Florida’s electric power monopolies hate the amendment. They matter. Because, as you might have suspected after perusing your electric bill, they’ve got money to spend. And they know how to use it to manipulate a plutocracy.

The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reported that the state’s three largest electric power providers have already invested more than $3 million in campaign contributions in this election cycle. Florida Power & Light fed the piggies $2.5 million, while TECO Energy and Duke Energy slopped the political trough with $754,000 and $390,000 respectively.

That’s what matters.

Back in 2011, the Herald documented more than 70 deaths and a host of injuries over a 10-year period at assisted living facilities. The series prompted lots of public outrage, and legislators responded with bills that would foster a tough, new regulatory regime. But that’s not how the system works. The nursing home industry came up with $3 million in political contributions. The Florida Assisted Living Association hired a bunch of lobbyists. Three years later, ALF reform is hardly more than a fading memory.

Integrity Florida spelled out the new rule of governing. “Increasingly, the Florida Legislature sets its agenda and policy outcomes based on the needs of large political donors.”

The report noted how a large Budweiser distributor, after contributing $300,000 to candidates and political committees aligned with Senate President Don Gaetz, has been able fend off assaults on outdated container laws that are a disadvantage to the state’s craft beer brewers. This stuff about Florida government supporting small businesses is just so much guff. What matters is that craft brewers don’t have the money to compete with the likes of Bud.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court jettisoned the limits on what monied folk and corporations can spend on campaigns. Not that the previous limits did much to inhibit influence peddling — $48,600 on contributions to candidates during a two-year election cycle, plus $74,600 total for political parties and committees. But with no limits, the influence of the merely wealthy will wane before the billionaires.

This follows the court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, that allowed corporations — now granted personhood — to buy up elections. “If Citizens United opened a door,” Justice Stephen G. Breyer read from his dissent on Tuesday, “today’s decision we fear will open a floodgate.”

This is how we’ve come to have Wall Street lobbyists in Washington writing banking reform legislation, and nursing home lobbyists in Florida killing ALF reform. This is how the plutocracy works. They have money. You don’t.

Nuns demand retraction from ancient wingnut

"A group of Catholic nuns in Apopka, who for decades have advocated for migrant workers and the city's poor, are demanding that Mayor John Land retract a campaign flier that strongly suggests they are endorsing him in his fiercely contested bid for a 20th term." "Apopka nuns want retraction from Mayor Land's campaign".

Desperate Scott lambastes Crist over $25 fee

"Gov. Rick Scott signed a cut in auto tag fees Wednesday and singled out former Gov. Charlie Crist to blame for the increases, giving a bill-signing ceremony the feel of a partisan campaign rally. The typical Florida motorist will save about $25 a year per vehicle registration when the lower fees take effect Sept. 1." "Gov. Rick Scott signs tag fee rollback into law, takes aim at Charlie Crist".

Scott’s admin violated federal election law

"Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s administration violated federal law by trying to remove non-citizens from the voter rolls too close to the 2012 presidential election . . . ."

The decision by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta invalidated efforts by the Department of State to identify and remove non-citizens from the voter rolls in advance of an election in which a Florida victory was crucial to President Barack Obama’s re-election.

Federal law prohibits states from “systematic” removals of voters less than 90 days before a federal primary or general election.

Judges said they ruled in a case that might otherwise be moot to prevent Scott’s administration from undertaking a future purge effort.

Scott’s chief elections official, Secretary of State Ken Detzner, issued a terse five-word statement through a spokeswoman: “We are reviewing the decision.”

The state could ask for a rehearing before the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Last week, Detzner abandoned efforts to scrub the voter rolls of non-citizens in advance of the 2014 election in the face of overwhelming opposition from elected supervisors of elections. He had labeled the program “Project Integrity.”

The state won a lower-court ruling in U.S. District Court in the case of Arcia v. Detzner, but the plaintiffs appealed.

Elections supervisors and voter advocacy groups were alarmed in June 2012 when Scott’s administration launched an effort to purge the voter rolls of non-citizens in advance of the statewide August primary election by comparing the rolls with other state and federal databases. . . .

