Redistricting update

"Round-up of media coverage of redistricting".

"What took so long" Mr. Scott?

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Scott ordered a criminal investigation last month into the destruction of his transition team's email records. But his team knew they had been destroyed as early as March. So what took so long?"

Scott says he didn't know until a few weeks ago that the emails had been erased by the private company handling the accounts. The erasure violated state public records laws. Yet an attorney on Scott's transition team found out about the deletions six months ago, and knew that the company couldn't recover them. Since journalists had been asking to review the emails since before then, the truth should have come out sooner.

Romney goes Arizona-style on Perry

"With Rick Perry proving to be a serious threat to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, the former Massachusetts governor swung through Tampa on Friday to exploit what some Republicans see as Perry's Achilles' heel: immigration." "With threat of Rick Perry in the air, Mitt Romney takes on immigration".

And she has the temerity to have a defined benefit pension

"The Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating the Friday night shooting of an Auburndale police officer as she was responding to a 911 call." "Auburndale police officer critical after shooting".

Ricky gets a lotta luv ... for $157,000

Aaron Deslatte: "Scott's office paid a private consulting firm, MGT of America, $157,000 to spend about two weeks writing a 108-page report on how the new department should be organized. It praises the governor for 'working tirelessly on his core campaign promise to create 700,000 jobs over seven years.' It's also filled with organizational charts, showing how the pared-down staff from the dismantled DCA will be allocated – for instance, South Florida's 6 million people will have five full-time planners assigned to review new growth plans." "Got jobs? New state agency is ready to pay".

"Handful of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged"

"This week, the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee released a report on Medicaid that outlines cost-saving measures decided upon by 31 Republican governors. Among the policy recommendations is a proposal to require the federal government to pay for the care of undocumented immigrants." "Republican Governors Association wants feds to pay undocumented immigrants’ Medicaid".

Florida "Utilities unshaken"

"Three Florida Plants on Nuclear-Quake List; Utilities Unshaken".

Scott's Texas template

"Gov. Rick Scott hasn’t been specific about his plans to overhaul the state’s higher education system, but he has made clear his intention to make some changes — and higher education reforms in Texas will be a likely template."

The seven “Breakthrough Solutions” for higher education, written by Austin, Texas, oilman Jeff Sandefer and promoted by the [reactionary] Texas Public Policy Foundation, have guided the conversation around higher ed reform in the Lone Star State since Gov. Rick Perry debuted them at a 2008 summit for university leaders.

The “Solutions” aim to cut costs and increase class sizes at Texas universities. And they haven’t been met kindly. The “Solutions” seem more like problems to critics — who say they could downgrade the quality of higher education in the state.

I thought he said 700,000 jobs?

"Department of Economic Opportunity is being created by combining the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development (OTTED) and the planning division of the Florida Department of Community Affairs. The business plan issued Thursday was a 'landmark' in bringing together 19 economic development partners, new agency head Doug Darling said." "New department aims to attract 21,000 Florida jobs by bringing companies to the state".

The week in review

"Among this week's highlights: A fleeting budget surplus and dropping consumer confidence, a looming budget deficit for one agency and ongoing negotiations over the future of Medicaid." "The Week in Review for Aug. 28-Sept. 2".

"Political meddling by the governor's office"

"A statewide volunteer advocacy program for nursing home and assisted living residents has been crippled by conflicts of interest and political meddling by the governor's office and state Elder Affairs administrators, a federal report says." "Florida nursing home advocacy program riddled with conflicts, federal report says".

Juvenile justice reforms

"Senate committee recommends shorter stays for juvenile offenders".

Rewriting history

The Bush Corporation presents "Jeb!"

Rave On

A lot of big talk about reining in charters ... "School Board chair takes harder line with charter applicants" ... after this: "Miami charter school accused of being adult club by night". More: "Charter school in adult-club scandal has money woes".

"Republicans have no one but themselves to blame"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Give Florida state Sen. Don Gaetz credit. After weeks of public criticism about the Legislature's deliberate pace in drawing new political maps, the Republican senator from Niceville has proposed amending the state Constitution to allow the next redrawing to occur a full year before the general election. That's the first indication that anyone in Republican-controlled Tallahassee gets it: Voters are sick of a redistricting process that favors incumbents."

