He has also alleged, among other things, that the governor’s staff asked him to state falsely that acting Orange County Clerk of Court Colleen Reilly was under investigation for a high-profile prison break that embarrassed the state’s corrections department." "Gov. Scott: I could have better handled Bailey situation."

The cabinet was to address the issue yesterday.

But, as Scott Maxwell put it , "Thursday's meeting of Gov. Rick Scott and his Cabinet members" was as perfectly as perfectly choreographed as a Broadway production.

Bondi, Atwater and Putnam

came vowing to get to the bottom of the scandal over an ousted FDLE chief — who said Gov. Rick Scott's office asked him to fabricate a criminal investigation, campaign on public time and more.

But Cabinet members did none of that.

Instead, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CFO Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam conducted a master class on cover-ups and buck-passing.

Meanwhile, Gary Fineout points out that Scott "stopped short of saying what he did was wrong in forcing out the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement." See also "Gov. Rick Scott on FDLE controversy: ‘I could have handled it better’."

Jeb front group issues a report

"A new report released this week by the Foundation for Florida’s Future and the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice details the very real impact population growth will have on national and state public service budgets in the future." "Baby Boomer Explosion Could Lead to Education Funding Crisis, Report Says."

State imposes "virtual gag order"

"Two days after Florida legislators asked a series of probing questions of the top inspector at the Department of Corrections, the agency has banned inspectors from discussing any investigations, releasing any public records relating to agency probes, or even voluntarily bringing information to outsiders — including legislators."

The virtual gag order requires all employees of the Office of Inspector General to sign a confidentiality agreement and three other documents pledging they will not use the department database for unauthorized use, will not release information on open or closed cases to anyone, and will not compromise their independence while they are working in the department.

Any violation could result in "immediate termination."

The Office of Inspector General is charged with investigating criminal wrongdoing or policy violations in the state's prison system.

"More ridiculous with each passing year"

The Tampa Trib editors: "A growing body of evidence is making Florida’s refusal to accept billions of dollars in federal Medicaid money seem all the more ridiculous with each passing year." "Follow Indiana’s lead in accepting Medicaid money."

Cabinet member wants slave state soldiers in Florida Hall of Fame

"Could the Civil War be coming to the 2015 legislative session?"

This guy is shameless Florida cabinet member Adam Putnam has

Putnam floated the idea of approving the three Confederate nominees [for the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame] . . . it could fall to lawmakers to decide whether the soldiers who wore gray on the battlefield 150 years ago should be recognized alongside those who fought for the United States instead of against it.

Grayson ponders Senate run; conservatives on the attack

"Alan Grayson is starting to throw his name around as a possible candidate for the Senate in 2016 -- and that’s bad news for Democrats," or so the severely conservative Sunshine State News thinks.

Grayson is a darling of liberals across the country and he relies on a national fundraising base. The Florida congressman also brings his own sizable personal fortune to the table. Money won’t be an issue if Grayson embarks on a Senate bid, even if Marco Rubio decides to run for a second term.

But Grayson’s acerbic style, insults toward conservatives and endless procession of snide remarks about Republicans often get him in trouble and can turn off moderates and independents. That certainly proved to be the case in 2010 where Grayson was demolished by Republican Dan Webster. After Grayson ran insulting ads claiming Webster’s evangelical faith was anti-women, voters turned against the Democrat despite having elected him two years before. Webster went on to crush Grayson 56 percent to 38 percent on Election Day.

Falling up

"Two years after his resignation amid a prostitution scandal, former state Rep. Mike Horner of Kissimmee is working as lobbyist for the Osceola County School Board."

Horner could not be reached for comment. A two-term Republican state representative, Horner ended his quest for a third term in 2012 after he was named as a client of abrothelin Orange County, though he was not charged.

Wonder how the school board will react when a teacher is fired for misconduct.

Entrepreneurs in action: reports of sexual battery at "for-profit group home"

"All four residents at a Leesburg group home where reports of sexual battery emerged last week have been moved, according to state Department of Children and Families spokeswoman Kristin Gray."

