Bitter and exhausted Republicans had officially extended the session into overtime late Friday as the House and Senate began killing each other's bills unexpectedly.

"It's an enormous power struggle," said Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico. She blamed the meltdown on the proliferation of what are known as conference reports, which are the product of joint House-Senate committees.

In all, legislative leaders wanted rank-and-file lawmakers to pass 44 of them. Some of the legislation was decided in the final days, involved few lawmakers and made major policy changes that irked those who weren't on the inside. It was a powder keg. And despite the fact that Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature, they ran out of time and patience with each other.

"It just didn't work out," Senate President Mike Haridopolos said after midnight. "We would rather get it right then get out on time."

"Conservative revolution"

Aaron Deslatte says "no one should be surprised at what is happening in Tallahassee. It has been telegraphed for years, as Cannon and Haridopolos have promised that they would engineer a conservative revolution if they could build supermajorities in both chambers and keep a Republican in the Governor's Mansion."

Democrats now represent little more than a back-bench distraction. Their greatest achievements in the House this year were preventing a property-tax break for businesses from going to voters sooner than the 2012 general election, and the now-infamous blowup over the use of the word "uterus" on the floor.

In both chambers, they hold fewer than one-third of the seats, so they are virtually powerless to hold up legislation. This year, Republicans even put a clock on the House chamber's overhead screen to set time limits on debate, cutting Democrats off in midsentence when they went beyond their allotted five to 10 minutes.

Yes, this is the state of political discourse in the Florida House: the minority party treated like a high-school debate team.

The institutional power of the GOP supermajority allows it to do so. Four years ago, then-House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber was able to stage a face-off with then-Speaker Marco Rubio that brought the House to a grinding halt as the Democrats demanded each bill be read in full. But with less than one-third of the 120 House seats, Democrats can't even put a speed bump in Cannon's agenda.

"Session is dynamic; it's a very short, time-limited event. In a part-time Legislature, you've got 60 days to get everything done," Cannon said. "We were more organized; we had more thoughtful use of procedures."

In the Legislature's world, the winner writes the rules. And Republicans have been doing a lot of winning, for a long time.

Session whoppers

"Any whoppers from the session? Well ...".

Haridopolos' coloring book

"The state Democratic Party distributed the 16-page spoof among lobbyists and staffers on the fourth floor of the Capitol as lawmakers rushed toward adjournment of the 2011 session Friday. For years, Haridopolos has been hounded about his $152,000 book deal at Brevard Community College, which printed a single copy of 'Florida Legislative History and Processes.'" "Democrat: Dems release coloring book mocking Haridopolos' book ".

"Environmental advocates with a one-two punch"

"Florida legislators hit environmental advocates with a one-two punch in the final two days of the session, wiping out 30 years of growth management law and passing measures to restrict the public from challenging controversial development projects in the name of economic development." "Florida lawmakers wipe out 30 years of growth management law". See also "Bill to end growth oversight passes".

Public dollars for religious groups

"Florida lawmakers sent the emotional debate over the separation of church and state to the ballot on the last day of the legislative session Friday, signing off on a constitutional amendment dealing with spending public money for religious groups." "Lawmakers allow repeal of religious aid ban to go to 2012 ballot".

"Class-size 'fix'"?

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "In normal times, piling more students into classes would not be considered a good thing. In these times, when Gov. Scott and the Legislature are downright hostile toward public schools, relaxing class-size requirements is a practical way to reduce the impact of the Legislature's $1.3 billion cuts in education funding." "Budgets shrink, classes grow: Class-size 'fix' is only favor Legislature gave schools".

"Budget bosses"

Steve Bousquet: "Budget bosses then and now".

"Cannibalizing ourselves in court."

Fred Grimm: "Don’t worry. Despite the most brutal budget cuts in state history, the taxpayers of Florida still have millions set aside for their epic battle against the taxpayers of Florida. Both houses of the Florida Legislature managed to find plenty of money — also known as your money — for the slush funds underwriting their costly lawsuit against the Fair Districts amendments." "They use our money to fight us".

Medicaid deform

"Florida Legislature Passes Medicaid Reform". See also "Florida Medicaid undergoes major rewrite, to shift 2.9 million people into managed care" and "Florida Senate passes historic Medicaid overhaul".

"Unholy trinity of church, state and commerce"

Kenric Ward writes that an "Unholy trinity of church, state and commerce kills immigration bills -- again".

It was a slow death that tea party groups and others say they will not forget at the 2012 elections. After perennial bait-and-switch promises from Republicans, citizen anger is reaching critical mass.

It was a slow death that tea party groups and others say they will not forget at the 2012 elections. After perennial bait-and-switch promises from Republicans, citizen anger is reaching critical mass.

Much of the disgust was directed at Senate President Mike Haridopolos and Budget Chairman J.D. (rhymes with "shady") Alexander, who honchoed the E-Verify bill into oblivion.

Haridopolos, who is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, can say he voted for the ill-fated measure. Yet that claim doesn't hold much water because he strategically placed Alexander and Anitere Flores in key committee chairs, where they could fiddle with the bill until it was too late.

Also on the hit list are 10 other Senate Republicans who voted against SB 2040 -- and they didn't say "nay" over concerns that it had been watered down.

Led by Alexander and Flores, this herd of RINOs fell into line with lockstep Democrats: Ellyn Bogdanoff, Charlie Dean, Nancy Detert, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, Rene Garcia, Dennis Jones, Jack Latvala, Jim Norman, Garrett Richter and Steve Wise.

Little noted but equally culpable were House Republican leaders who just ran out the clock on HB 7089, a tougher E-Verify and enforcement measure authored by Rep. Will Snyder. In a session-ending stare-down with the Senate, the House didn't even bother to take up its bill or the Senate's -- completing the twin killing.

"Schoolchildren are taught the slaves were freed from their shackles," Fuller said, noting that this year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. "The fact is, economic slavery did not end then and has continued to this day.

"As one Florida grower put it, 'We used to own them, now we just rent them,'" Fuller related.

And so it goes. While businesses "rent" undocumented workers for "slave" wages, Floridians foot the bill for educating, medicating and incarcerating illegal aliens at an estimated cost of nearly $5.5 billion annually ... and the politicians say wait till next year.

Unemployment slashed

"Florida lawmakers cut unemployment benefit duration". See also "Lawmakers cut unemployment benefits to 23 weeks".

Recall

"Kriseman petitions for citizens to be able to recall officials".