Gaetz and his House counterpart, Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, were caught flat-footed this summer at what were supposed to be routine public hearings on drawing boundaries for legislative and congressional districts. Instead, the leaders of their respective chambers' redistricting committees have seen the sessions devolve into public outrage, culminating in Pinellas County this week.

Republican lawmakers have no one but themselves to blame for failing to read the body politic. After spending the past two decades exploiting the redistricting process to accumulate an overwhelming majority of state legislative and congressional seats in a state where voter registration favors Democrats over Republicans, they have been tone-deaf to the building public backlash.

"General Halftrack" retreats

"Mike McCalister, one of four Republican candidates actively campaigning for U.S. Senate to oppose Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, said Friday he'd take responsibility for any misunderstandings regarding his military service record." "Senate candidate McCalister seeks release of his military records".

Charter madness


"By day, the Balare Language Academy is an A-rated charter school, home to children in kindergarten through middle school. But when the kids are tucked into bed, Balare apparently becomes a playground of a different kind."

Party fliers, printed and on the Web, indicate that the campus at 10875 Quail Roost Dr. has been hosting raunchy, booze-soaked bashes into the wee hours.

Budget blues

"State may avoid budget shortfall next year".

"Fast talker with a receding hairline"

Florida's alleged journalists can't get enough of this "fast talker with a receding hairline": "Gov. Rick Scott's chief of change: Steve MacNamara".

Romney in Florida

"Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is in Florida, speaking at a group of Republican Hispanics and then attending the opening of his Florida campaign headquarters." "Romney visits Tampa to open campaign office".

FDLE denies it is biased when it comes to Scott

"Visibly annoyed, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey told reporters today that he is 'offended' by critics' suggestions that his department's investigation of the governor's missing transition emails might not be objective."

FDLE answers to both Scott and the Cabinet, but the department's commissioner is appointed by the governor, prompting some critics — like former CFO Alex Sink, who lost the governor's race to Scott — to question the objectivity of the investigation.

Florida's growing rolls of uninsured are among the highest in the nation

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Healthcare insurance costs continue to gobble up family budgets. Employers, whether private or public, have been pushing more of those costs on workers as the economy remains sluggish and healthcare costs rise. Except for a select few in Florida government who are getting a nifty deal."

With the news that Gov. Rick Scott — long a staunch critic of “Obamacare” — enrolled along with his wife in the state’s special program for politicians and top officials, accusations that he’s a hypocrite were to be expected. After all, the former hospital executive is a multimillionaire paying $30 a month for top-tier healthcare insurance. Most of the cost, of course, is borne by Florida taxpayers in a state facing high unemployment and growing rolls of uninsured, among the highest in the nation. ...

They have said, “no, thanks,” to federal money that would have started to help some of those Floridians. Why? Because it’s part of the new federal healthcare law that Mr. Scott refuses to accept. Florida is among 25 states suing to declare the law unconstitutional. They believe that making the purchase of insurance mandatory — or requiring a tax penalty for those who refuse to buy it — is an assault on states’ rights and individual freedom. (Tell that to drivers.)

The U.S. Supreme Court will have to settle that argument, but in the meantime other states that also joined Florida in the lawsuit (including Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin and Indiana) have accepted federal money to plan for the healthcare exchanges under the new federal law that would give consumers a way to shop for the best price. Pennsylvania also has signed up for a federal program now helping more than 2,600 residents with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or cancer to buy low-cost insurance. Florida has only 770 people in that program because the state didn’t bother to get involved, as Pennsylvania did, in running it.

Meanwhile, a majority of Florida’s legislators (all 40 senators and 112 of 120 House members also are enrolled in the state’s special insurance program for “special” people) turned down $17 million in federal grants under “Obamacare” this year. Who became a casualty?

• Dying children in need of hospice care ($2 million).

• Poor, working people who were promised community health centers so that they don’t wind up in hospital emergency rooms ($8 million in construction money).

