Protesters should not have been removed from a state budget signing ceremony in the Villages last week, a spokesman for Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Friday.

Spokesman Brian Burgess said the governor did not order anyone to be kicked out of the May 26 event. But he said Scott would take responsibility.

"There appears to have been confusion among event staff, including an employee of the Governor's Office, about whether the event was public or private," Burgess said.

The admission was an about-face from Scott's office. Press secretary Lane Wright said a week ago that no one from Scott's office played a role in the ordeal. ...

The statement did not include an apology to the people barred from the event.

Corrections officer layoffs begin

"The Florida Department of Corrections announced Friday that 190 prison guards in training will lose their jobs in a move the department estimates will save $8.8 million. " "DOC lays off 190 guards".

"Every Florida Republican in Congress voted to end Medicare"

Stephen Goldstein reminds us that "Every Florida Republican in Congress voted to end Medicare and for Vouchercare:"

Sen. Marco Rubio and all House members, including those from South Florida (Allen West, Mario Diaz-Balart, David Rivera and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen). Thanks to Senate Democrats, their assault on Medicare was defeated — for now.

But the effort to repeal Obamacare — and end its benefits for current Medicare seniors — is under a relentless, three-pronged attack in Tallahassee. First, Florida Republicans, who of all elected officials should protect seniors, took the lead in a multi-state lawsuit, eventually headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, to get Obamacare declared unconstitutional. Second, Gov. Rick Scott is now leading the charge against Obamacare. He founded Conservatives for Patients' Rights and provided $5 million to run ads and pack town halls with people protesting health care reform. It is reasonable to assume that, from his perch in Tallahassee, he can orchestrate health-care policy so he can recoup the $73 million he spent to get elected, after he leaves office. But his personal gain will be every Americans' loss. Third, Florida's almost-all Republican Legislature has put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2012 to exempt Floridians from Obamacare.

If the U.S. Supreme Court rules Obamacare unconstitutional and seniors lose solid Medicare benefits, thank Florida Tea Party/Republicans. And you'd better hope that drinking tea can cure you of all your aches and pains, because, if Paul Ryan & Company ever succeed in putting you into Vouchercare, that's the only "medicine" you'll be able to afford.

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Scott Signs Bill, Opponents Hire Lawyers". See also "The Week in Review for May 31 - June 3". See also "On Medicare, GOP plan could be its problem".

Professor Haridopolos can't handle the heat

"It's not that the radio host failed to press Mike Haridopolos. Over and over the Republican U.S. Senate candidate was asked whether he supports the GOP plan to restructure Medicare."

"Again, I don't have all the information to make that decision yet,'' Haridopolos limply responded.

"How could you possibly not have all that information, you're running for Senate?'' asked "Ray Junior," the exasperated host in St. Augustine.

"Ray, I thought you wanted to talk about what we had accomplished, not about a hypothetical," said Haridopolos, the Florida Senate president, referring to the recent session.

The dodging went for more than four minutes. "Okay, get him off my phone," the host finally declared. "I don't want anything to do with this guy. Get rid of him."

Medicare: big, complicated, endangered — and the latest proving ground for Republican candidates.

More than a few House Republicans worry about implications next November and are trying to avoid the topic and hoping it fades. But for now the party is presenting a unified public face.

"I know. The Democrats know. The White House knows. The situation has to be addressed," said U.S. Rep. Bill Posey of Rockledge. "I'll take my shots, I'll take my licks. But somebody has to have the courage to stop this country from going bankrupt."

To further exploit the issue, Senate Democrats staged a May 25 vote on the Ryan plan knowing it would fail. Most Republicans voted with their House counterparts, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. A handful of moderate Republicans voted no, however, underlining the risk.

Scott in a Teabag bind

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "With the painfully slow economic recovery experiencing a hiccup, or perhaps worse, the importance of states spending the remaining federal stimulus money promptly and prudently has never been more critical. Despite his opposition to federal stimulus money, even Gov. Rick Scott has finally recognized their efficacy by signing a state budget that includes $370 million in stimulus funds. Now Scott needs to do more with the remaining federal dollars at his disposal." "Florida needs more stimulus".

Scott "beyond hypocritical"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "That Gov. Rick Scott had the temerity to cast the $615 million in projects he vetoed as 'shortsighted, frivolous, wasteful spending' is insult enough. To have the budget-signing ceremony held at a town square 'leased' by the Republican Party of Florida and then to sic sheriff’s deputies on a dozen or so people sitting quietly in the back because they were wearing 'Vote Democratic' T-shirts or carrying signs that did not laud the GOP governor is an assault on democracy and free speech."

"And, then, for the governor to claim at the budget-signing ceremony last Thursday in the 'private' public square of The Villages in Central Florida that 'school funding is far more important' than the vetoed $615 million projects is beyond hypocritical." "Governor or emperor?".

655,000 public employees to get pay cuts

"For more than 655,000 public employees in the massive Florida Retirement System, the rules are about to change. Immediately and most universally, the new law means the first July paycheck of every teacher, state worker, county employee, judge, cop and lawmaker will be smaller. That's because all those public employees will be required to pitch in on their own retirement plans. Now, those contributions are made entirely by employers." "FRS rules are about to change; get prepared now ".

Where you been?

"After a disturbing visit to one of Florida’s most troubled assisted-living facilities, a leading lawmaker said the state is leaving its most vulnerable citizens to fend for themselves in deplorable conditions." "Top lawmaker stunned by conditions at assisted-living facility".

Scott sued over 'voter suppression'

"A pair of liberal-leaning groups sued Gov. Rick Scott on Friday to block an elections law that they say amounts to 'voter suppression.'"

The ACLU of Florida and Project Vote filed the suit in the hopes that it would stop Miami-Dade County from shortening the number of early-voting days before its June 28 mayoral elections.

The new law shortens the early voting days – but not necessarily the number of total hours – from 14 to eight days. It also requires an out-of-county voter who tries to change his voting precinct on Election Day to cast a provisional ballot, which can be more easily challenged. Also, the law cracks down on third-party registration groups.
One of the plaintiffs, Tampa Sen. Arthenia Joyner, said the bill passed by the Republican-led Legislature is an example of a “rank partisan agenda” that disproportionately hurts minorities.

"It is un-American to make it a burden to vote. Too many people fought and died for this right," Joyner, a Democrat said. "This is an abomination. And it’s unconscionable."

But the sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Dennis Baxley, a Republican from Ocala, said the state needs to ensure there’s no fraud.

The lawsuit is the fifth one to name Scott as a defendant in his role as governor. The other suits relate to drug-testing state workers, high-speed rail, constitutional amendments over redistricting and an executive order that froze state rules.

