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 Thursday, December 13, 2012

"A predictable choice that values conservative ideology over proven performance"

    The Tampa Bay Times editors correctly call the selection of the same man who was run out of his job running Indiana schools in an election just last month, as Florida's new education commissioner "a predictable choice that values conservative ideology over proven performance". "Education chief must listen, learn".

    The "divisive" Bennett, "a champion of the testing mania, unchecked expansion of charter schools and voucher programs" is not without his supporters on the fringe. Bennett was actually awarded

    the "America's Education Reform Idol" award for his state in 2011.
    "Bennett selected as Florida education commissioner". See also "Florida lands a 'rock star'" ("an ally of former Gov. Jeb Bush") and "Board names Indiana official new education commissioner for Florida; parents, teachers groups blast pick".


    Yee Haw!

    "Concealed weapon permits to hit 1 million next week in Florida".


    "Scott hangs onto notion that he has cards to play"

    "With just days before he must declare whether Florida will open its own insurance marketplace or leave it to the federal government, Gov. Rick Scott is asking to meet with President Barack Obama on health care."

    Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to governors this week, urging states to embrace a key provision of the Affordable Care Act. Sebelius refused the governors’ request to further extend the deadline for states to commit to opening an online shop where small businesses and individuals can buy insurance.

    There’s virtually no chance Florida could meet Friday’s deadline, which was pushed back from November. States must declare not only an intention to open an insurance exchange, but submit a blueprint for doing so. Yet Scott is still not saying explicitly that Florida will opt out. Instead, Scott seems to be hanging onto the notion that he has some cards to play.

    "Scott wants to meet with Obama over health care law".


    Leading nation in foreclosures

    "Brevard leads nation in foreclosures". See also "Florida Realtors discuss 2013 housing market with national economists".


    "Talk is cheap"

    The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Florida's two new legislative leaders apparently weren't worried about optics when they handed out hefty raises, and now 62 legislative staffers earn $100,000 or more. Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford talk a lot about being fiscally conservative Republicans, and they have been part of the legislative leadership that has frozen salaries and cut jobs for rank-and-file state workers for five years. But when it comes to rewarding those who work closest to them, their actions look far different."

    As the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau reported Wednesday, Gaetz and Weatherford, combined, have decided to dole out raises to 17 staffers that totaled more than $250,000. . . .

    Gaetz and Weatherford defended their decisions as necessary to keep top talent on board. And some of the highest-paid employees are dedicated and talented individuals who earn their pay. But the irony is that top staffers used to leave state government to cash in; now even those early in their careers have learned if they stick around and play their cards right, they can earn a handsome sum. That's a far cry from just a decade ago when the communications director for then-Senate President Jim King, also a Republican, started at a mere $45,000.

    Republican leaders have talked a lot in recent years about the state tightening its belt. That should apply to everyone. Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder.

    "Big raises flow to a favored few".


    Except for the "forever" part

    "At Florida Forever's peak, $300 million a year in state funding gushed into the program. But lawmakers turned off the tap a couple of years ago after doc-stamp tax revenues tanked along with the real-estate market. Earlier this year, lawmakers turned the tap back on a trickle." "What we think: Revive land buying for environment, economy".


    "Election chiefs confer on solving problems that dog Florida"

    "State and Palm Beach County election chiefs confer on solving problems that dog Florida". See also "Broward County election officials want flexibility on early voting".


    Crist milks it

    "Crist will make party change official today".


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