Rubio has built one of the most conservative voting records in Washington, but largely due to the positive arc of his story as the son of Cuban immigrants, and his youthful image, he has managed to avoid being cast as an ideologue.

• Last month, he joined a handful of Republicans, including new tea party darling Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, in a threatened filibuster of any gun control legislation moving through the Senate following the mass school shooting in Newtown, Conn. Rubio opposes even expanded background checks for gun buyers — a measure more than 90 percent of Americans support.

• When tea party Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky went on a marathon filibuster against the Obama administration over use of drones, Rubio made his way to the Senate floor to stand with him — a move that lit up conservative websites and social media. (Rubio doesn't share Paul's worry over drones, but Obama bashing is always good GOP politics.)

• In February, Rubio was one of 22 Republicans to vote against the Violence Against Women Act, even though it contained human trafficking provisions he worked on.

• In January, he was one of only eight Republicans to vote against a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff" that preserved tax cuts for the middle class while raising them on the wealthy.

Rubio's score last year with the Club for Growth made him the seventh-most conservative member of the Senate. He scored even better — fourth — with Heritage Action.

"Rubio should join Nelson"

The Tampa Bay Times editors:"Florida U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's remarkable announcement this week that his beliefs have evolved to embrace the cause of gay marriage is a welcome one. Now Florida's junior senator, Marco Rubio, should join Nelson and a growing number of Democratic and Republican senators who recognize that equal protection under the U.S. Constitution includes all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation." "On gay marriage, Rubio should follow Nelson".

Week in Review

"his week we learned how the Senate and House want to divvy up the state budget, that Internet cafes have almost no friends in the Legislature, and that at least one Senate committee was willing to endorse a domestic partnership bill." "The Week in Review for April 5".

The dreaded "private sector solution"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "The legislative session is half over, and lawmakers have yet to decide if and how they will expand health care to uninsured Floridians of modest means under the Affordable Care Act. All that is at stake is health care for roughly a million low-income Floridians and more than $50 billion in federal money. House Speaker Will Weatherford and his Republican colleagues who are so rigidly opposed to expanding Medicaid have a moral and financial obligation to find an alternative that is at least as responsible." "No time to wait for Medicaid, or alternative". Meanwhile, Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, "is trying to come up with a private sector solution to provide health care for the uninsured that the governor and House will accept." "Gaetz, trying to bridge the gap".

Runnin' gub'ment like a bidness

"Federal health officials say Florida owes millions in Medicaid overpayments, according to a report released Friday." "Feds: Fla. owes millions in Medicaid overpayments".

Never mind

"Leaders at the state's Department of Elder Affairs circumvented hiring procedures and appointed an attorney with a criminal history at the urging of Gov. Rick Scott's then-chief of staff, according to a whistle-blower lawsuit filed in Leon County court."

Attorney Donald Bell was hired for the $98,000-a-year top-level post despite a drug conviction and two arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol, the lawsuit alleges. He was recommended by former Scott chief of staff Steve MacNamara, emails show.

The lawsuit, filed by former human resources employee Frances Brooks, says Elder Affairs secretary Charles Corley passed over other applicants and allowed Bell to skip key background screenings, shielding his record from other employees while bypassing safeguards to protect elderly people served by the agency.

Internet cafe blues

"Internet cafe customers brace for gambling shutdown". See also "Fla. Gov. has 1 week to sign ban on gaming centers".

Garcia, Murphy rake in cash

"With a whopping $550,000 hauled in during his first three months in office, Miami-Dade Democrat U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia signaled he's a top freshmen fundraiser in Congress. And the money, a campaign's lifeblood, sends a message to Republicans: He won't be easy to beat in 2014. Garcia's self-reported fundraising totals rival that of fellow Democratic freshman Patrick Murphy, of Jupiter, who also said he raised $550,000. But Murphy's far more vulnerable." "U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia's fundraising haul sends GOP a message".

Black caucus, labor, NAACP fight for Medicaid expansion

"Members of the Legislative Black Caucus teamed up with the NAACP and organized labor leaders Friday to begin a late campaign for expansion of Florida's Medicaid program, hoping to extend coverage to about 1.2 million poor people." "Black caucus, labor, NAACP join Medicaid push".

Scott's tax cuts not yet reality

"After battling with the Legislature over tax cuts each of his first two years, Gov. Rick Scott has adjusted his sights in hopes of returning tax dollars to industries he cherishes as job creators. Instead, he’s got another battle on his hands." "Scott's tax cuts on table, but as leverage, not yet reality".

Chamber dogs roll in their feces

"In a move inspired by Orange County's fight last year over paid sick-time, the Florida House voted mostly along party lines Thursday to block local governments from adopting their own stronger worker wage and sick-leave protections. The House bill, HB 655 which passed 75-43, would render moot a potential 2014 vote in Orange County over whether to require that many businesses offer paid sick-leave to workers. It would also nullify 'living wage' laws on the books for a decade in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, and more recently in Orlando and Gainesville, which majority Republicans said was necessary to provide "certainty" to businesses." "House votes to block local sick-pay, wage protections".