"Blindfolding the experts"

Bill Cotterell: "Maybe it's just a coincidence that the Legislature took a giant leap into prison privatization right after companies running prisons for profit pumped nearly $1 million into Florida campaigns."

And it could be pure happenstance that the same Legislature decided to tightly muzzle its own watchdog, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Goverment Accountability.

The performance of privatized prisons might be charitably described as spotty, so you'd think lawmakers would want more documentation of whether they really operate 7-percent cheaper than state-run slammers. But, for reasons known only to legislative leaders and party campaign treasurers, lawmakers decided we can save money by blindfolding the experts who see if we're saving money.

Miami-Dade endorsement

"Miami-Dade County mayoral candidate Carlos Gimenez picked up the endorsement Friday of the biggest vote-getter not to make the runoff in last month’s mayoral election. Former state Rep. Marcelo Llorente, who finished third in the race, threw his support behind the former county commissioner now facing former Hialeah Mayor [and Jebco hack] Julio Robaina in a run-off." "Llorente endorses Gimenez in mayor’s race".

"It takes The Villages to love Gov. Scott"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "It takes a village to love Gov. Scott."

Make that: It takes The Villages to love Gov. Scott. ...

Founded and controlled by H. Gary Morse and his family, The Villages was singled out by Florida Trend as the 10th-largest political contributor during the 2010 election cycle, with 100 percent of its contributions going to Republicans. Its top lobbyist is Al Cardenas, a former chairman of the Florida Republican Party. His lobbying firm did not respond to requests to identify issues on which The Villages lobbied during the just-concluded legislative session.

Gov. Scott's approval ratings have plunged precipitously, with just 29 percent of Floridians approving of his job performance in a recent Quinnipiac poll while 57 percent disapprove. So the governor was looking for friendly territory on which to sign the $69.1 billion budget, and trumpet his "record" $615 million in line-item vetoes.

Most residents of The Villages share its founder's tea party leanings. Four months ago, Gov. Scott previewed his spending plan at The Villages, then announced his "Highly Anticipated Budget Proposal" not far away in Eustis. ...

Scott's decision to sign Florida's budget in a scripted setting follows similar decisions during his transition and inauguration and when he announced his own budget plan. That might play OK in an ersatz Villages town square. In the real town square of public opinion, it is an insult.

AIF vs. EPA

"Saying Florida needs 'good science to make good decisions,' state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam suggested Friday that the battle with Washington over water-quality standards might be easing."

The usual - we have the God given right to dump raw sewage into Florida's lakes and streams - suspects

weren't so optimistic or conciliatory.

In a videotape produced for Friday's forum, Putnam's successor in Congress, Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, blistered "EPA bureaucrats who never set foot in Florida."

Florida's water utilities, agricultural and business groups have assailed the EPA's numeric nutrient standards as both ineffective and inappropriate. Last December, the state and other concerned parties sued over the EPA's proposed rules.

A brief from the Associated Industries of Florida declared that the "unprecedented federal standards" would require "extraordinary levels of pre-development purity."

"The extremely restrictive criteria that the EPA has adopted are, in many instances, technologically impossible to meet," AIF stated.

"A rigged game"

Randy Schultz: "In Florida, property insurance now a rigged game".

Evaluation games

"Details of the new evaluation system emerged this week as school districts submitted their plans and the Florida Department of Education finalized its work on the more controversial part — using test data in teachers' performance ratings." "School districts are revamping teacher-evaluation system".

"A governor ignorant of the state's history"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Growth management, an imperfect but noble effort to protect Florida from selfishness and greed, died Thursday (June 2, 2011). The cause of death was legislation passed by a Legislature lacking perspective and signed into law by Rick Scott, a new governor ignorant of the state's history and indifferent about its future." "An obituary for Florida Growth Management".

DCA still kicking

"SB 2156, which has not been sent to the governor, would eliminate DCA and send its Division of Community Planning to a new Department of Economic Opportunity. DCA Secretary Billy Buzzett has named division directors and is working with other agencies on the transition into the new department." "DCA positions being filled even as department appears headed towards elimination".

Arizona-style

The Sun Sentinel editors: "Florida better off without Arizona-like immigration law".

Empty suit comes out swinging

"Pointing to a report released Friday showing the national unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent, Florida Republican Congressman Dennis Ross came out swinging at the White House, calling for House Republicans to play hardball with the Obama administration to get free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea." "Dennis Ross to House GOP: Play Hardball with Obama on Free Trade".

"A building wave of litigation"

"For the second time this week, the American Civil Liberties Union announced it is hauling Gov. Rick Scott into court -- this time, over a controversial makeover of Florida's election laws -- as another group prepares to sue him over a new law restricting what doctors can ask their patients. More court challenges are expected in what appears to be a building wave of litigation over provocative bills that the conservative state Legislature passed this spring. That could cost the state untold thousands -- even millions -- of dollars in what lawmakers have described as the state's toughest fiscal year in decades." "Court battles over new state laws could be costly".

No sweat

"Florida's water-management districts are facing big revenue cuts, but the new leader of the state's largest system isn't sweating." "New SFWMD Boss Vows 'No-Brainer' Budget Cuts".

FlaDems to hang Scott around the RPOF's neck

Aaron Deslatte: "Gov. Rick Scott is being portrayed as the most unpopular governor in the country, a toxic political asset for his Republican allies, an alarmingly aloof public servant when it comes to issues Floridians have cherished for decades."

But don't expect the Republican-led Legislature to make him look even worse by overriding a host of his $615 million in budget vetoes this summer.

Lawmakers can't afford to make their titular party head appear any weaker heading into a presidential election year, when GOP hopes of re-taking the White House from President Barack Obama will hinge on re-claiming the Sunshine State.

Democrats are eagerly trying to portray Scott as the face of the Republican Establishment and are feasting on the anti-Scott animus to boost their grassroots organizational strength.

Look no further than Jacksonville. Polling from last month's mayoral upset suggests the unpopular governor and the GOP push to cut education funding played a significant role in helping Democrat Alvin Brown win.

Even though Duval County is Republican country, its Democrat-leaning African-American electorate dramatically out-performed white voters. Black voters are 27.26 percent of the Duval electorate, but 41 percent of eligible black voters cast ballots. White voters are 62.6 percent of the electorate, but only 38.4 percent of them voted.

Democrats won the battle for early votes and Election Day turnout. But race appears to have played less of a role than local issues, particularly cuts to education that were beginning to put sports, arts classes, and after-school offerings on the chopping block.

In Democratic polling, education went from being the second-most important issue among Duval voters in January – behind jobs – to the top spot by April, as Tallahassee prepared to impose big classroom cuts.

"It's almost like voters have given up being angry at Congress and are turning that anger toward the Legislature," said Dave Beattie, a Fernandina Beach-based Democratic pollster who worked in the race. "That's very atypical for Florida."

