"Mean-Spirited" Budget - "As the Florida Legislature returned to the capital Monday, Senate President Jim King warned that he might not have enough votes in his chamber to pass what he dubbed a ''mean-spirited'' budget that fails to give schoolteachers raises, cuts money for public hospitals and hikes the cost of college tuition. 'We're never going to be satisfied with this budget,' said King, whose chamber had pushed for new sources of money for state programs. `We're never going to compliment this budget. We're never going to endorse this budget as our own. It falls miserably short in some key areas.' It was not an auspicious beginning to a special session called by the governor because the Legislature failed to reach agreement on a budget during its regular session that ended May 2." See "Outlook grim for budget approval - Major spending cuts called `mean-spirited'".
Budget Discord - "If the first day is any indication, Florida lawmakers are in for a very long summer."
"The Legislature started its two-week special session Monday with Senate President Jim King admitting he probably doesn't have the votes to pass a $52.3 billion budget - a figure already negotiated between the House and Senate. 'We're never going to be satisfied with this budget. We're never going to look at this budget as our own,' said King, R-Jacksonville, 'because we think this budget falls miserably short.' Meanwhile, House Democrats torpedoed House Speaker Johnnie Byrd's plan to add 12 bills unrelated to the budget to the agenda, even though voters last year mandated some of them through constitutional amendments." See "Senate balks at budget; House argues agenda - Legislature resumes, as does discord".
A Bleak Budget - "The Florida Legislature resumed its lockstep march to destruction Monday, right on time and almost on script. Lawmakers seem to be blind to what's happening in this state. There's no other explanation for the short-sighted, often spiteful tone that dominated (especially in the House) the opening day of a special session to write the state's spending plan."
"The course -- negotiated in a series of secret meetings over the past week -- is already clear. This budget will hurt the most vulnerable residents of Florida. It will benefit some of the wealthiest and most politically connected. It will put even more cracks in the foundation of the state's fiscal security."
"There's still time to rescue Florida from the damage about to be inflicted. But it will take firm resolve from lawmakers, especially Senate President Jim King. At the end of the regular 2003 session, King succumbed to House Speaker Johnnie Byrd's demand that the budget be crafted from the existing (and inadequate) revenues. It's a decision that will probably come back to haunt all Floridians." See "Reality check - Budget session demands resolve".
Jax Election - "Early Jacksonville voters flocked to the elections office downtown, but officials and strategists still predict mediocre turnout in today's racially tinged city election". See "Voters get jump start, but final tally may lag". Petton is no doubt praying for a low turnout.
DCF Six - See "Pawns of politics - Hazards of public service in a politicized department became obvious when six DCF employees were fired, then reinstated".
Gutting Education - "State lawmakers returned to the Capitol Monday to try to hammer out the budget they failed to write in the recently ended regular session, quickly moving education plans through committees that would increase college tuitions 7.5 percent while simultaneously capping enrollments. 'Essentially, the open door will be closed,' Sen. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, said, referring to the state's community colleges, which have traditionally have offered classes to all comers." See "College tuition increases proposed".
A "Glimmer Of Hope" - Tyler Bridges writes about the "glimmer of hope [that] has emerged for Florida's Democratic Party, following the devastating results of last November's elections, and it's not just the Republicans' failure in Tallahassee to pass a state budget. Democrats have won the only four big-city mayor races contested in Florida this year, and the next mayor of Jacksonville, a Republican city, could very well be a Democrat as well." See "Democrats savor mayor wins"
Bush's Sacred Cow - "Before the Florida Legislature began a special session yesterday to formulate a budget, House and Senate Republicans maintained that "everything is on the table," according to a Herald-Tribune report. Gov. Jeb Bush didn't see things that way, however. Bush issued an unusual (for him) threat to veto any budget that fails to include funding for so-called school recognition awards. The awards, which are given to schools that receive "A" marks from the state or improve a letter grade, would cost about $120 million statewide."
"Bush thinks Florida's school recognition awards should be fully funded -- regardless of insufficient state oversight (as revealed in a recent Herald-Tribune news series), despite the lack of proof that the bonuses improve public education and notwithstanding the existence of more critical needs in education." See "Put bonuses 'on the table' - School recognition awards warrant legislative scrutiny".