Florida Politics Since 2002A digest and review of Florida political news and punditry, together with consolidated feeds to Florida's netroots and media "blogs".
Our digest and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.
Likely cuts to health, public safety and education
"State lawmakers arrive at the Capitol today for a two-week special session to close a $2.3 billion gap in the state budget."
Among the options they plan to use: raiding state reserves, boosting fees for court-related services and cutting spending by roughly $1 billion.
That's about double the amount that Gov. Charlie Crist had proposed trimming. The cuts now expected may trigger layoffs and will likely cut into health, public safety and education.
"It's a part of the outline Crist put out to make up a $2.3 billion gap in state revenues."
Crist proposes reducing nearly $100 million from budgeted education spending, half from state universities and half from K-12, workforce training and community colleges. Workforce education programs would take an $8.4 million cut, according to the governor's plan.
We don' need no stinkin' single payor commie stuff ....
"The pair have admitted in court that their company, The Pharmed Group, used former employees at Kendall Regional Medical Center to place millions of dollars in fake medical supply orders. The brothers have asked that their prison terms be limited to four years or less, because they took a plea deal and because of their charitable and civic contributions." "Brothers in Miami fraud case to be sentenced".
No way to run a state
"Eight Florida school districts -- including Miami-Dade -- are being monitored by the state Department of Education because their reserves are dangerously low. All the districts have less than 2.5 percent of their operating budgets set aside in rainy-day accounts. And one of the counties, the tiny Taylor school district in northwest Florida, is actually working in the red, despite laying off employees and enacting other cost-saving measures. " "Miami-Dade schools' finances draw state scrutiny".
Sansom hubris watch
The Orlando Sentinel editorial board calls the kettle black, beginning an editorial today with this: "Who doesn't like a lapdog?"
They then join the Sansom fray (better late than never): "It was bad enough that someone in Mr. Sansom's position got such a job, an increasingly common perk for legislators whose votes provide the lifeblood to Florida's public colleges and universities. Conveniently for the speaker, his new employer didn't open the job to other candidates."
"It's a new year, with a new president, but there's probably not going to be a new title for Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. Diaz, who has been mentioned for weeks as a possible appointment in the incoming Barack Obama administration, now seems unlikely to head to Washington. ... Diaz, meanwhile, has stayed relatively mum on the topic lately, saying last week that he is focused on his current job as mayor. He still has just under a year left in his second term but will not be able to seek reelection because of term limits." "Miami Mayor Manny Diaz a long short for Obama job".
Florida Sen. Ronda Storms represents district 10, which includes eastern Hillsborough and parts of Pasco and Polk counties defends her proposal "for abandoning the Dewey Decimal System (DDS)". "Library Savings Small Part Of Sen. Storms' Agenda".
Good luck
The Daytona Beach News Journal editors argue that Legislators ought to consider rolling back Jebbie's "foolish giveaways" and plug sales tax loopholes:
When times were flush, former Gov. Jeb Bush insisted on a series of taxpayer-funded boons to wealthy investors and companies in the form of a reduction to the state's intangibles tax. It's time to take back that lavish present. At one point, the intangibles tax cut siphoned more than $1 billion from the annual budget; a repeal could still contribute several hundred million dollars to the state's bottom line. ...
The state sales tax is riddled with exemptions, many of which never made much sense -- what's the point of sparing owners of luxury sports-arena skyboxes sales tax, when those buying ordinary seats are required to pay?
"The Legislature's special session convenes today with critical budget shortfalls to resolve — even as it provides the first on-the-job training and dry run for freshmen members who are just barely settling into their offices." "Our Opinion: Citizens welcome as legislators start to work".
"The excitement is building for football fans in Florida. On Thursday, the college championship is on the line in the BCS title game as Oklahoma takes on the Gainesville branch of Northwest Florida State College."
What? You thought Oklahoma will be playing the University of Florida Gators? That's technically true. But today the Legislature convenes a special session to deal with a $2.3 billion budget gap. So there is time - as well as an incentive - to rechristen Florida's flagship research university as a satellite campus of Northwest Florida State College, which is in Niceville.
The Tampa Trib editors think they can purchase ethics: "The present salary of $31,932 needs to be substantially increased. Even if it were $100,000, which we think is more than necessary, the raise would bump the costs of base pay from about $5.1 million to $16 million a year for the 160 lawmakers. Considering how many millions are directed to questionable projects and special interests, even generous pay would be a good public investment if it reduced ill-advised spending."
The editors write that, under the current model,
the main loyalty of many lawmakers appears to be to some other employer.
Even as the Legislature convenes in special session Monday to realign spending with falling revenues, the spotlight has been on the controversy over House Speaker Ray Sansom, who is a good example of what's going wrong. Sansom secured millions of extra dollars for Northwest Florida State College, then took an unadvertised job at the same college that pays him $110,000 a year. Now he's using his influence in Tallahassee to try to get millions more for the school.
Under state law, the situation could be just fine. Only if he had a clear understanding that the job was a direct payoff for certain votes in the Legislature would he be in ethical hot water.
In Florida, being employed by someone whose business or agency is affected by laws you might pass is not prohibited. It's not even considered an official conflict of interest. The low pay actually encourages outside employment.
The Orlando Sentinel editorial board, starts today by calling the kettle black, asking "Who doesn't like a lapdog?"
They write: "It was bad enough that someone in Mr. Sansom's position got such a job, an increasingly common perk for legislators whose votes provide the lifeblood to Florida's public colleges and universities. Conveniently for the speaker, his new employer didn't open the job to other candidates."
Actually, saying the Sansom thing sounds like "the kind of political sleaze you'd expect from Illinois" is a bit off. You see, the Sansom revelations are precisely the kind of political sleaze you'd expect from Florida.