"Florida's biggest long-term problem"

"With fields dry, plants wilting and stiffer water restrictions looming, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam told a room of growers, water managers and business officials on Friday that Florida's biggest long-term problem is not crime, Medicare or the economy." "Repairing Lake Okeechobee dike needed not only to save lives, but crops, ag commissioner warns".

"Life", but only until your "born"

Atrios can't help ripping Ricky's abject hypocrisy with "Rick Scott, the Pro-Life Governor of Florida".

Bondi late to the game

"The nation's second-largest for-profit college company is fighting a lawsuit that keeps growing — with the state of Florida now one of the newest parties to join the case." "Florida joins suit against for-profit college company".

Miami's whiz kids flee

"Miami City Hall’s financial guru is officially out the door — and the city’s top administrator is perhaps soon to follow. On Friday, city Chief Financial Officer Larry Spring confirmed he has submitted his resignation to City Manager Tony Crapp, Jr." "Miami finance chief quits, manager may follow".

"Bill could increase local bribery and corruption"

"Republicans said the bill would return growth control to local governments where it's needed. But Democrats said the bill could increase local bribery and corruption through influence developers wield at the local level and increase the state's vacant housing stock." "Scott signs sweeping growth management overhaul into law".

Another Scott flip-flop

"After initially fighting one of its key provisions, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Friday aimed at cracking down on clinics that frivolously dispense pain pills and feed a nationwide prescription drug abuse epidemic." "Scott signs pill mill bill into law". See also "Laws regulating prescription, dispensing of pain pills in Florida now tougher" and "Pill mill bill gets final approval from Scott".

The Washington Republican establishment, conservative bloggers and his Republican opponents Thursday criticized Haridopolos. Not only was his position overly calculating, they said, it was sloppily handled.

During a Tuesday radio interview, Haridopolos repeatedly refused to say whether he’d vote yes or no for the plan, which was crafted by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan. The host of the St. Augustine radio show, Ray Junior, hung up on Haridopolos in frustration.
Then, on Wednesday, Haridopolos issued a statement in which he praised Ryan’s goals and pledged to protect seniors. Later, Haridopolos’ spokesman announced the candidate would have voted against the specific Ryan proposal, which would essentially transition Medicare into a voucher program.

“The current Ryan Medicare plan should be amended to provide for greater protections for seniors,’’ spokesman Tim Baker said. "Sen. Haridopolos would not vote for the plan as currently written."

But, he said, Haridopolos would approve it with changes. Haridopolos – who once favored privatizing Medicare entirely – won’t say what his Medicare plan will look like or when he’ll announce it.

"The 'emperor' has been exposed"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "That Gov. Rick Scott had the temerity to cast the $615 million in projects he vetoed as 'shortsighted, frivolous, wasteful spending' is insult enough."

To have the budget-signing ceremony held at a town square “leased” by the Republican Party of Florida and then to sic sheriff’s deputies on a dozen or so people sitting quietly in the back because they were wearing “Vote Democratic” T-shirts or carrying signs that did not laud the GOP governor is an assault on democracy and free speech.

And, then, for the governor to claim at the budget-signing ceremony last Thursday in the “private” public square of The Villages in Central Florida that “school funding is far more important” than the vetoed $615 million projects is beyond hypocritical. This is the same governor who sent a budget to the Legislature that gutted public schools by 10 percent. The GOP-led Legislature restored some of that money, and K-12 education still took a big hit, but it would have been far worse had Mr. Scott’s budget proposal passed. ...

Is it any wonder that Mr. Scott is so unpopular in Florida? He seems to think he was crowned emperor instead of elected governor — and barely elected at that, winning less than 50 percent of the vote. That is far from a mandate.
Mr. Scott, who bankrolled his own campaign, may think he owns the state, but clearly most Floridians do not agree. ...

The “emperor” has been exposed.

Koch krap

"A committee appointed by faculty leaders at Florida State University has begun reviewing the university's unusual contract with a famously conservative donor." "FSU faculty committee reviewing Koch agreement".

"Public employees should be beaten"

Howard Troxler: "Public employees, as we all know, are parasites who should be punished. This is why we have not given them a general salary increase in several years."

This year, besides effectively cutting their pay further by requiring a pension contribution, Gov. Rick Scott also has ordered state employees to undergo drug testing — no matter whether there is any reason to suspect drug use, nor whether they are in a job where it actually makes sense.

Not only do I heartily endorse this practice, but I would go further:

I would beat them, too.

During these ministrations the Decent People should remind the public employees of why they are being beaten; namely, that they are lazy bureaucrats by definition.

In some cases we will have to rotate the beatings. It seems impractical to pull out all the prison guards, or take all the Highway Patrol troopers off the road, all at once.

On the other hand, I think we can beat schoolteachers twice a month, wholesale, just on general principle. This can easily be worked into the schedule of the public school system, as they are not doing anything most of the time.

'Ya gotta problem' wit dat?

"Gainesville businessmen admit paying bribes to Florida prison officials".

Scott's "affront to human decency"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Championed by conservatives as some sort of fiscal responsibility measure, Scott sanctimoniously declared in signing the law:"

"While there are certainly legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction."

The insinuation, of course, is that being poor is somehow synonymous with lawlessness and moral weakness, as if people in need of financial assistance are inherently susceptible to drug use and addiction. They're poor; therefore, they must be out boozing and drugging, the prejudicial thinking seems to go.

The fact that Florida itself researched this very issue in 1998 and found no such connection between financial need and drug use doesn't seem to matter to the conservative lawmakers scurrying to curry political favor among their cheering right-wing base.

State officials estimate the costs of the initial screenings at $10, but one state Department of Children & Families official said they could cost as much as $40 — a hefty sum for an impoverished family already struggling just to put food on the table.

Now, in order to get the help they need, the poor — whose ranks are swelling in the bad economy — are being told that their financial status alone makes them suspect, and to prove themselves worthy of assistance, they must front some cash and show the world they're not on drugs.

It is an affront to human decency ...

Enuf already

"Chancellor Frank Brogan: State, Universities Need to Align With Business".

Rubio on the public teat

"Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is returning to teaching politics at Florida International University – a gig that prompted some criticism during his 2010 election."

Rubio’s ties to FIU came under scrutiny during his 2010 Senate run when critics questioned how the former Florida House Speaker landed a never-advertised $69,000 part-time job at the school in 2008. A story by The Herald/Times noted that the post came open as the school’s trustees were grappling with a budget shortfall that led to tuition hikes, the loss of 23 degree programs and 200 jobs. It prompted criticism that the state universities had become a go-to employer for lawmakers who once oversaw their budgets.

The Florida Democratic Party renewed the attacks Thursday, calling for Rubio to step down and return the money.

