But documents show that Rackspace, the Texas company that provided the e-mail service, notified Scott's transition team as early as March 14 that records no longer existed from 44 of 47 e-mail accounts, including Scott's. ...

According to documents provided to the Times/Herald, a staffer with Harris Media — an online communications company that set up the transition accounts through Rackspace — wrote an e-mail to the transition team on Jan. 26 saying all accounts would be closed by the end of the month.

"You will no longer have access to your e-mail inboxes, contacts and messages at that time," the staffer wrote. "Please take time the rest of the week and weekend to copy any of the data you will need from those accounts."

Chris Kise, a Tallahassee lawyer who advised Scott's transition on public records matters, has said transition members did not understand that message meant information would be deleted.

Yet that's exactly what happened.

RPOFers may start voting in three months

"Texas Gov. Rick Perry jumped into the presidential race only weeks ago. Speculation continues about whether Sarah Palin or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will enter the fray as well."

But if that suggests plenty of time before Republicans start voting, think again.

Florida has until Oct. 1 to set its presidential primary date, but more and more we hear late January is likely. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is talking about setting her state's primary for Jan. 31, and in that case Florida would likely go earlier. That in turn would surely lead to Iowa caucuses just around the start of the New Year, followed by New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina — dashing the Republican National Committee's hopes for no primaries or caucuses before February.

Everything's in flux, but if all that happens, Florida Republicans may start voting in just over three months. That's because absentee ballots would start going out before Christmas.

Still plenty of time to start gearing up in Florida? Not really.

Resort casinos

Myriam Marquez asks "Are resort casinos the name of the game?".

Bachmann goes Fla-baggin'

"Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is campaigning in Florida during the second day of her three-day swing through the crucial state."

Bachmann planned a town hall meeting in Poinciana Saturday morning and later was scheduled to address the Florida Family Policy Council, the group that led the effort to put a gay marriage ban in the state constitution.

On Sunday she plans to attend a church service in Lutz before meeting with Republican activists in Sarasota.

She told and interpreted Biblical stories, and offered Christian lessons she said she followed.

What she did not discuss was the political agenda of the Florida Family Policy Council, an increasingly powerful pro-Christian lobbying force in state politics. It is pushing for legislation and sponsoring litigation to limit abortions, oppose gay marriages and adoptions by gay couples, and to allow prayer in government forums. ...

Bachmann gave a far more charged conservative political speech earlier Saturday, when she spoke mostly about fiscal and foreign policy issues in a speech to approximately 400 people in the Polk County 55-and-over, gated country club community of Solivita.

She pledged to repeal the federal health care reform act, abolish the Environmental Protection Agency and dramatically reduce taxes on the highest tax brackets, for people she called "the job creators."

Another fine entrepreneur

Funny how these people always seem to land on their feet: "Entrepreneur promising Tampa jobs has failed before".

Scott considers ditching personal injury protection

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Gov. Rick Scott are considering ditching personal injury protection insurance in Florida." "Repair 'no fault' or junk it".

Jebbie upset

"Emails: Jeb Bush was upset Scott fired staffers".

"For Scott's administration, that is reason to celebrate"?

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Jeopardizing Florida's drinking water, scrapping purchases of sensitive lands, and rubber-stamping permits for agricultural and industrial water hogs puts the state's future at risk. Yet for Gov. Rick Scott's administration, that is reason to celebrate. And for all the damage he and the Legislature already have caused, the governor is just getting started."

Scott's secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, Herschel Vinyard, conducted an odd 14-minute news conference last week to praise the dismantling of the state's five water management districts. He hailed the districts' efforts to carry out $700 million in devastating budget cuts, and he echoed Scott's vague talk about returning to core missions. Then Vinyard promptly cut off questions about the damage that already has been done to the state's ability to protect and manage fresh water. ...

The vast majority of the savings next year comes from halting the purchase of sensitive lands. And the districts would slash tens of millions of dollars by forgoing new water supply projects and the maintenance and restoration of water recharge areas.

Pusillanimous of the world unite

Another alleged liberal, this time one Randy Schultz, passes on the same, tired Republican Party of Florida/Chamber of Commerce/League of Cities press release, to wit: if nonunion private sector employees - too cowered and pusillanimous to unionize - don't have defined benefit pension plans then public sector employees who risk their lives every day should not have such plans. "Cities must arrest rising cost of police and firefighter pensions".

It flows downhill

"Florida industry's fierce fight against EPA pollution rule".

"Some folks think they're livin' in Tombstone"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Florida's gonna make some folks think they're livin' in Tombstone, Dodge or Deadwood. That's 'cause Groveland just made it possible for pardners there to shoot their guns into the air. Boca Raton took down its 'no guns allowed' sign at City Hall. And yonder in Pinellas County and Jacksonville, they're gettin' rid of laws that plum say you can't fire yer weapon within county and city lines." "Florida needs sequel to tough gun statute".

"Conservatives begging for federal picnic baskets"

Mike Thomas remarks that "tea-party politics have now entered the realm of disaster relief."

I think the Twin Ricks — Scott and Perry — might have qualms with Cantor's pay-as-you-go disaster relief when Florida and Texas get whacked again.

Perry hasn't been shy about begging for federal disaster aid to handle the record drought in his state. In fact, he got downright ornery when it wasn't swift enough in coming.

In April, Scott gladly accepted FEMA money to help cover the cost of a raging fire in Southwest Florida.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal praised President Barack Obama in May for opening the federal floodgates when the Mississippi River overflowed its banks.

Gov. Bob Riley of Alabama couldn't thank Obama enough for disaster relief sent after tornadoes pummeled his state last year. More tornadoes brought more help this year.

There's nothing like a natural disaster to turn a conservative, anti-Washington politician into Yogi Bear, begging for a federal picnic basket.

"Be gone, thou satanic paper pusher!"

Daniel Ruth: "Ugh, government! Out, foul spot of bureaucracy! Be gone, thou satanic paper pusher! And while you're at it, take your free-spending supernumerary brethren with you, too!"

Government? We don't need no stinking government! Well, at least we could do with a lot less of it, right?

And so it goes. Rare is the politician who doesn't decry the creeping multiheaded monster of government, the bane of our existence, the slap-happy drunk slurping away at the trough of the public exchequer.

There's an old saying in Hollywood that so-and-so will never work again in this town — unless we need him.

Much the same holds true when it comes to the nameless, faceless minions in the hallways of government. We could do with a lot less of them unless, of course, we need a taxpayer-funded factotum to file a document or perform a service for us.

With declining county revenues, there will be no shortage of public employees soon to taste the bitter reality of being laid off. The antigovernment disciples who regard government workers as a bunch of incompetent wastrels will be sure to cheer this news — until the next time they have to close on a house, or register to vote, or take a bus.

Hey, where did all those people go?

Nowhere good.

Losing a job is more than merely being denied a paycheck. You lose a piece of your identity. You lose a sense of self-respect. You lose the feeling of contributing to family and society. You lose … you. Been there. Done that.

Another Florida entrepreneur in action

Fred Grimm: "Slick talker played the victim".

Scott leadership team laff riot

Michael C. Bender: "Late Friday, the Times/Herald was given Wiles' e-mails, which expose tensions between members of the transition team and a scramble for power in Scott's administration."

