Thanks to the St. Pete Times for this: "Not since Claude R. Kirk Jr., 36 years ago, has a Florida governor been so arrogant in his demands or so disdainful of the independence of the legislative branch. It is plain to see that success has spoiled him, as it has so often done to others. Not once has he failed to get his way, or something very close to it, on one of his major initiatives. The Legislature obligingly gave him his A+ Education Plan, dismantled the Board of Regents, turned the judicial nominating commissions into patronage committees and put more than 16,000 career service jobs at his disposal. Having never been forced to compromise, perhaps he doesn't know how. For Florida's sake, someone needs to teach him." Nothing more to say.
Malpractice Wars - "The Senate's Republican leadership is being hammered, repeatedly and publicly, by national party leaders for failing to go along with Gov. Jeb Bush on a $250,000 cap to medical malpractice jury awards for pain and suffering. Meanwhile, Senate leaders are carrying through with their threat to force testimony in the state's medical malpractice crisis, preparing for hearings that could swing into early fall. Senate President Jim King and Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, confirmed Tuesday the Senate is preparing a list of malpractice documents to subpoena, a rare use of the Senate's quasi-legal powers. King said it is likely the Senate Judiciary Committee will investigate the medical-insurance crisis." See "Senate drops malpractice plan". See also "Proposed malpractice bill hides doctors' mistakes, including ones that kill patients" and "Cap Foes Take To Streets, Television".
The Party Of Bush - Is the GOP so uni-dimensional that the Florida "Senate's Republican leadership is being hammered, repeatedly and publicly, by national party leaders for failing to go along with Gov. Jeb Bush . . . . " See "Senate drops malpractice plan".
You Don't Think - "When Yvonne Vassel walked into work on May 13, she knew her days were numbered as a spokeswoman for Florida's Department of Children & Families. Now, she says, she knows why: She had made public statements in a controversial rape case that had not reflected Gov. Jeb Bush's and DCF Secretary Jerry Regier's anti-abortion positions." See "Ex-worker blames DCF abortion row for ouster".
'Glades - "Florida lawmakers and Gov. Jeb Bush did enough damage to the Everglades earlier this year, passing legislation that would delay restoration efforts another 10 years. That move not only could open the door to costly and time-consuming litigation, but Congress also is threatening to impose significant funding restrictions on its share of the restoration tab." Now, "A huge fight is brewing . . . on just how, when and where to calculate phosphorous levels. And at least two ERC commissioners, kowtowing to the influential sugar industry, have proposed that the ERC adopt criteria so loose as to be effectively meaningless." See "No time to relax".
"Jeb!" Kow Tows To Health Care Dollars - "Gov. Jeb Bush wants to eliminate the reports on adverse incidents that hospitals and other facilities must now provide within 24 hours to the Agency for Health Care Administration." See "It's no time to keep facts from patients".
Deutsch Vs. Penelas - "Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch of Pembroke Pines are quickly stockpiling money and surpassing their rivals to pay for an increasingly bitter, personal race for the U.S. Senate in 2004." "Penelas, Deutsch rake in donations for Senate race".