The surprise move by Senate Budget Chairman Joe Negron — which caught Republicans in the House and governor’s office flatfooted — means the proposal (SB 1400) will be a long shot for passage during the final two weeks of the legislative session.

Negron, R-Stuart, gave a list of reasons for rejecting the bill, including the potential cost.

Meanwhile, a desperate "Rick Scott, along with former governors Jeb Bush and Bob Martinez, made an urgent last-minute plea for legislators to pass a tuition break to students who entered the country illegally." "Scott and Bush want in-state tuition bill passed". See also "Scott enlists ex-Govs. Bush, Martinez to push Fla. Senate to pass in-state tuition for immigrants", "Rick Scott to Florida Senators: Pass In-State Tuition Bill" and "Scott urges lawmakers to pass in-state tuition bill".

Related: "Miami lawmakers make one more push to extend healthcare to immigrant children".

Weatherford hits a wall

"Much of the "work plan" put forth by both House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz has either been accomplished or is on track. But two big-ticket items favored by Weatherford - expansion of vouchers and a move to push most new state workers into a defined contribution pension system - have hit turbulence in the Senate as session enters its final two weeks." "Work remains on joint 'work plan' as items stumble in Senate".

"Murphy Routing Republican Foes in Money Chase"

"One of the most quiet developments in Florida politics has been Republican candidates failing to keep pace with Patrick Murphy in the money chase in what should be a competitive congressional race. The Republican candidates are having no problem putting their money where their mouths are but their supporters aren’t exactly opening up their wallets. Murphy should be a top target for Republicans. He represents a swing district and barely beat conservative Allen West back in 2012. This time Murphy won’t have Barack Obama and Bill Nelson cranking out Democratic turnout." "Patrick Murphy Routing Republican Foes in the Money Chase".

"Grossly negligent" science instruction in private schools that accept taxpayer voucher money

Brandon Haught, the communications director for Florida Citizens for Science, writes that "A fiery debate over expanding the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program is attracting lots of attention in Tallahassee. Predictably, we at Florida Citizens for Science are focused on the science education angle. What is the quality of science instruction in the private schools that accept taxpayer’s money through this program? We found that some of these schools are grossly negligent in the science classroom. That answer is shocking, but even worse is how this fact is ignored in the school voucher debates."

He continues, pointing out that

at least 164 voucher-accepting private schools in Florida teach creationism. Many of those schools are proud of this fact. It’s a successful selling point. And they get away with it because they aren’t held accountable for what goes on in the science lab. Tax credit scholarship students are required by state law to take state-approved standardized tests in reading and math, but not in science.

These creationist schools may have stellar reading programs. Their smaller class sizes and more one-on-one instruction may help students overcome their fear of math. That’s admirable, and we applaud those efforts. But the creationist schools butcher science education by teaching that the earth is only about 6,000 years old, contrary to the fact that we, Homo sapiens, have been around much longer than that by about 200,000 years. Some dismiss evolution as devilish tomfoolery, which would certainly surprise evolutionary biologists in our state universities and at the Scripps Research Institute.

With this in mind, the argument that parents will hold private schools accountable by walking away from substandard ones rings hollow.

It’s heartbreaking when parents purposely want what is in reality a distorted funhouse mirror version of science education. It’s a travesty for the students. Creationist thinking starts with a conclusion and then collects facts that support that conclusion while discarding or ignoring facts that disagree with it. That’s not science. Scientific thinking collects all of the available facts and then draws conclusions based on where the evidence leads. Students in creationist classes are being taught what to think, not how to think.

Hot for teachers

"Pasco to recruit teachers out of state".

Florida adds jobs but unemployment increases

"Unemployment Rate Increases Slightly in March, but It's Called a 'Beauty Mark,' Not a 'Blemish'". More: "Florida adds jobs but unemployment rate increases as more return to workforce" and "Fla. jobless bumps up to 6.3%, jobs increase and workers return to job force".

Week in Review

"Week in Review for April 18, 2014" and "Weekly Roundup: Pondering Where Things Stand". See also "Arrivals and Departures, April 18, 2014" and "Political Bits and Pieces".

Scott's "unique legal argument"

"The administration of Gov. Rick Scott is making a unique legal argument when it comes to handing over public records: Get it from the employees, not us." "Gov. Scott’s office: Ask employees for records, not us".

