Florida Vote

We talk to Laura Ingraham about her new book, Power to the People, which looks at ways that ordinary people can empower themselves in the culture and in politics. We talk about large families and prejudice against parenting, against porn (we’re a lot more favorable than she is) and politics, plus a look at the 2008 elections and the immigration battle.

It’s an interesting discussion, and Ingraham is different from many other social reformers in that she largely stresses individuals using their voices and market power, as opposed to the force of law, to effect changes in culture, politics and media. She also suggests that individuals get involved in reporting on local politics, school boards, and the like, a place where one or two people can make a real difference.

This podcast is brought to you by Volvo Automobiles. Music is by Doktor Frank’s band, the Mr. T Experience.

The Florida Progressive Coalition's “12 Stories to Read“.  Our review of today's Florida political news and punditry follows.

Double Whammy

First we have Charlie's property tax scam, which will drain millions of dollars from services and schools.  Now we have the Florida Supreme Court's decision, requiring voter approval for bonds (for, among other things, new school construction) that use property taxes to pay them off.  A double whammy for sure, particularly since Jebbie's intangibles tax cut for the wealthy “sliced more than $1 billion from the state's annual revenue stream“.

Perhaps this well help, though it is extremely unlikely: “The Florida Supreme Court was asked Monday to reconsider, or at least clarify, its landmark reversal earlier this month that changes and clouds how local governments borrow money.  The Florida Association of Counties was among those seeking new hearings, reconsideration and clarification of the ruling that's thrown local governments into a tizzy by saying voter approval is required for bonds that use property taxes to pay them off.”  “Court asked to clarify borrowing decision“.

Yecke Watch

“The state Board of Education this morning narrowed its seven remaining candidates for education commissioner down to three finalists: College Board administrator Eric Smith, New York state education official Joseph Marinelli and current Florida public schools chancellor Cheri Yecke.”  “Education commissioner finalists chosen“.

You recall Yecke?  The Palm Beach Post editorial board today:

Mr. Winn appointed her after she lost her job as education commissioner in Minnesota, in part because of her willingness to let schools teach creationism as an alternative to evolution. That typifies the ideological bent of Gov. Bush's education department, which warped intended reforms. Jeb acolytes were so unwilling to question FCAT procedures and school grades that unqualified graders were hired and flawed tests approved.

The unquestioning attitude toward vouchers allowed private schools to take money without enrolling students. Six years after the Legislature created the $88 million program, private voucher schools don't have to give tests that would allow comparison with public schools.

Florida has a depressing achievement gap between white and minority students. The graduation rate is too low. Reading gains in lower grades are lost in high school, the result of treating the FCAT like a cure instead of diagnostic test.

Jeb's education reforms were all about Jeb and his political résumé. Attempts to protect his legacy are all about Jeb. To solve Florida's education problems, the Board of Education, Gov. Crist and the next commissioner have to turn the focus back to students.

“Pick an education leader who will break with Jeb“.

If “business leaders” like it, it must be good

“Crist stepped in Monday to kick-start a property-tax ballot measure that a recent poll showed is losing support among voters and dragging down his approval ratings.”

Crist joined business leaders in Tampa to launch “Yes On 1 — Save Our Homes NOW,” aimed at winning passage of a Jan. 29 constitutional amendment to create a new supersized homestead exemption. …

The Republican governor's move puts him at odds with Democratic legislators and many local government officials, who warn the exemption would drain millions of dollars from services and schools.

“I don't think it's right that we're giving Floridians a choice of a tax break, but only if they want their schools to suffer,” said House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach.

The amendment is expected to cut property taxes by $8 billion over four years. If approved, tax collections for schools are expected to drop by $1.8 billion next year — which lawmakers have said they will offset with state dollars. But that will prove difficult, as a sour state economy will likely require more spending cuts on top of the $1.1 billion legislators may cut next month

“Crist takes to road for property-tax measure“.  See also “Crist talks up new tax plan“, “Gov. Crist tries to revive sagging support for property tax reform” and “Crist to back amendment plan to change homestead exemption“.

Voting Lawsuit

“Claiming that a 2-year-old voter registration law will unfairly block minorities, including Hispanics, from registering to vote, the Florida branch of the NAACP and a Miami-based Haitian group filed a federal lawsuit Monday that seeks to throw the law out.”

Florida law requires that a citizen's name on a voter registration form be matched with a Social Security number or driver's license number. Florida legislators made the change to comply with the Help America Vote Act.

The lawsuit, which was filed with the help of the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law, says the measure violates federal voting rights law because bureaucratic ''errors'' will block people from being able to vote.

“Lawsuit calls voter-registration law unfair“.  See also “Groups sue state over voter identification law“, “Suit challenges state voting law“, “Lawsuit: State law prevents legitimate voters from registering” and “Voting law challenged in court“.

Florida “Values Voter Presidential Debate.”

“On a night that opened with 90 minutes of prayers, gospel music and Bible verses, seven Republican presidential candidates gathered in Fort Lauderdale to try and win over an evangelical voting bloc that has been a political powerhouse in past elections.”  “GOP hopefuls woo faithful in Lauderdale debate“.  See also “GOP front-runners sit out debate with 'values voters'“.

See 'Ya

“Head of Florida Highway Patrol Resigns“.

No-Fault

“As talks continued in Tallahassee Monday on ways to reform Florida's controversial no-fault auto insurance law, agreement is emerging on capping fees for medical care after an auto accident.  Finding an acceptable method to contain these costs has been a major sticking point for lawmakers eager to preserve the no-fault law.”  “No-fault insurance talks gain momentum“.  See also “Lawmakers urged to act on no-fault auto coverage” (”Crist's staff and state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink stepped up pressure on lawmakers Monday to either resurrect or reform Florida's no-fault automobile insurance before it disappears Oct. 1.”)

Nukes vs. Welands

“Florida Power & Light plans to dramatically expand nuclear power output at Turkey Point — a project some environmentalists fear would destroy hundreds of acres of wetlands and consume too much of the area's already dwindling water supply.”  “FPL files to expand Turkey Point plant“.

“Think again”

The Tampa Trib editorial board:

Crist is thinking about selling the state lottery to a private investor who would pay enough to solve the state's immediate budget problems. He should think again.

The sale would be a bad idea for Florida's financial future, its public education and society in general.

“Selling State Lottery A Bad Risk“.

Whoopee

“Putnam Praises AG Nominee“.

Easier Said than Done

“The next time a mayor, council member or county commissioner threatens to cut police, fire or other vital services to meet the state's mandated tax cuts, look them square in the eye and ask them how much they spend on travel.”

And if you happen to live in a city or town that refused to reduce its tax rate this year, ask commissioners how much they're paying in membership dues.

It's amazing how many local leaders still don't get it. Certainly spending on travel and membership dues is not enough to make or break a budget. But cutting these luxuries sends a strong message in tough economic times that local governments are doing everything they can to stretch tax dollars. Refusing to do it sends exactly the opposite message.

“Get a clue“.

“Surprising Results”

“The Christian Coalition of Florida recently released its annual legislative report cards — and some surprising results.”

Earning failing grades, for instance, were loyal Republican senators such as Mike Haridopolos, Evelyn Lynn and Bill Posey.

That put all of them solidly behind the likes of Democrat and convicted felon Gary Siplin, as well as Republican Bob Allen, who is slated to go on trial this week for charges (that he denies) of soliciting prostitution. Both of those guys earned passing grades.

“Coalition doesn't gamble on grades“.

Whatever

“Giuliani, who frequently touts his crime-fighting record when he was mayor of New York City, said Monday that Miami Police Chief John Timoney 'made the right decision' in allowing officers to start carrying assault weapons.”  “Giuliani: Assault weapons for police `the right decision'“.

Gambling Lawsuit

“A case that pits South Florida's casinos against a coalition of anti-gambling forces reached the Florida Supreme Court on Monday in a lawsuit that, if successful, could undermine the legal basis for slot machines at casinos in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.”

The suit, filed three years ago, charged that a petition to put the slot machine question on the statewide ballot was riddled with fraudulent signatures. The constitutional amendment gave Las Vegas-style slot machines to the two counties if voters later approved locally.

After the state's voters approved the amendment — with about 51 percent — Circuit Judge Nikki Ann Clark of Tallahassee ruled that the claims of fraudulent signatures were moot.

But the coalition of opponents, including Floridians Against Expanded Gambling, the U.S. Humane Society and Greyhound 2K, a national group that opposes greyhound racing, pressed on until the dispute reached the state's high court on Monday.

A lawyer for the coalition argued that the fraud claims were made before the election, so the case should still be heard.

“Challenge to slots too late? State justices must decide“.  See also “Justices weigh slots case“, “Florida Supreme Court to decide on future of Broward slot machines“, “Lawyers say outcome only thing important in slots-fraud case” and “Slot machine amendment challenged in Supreme Court“.

Kissing the Ring

“Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson brings his campaign to the state Capitol on Tuesday, becoming the latest in a series of GOP hopefuls to call on Gov. Charlie Crist.”  “Thompson latest GOP hopeful to meet with Crist“.

“'Retaliatory' audit”?

“An unusual fight between a Panhandle property appraiser and the state Department of Revenue intensified Monday with the county official complaining about a 'retaliatory' audit.  Flanked by two state lawmakers, Santa Rosa County property appraiser Greg Brown came to Tallahassee to challenge the need for the in-depth review and complained afterward that the agency was singling him out.”  “Panhandle tax fight heats up“.

General Mel declares: “we have Al-Qaeda on the run”

“U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., offered a cautiously upbeat assessment of U.S. progress in Iraq at Monday's luncheon meeting of The Forum Club of the Palm Beaches'  'The surge has worked beyond the expectations of most observers,' Martinez told the crowd of about 460 at the Kravis Center's Cohen Pavilion. 'I believe we have Al-Qaeda on the run.'“  “Martinez sees progress in Iraq“.

New Standards

“Florida may soon have a new way of teaching math and science if revisions to the Sunshine State Standards are approved today.  The state Board of Education is meeting in Tampa for its monthly meeting. Many district and state administrators are in favor of the revisions because there were too many benchmarks for students to meet. With fewer benchmarks, the revised format will be more in-depth.”  “Education board weighs changes to state standards“.

