2/28/2005
End of an era
Religious loophole
One way around the Cuban embargo: pretend to be into Santeria.
(Via I Dig Answers.)
Religious groups can get licenses with little trouble. And the head of at least one group that says it practices the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria acknowledged that his congregation has exploded in size since the new travel restrictions kicked in.
(Via I Dig Answers.)
Religious groups can get licenses with little trouble. And the head of at least one group that says it practices the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria acknowledged that his congregation has exploded in size since the new travel restrictions kicked in.
2/26/2005
Off for a few days
Byrd's legal bills
$4.5-million in billings to Broad & Cassel was authorized by former Speaker Johnnie Byrd between lectures on the state needing to live within its means. Speaker Allen Bense says he will looking into them. He'd better work fast, though. The firm has new hire -- Rep. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, set to be speaker in 2006.
2/25/2005
More polling
The U of Q releases two new Florida polls.
One shows:
+ Sen. Bill Nelson has a 50 - 17 percent approval rating (33 percent undecided). Up eight points from August. Re-elect? Yes, 37 percent; No, 37 percent.
+ Governor, Dems (among Dem voters) -- Castor, 36 percent; Chiles, 29 percent; Davis, 10 percent; Maddox, 5 percent; Smith, 5 percent; Campbell, 2 percent; Don't know, 12 percent.
+ Governor, Reps (Among Rep voters) -- Crist, 35 percent; Gallagher, 32 percent; Jennings 16 percent; Don't know, 16 percent.
Earlier poll:
+ Jeb Bush has a 52 - 39 percent approval rating. Up from 45 percent last August.
+ Fla. voters say 67 - 25 percent they do not want Gov. Bush to run for President in 2008.
+ Jeb's strongest area the economy: 62 - 35 percent approval/disapproval.
+ Jeb's weakest is education: 47 - 47 percent approval/disapproval.
One shows:
+ Sen. Bill Nelson has a 50 - 17 percent approval rating (33 percent undecided). Up eight points from August. Re-elect? Yes, 37 percent; No, 37 percent.
+ Governor, Dems (among Dem voters) -- Castor, 36 percent; Chiles, 29 percent; Davis, 10 percent; Maddox, 5 percent; Smith, 5 percent; Campbell, 2 percent; Don't know, 12 percent.
+ Governor, Reps (Among Rep voters) -- Crist, 35 percent; Gallagher, 32 percent; Jennings 16 percent; Don't know, 16 percent.
Earlier poll:
+ Jeb Bush has a 52 - 39 percent approval rating. Up from 45 percent last August.
+ Fla. voters say 67 - 25 percent they do not want Gov. Bush to run for President in 2008.
+ Jeb's strongest area the economy: 62 - 35 percent approval/disapproval.
+ Jeb's weakest is education: 47 - 47 percent approval/disapproval.
Have you taken The Michael Jackson Pledge?
Bloggers, journalists, commentators: Time is running out to take the Michael Jackson Pledge:
In the interests of talking about stuff that might have some remote bearing on peoples' actual lives and some dim relevance to our culture, economy or polity, I will refrain from writing or talking about the Michael Jackson trial or any kind of outside-the-courtroom freak show resulting from it.
I will openly mock any commentator who tries to draw easy moral lessons from this sick, sad story. I will change the subject if it comes up over a meal. I will switch the station if the talk-jocks try to pretend I should care about this any way, shape or form. I will leave dismissive comments on any blog that gets worked up over this. Not only do I not care, I don't care that I don't care.
It's a big world out there; lots other stuff is happening.
______________
Your Name Here
Lights! Cameras! Fines!
Maybe I'm just a privacy kook. Maybe I've seen too many small towns that consider traffic-tickets as a vital part of the town revenue stream unrelated to traffic safety. Maybe I'm just certain that the lights will be used in conjunction with split-second yellow lights to snag more people and raise more money.
Many contracts give the company maintaining the camera a per-ticket cut. This creates an incentive to ticket in questionable cases. And if the camera is wrong, who will ever find out? There's an economic disincentive to fix it. There's even an economic -- and sometime contractual -- disincentive to improve the traffic engineering of the intersection.
(See Governing Mag. feature a few years back.)
Whatever, but I agree with House Speaker Allan Bense on automated red-light cameras. (Perishable link.)
