6/30/2004
More voucher scams
Yet another school voucher scam. Maybe if they have a few more of these and the legislature will mandate better oversight. Nahhh.
A reasonable request
Dear Legislative Candidate and Legislator:
You want to require flags in every classroom? Great. Please send us a check so we can buy them. Use your leftover campaign cash. Put your money where your mouth is.
Sincerely,
TK
You want to require flags in every classroom? Great. Please send us a check so we can buy them. Use your leftover campaign cash. Put your money where your mouth is.
Sincerely,
TK
6/29/2004
Another poll like the last one
What the heck is Quinnipiac University? Well, whoever they are they agree with everybody else that Bush, Kerry are in dead heat in Florida and that dreadful Nader fellow seems to cut into Kerry's support by about 3 percent. And hey, what happened to the Gipper Bounce Bush was supposed to get?
Another blogger heard from
Heard from the enigmatic It's Certainly Time and the less enigmatic Cranky Lady, both of Tallahassee.
And lookee here: Shattered Buddha's back.
And lookee here: Shattered Buddha's back.
More felons list problems
The Brennan Center is sending a letter (pdf format) to supervisers of elections warning them that their felons list may not include people who had their civil restored before 1977.
State officials have dismissed the growing outcry about problems with Florida’s felon match list by saying that, if wrongly placed on the felon match list, voters have the opportunity to cure the problem by responding to notification letters.
“That doesn’t solve the problem,” said the Brennan Center’s Jessie Allen. “Think about it. You’re a formerly incarcerated person whose civil rights were restored many years ago. You open a letter that says State records identify you as a felon who is ineligible to vote. Plus, you may know it’s a crime in Florida to vote if you know you’re ineligible. So, even if the information is wrong, even if you still have that 30-year-old certificate proving the restoration of your rights, chances are you’ll be reluctant to confront the State.”
Palm Beach Post version of the story here.
State officials have dismissed the growing outcry about problems with Florida’s felon match list by saying that, if wrongly placed on the felon match list, voters have the opportunity to cure the problem by responding to notification letters.
“That doesn’t solve the problem,” said the Brennan Center’s Jessie Allen. “Think about it. You’re a formerly incarcerated person whose civil rights were restored many years ago. You open a letter that says State records identify you as a felon who is ineligible to vote. Plus, you may know it’s a crime in Florida to vote if you know you’re ineligible. So, even if the information is wrong, even if you still have that 30-year-old certificate proving the restoration of your rights, chances are you’ll be reluctant to confront the State.”
Palm Beach Post version of the story here.
Maxwell's last column
6/27/2004
Two out of three
Penelas' trouble with the party's base continue as the state AFL-CIO endorses both Betty Castor and Peter Deutsch.
The labor group snubbed Penelas because of what leaders described as his indifference to the alleged mistreatment of labor demonstrators during a Free Trade of the Americas meeting last November. Union members were upset that Penelas did not condemn police force used on protesters.
"We had retirees who were thrown to the ground and handcuffed. They had tear gas fired on them," said Rich Templin, a spokesman for the Florida AFL-CIO. "When the smoke cleared, (Penelas) said what a great job law enforcement had done."
The labor group snubbed Penelas because of what leaders described as his indifference to the alleged mistreatment of labor demonstrators during a Free Trade of the Americas meeting last November. Union members were upset that Penelas did not condemn police force used on protesters.
"We had retirees who were thrown to the ground and handcuffed. They had tear gas fired on them," said Rich Templin, a spokesman for the Florida AFL-CIO. "When the smoke cleared, (Penelas) said what a great job law enforcement had done."
6/24/2004
Homestead amendment before the supremes
Here are the briefs filed with the Florida Supreme Court opposing that bonehead double-your-homestead exemption amendment.
To me, the strongest legal arguments against letting it on the ballot is that the summary is deceptive.
The summary says: This amendment provides property tax relief to Florida home owners by increasing the homestead exemption on property assessments by an additional $25,000.
But it doesn't give to relief to "Florida home owners." It gives relief only to Florida home owners who are (1) eligible for the homestead exemption and (2) whose home value is within the range that will see savings. Those who don't pay property taxes now obviously won't get tax relief. Those with expensive homes could, after their tax rate is increased to make up for this amendment, actually see their taxes go up.
To me, the strongest legal arguments against letting it on the ballot is that the summary is deceptive.
