Florida House Watch

IAFF Responds to Rep. Mica

2010-03-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

The Honorable John Mica
Ranking Member
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Mica:

You were recently quoted as referring to a proposal to improve aircraft fire fighting standards as “junk.” On behalf of the nation’s nearly 300,000 professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel, I am writing to express profound offense at your comments.

Airport fire fighters are committed to protecting the flying public, and are ready to put their lives on the line at a moment’s notice. Current aircraft fire fighting standards make it impossible for fire fighters to conduct a timely, safe and effective response to an incident. Updating these antiquated safety standards to reflect the many changes in aircraft design and fire fighting protocols that have occurred over the past generation is necessary to adequately protect both the flying public and emergency responders.

Your dismissive comment referring to the courageous acts of the nation’s fire fighters as “junk” is deeply offensive to the men and women who risk their lives in service to their community. While you have every right to disagree about the need to update an antiquated standard, you have no right to denigrate the work of true American heroes.

You owe them an apology.

Sincerely,

Harold A. Schaitberger
General President

The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC, is the leading advocate in North America for the safety and training of fire fighters and paramedics. The IAFF represents more than 297,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect communities in every state in the United States and throughout Canada.

Republicans Are Mismanaging Florida and It Is Time To Do Government Business A New Way

2010-03-05T21:49:00.000-08:00

After 12 years of Republican control of state government, House Speaker Larry Cretul today admitted Republican mismanagement and confessed that it is time to “do government business a new way.”

In response, House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands urged Republican leaders to embrace good-government initiatives backed by Florida House Democrats.

“Today, I heard Florida House Democrats call for bipartisanship and good government, and I heard Republican leadership admit that 12 years of total Republican control of state government has failed Floridians,” said Sands, D-Weston. “It is time to bring real change to the way business is done in Tallahassee.”

During House floor remarks, Speaker Larry Cretul stated:

· “I am asking you to do government business a new way…”\
· “To make government work, we are going to have to change the way we approach it and the way we think…”

“I am thrilled that Florida Republican leaders are recognizing what Floridians have seen for a long time. Republicans have done such a lousy job of running state government that even they admit that it’s time `to do government business a new way’ for the good of our state.

“It is interesting to hear Speaker Cretul confess that Republican leadership since 1998 has led to unnecessary spending and a failure to follow basic government accountability measures that Florida put in place in the Government Performance and Accountability Act of 1994.

“Today, Speaker Cretul also called for greater budget transparency. I urge Republican leaders to consider the merits of House Joint Resolution 241 by Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota.”

House Joint Resolution 241. Expanding The Public’s Access. Rep. Keith Fitzgerald. The constitutional amendment requires budget documents be user friendly and easy to understand. The amendment would prevent last-minute backroom budget and legislative deals that avoid public input and scrutiny. The key components include these requirements:

· Budget documents must be user friendly, easy to read and understandable;
· A three-fourths vote is necessary to allow an amendment on the House floor during the last week of session to reduce the back room last minute deals showing up for a vote without public scrutiny;
· Members of conference committees are prohibited from discussing legislative matters among themselves, except at noticed public meetings;
· A two-thirds vote of both chambers is required to enact public records or public meeting exemptions;
· Citizens are allowed the right to challenge in court the rules governing public access to documents and meetings.

Rep. Rick Kriseman Files Military Readiness Bill Urging Congress To Repeal `Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

2010-03-05T21:46:00.000-08:00

Florida State Representative Rick Kriseman (D-St. Petersburg) has filed House Memorial 1459 urging Congress to adopt and the President of United States to sign into law legislation that repeals the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and institutes a policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation with respect to service in the U.S. Military.

"It's past time to end the failed policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." There are nearly eighty thousand gay or lesbian veterans who live in Florida; brave men and women who served honorably, but also in fear. They deserved better, and today's service members deserve better. I urge our leaders in Washington, D.C. to move quickly in repealing this terribly ineffective law," said Representative Kriseman, who serves as a policy advisor to the House Democratic Caucus.

“Rick Kriseman joins our military’s top leaders in recognizing that firing qualified service members based on anti-gay prejudice is both un-American and hurts out military’s readiness. Those who choose to serve their country deserve respect, not discrimination," said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida.

More than 13,000 service members have been discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, including hundreds of service members in critical occupations, such as counterintelligence experts and medical specialists. Further, hundreds of language specialists have been discharged from military service under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, including 55 Arabic translators and nine Farsi translators, all of which are vitally important positions to intelligence gathering and are positions for which there is a critical shortage of qualified personnel.

"My wife and I have two children. We want them to grow up in a safe world. I wish this for all Floridians. There's no doubt that this policy makes us less safe and compromises the readiness and expertise of our great military," said Representative Kriseman.

HM 1459 is the only such bill filed in the Florida Legislature this session. It now awaits a committee reference and hearing.

Florida House Democrats Support Unemployment Compensation Tax Relief

2010-03-05T21:16:00.000-08:00

With job creation and retention for Floridians at the top of their agenda for 2010, Florida House Democratic Caucus members today voted unanimously in support of House Bill 7033, a measure that aims to recharge Florida’s economy by giving businesses immediate relief from unemployment compensation tax increases.

On a 117-0 vote, the Florida House of Representatives approved the bill, the first measure to be heard during the 2010 legislative session. It now proceeds to the Florida Senate. During House floor debate on HB7033, Florida House Democratic Caucus members offered these and other remarks:

Rep. Keith Fitzgerald (D-Sarasota): “There are small businesses all over the state suffering. Many are on the verge of bankruptcy and others would like to add to their payroll but can’t because of unemployment compensation tax increases…We’re all together on this. We will have many contentious issues over the rest of the session. This is one where we’re together.”

Rep. Ron Saunders (D-Key West): “I think it is very appropriate that this is the first bill. It is a good example of how, with bipartisan cooperation, we can get things done. This is not going to fix the problem. This delays the fix. But unless we continue to act in a bipartisan, cooperative manner, we’re going to have lots of problems, not just this year, but down the road.”

Rep. Geraldine Thompson (D-Orlando), House Democratic Leader Pro Tempore: “It is clear that we have all been listening very closely to our friends in the business community. I rise in support of this legislation, which will give immediate relief to our businesses facing increases in unemployment compensation taxes. At same time, I rise to urge this body to modernize our unemployment compensation system so that victims of domestic violence who can’t work can be covered and individuals who move to be closer to their spouses work can be covered…While I think this legislation is a good step in the right direction, I also urge us to consider modernization of our system.”

Rep. Maria Sachs (D-Delray Beach): “Floridians are looking for jobs. We have a 12-percent unemployment rate, and it’s 12.4 percent in home area of Palm Beach County. We are singing the same song when it comes to this bill. I’m very excited that this is our first bill.”

Rep. Joe Gibbons (D-Hallandale Beach): “This bill brings immediate relief to small businesses, the economic engine of our country. This is a first step, and I hope, not the last step to help small businesses.”

Soto Fights For Renters' Rights In Foreclosure

2010-03-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

Representative Darren Soto (D-Orlando) offered two amendments today to House Bill 125 sponsored by Representative Hazelle Rogers (D-Lauderdale Lakes). House Bill 125 would increase protections for tenants who live in a property involved in a foreclosure proceeding. Representative Soto’s amendments, which were defeated in committee, would have granted rights to tenants who live in a property involved in a foreclosure action.

The amendments sought to give tenants: the ability to terminate a lease once a foreclosure action has been filed against the property in which they reside; the option to remain in a property according to the lease for the duration of the foreclosure action; and the right to remain in the property until 90 days after the certificate of title is issued or for the remainder of a valid written lease, whichever is longer.

Representative Soto also offered an amendment to require tenants be served with a plain-language notice explaining their rights. These amendments are to be interpreted consistent with federal case law.

“I am disheartened by today’s votes against common-sense legislation that would provide bare-minimum notice to any tenant whose property is in foreclosure,” said Representative Darren Soto. “Under current law, tenants in foreclosure have few rights and remedies; and the circumstances they face can be confusing, frustrating and tragic. Representative Rogers and I are committed to continuing the fight for this legislation to help renters.”

Members of the Civil Justice and Courts Policy Committee voted against House Bill 125 and both of Representative Soto’s amendments. The bill failed on a 9-2 vote.

They cut, we bleed

2010-03-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

From Progress Florida:

Our state is facing a deficit of more than $3 billion, and every indication from Republican leaders in the legislature is they plan to balance Florida's budget on the backs of children, seniors, the uninsured, and the environment.

Sign our petition to Speaker Cretul, Senate President Atwater, and Gov. Crist: balance the budget by ending special interest tax loopholes, not more cuts.

Budget cuts hurt all of us. When legislators reduce school funding, more of our children are unprepared for the workforce, and worse, more end up in jail. When health care programs like Medicaid are slashed, many of our neighbors can't get access to the health care they need, which eventually drives up costs for everyone else. When environmental programs are cut, our open spaces, waterways and wildlife are threatened with destruction and extinction. Worst of all, more budget cuts means more people unemployed, and that means it will take longer for Florida to recover from the recession.

Sign our petition to Florida leadership: no more cuts.

As with any crisis, there's always an opportunity to do better. We can generate new revenues by closing down loopholes in our corporate income tax and eliminating special interest won sales tax exemptions. In the process, we can make our state's antiquated tax system more progressive and fair. The bottom line is that crippling budget cuts are unnecessary with these options available.

Florida can do better: sign our petition to legislative leaders and Gov. Crist urging a responsible budget with no cuts.

Balancing our budget by slashing key public services that we all benefit from is irresponsible and will prolong Florida's deep economic recession. Let's make sure our legislature gets the message.

For progress,
Mark, Ray, and the Progress Florida team

Link

Florida House Democrats Say: Don't Refuse Federal Economic Recovery Funds for Unemployed Families

2009-11-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

From the House Dems:

Florida House Democrats today urged House Speaker Larry Cretul and other House Republicans to take immediate action to ensure that Florida doesn’t reject more than $1 billion in federal stimulus aid for out-of-work Floridians.

With the unemployment rate at 9.7 percent, Florida is under extreme economic duress due to the slowdown of the real estate market and the global economic recession. In the midst of this crisis, Florida’s unemployment trust fund is being drained.

Concerned about the thousands of hard working, middle-class Florida families who will suffer due to unexpected job loss, House Democrats are urging immediate legislative approval of two major actions before the end of the 2009 lawmaking session. Democrats are seeking:

· Approval of legislation that would allow the state to use $777 million in federal Recovery Act money for the rest of the year for an estimated 250,000 people whose benefits would otherwise expire.

· Passage of legislation that would implement the Unemployment Compensation Modernization Incentive program that would provide an additional $444 million for unemployed Floridians. This program would offer benefits to individuals who lose their jobs for certain family circumstances, such as the relocation of a spouse, family illness, or domestic violence.

Measures that would implement these changes have been authored by state senators and have been subject to modest review in the Florida House of Representatives. The House should take immediate steps to pass these bills, including CS/SB 810, CS SB 516, and House Bill 1333 by Representative J.G. Rader (D-Delray Beach).

Florida House Democrats appreciate concerns that have been raised about potential future-year expenses associated with adoption of these changes. However, Florida House Democrats have repeatedly noted that the economic recovery dollars that have been provided by Congress and approved by President Barack Obama are urgently needed to help Florida’s economy recover and for families to be able to avoid crushing financial crises due to unemployment during this recession.

Additionally, U.S. Department of Labor officials have again confirmed in a recent correspondence with Representative Kelly Skidmore (D-Boca Raton) that “there is no requirement that the state return any money it if later repeals the provisions” of the Unemployment Compensation Modernization Incentive program.

Representative Skidmore offered these remarks:

“Florida’s unemployed and hard-working families should not be denied their full and fair share of economic recovery funds. The Legislature should not penalize people who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own. These dollars will make a real difference to people who are hungry and need rent money. This money can keep a roof over someone’s head and stimulate Florida’s economy.”

Yomin Postelnik at Broward Republican Party

2009-09-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

Yomin is a bit crazy.

"Republican policies work every single time."

From the Blogs

2009-09-03T21:04:00.000-07:00

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

FLA Politics (Tally): The Sansom Defense

Progress Florida (Jon Bleyer): Editorial cartoon of the week: Republican ethics

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): A Government of the Wealthy

Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida: Thank you, Governor Crist, I

Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida: Proctor to seek veto override

Pushing Rope: Ray Sansom Troubles Continues

Pensacola Beach Blog: Charity Begins at Home - Ray Sansom's Home, That Is

Progressive Pensacola: Sansom brothers beg for money

Dean Cannon's Credibility Challenged

2009-09-02T21:12:00.001-07:00

State Representative Dean Cannon’s claim that he did not have a credit card belonging to the Republican Party of Florida is being questioned by his Democratic opponent, Amy Mercado. Court records recently disclosed that indicted former Republican House Speaker Ray Sansom racked up nearly $200,000 in expenses on a Republican Party credit card, including a trip to Europe, expensive meals and hotels around the country and electronic equipment.

In response to press inquiries, Rep. Dean Cannon claimed that he did not have a Republican Party credit card. However, in a recent interview with his hometown paper, The Northwest Florida Daily News, Rep. Sansom stated that other Republican House leaders, including Dean Cannon, were issued credit cards from the Republican Party of Florida. Sansom said his spending was “not out of line” from other Party leaders. “I was right in order with anyone with a credit card,” Sansom stated, “That’s how we conduct business to be successful.”

“Dean Cannon has a credibility problem after misleading voters by signing and then breaking a no-tax pledge,” Mercado stated. “Unfortunately, Ray Sansom, who is under indictment for perjury, may be more believable on this issue than Dean Cannon.”

Mercado has issued a public challenge to Rep. Cannon to give the voters a complete and honest answer as to whether he has ever possessed or used a credit card on which the charges were paid by the Republican Party of Florida. “The public deserves to know whether Cannon had such a credit card and whether his charges were similar to Sansom’s,” Mercado said.

Amy Mercado is the first serious challenger Cannon has faced since he was elected to the Florida House in 2004. Mercado was active in the campaign of President Obama who received over 56% of the vote in Cannon’s legislative district in 2008. “People are tired of what has been going on in state government and I offer a chance to make a change,” Mercado stated.

House Democratic Leader Statement Regarding Special Investigator Findings

2009-06-26T19:11:00.001-07:00

From the House Dems:

Florida House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands (D-Weston) issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement that Stephen Kahn, a special investigator for the Florida House of Representatives, has found probable cause to believe that Representative Ray Sansom, a Destin Republican, violated the House Code of Conduct.

“I am saddened by House Special Investigator Stephen Kahn’s findings that Representative Ray Sansom, a Destin Republican, may have abused his public office and violated ethics guidelines. Along with other legislators and many Florida citizens, I am eager to learn more about the findings of the various authorities who are officially investigating the representative’s alleged misconduct.

“As such, I look forward to reviewing any findings and recommendations of the House Select Committee on Standards of Official Conduct that has been appointed to review allegations concerning Representative Sansom.

“As elected officials, it is of the utmost importance that we conduct ourselves in a manner that not only meets that which is required by law but exceeds the public’s highest expectations.”

Representative Kelly Skidmore Urges Governor To Sign SB 462

2009-06-26T17:17:00.000-07:00

From the House Dems:

Dear Governor Crist:

Florida is facing a prescription drug abuse epidemic. According to the Florida Office of Drug Control, the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs in Florida is three times higher than the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined. In fact, nine Floridians die every day due to prescription drug overdoses.

