In late March, the state elections office alerted local supervisors that it was sending them a list of 2,600 voters who had been identified as non-citizens based on drivers' license records from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Right away, according to emails obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Orlando Sentinel, there was concern from election supervisors.

"The state lags well behind"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Florida ranks among the sunniest states, but when it comes to taking advantage of one of its most obvious sources of energy, the state lags well behind far more overcast places." "Let sun shine in — for power".

Rubio "soars" through NALEO in his empty suit

Alex Leary at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials meeting: Rubio "had harsh words for Obama, suggesting his move was geared toward the election, a premise many accept but the White House denies. ... Rubio did not mention Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who appeared before the Hispanic group Thursday and offered a softer approach to immigration than he espoused in the primary. Romney did not mention Rubio, either, or his immigration plan."

Rick Scott was in the house:

In a brief speech, he talked about his efforts to grow jobs in Florida and encouraged tourists to visit.

Scott did not address immigration but was asked about it by reporters afterward. Scott said he believes in a federal approach and denied he had backed off his campaign promise to push for a mandatory employment verification program in Florida.

He dodged a question on whether high-achieving college graduates and members of the military should be granted permanent residence: “We need to have a national policy, we don’t need to pick and choose a policy.”

Pension haters pile on the paper

"The Florida Legislature and groups representing local governments filed court papers supporting the state's argument that the Florida Supreme Court should overturn a lower court ruling blocking a requirement for government workers to contribute a portion of their salaries to their retirement." "Legislature, local governments weigh in on pension case".

FlaBaggers to formally endorse candidates

"The conservative group Americans For Prosperity-Florida wants to replace the state employee pension system, eliminate corporate income taxes and it wants Florida to stop giving tax credits to attract businesses."

And while saying they are not in the endorsement business, on Friday they sent every legislative candidate a copy of their new five-point “solutions” for the state. The intent is to get candidates to endorse the plan and promote the ones who have gotten behind the effort.

“I think they’d be eager to endorse this and run on it,” said Slade O’Brien, director of the AFP-FL after unveiling the group’s Five For Florida plan and website -- fiveforflorida.com -- at the Florida Press Center in Tallahassee. ...

The five-point plan also calls for putting all state contracts before the public, expanding educational competition by having the Legislature once again vote on the parent trigger -- allowing parents to seek wide-ranging changes at low-performing schools, including changing a traditional neighborhood school into a charter school -- and to further eliminate regulations that delay new business owners.

O’Brien called the plan a means to make Florida more “transparent” and “honest.”

The plan calls for putting new state employees into a 401(k) retirement plan instead of the Florida Retirement System, eliminating business regulations unless they involve public safety, and while officials have argued that incentives are needed to attract businesses to the state and keep others from fleeing, O’Brien said no incentives -- targeted tax credits account for approximately $3.2 billion in Florida -- should be offered.

Campaign Roundup

"This week in the roundup, former Governors Bob Martinez and Jeb Bush pick their favored Senate candidates, Associated Industries of Florida unveils its endorsements and a Gaetz (not that one) wades into a GOP Senate primary fight." "Campaign Roundup: Business lobby, former governors weigh in on races".

Rubio and his Teabaggers still in the mix

"Rubio's ongoing role as a potential candidate for vice president could help Republicans shore up support in Florida this year, especially from his many fans in the tea party movement." "Rubio remains a vice presidential prospect".

"Governor isn’t doing this in a spirit of collaboration"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Florida’s county-level emergency managers have been sending out storm warnings. Not for that Gulf of Mexico system that could affect the state. It’s because Gov. Scott has decided to give all 67 of them grades."

Vigilance is good. Reviewing and updating emergency procedures is good. But the governor isn’t doing this in a spirit of collaboration. This is confrontation. The effect is to disrupt emergency preparations at the worst possible time. Emergency officials need to focus on the most critical test they are likely to face — a major hurricane.

GOPer laff riot in SD 22 race

Daniel Ruth: "In the newly drawn state Senate District 22 race, state Rep. Jim Frishe has uploaded a campaign video portraying his opponent, fellow House Republican Jeff Brandes, as an irritating child pretending to be a big-shot politician."

Frishe insists in the spot that he is the real Republican in the race, and just to make sure the point isn't lost on anyone the candidate invokes Ronald Reagan's name four times, in addition to including Reagan twice in a rolling scroll of his political accomplishments and featuring two photographs of Reagan in the background. All of this Reaganmania in just a 30-second spot.

If only Frishe had had more time, he could have shown up in the Gipper's jodhpurs with a jauntily positioned Stetson.

In further accusing Brandes as a ne'er-do-well poseur with all the genuine conservative credentials of Stephen Colbert's alter ego, Frishe suggests his babycakes opponent has "no idea what a real Reagan Republican is."

Frishe might be on to something, but he certainly can't deny that Jeff Brandes has learned a thing or two about hardball politics by pulling a quick switcheroo in dumping his campaign to be re-elected to the House and jumping into the Senate campaign before Frishe could finish watching Bedtime for Bonzo.

And since there is no Democrat in the District 22 race, whoever wins the Aug. 14 primary takes the Senate seat. Just how deft a politician is Jeff Brandes?

Why he is running around in a current commercial claiming he's not a politician, even through he ran and won a House seat in 2010? And now he's chasing after a Senate job, which involves hiring a consultant, a treasurer, begging people for money, handing out yard signs, showing up at events to slum for votes and plotting against Frishe.

Week in Review

"Week in Review for June 18 to June 22". See also "Weekly Roundup: Tangling Over Tuition".

"Replacing experienced professionals with political 'ideologues'"

"The ousted Department of Health official who left behind a withering indictment of Gov. Rick Scott's management style Thursday accused the administration of replacing experienced professionals with political 'ideologues' and tolerating no questions about conservative operating methods." "Ex-Department of Health official blasts Scott".

Save us from ourselves

The Tampa Tribune editors are upset that Obama didn't save us from Rick Scott and the Teabaggers:

We readily acknowledge that Obama's administration has approved many good projects for Florida and the Tampa area. Some of the stimulus money will pay long-term dividends, especially the federal money going into the new toll road that will link the Tampa port to Interstate 4. We believe conservatives who branded all such expenses as waste were mistaken. Jobs were saved and created.

Obama was right, in our opinion, to award Florida money for high-speed rail from Tampa to Orlando. It was a project that made far more economic sense than California's plan because Florida already owned most of the right-of-way. At the time Obama was enthusiastic and compared himself to former President Dwight Eisenhower, who started the interstate highway network.

But when Florida Gov. Rick Scott arbitrarily rejected the rail project, we wished Obama had vigorously made the case for the logical first leg of what was to be a nationwide system. Instead of detailing why the Florida route was justified, he seemed content to send the money somewhere else, treating the rail grant as little more than a gift to give.

Weldon gets sum

"Dave Weldon Gets Social Conservative Endorsements as He Tries to Catch Connie Mack".