"A depressing metaphor"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "By state Sen. Mike Bennett's muddled reasoning, voting should be an onerous burden designed to discourage all but those with the means and time to travel far to exercise their constitutional rights."

In making an indefensible argument supporting the Florida Legislature's effort to suppress voting by reducing early voting, hampering provisional voting and hamstringing third-party voter registration groups, Bennett contended voting has become too easy. "I want them to fight for it," the senator said. "I want them to have to walk across town to vote."

Exactly whom does he mean by "them"? Poor people who rely on public transportation? Working people who don't have time to drive across town to cast ballots? Minority residents who should not have to leave their neighborhoods to find a voting booth?

Bennett's arrogance serves as a depressing metaphor ...

"Cannon's plan could return, zombie-like"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "House Speaker Dean Cannon's politically driven proposal to divide and pack the Florida Supreme Court is dead — for now. It expired this week after running into bipartisan opposition from senators who recognized it as an assault on the independence of the state's highest court."

But because the speaker won't take no for an answer, the plan could return next year, zombie-like. While cutting $4 billion in spending for education, health care and other basic services in next year's budget — Cannon called it "the toughest budget in modern history" — negotiators slipped in $400,000 to pay for a study of the speaker's plan to divide the high court into criminal and civil divisions.

Accidents will happen

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "A bill sent to Gov. Rick Scott breaks the connection between released felons getting their civil rights restored and qualifying for public jobs and state occupational and professional licenses." "Bright spot on civil rights".

It's been a busy, busy, busy time in Tallahassee, or as it is better known among the capital's influence peddlers: Pols to Go.

The Legislature has been presided over by those two noted used shark salesmen of state politics, least-selling author Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Where's Mine?, who received $152,000 to pen a single copy of Florida Government — A Coloring Book, and House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-A Gift? For Me? You Shouldn't Have, who while insisting he has no further electoral aspirations, still lathered himself in $365,000 in presession gratuities from deep-pocketed special interests.

Imagine how well Cannon would have done had he been consumed with ambition?

Voter suppression bill on Scott's desk

"In a move critics say is aimed at helping Republican chances in 2012, the Legislature on Thursday rewrote the rules for voting in Florida. The bill now goes to Gov. Rick Scott, a harsh critic of President Barack Obama, who needs another Florida victory to secure a new term." "Florida Legislature passes rewritten election rules critics say aim to suppress voter turnout". See also "Elections Bill Heads to Gov. Rick Scott’s Desk", "Scott gets bill cutting early voting days and making it tougher to register voters" and "Bill cutting early voting hours heads to governor".

"Florida college students, military personnel, low-income and minority voters and anyone who might change addresses between elections are all raising their voices in opposition to state House Bill 1355 and Senate Bill 2086. And for good reason. These Floridians will have the hardest time exercising their right to vote if these bills become law, according to experts." "Voter suppression toxic for democracy".

Making it easier for developers to sidestep challenges

"The Republican-dominated House voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to reverse a fundamental concept that has guided Florida environmental law for the past 30 years." "House GOP votes to undo a key environmental-protection law".

"Lawmakers sent to Gov. Rick Scott a controversial proposal that environmentalists say will make it easier for developers to sidestep challenges to development. The House voted 79-36 late Thursday to approve a bill (HB 993) that was amended by the Senate this week to include a change to state law involving protests in environmental permitting. Republicans, who supported the proposal, said it removes obstacles to development and will create jobs." "Lawmakers approve controversial permitting bill". See also "Bill sent to Scott makes it harder to challenge developers", "Lawmakers Approve Controversial Permitting Bill" and "Activists appalled by environmental-law changes in Florida".

Feces ... as far as the nose can smell

"Every year, more than 90 companies across Florida pump the waste from about 100,000 septic tanks. Where does it all end up? State officials estimate 40 million gallons of it is treated with lime and then sprayed on farmers' fields as fertilizer."

But the septic tank waste is a potential wellspring of disease and can lead to water pollution and toxic algae blooms. So last year, the Legislature voted to ban the practice known as "land application" starting in 2016, and in the meantime ordered state health officials to look for alternatives.

This year, though, water pollution and the spread of disease are far less of a political concern, and the probusiness Legislature is poised to repeal the ban before it even takes effect.

RPOFer workin' for that federal handout

"Ander Crenshaw Battles Once Again for Nuclear Carrier in Mayport".

Drug test folly

"HB 353 requires all adult recipients of federal cash benefits — the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program — to pay for the tests, which are typically around $35. The screen would be for all controlled substances and applicants would have to disclose any legal prescriptions. Recipients who test positive for drugs would lose their benefits for a year. If they fail a second time, they lose the benefits for three years. Parents who test positive must designate another adult to receive benefits on behalf of their children." "Bill requiring welfare recipients to take drug tests headed to governor".

The Legislature at work

"Lawmakers finally pass droopy pants bill".

RPOF priorities

"The Senate sent a pair of abortion bills to Gov. Rick Scott, but not after GOP Sen. Evelyn Lynn scolded fellow lawmakers for spending too much time on the contentious abortion issue instead of creating jobs." "Rick Scott prepares to sign ultrasound abortion bill".

Playing for teabaggers

"The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature has put an amendment on next year's ballot aimed at thwarting the federal health care overhaul. Republicans derided the federal law as 'Obamacare' in debate Wednesday before a mostly party line 80-37 vote in the House." "House puts health care measure on Fla. ballot".

"High-powered lobbying"

"A controversial bill intended to combat the state's prescription drug-abuse woes appeared in jeopardy Thursday in part due to a dispute tied to the high-powered lobbying of two workers' comp doctors." "Florida pill-mill crackdown held up by dispute over doctors' offices".

Ricky gets his

"With back-slapping praise — and Republicans applauding Democrats — the Florida House on Thursday sent a $30 million corporate income tax cut to Gov. Rick Scott." "House approves corporate tax cut for Gov. Rick Scott". See also "Florida House Expands Corporate Income Tax Breaks".

Sunrail hopes

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "With Gov. Rick Scott now less than two months from making his decision on SunRail, those looking to influence him on the commuter train for Central Florida have adopted two distinct styles."

The pro-SunRail side: Determined. Confident.

The anti-SunRail force: Complaining. Desperate.

"Lots of time trying to solve imaginary problems"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "State legislators have spent lots of time trying to solve imaginary problems, but when it comes to real problems they are paralyzed."

