Despite Scott and the state GOP every day pounding home the message that his policies are revving up a state economy that tanked under his predecessor, Charlie Crist, a narrow plurality of Florida voters, 47 percent to 42 percent, say Crist, the likely Democratic nominee in this fall’s election, would do a better job of handling jobs and the economy than Scott.

Overall, 46 percent of those surveyed in the Quinnipiac University poll said they would vote for Crist today and 38 percent said Scott. Fifty-four percent — including almost one in four Republicans — said Scott does not deserve a second term while 38 percent said he deserves to be reelected.

The Jan. 22-27 survey of 1,565 registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Pension deform

Aaron Deslatte: "Weatherford also is pushing again to reform Florida's public-employee pension system, which requires annual checks from taxpayers in excess of $500 million to remain fiscally sound." "Tallahassee warms up to big election-year plans".

Deslatte conveniently overlooks that Florida's state employees "have gone six years without raises." Another librul journalist at work.

"There is a distinct smell of failure in the air"

"Despite New Name, Critics Unhappy 'Florida Standards' Much Like Common Core". See also "Common Core: the standard that dares not speak its name". Ms. Ravitch weighs in: "States Finding New Names to Rebrand Common Core" ("There is a distinct smell of failure in the air.")

Q Poll: Hill beats Jebbie and Rubio in Florida

"In the 2016 White House race, New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie loses ground among Florida Republicans and in a matchup with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while former Gov. Jeb Bush remains the top Republican in the state, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released [Friday]."

Secretary Clinton tops Gov. Christie 51 - 35 percent in an early look at the presidential race, compared to a 45 - 41 percent Clinton edge in a November 22 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

Clinton leads Jeb Bush 49 - 43 percent and tops other possible GOP contenders:

51 - 41 percent over U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio;

53 - 38 percent over U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky;

52 - 39 percent over U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin;

54 - 34 percent over U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Bush leads a hypothetical Republican primary with 25 percent, followed by Rubio with 16 percent, Paul with 11 percent, Cruz with 9 percent, and Christie with 9 percent - down from 14 percent November 22, and Ryan with 5 percent.

Dems criticize Gimenez for postponing plan to redraw precincts

"The Miami-Dade Democratic Party criticized Mayor Carlos Gimenez for postponing a plan to redraw precincts for the November elections." "Miami-Dade mayor will ask commissioners to weigh in on new precincts".

"County leaders say they don’t want to confuse voters by changing their precincts. But an uneven distribution of voters contributed to long lines in 2012." "Miami-Dade delays drawing new election precincts — again".

Some call it pusillanimity

"Charlie Crist ‘not even thinking’ about debating Nan Rich in Democratic primary for governor". See also "Charlie Crist won't debate Democratic rival Nan Rich".

Meanwhile, "Civic group hopes to land Charlie Crist-Nan Rich debate in Broward". Down the roard: "Governor debate planned for Davie".

"There's a Sucker Born ..."

Nancy Smith: "Like the famous American showman and entertainer of the 19th Century, Orlando lawyer-entrepreneur Morgan is big on self-aggrandizement and wealth-building and short on humility and inertia." "For John Morgan, There's a Sucker Born ...".

Run, "Jeb!", run!

"Why Jeb Bush is the single biggest question mark in the 2016 sweepstakes". More: "Jeb Bush on 2016 decision: 'Can I do it joyfully?'"

House Republicans stand in way of insuring 1.1 million Floridians

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "State Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, has filed a bill that would allow Florida to offer health coverage to more than 1 million of its uninsured residents using $51 billion in federal Medicaid expansion dollars." "House Republicans should accept federal dollars to cover 1.1 million uninsured through Medicaid expansion".

Yee haw!

"Report: 1 Shot At Eastern Florida State College". Meanwhile, "Florida Man's Very Own Backyard Gun Range Is Perfectly Legal".

Fred Grimm: "Florida’s gun rights laws trump sanity."

Questions raised about Jolly's lobbying work for wingnuts who what to convert SS into a 401(k)

Curtis Krueger and Alex Leary report that, "as a lobbyist-turned-congressional candidate, David Jolly has repeatedly been attacked by Democrats who say he pushed for oil drilling off Florida's coast and represented a client who wanted to privatize Social Security — politically toxic issues in Florida."

Jolly says his opponents are flat wrong.