The summary says: This amendment provides property tax relief to Florida home owners by increasing the homestead exemption on property assessments by an additional $25,000.
But it doesn't give to relief to "Florida home owners." It gives relief only to Florida home owners who are (1) eligible for the homestead exemption and (2) whose home value is within the range that will see savings. Those who don't pay property taxes now obviously won't get tax relief. Those with expensive homes could, after their tax rate is increased to make up for this amendment, actually see their taxes go up.
Politics dumbed-down
6/19/2004
Blip or trend?
People often are surprised to discover that Florida has more Democrats than Republicans. Yes, it does. Now it looks as though the gap may be widening. Newly registered Democratic voters outnumber newly registered Republican voters, 2-1.
Via the Republicans at Sayfie
Via the Republicans at Sayfie
6/17/2004
Quote machine
Need a quote in the hurry about Florida politics? Who you gonna call? Usually Susan MacManus. "Find the Susan MacManus Quote" is something of a game for any regular reader of Florida political reportage. Myself, I'm rather more partial to Lance deHaven-Smith, but that's because I follow growth management issues and am more liberal. Which gets us to a problem. A New Times piece tells us that Dr. MacManus may not be the nonpartisan uninvolved observer she's made out to be. She's a Jebbite who can be counted upon to talk up the "brilliant politics" of state Republicans.
Not that's there anything wrong with that. Just bear it mind the next time you see her quoted. And you will see her quoted soon and often.
(Via Romenesko)
Not that's there anything wrong with that. Just bear it mind the next time you see her quoted. And you will see her quoted soon and often.
(Via Romenesko)
6/15/2004
Ray Charles' time in St. Augustine
I didn't know that Ray Charles went to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. He learned to read music in Braille and was a disc jockey at WFOY Radio before he was expelled in 1945.
(Via Sharkbitten)
(Via Sharkbitten)
Well, maybe a few children left behind
The Dept. of Ed is looking into an oddly timed Pre-FCAT exodus of students. It's long been rumored that some schools have quietly pushed out problem kids out so they won't bring down the test averages at FCAT time.
The state flagged 159 schools in 30 counties, including 10 schools in Palm Beach and one in Martin. At those schools, 5 percent or more of the students left during the 19 days between a statewide count of students in February and the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in March. The state average during that period was 1 percent.
Other kids get discouraged by the FCATs, drop out and go for GEDs instead of diplomas.
Result: more dropouts in a state with an already alarming school dropout rate.
The state flagged 159 schools in 30 counties, including 10 schools in Palm Beach and one in Martin. At those schools, 5 percent or more of the students left during the 19 days between a statewide count of students in February and the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in March. The state average during that period was 1 percent.
Other kids get discouraged by the FCATs, drop out and go for GEDs instead of diplomas.
Result: more dropouts in a state with an already alarming school dropout rate.
6/14/2004
6/08/2004
No entries for a few days. Will be back next week
6/07/2004
Gore harshes Penelas
The rap against Penelas from the day he entered the US Senate race is that he is an opportunist with zero party loyalty. In the primary, his job is to prove to democrats he really is one of them.
Well, no; His No. 2 job is to prove he's one of them. His real job is to get anyone who lives north of Palm Beach County to recognize his name. And if a self-serving Betty Castor poll is to believed, he has a way to go, running a distant third. (Via Sayfie.)
Penelas' job of explaining his passive-aggressive attitude toward the 2000 Gore campaign has become even harder now that Gore has come out and accused him of betraying Democrats in 2000. (The Herald is good enough to run the full text. ... the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with during the campaign anywhere in America. Wow, harsh. I mean anywhere in America? That would include the media. And this is just for openers: As the campaign moves forward and when appropriate, I will have more to say about this. )
Bob Graham, who has always walked very softly when it comes to South Florida politics, defends Penelas and warns that rehashing this is A Bad Idea.
Conventional wisdom: Deutsch and Penelas destroy each other; Caster remains above the fray and wins the primary by default, gaining points for being a party peace-maker.
Well, no; His No. 2 job is to prove he's one of them. His real job is to get anyone who lives north of Palm Beach County to recognize his name. And if a self-serving Betty Castor poll is to believed, he has a way to go, running a distant third. (Via Sayfie.)