Senate Bill 462, sponsored by Senator Mike Fasano, Representative Marcelo Llorente, Representative Kurt Kelly and myself, authorizes the creation of a prescription drug monitoring system in the Florida Department of Health to track the dispensing of these controlled substances. Such a system is an essential tool to help physicians and law enforcement personnel stop the abuse, misuse, and illegal sale of prescription drugs using high level data security to protect the privacy of our citizens. Florida’s lack of a monitoring system has made our state a target for criminals looking to buy prescription drugs easily and sell them illegally here and elsewhere. Unfortunately, to many people around the country, Florida has become known as the nation’s “pill mill.”

I strongly urge you to sign SB 462 into law and help end the prescription drug abuse epidemic that is killing so many of our citizens and devastating countless Florida families.

All the best,
Kelly Skidmore
State Representative, District 90

Budget Cuts Blamed For Broward Teacher Layoffs

2009-06-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

From the House Dems:

Florida House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands (D-Weston) issued the following statement in response to layoff notices being received this week by approximately 400 Broward County School District teachers:

“No one should be confused. There is only one simple reason why 400 teachers are losing their jobs in Broward County -- Republican legislative leaders have refused to adequately fund public schools,” said Leader Sands. “At the same time that Republican leaders eagerly cut taxes that only millionaires, special interests and large corporations paid, they also callously reduced the state’s contribution to schools.

“It is outrageous that Republican legislative leaders are praising themselves for increasing per-student state education funding by a scant $28 over last year,” said Sands. “If they think that’s such a big achievement, they are delirious. All that the Legislature has done is raise state education funding to the level that it was in Fiscal Year 2006-07—or nearly three years ago.

“These decisions undoubtedly will have a severe impact on the future of our state,” he added. “By failing to adequately fund public schools, we are guaranteeing that our state will fail to develop a well-qualified, well-educated workforce for the new economy of the 21st Century.

“Instead of paying for the state’s public school system, Republicans have attempted to dismantle it with vouchers that send children to religious schools and forcing school boards to increase local taxes to make ends meet.”

From the Blogs

2009-06-11T21:13:00.001-07:00

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

Why Now?: Local Politics

Why Now?: Yeessssssssssssssss!!!

Blast Off!: Today's Daily Schadenfreude: Ray Sansom

Re/Creating Tampa: SansomWatch - The Perjury Edition

Pensacola Beach Blog: Grand Jury Indicts Sansom for Perjury, Odom for 'Official Misconduct'

Video from the Session

2009-05-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Dan Gelber:

Shorter version: We aren't done with the session until we do the people's business -- the budget.

Dave Murzin:

Shorter version: People hate taxes but love government services.

Jim Waldman:

Shorter version: At least we stopped the Republicans craziest stuff.

Carlos Lopez-Cantera:

Shorter version: I got mine.

Dave Aronberg:

Shorter version: The lack of money made everything tougher.

Ron Saunders:

Shorter version: The stimulus money saved us on education, Republicans refused open government.

Paula Dockery:

Shorter version: I hate saying I "killed" the CSX proposal, but I killed the CSX proposal.

Lee Constantine:

Shorter version: The bad economy killed the CSX proposal.

From the Blogs

2009-05-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

Florida Progressive Coalition (Susan S): Why Kevin Ambler Should Not Be Elected to the FL Senate in 2010

Pushing Rope: Write A Caption: Ray Sansom Booking Photo

Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida: Republicans, Led By Other-directed Rep. WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, Are Badly Confused About "Free Market" -- Insurance Is Exempt from Federal Antitrust Laws

Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida: Right-Wing Corporativist Group Lauds Representative WILLIAM L. PROCTOR On Insurance Bill

Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida: Miami Herald: Ex-Republican House Speaker Ray Sansom Indicted for Felonies

Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida: Sansom answers questions

Pushing Rope: PR Outsourcing Nightmare

Florida Progressive Coalition: Garcia vs. Rivera

What's Going On: Legislative Round-up

2009-05-03T09:19:00.001-07:00

The Spencerian: A Horrible Legislative Session Part II: "Spicy"

The Spencerian: A Horrible Legislative Session: Elections

Rick Kriseman: In the last days of Florida’s legislative session, it’s ‘Government Gone Wild’

madfloridian: Texas oil execs in Florida to push 3 mile offshore drilling. Ain't it amazing?

FLA Politics (dantilson): Florida Republicans hold legislature hostage

Blast Off!: Republicans actively oppose education ... AGAIN

Progressive Pensacola: Double dipping loophole closed

Can't Keep Quiet: FL lawmakers marginally increase school funding

Pushing Rope: Steve Wise's Idea of Reform

Natch Greyes: And Check...The Florida Senate Makes A Move

Pushing Rope: Other Bloggers On Faith In Teaching

Florida Netroots: Legislative Update and other news

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Republicans in Florida Legislature: dumber than dirt

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): Lending An Ear To Our Legislators

Natch Greyes: Florida's Inability to Seperate Church & State

Ybor City Stogie: Florida Republicans Turn Down Stimulus Money For Unemployment

Pushing Rope: Offshore Drilling Dead

Florida Netroots: Legislative Update and other news

Pushing Rope: Faith In Teaching is A Paper Nonprofit

Natch Greyes: Florida's Legislative Debacle Continues

Eye on Miami (Youbetcha): The State Legislature: By the Numbers

Avery Voice: Government in the Sunshine it's NOT!

Progressive Pensacola: Our Crazy Legislature, Week 8

Gelber's Latest Legislative Updates

2009-04-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

The latest news and views from State Senator Dan Gelber on Florida's legislative session, coming from tonight's conference call.

The call started out discussing the potential budget deal. Others will probably touch on that a lot, so I'll focus on the other top issues that Gelber discussed.

Other than the budget, one of the top laws up for debate right now is the property insurance bill that would allow Citizens, the state-run insurer of more than one million Floridians to raise rates for policyholders. The Senate has proposed moderate increases, but Gelber said that it is likely the final bill will contain increases in the range of 10-15%. As usual, Governor Charlie Crist is coy about the bill and his support or opposition to it.

Much less important is what Gelber calls the "license plate wars." As most readers know, Florida has an endless variety of specialty license plates for automobiles, the proceeds of which go to designated organizations. Two plates have come up this session that have explicitly Christian messages -- one with a cross, the other with a massive picture of Jesus. Gelber points out -- as is consistent with my understanding of the First Amendment -- that these plates would violate the federal establishment clause. Gelber adds that they would likely violate the state version as well. Similar plates in other states have been ruled unconstitutional and the same thing would likely happen here. Gelber thinks these two plates will eventually be left out of the final Senate bill, but he says the hours wasted debating these bills are silly when Florida is facing such serious issues. There is also some serious question as to where the money from these plates goes and who is behind the push for them.

Gelber said the card check bill, designed to kill the power of the national Employee Free Choice Act, has passed the House and is headed to the Senate. Florida is already one of the worst states in the union in terms of how we treat unions/workers, and this bill would attempt to keep Florida that way, regardless of what Congress does. Such a thing would likely be unconstitutional under the supremacy clause, but why test it. The current proposal would make it a constitutional amendment that would have to go before the voters, 60% of whom would have to approve. Gelber thinks that the misleading wording of the proposal would likely get the 60%, since it makes voters think they are protecting the secret ballot in all elections. The secret ballot is already protected, of course -- including in union elections -- and the EFCA wouldn't change this at all, but that doesn't stop Republicans from lying about it.

Unemployment modernization is another hot topic in the legislature right now. Under the stimulus plan, Florida is eligible for $450 million to modernize the system for citizens applying for unemployment benefits. Almost every other state has already done this modernization. Florida hasn't and is still working with the system put in place (including the technology) from the 1940s. This old-fashioned setup lessens the ability of people to get into the system. Republicans have effectively rejected this money, despite the fact that Florida needs it probably more than any other state because of our antiquated system and our extremely high unemployment rate.

Gelber tried to get at least $150 million of the unemployment modernization money by limiting the scope, since he knew the overall money wasn't going to be approved, but his proposal was rejected on a voice vote, almost certainly along party lines. Governor Crist says he'd like to have the money, but Gelber says Crist isn't doing anything to get the money. Big business lobbyists oppose the bill, despite the fact that it would benefit them by covering their payments to the unemployment compensation trust fund for a year. Gelber has been pushing for this for years, but the Republicans are stopping it.

Now that the end of the legislative session is near, Gelber says the last-minute vote-trading will begin. Logrolling will begin and we're entering a dangerous time, when bad bills and amendments could sneak through. Gelber suggested two such issues could revolve around oil drilling and the voter suppression bill, both of which were thought to be dead at this point.

The voter bill was pulled out of its last senate committee, so it could, theoretically, be brought to the floor, rather than dying in committee. Most experts think this bill would be overturned as unconstitutional, but that's a bit much to leave up to chance. People concerned about the voting bill should contact the Senate president, who may drop the bill if he's pressured enough.

It's possible, Gelber thinks, that the proposal to allow offshore drilling within three miles of Florida's coast could be trade bait as well. This proposal came up late in the session with a huge financial push. We really should look into finding out who is behind the proposal, something sofar unknown. Who is behind the push and what is their real agenda?

Gelber noted that, in all likelihood, the governor wasn't going to get involved in any of the hard decisions the legislature has to make this session.

State Senator Alex Villalobos is looking, once again, to pass his bill making witnesses before the legislature testify under oath, making lying while under oath a second or third degree felony. Gelber supports the bill and thinks it will pass the Senate, but that, once again, the House will kill it.

Gelber also noted that the education waiver for stimulus funds was finally submitted and he thinks we're likely to get it, particularly with the close relationship between Crist and Barack Obama.

How Does The House Republican Budget Deal With Swine Flu?

2009-04-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

From the House Dems:

Amid fears that the world may be entering a global pandemic of swine flu, Florida House Republican leaders are standing behind a proposed state budget that would hinder Florida’s ability to fight public health threats.

Swine flu, which has caused numerous recent deaths in Mexico, normally affects only pigs. Twenty cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the United States. No cases have yet been identified in Florida. However, state and county health departments in Florida have announced that they have boosted surveillance for the virus.

Despite the government’s reaction to this public health emergency, Florida House Republicans are defending a proposed state budget that would cut the salaries of state employees, including public health workers who would be at the front lines of fighting a pandemic.

More than 12,000 Floridians work in county health departments throughout Florida’s 67 counties. They include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, immunologists and other experts.

“The current outbreak of swine flu is a reminder of the important work of public health nurses, doctors and other caregivers who should be applauded for their vigilance in protecting Floridians from serious illnesses,” said House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands. “During the current economic crisis, House Republicans are acting carelessly in threatening pay cuts and job losses for hard-working public health employees.”

Swine flu has many of the same symptoms as the regular flu virus and can be mild, but people may want to seek treatment by a physician if they experience trouble breathing, dizziness or severe vomiting.

For more information about the swine flu, visit the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

Key House Republicans Join Democrats In Vote Against Big Oil

2009-04-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

From the House Dems:

The House Democratic Office reminds observers of the vote today of House Rules & Calendar Council Chairman Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, as well as deputy whips James C. Frische, a St. Petersburg Republican, and Ed Hooper.

These House Republicans today joined a majority of House Democrats in opposing House Bill 1219, a Big Oil victory that reverses a ban on drilling in Florida waters.

In addition to these roll call votes, four other House Republicans voted “no” later in the day after missing the roll call. Those Republicans are: Representatives Thomas Anderson (R-Dunedin), Gary Aubuchon (R-Cape Coral), Peter Nehr (R-Tarpon Springs), Julio Robaina (R-Miami), and Ron Schultz (R-Homosassa).

Interesting Contrast

2009-04-26T10:22:00.000-07:00

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, sent us this message this weekend: "As President (Jeff) Atwater and Speaker (Larry) Cretul indicated, talks aren't over. Folks are continuing to run numbers this weekend and I anticipate that they'll continue talking on Monday.

"Right now all the discussions are at the presiding officer level, and I know they are both doing their best to come to a resolution."

From the indictment of Ray Sansom:

"Further, Your Grand Jurors find that the appropriation process that gives unbridled discretion to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Appropriation Chairman needs to be changed. This State should be guided in openness and transparency. The procedure currently in place requires that our elected Legislators vote on a final budget that they have no knowledge about because it is finalized in a meeting between only two legislators. This process allows taxpayers money to be budgeted for special purposes by those few legislators who happen to be in a position of power."

...

"Further, far too much power is given to The Legislative Leadership on these budget issues which led to this appropriation that was voted on basically hidden in a huge budget. Regular members has no idea that they voted to build an aircraft hanger for a college that owned no aircraft and funded a building on land that the State does not own. Your Grand Jurors recommend to The Legislature that it clean up this process and that the State of Florida become an example to the Nation as a State that works for the people and not the special interest of those who have money to influence The Legislature."

Good to see that Cannon, Cretul and Atwater have learned from the mistakes Sansom made.

(h/t FDP)

Republicans In Trouble

2009-04-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Miami Herald catches on to the fact that the Republicans in Tallahassee have no idea what they are doing and that it could hurt them electorally.

Republicans Crafted a A Bad Elections Bill That Would Stifle Voting

2009-04-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

From the House Dems:

Florida House Democrats say:

· The Legislature should make it easier for citizens to vote instead of stifling citizen activism and participation in elections.
· Shame on Republican legislators for trying to suppress the vote with a self-serving rewrite of elections law that failed to stand up under scrutiny!
· Embarrassed by the exposure of their self-serving power grab, Republicans now must accept a severe neutering of House Bill 7149 (formerly known as PCB EDCA 09-08).

Read what news organizations have written about the Republican voter-suppression legislation:

· Orlando Sentinel, April 23, 2009
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-editorial-voting-assault-042309,0,4626719.story
“The Republican majority has sucker-punched Floridians with a last-minute plan that would throw new obstacles in the path of citizens registering to vote, casting their ballots and amending the state constitution.”

· Ocala Star-Banner, April 22, 2009
http://www.ocala.com/article/20090422/OPINION/904221001/1008/OPINION?Title=-65279-65279-Embarrassed-on-elections-again
“The thinking behind this bill is inexplicable.”

· The New York Times, April 18, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/opinion/19sun2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=elections,%20florida&st=Search
“Florida legislators should not need a court to tell them not to interfere with the right to vote.”

· St. Petersburg Times, April 19, 2009
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article993149.ece
“Republican legislative leaders have lost all sense of shame with their 11th-hour bill to roll back voting rights in Florida.”

· The Miami Herald, April 21, 2009
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/1009469.html
“The sweeping rewrite of Florida's election laws by the Republican majority last week is a flagrant example of power politics at its worst. Here we have legislation authored in secrecy and haste, which has been bereft of meaningful public input or comment.”

· SUN Newspapers (Southwest Florida), April 24, 2009
http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/edStory.aspx?articleID=436162
“There is every reason to increase Florida’s efforts to extend the voting process and make it as accessible to as many people as possible.”

· The Gainesville Sun, April 23, 2009
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090423/OPINION01/904231015/1076/OPINION?Title=Editorial-A-bad-election-bill
“This legislation is shadowy and shameful.”

· Daytona Beach News-Journal, April 22, 2009
http://www.newsjournalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/opnOPN40042109.htm
“This legislation is especially puzzling because Florida, after a long history of troubled elections, had seemed to finally get it right. There were very few problems with the 2008 election -- and neither House nor Senate version of the legislation would solve 2008's biggest problem: Long lines at early-voting stations around the state, which forced many voters to wait for hours to cast their ballot.”