'Glades

The Palm Beach Post editors warn that state money for 'Glades restoration "must come from the South Florida Water Management District, and in 2011 Gov. Scott and the Legislature cut the budgets of the five water districts by $200 million. A bill this year loosened some of those restrictions, but the district can’t complete the projects on time if Tallahassee’s priority is cutting taxes." "This time, keep Everglades promise".

"Jeb!" toes party line

Jebbie Bush was less than "charitable about the president’s move last week to halt some deportations."

“It was a purely political move to pre-empt, and that’s exactly what the motive was,” Bush said. “He’s had supermajorities in the House and Senate to fulfill his promise he made in the last campaign, and what we’ve heard are crickets. I mean, not a single move. And then to do this was a good political move. Bad policy in the sense that it’s a stopgap — it creates continued uncertainty for a whole lot of people who don’t deserve it.”

Billionaire Koch brothers hit Nelson

"The latest conservative organization to launch an advertising campaign against Florida Sen. Bill Nelson is Americans for Prosperity, funded in part by the well-known, billionaire Koch brothers." "Koch-funded group launches anti-Nelson ad".

Occupy Tampa

"West Tampa group wants Occupy Tampa out of park".

Obama in the I-4 Corridor

"President Barack Obama touts his leadership to Hispanic group in Orlando". See also "President Barack Obama pleads for support from adoring crowd in Tampa".

"Sorry spectacle"

The Tampa Bay Times editorials: "The sorry spectacle of Florida's Board of Governors haggling over tuition increases like used car salesmen was sobering. It showed just how much damage Gov. Rick Scott's pinched view of higher education has inflicted in such a short time." "Florida takes low road on higher education".

"A nominee whose defining asset is simply his family's name"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "LeMieux's exit after more than a year on the stump — while encouraged by the Republican establishment — may not do Mack any favors."

The party could be left with a nominee untested on the statewide stage and whose defining asset is simply his family's name.

So far, Mack has not engaged in much retail campaigning — refusing to participate in Republican forums and primary debates — and as such has yet to have his record and positions vetted and fine-tuned. Political polls have suggested none of that will hurt him in the primary. Mack shares a name with his father, a well-regarded former U.S. senator, and a great-grandfather who was longtime manager of baseball's Philadelphia Athletics. And he has locked up the endorsements of Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney in recent weeks, further unleashing campaign donations from the Republican establishment.

But winning a primary based on name recognition and a significant war chest short-circuits a key benefit of contested primaries. These sharpen candidates' messages and give them practice on the stump, as both President Barack Obama discovered in 2008 and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Romney did this year.

Obama, Romney hit Florida

"The year's first big national showdown over Hispanic voters plays out in Orlando this week, with Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama making their cases to more than 1,000 leaders of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. " "Obama, Romney in Orlando this week to talk to Hispanic leaders". See also "Obama, Romney stumping in Florida this week".

Related: "As Obama Heads to Florida, New Round of Political Ads Begins".

Charter conflicts of interest

"A Coconut Grove charter school’s tangled relationship with its founder and landlord has created 'structural conflicts of interests' that could threaten the school’s nonprofit status, according to a critical audit by the Miami-Dade School District." "Audit: Coconut Grove charter school has conflicts of interest with founder".

Laff riot

"Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday he is less concerned about his approval ratings than the unemployment mark." "Rick Scott: I Care About Unemployment, Not My Poll Numbers".

Scott flip flops

"Scott left no doubt Wednesday that he has backed off a campaign promise to require private employers in Florida to use the federal E-Verify system to determine their employees' immigration status." "Scott shifts on E-Verify".

Attorneys for Broward County go after lobbyist emails

"In the latest skirmish in a legal battle about taxes paid by online-travel companies, a Leon County circuit judge heard arguments Wednesday about email exchanges involving a lobbyist for industry giant Expedia. Attorneys for Broward County, alleging in a lawsuit that online-travel companies have not paid enough in hotel taxes, want access to the email exchanges involving lobbyist Jennifer Green." "Lobbyist Emails at Issue in Online Travel Case".

"For Bob Graham, it was a Jimmy Buffett video"

"What kinds of things can haunt a potential vice presidential candidate during vetting? For Bob Graham, it was a Jimmy Buffett video." "Florida's Graham a veteran of VP campaign vetting".

Good luck with that

"A consultant's study for Georgia transportation officials found that high-speed passenger trains connecting Atlanta with Jacksonville, Fla.; Louisville, Ky; and Birmingham, Ala.; would be economically feasible." "Study: High-speed trains across South are feasible".

Q Poll: Nelson beats mack, Obama leads Romney

Quinnipiac this morning:

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack has an overwhelming lead over the Republican field for Florida's U.S. Senate nomination, while Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson edges him by a nose, 43 - 39 percent, in a November match-up, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.

A shift by independent voters gives President Barack Obama a 46 - 42 percent lead over Republican Gov. Mitt Romney in the Sunshine State, according to the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll.

Stoopid is ...

"Forms asking voters whether they’re citizens are being mailed by a group looking to increase voting among women and minorities." "Mail voter registration drive causes confusion with voters".

Walmart lined its pockets with deaths of employees

"When Linda Gaub’s 51-year-old husband died of a heart attack in 1994 she said his employer, Walmart, couldn’t have been more supportive."

They took up a collection. They brought Christmas presents for the couple’s three young children. They donated plants for a garden at Liberty Park Elementary School, a project that had been her husband’s passion — a way of using his skills as a farmer to help out one of his kid’s school.

Then, last year, the Lake Worth woman got a letter, alerting her that Walmart benefited richly from her husband’s death. The Arkansas-based discount giant had secretly taken out a life insurance policy on her husband -- as it has with hundreds of thousands of its other employees -- when he worked as a department head in the garden center of its store on Forest Hill Boulevard, her attorneys said. Ronald Gaub’s death, they said, put between $75,000 and $150,000 in its pockets.

“I was floored,” she said of the news. “Myself and my children were extremely upset that they had profited from his death. It’s deplorable.”

As if that wasn’t enough, she learned she couldn’t share in the $2 million the company last year agreed to pay to settle claims filed by other Florida residents who were equally shocked to learn that the death of loved ones had lined Walmart’s pockets.

"Obama walking tightrope"

"Obama has been tougher on deportations than any modern president — expelling nearly 1.5 million people so far. Many have been criminals, but the effort has also torn apart families and hurt some of the young people Obama now wants to help." "Obama walking tightrope in deportation debate".

The Tribune Company whines that "the proper way to rebalance immigration policy is for a majority in Congress to agree on the details, and for the president to sign off on it. If that's not working, it's up to reform-minded lawmakers, and the White House, to push harder." "Inaction on immigration doesn't justify overreach".

Scott asked to show leadership

"Bob Graham, Florida Conservation Coalition ask Scott for leadership on springs issue".

State prison consolidation

"Florida's prison system is winding up an $89 million cost-savings initiative, with the closings of 11 lockups across the state, and beginning a new effort to cut future costs by preparing inmates -- from the day they arrive -- for their return to society." "Massive job shifts, some resignations, mark state's prison consolidation".

