The $69.1 billion budget signing took place in a town square owned by the Villages Community Development District, which functions as the community's government. The space, however, is leased to the Village's corporate developer. And in this case, it was subleased by the Republican Party of Florida, said Barbara Vesco, director of entertainment and special events for the Villages.

Scott staffers dressed in dark suits and wearing black ear pieces summoned Sumter County sheriff's deputies. They told the deputies that the state budget signing was a private event and that a group of Democrats standing or sitting in the last two rows of the audience must leave.

Deputies went to tell the group to leave. The Democrats mentioned how the event was described as being open to the public in the local newspaper, the Villages Daily Sun. "Well, I don't read that paper," the deputy responded.

The group of Democrats then said it was unfair that they were being singled out.

"You all are preaching to the choir," the same deputy told them. "I'm doing what I'm told."

The deputies received their instructions from Russ Abrams, a $60,000-a-year special assistant to Scott. When a Times reporter approached Abrams to ask why some people were being asked to leave, Abrams said: The budget signing was "a private event." When asked more questions, Abrams said: "I don't need to talk to the press," and then, "I don't have anything to say."

Ricky flops and backtracks

The Orlando Sentinel editors remind readers that Scott "suggested some of that [vetoed] money should go back into the budget to boost public education. But the Legislature's cuts to education were much less than what Scott suggested." "Does Rick Scott care about education?".

"The governor — as usual — was on radio silence"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "It's hard to imagine how local officials could compound the damage that Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature have caused to the environment. But this week, the Southwest Florida Water Management District found a way. The agency that oversees water resources on Florida's west coast agreed to disband the boards that see to the needs of local water basins. The move was a rash response to bullying from Tallahassee that undermines the environment, transparency and local control."

Board members of the agency known as Swiftmud voted to get rid of the seven basin boards in a move agency officials said was prompted by demands from the governor and Legislature that Swiftmud cut its budget. ...

Swiftmud concedes it had no directive from the governor and was reading the tea leaves from Tallahassee. The governor — as usual — was on radio silence; his environmental protection agency thinks the idea is great. But this is much more than a paper loss.

SOEs say "no"

"The elections supervisor in Rick Scott's home county refuses to recognize a new law the governor signed out of concerns that the U.S. Department of Justice hasn't decided whether it violates a law protecting minority voters." "Elections supervisors in key counties refuse to implement new law".

RPOF runs with Ricky's con

As Scott Maxwell wrote yesterday, "after vetoing projects for universities, the environment and veterans — things Scott described as 'frivolous' and 'wasteful' — he then called on legislators to redirect the money to schools."

It was a con for the ages.

Anyone paying a lick of attention knew that it was Scott himself who had called for the biggest school cuts in Florida history (after promising he would not).

And yet now — after legislators followed his orders — he was going to try to blame them?

Yes, indeed. His staff even unfurled a banner that read: "Less Waste. More for Education."

Even House Speaker Dean Cannon called out Scott on this flagrant fabrication. "The budget we sent him funds education at a higher level than the Governor recommended just a few months ago," Cannon said.

The sorry state of higher education

Was this really the best they could do? "Senator Marco Rubio to give keynote address at FIU Law graduation".

Florida adopts Texas-style textbook process

Bill Maxwell: "When Gov. Rick Scott signed the state budget into law last week at the Villages retirement community, he virtually removed the concept of "public" from the process of adopting textbooks and other instructional materials for Florida's public schools."

Tucked away in SB 2120 is a Republican-sponsored measure that kills the decades-old method of using statewide committees of administrators, school board members, teachers and other Floridians to select textbooks. Despite what critics say, this process is democratic, bringing together diverse views and different levels of knowledge that enrich learning.

In addition to eliminating the lay committees, SB 2120 requires schools to adopt digital textbooks by the 2015-16 school year and spend 50 percent of their textbook budget on digital materials.

With the stroke of the governor's pen, Florida now has a Texas-style textbook adoption process.

There were no historians, sociologists or economists consulted at the meetings, though some members of the conservative bloc held themselves out as experts on certain topics.

The conservative members maintain that they are trying to correct what they see as a liberal bias among the teachers who proposed the curriculum. To that end, they made dozens of minor changes aimed at calling into question, among other things, concepts like the separation of church and state and the secular nature of the American Revolution.

“I reject the notion by the left of a constitutional separation of church and state,” said David Bradley, a conservative from Beaumont who works in real estate. “I have $1,000 for the charity of your choice if you can find it in the Constitution.”

They also included a plank to ensure that students learn about “the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s, including Phyllis Schlafly, the Contract With America, the Heritage Foundation, the Moral Majority and the National Rifle Association.”

Dr. McLeroy, a dentist by training, pushed through a change to the teaching of the civil rights movement to ensure that students study the violent philosophy of the Black Panthers in addition to the nonviolent approach of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also made sure that textbooks would mention the votes in Congress on civil rights legislation, which Republicans supported.

“Republicans need a little credit for that,” he said. “I think it’s going to surprise some students.”

Mr. Bradley won approval for an amendment saying students should study “the unintended consequences” of the Great Society legislation, affirmative action and Title IX legislation. He also won approval for an amendment stressing that Germans and Italians as well as Japanese were interned in the United States during World War II, to counter the idea that the internment of Japanese was motivated by racism.

Other changes seem aimed at tamping down criticism of the right.

Rubio pays price for sleeping with Teabaggers

"A crack is forming in U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's tea party."

Conservative activists — still raw over what they say was his role in blocking illegal immigration legislation while speaker of the Florida House — say the burgeoning Republican star needs to deliver on campaign rhetoric for tougher enforcement.

"We've been waiting for him to come up with something and to be a leader on this issue," said Danita Kilcullen, founder of Tea Party Fort Lauderdale.

He is being torn in opposite directions by his base: Washington's Republican elite and Florida's grass-roots activists who propelled him into office.

The establishment is eagerly positioning the charismatic 40-year-old son of Cuban exiles as the Hispanic face of the party. The Latino population in the United States has grown 43 times faster than the non-Hispanic white population, rising from 35.3 million in 2000 to 50.5 million in 2010.

Last week, former Republican Party of Florida chairman Al Cardenas, now head of the American Conservative Union, boasted in Politico that Rubio's inclusion on a presidential ticket would "almost guarantee" a GOP victory.

The safe route, then, is to avoid being drawn into a serious immigration debate. "If anything, they're saying (to Rubio) 'Let's not talk about this,' " said Patrick Davis, a national Republican consultant. "It motivates Hispanics to look at Democrats and Obama."

Rubio's pledge to vote against the Dream Act, which would create a path to citizenship for some children of illegal immigrants, has struck some Hispanics as particularly offensive.

Still, talk is not enough for the other side of Rubio's base — the conservative activists who provided early momentum for his once long-shot campaign.

"He wants to have it both ways," said George Fuller of Sarasota, who is aligned with several tea party groups. "We're going to be zeroing in on him like a laser."

"Particularly appalling"

"In March, Gov. Rick Scott’s staff said he would accept a $35.7 million 'Money Follows the Person' federal health grant.""

But the Legislature appears to have decided otherwise. In the 2011-12 budget Scott just signed, lawmakers failed to give the Agency for Health Care Administration budget authority to draw down and spend the money.