Didn't those geniuses on the editorial board read the latest U.S. Department of Justice numbers? The The St. Petersburg Times had this the other day:
"Tired of seeing Florida constantly at the bottom of national rankings? Take heart. The Department of Justice says we're No. 1 in one category: corruption."
Compiling federal corruption convictions over the past decade, Florida topped every other state with 824 convictions of local, state and federal officials — even Rod Blagojevich's Illinois and even Louisiana, where politicians are said to be so crooked they are screwed into the ground at burial.
The editors owe Illinois an apology for suggesting that Illinois was somehow sleazier than Illinois.
And, they owe Floridians an apology for impersonating journalists - licking their lapdog chops over a Jebbie or Charlie run for preznit - while the state has descended into a cesspool of corruption over the last decade.
"Former President George H.W. Bush said on Sunday he'd like to see his second son, Jeb, become President of the United States some day. Interviewed on Fox News Sunday, Bush said his second son, a former Governor of Florida, had all the qualifications to serve in the White House." "Bush would like to see Jeb as president".
"Bush 41: Jeb Bush for President" - "The first President Bush said he would like to see his other son, Jeb, become president one day, but if now's not the time he'd be an "outstanding senator."
To which we say - "bring it on" ... better to get it over with sooner than later.
Start your web-day with the Florida Progressive Coalition. If you want it, we've got today's "FloBama". Our digest and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.
Many Floridians, and certainly state employees, face painful cuts in a session called specifically to deal with lower than expected revenues. Florida law requires the state live within its means and lawmakers are required to have a balanced budget.
"Their work will also be clouded by the ethical furor surrounding House Speaker Ray Sansom, who took a six-figure job at a college in his Panhandle district where he delivered more than $25 million in last year's budget. The school got much more money than even much larger ones."
"The deepening recession is also increasing demand for Medicaid, unemployment benefits and food stamps, which one in 10 Floridians already receive."
The Miami Herald editorial board: "Florida must review and adjust its tax policies to fit economic reality. Lawmakers must find ways to add to Florida's revenue sources. Doing anything less guarantees that our state always will be on the wrong side of every economic downturn." "When economy trips, Florida falls hard".
But the Special Session is just the beginning: "Balancing this year's budget will be hard enough during the special session. But when lawmakers meet again in March and April for the 2009 regular session, they will face even bigger headaches."
As they negotiate a fiscal 2009-10 budget, lawmakers could face a budget hole of roughly $4 billion to $6 billion.
Also, the economic troubles could hit next year's budget in ways that go beyond general revenues.
For instance, local property taxes make up part of the state's complex formula for funding schools. But with property values declining, the state could see a hole of about $450 million next year if a key property tax rate remains the same.
Also, the state has reduced projections for fuel taxes, lottery collections and utility-related taxes. Those sources of money are used for specific purposes, such as road construction, Bright Futures scholarships and college building projects.
And, in the what've you been smoking category: The Tallahassee Democrat: "On the eve of an emergency session called to deal with Florida's $2.3 billion sea of red ink, an issue that has long divided the Legislature is boiling to the top."
The conservative Republicans* in charge are sticking to their no-new-taxes pledge, but a growing number of critics [as opposed to RPOFers of any stripe], some from surprising corners, are arguing that cutting alone will no longer do.
Pray tell, what are these "surprising corners? Well, other than a Wal-mart lobbyist (ironically, the company that wants the government to pay its employees health care costs), the otherwise interesting piece is disappointingly short on the promised "surprising corners".
- - - - - - - - - - *Note to alleged journalist, it ain't just the "conservative" Republicans who are sticking to the brain dead no new taxes pledge, they all are - there are no RPOFers at all in the Legislature who are standing up for serious revenue increases (save some oblique blathering from the red corner about poor man sin taxes, and increasing "fees" here and there).
Even the latest Republican Florida's Traditional Media Loves to Love and Love Hard All Day Long (a "RFTMLLLHADL"), one Chain-Gang-Charlie Crist, whom we are repeatedly told is some sort of a "moderate" (apparently because someone told him he needed a 'Glades rep), "is unlikely to join his Republican counterpart from California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in proposing any combination that would include new taxes."
Times uncovers source of all evil
The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Lawmakers should look everywhere for cost savings — including curbing their own pension largesse. They should be too ashamed to keep feathering their own nest. " "Stop double-dippers".
Outa here
"William Frey, a demographer with the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., said the numbers may foreshadow what the 2010 Census will find, particularly because evidence already shows Florida has lost population to the rest of the United States. 'When you see Florida having a net out-migration to the rest of the country, you know something's wrong,' he said. 'I would go with the bleaker numbers.'" "Exodus from South Florida increasing".
Whoopee!
"Starting today, people in the Sunshine State will be eligible to play Powerball, a multi-state lottery with enormous jackpots." "Powerball comes to Florida".
Just another Tax-and- spend governor
The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The district has a realistic option to raise more money so it can keep up with its core needs and buy the land. It's called a tax increase. But Gov. Crist, who has engineered the land deal, doesn't want to be tagged as a tax-and-spend governor. Still, the district's current tax rate, at 62 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, has room to rise. An increase to just 80 cents, which the district can do without legislative approval, would add $36 to the tax bill on a $200,000 home and raise about $150 million." "Many risks still could sour deal to purchase U.S. Sugar".
Charlie receives Nobel Prize for Courage ...
from The St. Petersburg Times editorial board for his supposed "willingness to stand up to pressure from within his own party and independently reach his own conclusions." "
"Under the proposed legislation, local governments would have the option to waive the fees for affordable housing. If they choose to waive them, the governments would not be forced to build the roads immediately." "End fees for affordable homes, Palm Beach County group urges".
Wouldn't want to anything bad about Saint "Jeb!" ...
... now would we. Florida's newpaper media - cowering in fear of losing their jobs in the next layoff, and never wanting to offend a national political figure and potential candidate - is hard at work preserving Jebbie's reputation these days.