Hard Bargaining

“The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees came up with something different in talks at the Department of Management Services last week. AFSCME, which represents tens of thousands of state office workers and laborers, sought to find out if Gov. Charlie Crist is willing to touch part of ex-Gov. Jeb Bush's legacy … Service First, Bush's sweeping revision of the state personnel system.”  However,

despite all of Crist's more moderate positioning, he's still a conservative Republican. He's not going to carry Leon County, or need to, in 2010. And AFSCME, despite some GOP endorsements last year, will probably be supporting the Democratic nominee against him.

Six years ago, Bush took personnel rules that were stuck in the 1950s and streamlined them for the workplace of the Internet age. Now, the “people's governor” might want to lend an ear to AFSCME's ideas for treating the people's employees more like people.

“Union tries to nibble at Bush's Service First“.

If He Hates Muslims, He's My Guy …

“Giuliani's successes as mayor of New York City, especially his performance immediately after the World Trade Center bombings in 2001, was a popular subject at the gathering.”

“It was a toilet and now it's not,” said Rita Thompson, who on this year's 9/11 protested a Muslim parade in Manhattan. “How could (Michael) Bloomberg let that go on?” she wondered of the current mayor. “You can bet Giuliani wouldn't have.”

“Giuliani fans greet 'the Mayor' in Tampa“.

Huh?

“A University of Florida student was Tasered and arrested after trying to ask U.S. Senator John Kerry about the 2004 election and other subjects during a campus forum.”

Videos of the incident posted on several Web sites show officers pulling Andrew Meyer, 21, away from the microphone after he asks Kerry about impeaching President Bush and whether he and Bush were both members of the secret society Skull and Bones at Yale University.

“He apparently asked several questions _ he went on for quite awhile _ then he was asked to stop,'' university spokesman Steve Orlando said. “He had used his allotted time. His microphone was cut off, then he became upset.''

“UF student Tasered at Kerry forum after election question“.  Watch the video here: “Student from Weston Tasered at John Kerry forum“.  The tasee has a website: www.theandrewmeyer.com, with more links.

Even though the Florida Alligator reporter who was there wrote that “Once Meyer was removed, Kerry continued to answer Meyer’s question about why he did not contest the 2004 election”, the Miami Herald's Naked Politics writer can't help himself, and takes a cheap shot at Kerry: “Kerry, who tried to get the matter resolved peacefully, never answered the question …”.

Perhaps these purportedly “neutral” reporters (in this case one Marc Caputo) ought to take a gander at this article in the current (October 2007) issue of Vanity Fair: “Going After Gore“: ” as the 2000 election heated up, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other top news outlets kept going after him, with misquotes (”I invented the Internet”), distortions (that he lied about being the inspiration for Love Story), and strangely off-the-mark needling, while pundits such as Maureen Dowd appeared to be charmed by his rival, George W. Bush.”  The lengthy piece, available on line, is well worth a read.

We talk to Laura Ingraham about her new book, Power to the People, which looks at ways that ordinary people can empower themselves in the culture and in politics. We talk about large families and prejudice against parenting, against porn (we’re a lot more favorable than she is) and politics, plus a look at the 2008 elections and the immigration battle.

It’s an interesting discussion, and Ingraham is different from many other social reformers in that she largely stresses individuals using their voices and market power, as opposed to the force of law, to effect changes in culture, politics and media. She also suggests that individuals get involved in reporting on local politics, school boards, and the like, a place where one or two people can make a real difference.

This podcast is brought to you by Volvo Automobiles. Music is by Doktor Frank’s band, the Mr. T Experience.

We talk to Laura Ingraham about her new book, Power to the People, which looks at ways that ordinary people can empower themselves in the culture and in politics. We talk about large families and prejudice against parenting, against porn (we’re a lot more favorable than she is) and politics, plus a look at the 2008 elections and the immigration battle.

It’s an interesting discussion, and Ingraham is different from many other social reformers in that she largely stresses individuals using their voices and market power, as opposed to the force of law, to effect changes in culture, politics and media. She also suggests that individuals get involved in reporting on local politics, school boards, and the like, a place where one or two people can make a real difference.

This podcast is brought to you by Volvo Automobiles. Music is by Doktor Frank’s band, the Mr. T Experience.

Kudos to Mark Lane and FlaBlog; see why here.  Our review of today's Florida political news and punditry follows.

Gambling

“Crist's willingness to let legislators vote on a possible casino gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe has aroused a powerful force: the tribe's competitors who own horse and dog tracks and have lots of clout in the state Capitol.”

For decades, Florida's parimutuel industry has been among the biggest donors to political parties and campaigns. The industry employs some of the most seasoned lobbyists in Tallahassee.

Despite that, the parimutuels never get all they want. It took them seven years to get poker rooms. They have tried vainly for years to legalize video lottery terminals.

But any gambling deal needing legislative approval would give the tracks a platform to complain about unfair competition - especially if the compact included games not legal in Florida, such as blackjack and baccarat.

“Legislature could hold wild card“.

Meanwhile, “a lawsuit with the potential to overturn the statewide vote in 2004 that gave Broward and Miami-Dade counties the right to have slot machines at parimutuels by voter approval heads to the Florida Supreme Court Monday for a showdown three years in the making.”  “Supreme Court to hear anti-slots case“.

Caving in to the Gun Lobby

The Daytona Beach - News Journal editorial board observes that

even as the body count climbs, it seems doubtful that state lawmakers will see reason and make it tougher to pack heat. Florida residents do have the right, however, to expect state lawmakers to stop caving into the gun lobby and start saying no to laws who push gun-nuttery to ludicrous heights.

One good example of this firearms extremism passed two years ago, with the approval of legislation that allows any person to shoot at someone he or she feels poses a credible threat. That law, known as the “castle doctrine” or “shoot first (and ask questions later)” law, has already spread to 15 states.

Expect the Legislature to face more pressure. A bill that would force property owners to allow anyone to bring guns onto their premises — even schools and universities — was derailed this year by the bloody Virginia Tech shootings, but it's bound to come back. The National Rifle Association is also pushing hard against mental-health screening and safety training requirements.

At some point, however, Floridians (and their elected representatives) should face reality. The state's gun-friendly culture hasn't made it any safer; in fact, most evidence points in the other direction.

“Gun in pocket or purse; are we safer?“.

Don't Be So Sure

“The funding of school crossing guards, on the other hand, probably was not the kind of service that most Floridians have in mind when state politicians talk about tax cuts.”  “Crossroad“.

One suspects that a good of the residents of this den could care less about paying for school crossing guards: “Retirees' dreamland is Republican bastion“.  After all, they paid for public schools up North, and it would be terribly unfair to make them pay for it again.

“What will the Charlie Crist era mean” for education?

“If the Jeb Bush era in Florida education meant an emphasis on public school testing and private school vouchers, what will the Charlie Crist era mean?  A big part of the answer could come starting this week. The state Board of Education interviews seven candidates today for the post of education commissioner, a job that could pay as much as $275,000, more than twice what the governor makes.”  “As interviews start for education chief, Crist's goals await“.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Tribune editorial board notes that “the Florida Board of Education today will interview seven finalists for state education commissioner, including someone whose candidacy raises a red flag.  Before applying for the Florida job, Philadelphia schools official William Harner was a candidate for the superintendent's job in Toledo, Ohio. Talks broke down, however, when officials refused his request to pay the cost of sending his teenaged daughter to private school.”  “Red Flag On Education Candidate“.

Freddie Courts Nitwit Vote

The Orlando Sentinel has a puff piece on Freddie, who is trying to convert his status as a sweet talking right winger as an empty suit into votes; with nitwits like the gentleman quoted below  voting in the Republican primary, he may have a chance:

With his honey-soaked baritone, front-porch manner and instantly familiar face — thanks to endless Law & Order reruns — Thompson fills a void for many voters even if they can't yet say why.

“It just feels like he's the only candidate who represents the ideas this nation was founded on,” said Buddy Reynolds, a 54-year-old Titusville resident. “It's more of an intuitive, gut-level feel.”

“Thompson, in role of a lifetime, captures Republicans at gut level“.

'Ya Think?

Thanks to the Sun-Sentinel editors for this observation: “Teachers, at all levels, should get the pay and benefits they deserve so they don't need to live in parking lot apartments in what could be a dorm-style arrangement. We don't set up special housing for cops, firefighters, paramedics and other public servants in South Florida who don't make gigantic salaries, and we shouldn't have to do it for teachers.”  “Teacher housing plan doesn't get passing grade“.

The “Right” To Vote

Tom Blackburn reminds us that

we have no right to vote in the presidential primary. Not incidentally, we have no right to vote in the general election for president, either.

“If that saddens you, consider presidential elections.”

In the 2000 election, most of us learned that we have no right to vote for president. Yes, we vote for electors, and they vote for president; you learn about the “indirect” election in high school. But we don't have a right to vote for electors, either.

Tom Feeney, then speaker of the Florida House, asserted that the Legislature decides how the electors will be chosen, and it can pick them itself without consulting the general public. In fact, as the Supreme Court was settling that election, the Florida House voted for the George W. Bush electors, and the Senate was poised to follow. That would have made the flawed election and 36 days of vote-counting and courtroom arguments into irrelevancies.

Mr. Feeney is no constitutional scholar. But his position was supported during oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court by no less than Justice Antonin Scalia - who is - and the point found its way into one of the court's opinions, although not as the controlling point.

The point is now back in the holster until the next time a strong party needs to draw it. But, in short, the only voting right you have in presidential elections is the right to hope that the Legislature doesn't decide not to let anyone vote.

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., offered House Joint Resolution 28, which would launch a constitutional amendment creating, for the first time, the right of the people to vote for president. He has 58 cosponsors. The closest one to us is Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami. Mr. Feeney went on to Congress from a Central Florida district. He drew attention there by sponsoring a sense of the House resolution telling the Supreme Court not to pay a nickel's worth of attention to the opinions of high courts in other democratic countries with laws similar to ours.

His hostility to foreign things does not extend to the choice of golf courses. He was among the congressional junketeers who played the game with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff in Scotland when the bloom was on the heather.

But most of us owe to Rep. Feeney the discovery that, when it comes to electing presidents, we fundamentally don't matter. We have had seven years to do something about that. And we haven't. We must like it that way.

“You have no right to vote for president“.

“Hometown Democracy”

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: “Hometown Democracy would make the land-use plan much more difficult to revise, so developers want to get their changes approved now.  An irony is that big pushes for wholesale changes are what motivated supporters to launch Hometown Democracy. Plans are now so changeable that people can't count on them. Defending plans has become an endless battle that wears folks down.  But citizen approval of every amendment would require voters to understand technical issues that are not always what they seem. Indeed, it's difficult to read the proposed plan amendments and immediately know if they are good or bad.”  “Reforming Title Insurance Industry Should Be State Priority“.