The Legislature, for instance, has approved a number of bills that would make it harder for women to get abortions and attempt to restrict money for abortions, which are legal procedures for which public financing already is prohibited by state and federal law. What, exactly, is the problem? Meanwhile, seven Floridians are dying each day from prescription drug abuse, and bills that would address this very real public threat remain in limbo.

"Insurers to pass along increases to customers"

"The Senate passed SB 408 on a 26-11 vote Thursday just moments after it was almost derailed by an amendment offered by Sen. Mike Fasano that missed being approved by a single vote. Fasano, R-New Port Richey, targeted a provision in the bill that would allow insurers to pass along increases of up to 15 percent to customers to help cover reinsurance costs." "Property insurance overhaul headed to Gov. Rick Scott". See also "Bill making major home insurance changes approved".

Never mind that separation of church and state thing

"The Florida Senate advanced a constitutional amendment Thursday that would allow state funds to be used by church-related groups for social services. The House-passed proposal was set for a final floor vote today, the last day of the legislative session, to put it on the 2012 election ballot." "Senate to vote on state funding of church-backed social services ".

"The state's inequitable taxing system"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The Legislature is giving voters another chance to cut selected property taxes in what has become a regular exercise that has nothing to do with either local revenue needs or fairness."

Longstanding tax breaks for Florida homeowners have over time shifted the property-tax load to business. Now the Legislature wants to change the result of its pro-homeowner policy and give business a bigger break. It also wants to give a jumbo tax shelter to homebuyers who haven't recently owned a home. These cuts are defensible within the state's inequitable taxing system, but support for this sort of tinkering is a symptom of bigger problems. What Florida really needs is an entirely new and more understandable system that treats all property owners pretty much the same.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Labeling catfish as sole and grouper lands seafood execs in prison".

"Looming teacher layoffs"?

"The Broward School Board is looking at $81 million in budget cuts in the schools, and that means teachers are going to lose their jobs. Already, rumors are going around that individuals will be notified Friday." "Rumors swirl about looming teacher layoffs". See also "Lawmakers took 'wrecking ball' to Florida schools, union chief says", "Fewer teachers, bigger classes" and "Schools Wail Over Budget, Lawmakers Say Cut the 'Fat'".

The rich get richer

Notice who is not getting hurt in this delightful list of budget casualties: "smaller paychecks for teachers, state employees and local government workers. Some public employees also will join more than 1 million fellow Floridians who are jobless due to layoffs by state agencies and school districts. College and university students will be paying more for tuition, and many will see their state-funded scholarships shrink.
Public school classrooms will be more crowded." "Florida. budget has plenty of pain to go around".

Rotting away in Margaritaville

"The chamber's budget chairs -- meeting in their last conference of the session -- signed off on dozens of final agreements Thursday buried within the 50 or so budget conforming bills that among other things, will lower the minimum weekly average of hours of direct-care that homes have to provide nursing care from 3.9 hours a day to 3.6 hours. Nursing assistant staffing hours would also drop from 2.7 hours to 2.5 hours." "Budget deal gives nursing homes lower staffing mandates".

"Cheap and illegal labor is good for business"

Scott Maxwell writes that "with one day left in the session, the legislature hasn't done squat on immigration reform. And here's the reality: Most lawmakers never planned to, either. Their corporate masters wouldn't allow it."

Cheap and illegal labor is good for business.

After all, not everyone is willing to pick tomatoes for 2 cents a pound.

Or cut grass for less than minimum wage.

So it shouldn't surprise anyone that Big Business hates the idea of mandatory E-Verification. ...

During the GOP primary, Scott's campaign website declared: "Rick will require all Florida employers to use the free E-Verify system to ensure that their workers are legal."

But then Scott won the primary … and the corporate check-writers who'd been backing McCollum started sucking up to Scott.

We haven't heard as much about E-Verify since.

There's still the slightest of chances these guys will actually do what they promised in the waning hours of this session.

But probably not.

They've already played many immigration-obsessed voters for saps once … and have little reason to think they can't do it again.

Teabagger speaks ... no one is listening

"Allen West: Did Pakistan shelter bin Laden?"

Medicaid deform

"HMOs and large health care networks are close to managing nearly all of Florida's $22 billion Medicaid program under an overhaul plan that surfaced in the final days of the lawmaking session."

The Medicaid reform plan, released and debated late Thursday after weeks of secret talks between House and Senate leaders, would require managed care companies to share profits, ban illegal immigrants from receiving benefits and give recipients the option of using a voucher to purchase private health insurance.

"Almost at a loss for words"

David Lawrence Jr., president and co-chair of the Children's Movement of Florida, president of the Early Childhood Initiative Foundation of Miami, and retired publisher of the Miami Herald, writes that "as a newspaperman for 35 years with a career built around an ability to put thoughts on paper, I am almost at a loss for words. How is it possible for the children of Florida to be left out in so many ways when funding decisions are made in Tallahassee?" "Legislature shows no love for children".

Cuban-American club

"The list of prominent Florida politicians with Spanish surnames is growing, a sign of the state's expanding Hispanic population. But the list is deceiving in one respect. It remains almost exclusively Cuban-American." "Cuban-Americans climb Florida's political ladder".

"The whole idea is to organize it, protect people from being taken advantage of and have some measure of accountability," said Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, the Senate sponsor.

But according to the Florida Department of State, there's been little election fraud in recent years — just 31 cases of alleged voter fraud referred to the Department of Law Enforcement for investigation between January 2008 and March 2011. Two cases resulted in arrests. In a third case, an arrest warrant was issued, but the suspect fled the country.

"Scott ... now looks like a poser"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "For all the talk about doing things differently in Tallahassee, state leaders finalized next year’s state budget the way it almost always has been done: in secret, with leaders getting what they want, regardless of what’s in Florida’s best interest."

Gov. Rick Scott, who claimed during his campaign that he would be different and not succumb to the Tallahassee machine, now looks like a poser. To strike a face-saving deal on corporate income tax breaks, Scott tacitly approved decisions by House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos to steer millions to hometown projects that could have been spent on education, health care and other priorities. This isn't reform; it's business as usual.

Today in Tally

"Today in Tallahassee: abortion, Medicaid". More: "Florida Senate Preps Pro-Life, Welfare Drug-Testing Bills" and "Senate poised to approve abortion bills today". Related: "End in Sight, House Tackles TABOR, School Choice and Concealed Weapon Bills".

Legislature stockpiling millions to fight FairDistricts

"While bemoaning deep cuts to health-care, education and public employee benefits, Florida lawmakers have stockpiled millions of dollars in funds that they control and are packing away even more to pay legal bills as Florida begins the partisan process of redistricting this year."