Will Crist run as a Dem?

"Florida Democrats need new blood. Charlie Crist is ready with a transfusion."

The once-popular governor who bolted the Republican Party in an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate in 2010 may be setting his sights on his old job in Tallahassee.

"Crist becomes a full-on Democrat and runs for governor," veteran political operative Roger Stone predicted Thursday.

The scenario is entirely plausible on many levels.

Entrepreneurs in action

"State Farm customers report triple digit rate hikes".

"Bondi's candid report"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Bondi's candid report on child's death a step forward".

Governor Teabagger heads south

"Rick Scott is scheduled to close out this week by making his first official visit to the Keys as governor, but who gets face time with the state's chief executive isn't clear." "Gov. Rick Scott to visit Florida Keys this weekend".

"Jeb!" poodles in a funk

"Jeb!" poodle Mike Thomas: "The Cult of Jeb held out hope until almost the very end that he would run for president."

The National Review was practically on its knees, giving it a last shot in February with a story that should have been headlined: Please! Please! Please!

Jeb could unite the party, it said. ...

This leaves Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota. Last week, a cadre of Bush confidants joined his campaign.

"The most effective critic of the Republican agenda"

"The most vocal and effective critic of the Republican agenda in Tallahassee"?

The state Democratic party chairman? The minority leader in the state House or Senate?

Try state Sen. Mike Fasano, the lifelong Republican who was passing out campaign fliers for Ronald Reagan long before the GOP came to dominate Florida politics.

Longtime friends are scratching their heads at Fasano's penchant for regularly criticizing fellow Republicans.

One moment Fasano, 52, is blasting colleagues for supporting an insurance bill he insists will sock consumers with big rate increases. The next he's calling Gov. Rick Scott "clueless" for talking about phasing out state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Or telling a Pasco civic group that the session was tainted by Republican Senate President Mike Haridopolos' U.S. Senate ambitions and House Speaker Dean Cannon's prospects as a lobbyist.

Redistricting carnival

"The Florida Legislature is hitting the road this summer to hold public meetings on redistricting as state legislators prepare to redraw the lines in their own districts -- and map out two new congressional seats for the Sunshine State." "Legislators Will Hit the Road to Hear the People on Redistricting".

Race to the right

"With Republican candidate Mike Haridopolos in trouble with conservatives over his mixed messages on whether he supports the Ryan budget, the team behind primary rival Adam Hasner continued to pound away Thursday -- and added a shot at former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux to boot." "Republicans Looking to Take on Bill Nelson Continue to Fire Away at Each Other".

Can't turn back now

"Dozens of bills affecting Floridians from the womb to the tomb were signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday. Everything from abortion to school vouchers to videos depicting murders is covered in the 48 measures Scott signed. Among the most significant bills: a rewrite of the state's growth management laws and an overhaul of Medicaid, the $22 billion health insurance program for the poor." "Gov. Rick Scott signs overhaul of Medicaid, growth laws". See also "Gov. Rick Scott signs 48 bills into law" and "Scott signs sweeping growth management overhaul into law".

"Not so simple"

"Advocates for the state's poorest residents are up in arms, and Florida's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is gearing up to file a court challenge." "Welfare providers on drug-test law: It's not so simple".

Hillsborough wingnuts in a dither

"NOW conference slated for Tampa this month".

Outa here

"Hundreds of state employees rush to beat retirement program changes".

Second amendment stoopid

"Three groups of doctors are suing Gov. Rick Scott over a bill he signed into law Thursday restricting health care workers from asking patients questions about guns." "Three doctors groups suing Florida over law limiting doctors in asking patients about guns".

Pardon me

"James Turner was arrested 13 times in a four-year span for drunk driving, disorderly conduct and, ultimately, felony cocaine charges. But he had a clean record since 1990 and the board's staff recommended Turner be given a pardon." "Citrus County electrician gets Gov. Rick Scott's first full pardon".

"Florida's K-12 institutions in harm's way"

"Some districts will be fine, but some are expected to slash jobs in the wake of budget cuts ordered by state lawmakers. Lobbyists for the education system say it's not any one budget cut that puts Florida's K-12 institutions in harm's way, but the slow accumulation of significant decreases since 2008. And the legislature's new-found focus on charter schools and virtual education isn't helping in the tight 2011-12 budget year." "For Florida's public schools, here come budget cuts".

"Jack Sparrow's crew has more discipline"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida's leading Republican lawmakers were crowing last month after approving next year's nearly $70 billion state budget without raising taxes. "If they're going to grade us on financial discipline and fiscal conservatism, I'd like to think we passed that test with flying colors," said Senate President Mike Haridopolos of Merritt Island."

But to balance the budget, lawmakers raided more than a half-billion dollars from 31 trust funds. Those funds were created for specific purposes, including road construction and affordable housing, not to pay for general government operations.

Capt. Jack Sparrow's crew has more discipline.

State Sen. Don Gaetz, the Niceville Republican in line to succeed Haridopolos in 2012, called the trust fund raids "bait and switch" but defended them in remarks reported by the Tallahassee Democrat. "We have violated the trust and we've done it to keep the lights on, keep the critical services moving in the state of Florida," Gaetz said.

As long as I get mine

"Just in time for the start of the 2011 hurricane season, two Florida Republicans in Congress -- Tom Rooney and Allen West -- joined up Thursday to introduce three measures to help Americans impacted by natural disasters." "Tom Rooney, Allen West Introduce Measures to Help Americans Impacted by Disasters".

Villages idiot investigation

"Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday he will launch an inquiry into why people were selectively removed from an event in the Villages where he signed the state's $69.1 billion budget." "Scott plans inquiry into ejections". Gary Fineout: "Scott promises to "look into" reports that protesters were kicked out of budget signing".

"Political lies"

Scott Maxwell looks "at everything from political lies to a contest for Florida's most unpopular politician." "Patriot or partisan? It depends".

RPOF budget undermines consumer confidence

"While a national confidence index showed Americans worried about gas prices, the job market and the ongoing housing slump, University of Florida researchers say Floridians have a different concern: the state budget."

Nationally, the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell in May to 61, the lowest reading since November and down 30 points since late 2007.

Floridians' outlook has been shaken, too. In a report also announced Tuesday, UF's Bureau of Economic and Business Research's consumer confidence rating dipped to 68, the worst since September 2010. Perceptions on personal finances compared to a year ago dropped 4 points to an anemic 52.

Last week, the governor signed a $69 billion budget that scaled back the tax cuts while expanding his initial spending proposal by more than $3 billion.

But media reports focused on $615 million in line-item vetoes by Scott, and those were seized on by liberal groups that decried any reductions, while generally assailing the Republican-controlled Legislature.