"FCAT Expelled"

"Parting is such sweet sorrow -- sort of -- as many Florida students took the FCAT for the last time this week, waving goodbye to the standardized test and marking an end to its 16-year legacy in the Sunshine State." "FCAT Finally Expelled From Florida's Schools".

Even the Trib

Of all people, the Tampa Tribune editorial board whine that "State lawmakers can take a giant leap forward this year by passing a Senate bill that promises to clean and protect the state’s natural springs." "Protecting natural springs should be a priority".

"Win your primary and then maybe we’ll debate"

"'Give me Scott.' Democrat Charlie Crist issued that implicit debate challenge to Gov. Rick Scott during an impromptu caught-on-video meeting with Lieutenant Governor Carlos-Lopez Cantera."

But Scott said Tuesday that he’s not ready to take up the challenge, noting that Crist has refused to debate his fellow Democrat, former Sen. Nan Rich.

“That’s laughable. Think about it. He has a primary,” Scott said.

“I’m sure it’s going to be enjoyable watching his debates with Nan Rich,” he said.

Meanwhile, "Easter Week's Been Busy in Florida Governor's Race".

"The belly of the beast"

"As Eric Conrad exits Charlie Crist’s campaign stage left, questions have to be asked about what’s in the belly of the beast. Conrad is a committed liberal Democrat. He worked for Enroll Florida, spreading the message of Obamacare. Conrad was a staffer for the Florida Democratic Party and an old Barack Obama hand. His commitment to the Democratic Party and left-of-center politics can’t be questioned. But after only a week, Conrad is now gone from Crist’s campaign team." "Charlie Crist's Revolving-Door Staff Underlines GOP's Attacks". See also "Crist press spox leaves after a week".

Venezuelan sideshow

"Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Bill Nelson try to keep U.S. attention on Venezuelan political unrest".

"Dem registration advantage hasn’t been this small since 2007"

Marc Caputo: "In a state where a presidential election was famously decided by 537 ballots, Florida Democrats’ edge of 485,907 active voters over registered Republicans looks impressive at a glance."

But it isn’t.

In historical terms, it’s a bad sign for Democrats and Charlie Crist. And it’s great news for Republicans and Gov. Rick Scott.

The Democrats’ registration advantage hasn’t been this small since 2007. Perhaps more significantly, the gap is even smaller than it was in 2010 (591,809), when Republicans whipped Democrats at the ballot box.

But there’s one advantage to having a large bloc of white voters during a mid-term election: They vote far more often and in bigger proportions than minorities.

Also, because the GOP controls the state power structure (determined in mid-term election years) it’s able to raise far more money than Democrats. That’s why in the last fundraising quarter, announced late last week, Scott’s side was able to raise $17.1 million to Crist’s and the Democrats’ $6.1 million.

For Democrats, that’s just not enough money to both run a statewide race and conduct the type of voter registration efforts that President Barack Obama did twice in Florida to help guarantee a win. . . .

But when Democrats show up in force, all the proportionality in the world can’t save the GOP. Even those elections aren’t blow-outs.

Florida "moving backwards"

"HB 7147 and SB 1044 contain what Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam describes as 'cleanup' language, including eliminating the Solar Energy System Rebate Program created in 2006. The program hasn't been funded since 2010, when some rebate applicants received only 52 percent of what they applied for. 'We are moving backwards,' environmentalist Susan Glickman said." "Objections simmer as Putnam's energy bill would eliminate solar rebate program".

"Scott’s air travel reflects not only his wealth, but his preference for stealth"

"The first campaign promise Gov. Rick Scott kept allows him to travel with the privacy and luxury of a CEO while living in the fishbowl of public office."

As a candidate in 2010, Scott said it was a waste of money for Florida to have two airplanes for official travel, so he replaced them with a private jet at his expense.

The switch has saved taxpayers a lot of money, but how much is a mystery: No public airplanes means no public records.

Scott’s air travel reflects not only his wealth, but his preference for stealth. Despite his oft-stated support for transparency, Scott keeps his flight itineraries off tracking websites and even blacks out arrival and departure details on official schedules after the fact, citing the need for security.

Other candidates must pay for commercial flights or hop aboard private jets owned by donors — trips that must be publicly disclosed under state campaign finance laws.

Not Scott.

