Crist Mum about his appointees' decision against Teachers

Newly minted Democrat and want-to-be-Governor-again, Charlie Crist, has been uncharacteristically silent about three of his Florida Supreme Court appointees, Jorge Labarga, Ricky Polston and Charles T. Canady, voting against teachers, the Teachers Union, and other public employees and their unions, including firefighters.

The key fourth vote who joined the Republican Crist appointees was provided by Justice Pariente, a Chiles appointee, in a concurring opinion that was savaged by the dissenters. Here's a .pdf link to the opinion.

Justice Lewis wrote in dissent, joined by Justices Peggy Quince and James E.C. Perry that the "interpretation advanced by Justice Pariente is certainly without support and contrary to logical analysis." (Slip opinion at pp. 29-30).

These are unusually harsh words for Justices, particularly those perceived to be in the same wing of the Court.

Scott's job creation promises take another hit

Sorry Rick, but "Florida’s job market lurched to the end of the year with another downturn in hiring offset by an improvement in the unemployment rate."

Economist Dave Denslow of the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research said job growth and the quality of jobs were “disappointing” in 2012.

“If you look at the gains in sectors, they were primarily in the relatively low paying sectors and the declines were in the relatively high paying sectors,” he said.

Only if you promise not to vomit on me next time I run on you

"Senate Asked to Cut Overtime from Police, Firefighter Pension Calculations".

"It should be obvious to everyone, including Kingsley"

Stephen Goldstein: "The "free market" is a myth, perpetuated by vested interests to guarantee their ongoing success, justify however low they have to go to ensure it, and delude poor schnooks into thinking that, if they're not filthy rich, they're lazy and un-American. In fact, a truly 'free market' is a license to steal — and the likelihood thieves will never be caught, caught after too many people have been ripped off, or caught too late to make their punishment fit their crime(s)."

Our legal system is rigged for corporate malfeasance. Guaranteed, a kid who gets caught stealing a loaf of bread from a 7-11 will be hauled off to jail. More often than not, a corporate executive who commits fraud will resign without admitting guilt and walk away with a generous severance package. Think Wall Street and big banks/bucks!

It should be obvious to everyone, including Kingsley Guy that, as long as there are people, there can never be a legitimately "free market." A "market" to be truly "free" presupposes a level playing field, where all participants have equal access, follow the same rules and compete ethically on the basis of the quality and marketability of their goods and services. It would be a worthy ideal.

Always a must read

Agree or disagree, Nancy Smith is always a must read: "American Inauguration, Always a Bargain".

Teabaggers in a dither

"FEMA rejects Sandy disaster assistance for Florida".

Isn't that nice

"Charlie Crist is heading to Washington for President Barack Obama’s second inaugural. . . . He said he and wife Carole got tickets for Monday’s oath-taking ceremonies from the White House and have also accepted a 'gracious' invitation to attend a reception at the White House on Monday night. . . . Crist said he has attended several other presidential inaugurations, going back to Ronald Reagan’s first in 1981." "Crist plans to attend inauguration, White House reception".

"Florida's clout culture"

Aaron Deslatte urges you to "Consider the list of recent lawmakers who tried to parlay their Capitol access, connections or clout into gravy-train jobs."

There's former House Speaker Ray Sansom, who immediately after taking the reins of the House in 2008 took a six-figure job at a state college he'd pushed millions of dollars to as House appropriations chair.

Or former Lake Mary Rep. Chris Dorworth, who critics say lived large despite his own personal bankruptcy, thanks to a $1.1 million political fund fueled by big checks from Walt Disney World, casinos, trial lawyers, insurers and health-care companies. After he lost his re-election bid in November, he was promptly scooped up to work for Ballard Partners, one of Tallahassee's top Republican lobbying firms.

There's former Senate President Mike Haridopolos, who was hired to a faculty job at the University of Florida and paid more than $152,000 by a Brevard state college to write a book on politics while he was in the Legislature.

And most recently, there's Winter Park's Dean Cannon, who wasn't out of office a week before setting up his own lobbying firm with former House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, and luring in big clients including Disney, the Florida Realtors, The Villages, HCA and the Florida Association of Broadcasters.

All these former lawmakers have maintained they operated within the ethics rules governing behavior of elected officials. Sansom was indicted by a grand jury for perjury over the money he steered to a state college in Okaloosa County, but the case was dropped.

