Florida Political News: March 12, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 10:11:32 AM EST

Gambling resorts coming to Florida?

"Is cash-strapped Florida ready to roll the dice on Las Vegas-style gambling resorts?"

With a gaming agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe still under negotiation, a House committee is exploring another option: full-scale "integrated destination" resort casinos like those in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Biloxi, Miss.

A select House committee is set to hear a presentation Thursday from the Las Vegas Sands Corp. The firm owns gambling resorts in Las Vegas and wants to bring casino-based vacation resorts to Florida.

The development comes as lawmakers, Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminoles work on a compact that would expand the tribe' gambling offerings and pump a much-needed $150 million a year into the state's treasury.

It could all come to Florida — if the state wants to cash in on its image as a sun-soaked haven for tourists and authorize sprawling, Vegas-style casino resorts, gambling executives told lawmakers Thursday.

Executives from Las Vegas Sands, which operates the Venetian and Palazzo on the Vegas strip, flew to Tallahassee to pitch lawmakers on their vision: Four to six gambling destinations, each costing $2 billion or more to build, that would beckon gamblers from several continents.

Tally today

"In Tallahassee today, no meetings; In Jacksonville, Crist hosts town hall". See also "2010 Legislature summary".

Loopy, controversial, unwieldy, cheesy, and embarrassing

Tom Jackson: "Rarely at a loss for ideas about relieving the squeeze on ordinary Floridians' strapped budgets - hello, Progress Energy - Mike Fasano's latest arrives with the benefit of being loopy and controversial, not to mention unwieldy, cheesy, embarrassing and, probably, downright impossible." "Fasano plans bumper crop of advertising".

"One of last year's most outrageous bills"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "A member of the clique that helped pass one of last year's most outrageous bills in Tallahassee wants to make amends. Give Eustis Sen. Carey Baker credit for wanting to fix the notorious Senate Bill 2080, which scrapped public hearings on water-withdrawal applications, leaving decisions on how much developers and others can take to bureaucrats running Florida's five water-management districts." "Right a grievous wrong".

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "This week's County Commission meeting was one for the books. County Administrator Pat Bean handed out the results of a lie-detector test in an effort to save her job. The embattled county auditor, Jim Barnes, refused to resign. County Attorney Renee Lee showed up with her own attorney. The only thing missing from this ugly circus were the animals and a snow-cone machine." "Hillsborough can't function like this".

Daniel Ruth: "After all, for all the praying, all the breast-beating, all the Hallelujahs, what good has any of it accomplished? The Tampa City Council is still the Tampa City Council, which as miracles go is like turning water into water. " "City Council prays, but isn't transformed".

'Glades

"Crist's Big Sugar land buy survives -- for now."

The South Florida Water Management District governing board agreed Thursday to extend the deadline on a $536 million land deal with the U.S. Sugar Corp. -- only after getting assurances from its attorneys that there were no loopholes in an ``out'' clause that could still allow the district to back out of the deal later if it decides it can't afford it.

The 9-0 vote was a key victory for Crist, who has twice downsized the deal in an effort to keep it alive, and for supporters who consider the massive land purchase critical to providing the Everglades with clean and plentiful water. About two dozen environmentalists and other advocates urged the board to seize a ``singular opportunity'' to help restore the Everglades.

Playin' favorites?

"A review of more than 1,600 e-mails to and from Florida Highway Patrol shows that in the days after Tiger Woods' Nov. 27 crash outside his home at Isleworth, hundreds of people flooded the agency with concerns or complaints, accusing it of doing shoddy work and treating Woods more like a celebrity than a suspect." "Hate e-mail: Florida Highway Patrol hit hard after Tiger Woods crash".

GOPer "gamesmanship

"In a rapid display of gamesmanship, House Republicans vowed Thursday to ban all budget earmarks, a day after Democrats said they would not award them to for-profit companies."

But the reception from Florida's biggest earmarker — indeed, one of the country's top practitioners — was more subdued.

"The fact they are making it across the board, makes it far more acceptable," said Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, who has used earmarks to greatly boost the defense contractor industry in the Tampa Bay area.

"It was something that was going to happen eventually, so why not now?" Young said, alluding to efforts in the past several years to make the process more transparent.

Still, without saying he was disappointed, the veteran defense appropriator acknowledged election-year politics were at play and offered his long-stated defense of earmarks as good for national security and jobs. Earmarks are projects funded outside of the normal budget process that tend to benefit a member's home district.

Young, who recently announced he will run for a 21st term, has directed hundreds of millions of dollars to military contractors in addition to public construction projects and universities. Almost all lawmakers seek earmarks, but Young is among the most successful because he is a longtime member of the House defense appropriations committee.

This year, he secured $90.5 million for 41 solo earmarks — more than any other House member, according to an analysis by Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Young, 79, attributed Thursday's move to public sentiment toward government spending and news coverage of "terrible" earmarks like the "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska. Several other Florida Republicans issued endorsements of the one-year ban.

"Middle-class families and small businesses across Florida are making sacrifices when it comes to their own budgets, yet Washington continues to spend trillions of taxpayer dollars on bailouts and pet projects," Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, who has sought his own earmarks, said in a statement.

Young was among seven House members investigated and cleared by an ethics panel looking at a now-defunct lobbying firm, the earmarks it secured and the political contributions it made.

ES&S mess

The Miami Herald editors: "The acquisition of one company by another for the relatively small sum of $5 million doesn't usually set off alarms. But the September 2009 acquisition of Premier Diebold Solutions by Election Systems & Software means that one firm controls more than 70 percent of the voting machines used in the United States. No matter how well-intentioned this merger, it is not good for U.S. voters."

In Florida, voters use ES&S machines in 65 of 67 counties, meaning that around 92 percent of the state's 11.2 million ballots will be cast this year on ES&S equipment.

Monopolies and democracies do not make good bedfellows. Fortunately, this consolidation appears to be unraveling. The U.S. Justice Department should prevent such monopolistic control over voting resources in the future.

Spring cleaning

Paul Flemming: "What a day it was Wednesday for smaller government in the state of Florida. Despite House passage of bills that reduce the burden of loathsome laws, there were no celebratory gatherings of Tea Party members in the Capitol Plaza." "Statutes get their spring cleaning".

"This is how your lawmakers spend their time"

Scott Maxwell: "Tallahassee lawmakers seem obsessed with homosexuality."

The latest example? Three little words tucked into a bill that's supposed to be about job creation.

The legislation would offer millions of dollars in tax breaks to filmmakers who roll cameras in the Sunshine State. The hitch is that some of that money would be available only to movies that avoid featuring "nontraditional family values."

In other words: Lassie and Timmy could get extra tax dollars … unless Timmy has two mommies. Then he could kiss that 5 percent bonus goodbye.

This is how your lawmakers spend their time.

Runnin' gov'ment like a bidness

"Florida's workforce boards need more oversight, lawmakers say, after one board member quit following disclosures that stimulus money was spent on gourmet meals, hotels and a comedian." "Stricter oversight sought for Florida workforce boards".

Florida's Own Blue Cross To Bear

by: dantilson

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 06:42:28 AM EST

Florida Political News: March 11, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 10:13:24 AM EST

"Shills for business"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Gambling deals with an Indian tribe. Oil drilling rights for mysterious investors. Leasing highways to foreign corporations. Florida legislators will consider selling just about anything to raise money and avoid tax increases. So it’s no wonder that hawking space on license plates is on the agenda in Tallahassee." "License to make a quick buck".

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Florida has 12,000 miles of interstate highways, turnpikes and state roads. That's 12,000 miles -- and untold square miles -- of prime advertising space."

Imagine that: Your drive from Daytona Beach to DeLand colored not only by billboards left and right but also by painted billboards on pavement. Imagine the financial benefit to the state. Guard rails, too, could be prime advertising space. The money could help pay for roads.

What about public schoolteachers? Their outer clothing could be emblazoned with ads, and revenue used to offset budget cuts in schools. Students could opt in, too, and sport corporate logos like NASCAR drivers do, with bonus money to schools that convince half or more of their students to sell out.

Obscene? Absurd? Degraded? Yes on all counts, but not much more than Mike Fasano's proposal to turn Floridians' license plates into mini billboards.

Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who chairs the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee, asked his staff to develop a plan that would emblazon corporate logos on license plates. The aim is to generate revenue for the state, which is facing further budget shortfalls. To sweeten the deal for drivers, Fasano proposes to bribe them. Drivers would get to choose what corporate logo they'd want. In exchange, they'd get a $30 or $35 discount next time they renew their license tag. Fasano isn't clear how much money the scheme would raise, but he thinks the idea has wheels.

It may. But it shouldn't. Count the reasons.

RPOFer test scores

"Florida's unemployment rate reached 11.9 percent in January, tying the highest number on record." "It's not getting any easier for Florida's jobless". See also "Florida jobless rate at 11.9 percent". Related: "Online anonymity frustrates Fla's record jobless".

As Florida burns ...

... the Legislature is hard at work: "Florida bill would curb kids' tanning-salon use"

Tea-baggers in a dither


"Government meetings have to be open to the public, but that doesn't mean citizens have a right to speak at them, a Florida appeals court ruled today." "Court: Citizens don't have right to speak at government meetings".

"Crist's tunnel vision"
The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Charlie Crist, the 'People's Governor,' might also like to be remembered as the 'Insurance Governor.' He proudly proclaims that the average bill for property insurance statewide has dropped 16 percent since he took office three-and-a-half years ago, and no doubt many homeowners are grateful for that."

But Mr. Crist's tunnel vision about keeping insurance rates low led him last year to unwisely veto the Consumer Choice Bill, which would have allowed some of the largest insurers to raise rates without going through the usual regulatory process. The Democrat's editorial board thought that letting the free market work on the state's troubled insurance industry was a good idea last year, and we think it's still a good idea.

The consumer choice concept is back in the Legislature again, with House Bill 447 and Senate Bill 876 (lacking a sexy name this year, the bills are simply called "Residential Property Insurance"). The biggest change this time around, according to House sponsor Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, is that all licensed insurance companies would be covered rather than a couple dozen solid, sound companies.

One thing that has not changed is Mr. Crist's distaste for the idea. He vows another veto.

