There is a big fuss in the Florida GOP simply because "State GOP Chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan is scheduled to eat dinner tonight with the gay Broward Log Cabin Club". And, "[a]mong those who are upset is Ken Connor, president of the Washington-based Family Research Council", Gary Bauer's old stomping grounds.
As an aside, you may recall that Ken Connor has Florida roots. Connor is is close to and once ran for Governor with HUD Secretary Mel Martinez as his running mate. The two ran on a "right-to-life" ticket. Hopefully that will be remembered when Marinez comes back to Florida and deigns to run for Governor.
How Nice Of Them - "Florida legislators will not consider a new tax break for corporations during this month's special session on medical malpractice, fearing it would drain already low state budget reserves, a leading House Republican said Monday." See "Legislators decide to skip new corporate tax break".
Legislature Sits On Election Reform - "The federal government wants to give Florida lots of money to pay for new voting equipment. But state legislators have been too busy fighting each other to claim it. Lawmakers have failed to agree on the future of primary runoffs and pass a bill that satisfies federal election reform requirements." "Check the money ballot".
Education Litigation - "State legislators passed higher education laws last week that created a student admissions fee and a cap on university presidents' salaries, in addition to a budget that allows public universities to raise tuition 8.5 percent. Some of those actions may be unconstitutional and odds are a lawsuit will be filed and a judge will decide." See "New higher education laws raise concerns".
Abortion Politics - No surprise that "Bush [is] still seeking a legal guardian for fetus". In the meantime, the Miami Herald gives unduly praises "Gov. Bush [a]s sincere in his intent" for his intervention in the Orlando abortion case. The reality is that Bush's attempt to have a guardian appointed is in direct contravention of existing law, and Bush is doing nothing but pandering to the right-to-life component of the Florida GOP. This is not Bush being "sincere", it is crass politics. Indeed, the Orlando Sentinel has this to say about Bush's motives: "Mr. Bush's concern for J.D.S. is touching. But why didn't Mr. Bush make sure some time ago that J.D.S. and all severely retarded adults in state-licensed group homes have guardians assigned to them? Hundreds don't have that representation. A vigilant guardian might have been able to make sure J.D.S. was in a secure environment. Guardianship for adults unable to make their own decisions is an area that deserves the governor's attention. Instead, Mr. Bush, who seems determined to appeal Mr. Kirkwood's decision to a higher court, is exploiting J.D.S. to score a point in the abortion-rights battle. That notoriety could be politically valuable to him in the future."
"Tax Of The Day" - From the Daytona Beach News-Journal: "Fees for criminal background checks increase dramatically under this budget. The increase hits children's charities that rely on volunteers particularly hard, because either they -- or their volunteers -- will have to pay $18 for every name checked. Oddly enough, the state cuts 'vendors' who have taken over formerly public services like foster care a much better deal; their cost will only be $8 per check."
We Agree, But It Ain't Happening - "Bush should veto a mean-spirited bill passed by the Legislature that will cut by as much as one-half the pay of some 4,000 employees at Miami International Airport. The legislation usurps the power of local governments to run their own affairs." See "Veto (Anti) Living Wage Bill". 7:14 AM
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