· (Sarasota) Herald Tribune, April 21, 2009
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090421/OPINION/904211031/2198/OPINION?Title=Why-rush-to-change-election-laws-Legislature-should-shelve-a-troubling-costly-bill
“Why? How did such relatively low-priority legislation manage to squeeze itself into a session that is already hard-pressed for time to grapple with such essential issues as tax reform and renewable energy policy? What is driving the ill-advised election measure?”

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

2009-04-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

(Again several sources on this one, including Bill Nelson's office and the House Dems).

Map of oil platforms off the rest of the Gulf Coast and a preview of what would come to Florida if the drilling bill passed. The bill would allow drilling inside the green line.

Oil Drilling is a National Security Issue

2009-04-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

From the House Dems and Emerald Coast magazine:

For those following today’s debate in the Florida House of Representatives on HB 1219, please see the recent Emerald Coast Magazine article about how drilling could adversely affect the military mission in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Our concern over oil/gas activity is related to the possible damage to oil/gas platforms associated with permanent production activity,” Arnold said. Moreover, the additional boat and helicopter support activity would require safe passage, and the radio emissions from the oil and gas platforms could interfere with military missions.” --- Bob Arnold, chief of Eglin Air Force Base’s Mission Enhancement Committee.

Rep. Van Zant Is Batshit Crazy

2009-04-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

Got this one from a couple of sources...

Republican Charlie Van Zant wants drilling off our coasts really, really badly. So much so, he's willing to say crazy things to get it. Among the gems he put forth today:

-God created the oil and will create more once we pump what is there
-If we don't drill, the China, Argentina, and Cuba will so they can fund terrorists
-Drilling will provide more money to Florida than tourism

And to think, Van Zant isn't even the craziest Republican in our legislature.

Update: The Orlando Sentinel reports on this story and leaves out the first and third points, as if they aren't newsworthy. What liberal media?

Dan Gelber on the Legislative Session

2009-04-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

State Senator Dan Gelber says the 2009 legislative session is in absolute meltdown and it's unlikely that the Republicans in Tallahassee will be able to accomplish the only requirement of the annual session -- passing the budget.

After the downfall of corrupt Republican House leader Ray Sansom, Gelber said that the Republicans have no reliable leadership and that they don't really know what they are doing in terms of this year's session. At a time when Florida faces deep challenges, the majority party lacks the capacity to do much to meet those needs and it's likely the session will end next week with no budget deal in place.

Floridians are facing an economic crisis that is deeper than the national crisis -- and likely to last quite a bit longer -- and neither the Republicans in the legislature nor Governor Charlie Crist is providing us with the leadership we need to tackle the problems. Gelber said he remembers the big fight under Governor Jeb Bush was that Bush was too hands-on and it was difficult to keep him from doing damage. Under Crist, though, we have the opposite problem -- the governor doesn't want to come out and say what his plans are on any issue, leaving lawmakers without guidance as to how he'll react when legislation hits his desk. Gelber says Crist is like a movie critic -- he tells you how he feels about an issue without offering any solutions. The vacuum of leadership from the Republicans in Tallahassee means there is no good news from the session.

The primary purpose of the annual legislative session is to come up with the state's budget. Because of the national economic crisis and the more extreme state economic crisis, budget revenue has been in a freefall in recent months.

Gelber says that he's happy that the Senate budget plan has some significant increases in revenue. He's upset that the House isn't increasing revenue, but rather is relying on cuts that damage education, health care and other essential services. He hopes that the final budget deal doesn't strip out the revenue gains.

New revenue comes from several sources. The increase in the tobacco tax helps a lot, and is recurring, but diminishes over time. The stimulus money, while hugely important in the short term, only applies to a 25-month period and the revenue stream is gone. Without it, though, Gelber warns that the state could lose its bond rating and face even more serious cuts to basic services. In 2011, there will be a huge problem if more revenue isn't found, because the stimulus money will be gone. It could even lead to problems in 2010 if the economy doesn't rebound quick enough.

The real source for new revenue that should be pursued are the tax loopholes that have been widely discussed. Eliminating some of the more egregious loopholes could generate close to a billion in revenue each year.

Gelber had a lot to say about the importance of education and says that we need to be investing in the future, not cutting it. With the news yesterday that Jefferson County (immediately to the East of Tallahassee) has no money left in its education budget and will be taken over by the state, the issue is even more visible. The same crisis was almost faced by Dade schools. Dade avoided going under by cutting important programs and firing popular teachers in "nonessential" areas such as drama. Gelber stresses the importance of those other programs, saying they are essential to educating Florida's children. Florida is already a state that spends very little on education and in the last year or so, we've cut spending by about $500 per student. This is why the state is having trouble getting federal education stimulus funds and have had to ask for a waiver. Gelber thinks we'll get that waiver, though, which is good news since we're not sure what'll happen without it. He notes that, unlike himself, most of the legislature doesn't have children in public schools, so they don't see the direct effects their policies are having on our school system.

He also notes that while all of Florida's Republican representatives to Congress voted to reject stimulus funds, Republicans in the state legislature -- those who actually have to pass a budget and get things done -- are overwhelmingly for the stimulus plan and are asking for more. In Congress, he says, Republicans are a minority and have no responsibility and nothing to answer for. At the state level, they're actually in charge and have to show results, so they're doing the common sense thing and taking the money that Florida needs during this time of crisis.

Floridians can help spread the news on the budget cuts and other problems created by Republican policies by telling the personal stories of how government programs are affecting people's lives. Write letters to the editor, blog, tell your friends and neighbors how cuts hurt real people and maybe enough people will hear the story and can convince legislators to do the right thing.

Gelber condemned Dean Cannon's push for oil drilling and dismissed the recent talk of combining the drilling proposal with the "clean energy" bill being pushed for by Senator Jim King. Gelber doesn't think that compromise will go forward, although Gelber warns that every time he thinks something is too crazy for the Republicans to pursue, they do it anyway.

Luckily for Floridians, Gelber said he thinks the most extreme things floating around the legislature this year will die because of the dysfunction of the Republican leaders. It's unlikely that the elections bill, CSX bill, and offshore drilling proposals will make it to the governor's desk.

(Gelber recently reached out to bloggers by offering to do a series of conference calls with them to discuss the legislative session and provide us with the latest information on what's happening at the capitol. I, and several other bloggers, jumped at the opportunity. Our first conference call was last night.)

House Republicans Violate No-tax Pledge At Expense of Middle Class Floridians

2009-04-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

From the House Dems:

After voting to cut education and healthcare and draining state funds for housing and transportation, several Florida House Republicans on Friday also violated their pledge to vote against increasing taxes.

Twenty-one Republican members of the Florida House signed a pledge to taxpayers created by Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform, and in an act of hypocrisy on Friday, those same members voted for almost a $1-billion in tax increases.

Norquist’s organization has repeatedly stated that any increase in a fee that goes into a general fund rather than the cost of providing a specific service is a tax increase.

Floridians will not be fooled by House Republican attempts to disguise their tax-hike votes. The House Republicans who violated their so-called “no new taxes” Norquist pledge include:

· House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala;

· Representative Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach;

· Representative Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park;

· Representative Jennifer Carroll, R-Jacksonville;

· Representative Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island;

· Representative Clay Ford, R-Pensacola;

· Representative Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City;

· Representative Doug Holder, R-Sarasota;

· Representative Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda;

· Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami;

· Representative Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland;

· Representative Marlene O’Toole, R-Lady Lake;

· Representative Steve Precourt, R-Winter Garden;

· Representative Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine;

· Representative David Rivera, R-Miami;

· Representative Julio Robaina, R-Miami;

· Representative Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte;

· Representative William Snyder, R-Stuart;

· Representative Baxter Troutman, R-Winter Haven;

· Representative Charles Van Zant, R-Palatka;

· Representative John Wood, R-Haines City.

While Florida House Republican have raised taxes on working Floridians, House Democrats have proposed alternatives that would have balanced the state’s budget without making radical and reckless policy changes.

These Democratic proposals, which Republican leaders have blocked from being debated in the Florida House, include closing tax loopholes for the rich, collecting sales taxes on purchases made over the Internet, and deleting certain outdated sales tax exemptions.

“Republicans apparently think that balancing the state budget by taking money from the pockets of hard-working Floridians is preferable to having an open and honest discussion about alternative revenue sources,” said Representative Ron Saunders (D-Key West), the House Democratic Ranking Member on the Full Appropriations Council on Education and Economic Development.

What's Going On: Legislative Round-up

2009-04-20T17:59:00.001-07:00

Florida Netroots: Florida Budget Process a Petrie Dish for Corruption

Progress Florida (Doug Matthews): Florida Forever, Everglades Restoration Benefit from Closing Tax Loophole

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): The People Be Damned: The Florida GOP Wants Their Majorities

Progressive Pensacola: Our Crazy Legislature, Week 7

Florida Netroots: Republicans: Changing the Voting Rules Again

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Miserable effort by Florida Republicans to wreck elections

What's Going On: Florida Republican Assault on Voters

2009-04-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

Avery Voice: MORE REPUBLICAN VOTING REGISTRATION SHENANIGANS

Why Now?: Fixing Florida’s Election Law

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Dismal Miami Herald coverage continues to lag on Florida Senate election rigging

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Florida Legislature: a 72 page bill that reads like a hit list on voters

Generation Miami (Alex Barreras): Who is afraid of Florida voters?

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Eyeonmiami scoops the Herald on voting rights disaster unfolding in Florida legislature

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): How Florida Republicans plan to own Florida

Broward's Blog: Senate elections bill would shake up parties and 2010 races

What's Going On: Sansom Indicted

2009-04-19T09:18:00.001-07:00

Pensacola Beach Blog: Can Northwest Florida College Trustees be Trusted?

Why Now?: “Fast Buck Bob” RICHburg

Pensacola Beach Blog: Charlie Crist's World

Pensacola Beach Blog: Northwest Florida Leaders Indicted

Sherman Dorn: More on Sansom and Richburg indictments

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Florida Republicans: The 6 Minute Solution

Why Now?: Rule Of Law - Who Knew?

Sherman Dorn: Sansom and Richburg indictment and grand jury report...

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Grand jury indicts former Florida House speaker

Re/Creating Tampa: Sansomwatch: Ray Sansom Indicted

Progressive Pensacola: Ray Sansom indicted

Pushing Rope: Ray Sansom Indicted

Sherman Dorn: Northwest Florida State College president indicted on perjury

What's Going On: Legislative Round-up

2009-04-19T09:16:00.001-07:00

madfloridian: Florida lawmakers will likely reject about $440 million in additional workers' compensation benefits

Re/Creating Tampa: More University Cuts in Florida

Dan Gelber: At least one bright spot

madfloridian: The CSX Sunrail deal still has the clause that would make Florida liable for CSX problems...

Eye on Miami (Genius of Despair): Rundown of Environmental Issues We Are Facing.

Florida Citizens for Science: Florida’s Greatest Menace VII: Causing the Nation to Fall!

What's the Difference on the Gambling Proposals?

2009-04-12T06:57:00.000-07:00

Based on analysis by Herald-Tribune writer Jeremy Wallace, here's what you've got, not including the unimportant details of what specific gambling would be allowed:

*Rep. Bill Galvano's plan would generate $100 million a year, keep the gambling age at 21, would allow unlimited random state inspections of the casinos and would allow people injured at the casinos to sue the tribe.

*Gov. Charlie Crist's plan would generate $150 million a year, keep the gambling age at 21, would limit state inspections to four per year and would allow lawsuits against the tribes only after "other remedies are exhausted."

*The Senate plan would generate $400 million a year, would change the gambling age to 18, would allow unlimited state inspections of the casinos and would allow lawsuits against the tribe.

Clearly, Crist's plan is the worst. Generates little money and explicitly attempts to avoid accountability. The Senate plan appears to be the best. It raises the most money for education -- something we sorely need right now -- and allows for accountability. It does lower the gambling age to 18, but that doesn't really mean much. Anyone that thinks 18-year-olds don't already gamble doesn't understand 18-year-olds. And if they are old enough to be sent overseas to die in pointless wars of aggression by an illegitimate president, then they should be old enough to gamble if they so choose.

Look Who's Raising Taxes on the Middle Class

2009-04-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

From the House Dems:

There they go again! Florida House Republicans are saying one thing and doing another.

Amid rising unemployment rates and deep consumer frustration, House Republican leaders are failing to provide any responsible ideas for resolving Florida’s economic crisis and are, instead, increasing taxes on working families.

This week, Florida House Republican leaders departed sharply from their no-new-taxes rhetoric by proposing nearly a billion dollars in new tax hikes, including major fees on Florida families, tourists and industry.

Among new fees House Republicans propose are a new rental car surcharge, a so-called “reflectorization fee” for license plates, fees for driver history records, higher charges for obtaining or renewing a driver licenses, vehicle registrations, and license plates.

House Republican Leader Adam Hasner is fond of saying that “challenging and uncertain economic times” require “lowering the tax burden on Floridians.” But this week’s first attempt by House Republicans to write a new state budget fails Hasner’s own test of leadership.

What's Going On

2009-04-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

The latest news on Florida politics and politicians.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, vowed Friday that she would only submit earmark requests on behalf of "localities, non-profits, or government agencies."

Robert Wexler praises Crist on Chinese drywall issue

The space shuttle would continue flying until NASA builds its replacement vehicle or a U.S. company launches a private spacecraft capable of reaching the International Space Station, under a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Florida.

Legislation by Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, requesting Congress withdraw a moratorium barring drilling for oil and gas in the eastern Gulf of Mexico is one step away from being voted on by the Florida House.

Sen. Charlie Dean says he should quit his post as Majority Whip if lawmakers move forward with a push to privatize a state-run mental hospital for the criminally insane in his district.

Miami Republican Rep. Juan Zapata just sent out an email to his colleagues all but daring House Speaker Larry Cretul to fire him as chair of the House Human Services Appropriations Committee.

The Florida House’s select tribal gaming committee advanced a no-frills Seminole compact Friday that would preclude the tribe from operating so-called banked table games at its seven casinos.

March 30-April 1 Mason Dixon poll for SayfieReview/PowerPlay (moe +/-4%) shows a dead heat between Bill McCollum and Alex Sink for governor: McCollum 36 percent, Sink 35 percent, undecided 29 percent.

Florida's heralded land-conservation program that has preserved millions of acres of green space during the past two decades is going away — at least for a year.

The SunRail commuter train proposed for Central Florida will not get any help from Sen. Gary Siplin, D- Orlando

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, voted against a House budget bill today because the federal spending guidelines "does not give NASA the flexibility to fly the space shuttle past 2010."

In a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist, Mack says he will not run for Senate in 2010.

Senate Finance and Tax Committee Chairman Thad Altman said he thinks the temperature for a broad-based discussion of sales tax exemptions may not happen this session.

The Florida Senate voted Thursday to weaken the state's rigid growth laws that force developers to build roads around places where they choose to plant new shopping malls, factories or planned communities.

Florida senators signaled Wednesday that they want companies such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity to pay higher taxes.

One of the bill’s co-authors said the intention is to prevent a repeat of what happened at American International Group, where AIG executives initially received about $165 million in bonuses after getting more than $180 billion in bailout funds. “[The measure] is based on two simple concepts. One, no one has the right to get rich off taxpayer money. And two, no one should get rich off abject failure,” said U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, a freshman Democrat from Orlando.

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, today urged President Obama to extend the space shuttle era, "preferably" until NASA is ready to fly a replacement vehicle that the agency hopes can one day return Americans to the moon.

