TAX REFORM -Florida's tax structure, which relies heavily on sales-tax collections, has not been changed for nearly half a century. In the interim, special-interest groups have been so successful at wooing weak-kneed lawmakers that more items and services now are exempt from the sales tax -- nearly $25 billion worth -- than remit the tax, which amounts to $17.5 billion. "Path to fairness".
I GOT MINE - A new survey documents a disturbing and harmful trend: Americans are giving less and less to charity. "Fight Decline In Giving To Needy"
PHONEY NUMBERS - The author of a study that says Florida would gain 89,000 jobs if the FTAA were headquartered in Miami is taken to task by his critics, some of them surprising. "Projection on jobs produced by free trade draws criticism".
OUR "EDUCATION GOVERNOR" - [f]ederal policymakers are overlooking the role their counterparts on the state level have played in driving tuition up and quality down.
After all, the president's own brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, and the Republican-controlled Legislature have been hard at work squeezing the Florida university system.
Florida's state universities are crowded, cash-strapped and slipping in national reputation.
Their tuitions have been increased as a matter of a state policy, pushed by Gov. Bush, to load more of the cost on families. Even with tuition increases, the financially strapped institutions aren't sure they can offer enough courses to meet immediate demand, much less ensure students graduate on time. "Storming the ivory tower".
MED MAL - What a surprise. Florida's doctors and health-care providers probably won't have lower medical-malpractice insurance premiums any time soon, despite the Legislature's attempts at reform. "Weak prescription". I suppose we need to "Try again on medical malpractice".
CHAMBER SAYS "JUMP", GOP ASKS "HOW HIGH" - [S]tate lawmakers have been talking about making it tougher to amend the state constitution. So far it has been nothing but talk.
Even after Gov. Jeb Bush pushed to repeal both the high-speed rail and class-size reduction amendments, legislators left Tallahassee this year without enacting any changes on how amendments are added to the constitution.
That may change, however, during the 2004 session. Lawmakers appear ready to respond to a growing chorus from business leaders, such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce, who argue that it should be harder for voter initiatives to be placed on the ballot. "'04 session may tackle ballot drives".
GOOD RIDDANCE -Donna Arduin, 40, a former aide to Florida's Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, will be the principal counsel [to Schwarzenegger] on budget issues and is expected to do the dirty work of cutting sacred-cow programs. "Some key players".
OH, PLEEEZE - The normally insightful Mark Silva gives us this bit of Bush tinged fluff today: "‘Ojo' contact bodes well for Bush".
SURELY OUR COMPASSIONATE GOVERNOR IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS - In Florida, the nation's citrus belt and major winter vegetable producer, farmers will continue to enjoy a limitless supply of cheap labor. If this legislation passes, all competitive incentives to improve wages and benefits for farm workers will be removed. "Farm workers get another raw deal".