A Good Panel Of Judges For The Plaintiffs/Appellants In The Felons Should Be Able To Vote Case - "A panel of federal judges grappled Wednesday with the issue of whether Florida's 135-year-old law that bars released felons from voting has historically discriminated against that group in violation of the U.S. Constitution."
"The three appellate judges questioned whether there was evidence showing bias against black citizens after the Civil War in 1868, when the Florida Legislature adopted the felony disenfranchisement law as part of the state Constitution. The judges in particular questioned whether the Legislature had race in mind a century later when lawmakers slightly revised that provision. A disproportionate number of felons are black."
"'Is the intent [of the Legislature] crucial?' asked appellate Judge Rosemary Barkett. `What if you had no proof of intent but a discriminatory impact [on black people]?'" This is an important question, because it suggests Barkett is leaning toward declaring the law unconstirutional (the trial court had dissmissed the case because there was insufficient proof of discriminatory "intent"); Barkett, by the way, was savaged by the Repubs in the Senate when she was nominated by Clinton.
"The three judges -- Barkett, Phyllis Kravitch and John Fullam -- were all appointed by Democratic presidents." See "Felon voting rights weighed".
Kill 'Em All, Before They Can Vote - Republican Jim "Smith, who oversaw the restoration of the death penalty as a proper punishment in Florida, knows what he is talking about when he warns against jettisoning the Office of Capital Collateral Representation, which handles the appeals of more than 200 death row inmates." But, "Bush and House leaders want to scrap the office of 44 full-time lawyers, eliminating its $9.5 million annual budget. Instead, the administration would allocate $5.7 million for private lawyers."
Bush - Byrd Buffoonery - "Budget foolery: House fails to live up to obligations". As News-Journal columnist Pamela Hasterok put it: "The House held a three-hour long production Tuesday that ably qualified as theater of the absurd. All 120 members of the House declared themselves a committee to debate legislation that would raise money for the state's ailing budget."
Go Ahead, Make My Day - "Governor Threatens Budget Veto": "Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday threatened to veto the entire state budget if Florida lawmakers fail to set aside $120 million for school recognition awards that are a key part of his A-Plus plan. Bush had warned state legislators that he expects them to keep intact money for the program, but his threat Wednesday marked the first time since Bush was first elected as governor that he has vowed to veto the entire budget over one spending item." The Tallahassee Democrat reports that "The House bill would cut "school recognition" funding by about half, leaving only $60 million, while the Senate plan does not allocate any money for the program." Way to go, Senate.
DeFede: "The Cruelest Legislative Session In Memory" - "In the midst of the cruelest legislative session in memory, Patricia Robbins walks the halls of the state Capitol, hearing sympathetic words and shortsighted excuses." See "Food program for poor is at risk".
But At Least We'll Have The FCAT And Tax Cuts For The Wealthy Who Come To Florida To Retire And Vote For "Jeb!" - "It's hard to believe that the government could be so casual, so callous. But it's true: Florida just might let the old and the sick die, as many as 26,000 of them." Oh, "Such brave men and women those Republicans are." See "Lawmakers abandon our old, ill and poor" in the St Pete Times.
Senate Rejects Bush Position On Caps - "A series of medical malpractice reform bills - without a cap on noneconomic damages and other improvements Gov. Jeb Bush thinks are essential - is heading to the Senate floor following action Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee." See "Malpractice legislation leaves out caps".
The Most Dangerous Place To Be? Between "Jeb!" And A Reporter - Some kids from Archer were touring the Capitol and "the governor noticed the students’ T-shirts and afterward walked over to meet them and have a picture taken with them and the school's adult representatives."
"Once told the students were Archer's junior city commissioners, Bush joked, “So what's the big issue down there? — A permit for Wal-Mart?'"
"Jared said he had hoped to voice his dislike of the yearly Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, but before he could ask the question, Bush left to answer questions from a gaggle of waiting reporters."
Legislative Update - "Bill would raise travel allowances, Rep. Brummer apologizes for remark, Bill for blind passes Senate committee, Measure would make happy shoppers". From the Tallahassee Democrat.