Now, cheap usually sounds good. But there is nothing usual about property insurance in Florida.

Gambling

"A proposed gambling compact that would give four Seminole casinos exclusive rights to blackjack and other banked card games in Florida continues to hold the state capitol in thrall with the ulimate outcome still unclear. Thursday, a powerful House committee takes up the issue." "Senate Gaming Compact Restrains Governor". Nancy Smith says folks should "Think twice before you bet against the governor's Seminole gambling compact." "It's All About the Money".

Ya reckon?

"Florida Democrats may be gearing up to face Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate race this November, but polls suggest that Gov. Charlie Crist would be a tougher opponent." "Crist Tougher vs. Meek".

"Tempting and easy to blame the teachers"

Bill Cotterell acknowledges that "it's tempting and easy to blame the teachers, but they don't work on assembly lines. They shape what we send them and trying to reach a kid whose home life is chaotic, even dangerous, will probably fail more often than not." Much more here: "Teachers carry on as state, unions battle". Related: "Bill would tie teacher pay to performance, student test scores" ("The question: Should teacher pay — and job security — depend on how students score on standardized tests?")

More: "Teacher merit-pay plan passes key Florida Senate committee" and "Senate panel passes GOP bills requiring teacher merit pay, new grad standards".

It never ends

"Late results, fouled cartridges hampered Tuesday's Palm Beach County election tallies".

"BACK-WAX brouhaha"

"Florida has a long history of dirty politics."

Take the legend of Sen. George Smathers supposedly declaring in North Florida that Claude Pepper was a "shameless extrovert" with a "thespian" sister. Or the Florida GOP sending mailers calling a legislator "Dr. Date Rape." Or even Mel Martinez's campaign calling Bill McCollum "the new darling of the homosexual extremists."

But this week Charlie Crist broke new ground in attack politics in his U.S. Senate campaign. Marco Rubio, he charged, may be a back waxer.

"He's trying to pawn himself off as a fiscal conservative. And yet just in recent weeks, two weeks ago it has come out in news accounts he had a Republican Party of Florida credit card, that he charged a $130 haircut or maybe it was a back wax," the governor of America's fourth-largest state told a startled Greta Van Susteren on Fox News Monday night.

Crist "media blitz"

"Crist used the taxpayer-funded state plane Wednesday for a four-city media blitz that promoted a pro-business initiative but ended with a Miami campaign fundraiser." "Crist combines bill signing tour on state plane with campaign stop".

Meantime, "An independent Charlie Crist bid for the US Senate would work to Marco Rubio's advantage, because Crist would win more Democratic votes than Republican ones. In a hypothetical three way contest Rubio leads with 34% to 27% for Crist and 25% for Kendrick Meek." "Crist's Conundrum".

Run "Jeb!", run!

"The eldest son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in a North Carolina political appearance that he doesn't expect his father to make a run for president in 2012." "Jeb Bush's son: 2012 run by dad unlikely".

'Glades

The Miami Herald editors: "Like everything involving the Everglades, the state's agreement to purchase 72,800 acres of U.S. Sugar Corp. land for $536 million has its share of champions and critics. But though it's less than perfect, the deal is worth doing." "The eldest son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in a North Carolina political appearance that he doesn't expect his father to make a run for president in 2012.". Related: "Crist's grand Everglades deal under assault".

McCollum blows his top

George Bennett: "Attorney General and GOP governor candidate Bill McCollum dropped by tonight's Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee powwow and sounded at first like a federal candidate before throwing his likely Democratic opponent, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, into the mix." "McCollum slams Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Sink, health care overhaul".

DMS on the chopping block

"Senate Looking to Break up DMS, Streamline Data".

"Bad news" for Meek and LeMieux

Kevin Derby writes that "While the recent Public Policy polling numbers are getting a lot of attention for showing Marco Rubio crushing Charlie Crist by 32 points, the poll also offers bad news for U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the likely Democratic Senate nominee, and U.S. Sen. George LeMieux."

A Fasano special

"The Legislature is staring at a $3.2 billion deficit, but state Sen. Mike Fasano has tentatively lined up $750,000 for a health care clinic in the regional hurricane shelter that bears his name." "Sen. Fasano seeks $750,000 for health care clinic".

"Legislative leaders at least could be honest ..."

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "As the Legislature debates bills that would deal the state in for a piece of the red-light camera action, legislative leaders at least could be honest about their motives."

Sure, the bills most likely to pass have "traffic safety" in their titles. Yes, legislators — like county and city officials — claim that safety is the goal. Still, the Republican-led Legislature claims to worry about the reach of government and to respect the rule of law. Since the bills to authorize red-light cameras violate both of those principles, the real motive can be only one thing: money.

Whatever

"Fingerprint matches increase, but not arrests as Crist claims".

Hillsborough out of control

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Put an end to county circus".

911

"A Florida House panel has approved a bill aimed at barring the public from hearing 911 calls, unless a judge rules in favor to make an exception." "House committee passes 911 privacy bill". See also "Bill limiting public access to 911 recordings passes legislative hurdle".

Takes one to know one

"Florida lawmakers push for clampdown on exotic-reptile trade". Related: "Republican party reptile".

South Florida Raging Grannies At It Again

by: dantilson

Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 17:01:25 PM EST

Florida Political News: March 10, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 09:11:50 AM EST

Rubio trouncing Crist, 60-28

"Is the world's greatest deliberative body ready for man hugs and back waxing?"

Those two images so far have defined the red-hot and increasingly hostile battle for Florida's Republican U.S. Senate nomination between Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Both men hope to use the images to paint the other as out-of-step on fiscal issues.

A picture of Crist hugging President Obama was used in Rubio's online fund-raisers and to ridicule the governor for being one of the few Republicans to support the federal stimulus plan.

The image helped transform Rubio's campaign from long-shot to front-runner. A Public Policy Polling survey showed Rubio up 60 percent-28 percent on Tuesday.

Crist is attempting to claw his way back by casting Rubio as dishonest with other people's money. Crist reminds voters that Rubio used his state party-issued credit card to ring up $16,000 in personal expenses, including $135 at a Miami barber shop.

Rubio said he used his own money to pay those bills and recently told Fox News that barber shop charge wasn't for just a haircut.

Crist, on the same cable channel Monday night, suggested Rubio may also have received a back wax.

The landslide margin reported by Public Policy Polling (PPP) of North Carolina is being read as another sign of deterioration -- if not impending implosion -- by a campaign that had held a similarly commanding lead just three months ago.

The PPP polling was done March 5-8, well after the dust-up over Rubio's questionable GOP credit card expenditures.

Tally today

"2010 Legislative session daily summary". See also "In Tallahassee today, it's teachers, texting and reptiles".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"As state economists confirmed the $3.2 billion shortfall that Florida is facing next year, a bill advanced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday that could shrink Florida's budget gap by one-third."

The economists' deliberations coincided with the advance of legislation in Congress that could pump more than $1 billion into Florida's Medicaid program.

Medicaid is the biggest budget buster that lawmakers face this session, as high unemployment has forced more people to seek government assistance. Last year's federal stimulus package provided enhanced federal Medicaid funding only through the end of the 2010 calendar year, six months shy of the end of the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Senate voted 66-34 to end debate on a sweeping bill that includes extending the Medicaid stimulus through June 2011. Florida's Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson voted to advance the bill.

Republican Sen. George LeMieux said he voted no because it would add $100 billion to the federal deficit without a clear means of paying for it. In a statement, LeMieux said he cast his vote "with a heavy heart," agreeing that many proposals in the bill would help Florida.

Rubio "helped push loads of hometown spending"

"Republican U.S. Senate front-runner Marco Rubio brags on his Web site that he didn't officially request budget pork in his last four years as a leader in the Florida House."

But during Rubio's eight years in office — including the final two when he was House speaker — he unofficially helped push loads of hometown spending: $250 million, according to a Times/Herald analysis of little-known budget documents.

Turnaround?

"State economists Tuesday found some good news in the fact that there wasn't any more bad news on the fiscal horizon." "State economists predict revenues will increase for first time in 3 years". Related: "New state jobless figures to suggest turnaround or new high".

Entrepreneurship

"An inmate and three relatives have been charged with tax fraud in a second federal indictment stemming from an IRS tax scam that was run out of a jail near Key West." "2nd Florida Keys inmate indicted in prison tax scam".

"Poll incident"

"Poll incident in Pompano Beach livens up otherwise dull Election Day in Broward, Palm Beach counties".

Free records

"Floridians could get public records free of charge if it takes less than 30 minutes to produce them under a Sunshine law overhaul bill unanimously approved by its first Senate committee Tuesday." "Public records could be free".

Dead wood

"AP: Crist names power co. chief to Fla. school board". More: "Crist Reappoints Bush Staffers to State Board".

Return of "the old-fashioned chain gang"

"With budget cuts paring back landscaping along city roads, Orlando is bringing the old-fashioned chain gang to The City Beautiful." "Prisoners to mow Orlando medians".

It must be OK then ...

"As lawmakers waited Tuesday for the latest state revenue estimates, state Senate budget writers learned that other states are being forced to make widespread cuts in funding for popular school programs." "Lawmakers hear how other states have cut education".

Sales Tax Holiday

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board likes the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday.

Counties benefit in direct proportion to the size of their school-age population, but all counties and even the state treasury benefit from this almost perfect form of tax relief — which provides an automatic economic stimulus for local and state governments as well as businesses.

Gov. Charlie Crist has recommended that the Legislature set aside 10 days for the tax holiday that Floridians enjoyed from 1998 until 2007 (during which it lasted between seven and 10 days). It was suspended last year on the theory that the state couldn't afford any loss of revenue during the recession.

But a study by the Washington Economics Group indicated that a proposed tax holiday would generate $1.7 billion in economic activity, of which close to $1 billion stays in the Florida economy.

Absolutely, 100% not guilty

"The Republican Party of Florida is demanding the Florida Democratic Party drop an elections complaint. A GOP lawyer wrote to the Democrats today saying a complaint filed last week has no merit." "State GOP: Democrats' complaint has no merit".