But a review of records and interviews show the truth is at least more nuanced and raises new questions about the Republican's role with a little-known conservative group that hired him to advance its interests in Washington.

The group, Free Enterprise Nation [the website is conveniently down], was founded by St. Petersburg businessman James MacDougald, who has quietly become a major campaign donor in Florida and is co-chairman of Jolly's finance team.

A few years ago, MacDougald hired Jolly to be his point man on Capitol Hill, and Jolly's work has come full circle as he runs against Democrat Alex Sink and Libertarian Lucas Overby in a contest to replace the late Rep. C.W. Bill Young in Pinellas County's Congressional District 13.

Lobbyists rarely run for elective office and when they do, their advocacy provides ammunition for opponents and exposes conflicts between what they were paid to do and what they may personally believe. For Jolly, those complications often lead to his work for MacDougald.

MacDougald is not well known but has big ideas. He wrote a book called Unsustainable: How Big Government, Taxes and Debt Are Wrecking America.

MacDougald argues for serious changes to Social Security and private pensions. Among his solutions: Turn Social Security into a "defined contribution" plan for anyone under 50, which would change the current system of a defined monthly paycheck.

More on the charming Mr. MacDougald: "Meet the CEO Behind the Attack on 'Privileged' Public Employees".

Meanwhile, "David Jolly and Alex Sink Evoke Obama, Scott, Pelosi in Attacks".

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Gearing Up for Session, Campaigns".

Whine, baby, whine!

Although this is off topic, it is irresistible. It is always fun when wingnuts overlook that personal responsibility stuff: "Conservative author Dinesh D’Souza, charged last week with campaign fraud, insinuated Friday that he might have been targeted because of a film he directed that was unflattering to President Barack Obama." "D’Souza Suggests Fraud Charge Is Payback For Anti-Obama Film".

Scott's "election year transformation"

"Gov. Rick Scott seeded his budget announcement with attacks on his opponent and predecessor Charlie Crist, while the former governor used the event to bash Scott’s policies and ethics."

Speaking to reporters and editors at the annual legislative planning meeting sponsored by the Associated Press, Crist lashed into Scott’s past at a fraud-riddled hospital chain, blasted his previous budgets for cutting education spending and accused him of reversing course because an election is approaching.

“He’s trying to make up for it in an election year transformation, but the people of Florida are smart,” Crist said. “I don’t believe Florida is going to get fooled a second time.”

"In a $100,000 Web ad buy, the Republican Party of Florida contends former Gov. Charlie Crist was responsible for the state's economic downturn. Meanwhile, Crist hires a campaign manager who was President Barack Obama's national associate political director during the 2012 re-election campaign. " "GOP attacks Crist on economy, seeking Senate seat".

As long as they hire locally . . .

"Sen. Alan Hays has filed SB 612, looking to give preference to Florida-based busineses in contracts awarded by local governments that use state funds." "Bill would impose local preference contract guidelines on cities, counties".

Let's hope this will cut back on the number of South Carolina license plates on cars parked at construction sites in Florida.

One trick pony

Andres Oppenheimer thought it "was pathetic to see Latin American presidents waiting in line to appear in smiling pictures with Raúl and Fidel Castro." "Summit in Cuba was mostly political tourism".

But the changes, which include more days of early voting, don't signal a truce in the fight over Florida elections. From Congress to the courts, activists of all stripes continue to battle over voting rules. The outcome of those fights could affect how — and which — Floridians go to the polls in 2014 and beyond.

One flash point is voting rights for ex-convicts. Florida is one of just a few states that prohibit felons from voting once their sentences are complete. Instead, they must wait at least five years before they can apply to a state clemency board to have their rights restored.

An estimated 1.3 million Floridians no longer in prison are affected, and civil-rights groups, including the ACLU of Florida, increasingly are pressuring state officials to rescind the restrictions — even rallying this month outside the Tampa office of state Attorney General Pam Bondi.

"Attorney General Bondi believes that felons must first prove their rehabilitation through the test of time before having their civil rights restored," her office noted in a press statement.

With Crist likely to face Scott in the governor's race this year, the issue could come down to who wins that contest.

The governor's race also will serve as an indicator of whether reforms instituted after the troubled 2012 election have made a difference. Before that election, Scott helped change how Floridians voted, including a reduction in the number of early-voting days from 14 to eight.

