Voucher Debate: Shameless, Shameless GOP Behavior - "'This is about advancing a political agenda, it’s not about education reform,' said Rep. Curtis Richardson, D-Tallahassee" in connection with the House bill providing private school vouchers to military personnel. "All 38 Democrats in the House chamber voted against the bill. They were joined by four of the 78 Republicans. Representatives Heather Fiorentino, Nancy Detert, Carl Domino and David Russell broke party ranks to oppose it." Kudos to those Repubs who had the spine to vote against this embarassing piece of legislation. See "House OKs $10 million in tax credits for voucher bill"
Peter Wallstein writes about the GOP's wrapping itself in the flag in the debate over this absurd bill.
Hardball - "Senate President Jim King signaled Tuesday that he holds a political 'trump card' that could force House leaders to start negotiating with his chamber about budget proposals. King said he thinks the House has to have the Senate's help in redrawing the election lines for its 120 House seats. 'If we [senators] care to play the cards, it is a true trump card,' King said." See"Senate chief holds tax 'trump'".
More on Vouchers - "The Legislature and Gov. Bush have ordered an end to social promotion in schools. Pass the FCAT, or fail. But when it comes to favored ideas, they are creating a whole new system of political promotion. Vouchers are the fair-haired darlings getting bumped up to the next level, thanks to political promotion. Lawmakers may spend at least $110 million on them next year. That promotion isn't because vouchers have passed any rigorous tests. Gov. Bush and the Legislature have exempted vouchers from the rules of accountability that public schools face. FCATs and school grades are chores for public schools. Private schools that get vouchers spend public money, but there's no requirement that the money be well-spent." Read "Strike the voucher colors", a Palm Beach Post editorial.
When Hell Freezes Over - "Members of the Democratic Black Caucus are again championing the cause of former felons who do not have the right to vote in Florida".
How Bad Is It? "It's so bad that Florida TaxWatch, the state's most prominent private-sector group devoted to controlling taxes and spending, recently recommended that Florida consider the elimination of more than 100 sales tax exemptions. It's so bad that the Community Alliance of Sarasota, which includes well-respected and informed representatives of a Republican-dominated county, is publicly calling ... for the Legislature to 'tackle the challenge of real tax reform by eliminating unwarranted sales tax exemptions … in this legislative session.'" See "Florida's budget picture is bad. How bad is it?" And this from the Daytona Beach News Journal: "Curing the budget: Diagnosing Florida’s real ailment".
You're Being Generous, Mr. Ruth - Daniel Ruth observes in the Tampa Trib that "The problem, I suspect, is that conservatism - insofar that it is supposed to be the prevailing political philosophy over the airwaves - has been reduced to diatribes, bumper sticker slogans and lock-step mutual admiration societies. Anything to the contrary is dismissed as LIB-ER-AL in the absence of a true dialogue."
Yet Another Democratic Mayor - "Pam Iorio's election as Tampa's mayor Tuesday marks a promising shift in the city's history." See "Pam Iorio's promise".