Buried within the $69.67 billion budget agreed to this week, the Senate is giving itself a 26 percent spending boost -- more than $9 million above last year -- to finance the coming legal fight.

The House, meanwhile, is sitting on $30 million in “discretionary” reserves -- cash that the chamber hasn’t spent over the years but that doesn’t revert back to the treasury, as do unspent dollars in state agencies’ budgets.

That little-known pot of cash is roughly the same size as the corporate income tax cut lawmakers gave to Gov. Rick Scott this week. And it’s more than what the Legislature authorized for a three-day sales-tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers in August.

Republican leaders in both chambers say they need the cash because they’re planning to spend up to $20 million litigating over the re-drawing of political maps that will began in earnest this summer. And they’re pointing the finger at the FairDistricts amendments voters passed last year to make it more difficult to gerrymander legislative and congressional districts.

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Gambling

"As Florida legislators prepared to pass bills to let greyhound tracks stop racing dogs and start installing slot-machine look-alikes, they also slashed $1 million from compulsive gambling prevention in their budget." "Florida lawmakers poised to expand gambling, cut compulsive gambling aid".

"" "".

Waiting for stoopidman ... he's here

"Huge expansion of charter schools and virtual schools approved by Legislature".

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "At a time when lawmakers propose deep cuts to public schools and higher education, the Republican-controlled Legislature wants to pass measures that will impose additional costs to K-12 education in the name of school choice. In an ideal world, a thorough vetting would have altered, if not killed, these more extreme measures. Unfortunately, that's not happening. ... the reality is the legislation would divert even more taxpayer funds from public schools to private ones without necessarily improving the state's schools." "School choice comes with a cost".

"'Thank God for the Senate'"

Howard Troxler: "Some people say Florida should switch to a one-chamber Legislature, like Nebraska. The theory seems to be the fewer politicians, the better. Not me, Jack."

This year the House speaker, Dean Cannon, was dead set on splitting the Florida Supreme Court in half, mostly because he didn't like some of its rulings.

Two state Supreme Courts! The Senate killed this goofy scheme. (Cannon did get some other court stuff that still might be bad ideas — a topic for another day.)

The House tried to deregulate 30 professions altogether. This was ideological and wacky. Do we really want to legalize fake charities and unscrupulous car mechanics in Florida? The Senate cut that list down to 10 professions, and a couple of those left are obsolete, anyway.

Gov. Rick Scott wanted a big tax cut for Florida corporations, on top of the deep budget cuts that have to be made this year. The Senate instead gave him a small cut in terms of dollars, but a savvy one — it eliminated taxes on thousands of small businesses. The governor had no choice but to take it and declare victory.

The House voted to cut the length of unemployment benefits in Florida. At the Senate's insistence, that length will stay the same, as long as unemployment is above a certain level.

The Senate killed one of the most heavily lobbied bills of the session, the push for electric companies to be able to raise rates to pay for renewable and alternative energy. ("Renewable energy" might sound like good-guy stuff, but it was really of a big cash grab by Florida Power & Light.)

The Senate killed a 25 percent increase in the premiums of Citizens Property Insurance Co. — a popular idea in the short run, although it only puts off some hard decisions.

The House got its way on at least one high-profile issue: The Senate tried to give Florida insurance companies a huge break by saying they no longer have to cover sinkholes. The House has decided they'll still have to, and the House will probably prevail.

Make no mistake: The Legislature overwhelmingly agrees on the big picture of big budget cuts and no new taxes of any kind. The two sides agreed on a repeal of teacher tenure, expanding charter schools and the odious "leadership funds" they legalized for fundraising.

But in general, the independent senators serve as a check and balance on the House, on the governor — and even on the Senate itself.

"" "".

Decisions ... decisions

"Former Ruth's Chris CEO may enter GOP primary to take on Bill Nelson but also could make second bid for Congress". "Craig Miller, Thinking About Running for U.S. Senate, Leaves 2012 Door Open".

Renewed opposition to SunRail

"Opposition to Orlando's SunRail commuter project has emerged anew, with organizers asking Gov. Rick Scott to be as tough on the project as he was on high-speed rail."

They started a website, VETOSunRail.org, focusing on the $1.2 billion cost of the project, which gives about $600 million in state tax money to private freight rail giant CSX.

Since the deal became public in 2007, opponents have complained CSX was gouging the state for use of its tracks. They oppose a CSX requirement that the state take liability for commuter accidents on the 61.5-mile line, even those in which CSX is at fault.

"The project has been fraught with problems since conception resulting in rejection by the state legislature twice," says the opposition site.

Unemployment benefit cut to Senate

"Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, amended a controversial bill Wednesday night to cut unemployment insurance and give state businesses a tax cut. The move bounces HB 7005 back to the Senate, where Republican Sen. Nancy Detert of Venice has said any changes could kill the entire proposal." "Unemployment benefit cuts head back to Florida Senate".

Secret Medicaid negotiations

"The Legislature is expected on Thursday to finally unveil and debate a measure to overhaul the safety net health care program. The House and Senate had drawn up rival plans but top lawmakers have been negotiating in private a compromise measure that won't be released to the public until the waning hours of the session." "Lawmakers expected to unveil Medicaid compromise after secret negotiations".

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"" "".

Haridopolos gets GOTV gift

"The Florida Legislature handed Senate President Mike Haridopolos an elections gift Wednesday when it approved two proposed constitutional amendments concerning health care and taxes that could join him on the 2012 ballot."

Haridopolos, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, said he proposed the amendments to give voters a choice over how their government is run.

One amendment would cap future state spending, while the other aims to block the requirement that people purchase health insurance, as outlined in President Obama's health care law. ...

Rep. Elaine Schwartz, D-Hollywood, said Republicans were just trying to gin up their base in a presidential election year, when Democrats tend to vote in larger numbers than Republicans.

Choice politics

"Florida lawmakers are poised to make the state's parental notification of abortion laws stricter, making it more difficult for a minor to get a judges' approval for the procedure." "Tougher abortion restrictions advance in Florida Senate".

"" "".

""

""

"" "".

Campbell-Randolph saga continues

"The Daphne Campbell-Scott Randolph saga continued Wednesday, with Rep. Campbell holding a press conference demanding that House Minority Leader Ron Saunders and Rep. Randolph publicly apologize for what she called bullying and sexist attacks." "Democrats say video shows tiff wasn't that bad".