Right Wing Meccas

Yesterday we read about this: “Retirees' dreamland is Republican bastion“; today we get this:

Ave Maria University was founded in 2002 by Tom Monaghan, the multimillionaire founder of Domino's Pizza and conservative Catholic philanthropist, who moved the campus from Naples, Fla., to a 5,000-acre tract five miles from Immokalee, which is 30 miles northeast of Naples.

It is part of an ambitious development called Ave Maria Town, which will include 11,000 homes, three golf courses and its own water park, all oriented around a towering church.

“Before it was transformed by more than $400 million in private investment, the land on which Ave Maria rises was home to tomatoes and citrus harvested by migrants, many of them undocumented, who earn as little as 45 cents for every 32-pound bucket picked.”  Now, “residents in neighboring Immokalee worry that the new town, which covers thousands of acres of farmland and promises to bring more development to the area, will undermine their livelihoods and their community.”

After years of picking tomatoes, [Lucas] Benitez co-founded the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, an organization that fights for better wages and working conditions for farmworkers.

He sees Ave Maria as ''the NAFTA of Immokalee,'' and says its backers want to replace the farms with gated communities.

''They aren't talking about improving the town or creating more employment,'' he said. “They are talking about getting rid of the workers who have lived here for decades.''

Benitez said the impact was already being felt through Collier County's crackdown on trailers where the farmworkers live. In the past year and a half, 226 trailers have been condemned, said Nancy Freeze, the Immokalee director of the Health Department.

“Florida town: City of God or City of Cash?“.

“Lawmakers have failed to do their job”

The Miami Herald editorial board:

The biggest problem in Florida's auto-insurance stalemate is a lack of leadership. Legislators haven't fixed or replaced the existing no-fault law in the four years since they approved sunsetting the law on Oct. 1.

Lawmakers have failed to do their job. As a result, confusion and unintended consequences lie ahead for motorists. By default, the old system is set to disappear, and it is unclear how a new system might work. Florida will become the only state in the country that doesn't have mandatory medical coverage for people injured in traffic accidents.

This is unacceptable. Gov. Charlie Crist, House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt need to take a stand. They should insist that legislators finalize no-fault reforms. The reforms should be approved in a quick special session this month. Failing this, lawmakers should rewrite the law during the budget-cutting session — now set for Oct. 3 — and save Floridians from needless grief.

“Buckle up: Confusion ahead for motorists“.  The Orlando Sentinel editors argue that “Leadership needed” (”Lunchtime is over. Mr. Crist needs to manage this crisis.”)

Doing the right thing

“Some Palm Beach County cities are avoiding state-ordered budget cuts by not reducing property taxes required by the Legislature.”

In all, eight of the county's 37 municipalities have said they are not going to lower their taxes as much as they were instructed, according to state records and an analysis by the Palm Beach Post.

The Legislature approved a $15.6-billion property tax relief package that requires most of the state's 67 counties and municipalities to cut their tax rates to the 2006 level and reduce property tax revenues by up to 9 percent.

However, the mandate allows local elected officials to override the law.

“South Florida cities just say no to tax cut“.

How Green is our Charlie?

“Crist has recommended that lawmakers during a special session cut the $5 million of red tide money for this year as they attempt to pare $1 billion off the top in response to lower than expected revenues.  Red tide is a bloom of naturally occurring algae that releases toxins that kill fish and aquatic mammals. It causes respiratory irritation in humans. Red tides have been recorded in Florida since the 1840s but are occurring more frequently, lasting longer and causing more problems.”  “Crist proposal would slash red tide funding“.

They're Just Birds, What's the Problem?

“Florida's roaring development has taken a toll on some of the state's emblematic birds, reducing their populations during the past decade,according to the latest bird-count statistics.”  “Florida's birds try to wing it“.

Privatization Follies

The Miami Herald editors:

Faced with a $1.1 billion shortfall in state-budget revenues, Gov. Charlie Crist is thinking outside the box. Among other things, the governor is considering turning over the Florida Lottery to a private operator. It's easy to see why. Florida could get a lump-sum payout of as much as $31 billion for leasing the Lottery to a private vendor for 30 or 40 years. …

That kind of cash could make Florida's deficit go bye-bye in a hurry. It also could resolve some costly problems, such as reducing class sizes and boosting teacher pay. Nevertheless, giving a private firm control of a gaming enterprise approved by voters 21 years ago as an ongoing source of funds for education is a bad idea. Gov. Crist and Lottery officials should think long and hard before giving up this asset.

But they can't help themselves, and just have to go the extra step to make sure everyone recognizes that they are “balanced”:

States have valid reasons for turning over some of their traditional services and functions to private companies

“Florida Lottery faces a roll of the dice“.  Pray tell, what “traditional services and functions” should be performed by private companies?

Do the Herald editors think this is a good idea: “Largest private prison in state set to open today in Graceville“?  “The big business of incarceration comes to the Panhandle town of Graceville this week, as Florida opens what will be its biggest for-profit prison in a competitive system marked by controversy. … But critics maintain that private prisons do it by scrimping on pay and benefits, or cutting corners on staffing levels, health care and inmate education programs.”  Oh, I get it: privatization allows the state to avoid union contracts (such as they are) and paying into the state employees' defined benefit contribution plans.  Neato.

What's Next?  Bazookas?

“A rise in assault rifle use by criminals has spurred Miami's police chief to authorize patrol officers to carry similar weapons, he said Sunday.”  “Miami Police to give officers assault weapons“.

Silly

“The charges were stunning: Seven Miami men were accused of trying to join forces with al-Qaeda to blow up the FBI headquarters in Miami Beach and the Sears Tower in Chicago.”

Their plans, according to prosecutors, included blowing up the 110-story Sears Tower, taking over a Chicago-area prison and turning the inmates into an army, and launching terrorist attacks allegedly described by lead defendant Narseal Batiste as “just as good or greater than 9-11.”

“Terrorists-in-wait or just misfits?“.

For a more sober look at what these “terrorists” were about, read “Paintballers Plotted World Takeover“.

Kudos to Mark Lane and FlaBlog; see why here.  Our review of today's Florida political news and punditry follows.

Gambling

“Crist's willingness to let legislators vote on a possible casino gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe has aroused a powerful force: the tribe's competitors who own horse and dog tracks and have lots of clout in the state Capitol.”

For decades, Florida's parimutuel industry has been among the biggest donors to political parties and campaigns. The industry employs some of the most seasoned lobbyists in Tallahassee.

Despite that, the parimutuels never get all they want. It took them seven years to get poker rooms. They have tried vainly for years to legalize video lottery terminals.

But any gambling deal needing legislative approval would give the tracks a platform to complain about unfair competition - especially if the compact included games not legal in Florida, such as blackjack and baccarat.

“Legislature could hold wild card“.

Meanwhile, “a lawsuit with the potential to overturn the statewide vote in 2004 that gave Broward and Miami-Dade counties the right to have slot machines at parimutuels by voter approval heads to the Florida Supreme Court Monday for a showdown three years in the making.”  “Supreme Court to hear anti-slots case“.

Caving in to the Gun Lobby

The Daytona Beach - News Journal editorial board observes that

even as the body count climbs, it seems doubtful that state lawmakers will see reason and make it tougher to pack heat. Florida residents do have the right, however, to expect state lawmakers to stop caving into the gun lobby and start saying no to laws who push gun-nuttery to ludicrous heights.

One good example of this firearms extremism passed two years ago, with the approval of legislation that allows any person to shoot at someone he or she feels poses a credible threat. That law, known as the “castle doctrine” or “shoot first (and ask questions later)” law, has already spread to 15 states.

Expect the Legislature to face more pressure. A bill that would force property owners to allow anyone to bring guns onto their premises — even schools and universities — was derailed this year by the bloody Virginia Tech shootings, but it's bound to come back. The National Rifle Association is also pushing hard against mental-health screening and safety training requirements.

At some point, however, Floridians (and their elected representatives) should face reality. The state's gun-friendly culture hasn't made it any safer; in fact, most evidence points in the other direction.

“Gun in pocket or purse; are we safer?“.

Don't Be So Sure

“The funding of school crossing guards, on the other hand, probably was not the kind of service that most Floridians have in mind when state politicians talk about tax cuts.”  “Crossroad“.

One suspects that a good of the residents of this den could care less about paying for school crossing guards: “Retirees' dreamland is Republican bastion“.  After all, they paid for public schools up North, and it would be terribly unfair to make them pay for it again.

“What will the Charlie Crist era mean” for education?

“If the Jeb Bush era in Florida education meant an emphasis on public school testing and private school vouchers, what will the Charlie Crist era mean?  A big part of the answer could come starting this week. The state Board of Education interviews seven candidates today for the post of education commissioner, a job that could pay as much as $275,000, more than twice what the governor makes.”  “As interviews start for education chief, Crist's goals await“.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Tribune editorial board notes that “the Florida Board of Education today will interview seven finalists for state education commissioner, including someone whose candidacy raises a red flag.  Before applying for the Florida job, Philadelphia schools official William Harner was a candidate for the superintendent's job in Toledo, Ohio. Talks broke down, however, when officials refused his request to pay the cost of sending his teenaged daughter to private school.”  “Red Flag On Education Candidate“.

Freddie Courts Nitwit Vote

The Orlando Sentinel has a puff piece on Freddie, who is trying to convert his status as a sweet talking right winger as an empty suit into votes; with nitwits like the gentleman quoted below  voting in the Republican primary, he may have a chance:

With his honey-soaked baritone, front-porch manner and instantly familiar face — thanks to endless Law & Order reruns — Thompson fills a void for many voters even if they can't yet say why.

“It just feels like he's the only candidate who represents the ideas this nation was founded on,” said Buddy Reynolds, a 54-year-old Titusville resident. “It's more of an intuitive, gut-level feel.”

“Thompson, in role of a lifetime, captures Republicans at gut level“.

'Ya Think?

Thanks to the Sun-Sentinel editors for this observation: “Teachers, at all levels, should get the pay and benefits they deserve so they don't need to live in parking lot apartments in what could be a dorm-style arrangement. We don't set up special housing for cops, firefighters, paramedics and other public servants in South Florida who don't make gigantic salaries, and we shouldn't have to do it for teachers.”  “Teacher housing plan doesn't get passing grade“.

The “Right” To Vote

Tom Blackburn reminds us that

we have no right to vote in the presidential primary. Not incidentally, we have no right to vote in the general election for president, either.