Scott has consistently defended the purge efforts as a way to reduce voter fraud. The state has spent more than $500,00Crist says Florida should put high-speed rail back on track0 in legal fees in the case.

House panel approves guns in Florida schools

"House panel approves bill to allow guns in Florida schools".

Crist wants to undo Scott's $2.4 billion rail gaffe

"Charlie Crist wants to bring the high-speed rail plan back to the Orlando-Tampa corridor, three years after Gov. Rick Scott canceled it and President Barack Obama redistributed its $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money to other states." "Crist says Florida should put high-speed rail back on track".

Exposing Jebbie's phony education legacy

"Former Gov. Jeb Bush and his Foundation for Excellence in Education have launched an advertising campaign to sell Floridians on the wonders of standardized testing and school accountability as his reforms turn 15 years old this spring."

But the Bush foundation's campaign called "Learn More. Go Further" tells only one side of a more complicated story. There have been some successes, but the campaign cherry-picks statistics to make Florida's schools look better than they are. Floridians deserve a more accurate picture of the state of public education.

1 Florida's graduation rates reached an all-time high of 75 percent in 2012-2013. BUT the graduation rate was 58.9 percent for African-American males and 80.5 percent for all white students.

2 For the second straight year, Florida finished among the top five states in the percent of high school graduates who passed an AP exam. BUT of all AP exams taken by the class of 2013 during their high school careers, 55.5 percent failed to earn a passing mark.

3 In eighth-grade math, the academic improvement of Florida students is three times higher than that of students nationwide. BUT . . . Florida still lags behind the national average, and 30 percent of Florida's eighth-graders fall below basic proficiency in math. . . .

5 Florida's low-income fourth- graders ranked first in the nation among their peers, and they performed as well or better than the average student in 15 states on the 2013 Nation's Report Card reading test. BUT the achievement gap for Florida's low-income fourth-graders in reading has not closed much in 15 years. . . .

8 Florida's eighth-grade Hispanic students read as well or better than their peers in 35 states in 2013. But the average score for Florida's Hispanic students was 13 points lower than for white students, and the achievement gap hasn't significantly closed in 15 years.

Reviewing the Legislature at the halfway point

"Florida lawmakers have crossed the midpoint in their 60-day march to craft new laws, amend existing ones and agree on a roughly $75 billion budget for the next fiscal year." "Legislature reviewed at its halfway point".

Haters keep after FRS

"A House committee voted on straight party lines to close the Florida Retirement System to elected officers and top government officials Friday, proposing some financial incentives for future employees to opt into a 401(k)-style investment plan."

Get a load of this genius:

“The fact is that pensions are a dinosaur in a 21st century world,” Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres, told the House State Affairs Committee before casting his vote in favor of the proposal by committee Chairman Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton. “We may have the strongest dinosaur out there, but it’s still a dinosaur.”

Even the test company is gay

"Common Core foes, who contend the 'Florida standards' differ little from the widely adopted national Common Core academic standards, were again disappointed. With their efforts to derail the initiative itself foundering, one group took aim at the testing company instead."

They noted the American Institutes for Research, called AIR, was tied to Common Core with its work creating tests for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. Then they accused the organization of promoting a homosexual lifestyle for children. “This is completely unacceptable. Besides implementing the same deceptive plan discussed at the governor’s summit in August, the state has chosen a company that has a significant history of promoting identification of the GLBT lifestyle for children as young as seven years old,” Florida Eagle Forum lobbyist Randy Osborne said in a Florida Stop Common Core Coalition letter to supporters.

Senate Gives Scott Court-Packing Power

"With a party-line vote Thursday, the Florida Senate approved a controversial proposal about the power of the governor to appoint replacements for retiring Supreme Court justices. The proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 1188) would allow an outgoing governor to replace appellate or Supreme Court justices whose terms expire on the governor’s last day in office." "Senate Approves Proposed Constitutional Amendment Giving Scott Court-Packing Power".

Did Bondi's office destroy records?

