Last year, Florida voters overwhelmingly decided to give low wage workers a raise to $6.15 per hour. This is only a dollar more than the federal minimum wage, and it doesn’t even come close to being a living wage - a salary that is sufficient to pay rent, buy food, and provide clothes and other necessities for a family.

Despite the miserly paychecks that will result from a $6.15 wage, Florida’s GOP legislators feel that this extra dollar would be a huge burden for the businesses that would have to pay it, and they are fighting hard to minimize the effects.

The distinction that lawmakers don't seem to want to acknowledge is that the Board of Governors, like the Florida Legislature, is itself a creature of the Florida Constitution.

Unlike the old Board of Regents - which was summarily dissolved after its members offended powerful politicians - the board can neither be abolished nor marginalized with the mere passage of legislation.

The state's social services agency said it wants to delay the removal of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo's feeding tube so it can investigate about 30 new allegations of "abuse, neglect or exploitation" by her husband who is trying to end her life, according to a court document made public Friday. ...

DCF's petition said general accusations include failure to file proper guardian plans and reports; failure to provide therapy and investigate experimental medical procedures; denial of legal counsel; lack of communication and visitation; and lack of manipulation of Terri Schiavo's arms, "causing severe contractures."

Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, said Friday at least 89 complaints have been filed with the DCF regarding Terri Schiavo and none of them produced any evidence of abuse.

"The obvious question is, after 89 investigations, why is DCF compelled to file a petition to intervene in court now?" Felos said. "And the answer is that it's purely a political situation."

Our expectations may be too high, but it looks like we could have a legislative session that does good things for Floridians.

We've had a long dry spell.

Another US bishop has stepped up to the front lines of the battle in the US Catholic Church over the reception of communion by pro-abortion, dissenting Catholics. The coadjutor bishop of Orlando Florida, Thomas Wenski, has published a pastoral statement in which he calls pro-abortion Catholics who demand to receive communion "boorish and sacrilegious." He suggests that they are in a worse moral position than Pontius Pilate after his condemnation of Christ. ...

It is extremely rare for Catholic bishops to criticize each other in public. However, bishop Wenski in his statement made a not very veiled reference to the reaction of some US bishops, such as Washington's Cardinal McCarrick and Los Angeles' Cardinal Mahoney, who have said that sanctions and public rebukes may ultimately harm the pro-life cause.

Pope John Paul II has declared the Church's near total opposition to the death penalty. In his encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" (The Gospel of Life) issued March 25, 1995 after four years of consultations with the world's Roman Catholic bishops, John Paul II wrote that execution is only appropriate "in cases of absolute necessity, in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today, however, as a result of steady immprovement in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically nonexistent." Until this encyclical, the death penalty was viewed as sometimes permissible as a means of protecting society.

In January 1999, John Paul II, who had written an earlier encyclical on the issue, brought his anti-death penalty crusade to the United States. "I renew my appeal," he declared in St. Louis, "for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary."

new pre-kindergarten program should not allow religious instruction because that would violate the state constitution, the American Civil Liberties Union argued in a letter sent to lawmakers Friday.

The new pre-K program, slated to start in August, is to be run largely by private day-care centers and schools, including religious ones.

The religious organizations have to meet state standards but are free to teach religious beliefs to the 4-year-olds in their care.

Betty Castor is telling friends and supporters she will not be a candidate for governor next year.

In a political matchup likely to gain national attention and become one of Florida's most costly races for Congress, Boca Raton Democrat Ron Klein on Thursday announced plans to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw's 2006 re-election bid.

If the labor union AFSCME, the Florida Democratic Party or any of the governor's regular critics knock him, it's what one would expect. Predictability has nothing to do with whether their criticism has substance. Mainly, it's boring.

Jeb Bush has already blazed the trail. Florida's governor has been 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.

Cantero, however, is a conservative jurist whom Bush appointed to the state's highest court amid much attention in 2002.

Despite Cantero's widely acknowledged keen legal mind, his appointment was unusually controversial - because of his lineage (he's the grandson of former Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista); his unabashed opposition to abortion; and his help defending an anti-Castro activist who, as attorney Dexter Douglass said, was either a freedom fighter or a terrorist depending on your point of view. Bush called Cantero "perfectly qualified" for the job, and one got the sense that the two were ideological soul mates.

But Cantero's tough criticism of a privatized appeals process for inmates on Death Row, a change the governor put into motion two years ago, is anything but predictable. It's another chink in the armor of privatization just when other aspects of outsourcing are under legislative scrutiny.

Statewide, there's a buzz about prominent Florida attorney Willie Gary possibly running for governor. Gary, who specializes in personal injury cases and is in high demand as a public speaker, undoubtedly has the charisma and the money to mount a serious campaign.

He may not win the Democratic nomination, but he would alter the landscape during a primary battle. Moderates like Jim Davis and Rod Smith couldn't take the African-American vote for granted, and would have to address some left-leaning issues in debates.

A year after state lawmakers tightened the eligibility requirements for the state's subsidized insurance program for children, enrollment in KidCare is plummeting — down 100,000 since last year.