“If that saddens you, consider presidential elections.”

In the 2000 election, most of us learned that we have no right to vote for president. Yes, we vote for electors, and they vote for president; you learn about the “indirect” election in high school. But we don't have a right to vote for electors, either.

Tom Feeney, then speaker of the Florida House, asserted that the Legislature decides how the electors will be chosen, and it can pick them itself without consulting the general public. In fact, as the Supreme Court was settling that election, the Florida House voted for the George W. Bush electors, and the Senate was poised to follow. That would have made the flawed election and 36 days of vote-counting and courtroom arguments into irrelevancies.

Mr. Feeney is no constitutional scholar. But his position was supported during oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court by no less than Justice Antonin Scalia - who is - and the point found its way into one of the court's opinions, although not as the controlling point.

The point is now back in the holster until the next time a strong party needs to draw it. But, in short, the only voting right you have in presidential elections is the right to hope that the Legislature doesn't decide not to let anyone vote.

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., offered House Joint Resolution 28, which would launch a constitutional amendment creating, for the first time, the right of the people to vote for president. He has 58 cosponsors. The closest one to us is Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami. Mr. Feeney went on to Congress from a Central Florida district. He drew attention there by sponsoring a sense of the House resolution telling the Supreme Court not to pay a nickel's worth of attention to the opinions of high courts in other democratic countries with laws similar to ours.

His hostility to foreign things does not extend to the choice of golf courses. He was among the congressional junketeers who played the game with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff in Scotland when the bloom was on the heather.

But most of us owe to Rep. Feeney the discovery that, when it comes to electing presidents, we fundamentally don't matter. We have had seven years to do something about that. And we haven't. We must like it that way.

“You have no right to vote for president“.

“Hometown Democracy”

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: “Hometown Democracy would make the land-use plan much more difficult to revise, so developers want to get their changes approved now.  An irony is that big pushes for wholesale changes are what motivated supporters to launch Hometown Democracy. Plans are now so changeable that people can't count on them. Defending plans has become an endless battle that wears folks down.  But citizen approval of every amendment would require voters to understand technical issues that are not always what they seem. Indeed, it's difficult to read the proposed plan amendments and immediately know if they are good or bad.”  “Reforming Title Insurance Industry Should Be State Priority“.

Right Wing Meccas

Yesterday we read about this: “Retirees' dreamland is Republican bastion“; today we get this:

Ave Maria University was founded in 2002 by Tom Monaghan, the multimillionaire founder of Domino's Pizza and conservative Catholic philanthropist, who moved the campus from Naples, Fla., to a 5,000-acre tract five miles from Immokalee, which is 30 miles northeast of Naples.

It is part of an ambitious development called Ave Maria Town, which will include 11,000 homes, three golf courses and its own water park, all oriented around a towering church.

“Before it was transformed by more than $400 million in private investment, the land on which Ave Maria rises was home to tomatoes and citrus harvested by migrants, many of them undocumented, who earn as little as 45 cents for every 32-pound bucket picked.”  Now, “residents in neighboring Immokalee worry that the new town, which covers thousands of acres of farmland and promises to bring more development to the area, will undermine their livelihoods and their community.”

After years of picking tomatoes, [Lucas] Benitez co-founded the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, an organization that fights for better wages and working conditions for farmworkers.

He sees Ave Maria as ''the NAFTA of Immokalee,'' and says its backers want to replace the farms with gated communities.

''They aren't talking about improving the town or creating more employment,'' he said. “They are talking about getting rid of the workers who have lived here for decades.''

Benitez said the impact was already being felt through Collier County's crackdown on trailers where the farmworkers live. In the past year and a half, 226 trailers have been condemned, said Nancy Freeze, the Immokalee director of the Health Department.

“Florida town: City of God or City of Cash?“.

“Lawmakers have failed to do their job”

The Miami Herald editorial board:

The biggest problem in Florida's auto-insurance stalemate is a lack of leadership. Legislators haven't fixed or replaced the existing no-fault law in the four years since they approved sunsetting the law on Oct. 1.

Lawmakers have failed to do their job. As a result, confusion and unintended consequences lie ahead for motorists. By default, the old system is set to disappear, and it is unclear how a new system might work. Florida will become the only state in the country that doesn't have mandatory medical coverage for people injured in traffic accidents.

This is unacceptable. Gov. Charlie Crist, House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt need to take a stand. They should insist that legislators finalize no-fault reforms. The reforms should be approved in a quick special session this month. Failing this, lawmakers should rewrite the law during the budget-cutting session — now set for Oct. 3 — and save Floridians from needless grief.

“Buckle up: Confusion ahead for motorists“.  The Orlando Sentinel editors argue that “Leadership needed” (”Lunchtime is over. Mr. Crist needs to manage this crisis.”)

Doing the right thing

“Some Palm Beach County cities are avoiding state-ordered budget cuts by not reducing property taxes required by the Legislature.”

In all, eight of the county's 37 municipalities have said they are not going to lower their taxes as much as they were instructed, according to state records and an analysis by the Palm Beach Post.

The Legislature approved a $15.6-billion property tax relief package that requires most of the state's 67 counties and municipalities to cut their tax rates to the 2006 level and reduce property tax revenues by up to 9 percent.

However, the mandate allows local elected officials to override the law.

“South Florida cities just say no to tax cut“.

How Green is our Charlie?

“Crist has recommended that lawmakers during a special session cut the $5 million of red tide money for this year as they attempt to pare $1 billion off the top in response to lower than expected revenues.  Red tide is a bloom of naturally occurring algae that releases toxins that kill fish and aquatic mammals. It causes respiratory irritation in humans. Red tides have been recorded in Florida since the 1840s but are occurring more frequently, lasting longer and causing more problems.”  “Crist proposal would slash red tide funding“.

They're Just Birds, What's the Problem?

“Florida's roaring development has taken a toll on some of the state's emblematic birds, reducing their populations during the past decade,according to the latest bird-count statistics.”  “Florida's birds try to wing it“.

Privatization Follies

The Miami Herald editors:

Faced with a $1.1 billion shortfall in state-budget revenues, Gov. Charlie Crist is thinking outside the box. Among other things, the governor is considering turning over the Florida Lottery to a private operator. It's easy to see why. Florida could get a lump-sum payout of as much as $31 billion for leasing the Lottery to a private vendor for 30 or 40 years. …

That kind of cash could make Florida's deficit go bye-bye in a hurry. It also could resolve some costly problems, such as reducing class sizes and boosting teacher pay. Nevertheless, giving a private firm control of a gaming enterprise approved by voters 21 years ago as an ongoing source of funds for education is a bad idea. Gov. Crist and Lottery officials should think long and hard before giving up this asset.

But they can't help themselves, and just have to go the extra step to make sure everyone recognizes that they are “balanced”:

States have valid reasons for turning over some of their traditional services and functions to private companies

“Florida Lottery faces a roll of the dice“.  Pray tell, what “traditional services and functions” should be performed by private companies?

Do the Herald editors think this is a good idea: “Largest private prison in state set to open today in Graceville“?  “The big business of incarceration comes to the Panhandle town of Graceville this week, as Florida opens what will be its biggest for-profit prison in a competitive system marked by controversy. … But critics maintain that private prisons do it by scrimping on pay and benefits, or cutting corners on staffing levels, health care and inmate education programs.”  Oh, I get it: privatization allows the state to avoid union contracts (such as they are) and paying into the state employees' defined benefit contribution plans.  Neato.

What's Next?  Bazookas?

“A rise in assault rifle use by criminals has spurred Miami's police chief to authorize patrol officers to carry similar weapons, he said Sunday.”  “Miami Police to give officers assault weapons“.

Silly

“The charges were stunning: Seven Miami men were accused of trying to join forces with al-Qaeda to blow up the FBI headquarters in Miami Beach and the Sears Tower in Chicago.”

Their plans, according to prosecutors, included blowing up the 110-story Sears Tower, taking over a Chicago-area prison and turning the inmates into an army, and launching terrorist attacks allegedly described by lead defendant Narseal Batiste as “just as good or greater than 9-11.”

“Terrorists-in-wait or just misfits?“.

For a more sober look at what these “terrorists” were about, read “Paintballers Plotted World Takeover“.

Today's Florida political news and punditry.

Wonder Where The Money Went?

“Legislative leaders Thursday set Oct. 3 as the start of an already once-delayed special session to erase a $1.1 billion shortfall in the state's $71 billion budget.”  “Lawmakers circle Oct. 3 as date to start cutting“.  

Wonder where the money went?  This might help: “Retirees' dreamland is Republican bastion“, “Gov. Bush defends his record of tax cuts” (”A review of tax cuts enacted during Bush's terms show the bulk of the cuts have aided businesses or investors, with cuts on estate taxes and investments accounting for nearly half of the tax cuts and cuts for businesses also well into the billions of dollars.”) and “Victors and Spoils” (”Florida's governor has been an aggressive privatizer, and as The Miami Herald put it after a careful study of state records, 'his bold experiment has been a success — at least for him and the Republican Party, records show. The policy has spawned a network of contractors who have given him, other Republican politicians and the Florida G.O.P. millions of dollars in campaign donations.'”)

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editors have some suggestions for the special session, starting with this:

Mention this one, and many people start laughing. Lawmakers repeal the intangibles tax cuts that sliced more than $1 billion from the state's annual revenue stream?

But legislators should face facts: These cuts — especially the last few rounds, which benefited people with average incomes of $2 million or more — amount to welfare for rich people. And if welfare programs have to be cut, this is a good place to start.

If they're brave enough, lawmakers can resolve the entire budget crisis with one wise decision. And they can tell those who complain that they enjoyed an intangibles tax “holiday” — much like the sales tax break extended to working families.

Much more here: AVOID A HATCHET JOB

Allen Trial This Week

“As the Merritt Island Republican heads to trial this week accused of offering to pay $20 to perform oral sex on an undercover police officer, Allen remains confident he will be acquitted, welcomed back into the Republican fold and even win a state Senate seat.”  “Rep. Allen's life has been marked by comebacks“.

“The nation's biggest battleground state” sits it out

“Florida Democrats have been warring with the Democratic National Committee since the state advanced its March presidential primary to Jan. 29, flouting a party rule that says only Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina can vote on presidential nominees before Feb. 5.  Voting will still take place in Florida in January. But because the DNC has refused to recognize the primary, it will be a nonbinding beauty contest lacking the sizzle of the delegate-selection fight once envisioned for the nation's biggest battleground state.”  “Primary feud bedevils Dem leader“.