"Disagreements could boil over"

Aaron Deslatte: "Put 160 elected officeholders representing vastly different constituencies, with different, often-conflicting ambitions, into the pressure cooker of a 60-day session, and tempers and egos are bound to overheat."

House Speaker Will Weatherford was mad this week that Democrats locked down against the $74.4-billion state budget over its omission of any Medicaid expansion. . . .

The decision leaves Republicans without as much political cover for a spending plan that substantially grows government and funds many of the items that Democrats have used as grounds to vote against budgets in recent years -- pay raises for teachers, state employees, and increased social safety-net spending. . . .

Gov. Rick Scott, who made national buzz by endorsing the Medicaid expansion before session, has been silent on the issue since – and his office hasn't been working with lawmakers on it. Across the Capitol Rotunda, Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, expressed his own disappointment that Democrats had voted in lock-step there against an election-reform bill in committee because it allows – but doesn't guarantee -- 14 days of early voting. . . .

Gaetz said it still seemed there was more cooperation this session. But disagreements could boil over depending on how the GOP leadership decides to pursue health-care expansion.

Will Rubio "cave the most conservative wing of his party?"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Momentum keeps building for significant immigration reform. Business and labor groups have agreed on the outlines of a new visa program for guest workers in low-skill jobs, and a bipartisan group of senators is days away from introducing legislation to fill in the details on a comprehensive overhaul. Soon Floridians will see whether Republican Sen. Marco Rubio will continue to help build a consensus for compromise on immigration or cave under pressure from the most conservative wing of his party." "Rubio's moment on immigration reform".

Charlie's pot games

Dara Kam: "Trial lawyer John Morgan, one of President Barack Obama’s top Florida fundraisers, has thrown his clout behind a medical marijuana initiative whose proponents have struggled for more than three years to get the question before Florida voters."

Morgan recently pledged to raise money — and plug in his own, if necessary — to get a measure on the 2014 ballot that would make Florida the 19th state to legalize the growing and purchase of marijuana for medical purposes.

Morgan also happens to be the boss of Charlie Crist, whose name might be alongside the pot measure as the Democratic nominee for governor.

The proposal would allow patients with certain illnesses, such as cancer or glaucoma, to grow or buy marijuana if they have a doctor’s prescription.

A Jan. 30-Feb. 4 survey conducted by Democratic pollster David Beattie’s Hamilton Campaigns found that 73 percent of Floridians support the medical marijuana initiative.

The poll also showed majority support across party, race and demographic lines, but where it forecast a potential advantage for Democrats was in those voters most likely to support the measure: white women, English-speaking Hispanics and blacks.

Black voters, who overwhelmingly support Democrats, typically are less likely to show up at the polls in a midterm election, but having an issue like medical marijuana on the ballot might help attract them to the polls in 2014, Beattie said.

Beattie also said the initiative could have a broader impact than just voter turnout.

“There will probably become a debate on should it be legal or not. That is an issue that could make a difference in a campaign, particularly if it became a debate in the governor’s race. It would have an impact on how people see the race and the bigger implication of the race,” he said.

When they say "Owlcatraz", they mean it

"Florida Atlantic University students who participated in a March 22 protest against the school’s agreement with the private prison company Geo Group were summoned Friday to meet with a top school official investigating possible misconduct on their parts, but one of the students said afterward she believed no charges would be filed against them." "FAU summons 7 ‘Stop Owlcatraz’ protesters to dean’s office".

"One of the quickest ways to start a passionate argument"

Joe Henderson: "One of the quickest ways to start a passionate argument is to suggest normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba." "No easy answers on Cuba".

"Scott has earned an F in office"

Stephen Goldstein: "Florida's infrastructure rates D's for conditions that range from neglect to disrepair, bordering on crumbling and dangerous. If the state were a condo, it would flunk inspections."

Big bills are coming due in a state where elected officials refuse to raise taxes and citizens kid themselves that there is a free lunch. When Rick Scott campaigned for governor, he repeated, "Let's get to work" ad nauseam.

Repairing our infrastructure could have created thousands of jobs during the recent downturn in the economy. But because that's what President Obama has been saying — and wanting to fund — of course, Gov. Scott has rejected the idea. He's earned an F in office.

Anyone considering running for governor in 2014 should use repairing and enhancing Florida's infrastructure as a major economic development strategy and campaign pledge.

In four years, when Scott's anomalous governorship has long been consigned to the sinkhole of history, perhaps we will have improved by at least a letter grade on the next infrastructure report card.

"More complicated than simple favoritism towards Deloitte"

"A Department of Children and Families senior manager awarded a multimillion dollar contract to track Medicaid eligibility to the behemoth auditing and financial consulting firm Deloitte, against the official recommendation of the negotiating team, even though the competing bid was $5 million less. The circumstances surrounding the decision, however, are more complicated than simple favoritism towards Deloitte." "Against official recommendation, DCF swaps vendors for Medicaid contract worth millions".