After Scott said he would donate his salary to charity, Wiles e-mailed transition director Enu Mainigi: "As discussed, that 'charity' is the governor's staff salary pool. Is that still the plan? If so, need to tell Rick." Scott is not taking a salary but has been criticized by Democrats for paying many of his top advisers more than previous administrations.

In another e-mail, Fritz Brogan, Mainigi's assistant, e-mailed Wiles and policy adviser Mary Anne Carter asking why Jordan Karem, who had worked on Scott's primary campaign, was on the payroll. "Enu wanted to know where that came from."

"We discussed him at dinner at China Grill," Carter replied.

Mainigi then wrote: "I don't recall discussing him. We need to discuss (because) Rick can't stand him."

In a separate string of e-mails, Carter asked to meet with budget adviser Donna Arduin and the Office of Policy and Budget staff before they met with Scott.

"Are we not better off going through it without RLS (shorthand for Richard Lynn Scott) and then determine what decisions need to be made?" Carter asked. "If there are going to be areas where policy and politics collide, I think it's best to know ahead of time and not have him involved in initial conversations."

Arduin, who was Bush's former budget director, wasn't having it. "You will see how budget meetings go by observing tomorrow," Arduin wrote. "The meetings are the governor meeting with his (budget) staff and making decisions."

Arduin then wrote to Wiles: "Keep the governor out of his budget decisions because we don't want him involved in political decisions … really??!!!"

Teabagagoguery hits the road

The "Tea Party Express has its roots within the GOP, unlike other tea party organizations that have tried to separate themselves from traditional political parties. Organizer Sal Russo is a Sacramento-based political operative who has spent nearly half a century campaigning for Republican candidates. Our Country Deserves Better, the Sacramento-based political action committee that funds Tea Party Express activities, was formed in 2008 to help John McCain's presidential campaign."

From Sacramento, the Tea Party Express buses decorated with the Declaration of Independence and national map of the tour route headed to Reno for a Saturday evening rally.

They track east through Utah, Wyoming and Nebraska before spending two days in Iowa. Then it's on to Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine. The tour turns south through Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

I am pleased to report the sighting of an artifact so rarely seen among Democrats that it has become the stuff of legend and conjecture, like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster. It is called a spine.

Said spine was briefly glimpsed a little over a week ago at a "jobs summit" in Inglewood, Calif. in the person of Rep. Maxine Waters. "I’m not afraid of anybody," the California Democrat said. ". . . And as far as I’m concerned, the 'tea party' can go straight to Hell."

Her words left the Tea Party Patriots sputtering about the need to play nice. "The president and all leaders of the Democratic Party, who have called for civility in the past, are neglecting to censure their own," the group said, according to The Washington Post. "Is civility only required from their opponents?" Which is funnier than a Bill Cosby monologue, coming from the folks who turned town hall meetings into verbal brawls and threw rocks through windows because they opposed healthcare reform.

Beginning Friday in Jacksonville Beach, then on to Orlando and Sarasota, the Minnesota congresswoman will seek to parlay her Iowa straw poll victory into top-tier status in the Sunshine State.

Bachmann's visit comes at a crucial time. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is surging in the polls and on Wednesday picked up the endorsement of Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park.

Mitt Romney already has a state organization dating from his 2008 run and Ron Paul will garner votes from the party's libertarian wing.

Sarasota County GOP chairman Joe Gruters says the race remains "wide open" in Florida because none of the major presidential candidates has committed to waging a concerted grassroots campaign here.

"Bush's idea of a good time was to pave over a wetland"

Daniel Ruth: "There it was in black and white, a heretofore unpublished e-mail from former Gov. Jeb Bush addressed to then Gov.-elect Rick Scott, advising his successor once removed that he should 'have fun and enjoy the job!'"

For Bush, who treated his time in Tallahassee as if it was an eight-year novena, to encourage Scott to lighten up and have fun in the Governor's Mansion is rich. Few other figures in Florida politics have approached governing as if it was a burdensome cross to bear. Bush's idea of a good time was to pave over a wetland.

Now here's Bush setting the stage for Scott, who has less of a sense of humor than Iran's wacky, zany Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to show up at work with a Steve Martin arrow through his head.

"A 2.22 GPA and a deep distrust of Darwin"

Mike Thomas: "Rick Scott wants to reform our universities and turn them into great institutions of higher education."

[A]las, he is turning to Texas and his new friend, Gov. Rick Perry, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a 2.22 grade-point average and a deep distrust of Charles Darwin.

It is an expansion of the public-school reform movement. That effort was relatively straightforward. You measured student-learning gains, graded the schools, gave parents the option of switching their kids from a failing public school to a failing charter school and busted the teachers union. ...

The first order of business is to turn everything into a business. This requires quantification, fiscal accountability, calling students "customers'' and abusing the help. ...

The professors went ballistic, and it has been war ever since.

The conservatives argued that if professors taught more and did less research on darn-fool theories like dinosaurs, they could educate a lot more students for half the cost.

The conservatives also want merit pay for professors.

Because there are no standardized tests to measure student-learning gains, they would have students grade the professors. If you think public-school teachers loathe being judged by a test, consider the reaction of not-really doctors judged by a bunch of entitled "customers.''

The eventual result would be Mutually Assured Excellence: You give me an A and I give you an A.

Professors preferring only to do research would have to pay for themselves with grants, encouraging them to work on more practical scientific breakthroughs such as Gatorade.

Race to the bottom

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Florida legislators have set the stage to raise health insurance premiums for state workers, though they kept prices the same for this year. ... One of their solutions is to oppose the federal law. The Legislature also ordered a study seeking other solutions. The first step, before reverting to a system that deprives sick people and young adults of coverage, should be to increase the premiums they and Gov. Scott pay." "Make state leaders pay more".

Poll: Obama trails Romney in Florida

"Lucky for Barack Obama that the election is 13 months away, because a new Florida poll shows him trailing Mitt Romney and neck and neck with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann."

The Aug. 18-22 Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll underscores the work Obama has to do if he hopes to win Florida again: Only 41 percent of likely voters surveyed approve of the job he's doing, while 56 percent disapprove, including 55 percent of independents.

"Couldn't have come at a worse time"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The divorce of Gov. Rick Scott from Ed Buss, the state's corrections chief, couldn't have come at a worse time." "Corrections Chief Ed Buss resignation". The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Reformer runs afoul of governor".

Colombia Free Trade Agreement fight

"The Association of Floral Importers of Florida hosted a meeting in Miami on Wednesday with Colombia’s ambassador to the United States, Gabriel Silva, to show its support for a U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. The Free Trade Agreement, supported by Democrats and Republicans, grants U.S. exporters tariff-free access to the Colombian market. Supporters say this would boost U.S. competitivness and create jobs, while opponents dispute the job creation figures and say that Colombia must show it will respect organized labor and workers’ rights."

"Vicky Gass, senior associate for rights and development at the Washington Office on Latin America, tells the Independent that the Economic Policy Institute issued a study that shows the Korean and Colombian free trade agreements would cost the U.S. more than 200,000 jobs."

