FLORIDA POLITICS
Since 2002, daily Florida political news and commentary

 

UPDATE: Every morning we review and individually digest Florida political news articles, editorials and punditry. Our sister site, FLA Politics was selected by Campaigns & Elections as one of only ten state blogs in the nation
"every political insider should be reading right now."

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Welcome To Florida Politics

Thanks for visiting. On a semi-daily basis we scan Florida's major daily newspapers for significant Florida political news and punditry. We also review the editorial pages and political columnists/pundits for Florida political commentary. The papers we review include: the Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Naples News, Sarasota Herald Tribune, St Pete Times, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Tallahassee Democrat, and, occasionally, the Florida Times Union; we also review the political news blogs associated with these newspapers.

For each story, column, article or editorial we deem significant, we post at least the headline and link to the piece; the linked headline always appears in quotes. We quote the headline for two reasons: first, to allow researchers looking for the cited piece to find it (if the link has expired) by searching for the original title/headline via a commercial research service. Second, quotation of the original headline permits readers to appreciate the spin from the original piece, as opposed to our spin.

Not that we don't provide spin; we do, and plenty of it. Our perspective appears in post headlines, the subtitles within the post (in bold), and the excerpts from the linked stories we select to quote; we also occasionally provide other links and commentary about certain stories. While our bias should be immediately apparent to any reader, we nevertheless attempt to link to every article, column or editorial about Florida politics in every major online Florida newspaper.

 

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The Blog for Monday, March 19, 2012

"A regime bent on giving over education, health care, corrections, transportation and other state government responsibilities to special interests"

    Fred Grimm: "They’re medically fragile kids who with nursing assistance could be cared for, and even thrive, in family homes or in the state’s network of medical care foster homes. Instead, Florida keeps them in nursing homes designed for the elderly."
    It’s certainly unconscionable; probably illegal. Two lawsuits filed in federal court in Fort Lauderdale last week lay out a strong legal case that the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration has been flouting both the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and state law by warehousing disabled kids in old-folk nursing homes.
    "But the crazy thing about this inhumane and probably illegal practice is that nursing home care for these children likely costs more than in-home health care. Not only are the kids better off with in-home nursing, Annino said Friday that he expects the state records, drawn out through discovery, will show that home-based services would save Florida money."
    So why would the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration opt for a legally suspect, more costly mode of care? The reason’s crass, but most of you, accustomed to a regime bent on giving over education, health care, corrections, transportation and other state government responsibilities to special interests, won’t be shocked.
    "Kids don’t belong in old-folks homes".


    The best they could do?

    "A revised redistricting plan for the Florida Senate tries to make repairs ordered by the state Supreme Court." "New Senate district map ticks off both parties".


    "Not a lot of reasons to be secretive"

    The Saraspta Herald-Tribune editorial board: "State law allows school boards to meet behind closed doors to discuss collective bargaining with employees. No official records of these meetings are made -- a shortcoming of Florida law that should be remedied."

    Some strategizing in private might be warranted, but teacher pay and contracts still require public votes and, in Florida, school boards and their administrators have the upper hand in negotiations. For instance, the district can unilaterally declare an impasse and impose contracts. In short, there are not a lot of reasons to be secretive.

    What's more, closed-door meetings provide board members with opportunities to say one thing in private and another in public.
    "Behind closed doors".


    Grayson haters get to work

    The Grayson haters - and that includes the traditional media in its entirety - are already after Grayson: "Alan Grayson Left Trail of Traffic Tickets Before Lynx Bus Crash".


    FRS case fast tracked

    "The 1st District Court of Appeal found that the legal battle over mandatory pension contributions by public employees presents issues of great public importance that the high court should resolve as quickly as possible." "Public employee pension case headed to Supreme Court".

    The legal eagles are running wild. Consider this sage analysis from Rick Scott, who is, after all, a lawyer: "Scott told reporters last week that Fulford's ruling 'doesn't make any sense' and said she had overstepped her bounds." "Judge Fulford's Pension Fund Ruling Headed to Florida Supreme Court".


    "Florida's business lobby ... got plenty of presents"

    "Following the election of a multimillionaire businessman as governor and stronger-than-ever Republican majorities in the Legislature, last year's law-making session was a bit like Christmas-come-early for Florida's business lobby. Businesses weren't quite as lucky during the 2012 session, which gaveled to a close at midnight on March 9. But they still got plenty of presents." "Business lobby won many battles during the 2012 session, but it lost a few, too".


    "A bad mistake from last year"

    The Palm Beach Post editors: "The Florida Legislature corrects mistakes about as often as Peyton Manning changes football teams. This year, though, the Legislature corrected much of a bad mistake from last year."

    The 2011 mistake was a bill that capped how much tax revenue the state's five water management districts could raise and essentially put the Legislature in charge of the districts' budgets. For decades, governor-appointed boards had set tax and budget policy based on water supply, flood control and environmental needs in the five watersheds.
    "Tally turns the tap back on".


    Florida gets "C-" on Integrity Index

    "Florida’s Sunshine Law does not shine fully on the sometimes shadowy world of lobbying, a new report found." "When it comes to lobbying, Florida’s Sunshine law is dark". Related: "Integrity index gives Florida politics a C-".


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