Crist ditches St. Joe Co., cross dresses as a Dem

Doing his best to at least dress up like a Democrat, "Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will step down as a director of the St. Joe Co., a Panhandle-based real estate development and timber company. One of Florida's largest private land owners, St. Joe historically has long been considered a politically well-connected corporation in Tallahassee." "Former Gov. Charlie Crist to step down from St. Joe Co. board".

Daniel Ruth: "It was just a few days ago that Gov. Rick Scott worked himself into a full Cotton Mather lather over proposals sliming their way through the Florida Legislature that would raise caps on campaign contributions in legislative campaigns from $500 to between $3,000 and $5,000 — depending, of course, on just how shamelessly money-grubbing our elected men and women of the people want to be seen."

Scott, who spent $75 million of his own money to buy the Governor's Mansion in 2010, was bereaved over the declasse infusion of unbridled money into the political process.

But alas, Scott himself has been a busy politician on the make, collecting an average of $50,000 a day, or $4.6 million in re-election campaign donations from deep-pocketed Republican sugar daddies.

Let's be clear. Scott cannot be bought for a measly $5,000. But he is available for a lend-lease deal if the check is at least six figures. The governor has his standards, you know.

You're probably thinking it is the height of hypocrisy for Scott to decry the Florida Legislature wanting to fatten its pockets while he is rolling over to have his ears scratched by a brown bag of prominent Republicans.

But this is Tallahassee, where scruples go to die a quick, painless death.

Even Bill

"Florida Sen. Bill Nelson reversed his opposition to gay marriage on Thursday, joining a swell of moderate Democrats to do so recently as public support for gay marriage has grown." "Florida Sen. Bill Nelson says he sees it as a civil rights issue.". See also "Sen. Nelson says he now backs gay marriage" and "Nelson switches, now favors allowing gay marriage".

Carroll claims she had no idea

"Former Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll said Thursday she had no idea law enforcement was investigating a veterans charity accused of running illegal slot machine-style casinos until two agents walked into her office last month." "Investigation caught Lt. Gov. Carroll off guard".

Raw political courage

"Senate passes Internet cafe ban, sends bill to Gov. Rick Scott". See also "Say goodbye to Florida's 'strip-mall casinos'", "Internet sweepstakes cafe ban passes Senate, heads to Gov. Scott", "Florida Senate bans Internet cafes after scandal" and "Game over for senior arcades, as Gov. Scott to sign ban on slots-like parlors".

Background: "Policy Note: Internet Cafes".

Trigger madness

"The Florida House approved the controversial parent trigger proposal Thursday, setting the stage for a showdown in the Senate. If the story line sounds familiar, there's a reason: The bill, which would enable parents at low-performing schools to demand sweeping changes in how the school is run, won the support of the Republican-dominated House last year."

The parent trigger bill would let parents convert struggling traditional schools into charter schools, or even demand the school be closed.

But heaven forbid they pay a nickel more in taxes to pay for an overburdened, underfunded public education system.

Environment budget blues

"A Senate budget subcommittee has recommended $48.2 million for water projects while a House subcommittee still is reviewing $286 million in requests for projects. Among other budget issues, the Florida Forever land-buying program is a top priority for environmental groups. Other groups look for funding for Everglades restoration, petroleum tank cleanups, beach restoration and community water projects." "Policy Note: Environment Budget". Related: "'Water parade' in House follows vetoes of water projects in past 2 years".

Teabaggers in a dither

"More than 1.7 million Floridians will be eligible for a tax credit to help offset the cost of buying health insurance in 2014, according to a health care advocacy group." "1.7 million Floridians could get assistance to buy health insurance".

"Bills rise, bills fall"

Bill Cotterell: "Bills rise, bills fall as Legislature passes session midpoint".

"Legislators are doubling down on political cronyism"

Scott Maxwell: "Gimme the right to vote the bums out!"

Marijuana bills are stalled in the Florida Legislature

"While bills to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes -- sponsored by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, and Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation -- are stalled in the Florida Legislature, a new survey finds a majority of Americans for the first time in history favor marijuana legalization." "Marijuana Legalization Sparks Majority Support".

So much for local democracy

"The Florida Legislature voted Thursday to preempt local governments from enacting “living wage” laws and 'sick time' ordinances. HB 655 passed the Florida House in a 75-43 vote, largely along party lines. The bill is viewed as a direct challenge to Orange County , where residents gathered enough signatures to put a 'sick-time' measure on the ballot." "Legislature moves to slam down local 'living wage' laws". See also "House votes to block local sick-pay, wage protections".

"A broken promise and a crutch"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board: "Year after year, instead of allocating all trust-fund dollars toward their designated causes, lawmakers routinely sweep millions into Florida's general fund to be spent on other necessities."

That can mean desired road projects don't happen, and affordable apartment projects are shelved for lack of financing. It can also mean a lack of progress on anti-smoking efforts, because one frequent target of the legislative sweeps is the trust fund created (in 1999) with money from the tobacco settlement. Some of those proceeds are supposed to serve as a "perpetual source of enhanced funding for health maintenance and research programs related to tobacco use."