'Glades

The Tampa Tribune editors: "Florida environmentalists are worried that a Monday New York Times article could derail a $536 million deal to purchase 73,000 acres from U.S. Sugar as part of the effort to rescue the Everglades. It would be better for the deal to be derailed if taxpayers are being fleeced. But that is not at all clear, despite the Times' effort to put the proposal in the worst possible light." "Proceed carefully with Glades". Related: "Key vote nears on Crist's Everglades restoration purchase of U.S. Sugar land".

No nooses

"Long characterized as a symbol of racial terror, the noose might soon be banned in the state." "Lawmakers push measure to ban public display of noose".

911 exemptions

"A controversial proposal under consideration in the Florida Legislature would exempt 911 calls from the public record." "Bill prohibits release of 911 calls".

PSC

"PSC inspector general requests FDLE investigation".

"Leadership"

"Republican lawmakers are reviving leadership funds, which legislators used in the past as a place to funnel unspent campaign money in return for choice committee chairmanships." "Once-reviled funds on way back".

"Sacrificing is for suckers"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board writes that, "in the Wonderland that is Washington, D.C., members of Congress have been letting their belts out. As South Florida's Sun Sentinel recently reported, federal lawmakers voted themselves a 5 percent increase in their own budgets last year. They spent those taxpayer dollars for staff salaries — sometimes in six figures — office expenses and perks. In Florida's delegation, the perks included chauffeured car trips, pricey auto leases and an office aquarium."

Florida's two U.S. senators have annual budgets for office expenses of more than $4 million each, while the state's 25 House members each get about $1.5 million. When their budgets are combined with their Senate and House colleagues', the total of less than $2 billion almost gets lost amid this year's $3.6 trillion federal budget and $1.6 trillion projected deficit. Cutting congressional office expenses won't balance the budget.

But when lawmakers refuse to hold themselves back in tough times, it sends a message to struggling Americans: Sacrificing is for suckers.

Consider these office expenses last year from Florida House members:

Democrat Corrine Brown of Jacksonville, who represents a district where the per capita income is only two-thirds of the U.S. average, spent almost $8,000 last year for herself and her staff to ride in chauffeured cars or SUVs.

Democrat Ron Klein of Boca Raton, a self-described deficit hawk, increased his office spending by $30,000.

Democrat Alcee Hastings of Miramar spent the most on staff. He paid two of them — one his longtime girlfriend — about $160,000 each. Both fell just below the $168,000 limit for congressional staff salaries.

Republican Mario Diaz-Balart of Miami leased a Honda Odyssey minivan for $803 a month.

Republican Tom Rooney of Tequesta spent almost $2,500 on an aquarium in his office. He also spent $628 on bottled water.

Among Florida's House members, the top 10 office spenders last year were split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. The group included four members whose districts cover parts of Central Florida: Republicans Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville and Cliff Stearns of Ocala, and Democrats Alan Grayson of Orlando and Ms. Brown of Jacksonville.

Republican Adam Putnam of Bartow was the most frugal member of Central Florida's delegation. His office spent just 76 percent of its budget allotment.

"'Corruption County' bill"

"In another effort to shed its "Corruption County" label, the scandal-plagued Palm Beach County Commission has sparked a bill that would give all 67 counties the ability to strengthen penalties against crooked officials. " "Palm Beach County-inspired bill would let counties set stricter ethical standards".

Red light bill

"House committee OKs red light bill".

Census based aid

"As the 2010 Census approaches, a study shows South Florida and the rest of the state are on the short end of federal funding determined by the count." "Florida lags in U.S. aid based on Census". More: Dan Moffett writes that the "State must count on illegals: Florida needs their help in the census".

Charlie Crist's Identity Theft Problem

by: dantilson

Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 23:49:22 PM EST

Charlie Crist’s “Man In The Mirror” confusion was in full view during the 2010 State of the State speech, when he launched his third 180-degree turn since becoming governor in 2006 - this time trying desperately to swing back towards what was a winning identity for him back then.

The Banker vs. The Bureaucrat

by: Tally

Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 14:03:41 PM EST

Florida Political News: March 9, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 09:30:44 AM EST

But their kids passed the FCAT

"2.5 million Floridians on food stamps".

Slashing workers

"Florida taxpayers could save hundreds of millions by severely cutting pension and insurance benefits for state employees, the head of the Legislature's fiscal watchdog agency told House and Senate members Monday." "Lawmakers look at savings possible by slashing state worker benefits".

Sugar scam

"With lawmakers already frustrated over a lack of oversight, recent reports on the state's landmark $536 million Everglades agreement with U.S. Sugar Corp. may add momentum for a legislative response in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the controversial deal, a key House lawmaker said Monday."

Meanwhile, a scheduled meeting of the South Florida Water Management District's Board this week to extend the closing deadline for the contract that ends March 31 is also likely to provide a venue for renewed scrutiny of the May 2009 agreement for the district to purchase nearly 73,000 acres from the sugar company.

The deal originally called for the taxpayers in the water management taxing district's 16-county area across South Florida to spend $1.75 billion for 187,000 acres, about 300 square miles. Facing tough financial times, though, the agreement was renegotiated. If approved, the state will have the option to purchase an additional 107,000 acres.

Recent articles in The Miami Herald and a weekend piece by The New York Times have reignited debate over the already controversial transaction, potentially the most expensive land purchase in state history.

Florida's fiscal outlook

"Many eyes in the Capitol will be focused Tuesday on an obscure team of economists who meet periodically to update Florida's fiscal outlook."

Known formally as the Revenue Estimating Conference, the forecasters will review an array of economic trends to fine-tune a consensus estimate of how much money the state can expect to take in this year from a multitude of tax sources.

The bottom-line estimate is critical: The House and Senate use it to assemble the state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Crist gettin' nasty

Michael Bender: "Crist, in his appearance on Fox News last night, insinuated that the $135 Rubio spent at a salon might have been on a back wax. (The initial issue with the expenditure, of course, was that Rubio charged it to his Florida Republican Party credit card.) Crist said Rubio paid the party back 'after he got caught.'" "Crist on back waxing, Everglades restoration and Jeb Bush".

The Florida web takes a right(er) hand turn

"In Florida there are no rules governing who can get press credentials and start writing about state government and its major players in the Capitol. ... Florida the Capitol Police issue credentials after confirming the name of each employer and doing a criminal records check. There are no formal rules defining who can be a member of the press."

As a result, two years after traditional newspapers and television stations started laying off reporters and substantially cutting back on coverage of state news, a virtual herd of newspeople are going to work for Web-only publications. Some of the websites are clear about their ownership and purpose. Others are not.

A couple of the better-financed news Web operations have moved into the Florida Press Center, taking offices once occupied by newspapers that cut staff or eliminated capital bureaus. One of the new groups -- Sunshine State News -- has set up shop in a former Miami Herald suite with new furniture and a staff of about a half dozen reporters and editors who say they plan to emphasize business and politics on a free website.

The folks at Sunshine will not disclose the names of investors who are financing the operation. ...

Sunshine's corporate papers were initially filed by Justin Sayfie, a former communications director for Gov. Jeb Bush.

"Lame excuses"

The Tampa Tribune editors: "If the groundwater around or beneath the homes of Florida lawmakers had been contaminated and they didn't find out about it until nearly two decades later, you can bet they'd quickly pass a law to make sure they'd never be kept in the dark about such things again."

The public deserves the same concern.

The state Department of Environmental Protection discovered a plume of paints and other toxic chemicals from a now-vacant defense plant had contaminated groundwater in an area of St. Petersburg in 1991. But 17 years went by before residents were informed.

Since the discovery, the plume, according to Sen. Charlie Justice's office, has "migrated 200 acres, affecting two apartment complexes, three neighborhoods, community parks, schools and the waters of Tampa Bay."

Such an inexcusable delay should never be tolerated again. When the environment is contaminated, affected residents need to be notified as quickly as possible. It is a matter of public health.

Yet, Justice, a St. Petersburg Democrat whose district includes part of Hillsborough County, and Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, have twice had to file bills that would mandate timely disclosure to residents of contamination of groundwater, surface water and soil.

The legislation failed to win passage last year, and this year appears to face tough sledding, too. Concerns have been voiced about compliance costs for companies and the additional expansion of government.

ES&S settlement

"The nation's largest voting-machine company probably won't be called a monopoly for much longer in Florida and other states. Under a proposed settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and nine states that include Florida, Election Systems & Software will divest itself of its hardware, software and other assets it acquired after the $5 million purchase of Premier Election Solutions, a division of Diebold Inc. The state and federal governments released the draft settlement agreement Monday -- on the same day that the Justice Department and a group of attorneys general from states including Florida filed a civil anti-trust suit in Washington federal court." "Lawsuits pull the plug on voting-machine monopoly".

Yesterday's news

"2010 Legislature summary".

Hammering teachers

"The sponsor calls it a 'hammer.' The head of Florida's statewide teachers union says it's more like a 'nuclear weapon.'"

It's a provision in a wide-ranging teacher quality bill penalizing school districts that fail to adopt merit pay plans by cutting part of their state funding and forcing them to make up for it by increasing local property taxes.

The bill (SB 6) sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, also would reduce teacher job protection and make it easier for school officials to fire teachers. The legislation has drawn union opposition.

Thrasher, who also chairs the Florida Republican Party, said Monday his bill needs the penalty provision as an incentive for districts to adopt performance pay plans.

Only eight of Florida's 67 school districts participate in the current Merit Awards Program. Just five local teachers union leaders support Florida's application for about $1 billion in federal Race to the Top stimulus funding. The application features a pay plan similar to the one in Thrasher's bill.

The penalty provision would cut state funding in an amount equal to 5 percent of what a district spends on salaries for teachers, principals and other school-based administrators. Districts also would have to raise property taxes an equal amount.

That would be a clear violation of the Florida Constitution, which gives school boards the authority to run local schools and determine taxing rates and a provision that guarantees employees the right to collectively bargain, said Ron Meyer, a lawyer for the teachers union. Meyer said several other parts of Thrasher's bill have similar constitutional problems.

"Wily coyotes"

"Though the number of coyote sightings is growing, especially in rural areas, efforts to trap and control the predatory animals remain sporadic and low-tech." "Florida tries to fend off wily coyotes".

Poor kids

" Florida community colleges face crunch, can't meet student demand".

