To be sure, much of the Republican base will have expired from old age two years hence, but enough will have remained to recall Rubio's it-ain't-"amnesty" amnesty plan to make sure he doesn't get out of Florida. And that would be unfortunate for we Floridians who desperately want to see him take his empty suit and self-exile -- or self-deport, or whatever -- his way out of Florida politics.

Rubio is sure to offend even Florida Republicans with his freshly proposed pathway to citizenship plan for adults who have overstayed who overstayed their visas or simply sneaked in to the country:

"Here's how I envision it," he says. "They would have to come forward. They would have to undergo a background check." Anyone who committed a serious crime would be deported. "They would be fingerprinted," he continues. "They would have to pay a fine, pay back taxes, maybe even do community service. They would have to prove they've been here for an extended period of time. They understand some English and are assimilated. Then most of them would get legal status and be allowed to stay in this country."

The special regime he envisions is a form of temporary limbo [which might be called "neo-indentured servitude"]. "Assuming they haven't violated any of the conditions of that status," he says, the newly legalized person could apply for permanent residency, possibly leading to citizenship, after some years—but Mr. Rubio doesn't specify how many years. He says he would also want to ensure that enforcement has improved before opening that gate.

the Dream Act that stalled in Congress last year, [Rubio] says people who came here unlawfully with their parents should be accommodated "in a more expedited manner than the rest of the population" to gain a way to naturalize.

Three of four campaign donor dollars were unlimited checks to Political Committees

"Florida’s sputtering economy did not stop interest groups and donors from spending $306 million this election cycle on state political campaigns, according to final election year tallies released Friday."

The number is lower than the $550 million reported in the 2010 election cycle and does not include the massive amount of federal cash spent in the presidential race. But it points to a new trend: more dollars are going to campaign committee rather than individual candidates.

Three out of every four dollars were unlimited checks to political committees, while the rest went into the campaign accounts of individuals, which are capped at $500 a check.

The shift is a sign that Florida’s $500 limit is outdated and dysfunctional — and ripe for reform, said Dan Krassner, executive director of Integrity Florida, which did the analysis of the campaign finance data released by the Florida Division of Elections.

“Candidate accounts have become nearly irrelevant,’’ said Krassner, executive director of Integrity Florida. The current system allows corporations to write unlimited checks to political committees with loose affiliations to candidates but require them to give no more than $1000 to individual candidates for both the primary and general election. The result is, he said, “the public cannot easy follow the money.’’

One of the largest political committees this election cycle, the Liberty Foundation of Florida, is an Electioneering and Communications Organization that is run by Gainesville political consultant Pat Bainter. It received much of its money from the Republican Party of Florida and the political committee controlled by Gaetz. The committee spent money on ads attacking Senate candidates, but Gaetz was not linked directly to any of the spending.

Because political committees can transfer money from one political committee to another, “we don’t see who’s getting and giving,’’ Krassner said.

He's all yours

"George P. Bush weighing run in Texas".

A "turbulent, paranoid, erratic, vindictive political career"

Fred Grimm writes about the latest chapter in Joe Carollo's "turbulent, paranoid, erratic, vindictive political career" "For Joe Carollo, an erratic career, an erratic return".

Another "True the Vote" flop

"FDLE has closed a case against a person accused of voting in the states of Florida and Rhode Island due to a lack of evidence that the person existed. The case was initiated by a group called True the Vote." "Florida finds no wrongdoing in several voting cases".

"Drama in Palm Beach County"

"U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is one of the most powerful and recognizable Democrats in America. Retired teacher Bunny Steinman isn’t well known beyond the ranks of Palm Beach County Democratic activists."

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is one of the most powerful and recognizable Democrats in America. Retired teacher Bunny Steinman isn’t well known beyond the ranks of Palm Beach County Democratic activists.

But in the contest to determine who will lead the Florida Democratic Party, Steinman and other grass-roots operatives appear to have more say than Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz, Sen. Bill Nelson and other party elites.

Steinman, a resident of unincorporated Boynton Beach who is Palm Beach County’s Democratic state committeewoman, is one of several county committeewomen and committeemen who have publicly declared their support for Hillsborough County Committeeman Alan Clendenin for state party chairman.

Wasserman Schultz, Nelson and most of Florida’s U.S. House delegation are backing Allison Tant, a Tallahassee fundraiser who has helped generate campaign cash for President Barack Obama and others but doesn’t have much history with party activists and organizers around the state.

Clendenin’s camp says it has lined up more than 500 of the 580 votes needed in the chairman’s race, primarily from county activists like Steinman. Tant’s consultant, Christian Ulvert, said Tant has pulled ahead of Clendenin, though he would not share specific numbers.

To maximize South Florida’s influence, Democratic leaders from the three counties agreed last month to vote as a unit in the chairman’s race. They decided to support Clendenin at a meeting on Monday and signed a document declaring their endorsement.

Palm Beach County Democratic Committeeman John Ramos signed the document, but said later he was uneasy about doing so. On Wednesday, after a meeting in Broward County with Wasserman Schultz, Ramos announced he was supporting Tant.

Paul Flemming says "It wouldn’t be a story about the Democrats in Florida without Jon Ausman. Tallahassee’s agent provocateur and Democratic national committeeman with battle ribbons from the 2008 Florida delegation-seating debacle has an analysis, naturally, of the campaign to chair the party. He spins out five scenarios in arguing for his preferred version — that is, a negotiated truce that takes advantage of the respective strengths of both Tant and Clendenin. But in the process, Ausman describes in his Scenario Four, broadcast to Florida Democrats, what’s likely to happen:"

“Both Allison Tant and Alan Clendenin campaign hard for the office all the way through the 26 January 2013 (State Executive Committee) meeting. Their supporters continue to use both negative and positive techniques. Their supporters continue to refuse to negotiate and turn this into a winner-take-all result for their respective candidate. Somehow the (executive committee) heals over the following 120 days.”

Not only does that seem to be the way things are going, but it’s also the most compelling way, from a reporter’s perspective, for “As The Democratic World Turns” to play out.

"Expanding Medicaid to provide health care coverage to more than 1 million uninsured Floridians"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Now that Gov. Rick Scott has agreed to use more realistic cost estimates for the expansion of Medicaid, the benefits should be even clearer. Expanding Medicaid to provide health care coverage to more than 1 million uninsured Floridians is the right choice, and the federal government will cover most all of the cost. Scott's revised 10-year cost to the state of $3 billion still may be high, but it is closer to reality than the $26 billion he cited earlier this week." "Medicaid by the numbers: a bargain".

Central Florida Regional Transit Board

"Don Gaetz Backs Effort to Create Central Florida Regional Transit Board".

"Short-term political calculations, rigid ideology and disdain for President Obama"

Tom Nickens says "We are about to find out if Gov. Rick Scott has learned anything about vision and investing in Florida's future — or whether he remains driven by short-term political calculations, rigid ideology and disdain for President Barack Obama."

"It's hard to be optimistic. The similarities between Scott's approach to high-speed rail and to the expansion of Medicaid are depressingly clear:"

Withhold support and criticize Obama.

During his 2010 campaign, Scott refused to support high-speed rail, one of Obama's top priorities. He vigorously fought the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Medicaid, the president's top legislative accomplishment so far. The fate of health care reform was settled by the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld the guts of the law, and by Obama's re-election.

Listen to tea party followers, not business leaders.

Scott rode the tea party wave to narrowly win the governor's race. The tea party folks consider rail part of a government conspiracy to take away our cars and force everyone to live in high-rises. They hate Obama's health care law, which they consider to be socialized medicine, and they are lobbying Scott to reject the Medicaid expansion money. Central Florida business leaders supported high-speed rail, and hospital and insurance executives throughout Florida see the Medicaid expansion as an economic opportunity.