After reports that three underage girls living in the for-profit group home may have been sexually assaulted by neighborhood boys, DCF began investigating "allegations of inadequate supervision" in the home.

'Glades

The Miami Herald editorial board is "Glad for the Glades."

"45 hours??!!"

Scott Maxwell writes that some of Tally's early efforts to deal with Florida's testing imbroglio

miss the mark. One bill, for instance, wants to limit testing time to 45 hours a year.

First of all, most parents and teachers aren't complaining about the actual testing time. They're irked by all the hoopla surrounding the tests: the drills, the practice tests and all the important curriculum that is cut to make room for the hoopla.

Secondly ... 45 hours??!! Do you realize how long that is? I've seen medical-license tests administered in less time. Should it really be more cumbersome to graduate kindergarten?

CFO Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam have all criticized Scott’s handling of Bailey, who reported to them as well as to the governor. Bailey was axed after Scott’s aides cryptically told their aides that he wanted “new leadership.”

Cabinet members talk a lot about transparency and accountability, and Thursday is their best shot to back it up with decisive action. But politics is in the way. . . .

No, Scott won’t get the Jerry Bailey treatment.

Instead, expect a wonkish discussion of process and procedure and job evaluations as they tiptoe around the elephant in the room: Bailey.

Floridians flock to Obamacare

"Despite political opposition from the state’s Republican leaders to President Obama’s signature legislation, Florida enrolled more people — 1.3 million as of Jan. 30 — than any of the 36 other states in the HealthCare.gov marketplace." "Florida leads nation in health coverage sign-ups."

"Dumb luck"

Beth Kassab: "The Sunshine State doesn't have a single case of measles tied to an outbreak of 100 cases in 14 other states. Sadly, this feat is the result of dumb luck, not a more vigorous public-health policy or moral superiority." "Florida should look to Mississippi on vaccines."

Scott "accused of politicizing two public-safety agencies"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "For the past couple of weeks, Gov. Rick Scott and his staff have been denying allegations from Gerald Bailey, the ousted Florida Department of Law Enforcement commissioner, that the governor's office made politically motivated demands on him and his agency."

How ironic that Scott, a former businessman who touted the fact in his campaigns that he wasn't a career politician, stands accused of politicizing these two public-safety agencies.

The explosive allegations from [former Corrections Secretary Michael] Crews, who retired in November, should overcome whatever hesitation lawmakers might have had to act on steps to take the politics out of Florida's prison system.

Those steps were recommended in November by a bipartisan task force associated with Florida State University. One would unlink the corrections secretary's term from the governor's. Another would give the other three Cabinet members a say in hiring the secretary along with the governor. And a third would create an independent commission to help oversee the system and the secretary.

Florida's prisons hold some 101,000 inmates; yet funding for the system today is lower than it was in 2008, when there were about 3,000 fewer inmates. Turnover is high among correctional officers, who haven't received a pay raise in seven years. So are reports of staff misconduct. Inmate deaths hit a record high in 2014.

Crews told the Herald that "a catastrophe" — perhaps the killing of a correctional officer or even a riot — looms if prisons aren't adequately funded.

"Public official is padding his campaign pockets"

"Yet another public official is padding his campaign pockets with money from those associated with his public job. This week, we have Dean Asher, who is running for the state Senate while serving as a member of Orlando International Airport's governing board ... and taking gobs of campaign dollars from airport contractors." "Airport leader's campaign benefits from airport contractors."

Bush Clan Clowns

"John Ellis Previously Embroiled In Controversy Surrounding 2000 Election Coverage For Fox News." "Jeb Bush's Cousin Is A Fox Business Executive."

New dimension to Bailey scandal

"The lawsuit, along with a statewide open government group’s call Wednesday for a special prosecutor, adds new dimensions to the controversy over Gov. Rick Scott’s decision to force Gerald Bailey to resign as commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement." "Lawsuit alleges Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Cabinet violated Sunshine Law." More: "FAF to Pam Bondi: Call Outside Investigator in FDLE Controversy."