Trust-fund sweeps are a necessary evil during a budget crisis, when critically important services could otherwise be slashed. But when the strategy is used over and over, in good times and bad, it becomes a broken promise and a crutch.

Castor to Cuba

"Rep. Kathy Castor arrives in Cuba for four-day trip".

"Lawmakers, in the face of feverish lobbying, bowed to pressure"

"Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, added an unexpected provision to her sweeping education accountability bill Thursday: a pitch to free Florida school districts from having to provide private tutoring services at low-income schools."

Under current law, Florida school districts must spend 15 percent of their federal funding for low-income students on private tutoring services.

Passidomo's proposal: let school systems spend those dollars on tutoring, or on other programs for low-income children instead.

Published in February, the newspaper's series revealed that a rapist, a child abuser and a fugitive were among those approved by Florida to head tutoring firms last school year. The stories showed that state regulators weren't tracking problem providers, which allowed criminals, cheaters and profiteers to cash in on tutoring at-risk kids.

The series also showed that state lawmakers, in the face of feverish lobbying, bowed last year to pressure from the tutoring industry, requiring school districts to continue paying for private tutoring despite an opportunity to do away with the troubled program for good.

The "parent trigger" bill (HB 867) likely will be passed by the full House later this week.

It would give parents a say on how to deal with a failing school through a signature drive. A companion bill (SB 862) is also moving in the Senate.

Democrats, though, attempted one last push against the measure that's a favorite of former Gov. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future.

Trujillo responded that the school district would still own the building. He also noted that it would apply to only 25 schools rated as failing under the current system. Florida schools receive A through F letter grades based on how students perform on certain standardized tests.

But Rep. Mark Danish, a Tampa Democrat, suggested that a different rating system kicking into effect soon may classify as many as 148 public schools in Florida as failing.

- - - - - - - -

Note: The phrase "Jeb Bush And His Amen Chorus Of Goose-Stepping Legislators" appeared in a Daytona Beach News Journal editorial on March 17, 2003, which sadly is no longer available online.

"One of the better matches on the undercard"

"Gov. Rick Scott’s bid for a second term will be the main event of Florida’s 2014 elections, but a congressional race in North Florida is shaping up as one of the better matches on the undercard. Having knocked off Congressman Allen Boyd in 2010 and held off former state Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson in 2012, Congressman Steve Southerland has another major Democratic challenger looming in 2014 -- attorney and Leon County schools administrator Gwen Graham, whose popular father served two terms as governor and three terms in the U.S. Senate." "Bob Graham's Daughter Gwen Has Steve Southerland in her Sights". See also "Bob Graham's daughter to run for Congress".

"Crist's wife regains joint custody"

"Former Florida first lady Carole Crist has regained joint custody of her teenage daughters, her lawyer says, but contentious court fights with her ex-husband continue." "Charlie Crist's wife regains joint custody of her two girls".

Raw political courage

"Florida Senate moves closer to outlawing slots-like games". See also "Fla. poised to ban internet cafes despite outcry" and "‘Senior arcades’ under fire as Florida lawmakers move to ban slots-like game parlors". Background: "Policy Note: Internet Cafes".

"Patients will be transferred in waves"

"The state has been pushing to put nearly all existing Medicaid clients into private managed care systems -- a market worth an estimated $3 billion -- and in February the federal government gave tentative approval for the plan. Under the plan patients will be transferred in waves, with the elderly who require long-term care being the first group." "Policy Note: Managed Care for Medicaid".

The Whining is Up to Eleven

Barney Bishop is in full on whining mode: "The mainstream media have had it in for Gov. Rick Scott ever since he decided to run for office." "The Hypocrisy of the Mainstream Media".

Weatherford setting up a flip-flop

"As the Legislature weighs options for insuring the state's low-income residents, House Speaker Will Weatherford, for the first time, indicated Tuesday he might be open to accepting federal money." "Speaker Will Weatherford says 'never say never' to federal money for Medicaid alternatives".

Pathetic

"A Florida Senate panel is backing a stripped-down health insurance plan for Florida's poor."

The bill was approved on a party-line vote with Democrats opposed.

Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is sponsoring the bill (SB 7144) as an alternative to expanding Medicaid. But Bean's approach does not rely on federal aid and would only cover about 60,000 people in the first year.

No-fault

"Efforts to drive fraud out of the state's no-fault auto insurance system may not get a full test run. The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday began looking at the possibility of replacing the system, just a year after a major overhaul that is now tied up in court. may go" "Possible End of the Road Ahead for No-Fault Insurance". See also: "Senate panel ponders junking no-fault auto insurance".

"A habit Republican leaders aren't willing to break"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "For four years, Florida lawmakers unwilling to have broader discussions about raising revenue have used the same excuse to undercut the state's longtime commitment to affordable housing: Cash-strapped state budgets required them to raid affordable housing programs to cover other general government needs. Now it's a habit Republican leaders apparently aren't willing to break — and the House is even hiding behind the ill-gotten gains of the nation's biggest banks to do so." "Renew commitment to affordable housing".