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""

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Sweeping property insurance bill

"Plans to increase the rates of state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. by up to 25 percent are dead in the Legislature this year. But proposals are still moving forward in the private insurance market, most notably for sinkhole insurance." "House passes sweeping property insurance bill".

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Something — anything on Immigration bill

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Florida lawmakers have been more restrained than most in the fray over illegal immigration, a problem best solved at the federal level. Yet legislators feel pressure from constituents to do something — anything — to express their displeasure with Washington's inability to craft comprehensive reform." "Path to immigration reform". See also "Florida immigration bill moves through Senate, but House approval seen unlikely" and "Protesters take some credit for weakened immigration bill".

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"" "".

Another RPOFer flip flop

"Sen. Mike Bennett said Wednesday that his view has changed since the beginning of the week -- he now wants to place the burden of proof on challengers to local development decisions."

On Wednesday, the Senate passed the HB 993, the House version of Bennett's rulemaking bill, while it passed over his SB 1122 sweeping growth management bill on the special order calendar. Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine and Rules Committee chairman, said the growth bill could be taken up Thursday.

Senate and House budget negotiators agreed last week to include the growth measure in a budget conforming bill. The conforming bill would place the burden of proof on legal challengers to growth decisions -- a measure opposed by environmentalists.

""

Destroy wetlands? ... where do I sign?

"Bill that critics say would pave the way for farmers to destroy wetlands heads to governor".

How the mighty have fallen

"Video: Charlie Crist in TV ad for Morgan & Morgan".

With Hasner out, bestiality ban passes

"After three years, the Florida House has dropped its opposition to banning sex with animals. For years, the bill was blocked from coming up, with former Republican leader Adam Hasner repeatedly saying a bestiality ban would become a mockery and would lead to unwelcome publicity". "House sends bestiality ban to governor".

Today in Tally

"Today in Tallahassee: Property insurance". See also "Florida House Gears Up for a Busy Wednesday".

"Legislators spend that much renovating their offices"

"For decades, Florida has also run an aquatic-preserve program."

Preserves are hundreds of thousands of acres of protected waters, submerged lands and seagrass beds where fish breed, life-nurturing plants bloom and manatees seek refuge.

They range from 350,000 acres in Pinellas County to 4,700 acres in Mosquito Lagoon.

These preserves support Florida industries from sportfishing to tourism — and, of course, wildlife. So a bare-bones staff patrols these waters, looking for pollution, damaged nesting areas and healthy root systems.

Yet the budget calls for closing four of the 11 offices that monitor and safeguard these preserves — mostly in north and west Florida, leaving more than a dozen preserves unprotected.

State officials make no pretenses about the impact. "Although the aquatic preserves will remain designated, all coastal education and resource-monitoring programs at these locations will likely be eliminated," said Kristin Lock, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The savings netted by abandoning these waters? About $800,000.

Legislators have spent that much money renovating their offices.

Heck, you could find that money 50 times over by simply taxing bottled water the same as we do soda. That break alone costs the state more than $40 million.

"These preserves are the basis for the entire coastal ecosystem," said Julie Wraithmell, the director of wildlife conservation for Audubon Florida. "They are the nursery for our birds. They help assure the rest of the nation that our seafood is safe to eat. They are essential."

Among other things, the bill curtails local regulation of mining, weakens wetlands protections and undermines rules designed to protect groundwater from landfill pollution.

The bill would have been even more egregious if sponsor Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Panama City Republican, had not agreed to eliminate a prohibition on public challenges. Incredibly, that provision would have forced citizens to prove a project would pollute rather than requiring the developer to show a project would not be harmful.

Such antics are all too characteristic of Tallahassee these days, where the primary concern is pleasing special interests.

State representatives this week also passed the equally lamentable House Bill 239, which would dramatically weaken water quality standards, including for the Everglades.

Workers' comp proposal dies in deal

"A budget deal reached Tuesday does not include a controversial proposal to limit how much doctors can charge for dispensing drugs to workers-compensation patients. Sen. Alan Hays, a Umatilla Republican who spearheaded the proposal, said it did not survive budget negotiations between the House and Senate. Former Gov. Charlie Crist also vetoed such limits last year." "Workers Comp Prescription Issue Not in Budget Deal".

Romney nemesis to speak to FlaDems

"The keynote speaker at the Florida Democrats' annual fundraising gala June 11 will be Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who has functioned recently as a Democratic point man on potential GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. In interviews recently, Patrick, who succeeded Romney as governor of Massachusetts in 2006, has repeatedly praised Romney for something the former governor doesn't want to be praised for—passing a universal health care plan for Massachusetts that Democrats note is very similar to the plan passed by the Obama administration." "In shot at Romney, Florida Dems to host Deval Patrick".

Thrasher goes off deep end

"Thrasher goes overboard on claim that E-Verify would have stopped 9/11". See also "Senate rejects immigration proposal", "Immigration bill likely dead in Florida after emotional debate", "Florida immigration bill looks dead for this year" and "Florida senators, after emotional debate, defeat key provision of immigration bill".

From the "values" crowd

"Florida unemployment benefits would rise and fall along with the jobless rate and state businesses would get a tax break under a proposal approved Tuesday by the Florida Senate. The bill, HB 7005, now moves back to the House, where leaders want to limit state benefits — already among the nation's lowest and most difficult to receive — to no more than 20 weeks." "Florida Senate approves business tax cut that shrinks unemployment benefits". See also "Unemployment Compensation Reforms Pass Senate" and "Will "greedy and irrational" people kill off unemployment compensation reform?".

We don' need no stinkin' reger'lations

"Salmonella prompts Florida tomato recall". See also "Infected grape tomatoes from Florida farm recalled".

"The mind of typical state legislator"

Scott Maxwell offers "a window into the mind of your typical state legislator."

It's a scary place. But if we're going to deal with those who are trying to take Florida back to the Dark Ages, we must understand how they think.

Our subject is state Rep. Chris Dorworth.

DCA was busy killing projects "all the time." There were "numerous examples." Yet the man wanting to undermine DCA couldn't cite a single one.

This, my friends, is what passes for leadership in your state.

Facts, logic and our natural resources are becoming casualties of an ideological war.

Developers say they want to build more easily, without regard for clogged roads, crowded schools, the environment or the higher taxes you will have to pay for their far-flung projects. Dorworth and his GOP pals are happy to do their bidding.

