Taibbi continues:

The Tribune papers encompass eight major publications across the country, including the Los Angeles Times, the Allentown Daily Call, the Chicago Tribune, the Orlando Sentinel, the Baltimore Sun, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Hartford Courant, the Daily Press of Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Hoy, America's second-largest Spanish-language paper. . . .

It should go without saying that the sale of this still-potent media empire to the cash-addled Koch brothers duo – lifetime denizens of a sub-moronic rightist echo chamber where everything from Social Security to Medicare to unemployment benefits to the EPA are urgent threats to national security, and even child labor laws are evidence of an overly intrusive government – would be a disaster of epic proportions. One could argue that it would be on par with the Citizens United decision in its potential for causing popular opinion to be perverted and bent by concentrated financial interests. . . .

Conservative pundits have made no bones about their excitement at the prospect of doing an ethnic cleansing of the rolls of all these newspapers. One of the future affected, the Chicago Tribune's Cal Thomas – simultaneously one of the stupidest and most charmless columnists ever to keep a death-grip on a job at a major American daily for decades on end – gushed about how happy he will be when his office is finally rid of all the Bolshevik intellectuals he's been forced to share space with, and full up instead with unbiased folks like himself . . . .

Not apparent from Taibbi's story is that, if the neoconservative Orlando Sentinel falls into the clutches of the Koch Brothers, right-wing extremists will have essentially perfected their control of the major newspapers that dominate the politically critical I-4 Corridor. To be sure, the Sentinel has always been conservative, albeit courageously opposing dumping raw sewage into Florida's lakes and streams and the outright purchase of elected officials, and it on occasion has endorsed Democratic candidates for political office; these pretensions aside, the Sentinel is by and large a right-wing organ in the midst of a blue Orange County*.

Nevertheless, the Koch Brothers' Tribune/Orlando Sentinelpurchase will likely end even pretensions to neutrality in the future.

The Tampa Tribune and the Daytona Beach News Journal, the newspapers that book end the Corridor are out right-wing rags. On the other side of the Bay, the former Saint Petersburg Times, recently renamed the Tampa Bay Times, was once considered Florida's "liberal" newspaper, but in reality is only marginally different than the Trib or the News Journal on many major substantive issues, largely toeing the Chamber of Commerce line, for example, regularly attacking public employee fringe benefits, including defined benefit pension plans. Not surprisingly, and perhaps due to the proximity of the overtly right-wing Trib more than anything else, the Times is considered "liberal" or "progressive" by some.

That said, the Koch Brothers' acquisition of the Orlando Sentinel will be a setback to what little remains of bona fide, independent print journalism along Florida's I-4 Corridor**.

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*Orange County votes Dem in national elections; however, representation in Tallahassee skews Republican due to gerrymandering.

**The Sun-Sentinel in Broward County, is the other Florida newspaper the subject of the Koch brothers acquisition. The Sun Sentinel and the Orlando Sentinel are in many respects the same outlet (see the post below).

Rick Scott's "display of uninspired leadership"

The Orlando Sentinel's editorial board is unimpressed with Mr. Scott:

With the legislative session over and the dust of lawmakers departing Tallahassee barely settled, Gov. Rick Scott this week took to the campaign trail for a victory lap that was more a display of uninspired leadership than a cause for celebration.

Winning pay raises for teachers and eliminating the state sales tax on new manufacturing equipment are good things, but hardly the stuff of legends.

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*As an aside, it is unfortunate to see the Orlando Sentinel's fellow Trib Company employees over at the Sun Sentinel - a purportedly independent editorial board - chime in with an essentially identical editorial this morning; they (claim to) write:

With the legislative session over and the dust of lawmakers departing Tallahassee barely settled, Gov. Rick Scott this week took to the campaign trail for a victory lap that was more a display of uninspired leadership than a cause for celebration.

Winning pay raises for teachers and eliminating the state sales tax on new manufacturing equipment are good things, but hardly the stuff of legends.

Two editorial boards, precisely the same editorial. Not cool.