Environmental groups now support water bill

"Environmental groups had urged opposition to SB 948, saying it would place a priority on agricultural water use over the environment during droughts. But after a series of amendments was adopted in a committee on Monday, environmental groups have lined up in support of the bill." "Agricultural water bill wins support from former environmental opponents".

"The state where common sense goes to die"

Scott Maxwell: "Florida is increasingly known as the state where common sense goes to die."

A bill that was dismissed last year as irrelevant — one that tries to prohibit Islamic and foreign laws from affecting Florida court rulings — is now gaining steam.

Even the bill's sponsor, Sen. Alan Hays, struggled to cite examples of the problem he was claiming to solve. Instead, Hays called his bill "preventative."

The fringe-o-sphere, however, claims Islamic Shariah law is creeping into America. So they are backing a bill that would supposedly ban judges from relying upon any and all foreign laws.

Apparently patriotic Americans don't take kindly to foreign precedent (never mind the Magna Carta).

"Restrictions on the purchase of conservation lands is likely dead"

"SB 584 would have placed restrictions on state agencies, cities and counties seeking to buy conservation lands. Hays agreed to temporarily postpone the bill, saying, 'It's either TP the bill or it's going down in flames.'" "Sen. Hays says his state lands bill likely dead as Senate panel delays action". Background: "Policy Note: State Lands".

'Glades

"Policy Note: The Everglades".

Good luck with that

"Two Miami-area members express frustration that there has been little movement with bills that would restrict the 'stand your ground' law. They also want a state investigation into black-market ammunition sales in their area." "Lawmakers want action on guns". Background: "Policy Note: Stand Your Ground".

"State leaders may go a step further"

"Local governments across Florida have been slashing fees charged for new development in recent years to spark economic growth. But state leaders may go a step further and temporarily abolish the fees altogether for small businesses under a bill gaining momentum in the Florida Legislature." "Panel passes impact fee bill".

In 2011, Grant had spent all of 20 minutes serving in the Florida House when he pitched an idea to the Industrial Development Authority of economically beleaguered Hardee County to create a mobile application that could link medical, insurance and legal records for family and first responders.

But first, the Donald Trump of Tallahassee needed the authority to approve a lousy, stinking $2.4 million in seed money to get everything going. What could possibly go wrong?

There was just one itsy-bitsy problem with the grant Grant was hustling. The lawmaker hadn't even created his company, LifeSync Technologies, at the time the Hardee County IDA approved the grant application, a violation of state law. If we start insisting lawmakers actually follow the law, where does it end?

For LifeSync Technologies, it ended pretty quickly.

It seems about the only thing Grant's company created was paperwork. In 2012 he sold the rights to one company and the remainder of the grant moolah to another concern, whose owner worked for LifeSync. In all Grant walked away with about $70,000 and Brodeur hauled in between $48,000 and $65,000.

Nelson reaises cash for out-of-state Dems

Jeremy Wallace: "U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson doesn’t have to worry about his own re-election until 2018. But that isn’t keeping the veteran politician completely off the campaign trail. Nelson, a Democrat, is trying to appeal to his own campaign donors to give to other Democratic Senators who face tough re-election campaigns. This past weekend, Nelson launched an appeal for Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu." "Nelson campaigning for Democrats".

Florida’s widespread use of solitary confinement for children

Fred Grimm: "Reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been subjecting scores of immigrant detainees to solitary confinement, many of them for 23 hours a day, some for stretches of 75 days or more, brought a quick, angry response in Washington."

Senator Charles E. Schumer, chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, reacting to a report in the New York Times, fired off a letter to the agency Tuesday, complaining of “an over reliance by ICE on the harshest forms of incarceration.” Schumer warned that unless the agency reduced the use of isolation cells, legislation would be written to force a change in policy. That same day, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she ordered ICE to provide her with some explanation for the cruel surge in the numbers kept in solitary.

The reaction in Washington was markedly more urgent than in Tallahassee, where the Senate criminal justice committee held a hearing last week looking into the Florida’s widespread use of solitary confinement for another kind of prisoner — children confined to state prisons and county jails. After a short hearing, a piece of proposed legislation to regulate the use of solitary for juvenile inmates was set aside without a committee vote. (The bill is scheduled to come up again next week, though there’s not much hope that it will pass.) Kids in solitary got not much more than a shrug.

Charter madness

"One in 17 Florida students attended a charter school last year, a number that has increased almost six-fold in a decade. The state authorized the first charter school in 1996, and now there are more than 500 charter schools in the state operated by private nonprofit companies with enrollment of 154,000 students. Charter schools control their own finances and supporters of traditional public schools see them as a financial drain on public education. Supporters say that by providing competition for traditional schools they stimulate innovations that improve public education." "Policy Note: Charter Schools".

Trial lawyers take it on the chin

"A bill making it more difficult to sue nursing home for punitive damages was approved Monday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 1384 would require an evidentiary hearing where the plaintiff would be required to establish that the breach of a legal duty resulted in an actual loss, injury or damage before the suit could proceed." "Nursing home bill proceeds".

