Florida Politics

Romney "self-deports" in bumbling, stumbling Florida debate

2012-01-24T06:30:00.002-05:00

In the first of two debates before Florida's Jan. 31 primary, Mitt Romney tried, but failed to take the edge off of Newt Gingrich's post-South Carolina lead in the GOPer primary.

In one of the very few remarkable moments in the "debate", Romney magically solved the problem of illegal immigration: "Romney was asked to explain how he could say he does not want to round up illegal immigrants but also say they should have to go back to home countries, then apply for citizenship."

"So, if you don't deport them, how do you send them home?" Tampa Bay Times political editor Adam C. Smith asked.

"Well, the answer is self-deportation, which is people decide they can do better by going home because they can't find work here because they don't have legal documentation to allow them to work here," Romney replied.

"Mitt Romney enters fray at Tampa GOP debate, unleashes attack on Newt Gingrich".

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "It was a more aggressive Romney who consistently portrayed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as a Washington insider with too much baggage to be elected. The normally pugnacious Gingrich spent more time playing defense, signaling the next seven days before the Florida primary will focus more on character than on policy." "Romney punches back".

Kevin Derby: "Gingrich and Romney took off the gloves, often engaging in personal attacks as moderator Brian Williams of NBC News often focused on them -- with former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas in the background." When "asked about his attacks [on Gingrich] after pledging to stay positive, Romney noted that he had learned a lesson after his loss in South Carolina and that he would not be idle when he drew the heat from the other candidates." "Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney Clash in Tampa Debate".

John Romano thinks Romney flopped at playing pit bull, writing that "we had Romney in the uncomfortable role of tough guy in Monday night's debate at the University of South Florida."

He said Gingrich "resigned in disgrace'' as House speaker, using a line that was already old before he repeated it three more times. Romney hammered him for being an "influence peddler'' in Washington, and for the absurdity of receiving a $1.6-million salary from Freddie Mac for what Gingrich said was work as a "historian.''

There were times when Romney's jabs connected, and times when they seemed too scripted. There were times when Gingrich appeared flustered, and times when he fought back effectively.

Remarkably, there were times when they both made Rick Santorum seem more presidential.

And when it was all done, I'm just not sure Romney's roundhouses helped solve his greatest problem.

In a lot of ways, Romney is the Republican version of Al Gore. The son of a politician who surpassed his father in fame, but never quite graduated to beloved. ...

Romney can take his swipes in speeches and debates, and he can raise his eyebrows at the appropriate moment for a good laugh. But playing pit bull for the camera is not his style.

And while voters may not be versed in every debate topic, they're pretty good at spotting a candidate who isn't committed to what he is saying.

To a large degree, elections are about being likable. Being steady. Being someone Americans can trust while they're going about their lives.

With that in mind, Romney shouldn't waste too much time trying to define his opponent. Instead, he had better hurry up and define himself.

"Did the fighter's stance suit Romney?"

More: "Reporter's Notebook: GOP Presidential Debate in Tampa", "Heated charges, counter-charges in Florida debate", "Mitt Romney strikes back at Newt Gingrich in Florida debate", "Romney launches attacks on Gingrich at GOP debate in Tampa", "Terri Schiavo case a topic for GOP presidential candidates at debate" and "Fact checks from the debate".

Meanwhile, "Hundreds of protesters rally outside GOP debate at USF".

No one seems to care about Ricky

"Scott talks Florida primary on Fox News".

"Seemed rock-solid a week ago"

Derek Catron writes about a Romney "campaign that seemed rock-solid barely more than a week ago"

George Bernardo showed up for Sunday's Mitt Romney rally in a New York Giants football jersey.

For such a fan to risk missing the kickoff to the game that would decide if his team goes to the Super Bowl, it would have been easy to assume Bernardo was as big a fan of Romney as he is quarterback Eli Manning.

That assumption would be wrong.

"I just want to hear what Mitt Romney has to say," the Port Orange doctor said, saying he was having trouble deciding between the former Massachusetts governor and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

His colleague, Greg Parr, agreed, saying later that the speech left him unmoved.

"I'll support whoever the Republican nominee is," said Parr, a urologist with offices in Port Orange. "But I think Gingrich is the candidate who would be the most effective in Washington."

The doctors' ambivalence toward Romney reveals the fissures in a campaign that seemed rock-solid barely more than a week ago. While most of the 2,000 people who rallied with Romney at the Allstar Building Materials lumberyard in Ormond Beach on Sunday were ardent supporters, it was Gingrich who took South Carolina on Saturday -- and the momentum that will be crucial to his hopes in next Tuesday's Florida primary.

"Despite Romney's Florida advantages, some still undecided".

Related: "Ormond Beach crowd greets Romney like front-runner". Background: "Early voting out of the gate; Romney heads south to Ormond after S.C. slide".

"Florida's story of Republican dominance"

"It's an important week for Florida Republicans, so it's a good time to trace the beginning of the dominance of the modern GOP in the state." "Florida's story of Republican dominance starts with a Democrat".

Primary tracker

"Florida presidential primary tracker for Tuesday".

"Preliminaries are over ... time for the main event"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "The preliminaries are over. Now it's time for the main event."

Next Tuesday night the nation's eyes will be fixed on the returns from Florida's Republican presidential primary. The first three events on the GOP's 2012 nominating calendar -- the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries -- reduced the Republican field but didn't come close to identifying the eventual nominee. Three contests, three winners. It's up to Sunshine State Republicans to establish a real front-runner in the race for the nomination.

Florida's Jan. 31 primary has loomed large on the GOP calendar for months. But the state's importance isn't tied to state leaders' decision to push the primary date into January -- a move that caused the national GOP to take away half of the state's convention delegates. Florida is critical because it's a large, diverse, bellwether state -- it can go either "red" or "blue" in presidential elections.

"Florida will choose the GOP front-runner". See also "Cerabino: Get ready for a weeklong barrage of GOP attack ads".

Editors show their hands

The Tampa Bay Times editors show their endorsement hands this morning:

Expect more trash talking than policy discussions this week. Republicans gambling on Gingrich are backing an ethically challenged candidate suddenly flush with more casino money. First billionaire casino executive Sheldon Adelson contributed $5 million to a so-called super PAC that aired ads in South Carolina blasting Romney's work at Bain Capital, the private equity firm. Now Aldeson's wife is giving the political action committee, Winning Our Future, another $5 million so Gingrich can play in Florida. It seems casino interests trying to buy the Florida Legislature to get permission to build mega-casinos in the state are trying to buy something even bigger.

"Florida's penchant for being the nation's tattooed neighbor"

Daniel Ruth: "Given Florida's penchant for being the nation's tattooed neighbor who walks around the yard in a Speedo, swilling a beer and blaring Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, do we really want to sell the naming rights to our public facilities?"

Let's face it. When it comes to understated elegance, Florida ranks somewhere between Mr. T and a Kardashian.

But that didn't stop state Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, from pushing a bill that would open the door to the corporate branding of everything from highways to school cafeterias to hiking trails.

The dignity train left a long time ago. No good will come from this.

"Florida brand names and lawmakers' games".

Charter madness

"Florida parents are taking sides over a controversial piece of legislation known as the parent trigger. The buzzed-about bill would let a majority of parents at low-performing public schools demand dramatic changes at the school, or even have it converted into a publicly financed, privately managed charter school. Similar laws have already passed in California and Texas, sparking debate and controversy along the way." "Critics say ‘parent trigger’ bill favors charters over public schools".

Privatization made EZ

"More-expensive inmates shifted from prisons to be privatized".

Up at the house

"Rep. Allen West of Broward County organized a panel in Washington to call attention for more blacks to join the Republican party." "West urges more blacks to join GOP".

Internet sales tax

"Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, chair the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Finance and Tax, is drafting a committee bill to enact the tax, including sales tax cuts or holidays to keep the bill 'revenue neutral.' Before finalizing the bill, though, she wants to make sure there is support for the measure in the House." "Internet sales tax bill hinges on House support".

Early voting scaled back

"Several counties scale back hours of early voting in primary".

"It used to be pious baloney. Now it's just desperate baloney"

"Riding his big win in the South Carolina primary, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich told a Tampa crowd Monday that he's heard former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is stepping up his criticism of him, with more likely to come."

"I prefer personally not to believe it," Gingrich said at a rally in the parking lot of The River Church, east of Tampa. "But on the other hand, if you've been campaigning for six years, and you begin to see it slip away, you get desperate, and when you get desperate you say almost anything, and I think (at) tonight's debate he'll probably stretch the barrier."

To prepare for the debate at the University of South Florida, Gingrich said he had been memorizing old debate lines, like Ronald Reagan's "There you go again."

"I think I'll finally convince him I really am a Reaganite if I use President Reagan's line," the former House speaker said. "This is such baloney. It used to be pious baloney. Now it's just desperate baloney."

"Gingrich in Tampa: Romney's 'desperate,' will say anything".

Health insurance exchange on the horizon

"Exchanges are centerpiece of federal health care reform. States without an operational exchange by January 2014 will be forced to use one run by the federal government." "House looking at establishing a health insurance exchange".

Privatization follies

"Lawmakers on the Senate Rules Committee, after a contentious three-hour hearing Monday, supported the two bills -- SB 2036 and SB 2038 -- aimed at privatizing some correctional facilities and outlining how such efforts for other state agencies could be handled in the future."

Before a room packed with correctional employees opposed to the bills, senators on the committee back the effort, saying privatization will help the Legislature working to craft a budget that faces a $1.4 billion shortfall from the current year.

"Privatizing Prisons Backed in Senate Rules Committee". See also "Privatization measures advance in the Senate".

Fred Grimm explains how it works:

The private companies get the contract first. The details and the cost-benefit analysis and the public discourse comes later. Both the First Amendment Foundation and Florida Tax Watch, not always the best of friends, have both gone berserk over the notion of Florida selling off its assets in secret. Sen. Gwen Margolis of Miami dubbed it the “after the fact” bill. “Extremely disturbing,” she called two privatization bills, though she wasn’t sure that either could be derailed.

Best of all, for someone like me, eager to cash in on the privatization craze, the rules would apply to any agency — toll roads, state parks, state cops. Me, I’ve got my eye on the university system. Don’t think of them as students. Think of them as commodities.

"Tattoos and other privatization fantasies".

"A thank-you note in the form of a high paying job"

"A panel of lawmakers voted Monday to crack down on perceived sweetheart deals that lawmakers get with public colleges and universities as a result of the legislative service. The Senate Ethics and Elections Subcommittee voted to forward legislation that would prohibit lawmakers from taking any job with a state college or university during their elected term and for two years after their legislative service. The idea is to stop lawmakers from tucking special projects or money into the state budget for their chosen institution in hopes of getting a thank-you note in the form of a high paying job." "Ethics bill would end special deals for lawmakers". See also: "Ban on University Employees as Legislators Squeaks through First Committee".

Arenas with accommodations for homeless people?

"SB 816 would take back state money given to sports teams to build arenas if the facilities don't include accommodations for homeless people or the teams don't contract for a nearby shelter. An amendment also would fine teams $125,000 each time they black out local TV access for games that are not sold out." "Sen. Bennett calls foul on sports teams' homeless shelter violations". See also "Florida legislation would force taxpayer-funded arenas to operate as shelters or make refunds".

All abortion, all the time

"Capitol Buzz: Lawmakers to debate abortion". More: "Three abortion bills to be taken up in state Legislature".

Gingrich has lead in two post-SC Florida polls

2012-01-23T09:06:00.002-05:00

The latest Insider Advantage and Rasmussen Florida polls have Gingrich with 9% and 8% leads respectively:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Republican Primary Voters, taken Sunday [(yesterday)] evening, finds Gingrich earning 41% of the vote with Romney in second at 32%. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum runs third with 11%, while Texas Congressman Ron Paul attracts support from eight percent (8%). Nine percent (9%) remain undecided.

"Florida GOP Primary: Gingrich 41%, Romney 32%".

"Newt Gingrich leads Mitt Romney by eight points in Florida, according to [an Insider Advantage] poll [(.pdf)] conducted the day after the former House speaker won the South Carolina primary."

According to the Insider Advantage poll, Gingrich has 34 percent support, Romney has 26 percent, Texas Rep. Ron Paul has 13 percent, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum garners 11 percent. ...

Insider Advantage surveyed 557 likely voters on Jan. 22. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

"Poll: Gingrich Leads Romney in Florida".

"Florida is crucial"

Adam Smith writes that "Florida is crucial. Mitt Romney could afford to lose South Carolina, where early on he looked like an underdog anyway. But Florida is his fire wall, buttressed by a strong campaign organization, a flush campaign account and a large network of supporters built over more than five years running for president. Losing here would snuff what’s left of his aura of inevitability after winning only one of three early contests."

But,

[r]egardless of what happens in Florida, it looks increasingly likely we won’t know the nominee for some time. After Florida, February is a relatively quite month mainly featuring a handful of contests where delegates won’t be officially binding for the nomination. March 6 is Super Tuesday, where 10 states vote and candidates could well divide up the delegates relatively evenly. It takes 1,144 delegates to win the nomination and right now no one is well positioned to reach that threshold any time soon.

"GOP primary could be a long campaign". See also "Republican candidates flock to Florida", "Florida rolls out the hot seat for primary", "DWS: Good luck, Mitt. You'll need it", "Romney arrives in Florida, talking of economy, Gingrich", "Floridians, brace for blitz of GOP campaign ads" and "Bruising Republican presidential campaign unfolds in Florida".

Nancy Smith wonders whether "Newt Gingrich's Pugilistic Politics [Can] Win Florida?"

Florida GOP primary tracker

"Florida presidential primary tracker - Day 2".

Proposed bill would remove big tobacco tax loophole

"State Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, has introduced a bill this session that he says would remove 'a big tax loophole' for one Florida-based tobacco company."

Altman’s legislation is one of the rare moments when Big Tobacco and health advocates have come together on an issue. When this bill came up last year, a coalition of groups called the Citizens for Fairness in Florida stood behind the bill. Included in the coalition were Florida CHAIN, a statewide health advocacy group, and retailers.

The coalition was made possible because the money from tobacco companies has paid billions through the years to the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund. By law (.pdf), the state uses "tobacco settlement moneys to ensure the financial security of vital health and human services programs in the state." Because more money could be going to health services, health advocates have stood by the attempts to levy the tax on Dosal.

Big Tobacco has also been a big proponent of legislation like Altman’s, because they argue companies like Dosal have an unfair advantage in the marketplace. Altman says the company has gained a huge advantage from the current "loophole," including an 18 percent market share, because they are able to sell cheaper cigarettes.

When the bill has come up in the past, Dosal has cried foul.

"Legislator takes another stab at closing tobacco company’s tax 'loophole'".

Teamster muscle

"Teamsters prepare to show muscle -- or lack thereof -- in prison privatization hearings".

"And the gap is growing"

"The net worth of the people representing Floridians in Congress is much higher than that of the average voter, and the gap is growing."

The disparity in Florida echoes a nationwide trend. According to an analysis by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, 67 of 100 U.S. senators have a net worth of more than $1 million, based on financial foreclosure forms they filed. The average is $2.6 million, not counting home equity.

"Palm Beach Post investigation: What Florida lawmakers are worth".

Monday reads

"Monday Morning Reads: Prisons, casinos and lawmaker conflicts". See also "Today in Tallahassee: Secret privatization, presidential politics, and university gigs" and "Capitol Buzz for Monday, 1/23".

Online outlier

"Spending $2,159 Less Per Student, Online School Outscores Florida Campuses on AP Exams".

Obamanomics

"Florida Home Sales Up in 2011, State Realtors Report".

Scott’s school ranking list

"Capitol Buzz: Gov. Rick Scott’s school ranking list will be the subject of much debate".

Crazy train heads to Florida

2012-01-22T08:42:00.002-05:00

Dan Balz asks: "does South Carolina mark the beginning of real erosion in Romney’s standing that could lead to the former House speaker winning the nomination, something unthinkable only a month ago?"

That’s what Florida — and then Nevada, Michigan, Arizona and perhaps other states on the calendar — will tell us. But there is no doubt that the defeat here on Saturday represents a setback to Romney, who now has won just one of three opening contests in the GOP race after it looked like he was positioned to start the year 3-0 (though he still has two second-place finishes and thus the best overall record of the field). Strong debate performances by the former House speaker and a week of missteps and stumbles by the former Massachusetts governor brought the race to this moment.

"Florida will show which GOP candidate has momentum".

Adam C. Smith: "Now it's Florida's turn."

Mitt Romney is no longer coasting to the nomination, and Florida — a much different contest than Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina — should determine whether Romney's campaign suffered a temporary setback or is in deep trouble.

Romney is favored to win the Jan. 31 primary, with the average of recent polls showing him ahead by more than 18 percentage points. He has much of the state GOP establishment, especially top fundraisers, behind him. He has by far the strongest campaign organization in the state. He and his allies already have spent more than $7 million on TV ads, including more than $4 million attacking Newt Gingrich, and have plenty more money to spend on TV. He should have a big early lead in the nearly 200,000 votes already cast in Florida — most while all the momentum was on Romney's side.

Losing Florida could be devastating to Romney, given the advantages he has. And it definitely could happen.

"Up next in the Republican primary race: Florida". See also "Next stop: A brawl at the 2012 Florida primary", "GOP presidential candidates Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum to campaign in Lake County" and "Floridians, brace for blitz of GOP campaign ads".

Romney flip-flops on Florida debate

"Romney says he'll attend debates in Florida".

"Slow start to early voting"

"As Republican presidential hopefuls made their final frenzied push in South Carolina on Saturday, early voting began across much of Tampa Bay and Florida at a much slower pace." "Slow start to early voting in Tampa Bay area".

Sad

"At Eola rally, Herman Cain calls for conservative 'revolution'".

"The most important single voting bloc in the Republican Party"

Anthony Man: "Conservative Christians, often called values voters, may be the most important single voting bloc in the Republican Party. 'It’s a massive component,' said Karin Hoffman of Lighthouse Point, founder of the tea party group D.C. Works for Us."

Peter Brown, associate director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said they make up about one-third of the Florida Republican primary voters. They easily have enough to sway the outcome of a primary contest, said Kevin Hill, a political scientist at Florida International University. And in a tight general election, they could determine the statewide winner in Florida, said Thomas McClusky, senior vice president of the Family Research Council’s political arm FRCAction.

"Christian conservatives ramping up politicial activity".

Gaetz and Weatherford run the place

"They're a generation apart and not widely known outside the corridors of the Capitol. But Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Will Weatherford share a tight grip on the political future of Florida." "Powerful duo in state Capitol wary of dangers".

Voter suppression in the spotlight

"Florida's new election law, which critics say is a thinly disguised Republican effort to suppress likely Democratic voters, will be the focus of a U.S. Senate committee meeting next week in Tampa. Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, is bringing the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights here Friday for a 1 p.m. hearing at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse. The committee will take public testimony from interested groups, though witness lists have not been released." "U.S. Senate committee to hold hearing in Tampa on voting law".

Uppity firefighters

Randy Schultz dances to the Chamber of Commerce tune.

Martinez, Scott and other political gems

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Martinez's example".

"It invites mischief" ... if not outright corruption

The Tampa Tribune editors: "Senate Bill 7170 would keep secret any information about outsourcing a government function until after the contract has been approved. In other words, the public would not know what was going on until it was already done."

The measure stems from a court ruling last year against the Legislature's privatization of 29 prisons. It was included in the overall budget; the state courts ruled the privatization should have been in a separate bill.

[The right-wing Trib editors] believe the lawmakers had a point when they contested the judge's ruling that a change projected to save the Department of Corrections $22 million was not "rationally related" to the overall budget. ...

But regardless of the details of that case, this proposal would allow lawmakers to outsource work to private companies without proper scrutiny. It invites mischief.

"Slamming door on the public".

Stop the privatization madness

Even the Tampa Tribune editorial board sees it: "The Florida Legislature is seeking to give thousands of acres of public lands to private landowners, threatening citizens' shoreline access and jeopardizing safeguards for rivers and lakes."

Floridians should be alarmed.

At risk is the shoreline that is under water part of the year. Conserving the shore guards against flooding and allows vegetation to filter pollutants.

If privatized by lawmakers, the shoreline now owned by all Floridians could be fenced off, mined, logged and possibly developed.

"Beware legislative land grab".

Medicaid deform

Lloyd Dunkelberger: "Scott’s controversial plan to cut $1.9 billion in Medicaid payments to Florida hospitals may not win backing in the Legislature this year." "Legislature may not pass Scott's Medicaid budget".

"Stacking districts to keep themselves and their buddies elected"

Scott Maxwell writes that "Florida legislators have responded to the voter mandate for compact, sensible districts with two simple words:"

Forget you.

(Around the newsroom, I used two other words — one of which was still "you." But this is a family newspaper.)

The politicians have continued gerrymandering districts just the way they wanted: stacking districts to keep themselves and their buddies elected and denying the voters true choice.

"Politicians to voters: FORGET YOU! They can't kick gerrymandering habit".

"Jeb!" goes to ground

"Jeb Bush Refrains From Endorsing Anyone".

10 questions

The Tampa Bay Times editors have "10 questions the Republicans should be prepared to answer". "For GOP candidates, 10 questions from Florida".

"Given past scandal ..."

"Amid a clamor to overhaul a state university system lawmakers say isn't cutting it, Sen. John Thrasher wants to ban lawmakers from holding jobs with public colleges and universities they fund."

Given past scandal, Thrasher said it's best to eliminate the "conflict of interest."

But Thrasher is the same lawmaker who, as House speaker in 2000, helped secure a new medical school at Florida State University that higher education officials resisted. Then he helped eliminate the state board that opposed it.

In a speech opening the legislative session, House Speaker Dean Cannon said Florida's public university system is "racing toward the middle," a hodgepodge of schools with no clear mission and overlapping agendas.

And he put part of the blame on lawmakers.

"Florida lawmakers' personal interests complicate effort to overhaul higher education".

"Florida's jobs numbers are just estimates"

"Scott - who has billed himself as Florida's jobs governor - says repeatedly that he receives a new grade every month when Florida's unemployment rates are released. But maybe the grade Scott should get in his first year in office is an incomplete. Since Scott was sworn in the state's jobless rate has dropped from 12 percent in December 2010 to 9.9 percent in December 2011."

Yet those unemployment rates are based on a monthly survey that state and federal officials acknowledge is likely to change. And sometimes the revised numbers are much different than the ones that receive a lot of initial attention - sometimes by as much as a percentage point, which equals about 90,000 workers.

It's not a secret that the numbers are refined as more information becomes available, including unemployment compensation records.

"Florida's monthly jobs numbers are just estimates".

"A significant step in the right direction"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Citizens' revised policies to consider appraisals and contractors' estimates for replacement costs make sense. It won't solve the property insurance crisis in Florida or prevent premium increases for other reasons, but it's a significant step in the right direction." "An about-face for Citizens".

"State fund that pays for school construction is broke"

"An unfinished university science lab. Leaky roofs in elementary schools. Plans for a new classroom put back on the shelf."

On campuses across Florida, these and other projects are stalled because the state fund that pays for school construction is broke. And it looks like there won't be any money for the next two years.

Blame all those people who gave up their land lines and bought energy efficient appliances. The fund known as PECO, used by schools exclusively for new buildings and maintenance, gets its money from a tax on telephones and electricity.

"Florida schools, colleges are growing, but state construction money has dried up".

Organized labor goes after Romney in Florida

2012-01-21T08:41:00.002-05:00

"In what is organized labor's first major investment in the Republican presidential primary, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is spending almost $1 million in Florida on a television ad attacking Mitt Romney's business career."

The new ad links Romney's business career to that of Florida Gov. Rick Scott. "Corporate greed. Medicare fraud. Sound familiar?" the narrator asks as Romney appears on the screen next to Scott, also a Republican former businessman.

Facing similar attacks from his Republican rivals, Romney has been increasingly forced to defend his years at Bain Capital, a private equity company where the former Massachusetts governor accumulated his personal fortune.

"Union spends big on ad attacking Romney in Florida".

Imagine what Obama will do to him in a debate

"Romney on Friday wouldn’t commit to Florida’s first 2012 presidential primary debate, further upending a campaign that has swung from perfunctory to unsettled in a span of 48 hours." "Mitt Romney won’t commit to Fla. debate".

Romney alienating some Hispanic voters

"Mitt Romney's promise to veto a measure that would create a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants threatens to turn off some Hispanic voters, whose support could be critical in a general election match-up against President Barack Obama."

The issue is gaining prominence as the GOP front-runner heads toward the Jan. 31 primary in Florida, even though most of the state's Hispanics are Puerto Rican or Cuban-American and, thus, aren't affected by U.S. immigration law, nor view it as a priority. Still, it's a state where 13 percent of registered voters are Hispanic, where the nation's largest Spanish-language TV networks are based, and where the nation's third-largest number of illegal immigrants live – intensifying the focus on Romney's position.

"Latino voters, like all voters in this country, are interested in America being an opportunity nation," Romney said Monday night during a debate in South Carolina, when asked if his promise to veto the so-called Dream Act was alienating voters. "In my view, as long as we communicate to the people of all backgrounds in this country that it can be better, and that America is a land of opportunity, we will get those votes."

Maybe not.

His veto promise – first made in the days before the Iowa caucuses – has hit a nerve with prominent Hispanics, and some Republicans worry that the position will turn off the growing number of Latino voters in swing-voting states, particularly in the west, who are now on the fence after backing Obama in 2008. These Republicans suggest that Romney was trying to curry favor with hardline Republican primary voters at the expense of Hispanics whose support he would need come the fall.

"Romney Stance On Dream Act Is Magnified In Florida". See also "Florida Latino Vote Pits Cuban-American Republicans Against ...".

In the Legislature ...

"Bills Align Judicial Panel Terms With Governor, Raise Judges' Retirement Age".

Haridopolos, Alexander do bidding of privateers

"Senate President Mike Haridopolos is under fire from fellow Republicans for his handling of a controversial prison privatization plan."

Haridopolos, who decides which committees vote on which bills, sent two privatization bills to panels headed by loyal members of his inner circle, bypassing two committees that usually handle prison-related issues.

The action is all the more controversial because the same outsourcing plan was nixed by a judge who said it was done too secretly.

"It just really bothers me," said Sen. Greg Evers, who chairs the Criminal Justice Committee that was not assigned the bills. "Why are we not being as open with this as we have been with everything else?"

"Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, is chairman of the budget panel in charge of prisons, which also won't consider either bill. 'It was handled this way to avoid a battle,' Fasano said. 'It's an end run.'"

Amid the criticism, Haridopolos on Friday also sent the bills to the 20-member Senate Budget Committee. In a memo to senators Friday, he said he would "proceed in an abundance of caution," and that the issue was "fully vetted" by the 2011 Legislature.

The Budget Committee is chaired by Republican Sen. JD Alexander of Lake Wales, a strong supporter of privatizing prisons. That committee is scheduled to consider the two bills Wednesday.

"Haridopolos taking heat for committee assignments on prison privatization bills". See also "Fasano to Haridopolos: Don’t fast-track prison privatization" and "Haridopolos adds committee stop for prison privatization bills".

Aaron Deslatte: "Outsourcing government services has been on the conservative agenda for three decades, which is a blessing for Florida policymakers because it means there are lots of successes and missteps around the country to emulate or avoid."

Florida has had its own missteps, which is why the Legislature in 2006 passed a law requiring state agencies, before privatizing most anything, to develop a "business case" to determine whether companies "can more effectively and efficiently provide services and reduce the cost of government."

But what happened last year was hardly serious policy analysis.

"Prisons may be privatized before taxpayers know consequences".

Problem solved

"The state Legislature’s Economic Affairs Committee yesterday passed a bill that would rebrand unemployment compensation as 'reemployment assistance.'" "GOP bill would rebrand unemployment compensation as ‘reemployment assistance’".

Anti-choice crowd in a dither

"A new survey released from the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health found that 'strong majorities' of Latina/os registered to vote support 'access to legal abortion, affirm that they would offer support to a close friend or family member who had an abortion, and oppose politicians interfering in personal, private decisions about abortion,' the group reports." "New poll: Majority of Latina/o population supports reproductive rights".

How long before Scott challenges this?

"Federal authorities have rejected a request from Florida to get a waiver on a crucial reform requirement -- a move that could clear the way for state consumers to get more than $170 million in refunds on their health insurance."

In a letter dated Thursday but released Friday, Steven B. Larsen, deputy administrator in the Department of Health and Human Services, wrote Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty that he was rejecting McCarty’s request for reconsideration of the Affordable Care Act provision that insurers must spend at least 80 percent of premiums on healthcare, as opposed to administrative, marketing and profit.

The law provides that starting in 2011, insurers who spend less than 80 percent on healthcare would have to refund the difference. The refunds will be given to purchasers of individual and family policies, with the money arriving sometime this summer.

The law provides that starting in 2011, insurers who spend less than 80 percent on healthcare would have to refund the difference. The refunds will be given to purchasers of individual and family policies, with the money arriving sometime this summer.

"Floridians could get $170M in health insurance rebates".

"The insurance company that the ruling class in Florida hates"

Randy Schultz: "The new chairman of the insurance company that the ruling class in Florida hates but the state needs has this politically inconvenient but realistic attitude about hurricane insurance: 'We're all in this together.'"

Carlos Lacasa served in the Florida House, where insurance agent/legislators from less hurricane-prone areas scold South Floridians - Mr. Lacasa is from Miami - for supposedly placing the entire state at risk by building so much near the coast. Most of those properties secure wind coverage only from Citizens Property Insurance Corp., which Mr. Lacasa helps oversee.

Everyone wishes that Citizens didn't have to exist. Everyone wishes that Florida didn't need a "last-resort" state-run insurer that has more policies than any other company. Everyone wishes that Florida had a competitive private hurricane insurance market.

Such a market, though, hasn't existed for 20 years, since Hurricane Andrew punched through southern Miami-Dade County. The state had to create a $16 billion - increased at one point to $28 billion - subsidy for private companies to help pay claims in bad years, and then came 2004 and 2005. Last-resort Citizens has become only-resort Citizens for 1.5 million Floridians.

This drives the free-market ideologues crazy. It annoys the agent/legislators who covet Citizens policies. Citizens, though, is here to stay, and the main reason is economics.

"Citizens of Florida need Citizens Property Insurance".

Scott takes credit for merely "being there"

"Gov. Scott boasts unemployment nudge down to 9.9 percent".

"With the campaign trail heading for Florida, economists and voters are sharply divided on whether the Republicans or President Barack Obama — or any politician — can relieve Florida's distress." "Florida jobless rate dips to 9.9 percent". See also "Florida’s jobless rate drops 0.1 percent".

Teabaggers can't find the word "casino" in the Constitution

"Everett Wilkinson, chairman of the South Florida Tea Party and state coordinator for the Florida Tea Party, this week announced his support for the casino bill that would allow three Las Vegas-style casino resorts in South Florida." "South Florida Tea Party announces support for GOP casino bill".

"Disney doesn't deserve help from a cash-strapped state"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "By now, it's not exactly a news flash: Money is still tight in Tallahassee."

To balance next year's state budget, Florida's Republican legislative leaders are promising another round of cuts in health care and other basic services instead of any tax hikes. So lawmakers shouldn't even think about creating any more tax breaks that would reduce future revenues unless it's a slam dunk for Florida.