• Elderly and disabled Floridians who would get home healthcare aides so they don’t have to go to much more costly Medicaid-provided nursing homes.

Bachmann chases Fla-baggers

"Though it received an intense amount of scrutiny and was branded as an 'incredible faux pas,' Michele Bachmann’s remark that she wouldn’t be opposed to drilling for oil in the Everglades isn’t going away. In fact, the GOP presidential candidate is going even further with her claims, arguing that only 'radical environmentalists' would oppose drilling in the Everglades." "Bachmann not backing down from Everglades drilling comment".

Scott admin pushes out ombudsman, lies about it

"Federal investigators have determined the state's Department of Elder Affairs violated the U.S. Older Americans Act by interfering with what is supposed to be an independent nursing-home watchdog program, officials announced Thursday afternoon."

The findings cite a series of violations, including muzzling the program's communication with the news media and restricting its ability to lobby the Legislature on behalf of nursing-home residents. The report also criticized the department's selection and firing of volunteers who make up the bulk of the watchdog program's workforce, saying that "it must be clear to the volunteers that they work for and are answerable only to the Long Term Care Ombudsman."

The ombudsman program, established in every state, was designed to protect the rights of those in nursing homes and long-term-care facilities by investigating and resolving complaints and helping to shape state policy. But soon after Gov. Rick Scott took office in January, troubles erupted for the Florida ombudsman.

On Feb. 7 — just 11 days after Lee had sent a letter to the state's nursing homes requesting ownership information — Scott's office advised Lee's boss at the Department of Elder Affairs that it was time for Lee to go and for the ombudsman program to "go in a new direction," the report said.

Yet two days later, leaders in the department told the Administration on Aging — before the formal investigation was launched — that they were "unaware" of why Lee had resigned.

After all, sh is a right wing Republican

Bondi for some reason "has yet to challenge any proposed utility rate hikes. Bondi also decided against having Florida join with several other Gulf states in a federal lawsuit against the owner of an offshore rig that exploded and led to a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It's Bondi's dealings, however, with those involved in foreclosures that has generated the most controversy."

Bondi spoke out against a proposed national settlement between 50 state attorneys general and lenders that would have cut the principal owed by homeowners. She said she was opposed to any across-the-board reductions because she didn't want to help people "who just don't want to pay their mortgage payments."

Then two attorneys — Theresa Edwards and her colleague June Clarkson — were forced out of their jobs in late May despite positive job reviews. Both women had been involved with investigations into law firms handling foreclosures on behalf of banks.

The dismissals came months after an attorney representing one of the companies under investigation - Lender Processing Services - complained that both had made "irresponsible" statements and had already "tainted the investigation" due to a presentation they had made to court clerks.

That same company wound up hiring a former top aide to McCollum who had a lead role in helping with the state's lawsuit against the federal health care overhaul that has earned Bondi national exposure.

Welcome to Albania

"Floridians are urged to report shady activity of neighbors".

Wingnuts in a dither

"Costly 'Green' Energy Ventures Burn Up Stimulus Dollars".

Of all people

The right wing Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board thinks Ricky "Scott right to focus on regulatory process".

The editors have apparently forgotten that the last time "red tape" was cut in Daytona Beach, there were tragic consequences:

It took a big explosion and workers dying to get everyone's attention, but a state task force now says that Florida's experiment with voluntary safety and health standards for public employees is insufficient. The state needs to return to the days when state law protected worker safety.

In 1999, a Republican-led Legislature decided to release state and local governments from a legal regime of safety and health requirements for their workers. Dozens of worker safety compliance positions were eliminated as part of a larger reorganization that reflected the deregulatory spirit pervading Tallahassee.

In place of state law, then-Gov. Jeb Bush issued an executive order directing state agencies "to voluntarily comply" with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act's standards, and leaving cities and counties to decide for themselves what they needed to do. But no state resources were devoted to ensuring compliance or guiding safety efforts. The move was a wink and a nod toward protecting employees, and little more.

Then in 2006 a tragic explosion of methanol occurred at a wastewater treatment plant in Daytona Beach.

"unacceptable" — the first time it has ever branded an entire state and its Legislature with that designation.

