Notes For Saturday, February 01, 2003

AT LEAST THE TRIAL LAWYERS WILL GET SCREWED. Even with a damage cap, medical malpractice premiums won't plunge. "Speaking in West Palm Beach to the assembled doctors, the president of Florida's largest medical malpractice insurer said the physicians' favorite remedy -- limiting pain and suffering payments from lawsuits to $250,000 -- would have only a negligible effect on premiums that medical groups say are unacceptably high." 7:02 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

NEWS FLASH: THE GOVERNOR CAN DO HIS JOB WITHOUT "WHINING" AND "DEVIOUS PLANS". Linda Kleindienst writes "Group challenges governor, says state has money to cut class size" 6:57 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

BYRD ON THE HOT SEAT. Ron Littlepage writes that the "GOP leaders' slugfest is shaping into quite a show". After yesterday's St Pete Times editorial suggesting that Johnnie Byrd is either "clinically delusional" or a liar, perhaps the media will take a closer (and even critical) look at the individual the GOP in the Florida House chose to make speaker. An Orlando Sentinel editorial today also picks up the theme. However, the Gainesville Sun, is a bit blunter:

"Johnnie Byrd is a rock-ribbed conservative who hates taxes and disdains big government. And as Speaker of the Florida House, Byrd, R-Plant City, intends lop the fat off government and get it back to its basic, fundamental mission.....which is, of course, to promote, aggrandize and otherwise glorify politicians."
6:43 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

AS DIVISIVE AS HILLARY, BUT WITHOUT THE BRAINS. Talk about a weak bench, the GOP actually thinks Katherine Harris is some sort of star".

"Speaking to about 1,000 fellow conservatives Friday, Rep. Katherine Harris reiterated the points President Bush made in his State of the Union address Tuesday. Cut taxes, punish corporate criminals, add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, disarm Iraq, she said at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference."

"Her appearance at the convention was an encore performance made alongside other GOP stars, such as former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas. . . . Harris took the lecturn to the same blaring "Wonder Woman" theme song and the same standing ovation as last year, when she was riding a wave of Republican adoration into a House seat . . . . Harris has been elevated to hero status, which makes conservatives that much more interested in her views. . . . Harris clearly remains a favorite among Republicans." Sarasota Herald Tribune. We can only hope she remains a GOP "star". 6:28 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

IF OUR GOVERNOR CAN COME OFF LIKE AN ENVIROMENTALIST, ANYBODY CAN. "The New York Times reports that President Bush's prominent mentions of clean air, healthy forests and pollution-free cars in his State of the Union speech reflect what Republican strategists say is an effort to repair his image on environmental issues . . . . A Republican pollster, Neil Newhouse, called Mr. Bush's steps insulation and likened them to the strategy of the president's brother Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida in his re-election campaign last year, when he pushed to restore the Everglades and ban offshore oil drilling, two priorities for Florida voters." 6:14 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

STORY ON (SOON TO BE) SECRETARY OF STATE HOOD'S DISSEMBLING GOES STATEWIDE. "Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood knew details about the city's budget deficit as early as last October, despite saying this week that she didn't know about the financial troubles until late last year." This was a local story yesterday; today it is on the AP Wire. An Orlando Sentinel editorial today points out that Hood was "briefed fully about the looming deficit in late October -- but still kept mum.."
6:08 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

ON REPLACING BROGAN. A good Miami Herald article about the issues created by Brogan leaving. The most recent list of potential successors are: "former Senate President Toni Jennings, once considered a Bush rival for governor; former Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Bob Crawford, who has said he would change parties; Miami trial lawyer and Bush confidant Dean Colson, who has said he has no interest; former state Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Ruben King-Shaw, who works for President Bush's administration; former state utility commissioner Julia Johnson, a Democratic Bush supporter; state Rep. Dudley Goodlette, a Naples Republican, and outgoing Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, who begins this month as the first appointed secretary of state." And conservatives and their courtiers in the media say the Dems have a weak bench? In any event, Bush is in no rush to make a selection, according to the Associated Press. On the related issue as to whether there needs to be a LT. Gov election, the Florida Democratic Party believes "a replacement lieutenant governor should be ratified by voters."
6:00 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]