"A Tallahassee attorney engaged in a bitter property fight with the state is accusing Attorney General Pam Bondi of destroying emails, failing to retain text messages and violating the state's public records laws."

Bondi, the chief custodian of the state's Sunshine law, has acknowledged some documents were inadvertently missing from the records request of Stephen R. Andrews but vigorously rejects his claims. . . .

In court documents filed this week in Leon County Circuit Court, Andrews portrays a department that allows employees to manually delete emails before they are archived, relies on an outdated email archival system and allows metadata to routinely be destroyed.

He claims at least in 19 instances emails were destroyed and the attorney general's office failed to properly retain text messages after he filed a request for a document hold.

Andrews said he discovered the omissions only after he cross-referenced the emails he received from the attorney general through a public records search with those obtained from other agencies. He is asking a judge for a forensic search of all backup servers and storage devices at the agency.

Ray refused requests to explain what the department's policy is regarding retaining emails and text messages.

Mad as wet hen

Nancy Smith is mad as wet hen: "In case you haven't seen it, the liberal San Francisco-based hatcheteers [Mother Jones] have a story this week that comes straight from the Democrats' playbook -- Rule No. 3: Demonize a conservative by association with a 'public enemy,' real or perceived."

Go ahead. Read the Mother Jones story, "GOP Gov. Rick Scott Raising Big Bucks With Founder of Abusive Teen Boot Camps." It cites a $1,000-a-head fundraiser for Scott's re-election campaign. . . .

The truly absurd part is this: Mother Jones -- with the playbook as its guide -- picked the wrong governor to connect with scary Mel.

Charlie Crist was always the guber in Sembler's heart and in his pocket. Until the day Crist quit the party -- the very day -- he and Sembler were closer than a butterfly on a bluebell.

I'm not exaggerating when I tell you, Mel Sembler would have to throw 20 more Miami Beach fundraisers for Rick Scott to come anywhere near the cash he raised and bundled and outright-donated to Charlie Crist over the years.

Week in Review

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces". See also "Week in Review for April 4, 2014", "Arrivals and Departures" and "Weekly Roundup: Winners, Losers and the Waiting Game".

That silly Marbury v. Madison thing

The right wing has a problem with . . . you know . . . that Marbury v. Madison thing*, whining that "In recent years new laws enacted in Florida are being challenged in court and are ending up costing taxpayers a bundle in legal fees. Defending just four laws signed into law in 2011 already has cost taxpayers more than $171,000 in legal fees. And figuring in the new retirement plan law, which requires state employees to contribute a percentage of their salary to their retirement plan, this number could soar even higher." "In Florida, Courts Often Have Final Say in Legislative Process".

- - - - - - -

*Wingers especially don't like these passages in the U.S. Supreme Court decision, at least when they're running the legislative show:

It is emphatically the province and duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is. Those who apply the rule to particular cases must, of necessity, expound and interpret that rule. If two laws conflict with each other, the Courts must decide on the operation of each."

So, if a law be in opposition to the Constitution, if both the law and the Constitution apply to a particular case, so that the Court must either decide that case conformably to the law, disregarding the Constitution, or conformably to the Constitution, disregarding the law, the Court must determine which of these conflicting rules governs the case. This is of the very essence of judicial duty.

If, then, the Courts are to regard the Constitution, and the Constitution is superior to any ordinary act of the Legislature, the Constitution, and not such ordinary act, must govern the case to which they both apply.

Palin a nice fit for SWFla GOP

"Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin came down to Southwest Florida Thursday to help Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, in the special congressional election to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla. Palin was on center stage at a fundraiser for Benacquisto at a private residence in Naples Thursday evening. The former Alaska governor, U.S. Sen. John McCain’s running mate on the 2008 Republican presidential ticket, endorsed Benacquisto last week." "Sarah Palin Takes Center Stage in CD 19 Special Election".

Meanwhile, "A Florida state senator campaigning with former Gov. Sarah Palin caused a bit of a mystery. Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, was recorded as voting yes Thursday on the state budget, even though she had already left to join Palin at a backyard barbecue in Naples." "Fla. Senate forced to changed official vote record".