Patient advocates were dismayed at the omission, because the money was to have been spent on home- and community-care programs that let disabled and elderly people move out of nursing homes or avoid them in the first place.

"It's particularly appalling, considering the Legislature just cut funds to nursing homes," said Jack McRay, AARP Florida lobbyist. The industry has said the Medicaid pay cuts will force staff cuts.

Neither the Legislature nor AHCA had publicized the decision. When Health News Florida inquired, AHCA spokeswoman Shelisha Coleman confirmed it in an e-mail: "The Florida Legislature did not include budget authority … for the administration of the Money Follows the Person grant award.”

No explanation was immediately available.

"Governor's new stance on education funding 'hypocritical'"

Ricky Scott's vetoes

have stirred up ill will again among powerful legislators, including Republican leaders who saw favored projects fall victim to the veto pen.

He claimed $615 million in "special interest" cuts before signing the budget, but $305 million comes from Florida Forever funding that was to be derived from sales of state land -- a tough proposition in today's real-estate market. House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, was also quick to point out that Scott's wish to put the savings back into education would be limited to the $100 million in general revenue gleaned from the line-item vetoes.

Cannon, who saw his coveted $400,000 study of the court system hit the cutting room floor, also noted that Scott's initial budget request was hardly kind to education funding, coming in at less than the Legislature funded in its final budget.

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, went further, calling the governor's new stance on education funding "hypocritical."

"Where I do have a concern, all of a sudden, is his newfound love of education and for the teachers in our state," Fasano said Friday.

The Wal-Mart way

"Yes, there were jokes made when Gov. Rick Scott appointed a Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive to as Florida's emergency management director". "State's new emergency director listens and learns".

Stop by and give them a hand

"Following up on the success of a similar event, Palm Beach and Broward county teachers are planning a 'grade-in' at the Town Center at Boca Raton this morning."

Organizer Suzi Grbinich, a teacher at Boca Raton High School, said teachers will meet in the mall’s food court beginning at 11:30 a.m. to grade papers and demonstrate to the public how much work they do outside the classroom.

They will also be offering free tutoring for any students who come to the mall.

“We’re right in the middle of exams. We have tons of papers to grade,” Grbinich said when asked about the timing of the event.

"Environmentalists remain wary"

"Environmentalists said Friday they remain wary of legislation signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott that sharply reduces water managers' dollars while giving lawmakers new control over district spending." "President Obama returning to Miami next month to raise money".

Back in town

"President Obama returning to Miami next month to raise money".

"Not exactly someone in sync with working-class homeowners"

Aaron Deslatte: "Even though his fellow Republicans hammered him for his refusal to give in to the marketplace logic and demands of the industry, Gov. Charlie Crist never wavered during his four years in office: he was an unrelenting supporter of regulating the property insurance market."

He kept a lid on insurers like State Farm that wanted to dramatically boost rates, despite considerable venom from pro-industry lawmakers who screamed that the state was chasing away private companies and guaranteeing a financial disaster when the next Hurricane Andrew hits.

By contrast, Crist's successor, Rick Scott, said in a recent interview that the insurance bill (SB 408) he just signed, which allows companies to raise rates up to 15 percent to pay for reinsurance without seeking regulators' approval, didn't go far enough to de-regulate the marketplace. He wants to dramatically scale down the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. – now Florida's largest insurer – and, some say, completely abolish it.

"There's always more things that you could have done," Scott said after signing the bill. "We're going to do this, we'll see the impact it has, and then we'll come back and see if we need to do something else."

But Scott also said at the state's hurricane conference that he has a second roof in storage in case his $11-million Naples mansion takes a hit – not exactly the words of someone in sync with the plight of working-class homeowners.

Pension deform

"Breaking down Florida's pension reform changes".

Will Glades Correctional Institution close?

"A police union website said Friday that Glades Correctional Institution will close although not before July 1, but state prison officials continued to say that no decision has been made about the future of the Belle Glade prison." Union says Glades prison to close, but corrections officials say no decision yet".

Anyone wanna be State Board of Education commissioner?

"The State Board of Education reopened the application process for education commissioner Friday after receiving submissions from 19 people including longtime Florida politician Tom Gallagher, who held the job once before. Applications had to be postmarked by midnight Wednesday, but the panel voted to extend the deadline through midnight June 6 at the request of its consulting firm."

You read that right:

Gallagher, a three-time candidate for governor, was the state's second-to-last elected education commissioner before the job became an appointed one in 2003. Gallagher, a Republican, held the post from 1991 through 2001. He was succeeded by Charlie Crist who later was elected governor. Gallagher also has won election as state treasurer and chief financial officer, the first person to hold that post.

To kill a snail kite

"Environmentalists say pumping from low Lake Okeechobee to irrigate farms will threaten snail kites".

While we were sleeping

"Firefighters in Orange County battled three brushfires near the BeachLine Expressway through much of the day Friday." "Brush fires near BeachLine keep firefighters busy".

Casinos again

"A movement to bring Las Vegas-style 'destination casinos' to Florida fell apart this year when lawmakers could not come to an agreement on whether the state should further expand its gaming industry. But industry lobbyists and lawmakers are already drafting a revamped plan to push to the Legislature when it returns to Tallahassee this fall." "Lawmakers, lobbyists to push for 'destination' casinos".

Yes, with new poll numbers showing that Rick Scott is one of the least popular governors in the United States, ol' Rick headed back to his political security blanket: The Villages.

Sure, only 29 percent of Floridians think Scott's doing a good job. But a whole bunch of them live in the conservative retirement community.

In "America's friendliest hometown," you are free to shortchange public schools and gut the state's environmental-protection program. The crowd will still go wild.

You can even veto $12 million for homeless veterans and $3 million for the Wounded Warrior Project — just a few days before Memorial Day — and everyone will cheer.

"It's always — and always will be — a beautiful day in The Villages," Scott told the supportive crowd.

What do these folks care?

They've already been through public schools. Many already enjoy their pensions.

So now Scott is free to go after everyone else's schools and pensions … as long as he also cuts taxes and leaves their Medicare alone.

Scott did just that Thursday. He signed the very budget that cut funding for public education — which is already below the national average — by more than $1 billion.

After vetoing projects for universities, the environment and veterans — things Scott described as "frivolous" and "wasteful" — he then called on legislators to redirect the money to schools.

It was a con for the ages.

Anyone paying a lick of attention knew that it was Scott himself who had called for the biggest school cuts in Florida history (after promising he would not).

And yet now — after legislators followed his orders — he was going to try to blame them?

Yes, indeed. His staff even unfurled a banner that read: "Less Waste. More for Education."

Even House Speaker Dean Cannon called out Scott on this flagrant fabrication. "The budget we sent him funds education at a higher level than the Governor recommended just a few months ago," Cannon said.

Scott's posturing was obvious malarkey.

"Republican operatives searched the crowd"

"Each detail of Florida Gov. Rick Scott's first budget signing was painstakingly considered."

From the location ­— a conservative retirement community in Central Florida — to the mini-red "veto" Sharpie pens Scott handed out as keepsakes.