HD 2

"As early voting in House District 2 wraps up and residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties gear up for Tuesday's GOP primary to replace the late Clay Ford, the candidate vying to become the Florida House's only black Republican says his campaign's internal polling has him leading by double digits." "Mike Hill Claims Double-Digit Lead in HD 2 Race to Replace Clay Ford".

Tuition hike veto?

"Will Gov. Scott veto tuition hike?".

"Fundraising process is likely to be more opaque than ever"

Aaron Deslatte: "With the 60-day lawmaking session complete, Florida legislators are wasting no time getting back to what they do the other 10 months of the year: raising copious amounts of cash from wealthy donors and companies."

And thanks to a campaign-finance bill Gov. Rick Scott signed last week, the campaign-fundraising process is likely to be more opaque than ever.

"Health care system in need of reform"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "When Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater charges $49,370 for a joint replacement and Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville charges $118,735 for the same procedure, something is out of whack. It turns out that the entire enterprise of hospital billing is largely a farce that is most unfair for those who may be able to afford health care the least. It's one more sign of how America's health care system is in need of reform. Without transparent prices, consumers' care is at the whim of whatever someone else decides they can afford." "Hospital pricing hurts uninsured most".

Session Summary

"2013 Session Summary: Health Care". See also "2013 Session Summary: Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture".

Weekly Roundup

"The Florida Current summarizes the 2013 legislative session as Democrats push Scott to call a special session for health care and environmental groups question whether the state can sell enough of its land to make the $70 million allocation for land acquisition to work." "Week in Review for May 10, 2013". See also "Weekly Roundup: Courts Get Busy as Lawmakers Leave".

"Less can be more"

Paul Flemming: "In Legislature, less can be more".

Budget blues

"Nine Things You May Not Have Known Were in the Budget".

RPOF robots shuffle in lockstep

"While Jeff Atwater, Pam Bondi and Adam Putnam have not drawn major Democratic opponents yet, these Florida Cabinet officials are getting a boost from the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF)." "RPOF Lines Up Early Behind Re-election of Cabinet".

"Jobless deserve better"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Jobless deserve better from state".

"Legislature pilfers money from counties that help the poor"

The Tampa Trib editors: "It is small comfort that the Florida Legislature swiped only $45 million of health care funds from Hillsborough and other urban counties, instead of the $245 million that it had originally intended to take."

The number may be lower, but the Legislature still pilfered money from counties that use local tax dollars to help the poor.

It is a dangerous precedent. You can be sure that there will be efforts in future sessions to increase the amount that is diverted to counties that contribute nothing to help treat the poor.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Florida human-trafficking ring busted".

"The Florida PSC, long the lapdog of utilities"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "The enduring Tallahassee myth that nuclear power is always cheaper has cost Duke Energy customers billions of dollars with nothing to show for it. A new analysis of the long-term cost of the proposed nuclear plant in Levy County — the kind that ideally would have already been done by regulators — should finally change the conversation. The Florida Public Service Commission, long the lapdog of utilities, will soon have clear authority to halt advanced fees for a nuclear plant that will likely never be built. If commissioners don't take action, they do not deserve reappointment." "The high price of nuclear fantasies".

"Brilliant Political Strategy"?

Scott cheerleader Jeff Henderson for some reason thinks, "Rick Scott's victory lap showcasing his successful efforts to increase pay for teachers across the state probably was brilliant political strategy." "Rick Scott, Education Champion: Looks Like 'It's Working'".

A fine idea at the time

"Agency puzzled over windfall for springs".

The report says the state's convalescence is moving along two separate – but ultimately connected – paths. One is being driven by Federal Reserve policies that have kept interest rates at historically low levels for the past few years.

The Fed's policies have also lowered the value of the dollar abroad, boosting international tourism.

Despite his merely "being there", Rick Scott nevertheless claims that he had something to do with the recovery:

Scott has been on a "victory tour" of schools this week to tout the $480 million in merit-based raises for teachers that lawmakers agreed to fund in their $74.5 billion budget passed last week.

