"Useless State" Carl Hiaasen: "At a time when Florida’s 11 state universities are financially gasping, the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott are throwing $50 million away on a whimsical new school that might as well be called Useless State."

It’s the work of a Lake Wales Republican named JD Alexander, who — sadly for taxpayers — chaired the powerful Senate Budget Committee. Alexander is leaving the Legislature because of term limits, but as a going-away present he demanded that his colleagues fund a new university in his home district. And then he basically stomped his little feet and held his breath and huffily threatened to gut another school’s budget if he didn’t get his way. And most of his fellow Republicans, including our governor, caved in like the phonies and wimps they are. As a result, Floridians are paying for a new university that we don’t need, and is already millions over budget before the first class meets. It’s a foolhardy and very expensive mistake, and its name is Florida Polytechnic.

A court could stop the bleeding, but in the meantime applications are being taken for the make-believe school’s Board of Trustees. Gov. Scott recently sent out an email seeking candidates. He says he’s looking for “talented and visionary individuals.” Of course! He’ll also send his personal unicorn to pick you up and fly you through the fairy dust to Lakeland.

Storms quits, goes local "State Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, is dropping her reelection bid and instead will run against embattled Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Rob Turner. Storms, a former Hillsborough County commissioner, had two years left before she was term-limited out of the Senate. But she said Friday that a porn scandal surrounding Turner prompted her to abandon the legislature and instead try to oust her fellow Republican. " "Sen. Storms quits race, seeks Hillsborough County property appraiser seat". See also "Storms, Henriquez to run for Hillsborough property appraiser".

"The FCAT is here to stay - at least for now, Florida's education commissioner told a group of Palm Beach County community and business leaders."

"Pick your poll" William March: "Rep. Connie Mack IV has a long lead in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, and is tied with Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson in a general election matchup, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll. But at the same time, a new NBC/Marist poll showed a different outcome -- Nelson leading Mack. It also showed President Barack Obama leading Mitt Romney in Florida, again contradicting the Quinnipiac poll." "Pick your poll when it comes to Nelson v Mack".

Campaign Roundup "Campaign Roundup: The Tampa two-step, high stakes in South Florida Senate race and a Charlie Crist sighting".

"Another agenda, enabled by certain county commissioners, was at work" The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The offer for Mecca Farms is the best chance Palm Beach County will get to move past a mistake. The county bought the 2,000-acre property for $60 million in 2003, supposedly to make it the home of Scripps Florida. The land, far west of Palm Beach Gardens, never seemed to make sense as the location for a new biotechnology hub. It quickly became clear that another agenda, enabled by certain county commissioners, was at work." "The best deal they'll get".

Who writes these headlines? This headline in the conservative Sunshine State News - "Florida Rejects Call to Keep Non-Citizens on Voter Rolls" - misrepresents reality. No one, not even those fearsome liberals, wants "non-citizens" to vote. The problem, rather, is with the using a purge list that is riddled with errors: it includes folks who in fact are citizens. Not only that, Rick Scott's purge list - accidentally no doubt - "targets minorities and Democrats while giving white Republicans a pass". By the way, this last quote - about Rick Scott's purge list "giving white Republicans a pass" - is from the notoriously liberal Miami Herald, the same company that overruled its own editorial board and endorsed a notorious right-winger for president. The Herald's publisher was in turn rewarded withan appointment as Ambassador to Spain.

Week in Review ""The Week in Review for May 21 to May 25".

Outsourcing litigation "In the coming weeks, Tallahassee judges will hear arguments in two court cases that will test the limits of lawmakers' power to order outsourcing in the state budget." "Judge to hear arguments on prison health care privatization".

Florida too close to call AP: "If the election were today, Obama would likely win 247 electoral votes to Romney's 206, according to an Associated Press analysis of polls, ad spending and key developments in states, along with interviews with more than a dozen Republican and Democratic strategists both inside and outside of the two campaigns."

Seven states, offering a combined 85 electoral votes, are viewed as too close to give either candidate a meaningful advantage: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia.

"Freedom" to pollute "Heading into Memorial Day weekend, Florida beach water has less bacteria testing".

Who would have thought that Jeb Bush, the president's brother, was a closet supporter of the leftwingers who fought against Franco in the Spanish civil war? But this week the governor of Florida has caused ripples by referring to Spain as the "republic" it was then rather than as the monarchy it is now.

Mr Bush was in Madrid on a trade mission when, paying tribute to Jose Maria Aznar, the prime minister, he said: "I would like to finish by thanking the president of the Republic of Spain for his friendship with the United States."

But Spain ceased being a republic when General Franco defeated the Republican side and became dictator. The constitutional monarchy was restored under Juan Carlos I in 1975, after Franco's death.

Mr Bush, who owes his office in part to the financial support of rightwing Cuban exiles, would not normally be associated with the Spanish Republican cause.

His elder brother has made notable gaffes when dealing with foreign leaders, getting the name of the Canadian prime minister wrong and referring to Mr Aznar as "Anzar" before his first visit to Spain last year.

"The whole plan is to suppress voter turnout"

Ed Schultz: "Gov. Rick Scott has come up with a list of 180,000 voters who his administration suspects are ineligible to cast ballots in the battleground state. The problem? Florida has cast such a wide net that it seems to have snared many legitimate voters."

"The whole plan is to suppress voter turnout, whether by scrubbing the roles or whether by convincing people it’s just too difficult. That’s what we have to remind them. They can’t give up,” [Congressman Ted Deutch] added, noting that several of his constituents received letters saying they were ineligible to vote — even though they are American citizens.

Rubio's book tour

"Potential vice presidential pick Marco Rubio is planning a swing state book tour that will roll through South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, the AP reports". "Rubio Plans Swing State Book Tour".

"It's officially aimed at selling books, not winning votes, but the freshman senator and possible vice presidential pick is set to make multiple stops not just in his home state of Florida but also in North Carolina and Virginia, critical presidential battlegrounds this fall."

On the way, he'll make several appearances in South Carolina, where Republicans hold their first-in-the-South presidential primary.

FCAT follies

Another fine Jebacy: "Third-grade reading scores fall for tougher FCAT, worst in 12 years". See also "FCAT reading, math scores released, but change in standards could lead to more confusion". More FCAT from The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Too many answers missing".

"Livin' Large in LaLaLand"

Nancy Smith: "Livin' Large in LaLaLand; or, the Quackery of Setting a University President's Salary".

Mixed poll results for Obama in Florida

"A poll from NBC News and Marist College of Florida voters released on Thursday shows, in contrast to surveys from Quinnipiac University unveiled this week, President Barack Obama and Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson are slightly ahead of their Republican challengers in the Sunshine State." "NBC/Marist Survey Shows Dems Slightly Ahead in Florida". From Marist: "5/24: Obama and Romney Competitive in Florida". See also "Romney's support up in Florida's presidential race".

