Unemployed Lobbyists? - "In a surprise move that could be a negotiating strategy for later talks with the Senate, the House Appropriations Committee . . . voted to eliminate the jobs of more than 74 lobbyists for state agencies. Majority Whip Gaston Cantens, R-Miami, said the state could save about $5.8 million by eliminating the 'legislative liaison' positions in 16 agencies."
Bush Ignoring Yet Another Constitutional Mandate - We wonder just who declared Bush to be the King of Florida, as he and the party he leads continue to ignore or sidestep the Florida Constitution. Consider: "In 1972, a constitutional amendment created the modern Florida legal system. Municipal courts and justices of the peace disappeared. In their place came: county courts, to handle misdemeanors; 20 circuit courts -- some of one county, some composed of multiple counties -- to handle felonies and large civil suits; five appellate courts; and the Florida Supreme Court. The state would pay for expenses, such as salaries for judges and prosecutors and public defenders, and the counties would pay for the courthouses."
"Counties have kept up their end. The state hasn't. So in 1998, the Constitution Revision Commission put on the ballot another amendment to make the state pay. This time, though, there was a deadline. The state had to begin paying all expenses by July 2004."
"The Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Bush, who took control in Tallahassee the year after the amendment passed, have responded by stalling. They don't like the courts, and the public may suffer for their petulance." See "Florida's courts deserve fair share from the state".
My Way or the Highway - "Bush acknowledged Saturday that there are big differences between the Senate and House versions of the budget headed for discussion in both chambers but insisted there is enough room for a compromise." Bush of course will never compromise on increasing revenue - and why should we expect him to? Bush is incapable of negotiating on this issue (or indeed most any issue), and will instead simply bring political pressure to bear on Jim King and the more "progressive" elements of the GOP; and they will fold, just like last year.
King And Byrd Go At Each Other - "It wasn't that long ago that Florida's most powerful legislators -- Senate President Jim King and House Speaker Johnnie Byrd -- were speaking of their warm friendship. Now they go out of their way to trash each other. King calls Byrd the leader of the 'House of No.' He complains that the speaker fails to communicate, that he refuses even to say 'maybe' to a list of Senate ideas for finding new money to feed Florida's starving budget. Byrd derides King as a tax-and-spend liberal who wants to legalize video slot machines at any cost, the leader of 'the House of Mo, as in mo' taxes and mo' gambling. King accuses Byrd of governing through hokey slogans and banners, of treating legislative debate like 'fraternity rush.' Byrd, elected just six years ago, says King is an old-timer who is seduced by government and his vaunted status." See "Legislature is long on posturing, short on action".
And it is getting nasty: "As hundreds of Florida doctors roamed the state Capitol last week, House Speaker Johnnie Byrd thought it funny to hang a poster outside the House chambers telling physicians that House members are their allies and that they ought to take any complaints toward the Senate. Senate President Jim King failed to see any humor in the sign, calling it an 'extremely childish' fraternity prank." See "House, Senate clash . . .".
Equal Rights for Women "Retro"? Not All Repubs Agree - Although our "too deep" for the rest of us Governor thinks the equal rights amendment is "retro" (a word that, ironically enough, describes our Governor's politics so well, as in Herbert Hoover is retro), not all Repubs feel the same way, among them Jim King: "some Republicans say they are willing to support ratifying the ERA now. Chief among them is Senate President Jim King, who has decided to let the bill be heard even though he says he has misgivings about whether it is too divisive to consider this year." Indeed, even some Republicans in the neanderthal House feel the same way: "Four Republicans in the House - Reps. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, Donna Clarke, R-Sarasota, Frank Farkas, R-St. Petersburg, and Hugh Gibson, R-The Villages - have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill calling for ERA ratification." See "Lawmakers considering ERA again".
Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad - "Hart, 50, said she went into Tuesday's election with three goals and accomplished all but one. She lost. 'I feel like I did accomplish the other two,' said Hart, a Kissimmee charter school guidance counselor and former Osceola County School Board chairwoman. 'I wanted to get a message out that the other party can't continue to give tax cuts to big businesses on the backs of working people and seniors,' Hart said. 'I also wanted to make sure the Republican Party worked for this (Senate seat). It should not be a cakewalk. Democracy is all about people having choices.'" See "Haridopolos joins Senate". 7:34 AM
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