Alcee Hastings commemorates legacy of AIDS activist Pedro Zamora

Sen. Don Gaetz has filled a bill with Sen. Mike Fasano that will stop public officials from collecting a paycheck and a pension, known as Double-dipping.

What's Going On: Legislative Roundup

2009-04-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

Progressive Homeschoolers of Florida: Parental Rights Amendment back as HJ Resolution 42

Sunshine Statements: How To Pay For Hiking Tuition In Florida?

Re/Creating Tampa: Corporate Welfare

Pushing Rope: Everglades Update

Progressive Pensacola: Cigarette tax hike clears Senate committee

ReidBlog: The GOP's April Fool's Day budget

Pushing Rope: Florida Cigarette Tax Update

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): Why Are Republicans Standing In The Way of the Healthy Teens Act?

Pushing Rope: Shiny Happy Governor

Fried Gator: Ellyn Bogdanoff: Cigarette Tax Damages Slurpee Economy

House Republicans Vote to Increase Class Sizes

2009-03-30T08:57:00.001-07:00

Martin Kiar:

“House Republicans and their public relations’ operatives proved with great fanfare today that they don’t fully grasp their own members’ legislation.

“Representative Anitere Flores should be allowed to have a meeting with Representative Will Weatherford, the sponsor of House Joint Resolution 919, so that she can better understand his proposal.

“What Representative Weatherford should explain to Representative Flores is that under HJR 919, Republicans voted in lock-step today to increase class sizes from 18 to 21 for kindergarten through third grade, from 22 to 27 for fourth through eighth grade, and from 25 to 30 for high school.

“House Democrats proposed major changes to the misguided Republican plan that would have required the state to complete the last---and most crucial---step toward phasing in the Class Size Amendment in 2010.

“Democrats sought to give school districts greater flexibility while also continuing the effort to ease crowding in public school classrooms and provide needed funding to our children’s education.

“In contrast, the Republican plan could hinder the goals of the voter-approved Class Size Amendment. The Republican plan would increase class sizes, potentially kill future funding for improving the teaching environment, and stall student learning gains.”

Hothead Hasner Gets Heated; Plays Partisan Politics With Florida's Paychecks

2009-03-30T08:01:00.001-07:00

FDP:

epublican House Leader Adam Hasner, once again showing that he puts partisan politics above the people of Florida, is ready to reject $1.1 billion in federal recovery aid to help Floridians that have fallen on hard times during this economic slump.

As the Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau reported today, "Florida is on the verge of forfeiting more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funds that could help 250,000 Floridians whose unemployment benefits are running out."

"Adam Hasner doesn't get it. With the Florida Agency for Workforce Investment reporting that our state's unemployment is at 8.6 percent, Florida's families are struggling to pay the bills. Rather than working to ease the pain of Floridians, who have lost their jobs in this economic crisis, Hasner is pushing his extremist agenda, gambling with Florida's economy and hurting families across the Sunshine State. Instead of playing partisan politics with Floridians' paychecks, hotheaded Hasner and his House Republicans need to immediately stop their posturing and join the bi-partisan efforts to help over 250,000 Floridians whose unemployment benefits are running out," said Eric Jotkoff, Florida Democratic Party spokesman.

From the Blogs

2009-03-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

Fried Gator - Atwater and Cretul: Dancing like They just Don't Care

madfloridian - As Florida economy crumbles the religious right files ultrasound bill again

madfloridian - Florida Republicans might reject stimulus cash for jobless

madfloridian - Florida House committee oks bill to further deregulate telecoms, allow steeper rates.

FLA Politics (FDP) - Hothead Hasner Gets Heated; Plays Partisan Politics With Florida's Paychecks

Call on Committee Chairs to Agenda the Prevention First Act in Florida!

2009-03-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

On March 18th, the House Health Regulation Committee heard HB 983, the mandatory ultrasound bill by Rep. Flores (R-114) and Rep. Burgin (R-56). HB 983 passed out of the Committee by a 5-2 vote. Representative Jimmy Patronis (R-6), chair of the Health Care Regulation Policy Committee, gave a hearing to HB 983, yet has not given a hearing to the Prevention First Act (HB 129)!

The Prevention First Act increases access to birth control and helps to reduce unintended pregnancies by guaranteeing access to emergency contraception for rape survivors, protecting the right to birth control for all women, and protecting the right to have lawful and valid prescriptions filled at the pharmacy.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact Chair of the House Health Regulation Committee, Representative Jimmy Patronis (R-6) at (850) 488-9696.

Simply say:

• I am disappointed that Rep. Patronis voted for HB 983, a bill that ties the hands of doctors and interferes with the doctor-patient relationship.
• I urge Rep. Patronis to support commonsense policies that will prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion and agenda HB 129 the Prevention First Act as soon as possible.
• During this economic crisis, the Florida legislature should be spending it’s time on the budget, not on divisive abortion bills.

Then, Call or email Chair Don Gaetz (R-4) at (850) 487-5009

When Calling Chair Gaetz, simply say: Please put prevention first and give SB 310, the Prevention First Act, a fair hearing.

Additional comments to include when calling Senator Gaetz:

• The Prevention First Act is a commonsense measure which reduces unintended pregnancy by increasing access to birth control.
• Expanding access to birth control is the best way to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion.
• Preventing unintended pregnancy and reducing the need for abortion is something we can all agree on.

Please contact us at info@floridachoice.org to tell us the results of your call. Thank you.

Anti-Union Lies From Florida Republicans

2009-03-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

Instead of dealing with actual problems, here's how our legislators are wasting their times:

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE POP QUIZ

How does HJR1013 (THE ANTI-WORKER PLAN) MISLEAD THE PUBLIC?

ANSWER: The right to cast a secret ballot in federal, state and local elections is already guaranteed and protected in the Florida Constitution.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ARTICLE VI, SECTION 1. Regulation of elections. All elections by the people shall be by direct and secret vote.

· Under Article VI, Section 1, the right to cast a secret ballot in federal, state and local elections is already guaranteed and protected.

· House Republican Leader Adam Hasner’s House Joint Resolution 1013 is not about the protection of secret ballots at the voting booth.

· Floridians cherish their right to cast their vote in secret. That’s why the Constitution preserves and protects Floridians privacy to cast their vote by a secret ballot.

· HJR 1013 distracts from the Legislature’s biggest task: improving the state’s economy, protecting school children and teachers from funding cares, and ensuring better health care for more Floridians.

Hasner Was Right

2009-03-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it, Adam Hasner was correct about Muslim Day at the capitol. When I thought about it before, I didn't really do my reading up on the people involved and their well-documented problems. I should've done my homework and I'm sorry that I didn't. I apologize.

How could I have guessed that when the Muslims showed up, they'd resort to just the type of tactics that Hasner suggested they might?

Like when everyone showed up, all the women were in burqas? And all the men wore Arab headgear, even the Iranians?

Or when the Muslim speakers began talking and they denounced America as the big Satan and called for the destruction of Israel? Hasner said they'd come to complain about his meaningless resolution of support for Israel, and he wasn't wrong? Like when Ahmed Bedier called for a Jihad against all Florida legislators who support Isreal?

How could I have imagined that the Muslim activists would've broken into impromptu madrassah for individual legislators, attempting to indoctrinate them into extremist Islam? Who knew that Ray Sansom would fall for it?

Or when the Muslims forced Larry Cretul to propose a bill to make Shariah the official law of the land in Florida? Who would've thought that Bedier and friends would've been so convincing that seven committees would've fast-tracked the bill and passed it on the same day, that the bill would've gone to the floor of both houses and passed unanimously, and that it would become the law?

And how about the budget that Bedier convinced Gov. Crist and the legislature to pass? I'm surprised that they legislators signed on to sending the entire Florida budget for the next year to Hamas. Who would've saw that one coming?

But that wasn't enough for Bedier and friends, was it? When they set up bombs at the old capitol, the new capitol, the Vietnam memorial, the Museum of Natural History, the Black History Archives, the County Courthouse, Andrew's and Paradigm, I was shocked. The fact that Bedier was able to convince TPD, the sheriff's department and the capitol police to ignore the whole thing and let it happen was the day's big surprise.

Oh, wait, none of that happened, did it? That means Hasner is still just a hatemonger and a moron.

Legislative Round-up

2009-03-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Pushing Rope: Compassionate Conservatism: Making the Unemployed Pay to Be Drug Tested

Pushing Rope: The Impact Fees Tax Shift

Blast Off!: The obligatory blog post about bestiality

Blast Off!: Haridopolos panders again

Florida Citizens for Science: Letter in the Ledger

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): Stop Trying To Undermine The People's Government

Evers Hates Women

2009-03-10T23:32:00.001-07:00

State Rep. Greg Evers respects professional women so much he calls them "sugar" during public events. Shameful.

From the Blogs

2009-03-10T00:14:00.000-07:00

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

Fried Gator: Add another name to the list of corrupt Republicans in Tallahassee: Charlie Dean

Sunshine Statements: Hasner's Actions Smack Of Bigotry

Fried Gator: Miami Herald, Buzz, Hasner, and Greer prefer corrupt Sansom to low key Sands

Blast Off!: If they can't have Sansom, they don't want anyone

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): Ending Pay-to-Play Politics In Counties

Fun With Conservatives

2009-03-07T18:26:00.001-08:00

Something I've not done much of in recent years is engage in debate with conservatives. My plan is to start doing that a lot more, particularly when someone goes after me directly. Like our first example, a guy whose name I'll let you figure out for yourself (don't want to promote him), who took umbrage at my recent post on Adam Hasner. A new wrinkle in this argument is that this guy actually is debating me via Twitter @ replies, which is a new one for me.

The gist of the post was that, well, State Rep. Adam Hasner is a hate-monger. My evidence? Three things:

1. He opposes Muslims lobbying the legislature.
2. He supports batshit-crazy anti-Muslim films obsession and The Third Jihad.
3. He was quoted as saying that he didn't care if innocent people were hurt as part of the backlash those films seeks to promote.

None of these are things that Hasner refutes or has every said he disagrees with. And, clearly, if you agree with these things, then you are a hate-monger. That point is not debateable.

My conservative critic doesn't care about things like facts or anything like that. He goes, instead, with the same old conservative arguments.

Youre so quick to paint a good man a hatemonger without fully understanding the man he criticizes. Read up on Mr Bedier.

I did paint Hasner as a hatemonger and that stands fully independently of whether or not Bedier is a terrorist or not. We have no evidence that Bedier is a terrorist. If we did, he'd have been prosecuted and convicted long ago. That hasn't happened. Why? That evidence doesn't exist. Besides, like my original post says, Hasner doesn't just oppose Bedier's rights to free speech and petition, he actively promotes hate-films like Obsession. Even if that weren't true, which is is, he has a 100% rating from the Christian Coalition. By definition, anyone with a 100% from the religious right is a hatemonger. There are no exceptions to this and no possible exceptions to this. The Christian Coalition is a hate group, pure and simple. Beyond that, Hasner hates workers (he's a union buster), he hates free and fair elections (he opposes publicly-financed elections) and he hates pretty much all Floridians (he's an anti-tax crusader). It's clear the amount of his hate knows no bounds, he just has a special hatred for Muslims.

I assume you have seen both award winning documentaries about radical islam, not all muslims. Radical Islam is a threat

Everyone agrees that radical Islam is a threat, just like radical Christianity is. Just like any radicals who promote violence are. And these "documentaries" (read: propaganda films) haven't won awards from any legitimate sources. Anyone can make up a series of awards and give them to anyone they wish. Heck, I've been voted into to halls of fame. I originally created both of them (although I had no hand in voting myself into them), so I don't tout them as proof of my quality as a person. One does not need to see propaganda and hate speech personally to know that it is such, particularly when there are numerous other reliable sources that tell the truth about these films. I have never seen one bit of propaganda from the Ku Klux Klan, yet I know they are wrong. I've only read one statement that Osama Bin Laden has put out, something from 1996, yet I know that everything he has sent out since then is hate-filled propaganda. Same thing with Obsession and anything from the same people. And anyone who defends those films is, by definition, a hate-monger.

Hasner is speaking out against Bedier's ties to radical Islam. Also, where did the "I don't care" quote came from?

He's actually speaking out against Bedier's rights to free speech and to petition the government for the redress of greivances, things protected in the First Amendment. And the "proof" of Bedier's ties to radical Islam is that he was the leader of a local branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. There's no evidence that this chapter had any ties to radical Islam and there's actually no evidence that the national CAIR organization has ties to radical Islam, either, beyond hearsay from right-wing critics.

Are you kidding me? You got the quote from a blog post by John Brown on Topix? You are a joke

No. Don't know who John Brown is, haven't visited Topix. When in doubt, though, fall back on the traditional conservative mode of attack -- ad hominem insults.

There is no evidence of this incident even occurring. Quit sipping the Kool-Aid my friend. It will lead you no where.

Of course there is evidence. There is an eye-witness account that no one denies happened. When it doubt, though, fall back on direct insults and aspersions about my intelligence.

He has neither denied it nor confirmed it, but using hearsay to smear someone is despicable and should not be the "key" to a post.

This isn't hearsay, this is direct witness testimony.

Here's a question. As a professor, would you allow a student to hinge their paper on an unverifiable source from a blog?

As a historian, I'd point out the obvious fact that almost all historical evidence is from unverifiable sources. Secondly, I'd point out that a blog is not a paper. Thirdly, I'd point out that blogs cite other blogs all the time. Fourthly, I'd mention that conservative blogs (and legislators) almost always rely upon such unverifiable sources (like say, when making a film like Obsession).

I'm complaining about a person who takes someone's opinion, and calls it fact. He doesn't need to deny such a ridiculous claim.

I didn't take someone's opinion and report it as a fact. I reported the fact that an eyewitness claimed something happened. And it is clear that conservatives frequently say nonsense like this at public events (see: Tramm Hudson, George Allen, etc.) and if Hasner doesn't want people to think he's a hate-monger, then he should respond to the claim. Especially when he promotes a movie that agrees with the claim that he's accused of making. And if he didn't make the claim, he should certainly repudiate it and tell us how he really feels about the innocent people who can and will be harmed by the promotion of such a horrible series of propaganda films.

As a professor, your posts are held by some to a certain academic standard. I guess they set the bar pretty low at TCC.

Complete and utter nonsense. There is no professional or ethical standard that applies here. Besides, any teacher I've ever had would allow someone to include eyewitness testimony as a bit of valid evidence in a paper (or a blog post). They would have a problem if an entire case was made on one bit of evidence, but that's not what I did. I said it was part of a pattern and provided other examples to support the claim. But, when in doubt, fall back on the old conservative argument of insulting not only me, but an entire educational institution.

The point of the whole thing is, of course, that this guy likes Hasner because both he and Hasner are conservatives. And he doesn't want to believe that conservatism promotes extreme viewpoints. But it does. And, by definition, conservatives are extremists. Hating people because of their religion or party or race is part and parcel of the conservative tradition in the United States and Hasner (and my commenter) proudly defend that tradition.

Adam Hasner Is A Hate-Monger

2009-03-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

Rep. Adam Hasner apparently opposes freedom of speech for Muslims. A group of Florida Muslims wants to go to the capitol during the session and lobby on behalf of education, healthcare and the economy. He automatically assumes they are terrorists and that they hate Jews.

His evidence? The leader of the group, Ahmed Bedier, once worked in a local office for the Council of American-Islamic Relations. The right wing has an extreme grudge against CAIR, which they claim is a front organization for Hamas because, well, they're Muslims.

