Redistricting decision "a comeuppance for Sen. Don Gaetz"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The Florida Supreme Court on Friday followed the will of the voters who demanded more reasonably drawn legislative districts."

The court's landmark redistricting opinion thoughtfully defined the constitutional amendment approved in 2010 and invalidated new state Senate districts for clearly failing to meet those requirements. This is a victory for Floridians who want fair elections and a sound defeat for drawing maps that rig the outcomes and protect incumbents.

Amendment 5 requires that legislative districts not be drawn to favor or disfavor incumbents or political parties. They should be compact and follow political and geographic boundaries where possible, and they cannot reduce the ability of minorities to elect the candidates of their choice.

The court ruled that the new House districts meet those requirements and generally praised the House's approach. That is a particular credit to Rep. Will Weatherford, the Wesley Chapel Republican who oversaw redistricting and is incoming House speaker.

But the court was critical of the Senate's approach, which did not consider political or election performance statistics in drawing new districts. Eight of 40 Senate districts were ruled invalid for protecting incumbents, lack of compactness and other issues. The court also faulted the renumbering of the districts to favor incumbents.

The opinion is a comeuppance for Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who is the incoming Senate president. Gaetz oversaw the drawing of the Senate map, and his sprawling Panhandle district was one of those invalidated by the court.

Scott's promise of ALF reform rings hollow

"After years of reports of rampant abuse in Florida's assisted living facilities, Gov. Rick Scott and top lawmakers promised to create the most significant reforms in a generation to better protect thousands of frail seniors and mentally ill residents. But after a dramatic week of infighting and gamesmanship, House and Senate leaders on Friday couldn't agree on major safeguards, delivering a crushing blow to elder advocates who had long been pleading for changes."

The failed effort follows months of reports in the Miami Herald of people dying in ALFs — including residents beaten, starved and injected with lethal doses of drugs — prompting a legislative panel and a Miami-Dade grand jury to push for changes in oversight by state regulators.

Hiaasen: "Rush-Muffin feels the heat"

Carl Hiaasen: "The Rush-Muffin feels the heat".

JD gets his

"The creation of Florida's 12th university has cleared its second-to-last hurdle, with both the House and Senate approving the move with nominal resistance. ... The move was a top priority of exiting Lake Wales Republican Sen. JD Alexander. It diverts from a USF Polytechnic independence plan already laid out by the Florida Board of Governors, which is tasked with overseeing the state university system." "Florida is one step closer to getting a 12th university".

After hosing Dems all session, Weatherford wants to shake hands

"A last appeal for bipartisan support from Speaker-designate Will Weatherford fell flat Friday night, as the House voted 80-37 in a partyline vote to approve the state's $70 billion budget for 2012-13."

Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel called for the minority party to join Republicans in approving the plan.

No dice. Rep. Scott Randolph of Orlando was among the Democrats who blistered the budget for cutting university spending, reducing hospital payments and doing nothing to lift motorist tax- and fee-hikes. "You are all taxing the middle class and you are taxing them out of existence," Randolph said.

Aren't they amazing

"Despite setbacks over early-in-the-session prison privatization efforts and, on the final day, with the failure in the Senate of parent triggers for charter schools and the state Supreme Court declaring that some newly drawn Senate districts are unconstitutional and will require a special session starting Wednesday, the state’s top elected officials deemed the session a success." "Rick Scott's Priorities Center Stage as Session Comes to a Close".

Jebbie takes it in the shorts

"The well-financed, politically savvy backers of the parent trigger bill thought it would be a sure thing."

Last week, a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans blocked an attempt to fast-track the bill to the Senate Floor. Later, a bipartisan group prevented the bill from being added to the calendar.

But with the clock winding down on the legislative session, Rules Chairman John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, secured a last-minute hearing for the parent trigger proposal.

On Thursday night, the Senate questioned the proposal until 10 p.m. They came back for a debate and vote on Friday afternoon — the very last day of the legislative session. ...

But Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, said she had received thousands of letters and phone calls, urging her to oppose the bill. Lynn slammed the California group pushing the proposal, saying its members were oblivious to the education reform already talking place in Florida.

Ultimately, the 12 Senate Democrats and eight maverick Republicans (Lynn, Charlie Dean, R-Inverness; Nancy Detert, R-Venice; Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland; Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey; Alan Hays, R-Umatilla; Dennis Jones, R-Seminole; and Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville) banded together to defeat the bill.

The vote represented a stinging loss for Senate leadership — and for Bush's education agenda.

Anti-Sharia nonsense flops in Senate

"After Easy House Passage, 'Anti-Sharia' Bill Dies in Senate".

PIP plan passes

"PIP reform plan passes as Florida Legislature adjourns". See also "Scott declares victory after Senate signs off on auto insurance fix", "Scott to Sign PIP Reform Law 'Very Soon'" and "After tense debate, PIP reform passes Florida Legislature".

Texas law firm gets Bondi's work

"Florida attorney general selects lawyers to help handle BP oil spill claims".

"Victory for progressive groups"

"Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos today committed to include 'a formal study reviewing the effectiveness of economy development incentives, tax credits, exemptions, and subsidies,' in the state’s economic incentives bill, which is now on its way to the governor’s desk. The announcement is a victory for progressive groups across the state." "Florida progressives win battle over transparency in financial incentives, tax breaks for businesses".

Another Scott fail

"Florida gave $750,000 tax deal to company that went bankrupt".

Random drug testing on Scott's desk

"Florida lawmakers approved a plan to allow random drug tests for state employees Friday, on a 26-14 Senate vote. Bill sponsor, Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, said the bill was necessary to curb the problem of illegal drug use in Florida." "State worker drug testing law heads to governor". See also "Senate submits state worker drug test bill to Gov. Scott" and "Second attempt to randomly drug test state employees heads to Scott’s desk".

Developers snap their fingers

"Bill protecting Maronda, other subdivision developers from common-area defects passes state Senate".

Whooppee

"Adam Putnam's Renewable-Energy Bill Passes".

"Reorganization of the Florida Department of Health"

"After three years of trying, the Legislature on Friday passed a reorganization of the Florida Department of Health. The bill, HB 1263, was pared back significantly from what bill sponsor Rep Matt Hudson, R-Naples, asked for and does not sever the relationship between the state and the county health departments." "3rd time is charm for Hudson's health reorganization bill".

Gillibrand goes to Broward

"Broward Democrats are holding their big annual fundraising dinner Saturday, where they'll hear from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York." "New York senator to address Broward Democrats".

"What used to be seen as a political minefield"

"Far from big-city liberal enclaves and South Florida communities known as havens for gays and lesbians, several local mayors have stepped into what used to be seen as a political minefield: support for gay marriage." "More South Florida mayors come out for gay marriage".

Democrats call the $70 billion spending plan a reckless pork-barrel budget that continues an assault on education in Florida.

They're blasting the Legislature's decision to cut $300 million from the budgets of Florida's 11 state universities. They say that will likely cause double-digit tuition increases for students and force schools to cut services.

They say $840 million of new money for K-12 education does not restore the $1.3 billion cut last year.

Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith is also critical of the Legislature's decision to split off the Polytechnic campus from the University of South Florida and turn it into the state's twelfth university. That action was spearheaded by Sen. JD Alexander.