And speaking with Enterprise Florida's board of directors at Disney World Thursday, he again touted the investment as one of the catalysts for Florida's economic turn-around. But he also claimed the recovery was thanks to his targeting some 2,300 regulations for repeal, the some 300 economic-incentive projects his office has announced over the last two years -- most of which have yet to create jobs -- and the "business first" attitudes of lawmakers.

Company founded by Senate President Gaetz accused of Medicaid fraud

"The U.S. Department of Justice has sued the hospice company founded by Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, accusing the company of engaging in Medicare fraud for more than 11 years, including during the time Gaetz was vice chairman." "Lawsuit accuses Senate President Don Gaetz's former company of Medicaid fraud ".

Crist is on the move

"Former Gov. Charlie Crist, now the front-runner to be the Democratic challenger to Gov. Rick Scott next year, is on the move, increasing his visibility as he works to endear himself to his new party." "Enter Stage Left, Ever so Gently -- Charlie Crist".

Republicans argue that Fair Districts is toothless

"For more than a year, a quiet legal battle over the partisan intentions of Florida's Legislature and Fair Districts backers has been playing out over whether the state's re-drawn legislative and congressional district maps were designed to protect ruling Republicans."

On Thursday, the fight – which is playing out in a trio of separate lawsuits -- returned to the Florida Supreme Court, which last year forced lawmakers to redraw their state Senate districts after a brief, 30-day review of how they might perform in elections.

Rubio embarrasses himself (again)

"2016 presidential preview? Marco Rubio criticizes Hillary Clinton on Benghazi".

Right winger cage match

"In a major setback to the rising libertarian wing of the Miami-Dade County Republican Executive Committee (REC), lifelong conservative Republican Byran Avila was elected vice chairman of the local party on Thursday evening." "Libertarians Lose No. 2 Leadership Spot at Miami-Dade GOP". Background: "Young Republicans Battle It Out for Future of Miami-Dade GOP".

Session summary

"2013 Session Summary: State and Local Administration". See also "2013 Session Summary: Economic Development".

Budget blues

"Legislature sends budget to governor".

"Veto Gun Bill" pleas

"'Veto Gun Bill' Pleas Dominate Rick Scott's Post-Session Inbox".

Geniuses in legislature lose $115 million

"That's because the Florida Legislature changed the state's property-tax laws two years ago so Habitat for Humanity and similar nonprofit organizations would not face large property-tax bills when they built apartments or other multifamily-housing projects, officials at Florida Housing Finance Corp. said."

According to Florida Housing Finance Corp., Orange County lost about $16 million in taxable-property value last year because of the exemption, out of an estimated $115 million that was shaved from property-tax rolls statewide.

Union lawsuit

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Delay Florida’s teacher evaluation system until federal judge rules on union lawsuit".

"Rick Scott Begged"

"Lobbyist: Rick Scott Begged Will Weatherford to Pass Sun Life Stadium Funding".

Trib editors join conspiracy theory crowd

"The Tampa Trib editors: "Truth catching up with Obama administration".

RPOF vice chair and House candidate forgot to pay taxes

"Tax Collector Sally Daniel was one of several well-known Hernando County Republicans who stood behind Blaise Ingoglia on Wednesday when he announced he was running for the state House of Representatives. At the time, Ingoglia owed Daniel's office $11,864.75 for two years' worth of delinquent property taxes on his Spring Hill home, records show. He also has been late paying taxes on the property several previous years."

Ingoglia, who serves as vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and chairman of the Hernando Republican Executive Committee, paid the outstanding amount on Thursday, the same day the Tampa Bay Times sent him an email asking about the debt.

Rivera caught on tape

"A friend of former U.S. Rep. David Rivera who’s implicated in a federal corruption investigation made a recording of the Republican last year — and now prosecutors have the evidence, The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald have learned."

Ana Alliegro made the recording, perhaps secretly, months before the FBI raided her home and seized her computer last year. She later skipped town and was last seen in Nicaragua.

"If Florida's U.S. House Republicans are any guide"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "If Florida's U.S. House Republicans are any guide, the debate will be bleak if the immigration bill proposed by the Senate's bipartisan Gang of 8 ever makes it to the House floor. This legislation would affect the fate of 11 million illegal residents already here and would be central to Florida's economy. Florida's congressional delegation should understand, more than most, that it deserves a fair and honest hearing." "".