State employees get wage cuts, and now are looking at insurance increases

"State economists predict that Florida employees’ health insurance trust fund will open a shortfall in 2014 and that if no changes are made the gap will widen to more than $600 million by 2016. That could lead to higher premiums and other changes, one lawmaker said. The state spends about $2 billion a year to provide insurance coverage for more than 100,000 employees. The trust fund is OK for the time being, economists said." "State employees may be asked to pay more for insurance".

"Tell Scott he can't have it both ways"

Beth Kassab: "Somebody should tell Gov. Rick Scott he can't have it both ways. He wants Florida's universities to be the best in the nation. And the cheapest. He preaches fiscal prudence. And then tells universities to raid their savings to make up for $300 million in cuts in his latest budget." "Scott can't have it both ways on college tuition"

Related: "Rick Scott Would Be 'Surprised' if Board OKs Significant Tuition Hikes".

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce thinks things are grand: "Business group gives high marks to Florida higher education".

"Tea party activists have hijacked the Republican Party"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "President Obama didn’t wait for Congress to pass the Dream Act proposal, which has long received bipartisan support but has been blocked by political machinations as tea party activists have hijacked the Republican Party."

It’s a shame that such a common-sense proposal — to legalize the status of young adults who were brought to this country by their parents when they were children and who often don’t even know that they are undocumented — has not been embraced by Congress. It’s a shame, too, that the president waited until just a few months before the presidential election to act. Clearly, there are political motivations on both sides of the aisle.

Nevertheless, for the 800,000 or so young adults under age 30 who likely will qualify to stay, study and work in this country through the president’s executive order (though without an automatic road to citizenship at this point), Mr. Obama’s action means they can finally move forward with their lives — and in this nation’s best interests.

Miami-Dade State Attorney candidates debate

"Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Rod Vereen debated public corruption cases, juvenile arrests and support of police agencies." "Miami-Dade State Attorney candidates spar in informal debate".

The declines during Scott’s first year in office were across the board, from the number of major cases opened to the size of penalties collected, according to an analysis by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

The report by PEER, a national nonprofit whose members include state and federal workers whose names are kept confidential, compared enforcement statistics in 2011 with the previous year. It found:

• The total number of enforcement cases dropped by 28 percent.

• Pollution penalties dropped by 29 percent, with the number of fines topping $100,000 dropping by half.

• Enforcement with mandatory follow-ups to check compliance fell by 62 percent.

Another voter purge suit filed

"Voter groups and two Miami-Dade naturalized citizens who were wrongly targeted in the state's noncitizen-voter purge sued the state Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Miami. ... The lawsuit contented that 87 percent of the names on the list are of blacks or Hispanics." "Another suit filed to block Florida voter purge". See also "Florida: Keeping Noncitizens from Voting a 'Year-Round Obligation'" and "Suit: Minorities illegally targeted".

"Congress pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment"

The Miami Herald's Fabiola Santiago: "Politically motivated or not, once again, as was the case with his endorsement of gay marriage, it’s good to see the president we elected take action on an issue that should have been resolved permanently by Congress in 2010 with the passage of the Dream Act, which Obama supported. It failed because this Congress, pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment, was intent on torpedoing everything supported by this president." "Next big step for Dreamers: citizenship".

"Florida awash in wink-winking ethical shenanigans"

Daniel Ruth: "Let's review. Florida is governed by an assemblage of politicians who can be bought off for the price of a Slurpee. Ethics? In Florida? This is a bit like trying to find a liquor store in Saudi Arabia."

But that didn't stop Gov. Rick Scott from tapping the Florida Commission on Ethics, which has all the juice of a World Wrestling referee, to make sure he could record a greeting for visitors at Tampa International Airport.

Say, that's just what we need — a welcome from a public figure who is not even popular with his own constituents. Oh governor? We're trying to lure visitors here, not convince them to book the next flight back to Duluth.

Perhaps the governor believed this was going to be the only way he would be allowed to speak to the Republican National Convention delegates.

At issue was whether Scott's howdy violated the ban on gifts or expenditures from lobbyists. Thus, legions of ethics commission factotums burned away the midnight oil to determine whether the governor, whose popularity ratings drift barely above Florida's skunk ape, could record the TIA greeting.

You will not be surprised to learn the ethics commission determined Scott was free to bother people on the TIA's trams because a recording of the governor's voice has absolutely no monetary value whatsoever. Zilch.

including state Sen. JD Alexander's wheeling and dealing to bring an unaccredited polytechnic university to Lakeland that virtually nobody wanted and academic experts inveighed against.

Consider Florida's now infamous "stand your ground'' law that everyone from law enforcement to prosecutors opposed on the theory it was unnecessary and would lead to chaos in the courts — which it has. But Tallahassee, more fearful of the National Rifle Association's ire than concerned about public safety, passed it anyway.

But suddenly Scott is concerned whether a inane public service announcement violates a toothless ethics law?

While the governor was pretending to be the Simon Pure of Tallahassee by giving literal lip-service to the Florida Commission on Ethics, Scott still found plenty of time earlier this month to play spin-the-checkbook with Las Vegas mogul Sheldon Adelson, who gave $250,000 to his Let's Get to Work (Greasing the Skids) political action committee.

The governor had no qualms accepting $250,000 from a gambling kingpin who wants to open casinos in Florida. No reticence either in taking another $250,000 from Florida Power & Light, which is technically regulated by the state. And that $100,000 from a group that wants changes to Florida's no-fault care insurance law? No problem. No conflict of interest here.

Great work if you can get it

"Citizens Property Insurance interim president chalks up almost $10,000 in travel expenses in two months".

"Scott's Job Approval Still Very Low"

"With wide partisan and racial division, and a small gender gap, Florida voters support 60 - 35 percent Gov. Rick Scott's effort to purge non-citizens from the state's voter rolls, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today."

There are similar partisan and racial divisions, and a wider gender gap, as Sunshine State voters support 56 - 37 percent the state's "Stand Your Ground" law, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

Gov. Scott, however, is still unpopular with the state's electorate, who disapprove 49 - 39 percent of the job he is doing, compared to a 46 - 41 percent disapproval May 24, Scott's best score in his 18 months in office.

Support for the attempted voter purges is 90 - 8 percent among Republicans and 59 - 37 percent among independent voters, while Democrats are opposed 60 - 33 percent.

As you may know, there has been an effort by Governor Scott to remove people from the state's voter rolls who are suspected of not being U.S. citizens. Some people say this effort is needed to prevent voter fraud. Others say this effort is intended to suppress turnout by low-income people and minorities. Do you support or oppose Governor Scott's effort to remove potential non-citizens from the registered voter rolls?[*]

Travel to Cuba litigation

"The U.S. Supreme Court could decide this week whether to hear a challenge to a 2006 Florida law that blocks funding for university professors to travel to Cuba or other countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism. The Florida International University faculty senate and individual professors challenged the law, contending that it improperly infringes on the federal government's power to make decisions about foreign policy." "Professors' Challenge to Cuba Travel Law Could Go to High Court".