A proposed package of tax breaks that could be worth millions to two of the state's titans of tourism, Walt Disney World and NASCAR owner International Speedway Corp., doesn't even reach the rim. ...

But Disney and ISC don't need or deserve help from a cash-strapped state government to expand or improve their offerings. In their most recent budget years, Disney earned a company record profit of $4.8 billion, and ISC banked $54.5 million. Their success suggests they are savvy enough to let the market, not state tax incentives, dictate their investments. They'll build it, if people will come.

"Tourism giants don't need new tax breaks".

Will governor or chief judge appoint new SA?

"Following his bombshell announcement Tuesday that he'll take a private job rather than seek reelection in 2012, Palm Beach County State Attorney Michael McAuliffe said today that he plans to leave office before his term expires in January 2013. McAuliffe has not set a specific date for his departure. Once he does, a state attorney spokeswoman said, Gov. Rick Scott would appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of McAuliffe's term."

McAuliffe, a Democrat, abruptly ended his 2012 reelection campaign this week and announced he has taken a job with West Palm Beach-based Oxbow Carbon, which trades in carbon and industrial products and is headed by Palm Beach billionaire Bill Koch.

"Understandably the company wants and needs me before January of 2013, so as a result I will be unable to complete my full term," McAuliffe said today in a brief interview with The Palm Beach Post.

In a midday e-mail to his staff, McAuliffe said he is "finalizing a transition plan and timetable" to ensure a smooth hand-off to his successor.

McAuliffe said he plans to talk to Scott's office about his departure. Scott is a Republican.

The Florida constitution gives the governor power to fill vacancies in state and county offices. But a statute also says that the chief judge of the judicial circuit can fill a vacancy by appointing an acting state attorney.

"McAuliffe will not finish state attorney term; Governor or chief judge could appoint successor".

More Scott stoopid

"Scott on Monday will release a ranking of the state’s 67 school districts based on standardized test scores, his office confirmed late Friday. Top school officials in Florida are fuming. They argue that test scores alone overlook factors like poverty and racial diversity, which have been shown to affect educational outcomes." "School officials critical of Gov. Scott’s school ranking plan".

Florida bank failures slowed in 2011

"Failures of Florida banks slowed in 2011, a welcome respite for the state's financial industry and for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp." "Failures of Florida banks slowed in 2011".

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Senate Draws Lines; House Draws Purse".

Redistricting may lead to "'profound' changes"

"New legislative maps call for 'profound' changes in Central Florida".

GOPers eye Florida

"With the race [in South Carolina] seemingly between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, Republican rival Rick Santorum is bracing for a setback and looking ahead to the next contest: Florida." "Santorum already eyeing next stop: Florida". See also "Gingrich, Santorum set Brevard visits" and "In tight S.C. GOP primary, Newt Gingrich feels confident, eyes Florida".

"After a full year in office, the guv is failing"

2012-01-20T07:07:00.002-05:00

Stephen Goldstein: "Wake up, Floridians! You're about to be 'had.'"

Tea Party/GOP Gov. Rick Scott and other proponents of expanding gambling in the state are just as bad as Ponzi-schemer Scott Rothstein, maybe worse. Their con is pitching that casinos, more lottery options, slots, roulette, and similar immoral games to take people's money will flood the state with billions of investment dollars, tens of thousands of high-paying jobs, hoards of high-roller (especially rich, foreign) tourists, and buyers of expensive condos. Gambling proponents tout (especially South) Florida as a natural rival to Las Vegas. ...

After a full year in office, the guv is failing: Our economy ain't goin' anywhere, and "tricky Rick" is trying to save his political skin by gambling on gambling to create all those jobs he promised and to make up budget deficits. But what tangled webs he weaves, when the governor deceives.

Last year, in his first budget, he went back on his promise to not decrease education funding. This year, he's going back on his pledge to not expand gambling to undo some of the damage from his going back on his promise to not decrease education funding.

To raise more money for schools, he wants to increase the number of retailers selling (the disproportionately high number of losing) lottery tickets and to add more machines where you can buy them. By the time he's through, you'll probably be able to gamble in church and on every street corner — or wager intravenously. And odds are, he'll soon want a game named after him: the "Scott Pot."

Any proposed legislation to create resort destination casinos should be called the "License to Steal Stupid People's Money" bill — and should be defeated. Any elected official who votes for it should resign or be impeached. Like other Grover Norquist lapdogs, the governor and much of the Florida Legislature signed a pledge never to raise taxes. But they have no pangs of conscience about encouraging people to bet (aka throw their money away) on anything, at anytime, anywhere, even though the odds are overwhelmingly against them.

Florida needs to attract world-class business and industry with long-term growth potential to put its economy on a solid footing. Gambling is not a substitute for sound fiscal policy and economic development.

"Gov. Scott's lust for casinos a bad bet".

Florida Republicans luv the Ricky

"Florida Republicans give high marks to freshman U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who rocketed to national prominence following his win over then-Gov. Charlie Crist during the 2010 election cycle, and offered a solid grade for Gov. Rick Scott."

The poll, conducted by Harrisburg, Pa.-based Voter Survey Service (VSS), found that 77 percent of likely Florida Republican presidential primary voters see Rubio as favorable, while only 10 percent see him as unfavorable. Twelve percent of those surveyed have no opinion about Rubio.

"Scott did slightly worse than Rubio among Florida Republicans, but remained in solid shape with them."

Fifty-nine percent said they approve of the job Scott is performing in Tallahassee while 23 percent said they disapprove of it. Seventeen percent said they are undecided on how Scott is performing. ...

The poll of 1,266 likely Republican primary voters was taken Jan. 11-14 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.75 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

"Florida Republicans Give Marco Rubio and Rick Scott Good Marks".

Today in Tallahassee

"What to watch for today in Tallahassee". See also "Today in Tallahassee: House redistricting and jobless numbers".

"The reality of the condition of Florida by the numbers"

"When the 2012 legislative session opens Tuesday, the Governor and legislative majorities will begin action based on their perceptions about the needs of the state. This report shows the reality of the condition of Florida by the numbers: high poverty, high unemployment, a low percentage of the jobless receiving unemployment insurance benefits, income inequality, and an inadequate, unfair tax structure." "Condition of Florida by the Numbers".

Education funding increase on the move

"Scott has made it clear that he wants the final state budget to include that increase in Florida's education funding." "House, Senate embrace $1 billion for schools".

Privatizers running wild in the Legislature

"After hearing from private prison operators and correctional officials Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee is considering a bill to readdress a plan to privatize 26 correctional facilities in Central and South Florida."

But the committee may not include a companion effort, as has been introduced in the Senate, that changes how future privatization efforts are handled by the state.

Committee Chairwoman Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, said if a bill moves forward in the House, she expects a single bill aimed at reauthorizing the action approved last year.

The Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday gave initial support to a pair of bills -- SB 2036 and SB 2038 -- that are aimed at privatizing the facilities in 18 counties and could keep other privatization efforts out of public view until the contracts are signed.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has already referred the bills back to the Rules Committee, which will be their only stop before a full floor vote in the Senate.

In the House, the proposal that got its first public review Thursday, which appeared to get a favorable review from the majority party that approved the effort last year, is still under review.

"Prison Privatization Gets Warm Welcome in House Committee". See also "Prison privatization bills get fast-tracked". See also "Senate resurrects prison privatization plan" and "Major proposed changes to Florida prison system alarm workers, advocates".

"Romney could find himself in a competitive race in Florida"

"After a quick rise and steep fall, Texas Gov. Rick Perry exited the GOP race Thursday, leaving Florida Republican voters with four candidates for the Jan. 31 primary."

If Romney, generally perceived as the least conservative of the group, can dominate in a South Carolina full of Evangelical voters, Florida voters will likely flock to him, several strategists said. But if Gingrich either wins South Carolina or finishes a close second, Romney could find himself in a competitive race in Florida.

"Gingrich gets boost from Perry; how much will that help in Florida?" See also "As Florida awaits, GOP contest in S.C. takes bizarre twists for Romney, Gingrich".

That's all you got?

"Mack's U.S. Senate campaign is all about his name".

Scott stands behind $500M in lost corporate revenue

"Scott repeated Thursday that he isn’t interested in efforts by Democrats to end tax breaks for corporations that members of the minority party say cost the state $500 million a year in revenue. ... SB 1590 and HB 1335, that would require national corporations -- none were directly identified -- to pay taxes to Florida based on the percentage of business done in the Sunshine State." "Scott Firm in Opposing Rise in Corporate Taxes".

Florida receives another "F"

"NARAL Pro-Choice America, a national reproductive rights groups, today released a report analyzing the 'state of women’s access to reproductive-health care' around the country. Florida received an 'F' overall for the policies it enacted in the last year." "National reproductive rights report gives Florida an ‘F’".

Cannon rejects cuts in Medicaid payments

"House Speaker Dean Cannon indicated Thursday how the House will craft next year's state spending plan - embracing Gov. Rick Scott's call for a $1 billion boost in public school funding but rejecting his call for deep cuts in Medicaid payments to hospitals." "School-funding increase may cost transportation, environment under Florida House plan".

FlaDems try to reverse voter suppression legislation

"State Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, has sponsored legislation that would reverse some of the most controversial aspects of the elections bill passed last session by the GOP-led Florida Legislature."

Last session’s bill, which opponents have dubbed a “voter suppression” effort, contained controversial provisions that restrict the amount of time that a third-party registration group has to turn in a voter registration form, force authorities to refer an accused third-party registrar to the attorney general, create a limit on the shelf-life of ballot initiative signatures, require a voter who moves within the same county to fill out an affirmation form, and limit early voting days. The decrease in early voting has been the target of much ire from elections experts, who note the popularity of early voting in the Sunshine State.

"Bill reversing controversial elections measures earns Senate sponsor".

Half-million children lack health insurance in Florida, Scott sleeps

"More than a half-million children lack health insurance in Florida — even as the state is losing out on millions in federal dollars to help them."

Late last month, the federal government announced bonuses of nearly $300 million to 23 states, including Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. But Florida met only two of the feds' eight requirements to receive the money.

State officials didn't even bother to apply for the bonuses.

"Why is Florida losing out on federal money to insure kids?".

Obama talks economy, GOPers talk trash

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Florida is accustomed to seeing plenty of visitors in January, especially in an election year. But the visit Thursday by President Barack Obama could mark a real boost for the state's economy. The president unveiled a new strategy to attract international tourists, which could bring more cash-flush foreigners to Florida. The plan also dovetails perfectly with the push across the region to expand the global appeal of Tampa Bay." "Delivering a jolt to Florida tourism". See also "Obama at Disney: 'America is open for business'".

Meanwhile, from way-back in the peanut gallery, Florida's empty suiters - who were sound asleep on this issue when Dubya was the resident - were quick to share their wisdom:

Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, who joined Romney on the news conference call Thursday morning, said he welcomed the president's visit and the expected tourism programs but added, "he's a day late and a few projects short." And Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, accused the president — playing off the Main Street U.S.A. location of Obama's speech — of closing down main streets everywhere.

Mica said he welcomed the tourism initiative but said it is something he and other members of the Florida delegation have been seeking for years.

"What he is announcing today should have been done two or three years ago," Mica said.

"President Barack Obama at Disney World, unveils plans to boost tourism".

Population swells in Manatee and Sarasota counties

"The populations of Manatee and Sarasota counties jumped by 5,700 last year, fueling the beginnings of a stronger economic recovery in the region, an economist said Thursday." "Manatee and Sarasota populations growing, economist says".

"Medicaid Cuts Will Harm Florida's Economy"

"The Governor's proposed 2012-13 budget calls for a $3 billion reduction in total appropriations. Key to achieving a reduction of this magnitude is a cut of more than $2 billion to the perennially targeted Medicaid program."

But only about one-fifth of the funds "saved" would be state general revenue dollars. In fact, the majority of the reduction ($1.2 billion) would be lost federal matching dollars.

The proposed cuts would be detrimental to both Florida and Floridians, undermining the already strained Medicaid system, imperiling access to care for the sickest, and siphoning off Florida's share of federal tax dollars out of the economy.

"Proposed Medicaid Cuts Will Harm Florida's Economy".

Reconciling casino bills just became harder

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Reconciling Senate and House versions of the casino bill in the Legislature just became harder. Maybe impossible. The once-matching bills have been amended to ensure the best possible reception in each chamber. Trouble is, the Senate version expands gambling in Florida, while the House bill achieves a better balance. It would scale back existing gaming and seeks to put a lid on future expansion." "Slow it down".

"The South Florida casino bill that passed its first vote in the Florida House of Representative last week has prompted bills that regulate other gaming business, while opponents move ahead aggressively in the media." "Casino debate rages in Legislature, on TV". Related: "Senate panel opts to regulate Internet sweepstakes cafes".

Fitzgerald gets a hand

"The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched its 'Red to Blue' program, which 'highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support' and aims to introduce Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns. One candidate earning a spot in the program is Florida’s own Keith Fitzgerald, the Sarasota Democrat running to unseat Congressman Vern Buchanan." "Florida Democrat named one of DCCC’s ‘Red to Blue’ candidates".

"The easy way out"

"Scott's proposed budget trimmed reimbursements to hospitals by $1.8 billion but there are growing signs that the Legislature is loathe to cut institutional providers that hard." "Senator won't take "the easy way out" to balance budget".

Audubon, Sierra Club split on sewage

"Scientists say Florida's springs and waterways have become choked with weeds and algae fed by nitrogen and phosphorus compounds from a variety of sources including fertilizer, stormwater runoff, sewage treatment plants and septic tanks."

In 2010, the Legislature passed SB 550 requiring septic tanks to be inspected every five years. The requirement, though, created a backlash among rural property owners, tea party members and Panhandle legislators.

HB 999 would repeal the 2010 statewide requirement. Instead, 19 counties with the 33 largest "first-magnitude" springs would be required to conduct inspections unless county commissions vote to not do them.

The bill, with a strike-all amendment, passed the House Economic Affairs Committee on Thursday by a 14-1 vote. At least one committee member, Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Fort Lauderdale, said he was persuaded to vote for the bill after an Audubon of Florida representative said his group supports the measure. ...

Audubon of Florida Executive Director Eric Draper said the group supports the bill as amended -- if the requirement for inspections is expanded to include counties within the basins of first magnitude springs. ...

Sierra Club Florida lobbyist David Cullen said his group has concerns including the removal of langauge in the bill requiring a measured separation of septic tank drainfields from groundwater.

"Septic tank inspection bill passes House panel with Audubon's support".

Repackaged-Prescription Bill

"Following a last-minute amendment backers don't like but had no time to defeat, a measure restricting the price physicians can charge for repackaged prescription drugs passed its first Senate committee on Thursday. The proposal, SB 668, caps fees doctors can charge on prescriptions filled in their offices for workers' compensation patients. The fee, $4.18 per prescription, is the same fee that pharmacies get paid for similar workers' comp orders." "Repackaged-Drug Bill Advances in Senate". See also "Committee OKs bill to whack doctors fees".

Lawmakers soon to wear labels of their sponsors

"Lawmakers consider selling naming rights for roads, cafeterias, bike trails".

Making it easier for the privatizers

"A southwest Florida lawmaker says prison employees in his district told him the Department of Corrections last year had moved sicker, more-expensive inmates out of facilities the state was trying to privatize."

Rep. Paige Kreegel's comment came Thursday at a House Appropriations Committee workshop on prison privatization. He was responding to a presentation by Corrections Deputy Secretary Mike Crews. ...

Kreegel said some of the corrections officers at Charlotte Correctional Institution are his patients; the Punta Gorda Republican is a physician.

"What they tell me is that shortly after the budget was passed last year, there began a concerted effort of transferring [to north Florida] inmates who were ... expensive health-wise, HIV positive, et cetera," he said. "They were getting as replacements people who were younger and healthier, without the costly medical illnesses." ...

"I guess the insinuation here is that they were filling up the prisons to be privatized with people who are relatively inexpensive to take care of, and leaving the more expensive prisoners to the state," he added.

"Kreegel says sick inmates were moved before privatization".

Cleaning up after Ricky

"Last year, Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $12 million dollars from the state’s general revenue fund to the National Veterans’ Homeless Support Group for 'homeless housing assistance grants.' The item was one of the many public assistance programs Scott vetoed." "Bill giving aid to the homeless moves forward in state Senate".

Steady Citizens

"Citizens Insurance Sees Big News in a Small Drop". More Citizens: "Bill to reduce hurricane assessments breezes through Senate panel".

"An all-online university?"

"Should Florida have an all-online university?" See also "Weatherford seeks more online learning at universities, suggests all-digital state school".

School prayer fast tracked

"School prayer bill has one more stop in state Senate".

Budget-writers at work

"The House has upped its call to complete the budget, without the need for a mid-session spring break, in the regular 60-day session. But the prodding isn't expected to change the pace of the Senate's budget deliberations." "House Allocations Challenge Senate to Complete Budget". Related: "Budget-writers get to work amid talk of delay".

Beer lobbyist to oversee Florida elections

2012-01-19T07:26:00.002-05:00

"Scott on Wednesday named Ken Detzner, a former state official and onetime lobbyist, to be Florida’s secretary of state — a post he briefly held nearly a decade ago under former Gov. Jeb Bush."

Detzner, 59, will succeed Kurt Browning, who announced this month he was resigning and returning to his home in Pasco County. Browning will oversee the Jan. 31 presidential primary election before making way for Detzner, who was Bush’s interim secretary of state for part of 2003.

"Detzner’s previous stint at the agency, while brief, was marked by one notable controversy."

He loyally supported Bush’s controversial proposal to shut down the $10 million state library and donate its large collection of rare historical and obscure documents to a private university, Nova Southeastern in Davie. The plan was scrapped in the face of vehement opposition from library advocates across the state, but Detzner defended the cost-cutting move.

This time, Detzner takes charge of the agency at a time when four key sections of a new state election law are stuck in the courts and cannot take effect in five counties: Hillsborough, Monroe, Collier, Hardee, and Hendry. The changes affect early voting, voter registration, and provisional ballots, and any voting-law changes in those five counties require federal approval to make sure they don’t discriminate against minority voters.

Detzner, a Republican, worked for former Attorney General Jim Smith and was a lobbyist for the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association, a trade group for the beer industry. He said he was visiting the governor’s office recently on behalf of another client that was interested in holding a “workday” for Scott when he was asked to apply for the job.

"Gov. Rick Scott picks former state official, lobbyist as next elections chief". See also "With Viva 500, 2012 Election on Horizon, Detzner Anticipates 'Fun' Job" and "".

Entrepreneurs (Romney and Bain) in action

"Off a gritty bend in the Miami River, a few miles from a warehouse where he recently touted his job-creation plans, there's a complex of buildings that bear witness to a time when Mitt Romney's private equity firm laid off hundreds of workers, shuttered a profitable factory and made out with hundreds of millions of dollars."

It started in 1995, when Romney's Bain Capital targeted the company that became Dade Behring, which made blood-testing machines and performed animal research at its Miami campus.

Bain borrowed heavily to buy the company and closed a factory in Puerto Rico to improve the bottom line. About 400 lost jobs there. Then in 1997, Bain shuttered Dade Behring's Miami operations, costing another 850 jobs and a $30 million payroll in the community.

Before growing debt consumed the company, Bain executed its exit strategy and made $242 million.

"In Miami, story of profits and layoffs highlights debate over Mitt Romney's tenure at Bain".

5 things to watch today in Tally

"Capitol Buzz: 5 things to watch today in Tallahassee".

Scott leaves "poor children uninsured and out of luck"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Rick Scott likes to talk about eliminating government rules for businesses, but when it comes to helping Florida's poorest children enroll in government-funded health insurance, he doesn't mind the red tape."

This sentiment recently cost Florida millions of dollars in federal bonus money awarded to those states that improved access to low-income children's health programs. Scott and the Republican-controlled Legislature appear to have no interest in reducing the bureaucratic hurdles for the families who qualify, which means Florida will continue leaving federal money on the table and leaving poor children uninsured and out of luck. ...

But a bill in 2010 sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Nan Rich of Weston that would have made these changes did not interest Scott or legislative leaders and there is no indication that this session will be different. ...

Thousands of low-income children without health insurance won't get the preventive care they need and will likely be forced into expensive emergency rooms for even routine care, the cost of which the entire health care system often has to absorb.

"Florida spurns aid for children".

The Sun Sentinel editors: "Last year, only Texas edged out Florida on a health policy reform foundation's score card for the worst uninsured-child rate, posting an abysmal 17.8 percent." "State attitudes hurting kids".

Amendments to a casino bill

"In an effort to win support from the gambling-averse House, Rep. Erik Fresen proposed amendments to a casino bill." "House casino bill sponsor proposes changes to reduce gambling options".

Let them fly to Vegas

"Scott Lends Support to Closing Internet Cafes".

"Lynn an icon in political landscape"

"From Ormond commissioner to state senator, Lynn an icon in political landscape".

Bill of rights for Floridians receiving professional home healthcare

"Floridians receiving professional home healthcare could become among the few in the nation with their own bill of rights. Among the guarantees: Appointment times that are honored, disclosure of out-of-pocket costs and high-quality care. But under the proposal being considered by Florida legislators this session, home health agencies would have rights, too, including one likely to spark much debate: Clients would have to accept all qualified assistants in their home “regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation,” according to SB 1370." "Florida law would ban bias by at-home patients".

Early voting begins

"Early voting begins Saturday in Orlando area".

Mack Leads Pack

"With Many Florida Republicans Undecided, Connie Mack Leads GOP Senate Pack".

Second amendment stoopid

Beth Kassab: "Every parent's worst nightmare played out Sunday night inside an Eatonville home. A 7-year-old child picked up a gun that he apparently thought was a toy, pointed it at his 15-year-old cousin and accidentally shot and killed the older boy."

But this is wild-eyed Florida, which continues to defend a new law designed to stop doctors from asking moms, dads and their kids about guns in their homes.

It's hard to forget the fury over last year's "Docs vs. Glocks" bill. It initially sought to imprison doctors for up to five years and fine them $5 million for asking patients about guns until it was thankfully watered down before it was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott. Even in its less draconian form, this dumbest of dumb laws could lead to doctors losing their medical licenses for asking a patient about firearms.

We'll never know if a talk with a doctor would have made a difference for Anthony Lane Jr. And we don't know if the adults responsible at his cousin's home where the shooting took place ever received such counseling.

But the fact is, sometimes doctors like Lisa Cosgrove, a pediatrician in Merritt Island, are the first to talk to parents about gun safety.

"I ask parents, 'Do you have a lock for your gun?' And if they say no, I ask, 'Would you like one?' and we keep a box of them in the office," said Cosgrove, who is also the president of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

"Teen's accidental shooting proves folly of "Docs vs. Glocks" law".

Local Term Limits

"Local Term Limits Measure Advances in House".

Obama in Orlando

"President Obama will be at Disney today to announce tourism initiatives". See also "Obama takes trip to Orlando to tout jobs plan". Related: ""Obama, Rick Scott Agree: Speed Up Tourist Visas for Brazilians".".

Frank Cerabino: Obama visit to Disney? Where pundits' dreams come true

"Pot Calling the Kettle Polluter"

Nancy Smith: "Environmentalists can be such hypocrites. Especially the rich ones. Closet flimflammers. Maybe you saw Paul Tudor Jones Tuesday at the Everglades Water Supply Summit."

Now, I wouldn't exactly call this multi-billionaire a faux philantropist. But I think it's only right that the people of Florida understand that the Everglades Foundation chairman and benefactor at the podium, the one hurling insults at Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam for coddling "polluters," was once slapped with a $2 million fine for destroying wetlands.

"Paul Tudor Jones: Pot Calling the Kettle Polluter".

Slithering

Fred Grimm: "Broward towns try to slither out from under strict ethics rules".

"Flawed and unacceptable" congressional district boundaries

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editors: "The congressional district boundaries proposed by the Florida Senate are flawed and unacceptable." "One crazy redistricting plan". See also "Redistricting plan would carve up Sarasota and Manatee".

Shrinking citizens

"Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has begun implementing changes approved by its board of governors: It will no longer cover coastal account properties valued at $1 million or more, now requires 10 percent sinkhole deductible, and reduced its maximum personal liability coverage from $300,000 to $100,000." "Citizens attempts to shrink, Gov. Scott applauds".

Canker war

"Florida's war against canker ended in 2006, but six years later a battle is still being waged on the international front." "Wary EU sour on Florida citrus imports".

Rubio has his finger in the wind

"Members of Florida delegation withdraw support for controversial anti-piracy bills".

Florida leading race to the bottom

"State Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, and Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, have introduced legislation that would set up a Florida health insurance exchange as required by federal law. So far, the GOP-led Legislature and the governor have done little-to-nothing to follow the federal health care reform law’s requirement."

Senate Bill 1640 and House Bill 1423 would provide the intent to “establish a state-level health benefits exchange by a certain date; providing minimum functions for such exchange; establishing the Florida Health Benefits Exchange Legislative Study Committee to consider and make recommendations regarding the establishment of the exchange; providing that the act is null and void if that part of federal law requiring an exchange is repealed or replaced.”

Just this week, the government released a report documenting the progress 28 states and the District of Columbia have made in creating their state health insurance exchanges. The study noted that Florida is one of two states that has refused to even use a $1 million federal grant to begin planning for and researching an exchange.

"Legislators introduce bill to set up health insurance exchange". See also "Feds release report on health insurance exchanges; Florida still behind".

More on Florida's healthcare front: "Thousands of low-income [Florida] children without health insurance won't get the preventive care they need".

Auctioning off Florida with no deliberation, cost benefit analysis or public input

"In a state Senate rules committee hearing [yesterday], groups showed up to voice their opposition to two bills that would make it easier for the state to privatize prisons — and other government agency functions."

Both committee bills, which moved forward [yesterday], received resounding opposition. The bills were introduced, but have yet to be referred to the appropriate committees.

A labor group has already called the bills “union busting” efforts and said they would “eliminate any transparency from the process, allowing Legislative leaders to auction off Florida with no deliberation, cost benefit analysis or public input.”

Senate Bill 7172 would privatize correctional facilities and Senate Bill 7170 would allow the privatization of state functions to go through more secretively.

According to its summary, Senate Bill 7170 would provide “that certain information relating to the outsourcing or privatization of an agency function that is expressly required by law is not required to be included in the agency’s legislative budget request until after the contract for such functions is executed; providing that procurements for outsourcing or privatizing agency functions that are expressly required by law are exempt from the requirement that they be evaluated for feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency, etc.”

"Groups denounce new prison privatization bills". See also "Prison privatization effort resurfaces in bills that would exclude public comment".

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The measure would let state agencies conceal their privatizing or outsourcing plans until — and this comes straight out of the bill — 'after the contract for the privatization and outsourcing has been executed.' In other words, after it's a done deal." "Private privatizing".

Perhaps they're good at what they do?

"Few Miami teachers dismissed for poor performance".

Big of them

"Florida lawmakers: Get tough on ALFs".

"State pension chief wants to double down"

"The official managing Florida's $120 billion pension fund wants lawmakers to double the amount of money his agency can set aside for special investments that critics say are harder to value and carry more risk than traditional stocks and securities." "State pension chief wants to double down on investment strategy".

Grubbing for wingnuts: Hasner claims Obama "the single worst president in history"

2012-01-18T08:11:00.002-05:00

"President Obama will be in Orlando on Thursday to talk about tourism. And like Democratic senators who skipped Obama appearances in other states, Bill Nelson will be nowhere in sight."

Calling Obama "the single worst president in history," Hasner said Nelson "has voted for every single one of President Obama's hallmark policies, which have been a disaster for Florida and the nation.

"GOP Taunts Bill Nelson for 'Running' From Obama".

Bill would allow lawmakers to secretly privatize state agency functions

"A Senate committee will consider a bill that would allow lawmakers to secretly privatize or outsource state agency functions. That includes privatizing the state's prisons."

The Senate rules committee will take up the bill (PCB 7170) at its Wednesday afternoon meeting. The bill essentially means that an agency would not have to report its privatization of a program or service until after the contract is signed.

"Florida Senate bill would allow privatization to be secret".

"5 things to watch today"

"Capitol Buzz: 5 things to watch today in Tallahassee".

"Incumbency protection"

"A map to realign the state’s political boundaries according to new redistricting standards draws overwhelming support but opponents blast the effort as incumbency protection." "Senate earns bi-partisan support for its redistricting maps as critics complain". See also "Florida Senate moves quickly in redrawing district lines, but challenges loom", "State Senate approves redistricting plan; Fair Districts supporters cry foul" and "Senate approves its redistricting plans".

LeMieux hits the First Coast

"George LeMieux Builds His Team on the First Coast".

To replace Browning

"Nancy Detert in running for Secretary of State".

Ayn Rand convention in Manatee County

"UPDATE: Man hit by car, then run over by 3 hit-run drivers".

Hawkes ethics case moot

"The Florida Supreme Court has approved the state judicial ethics panel's dismissal of its case against a Tallahassee-based judge for his involvement in an expensive new courthouse. The court ruled Tuesday that an ethics case was moot since Judge Paul M. Hawkes of the 1st District Court of Appeal resigned as of Jan. 4. But the Supreme Court's order said that it would have 'continuing jurisdiction' if Hawkes ever retakes judicial office." "High court drops case against "Taj Mahal" judge".

"Chicken wranglers, hire yourselves a lobbyist."

Fred Grimm: "Of course, cock fighting, a disgusting, cruel, utterly uncivilized pursuit, will require some artful public relations work. But in Florida, a lousy rep can be easily fixed with the mere promise of millions of rooster revenue for our desperate schools. And so many new jobs along with all that the blood, gore, mayhem and flying feathers. Construction jobs to rebuild gamecock arenas. Fry-cook jobs to recycle the losers." "Cockfighting just needs a good lobbyist".

Obama goes to Disney

"President Obama will visit Disney on Thursday to talk about tourism".

Florida GOPers "loathe President Obama"

"No doubt about it -- Florida Republicans loathe President Barack Obama and are looking forward to defeating him in November." "Florida Republicans Ready to Toss Obama Out in November".

Strange bedfellows

"In bid to reduce greyhound racing in Florida, strange allies emerge".

"Casino bill morphs"

"Backers of a controversial plan to bring high-end destination-casino resorts to Florida initially billed it as a way to limit gambling in the state. But the measure has since morphed into a behemoth of a bill that could spread slot machines — if not casinos — to every corner of the Sunshine State."

Changes approved by a Senate committee this past week would allow any parimutuel facility in the state — from Pensacola to Jacksonville to Daytona Beach and Tampa — to open slot machines if local voters approve. Internet cafes — which many argue are illegal — would be legitimized and regulated. Taxes paid by South Florida "racinos" would plummet, and racetracks in counties that allow destination casinos would be permitted to open casinos of their own, complete with blackjack and craps.

"I've given up saying it's not an expansion because I've lost that battle,'' said state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, during the committee meeting. "Call it what you will."

To opponents of the measure — anti-gambling legislators, the Central Florida tourism industry and social and religious conservatives — the changes have opened a potentially powerful argument: It's not just about South Florida anymore.

"Casino bill morphs into all-Florida gambling proposal".

They'll probably use big words

"More state university presidents are set to appear before the Florida House Education Committee. The panel is continuing its talks Wednesday with the presidents as part of efforts to improve the coordination of Florida's higher education system." "More university leaders visiting Fla. House panel".