From the music that would announce Scott's arrival to the stage, to, it turns out, who could be there.

At the urging of Scott officials, Sumter County sheriff's deputies escorted a group of more than a dozen Democrats — mainly retirees who live in The Villages — from Thursday's event at the town square.

The reason?

The $69 billion state budget signing ceremony was a "private event."

They were noted and asked to leave. Those with pro-Scott signs were allowed to stay.The Republican Party of Florida rented the town square for the ceremony, which gave party officials the right to say who stays and who goes, deputies said.

"We came here to say what we support," said Lawrence Shipley, 68, one of the Democrats removed from the event. Shipley is president of The Villages Democratic Club, which he says has about 275 members.

"We support the police," he said. "We support public education."

Shipley said the group did not intend to heckle or harass Scott, but it did not matter. Deputies moved them across the street.

"Just another pandering politician"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The governor who claimed he's not a typical Tallahassee politician demonstrated again Thursday he is no different at all. Gov. Rick Scott used his line-item veto power in the state budget to protect a powerful legislator, punish some others and advance his own narrow ideology over the best interests of Florida. Facing abysmal public approval ratings, Scott even attempted to recast himself as a champion of more money for public schools when he had called for deeper cuts than the Legislature approved. Just another pandering politician."

- Scott's claims of striking a record $615 million in budget vetoes is an illusion. Nearly half of that total — $305 million — came from eliminating spending authority for buying Florida Forever conservation lands.

- Scott was even more disingenuous in claiming he was whacking roughly $165 million in higher education building money because the projects would require the selling of bonds and "Florida is borrowing beyond its self-imposed constraints." But that's not true.

Veto games

"$615 million in cuts in $69 billion budget". See also "Scott's record $615 million in budget vetoes eliminates money for FAU, PBSC and Belle Glade", "", "", "Vetoes will be felt here", "Central Florida projects vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott" and "Scott vetoes bill that would eliminated agency overseeing medical care of Fla. prisoners".

Obama, Nelson poll numbers look good

"President Barack Obama’s approval rating is 51 percent in Florida, a spike of 7 percentage points after the killing of Osama bin Laden, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday."

“Whether these numbers represent a ‘bin Laden bounce,’ President Barack Obama’s popularity is up in Florida, which will be a crucial state for him in the 2012 campaign,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The poll is the latest sign that Republicans could face a far different political landscape in Florida than in 2010, when they won every statewide office and picked up four U.S. House seats.

In addition to Obama’s numbers, his highest in Florida since June 2009, the poll shows a long road for Republicans hoping to replace Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
Nelson holds leads of between 20 to 25 points over three hypothetical contenders: former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos and former state Rep. Adam Hasner.

The Republican primary matchup between those three is wide open, the poll shows.

"Scott ticks off environmentalists"

"Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday vetoed $615 million in spending - of which nearly half was for land-buying. But the $305 million vetoed was speculative because it required the state to sell land in order to come up with the money to buy more." "Scott ticks off environmentalists by cutting water districts, vetoing Florida Forever".

"Emotional assault on the Republicans"

"In an emotional assault on the Republicans, new Democratic Party Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz today called the GOP agenda 'anti-women' and 'a war on women' that will backfire on Republicans in the 2012 election and provide a cushion for President Obama's re-election bid." "New DNC Boss Calls GOP 'Anti-Women'".

Scott's latest gems

Some of Rick Scott's latest gems:

State employees will be required to put 3 percent of their salaries toward retirement starting in July.

Gov. Rick Scott signed that bill and 27 others into law Thursday. He also issued five vetoes.

Public employees previously contributed nothing to their retirement plans, leading Democrats, unions and teachers groups to liken the 3 percent requirement to a pay cut after years without raises. ...

The reforms also eliminate cost-of-living increases on retirement benefits earned after July 1.

"It is unfair for public sector employees to have a guarantee that the private sector does not," Scott wrote[*].

Despite calls from the Everglades Foundation for a veto, Scott also signed a bill that revises Florida's water management system policies.

Yee haw!

"James Madison Institute Cheers 2011 Legislative Session".

Casino magnate buyin' in Miami

"The owners of the Miami Herald today announced the sale of its historic building on Biscayne Bay to the Malaysian company, Genting Malaysia Berhad, operator of resort casinos and entertainment centers across the globe. Genting, along with Sands Inc. and Wynn resorts of Las Vegas, have been behind efforts in the last two legislative sessions to open a resort casino in Miami." "Miami Herald sells its waterfront property to resort casino magnate".

Latest hires

"Some of the top officials in the administration of Gov. Rick Scott in the last few weeks have finally begun filling the ranks of senior management."

Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll earlier this month hired John Konkus as her chief of staff.

Konkus, who is earning $87,500, had worked the last four years as district director for U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala. Konkus had also managed a 2006 congressional campaign and before that he had worked for former U.S. Rep. Sherwood "Sherry" Boehlert, R-New York.

Florida Surgeon General and Department of Health Secretary Frank Farmer meanwhile has hired a point man to coordinate efforts between the health department and the state Attorney General’s Office to better prosecute doctors who help keep Florida’s pill mills in business.

Richard C. Solze, who has been a Republican Party committeeman from Bradford County, was hired by the state on May 9 and makes $80,000 annually. ...

J. Layne Smith started work on May 2 as the new general counsel for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. That's the same day that new secretary Ken Lawson also started. ...

Glenda Thornton was hired in April as general counsel for the Department of Lottery.
Thornton, who is making $105,000 a year, had previously worked at the Bateman Harden law firm in Tallahassee as well as the law firm of Foley & Lardner. Thornton, a graduate of FSU law school, has also been deeply involved in Tallahassee civic activities, including serving on the area Chamber of Commerce as well as various local boards.

To recall the governor

"Just weeks after the 2011 session ended, Rep. Rick Kriseman has filed legislation for next year that would let voters decide whether to recall the governor, members of the Cabinet and the Legislature. Kriseman said he had 30,000 people tell him on his Facebook page they liked the idea." "Undaunted Democratic legislator pushes recall provision again".

A crisis in waiting

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "State law requires local governments in Florida to offer their retirees health insurance at the same cost as coverage for active employees, which amounts to a discount for retirees. And many local governments are committed through contracts with their employees to continue paying some or all of their health insurance premiums after they retire. Yet governments typically have failed to reserve enough money to keep up with the mounting cost of these promises. A significant majority haven't put any money aside." "Health insurance burden".

Scott's budget "tanking with voters"

"Scott is expected to sign the budget at 1 p.m. in The Villages, a Republican stronghold that likely will be filled with friendly faces." "Gov. Scott, $69.7B budget are tanking with voters".

Teabaggers want more

"With strong backing from business interests and tea party conservatives, the way appears clear for Gov. Rick Scott to make 'significant' cuts in the Legislature's $69.7 billion spending plan."

As Scott balances politics and principles, tea party groups that played a key role in his election last year are hoping the governor holds firmly to the latter.

"Anything that does not create jobs or that increases spending should be cut. We elected him on his platform to create jobs, and that's what we expect him to do with this budget," said Billie Tucker, head of the First Coast Tea Party in Jacksonville.

Danita Kilkullen, head of Tea Party Fort Lauderdale, wants Scott to get back to his original $66 billion proposal.

