Florida Political News for 6/29/07
Is Feeney going down? See “Feds Seek Vid of Feeney Statement“. Tale a look at the FPC’s “5 to Read“. Today’s Florida political news and punditry follows.
“Silly partisanship bordering on pathetic”
“Republican House leaders unleashed their harshest round of political attacks in the property tax wars Thursday, sending fliers to voters in a handful of districts accusing Democratic incumbents of voting against tax relief.”
The attacks, paid for by the Republican Party of Florida, tell only half of the story, however.They are aimed at the party-line vote taken by Democrats against the constitutional amendment proposed by Republican leaders earlier this month. The amendment will ask voters in January to let homeowners choose between their tax savings and assessment cap from the Save Our Homes Act and a giant homestead exemption of up to $195,000.
While all the Democrats in the House and Senate voted against the constitutional amendment, which would cut taxes by as much as $13 billion over five years, they also voted in favor of a bill to roll back taxes $15 billion over the same time period.
The constitutional amendment must win approval of 60 percent of voters on Jan. 29 and, if enacted, would eliminate $7.2 billion in school tax revenues. The tax rollback, however, takes effect Sunday and is likely to go down in history as the largest tax cut on the books.
The absence of that distinction in the mailers had Democrats fuming Thursday.
‘’It’s rank, silly partisanship bordering on pathetic,'’ said House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach.
“GOP attacks rivals on property tax vote“. See also “Attack mailer targets Pinellas House Democrat” (”You know all that talk of bipartisan good feeling in Tallahassee? That was so last month.”)
GOPer Hispanic Implosion
The Miami Herald reports this morning: “The Republican-led defeat of immigration reform in the Senate Thursday is sounding political alarms as the Hispanic community gears up for the 2008 presidential election. The Senate bill unleashed inflammatory rhetoric — from no-name bloggers to high-profile presidential contenders — that could rupture the Republican Party’s relationship with the fastest-growing voting bloc.” Here’s Freddie giving the finger to Cubans:
One all-but-declared Republican candidate rising in the polls, Fred Thompson, said on the eve of the vote: “I don’t imagine they’re coming here to bring greetings from Castro. We’re living in the era of the suitcase bomb.'’ …The video of Thompson’s Castro-suitcase bomb remarks during a speech in South Carolina was posted on YouTube and circulated by Democratic operatives.
Florida’s “reactionary ogre” ain’t happy:
Mel Martinez has chided GOP presidential contenders Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney for opposing the immigration bill, an unexpected criticism coming from the general chairman of the Republican National Committee.
And then there is this: “all but one also-ran among the Republican presidential contenders turned down invitations to address about 1,000 Hispanic elected officials meeting in Orlando through the weekend. All of the leading Democrats are slated to address the National Association of Latino Elected Officials on Saturday, making the GOP field’s absence conspicuous.”
‘When you have all these candidates appealing to the conservative base and going for the red meat on immigration, it can have a negative long-term impact on Hispanic voters,'’ said David Rivera, a Cuban-American state legislator and Republican Party leader in Miami-Dade.
“GOP faces tension with Hispanic vote“. See also “GOP hopefuls skip Hispanic event“.
Poor Mel, he doesn’t understand how it could have happened: “Sen. Martinez: Immigration vote’big let-down’“. More: “Senate Rejects Bush Immigration Plan“, “After two failed tries Martinez moves on” and “Immigration bill’s Senate defeat stuns Orlando advocates“.
In the meantime, Thompson is a full 5 gears in reverse: “Fred Thompson Explains His Remarks About Cuba“. More: “Clinton Campaign Reacts To Fred Thompson s Comment on Cubans“. See also “See Fred Speak. Did He Really Say That About Cubans?” and “Thompson’s Cuba comment hits YouTube“.
The Miami Herald editorial board: “Senate falters on immigration reform“. The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: “Failure“. The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: “Bill, hope die in Senate“.
Huh?
“During today’s meeting of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, House Speaker Marco Rubio was awarded the Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service.” “Rubio honored for ‘outstanding public service’“.
Busy Girl
“The answer: five — plus a speech to 1,000 Hispanic elected officials.” “How many Florida fundraisers can Hillary do in one day?“.
Laff Riot
The Tampa Tribune editorial board: “State senators Paula Dockery and J.D. Alexander, both influential Polk County lawmakers, have declared war on each other. … Alexander supported Dockery’s move to win the [Senate] presidency in 2008, but then he decided he wanted the job for himself in 2010. Recently, however, he withdrew from the race and threw his support to another rival, Sen. Mike Haridopolos of Indialantic. Now Dockery accuses Alexander of breaking his word. She may still have a chance to lead the Senate, but that’s not likely without Alexander’s help.” “Feuding Senators Should Reconcile“.
Charlie at Work
Charlie sure has been reading a lot: “Crist let 47 bills become law during the past two days, including two that expand gambling in the state and another that has owners of lions and tigers in a panic because it may force them to take out millions of dollars in insurance.”
Of the 47 bills, he signed 46 and let one become law without his signature. He vetoed six others.One bill (SB 500) that he signed was vetoed three years ago by predecessor Jeb Bush. It will allow charitable organizations holding bingo games to also sell “instant bingo” tickets for up to $1.
The bill (HB 1047) that he allowed to become law without his signature lets Broward County pari-mutuel facilities add 500 ATM-style slot machines to the current 1,500 limit, increases the slot machines’ daily hours of operation from 16 to 18, and permits them to operate around the clock on weekends and some holidays.
The wild animal bill (SB 2766) was originally designed to crack down on pet owners and others who release snakes such as pythons into the wild. Such releases pose a threat to indigenous wildlife, especially in the Everglades region.