Many contracts give the company maintaining the camera a per-ticket cut. This creates an incentive to ticket in questionable cases. And if the camera is wrong, who will ever find out? There's an economic disincentive to fix it. There's even an economic -- and sometime contractual -- disincentive to improve the traffic engineering of the intersection.
(See Governing Mag. feature a few years back.)
Whatever, but I agree with House Speaker Allan Bense on automated red-light cameras. (Perishable link.)
"I hate it. It will not go through the Florida House," Bense vowed. . . . "You put cameras at the intersection of First Street and Second Court and if you do real well, then why not put them at the intersection of Third Street and Fifth Avenue, and if that does well, they become cash cows," Bense said. "Pretty soon, perhaps jaywalking is getting pretty bad . . . I just think it's government intrusion in our lives."
Blame it on the discount cards
Steve Koppelman's Catalogue of Poorly Catalogued Things notes two notable factors that have been missing from most reporting on Winn-Dixie's slide into bankruptcy -- the automated checkout machines that didn't always work and the discount card system that made you fill out forms, mined you for data and raised prices on everything that wasn't on special.
I used to go there a lot but the discount card system drove me away.
I used to go there a lot but the discount card system drove me away.
2/24/2005
The Gunshine State
Shoot somebody on the street during a gang fight? Maybe somebody who was just a bystander? Self defense, your honor. At least under a new law broadens the right to fire in self-defense to public places.
+ St Pete Times version.
+ House version in PDF
(Via Fla Politics)
+ St Pete Times version.
+ House version in PDF
(Via Fla Politics)
The Alan Lomax book of computer work songs (cont.)
Blog been down.
Way-oh!
Blog been down.
Way-oh!
Blog been down, down, Oh Lord
My server is a fixin' fo' to die!
Yeah!
Way-oh!
Blog been down.
Way-oh!
Blog been down, down, Oh Lord
My server is a fixin' fo' to die!
Yeah!
2/23/2005
Another circle
Suckered again
Haw-haw. You voted for slots thinking the money would go to public schools. Well, at least some of that money may go to vouchers and private pre-K. Between using the money to replace existing tax sources and flat-out sending it to private schools, public schools are going to see zip.
(Via Sayfie)
(Via Sayfie)
2/22/2005
Life in Florida
Schiavo updates
As always, for factual background on the Schiavo case see see Abstract Appeal by Matt Conigliaro. (Here is his posting on the most recent court ruling.) Explaining the law and filtering the emotional wingnuttery and bad craziness, it's not easy and I surely wouldn't want to read the mail he must be getting. (Haven't been keeping up? Here's Conigliaro's even-handed summary.)
New poll
Strategic Visions has a new Florida poll out.
Highlights:
+ Improved approval ratings for the Bush Bros. -- 56 percent for W, 62 percent for Jeb.
+ A 46-46 percent split on the Bush Social Security plans with 16 percent undecided.
+ 54 percent support for a gay marriage amendment.
+ Despite a tepid 49 percent approval rating, Sen Nelson beats up Katherine Harris 46-39 percent in a hypothetical matchup.
+ Gov. Republicans: Charlie Crist 35 percent. Tom Gallagher 20 percent, Toni Jennings 13 percent. Undecided 32 percent.
+ Gov. Dems: Betty Castor 31 percent. Lawton "Bud" Chiles 14 percent. Jim Davis 8 percent. Scott Maddox 7 percent. Rod Smith 5 percent. Undecided 35 percent.
+ Presidential candidates: I just can't make myself care.
Highlights:
+ Improved approval ratings for the Bush Bros. -- 56 percent for W, 62 percent for Jeb.
+ A 46-46 percent split on the Bush Social Security plans with 16 percent undecided.
+ 54 percent support for a gay marriage amendment.
+ Despite a tepid 49 percent approval rating, Sen Nelson beats up Katherine Harris 46-39 percent in a hypothetical matchup.
+ Gov. Republicans: Charlie Crist 35 percent. Tom Gallagher 20 percent, Toni Jennings 13 percent. Undecided 32 percent.
+ Gov. Dems: Betty Castor 31 percent. Lawton "Bud" Chiles 14 percent. Jim Davis 8 percent. Scott Maddox 7 percent. Rod Smith 5 percent. Undecided 35 percent.
+ Presidential candidates: I just can't make myself care.