The board, which investigates chemical industrial accidents, released a letter chiding Florida lawmakers for doing nothing to prevent a repeat of the deadly mishap.

Its primary concern: The Legislature has failed for three straight years to fix a loophole in state law that essentially exempts cities and counties from following the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety guidelines that apply to private and federal employees.

The board wrote that such guidelines — including better training and managerial oversight — "would likely have prevented" the accident at the Bethune Point wastewater-treatment plant that killed Daytona Beach workers Clyde Jones and Eric Johnson and hospitalized Martin for about four months.

"Tea party pied pipers"

Daniel Ruth writes that

the national bogeyman seems to be the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has tea party pied pipers like [Ron] Paul and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in full caterwauling mode over what is clearly a dark government conspiracy to help a bunch of lazy, shiftless people who irresponsibly allowed themselves to be flooded out of their homes.

Hurricane hunter planes axed?

"Budget ax may fall on Tampa's hurricane hunter planes".

Second amendment stoopid

"The state of Florida is going after a gang of gun outlaws by threatening them with $5,000 fines, firings and lawsuits. So who’s in the gang? St. Petersburg, Brooksville, Tampa, Hillsborough County - and other scattered scofflaws."

St. Petersburg is getting ready to repeal its ordinance against discharging firearms in the city limits. Tarpon Springs made a similar decision in August. Brooksville killed a ban on guns in parks and also deleted a law that could have suspended the sale of ammunition and firearms during emergencies. There are many more.

All those ordinances have been illegal for years because state law prevents cities and counties from regulating guns. But a new law, set to take effect Oct. 1, takes it a step further. It allows judgments of up to $100,000 against local governments that enforce such laws. And, in an unusual move, the law also says local officials could be fired and fined $5,000, with no representation from the city or county attorney.

Poor lil' gerrymanders

The reliably Republican Tampa Tribune editorial board whines that "the Republicans in charge of drawing new legislative and congressional boundaries in Florida thought they had come up with ways to include voters in the process. The leaders of the redistricting committees – Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel and Sen. Dan Gaetz, R- Niceville – promised public meetings across the state specifically to hear from the people."

They further opened up the process by using the Internet and social media, giving Floridians the chance to draw proposed maps by going online and using the same tools and data state staffers and lawmakers will depend on when they draw the boundaries.

But what was trumpeted as something of a goodwill tour this summer to offer people a say in the process has instead turned ugly. People showing up to meetings are in no mood to be respectful. They are accusatory and angry, as apt to lecture the representatives as to absorb information. They get testy when they don't like what they hear, and they're unwilling to cut the lawmakers any slack. Weatherford told the Tribune's Laura Kinsler after a meeting Monday night that he felt like a pinata.

Unfortunately, when the committees rolled out plans for the tour they gave some the impression they wanted to hold off drawing districts for as long as possible, and critics have accused them of taking too much time. These critics say keeping the maps under wraps will make it harder for anyone hoping to challenge an incumbent to develop a campaign strategy or build an effective elections organization

Over time these same critics have moved from insisting that the maps be shaped by public comments to demanding to see proposed boundaries to effectuate a significant discussion.

In truth, the critics don't think it matters what the committee hears or what maps citizens offer. They believe the maps will be drawn behind closed doors under a timeframe designed to stymie any legal challenges sure to follow.

Florida "purges" veterans

"A federal lawsuit filed in Miami may impact an untold number of Veterans Administration pension beneficiaries who have been wrongly purged from state Medicaid rolls in violation of a 1987 injunction by a federal judge." "Suit alleges state wrongly denied Medicaid benefits to VA pensioners".

'Baggers with children

"After a successful summer experience, a tea party-affiliated organization is offering Saturday morning civics classes for children."

Some of the principles taught:

• "Blending freedom and responsibility requires virtuous, moral and educated citizens."

• "Our inalienable human rights do not come from government leaders, but only from God."

• "Faith in God was fundamental to the founding of our country and the system provided."

Florida's "risky experiment"

"Florida is pursuing education privatization further and faster than any other state, conducting a risky experiment with the education of 2.6 million public school students and the schools that serve them."