"His plan to trim billions from health care, Medicaid, education, property taxes, pensions, prisons, etc., is designed to put more money into the hands of the taxpayers," Kilkullen said. "Privatize as many programs as possible." ...

Fred O'Neal, founder of the Florida TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party, urged the governor to slay TaxWatch's turkeys, and then go further in the future.

"TaxWatch has a pretty good list of turkeys. I'd go along with trimming all those turkeys from the budget," he said.

Beyond that, O'Neal added, "One huge cut in education spending would be to authorize vouchers as a way to encourage parents to take their kids out of the public school system and either home school them or put them in private schools.

"We spend around $10,000 per year per public school student. A $2,000 voucher per student per year would represent a net savings to the taxpayers of $8,000 per student per year."

But, O'Neal added on a sober note, "The teachers' unions and the vendors invested in increased spending on public education will never let that happen."

The lowest of the low

"Scott is one of the least popular governors in the United States, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll that shows 57 percent of Florida voters disapprove of his job performance. Only 29 percent favor the job Scott is doing, the poll of 1,196 registered voters shows."

Quinnipac's Peter

Brown said he was unaware of any poll of any other governor showing a lower approval rating. Nor could pollsters John Zogby, Matt Towery, Brad Coker or Tom Jensen cite a lower rating. A Times/Herald survey of recent polls of controversial governors in large states showed Scott has the lowest approval rating.

Right wing blames poll results on media

Kenric Ward whines that the "Tallahassee press corps could barely contain its orgasmic outpouring in reporting Gov. Rick Scott's latest poll numbers Wednesday. The only thing missing was a comparison to Adolph Hitler's lagging popularity in the dying days of the Third Reich, though I may have missed that angle amid the effusion."

Whether it's his private jet, his personal wealth or his corporate (horrors!) background, Scott is alternately portrayed as clueless or criminal. Actual facts are optional.

Broad-brush, ad hominem attacks have a way of sinking in when they are part of the daily media narrative. That narrative shapes public opinion, and public-opinion polls.

Decidedly Democratic and left-leaning, reporters and editors seize on selected events to burnish their liberal template. After a Democrat won the mayoral race in Jacksonville this week, the election predictably morphed into a referendum on Scott.

In fact, the governor spent less than a day campaigning on Mike Hogan's behalf, and there were plenty of other players (and issues) deserving far more blame (or credit) for the outcome.

Then there was the ginned-up story about Scott's presidential prospects. The premise began with a thumb-sucking piece concocted by a political writer, who quickly knocked down his own straw man as "absurd." In true Pavlovian fashion, the media hounds descended on the governor's office for comment ... and then mocked the very notion that Scott would consider himself White House timber. (He doesn't, by the way.)

Then came this week's Quinnipiac Poll, which showed Scott's disapproval rating rising to 57 percent. No surprise there, given the foregoing media "treatment."

Wingnut whine

More on annual the "TaxWatch" wingnut whine: "TaxWatch 'turkey' list blasts state spending on local projects". See also "TaxWatch Turkey List Draws Ire of Lawmakers".

This just in from the Tribune Company, a/k/a The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Gov. Rick Scott should veto every dollar worth of budget turkeys".

Another Florida Republican at the federal trough

"Ander Crenshaw Gets Mayport Carrier Funding Back on Track".

Republicans runnin' Florida like a bidness

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "More than two years after the package became a law dubbed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Florida has spent only about 58 percent of the $11 billion awarded to the state to create or save jobs, as the Sentinel reported this week."

Florida's unspent billions might have done a lot more good when the state's unemployment rate was rising through 2009 and 2010. The rate is still in double digits — 10.8 percent in April — but it's been coming down in recent months.

It's true that a portion of Florida's unspent money was earmarked for public schools through the state's "Race to the Top" grant, which wasn't awarded until July 2010. But hundreds of millions of federal dollars intended for the state to build or upgrade roads, lay water and sewer lines, rehabilitate abandoned and foreclosed houses, extend broadband networks and weatherize homes — all projects that would put more Floridians to work — also haven't been spent.

Rather than being "shovel-ready" — a term that became a cliché during the debate over the Recovery Act — many stimulus-eligible projects in Florida hadn't been bid or even fully planned when the law passed.

No one wants the job

"The State Board of Education is searching for a new Education Commissioner to replace Eric Smith, who will leave his post in June after four years as Florida’s top education policy maker. But the search for his replacement has been slow, netting only the three applicants so far in over a month." "Applicants Trickle In for Education Commissioner".

RPOFer candidates kiss TaxWatch's ring

"Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux addressed the Florida TaxWatch board meeting Wednesday. The [right wing] research and advocacy group with close business ties has recommended that Gov. Rick Scott veto Florida budget 'turkeys' worth $203 million. ... Another GOP contender, former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, will address the Florida TaxWatch board later Wednesday. A third hopeful, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, addressed the group Tuesday." "2 GOP Senate hopefuls address Florida TaxWatch".

"One of the most toxic governors in the country"

William March: "Scott's voter approval rating hit a historically rare low of 29 percent in a new poll released Wednesday, raising questions about whether his unpopularity could affect Republicans in the 2012 elections."

Democrats exulted over the poll numbers.

It "shows that the people of Florida are rejecting Rick Scott's extreme Tea Party agenda and job-destroying polices," said party spokesman Eric Jotkoff. "Floridians are going to hold Rick Scott accountable in 2012 by electing Democrats up and down the ballot."

But state GOP Chairman Dave Bitner said Scott is pursuing an agenda that will help Florida and won't be distracted by polls.

"Policy and not polls is what drives his agenda," Bitner said. "We're already seeing unemployment numbers coming down, and once the budget is implemented, I think you're going to see a lot more Floridians getting back to work. That will be a good message to send."

[Dan Smith, head of the University of Florida's political campaigning program], said the numbers make Scott "one of the most toxic governors in the country. It's highly unusual for that to happen for a first-term governor."

He said Scott's comparatively low approval from fellow Republicans "is telling as to how divisive the primary was" – in which Scott upset establishment GOP favorite Bill McCollum – "and how divided the party is. The leadership of the party is now in a tough bind because they've embraced Scott."

Entrepreneurs in action

"Loophole lets Disney cut tax bill by selling tickets to itself". See also "Disney withdraws trademark application for 'SEAL Team 6'".

Another entrepreneur in action

"Ex-millionaire arrested on fraud charges".

Collective bargaining ... imagine that

Here's something the Ayn Rand crowd (few of which can honestly say they finished the silly Atlas Shrugged) will never understand - a group of individuals sacrificing pay cuts to avoid layoffs of a few of their fellow workers: "The Miami-Dade school district and its teachers’ union have reached a tentative agreement on salaries for the current school year. The deal: Teachers won’t receive their annual pay increases known as steps, but their jobs will be safe for next year." "Miami-Dade teachers’ union opts for job security over pay raise".

Department of Children and Families layoffs

"State mental hospitals have begun notifying about 240 administrative and maintenance employees of impending layoffs, part of nearly 500 job cuts earlier announced by the Department of Children and Families." "State mental hospitals start notifying employees of layoffs ".

