Some things never change, as the St. Pete Times editorial board explains:
After Tom Gustafson raised $1.6-million to entice fellow House members to pick him as speaker in 1988, lawmakers were sufficiently embarrassed that they banned "leadership funds." What they couldn't outlaw, though, was audacity and self-indulgence, both of which factor into the latest form of political slush funds in Florida.
The newest game is played under the cover of "committees of continuous existence," an arcane law written three decades ago with the sole intent of sparing trade groups from the laborious exercise of handwriting thousands of dues-paying member names on contribution reports. Today, these committees are instead used as secret political weapons, as caches for special-interest money.
On Sunday, Times deputy capital bureau chief Steve Bousquet provided a tote board of shame in Florida. In the past four years, Bousquet reported, more than two dozen lawmakers have raised $3-million in unregulated, unlimited and, in some cases, secret donations from lobbyists that do business with the Legislature. The names include a Who's Who of legislative leadership: Ken Pruitt, Senate appropriations chairman, $612,981; Allan Bense, House speaker-designate, $469,373; Johnnie Byrd, House speaker, $401,109; Gaston Cantens, House Majority Whip, $263,200; Jim King, Senate president, $240,808.
JUST FOR LAUGHS - The WSJ editorial board wannabees in Jax are at it again.
BUSH APPOINTS LOYAL LIGHTWEIGHT TO LEAD FLORIDA CAMPAIGN- Brett Doster was not about to let protesters disrupt a presidential visit. So when three sign-toting demonstrators showed up at the New York Yankees' Legends Field two years ago, Doster asked police to remove them, team officials said. Police complied. The charges were later dropped, and the protesters are suing the city for violating their First Amendment rights. Doster, who was part of a "rally response team" at President Bush's rally, is about to get a much bigger job. The 32-year-old lobbyist and real estate agent will be appointed director of the president's re-election campaign in Florida. White House political director Ken Mehlman will announce the appointment today at the Tampa Airport Marriott. "Brett is like family to me," Gov. Jeb Bush said in an e-mail Tuesday. "He will do a fine job coordinating the president's victorious re-election campaign. He is hardworking, experienced, talented and loyal." "2001 protest spoiler gets key Bush role". See also "President to name team for Florida campaign".
Ironically, the Gainesville Sun has an editorial today, "A matter of fairness", about the Bushies inabilty to deal with dissent.
VOTING LAWSUIT - A federal judge deciding a lawsuit filed by disabled voters against Duval County and Florida elections officials says he may retain jurisdiction over the case after it ends to monitor progress in providing accessible balloting equipment. "Judge may keep jurisdiction in disabled voters lawsuit".
RIGHT WING BLOC FORMING ON FLORIDA SUPREME COURT - Although the Florida Supreme Court is essentially moderate, it has always had a hard right voice (Justice Charlie Wells, a Chiles appointee). The court's 4 to 3 DNA decision yesterday shows that Wells and the two "Jeb!" appointments are forming the predictable right wing bloc. See "Court allows DNA tests to go on". If Bush makes another appointment to the court, things will be bleak on the judicial front for progressives.
WHOOPEE - "Phone firms' plans cut off". All it really means is that the "three largest telephone companies will have to refile a petition to raise their basic rates and will be unable to hike them as quickly as they'd envisioned." See also, Troxler's "To make case against PSC rate hike, just add logic".
OIL DRILLING, EVEN REPUBLICANS GET IT (WELL, MOST OF 'EM) -Twenty-six of Florida's 27-member congressional delegation said Tuesday that they would vote against any energy bill that includes exploration for oil or gas in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Only Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, refused to sign the letter to the congressional leadership. "Most state lawmakers oppose oil, gas drilling". 6:05 AM
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