The decline is worrying some that needy uninsured children won't get health care or will have to go to hospital emergency rooms when they get sick.

"The numbers are very alarming," said Deanna Schaeffer, president and chief executive officer of Healthy Communities, a Daytona Beach organization that helps administer KidCare.

have been getting a dose of reality that should inform the debate on Medicaid funding and reform in the upcoming session. Consider these examples from recent public forums: Without Medicaid-covered prescriptions, a heart-transplant recipient would die in two weeks from organ rejection. Without Medicaid, a 20-year-old woman with muscular dystrophy can't work or pay taxes and likely would have to be institutionalized at state cost. Freezes in already-low payments to doctors, hospitals and nursing homes would cause physicians to stop taking nonemergency Medicaid patients. And Medicaid beneficiaries forced into emergency rooms would cost local taxpayers far more to treat.

The lesson of these real-life scenarios is clear: Before rushing head-long into reforms for what ails Medicaid, the Legislature should ensure that the cure isn't worse than the disease. Attempts to cut costs from the state's Medicaid budget shouldn't come at the expense of shifting increased costs to local communities or leaving federal matching funds on the table.

Another high-ranking department employee is accused of ''favoritism'' following a months-long scandal over the social service agency's contracting practices.

Women with unwanted pregnancies would be counseled against having abortions under a taxpayer-financed state program announced by Gov. Jeb Bush's administration Monday.

The $4 million initiative, unveiled by Lt. Gov. [and candidate for Gov.] Toni Jennings, would set up a state telephone hotline to direct pregnant women to nonprofit organizations, possibly including some with religious affiliations, that would encourage them to consider adoption and other alternatives to abortion.

Bush rejected the notion that politics played a role in Jennings getting a prominent role on an issue that could improve her standing with Republican primary voters.

"She volunteered for the duty, and I'm glad she did," Bush said. "I do believe that women, when confronted with this very traumatic choice when they're pregnant, need to have options available to them."

John Dowless, a political strategist and former executive director of the Christian Coalition of Florida, said Jennings' involvement makes it more likely the program will be approved.

"As one of three leading candidates for governor, that gives it a lot more momentum, that's for sure," Dowless said.

J.M. "Mac" Stipanovich, a lobbyist and GOP strategist, called Jennings the logical choice.

"From now on, anything the governor does that gives a high profile to the lieutenant governor is going to result in accusations of politics," said Stipanovich, who supports Attorney General Charlie Crist for governor. "She is the lieutenant governor and she's capable. The governor would be remiss if he didn't use her skills."

Bush is backing away from his promise. He's recommending the state delay the nursing home staff increase so that he can give people tax cuts and save the state about $65 million this year.

One flaw in Gov. Bush's latest school voucher proposal overshadows the others: It abandons the children whom the governor says that he wants to help.

In Tallahassee, Gov. Jeb Bush said he didn't attend the Washington conference because he didn't want to add to speculation about whether he planned to run for president in 2008.

The tall man in a dark suit holds a drink in one hand while greeting guests at a cocktail reception in the swanky University Club, just blocks from the Capitol.

One by one, the guests quietly approach and, with a pat on the back, offer a long white envelope, which he accepts with a smile and a nod of appreciation. ...

He's Tom Lee, the Senate president who this night would raise $300,000 for the Republican Party of Florida, but not without taking a few jabs at the lobbyists who were handing him the checks.

Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, the incoming minority leader who presided over [an event at the Governor's Club] in which he hoped to bring in as much $20,000 — the cost of two dinners at Lee's event the previous night ....

Before considering Gov. Jeb Bush's request for more authority over county supervisors of elections, legislators should assess Florida's track record since 2001. That's when responsibility for election policy and administration was effectively transferred to the governor because he would appoint the secretary of state.

The new system has invited lax administration, partisan bias and political mischief because it eliminates important checks and balances in three areas:

Florida's original school voucher law violates two provisions of the state Constitution, opponents told the Florida Supreme Court in a legal brief Monday.

The 1999 law breaks down the wall separating church and state and undermines the requirement that the state provide for the education of children with a public school system, the brief said.

The law, which was challenged in court the day after Gov. Jeb Bush signed it six years ago, lets students at failing public schools attend private and parochial schools at taxpayer expense.

Two trial judges and an appellate court have concluded the law is unconstitutional, but the state has been allowed to apply it during the court challenges. Nearly 700 children attend private schools under its provisions.

Florida's high court has not yet scheduled oral arguments but requested briefs. The state filed its brief in January. Several groups, ranging from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Florida Catholic Conference, have also filed briefs supporting the state.

Tom Lewis, 65, formerly a Disney World vice president and agency head in Gov. Bob Graham's administration, was appointed to head DMS as of March 8. He replaces Bill Simon, who left in January to take a job in a restaurant chain.

Meanwhile, a woman who's been involved in legislative decision-making on health-care appropriations and nursing-home care is the new head of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

Carole Green, 52, until recently a Republican state House member from the Fort Myers area, was appointed to lead DOEA [Elder Affairs]. As of today, she replaces Terry White, fired earlier this year because of sexual-harassment allegations.

