Meanwhile, "In her first TV interview, Florida's Democratic Party chairwoman says, 'Rick Scott is vulnerable, he is beatable and we intend to beat him.'" "Florida Newsmaker Allison Tant" (VIDEO).

Eroding Roe

"In its landmark Roe vs. Wade privacy ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded 40 years ago that the government may not intrude on a woman's reproductive freedom. But that freedom is being endangered in Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country that are eager to test whether the current court would affirm that right."

In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott signed an intrusive law — which had been vetoed the previous year by Gov. Charlie Crist — requiring women to obtain an ultrasound before an abortion.

Sixty-three percent of registered voters support the Roe decision legalizing abortion, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll. Florida voters in November turned back an antiabortion constitutional amendment that would have barred state funding of abortion services and health insurance that covered abortions and weakened the state's reproductive freedom rights.

Scott proposes biggest in state history

"Today, Florida's budget is bigger than when Scott took office, at about $70 billion. And the governor just proposed a $74.2 billion budget – the biggest in state history." "Despite campaign promises, government has grown under Scott".

Budget blues

"The separation between the two chambers' budget approaches is narrow, but possibly deep." "House, Senate close on budget numbers, timeline, not policy".

No cap on contributions to candidates’ political committees?

"A year after redistricting made legislative districts more competitive, the Florida House on Friday passed a campaign-finance bill that raises contribution limits and appears to give incumbents a political advantage."

The 75-39 vote was mostly along party lines. Democrats say the measure — which raises the cap on political contributions and lets incumbents roll over $20,000 toward the next election — gives Republicans more fundraising leverage because they control the Legislature.

In exchange for eliminating CCEs, the House bill raises the cap on contributions to candidates’ political committees from $500 to unlimited amounts, and requires that all expenses be related to the campaign. Parties, political committees and candidates would also face accelerated disclosure requirements that would force them to release their campaign finance records every day during the final 10 days of the campaign, and weekly for the two months prior to that.

Pension games

"The proposal, a priority of House Speaker Will Weatherford, passed along party lines 73-43 after nearly four hours of debate over two days." "House votes to close state pension to new employees, Senate unsure".

See also "House votes to shut down guaranteed pension plan", "Florida House OKs bill ending traditional pension for new employees", "Policy Note: Pension Reform" and "House passes major pension revamp".

Big talk, little thought

"Rubio overstates link between unfilled jobs and lack of skills".

"A mark of shame on the state"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editors: "Florida Senate President Don Gaetz probably meant well when he said, "I wish we could pass a law against crazy." But the phrase hurts."

Gaetz, an advocate of gun rights, is correct that Florida needs adequate mental-health services. It has long lacked them -- a mark of shame on the state.

But other aspects of the Senate leader's phrasing are unsettling.

On the beach

"Florida beaches proposed as turtle “critical habitat”".

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Getting Serious in the Capitol". See also "Week in Review for March 18 to March 22".

Ethics boomlet

Aaron Deslatte writes that "the House is still trying to protect politicians by allowing them to file financial disclosure forms they may know to be incorrect and wait for someone to challenge them. The House also doesn't want to extend the lobbying ban to all former lawmakers – just the presiding officers." "Florida, finally, may set ethics reform trend".

'Glades

"The House voted 114-0 on final passage of HB 7065. The Everglades Foundation and sugar farmers issued separate statements applauding the vote." "Policy Note: The Everglades".

"Everglades clean-up compromise passes House unanimously". From the Palm Beach Post editors: "New Everglades bill contains fewer favors for farmers".

"Four times bigger"

"Fresh off a nearly $300 million racketeering case involving a veterans’ charity that benefited from simulated gambling at Internet cafes, Florida regulators will investigate a children’s cancer group connected to a sweepstakes network that is four times bigger. The new probe comes in response to Associated Press inquiries about Children’s Cancer Cooperative, a group that operates out of a South Carolina bingo parlor, shares a lawyer with Allied Veterans of the World and has collected cash from more than 200 of the sweepstakes cafes in Florida." "Florida regulators to probe another charity tied to alleged illegal gambling at Internet cafes".

"The Legislature has puzzled for several sessions about how to deal with Internet cafes, with the House leaning toward an outright ban while the Senate is inclined to regulate them. That all changed March 13, the day news broke about Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll's resignation on the heels of FDLE questions about her links to an Internet cafe company whose associates have been charged with racketeering and money-laundering." "Policy Note: Internet Cafes".

Related: "Florida House votes to ban storefront gambling; Senate expected to follow" and "House votes to shut down Internet cafes, adult arcades".

FlaGOP scrambles for something, anything

The Tampa Trib editorials board: "Negron's promising health care plan".