“Rick Scott ran on creating jobs, but instead he is running Florida’s economy into the ditch,” said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Progress Florida.

“Since this governor has been in office, we have seen him break his promise not to cut education funding, turn down job-creating projects such as high-speed rail, and today he signs a budget that eliminates thousands of jobs," Ferrulo said shortly before the budget-signing ceremony Thursday.

Florida Watch Action, another liberal advocacy group, has launched a website, www.PinkSlipRick.com, that purports to track job losses since Scott took office.

Though the claims of eliminating "thousands of jobs" have been denied by the Scott administration and could not be confirmed by any independent analysis, the downbeat mantra has resonated in the media echo chamber and stuck in the public's mind.

One man's voter suppression ...

"Democrats and Republicans see CS/CS/HB 1355, differently, beyond reducing early voting days from 14 to 8, requiring voters who have moved into the county without renewing their registration to cast a provisional ballot, and more strictly regulating third-party voter registration drives."

The new law will hurt voters who try to make changes at the polls, such as students, those at the poverty level, military people and minorities who tend to move more, said Manatee County Democratic Party Chairman Richard O’Brien.

The local Democratic Party has already redoubled its voter registration efforts, due to the new election law, O’Brien said Tuesday.

The law is politically motivated and designed to curtail voting by Democrats, O’Brien said. ...

O’Brien contended it eliminates the biggest voting days for African-Americans in Manatee County -- the days just before the general election, set for Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.

"There’s been this busing to the polls program after church, the churches take groups of people from church -- this is especially designed to curtail that," said O’Brien.

Told about O’Brien’s claim that African-American voters who tend to vote just before the election would be adversely affected, Trigueiro questioned whether churches busing people to the polls could legally retain their nonprofit status.

"It’s my understanding that for a church to have nonprofit status, they are not allowed to have political campaigns," he said. ...

"It didn’t say black voters could no longer vote. Didn’t say if you’re Hispanic, you have to show your birth certificate in order to vote," he said. ...

The bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said the only thing "prejudicial and discriminatory" about the issue was the description of minority voters as being different from Caucasians and Anglos.

Buchanan's former company violated campaign finance law

"The Federal Election Commission is asking a federal court to impose a $67,900 fine on a company formerly co-owned by Rep. Vern Buchanan that it says engaged in an "extensive and ongoing scheme" to reimburse employees who made contributions to the Sarasota Republican's congressional campaign."

Buchanan is not named as a defendant in the suit. The owner of the company said Tuesday he's acknowledged the company reimbursed employees, but said it was a "directive" issued by Buchanan.

"I've done nothing wrong," said Sam Kazran, who said he told the FEC he was unfamiliar with campaign finance law. "I am not a politician, just a regular Joe. I had no idea."

He said Buchanan told a group he needed to raise $1 million "to look good.

"It was 'This is what I need to do and this is what you need to do to take care of it,' " Kazran said.

A Buchanan campaign spokesman called Kazran's allegation "absolutely false."

Scott makes appointments

"Gov. appoints 2 to hospital board".

"Florida blithely sticks its head in the sand"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors point out that "when it comes to addressing the threat of global warming, Chicago is a second city to no other. Meanwhile, Florida continues to deal with real-world global warming concerns by blithely sticking its head in the sand — while the beaches still exist." "Chicago could teach Florida about global warming".

Solar rebates

"FPL offers solar rebates - How to get yours before the cash runs out".

Scott's flip flopping baffles Teabaggers

SunState News' Kenric Ward writes that "Gov. Rick Scott will never win any popularity contests with the liberals at Florida's teacher union. Now, his curious call to shift budget savings back to education threatens to undermine his conservative base, as well."

Scott won in 2010 as the consummate outsider who promised tough spending cuts and no-nonsense reform. But his budget-signing muddle looked more like an insider's game of smoke and mirrors.

In total spending, the budget Scott signed was closer to Charlie Crist's than his own. The governor's $615 million in line-item vetoes, while a record, represented less than a 1 percent cut and failed to bring the bottom line below $69 billion. (Scott's original plan was $66 billion, but, hey, what's a few billion among friends?)

The meager trims were disappointing enough to fiscal conservatives. Then Scott compounded his problem by urging lawmakers to funnel the paltry nixed expenditures back into K-12 education. In other words: no budget savings at all.

Moving public money around for no net reduction isn't the hallmark of a fiscal hawk, and Scott's shell game on schools wasn't even clever. If it was an attempt to deflect political heat onto Republican legislators, it failed dismally as House Speaker Dean Cannon riposted that only $100 million could be shifted because the remainder of the vetoed outlays came from dedicated sources.

Even in his veto message, the governor warned that "throwing more taxpayer dollars at an outdated system is not the answer." And yet there he was, telling Floridians that more money "oughta be put back into education."

Was this bout of mush-minded munificence an isolated "off moment" for Scott, or a sign of things to come? Which direction he takes on the SunRail commuter-train boondoggle will go a long way toward settling that question.

"What baffles me is why we still have SunRail dollars in the budget," [Henry Kelley, head of the Fort Walton Beach Tea Party] said.

Meantime, the axiom stands: The more an elected official is perceived as unprincipled, pandering or just plain feckless, the less credible that politician becomes. Just ask Crist.

Lou Reed cringes

"Major reforms aside, saggy pants, bestiality, barking tree frog all had their day". "Florida Legislature Paused for a Walk on the Wild Side".

Obama HCR will lower premiums by up to 40% in Florida

"After only a smattering of people enrolled in the pre-existing condition insurance plan created by the Obama administration's health overhaul last year, the federal government said Tuesday it will lower premiums by up to 40 percent in states like Florida and make it easier to apply." "Premiums cut on pre-existing condition health care coverage".

Scott attends $500-a-head fundraiser

"Invited by the France family, Gov. Rick Scott toured the pediatric unit at Halifax Health Medical Center on Tuesday -- meeting the staff and cheering up one of its small patients. The Republican governor was in Daytona Beach to attend a $500-a-head fundraiser Tuesday night at the home of International Speedway Corp. CEO Lesa France Kennedy." "Governor tours Halifax pediatric unit".

Employers no doubt outraged at 6 penny increase

"Florida's new minimum wage takes effect June 1". See also "Florida minimum wage rising six cents this week".

Teabagger teacher evaluation formula

"Class attendance will count. A student’s socioeconomic status won’t. Students with disabilities and gifted students will be a factor. But race and gender will not."

That’s a glimpse of the new test-based teacher evaluation formula the state is set to approve on Wednesday. As part of the requirements of the new teacher merit pay law and the mandates of the $700 million Race to the Top federal grant, the state and school districts are preparing for a major overhaul of how teachers are rated and paid.