By contrast, "a Quinnipiac University poll shows Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney pulling ahead of President Barack Obama in Florida in what likely will be a close November match-up in the Sunshine State." "New Q Poll shows Romney ahead of Obama in Florida". From Quinnipiac: "Romney Up 6 Points In Florida, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Rubio Has Little Impact As GOP Running Mate".

Florida apoplectic politicians out of touch on Cuba

Anthony Man: "Many Florida politicians are apoplectic over a visa granted to Fidel Castro's niece, but the state's voters don't seem to have the same hard line on Cuba." "Floridians want more travel, trade with Cuba".

Rooney throws a tantrum

"U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, wants to know if White House access to filmmakers has resulted in the release of classified information involving the raid that killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden." "Tom Rooney: Did White House Access Compromise Secrets on Bin Laden Mission?".

Grayson raises $2M from 50,000 contributors

"Opening his campaign headquarters in Kissimmee, former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson says he's confident he will earn a return trip to Capitol Hill. In an exclusive interview with Sunshine State News, the outspoken Democrat said he's raised $2 million from 50,000 contributors since last July. That's 'more than any House challenger in the United States and more than 99 percent of current House members," he reported.' "Alan Grayson Likes His Chances for Return to Capitol Hill".

Scott still upside down

"While Scott is still upside down with voters, the [Quinnipiac] poll shows more than 40 percent approving of his performance in Tallahassee. The poll shows 41 percent of those surveyed approving of Scott while 46 percent disapprove of him. A Quinnipiac poll taken at the end of March found a majority, 52 percent, disapproved of Scott, while only 38 percent approved of his tenure as governor." "Rick Scott Regains Footing". See also "Poll: Scott's ratings improving with Florida voters".

West-baggers in a dither

Kevin Derby: "On Tuesday, the freshman congressman was asked a question at a town hall event in Pompano Beach. It was about balancing the federal budget without raising taxes. West’s answer certainly offers little comfort for conservatives who do not want to see taxes rise -- and certainly not in a struggling economy." "Allen West Touches GOP Third Rail -- Tax Increases".

Charter counties now have power to impose term limits

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Hillsborough and Pinellas County residents just won a little more democracy. The Florida Supreme Court has given citizens in all charter counties the power to impose term limits on county officials. But before the term-limits train picks up too much speed, residents should reflect on how they have worked at the state level." "Term limits legal but still a bad idea".

Braman's bullying

"Norman Braman, the wealthy Miami businessman and civic activist, has completed his slate of Miami-Dade Commission candidates to challenge four powerful incumbents he considers obstacles to government reform." "Shirley Gibson to challenge Barbara Jordan for Miami-Dade Commission seat, as part of Braman slate".

Wingnut holds his breath until Wasserman Schultz cancels

"Miami's Temple Israel on Thursday canceled a program featuring Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz after a high-profile Republican donor quit the congregation to protest the top Democratic congresswoman's speech."

Stanley Tate, a well-known philanthropist and prominent Republican who started Florida's pre-paid college tuition program, resigned from the temple after he learned Wasserman Schultz would be talking about Israel following services on Friday night, and that he wouldn't get an opportunity for rebuttal.

The temple's president, Ben Kuehne, a Miami attorney, said the event was canceled because of security concerns. He said they "certainly embrace the congresswoman's willingness to participate in one of our programs," but decided it was "unwise to proceed with the program tomorrow."

Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, called it an unusual situation, due in part to the temple's "internal politics." Temple Israel, which invited her to speak, is just outside her congressional district.

"I believe strongly that in a democracy people should be able to hear from and interact with their elected officials, which is why I gladly accepted Temple Israel’s invitation to speak as I have previously to many organizations and religious institutions throughout South Florida," she said. " It is unfortunate that some would allow politics to stand in the way of citizens' ability to interact with their representative."

Tate's resignation came after he asked the temple's leadership to let him speak in response to Wasserman Schultz. When they wouldn't do so, Tate said he would leave the congregation. Tate, 85, is co-chair of Mitt Romney's campaign in Miami-Dade County. He also has a national role in the GOP presidential candidate's campaign.

"'Heartbreaking' algae bloom"

"Environmentalists including the Clean Network of Florida said they will ask the Florida Supreme Court to require Cabinet approval for a pollution "mixing zone" in the St. Johns River created by a Georgia-Pacific pipeline now under construction. Meanwhile, Earthjustice and the Florida Wildlife Federation highlighted what they called a 'heartbreaking' algae bloom on the Santa Fe River." "Environmentalists battle DEP, industries on two fronts".

Siplin slips

"The Orlando Democrat must admit to campaign finance violations stemming from his 2008 reelection campaign. The Florida Elections Commission is poised to vote on the settlement during its August meeting." "Sen. Siplin to admit guilt, pay $3,000 in settlement of campaign violations".

"State projects $1.1 billion cushion"

"Florida lawmakers narrowly hit their target of keeping an extra $1 billion in reserve for the state's general fund, according to a draft fiscal outlook released Wednesday. Going into the session, legislative budget-writers had said they wanted a cushion of at least that amount to absorb any changes in the state's fiscal condition." "State projects $1.1 billion cushion in general fund".

Never mind

"The U.S. Senate campaign of Connie Mack IV issued an incorrect version of an endorsement from Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño that included statements Fortuño may not have made bashing Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson."

The news release quoted Fortuño as calling Nelson, President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "lockstep liberals," a Mack campaign slogan.

That language, contained in a news release sent to reporters by the Mack campaign Tuesday, wasn't included in the version posted Tuesday on the campaign's website.

Late Wednesday, the campaign acknowledged the news release was incorrect and sent out an updated version that also omitted the statements.

"Yesterday, an erroneous working draft of the English version of Gov. Fortuño's endorsement of Connie Mack was issued," said the updated version.

In the original version of the news release, Fortuño was quoted as saying:

"Electing Connie Mack to the U.S. Senate and defeating liberal Senator Bill Nelson will help make sure conservatives have another champion for freedom in the Senate, and that Harry Reid, President Obama, and Washington's other Lockstep Liberals can't inflict any more damage on the nation."

Polls: Mack has edge over LeMieux

"Sustained character attacks from Republican primary rival George LeMieux and hand-wringing by some GOP activists about his prospects in the general election don't appear to have damaged U.S. Rep. Connie Mack's U.S. Senate bid, according to new polls from May 24 Florida poll">Quinnipiac University and NBC News-Marist."

The Quinnipiac poll shows a virtual tie between Mack and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson while the Marist poll gives Nelson a 4-point lead. ...

The new Senate polls suggest the race has tightened since last month, when a Rasmussen poll gave Nelson an 11-point lead over Mack and the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling showed Nelson up by 10 points. Quinnipiac's last Senate poll in late March had Nelson up by 8 points.