Credit Aaron Deslatte for even mentioning that there are some out there who think Jebbie was something other than superman, writes this morning that "Bush could be blitzed for encouraging Florida's flurry of home overconstruction earlier this decade while he was governor and eroding the state's revenue base with $19 billion in tax cuts that mostly benefited the wealthy. Too much blind faith in the profit-driven motives of free markets, the Dems will say."
Of course, Florida's traditional media (with few exceptions) gave Jebbie a pass for 8 solid years, repeating garbage like this:
Bush used to relish refuting the policy arguments Democrats hurled his way. Which might be why Florida's ruling Republicans need him so badly now.
Bush used to relish refuting the policy arguments Democrats hurled his way.
The only people Jebbie "relish[ed] refuting" policy arguments to were third tier journalists five minutes out of college who didn't have the cojones to ask obvious follow up questions ... you know, questions like:
Your Majesty ...
... please do not be upset with me and bar me from asking you or your flacks further questions, and please don't get mad and call my bosses and get me disciplined, and when you run for President (which I dearly want you to do since it will help get me get a job with a newspaper somewhere else) please don't kick me outa the real reporter press bus, and finally, you know, please don't subject poor, pitiful me to the legendary retaliation of Jebco for perceived disloyalty from media retainers ...
... but may I crawl up on your lap and ask you this teensy little thingy ...
... if, you know, Florida eliminates the intangibles tax, and because Florida's economy is largely based on sales taxes and revenues from tourism and agriculture, which is not enough to sustain the state in hard times, how will we pay for basic services provided by state government during hard times?
... sorry for asking ... can I clean your pool now ... or would you rather I spent my time not covering that police report*, and how your son mysteriously avoided arrest for ... well you know?
Too bad Florida's alleged political journalists didn't ask questions like that - note: in many cases it no doubt was the fault of their journalists' owners, not the journalists themselves, that these issues were never raised or reported (although a real journalist would have quit in those circumstances).
- - - - - - - - - - *"The police report was leaked to the major newspapers of Florida. None went with the story."
What police report? Why, this one: during the 2000 mess - and this is from David Corn - "Jeb!"'s "son John (aka "Jebby") had been busted by the police a month earlier for having had sex with a bare-to-the-waist 17-year-old girl in a Jeep Cherokee parked at a Tallahassee shopping mall."
Two security officers had come upon the scene — the action was occurring at 10:00 pm — and they called in the police.
The issue was not that George W. Bush’s nephew was engaged in truly a youthful indiscretion. But according to Artie Brown, one of the two security guards, Jebby spoke to his father-the-governor and then said, "My dad will fix it." And maybe Jeb Bush did. Jebby was never charged. There was a police report filed that noted that the cops had investigated a possible crime of "sexual misconduct." But Sergeant Oscar Brannon, who filed the report, said charges were not pursued because the lustful couple had not been in public view. Brown, though, contradicted that assessment. And in his report, Brannon did note that shortly after he arrived at the parking lot, "I became aware of the political ties" of the male suspect.
The important question is, did Governor Jeb Bush use his clout to protect a son caught not acting in accordance with Republican family values? This is not an insignificant query, for had Big Jeb intervened in any manner it would be an abuse of office.
The police report was leaked to the major newspapers of Florida. None went with the story. So on the final weekend of the campaign — when George W. was working the Sunshine State hard — the only mention of this potential trouble appeared across the Atlantic.
Oh, the story did get a bit of coverage elsewhere: See "A Bush in the Hand".
The normally sober Mary Ann Lindley writes that one "Jim Smith",
remains a calm, reasoned, honorable thinker and lobbyist — amazingly modest despite having the clout to win, hold and succeed in two statewide Cabinet offices.
Surely she's not talking about this* world class liar. That Ms. Lindley could use the words "Jim Smith" and "honorable" in the same sentence is, to say the least, tuff to take, and exposes .
- - - - - - - - - - *Recall the "honorable" Mr. Smith's statewide dishonorable behavior when he ran in the Dem primary against one Steve Pajcic two decades ago. Pajcic was a kid from Jax who went to Princeton, where he played basketball and managed to graduate magna cum laude, after which he attended Harvard Law School and graduated with honors. Not bad for a public school kid who attended inner-city schools in Jacksonville.
In 1974, Pajcic was elected to the first of six terms to the Florida House of Representatives, where he showed particular interest in educational issues and actually worked on crazy things like farmworker rights.
In 1986 he ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida. In the primary election Pajcic slightly led the second-place finisher, state Attorney General Jim Smith; but, as neither had received 50%, per Florida law, a runoff primary was held. During the brief campaign before the run-off, Smith's rhetoric was seen by many as unprecedented in its vitriol for an intraparty contest.
If Smith's vitriolic rhetoric weren't enough to forever deprive Smith of beening mentioned in the same sentence as words like "calm", reasoned", "honorable" or even "thinker", dishonored himself forever when,
in a televised debate, the candidates were asked if, should they fail to win the nomination, would they endorse their runoff opponent in the general election against the Republican nominee. Both Smith and Pajcic answered in the affirmative. However, when Pajcic emerged victorious, Smith evaded the issue of an endorsement for several days [something about riding his tractor around his panhandle farm].
"Eventually, Smith came out and openly endorsed the Republican candidate, Tampa mayor Bob Martinez. This split in Democratic ranks was a major contributor to the election of Martinez as only the second Republican governor in Florida history, as even Martinez himself acknowledged in later years."
Smith has since cashed in on his "dishonor" as a "lobbyist"; and RPOFers in the Legislature have been paying him back (via access purchased and sold in the form of "lobbying") ever since.
- - - - - - - - - -
When alleged journalists like Lindley describe people like Jim Smith as an individual who "remains a calm, reasoned, honorable thinker", we see what is wrong with the traditional media.