Tax relief for Florida businesses

"Legislature puts business-property tax cut on ballot". More: "Legislature Votes to Give Businesses Break on Unemployment Tax Hike", "Florida Senate passes $830 million business-tax break", "Tax relief bills for businesses sails through Legislature" and "With hours left in session, $800 million in tax relief for Florida businesses passes".

"Only in Tallahassee"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Only in Tallahassee would it be considered a victory to cut $300 million from higher education and still establish a new university with no students, no faculty and no accreditation." "Not good enough for Florida".

Firefighter dragged by car, expects pension

"Driverless car hits woman, drags firefighter".

"Shoot-first-ask-constitutional-questions later"

Michael Mayo: "The pattern of shoot-first-ask-constitutional-questions later has again come back to haunt Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature, this time with the 2011 law requiring government workers to contribute three percent of their salaries toward the state’s pension plan."

We’ve seen it with Florida’s mandatory drug testing for welfare applicants, which a federal judge halted last year after ruling the program likely wouldn’t pass legal muster.

And now we’re seeing it with the public-sector pension reform that was a top priority for Gov. Scott when he took office last year.

A Tallahassee judge has ruled that Gov. Scott and Legislature acted unconstitutionally in enacting the changes, a de facto pay cut that hit middle-class workers like teachers and prison guards hard.

Crooked ALFs may dodge bullet

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Talk about a cliffhanger. As time ticked down on this year's session of the Florida Legislature, slated to end today, lawmakers were still trying to hammer out an agreement on what should have been among their first priorities — reforming and strengthening regulation of the state's assisted-living facilities to better protect their vulnerable residents." "Assisted-living residents need lawmakers' help".

Floridians to fund Bay of Pigs Museum

"Bay of Pigs Museum, Disney Transit Line Among $70 Billion Budget Plans".

State lawmakers push budget problems on counties

"Local government officials are growing increasingly frustrated as state lawmakers appear to have settled their budget problems in part by pushing them off on counties. Over the objection of the counties, lawmakers have agreed on a formula to force county governments to pay Medicaid bills under a disputed system. It has a $325 million price tag." "Counties upset that state budget heaps costs on local governments".

"Richard the Lionhearted of Umatilla"

Daniel Ruth writes that, "if state Sen. Alan Hays, R-The Crusades, is to be believed, it's only a matter of time before we will be forced to pray five times a day in the general direction of Two Egg."

If you want to pause here and get a head start on slapping your forehead, go right ahead.

Yes, brothers and sisters, we have entered that twilight zone of the waning hours of this year's session of the Florida Legislature, democracy's answer to a Three Stooges pie fight. This is when all the paranoid, lunatic fringe conspiracy theorists, who make Oliver Stone seem downright stable, come out to play spin the black helicopter.

Which brings us to Hays, who has taken on the mantle of defender of the U.S. Constitution, which apparently is at risk of being turned into the Koran.

Hays is the sponsor of a bill that would void marriage, divorce and custody contracts grounded in foreign law. But the real effect of the measure is to address a burning, critical, vital issue that doesn't exist: the fear on the part of the jack-booted storm trooper-at-the-gates community that there is a plot to impose Islamic sharia law on Americans.

The Richard the Lionhearted of Umatilla insisted that his foreign law bill had nothing whatsoever to do with officially banning sharia law from the state and federal court systems. This was probably totally unrelated to Hays' nose growing to 37 feet.

Raw political courage

"Florida is poised to enhance the penalties for human trafficking." "Lawmakers get tough on trafficking; reach out to victims".

On the desk

"Caylee's law, high school sports bills among many sent to Scott Thursday".

Trib editors embarrass themselves

The Tampa Tribune editorial board issues an embarrassing editorial this morning: "If a Leon County circuit judge's ruling is correct, then state employees enjoy far greater privileges than private employees, and state lawmakers' historic powers are meaningless."

But we think the judge's interpretation is too broad and urge that the ruling be overturned on appeal, which Gov. Rick Scott is pursuing.

Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford on Tuesday ruled that legislation adopted last year requiring state workers to contribute 3 percent of their salaries to their pension plans is unconstitutional. If upheld, the state would have to find $1 billion to repay workers' contributions, plus interest, which would require layoffs and harsh cuts to public services.

The contribution requirement had been challenged by public employee unions that argued the move violated their contract, and Fulford agreed. "To find otherwise would mean that a contract with our state government has no meaning, and that the citizens of our state can place no trust in the work of our Legislature," she wrote.

That is a stretch. When state workers are hired they do not sign a contract guaranteeing the terms of their employment will never change. They are informed of what they are entitled to under the Florida Retirement System.

Benefits in the private sector are always subject to revision.[*] Why should government workers be different?

Without question, the 3 percent contribution represented a hardship on state workers, who have not received a raise in almost six years. And public employees can question the fairness of being forced to pay into their retirement fund when current retirees did not.

But private workers can show them life is not fair. The sour economy is forcing businesses and their workers to make unprecedented sacrifices. Jobs have been eliminated, and salaries have been reduced. Public employees should not be exempt from such economic realities.

"Ghastly Outdated Party" name game

"Although none of the Republican candidates looking to defeat Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson commands a monopoly of support, North Florida’s major Republican players seem to agree on one thing: the U.S. Senate race in Florida is a virtual two-way between former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV." "Connie Mack Collects More U.S. Senate Endorsements, North Florida Heavyweights Still Divided".

"Farmworkers fasting outside Publix HQ"

"Orlando churches, activists support farmworkers fasting outside Publix HQ".

"Mica's highway bill in tatters"

"Tea-party opposition leaves Mica's highway bill in tatters".

Cat fund fix

"Sen. Alexander tries alternate route to Cat Fund fix -- in conforming bill". See also "Senate introduces last-minute plan to trade tax breaks for 'Cat' fund contributions".

Trigger vote today

"'Parent trigger' bill ready for final vote after testy Senate debate".

Tally GOPers apparently listen to Limbaugh

"Florida’s $70 billion budget will strip about $4.4 million in family planning dollars from the state’s Medicaid budget. The state’s funding for controversial crisis pregnancy centers, however, remains intact."

Though funding for family planning services is in jeopardy, state funding for crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) remains intact for the seventh year in a row.

Year after year, CPCs, which are mostly religious centers that aim to dissuade women facing unplanned pregnancies from having abortions, have received $2 million from the state’s coffers. Some of these centers have been found to distribute medically inaccurate information about abortion and receive little oversight and regulation from state agencies.

Democrats have long tried to unsuccessfully strip CPC funding from the budget, as other health services have suffered deep cuts under increasingly austere budgets. The centers serve fewer patients and offer fewer services than other groups that deal with women facing unplanned pregnancies, such as Planned Parenthood or Healthy Start.

GOPers fight off early voting

"Attempt to expand early voting fails in Florida Senate".

Senate "mood seemed to be darkening"

"Last year a meltdown swept the Senate on the final night of session as Sen. Jack Latvala led a revolt against Senate leadership. Thursday, the mood seemed to be darkening as speculation arose that bills were being held up for political payback. 'A lot of it's becoming personal over there,' Rep. Ron Saunders said of the Senate." "'Weird vibe' pervades Capitol as observers look for signs of final-day meltdown".

Prison health watchdog agency

"Bill restoring prison health watchdog agency goes to Florida governor".

Rubio kow tows to TeaBaggers

"Despite his meeting yesterday with an immigrant Miami high school valedictorian who was to be deported, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL, has reiterated his opposition to the DREAM Act." "Despite meeting with Miami student, Rubio maintains opposition to DREAM Act".