"Jeb!"

"Former Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush to headline annual Connecticut GOP fundraising dinner". See also "Bobby Jindal, Jeb Bush team up in new Super PAC ad" and "Jeb Bush talks 2016 on Fox News".

"Senate Folds on Gambling"

"The chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee turned off the lights on a comprehensive gambling measure that could have allowed resort casinos in South Florida, telling the chamber that he lacked the votes to advance it and is instead deferring to Gov. Rick Scott." "Senate Folds on Gambling Bill".

Killing KidCare Expansion

"Lawmakers Poised to Kill Florida KidCare Expansion for 25,000 Children of Legal Immigrants".

Budget blues

"Fla. House approves nearly $75.3 billion budget".

FlaBaggers in a dither

"Tampa federal Judge Susan Bucklew was in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to perform a wedding. The marriage of Mark Anderson and Keith Bucklew isn’t recognized by the state of Florida. But the District of Columbia does allow same-sex weddings. So U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, hosted the ceremony in her congressional office." "Castor hosts same-sex wedding at congressional office".

Scott flip-flops on censoring FSU professor

"Amid a growing online controversy, Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s administration reversed itself Wednesday and will invite a scholar to deliver a talk, days after canceling it without explanation."

Secretary of State Ken Detzner apologized to Florida State University professor Diane Roberts and issued a statement that she can speak “on the topic of her choosing.” Detzner also said he wants to find out “if everything was handled appropriately” after learning that an agency employee resigned in protest over the incident.

Roberts, an author and commentator who also writes opinion articles for the Tampa Bay Times, is a frequent critic of Scott’s policies. She had been invited to speak Thursday at the state-run Mission San Luis on a favorite topic, the deterioration of Florida’s lakes, rivers and springs.

But last week a spokeswoman for Detzner, Brittany Lesser, said that an “internal decision” was made to cancel Roberts’ talk because it did not directly relate to Mission San Luis’ emphasis on historical resources.

Roberts said she was amused by the controversy but appreciated Detzner’s call Wednesday.

It seems Roberts got more of an "apology" than curmudgeonly Canadian War hero and author Farley Mowat ever got when he was denied entry to the U.S. for a book tour because the Reagan administration deemed Mowat "a threat to the country's national security due to his environmentalist writings."

Jebbie begins his presidential run with a big fat spoonful of mendacity: "Jeb Bush says the state’s revenue 'is growing at a faster rate than almost any state in the country.' PolitiFact says he’s wrong."

Former Gov. Jeb Bush waved off any talk of a 2016 presidential run at a meeting of Broward County business leaders on Friday. Instead, he spent a lot of time talking up Florida’s rebound from the Great Recession.

Bush said Tallahassee had been hit hard in the past few years, but was making a comeback. "The revenue of the state is growing at a faster rate than almost any state in the country because our state has been fiscally well-managed and we grew our way out of the hole," he told attendees at the Broward Workshop business breakfast in Davie.

It is probably fair to say the state has bounced back from the worst of the economic downturn, but is the revenue rate outpacing the rest of the country? [Politifact] checked.

A few reports compiled with data encompassing different kinds of revenue can be confusing, but all paint the same picture: Florida revenues are still down from pre-recession levels, and don’t generally reflect a growth rate consistent with what Bush is claiming, either annually or in recent quarters.

There is one report that says 2014 general revenue is expected to grow at a rate in the top 10 of all states. That data is self-reported from the state, however, and is only an estimate.

According to experts we talked to, the Sunshine State is lagging behind the rest of the nation when it comes to getting its revenues back to pre-recession levels. We rate [Jeb Bush's] statement Mostly False.

Related: "Analysis: Florida economy recovering but problems remain".

Chapter 119

The Florida League of Cities claims to be concerned about the "rising number of lawsuits related to records requests. A House proposal would broaden the open records law and could lead to lower fees charged when a public records request is made." "Public records bill runs into criticism".