"Jeb!" laff riot

A Politico writer named Keith Koffler writes that "Republicans are not happy about their choices for the 2011 presidential nomination. No wonder. The current assortment of GOP candidates and potential campaigners is like a plate of political dumplings — some minus the dipping sauce. But one politician out there would roll over this hapless group like a tractor through a cornfield — and then pose the most formidable challenge possible to President Barack Obama: former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush." "GOP's best 2012 hope spelled J-E-B".

Property tax system "increasingly obtuse and unjust"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Rigid policies designed to protect homeowners statewide from rapidly inflating taxes are continuing to do their work in the housing recession. Owners of thousands of properties now owe nothing to help support local governments."

Under the state's tax policy, the people who can't afford to buy a home, or have lost their home, pay much more in taxes through rents than do homeowners.

Property taxes are by their nature progressive and fair. The more valuable your property, the more you pay. But the gradual layering of pro-owner exemptions and tax caps to the structure has made a simple system increasingly obtuse and unjust.

"A committee of one"

"he Florida Public Service Commission spent part of its internal affairs meeting Wednesday struggling with how to search for a new executive director while meeting Florida's open-meeting laws. The answer: assign one commissioner, Julie Brown, the job of searching for applicants so her meetings don't have to be held in the sunshine."

The PSC accepted the resignation of Timothy Devlin, a 35-year member, on Tuesday. Devlin had been asked to resign by PSC Chairman Art Graham. Graham did not offer a reason for why he sought Devlin's resignation except to say it was a "private matter."

Legislation "helps bottom line for insurers"

"Scott last week signed SB 408 into law, saying the measure would stabilize the state's property insurance market. An analysis by Moody's Investor Service this week says private insurers will be helped by the new law but that same analysis cautioned that the changes are unlikely to create more competition in Florida because of Citizens Property Insurance." "New property insurance law predicted to help bottom line for insurers".

Republicans "shield doctors from medical malpractice suits"

"FPIC Insurance Group announced it was being acquired for $362 million on Tuesday. The transaction comes shortly after state lawmakers enacted a series of changes that will help shield doctors from medical malpractice lawsuits." "State's largest medical malpractice carrier reaps big windfall in sale".

Pawlenty suicides on Medicare in the Gables

"Pawlenty, a Republican, did not take an unequivocal stance on the hot political issue of the day: a GOP Medicare reform plan. And the former Minnesota governor spent a chunk of his time talking to Florida reporters about … Iowa."

Pawlenty broadly praised the Medicare proposals outlined by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, head of the House budget committee, who called for a voucher-like system where Medicare recipients would have to purchase health insurance from private companies.

"Electoral revolt as lonely as it was angry"

Fred Grimm: "They came not in droves; their numbers so scanty that each vote cost county taxpayers about $21.70 a whack. The turnout, in the second phase of Miami-Dade County’s fit of electoral pique, came to 193,703, which was 15,609 fewer voters than had bothered back in the March 15 election that tossed Mayor Carlos Alvarez and, in District 13, Commissioner Natacha Seijas. After only 17.27 percent of the county’s 1.2 million registered voters showed for the recall. An even paltrier 15.9 percent remembered Tuesday’s special election to fill the political vacancies. For all the smoke and thunder, Miami-Dade County’s electoral revolt has been as lonely as it was angry." "A costly way to get rid of politicians".

"Changing sentiment among foreclosure buyers"?

"Sales of homes in some stage of foreclosure declined across South Florida during the first quarter, a result of the recent 'robo signer' controversy and perhaps a changing sentiment among buyers, observers say." "Foreclosure homes starting to lose their appeal, data show".

"Brittle, ideological, and bought-and-paid-for"

Howard Troxler: "I  do not think enough Floridians realize what this governor and this Legislature have done — are doing — to our state. Let me tell you, brothers and sisters:"

It's bad.

It's awful. It is just about the end of Florida as we know it, and a return to bad old days that we ought to have put behind us forever. ...

There is a new, inexperienced generation in power in Tallahassee that does not know anything except money.

And so with no maturity or intelligence, the 2011 Legislature has just repealed the guts of the Growth Management Act.

Unless a miracle happens, Gov. Rick Scott will sign that repeal into law. ...

The state that we have lived in for the past quarter-century is gone.

The rules that we have lived under are gone. The underlying concepts of "growth management" are gone.

These brittle, ideological, bought-and-paid-for young men and women in Tallahassee do not know any better. The governor is living in a different universe, and he does not know or care.

Is this the Florida you want?

From the "values" crowd

"Dozens of Orange schools lack art, music teachers".

A poll released Wednesday shows Florida voters disapproved of the way Scott's been doing that job by a 57 percent to 29 percent margin.

The Quinnipiac University poll, though, shows the Republican governor has plenty of company.

Voters rated the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature about the same. They disapproved of lawmakers' work 56 percent to 27 percent.

Even Scott's support among Republicans is relatively weak, with 51 percent of GOP voters approving and 37 percent disapproving of his job performance. Disapproval is 72 - 13 percent among Democrats and 57 - 28 percent among independent voters. Both sexes are down on Scott: Men disapprove 53 - 35 percent and women disapprove 60 - 24 percent.

Schools cut, turkeys stuffed

"Lawmakers crafting this year's state budget slashed nearly $4 billion from last year's spending level, cutting from public schools and services to the elderly and laying off thousands of state workers."

But they still found room to lard the $69.7 billion budget with $203 million in pork - at least according to Florida TaxWatch, a business­-backed government spending watchdog. ...

Nearly half of the 105 items tagged by Calabro's group were slipped into the budget during conference committee meetings, when House and Senate negotiators are expected to resolve their differences rather than insert projects not previously considered.

That process indicates the items were selected more for political purposes than policy reasons, Calabro said Tuesday. "It creates a serious question of integrity in the budget process."

But Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart, called TaxWatch's list an outdated "media gimmick" and defended the spending plan.

TaxWatch's "added in conference" category is "a flimsy basis to disparage a budget expenditure," said Negron, a former House budget chief.

Second amendment stoopid

"Man brings gun to Smokey Bones: 4 hurt in accidental shooting".

Miami-Dade mess

"The race to be the next Miami-Dade County mayor is down to two, after voters threw their support behind former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and former County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez but failed to give either candidate more than 50 percent of the votes required to crown a winner." "Julio Robaina and Carlos Gimenez in runoff for Miami-Dade mayor".

Budget blues

"Gov. Scott set to sign a $70 billion state budget".

PSC "forced departure a 'private matter'"?

Update: "The saga of the Florida Public Service Commission took another turn Tuesday as commissioners formally accepted the resignation of Executive Director Timothy Devlin, submitted Monday under pressure from the five-member board. Commission Chairman Art Graham, who reportedly helped to push Devlin out, praised his 35-year tenure with the PSC." "PSC Intrigue Continues as Executive Director Tim Devlin Resigns".

"The Florida Public Service Commission named an interim executive director Tuesday after accepting the resignation of Timothy Devlin, saying his forced departure was a 'private matter.'"

Curt Kiser, the agency's general counsel and a former senator from Pinellas County, will serve as the executive director until the commission finds a new director. Commissioner Julie Brown will lead a nominating committee for a permanent replacement.