"Florida lost out on millions in federal dollars"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Florida children bore the brunt in recent years as state lawmakers, claiming to be proactive, reined in spending by slashing education and juvenile safety-net programs. Now, thousands of uninsured kids lose again. Why? Florida lost out on millions in federal dollars simply because the state wasn't proactive enough."

Last month, Washington awarded nearly $300 million in performance bonuses. For streamlining access and boosting kids' enrollment in Medicaid and stateChildren's Health Insurance programs, 23 states pocketed hefty bonuses. Among them: Alabama ($19 million), Georgia ($5 million), and Louisiana (nearly $2 million).

And the Sunshine State? Not one red cent. Even though more than 1.6 million of Florida's poorest kids receive Medicaid. Even though another 250,000 rely on KidCare — which covers uninsured kids whose parents' earnings outstrip Medicaid caps. Even though better than 380,000 more kids likely qualify for coverage.

Numbers weren't the hang-up. Blame a lack of will to adopt and pass policies that align with federal standards governing the allocation of funds.

"Kids hurt when state loses KidCare money".

Rooney stands tall

"Rooney: Obama Administration Fails to Address Everglades Snake Threat".

Romney already forgetting GOP base

"Personhood USA to host presidential forum; Romney not participating".

Privatization follies

"During this morning’s inaugural meeting of the Everglades Legislative Caucus, former Sen. Bob Graham spoke out against a bill that would privatize the reclaimed water used by utilities." "Graham urges opposition to lawmaker’s reclaimed water bill". See also "Graham urges legislators to oppose efforts to allow private ownership of water".

And so it begins

"Five counties in Florida have already begun in-person early voting for the GOP presidential primary." "Early voting begins in counties where new elections law has not been implemented".

Scott looks for 'Glades handout

"Scott downplayed the increase in funding he’s requested for Everglades maintenance, saying the key is to spend any money correctly, during a panel discussion that was part of the Everglades Water Supply Summit at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center in Tallahassee." "Scott, Salazar Express Optimism for Everglades". Related: "Everglades summit participants debate over-development, Big Sugar, Scott’s budget", "More Everglades Water Supply Summit participants weigh in: Scott, Putnam, Salazar", "Gov. Rick Scott, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar point to Everglades cooperation", "Environment dramas play out in Tallahassee" and "Everglades panel discusses water quality, environmental regulations".

"Tampa will go on lockdown"

"Already, courts and government offices are making plans to shift services or suspend them so that they can avoid the congestion of GOP delegates and expected protesters." "In August, Tampa will go on lockdown".

Romney clobbering Gingrich in VSS Florida poll

2012-01-17T08:25:00.002-05:00

Kevin Derby: "Two weeks away from the Presidential Preference Primary, Mitt Romney holds a commanding lead over the Republican presidential pack in Florida, according to a Sunshine State News Poll of likely primary voters."

Romney tops the poll, which was conducted by Harrisburg, Pa.-based Voter Survey Service (VSS), with 46 percent. When he ran in the 2008 primary, Romney placed second in Florida, taking 31 percent and winning 18 of the 67 counties in the Sunshine State. ...

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich places a distant second with 20 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who lost the Iowa caucus to Romney by eight votes, takes third with 12 percent. ...

The poll of 1,266 likely Republican primary voters was taken Jan. 11-14 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.75 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

"Mitt Romney Routing the GOP Pack in Florida, Sunshine State News Poll Shows".

"Fliers purportedly sent by an inactive political committee whose chairman is dead"

"Eight months before Election Day, state Rep. Ana Rivas Logan — who has yet to draw an opponent — is getting attacked in campaign fliers purportedly sent by an inactive political committee whose chairman is dead."

Logan is one of several local state representatives whose new legislative districts will likely be redrawn this year to include another, fellow Miami Republican — in her case, Rep. Jose Felix Diaz — setting up an intra-party battle over who will keep the seat. ...

"It’s an illegal piece, totally, totally illegal," said Logan, who also said she reported the fliers to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. She added that older, Hispanic constituents have told her about a Spanish-language robocall attacking her.

"Ana Rivas Logan voted for higher taxes," one mailer says in bold, red letters in English and Spanish. The other one reads, "Can we afford Ana Rivas Logan?"

The pieces refer to a 2005 vote Logan took as a Miami-Dade School Board member. The board lowered its property-tax rate, but because property values had risen so much, homeowners paid slightly more in taxes.

Logan was the sole Republican on the School Board to vote for the tax rate, which she said allowed the school district to pay new teachers higher salaries the board had promised.

"Mudslinging begins in state race in Miami".

"Bipartisan jitters"

"After a long-fought battle to impose redistricting standards, proponents of the Fair Districts constitutional amendments have new maps — and they're not what they had hoped for."

But the first maps to be voted on by the full Senate this week are not unexpected either.

The maps — one for the state Senate, the other for Congress — each leave intact the controversial minority districts that consolidate Democratic voters in oddly shaped districts. They have deeply divided the Democratic caucus and have forced Democrats to rely on the court to sort the issue out.

"Redistricting brings bipartisan jitters". See also "Capitol Buzz: It’s all about redistricting".

Meanwhile, "Weatherford Sets Jan. 27 Vote in Redistricting Timeline", "Legislature's redistricting handiwork destined for courts" and "Legislature's redistricting handiwork destined for courts".

"Top five things to watch"

Mary Ellen Klas: "Florida lawmakers return to the Capitol Tuesday ... Here are the top five things to watch:"

• Redistricting.

• Water Supply.

• Internet cafes.

• Insurance.

• Nursing Homes.

"Capitol Buzz: 5 things to watch today in Tallahassee".

Romney's pals buy ink by the barrel

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Two weeks from today , Florida Republicans have an opportunity to effectively end a disappointing presidential primary season and focus the nation on a pivotal general election. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the winner of the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, is the candidate best prepared to make the Republicans’ case that change is needed in the White House." "Romney for Republicans".

"Effort to collect sales tax from online retailers gains momentum"

"An effort to collect sales tax from online retailers, like Amazon, gains momentum in the Florida Legislature." "Tallahassee battle lines drawn over Internet sales tax".

"Loosely worded contracts are costing the state lots of money"

The Tampa Tribune editors write that Atwater "has good reason to suspect that loosely worded contracts are costing the state lots of money. His misgiving is based on a review of 364 contracts and grant agreements, each worth at least $1 million, for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. After putting the fine print in each contract under his magnifying glass, Atwater reports that 26 percent had problems that were potentially costly." "Give state contracts an expert once-over".

Blah, blah, blah

"The Florida Constitution is silent on the question of whether citizens have an absolute right to be heard, so the Legislature is now involved." "Florida citizens deserve right to speak at public meetings".

Even the Times gets it

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Corporate America continues to game the system at the expense of taxpayers and the economy. Too many corporations are exploiting a tax loophole to shower their top executives with excessive pay — and avoid billions of dollars in tax payments in the process." "Gaming the system at nation's expense".

"Putnam treads carefully"

"Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam wants lawmakers to develop a comprehensive energy policy for Florida — a topic they've shelved for several years." "Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam treads carefully with new energy policy".

"Browning is leaving a mess to his successor"

2012-01-15T10:02:00.002-05:00

"As Florida's chief elections official, Kurt Browning takes pride in guiding Florida through trouble-free voting since the chaotic 2000 presidential recount."

He has one final chance to get it right, and it may not be easy.

Browning, who will resign his post as secretary of state next month and head home to Pasco County, promised Gov. Rick Scott he would manage the Jan. 31 presidential primary, which will draw attention as the largest state so far in which Republican voters will cast ballots.

But his decisions set in motion a bifurcated situation in which 62 counties will run the primary under one set of laws and five others will run it differently.

Nowhere will this oddity be more noticeable than in Tampa Bay, where Pinellas and Pasco counties will operate under the new law and neighboring Hillsborough County will follow the old law.

"[T]he American Civil Liberties Union, says Browning is leaving a mess to his successor." "Election law oddity will leave Hillsborough and Pinellas operating under different rules".

"The New Jim Crow"

Leonard Pitts Jr. reminds his readers of The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander, wherein

Alexander promulgated an explosive argument. Namely, that the so-called “War on Drugs” amounts to a war on African-American men and, more to the point, to a racial caste system nearly as restrictive, oppressive and omnipresent as Jim Crow itself. ...

On March 15, Alexander has agreed to appear with [Pitts] at Books & Books in Coral Gables, where I will moderate a discussion with an audience.

"The new Jim Crow alive and thriving".

Virtual school "accountability is spotty at best"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "In about the time it takes for a student to go from kindergarten to high school graduate, the Florida Virtual School has grown from a mere idea into the largest K-12 online school in America that is funded with public money. It enrolls 130,000 students and is poised to grow even bigger."

But the stampede to virtual schooling is more about avoiding costs in traditional public schools and making money online than it is about student performance. It's time to require more accountability — and to realize that online schools aren't the answer to every question in education.

Florida Virtual School's cheerleaders argue that it educates students faster, better and cheaper than traditional schools. Faster and cheaper, perhaps. The school touts a bargain price, saying it saves $2,100 per pupil compared with regular schools. But better? As Tampa Bay Times staff writers Rebecca Catalanello and Marlene Sokol reported last Sunday, those performance claims often overreach, and true accountability — so valued by legislators in traditional public schools — is spotty at best.

"Online schools must be accountable too".

Wingnuts in a dither

"A half-century after the nation struggled over whether a Catholic could serve in the White House, a question is lurking in the Republican race for president:"

Can a Mormon?

If Romney's momentum is halted, South Carolina is the likely place. Evangelicals made up 60 percent of the Republican vote here in 2008.

Interviews across South Carolina over the past week revealed the antipathy some evangelical Christians hold toward Mormonism. ...

South Carolina has a history of dirty politics, and with six days before the primary, something could develop. In the 2008 campaign, voters received anti-Romney mailers from an anonymous source that called attention to polygamy, which the Mormon church banned more than a century ago. ...

If Romney emerges as the nominee, 91 percent of white evangelical Republicans nationally would back him over President Obama, according to a November poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

At the same time, the survey found that nearly two out of three evangelicals do not believe Mormonism is a Christian religion and that 15 percent of evangelicals would not support Romney.

"Is Mitt Romney's Mormon faith an issue? South Carolina is test case".

No one seems to want Scott's endorsement

"No matter how many times the question was asked or how it was posed on Saturday, Gov. Rick Scott declined to say which presidential candidate he would get his vote in Florida's Republican primary on Jan. 31." "Gov. Scott keeps mum on presidential preference".

Scott may get control never bestowed on previous chief executives

"Scott, the outsider who at one point railed against the political establishment, may soon start getting the kind of control that was never bestowed on Florida's previous chief executives. It's still early in the 2012 session but the Republican-controlled Legislature is starting to move ahead with proposals that would give Scott more hands-on power to shape the judicial branch and control regional job development agencies." "Fla. Legislature could give Scott more power".

'Glades

"Interior Department chief plans Everglades announcements".

"Florida is standing at the precipice"

Myriam Marquez: "Even taking into account extra federal funds that go toward helping states teach students in living in high-poverty regions, the disabled or those learning a second language,"

Florida just scored a “D+” in revenue spent per student, ranking 39 out of 50 states and the District of Columbia.

But wait, it gets worse. That just-released study of rankings by Education Week used spending statistics from 2009 — before Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature whacked $1.35 billion from public schools last year. Are we dead last now? ...

[T]here is a breaking point to this public school formula for educational success, and Florida is standing at the precipice. Florida, never a big spender on education, has cut to the bone and is heading to the gristle. The past four years, education funding has been slashed by 12 percent.

The governor’s new-found love for education spending simply would restore $1 billion to public schools, which wouldn’t even cover last year’s bloodletting.

"On education, money counts".

Out here in the fields ... a meaningless constitutional right

Bill Maxwell: "We hear a lot about farmworkers' low wages, their poor housing and the anti-immigrant movement that has frightened many. But we rarely hear about another serious problem farmworkers face: widespread exposure to pesticides on the job."

Jeannie Economos, the pesticide coordinator for the Farmworker Association of Florida in Apopka, sees this problem firsthand every day. She told me about a Mexican woman who walked into the association's office one recent afternoon. Her entire face was swollen, her eyes almost shut. The woman was certain she had been exposed to pesticides in the plant nursery where she worked. ...

Advocates argue that because farmworkers do not have political and economic clout in statehouses and the nation's capital, they remain invisible in spite of the essential work they do – work that no one else will do. ...

Florida's lax enforcement of federal pesticide regulations greatly concerns farmworker advocates. "By last count, there were over 40,000 agricultural operations in Florida and only 40 inspectors statewide to monitor and enforce regulations on all the agricultural operations in the state," ...

Another problem is that few laborers are trained to understand the effects of the pesticides in their workplaces. The major reason: Farmworkers are not covered under the National Labor Relations Act[*]. And because Florida is a right-to-work state, farmworkers have difficulty forming unions to protect their interests. As such, they lack a legal right to know which pesticides they come in contact with. ...

Advocates argue that because farmworkers do not have political and economic clout in statehouses and the nation's capital, they remain invisible in spite of the essential work they do – work that no one else will do.[**]

"Pesticides put workers at risk".

- - - - - - - - - -
*The National Labor Relations Act provides that only "employees" can unionize, but states that the "term 'employee' ... shall not include any individual employed as an agricultural laborer".

Ironically, agricultural workers (farmworkers) in Florida (of all places) actually possess a Florida state constitutional right to unionize and bargain collectively. There is a little problem, however, in that this fundamental state constitutional right of Florida farmworkers to unionize is not "self-executing"; that is to say, it is too complicated to be utilized by workers without an act of the Florida Legislature adopting implementing legislation. Funny thing, the Legislature just hasn't found the time to adopt such implementing legislation. In the meantime, then, the constitutional right is worth less than the paper it is written on. See "Florida's shame".

** To the extent agricultural work really really is "work that no one else will do", that is of course because migrant farmworkers are not compensated enough to attract U.S. workers.

As Maxwell points out (and as discussed above), agricultural workers do not have the right to unionize.

In this connection, recall that there are many equally undesirable, if not more undesirable occupations that U.S. workers are more than happy to take on. Take coal mining as an example: few would argue that toiling in the filthy, unsafe conditions of a coal mine is a desirable occupation - however, coal miners, unlike farmworkers, make a decent living (some even get pensions! Will the arrogance of these people ever cease?) These decent wages and benefits - which exist in large part due to unionization - permit mining companies to easily attract workers.

The best they could do?

"Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon met their goals and then some in the first half of their two-year tenures."

But the Republican leaders are better known now for an ugly end-of-session meltdown last year that left Haridopolos embarrassed and choking back tears. And, with their final year under way, they are already headed for a standoff.

Haridopolos, a Merritt Island history buff elected to the Florida House in 2000, says lawmakers need to deal with the thorny task of drawing new congressional and legislative boundaries - the reason the session began two months early this year - and come back later to handle the unglamorous job of fixing a $2 billion deficit.

Cannon, a Winter Park lawyer who launched his career in the Capitol as a lobbyist a decade ago, insists there's no reason to wait on the budget and that none of his partner-across-the-hall's priorities will be addressed until the spending plan is approved.

Tension between leaders can be good, some people, including Cannon, say.

"Florida legislative leaders resume uneasy alliance".

Local pols discover Facebook and Twitter

Anthony Man: "Facebook, Twitter reshaping political campaigns".

The man who likes to "fire people" on the air in Florida

"The momentum is on Mitt Romney's side for the GOP nomination, but Romney allies behind a well-funded political committee are taking no chances in Florida."

The independently run [insert laff track here] Restore Our Future super PAC is running ads across Florida trashing Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.

"Barack Obama knows four facts about Rick Santorum that you don't," says a woman narrator in the Santorum spot that began airing last week. "Santorum pushed for billions in wasteful pork, voting for the Bridge to Nowhere, a teapot museum. Even an indoor rain forest. Santorum voted to raise the debt limit five times, increasing spending and debt by $3 trillion. And he even voted to let convicted felons vote. So how will Santorum beat Obama? Obama knows he can't."

"Ads by Romney's allies strike at Santorum, Gingrich".

"Top prize in this year's GOP presidential primary season"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editors: "It may not matter if Florida Republicans get the worst seats and lousiest hotel rooms at this summer's Republican National Convention in Tampa -- the Sunshine State probably will end up being the top prize in this year's GOP presidential primary season." "Game on: Florida will be the top GOP prize".

Scott has tapped his inner Ralph Kramden

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "In recent years, whenever the subject turns to funding Florida schools, the Legislature turns into an episode of 'The Honeymooners.'"

Lawmakers channel Ralph Kramden. Looking to better state K-12 schools' budgetary lot, legislative Kramdens connive and calculate get-rich-quick schemes. ...

Even Gov. Rick Scott — who's counting on a bump in lottery sales to help cover his proposed billion-dollar boost to the education budget — has tapped his inner Kramden.

"Get-rich schemes not schools' funding key".

"Agenda that’s light on job-creation ideas"

Zac Anderson: "Facing another year of high unemployment and tepid economic growth, state leaders opened the 2012 legislative session with an economic agenda that’s geared toward cutting business costs but light on direct job-creation ideas." "Legislative session renews debate on jobs".

"Scott still hasn't tipped his hand"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "The battle lines are becoming clearer in what's shaping up as the biggest and most expensive showdown in Tallahassee this spring -- the clash over a proposal to allow Las Vegas-style casino gambling in Florida. Gov. Rick Scott still hasn't tipped his hand on the issue, although it was reported last year that he was open to allowing large casino resorts in the state." "State shouldn't depend on gambling revenue".

"Egos — not students' needs — drive academic policies"

The Tampa Tribune editors "hope lawmakers paid close attention to House Speaker Dean Cannon's opening day speech, which addressed a serious threat to Florida's economy."

The state university system, Cannon warned Wednesday, "is racing toward mediocrity"

He described a "higher education system with no clear mission, universities pursuing overlapping agendas despite limited public resources, and our community colleges rapidly transforming themselves into four-year-degree institutions."

And lawmakers, Cannon acknowledged, should take a share — we would say the lion's share — of the blame for "parochially advancing the interests of our local university or college at the expense of the system as a whole."

The result has been a chaotic system, where political egos — not students' needs — drive academic policies.

"Cannon's thoughtful warning on higher ed".

The Florida primary - a country clubber's perspective

Kingsley Guy: "Economic issues will be particularly important in Florida. It suffered more than most states because of the collapse of the housing market, and still has an unemployment rate above the national average."

Florida isn't Iowa or South Carolina, where evangelical Christians make up a large portion of the electorate in both the GOP primaries and the general election. Florida skews more toward the libertarian and establishment brands of Republicanism rather than the religious, and what plays well in Iowa and South Carolina in regards to social issues won't have such widespread appeal here.

The 2005 Terri Schiavo controversy should serve as a case study for candidates campaigning in Florida. Right-to-life advocates, led by then-Gov. Jeb Bush and the GOP-dominated Florida Legislature, launched an effort to reverse the courts and keep Schiavo hooked up to a feeding tube.

The tube may have kept Schiavo alive, but in a "persistent vegetative state," which millions of people considered a fate worse than death. The controversy eventually reached Congress, where GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, then a senator from Pennsylvania, led the effort to keep the feeding tube connected.

The state and federal governments' interference in an end-of-life decision resulted in an enormous backlash. The late Jim King, then the president of the Florida Senate, declared his initial support for legislative interference in the Schiavo case was the biggest mistake of his political life. Much of the scorn heaped on him came not from Democrats, but Republicans, who were appalled by such government intrusiveness. Nationally, the controversy contributed to the GOP's 2006 election debacle that gave Democrats control of Congress.

GOP candidates should note that unlike the U.S. Constitution, the Florida Constitution explicitly establishes a right to privacy. The provision was put there through a vote of the people to guard against government interference in their lives from both the left and the right.

So repeat after me: "It's the economy, stupid." The candidate who sticks most closely to this message will win the Florida primary, and eventually the GOP nomination.

"For candidates, it's still the economy".

Union bashing in Miami-Dade - Round Two

"Carlos Gimenez and county commissioners will again face off over controversial union concessions for round two of this tug-of-war." "Miami-Dade mayor’s veto sets up political showdown with commission".

Gingrich turns Florida's Republican primary into a two-man contest

2012-01-14T08:12:00.002-05:00

"Newt Gingrich started to turn Florida's Republican primary into a two-man contest Friday by hitting opponent Mitt Romney from the right, left and center at Miami's Versailles Restaurant and during a headquarters opening in Orlando."

Gingrich also spoke at length to hordes of reporters and released a detailed plan on cracking-down on Raul Castro's regime in Cuba — an issue that Romney didn't discuss in-depth during his Miami stop in November when he avoided talking to local reporters.

But Romney doesn't need to talk to the press. He's getting more than a third of the Republican vote, while Gingrich barely cracks 25 percent in polls.

Romney has also blanketed the airwaves and mailboxes with his message as more than 107,000 Republicans have cast mail-in ballots.

Is it too late for Gingrich, who has yet to send mail or advertise on TV?

"No," Gingrich said.

"Newt Gingrich stumps in Miami and Orlando, slamming Mitt Romney". See also "Gingrich, stumping in Miami, says goal is springtime for Cuba" and "Gingrich calls for 'bold' space program, opens Orlando campaign office".

Meanwhile, "Mitt Romney wows South Florida crowd, but some still aren't convinced".

"Why might Latinos not like Republicans"

"Why oh why might Latinos not like Republicans?".

"Latest Scott reform effort"

Aaron Deslatte: "Now that Gov. Rick Scott has passed his first year as governor, it's time to start giving him some serious job evaluations. But it is impossible to evaluate his performance without something to measure." "'Accountability budgeting' is latest Scott reform effort".

From the "values" crowd

"There isn’t likely to be any new money for school construction and maintenance for the next few years, Florida economists said Friday."

That’s because state officials expect to receive less revenue next year from the Gross Receipts Tax, a tax on electric, telephone and cable bills that supports the Public Education Capital Outlay, or PECO, fund.

Adding to the problem, the state will no longer be able to sell a $250 million bond issue – and will have to pay down existing projects out of a cash account, said Amy Baker, director of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

"School construction funds dry up". See also "Statewide shortfall likely to halt school building plans".

Money well spent

"Prison privatization plan resurfaces in Florida Senate". See also "Senate will try again to privatize prisons".

Genting gets aggressive

"The New York Times ... on Genting's aggressive approach in entering the New York market and notes its similar strategy in Florida." "NY Times: Genting -- an instant force in gambling".

GOPers rake in "$7.5 million in the final three months 2011 alone"

"The Republican Party of Florida was the leading recipient of donations from big donors during the last six months before the start of the 2012 legislative session. ... [It] received $7.5 million in the final three months 2011 alone — its biggest off-year quarter in the past 15 years. The Florida Democratic Party received $1.8 million in the same period." "Casino gambling debate money boosts state fundraising totals".

Santorum's Florida team

"Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who was only eight votes away from defeating former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts to win the Iowa caucus, unveiled his campaign team for Florida on Friday. The Florida primary will be held on Jan. 31, 10 days after South Carolina Republicans hold their own primary." "Rick Santorum Unveils His Florida Campaign Team". See also "Santorum Florida leadership team includes personhood leader, Buchanan associate".

"Senate wants a session break"

"With updated revenue numbers that offered no relief from deep budget cuts, a bipartisan majority of the Florida Senate wants to cut short the regular session in February and come back later in the spring when lawmakers hope to have a rosier revenue forecast that will avoid some of the $2 billion in projected cuts." "Senate wants a session break — to wait for revenues and avoid cuts". See also "Senators Give Haridopolos Discretion to Delay Budget".

"Jeb got it wrong on higher education"

Randy Schultz: "Last week, the House Education Committee began hearings on the university system, with the presidents of the University of Florida and Florida State leading off."

The chairman is Rep. William Proctor, R-St. Augustine. He is a former college president. Of course, it was Flagler College, which is private.

What's funny is to hear State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan ask for time to "make sure it gets done right." Ten years ago, as lieutenant governor, Mr. Brogan was part of the Jeb Bush administration that got it wrong on higher education and embraced the "reform" that has resulted in a "discordant, competing group of fiefdoms."

Key legislators were mad that the Board of Regents, which then ran higher education from a statewide perspective, kept rejecting unneeded, expensive graduate programs at their universities. So in 2000, those legislators led the push to abolish the regents and create the loose system of a semi-powerful Board of Governors and a set of trustees for each university.

Though Rep. Cannon acknowledged the Legislature's role in creating this mess, he doesn't envision a new system of "governance." In fact, only a return to the old "governance," along with new efficiencies and an emphasis on certain degrees, will solve the problem. Without it, Florida higher education won't be racing to the middle. It will be racing to the bottom.

"Tallahassee could love the state universities to death".

Jobs, jobs, jobs

"Is Tampa the 'strip club capital of the world'?"

"And it appears to be okay"

"Dennis Jones has spent more than 30 years as a Pinellas County lawmaker, the last nine as a state senator representing the county's beach communities."

But for tax purposes, Jones' home is now more than 100 miles to the northeast in the rural hamlet of Dunnellon.

And it appears to be okay.

"Sen. Dennis Jones represents Pinellas, but for tax purposes, home is Marion County".

Privatization 'ho asks "What happens if I say your daughter is a prostitute?"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "North Miami mayor right to apologize".

"It should not be a witch hunt"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Floridians deserve to know how the state's special taxing districts are spending public money. The review ordered Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott can be a learning experience, but it should not be a witch hunt aimed at gutting their effectiveness or their missions." "Don't gut local control of taxes".

"Scott’s plan ... will deliver a near knockout blow to the poorest and neediest"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Scott’s plan to fix the state’s budget by cutting Medicaid spending will deliver a near knockout blow to Miami-Dade County’s public hospital, the Jackson Health System, as well as others that assist the poorest and neediest."

Reeling from a $110 billion cut in Medicaid funding this fiscal year and facing an $86 million shortfall, Jackson is in a terrible fiscal bind. Now Gov. Scott proposes a formula for Medicaid reimbursement that subtracts another $200 million or more for Jackson Memorial Hospital in the next fiscal year.

This one really hurts, and it’s not just Jackson that’s affected. Miami-Dade County’s hospitals would lose some $400 million in revenue.

Broward hospitals stand to lose $200 million or more. For South Florida, the net loss is more than half a billion dollars at a time when money is scarce and jobs are hard to find.

In such tough times, more people go without insurance. That’s about 3 million people in Florida, with another 2.5 million low-income families, elderly or disabled patients in the Medicaid program who need a higher level of care than the amount reimbursed by the state. It’s a big reason for the soaring costs of Medicaid and treating the uninsured.

Taxpayers absorb unreimbursed costs in public hospitals. (Private hospitals must eat the difference or pass on those costs to patients — who can’t afford it.)

"Bad prescription for patients".

Yost staffer goes public

"In an exclusive interview with The Florida Independent, a former campaign staffer for congressional candidate Mike Yost say that the Jacksonville-based Republican squandered campaign funds on personal expenses, refused to listen to his campaign managers and still owes ex-staffers large sums of money." "Former staffer accuses congressional candidate of hypocrisy, improper campaign expenditures".

Week in Review

"The Week in Review for Jan. 9 to Jan. 13".

Filling the hole "Jeb!" left

Nearly a decade ago, one of Florida's right-wing pundits had to admit that, there was

always room for tax cuts from Jeb & Co. Somehow, living "within our means" becomes a grab-bag of possibilities for the clients of high-power lobbyists knocking on legislators' doors.

Hand back millions of dollars to a few by cutting yet again the intangibles tax that favors well-off Floridians?

Done, Jeb says.

"Jeb & Co.: Always Room For Tax Cuts".

Since 1999,

lawmakers ha[d] approved tax cuts totaling more than $14 billion. ...

A review of tax cuts enacted during Bush's terms show the bulk of the cuts have aided businesses or investors, with cuts on estate taxes and investments accounting for nearly half of the tax cuts and cuts for businesses also well into the billions of dollars.

"Gov. Bush defends his record of tax cuts".

After "Jeb!" decimated Florida's public finance structure - largely with hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy - the Florida legislature thinks it is time for a a tax increase, on consumers of course: "Push for online sales tax gaining steam in Florida".

Sanitation workers in danger from infected needles

"Florida law bans needle-exchange programs, putting sanitation workers and the general public in danger from infected needles, a new study says." "Drug-users’ needles endanger public, study shows".

Fiscal projections

"Under the new estimates released Thursday, the Revenue Estimating Conference projected revenue would grow slightly on the whole, at a rate about $46 million faster than the earlier projection for the current fiscal year, and $19.9 million lower than the earlier projections for the upcoming fiscal year. The revisions represent changes of a fraction of 1 percent." "State revenue growth changes little in updated forecast".

Will Scott testify?

"Senator announces details of voting rights hearing, invites Scott to testify".

Slots

"The attorney general says that a state law passed in 2009 does not allow slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties without legislation from lawmakers specifically authorizing a referendum in a given county." "Bondi opinion could render slot referendums moot".

Bill would prohibit taking pictures of farming operations

"An omnibus agriculture bill containing a provision written to stop animal rights activists and food justice advocates from taking pictures of farming operations in Florida passed through an agriculture committee this week." "‘Ag Gag’ passes through committee".

Who needs regulation?

"A massive fish kill at a Florida Power & Light Co. nuclear power plant — including tons of protected goliath grouper initially reported as an 'unknown' amount of 'unidentified' fish — has prompted Florida wildlife officials to create a protocol for gathering information about fish kills at power plants." "Nuke plant fish kill leads to improved reporting procedures".

Blame the unions

In yet another laffer of a column, Myriam Marquez drools on about them evil unions, writing that "in an election year, the unions (particularly the powerful police union) seem to matter more than common sense governance and saving jobs." "Latest budget fight in Miami-Dade a tragic comedy of political manipulation".

Lazy teachers

"Pennsylvania school district runs out of money to pay teachers, but they keep teaching".

"No consensus on car insurance reform"

"What happens after you get into a car accident, and who pays the bills, could be changing."

State lawmakers are wrestling with ways to reform the state’s no-fault auto insurance law. The law requires drivers carry $10,000 worth of coverage and forces insurance companies to pay out regardless of who caused the accident.

The system is rife with abuse, lawmakers say — an estimated $1 billion in fraud this year.

But there is no simple fix, and several competing proposals are being floated by Republicans in Tallahassee.

One tightens procedures for licensing medical clinics and creates a task force to help stamp out abuse. Another requires car accident victims to seek initial treatment at emergency rooms and limits the type of medical services that are covered. A third measure repeals the law entirely and replaces it with a system where the person who caused the crash pays.

"Plenty of options but no consensus on car insurance reform".

"Doing the bidding of their deep-pocketed 'patrons'"

2012-01-12T08:34:00.002-05:00

The Miami Herald editorial board: "So much for truth, justice and the American way — the American way being, you work, you get paid. It’s a fair and simple equation that Miami-Dade County codified in its Wage Theft Ordinance. It’s an innovative law that lets workers who haven’t been paid — as the bills pile up — file a complaint and, eventually, make the recalcitrant employer pay up."

But barely a day into the legislative session, some lawmakers don’t want Miami-Dade to have a say-so. Wednesday, most of the members of the House community and military affairs subcommittee, doing the bidding of their deep-pocketed “patrons” — the Florida Retail Federation among them — approved HB 609 to override Miami-Dade’s ordinance.