Florida already is the leader among the states in the number of students in voucher programs and public dollars expended for them. The Florida Legislature went even further in its 2011 session, expanding every alternative to traditional public schools—even while it cut public school funding for the fourth year in a row.

The state's focus on choice programs hurts the public school system by diverting public money to private schools and for-profit education companies.

Perils of working for the lowest bidder

"Broward County construction workers who said Monday that they have not been paid for several weeks of work at a Fort Lauderdale building project are looking at their legal options to recover their wages. According to the workers, about 50 men have not received wages for anywhere from three weeks to two months after working 10 hours or more a day at the Northwest Gardens project, which consists of 150 new townhomes and apartments designed for working families." "Stiffed construction workers seek legal support, get it from advocate organization".

AIF snaps its fingers ...

"In the 2011 session, Detert’s committee took the lead in revamping the state’s unemployment compensation law. ... Labor advocates have criticized the new law, saying by raising new barriers for eligibility and cutting back on the number of weeks of compensation, it will hurt a struggling workforce where nearly 1 million Floridians are without jobs." "Herald-Tribune Politics reviews the legislators: Nancy Detert".

GOPers in action

Travis Pillow: "Among those leading the charge to eliminate the agency was state Rep. Matt Hudson, a Naples Republican who oversees health care appropriations in the House." "How the Legislature eliminated the state’s prison health care watchdog".

Republican] political to get a hearing

"An appeals court in Tallahassee on Wednesday overturned a move by the Department of Health to suspend the medical license of prominent [Republican] political fundraiser and Broward county eye doctor Alan Mendelsohn." "Appeals court sides with former Tallahassee lobbyist and fundraiser".

Trading mansions

"When Gov. Rick Scott moved into the Governor’s Mansion, he left one of the wealthiest parts of the state. His new neighbors are middle-class, ethnically diverse and overall more like the people he now represents."

That’s not to say that the governor’s new Tallahassee digs are shabby. The 15,000-square-foot, 30-room Governor’s Mansion has a swimming pool, cabana, exercise room, tennis courts and a greenhouse. The Greek Revival mansion was designed in the mid-1950s and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

But it’s hard to compete on the opulence scale when looking at his old Naples neighborhood. There, Scott owns a 1.3-acre residence, purchased in 2003 for $11.5 million. His 3,400-square-foot mansion abuts the Gulf of Mexico and has a swimming pool with a view. To the north is a red-tiled mansion valued at $29 million. To the south is an 8,200-square foot mansion that is for sale for $21.9 million. Other multimillion-dollar mansions stretch up and down his street, Gordon Drive.

Siplin again

"The Florida Elections Commission has found probable cause that state Sen. Gary Siplin broke the law when he spent $13,000 in campaign funds to allegedly pay poll workers without disclosing who they were, and for exceeding campaign-finance limits when he accepted two checks from a phosphate-mining fund." "Siplin faces new elections violation charges".

Good luck with that

"A group of activists seeking better pay for tomato pickers is bicycling to Publix Super Markets headquarters in Lakeland and will ask company leaders to see firsthand laborers' living conditions. The 200-mile trek, organized by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and its supporters, started Saturday in Immokalee and will end Tuesday with a small rally." "Activists push Publix to pay penny more for tomatoes".

Scott "crooning a new tune"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Gov. Scott has thumbed his nose at federal stimulus dollars. And he wrongly refused $2.4 billion that Uncle Sam eagerly tried to give Florida for a high-speed rail project between Tampa and Orlando."

But now, he's crooning a new tune. He wants Florida to make a bid for $100 million up for grabs in the Obama administration's latest federal Race to the Top competition. The Early Learning Challenge is intended to enhance existing early-education programs for young children.

The governor rationalizes that it's a one-time cash infusion that won't leave Florida on the hook to create new positions or long-term programs. That's his story, and he's sticking to it.

Critics squawk "hypocrite." His interest in the federal grant, they say, is a cynical example of cherry-picking schemes that he believes are politically popular. And critics may have a point.

Even so, Scott's flip-flop stands to benefit Florida's pre-K program, which in recent years has fallen in quality and funding.

