Our digest of, and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry.


Wasserman Schultz Primary Challenger?

"Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s decision Sunday to back the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran could lead to a political first for her, as a fellow Jewish member of her own party says he is considering a primary challenge to the Democratic National Committee chairwoman." "Wasserman Schultz Iran-deal decision prompts primary threat."




Scott conflict alleged

"An environmental group filed a petition asking the DEP to deny natural gas pipeline permit or at least reroute it in order to protect wildlife and fragile limestone terrain." "Pipeline foes ask DEP to deny key permit, cite ‘conflict of interest’ by Gov. Rick Scott."




Already paid for

"Darden Restaurants has shuttered its Washington, D.C., lobbying office and cut most of its political spending since activist investors took over the company last year." "Darden's new leadership slashes political spending."




Nelson will be 76 in 2018

"Plenty of senators in recent years called it quits when they were in their mid to late 70s. Not Bill Nelson as all signs indicate he will run for a fourth term in 2018. Nelson signaled once again at the end of August that he will run for a fourth term. In 2018, Nelson will be 76 but he shows no signs of slowing down." "Bill Nelson Under the Radar Once More as He Readies to Run Again."




Rocky start to school testing

"Survey responses and focus group discussions shine light on the questions and frustrations Florida schools faced when technical problems hobbled the FSAs in spring 2015." "An inside look at the rocky start to Florida’s standardized school test."




Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: That Pesky Third Branch." See also "Florida Playbook: Dem eyes Wasserman Schultz challenge amid Iran deal; Trump v. Palm Beach; Miami teacher union mayhem; FL Senate could quit Medicaid fight; fewer Atlantic hurricanes?" Florida Playbook

"Florida workers stuck in low-paying jobs"

"Florida's wage gap has significantly widened since the Great Recession as a growing share of workers became stuck in low-paying jobs, a research team at Florida International University concluded in a report released Sunday." "Labor Day Report: More Florida workers stuck in low-paying jobs".

The University's, Center for Labor Research & Studies report, "The State of Working Florida 2015," shows that "existing wage and income inequalities in Florida were exacerbated by the economic recovery following the Great Recession."

When comparing the wage gap between the top and bottom deciles, 10th percentiles, of wage earners, data shows that inequality has been increasing over the last 35 years. Data indicates that high wage workers have absorbed most of the economic gains since 1980 while low-­‐‑wage workers have been marginalized.

Furthermore, the economic expansion experienced after the great recession of 2007 has been characterized by unprecedented gains in the financial market and a much softer rebound in the labor market. The disparity between the economic gains of the top and bottom 10 percent of wage and income earners during this time has had a corrosive effect on the quality of life and standard of living of Floridians.

Additionally, the growing gap between the top and the bottom has weakened upper social mobility opportunities. Large employing but low-­‐‑paying industries and occupations play a large role in the stagnation of general wages and in increasing inequality between Floridians.

"The State of Working Florida 2015 (.pdf)."

These conclusions are consistent with the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, Condition of Florida by the Numbers Issue Brief,

"Florida continues to rank below most other states in many measures of the well-being of its residents, including state government expenditures for services. Even though state revenues are growing, so are the needs. The funds available to invest in meeting those needs have been reduced by continued annual tax reductions totaling almost $1.5 billion over the past three years."

"Condition of Florida by the Numbers Issue Brief (.pdf)."

And then there's Orlando: "Orlando: No. 1 in tourism and dead last in wages."




"What could possibly go wrong?"

Carl Hiaasen: "What's the point of saving a native creature from extinction if we can't start shooting the darn things again?"

That's the unspoken philosophy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which after two decades of protecting the black bear has decided the time has come to open fire.

Despite a loud public outcry, the panel approved a one-week hunt for the last week of October. Because there's no limit on the number of permits being issued, the chances are good that the hunters will actually outnumber the bears. What could possibly go wrong?

"Saving black bears so hunters can kill them."




Using state money to help private schools

Joe Henderson: Miami Republican Rep. Erik Fresen, who "chairs the education appropriations subcommittee, is behind a $44 million fund to reward the state’s top teachers with bonuses of up to $10,000."

