SINCE WE'RE HERE, LET'S CREATE A NATIONAL CONTROVERSY -The Florida House late Monday fueled a national debate over the right to die by approving a bill aimed at saving Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged Pinellas County woman whose feeding tube was removed six days ago.
BYRD BIG BUCKS BONANZA -House Speaker Johnnie Byrd's U.S. Senate campaign is getting financial support from hundreds of contributors, including some who benefited from legislation in 2003.
Byrd's donors include health care executives, hometown friends from Plant City, influential lobbyists and partners in the Broad & Cassel law firm that Byrd hired to oversee changes to the House computer system.
Byrd, a Plant City Republican, raised $846,000 in the three months ending Sept. 30, more than any other GOP Senate candidate. The nearly 300-page report shows most of Byrd's money came from Florida, and $50,000 was donated by Washington political action committees.
Tampa lawyer Steve Burton, managing partner of Broad & Cassel's Tampa office, and his wife gave Byrd $4,000 each, the maximum allowed in a Senate race. Five other Broad & Cassel lawyers gave $10,000.
Byrd hired Burton as a legal adviser on Election Day 2002. The firm has billed the House for more than $500,000 in fees related to changes in House computers and is representing the House in a suit filed by Hayes Computer Systems, which claims it is owed $1.9-million for installing the system.
Other Byrd supporters include executives of two South Florida hospitals that Byrd helped to win expanded heart surgery operations without lengthy state review. A state judge found the law unconstitutional. "Diverse donor base fuels Byrd's U.S. Senate effort".
"JEB!" FLIP FLOPS -Gov. Jeb Bush has withdrawn his support from a plan to split $30.1 million from an unclaimed lottery jackpot among Florida's cash-strapped public schools.
Instead, Bush proposes sending the money to the state's matching gift program for community colleges and universities, which also is hurting for cash. He expanded the special session Monday to include legislation that would send the unclaimed jackpot to the higher education program. "Bush Wants Jackpot Money For Higher Education".
OOPS -The Department of Corrections called off its deal Monday with a private transportation company run by a felon. "DOC cuts ties with felon's company".
FCAT STUPIDITY -The state's formula for grading schools rewards low-performing schools for little achievement, while lower grades are being given to schools with little room for improvement. "Paradox in school bonus for FCAT success".
"JEB!" IS "ARROGANT OR DEVIOUS", TELL US SOMETHING WE DIDN'T KNOW -On education policy, Gov. Bush often has been arrogant or devious. That's how he got into this mess. "Smaller classes, at a lower cost".