Low information Floridians

Q poll: "By a 43-to-39 percent margin, Florida voters say Obama’s policies have helped the economy. But by a 35-to-23 percent margin, the survey respondents say Obama’s policies have hurt their own finances, with 42 percent saying the president has made no difference."

Fifty percent of Florida voters are opposed to the Affordable Care Act, while 45 percent say they support it. Fifteen percent favor keeping the law and another 32 percent say minor changes should be made to it. Another 24 percent favor major changes to the law and 27 percent favor complete repeal.

Jeb's market solutions

"Appearing before the Detroit Economic Club, Jeb Bush offered an economic argument that would contrast the problems of the poor under President Barack Obama and his pro-government approach with the promise of a market-driven agenda." "Jeb Bush: Big government doesn’t help the poor."

Appeals court won’t touch gay marriage case

"A federal appeals court in Atlanta said Wednesday it will not move forward with Florida’s gay marriage case until after the U.S. Supreme Court decides the issue nationally, probably in June." "U.S. appeals court won’t touch Florida gay marriage case until after Supreme Court ruling."

Quinnipiac polled voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, all pivotal states in presidential races. Clinton easily topped potential Republican candidates in each of the states, with the exception of Bush in Florida and Ohio Gov. John Kasich in Kasich’s home state.

Meanwhile, "Hillary Clinton Set to Trounce 2016 Primary Rivals in Florida." More: "Mitt Romney's No-Go for 2016 Doesn't Help Marco Rubio." See also "Florida Republicans Give Jeb Bush the Green Light, Marco Rubio the Red Light for 2016."

"Cold in Scott’s shadow"

Bill Cotterell: "Cabinet finds it cold in Scott’s shadow."

Senate District 19

"Even though voting is almost two years away, one sitting and one former member of the Florida House already have filed to run for Tampa Bay’s Senate District 19, according to the state Division of Elections’ website." "Reed, Rouson file to replace Tampa’s Sen. Joyner in 2016."

"Scott starts out his second term upside down"

"Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., starts out his second term upside down as a new poll shows he has been hurt by the controversy surrounding former Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Gerald Bailey’s departure."

St. Pete Polls took a poll for Saint PetersBlog which was released on Tuesday. The poll shows half of Floridians -- 50 percent -- say they do not approve of Scott while 41 percent approve of the governor.

Second amendment stoopid

"18-Year-Old Shot With AK-47 In House Across From Wadsworth Elementary in Apparent Accident."

"The matter merits an independent investigation"

The Tampa Trib editors think "Rick Scott and Cabinet members badly need to restore confidence in a state government damaged by questions surrounding the forced resignation of Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey."

The matter merits an independent investigation, something Putnam and Atwater support. Scott should welcome the review as well. Getting the truth out, and addressing any mistakes that might have been made, is the best way to get this matter behind him.

Jeb's lapdogs are back

Michael Putney: "Jeb’s shrewd, early moves show he hasn’t lost his campaign skills;" "First round goes to Jeb." Scott Powers"Q Poll: Jeb leads GOP pack in Florida."

Good luck with that

"The bill would authorize districts to use something other than tests to assess students in some courses, revamp laws tying teachers' evaluations and pay more closely to student performance." "Florida Lawmakers Proposes Capping All State and Local Testing at 5% of School Time."

"Republican bad girl" turns on Rivera

Ana Alliegro "testified that former congressman David Rivera supplied her with more than $81,000 in a campaign finance scheme." "Former girlfriend testifies against ex-Rep. David Rivera, questions lack of indictment in campaign scandal."

Scott continues to insist he's not a crook

"Gov. Rick Scott's office continued pushing back Monday against claims his staff forced longtime Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey to resign immediately in December." "Rick Scott Disputes that FDLE Leader Faced Immediate Ouster." See also "Still Under Fire, Gov. Scott’s Office Attempts To Deflect Criticism Over FDLE Chief’s Firing."

