After reading the hard copy of your hometown newspaper, should start your web-day with the Florida Progressive Coalition.
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Crist's "rosy" budget
Jim Saunders: "Offering a rosy view of the state's finances, Gov. Charlie Crist on Friday proposed a $69.2 billion budget for next year that would increase education spending and include about $100 million in tax cuts."
Crist's proposal contrasted with warnings from Republican legislative leaders, who say they will have to deal with a budget shortfall of up to $3.2 billion during the spring legislative session. "Crist budget: More for schools, tax cuts".
"With home sales up and migration into the state climbing, Republican Gov. Charlie Crist pronounced today that Florida was emerging from a historically sluggish economy as he proposed a state budget increase for the first time since 2006.""Something is starting to percolate in Florida's economy," Crist said.
He proposed a $69.2 billion budget for 2010-2011, up 4 percent from the $66.5 billion budget the legislature passed for this year.
Crist's unveiled his rosy proposal the same day the White House announced the U.S. economy grew 5.7 percent in the final three months of 2009, the fastest growth since 2003.
Performance of the state and national economy is expected to factor heavily in the political fortunes of Crist and President Obama in the coming year. "Gov. Crist says Fla. economy 'starting to percolate,' wants 4 percent budget hike". See also "Governor proposes Florida budget".
"Higher-than-expected national growth figures -- and an increase in exports in South Florida and across the country -- are improving the rough economy somewhat, although the woes are not over." "Growth pulling economy out of recession".
Related: "Citing rising Medicaid costs, Crist pitches $69.2B budget" ("Florida's Gov. Crist proposed a budget that is $2.7 billion higher than the current one to pay for growth in Medicaid"), "Crist's budget relies on stimulus money, the economy, a gambling deal", "Crist's budget saves care programs for elderly" and "Governor proposes $2.7 billion increase in Florida state budget".
"State employees would not face layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts or increases in their insurance premiums this year if state legislators adopt personnel provisions of the $69.2 billion state budget that Gov. Charlie Crist proposed on Friday. But Crist's plan does cut about 1,000 authorized positions, about 600 of which are vacant now." "Officials skeptical of personnel provisions of proposed Florida budget".
More: "Lawmakers skeptical of Crist's $69.2 billion budget proposal" and "Budget breakdown: Crist vs the Legislature vs Reality". Tea Baggers outraged!
"Sick and disabled Florida children who cannot afford medical care will now get help paying for a small item with a large price tag: diapers." "Disabled teen's dad wins fight over diaper costs".
One suspects the Tea Baggers and the other wingnuts comprising the RPOF base are outraged that the government is providing diapers to poor kids. That smacks of socialized medicine, don't it.
After all, this ain't your parents' Republican Party (unless your daddy was Joe McCarthy): believe it or not, the RPOF is still whinging on about a Commie effort to "socialize health care", including "taxpayer-funded abortions" and death panels, which they politely call "'end-of-life' treatments".
The RPOF really needs to get over it, "the courageous people of Eastern Europe, especially Poland and the former Czechoslovakia, and especially the people of Hungary" won the cold war for us; it's over. There isn't a "Red" under your bed anymore and, really, it's OK to let the government help poor babies get diapers. And the RPOF position on this is what?
"GOP adopts platform test for Republican candidates". McCollum maintains double digit lead in another poll
"A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows state Attorney General Bill McCollum leading Democrat Alex Sink 46% to 35%. Polls last month and in October showed similar results. In all three polls, the Republican’s support is between 44% and 46% while Sink’s numbers range from 35% to 39%" "Florida Governor: McCollum Holds Stable Lead Over Sink" Grayson draws another weak RPOF opponent
"After months of indecision, the owner of a traffic-signal company in Winter Park has given the green light to a run against U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, the outspoken freshman Democrat from Orlando." Political novice Bruce O'Donoghue, 55, who plans to register his candidacy Monday, said his biggest asset is knowing the ins and outs of Central Florida, and he's bringing two major Republican endorsements to prove it.
Former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez said he plans to back O'Donoghue, who said he'll also have the endorsement of former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings. Martinez is a former county mayor, while Jennings represented the Winter Park area for more than 20 years in the Legislature. Their support could be key in a crowded but little-known Republican primary field that's itching to take on Grayson, a national GOP target. The Orlando Sentinel employees who wrote the piece, Mark K. Matthews and David Damron, are quick to remind readers - in a predictable (they do, after all, work for the Zell Corporation) attempt to undermine Grayson - thatMuch of that money came from online backers who agree with Grayson's combative tone on health care, including his assertion that the Republican reform plan was for sick patients to "die quickly." "Republican Bruce O'Donoghue joins race vs. Grayson". Say it ain't so, Charlie
"The military flights, usually C-130s carrying Haitians with spinal cord injuries, burns and other serious wounds, ended on Wednesday after Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida formally asked the federal government to shoulder some of the cost of the care." It was not clear on Friday who exactly was responsible for the interruption of flights, or the chain of events that led to the decision. Sterling Ivey, a spokesman for Mr. Crist, said the governor’s request for federal help might have caused “confusion.” "U.S. Suspends Haitian Airlift in Cost Dispute".