In fact, Republicans are so smitten with Dorworth's sophisticated and well-versed take on complicated issues that they have selected him as a future House speaker.

Still waiting for superman

"Parents of students at Imani Elementary Charter Academy in Orlando may have to find new classrooms for their children with less than a month left in the school year." "Troubled Imani charter school could close".

Cannon's fit

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Splitting the Florida Supreme Court into separate criminal and civil divisions and adding three justices was always more about Republican House Speaker Dean Cannon's animosity toward the high court than any pressing need. Now that Cannon's original idea has been defeated by moderate state Senate Republicans joining Senate Democrats, what's left of the proposed constitutional amendment is just distasteful, not disastrous. Even so, the changes should not be made."

what remains would still harm the independence of Florida's judiciary. It would subject Florida Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor to confirmation by the state Senate, an expensive and unnecessary step since the Senate would likely have to be called back into session. The Legislature also would be able to repeal court-established rules of practice and procedure by a simple majority vote rather than the two-thirds currently required.

Ultimately, any changes would have to be approved by voters, who would have to pass the amendment by 60 percent. But the measure remains an untenable product of Cannon's ire at the high court for rejecting three constitutional amendments that the Republican-led Legislature wanted on the 2010 ballot.

Police and fire pensions "modestly" gutted

"Despite warnings that many Florida cities face deep deficits in their retirement accounts, legislators are allowing local governments to make only modest changes to their local pension accounts this year."

Lawmakers rejected a call from Gov. Rick Scott to require all local governments to abandon the traditional defined contribution pension plans and put all employees into 401(k)-style defined contribution plans, a move many feared would cost more money in the short term than it would save.

They also refrained from changing a 12-year-old law that allows them to use the money they receive from the state's insurance premium tax to help close their pension fund deficits.

Instead, the Senate has passed and the House is expected to approve SB 1128. It imposes new restrictions on how retirees calculate their pension benefits but leaves in place a provision that requires local government to use revenue from a state tax on insurance premiums to pay for additional benefits. The compromise won the support of both cities as well as union representatives, who feared deep cuts to benefits.

House Tackles Education Issues

"Florida House Tackles Education Issues as Final Week Begins".

"The state violated Florida's Constitution"

"A circuit court judge has ruled that the state violated Florida's Constitution by failing to raise the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation."

The decision means that beginning June 1, the minimum wage will rise from $7.25 an hour to $7.31 an hour. For tipped workers, it will increase from $4.23 an hour to $4.29 an hour.

Leon Circuit Judge Terry Lewis this week sided with groups representing Florida workers, who sued early this year, claiming the Agency for Workforce Innovation incorrectly calculated the state's minimum wage, costing workers about 6 cents an hour.

Lewis ruled that although the minimum wage can be increased due to inflation, the state constitution does not permit the wage to be decreased when the cost of living falls.

"Ballot War"

"Nelson, GOP Wage Ballot War in Wake of Bin Laden Assassination".

Will they "participate in the pain"?

"If elected county officials want to 'participate in the pain,' they will be able to voluntarily reduce their paychecks under legislation unanimously approved by the state Senate Tuesday, the day after it unanimously passed in the House. The legislation, which now goes to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature, allows county commissioners, circuit court clerks, county comptrollers, sheriffs, supervisors of elections, property appraisers and tax collectors, whose salaries are set under a formula in state statute, to voluntarily take pay cuts." "Senate OKs bill that lets county officials cut their own pay".

Public employees at work

"A wildfire has burned more than 16,400 acres of Big Cypress National Preserve, threatening endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers and Florida panthers. ... Using helicopters and swamp buggies, firefighters from across the United States are creating firebreaks in an attempt to prevent the blaze from spreading. By Tuesday afternoon, it was just 15 percent contained."16,400 acres scorched by Big Cypress National Preserve wildfire".

Florida wingnuts move to their next conspiracy

Frank Cerabino writes that "it took only a matter of minutes after bin Laden's targeted killing was posted on PalmBeachPost.com before this comment appeared":

"There is little doubt that this body is some poor towel head that stepped on his own IED and blew himself into too few pieces to be recognizable!!" the comment read. "BARAMA desprately (sic) needs this lie to shut the press up about his doctored birth certificate hoax!"

"Legalizing tax evasion"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Floridians caught cheating on their taxes don't expect government to look the other way. But that is exactly what 77 members of the Florida House agreed to do this week for out-of-state travel service companies that evade paying all the sales taxes they owe. Now it's up to the Florida Senate to stand for fairness for all Floridians and refuse to go along." "Bill legalizes travel sites' tax evasion".

Hundreds of millions of dollars in health and human services programs dealing with the state's most vulnerable citizens remain the sticking point between the two chambers.

Work on the budget must be completed by Tuesday afternoon for lawmakers to finish by midnight Friday, the scheduled end of the session. State law requires a 72-hour cooling-off period after the budget is released before the legislature can vote on it.

Today in Tally

"Today in Tallahassee: Deadline for a budget deal for on-time finish". See also "House Continues Hectic Pace as Session Winds Down".

"'The latest effort to punish teachers'"

"The passage of the new bill, HB 7087, has angered some union leaders and school administrators who say it is an unfair, mid-stream change for teachers already on the job." "Teachers with no tenure by July 1 likely out of luck". Related: "Florida House Tackles Education Issues as Final Week Begins".

Nelson criticizes election law overhaul bill

"Sen. Bill Nelson visited Tallahassee to criticize an election law overhaul bill that he believes will undermine the voting rights of college students and those serving in the military." "Nelson blasts Florida Legislature's 2012 election-law fixes". See also "Nelson, GOP Wage Ballot War in Wake of Bin Laden Assassination".

Dems resist Cannon's court packing scheme

"The Senate handed House Speaker Dean Cannon a partial victory Monday in his effort to overhaul the Florida Supreme Court but only after stripping out the most controversial measure."

Cannon wanted to expand the court from seven to 10 justices and create two five-member divisions, one for civil cases and one for criminal, allowing Republican Gov. Rick Scott to fill the vacancies.

But the concept was unacceptable to Democrats who saw it as a scheme to pack the court with justices sympathetic to Republican causes, as well as Senate Republicans who questioned the need for the change.

Self-immolation

"Daphne Campbell Demands Apology from Fellow House Dems".

With or without you?

"Central Florida's commuter rail project just took another step forward. The U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday signaled it is ready to enter into a multi-year funding agreement with the state of Florida to build the $1.2 billion project. It would link downtown Orlando with Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties. Congress now has 60 days to review the project." "Feds move Orlando area's SunRail train project forward".