Update: For undisclosed reasons, the "Miami valedictorian who faced deportation gets to stay - for now".

Labor groups march on Capitol

"Labor groups march on Capitol to protest budget cuts".

PIP

"A coalition of representatives from the Governor’s Office, Chief Financial Office, House and Senate has been working on a strike-everything amendment that — with just one day left to go in session — is meant to salvage the state’s 40-year-old no-fault system." "Can the strike-all amendment save auto insurance reform from failure?".

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Consumers or scammers?". The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Pass PIP reform". The Miami Herald editors: "Fix PIP now". The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "The Legislature should not leave Tallahassee without passing reform of Florida’s auto accident insurance law." "Don't let reform of PIP slip away". See also "Gov. Rick Scott: pass tough PIP reform".

Gov. Rick Scott bragged in a press release he was "nurturing a business climate that encourages business expansion and job creation."

Last fall, the Orlando Sentinel reviewed data indicating that more than 1,600 job-creation deals had been signed with companies that promised to generate more than 224,000 new jobs in exchange for $1.7 billion in tax credits, rebates and other incentives. But only about 80,000 jobs were created, and $738 million paid out. ...

Redpine, code-named "Project Soften," is one of 123 incentive deals awarded since Scott took office last year that are still considered confidential under the exemption. Details of the project were released only because the state went to court to try to get its money back.

The state paid the company $400,000 last year, and Bay County kicked in $350,000, convinced to invest based on the state's recommendation and an investor list that included a founder of Bowflex, the fitness company.

While most of the dollars the state pays out are after-the-fact tax credits that reimburse companies after they hire people, the money paid to all seven companies that have failed to live up to their contracts comes from something called the "Quick Action Closing Fund," that gives companies up-front cash to encourage them to set up shop.

Lawmakers have historically limited how much of the total pot of state incentive money can be awarded through that fund. But the $86.2 million in new incentive cash the Florida Legislature is prepared to appropriate this week would allow Scott to give it all out up-front if he wants.

Jebbie's latest privatization scheme having problems in the Senate

"A proposal that could let parents decide the fate of failing public schools is sparking fierce debate as it heads to a final vote in the Florida Senate this week."

The "parent trigger" bill has prompted an outcry from critics, who view it as a way to snatch power from local school boards and convince parents to turn public campuses over to private companies.

Its supporters, including former Gov. Jeb Bush, call the criticism misleading. They argue the bill would simply help parents push for change at chronically struggling campuses.

Though it passed the House easily, the trigger bill's fate in the Senate isn't clear, and it has been the subject of intense lobbying as a vote nears.

"Thousands of parents are speaking. They don't want this bill," said Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, one of two Republican senators to announce they would not support it.

opponents fear widespread fallout from a "cynical" effort to close public schools and then transfer their students — and the tax dollars they bring — to corporate-managed, for-profit charter schools.

"When we see a group of highly paid lobbyists running all over Tallahassee pushing this bill, we have to ask who is going to profit from this?" said Kathleen Oropeza, of Fund Education Now, an Orlando based parent group.

"Vice President Joe Biden has been assigned Florida"

"Vice President Joe Biden slipped into Tampa Bay for a fundraiser Wednesday, where he cheered for the spirited Republican presidential primary to continue for as long as possible." "Biden drops into St. Petersburg to raise big bucks for Obama re-election campaign".

"Failure of the executive and legislative branches to recognize their limits"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "The definition of insanity, the adage goes, is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Yet Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature are at it again, embracing legislation that ignores constitutional limits on their authority, forcing costly taxpayer-financed litigation and resorting to name-calling and threats to the judiciary when the courts rule against them."

Tuesday's ruling that cutting public employee salaries to help pay for pensions is unconstitutional is not the result of an activist judge as some Republicans complain. It reflects the failure of the executive and legislative branches to recognize their limits and the role of an independent judicial branch. ...

Every time elected leaders make bad law, taxpayers pay the legal bills. The legal tab in the pension case already is $800,000 and rising. This isn't a question of judicial activism but of arrogance by Republicans who hold the Governor's Mansion and a super-majority in the Legislature — and have little regard for constitutional protections or the courts.

Growth management suit

"Bill would resolve Fla. growth management suit".

"Sophomoric power games"

Beth Kassab says, "Enough with the sophomoric power games that Tallahassee is playing with our universities."

Too much time is spent focusing on political sport. Such as how Sen. JD Alexander is creating his own pet university — Florida's 12th — even as the state is cutting higher-education dollars and raising tuition at record rates.

Let's take a break from the analysis of how lawmakers are raiding universities' cash reserves like piggy banks. ...

University administrators and politicians say Florida tuition rates are so far below the national average that students — and we parents saving for a future student's education — can only expect prices to rise.

The problem is that the cutting is so severe that it's tough for any of them to argue with a straight face that we will be getting more for our money.

Classes are bigger. Academic programs are getting cut. And this year's raiding of universities' cash reserves means UCF will be out about $52 million that could have been used to recruit faculty, enhance programs and even pay for building repairs in case a major hurricane blows through.

That's going to mean big trouble when it comes to wooing and keeping faculty and top students — students who might have stayed in Florida when it was a bargain, but now are looking elsewhere.

Florida needs all the brain power it can get. Universities are one of the best ways to attract the brightest minds. It's good for business and helps an ailing economy.

New Citizens' head

"Florida’s Commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation, Tom Grady, is resigning to become interim president of Citizens Property Insurance Corp." "Citizens Insurance gets interim president". See also "Tom Grady Quits OFR, Will Take Over as Interim President of Citizens". Related: "Citizens Reform Dies in the House, with Republican help".

"Protests from clergy"

"A bill that passed the House banning courts or other legal authorities from using religious or foreign law as a part of a legal decision or contract drew protests from clergy. The bill is pending in the Senate." "Religious leaders condemn ‘anti-Sharia’ bill". See also "Citing 'Demonizing' Fliers, Muslims Want 'Anti-Sharia' Bill Pulled".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Store owner pulled gun on customer who complained about bedbugs in furniture".

Puffing Marco

"Many Republicans are worried about the presidential primary dragging on for weeks or more, a battle that has already inflicted wounds. Not U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio." "Marco Rubio says no worries about long GOP primary, he won't be VP and Syria is not Libya".

Jobs, jobs, jobs

Frank Cerabino: "Gov. Rick Scott needs to be on the next plane to Los Angeles. There are jobs, jobs, jobs for the taking." "California porn regulations open door for move to Florida".

Scott and the Legislature have unified labor movement

"A series of bills attacking public sector unions, along with a judge’s favorable ruling on pensions, has coalesced the once desperate group."

"The expected Senate vote on Thursday over giving parents the right to order turn-around programs at their struggling schools is less about parents and more about undercutting the role of Florida’s powerful teacher’s unions, say labor organizers."

After numerous assaults on them last year, they have banded together this year in a united front to persuade legislators — mainly the fragile majority in the Senate — to stop efforts to undercut the unions.

The vote count on the so-called parent trigger bill appeared too close for its sponsors to call late Wednesday. But the alliance in opposition to it was clear.

Unions, which previously had worked independently to pursue their agendas, have locked arms in an election-year strategy to reward their friends and penalize enemies on a handful of union-breaking proposals this year.