Quinnipiac's Senate poll shows Mack ahead by a 42-41 percent margin that's within the poll's 2.4 percent margin of error.

The Marist poll gives Nelson a 46-42 percent lead over Mack. That poll has a 3 percent margin of error.

The best they could do?

"Before heading overseas, Gov. Scott said that he would like to see some people prosecuted if an arranged effort was made to put on the voter rolls non-Floridians and those ineligible to cast a ballot."

With the Division of Elections undertaking a massive review for potential noncitizens among the registered voters using Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles information, county supervisors of election -- mostly in South Florida -- have been directed to further review 2,600 people for their status to vote.

Three names have so far been referred from the secretary of state to the state attorney’s office for potential prosecution under the Third Party Voter Registration Act, noted agency spokeswoman Jenn Meale.

The actual nature of each of the allegations under investigation was not immediately available.

A spokesman for the state Division of Elections did not immediately return calls for comment.

Citizens blues

"Citizens interim director Tom Grady, an appointee of Gov. Rick Scott, voted in favor of the 10 percent cap on rate increases as a House member in 2009. Now, he wants to surpass that cap for newly written policies. Lt. Gov. Carroll also voted for the cap as a House member." "Citizens considering rate hike on new policies, but director voted for cap".

"Political ads flooding Florida TV"

"Millions of dollars in political ads are flooding Florida TV, including two new spots Wednesday by President Barack Obama’s campaign and an anti-Obama ad from a super PAC, the new breed of political action committee powered by unrestricted donations." "Political ad wars get underway in Florida".

"The gun-shine state"

"Florida is still the gun-shine state. Though much maligned nationally, the state’s Stand Your Ground law at the center of the Trayvon Martin shooting case is well-liked by a majority of Florida voters, according to a new poll conducted by Quinnipiac University." "Poll: Majority of Florida’s registered voters favor Stand Your Ground law". See also "Floridians Back 'Stand Your Ground' and are Wary of More Gun Control".

Meanwhile, "McDonald’s customer accused of pulling gun to cut ahead in drive-through line".

"Florida will become the stingiest state"

"A national workers’ rights group has filed a federal complaint over Florida’s revamped unemployment compensation system, claiming that the Sunshine State has become the most difficult place in the nation for unemployed people seeking benefits. Last year, Florida overhauled its unemployment compensation system, reducing the number of weeks available and enacting several new requirements for those who seek jobless benefits." "Groups claim thousands being denied jobless benefits in Florida". See also and "Florida law thwarts jobless benefits, advocates tell feds".

Related: "Thanks to a pending law, next January Florida will become the stingiest state in America when it comes to unemployment insurance benefits." "For Jobless, Florida Set To Become Stingiest State In America".

Ex-Secretary of State Kurt Browning, who resigned this year, told The Associated Press that Scott asked him whether or not non-U.S. citizens were registered and if those people were voting. Browning explained to the governor during a face-to-face meeting last year that people who register and falsely claim they are citizens can be charged with a crime.

"He says to me — well, people lie," Browning recalled this week. "Yes, people do. But we have always had to err on the side of the voter."

Browning said the conversation prompted state election officials to begin working to identify non-U.S. citizens. The state's initial list — compiled by comparing driver's licenses with voter registration data — showed that as many as 182,000 registered voters were eligible to be in the country but ineligible to vote.

But Browning said he decided against telling local election supervisors right away because he wanted to make sure the information was accurate in order to avoid a "firestorm of press" and criticism. Florida then spent months trying to get access to a federal database that tracks non-U.S. citizens in the country, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would not allow it.

Romney takes Florida lead in Q poll

"Mitt Romney has crept to a 6-percentage point lead over President Barack Obama in Florida, where a new poll shows a majority of registered voters don’t think the incumbent deserves a second term."

Romney’s 47 percent to 41 percent lead over Obama would grow even bigger — to an 8 percentage-point advantage — if the challenger chose Sen. Marco Rubio a running mate, according to Quinnipiac University’s new survey.

The poll also indicates that Romney has closed the so-called “gender gap” among women voters with Obama, who barely leads among Hispanics. And Obama is enjoying almost no advantage for his widely publicized decision to publicly favor same-sex unions, which a majority of Floridians now favor.

But regardless of Rubio or the gay-marriage issue, more voters simply view Romney more favorably than they view Obama, the poll shows.

Romney holds a 47 - 41 percent lead over President Barack Obama in Florida, where 63 percent of voters say the president's support of same-sex marriage will not affect their vote, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Another 25 - 11 percent of voters, including 23 - 9 percent among independent voters, say Obama's support of gay marriage makes them less likely to support his candidacy.

Adding Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio to the GOP ticket would give the Republican Romney/Rubio team a 49 - 41 percent lead over President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Romney's lead in the horse race compares to a 44 - 43 percent tie in a May 3 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University and a 49 - 42 percent Obama lead March 28.

Florida registered voters say 52 - 44 percent that the president does not deserve a second term in the Oval Office and by 52 - 44 percent give him a thumbs-down on his job approval. ...

From May 15 - 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,722 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

Deutch without a challenger

"U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, may get a pass from the Republicans in this year's election. The only Republican who'd expressed an interest in challenging him said Tuesday she was dropping out, and Palm Beach County Republican Chairman Sid Dinerstein said he doesn't know of another candidate who will attempt to topple Deutch." "Republicans can't find challenger to Democratic congressman".

But it is OK if Reagan did it?

"Florida’s top Congressional Democrats broke with President Barack Obama on Tuesday over his administration’s decision to issue Fidel Castro’s niece a visa to attend a conference this week in San Francisco."

The opposition of Sen. Bill Nelson and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz came just hours after Republicans had blasted away at the visa decision — while failing to acknowledge that Republican President George W. Bush’s administration had allowed Mariela Castro to visit the United States three times a decade ago.

The fact that Republicans had remained silent over Bush’s decision while criticizing Obama gave Wasserman Schultz a measure of political cover in breaking with Obama.

"The Bush Administration set a bad precedent by granting Mariela Castro a waiver in 2001 and 2002 as I believe that such visa requests should not be accepted because of the ongoing human rights abuses in Cuba," she said in a written statement to The Miami Herald. "While I respect my colleagues, it’s important to note they did not criticize President George W. Bush for granting Ms. Castro a waiver in 2002. Politics has no place when we are standing up for human rights."

Nelson was more terse and more concerned with the plight of a jailed American.

"Allowing Raul’s daughter to come to the U.S. when the regime still holds Alan Gross makes no sense," said Nelson, who faces a tough re-election campaign this fall.

"Home sales falter"

"Florida home sales falter, but prices rise in April".