She says that studies have shown the U.S. lost more than 682,000 jobs thanks to the North American Free Trade Agreement passed in the ’90s.

She is skeptical of the flower industry’s claims about job creation: “Where is the proof?”

Free Trade Agreement opponents have said human rights violations, the unresolved murders of union leaders and cheap labor in Colombia should delay the approval of the agreement. Boldt counters, “A lot of the people who actually state those issues are stating issues that occurred a long time ago. They are not [the] current situation.”

According to Gass, 17 labor activists in Colombia “have been murdered this year alone.” She says concerns about labor rights led the U.S. Trade Representative and the Colombian government to develop a Labor Action Plan. She says it “is a good idea” and “there are some important measures there,” and urges the U.S. to “wait for concrete results” before approving the trade agreement.

She cites the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement as a model; it included benchmarks to deal with labor rights issues.

Redistricting update

"Round-up of media coverage of redistricting for 8/26".

"During transitions, governors ... solidify their alliances with special interests"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "So far, news that emails from Gov. Rick Scott's transition got deleted hasn't fueled much outrage. After all, why care about electronic messages that disappeared from the time between the new governor's election and inauguration?"

Here's why: During transitions, governors begin setting the agendas for their terms, start hiring the people to carry them out, and solidify their alliances with special interests. It's no wonder that Florida's government-in-the-sunshine law requires that any records from transitions be preserved and made available to the public. State archives include transition records dating back decades.

Six in the Morning

Travis Pillow's "Six in the Morning: A six-pack of infobits you might have missed".

"Nelson makes a bipartisan appeal for tax simplification"

"Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson made a bipartisan appeal for tax simplification at a Forum Club of the Palm Beaches luncheon today, then urged Democratic activists to help defeat Republicans who hold the "extreme position" that spending cuts are the only way to reduce the deficit." "Nelson urges income tax reform, accuses GOP of 'extreme position' to 'cut, cut, cut'".

Florida GOPers flock to Perry

"'I can't tell you that I understand the entire recipe, but I believe that Perry has an eye for developing an environment in which jobs can be created and people can get to work,' said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, Florida's next Senate president, who endorsed Perry hours after he declared but has never met him."

[A.K. Desai, a St. Petersburg health care executive who is hosting Perry's first Florida fundraiser on Sept. 13] says the jobs data is evidence Perry has what it takes to be president.

"He also comes from a humble background and his ability to connect with people is tremendous," said Desai, who backed Romney in 2008. "He understands what it takes for people to make a living and also support a family and kids. He believes in the American values which we all want and aspire to. He's lived the American dream." ...

Gaetz said that after "window-shopping" with the current crop of candidates, Perry emerged as the obvious best option.

"This is a guy who has actually done the thing in his large state that this country needs done," Gaetz said. "If we're looking for people who have never made rhetorical gaffes we can find well-scripted, smooth-talking politicians, but they may not have the experience and produce the results that we need right now in this protracted economic crisis that has brought this country to its knees."

Scott flip-flops on "Lockup"

"Scott OKs 'Lockup' TV contract at Florida prison day after prisons chief exits over deal".

ACLU intervenes in election law case

"The American Civil Liberties Union and Project Vote announced today that they are intervening in Florida’s effort to win federal approval for its controversial changes to state election laws." "ACLU jumps into court battle over new elections law".

Medicaid deform

"Health care agency chief speaks to HMOs and nursing homes about fate of Medicaid reform".

Jacksonville shipyard executive talks environment

"In his first news media interview since becoming secretary in January, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard told the Florida Tribune he's still working on department priorities for the coming 2012 legislative session. He stepped into controversy in June when the department proposed RV campgrounds at four state parks." "Florida's top environmental regulator shares his vision for agency".

Vern "The Entrepreneur"

"Though Rep. Vern Buchanan has yet to publicly comment on a watchdog group’s efforts to launch an FBI investigation into his past congressional campaigns, he has found time to sell his $4.49 million yacht, The Entrepreneur. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is now using that yacht sale to highlight the allegations surrounding the Florida congressman." "Democrats use Buchanan yacht sale to highlight ethics allegations".

Will water district cuts hurt Florida's ecology?

"Environmentalists: Water district cuts will hurt Florida's ecology". See also "Governor slashes water district budget to lower property tax bills".

Busy man

"Alan Levine, the former head of the Agency for Health Care Administration, has asked the state's ethics panel whether or not he can sit on the University of Florida board. Levine, a hospital executive, served on the transition team of Gov. Rick Scott." "Hospital executive wants to know if he has a conflict of interest".

Bondi mum

"Attorney General Pam Bondi joined a multibillion lawsuit against Education Management Corporation this month and reportedly is continuing an investigation into several other schools operating in Florida, but won't comment on either one." "Cloud remains over several Florida for-profit universities".

King dies fighting for the right of workers to unionize

Leonard Pitts, Jr. reminds us that "when he died, Martin Luther King was fighting for the right of workers to form a union and for the dignity of the poor." "King fought for the poor and labor unions —...".

"Investigatory Integrity Act"

Scott Maxwell: "State Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, and some others are pushing the 'Investigatory Integrity Act,' which would ban state employees from leaving to work for anyone their office has regulated or investigated in the past two years." "Finally, a plan to stop Florida's revolving door".

"Hispanic college enrollment spikes"

"Hispanic college enrollment spikes, study shows".

Jebbie wants backdoor access

"Former Gov. Jeb Bush offered to be a confidential sounding board for newly elected Gov. Rick Scott while urging him to expand school vouchers to all students". "Advice from Jeb Bush to Gov. Rick Scott discovered in transition e-mails". See also "Ex-Gov. Jeb Bush e-mailed lessons learned to Rick Scott" and "Jeb Bush urged incoming Fla. Gov Scott to push vouchers".

Florida Chamber shills for RPOF

"The Obama administration's announcement that it plans to roll back hundreds of regulations at 26 federal agencies is drawing yawns and more sharp criticism from Florida's business community." "Obama's Red-Tape Relief Doesn't Cut It With Florida Chamber".

Comp' fraud

"Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has put together a workgroup aimed at looking at workers' compensation money service businesses. More than 25 lobbyists are invited to participate in the meeting set for Thursday in Tallahassee." "State says workers' comp fraud totals $438 million or more".

Voucher madness

"Florida’s tax credit scholarship is 10 years old this month, and the small program is only getting bigger." "'Step Up For Students' Celebrates 10 Years".

Punishing people for being poor

Rachel Maddow exposes "Scott's lies about drug use & welfare recipients 8-24-11". As Maddow explains, welfare recipients use drugs at a much lower rate than average Floridians.

As long as you're a Republican ... Fla-Baggers are happy

"Some people said they did not like the vote to increase the debt ceilhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifing, but welcomed Buchanan’s reluctance to go along with the plan."

“He gets it,” said Steven Vernon, a member of Tea Party Manatee that filled Buchanan’s third floor office.

CREW files FBI complaint against Vern

"Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed an FBI complaint against Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, asking that the Bureau investigate Buchanan on charges of witness tampering, obstruction of justice and bribery, based largely on a deposition of one of his former business partners, Sam Kazran." "Group asks FBI to investigate Buchanan".