"Partisanship at its most self-defeating, train-wrecking worst"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "At last week's Broward legislative delegation meeting, the majority Democratic members seemed to take umbrage that the sole Republican among them, state Rep. Ellen Bogdanoff, is taking the lead on getting an anti-corruption Broward bill passed in the Legislature. This is partisanship at its most self-defeating, train-wrecking worst." "Skip the partisan sniping".

Rothstein report

"As her husband's billion-dollar fraud scheme was imploding last Halloween, Kim Rothstein went shopping for more shoes at Nordstrom. She liked expensive shoes. And Louis Vuitton handbags. Gucci accessories. Evening dresses by Zola Keller. Shirts, sweaters and jeans from Cache Luxe. She could burn through thousands of dollars on a shopping outing, or drop nearly $5,000 buying from a chic Los Angeles boutique online." "Kim Rothstein shopped so much that it's now all a blur".

Public records

"Open government advocates and a state senator who's had her own problems obtaining public records are backing a sweeping bill making it easier for people to get government records." "Getting public records could be easier under bill developed by Crist panel".

Insolvency

"Several more small startup property insurers in Florida are headed for insolvency, leaving tens of thousands of homeowners looking for a new company as hurricane season approaches June 1." "More new Florida property insurers in trouble".

Going local

"Six Orange County cities will go to the polls on March 9, 2010, to elect representatives and decide charter amendments. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m." "Orange elections: Voters to go to polls in 6 cities". See also "Polls open without problems and with few voters in Broward, Palm Beach counties".

Limit term limits

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board points out that "six states have repealed their legislative term limits. Battles or debates are ongoing in nine others to change or repeal term-limit laws, including in Florida, for good reason: Term limits work better in theory than in fact. They diminish voters' say. They reduce elected representatives' influence and accountability when those representatives are in their last term. Term-limited representatives who spend half their time learning the system and the other half racing the clock for influence end up yielding power to lobbyists, who know they'll outlast every term-limited representative. Democracy isn't improved. It's damaged."

The proposal to change Florida's term-limit system would mostly add to the harm.

State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, is proposing a constitutional amendment that would increase state senators' terms from four years to six years and increase state representative's terms from two years to four years. Senators could then serve two terms for a total of 12 years, increasing their total potential service by four years. House members could serve three consecutive terms, also increasing their potential service to 12 years. (Bennett's proposal is formulated in Senate Bill 598 and House Bill 495.) ...

Extending terms to six years in the Senate and four years in the House diminishes accountability and places bigger distances between the elected and their constituents. ...

Bennett also proposes to impose term limits on county elected officials, including constitutional officers such as sheriffs, tax assessors, clerks of courts and county commissioners. Years of service in those offices would also be limited to 12. That's an overreach. If county voters choose to impose term limits on their own county representatives, that should be up to them.

The best term limits remain in every voter's hands, and they're exercised at the ballot box.

Florida Political News: March 8, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:16:39 AM EST

Tally update

"In Tallahassee today: recycling, gambling and, of course, the budget". See also "Gambling, budget top priorities for Florida Legislature".

Micky Mouse in, Rent out

"Movie and television productions with gay characters could be ineligible for a tax credit being considered in the state House." "Shows with gays excluded from proposed tax credit". See also "State rep’s proposal would exclude gay-themed productions from tax credit" and "Florida bill to reward 'family-friendly' films is derided as 1950s-style moral censorship".

Nothing conservative about it

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "There is nothing conservative about allowing out-of-state merchants to escape Florida's sales tax. It shows contempt for the law, increases the need for other fees and taxes and penalizes in-state retailers who create jobs and pay a variety of local taxes." "A proposal to aid state and merchants".

Running government like a business

"The state office charged with ensuring that jobless Floridians get their benefits in a timely way is failing to meet federal performance standards in at least three key areas. The Agency for Workforce Innovation doesn't make enough initial payments quickly enough, takes too long to determine someone's eligibility and too often fails to resolve appeals in the time prescribed by the U.S. Department of Labor." "Office that handles jobless benefits in Florida not meeting standards".

"Modernized immigration policy"

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Florida, U.S. would benefit economically from a modernized immigration policy".

Florida's failed education experiment

The Daytona Beach News Journal editors take down Florida's failed educational experiment: "Ten years into the experiment with high-stakes testing, Florida legislators are rethinking the makeup and reach of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test."

Legislators shouldn't stop there. They should rethink the misguided philosophy that led to the FCAT as the supreme measure of a student's achievement and a school's worth. They should listen to Diane Ravitch. So should anyone enthralled with notions of "accountability" at the expense of genuine learning and opportunities for all.

Ravitch, a close ally of both Bush presidents and a former official in the first Bush's Education Department, spent the past two decades developing and championing education reform by way of market forces. She is at the root of the movement for vouchers, charter schools, school choice, merit pay and high-stakes standardized testing as means to explode the old model of public schooling and replacing it with a more business-like, competitive model. She is also at the root of the movement that culminated in the No Child Left Behind law that encompassed much of that thinking when George W. Bush signed it in 2001. That thinking frames the way Florida did, or thought it did, school reform since 1999 under the leadership of Bush's brother Jeb.

No. Listen to Ravitch, who has turned into the harshest critic of the policies she once inspired and helped write: "I've looked at the evidence and I've concluded they're wrong. They've put us on the wrong track. I feel passionately about the improvement of public education and I don't think any of this is going to improve public education." ...

Florida is still up to its Panhandle in market-based education. Schools are still seen as work-force factories rather than academies. Standardized testing still tyrannizes over all other measures of achievement. "Accountability" is still the favored buzzword, however detached schools' dumbed-down results have become from true accountability. And public schools are still perceived as a business in the employ of business rather than as engines of opportunity in the employ of education. That will change, or should change, if public education in Florida is to regain its original purpose -- so zealously subverted in the past decade -- and live up to its promise first and last to educate students and make better citizens. It can't change soon enough.

Yaaawwwnnn ...

"Crist sits down with The Post's Editorial Board".

Dems have "flimsy evidence"

"The Florida Democratic Party says Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Republican candidate for governor, has targeted a sacred cow: Social Security."

That's a major charge. The Democrats are not simply saying he voted to reduce the program that provides income for millions of senior citizens, but alleging that he sought to tear it apart.

To back up the claim, the Democrats cited nine votes McCollum took related to Social Security in the 1990s. The McCollum campaign doesn't dispute the individual votes but disagrees with how they're being interpreted.

We examined those votes and showed them to experts on Social Security. We then concluded the Democrats are distorting McCollum's votes and making an incorrect claim based on flimsy evidence.

Patricia Dilley, a University of Florida law professor who helped write Social Security legislation in the 1980s, said it was a stretch to describe the votes in such stark terms. "There is not a vote in here directly to dismantle Social Security,'' she said.

Higher prices

"Non-stop cold temperatures in the nation's winter vegetable capital have chilled consumers' wallets." "Florida cold means higher produce prices".

Bad unions

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Mr. Regalado has been too passive with the unions. We expect Mr. Migoya will be fair but act quickly. The longer city officials wait to act, the more they risk layoffs in a city already reeling from a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation on bonds the city is using for major projects. Union pensions aren't the only problem. Their perks in pay for police and firefighters are stratospheric." "Miami's fiscal crisis".

Cash-for-clunkers

"Reservations required for Florida's cash-for-clunker appliance program".

"Unclear"

"Success of rally for college funding unclear".

"'Fair' is not a factor"

Bill Cotterell notes that "considering that state employees haven't had a raise since Jeb Bush lived here, 'fair" is a not much of a factor" when it comes to the proposals to save money by slashing wages and benefits of state employees. "Bill Cotterell: TaxWatch team searches for some savings".

"A bad dream"

Carl Hiaasen on Saturday: "It must be like a bad dream for Marco Rubio. He goes to bed as the golden boy of the New Right, and wakes up as just another phony with a $134 haircut." "GOP offer even a liberal couldn't refuse".

Illegal immigrants

"With a waiting list for Florida mental health facilities, a state debate is emerging on whether illegal immigrants should have the same rights to public healthcare as legal residents." "Crackdown urged on undocumented migrants' mental healthcare".

Next up, cardboard boxes

"Cutting edge: Making cargo containers into homes?".

Florida Political News: March 7, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:22:03 AM EST

LeMieux preparing to take on Nelson

"Since his appointment to the U.S. Senate, George LeMieux has been tireless in keeping his name before the public."

Though only a temporary lawmaker, filling the final 16 months of retired Sen. Mel Martinez's term, LeMieux has been relentless in trying to generate notice, whether through news releases or Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or extensive travel.

The 40-year-old Republican, a former chairman of the Broward GOP, says he is working hard to represent Florida and communicating in ways that reflect a changing society. But there is a clear end game: The part-time senator wants a full-time gig.

Until recently, LeMieux was someone who was defined by his lack of public persona, the behind-the-scenes conductor of Gov. Charlie Crist's political machine. Since Crist appointed him in September, LeMieux has been rapidly working to transform himself into a viable brand of his own.

For now, that ambition points in a provocative direction: The seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who is up for reelection in 2012.

Florida's "slavery problem"

"A traveling museum is bringing attention to the slavery problem that still exists in Florida's agricultural industry." "Museum highlights modern-day slavery problem in Florida".

Wingnuttery

"South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, a hard-line conservative who's challenging the national Republican Party leadership, came to Tampa on Saturday backing conservative U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio."

He has friends in Florida. State Rep. Will Weatherford of Wesley Chapel introduced DeMint, calling him "Doctor No to earmarks to nowhere," and county party Chairwoman Debbie Cox-Roush called him "the only senator with a 100 percent conservative ranking."

A hero to the tea party movement, DeMint shook up the GOP by forming the Senate Conservatives Fund, a PAC to back conservative Senate candidates, some of whom were running against Republicans backed by the party.

NASA

"In the latest sign that his NASA vision is in peril, President Barack Obama will announce today his plans to host a space summit in Florida on April 15." "Obama plans space summit in Florida to defend his vision for NASA".

Whatever Jebbie wants ...

Today's Mike Thomas column is a real laffer. He begins with a little background about the latest wingnut crusade in Tally:

Florida legislators' arch-enemies, the teacher unions, are the focus of reforms [sic].