2/21/2005
Session preview
The St. Pete Times ran its annual big-picture look-ahead at the Legislative session on Sunday. The session's theme: The Legislative branch is ready to reassert itself after steadily ceding power to governor.
Oh, we'll see. I think the pendulum is getting ready to swing -- to use a time-honored pundit's cliche -- but such sentiments may be a little over optimistic, because (1) the Dems are unable to act as an effective opposition to anything the smart young aides at the governor's office come up with and (2) members are far more concerned about their standing within the party and leadership than their standing with the voters. All incumbents are bulletproof because of micro-redistricting and they know it.
Also, a very interesting piece about Sen. Webster's drive to revise the state constitution. (And make it a little more friendly to state aid to churches in the process.) It has this choice quote from former House Speaker Jon Mill:
I never bought the "clutter" argument, either.
Oh, we'll see. I think the pendulum is getting ready to swing -- to use a time-honored pundit's cliche -- but such sentiments may be a little over optimistic, because (1) the Dems are unable to act as an effective opposition to anything the smart young aides at the governor's office come up with and (2) members are far more concerned about their standing within the party and leadership than their standing with the voters. All incumbents are bulletproof because of micro-redistricting and they know it.
Also, a very interesting piece about Sen. Webster's drive to revise the state constitution. (And make it a little more friendly to state aid to churches in the process.) It has this choice quote from former House Speaker Jon Mill:
The U.S. Constitution is not a good model for a state, (Mill) says. It was a contract with sovereign states to limit the authority of the federal government. State constitutions, therefore, define the rest of government. They are contracts with citizens.
"Having a long state Constitution isn't necessarily a bad thing," said Mills, who in 1998 was a member of the state's Constitutional Revision Commission, a group appointed by the state Legislature and governor every 20 years to review the Constitution and propose changes.
I never bought the "clutter" argument, either.
2/18/2005
Tallahassee knows best
The leadership seems unwhelmed by Jeb Bush's plan to consolidate election control in Tallahassee. (Herald version here.)
Translation into English:
The bill would grant her the authority to seek fines and criminal charges against county supervisors of election who fail to follow her interpretation of elections law.
You know, like arresting any supervisor who, say, doesn't use a howlingly messed-up felons list developed for them in Tallahassee.
(Flashback - Defede on the felons list fiasco last July.)
The Tallahassee Democrat's editorial page expresses wonder:
AP notes "a firestorm of criticism."
"I have seen very good policy die because of a flawed process and an unwillingness or inability to get a buy-in from all the stakeholders," Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said Thursday. "I think that will hurt the secretary of state in the Legislature when she goes to try to accomplish this objective."
Translation into English:
"Good ideas die ugly deaths when the geniuses who came up with them think they don't have to talk to anybody beforehand. Glenda doesn't have the votes and nobody outside the governor's office wants to help her get them."
The bill would grant her the authority to seek fines and criminal charges against county supervisors of election who fail to follow her interpretation of elections law.
You know, like arresting any supervisor who, say, doesn't use a howlingly messed-up felons list developed for them in Tallahassee.
(Flashback - Defede on the felons list fiasco last July.)
The Tallahassee Democrat's editorial page expresses wonder:
It's also troubling that this 200-plus-page rewrite of the election law comes less than three weeks before the 2005 legislative session, too late for supervisors of elections to find sponsors for and file alternative bills. And, oddly, this whopper of a change wasn't even mentioned in a joint house-senate committee meeting on election reforms two weeks ago.
Ms. Hood, this takes some kind of nerve.
AP notes "a firestorm of criticism."
Class-size editorial roundup (cont.)
+ Gainesville Sun -- Bricks or teachers . Gov. Bush may be on to something, but in proposing to trade class size for average beginning teacher salaries, he is setting the bar far too low. Florida's children deserve better.
+ Palm Beach Post -- Jeb exploiting teachers to kill class-size law. Instead of educational greatness, Gov. Bush's legacy will be scandal-ridden voucher programs, punitive school grades and public schools and universities scrounging to afford the basics. There is every reason to be skeptical of any public education proposal that comes from a governor who already has proven himself to be so hostile to public education.
+ Sun-Sentinel -- Provide Reason To Make Switch. Florida never could afford the constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2002 to limit class sizes in the state's public schools. That reality is now clearer than ever. Gov. Jeb Bush is right to want to revisit the issue through another constitutional amendment. But he isn't giving voters much reason to back away from their earlier mandate.