Cannon has formed a lobbying/political consulting firm called Capitol Insight, but won't register to lobby the Legislature for the current two-year "revolving door" waiting period.

He is allowed, however, to lobby the governor and executive agencies immediately. And his firm can hire someone else – like Cretul and former Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia Lorenzo – to lobby lawmakers now.

Pension Law Experts Coming Out of the Woodwork

- The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "A right ruling on pensions".

- The Tampa Tribune editors: "Pension ruling a win for taxpayers".

Overlooked in the sage analysis by most of the legal experts squatting in editorial conference rooms across the state is the fact that "the legislature and Gov. Rick Scott cared more about sticking it to teachers unions than shoring up the Florida Retirement System" and "the law upheld in this case was about politics, not prudence". That perspective is of course is confluent with the views of Florida's editorial boards (and their owners); hence their rush to agree with the political decision by a political court.

TaxWatch Wingnuts Wanna Privatize State Lands

"Florida TaxWatch to Legislators: Privatize State Lands".

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Let My People Vote (Early and in More Places)".

"Lieutenant governor’s sexual preference" off limits

"Several current and former employees in the administration of Gov. Rick Scott are being ordered by a judge to testify in a sensational criminal case that centers on allegations of illegal taping."

It is still unclear whether Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll will be forced to answer questions in the criminal case against her former aide that has also included allegations of improper relationships in Carroll’s office.

Carletha Cole, who was fired last year, was arrested in 2011 and accused of giving a reporter a secret recording containing a conversation between Cole and Carroll’s chief of staff. Cole has not been charged with making the recording — nor have prosecutors said exactly when the recording was made.

Circuit Judge Frank Sheffield initially ruled that Carroll must answer questions from lawyers representing Cole. But then he changed his mind at the urging of Scott’s top lawyer. Sheffield said Carroll would be questioned last and only if Cole’s lawyers could show her testimony was needed.

Sheffield, however, made it clear that questions of Scott administration employees will be limited to illegal taping and whether or not top officials working for the governor had ordered widespread taping as alleged by Cole.

The judge said lawyers could not ask Carroll or anyone else about the lieutenant governor’s sexual preference or whether or not the her office was the "absolute worst place in the world to work."

"A recipe for influence peddling"

"Among the provisions in the proposed Senate bill:"

• Cracks down on legislators who cash in on their positions of power by taking jobs in school districts, community colleges, universities and water districts.

• Expands the two-year ban on legislators, members of the executive branch and their staff from lobbying the legislature to extend to the executive branch; the ban also includes strategy and public relations work.

• Requires legislators to abstain from voting on issues that benefit them or family members.

• Bans the use of political committees and Committees of Continuous Existence from being used as persona slush funds to pay for dinners, travel and gifts and limits those expenditures to campaign-related activities.

• Allows for the garnishment of wages for any elected officials who fail to pay their fines.

• Gives people who fail to file their financial disclosure paperwork on time 60 days to complete it or pay a fine.

• Requires mandatory four-hour ethics training for public officials.

The CCEs allow nearly unlimited fundraising for influential legislative leaders. The committees are composed of donations and "dues" from groups and businesses that may want to curry favor -- or receive one -- from a powerful lawmaker.

At best, the CCE situation looks bad. At worst, it's a recipe for influence peddling.

Committees of Continuous Existence should be outlawed as one of several state campaign-finance reforms. There should be no illusion, however, that these steps would restore faith in the political system.

Red tide

"Red tide worst off Sarasota County beaches".

Vern hiding under his bed

"U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan repeatedly refused to say where he stood on reinstituting a ban on assault weapons during a town hall meeting with residents here Friday." "Buchanan is mum on gun laws".

Scott can't help meddling

Our Governor is not off to a good start in his quest to transform the University of Florida into a world class university: "The accrediting organization for colleges and universities is looking into Gov. Rick Scott's involvement in the University of Florida's presidential search."

Scott's office confirmed that the governor met with a potential candidate before asking Machen to stay. UF faculty have expressed concern that Scott was overstepping his authority and interfering in a decision that should be beyond his control.

[The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools] tells the Herald/Times it is looking into the matter.

"We are aware of what's going on and we're reviewing it," spokeswoman Pamela Cravey said.