"Just one thing was missing"

Anthony Man: "Just one thing was missing from this designed for TV news event: television cameras. When the four members of Congress toured A&M Tape & Packaging in Sunrise on Monday, the only news media representatives were a reporter, a still picture photographer, and a videographer from the Sun Sentinel. That prompted Hastings to rebuke the local and national media". "Alcee Hastings complains about lack of media attention". Background: "Democratic legislators visit Sunrise company, tout jobs policy".

University construction slowing

"Florida's colleges and universities are being asked to limit the amount of cash they draw from Public Education Capital Outlay to make sure the trust fund stays solvent throughout the fiscal rear." "Colleges, universities asked to hold back some funding for construction projects".

Slots

"Hialeah case could be beginning, not end of slots battles".

"I'm shocked, shocked"

"An upcoming study will show that Republicans lobbyists find more value in face-to-face visits and the counsel of other lobbyists than their Democratic counterparts, according to Politico.com." "Study finds lobbyists' information sources vary by party".

Flaws in PIP bill

"Rep. Kriseman wants Gov. Scott to address flaws in PIP bill".

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"The three Florida Supreme Court justices seeking to hold onto their seats hit a bump in the road in Hillsborough County last weekend."

In a straw poll conducted by the Hillsborough County Republican Party, none of the justices facing statewide retention votes in November garnered even close to the simple majority required. The results were these:

- Fred Lewis: 34 percent, yes; 68 percent, no.

- Peggy Quince: 28 percent, yes, 72 percent, no.

- Barbara Pariente: 27 percent, yes, 73 percent, no.

Hillsborough County GOP Chairwoman Deborah Cox Roush said 156 party members cast votes in the straw poll conducted Saturday. ...

Lewis and Pariente were appointed by former Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles; Quince was jointly appointed by Chiles and Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

"How LeMieux pulled it off"

"George LeMieux is an old hand running political campaigns, but he wound up in the U.S. Senate by ferociously campaigning for just one vote: Gov. Charlie Crist’s."

How LeMieux pulled it off — tapped to serve a vacant Senate seat in 2009 by a governor who had reservations about his former chief of staff — speaks volumes about LeMieux’s ambition, savvy and knack for bare-knuckle politics that’s again playing out as he campaigns to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.

Transparency in election campaigns

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Federal courts struck two blows last week for more transparency in election campaigns. Voters should be pleased. A federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., declined to block a lower court ruling that requires tax-exempt organizations running election-related TV ads in federal contests to disclose their donors. And another federal appeals panel in Atlanta rejected a constitutional challenge to a 2010 Florida law that requires outside groups behind political ads or campaign mailers in state elections to register and disclose details about their contributions and spending." "Courts side with voters, not campaign secrecy".

Margaret Diaz appointed Regional Director Florida NLRB Office

"NLRB Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce and Acting General Counsel Lafe E. Solomon have announced the appointment of Margaret J. Diaz as Regional Director in the Tampa Regional Office (Region 12). Ms. Diaz will be responsible for enforcement of the nation’s primary labor law covering private sector employees in the State of Florida (except for 12 western counties) and in 21 counties in southern Georgia. Ms. Diaz replaces Rochelle Kentov, who retired effective the beginning of 2012." "Margaret Diaz appointed Regional Director of NLRB's Tampa, FL Regional Office".

Rubio holds a press conference

"Marco Rubio, Mark Warner, Others Team to Bolster STEM Start-ups".

Obama to speak at Latino conference at Disney in June

"President Barack Obama will be among of the speakers at a Latino leadership conference scheduled for next month at Walt Disney World. The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials announced this week that the president will address the group on June 22." "President Obama to speak at Latino leadership conference at Disney in June".

Gaetz staffs up

"Senate President-designate Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, has already snagged three big names from inside the capital circle to help run his office through the 2013 and 2014 legislative sessions."

Lisa Vickers, who recently stepped down as director of the Florida Department of Revenue, has been hired to be Gaetz’s senior adviser. Carol Gormley, who previously worked for former Gov. Jeb Bush, is coming over from the House where she was staff director for the Health and Human Services Committee. She will serve as senior policy advisory on health care for Gaetz.

And for the media, Katie Betta, the House communications director, will take the same role for the president’s office. Betta will replace Lyndsey Cruley.

“I want to make sure we have very substantive policy-oriented people in the president’s office, not politically oriented people,” Gaetz said. “I’ll take care of the politics; I need deep players, serious players, who can advise me and my fellow senators on policy issues.”

Gaetz still intends to name a deputy chief of staff, senior policy adviser for education, a senior policy adviser for economic issues and a general counsel in the coming weeks.

Campaigning at work?

"Email exchanges concerning congressional candidate Al Lawson's campaign have raised questions about political involvement within the state Senate Minority Office. The April 9 emails from and to staff director Theresa Frederick discussed Lawson and his Democratic and Republican opponents." "Did Senate Staffer's Emails Breach Separation of Campaign and State?".

Mica feeds his campaign contributors

"Mica claims progress in privatizing airport screeners".

"Is Mack the dumbest speaker in Congress?"

"Is Mack the dumbest speaker in Congress? It's complicated".

Republican establishment coalescing behind Mack

"Despite former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon jumping into the race last week and the continuing efforts of former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, the Republican establishment keeps showing signs of coalescing behind U.S. Rep. Connie Mack’s bid to challenge Nelson. Last week, Mitt Romney and U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross announced they were backing Mack -- and they're now joined by Gov. Luis Fortuño of Puerto Rico who endorsed Mack on Tuesday." "Tug of War Continues over Control of U.S. Senate in Florida Race".

If anyone needs a cold shower and an American history tutorial, it would certainly be Rubio, who traveled to South Carolina a few days ago to get his freshman beanie in a wad over the presidential campaign.

The vice presidential pick is supposed to be something of an attack dog. But is Mitt Romney seriously thinking about a running mate who can only chase his tail and still thinks he's in the hunt?

Rubio was only getting warmed up, hinting that those who have attended Harvard and Yale are out of touch with the real world. That was a not-too-subtle swipe at Obama, who went to Harvard's law school.

Uh, Sen. Rubio? Mitt Romney, the chap you are fawning over like a Lady Gaga groupie? He went to Harvard. Probably not the brightest move to impugn the nominee's school.

Rubio has inherited Gingrich's rhetorical mantle of grand, absolutist, twaddle-filled statements. When it comes to notoriously divisive figures in American history, he opted to study at the foot of a grandmaster.

Scott cares more about creating election problems than solving them

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Gov. Scott, his appointed secretary of state and the Legislature care more about creating election problems than solving election problems. Florida's independently elected supervisors of elections correctly have pushed back against Secretary of State Ken Detzner."

First, Mr. Detzner sent the supervisors a survey that he intended to use to grade each of them. He was arrogant to send the survey, and his grading scheme was as bogus as the state's formula for grading schools. Supervisors, for example, were to earn extra points for turning in the survey on time, which has no relation to how well supervisors can do their jobs.

