Notes For Sunday, February 16, 2003
THE LIBRARY STORY WILL NOT DIE. "Gov. Jeb Bush has proclaimed that this month is, among other things, Florida Library Appreciation Month. And all over the state library fans are scratching their heads and asking that age-old question: With friends like this, who needs enemies? Bush is showing his appreciation by trying to close the Florida State Library in Tallahassee and lay off its entire 41-person staff." See Ron Littlepage's column: "Closing the Florida State Library is a wacky idea". 9:26 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CAPS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. The Daytona Beach News Journal puts it well: "It's true that doctors and nurses are leaving the state, in part due to unaffordably high liability insurance rates. And patients are having a hard time finding the care they need. But making it harder to sue won't end real cases of malpractice, or fix the state's dangerously weak system of physician discipline. It won't address abusive practices of liability insurance companies. And it won't fix Florida's biggest health problem: Too many people in this state don't have access to regular medical care." Read the editorial here. And, for the right wing alternative on the issue, the Florida Times Union suggests a no fault system in addition to caps. 9:21 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]
THOSE WHO WOULD REPLACE BOB GRAHAM. In "Senate hopefuls put out feelers", the St Pete Times advises that "Pinellas Republicans saw a preview of the 2004 U.S. Senate primary Saturday night, a choice between old blood and new. With the prospect of Democrat Bob Graham running for president and opening up his Senate seat, even 19 months before Election Day is not too early to start campaigning in a large state like Florida. So former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum of Longwood, and U.S. Rep. Mark Foley of West Palm Beach eagerly worked the Lincoln Day dinner crowd of more than 300 Saturday at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort."
With Republican favs " Attorney General Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris expressing little interest in the seat, the race so far features no strong favorite." Too bad about Katherine Harris sitting this out; she would certainly motivate the Dem base. 9:19 AM
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BUSH PROPOSES TO "DEVASTATE VITAL PROGRAMS. Read it yourselF in the Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial, "Crippling cuts Governor's budget plan would devastate vital programs". The Pensacola New Journal weighs in with "Budget cuts gut programs that work", observing that "the governor is proposing to eliminate the state library, kill a proven program for steering juvenile girls away from drugs and crime, and slash an effective housing program that has been essential to the success of such groups as Habitat for Humanity - among other budget cuts." We agree with the News Journal that Bush's proposals are "are not only foolish, but will cost the state more in the long run to repair the damage." 9:14 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]
GOOD LUCK. "Coming off a 10-year run of victories, Florida Republican Party director David Johnson says he jumped - he wasn't pushed - out of his job." See "Director of state's GOP to try consulting". 9:13 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]