HB 609 not only ignores Miami-Dade County’s home-rule charter, it would eliminate a program that has secured almost $1 million in wages for nearly 1,000 aggrieved workers since November 2010. The committee approved this terrible bill by a strict party-line vote. Republican Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, subcommittee vice chair — and vice chair of the Miami-Dade delegation — gave the bill a thumb’s-up. Democrats Daphne Campbell and John Patrick Julien voted against. They seem to understand the facts on the ground. Should this bill — there is a Senate companion — become law, it would have a devastating effect beyond hurting an unpaid worker’s ability to keep the lights on and put food on the table.

And, since when is this a partisan issue? Rather it’s an issue of fairness, of good business, of boosting Miami-Dade’s economy and of a higher quality of life — things all lawmakers say they value when they’re stumping for reelection. ...

The Florida Retail Federation says that, though wage theft indeed should be rooted out, it wants a statewide law, not a patchwork of local laws. It’s a responsible stand; however, there is no crazy quilt of county ordinances. Miami-Dade’s is the only one in Florida, though Palm Beach County is considering following suit.

The thing is, at Wednesday’s committee meeting, lawmakers who voted to gut Miami-Dade’s ordinance swore up and down that they could most definitely support a uniform state law. Then they hypocritically voted down a Republican colleague’s motion to allow lawmakers to add statewide language to the bill.

"It’s simple: Work and get paid".

More power for Scott?

"House lawmakers are advancing a response to the Florida Supreme Court ruling last summer that Gov. Rick Scott overstepped his bounds by creating a new rules office and freezing agency rulemaking on his first day in office." "House bill gives governor new power over agency rules".

Raw political courage

"Florida, a key cog in an expanding global human-trafficking network, is looking to crack down on the $32 billion industry, starting with a vote on anti-racketeering legislation Thursday." "Florida Aims Anti-Racketeering Bill at Human Traffickers, Sex Trade".

Romney, Paul working hard for Florida's absentee voters

"Voting is already well under way even though Florida doesn't hold its GOP nominating contest until Jan. 31. And both Mitt Romney, coming off of back-to-back victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, and Ron Paul are aggressively reaching out to voters who have requested ballots. None of their competitors has been nearly as active even though the victor in Florida would get a huge boost of momentum and all of the state's 50 delegates to the national nominating convention." "Romney and Paul get jump on Florida absentee voters". But see "Despite Iowa, N.H., successes, Ron Paul may not campaign heavily in Florida".

No comment

"Local governments throughout the Sunshine State, with its open records law, moved closer to being required to hear from their residents before voting on any topic." "Senate Committee Supports Requiring Public Comment at County, District Meetings".

Why do people need guns at child care facilities?

"State Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, and Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, announced a new bill in a press conference at the capitol today that would outlaw concealed weapons in child care facilities and government buildings." "Legislators announce gun ban for child care facilities and government buildings".

Browning quits

"Secretary of State Kurt Browning steps down as Florida's chief elections official and cultural affairs officer, making him the second agency head to resign during Gov. Rick Scott's young administration." "Browning quits as secretary of state". See also "Secretary of State Kurt Browning to step down".

"Capitol Buzz"

"Scott’s cost-saving measures in his budget proposal includes shutting six prisons because of a drop in the inmate population. That’s one of the five essentials to watch for Thursday."

• The big question is, which prisons? ...

• Also Thursday, state economists will revisit the state’s revenue picture and update it for lawmakers in a process known as a revenue estimating conference. If the latest projection is not rosy, that’s bad news for health care and education programs.

• Several of Scott’s agency heads face confirmation hearings in the Senate, including corrections chief Ken Tucker and elder affairs secretary Charles Corley.

"Capitol Buzz: Lawmakers weigh major cuts to prisons". Related: "New Budget Forecast Could Help Determine Length of Session".

Redistricting

"A Senate committee approved two maps as Democrats divided over an 11th hour submission aimed at creating more competitive districts." "Senate committee finalizes redistricting maps as Democrats split". See also "Democrats prepare for partisan redistricting debate", "Senate redistricting committee okays new maps" and "Committee redrafts congressional and Florida Senate district lines".

Lobbyists fork over nearly $20M "for lawmakers to go their way"

"Lobbying interests forked over nearly $20 million worth of reasons for lawmakers to go their way leading up to the 2012 legislative session." "Casino gambling debate money boosts state fundraising totals".

"Casino bill stalled"

"Destination gaming could face a quick end in the House after the first committee workshop on the controversial proposal to set up a statewide gaming commission and allow three casino resorts. Members of the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee gave no direction on how to proceed with the bill after nearly two hours of comments and presentations from gaming interests and opponents on Wednesday." "House Subcommittee Not Showing its Cards on Casino Bill". See also "Casino bill still stalled in Florida House".

Scott "robbing Peter to pay Paul"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editors: "Scott's "state of the state" address reiterated 2-for-1 deal in his proposed budget: Make $2 billion in Medicaid cuts in order to pump $1 billion in 'new' money into public education."

This "robbing Peter to pay Paul" scenario is indicative of the budget problems in Florida: The state is still reeling from precipitous, recession-related declines in revenues; costs for Medicaid, which provides limited health care for low-income Floridians and pays most nursing home bills, have increased dramatically; federal stimulus funding is ending; voters and their elected officials have been loath to raise taxes or even consider tax reform.

Education funding would still be low

The governor said education funding has been a recurring theme in his meetings with Floridians. It's no wonder: Per-student funding has diminished since 2007-08 and fell precipitously during this academic year.

Even if the Legislature endorses Scott's proposal, total funding in 2012-13 would be, according to the governor's online budget documents, nearly $1 billion less than in 2010-11 — with per-student funding at $6,372, compared with $6,897 two years ago.

"Robbing Medicaid to pay schools".

School prayer bill denounced

"A bill that would allow prayer in schools during school events is set to make a stop at a state Senate Judiciary committee meeting today. The American Civil Liberties of Florida sent out a release yesterday, warning that the bill would 'skirt the Constitutional protections of religious liberty.'" "ACLU of Florida denounces school prayer bill ahead of committee stop".

SunRail

"SunRail needs help to soar, U.S. Rep. John Mica says".

Just starve 'em

"Bill adding barrier to welfare, food assistance for people with drug-related felonies moves along".

"The citizens of Florida elected him governor, not God"

Joe Henderson: "It took him long enough, but Rick Scott appears to finally understand the citizens of Florida elected him governor, not God." "Scott figures out he's in a messy business".

"Adding insult to the injury"

"Second-class hotel rooms. A poor view on the Republican National Convention floor in Tampa. A loss of VIP passes."

Florida Republicans had to swallow these penalties Wednesday when the Republican National Committee's rules panel approved the punishments because the state bucked the party by holding an early primary on Jan. 31.

Florida already lost half of its 100 delegates — the people who technically cast votes for the party nominee at the convention.

Adding insult to the injury: The convention will be held in Tampa this August, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

"RNC panel votes to punish Florida GOP for early primary". See also "RNC sanctions state GOP for staging early primary".

Meanwhile, Florida still irrelevant

"With his money, organization and the accidental help of his own opponents, Mitt Romney is getting close to walking away with the nomination even before the Jan. 31 Florida primary." "Romney close to securing nomination even before Florida primary". See also "Romney heads south with money, momentum".

Scott's "shallow and poll-driven" state of the state

2012-01-11T07:29:00.002-05:00

"Scott welcomed back the Legislature to an election-year session Tuesday with an upbeat State of the State speech that centered on creating jobs, holding the line on taxes and spending more on schools."

Addressing a packed House chamber and live TV audience in a halting delivery, Scott struck a cooperative tone and mostly played it safe with his priorities. The Republican governor demanded that lawmakers spend $1 billion more for schools after a $1.3 billion school budget cut last year, an about-face Democrats later mocked as shallow and poll-driven. ...

The call for additional education funding was one of the few policy specifics in Scott's 33-minute talk. A key Republican, Senate Budget Committee Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said legislators will find the money.

"I think it's an important priority and one that I believe the Senate supports," Alexander said.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, raised a different issue on Opening Day. Cannon, a former University of Florida student body president, wants to "start a dialogue" about reducing parochialism and political game-playing that he says undermines the quality of the state university system.

"Scott vows to increase education funding in State of State speech". Related: "House Speaker calls attention to higher education", "Cannon urges 'dialogue' on higher-education reform" and "Major University Reform May Take Several Sessions".

The Tampa Tribune editors: "Scott, who was elected governor after living in Florida only seven years, still expresses a limited view of a state whose overwhelming growth created costly problems and ultimately led to a devastating economic collapse." "Future more complex than Scott envisions".

The Miami Herald editorial board: "If Floridians were looking for the thoughtful compassionate conservatism of a Jeb Bush or the folksy populism of the late 'he coon' Lawton Chiles, they couldn’t find it in the governor’s halting 34-minute delivery. Not that style should trump substance, but in that arena, too, Mr. Scott’s details were sorely lacking."

No mention of his Medicaid reform plan, for instance, though the governor’s budget proposal would require cutting almost $2 billion from the state’s $21 billion Medicaid program that serves three million poor Floridians, mostly children and the elderly. It’s an overhaul that will hit the already struggling Jackson Health System particularly hard.

No mention of Everglades clean-up programs, which were stripped last year when the Legislature gutted funding from water-management districts throughout the state and eviscerated the state’s growth-management law.

No mention of the biggest game changer facing Florida: an expansion into destination-resort gambling that could result in three full-fledged casinos in the state — and, based on the Senate bill that passed its first committee, would open the door for every parimutuel already operating to have casino games like blackjack without ever investing a penny into those locales or putting the screws on suspect video machines, AKA maquinitas. Does the governor agree? ...

The governor’s solution to Florida’s ills seems to be a pledge for cutting more taxes and “slashing red tape.”

But wait. Florida already is a low-tax state for business, and the “red tape” he mentioned has long been gone from key oversight agencies — with life-threatening consequences. The Herald’s “Neglected to Death” series exposed the flaws of weak regulations and poor oversight by the state’s agency in charge of licensing assisted living facilities for the frail elderly or mentally or physically disabled.

Should Floridians look forward to more such red-tape slashing? We hope not, governor.

"Jobs, jobs, jobs? Invest, invest, invest".

The Tampa Bay Times editors say "the governor took the safest political route, not the courageous one." "Scott's limited agenda". See also "Gov. Scott, in State of State address, sees Florida skies brightening" and "Rick Scott Pledges $1 Billion More for Schools and No Tax Hikes".

Scott Maxwell: "On schools, it's New Rick vs. Old Rick".

More: "Governor touts PIP changes in his 2nd State of the State address" and "Environmental issues left out of opening-day speeches as protestors chant outside".

Obama, Romney neck-and-neck in Florida

"Florida voters disapprove of President Barack Obama's job performance, say he doesn't deserve to be reelected and narrowly prefer[*] Republican Mitt Romney in a theoretical matchup, according to a new poll."

Romney would get 46 percent of the Florida vote to Obama's 43 percent if the election were held today, Quinnipiac University's latest poll of Florida finds. The poll also shows that incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson is essentially tied with U.S. Rep. Connie Mack in a theoretical matchup, with Nelson earning 41 percent of the vote and Mack 40 percent.

This isn't the only bad news for Democrats in the poll. It also continues to show that Republicans are far more excited than Democrats about voting this year. More than half of Republicans describe themselves as enthusiastic about casting ballots. Only 29 percent of Democrats feel that way.

Obama's problems are particularly striking. The economy is showing more signs of improvement. And Republicans are starting to savage each other in the GOP primary.

But voters seem unimpressed. Even the Republican polling in third place this primary season, Rick Santorum, is in a statistical tie with Obama, the poll shows. Chances are, Obama would face Romney, who's the GOP frontrunner.

Obama's greatest strengths: black voters — who favor him 92-4 over Romney — and young voters, who side with Obama over Romney by a 51-39 percent spread. Independent voters, who tend to call elections in Florida, also favor Obama over Romney, 47-39.

But Hispanic voters are almost evenly split between the two. White voters, who outnumber black voters in Florida, favor Romney by 21 percentage points. And older than 49 are in Romney's camp right now by relatively significant margins.

"Majority of Floridians say Obama should be one-termer. Many prefer Romney". See also "Obama running neck and neck with Romney, Santorum in new Florida poll" and "Poll: Florida headed for another close election".

The Quinnipiac release: "January 11, 2012 - Obama Ties Romney, Santorum In Florida, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Nelson, Mack Senate Race Too Close To Call" ("January 4 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,412 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points.")

As for the GOP primary, "January 9, 2012 - Romney Has Big GOP Likely Voter Lead In Florida, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most Voters Say They Might Change Their Mind" ("January 4 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 560 Republican likely primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points.") Related: "Rep. Mack has early lead in Fla. GOP Senate survey" and "Connie Mack has early lead in Florida GOP Senate survey".

- - - - - - - - - -
Actually, the results are well within the 2.6% margin of error - recall that the margin of error applies to to each figure in the results – Romney's 46 percent and Obama's 43 are both subject to the 2.6% sampling error (a/k/a margin of error).

Session opens amid budget concerns, redistricting

"Florida lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott christened an election-year legislative session Tuesday with the potentially conflicting goals of cutting spending, boosting aid to classrooms, and crafting new political lines that could decide who returns to the Capitol next year." "Florida Legislature opens session amid budget concerns". More: "Florida legislative session will kick off with redistricting, budget battles".

Haridopolos suggests that Senate "wait" on the budget

"The leaders of the two state legislative chambers continued to offer different views on how to handle the budget process they will oversee in the next 60 days. House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, in his opening remarks expressed confidence that the budget would be completed within the scheduled timeframe. ... Meanwhile, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, a few moments later, addressing his chamber, asked his members if they would be willing to focus first on the required once-a-decade redistricting and 'wait' on the budget." "Senate President Suggests Waiting Until After Session to Complete Budget". See also "Governor, legislative leaders lay out budget priorities at start of session".

Last look at redistricting

"Senate panel takes last look at Florida redistricting".

Latino evangelical voter drive

"While pushing for immigration reform, a national Latino evangelical group launched a voter registration drive in Florida on Tuesday as part of a campaign to influence this year’s elections." "Latino evangelicals launch voter drive in Florida". See also "Young Hispanics urged at get-out-the-vote rally to get engaged about issues".

"Progressives rally at capitol"

"Progressives rally at the capitol on first day of session (Updated)". Related: "Protestors left and right as session opens in Tallahassee", "100 at West Palm rally blast Florida's GOP-controlled legislature as session opens" and "Occupy Group Barred from State Senate Gallery".

Browning to quit

Steve Bousquet writes that Secretary of State Kurt "Browning's resignation as the state's top elections official is anticipated this week, and [a] meeting [this morning] is a signal that it's imminent." "Capitol Buzz: 5 things to watch today in Tallahassee".

Solar rebate program

"Bills would provide $26 million toward solar rebate program that ended in 2010".

"Tea Parties Split Over E-Verify"

"Dozens of tea parties, including the state's largest, say they will support an E-Verify immigration bill at the 2012 Legislature. But with some libertarian-leaning conservatives balking at the issue, the path to passage looks more precarious than ever." "Tea Parties Split Over E-Verify, Diluting Prospects for Passage".

Q Poll: Floridians like casinos, oppose medicare cuts and give Scott a negative 38 - 50 percent rating

"By a slim 48 - 43 percent margin, Florida voters support the creation of Las Vegas style gambling casinos, but by a larger 61 - 33 percent margin, they believe casinos would be good for the state's economy, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today."

Florida voters oppose by an overwhelming 67 - 24 percent the idea of cutting Medicaid spending in order to free up state funding for education, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh- pe-ack) University poll finds.

Gov. Rick Scott has a negative 38 - 50 percent job approval rating, compared to his previous high score, a negative 37 - 50 percent score last September 11, still one of the lowest job approval ratings of any governor in the seven states in which Quinnipiac University conducts surveys.

By 34 - 16 percent, voters say Florida's economy is worse rather than better since Scott took office, with 45 percent saying it is about the same. Those who say it has improved credit Scott 81 - 13 percent rather than President Barack Obama for the improvement. Those who say it has declined, however, blame the governor rather than the president 65 - 19 percent.

"January 10, 2012 - Florida Voters Barely Support Vegas-Style Casinos, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Opposition To Medicaid Cut Tops 2-1" ("January 4 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,412 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points.")

Related: "Poll: Voters like casinos, oppose health care cuts to fund schools" and "Poll shows Florida voters narrowly support destination resort casinos". Meanwhile, "House set to talk gambling Wednesday", "Odds Grow Against Casino Bill Even as it Succeeds in Committee". Related: "State Chamber forms 'Bad Bet' coalition to fight casino bill".

"Rules for shackling pregnant women"

"A bill that would create uniform and humane rules for the shackling of incarcerated pregnant women passed the state Senate unanimously today." "Anti-shackling bill passes unanimously in state Senate".

Claims bills move

"Senate passes Dillon and Brody claims bill". See also "Senate passes two claims bills on first day of session".

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"The head of a local Muslim organization, Hassan Shibly, found himself fielding questions about two radically different events Tuesday."

On Monday, with the aid of Shibly and local Muslims, the FBI arrested a local man suspected of terrorism.

Later that day, Shibly and the Hillsborough County school district came under fire from David Caton and his American Family Association for a high school program on Islam.

"CAIR chief says criticism rooted in misconceptions". See also "Right-wing coalition upset about Muslim group’s school presentation".

Graham says "no" to run against Scott

"Bob Graham Shuts the Door on Rumored 2014 Run for Governor".

Proposed overhaul to state's no-fault insurance laws

"Sen. Joe Negron, R-Palm City, has proposed a "comprehensive" overhaul to the state's no-fault insurance laws." "Insurance overhaul in bill".

Chamber, AIF ad duel over casinos

"Another sign that the high-intensity fight over expanding casino gambling in Florida: practically back-to-back television ads during the BCS Championship. The Florida Chamber of Commerce's 'Bad Bet for Florida' features a classroom of kids and is running in Tallahassee and another market. Meanwhile, Associated Industries of Florida's ad features American actor, writer, lawyer and commentator Ben Stein promoting the gambling venues as a jobs creator." "TV ads for, against gambling". See also "VIDEO: Supporters, opponents of Florida casino bill face off in the media".

Family Research Council jumps on "fetal personhood" amendment

"Personhood Florida received a major endorsement this week from the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins. The announcement is significant for the Florida affiliate of Personhood USA, which wants to place a 'fetal personhood' amendment on the Sunshine State’s 2014 ballot." "Family Research Council gets behind Personhood Florida".

"Primary date could move again"

"The Florida Legislature is considering a bill that would move back the date of the statewide primary election a week, from Aug. 14 to Aug. 21. The legislation (SB 7042) is scheduled to be considered at Wednesday's meeting of the Senate Rules Subcommittee on Ethics and Elections chaired by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami Republican." "Primary date could move again".

Cain to endorse Miller?

"Herman Cain will appear Thursday with Florida Republican U.S. Senate candidate Craig Miller for a 'major announcement.' Sure sounds like an endorsement, and we hear Cain will drop in for a fundraiser with Miller after the event in Winter Park." "Herman Cain to appear with Senate candidate Craig Miller".

Will dogs kill casinos?

"The push to bring mega-casinos to South Florida faces a host of unknowns: would local voters approve the proposal in a public referendum? Will state lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott even allow the issue to get that far? But another, quite-crucial question also needs to be asked: Will horse and dog tracks just kill the entire thing?" "Will horse and dog tracks kill push for mega-casinos in Florida?".

The session begins

2012-01-10T07:28:00.002-05:00

"Capitol Buzz: Today’s agenda in Tallahassee". "Scott and Florida's legislative leaders will open the annual legislative session today and lay out a bare bones agenda focused primarily on the budget and redistricting."

With the exception of a proposed casino expansion and an attempt to cut down on fraud in the state's auto insurance laws, legislators plan to steer clear of as much controversy this year as possible as every incumbent prepares to run in newly drawn legislative districts.

The agenda, however, belies the worst economic crisis facing Floridians in decades. Democrats say legislators want to avoid tackling the toughest issues in an election year. But Republican leaders say they accomplished so many reforms last year — from reforming Medicaid to limiting teacher tenure, cutting state employee benefits, privatizing prisons and balancing the budget that legislators are weary.

"A controversy-free agenda?".

"Narrowly elected in 2010 as an outsider, Gov. Rick Scott has learned in painfully public ways that governing Florida is complicated." "Scott’s mission still about jobs". See also "Capitol Buzz: 5 things to watch today in Tallahassee", "Florida Legislature to open with unhappy activists on left and right" and "Florida legislative session will kick off with redistricting, budget battles".

Scott's second State of the State

"Scott plans to present a theme of cooperation during his second State of the State address Tuesday, but will say there's one issue that's non-negotiable: raising education spending by $1 billion." "Gov. Rick Scott to stress cooperation in State of State".

Contracting out

"Among other changes, the bill would shift the power to supervise state purchasing from the Department of Management Services to the Department of Financial Services and require the CFO sign off on major contracts before they take effect. The department would be tasked with creating uniform rules that govern contracting by state agencies." "Bill would put CFO in charge of policing state contracts".

Polluters have rights too

"State officials, industry and utility groups press case in federal court against water rules".

"Rush for campaign cash"

"Florida lawmakers rushed to pull in campaign checks from lobbyists before a deadline today turned off the spigot." "Florida lawmakers make last-minute rush for campaign cash".

PIP collision

"Senate and House PIP proposals could be on a collision course".

"Measuring Florida's economic progress is tricky"

"It's fitting to take a look at how Florida's economy is doing on the same day that Florida Gov. Rick Scott offers his State of the State address in Tallahassee."

Truth is, much of the improvement in Florida occurred without Tallahassee's help. Just as the national jobless rate has now dropped to 8.5 percent, nearly a three-year low, Florida is enjoying some of the same uptick in job growth coming out of the Great Recession.

Measuring Florida's economic progress is tricky.

A glut of studies in the past year pegged the Sunshine State as near the top of the country for its business climate.

Just as many reports plopped Florida right in the so-so middle of the pack of business performance.

In 2011, for example, a national poll of CEOs by Chief Executive magazine lionized Florida as the nation's third-best state for business behind North Carolina and No. 1 Texas.

Another annual ranking by Site Selection magazine used different measures but named Florida the country's 10th best state for business climate. Again, Texas came in No. 1, followed by Georgia and North Carolina.

But another 2011 analysis called "Enterprising States" from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and co-authored by regional economics expert Joel Kotkin ranked only the top 10 states for low business taxes and regulations.

Surely Florida, fixated as it is on these two exact priorities, would excel?

Sadly, Florida did not make the top 10.

No. 1 was Tennessee followed by South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska, Indiana, Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, North Dakota and Utah.

As the top 10 list shows, the winners were not found on the East Coast or West Coast, and only Texas was among the nation's most populous places.

In the same U.S. chamber study, Florida also did not rank high for growth, entrepreneurship and innovation, infrastructure or exports.

"How's Florida economy doing? Let's give it a C-plus with room to improve".

"Tea party groups face an uphill fight"

"Tea party groups face an uphill fight against an eclectic combination of business and religious groups. Last year, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida were joined by a phalanx of pastors preaching 'social justice' in assailing E-Verify." "Tea Parties Split Over E-Verify, Diluting Prospects for Passage".

"That should cull the herd"

Fred Grimm: "Children, in addition to a propensity to whoop in restaurants, pee in swimming pools and clog up the lines at Expedition Everest, have become Florida’s great budget busters. No other segment of the state population, with a possible exception of Tallahassee’s cadre of lobbyists, suck so much out of our faltering state economy."

Scott wants to hack a couple of billion out of the Medicaid budget. That should cull the herd. But the governor also wants to take a billion of that savings and tack it onto the education budget, bringing Florida’s per pupil outlay to $6,372 a student. That would still be one of the lower per capita spending rates in the nation, but for true fiscal conservatives, that’s just waste, considering the employment opportunities awaiting youngsters in the Florida workforce. How much schooling does a kid need to deal blackjack?

Besides, an outright ban means the governor could fulfill the ultimate Republican fantasy and fire the state’s public school teachers en masse.

"Florida’s budget solution: Ban the kids".

Chamber has its hands out for federal cash

"Since 2005, the partnership between Workforce Central Florida, the region's taxpayer-funded, nonprofit jobs agency, and the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce has proved to be quite lucrative — for the chamber."

Workforce has given chamber-related groups more than $300,000 over that time, possibly in violation of federal rules and, in one instance, skirting a state directive.

The money went to a series of chamber projects designed to promote the Central Florida business community. On several initiatives, Workforce was a major contributor, providing more than a quarter of all sponsorship money.

Workforce justified the payments as "public outreach," but it's not clear the payments met federal requirements. Those regulations forbid spending federal grant money on certain "public relations" costs, including some "meetings, conventions, convocations, or other events." ...

In fact, the group's original slogan — "Let's get to work" — was the same one Scott used on the campaign trail.

"Chamber gets $300K from Workforce Central Florida".

RNC considering additional penalties against Florida

"Tampa is hosting the Republican National Convention, but Florida delegates will get inconvenient hotel spots, poor seating and lose guest passes, according to proposed sanctions the national GOP will vote on this week."

Florida's delegate count will be slashed from 99 to 50. RNC officials have indicated the state will remain winner-take-all, rather than a proportional allocation that would make the state a smaller prize for the winner.

Someone could still contest the delegate allocation ....

"RNC to consider additional sanctions against Florida delegation this week".

Never mind

"State Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has halted his effort to ask voters if they want to select the education commissioner and make the post once again part of the Florida Cabinet. Instead, Negron said he wants to pursue a different constitutional amendment, this one to abolish the once-a-generation constitutional revision and the taxation and budget reform commissions." "Negron Closes the Book on Asking Voters to Elect Education Commissioner".

Fla-baggery in action

"Conservative Group Posts State and Local Government Spending Watchdog Website". See also "Right-wing think tank releases salaries of public employees via new website".

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"Alleging that campus visits by a Muslim activist are 'tantamount to advocating overturning the Constitution in favor of Sharia Law,' a conservative coalition on Monday demanded that the Hillsborough County School District "sever all connections" to the Council on American-Islamic Relations." "Coalition Demands Hillsborough Schools Cut Off 'Hamas Entity'".

Opting out

"Teachers, parents meet in Miami to discuss opting out of standardized testing".

Committee votes to bring casinos to Florida

"With a standing-room-only crowd of lobbyists watching, a Senate committee voted Monday to bring destination resort casinos to Florida, but only after allowing competing parimutuels to operate as full casinos with no additional investment or voter approval." "Senate panel amends casino gambling bill to give parimutuels piece of the action". See also "Gambling bill gets initial OK, but faces uphill legislative battle" and "Odds Grow Against Casino Bill Even as Bill Succeeds in Committee".

Related: "Q-Poll: Voters barely support gambling expansion".

Fla-GOPers like their absentee ballots

"Florida's Republican presidential primary is still three weeks away, but Sunshine State voters have already requested 413,000 absentee ballots -- a total that should exceed the number of votes cast in last week's Iowa caucuses and Tuesday's New Hampshire primary combined." "With eyes on New Hampshire, Florida GOP voters not sure who they like best".

Central Florida child homelessness increases by 79%

"Central Florida child homelessness has increased 79 percent since 2009".

"A highly unpredictable business"

"The redrawing of Florida's political boundaries is a highly unpredictable business." "Redistricting lines don't always work out as hoped". See also "House GOP advances three congressional options".

Gasparilla invaders of a different kind

"This year, Florida's Republican presidential primary comes three days after Gasparilla, creating the chance that Tampa's annual booze-soaked pirate festival will see invaders of a different kind. Candidates." "Gasparilla ripe for invasion of GOP presidential candidates before Florida primary".

"Unusual and unpredictable 60-day session"

2012-01-09T07:49:00.002-05:00

"The Florida Legislature convenes Tuesday for an unusual and unpredictable 60-day session that will be dominated by two highly partisan subjects: the redrawing of political districts and yet another round of budget-cutting." "Maps, money dominate".

"$2 billion projected budget shortfall"

"When the Florida Legislature convenes for its annual 60-day session on Tuesday, a $2 billion projected budget shortfall and the redrawing of political districts will dominate." "State lawmakers open session facing $2 billion budget shortfall".

"Scott once again making travel plans"

"Scott is once again making travel plans. This time the destination is Spain, Florida’s 34th largest trading partner. The excursion would mix business development with possible tourist development tied to the pending quincentennial of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon y Figueroa’s first expedition to Florida. A spokeswoman for the governor’s office called the plans preliminary and deferred comment to Enterprise Florida." "Scott Sets Sights on Travel to Spain as Florida Approaches its Quincentennial".

Perhaps we'll see another embarrassment like this from our latest anti-intellectual Republican Governor:

The U.S. president's brother Jeb Bush has sparked criticism after mistakenly referring to Spain as a republic in a speech to Spanish business leaders during a trip to Madrid to discuss business opportunities.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush's blunder was reminiscent of President George W. Bush's past slip-ups which have included pronouncing Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's name incorrectly.

Spanish historian Juan Pablo Fusi said the error by Bush was "foolish and grotesque."

"It's an offence to Spain and its democratic monarchy," Fusi told Reuters. "It further ridicules the Bushes in general."

"Speaking in Spanish, Bush said: 'I want to thank the president of the Republic of Spain for his friendship with the United States.'"

Spain has not been a republic since the late 1930s, when General Francisco Franco crushed Republican troops in the Civil War.

Franco's nationalist dictatorship lasted until his death in 1975, when Spain became a constitutional monarchy. King Juan Carlos I is now the head of state.

His older brother President Bush once referred to Aznar as "Anzar" ahead of his first visit to Spain as U.S. president in 2001.

President Bush, accused by opponents of having a shaky grasp on geography, has also famously referred to Greeks as Grecians.

"Jeb Bush slips on Spanish history".

Thank you, Mr. Obama ... but will Fla-Baggers "derail it with shortsighted gimmicks"?

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "There are encouraging signs, however small, that Florida is on the rebound from the Great Recession. Statistics trickling in last week from 2011 find bankruptcy filings down and fewer state banks failing. For the first time in six years, more moving vans headed into Florida than out."

This news comes after several months of slowly descending unemployment rates that still remain at 10 percent. Now the challenge for Florida leaders is to build on that momentum, not derail it with poor policy decisions or shortsighted gimmicks.

Florida, of course, isn't alone in this recovery. Bankruptcy filings are down across the country, for example, and the nation's unemployment rate dropped to 8.5 percent in December, the lowest in nearly three years. Florida, a state so dependent on development and growth, will take longer to pull out of this crisis than most.

"Sustain Florida's rebound".

"Florida's Top 10 fact-checks of 2011"

"PolitiFact Florida's Top 10 fact-checks of 2011".

"FlaDems see hope in 201"

Jeremy Wallace: "The more the economy shows signs of recovery the more Rod Smith’s optimism for 2012 grows."

If so, Smith said not only will Florida be a win for Obama in 2012, but Democrats will pick up seats in Congress from Florida.

Smith said one of the keys for Democrats will be to compare the direction of the economy now, with where it was heading when Obama took office. He said if Democrats can communicate that, 2012 will be a good for the party.

"Democrats see hope in 2012".

"Romney wins here in a cakewalk if ..."

Carl Hiaasen: "Florida is being overrun by pundits and pollsters in advance of the upcoming Republican presidential primary."