If SACS decides Scott exerted too much influence over Machen and UF trustees, this could be the second time Scott crosses the organization. The first was December 2011 after SACS learned the governor publicly suggested Florida A&M University suspend then-President James Ammons a month after the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion.

SACS President Belle Wheelan sent Scott a letter reminding him that school leaders needed to remain free of outside political influences. FAMU's issues with hazing "are those of the University and as such should be handled by the governing board," Wheelan wrote.

Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders hailed the ruling as victory for Florida taxpayers, while unions decried it as a short-sighted attempt to balance the state budget on the backs of state workers.

Labarga cited a 1981 ruling involving the Florida Sheriffs Association and upheld the constitutional right of the Legislature to revise the retirement contract with existing state workers.

“We recognized the authority of the Legislature to amend a retirement plan prospectively, so long as any benefits tied to service performed prior to the amendment date are not lost or impaired,’’ the ruling said, noting that the court “took special care in Florida Sheriffs” not to bind future legislatures.

Justices R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and James E.C. Perry strongly disagreed with the ruling. Lewis and Perry wrote separate dissenting opinions. Justice Barbara Pariente wrote a concurring opinion.

Lewis accused the state of failing to meet its burden to prove it had a good reason to break the contract with state employees “because facing a budget shortfall is not enough.”

Pariente's role as the key fourth vote (with three other Justices, all Charlie Crist appointees) has thus far escaped the media notice it deserves, but perhaps not for long: Pariente was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court by Lawton Chiles*, and was thought to be aligned with Justices Lewis, Quince and Perry.

Dissenting Justice Lewis opined that the majority decision

impacts a significantly important category of Florida workers, our first responders, those who provide safety and security for all citizens, those who provide education and safety for our children, and thousands of other Floridians who provide essential services for all Floridians each and every day.

These governmental employees are not second class citizens but are entitled to the full protection of the law just as all other Floridians enjoy.

The contractual rights of government employees as established in the statute we consider today cannot receive lesser protection than other contractual rights because to do so would violate the "rule of law" and reduce all to the status of being subject to the whim of those who may be in power at any particular time and from time to time.

The interpretation advanced by Justice Pariente is certainly without support and contrary to logical analysis. Justice Pariente seeks to justify and bolster this approach by suggesting that the State may retroactively alter vested rights and change its obligations without statutory authority to the contrary. In my view, this is not supported by Florida or federal law in this context. Justice Pariente’s entire opinion is based on her statement that there is no “impairment of contracts” here, a position with which I fundamentally and profoundly disagree.

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*Note: an earlier version mistakenly indicated that the author of the concurring opinion (and the key fourth vote) was a Crist appointee. Crist, actually appointed the other three (of the four) Justices that ruled against teachers and other public employees in the landmark pension case.

Perhaps the Teachers Union and other public employee unions will recall that Charlie Crist appointed three of the four adverse Justices in this landmark case when they decide who to endorse for Governor.

Ethics reform?

Scott Maxwell: "Tallahassee is sending encouraging signs that lawmakers are finally listening to citizens fed up with lawmakers who seem more interested in lining their pockets than serving the public." "Ethics reform in Legislature? Be still, my heart".

"State budget was balanced on the backs of public workers"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board acknowledges that "being right legally [which is by no means the case with the FRS decision] and politically does not always translate into good public policy."

The court's 4-3 opinion is an unequivocal victory for Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature, and it further erodes what little influence the teacher unions and other public unions had left.

But that silver lining does not mean the governor and state legislators deserve praise for their treatment of public employees, misleading rhetoric and state budget priorities. State workers now have gone six years without a general pay raise, yet their pay has been effectively cut 3 percent by the forced pension contribution. Scott and state lawmakers made the change in 2011, at the same time they cut spending to public schools by 8 percent and eliminated thousands of public jobs. The era of good benefits and job security but modest pay for teachers and other public employees is over, the consequences will not be good for public education and government service.

Scott campaigned on state pension reform, but requiring workers to contribute to the retirement system was never about improving the pension fund's health. The money generated by the 3 percent contributions, expected to reach $2 billion by June, just frees that much state money to be spent on other costs. The retirement system already was more than 80 percent funded and touted as one of the most financially solvent in the nation. The state budget was balanced on the backs of public workers instead of by cutting spending further or — God forbid — raising taxes.