Carl Hiaasen writes today, “face it. A non binding election is about as compelling as a non binding Lotto drawing, without the ping pong balls.”

It seems increasingly likely that Florida's 2008 Democratic presidential primary will mean absolutely nothing, causing shorter-than-usual lines at the polls.

The Democratic National Committee hasn't budged from its threat to strip the state of its 210 convention delegates as punishment for advancing the date of the vote to Jan. 29.

At first, the dispute looked like a fiendishly clever ploy to make the party leadership appear self-destructive and incompetent, thereby lulling Republicans into a sense of complacency.

Now it's obvious that the DNC really is self-destructive and incompetent, stubbornly insisting on perpetuating the charade that allows only Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada to hold nominating contests before Feb. 5.>

Much more here:”Democrats — not a vote of confidence“.

Florida Leads the Way

Betcha didn't know that “Florida, with many uninsured and transient residents, has emerged as a key start-up area for walk-in clinics in retail stores. “

Some doctors argue that they lose touch with patients who go to retail clinics, that most clinics are run by advanced-trained nurses working alone, that they promote superficial care without follow-up and that they bring sick people near healthy shoppers.

“Walk-in health clinics flourishing, but many doctors skeptical of care“.

Say Anything

“A grass-roots petition drive intended to give citizens morecontrol over development in their cities and counties is being challenged by a campaign funded by big business and developers.  The business group, called Save Our Constitution, was created by some of Tallahassee's finest [sic] political operatives, and is using a new law to target asignature-petition group called Florida Hometown Democracy.”  “Anti-petition drive targets Hometown amendment“.  See also “Business-backed group says Hometown Democracy will destroy Florida's 'scenic beauty'” (”Barney Bishop, president of the powerful Associated Industries of Florida, is its chairman. But Friday, he was at a loss to explain how the amendment would hurt the environment.”)

Please Try Again

“On Monday, counties, cities and schools are set to ask the Florida Supreme Court to rehear and clarify its ruling from earlier this month that has local governments uncertain and unsettled.”  “Cities, counties worried about bonds“.

Priorities

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board:

Lawmakers seeking guidance as they head into their special session Oct. 3to cut $1.1 billion in state spending ought to embrace Gov. Charlie Crist's idea to set priorities rather than cutting across the board. Problem is, he's setting the wrong priorities.

From 10,000 feet looking down, the governor's plan makes sense. Cut the budget, but spare some spending on public projects to jump-start the construction industry.

But here on the ground, Mr. Crist's cuts to universities and community colleges would do great harm to the economic growth he covets. His spending suggestions are aimed at bailing Florida out of a tough budget year rather than making the long-term investment needed to grow a diverse economy.

“Wrong priorities“.

Silly

“To hear the government tell it, Narseal Batiste and six followers were a budding homegrown terrorist cell determined to launch a spectacular strike that would rival the Sept. 11 attacks by toppling the 110-story Sears Tower in Chicago.”

Batiste, the Miami leader of an obscure religious sect, viewed this as the opening salvo in a “full ground war” that would eventually replace the U.S. government with an Islamic regime, according to federal prosecutors.

“I want to fight some jihad,” Batiste said in a 2006 conversation taped by the FBI. “That's all I live for.”

But defense lawyers and supporters of the so-called “Liberty City Seven” tell a different story. They say the alleged terror conspiracy was driven by a pair of paid FBI informants - one claiming to be an al-Qaida emissary - and that members of the group from a blighted urban area never sought to hurt anyone.

Aside from a few knives, machetes and one 9mm handgun [and paint guns], the group never obtained any explosives or military weaponry necessary to pull off such a grandiose operation.

“Trial nears for alleged 'homegrown' Miami terror cell“.

DCF

“Improving home studies, staff training and children's attendance at hearings are some of the common goals that officials across Florida have set for enhancing child dependency procedures.”  “State officials set goals to improve child dependency procedures“.

Gambling Man

“Despite the governor's anti-gaming pledge, gambling options are increasing in Florida and will expand again if a deal is reached with the Seminoles.”  Meanwhile, “Republican leaders in the state House of Representatives have also seized on the issue, using it to stoke their conservative credentials and distance themselves from the more moderate Crist.”  “Crist defends hedge on gaming as way to stanch budget cuts“.

It's The Teamsters, Stupid

The scabby Orlando Sentinel editorial board takes shots at unions at every opportunity:

Using unfounded safety worries as a cover for protectionism and Mexico bashing, the Senate voted this past week to shut down a pilot program allowing trucks from south of the border on U.S. highways. …

Taking their cue from the Teamsters union and its 100,000 long-haul truckers, program foes in the Senate raised the specter of killer trucks from Mexico. But the program imposes the same safety, insurance and licensing requirements that apply to all U.S. truckers. Those requirements are to been forced with federal inspections on both sides of the border.

“Overblown worries“.

GOPers and their golf carts

One of Florida's problems is the influx of a certain class (think upper-middle) of retirees from certain regions of the country; these folks don't give a damn about Florida's education system or pretty much anything else except the absence of an income tax (or an intangibles tax).  These folks for the most part have little interest in the state's future, and they vote.  They have to live somewhere:

''It's a beautiful day in The Villages,'' the decidedly chipper receptionists tell callers to Florida's fastest-growing retirement community, no matter the forecast.

For Republican candidates, the sloganeering rings true. In the Central Florida development that sprawls over three counties and two Zip Codes, Republican voters outnumber Democrats roughly 2-1. Turnout in Sumter County, where the bulk of the community lives, was among the highest in the state in the 2004 presidential election.

''It's safe to say that the road to the White House is through Florida, and the road to Florida is through The Villages,'' said Richard Cole, president of the largest of the community's four Republican clubs. “We're a substantial political force.'' …

It was former Gov. Jeb Bush who put The Villages on the political map. He saw that one of the fastest-growing developments in the nation would be a treasure trove of votes, not to mention campaign cash. Developer Gary Morse was one of the top donors to Bush and his brother's presidential campaign, and he gave $500,000 — the single largest donation — to the Republican Party of Florida last year.

And how does one know they are entering this wonderland of selfishness?  Why, and oh so fittingly, it's the golf carts, stupid:

Visitors know they are getting close when they come upon golf-cart retailers that resemble South Florida's banner-draped car dealerships. Most residents motor around in the carts, which merit special parking spaces at the nearby Wal-Mart. The community has a train-set perfection, with grass that looks more sculpted and carved than mowed and weed-whacked.

“Retirees' dreamland is Republican bastion“.

Freddie A Regular Laff Riot

“Courting Miami Cuban-Americans on Radio Mambi on Friday in Little Havana, Fred Thompson was adamant about his approach to Fidel Castro's Cuba: 'We definitely would maintain sanctions, would maintain the embargo.'”

So we were curious about a Weekly Standard article noting “box upon box” of cigars from Havana in Thompson's office.

In a Political Connections interview airing today on Bay News 9, Thompson brushed off the apparent contradiction between the embargo and his fondness for Cuban stogies. “If I have a friend that occasionally passes me a cigar, I don't check its heritage,” he said. “You know, if it's good, I smoke it.”

Miami-Dade Democratic chairman Joe Garcia questioned whether law-and-order voters will embrace a candidate “who smokes something illegal.”

“The Buzz: Cuban stogie could be too hot for Thompson“.

Not Ready For Prime Time

“Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson walked through rows of assault rifles, pistols and other firearms, signing autographs and greeting voters at a gun show Saturday, but some of the gun advocates weren't convinced he was completely on their side.”

“I was all for him until I started reading the votes,” said gun dealer Ken Strevels, standing at a table line with machine guns, including an enormous .50 caliber rifle held up by a tripod. “I'm not sure now. He's flipping on the vote. It's like he's working both sides.”

“Thompson seeks pro-gun vote in Fla., but met with some skepticism“.

As Fred blathers on about the joys of assault weapons, we read that “Cops at risk as criminals use more assault weapons“.  See also “Assault-weapon attacks rise in Miami“.

Good Luck

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: “Make Florida's insurers pay for diabetes testing“.

Left Out

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board:

In Jacksonville last week, Gov. Charlie Crist spoke at a benefit for the United Negro College Fund at Edward Waters College, saying, “What matters to us in Tallahassee today is if you are a Floridian and if you need help.”

He added again, as he has been heard to say many times in the capital city since his election, party affiliation is not important. His larger meaning is no doubt what most great governors come to discover sooner or later, that the job is bigger than either party and that it needs the voices of both - and all - sides to fully frame and begin to solve big problems.

Gov. Reubin Askew, during his eight years as chief executive, put it another way, saying frequently, “It is one thing to run for office, but quite another to govern.”

Sometimes this wisdom is underestimated, as appears to be the case in the behind-the-scenes work leading up to the special budget-cutting session that is now expected to convene on Oct. 3, running through Oct. 12 if necessary.

The Legislature has exempted itself from the Sunshine Law, so its negotiations are going on behind the scenes quite legally, if frustratingly, for the minority party. Chief negotiators for the two chambers, Sen. Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey, and Rep. Ray Sansom, R-Destin, are working with Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, and House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, and the leadership reports “significant progress,” though no details.

Meanwhile, however, Democratic Party leaders are largely left out of the discussion and have, as their only option, the ability to vote “no” to a budget document they have no hand in crafting.

“Session secrets“.

“This is not a dream job”

“For Floridians, the stakes are huge. For the candidates, condolences are in order.  This is not a dream job.  Making kids in Florida smarter and more successful would be tough even if everybody were rowing in the same direction. But in Florida, post-Jeb, it's not even clear which way the commissioner's bosses are headed, or who the bosses are, exactly. And really, how far can the commissioner row anyway if we're talking, again, about budget cuts for schools?”  “One will stand at the head of the class“.

“Bush's Mr. Cellophane” Flip-Flops

“Immigration advocates are hoping to push a small part of the failed immigration package forward, but they're unlikely to have one of the package's biggest champions in their corner.”

Sen. Mel Martinez, who came under withering criticism from the conservative wing of his Republican party for playing a key role in backing an immigration overhaul, said Friday he's not inclined to support the DREAM act, legislation that would help the children of illegal immigrants stay in the U.S.

Martinez's office said the Florida senator - who doubles as general chair of the Republican National Committee - does not support “adding immigration-related amendments'' to the defense bill - and that's exactly what DREAM Act sponsor Sen. Dick Durbin plans to do.

“Cuban support softening for GOP?”