"Tax shield"

"House passes tax shield for online travel companies".

Haridopolos goes off deep end

"The fate of SB 2040, which was scheduled for a vote Monday and then was pushed back to today, hangs in the balance in the Senate, where leaders must weigh conflicting interests exemplified by the very senators who have tried to shepherd the bill through the chamber."

Last week, Senate President Mike Haridopolos dropped the bill on Alexander's lap after yanking it from Sen. Anitere Flores, a Miami Republican who had initially put forth the measure. A Cuban-American, she could no longer back it after Haridopolos pushed for a more hard-line stance on cracking down illegal immigration.

Failure of another large Central Florida bank

"Despite signs of recovery in the U.S. economy, the recent failure of another large, locally based bank in Central Florida is an indication the state's community banks are still reeling from the real estate slump and recession, experts said Monday. Winter Park-based First National Bank of Central Florida, closed late Friday by regulators, had struggled for nearly three years with sour real estate loans and shrinking capital." "Winter Park bank's failure a sign of trouble still ahead?".

Trial lawyers win case

"The Florida Senate on Monday blew holes in a medical-malpractice bill backed by doctors and hospitals, as the House overwhelmingly approved the proposal across the Capitol. Senators eliminated key parts of the bill, including one that would shield hospitals from liability if contracted physicians commit malpractice. Hospitals often contract with outside groups of physicians, such as radiologists, to provide care. Critics said that part of the bill could hurt patients who go to hospitals and have little choice in their physicians. If a hospital is not liable -- and a doctor lacks malpractice insurance -- the patient might not be adequately compensated if malpractice occurs, they argued." "Senate Removes Key Provisions From Med Mal Bill".

"Shameful failure"

The Miami Herald editorial board says that "State allows abuse of elderly or mentally ill Floridians in its care". "Florida’s shameful failure".

Coley fights for raw sewage

"Rep. Marti Coley was a step closer Monday to wiping out another layer of septic-tank regulations." "Septic tank deregulation bill moves forward in House ".

Cannon schools Haridopolos, Floridians suffer

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "It's bad enough that the Florida Legislature is determined to turn back the clock and blow up 25 years of bipartisan efforts to manage the state's growth."

It's even worse that Senate President Mike Haridopolos signed off on a devious scheme to deny his Senate colleagues the opportunity to help craft the legislation. A candidate for U.S. Senate ought to have more respect for representative government.

With four days to go in a most depressing legislative session, Haridopolos has been consistently outmaneuvered by House Speaker Dean Cannon. Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, is eager for the session to end on time Friday so he can campaign. Cannon, R-Winter Park, is in no such hurry. So in return for movement on budget negotiations, Haridopolos agreed to Cannon's demand that the Senate embrace House legislation to eviscerate growth management. The plan calls for the House growth management legislation to be part of budget conforming bills, which will be voted up or down in the final hours of the session and cannot be changed.

Legislature "has legalized direct bribery"

Howard Troxler: "No matter what else this 2011 Legislature does, wise or unwise, it has done one thing that screams for attention. It has legalized its own direct bribery."

The truth remains:

They have made it legal to pay off the Florida Legislature.

It is now legal for the leaders of both parties, in both chambers of the Legislature, to directly operate "leadership funds" that take unlimited contributions from those seeking favorable treatment.

This is the cold fact, no matter how much they talk.

I know their excuses. They are telling the voters, look, there's money in politics anyway. We already run all kinds of outfits that launder campaign money. So it might as well be legal to give it to us directly.

They claim this law is "transparent" because they will write down who is putting in the money. But that means absolutely nothing. That money is still going to be laundered into local elections so that the voters do not know whose dollars are really buying the campaigns of Sen. X and Rep. Y.

Before it adjourns, the Legislature should undo this.

Rolling in the dirt together

"The death of Osama bin Laden brought a rare moment of bipartisan unity for the Florida congressional delegation, but subtle differences in their reactions reflected political battle lines and an emerging debate over the U.S. exit strategy from Afghanistan. ... The debate starts with who gets credit for gunning down the mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack that traumatized the nation a decade ago." "Bin Laden death: Florida congressional delegation finds common ground".

Privatization follies

"Fla. can't track child welfare contractors".

RPOF desperate in Jax

"Lenny Curry, chairman of the Republican Party of Duval County and vice chairman of the state party, argued that the race had national ramifications." "GOP pledges $100,000 to Mike Hogan in Jacksonville mayor's race".

We don' need no stinkin' regerlation

"State agency failing to monitor for-profit colleges, audit says".

And use the fifth day to flip burgers?

"Lake County schools considering four-day week". Related: "Broward School Board considers 'gut-wrenching' $81 million school cuts".

Voucher madness

"Florida lawmakers are poised to pass a handful of bills that, combined, would expand charter schools, virtual schools, a voucher programs for kids with disabilities and the opportunity to transfer from struggling campuses." "School choice bills making headway in Capitol".

D W-S

"As the Democratic National Committee’s incoming leader, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz must rally her party to take back the U.S. House of Representatives from Republicans. She’ll need all her political experience and energy to do it." "Wasserman Schultz draws on experience to lead Democrats".

Haridopolos "funneled" tens of thousands to himself

"Lake Mary Representative Chris Dorworth and Senate President Mike Haridopolos reimbursed themselves tens of thousands of dollars from committees they formed to support other candidates."

WFTV investigative reporter George Spencer found out why they won't show receipts.

Two of Florida's most powerful leaders funneled tens of thousands in political donations back to themselves.

Haridopolos and future House Speaker Chris Dorworth created special committees. The money raised is supposed to help other political candidates.

But WFTV found Dorworth reimbursed himself more than $24,000 of his group's cash in just a year and a half. Haridopolos gave himself more than $37,000 over four years.

Raw political courage

"Florida Senate passes bill requiring walk-in clinics to post prices".

That's a relief

"State senators voted 39-0 to name the barking tree frog as the official state amphibian." "Stomping out the frogs".

And these guys have pensions?

"Dogs die in dramatic fire that destroys 90-year-old Daytona Beach home".

Miami-Dade charter change bill

"Senate rejects push to empower lawmakers to propose changes to the Miami-Dade charter".

The Republican-controlled Senate on Monday voted 30-7 for the measure (HB 1193) previously approved by the House.

It would put Florida in direct conflict with the federal health care overhaul that will require most people eventually to have insurance coverage.