"High Obamacare demand in Florida"

"High consumer demand in Florida, nation on last day of Obamacare enrollment". More: "New Analysis: 9.5 Million Uninsured People Covered Under Obamacare".

Scott panders

"Florida Gov. Rick Scott met with Venzuelan activists who are becoming increasingly frustrated with what they see as President Barack Obama’s indifference to the crackdowns on protesters in the South American country." "Gov. Rick Scott: President Barack Obama’s ‘not caring about Venezuela’".

"Governor's-Race Attacks"

"At Root of Governor's-Race Attacks: 'Who Can Relate to Floridians?'".

"Who is running the fumbling Scott re-election public relations machine? Tallahassee Rose?"

Daniel Ruth: "It is something of a toss-up as to what is really the worse sin here: that the various hapless coat hangers in the employ of Gov. Rick Scott's re-election bid are such tone-deaf toadies? Or that they are so transparently inept in their phoniness?"

It was just days ago that Mike Fernandez, one of the Scott's top-tier re-election fundraisers, charged that some staff minions had engaged in "culturally insensitive" remarks regarding Hispanics, including indulging in some bad, really bad, attempts to mimic a Mexican accent. . . .

And now this. Another high-profile Hispanic voice, Miami-Dade Expressway Authority board member Gonzalo Sanabria announced he was resigning from the agency in protest over the Scott campaign's "disparaging and disrespectful" treatment of Fernandez. . . .

What exactly was Sanabria's shortcoming as a board member? Scott jettisoned the Miami Lakes real estate developer because of his "votes to raise toll fees on the people of Miami-Dade." Oddly enough, Sanabria's vote to raise the tolls took place in March 2013. It took Scott a year to get around to being properly riled up? Who is running the fumbling Scott re-election public relations machine? Tallahassee Rose?

After all, the PSC has allowed the state's power companies to charge customers $1.8 billion in charges for nuclear plants that will: a) never be repaired or b) never be built.

Can we anticipate the consumer protectionist governor now will demand most of the Citizens Property Insurance & Tanning Parlor board of directors and management lose their jobs? After all, they have dragged their feet on settling claims and foisted homeowners off on dubious carriers who have been in business for all of 20 minutes but were savvy enough to make political contributions to the governor's campaign.

And just wait until Scott ferrets out the dolt who championed the construction of a $131 million elevated tollway linking U.S. 19 and I-275 in Pinellas County. If voting for a rate increase of between 30 cents and 70 cents on the Miami-Dade expressways was enough to incur the wrath of Tallahassee's God of Toll-fire, then surely proposing an elevated toll road would have Scott fuming over yet another assault on the pocketbooks of motorists.

Irony abounds. It seems that the U.S. 19 to I-275 toll road has been warmly embraced by the governor, who has pledged to fast-track the project to completion.

Does this suggest Scott might fire himself? How does one explain this apparent contradiction?

It's simple really. In an election year, one man's toll road treason is merely another man's convenient toll road hypocrisy. Or maybe it's all Obamacare's fault, which is always a favorite Scott default position when he runs out of common sense.

"On the cheap"

The Miami Herald editors: "Lawmakers cannot reform DCF on the cheap"

Florida legislators have gotten off the dime and are coming up with one idea after another and another to force the Department of Children & Families to take far better care of kids in grave danger of being abused — or killed. Now, are they going to come up with the money it’s going to take to make dysfunctional families whole?

Wonderin'

With the appointments Scott has been making, it is disconcerting to read that Nancy Smith is wondering if "Crist friend and Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein [was] telling the truth in all that sworn testimony he gave? In deposition after deposition when he talked about his arrangement with Gov. Crist, his story never wavered. Was it for real? He said he put it in writing once. Anybody follow that up? And were there any more Scott Rothsteins doing the same kind of business with the governor?"

It's going nowhere.

It isn't even a blip on the radar because it doesn't exist.

I tried to reach out last week to Committee Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, to find out why not. I even left a detailed message with one of his aides, but I never got a call back.

Scott's "few successes and hundreds of unfulfilled promises"

"Gov. Rick Scott has staked his political future on his ability to bring jobs to Florida, but the first comprehensive review of his efforts shows few successes and hundreds of unfulfilled promises." "We examine Gov. Scott's record on job creation".