Check out the Florida Progressive Coalition's “19 Stories to Read“.  Our review of today's Florida political news and punditry follows.

“Something odd is happening”

“It's still early in this election season, but something odd is happening. The old anti-Castro rhetoric seems to be fading.”

But if the candidates don't sound like they used to, that may be because Miami's Cuban community doesn't think like it used to.

“There has been a seismic shift in the political views of Cuban-Americans,” said Joe Garcia, chairman of the Democratic Party of Miami-Dade County. “The Cuban vote is becoming less Republican.” …

Among Hispanics in Miami-Dade, Republicans still outnumber Democrats 251,929 to 132,432 123,985 are not affiliated with either party. But almost 25 years after Reagan's speech, the Republican Party's once seemingly unbreakable grip on the Cuban exile community may be loosening. …

The majority of older Cuban-American voters remain a solid Republican party bloc, but their numbers are dwindling.

“The 'historic' exiles are passing away and not being replaced in the same weight,” said Sergio Bendixen, a Miami pollster working on the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Less than half of Miami Dade County's Hispanic voters are registered Republicans (48 percent), down from 59 percent a decade ago, the Miami Herald reported last month. One Hispanic group which organizes voter registration drives, Democracia USA, reports that 45 percent of the 56,000 voters it registered last year chose no party affiliation. …

Younger exiles show less interest in Cuba and are more engaged in national issues, he says. “They give Cuba almost no importance,” he said. “For them it's education, health care, and Hispanic issues such as immigration.”

On top of that, new arrivals from the island are less enthusiastic about isolating Cuba, in large part because they still have relatives there.

The number of Cuban-Americans in Miami-Dade County who support dialogue with the Cuban government has risen from 40 percent in 1991 to 65 percent, according to a poll by Florida International University.

In one recent poll conducted for the Democratic Party in two heavily Cuban-American congressional districts in Miami-Dade County, voters rated getting rid of Castro sixth among their concerns. Their top priority was getting out of Iraq

Just read it:”GOP losing grip on Cuban-Americans“.

FlaDems to Fold?

“Florida Democrats, unable to work out a compromise to avoid harsh sanctions imposed by the Democratic National Committee, appear ready to give in and declare the Jan. 29 presidential primary meaningless.”  “State Democrats backing down on primary“.

Freddie Ain't Ready for Prime Time

Freddy is really grubbing For the Wingnut Vote: “On the day South Florida mourned a slain police officer, Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson stopped in Miami and stuck firmly to his guns over what he says is the unnecessary call for limiting the right to bear arms.”  “Thompson: No gun limits“.

Freddie shares a bit more of his wingnut wisdom here: “Thompson: Reconsider automatic citizenship for everyone born here“.

Freddie's knuckle dragging may be paying off - he looks to have locked down Pasco's political powerhouse:  “Thompson got a strong endorsement from gun control opponent and local GOP chairman Bill Bunting during a campaign stop Friday.”  “Thompson Visits Pasco“.

“A Screeching Halt”

“The ruling stunned government officials and lawyers across Florida, leaving them perplexed over whether all bonds would have to go out for a vote. … 'School construction is going to come to a screeching halt,' said Wayne Blanton, executive director of the Florida School Boards Association.”  “Ruling imperils public projects“.  See also “Schools question high court's ruling“.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

“In recent years, [Orange] county officials have defended taxpayer-funded trips to far-flung destinations, saying they learn important information at conferencessponsored by professional organizations”

.But an Orlando Sentinel investigation has found that those trips are only aportion of the costs: Seven county governments in Central Florida have morethan 1,000 memberships with dues of about $1.5 million annually.

Taxpayer money goes to groups ranging from big-budgeted organizations suchas the Florida Association of Counties — Orange County's annual dues top$100,000 — to hyper-specific groups such as the International Council ofShopping Centers, which costs Osceola $50.

“Group dues tax counties' coffers“.  See also “Memberships cost Volusia $545,000“.

Raul to Run?

“Former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez says his tenure as a radio host — all of a week — is over because he won't rule out running for elected office. … Martinez, a Democrat who stepped down as the city's mayor in 2005, said he's still considering whether he wants to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart in 2008.”  “Martinez: Politics tops radio“.

PIP

“PIP law may not disappear after all“.  See also “New plan resurrects form of PIP insurance in Florida“.

Rail Trail

“What used to be a 51-mile railroad corridor is poised to become the East Central Rail Trail — if the Florida Cabinet gives the nod Wednesday to spend $16 million from Florida Forever funds to acquire about 671 acres.”  “Trail in the making“.

Gambling

“It's easy to say what should be in the casino deal Gov. Crist negotiates with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It's harder to figure out what kind of deal is possible.”  “Limit deal with Seminoles“.

“To Do List”

Mark Lane makes a point and a list:

There are a few bitter people in Florida politics who do not love Gov. Charlie Crist.

They feel he has led a strangely charmed existence. They feel he has coasted along and avoided heavy lifting. But at a time when the Republican Party is not terribly popular, they cannot gainsay a guy whose popularity is in magical 70 percent range.

Well, new polling this week shows that unhappiness over property taxes, car and property insurance, and the need for painful new budget cuts on the state and local levels have taken their toll on the governor's popularity. Where he once had an approval rate in the mid-70s, a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday measured his approval at a deflated 65 percent.

It might be a good idea, however, to pause a moment and put that number in perspective. A 65 percent approval rating is still 3 points higher than the highest spike in popularity former Gov. Jeb Bush ever experienced. (The so-called “hurricane bounce” after the 2004 storms.)

Crist is no longer Superman in the opinion polls, but at 65 percent, he's still Batman.

So what does he need to do to turn things around and regain his astounding powers over the minds of Florida voters? Well, in no particular order: …

See what he means here: “Crist's to-do list grows“.

“Honorable” Liar

“A new law allows people to revoke signatures within 150 days of signing petitions. Opponents of Hometown Democracy have launched a campaign with mail, a toll-free line and Web site.  They hope to convince enough people to change their minds to kill the antigrowth initiative. The clock is ticking.”

The letterhead bears the name of “The Honorable John Thrasher,” a former House speaker.

Writing on behalf of a group called “Save Our Constitution,” his pitch is that Hometown Democracy is the work of “big developers,” when they are the actually targets of the initiative.

“Urgent! Act now or developers will suffer!“.

Byrd

“Tangled politics and sticky personalities surround Florida's five-year-old Alzheimer's disease initiative, threatening its potential to yield new treatments or even a cure.”  “Byrd Alzheimer's Center Opens Amid Funding War“.

“Merit” Pay

“The Florida Legislature's new and improved teacher merit pay plan may have passed with grudging union support, but teachers still don't like it and some school districts have declined to participate, turning down millions of dollars in state bonus money.”  “New, improved teacher merit pay still draws opposition“.

Thank Goodness Jebbie Eliminated the “Intangibles Tax”

What's the big deal?  They're just bridges:

“You'd be surprised about the number of bridges across the state of Florida that have been neglected for years,” said J. N. “Junior” Tuten, the chairman of the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners. “There's no money.”

“Counties seek money for bridge repairs“.

Good Time Charlie

“While acknowledging the need to pare back government spending, Gov. Charlie Crist said Friday he opposes cutting 90 officers from the state wildlife commission staff.”  “Manatee money won't go extinct“.  More on manatees: “Manatee's downlisting needs to be killed, not delayed“.

“White activism”

“A state House candidate in the Tampa area is drawing criticism for his affiliation with a group that promotes the creation of 'white-only living spaces' and has distributed fliers criticizing the war in Iraq as only benefiting Israel.”

John Ubele is running with no party affiliation for the Pasco County seat of Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey.

Ubele (pronounced yoo-bul) is operations manager of the Nationalist Coalition. The group promotes “white activism,” according to its Web site, which says the organization will “do whatever is necessary to achieve this White living space and to keep it White.”

“State House candidate criticized for 'white activism'“.

Check out the Florida Progressive Coalition's “19 Stories to Read“.  Our review of today's Florida political news and punditry follows.

“Something odd is happening”

“It's still early in this election season, but something odd is happening. The old anti-Castro rhetoric seems to be fading.”

But if the candidates don't sound like they used to, that may be because Miami's Cuban community doesn't think like it used to.

“There has been a seismic shift in the political views of Cuban-Americans,” said Joe Garcia, chairman of the Democratic Party of Miami-Dade County. “The Cuban vote is becoming less Republican.” …

Among Hispanics in Miami-Dade, Republicans still outnumber Democrats 251,929 to 132,432 123,985 are not affiliated with either party. But almost 25 years after Reagan's speech, the Republican Party's once seemingly unbreakable grip on the Cuban exile community may be loosening. …

The majority of older Cuban-American voters remain a solid Republican party bloc, but their numbers are dwindling.

“The 'historic' exiles are passing away and not being replaced in the same weight,” said Sergio Bendixen, a Miami pollster working on the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Less than half of Miami Dade County's Hispanic voters are registered Republicans (48 percent), down from 59 percent a decade ago, the Miami Herald reported last month. One Hispanic group which organizes voter registration drives, Democracia USA, reports that 45 percent of the 56,000 voters it registered last year chose no party affiliation. …

Younger exiles show less interest in Cuba and are more engaged in national issues, he says. “They give Cuba almost no importance,” he said. “For them it's education, health care, and Hispanic issues such as immigration.”

On top of that, new arrivals from the island are less enthusiastic about isolating Cuba, in large part because they still have relatives there.

The number of Cuban-Americans in Miami-Dade County who support dialogue with the Cuban government has risen from 40 percent in 1991 to 65 percent, according to a poll by Florida International University.

In one recent poll conducted for the Democratic Party in two heavily Cuban-American congressional districts in Miami-Dade County, voters rated getting rid of Castro sixth among their concerns. Their top priority was getting out of Iraq

Just read it:”GOP losing grip on Cuban-Americans“.

FlaDems to Fold?

“Florida Democrats, unable to work out a compromise to avoid harsh sanctions imposed by the Democratic National Committee, appear ready to give in and declare the Jan. 29 presidential primary meaningless.”  “State Democrats backing down on primary“.

Freddie Ain't Ready for Prime Time

Freddy is really grubbing For the Wingnut Vote: “On the day South Florida mourned a slain police officer, Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson stopped in Miami and stuck firmly to his guns over what he says is the unnecessary call for limiting the right to bear arms.”  “Thompson: No gun limits“.

Freddie shares a bit more of his wingnut wisdom here: “Thompson: Reconsider automatic citizenship for everyone born here“.