Under the merit pay law, 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation must be based on student learning gains on test scores, with the other half based on in-person evaluations by a principal, administrator or fellow teacher.

By 2014, a teacher’s salary will be tied to how well the teacher performs under this new formula.

Florida real estate crash continues

"South Florida home prices in March hit their lowest level since the real estate crash, a crushing drop that reflected the nationwide trend and one that had economists declaring recent market gains artificial." "South Florida home prices worst since crash". See also "Tampa home prices remain at housing-bust lows" and "Orange County property values continue to slide".

Mendelsohn looking at time

"Federal prosecutors are seeking prison time for a Florida eye doctor convicted of fraud in a high-profile political corruption case." "US wants prison for Fla. doc in corruption case".

Scott suppressing voting by racial and ethnic minorities

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Elections supervisors in five Florida counties are correct to refuse to implement the state's new deeply flawed election law until the Justice Department determines whether the changes affect minority voting standards."

Secretary of State Kurt Browning was improperly pushing Florida's 67 elections supervisors to adapt to the new rules immediately, so Collier County Supervisor of Elections Jennifer Edwards felt compelled to send a letter to Browning informing him of this constraint. The state should wait until these issues are resolved, or Florida may face an untenable bifurcated voting system, with five counties operating under one set of rules and the rest of the state another.

For instance, reducing early voting from two weeks to eight days reduces voting opportunities for people with inflexible jobs who tend to have difficulty getting to the polls during the work week. These are generally lower income residents who are also disproportionately minority. Browning says the reduced early voting days are offset by expanded hours of up to 12 hours per day. But the longer hours are only optional.

Another troublesome feature affects renters and people who move often, again impacting lower-income Floridians. Voters who moved out of the county of their registration will be given a provisional ballot, causing them inconvenience and hassle. Browning says he will direct that all provisional ballots filled out by people with a change of address are counted, but that's not good enough. These voters are singled out as a way to dissuade them from showing up at the polls.

Voter registration drives are made significantly harder with burdensome filings and steep fines for groups such as the League of Women Voters and other civic participation groups. The league has said it will end its voter registration efforts under these new conditions. ...

In an attempt to tilt the balance of the next election toward Republicans, Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature have designed ways to suppress voting by racial and ethnic minority voters. The Justice Department should protect voting rights by seeing through their tricks and calling it what it is: illegal.

"Fair voting districts for Florida"

Howard Troxler wants to "talk about fair voting districts for Florida." "'Fair districts' is only a beginning".

OPPAGA

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "A year ago, the Legislature cut $2 million, or 25 percent, from OPPAGA's budget. This year, the Legislature took away direct state money and made OPPAGA dependent on a discretionary account that the Legislature controls. So how aggressive might the agency be if assigned to examine something known to be a favorite of legislative leaders? Before Gov. Scott vetoed it, $400,000 had been included in the budget for OPPAGA to study a Supreme Court overhaul that was House Speaker Dean Cannon's priority." "Stop silencing the wonks".

"Florida's economic recovery takes hit"

"The prospects for Florida's economic recovery took a new hit Tuesday, with a widely followed housing index reporting yet another price drop. The national S&P Case-Shiller price index tumbled 4.2 percent from the first quarter, and was down 5.1 percent compared to its year-ago level. It was the eighth straight monthly decline." "Florida's Battered Home Market Hits Another Low". See also "Property values in Orange continue to slide".

Trying too hard

"Sarah Palin got more media attention, but South Florida Congressman Allen West also joined the Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally during Memorial Day weekend." "Allen West joins Rolling Thunder biker ride".

Why?

Stephen Goldstein asks "Why did any Floridians vote for Rick Scott after learning that the company he headed paid the biggest Medicare/Medicaid fraud fine in history? Why did people believe the smears against John Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War hero, but discount the truth about George W. Bush's evasion of military service?"

The answer: People act and think based upon their irrational preconceptions, which most don't even know they have, but which they will go to any lengths to defend. Self-delusion is our security-blanket. In a rapidly changing world, people want to escape from the barrage of ideas that daily threaten their comfort zone. Rather than face having to change their opinions and prejudices, they'll accept - and defend - the irrational.

All responsible scientists say that global-warming is a fact - but there will always be someone who believes it's a lie and a Communist plot. Prove that there are no "death panels" in the Affordable Health Act - and people will still tell you Obama wants to kill grandma. The more outrageous a story, the more likely someone will readily believe and repeat it. Once confined to the headlines of supermarket tabloids, the wild and preposterous have now infected everything we call the media - and polite discourse.

"Scientifically, fiscally, and constitutionally unsound"

"People applying for welfare benefits must pay for drug testing under a bill Gov. Rick Scott signed into law today. If they pass, they'll be reimbursed for the cost of the test. If they don't, they won't receive temporary government assistance."

The law is expected to be quickly challenged. The Florida chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union issued a release criticizing it and noting that a previous attempt to test welfare recipients for drugs in Michigan was ruled unconstitutional.

“The wasteful program created by this law subjects Floridians who are impacted by the economic downturn, as well as their families, to a humiliating search of their urine and body fluids without cause or even suspicion of drug abuse,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida. “Searching the bodily fluids of those in need of assistance is a scientifically, fiscally, and constitutionally unsound policy. Today, that unsound policy is Florida law.”

Florida was one of several states that took up the issue this year despite a similar Michigan law that was thrown off the books after a four-year legal battle. The 1999 law to randomly test welfare recipients was stopped after five weeks. An appeals court eventually ruled it unconstitutional.

The ACLU said it is looking into suing to challenge the law.

"Meddling, know-it-all Legislature"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The meddling, know-it-all Legislature passed a measure this session preventing local governments from limiting the use of fertilizers, a major source of water pollution. It was typical of a governing body that claims to be conservative but loves to dictate local decisions from Tallahassee. It is the same Big Government approach found in Washington." "Legislative fertilizer".

Florida's importance heading into 2012

Jeremy Wallace writes that "three White House aspirants' presence in Florida during the same week months before the state will even set a date for its primary vote underscores Florida's importance heading into the 2012 presidential election." "Republican Contenders Tout Value of Florida".

Wingnuts run wild in Florida

"National organizations like the American Legislative Exchange Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Bioethics Defense Fund, the National Rifle Association and Americans for Taxpayer Reform have been reaping the rewards from last fall's tidal wave of Republican election wins in state governments around the country that brought new conservative leaders."

Such groups fared well in Florida, where the GOP, already in control of the state Legislature, gained a supermajority last fall. The leadership also became more conservative, particularly in the Senate.

"The most partisan legislation we saw pass here was what we saw [advancing] in other states," said, Rep. Rick Kriseman, policy chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. "If it wasn't identical, it was awfully similar."

