Notes For Sunday, February 09, 2003

SUNDAY PAPERS. Byrd's extravagant spending is the hot topic in the Sunday papers (see the newswire). The Sun Sentinel has an editorial on interesting legislation proposed by Senator Rod Smith, "Let Voters Write And Pass Laws". "Florida's insurance crisis" is the subject of a Palm Beach Post article. In "Malpractice dud", the St Pete Times explains that Bush's"malpractice task force did very little to offer any constructive solutions to the problem but offered up some bad ones." The Orlando Sentinel's political editor writes that "Hopes of Democrats, Orlando ride in mayor's race".
8:27 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

BUSH SHOWS INABILITY TO LEAD. The DCF mess has been a real test of our Governor's leadership, or lack thereof. In response to the DCF crisis - and it is a crisis - Bush has obfuscated, delayed (until after the election) and now simply abdicated. In "Jeb dumps troubled kids, and costs, onto counties", the Palm Beach Post exposes Bush's inability to think out of his right wing reactionary box. We agree that "[c]hild welfare in Florida needs money and leadership. Gov. Bush's plan would deliver neither."

Bush's failure on the DCF front continues on the parallel issue of juvenile justice, where Bush's proposed '[b]udget cuts would change face of juvenile justice system. The headline is really much too polite. Bush's proposed "spending plan calls for millions in cuts to the Department of Juvenile Justice, and those spending cuts and accompanying shifts in financial priorities seem to put more of an emphasis on punishment and less on prevention and rehabilitation." Law enforcement is not thrilled: "'The whole idea of early intervention is to prevent them from becoming an escalating or a repeat (offender),'" said Lee County sheriff's Chief Dave Bonsall. "State Attorney's Office spokeswoman Chere Avery said the lack of having the day treatment as a sentencing option means more youths will end up being committed to a residential program."

And "[t]he largest chunk of cost savings for the department [of Juvenile Justice] comes through the counties picking up the tab for youths referred to the agency but not yet found guilty by a judge."

And what's our Governor's excuse? You guessed it: "The state blames the cuts on tight economic times and on numerous constitutional amendments approved by voters, particularly one that mandates smaller class sizes in public schools." More.
7:45 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]