"Anonymous advisers" dis Rubio

"Mitt Romney spent his entire Tuesday letting anonymous advisers dismiss Sen. Marco Rubio as a possible vice-presidential pick before flatly saying the reports are false."

That didn’t sound like news — until anonymous Republicans cast doubt on the situation Tuesday, throwing Romney’s campaign into a messaging tailspin that took an entire day to clean up.

And it was Romney who had to do the mop-up work after ABC, the Washington Post and the New York Times quoted advisers of Romney saying the Florida senator wasn’t under serious consideration as a vice-presidential running mate.

“This story was entirely false,” Romney told reporters. “Marco Rubio is being thoroughly vetted as part of our process.”

But by the time Romney made his comments — about 6 p.m. — the damage was done.

Republicans and conservatives, particularly those in must-win Florida, felt Romney’s advisers had disrespected Rubio. Democrats had a field day.

Florida GOP afraid of United Nations world government takeover

"Expect a bill that shelters private property in Florida from takeover by a United Nations-led world government effort, Senate President-designate Don Gaetz said Tuesday. And expect that bill to receive favorable support." "Don Gaetz: Expect Anti-U.N. Agenda 21 in 2013".

Rubio's bad dream

"Obama's Immigration Move Disrupts Rubio's Dream".

"Dorworth a magnet for intra- and inter-party political heat"

Aaron Deslatte: "Usually, Florida legislators who have been anointed by their brethren to become presiding officers don't draw serious re-election challengers. But Rep. Chris Dorworth, a Lake Mary Republican chosen by his fellow legislators to become House speaker in 2014, seems to be the exception to the rule – a legislative leader who has been a magnet for intra- and inter-party political heat."

The development consultant has drawn two GOP primary challengers and a serious Democratic opponent in the newly drawn House District 29 in Seminole County. Republicans John Moffitt and Jeffrey Onest have qualified to take on Dorworth, with Moffitt – the treasurer of the Republican Party of Seminole County -- claiming he was doing so as a result of Dorworth's tangled finances and questions about his income.

Democrat Michael Clelland of Lake Mary, a lawyer and retired firefighter, has also filed to run, although he reserves his barbs for the ruling Republicans' policies in Tallahassee. ...

He is a career firefighter for the Longwood fire department who rose to the rank of battalion chief before retiring in 2008. By then, he had earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida and a law degree from Florida A&M University. He has since opened his own firm, specializing in helping injured first-responders win compensation.

Clelland's brother, Steve, is president of the Orlando firefighter's union, and he himself is a longtime union representative. He says he expects that to be used against him in the GOP-leaning district.

Clelland says the Republicans' super-majority in the Legislature has "gone too far to the right" and undermined public education to the detriment of job-creation.

"Giving corporate tax breaks and creating tax loopholes in order to get jobs is not the way I would do it," he said. "Jobs and the public education system are inextricably intertwined … They've done absolutely the opposite, absolutely gutting the funding for public schools."

Clelland had raised $27,980 by the end of March, and conceded he would face a huge financial disadvantage, assuming Dorworth is his GOP opponent this fall.

Romney doesn't want to see vanquished foes at Tampa convention

"Mitt Romney does not want to see the likes of Rick Santorum and Herman Cain at the Republican convention in Tampa focusing on the Iowa and New Hampshire delegates." "Mitt Romney Doesn't Want to See Too Much of Defeated Foes in Tampa".

"Blame Jeb"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Patricia Levesque [has] disingenuously blamed local school districts for all the standardized tests in Florida that are angering parents and frustrating students. Ms. Levesque, who as an adviser to former Gov. Jeb Bush saluted every 'bold' education scheme from FCAT-based school grades to vouchers for religious schools, wrote, 'Many districts require two to three times more tests than are required by the state.'"

In fact, local districts have little or no choice. They know that everybody suffers if students do poorly on the late-spring FCAT. So they give at least two pre-FCAT tests, one in the fall and one in the winter, to identify areas where individual students need more help. ...

Ms. Levesque is now executive director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future. Jeb Bush is the chairman, and it’s his way of continuing to influence education since leaving office in 2007. ...

Ms. Levesque doesn’t warn parents that another shoe is about to drop. Actually, it’s an Imelda Marcos closetful. The Legislature and Gov. Scott have required school districts to develop and administer standardized end-of-course exams in every class. Students won’t have to pass all of them to graduate, but some will be graduation requirements. Teacher pay will be pegged to student scores.

Ms. Levesque doesn’t want to admit it, but in large part because of policies she advocated, the state — not local school districts — is smothering Florida students in standardized tests.

Teabaggers all in for Mack

"On Tuesday, FreedomWorks, a prominent national conservative organization with ties to the tea party movement, announced that its PAC was backing Mack for the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla." "Connie Mack Keeps Adding Support for Senate Bid".

"Neglect and erratic leadership"

Bill Cotterell: "Daniel Parker, operations manager in the Division of Environmental Public Health, last week sent an email to hundreds of colleagues, including some DOH managers and public-health workers across the state. He had intended to take leave to run for Tallahassee City Commission, and had been notified of his impending layoff, but his 2,900-word broadside precipitated his immediate departure."

Parker, who has worked in public health for most of his 17-year career, wrote in the email that "it has been difficult to watch a once-proud agency succumb fairly quickly to neglect and erratic leadership." He said internal problems of DOH started under former-Gov. Charlie Crist and "accelerated" under Scott, because of "the misguided belief that public service is not necessary and people are as interchangeable as parts."

"Insurance War"

"Frustrated but not surprised about a lack of progress on property insurance issues during an election year, a pair of key legislators on Tuesday began preparing for another push once the dust settles in November." "Lawmakers Fire Salvo in Insurance War".

Republicans deserve more of the blame for the decade-plus of congressional intransigence on immigration reform. Yes, five Democratic senators voted against the Dream Act, which “failed” 55-41. But 36 Republicans voted no. The margin in the House was 216-198, but among the supporters were South Florida’s three Hispanic representatives, all Republicans.

Two Republican senators voted yes: Michael Bennett of Utah and Richard Lugar of Indiana. Mr. Bennett had lost his reelection bid after being deemed insufficiently conservative. The same thing happened this year to Sen. Lugar. Too many Republicans remain too quick to shriek “Amnesty!” at any immigration policy that doesn’t involve armed guards 10 yards apart on the Mexican border. George W. Bush, his Texas background giving him a unique perspective on this issue, tried to pass immigration reform. His party blew him off.

"Scott may be a zombie"

Frank Cerabino: "There appears to be no end to the Obama birther nonsense."

So it seems only fair that if the political right continues to indulge the fantasies of its fanatics about Obama, the liberals in Florida should be afforded an equal measure of mouth foam over the election of a potential face-eating governor.