"Corporate takeover of public school facilities"

"Rep. Carlos Trujillo’s, R-Miami, bill would give parents a say in developing a turnaround option for a failing school. The proposal also prohibits assigning a student in consecutive years to a classroom teacher with an unsatisfactory performance evaluation and requires parental notification of a virtual education option when a child is assigned to an out-of-field teacher or one with an unsatisfactory evaluation."

Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa, suggested this may not be the right time for a trigger bill. Danish is a middle school teacher and recalled how school grades dropped when the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test was implemented. He noted the state intends to adopt Common Core Standards in 2014 and a subsequent drop in school grades is expected. Danish worries that Trujillo’s proposal combined with Common Core will trigger a corporate takeover of public school facilities.

Man on fire

"Will Weatherford is well on his way toward many of his goals for the session." "House speaker moves quickly".

Scott about to lose another court case

Your tax dollars at work:

A federal judge's ban on Gov. Rick Scott's plan to randomly test thousands of state workers for illegal drugs may have been too broad because it failed to carve out exceptions for law enforcement and other sensitive positions, a panel of U.S. appeals judges indicated Friday.

Five things

"The legislative week kicks off with some controversial issues including a possible ban on Internet cafes, tax breaks for another sports team and a workshop taking up a dozen charter school bills." "Five things to look for in Monday’s legislative session". See also "At the Capitol: Charter schools, elections and budget decisions coming in Week 3 of session".

"Growing alliance of business advocates"

"As the Florida Legislature gears up for the third week of the 2013 session, Senate committees are expected to start taking up four pieces of legislation which have the backing of a growing alliance of business advocates that make up the newly-formed Coalition of Legal Reform." "Coming Up in the Senate: Four Business-Backed Bills to Improve Florida's Legal Climate".

"Scott gets a do-over"

Marc Caputo: "A first major test of how a candidate might govern: choosing a running mate."

Rick Scott flunked that one.

On Tuesday, just seven days into Scott’s third regular legislative session, Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigned amid a racketeering investigation of Allied Veterans of the World, an Internet gambling operation that masqueraded as a charity.

“I have no knowledge that she broke the law,” Scott told reporters the next day.

For a candidate who campaigned to clean up Tallahassee and fight special interests, that’s a tough line to deliver.

Now he gets a do-over pick, a campaign-trail make-up exam.

The New York Times: "Carroll’s relationship with Mr. Scott was seen as troubled well before news of the investigation. Rumblings had surfaced in recent months that he might replace her in the 2014 campaign. Her connection to Allied Veterans was seen in Tallahassee as the latest in a string of missteps that Mr. Scott had come to view as troublesome, political consultants said, among them, excessive travel expenses and the firing of an aide who later made embarrassing accusations about her and the governor’s office." "In Florida, a Political Marriage Soured Before a Top Official Stepped Down".

Meanwhile, "Republican rift: Will Gov. Scott's policy shifts limit lieutenant governor choices?"

The Miami Herald editors write that "the real issue here is the propensity of legislators to make extra money from their public 'service.' Disgraceful." "Lessons from ex-Lt. Gov. Carroll’s fall from grace".

"Panhandling emails"

Nancy Smith: "Another week, another couple of panhandling emails from Patrick Murphy. This is getting ridiculous."

Since the 2012 election ended, I've had 27 emails from Murphy, his camp or the national Democratic Party on his behalf. Every one of them is out to stiff me for a donation because of some usually-obscure effrontery to the rights of citizens that needs my money and Murphy to cure.

"Legal threat still looms"

"Agreement calls for legislation to address an all-or-nothing provision in last year's HB 7051 that had blocked implementation of state rules. Agriculture, industry and utility groups hail the agreement but environmental groups warn that it will require federal court approval." "DEP announces agreement with feds on water quality, but legal threat still looms".

Epiphany

"House takes first step to ban internet sweepstakes cafés; Senate not far behind".

FRS follies

Will Weatherford "is on a collision course with the Senate, where Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-New Port Richey, has an alternative version [of FRS changes] that would let public employees continue taking the 'defined benefit' option – but would give them financial incentives for opting into the riskier 'defined contribution' plan." "Florida lawmakers consider dueling pension proposals".

Charter madness

"After suffering bruising defeats during last year’s Legislative session, charter school advocates have descended upon the capital city with a revamped strategy."

Circle the wagons. Narrow the agenda. And make nice with the school districts.

This year, charter school lobbyists will focus their efforts on winning state money for maintenance and facilities. If they can’t secure the dollars, they want the right to use the empty space in traditional public schools free of charge.

With the state running a surplus, charter school advocates find themselves in a stronger position than last year. They have an all-star lineup of lobbyists, the ear of House Speaker Will Weatherford, and a crop of lawmakers sympathetic to their cause.

But victory isn’t guaranteed, especially with Gov. Rick Scott trying to win over public-school teachers and parents in advance of the 2014 election. The moderate Senate could be an obstacle, too. Rather than vote on any of the charter-school bills, the Senate Education Committee will hold a workshop on the issue Monday, signaling a desire to move forward cautiously.