Jac Wilder VerSteeg speaks for the Palm Beach Post editorial board about the Florida Supreme Court's politically charged, if not motivated, decision: "if the case had been about fairness, state workers protesting the changed pension rules would have won unanimously. The legislature and Gov. Rick Scott cared more about sticking it to teachers unions than shoring up the Florida Retirement System. Legislators and the counties, cities and school districts that benefited from the new law, which reduced employers’ mandatory contributions to the pension funds, in most cases used their windfall to plug unrelated budget holes." "Florida lucky that pension case wasn’t decided on fairness".

Who writes these headlines?

The Sun Sentinel editorial board hacks understand that they're supposed to criticize defined benefit pension plans, so they dutifully produce headlines like this: "Florida justices: State workers must contribute to pensions".

A reader glancing at the headline might not know that State workers now have gone six years without pay raises.

Old cops, just what we need

"Legislators have been asked to increase the age local police and firefighters can begin to qualify for pension payouts and, more importantly, that overtime and base salary -- without overtime and bonus pay -- should be the determining factor to calculate pension payouts." "Senate Asked to Cut Overtime from Police, Firefighter Pension Calculations".

"Legislative priorities draw mixed reaction"

"Chamber legislative priorities draw mixed reaction from environmentalists".

Wingers wanna run wild

Bill Cotterell: "The conservative policy organization suggested giving employees a bigger stake in health insurance, dropping DROP and getting rid of state lands and buildings that are no longer needed." "Florida TaxWatch calls for $1 billion savings".

Nothing but a campaign slogan

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "For all his business prowess, Gov. Rick Scott gives us whiplash in setting education strategy."

His first year in office, the governor slashed the budget for public schools by $3 billion. His second year, he reversed course and added back $1 billion. This year, he says education funding will be flat, or maybe a little higher, depending on which day you catch him.

But — whoa Nelly! — look at the pendulum shift the governor just took on higher education.

While details are still sketchy, Gov. Scott last week promised to ensure the University of Florida reaches the ranks of the nation's 10 best public universities.

Of course "details are still sketchy", because there is nothing here except a campaign slogan.

Related: "Top education leader to universities: 'Being "good" is not good enough'".

Big of him

"After months of defending the status quo, Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday endorsed early voting changes pushed by county election supervisors. Scott now says he supports expanding early voting days from eight to 14, with six to 12 hours of voting each day, and expanded voting locations in hopes of avoiding a return to the long lines and late counts that heaped national scorn on Florida in November. " "Scott calls for more early voting days".

"Gov. Rick Scott is recommending that state should allow supervisors of elections to offer up to 14 days of early voting – the number of days allowed before lawmakers shortened the early voting period two years ago." "Florida Gov. Rick Scott calls for more early voting days, sites". See also "Scott backs ballot limit, expanded early voting".

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Local elections supervisors went to Tallahassee on Tuesday and made a convincing case for how to best fix Florida's voting process. On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott lent his support to many of their proposals. Now state lawmakers should follow through and correct problems in at least four areas that produced long lines and late tabulations, a scenario that made Florida a national punchline." "Welcome news on election fixes". See also "Rick Scott: We Need Short Ballots, More Early Voting Days".

After all, Rubio's immigration ideas seem awfully ... familiar.

Mother Jones', Adam Serwer writes that, although Marco Rubio hasn't introduced any actual immigration reform legislation,

conservative pundits have showered Rubio with praise. The Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin called Rubio's proposal "bold," and the Daily Caller's Matt Lewis writes that "although there is opportunity here, this is still an act of political courage."

"There's nothing substantive in Rubio's proposal that wouldn't immediately be agreed to by President Obama," Krikorian says. "This is the Rubio-Obama immigration plan." In fairness, Krikorian notes, it's also broadly similar to the George W. Bush immigration reform plan conservatives derailed in 2007.

The centerpiece of Rubio's proposal—his plan to handle the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants who are already here—is strikingly similar to the plan Obama described it in 2011. . . .

All of Rubio's immigration reform criteria—fines, back taxes, proof of residence, background checks, and learning English—are part of Obama's plan. The Journal describes Rubio as "charging up the middle" on immigration, even as the Florida Republican rides next to the president. And Rubio's big idea isn't much different in substance from what immigration reform advocates want. . . .

