Dan Gelber:
Shorter version: We aren't done with the session until we do the people's business -- the budget.
Dave Murzin:
Shorter version: People hate taxes but love government services.
Jim Waldman:
Shorter version: At least we stopped the Republicans craziest stuff.
Carlos Lopez-Cantera:
Shorter version: I got mine.
Dave Aronberg:
Shorter version: The lack of money made everything tougher.
Ron Saunders:
Shorter version: The stimulus money saved us on education, Republicans refused open government.
Paula Dockery:
Shorter version: I hate saying I "killed" the CSX proposal, but I killed the CSX proposal.
Lee Constantine:
Shorter version: The bad economy killed the CSX proposal.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
What's Going On: Legislative Round-up
The Spencerian: A Horrible Legislative Session Part II: "Spicy"
The Spencerian: A Horrible Legislative Session: Elections
Rick Kriseman: In the last days of Florida’s legislative session, it’s ‘Government Gone Wild’
madfloridian: Texas oil execs in Florida to push 3 mile offshore drilling. Ain't it amazing?
FLA Politics (dantilson): Florida Republicans hold legislature hostage
Blast Off!: Republicans actively oppose education ... AGAIN
Progressive Pensacola: Double dipping loophole closed
Can't Keep Quiet: FL lawmakers marginally increase school funding
Pushing Rope: Steve Wise's Idea of Reform
Natch Greyes: And Check...The Florida Senate Makes A Move
Pushing Rope: Other Bloggers On Faith In Teaching
Florida Netroots: Legislative Update and other news
Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Republicans in Florida Legislature: dumber than dirt
Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): Lending An Ear To Our Legislators
Natch Greyes: Florida's Inability to Seperate Church & State
Ybor City Stogie: Florida Republicans Turn Down Stimulus Money For Unemployment
Pushing Rope: Offshore Drilling Dead
Florida Netroots: Legislative Update and other news
Pushing Rope: Faith In Teaching is A Paper Nonprofit
Natch Greyes: Florida's Legislative Debacle Continues
Eye on Miami (Youbetcha): The State Legislature: By the Numbers
Avery Voice: Government in the Sunshine it's NOT!
Progressive Pensacola: Our Crazy Legislature, Week 8
The Spencerian: A Horrible Legislative Session: Elections
Rick Kriseman: In the last days of Florida’s legislative session, it’s ‘Government Gone Wild’
madfloridian: Texas oil execs in Florida to push 3 mile offshore drilling. Ain't it amazing?
FLA Politics (dantilson): Florida Republicans hold legislature hostage
Blast Off!: Republicans actively oppose education ... AGAIN
Progressive Pensacola: Double dipping loophole closed
Can't Keep Quiet: FL lawmakers marginally increase school funding
Pushing Rope: Steve Wise's Idea of Reform
Natch Greyes: And Check...The Florida Senate Makes A Move
Pushing Rope: Other Bloggers On Faith In Teaching
Florida Netroots: Legislative Update and other news
Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Republicans in Florida Legislature: dumber than dirt
Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): Lending An Ear To Our Legislators
Natch Greyes: Florida's Inability to Seperate Church & State
Ybor City Stogie: Florida Republicans Turn Down Stimulus Money For Unemployment
Pushing Rope: Offshore Drilling Dead
Florida Netroots: Legislative Update and other news
Pushing Rope: Faith In Teaching is A Paper Nonprofit
Natch Greyes: Florida's Legislative Debacle Continues
Eye on Miami (Youbetcha): The State Legislature: By the Numbers
Avery Voice: Government in the Sunshine it's NOT!
Progressive Pensacola: Our Crazy Legislature, Week 8
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Gelber's Latest Legislative Updates
The latest news and views from State Senator Dan Gelber on Florida's legislative session, coming from tonight's conference call.
The call started out discussing the potential budget deal. Others will probably touch on that a lot, so I'll focus on the other top issues that Gelber discussed.
Other than the budget, one of the top laws up for debate right now is the property insurance bill that would allow Citizens, the state-run insurer of more than one million Floridians to raise rates for policyholders. The Senate has proposed moderate increases, but Gelber said that it is likely the final bill will contain increases in the range of 10-15%. As usual, Governor Charlie Crist is coy about the bill and his support or opposition to it.
Much less important is what Gelber calls the "license plate wars." As most readers know, Florida has an endless variety of specialty license plates for automobiles, the proceeds of which go to designated organizations. Two plates have come up this session that have explicitly Christian messages -- one with a cross, the other with a massive picture of Jesus. Gelber points out -- as is consistent with my understanding of the First Amendment -- that these plates would violate the federal establishment clause. Gelber adds that they would likely violate the state version as well. Similar plates in other states have been ruled unconstitutional and the same thing would likely happen here. Gelber thinks these two plates will eventually be left out of the final Senate bill, but he says the hours wasted debating these bills are silly when Florida is facing such serious issues. There is also some serious question as to where the money from these plates goes and who is behind the push for them.