Mr. Detzner, whom Gov. Scott appointed in February, gave up on his silly survey idea. Then his office put together a list of 2,600 registered voters suspected of being non-citizens and told supervisors to write an official letter to each, demanding proof of citizenship. That obvious attempt at voter intimidation fell apart when supervisors pointed out that the list contained errors.

It felt much like 2000, when elected Secretary of State Katherine Harris used another error-riddled list to purge alleged felons from voting rolls. That year, the worry among Republicans like Ms. Harris was that a heavy African-American turnout would give Florida to Al Gore over George W. Bush, the governor's brother. Blacks make up a disproportionate share of Floridians who can't vote because of felony convictions.

This time in Florida, the Obama and Romney campaigns are focused on Hispanic voters. Mr. Detzner's order targets newer Hispanic immigrants, who might be more likely to vote Democratic. Older Hispanic voters are more like the reliably Republican Cuban-Americans. The move also was a reminder that Gov. Scott used immigration fear-mongering to win his primary in 2010.

But for 12 years, the effort in Florida for the most part has been in tilting the elections process to favor Republicans, who never forgave Charlie Crist for extending early voting in 2008. Gov. Scott and Mr. Detzner say they aren't doing the same. Early returns don't provide them with the benefit of the doubt.

We'll go with "dumber"

"The folks at the Sunlight Foundation — best known for its work on campaign finance and lobbying issues in Congress — has done a fascinating new study of the language used by members of Congress. Their conclusion: those of you who think that members of Congress sound less intelligent (and use fewer big words) are right."

"Congress now speaks at almost a full grade level lower than it did just seven years ago, with the most conservative members of Congress speaking on average at the lowest grade level ..."

The most dumbed-down — or plain-spoken — member of the Florida delegation will likely be a surprise to many. It’s U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, someone who by reputation is known as a colorful, clear and effective speaker but whose remarks the study found are pitched at a 9.4 grade level.

"Lobbying on behalf of private businesses worked out swimmingly"

Fred Grimm: "Across the state, 33 counties and 67 cities hired capitol lobbyists. Cities and county officials say that they need their own lobbyists to get heard amid the clamor of 2,000 registered lobbyists representing corporate interests. Oddly enough, they’re often the same lobbyists, representing both private and public clients."

Here’s how that worked out. Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $147 million worth of local earmarks in the state budget, despite all that lobbying power in Tallahassee, zapping courthouse repairs and road projects and seaport renovations and a long list of worthy public projects.

Meanwhile, lobbying on behalf of private businesses worked out swimmingly — with $750 million in tax breaks this year, more than $2.5 billion over the next three years.

With that kind of disparity, it makes you wonder why city and county commissioners bother. Perhaps because the same lobbyists they hire, with such tepid results, to represent them in Tallahassee do a much better job making sure their political sugardaddies back home get re-elected. Lobbyists, along with members of their extended families, perhaps their family dogs, write checks for the maximum legal campaign contributions for their benefactors. They organize fancy fund-raisers that bring in even more money from their corporate clients. Until incumbents amass such formidable campaign accounts that opponents are overwhelmed.

City and county taxpayers may not get much return on the public money spent on lobbyists, but the city and county commissioners who approve the expenditures sure do. It’s as if they’re funding their own campaigns with taxpayer money.

Suddenly, I see the logic.

Orlando gathering of "citizen watchdogs" welcomes O'Keefe

Kenric Ward:

"Your real enemy is the mainstream media," [James O'Keefe] told an Orlando gathering of "citizen watchdogs" hosted by the conservative Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity over the weekend. "The media aren't just biased, they're lying and trying to protect what's going on."

Same-sex classrooms

"ACLU: "Many" same-sex classrooms in Florida may be illegal".

Florida Innocence Commission

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "No one wants to see an innocent person wrongfully convicted of a crime, but it happens all too frequently. How to make it happen less often is the charge of the Florida Innocence Commission, which was established by the Florida Supreme Court in 2010. The commission met Monday in Tampa and will continue its hearings today. When the commission wraps up its work at the end of June, it should be prepared to propose serious reforms. Wrongful convictions are finally getting attention, but only bold changes will reduce the number of innocent people going to prison." "Bold change needed to reduce wrongful convictions".

"Public relations extravaganza"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "On Monday, just days after the FCAT writing fiasco that forced state education officials to grade the test on a curve so that almost three-fourths of students who took the exam wouldn’t flunk it, Tallahassee launched a public relations extravaganza." "Getting it right this time". See also "FCAT Writing Solution: Split the Baby".

Mack demands criminal investigation of LeMieux

"The team behind Republican Senate hopeful Connie Mack on Monday continued to drill primary rival for his ties to former Gov. Charlie Crist -- and demanded the U.S. Department of Justice launch a criminal investigation that LeMieux used improper influence to get Crist to appoint him to the Senate." "Connie Mack Calls for Federal Investigation of Charlie Crist Senate Appointment of George LeMieux". See also "Mack wants LeMieux's appointment probed".

"Nothing says 'Elect Romney!' like an unpopular multimillionaire"

"This is unwelcome news for Mitt Romney: Florida Gov. Rick Scott expects a high-profile speaking slot at the Republican National Convention."

Nothing says “Elect Mitt Romney!” like an unpopular multimillionaire awkwardly making the case on national TV.

"Bogdanoff and Sachs appear headed for an expensive clash"

"In their quest to regain relevance in the Florida legislature, Democrats are zeroing in on a newly drawn Palm Beach-Broward Senate district where a pair of incumbent Senators -- Republican Ellyn Bogdanoff and Democrat Maria Sachs -- appear headed for an expensive clash." "Sachs-Bogdanoff state Senate race is No. 1 race for Florida Dems, party chief says".

'Glades

"The South Florida Water Management District wants to swap some its land for Mecca Farms -- the former orange grove that has been sitting idle since Palm Beach County bought it for $60 million as a potential site for The Scripps Research Institute in 2004." "Mecca Farms proposed for Everglades restoration".

"The insurance industry denied it"

"A legislator said a glitch in the car insurance bill could allow companies to deny some claims. The insurance industry denied it." "PIP reform loophole cited".

This time Republican Gov. Rick Scott's appointed secretary of state, Ken Detzner, is targeting suspected noncitizens. The purge list, according to a review by the Miami Herald, is heavy with Hispanics, Democrats and independents, who will have to prove their citizenship and fast. Otherwise, they lose their vote.

The process raises uncomfortable comparisons to the Jeb Bush-era error-ridden felon list. That purge list was used to prevent thousands of legitimate voters from casting ballots in the 2000 presidential election — an election decided by 537 votes. ...