Meanwhile, "Senate ALF bill clears Judiciary" ("Regulation of assisted living facilities would increase under a bill moving through the Legislature. AHCA would have more ability to inspect facilities and revoke licenses.")

$141 million tax break for manufacturers

"A Senate panel passed a $141 million tax break for manufacturers Monday, but will take the same provision out of the Internet sales tax bill." "Scott's manufacturing tax cut gets renewed push in Senate". Related: "Policy Note: Internet Sales Tax".

At the trough

Beth Kassab: "The Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute is back at the trough of taxpayer dollars. This is the same outfit that received a record-setting (for our region) incentive package worth $300 million in 2006 to build labs in Orlando." "Sanford-Burnham wants more tax dollars". Background: "Policy Note: Economic Incentives".

Owlcatraz ends

"The private prison company GEO Group of Boca Raton has notified Florida Atlantic University that it is withdrawing the $6 million donation it made in exchange for naming rights to school’s football stadium, ending a weeks long drama that brought negative publicity to both parties." "GEO pulls FAU donation for stadium naming rights".

Laff riot: "Rick Scott Blasts Obama"

"Rick Scott Again Blasts Obama's Day-Late-Dollar-Short Support for Florida Ports".

"Likely failure of medical marijuana bill"

"Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, said Florida should start preparing now for licensing, regulating and taxing medical marijuana because, she predicted, that sooner or later legislation will be approved. The head of the Cannabis Action Network joined her plea." "New legislator laments likely failure of medical marijuana bill".

Florida Gulf Coast University, Atlas Shrugged, really?

"If you're wondering how Florida Gulf Coast University became the first 15th seed in the history of the NCAA men's basketball tournament to advance to the Sweet 16, look no further than the ur-text of the school's economics department: Atlas Shrugged. Embedded in this long, ponderous novel — required reading for all undergraduate economics and finance majors at FGCU — is the formula for transforming your college from a bunch of trailers on a swamp into the most talked-about school in the country." "Ayn Rand's formula for hoops success".

This proposal should be dead on arrival

The Palm Beach Post editors: "The Florida Senate Health Policy Committee is scheduled this afternoon to consider an alternative to expanding Medicaid that wouldn’t provide health coverage or health care to the state’s uninsured. The proposal should be dead on arrival." Florida Senate should reject Medicaid plan that does nothing for the uninsured". Related: "Another Medicaid Alternative Pops Up in the Senate".

Predictable

Jeb Bush's former speechwriter, Lloyd Brown takes a shot at "Setting the Record Straight". The results are predictable.

The free lunch makes comeback in Tally

Steve Bousquet: "The free lunch is making a comeback in Tallahassee. It has been more than seven years since the Legislature passed a zero tolerance policy that prohibits lawmakers from taking meals, drinks or gifts from lobbyists or their clients." "Lobbyist gift ban getting 'tweaks'". See also "Senate panel votes to relax gift ban", "Policy Note: Lobbyist Gift Ban" and "Lawmakers seek exceptions to free food and drink ban".

Florida lawmakers move forward with NRA-backed measure

"Florida lawmakers are moving forward with a National Rifle Association-backed measure aimed at blocking dangerous mentally ill people from buying guns." "Florida Senate panel advances measure to bar mentally ill from buying guns".

Citizens Property Insurance scandals swept under rug

"The president of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. faced a grilling from lawmakers Monday, but ultimately received a unanimous vote of support after explaining his response to a series of recent scandals at the company." "Florida Senate panel criticizes Citizens chief then gives him support". See also "Policy Note: Citizens Property Insurance Corp." and "Hot seat agency heads scrutinized by Senate panels but receive support".

One wonders how far the next firefighter, policeman or teacher would get with this excuse the next time he is interrogated for alleged wrongdoing at work: "'I may be [insert age], but, man, I learn every single day,' said [insert name of employee], acknowledging that he was 'naive' ... and had made some mistakes."

Statewide domestic partnership registry

Lloyd Dunkelberger: "In a landmark vote that may signal a shift in legislative attitudes, a Senate committee on Monday narrowly endorsed the creation of a statewide domestic partnership registry that could extend some legal protections to same-sex couples. 'We have made history in the Florida Senate,' Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, said, as the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee voted 5-4 for the registry bill (SB 196)." "In shift, Senate committee OKs domestic registry". See also "Senate panel approves domestic partnership bill" and "Domestic partnership bill passes committee, though victory likely symbolic".

Related: "5 things to know in Florida for April 1". See also "5 things to know in Florida for April 1".

"Harmony hasn’t yielded much consensus"

"In the weeks leading to the start of the legislative session, House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz seemed inseparable. They made joint appearances. They shared a page of policy priorities. And while leaders often speak fawningly about others’ smarts and skills — sometimes while plotting against them — the Weatherford-Gaetz matchup was real, not schtick, according to those close to both. But, with the Legislature halfway to the finish line, harmony hasn’t yielded much consensus." "Florida's legislative harmony yields few achievements".

Aquifers inadequate to meet projected demand

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editors: "State environmental officials predict that by 2030, Florida will be consuming nearly 8 billion gallons of water a day. That is about 1.6 billion gallons a day more than we currently use. They also say traditional sources of water supply, that is, Florida's aquifers, are inadequate to meet that projected demand." "Wasting time and water".