The hospital CEO-turned-governor flies in a Cessna Citation Excel owned by a company whose only officer is his wife, Ann Scott. The jet’s tail number carries her initials, A.S.

Having access to a private jet 24/7 is a luxury other candidates can’t afford, and some experts say it requires more disclosure than Scott is providing. . . .

Scott opened his re-election campaign Dec. 10 and has made dozens of campaign flights since then, but he has disclosed no air travel expenses.

“You have to account for it,” said one of the lawyers, Mark Herron. “Otherwise, it could be an unreported contribution to your campaign.”

The other lawyer, Ron Meyer, said it “defies logic” to accept the Scott campaign’s explanation.

“To do so would mean that a campaign could accept all kinds of services and simply not write a check to pay for them until the end,” Meyer said. “Not exactly a transparent way of reporting who gave it and who got it.”

Nancy Watkins, a Tampa certified public accountant who often advises Republicans, said tax law could be interpreted such that Scott’s use of an aircraft owned by a firm whose sole officer is his wife makes it personal transportation — the same as riding in a car — and not reportable as a campaign expense, or what’s known in the tax code as a disregarded entity.

The session's final weeks

Gray Rohrer: "The priorities of House Speaker Will Weatherford, large ominibus bills and the finalization of the budget will all be in play in the session's final weeks." "Final weeks: Weatherford's big ideas, trains and budget talks". See also "Negron: Budget conference meetings to begin on April 21".

All Geller

"With his leading opponent dropping out of the race, Joe Geller has become the strong favorite to win the Florida House seat currently held by Joe Gibbons." "Joe Geller Clear Favorite for Open House Seat in South Florida".

Voucher madness

"The proposal lacks a testing requirement for students and it's not clear if it will be accepted by the Senate where President Don Gaetz has said accountability is one of the themes of the 2014 Workplan." "House school vouchers bill heads to Senate". See also "Floridians Opposed to Voucher Program".

"No other state came close"

Carl Hiaasen: "After being sued by the Wall Street Journal, the government finally released its Medicare reimbursement data last week. It included the less-than-stunning revelation that 28 of the 100 doctors who received the largest payments in 2012 were from Florida. No other state came close." "First, do no harm — to your bank account".

Tampa yawner

Steve Otto: "Tampa still working on ‘Next Great City’ status".

"Has this state’s voting record ever really been out of the headlines?"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board "Florida was back in the headlines last week, featured in a story about states that have made it more difficult to vote. But then, considering the voter purges, the restrictions on voting, the subsequent backtracking and the inevitable Election Day foul-ups, has this state’s voting record ever really been out of the headlines?"

The Pew Charitable Trusts issued a report on voter access and found Florida lagging behind much of the rest of the country.

"Using the Republicans’ own words against them"

Bill Cotterell suggests that "Florida Democrats, holding neither the veto pen nor the majority vote in either chamber of the Legislature, can employ a bit of political martial arts by using the Republicans’ own words against them sometimes. The difference between a legislative gotcha and that other form of ground fighting is that, in jiu-jitsu, the little guy has a chance. Democrats know they’ll lose. But sometimes, it’s entertaining to watch the them remind GOP leaders of past pronouncements." "Using Republicans' own words to debate them".

The great negotiator

"Gov. Rick Scott, who made a career out of negotiating hospital mergers, is now applying his negotiating skills to a deal with the Seminole Tribe that could singlehandedly dictate the future of gaming in Florida." "Gov. Rick Scott’s negotiations with Seminole Tribe could be a blueprint for gaming’s future in Florida".

Meanwhilee, Nancy Smith wonders "What Happens to Gambling If Charlie Crist Wins?"

To the right of Ander Crenshaw?

"Ander Crenshaw Faces Conservative Primary Challenger Ryman Shoaf in CD 4".

Week in Review

"Week in Review for April 11, 2014". See also Kevin Derby: "Political Bits and Pieces", "Weekly Roundup: Lights Out Permanently on Gambling, Temporarily on Session" and "Arrivals and Departures, April 11, 2014".

"Black caucus struggles"

"In GOP-dominated Legislature, black lawmakers caucus struggles".

"Florida Republicans Say Good Riddance"

"Florida Republicans Say Good Riddance, Kathleen Sebelius".