Ignore the facts to appear fiscally conservative.

Scott insisted Florida would be on the hook for too much money for high-speed rail. But the federal government's $2.4 billion would have paid for nearly all of the construction cost, and private contractors would have covered any construction cost overruns or operating losses. In a Tampa Bay Times column last week, Scott contended Florida would be on the hook for $26 billion over 10 years for the Medicaid expansion. That is a wildly inflated figure that does not reflect federal law, which requires the federal government to cover 100 percent of the cost for the first three years and never less than 90 percent.

Create an illusion of reasonableness.

Scott met with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in Washington to talk about high-speed rail, raising hopes a deal could be reached. After he rejected the money, he let local officials try to save it when he had no intention of making it work. Last week, Scott flew to Washington to talk to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to talk about the Medicaid expansion. . . .

Add it all together, and it appears Scott is headed down the wrong path again.

"Charter school companies see vast potential for expansion"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board's Jac Versteeg writes that, "For all the hype and official favoritism, charter schools still serve only about 200,000 of Florida’s nearly 2.7 million public school students. The for-profit charter school companies see vast potential for expansion. We see obvious proof that the legislature and Gov. Scott should make traditional public schools their priority." "Editorial: Ease charter-school push".

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Health Care -- But Wait, There's More ...".

Florida First Lady Ann Scott

"Florida First Lady Ann Scott finding her voice".

"Lines may have been crossed"

"News that Bernie Machen will remain president of the University of Florida has been widely regarded as a positive step for the school yearning for higher national prominence. But some UF supporters and observers say they are concerned lines may have been crossed in persuading Machen, 68, to postpone his retirement." "Scott's nudge raises concerns at UF".

Scott looks to avoid primary

Bill Cotterell: "Scott is off to a fast start toward his 2014 re-election bid. Meanwhile, legislators in charge of committees of continuing existence transferred thousands of dollars through those organizations, which can collect limitless amounts of money and spread it around." "Politicians report year-end finances, money moves".

Scott "running higher education on the cheap"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "The Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system, needs visionary members with varied backgrounds who come from throughout the state. But Gov. Rick Scott didn't look much beyond his affluent Naples neighborhood or his simplistic views about running higher education on the cheap to appoint new members. It is a prescription for mediocrity when what the universities need is bold leadership and advocates for investing in their success." "A recipe for mediocrity in higher ed". See also "Rick Scott puts stamp on university system".

'Glades

"Federal budget cuts and state economic woes loom as a challenge to paying for pending Everglades restoration projects." "Everglades activists hope to maintain progress".

Republicans and Democrats putting aside their petty, partisan disharmony to come together as comrades-in-chicanery for the good of their pals.

Cue the amber waves of greed.

It was probably a tip-off that the bipartisan vote in Washington last week to avoid tumbling off the fiscal cliff included some smoke-filled-room mischief when one of the yes votes came from Sarasota Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan.

After all, Buchanan is so scruples-challenged he practically made the capital's list of the most compromised members of Congress before he was even sworn into office. You can't deny he is a man of ambition.

Tucked into the fiscal cliff vote were an estimated $46 billion in big, fat, juicy pork projects for special interests. But it's still early yet. There's a lot more counting still to be done. Altogether now: "Woo pig sooie!" . . .

And then there was the $78 million in tax subsidies that went to those poor, struggling, impoverished, destitute folks who own NASCAR racetracks, which as we all know is one of the most economically depressed businesses in America.

Buchanan voted to pour the $46 billion into the pockets of tuna corporations, movie moguls and those street urchins at NASCAR. So, too, did Florida's senior Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Daddy Warbucks.

Both men insisted they were only trying to help the average Joe. And they certainly did, if you define the average Joe as the France family, with a net worth of $3 billion overseeing the No. 1 spectator sport in the country, which pulls in $3 billion in sponsorship money along with a $560 million-a-year television deal.

If you're looking for someone to blame for the $46 billion in gifts, take your pick. Both parties participated in the giveaway and have benefitted from the generosity of special interests. Both Nelson and Buchanan have received thousands of dollars in contributions from NASCAR.

And while the fiscal cliff vote was supposed to protect Bush era tax cuts for the middle class, is anyone shocked to learn $46 billion was earmarked to lather up special interest projects?

Foreclosure settlement funds

"The Joint Legislative Budget Commission is poised to disburse $45 million to the Florida Housing Finance Corp. next week for down payment assistance and housing counseling for eligible homeowners as part of an agreement between Attorney General Pam Bondi and legislative leaders. Another $15 million will go to legal counseling, legal fees and the court system." "Lawmakers to disburse part of foreclosure settlement funds next week".

"Pistol-packing teachers?"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Pistol-packing teachers? A formula for disaster".

What a deal

"HB 33 would allow adjacent landowners to obtain state land in return for a conservation easement on their private land. Rep. Jimmie T. Smith, the bill's sponsor, said the measure would increase conservation opportunities. But some conservation and environmental groups are concerned. " "Bill would let landowners acquire state land without having to buy it".

Let them sleep under bridges

"As Florida legislators debate how to respond to the overhaul of the federal health care system, and Gov. Rick Scott continues trying to get Health and Human Services officials to accept the Sunshine State’s views on Medicaid funding, at least one U.S. congressman believes they don’t have to rush." "Florida Right to Reject State-based Health Care Exchange, Medicaid Expansion".

Never mind

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Scott admits to faking the cost to Florida of Medicaid expansion". "Gov. Rick Scott's administration has reversed course and conceded the optional Medicaid expansion allowed under President Obama's health-care law would cost Florida taxpayers far less than he has been claiming." "Scott reverses course on 'Obamacare' price tag". See also "New estimate slashes Fla.’s Medicaid cost by billions".

Rick Outzen, the publisher/editor of Pensacola’s Independent News, writes in the Miami Herald that: "Florida lawmakers need the best estimates possible to make intelligent decisions about the state’s budget. The governor and his agencies have an obligation to do that. Blowing up the projection to such an exaggerated level does much more harm than good. However, it may be Gov. Scott’s ticket to re-election, or, at least, he seems to think so.". Come on, Gov. Scott, drop the scare tactics". Meanwhile, "Joe Negron, Governor ‘Reasonable’ to Question Health Care Cost". And where have these dopes been? See "Health Care Summit: Florida Must Do Health-Care Overhaul Right".

Stand 'yer stoopid

"'Stand Your Ground' Repeal Bill Filed".

The race to lead FlaDemParty

Aaron Deslatte: "The race to lead the Florida Democratic Party is heading down to the wire, and dividing elected leaders from the party's traditional grassroots bases of support." "Activist, fundraiser compete for Democratic Party chair".

Feds turn up the heat on Florida

"The federal government turned up the heat on Florida over its treatment of children with severe medical conditions." "DOJ proposes overhaul of Florida’s program for disabled children".

"Assault on civil liberties"?

Bill Cotterell: "As the ACLU points out 11 issues it was involved in with a report called 'Protecting the Rights of Floridians in the Rick Scott Era,' the state GOP calls the ACLU lawsuits "frivolous" and opposed to 'common sense.'" "ACLU accuses Scott of 'unprecedented' assault on civil liberties". See also "As ACLU touts court victories against Gov. Rick Scott, state GOP attacks group".

Rocking the fraud fraud

"The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced that it found no evidence of criminal activity from the Rock the Vote website. FDLE was alerted to the potential of fraud Oct. 8 by the state Division of Elections." "FDLE finds no evidence of vote fraud in MTV's Rock the Vote".

More early voting days

"Florida election supervisors want up to 14 early voting days".

