Politics, Politics Changes Everything - "Gov. Jeb Bush, who has made the tough Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test the backbone of his education reform, now says he is willing to consider alternatives to help some students who fail the test to graduate from high school."
"Bush softened his stance after a meeting with several members of Florida's Puerto Rican community, who visited the Capitol on Tuesday. Strategists say the hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans who live in the state will be key in the 2004 election as the governor's brother, President Bush, seeks reelection." See "Governor softens stance on FCAT". The Florida Times Union story (via the AP Wire) neglects to mention the political aspect.
With GOP Jax Mayoral Candidates Faltering, GOP Threatens To File Charges - As we know, when GOP candidates are losing, Republicans resort to the legal process. They are threatening to do precisely that in the Jax mayor's race.
Malpractice - "There's no simple prescription for solving the medical malpractice insurance crisis in Florida, and it's questionable whether there's a way out of the political impasse in the current legislative session." See "Comprehensive, Not Piecemeal".
Hometown Paper Slams King - "Pity the voters in Sen. Jim King's district. They sent a conservative Republican to Tallahassee and now find him on the side of liberal Democrats in the paramount issue of medical malpractice insurance." We say pity the people in Jax who are required to read that rag to find out what is happening locally.
Florida, For Sale - The Miami Herald, in "Millions given for Bush party", how Bush is cashing. "Big donors and other supporters hobnobbed with Bush and his parents, the former president and first lady, at a ''black tie and blue jeans ball'' under a big tent in Tallahassee on the eve of Bush's January swearing-in as Florida's first two-term GOP governor."
"Bush, a strong advocate of privatizing state operations to private companies, has been accused by Democrats during the campaign and since then of giving preference to big donors. He has said that he makes decisions based on policy matters, not campaign contributions."
"The donors included Convergys, the Ohio firm that last year secured a seven-year, $280-million contract to operate state government's human resources division, and U.S. Sugar Corp., which has enlisted Bush's backing this year in legislation that environmentalists say would weaken pollution restrictions in the Everglades."
"Telecommunications giants AT&T, Sprint, MCI, BellSouth and Verizon, which all together gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to the state GOP for campaigns last year, each gave $10,000 for the inauguration -- and now are working with Bush's staff on legislation that consumer advocates say could result in higher rates for consumers."
"Wackenhut, which runs some of the state's private prisons, chipped in $10,000, as did Universal Studios and Disney, both of which have lobbied Bush and legislators for ways to reinvigorate Florida's tourist industry."
"Doctors and insurance companies, which are relying on Bush's help to lobby lawmakers for caps on medical malpractice jury awards, combined to give about $130,000 for the festivities, the Herald analysis found."
Art Out - "Florida's already-shaky commitment to arts, history and culture could end up buried in the rubble of the collapsing state budget, victim of the Legislature's rush to scrap long-held promises to taxpayers." See "Don’t cut funds for money-making arts programs".
That Ain't Right - In "Was helping hand from strong arm?" Jim DeFede writes about how"Christmas came early for some of the doctors and executives of CAC CarePlus Medical Centers. Last week, employees who were pressured to write checks for Alex Penelas' Senate campaign were given those checks back." 6:28 AM
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