According to the New York Times, like Obama's 2011 proposal, the plan currently being negotiated in the Senate is remarkably similar to what Rubio has discussed, and would include fines, the payment of back taxes, "and other hurdles for illegal immigrants who would obtain legal status." As in Rubio's proposal, those who gain legal status would ultimately be allowed to apply for citizenship. Immigration reformers are now waiting to see if Rubio will back up his words with specific actions that will bolster the prospects of bipartisan legislation—and, no doubt, the White House is, too.

Marc Caputo calls Rubio's grand ideas "pretty much what Obama asked for 20 months ago." "Rubio-Obama immigration plan? Senator’s proposal looks like White House policy".

Florida's jobless rate still above national average

The Orlando Sentinel editor point out that "the recession and the budget chaos it created haven't stopped lawmakers from doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks and other financial incentives to businesses in the name of creating jobs. How's the strategy working? Figures for November, the most recent available, show the state's jobless rate is coming down. But at 8.1 percent, it was still above the national average, where it's been since 2008." "Time to rethink reliance on business tax breaks". Meanwhile, "Florida Chamber to push tax cuts, legal changes in legislative agenda". See also "Florida Chamber Urges Lawmakers for More Business ‘Competitiveness’".

Will "unlimited amount of cash gush into campaign coffers?"

"Florida's campaign finance system is so riddled with holes that a state ethics watchdog group will urge lawmakers today to open the spigot and let an unlimited amount of cash gush into campaign coffers." "Support mounts to allow unlimited political contributions in Florida".

Blah, blah, blah

"Jack Latvala Not Ready to Impose 75-Word Ballot Cap on Legislators".

"Black lawmakers find no common ground Gov. Scott"

"Gov. Rick Scott’s third meeting with black lawmakers left them disgruntled and with low expectations for his assistance on issues ranging from restoration of rights for felons to the federal health care law."

Scott met with the Legislative Black Caucus, who make up one-fifth of the state legislature, for an hour on Tuesday.

Their requests echoed those laid out and largely ignored by Scott, they said, at a similar meeting prior to the legislative session in November 2011. This year’s session starts in March.

At the top of the agenda was restoration of felons’ rights, something that Scott and the cabinet reversed in their first meeting after taking office in 2011. Felons must now wait at least five years before applying to have their rights restored, including the right to vote.

West to cash in

"With a new job hosting an online TV show, conservative former U.S. Rep. Allen West says he won’t run for Congress again in 2014 after his narrow November loss to Democrat Patrick Murphy." "West says won’t run for Congress again; he’ll host online TV show".

So much for local government control

"The Florida Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday that one of its top legislative priorities this year would be blocking local governments from adopting paid sick-time measures such as the one pending in Orange County." "Florida Chamber targets local sick-time laws".

"Specter of bid-rigging"

"Commissioner raises specter of bid-rigging in Miami Beach convention center project".

Here's an idea, cut back on OPS abuse

"The federal Affordable Care Act is expected to add tens of millions of dollars in costs to Florida's state-employee health insurance program, leading some lawmakers to float the possibility of shifting more expenses to workers or tinkering with benefits."

A major part of the increase stems from an Affordable Care Act requirement that the state offer insurance coverage to people who are considered temporary employees but work more than 30 hours a week. Under current state law, those people -- known in Tallahassee-speak as "other personal services,'' or OPS, employees -- are not eligible for coverage.

"Business-friendly" ALF proposals

"The head of the Senate committee in charge of elder affairs vowed Tuesday to revive efforts to toughen the rules for assisted living facilities — and close the most dangerous ALFs."

As the state Legislature met Tuesday for the first time in 2013, Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, chair of the Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, said she plans to bring back legislation that sank at the end of last year's session.

At the hearing, resident advocates and ALF operators tried to sway lawmakers through passionate testimony. Elder advocates called for more oversight and tougher punishment for rogue facilities, while industry leaders warned that more regulations could put the homes out of business.

Although Sobel says "now is the time" to address ALF reform, she could face a daunting task in 2013, with momentum waning.

Change seemed inevitable at this time in 2012, with Gov. Rick Scott promising to clean up the industry and his ALF task force rolling out some of the most forceful reform proposals in decades.