Tallahassee is sticking a load of dynamite under the old schoolhouse.

The public-education model in Florida is about to go ka-boom.

All it will take is for legislators to sign off on some pending bills. That is a given, as conservatives now firmly control the state capital.

And their arch-enemies, the teacher unions, are the focus of the reforms.

Gone will be teacher tenure and the job security it provides. Gone will be across-the-board raises and layoffs based on seniority.

The traditionally moderate Senate has taken a hard turn to the right. The new 500-pound gorilla is Sen. John Thrasher, just appointed as the Republican Party chairman. He is a former speaker of the Florida House, a close ally of Jeb Bush, the man who helped steer Jeb's revolutionary [sic] accountability reforms through the Legislature in 1999. And his fingerprints are all over these new reforms.

Together again: Jeb & John.

For Jeb, it is about finishing the job he started more than 10 years ago, making Florida a national model for 21st century education.

Teachers effectively join most other employees in Florida as at-will workers[*]. That vastly diminishes the power of teachers unions[**]. And don't think that isn't an added perk for Republicans [and their allies like Thomas].

Teachers will be under more pressure. Like an NBA player in the last year of his contract, those who haven't been putting in the effort will have to up their game.

Will the good ones flee? I seriously doubt it. But I also think the state has to put a big chunk of merit pay money on the table to make this work and attract people into the profession.

"Playing it safe"

"As state lawmakers grapple with how to close a $3.2 billion budget gap and shrink unemployment ranks, Florida's leading candidates for governor are playing it safe. Neither Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum nor Democrat Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has advanced a bold agenda to influence any of the major policies that either could inherit on inauguration day in January." "Leading candidates for Florida governor cautious on issues".

But Jebbie said ...

... he fixed it with the FCAT ...

"Floridians concerned about K-12 education got a sobering, and worrisome, assessment courtesy of a 2009 report from the Florida Reading Council. The study showed that 55 percent of Florida's college freshmen required some sort of remedial class work." "Editorial: Dump FCAT in high school, rely on college placement exams".

Hypocrisy alert

Aaron Deslatte: "On the eve of a budget-balancing session in which they'll have to tap federal stimulus cash for the third year running, Florida's Republican legislative leadership held a press conference to call on Washington to rein in its expanding fiscal waistline." "Partisanship is Legislature’s watchword".

Bought and paid for

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida's business community is lobbying the friendly Republican-controlled Legislature for new laws that would make it much harder for injured people to collect damages. Maybe a few legal tweaks are needed, but these bills would tilt the law too heavily toward insulating businesses from liability." "Protect the people".

Bad hair cut

Adam C Smith: "A fired-up Charlie Crist charmed a hometown crowd in St. Petersburg Saturday, and made it abundantly clear we'll be hearing a lot about Marco Rubio's state GOP credit card spending in the coming months. Credit card statements from 2007 show Rubio charged $134.75 at a tony Miami barber shop." "Crist gives Rubio a buzz cut for $135 bill at barbershop".

Never mind

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Florida voters thought they had good reasons 18 years ago to limit terms in the Legislature to eight years."

They were striking a blow against arrogant, career politicians whose name recognition and rich campaign coffers empowered them to operate without much fear of losing an election.

A limit on terms was supposed to guarantee a steady stream of new blood. It would force lawmakers to be more accountable. It would weaken and humble them.

Ask a voter today if they're in favor of all that, and the answer will probably be: "You're darn tootin' I am!"

But Florida's experiment with term limits has made clear to careful observers that an arbitrary eight-year limit has very bad side effects. Lobbyists have gained power. Term-limited lawmakers tend to focus on short-term results and ignore long-term consequences. They cater more to the special interests than to the electorate.

Many members do not understand the complexities and history of issues such as growth management, property taxes, water and health care, to name a few.

Unknown, freshly elected representatives immediately begin campaigning for leadership positions. Those who wait get left behind.

"Two ways to test the commitment to democracy"

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "Florida voters have two ways to test the commitment to democracy of every voting bloc from Tea Party conservatives to "post-racial" liberals. One: Participate in the 2010 Census. Two: Vote in favor the Fair Districts amendment proposals at the state and federal levels." "Our Opinion: A clean slate".

SeaWorld

Pierre Tristam: "Disturbingly recent exceptions aside, civilized nations now agree that burning fellow human beings at the stake, torturing them or enslaving them is inhuman. The day will come when civilized nations will agree that imprisoning wild animals in zoos, whipping them about in circus acts from city to city or forcing them to do tricks for our amusement in such places as SeaWorld, Marineland and Epcot is as cruel to the animals as it is lewd of the people watching them."

This isn't to argue against domestication or even the slaughtering of animals. We are animals and predators. But domesticating an animal for help or companionship and certainly killing an animal for sustenance will always be more morally defensible than taming one for entertainment or "education." (The less defensible gobs of cruelty in the chicken farms and the feedlots of the West, where cattle are turned into walking mummies of drugs and fat, have more to do with a nation's gluttony than sustenance. But that's another story.)

Places like SeaWorld love to claim that their shows give people a close-up of something unique that fosters an appreciation for nature and conservation. Florida residents give the lie to that invention. They've been converging on SeaWorld from subdivisions that have plowed under entire ecosystems and obliterated the habitats of 111 plants and animals (at last count). That's not about to change.

"SunScam State"

The Palm Beach Post's Randy Schultz asks: "Aren't you tired of it? Aren't you tired of Florida in general, and South Florida in particular, being the scam capital of the Southeast?"

We all know about the political corruption. Three former Palm Beach County commissioners are in prison. Two ex-West Palm Beach city commissioners did time and are out. Broward County features Scott Rothstein, the Bernie Madoff Mini-Me, and other political scandals at various levels. Miami-Dade for decades has been known as the county that runs on graft.

But it's so much more. It's Medicare and Medicaid fraud. As a senator, Bob Graham started a whole task force on that 13 years ago. It's auto insurance fraud, which South Florida has exported to Orlando and Tampa Bay. It's boiler-room, white-collar scamming in my hometown of Boca Raton.

And now, it's pain-pill smuggling.

Phony veterans

"Beware the phony veterans. That was the message from some state lawmakers gathered at the VA Primary Care Clinic here on Friday." "New state bills introduced to combat phony veterans". See also "Impersonating military vets for donations would be felony under state rep’s bill".

The RPOFer economy ...

... a house of cards, which is now collapsing: "Foreclosures swamping county, courts".

"Take it or leave it"

"The Florida Senate has come out with a new Seminole Indian gambling deal — and this time, the chamber is telling Gov. Charlie Crist and the tribe: Take it or leave it."

The new Senate bill has the same terms as last year's version. It would give the tribe blackjack at four of its seven resorts, including the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood and the Coconut Creek casino, in exchange for at least $150 million a year.

"A sly way to get around the law"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "State law doesn't allow them. Local governments get around the prohibition by treating red-light infractions as code enforcement violations, like overgrown grass, as opposed to moving violations."

It's a sly way to get around the law. Cities have been getting away with it for years, putting up cameras that spy on drivers and snap a digital photo automatically when a vehicle is perceived to have crossed against a red light. It's time for the Legislature to clarify the law. Either cameras are allowed or they're not. There should be no middle ground cities can exploit, as they do now, resulting in a patchwork of rules and penalties from one city, and sometimes one suburb, to the next. A Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge was right when he ruled that traffic laws are state laws, that red-light cameras are a mode of enforcing traffic laws, but that absent a state law allowing traffic cameras, they may not be used. The judge ruled that traffic ticketing may only take place when a live law enforcement officer is present.

"Tough love or political terror"

Mary Ann Lindley: "Week One of the Florida Legislature has wrapped up, and everyone's hands are tied, with instructions to cut and chop and spend no money before its time."

I don't know if it's tough love or political terror that Speaker Larry Crutel has invoked in his long list of ways to say "no," but all House members got the memo Thursday: no new taxes, never, ever.

Likewise, Florida TaxWatch, calling upon its own white-collar task force of prominent Floridians, on Thursday delivered 87 ways to shape up government through "cost savings." ...

The concept of investing in a better state — in our universities, early-learning efforts, preventive health and public safety programs — and getting something valuable back in the long run seems to remain beyond consideration, even though it could be done with a more fair and broad-based tax structure.

Yet while legislators are instructed not to spend a dime or raise a dime of taxpayers' money, that doesn't mean they don't happily collect and spend money to advance their own ambitions.

Right down to the end of the day on Monday, before the session convened on Tuesday morning, lawmakers around town were fundraising at breakfast, lunch and the cocktail hour — and not subtly.

Big spenders

"The top 10 spenders were evenly split among Democrats and Republicans." "Florida Congressmen spend tax money on luxury cars, high salaries and perks".

Walking with the dinosaurs

"Top home-school texts dismiss Darwin, evolution".

National Health Care--Side by Side

by: Robert McKnight

Sat Mar 06, 2010 at 15:07:46 PM EST

With all the changes and manuvering, it can be hard to see the issue, straight forward.  Here is a "side by side":

ISSUE                       DEMOCRATIC                   REPUBLICAN

Priority                      Access                             Cost

Implementation        Comprehensive               Incremental

Set Standards          Government                     Market

Hard to believe an issue taking up a year of debate can come down to a simple checklist.

Florida Political News: March 6, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Sat Mar 06, 2010 at 10:27:08 AM EST

After reading the hard copy of your hometown newspaper, should should start your web-day with the Florida Progressive Coalition. Please consider becoming a site fan on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Our digest of, and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.

"Mr. Chips From Hell"

Daniel Ruth hits a grand slam this morning.

He writes: "Yep, to be sure, this is a mere bagatelle of a do-nothing job — modest pay, grading papers for hours, overseeing six to seven packed classes a day, attending to parent conferences, dealing with the occasional brawl, being forced to teach to a cockamamie test. And all the while clucking Tallahassee politicians are looking over your shoulder telling you what a lousy, stinking job you're doing and threatening your livelihood."

Given all those lush fringe benefits, who wouldn't want to be a public school teacher?

Or more to the point, let's put it this way. State Sen. John Thrasher, R-The Mr. Chips From Hell, wouldn't last five minutes in a Florida public school classroom before finding himself more dazed and confused than Sarah Palin contemplating a world atlas.