Lindley and Smith may very well know and like each other, shared cocktails at the Governors Club, and so on; and that is all well and good - but to characterize a man like this, with this record, as a someone who has "remain[ed] a calm, reasoned, honorable thinker" is, well ... dishonorable on her part, and on the part of the Tallahassee Democrat.
Start your web-day with the Florida Progressive Coalition. If you want it, we've got today's "FloBama". Our digest and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.
Labarga steps over Frankie's body
"Crist appointed Jorge Labarga to the Florida Supreme Court today, passing over disputed finalist [and right-wing Jebbite] Frank Jimenez." "Crist names Supreme Court judge".
The Palm Beach judge represents the second Cuban American to serve on the high court."
Crist, who twice bypassed Labarga as a finalist for the state's highest court, appointed the 56-year-old Palm Beach County circuit judge. Less than two weeks ago, Crist appointed Labarga to a vacancy on the Fourth District Court of Appeal.
And then there's this:
Labarga was one of a handful of Florida judges who handled various legal challenges during the 2000 presidential recount. His decisions include a ruling that it was up to the Palm Beach County canvassing board to decide what constituted a vote under the old punch-card system, and his dismissal of a Democratic lawsuit that sought a ''re-vote'' to determine who won the presidency.
In 2007, Labarga made remarks from the bench that raised questions about his judicial temperament.
''When you pick a fight with a judge, ultimately, you are going to lose,'' he said. ``Not today, but five years from now, 10 years from now, six years from now. That judge is going to remember you always, always.''
To his credit, Charlie really kicked the Jebbites in the teeth on this one. The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Crist was under considerable public and private pressure to appoint Jimenez. A group of lawyers, including a number of influential lobbyists and Bush supporters, defended the flawed JNC process. Cantero, a Bush appointee, attempted to turn the debate into one about ethnicity in a column in the St. Petersburg Times by questioning why this editorial page once raised issues about his background and now about Jimenez's record. In fact, the Times' has consistently been a strong advocate for diversity in the judiciary in general and on the Supreme Court in particular. The issue here has been the politicizing of the nominating process to favor one well-connected finalist under the guise of broader diversity." "Right pick for court".
Budget blues
"Lawmakers in both chambers now anticipate cutting recurring costs by roughly $1 billion. That likely means cutting into health, education and public safety and other vital services, which could trigger layoffs and jeopardize the welfare of some of Florida's neediest residents." The Tampa Trib's Catherine Dolinski tells us what else is on the menu:
• Raising Fees.
• "Streamlining And Flexibility" [sic] Of Education Programs And Funding.
• Sweeping Trust Funds And Other Reserves.
The RPOFers can's bring themselves to deal with tuff things like ...
• Cigarette Tax Hike. Democrats were calling for a $1-per-pack tax increase on cigarettes, which could raise $700 million. GOP leaders explicitly axed this idea, noting that they won't consider raising "sin taxes" on other tobacco products or alcoholic drinks, either. Crist opposes increasing any tax ... .
• Seminoles Gambling Compact. Gov. Charlie Crist had proposed using $135 million of the state's share from expanded gaming by the Seminole Indian Tribe. The Seminoles continue to offer expanded games - and pay the state a share of the proceeds - per the terms of a compact that the state Supreme Court voided last summer. Crist had hoped that he and lawmakers might approve a new deal between the state and the tribe as early as this month. But lawmakers, who are less bullish on the compact, say it's too soon to tackle the issue. Crist expects it to be taken up during the regularly scheduled legislative session in March.
Other stuff:
• Low-Interest Loans For Small Businesses.
• Borrowing Instead Of Buying. Crist also wants to borrow $300 million for prison construction instead of paying cash. Lawmakers' itinerary for the special session does not rule this out, though it does not explicitly name it as an option.
"State law enforcement should investigate Sansom's actions"
The Miami Heraldeditors: "The ethical and legal clouds hanging over Speaker of the House Ray Sansom, R-Destin, loom larger as next week's special session of the Legislature approaches. Since we last touched on the speaker's tangled relationship with a community college in his district, a series of disclosures has raised new questions about the propriety of his actions. Now, the speaker has been obliged to hire an attorney to defend himself."
And then there's the thin red - er pink? - line: "As bothersome as are these actions, so, too, is the silence of Republicans in the Legislature. Are they embarrassed? Afraid to speak out? Or do they think Mr. Sansom's actions are justified -- a form of RHIP (rank has its privileges)?" "Florida House speaker leads by bad example".
Welcome to Florida
"One of the passengers said the confusion started at Reagan National Airport just outside Washington, D.C., when he talked about the safest place to sit on an airplane. Orlando, Fla.-based AirTran said in a statement that it refunded the passengers' air fare and planned to reimburse them for replacement tickets they bought on US Airways." "9 Muslims removed from flight get AirTran apology".
"Mosque leaders say three dozen bullets were sprayed across the outside of the Islamic School of Miami sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday. Windows were shattered and bullet holes plastered portions of the building, including its dome." "Police investigate shooting on exterior of mosque".
Why do RPOFers hate higher education (books and all that)?
The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "But if the Florida Legislature doesn't begin investing in, rather than deleting, the assets of our higher education systems, it risks losing this incoming revenue and all of its potential. Florida is already allowing our universities to be outbid and outdone by other states. We're losing valuable researchers and academic stars who take their grant money with them and, often, impressive students and graduate students, too. Reputations of departments decline with this exodus, and it takes years to rebuild an academic reputation." "Losing university grants is a double loss".
The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Crist is recommending a 2.1''percent cut to the university system, or $51 million. That's smaller than the $97''million, which represents the 4 percent holdback announced in June, that could be implemented. But we believe it should be zero percent. Faculty and staff at Florida's 11 public universities, who teach and serve 300,000 students, have not had raises in two years. Several have left the state for jobs willing to pay more. Among them are research professors who take not only their expertise and experience, but their federal and private grant money with them." "Cut Florida's universities, and the whole state bleeds".
