Notes For Tuesday, February 18, 2003
THE EDUCATION GOVERNOR. "Florida ranks dead last among states in spending, per capita, on higher education. Yet its governor, and some of its lawmakers, are willing to do worse. What could possibly make them feel proud about that?" See "Gov. Bush's misplaced pride". 8:36 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]MORE COVERAGE ON BUSH'S GAFFE . If our Gov. keeps this up, we will soon have to start a page of John Ellis Bushisms, to parallel his brother's site of Bushisms. The New York Post story headline is "Jeb's Foot In Mouth". Calling Spain a "republic" was a "foolish and grotesque error", said Spanish historian Juan Pablo Fusi. 8:11 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]
NO FAULT ON THE BLOCK. Florida "Lawmakers are calling for reform in the state's no-fault insurance program, saying it is rife with fraud and motorists are paying too much for the limited policies." Miami Herald. 7:51 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]
MALPRACTICE AWARD CAPS NOT THE ANSWER. "Those who want Florida to limit the amount of money victims of medical malpractice could win frequently cite California as a model, saying its doctors pay lower insurance rates because of a cap imposed in 1975. But opponents say that's not true. They argue that California's malpractice insurance rates continued to increase despite the 1975 limit and didn't drop until voters passed a 1988 ballot initiative that mandated rollbacks on premiums. 'The problem was not with the legal system, the problem was with the insurance companies,' said Harvey Rosenfield, who wrote that ballot initiative. He said Proposition 103 rolled back rates and made it harder for companies to raise them. 'What good does [limiting lawsuit awards] do if they are not going to lower premiums?''" The Miami Herald. 7:51 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]
THE DEMOCRATIC BENCH. The Grapefruit has an interesting review of Dem up and comers, and observes that "[b]y this summer, it’s conceivable (even likely) that Democrats will have a bench of eager, young talent ready to challenge Republican domination in state politics." Who are these people? Democratic Mayors. Indeed, virtually every major City (except Jax and St Pete) should have a Dem mayor before the year is out. 7:51 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]