His problem with them? He's afraid that if they lobby the legislature, then maybe legislators will turn anti-Isreal? I'm not sure about that one, his logic is a bit crazy.

His solution? Frantic e-mails to lobbyists and calling together the non-existent Jewish caucus in the legislature.

This could be just a bit of run-of-the-mill prejudice and ignorance, but it isn't, it's part of a bigger pattern on Hasner's part. Hasner is a promoter of batshit-crazy anti-Muslim films Obsession and The Third Jihad. These films effectively portray all Muslims as potential terrorists and call for the West to "wake up" and do something about the problem. In that way, they directly influence Americans to engage in discrimination, and potentially violence, against peaceful, law-abiding Muslims.

Hasner was confronted about this:

Immediately following the film, Florida’s State Majority Leader, Rep. Adam Hasner of Delray Beach, Fl, gave a brief presentation to the audience where he praised and gave support for the film. He was then asked by a gentleman from the audience how he felt about the backlash that might occur towards peaceful Muslims as a result of the film. After pausing for a moment, he boldly proclaimed, “I don’t care.”

Get that? Hasner doesn't care if law-abiding, peaceful Muslims are harmed by anti-Muslim propaganda -- a backlash that could potentially include violence. Hasner doesn't care. He has his prejudices and he's sticking to them.

From the Blogs

2009-03-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

Progressive Pensacola: Grand jury: investigate Sansom

Re-Creating Tampa: SansomWatch - The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Blast Off!: Today's Daily Schadenfreude: Ray Sansom

Progressive Pensacola: Sansom: A failed Speaker

Pushing Rope: The Ray Sansom Scandals

Franklin Sands' Remarks on Speaker-Designate Dean Cannon

2009-03-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

“On behalf of the House Democratic Caucus, I offer warm congratulations to Representative Cannon. We look forward to serious discussions with him and his colleagues about the people’s business and how the Legislature should combat the economic challenges facing Floridians.

“As Representative Cannon and his Republican colleagues surely know, Florida is in a serious economic crisis. Our people are deeply worried about their jobs, their financial future, and their children’s education. Today should be a day to begin the healing in a bipartisan manner.

“Like Governor Charlie Crist, Florida House Democrats believe it is vital to use the federal economic recovery funds to resolve our current state budget crisis. We are hopeful that the governor’s wisdom on this matter reaches Representative Cannon and his colleagues in the House Republican Conference.

“It wasn’t ‘borrowing and rampant spending by the private sector’ that created this crisis. Rather, Florida is suffering significantly because of many factors, including the significant tax giveaways under Republican Jeb Bush’s administration.

“The impact of the Bush-era tax cuts is costing the state an estimated $3-billion or more annually. Failure to close loopholes that favor the very rich and special interests are the real culprits. These are the issues that we hope Representative Cannon and his colleagues show the courage to address in the upcoming legislative session.”

Clearly, there are two ways to balance a budget -- cutting spending and raising taxes. We've tried cutting things. It doesn't work and it has many other negative effects. It's time to raise taxes on those who use more government resources than anyone else -- the rich.

Is Sansom's "Temporary" Resignation from Speaker Post Legal?

2009-01-31T11:33:00.001-08:00

Rep. Jim Waldman doesn't think so. I don't either.

Dear Chair Galvano,

As a member of the Florida House of Representatives and the House Rules Council, I am requesting your opinion on whether Speaker Sansom’s recent memo recusing himself from his duties for a temporary period, subject to his decision to reverse his recusal, is permitted under House Rules. Based upon my reading of our rules, it is not permitted and his action should be deemed either a nullity or a resignation necessitating an election for a replacement Speaker.

Rule 1.1(a)(1) requires the house to “choose a permanent presiding officer designated Speaker”. Rule 2.5 states that: ‘The Speaker pro tempore shall exercise the duties, powers, and prerogatives of the Speaker in the event of the Speaker’s death, illness, removal, or inability to act, until the speaker’s successor is elected.”

These two rules together mean that the pro tempore only exercises the Speaker’s duties temporarily, until a new Speaker is elected. Since there is no time limit specified, it should be inferred that it would be for a reasonable time. However, the Speaker pro tempore only assumes this role upon the Speaker’s death, illness, removal, or inability to act.

The first three requirements clearly do not apply. It might be argued that the Speaker has an inability to act, but I would argue that that is not the case. Instead, he might not believe he can be effective or he might want to devote more time to other endeavors, but he certainly has the ability. As used in the rule, the term “inability to act” appears to imply mental incapacity and the parallel of physical illness.

If it were the case that there was an inability to act, we might have interpretation issues regarding who decides whether the inability exists and who decides when the ability returns. The rule contemplates an election of a successor in any event and it clearly contemplates a permanent replacement. Further, since it says “in the event of” and not “during” such inability, this would mean that it would be unclear as to whether the substitution of power could even be temporary.

Regardless, these questions are moot because we do not have not have a case where Speaker Sansom has an inability to act. Perhaps our rules should allow the Speaker to suspend his or her duties for other reasons, but they do not.

Respectfully, I am asking for your opinion as Rules Chair as I believe the integrity of the Florida House of Representatives demands that we follow our rules.

Very truly yours,

Jim Waldman
State Representative, District 95

Is Sansom's "

2009-01-31T11:33:00.000-08:00

It's Official, the Special Session Budget Is A Failure for Florida

2009-01-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

The budget proposed by legislative Republicans is short-sighted, economically naive, immoral and the exact type of thinking that got us in the budget mess we are in now. Instead of doing the right thing and closing tax loopholes for the wealthy, Republicans are cutting essential services, mortgaging our future and raising fees (a.k.a. "taxes") on those less able to pay. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Overall, the "savings" in the new budget is $2.8 billion. The budget will be voted on Wednesday.

Among the key things on the chopping block:

$20 million from the Florida Forever program that buys up land for conservation purposes. This effectively shuts down the program for the year. I wonder how much of Florida's beauty will be destroyed in that year.

$480 million in education funding. This is shameful. We already have the lowest spending in the country on education and this will make it worse at a time when we also have the lowest graduation rate in the country. Like I said, mortgaging our future.

$321 million in construction projects, which could be good or bad, depending on what the projects are.

$437 million in other cuts. I'd like to see more details on these, although I have a feeling we aren't talking about good cuts here.

$1.5 million cut from the governor's office. Not a lot of money is saved here, but it's at least a good sign that the governor is going to face some of the same kinds of cuts everyone else is.

$100,000 by getting rid of a state aircraft. Okay, this one is definitely a good idea, too. It saves little money, but it is a good symbolic gesture.

One bright spot is nursing homes, which through a bit of budget creativity (why couldn't they have done this elsewhere?), will gain funding through cuts because they'll be able to qualify for more federal grants. I wonder how many other federal grants we didn't get because nobody tried to get them.

The other aspect of the "compromise" budget wherein there were really few compromises and few changes apart from what Republicans came to Tallahassee with is raids of various trust funds, some of which are permanent. Here's what they are taking:

$700 million from the Chiles fund, designed to pay for child welfare, child and elderly health care programs and anti-smoking efforts. The money is supposedly going to be paid back, unless there is an emergency. Who wants to bet that "emergency" has already been designated and this money won't be paid back? And since this fund pays for these programs based solely on the interest, this is a huge cut, taking out more than half the assets in the fund, meaning little is left to pay for these vital programs.

$190 million from a trust fund designed to provide low-income housing. I can't imagine that we'll have any need for low-income housing during a depression. At least we'll have good roads to drive on, thanks to Mike Fasano, who saved money for them (but not for any people, apparently).

$400 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund. This is a terrible idea considering the state of the economy and the almost universal projections of further economic decline. As Alex Sink said, this could leave us unable to meet our obligations down the road if things keep getting worse.

$381 million from other trust funds. Obviously, I'd have to know more about which trust funds to know if this is a good idea. Based on the rest of this crappy budget, I'm guessing these are bad things to be stealing money from.

And they propose increasing traffic fines, dropping the ability to get discounted fines for going to traffic school and taking away the power of judges to waive fines. Seems pretty clear that these increased taxes will disproportionately affect people at the bottom end of the economic spectrum -- increasing taxes on the poor.

Senate Democrats all voted against this proposed budget, except for waste of space Gary Siplin.

The problem looks to get worse, too, as the deficit for next year is projected to be over $4 billion. I can't imagine what they'll cut next time.

William March had this to add:

The legislation implementing the cuts is almost too difficult for a laymen, including reporters, to follow unaided.

Weren't Crist and the Republicans supposed to bringing "plain language" to the government? Another broken promise. Add it to the lists of promises our Republican leaders have broken to the Florida public since they came to office. There are so many of them, no one will even notice this new one.

From the Blogs

2009-01-11T13:23:00.000-08:00

Sherman Dorn: Sansom watch, January 11 edition

Progressive Pensacola: Sansom still under fire

Pushing Rope: More On Ethics Complaint Against Ray Sansom

Progressive Pensacola: Sansom still slipping

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): The Drumbeat on Sansom Continues

House Democrats Oppose Proposed Budget Cuts

2009-01-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

With deep concerns about the fate of vital programs for children’s health, nursing home care, public safety, tourism promotion, the environment, and public schools, Florida House Democrats on Friday voiced stern opposition to the short-sighted, across-the-board spending cuts that Republicans approved without debate on alternatives like cutting waste or closing special-interest tax loopholes.

House Democrats have been rebuffed this special session in their attempts to offer meaningful solutions and have warned that House Republicans’ actions on the budget could have lasting unintended consequences, such as the loss of federal revenues, job cuts, and a further slowdown in tourism business.

Among drastic results, the Republican-backed House budget proposal:

Slashes nearly $500 million in public school spending.

Puts more school districts on the verge of financial collapse.

Eliminates $70 million in nursing home funding that will affect the quality of life and safety for seniors.

Injures Florida’s efforts to grow the economy through tourism promotion with major cuts to the Visit Florida program.

Raids the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund in a penny-wise, pound-foolish move that will jeopardize the future of children’s health care.

“The House Republican budget takes from seniors, the frail and the vulnerable,” said Representative Kelly Skidmore, the Democratic Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Council on General Government and Health Care. “We didn’t eliminate funding from programs that are not mission critical. That would have been responsible. What’s worse, we didn’t take time to evaluate our entire revenue structure. We stubbornly refused to admit that the tax policies of the prior Republican administration led us to this crisis.”

House Bill Update -- Special Session

2009-01-09T17:04:00.003-08:00

The following are new bills introduced and still active in the House of Representatives during the current House special session.

HB 15A - Taxation of Cigarettes by Waldman: This one is another attempt to raise the cigarette tax, but I can't see any significant differences from the earlier bill by Zapata. Unless there's something here I'm not seeing, I'd vote yes on this one.

HB 5005A - Education Funding by Flores: I don't like this bill and I would certainly vote against it. First off, it allows local school boards to reduce salaries for all school employees in able to make up for "emergency" financial shortfalls. Seems to me those shortfalls could be avoided if we hadn't instituted several ridiculous property tax cuts in recent years. Maybe repealing them would be the better way to go. Next it would increase the potential size of voluntary prekindergarten classes, another bad idea. We are now attempting to solve the budget problems by placing a greater burden on teachers and the youngest children. They are also cutting the requirements for offering VPK classes. This bill does other things as well, such as delaying the Merit Award Program for a year, but the first few provisions make it bad enough. Definite no vote on my part.

HB 5007A - Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles by Glorioso: This one eliminates the DUI Programs Coordination Trust Fund and redistributes the money to more generalized funds. Additionally, it seems to weaken stipulations on how other money related to DMV programs. I don't know enough about the DUI programs in Florida to come to a complete conclusion on this one, but if we are cutting money from effective programs, that seems like a bad idea to me, particularly since DUIs are so dangerous. At this point, I'd make this one a tentative no.

HB 5105A - Biomedical Research by Zapata: This one cuts funding from two progams that fund biomedical research. This is exactly the kind of short-sighted budgeting that Republicans always do and that got us into the kind of mess we're in now. We can't stop investing in the future -- particularly in the medical field -- just because times are tough now. If we don't invest in the future, times will remain tough. I'd definitely vote no on this one.

HB 5107A - State Judicial System by Adams: This one seems to be kind of a minor bill, as far as I can tell. It increases penalties for some nonfelony traffic violations, increases penalties for speeding more than 15 mph over the speed limit, increases penalties for noncriminal traffic violations, and makes probation in certain cases optional rather than required. As far as I can tell, the fine increases are small and the other penalties don't seem overwhelmingly out of line with the crimes in question. Unless I'm missing something here, I'd probably vote yes on this one.

HB 5109A - My Safe Florida Home Program by Hays: Under the My Safe Florida Program, one option is a no-interest loan to homeowners for home improvements that reduce the property's vulnerability to wind damage. This law would eliminate the requirement that the Department of Financial Services set aside money to pay for the program. Strikes me as a bad idea and seems, once again, that we're trying to save money by refusing to invest in the future. I'd vote no on this one.

HB 5111A - Medicaid by Ambler: This bill would cut the amount of money reimbursed to providers and pharmacies for drugs prescribed under Medicaid. I would have to see an impact statement and find out if there is much in the way of waste and fraud in these programs. I have to withhold judgment on this one and learn more about it.

HB 5113A - Water Management Lands Trust Fund by Poppell: I'm starting to sense a trend here. From what I can tell, this one bans certain types of refunding bonds -- no idea -- and takes money from the Water Management Lands Trust Fund and puts it in the general fund. I'm not as sure about this one as the others, but it strikes me as a bad idea, particularly with the increasing volatility in the water cycle in Florida. I'm inclined to vote no on this one, too.

HB 5115A - Distribution of the Proceeds of the Excise Tax on Documents by Poppell: Another one -- this time taking money from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund and putting it in the general fund. I'd vote no on this one, for sure.

HB 5201A - Economic Development by Murzin: This one would create the Economic Gardening Business and Economic Development to help promote growth in already-existing small businesses in the state. I'd want to see some research on economic gardening projects in other states to see if this is a successful program and whether or not it should be pursued in Florida, but I'd be inclined to vote for it.

House Bill Update

2009-01-09T17:04:00.001-08:00

The following are the bills introduced and still active in the House of Representatives during the current House special session.

HR 1A - Solidarity with Israel: On it's face this is a largely meaningless bill, since it is nothing more than a declaration of support for Israel in its attacks on Gaza. Reading the fine print, though, and there are some problems. The bill unilaterally declares that Iran is sponsoring the attacks on Israel, without providing any evidence to support such a claim. The bill condemns "attacks on civilians" by Palestinians without saying anything about Israeli efforts that harm civilians. Finally, I'm not sure that this proclamation is particularly relevant to the job the legislature is supposed to do, the powers of a state, or the stipulated reasons for the special session. My vote: No.

HB 7A - Cigarette Tax, by Zapata: This one would raise the cigarette tax and specify where the revenue would go, primarily to the Lawton Chiles Fund and health care-related funds. I don't know enough about existing law to get too much into the specifics, but I do like the idea of raising the cigarette tax. In the short term it would certainly bring in more revenue and it would provide an additional disincentive for smoking, particularly amongst poorer people and younger people. In the long run, though, it would seem likely to be a declining source of revenue, so there has to be more done to fill the budget gap. My vote: A tentative yes, pending further expert analysis.