Back at the ranch: "The new year could bring some new cuts for the state universities as the financial crisis cuts endowments and dampens prospects for raising money -- even as state support dwindles." "University endowments down".
Oil nuts
"Volusia County may be far from the oil fields of Texas, but that's not stopping one local family from searching for black gold deep underground. ... In Florida, the Fords -- who have mined and drilled from Mexico to Kentucky -- are not alone. While offshore drilling grabs headlines, some prospectors have been quietly looking to expand Florida's existing onshore oil industry." "Drill, Volusia, drill? Family revives its quest for oil".
A local thing
The Miami Heraldeditors: "It is unhappily ironic that the people who have the biggest effect on property owners often are elected by the fewest number of votes. Traditionally, municipal-election turnouts seldom top 15 percent of eligible voters, and more often hover around 10 percent. Yet mayors and city commissioners have a lot of power over the daily lives of constituents. They decide property-tax rates, spending priorities and planning and zoning choices that, literally, can affect your backyard."
Dude liked the ladies
"A high-ranking Martin County official will be suspended for three days without pay for not disclosing that she was having an affair with U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, county officials said Friday." "Martin official to be suspended over affair with Mahoney".
Gross
"The organizers of two unofficial Florida inaugural parties in the nation's capital that will feature appearances by top state politicians are relying on big donations from corporations and lobbyists to help put on their events."
However, some government-watchdog groups question the use of corporate and lobbyist money to help pay for such inaugural bashes.
"This is really little more than an extension of the lobbying activities on Capitol Hill and at state capitols," said Craig Holman of Public Citizen. "It's another chance for special interests to curry favor and rub shoulders with federal and state officials."
And the RPOFers are up to their necks in it:
For instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield is donating $50,000 to an unofficial Jan. 19 "Sunshine and Stars 2009 Florida Inauguration Ball" at the prestigious Corcoran Gallery of Art, a sold-out, black-tie event that organizers hope will feature an appearance by Republican Gov. Charlie Crist.
Other corporate donors to the same event, according to a list voluntarily provided by organizers, include: CSX, Florida Power & Light, Progress Energy Inc., the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Medco, Southern Company, the United Space Alliance and the Florida Association of Realtors.
In all, as many as 600 elected officials, lobbyists and others are expected to schmooze and celebrate at this unofficial gathering. Tickets ranged from $250 to $500, based on a desire to attend the entire reception, dinner, dance and dessert, or just the dance and dessert.
Another
$200-a-ticket optional black-tie "Friends of Florida" reception is being billed as a way "to honor the Florida congressional delegation."
It is a latest rendition of an inaugural event originally begun by congressional spouses. Under a bill passed in 2007, federal lawmakers are prevented from attending parties at national conventions in their honor, but that law does not include inaugural-related events.
Topping the list of corporation donations to the reception so far is $25,000 from Lockheed Martin Corp., according to event organizers.
Others contributors include Boeing Co.; Oracle Corp.; Barbara Schmidt; 21st Century Oncology; AT&T; the Gulf Power Foundation; and MWW Group.
"Remarkably, the state that for years boasted of gaining 1,000 new residents a day had a lower growth rate last year than the national average of 0.9 percent. ... The state expects growth to slow even more this year, before slowly rebounding in 2010 and 2011. Florida has long depended on growth as the engine of its economy. The fact that fewer people moving here has paralyzed the construction industry and retailing." "State's growth nearly nil".
"W Still The President"
"Orange County's hotel-tax collections plunged more than 13 percent in November as a widening global recession choked off travel to Orlando. The $12.1 million generated by the county's tax on hotel rooms was nearly $2 million less than it produced in November 2006. It was the sixth straight month that tax collections have contracted and the deepest drop since the slump began." "Sentinel: Orlando area's tax revenue shrinks as tourists stay away".
Cuba
The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The Obama administration should seek human rights and economic reforms in exchange for easing the embargo. But the negotiations have to be practical; the Bush administration wanted immediate, near-total reforms." "50 years of failure in Cuba".
You should start your web-day with the Florida Progressive Coalition. Our digest and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.
Flori-duh
"As the Republican governor reaches the halfway point of his four-year term Saturday,
the state unemployment rate is 7.3 percent, doubling in the past 16 months; 63 percent more homes are in foreclosure than when he was sworn in; and the percentage of Florida's children without health insurance is twice the national average.
In 2008, Crist urged state water managers to overpay for 180,000 acres in the Everglades amid one of the worst real estate markets in memory, his 12-day European trade mission blew its budget by 70 percent, and his choice for president became just the third Republican to lose Florida since 1968.
But we love our Charlie here in Florida, yes we do ...
"And if Charlie Crist was running for reelection today, he would crush anybody," former state Senate Democratic Leader Steven Geller said.
Despite a list of economic and political indicators that could spell doom for many elected officials, Crist's approval rating was pegged at a stratospheric 74 percent on Dec. 10, according to a Rasmussen Reports.
"It's hard for me to be more pleased, given the economic challenges we have, how well things have gone. And I think I know why," Crist said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post. "Around here, we don't care what somebody's party affiliation is."
As the Florida economy has worsened, Crist has increasingly reminded voters about his bipartisanship. His staff often attempts to draw parallels between Democratic President-elect Obama's campaign against "politics as usual" and Crist's history of welcoming would-be opponents and critics onto his stage.
"The suit claims Crist, who was attorney general from 2002 to 2006, was slow to investigate Pearlman's investment schemes because the governor received $12,000 in campaign contributions from Pearlman." "Investors sue Crist, say Pearlman probe was slow".
This after Charlie had tried to circumvent the process, thereby allowing him slip a wingnut Jeb-bot into the mix, one Frank Jimenez; Charlie almost pulled it off, and the compliant "JNC grudgingly complied, voting 5-4 in a tense phone call to re-open its process and adding former Jeb Bush general counsel Frank Jimenez to the list." "Gov. Charlie Crist names Cuban-American circuit judge to Florida Supreme Court".