Yet Thrasher and a bunch of his fellow truants from reality in the Florida Legislature seem bent on making it more difficult for our public school teachers to achieve tenure, easier to fire them and more difficult to — teach.

Under Thrasher's proposal, current protections for classroom teachers' job security would be eviscerated and even more stringent requirements for end-of-year exams implemented and linked to educator evaluations.

Mad dog Charlie

William March on Crist's reverting to his history of attack dog campaigningy: "Bruised from a pummeling in polls and conservative media for six months, Gov. Charlie Crist is fighting back in the Republican U.S. Senate primary."

With his 18-year political career in peril, Crist, who has never held back from negative campaigning, is attacking opponent Marco Rubio.

He has ceased the frontrunner's strategy of ignoring Rubio, and criticizes him at every opportunity - though Crist usually calls him as "my opponent" or "the speaker."

In the speech, he repeatedly urged legislators to temper political rhetoric with practicality, a clear reference to the primary race.

"Taken to an extreme, conviction becomes inflexible, even destructive," Crist said. "We do a disservice to the people who elected us ... to elevate ideology over problem-solving."

The lines drew applause from Democrats but silent stares from many in Crist's own party.

In the interview, he called Rubio's claim to conservatism the "greatest fraud perpetrated on people," and added, "When this guy calls himself the real conservative in the race, I've got to point out that it's the opposite." ...

Recent polls have shown Crist as much as 18 points behind among GOP primary voters; the Real Clear Politics Web site gives Rubio an average 12-point lead in recent polls.

Keep your wingnut specula outa my ...

"Doctor, patient part ways over health care debate".

Pill mills

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "A raid this week by federal and Palm Beach County authorities on pain clinics owned by twin brothers Chris and Jeff George is a welcome sign that law enforcement considers prescription-drug trafficking to be a serious issue. Gov. Crist and the legislature must now take the problem just as seriously." "'Pill mill' raid should prompt Legislature to act".

Week 2

"On the agenda in Week Two in the Florida Legislature: Gambling and the budget. Less than a week old, the annual lawmaking session already has a big focus on the budget. A new revenue estimate for the upcoming 2010-2011 budget year comes out Tuesday and lawmakers are beginning to grapple with how to close an expected $3.2 billion shortfall." "Legislature taking aim at budget and gambling".

"Public Wants Stronger Reform"

Although not directly related to Florida politics, this dKos piece exposes the traditional media's, perhaps unintentional, misrepresentation of public opinion regarding HCR:

Barry Sussman, editor of the Nieman Watchdog Project at Harvard's Nieman Foundation for Journalism, goes beyond the headlines screaming public opposition to healthcare reform.

Comes now (Feb. 26-28) a McClatchy/Ipsos poll of 1,076 people that on first glance offers rocks to sling at Obama. The lead question asks, "As of right now, do you favor or oppose the health care reform proposals presently being discussed?” Forty-one percent said they favored them, 47 percent said they were opposed, and the rest said they were unsure. Those are numbers the Republican leaders could work with.

But the pollsters went a step further, asking those opposed – 509 people in all – if they were against the proposals because they “don’t go far enough to reform health care” or because they go too far. Thirty-seven percent said it was because the proposals don’t go far enough. Thus – are you ready for this? – the addition of an obvious, simple follow-up question completely turns the tables. The overall numbers switch to 59 percent in favor of health care reform, 30 percent against. Putting aside those with no opinion, it becomes 66 percent in favor of health care reform, 34 percent against. Some would call that a consensus, or these days, a super majority.

Whoa, what happened here: a plurality against health care reform actually is a landslide in favor of it? In the same poll? If other surveys turn up similar data, will Republican leaders stop citing public opinion as the basis for opposing Obama’s health care legislation? Fat chance.

He was quickly returned to his country club

"Trappers catch 200-pound wild hog in affluent Plantation Acres".

"More concerned with partisan rhetoric than bipartisan solutions"

Aaron Deslatte: "On the eve of a budget-balancing session in which they'll have to tap federal stimulus cash for the third year running [Tea-bagger alert!] , Florida's Republican legislative leadership held a press conference to call on Washington to rein in its expanding fiscal waistline."

Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, called on Congress to send a constitutional amendment to the states requiring a balanced federal budget.

"Unless something is done about federal spending, Florida will drown in debt," Atwater said, ignoring the $15.7 billion in federal stimulus cash he and other lawmakers have used to balance Florida's budget over the past three years.

But Atwater is running statewide for chief financial officer. So he, like a bunch of other Republicans and Democrats, is much more concerned with partisan rhetoric than bipartisan solutions.

Grayson

As reported yesterday, "FL-08: Grayson leads, er, Republican primary". Inasmuch as Grayson actually "has almost twice as much support among Republicans as all his Republican opponents combined", we look forward to seeing which super-lightweight-RPOFer the Orlando Sentinel will endorse against Grayson in the general.

"A glimpse of the gun lobby's hold on lawmakers"

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Think members of the Florida Legislature were willing to take the proverbial bullet by opposing the National Rifle Association and its defense of a state trust fund as a Second Amendment issue? Wishful thinking. Floridians are about to get a glimpse of the gun lobby's hold on lawmakers. And this time, the issue isn't even about actual gun ownership. It's money." "Setting up gun fund as sacred cow is poor budget management".

Why build houses ...

... when we have plenty of freeway overpasses? "Florida officials last March heralded the arrival of $91.1 million in federal assistance devoted to uplifting neighborhoods struggling with abandoned and foreclosed homes. A year later, very little of the money has been spent, putting the state at risk of losing millions in housing dollars." "Florida slow to spend federal grant money to refurbish housing".

Everything for sale

"With the economy in the tank, a Florida lawmaker is considering an unusual idea to raise money: Let corporations pay to put logos on license plates. The idea of a letting corporations like Disney or Nike sponsor license plates is being floated by state Sen. Mike Fasano, a New Port Richey Republican and transportation budget chairman." "Company names may go on tags".

Praise from Charlie ...

... may not be as helpful as it used to be.

Nevertheless, "State Sen. Dave Aronberg, a Democratic candidate for attorney general, is trying to appeal across party lines with an eye toward the general election. He's portraying himself as a politician focused on principles rather than partisan warfare. The 'About Dave' page on his campaign Web site says, 'The Naples Daily News called him 'the real deal,' and Governor Charlie Crist has praised him as 'a rock star.''"

So Aronberg is correct. He's leaving out Crist's qualifier, that Aronberg is "almost" a rock star. But that still puts Aronberg on the big stage. We find his claim True.

It was a nice sound bite

"An outside financial advisor has warned water managers that plummeting revenues could leave them with a difficult choice between cutting operations and maintenance or sticking to Gov. Charlie Crist's controversial deal with the U.S. Sugar Corp. The memo, sent last month to the chief financial officer of the South Florida Water Management District, paints a bleak forecast, with deficits projected to increase to $110 million by 2012 if it pursues the $536 million land buy for Everglades restoration." "Financial advisor warns sugar land purchase for Everglades restoration could overwhelm South Florida Water Management District". See also "State expert: U.S. Sugar deal to create deficits".

Central Florida's two chamber blast

Aaron Deslatte:

A week after the GOP announced that state Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, had the votes locked up to be House speaker in 2014, word leaked out that freshman Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, is close to having enough pledges to lead his chamber over the same two-year period.

Short of a seismic shift in the November elections, Central Florida is already slated to have two of its own leading both chambers for the 2011-12 terms in Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, and House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park.

Rubio on the run

"Crist's U.S. Senate campaign on Friday accused his opponent, former House Speaker Marco Rubio, of ducking debating in their increasingly contentious Republican primary." "Senate candidates debate debating; lawmakers want fishing review; and more".

Okaloosa memories

"On Feb. 27, 2009, Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris got up early, put $5,000 in his pocket and stepped out of his hotel room at Caesar's Palace casino in Las Vegas. He walked into the waiting arms of FBI agents, who arrested him on charges of theft, fraud and money laundering." "One year after Okaloosa County sheriff's fall, agency shines resilient".

Never mind

Steve Bousquet: "When Gov. Charlie Crist signed the law in 2007 that abolished touch screen voting in Florida, one exception remained."

Despite the machines' reputation for untrustworthiness, they would stay online through the 2012 elections for voters who are blind or have other physical disabilities.

By then, it was hoped, Florida would bless a paper ballot system accessible to the disabled, and touch screens would finally be a relic of elections past, like dimpled chad.

But now that 2012 is approaching, elections supervisors want to keep using touch screens for four more years, through 2016, or the next two presidential elections.

Is nothing sacred?

"Motorcycle chopper sales crash in tough economy".

No rigs

"Military backers told a House panel in no uncertain terms Friday that any talk of oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico better not hamper military operations in the region." "Backers of military in Florida oppose extensive drilling in Eastern Gulf".

Another lazy public employee

"Miami-Dade Police motorcycle officer in serious but stable condition after Hialeah crash".

Hasner gone

"Democrats have long touted House Majority Leader Adam Hasner’s Palm Beach-Broward seat as a pickup opportunity when Hasner leaves this year because of term limits. Republicans have roughly a 39-to-35 percent registration edge in District 87 and have been losing ground over the past eight years." "Dems recruit another candidate for open Hasner seat".

Burger King in a dither

"Bill would put calories on menus".

Charge

"The Democrats say that all contributions and expenses the party makes have to be reported to the state, but there are contributions and expenses filed with the Federal Elections Commission that aren't on the state report." "State Democrats file complaint against GOP". See also "Democrats file ethics complaint against GOP over finance reports".

Big of them

"The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the execution of a Death Row inmate so a hearing can be held to determine the validity of a new standardized IQ test that could spare his life by showing he's mentally retarded." "Florida Supreme Court stays man's execution over IQ test".

That was all well and good, but it is too bad Florida can't rustle up a few judges like this: "Texas judge says death penalty unconstitutional".

Bingo

"Florida taxpayers' tab in bingo-hall battle tops $6 million".

Florida's phony collective bargaining law

Jac Wilder VerSteeg exposes Florida's phony collective bargaining law; here's a taste: "To win federal Race to the Top money — awarded for innovation in education — Florida is negotiating with teachers at gunpoint."