That’s because (a) everyone is sick of Des Moines and Manchester in the winter, and (b) the Florida primary is actually important, unlike the Iowa caucuses or the balloting in puny New Hampshire, which barely has half the population of Miami-Dade County.

The national media’s mission in the weeks ahead is to inject the Florida primary contest with high drama and suspense. In reality, the race is easy to call.

Mitt Romney wins here in a cakewalk if ...

"Mitt wins … unless he blows it".

Red-Florida

"Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is making tentative plans to be in Sarasota County on Jan. 24 — one week before Florida’s presidential primary. Sarasota Republican Party chairman Joe Gruters said he expects as many as five of the remaining contenders to make it to Sarasota during the week before Florida votes in its pivotal primary." "Gingrich in Sarasota".

Medicaid Deform

The Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy: "Access to Care Plummeted In Medicaid Reform Experiment".

Romney has double-digit lead over Gingrich in Florida

"Mitt Romney has opened up a double-digit lead over Newt Gingrich in Florida’s GOP presidential race with Iowa phenom Rick Santorum rising from obscurity to third place, a new Quinnipiac University poll says." "Romney holds 36-24 lead over Gingrich in new Florida poll; Santorum surges to 16 %".

Florida panther deaths

"3 Florida panther deaths recorded so far in 2012".

Scott "works daily with the dealmakers he once condemned"

"Scott is no longer the anti-establishment Republican; instead, he embodies the Florida GOP establishment. He has shifted his top staff from outsiders to insiders, and works daily with the dealmakers he once condemned."

He has come to alignment with the party on most issues — he moderated some of his most drastic stances, and the tea party-influenced GOP has grown more conservative.

As spokesman for the state party, Scott gets warm receptions at high-profile GOP events — the national party quarterly conference in Tampa in August, and the Presidency 5 state convention in September. ...

"When you become governor of Florida … you have to be part of the establishment. You're the definition of an insider," said Brian Ballard, a Tallahassee insider who was a key Scott opponent during the campaign but is now a political ally and adviser.

One of the state's most prominent lobbyists, Ballard raises money for Scott's Let's Get to Work political action committee. ...

Scott reshuffled his top staff, replacing chief of staff Mike Prendergast of Tampa, a retired Army officer with little political or government experience, with Tallahassee insider Stephen MacNamara, the kind of person Scott had campaigned against.

MacNamara is a former high-profile legislative staff member, secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and veteran GOP political operative.

Also gone was GOP political operative Mary Ann Campbell, who had helped run Scott's personally funded advertising campaign against President Barack Obama's health care reform proposal before Scott ran for governor.

"Scott harmonizes, gains inside track in state politics".

"Huge temptation for state lawmakers everywhere"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Gambling opponents in Florida were already facing a tough fight this legislative session against the well-financed push for casino resorts in South Florida. Then, from an unexpected direction, things got worse. In a quiet ruling released the Friday before the Christmas weekend, the U.S. Justice Department cracked open the door for Internet gambling, and a small crack may be all the powerful industry needs to muscle its way into homes far and wide."

Written long before the Internet, the 1961 law failed to anticipate today's wired and wireless world. It made it a crime to use wire communication to assist betting on "any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wages."

Until Dec. 23, that was interpreted to cover all interstate betting on the Internet. Now the federal interpretation is that a state may put lottery operations online within that state, because the old law was just about sporting events.

Gambling interests are celebrating because they correctly anticipate that states will be happy to exploit the Internet. Next would come networks of states, then the whole country.

Florida leaders have been talking about trying to squeeze more money out of the lottery for education. If they make the mistake of taking the lottery onto the Internet, stopping other games from following will be hard, if not impossible.

The tax revenue involved, with no need for a visible tax increase, will be a huge temptation for state lawmakers everywhere.

"Gambling interests hold strong hand".

Political courtship for the votes of Florida's senior citizens

"A political courtship is about to unfold for the hearts, minds and votes of Florida's senior citizens. Democrats as well as Republicans are targeting older voters in Florida and other key states this year, knowing they turn out in big numbers and could sway the presidential election as well as majority control of Congress." "Florida's seniors could sway results of 2012 elections".

Expect "cuts in health and human services programs"

"By now, it's a familiar scene: As Florida lawmakers deal with a budget shortfall, hospitals, nursing homes and other health providers scramble to fend off -- or brace for -- funding cuts."

Already, Gov. Rick Scott has proposed deep cuts in Medicaid payments to hospitals, as he tries to free up money to boost spending on public schools. And while it's too early to know whether lawmakers will go along with Scott's proposal, they are almost certain to make cuts in health and human services programs.

Hospitals, nursing homes and numerous other programs say they have been hammered by cuts during the past few years. The debate during the session, which starts Tuesday, will focus on where further cuts will be made -- and by how much.

"Health Care Under the Knife as Session Gets Under Way".

Scott has "moved the goalpost by 1 million jobs"

"A year in, Scott has kept a third of the campaign promises we track on the Scott-O-Meter. He sold the state planes. He hasn't taken the $130,000 governor's salary. He eliminated what critics call "tenure" for new K-12 teachers."

He also reached a compromise with the Republican Legislature on a plan to cut the state workforce by 5 percent (it shrunk about 3.5 percent last year) and a promise to reform Citizens Property Insurance and allow the state-run insurer to charge market-based premiums (the Legislature wasn't ready to go that far).

Of 57 promises, he's kept 19. Just a third of his promises are now rated Broken or Stalled.

But all of that is just context for the promise Scott called his "whole campaign" — his vow to create 700,000 jobs over seven years. ...

But instead of more than 20,000 new jobs each month, he's now promising just over 8,300.

He's moved the goalpost by 1 million jobs.

"Rating Rick Scott's campaign promises at the 1-year mark".

Florida at the bottom in workers participating in retirement plans

2012-01-08T09:05:00.002-05:00

Remember this the next time you read an editorial board parroting Chamber of Commerce propaganda about how it is unfair that Florida's public employees have "better" pension plans than do Florida's private sector employees.

"Florida is at the bottom when it comes to workers participating in a employment-based retirement plan — which may further strain social service programs in the years ahead."

Already, more impoverished Floridians 65 and over, are receiving food stamps and Medicaid than ever before, according to the state's December statistics.

That may worsen with Florida having the lowest rate in the nation of workers, from 21 to 64, qualifying for a pension or saving for retirement at their jobs, according to the nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Just 43.7 percent of the Sunshine State's full-time, full-year workers participated in an employer-based retirement plan, the institute reported last month.

Most Floridians aren't in large corporate or government jobs that offer pensions, and many others can't afford to save from their low wages for their retirement, said Craig Copeland, author of "Retirement Plan Participation Lowest in the South, West." ...

In contrast, West Virginia has the nation's highest rate of workers being part of retirement plans — nearly two thirds — thanks to the state having a large number of middle-class federal employees and trade union workers, Copeland added.

"Florida has lowest rate of workers saving in a employer retirement plan".

This Legislature "could impress even skeptics"

Randy Schultz: "The 160 legislators who convene Tuesday in Tallahassee for the annual session campaigned on pledging to do the people's business. The skeptic would say that, once they get there, many worry more about doing the special interests' business. It's shocking, I know. Still, there is one issue on which, in an election year, they could impress even skeptics." "Can the Legislature dispense some common sense?".

2012 session issues

"While the budget, redistricting and gambling look certain to dominate the 2012 session, a few other issues will compete for lawmakers' attention. They include:"

- Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

- Job Creation

- 'Caylee's Law'

- Unemployment Taxes

- Claims bills

- Online taxes

With respect to unemployment taxes, "Florida businesses are facing an $817 million increase in unemployment taxes this spring unless lawmakers act. The tax increase is needed to repay $2.4 billion the state borrowed from the federal government to cover benefits for jobless workers. Businesses are fighting the higher tax - up to $100 per employee - but Scott doesn't want to go deeper in debt to the feds." "Issues to watch in the 2012 Florida legislative session". See also "8 thorny issues lawmakers will be handling this session" and "Budget, district boundaries will be key issues as 2012 Florida legislative session begins".

36 pennies more ... oh, the outrage!

One Tamela Perdue, the "general counsel" of Associated Industries of Florida, whines that

Florida businesses brace for yet another increase in labor costs, which further erodes their ability to maintain existing jobs and create new jobs for the nearly 1 million Floridians who are out of work. Thanks to a 2004 constitutional amendment, Florida's minimum hourly wage increases each Jan. 1 to an amount commensurate with cost- of-living increases as calculated by the Consumer Price Index.

This year, that increase translates to 36 cents an hour. While that might not seem like very much when viewed from an individual perspective, the aggregate cost to Florida employers adds up to tens of millions of additional dollars this year alone.

"Mandating minimum wage hike".

Imagine that, providing minimum wage employees an increase "commensurate with cost- of-living increases". That is to say, an increase just enough and not a penny more to keep minimum wage workers precisely where they were. And this is somehow stifling the "creativity" of the so-called "job creators" Ms. Perdue serves?

Romney may be well positioned to win Florida's 50 delegates

Adam C. Smith: "If Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman are still campaigning after South Carolina, Romney will be well positioned to win Florida's 50 delegates and probably will be unstoppable on his march to the nomination. It could be a whole new race, however, if the field thins and somebody can consolidate the anti-Romney vote." "Romney mobilizes to squash his rivals".

Another dead firefighter won't enjoy that "lavish" pension

"A veteran South Florida firefighter has died after falling nearly 100 feet from the top of a ladder truck during a training exercise." "Fla. firefighter falls from ladder, dies".

Gingrich dead enders

"Gingrich has added a couple of big GOP names to his Florida campaign: former Attorney General and unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum and former Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty are the new co-chairmen of the state effort." "GOP heft for Gingrich".

Measures passed by the Fla-GOP last year still in court

"Several high-profile measures passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature last year are still being challenged in the courts as lawmakers get set to begin their 2012 session Tuesday."

The targets include 2011 legislation on elections, public employee pensions, prison privatization, welfare drug testing, guns and teacher pay and tenure — about a dozen bills in all.

Most are far from being resolved and some likely will end up in the Florida Supreme Court. ...

The measure drawing the most legal attention with five cases is the new election law.

Four of its provisions are being reviewed by a three-judge U.S. District Court panel in Washington, D.C.

Those sections cut the number of early voting days, put new restrictions on organizations that conduct voter registration drives, require voters who change out-of-county addresses at the polls on Election Day to cast provisional ballots and reduce the shelf life of citizen initiative petition signatures from four to two years.

Opponents, including the ACLU, League of Women Voters and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, argue the law is designed to suppress voting by minorities, the elderly and young people who tend to vote Democratic.

Republicans who backed the law say it will prevent election fraud that the critics say has been virtually nonexistent.

The court will determine whether those provisions comply with the federal Voting Rights Act. The Justice Department has cleared the rest of the law, but Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning chose to have the court, instead, rule on the most controversial provisions. Browning, a Scott appointee, said he wanted the decision to be free of "outside influence."

The court, though, is getting plenty of outside help. More than two dozen individuals and groups have intervened against the provisions. A ruling is not expected until April at the earliest.

The League of Women Voters, with an assist from the ACLU, has filed a separate federal lawsuit in Tallahassee against the voter registration provision. It says filing requirements, fines and a two-day deadline for turning in registration applications are so onerous it has suspended registration efforts in Florida. The case is set for hearing Jan. 26.

A federal judge in Miami dismissed another challenge by the ACLU but left the door open for filing it again later. ...

The outcome of the pension plan lawsuit could blow a hole in the current state budget and widen a $2 billion gap lawmakers are anticipating in spending plan for the next budget year that begins July 1.

The new law requires state and county employees, including public school teachers as well as some city workers, to contribute 3 percent of their pay to the Florida Retirement System. ...

Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford has not yet ruled, but her decision is expected to be appealed regardless.

"Lawsuits over 2011 Fla. legislation unresolved".

This is apparently what passes for a "Distinguished Speaker" in Naples these days

"Although some may know him best for his dire political predictions, conservative radio talk show host Glenn Beck told a Naples audience Saturday night that the time is ripe for citizens to reclaim a sense of empowerment."

The initial speaker in this season's Naples Town Hall Distinguished Speaker Series, Beck addressed a crowd of approximately 1,100 under a massive tent on the grounds of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort at Tiburon in North Naples.

"Glenn Beck provokes, inspires in Town Hall talk in Naples".

Rothstein's buddies brace themselves

"A lot of people who benefitted from their association with Scott Rothstein could soon face criminal charges." "Rothstein’s ex-buddies brace for criminal charges". See also "How Scott Rothstein became the toast of Fort Lauderdale".

The best the Rickster can do?

"Gov. Scott solicits business suggestions via Facebook".

"Citizens, not carpetbaggers"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Out-of-state businesses have benefitted for years by Florida's unfair tax policy. It's time for legislators to stand up for Florida's businesses and its citizens, not carpetbaggers." "Stand up for tax fairness".

"Not your father's (or mother's) manufacturing jobs"

"From producing diabetic testing supplies to making robotic surgical systems, South Florida manufacturers are generating jobs. But they're not your father's (or mother's) manufacturing jobs: many require highly technical training." "Skilled manufacturing jobs emerge in South Florida".

Worshiping wealthy guys

"Florida was shaped by one man’s passion for tourism".

Worst-run cities

"Miami, Hialeah listed in dubious rankings of worst-run cities".

Bogdanoff "ready to open the floodgates with her bill"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "A bad plan for casinos in Florida is getting worse. Now Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff wants to ensure every dog and horse track or jai alai fronton in the state has the ability to add slot machines, even after voters expressly chose in 2004 to limit slots to Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, will have to shed any pretense she's trying to contain gambling in Florida. She's ready to open the floodgates with her bill, and the Senate Regulated Industries Committee should just say no when it hears her revised plan Monday." "Bad casinos plan only getting worse".

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "New casino bill worse deal".

SoFla legislators

"Miami-Dade lawmakers will be at the center of much of the action in this year’s legislative session, particularly when it comes to gambling." "Miami-Dade lawmakers eye gambling, state funds in session". Related: "Broward lawmakers to tackle redistricting, gambling".

Marco, and Jebbie play pretend

2012-01-06T07:18:00.002-05:00

"Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush will be the featured attractions at a Miami conference on Jan. 27 hosted by the Hispanic Leadership Network, which calls itself a center-right advocacy group." "Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush headline Hispanic gathering".

Pols stand up to Mayor's threats in Miami-Dade

"Facing a chamber packed with police officers, the commissioners voted 7-6 against settling a labor impasse between the county and the Dade Police Benevolent Association by forcing the additional concession on 5,400 police and corrections officers."

The panel also refused to impose the controversial 5-percent giveback on its professionals and supervisors, who are represented by the Government Supervisors Association of Florida OPEIU Local 100. That move spells an almost-certain wave of layoffs for them as well.

“It’s an absolute lack of political courage by a board that wants to have its cake and eat it too,’’ the mayor said at the conclusion of a nine-hour meeting. “I’m disgusted at what happened today.’’

The mayor estimated that at least 154 police officers and 145 corrections officers would have to be laid off as the county scrambles to close a budget gap it had expected to fill through additional employee concessions. The county will also likely have to close a corrections facility.

The mayor said he and his staff would meet Thursday night to begin hashing out how to fill the $35-million budget gap that he had envisioned eliminating with the additional health-care contribution. He said other options have already been exhausted.

"Commissioners and union leaders criticized the mayor for focusing too heavily on employee concessions instead of finding savings elsewhere in the $4.4 billion operating budget."

In addition, Commissioner Jordan took aim at the mayor for moving slowly in reaping savings from his much-ballyhooed reorganization, which reduced the number of county departments to 25 from 42.

Mayor Gimenez reiterated that his reorganization plan is ongoing and will take time. “I’m not going to rush into something and do it the wrong way,’’ he told the restive commission.

Three other unions — representing solid waste employees, water and sewer workers, and general county employees, have reached tentative contracts but also are at impasse on the healthcare contribution. If employees ratify those agreements in coming days the commission will again have to decide whether to impose the extra 5 percent on those groups.

Solid waste employees — represented by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 3292 — are set to vote Friday on a tentative agreement. Water and sewer workers, who belong to AFSCME Local 121, are set to vote Monday and general county employees, represented by AFSCME Local 199, will weigh in on their tentative pact on Jan. 20.

The county’s labor strife is far from over. On Wednesday, members of the Transport Workers Union Local 291 rejected a tentative agreement by a vote of 820 to 660. That means further delays as the parties return to the table to haggle over a new agreement.

"Police layoffs expected after Miami-Dade commissioners refuse to impose healthcare concession".

Perhaps the "disgusted" mayor will do his job instead of taking the easy way out: threatening layoffs.

Fla-baggers accuse President of "appeasement"

"President Obama's new defense strategy amounts to an 'appeasement' and a sign of weakness to America's foes, local Republicans in Congress said Thursday." "Defense strategy signals weakness, Florida Republicans say".

Legislature's Opening Day

"Tea Party, Occupy Tallahassee Organize for Legislature's Opening Day".

School grading "rules are changing from year to year"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Florida's grades for public high schools are finally out this week and generating plenty of attention. But there is a lot more to school quality than the letter grade issued by the state. In this season of shopping for schools for the 2012-13 school year, parents and students would do well to look beyond the blunt instrument of a school's grade to more specific and meaningful indicators of achievement."

In fact, the school grade, particularly for high schools, may give a false sense of a school's actual success. Rather than relying on a school grade as a benchmark, it's far better to drill down into the actual numbers on graduation rates, FCAT and Advanced Placement test results and the like that make up the letter grade. Those are all available at the Florida Department of Education's website. In addition, because the rules are changing from year to year, the same performance by a school may well yield different grades last year, this year and next year.

"Look deeper than schools' grades".

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Scores no help to parents".

Anti-Fair Districts appeal

"Oral arguments in anti-Fair Districts appeal coming next Tuesday".

Rubio goes crazy

"It was announced today that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be giving the closing speech at CPAC this year. Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Allen West will also be in attendance at the ultra-conservative convention." "Palin to join Rubio, West at CPAC".

Citizens’ veto

"Bill to allow Floridians the right to a citizens’ veto filed today in Tallahassee".

Medicaid deform

"When federal officials extended Florida's controversial Medicaid pilot program last month, they required the state to funnel an additional $50 million to improving care for low-income patients. That much was clear. But a state panel grappled for hours Thursday with how to carry out the requirements -- an issue that, ultimately, will land in the laps of Florida lawmakers." "Panel Wrestles with Federal Rules for Health Funding".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Florida AG lawsuit: West Palm Beach firms preyed on distressed homeowners".

Scott goes a little green, Teabaggers in a dither

"Environmentalists were cautiously encouraged by the governor's pledge of support for cleaning up Everglades pollution, but some remain skeptical that a state plan will get the job done." "Scott ‘optimistic’ on resolving Glades disputes". See also "Environmental advocates praise Gov. Rick Scott's commitment to restore central Everglades".

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The Everglades: It’s all business".

Drill baby, drill!

"HB 695 by Rep. Clay Ford, chairman of the House Federal Affairs Subcommittee, states that exploration and drilling on state lands may produce "significant" monetary reward. The bill is raising concerns among environmentalists because it makes no reference to environmental safeguards or distinction over which state lands could be used for exploration and drilling." "Bill seeks to generate state revenue from new oil and gas drilling on state lands".

"A new call to raise premiums"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "We've backed a number of reforms in past years to improve the private insurance market in Florida, but we're not yet sold on a new call to raise premiums at Citizens Property Insurance Corp. by more than 10 percent a year." "Insurance rate hike needs more study".

Gingrich's Florida crew

"McCollum, Crotty to run Gingrich's Florida campaign".

Connie who?

"While most eyes are on the battle for the Republican presidential nomination and the upcoming session of the Florida Legislature which opens next week, the team behind U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, who is running for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, continues to plan ahead for their campaign. Jeff Cohen, Mack’s campaign manager, sent out a memo on Thursday to key supporters arguing that his candidate had 'great momentum' in the race. " "In Presidential Race's Shadow, GOP Senate Hopefuls Plug Away".

Judge blocks Scott's plan to "slice millions of dollars" from disabled

"A Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction against a plan by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to slice millions of dollars in payments to facilities that serve people with developmental disabilities." "Miami-Dade judge blocks cuts to disability treatment centers".

Casino permits may be subject to local vote outside SoFla

"In an effort to win support and silence critics, the Senate sponsor of the bill to bring resort casinos to Florida wants to let voters approve any new gambling and allow counties outside of Miami-Dade and Broward to compete for three megacasino permits."

The changes to be unveiled today by state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, will open the door to the possibility of a resort casino in Tampa Bay or Palm Beach County, provided voters approve and investors spend at least $2 billion. The revised proposal would also allow voters in counties outside Miami-Dade and Broward to give slot machines to their horse and dog tracks, and jai alai frontons.

But the measure also attempts to shut the door on loopholes that have allowed the proliferation of gambling at Internet cafes, the expansion of parimutuels at the Gretna barrel racing track and summer jai alai permits. The measure bans any new parimutuel permits, revokes all dormant permits, regulates all Internet cafes and prevents the opening of any new facilities.

Bogdanoff will ask the Senate Regulated Industries Committee to approve the amendment when the bill comes up for its first vote on Monday, the day before the legislative session begins.

"Revised gambling bill asks voters to decide fate of casinos, would allow for expansion in Tampa Bay". See also "Stakes Growing as Gambling Bill Approaches First Vote". Meanwhile, "Construction workers plug destination resort" and "Touting jobs, construction groups build up support for casino bill".

"Florida could decide GOP nominee"

2012-01-05T07:36:00.002-05:00

Marc Caputo:

Mitt Romney is blanketing Florida with ads and mailers. Newt Gingrich is planning a Miami-Orlando trip next week. Ron Paul is sending out fliers.

The Republican presidential race for Florida is kicking into high gear.

"As the nation's biggest and most-diverse swing state, Florida has more Electoral College votes than Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina combined. Without it, Republicans probably can't win the White House." "Fresh off Iowa win, Mitt Romney shifts Florida campaign into high gear". See also "Florida voters may decide GOP presidential nominee". See also "GOP rivals work behind scenes in Florida".

They call this "collective bargaining"?

"Miami-Dade commissioners will wrestle Thursday with the political bombshell of whether to force employees in two powerful county unions to contribute an additional 5 percent of their pay toward healthcare coverage, doubling the tab to 10 percent."

County Mayor Carlos Gimenez is urging the commission to use its authority to settle labor impasses by imposing the controversial concessions, which are needed to balance the county budget.

In September, the board adopted Gimenez’s budget plan, which lowered the property-tax rate and reversed an unpopular increase pushed through by his predecessor in 2010.

Now comes the tough part: Commissioners will have to decide whether to force the painful givebacks on labor unions that are traditionally among their most reliable fundraisers and voting blocks — and that have already made substantial concessions under recently approved labor contracts. Half of the commissioners — those in odd-numbered districts — face re-election contests in August.

The Dade Police Benevolent Association, representing 5,400 police and corrections officers, and the Government Supervisors Association of Florida OPEIU Local 100, representing nearly 4,600 professional employees and supervisors, recently approved new labor contracts that include significant cost savings to the county, but the parties hit an impasse on health insurance. An additional 5 percent contribution from the two unions would yield $35 million in annual savings to the county. For all county employee groups, the extra 5 percent health-care contribution would save some $87.6 million a year.

"Miami-Dade commissioners weigh imposing concessions on unions".

Not what you would call a "diverse electorate with more mainstream views"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "The next time Florida moves up its presidential primary, it ought to jump ahead of Iowa even if that means holding the election on New Year’s Eve. That may be the only way to force changes to the primary schedule that would require candidates to build initial support from a larger, more diverse electorate with more mainstream views." "Let's hear from Florida, not Iowa".

Good luck with that

"State Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, has introduced a bill that would reverse some of the controversial measures in the elections law passed by the Florida Legislature last year." "Legislator files bill to reverse controversial elections measures".

Transition documents as public records

"Senate Bill 1464, filed Wednesday by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Destin, would stipulate that records -- including electronic records such as e-mails -- held by new elected officials and their transition teams 'shall be preserved so as not to impair the ability of the public to inspect or copy such public records.'" "Bill would clarify transition documents are public records".

American Petroleum Institute launches ads

"Contentious energy ad campaign begins in Florida". Meanwhile, "New Sierra Club Florida leadership gets to work".

Insurance lobbyists crank up

"Among the items on the agenda of the Florida Insurance Council and the state arm of the Property Casualty Insurance Association of America are a reduction or elimination of personal injury protection fraud, a reduction of the state Cat Fund and an elimination of reduction of the 6 percent regular assessments for Citizens Property Insurance Corp.'s personal and commercial lines accounts." "Private insurers backing series of bills in 2012 session".

Budget & taxes session outlook

"2012 Session Outlook: Budget & Taxes".

"Why is the issue of quality reserved for blacks?"

Bill Maxwell: "Although a new year has arrived, some of America's deepest problems endure. One is the presumed inferiority of black professionals who are not entertainers or jocks, despite the 2008 election of our first black president."

I was reminded of this problem in a Dec. 17 article in the Times about the Pinellas County school district's "critical shortage" of black teachers, a legal status meaning that the number of black teachers is two or more percentage points below the percentage of black students. ...

But many white people cannot control the tendency to automatically question the qualifications of blacks. School Board member Carol Cook, for example, did not equivocate when she reminded her peers that quality should be the primary focus as the district attempts to comply with the order to hire more black teachers.

"I have some (concern) just because of the nature of the agreement," the Times quoted her as saying. "I don't want to turn it into hiring anybody (just) because of the color of their skin."

At first blush, Cook's comment might seem innocuous. It is not. Why is the issue of quality reserved for blacks? How often has Cook or other white board members questioned the qualifications of white prospects in such a demeaning way?

"White doubts reserved for black professionals"

Dems for Mitt laff riot

How low can this alleged Democrat go? "Barney Bishop: Mitt and Jeb, That's the Ticket".

"Why pythons should eat politicians"

Fred Grimm explains "Why pythons should eat politicians".

War on waitresses

"The Restaurant Association writes that 'Florida businesses can no longer afford to continue to increase the pay of tipped employees who make well over the minimum wage.' The Association adds that it 'is in discussions with Senate and House leadership regarding a possible legislative constitutional amendment that, if passed, would appear on a statewide ballot to change that requirement. As of January 1, 2012, Florida’s minimum wage is $7.67.'" "Restaurant and Lodging Association outlines stance on immigration, minimum wage, casinos".

Black robe fever

"On his way out the courthouse door Wednesday, 1st District Court Judge Paul Hawkes was told by the Judicial Qualifications Commission that they'll be waiting if he ever tries to be a judge again."

Three times the JQC, the state agency responsible for disciplining judges, has investigated judicial misconduct at the court.

In one instance 13 of the 15 judges filed a complaint against Judge Charles J. Kahn, who has since left the court to become a federal magistrate in Pensacola. They accused Kahn of sexually harassing women on the court system payroll. One of those women, a clerk, posted pictures of herself and Kahn at a hotel where he was attending a Florida Bar convention.

The JQC rejected the sexual harassment allegations and took no public action against Kahn. But the Commission did charge Judge Michael E. Allen with conduct unbecoming a judge because he wrote an opinion questioning Kahn's involvement in the Childers case. Kahn led an effort to reverse the former senator's criminal conviction, but his decision was upended before it was published after 10 of the court's judges stepped in and voted to uphold the conviction.

Allen questioned the public perception of a decision issued by a judge who was once a law partner of Fred Levin, a Pensacola lawyer and close friend to Childers, a longtime power player on the state's political field.

The JQC found Allen guilty of misconduct and he was given a public reprimand by the Supreme Court before he retired to return to the practice of law.

The Allen trial featured judges pitted against each other and some court employees who described the judges as mentally unstable and liars given to temper tantrums. The court's marshal testified that he had to increase security at the courthouse because one of the judges was getting a concealed weapons permit to carry a gun.

"Judicial Qualifications Commission wants future jurisdiction for former Judge Paul Hawkes".

Even Rick Scott gets it

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Gov. Rick Scott is beginning his second year in office with a markedly different and more helpful tone on Everglades restoration. " "Helpful new spirit on the Everglades".

The best they can do?

"Speaker Designate Weatherford on Governing Mags 'Legislators to Watch' list".

"City officials may have violated the law"

"A consultant hired to investigate allegations that public records were wrongfully deleted by top Sarasota officials said in a report that there is 'substantial reason to believe' city officials may have violated the law." "Consultant suggests top Sarasota officials broke law".

"The only beneficiaries ... are the carriers"

"The relative health of the market is not without its detractors. Rich Templin, lobbyist for the Florida AFL-CIO, said cost reductions and stability have come at a price of reduced benefits, which affects more than an injured worker. 'The only beneficiaries under Florida workers' compensation system are the carriers,' Templin said." "Workers' Comp System Healthy, Regulators Report".

Enough with the "no comment"

Tom Lyons: "In Florida, elected officials and other government employees are supposed to do business in the open, so we know what is going on."

We — the citizens — are the bosses, after all. State and local government belongs to us.

And so, almost nothing our own employees and elected officials have done while on the job, right or wrong, can legally be hidden from us. Trying to hide things is often a crime, and almost always wrong.

So if I can make a New Year's resolution for local government, it might be this: Those who get paychecks from taxpayers will no longer duck tough questions by claiming they can't comment on a matter because of a lawsuit.

"Lyons: For governments, a lawsuit should not mean ‘no comment'".

Scott wants more control over selection of judges

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "It was open season on judicial independence in Florida during the 2011 legislative session. Lawmakers introduced a series of insidious proposals to boost their sway, or the governor's, over judges."

One of the worst proposals would have given the governor sole discretion in naming the panels that nominate candidates for appointment to the bench. It passed in the House, but was wisely rejected by the Senate amid bipartisan opposition.

Yet Gov. Rick Scott recently said he hopes the proposal comes back. "When you're elected governor," he declared in a recent interview with WFLA radio in Tallahassee, "people expect you to not have a limit on who you can appoint."

"Defend judicial independence".

"Session Outlook: Gaming"

"2012 Session Outlook: Gaming". Related: "Casino bill 2.0 to regulate internet cafes, roll back pari-mutuel tax rate".

Property values to drop

"Overall, state economists expect statewide property values to drop 4.2 percent this year, a larger decrease than their initial fall estimate of 3.89 percent. Property values are also estimated to fall another 3.3 percent in 2013." "State economists reduce 2012 property tax value projections".

Florida Republicans sacrificing Allen West

"Florida's new redistricting standards, coupled with the 10-year shift in population, have forced Republicans to do what is rarely done in politics — sacrifice incumbents — and that is not going over well with some Republicans."

The possible casualties include U.S. Rep. Allen West, whose Broward to Palm Beach-based district would become more Democratic in every map proposed by both the state House and Senate.

Broward Republicans have launched a website — "saveallenwest.com." — and are mounting a campaign to pressure legislators to revamp the maps to make them more in line with what they believe are the legal requirements of the new Fair Districts amendments. The changes they suggest would also make the district more favorable to the re-election of West, one of two black Republicans in Congress.

"New election maps could hurt Allen West, other GOP incumbents".

Florida's declares its schools all above average

"Most Florida schools earn top grades". See also "Florida's public high schools score higher performance grades".