Never forget

"The unearthing of the Johns Committee's dirty work".

troubles are more grim news for the governor, who has had a rocky time keeping top staff and agency heads. Carroll herself had been in hot water for racking up $300,000 in travel expenses during her first year in office, causing Scott to put her on a strict $10,000-per-month budget.

In this latest case, some of the GOP lawmakers who are disgruntled with Scott have their own worries. Investigators say that Allied Veterans donated about $2 million to state and local political campaigns, and spent $740,000 lobbying in Tallahassee.

The mass arrests last week were described as “the first wave,” and awaiting the second are numerous queasy politicians. So far, more than 60 persons connected to Allied Veterans have been busted in 23 Florida counties.

Currently the state has hundreds of Internet gambling cafes, and all of them are supposed to donate their profits to charity. The odds of that taking place in Florida’s anti-regulatory fog are microscopic. Prosecutors are aiming at several more companies.

The scammers at Allied Veterans certainly got their money’s worth from those high-paid lobbyists. Last year, the state Senate obligingly rebuffed a law passed by the House that would have outlawed the cafes.

Ah, but there’s nothing like a lightning sweep by IRS and Secret Service agents to bring on a moral epiphany. Now Senate President Don Gaetz and Gaming Committee Chairman Garret Richter are promising to ban the gaming centers as soon as possible.

More: Fred Grimm: "An Internet cafe epiphany for cash-collecting legislators".

"Lofty aspiration is more honored in the breach"

The Miami Herald editors: "Florida once reveled in the title of Sunshine State because it adhered faithfully to the code of open government, thanks to a constitutional amendment overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1992. Unfortunately, that’s no longer true. Today, that lofty aspiration is more honored in the breach than in the observance." "Bring back the sunshine".

Paul edges Rubio in wingnut-fest

"Rand Paul won the annual CPAC straw poll, backed by a youthful, libertarian-leaning group of activists. Sen. Marco Rubio came in a very close second." "Rand Paul narrowly beats Marco Rubio in CPAC straw poll". See also "Marco Rubio Made It Close, but Rand Paul Wins 2013 CPAC Straw Poll".

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Going Bust".

Sequestration blues

"Florida economists Friday maintained that state tax collections continue to pour in at a pace not seen since 2007, but added a fresh caution about the lingering effect of across-the-board federal cuts to military and domestic programs." "Florida’s budget at mercy of federal cuts".

Weatherford's empty suit blows in the wind at CPAC

"Introduced as the youngest House speaker in America, Florida Rep. Will Weatherford used a speech Saturday before a large gathering of conservative activists to double down on a promise to reject a federal expansion of Medicaid." "At CPAC, Speaker Will Weatherford emphasizes opposition to Medicaid expansion". See also "State House Speaker Weatherford: Florida should reject Medicaid expansion, become ‘pocket of freedom’".

Speaking of empty suits: "Jeb Bush: Conservatives ‘have the solutions’ to nation’s problems". More: "Tears of joy for Jeb Bush at CPAC".

"Robin Hood in reverse"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "One of the broadest assaults on the Everglades cleanup effort is speeding toward passage in the Florida House. The measure would put the state's taxpayers on the hook for pollution caused by the agriculture industry — and open an avenue for even more environmental damage down the road. Shifting cleanup costs from Big Sugar to those who are downstream from its dirty fields is Robin Hood in reverse and undermines the intent of a voters' mandate to have polluters pay. Gov. Rick Scott and the Senate need to stop it."

The measure, HB 7065, would rewrite the state's plan to clean pollution flowing from farms in the Everglades' agricultural zones to the protection areas in the south. Supporters say the legislation is needed to codify the agreement between Scott and the federal government that calls on Florida to spend $880 million over 12 years to build storm water treatment and water storage to intercept runoff from the farms, preventing further pollution of an ecosystem that is vital to the state's economy, environment and drinking water needs.

The legislation, though, does far more than that.

GOPers "working hard to backtrack on their horrendous efforts to repress voters in last year’s election"

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Florida legislators are working hard to backtrack on their horrendous efforts to repress voters in last year’s election. The stampede is so frenzied that a bill undoing much of the damage inflicted on democracy by Republican legislators cleared the Florida House this month on a 118-1 vote. Even the state representative who sponsored the cynical bill that shortened Florida’s early voting period two years ago voted to undo it." "Good start — but more to do — on election reform".

Bullard Dies

"Former Sen. Larcenia Bullard Dies".

"Opportunities for Scott"

Lloyd Dunkelberger: "Although Jennifer Carroll’s resignation in the middle of a gambling investigation adds another controversy to Gov. Rick Scott’s rather sizable list, the lieutenant governor’s departure also presents some opportunities for Scott. Facing a challenging re-election in 2014, Scott can select a new lieutenant governor who can bring some positives to his image and his campaign. And Scott plans to take his time in making that choice, announcing he will not seek to replace Carroll until at least May." "Lieutenant governor opening an opportunity for Scott".