Former Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, a vocal elder-advocate, got behind the issue. And a Miami-Dade County grand jury called for reforms. But Storms couldn't convince the House to take up the bill as the clock ticked down the final day of session.

This year, Storms has left the Legislature and Scott's task force has unveiled a second, more business-friendly round of proposals.

Stoopid is as stoopid does

Nancy Smith: "Other Conservative States Look to Follow No-State-Income-Tax Florida".

"Scott must be squirming"

Tom Lyons: "Gov. Rick Scott must be squirming."

It's a public-relations nightmare that he supposedly dumped his dog like a no-longer-needed campaign aide. . . .

Scott had introduced the yellow Lab during his 2010 campaign to become governor. Scott even held a contest to name the cute new family member.

But very soon, “Reagan” disappeared from photo ops, sightings and casual mention. No one saw any yellow Lab romping with the Scott family, or snoozing happily at the governor's feet.

Press accounts now make it pretty clear that when reporters started asking why, Scott's staff ignored, stonewalled and dodged.

Scott setting up gun control flip-flop

"Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday voiced his support for a broad review of Florida's gun laws by state legislators, saying the state's tourist economy depends on visitors being able to 'feel safe' amidst an increasingly well-armed population." "Scott open to review of state gun laws".

One reason Republicans don't like dues checkoff

"Teachers go after merit pay law in court".

"Florida led the nation in foreclosure activity"

"Florida led the nation in foreclosure activity last year, and Orlando had the second-biggest increase in foreclosure filings among the state's major metro areas, according to a new report." "Florida, Orlando see dismal foreclosure rankings again".

The payroll tax holiday was part of President Barack Obama's stimulus plan to boost the economy. It temporarily reduced employees' Social Security contributions from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent.

The president pushed for an extension early in fiscal cliff negotiations out of a fear that its loss would threaten economic growth in 2013. He relented in the face of opposition from Republicans and groups like the AARP.

Manufacturing and electing business-bots

Michael Sasso reports that a "school that grooms future politicians, bankrolled by the Tampa region's biggest corporations, has had its first graduate win public office."

Kathryn Starkey's election to the Pasco County Commission this fall was a small, but significant, victory for the Tampa Bay Public Leadership Institute, a two-year-old political boot camp. It and its sister organizations have been spreading across Florida, teaching dozens of would-be politicians how to raise campaign cash and survive attack ads.

Paying the bills for students' tuition are companies, including Publix Super Markets, CSX Corp., TECO Energy, AT&T and Outback Steakhouse. . . .

The idea was simple: find business-savvy people with an interest in politics and teach them how to build a campaign staff, raise cash, market themselves to voters and withstand attack ads. The group usually partners with a local economic development group, such as the Tampa Bay Partnership or the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and solicits contributions from major corporations to cover the students' tuition.

Students are expected to understand and support business, but [Institute President Mark] Mills insists there's no litmus test.

Obamanomics

"Fort Lauderdale-area employers had a better year in 2012 than they expected, according to the latest survey of members of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Council of Economic Advisors, a group of CEOs and top executives who meet quarterly to give the Federal Reserve their input." "Local businesses had a better 2012 than expected".

Clendenin, Tant Kerfuffle

Adam C. Smith on the FlaDem party chairman race now raging between Tampa's Alan Clendenin and Tallahassee's Allison Tant:

We really have no clear sense of whether Clendenin, a retired air traffic controller, or former lobbyist Tant will win the race to succeed Rod Smith. At first blush, Clendenin would seem to have the edge — especially after party leaders in the Democratic strongholds of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties on Tuesday signed a pledge to cast all their votes for him.

Pledge, schmedge. Less than a day later, one of those six officials, Palm Beach state committeeman John Ramos, announced he would support Tant[*]. A running tally of declared votes compiled by Tallahassee activist Jon Ausman has Clendenin with 438 votes (about 77 percent of what it will take to win) and Tant with 337 (about 60 percent of what's needed).

- State party staffers ought to be worried. Scott Arceneaux, executive director of the state party, will almost certainly be looking for a new job if Clendenin wins. Hard to see how Clendenin would retain a top staffer who actively campaigned for Tant.

- The shadow of the 2014 gubernatorial race hangs over the election. It may not be accurate, but plenty of players in this party chairmanship drama see repercussions for the race to take on Gov. Rick Scott.