Another Crist flip flop

"Former Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist has declared his support for gay marriage."

The statement marks a shift in Crist's views on gay marriage. He once supported Florida's constitutional ban on gay marriage, but also later said he wouldn't support a similar federal ban.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Nine charged with unlicensed contracting".

Scott spent $73 million of his personal fortune to buy the governorship without ever comprehending what a governor is supposed to do. This would be like dropping a couple hundred thousand dollars on a Lambor-ghini and never bothering to learn how to drive.

What Scott doesn't seem to grasp is that the governor's job is much more than merely the chief executive officer of the state. The governor, at least an effective one, is also the arm-twister/knee-capper and back-slapper-in-chief.

It's true not everyone has the retail political skills to cajole, threaten and otherwise work their will to accomplish an agenda. It is also true that without the skill set of Machiavelli meets an Amway salesman, perhaps one ought not aspire to the governorship.

The governor of the fourth-largest state entered this year's session with only two modest goals: a sales tax break for manufacturers and pay raises for teachers. This was like a tyke sitting on Santa's lap and only asking for a chattering teeth toy in the stocking.

Scott also meekly came out in support of accepting $50 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next 10 years to help 1 million Floridians get health insurance. Then he promptly went back to sleep instead of using the bully pulpit of his office to hammer a tea-party-beholden Weatherford and an ideologically recalcitrant House to accept the money.

He didn't. They didn't. And more than a million Floridians are now left holding an empty Medicaid bag.

And yet, the Greta Garbo of the Governor's Mansion wants to run for another term as governor. What's the point? So he can redesign the state's Bob's Barricades on road construction projects?

Regardless of party, some of Florida's most notable governors — LeRoy Collins, Reubin Askew, Bob Graham, Lawton Chiles and Jeb Bush among them — understood the power and the optics of the office and how to use them. So did many of the others, including Bob Martinez and Charlie Crist.

And all of those governors realized that a legislative session is not the time to go into political seclusion as if they were the Mary Celeste of the subtropics.

Scott could have schmoozed Weatherford and maybe, just maybe he might have made an inroad on Medicaid funding. To be sure, winning over a speaker who has become the beefcake boy of the Villages would have been a long shot.

But the political mortal sin here is that Scott didn't even try.

Lawton has to be spinning in his grave.

"The beefcake boy of the Villages"

As the session progressed, House Speaker Bill "Weatherford was better known for being the roadblock to accepting $51 billion in federal aid to expand Medicaid. Or to government workers, the man who pushed hardest to dissolve the state’s pension system. Or to public school teachers, the champion of a proposal that would allow parents to demand that some public schools be transformed into charter schools." "Weatherford’s veer to the right confuses Democrats, wins support from Republicans".

Raw political courage

"Bondi enlists Florida businesses to help fight human trafficking".

Emergency contraception lawsuit

"A group of Florida activists are leading the fight to give access to emergency contraception to girls and women of all ages. A judge will hear arguments Tuesday in New York to determine the next steps in making Plan B One Step, a morning-after pill, available." "Florida women play key role in emergency birth-control case". The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Obama had vowed not to let politics interfere with science.".

Illegal campaign contributions to Buchanan

"The Federal Election Commission has fined three men and two Tampa companies a total of $16,000 for illegal campaign contributions to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota."

Buchanan, a millionaire car dealer, has repeatedly denied involvement in illegal fundraising. In an earlier investigation, the FEC took no action though its general counsel said it was "more likely than not" that Buchanan violated election laws and concluded that many aspects of his testimony were not credible.

"Out of the blue"

"The employees said that their abrupt firing was an act of revenge. But a new report from the state's chief inspector general did not find direct evidence of retaliation. . . . [This, despite the fact that] Citizens' claims of poor performance by the investigators appeared to come out of the blue. The investigators, who made up the Office of Corporate Integrity, were not accused of underperforming until after their inquiries led to the abrupt resignation of a top executive, tough interrogations of several others and several policy changes." "Report: Performance issues that led to sacking of Citizens investigators came out of the blue".