Jebbie shares his wisdom

Travis Pillow: "Former Gov. Jeb Bush has been all over the news in the past few days, weighing in on the presidential campaign and calling on the candidates to 'offer a compelling alternative' to President Obama’s policies, rather than simply attacking him." "Jeb Bush on how to win Florida".

West sees the writing

"West closes door on Senate race".

RPOFers flock to Florida Family Policy Council meeting

"This weekend, the Florida Family Policy Council holds its annual policy awards dinner featuring GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann. The group will also feature a list of 'special guest participants,' which includes many of the Florida legislators who played a big role in curbing access to abortion in the state this past session." "State legislators set to appear at Family Policy Council dinner with Bachmann".

West strides world stage

"A Florida congressman who has compared the Palestinian president to a gang leader is now sitting down with the leader." "West to meet with Palestinian president".

Greer puts RPOFers under oath

"The fraud case against the ousted chairman of the Republican Party of Florida started to take its toll on top GOP officials this week when Jim Greer’s lawyers started putting top party officials and politicians under oath." "Charges against former state GOP chairman should be dismissed, says lawyer".

Bachmann goes to Lutz

"Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann will hit the Tampa area during a tour of Florida this weekend. On Sunday morning, she’ll visit Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, a conservative North Tampa congregation known as a center of GOP political activity." "Bachmann adds Tampa stop to Florida tour".

Cannon endorses Perry

"Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon has decided to endorse Rick Perry for president, a Cannon adviser told POLITICO Wednesday." "Florida speaker for Perry".

Privatization follies

"Tri-Rail gets apology for exclusion from state planning, but privatization talks remain on track".

"There is an opportunity to reverse this mistake"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "The Florida Legislature has eliminated the Correctional Medical Authority, a little-known agency that managed to save the state big money. Far from a bold stroke to meet budgetary constraints, the decision by lawmakers will go down as a misguided move that potentially could cost Florida millions. Fortunately, there is an opportunity to reverse this mistake." "Keep prison health care management authority".

What Congress can learn from the Florida Legislature, circa 1979

Robert W. McKnight, a former Florida senator and representative argues that "Congress should learn from the Florida Legislature, circa 1979".

Thursday reads

"Thursday morning reads. Related: "Six in the Morning: A six-pack of infobits you might have missed" and "Recommended Reading for Thursday, August 25".

"Curbing partisan gerrymandering a difficult balance"

"As lawmakers criss-cross the state to gather public input for how to draw Florida's political lines in the once-a-decade redistricting process, they are encountering a public that wants the Legislature to follow the new standards passed by the public in the 2010 elections."

But the fault lines that run through some areas of the state are proving that complying with the "Fair Districts" amendments, which are aimed at curbing partisan gerrymandering, might prove to be a difficult balance.

Competing interests are at play, from the political goals of elected officials to the racial politics that still divide some communities.

At the center of the storm is the 3rd Congressional District, a seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a Democrat from Jacksonville. Brown's district stretches from her hometown in the north to Orlando in the south, winding through nine counties in the process.

"I got to say it is probably the most popular district not just in Florida, but the entire country," Brown quipped.

Insurance kerfuffle

"Open enrollment for state employee insurance policies is now slated for Nov. 1. The delay was made in order to allow for time to deal with a legal challenge on Gov. Rick Scott's attempt to limit enrollees to only one HMO per county. And the time to make open-enrollment insurance changes has been cut by half." "Dispute over state health insurance changes forces enrollment delay".

Rubio falls flat

"The rising star gave us a glimpse of the GOP's trajectory in a speech at the Reagan Library. If his ideas are any indication, the party will continue on its current track -- against big government, but vague about the alternatives."
"Is Marco Rubio the Future of the Republican Party?"

See also "Marco Rubio Praises 'Ronald Reagan's America'". See also "Marco Rubio at Reagan Library".

Scott "unhappy"

"Scott criticized the state's 24 regional work-force boards Thursday, saying he is unhappy with reports of questionable spending and a system that allows board members to win millions in contracts from the agencies they govern." "Gov. Scott blasts jobs agencies' actions | Video".

More Water Management District cuts

"After making cuts to budgets and slashing staff positions, the St. Johns River Water Management District and Florida's four other regional water management agencies learned Wednesday they face further belt-tightening." "Governor orders water districts to make more budget cuts". See also "DEP chief touts $700 million in budget cuts by water management districts", "After $700 million in water district cuts, Florida governor wants $2.4 million more" and "Water Districts Wring Out $700 Million in Budgets".

He denied reports of friction between his family and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has taken criticism in his first two weeks as a candidate from former members of the George W. Bush administration.

Jeb said rumors of a Perry-Bush feud were greatly exaggerated, though he allowed that Bush-allied strategist Karl Rove may feel differently.

Will state's emergency management director wear a blue vest and greet visitors at the door?

"A Walmart executive from Arkansas wouldn't seem the logical choice to lead Florida through a vicious hurricane, wildfire or terrorist attack."

Not surprisingly, many have

questions about Koon, who makes $140,000 annually as the state's emergency management director.

"I know there's a part of all of my counterparts . . . that would want to see him battle-tested," said Wayne Sallade, Charlotte County's emergency management director of 24 years. ...

County emergency officials couldn't help themselves from making obvious wisecracks when they heard the news. Would they have to wear blue vests and greet visitors at the door?

Private prison investigation

"A federal grand jury in Pensacola is investigating the building and funding of a privately owned correctional facility that opened last year in East Milton, including the role of former state Rep. Ray Sansom." "Feds probe Sansom's ties to Milton prison".

Ricky's silly 2 percent solution

"Welfare drug-testing yields 2 percent positive results".

Big of her

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's consumer protection credibility took a hit last month after her office ousted two top foreclosure fraud lawyers. She tempered the damage this month when she decided Florida would join an anti-fraud lawsuit against the nation's second-largest for-profit college chain. Bondi's interest in cracking down on alleged fraud in the for-profit college industry in Florida is commendable. Unfortunately, her office seems to be the only state agency taking the issue seriously." "Bondi needs company in watching for-profit colleges".

At least they read

Scott Maxwell: "Readers blast uncaring pols, absurd columns".

RPOF using redistricting to shore up majority

"GOP using redistricting to shore up House majority". See also "Round-up of media coverage of redistricting for 8/24".

"Republican Party 'subsidiary'" lauds Scott

"Associated Industries of Florida on Monday touted survey results showing support for some of Gov. Rick Scott's policies and said the results showed overall increased support for the governor."

AIF backed Scott last year and Scott previously served on the group's board of directors. A Florida Democratic Party statement described AIF as a Republican Party "subsidiary" and said the survey showed continued disapproval of Scott, even by Republicans.

The industry group highlighted results showing support for Scott's initiatives including property tax relief, pension reform, drug testing for welfare applicants and eliminating teacher tenure. To download the survey report, click here.

Recommended Reading

"Recommended Reading for Wednesday, August 24".

Stearns plays defense

"Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, has been playing defense lately. A recent water pollution hearing he sponsored in Orlando has been subject to scrutiny, mainly because he invited a slew of agriculture and industrial interests to testify, and only one environmental advocate (who was invited at the last minute). In a new op-ed, Stearns again defends himself against claims that the hearing was one-sided, writing that 'no environmental groups contacted [his] office or the committee office seeking to testify until after it was final.'" "Florida congressman again defends water hearing critics say was one-sided".