Affordable Care Act would create more than 121,000 permanent Florida jobs

"The state's hospitals made the pitch Friday that accepting federal Medicaid dollars to insure more poor people under the Affordable Care Act would be an economic engine for Florida. The Florida Hospital Association released a report by the University of Florida that shows extending health care coverage using the $51 billion in federal funds available would create more than 121,000 permanent jobs over the next 10 years." "Medicaid expansion would create jobs".

Not to mention that "Florida Would Shortchange 1 Million Uninsured without Medicaid Expansion: Prof".

"Hispanic-Americans lean to the left naturally, no matter what Republicans do"

Nancy Smith: "Republicans wrestle with immigration for good reason. They are between a rock and a hard place."

Since a ringing defeat in the November 2012 general election, Republicans have made a priority of luring Hispanic voters. Leaders claim they feel confident. They argue that once the party puts immigration reform behind them, the ethnic group will be open to the GOP’s conservative message.

But experts on Hispanic demographics caution that merely capitulating on immigration reform -- even with Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio shining a light on the wound and standing by with a Band-Aid -- isn't going to stop GOP bleeding. The party can't jump on the reform bill bandwagon, sit back and wait for minorities to come shelter under the Republican tent.

The fact is, information from the latest U.S. Census tells us that immigrants generally, and Hispanic immigrants specifically -- even first-generation Hispanic-Americans -- are going to lean to the left naturally, no matter what the Republicans do.

"2013 session a re-greening year"

"The 2013 legislative session is proving to be a re-greening year of sorts for Florida's once-beleaguered environmental community." "Environmentalists call this a greener Legislature".

Teacher Pay Fight splinters GOP

"A debate over how to boost the pay of public school teachers that had largely been centered on generalities gained clarity Friday, as House and Senate blueprints for the state's $74 billion budget for the coming fiscal year were released."

For weeks, lawmakers had signaled that they agreed with Gov. Rick Scott's plan to increase teacher pay, but wouldn't go along with his plan for an across-the-board raise of $2,500 after waging a brutal battle to push through performance pay just two years ago.

In their own spending proposals for the year that begins July 1, leaders on both sides of the Capitol drew a specific contrast with fellow Republican Scott -- and with each other.

Trujillo's statement "False"

"A Republican lawmaker said he doesn't know why his "parent trigger" bill isn't gaining more support from Democrats in the Legislature."

"This legislation was drafted by President Obama's top advisers. It was drafted by President Clinton's top advisers," said Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, at a recent hearing on his bill. "Gov. (Jeb) Bush is a big supporter of this, so it's not a partisan issue. I'm not sure why it's turned into that."

We wondered whether Trujillo was right about the roots of the parent trigger bill. Did top advisers to Obama and Clinton help write it?

The bill in question is HB 867, "Parent Empowerment in Education." The legislation allows parents at failing schools to demand changes, including asking for public schools to be turned into charter schools.

Trujillo's statement False.

"Teachers are being judged by the performance of students they've never met"

"The problem: Teachers have serious issues with a new formula that will be used to evaluate them and determine pay raises. Some teachers, for instance, are being judged by the performance of students they've never met." "Debate grows over merit pay plan for teachers as deadline nears".

It was his job to go out and close multimillion-dollar incentive deals with companies that agreed to add jobs. Back before the recession, Florida lawmakers were throwing hundreds of millions of tax dollars at companies every year.

The now infamously doomed Digital Domain special-effects company project was code-named "Project Bumblebee" and pushed by Crist and key lawmakers through a back door in the budget that left taxpayers on the hook for some $20 million in incentives. It also changed Brill's life.

Legislature will pass the halfway point on Wednesday

"With a new $74 billion-plus state budget taking shape, the 2013 Legislature will pass the halfway point of its annual 60-day session this Wednesday. The budget bill is the only legislation lawmakers must pass before the session's scheduled end on May 3. But with more than 1,700 bills and resolutions pending, Floridians still have a lot at stake in the outcome of the legislative gathering." "At legislative session's midpoint, major life issues still in flux".

"In typical Tallahassee fashion"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "In typical Tallahassee fashion, money is trumping children's health care in a fight over a House bill that would close a gap in the state's medical safety net. The bill, HB 689, would provide a health insurance bridge for children through a government-funded program when a parent loses coverage due to a job loss or doesn't have insurance for other reasons. Providing this peace of mind to Florida families wouldn't cost much — the highest estimate is $15 million annually — but the price tag appears to be stalling the bill's progress." "Filling a gap in children's health care".

"Sea-level rise"

"A study done in October by the 'Southeast Florida Regional Compact Climate Change' said a one-foot rise in sea level would threaten property across Palm Beach County with a total taxable value of $396 million to $557 million. In a catastrophic three-foot rise, the value of flooded properties would be $3.6 billion to $4.5 billion. At the same time that nature is working on the shoreline, the number of people living there, is going up, up, and up, according to a report released last week." "PB County particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise".