Profiting from political ties?

"Five years ago, the Florida Legislature voted to put state-paid mental health and substance abuse services under managed care, saying the change would control the state’s costs, coordinate patients’ care and provide services to more people."

It didn’t supply any money to pay for the managed care companies, however.

With seven regional managed care overseers now hired and processing state spending of $520 million a year, a Palm Beach Post investigation has found the change is costing already cash-strapped clinics more to treat their patients and in some cases forcing them to cut staff and services to needy people. Meanwhile, subcontractors for those overseers, which make decisions about care, have been handed rich incentives to cut spending on patients.

The subcontractor serving Broward, Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, Concordia Care, is backed by a major donor to Gov. Rick Scott’s “Let’s Get to Work” communications committee as well as the Republican Party of Florida. Although Concordia was a start-up with almost no prior track record, it won the business thanks to the reputation of the men investing in it, and the influence of former DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth. . . .

Butterworth, who never registered as a lobbyist, has played a key role in how the non-profits were set up and how they presented their bids to the state.

In an interview , Butterworth said he had represented Concordia as an attorney, not a lobbyist. He said he no longer works for Concordia.

He’s now the volunteer chairman of Broward Behavioral Health, the non-profit managing entity that he helped to assemble and to bid on the DCF contract.

"Florida may go rogue"

"When Florida’s Rick Scott became the seventh Republican governor to support Medicaid expansion, he gave President Obama unexpected momentum for the nationwide effort, a key piece of the federal health care overhaul. But just as quickly, federal regulators stalled the effort with an out-of-the-box policy decision that critics say now clouds prospects for bringing health coverage to 1 million low-income Floridians." "Florida may go rogue on Medicaid expansion".

"Flurry of bills to deal with school security"

"The national debate that erupted following last December’s horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, leaving 26 children and teachers dead, ranged from gun control to mental health to school safety. In Tallahassee, where this month lawmakers started their annual 60-day legislative session, a flurry of bills have been introduced to specifically deal with school security." "A flurry of proposals for making Florida schools safer".

FlaDems rolling over for Crist?

"Possible Democratic gubernatorial candidates this week closed the door on challenging Gov. Rick Scott in 2014, leaving more room for former Gov. Charlie Crist."

On Wednesday, the team behind U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who won a third term in 2012, shot down rumors that their boss would take on Scott in 2014. Media reports appeared this week that former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, who once seemed likely to challenge Scott in 2014, is slowing down his operations, leading many of his closest allies to conclude that he will not enter the race. At the end of February, during his State of the City address, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who generated some buzz as a possible Democratic gubernatorial candidate, announced that he was not running for governor in 2014.

This week Crist scored national media attention, covering a range from liberal MSNBC host Rachel Maddow to the conservative Washington Times, as he increasingly says he is open to running for governor again in 2014. Crist’s face remains plastered on billboards across the state for trial attorney firm Morgan & Morgan, where the former governor went to work after his loss to Marco Rubio in the 2010 Senate race.

Crist still faces some foes for the Democratic nomination. Former Florida Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich is actively running but her bid has gained little traction to date. Former state CFO Alex Sink, who was the Democratic candidate who lost to Scott in 2010, is also in the mix but she remains on the political sidelines after the sudden death at the end of last year of her husband Bill McBride, a prominent attorney and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2002.

"Not the same Scott who won office"

"The Scott now seeking re-election is not the same Scott who won office in 2010 during a conservative wave by embracing the tea party. While he hasn't switched political allegiances as Crist did, Scott is no longer conducting official business at tea party rallies. But the more he moves toward the middle, the more he'll lose ammunition against Crist in a potential matchup next year." "Scott's shifting stances may be an election issue".

Crist's boss to lead pot initiative

"Charlie Crist's boss, John Morgan, to lead pot initiative in Florida". See also "John Morgan, Ben Pollara to lead medical marijuana fight" and "Obama donor and Charlie Crist boss backs medical marijuana plan".

You gotta problem wit dat?

"The chairman of a Florida Senate committee that oversees gambling relies on the plane owned by a gaming lobbyist for travel to Tallahassee and his Naples home. Sen. Garrett Richter, a Naples Republican and chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Gaming, said that his primary mode of travel is Capital Air, owned by Dave Ramba, who is a licensed pilot, lawyer, fundraiser and prominent lobbyist."

In the past two years, House Speaker Will Weatherford, Senate Democratic Leader Chris Smith and others have also flown on what one senator jokingly calls "Air Ramba."

And he's pulling the ladder up behind him

"Will Weatherford's fast rise started from humble beginnings".