Notes For Monday, December 23, 2002

WE'RE SURE THIS LEGISLATIVE ISSUE WILL BE RIGHT UP THERE WITH TORT REFORM. It's embarassing, but, as the Gainesville Sun reports, "our state has one of the highest rates of people without health insurance (about 18 percent, according to a recent Census Bureau report). For many folks who lack coverage, this means they simply cannot afford to visit a doctor or fill a prescription. They may just try to live with their health problems and pray they get better, but too often missed work days and the distraction of untreated pain makes it hard to keep a job." 8:16 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

MONEY FOR NOTHING. "What do special interests want most often when they make big campaign contributions to a member of Congress? Nothing. Literally, nothing." And Congressman Bilrakis is very good at doing nothing. Read. 8:13 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

PRIVATE SECTOR VALUES - PAY OUTRAGEOUS SUMS TO THOSE AT THE TOP. In an excellent editorial, the Palm Beach Post observes the "Florida university presidents' pay-raise stampede is the latest irresponsible development in the two years since the Legislature imposed a system in which the governor appoints everything from the board of education to every trustee at every university . . . Meanwhile, faculties are getting minuscule raises, and students are getting record tuition increases. On Nov. 5, Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment to reinstitute a statewide governing board, the absence of which opened up the system for such abuses. Never in Florida have so many public employees received so much for doing so little." This columnist has a different take on the pay raise dispute, and so does this one. In the midst of the controversy, FSU says no to a pay increase. 7:59 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

ENOUGH ALREADY ABOUT DCF . . . THE ELECTION IS OVER. A Palm Beach Post editorial today describes Gov Bush's papering over of DCF's problems as merely a re-election ploy. His programs and panels were designed for "deflecting criticism of Gov. Bush until after the election", and comprised of "handpicked insiders whose mild report said DCF failed to enforce its own protective policies.". 7:54 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

HE'S JUST KIDDING, RIGHT . . . ? Bill Cotterell describes Gov Bush's methodology for determining wage increases for State employees thusly: "Bush and the Republican Legislature prefer to use whatever money is available to give tax breaks to campaign contributors first, eliminate as many jobs as possible second, and then apportion available funds on a formula involving the number of letters in the name of each employee's political party." Read.

7:48 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

PRIVATIZATION CHRONICLES (cont.) "The state Board of Education is investigating a complaint against a private academy serving children with disabilities after an assistant principal and special education teacher recently quit to protest the way the school managed its state funds." Read the Sun Sentinel's "Miami-based academy investigated for possible mismanagement of state funds" here. 7:45 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]