After all, we do seem to be in the middle of a zombie apocalypse in the state.

Show us the death certificate!

It’s certainly mysterious how this once dead-listed Rick Scott has been allowed to come alive on the Florida voting rolls and then, through the virtue of $73 million of his own money, turn his distaste for government into a seat at the very pinnacle of the government he holds in such little regard.

Oh, the horror! We’ve elected somebody who is part Koch-brothers creation, and part-Bat Boy lookalike. A blood-sucker on multiple levels.

There’s a karmic symmetry to the wacky belief that Scott may be a zombie, considering that Scott was elected by so many people who believe that President Obama may be a Kenyan.

You can think of it as Obama birthers vs. Scott deathers.

It didn’t take long after the Scott dead-voter-mixup story to appear for the wheels of conspiracy to start cranking.

“Dead people are illegally running for office and then trying to purge the living from the voter rolls once they take office!” a commenter on the web site Politico wrote.

Another commenter said this called for swift and decisive verification.

Dems Outregister GOPers

"More Democrats than Republicans registered to vote in Florida in May, driven by women and Hispanics, according to state registration data released early by the Democratic Party. Democrats said they registered 5,108 more voters in May than the Republican Party did, the fourth month in a row the party has led the GOP in new registrations." "Dems Outregistering GOP, but Both Lag Behind NPAs".

Bondi-fever

"During her bid to become Florida attorney general, Pam Bondi downplayed talk about her future political ambitions and ripped into her opponents -- Jeff Kottkamp and Holly Benson in the Republican primary and Democrat Dan Gelber in the general election -- as career politicians. But with Florida remaining one of the most crucial states in national politics, as a member of the state Cabinet, Bondi cannot escape politics even if she wants to, and this week she threw her weight around in two of the most interesting Republican primaries in the state, even as her star continues to rise at the national level." "Pam Bondi Leaves Her Mark on State GOP as National Spotlight Looms".

"You could almost hear the champagne bottles popping"

Steve Bouquet: "A half-dozen Republican Senate candidates were on the verge of winning new terms without opposition — until the Democrats saw an opening."

Democrats concede they don’t have a realistic chance of winning the seats. But by fielding little-known candidates at the last minute, they were able to freeze the ability of those Republicans to make large donations to the state GOP in a crucial election year.

As the deadline drew near for candidates to pay money and be listed on the ballot this month, several Republican Senate candidates were within an eyelash of taking office unopposed, without a single vote being cast. You could almost hear the champagne bottles popping.

Every one was sitting on a mountain of campaign cash in hopes of scaring off competition. But one by one, in rapid succession, each drew last-minute Democratic opposition, seemingly from out of nowhere.

They include Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, running for an open seat, who had raised $749,000 through March (the next reporting deadline is July 10); Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, who raised $513,000; Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, $473,000; Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, $442,000; Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, $428,000; and Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, $397,000.

Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, incoming leader of Senate Democrats, knew that when the qualifying period ended, candidates can donate unspent money to their political party, on one condition: They have to be unopposed.

That meant the Republican Party of Florida was on the cusp of an infusion of some $2 million from unopposed Senate candidates, money that could put to good use in more competitive races.

Smith has no illusions of knocking off the well-financed Republicans in solid GOP districts. But by fielding candidates, he was able to tie the financial hands of the GOP.

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, the likely next Senate president, didn’t think much of Smith’s move.

Rubio "smart"? Just ask him

"Rubio leaves a portrait of an obsessive, smart and sometimes insecure politician who had to be persuaded by his wife to stick with the Senate campaign." "Rubio in his own words".

Aside from it being a self-serving "feel good" story, Rubio "the book reads almost as if Rubio is vetting himself [for VP]. Nearly every negative issue or question about his past that's been raised since he began his 2010 Senate campaign, from charging personal items on Republican Party credit cards to the beginning of foreclosure proceedings on a house he co-owned, is addressed." "Rubio addresses mistakes, criticisms in his memoir".

Atlas shrugged

"In an unprecedented case, federal prosecutors have charged a Miami man with engaging in a massive money laundering scheme that moved millions stolen from the federal Medicare program into Cuban banks." "Feds in Miami: Millions stolen from Medicare wound up in Cuban banking system".

Week Ahead

"The Week Ahead for June 18 to June 22".

Running schools like a bidness

"As chairman of the Blue Ribbon Task Force to reform the higher education system, Brill wants to develop recommendations based on solid business practices." "Q&A with: Dale Brill".

Bill stats

"A greater proportion of bills that have gone to the governor have originated in the House, according to statistics compiled by LobbyTools research staff. Since the second term of Gov. Jeb Bush, the Legislature has been less productive and seen a steady decrease in the number of bills passed overall." "Infographic: Who's passing bills?".

Gaming rules repealed

"With no hearing requested, a dozen state rules regulating pari-mutuels and slot machines are slated to be repealed in September." "Gaming rules to be repealed without hearing".

Atwater stays in the mix

"While he passed at jumping into the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, Florida CFO Jeff Awater continues to remain politically active, endorsing candidates in competitive contests. Despite floating his name in the Senate race to take on Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson, Atwater has generated buzz as a future gubernatorial candidate in either the 2014 or, more likely, the 2018 election cycles. Whatever his future plans, Atwater has shown no hesitation in backing candidates in some of the most competitive Republican primaries in Florida." "One Eye Down the Road, Jeff Atwater Active in GOP Primaries".

Wingers wonder ...

Nancy Smith wonders "What's Wrong With Obama's Re-election Campaign?".

Worker safety, Florida style

"Rothstein said that when a worker was electrocuted at Southern, the largest worldwide manufacturer of swimming pool and deck finishes, he had one of his law enforcement contacts rush 'to clear the scene.' Workers attempted to address safety violations that led to the death before the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) got there to investigate, he testified June 8 as part of his most recent deposition." "Rothstein: I used a cop 'in a position of power'".

"Enough already"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "For four years straight, each of Florida's public universities has raised its tuition as much as state law allows, with the blessing of their state overseers. Enough already. Though nine of 11 public universities, including the University of Central Florida, are seeking another round of 15 percent hikes, the Florida Board of Governors should slow the tuition treadmill during the board's meetings this week in Orlando." "Put the brakes on state university tuition hikes". See also "Board of Governors faces tuition increase decisions this week" and "Most Florida Universities: We Won't Back Off Requests for Full Tuition Hikes".

"Space race back on Earth"

"A record-breaking mission to the International Space Station has triggered another space race back on Earth, with Florida competing against Texas and Puerto Rico for the chance to land a new launchpad for SpaceX and its ambitious line of Falcon rockets."

The rivalry — already ongoing — only has intensified in the weeks since SpaceX became the first commercial company to blast a spacecraft to the station and return it safely to Earth. And though none of the rivals has made public the incentives each is offering, the numbers are certain to be in the millions of dollars.

The stakes are high: hundreds of good-paying jobs at SpaceX and supporting companies that would pop up around its operation, as well as the prestige — at a time when NASA is no longer flying its own rockets — of serving as home to the commercial space industry's most successful startup.

