Notes For Saturday, July 19, 2003

Scott Maddox is on fire in "'Don Jeb' makes legislators an offer they can't refuse". And, read all about how "Bush keeps [his] finger on the button of discord" and how the "Republicans load up, take aim and fire at themselves".

On Bush's "Leadership" - "We come away from this special session with less respect for the governor, whose provocative statements and unnecessary bullying achieved nothing for anyone. He angered allies and supporters but perhaps pleased the White House, which is attempting similar reforms and demanding the now-familiar $250,000 caps at the federal level. Jeb Bush's pleas to medical groups and insurance interests to stop donating to senators who disagreed with him only undercut the state Republican Party. He came across as little better than a fey tactician for the insurance industry." See "Truth About Malpractice Issues Begins To Emerge Drop By Drop".

GOP Malpractice Meltdown - "Deal on malpractice caps unlikely".

Jeb!" Fiddles - "Florida's legislative limbo about medical malpractice hasn't clipped the wings of Gov. Jeb Bush, who spent two days building up California's Republican Party while his own is in tatters." See "Governor raises funds in California". See also "Bush working malpractice reform from California fundraising trip".

Service Worst - " "Thousands of state employees who lost Career Service protection can try to regain their job security under a court ruling that shot a hole in Gov. Jeb Bush's "Service First" personnel system." See Court allows Service First redos".

Corporate Vouchers - "Donors back voucher program". In the meantime, the "state program that pays tuition for some low-income private school students will cut payments to an Islamic school co-founded by a professor accused of terrorist ties, officials said Friday." See "Program will stop state payments to an Islamic school in Tampa". See also "Money to terror-tied school halted". And the Tampa Trib argues that "Tax Credit Scholarship Program Needs Serious State Oversight". 7:20 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]