If you like "rankings, the Miami Herald ranks state representatives and senators today. The "winners" are discussed in this article. The Herald's dubious methodology is disclosed here (who really cares about who Brian Ballard thinks is a "good" senator or rep?).
Florida Lags Behind Alabama- On Tuesday we linked to this fascinating story: "What Would Jesus Do? Sock It to Alabama's Corporate Landowners". It was of course enevitable that a comparison between Alabama's leadership and Florida's leadership vaccum would be drawn:
"In Florida, even as the Legislature since 1999 has undercut education, the courts and the environment, those who believe in good government have been able to say, 'We'll always have Alabama.' No matter how bad this state got, Florida always would be more progressive then Alabama. Now, even that security blanket may not be around much longer. By this fall, Alabama's government could be more modern than Florida's. Alabama may bring the state's tax system into the 21st century and, in so doing, raise taxes. Irony of ironies, the person who wants to make it happen is a Ronald Reagan-loving, conservative Republican, the kind of politician who in Tallahassee wants to keep Florida's tax system stuck in the 19th century." See "Montgomery pulls ahead of Tallahassee".
Guess Neil Young will have to alter the lyrics of his classic "Alabama":
"[Florida], you got the weight on your shoulders That's breaking your back. Your Cadillac has got a wheel in the ditch And a wheel on the track "
"Oh [Florida]. Can I see you and shake your hand. Make friends down in [Florida]. I'm from a new land I come to you and see all this ruin What are you doing [Florida]? You got the rest of the union to help you along What's going wrong? "
Source. Doesn't have the same ring to it as the original, but the message holds true
The Budget And Boyd - The Gainesville Sun notes that "Budget won't be veto-proof" and in the same piece assesses Rep. Boyd's shot at the U.S. Senate.
The Daytona Beach News Journal advises that "While Gov. Jeb Bush and lawmakers feud publicly about possibly limiting damages in malpractice lawsuits, a debate is building behind the scenes about another legal issue that could be even more far-reaching. The issue, spearheaded by insurance companies, has received little attention because it deals with the nitty-gritty of malpractice settlements and how insurers handle cases. But insurance officials say if lawmakers go along with their proposed changes -- over the fierce opposition of trial lawyers -- it would be the key step in reducing Florida's skyrocketing malpractice-insurance rates. The proposal seeks to change laws that allow insurance companies to be held in "bad faith" if they fail to settle lawsuits that end up in verdicts against doctors. If companies are found in bad faith, they can be forced to pay huge verdicts that exceed the doctors' insurance policies." See "'Bad faith' ignites debate as session looms".
Believe It Or Not - "There is a way to improve education, cut the cost of state and local government and ease the problem of school overcrowding, in one stroke. Beginning next school year, the state of Florida could give a voucher to every new student entering the public schools." And which deep thinkers came up with this idea, the answer is here.