Waffle House and Hooters to fight gambling

"With less than a week until the state Legislature convenes for the 2012 session, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association on Wednesday, representing more than 10,000 members in an industry that leads to $57 billion brought into the Sunshine State annually and more than 900,000 jobs ... came out swinging against proposed legislation by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, that would expand gaming in Florida." "FRLA Will Fight Against Gaming and Arizona-Style Immigration Law in 2012". Related: "Senate Reg chair says no more workshops for gambling bill, just a vote".

Deep thoughts

"State Rep. Dwayne Taylor met Tuesday with The News-Journal editorial board as part of an ongoing series of interviews before the start of the legislative session next Tuesday." "State representative gives views on legislative session".

Violence from the "values" crowd

"An abortion clinic that burned here New Year's Day has been in the crosshairs of the anti-abortion movement for decades: the scene of bombings, shootings and other violence. Things calmed down in the past 15 years, save for the near-daily protesters who carried anti-abortion signs, Bibles and white crosses as they marched outside of the unassuming, two-story grey building. Yet once again, the clinic is encircled by yellow police tape." "Violent decades surround burned abortion clinic".

"Hurdle to voting by the new-style Republicans dominating Florida politics"

2012-01-04T09:26:00.002-05:00

The Miami Herald editors: "Attorney General Eric Holder says the U.S. Justice Department will move aggressively to review the plethora of new voting laws that state legislatures across the nation have passed in recent years to exclude minority voters."

There is no better place to start than in Florida where picking and choosing voters has become a high art and low crime. And it is not just minority voters who face these new hurdles but young voters, voters who have moved into new precincts, voters whose interest in politics is newly awakened. In short, voters who aren’t part of a tightly knit group that can be counted on for party-line (dare we say, Republican) ballots in a state where Democrats outnumber GOP registered voters.

"Consider the issue of restoring civil rights, including the right to vote, to people who have completed their sentences on felony convictions. Not a popular bunch, not a group easy to defend. Yet, these are people who have paid the debt demanded of them by society, and it’s in society’s best interest to give them a stake in the future of their communities.

The stringent rule on ex-felons was hardly the first hurdle to voting by the new-style Republicans dominating Florida politics. The Legislature trimmed the number of days for early voting, clamped down on changes of address at the polls and imposed deadlines on paperwork from registration drives. Mind you, there were no voter-fraud scandals, just the election of Barack Obama.

The Justice Department retains supervision of changes in Florida law because of a history of discriminatory practices in five counties. So the promised review should be thorough but also swift. November’s coming, and a true democracy is a contest of ideas that appeal to the majority, not just to an exclusive club.

"The high art of disenfranchisement".

Local voters would decide if they want gambling

"County-level voters across Florida would get to decide if they want to expand gambling in their community -- from slot machines to mega-casinos -- under changes proposed to the highly watched destination gaming bill now before state legislators." "Voter Approval for Casinos, Closure of Internet Cafes Among Revamped Resort Bill".

State GOP flooded with absentee ballot requests

"The Iowa caucuses coincided with Tuesday's deadline for Floridians to register for this state's Republican presidential primary on Jan. 31."

Final numbers may not be available for several days. But Florida GOP spokesman Brian Hughes said the state party has been flooded with absentee ballot requests from those seeking to take part in the biggest of the early state contests.

"Anecdotal evidence points to the possibility that this may be a record-setting Republican turnout for a presidential preference primary," said Hughes, adding that close to 400,000 ballot requests have been submitted.

Nine Republicans will be listed on the Florida ballot, including Herman Cain, who suspended his campaign late last year. Only registered Republicans are eligible to cast ballots in Florida's presidential primary.

"Officials say registrations, ballot requests foretell big turnout for GOP primary".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Third banker pleads guilty in huge Sarasota flipping fraud case".

Let's cut their pensions

"Dying in the line of duty". Related: "Hundreds of cops expected for Deputy Matt Miller's funeral".

"A big shift in the district of Rep. Vern Buchanan"

"The Florida Senate redistricting committee has released a revamped draft of how it proposes to redraw Florida’s congressional lines. The new map shows a big shift in the district of Rep. Vern Buchanan — a shift that came about because of urgings from Charlotte County residents to lump them in with other coastal residents, according to committee chairman Don Gaetz." "Gaetz: Charlotte County concerns prompted shift in Florida Senate’s District 13 map".

"Broward GOP must be about the most clueless group in Florida"

"A letter from the Broward County Republican Party chairman complaining about the redesigned congressional district of Rep. Allen West could trigger legal challenges, a tea party activist says."

"Just when I thought the GOP couldn't get more incompetent, Broward comes along with an effort to save an incumbent? This is Exhibit A in the first lawsuit," said Henry Kelley, chairman of the Fort Walton Beach Tea Party.

Broward Chairman Richard DeNapoli, in a lengthy letter to legislators, asserted that boundaries drawn by state House and Senate mapmakers unfairly lengthen the odds for West's re-election prospects in the 22nd Congressional District.

By chopping off the Republican-rich northern portion of the district and attaching an inland swath that leans Democratic, the newly configured CD 22 turns up to 5 percentage points bluer.

DeNapoli notes that the current district voted 49.1 percent for Republican Rick Scott in 2010. The new version would have gone only 44.9 percent for Scott.

Kelley agrees that the new maps do West no favors, but questions DeNapoli's arguments and tactics.

"The Broward GOP must be about the most clueless group in Florida. The [Fair Districts] law specifically prohibits protecting incumbents -- which in my opinion is the most rapid path to a lawsuit.

"Broward Complaint about Allen West's District Could Blow Up on GOP". See also "Broward GOP opposes plans for Rep. Allen West's district", "Broward Republicans say redistricting proposals for Allen West are unconstitutional" and "Broward GOP urges district lines that don't hurt Rep. West's chances".

National Opt Out Day

"Public school advocates who oppose mandatory standardized testing to determine teacher salaries and state and federal funding for public schools have called for a National Opt Out Day." "Standardized testing opponents call for National Opt Out Day". Related: "Delay in grading high schools ties up state bonus money".

Mendelsohn must go directly to prison by noon Friday

"Former Tallahassee power broker Dr. Alan Mendelsohn can delay no more and must go directly to prison by noon Friday, a federal judge ruled Tuesday."

Mendelsohn, a former Broward political fundraiser and lobbyist, had already received a seven-month delay before starting to serve his four-year prison term, U.S. District Judge William Zloch wrote in an order. ...

Mendelsohn, a Republican, confessed that he participated in Florida’s so-called pay-to-play political culture, and said he funneled money to former state Sen. Mandy Dawson through one of the then-elected official’s close friends.Dawson, a Democrat who represented a district that stretched from Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach Gardens, has since been charged with tax evasion. She is fighting the charges.

"Judge orders Hollywood power broker Alan Mendelsohn to prison by Friday".

Occupy Orlando opposes corporate personhood

"Occupy Orlando today launched an effort to end corporate personhood. According to a press release, Occupy Orlando today visited the office of state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, 'to present a formal letter asking for his support to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.'" "Occupy Florida groups take action on campaign finance, free speech rights".

Bad girl

"Wilson Leads Florida in Missed Congress Votes; Adams Record Spotless".

Rubio Laff riot

Ms. Parker can't get enough of Mr. Rubio: "The Rubio factor".

A system focused on increasing wealth at the top of the ladder

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "For a small fraction of Florida's workforce, this week is more than the start of a new year — it also marks an increase in pay. Eight years after Florida voters set a state minimum wage indexed to inflation, the wage rose by 36 cents to $7.67 an hour. That means the 3 percent of Florida workers who earn minimum wage are now guaranteed an hourly wage that's 42 cents more than the federal minimum."

Minimum wage critics frequently bemoan this government intervention in the market, arguing that it artificially raises wages and makes it less likely that businesses will hire new workers. But for more than 75 years, this country has held firm that workers at the bottom of the ladder deserve to make a fair wage. And it's notable that in 2004, after years of inaction by Congress, more than 70 percent of Florida voters approved the state wage plan, understanding that the regulation is one of the few checks on a system that seems more and more focused on increasing wealth only at the top of the ladder.

"Small step up on the pay ladder".

Wait till the Fla-baggers find out about this

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Despite their political differences, key Florida leaders are showing a united front on behalf of the Everglades, which should encourage citizens who care about the state's natural wonders."

The recent spending bill passed by Congress and signed by the president included $142 million for restoring the Everglades and the Kissimmee River. Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Rep. Bill Young of St. Petersburg teamed on the effort to ensure the funding remained in the bill.

"Hope on Everglades' horizon".

Privatization follies

"Hillsborough Kids Inc. likely to lose $65.5 million annual contract".

"Taxpayer-financed travels are over"

Steve Bousquet: "Frank Peterman's taxpayer-financed travels are over, but the punishment continues."

Nearly two years after the former St. Petersburg lawmaker reimbursed taxpayers for dozens of questionable trips between the state capital and his home in Pinellas County, Peterman faces more problems.

A state hearing officer is recommending Peterman pay a fine of $5,000 and be censured and reprimanded for what the judge called "excessive" travel during his term as secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice in 2008 and 2009.

"Mr. Peterman used his position as secretary of DJJ to travel to his primary residence at state expense when there was no state purpose for the travel," wrote Susan Belyeu Kirkland, an administrative law judge, in an 18-page order issued Dec. 30.

"Ex-Rep. Peterman could face $5,000 fine and censure over travel abuses".

Romney heads South

"Romney ad to hit Florida airwaves".

Legislative Preview

"Redistricting won't completely dominate the legislative landscape in January. A look at other issues percolating in the background and who wants what." "Florida Legislative Preview - 2012".

"But Orlando should be above that"

Nancy Smith: "According to Travel & Leisure magazine, the lodging industry as a whole last year took in more than $1.75 billion in surcharges, which means extra fees are likely to be with us for years to come."

But Orlando should be above that.

There is something distinctly inappropriate and distasteful watching a city built on a worldwide reputation of family-friendliness and first-class entertainment allow its hotels to suddenly load up with charges that scream, "We hate our customers!"

In September during the Republicans' P5 weekend and straw poll at the Orange County Convention Center, and then in October during the Energy Summit at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, I heard conference participants complain mightily about hotel charges they didn't understand and hadn't experienced anywhere else.

Much more here: "Orlando: Home of Hotel Fees That Need to Die".

Insurance Compact

"Florida would join a group of 41 other states that have already standardized requirements and application procedures for life insurance, long-term disability coverage and other insurance products, under a measure filed Tuesday and backed by industry representatives and state regulators." "Smith Bill Aims to Place Florida in Insurance Compact".

No hazing

"Democratic U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson wants federal ban on hazing".

Casey Anthony prosecutor steps into political arena, and he's a Dem

2012-01-03T06:32:00.003-05:00

"Jeff Ashton announces state attorney bid Tuesday".

The Week Ahead

"The Week Ahead for Jan. 3 to Jan. 6".

Rewrite of 'destination resorts' bill

"It's already tough enough to get conservative lawmakers behind the concept of three new casinos in Florida, no matter how swanky. But the resorts' prospects may be even trickier now that a rewrite of the 'destination resorts' bill overhauls all types of gambling in the state, from greyhound races to scratch-off lottery tickets. "

Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, the bill's sponsor, recently released the latest version of the plan she says will rein in gambling. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee is slated to take up her bill during the first week of the legislative session, which begins Jan. 10.

Her original measure (SB 710) would create a statewide gambling commission and allow up to three casinos - whose operators promised to spend at least $2 billion each over five years on construction - to build upscale resorts in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

But now all bets currently being wagered in Florida - at Internet cafes, poker tables and slot machines, as well as on horse and dog races - have been added to the mix.

"Bogdanoff's latest plan would:"

- Require voters in each county to approve new gambling of any type in that county, including the casinos proposed in South Florida; put an end to the prospects of barrel racing as an authorized form of quarter horse racing, except at a Panhandle track; and allow casinos to open anywhere in the state, as long as voters approve.

- Allow the existing pari-mutuels - including Palm Beach Kennel Club - to have slots, if voters approve. And, if voters sign off, the tracks could offer any kind of games played at the casinos, including blackjack, if they agreed to spend at least $100 million over three years to upgrade their facilities.

- Bar any new racetracks or jai-alai frontons from opening after July, do away with more than a dozen dormant pari-mutuel permits and have the state buy back four active permits, using proceeds from the casino licensing fees.

- Shut the door on at least 1,000 Internet cafes throughout the state, now largely unregulated and not considered under Florida law as betting games.

"Florida casinos bill a catch-all, addressing the lottery, dog tracks, jai-alai, and Internet cafes".

Feds to investigate abortion clinic blaze

"Federal investigators plan to join the investigation of a suspicious fire at a Florida Panhandle abortion clinic that has been the site of deadly violence in the past, officials said Monday. The early Sunday fire at American Family Planning in Pensacola largely destroyed the two-story building, said Lt. Kevin Fiedor of the state fire marshal's office." "Federal officials join abortion clinic fire probe".

Rail bad, Air Force planes good

"Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer will build 20 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force in Jacksonville."

Embraer, which has been building a deep footprint in Florida, announced Friday the $355 million contract to provide its A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to the U.S. military.

Gov. Rick Scott commended the bipartisan teamwork that helped land the contract for the construction facility at Jacksonville International Airport.

"Scott Commends Bipartisan Efforts to Land U.S. Air Force Contract in Jacksonville".

What Sunshine State News readers are reading

"President Barack Obama found his way into four of the top six most-read Sunshine State News reports in 2011 and, as no surprise, they are pieces that the White House occupant probably won’t be highlighting in next year’s re-election effort." "Obama Most-Read Stories on Sunshine State News".

"Scott could use a history lesson"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "It was open season on judicial independence in Florida during the 2011 legislative session. Lawmakers introduced a series of insidious proposals to boost their sway, or the governor's, over judges."

One of the worst proposals would have given the governor sole discretion in naming the panels that nominate candidates for appointment to the bench. It passed in the House, but was wisely rejected by the Senate amid bipartisan opposition.

Yet Gov. Rick Scott recently said he hopes the proposal comes back. "When you're elected governor," he declared in a recent interview with WFLA radio in Tallahassee, "people expect you to not have a limit on who you can appoint."

We're not sure which people the governor has been talking to, but it's a safe bet it wasn't any Florida historians. Scott, who moved to the Sunshine State in 2003, could use a history lesson. ...

Restoring unlimited power for governors to appoint judges would ignore Florida history. It would bring back the bad old days, when governors could easily fill judgeships based on politics instead of judicial merit. The Legislature must reject this terrible idea — again.

"Don't give guvs sole power to pick judges".

Romney's Florida volunteers head north

"Tampa Bay area volunteers brave Iowa winter for Mitt Romney".

"Unbelievably dopey stuff elected officials dream up"

Daniel Ruth writes, "thank goodness there are distinguished public servants out there, like Nebraska Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, who are willing to stand up and be counted as a champion for the irritating boiler room robo-call industry."

Terry is the creative genius behind the Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011, which would permit businesses or organizations to ring up your cellphone whenever they want. And here's the best part. You, of course, would have the privilege of paying for the call. ...

At the moment, mobile phone customers can only be robo-called if they have given their explicit consent to be interrupted in the middle of dinner to experience some come-on to purchase insurance, or contribute to a charity, or receive information from their bank.

Terry's legislation would do away with all that antisocial behavior and open up your cellphone access to the many fine and well-meaning telemarketers, political hucksters and charlatans competing to dip into your pocket.

"In response to Terry's Mobile Information Nagging Call Act of 2011, 54 state and territorial attorneys general, including Florida's Pam Bondi, have joined together to urge Congress to consign the legislation to the junk heap of unbelievably dopey stuff elected officials dream up."

It is just a guess, but when 54 of the nation's various attorneys general band together in a bipartisan effort to declare Terry's effort to invade the collective privacy of Americans from coast to coast, it might be an indication this is probably the dumbest piece of federal lawmaking to come down the pike since Prohibition.

"Nuisances on my phone and in Washington".

Broward elections "all over the calendar"

"Broward city elections all over the calendar this year".

Florida Politics 2012

2012-01-02T08:41:00.002-05:00

Kevin Derby teaches a short course in Florida Politics, 2012 this morning; here's a taste: "A crowded field of Republicans has lined up to take on Florida's Nelson and they have already started to throw elbows at each other". In addition to that,

Florida’s congressional races remain uncertain until the Legislature finishes redistricting, but there are a number of strong challengers already lining up against incumbents. Democrats would love to oust Steve Southerland, Dan Webster, Vern Buchanan, Allen West and David Rivera, while the GOP is looking to knock off the likes of Kathy Castor and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. With two new seats and Mack running for Senate, there are also three open races that could hold interesting primaries.

In Tally, "Scott remains down in the polls, but there are signs that this could change in 2012. Scott ran in 2010 promising to combat unemployment and bring new jobs to Florida. He’s had some success as the state unemployment dipped in 2011 and, if this trend continues, he could be better off in the polls at the end of the year. Having waged a bitter primary against then-Attorney General Bill McCollum in 2010, Scott’s polls numbers could also inch up as Republicans who backed his primary rival drift over to back the governor."

The Legislature will have its hands full with redistricting as the congressional and state legislative lines will be redrawn. While Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature, they will be challenged to keep them intact as they are forced to comply with constitutional amendments passed by the voters in 2010 on how they can draw up the maps. No matter how the maps are drawn, redistricting appears likely to be headed to the courts. While few observers expect the Democrats to pick up either the House or the Senate, they have a chance to chip into GOP strength in Tallahassee.

Much more here: "Florida Set for Political Spotlight in 2012".

Thomas Tryon yesterday: "The news from Florida in 2012 will be full of surprises — sensational trials that haven't even been placed on judicial dockets, exposes of celebrities who have yet to expose themselves, weird occurrences, unnaturally intense natural disasters and genuinely unexpected events." "This year will be all about elections".

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"Authorities say celebratory gunfire falling from the sky critically injured a 12-year-old Tampa Bay-area boy. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says the boy's family was sitting outside their Ruskin home around 1 a.m. Sunday and watching fireworks."

Sheriff's office spokesman Larry McKinnon says the boy's mother saw him fall to the ground, bleeding from his nose and eyes. She drove him to a hospital, where doctors determined he had suffered a gunshot wound from a bullet that entered the top of his head.

McKinnon says the boy remains hospitalized in Tampa in critical condition with the bullet still in his head.

"Police: Celebratory gunfire wounds Florida boy, 12".

Tuesday is the registration deadline for the Jan. 31 primary

"If you think Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul or Mitt Romney is the solution to the nation’s problems, you’ve got to be a registered Republican to express your support in Florida’s primary." "Deadline to vote in state primary looms".

Already "the fourth-largest gambling state in the nation"?

"Supporters of a proposed bill that would allow three massive destination casino resorts in South Florida often argue that gambling is already a big business here -- in fact, one of the largest in the country."

That fourth-largest ranking claim has been repeated multiple times by Bogdanoff, including in a joint editorial with state Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, and by other individuals, including former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart. Diaz-Balart is a lawyer and adviser for the Genting Group, which has purchased the waterfront Miami Herald property with plans to build a mega casino-resort there.

We wondered if the ranking is true.

As Bogdanoff introduced her casino bill she said: "Florida is considered the fourth-largest gambling state in the nation..." But this isn't as simple as college football rankings. There isn't one universally accepted measure.

Now, Bogdanoff's legislative assistant acknowledges she should have specified tribal gaming. But that said, Bogdanoff's broader point is certainly supported from the majority of research, which suggests that -- if you include the state lottery -- Florida is certainly a big gambling state. No. 4? That's a lot less clear and very much dependent on what you measure and how you measure it.

On balance, we rate this claim Half True.

"Just how big?" Related: "Casino, Gaming Commission Bill Given 'Long Shot' for House Approval".

Bonzo from Bitburg

"With the Florida primary only a month away, House Speaker Dean Cannon says his focus right now is on his final regular legislative session rather than making endorsements."

Nor is he thinking about his own long-term plans once his term expires next year.

Cannon, R-Winter Park, was among the Florida contingent that quickly jumped behind Texas Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican presidential primary. ...

Born the son of a U.S. Air Force serviceman at the former Bitburg Air Base in Germany, once home to the United States Air Force 36th Fighter Wing, Cannon, who has three children 10 years of age and younger, cannot seek re-election due to term limits.

"Cannon Yet to Outline a Post-Legislative Career, Out of the Endorsement Business".

Romney Florida dreamin'

"Steady in Iowa, Romney Counts on New Hampshire, Florida".

'Ya reckon?

The Miami Herald editorial board writes that "must not neglect our most vulnerable citizens or jewels like the Everglades and Biscayne Bay". "Protecting our treasures".

Trib

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "A bill offered by Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican, would require someone claiming bad faith to notify the insurance company within 60 days of the alleged violation. The company could then address the violation and have a chance to negate the need for litigation."

This may sound reasonable, but a policyholder might not find out for several weeks that the insurance company refused a settlement offer. Lawyers also say it takes time for an individual to find out what has happened and contact an attorney. Then the lawyer needs time to find out whether the facts merit a legal challenge.

With the 60-day limit, citizens easily could lose the right to legal recourse before they even knew they have been wronged.

The bad faith provision, no doubt, is sometimes abused, driving up insurance companies' costs.

Associated Industries of Florida, which supports the bill, calls the Florida civil justice system unbalanced and says, "One of the most egregious abuses in the system is denying a business and its insurers a reasonable time to settle a liability claim without litigation."

The threat of litigation should not be interminable. But this legislative fix goes too far. The Florida Justice Association, which represents the legal profession, makes the more compelling case: "A policyholder should never face an excess judgment simply because the insurer failed to do the job it was paid premiums to do."

"Tinkering with bad faith puts citizens' rights at risk".

Second amendment stoopid

"Report: Man fired at park ranger after getting parking ticket".

PSC nuke order appealed

"An advocacy group will ask the state Supreme Court to reject a regulatory decision that would allow Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida to collect about $282 million from customers next year for nuclear-power projects. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has notified the state Public Service Commission that it's taking the unusual step of appealing an order that allows the utilities to collect money for work on future or existing nuclear plants. The dispute centers on FPL and Progress billing customers for upfront costs on four planned nuclear reactors that would not start producing electricity for at least another decade -- and, critics say, might never produce electricity." "Advocacy Group to Appeal 'Scam' Energy Rate Increases".

"Born too soon to reap the partisan spoils"

Robert W. McKnight: "Timing is everything. It's no different in politics than in other areas of life." "Treasure Coast could have had another top leader in Florida Legislature, but Rep. R. Dale Patchett, R-Vero Beach, was born too soon".

"Scott administration’s dismantling of the Department of Community Affairs"

"The Scott administration’s dismantling of the Department of Community Affairs has put more power into the hands of local governments – a good thing, argues the governor, for development and growth."

But just how much growth is too much? With the economy still in flux, local governments continue to approve tens of thousands of acres for use as attractive communities – often replete with their own fire stations, grocery stores and in some cases, water parks. The reform of growth management laws has eased the process for state developers, but some say the problems have persisted long before the DCA was shuttered. While some argue that growth is good, many say it’s hindering local environments and community water resources in the long-run.

"What sprawl costs Northeast Florida".

Dem primary will decide central Florida race?

"A retired prosecutor from the Casey Anthony murder trial has announced that he is running for the state attorney's office in central Florida. ... Jeff Ashton said he would challenge his former boss, Lawson Lamar, to be the Orange-Osceola State Attorney. Lamar has served as state attorney since 1989... Another former prosecutor from Lamar's office, Ryan Williams, also has announced a bid for the state attorney's office. Ashton, Lamar and Williams are all Democrats, and no Republican has announced a candidacy." "Prosecutor in Casey Anthony trial runs for office".

"A nearly $2 billion gap"

Gary Fineout: "Florida lawmakers head into their new session this month confronted by a nearly $2 billion gap. This time around, it is primarily caused by a combination of growing expenses in safety net programs such as Medicaid and a sluggish economic recovery that is expected to keep tax dollars from growing significantly." "Leaders taking knife to budget".

Innocuous Facebook posts could become minefields of litigation

"Public officials might have more to worry about with Facebook than just an embarrassing picture from college resurfacing. Seemingly innocuous posts could become minefields of litigation under Florida's tough public records laws, which require everything on an elected official's or government's page to be carefully catalogued. If elected officials are caught chatting about anything which may come up later for a vote, they could land themselves in legal trouble." "Facebook complicated for public officials".

Yaaawwwnnn...

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "They may not be household names throughout Tampa Bay. Most of them don't old an elected public office. But these are six influential dealmakers who will have a major impact on public policy and the success of our communities in 2012." "Dealmakers to watch".

"Scott has claimed victory on every front"

2012-01-01T08:46:00.002-05:00

Scott "rode into office pledging to slash billions of dollars in taxes, dramatically reduce the size of government and create 700,000 jobs."

A year later, during hundreds of media appearances, speeches and workdays, Scott has claimed victory on every front.

Democrats "are really frustrated because I did what I said I was going to do. They're just shocked," he told a Republican governors' meeting in Orlando in November.

But the picture of Scott that is emerging after his first year in office is far more nuanced, one of political retrenchment and policy recalculation.

Entering his second year, his approval ratings remain abysmal — hovering just over 30 percent in most polls — despite a midsummer overhaul of his inner ring of advisers and a strategic shift away from objectives such as cutting corporate taxes and slashing funding for schools.

"Fearful that he could be a drag on Republicans in the 2012 elections,"

Scott's political team has ramped up fundraising, amassing $424,500 from insurance and business interests, through the political fund called "Let's Get to Work" that helped pay for his $80 million barrage of ads in 2010.

The effort, led by campaign strategist Tony Fabrizio, is to take over the "branding" attempts previously handled by the Republican Party of Florida, which paid for robo-calls to voters and Web advertising to highlight Scott's accomplishments last spring.

"It's so people know it's basically his brand," said lobbyist Brian Ballard, who is helping raise money for the group.

"Scott's first year marked by retrenchment, recalculation".

Haridopolos the "Loser of the year"

Times Political Editor Adam C. Smith gives us his "political winners and losers of 2011", beginning with the

Winner of the year

Jeb Bush. Absence makes the heart grow fonder every day, especially when Republicans compare the former Florida governor to the current field of presidential contenders and his two successors as governor.

Loser of the year

Mike Haridopolos. The Florida Senate president presided over an embarrassingly ugly session finale where he looked positively weepy about getting rolled by the Florida House. Then, before admitting that he lied to reporters about approving a severance deal for ousted GOP chairman Jim Greer, Haridopolos had to quit his collapsing U.S. Senate campaign that risked permanently damaging his political brand amid publicity about sweetheart book deals and consulting contracts he never could explain reasonably.

Much more here: "The winners and losers list of 2011 Florida politics".

Sad day

"The St. Petersburg Times will become the Tampa Bay Times on Sunday. Newspaper officials announced the change in November, saying the new name reflects the newspaper's growth across the Tampa Bay region." "St. Petersburg Times changes name Jan. 1".

"Florida will leap to national prominence this month"

Thomas Tryon: "The news from Florida in 2012 will be full of surprises — sensational trials that haven't even been placed on judicial dockets, exposes of celebrities who have yet to expose themselves, weird occurrences, unnaturally intense natural disasters and genuinely unexpected events."

Florida will leap right into national prominence this month, when the Legislature opens its annual session — earlier than the usual spring opening — on Jan. 10. Besides passing a budget, the Legislature's priority will be drawing the boundaries of state Senate and House, and congressional districts. Reapportionment, as the process is known, is always contentious but a pair of factors — Florida's gain of two congressional seats and the first-time application of two constitutional amendments governing redistricting — will raise the stakes and intensify the scrutiny beyond the norm.

What's more, the likely legal challenges of the Legislature's redrawn maps will add to confusion over which candidates will run for which offices — and where.

"Maneuvering over reapportionment will commence from the outset of the legislative session — actually, it's been going on for months — but resolution of redistricting will be pre-empted by the Jan. 31 presidential-preference primary for Republicans."

Florida will be the third state — and the first populous one — to conduct a presidential primary following the Iowa caucuses Tuesday (yes, this Tuesday, which is also the last day to register to vote in Florida's presidential primary).

Since there is no single front-runner among the nine Republican candidates on the ballot in Florida (can anyone name all of them without cheating?) and the outcome of voting in our state is pivotal, the campaigns and candidates with a chance to win will blanket the state.

It will be a spectacle, at the least, with the aftermath and analysis carrying us well into February — as the Legislature continues its session.

The Legislature's deadline for producing the maps of reapportioned districts is March 9 — although approval might require a special session later in the month.

"Starting April 16, candidates for judicial offices, state attorney and public defender begin the official qualifying process. ... May is likely to be crunch time for completion of reapportionment, including reviews by the state Supreme Court and U.S. Justice Department."

In June, the festivities will take on a new sense of urgency and, barring some sort of disaster or court intervention (remember, this is Florida; anything is possible), many of the races will materialize. For a week — starting June 4 — federal, statewide, multi-county, county and district candidates must file their final papers for qualifying to run.

We'll find out then which incumbents will be unchallenged and which will face opposition; we'll also learn the matchups of the candidates for open seats.

Following the filing dates, candidates with partisan opposition will make a two-month sprint toward the Aug. 14 primaries.

Statewide, the most-watched race will be the Republican primary to select the candidate who will challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in November. This year, some of the primaries for legislative seats could be intriguing if, because of redistricting, sitting legislators run against each other.

"This year will be all about elections".

Imagine that: "Scott agency gives itself good grades"

"Gov. Rick Scott's jobs agency gives itself good grades".

Slowing the "assault on ... public employees"?

The Palm Beach Post editorial board suggests that

the Florida Legislature probably will have a more moderate, limited agenda when it convenes this month. That's a change from last year's assault on teachers and other public employees. Lawmakers will be so focused on self-serving redistricting that they won't have time for much else.

"Out with the old. Please. We've had it with Europe's debt, attacks on teachers and Congress' follies".

Only bean counters need apply

"More than tripling the number of graduate degrees awarded in science, technology, engineering and math by 2025 and more than doubling those same bachelor degrees are part of a plan that one local leader says will attract more businesses to Florida." "Board of Governors targets increase in math, science degrees".

Neanderthals battle for Senate presidency

"State Sen. Jack Latvala is mounting a behind-the-scenes campaign for the Senate presidency that could alter the direction of the state Legislature and produce benefits for the Tampa Bay area if it succeeds."

Latvala recently launched a challenge to Sen. Andy Gardiner of Orlando, who is known as a hard-line conservative and has been campaigning for the post for more than a year.

A Clearwater Republican, Latvala is perceived by some as a comparative moderate mounting an insurgency against the conservatives who dominate the Legislature.

Latvala disputes those perceptions, pointing out that he's already part of Republican Senate leadership and has a long history as a conservative Republican, earning a 100 percent rating from the American Conservative Union from the 2011 legislative session.

"I resist the characterization of this as some sort of maverick taking on the establishment," he said in an interview. "I think I have as much right to be called the establishment as anyone does."

But he acknowledges he wants to make the Senate more deliberative and collegial, with room for members' independence, as he says it was when he first served there from 1994 to 2002.

"Bay area lawmaker makes bid to lead state Senate".

"Six areas that should receive particular attention in 2012"

The Miami Herald editors: "Resolutions made now by Florida and Tampa Bay can lead to a smarter investments in time and talent to ensure a brighter future. Here are six areas that should receive particular attention in 2012." "Six resolutions for 2012".