Tant is a top fundraiser for President Barack Obama, whose political team clearly has fond feelings for Republican-turned Democrat Charlie Crist, while Clendenin's base of support comes from the grass roots, where skepticism about Crist is widespread. That may help to explain why Alex Sink, Crist's toughest potential rival for the Democratic nomination, backs Clendenin. . . .

- Wasserman Schultz has diminished her reputation. The Broward Democrat may well wind up delivering the chairmanship to Tant, but the difficulty the DNC chairwoman has had snuffing a challenge from an obscure activist like Clendenin hardly signals vast influence among her home state party activists.

- - - - - - - -

*Here's the latest: After Ramos changed his mind, the Palm Beach County’s DEC voted to endorse Clendenin for state chair.

The county DEC’s endorsement of Clendenin over Allison Tant isn’t binding, but it heaps more pressure on wavering State Committeeman John Ramos, who signed an endorsement of Clendenin on Monday but [later said] he would support Tant.

After tonight’s DEC vote, Ramos said he was torn over how he should vote in the Jan. 26 election for state chairman in Lake Mary.

Ramos and State Committeewoman Bunny Steinman are the only people who will actually cast ballots on behalf of the county in the chairman’s race. . . .

Ramos, who had left the meeting before the vote to endorse Clendenin, was told of the DEC’s action by a reporter and initially sounded unsure of how he’ll respond.

“I’m going to have to seek advice,” Ramos said. “As state committeeman, that’s my job to represent the party. That’s a quandary for me.”

Under the Florida Democratic Party’s weighted voting system, there are 1,140 statewide votes for chairman and Palm Beach County has 82 of them. Ramos and Steinman, a Clendenin supporter, control 41 votes apiece.

Fables of the deconstruction

John Romano tells a story:

There once was a governor who watched faithfully over his flock of citizens. One day, from atop his mansion, he began to cry out, "Bankrupt! We're going Bankrupt!''

The citizens grew concerned and hurried over to see. When they realized he was not telling the truth, they went grumbling back to their homes. A short time later, the governor spoke up again.

"Bankrupt,'' he cried. "We're going bankrupt!''

Once again, the citizens panicked. And once again, they realized they had been duped. Later, when the governor wanted to talk about all the good things he had accomplished for his flock of citizens, he couldn't understand why no one wanted to listen.

But today's worry is not about details. It is about honesty. Trust. Fair play.

A number of times in recent months, Scott has tossed around incorrect facts and highly dubious numbers while railing against the Affordable Care Act.

That a sitting governor does not know simple truths about this important legislation, or that he does know the truth and chooses to ignore it.

Scott once went on CNN and talked about a small-business owner who told him he could not afford to pay for health care for 20 employees, and thus would have to go out of business.

It sounded drastic, poignant and sad. Except it was utterly wrong. The ACA does not require businesses to provide health care unless they have 50 or more employees.

It is one of the most basic components of a plan Scott has supposedly studied, and yet the governor brazenly passed on this bad information to a national television audience.

He has also compared the new law to Canada's system and suggested it will lead to a rationing of health care. This is a spurious argument since the majority of Americans will keep the same health insurance they've always had.

Scott has also offered wildly inflated costs for Obamacare on several occasions, even after being told by his own state officials that the numbers he was quoting were incorrect by billions and billions of dollars.

Now all of this is troubling on two major fronts.

No. 1, how strong is your argument against the Affordable Care Act if you have to continually exaggerate to make your point?

If this plan is as dangerous as you claim, the numbers should speak for themselves and Americans should be able to figure that out. Instead, the governor chooses the most extreme and unlikely scenarios, and then embellishes from there.

No. 2, if you're continually caught stretching the truth on health care, how much credibility do you have on other issues?

"And it's a shocker"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board would like to "have an honest conversation about the costs and benefits of adding more uninsured Floridians to the state's Medicaid rolls under a provision of the federal health reform law known as Obamacare. For after hyper-inflating the true cost, and getting push back from legislative budget analysts, Gov. Rick Scott's administration finally released a more realistic cost estimate for helping poor people get health care. And it's a shocker. The new price tag is about a fifth of what the governor has been leading us to believe." "A business case for expanding Medicaid".