Our little secret
"As the Legislature prepares to convene Monday for a special session, both minority party members and newcomers are more or less excluded from the process of closing a $2.3 billion budget gap. The crucial decisions are being made by a handful of leaders and information will be presented to the masses, that is, the full Legislature, when the leadership is good and ready." "Our Opinion: ... lawmakers enjoy cloud cover".
Never mind the pesticide drift
"Doubts and bad feelings linger in this once-tight community."
There are people like Sarah Barker, a five-year resident who lives across the street from the elementary school and next door to a cabbage farm. She allowed the students and the Pesticide Action Network group to place the pesticide drift catcher in her yard. She is worried about smelling the chlorine-like odor of the pesticides
And then there's good 'ole Wayne: "Wayne Smith, a third-generation Hastings farmer and pesticide dealer ... feels that liberal environmentalists from outside of town are trying to meddle in local issues." "Chemical concern drifts into Fla. town".
Fidel's sneak attack on pillars of the Capitalist system?
"Suspects [many wearing fedoras] continue to flee to Cuba and elsewhere with millions of taxpayer dollars, trying to evade prosecution for Medicare fraud. ... A Miami Herald investigation first spotlighted the phenomenon of Cuban immigrants dominating Miami-Dade's Medicare fraud industry in August. Court records showed that in many instances, fraud suspects were able to easily escape to Cuba before they were charged and prosecuted." "Fugitives flee South Florida with Medicare millions".
Surely these Cuban crooks are Commie secret agents, fostering the "inevitable collapse of capitalism" and fomenting class warfare.
Sansom death spiral
The Miami Herald editorial board: "The ethical and legal clouds hanging over Speaker of the House Ray Sansom, R-Destin, loom larger as next week's special session of the Legislature approaches. Since we last touched on the speaker's tangled relationship with a community college in his district, a series of disclosures has raised new questions about the propriety of his actions. Now, the speaker has been obliged to hire an attorney to defend himself." "Florida House speaker leads by bad example".
"Fasano says he didn't realize the impact on consumers"
The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "With Florida in a deep economic recession, the timing could not be worse for Progress Energy's utility bills to start rising by 25 percent this month to cover increased fuel costs and construction of a nuclear plant in Levy County. It's easy to see why two Republican legislators, Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey and Rep. Peter Nehr of Tarpon Springs, have called for Progress Energy to postpone collecting the surcharge for the nuclear plant. That is a simplistic solution that could jeopardize the construction of the plant, but legislators and Progress Energy officials should explore whether there might be a more viable option for helping utility customers in the months ahead."
A 2006 law, which Fasano voted for, allows utilities to assess customers for partial construction costs for a nuclear power plant before it's operating. Besides reducing utilities' risks, the law was aimed at shoring up confidence among lenders and spreading the cost over a longer period of time. The law shifted the expense to utility ratepayers long before they see the benefit of the less expensive nuclear power. Fasano says he didn't realize the impact on consumers, but the time has passed for debating whether this is sound public policy for this particular project. Progress Energy has proceeded based on the change.
But real films are union made ... what's a wingnut to do?!?
The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "A bill introduced this year in the Legislature will allow production companies filming in Florida to qualify for as much as a 20-percent tax credit on in-state production costs. Certain stipulations, including hiring in-state workers, must be met for a company to qualify. The film company would have the option of applying that tax credit toward a future project, or selling that credit to a Florida-based corporation." "Incentives will allow state to become competitive in film game".
World class universities?
"Cuts to higher education could eventually mean larger classes, degrees eliminated, reduced summer class schedules and a loss in research investment that in turn could mean less in federal grants and matching funds ...". "Cuts to higher-education budget felt at universities".
Call in FEMA
"Thousands of shoes were dumped on a Miami expressway causing significant traffic delays. ... [[FHP spokesman Pat] Santangelo says the shoes appear to be used, and most were tied together in pairs.... Santangelo says he's not sure where the shoes came from. There were no signs of a crash, and no one stopped to claim them." "Shoes dumped on Miami expressway".
"Terry Mahoney, his wife of 24 years, filed for divorce in October, a week after the prominent Democrat admitted having had numerous extramarital affairs and paying more than $121,000 in hush money to former lover Patricia Allen, whom he hired and fired." "House pact broken, Mahoney's wife says".
"Crist on Friday appointed the 56-year-old West Palm Beach attorney to the Florida Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Harry Lee Anstead. It was Crist's third appointment to the state's high court since late August." "Governor names Labarga to Florida Supreme Court".
The Miami Herald editorial board: "The ethical and legal clouds hanging over Speaker of the House Ray Sansom, R-Destin, loom larger as next week's special session of the Legislature approaches. Since we last touched on the speaker's tangled relationship with a community college in his district, a series of disclosures has raised new questions about the propriety of his actions. Now, the speaker has been obliged to hire an attorney to defend himself."
What a thrill to wake up, drink my coffee, check Sayfie Review for my Florida news fix and be greeted with a lead story entitled: Meek Considers Senate Run, Could Face Old Foe Bush. I won't go so far as to say it was one of those Chris Matthews' type of thrill, but close.
I've been making the case for Meek running against Jeb ever since Prince Nasty (aka Mr. Lehman Bros., aka the "Smart" Bush) e-mailed those four words heard round the World of Political Junkies: "I am considering it" (i.e., running for Mel Martinez' US Senate seat from Florida).
You should start your web-day with the Florida Progressive Coalition. If you want it, we've got today's "FloBama". Our digest and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.
"Florida faces stark indicators as 2009 gets under way"
Florida heads into 2009
... with Charlie in charge
The South Florida Sun Sentinel editorial board: "The region, as well as the state and nation, is mired in the worst economic slump since the early 1970s. Home forclosures, bankruptcies and rising unemployment have left many of our neighbors destitute, and the rest of us anxious about what's next." "Happy New Year anyway".