Freddie's knuckle dragging may be paying off - he looks to have locked down Pasco's political powerhouse:  “Thompson got a strong endorsement from gun control opponent and local GOP chairman Bill Bunting during a campaign stop Friday.”  “Thompson Visits Pasco“.

“A Screeching Halt”

“The ruling stunned government officials and lawyers across Florida, leaving them perplexed over whether all bonds would have to go out for a vote. … 'School construction is going to come to a screeching halt,' said Wayne Blanton, executive director of the Florida School Boards Association.”  “Ruling imperils public projects“.  See also “Schools question high court's ruling“.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

“In recent years, [Orange] county officials have defended taxpayer-funded trips to far-flung destinations, saying they learn important information at conferencessponsored by professional organizations”

.But an Orlando Sentinel investigation has found that those trips are only aportion of the costs: Seven county governments in Central Florida have morethan 1,000 memberships with dues of about $1.5 million annually.

Taxpayer money goes to groups ranging from big-budgeted organizations suchas the Florida Association of Counties — Orange County's annual dues top$100,000 — to hyper-specific groups such as the International Council ofShopping Centers, which costs Osceola $50.

“Group dues tax counties' coffers“.  See also “Memberships cost Volusia $545,000“.

Raul to Run?

“Former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez says his tenure as a radio host — all of a week — is over because he won't rule out running for elected office. … Martinez, a Democrat who stepped down as the city's mayor in 2005, said he's still considering whether he wants to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart in 2008.”  “Martinez: Politics tops radio“.

PIP

“PIP law may not disappear after all“.  See also “New plan resurrects form of PIP insurance in Florida“.

Rail Trail

“What used to be a 51-mile railroad corridor is poised to become the East Central Rail Trail — if the Florida Cabinet gives the nod Wednesday to spend $16 million from Florida Forever funds to acquire about 671 acres.”  “Trail in the making“.

Gambling

“It's easy to say what should be in the casino deal Gov. Crist negotiates with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It's harder to figure out what kind of deal is possible.”  “Limit deal with Seminoles“.

“To Do List”

Mark Lane makes a point and a list:

There are a few bitter people in Florida politics who do not love Gov. Charlie Crist.

They feel he has led a strangely charmed existence. They feel he has coasted along and avoided heavy lifting. But at a time when the Republican Party is not terribly popular, they cannot gainsay a guy whose popularity is in magical 70 percent range.

Well, new polling this week shows that unhappiness over property taxes, car and property insurance, and the need for painful new budget cuts on the state and local levels have taken their toll on the governor's popularity. Where he once had an approval rate in the mid-70s, a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday measured his approval at a deflated 65 percent.

It might be a good idea, however, to pause a moment and put that number in perspective. A 65 percent approval rating is still 3 points higher than the highest spike in popularity former Gov. Jeb Bush ever experienced. (The so-called “hurricane bounce” after the 2004 storms.)

Crist is no longer Superman in the opinion polls, but at 65 percent, he's still Batman.

So what does he need to do to turn things around and regain his astounding powers over the minds of Florida voters? Well, in no particular order: …

See what he means here: “Crist's to-do list grows“.

“Honorable” Liar

“A new law allows people to revoke signatures within 150 days of signing petitions. Opponents of Hometown Democracy have launched a campaign with mail, a toll-free line and Web site.  They hope to convince enough people to change their minds to kill the antigrowth initiative. The clock is ticking.”

The letterhead bears the name of “The Honorable John Thrasher,” a former House speaker.

Writing on behalf of a group called “Save Our Constitution,” his pitch is that Hometown Democracy is the work of “big developers,” when they are the actually targets of the initiative.

“Urgent! Act now or developers will suffer!“.

Byrd

“Tangled politics and sticky personalities surround Florida's five-year-old Alzheimer's disease initiative, threatening its potential to yield new treatments or even a cure.”  “Byrd Alzheimer's Center Opens Amid Funding War“.

“Merit” Pay

“The Florida Legislature's new and improved teacher merit pay plan may have passed with grudging union support, but teachers still don't like it and some school districts have declined to participate, turning down millions of dollars in state bonus money.”  “New, improved teacher merit pay still draws opposition“.

Thank Goodness Jebbie Eliminated the “Intangibles Tax”

What's the big deal?  They're just bridges:

“You'd be surprised about the number of bridges across the state of Florida that have been neglected for years,” said J. N. “Junior” Tuten, the chairman of the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners. “There's no money.”

“Counties seek money for bridge repairs“.

Good Time Charlie

“While acknowledging the need to pare back government spending, Gov. Charlie Crist said Friday he opposes cutting 90 officers from the state wildlife commission staff.”  “Manatee money won't go extinct“.  More on manatees: “Manatee's downlisting needs to be killed, not delayed“.

“White activism”

“A state House candidate in the Tampa area is drawing criticism for his affiliation with a group that promotes the creation of 'white-only living spaces' and has distributed fliers criticizing the war in Iraq as only benefiting Israel.”

John Ubele is running with no party affiliation for the Pasco County seat of Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey.

Ubele (pronounced yoo-bul) is operations manager of the Nationalist Coalition. The group promotes “white activism,” according to its Web site, which says the organization will “do whatever is necessary to achieve this White living space and to keep it White.”

“State House candidate criticized for 'white activism'“.

Check out the Florida Progressive Coalition's “17 Stories to Read“.  Our review of today's Florida political news and punditry follows.

New Polls

“A new poll shows Republican Rudy Giuliani and Democrat Hillary Clinton remain at the top of their presidential tickets in Florida and share this common fate: Their pasts could haunt them.”

The new Quinnipiac University poll shows that Clinton, a New York senator, holds a wide lead over her Democratic rivals. But Clinton, attacked for decades by the right, is viewed negatively by 43 percent of voters, compared to only 50 percent who view her favorably.

Giuliani's lead isn't so big, nor are his negative ratings. They're at 28 percent.

But Giuliani's multiple divorces could be a turnoff: About 29 percent of voters said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who has been divorced more than once. The number is even higher — 38 percent — among the Republican base of white evangelicals, who comprise 45 percent of the poll's GOP sample.

“Poll: Clinton, Giuliani still favored in Florida“.

Here's a twist:

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has released a survey showing Fred Thompson leading Rudy Giuliani by a 27-21 spread …

“Up until now, Guiliani has been leading in nearly every statewide poll of Republican candidates,” said Marian Johnson, political veteran and vice-president of political strategy for the Florida Chamber. “Recent media hype combined with a stronger statewide campaign effort has given Fred Thompson a considerable bump in Florida, a state coveted by all GOP candidates.”

“Thompson on top in Florida?” (poll of “1000 likely voters and was balanced to all known demographics with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. The poll was conducted by InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Research for Florida Chamber of Commerce, September 6-10, 2007.”)

Meanwhile, is the “Boycott a risk for Clinton“? (”Hillary Clinton generally enjoys a larger lead in Florida than in Iowa or New Hampshire, according to recent polls, but she could face suffer a backlash from voters in the general election for signing a no-campaign pledge for Florida.”)  Back at the ranch: “Democrats ponder options” (”The state party clings to a Jan. 29 primary while seeking ways to keep its delegates.”).

GOPers Dis Hispanic Vote

Time: “To many casual political observers, it may have seemed remarkable that seven of the eight Democratic presidential candidates showed up in Miami on Sunday for the nation's first Spanish-language debate. But the more extraordinary thing is that only one G.O.P. candidate is apparently willing to take part in a Republican follow-up.”

The Univision debate showed the growing power of Latino voters; it also showed how that group - which has the potential to swing electorally crucial states like Florida, Nevada and New Mexico - is trending increasingly Democratic. Univision invited all of the G.O.P. candidates to the same forum next week. But only one, Senator John McCain of Arizona, accepted the invitation and the debate has been indefinitely postponed.

That kind of snub wouldn't have seemed possible only three years ago. President George W. Bush won reelection in 2004, in part, due to historic Latino support for a Republican candidate. Fulfilling the dream of Karl Rove, his former top political adviser, Bush drew nearly 40% of the Latino vote, double that of any previous G.O.P. presidential nominee.

So why are 10 G.O.P. candidates so unwilling to face Hispanic voters this year? In one word: immigration. Most Republican platforms on the divisive issue - which are variations of beefing up border controls - serve to shore up their base, but anger most immigrant communities, not just Hispanics. “For the Republicans, if they had a debate in Spanish, on Univision, they would get as many questions on immigration and so they would have to speak about immigration in the same way they speak about immigration on CNN on MSNBC and all the other networks,” said Sergio Bendixon, a leading pollster of Latino voting trends. “And that, I'm sure they have figured, would be offensive, almost insulting to most Hispanic voters and definitely to Latin American immigrant voters.”

The flip side of that political calculation was apparent on Sunday night. In Miami, all the Democratic candidates rushed to show their support in answering the first question, one clearly aimed at the G.O.P.: “Do you consider that participating in a forum run in Spanish and addressed specifically to Hispanic voters is a political risk for you?” …

Fernando Romero, president of the non-partisan Hispanics in Politics, an activist group in Nevada - which now holds an important caucus slot between Iowa and New Hampshire early in 2008 - has also seen little or no G.O.P. outreach this cycle. Romero's group last year endorsed Jim Gibbons, the successful G.O.P. candidate for governor, but this year didn't like the Republican presidential field in part because of the immigration debate and in part because Republicans have neglected the community. “They have certainly really brushed off the Hispanic vote,” Romero said. “Not even one of the 10 that are running has made an effort to contact any of the Latino groups in the area.”

“Why did GOP snub debate? Immigration“.

Wingnut GOTV Tool

“Floridians have had enough of divisive politics over recent years —- yet that never seems to stop people who have an ax to grind and plenty of money to force discussion.  As of last week, it seems likely that supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage will get their issue on next year's ballot. Florida4Marriage.org, the group behind the proposal, has raised more than $500,000 (and spent most of that on direct-mail campaigns) and should have the required signatures by Feb. 1. But the group has yet to make its case for altering Florida's Constitution to defend against something that's already banned by state law.”  “Proposed gay marriage amendment lacks rationale“.

Lexus Lanes

It is going to so nice to no longer have to drive with the hoi polloi: “Exclusive: Toll lanes on I-4 appear likely“.

Bushco in Business

“The watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, is asking the federal investigators to look at why No Child Left Behind Act money is being spent on educational products sold by Ignite! Learning, a company founded and headed by Neil Bush, President Bush’s younger brother.  CREW - which the GOP accuses of targeting Republicans - said its research shows that the company's products do not meet Congressional standards. It said a 3-month investigation has found that school districts - including some in Florida - are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the company's curriculum.”  “Crew: Investigate Neil Bush“.