Obviously noncitizens don't have the right to vote and shouldn't. But local supervisors of election are wondering about the suspicious timing of this purge and the imperfections in Detzner's list. Already some of the 2,700 noncitizens on the verified purge list are proving to be citizens. Which leads to the question of whether this is a pure effort to clean up the voter rolls or is there an element of suppressing minority votes?

Republicans actively gin up voter fraud claims to justify turning voting into an obstacle course to dissuade Democratic-leaning constituencies. It's what happened in Florida last year when the Legislature used voter fraud as an excuse to cut early voting days and make it harder for renters and college students to vote a regular ballot. The most disgraceful part of the law imposes steep penalties and fines on groups conducting voter registration drives that fail to meet burdensome bureaucratic rules and turn forms in within 48 hours, causing the League of Women Voters to cancel its drive.

The law so impacted minority voting that the Justice Department is opposing the controversial changes in federal court. Florida has five counties that must receive preclearance under the Voting Rights Act before changes in voting rules go into effect.

Meanwhile, there was no attempt by the Florida Legislature to tighten rules for absentee voting, which is probably the easiest way to produce a fraudulent ballot since there is no way of knowing who fills it out. Maybe this lack of interest stemmed from the fact that absentee voters tend to lean Republican, while early voters typically lean Democrat.

Trust on election issues is something Florida Republicans squandered a long time ago. This ham-handed move against alleged noncitizens is just another example of why.

After all, Miami-Dade is the county where voter fraud marred a 1997 mayoral election. Then, three years later, Miami-Dade shut down a ballot recount amid the so-called “Brooks Brothers riot” of conservative activists.

Also in 2000, the state’s Division of Elections tried to purge the voter rolls of felons and could have blocked thousands of lawful voters in a presidential election decided by 537 votes.

Vern denies he's a crook

Kenric Ward publishes Vern's version of the latest allegations: "Democrats' Smoking Gun Misfires on Rep. Vern Buchanan".

Local government carving out room for Tallahassee lobbyists

"In total, millions of dollars in public funds are spent statewide to influence decisionmakers in Tallahassee. A Times/Herald analysis of lobbyist compensation reports for the first three months of 2012 shows that spending by local agencies will fall somewhere between $3.1 million and $9.2 million. (Lobbyists are required to provide only ranges of their compensation.)" "To get a voice in Tallahassee, local governments pay lobbyists".

Chamber's "Pants on Fire!"

"The chamber is trying to scare the pants off Florida seniors in this one, but this statement is Pants on Fire!" "PolitiFact: Chamber Medicare claims twist the truth".

"Modern-day slavery does still exist"

Bill Maxwell: "The fields, where slavery endures".

"The shocking case of Marissa Alexander"

Nancy Smith: "The shocking case of Marissa Alexander of Jacksonville gives the state the perfect excuse to go beyond "Stand Your Ground" and poke around in the controversial, 12-year-old 10-20-Life law. Talk about a law that needs tweaking." "Please, Governor, Clemency for Marissa Alexander". Related: "Chris Smith: Battered Women Not Protected by 'Stand Your Ground'".

"Florida Ports Wrongly Seen as Threat"

"Florida Ports Wrongly Seen as Threat to West Coast Trade".

"Nebulous gap between public and private employment"

"When it comes to negotiating for better pay and working conditions, the firefighters who protect Walt Disney World say they fall in a nebulous gap between public and private employment."

As public workers, the firefighters, who are employed by the Reedy Creek Improvement District, are forbidden by Florida law from striking. But appealing directly to elected leaders or the general public isn't much of an option, either, because Reedy Creek elections are decided entirely by Disney.

Now, they are trying to gain a little leverage in another way.

"Florida simply isn't doing enough"

"[M]any child advocates say the state's children are still struggling to keep from falling through the cracks in the state's education, health-care and public-safety systems, and that Florida simply isn't doing enough." "Scott's pro-child gestures lack follow-up, advocates say".

"A strategy that included direct pressure on Crist"

"Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp — not George LeMieux — was Gov. Charlie Crist's first choice for a U.S. Senate appointment in 2009."

But LeMieux convinced Crist to reverse that decision, using "a strategy that included direct pressure on Crist,'' says former state Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer in an account partially confirmed by Kottkamp.

Greer, now facing criminal charges in a party fundraising scandal, said he knows what the pressure involved, but wouldn't describe it. "There's a lot more to this story that someday may be told, but I'm not ready yet to tell it," he said.

Check, please

"The Republican convention will be held in late August in Tampa. The Democratic convention will be in Charlotte, N.C., in early September." "Senator wants parties to refund convention money".

Scott disrupting state's relationship with election supervisors

"Recent actions by Florida's secretary of state and his Division of Elections staff have left county elections supervisors smarting."

Last month, Secretary of State Ken Detzner released, then backed away from, the results of a self-survey that graded the 67 supervisors based on items ranging from how quickly they submitted January presidential primary results to how fast they turned in the survey questionnaires.

A few weeks later, Detzner's office released a list of 2,600 names it wanted scrubbed from the voting rolls, contending the voters in question were not citizens. But supervisors have found the list included the names of some U.S.-born voters and naturalized citizens. ... the supervisors had voted in favor of continuing to work with Detzner's office on the survey, the brainchild of Republican Gov. Rick Scott and his advisers. ...

But some were still simmering. One supervisor, a Republican, threatened to quit the association over the vote.

Those objecting to the survey contend that, with the exception of Miami-Dade County's supervisor, the county elections chiefs are constitutional officers elected by voters and do not answer to the governor. Some said they believe the survey was designed to shame certain supervisors, including Susan Bucher of Palm Beach County.

In the November 2010 gubernatorial election, a delay in the Palm Beach County results, long after the rest of the state's tallies were in, left Scott in limbo overnight. He eventually claimed victory in Florida's closest governor's race, winning by fewer than 61,000 votes.

This year, for the first time, elections officials will be required to submit preliminary results to the state within 30 minutes of polls closing on election night.

"Tampa Bay the most financially stressed metropolitan region in the nation"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "A recent survey by the Consumer Distress Index measuring unemployment, net worth, creditworthiness and household budget constraints lists Tampa Bay as the most financially stressed metropolitan region in the nation."

Tampa Bay even beat out Detroit on the distressed meter. Detroit? Adding to the stress, Tampa Bay also leads the country in foreclosures, according to RealtyTrac. Last month, notices for auctions and bank repossessions in Tampa Bay reached a whopping 59 percent of the 4,295 filings. Nationally, Florida ranks as the fifth most economically distressed state. California, for all its woes, is only 14th. ...

Like the Golden State, the Sunshine State has a diverse population, Mickey Mouse, the beaches — and plenty of challenges ranging from the budget crunch to higher education to a depressed real estate market. On a brighter note, Florida's unemployment rate has dropped to 8.7 percent, whatever that means since the state still lost 2,700 jobs in April. California's unemployment rate is 10.9 percent, well above the national average of 8.1 percent, and lost 4,200 jobs in April.