HB 9A - Trust Funds/Creation/Primary Care Services Trust Fund/AHCA, by Zapata: This incredibly vague bill would create the "Primary Care Services Trust Fund" within the AHCA, tasked with using money from the cigarette tax to provide funding to local health departments and similar entities. This is one of the shortest bills I've ever seen -- it's shorter than the declaration of support for Israel -- so I'm a bit worried about the details of the program. Other than that, it seems like a good idea. My vote: Yes.

HB 11A - Procurement of Contractual Services by a State Agency, by Bogdanoff: I'll have to admit that since I don't understand the current law in this area, I don't know enough to evaluate the changes proposed in this bill. Anyone wanting to weigh in on this one would be greatly appreciated.

HB 13A - Corporate Income Tax, by Schwartz: Bills like this are why regular citizens don't generally pay attention to the specific proposals made in legislatures. It's written in a very strong legalese and since it makes little reference to current law, it's difficult to know what's being done here. The bill claims to be creating a more unified accounting system so that in-state corporations aren't disadvantaged in competition with multinational or multistate corporations. Sounds good, that I would agree to with no problem. But there are a lot of details in this one and I'd have to have an expert and a lawyer go over it to figure out what they all mean in practical terms.

From the Blogs

2009-01-03T20:14:00.000-08:00

FLA Politics (FDP): Thurman Calls on Law Enforcement Agencies to Investigate Sansom

Blast Off!: Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom: just another corrupt Republican

Pensacola Beach Blog: The Sansom Mistake

ricksblog: More problems for Sansom

Pushing Rope: Ray Sansom's Hanger Project

Blast Off!: Wingnut welfare for Ray Sansom ... and he's not even out of office!

Did Sansom Steer Tax Dollars For Europe Junket To His Then-Employer

2009-01-03T13:28:00.000-08:00

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For Immediate Release: December 22, 2008

Did Sansom Steer Tax Dollars For Europe Junket To His Then-Employer

Tallahassee, FL - The Florida Democratic Party today demanded that Governor Charlie Crist stop blocking an FDLE investigation into embattled Speaker Ray Sansom, with new questions about Sansom improperly steering taxpayer dollars to his old company, as well as the St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau reporting that documents show Sansom was allegedly involved in an illegal criminal conspiracy and massive corruption.

"First embattled Speaker Ray Sansom was given a $110,000 part-time job with Northwest Florida State College after delivering more than $34 million to the College. Then we learned Sansom is mired in an alleged criminal corruption scandal after funneling $6 million dollars of taxpayer hard earned money to build his friend and major donor Jay Odom a hangar to store his jets. Given Sansom's record, Sansom must prove that he did not improperly steer $150,000 from Enterprise Florida, so his company could send him to visit Charlie Crist on their respective junkets to Europe. To prove that he has the courage to root out corruption in his own party, Charlie Crist needs to stop blocking an FDLE investigation of Sansom and join the Florida Democratic Party in calling on Sansom to resign," said Florida Democratic Party Spokesman Eric Jotkoff.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Sunday that while Gov. Charlie Crist, RPOF Chair Jim Greer, and embattled Speaker Ray Sansom were all on junkets to Europe, "The Republican Party of Florida spent more than $45,000 this summer on chauffeurs, a luxury hotel, meals and attractions in London about the same time Gov. Charlie Crist and others traveled there on a trade mission."

The same article noted that, "At least two party leaders went to London: state Chairman Jim Greer and House Speaker Ray Sansom. Sansom, through a spokeswoman, referred questions to the party. He told the Sun Sentinel that his former employer, an Alabama electric cooperative, paid for his trip."

A press release from Sansom's company dated May 19, 2008 however shows that Sansom used a taxpayer financed grant for his junket to Europe. Sansom's attempt to deceive the Sun-Sentinel raises questions about his role in obtaining the funding.

When one visit's Sansom's old company's website (which still has him listed as a staff member on their Our Team page) you are told to click on a graphic link to get more info that brings visitors to Florida's Great Northwest.

Sansom, who is listed as a Sustaining Partner on FGN's Executive Committee as well as a Board Member of a member of Florida's Great Northwest:

http://www.floridasgreatnorthwest.com/WhoWeAre/BoardDirectors.html

The press release announcing the grant (copied below) is listed on FGN's website:

http://www.floridasgreatnorthwest.com/PressEvents/20080519-grant.pdf

Yesterday, the St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau confirmed that "Although college officials dispute it, public records show that the airport facility Northwest Florida State College plans to build with tax money secured by House Speaker Ray Sansom is the same hangar Sansom's friend wanted for his jet business."

On December 3, 2008, Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman called on Sansom to resign. On December 9, Thurman demanded that Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum order FDLE to investigate. Instead, Crist and McCollum have chosen to ignore the facts and allow Republican corruption to fester under their watch.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Florida's Great Northwest
Media Contact: Cristie Kedroski
850.337.3410 (Direct)
850.337.3469 (Office)
FLORIDA'S GREAT NORTHWEST RECEIVES
STATE GRANT FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
Destin, Florida (May 19, 2008) - Florida's Great Northwest (FGNW) has been awarded a
$150,000 state grant through the Florida International Business Expansion Initiative by Enterprise Florida, Inc. The Florida International Business Initiative grant is a matching grant and is part of Florida's Great Northwest's Northwest Florida International Trade Initiative, an on-going effort to assist local businesses expand their import and export activities as well as attract foreign investment capital to Northwest Florida.
Partially funded by the grant, Florida's Great Northwest will host two outbound trade missions in 2008.
• Farnborough, England (July 14-20) - This trade mission targeting the Aerospace & Defense Industry will be held in conjunction with the Farnborough Air Show. A delegation of eleven economic development professionals including Florida's Great Northwest staff, county economic development organizations from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Bay, and Leon Counties, and utilities are registered to attend. The economic development professionals are focused on attracting foreign investment to Northwest Florida. Florida's Great Northwest is seeking qualified Northwest Florida aerospace and defense businesses interested in expanding their import and export opportunities to join the delegation. Space is limited.
• Panama City, Panama (November 11-13) - The 3-day trade mission to Panama will focus on international business meetings in the targeted industries of Renewable Energy; Life Sciences (medical devices and medical technologies); Aerospace and Defense; and Transportation and Logistics. Panama is strategic to Florida for a number of reasons.
Historically, the country is a significant trading partner. To facilitate trade development opportunities, one-on-one business meetings with foreign companies will be the primary focus under the EFI grant. Strategically, the expansion of the Panama Canal offers significant increased international commerce as international shippers seek to diversify their ports of entry. To explore opportunities based on the canal expansion, the Panama Mission will also
4471 Legendary Drive, Suite 100 %uF0AD Destin, Florida 32541 USA
Phone: (850) 337-3469 %uF0AD Fax: (850) 337-3418 %uF0AD www.FloridasGreatNorthwest.com
2
focus on experiential learning opportunities for the region's rural and urban economic development organizations.
Florida's Great Northwest Chairman Fred Leopold stated, "This is the second year Florida's Great Northwest has received the Enterprise Florida International Business Initiative Grant. This award will allow Northwest Florida to continue to develop its international trade and investment initiatives."
"Two deep-water ports, an extensive rail system and four regional airports make Northwest Florida ripe for international trade. Although all of Northwest Florida is well-positioned for the development of international commerce, the construction of the new international airport in West Bay and the ongoing increases in cargo through the Port of Panama City strategically position the central part of our region to be a hub for international commerce," added Florida's Great Northwest President, Al Wenstrand.
Businesses in the Northwest Florida region are invited to participate in either of the two trade missions. These missions will provide opportunities to make international contacts and meet with foreign businesses interested in trade development and international investment in Northwest Florida. For more information, please contact Cristie Kedroski at (850) 337-3469 or
ckedroski@fgnw.org.
The Florida International Business Expansion Initiative grant was funded by the 2008 Florida Legislature and is administered by Enterprise Florida, Inc., Florida's statewide economic development organization. The grant will be used by Florida's Great Northwest in 2008 to expand international trade development and foreign direct investment activities in Northwest Florida.
About Florida's Great Northwest, Inc.
Florida's Great Northwest is a regional economic development organization serving 16 counties in Northwest Florida from Pensacola through Tallahassee. Florida's Great Northwest provides regional leadership in workforce and economic development, including its primary mission of creating high-wage, high-skill jobs, branding and marketing, as well as supporting the local economic development organizations in the region.
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From the Blogs

2009-01-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

Flablog: A very Sansom holiday

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman) - An Irresponsible Budget

Flablog: Silent Ray weekend update

Blast Off: Silence isn't always golden

Flablog: Silent Ray

Blast Off: Republicans and corruption: they go together like like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong

Eye on Miami (Genius of Despair): Sansom and Blagojevich

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): The First of Many Bad Ideas from "Crisatsom"

Pushing Rope: Crist Defends Sanson

ricksblog: Sansom not only lawmaker on the take

Flablog: Sansom editorials (cont.)

Smashed Frog: Rep. Richard "Rich" Glorioso-(R-Plant City)

Flablog: Sansom post of the day

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): Who Does Sansom Serve Anyway?

Very Strange Video About Hasner and Bogdanoff

2008-11-09T07:42:00.001-08:00

A Post-Election Message from Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda

2008-11-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends & Supporters:

I am humbled and honored by the support, trust and confidence you have shown me. There are still votes to be counted and we are taking nothing for granted. The results are proof that every vote counts, every supporter truly matters! There was no insignificant act in this election. Each sign in your yard, each email to your friends, each word of mouth endorsement from friend to friend to friend mattered. Thank you.

If I am privileged to serve you, I promise you I will work with all of the people of House District 9 to forge an excellent Florida for all of us!

Our Top Priority Now

2008-11-05T21:02:00.001-08:00

Fair Districts Florida. Seriously.

Florida Gets a "D" on Choice Issues

2008-10-13T05:52:00.001-07:00

NARAL points out the following facts:

69 percent of Florida counties have no abortion provider.

Florida has unconstitutional and unenforceable criminal bans on abortion.
Details

Florida law subjects women seeking abortions to biased counseling requirements.
Details

Florida allows certain individuals or entities to refuse to provide women specific reproductive health services, information, or referrals.

Florida restricts low-income women's access to abortion.

Florida law restricts young women's access to abortion services by mandating parental notice.

Florida subjects abortion providers to burdensome restrictions not applied to other medical professionals.

Governor Charlie Crist (R) is anti-choice.

Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp (R) is anti-choice.

Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) is anti-choice.

The Florida House is anti-choice.

The Florida Senate is mixed-choice.

We can do better than this.

Bogdanoff Loves the People. The "Right" People.

2008-09-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

Bob Norman has a lot of fun with Ellyn Bogdanoff:

Shortly after John McCain chose his running mate, state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff enlisted in the "Sarah Palin Truth Squad."

Don't let the name fool you — it's not about uncovering the truth regarding the Alaska governor. The group of Republican women was set up to counter "attacks" and "liberal smears" about Palin on the internet, according to the McCain campaign.

The "Sarah Palin Truth Squad" is a lot like the "Col. Sanders Chicken Freedom Society."

One of Bogdanoff's first public comments as a "charter member" of the squad was to chastise Barack Obama, implying that he had referred to Palin as a lipsticked pig.

Of course, Obama said no such a thing; the Democratic contender used the popular expression in describing McCain's record. But make no mistake — Bogdanoff and the Sarah Palin Truth Squad weren't about to let something as quaint as the truth get in the way of defending the would-be VP.

Does lying on behalf of a liar cancel out and mean you told the truth? Probably not.

Both, for instance, seem to have an aversion to tough questions on the campaign trail. While Palin has largely been sheltered since the nomination, Bogdanoff failed to make it to a political forum on September 15 at the Rio Vista Homeowners Association where Chiari was waiting to debate her. Chiari says he's been stood up by Bogdanoff five times in the past two elections.

The same day, though, Bogdanoff managed to make it to a high-rolling fundraiser held for her and fellow Republican representative Adam Hasner at the posh Boca Raton Resort & Club, where you can bet the questions went down as easy as the cocktails and prime rib.

Elitism at its finest.

Don't get me wrong. Bogdanoff's campaign slogan is "People Over Politics" — and she lives by those words. It just helps if you happen to be the right kind of people.

On Monday, for instance, Bogdanoff graced Fort Lauderdale's Republican elite with her presence at a $500-a-head fundraiser at the AutoNation building, hosted by the high-powered, politically connected Tripp Scott law firm.

Favoring people over politics is one thing, but for Bogdanoff, cash trumps all. She's already raised more than $400,000 for this campaign, and the people who like her most seem to be insurance agents and their companies, flooding Bogdanoff's coffers with tens of thousands of dollars.

On July 3 of last year alone, a horde of insurance agents, most of them from State Farm, contributed more than $15,000. This brings us to the issue that is to Bogdanoff what the Bridge to Nowhere is to Palin: the state's personal injury protection (PIP) insurance laws, popularly known as no-fault.

Like Palin and the infamous bridge, Bogdanoff changed her position on PIP reform — though in reverse order. Before Bogdanoff worked out a plan to save it, she found a way to kill it.

Ending the system, of course, was exactly what her friends at State Farm and other insurance companies wanted her to do. And with the use of some legislative gamesmanship, Bogdanoff actually engineered the expiration of PIP laws.

It led the Sun-Sentinel to accuse Bogdanoff of devising an "end-around to kill no-fault" and of "carrying water for special interests." Bogdanoff, a former insurance agent herself, angered more than just the newspaper with the move. People from around the state complained.

Bogdanoff then went to work on reforming the PIP process, saying there was too much fraud in the system (again, precisely the tack used by her friends at State Farm). For most people, though, the new Bogdanoff reforms would only make it harder to collect claims from insurance companies.

One of the main provisions Bogdanoff wanted was to cap attorney's fees for people suing insurance companies. This, of course, would have a devastating effect on tort cases involving people denied injury claims.

Almost sounds like Bogdanoff is selling votes for campaign checks. She'd never do that, right?

It might seem that Bogdanoff had a slight conflict of interest, but she has always been a strong voice for honesty and against crime. In fact, when she ran for the State Senate in 1996, she famously accused her opponent, Steve Geller, of being "soft" on crime. That backfired on her, and she lost what was widely considered to be one of the dirtiest campaigns in recent Broward memory.

Who would've thought that Bogdanoff would be involved in dirty campaigning?

Bogdanoff is surely tough on crime — and she's not one to forgive anyone their past offenses, either. Earlier this year she sponsored a bill to guarantee monetary payments to people imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit ($50,000 for each year of incarceration).

To make sure only good people — Bogdanoff's kind of people — got the money, she added what was called a "clean hands" provision that denied any payments to anyone who had a previous felony.

This made the bill almost meaningless since almost everyone who is wrongfully convicted of a crime has a rap sheet.

In her personal and professional life, Bogdanoff appears to be more forgiving. She's extremely close to Christopher Fertig, who heads the law firm where she works.

Fertig pleaded no contest in 1986 to racketeering, a felony, for helping to launder drug money for a former law partner and client, according to Florida Bar records. The records show that Fertig knew the client was a drug smuggler when he transported the illicit funds to the Bahamas. The Bar let him continue to practice law (with just a 90-day suspension) because he'd cooperated with investigators after he was caught and because he had "turned his life around since he committed [the] illegal acts," according to records.

So Bogdanoff can forgive people their sins. Again, they just have to be the right kind of people.

Got to get the street criminals behind bars to make things more safe for the business criminals.

Bogdanoff has always portrayed herself as a moderate on social issues who favors abortion rights.

But her stance has evolved (though we're not sure where Bogdanoff stands on creationism at this point) as she's become a power player in the Republican-dominated state house. Earlier this year, she voted for a bill that forced women to submit to an ultrasound before they had a first-trimester abortion.