The Palm Beach Post editorial board:""
Florida faces stark indicators as 2009 gets under way. The Legislature meets in four days to plug a $2.3 billion budget gap. The governor has proposed raiding trust funds to the point of ruin. The Legislature hasn't offered anything much better.
Housing values are down as much as a third from a year ago, which means local governments will have as hard a time as state lawmakers raising enough to meet basic needs - demand for which increases during a recession.
Construction - particularly home construction - on which Florida has relied forever for stable employment is in full retreat, contributing to a statewide jobless rate of 7.3 percent, the highest in 15 years.
Will tourism rescue Florida? No, unfortunately. Even the tourism juggernaut Disney is offering room and merchandise discounts.
School enrollment figures reflect all this woe. ...
Where are all the children? Some left with their families after the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 made life miserable and insurance unaffordable. Some left when parents lost their jobs. Foreclosure drove out others.
"Economic misery is everywhere, but there is a historical reason Florida has been hit particularly hard. For decades Florida and the officials running the state, counties and towns have perpetuated the myth that growth will pay for itself and provide a prosperous lifestyle for everyone who buys into the myth. With special tax breaks for longtime residents, the expectation that an ever-increasing supply of newcomers, snowbirds and tourists would pay most of the bills was as enticing a Ponzi scheme as any that Bernard Madoff promised."
Now, Florida's growth scheme has collapsed. The growth myth should collapse along with it. Yes, the real estate market will come back - let's hope in a more rational form. As fear subsides and credit markets ease, more people who can afford to spend will do so. But unbridled growth never again should be seen as Florida's perpetual money machine.
Here's the story that needs to be told, over and over again:
During boom times, political leaders such as former Gov. Jeb Bush resisted all efforts to move Florida's tax structure away from unhealthy reliance on income generated by construction growth and the unsustainable housing bubble. Illogical sales-tax exemptions were sacrosanct. Internet sales went untaxed. The intangibles tax was repealed, a favor to Florida's wealthiest residents.
And this, I believe, is what one calls a "pipe dream":
The affable Gov. Crist, who smiled and waved his way through his first two years in the governor's mansion, has a chance to stop coasting and become a leader by fixing the tax system.
the special legislative session set to start Monday in Tallahassee to fill a $2.3-billion state budget deficit. So far, Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and the Republican-led Legislature — still mired in the mind-set that all tax reform is bad — have rejected calls to close loopholes in the sales tax code to offset the deficit, opting instead to raid fast-dwindling state reserves. But such a plan only sets the stage for more painful decisions in the spring, when a 2009-10 state budget faces a $5.8-billion deficit and possibly as little as $1-billion in reserves. The potential implications are dreadful to imagine: Chronically ill Floridians kicked out of Medicaid; schoolteacher pay cuts; state parks shuttered.
Florida's economic future has changed in the past year and Republicans, who have controlled the Legislature for the past 12 years, must look beyond their old standbys of shrinking government and cutting taxes.
The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board writes today that "In the coming special session, Florida lawmakers will be discussing deep and painful cuts to the state budget. But one of the people at the very top of the legislative pecking order has irretrievably damaged his credibility, using sleazy tactics to divert state money and then taking a well-paid, unadvertised job from the very entity that benefited from his largesse."
The editors continue:
Do they think Floridians are stupid? Or just powerless?
As it stands, voters can't do much about Sansom's unmitigated money grab until the 2010 elections. But lawmakers can, and should, in part because Sansom didn't act alone.
"The special legislative session set for January will plug a $2.3 billion hole in state revenue collections with a combination of cuts in program spending, raids on state trust funds and reserves, postponement of some construction projects and bonding rather than paying cash for prisons. One thing not in the mix, though, are staff cuts in state agencies."
In words that would make "Jeb!" and his cronies cringe, Charlie said "Our state employees provide an invaluable resource to all Floridians and should be commended for their continued service."
The bright lights in the Legislature don't necessarily agree - Representative Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, a leader of the appropriations panel on government efficiency in the House
noted that the governor's plan calls for $135 million in gambling revenue to be gained by legislative ratification of his casino pact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. That won't happen in the special session, said Galvano, who is vice-chairman of a select committee on the gaming deal.
So that revenue will have to be found elsewhere, possibly in staff expenses.
Contingency plans included layoffs, unpaid furloughs and salary reductions of as much as 5 percent. But those are for the regular session in March, when the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 has an even bigger shortfall looming.
"Officials announced this week that some companies across the country must now post $50,000 surety bonds if they want to continue as Medicare providers." "Medicare fraud, big in Fla., prompts new bond rule".
Whoopee!
"That law requires hospitals and health care facilities to give patients a good-faith estimate of anticipated charges for planned procedures if requested." "Health measures prominent among new Florida laws".
Stars in his eyes
"Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer says he might join a half-dozen declared candidates for the Republican National Committee's top post. ... Before he determines whether to seek the job, Greer said he will be focus on keeping his state chairmanship in a contest to be decided Jan. 10 in Orlando. Greer has opposition but appears headed to victory with the backing of Gov. Charlie Crist." "Fla. GOP Leader Weighs U.S. Job".
Theme park economy
Scott Maxwell points out that "Central Florida rode the crest of the growth wave with reckless abandon. And now that the waters have receded, reality has set in. With hotels half-empty and theme-park lines thinning, the recession is a good reminder that no community should have too much of its economy dependent upon a single industry. Especially a low-paying one." "All in all, a lousy year, but a glimmer of hope".
Stooopid
Jeremy Cox writes that "consumer advocates and insurance experts say that the more than two dozen Cover Florida plans aren't much more attractive than the stripped-down health-care plans already on the market - and sometimes less so." "Cover Florida plans similar to what's on market now".