Grant, Brodeur help themselves to public grant money

The Tampa Trib editors: "State Rep. Jamie Grant’s acceptance of millions of dollars in grant money from a public agency in Hardee County is a textbook example of why elected officials should avoid private business deals involving public money." "Rep. Grant’s wrong turn".

Out of the woodwork

"The Republican effort to knock off freshman Democrat Congressman Patrick Murphy began in full force on Tuesday as two challengers entered the race, while a crowd of other potential candidates continues to consider it." "Congressman Patrick Murphy Draws Two GOP Challengers in One Day".

Missing the mark

Nancy Smith: "Perry Thurston Plain Missed the Mark".

Budget blues

"Nine Things You May Not Have Known Were in the Budget".

Just lay off the texting

"A Richard Steinberg Comeback Try May Hinge on Wife Micky's Political Success".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Emperor, Mysterious Florida Company, Bilked Feds out of $750,000".

"Scott leaves out the details"

"PolitiFact Florida: Rick Scott leaves out the details on teacher pay raises".

Florida's "excessive and faulty use" of death penalty

The Tampa Bay Times editor: "In Florida and other death penalty states, it can take years and even decades for evidence of a prisoner's innocence to come out. Yet the Timely Justice Act passed by the Florida Legislature would speed the execution process with arbitrary and rigid time limits and reduce the governor's discretion in choosing which death warrants to sign, making it more likely that the state will execute an innocent person. Gov. Rick Scott should veto the bill so that Florida is not even more likely to make a fatal error."

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach and the sponsor of HB 7083, claims Florida's death penalty process is too slow and blames "legal gamesmanship and legal quibbling." Yet the state's system is nearly two years faster than the national average. Florida inmates are on death row an average of 13 years before they are executed; the national average is 14.83 years.

In fact, Florida fares far worse in its excessive and faulty use of the ultimate punishment. This state sentences more people to death than any other state and has the highest number of exonerations. That's because Florida doesn't require juries to unanimously recommend a death sentence or the aggravating factors that justify it, as other states do. While judges impose the final sentence, they almost always follow the jury's recommendation. An effort to require juror unanimity for death sentences failed again this session, and even an attempt to amend the legislation to require a supermajority jury vote of at least 10-2 failed.

Meanwhile, "Former death row inmate urges governor to reject Timely Justice bill".

Scott's "victory tour"

"Gov. Rick Scott in West Palm Beach today; part of teacher pay raise ‘victory tour’".

Only the losers

"Bill Me Later? Top Legislative Losses of the Florida 2013 Session".

The feminist card

Nancy Smith plays the feminist card: "Disgraceful Final Act of Bully Boy and Girl, Jack Latvala and Eleanor Sobel".

Where the crazy bills go to die

"Despite the influx of new members, the Florida Senate remains where conservative bills go to die." "2013 Session: Was Republican Domination in Tallahassee Wasted Again?".

Florida, like Texas, where safety regulations don't get in the way of employer "freedom"

The Tampa Trib editors think it is a grand idea that Ricky Scott, playing in the same sandbox as his friend Ricky Perry, "wrote letters to business leaders in Illinois and California, urging them to get a 'one-way ticket' to Florida." "Scott’s ticket offer worth attention".

Florida, like Texas, offers a regulation-lite business environment where employers are free to treat their employees like so much trash.

Indeed, a number of years ago Florida had its own version of the West Texas disaster.

The (then) St Petersburg Times editors wrote that "It took a big explosion and workers dying [in Daytona Beach] to get everyone's attention, but a state task force now says that Florida's experiment with voluntary safety and health standards for public employees is insufficient. The state needs to return to the days when state law protected worker safety."

In 1999, a Republican-led Legislature decided to release state and local governments from a legal regime of safety and health requirements for their workers. Dozens of worker safety compliance positions were eliminated as part of a larger reorganization that reflected the deregulatory spirit pervading Tallahassee.