Teen pregnancy rates soar

"Florida counties with highest teen pregnancy rates saw increase in 2009".

Good luck with that

"A coalition of environmental groups (including 100o Friends of Florida, Audubon of Florida, the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, the Florida Wildlife Federation and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida) have sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott and the Department of Transportation, outlining their concerns with the recently renewed Future Corridors Action Plan." "Environmental groups urge Scott to rethink highway plan".

"Six in the Morning"

"Six in the Morning: A six-pack of infobits you might have missed".

Hypocrites run wild in Tally

"State Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, says the Legislature will yet again reject home visiting grants from the federal government because the money is still allocated from the Affordable Care Act."

The state Legislature has created a bit of controversy lately by rejecting grants for home visiting programs aimed at curbing child abuse and neglect in the state. The GOP-led Legislature says it has rejected the grants because Florida is in litigation with the federal government over the constitutionality of the law that allocates the funds: the Affordable Care Act. (Some legislators have claimed “hypocrisy,” because the state did accept money from the law for abstinence education.)

"Deutch pitches $5 billion 'infrastructure bank' plan"

"Deutch pitches $5 billion 'infrastructure bank' plan to cement firm in West Palm".

Bense backs Hasner

"While there had been speculation that former Florida House Speaker Allan Bense would seek the Republican nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, the former state legislative leader endorsed a candidate already in the field -- former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner." "Passing on Senate Race, Allan Bense Backs Adam Hasner in 2012".

PSC Director candidates

"After receiving more than 100 applications at the beginning of the summer, the five commissioners narrowed their search to 15 candidates [for PSC Director] in previous meetings. The candidates were interviewed on the phone and in person -- 10 of them were in PSC offices Monday. Tuesday, commissioners voted on their top choices for a longer, in-depth interview. Aster Adams, director of the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, received the most votes of all 15 candidates with four. Braulio Baez, an ex-PSC commissioner and Tallahassee lawyer, and Chris Hart, the CEO of consulting firm Hart Enterprises and former Hillsborough County Commissioner, each received three votes." "PSC Narrows Director Search Field to Three". See also "PSC trims candidates for executive director to three".

Marco triangulates

Saddled with one of the weakest benches in recent memory, GOPers are desperate to find somebody, anybody to get up on the great white GOP horse; but can they really this desperate?

"Heralded as 'perhaps a new great communicator,' U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio delivered a speech before an adoring crowd Tuesday evening at the Ronald Reagan Library in California."

The 40-year-old Republican focused on what he views as the proper role of government and blamed both parties for turning it into a behemoth that threatens the greatness of the country.

Self dealing

"Florida's 24 regional workforce boards are now prohibited from awarding business contracts to companies controlled by or tied to agency board members." "State tells jobs agencies to stop doing business with board".

Privatization follies

"The state has been in secret talks to transfer the operations of the South Florida commuter rail line, Tri-Rail, to the Florida East Coast Railway, The Palm Beach Post has learned." "Report: State in secret talks to hand off Tri-Rail to FEC".

Yee haw!

"The execution of a man who fatally shot a Coral Gables cop 33 years ago can proceed next week, after the state’s high court OK’d using a new drug in lethal injections." "Florida Supreme Court: Execution is on for Miami man". See also "Florida Supreme Court Lifts Stay on Execution of Manuel Valle", "Florida Supreme Court clears the way for convicted cop-killer's execution" and "Florida Supremes approve death drug".

Dissing Presidency 5

The Daytona Beach News Journal: "Presidential contender Michele Bachmann came roaring out of Iowa after a win in that state's straw poll, but her Midwest momentum won't take her to Orlando next month for the Sunshine State's top Republican straw poll."

The Republican congresswoman from Minnesota recently confirmed she will not be competing in the Florida straw poll on Sept. 24, sending an odd message to one of the most influential states in the presidential contest. Now that Bachmann has won the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa -- perhaps the most influential GOP beauty contest -- she may want to reconsider her decision not to take part in the Presidency 5 straw poll held by the Republican Party of Florida.

Florida government does create jobs ... for Indianans

"In a few months, Corrections Secretary Edwin Buss has hired more than a dozen people from his former state. They include his second-in-command, chief financial officer, personal secretary, regional coordinator and a warden — 14 people in all with a combined salary of more than $1 million." "Florida prisons chief packs staff with Indiana hires".

Department of Corrections Secretary Edwin Buss hired Elizabeth "Betty" Gondles almost immediately after his appointment to head the state prison system by Scott in January. Buss and Gondles had worked together during his tenure as prisons chief in Indiana.

Last week, Buss' agency yanked five requests for bids to privatize medical services at all of the state's prisons, which house more than 100,000 inmates. Corrections officials said at the time they were canceled the requests for proposals pending further review.

But on Monday, Gondles -- who had at least two months left on her contract as the department's interim health care authority -- was let go.

The cancellation of Gondles' contract is the second time in a week that Scott's office has overridden one of Buss' decisions.

Wingers cross their fingers on Scott

"A poll released Monday, unveiled by the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) and taken by [by Republican pollsters] McLaughlin & Associates, finds Gov. Rick Scott on the comeback trail with voters in the Sunshine State." "With Floridians Backing His Positions, Rick Scott's on the Rebound". See also "Associated Industries of Florida says survey shows support for Scott's policies".

Scott investigates himself ... wanna guess the result?

"The Florida Department of Law Enforcement opened an investigation Monday into missing e-mails from Gov. Rick Scott's two-month transition amid a complaint from former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink about a possible conflict of interest."

Ms. Sink has a point:

The head of FDLE, Gerald M. Bailey, is employed at the will of Scott and the Cabinet. That relationship could pose a conflict for the department's investigation, Sink said.

"This is outrageous," Sink said. "Clearly there were laws broken. There should be an independent investigation into why these transition e-mails disappeared into thin air."

He was for it before he was against it

Mike Thomas: "Progress Energy has been billing us for two planned nuclear plants since 2009. Given the history of such projects, call it the Pay and a Prayer Plan."

The Legislature and Jeb Bush signed off on this scheme, and I agreed at the time.

The idea was to jump-start construction of a new generation of nukes in Florida. By putting more financial risk on customers, the utilities hoped to attract big Wall Street investors.

In 2006, the plants were estimated at $5 billion, with the first one operational in 2016.

Given the price and time frame, charging in advance seemed reasonable. ...

But the new nuclear industry is beginning to look a lot like the old nuclear industry.

The best they can do?

"An 82-page consultant's report issued Friday lays out recommendations for the new Department of Economic Opportunity and its mission of encouraging job creation in Florida." "Reports provide recommendations for new Department of Economic Opportunity".

"Wild West obsession with guns"

The Tampa Trib editors publish a NRA press release: "The United States is often lambasted by foreign commentators for having the highest prison incarceration rate in the world, nearly 750 inmates per 100,000 population. And it frequently is ridiculed for a Wild West obsession with guns. But in contrast to the chaos taking place around the globe, the United States criminal justice system, however imperfect, is looking pretty good, as is its support of gun rights.". "Tough crime laws work".