Wrong turn
"A Florida mother is awaiting word from Cuba after her son and his girlfriend accidentally ended up on the island while boating in rough waters."
"Forty-year-old Robert Vassallo told his mother they were unharmed and being kept in a home outside the Havana jail where they were first taken." "Fla. mother says 2 from US being held in Cuba".
"Florida's energy future should be 'clean' - not just 'renewable' - and include nuclear power as a source of green energy, according to recommendations from the staff of utility regulators released Wednesday."
The report follows months of lobbying by Florida Power & Light - the state's largest utility and producer of nuclear power - to persuade regulators to create a "Clean Energy Portfolio Standard" rather than a "Renewable Portfolio Standard." Florida statues do not include nuclear power in the definition of "renewable" energy. FPL generates no renewable energy in Florida. ...
The report describes nuclear power as a "cornerstone of an energy efficient Florida."
While the 2008 presidential election was certainly historical and indicative of future demographic trends, it is important for Democrats to not be overly sanguine about the hopelessness of Republican prospects. The likely US Senate candidacy of former governor Jeb Bush here in Florida could be a powerful psychological boost to the beleaguered party.
We suggest that you start your web-day with the Florida Progressive Coalition. If you want it, we've got today's "FloBama". Our digest and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.
Game On
"It's official -- the Legislature will meet in special session starting Monday to true up the state's budget and the more than $2 billion shortfall. The Legislature will meet in special session Jan. 5-16 to true up the state's budget and the $2.3 billion gap between revenue and spending." "Florida Legislature officially sets special session to discuss $2.3 billion budget shortfall".
Crist wants to cut spending, borrow money and shift funds to reduce the shortfall for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Gambling and cigarette taxes are definitely out. Class-size spending and increased speeding fines are in. ...
Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island and in line to be president of the Senate in 2010, said increased user fees for courts are reasonable. ...
Also on the block for change is the money required by the constitution — approved by voters in an amendment referendum — for minimal school class sizes. Some of the money for construction to meet class-size requirements, as well as state dictates on spending on textbooks and transportation for instance, could be freed up for local districts to decide how to meet expenses.
More from that swell triumvirate of Florida GOPer "girlie men", Sansom, Atwater and Crist:
House Speaker Ray Sansom and Senate President Jeff Atwater on Tuesday officially released their call for the special budget-cutting session set to start next week and it closely mirrors the trust-fund raids and cuts Gov. Charlie Crist recommended.
Of particular note: It says higher cigarette taxes are off the table, but making "minor adjustments to existing user fees" and higher "fees and fines relating to traffic enforcement and civil and criminal fees, fines and penalties" are in the mix.
Steve Bousquet reports with a straight face that the "Legislature will give the public a fleeting chance to sound off next week before making deep cuts in programs to patch a $2.3-billion budget deficit." "Floridians get four hours to make budget suggestions".
"Crist and Florida financial regulators are being sued in Hillsborough County by investors claiming they should've been protected from boy-band mogul Lou Pearlman's multimillion-dollar scam. The suit claims Crist, who was attorney general from 2002 to 2006, was slow to investigate Pearlman's investment schemes because the governor received $12,000 in campaign contributions from Pearlman. The state sued Pearlman, 54, in December 2006, but the lawsuit claims Crist and regulators knew of his dealings as early as 2002." "Pearlman investors sue Crist, saying he was slow to investigate scam".
"While U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney's congressional career is winding down, the FBI is continuing to investigate whether the Democrat broke the law when he put a mistress on his U.S. House payroll in 2007." "Mahoney cooperating with FBI investigation, attorneys say".
Voucher madness
The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The state isn't really saving money if it's shuffling low-income students off to poor quality schools any more than it would save money if it bought cheaper, inferior vehicles for highway patrol officers or built buildings that folded in the first hurricane."
But the corporate voucher program always has been about ideology, not quality. Former Gov. Jeb Bush was determined that the state would offer vouchers. Low-income students are eligible for the corporate vouchers regardless of how well their designated public school is rated or how well they may have been doing in public school. Students entering first grade or kindergarten are eligible for the vouchers even if they haven't attended public school at all.
Moreover, the Legislature and former Gov. Bush steadfastly have refused to provide any meaningful point of comparison between public and private schools that accept the vouchers.
"The role of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in public schools and the lack of any FCAT role in voucher schools remains particularly hypocritical. In the last decade, the state has made the FCAT the be-all and end-all of public school assessment. Teacher bonuses, promotion and graduation depended on FCAT scores. Principals who couldn't raise FCAT scores were dismissed. Electives disappeared from the curriculum so teachers could focus on FCAT skills."
But private voucher schools, many of which have a religious curriculum, have not been required to give the FCAT to students using the state-sponsored vouchers. ...
The new report makes clear that private voucher school operators have no interest in providing more accountability. "None of the private school representatives who participated in our focus groups supported adopting the FCAT ... .
"Disappointment may be in store for those hoping that Gov. Charlie Crist’s Cover Florida [sic] health plans will solve the problem of unaffordable health care for the state’s 3.8 million uninsured adults." "Sentinel: Governor's health plan has little incentive for uninsured".
Associated Press reports that "If former Gov. Jeb Bush decides to run for U.S. Senate, he could find himself facing an old foe."
U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek has been traveling the state meeting with Democratic strategists about the idea of running for the seat Republican Sen. Mel Martinez is giving up in 2010. Bush is also considering a run, and would likely grab the Republican nomination if he does.
A potential Meek-versus-Bush matchup would come packed with history: As a state senator, Meek staged a sit-in protest in Bush's office complex after the governor stripped affirmative action protections from state contracting and university admissions.
Meek also led the effort to place class size limits in the state constitution — a campaign Bush vigorously fought as he sought re-election in 2002 and later tried, but failed, to repeal.
Plainly put: Bush and Meek aren't too fond of each other, a fact that would ratchet up the intensity of a Senate matchup.
