An excellent lengthy analytical piece about the Florida Council of 100 in the Tallahassee Democrat today by Bill Cotterell and Diane Hirth: "Council may get scrutiny".
Who are those guys?
The Florida Council of 100, the people who want North Florida's water for South Florida's economic and population growth, is an elite group of business executives that has advised governors for more than 40 years. When big-business lobbyists work on legislators for changes in taxation, state employment, transportation, education or development laws, they can roll out the Council of 100's impressive array of top corporate CEOs to seal the deal, if necessary. . . . Gov. Jeb Bush, a former Miami developer who was the first governor in 28 years with no experience in elected office, is seen as especially receptive to the advice of the Council of 100. . . . "I don't think anyone should be fooled that this is a public interest group. Obviously, they're on the side of corporate interests," said Ben Wilcox, executive director of Common Cause of Florida. "It seems to be a vehicle for getting influence, by bringing forth recommendations of people who're making campaign contributions." . . . These are the people who proposed "employment at will" for all state employees when Bush was advancing the Service First program that moved 16,300 jobs out of Career Service. The group opposed the tax-reform referendum that almost made the 2002 ballot and might have led to elimination of sales-tax exemptions. . . . "I do think it's normal for big business in the state of Florida to be actively engaged in politics and take positions. But the Council of 100 has been brought into the inner circle of decision-making, and this may warrant some concern," said Lance deHaven-Smith, professor of public administration at Florida State University.
INSIDE THE MIND OF A DEVELOPER, LIKE OUR "JEB!" - An editorial in the Sarasota Herald Tribune might provide some insight into the way "Jeb!" thinks. The editorial is about an article, "The Art of Ego Management," by real estate developer Jon Hammer's in the August issue of Urban Land (article available to subscribers only). Inasmuch as "Jeb!" allegedly was a "developer" (to the extent he had a career outside of running for Gov), Hammer's insights on how a developer "thinks" might helps us understand how our "Jeb!"'s mind works:
Hammer writes: "The ego, or a person's sense of self, has long characterized real estate developers. The common stereotype of developers as ambitious egomaniacs who experience great downfalls is understandably justified." . . . Hammer writes that developers -- the audience for whom the essay is written -- should avoid becoming cocky on the basis of past successes.
"Many ego-driven developers are unable to accept their limitations and are the last ones to realize when they have failed," he writes. Developers' "persistence and denial" can lead them into financial trouble if they fail to heed warning signs of an economic downturn or other market changes.
Does this sound familiar?: an "ambitious egomaniac" who is "unable to accept [his] limitations", and who exhibits "persistence and denial" leading to 'financial trouble", all the while surrounding himself with "'yes' men rather than advisers who will help [him] by speaking the truth."
MUST READ -Jim Horne gets $231,000 a year in public money to be Florida's secretary of education. According to the Florida Constitution, his priority is supposed to be the students and the schools in the state's public education system. Judging by his actions over the past several months, however, Mr. Horne has his priorities reversed. "What does Horne do for public?"
THE IMPACT OF ELIMINATING THE RUNOFF . . .This is no time for Floridians to feel too smug about California's nutty politics. For all we know, Arnold Schwarzenegger could be on our next ballot. "Arnold for Fla. Senate?"
DOES "JEB!" THINK THE EDISON INVESTMENT IS A GOOD THING? SURE HE DOES -If [the Florida Returement System] does lose the $182-million it has gambled spectacularly on Edison Schools Inc., the privatizer that teachers love to hate, don't blame Coleman Stipanovich. He's just the hired hand. His bosses are Gov. Jeb Bush, Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and Attorney General Charlie Crist. Though Stipanovich says they knew nothing of it, it's a safe bet he wouldn't have done it if he didn't think Bush would enjoy seeing the teachers' own retirement funds stuck in their eyes like that.
ANYTHING WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT -The next time you get one of those "urgent" e-mails asking you to put up some money to help someone get their money out of Nigeria or wherever, don't delete it. Forward it to the Florida Board of Administration, which seems to be eager for what it calls "alternative" ways to invest Florida's pension funds.Martin Dyckman (scroll down)
BUYING AND SELLING - State House members return to the Capitol on Monday for committee hearings, but mostly they'll be on the hunt for campaign cash.
Despite criticism from public-interest groups, lawmakers hope to collect a steady stream of checks from industry lobbyists during a flurry of fund-raisers planned this week at bars and restaurants in the shadow of Florida's Capitol.
In a frenzy for campaign donations, the number of lawmakers holding fund-raisers tops the number of legislative meetings planned. Most say the check-passing marks the unofficial kickoff of an epic election year.
"I'm encouraging our Republican members to be aggressive when it comes to fund raising," said Rep. Allan Bense, R-Panama City, who expects to be named speaker-designate by fellow Republicans on Tuesday. "Legislators return, seek lobbyists' cash support".
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE - Rep. Allan Bense, R-Panama City, will be speaker of the house in 2004. The fight is beginning for the 2006-07 speaker slot.
Top hopefuls are said to include Majority Leader Marco Rubio, R-Miami; Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland; and Rep. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando. Others area lawmakers vying for the spot include Rep. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs; Rep. Mitch Needelman, R-Palm Bay; and Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island. "The line forms here"
FUNDING HIGHER EDUCATION - What the state gives to Florida's 11 public universities, the state takes away, and then some. Until the state gives more than it takes, Florida will not have the university system the state needs. "Pay university backlog".
WHAT'S NEW -A watchdog group created by the Legislature to help disabled and vulnerable Floridians says the state Department of Children & Families is retaliating for its report on drugged foster children.
The Statewide Advocacy Council issued an analysis of DCF records this month indicating that more than half of the state's emotionally disturbed foster children were prescribed mind-altering medication, and nearly half of them had no medical evaluation. Seventeen were 5 or younger.