Drilling ban ought to wind up the oil shills

"A Tampa Democrat has filed a Senate version of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban oil drilling within about 10 miles of Florida's coastline. The proposed amendment (SJR 90), filed Tuesday by Sen. Arthenia Joyner, matches a House version (HJR 23) filed earlier this year by Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg. It would ask voters to put into the Constitution a ban on exploration, drilling, extraction or production of oil in Florida waters." "Proposed Amendment Would Ban Near-Shore Drilling".

Meanwhile, "Debate on Everglades drilling revived by Bachmann".

West kicking himself

"Florida Republican Congressman Allen West said in a national interview Wednesday that he is kicking himself over leaving the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) after comments made by U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., attacking the tea party movement for being racists." "Allen West Calls Out Black Caucus for Attacking Tea Party Movement". See also "West challenges Black Caucus members' 'hate-filled comments'".

Outa there

"Outgoing GOP Chairman Bitner Passes Torch to Lenny Curry". See also "With national convention nearing, Florida GOP chair resigns, cites health problems" and "Ailing Florida Republican Party chairman Dave Bitner to step down".

"General Halftrack meets Maxwell Smart"

Daniel Ruth: "When he entered the political arena, retired Col. Mike McCalister of the Army Reserve wanted you to believe he was some sort of derring-do, special operations, international man of mystery who gallivanted about the globe with a dagger clenched between his teeth, guns blazing on the trail of evildoers. Alas, we have learned differently."

Alas, as we have learned, Col. McCalister has quickly become the General Halftrack meets Maxwell Smart of Florida politics.

Many politicians butter up their biographies, making it seem that their leadership was pivotal in getting laws passed, or persuading Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall, or that without their economic brilliance we would still be trading in pelts.

But McCalister, who is running for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, has taken self-aggrandizement to stratospheric Donald Trump heights.

"Putnam as presidential kingmaker"

"Adam Putnam as presidential kingmaker?".

Expect grade inflation

"In this school of sorts, the coursework features walking tours of inner-city neighborhoods, exercises on how to balance a mock municipal budget — and a guest speaker who has pleaded guilty to charges of extortion, perjury and public-meetings violations." "Initiative aims to teach South Florida’s elected rookies the political ropes".

Oh ... the things employers will do

"Nearly half of all employers screen selected job candidates by pulling their credit reports, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management. That creates a catch-22 for some job seekers, especially in this economy: lose your job, your credit suffers. When your credit suffers, you can't get a job. State Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, refiled legislation on Monday that would put a stop to the practice in most cases." "Refiled bill wouldn't let bad credit disqualify job applicants".

"A third of Central Florida kids lack adequate nutrition"

"The latest numbers are out on how many Americans struggle to get enough nourishing food to eat — and the news isn't good for Central Florida's children. ... more than 190,000 children live in families that sometimes go hungry, don't know where their next meal is coming from or have to rely on cheap, nutritionally sparse food to fill their stomachs — something that, ironically, can lead to childhood obesity." "Nearly a third of Central Florida kids lack adequate nutrition".

'Glades

"While environmentalists blasted GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann for broaching the subject of oil-drilling in the Everglades, petroleum is pumping right next door." "Oil and Gas Keep Pumping Next Door to 'Pristine' Everglades".

Secret deal?

"South Florida Rail Partnership: 'Best Case' or 'Secretive Deal'?".

Scott goes flip-flop

"Florida plans to compete for $100 million in the federal government's latest Race to the Top program, assuming the Florida Legislature is willing to accept other federal money it had previously rejected. To apply for the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge, which is designed to improve the care and education of young children, states must be taking part in a federal home-visiting program meant to prevent child abuse." "Gov. Rick Scott: Let's compete for $100 million Race to Top grant for young kids"

More from the Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Rick Scott is wisely making an exception to his opposition to the federal Affordable Health Care Act and rejection of federal money tied to the reforms. He plans to ask legislative leaders next month to reconsider the decision to reject $3.4 million for child abuse prevention that is tied to the health care law. That suggests that Scott — unlike Republican legislative leaders — will at least accept federal money for the law's less-controversial elements that show real promise for improving Floridians' lives. Lawmakers should take his lead or risk turning their backs even more on children." "Stepping up for Florida's children".