Scott scrapes the bottom of the barrel

"Scott gains more control of universities with new appointments". "Scott’s choices include three men from Naples, where he has a home, and the son of one of his biggest campaign contributors. They are:"

• Harry Wayne Huizenga Jr., 51, of Delray Beach, president of Rybovich Boat Co. and Huizenga Holdings, the firm founded by his father, former Miami Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga. The elder Huizenga in May gave $250,000 to the governor’s reelection campaign in addition to $200,000 in 2010.

• Ned Lautenbach, 68, of Naples, retired partner in a New York equity firm and for 30 years before that an IBM executive who holds an MBA from Harvard. Lautenbach and his wife, Cindy, were members of Scott’s inaugural committee and donated $25,000, the maximum allowed; he also gave $15,000 to Scott’s reelection committee, Let’s Get to Work, in April in addition to $40,000 to the Republican Party. Lautenbach’s term is for six years because he is filling the unexpired term of a former board member.

• Wendy Sartory Link, 48, of Palm Beach Gardens, an attorney and managing partner of Ackerman, Link & Sartory and chair of the Florida Healthy Kids Corp.

• Edward Morton, 65, of Naples, a former healthcare executive with NCH Healthcare Systems. He has a master’s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and an MBA from the University of Miami.

• Alan Levine, 45, of Naples, senior vice president of Hospital Management Services of Florida and former secretary of health for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Levine, who once worked in Pasco County for the hospital chain Scott founded, holds a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees from the University of Florida, where he serves as a trustee.

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott's office defended a questionable Dec. 17 report that Florida taxpayers would be on the hook for nearly $26 billion over 10 years to expand Medicaid as part of President Barack Obama's health care plan.

Late Wednesday, Scott's Agency for Health Care Administration released a revised estimate.

The new 10-year cost? $3 billion.

Why the enormous difference?

The new estimate includes the federal matching funds promised in the health care law to pay for the Medicaid expansion. It also excludes costs associated with people who are now eligible for Medicaid but for one reason or another have not enrolled. The revised estimate is more in line with costs estimated by outside groups, and could soften attacks that the expansion is too costly for Florida to afford. With some other changes, the estimate could climb to about $5 billion.

Scott had used the eye-popping $26 billion estimate to make a case against the health care law both on Sunday in a Tampa Bay Times guest column and again on Monday after a meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

But the dollar-figure was quickly debunked as based on severely suspect assumptions and was panned by Democrats, health care advocates and even a prominent Republican lawmaker.

Automatic voter registration

Bill Cotterell: "A newly elected South Florida senator, contending Florida election laws were originally rigged against women and minority voters, introduced a bill Wednesday providing for automatic registration of eligible citizens when they sign up for driver licenses."

Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, said his bill is not aimed at increasing voter turnout. [Why not?] He said he just wants to make it easier for residents to sign up, if they want to, while getting their driving licenses.

Implementing the federal Affordable Care Act

"Lawmakers and health-care industry representatives meet in Orlando this week for two-day conference. One of the issues they'll take on is how to implement the federal Affordable Care Act." "Committee chairs to discuss health care".

Enough is enough

"Gov. Rick Scott isn't giving up in his quest to cut corporate taxes . . . . Scott made the pitch in Jacksonville where he once again claimed that Florida is too taxing on companies doing business here." "Businesses in Florida need more tax breaks, Scott says". See also "Scott seeks elimination of sales tax for manufacturing equipment", "Local execs praise Gov. Scott's proposal to eliminate equipment tax", "Scott floats new tax break for manufacturers" and "Business Advocates Roll Out Support for Rick Scott's Call to Cut Taxes on Manufacturing Equipment".

These taxes they like

"Melissa Joiner brings nearly 12 years in government and lobbying to the Florida Retail Federation. Her top priorities are to keep the sales tax holiday and make progress toward extending the sales tax to Internet transactions." "Retail federation hires new lobbyist".

"A fast-track foreclosure bill"

"A fast-track foreclosure bill meant to hasten the legal process and reduce a mammoth court backlog will again be discussed by Florida lawmakers this year — the fourth consecutive session in which the issue has been up for legislative debate." "Quickie foreclosure bill on agenda again".

Florida to shortchange hospitals that serve neediest patients

"Hospitals that serve Florida’s neediest patients stand to lose the most under a new system for how the state doles out Medicaid dollars." "Hospitals that serve Florida’s neediest patients concerned about proposed change to Medicaid payments".

Nuthin' 4 nuthin'

Scott Maxwell: "Lawmakers shouldn't substitute lobbyists for brains".

Never mind the "student achievement" and "finance" parts

"Florida earned an overall grade of B-minus, while the national average was a C-plus."

This year, Florida earned A's in the categories of "standards, assessments and accountability" and "transitions and alignment." It also did well in the "teaching profession" category, getting a B.

But it got only a C-minus in student achievement and earned a D-plus in finance. Its education spending, as in years past, earned it an F.

For a more useful portrayal of Florida's "ranking", see the National Assessment of Educational Progress results, which have long been considered the "the nation’s gold standard in assessing academic attainment"; NAEP places Florida 35th on reading and 42nd on math. See "Rhee's StudentsFirst grades education on ideology, not results". More: "Descent into parody" (scroll down).

Gun nuts

"Teacher slain; two schools have grief counselors".

Bright Futures lawsuit

"Should students have to disclose highly personal details of their families' finances to the federal government as a precondition for receiving state scholarships based on academic merit? The Florida Legislature thinks so, but a new lawsuit insists it is unconstitutional." "Lawsuit Says Florida Bright Futures FAFSA Requirements Violate Right to Privacy".

Florida Democrats poised to deliver embarrassing snub to Wasserman Schultz

"Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has the ear and the loyalty of President Barack Obama, and loads of influence among Democrats in Washington and across the country. Democratic activists in her home state of Florida, however, are poised to deliver an embarrassing snub to Wasserman Schultz later this month with the heated race to lead the state Democratic Party.""

The congresswoman from Weston recruited longtime friend Allison Tant of Tallahassee to run for chair of the state party, and in recent weeks has aggressively lobbied elected officials and party activists to get behind her anointed choice.

But it looks increasingly likely that those activists may ignore the entreaties by Wasserman Schultz and Sen. Bill Nelson and instead elect Tampa activist Alan Clendenin to succeed outgoing party chairman Rod Smith.

Tant, a top Obama fundraiser and former lobbyist who had been little known outside of Tallahassee, noted that the Monday night South Florida vote was non-binding and that she is rapidly gaining support as she meets more and more people across the state.

"It’s very close and it will be a robust primary," said Tant, 51, who on Wednesday announced endorsements from most Democrats in the Florida congressional delegation (U.S. Reps. Frederica Wilson and Joe Garcia of Miami-Dade; Alcee Hastings of Broward; Lois Frankel, Ted Deutch and Patrick Murphy of Palm Beach; Alan Grayson of Orange County; and Corrine Brown of Duval County) as well as seven local party officials.

DEP management positions filled with people who worked for industries it regulates

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "For the last two weeks, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has been sending out “setting the record straight” news releases in response to critical newspaper editorials. The talking points, though, mostly talk past the facts."

The editorials followed a Christmas Day story in the Tampa Bay Times that the the DEP had laid off 58 employees, some of whom were veteran, effective environmental regulators. One had prevented severe damage to Tampa Bay from a phosphate plant. Also, since Gov. Rick Scott named defense contracting executive Herschel Vinyard DEP secretary two years ago, the department has filled top management positions with people who had worked for industries the department regulates.

The DEP release says the layoffs came from “reorganizations…after months-long assessments of procedures and processes as well as staffing and workload levels.” OK, but why did all those “assessments” result in these particular employees being laid off? A DEP spokesman said it was part of a “changed management structure” that placed 50 regulators under one supervisor in the agency’s Tampa office. . . .

