Notes For Saturday, May 31, 2003

This is a must read: "A lesson from Illinois"". And, in case you missed it yesterday, please read this: "Act Now! Buy 10 Votes, And Get 1 Free, Free, Free!"

Abortion Fight Heats Up As Bush Uses State Money To Intervene In Orlando Case - "Hours after a judge said no, Gov. Jeb Bush filed a motion Friday to pursue a guardianship for a fetus carried by a mentally disabled rape victim. 'The ruling today was issued before the court had the opportunity to fully consider case law that clearly supports the appointment of a guardian for an unborn child,' Bush said, announcing the state and the Department of Children & Families had filed a motion to intervene in the case."

Circuit Judge Lawrence R. Kirkwood earlier dismissed a guardianship petition filed by a local woman."

'There is no basis in the statutes or case law for appointment of a guardian for a fetus,' the judge said." See "Judge nixes effort to give fetus a guardian; Bush seeks intervention".

This is outrageous. Bush is using state resources to conduct a political fight over abortion. For Bush, a failed pump salesman and developer, to say that the Judge did not have "the opportunity to fully consider case law that clearly supports the appointment of a guardian for an unborn child" is both insulting and absurd. The Judges ruling was required by existing law.

Ah . . . The Hipocrisy - So funny to see these state's rights zealots licking their chops over federal government assistance. See "Florida's windfall may go unspent". No doubt they will use the money next year to fix some of the holes created by this year's budget (trust funds?).

Ye Reap What Ye Sow - "The selection of Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney as the new president of the University of North Florida is just the latest manifestation of the all-politicized, all-the-time higher education system that has resulted from Gov. Bush's and the Legislature's 'reform.'" See "Politics: Campus king".

Forget Local Control - "H ighways are vital, but the state Legislature has just made an enormous mistake in declaring roads more important than any other local concern. In one sentence, lawmakers stripped power from city councils and county commissions and gave it all to the Department of Transportation. It seems unlikely many legislators understood the sentence before voting on the huge transportation bill, but they should review it now with regret". See "Highway Bill Paves Over All Local Laws And Rules".

Isn't This A Crime? "A group of emergency room doctors said Friday that a mailing sent on its behalf that scared some lawmakers with fake viral cultures that looked to some like bioterrorism was all a big mistake." See "Senate scare prompts apology". 7:02 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]