committee take up teacher tenure bills today". See also "Full Senate, House committee take up teacher tenure bills today", "Florida Republicans rebuff attempt to give 3-year contracts to teachers", "Revised merit pay bill set for Senate floor vote" and "Teacher merit-pay bill races toward passage in Florida Senate" (the executive director of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents' proposal to allow new teachers to get three-year contracts if they had good evaluations "was shouted down by the GOP-led Senate").

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Round 2 for Florida education reform a lot more promising".

Floridians must "dance with what brung us"

"Short of criminal conviction — and maybe not even then — at the state level, we pretty much have to 'dance with what brung us.' And maybe we deserve the consequences of our elections, at least for two or four years." "Bill Cotterell: Recall the governor? Not in Florida".

"Florida’s all-Republican Cabinet brings back Jim Crow"

The RPOF vote counters, not to mention the remnants of the Florida Klan (Recall that "Florida has one of the more active Klans, and its commitment to racial hatred and prejudice have not gone away"), are dancing in the streets today.

The Miami Herald editorial board puts it this way: "In record time, Florida’s Cabinet brought us back to Jim Crow-era laws Wednesday. Unanimously, the Cabinet undid a judicious measure that had partially streamlined the voting-rights restoration process for tens of thousands of felons convicted of nonviolent crimes."

The all-Republican Cabinet — Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam — last month expressed support for Ms. Bondi’s proposal to repeal the voting-rights reforms instituted for some felons in 2007. On Wednesday, at a rushed Cabinet meeting the group of four made it official.

Now that the Cabinet, which also serves as the Clemency Board, approved it, the state has returned to a cumbersome, mean-spirited, prejudiced rights-restoration system that created years-long backlogs in processing clemency applications. Reversing the reforms will undermine felons’ rehabilitation. ...

Now felons will have to wait five years after completing a sentence to apply for rights restoration. This will return Florida to the Jim Crow era, when such hurdles were created to prevent blacks from voting.

Make no mistake: This proposal has racial and partisan implications.

A disproportionate number of Florida’s felons are African American, and in this state, blacks overwhelmingly vote Democratic. The Cabinet has further alienated black voters by adopting these more-stringent restoration rules. What purpose does that serve the state or the Republican Party?

In the last decade, more than 20 states have eased the restoration process for people convicted of crimes. Florida should remain in this group of enlightened states. Instead it has gone back a century.

RPOFers go after judges

"House committee sets 60 percent vote re-election standard for judges".

TaxWatch conservatives want more

"With Gov. Rick Scott promising to bring 700,000 jobs to the Sunshine State in the next seven years and Florida lagging behind the nation with high unemployment, Florida TaxWatch unveiled an updated report Wednesday to help the state figure out how it can be more economically competitive." "Florida TaxWatch Study: State's 'Tax Burden' Lowers Its Economic Competitiveness".

"Scott's open contempt for the organization he now leads"

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune editorial board: "Scott tried to keep things upbeat and pro-jobs Tuesday in his first "State of the State" speech. But at heart, his government-disparaging message was depressing."

He all but said government is a failure — a "strangling web of regulations" that eats jobs. It can't live up to people's expectations, he asserted.

This isn't tough love; it's open contempt for the very organization Scott now leads. He sounded a hair too much like a belittling parent who tells people his child is a loser who will never amount to anything.

Citrus growers, not the 'Glades, to benefit

"Citrus growers, not the Everglades, may get some of the earliest benefits from farmland acquired in an environmental restoration deal that cost South Florida taxpayers $197 million." "U.S. Sugar land bought for Everglades restoration could get leased to another grower".

"Feds not so incompetent after all"

"Mike Thomas: "The Gulf appears to have survived. The federal government is not so incompetent after all. BP did a decent job cleaning up its mess. Much of what you saw in the media was not reality. It was a scripted show." "Truth about oil spill: Hype was disservice to everyone". Related: "Castor heads Congressional caucus to protect Gulf".

McDonald's says "jump!"

"Senate panel quietly adopts McDonald's-backed provision that prevents fast-food-toy bans".

Vern has a meeting

"Buchanan plans town hall on jobs".

Big questions

"Florida Sen. Ronda Storms demands answers in child deaths".

Haridopolos spanked

"For the first time anyone can remember, a Florida Senate president was admonished by his own Senate in the first week of session for breaking ethics rules — specifically failing to fully and accurately detail his finances as required by the state Constitution." "Mike Haridopolos ('the senator from the 26th') admonished by Senate". See also "Senate admonishes Haridopolos on ethics".

Hillbilly heroin dealers tango with teabaggers

"One of the country’s largest drug manufacturers is offering a $1 million donation to help pay for a prescription database to combat Florida’s illegal trade in painkillers. But with the future of the database now in doubt in Tallahassee, the state is not likely to accept the offer from the maker of OxyContin." "Scott rejects money to fund drug database".

She'll get over it

"No Ann Scott first lady doll in Pasco's Pioneer Florida Museum".

As Florida burns ...

"Two Republican legislators want to make sure Florida courts aren't tainted by what one of them calls foreign 'shenanigans': Muslim sharia or legal codes from other nations."

Neither Sen. Alan Hays nor Rep. Larry Metz, though, could name a Florida case where international law or Islamic law has caused a problem in a state court. They said they weren't targeting sharia, a body of law primarily based on the Koran and the Hadith, the sayings of Islam's founder, Mohammed.

But the legislation, which resembles efforts in a dozen other states where Islamic law is under scrutiny, was copied almost word-for-word from the "model legislation" posted on the website of a group called the American Public Policy Alliance.

"American Laws for American Courts was crafted to protect American citizens' constitutional rights against the infiltration and incursion of foreign laws and foreign legal doctrines, especially Islamic Sharia Law," the group's website says.

Hays, R-Umatilla, said he just wants to protect the rights of Floridians.

A matter of priorities

"Several Florida GOP reps pushing to end birthright citizenship".

But "crack-smoking and whore-mongering" OK?

Fred Grimm: "In a place with a daunting history of bid-rigging scandals, kick-back scandals, voting scandals, bribery scandals, zoning scandals, witness-tampering scandals, sex scandals, drug scandals, gambling scandals, theft-of-public money scandals, a gold-bathtub-fixtures-paid-for-with-school-funds scandal and one rather hard-to-characterize scandal involving a crack-smoking, whore-mongering county commissioner absconding to Australia, the petty political missteps of Carlos Alvarez would not seem the stuff of wild-eyed voter conniption." "Voters forgive a lot, but not arrogance". Related: "County leaders should stay out of political fight".

Gambling commission

"With legislation now filed to allow for casino games in five regions of Florida, one top lawmaker is proposing the state do what every other major gambling state has done: create a gambling commission." "Bill calls for statewide commission to oversee gaming".

Haridopolos wigs out

"The Senate on Wednesday gave a thumbs-up to President Mike Haridopolos' proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee Floridians wouldn't have to purchase health insurance or pay a tax penalty, which is mandated by the federal Affordable Patient Care Act." "Florida Senate pushes back against health care mandate". See also "Fla. Senate approves amendment to block health care mandates".

Feds looking at Scott firing of advocate

"Federal officials said today they are probing the removal of the state's chief advocate for nursing home residents, who was let go after butting heads with the administration of Gov. Rick Scott." "Probe begins in removal of state nursing home advocate".

"Barely True"

"Scott's shift of emergency management authority changes very little".

The three dozen demonstrators outside the meeting of the Senate Community Affairs Committee said the tape represented the potential silencing of workers in the political system under Senate Bill 830. But both opponents and supporters of the measure were silenced on Monday when the committee briefly introduced the bill and abruptly adjourned without testimony or a vote, citing time constraints.

Senate Bill 830 would prohibit the common practice of deducting union dues from public employee's paychecks. The bill would also prohibit the use of those dues for political activity.

Union members "will lose their voice to the legislative process if this bill passes," said Jayne Walker, a supervisor with the Lynx bus system in Orlando and an official of the Amalgamated Transit Workers there.

"As an ordinary citizen, I cannot compete with Tallahassee, with big business and their lobbyists," she said outside the hearing room. "I can't contribute thousands of dollars to a candidate. My union gives me a voice. A Tallahassee politician shouldn't tell me how to spend my money. It is my paycheck, my choice."

"Pro-union demonstrations swamp tea partiers in rallies across Florida"

"Pro-union demonstrations swamp tea partiers in rallies across Florida ... An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 "Awake the State" demonstrators turned out in 30 cities across Florida on Tuesday to protest Gov. Rick Scott's budget plans. In Fort Lauderdale, more than 1,000 protesters virtually encircled the federal courthouse downtown -- swamping a smaller gathering of tea party activists who were rallying in support of Scott." "Organizers Say Budget Protests Draw 10,000+ Statewide".

Scott Maxwell writes, more than 600 attended "a rally in downtown Orlando. And that group was joined by thousands more in about 30 cities around the state."People of all stripes unite, oppose cuts to kids, the vulnerable". More: "Rallies spread across Florida as session begins (Video)" and "As lawmaking session opens, Tallahassee protesters test voices".

Meanwhile, Ricky teabags the night away: "Emotions ran high in Tallahassee on Tuesday on the first day of the Florida legislative session as tea party supporters rallied to demand less government and more tax cuts, while state workers, teachers and advocates for the disadvantaged rallied to protect government programs."

Speaking to 500 tea party activists, Gov. Rick Scott urged them to pressure the Republican-led Legislature into passing his budget proposals, which call for $1.7 billion in tax cuts and the elimination of as many as 8,600 state jobs. Republican legislative leaders are not sold on Scott’s budget.

“Here’s the key. All of us are better if we’re held accountable,’’ Scott told the tea party crowd with Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll at his side. “If we’re not going down the path, call us. Show up and complain.’’

Across the street, more than 300 protestors demonstrated against the governor’s plan. They berated his proposed elimination of corporate income tax cuts, his $3.3 billion ax to education and his proposal to use $1.4 billion in cuts to state worker retirement benefits to help cover the budget gap.

Targeting teachers

"SB 736 is set to go on the Senate floor at 9 a.m. Like a similar proposal in the House, the Senate bill would end tenure, the controversial practice that offers job protections to teachers in good standing with at least three years' experience." "Bill to end tenure faces vote today in state Senate".

Not surprisingly, the Orlando Sentinel editors think it is great that House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos would, as the editors so kindly put it, "mercifully shelve the current tenurelike armor that shields ineffective teachers."

Sounds like the editors have been spending too much time with their Chamber buddies down at the club watching reruns of Waiting for "Superman".

Expect "contentious session"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board writes that, "as the legislative session kicks off today, the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott are showing they're as interested in using the [budget shortfall] issues for political gain as they are in finding practical ways to solve them." "Legislative session: The run of the place". See also "Lawmakers open 2011 session" and "Scott, legislators ready to begin contentious 60-day session".

The Teabagger State

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Scott, in his first State of the State address Tuesday night, finally focused on Florida issues, for once downplaying complaints about the federal government. Scott predictably pledged to create private-sector jobs by cutting taxes and government, appeasing his core constituency of tea party backers and business lobbyists. But for a governor who won with the smallest margin in modern history after a self-financed campaign, there was little sign of acquiescence to anyone else. " "Scott offers tea party rhetoric".

"In his first State of the State speech, Gov. Rick Scott reaffirmed his plans to revolutionize government by making Florida a more business-friendly state that will generate hundreds of thousands of jobs."

So it is not surprising that the Tax Foundation ranks Florida's tax climate among the nation's best, meaning least costly, for business. Only South Dakota, Alaska, Wyoming and Nevada score better. Scott acts as if he's governing a state at the other end of the tax scale when he urges lawmakers to "remove obstacles to business success."

In a recent study of the total state and local tax bill of a family in each state's largest city, a Florida family earning $100,000 pays less than similar families in all other states except one.

But the Florida family earning $25,000 pays more than a similar family in 24 other states.

Scott urged lawmakers to adopt his proposed budget, which would sharply cut spending on education. Yet only 16 states spend less per pupil on K-12 education than Florida, according to a recent report by the Social Science Research Council. Scott's cuts would put Florida in the bottom 10. ...

Florida's median annual income is low — $3,900 above the poorest state and about $13,000 below the richest. ...

Only four states have higher rates of violent crime, which raises questions about Scott's proposal to cut prison spending.

The governor also wants to cut state oversight of construction to stimulate more growth, as if he lived in a state with a shortage of vacant houses and stores. He seems to forget that only two states have a higher percentage of foreclosures.

"Haridopolos’ Senate presidency starts inauspiciously"

"Haridopolos’ Senate presidency and his campaign have started inauspiciously – with Haridopolos’ $152,000 book deal at the center of his political troubles."

Political observers and critics question whether the senator deserved to get paid so much money by Brevard Community College, which required him to spend little time teaching to write his manuscript from 2003-2007. In that time, lawmakers cut the budget in a flat-lining economy. Universities — especially community colleges — seldom pay teachers to write books.

The book, which provides a rare glimpse into the mind of a top legislator, became an instant target of derision from the left to the right on Wednesday when it was made available online at Amazon.com for $9.99.

Liberal New York Times columnist Gail Collins mocked the common-sense advice the Merritt Island Republican gave — "most importantly, a candidate should avoid wasting money on useless novelty items such as wooden nickels."

Then, a conservative blogger with the highly influential Republican blog, Red State, savaged Haridopolos as a "a creature of the inbred Tallahassee Republican Machine. He represents the ‘The Getting Elected Trumps Principle’ school of politics."

"Scott will finish off Florida's environmental movement"

"Scott wants to gut the DCA. He contends the agency in charge of managing Florida’s growth is a red-tape-crazy job-killer standing in the way of economic recovery." "Scott wants to dismantle DCA". Mike Thomas: "Rick Scott will finish off what's left of Florida's environmental movement".

"The state has clearly veered off track"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The roller coaster ride that is Florida's history has never been smooth. But this is an unusually rough stretch, and the state has clearly veered off track. We offer three areas of investment to bring it back: Transportation, education and social programs. " "Finding reasons to believe".

SunRail on chopping block

"Now that Gov. Rick Scott has done away with the high-speed train and $2.4 billion in federal grants that came with it, many suspect he will turn his attention to SunRail and destroy the commuter train slated for Central Florida." "Could SunRail survive Scott's ax?".

They broke it

The Tampa Tribune editorial board reminds us that the "relatively feeble shape of Florida in 2011 can hardly be blamed on overly liberal lawmaking. Conservatives have been in charge in Tallahassee for years." "Governor needs more than a knife".

Blame Washington

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune editors: "The Senate president and speaker of the House opened the Florida Legislature's annual session with rhetorical flourishes — invoking the words of Winston Churchill and the Gettysburg Address — and launching broadsides against the federal government."

President Mike Haridopolos and Speaker Dean Cannon used their opening addresses yesterday to condemn the political culture spawned in Washington, D.C. They blamed the federal government and its elected leaders for bowing to special interests, borrowing against the future and imposing unfunded mandates on states.

Such arguments reflect the growing trend toward the nationalization of politics in states such as Florida, Wisconsin and Ohio. Gov. Rick Scott spent much of his winning campaign railing against "Obamacare" and has touted his refusal to accept federal funds for a high-speed rail project.

Gambling men

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "So here we go again. Two state senators, Dennis Jones, R-Seminole, and Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, are proposing to allow five "destination resorts," defined as casinos with hotels and convention centers, in locations spread out around the state. Under their bill, a casino would go in each of five districts, with South Florida getting two. The senators are promoting the casinos as a form of economic development that will bring in out-of-state dollars and keep Florida gambling dollars at home."

There's a little something in this deal for the Legislature and state government: The casinos would pay a $50 million refundable license fee, a $1 million non-refundable application fee and share their revenues by paying a gross receipts tax. The tax, of course, is a tax on the gamblers; basically, it's a "loser pays" tax. But gambling advocates take a philosophical view, noting that it's voluntary, and people are going to gamble anyway, so why not let the state get in on the action.

State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington, takes a somewhat different approach to getting more money out of gamblers. He favors allowing online poker games at dog and horse tracks and jai-alai frontons. The state would get 10 percent of the money from Internet gambling.

Florida already has gambling -- a lot of it, in fact. The state has pari-mutuel betting at 23 sites, including the Daytona Beach Kennel Club & Poker Room; the Florida Lottery and poker rooms. Broward County and Miami-Dade have slots. The state's eight Indian casinos raked in $2 billion in 2009.

Still, the pressure for more gambling -- from industry lobbyists and elected officials hoping for just one more revenue source -- never seems to let up.

Florida's flourishing hillbilly heroin industry

"Sun-Sentinel : More than 500 million doses of oxycodone distributed in Florida in 2009".

"Slow boat to Cuba"

"Florida ports, ferry operators want to run a slow boat to Cuba".

"Wave of abortion restrictions"

"With a more conservative Legislature and abortion opponent Rick Scott replacing moderate Charlie Crist as governor, abortion foes in the Florida Legislature are proposing a new wave of abortion restrictions." "Anti-abortion lawmakers proposing wave of bills".

Cannon's court packing scheme

"House Speaker Dean Cannon on Monday proposed creating a second Florida Supreme Court so that one set of justices could specialize on criminal appeals and the other on civil cases."

The Winter Park Republican said a House committee will draft a proposed state constitutional amendment for the 2012 ballot that also would increase the number of justices from seven to 10 with five on each court.

Cannon has been critical of the Supreme Court for removing three amendments proposed by lawmakers from the ballot last year for having defective ballot summaries, but he denied he's trying to pack the high court with justices friendlier to the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Right wing crazies run wild in Tally

"With a new CEO — whoops, governor — and unstoppable Republican majorities in the House and Senate, the Legislature is going to reshape the government of Florida, and its philosophy. In short, conservatives have won."

But it's the long-term changes that come out of this session that will be the stuff of future history books:

• The governor and Legislature are likely to reduce Florida's growth management and environmental protection, consolidating and eliminating those government functions.

This will be an epic turning point. Florida allowed itself to be paved over at will from World War II until the early 1980s, when the Legislature passed the landmark Growth Management Act of 1985.

But the modern view is we can't have that. The Legislature already has repealed the requirement that Florida roads should be able to handle new growth. This year it's possible it will simply abolish the entire state agency that enforces the growth law.

• The session also will see the triumph of Republican philosophy concerning public education.

This includes abolishing teacher tenure (or multiyear contracts, or automatic rehiring, or whatever you want to call it). It includes basing teacher evaluations in part on standardizing testing.

It also probably includes expansion of vouchers, "opportunity scholarships" or whatever else you want to call the transfer of public dollars into private schools.

• In terms of dollars, the biggest change the Legislature will make is moving more or all of the Medicaid program for the poor into a system of "managed care." This means hiring private companies to decide who gets treated, who gets paid, and how much.

• The Legislature will probably change the relationship between the state and its employees. The governor's budget would eliminate 6,700 jobs; even if the Legislature does less, it's likely to require employees to start making a pension contribution.

This is hardly a complete list.

Chamber lapdogs

"Medical Tort Reform Measure Advances".

RPOFers Orlando bound

"The Republican Party of Florida will hold a 2012 presidential straw poll and FOX News-partnered debate in September as part of a three-day event in Orlando." "Republican Party of Florida to host 2012 presidential straw poll, debate in Orlando".

"A return to the 18th century"

Daniel Ruth: "It will probably come as no surprise if by the end of this year's Florida legislative session Gov. Rick Scott, R-Uncle Fester, manages to put the state on a monetary bead standard, replace first responders with bucket brigades, establish the McGuffey Reader as the primary K-12 textbook and provide every newborn with an NRA membership card in their hospital bassinet."

This might be considered progress — in Somalia. But for the Republicans in control of Tallahassee, this year's 60-day grip and grin of lawmaking represents an inexorable ministry of silly walks return to the 18th century.

Second amendment silly

"House Panel Passes Gun Bill Barring Doctors From Inquiring About Ownership".

Say who?

"Rep. Perry Thurston of Plantation defeated Rep. Joe Gibbons of Hallandale Beach on a 28-11 vote, winning the post for the 2012-2014 term." "House Dems choose 2012 leader ".

Running with the dinosaurs

"The bill was filed Saturday by Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, who chairs the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee. He has said in the past that both evolution and intelligent design must be taught in order to foster critical thinking." "Creationism vs. science debate reopens".

Ricky's Walmart world

"Scott once again praised the thrifty ways of America’s largest retailer, Walmart" "Rick Scott, USA Today and public sector wages".

Back in business

"Less than three months after being cleared of civil insider stock trading, Fort Lauderdale heart doctor and top Republican fundraiser Zachariah P. Zachariah is back in big-time, big-money politics."

Last Friday, Zachariah was circulating through the crowd at the Broward Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner, shaking hands and discussing politics, according to Richard DeNapoli, chairman of the Broward Republican Party.

“He is at the highest level of fundraiser,” said William Scherer, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer and another key Republican financer.

Catholics for Choice

"Catholics for Choice: Jacksonville mayoral candidate using ‘rhetoric of violence’".

"Haridopolos off to a tepid start"

"The Florida Senate got off to a tepid start Tuesday as the 2011 legislative session began, despite a loaded schedule in the first week. Senators passed several uncontroversial resolutions, did some housekeeping by passing joint rules of the Legislature, and prepared the Health Care Freedom Act for a final vote on the floor. Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has been pushing the bill as a way for Floridians to opt out of the individual mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act, the year-old federal health care law backed by President Barack Obama." "Slow-Starting Senate Preps Health Care Opt-Out on Day 1".

"Hogwash"

"Rumors of a growing rift between the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott are wildly exaggerated, says Senate President Mike Haridopolos. The Merritt Island Republican dismissed as 'pure hogwash' press speculation that leading GOP lawmakers are distancing themselves from Scott." "GOP Split? Haridopolos Calls It 'Pure Hogwash'".

Medicaid deform

"Sides gird up for Medicaid fight".

Yet another "Republican wunderkind"

"Will Weatherford, the Republican wunderkind from Wesley Chapel, ascended to state House of Representative speaker-designate Monday." "Florida's promise will endure in Weatherford".

Entrepreneurs in action

The Miami Herald editors: "Insurance fraud costs us all".

Yaaawwwnnn

"Cannon talks feds, pill mills, courts". See also "House, Senate discuss goals for legislative session".

Off topic, but irresistable

"Wisconsin State GOP Senators Took Hundreds Of Thousands In Government Farm Subsidies".

Hastings denies harassment accusation

"Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings said he’s ‘never sexually harassed anyone’ after a former staffer who worked with him on the Helsinki Commission accused him of harassment." "Rep. Hastings accused of sexual harassment".

Heavy voting in Miami

"The March 15 recall election has energized Miami-Dade voters, who are showing up at early voting sites in strong numbers." "Miami-Dade recall election draws strong voter turnout".

One of the proposed state constitutional amendments is designed to thwart implementation of the national health care overhaul in Florida although legal experts say it would be trumped by the federal law.

The other would cap state revenues at their 2013-14 level with allowances for population growth and increases in the Consumer Price Index.

Koch-brother shills head to Tally

"On one side will be the Tea Party, a disparate group of anti-government activists who want lawmakers to pass Gov. Rick Scott’s plan to eliminate 6,700 jobs, cut property taxes and phase out the corporate income tax. With an assist from Americans For Prosperity, the Koch-brothers supported small government group, Tea Party activists plan to bus about 2,000 protestors here to do what is rarely done in Tallahassee: lobby for less money from government." "Protestors to rally on Legislature’s opening day".

"Scott jeopardizing Florida's economy and reputation"

When a right-winger like Scott loses the Tampa Trib, you know he's in real trouble. Here's a taste of today's blistering Tribune editorial: "Gov. Rick Scott is jeopardizing Florida's economy and national reputation by seeking massive cuts in public education funding while districts throughout the state continue to face major budget shortfalls."

Incredibly, Scott wants a dramatic 10 percent decrease in per-student funding, or $703 a student. And that is on top of previous reductions.

It's a thoughtless move by a man who touts job creation as his top objective — and who previously pledged to hold schools harmless in his quest to cut government spending and reduce taxes.

What corporation or industry would want to come to Florida knowing its governor cares more about appeasing tea-party activists than building a quality workforce?

If approved by the Legislature, Scott's proposal would set public education back decades. It could force widespread layoffs, extended days for teachers, less time in classrooms for students who need it most and other harmful policies.

Scott, who never held public office before winning the governor's mansion, clearly needs to be educated about how public-school budgeting works.

"Using Florida’s lakes, bays and rivers as latrines"

Carl Hiaasen: "U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, a Republican from Tequesta, recently tacked a rider on the federal budget package that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from enacting tighter restrictions on the amount of phosphorous and nitrogen that may be flushed into Florida’s public waters."

The EPA rules, devised in conjunction with the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, have been the subject of several public hearings. Public comments were 10-to-1 in favor of the regulations.

Critics say compliance would be too expensive for farms, small business and public utilities. State agriculture officials estimated a potential loss of 14,000 jobs, a sky-is-falling prediction that will never come to pass.

Rooney’s lead role in trying to block the pollution guidelines is interesting because he supposedly represents all those folks along the St. Lucie who got slimed back in 2005.

In a lame oped column defending his position, the congressman wrote that the new EPA rules "could cost our state’s economy about $2 billion, and would double the average family’s water bill."

It’s a preposterous statement, pure fiction, but the aim isn’t to inform people. The aim is to scare them. The script (and dire predictions) come from lobbyists for Big Agriculture, municipalities and corporate interests who freely use Florida’s lakes, bays and rivers as a latrine.

Rooney doesn’t use the word "polluters." He calls them "job creators."

Pill mill madness

"When White House drug czar Gil Kerlikowske recently toured Appalachia, he met with 14 imprisoned women who were in drug treatment, 13 of whom were being treated for prescription-drug use."

Kerlikowske asked the women how many had been to Florida to get their drugs. "Thirteen of the 14 raised their hand," Kerlikowske said.

So it may be no surprise that Kerlikowske has an interest in what Florida — considered a key supply source for prescription drugs— does to help combat the epidemic.

The debate over how to tackle the prescription-drug problem in Florida was renewed last month when Gov. Rick Scott proposed eliminating the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, a stalled, yet much-anticipated database touted as one of the best tools for fighting the crisis.

From the "values" crowd

"Florida residents who lose their jobs will get fewer unemployment benefits than residents in any other state if a House bill reducing benefits is passed, says a national advocacy group for the unemployed.Republican legislators said the cuts are necessary to protect Florida’s business climate." "Bill would cut Florida jobless benefits".

RPOFers runnin' gub'ment like a bidness

"Thousands of Floridians who installed new, high-efficiency air-conditioning systems last summer still are awaiting state-promised rebates in an energy-conservation program that's snarled in politics, budget cuts and rule changes." "Air-conditioning rebates snarled in politics, deadline rules changes".

RPOFer retaliation

"As the last major Democratic stronghold in Florida, the county can expect little from the GOP-controlled House and Senate when the session begins Tuesday." "Broward: Little power in Capitol".

Mini-earmarks

"Miami-Dade lawmakers, many of them newbies to Tallahassee, will head to the state capital this week to try to protect funding for public institutions and local projects." "Miami-Dade lawmakers seek to secure local dollars".

Mr. Scott wants to cut 8,700 state workers and trim $703 million from education — both proposals overreach and rightly have gotten little support from lawmakers.

Meet Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, national embarassment

"Responding to news that state Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, has filed what one right-wing organization is dubbing an 'anti-Shariah' law, Nezar Hamze, executive director of the South Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, tells The Florida Independent that Hays’ bill could impact believers in all faiths and that its filing shows Hays is 'disconnected' from his constituents and Florida’s 'real problems.'" "‘Anti-Shariah’ law shows Sen. Hays ‘disconnected’ from ‘real problems’". See also "Right-wing organizations tout ‘anti-Shariah’ law filed in Tallahassee".

Right wing pension lies

"From state legislatures to Congress to tea party rallies, a vocal backlash is rising against what are perceived as too-generous retirement benefits for state and local government workers. However, that widespread perception doesn’t match reality."

A close look at state and local pension plans across the nation, and a comparison of them to those in the private sector, reveals a more complicated story. However, the short answer is that there’s simply no evidence that state pensions are the current burden to public finances that their critics claim.

Pension contributions from state and local employers aren’t blowing up budgets. They amount to just 2.9 percent of state spending, on average, according to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators. The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College puts the figure a bit higher at 3.8 percent.

Though there’s no direct comparison, state and local pension contributions approximate the burden shouldered by private companies. The nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates that retirement funding for private employers amounts to about 3.5 percent of employee compensation.

Nor are state and local government pension funds broke. They’re underfunded, in large measure because — like the investments held in 401(k) plans by American private-sector employees — they sunk along with the entire stock market during the Great Recession of 2007-2009. And like 401(k) plans, the investments made by public-sector pension plans are increasingly on firmer footing as the rising tide on Wall Street lifts all boats.

While the rest of us were sleeping ...

"A Daytona Beach firefighter is recovering from injuries after the first level of a burning home collapsed and dropped him into the basement. The firefighter was searching for victims in Friday night's house fire when the floor gave way." "Fla. firefighter injured after floor collapses".

Farmworkers Publix rally

"More than 1,500 farmworkers and their advocates rallied for better pay at Publix stores Saturday, calling for the supermarket chain to pay workers a penny more per pound for tomatoes. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers group wrapped up a five-city national tour Saturday. Supporters from church groups also joined coalition members for the Tampa events. Around 30,000 workers harvest Florida's $619 million tomato crop." "Farmworkers target Tampa Publix stores in protests".

Yaaawwwnnn

"Florida legislators flock to Twitter".

"Florida is ground zero for the revolution"

Stephen Goldstein: "America is in the final stages of becoming a corporate socialist state — and Florida is ground zero for the revolution. It is a calculated strategy to gut government (ideally down to nothing) and redistribute your tax dollars into the hands of private enterprise. We are long overdue for major doses of truth to counter the commonly accepted lies behind such social engineering."

Government should create a positive climate for business. But its primary duty is to protect the public interest, not to hand over the workings and revenues of government to for-profit corporations. Gov. Rick Scott and his tea-party/Republican cohorts need to be made to understand such nuances. Corporate socialism is still socialism! And the revolution ain't foiled 'til the bald guy blinks!

Update: On Feb. 24, 17 days after making my first call, I contacted the governor's office a third time to ask if his financial holdings were in a blind trust and, if so, who was managing it. I was told someone would get back to me, but no one has.

Here's an idea: reform Florida's tax structure

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Some 3 million Floridians, the majority children, depend on Medicaid, but the cost is spiraling northward of $20 billion annually — that's 30 percent of the state budget. The state doesn't have the money to keep going at this rate without sacrificing other key programs. During the legislative session that convenes Tuesday, Medicaid reform may be lawmakers' most important task. Legislators can't abandon the poor, but they must make difficult decisions about which medical services the state can afford." "Medicaid reform a priority".

Kochs fueling Florida's union bashing

"To christen the Tuesday start of the 60-day lawmaking session, tea party groups will be hosting rallies in Tallahassee, with transportation help from the David Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity. They'll duel with public employee and teacher unions that are fighting proposals to cut Florida's budget and make pension benefits less lucrative." "On Wisconsin! Can Gov. Scott use unions for political gain?".

Behind closed doors

Adam C. Smith: "The influential conservative group Club for Growth held a presidential cattle call of sorts this weekend outside Palm Beach, featuring potential presidential candidates: Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Alas, the club wouldn't allow reporters in, because each of these men has a record ripe for sharp questions from CFGers who prefer purity when it comes to fiscal conservatism." "Club for Growth's presidential cattle call is held behind closed doors".

Why did they get those PhDs Again?

"The average salary for a Florida teacher last year was under $47,000, compared with a national average of about $55,000, according to a recently released report from the National Education Association. The report ranked Florida's teacher salaries at 37th in the country in 2009-10 and estimated the state's rankings would fall to 47th this year." "Greedy Educators?"

Scott may next outlaw the written word

"Scott, who has already said that he doesn’t read newspapers on a regular basis, has decided to forgo the use of electronic correspondence as part of his daily routine. This is a change from the campaign trail, where Scott could be found scanning and responding to e-mails on his iPad between campaign stops. But Scott’s decision to forgo e-mails means that news organizations can’t make public records requests that could reveal some of the logic of Scott’s decision-making process." "Trying to look behind the curtain of the Scott administration".

Mighty stoopid

The Tampa Tribune editors: "A mighty political effort over many months, not to mention years of planning, was required to get the federal money flowing. In one day the governor arbitrarily shut down the whole process." "The heavy cost of doing nothing".

Priebus who?

"Preparing to shore up the finances of the Republican National Committee for an election cycle expected to include more than $2 billion in presidential campaign spending, recently elected chairman Reince Priebus will be in St. Petersburg Wednesday morning." "GOP chief is coming".

All the world's a golf course

"A newly-filed measure would require the state to build at least five golf courses across Florida." "Florida may team up with Jack Nicklaus to build golf courses on state park lands".

A run on bulldozers and front end loaders

"Is there no such thing as a good regulation? Or is it that there are just too many of them? Folks in Tallahassee these days have been saying yes to both questions. " "Sticking to the rules: Is there too much state red tape?". See also "In environmental regulation, Florida wants to be left alone".

Wingnut orgasm

"Insurers and other businesses are riding a wave of deregulation fever and capitalist ideology espoused by Gov. Rick Scott and embraced by a Republican Legislature determined to live up to its conservative roots." "Lawmakers to tackle insurance reform".

Heaven help us

This person claims to have a college degree.

Haridopolos not up for National Book Award

"Democrats in Florida haven't had much reason to smile in recent months, so they can thank Mike Haridopolos, the Florida Senate president and U.S. Senate candidate, for providing considerable yuks last week. Eight years ago, Brevard Community College paid Haridopolos, a teacher and hometown state senator, $152,000 to write a textbook about Florida politics and the Legislature. The college printed just one copy of the book, but last week it was made available online, Florida Democratic Party communications director Eric Jotkoff gleefully tweeted assorted excerpts and pearls of wisdom from Haridopolos' taxpayer-funded book". "Haridopolos book becomes Twitter fodder".

'Glades

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Everglades cuts are coming but they can't be disproportionate".

Teabaggers wet themselves

"Bachmann, who says she hasn't decided whether she'll run for president, hit some of the compulsory notes for a Republican White House aspirant in remarks to a South Florida Tea Party crowd of more than 200."

She criticized judicial activism, called for abolition of the U.S. Department of Education and urged tougher U.S. responses to illegal immigration and Islamist terrorism. And the U.S. House Tea Party Caucus leader said Republicans must win the presidency and both chambers of Congress next year if they are to roll back the Democrat-authored [sic*] health care law, which she called "the crown jewel of socialism."

Tenure busting

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board buys into tenure busting: "Tempest over teachers".

Vern issues a press release!

"Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, today announced a piece of legislation 'to crack down' on Florida’s pill mills. If enacted, the law will 'double the penalties and triple the fines for drug violators' and use assets seized to fund prescription drug databases in states like Florida. According to a press release, it will also 'reclassify one of the most abused and deadly narcotics to make it more difficult to obtain.'" "Buchanan introduces bill ‘to crack down’ on pill mills".

Gotta problem' wit dat?

"Naples lawmaker’s proposal would speed up, simplify foreclosures".

Tampa tight

"Parties get behind mayoral candidates in nonpartisan Tampa runoff elections". See also "Tom Scott endorses Bob Buckhorn for Tampa mayor".

Lost

"Murman switches tracks on rail".

When did lil' Connie become a "Maverick"?

Someone at the The Miami Herald is buying into the Connie Mack story: "Maverick Connie Mack keeps GOP Senate field waiting on 2012 run".

Castor to South Asia

"After an 'intensive, three-day review of military operations in Afghanistan,' Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-Tampa) said she is confident that U.S. forces can begin to leave in July, as has been anticipated by the Obama administration and Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan." "Castor visits Afghanistan for update on military role".

The best they can do?

"State Rep. Dean Cannon quickly climbed to a Republican leadership role in the House. Now he must manage a Republican-led, veto-proof Legislature." "Cannon reaches top of Republican leadership".

"Mike Haridopolos is walking a political tightrope in his role as Senate president in Tallahassee and as a 2012 U.S. Senate candidate." "Senate president walks political tightrope".

Shut up, do nothing, be safe

"In an ominous sign for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas, a new poll finds widespread voter unhappiness as the recall election quickly approaches." "Alvarez, Seijas appear headed for ouster".

That knuckle-dragging, foam at the mouth, long strings of green drool kind of hate

The News-Journal is kind enough to actually quote real, live union representatives in an editorial today: "Laura Cloer has been lobbying for more education funding since her 21-year-old daughter was in kindergarten. Every year as the Legislature disappointed her, she would say it can't get any worse."

Stacy Stepanovich knows the feeling. As the president of the Volusia/Flagler AFL-CIO looks ahead to Tuesday's start of the annual 60-day legislative session, she can't help but feel it will bring bad news for the 26,000 workers her union represents in the two-county area. ...

In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott has called for employees to contribute 5 percent of their salary to the Florida retirement system as a way to shore up the budget and pension plan. Other lawmakers -- including Sen. John Thrasher, who represents parts of Volusia and Flagler counties -- have proposed measures that would restrict union activities. ...

For the workers on the wrong end of those cuts, it does no good to remind lawmakers of the tax breaks that were passed when times were flush -- and sometimes even when they weren't. Calls for tax reform that might increase revenues fall on deaf ears in the Republican-controlled Legislature, where leaders say they risk prolonging the recession if they raise taxes on businesses or individuals.

The debate leaves the teachers, firefighters, government office workers and others who make up the bulk of public employees suspicious of lawmakers' motives.

"It's larger than balancing the budget," Stepanovich said. "If it were about balancing the budget, we could look at our antiquated tax structure. We could look at things that actually would balance the budget."

While collective bargaining rights for public employees are protected in Florida's constitution (unlike Wisconsin), there are significant differences between public and private union bargaining that have led lawmakers to look closely at the process.

For example, public employees -- through the voting booth [gasp!] -- can have a powerful say in who winds up at the negotiating table with them. Also, while private workers have to temper their demands against threats that a company could go bankrupt, there are fewer constraints against public unions.

"For years public employees had a lower salary so they were able to negotiate for enhanced benefits," Costello said. "Over the last 20 years, through collective bargaining with well-meaning local elected officials, their salaries grew. Now, not only are they making more, but they continue to have superior benefits. Now the pendulum has to swing back to bring them back in line with the private sector.

Although the right of Florida's public employees to unionize and bargain is a fundamental constitutional right, these rights been reduced by the Florida Legislature to merely permitting employees to form an association and obligating the employer to "bargain" with the association; and, in the event the parties can't reach agreement in "bargaining", the public employer essentially has the unilateral ability to do whatever it wants.

Florida's public employers are not required to agree to anything (except non-substantive provisions relating to arbitration and voluntary dues deduction), and just about everything else is subject to the unilateral determination by the public employer. The only "pressure" a Florida public employee union [**] can bring to bear is precisely the same power as that as any other group of individuals - at the ballot box.

Section 447.403, Florida Statutes provides as follows regarding the resolution of public employee-employer bargaining impasses: "(1) If, after a reasonable period of negotiation concerning the terms and conditions of employment to be incorporated in a collective bargaining agreement, a dispute exists between a public employer and a bargaining agent, an impasse shall be deemed to have occurred", and if the non-binding arbitration process fails to result in a contract, the statute provides in subsections (4)(c) and (d) that "[t]he legislative body [the city or county commission or Florida legislature, depending on who the public employer is] shall forthwith conduct a public hearing at which the parties shall be required to explain their positions with respect to the rejected recommendations of the special magistrate ... Thereafter, the legislative body shall take such action as it deems to be in the public interest, including the interest of the public employees involved, to resolve all disputed impasse issues". Game over - the final decision on contract terms is made by the employer.

The only exception in the statute to the public employer's absolute unilateral power to decide contract terms, including wages, hours and benefits (including pensions) is that "the legislative body’s action shall not take effect with respect to those disputed impasse issues which establish the language of contractual provisions which could have no effect in the absence of a ratified agreement, including, but not limited to, preambles, recognition clauses, and duration clauses." (Section 447.403(4)(e), Florida Statutes[***]). Oh yeah, and then there's the part when employees already can quit the union and stop paying dues whenever they want. (Section 447.301 and 447.303, Florida Statutes).

And this is the oppressive "public employee bargaining" process that somehow coerces elected officials into handing out unseemly wages, benefits and pensions?

As for political activity, public employees associating with each other (an activity already constitutionally protected (to wit: the freedom of association)) and chipping in to support political candidates is no different than the influence effected by realtors, the chambers of commerce, and the many other associations that interface with state and local government, including the nascent orgy of teabaggerists.

The difference, of course, is that public employee union members, like their private sector brethren, generally support causes aligned with the interests of working people.