PSC Chairman Art Graham, who earlier this month asked for Devlin's resignation, offered no explanation for why he sought Devlin's departure after 35 years at the utility regulatory board.

"I had a private conversation with the executive director, and if he wanted to go public with it we would have,'' Graham told reporters during a break in the daylong PSC meeting. "I think with his wishes we'll just keep it private. He tendered his resignation, and I think that's enough said."

Devlin did not attend the meeting and did not respond to requests for comment.

Trust fund raid

"Several groups joined on Monday to deliver a petition of nearly 3,600 signatures and a letter asking Gov. Rick Scott to veto a proposed $150 million transfer from the state's road-building fund. This marks the third year in a row that a trust fund transfer has been proposed." "Transportation groups step on pedal in calling for veto of trust fund sweep".

"Where the jobs are"

Jackie Bueno Sousa: "Public transit needs to go where the jobs are".

Florida labor case prompts review of employer obligation to supply info

"A telecommunications company's decision to expand its work force in Florida has triggered an investigation by the Obama administration's National Labor Relations Board. While the probe doesn't specifically target the firm, CenturyLink, it could set sweeping 'new standards' for every company that intends to move jobs."

Much like Boeing Co., which plans to shift work from Washington state to South Carolina, CenturyLink figured it made good business sense [read: a low wage, compliant work force] to move jobs out of Nevada and into the Sunshine State.

Last month, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi co-authored with eight other attorneys general a letter opposing the NLRB’s pending complaint against Boeing for unfair labor practices.

“Florida has a vested interest in ensuring that businesses are not unfairly prevented from expanding their operations in right-to-work states, like ours,” Bondi said.

U.S. Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined 34 other Senate Republicans in co-sponsoring the Job Protection Act (S 964), designed to ensure that companies can operate where they want and speak freely about costs linked to having unionized work forces.

Drawing up companion legislation in the House, Republicans say the NLRB's attempt to compel Boeing to shift production of its new 787 Dreamliner away from the roughly $750 million factory it has built and staffed in South Carolina could deter companies from establishing operations or expanding in the United States out of fear the agency will meddle. ...

Michael Mahaffey, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, said the congressman concurs and considers the NLRB's action a "travesty."

"Congressman Rooney not only has serious constitutional questions about the NLRB's decision, he believes its action poses significant threats to job creation and economic growth in states like Florida," Mahaffey said.

George Cecala, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, said the congressman believes that the NLRB has "stepped far beyond its bounds by questioning the right of states to establish their own labor laws."

How appropriate ... the Biltmore hotel

"A day after telling Iowans their beloved ethanol subsidies will have to go, Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty used a stop in senior-heavy Florida to call for reining in Social Security and Medicare benefits for future retirees. The former Minnesota governor, who launched his campaign Monday, talked about entitlement reform during a 30-minute Facebook town hall and in a question-and-answer session with reporters at the Biltmore hotel." "Stand of Pawlenty: presidential candidate in South Florida, calls for cuts to retiree benefits". See also "Tim Pawlenty Hits the Sunshine State -- While Dems Hit Him".

Voucher madness

"Hillsborough public single-gender schools get $200,000 from voucher supporters".

School bus cuts painful

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board argues "School bus cuts painful, but necessary".

We don' need no stinkin' reger'lations

"Vermin infestations and other critical violations of state sanitation and safety laws determined by inspectors at two South Florida restaurants last week prompted the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation to temporarily close them." "Two S. Fla. restaurants briefly shut by inspectors".

The best they can do?

"Rick Santorum to speak at Lincoln Day Dinner".

Teachers protest cuts, mismanagement...

"Ringing bells, carrying signs and shouting slogans like "Yes, we can," teachers clogged the sidewalks Tuesday around the Broward School District headquarters to protest job cuts, district mismanagement and a lack of raises." "Broward teachers protest job cuts, demand raises". See also "Hundreds protest school cuts".

Top down democracy

"A new law has made it easier for the Legislature — but harder for citizens — to change Florida's Constitution."

When state lawmakers tried last year to propose constitutional amendments to voters concerning property taxes, the new federal health care law and the redistricting of political boundaries, they ran headlong into challenges at the state Supreme Court, which removed all three from the ballot.

It was a maddening blow to the GOP-controlled Legislature, which passed legislation this year sharply restricting opponents' ability to fight legislative ballot proposals.

The new law, which took effect when Gov. Rick Scott signed it Thursday, gives opponents just 30 days to challenge ballot questions approved by the Legislature. Even if a court challenge does succeed, the state attorney general will have new authority to rewrite the ballot language so it can still reach the voters.

The Legislature's experience at the Supreme Court last year "created a question," said House sponsor Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala: "What can we do to make sure voters get to see these items?"

The same law is less generous, however, to citizens seeking to amend the state constitution. Petitioners now have only two years, rather than the previous four-year window, in which to gather enough signatures to add a question to the ballot

Mack strives to at least sound relevant

"Florida Republican Congressman Connie Mack, chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, called for greater cooperation with Mexico to combat the flow of illegal drugs and to stem the number of Mexicans illegally entering the United States." "Connie Mack Calls for Greater Cooperation from Mexico to Secure the Border".

Red state AGs get pressure from clergy

"Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s refusal to push for mandatory mortgage principal reductions as part of a multistate group designed to combat foreclosure fraud is generating a protest and prayer vigil this week from Florida church leaders."

PICO United Florida, an ecumenical group of Central Florida religious leaders, will gather in the Capitol courtyard Thursday to protest Bondi’s stance.

“When Pam Bondi was running for attorney general she touched on the fact that a lot of Floridians had lost their homes,” said Rev. Errol Thompson of New Fellowship Baptist Church in Orlando, and one of the leaders of PICO. “But once she became attorney general it appears that she’s backing away from this.”

Thompson is taking issue with the stance Bondi and the attorneys general of Texas, Virginia and South Carolina have taken against using the Mortgage Foreclosure Multistate Group to force mortgage servicers to reduce the principal on loans to financially troubled homeowners.

FSU hopes to avoid Koch fiasco in the future

"Stung by widespread criticism of its unusual contract with a conservative billionaire donor, Florida State University has turned to its faculty for guidance on avoiding such a fiasco in the future."

On Monday, a group of faculty leaders planned their approach for a review of the university's contract with the Charles G. Koch Foundation, which gives the foundation the right to screen candidates for two positions in FSU's economics department in return for $1.5 million over six years. ...

The arrangement, signed in 2008, is believed to be the only one of its kind and has been slammed as an attack on academic freedom. University hiring is traditionally the purview of faculty and administrators and off-limits to outside influences.

The gub'ment tit

"Road builders heightened the pressure Monday on Gov. Rick Scott, delivering close to 3,600 petition signatures opposing a proposed $150 million shift of gas tax dollars they warn will cost thousands of jobs." "Business groups press governor to veto cuts they say will cost jobs".

Villages idiot

"Governor Will Leave Tallahassee to Sign Budget in The Villages".

"Scott's elections chief defends changes

"Scott's elections chief is defending a law that reduces the number of days for early voting, arguing that polling places will stay open the same number of hours they are now."