"Gov. Scott and the Florida Legislature have done more to unify the Florida labor movement in the state of Florida than anybody else could have ever done,’’ said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association, which represents school teachers.

The alliance extends to police, fire, nurses and other public safety workers, said Robert Suarez of Miami, vice president of the Florida Professional Firefighters.

“We jeopardize a lot of the security that we typically have among our supporters by building these coalitions,’’ Suarez said. “But we’re much stronger in representing the working class people if labor unions coordinate more together."

Nancy Smith Begs to Differ

Nancy Smith: "Watch your wallet Thursday when the Senate is due to take up SB 2094, Adam Putnam's hard-fought-for energy bill." "Sneak Attack Alert! Watch Out, Energy Bill!".

"Jeb!" in the wings

"Jeb Bush Could Be the One for the GOP".

From the "values" crowd

"Funding for state homeless coalitions in jeopardy".

PIP deform

"Late-Night Negotiations Expected over Salvaging PIP Reform".

Senate blocking "red-meat Republican measures"

"With just two days left in the legislative session, at least two high-priority -- and contentious -- measures remain unresolved and at least one poses a potentially embarrassing loss for Senate President Mike Haridopolos."

Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and other Senate GOP leaders -- including Rules Chairman John Thrasher and Majority Leader Andy Gardiner -- are backing a controversial "parent trigger" school choice measure (SB 1718) that will come up for debate today and get a vote on Friday.

Despite it being a priority for the GOP leaders as well as former Gov. Jeb Bush, Haridopolos may not have the votes to pass it.

That would be just another loss for Haridopolos, as he prepares to leave office because of term limits. Bipartisan coalitions have formed to block at least three other red-meat Republican measures, including a top priority of Gov. Rick Scott's, from passage or getting to the floor.

Dems working hard to screw up Rivera challenge

"The national Democratic Party’s decision to recruit former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas to run against Congressman David Rivera looks like it could backfire."

First off, Penelas said he’s not sold on pursuing the seat — despite the fact he was urged to run by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s chairman, Steve Israel, and the Democratic National Committee’s chairwoman, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Secondly, the Democrat already running against Rivera, state Rep. Luis Garcia, is blasting both Penelas and the national Democrats.

“At the very least, I was handled disrespectfully — maybe a little bit dishonestly,” said Garcia, who was first recruited to run against Rivera by Israel.

“Alex said that he had been called by Debbie Wasserman Schultz and that Steve Israel had come down to meet with him, all behind my back,” Garcia said. “I placed a call to Steve Israel. He hasn’t returned my call. I’m not very happy about that.”

Garcia said he was dropped by the DCCC because he couldn’t raise enough money, even though he pulled in $100,000 last summer. He said he would have pulled in more, but Wasserman Schultz didn’t help him with some major donors.

"Bill to give Scott more power stalls"

"A proposal to give Gov. Rick Scott more power over the courts appeared dead Wednesday amid a disagreement whether Scott should have the power to fire people appointed by former-Gov. Charlie Crist to a panel that helps select judges." "Bill to give Rick Scott more power to pick judges stalls".

Water management district budgets

"Last year, SB 2142 cut water management district property tax revenues by $210 million, prompting an outcry from environmentalists. SB 1986 compromise language would lift the budget caps and provides that the Legislature may annually review preliminary water management district budgets." "House, Senate budget chairmen agree on water management districts' budgeting bill".

Wage theft

"The author of Miami-Dade county’s wage theft ordinance has joined community, religious, business and labor leaders in opposing a GOP-sponsored House bill that would end the county’s wage theft program. The bill - filed by state Rep. Tom Goodson, R-Titusville, and passed by House members last week – prohibits counties and municipalities from maintaining laws that create regulations addressing wage theft, the practice of employers stiffing workers out of the wages they are owed." "Author of Miami-Dade wage theft ordinance calls on state Senate to stop preemption bill".

"DEP played a game with polluters"?

"A National Research Council study says a federal agency underestimated the costs of proposed federal water quality rules in Florida."

But the report, released Tuesday, implies the Florida Department of Environmental Protection added to public misconceptions and controversy about the federal cost estimates. That has prompted criticism from the Sierra Club, which says DEP played a game with polluters to create the uproar and undermine the proposed federal rules.

Pregnant prisoners

"The Florida House today passed a bill that would set uniform and humane rules for the shackling and restraint of pregnant women who are incarcerated. The bill already passed in the state Senate and is now headed to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk." "Bill protecting incarcerated pregnant women heads to governor’s desk".

Senate kills early voting reform

"A last-ditch effort to expand early voting before Florida’s legislative session ends this week failed in the state Senate yesterday." "Attempt to expand early voting fails in Florida Senate".

State budget slashes Medicaid

"As the state aims to balance the budget in the face of a $2 billion shortfall, Medicaid recipients might see their doctor’s visits slashed. Florida’s $70 billion budget, which was released yesterday and is set to be voted on Friday, drastically cuts visits to emergency rooms and primary care doctors for Floridians enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program." "State budget slashes primary care visits for Medicaid recipients".

Dyer in a fight

"Challengers take aim at Dyer in mayoral".

"The 2011 Legislature, when faced with a budget shortfall, turned to the employees of the State of Florida and ignored the contractual rights given to them by the Legislature in 1974,'' wrote Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford, who also relied on a 1981 state Supreme Court ruling favoring public employees.

She said the Legislature's decision to cut public employee salaries 3 percent, without renegotiating their contracts, was an "unconstitutional taking of private property without full compensation" that violated the rights of public employees "to collectively bargain over conditions of employment."

The governor and Republican legislative leaders cut salaries 3 percent, eliminated cost of living adjustments, or COLAs, and shifted savings into the general revenue fund to offset the state's contribution to their retirement account. The change saved the state $1 billion during the 2011 legislative session and saved local governments $600 million.

"As you would expect, I believe this decision is simply wrong,'' Scott said in a statement. He accused Fulford of ignoring "30 years of Supreme Court precedent" and called it "another example of a court substituting its own policy preferences for those of the Legislature." ...

Lawyers for the House and Senate refused to comment on the ruling, but Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, was critical of Fulford and vowed to continue the legal battle.

"I think this is an example of judicial activism, and this is why we are immediately going to appeal this decision," Haridopolos said.

The conflict is costing Florida taxpayers.

The state's Department of Management Services hired the Atlanta-based law firm of Alston and Bird to defend the state, paying eight lawyers $475 an hour. But the state exhausted the $500,000 retainer set aside for the initial defense, said Kris Purcell, spokesman for the Department of Management Services, so in December the state signed a second contract for $300,000.

Rivera to get another opponent?

"Miami-Dade’s former mayor and one-time Democratic star Alex Penelas is making calls and gauging support for a congressional bid against Republican Rep. David Rivera, who has been under state and federal investigation for his alleged role in a secret $500,000 million dog-track payment, sources said. Allies of Penelas polled the new congressional district drawn by the Legislature, but they are not releasing the results. Neither Penelas nor Rivera could be reached for comment. ... There’s already a Democratic challenger in the race, state Rep. Luis Garcia. He said he was recruited to run by national Democrats." "Alex Penelas may run for Congress against incumbent David Rivera".

About Judge Fulford, that "judicial activist"

"Fulford, a Republican, was appointed to the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court in 2009 by then-Gov. Charlie Crist. She previously served as chief assistant state attorney for the circuit, which covers Tallahassee and six Panhandle counties." "Who is this judge?"