The Republican Party of Florida is buying television ads to promote Scott's policy successes in hopes of reversing the negative impression many voters have of him, and the governor and party are quietly raising money for his re-election. One Democrat has already said she hopes to challenge him and others are not so subtly considering it. ...

The state GOP is already sending messages. Three of them. It's running ads promoting Scott and his policies across the state. The first boasts that unemployment is dropping and credits Scott's business friendly policies. The other two promote Scott's push for a billion dollar increase in school money in the upcoming budget and a new law that tries to reduce motor vehicle insurance fraud. ...

In 2010, Scott spent more than $70 million of his own money and still barely won election in a year where other Florida Republicans easily cruised to victory.

Scott very early on was defined by his detractors as way further to the right of most Floridians. It wasn't hard to do. Scott announced his first budget proposal in a church during a tea party rally. He hired on tea partiers to his staff. He chose conservative radio and television shows to deliver his message and shunned mainstream media.

The result was approval ratings that hovered around 30 percent. The far-right wing of his party loved him and that was about it. Scott knows he needs to turn that image around if he wants to be re-elected.

State Sen. Nan Rich has already said she'll seek the Democratic nomination. Former state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who lost to Scott in 2010, has set up the Florida Next Foundation to stay active in policy issues, much like Jeb Bush did after losing his first governor's race.

And rumors constantly swirl about former Gov. Charlie Crist, an independent who left the Republican Party before leaving office. Some are pushing him to challenge Scott as a Democrat. Among other names party insiders mention as potential candidates: Former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

"Yes, we do"

Tom Tryon: "Even before last week's snafu over statewide writing tests, Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said 'we need to have a very healthy conversation about why assessments matter.' Yes, we do." "We need an FCAT conversation".

"New state government contracts czar"

"Scott hopes a new state government contracts czar will encourage officials to get better deals for taxpayers." "Governor appoints contracts czar to fight wasteful spending; skeptics doubt it’ll help".

"... Florida's democracy will be in trouble"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Voters properly consider if [Florida Supreme Court] justices or judges are still fit to serve, not whether they've issued any rulings that offended politicians or interest groups."

The group leading this year's charge to unseat the three justices, Restore Justice 2012, has accused them of "activism." The group is spotlighting the three justices' votes to strike from the 2010 ballot a proposed constitutional amendment, sponsored by Plakon, that purported to let Floridians opt out of federal health care reform, including its mandate to buy health insurance.

By a 5-2 vote, the high court upheld a lower court ruling that found the amendment confusing and misleading. Even so, the vote outraged amendment backers.

But bouncing the three justices from the high court as payback for that ruling or others would be an abuse of the retention process. Worse, it could make others still on the bench wary or even unwilling to issue controversial or unpopular rulings for fear of losing their jobs.

Floridians count on their courts to uphold the rule of law and stand up when needed to the other two branches of government, the governor and Legislature.

If justices and judges start making decisions based on public opinion or political expediency instead of the law, Florida's democracy will be in trouble.

"Is the point to strengthen public schools or to destroy them?"

The Miami Herald's Myriam Marquez wonders whether, "after a decade of increasing education standards and accountability, is the point to strengthen public schools or to destroy them?"

Too many public schools, particularly in urban areas, are in need of major repairs. Teachers’ morale is plummeting as they are asked to do ever more while their meager salaries are eaten away by higher costs in health insurance and other benefits. Adding insult to injury, now teacher salaries will be tied directly to their classroom’s FCAT results.

Inject Tallahassee politics — including Gov. Rick Scott’s attempt to diminish the state’s public labor unions, even risking the unconstitutional taking of teachers’ and other public employees’ income to help close a state budget hole, and a failed push by the Legislature to give charter schools more cash for construction even as traditional public schools get nada — and we have an insurrection. ...

Republican elected officials are in trouble with the voters on either side of the FCAT debate after this latest fiasco. Conservatives rightly wonder, why raise standards if you’re going to buckle as soon the tougher results show failure? Liberals rightly point to the dwindling public school budgets, a testing “craze” that zaps teachers’ creativity in the classroom, a revolving door of good teachers exiting to other careers, and they see a Republican assault on public education. ...

Despite the dwindling dollars and low morale, public school teachers and principals are creating miracles every day. They are being held accountable. Now taxpayers must hold our elected officials accountable for not investing in public schools. Talking up excellence and producing more rigorous tests — without targeting problem areas for extra funding — produces one result: mediocrity, over and over again.

"When it comes to fair voting, will Florida ever learn to do it right?"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board asks: "When it comes to fair voting, will Florida ever learn to do it right?"

We ask because, once again, the state is courting problems as it seeks to "purge" supposedly ineligible people from voter rolls.

Making sure that only eligible citizens cast a ballot is a fine idea, in theory. In practice, it must be done carefully in order to avoid far-reaching mistakes -- as Florida has proved twice before. Voter purges in 2000 and 2004 were riddled with errors; some legitimate citizens were deprived of their voting rights. ...

What's especially troubling about voter purges is their potential to tilt the playing field on election day. This week, a Miami Herald computer analysis of elections records found that "Hispanic, Democratic and independent-minded voters are the most likely to be targeted in a state hunt to remove thousands of noncitizens from Florida's voting rolls."

These concerns are further amplified by state laws that make it more difficult to run voter registration drives. A recent article in the Tampa Bay Times cited a study that found new registrations dropping by more than 81,000 (compared to 2008) since the new laws took effect last summer. ...

Actual evidence of fraud is rare among the state's 11 million voters. While guarding the integrity of the vote is important, it is just as vital to ensure that regulations don't interfere with citizens' right to cast a ballot.

Florida should focus on helping voters, and stop getting in their way.

"Miami knows plenty about corrupting elections"

This column by Fred Grimm is a real must read: "Miami knows plenty about corrupting elections. We did a fine job of it in 1997. Maybe those leading the state’s bungled crusade to 'protect the integrity of Florida elections' should have asked the experts." "State left untouched real source of voter fraud".

The best Mitt can do?

Adam C. Smith: "More than four in 10 Florida homeowners are underwater on their mortgages. President Barack Obama has not done much to help them, and it doesn't sound like Mitt Romney has any serious plan in store either. His main idea? Repeal Wall Street reform." "Romney says banking reform hurting housing market in Florida".

Nelson "has rarely had to break a sweat"

George Bennett: Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson "has rarely had to break a sweat so far as various lineups of Republican candidates have clawed at each other, prompting a new candidate to join the GOP fray on Friday."