She also voted against an amendment that upheld a woman's right to an abortion in the first trimester without "undue burden from the state."

Makes it sort of tough for Bogdanoff to claim she's for abortion rights now, but it brings her more in line with the Republican nominee. And it highlights the fact that a vote for Bogdanoff is very much like a vote for the Alaska governor, only on a local scale.

I wonder if Bogdanoff or any of her donors would have a problem obtaining an abortion under this policy? I'm guessing not. I'm seeing a pattern here: I and my friends can do whatever we want, you can't do anything we don't want you to do.

She has reason to get her name into the news as often as possible, since she's running for reelection in November. For the second time, she faces Democratic challenger Chris Chiari, a smart and dedicated, if relatively unknown, campaigner who gave Bogdanoff a run for her money in 2006, garnering 46 percent of the vote.

What can you do to make sure she doesn't win again? Donate to the Chiari campaign. Now.

Republicans in District 71 Hate Science, Reality

2008-08-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Florida Citizens for Science:

Republicans Chris Constance and Ken Roberson are vying for the Florida House in District 71. FYI:

"He [Constance] has endeavored, along with Roberson, to portray himself as the candidate of the Republican right (both support requiring public school teachers to offer 'alternative' theories to evolution)."

I think one word in there is of particular significance: requiring. Not permitting. Requiring.

Sansom Hates Women

2008-06-28T12:11:00.001-07:00

Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment is a no-brainer. The only reason to oppose it would be because you think women shouldn't be equal. That seems to be the stance of incoming speaker Ray Sansom, who won't venture an opinion on Florida's legislature ratifying the amendment. He says he won't talk about it because he's focused on winning elections. But considering that the majority of voters are women, what better way to win elections than to let the majority of voters you support them? If he opposes the amendment, he should be honest and come out and say it. Otherwise we'll be left to assume, since his explanation is nonsensical, that he opposes the ERA and equality for women.

Florida Republicans Hate Gay People, Unmarried People, Common Decency

2008-05-22T12:37:00.001-07:00

Specifically:

Frank Attkisson
Donald Brown
Larry Cretul
Carl Domino
Greg Evers
Anitere Flores
Bill Galvano
Andy Gardiner
Gayle Harrell
Alan Hays
Dave Murzin
Pat Patterson
Joe Pickens
Ralph Poppell
Ray Sansom

So says their endorsement of the Hate Amendment.

Rubio Hates Ethics

2008-04-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

In addition to being a bad legislator and terrible leader, Marco Rubio is also ethically-challenged.

Apparently, he attempted to help a political ally win FDOT contracts by inserting obscure language into the budget that would've prevented the state from awarding the contracts to other bidders, even if they came up with better bids.

He also received a suspicious home equity loan of $135 thousand. Real estate experts claim the deal is "unusual" at best. Rubio failed to disclose the loan, something he's done in the past.

Crazy Jim Greer Quote of the Day

2008-03-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

Aren't we currently in a budget crisis? Greer doesn't seem to know about it:

"When it comes time to get out and speak around the state, it's important that we have the ability to travel there and that we accomplish as much as we can in any given day... You will see that the party is much more engaged in traveling the state..."

They've spent more than $1 million in private charter jet flights in the last year. Greer wants you to think that these expenses are necessary, but the Sarasota Herald Tribune found otherwise, discovering that they lodged "high-flying expenses from last year with tens of thousands of dollars in ritzy New York hotels, thousands of dollars in limousine services and thousands of dollars more in regular air service."

This is while they are seeking to cut healthcare for more than 40,000 low-income senior, disabled and seriously ill Floridians. And it flies in the face of the rhetoric the members of Greer's party regularly spout off...

Charlie Crist: "We're asking local governments to tighten their belts, too. We are tightening ours. We can do no less... I feel for our students and I feel for their families... They are paying higher insurance rates. They are paying higher property taxes. They are paying higher gas prices."

Durell Peaden on the healthcare cuts: "If we don't get to print money, we're going to have to do with what we've got."

Charlie Crist: "If a family with two young boys can tighten their belts to live within their means certainly our cities and counties can also."

Alan Hays: "We cannot ask our state and local governments to tighten their belts if we continue to support frivolous spending."

Mike Haridopolos: "Experience also proves that government in Florida does not have a revenue problem -- it has a spending problem."

Apparently, it's the Republicans who have a spending problem and have pretty serious problems with hypocrisy. I wonder if any of them will call in their votes to cut healthcare for poor people while riding in a limo or if Crist will sign the bill flying in his a chartered jet?

Crazy Republican Quote of the Day

2008-03-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

From the Buzz:

"There's a big difference between cuts and reductions...We're not cutting anything. We have to balance the budget. We're doing what the people of Florida expect us to do ... This is not the United States Congress. We cannot spend in a deficit. We have to live within our means."

-- Ray Sansom (R-Obfuscation)

While there is a difference between eliminating and cutting a program, there isn't any difference between cutting and reducing a program. These are synonyms. Really. By any standard or definition. Except in crazy Republican world.

Besides, most of this rationale is a straw man argument. Nobody said that you didn't have to balance the budget. And, of course, there are two ways to live within your means -- cut spending and increase revenue. Republicans appear to be allergic to the latter, regardless of the circumstances. That's fiscal irresponsibility. I'm one of those people of Florida Sansom speaks of, and what I expect the legislature to do is maintain services (or even improve them) while keeping taxes at a reasonable level. I'll wager I'm in the majorit on this particular expectation.

Silly Republican Arguments

2008-03-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Republican leadership of the House opposes using Florida's reserve budget funds to avoid cuts to education that would harm our already devastated education system, saying that such proposals amount to "legislative malpractice." This ignores a lot of things, such as the fact that Charlie Crist supports using the reserves, that the economy is in a bad place (largely due to past Republican legislative malpractice) and the very fact that this is why we have reserves, to help us avoid cutting necessary programs (such as education) in bad economic times. Besides, anyone with a basic understanding of economics, or just basic common sense, knows that education is the most important investment we can make to guarantee long-term economic stability in the state.

Crazy Republican Quote of the Day

2008-03-10T17:52:00.001-07:00

"Last year, you led the way on property tax reform, because you understood then, as you do now, that we needed to do something meaningful and comprehensive to help Florida prepare for an impending economic downturn." -- Speaker Marco Rubio to the Florida House, 3/4/08

"Last year, our state failed to confront and solve the economic problems before us in a meaningful way. And now, we are facing the consequences." -- Speaker Marco Rubio to the Florida House, 3/4/07, less than a minute later

The Best News I've Heard All Day -- Sasso Wins!

2008-02-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

Brevard came through -- Tony Sasso has taken the seat formerly held by Bob Allen. Another win for our side. Now I will say that Sasso is a bit too conservative for me on some issues, notably guns, but he's still and improvement over Allen or his potential Republican Replacement Sean Campbell. Of course my desk chair might've been a better legislator than Allen or Campbell, but that's a different blog post. The goal as progressives is more Democrats, then better Democrats. This is a step in the right direction.

And for those that continually bash Karen Thurman and the state party, this is more evidence that you're wrong in at least some of that criticism. The goal of the FDP chair is to help more Democrats win seats in the legislature and Congress. This is the ninth seat Democrats have picked up in the House in the last two years. The biggest two-year gain by Democrats in the history of the state of Florida. That's success by any definition. This is also the second special election win in two years after many years of losing every special election. Again, that's success.

This might not be the end of Campbell, though, as he was already filed for the 2008 election before the special election came up. Will he keep on campaigning?

Campbell Hates Taxes, Honesty...Republicans?

2008-02-22T10:49:00.001-08:00

House District 32 Special Election Candidate Sean Campbell has been going on and on about his "top priority" -- property taxes. And he warns that his opponent, Tony Sasso, will raise taxes if elected. This ignores, of course, the fact that Sasso actually voted repeatedly to cut taxes as Cocoa Beach City Commissioner. While Sasso did vote to increase tax revenue, what this really means is that he voted to support real estate improvements and new growth, things that generate additional tax revenue while maintaining or even cutting tax rates.

So, while Campbell is dishonest in going after Sasso, he is on target in attacking people who say they favor lower taxes but actually vote to increase taxes. It's good to see that he's takign on the Republicans in the legislature, who love to talk about cutting taxes, but actually have done quite a bit to increase them. Like last year when they required local governments to increase their share of education funding -- something they could only do by raising taxes.

But lets not just talk about this in generalities, lets get some numbers, using the Republican way of looking at this, tax "revenue" increases:
*Will Weatherford (R-Land O' Lakes) - Voted to increase property tax revenues more than $550 million
*Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) - Voted to increase annual property tax revenues more than $1.5 billion, for a total of nearly $3 billion
*Ray Sansom (R-Gulf Breeze) - Voted to increase annual property tax revenues by $2.7 billion for a total of nearly $7 billion
*Marco Rubio (R-Miami) - Voted to increase annual property tax revenues by $3.8 billion for a total of more than $40 billion
*Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) - Voted to increase tax revenues so many times that its hard to keep track, but the total is certainly more than Rubio's

This is the problem with so much of the Republican rhetoric, they create dishonest standards by which to judge their opponents, and don't apply these same standards to themselves.

Campbell Hates the Law, Loves Hypocrisy

2008-02-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

Sean Campbell isn't a member of the Florida House, but he wants to be. He's so willing to be a member of the House in the upcoming special election for Florida House District 32 that he's willing to break the law. He's following in the fine tradition of the former holder of the seat, Bob Allen, who left the seat after being convicted of soliciting an undercover male police officer for sex in a public restaurant. No, Campbell hasn't gone that far, but he has, it appears, broken the law:

He recently sent a mailer out to Republican voters and gave them free postage to mail in their vote by mail ballots. Sounds pretty nice of Campbell, right? It is. Except for the part about it being illegal.

The state election code reads, in part, "no person shall directly or indirectly give or promise anything of value to another intending thereby to buy that person's or another's vote" [FS 104.061 (2)]. Postage isn't a lot, but it certainly is something of value promised to the voters if they mail in their ballots. Campbell is paying for votes.

The irony of Campbell breaking the election law is that he accused his primary opponent of the same thing just a few weeks ago. Typical Republican adherence to the law -- it's okay for me, but not for you.

Charlie Crist apparently approved of the illegal mailout, since a letter from him came with it.

This is not the kind of person I want moving up here to join me in Tallahahssee. Please keep him. Send me Tony Sasso instead. You can contribute to his campaign here.

Rubio Hates Government, Floridians, Believes Everything In the World Is A Tax

2008-01-12T19:25:00.001-08:00

Marco Rubio is talking crazy talk again:

House Speaker Marco Rubio said the key to "making Florida as attractive as it once was" is to build a world class education system, reduce state and local government regulation and "bring state government back to its proper size."

One out of three ain't bad. Education is one of the keys to improving Florida. You can't, of course, do that if you cut revenue and cut government, since education is government paid for by taxes. Then he lets his tax cut tourette's get the best of him again:

regulatory compliance is a tax

The logic in that statement is like saying "imprisonment is a tax on felons." Seriously, if you play loose with logic and language, you can paint anything as a tax. That doesn't make it a good argument or a legitimate way to approach government and politics. This conservative approach to government and taxation is what has Florida and the U.S. in such bad economic and social position in the first place, we need to fight this kind of nonsense at all turns.

Rubio, Rivera Hate Florida, America, Laws

2008-01-07T19:52:00.000-08:00

Naked Politics:

Huckabee backers House Speaker Marco Rubio and Rep. David Rivera spent the day in the Granite State, calling voters and in Rivera's case, receiving a chiding from a police officer.

"I came all the way from Florida to give you this orange," Rivera said, plunging into traffic at a Concord intersection near Huckabee's campaign headquarters. "I'm hoping you'll remember on Tuesday to vote for Gov. Huckabee."

The Concord police officer who cruised by was not amused and admonished Rivera to stick to the sidewalk, where a crush of Huckabee supporters waved signs.

It's bad enough to be campaigning for Huckabee, he who wants women to submit to their husbands and wants to "reclaim America for Crist," and to break the law to do it. But don't you think, maybe, that Florida has some problems of its own to deal with? Like a huge budget problem, a flailing economy, property tax inequalities, a failing education system, etc. You'd think that since these guys were elected to serve Florida that, maybe, they'd serve Florida? It'd be different if they were campaigning here, where they could pull double duty. But, no, pandering to the fundamentalist right from other states is more important than serving your constituents.

I wonder who is more focused on their post-Florida House career than on doing their job?

Rubio, Rivera Hate Religious Freedom, Tolerance, America

2008-01-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

They both endorsed Mike Huckabee for president.

Republicans Hate Florida, Poor People, the Future

2007-12-30T21:07:00.001-08:00

Orlando Sentinel:

Indeed, during the past nine years, lawmakers haven't raised a single tax and have approved a cumulative total of $20 billion in tax cuts, mostly benefiting corporations and wealthy Floridians.

In the process, they've made Florida even more reliant on the sales tax. Collections now total almost $20 billion -- or 75 percent of the state's recurring annual revenue.

So tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, tax increases for poor people and horrible fiscal stewardship that sets up the state to either destroy education and other services in the future, that's Republican economics for you. Shifting taxes from the rich to the poor is not only un-American, it's bad policy. What happens when the economy stalls and the middle and lower classes can't afford to buy big-ticket items? Oh yeah, you lose billions in revenue and everything gets worse.

Republicans Hate Rule of Law, the State Constitution

2007-12-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

Naked Politics:

Judge Kevin Davey on Thursday week struck down as unconstitutional a new system of public defenders to handle conflict cases that can't be handled by elected public defenders. The GOP-controlled Legislature during the 2007 session created a system of regional conflict counsels as a way to cut down on the costs of hiring private outside attorneys.

But the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers sued and Davey ruled that the Legislature exceeded its authority by requiring the new offices and that Gov. Charlie Crist exceeded his by appointing the five special public defenders. The court also quashed the appointments of the five attorneys who were tasked with setting up law offices.

Republicans don't have the power to do something like this. They don't care, they think that the rules don't apply to them, that they are allowed to do whatever it is they want to do. They're wrong.

Dorworth Hates America

2007-12-28T18:42:00.000-08:00

He's barely been in the legislature for a month, but apparently Chris Dorworth has somehow managed to amass a "distinguished record" and has enough knowledge to come to the conclusion that Mitt Romney is the best candidate for president of the United States.

That makes it pretty clear that the voters who didn't show up to vote in the special election -- handing it to Dorworth -- have screwed not only the legislature, but the state of Florida as well.

Ambler Hates Democracy, Poor People, Honesty

2007-12-26T20:50:00.001-08:00

The Buzz:

Given the terrible budget crunch looming for Florida leaders and the continuing cry for meaningful property tax relief, the timing could be ripe in 2008. So says state Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Lutz, in a "Political Connections" interview airing Sunday on Bay News 9. The tax initiative on the ballot Jan. 29 is just a first step and further relief will "require a creative look at how we raise revenue,’’ such as sales tax exemptions and taxes on internet transactions.

"Politics are a product of the times we live in, and politics is always about timing,’’ Ambler said in the interview that airs at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. "We are really going to be confronting a very serious trough in our economy...I don’t think anything’s off the table when people are going to be looking at very, very potent cuts that are going to cause a lot of folks to perchance lose their jobs."

