In the Orlando Sentinel's "Political Pulse" column today: "Gov. Bush has made the term 'accountability' something of a mantra. He pushes it in public schools with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Accountability for government employees such as Department of Children & Families caseworkers. Even accountability for parents to teach their kids about the importance of reading. But the 'accountability governor' has been taking it on the chin lately over accountability. First Bush proposed saving money by wiping out the state Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability. Critics called it hypocritical for Bush to slash the agency charged with keeping tabs on government and wasteful spending. Now Bush and Education Secretary Jim Horne are being questioned about the accountability of the state's tax-credit school voucher after news that state money may have been diverted to a school with alleged terrorist ties in Tampa." This piece just scratches the surface on what appears to be a trait of Bush Brothers, Inc., "Jeb!", Dubya and Neil (for an interesting story on Neil's "business" activities and "Jeb!"'s adventures as a government backed pump salesman, see "O, Brother! Where Art Thou?")
The Key Words Here Are "Political Contributor" - "A man implicated two decades ago in a Bahamian drug smuggling ring has been hired by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to help create a 13-state anti-terrorism network being launched with $4 million in Justice Department funding. Millionaire Hank Asher of Boca Raton, a friend of recently retired FDLE director James "Tim" Moore and a major political contributor, was never charged with drug smuggling. He served as an informant and witness in several trials, and was identified by other FDLE informants as someone who provided police protection for smuggling operations." See "State contracts with company founded by man linked to smuggling". See also "FDLE to review anti-terror hire".
Wonder If He Is A "Political Contributor" - "The man charged with masterminding the abduction of a Venezuelan millionaire sold equipment to the Miami-Dade police for years and was a prominent figure in the community, officials said. The FBI arrested Andres Eloy Dielingen, 54, on a Venezuelan warrant Friday at his home. He is in jail and will be extradited to Venezuela to face charges for the 1999 kidnapping of Antonio Nagen, which resulted in a $5 million ransom." . . . "Dielingen's daughter, Andreina, is a member of Gov. Jeb Bush's Miami staff. A call to a Bush spokeswoman was not immediately returned Saturday evening." See "Suspected kidnapper of millionaire was police supplier".
Silva: Florida's Arab-American Vote - "On the fragile terrain where Florida's elections are fought, President Bush may pay a price for the USA Patriot Act. Among many Arab-Americans who voted for Bush on Nov. 7, 2000, support for the president has turned to resentment since Sept. 11, 2001." See "Bush's anti-rights actions turn off former Arab-American supporters".
Class Size Smoke And Mirrors - "When thousands of Central Florida students return to school this month, many will be in smaller classes -- thanks to a new law requiring schools to put fewer children in classrooms. But some of those same schools may seem more crowded. Districts strapped for cash to build new classrooms have shoehorned new teachers into classrooms fashioned out of conference rooms, offices and old portables. Some teachers will become itinerant instructors, loading their supplies onto carts and rolling from classroom to classroom." See "Law on smaller classes to be tested". See also "Schools cope as budgets shrink".
Malpractice Caps - "Why lawsuits get filed in the first place is an integral component of the medical-malpractice insurance controversy that's been brewing at the Capitol for more than six months. Gov. Jeb Bush and many Republican lawmakers - especially in the House - think many of the lawsuits are frivolous."
"Bush on Thursday called off a special session on medical-malpractice reform scheduled for this week after it became obvious to him the House and Senate weren't close to a deal. It would have been the third special session on the issue. The two chambers also couldn't agree on a compromise during the regular 60-day session that ended May 1." See "Misdiagnoses cause suits".
Lawyers Versus Insurers - "With Gov. Jeb Bush still trying to wrestle reluctant state lawmakers into a deal to fix Florida's rising medical-malpractice insurance costs, advocates on both sides have taken to the airwaves." See "Trial lawyers argue against insurers' 'lies'".
Mike Thomas - "Malpractice 'crisis' is result of past excess". Does this mean that Thomas will critizize "Jeb!" - the man he publicly supported for Gov. - for ginning up this "crisis" for political gain?