A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday shows former Gov. Jeb Bush and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a virtual tie in a hypothetical 2016 presidential race in Florida. The poll gave 44 percent to Clinton and 43 percent to Bush.

These numbers are only going to get worse for Jeb. Everyone knows Hillary, but many new Floridian voters are unaware of Jeb's protoTeabagger record as governor.

One reporter recently wrote about those who believe Bush is some sort of a moderate: "For those of us who covered Jeb’s two terms in Tallahassee, this is beyond mind-boggling. On issue after issue, Jeb’s track record in Florida pushed conservatism’s envelope to the breaking point." Another observes that, "during his first run for Florida governor in 1994 cheerfully called himself a head-banging conservative, a hang-’em-by-the-neck conservative . . . who during his second run for Florida governor in 1998 had to craft for himself a more compassionate persona so as not to scare off independent voters . . . that Jeb Bush has come to be viewed with suspicion by the uber-conservative, Tea Party wing of his Republican Party?"

Among many other things, Jebbie

ended affirmative action by executive order, signed the “Stand Your Ground” gun law that drew national attention after the Trayvon Martin shooting, instituted faith-based prison reforms, cut billions of dollars in taxes, and created a school voucher program. He opposed embryonic stem cell research and thinks the jury’s out on man-made climate change.

Wait till Florida's post-Jeb electorate gets a load of this extremist (Teabaggerish) record.

Scott vigorously fighting request to disclose information on his trust accounts

"Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a wealthy former businessman who put up millions of his money to help his two campaigns, is refusing to hand over detailed financial information that could answer whether he is violating a state ethics law."

Lawyers for Democratic candidate George Sheldon sought the information as part of their ongoing lawsuit that contends Scott is failing to report his actual wealth as required under the state’s financial disclosure requirements. Sheldon, who mounted an unsuccessful campaign for attorney general, filed the lawsuit last October.

Dunbar has asked a circuit judge to throw out of the lawsuit because he argues that any complaint about Scott’s financial disclosure should be handled by the state ethics commission and not in court.

Of course, the majority of the Florida Commission on Ethics is appointed by Scott, with the remainder appointed by the House Speaker and Senate President.

All that hard work pays off

"The holding company of Sunshine Bank has appointed former state House Speaker Will Weatherford to its board of directors. . . . The Wesley Chapel Republican served as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2012-2014." "Former state House Speaker appointed to Plant City-based bank board."

All three — Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater — have publicly spoken out against fellow Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s firing of Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey. Unfortunately, they were complicit in voting to accept his forced resignation and to hire his successor, Rick Swearingen.

Recently, however, they have claimed they were “misled” or otherwise made unaware of the circumstances surrounding Bailey’s exit in December. Scott’s office originally said the FDLE chief had retired, but Bailey, a 30-year veteran of the agency who had been in the top job eight years, later said that he was pressured to leave by the governor. Bailey indicated the move was retribution for his refusal to carry out politically charged requests from the governor’s office, such as falsely naming someone a target in a criminal case, hiring political allies for state jobs and interceding in an outside investigation of a prospective Scott appointee. Scott has denied the allegations.

'Ya reckon?

"Injustice lingers in Jacksonville."

While we were sleeping

While the rest of us were enjoying the Superbowl, our overpaid

Orange County deputy was injured late Sunday night when a suspect rammed the deputy's patrol car and pinned him between two vehicles.

The deputy and his partner then opened fire on the male driver and another man in the car, injuring both.

The arrogance of these people, to expect their public employers to honor their pension promises. But no.

"A travesty"

Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Responding to an increasing number of human-bear conflicts, including some attacks, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans to consider legalizing bear hunting at its Wednesday meeting in Jacksonville. We’re not opposed to bear hunts being allowed if research shows it would not harm the state’s population, but to do so now as a response to residents’ concern about bears would be a travesty." "Editorial: Hunting not solution to bear problems."

"Still Shoveling It"

Nancy Smith: "Gambling and Atlantic City: No Casinos Still Shoveling It."