Trigger trash

"Calling it a 'direct attack on public education,' Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, said Monday that 'the centerpiece of this legislation has nothing to do with empowering parents.' Rich added that the bill is tied to the American Legislative Exchange Council, a right-wing outfit funded by 'billionaires such as the Koch Brothers.'" "Opponents say ‘Parent Trigger bill’ driven by the private sector".

"Political gambit should be objectionable to voters"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "In court filings last week, the U.S. Department of Justice declared its disapproval of Florida's repressive new election rules designed to reduce voter turnout, arguing that they violate the federal Voting Rights Act. Voter rights organizations have made the same argument for months, but Justice Department officials joining the chorus strengthens the outcry against this attempt by Republican legislators to reduce turnout among demographics that tend to vote Democratic."

The intent is clearly political, and it mirrors efforts by Republican-controlled legislatures to tighten voter laws in several other states. This political gambit should be objectionable to voters of all political persuasions, just as if Democratic legislators tried a similar tactic to hinder absentee voters, more of whom tend to vote for Republicans. Ironically, the most serious Florida voter fraud case in recent memory involved absentee ballots in a Miami mayoral election. ...

That's not the only place where these laws are getting much-needed scrutiny. Last week in Tallahassee, a federal judge expressed skepticism during a court hearing about the new law that shortens the time that groups have to turn in voter registration forms - from 10 days to an unrealistic two. Under questioning, an attorney defending the law for the state admitted that some aspects of how the law was put into place need to be "fixed."

From the "values" crowd

"According to a survey released last month by the Food Research and Action Center, Florida is among the top ten states with the highest rates of 'food hardship,' or the lack of money to buy food." "Florida among states with highest rates of food hardship".

"Latino voters more likely to favor Obama"

"Latino voters are more likely to favor President Obama than any of the GOP presidential candidates. According to a Fox News Latino poll released Monday, “likely Latino voters indicated that 73 percent of them approved of Obama’s performance in office, with over half those questioned looking favorably upon his handling of the healthcare debate and the economy, at 66 percent and 58 percent respectively.”" "Fox News poll shows Latino voters favor Obama over GOP presidential candidates".

Anthony Man: "Hispanic voters favor Obama, but also like Rubio, poll finds".

"A study in pork-barrel spending"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "The proposed 2012-13 state budget set for a final vote on Friday is a study in pork-barrel spending, reckless policy and a shortchanged future." "A reckless Florida budget".

Citizens bill dies

"A bill allowing out-of-state insurance companies to take policyholders from Citizens, the state’s biggest insurer, died when a controversial amendment was added." "Amendment kills effort to reduce Citizens Insurance policy holders". See also "Storm Continues to Brew over Reforming Citizens", "Surplus lines bill all but dead after House fails to beat opt-in amendment" and "Citizens Reform Dies in the House, with Republican help". Related: "Tom Grady Quits OFR, Will Take Over as Interim President of Citizens".

Fraud bill bogs down

"Auto-accident fraud bill bogs down Senate". See also "Tempers flare as Senate tackles PIP bill".

Energy Bill

"Florida House Passes Energy Bill".

More from the "values" crowd

"Florida universities face $300 million budget cut".

Spewing the party line

Fabiola Santiago spews the party line in advance of the Pope’s visit to Cuba:

Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the highest Catholic authority on the island, and the Apostolic Nuncio to Cuba, Bruno Musaro, offered a Mass in the Cathedral of Havana to pray for the health of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who had a cancerous tumor removed from his pelvis on Feb. 24 in the Cuban capital.

The cathedral was packed with the faithful, and in a country where the government all but prohibited religious worship until the 1998 visit of Pope John Paul II, the attendees included the foreign ministers of Cuba and Venezuela and other well-known Cuban government supporters. ...

Are the prayers of Ortega and Musaro indeed prayers or politics, a calculated move of religious chess aimed at facilitating the highly anticipated trip of the Pope to Cuba later this month? ...

But for now all we hear are the Sunday prayers of a cardinal and a nuncio, and as benevolent as they may appear to charitable Catholic ears, they have already spoken volumes in a church where many of “the faithful” were dressed in the colors of the Venezuelan flag as if they were attending a political rally.

In Miami — where some are preparing for a pilgrimage to Cuba to participate in the Pope’s visit, where the Catholic Church is involved in apostolate work on the island, and from where thousands of dollars in humanitarian aid to the island flows — the faithful await answers to their prayers.

Summer camps licensing

"A million dollars. That’s about what it would cost every year, according to a 2009 estimate by Florida’s child-care regulator, to license summer camps across the state." "State needs $1 million per year to license camps, estimates show". Background: "DCF oversight would make camps safer, audit finds".

"Hijacking local water for political purposes"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Only with this governor and Legislature does a watered-down assault on local control and the environment count as a victory. A Senate bill approved last month and now part of this week's endgame with the House would restore some of last year's budget cuts to the state's five water management districts. The districts need the money, but the trade-off is unacceptable. The bill gives more authority over water policy to the same governor who caused the districts' financial free fall in the first place, and it enables Tallahassee to continue to hijack local water for political purposes." "Bill lets Tallahassee hijack water control".

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Hands off our water".

Budget means state workers won't get pay raise for sixth straight year

"Legislative leaders struck a nearly $70 billion budget deal Monday marked by the creation of a new state polytechnic university in Lakeland, fulfilling the vision of a single lawmaker who wanted the school to grow independently from the University of South Florida."

The creation of Florida Polytechnic University, a priority of the departing Sen. JD Alexander, ensures that lawmakers will be able to pass a budget before the 2012 session is scheduled to end Friday.

Negotiations tipped when lawmakers agreed to cover most of the costs associated with splitting the Lakeland campus from USF.

Resolving the USF controversy was a linchpin in budget talks. Lawmakers put the final touches on the nearly $70 billion spending plan Monday afternoon with dozens of community projects in members’ districts ....

Some projects surfaced for the first time. The projects, subject to a veto by Gov. Rick Scott, were funded through state workers not receiving a pay raise for the sixth straight year.

Energy bill

"House OKs energy bill despite simmering objections from large power users".

Redistricting special session

"Senate President Mike Haridopolos all but admitted defeat Monday in the first round of court reviews over the Legislature's redistricting map and predicted lawmakers would be back in a special session to revamp their maps." "Special session on maps looks likely".

MacNamara too clever by half

Steve MacNamara, Ricky Scott's chief of staff, is "'smart as hell - a really smart guy'". Apparently not too smart to get played.

Steve Bousquet: "Scott is not a professional politician, so the idea of horse-trading with state legislators is awkward for him, especially when it involves groveling for votes from fellow Republicans."

So Scott hired a skilled horse-trader, Steve MacNamara, as his chief of staff. But when MacNamara tried a game of give-and-take with the Senate on prison privatization, it failed miserably with the dean of the Legislature, Republican Sen. Dennis Jones of Seminole. The result left MacNamara angry at Jones, a politician he has known for decades.

Jones wanted a couple of favors from the governor, and Scott said sure.

The senator wanted his son Rod reappointed to the state Board of Chiropractic Medicine, and Scott did it. Jones also wanted some people reappointed to the board of trustees for St. Petersburg College, where he works, and Scott chose two of the four people Jones favored, Deveron Gibbons and Ken Burke.