"Legalization won't come overnight"

Kingsley Guy: "Now that Colorado and Washington have legalized recreational use of marijuana, it's time for Floridians to start talking seriously about doing the same."

Legalization won't come overnight. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found only 42 percent of Florida voters think recreational pot smoking should be legal, while 52 percent think it should continue to be proscribed.

"Brain-free zone usually encircles Florida’s Legislature"

Carl Hiaasen shows no mercy today: "It’s only fitting that the NRA’s biggest tool in Florida is a funeral director."

He is Rep. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who does whatever the gun lobby wants.

Three days after the slaughter of first-graders in Newtown, Conn., Baxley made national headlines by suggesting that weapons should be carried by employees at public schools.

You might be wondering what kind of a person would advocate saturating our schools with loaded firearms. How about a grandfather of eight who lists his hobbies as fishing, reading and “listening to Gospel music”?

Rock on, Dennis. Nearer my Glock to thee! . . .

He’s been a long-time darling of the NRA. In 2004 the group gave him an A-plus rating and a “Defender of Freedom” award, and four years later it pumped $35,000 into his election campaign, according to Mother Jones magazine.

In return, Baxley has been obedient and loyal as a puppy. He’s responsible for Florida’s half-baked “Stand Your Ground” law, now a go-to legal defense for any dope dealer or gang banger who shoots down a rival on the street. . . .

He’s way too tight with Marion Hammer, Florida’s top gun lobbyist and a cloud-mate of that jibbering NRA wingnut, Wayne LaPierre.

Not surprisingly, the Baxley-NRA crew has shills in the media. Consider this from The Daytona Beach News Journal editors, who believe the "Florida Legislature should debate whether teachers or administrators should be allowed to carry concealed guns." "Legislature should review school security measures".

Scott Maxwell begs to differ: "Instead of exploring ways to keep guns away from the bad guys and out of the hands of the mentally ill, there are proposals — from Lake County to Tallahassee — to infuse more guns in schools. This is not a proposal. It's a psychotic break." "Don't let fringes stifle frank talk on guns".

Meanwhile, Michael Mayo writes that "After Newtown massacre, Lauderdale gun show does bang-up business".

"Pro-life, super-Christian fallen legislator"

Billy Manes writes that his "favorite cuddly pro-life, super-Christian fallen legislator, Scott Plakon, filed his paperwork to make another go at Tallahassee on Jan. 2. You'll recall that Plakon went down in flames after an attempted Sandusk-ing of opponent (now state Rep.) Karen Castor Dentel in November."

Well, now Plakon says he's ready to "throw his head back in" the race, only this time running in the highly conservative Florida House District 29 he granted bestie (and failed future House Speaker) Chris Dorworth two months ago. It is the district he's called home for 30 years, he says, and even people at his local Chinese restaurant are behind the idea! Still, he'll have to face off with newbie state Rep. Mike Clelland, D-Lake Mary, who doesn't even have a record to run against yet.

"This will be an election about ideas and records," he says. "I do think that my record in the legislature is well-suited to that district."

Plakon expects to launch the whole phoenix-from-the-ashes campaign some time in March with your typical fundraisers and conservative donor calls. As for the loss last year, he says he felt some kind of martyred "peace" about the whole thing; also, these next two years are the last he will have with his high-school daughter before she leaves for college, making him and his wife empty-nesters. In other words, he meant to do that.

All About Charlie

Adam C. Smith relays that Miami New Times has "published a strong and tough profile of Crist."

"Crist wasn't a star football player, as he and his father have implied, New Times has found. And perhaps even more surprising, his father and closest confidant, Dr. Charles Crist, was a segregationist who — despite a kind heart — resigned abruptly from the Pinellas County School Board in 1977 following a controversial tenure. Charlie Crist was also a mediocre student and, according to his ex-wife, an inept husband who dissolved the marriage after only eight months and disappeared."

The Rubio Makeover Continues

"Sen. Marco Rubio has a long record opposing gun control the Miami Republican suggests he could support one restriction likely to emerge from Vice President Joe Biden's task force: universal background checks". "Rubio on guns".

Newark Mayor Cory Booker helps out Broward Dems

"Rising Democratic star and Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker will be the keynote speaker at the Broward Democrats’ annual fundraiser March 23." "Newark mayor to headline Broward Democrats’ fundraiser".