Last week's intraparty brawl featured U.S. Rep. Connie Mack calling former appointed Sen. George LeMieux a liberal and tying him to Republican outcast Charlie Crist. LeMieux continued his attacks on Mack's past financial woes, residency questions and long-ago fistfights. LeMieux told MSNBC viewers Thursday that if Mack wins the primary he "can't win a character contest against Bill Nelson."

On Friday, Dave Weldon, a former congressman for the Space Coast, jumped into the Republican race with an announcement and video that criticized Obama but didn't mention Nelson. Businessman Mike McCalister also is seeking the GOP nomination.

Dead voters previously a "sleeper demographic"

Frank Cerabino has a "News item: Florida's Department of State reported this month that there are more than 53,000 dead Floridians who are registered to vote in the upcoming presidential election."

With Florida once again finding itself a pivotal state in deciding the upcoming presidential election, both sides will be doing their best to get any advantage in a statewide electorate that appears to be nearly evenly divided.

Making inroads to any special interest group could prove decisive in garnering the state's coveted 29 electoral college votes, which could be dispositive in the national contest.

This is why both the Romney and Obama camps will be expected to make significant overtures to Florida's dead voters - which, until this month's revelation, had been a kind of sleeper demographic in this key state.

"In Florida, a growing number of graduates are drowning in debt"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "In Florida, a growing number of graduates are drowning in debt. Yet state lawmakers seem determined to submerge even more, leaving them at the mercy of a job-starved economy and increasingly aggressive federal debt collectors."

In Florida, a growing number of graduates are drowning in debt. Yet state lawmakers seem determined to submerge even more, leaving them at the mercy of a job-starved economy and increasingly aggressive federal debt collectors.

College students in Florida who graduated in 2010 with debt had taken on an average load of more than $21,000, a total that swelled by more than a third over the preceding decade. Florida's average is less than the national burden of about $25,000, but the default rate on loans in the state is worse; 10.5 percent of borrowers in Florida whose student loans came due in 2009 had defaulted by 2011, compared with 8.8 percent nationally.

The state's unemployment rate, still higher than the national average, has left fewer opportunities for recent graduates to find work that will pay them enough to keep up with their loans and allow them to launch independent, productive lives by buying their own homes and cars.

Graduates who can't pay their loans can't get out from under them by declaring bankruptcy. An increasing number are getting hit by lawsuits from the federal government, which backs most student loans with taxpayer dollars. In South Florida, the number of those suits nearly doubled between 2009 and 2011.

Florida leaders in both parties love pontificating about the need to get the state's economy moving, but most seem oblivious to the drag of a growing underclass weighed down by debt.

The Legislature slashed $300 million in funding for Florida's public universities for the budget year that begins July 1. Lawmakers doubled down on a policy that has reduced state dollars for those schools by 24 percent over the past four years.

The latest cut all but assures that each school will soon seek another 15 percent increase in its tuition, the maximum allowed under state law. And that can't help but force many students to go deeper into debt to keep up.

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: A Numbers Game for Jobs, Schools, Lobbyists". See also "The Week in Review for May 14 to May 18".

Poor Bev, bedeviled by "union obstinance"

Kenric Ward: "Calling herself the 'common-sense conservative,'"

GOP candidate Bev Slough figures to build a consensus in Florida's 6th Congressional District.

The latest of five Republicans to announce for the open seat along the northeast coast, the veteran St. Johns County School Board member is no red-meat barker. Rather, she fashions herself as a "realist" who can loosen the gridlock on Capitol Hill.

Slough sees her decade on the St. Johns School Board as a "microcosm" of the country. Where adversarial politics, union obstinance and dysfunction bedevil many public school systems, St. Johns has been the top-scoring district in the state for the past three years.

"Not much"

Adam C. Smith wonders "what to make of former Space Coast U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon jumping in? Not much. Few Floridians know much about the doctor best known for his social conservatism, and at this late date it would take someone equipped to spend millions of his own money to make a real splash." "Sen. Dave Weldon?"

Arrivals and Departures

"Arrivals and Departures".

Why not let Sotheby's auction them off?

Kingsley Guy thinks "it's time for Americans to entertain an idea for an effective reform that reflects the realities of the today: Get rid of all the post-Watergate campaign finance laws and allow people and corporations to donate as much money as they want to the candidates and parties of their choice." "Time to lift campaign cash limits".

"Legislators shouldn't get away with saying they didn't raise taxes"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Florida legislators shouldn't get away with saying they didn't raise taxes in this election season."

Under current law, Florida limits contributions to state candidates to $500 per election. Congress has imposed a $2,500 per election limit for federal candidates. Consequently, much of a candidate's time must be spent soliciting and collecting donations in dribs and drabs.

Instead of focusing on the issues, candidates must focus on fund-raising. This can cause qualified people to decide not to run for public office in the first place, and cause others to quit in disgust. The funding limits also have led to the "bundling" of small contributions by political power brokers, enabling them to exert outsized influence.

Clowns drooling to take on Wasserman Schultz

"One of her potential Republican rivals recently depicted U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in a spiked collar, calling her 'Obama's attack dog.' Another lost to the Democratic congresswoman by more than 22 percentage points just two years ago. Another was the butt of a joke on Comedy Central's Daily Show when he tried to explain the anti-Muslim group he heads."

"Merely irritating the DNC chair in her hometown when she has national duties is a win, Republicans say, especially in a part of Florida that's also a source of considerable fundraising for the president. Of the six Republicans who've indicated to the Federal Election Commission they want to do battle in the Aug. 14 primary to then face Wasserman Schultz in November, just three have raised more than $100,000: Harrington, deFaria and Joe Kaufman, who drew the satirical interest of the Daily Show." "GOP sees Wasserman Schultz as face of the left".

Campaign Roundup

"Campaign Roundup: State elections officials check their list twice, candidates line up in final weeks to qualify".

"South Florida gas prices recede"

"How gyrating gas prices affect consumer behavior, confidence, politics and the economy." "As South Florida gas prices recede, so does anxiety".

Legislators putting staffs together

Bill Cotterell: "Senate President-designate Don Gaetz said Friday he has hired Department of Revenue director Lisa Vickers as his senior policy adviser. Katie Betta, communications director for the House, will be moving to the Senate in the same role for the 2013-14 sessions." "Legislative leaders putting their staffs together".

ECOs OK

"A federal appeals court Thursday quickly rejected a constitutional challenge to a 2010 Florida election law regulating some outside groups that run political ads or send mailers. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta issued a brief ruling that upheld the law, which places requirements on what are known as 'electioneering communications organizations,' or ECOs." "Court Upholds Law Reining in Political Groups".

Tell that to public sector fire-rescue personnel

"Scott touted one his political favor themes, the efficiency of the private sector, during a statewide summit on hurricane preparation last week in Fort Lauderdale." "Gov. Rick Scott recalls Hurricane Andrew".