Other examples of bills advanced around the country this year that either passed in Florida or came close to it:

•Two proposed constitutional amendments that will be on the 2012 ballot – one to counter "Obamacare" by prohibiting any law requiring the purchase of health care coverage, the other that would tie government spending to population growth and cost of living.

Each was supported by conservative groups – the legislative exchange council and Bioethics Defense Fund on health insurance, Americans for Prosperity and Americans for Tax Reform on the spending bill.

• Teacher tenure: Lawmakers reprised last year's bill vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist that phases out tenure for K-12 public school teachers. Signed by Gov. Rick Scott; similar anti-tenure legislation advanced this year in New Jersey, Idaho, Indiana and Nevada.

•Immigration law enforcement: Supported by ALEC, Arizon-style enforcement passed the Florida House but died after much altering by Senate.

Rotten teeth

"Here’s news that shouldn’t make Floridians smile: For the second year in a row, the Sunshine State has received an F for its efforts to help provide poor children with dental care." "Florida flunks in providing dental care for poor children".

"Nonjudicial foreclosure" state?

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Florida's foreclosure backlog of 310,770 cases has analysts questioning whether the state should drop the requirement that judges approve a lender's request to seize a home for nonpayment. The evidence, so far, is lacking."

Florida doesn't need to become a "nonjudicial foreclosure" state. Florida's problem is that the Legislature, supposedly concerned with the state's economy, did nothing to address the foreclosure crisis. Worse, legislators refused to extend last year's $6 million allocation that courts used to hire judges and staff to move cases. As that money runs out, the backlog once again will increase.

"Condo Laws Ignite Court Battles"

"Florida Condo Laws Ignite New Court Battles".

"Rodney Dangerfield of Florida's fiscal structure"

"Rick Scott isn't the first governor to make a play for Florida's 124 trust funds. But he joins the state's most egregious abusers of them. It's one of the things this rookie outsider has in common with the 2011 Legislature. Trust funds are the Rodney Dangerfield of Florida's fiscal structure." "Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature: Tough Choices or Wrong Choices?".

Spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries

"Instead of giving $1 million to the nonprofit Brain Injury Association and another $2 million to other consultants, lawmakers agreed the $3 million should go to direct services to people with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. Because the services would be designed to keep people in their homes so they don't need costly residential care, the federal government will kick in $3.8 million in Medicaid funds. The $6.8 million will help the state serve about 260 people who are among the roughly 600 on a waiting list, said Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington." "Lawmakers persuaded to clear more direct path for aid".

Legislators admit it's fundamentally dishonest. They say it's necessary to deal with contingencies in bad years.

"We've swept these trust funds. We've done the bait and switch. We have violated the trust and we've done it to keep the lights on, keep the critical services moving in the state of Florida," said state Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican, at the start of committee meetings considering the budget that's now final.

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott signed a 2011-12 spending plan that relies on $524 million taken from 31 trust funds and thrown into general revenue, the big pot of discretionary money lawmakers use to pay state expenses.

The decisions have drained dollars from trust funds as diverse as the one filled with permit money required of tobacco and alcohol retailers and distributors ($275,240 in this year's proposed budget) to hundreds of millions collected from the state's tax on real-estate transaction filings that paid for affordable-housing projects (four separate raids taking a total of $571 million from the Local Government Housing Trust Fund) and the fight against invasive plants (a pair of sweeps netting $118 million).

Instead of the narrow aims of trust-fund spending, $2.8 billion since 2008 has gone into general revenue to pay the state's bills. Without the sweeps, lawmakers could not have balanced Florida's budget without more severe cuts or raising taxes even more than the billion in fee increases enacted in 2008. But that redirection comes at a cost.

RPOF throws empty suit at Castor

"Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, officially filed [last] week to run for the 11th Congressional District seat held by Tampa Democrat Kathy Castor, according to the Florida Election Commission website."

Bennett, president pro tempore of the Florida Senate, has been candid in recent months about the possibility he would seek a congressional seat.

“I’m going to do it,” he told the Herald earlier this month. “My wife Dee and I have been discussing it for a long time. I have had a lot of people approach me and wanted me to run.”

Bennett lives in southern Manatee in the 13th Congressional District, represented by fellow Republican Vern Buchanan.

With the upcoming redistricting mandated after the 2010 Census, Bennett said he believes the 11th District, which includes portions of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties, will be redrawn to include more of Manatee.

But even if the redistricting doesn’t extend into southern Manatee, Bennett said he will run.

“My wife and I are willing to move if we have to do that,” he said.

Technically, however, Bennett would not have to live within the district to run for the seat.

With the Hometown Democracy ballot initiative on the horizon, state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, wants to undo a law that prohibits local governments from spending tax money to influence the outcome of ballot referendums.

"I'm going to file a bill overturning it," said Bennett, the chairman of the Senate Community Affairs Committee. "I think I made a serious mistake voting for that."

Sunshine State News captured exclusive video of Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, looking at pornographic material on his state-issued computer on the Senate floor.

Ironically, as Bennett is viewing the material, you can hear a Senator Dan Gelber's voice in the background debating a controversial abortion bill.

"I'm against this bill," said Gelber, "because it disrespects too many women in the state of Florida."

Bennett defended his actions, telling Sunshine State News it was an email sent to him by a woman "who happens to be a former court administrator."

"I was just sitting there, bored as they were debating the abortion bill," Bennett said.

"I opened it up and said holy [expletive]! What's on my screen? and clicked away from it right away."

Sunshine State News could not verify how long the image of four bikini-clad women with their tops exposed was open before our cameras started rolling on it, but it was up for at least three seconds before it disappeared from the screen.

Senate spokesperson Jaryn Emhof explained further on Bennett's behalf.

"There was some confusion about an email he received," said Emhof. "He thought it was an email about an item being debated on the Senate floor. As soon as he realized it wasn't he closed the page."

But the one image we caught on camera wasn't the only thing Bennett had viewed. It appears other files, including at least two videos, may have been downloaded, too. He was also caught on camera watching a video of a dog running out of the water and shaking itself off. It is unclear if he also thought that was an email about a bill being debated on the floor.

offered Bennett an opportunity to prove his statements to Sunshine State News by showing the executive editor and videographer the email record with a government-related subject line, but after talking to the Senate's top lawyer, he declined to let [them] see those records.

Another empty suit

"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." "Rubio no action, little talk on immigration".

"Yesterday's GOP candidates"

George Bennett: "Palm Beach County GOP Chairman Sid Dinerstein, who exasperated some Republicans by calling John McCain 'yesterday's candidate' in 2007, said Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin would distract efforts to defeat President Obama in 2012"

Thank you, President Obama

"Signs point toward a good summer for Orlando's primary industry, as hotels look to fill more rooms and theme parks are riding on a wave of pent-up demand." "Good business news: Summer is looking up for Orlando-area tourism industry".