When they apply for the bonus, they have to include proof that their ACT or SAT scores from high school were in at least the 80th percentile. Those are the scores colleges use to help determine if you are admitted.

"Fresen flatly stated ACT and SAT scores are good predictors of future job success. Numerous studies say experience is a better predictor of effectiveness."

Fresen has been a champion of charter schools for years. He was behind a move that diverted millions of public school construction dollars to private charter schools. His brother-in-law runs Academia, Florida’s largest charter-school management firm.

Under this program, teachers with little or no experience, but with the magic number on test scores, can apply for the bonus. That’s true even if they have never taught in Florida and don’t have that “highly effective” rating. Critics say that’s using state money to help private schools attract younger, less expensive teachers.

"No one is saying that these bonuses should be handed out like candy canes, but this is flat out crazy."

It’s another affront from a politician who thinks he knows the business of teaching better than the professionals who actually do the job. If Erik Fresen wants to know what a future predictor of success really looks like, he should spend a few days inside a public school classroom and see the “highly effective” work real educators do.

Oh, and as long as we’re at it, he also should disclose his ACT or SAT scores. Seems only fair.

"More stupid legislative tricks translates to more hoops for teachers."

"Florida's redistricting conspiracy"

"The legal team that uncovered the shadow redistricting process that invalidated Florida's congressional and Senate districts didn't rely just on maps and cloak-and-dagger emails to prove that legislators broke the law."

The best clues came in the form of data — millions of census blocks — delivered electronically and found in the files of political operatives who fought for two years to shield it.

"But the breakthrough for the legal team — lawyers for the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, a coalition of Democrat-leaning voters and their redistricting experts — came just days before the May 19, 2014, trial on the congressional map was set to begin."

But the breakthrough for the legal team — lawyers for the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, a coalition of Democrat-leaning voters and their redistricting experts — came just days before the May 19, 2014, trial on the congressional map was set to begin.

After two years of legal challenges, Florida justices ruled that emails, maps and accompanying data produced by political consultants and related to redistricting must be produced and could be discussed at trial. The challengers had already learned that the Legislature's maps selectively shed and added populations to congressional districts to improve the performance for incumbent candidates, but they had only circumstantial evidence that the maps found on the computers of the political consultants played a role.

"Data sleuths decoded Florida's redistricting conspiracy."




"You're fired"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "If Donald Trump were still hosting his reality TV show instead of running for president, he'd be perfect to deliver a message to the Florida Legislature after its latest failure to produce constitutional boundaries for the state's congressional districts:"

You're fired.

"Give redistricting job to independent commission".




'Glades

Nancy Smith: "Will the Feds Just Let the Everglades Die?"




Florida Firefighters travel elsewhere to avoid state's embarrassing pay rates

"Michael Corgnell, a 42-year-old Charlotte County resident, is among more than 470 firefighters from Florida who have given up parts of their summer to battle fires in western states."

While public safety is part of their motivation, the lack of adequate pay in Florida is another driving force. Average annual pay for the state's 606 forestry firefighters is just over $27,000. Starting firefighters make just $24,000. And since 2006, they have had only one pay increase. In June, the state Legislature approved a $2,000 pay hike for them, but it was vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott.

"With pay raises elusive, Florida firefighters battle blazes out west to make money".




FlaGOPer says he'll quit

"Sam Rashid: I'll resign from the Hillsborough Aviation Board if the governor asks."




Rubio's "Dark Money"

"The groups, formed under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code, are limited in how much they can spend on direct political activity, but they have a key advantage over super PACs: anonymity for donors. Critics call it dark money." "The rise of dark money in 2016, unlimited and anonymous."




No shi** Sherlock

No shi** Sherlock: "Central Florida had the lowest median wage of any major metro in America."

Lower than Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, you name it.

We were the only community in America where the majority of jobs — yes, the majority — paid less than $30,000 a year.

Nearly 40 percent paid less than $25,000.

Every other region in the top 50 did better. Even communities that are smaller. Even those with lower costs of living.

"Orlando: No. 1 in tourism and dead last in wages."