Now it was Scott’s turn to ask Jones for help. The governor and MacNamara desperately needed Jones’ vote for one of Scott’s legislative priorities: SB 2038, privatizing dozens of prisons in South Florida.

Jones was a big opponent of privatization — he called it “a kick in the teeth” to state workers who haven’t had a pay raise in five years — but MacNamara also knew that Scott had done favors for Jones.

“That’s the reason I went to Dennis Jones, because Dennis Jones had come to us,” MacNamara says. “The governor was, ’Gosh, we did him a favor, maybe he’ll do us a favor.’ ”

It was horse-trading time, but Jones was not about to play political games with privatizing Florida’s prisons. He cast his vote as part of a bipartisan majority that killed privatization on a 21-19 Senate floor vote on Feb. 14.

Jones said he was upset that MacNamara wanted him to come to the governor’s office an hour before the privatization bill was to be debated on the Senate floor. He said it would be a waste of time to hear the pitch.

"Delicate task of public prayer"

Thomas Tryon: "Students shouldn't have delicate task of public prayer".

"Just another gimmick"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Never trust a bill that gets slammed through the Legislature without proper debate. The "parent-trigger" bill is one."

This proposal would allow 51 percent of parents whose children attend a failing public school to dictate the state-required turnaround plan. Supporters tried to move the bill, which the House has passed, to the Senate floor last week for a vote. They failed, because many Republicans oppose it, even though GOP legislators usually love anything that Jeb Bush calls "education reform."

After failing to bring the bill straight to the floor, supporters scheduled a rare Senate Budget Committee meeting for Saturday morning, then cut off opponents. Chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, got all huffy when Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, asked a man speaking for the bill where he worked. He had identified himself as a former teacher. His current job: He works as a part-time intern at Jeb Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future, which has been lobbying for the bill. Ironically, one major concern about the legislation is that parents can manipulate the process to "trigger" a takeover.

A for-profit charter school could take over the public school by obtaining the signatures of 51 percent of parents. Parents could replace staff or move students to other schools. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, claims that if 51 percent of parents sign a petition, that must be a sign of deep parental involvement and support for a turnaround plan. Actual experience with this kind of law refutes that.

This bill (SB 1718) is the latest policy pushed by former Gov. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future under the guise that the threat of competition from the private sector will improve public education. But there is also an incentive for the private sector, given that more public schools are expected to be deemed failing in coming years due to pending changes in the state's grading formula. This parent trigger bill would allow a small cadre of parents to influence how millions of taxpayer dollars will be spent. Those groups would be more susceptible to a for-profit charter operator's pitch than the seasoned public education professionals who decide under current law. ...

Republican sponsors claim their goal is to empower parents, but it's really just another gimmick distracting from lawmakers' continued indifference to investing in public schools. Even with the restoration of $1 billion next year to cover most of this year's cut in public education spending, Florida still ranks among the lowest in the nation in per pupil spending.

Sewage

"Federal environmental regulators said Monday that they will hold off on imposing controversial water pollution standards on Florida lakes, rivers and streams to give the state more time to crafts its own rules." "EPA delays water pollution rules".

"Last-minute advocates"

"Last-minute advocates have mixed record".

The best we could do?

"Scott may soon be stepping in to help settle the debate over Florida’s new school grading formula." "Scott to help settle school grades debate".

"Florida Legislature has returned to the culture wars"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "It must be an election year, because the Florida Legislature has returned to the culture wars. The House in particular has spent time in recent days passing legislation regarding abortion restrictions, school prayer and other issues important to social conservatives. The emphasis may appeal to some voters, but it will not paper over the Legislature's larger failures to invest in higher education, protect the environment or provide social services."

Bills to erode church-state separation, interfere with a woman's right to an abortion and banish Islamic law may be politically popular with some conservative voters. But they do not reflect the daily concerns or mainstream values of most Floridians. The sooner the Legislature wraps up the state budget and adjourns, the better.

Imagine that

"Study: Counties that didn’t implement new elections law had greater early voting turnout".

South Florida Jewish vote key

"The decades-long allegiance of Jewish voters to the Democratic Party is under unprecedented stress, threatened by a combination of changing demographics and the concerted Republican effort to depict President Barack Obama as unfriendly to Israel. Nowhere are the stakes higher than South Florida, home to 490,000 Jews who make up a voting bloc powerful enough to influence national elections. Though a small percentage of the overall population, Jews vote at a higher rate than virtually every other slice of the electorate." "South Florida Jewish vote a key for Obama".

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: On Budget, and On Time?".

"Frankel has big financial edge"

"In the first face-to-face meeting between Democratic congressional rivals Lois Frankel and Kristin Jacobs, Frankel reminded voters at a Palm Beach County Voters Coalition meeting last week that her campaign against 'tea party extremism' began nearly a year ago." "Lois Frankel has big financial edge in District 22 congressional race".

"Nelson, LeMieux rake in cash"

"Nelson, LeMieux rake in cash from pals in Congress".

"Scott moves about the state in his private jet"

"In Gov. Rick Scott's Florida, Cabinet members are a long way from the days when they hopped across the state in a Cessna jet. Scott made the state's two planes a symbol of government excess when he defeated a pair of rivals who used them."

But while taxpayers are saving because the planes have been sold and shipped out of state, real questions remain on whether the smaller travel bills are worth the costs — which are measured mainly in time. While Scott can move about the state in his personal private jet, Cabinet members are forced to drive or rely on Tallahassee's limited commercial air service.

Anti-choice’ bill passes House

"‘Omnibus anti-choice’ bill with controversial ‘fetal pain’ language passes Florida House".

PolitiFact backs Mack on "Half Mack"

"Judging from his latest Web ad, George LeMieux thinks his rival for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate is a loser on par with Hollywood bad boy Charlie Sheen."

LeMieux's ad parodies "Two and a Half Men" — the show Sheen infamously quit in a snit — to target U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, whom the ad mockingly calls "Half Mack." It shows an animated "Half Mack" in a series of buffoonish outfits as the ad makes its stinging charges.

PolitiFact Florida decided to fact-check a claim from the ad that Mack "failed to pay his child support." The ad shows many notices sailing by, each stamped "urgent," "overdue," or "past due."

Capitol Buzz

"Capitol Buzz: 5 things to watch today in Tallahassee".

Charter madness

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "The actions of the Life Force Arts and Technology Academy in Dunedin raise serious questions about fiscal control and church-state separation. Pinellas County Schools Superintendent John Stewart is right to recommend that it be shut down as soon as possible." "Shut down troubled charter".

First the Senate budget chairman demands that the University of South Florida campus in Lakeland immediately become independent and earmarks millions for the new university. Now the Lake Wales Republican stands to get millions for a toll road that would run near the new university and one day benefit his company's ranch.

Florida cries out for vision and leadership. Its state universities are overflowing with nearly 330,000 students as the Legislature cuts spending on higher education. Not one public university ranks in the nation's top 50, yet there is no grand consensus on moving forward. Beyond quality higher education, modern transportation and smart growth are other keys to a vibrant quality of life and a strong economy. Yet the Legislature uses money dedicated to roads to patch other holes in the budget, decimates growth management and overturns decades of water policy.

Florida is floundering because of legislators like Alexander ...

Heated, hastily called Saturday committee meeting pushes for-profit schools

"A controversial 'parent trigger' measure giving parents the ability to determine the fate of chronically failing schools is headed to the Senate floor after a heated, hastily called Senate budget committee meeting Saturday morning."