+ Palm Beach Post -- Jeb exploiting teachers to kill class-size law. Instead of educational greatness, Gov. Bush's legacy will be scandal-ridden voucher programs, punitive school grades and public schools and universities scrounging to afford the basics. There is every reason to be skeptical of any public education proposal that comes from a governor who already has proven himself to be so hostile to public education.
+ Sun-Sentinel -- Provide Reason To Make Switch. Florida never could afford the constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2002 to limit class sizes in the state's public schools. That reality is now clearer than ever. Gov. Jeb Bush is right to want to revisit the issue through another constitutional amendment. But he isn't giving voters much reason to back away from their earlier mandate.
2/17/2005
Class-size roundup
Time for another editorial round-up! This time on the latest devious plan to repeal the class-size amendment:
+ The Bradenton Herald -- Virtual repeal. Virtual reality makes you feel as if you are actually experiencing an event that is really only images created by a computer programmer. Virtual repeal makes you feel as if you are refining an unwise policy by substituting what is really mathematical sleight of hand. In both cases, you have been fooled.
+ Daytona Beach News-Journal -- Don't pit teachers against class size. It's been disheartening to watch Gov. Jeb Bush spin never-ending schemes to circumvent voters' approval in 2002 of a constitutional amendment calling for sharp reductions in public-school class size.
+ Fla. Times-Union -- Build in flexibility. . . . we believe Bush is on the right track. Quality education is more important than meeting an inflexible, arbitrary class-size number.
+ Miami Herald -- Governor should enforce class-size amendment. There are better ways to improve education. Hewing to the class-size amendment is one of them.
+ Ocala Star-Banner -- With Jeb, it's a matter of either-or. We have to wonder why Bush won't fight to get both smaller class sizes and fairly paid teachers. Why can't Florida have both?
+ Tampa Trib -- Bush Offers Shrewd Revision Of Class-Size Amendment. Bush may be sidestepping the original amendment's intent a bit, but the change would require voter approval. And he should be commended for dealing with a controversy he could have easily avoided.
+ Tallahassee Dem --Teacher pay plan is a start. Gov. Jeb Bush's proposal to modify Florida's class-size amendment and boost the starting salaries of teachers to at least $35,000 has several benefits. Yet it's hard to be wildly enthusiastic about it.
+ The Bradenton Herald -- Virtual repeal. Virtual reality makes you feel as if you are actually experiencing an event that is really only images created by a computer programmer. Virtual repeal makes you feel as if you are refining an unwise policy by substituting what is really mathematical sleight of hand. In both cases, you have been fooled.
+ Daytona Beach News-Journal -- Don't pit teachers against class size. It's been disheartening to watch Gov. Jeb Bush spin never-ending schemes to circumvent voters' approval in 2002 of a constitutional amendment calling for sharp reductions in public-school class size.
+ Fla. Times-Union -- Build in flexibility. . . . we believe Bush is on the right track. Quality education is more important than meeting an inflexible, arbitrary class-size number.
+ Miami Herald -- Governor should enforce class-size amendment. There are better ways to improve education. Hewing to the class-size amendment is one of them.
+ Ocala Star-Banner -- With Jeb, it's a matter of either-or. We have to wonder why Bush won't fight to get both smaller class sizes and fairly paid teachers. Why can't Florida have both?
+ Tampa Trib -- Bush Offers Shrewd Revision Of Class-Size Amendment. Bush may be sidestepping the original amendment's intent a bit, but the change would require voter approval. And he should be commended for dealing with a controversy he could have easily avoided.
+ Tallahassee Dem --Teacher pay plan is a start. Gov. Jeb Bush's proposal to modify Florida's class-size amendment and boost the starting salaries of teachers to at least $35,000 has several benefits. Yet it's hard to be wildly enthusiastic about it.
Reality bites
Despite the promises, hypes and ideological certainty, privatization of state employee benefits isn't saving money and often isn't even working.
Complaints from state workers surged in January, after Convergys Corp. took over employee benefits, the final phase of the so-called People First initiative. The company is fielding 11,000 complaints a week. (Emphasis added.)
2/15/2005
Fretboard logician
Sticks of Fire points out that Bill Edwards, the guy who writes those guitar books with a near-cult following, lives in Tampa.