Which brings us to those fresh-from-industry hires. The DEP’s deputy secretary for regulatory programs is Jeff Littlejohn. He had worked for the North Palm Beach engineering firm of Isiminger & Stubbs. The firm’s job is to obtain environmental permits for its clients. Mr. Littlejohn is the son of Charles Littlejohn, a Tallahassee lobbyist whose clients include large landowners that seek DEP permits. An engineer who worked for developers oversees water resource management for the DEP. Air pollution regulation belongs to a lawyer whose former firm regularly seeks permits for polluters.

Gov. Scott, though, has made clear that he considers regulation a burden to business. We would argue that a healthy environment helps to attract business, by raising the quality of life and increasing property values. Judging by its news releases, the DEP seems more concerned with trying to make bad publicity go away rather than make a persuasive case for controversial decisions. Which doesn’t set the record straight about the DEP’s commitment to protect Florida’s environment.

Scott to pick a judge

"4 Palm Beach County circuit judges among those Gov. Scott will choose from to fill 4th DCA vacancy".

Never mind

"The Florida Conservation Coalition says it is requesting $100 million for Florida Forever -- without the sale of state lands. A coalition representative withdrew an earlier statement that the group was supporting DEP's request to include $50 million from the sale of state lands." "Coalition corrects statement on selling land to pay for buying land".

"FMA won't be just a silent partner"

Nancy Smith: "The general counsel for the Florida Medical Association made it clear Wednesday that the FMA won't be just a silent partner in the 2013 legislative fight to keep workers' comp doctors dispensing medicine in their offices." "FMA Makes Its Presence Felt in Round 1 of Session's Drug Dispensing Battle". Related: "Fight resumes over drug repackaging".

Rick Scott's "veil of uncertainty"

"A 'veil of uncertainty' among consumers and investors is crushing economic recovery statewide and in Palm Beach County, Florida economist Henry Fishkind said Wednesday." "Lack of consumer confidence holds back recovery statewide and in Palm Beach County, says Florida economist".

"She embraced her inner cretin"

Fred Grimm: "Dummies everywhere should celebrate Patte Atkins-Grad’s ignominious return to Tamarac city hall this week. Atkins-Grad ought to be their hero. She embraced her inner cretin. She took her own bumbling incompetence and transformed it into a splendid criminal defense strategy."

We now have a new template for other politicians trapped in the sump of their own corruption. (Are you paying attention, David Rivera?) Don’t bother contesting all those inconvenient, incriminating facts. Just transform yourself into a chucklehead.

“There’s a quantum leap between being incompetent and being corrupt,” Kenneth Malnik, her lawyer, told jurors last month. That was apparently enough to allow Atkins-Grad to slither out from under eight felony charges.

It was stunning defense work. Malnik somehow convinced the jurors that Atkins-Grad never quite grasped the unsavory implications when sleazy developers put up $2,300 toward the lease on her new BMW along with $4,000 in other gratuities. She must have assumed it was just coincidence that they were also in desperate need of her vote and commission approval for a controversial project to plop 728 townhouses onto two local golf courses.”

Kiss of death

"Rick Scott Asks Bernie Machen to Remain Gators' President".

Citizens bills

"Bills aim to block uncapped Citizens rates, but other changes trim coverage, boost bills".

"Domestic partnerships" bill filed

"A bill that would allow Floridians to enter into 'domestic partnerships' resembling marriages was filed Wednesday by Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, in an apparent effort to extend at least some marital benefits to same-sex couples."

While the legislation specifically states it is not an attempt to do an end-run around a provision in the Florida Constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman, it would allow gay Floridians to get some rights approaching marriage. Any two people who are at least 18 years old would be allowed to establish a domestic partnership under the law.

But using a study to say that the expansion of Medicaid would cost Florida taxpayers "over $26 billion" is False.

Here's the thing, "Scott was warned his Medicaid math was wrong". But he keeps on lying anyway. See also "Analysts question Scott health reform estimates".

The Sun Sentinel editors: "We keep hearing Gov. Rick Scott has softened his stance against Obamacare and is open to helping uninsured Floridians gain access to affordable health care, while keeping costs affordable for businesses, taxpayers and everyone else."

But things aren't always as they appear.

First, the governor missed last month's deadline for agreeing to create a state health insurance exchange that would make it easy for Floridians to compare the costs and benefits of health insurance plans offered here. Instead, he's letting the federal government do the work for him.

Now we learn the governor has inflated the projected costs of covering another 1.2 million Floridians under Medicaid. Of Florida's 4 million uninsured, these are the folks who live just above the poverty line.

Scott says it will cost $63 billion to expand Florida Medicaid over 10 years, and the state will have to pay $26 billion of that.

But as Health News Florida reported Tuesday, Scott knows his number is wrong. In a series of emails obtained by the website, legislative analysts warned the governor that his number was way off — by a factor of three.

Or is it possible that, as he did in rejecting $2 billion for a high-speed rail line and millions more to implement health insurance exchanges, he will again reject Florida's share and send our money to other states?

Florida families are struggling. Some of us have friends and family members who are dying because they can't afford health care. All of us are paying higher health insurance premiums or taxes so the poor can get treated at emergency rooms or safety net hospitals.

We deserve better.

Besides helping our neighbors, the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy says expanding Medicaid would bring more than $20 billion to Florida over the next decade.

Jim Zingale, an official with the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, told the Times: "This is going to be one of the largest economic booms in the state."

After President Obama won re-election, Gov. Scott said: "I don't think anyone involved in trying to improve health care should say 'no, no, no.' Let's have a conversation."

But to have a productive conversation, we must be honest with one another.

And if the governor refuses to stop spinning the numbers on health care, how can we trust him?

Today at the Capitol

"Today at the Capitol for Monday, Jan. 8".

Everglades Caucus

"With a new congressional class coming in, two South Florida representatives — Miami Republican Mario Diaz-Balart and Miramar Democrat Alcee Hastings — announced they are reintroducing the 'Everglades Caucus' in the U.S. House. The goal is educate members and staffers about the Everglades and, of course, foster support for the projects and money still needed to complete the $12.4 billion restoration effort." "Fla. lawmakers revive Everglades caucus".

Wealthy Floridians whine

"Taxes rising for affluent married couples in S. Fla.".

"Voting is not a trip to Disney World"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The long lines of voters leading up to and on Election Day were an embarrassment that must not be repeated."

It shouldn’t be lost on voters that Mr. Diaz de la Portilla’s committee was instrumental in changing the early voting days to eight last year. To his credit, the legislator is pushing for opening up the Sunday before the election for early voting and extending the hours of the early voting days overall to a maximum of 126. Right now, the law allows 96 hours.

Still, the question begs: Why not simply return to 14 days of early voting?

If the rationale is “saving taxpayers money” you have to wonder what price to put on democracy. It costs $20,000 a day to run early voting sites in Miami-Dade, according to the county. Surely, when the budgets are in the billions of dollars, that kind of money is well worth ensuring access to the polls.

The advisory task force also is recommending that people who use absentee ballots should be able to drop them off at their polling site on Election Day. Right now, a voter showing up at his or her precinct on Election Day with a filled-out absentee ballot will likely be asked to get in line, then give it to poll workers to destroy so that the voter can fill out a regular ballot in person at the precinct. Seems to be just one more time-consuming obstacle that’s meant to turn away voters not help them.

Gov. Rick Scott, who refused to expand early voting hours or extend the number of days even as it became clear that voting lines were stretched to the streets not only in South Florida but in the Tampa area and other metropolitan areas throughout Florida, now says he’s open to suggestions. Here’s an easy one: Just bring back the 14 days.