"The 'parent-trigger' push in an election year is politically motivated, critics also said, pitting teachers' unions against conservative Republican lawmakers and their constituents."

Teachers ... contend that the process opens public school parents to coercion by for-profit charter schools and private management companies, who would be able to take over the schools if the school districts agree to the parents recommendations. If the school board rejects the parents' option, parents could appeal to the state Board of Education, which would make the final decision.

"This simply allows a private management company to own your school for a time period," said Jeff Wright, public advocacy director for the Florida Education Association. "Once they get whatever they get out of it, like profit for example, then they leave and the public school is held accountable, again."

The bill is a priority of GOP leaders including Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, budget chief JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, and Rules Chairman John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, the founder of the Foundation for Florida's Future, is also backing the measure, and sent out a blast e-mail Friday evening urging recipients to contact senators before the meeting.

Rubio throws a tantrum

"In a move sure to increase speculation he is angling to be the Republican vice presidential running mate, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is demanding the Florida Ethics Commission close out a complaint that he misused Republican and campaign money 'to subsidize his lifestyle.'"

Rubio said he repaid personal expenses. Others raised questions, such as the nearly $4,000 he billed the Republican Party of Florida for a rental car in Miami and repairs to his family minivan, which he said was damaged by a valet at a political event.

Rubio acknowledged double-billing state taxpayers and the party for eight plane fares to Tallahassee, calling it a mistake, and repaid the party.

A rising figure in national Republican politics, Rubio is considered a top candidate as a vice presidential running mate. He insists he's focused on representing Florida but questions about his past are already drawing national media scrutiny. This week, the Wall Street Journal urged him to air out any vetting problems now so he would not become the next Sarah Palin or Dan Quayle.

Rubio says he just, "got a few dates wrong." That's how he excuses his falsehood about when his parents fled Cuba. With that story, he convinced Americans that he was the son of political refugees, implying that it somehow made him different from the other Hispanics who he attacks regularly--the ones in Arizona, Georgia and Alabama that he and others want to detain, arrest and kick out. How dare they come here looking for work and to better their lot in life? Marco Rubio made us believe he is different from them when he's not.

Marco Rubio owes an apology to my parents and the hundreds of thousands of Cuban-Americans who actually did experience the hardships of being political refugees. Their stories are real. And the dates and times associated with their flight from Cuba are etched in their memories, often to the minute. It's not something they "just get wrong." Ever. Unless they want to get it wrong.

But they are not Rubio's biggest problem. This seemingly likable young man with Tea Party backing will likely be forgiven in Miami. His real problem is that the GOP has national plans for him, and national elections aren't won in Miami. They are won across the country where Mexicans and other immigrants, who make up the vast majority of the Latino vote, may not be as forgiving.

Would you be? Latinos across the country who see themselves as economic exiles, or whose parents came here as economic exiles, say Senator Rubio has continually attacked them. Now, they learn that he is, in many ways, no different from them.

Justice Department suit could impact August primary

"The Justice Department is opposing changes in Florida voting procedures and says it wants a trial in the dispute, a move that could impact the state's August primary elections." "Justice Dept wants trial on Florida voting changes".

Scott flip-flops, praises Obama

"it was remarkable last weekend when, during a National Governors Association dinner at the White House, Scott released a letter thanking Obama for proposing to cut the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 28 percent. Scott praised Obama for 'taking this step in the right direction.'"

For Scott, the move marks another softening in the tough-toned rhetoric that left his own corporate tax-cut proposal languishing last year until the legislature's final hours, when it was dramatically scaled back.

Aiming lower this year, Scott looks likely to easily land another round of Florida corporate income tax cuts. They're part of a $205 million economic incentive package that legislators are expected to wrap up before the legislature's scheduled finish Friday.

Same-sex custody battle

"A custody battle between two lesbians could redefine the notion of who is a mother and perhaps force Florida lawmakers to reconsider a 19-year-old state law. One partner donated an egg that was fertilized and implanted in the other partner, who gave birth. The Brevard County couple separated two years later. Their fight over the now 8-year-old girl is before the Florida Supreme Court." "Same-sex custody battle could change Florida law".

Gaetz leads GOP's regressive flip-flop on energy policy

Zac Anderson: "Few states had a more aggressive Republican-backed effort to address global warming and promote renewable energy than Florida in 2007 and 2008. But the political mood has changed so dramatically that lawmakers today are close to repealing the period’s signature energy initiative."

The turnaround was evident in the state House last week as lawmakers voted 82-34 along party lines to repeal a key “cap-and-trade” provision in the Florida Climate Protection Act — legislation that passed the House and Senate unanimously in 2008.

The law was supposed to move the state away from electricity produced by burning fossil fuels like coal and oil that emit heat-trapping greenhouse gases. It authorized the state to develop a cap-and-trade system — which sets a limit on fossil fuel burning emissions and penalizes electric companies that exceed the limit — to be approved by the Legislature.

“This was something that passed with bipartisan support back in 2008,” acknowledged Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, on the House floor last week. “However, we ought to be mature enough and reasonable enough as a Legislature to admit when we’ve made a mistake and we made a mistake then by passing this job-killing legislation.”

But renewable-energy supporters say technologies are still advancing rapidly throughout the world and that Florida is losing the opportunity to develop a major new industry that could diversify the state’s economy.

"One of Florida's greatest shames"

Scott Maxwell: "Wrongful convictions: One of Florida's greatest shames".

"Two and a Half Macks"

"The Republican race for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida has produced ugly exchanges between George LeMieux and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV over financial struggles and fighting issues in Mack's past — some more than 20 years old — that LeMieux has characterized as reflecting bad character. Playing on the stories of bar and road-rage incidents raised in a 1990s lawsuit, and on other reports of financial issues Mack faced during his 2005 divorce, LeMieux recently released a video called 'Two and a Half Macks' comparing Mack to Hollywood bad boy Charlie Sheen." "Connie Mack's finances, past fighting become campaign issues".

"Florida Legislature's brazen vindictiveness"

"The Florida House gave tentative approval to a transportation bill Friday that would remove Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs from Metro Orlando's main road-building agency. ... Jacobs maintains the drive to get her off the board is retribution for stands she has taken that are unpopular with powerful Republicans, including future House Speaker Chris Dorworth of Lake Mary and prominent fundraiser and Apopka developer Jim Palmer. Dorworth disputes that claim. Palmer could not be reached for comment." "House votes for bill to dump Jacobs from expressway board".

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Trying to boot Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs from Metro Orlando's expressway authority is just the latest example of the Florida Legislature's brazen vindictiveness. Rep. Mike Horner, a Kissimmee Republican, made the move last week in an 11th-hour amendment to a spending bill." "Attack on Teresa Jacobs is new normal in Tallahassee".

"The state of Democratic politics in Florida is so incongruous it borders on surreal"

Adam C. Smith: "The state of Democratic politics in Florida is so incongruous it borders on surreal."

On any given week, thousands of Barack Obama volunteers in every corner of America's biggest battleground state are working phone banks, attending training sessions and reaching out to deliver Florida's 29 electoral votes to the president. In Tampa, Mitt Romney's Florida campaign headquarters is shuttered.

But step inside Florida's Capitol, where the levers of power are housed to shape statewide policies. There, Democrats are more invisible and irrelevant than ever: Not a single statewide office-holder and such small minorities in both chambers that Democrats can't even use procedural moves to slow the Republican agenda.