The governor's office has yet to explain how the private market can rein in costs when private insurance rates have risen at a faster rate than comparable Medicaid services. Bush's office has described the need for reform in terms of fairness, saying taxpayers shouldn't pay for a Medicaid program richer than their own health plan.

As the start of the 2005 legislative session nears, Florida Senate President Tom Lee wants to crack down on the cozy relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers. But questions remain as to how far he can go.

The first name that popped out of U.S. Sen. John McCain's mouth Sunday as the Republican choice for president in 2008 was Jeb Bush, but the governor's spokesman repeated his position that he has no plans to run.

"If you're looking at dynasties, and by the way I'm a great admirer of Governor Bush, he's done a great job in Florida," the Arizona senator said on "Fox News Sunday." But he added, "This might be a wide-open situation."

A year ago, a dozen Hillsborough public schools reported nearly 90 percent or more of their children qualified for free or reduced-price meals based on federal guidelines.

Now there are 23 such schools, a transition tied to a district plan to let some families choose their own schools.

Bush's rare moment of self-reflection made big news last month.

Bush acknowledged that his big idea to hire a private company to handle the state's personnel system wasn't yet working as he envisioned, adding momentum to a growing wave of discontent over the snarled People First system created by Cincinnati-based Convergys.

But on Wall Street the next day, the governor's comments barely registered. More than a dozen financial analysts dialed in for Convergys' fourth-quarter conference call but only one noted "some negative press out this morning from the state government."

She went on to ask if the Florida contract was hurting Convergys' operating margins in its customer management business. Chief Financial Officer Early Shanks said yes, but not for long. The People First system was finally online, he assured, so state payments were flowing in.

That was it. The analysts moved on - even if Florida lawmakers and state employees haven't.

[W]hile in New York on Dec. 12, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris accepted $20,000 in campaign contributions from people related or connected to a controversial fundraiser known as the "Brooklyn Bundler," and to an Iowa slaughterhouse accused of mistreating animals.

Now the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants Harris to return $14,000 connected to the Rubashkin family, owner of AgriProcessors, the kosher Iowa slaughterhouse. The federal government accused the company of clean air violations. It also is under investigation for animal cruelty after a PETA crew secretly taped its slaughter practices.

It's almost a cliche that U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has a giant target on his back as the last Democrat holding statewide elected office in Florida. New polls make that target look even bigger.

have little choice but to take issues to the ballot because lawmakers ignore the public's wishes. Lesley Blackner, who leads an organization called Florida Hometown Democracy that is trying to get a growth-management amendment on the 2006 ballot, said lawmakers are trying to "kill the messenger."

"The Legislature is not responsive to the average citizen, to the concerns of the average citizen," said Blackner, whose proposal would make local comprehensive-plan changes subject to referendums.

Voters have passed far-reaching amendments for more than a decade. But the issue has become particularly controversial during the past five years and was ratcheted up even more in 2004 when voters approved eight amendments -- ranging from allowing slot machines in South Florida to creating the $6.15-an-hour minimum wage.

is the first of the nation's governors to try to save money on Medicaid by a unique and clearly radical form of privatizing. While many other states have incorporated managed care into Medicaid programs, most impose strict conditions about who will be covered and for which services. Jeb would go all the way, letting insurance companies make critical decisions on health care for the less fortunate.

A lot of Republicans think Jeb Bush's ideas are just dandy. But Joan Alker, a senior research analyst for the Health Policy Institute at Washington's Georgetown University, who has studied Bush's proposals, is not so sure.

"It's very radical," she says. "What's unique about it is that it gives HMOs unprecedented flexibility to make a profit at the expense of the Medicaid recipient."

John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential candidate and former North Carolina senator, told Broward County Democrats Saturday night the party must not abandon its core beliefs in its effort to regain national power from Republicans.

For decades, mismanaged growth has been Florida's shame.

Local government officials routinely cozied up to developers and their monied lawyers, squandering millions of acres to cookie-cutter subdivisions and tacky little strip malls. The consequences of those actions endure today, with clogged roads, deficient water supplies, crowded schools and dwindling natural resources now the norm in Central Florida.

The debate started badly when Secretary of State Glenda Hood blindsided county elections supervisors with an ill-advised power grab. There should be some strong statewide standards in areas such as poll worker training, early voting, voter registration and the handling of provisional ballots. But elected county elections supervisors should not be forced to cede all power to an appointed secretary of state whose decisions appear tainted by political partisanship. Lawmakers should reject Hood's pitch for the authority to fine and criminally charge elections supervisors who don't follow the rules. She is the one who deserved sanctions for her mishandling of the flawed felon voter lists and her hyper-enforcement of election rules that would have resulted in unfairly disenfranchising voters.

One of the most meaningful election reforms would be to allow all felons to vote after they have completed their sentences. While Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet made it easier for felons to have their civil rights restored, they did not go far enough.

Another important change would be to allow the return of the primary runoff in 2006. While elections supervisors are concerned about timing issues, those could be worked out, most easily by an instant runoff process. Runoff elections have produced some of Florida's best public servants and help ensure the party nominee has broad support. Republicans should be more receptive to runoffs now that their party can regularly expect multiple candidates for governor and other statewide offices.