Gelber said the card check bill, designed to kill the power of the national Employee Free Choice Act, has passed the House and is headed to the Senate. Florida is already one of the worst states in the union in terms of how we treat unions/workers, and this bill would attempt to keep Florida that way, regardless of what Congress does. Such a thing would likely be unconstitutional under the supremacy clause, but why test it. The current proposal would make it a constitutional amendment that would have to go before the voters, 60% of whom would have to approve. Gelber thinks that the misleading wording of the proposal would likely get the 60%, since it makes voters think they are protecting the secret ballot in all elections. The secret ballot is already protected, of course -- including in union elections -- and the EFCA wouldn't change this at all, but that doesn't stop Republicans from lying about it.
Unemployment modernization is another hot topic in the legislature right now. Under the stimulus plan, Florida is eligible for $450 million to modernize the system for citizens applying for unemployment benefits. Almost every other state has already done this modernization. Florida hasn't and is still working with the system put in place (including the technology) from the 1940s. This old-fashioned setup lessens the ability of people to get into the system. Republicans have effectively rejected this money, despite the fact that Florida needs it probably more than any other state because of our antiquated system and our extremely high unemployment rate.
Gelber tried to get at least $150 million of the unemployment modernization money by limiting the scope, since he knew the overall money wasn't going to be approved, but his proposal was rejected on a voice vote, almost certainly along party lines. Governor Crist says he'd like to have the money, but Gelber says Crist isn't doing anything to get the money. Big business lobbyists oppose the bill, despite the fact that it would benefit them by covering their payments to the unemployment compensation trust fund for a year. Gelber has been pushing for this for years, but the Republicans are stopping it.
Now that the end of the legislative session is near, Gelber says the last-minute vote-trading will begin. Logrolling will begin and we're entering a dangerous time, when bad bills and amendments could sneak through. Gelber suggested two such issues could revolve around oil drilling and the voter suppression bill, both of which were thought to be dead at this point.
The voter bill was pulled out of its last senate committee, so it could, theoretically, be brought to the floor, rather than dying in committee. Most experts think this bill would be overturned as unconstitutional, but that's a bit much to leave up to chance. People concerned about the voting bill should contact the Senate president, who may drop the bill if he's pressured enough.
It's possible, Gelber thinks, that the proposal to allow offshore drilling within three miles of Florida's coast could be trade bait as well. This proposal came up late in the session with a huge financial push. We really should look into finding out who is behind the proposal, something sofar unknown. Who is behind the push and what is their real agenda?
Gelber noted that, in all likelihood, the governor wasn't going to get involved in any of the hard decisions the legislature has to make this session.
State Senator Alex Villalobos is looking, once again, to pass his bill making witnesses before the legislature testify under oath, making lying while under oath a second or third degree felony. Gelber supports the bill and thinks it will pass the Senate, but that, once again, the House will kill it.
Gelber also noted that the education waiver for stimulus funds was finally submitted and he thinks we're likely to get it, particularly with the close relationship between Crist and Barack Obama.
The call started out discussing the potential budget deal. Others will probably touch on that a lot, so I'll focus on the other top issues that Gelber discussed.
Other than the budget, one of the top laws up for debate right now is the property insurance bill that would allow Citizens, the state-run insurer of more than one million Floridians to raise rates for policyholders. The Senate has proposed moderate increases, but Gelber said that it is likely the final bill will contain increases in the range of 10-15%. As usual, Governor Charlie Crist is coy about the bill and his support or opposition to it.
Much less important is what Gelber calls the "license plate wars." As most readers know, Florida has an endless variety of specialty license plates for automobiles, the proceeds of which go to designated organizations. Two plates have come up this session that have explicitly Christian messages -- one with a cross, the other with a massive picture of Jesus. Gelber points out -- as is consistent with my understanding of the First Amendment -- that these plates would violate the federal establishment clause. Gelber adds that they would likely violate the state version as well. Similar plates in other states have been ruled unconstitutional and the same thing would likely happen here. Gelber thinks these two plates will eventually be left out of the final Senate bill, but he says the hours wasted debating these bills are silly when Florida is facing such serious issues. There is also some serious question as to where the money from these plates goes and who is behind the push for them.
Gelber said the card check bill, designed to kill the power of the national Employee Free Choice Act, has passed the House and is headed to the Senate. Florida is already one of the worst states in the union in terms of how we treat unions/workers, and this bill would attempt to keep Florida that way, regardless of what Congress does. Such a thing would likely be unconstitutional under the supremacy clause, but why test it. The current proposal would make it a constitutional amendment that would have to go before the voters, 60% of whom would have to approve. Gelber thinks that the misleading wording of the proposal would likely get the 60%, since it makes voters think they are protecting the secret ballot in all elections. The secret ballot is already protected, of course -- including in union elections -- and the EFCA wouldn't change this at all, but that doesn't stop Republicans from lying about it.
Unemployment modernization is another hot topic in the legislature right now. