Scott himself cheered the news when he spoke to the media Friday in Tallahassee.

"We are clearly heading in the right direction, but we still have a way to go because we still have 1 million people out of work,” he said.

Scott added that embracing free-market solutions, including reducing regulations and cutting taxes on business, will help lower the unemployment rate even more.

RPOFer attack on Court moves in House

"After two hours of contentious debate, the Florida House voted on Friday to approve forwarding a proposed constitutional amendment to the voters. The proposal passed on a vote that mirrored party lines, with 79 Republicans backing the controversial measure and 38 Democrats voting against it."

If the Legislature passes the proposal, a constitutional amendment would make its way to the ballot in November 2012, when it would need 60 percent support to pass. Critics have maintained that Cannon was looking to get back at the state Supreme Court for shooting down a number of proposed amendments backed by the Republicans in 2010, including a redistricting measure against those backed by FairDistricts Florida and one allowing Floridians to opt out of the federal health-care law.

Democrats started the debate by attacking the proposal, which had the support of Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, arguing that the Republicans were looking to pack the court. They invoked the same phrases that opponents labeled Franklin D. Roosevelt’s attempt to reform the Supreme Court of the United States after the 1936 presidential election.

“This is a very important bill,” said Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, who attacked the proposal. “It is neither bold nor innovative nor well-conceived,” he added, referring to the measure as an attempt to “pack the court.”

“It is an assault on our Constitution,” insisted Waldman, who added that it was an overreach from Republicans looking to control all branches of government.

“We do not have the critical support of the institution we’re looking to make changes to,” argued Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg.

While Waldman acted, as he has throughout the session, as the floor leader of the Democrats during the debate, Rep. Will Snyder of Stuart, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, led Republicans who argued that the measure would help add checks and balances and restore the balance of power. ...

“We need to create a stronger check for the judicial branch,” argued Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, who accused the state Supreme Court of overreaching its own power. “It is necessary for us to rein in the balance of power and the power of the court.”

Obama's mixed Florida polling numbers

"Barack Obama just endured a round of mixed polling in Florida, and one more poll indicates he could have a tough race there. While PPP showed him with mediocre approvals but a decent lead over non-Romney opponents, Mason-Dixon and Quinnipiac were substantially more pessimistic on his approvals. Now Suffolk University joins the fray." "FL-Pres, PA-Pres: middling numbers for Obama in two more states".

Capitol Roundup

"Budget Impasse? Courting Change".

Uncertain fate for RPOF union-busting bill

"A bill ending automatic deductions from government worker paychecks for union political uses will get a vote before the full Senate after making it through its last committee stop Friday, but the final vote is anything but certain."

Senate Bill 830, sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, received narrow majorities in its first two committee stops. An amendment allowing public-sector unions to automatically deduct from member paychecks for nonpolitical purposes was tacked onto the bill during its final hearing Friday in the Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Thrasher. The amendment garnered more support for the bill, but some senators are still skeptical.

Republicans press voter suppression for 2012

"With Florida a crucial state in the 2012 presidential election, the state Legislature wants to overhaul election laws in ways critics say would help the Republican Party maintain its dominance."

The Senate is pushing a bill to cut early voting time by half, make it harder for grass roots groups to register voters and require people to vote provisionally if they moved since the last time they voted — a change elections supervisors say would affect college students the most. The bill, SB 2086, passed the Republican-controlled Rules Committee on Friday on a 10-2 vote.

Legislators say their goal is more convenient and less expensive voting machinery. But with President Barack Obama needing Florida's 29 electoral votes to win a second term, skeptics say the GOP-dominated Legislature is showing it has more than a passing interest in how the next election is run. All 160 legislative seats also will be up for grabs in 2012 because of reapportionment.

Gentlemen, start your bulldozers

"A sweeping rewrite of 26 years of growth management law received swift approval from the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee on Thursday, opening the way for the most substantial change in Florida development law in decades." "Senate moves to eliminate state growth laws".

Your tax dollars at work

"Fla. welfare drug testing may get state funding".

Florida Power & Light in shock

"Legislation that would have given Florida Power & Light and other investor-owned utilities authority to boost customer rates $377 million over the next five years looks troubled in the state Senate." "Benacquisto asked to rework bill that would let FPL raise rates without regulators' OK".

Left behind

"U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, will host a public meeting on Thursday evening at Don Estridge Middle School in Boca Raton to give local parents the chance to sound off on a controversial federal education law, and will give some key federal education officials a chance to listen to them in person." "Meeting on 'No Child Left Behind' in Boca".

"Squishy accountability and underwhelming performance"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Soon after the Legislature swiftly drove teacher merit-pay reforms over the finish line, Gov. Rick Scott and lawmakers raced back onto the education-reform autobahn for their next goal: expanding charter schools."

Scott — enamored of free market innovation — wants to fast-track growing the nation's third-largest roster of charter schools. Yet, while the speedy push for merit pay — a long-debated and necessary reform — was warranted, lawmakers would be wise to at least tap the brakes on the feverish drive for more charter schools. The schools are rife with concerns over squishy accountability and underwhelming performance.

"They hate taxes and President Obama"

"Brewing under the sizzling late-afternoon sunshine, 1,500 Tea Party activists made it clear in downtown Orlando on Friday they love America, Joe the Plumber and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. They also hate taxes and President Barack Obama and have no intention of going away." "Tea Party rallies at Lake Eola". See also "Tea partiers cheer Fla. Gov. Scott, Sen. Rubio" and "Tea partiers cheer Fla. Gov. Scott, Sen. Rubio". Related: "Tea party gatherings a must-attend for GOP politicians".

Let them wear capes

"Can't find a job? Workforce Central Florida spends $14,000 for capes".

"Laying groundwork for campaigns in Sunshine State"

"Mitt Romney came yesterday to this fertile land of money and swing votes, making clear in his first public appearance since announcing his presidential exploratory committee that he plans to spend ample time in a state that could prove pivotal in early primary voting."

Romney and his opponents are laying the groundwork for major campaigns in the Sunshine State, which is hosting the Republican National Convention and is vying to secure an early spot in next year’s primary season.

Just give 'em vouchers?

The Saint Pete Times editors: "As Florida students sat hunched over their desks this week to fill in the bubbles on standardized tests, here's an FCAT question for Pinellas school superintendent Julie Janssen and the School Board: Why do test scores for African-American students in Pinellas — at every grade level — lag behind their peers in other big districts in Florida on reading and math FCATs?" "Excuses don't change facts".

The free market at work

"Study: Half of supermarket meat may have staph bug".

Hank Aaron steps up to the plate

"With former Gov. Charlie Crist and baseball legend Hank Aaron among those writing checks, the race for Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West's Palm Beach-Broward congressional seat is already a $1 million affair. Crist, the former Republican who lost an independent bid for Senate last year, gave $1,000 to Democratic candidate Patrick Murphy, who raised $321,087 in March for his District 22 campaign, according to a Federal Election Commission report filed Friday." "Ex-Gov. Crist, Hank Aaron contribute to Dems running against U.S. Rep. West".

Never mind

"Five years after a $5 million pledge from north Palm Beach County business leaders helped steer The Scripps Research Institute to Jupiter instead of Boca Raton, most of that money intended for minority businesses and students remains past due." "Business leaders fail to deliver $5 million minority business fund used to lure Scripps Florida".

Raw political courage

"Rubio supports bill to bar protesters from military funerals".

"Selling Florida as the cheapest state"

"Bob Graham was feeling depressed Friday. "

During the '80s when he was governor, Florida added about 190,000 jobs a year. During the '90s when he was in the U.S. Senate, the figure was about 150,000 a year. During the first decade of this century, though, it had dropped to an average of about 70,000 a year, not even enough to stay ahead of the growing workforce.

Even worse, Graham added, was the nature of those jobs. Nearly 25 years ago, Florida's per capita income relative to the rest of the country was at 101.5 percent. Last year it was just over 96 percent.

"So we've had a dramatic decline not only in job creation but in the quality of the jobs," Graham concluded. "My lesson from that is maybe this ideology ain't working . . . Maybe we ought to look for some different ways to accomplish the objective of providing Floridians with more opportunities."

Graham tried to imagine what Florida might be like today if, instead of cutting $4 billion in taxes that primarily benefited, he said, Florida's wealthiest citizens, the state had invested that money in education and improving residents' quality of life.

He didn't have to imagine, though, because he'd seen it happen in Silicon Valley, North Carolina's Research Triangle and other places that "built their prosperity on principles of quality of life and good education."

Graham doesn't see much future in selling Florida as the cheapest state in which to do business.

Scott's lawyer admits giving Court inaccurate figures

"Gov. Rick Scott's attorney has told the Florida Supreme Court that he was wrong about the money already spent on the state's high-speed rail project while defending the governor's right to kill it."

Scott's general counsel, Charles Trippe, sent Chief Justice Charles Canady, a letter Thursday. He acknowledged that he gave inaccurate figures during oral arguments last month supporting the governor's rejection of $2.4 billion in federal funds for the project linking Tampa with Orlando.

Trippe attributed the inaccurate information to a miscommunication with the Florida Department of Transportation.

"There was a big misrepresentation of the facts. Would this be a legitimate reason to reopen this case and reassert that the governor misused his authority? Certainly, clearly it shows either his office didn't know what was going on or they misrepresented the facts," Altman said. "What is the bigger and more important question is the misuse of executive authority and not faithfully implementing the law. That applies not only to rail, but many other things."

Scott's double flop

Ricky's flip-flopping faster than he can plead the fifth.

First, "Gov. Scott, lawmakers reverse deep funding cuts to disabled". See also "Spending for disabled saved".

Then this: "Gov. Rick Scott reluctantly endorses pain-pill database" ("The change in tone may have saved Florida's governor from a public flogging.")

Today in Tally

"Today in Tallahassee: guns, abortion, sexting". See also "the state REPORT".

Voter suppression, Republican style

"The latest House makeover of Florida election laws stirred intense controversy Thursday as unions and grass roots political groups complained that it would suppress 2012 voting in a state Barack Obama won in 2008."

By a 12-6 party-line vote, the House State Affairs Committee approved the new bill, setting up a vote by the full House. Similar legislation will be taken up Friday by the Senate Rules Committee.

The 150-page rewrite surfaced the afternoon before the vote.

Budget blues

"Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander seems a little more dour these days, especially when budget talks broke down, but he said the Republican Senate and House will likely come to an agreement by session's end, May 6." "Budget disagreements leave a sour taste in Capitol".

Court packing

"Hours before the House started discussion of a bill to drastically remake the Florida Supreme Court, former governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, attorneys and four former justices launched an initiative to stop the measure." "Graham, others move to stop high court bill". See also "Florida House Prepares for Supreme Court Reform Vote".

These rules are fine with RPOFers

"In a year when lawmakers are slashing state oversight and regulations, there is one area where they are moving to add a layer of more rules — local government pensions. Under a plan that won swift approval by the Senate Budget Committee on Thursday, local government pensions would face tough new reporting requirements — and the short-term use of insurance premium taxes — to become stable again." "Florida lawmakers propose new rules for local pension funds".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

Update: "Florida jobless rate drops to 11.1 percent".

"More good news on Fla. unemployment anticipated".

Meanwhile, "to mark the governor's first 100 days in office, the Democrats launched WhereIsMyFloridaJob.com accusing Scott of destroying more jobs than he has created." "The state REPORT".

FRS pension changes on hold?

"State officials have warned that a major pension overhaul pushed by the Florida Senate can’t be carried out until January 2012."

This bit of news could throw a major wrench in budget negotiations. That's because it means that savings from pension reform won’t be there until halfway through the next fiscal year.

Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said Thursday he does not agree with the analysis on House and Senate pension plans that was put together by the Division of Retirement.

“I don’t buy it,’’ Alexander said.

One of the big differences between the House and Senate pension overhauls is how much state workers, teachers, firefighters and sheriff’s deputies have to pay. The House has proposed a flat 3 percent contribution rate and state officials say they can put that in place by July 1 of this year.

The Senate, by contrast, has a tiered approach where employees would pay 2 percent, 4 percent or 6 percent based on their salary. That method, according to the Division of Retirement, would “represent a significant programming challenge” for both state government and the nearly 1,000 local governments that also participate in the Florida Retirement System.

House Speaker Dean Cannon said that analysis means that the Legislature should abandon the concept for now.

"It does mean it is not practical to implement a tiered system or count any of the savings,'' Cannon told reporters.

"Principles, it appears, are often situational"

The Saint Pete Times editors write that, "as the old saying goes, talk is cheap. Principles, it appears, are often situational. Even at the top."

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, is proposing an expensive expansion of the Florida Supreme Court. This came after he and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, insisted on a law that requires major state rules to pass legislative muster a second time. So much for streamlining government.

Lawmakers whose party claims to champion personal freedoms are poised to outlaw droopy drawers for schoolchildren, limit when doctors can talk to patients about guns, restrict how Floridians buy wine from out-of-state vendors, require all panhandlers to register and make it a crime to take pictures of farm animals.

Personal privacy also is up for negotiation. ...

And forget that GOP ideal of local control.

Runnin' gub'ment like a bidness

"Orlando woman's unemployment check delayed as state verifies her work search".

"'Tallahassee' is an old Indian word for 'Where's mine?'"

Daniel Ruth: "If passed into law, the new Buy One Legislator, Get One Free regulations"

would permit lawmakers to accept up to $25 in chow, gee-gaws in appreciation for dedicated service to the state's special interests, or liquid nourishment. Items between $25 and $100 would have to be reported, and anything above $100 would first have to be approved by House Speaker Dean Cannon or Senate President Mike Haridopolos when they can find the time away from stuffing their own pockets and bellies to deal with the requests.

After all, this is Tallahassee, which is an old Indian word for "Where's mine?"

"I think the timing is kind of bad," uttered the Senate's Socratic sage Sen. Steve Oelrich, D-Camus, who observed it looked sorta sleazy to be imposing all manner of austerity measures on the body politic, while at the same time making it easier for elected officials to chow down on the lobbyist-funded buffet line. Gee, do you think?

When a recent grand jury excoriated the Florida Legislature as a breeding ground for a "culture of corruption," does anyone, with the glaring exception of the tone deaf Florida Legislature, think it is a particularly bright idea to ease up on the ways lawmakers can be compromised more than the Mayflower Madam?

Medicaid deform

"The Medicaid reform[*] bill passed Thursday along party lines in the Florida Senate's budget committee is so loaded with controversy that parts of it won't pass the Florida House. Or the federal government, which pays for more than half the program, could reject the plan entirely." "Florida Medicaid reform embraces controversial push toward managed care". Related: "Medicaid Reform, Abortion Bills Clear Florida Senate Budget Committee" and "Florida's Republicans face tough Medicare vote".

- - - - - - - - - -
*Alleged journalists are apparently unaware that the word "reform" means

1. a : to put or change into an improved form or condition b : to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses

2 : to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action

3: to induce or cause to abandon evil ways

Sewage and water mix in Florida

"A sweeping rewrite of 26 years of growth management law received swift approval from the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee on Thursday, opening the way for the most substantial change in Florida development law in decades." "Florida Senate moves to put local governments, not state, in charge of growth management".

"HB 13, repealing the statewide inspection tank requirement, is now set for final approval. But bills that would streamline the state permitting process fail to be heard in House and Senate committees, and the House passes a repeal of the law banning water hyacinths." "Environmental bills move through committees and House floor despite opposition". See also "The ocean sewage discharge dilemma: What does this bill really do?".

"The immigration reform minefield"

Update: "One Immigration Bill Advances, a Second Stalls".

"For evidence of the political minefield that is immigration reform, look no further than the Florida Senate." "Florida Senate faces political minefield in immigration reform".

Anti-Scott protests continue

"Several hundred teachers braved the rain Thursday to protest what they called an attack on teachers by Gov. Rick Scott, who has championed merit pay and changes to public employees' pensions." "Teachers protest Rick Scott's policies".

Scott steps out of Solantic slime

"Following Gov. Scott's deal to sell Solantic, the largest asset in his financial disclosure, Florida Democratic Party chairman Rod Smith sent a letter asking him to disclose all of the investments of his 'immediate family.'" "Scott asked: Show family portfolio".

"Whiny politicians with a deluded sense of entitlement"

Scott Maxwell whines about "whiny politicians with a deluded sense of entitlement are still trying to undo the 2006 gift ban, so that they can scarf up free dinners, bar tabs and any other sort of payola that lobbyists want to throw their way."

The Miami Herald recently quoted an especially petulant and uninformed South Florida senator, Republican Nancy Detert of Venice, as whining: "We can't even eat with our own friends if they belong to an organization that employs a lobbyist, and I think that's a problem."

Sister, you are the problem. You are free to eat with anyone from lobbyists to the Prince of Darkness himself … YOU JUST HAVE TO PAY FOR IT YOURSELF!

Yee haw!

"Cabinet members have moved their Tuesday meeting to Panama City, marking the eve of the BP oil spill's one-year anniversary." "Panama City site of Cabinet meeting".

Another Republican climate change denier

"Sen. Alan Hays says his House vote for a climate change bill in 2008 wasn't an action that he remembers now. Hays, R-Umatilla, is sponsor of SB 762, which would repeal a 2008 law that directs the state to develop a greenhouse gas abatement program, such as a cap-and-trade program."

After the meeting, Hays told the Florida Tribune that there has been new scientific information that calls climate science into question.

Doc stamp scam

"Properties purchased through Orange County Clerk of Courts foreclosure sales at one price are appearing in the county Property Appraiser's Office records at a higher price, often tens of thousands of dollars more, according to an Orlando Sentinel review of 16 recent purchases."

The discrepancy illustrates inherent flaws in a system that apparently allows investors buying up distressed properties to inflate the sale price of their real estate by paying a slightly higher state tax on the sale, commonly known as "documentary stamp tax."

Will "fraudulent panhandling" bill affect political fundraising?

"A bill that would require a permit to panhandle, and impose fines on those who fraudulently panhandle, was unanimously approved by a Senate panel on Wednesday. The bill sponsor says it should not impact the homeless, while opponents say it could do great harm to those out on the street. ... Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg and whose district has had an ongoing battle in dealing with panhandling, said the proposal is not meant to hurt the homeless. He said it is an attempt to go after those people who lie and are in fact financially stable, but choose to panhandle." "Asking 'Brother, can you spare a dime?' may require a permit". See also "Small government #FAIL".

School board members keep their cash

"Sen. Stephen Wise's bid to do away with school board member salaries was short-lived. Wise, R-Jacksonville, last week introduced the measure in the Senate education committee he chairs. The panel took up the proposal Thursday — and voted it down 2-1." "School board salary bill fails".

Today in Tally

"Today in Tallahassee: Judiciary, seaports, septic tanks".

Cannon's "devious" political ploy

The Saint Pete Times editors: "The Florida House today is expected to debate a devious constitutional amendment to restructure the Florida Supreme Court that would undermine the independence of the judiciary."

House Speaker Dean Cannon's brainstorm would divide the court into criminal and civil divisions, add three justices to the seven-member court and create two five-justice divisions. Aside from practical problems, this is a political ploy to increase legislative control over the judicial branch and pack the court with more conservative justices who would be appointed by Republican Gov. Rick Scott.

There's a money saver for yah'

"State courts officials have determined that the proposed splitting of the Florida Supreme Court will cost taxpayers more than $14 million in remodeling and moving costs, not including the added personnel costs for a bigger court". "Splitting high court could run $14M".

Florida's judicial "scandals were so outrageous ..."

Martin Dyckman reminds us that, "Not so long ago, what Floridians were reading about their Supreme Court could have foretold one of John Grisham's conspiratorial novels. The scandals were so outrageous that the justices could look for approval only to their shaving mirrors." "The rotten record of politicized courts".

Short sales

"U.S. Reps. Tom Rooney and Rob Andrews Team Up on Short Sales Proposal".

"Pink slip" Rick

The right wing Sunshine State News complains about "two groups that staged the 'pink slip' protest of Gov. Rick Scott last week aren’t content with getting rid of Florida’s chief executive. Florida New Majority, a coalition of state and nationwide left-wing immigrant and workers' rights groups, and Florida Watch Action, a group pushing for "progressive" -- or, ultra liberal -- policies, helped organize hundreds of unemployed and union workers to give 'pink slips' to Scott. The protesters gathered at the entrance to Scott’s office at the Capitol, but the governor was in Palm Beach, meeting with local officials." "Groups Behind ‘Pink Slip’ Protest Want More Than Rick Scott Ouster".

Have another beer, Ricky

"Scott: 'This Is the Best Time to Be Governor'".

Another Arduin Laffer

"Republican Gov. Rick Scott's proposal to cut government spending to address the budget shortfall, and then cut more to give corporations and property owners a tax break, is an experiment that no other large state is trying." "Gov. Scott only large-state governor cutting way to prosperity".

"Now he's not"

"Freshman Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, was a deputy majority whip. Now he's not. Why Grant no longer holds the position is unclear." "Deputy whip loses GOP job after vote".

I saw it with my own eyes

Fred Grimm: "Ten of the 13 innocent men cleared by post-conviction DNA testing in Florida were sent to prison by lousy eyewitness testimony in a state in obvious need of strict ID standards. (Of the 269 DNA exonerations nationwide, 75 percent of the wrongful convictions were based on erroneous witness identifications.) The Florida Innocence Commission, appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to look at the causes behind the state’s wrongful convictions, voted last month to ask the Legislature to put such ID standards into law."

Among other reforms, the rules would regulate the presentation of a photo lineup and require that the lineup administrator not know which mug shot belongs to the suspect.

A bill in the Florida Senate, championed by Sen. Joe Negron of West Palm Beach, embraced the reform recommendations.

But the House Judiciary Committee approved a companion bill Tuesday, with a 16-2 vote, that reduced the required standards to mere suggestions. Under this version, the state’s 400-plus police agencies (only four of which have adopted the best practices recommended by the U.S. Justice Department and the International Association of Chiefs of Police) would be told to do better. Exactly what that entails would be left up to individual departments.

RPOFers do the committee thing

"Trying to straddle a desire for an early presidential primary with the controversy it has provoked nationally, Florida legislative leaders on Wednesday proposed creating a committee to pick a date." "House Speaker Dean Cannon wants committee to pick primary date".

Even the knuckle-draggers ...

"Business groups say state legislation designed to curtail illegal immigration would hurt Florida's tourism and agriculture industries while reducing tax revenues. The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of Florida and Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association joined with a religious leader Wednesday to denounce the bills moving through the House and Senate." "Business groups oppose Florida immigration bills".

Although the knuckle-draggers oppose the bill, it is reasonable to assume that their motives are less than pure, to wit: Florida employers want continued access to a pool of slave labor. See the Palm Beach Post's series on Florida's "Modern-Day Slavery".

"Will we have voters?"

Jackie Bueno Sousa: "We’ve now got an election date. But will we have voters? There’s no telling the kind of turnout we’ll get for the May 24 special election, when Miami-Dade residents choose a new county mayor and commissioner, and decide on a host of possible changes to the county charter." "Miami-Dade voters must now show up to vote".

Christians?

"Christian Groups Target FAU Prof for Dismissal".

Scott flops on Solantic

"Two weeks after insisting he was 'not involved in that company,' Gov. Rick Scott finalized a deal Wednesday to sell Solantic Inc., the Jacksonville chain of urgent care clinics he founded." "Gov. Rick Scott finalizes deal to sell his holdings in urgent care chain Solantic".

Not so bright

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Aim Bright Futures scholarships toward brightest, neediest".

Pigs at the trough

"Flanked by business organizations hungry for tax breaks, Gov. Rick Scott threw another monkey wrench at the Legislature in the push to overhaul [read: gut] public pension plans." "Scott pushing for further pension-benefit cuts".

"Troubled-Teen Programs Save $160M"

"Study: Troubled-Teen Prevention Programs Save Florida $160 Million a Year".

This ought to please Teabaggers and billionaire car dealers

"The Miami-Dade School Board on Wednesday voted to cut more than 200 jobs from its facilities department and give hundreds of maintenance workers a 20 percent pay cut." "School Board approves job cuts". See also "Future looks 'bleak' for families, caretakers of disabled" and "Video: Proposed cuts would leave some disabled homeless".

No gambling for now

"An attempt by Las Vegas' largest casino operators to bring resort-style casinos to Florida appeared all but dead Wednesday as a Senate committee killed the bill, rejecting promises that the effort could bring new jobs and revenue." "Florida Senate panel forces casino expansion plan to fold for session". See also "Bills would allow gambling without greyhounds".

Florida's Senate Prez raises $2.6 million

"And the 2012 U.S. Senate race is on. Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos reported raising about $2.6 million in his debut fundraising quarter, compared to Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's nearly $2 million haul." "2012 U.S. Senate race is on with Bill Nelson, Mike Haridopolos announced candidates".

Floridians for Fair and Impartial Courts

"Bob Graham, a former governor and U.S. senator from Florida, plans to speak out against a proposed overhaul of the state's Supreme Court at a news conference in Tallahassee. Graham, four retired Supreme Court justices, the former presidents of The Florida Bar and the American Bar Association, and others will speak Thursday. They have formed a bipartisan group called Floridians for Fair and Impartial Courts." "Former Sen. Graham, others to speak out on courts".

Labor fight heats up

"A Senate committee Wednesday barely passed a bill to weaken the political power of Florida's public employee unions as Republican Party leaders continued the pressure on a handful of moderate Republican senators who could stand in the way of final passage."

Gov. Rick Scott has spent the week dining with lawmakers who hold pivotal votes. Republican Party of Florida officials have told legislators that passing the bill is their top session priority. And the governor has enlisted the support of his sympathetic tea party groups.

The goal is to put into law a bill that would ban public employee unions from collecting dues through payroll deductions and require unions to obtain permission from members each year to use their dues for political activity. Unions fear the provisions add a layer of complexity that will discourage people from joining their ranks. Backers say it is simply a question of legislators pursuing a conservative goal of less government.

"The simple issue of this bill is the state ought not be in the collection business for political organizations," said Sen. John Thrasher of St. Augustine, the former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.

He sponsored the bill after his re-election was vigorously opposed by his local teachers union. ...

But the 11-9 committee vote is a sign the bill is in trouble. Senate President Mike Haridopolos used a rules maneuver to send Majority Leader Andy Gardiner to the committee to vote on the bill and break a potential tie that might have occurred had Sen. Evelyn Lynn been present.

It was the second narrow victory for Thrasher, who won approval for the bill from a previous committee by a 4-3 vote. The bill now moves to the Senate Rules Committee, which Thrasher chairs.

The Senate vote came after a three-hour debate that was at times raucous and boisterous as union members from across the state traveled to Tallahassee to voice their opposition. The House version has already passed that chamber 73-40 but the vote is much closer in the Senate.

"Employees automatically have money taken out of their paycheck to pay for all kinds of things. Some deductions are voluntary: student loans, charitable donations, health insurance, life insurance, union dues. Some deductions are not: taxes, alimony and other court-ordered deductions. The state of Florida currently has 364 groups or agencies that have the ability to take money directly from employees' paychecks."

Legislative analyses of the bill determined that removing automatic deduction for union dues really wouldn't save the government any money. One state House study, for example, said the measure "may result in a positive, but insignificant, fiscal impact on public employers." Another said it "may result in a neutral fiscal impact to public employers."

Neither Thrasher's office nor the Florida GOP returned a request for comment.

Florida is in a different situation than Wisconsin, where Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his GOP allies were recently able to push through a measure that stripped the collective bargaining rights of most public employees. Florida's constitution has a provision protecting state workers’ rights in that area.

According to Tiffany Ricci of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Thrasher's bill is expected to get voted out of committee on Wednesday [it did] and come before the state Senate for a full vote within a week or two.

Months after making a campaign promise that he would force welfare recipients to pass drug tests, Scott e-mailed his policy adviser, Tennessee-based campaign consultant Mary Anne Carter, asking, "How does one get on welfare?"

Months after making a campaign promise that he would force welfare recipients to pass drug tests, Scott e-mailed his policy adviser, Tennessee-based campaign consultant Mary Anne Carter, asking, "How does one get on welfare?"

Enu Mainigi, a corporate lawyer from Washington, D.C., and Scott's closest adviser during the transition, was briefed on how many justices sat on the state Supreme Court, which state judges were appointed and the length of their terms.

"I need the basics," she wrote in an e-mail asking for the memo.

When Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll wondered how the administration would celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Scott cautiously asked for the list of events Crist and Bush attended.

Scott wanted weekly town halls, a tactic that would have introduced him to more Floridians and might have eased the unfavorable opinion many voters had after he devoted much of his $60 million TV campaign to negative ads.

But the few town halls scheduled were in front of GOP groups or at businesses where bosses could keep a watchful eye over employees' questions.

Meanwhile, the transition bogged down over internal squabbles and mixed messages.

On Nov. 15, Pam Pfeifer, a policy adviser now in the governor's budget office, boasted that a pair of transition advisory teams for Scott included, "no legislators, no state employees, no insurers."

Three days later, Pfeifer asked health care lobbyist William Rubin to make suggestions for Scott's health care advisory team.

Mainigi asked for briefings she received a week prior. Carroll complained she had yet to see a schedule of inaugural events, despite a calender posted online and published in newspapers.

Carter mocked the unwieldy advisory teams: "So much for streamlining and efficiency."

"Cutting to the bone not a badge of honor"

The Tampa Trib editors: "Throughout this session of the Florida Legislature the elephant in the room has been a $3.75 billion budget shortfall, and the reality is that the state constitution requires a balanced state budget."

The result has been budget plans from both chambers that will drastically reduce funding for education and numerous other services and programs, hurting many Floridians, including the sick, poor and disabled.

It's irresponsible that no one in leadership has been willing to show courage on this critical need.

Today in Tally

"Today in Tallahassee: Oil spill claims czar to visit".

Public urination match

"Scott's communications director, Brian Burgess, is taking to Twitter to contradict and argue with reporters and criticize news outlets. Shots have often been fired back in what some are describing as an online fight between capitol reporters and the governor's main messenger - sometimes to the amusement of those following the exchanges." "Fla. Gov.Scott's team, media in "Twitter war"".

"Only God knows"

"Church and state are intermingling in Tallahassee, as lawmakers consider bills critics say could both help and harm religion in Florida. And it seems only God knows whether any of them will become law." "Florida lawmakers take up religion in funding, courts".

DWS to claim GOPers are trying to eviscerate Medicare and SS

"Debbie Wasserman Schultz plans to help President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats win elections in Florida and across the nation next year by accusing Republicans of trying to eviscerate Medicare, Social Security and protections for the most vulnerable Americans." "Wasserman Schultz to attack GOP Medicare agenda".

Florida Teabaggers lovin' the Trump

"Donald Trump, toying with a run for the Republican presidential nomination and popping in the latest polls, will make his pitch to a tea party gathering in Boca Raton on Saturday."

The Donald is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech to the third annual South Florida Tax Day rally at Sanborn Square, 72 N. Federal Hwy. The event starts at 1 p.m.

"This is big," said Sid Dinerstein, chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party. "The country needs him in the mix."

Trump, a New Yorker who maintains a Palm Beach residence, has performed this kind of presidential mating dance before. He flirted with running in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

The perceived weakness of the Republicans' 2012 field has rekindled interest in Trump -- and the flamboyant self-promoter isn't bashful about fueling speculation.

Turning up on talk shows, Trump belatedly jumped on the "birther" bandwagon, questioning whether President Barack Obama was born in this country.

He has sounded off against same-sex marriage, flipped from pro-choice to pro-life and has opined on Charlie Sheen while sparring with Whoopie Goldberg on daytime TV. His scheduled speech at a Lincoln Day dinner in Iowa this June got more tongues wagging.

Some pundits have theorized that Trump's pastiche of social conservatism and celebrity populism positions him for a GOP presidential bid. Dick Morris, a former Bill Clinton adviser, recently declared, "I think he has a good shot at the nomination."

Everett Wilkinson, head of the South Florida Tea Party, which is sponsoring the April 16 event, notes that Trump easily won a straw vote his group conducted last month.

You get what you vote for

"Not only does Gov. Rick Scott's plan to seize control of the state's economic development dollars put him in charge of a super-sized pot of money to dole out to companies in exchange for creating jobs, but it also is riling the state's biggest industry: tourism." "Scott's power grab goes after tourism".

Runnin' gub'ment like a bid'ness

"When expensive pumps meant to draw water from Lake Okeechobee failed, the South Florida Water Management District did little to pursue repairs or a refund." "Faulty pumps cost agency $1.5M".

Voucher madness

"Lawmakers are poised to expand the state’s school voucher programs instituted more than 10 years ago that enable more students to attend private schools. Under three bills advancing in the Legislature, all of Florida’s existing voucher programs would be affected in some way. But unlike when these major school reforms were proposed over 10 years ago, protests have been muted. Some Democrats, who were once ardently opposed to voucher programs, have even begun to support vouchers." "Lawmakers Poised to Expand Voucher Programs".

Waitin' on that federal handout

"7 years after disastrous hurricanes, Orlando still waits for FEMA cash".

Florida's "uterus rebellion"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Pro-choice advocates are right to point out the irony of the 'uterus rebellion,' the flippant name for the flap over the ban of the word uterus in the Florida House. With 18 anti-abortion bills introduced in the Legislature, it’s offensive that lawmakers feel uncomfortable saying the word uterus but have no qualms about legislating it."

Florida Republicans, emboldened by their sweep of both chambers in November, are moving forward with a host of anti-choice bills that would make it harder for women to get abortions. The party that rails against government interference — when it’s convenient — knows whatever they pass will be signed by Gov. Rick Scott, who did not campaign on the issue but stands with his conservative brethren.

The proposed legislation includes a fast-tracked measure virtually identical to one that Mr. Scott’s predecessor, Charlie Crist, rightly vetoed last year. It would require pregnant women to view and listen to a description of a live ultrasound picture of their fetus before an abortion. Advocates say this is just a matter of being sure a woman has all the relevant information. It is in fact done in hopes of dissuading women from terminating their pregnancies.

No matter how lawmakers try, it is impossible to justify imposing their religious politics onto such a private matter.

Friends of Ricky

"Carl Littlefield, harshly criticized for management failures and his oversight of a home for developmentally disabled men, has landed a new, well-paid state job." "Scorned bureaucrat gets a new, high-paid state job".

"Total systemic failure"

"Barely three months into his job as head of the state Department of Children and Families, Secretary David Wilkins described what he found there as 'total systemic failure of the child welfare system.'" "DCF hopes to avoid past overhaul mistakes".

Only 34% of Florida independents approve of Obama

"President Barack Obama is in trouble in Florida as he begins his re-election campaign."

A new Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll found that only 34 percent of independent voters in Florida — always the key to winning — approve of Obama's performance, and that either former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee would beat the president in Florida if the election were held today.

"If one of the top-tier Republicans gets the nomination, it will be a real fight for Florida," said Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker.

The April 4-7 telephone poll found Romney slightly leading Huckabee among Republican primary voters, 23 percent to 18 percent. They were trailed by business magnate Donald Trump with 13 percent, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 11, and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty with 8. ...

In hypothetical general election matchups, Romney beat Obama 48 percent to 43 percent, and Huckabee beat him 49 percent to 44 percent. But Palin loses to Obama 51 percent to 39 percent and Trump — who has talked up Florida as key to his potential campaign — trails 48 percent to 40 percent.

More Charlie?

Jeremy Wallace writes that "former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is not slamming the door shut on his political career just yet. Before speaking to the Sarasota League of Women Voters last week, Crist was asked if he was going to get back into politics. 'Not immediately,' said Crist, who lost his campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2010 to Republican Marco Rubio." "Former Gov. Crist might campaign again".

More Haridopolos stoopidity

"Without much attention or fanfare, the Florida Legislature is almost certain to approve a constitutional amendment mandating one of the nation's most restrictive caps on taxes. In echoes of California's Proposition 13 in 1978 and Colorado's tax cap in the late 1990s, Republican lawmakers are pushing for a constitutional amendment that would cap tax collections and limit state spending growth."

In Colorado, the only state to adopt a similar cap, many business leaders aggressively lobbied to lift the restriction after spending on education, highways and a host of other services failed to keep pace with demands. Colorado's Republican governor came out against the tax cap and the state temporarily suspended the restriction by popular vote in 2005.

Yet Florida's tax cap push is attracting little attention, overshadowed by the budget crunch, deregulation and teacher merit pay. The proposals add up to one the most significant anti-tax movements in state history.

They might be Dems

"New rules forcing felons who have completed their sentences to wait at least five years before they can apply to have their rights restored are onerous enough ... But the new application is making it even harder and could discourage felons from trying to get their rights back at all, they say." "Clemency activists call for easing civil rights restoration process".

Slush funds in Tally

Randy Schultz: "Rep. Richard Corcoran. He just got elected last fall, but he's already the House Speaker-designate for 2017-18 - his final term. How did that happen? Rep. Corcoran was chief of staff to former Speaker Marco Rubio, now U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. Also, Rep. Corcoran's brother is a lobbyist with a client list that includes Florida Crystals and Wal-Mart."

Getting ahead quickly in Tallahassee means raising money from, among others, lobbyists. That will be easier for those in power, now that the Legislature has repealed the two-decades-old ban on "leadership funds." Gov. Crist blocked repeal last year. Gov. Scott is fine with what amount to slush funds financed by those who want something from the Legislature.

Haridopolos to announce money haul

"Haridopolos and session fundraising part 2". Earlier: "Haridopolos, 'the law,' and fundraising during session".

Imagine that, a bid dispute

"Florida's much-anticipated prescription drug database is finally underway after Department of Health officials on Friday signed off on an order ending the bid dispute that's held the system at bay for more than a year." "Florida signs a deal to combat rogue clinics, but debate isn’t over". Related: "Florida signs a deal to combat rogue clinics, but debate isn’t over".

Scott gutting DCA

Andrew Marra: "Scott and the Legislature have in mind far more than streamlining. They would all but eliminate one of the most important voices planning Florida's future. Under the guise of ending 'job-killing regulation,' they would actually make it harder for the state to attract new jobs." "Gov. Scott, legislators should improve, not gut, agency that helps plan state's future".

FCAT Follies

"State to debut FCAT changes".

Will Teabag agendaresonate with voters next year?

"Florida's Legislature headed into the second half of its 2011 session this week pushing an aggressive conservative agenda that critics call harsh but Republican leaders are confident will resonate with voters next year. Unions, teachers, students, state workers, lawyers, the courts, Medicaid recipients and women seeking an abortion are among those in the GOP bulls-eye along with nearly any mandate that comes from Washington." "GOP advances conservative agenda".

So, Marco Rubio, are you the one?

There's little doubt Florida's junior senator has the presidency in mind, if not yet in his sights. That became abundantly clear recently in an op-ed piece he wrote for The Wall Street Journal, in which he declared that he would vote against an increase in the national debt limit unless it was the last one ever authorized. To accomplish this, he wrote, the increase must be coupled with a plan for tax, regulatory and entitlement reform, a slash in discretionary spending, and a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Rubio has staked out his political turf. His governing philosophy will appeal to tea partiers, for sure, but Rubio possesses superior intelligence [compared to your average teabagger, that is] and communication skills [compared to your average right wing pundit, that is], and he's more than capable of going head-to-head in political debate with the best the Democrats have to offer. One of his strengths is that he's able to convey his message in a simple, nonthreatening, and educational manner. In other words, he has the ability to sell his ideas to a broad spectrum of the electorate.

Rubio's not yet ready for presidential prime time, and 2012 isn't his year. But it would be a surprise, and a huge mistake, if the GOP elders don't select him to make the keynote address at next year's nominating convention.

Few Legislative successes for FlaDems

"Legislative successes are few and far between for Democrats in Tallahassee, where Republicans control the House and Senate with a veto-proof majority." "Tallahassee: A lonely place for Democrats".

Capitol Roundup

"With the halfway point of the 2011 legislative session officially in the rear view mirror, Florida lawmakers this week spent much of their time teeing up spending plans, setting up a month of negotiations over retiree benefits and other budget differences -- and mounting uncertainty over the governor’s response to being only one leg of a three-legged stool." "Capitol Roundup: Follow the Money".

Protest planning

"Next year, Tampa hosts the 2012 Republican National Convention, when the party will nominate a challenger to incumbent President Barack Obama. ... "If a city wants to host a national political convention, then they also have to be prepared to host a protest," said Michael Pheneger, president of the ACLU in Florida. 'We believe that we could add something to the planning process.'" "ACLU wants seat at GOP convention planning table".

"It's quite a loaded plate"

The Sun-Sentinel editors: "Wasserman Schultz, a Weston Democrat, has been an unabashed liberal and a passionate spokesperson for Democratic ideals and issues. So, yes, the four-term congresswoman will get a chance to be all that on a huge national stage after being picked by President Obama to lead the DNC. In recent years, Wasserman Schultz has taken a much bigger public role as a party leader, but now she, along with Obama, will be the main faces of the Democratic Party heading into the pivotal 2012 elections. The question is, can she juggle those responsibilities and still serve her constituents and play the role of deal-maker in the House? It's quite a loaded plate." "Wasserman Schultz faces challenging juggling act".

Rivera's Press Secretary's job to rewrite history

Fred Grimm: "Leslie Veiga, known in the Wiki universe as 'Lmveiga,' ought to be collecting at least $800,000 from her boss."

David Rivera paid his favorite political consultant, Esther Nuhfer, at least $817,000 since 2006. Whatever Nuhfer did to earn her money – her invoices were not so illuminating – it could have hardly has been as challenging as the task assigned to Veiga, Congressman Rivera’s beleaguered press secretary.

Veiga’s job was to rewrite history – Rivera’s history. A murky pursuit, indeed.

Politico, the Washington-based online political journal, reported this week that a certain “Lmveiga,” AKA Leslie Veiga, had gone into the Wikipedia article on U.S. Rep. Rivera and added, with a generous flair, a list of “Rivera’s legislative accomplishments.”

Lmveiga then erased a chunk of the Miami congressman’s Wikipedia bio, the stuff under the category of “controversies.” Unlike Rivera’s legislative accomplishments, his controversies entry had considerable heft.

Wikipedia, before Lmveiga scrubbed things up last month, had included a reference to a 1994 domestic dispute that U.S. Rep. David Mauricio Rivera said must have involved another David M. Rivera. Not him. Which led to an entry recalling a 2002 traffic collision in which a car driven by Rivera happened to crash into a truck loaded with salacious political fliers targeting Rivera (with details from the 1994 abuse case). The truck had been rushing to beat a post office deadline. Rivera explained to police that he thought the truck was full of his own campaign fliers. The wreck, well, that was just an accident.

But the explanation, laid out in Wikipedia, didn’t look so credible. Not to a savvy press secretary. Out it came.

She also expunged the section about Rivera amending his state financial disclosure affidavit after his purported former employer, USAID, inspected its files and found no record of David Rivera working as either an employee or a contractor. The Wikipedia entry noted, “Rivera said he had worked for subcontractors to whom he had promised anonymity.”

Lmveiga realized, despite the explanation, it still looked hinky. Better just erase the whole mess.

Then came the bit about the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigating $500,000 in payments to Rivera’s mother from a Miami dog track although owners thought they were hiring Rivera. Not his momma. Zap that, Lmveiga decided.

Unhappily for Lmveiga, the Wikipedia community has become hip to congressional staffers sanitizing their bosses’ Wiki bios.

RPOFers "relentless champions of top-down government"

The Tampa Trib editors: "Members of the Florida House surprised the state's elections supervisors when a committee passed a bill that would enact sweeping election reforms few people anticipated."

Under the tutelage of Speaker Dean Cannon, state Rep. Dennis Baxley's 14-page bill grew to 128 pages almost overnight. It passed out of the House Government Operations Committee on a party-line April Fools Day vote, despite opposition from supervisors, unions, advocacy groups and Democrats. ...

It is one more case of lawmakers trying to ensure Tallahassee controls every aspect of government, including local decisions. This "conservative" Legislature is a relentless champion of top-down government.

Bill Maxwell wants you to "Get it straight"

Bill Maxwell wants you to "Get it straight: I'm no conservative".

"Republican from Sanford", 'nuff said

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The bill by Rep. Jason Brodeur, a Republican from Sanford, was rammed through a House committee last week."

If the measure becomes law, Florida's hotel industry, which contributes mightily to the state's economy, will be put at a permanent competitive disadvantage.

The scamming begins

"Florida House Readies for Redistricting".

Second amendment stoopid

"Man hit by shrapnel after firing BB gun at live cartridge".

Florida's "foul, fish-killing algae blooms" get second chance

"The rules – which the EPA has postponed to give the state more time – are aimed at reducing nitrogen and phosphorous that have helped trigger foul, fish-killing algae blooms in Florida waters from the St. Johns River to Florida Bay. A coalition of powerful critics, though, says the regulations go too far and will overburden local governments and businesses." "Costs of water quality standards rules re-examined".

Norman joins coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats

"Norman voted against a leadership-backed proposal to forbid public employee unions from deducting dues from members' paychecks. It's advancing in the Senate, and a similar bill passed the House. He also joined a coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats seeking to soften the changes in public employee pensions." "Despite freshman mistake, Norman makes mark in first session".

"Southern apologists seek glory in acts of treason"

Leonard Pitts Jr. reminds us that "on Tuesday morning, it will be 150 years since the Civil War began."

So this seems an apt moment to speak in memory’s defense. As Confederate battle flags flap from truck grills and monuments, as tourists gather around pigeon-stained statues of dead rebels baking under the Dixie sun, as Southern apologists seek glory in acts of treason, and as all of the above studiously avoid coming too close to the heart of the matter, to its cause, it is worth remembering that their forebears were not as circumspect.

To the contrary, they said clearly and without shame that they fought for slavery.

If that makes someone uncomfortable, good. It should.

But you do not deal with that discomfort by telling lies of omission about yesterday. You do not deal with it by pretending treason is glory. No, you deal with it by listening to the hard things the past has to say — and learning from them.

This nation took so much from the men and women it kidnapped. It took dignity, it took labor, it took family, it took home, it took names. In the end, the last thing any of us has is the memory of ourselves we bequeath the future, the reminder that we were here.

And to their everlasting dishonor, some of us want to take that, too.

More Rubio Teabaggery

Tom Jackson does some free pub for the Teabaggers with this piece of alleged journalism today: "Area groups are, even now, preparing for their Third Annual TaxDay Tampa Bay Tea Party, with Pasco activists very much in the mix."

The rally, set for the north parking lot of Raymond James Stadium on Friday, begins at 4 p.m. Freshman U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Tea Party favorite if not a member of Congress' Tea Party Caucus, is the keynote speaker.

Barbour reminisces about White Citizen Councils

"Haley Barbour talks presidential politics in Tallahassee".

Unfair tuition increases

Saint Pete editors: "It’s reasonable to keep raising historically low tuition at Florida universities until it hits the national average. Yet it’s unfair to again embrace tuition increases of up to 15 percent while again cutting state funding for universities." "Passing buck on education".

Florida legislators fail

Scott Maxwell writes, "So legislators think merit pay is the way to go, eh? ... How about paying Florida politicians based on empirical evidence and data as well? Here are the criteria:"

•The economy. It stinks. Yeah, yeah, I know. It's not your fault. It's Obama's. Most everything evil is. Here's the thing: America's unemployment rate is 8.9 percent. Florida's is 11.5 percent. So your state stinks worse than his nation. (And you've been in charge a lot longer.) Your grade: F.

•Ethics. Let's see. The Senate president was just admonished for hiding his finances. There have been closed-door meetings. You rejected bills for tighter ethics laws. And one of you even had the gall to draft legislation that would allow lobbyists to give you more gifts. On the bright side: Unlike past sessions, no one's been indicted! Grade: D.

•Low taxes. Thanks to no income taxes, Florida's tax burden is lower than the national average for residents. And it's even better for corporations. The vast majority of Florida businesses pay no corporate income tax at all. Grade: A.

•Fair taxes. In recent years, lawmakers have jacked up costs for things such as drivers licenses. (They think if they call it a "fee" you won't notice.) Yet they have so many loopholes for corporations and special interests, massive companies such as Carnival Cruise Lines end up paying total tax rates of as little as 1 percent. Hmm. Do you pay 1 percent? Grade: F.

•Housing. Florida has one of the highest foreclosure rates in America and the highest inventory of homes in distress. Grade: F.

•Civics. Legislators have shown disdain and disregard for bedrock principles of our country and Constitution. They're using your money to try to overturn your vote — paying lawyers $300 an hour to fight Fair Districts. And they seem to have little regard for our Founding Fathers' belief in separate branches of government as they launch repeated attacks on the judiciary. Grade: F.

•Vocabulary. One word: "uterus." Grade: F.

•Organization. Our legislative leaders are very efficient at moving things along without wasting time on endless floor debates … or considering of differing viewpoints. Grade: B.

•Basic reading skills. Some legislators have eagle eyes. Others seem unable to explain their own bills. I don't want to embarrass anyone specifically. But if you claim you didn't know your bill would help only one company (Chris Dorworth for Darden) or would violate the U.S. Constitution (Jason Brodeur trying to imprison pediatricians for asking questions) you're either lying or you're a dolt. Grade: C.

Tally has no luv 4 men in uniform

"Lobbying efforts have been frustrating in a year in which the word of law enforcement doesn't carry the clout that it once did." "Pinellas Sheriff Jim Coats finds legislators don't necessarily love a man in uniform".

West threat

"A letter containing white powder and a threat was opened at U.S. Rep. Allen West’s campaign office here on Friday afternoon, prompting a HazMat response and an FBI investigation, officials said." "Authorities: Powder sent to Rep. Allen West's Boca office is not anthrax".

Like a good friend?

"S. Fla. State Farm customers could see rates rise 64%".

As Scott whines, database gets green light

"Despite continued objections from Gov. Rick Scott, a prescription drug monitoring database has been given a green light." "Drug database set for launch". See also "Florida officials set to revive stalled pain pill database".