Jebbie tries to stay in the game

Kingsley Guy: "Is it possible for Democrats and Republicans to agree on anything in this era of hyper-partisanship?Possibly. And a couple of high-powered political figures from Florida could help lead the way in crafting reasonable policies that would help shake the nation out of its economic doldrums. The dynamic duo consists of former Gov. Jeb Bush, a Republican, and current Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, who's up for re-election next year." "Real bipartisanship?: Bush, Nelson could forge tax strategy".

"Politically-charged water rate hike requests"

"PSC begins hearings across state on politically-charged water rate hike requests".

No contest

"A Sunny Isles Beach commissioner pleaded no contest Tuesday to three campaign finance-related charges." "Commissioner pleads no contest to campaign-finance charges".

Let the politicians do it

"Sen. Joe Negron criticizes the current system of having an appointed education commissioner. Negron on Monday also filed another constitutional amendment that would abolish two panels that are allowed to propose constitutional changes."

Negron's amendment - SJR 96 - would dissolve the current State Board of Education - which hires the commissioner now - and would instead make the governor and Cabinet responsible for approving statewide education policy.

A few more pennies

"Scott in June vetoed $310 million in spending authority for Florida Forever. But one program has some money left over because other projects were cheaper due to declining land prices." "Florida Communities Trust awards grants despite demise of Florida Forever program".

"Florida 'still acts like a Third World country'"

"Despite gains in the last year, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility says Florida 'still acts like a Third World country' when it comes to enforcing environmental regulations. The group analyzed enforcement actions by the Department of Environmental Protection." "Watchdog group says Crist edged Bush when it came to protecting the environment".

"Confidence dip is overreaction"

"Consumer confidence among Floridians fell to a near-record low in August, and a national reading of consumer sentiment also plummeted, renewing fears of a double-dip recession." "Floridians' confidence dip is overreaction, one economist says". See also "Drop in Florida consumer confidence points to possible recession".

Draggin' them knuckles

"Marco Rubio, Connie Mack Ranked Most Conservative of the Florida Congressional Delegation".

Redistricting update

"Round-up of media coverage of redistricting for 8/30". "Gaetz proposes moving redistricting process timeline", "Second round of redistricting hearings possible", "Redistricting hearing draws crowd and criticism", "Lawmakers get an earful in Tampa on redrawing districts" and "Pinellas County residents criticize legislative redistricting process".

Poor Vern

Jeremy Wallace: "A protracted battle over illegal campaign donations to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan may be headed for resolution. A federal court in Jacksonville is considering a formal recommendation to fine one of Buchanan’s former car dealerships – but no individuals — for giving $67,900 in inappropriate campaign donations to his past congressional races." "Court considers fine for former Buchanan dealership".

Innocence Commission bows to pressure

"For months, Florida's Innocence Commission struggled over whether to recommend that every police agency in the state be required to clean up and standardize how they have eyewitnesses pick suspects from photo lineups. After months of lobbying, the panel bowed to pressure from Florida's police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, voting to make their proposed fixes mere recommendations." "Florida cops water down Innocence Commission lineup recommendations".

Gaetz man-crushes Perry

"Don Gaetz Backs Rick Perry as Best Chance to Beat Obama in Florida".

If dirt were dollars

"If endorsements won races, Adam Hasner would be out front in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. Tuesday he announced the backing of former House Speaker Larry Cretul (the "accidental speaker" who took over during the controversy that engulfed Ray Sansom), who will also serve as statewide co-chairman of the campaign." "Hasner's endorsement lead". See also "Former House Speaker Larry Cretul Backs Adam Hasner in 2012".

Bits and Pieces

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces". Related: "Six in the Morning: A six-pack of infobits you might have missed" and "Recommended Reading for Monday, August 29".