"Tallahassee's taxophobes"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Florida may have lost billions of dollars in government revenue in recent years from unpaid sales taxes on Internet purchases — money that could have spared education, health care and other public services from deep spending cuts."

Finally, lawmakers look ready to close the loophole that allows online retailers to sell products to Floridians without charging sales taxes. This quirk in the tax code gives out-of-state companies like Amazon a pricing advantage of at least a 6 percent over brick-and-mortar retailers in Florida, who are legally bound to impose the tax.

These traditional retailers employ Floridians and invest in their communities. They deserve to be treated fairly.

But Tallahassee's taxophobes are insisting that any extra revenue be offset with tax cuts. Never mind that Internet sales taxes already are owed, but almost always unpaid. One study estimates Florida lost more than $450 million in taxes this way in 2012.

"Textgate" trial

"The 'textgate' civil lawsuit against Orange County officials now promises to be even more expensive and prolonged. Once slated for June, lawyers are now aiming for an Oct. 7 trial in the politically explosive case."

The legal fight grew out of a paid-sick-time referendum that Citizens pushed for last summer. Proponents said the measure would protect low-wage workers, but many businesses argued it would kill jobs.

On Sept. 11, county commissioners voted 4-3 to keep the measure off the Nov. 6 ballot, despite 50,000 voter petitions requesting the vote. A judicial panel later ruled that delay tactic violated the county's charter.

The measure is now slated for the August 2014 primary ballot, though Republican state lawmakers are now trying to block all local benefit and wage efforts.

After the county's Sept. 11 delay vote, Citizens and the news media, including the Orlando Sentinel, sought public records from top Orange officials to see how the decision came about.

Thousands of email and phone messages were released, with some showing texts with commissioners and lobbyists opposed to sick time during the Sept. 11 hearing. Other records also revealed countless messages on and around that day had also been deleted or lost.

"If every big national news story leads back to Florida"

Randy Schultz: "The Republicans who lead the Florida Legislature could help their party and the state with a gesture that would be compassionate and practical: Repeal the ban on same-sex adoptions."

If every big national news story leads back to Florida, Justice Scalia’s ignorant observation [that there is “considerable disagreement among sociologists” about the effect on children of having same-sex parents] brought the same-sex marriage story back to Florida.

In 1977, responding to a hateful anti-homosexual-rights campaign in Dade County, the Legislature passed and then-Gov. Reubin Askew signed legislation prohibiting any gay or lesbian in Florida from adopting children. The Senate sponsor told homosexuals to “get back in the closet.”

The ban stood for 33 years. Dade County became Miami-Dade County. In 2010, however, the 3rd District Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of a Miami-Dade judge who had ruled in 2008 that the ban violated the Florida Constitution because it unfairly deprived children of a home. . . .

The “considerable disagreement among sociologists” that Justice Scalia referenced actually is considerable agreement.

His comment typified the often bizarre exchanges last week about the supposed purpose of marriage.

Ayn Rand creeps lead editors by their noses

Even though "the Florida Retirement System is funded at 86.9 percent, which is considered healthy", the pension haters comprising the Tampa Trib editorial board parrot the right wing pantywaists at Florida TaxWatch, who tell us that pensions are bad things.

After all, "if you want to know what would benefit taxpayers, you need only consider that most American businesses have done exactly what [House Speaker Will] Weatherford proposes: move from a pension to a 401(k)-style retirement system." "Put state’s retirement risk on workers, not taxpayers".

It speaks volumes that Florida's MSM editors worship at the feet of the Ayn Randy children that fund and play in the TaxWatch sandbox. Take a look at the following excerpts from the screed describing what these TaxWatch folks publicly claim they "believe":

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. . . .

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatreds.

Sounds like a simpleton's distillation of the doggerel in Rand's Atlas Shrugged doesn't it. Consider these passages from the Rand bible:

[D]o you know the hallmark of the second-rater? It's resentment of another man's achievement. Those touchy mediocrities who sit trembling lest someone's work prove greater than their own—they have no inkling of the loneliness that comes when you reach the top. The loneliness for an equal— for a mind to respect and an achievement to admire. They bare their teeth at you from out of their rat holes, thinking that you take pleasure in letting your brilliance dim them—while you'd give a year of your life to see a flicker of talent anywhere among them. They envy achievement, and their dream of greatness is a world where all men have become their acknowledged inferiors. They don't know that that dream is the infallible proof of mediocrity, because that sort of world is what the man of achievement would not be able to bear. . . .

So you think that money is the root of all evil? Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can't exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil? . . .

But you say that money is made by the strong at the expense of the weak? What strength do you mean? It is not the strength of guns or muscles. Wealth is the product of man's capacity to think. Then is money made by the man who invents a motor at the expense of those who did not invent it? Is money made by the intelligent at the expense of the fools? By the able at the expense of the incompetent? By the ambitious at the expense of the lazy? Money is made - before it can be looted or mooched - made by the effort of every honest man, each to the extent of his ability.

An economist once shared "the best line" he had ever heard about Ayn Rand’s influence:

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.