"Crist is pushing back after a New York Times story [yesterday] suggested the halt in medical flights was primarily a cost consideration." "Crist refutes NYT after halt of medical airlifts out of Haiti". See also "S. Fla. hospital officials deny leaving Haitians to die over pay concerns". Media types miss their Jebbie
Steve Bousquet: "Barring a big surprise, one of three people will be Florida's next governor: Bill McCollum, Paula Dockery or Alex Sink." I know, you're underwhelmed. You want more choices. But this is the field, so you need to study their backgrounds, philosophies and styles. And the obligatory slam at Alex Sink:It's all about jobs, Sink said, promising to hold herself accountable if she fails to deliver on goals such as improving the high school graduation rate.
She spoke of how Tallahassee pols duck and dodge problems. Her pitch: She's a doer, a business leader, not a "career politician" like McCollum.
Is she for or against Obama's health plan? "We don't know what the plan is now," Sink said. "Come back to me."
Vintage Sink, bobbing and weaving on questions. "You may not like the candidates for Florida governor, but don't expect alternatives". "A selfish power play"
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Before the Florida Legislature spent a quarter-million in taxpayer dollars on the 2012 redistricting effort, it should have known the rules of the game. Instead, the Republican leadership retained a posse of politically connected lawyers in a selfish power play apparently aimed at thwarting reforms on the November ballot and currying favor with prominent campaign contributors."
Something's rotten in Denmark: Florida is 35.8 percent Republican, 42 percent Democrat and 19 percent independent. Yet more than 60 percent of seats in both the state House and Senate are held by Republicans.
Republicans argue they just field better candidates. But political gerrymandering to create safe havens for particular political parties, combined with eight-year term limits for state offices, means only a handful of the state's 120 House and 40 Senate districts are competitive in any given election. "Let the voters speak". Chamber "Garbage"
"State Rep. Alan Hayes blasted the governor's plan for expanded gambling at Seminole Tribe casinos Friday," saying the state needs a compact "that benefits Floridians, not Seminoles and Miccosukees."
"I think Gov. (Charlie) Crist has been smoking the peace pipe, and it had some of that wacky tobacky in it," Hayes, R-Umatilla, told about 40 people gathered at Gene's Steakhouse for an Eggs & Issues breakfast organized by the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce. "That compact is the biggest piece of garbage ever foisted on the people of the state of Florida." "Legislator calls Crist's gambling plan 'garbage'". "Can the state fill a $1.4 billion gap?"
The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden came to Tampa Thursday to hand out stimulus money for high-speed rail projects. Aside from the iffy proposition that high-speed rail is 'going to reshape the way we travel,' as Mr. Biden said, they proclaimed that the money would deliver jobs right away. That's why two of the biggest awards went to Florida and California, which supposedly are ready to start construction." Unfortunately, as with so much of the stimulus, the reality doesn't match the hype. The $8 billion in federal money is spread so thin — to 31 states, among 13 large-scale projects — that and no one project will get enough. In fact, federal officials said no project would get more than half the amount it needs. How does that translate into jobs now?
Florida sought $2.65 billion for an Orlando-to-Tampa high-speed rail line that the state Department of Transportation estimates will cost $3.2 billion. The state would contribute land along the Interstate 4 corridor to make up the difference. But the grant delivers only $1.25 billion. Can the state fill a $1.4 billion gap? "Slow-speed state stimulus: How does the rail money provide jobs now?". Daily Rothstein
"After Fort Lauderdale lawyer Scott Rothstein fled to Morocco, he tried to maintain the illusion of an honest investment manager as his investors back home panicked over getting paid." "Ponzi scheme kept up to end". See also "E-mails reveal desperate final days of Rothstein's Ponzi scheme". Federal public-corruption charges
"Two Florida men, including a Tallahassee lobbyist, have been indicted on federal public-corruption charges, according to the FBI." Tony Devaughan Nelson, 50, of Jacksonville, and Frank S. Bernardino, 45, of Tallahassee, were both named in the 44-count indictment.
According to an FBI news release, Nelson, who was serving as a Jacksonville Port Authority board member, demanded more than $100,000 from Subaqueous Services Inc., a company doing business with the authority. Nelson promised to use his position to influence the board in exchange for the money, the FBI said.
Bernardino acted as a conduit between an official with the company and Nelson to hid and conceal the nature of the bribe payments, the FBI said. "Lobbyist facing federal fraud charges". Thank you, Mr. Obama
"Local officials look for how high-speed rail can pay off". Prepaid tuition
"Florida's prepaid tuition open-enrollment ends at midnight Sunday. Because of a new tuition law, prepaid is more expensive than ever." "Finance 101: Parents face steeper prepaid tuition plans". Falling property values
"Orlando may feel pinch from falling property values". $1 a month more for electricity
"Florida Power & Light customers will pay about $1 a month more for electricity on a typical bill, state regulators decided Friday in their final ruling on a turbulent rate case that took 11 months to complete." "FPL granted monthly $1 hike in rate case". |
