IAFF Responds to Rep. Mica

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

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'

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

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

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

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

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

Yomin is a bit crazy.



"Republican policies work every single time."

From the Blogs

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Dean Cannon's Credibility Challenged

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

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

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

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

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Why Now?: Yeessssssssssssssss!!!

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Video from the Session

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.

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Gelber's Latest Legislative Updates

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?

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

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).