So Ambler favors cutting taxes on those that own property (primarily the rich) and raising taxes on those that don't (primarily the poor). It really is kind of a reverse-Robin Hood type of thing they're pursuing here. It's immoral, it's un-American and it's dishonest. Republicans claim they favor "less taxes." Unless, of course, you are more likely to vote for the other side, then you get "more taxes."

Simmons Hates Kids, Voters, Rule of Law

2007-12-17T18:32:00.000-08:00

Instead of even attempting to comply with the will of the voters and the Florida Constitution, Simmons wants to change the law without even trying to make it work:

Rep. David Simmons, R-Maitland, said he will push for changes during the Legislature's spring session, hoping to "smooth out the rough edges and the inflexibility" of the current law.

...

His solution likely will be to continue calculating class size as a school average rather than count children in each classroom. That should meet the intent of the amendment, he said, while injecting it with a dose of realism. He thinks it could be done without asking voters for their approval.

Republicans Hate Fiscal Responsibility

2007-12-17T18:04:00.001-08:00

A great post at Florida Netroots details the legislature's horrible practice of screwing local governments:

What happens when the Florida Legislature, which is in charge of the state budget, can't afford to pay for everything? It shifts the burden to city and county budgets.

According to the Florida Association of Counties a number of unfunded mandates are passed down to our 67 counties:

Medicaid - $213 million

Department of Juvenile Justice - $100 million

Revenue Sharing Loss - $262 million - Since 1999, tax cuts by the Legislature have resulted in a series of revenue cuts to county budgets

Court Facilities - $83 million

Solid Waste Recycling Grants Loss - $17 million - Counties are mandated to do this and costs initially were picked up by grants – which were later cut from the state budget.

Special Risk Retirement, Disability and Workers Compensation - These costs cover the special needs of firefighters and law enforcement personnel

Mental Health Treatment in Jails - actual dollar amount unknown, but this is a significant recurring impact to county budgets.

Environmental and Growth Management Compliance - actual dollar amount unknown but this is a significant recurring impact to county budgets - Completion of each county’s comprehensive land use plan requires that the plan has built-in financial feasibility

Zero Tolerance - $100 million

The quantifiable total is close to $1 billion in unfunded mandates - yet the financial impact of three mandates highlighted above cannot be quantified.

In other words, each year local governments are covering $1 billion of expenses that were historically the responsibility of the state, with no state funding support attached.

And while the Legislature is currently debating the largest local government revenue cut in state history, they are at the same time discussing additional unfunded mandates.

Bogdanoff: "Let Them Eat Cake"

2007-11-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

Most Floridians are dealing with tough economic times and tightening their budget, in large part because of the performance of the Republican Party in running the state. The budget is in a crisis, people are being priced out of their homes and cities and things are only going to get worse. How is Ellyn Bogdanoff fighting that problem? $10,000 massages and facials. Really.

From Chris Chiari:

Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff continues to show she lives in a different world than most of her district. Her hosting of the House Majority 2008 Annual Spa Event, in which contributors pay $5000 to $10,000 to get a massage, facial, and have breakfast with her and other house leaders is ironic, especially given the hundreds of thousands of dollars it cost taxpayers to underwrite 4 special sessions.

"I wonder how Ellyn will enjoy her massage, knowing that it comes on the heels of further cuts to our schools and in the face of a slowing economy," stated Chris Chiari, her opponent in the upcoming District 91 election. "It has Nero-like symbolism," he added - referring to the tale of the Roman Emperor who insanely fiddled as Rome burned.

It's this type of elitism and inability to sympathize or help out with the problems of regular people that is going to be the downfall of the Republican Party. It has already happened at the national level. Florida Republicans, you're next.

Hays Hates Democracy

2007-11-27T22:28:00.001-08:00

He's sponsored an amendment to kill publicly financed elections in Florida. He agrees with the Jeb! assessment that public financing is "welfare for politicians." I'd buy the two of them a copy of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Constructing Valid Metaphors," but I think it might violate the gift ban. Public financing is a way to even the playing field, remove corporate influence and make elections about ideas and not money. Republicans oppose a system like that because it guarantees they lose. That's why they gutted the Florida system and now want to get rid of it.

But it really wouldn't be a complete Republican boondoggle unless Hays justified it with an ironic and hypocritical excuse. Bingo!:

"Just think how much more good that $11 million could have been used for if it was spent on education or rehabilitating prisoners or helping foster care children," said Hays.

Really? Really? The only reason we aren't giving enough funding for public education, prisoner rehab and helping foster care is because of this drop in the bucket that is going towards increasing democracy? Really? I'm declaring shenanigans. Hays is a liar. The reason these things are more fully funded is because Republicans don't want to more fully fund them. End of story.

Rubio Hates Education

2007-11-27T22:27:00.003-08:00

Why else would he continually push for unneeded property tax cuts during bad economic times? The more of his proposals that pass, the less funding is available for education. Naked Politics:

Continuing to bash a property-tax plan he reluctantly voted for, House Speaker Marco Rubio is now urging supporters to back a citizens' petition to cap the total amount of taxes paid by every property owner.

Flores Hates Education

2007-11-27T22:27:00.001-08:00

Her ridiculous support for Jeb!'s policies proves it. Why else would she support policies that have made Florida the laughingstock of the educational world. Dropout factories, one of the lowest graduation rates in the country, huge disparities in the quality of instruction and facilities based on race and/or SES, overreliance on a terrible standardized test. Educators and people with common sense look at that record and say we need to fix it. Anitere looks at that record and says, "more please!" Read more at John P's blog.

Traviesa Hates Personal Responsibility, Grammar, Spelling; Loves the "Mel Martinez Rule"

2007-11-27T22:26:00.001-08:00

Trey sent this lovely e-mail out:

"Our Community is previaleged to have the CNN YouTube Republican Preseidential Debate this week in down town St. Petersburg. As your State Representative I would be remissed if I didnt formally invite all of you to attend these events.

Wednesday Noverber 28th at 11:00am - FLORA WHYLIE PARK"

When people complained about the, you know, general idiocy of the e-mail, what did Trey do? Did he live up to the Republican "value" of taking personal responsibility? No. He invoked the "Mel Martinez Rule":

When you screw up, blame an anonymous staffer

Very effective approach to avoiding personal responsibility. Well-played, Traviesa, well-played.

The scariest part of the e-mail? It was an invitation to a party for Mitt Romney.

Rubio Hates Economics

2007-11-14T18:14:00.000-08:00

The Buzz:

House Speaker Marco Rubio: “These severe economic pressures have a negative impact on real estate-related revenues and also discourage consumer spending. We exercised budget discipline in the recent legislative sessions this year. We are prepared again to take whatever steps are necessary to keep the state budget balanced while providing essential services to the citizens. When Florida citizens are spending less, state government must spend less, as well. We are going to continue work towards solutions for the economic pressures that are squeezing Floridians’ wallets. We are committed to working to make Florida affordable again."

Econ 101. When the economy is stalling, you increase government spending and cut taxes on the lower class and the economy gets moving again. Government spending gets the economy going more because more money flows into the economy, which generates more profits, more taxable income and more revenue. Poor people, when they have extra money, put 100% of it back into the economy and tax cuts for poor people are much cheaper than tax cuts on the wealthy. Cutting one source of government revenue without replacing it somewhere else doesn't help the economy, it hurts it.

Republicans Hate Campaign Finance Laws

2007-11-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

At least when those laws get in their way. How do they respond? They ignore the laws (Until they get caught, of course):

Barry Millman, an aide for Rep. Paige V. Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, resigned Friday after he was caught using his state office and equipment to further Kreegel's re-election campaign.

Anyone really believe Millman acted independently of Kreegel? I doubt it.

We need someone to challenge Kreegel so we can get corruption out of the legislature and the voters of District 72 have a honest legislator.

Bob Allen Round-Up

2007-11-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

The latest from around the blogosphere on the story of convicted criminal Bob Allen:

Incertus - Remember Bob Allen?: "Of course you do--Florida state legislator who got caught offering to pay a cop to receive a blowjob. It's understandable if you'd forgotten him, what with the rash of Republican gay sex arrests in the last year, but Bob Allen had his day in court, and the jury found him guilty on Friday. And his buddies in the state legislature can't get rid of him fast enough."

Change In Tallahassee - The Bob Allen story: "The Bob Allen story in TPMtv episode 'GOP Bathroom Etiquette Breakdown.'"

Pam's House Blend - Bob '$20 BJ' Allen convicted: "I guess the jury didn't buy the anti-gay Florida legislator's story that he asked if he could blow the undercover officer out of fear that Allen 'was about to be a statistic' because of all the black guys milling about the Titusvillle park restroom."

Smashed Frog - Bob Allen Perverted Justice: "Allen can stare down two law enforcement officers, walk inside a bathroom, peer over a handicapped stall door, walk inside to join the officer and respond in kind-- 'Sure I can do that. But this place is too public'--and this predatorial solicitation is not considered sex offense enough to require registration as a Florida sex offender."

FLA Politics - He Musta Fit, They Didn't Acquit: "Hence, it is apparently worse, at least in RPOF-world, to solicit anonymous gay sex than it is to be convicted twice of driving around drunk in an automobile, risking injury and death to goodness knows how many people."

Talk To Me - Should He Stay...: "With colleagues like these in your corner--circling like sharks in these times of puritan moral turpitude--disciplinary actions followed by resignation appears politically probable now that Bob Allen has been convicted."

Change in Tallahassee - Florida Republican Party Chair: Time For Bob Allen To Retire: "Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer released a statement on the Allen verdict: 'The nature of this conviction requires (Rep.) Allen to seriously consider his ability to effectively serve the citizens of his district, which should be one of his utmost priorities.'"

Pensito Review - Florida Republican Legislator’s Gay Sex Solicitation Trial Fun While It Lasted: "Between blowing kisses to his wife and sporting the 'I’m not a sex offender, I’m a racist' defense, the trial’s been a hoot. But now, alas, it’s over and the defendant was found..."

Blast Off! - Today's Daily Schadenfreude: Blowin' Bob Allen: "Presumably, Blowin' Bob would be both the payer and the giver, a rare if not entirely unprecedented circumstance. At least, that's what I've heard ..."

We need to find a Democrat to run and replace Allen so that the voters of District 32 can actually be represented by an honorable person.

Get Out And Vote

2007-11-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

We can pick up a seat tomorrow. It's up to you in Seminole County:

On top of that, a Special Election in an off year is its own kind of beast. Turnout will be low, perhaps 15% or so, which means getting reliable base voters out is priority one. With the help of a team of volunteers, the Bacallao campaign has covered most of District 34 door to door, emphasizing the registered Democrats who have voted regularly in the past.

Also in a Special Election, the advantages of incumbency, particularly name recognition, go away. As an example of what this can mean, nearby District 49 went for the incumbent Republican by 7 points in 2006, only to switch to a Democrat, Darren Soto, who won by 4.2% in a Special Election this April – an over eleven-point swing!

All elections have consequences. High-stakes testing of our schoolchildren is a fig leaf labeled "accountability" when really it’s a weapon aimed at poorer public schools to push an ideological obsession with privatization. It does nothing to foster innovative critical thinking, which is the skill that builds a prosperous society. Stephen’s Republican opponent, as you suspect, is a staunch advocate of continuing the Jeb Bush-era policy of producing a traumatized cohort of kids lacking in arts, history, and civics education.

Also, right at this moment there is a mad rush to slash property taxes in Tallahassee, and some calm and reasonable thinking is badly needed there, because Florida does not have a state income tax. The State Legislature makes property tax law, but it’s the counties that provide the overwhelming bulk of the services. Therefore it’s easy for the Legislature to be prodded by the wealthy developers to cut taxes since they don’t have to face the consequences, such as park and library closings, cutbacks in school equipment and supplies, and stagnant public sector salaries. For gosh sakes, Florida ranks 49th in the nation in per capita school expenditures, and dead last in the nation in per capita university expenditures as it is! Florida is a wonderful place to live in because it retains such fantastic beauty, but the threat of bulldozing just to put up tacky strip malls is relentless.

Rubio Tackles Global Warming

2007-11-05T13:53:00.001-08:00

This is strange:

House leaders next week will host a symposium called "The Science and Economics of Climate Change," with Speaker Marco Rubio clearly ready to put his stamp on an issue Gov. Charlie Crist seized a few months back.

Rubio's solution for global warming? Tax cuts.

Rubio Loves...Rubio

2007-11-05T13:51:00.000-08:00

Pushing Rope:

Rubio is screwing up Florida by using the Florida legislature to position his future political ambitions. Bill Frist as Senate Majority leader is an apt comparison. Frist grinded the Senate to a halt and catered the the conservate base. This was all for a potential presidential bid. Frist became unpopular and realized he would not be a credible presidential candidate.

Rubio is veering Right after Florida voters made a moderate Governor. He is more like to become the next Johnnie Bryd than Jeb Bush.

Tax Cut Fever...

2007-11-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

The insatiable pursuit of tax cuts by our legislature is, not surprisingly, a bad idea:

Florida's proposed property-tax overhaul could squeeze an already-battered state budget while further tangling a tax system that one former leader said is held together by "chewing gum" and "baling wire."

...

"The Legislature always wants to be all things to all people," said House Minority Leader Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach. "But you've got to wonder, where do we get the money for schools, health programs and the other things people want even while we're cutting taxes?"

Even Republicans know it's a bad idea, that's why they're lying about it in an attempt to sell it:

Will the slumping Florida housing market get a major boost if voters approve a measure that allows homeowners to take their tax break with them when they move?

That's what lawmakers are touting, but some economists question whether the legislation will do much to reverse the current slowdown in homes sales.

The so-called tax portability will have a "marginal, positive effect on the real estate market, certainly, not of the size and magnitude to cause a major recovery," said Hank Fishkind, an Orlando-based private-sector economist who has served as an adviser to a number of Florida governors.

Bob Allen Trial Begins

2007-11-05T13:43:00.000-08:00

Central Florida Political Pulse:

State Rep. Bob Allen is facing the fight of his life this week as his trial on a charge of soliciting prostitution begins Monday in a Brevard County courtroom.

But just finding a fair and impartial jury could be one of his toughest battles, said Allen's attorney Greg Eisenmenger.

...

"I'm not sure a change of venue would help that much because I can't think of a place in Florida that hasn't been affected," he said.

Sinfonian disagrees:

You know, I actually think it's more likely that the jury will be biased in favor of Blowin' Bob. We're talking about Brevard County, after all, home of some of the batshit craziest wingnuts anywhere. Given Blowin' Bob's stellar record of voting against teh gay and for "family values," I rather think he's going to get a sweetheart deal. They'll probably forgive and forget ...

Republicans Abandoning the "Kill Florida's Future" Amendment

2007-08-25T05:35:00.000-07:00

The horrible tax plan they've spawned now isn't good enough for some Florida Republicans:

Sen. Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey, on Thursday told a Sarasota audience that she is "leaning no" on the Jan. 29 constitutional amendment, concerned the proposal does not go far enough to fix Florida's property tax problems.

Other Republicans who are waffling on their own idiotic plan:

Mike Bennett
State Rep. Doug Holder

Their explanation? It doesn't go "far enough." It certainly goes far enough in destroying the future of the state. So, good for them, I guess, for doing the right thing, even if it is for the wrong reasons.

Welcome

2007-08-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

This is a new state blog for Florida's House of Representatives designed to keep an eye on the activities of the Republicans who misrepresent us in Tallahassee.

If you are interested in posting at Florida House Watch, drop me a line at quinnelk@hotmail.com with some idea of your Democratic and/or progressive credentials and I'll add you as a blogger.