Emulating Texas' failed higher ed scheme

"Patterned after reforms being championed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who recently announced he's running for president, Scott is looking at changing the way professors are paid and moving toward a merit-pay system with limits on tenure."

Texas has been debating such changes to save money and bolster professor productivity — going so far as to consider tying professor pay to how many students they teach and how much research money they bring in.

Instructors would get annual bonuses as high as $10,000 a class if they rated highly on student satisfaction surveys. Even the assignment of faculty offices and parking spaces would be based on their performance.

Such reforms were designed to move Texas colleges toward more of a business model in which students are viewed as consumers purchasing a product — a college degree.

While the proposals have made the Lone Star State a lightening rod in higher-education circles nationwide, Scott said at least some of the ideas might be a good fit for Florida too.

He worries that some of the state's most talented and prestigious faculty, who sometimes have small classes that work on specialized projects, would leave.

"People are just mortified by it," Auxter said. "The devil is alive and well in those details."

The Texas report also recommends that colleges provide students with "learning contracts" that specifically disclose information about their degree programs, including graduation rates, class sizes and expected starting salaries for their majors. ...

Texas A&M, where Perry graduated, was the first university to road-test one of the Texas proposals. The university came under fire after it posted a spreadsheet online comparing faculty pay against the income they generated either through tuition or research funding.

The move prompted a letter late last year from the Association of American Universities, urging Texas A&M officials to resist "these ill-conceived calls for 'reform.'"

FMA tiptoes around Medicaid deform

"A Florida Medical Association letter to the federal government opposing the expansion of Medicaid managed care statewide has fallen short of some doctors' expectations." "Broward doctor faults Florida Medical Association effort on Medicaid reform".

Recommended Reading

"Recommended Reading for Tuesday, August 23".

West deprives Floridians of laff riot

"After flirting with entering the U.S. Senate race, U.S. Rep. Allen West officially shut the door on that race Monday and said he will instead seek re-election." "West closes door on Senate bid".

Rubio rewarded for simply "Being There"

"A national boomlet keeps building for Marco Rubio, with no encouragement from the Florida senator."

While the Republican presidential contest remains wide open, a consensus is forming for the junior senator as the party's vice presidential candidate, according to an oft-quoted political scientist.
Sabato said Republicans are mindful that their party must at least remain competitive for Hispanic votes if they hope to knock off President Obama.

"The 2008 Hispanic vote [was a] blowout for Obama and it's almost certain to go 10 percent or higher. The GOP has to get at least 40 percent to win a national election," Sabato calculated.

Nelson talks tuff

"U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., had a blunt message for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday as rebels in nearby Libya stormed through the capital, all but replacing a decades-long dictatorship: You're next." "Sen. Bill Nelson to Syria: You're next".

"Redistricting process becoming more contentious"

"As lawmakers move toward the end of their statewide tour to gather voters' input on the once-a-decade redistricting process, the timeline for the next step in the redrawing of the state's political maps is becoming more contentious."

A coalition of voting-rights groups, led by the League of Women Voters and supporters of the Fair Districts amendments, is pushing legislative redistricting committees to move forward with drawing proposed maps as quickly as possible.

Critics of the Legislature's somewhat vague timeline say mass chaos could follow if lawmakers don't approve maps soon enough to give the attorney general, Florida Supreme Court and Department of Justice enough time to review the plans well in advance of the June 18 opening date for qualifying.

Otherwise, would-be candidates will essentially have qualifying week -- from June 18 to June 22 -- to look at final maps and decide whether they want to make a bid.

"Six in the Morning"

Travis Pillow's "Six in the Morning: A six-pack of infobits you might have missed".

Good question

Fred Grimm: "After the Rothstein affair, Florida’s legislators reacted by once again legalizing unlimited contributions to political slush funds. After the Shapiro affair, college sports with its multimillionaire coaches, millionaire assistants and athletic directors making more than college presidents, with huge TV contracts and tax-deductible luxury suites, will come down hard on those greedy football players." "Why hold athletes to a higher standard than pols?"

While newspaper editors eat donuts

"Gainesville Regional Utilities reports that the man was working for a private contractor on private property. [A]t least one other worker was shocked when they tried to help the man." "Worker electrocuted by underground power line".

Superman has lost his swagger.

Scott was elected on the promise that he would create 700,000 jobs in seven years above and beyond the estimated 1 million jobs Florida is expected to generate as part of the state's anticipated annual growth. ...

Now, Scott is dodging that original pledge. He says he deserves credit toward his total for all jobs created in Florida since he took office in January.

Apparently Superman had a run-in with reality.

When Scott visited the Orlando Sentinel's editorial board last week, he was asked how his record on jobs should be tallied. The number of jobs above the 1 million already forecast? Or the number gained since January?

"I think it's jobs from the time I took office," he said.

He claimed 85,000, the number of new jobs the state reported for the year in June; new figures released Friday show that number was lowered to 64,300 through July. But those jobs that Scott wants to claim have nothing to do with his policies. ...

Scott is now lowering the benchmark he set for himself if he counts every job created toward his 700,000 goal. ...

Most of the new jobs in Florida are coming from the tourism and hospitality sector, which is riding a wave of pent-up consumer demand for travel as well as foreign tourists who are taking advantage of a weak dollar.

At my last check of Scott's progress, I counted 30,844 jobs announced, but not yet created, based on programs he put in place. The bulk, about 30,000, is to come from a port expansion project in Miami.

Scott seems to have recognized that his Superman-sized goal may be tougher than he first realized. But he should know there's a lot more at stake than whether he's ultimately embarrassed by coming up short on an ill-conceived promise. This should really be about putting Floridians back to work.

Scott is "comparing apples to oranges"

"Scott says he started with a budget deficit and turned it into a surplus. In reality, the state ends every year with what Scott calls a surplus because the state is required to pass a balanced budget."

[T]he state ends most every year with what Scott calls a surplus because the state is required to pass a balanced budget and generally can't borrow money to pay its bills. And in recent years, because state revenue has been declining, the state enters the next year with a projected "deficit" using Scott's word -- or more accurately a shortfall.

The fact is that while Scott has his numbers right, he's comparing apples to oranges to paint his fiscal policies in the best light.

Puffing Marco

"Just days after Marco Rubio’s election as Florida’s newest Republican U.S. senator, former First Lady Nancy Reagan wrote to him, asking him to speak at her husband’s presidential library."

It’s a big moment for Rubio, an eloquent speaker who often focuses in speeches on his Cuban exile parents and the opportunities immigrants have in this country. His speech at the Reagan library will be followed by a separate address in September, when he’ll talk about his growing interest in foreign policy at the Jesse Helms Center in North Carolina.

The Week Ahead

"The Week Ahead for Aug. 22-Aug. 26".

Legitimate construction companies can't compete

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is going after scammers who are working under the radar, off the map."

Earlier this month, Mr. Atwater created a “working group” to tackle scammers in the check-cashing-services industry that, in devilish league with organized crime, are diverting hundreds of millions of dollars from the state’s economy. That’s something this revenue-starved state cannot afford. Just as bad, these criminals are leaving workers in the construction and subcontracting industries without worker’s compensation coverage. Such coverage generally is required by state law. The upshot is that honest companies are losing business to scammers, and vulnerable workers who might be physically injured on the job are being hurt again because of their employers’ greed and dishonesty.