So far that it's hard to name strong prospects to challenge Gov. Rick Scott, the country's most unpopular governor, in 2014.

And when you ask veteran Florida political observers to name the state's most influential Democrats, they're apt to mention Bob Graham, who is 75 and has been out of office for seven years. Or Charlie Crist, who isn't even a Democrat but could run for governor in 2014 as a lifelong Republican-turned independent-turned-Democrat.

The lack of Democratic influence in Tallahassee is all the more striking because the state remains as much a competitive battleground as ever. In the past five presidential elections Democrats won twice, Republicans twice, and one election ended in a virtual tie.

This year, Obama appears to have an even chance of winning Florida (the average of recent Florida polls shows Obama leading Romney by less than half a percentage point), Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson is well-positioned to win a third term, and Democrats won two big prizes in 2011: mayoral offices in Jacksonville and Tampa.

"Prayer by any other name"

Myriam Marquez asks, "Dear Lord, why is the Florida Legislature calling prayer by any other name? Inspirational messages?" "On ‘inspirational messages’ in public schools what’s the point?".

Legislature rolls for Ricky

"Florida lawmakers are giving Gov. Rick Scott more say over money used to bring jobs to the Sunshine State." "Fla. lawmakers give Scott more say over jobs money".

"Jeb 'would just be embarrassing'"

"Looks like conservative author Ann Coulter is not among those Republicans pining for a contested convention in Tampa that would prompt former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to step in as the nominee."

"Jeb Bush would be the worst of all candidates to run," she said last week on Fox News. "For one thing, we don't need another Bush. That would just be embarrassing to the Republican Party. But also he's more pro-amnesty for illegals than his brother was, more than Rick Perry was — and it certainly didn't help Rick Perry."

State GOP seeks to avoid responsibility for violating rules

"Florida GOP chairman Lenny Curry says he is trying to minimize the punishments for Florida's delegation to the Republican National Convention in Tampa because the state violated the officially sanctioned primary schedule." "Go easy on us, please".

A very short list

"Ranking Florida's most influential Democrats".

Haridopolos open to returning in a special session

"Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said Friday he’s open to returning in a special session if the state’s low-cost auto coverage isn’t resolved by the end of next week, when the regular session is scheduled to end." "Haridopolos Fine with Special Session to Reform PIP Auto Insurance Coverage".

Money well spent

"Chamber, AIF Upbeat about Session's Outcome".

Charter school madness

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "The Life Force Arts and Technology Academy in Dunedin, a charter elementary school serving low-income children, has sold area parents a bill of goods. It promised an enriching arts and technology program and delivered a school stripped of resources by its management company and laden with Church of Scientology teaching methodology. The school's actions raise serious questions about fiscal control and church-state separation." "Charter school dangers on display in Scientology case".

No budget compromise on education and health and human services

"State lawmakers made significant headway on the budget Saturday, reaching consensus on economic incentives and spending on transportation, prisons and law enforcement. But they had yet to find a compromise in the two most controversial parts of the spending plan: education and health and human services." "State budget talks move forward".

Nancy Smith on "whining"

Nancy Smith "Kirk Fordham's column in the Tallahassee Democrat on Friday, "Restoration is about more than just the Everglades," is a superb example of how environmentalists in this country overreach, blow it, and end up preaching to the choir. " "Everglades Proponents: Whining Is a Major Turn-Off".

"Once cohesive congressional delegation breaking apart"

William Gibson: "The once cohesive Florida congressional delegation is breaking apart. South Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings on Thursday told fellow Democrats that Republicans have abandoned the bipartisan tradition of working together across party lines for the interests of Florida." "Florida congressional delegation breaking apart".

Legislators dance to lobbyists' "non-verbal cues"

"Two years ago, a powerful business trade group filed a lawsuit against the state’s largest county, Miami-Dade, arguing that its program to help workers recover unpaid wages was unconstitutional."

But with the case still being fought in court, the Florida Retail Federation also launched a campaign to pass HB 609, which would change state law to outlaw the county’s program.

“We think the Dade County ordinance violates Article 5, Section 1 of the Florida Constitution, where it says ‘No municipality, no county can establish a court or a tribunal,’” the FRF’s senior vice president John Rogers told lawmakers during a recent hearing in this year’s legislative session.

It’s an argument the FRF has tried to make before a Miami-Dade judge for the last two years — so far without success.

The Legislature appears to be friendlier than the courts. The House of Representatives passed HB 609 last week, and the bill could effectively quash the court battle and kill Miami-Dade’s program.

The FRF’s strategy is not isolated. Some well-connected litigants struggling to make their case before a Florida judge are choosing what they see as a far better option: Hire high-priced lobbyists and change the law before the judge can rule.

During this year’s legislative session in Tallahassee, litigants from large corporations to local governments are pushing changes to state laws that would give them an automatic trump card in pending lawsuits.

Florida’s Constitution, which mandates a separation of powers between the judicial and legislative branches, frowns upon using the lawmaking process to preempt active legal cases. But lawmakers have ignored several warnings from state analysts pointing out unconstitutional proposals, and the litigation-tinged measures have sailed through the chambers with little debate.

During a crucial committee vote on the wage theft bill, the FRF’s Rogers made several non-verbal cues to a representative on the committee and pulled him to the side in the middle of the meeting.

In hushed voices, Rogers and the representative, Michael Weinstein, R-Jacksonville, conferred. Weinstein then returned to the committee table, whispered in the ear of another representative, and then both cast votes in favor of HB 609.

To privatize Tri-Rail?

"South Florida’s Tri-Rail board would be reshuffled, the rail line could expand to Monroe County, and its administration could be privatized under a provision ready for a House vote next week." "Legislature in brief: Tri-Rail board faces reorganization".

Publix drags its feet and its knuckles

Bill Maxwell reminds us

that for each 32-pound bucket of tomatoes picked, a worker gets on average 50 cents, a rate unchanged since 1980. Most workers earn roughly $10,000 a year. Besides low wages, they have no right to overtime pay, no health insurance, no sick leave, no paid vacation and no right to organize to change these conditions.

To raise workers' pay, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a community-based organization of mainly Latino, Mayan Indian and Haitian immigrants, has been trying to persuade the $25 billion Publix chain to join the organization's Campaign for Fair Food. Publix has flatly refused to join.

Beginning Monday, the CIW and its supporters will begin a hunger strike at Publix headquarters in Lakeland in another attempt to get company to come aboard. The fast will end March 10.

The purpose of the Campaign for Fair Food, which began in 2001, is to get the nation's food retailers that sell tomatoes to pay an extra penny per pound for each bucket of tomatoes picked. Growers pass the penny on to farmworkers. A major reason for farmworkers' low wages is that companies such as Publix do high-volume, low-cost purchasing.

To initiate the campaign more than 10 years ago, the CIW asked Taco Bell to pay the extra penny. When the company balked, the CIW called a nationwide boycott of the chain. In March 2005, Taco Bell, a division of Yum! Brands, which includes Pizza Hut and KFC, agreed to pay the extra penny to its suppliers of Florida tomatoes.

Since then, other companies have joined the campaign, including McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's and food service providers Compass Group, Bon Appetit, Aramark and Sodexo. Many Florida growers are now supporters.

CIW leaders said the extra penny is making a positive impact. Still, Publix continues to hold out.