At the starting line of Florida's most competitive U.S. Senate race in 16 years, both Republicans and Democrats had better heed the lessons of the last one:
Greed kills, and three's a crowd.
In 1988, a bruising six-gun battle for the Democratic nomination ended with a nominee so damaged that a little-known Republican with a famous name squeaked his way into the Senate. And in Florida, land of close elections, campaign-scarred Buddy MacKay lost to Connie Mack, a baseball legend's grandson, by a disputed 33,000 votes.
In 2004, Democrats will have four or more competing for the open seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Graham. Already, one appears hell-bent to decimate another who could become one of his party's strongest statewide candidates: U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch of Pembroke Pines has Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas in his cross-hairs.
The battle between two South Florida powers, with millions of dollars at their disposal, could clear a path for the one Central Floridian, Tampa's Betty Castor, to march through the wreckage. "Senate lesson from '88: Greed kills, 3's a crowd".
COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM -State officials say the cuts are needed to prevent a shortfall they project at $27 million. Though the legislature has consistently increased spending on developmental disabilities, it has not been enough to meet rising costs and demand for services. Agencies that offer work and training programs for people with disabilities like Down syndrome and cerebral palsy say the cuts will force them to close programs and lay off staff. "State cuts decrease options for disabled".
DYCKMAN ON DISNEY "ARROGANCE" -It may be trite to point out that Mickey Mouse is a dirty rat but, regrettably, it remains true. Walt Disney World's bullying of the Florida High Speed Rail Authority, which has submitted to serving only Disney and no competing Orlando area destination, means that nothing has changed since the 1967 Legislature created what the Wall Street Journal aptly called "a self-governing corporate kingdom." Arrogance has been the kingdom's modus operandi since the first (and as I recall only) local hearing where Central Florida residents could comment on the proposed legislation. "Disney magic didn't happen all by itself".
VOUCHER MADNESS - The latest scandal -- The Post has exposed many -- features millions in public money going to home-schoolers, who aren't supposed to get any. The rip-off comes as the state is quietly dropping a proposed reform that would have required voucher schools to physically exist. Even on the frontier, the one-room schoolhouse had real walls.
The abandoned reform was supposed to counter another Post-exposed scandal in which voucher "brokers" pretended to be private schools, raked in vouchers for home-schooling parents, then kept a hefty portion for administrative costs. When the paper reported that scheme, Education Commissioner Jim Horne declared, "Schools that are not schools will have their scholarships eliminated." Scholarships is his euphemism for vouchers. "Stop giving state money to home-school families".
GOOD RIDDANCE - We suspect that, unlike Florida where "Jeb!"and his hacks have largely had a free ride, Donna Arduin will face serious scrutiny in California. Good riddance to her:
As Donna Arduin, Gov. Jeb Bush's budget director, heads west to a similar post in California, she might find next winter in Sacramento politically hotter than a Tallahassee summer.
Arduin, who is joining the administration of Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, already is drawing the wrath of social-service advocates and others fearful of the budget ax she is expected to wield.
"We're deeply concerned, given her track record," Anthony Wright, executive director of a low-income advocacy group called Health Access, told the Los Angeles Times. "In Florida, she proposed and pushed through cuts that were unthinkable to both Democrats and Republicans here in California."
The state Assembly's budget chairwoman, Jenny Oropeza, a Long Beach Democrat, acknowledged Arduin must bring "integrity" back to a state budget crippled by a $25 billion shortfall.
But, she added, "Integrity also requires us to make the necessary investments in California's future and fulfill our commitments to the people of California." "Budget chief's past worries Californians".
IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT THE MEANING OF THE WORD "CUT" IS-The state budget "increase" for services to the developmentally disabled will leave 150 computer-dependent clients of the Palm Beach Habilitation Center speechless. It will leave another 70 food service-trained clients of the Lake Worth center jobless. And it will leave 12,550 disabled residents now on waiting lists helpless.
The Florida Department of Children and Families calls its $27 million shortfall an "overall average increase." "This is not a cut," said Shelly Brantley, director of the state's developmental disabilities program. "This is only an adjustment" -- one forced upon the state's neediest residents. Although more than last year's budget, the $658 million in state and federal money allotted to serve 30,000 people remains inadequate. "Florida shuts out needy".
PRIVATIZATION RUN AMUCK - The Naples Daily News illustrates the perils of privatization in an exhaustive article today. It begins with this:
Gov. Jeb Bush's campaign to privatize social services will soon arrive in Southwest Florida with the transforming power of a $97.5 million tidal wave.
The regional Department of Children and Families is giving a 5-year child welfare oversight contract valued at that amount to Camelot Community Care, a not-for-profit managed by Providence Service Corp., a Tucson-based company listed on the NASDAQ. . . . In essence, a not-for-profit that is assuming governmental powers is planning to give a large amount of money and authority to a corporate sibling with little experience in the area, bypassing several more-established local groups. "Tucson firm gets DCF child welfare oversight contract".
PULL SOME STRINGS, "JEB!" -The state already has extended the Everglades cleanup deadline by 10 years and muddled standards for water quality. Now, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in a 110-page list of water-quantity rules released this week, has failed to spell out ways to assure that the Everglades will get enough water to recover. "Too weak on Everglades".