Wingnuts ask: “Say it's not so Charlie”

“The Florida Family Association is asking its members to e-mail and contact Gov. Charlie Crist and ask whether he devoted time on the sixth anniversary of Sept. 11 to talk to activists about offering “special legal status to transvestites in public schools.”  In a release that says “Say it's not so Charlie,” David Caton of the group quotes a e-mail from Equality Florida members that Crist has promised to back the “anti-bullying” bill that has come up the last several years in the Legislature. They quote Crist as saying 'I'm with you, I'm with you.'”  “Did Crist promise to help transvestites?“

What Next Editors, Lump Sum Bonuses?

This is no surprise: the Sun-Sentinel editors don't like “step pay” systems which reward seniority:

The big raises come for the teachers who reach Step 20 — a $9,327 raise over the previous year. If they stay another year, they get another $7,387 raise, to $70,000. Plus, the public is left to wonder if the large increases for teachers nearing retirement sets up higher pension liabilities in the future.

Teachers in the middle years get much less. At a time when teachers are gaining experience and becoming effective, everyone — particularly the union — should be working for a contract that will make it more attractive for teachers to stay, rather than backloading the raises mainly on those who have been here 20 years.

The step system also has the unfortunate result of pitting one group of teachers against another. This time around, it unfairly forced long-serving, experienced educators to defend why they were entitled to raises much higher than those for newer teachers.

School officials should drop the step system, and just negotiate fair percentage raises across the board. That's something that should be part of any future contract discussions. The school district's pay system should be more equitable for all teachers. Otherwise, you can bet more good teachers will start looking north.

“Teacher pay should be fairer across the board“.

“Pouring too much pollution into Everglades”

“Everglades-choking pollution that flows off sugar cane and other agricultural fields decreased this year, but not by as much as required. … This was the first time in 11 years that the region failed to meet the 25 percent standard, according to the district.”  “Farms pouring too much pollution into Everglades, report says“.

Whoopee

“State regulators plan to deny eight property insurance rate filings submitted by subsidiaries of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said Wednesday.”  “State to deny Hartford rate increases“.  See also “State denies insurer's rate increases“.

Early Show

“Curious to know what secret projects Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is angling to get in the federal budget? The Miami Republican posted them on her website. The same goes for Weston Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  The two lawmakers are among just a handful in Congress who have pulled back the secrecy surrounding their attempts to secure federal funds for local projects ahead of a new ethics bill requiring that requests be revealed. The bill is now awaiting President Bush's expected signature.” 

Ros-Lehtinen and Wasserman Schultz each pushed earmarks for companies that contributed to their campaigns; they said the requests were unrelated to the contributions …

Ros-Lehtinen asked for $4.5 million in the defense-department budget for STIDD Systems, a New York company that supplies the military with dive-related equipment. Campaign-finance reports show the company's chief executive officer, Walter Gezari, gave Ros-Lehtinen's campaign $2,500 in March.

Ros-Lehtinen said she would have supported the program ''regardless of any campaign contribution.'' She said the company's training facility is in Marathon and produces local jobs.

Wasserman Schultz's requests included $3 million for DME Corp., an aviation and defense product company based in Florida. Campaign-finance reports show DME president, Luis Mola, contributed $4,000 to Wasserman Schultz's campaign this year, but a spokesman for Wasserman Schultz said it was unrelated to the request, which wasn't funded.

“Pet projects coming out of hiding“.

A Hillsborough Thing

The GOPers claim to have the NASCAR vote, and are now going after the lowbrow professional wrestling crowd (not to be confused with the real sport of amateur wrestling).  Hillsborough County Commissioner, wingnut “conservative” and former professional wrestler, Brian Blair, was elected with “support from key Republican party stalwarts.”  “Commissioner Takes His Job To The Mat“.  Rhonda Storms, we never thought we'd miss 'ya.

Pell Grants

“As Florida's public universities face budget cuts and tightened freshmen enrollment, administrators at the state's private colleges and universities are relishing the first federal large-scale infusion of financial aid approved by Congress.”  “Pell financial aid boosts private schools“.

Hillbilly Heroin Junkie Calls Floridians “Delusional”

Hillbilly heroin addict, Drug-Rush

Limbaugh said [Congressman] Wexler “is talking to the relatively few number of people in his district down here and making it sound like he’s representing the United States of America. If you want to know how kooky they are, you ought to pick up any South Florida paper …. Just go to the letters to the editor, and you will swear you’re at Daily Kos! You will swear you’re at the Democrat Underground. You will swear you’re at MoveOn.org. They are deranged — and, yes, they are listening to me right now. You people down here, you are deranged. You Democrats down here are absolutely delusional, devoid of any rationality or reason.”

“Wexler to Limbaugh: apologize for insulting South Floridians“.  See also “Wexler to Limbaugh: An apology to South Florida's deranged lunatics is in order”.

All Things to All People

“Crist is playing it safe, touching every base—he’ll pay tribune to a leading evangelical Protestant in Coral Ridge, and celebrate Rosh Hashanah with a liberal legislator, both Wednesday.”  “Crist Hedges Religious Bets“.

I Believe That's Called Lying

“John Thrasher, a former state House speaker and now a lobbyist who represents real estate development interests, has sent out a mass mailing suggesting the growth-limiting Hometown Democracy amendment is actually intended to benefit 'big developers' and calling voters 'special interests.'”  “”.

Manatees

“Manatee advocates and Gov. Charlie Crist applauded a decision Wednesday by state wildlife commissioners to delay downgrading the status of the animal from endangered to threatened.”  “State wildlife commission delays manatee downlisting vote“.  See also “Manatee protection status kept at highest“.

The Miami Herald editors: “Florida's endangered manatees got a little help from high places this week when Gov. Charlie Crist took up their cause. Citing the record number of manatee deaths — 417 — in 2006, the governor asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) to postpone a scheduled vote Wednesday on downlisting manatees' status to threatened from endangered. Gov. Crist, who recently appointed three new FWCC members, said the vote would be premature until those members become familiar with the issues, including the manatees' status.”  “Manatee reprieve should be permanent“.  See also “Happy manatees“.

Wouldn't Want to Blame the “Outside Contractor”

“A major Everglades restoration project is stalled because of shoddy work managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a reservoir that could threaten an interstate and nearby communities if levee walls were to fail, state officials said Wednesday.  While the corps hired an outside contractor to do the work, the agency 'was ultimately responsible,' said George Horne, deputy executive director of the South Florida Water Management District.”  “Army Corps' shoddy work cited in major Everglades project“.

Hsu

“Florida Democrats were among the recipients of money from businessman Norman Hsu, whose sketchy background has triggered one of the largest givebacks of political money ever.”

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson received $2,500 from Hsu in December 2005 — a year before his successful re-election campaign — and also got $5,000 from associates of Hsu. The Florida Democratic Party received $5,000 in 2004. …

Florida Democratic Party spokesman Mark Bubriski said the $5,000 from Hsu already has been spent and will not be returned.

“Florida's Democrats received money from tainted fundraiser“.

No “bribery, extortion or self-dealing”

WPB “Mayor Lois Frankel said Wednesday that she has fought for seven months to keep parts of a grand jury report secret to protect a former employee from 'disparagement.'  The mayor, who did not identify the former employee, would not answer directly whether that section of the report cast Frankel in an unfavorable light. But she said in a hastily called news conference that after her legal battle was revealed to The Palm Beach Post through a court clerk's error, she wanted to dismiss speculation that she was hiding any grand jury allegations of bribery, extortion or self-dealing.”  “Frankel says secrecy request was to shield former employee, not hide any allegations“.

I Knew Lawton Chiles, And You …

Jac Wilder VerSteeg” “Lawton Chiles, who never lost an election, limited the clout of special interests by limiting donations. The best to be hoped for now, it seems, is that candidates get so much money from so many sources that they couldn't possibly pay them all back with political favors.”  “Hillary, you're no Lawton Chiles“.

“Dangerously optimistic”?

The Tampa Trib editorial board: “Crist wants to 're-fire' the state's cooling economy by spending down state reserves and trust funds.  It's a dangerously optimistic plan, given the small amount of money at his command and the weakness of the national economy.  If Crist is right and home sales and sales tax collections rebound in the spring, his gamble would pay off. If he's wrong, he would put the state in a deeper financial hole just as a new round of property-tax cuts threaten to take a bigger bite out of state and local revenue. “  “Blowing Savings Risky Way For Florida To Balance Budget“.

DCF Case Crumbling

The state's effort to curry favor with the Cuban community seems to be crumbling: “A judge on Wednesday dealt another blow to the state's case against a Cuban father seeking to regain custody of his young daughter - dismissing several charges against the man.”

But Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jeri B. Cohen stopped short of the father's request to throw out the entire case. The Florida Department of Children & Families wants the judge to declare Izquierdo an unfit father and allow the 5-year-old girl to remain with her foster parents.

Cohen dismissed charges that Cuban farmer Rafael Izquierdo should have sent money from Cuba to the girl's mother in the U.S. She also dismissed allegations that he should have known the mother beat the girl and her half brother and that the mother would have a breakdown months after coming to Florida. …

Earlier in the case Cohen dismissed charges that claimed taking the girl from her foster family could potential endanger her because of the bond she formed with them.

“Judge deals blow to state's custody case against Cuban father“.

Secrets

“He has a highly public job, wears a tie to work.  He is an elected politician, so he wields some power and enjoys some measure of respect.  He does this for years and years.  Maybe people hear rumors about him, a whisper of hidden secrets. But nothing seems to stick, not until his world finally comes crashing down around him.”

Now we have something even more sinister — allegations that John Bryan, a St. Petersburg City Council member, advocate for the foster care system and family man, sexually abused at least one of his adopted daughters.

Bryan resigned Friday after the allegations came to light. Then he took his own life.

If the allegations turn out to be true, a question will resonate in the aftermath.

How? How does a person who leads such a public life keep something like this hidden?

“Only the secrets are new“.

“It ain't over till it's over”

“When it comes to the demise of the state's no-fault automobile insurance system,apparently it ain't over till it's over.  With the looming Oct. 1 sunset of “PIP” laws mandating drivers carry $10,000 auto injury coverage (which covers medical expenses no matter who caused a crash), a flurry of last-minute, behind-the-scenes salvage efforts are under way.”  “Legislators scramble to save PIP“.