Devious Plan Ver. 4.0
Back in 2002, Jeb Bush spoke against the class-size amendment at every opportunity. He was even caught on tape gloating about having "a couple of devious plans if this thing passes." (Listen to the tape.)
Well, the devious plans weren't all that devious. In fact, they were pretty in-your-face.
DP 1 -- Put the class-size amendment back on the ballot paired with a big, big, big tax increase.
DP 2 -- Repeal the amendment outright.
DP 2.1 -- Try again to repeal the amendment outright, maybe by petition. (And here.)
DP 3 -- Use the class size amendment as a vehicle to expand the voucher program. (Also here.)
DP 4 -- Repeal the amendment with assurances that things won't get too much worse and add a little sweetener to divide class-size-limit supporters.
Herald version.
SP Times version.
News-Journal version.
Orlando Sentinel version.
Palm Beach Post version.
Well, the devious plans weren't all that devious. In fact, they were pretty in-your-face.
DP 1 -- Put the class-size amendment back on the ballot paired with a big, big, big tax increase.
DP 2 -- Repeal the amendment outright.
DP 2.1 -- Try again to repeal the amendment outright, maybe by petition. (And here.)
DP 3 -- Use the class size amendment as a vehicle to expand the voucher program. (Also here.)
DP 4 -- Repeal the amendment with assurances that things won't get too much worse and add a little sweetener to divide class-size-limit supporters.
Herald version.
SP Times version.
News-Journal version.
Orlando Sentinel version.
Palm Beach Post version.
2/09/2005
Pushing the limits
Eight is enough ... until you have a Republican lock on the system. Then 12 is enough.
2/08/2005
Smear the messenger
Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne had his office dish the dirt on a troublesome reporter. Pretty bush-league for a guy who used to be the Florida Senate's Democratic leader.
And hardly an usual case in judicial and law-enforcement politics. I remember a former state attorney going on local talk radio and denouncing the criminal record of a friend of mine. Turned out it was the criminal record of a different guy with the same name. Oops.
(Via Romenseko.)
And hardly an usual case in judicial and law-enforcement politics. I remember a former state attorney going on local talk radio and denouncing the criminal record of a friend of mine. Turned out it was the criminal record of a different guy with the same name. Oops.
(Via Romenseko.)
Nostalgia politics
Lawton "Bud" Chiles III, plans to walk the state just as his dad did.
Is this a campaign or a historic reenactment?
Is this a campaign or a historic reenactment?
2/07/2005
'Just Shut Up' Awards
Florida Republican Rep. Dave Weldon is among the luminaries mentioned in the The Fourth Annual 'Just Shut Up' Awards of the AIDS Survival Project. (Scroll to middle.)
Parrothead news
"Parrot bites man" isn't news. "Man bites parrot, that's news. At least on a slow day.
2/03/2005
Off for a few days
The annointed one
Aides say Jeb has picked a successor. Will the party fall in line?
You say you'll change the constitution (cont.)
Fla. Bar News reports on drive to rewrite the state constitution. Looks like nothing's going to stop this except maybe the voters.
Sen. Webster says, "I think I have a pure heart in what I'm asking to do ..." so basically just trust him. It's not like he's trying to veto a dozen popularly approved referendums.
Oh, wait, I guess he is. But pure-heartedly.
(Via Fla. ACLU)
I'm concerned there's a certain degree of hubris in having us do it (Sen. Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach) said. "I hope we would not be enacting changes that would bitterly divide this legislature and the people of the state of Florida but might pass by a narrow margin."
Sen. Webster says, "I think I have a pure heart in what I'm asking to do ..." so basically just trust him. It's not like he's trying to veto a dozen popularly approved referendums.
Oh, wait, I guess he is. But pure-heartedly.
(Via Fla. ACLU)
2/02/2005
Economic development follies
Despite the $569-million package of taxpayer money spent to lure Scripps Research to Florida questions are emerging about whether the Scripps operation here will be a minor branch operation or the real thing.
Why are corporate welfare recipients so shiftless and ungrateful? The payoff for this looks further away than ever. Assuming, of course, it ever pays off.
Why are corporate welfare recipients so shiftless and ungrateful? The payoff for this looks further away than ever. Assuming, of course, it ever pays off.
Private schools, public PR
No Child Left Behind program funnels $627,000 to FSU center for PR, happy talk, propaganda and Web links to reliable GOP supporters.
(Via Fla. Politics)
(Via Fla. Politics)
