THERE WILL BE NO NOTES THIS WEEKEND: THE NEWSWIRES WILL BE OPERATING NORMALLY.
The Miami Herald and the St Pete Times are all over the latest load of hubris to emerge from the Gov's office. The Herald's "Jeb Bush aide's e-mail targets GOP senators" describes "the latest and most jarring development in what has become an all-out ideological war within the GOP over the medical malpractice issue . . . ." The Herald obtained an e-mail written by Bush "Deputy Chief of Staff Alan Levine to a Florida hospital executive [that] describes the governor as 'out on a limb' on the malpractice issue and uses strong language to suggest punishments for those who stand in the way. In one case, referring to Bradenton Sen. Mike Bennet, a freshman, Levine writes, 'I think your comment about finding another candidate may not be out of line.' The memo suggests the same treatment for Senate Majority Leader Dennis Jones of Treasure Island, a close friend of Senate President Jim King and a recent critic of Bush's hard-line stance."
"In an e-mail to The Herald late Thursday, Bush called Levine's memo a 'mistake' but did not close the door on taking aim at GOP senators next year. 'At this time, there are no plans on my office's part to target any senators,' Bush wrote." At this time?
"Bush aide calls for election opposition to GOP senators" by Steve Bousquet of the Times is also a must read. And don't overlook this: "E-Mail Unveils Malpractice Plot" ("Gov. Jeb Bush's deputy chief of staff used state equipment to help health care industry representatives plot political attacks on Republican senators opposing the governor's demand for caps on medical malpractice jury awards").
The Corporate Voucher Scandal - In a follow up to yesterday's "Official: State altered voucher school records", the Palm Beach Post writes that "Education staffers told to clam up". " Employees of the Department of Education office in charge of voucher programs are forbidden to speak with legislators, legislative staff or even governor's office staff without permission -- a rule instituted the day after the department began investigating a staffer's whistle-blower complaint [about the] handling of a program that gives corporations tax credits for the money they give to private nonprofit organizations that provide poor children with educational vouchers."
Florida Parent-Notification Abortion Law Struck Down - "The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday tossed out a state law that requires a teenager's parents to be notified before the girl has an abortion, adhering to its long-standing position that Florida's Constitution guarantees a right to privacy."
"Abortion foes and Gov. Jeb Bush, who signed the 1999 measure into law and has often been at odds with the high court, decried the decision."
"The opinion reflected a court in conflict over the issue: Shaw was joined by Chief Justice Harry Lee Anstead and Justices Peggy Quince and Barbara Pariente, each of whom wrote their own opinions. Justice Fred Lewis agreed to strike down the law, but disagreed with Shaw's thinking and wrote his own opinion. Justice Charles Wells disagreed, calling his fellow justices' thinking 'illogical.'" See "Justices scrap law on teen abortions". See also "Parental notification abortion law struck down" and "Court strikes down abortion notification".
Even The Tampa Trib Sees It - "Gov. Jeb Bush's blistering attack on Republican senators who have reservations about his medical malpractice proposal will do nothing to resolve the controversy. If anything, his tactics are likely to prolong the stalemate. The Legislature Wednesday began its second special session on malpractice and the governor threatens to continue calling special sessions until he gets his way." See "Jeb's Bullying Undercuts Effort To Solve Malpractice Conundrum".