Yes, fewer days, Secretary of State Kurt Browning wrote in a Monday guest column in the St. Petersburg Times. But longer hours on those days.

"The number of days polls remain open has been reduced from 14 possible days to eight days," Browning wrote. But "the total number of hours available for early voting will remain the same."

Later, Browning added: "Today, the following remains true: Early voting remains at 96 hours, with greater flexibility for counties."

DCF gutted

"DCF to lay off 500 workers".

It ain't beanbag

The Miami Herald editorial board thinks a "Police PAC’s ad unfair to candidate Gimenez" "PBA assault".

Scott rushing to take credit

"Crime rate drops in most of South Florida's large cities, FBI says".

Webster gets a pass

"Are zombies and loud-mouthed protesters a thing of the past for the congressman? They didn't show up to greet him at a town hall event last week in Windermere, as they had the month before in Winter Garden and Orlando." "Dan Webster on recent protests and re-election plans".

Utilities continue PSC purge

"The executive director of the Public Service Commission, hired by four consumer-friendly commissioners who were ousted last year, has been ousted himself. Timothy Devlin, 59, resigned Monday at the request of PSC Chairman Art Graham. Devlin, a 35-year veteran of the agency that regulates utilities, has been in the job since Jan. 25, 2010."

"Last year, the Legislature purged the PSC of four appointees of then-Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist had appointed them because he thought legislators had become too close to the utilities they regulate."

A year ago, when Devlin asked the utility companies to report their hiring of former PSC employees, the goal was to determine whether there was an indirect cost to customers when utilities are able to buy access and insight into regulators. The utilities successfully fended off the request and haven't reported the information. ...

Former Commissioner Nathan Skop, who nominated Devlin to become executive director, blasted Graham's removal of him as "absolutely shameful." He called Devlin "a veteran of unquestionable integrity who is well respected by PSC staff."

Pawlenty formally kicks off campaign in Tampa

"As the potential Republican field shrinks, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who formally kicked off his presidential campaign Monday, looks like a top contender." "Pawlenty's 1st campaign stop: Tampa". See also "Former Minn. Gov. Pawlenty, candidacy newly declared, hits presidential trail in Coral Gables".

"Before Braman descended from the mountaintop"

Fred Grimm: "Norman Braman, [Miami-Dade's] self-appointed, self-financed arbiter of public ethics, has advised the voters to just say no, all down the line."

“Frankly, they are not true reform,” he said.

Braman is offended, among other problems, that the commission rushed the proposals onto the ballot without a public hearing. Though the commissioners rushed them onto the ballot mostly because they were afraid of how Braman and his angry minions might react if they didn’t.

He also seems bothered that the charter proposals don’t mirror his “covenant with the people.” Though I can’t remember Braman seeking public input before he descended from the mountaintop with his coveted covenant.

While angry Norm advises the angry masses to vote no on the charter proposals (while voting for the particular candidates he has endorsed), the more circumspect Merritt Stierheim, the former county manager, Miami city manager and school superintendent has found merit in the proposals that would ...

Little interest in Miami-Dade race

"Voters show low interest in Miami-Dade mayoral race". See also "Who will win Tuesday? It’s a secret in one Miami-Dade race".

"Big Grass is worse than Big Oil"

Mike Thomas: "Big Grass is worse than Big Oil. Grass is destroying Florida, particularly St. Augustine grass." "Water-gulping grass is ruining Florida".

"Someone like West"

Antonio Fins: "A few weeks ago, I was inundated by 'Draft Allen West for President' emails from around the country. At first I dismissed them, since West is barely into his first term in Congress. But now I'm not so sure it's that outlandish a proposition."

He's not a career politician, so you can't tag him with much of the wreckage that the Washington insiders have to account for. He's a military man, and let's just say the military is in a lot more vogue than at any point since World War II.

More than that, West possesses the type of charisma that appeals to all kinds of people on the political spectrum. As I walked out of a speech he gave to a business group last month, I heard attendees muttering how much they liked him even though they didn't agree with a lot of his "far-right" stances.

I've been following West for the past four years, ever since a summer afternoon in 2007 when he showed up to introduce himself as a candidate for Congress. At the time of our meeting, a story was circulating that Lt. Col. West had mistreated an Iraqi detainee during an interrogation by, among other allegations, firing a round above his head.

On the heels of the Abu Ghraib scandals, the implication was that West had acted abusively. Good luck trying to make that case to the overall public in light of the deliverance of justice upon one Osama bin Laden.

Since then, I've seen West in various arenas — on TV talk shows, talking to local business groups, in political rallies — and he's been comfortable in each of those stages. He's someone who knows how to appeal to different and diverse audiences.

Now, can he parlay that into a national campaign, under much more intense scrutiny? Can he raise $1 billion to match the president's war chest? That's another matter.

And, like I said above, West has stated he's returning to District 22. I have no reason to doubt that.

But I have no reason to doubt that conditions for a successful run by someone like West will be there in 2012, either.

While we were sleeping ...

... people with pensions were working: "One carjacking suspect was fatally shot and a second was wounded in a shooting involving deputies from the Broward Sheriff's Office early Monday, authorities said. According to BSO spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion, the incident began shortly after 1:30 a.m. when detectives who were leaving the scene of an earlier home invasion investigation were flagged down by man". "1 dead after 2 shot by BSO deputies".

The arrogance of these people, to actually expect a defined benefit pension upon retirement.

"Surge in homeless"

"This month, Brevard Public Schools counted 964
students it considers homeless or "in transition" ... because they have no stable place to live. That's 10 times more than just four years ago, about the time of the recession." "Brevard schools see surge in homeless, at-risk students".

Cracking down on unemployed

"State is now randomly checking whether unemployed are looking for work". Related: "It may get easier for employers to challenge jobless claims".

Glowing plans

"As federal regulators continue to look for lessons from Japan's nuclear disaster, critics are pleading for changes in three key nuclear emergency areas. It matters to Floridians because the state has five reactors, four of which are slated to expand, with plans to build four new ones." "What will Florida nuclear power plants learn from Japan?".

The best she can do?

Nancy Smith loves her Ricky: "Why are we still hearing about the governor's 'extravagant' nameplate on Florida welcome signs? Enough already. As issues go, an $8,800 expense taken from a $69.7 billion budget is about as scandalous as a saucy seaside postcard." "$8,800 Worth of Welcome Signs: What's the Ruckus?".

In Miami-Dade, "Democrats are virtual nonentities"

"In the wake of a surprising Democratic victory in Jacksonville's mayoral election last week, the contest for the top job in Miami-Dade is a Republican-only affair. County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez and Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina are the clear leaders in the polls ahead of Tuesday's special election, and are expected to advance to a runoff. Democrats are virtual nonentities in the 11-candidate field."

"The Democratic Party in Miami-Dade is not organized. They have a terrible ground game. They've been shut out of county politics for years," says Sean Foreman, assistant professor at Barry University in Miami Lakes.

Tuesday's mayoral race is officially nonpartisan, but, as in Jacksonville and Tampa, where Democrat Bob Buckhorn was elected mayor earlier this year, there's no confusion over party affiliations in Miami-Dade.