Meantime, the county task force is working on adding more early voting sites (the county now uses 20 out of a potential 85). Parking may be a problem at many of those sites, which should push the county to find creative ways — bus shuttles to nearby parking lots? — to help people get to the polls. . . .

Voting is not a trip to Disney World. It’s a right that’s fundamental to our democracy.

Scott blames Obama for jobs flop

"Rick Scott: Federal Health Care Law ‘Horrible’ for Medical Device Company Adding Jobs". Related: "Scott highlights medical jobs on South Florida visit as industry frets about taxes".

"2011 law exposes local officials to fines and removal from office if they enact local gun ordinances"

"Legally there is nothing stopping county commissions and city councils. Realistically none of them is likely to do so, because a 2011 law exposes local officials to fines of $5,000 and removal from office if they enact local gun ordinances that do not jibe with state law."

That threat has kept counties and cities from enacting gun controls — especially those pertaining to background checks — that are more strict than state laws.

“It’s political bullying by threatening the personal pockets of individual commissioners,” said Senior Assistant County Attorney Amy Petrick, who filed the suit for the Palm Beach County Commission against Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Florida House and Senate. Petrick said the 2011 law has a “chilling effect” on the ability of local elected officials to do their jobs.

“In order for them to exercise their authority, they need to feel free to operate without being an in atmosphere of fear,” Petrick said. Among the gun control efforts local governments could address: gun shows, like the ones held monthly at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

Broward County has joined in the lawsuit and other counties are watching closely, she said.

"First raises since the Great Recession"

"It may be too early to declare that happy days are here again, but public employees — school teachers, library and parks employees — are starting to see their first raises since the Great Recession." "Public employees seeing first raises".

'Ya think?

"Election Snafu: Was Ballot Too Long?".

Bush push

"Ken Mehlman has a history with Florida, notably 37 days spent in Tallahassee during the 2000 election debacle, deep ties to the Bush family and a vast knowledge of national politics. . . . 'I believe there is no one more able, more principled or committed and a better man than Jeb Bush,' Mehlman told a lunch crowd at the Economic Club of Florida at the Leon County Civic Center." "Ken Mehlman: I’m Out of Politics, but Jeb Bush ‘Still Doing a Great Job’".

Rubio prepared to go after Hagel?

"President Barack Obama nominated former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., for defense secretary, starting what could be a difficult confirmation process."

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has another concern: Hagel's position on Cuba. Hagel once called U.S. sanctions against the communist country "outdated, unrealistic, irrelevant policy."

Bondi, jilted Romney surrogate, needs to do her job

The Palm Beach Post editors: "According to Ms. Bondi, South Florida is “ground zero” for Medicaid fraud, which costs Florida up to $2 billion a year. So what took the attorney general so long to act? Perhaps she was more concerned with her mostly unsuccessful war with the federal government and her campaign work for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney."

Ms. Bondi only recently turned her attention to filling the 23 vacancies in the fraud unit that a recent report from her office and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration attributes to budget shortfalls. Those shortfalls resulted in a loss of $1.89 million in federal funds to the state.

Ms. Bondi told Pinellas County Republicans last September that Medicaid fraud would be “the next thing that we can tackle.” The “hardest thing” about being attorney general, she said, is that “you wanna do everything at once and you can’t.”

The problem is that “everything” included fighting the Affordable Care Act. The state’s lawsuit against the health care law, which the Supreme Court mostly upheld last summer, earned Ms. Bondi numerous appearances on Fox News but did nothing for the state. Ms. Bondi also dragged Florida into a suit with six other states against the federal requirement that employers offer health insurance that covers birth control. She sued the Environmental Protection Agency over water-quality standards.

When Ms. Bondi wasn’t battling the feds during her first two years, she was touring the country for Mitt Romney as a surrogate. She told those Republicans in Pinellas County, “You’re going to be hearing me talking about Medicaid fraud a lot.” Florida would be better off if Medicaid had been a priority earlier. If Ms. Bondi has designs on higher office, her chances will be better if she focuses first on running as well as possible for Florida the office she already holds.

Capping Citizens

"Rep. Jose Felix Diaz and Sen. Anitere Flores, both Miami Republicans, have filed bills to cement the 10 percent cap on annual rate increases for Citizens Property Insurance Corp., whose board members floated the idea of breaking the cap for new policies." "House bill filed to solidify Citizens rate cap".

New Rep "Prepared to Take a Scalpel to Obamacare Exchanges"

"Cary Pigman: Emergency Room Doctor Prepared to Take a Scalpel to Obamacare Exchanges".

It coulda been "a national scandal"

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Most people would just as soon forget last year’s election messes in Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties, which had officials in Palm Beach manually copying thousands of ballots and officials in St. Lucie fighting in court and recounting disputed early-voting results. . . . [B]oth counties got lucky in November. A closer presidential election could have blown these problems into a national scandal. Technical fixes and better management can reduce the odds that Florida will suffer a repeat of 2000." "Editorial: State right on voting fixes for Palm Beach, St. Lucie counties".

Doctors dispute a workers' comp report

"Doctors are disputing a state report saying drugs dispensed by physicians directly to patients are raising workers' compensation rates." "Doctors dispute Fla. workers compensation report".

"5 things to know"

"5 things to know in Florida for Jan. 9".

"I don't understand why everybody's not a Republican," the governor said. "Anybody who believes they want to improve themselves should be a Republican."

No doubt the overwhelming white demographic makeup of the GOP top hats had to nod and harrumph in agreement.

Scott doesn't understand why everybody's not a Republican? Is that so?

Does Scott's definition of those who don't want to "improve" themselves extend to those the GOP might regard as apostates? People who believe in science? People who believe global warming is not merely a passing fad? People who don't believe women can fend off pregnancy caused by rape by virtue of a secret hormone? Gays and lesbians who believe they should be allowed to marry — and serve their country? People who don't buy into the addled paranoia that there is a United Nations conspiracy to take over the country?

There are probably some non-Republicans who might hold the view that lives are hardly improved by a governor who shortly upon taking office signed off on gutting the state's education budget by more than a billion dollars.

It would have improved countless lives around the state had not Scott rejected — based on grumpy tea party opposition — federal high-speed rail funding that could have added thousands of jobs and made travel more convenient.

Florida Republicans alighted on the notion that one way to turn their fortunes around was to disassociate themselves from national politics. Good luck with that, especially since Sen. Marco Rubio is already pondering new drapes for the Oval Office.

As Scott and other party leaders were busy trying to figure out ways to convince independent and moderate voters Republicans really aren't so intolerant, U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland of Panama City attacked Obama, railed against gun control and claimed he is part of the last line of defense protecting freedom against tyranny.

This softer, gentler, open-minded GOP makeover may take a while.

Diaz de la Portilla takes one step back on voter suppression

"In response to the long lines that plagued South Florida polls, two Miami lawmakers have filed legislation to reinstate early voting the Sunday before Election Day."

The proposals by Republican Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla and Democratic Sen. Gwen Margolis follow a recommendation from a Miami-Dade advisory group examining what went wrong in the November presidential election.

The group made additional suggestions Monday, including allowing voters to return absentee ballots in person at their polling places on Election Day, and setting a goal for how long the average voter should wait in line at the polls.

Advisory group members were pleased to learn about Diaz de la Portilla’s legislation, filed Monday, which also would increase the number of early-voting hours per day to 14 from 12.

“There’s so much pressure to get this done,” Margolis said, who filed her bill in late November. “I can’t believe anyone would be against this.”

In 2011, Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed a law sponsored by Diaz de la Portilla’s committee and approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature that reduced the number of early voting days to eight from 14, and eliminated early voting the Sunday before Election Day — a day that predominantly Democratic African-American churches had used to drive “souls to the polls.”