Miami blues

The Miami Herald editorial board: "In Miami, where construction and tourism drove the local economy’s spectacular rise in the early part of the last decade, the downturn has hit particularly hard."

Tourism has been on the rebound for some time, however, and shows no sign of abating. International visitors from Brazil and elsewhere are not only spending their vacations here, but snapping up real-estate bargains with gusto, one of the few glimmers of light in an otherwise gloomy picture.

Recovery also depends on devising solutions to save vital public services, instead of simply cutting payrolls across the board to make ends meet. The Miami-Dade County School Board and Superintendant Alberto Carvalho offered a good example by making do with reduced revenues from taxpayers and from Tallahassee — which has cut education support to local districts unmercifully for years — without firing teachers.

Broward County School District, take note. It can be done, with the right leadership and agreement on priorities. Every entity that relies on property tax dollars has had to learn how to make do with less. In 2012, that need will be just as great, but in Miami-Dade County, Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who took office after the recall of former Mayor Carlos Alvarez, has shown a keen appreciation for the need to impose austerity at County Hall. Yet he has avoided the mistake of wholesale dismissals and has offered unions a tradeoff in the form of lower salaries in exchange for jobs security.Ultimately, however, neither tourism, construction nor public budgets lead the way toward a new and better economy for South Florida.

The answer lies in providing a nurturing environment for the driving forces of the 21st Century economy, including biotechnology, other forms of science and cyber-communications. The region needs jobs that will keep our local young talent here and avoid a brain drain.A strong example is MAKO Surgical, a medical device company founded in 2004 that employs more than 400 workers, including over 100 engineers, focusing on the use of robotics in orthopedic surgery. Headquartered in Broward County, it is one of the fastest growing technology companies in the country. The University of Miami’s biotech center also will attract more tech businesses to South Florida.Still to be decided: Casino gambling.

Community leaders have stepped up to hold forums on whether three resort destinations in South Florida would offer the right mix for the area’s economic future, and whether the proliferation of other gambling can be stemmed with a proposed statewide gambling commission. As the Legislature considers the issue, it’s important to give local voters a voice by the ballot box to decide such a game-changer.

"More than jobs: a winning strategy". See also "Our goals for a vibrant 2012"."

Race to Tampa

"GOP race to Tampa starts with Tuesday's caucus in Iowa".

"Leave it to our lawmakers to lie in the service of religion"

2011-12-31T08:23:00.002-05:00

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: "When it comes to public education, the Florida Constitution is a blunt instrument. As such, it is more suited to mayhem than nurturing."

Voters intended to nurture public education when, in 1998, they amended the constitution to declare that providing a "high quality" public education is "a paramount duty" of the state. A current lawsuit that relies on that provision asks the courts to order the Legislature to give public schools more money and quit harassing teachers with FCAT-based school grades and performance reviews. Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford has ruled that courts have that authority, if the plaintiffs were to prevail. The 1st District Court of Appeal sort of agreed, but mostly asked the Florida Supreme Court to weigh in.

"Maybe the high court will allow courts to force lawmakers to cough up more money for schools, but I'd be stunned. Most likely, the 'paramount duty' language will remain what it's always been: a noble sentiment with no practical impact."

Of equal note, Judge Fulford's colleague on the Leon County circuit bench, Judge Terry Lewis, has issued a ruling that, if it stands up, would stop the enemies of public education from wielding a new constitutional bludgeon. This spring the Legislature endorsed a constitutional amendment for the November 2012 ballot that, if approved, would kill off the current constitutional prohibition against giving state money to religious institutions. That prohibition is the only thing that has kept Tallahassee from giving vouchers to every parent who wants to send his or her child to a private religious school.

The Legislature called its proposed constitutional change the "Religious Freedom" amendment. Nobody would vote against "Religious Freedom," right? But Judge Lewis correctly ruled that the Legislature's language describing the amendment was deceptive. Leave it to our lawmakers to lie in the service of religion.

The lawmakers claim that Florida's prohibition against giving state money directly to religious institutions amounts to discrimination against religion.

"Public education a priority in name only for Florida".

RNC considers potential penalties for Florida's early primary

"Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus says the delegates to be awarded in Florida's primary might be divided up proportionally among the candidates, rather than awarded en masse to the winner, thereby diluting the state's impact on the nominating process. If that happens, the Florida primary winner could be awarded 15 to 20 delegates instead of 50, cutting the value of a victory."

The potential penalty is in response to the Florida GOP's decision to set the primary for an earlier date, Jan. 31, in violation of party rules.

In a letter to state Republican Party Chairman Lenny Curry, Priebus also raised the possibility that the Florida delegation to the 2012 convention in Tampa could get less-than-choice locations for its hotel accommodations and convention floor seating, and reduced guest passes and VIP privileges.

Many members of the Republican National Committee are angry that Florida, in a bid to have a bigger impact on the nomination, moved up its primary date to Jan. 31, a violation of party rules intended to delay the start of the primary season.

"Early primary may draw more GOP penalties".

Ron Paul's stealth Florida campaign

"U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, the grumpy old man of the Republican presidential field, is benefiting from a stealth campaign in Florida that could make him a surprise contender in the Jan. 31 primary, especially if he wins Tuesday's Iowa caucus." "'Stealth' campaign promotes Ron Paul in Florida".

Romney and Gingrich in dead heat in Florida

"As Florida voters begin to focus on the state's pivotal GOP presidential primary at the end of January, the leading contenders are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, according to a poll by TelOpinion Research. Romney and Gingrich are essentially in a statistical dead heat, with Romney leading with 27 percent of the vote to Gingrich's 26, according to the telephone survey of 780 Republican voters, conducted from Dec. 15-19." "Romney, Gingrich Tied in Florida, Poll Finds".

Lobbying matters

"Though Florida law gives regulators the power to stop giving Medicaid money to homes caught abusing and neglecting residents, The Miami Herald found regulators routinely funnel millions every year to some of the state’s most dangerous facilities."

Since 2007, the Agency for Healthcare Administration has doled out more than $23 million to nearly 90 homes that could have been cut off from public dollars — including facilities where caretakers were caught beating and sexually abusing frail elders.

The failure of AHCA to turn to one of its toughest enforcement tools more often comes after years of neglect and abuse cases rising in ALFs across the state — with nearly one resident dying a month at the hands of caretakers. Most of the money goes to the ALFs to provide a range of support services like feeding, bathing, medication supervision and health therapies.

"State keeps funding dangerous ALFs".

Occupy Tampa

"Occupy Tampa has moved its headquarters from downtown to a site in West Tampa owned by strip club king Joe Redner. Redner opened Voice of Freedom Park, 2101 W. Main St., to the protesters earlier this month and the group moved its headquarters roughly two miles west to the new site this week." "Occupy Tampa moves headquarters to Joe Redner's park".

Scott's hospital commission

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board: "A state commission that has spent eight months examining hospitals and health care in Florida meets today, three days before its deadline for making recommendations to Gov. Rick Scott. The Commission on Review of Taxpayer Funded Hospitals has expended significant time and energy, and its 10 members may feel compelled to issue wide-ranging recommendations to justify its efforts or, in some cases, pursue their ideology-based goals."

The panel was created by first-year Gov. Scott, who once headed the nation's largest for-profit hospital chain. Scott's order creating the commission and setting its agenda reflected his biases, using assumptions that undervalued public hospitals.

"Keep hospital proposals simple". Background: "Hospital commission prepared to release final report".

Dirty water delay

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the delay would allow the Legislature to approve replacement rules being developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. But an attorney representing environmental groups is asking whether the delay would violate a court agreement that required EPA to propose the federal rules." "Feds propose delaying controversial water quality rules while Florida works on its own".

Bondi loses, appeals

"Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a motion Friday with the 4th District Court of Appeal, asking it to certify as a matter of great public importance its recent decision in a case against a law firm accused of using fraudulent practices to speed up foreclosure cases."

On Dec. 14, the court stated that Bondi’s office lacked authority under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) to issue a subpoena for extensive records of the David J. Stern law firm, reversing a lower court decision to deny a motion to quash the subpoena.

"Bondi to seek Supreme Court appeal in foreclosure mill case".

Redistricting map changes

"Reapportionment Committee chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said there is "nothing earth-shattering" in either of the proposed committee substitutes, but that the new measures include input from people, including supervisors of elections, who offered suggestions for making the boundaries smoother." "Redistricting maps get year-end changes". Related: "2012 Session Outlook: Redistricting and Reapportionment".

Week in Review

"The Week in Review for Dec. 27 to Dec. 30".

Privatization follies

"As nearly two dozen states, including Florida, work to turn over their Medicaid programs to private plans hoping for cost savings and better health care, Connecticut -- the 'insurance capital of the world' -- and Oklahoma are doing the opposite, Kaiser Health News reports."

On Sunday, Connecticut ends its 15-year history with managed care organizations because, state officials say, they did not fulfill their promises. Instead, the state will take on the financial responsibility. In 2005, Oklahoma moved away from using private plans, and officials there express no regrets. Nationally, managed care plans oversee care for 27 million of the 60 million people enrolled in Medicaid, and control $150 billion of the $400 billion in Medicaid spending.

"2 states bucking Medicaid privatization trend".

League of Cities says "jump!" - editors say "how high?"

"Address muni pensions".

School food program transfers to DAG

"Florida's school food and nutrition program transfers to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from the Department of Education, effective Jan. 1." "Florida's school program soon to be under department of agriculture".

Scott's veto of public broadcasting funds creates funding crisis

A funding crisis is "the local legacy among area public broadcasters after Gov. Rick Scott's decision in June to veto nearly $4.8 million in state funding for such outlets across Florida. Each public TV station lost more than $300,000; each radio station more than $60,000. Across the Tampa Bay area, WEDU, WMNF and WUSF radio and TV stations saw total losses of up to $1 million." "Florida public broadcasters search for solutions to their funding crisis". Meanwhile, "State keeps funding dangerous ALFs".

Legislature "would do better without" Haridopolos

2011-12-30T09:25:00.002-05:00

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ boyish charm and leadership are so smudged by the fudge he has spread over his legislative career that his colleagues would do better without him."

The latest exhibit against him is his admission that he lied to a reporter about a key issue in the ongoing saga of an ousted chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Lying to a reporter is not a crime, but doing so deceives and breaks the faith of the readers and viewers of those false statements.

Mr. Haridopolos’ backtracking came in a sworn deposition in a lawsuit brought by Jim Greer, the ex-party chairman, who wants the $124,000 settlement promised him for his resignation. Mr. Haridopolos had told Miami Herald reporter Marc Caputo in a videotaped interview that there was no such settlement. Now he says he wasn’t truthful because he thought the settlement was confidential. Gee, has he never heard of “No comment”? Or “That’s confidential”?

Mr. Greer has been charged by a statewide grand jury with fraud and money laundering related to party fundraising and payments to himself. He has claimed that party officials knew of his activities and are using the criminal inquiry as an excuse not to pay the settlement.

Mr. Haridopolos’ testimony also was replete with fuzzy memories about transfers of large sums, of his own consultant having meetings about the settlement and even if he had voted for Greer as chairman in 2009.

Mr. Greer, the Senate president testified, was a bit of a nasty fellow although Mr. Haridopolos praised him when he resigned. Nice words but all “political,” he says. That’s a candid if telling admission about politics. This is hardly the memory that one might expect from an erstwhile history professor. And hardly the transparency he promised when with great trumpets he removed the door to his office to herald his arrival as state Senate president in November, 2010.

That transparency has been absent in his professional life since he was elected in 2000 to the Florida House. He first collected $150,000 from his former employer, Brevard Community College, for writing a book of “historical value.” So said the college. The 175-page result details his political observations. Since when do community colleges receive public money to sponsor such books? Mr. Haridopolos also got $75,000, full-time pay, for teaching one class at the University of Florida. When questioned about his lack of a doctorate for that pay level, he said he was earning one at the University of Arkansas. The university said he had not been enrolled there since 2000.

"Leadership smudged by the fudge".

Empowering lobbyists

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Term limits sap expertise and empower lobbyists, but residents approved them 2-to-1".

Daddy's boy

"Connie Mack, son of a former senator and grandson of a famous baseball manager, is far outpacing the rest of the field of Republican Senate candidates in Florida." "Poll: Mack holds big lead in GOP Senate race".

But they looked the other way when WalMart crushed "mom-and-pop shops"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon have been all too happy to stand by and let the nation's Internet-only retailers reap huge competitive advantages over Florida merchants, thanks to a giant loophole in sales tax policy."

But now that the largest among these carpetbaggers — Amazon.com — is engaging in predatory practices specifically designed to undermine bricks-and-mortar retailers, will they finally stand up for Florida merchants, workers and schoolchildren by passing Internet sales tax reform? Or will they continue to do the bidding of out-of-state companies who don't employee Floridians or support our communities?

The company that has blocked sales tax reform across the country launched an all-out attack on traditional retailers this month. Amazon transformed its vast customer base into an army of corporate spies. Customers who used Amazon's price-check application in a traditional store that day could buy select items from Amazon for 5 percent less. The gimmick cost Amazon little. Customers could collect no more than $15 in savings over three items. But in exchange, the behemoth gained a vast collection of information on its competition, from big-box retailers to mom-and-pop shops.

"Close Web sales tax loophole".

As Scott dithers, 20 percent of Floridians rely on public charity (the rest of us)

The Miami Herald editors: "At the state level, Gov. Rick Scott is trying to persuade the Obama administration to give Florida a waiver from federal requirements in return for Medicaid funds. The main issue is how to control the unmanageable costs — Medicaid now takes the lion’s share of the state budget — without shortchanging patients. The irony is that Republicans in Tallahassee condemn the federal healthcare overhaul for 'rationing care' but they’ve devised a system that perforce rations care for Medicaid patients by putting them into managed-care systems."

Whether this is a good idea is unclear because the effectiveness of the state’s Medicaid reform plan has yet to be tested. But a recent study by Georgetown University and a private fund says 800,000 people may be forced out of Medicaid if they must pay the state’s proposed $10 per month premium.Meanwhile, Gov. Scott has turned down millions in planning funds from Washington to begin implementing the Affordable Care Act, under the dubious theory that it’s not legal until the Supreme Court says so. Even governors of other states who don’t like the new healthcare law are eagerly accepting the money. Mr. Scott should do likewise.

The Supreme Court’s failure to uphold the Affordable Care Act would be a huge setback for reform. Consider: Florida is the lead plaintiff in the case, and yet the sorry state of our state should be Exhibit A for the federal government, given that 20 percent of Florida residents don’t have insurance and have to rely on public charity (the rest of us) when they have to go to a hospital.

Until the court decides, though, there’s other work to be done at the federal level. At last count, 781 cases of Medicare fraud had been brought in the Southern District of Florida between 2005 and 2011, involving $2.9 billion in fraudulent claims. A total of 160 defendants were charged in the year that ended Sept. 30.

"America’s failing healthcare system".

"Money for work on nuclear plants"

"An advocacy group notified the state Public Service Commission that it is taking the unusual step of appealing an order that allows utilities to collect money for work on future or existing nuclear plants." "Clean energy group to challenge PSC decision on nuke funding".

Personnel changes

"Scott’s office announced a few personnel changes on Thursday ahead of the new year."

Bonnie Hazelton is the new director of the Office of Open Government, replacing Carolyn Timmann, who left the position to run for the Martin County Clerk of Courts. Hazelton was most recently the director of the Office of the Ombudsman and Public Services at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Tom Doughty will take the reins of the Information Technology department of Scott’s office. He replaces Bruce Slager as IT director.

Mike Dew takes over as director of external affairs for Scott’s office from Karen Giorno, who served in that position since April. Dew will carry on supervising Scott’s regional representatives as he does in his current role as director of public liaisons.

Julie Kay Roberts fills a vacancy in Scott’s office as chief of protocol, but will continue in her current position as director of scheduling.

"Gov. Scott's office announces staff reshuffling".

FPOF hires

"In a press release Thursday, the RPOF said Kristen McDonald, who was a communications assistant, will be the party's press secretary. She completed a six-month internship early this year in Gov. Rick Scott's communications office. ... Dan Dawson joins the RPOF staff as new media director. He was a travel aide and new media director on Jeff Atwater’s CFO campaign. Dawson then started his own consulting business. This year he ran the 'war room' in Orlando for Jon Huntsman's presidential campaign." "RPOF appoints two during staff changes".

Damn reger'lations

"Winn-Dixie recalls canned green beans".

Minumum wage

"The minimum wage rises 36 cents -- about 5 percent -- to $7.67 an hour beginning Jan. 1." "Minimum wage rises Sunday".

Clemens may run for a Senate seat

"Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, whose District 89 seat is being broken up by redistricting, says he will run for a Senate seat in central Palm Beach County if one is created during the Legislature's redrawing of district maps." "Orphaned House member says he'll run for Senate".

Session Outlook: Economic Development, Redistricting and Utilities and Energy

"2012 Session Outlook: Economic Development", "2012 Session Outlook: Redistricting and Reapportionment" and "2012 Session Outlook: Utilities and Energy".

To the victor go the spoils

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Florida's government spends billions in taxpayer dollars on contracts for goods and services. The total only grows as private companies take over more state responsibilities, like prisons and child protection. And the sheer volume of contracts magnifies the risk that waste, fraud or abuse will go undetected. Jeff Atwater, Florida's chief financial officer wants the Legislature to add another set of eyes — his — to the contracting process. At a time when lawmakers are slashing basic services to balance the budget, any reasonable effort to ensure state government is getting a good deal for taxpayers deserves serious consideration." "Let CFO review contracts".

So long as it isn't just another manifestation of the Florida Republican Party spoils system. As Paul Krugman pointed out,

there's a lot of experience with privatization by governments at all levels -- state, federal, and local; that record doesn't support extravagant claims about improved efficiency. Sometimes there are significant cost reductions, but all too often the promised savings turn out to be a mirage. In particular, it's common for private contractors to bid low to get the business, then push their prices up once the government work force has been disbanded. Projections of a 20 or 30 percent cost saving across the board are silly -- and one suspects that the officials making those projections know that. ...

We don't have to speculate about what will follow, because Jeb Bush has already blazed the trail. Florida's governor [was] an aggressive privatizer, and as The Miami Herald put it after a careful study of state records, ''his bold experiment has been a success -- at least for him and the Republican Party, records show. The policy has spawned a network of contractors who have given him, other Republican politicians and the Florida G.O.P. millions of dollars in campaign donations.''

What's interesting about this network of contractors isn't just the way that big contributions are linked to big contracts; it's the end of the traditional practice in which businesses hedge their bets by giving to both parties. The big winners in Mr. Bush's Florida are companies that give little or nothing to Democrats. Strange, isn't it? It's as if firms seeking business with the state of Florida are subject to a loyalty test.

So am I saying that we are going back to the days of Boss Tweed and Mark Hanna? Gosh, no -- those guys were pikers. One-party control of today's government offers opportunities to reward friends and punish enemies that the old machine politicians never dreamed of.

"Victors and Spoils"

"Troubling and reminiscent"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "A new study by the Americans for Insurance Reform should reverberate in Tallahassee as Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers prepare to reform no-fault auto insurance, including personal injury protection, or PIP."

The project of the New York Law School's Center for Justice and Democracy claims insurers have faked some of the industry's "crises" to pump up profits and concludes that the professed need for premiums to rise to outpace claims and other expenses is simply a myth.

The insurance industry was quick to dispute the study, insisting that insurance markets remain competitive and coverage remains affordable. Still, the findings are troubling and reminiscent of another insurance crisis back in 2003 that had tied up the state capital in controversy.

Medical malpractice was the burning issue, and at the time the war of words between the attorneys, physicians, insurance industry, not to mention then-Gov. Jeb Bush and Senate President Jim King, left lawmakers reeling as to how best to proceed in crafting a meaningful reform.

Enter the seemingly extraordinary idea of taking sworn testimony as senators used the chamber's subpoena powers to obtain answers to a host of questions that had eluded them, such as "How much money is the insurance industry taking in from premiums and how much is it paying out in benefits?" Or, "Have some insurers moved profits around to conceal profits?"

"Sworn testimony needed at insurance hearings".

T-Shirt sales booming

"Business in 2011: Has Anyone Heard the Governor Mention the Word 'Jobs'?".

"The Tampa Bay area a hotbed for anti-Muslim activity"

"The Tampa Bay area has emerged as a hotbed for Muslim and anti-Muslim activity. The local director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations says he's trying to cool things down." "Muslim Leader Reaches Out to Build Bridges in Tampa Bay".

Puffing Ricky

Nancy Smith: "Rick Scott: Florida's 2011 Man for All Reasons".

"So much for public safety or good government"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Five years after Florida's Legislature voted to cloak the names of people holding concealed weapons permits, the number of permits issued has more than doubled. But the most disturbing thing? Floridians have no right to know if their neighbors, estranged spouses or co-workers could be packing. Nor do they have any way to ensure that government bureaucrats are actually denying permits to people who shouldn't have them. So much for public safety or good government." "Lift gun law's cloak of secrecy".

Special districts under the gun

"One of Gov. Rick Scott's first moves in the new year will be to call for a sweeping review of some of the state's oldest governments - Florida's more than 1,600 special districts." "Gov. Scott's latest target: Florida's taxing districts".

Pari-mutuel loopholes

Update: "Bogdanoff offers new proposals on gaming bill".

"HB 4173 would repeal the statute allowing for summer jai alai permits, while SB 1376 would more clearly defines jai alai, horse racing, greyhound dog racing and the parameters for facilities to get new slot machines." "Battle over pari-mutuel loopholes prompts new bills from lawmakers".

Related: "Genting hype is hurting casino bill".

"10 emerging political stories to an eye on in 2012"

2011-12-27T09:13:00.002-05:00

Steve Bousquet's "10 emerging political stories to keep a close eye on in 2012."

10. Outsourcing, in or out? ...

9. Greer's trial. When Jim Greer goes on trial for alleged misdeeds as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, the GOP's free-spending, credit card-loving ways will be on trial, as well.

8. Jack's turn? Two GOP senators are quietly battling to determine which one will become Senate president in 2014: Jack Latvala of Clearwater and Andy Gardiner of Orlando. ...

7. Line drawing. Reapportionment plans for the state House and Senate, and U.S. Congress will shape the state's political leadership for years to come.

6. Where there's a Will … Pasco's Will Weatherford, just 32, is the House point man on reapportionment and will become speaker of the House in fall 2012. ...

5. PPP. The three letters stand for presidential preference primary. Mark the date: Jan. 31. That's when Florida Republicans exert their influence in the selection of the GOP nominee to be formally crowned at the party's convention in August in Tampa.

4. Senate sendoffs. Next year is when term limits exact their full impact on the state Senate, emptying the chamber of much of its experience and institutional know-how. ...

3. Mack the Fourth. Will U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV follow his namesake father's footsteps all the way to the U.S. Senate?

2. Election machinations. The Legislature's big changes to early voting and voter registration in Florida are still unresolved and in the hands of three federal judges in Washington, D.C. Approved or not, they will be a rallying cry for Democrats in 2012.

1. Rick Scott 2.0. The governor has a full year of experience under his belt, and he embarks on the second year of his term with lots to prove.

"Big Florida political stories to watch in 2012".

"Stunting the growth of a promising new industry"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "This month a state House panel approved a bill to repeal the 2008 state law that requires most gasoline sold in Florida to include up to 10 percent ethanol. Sponsor Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Fort Walton Beach, decried the government 'crawling into our gas cans.' Time for a reality check: The bill wouldn't accomplish its purpose. And it could end up stunting the growth of a promising new industry in Florida." "Fla. shouldn't give up on renewable fuels".

2012 Session Outlook

See "2012 Session Outlook: Justice and the Courts" and "2012 Session Outlook: Real Estate and Growth Management".

Florida GOP locks crazies in the attic ... for now

"After an amped-up year of major policy changes, Gov. Rick Scott and Republican leaders may be moving toward the political middle - a stance many say is a sure sign that a major election season is approaching."

Ruling Republicans plan to advance a limited agenda when the legislature convenes next month, a downshift that could be designed in part to avoid the polarizing, partisan clashes that dominated this year's session and its aftermath.

Florida is the nation's largest toss up state in the presidential contest. But just as in the other key presidential battlegrounds of Ohio and Wisconsin, governors suddenly are showing signs of reaching out to opponents after declaring war on them.

"Gov. Rick Scott and Republican leaders may be moving toward political middle".

Social issues low on the list

"Anti-immigration rhetoric flared up on Florida's 2010 campaign trail and became a winning wedge issue for Gov. Rick Scott, who used it to woo the tea party and help win election. But with the 2012 legislative session fast approaching, social issues such as immigration, abortion and welfare change are taking a back seat in the state capital." "This session, social issues are low on Florida lawmakers' list".

The Week Ahead

"The Week Ahead for Dec. 27 to Dec. 30".

Don’t ask, don’t tell about redistricting

"Many lawmakers and other key players in Florida’s process for drawing new congressional and legislative districts have adopted their own don’t ask, don’t tell policies. That includes Senate Reapportionment Committee Chairman Don Gaetz. The Niceville Republican insists he doesn’t know, nor does he want to know, how the maps proposed by his panel will affect incumbent members of Congress and the Legislature." "Lawmakers have little to say about redistricting".

From the "values" crowd

"Just as Medicaid prepares for a vast expansion under the federal health care overhaul, the 47-year-old entitlement program for the poor is under increasing pressure as deficit-burdened states chip away at benefits and cut payments to doctors." "State cuts to Medicaid affect patients, providers".

More from the "values" crowd

"Florida defends its denial of tuition waivers for homeless".

"Ask Charlie Crist"

Randy Schultz: "Name recognition alone can't create a network of professionals and volunteers. Ask Charlie Crist."

Not long ago, Mr. Crist was Florida's most popular politician. In 2008, Republican presidential candidates competed for his endorsement. Until that point, Mr. Crist had had the good sense to know his limits. In 11 years, he went from obscure state senator to governor by moving carefully, like someone testing rocks while crossing a stream. When he ran for the Senate in 1998 against Bob Graham, Mr. Crist knew that he would lose. The campaign, though, made him a statewide candidate.

His time on the vice presidential speculation list, though, made Mr. Crist stop looking at the rocks. In May 2009, barely two years into his term as governor, he announced that he would run for the U.S. Senate seat that Mel Martinez was leaving early. Mr. Crist then named his former chief of staff, George LeMieux, to be the placeholder. That was a sign of entitlement.

A year later, the tea party ascendant in the Republican Party, Mr. Crist had lost the GOP base. He had to make that Senate run as an independent, putting together his own organization. He did defeat a weak Democrat, Kendrick Meek, but he finished 20 points behind Marco Rubio.

Mr. Crist picked up some Democrats who thought that he had a better chance of beating Mr. Rubio. He probably picked up some moderate Republicans who shun the tea party's reactionary philosophy. What Mr. Crist couldn't pick up were all those Republican volunteers who staff phone banks, stuff envelopes and drive voters to the polls. He couldn't get the staffers who keep campaigns focused and nimble. He couldn't put together an organization to campaign effectively in Florida.

Granted, Mr. Crist had the additional problem of credibility as a third-party candidate. He left the GOP only because he would have lost the primary. Still, if someone with Mr. Crist's profile couldn't pull it off, who could?

"Forget third party. Demand major change from major parties".

Pari-mutuel confusion

"In spite of state laws on the issues, confusion still surrounds Internet sweepstakes cafes, Internet sales taxes, the tax rate on hotel rooms sold by online travel companies and what types of pari-mutuel activities are allowed in Florida." "Despite calls for clarity, some state laws remain muddled".

Second amendment stoopid

"Toddler critical after being shot in the head".

Candidates ignore Florida at their peril

2011-12-26T09:19:00.002-05:00

"The attention may be focused on the Republican presidential contests around the corner in Iowa and New Hampshire, but the candidates ignore what's under way in Florida at their peril."

More Florida Republicans — about 370,000 — already have requested absentee ballots for the Jan. 31 primary than the number of Republicans who voted in the 2008 Iowa and New Hampshire contests combined.

The ever-growing volume of votes cast before the primary in Florida is one of the factors that make the state a very different challenge from the earliest elections, in Iowa on Jan. 3, New Hampshire on Jan. 10 and South Carolina on Jan. 21. Candidates not only have to grapple with the sheer size and diversity of Florida, but they must prepare for a contest where half the votes or more are in well before the primary.

"While focus is now Iowa, GOP can't sleep on Florida".

Florida's fed stimulus "cushion is running out"

"Throughout the recession and economic hangover, Florida social-services advocates have warned that budget woes could unravel the safety net that supports millions of low-income families, seniors trying to stay in their homes, and people with debilitating illnesses or disabilities."But entering Florida's fifth year of billion-dollar budget shortfalls, the state's core social services — from medical care to drug treatment to organ transplants — have proven remarkably resilient to cuts, thanks largely to billions of dollars routed to Florida by the 2009 federal stimulus act.

But now that cushion is running out. And much of the give-and-take over how to balance Florida's budget in the coming months will revolve around whether to replace stimulus cash — or cut services to the poor, sick and elderly by hundreds of millions of dollars."Loss of stimulus funds imperils social services".

"Unpromising patches of habitat have become vital"

"They are the most unlikely wildlife refuges: a corporate park next to Interstate 95, a set of retention ponds along Florida's Turnpike in Palm Beach County, a landfill in northern Broward County."

But these unpromising patches of habitat have become vital to many animal species, particularly migratory birds desperate for resting spots before long journeys to Mexico or Central America. With the spread of strip malls, housing and office buildings across South Florida, birds traveling what's known as the Atlantic Flyway are forced to rely on scraps of habitat that persist amid the concrete and steel.

"South Florida's unlikely wildlife habitats".

Term limits

"Nearly a decade after Palm Beach County voters overwhelmingly approved term limits for county commissioners, the Florida Supreme Court will rule in 2012 on whether those limits are constitutional." "Only two four-year terms for Palm Beach County commissioners? Florida Supreme Court to decide in 2012".

"A spark for the state's stalled economy"

"[S]ome big-money backers are touting a new attraction that promises to boost jobs: Casinos. They argue Miami can become a shimmering East Coast version of Las Vegas, generating a spark for the state's stalled economy. Miami's selling points, they argue, could help the area transform itself into a serious rival to Vegas. " "Future of casinos in Florida may come down to jobs".

Southerland mailer off the mark

"U. S. Rep. Steve Southerland sent direct mail to his Florida constituents this month with a multiple-choice survey, telling them: 'Make your voice heard in Washington.'"

However, "Southerland's [mailer] implies the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 didn't help job creation. At one point in his note, he explains: 'Higher taxes, record spending, and bigger government have failed to create jobs or boost economic growth.' What does the evidence say?"

In November, the Congressional Budget Office released the most recent report, estimating that in the third quarter of 2011, Recovery Act policies:

• Raised real gross domestic product by between 0.3 percent and 1.9 percent.

• Lowered the unemployment rate by between 0.2 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points.

• Increased the number of people employed by between 0.4 million and 2.4 million.

• Increased the number of full-time-equivalent jobs by 0.5 million to 3.3 million. (Increases in FTE jobs include shifts from part-time to full-time work or overtime and are thus generally larger than increases in the number of employed workers.)

So, since the stimulus bill passed through August 2011, 2.4 million jobs were lost. But without it, 2.8 million to 4.8 million people might be out of work, according to the nonpartisan CBO and private economic analysts.