And Then There Were None

"The St. Petersburg Times and POLITICO have formed a partnership to cover presidential politics in Florida and the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa." "St. Petersburg Times, POLITICO team up for 2012 coverage".

Budget "another headwind in the economic recovery"

"The $69.7 billion state budget now before Gov. Rick Scott will send tremors through Florida's struggling economy, with school districts, hospitals and other big employers soon cutting jobs and programs because of a sharp drop in taxpayer dollars, economists say. Scott has generally praised the spending plan for shrinking government, cutting regulations and reducing taxes. He says it will spur private business expansion and fulfill his campaign pledge to create 700,000 jobs over seven years."

Many analysts aren't so sure.

More certain, they say, is that state government's pullback will lead to at least a short-term reduction in dollars coursing through Florida. It could add to the state's 10.8 percent unemployment rate, they warn.

"A reduction in state spending? Well, first, that's just going to reduce jobs," said David Denslow, head of the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Demographic Research.

"It's going to be another headwind in the economic recovery," said Denslow, an occasional adviser to the Republican-led legislature. "You're cutting employment, reducing infrastructure spending and lowering the amount of money going to communities. That's going to have a negative effect."

Scott has until June 1 to act on the budget. But critics say a foreshadowing of its impact came the day lawmakers sent him the plan last week: Broward County announced 1,400 teacher layoffs.

"Two small rays of hope"

Tim Nickens: "It seems everyone is a sworn enemy of anyone with a different viewpoint, and there is no one searching for the middle ground in Tallahassee or Washington. Both political parties are too often held hostage by their most extreme elements, and there is little consensus building within their own ranks — much less reaching across the aisle. Democrats have been shut out in Tallahassee by perhaps the most conservative governor and Legislature in modern times."

Amid the gloom, I found two small rays of hope last week in a Democratic member of Congress from Tampa and Republican voters from Jacksonville.

In a frank discussion with the Times editorial board, Rep. Kathy Castor recited the Democratic Party line about the fight over raising the federal debt ceiling. She said any plan for automatic triggers to reduce the federal deficit if Congress does not act on its own should include both spending cuts and revenue increases. But Castor went on to say that to raise revenue, she would be willing to explore limiting or phasing out the tax deduction for home mortgage interest as part of a broad deficit reduction plan. Similarly, she also would explore capping or phasing out the tax exclusion on employer-provided health insurance. In another era, Democrats wouldn't dare to raise either issue. But we're in different times, and Castor's moderate pragmatism reflects the sorts of discussions we all should be having about tough choices.

The bigger news came in generally conservative Jacksonville, which elected a Democrat as mayor for the first time in 20 years. Alvin Brown stitched together a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans to narrowly upset conservative Republican Mike Hogan, who was backed by the tea party movement and Gov. Rick Scott. Brown, who also becomes the city's first African-American mayor, ran as a centrist and focused on job creation. A Florida Times-Union analysis found Brown ran up large margins in Democratic precincts, won some precincts a more moderate Republican won in the primary, and kept it closer in precincts Hogan won.

Hypocrite is ...

... As hypocrite does: "Gov. Rick Scott has repeatedly slammed the $787 billion federal stimulus bill and Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll has been a critic as well, telling conservative website NewsMax last fall that the stimulus"

"has clearly shown that it has not created sustainable jobs. What it has done is grow government even larger."

But Carroll was wielding an oversized pair of scissors in Delray Beach on Friday to cut the ribbon on an affordable housing project that was financed with at least $7.3 million in stimulus money.

Speaking out of both sides of his derrière

"Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist said earlier this month he wanted the once-in-a-decade process of drawing new commission district lines to be as 'non-partisan and as simple as it can possibly be.' Shortly after he made that statement, however, Crist alienated his Democratic colleague, Commissioner Les Miller, with some backroom maneuvers to redraw the district. Crist ordered a county employee to draw a map that put most of Temple Terrace back into his district. The city had been moved into Miller's district on four initial maps drawn by a county redistricting task force." "[Victor] Crist's attempt to redraw district criticized".

Dems sellout teachers

"When Florida voted in 2001 to create a corporate tax credit voucher program for low-income students, only one Democrat supported the idea. Ten years later, when it came time to vote on a bill (HB 965) that expanded the amount of tax credit a company gets for making a donation to a school voucher program, 24 Democrats chose to support the bill. That’s a remarkable policy shift for Democrats, who started out nearly united in their opposition to vouchers."

The votes also coincide with an increasing number of campaign donations and political advertising support of Democrats by individuals or groups that back voucher programs, including the corporate tax credit scholarship program.

Democrats say their support of voucher programs is not connected to contributions but rather an awakening that private school vouchers help many low-income students receive a good education.

“I support it because this money goes toward scholarships for children of African-Americans in low-income areas,” said Rep. Dwayne Taylor, D-Daytona Beach, who received donations from a voucher proponent. Black caucus members especially have embraced some voucher programs and say it reflects demands of their constituents – who are more likely to live in areas with poor-performing public schools.

Since 2004, about $5 million was spent by two “527” groups, which are political fund-raising organizations that spend money advocating for an issue, according to campaign finance records.

These groups – All Children Matter and Florida Federation for Children – specifically support school voucher programs. These groups have ties with national pro-voucher organizations such as the American Federation for Children. Both of these political advocacy groups are run by John Kirtley, who successfully lobbied in 2001 to get the corporate tax credit scholarship program approved by the Legislature.

Scott likes "'vote-killing' regulations"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Florida Gov. Rick Scott hates regulations. Indeed, the phrase "job-killing regulations" has become a virtual motto. But while he has little use for rules intended to protect the public health, consumers or the environment, he doesn't object to 'vote-killing' regulations." "Vote-killing regulations".

"Haridopolos makes no apologies"

"State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, told a Leadership Pasco group last week that the Legislature would work better if presiding officers were barred from running for other offices while serving (like state Senate President Mike Haridopolos) ... Haridopolos makes no apologies." "No apologies from Haridopolos for running".

Ricky wingnuts it up in Virginia

"Gov. Rick Scott went to Tyson’s Corner in northern Virginia today for a meeting of the Council for National Policy, a secretive and sometimes controversial religious right group."

The group, founded in 1981 by a group including the late conservative icon Paul Weyrich, doesn’t publish its membership or activities.
But according to various researchers, it has included the nation’s top religious right leaders over the years, from Pat Robertson to James Dobson and Jerry Falwell, as well as businessmen including the Coors brothers and Amway founder Rich DeVos, and political figures from former Attorney General John Ashcroft to Oliver North and Sarah Palin.

But it also reportedly has included more controversial figures including the Rev. Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church and the late R.J. Rushdoony, a controversial figure who advocated dominion theology and a society run under Biblical law.

Third tier intellect strides world stage

Pammy Bondi strides the world's stage: "Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi headed to Israel Friday to announced today that she's touring that country along with some of her counterparts from other states and meeting with Israeli officials to discuss social, economic and political issues." "Bondi in Israel, but not on taxpayers' dime".

"Florida, of course"

"Where does one go after announcing a candidacy for president? Florida, of course. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is set to make his long-expected presidential announcement Monday in Iowa and then hop on a plane for Tampa Bay." "Times: Florida: ground zero for Republican candidates".