Of the 18 types of fraud the CFO office tracks, the amount of workers’ compensation fraud in Florida is second only to personal-injury scams. Between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, there were 199 convictions for workers’-comp fraud. (Slip-and-falls and whiplash-type fraud came in at 240 convictions.)

Mr. Atwater is right to pursue these criminals.

Here’s how they work: Organized-crime enterprises set up fake companies and get the most minimal workers’ compensation policy possible. Uninsured subcontractors pay a fee to use a fake company’s policy. This lets a dishonest subcontractor avoid paying for the required workers’ compensation insurance. This subcontractor then presents a copy of the “shell” certificate to a general contractor. Such subs often get the nod because they are able to underbid honest contractors going after the same job. After all, the bad guy gets to remove the cost of workers’ compensation insurance from his expenses. The scheme uses cash-checking services to cash the checks that are made out to the shell company.

Choice politics

"Focus on the Family website praises Florida for accepting abstinence education dollars". See also "Senate debate: Candidates discuss opposition to abortion".

Charter madness

"Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Cutler Bay, is demanding that the state Department of Education investigate the costs of the annual summit of Charter Schools USA, held in Orlando last week and attended by Gov. Rick Scott."

Bullard’s letter states:

It is unbelievable to think that one of the largest for-profit charter school organizations in Florida may have spent taxpayers’ money to bus thousands of teachers and executives to an Orlando pep rally attended by Governor Rick Scott and former Washington D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee.

I hope you are just as outraged at this potentially irresponsible use of taxpayers’ money as I am, and I hope you will lead the charge to prevent such abuses in the future.

To begin, I would ask that you order Charter Schools USA to give Florida citizens a detailed accounting of whether any taxpayer dollars were used to pay for this rally, or have the Department of Education itself offer that accounting.

"Drug-testing welfare recipients a loss leader"

"A sampling of the cost for drug-testing welfare recipients in Central Florida shows the program is a loss leader for the state." "'Welfare' Drug Tests Come In; Results Are Predictable".

As Florida's unemployment surges, Rivera whines about Cuba

"Florida Congressman David Rivera calls for Obama to get tougher on Cuba". "U.S. Continues to Designate Castro's Regime a State Sponsor of Terror".

Second amendment stoopid

"The new state legislation, which becomes effective Oct. 1, prohibits local government from regulating firearms or ammunition. Only state gun laws can be enforced. The state legislation, driven by the National Rifle Association, which contended local governments could not regulate the Bill of Rights, lists penalties against local municipalities and officials who attempt to regulate firearms, including fines, removal from public office, termination of employment and other punishments." "New gun ordinances take effect Oct. 1".

Budget games

The wingers on the Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Florida's constitution requires a balanced budget, so it can be argued that Scott and the lawmakers did what they had to do. But the state's approach to budget-cutting impressed S&P. S&P analyst John Sugden-Castillo said Florida has made 'progress in addressing its structural imbalance through significant cost-cutting measures adopted in fiscal 2012 and maintenance of strong reserves.'"

The editors continue, presumably with straight faces:

It was a wise approach. As the Great Recession and then the weak recovery wore on, national and state tax revenues fell. Many leaders -- especially at the federal level -- called for tax increases. Fiscal conservatives argued that the economy was too weak to sustain new taxes.

Lawmakers nationwide need to look at Florida. ...

With the state exercising fiscal discipline instead of resorting to tax increases, the private sector will be better able to pull itself out of the ditch as the economy improves.

This is a common-sense approach that Florida was rewarded for, and one that officials in Washington, D.C., should note.

Net decline of 22,100 jobs in July

"After a series of successive monthly gains, Florida posted a net decline of 22,100 jobs in July, keeping the state's unemployment rate at 10.7 percent -- the seventh highest in the country." "Jobless Report Left Some Good News Hiding Among the Bad".

former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner. “These federal regulatory agencies are out of control,” he thundered. “They are stifling economic growth here in our country.”

He pointed to the National Labor Relations Board. “What they’re doing to Boeing in South Carolina is not only anti-competitive, it’s anti-American,” he said. (Background on that issue can be found here and here.) The EPA, meanwhile, is trying “to pass cap and trade around the back door,” and “singling out the state of Florida” with water quality standards.

“These agencies are out of control, and Republicans in Washington need to be more agressive, because it doesn’t just happen under Democrat administrations. It happens under Republican administrations,” he added. Hasner seemed to have glossed over the part about “specific legislation.”

“I’d repeal ObamaCare. That’s the first thing we should do,” offered former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, to thunderous applause.

LeMieux noted that he opposed the federal health care reform law, and that it wasn’t long after its passage that “the American people woke up” and started electing more Republicans.

He said he’s also like to get rid of the Dodd-Frank financial reform package, which he also opposed during his short stint on Capitol Hill. He also noted that he fought the EPA’s water quality standards by helping to delay their implementation and passed legislation to curb Medicare fraud.

During the first half of the forum, which focused on social issues, all four spoke out strongly against abortion, gay marriage, civil unions, embryonic stem cell research, hate-crime laws, workplace laws protecting gays from discrimination, and judges who cite international laws.

During the second portion, dealing with fiscal and regulatory matters, differences arose on such issues as the extent they would push for states' rights, abolition and replacement of income tax and how to cut federal regulations. ...

All four agreed on issues ranging from strong suspicion of the United Nations as a threat to American sovereignty — Hasner called it "a corrupt organization" — to opposition to the federal debt limit ceiling deal approved earlier this month.

Miller, 61, a Winter Park resident who is a retired president of the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse company, said he would advocate an immediate 25-percent, across-the-board cut in funding to all regulatory agencies. ...

The candidates were asked if they would be willing to abolish the federal income tax, and then, instead of replacing it with a flat tax, have the U.S. government simply bill states for all federal services. ...

Hasner, 41, of Boca Raton, and LeMieux, 42, of Lighthouse Point, argued for targeted cuts, notably at the National Labor Relations Board and the Environmental Protection Agency. ...

McCalister and Hasner endorsed abolishing the IRS and replacing it with some sort of consumption tax, possibly a national sales tax.

LeMieux called for a flatter, fairer income tax developed by closing loopholes and exceptions, and by leveling tax rates.

Scott's "moderate, not tea-party, rhetoric ... Don't believe a word of it"

Stephen Goldstein warns that "Florida's uber-unpopular tea-party governor, Rick Scott, wants to be loved, after all. He knows the political winds are shifting."

So, he's trying to look like a moderate, even "making nice" at newspaper editorial boards — for the first time.

Elected by the slimmest majority, he nonetheless pursued a draconian, extremist agenda favoring corporate profits and shafting average Floridians. If voters could have recalled him, he would have been dumped faster than you could say Medicare fraud. Expect moderate, not tea-party, rhetoric, from Scott — unless he runs for re-election. But the leopard doesn't change its spots. Don't believe a word of it.

"Crazy? Or just crazy enough to work!?"