"PolitiFact Florida: Florida Republican is close on jobless figures but blame misplaced".

"A favorable regional image"?

"Millions of dollars and months of preparation focus on four days in August when tens of thousands of delegates, media, protesters and hangers-on will join Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and friends at the 2012 Republican National Convention."

But the greater payback for host city Tampa could take place in the years after presidential and vice presidential candidates are selected.

Sustainable improvements in transportation, economic development, security and high-tech communications are the Tampa Bay Host Committee's key goals beyond a short-term outlook to fill hotel beds and project a favorable regional image to a worldwide audience.

"GOP convention's afterglow may linger".

The best we can do?

"Some ... people to watch in Florida politics in 2012:"

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio: One of the few politicians who combines appeal to the tea party movement with solid backing from the Republican establishment. He's coveted as a running mate for the 2012 presidential candidate, a role he says he doesn't want. In any case, he will be a star at the 2012 GOP convention in Tampa.

State Sen. Jack Latvala: The experienced and canny veteran legislator, often a maverick, is mounting an insurgency against the Tallahassee GOP establishment by challenging the party's pick, Sen. Andy Gardiner of Orlando, for Senate president in the 2015-16 term. ...

Former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio: Is she headed for a race for higher office? Governor? Cabinet? A congressional seat after the district remapping? ...

Former Gov. Charlie Crist: The rumors never stop. Crist is attending another Democratic fundraiser. Crist is making calls to South Florida Democratic donors. Crist's new boss, superlawyer [?] John Morgan, is pushing him to Democratic leaders. ...

Former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink: After she won the CFO seat in 2006 in her first run for office, the first new Democratic statewide winner in eight years, she looked like the party's future. ...

State Sen. Nan Rich: Can a South Florida liberal ever win another statewide election? Rich, an eloquent spokeswoman for the party's most idealistic issues, including education and helping children and the disabled, is likely to try to find out.

"Poised to make a move?"

Unnecessary and tragic

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The accidental deaths earlier this month of a 17-year-old boy and the young man charged with his care and the injuries to six other boys — all in a vehicle that plunged into a canal — were as unnecessary as they are tragic. The boys had no choice in this matter; they were delinquent kids in state custody, placed in a private school." "An accident waiting to happen".

"Obama did the nation — and Florida in particular — a great service"

2011-12-25T08:07:00.002-05:00

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The Obama administration did the nation — and Florida in particular — a great service by putting forth an ambitious plan to restore the Gulf of Mexico. The federal government and the states must follow through to protect it." "Cleaner gulf, healthier future".

"Nelson likely to win third term"

"One reason Florida's U.S. Senate race has yet to capture much attention and excitement? Even in a political climate where the public is fed up with Washington politicians, politicos in Florida overwhelmingly expect Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson to win another term." "Political insiders say Sen. Bill Nelson likely to win third term".

Fitzgerald "Winner of the Week"

Adam C. Smith says Keith Fitzgerald, the former Democratic state representative running against U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, is the "Winner of the Week" because he

received plenty of ammunition to question Buchanan's fitness for the job last week. While Buchanan declared himself "completely exonerated" by a Federal Election Commission report about alleged illegal campaign contributions, the report cast serious doubts on Buchanan's truthfulness and his compliance with federal law.

"What's more, the House Committee on Ethics announced it was extending an investigation into the fundraising activities of Buchanan, who already faced a separate inquiry by the U.S. Justice Department."

What a deal

"While many Americans believe that illegal immigrants don't pay taxes, the Social Security Administration sees billions of dollars flow into its coffers every year that have been deducted from paychecks issued to undocumented workers using false names and phony Social Security numbers - money those workers will almost certainly never see again." "Illegal workers pay taxes, won't benefit".

Desperate GOPers grub for the "Jeb!" endorsement

"Jeb. Sr. — the elusive endorsement that seems most coveted by the candidates." "As GOP candidates vie for Bush backing, Jeb hangs back".

"The year of good government"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The year of good government in the making".

Paper pushers go after law enforcement officers and firemen

"The Florida League of Cities, an organization representing the state’s municipalities, is lobbying hard for the proposed legislation. The bill negates a law passed in 1999 under then-Gov. Jeb Bush, requiring cities to dedicate growth in tax revenue from property and casualty insurance premiums to extra police and firefighter pension benefits." "Florida legislators target extra pension benefits for police, firemen".

"Bondi has moved farther and faster politically than almost anyone"

"In September, when Mitt Romney opened his Tampa campaign headquarters, one other speaker shared his stage, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi."

Bondi had turned down Romney for an endorsement, staying neutral in the primary, but he wanted her on the stage with him. That's a measure of the political cachet she has built up after only 11 months in office.

Political insiders say she has moved farther and faster politically than almost anyone on the current Florida political scene.

In 2010, she won a statewide race for Florida's highest-profile Cabinet post in her first run for elective office, a rare feat.

She said at the time, and often repeats, that she has no ambitions beyond the attorney general's office.

"I want to run for re-election for attorney general. Do I want to be governor? No," she said. "I just want to be the best attorney general I can.

"In Tallahassee, you see people running for the next office while they're in one — not me."

But her political assets — she's young, photogenic, speaks well in public and has a political base in the crucial Tampa Bay area — make other Republicans see her as a potential candidate.

Her national image, shaped by years of appearances as a Fox News legal affairs commentator, got another boost when she recently helped moderate a presidential primary debate.

For Republicans, such assets outweigh controversies that have affected her tenure as attorney general — the biggest over accusations that her office hasn't been aggressive enough in prosecuting mortgage foreclosure fraud.

"Attorney General Bondi's ascent has been meteoric".

"Was 2011 wacky, or what?"

"Was 2011 wacky, or what? See what you remember, and no fair peeking at the answers!" "A quiz on 2011’s politics of the absurd".

"Who owns that water"?

"The next time you go to your kitchen faucet for a drink, think about who owns that water."

Because for every expert who says it belongs to you, others counter you merely have Florida's permission to use it, and you pay only for having water sanitized and pumped into your home.

That disagreement illustrates an intensifying debate over whether the state should regulate water in the future as essentially the private property of metropolitan utilities, agricultural corporations and owners of large properties.

"In Florida, whose water is it, anyway?"

"Scott awakens old animosity"

"And suddenly, Scott was at the center of the latest in a 50-year series of racially charged conflicts between a predominantly white Florida government and one of the nation's most prestigious black universities, conflicts that have provoked lingering bitterness in generations of FAMU alumni." "Scott awakens old animosity between political leadership, FAMU".

Miami-Dade Commissioners’ resort-casino priorities

"In a bid to ensure Miami-Dade County emerges a winner, the county commission has written state lawmakers spelling out commissioners’ resort-casino priorities." "Miami-Dade Commission weighs in on casino resorts".

Florida GOP wants to limit testimony

2011-12-24T09:56:00.002-05:00

"The Republican Party of Florida is asking a judge to bar ousted party chairman Jim Greer from asking wide-ranging questions of its chief financial officer, Richard Swarttz, saying he's an accountant and as such, the information he knows about party finances is privileged."

Greer's attorney, Damon Chase, alleges that Swarttz's testimony will damage the state's criminal case because the CFO will testify that he never sent Victory checks to Greer, only to Johnson.

"If there is a bad guy, it's Delmar," Chase said.

But prosecutors allege that Greer had the Tallahassee office of Gray-Robinson set up Victory Strategies and hide his involvement by keeping his name off official corporate documents and having Johnson serve as its only officer.

Greer is suing the party, former chairman John Thrasher and Mike Haridopolos, president of the Florida Senate, in state circuit court in Sanford, alleging they cheated him out of a $123,000 severance package after he agreed to resign in early 2010 following disclosures about lavish party spending.

That's the case in which Greer wants to depose Swarttz. Lawyers for the GOP contend Greer's attorney should only be allowed to ask Swarttz about signing the party's checks to Victory and the party's contract with Victory.

"Florida GOP to judge: Don't make party CFO answer Greer's questions".

"A disappointing end to a first year in office for West"

"In a year of congressional brinkmanship, freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West surprised many supporters and critics in July by endorsing a debt ceiling deal that aligned him with President Obama and Nancy Pelosi and against the tea party and Sen. Marco Rubio."

But the conservative firebrand's support for compromise only goes so far.

When House Speaker John Boehner and GOP leaders agreed Thursday to accept a two-month extension of a payroll tax holiday rather than the yearlong extension the House approved, West blasted the agreement as a triumph for "the politics of demagoguery."

Neither West nor anyone else formally objected, however, when the House quickly approved the deal on a voice vote Friday. It marked a disappointing end to a first year in office for West, who was one of the most visible and influential rookies in a GOP caucus where freshmen wielded unusual clout.

"West influential, 'most buzzworthy' in first year, but disappointed at end".

"Health-care executives want to scrap current system"

Aaron Deslatte: "A new group called Patients for Fair Compensation is pushing here for transformative changes to the medical malpractice system."

The group, founded by Georgia health-care executives, wants to scrap the current system that sees injured patients battle it out in the courts with hospitals, doctors and insurance companies.

Florida lawmakers have attempted for years to reduce awards and plaintiff-lawyer fees in medical malpractice cases. Gov. Jeb Bush won passage in 2003 of reforms that capped the "non-economic" losses that injury victims could collect in court.

But a recent report by The James Madison Institute, a conservative Tallahassee think-tank, noted that while the caps "slightly lowered" doctors' insurance premiums, "this did not directly reduce the cost of care in Florida."

The Patients group wants to replace the current tort system with a medical review board of practitioners, much like what's used in the Workers' Compensation system. Patient complaints would be reviewed by medical experts, settled and paid without going to court. ...

Instituting such a sweeping change in litigation-rich Florida would be a major coup — although its supporters concede the idea is likely a multiyear endeavor. State Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City Beach, and Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, have agreed to sponsor the legislation for the 2012 session that starts Jan. 10.

The group has an inside track with Gov. Rick Scott, a former Hospital Corporation of America executive. One of its founding members is Charles Evans, a former HCA regional president and board chairman for Solantic, the chain of urgent-care clinics Scott founded after he left HCA.

The governor has expressed support for their concept, they said.

In Florida, trial lawyers are staying mum for the moment.

"Group aims to move medical malpractice claims from courts to review boards".

"Barstool blues"*

Lloyd Dunkelberger: "Ending his first year in office, Gov. Rick Scott points to the creation of more than 120,000 new jobs in the state in 2011 as a significant step toward fulfilling his signature campaign promise to create 700,000 new jobs over seven years."

But the jobs added during Scott’s first year in office were about half the roughly 243,000 net needed annually for Scott to meet his pledge.

"During his successful 2010 campaign — underscored by the theme 'Let’s Get to Work' — Scott said he would create 700,000 jobs in seven years, in addition to what the economy would normally produce, which experts say is roughly 1 million jobs over that period. That would have been 1.7 million total jobs."

But in the fall, Scott backed off the campaign promise, saying instead that he was focused on the “creation of 700,000 jobs over seven years regardless of what the economy might otherwise gain or lose.”

Despite comments to the contrary during the campaign, including during a debate, Scott has insisted more recently that he has not backed off his campaign pledge, but had only ever promised to create 700,000 jobs — period. “Look at the ad,” he said.

At the current pace, Florida would not even regain the more than 900,000 jobs lost since the start of the Great Recession within seven years. ...

Many of the jobs added this year pay far less than those they replaced, raising questions about how robust Florida’s economic recovery will be. ...

Florida is tied for the sixth-highest unemployment rate in the country, well above the national average of 8.6 percent. ...

[C]ritics fault Scott for backtracking on his original jobs stance. They contend that, entering his second year, Scott is guiding the state toward an economic future based on low-paying jobs. ...

Much of the job growth was in lower-paying sectors such as retail stores as well as restaurants and bars, with average annual salaries in the mid-$20,000 range, according to a 2010 labor survey in Florida.

"Controversy in Rick Scott’s jobs pledge".

- - - - - - - - - -
*With apologies to Neil Young.

"No idea where Bondi's information is coming from"

"Billie: No idea where Bondi's information is coming from".

"A vital shield against exploitation and poverty"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "For 37 years, home health care aides who are hired to look after elderly or sick people and help them live at home have been shut out of basic federal labor protections."

Their hard, physical, low-paid work has been considered on a par with that of a babysitter and exempt from federal minimum wage laws and overtime rules. Finally, that is about to change. This month, the Obama administration has proposed regulations to bring home care workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The move is long overdue. ...

Republican lawmakers and business groups are opposed to the change and are fighting to get the rules modified before they are finalized. Opponents claim that the cost of providing service would rise and that the proposals might cause staffing agencies to cut back on each worker's hours to avoid paying overtime. Of course, those general arguments could be made for any worker in any industry. There is nothing new in Republicans opposing an expansion of minimum wage laws and other labor protections. But as has been well established from many decades of experience, those laws provide a vital shield against exploitation and poverty.

"Health aide protections overdue".

Another Dorworth mess

"The bank holding the $1.5 million mortgage on the Heathrow mansion of future Florida House Speaker Chris Dorworth is pushing again to take it away from him."

The Bank of New York Trust Company N.A. sued him and his now-estranged wife in 2008, saying they had failed for months to make their $9,700-a-month mortgage payment.

After years of delays, the bank on Monday asked a judge to enter a summary judgment — a formal finding that Dorworth is in default. It's the next step toward selling it at a courthouse auction.

"Bank again pushes judge to foreclose on Dorworth's Heathrow mansion".

"Republicans remained disgruntled"

"An agreement to extend the payroll tax cut and emergency unemployment benefits for two more months brought a sense of relief to members of both parties on Thursday, though Republicans remained disgruntled." "Florida members relieved by tax-cut extension".

"Standing up to bullying"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "So the Board of Governors is 'extremely displeased' that University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft had the audacity to replace an administrator she could no longer trust."

The board that oversees the state university system could learn a lesson from her about standing up to bullying instead of acting like a bully itself.

Genshaft replaced the chancellor of USF's Lakeland campus this week with good reason. Marshall Goodman answered more to state Sen. JD Alexander than to his boss as the two steamrolled their way toward severing the campus' ties with USF and making it an independent university. It would not have come to this if the Board of Governors had firmly rejected Alexander's scheme. Instead, the board created a long road map to independence for USF Polytech that Genshaft pledged to follow and that Alexander still does not like.

"State board of bullying".

Next up, ads on high school football jerseys

"Fla. lawmakers considering allowing school bus ads".

Absentee ballot changes cut participation

"Absentee ballots for the Republican presidential primary will start hitting the mail Tuesday, but thousands of Florida voters who think they've signed up to get one may be surprised."

Elections supervisors say they fear many voters aren't aware that a 2010 election law change eliminated a provision that automatically sent an absentee ballot to every voter who had requested one in the previous election. And some blame ignorance of the change for a big drop in applications in advance of the Jan. 31 primary.

"Election law changes may be confusing absentee voters".

Occupy Jax

"Jacksonville cracks down on Occupy protesters".

"Other Republicans politely questioning if it was too much"

"Scott is a conservative Republican and the Legislature is overwhelmingly conservative Republican, but the sides clashed at the beginning of the year as Scott came in as a political outsider vowing to change Tallahassee. He surrounded himself with a team also made up of outsiders, announced his proposed budget at a tea party rally in a central Florida church and set an agenda that even had other Republicans politely questioning if it was too much." "Rick Scott has same goals, new approach".

Turkey Point expansion

"Federal regulators approved the design of a next-generation reactor that FPL has selected for a proposed Turkey Point expansion, but critics contend a 'fast-track' process could compromise safety of the AP 1000." "Reactor approval clears path for FPL".

Vern Buchanan puts his skates back on

2011-12-23T07:46:00.002-05:00

"The House Ethics Committee has chosen to extend an investigation into Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota."

The investigation comes on the heels of an FEC suit over a pattern of questionable contributions made to Buchanan’s 2006 and 2008 campaigns. Though the congressman wasn’t named as a defendent, his former business partner and a car dealership the two once co-owned were accused of offering reimbursements for money donated to his campaign and of violating excessive contribution laws.

The FEC eventually called the activity an “extensive and ongoing scheme” and fined his former dealership almost $68,000; Buchanan himself was never found to be at fault. But a recently leaked FEC report reveals that some members did doubt his innocence.

According to its website, the House Committee on Ethics has the jurisdiction to “recommend administrative actions to establish or enforce standards of official conduct” and must “report to appropriate federal or state authorities substantial evidence of a violation of any law applicable to the performance of official duties that may have been disclosed in a Committee investigation.”

"Ethics Committee extends investigation into Buchanan (Updated)". See also "House Ethics Committee investigates Buchanan" and "Sarasota GOP defends Buchanan".

Robaina again

"Former South Miami mayor Julio Robaina wants his old job back. Robaina, who also has served as a state representative, is challenging incumbent Mayor Philip Stoddard in the Feb. 14 election." "Robaina challenges Stoddard for South Miami mayor".

Charter

"A Miami lawmaker wants public charter schools to be more transparent.State. Sen Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami, filed a bill Wednesday that would require charter schools to post information about their management companies on their school websites."

Her proposal was submitted days after The Miami Herald concluded a three-part series examining South Florida’s $400 million-a-year charter school industry.

The investigation found that charter schools have given rise to a cottage industry of for-profit management companies, some of which have almost total financial control over the charter schools they run.

Charter schools receive public funding, but are under the purview of independent governing boards instead of local school districts.In South Florida, two-thirds of charter schools have contracts with management companies, entities that can provide accounting, payroll and academic services.

The companies charge fees ranging from 5 to 18 percent of a school’s income, and in many cases also control the land and buildings used by the school. Some set the rent at more than 25 percent of the school’s revenue, records show.

Herald reporters found a pattern of insider deals and potential conflicts of interest within the industry.

The charter school shills are already talking it down: The Chair of

the House Education Committee, State Rep. Bill Proctor, said he would be willing to review any similar bills that might be filed in the House. But Proctor, a Republican from St. Augustine, said he believes charter schools will take a back seat to merit pay and higher-education reform during the upcoming legislative session, which will begin Jan. 10.

"Bill would require transparency in charter school management".

Redistricting and the budget will keep 'em busy

"When House members return to Tallahassee for the regular session, the speaker doesn’t expect there to be much time for items outside of redistricting and the budget." "House Floor Action to Be Reduced in 2012 by Redistricting, Budget".

Text message Chapter 119 loophole?

"Florida public records laws are often called among the toughest in the nation. But that was b4 txt msging. The state updated its public records rules last year to advise that text messages, Facebook comments, Tweets and other communications on "emerging communications technologies'' might be public records, depending on their content."

If the message is "C U 4 lunch,'' it's not a public record. If it's a message conveying information about something that is coming up for a vote, it might be.

But who's keeping copies of those? No one, it appears.

"R text messages a loophole in Florida records law?".

PBC epicenter of opposition to Florida's new voting law

"Palm Beach County is emerging as an epicenter of opposition to Florida's controversial new voting law that supporters say will curb voter fraud but critics call a part of a scheme to deny many Floridians the right to vote in next year's elections." "Palm Beach County an epicenter of opposition to Florida's new election law".

"Florida home sales up, prices flat"

"There were 12,996 home resales last month, but the median sale price decreased $500 from the same time last year to $130,100." "Florida home sales up, prices flat in November".

Pollution advocates gear up

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday released controversial new air-pollution standards that have been long sought by environmental and health advocates but could force expensive upgrades at some Florida power plants." "EPA Puts Out New Air Pollution Standards".

In the hole

"Florida officials in 2003 changed policy to prohibit inmates from advertising for pen pals or getting mail from pen pal groups. It said the change was made after receiving complaints from victims and their families who saw prisoners' ads." "Appeals court sides with Dept. of Corrections in pen pal ad case".

"Insurers have faked some of its 'crises' to pump up profits"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "A new study by the Americans for Insurance Reform should reverberate in Tallahassee as Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers prepare to reform no-fault auto insurance, or PIP. The project of the New York Law School's Center for Justice and Democracy claims insurers have faked some of its 'crises' to pump up profits and concludes that the professed need for premiums to outpace claims and other expenses is simply a myth." "PIP reform needs sworn testimony".

A good spot for a casino

"The Miami area is the main focus of most casino operators but Broward County also is vying for attention." "Investors search South Florida for prime casino spots".

Pre-session teacher bashing

This from the usual suspects: "Teachers' Hourly Compensation Doubles Up Private-Sector Average".

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"Hispanic groups object to districts".

Criticism from a very unlikely place ... Seminole County

"Florida's tax-credit scholarship program for low-income students is 'a travesty' and 'part of the agenda' to weaken public schools, Seminole County education leaders say. Their main complaint:"

There's little known about what the nearly 38,000 students in the program are learning in exchange for the $175 million spent this year to send them to private — most often religious — schools.

Such public criticism of the scholarship program, which is very popular among conservative Republicans running the state, is rare.

But education leaders in Seminole, with its high-performing schools, have been more vocal lately as they struggle to find ways to cut more than $22 million from next year's budget. Already, the district has closed one school and is expected to shutter perhaps three more, in addition to other cutbacks.

They blame the tax-credit scholarship program for siphoning off taxpayer dollars just when school districts across Florida most need the money.

Under the program, low-income parents dissatisfied with public schools can send their children to private school at taxpayers' expense. Taxes that are otherwise due to the state instead go to the scholarship fund, which is projected to hit $250 million next year.

Seminole school-district officials also see a double standard that other school leaders across Florida object too as well.

The state, they contend, has created a huge gap in its education-accountability system by largely exempting the scholarship students and the schools they attend from the academic standards that public schools face.

"Seminole school leaders blast tax-credit scholarships".

"He kept $1 million in cash handy for payoffs"

"In transcripts from his deposition, the convicted Ponzi schemer says, 'We were handing out money like Santa Claus hands out candy canes.'" "Rothstein says he kept $1 million in cash handy for payoffs".

RNC "mostly false" about DWS

The Republican National Committee and its associated mouthpieces can't handle Debbie Wasserman Schultz:

Did Wasserman Schultz really insist that unemployment did not go up during Obama's term, as propagated by the Republican National Committee? No. Wasserman Schultz insisted something else — that it hadn't gone up precipitously and that it is not going up. We rate the RNC's claim Mostly False.

"PolitiFact: Did Wasserman Schultz deny a rise in unemployment under Obama?".

All Florida U.S. House Republicans "picked party over you"

2011-12-22T08:30:00.002-05:00

The Saint Petersburg Times editors write: "If your taxes go up 10 days from now, you will know whom to blame: U.S. House Republicans, including all of those in Florida".

They are the ones who failed to support bipartisan legislation to extend the payroll tax cut that was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate. They are the ones who rejected an extension of long-term unemployment benefits for 3 million Americans. And they are the ones who should be held accountable in the next election for their callous indifference to the needs of their constituents.

"Here we are, three days before Christmas and 10 days before New Year's, and Republicans in Congress are still playing a political poker game. They are more interested in staring down President Barack Obama than in providing peace of mind to workers that their payroll taxes aren't going up and to the jobless that their benefits won't be abruptly cut. No wonder voter approval of Congress hovers just above single digits."

Voters tend to like their own representatives more than Congress as an institution, but they should hold them accountable for this failure. U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor, Richard Nugent of Brooksville and C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores voted with their Republican colleagues on Tuesday to effectively reject the Senate compromise. Last week in the Senate, even Republican Marco Rubio joined with Democrat Bill Nelson and voted for the temporary extension of the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits, leaving the next round of political fighting until March. But the House Republicans were more interested in joining the most extreme members of their own party and propping up a weak House speaker than in representing the best interests of Floridians.

"They picked party over you".

A no-brainer

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Restoring felon rights a no-brainer".

FEC says "more likely than not" Buchanan broke election laws

"Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan claimed he'd been "completely exonerated" in an elections investigation. In a just-released report, however, the FEC said evidence suggested 'it is more likely than not' that the Sarasota Republican did break federal election laws."

The report also said that there were "legitimate questions'' about Buchanan's credibility and that an affidavit in which he and former business partner Sam Kazran said they knew nothing about reimbursements could indicate Buchanan was trying to hide his involvement.

But the FEC's Office of General Counsel had "significant concerns'' about Kazran's credibility, too. Faced with conflicting testimony and a shaky witness in Kazran, the commission closed its case against Buchanan last winter.

Asked for comment about the report, which was prepared in January but not released until Tuesday, Buchanan's Washington lawyers called it a "marvel of one-sided advocacy.''

"No amount of overstatement, distortion or speculation by (general counsel) can transform what occurred in this case into a violation of federal laws,'' the lawyers said. "It's time to … rightly conclude from the facts that no laws have been broken.''

"Credibility in question". See also "FEC report: Buchanan and campaign ‘more likely than not’ violated campaign laws".

Romney County Chairs in Florida

"Mitt Romney Announces County Chairs in Florida".

Don't expect much

"The House Speaker says that during this coming session that he intends to stick to the committee process from the 2011 session and not take up any Senate bills 'whose House companion had not reached the House Calendar.'" "Cannon: Don't expect 'major floor action' early in the session".

Scott talks Energy

"Governor says he's still working on energy issues and isn't deferring to Putnam".

Number of Floridians with private health insurance continues to decline

"According to a new report from the Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board, the number of people in Florida with private health insurance has continued to decline."

Last year, Florida had the third highest percentage of residents without insurance, according to U.S. Census data. The 2010 Census information (.xls) finds that from 2008 to 2010, Florida’s average percentage of uninsured people was 20.7 percent. The national average for uninsured citizens was 15.6 percent.

Florida is also currently leading the fight against the federal health care reform law — a law written to expand health insurance coverage in the county. Florida and 25 other states have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the law. Hearings will commence in March.

Florida has been thwarting the implementation of the Affordable Care Act since its passage. According to research by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Florida is one of only five states returning grants awarded by the federal government to implement the state exchanges, as well as a slew of other grants meant to assist low-income or at-risk communities in the state. State officials have also said they will not be creating a state exchange until the Supreme Court decides to uphold the health care reform law.

"Number of Floridians with private health insurance decreases".

"Nurses protest staffing levels"

"HCA nurses protest staffing levels".

Scott has reversed course on 'Glades

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The halting state-federal effort to restore the Everglades has taken a positive turn. Congress authorized $142 million for the project next year, clearing the way for new construction that will vastly improve water flow into the River of Grass. And Gov. Rick Scott has reversed course and proposed a more serious starting point for state funding next year. This new spending does not entirely make up for recent cuts, especially at the state level. But it strengthens the federal-state partnership at a critical time." "Welcome new funding for the Everglades". Related: "Everglades restoration is bipartisan, Nelson says".

"Mounting criticisms against Bondi's handling of foreclosure crisis"

"Evicted this week from his home of 40 years, retired Orange County firefighter Booker T. Perry and a new coalition added to the mounting criticisms against Florida Attorney General Bondi's handling of the foreclosure crisis."

A teary-eyed Perry stood on the front steps of his white-brick home Wednesday and recounted that he received only one foreclosure notice before his eviction and the rest of the legal filings went to an attorney hired by his estranged wife. He never saw them.

Flagstar Bank recently sold the house to an investor who purchased it for $17,000 and ordered the eviction, which occurred five days before Christmas.

"Evicted firefighter leads charge against Bondi".

Enough with the guns in child care centers

"Months after lawmakers approved a measure to overrule cities and counties with get-tough gun laws, a Palm Beach County lawmaker on Tuesday introduced a bill to begin restoring some limits on where residents can carry guns. Saying she hopes to at least generate debate, Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, filed a proposal (HB 1087) to bar handguns from child care centers and government buildings." "Berman Bill Would Restore Some Gun Limitations".

Scott don' like Education in the Cabinet

"The governor says putting the Education Commissioner in the Cabinet as a statewide elected position would make the post too political and hurt education outcomes." "Scott smacks down proposal to move education commish to Cabinet".

Ricky's "tax increase" dance

"Gov. Scott says he would sign Internet sales tax bill, with caveat".

Scott proposes to cut road spending cut by $1.2 billion

Lloyd Dunkelberger: "Major road projects across the state may be delayed or canceled next year, as dwindling fuel taxes undermine Florida's road-building budget and its role in Florida's economic revival."

The state's road budget would drop by about $1.2 billion under the spending plan Gov. Rick Scott sent to lawmakers this month.

"Dip in fuel taxes could doom state road projects".

Internet cafes

"If Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam wades further into the state gaming issues, his focus will be on the adult arcades that are commonly referred to as Internet cafes."

An existing jumble of state laws makes it difficult to regulate the store-front businesses and legislators were unable to reach consensus in the spring on the issue.

Legislators are expected to confront the issue again in the 2012 session.

"Putnam: Too Much Ambiguity in State Gambling Laws".

2012 Session Outlook

2012 Session Outook: "Insurance" and "Health Care".

Census numbers has Florida closing in on N.Y.

"Florida now has 19.1 million residents, making it the nation's fourth most populous state." "Florida tallies 3rd largest population increase". See also "Growth spurt since 2010 census has Florida closing in on N.Y. for No. 3 spot".

Scott backing off casinos?

"Scott said Wednesday that a bill that would allow for three Las Vegas-style casino resorts in South Florida will be tough to pass in the 2012 legislative session." "Scott: Casino bill will be tough to pass in 2012 legislative session".

Amendment would "virtually require taxpayer funding of religious activities"

"Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, one of the many groups challenging a 2012 ballot measure that would eliminate restrictions on state funding for religious institutions, says a recent rewrite of the proposed amendment is still misleading."

This week, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi rewrote the amendment, as ordered by a Leon County judge a week ago. However, she only made a minor tweak that was pointed out by the judge.

Groups maintain the small change has not made the ballot measure less misleading. Howard Simon, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, said "the proposal continues to mislead voters by failing to inform them of the chief purpose and actual impact of the amendment – to virtually require taxpayer funding of religious activities of churches, mosques and synagogues."

Americans United, which joined the ACLU in challenging the amendment, says in a press release today that "the Florida attorney general’s rewrite of a religion amendment scheduled for the November ballot is disappointing."

"Faith leaders say ‘Religious Freedom’ amendment is still misleading".

"Neither scientifically nor constitutionally sound"

"The bill introduced by state Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, is similar to a handful of bills seen last year in legislatures across the country: so-called 'fetal pain' bills that have been found to be 'neither scientifically nor constitutionally sound.' Current law protects a woman’s right to have an abortion up to 22-24 weeks, at least." "‘Fetal pain’ bill sponsor defends measure".

"Harsh, disheartening consequences"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board: "The state Board of Education has approved new passing scores for standardized tests, raising the ante in its already high-stakes student assessments."

So why are we not surprised that part of the resulting costs could be paid through increased lottery ticket sales?

But the tests are not a game for the third-graders and high school students who have to pass them in order to advance. Failure means that a 10-year-old may be held back a grade while his or her classmates go forward. The teenager who fails can be denied a diploma.

Those are the harsh, disheartening consequences of failing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test at those grade levels.

"The FCAT gamble".

Redistricting

"When state lawmakers came to Daytona Beach in July to solicit voter views on the once-a-decade process of redrawing political boundaries, the message they heard repeated time and again was this: Create compact districts that give us a greater say over our representation. For the past 10 years, Volusia County voters have been divided among three congressional, four state Senate and six state House districts. Flagler County has had two of each. That would change under any of the proposals being studied this week in Tallahassee." "New voting districts propose fewer representatives in Legislature, Congress".