"Indefensible"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Florida lawmakers have three weeks to decide if they are going to stand with trauma patients and for rationally priced health care, or with hospitals that are charging indefensible trauma center response fees and driving up costs across the health care system." "Stand with patients, not profits".

Yee haw!

"The sponsor explained the bill extends carry-and-conceal privileges to those fleeing during a mandatory evacuation declared by the governor or local officials. The Senate version has yet to clear a committee." "House sends gun bill to Senate".

"Republican bad girl" denied bond

"Former Congressman David Rivera’s friend Ana Alliegro denied bond, remains in jail".

Choice politics

"It changes the exceptions to a late term abortion and opens the door to a legal framework that would take into account viability for life, rather than a designated time period, for when an abortion could be performed. Among those voting no were four Republicans." "House approves abortion restriction".

Legislators secret save-our-civilization-from-Zombie Bloodbath-agenda

Fred Grimm: "Florida lawmakers are getting us ready for the zombie apocalypse."

At first glance, Senate Bill 296, which allows gun owners to pack heat during civil emergencies, whether or not they happened to have a concealed weapon permit, would seem just another mindless pander to the National Rifle Association.

Sponsors told fellow legislators that a new law was necessary to prevent police from seizing firearms from Floridians fleeing declared civil emergencies. Like a hurricane. Perhaps even a riot.

At first glance, none of that stuff made sense, adding unlicensed gunslingers to civil chaos. One can only suppose that our legislators, as they voted “yea,” were advancing a secret save-our-civilization-from-Zombie Bloodbath-agenda as the measure zipped through Senate committee stops last week and a House companion bill was approved 80-to-36 Friday afternoon. Our leaders are intent on getting us armed and ready to battle The Army of Darkness (or worse, the feminist version, Zombie Women of Satan). Because any other explanation for SB 296 is just plain crazy.

So it’s obvious. Legislators, anxious to avoid setting off mass panic, played it coy. They talked hurricanes. They talked riots. They didn’t broach the fear gnawing at slimy, rotten innards of American culture. They didn’t talk about World War Z. No one mentioned Dawn of the Dead. They said one thing. They were thinking Die You Zombie Bastards!

Their lack of candor did cause a few awkward moments. When one of the bill’s champions, Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, was pressed to name an actual instance when someone in Florida was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon or had his firearm confiscated during a declared emergency, he couldn’t think of one. Not even during that spate of hurricanes last decade that sent Floridians scurrying from the paths of Katrina, Wilma, Charlie, Jeanne, Dennis and Ivan.

That led Sen. Jack Latvala R-Clearwater, to ask Brandes why, then, our already lenient state gun laws were in such urgent need of fixing, Brandes recalled that firearms had been confiscated in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. “Often we see situations around the country that we don’t want repeated here in the great state of Florida.” The word “situation” was code for Night of the Living Dead. Or maybe Night of the Living Dead 3-D.

Of course, most of the guns seized in New Orleans were confiscated at the entrance to the Superdome. Authorities apparently thought gunplay would not improve the mix of the hunger, thirst, stench, despair, anger suffered by 20,000 desperate refugees camped inside the big, dark, domed stadium. That incident so provoked the gun lobby in 2006, that Congress passed a federal law prohibiting “the confiscation of a firearm during an emergency or major disaster if the possession of such firearm is not prohibited under federal or state law.”

Florida’s about to take this even further. At times when fear and desperation and panic grips the population, SB 296 would extend that immunity to folks too lazy or too hinky to qualify for a concealed weapon permit.

Of course, such a premise is way too absurd for anyone to pretend it’s anything other than a diversion from the scary truth. Everyone in Tallahassee surely knows that Brandes‘ real intent is to save Florida from the ultimate civil emergency. What occurred in the capitol (a.k.a. House of the Dead) last week, thanks to this brave senator from St. Petersburg (long known as The City of the Living Dead) was exactly the intersection between heroic politician and the funereal horrors revealed in the 2012 historical classic Abraham Lincoln Vs. Zombies.

"Jeb Bush has a lot of baggage"

Steve Otto reminds us that "Jeb Bush has a lot of baggage, particularly in Florida, where his image as an education reformer and other issues don’t carry the same weight they might elsewhere, but he is clearly setting the stage for a campaign later this year, not only for a run for himself but the return of some semblance of balance to the Republican Party." "All you need is a little love, Jeb".