Penelas' job of explaining his passive-aggressive attitude toward the 2000 Gore campaign has become even harder now that Gore has come out and accused him of betraying Democrats in 2000. (The Herald is good enough to run the full text. ... the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with during the campaign anywhere in America. Wow, harsh. I mean anywhere in America? That would include the media. And this is just for openers: As the campaign moves forward and when appropriate, I will have more to say about this. )
Bob Graham, who has always walked very softly when it comes to South Florida politics, defends Penelas and warns that rehashing this is A Bad Idea.
Conventional wisdom: Deutsch and Penelas destroy each other; Caster remains above the fray and wins the primary by default, gaining points for being a party peace-maker.
6/04/2004
Deep election-law wonkery and bullet train
Supporters of high-speed rail file suit claiming signatures on a rail recall petition aren't valid. They say the law requires paid gatherers of signatures to put their name and address on each petition they turn in.
If that's so, it could be "huge, absolutely huge," according to one legal expert. It could invalidate petitions for other constitutional amendment drives.
It looks as though the law this refers to is Florida Statutes 100.371 (2)(c) and 106.19 (3) and 106.191.
100.371 (2)(c) says Each paid petition circulator must place his or her name and address on each petition form for which he or she is gathering signatures on behalf of the sponsor of the proposed initiative amendment. The sponsor of a proposed initiative amendment is responsible for ensuring that the name and address of the paid circulator appear on the petition form prior to its submission to the supervisor for verification.
Seems pretty straightforward, except this is all given in a statute-book footnote which talks about 1998 constitutional changes -- among those considered by the Constitutional Revision Commission? who knows? -- that did not appear to have been enacted.
Very confusing. But if the anti-rail petition is thrown out, I wonder about the slot-machines-in-Dade petitions and the double-your-homestead-exemption petitions. Too bad, heh-heh.
If that's so, it could be "huge, absolutely huge," according to one legal expert. It could invalidate petitions for other constitutional amendment drives.
It looks as though the law this refers to is Florida Statutes 100.371 (2)(c) and 106.19 (3) and 106.191.
100.371 (2)(c) says Each paid petition circulator must place his or her name and address on each petition form for which he or she is gathering signatures on behalf of the sponsor of the proposed initiative amendment. The sponsor of a proposed initiative amendment is responsible for ensuring that the name and address of the paid circulator appear on the petition form prior to its submission to the supervisor for verification.
Seems pretty straightforward, except this is all given in a statute-book footnote which talks about 1998 constitutional changes -- among those considered by the Constitutional Revision Commission? who knows? -- that did not appear to have been enacted.
Very confusing. But if the anti-rail petition is thrown out, I wonder about the slot-machines-in-Dade petitions and the double-your-homestead-exemption petitions. Too bad, heh-heh.
Byrdland
An crowd of 15 people were on hand in Naples to hear Fla. House Speaker Johnnie Byrd vow to take his conservative message to Washington.
Byrd told his audience Thursday that tensions with the Senate didn't bother him. He criticized King, a Republican, and called him "wildly liberal."
Byrd told his audience Thursday that tensions with the Senate didn't bother him. He criticized King, a Republican, and called him "wildly liberal."
6/03/2004
Dems line up to oppose Harris
Been hearing from Dems in Katherine Harris' district. Top two candidates are Jan Schneider and Chris Jennings. Also C.J. Czaia and Floyd Jay Winter. The fact that heavily Republican district can produce four challengers for a well-funded incumbent is noteworthy.
Local pundits see Schneider as the frontrunner among the Dems, in part because she did surprisingly well last time against Harris despite being outspent in a Republican district. Others warn not to count out Jennings.
Local pundits see Schneider as the frontrunner among the Dems, in part because she did surprisingly well last time against Harris despite being outspent in a Republican district. Others warn not to count out Jennings.
6/02/2004
No witnesses
Another editorial page weighs in on the newly signed law that will make absentee ballot fraud easier.
6/01/2004
Schiavo update
Abstract Appeal does its usual thorough, fair-minded job on news that the Schiavo case has been certified to the Fla. Supreme Court. (Just read the post to understand what we mean by "certified." Usually it means, "this is too hot for us to handle; you guys take it.")
He also is rightly saddened and bit disgusted at a petition to impeach Judge Greer.
He also is rightly saddened and bit disgusted at a petition to impeach Judge Greer.