Its "Hurricane Perry" agin' Bachmann for Florida GOPers

This ain't your mommy's Republican Party of Florida: "Hurricane Irene bypassed the state and spared Michele Bachmann's first campaign foray in Florida this weekend, but now she has to contend with Hurricane Perry." "Michele Bachmann rally draws over 1,000 in Sarasota, but some prefer Rick Perry". See also: "Michele Bachmann stirs passions in Sarasota" and "Bachmann concludes Florida swing with Sarasota rally". More: "Michele Bachmann to Rick Perry: Don't Write That Acceptance Speech Just Yet".

Last week: "At Jacksonville sub shop, Bachmann pledges to end EPA, Department of Education".

Meanwhile, "Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann to hold event in Naples on Monday" and "Bachmann’s campaign is Miami-bound on Monday".

Chamber/League of Cities pulling Ricky's strings

Bill Cotterell: "Before Gov. Rick Scott leaves office, the Florida Retirement System will probably switch from the safe-but-skimpy old way of doing things to a riskier new model."

Scott, who comes from the private sector with no government experience, said during last year's campaign he would like to see the state use the pension system most prevalent in the private sector. That is, he wants more of the "defined-contribution" investment plans, and far fewer of the familiar "defined-benefit" pension plans.

Florida offers both right now. The basic defined-benefit plan is still the mainstay of the FRS, with the Public Employee Optional Retirement Plan (PEORP) gaining a little traction.

The biggest public-employee news of 2011 — besides layoffs — has been Scott's success in requiring FRS members to pay 3 percent of their earnings into the pension pot. He wanted 5 percent, but the Legislature compromised at 3, along with some raising of retirement ages and changes in the "vesting" period required to qualify for pensions.

Raw political courage

"Vern Buchanan Calls for Pan Am Bomber to be Extradited from Libya".

Florida legislators work to persuade redistricting doubters

"Florida legislators bring the contentious redistricting road show to the western half of the state this week as they work to persuade doubters that they really aren’t interested in drawing legislative maps to neither protect themselves nor their parties." "Legislators hear drumbeat of complaints over timeline, cost of redistricting". Related: "Round-up of media coverage of redistricting for 8/29".

Waste

"People must pay for the tests, which cost $30-$35. If they test clean, the state reimburses that cost with mostly federal dollars, Follick said. He did not have a breakdown of the overall state and federal costs of the program. About 1,500 to 2,000 people might be tested each month." "Florida welfare drug tests largely are clean".

Wingnuts slam Hasner as "moderate"

Drag a dollar bill through a country club and you never know what you'll find.

"It wasn't personal or political - just business, says Boca Raton conservative activist Jack Furnari of his recent online slamming of longtime friend and ally Adam Hasner as a 'moderate-conservative chameleon.'"

With former state House Majority Leader Hasner running for U.S. Senate as a rock-ribbed conservative, Furnari last week posted copies of old Hasner campaign mailers that were apparently aimed at independents and Democrats in his Palm Beach-Broward House district. One from 2004 highlights a newspaper description of Hasner as "moderate." One from 2006 touts his support of education spending and growth management and depicts a Democratic woman saying she'll vote for Hasner.

Furnari was an adviser and contributor to Hasner's House campaigns and introduced Hasner at a Boca Raton Republican Club dinner last year as someone who had promised to govern as a conservative and had "kept the faith."

Furnari backed Hasner rival Mike Haridopolos in the GOP Senate primary before Haridopolos dropped out last month. Now Furnari says he's neutral in the primary and insists he has nothing against Hasner. Instead, Furnari says he's loyal to BIZPAC Review, an online conservative news venture that launched this year with Furnari and Business Political Action Committee Chairman John R. Smith as founders.

U.S.-Israeli solidarity rally

"People from across South Florida gathered Sunday night at the South Florida Summit for Israel at Nova Southeastern University." "Rally in Davie urges U.S.-Israeli solidarity".

Anti-Castro picket

"About 200 anti-Castro demonstrators picketed outside a weekend concert by Cuban singer Pablo Milanes in Miami. ... The protestors see Milanes as a supporter of Cuba's communist government, although in recent years he has criticized its treatment of dissidents and its unwillingness to change." "Anti-Castro protestors picket Miami concert".

"Republican Party of Florida picked up the tab"

"Tax dollars didn't pay for Gov. Rick Scott's robocalls".