"End children’s suffering"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Politicians like to blame government bureaucracy for inaction. But in Tallahassee, it looks like bureaucrats are the only ones interested in protecting children in Florida’s unlicensed or lightly regulated group homes." "Act to end children’s suffering". See also "Parents of disabled kids blast Florida care".

School board member: arm teachers

"School Board member Bill Mathias wants teachers and principals in Lake County to be armed with district-purchased guns, which they would carry on campus to protect students. Mathias discussed his idea Monday as armed deputies in Orange County began walking the hallways of public elementary schools in response to the Dec. 14 massacre in Newtown, Conn." "Lake School Board member: It's time to arm our teachers with guns". Related: "Guns and Florida: a brief history".

That's all you got, Mr. Scott?

"Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Monday that he had a "great conversation" with the Obama administration’s health secretary, continuing to project openness toward a health care law he once fiercely opposed and used as a springboard to political office."

But Scott emerged from the meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with the same concern about the cost of expanding Medicaid and resistance to partnering with the federal government on a health care exchange, of which the state has already missed a December deadline.

"I want the right health care safety net for our citizens, but whatever we do, it’s got to be a program that works for Florida," the governor told reporters. "We cannot have an adverse impact on access to quality health care or the cost of health care."

The noncommittal approach reflects tense undercurrents, with health care advocates pointing to the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the law and President Barack Obama’s re-election as a mandate to move forward and with Scott’s political base not trusting government claims of lower costs.

Tea party members spent the past few days emailing and calling Scott to warn him against working closely with the federal government. "He would be the ultimate hypocrite," said Everett Wilkinson, a group leader in South Florida. "One of the main reasons he ran for governor was to oppose Obamacare."

Scott faces re-election in two years and has moderated his stance on several issues, including health care, saying he was ready to negotiate. Still, he seemed no more open to changes Monday as he did immediately following the November election.

Henry Kelley, with the Florida Tea Party Network, said Scott’s talks in Washington are worthy of praise and concern. "I’m fine with him trying to work out things on Medicaid. It’s an enormous (budget) line item and if there’s a smarter way to do it, it at least needs to be pursued." But he said Scott should let the federal government design a health care exchange for Florida. "The Democrats in Washington passed this. Let them own it."

"Rick Scott bashing"

The Sunshine State News' Lloyd Brown struggles with definitional concepts, like what the word "socialism", this morning: "America's recent lurch toward socialism [?], in which Florida participated, has produced something rare among liberals in the Sunshine State: optimism."

The gloom-and-doom crowd are sounding like a Rotary Club meeting, judging by a quick scan of Florida's left-wing political blogs. (Is there any other kind?)

My slanderometer detected an increase in the Rick Scott bashing, as they look forward to next year's governor's race. Also, having made a dent in the conservative majority in the Legislature liberals are almost giddy at the prospect of gaining more control over Floridians.

"Scott starts trumpeting record"

"Gov. Scott starts trumpeting record for 2014".

"Gov. Rick Scott is looking to take another run at getting performance bonuses for some state employees, he told a newspaper in an interview published Monday. But the move could do little to quiet calls for broad-based pay increases after workers have seen their wages stagnate in recent years."

Doug Martin of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said it was "unacceptable" for Scott to make up for six years without pay increases by giving bonuses to 35 percent of workers.

Enough of that democracy stuff

"State lawmakers want to stop local sick pay measures, such as the ones that gained support in Orlando and Miami last year." "State Lawmakers Seek to Stop Local Sick Pay Laws".

"Scott maintains narrow view"

"During an interview with The Florida Current staff, the governor was asked to lay out his legislative agenda on a variety of issues. Scott said he has asked DEP to look at Florida's springs and that he's concerned about disrupting the flow of natural gas to the state." "Scott maintains narrow view on water, energy issues".

GOPer Inquisition: Miami-Dade County GOP denies he's a "liberal 'Democrat' collaborator"

They're breaking out the iron maidens in Miami-Dade GOPerland: "The weeks following historic electoral gains by the Ron Paul 'liberty movement' in the Miami-Dade County GOP have not been smooth ones for new chairman Nelson Diaz, accused by some of the Texas congressman’s libertarian supporters of being a 'closet liberal' and 'Democrat collaborator.'" "Miami-Dade GOP Chair Nelson Diaz to Ron Paulers: I'm No Liberal, Let's Work Together".

"Descent into parody"

Rick Scott education confidant (after Jeb Bush), one Michelle Rhee "continues her descent into parody."

Rhee's StudentsFirst organization has released a report card grading states—on their education policies, not their educational results. In fact, not one of the states StudentsFirst ranks in the top five is in the top half of states on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, "the nation's report card," when it comes to eighth grade reading scores, and only one is in the top half when it comes to eighth grade math.

- Louisiana is the top-rated state, according to StudentsFirst. It ranks 49th of 51 on eighth grade reading scores and 47th of 51 on eighth grade math scores.

- Florida is StudentsFirst's second-best state according to ideology. According to educational results, Florida is 35th on reading and 42nd on math.

- StudentsFirst says Indiana is third. The "nation's report card" says it's 30th on reading and 23rd on math.

- The District of Columbia, where Rhee had her way from 2007 to 2010, comes in fourth according to Rhee's ranking system. According to the NAEP? Dead last.

- Rhode Island is fifth in Rhee-land. It's 29th in both reading and math on the NAEP.

By contrast, of the 11 states Rhee rates as having the worst policies for education, three are in the top six for eighth grade reading scores on the NAEP, and four more are in the top 20. Another contrast: The three highest-scoring states on reading are Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Rhee scores them 14th, 21st and 18th.

Yet Florida's media blithely reports the "results" of Scott's buddy's self-serving "report". Consider the Orlando Sentinel's Leslie Postal, who trumpets that "Florida ranks second in the nation when it comes to state education laws that promote quality education, according to a new national report card by StudentsFirst. The group was founded by Michelle Rhee, the former schools chancellor in Washington, D.C. who served as an education adviser to Gov. Rick Scott as he prepared to take office just after his election." "Rhee's StudentsFirst ranks Florida's education laws 2nd in national study".

Thirty seconds of research would have disclosed that doing well in Ms. Rhee's "report" is indicative of precisely how not to do education.

More on Ms. Rhee from the Washington Post's Valerie Strauss, who wrote yesterday that Rhee has

pledged to raise $1 billion to upend the public education system according to her reform tastes. Those include merit pay for teachers (which has been tried over decades and never worked well); using standardized tests to evaluate educators (which assessments experts say is a bad idea); charter school expansion; voucher expansion; and weakening of teachers unions. Rhee says these reforms will improve education; critics say that they are harming it and that they are in reality serving to privatize the public education system.

The states that got the highest score handed out — a B minus — were Florida and Louisiana. No surprise there.

Florida’s reform efforts were spearheaded more than a decade ago by then-Gov. Jeb Bush, who was the national leader in these kinds of reforms. The school accountability system that Bush set up, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, is scandal-ridden, but he still travels the country promoting his test-based reform model.

Louisiana is the state where Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal instituted a statewide voucher program that gave public money to scores of Christian schools that teach Young Earth Creationism, the belief that the Earth and the universe were created by God no more than 10,000 years ago. Kids learn that dinosaurs co-existed with humans. That’s the state that got Rhee’s top grade.

One of the measures that was not used was standardized test scores — which is ironic given that she is a big supporter of test-driven accountability for students, teachers and principals. This allowed StudentsFirst to give bad grades to states with high standardized test scores, such as Massachusetts. The reason? StudentsFirst says that while the state is consistently ranked first in National Assessment of Educational Progress scores for 4th grade and 8th grade reading and math, there was a large gap in scores in 2011 between white and Hispanic students.