Journalistic balance

Scott Powers overdoses on journalistic balance, writing that the "Florida governor's race last year saw the candidates sidestep the old, regulated system of campaign finance, as Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist combined to raise $49 million through huge donations from about 2,100 contributors." Powers reports that

For the first time in 2014, both sides fueled their campaigns mostly through independent political-action committees that could raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, national groups and wealthy individuals. They relied far less on official candidate campaign committees limited by Florida law to receiving no more than $3,000 per contributor.

Scott, who pioneered the strategy in Florida when he was first elected in 2010, saw his independent PAC, Let's Get to Work, raise more than $46 million, according to the final reports released last week by the Florida Division of Elections. That PAC was initially fueled by $27.4 million that Scott carried over from his previous election committee. Not including that money, the average amount of the 288 donations to the new Let's Get to Work PAC was $65,384.

For the first time, the Democrats succeeded at the same strategy, actually drawing more $10,000 checks but not matching the Republican PAC's overall total. Crist's independent PAC, Charlie Crist for Florida, raised a little more than $30 million. The average size of its 1,808 donations was $16,742.

Both Scott and Crist still used traditional campaign committees, collecting thousands of small donations from grass-roots supporters. But in the end, they amounted to small change compared with what the PACs collected.

The biggest contributors to each PAC were the national governors' associations. The Republican governors contributed $15 million to Let's Get to Work. The Democrats gave $3.5 million to Charlie Crist For Florida.

After that, Let's Get to Work's top contributors were mainly businesses and business groups. Crist's were mainly labor unions and law firms.

In the campaign's closing weeks, [Scott] and first lady Ann Scott contributed $12.8 million, not to Let's Get to Work, but to the Republican Party of Florida, which also was campaigning for him.

"Unlike George, Jeb embraced the ascendant right-wing orthodoxy: he declared himself a 'head-banging conservative'; vowed to 'club this government into submission'; and warned that 'we are transforming our society to a collectivist policy.'"

And then there are the instances of Jeb personally profiting from "In July, 2011, Bush sent letters to college presidents inviting them to [an Academic Partnerships] marketing conference, at the Four Seasons Hotel near Dallas." Jeb was an investor in and an adviser to Academic Partnerships.

Speakers included Tony Blair and the former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Last spring, Bush recorded an infomercial inviting people to attend another Dallas conference, in March. This time, the speakers were Thomas Friedman, Fareed Zakaria, and Hillary Clinton, who opened her remarks with praise for Bush’s work on education."

“Taking risk and creating jobs is something we ought to have more of.”

The Bloomberg Politics/Des Moines Register Iowa Poll, taken Monday through Thursday, shows Walker leading a wide-open Republican race with 15 percent, up from just 4 percent in the same poll in October. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was at 14 percent and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, stood at 10 percent.

Bush trailed with 8 percent and increasingly is viewed negatively by likely Republican caucus-goers.

And then they're the dead-enders: "Jeb Bush Wins Big With Mitt Romney Out of 2016 Race."

"Rubio has missed 45 percent of the votes"

"So far in the current session of Congress, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, has missed 45 percent of the votes. But the session is less than a month old, and nearly all the 49 votes-to-date were conducted in the past two weeks." "Rubio’s trip west gains political allies but blemishes his voting record."

Cabinet aides may have circumvented Florida's Sunshine laws

"Scott's actions have raised questions about whether cabinet aides, working in private, may have circumvented Florida's Sunshine laws." "Turmoil puts focus on Scott, Cabinet."

Bought and paid for

"Fred Karlinsky, a lobbyist for the insurance industry, suggested Scott look at Ron Henderson, the deputy insurance commissioner in Louisiana, to replace Kevin McCarty, who heads Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation. Karlinsky has donated $10,000 to the re-election campaigns of Henderson’s boss." "Gov. Scott wants to replace top insurance regulator."

Cuba consulate

"Warming Cuba relations may bring consulate back." Meanwhile, a bench-warmer pines for the Batista days.

"A burning question"

"Florida lawmakers are again rolling out legislation in support of medicinal and recreational marijuana use, and decriminalization of the drug that has gained a lot of attention in the past year." "Marijuana in Florida, a burning question."