The loss of early-voting days was blamed for the long lines on Election Day. In response, Scott signed into law last year a bill that restored the number of early-voting days to 14 while limiting the length of ballot summaries for constitutional amendments — believed to be another cause of delays at polling sites.

"The changes implemented last year are good signs for 2014," said Lori Edwards, supervisor of elections in Polk County.

But Edwards said other issues remain, including a renewed push by Scott to purge the state's voter rolls of noncitizens.

Scott attempted a similar effort in 2012, but his administration suspended the flawed program after citizens, including two World War II veterans, were caught in the dragnet. A few months ago, Scott and Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced that they would restart the effort, though there has been little evidence of progress.

Edwards, who leads a state coalition of elections supervisors, said the administration has yet to forward any names of suspected noncitizens to county election officials, which is fine by her. The previous effort was "slapdash, sloppy and rushed, and they need to be careful," she said.

District caught evading Florida's class-size law

"Lake County high-school students were assigned to a 'leadership skills' class that existed on paper only, making it appear the school was obeying Florida's class-size law, according to a complaint by a whistleblower and an investigation by the school district's attorney." "Numerous class-size violations found in Lake County schools".

The Orlando Sentinel issues early endorsement in Orange County Mayoral Race

Although it is only informal - via a drumbeat of biased "news" pieces - it appears the Orlando Sentinel has already (and yet again) picked their candidate in the Orange County mayoral race.

"When Val Demings jumped in this month to challenge Teresa Jacobs for Orange County mayor, the former Orlando police chief was already almost a half-million dollars behind in campaign donations. Even worse for her, the Republican incumbent already has locked up some of the largest Democratic fundraisers around Orlando, the very ones that Demings might hope to lean on to compete in the Aug. 26 primary race." "Demings far behind in Orange mayor's money race".

"Charlie would be shaking in his patent leathers"

Nancy Smith dares "Charlie Crist to debate Nan Rich. No, I double-dare him. Not that I think a debate between these two is ever going to happen. Charlie would be shaking in his patent leathers -- he doesn't have the spine for it. But isn't the thought pure sweetness?" "A Charlie and Nan Debate? See Charlie Run".

"Citizens can take matters into their own hands"

"Florida voters will get to decide in November if funding for land conservation should be cemented into the state Constitution. But don't expect top lawmakers [(read: the Chamber)] to support the proposed constitutional amendment, which will appear as Amendment No. 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot after getting final approval this week from the Florida Department of State." "Don Gaetz: Amendment Shifts Too Much Land to State Control".

Even The Tampa Trib editors argue that "citizens can take matters into their own hands by backing the Water and Land Conservation Amendment to the state constitution, which would ensure Florida Forever received adequate funding and was free of such ill-considered legislative ploys." "Florida’s disaster of a land deal".

Billion-Dollar Florida Transit Plan

"Billion-Dollar Florida Transit Plan Promises Light Rail, but Greenlights Buses".

"The latest iteration of an old game"

The Miami Herald editors: "The more the public knows about the voting process, the better — especially in a state with a serial history of presidential Election Day snafus and in a county — Miami-Dade to be exact — where attempts to commit voter fraud occasionally make headlines."

For instance, if the Miami Herald hadn’t been able to obtain the Internet Protocol addresses for absentee-ballot requests last year, the paper might not have uncovered a local fraudster attempting to unlawfully submit absentee-ballot requests in bulk online.

The Herald article prompted a state investigation resulting in the arrest of the then-chief of staff for Miami Congressman Joe Garcia, a first-term Democrat who was not implicated in the scheme. Another probe uncovered two aides’ hijinks in Miami City Commissioner Francis Suarez’s 2012 mayoral campaign when they tried to obtain absentee ballots on behalf of some voters. They pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor and, although Mr. Suarez wasn’t accused of wrongdoing, the scandal derailed his mayoral bid.

So Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez made the right call in decreeing public access to IP addresses for absentee-ballot requests submitted online. Last year, Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor Penelope Townsley sought an opinion from the Florida Division of Elections about whether the IP addresses should be made public. State elections officials ruled that it was up to each election supervisor to keep secret any absentee-ballot information deemed “necessary” beyond, by state statute, allowing access for political candidates, committees and parties. Townsley opted for secrecy.

Next came Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez, Francis Suarez’s father, asking Mr. Gimenez to use his executive authority to overrule Ms. Townsley’s decision.