In place of state law, then-Gov. Jeb Bush issued an executive order directing state agencies "to voluntarily comply" with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act's standards, and leaving cities and counties to decide for themselves what they needed to do. But no state resources were devoted to ensuring compliance or guiding safety efforts. The move was a wink and a nod toward protecting employees, and little more.

Then in 2006 a tragic explosion of methanol occurred at a wastewater treatment plant in Daytona Beach. Maintenance workers were using a cutting torch on a roof above a highly flammable methanol storage tank. Escaped vapors ignited, and the explosion and fire resulted in two deaths and one critical injury.

A federal investigation board issued a report in 2007 finding serious deficiencies with workplace safety practices at the plant. Well-known hazards associated with methanol had not been communicated to workers, and there were inadequate controls in place for "hot work" there.

In addition, the board found 33 more "chemical incidents" at Florida public facilities in the previous five years. "All of these incidents involved chemicals that would normally be included in an OSHA compliant hazard communications program," the report stated.

Of course, nothing has been done to improve worker safety. Florida, like Texas, remains at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to regulations protecting workers. And this passes for "job creation"?

And yet House Republicans, led by Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, failed to reach a workable compromise with their counterparts in the Republican-led Senate, effectively killing any deal for now and leaving Florida’s uninsured in jeopardy.

Gov. Rick Scott’s role in all this has been disappointing. Once an outspoken opponent of “Obamacare,” he saw that the feds’ Medicaid offer was too good to pass up, but he failed to do the work necessary to get support in the House.

"Stark spending choices"

"Hefty budget poses stark spending choices for Gov. Rick Scott". Related: "Legislative session’s over, but The Herald’s vigilance isn’t".

Florida House "embarrassed itself"

The Orlando Sentinel's Aaron Deslatte, writes that "the Florida House of Representatives embarrassed itself this week by ramming through a tax-cut that turns one of Gov. Rick Scott's top legislative priorities into potential litigation fodder." "Tax-cut vote shows might trumps right".

Nothing to fix the grotesque flaws"

Miami Herald columnist Fred Grimm writes, "On Thursday, Maryland became the sixth state in the past six years to abolish capital punishment. Eighteen states have now done away with the death penalty. Florida, of course, is not among them."

Rather, the Florida Legislature has taken a different, defiant tack. Last week, legislators sent Gov. Scott the so-called Timely Justice Act, a bill designed to hasten executions. The bill sets new deadlines for death-penalty appeals, and forces the governor to sign a death warrant within 30 days, once the case has been reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court. And that starts the timer again, giving the state 180 days to execute the prisoner.

The bill, no doubt, makes for savvy politics, addressing the public’s frustration, often voiced by victims’ families, with the long wait for justice after horrific murders. Condemned prisoners spend an average of 13.22 years on Florida’s Death Row before they’re finally executed.

But House Bill 7083 does nothing to fix the grotesque flaws that undermine confidence that we’re killing the right people for the right crimes — the same problems that led Maryland to junk the whole damn system.

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Swift is not sure on death penalty".

Lie down with dogs

The crazies are after non-exile exile, Marco Rubio's non-amnesty amnesty plan: "Marco Rubio’s Bad Deal". More: "Sen. Marco Rubio battling conservative opposition to immigration bill".

"Mistakes in the making"

The Palm Beach Post editors: "2013 Legislature fixed mistakes on education, created mistakes in the making.".

Big of 'em

"Legislature passes bill to extend early voting, moves back early presidential primary for 2016".

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Two steps forward, one back on elections".

Rubio planning for 2016

"U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio persuaded state lawmakers Friday to make a last-minute change eliminating Florida's early presidential primary — in which the Republican could be on the ballot."

Right now, the Sunshine State's early primary violates Democratic and Republican national party rules, which penalize the state by severely devaluing the vote of its delegates who nominate each party's presidential candidate.

Florida Republicans, for instance, would have only 12 delegates instead of 99 if the state kept its early primary in January or early February

'Glades

"Miami congressman trekked to Everglades to meet U.S. secretary".

"Winners and losers"

"Legislature 2013: Winners and losers". More: "Florida Legislature’s 2013 winners and losers".

Affordable officials

"Affordable-housing developers under investigation contributed to Miami-Dade political campaigns