The state wants a billion-dollar piece of the $4 billion Race to the Top pie, and on Thursday was named a finalist. Florida's main "innovation" is to impose on teachers a new evaluation system pegged to students' FCAT scores. Teachers unions hate that, and for good reason, given the FCAT's limitations.

Federal and state officials knew that unions would hate the idea. That's why the application emphasized signatures from each district's superintendent and school board chairman, but the union president's signature was optional. Of the 64 Florida districts that applied, only five unions signed on.

Florida's application advanced without union agreement, but districts can't actually get the money unless the new evaluation system is adopted after labor negotiations. How can this impasse be resolved?

No problem, the state says in its 323-page application. Teacher unions simply will be forced to accept new pay and tenure rules.

Before nakedly brandishing the gun, the application meanders through some pro-forma happy speak. The state promises to "work collaboratively with union representatives … We are hopeful that the unions will ultimately embrace this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to positively change the culture of teaching and the teaching profession."

After making those friendly noises, however, the state quickly builds its case for non-collaboration. Florida statutes, the application notes, require unions and districts "to participate actively in the negotiations with an open mind and a sincere desire, as well as making a sincere effort, to resolve differences and come to an agreement."

And what happens if, despite all these open minds, school districts and unions can't agree? "Florida law provides that the ultimate resolution of school district-teacher union disputes that reach impasse is by the district school board."

And there you have the gun to the head. If the teacher unions don't agree, school boards can make them accept the new rules anyway.

This threat comes from the top. Gov. Crist signed the application, as did state Education Commissioner Eric Smith. Attorney General Bill McCollum certifies that legal claims in the application are accurate.

"Teachers under state's gun".

As Crist and Rubio trade cheap shots ...

... Meek is on the job: "Meek backs reconciliation vote on health care reform".

"A hefty price tag"

"The decision was easy for Gov. Charlie Crist and legislative leaders as they watched the economy sputter and voters seethe in an election year. On the first day of session, the Legislature passed, and Crist signed, a bill that delays for two years a massive unemployment compensation tax hike for nearly a half-million Florida employers. But the relief is only temporary and it comes with a hefty price tag. The interest on federal loans to keep benefits flowing will cost $540 million by 2012." "State to pay $540 million on interest in loans to keep unemployment benefits flowing".

HD 5

"A Democrat has thrown her hat and a monkey wrench into the ring in the special election for the District 4 state House. Navarre resident Jan Fernald paid her qualifying fee Friday to join the five Republican men campaigning for the job. Friday was the last day to qualify to run." "Democrat enters District 4 state House race".

A Broward thing

"The county's lawmakers agree someone needs to keep a closer watch on unscrupulous practices by officials. Broward's reputation became tarnished last year following indictments of School Board member Beverly Gallagher, County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion and former Miramar Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman on corruption charges."

Broward's ethics commission requested the state delegation craft a bill for an inspector general -- with Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a Republican who heads the Legislature's finance and tax council, taking the lead.

That, some say, may be why the popular measure has gone awry. She is the lone Republican in the delegation -- and running for a Senate seat in a district that has a growing number of residents leaning left.

"I have to say that if there were two Democrats sponsoring this bill, I don't think it would be so difficult,'' said Rep. Ari Abraham Porth, D-Coral Springs, who leads the delegation and filed the bill. "And that, I really believe, is unfortunate.''

Combative, But Not Confused

by: Tally

Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 12:52:35 PM EST

Aaron Deslatte was there and posted a quick blog on it where he mentions me:

Florida Political News: March 5, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 08:48:01 AM EST

Sink goes after McCollum

"As Florida hemorrhages as much as $3.2 billion in Medicaid fraud a year, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink proposed reforms Thursday and pinned much of the blame for the problem on her political opponent, Attorney General Bill McCollum."

Sink, a Democrat running for governor, said that since McCollum took office, the number of prosecutions for Medicaid fraud has dropped from 727 in 2004-05 to 372 in 2008-09. Florida has the second highest number of Medicaid recipients in the nation, but ranks 39th in convictions per person in its fraud unit.

From the "values" crowd

"As university students lobbied for more money in Tallahassee, legislative leaders, faced with a deficit, were predicting more budget cuts." "More money for universities called unlikely".

This week in Tally

"Florida legislators began the grim business of budget-cutting on multiple fronts Thursday, with the House leader issuing a spending outline and a grim outlook. " "Florida budget outlook grim".

Paul Flemming on Gov. Crist ... the budget ... the Gun-permit trust fund". "It was a fine week of lame ducks, dollars and guns". Related: "2010 Legislative Session Daily summary".

"State House leaders proposed on Thursday to increase spending on health care and public education - but not enough to meet the rising costs of either of those areas. All told, state health care and education programs may have to shrink by $750 million next fiscal year." "Shortfall chokes House spending".

More: "In Tallahassee today: Medicaid costs, oil drilling and impersonating veterans", "House Speaker Larry Cretul's Budget Proposal Increases School Funds", "Recommendations could save Florida taxpayers $3.2 billion" and "It’s early — but the state budget looks bleak".

If you're bored, you can "Watch live video of the session".

RPOFer laff riot

"An exchange between Gov. Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio in a conservative political journal this week marked the toughest rhetoric so far between the two Republican U.S. Senate primary opponents."

Rubio charged that Crist "cannot be trusted," and Crist shot back that Rubio's claims to conservatism are a "fraud."

They traded hard punches Wednesday and Thursday on the National Review Online Web site, www.nationalreview.com, the online version of a magazine known as an intellectual trendsetter for the right.

In an article Wednesday, Rubio blasted Crist for saying in a news interview that there might be parts of President Barack Obama's health care proposal that are worth saving, and that the nation's health care system needs change.

Crist had told a newspaper editorial board that he wouldn't scrap the Obama administration's health care proposal entirely, and he thinks Americans need better access to health care and lower costs.

"Again and again, from tax hikes to runaway government spending, my opponent has demonstrated he cannot be trusted," Rubio wrote on the site. "His recent comments, in which he broke ranks with Republicans and said he would not scrap the health care bill and process, is just the latest example."

Crist shot back in an interview Thursday, saying Rubio's claim to be a conservative is the "greatest fraud perpetrated on people," and citing recent revelations about Rubio's use of a Republican Party credit card for apparently personal expenses as proof.

Dirty water

"The Environmental Protection Agency agreed Thursday to a extend the public-comment period on proposed water rules that have been blasted by Florida politicians. The decision came after members of the Congressional delegation met with EPA chief Lisa Jackson. Jackson told the lawmakers she would extend the comment period for the proposed rules by 30 days, adding three more public hearings." "EPA to hold more hearings".

Begging for federal dollars

Don't hear much complaining from the tea-baggers about this: "Florida is among 16 finalists in the federal Race to the Top competition, which the state hopes will land it more than $1 billion to use on 'aggressive education reform' in public schools." "Florida a finalist in Race to Top grant".

Class size

"Class size proposal heading to state Senate vote".

Ethics violation

"Ethics Commission: state employee broke 'revolving-door' law".

SBA gets a pass

"A two-sentence letter announced the end of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry into the state agency that manages $138.5 billion in retirement funds."

A two-year federal investigation into possible fraud at the Florida State Board of Administration, which manages $138.5 billion in retirement funds for state and local governments, ended this week with no action taken. ,,,

"This investigation has been completed as to the Florida State Board of Administration, against whom we do not intend to recommend any enforcement action by the commission,'' wrote Eric R. Busto, assistant regional director for the SEC's Miami office.

Busto then attached a copy of a 1972 securities act that indicated the SEC could reactivate the investigation if it deemed necessary and that the termination letter "must in no way be construed as indicating that the party has been exonerated or that no action may ultimately result from the staff's investigation of that particular matter.''

The SBA manages state employee pension funds and dozens of other investments for state and local governments, including 1 million current and future retirees. The SEC had been investigating whether the SBA and three large Wall Street firms had misled the public about the risk and liquidity of securities the state purchased from the firms.

The securities sold to the state by JPMorgan Chase, Credit Suisse and the now-defunct Lehman Brothers plummeted in value in late 2007, leading to the implosion of an SBA-managed local government pool that year.

Gambling

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The Legislature and the Seminole Indian Tribe appear close to striking a deal to finally give Florida a portion of the proceeds from blackjack and other table games added to the Seminoles’ casinos nearly two years ago. The pragmatic negotiations appear headed in the right direction." "Gambling deal looks like good bet".

"Fiscal frauds"

Scott Maxwell offers up "Double-fisted slugs to Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist — a couple of political hypocrites who preach fiscal responsibility to everyone but themselves."

Rubio continues to yammer on about wasteful spending, even as he makes headlines for racking up more than $100,000 worth of credit-card charges on the GOP's American Express — everything from the simply pricey ($600-a-week car rentals, according to The Miami Herald) to the seriously questionable (plane trips for which Rubio double-billed both taxpayers and the Republican Party).

A lot of people can rightfully criticize his spending … but Crist ain't one of 'em. This is the guy, after all, who managed to spend a whopping $430,000 on a European "trade mission," during which his wife helped him rack up $1,300 worth of room-service and mini-bar bills. Yet, in criticizing his opponent in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, Crist actually had the audacity to claim: "I'm the most frugal, cheap guy you'll ever meet."(Only if Paris Hilton and Donald Trump are the only two people you've ever met.) Basically, what we have here are two so-called "conservatives" accusing each other of being fiscal frauds. How about we find some common ground and agree they're both right?

NASA

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "President Obama outlines lackluster, fuzzy NASA mission".

Florida Forever

"Florida Chamber, environmental groups will lobby to revive Florida Forever".

Local traffic cameras

"Bills suggest state should monitor local traffic camera laws".

Entrepreneurs in action

"The federal government has called American Pain a 'pill mill.' But the Lake Worth pain clinic operated more like a factory, churning through 250 patients a day, paying doctors as much as $44,000 a week, and distributing more than two million painkillers in a single year. " "Raided Lake Worth pain clinic handed out 2 million pills in a year".

Florida Political News: March 4, 2010

by: Florida Politics

Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 11:35:22 AM EST

Session update

"2010 Legislative Session daily roundup". From the Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "State lawmakers face a tough legislative session".