"A Republican power grab aimed at stacking the Florida Supreme Court"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board argue that a "governor who is leaving office after two terms or who has just lost a re-election campaign should not be able to pack the Florida Supreme Court on his way out the door. Yet that would be the effect of a proposed constitutional amendment that the Florida Senate will consider[ ]. There is a legitimate issue regarding the appointment of state Supreme Court justices, but this is not the way to solve it."

Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, has identified a situation that needs some clarity. Three of the Supreme Court's most liberal justices — R. Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince — will each reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 during the next governor's term. They can serve out their complete six-year terms, which will end on the same day the new governor is inaugurated in January 2019. So which governor gets to appoint their successors? The outgoing governor who is leaving at the same time, or the new governor who is just taking office? . . .

However well-intended, this appears to be a Republican power grab aimed at stacking the seven-member Supreme Court for decades if Gov. Rick Scott wins re-election this fall. A governor who has been ousted by the voters or who has completed eight years in office should not be able to extend his influence this way as he departs. This change would inject even more politics and less accountability into the judicial appointment process. Surely the next Constitution Revision Commission can create a more reasonable solution to this timing question when it meets in 2017.

Raw Political Courage

"Gov. Scott signs bill allowing veterans to pay in-state college tuition". See also "Rick Scott Signs Florida GI Bill Into Law".

"Power companies control the legislative agenda in Tallahassee"

Mary Ellen Klas: "To understand the influence of Florida's largest electric companies in Tallahassee, look no further than your monthly bill."

You won't see a line item for the "nuclear cost recovery fee" that Duke Energy and Florida Power & Light collect each month for future construction of new nuclear power plants. That's because legislators last year voted down an amendment that would have required them to disclose the fee to customers, something they knew the two companies didn't want to do. . . .

The legislative journey of the nuclear cost recovery fee is but one example of how Florida's power companies control the legislative agenda in Tallahassee, according to a new report by Integrity Florida, a nonprofit Tallahassee research and watchdog group. They say millions of dollars in campaign contributions and an army of lobbyists help keep corporate interests ahead of the public interest, and are calling on lawmakers to make the power companies more transparent and more accountable.

"Our state's monopoly power corporations have demonstrated how politically influential investments can be profitable,'' said Dan Krassner, president of Integrity Florida and one of the authors of the report Power Play: Political Influence of Florida's Top Energy Corporations. "The volume of spending on campaigns and lobbying give this industry an outsized influence." . . .

The report also suggested that a "revolving door" is commonly used "to lure former government regulators and officials into more lucrative lobbying and consulting jobs" for the industry.

What's next, indentured servitude and debtors prisons?

"Labor pools can already pay workerw in cash under current law." "Bill allowing labor pools to pay with debit cards clears Senate panel".

"Downright stunning in a world dominated by conservatives"

"Whatever the outcome of the medical marijuana bills dominating the conversation in the Florida Legislature, one thing is certain: More lawmakers are embracing cannabis as a cure than they are as a curse. This is new. It's downright stunning in a world dominated by conservatives." "Power of a Few: How the Florida Legislature's View of Medical Marijuana Has Turned Around". Related: "Lawmakers discuss medical marijuana implementation" and "Medical marijuana forum brings smiles from advocates, ire from opponents".

"Closer to reducing government control of wetlands, springs and stormwater protections"

"A permitting bill sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, passed through the House Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee meeting Monday, moving the bill one step closer to reducing government control of wetlands, springs and stormwater protections in Florida." "Bill to Reduce Fed Control Over Florida's Water Issues Passes House Committee".

Meanwhile, "Springs bill passes with most opponents taking the polite role".

"Hard to think of a worse week than the one Scott just survived"

Steve Bousquet: "It's hard to think of a worse week than the one Gov. Rick Scott just survived, but he can turn things around if he wants to."

First, though, a recap of what went wrong.