Crist's 12-point lead over Scott whittled down to 2

"With Charlie Crist's 12-point lead over Florida Gov. Rick Scott whittled down to 2, don't necessarily look at recent poll numbers as a victory for Scott. Look at them as a growing problem for Crist, victimized by national trends, but especially President Barack Obama's unpopular and ineffective health-care baggage."

One of the most prominent pollsters in the nation claims it's premature to look at Democratic-aligned Public Policy Polling (PPP) figures of last week and think they predict November. Right now voters' strong dislike of Obama's job performance and his signature health care law could pose future problems for Democratic candidates in Florida.

Sunshine State News spoke with Jim Lee, the president of Voter Survey Service (VSS), about the PPP poll on Thursday. The veteran pollster said Scott’s gains on Crist since a PPP poll taken at the end of September mirror national trends.

"A blow against the scourge of public corruption"

"A federal judge struck a blow against the scourge of public corruption last week in sentencing former Sweetwater Mayor Manuel 'Manny' Maroño to 40 months behind bars. The former political leader of a proud Miami-Dade municipality meekly accepted his punishment and seemed resigned to his fate after pleading guilty for his role in a corruption conspiracy."

Maroño is only the latest in a very long line of public officials in South Florida who have been snared in corrupt schemes of one kind or another designed to enrich themselves at public expense or increase their political power, or both. . . .

The array of fraudulent schemes and crimes in which some of South Florida’s high and mighty have indulged runs the gamut of public corruption. Vote fraud, cooking the books, favoritism in contracts, pay-to-play politics, nepotism, false billing — no corrupt plot is deemed off limits, no matter how brazen or outlandish. The plague has infected county commissions, school boards, city halls and the arena of public administration, both among uniformed and civilian employees.

"Mostly False"

"PolitiFact: Group makes mostly false claim that Florida spent "over $100,000" on voter purge".

"It appears Scott is trying to limit voting of those unlikely to support his re-election"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board: "More than 1 million Floridians convicted of felonies remain second-class citizens long after completing their sentences. They're unable to vote, serve on a jury or hold public office."

Florida is one of just three states that lack a simple, automatic path to civil rights restoration for former offenders. In 2011, Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet imposed new restrictions making it even more difficult for ex-felons to restore their rights.

The rules force individuals to wait as long as 13 years after completing their sentences to get a hearing on having their rights restored. Even then, based on current patterns, they have a less than 1 percent chance of regaining their rights, according to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. . . .

[Scott has] framed his opposition to automatic rights restoration as helping reduce crime, despite evidence to the contrary. A 2011 Florida Parole Commission report found felons who had their rights restored were about one-third less likely to commit another offense than those who hadn't. Given that Scott has also supported a purge of voting rolls for suspected noncitizens that affected eligible voters as well, it appears he is trying to limit the voting rights of those unlikely to support his re-election bid.

Yee Haw!

"Florida Man's Very Own Backyard Gun Range Is Perfectly Legal".

"Jeb!" a moderate . . . oh pleeze

Why does the MSM continue to portray Jebbie Bush as some sort of moderate? Here's his latest in NRO: "We Need School Choice Now".

"Reader beware"

Marc Caputo writes that we're seeing "the same old Crist. Friendly, with a knack for winning a crowd."

But nowadays, he’s trying to move the masses in a far more difficult way — as an author explaining his party-switching in his new book The Party's Over: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat.

Written as the former governor mounts a comeback for his old job, Crist’s book is a campaign document. It’s not just autobiography.

Starting with the title, the 341-page book reinvents some of Crist’s history. Crist didn’t leave the Republican Party because it was “hijacked.” He bolted because he was going to lose a Republican U.S. Senate primary to Marco Rubio.

It was political survival. For Crist to suggest otherwise plays right into long-standing criticisms of him: that he’ll say anything to get elected.

No matter what Crist said or did in 2010, it didn’t work at the polls. After becoming an independent, he ultimately lost in the three-way Senate race. He registered as a Democrat shortly after helping President Barack Obama win reelection in 2012.

In his book, Crist emphasizes his close ties to Obama. Crist downplays his prior criticisms of the president and his polices, highlights his centrist record and overall portrays himself as a moderate stranger in a strange conservative land.

Crist also pays short shrift to his reversals, zigzags and rhetorical tacks through the years. . . .

Crist recounts how his grandfather once pointed out that a pencil has two functions: “Every pencil has an eraser because everybody makes mistakes.”

