Notes For Friday, March 28, 2003

Axis of Evil - A bill by State Rep. Dick Kravitz, R-Jacksonville. "would cut public funds for non-resident students from Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Sudan who are on "F1" or "M1" visas, which require that students return to their home countries." Wouldn't it be easier to make the bill apply to any country Dubya refers to as "evil"?

This is Evil - Privitazation has gone out of control. "After callously dismissing 65 employees in December, the Department of Education is looking to privatize the bureau that processes college loans. A final decision hasn't been made, but the plan could eliminate 174 jobs - making it one of the largest outsourcing deals during Gov. Jeb Bush's tenure." See "DOE mustn't repeat mistake of firings past".

Damning With Faint Praise - The Sun Sentinel editorial board thinks "House Speaker Johnnie Byrd took a sensible stand last week when he declared now was not the time to push legislation calling for prayer during certain school events. Byrd, while supporting the concept, understands prayer in public schools is a divisive issue that would best be debated at a time when the United States is not in a controversial war."

"Faulty Judgment", That's Putting It Mildly - "And once again, Gov. Jeb Bush and the 2003 group of legislators are demonstrating their faulty judgment." See "Education proposals are insults to Floridians".

The Politics Of Judicial Selection - "The Senate Judiciary Committee took the wrong turn when it voted to put even more politics into the selection of Florida Supreme Court justices and judges of the five district courts of appeal." Read the St Pete Times editorial, "Judges and politics"

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul - "Rep. Lindsay Harrington, R-Punta Gorda, and Sen. Michael Bennett, R-Bradenton, have filed bills (HB 1319 and SB 1476) that would strip money from Florida's manatee protection program, ostensibly to use for wildlife law enforcement." Palm Beach Post editorial.

No Smoking - The "House's strict interpretation of the [anti-smoking] amendment puts it at odds with the Senate version, which permits smoking in bars, including some that serve food.The Senate version, however, bans smoking in the outdoor areas of restaurants, where the House bill permits smoking." See "Senate, House butting heads on smoking ban".

King: Yes To Soft Money, No To Malpractice Damage Award Caps - "Florida Senate President Jim King said Thursday that he wants to revive 'leadership funds,' a political fundraising tool once used by state legislative leaders that was outlawed 14 years ago amid disputes over the influence of big-spending corporations." See " King wants to protect `soft money'".

But King "said he does not think the Senate has 'the slightest interest' in capping damages in [malparactice] cases. He said an arbitrary damage limit would not likely lower doctors' premiums, although he said he would not prevent the other 39 Senators from voting for them if they want." AP Wire. 6:07 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]