Scott's campaign finance co-chairman, health care exec Mike Fernandez of Coral Gables, quit in protest of the way the campaign is going. Then, in three blistering emails, the Cuban-American business leader called into question Scott's commitment to Hispanic voters and accused a campaign aide of crudely imitating a Mexican accent. . . .

Anyone who's paying close attention to the legislative session knows exactly what Scott should do, even though it would rile some conservatives.

Rather than waiting for the Legislature to act, he should lead the charge to guarantee passage of a law offering in-state tuition rates to children of undocumented immigrants, known as Dreamers. The bill, HB 851, passed the House 81-33, but it's not clear whether the Senate will take it up, and a strong push from Scott would change the dynamics.

Facts be damned, the media loves the thought of a political dynasty, so here's a taste: this from FoxNews: "A group of top Republican donors have reportedly begun an intense effort to draft former Florida governor Jeb Bush into the race for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016."

A Washington Post report quotes one major donor as saying that the "vast majority" of the top 100 givers to 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney would back Bush in a nomination fight.

The Washington Post:

Many of the Republican Party’s most powerful insiders and financiers have begun a behind-the-scenes campaign to draft former Florida governor Jeb Bush into the 2016 presidential race, courting him and his intimates and starting talks on fundraising strategy.

And the redoubtable locals, like the Tribune Company's Sun Sentinel editors, of course argue "Jeb Bush, GOP's best choice for 2016" (subscription required).

Free speech, Scott style

"Florida officials have abruptly canceled a talk by a Florida State professor and writer who has been critical of the administration of Gov. Rick Scott." "Florida abruptly cancels talk by professor and writer".

Scott's claims "Mostly False"

"The ad suggests that the Congressional Budget Office reported a loss of 2.5 million jobs under Obamacare, but PolitiFact found no such number in the report." "Scott’s ad claim on lost jobs under Obamacare doesn’t add up". More: "Rick Scott’s political committee says Obamacare has led to 300,000 health plans canceled".

Chapter 119

"A bill that unanimously cleared the Senate last week, and is set for a House subcommittee hearing Monday, would make it a little quicker and easier for Floridians to get a look at documents produced by state and local governments. The proposal was produced by the Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee at the behest of Senate President Don Gaetz, and it represents a change in attitude as much as a new set of ground rules for the public’s right to know." "Proposal codifies Sunshine law".

Runnin' gun'mint like a bidness

"State workers may have to decide next year whether they want a health-insurance plan with more benefits and higher monthly premiums or a cheaper one with fewer benefits and more take-home pay." "Changes may be coming to state employee health insurance plans".

"Fracking has hit a partisan brick wall"

"A bill that would require oil companies to disclose the chemicals used in a controversial drilling process called fracking has hit a partisan brick wall, its sponsor says."

Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, doesn’t think House Bill 71 will pass. The chilly reception is due to partisan politics in an election year, Rodrigues claims.

Voucher games

"An attempt to revive a sweeping expansion of the state’s de facto voucher system passed a House subcommittee on a party-line vote Friday, setting up a potential showdown with the Senate over school choice legislation."

The House Education Appropriations Subcommittee voted 8-4 to introduce the measure (PCB EDAS 14-03), which would bind together a program aimed at students with disabilities and the voucher expansion. Senate leaders last week pulled their counterpart to the House voucher bill, but the measure for students with disabilities remains alive. . . .

The House move injected legislative brinksmanship to the debate about one of House Speaker Will Weatherford’s top priorities. Bills establishing a “Personal Learning Scholarship Account Program,” which would reimburse parents for some educational services for children with disabilities, have been moving on both sides of the Capitol. . . .

But Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, told reporters that he wasn’t trying to jam the Senate by attaching the two measures. . . .

The Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, ripped the move to combine the two measures during comments at the subcommittee meeting Friday.

“While we have concerns about the personal learning accounts for children with disabilities, I have to say, as a teacher who taught disabled students daily, that this attempt to salvage the expansion of the … voucher program by attaching it to this bill is disingenuous to the public and those of us who have dedicated our lives to serving disabled students,” said FEA Vice President Joanne McCall.