“Crist signs off on 47 measures, expands gambling in Broward“.
“Bills that would have reduced state nursing home inspections and lowered training standards for some teachers of students who speak English as a second language were vetoed Thursday by Gov. Charlie Crist.” “Crist vetoes bills on nursing home inspections, teacher standards“. See also “Crist vetoes bill to raise credit-card, court fees“.
“Sweet”
The Orlando Sentinel editors: “Industries normally resist tighter government regulation, so Florida’s tomato growers deserve credit for recognizing that the time was ripe for a new state inspection program targeting their crop.”.
Loitering While Black
“Thomas: Disney apology could cool talk about racial profiling“.
Whatever
“After less than six months in office, Gov. Charlie Crist is having the first shakeup in his administration. Crist communications director Vivian Myrtetus is leaving to a join a Tallahassee public relations firm [Core Message] that is a haven for operatives in the former administration of Gov. Jeb Bush.” “Crist suffers first staff shakeup“. Check out this brain trust.
“The governor s office may have taken talking about yourself in the third person to a new level writing about yourself in the third person. That may be understandable, though, because only one of the two people who usually writes press releases is still there. Press Secretary Erin Isaac sent out a press release tonight announcing that Erin Isaac has been appointed communications director for the governor s office, replacing Vivian Myrtetus.” “Chief Cook and Bottle Washer“.
“His next trick”
The Palm Beach Post editorial board: “For his next trick, Gov. Crist should demonstrate that he truly has seen the light about Florida’s lagging financing for the state university system. The governor last month vetoed a 5 percent tuition increase that the Legislature had approved for the 11 public universities. On Wednesday, however, he unexpectedly signed legislation that will provide more faculty and classes at three of the state’s top research universities, financed by a student fee that he previously had said was ‘doomed.’”
If Gov. Crist wants to hear the rest of the university presidents’ case on tuition, the truly comprehensive solution the system needs could begin as soon as the proposed special session. His change of heart on the fee was a start. Why not complete the job and get the job done for higher education in Florida?
“A sign that Crist might squeak by in Tuition 101“.
The Tallahassee Democrat editors: “It couldn’t have been easy for Gov. Charlie Crist, who faithfully espouses principles of openness of government, clarity of language and accessibility to higher education, to have allowed any tuition increase to go forward. But it’s good that on Wednesday he did sign legislation creating a tiered increase in tuition for incoming undergraduates at Florida State University, the University of Florida and the University of South Florida beginning in 2008.” “Class act“.
‘Glades
George Diaz has a point: “Clueless news flash from the United Nations: The Everglades are A-OK! It removed the U.S. national park from its List of World Heritage in Danger earlier this week. … What’s next? The U.N. declaring that the troop surge in Iraq has been a spectacular success …”. “U.N. assertion does not make Everglades OK“.
Meanwhile, “Everglades restoration got a boost Thursday with Gov. Charlie Crist’s signing of a law providing millions of additional dollars for cleanup efforts and granting the state new authority over pollution throughout the vast wetlands.” “Everglades restoration gets boost with new law“.
FCAT Follies
“School districts across Florida are bracing for what may be the worst showing in years when the state releases its annual school grades today.” “Schools brace for harsh report card“.
Florida’s Booming Economy
“Florida’s deepening slump in tax collections will force the state to welcome a new fiscal year this weekend with cost-cutting steps such as reducing travel and leaving vacant jobs unfilled, Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday.” “State looks for trims as coffers run short“.
A Florida Hero
“Eleven years ago, when Ron McAndrew became superintendent of the Florida prison where Death Row inmates are executed, he was an unflinching supporter of capital punishment.”
Early today, the Dunnellon resident will fly to Washington to participate in a fast and vigil organized by the anti-death-penalty Abolitionist Action Committee in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.The demonstration, which includes a press conference in which McAndrew is a featured speaker, is part of four days of activities commemorating 1972 and 1976 Supreme Court rulings suspending then reinstating capital punishment in the United States.
“The death penalty puts us right up there with the barbarians in Iran, where killing other people is a sport more than justice,” he said. “It’s an absolute political manipulation - a politician’s best toy.”
“From prison warden to anti-execution advocate“.
“Law may not be the end of the story”
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: “Now that Gov. Charlie Crist has signed legislation putting property tax reform on the ballot, Floridians have extra reason to go to the polls for the presidential primary next Jan. 29. However, it’s important to recognize that the new law may not be the end of the story. The members of theTaxation and Budget Reform Commission shouldn’t let the measure approved in Tallahassee discourage them from producing their own blueprint for property tax reform.” “Property Taxes“.
Unrepentant GOPer
“Tony Masilotti gets sentenced to federal prison today, but you’d never know it from the way he’s been acting the past few months.”
The day he pleaded guilty, Masilotti called the land deals “legitimate” and blamed his predicament on “bad advice” from lawyers. He’s been out and about, still flying to the Bahamas. He’s newly engaged, and seeking lower alimony payments. In short, he’s the same overbearing, self-absorbed Tony Masilotti who bullied and antagonized while on the public payroll.Share ThisSuch unrepentant behavior is just one more reason that U.S. District Judge Kenneth Ryskamp should give Masilotti the maximum sentence. Even if that happens, Masilotti will get off easy, considering what he took and how. U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., faces 235 years in prison on bribery charges, but Masilotti didn’t plead guilty to bribery. He took the deal to spare his brother from prosecution and to avoid what might have been a much longer sentence.
Judge Ryskamp has a record and reputation for being comparatively soft on white-collar criminals. There is no reason for any leniency when it comes to Masilotti’s case. When he pleaded guilty, Masilotti said he was sorry. His behavior since then, however, shows that he’s sorry only that he got caught.