Adam C. Smith: "If you like politics and you like conspiracy theories, you'll enjoy this: speculation that the George LeMieux and Mike McCalister campaigns are working hand in hand to take down former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner. Crazy? Or just crazy enough to work!?" Smith gives "the facts" here: "Evidence builds of coordinated effort against Florida Speaker Adam Hasner".

Florida Chamber blames Dems for July's job losses

"Remember that net of 85,000 new jobs Florida has amassed over the first six months of this year? Looks like somebody threw that economic rebound into reverse."

Florida's unemployment rate inched back up to 10.7 percent in July, the state Agency for Workforce Innovation announced on Friday. Technically, the agency had revised its June figure from 10.6 percent to 10.7 percent -- so the labor force was flat-lined for July rather than losing ground.

But now state economists say Florida employers have added just 64,300 jobs for the year, instead of the rosier 85,500 figure previously announced. And the figures have immediate political ramifications. The 22,000 fewer jobs in July translates into fewer jobs that Gov. Rick Scott has available to count toward his 700,000 campaign promise.

While Scott has been more than eager to claim credit for Florida's job gains this year, the Florida Chamber of Commerce released a statement Friday blaming Washington Democats for July's job losses. So which is it? Who's to blame?

"Slowly, sloppily"

Michael Mayo: "FEMA seeks repayment from some Wilma victims – slowly, sloppily".

That was fast

"Less than two months since becoming Miami-Dade County mayor, Carlos Gimenez is already fundraising for his next election." "Gimenez begins fundraising for re-election".

"It looks like legislators are stalling"

The Sun Sentinel editors: "Talk about having a mandate. Last November, voters approved two state constitutional amendments requiring Florida lawmakers to redraw legislative and congressional districts in a balanced and competitive manner. Amendment 5, which focused on legislative lines, got 62 percent of the vote. Amendment 6, which focused on congressional districts, also got 62 percent of the vote."

By contrast, no statewide elected Florida official polled more than 60 percent. Logic dictates that if our elected leaders can claim a mandate to govern based on last year's vote, then voters can also claim a clear and compelling mandate demanding them to uphold and enforce the constitutional amendments.

If that wasn't clear enough following last fall's vote counting, hundreds of people attended public hearings in South Florida this past Tuesday to demand that state officials uphold the spirit and intent of the amendments. It's not a lot to ask, given that these amendments were approved by voters, overwhelmingly, nine months ago. Plus, redistricting and reapportionment follow every decennial census, the last one being done in 2010.

So it's not like the redistricting process is new. Nor that passage of the amendments surprised anyone.

State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, insist the Senate and House are going about redrawing lines in an earnest fashion.

Not everyone is convinced, and understandably so.

Simply put, the two lawmakers erred by not showing up to the public hearings with drafts of maps or visual aids in hand to show where new lines might be drawn. Citizens also have a right to complain that redrawing districts may not be complete until just days before candidates are supposed to decide on which posts to seek in 2012.

Neither does the fact that the House, which Rep. Weatherford is supposed to lead as speaker if the GOP holds on to its majority in 2012, supports a lawsuit challenging one of the Fair Districts amendments approved last year.

Ever since the amendments were approved, there's been significant skepticism that lawmakers — who are sworn to uphold the Florida Constitution — would be serious about implementing them. This week's hearings in South Florida failed to dispel those suspicions.

"Jobs governor says he gets it"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The self-described jobs governor says he gets it:"

Florida's antiquated sales tax policy leaves the state's retailers at a competitive disadvantage and costs local jobs in favor of Internet businesses based elsewhere. Now Gov. Rick Scott's obligation — as the state's unemployment continues to hover in the double digits — is to do more than commiserate. Scott should join with other independent-minded Republicans in the Legislature and the business community to level the playing field for Florida businesses.

And we should attack cops for working OT?

"Understaffed Miami Police Dept. spending big on overtime".

Never mind the numbers

"Scott says that the state is doing the right things to create jobs despite an employment report showing 22,100 jobs were lost in July, the first monthly job loss since he took office in January." "Rick Scott: State doing right things to create jobs".

"Rhetoric — not sound policy analysis — dictates the state's direction"

With respect to prison privatization, the Saint Petersburg Times editors observe that "the Republican leadership in Tallahassee has chosen to hand off a major function of public safety to a politically active, for-profit enterprise without fully vetting the details in public. The same recklessness isn't limited to lawmakers.

Public policy isn't easily conveyed in a campaign sound bite. But too often in modern Tallahassee, it's such rhetoric — not sound policy analysis — that dictates the state's direction. Taxpayers deserve better, and the $25 million they may end up giving to laid-off corrections workers for a new private prison system that may not save money is just one more piece of evidence.

Stoopid is ...

... as stoopid does: "The state's new teacher merit pay law kicks in this school year and the idea behind it sounds simple: the better students perform, the more teachers can earn."

But in areas such as art, music and physical education, it's raising more questions than answers. The law mandates up to half of a teacher's raise be based on how well students do on standardized tests, but there is no state criteria to evaluate specialty teachers. Districts will have to come up with that this year.

Another complicating factor, says Boynton Beach High School Principal Karen Whetsell, is that a student's FCAT success can't be attributed to just one teacher. "The art teacher, the drama teacher, the music teacher give kids some purpose to come to school…We all work together. How do you evaluate one over the other?"

"Government does create jobs"

Thomas Tryon: "Government doesn't create jobs."

Government doesn't create jobs. Government doesn't create jobs.

Say it again, y'all. Government. Doesn't. Create. Jobs.

Say it so many times, with certainty, that people won't even challenge the assertion.

Such was the case during a [Sarasota] Tiger Bay forum on the local economy. The "government does not create jobs" mantra was repeated over and over, yet no one in the audience of 300 — including local government leaders — stood up and said: Huh?

Say it so many times that people — including Democrats, Republicans and independents — accept the statement at face value. ...

Government does create jobs — both directly and indirectly.

Want evidence?

"Brainlessly bashing whatever government does"

Carl Hiaasen reminds us that Ricky Scott's hero, Texas Governor and wannabe preznit Rick "Perry refuses to accept that global warming is real. He launched a lawsuit to stop the EPA from enacting rules to limit greenhouse gasses from oil refineries, power plants and other industrial sources."

Perry likes to whine that “EPA regulations are killing jobs all across America,” a statement that draws more cheers in his native state than in the rest of the country. In fact, polls show that a large majority of Americans are worried about air and water pollution, and hold a positive view of the EPA. ...

To win Republican primaries — the theory goes — a candidate must fire up the Wingnut Right. The easiest way to do that is to brainlessly bash whatever government does.

Perry specializes in this, even though almost half of Texas’ vaunted employment growth has been in the public sector — government jobs, in other words. You won’t hear the governor complain about the $200 billion that U.S. taxpayers pump into his state’s economy annually for military bases and related industries.

Another fine Jebacy

Scott Maxwell: "http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-scott-maxwell-workforce-central-fl20110820,0,7214811.column": "Time for jobs agency to remember job".

Has McCalister padded his resume?

"For a U.S. Senate candidate campaigning against truth-stretching politicians, Republican Mike McCalister is facing questions about whether he padded his resume and misrepresented his military service." "Vets raise questions about Senate candidate Mike McCalister's military record".