But in The Party’s Over, Crist sometimes uses too much eraser and too little pencil.

"Florida is one of the Republican-led states that has chosen partisan politics over sound public policy"

"In Florida, legislators passed up $51 billion over 10 years to expand Medicaid or subsidize private policies. That left people like [House Speaker Will Weatherford constituent Jennifer] Bates out of luck. Her unemployment benefits leave her with too little income to qualify for a federal subsidy to buy private insurance in the federal marketplace. The health care reform law anticipated people like her would be covered by the Medicaid expansion."

The U.S. Supreme Court made Medicaid expansion optional for the states when it upheld the guts of the Affordable Care Act, and Florida is one of the Republican-led states that has chosen partisan politics over sound public policy and refused to participate.

Uninsured Floridians aren't the only ones hurt by this callous indifference. A new report estimates the failure to expand Medicaid could cost Florida businesses up to $253 million a year in tax penalties. The report by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service estimates about 84,000 uninsured Floridians work for large companies but cannot afford their employer's health coverage. They would qualify for expanded Medicaid, but since that is not available they can sign up for subsidized coverage on the federal marketplace. Those businesses face fines for each employee who gets a subsidy in the marketplace — fines they would avoid if Florida accepted the Medicaid expansion money.

Raw political courage

"The Republican governor wants to save businesses $33 million by reducing fees paid when companies register with the state. The Scott administration says the proposal would streamline filing files for more than 1.6 million businesses." "Fla. Gov. wants to cut corporate filing fees".

Charter madness

"A Florida state representative with ties to the charter school industry has been tapped to oversee a bill revising charter school contracts across the state. Republican House leaders recently chose Hialeah Rep. Manny Diaz Jr. to handle the bill. Diaz is a dean at Doral College. The school is run by Florida’s largest for-profit charter school company Academica." "Representative Diaz tapped to oversee bill on charter schools".

Scott won't take responsibility

Paula Dockery: "Scott claims credit, but won't take responsibility".

Crist hosing Romney in real time

"Charlie Crist's 2008 backing of John McCain caused fury"

Mitt, released Friday on Netflix, shows the moment Romney learned of Crist's endorsement, which actually surprised McCain as he was preparing to address Pinellas County Republicans. Romney looks anguished as he hears the news, and his son Tagg speaks to the camera:

"Charlie Crist had promised my dad multiple times that he was going to stay neutral," he says. "He talked to many people on our campaign and he promised them all he was going to stay neutral. And now he has announced he is going to endorse John McCain. Now it's two days before the election. This is a big deal. It's a tight race, and it's probably enough to tip it in McCain's favor."

Drake Draws Major Primary Opponent

"After two terms in the Florida House, Brad Drake stepped aside after redistricting in 2012 so fellow Republican Marti Coley could finish her last term. Drake has been running to return to Tallahassee ever since but now he has a major Republican opponent." "Brad Drake Draws Major Primary Opponent in Florida House Fight".

Raw political courage

"Rick Scott Announces $2.45 Million in Grants to Support 14 Florida Military Communities".

Hispanic Independents can almost be treated as a third party

Helen Aguirre Ferre in the Miami Herald: "Florida’s Hispanic voters might be up for grabs. In 2006, most were registered Republican, but that trend has dramatically changed since. In 2012, 645,000 Hispanics were registered Democrat while 476,000 were registered Republican. But a whopping 513,000 were registered Independent, indicating dislike or mistrust of both parties."

These Hispanic Independents could almost be treated as a third party as they can tilt the gubernatorial election in any direction.

It was a self-inflicted wound that still is in the process of healing. The disparaging tone and language used by some sent the message that they neither wanted nor needed the Hispanic vote. To make matters worse, Scott unnecessarily embraced the controversial Arizona immigration law as a model for Florida, pushing Hispanics further away.

If this Republican ticket wants to win this election, they will need to reintroduce themselves, and the Republican Party, to Florida Hispanics not only in words but with deeds. The platform will make a difference, and Republican House Speaker Will Weatherford can help. . . .

Hispanic voters care about the same issues as other voters with a sensitivity toward immigration reform. The quality of the candidates and their campaigns, the state of the economy and their ability to provide solutions to current challenges in unambiguous terms is important. Hispanics do not need everything to be said in Spanish. However, they do need to know that the candidate “gets” them. That goes a long way in politics and usually is the way elections are won.