"Write-in gimmick"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Write-in candidates almost never win. But because of an arcane loophole in Florida law, such candidates — even though their name will never be printed on a ballot — can indirectly disenfranchise thousands of voters."

In four races across Tampa Bay this fall, write-in candidates will keep Republican primaries closed, meaning independent and Democratic voters will have no influence on who will be their next elected official. That's not how democracy should work. The Florida Legislature, which has repeatedly rejected calls for open primaries, should at least change the law to keep primaries open whenever there will be no other candidate's name on the general election ballot.

This write-in gimmick is outrageous no matter which party utilizes it, and Democrats have as well.

Call it WWRD, an abbreviation for What Would Rubio Do?

That was the case this weekend after President Obama made an election-year executive order that allows hundreds of thousands of young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children to remain and work in the United States for two years without the threat of deportation.

Romney’s initial reaction?

Silence.

“Today’s announcement will be welcome news for many of these kids desperate for an answer, but it is a short term answer to a long term problem,” Rubio said shortly after Obama’s announcement.

Rubio also criticized Obama for “ignoring the Constitution and going around Congress” because the executive order essentially amounts to lawmaking by the executive branch of government.

After that, Romney got the memo.

As liberals and some conservatives started howling about his deafening silence, Romney stepped off his tour bus in New Hampshire and fretted about how Obama’s plan wasn’t a “long-term” solution.

“I’d like to see legislation that deals with this issue,” he said. “And I happen to agree with Marco Rubio, as he will consider this issue. He said this is an important matter. We have to find a long-term solution. But the president’s action makes reaching a long-term solution more difficult.”

That’s true to a degree. But what’s even more true is that the party of Rubio and Romney stands much more in the way of immigration legislation these days.

"Registration groups back out"

"Voter registration groups back out" (Democratic-leaning voters, including blacks and Hispanics, are twice as likely to register through third-party organizations as other voters)

"The smartest person you never met"

The task of "business leaders together in a show of solidarity was the work of one of [Scott's] key lieutenants, the 27-year-old Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Chris Finkbeiner."

MacNamara calls Finkbeiner "the smartest person you never met."

"Latvala Says He Has Votes for 2016 Presidency"

"Jack Latvala Says He Has Votes for 2016 Presidency; John Thrasher Out".

Florida birthers go to court

"A judge is holding a hearing on a ballot challenge alleging President Barack Obama is not a 'natural born citizen.' The plaintiff represented by conservative legal activist Larry Klayman questions Obama's birth certificate showing he was born in Hawaii. It also argues that even if Obama was born in the United States he still is not a natural citizen because his father was a foreign national. Lawyers for the president and Florida Department of State are asking Circuit Judge Terry Lewis to dismiss the case Monday." "Florida judge hearing Obama ballot challenge".

"Give Nelson credit for moxy"

Nancy Smith: "Give Bill Nelson credit for moxy. After five years of lying like a carp in the Washington weeds, he turns up in Florida at election time shaking a tin cup and warning of a right-wing extremist takeover if he's not returned to office." "Sen. Empty Record Says 'Boo!'".

SOEs "caught in the middle of a political war"

Jeremy Wallace: "Area election officials are not happy about being caught in the middle of a political war between Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the U.S. Justice Department over purging potential noncitizens from Florida’s voter rolls."

Both Sarasota Elections Supervisor Kathy Dent and Manatee Supervisor Bob Sweat say they want noncitizens taken off their rolls as Scott is pushing for, but that they are finding errors in the lists of ineligible voters that the state has sent them.

Both have halted all efforts to purge potentially ineligible voters.

In Sarasota, Dent said of the 14 voters the state identified as potentially ineligible, two have already turned out to be citizens and eligible to vote.

In Manatee County, Sweat said of the 11 suspect voters on his list, one turned out to be an eligible voter.

Dent said no supervisor of elections wants to take legal voters off the rolls and is hoping if the purge continues, the lists will be more accurate.

“We’re not going to take away anyone’s right to vote unless we are 100 percent sure they are not eligible to vote,” Dent said.

While both supervisors are critical of the flaws in the state’s lists, they are also both critical of the federal government for not sharing immigration data that could improve the lists.

“We’re just stuck in the middle of it all,” Dent said.

PSC politics

"Lisa Edgar, 20 Others Seek PSC Post".

Adelson bankrolling Scott

"Gov. Rick Scott recently received a big check for his re-election campaign. The check, dated June 5, was for $250,000 and was given to Scott’s political action committee: Let’s Get to Work. The check was from Sheldon Adelson, the gambling magnate who was bankrolling Newt Gingrich’s ill-fated presidential run at one point." "Gov. Rick Scott Receives $250,000 From Sheldon Adelson".

Cuba ends some oil exploration

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "South Florida can sigh in relief — to a certain extent anyway. Repsol, the Spanish energy conglomerate, announced last month that it would quit its oil exploration efforts off Cuba's northern coast — just 60 miles or so from Florida's southern coastline. However, a Malaysian company has said it's interested in drilling an exploratory well to the west of where Repsol was looking, so it's not all good news." "Relief over Cuba oil bust".

TeaBaggers luv Scott's voter purge

Lloyd Dunkelberger: "Scott’s campaign to purge 'noncitizens' from Florida voting rolls may be hurting his popularity. But among conservative groups, including the Tea Party members who propelled him into office in 2010, it is resonating strongly."

While his move may be antagonizing Democrats and more moderate voters, Scott is playing to an audience with which he has a natural political rapport: Tea Party activists and other conservative GOP groups.

Among them is a Houston-based Tea Party group, called “True the Vote,” that sent a mass message to its national supporters, urging them to write Scott and other state officials voicing their support for his effort.

Scott insists that there is no political motive behind the purge. He said he is just trying to enforce the law and could do a better job with access to a federal database. “This is not a partisan issue,” Scott said in an interview on a conservative Tallahassee radio show last week.

But the governor has been using the issue in a political context. He attended a Tea Party rally in Tallahassee last Sunday, urging members to help pressure the Obama administration to release the Homeland Security database.

Mack's strategy to win primary is simple: Ignore it"

"U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV’s strategy to win the Republican primary for U.S. Senate is simple: Ignore it."

“We have a 33-point lead,” Mack said last week, explaining his decision to skip three televised GOP primary debates.

With a comfy lead, a highly recognizable family name and the support of Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush, Mack seems the far-and-away favorite to face off against Sen. Bill Nelson come November.

But some grassroots Republicans say it’s too soon for Mack to declare himself the winner — especially if he won’t make the customary rounds at debates and straw polls.

“It’s an incredibly bad message to send to the voters in a primary,” said Nancy McGowan, president of the Conservative Republican Forum of Jacksonville. “It just says, 'What you think doesn’t matter.’ ”

Mack’s primary opponents, former Sen. George LeMieux, former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon and retired Army Col. Mike McCalister, trail Mack by at least 32 points, according to a May Quinnipiac poll (Weldon entered the race that month and was not considered for the poll). The poll showed Mack essentially tied with Nelson in a November match-up.