Do what I say, not as I do

"Burt Aaronson became a Palm Beach County commissioner after unseating Democratic incumbent Carole Phillips in a 1992 primary. State Rep. Irving Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, first joined the state House by defeating Democratic incumbent Curt Levine in a primary in 2000. Now Aaronson and Slosberg want the party to weigh in against similar primary challenges in the future." "Burt Aaronson, Irving Slosberg want Democratic Party to discourage primary challenges".

While the rest of us were sleeping

"A surging wildfire threatened a Lockheed Martin Corp. weapons-testing facility in southeast Orange County Sunday, while 44 smaller blazes kept firefighters scrambling in Volusia County. ... Orange County firefighters joined a state Division of Forestry response of four bulldozers, an airplane and a helicopter, working to keep a 1,000-acre blaze away from buildings at the high-security test facility, officials said. Significant reinforcements are expected today at that fire, which is near County Road 13, while another crew continues to fight a 150-acre blaze that has blanketed the BeachLine Expressway with smoke." "Firefighters battle a big wildfire in Orange and dozens in Volusia".

It’s bad news for Republican Party bosses, but all is not lost. Scott recently signed a new election bill that is callously designed to suppress voter turnout, making it harder for many disgruntled Floridians to cast a valid ballot in 2012.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state, so GOP leaders are desperate to find ways to keep certain people away from the polls. One of the Legislature’s top priorities was to change the voting rules to avoid a repeat of 2008, when Barack Obama won the state’s 27 electoral votes on his way to the presidency.

Obama benefited from early-voting days, which proved popular among minorities, college students and retirees. Republican officials became incensed during the election when then-Gov. Charlie Crist — one of their own — decided to extend polling hours to accommodate the long lines.

The nerve of that guy, making it easier for common citizens to vote!

Determined not to let this whole democracy thing get out of hand, the GOP-held Legislature crafted a bill that reduces the number of early voting days from 15 to eight, and requires some voters who have moved to cast provisional ballots, a deliberate inconvenience aimed at students. ...

Upon signing the anti-voting bill into law, Gov. Spaceman said the following: “I want people to vote, but I also want to make sure there’s no fraud involved in elections. All of us as individuals that vote want to make sure that our elections are fair and honest.”

Those who recall what happened here in the 2000 presidential election can’t help but chuckle at the comic aspect of a Republican governor pretending to fret about voter fraud.

Interestingly, the officials who are most familiar with the fraud issue — the county supervisors of elections — are mostly opposed to the new voting law, and say current voter-data bases are fairly accurate. They actually asked the Legislature for more early-voting sites, and were of course rebuffed.

The statewide association of elections supervisors also warned Scott that imposing the restrictive provisions could cause a fiasco at the polls in 2012, just what we need to reinforce our national reputation for electoral dysfunction.

The GOP’s dream scenario is a low turnout dominated by a grumpy, aging core of conservative white people who can’t stand Obama. With their party outnumbered on Florida’s voter rolls, top Republicans hope that rigging the voting rules will improve their chances to recapture the White House.

You could call it democracy with selective exclusion.

Or you could call it what it is.

Scott gets all Nixonian on us

Howard Troxler: "Some people in the government hate the public records law, and drag their feet and try not to obey it."

Our state's new governor, Rick Scott, has shown a contempt for the spirit of the law. Clearly he does not think that what he does is the public's business at all. His underlings fight and stall even the most routine requests for what he is up to, and they have started billing people for asking.

One of Scott's top advisers admitted in a recent e-mail sent from her private e-mail account: "I rarely check and almost never respond to work e-mail because of the open records law."

A Scott spokesman, equally blunt, defended secrecy by saying: "There are things we don't want to broadcast to our opponents."

Their opponents! Who, exactly? The taxpayers?

Here is one of the truest things I know:

Secrecy is a sure sign of bad or dishonest state and local government.

"Zombie kids warehoused on the cheap"

Fred Grimm: "They’re children of the new Florida ethic. Zombie kids warehoused on the cheap in the state’s juvenile lock-ups. Kept quiet, manageable and addled senseless by great dollops of anti-psychotic drugs." "Creating juvenile zombies, Florida-style".

"Proven recipe for success"

Scott Maxwell: "Arts in schools proven recipe for success".

"Et tu, Mr. Browning?"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning says he does not understand why his ex-colleagues, the state's elections supervisors, howl about the pernicious new election rules signed into law by Gov. Scott this month. A longtime supervisor himself, he insists that there is 'nothing in this bill that as a supervisor would cause me any heartburn.'"

Et tu, Mr. Browning? Few people in Florida know as much about running elections, but during an interview in which he repeatedly defended the Legislature's repressive and baldly political changes, Mr. Browning sounded time and again like a cuckolded spouse rationalizing his partner's transgressions.

Rubio the next Sarah Palin?

Kenric Ward argues that "the Republican Party needs Marco Rubio on its 2012 ticket." See "Why Republicans Must Put Marco Rubio on 2012 Presidential Ticket".

Now is as good a time as any to drive a stake into the future political aspirations of the staggeringly unimpressive Marco Rubio.

"Putnam ready on the right"

Randy Schultz: "With immigration reform, Putnam ready on the right".

"Plenty of deception"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Gov. Rick Scott's announcement of what he claimed to be a record $615 million in budget vetoes Thursday was typical: At a carefully orchestrated event attended only by avid supporters, he dished out plenty of deception."

The "record" Scott claimed was a sham. It counted $305 million because Scott killed environmental-land buying legislation. But the measure in question only authorized the state to use up to $305 million from the sale of surplus state land to fund Florida Forever.

While this would have provided a revenue source to at least continue the program, which has languished during the recession, no one expected the land sales to generate much.

The veto also underscores Scott's unprecedented antipathy to Florida's environment.

As he rushes to eliminate environmental safeguards and gut water-supply protections, the governor also thought it wise to kill funding for a popular program that protects natural resources without regulations.

Mendelsohn wants mercy

"Onetime Broward power broker and lobbyist Dr. Alan Mendelsohn wants a federal judge to spare him from serving prison time when he is sentenced next week after pleading guilty in a public corruption investigation."

He served on then-Gov. Charlie Crist's gubernatorial transition team in 2006 but was also the chief fundraiser for the Florida Medical Association's political action committee. The skimmed money was used to pay for private school fees for his children, credit card bills and a house purchase and payments for his mistresses, prosecutors charged.

That was then

"It was once the largest conservation land-buying program in the nation, a $300-million-dollar-a-year jewel that in the past 10 years has set aside 2.4 million acres of open spaces, parks and wildlife habitat." "Funding nil for Florida Forever".