Gay marriage

"A coalition of gay couples in Florida is taking on the state's ban on gay marriage." "Six Couples Launch Legal Challenge Against Florida’s Gay Marriage Ban".

Florida Makes Another "Worst" List

"'Florida is one of weakest in the country in terms of traffic safety laws,' said Cathy Chase, vice president of governmental affairs for the Advocates group." "With Traffic Enforcement Bills Pending, Florida Makes “Worst” List For Highway Safety".

Gambling

"As Gov. Rick Scott ramps up his re-election bid, he wants his legacy to be the state's declining unemployment rate and jobs, but the next few months could shape his message on a more controversial issue: gambling."

Will the state renew or expand the Seminole Tribe's monopoly on blackjack and other casino-style table games? Should the state allow slot machines in communities, like Palm Beach and Naples, whose voters have approved them at their racetracks? Will casino giants Genting and Las Vegas Sands be allowed to build a resort casino on the shores of Biscayne Bay or in Broward County?

Because it's an election year, most observers believe the governor will avoid finding answers.

GOP wants to stiff hospitality industry workers

"Republicans in the House of Representatives are proposing legislation that would allow the food industry to bring a half-million guest workers from other countries into the United States each year, and most voters don’t like the idea." "58% Oppose GOP Plan for 500,000 Guest Workers Every Year".

"Christie isn’t such a nice guy, but neither is Scott"

The Orlando Weekly's David Plotkin contrasts Scott and Christie: "Both Christie and Scott demonstrate how dangerous it is when leaders prioritize money over human need – but of the two, Scott is the more sinister politician. In Florida, we could only hope for a governor who carried out political grudges through bridge-lane closures. Scott avoids public conflict, engaging instead in the silent trade of human lives for corporate profits."

In 2012, Scott vetoed the funding of 30 rape crisis centers, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. He sped up Florida’s execution process, but then chillingly delayed one prisoner’s execution date so it wouldn’t conflict with a political fundraiser. And of course he refuses to accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid, even as 4 million Floridians lack health insurance. Why does it seem like so many public officials act in ways that are so contrary to the public good?

Campaigns create media for carefully selected audiences, just like advertising agencies or television studios. A political campaign serves its customers, who are still quaintly referred to as campaign “donors.” The campaign’s mission is to elect a government representative on behalf of these customers – most of whom are Florida’s wealthiest individuals and industries.

What makes Scott and his campaign so frightening is that he’s both the candidate and his own biggest client. Scott spent $85 million to win his first term in 2010, and $73 million of it came from his own pocket. This year, Scott’s campaign will spend more than $100 million to win re-election. But we are not his customers.

"Reports, concerns and logic regarding Medicaid expansion have failed to move Weatherford"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune's editorial board: "Last week's report that failure to expand Medicaid could cost Florida businesses $253 million in tax penalties is just the latest evidence that the Legislature's obstinacy on this issue will hurt the state's economy. The report offers yet another reason -- as the Legislature prepares to open this year's session -- for the public and the business community to push lawmakers to close this troubling gap in Florida health care."

Previously, a University of Florida study found that Medicaid expansion -- and the $51 billion in federal dollars that would would flow to the state as a result -- would create more than 120,000 permanent jobs. . . .

Still, so far, all reports, concerns and logic regarding Medicaid expansion have failed to move the Legislature -- or, more precisely, House Speaker Will Weatherford.

"Obama comes to Scott’s aid"

"Christie: Touch of irony as Obama comes to Scott’s aid on state’s troubled jobless site" (subscription required).

"A surprising and encouraging development"

The Tampa Tribune editors: "The run-up to this year’s legislative session in Tallahassee has been filled with promising signs for Florida’s environment, a surprising and encouraging development considering the virtual antipathy of recent Legislatures toward conservation."

In separate announcements last week, Gov. Rick Scott said he’ll seek $55 million to restore and maintain the state’s natural springs, and that he wants the state to double its spending on Everglades restoration, bumping it up to $130 million.

In the Senate, a $380-million plan to help the state’s natural water bodies is being drafted. And in the House, members are also working on a springs restoration package.

Whatever the motivation ­— be it political or not — the results will benefit the environment, the economy, and the reputation of Florida as a place of abundant natural beauty. The governor and state lawmakers should be applauded and encouraged to do even more.