So why let a nasty primary hurt the GOP’s chances in November?

“If my opponents want to debate me, that will only help Sen. Nelson,” Mack said.

Florida College System's dual enrollment program cut back

"The Florida College System says the dual enrollment program is a priority for the state. Research shows dual-enrollment students earn higher grades and are more likely to continue their schooling than their counterparts. Though young students reap the benefits of a free higher education, however, colleges aren't allowed to charge tuition to help pay for the costs." "Dual-enrollment pressures force community colleges to cut back".

Florida sheriffs back down from fight with NRA

Dara Kam: "It isn’t often that Florida sheriffs back down from a fight."

It isn’t often that Florida sheriffs back down from a fight.

But the National Rifle Association isn’t any ordinary combatant.

The NRA’s Florida lobbyist Marion Hammer sent a survey on behalf of the NRA and the United Sportsmen of Florida, whom she also represents, to sheriffs candidates around the state for the first time ever earlier this month. The questions, which critics say are lopsided, involve often controversial issues such as the state’s Stand Your Ground law and the sheriffs’ opposition to an “open carry” bill.

But the Florida Sheriffs Association is staying out of the fight, at least officially. The group decided last week it would be best to let candidates decide on their own whether they want to complete the questionnaire, FSA Executive Director Steve Casey said.

That hasn’t stopped Casey from criticizing the survey.

“This is definitely a political tool,” he said. “This is not your standard survey. This is a tool they plan to use to sway the election towards one candidate over another based on the things they were asking. They’re telling you what their agenda is on the survey and what your answers should be. It potentially could affect the primary and the general election.”

The survey erroneously creates two kinds of sheriffs, Casey said: “pro-gun” sheriffs and “anti-gun.” But he says they are neither. “They’re pro-public safety,” he said.

Phosphate mining impact study "a stunning disappointment"

"As huge shovels seeking phosphate ore ripped up thousands of acres of wetlands and miles of streams in Central Florida, the nagging question of whether such intensive strip mining does more harm than good lingered."

Over the last decade, mining critics repeatedly demanded an answer from the federal government. What they finally received — after 15 months of work — only raises more questions.

The study managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concludes that the environmental damage from strip mining more than 55,000 additional acres, including 12,000 acres of wetlands and 86 miles of streams, will be insignificant.

Phosphate industry critics, who had hoped for an independent, unbiased analysis of mining's environmental costs and economic benefits, consider the results a stunning disappointment.

From the "values" crowd

"Children's anti-abuse agency faces a money gap".

Miami's "Hispanic Oprah" endorses Obama

"Television talk show host Cristina Saralegui announced her endorsement of President Barack Obama, saying during the weekend that there’s too much at stake not to speak up when Hispanics could 'very well decide the next election.'"

It is the first-ever presidential endorsement for the popular Miami media figure, often called the “Hispanic Oprah” for her two-decade run on Univisión. Obama for America released a video in English and Spanish with a message from Saralegui to the Hispanic community.

“President Obama, I was very fortunate to live the American dream and I know that only you will make it possible for millions more to do the same,” she said in a statement provided by the campaign. “You’ve had our back, and now, with utmost respect and admiration, I have yours.”

She is “one of the most trusted names in the Hispanic community and we’re honored to have Cristina be a spokesperson for the campaign, speaking directly to Hispanic voters about the President’s accomplishments,” said campaign spokesman Jim Messina.

Her nod comes at a time when both Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are actively seeking Hispanic voters. Both men will travel to Florida this week to speak in Orlando at the annual conference of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Purges are organized, thorough and ruthlessly efficient.

Bumble-fest is a more precise term for Gov. Rick Scott’s effort to cull non-citizens from the voter rolls.

Things are so confused that only two counties in Florida are fully participating in the governor’s plan. The others are holding back because officials don’t trust the accuracy of the list of suspected non-citizen voters.

It’s no wonder why. The first list had 182,000 names and was wildly flawed. A second list, revised by the elections division, targeted almost 25,000 possible voters.

Kurt Browning, a former Pasco County elections supervisor who was Florida’s secretary of state, had zero confidence in the second list. Browning is now gone from office, but a third list of suspected non-citizens endures. This one includes about 2,700 persons — a molecule in a bucket, considering that Florida has 11.3 million registered voters.

Yet the state still can’t get it right.

So nobody was terribly shocked when The Miami Herald reported that 87 percent of those on the state’s purge list are minorities.

That’s the whole idea!

The governor says no, that it’s all about maintaining the integrity of Florida’s elections. (Please stop laughing right now.)

Almost everyone agrees that only Americans should vote in American elections, but there’s no evidence that waves of unnaturalized immigrants are swamping the polls. Election scandals in Florida traditionally involve dubious absentee ballots, or (as we all remember from 2000) dubious counting. ...

Meanwhile the state is suing the federal government, the feds are suing the state and Scott is defending his poll-cleansing plan at Tea Party venues, where he’s safe from scorn.

The governor won’t be on the ballot in November, which is a shame, but two more years leaves plenty of time for thousands of prospective citizens to get naturalized and register to vote. It would be only fitting.

Connected company muscles state agency

"The company that won the contract to map the gaps in broadband Internet use in Florida got state lawmakers to remove the agency in charge and to expand its own role." "Connected company muscled state agency out of Internet contract".

Purge has "generated intense blowback"

"Scott's effort to purge the state's voter rolls of noncitizens has bogged down in the quicksand of dueling court battles, generated intense blowback from Democrats, and proven once again — if we needed a reminder — that Florida is the most contested state in the presidential election." "Scott's voter roll purge wins fans, energizes opponents".

RNC 101

"RNC 101, part of an introductory course for all University of Tampa freshmen when classes are in session again, will teach students everything from the history of political conventions to a rundown of daily happenings at the August convention here." "Class at UT to cover RNC, history of political conventions". Related: "Ron Paul backers seek influence at GOP convention".

Mitt has painted himself into a corner

"President Obama issued an executive order decreeing that undocumented young people who would have been covered by failed legislation known as the Dream Act will be allowed to stay in the U.S. for the next two years without having to worry about deportation. That permission will be renewable and they can also apply for work permits."

The Dream Act –which offers legal status to individuals who were brought to the U.S. before age 16, have lived here five years and who fit several other criteria—has never won enough votes in Congress despite several tries, the last in 2010. President Obama had been under heavy pressure from Latino political leaders to provide legal relief for “Dreamers,” who immigrant advocates say could number from 800,000 to 1 million.

The change in policy is expected to help the president with the Latino vote in November. Meanwhile, Republicans and organizations espousing strict enforcement of immigration laws attacked the move as a political ploy that sidestepped the Congress and weakened the country’s control of illegal immigration.