More: "In Tallahassee today: class sizes, caps on health care damages, budget workshops" and "Session to examine class size, FCAT".

Voucher madness

"A state-financed program that gives tuition vouchers to thousands of low-income Florida students to attend religious schools may get a boost in funding while cash-strapped public schools face more cuts." "As public schools face cuts, vouchers may get big boost".

RPOFer "bare-faced double-talk"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editors ask: "Can there be such a thing as bare-faced double-talk? Florida legislative leaders apparently don't see a problem with it. Legislative leaders kicked off the opening day of the 2010 legislative session with a rant at Congress for fiscal irresponsibility, and House Speaker Larry Cretul and Senate President Jeff Atwater are backing a resolution that would scold the nation's leaders for deficit spending."

But with the new legislative session only a few hours old, state lawmakers fast-tracked a bill that extends jobless benefits and puts off an increase in the state's unemployment tax, replacing it with massive loans ... from the federal government. Gov. Charlie Crist -- who correctly pointed out that Floridians benefited significantly in the past years from federal stimulus spending -- signed the bill minutes before he made his final State of the State speech Tuesday night.

The Chamber snaps its fingers ...

"Crist signs bill delaying unemployment tax increase".

Charlie's "swan song speech"

Bill Cotterell notes that "We're all pretty much accustomed to governors slipping a few crowd-pleasing applause lines into the annual State of the State speech, or using an eye-catching prop to make a point."

probably no governor has basked in so many broad smiles, or heard such enthusiastic applause, as Gov. Charlie Crist encountered during his swan song speech at a joint legislative session on Tuesday evening. The trouble is, not everybody who was smiling was also applauding — and the members on their feet were almost all Democrats.

The Republican governor made a strong, reasoned defense of his administration's use of federal stimulus money for "problem solving" that he said saved thousands of jobs for teachers and cops, among others. Using stimulus money to balance the current fiscal budget avoided tax increases while maintaining a necessary level of state services.

Crist didn't name former Speaker Marco Rubio, his rival in the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate, or specifically mention the Tea Party voters when he spoke about extremists who are unwilling to compromise. But you'd have had to be napping not to guess whom Crist was talking about when he asked legislators to shun "hollow ideological posturing that achieves nothing."

Charlie's gamble

Mike Thomas:

Charlie Crist could beat Marco Rubio in a general election.

He could beat Kendrick Meek in a general election.

But could he beat Rubio and Meek in a general election?

Judging by his State of the State speech, it seems Crist either is thinking about it or he has taken up smoking hash.

He certainly wasn't trying to endear himself to the conservatives with his Tuesday address to legislators. Here is a guy getting killed by right flight, and he was throwing out red meat to the Democrats. They gave him a standing ovation as he endorsed the stimulus and derided conservative ideologues.

Republicans sat on their hands. The only thing missing was Joe Wilson shouting, "You lie!''

"Chill the coziness"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Florida legislators are talking more about job creation and budget shortfalls this session than about reforms of any kind -- except when it comes to the Public Service Commission, the state's utility regulator. The PSC is rightly a reform target in Tallahassee after its chummy relations with Florida Power & Light were exposed in 2009. Specifically, lawmakers want to limit communications by PSC commissioners and their staffs with utility officials to on-the-record, open meetings. This is a much-needed fix that should sail through the Legislature." "Reform PSC now".

GOPer games

"Volusia County officials said in a news release this week that some residents thought the GOP's "Congressional District Census" was the real one. The actual Census will be sent to every U.S. household on March 15. Residents are required to return them by April 1. Democrats are criticizing the GOP for printing the words 'Do Not Destroy Official Document' and 'census document' on the envelope." "GOP 'Census' mail confuses some Volusians".

Crist on the attack

"Crist's campaign is openly asking what former House Speaker Marco Rubio knew about Ray Sansom's dealings with a Panhandle college." "Charlie Crist jumps on Marco Rubio, Ray Sansom similarities".

From the "values" crowd

"A group of blind residents is protesting a proposal in the Legislature to delay voting by paper ballot until 2016 for voters with physical disabilities." "Blind decry bid to stall paper ballot".

Veterans benefits

"Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink unveiled an initiative Wednesday aimed at ensuring that the state's 1.7 million veterans tap into all the benefits available to them." "Sink announces push to help veterans with benefits".

Here they come

"Florida's population bounces back - just barely". See also "Population decline is over for Florida, UF study shows".

Gambling compact

Jeremy Wallace: "Less than 24 hours after imploring the Legislature to approve a gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist met with the lead House negotiator to continue to press the issue." "Bradenton's Rep. Galvano and Crist discuss gambling compact".

RPOFers want to "unleash even more special-interest spending"

"Florida legislative leaders are proposing election-law changes that could unleash even more special-interest spending in state elections but require that the millions of dollars pumped into races be fully disclosed to the public." "Election-law change would reopen spending, add full disclosure".

"Allowing them to more quickly raise premiums"

"Florida lawmakers are again seeking to loosen rules on property insurers by allowing them to more quickly raise premiums to recoup the costs of buying reinsurance' and other expenses."

The move is the second act of a push by the Legislature to scale back some of the reforms it rushed to pass in 2007, after property-insurance premiums exploded in the wake of the busy 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons.

But one piece of the legislation unveiled Wednesday drew quick criticism at its first hearing before the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

Among other changes, the bill, SB 2044, would allow an insurer to pass along to its customers any losses it suffered from discounts offered to homeowners who hurricane-harden their homes with improvements like storm shutters or new roofs. Insurers who can prove to the state that they suffered financial losses from the discounts could recoup them by raising rates on all homeowners.

Cheap cigarettes

"Big tobacco got its comeuppance in Florida in 1997 when, in an out-of-court settlement, it agreed to pay an estimated $11.3 billion over 25 years to compensate the state for the costs to the public's health from smoking-related illnesses. Tiny Dosal Tobacco, a South Florida company with less than a 1-percent market share at the time, wasn't part of the settlement. Today, Dosal's not so tiny. Its Romy, 305's and other brands make up 20 percent of all cigarettes purchased in Florida. It's the state's third biggest cigarette vendor." "Pay a fair share".

A Republican thing

The Tampa Tribune editorial board neglects to mention which political party was responsible for the delay: "Approve Sanchez promptly for international trade post".

911 bill

"A House member wants to block release of 911 tapes and exempt them as open records to protect victims from further trauma by public release." "House to hear 911 bill: Measure would exempt tapes from open records laws".

Priorities

The Senate yesterday passed

a bill that would put a "lock box" on a trust fund paid for by gun owners to process their concealed weapons permit applications, making it one of a select few trust funds off-limits to lawmakers.

Over the objections of some Democrats, the Senate approved a measure that would bar lawmakers from dipping into the trust fund to spend on anything other than processing concealed weapons permits. The fund is financed by a $117-per-permit fee collected from permit applications.

Only four of the state's 400-plus trust funds are now off limits.

GOPers want federal cash

"Space Coast lawmakers lobby for economic aid as 9,000 aerospace jobs disappear this year". See also "Florida fighting to keep NASA jobs".

Ferre

"Maurice Ferre, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, wants to convince voters that he will be a good steward of their tax dollars. He served as Miami's mayor from 1973 until he lost in 1985 and says that he left the city in good financial shape. That's notable because, these days, the city is plagued with budget shortfalls and under a federal investigation about its finances." "Pot of gold that Maurice Ferre left Miami doesn't add up".

RPOFers want to negotiate teacher contracts

"Two key education bills filed recently in the Florida Senate would lead to dramatic changes in teacher-pay plans and high school graduation requirements, if adopted. The first would force Florida school districts to develop merit-pay plans for teachers -- or risk losing state money." "School bills would lead to dramatic changes".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board thinks "the Republican-led Legislature needs to tread carefully as it looks to overhaul teacher tenure. An approach that focuses on punitive measures for both districts and teachers, more than on incentives and reasonableness, could easily backfire and drive even good teachers away." "Risks of radical tenure plan".

Meantime, "State economist: School funding down $1 billion for next year".

"State court system is being slammed"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "It's that time of year when the Florida Supreme says "Look, we really need more judges," and the state Legislature says 'Hmm, not this year.'"

But the state court system is being slammed. One obvious culprit: Foreclosure cases more than doubled in the period from July 2006 through June 2007, and have climbed precipitously since then. In 2003, virtually all foreclosure cases were resolved within a year, but as of 2008, that clearance rate was down to 48.2 percent.

Most circuits have made changes to ensure that criminal and family-court cases are heard in a timely fashion, but those courts are suffering from the loss of case managers, clerks and other workers who boosted efficiency. Meanwhile, the sheer bulk of foreclosure cases is clogging other pats of the court system, and taking a serious toll on the state's economy. A 2008 study by a Washington think tank pegged Florida's economic loss due to foreclosure delays at $17 billion a year and growing.

The fiscal impact of the cuts runs through the court system. A few years ago, many counties contracted with local attorneys to serve as magistrates for traffic court, handling cases more quickly and less expensively. Now the magistrates are gone -- and county court judges are picking up those duties. In other parts of the court system, high-paid judges are performing clerical duties.

Meanwhile the Legislature has cut court budgets by 10 percent and failed to approve any new judges in the past three fiscal years. Lawmakers did make one smart move in 2008, setting up a trust fund that should eventually provide stable funding for the court system, but it's not producing enough money yet.

Still time...barely

by: Robert McKnight

Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 09:48:43 AM EST

As we head into Spring, typically the major statewide races are shifting into high gear, anticipating the brutual final campaign stretch.  On the Democratic side, there appears to be good news, bad news.  The good news is that the R's are locked into some nasty primary fights--page 1 is Crist-Rubio for the Senate seat, and that one could get real nasty.  The interesting one is a lot more tame--McCullom-Dockery.  But the bad news, is that the Democrats in both races don't seem to be gaining traction.  That could change, but for now, with previous experience as our guide, some big hitting D could come out of the woodwork and catch the public by storm...but they better hurry.

Most of us recall 1990 with Congressman Bill Nelson (D., Melboure) floundering in his challenge to take on incumbent Governor Bob Martinez (R., Fla.)...then voila, the last minute entry of former Senator Lawton Chiles (D., Fla.).  Race over.

It could happen again, but March is the final month.