Meggs giving Scott a pass

Nancy Smith: "Meggs has made no secret of the fact that he's a Democrat who voted for Scott in November."

On top of that, Meggs and Scott's former general counsel Peter Antonacci, the staffer who according to the Times/Herald told Bailey to “retire or resign,” have been friends for some 35 years. Antonacci is a former Leon County prosecutor.

Meggs has neither the stomach nor the heart for this. "If there is a violation, it looks like the entire Cabinet should be arrested," he said, indicating little likelihood an investigation will ever happen.

Willie, maybe they should be; after all, there are "questions about whether cabinet aides, working in private, may have circumvented Florida's Sunshine laws." Meanwhile, Meggs sits on hands, chowing down "at the governor's mansion with Rick and Ann Scott."

And then there's the state's intrepid chief law enforcement officer, "Attorney General Pam Bondi [who has] said she has 'grave concerns' about the way Bailey was treated, but she suggested the governor's staff — not Scott himself — was responsible." "Controversy continues over ouster of FDLE's Bailey."

"Scott ignored crisis in corrections system"

"In an exclusive interview with the Miami Herald, Former Florida Department of Corrections chief Mike Crews said few people in Tallahassee — and especially not the governor — had any interest in making sure the state’s prisons were safe or fully funded." "Former Florida prisons chief says Gov. Rick Scott ignored crisis in corrections system."

Paula Dockery: "Cleaning up the prison mess."

Rubio "purchased lock, stock and barrel by financial elites"?

U F Prof, Paul Ortiz writes that "Marco Rubio has a decision to make."

He was a star attraction at the recent Koch brothers’ forum in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Priming his base for an entry into the 2016 GOP presidential primary, the senator offered his ideas on taxes, foreign policy and national security. Rubio’s stances pleased the majority of those gathered.

But Rubio will not be able to charm the American people as easily. Convincing Charles Koch that he is qualified to lead the nation is one thing; proving to a majority of voters that he has the ability to be a good president is quite another.

Rubio is already in trouble with constituencies with whom he should be well-connected.

Many Hispanic voters view Rubio as a quitter on immigration reform. . . .

In a nation still working its way out of the Great Recession, the senator’s silence on economic issues is also cause for worry. . . .

If the senator from Florida continues wasting political capital on failed policies — extending the embargo on Cuba, for example — while ignoring the concerns of ordinary Americans, he is going to discover that all of the cash in the Koch treasuries will not buy him a seat in the White House.

Americans are weary of a political system that is purchased lock, stock and barrel by financial elites. Giving them more of the same is not going to win an election

Late-to-the-game

Scott Maxwell writes that "former Senate President Don Gaetz, a powerful Republican and former school superintendent who voted for many of the [school] accountability measures" now "fears the testing train has jumped the tracks — that we're no longer testing kids simply to see what they have learned, but are forsaking learning in the name of testing."

Bless you, Don Gaetz. For you are listening. You have heard the voices of concerned parents and dedicated teachers. It has grown from a low rumble to a deafening roar.

Haven't the teachers' unions been saying this for years?

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Rick Scott Hopes for An Early Spring."

"Ideologically blinded legislators"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Two years ago, an advocate for accepting billions of federal dollars to expand health-care coverage to at least 800,000 uninsured Floridians called the policy 'a compassionate, common-sense step forward.'"

But this year, with an expansion proposal drafted by business leaders on the table, that advocate — Gov. Rick Scott — has lost his voice on the issue. When asked about it last week by reporters, he told them, "I'm going to focus on jobs and education."

Scott's silence could doom the proposal, because it'll need an outspoken champion to win over the ideologically blinded legislators who oppose it — starting with House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, who said his chamber has no plans to consider it.

One Pot

"Money that Florida voters want to use for land and water conservation efforts would go into a single trust fund under a new Senate proposal, but lawmakers are still weeks away from deciding how they will use the money." "Sen. Charlie Dean proposes putting conservation money in 1 pot."