Anarchists to hit Tampa

"Interspersed among the 15,000 protesters expected at the Republican National Convention in August will be the anarchists. It's a contingent that strikes fear and loathing in the hearts of police, Republican organizers and delegates, and, perhaps, even fellow protesters." "Anarchists' game plan for Tampa RNC unclear".

"Communicating through stilted resolutions"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board: "School boards and the state Department of Education are not having a healthy conversation about Florida's student-testing regime."

The boards and the department are communicating -- through stilted resolutions by the Florida School Board Association and defensive statements by the education commissioner -- but they are not engaged in productive dialogue. That is not good for students, teachers, parents or the state.

Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson is on the record as stating that Florida's stakeholders in education "need to have a very healthy conversation about why assessments matter."

Yet on Thursday, Robinson criticized school boards and their associations for questioning the state's policies, including a heavy reliance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests and other exams.

In response to a resolution adopted by the association during its meeting in Tampa, Robinson erroneously contended that school boards "question the need for educational assessments," contradicting his own assertion by noting that school districts require students to take more tests than the state mandates. He also said the boards are "short on providing hope to schoolchildren" and continued to refer to the FCAT as a "so-called high-stakes assessment."

Commercials coming early and often in Florida and other hotly contested states

"In Tampa, Fla.,"

a commercial in the middle of "Dateline NBC" shows a woman fretting about the national debt under President Barack Obama and saying: "He spent like our country's credit card had no limit." In an ad seen during evening newscasts, the Obama campaign trashes Romney for "the worst economic record in the country" when he was governor of Massachusetts.

The political pitches are coming early and often in Virginia, Florida and other hotly contested states that are expected to determine the outcome of the White House contest. So far they're mostly jammed around local newscasts and current affairs shows along with an occasional appearance on shows like "The Price is Right" on CBS and ABC's "General Hospital."

"'Right to work' workplaces define our Florida culture"

Steven Kurlander points out that "the non partisan Economic Policy Institute published a study last year which found that"

the claim that Right to Work states allows more economic growth is false and that "the simple reality is that RTW laws undermine the resources that help workers bargain for better wages and benefits."

The study concluded that that "right to work" laws are associated with significantly lower wages and reduced chances of receiving employer-sponsored health insurance and pensions.

Like eating out, "right to work" workplaces define our Florida culture that condones and even encouraging subsistence living for a good segment of those employed in major industries like the hospitality industry.

Nonexistent "problem of excessive retirement benefits"

Kingsley Guy explains why he and his friends at the country club resent police, firefighters and teachers:

The problem of excessive retirement benefits isn't as enormous here as in many states. Under Democratic and Republican leadership alike, Florida has been a better steward of pubic dollars than states such as California.

The Florida Retirement System Pension Fund, however, is only about 87 percent funded. That's not disastrous, but it is a concern in today's low-interest rate environment. The FRS operates on the assumption of a 7.75 percent return on investment, as do many public pension funds. That assumption may work in a booming economy, but not in a stagnant one. Taxpayers eventually must make up any shortfall.

Floridians deserve a high-quality public workforce, and compensation should be competitive with that paid by quality firms in the private sector. But private companies have all but eliminated defined benefit pension plans in favor of defined-contribution, 401(k)-style plans. Florida offers one, but as a voluntary option.

It's long past time that the state and local governments adopted defined contribution plans for all employees, including those elected to office. Taxpayers decades from now shouldn't be forced to pay for benefits granted by today's power-hungry politicians, many of whom are incapable of thinking beyond the next election.

"A handful of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged"

"A contractors group says defense spending dropped by $800 million in Florida last year. The Florida League of Defense Contractors reported on Friday that federal spending on military bases and with defense businesses in the state dropped from $14.1 billion the previous year to $13.3 billion in 2011." "Defense spending dropped $800M in Fla. last year".

These, of course, are the same folks who "love to preach about fiscal responsibility and lower taxes, but they keep dipping their beak into the Federal trough. I believe the applicable Southern phrase is 'a handful of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged.'"

"A vast decline in highway safety"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Twelve years after Florida’s motorcycle helmet law was repealed, most bikers have stopped wearing the protective gear, contributing to a vast decline in highway safety. Currently those above the age of 21 and with more than $10,000 in medical coverage can forgo wearing a helmet. Before July 1, 2000, every single rider had to wear one. Repeal proponents claimed the law infringed on their liberties and was paternalistic. Yet the law’s absence has led to a public health hazard." "Expensive bike rides".

Greer's attorney's claim "irreconcilable differences"

"Two high-profile attorneys for the former head of the Republican Party of Florida are asking to withdraw from his criminal case. Cheney Mason and Donald Lykkebak filed motions this week asking to step down. They cited 'irreconcilable differences' in the handling of this case." "Two of Jim Greer's attorneys withdraw from criminal case".

"Election-law loophole disenfranchises thousands"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board wonders where the outrage is "over an election-law loophole that disenfranchises thousands of state voters every election cycle?"

Here's how it happened: Florida voters amended the state constitution in 1998 to open primary contests to all voters, regardless of their party registration, if the winner had no opposition in the general election. The point was to let all voters — not just one party's — have a say. Good idea.

But in 2000, the state Elections Division issued an boneheaded advisory opinion that undermined the amendment. The opinion said that a write-in candidate would be enough to limit a party's primary to its voters, since the nominee would technically face an opponent in the general election.

Calling the typical write-in an opponent is like calling a rubber band a jump rope. It's a stretch.

Write-ins don't have to pay a filing fee or collect signatures to jump into a race. Their names don't even show up on the ballot.

When they do get in, as Kevin L. Gross has in Seminole County, they can change everything. Gross' candidacy in the District 3 County Commission race means only registered Republicans, roughly 40 percent of the county's 250,000 voters, will get to choose between incumbent Republican Dick Van Der Weide and four GOP challengers.

The other registered voters — Democrats, independents and third-party members — won't have a chance to weigh in until the GOP nominee faces Gross.

Gross is running a stealth campaign. Unlike the Republican candidates in District 3, he didn't submit a phone number or email address when filing. He pulled the same stunt in 2008, running as a write-in in District 3 and getting all of 602 votes against Van Der Weide in the general election — less than half a percent.

And get this: Records show Gross has been a registered Republican since 1992. We'd have asked him if he's a party plant but couldn't reach him without a phone number or email address.

Since the 2000 opinion, write-in candidates have regularly closed primaries across Florida. Party officials admit they've recruited write-ins for that very purpose.

"Tallahassee has turned Florida into a national punch line"

John Romano: "We like to talk tough in this state. We take hard lines and bold stands. We pass rigid laws that sound all red-white-and-blue to the mindless followers of talk radio and chain email."

But the reality is never quite as infallible as the rhetoric. And one too many knee-jerk reactions in Tallahassee has turned Florida into a national punch line.

Rubio 2.0

Marc Caputo gives Rubio a pass in this "review" of Marco Rubio's latest version of his life: "‘American Son’ tells tale of 2 Marco Rubios". See also "Rubio book reveals surprises along political journey".