[However,] Louisiana consistently ranks at or near the bottom of states for NAEP scores, and the achievement gap in Louisiana is huge: State tests show a 22.1 point gap for black and white students in English Language Arts in spring 2011 and a 26.7 point gap in math. But the state is implementing reforms that Rhee likes.

"Another hurdle to discourage the down-and-out"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Talk about kicking people when they're down. Bad enough that hundreds of thousands of unemployed Floridians must rely on ridiculously meager jobless benefits to get by."

Now, the state wants to erect yet another hurdle to discourage the down-and-out from tapping an earned benefit: requiring the jobless to possess personal email addresses to collect unemployment benefits.

A similar warning and recommendations by another county grand jury after the 1997 Miami elections got a big yawn from Tally. Yet those elections resulted in more than 50 people convicted of absentee ballot fraud and a judge throwing out all absentee ballot results because they were so compromised, shaking up City Hall with a new mayor in the process.

“Many of our legislative recommendations are easy to implement as we are only asking that they reinstate laws that were previously on the books,” the grand jury report notes. One of those old laws required people who vote absentee to have a witness (with an address and signature) on the envelope returning the ballot. That would be one way to put so-called boleteros on notice.

GOP-controlled Tallahassee cut the number of days for early voting (particularly the Sunday before Election Day, the so-called “Souls to the Polls” effort that has been popular among black churches that help bus their congregants to voting sites). The state also limited the places early voting can occur, so that local elections supervisors couldn’t open up more sites in areas where they were most needed even when it became clear that the lines of voters were overwhelming.

“The grand jury was strongly inclined to recommend that the legislature reinstate the ‘for cause’ requirement that existed when absentee ballots initially became available,” the grand jury noted. “In light of the debacle that was the 2012 General Election, we are loathe to make such a recommendation.”

“How much longer would the lines have been and how much more time would voters have had to wait in those lines if instead of using absentee ballots, Miami-Dade County’s 242,251 absentee ballot voters actually showed up at their precincts or early voting sites?”

"Brutal political fight"

"The brutal political fight over mandatory sick time for workers in Orange County is about to move to Tallahassee, as two Central Florida lawmakers want to block locally driven efforts supporting the idea."

Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, and Rep. Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, say the proposed sick-time measures now being considered in Orange and Miami-Dade counties could put those counties at a competitive economic disadvantage. They argue that such policies should not be adopted patchwork-style across Florida.

Where's Rick?

"South Florida: 28 job postings per 1,000 unemployed".

"True education reform"

"One of Florida's most prominent Democratic political families has a new public face: Karen Castor Dentel, a public school teacher who promises to reach across the political aisle to accomplish what she says is one of the state's most pressing issues: true education reform." "Karen Castor Dentel: Democratic Scion with Eye on Education Reform".

"A thin line between freedom and tyranny" and wingnuttery

"Southerland was the only congressional member to attend Saturday’s Republican Party of Florida quarterly meeting at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, drawing applause by noting he was part of 'a thin line between freedom and tyranny.'" "Steve Southerland: Obama ‘Must be Stopped’".

"An unprincipled liar"

"The fiscal cliff negotiations are over for now, but while they were happening, there were lots of accusations and finger-pointing before Congress and President Barack Obama reached agreement."

Amid the home stretch, Florida's Sen. Marco Rubio — who voted no on the overall deal — took to Twitter. On the afternoon of Dec. 30, he tweeted: "Report that #GOP insisting on changes to Social Security as part of #fiscalcliff false. BTW those changes are supported by @barackobama."

The next day, liberal columnist Paul Krugman said Rubio lied about the negotiations, and that "numerous reports tell us that McConnell did in fact make precisely that demand," referring to the Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Judge for yourself. Here's what Krugman said: "Instant Backstabbing" ("we already know that [Rubio's] an unprincipled liar").

More from the "values" crowd

"Faced with a judge’s order that it pay for a special treatment for autistic children covered by Medicaid, the state seeks to have the ruling overturned." "State appeals order to pay for special autism treatment". Although

Big plans

"St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster plans a big agenda as he touts his record in an election year. 'During very stressful economic times, things got done at a very high level. I have a record to run on.'" "Foster eyes political future".

Job creators outraged

"Minimum wage paychecks increase by 12 cents an hour".

Dead birds

"For the third straight year, wading bird breeding was down in the Everglades. Nesting numbers, considered an important measure of the health of the overall system, fell by 39 percent compared to average activity over the past decade, according to an annual survey compiled by the South Florida Water Management District." "Everglades bird nesting declines".

Charter falsifies records

"A Palm Beach County charter school got nearly $160,000 more in state education money than it was entitled to receive after overstating 2011-12 enrollment, a draft audit released last week by the school district’s inspector general claims." "Audit: School overstated enrollment, received $160K".

"The Justice Department should not stand down"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "After a rash of bad publicity arising out of severely disabled children being put into nursing homes over parental objections, with some ending up dead, Florida's health care agency is changing the way it deals with families. Rather than leave it to parents of medically complex children to find their way through the state's bureaucracy, the Agency for Health Care Administration will assign each child an intermediary who will guide the parents through available options."

With so much negative attention, AHCA is promising change. Already, parents of about 200 Medicaid-eligible children in nursing homes should have received letters regarding the nurse care coordinator program, according to AHCA spokeswoman Michelle Dahnke. Follow-up phone calls by the coordinators are to begin next week. And soon the agency hopes to expand the program to all the state's families with medically complex children. If the coordinator acts as an advocate helping parents obtain appropriate levels of at-home and community-based services for their children, it should lead to real change benefiting families in need. But the Justice Department should not stand down. Federal oversight is still warranted to ensure that the state makes good on giving parents real choices for caregiving and provides the assistance they are entitled to by law.

In the November election, Republicans lost ground in both the state Legislature and Congress, failed to offer much challenge to the re-election of Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and failed — against all the party expectations — to deliver Florida in the presidential race.

Florida Republicans failed to win over independent voters and did particularly badly with the fast-growing pool of independent Hispanic voters.

"It's not just that we lost, but that nobody saw it coming," Putnam said. "The fact that we were unsuccessful and oblivious is very disconcerting."

•Keep the same leadership team. Curry and Vice Chairman Blaise Ingoglia were re-elected by acclamation.

•Differentiate Florida Republicans from national politics.

•Fight the "party of 'no'" label.

•Learn from Democrats, whose campaign networks, uses of data-driven marketing, social media and other technologies were thought to be more advanced.

"Being a Republican does not require an unyielding orthodoxy and not thinking," Curry said. "That's another thing certain members of the media like to stick on us."

Not everyone was preaching a softer, gentler Republican Party. U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland of Panama City, first elected in 2010 with tea-party backing, offered a defiant message full of biblical references, hostility toward President Barack Obama's agenda, avowed opposition to any gun-control proposals, and the observation that he himself is "part of a very thin line that stands between freedom and tyranny."

Florida's access to government tit may be curtailed

"You may already know your taxes are going up this year, even if you're not in the top 2 percent of money makers. But more bad news from Washington could hit Floridians in the pocketbook soon, including lost government jobs, fewer defense contracts and smaller raises for Social Security."

The last-minute "fiscal cliff" deal between Republicans and President Barack Obama left many remaining challenges and uncertainties, not the surge of consumer confidence that economists say is needed to pull Florida out of its doldrums.

The future of Social Security and Medicare, money for such pet projects as Everglades restoration, and thousands of military contract jobs from South Florida to the Panhandle are still at stake in the ongoing battle over how to cut federal spending.

Banks laffing all the way to ... to the bank

"New Florida bill would speed up the foreclosure process".

Scott "is just plain wrong"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "For a large portion of Florida's nearly 4 million uninsured, 2014 cannot come soon enough. People will have access to affordable health insurance options on online exchanges, and under the Medicaid expansion an additional 1.2 million Floridians would qualify for the federal-state program, according to a study by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured."