Scott, a former hospital chain CEO, has been a vociferous opponent of the health care law.

Today in Tally

"Today in Tallahassee: Immigration, election reform". See also "Florida lawmakers face a busy final week" and "Final week of Florida legislative session gets underway".

Budget

"Budget Negotiators Strike Deals on Privatization, PIP, Water Management Districts". See also "Democrat: State budget negotiations continue", "Florida Legislature tackles tough issues as deadline approaches" and "Property tax cuts, lobbyists and state employee health insurance part of final budget talks". More: "One of the Roughest, Toughest Sessions Ever, Say Lawmakers".

Sunrail

"Does Gov. Scott have a legal right to kill SunRail?"

University and college administrator salaries

"In tough economic times, the latest casualty has become six-figure salaries. Florida lawmakers are taking aim at the salaries of university and college administrators, with a provision in a proposed higher education budget that caps their state-funded salaries at $200,000." "Lawmakers Target University, College Salaries".

Where are the non-Cuban Hispanic officials?

"The 2010 U.S. Census showed that Hispanic growth in the Puerto Rican-heavy central Florida counties along Interstate 4 was almost as large as the Latino gains in Cuban-dominated South Florida during the past decade. Despite that, Puerto Ricans and other non-Cuban Hispanics continue to lag Cubans in political influence." "Central Fla. Hispanic population gaining".

Rubio says "no"

"Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said Sunday that he would not be on any Republican ticket in 2012." "Rubio won't be VP candidate in 2012".

Dues deduction kerfuffle

"The chairman of the Senate Budget Committee assured legislators today that House and Senate budget negotiators are not trying to sneak a 'paycheck protection' bill into the pending compromises on state spending."

Negotiators Sunday night resolved a series of impasses between the state and unions representing state employees, and “dues checkoff” was at the top of the list. Since the state is trying to end the deduction of union dues by public employers, some union leaders warned that the budget language would revive a seemingly dormant bill by Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, that would ban use of dues money for political purposes. ...

There have been some other major bills finessed in the conference committee reports, which are not subject to amendment by the full House or Senate. But Alexander said the House negotiators, who offered the impasse language, were not trying to slip “paycheck protection” past the senators.

Thrasher’s bill (SB 830) would forbid unions to make political use of dues deducted by payroll deduction from government agencies. It has been stymied in the Senate by all Democrats and a bloc of Republicans who feel the dues come from an employee’s own money, and that the state should not tell workers how they can use the money.

West: The President a "low-level socialist agitator"

"[T]he most compelling part of Representative Allen B. West of Florida is his own biography, there for all to see: an African-American Tea Party activist Republican congressman and ally of hard-right Israelis who, after his beloved career in the Army ended under a cloud, defeated the sitting Democrat in a largely white, politically polarized district here and quickly became one of the right’s most visible spokesmen."

Mr. West’s popularity among conservatives goes far beyond South Florida. He was chosen to give the keynote speech in February at the Conservative Political Action Conference, and is frequently featured on the Fox News Channel and in other conservative settings where he enjoys explaining, reiterating or unleashing any number of incendiary remarks concerning what he often calls “the other side.”

There was his recent observation that liberal women “have been neutering American men,” and that the president of the United States is a “low-level socialist agitator.”

"Bondi sounds as if she wants an invitation to a tea party"

"As a candidate, Pam Bondi said the Florida attorney general's office was her political goal and promised not to run for anything else. As attorney general, Ms. Bondi is grabbing headlines even when she doesn't deserve them. That sounds like a politician seeking higher office." "Bondi deserves no credit".

Corporate income tax cut declared dead Sunday

"Scott's proposed cut to Florida's corporate income tax was declared dead Sunday by the Senate president, who said cutting spending is more important. The decision is a significant setback for the Republican governor, who has aggressively promoted the corporate tax cut, including as a candidate last year." "Gov. Rick Scott's proposed corporate tax cut dead, Senate president says".

He surely would have voted for Eisnaugle

"Republicans pushing major changes to state election laws say the legislation is needed to better protect the state against voter fraud."

Need some proof? asked state Rep. Eric Eisnaugle of Orlando during a recent debate on the House floor.

Mickey Mouse was registered to vote.

Yes, that Mickey Mouse.

"One of my colleagues suggested that we spent hours of time on a problem that doesn't exist, also suggesting that nothing in this bill helps people vote," Eisnaugle said April 21 while discussing HB 1355, a bill that would put new restrictions on third-party voter registration groups.

"We have seen … falsifying of hundreds of registrations, including the registration of an actor who was already deceased at the time. In another case, Mickey Mouse was registered to vote.

Thanks, President Obama

"Despite dire warnings from environmentalists that Everglades restoration is doomed if drastic cuts to the state budget are approved, federal agencies say they have the money to keep the programs going and are ready to step up and fulfill their commitment to share the costs." "Federal official says Everglades restoration will continue despite state budget slashes".

Enough with the Teabaggerish behavior

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Intentionally disruptive behavior need not be tolerated at town hall protest". Stephen Goldstein: "Free speech: We're becoming a nation of real loudmouths ".

While the rest of us were napping

"Firefighters battle blaze near homes".

Arizona-style

Bill Maxwell: "As Republicans in the Florida Legislature move to implement Arizona-style immigration laws, they need to listen to one of their own: Adam Putnam." "Arizona's law doesn't fit Florida".

"He's blown his first year"

Nancy Smith: "The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner is a fashionable fly-in for Hollywood types looking for a red carpet and a chance to impress the president. But it’s no place for a governor with ratings on the swoon and less than a week to salvage his priorities."

Rick Scott's place this weekend was here, not there. It was hunkering down with leaders in the Legislature, not making jolly ha-ha at the Washington Hilton.

The problem is, I don't think he's been listening to the right people. There's a real sense among even the folks who helped put the governor in office, that after only 120 days, he's blown his first year.

His priorities are largely missing from the House or Senate budget and they want to know why.

"Back door deal"

"Despite a similar piece of legislation actually getting voted down in a House committee, the provision is added to an unrelated budget conforming bill that deals with criminal justice funding issues. Trial attorney representative says legislators should reject 'back door deal' and 'restore integrity to the legislative process.'" "House and Senate agree to nix attorneys' fees in PIP cases as part of budget deal".

Another one

"A Florida panther was killed by a vehicle near the Big Cypress National Preserve in Collier County over the weekend." "Florida panther struck, killed on US 41".

Ricky likes

"Question lifted from pension rewrite: Scott likes".