Embracing the Medicaid expansion would be a humane step and a practical one. With a minimum investment from the state, Florida could get more uninsured covered and billions of federal dollars flowing annually into the state's health care sector. Under the health care reform law, the federal government shoulders 100 percent of the cost of Medicaid expansion from 2014 through 2016. After that, the percentage of the federal responsibility slowly drops until it hits 90 percent in 2020 and beyond. Under the law, the states will not be responsible for any more than 10 percent of the cost of Medicaid expansion going forward.

But Scott has argued that Florida cannot afford to expand a program that has been eating an ever larger share of the state budget. Using new numbers from the state Agency for Health Care Administration, Scott claims the cost for taxpayers of the expansion is $63 billion over 10 years, with Florida's share at nearly $26 billion.

This figure is just plain wrong.

"Conga line of officials on corruption charges"

"Six years after former Palm Beach County Commissioner Tony Masilotti led what became a conga line of county officials to federal prison on corruption charges, the majority of those who pleaded guilty and served their time are back in court, protesting their innocence. One-time influential land-use attorney Bill Boose and Kevin McCarty, husband of disgraced County Commissioner Mary McCarty and a political powerhouse in his own right, are the latest to ask federal judges to throw out their convictions." "Corrupt PB County officials want their names cleared".

Sarasota doing business with crooks?

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board wonders whether "the Sarasota City Commission conduct a public hearing to consider the Planning Board's narrow approval of plans for a Wal-Mart supercenter adjacent to neighborhoods?" "Wal-Mart dilemma".

This, on the heels of The New York Times' lengthy expose on Walmart's bribery scandal in Mexico." This most recent story follows up on the Times'

earlier story about what got Walmart in trouble in the first place. Investigators are looking into the world's biggest retailer's dealings in the country, and some of Walmart's senior management appear to be entangled.

The bribes were paid to win permission to open new stores quickly, and may have totaled more than $24 million, The Times alleged.

Now, more details about Walmart's practices in the country have emerged.

"Governor Quixote charged ahead"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "In 2011, Gov. Rick Scott beheld the 85,000 employees in the state agencies his office controls and mistook them for possible closet junkies. And so, Gov. Quixote charged ahead."

But his full-on stampede quickly ran headlong into a lawsuit. . . .

Then, in April, U.S. District Court Judge Ursula Ungaro vanquished the cockamamie crusade. Ungaro ruled the program unconstitutional. . . .

Not that Floridians escaped the lunacy unscathed. In Scott's clumsy attempt to drug test employees, his lance landed deep in taxpayers' wallets. Ungaro last week ordered the state to pay the plaintiff [the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 79] attorney fees to the tune of $190,589.74.

Just the final bitter irony for a dubious plan that Scott spun as a measure of fiscal responsibility — but ultimately proved a costly tilt at windmills.

Cuba, 54 years later

Fabiola Santiago: "54 years later, no end in sight...".

What the spats-and-ascot crowd mean by "freedom"

Prepare yourself. The spats-and-ascot crowd and their do boys in the Teabagger crowd will soon be screaming about how their "freedom" is being trampled upon by the federal government's jack-booted thugs.

You see, "the Food and Drug Administration laid out two proposed rules Friday designed to boost food safety and curb illnesses that kill thousands of Americans a year."

The first would require food producers to have formal plans in place to avoid and deal with contaminated consumables sold in the U.S., whether originating domestically or abroad.

All companies would have to keep records of their efforts, which would be open to government audits.

The latter rule would demand “science- and risk-based standards” at fruit and vegetable farms and packing facilities.

The FDA temporarily shut down the New Mexico production facility of Sunland Inc. after the company’s peanut butter sparked a spate of salmonella illnesses and a mass recall at Trader Joe’s and other retailers this fall.

Last year, a multi-state Listeria outbreak linked to tainted cantaloupes killed dozens of people. Each year, one in six Americans falls ill due to contaminated food, which leads to 140,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 fatalities, according to the FDA.

"Just one agenda"

Randy Schultz writes that "the NRA and CEO Wayne LaPierre have just one agenda: Stall — using the armed-guard plan — and then block anything."

In Florida, the NRA has an even easier fight. The only firearms-related issue likely to come before the legislature is the “stand your ground” law. Gov. Rick Scott’s task force, which the governor created after George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, came stacked with supporters of the law. Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, has introduced Senate Bill 136. It would improve “stand your ground” — among other things, making an exception if someone provoked the confrontation; think George Zimmerman — and it has no chance of passing.

Scott's collapse continues in Tampa Bay area

Michael Van Sickler: "If Gov. Rick Scott wants to make up ground in the Interstate 4 corridor in his bid for re-election, he might want to start in the Tampa Bay area's two largest counties."

Almost twice as many adults in Pinellas and Hillsborough gave Scott a subpar rating than those who gave him a passing mark, according to a Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9/AM 820 News poll.

Only 23 percent rated Scott's job performance as "good" or "excellent," while 42 percent said they rated him as doing a "poor" or "not so good" job. Those who rate him "average" made up 27 percent of the respondents.

Of the two counties, Scott's numbers are substantially worse in Pinellas. While 33 percent of voters rated him not so good or poor in Hillsborough, 52 percent gave him that rating in Pinellas — which just happens to be the home turf of Charlie Crist, the former governor who may challenge Scott in 2014.

"The past year may not have been the greatest"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The past year may not have been the greatest for South Florida’s economy, but it was a good year in terms of recovery. Job numbers slowly improved, housing values continued to rise, the effort to diversify the job market inched forward." "Securing our future".

"The political wind is blowing liberal in the Sunshine State"

The Sun Sentinel's Stephen L. Goldstein writes that, "after the 2012 Election, you don't have to be a weatherman to know that the political wind is blowing liberal in the Sunshine State."

There's a storm brewing for the tea party/GOP, and it's more than a tempest in a teapot. It turns out that Florida voters can only be lied to for so long. Since 1999, Republican governors and a Republican-dominated Legislature have enacted mean-spirited policies that favor corporations and hurt average citizens. Two months ago, disgusted voters finally said enough is enough.

In November 2012, Florida voters soundly rejected draconian constitutional amendments that members of the Legislature put on the ballot. But as sure as weathermen will tell you that the sun rises in the East, the tea party/GOP is planning to hatch another slew of them in 2014 — likely some of those that were defeated, repackaged better to fool voters. So, it's time for liberals to eclipse them, rain on their parade and let weathermen deliver the good news about which way the wind is blowing.

Another $130M needed just to keep up with school growth

John Kennedy: "Enrollment in Florida’s public schools has spiked at a rate not seen since before the recession, but analysts are drawing mixed conclusions about what the sudden change says about the state’s economic recovery."

Almost 30,000 more students were in Florida schools last fall than the previous year, a 1.1 percent boost that represents the largest jump since 2005-06, a new state report shows. . . .

Private school enrollment in Florida peaked in 2003-04, according to the state’s Department of Education, when 381,346 students attended. Those numbers have since tailed off to where in 2010-11, the latest year available, 305,825 kids were listed in private schools.

Florida’s public schools are expected to add another 20,273 students next year, topping the 2.7 million mark. State dollars flow to counties based on the cost per student, which this year averages $6,375 statewide.

At that rate, it means lawmakers will have to find at least another $130 million just to keep up with growth.

Billionaires don't cry

Andres Oppenheimer wants you to know that "Super-rich pay lower taxes in Latin America", but it would not be best to raise their taxes.

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "The decision in Hillsborough County to put armed officers at every elementary school is well-intended. But it is a temporary goodwill gesture and an emotional reaction rather than a real strategy." "Schools, safety and gun laws".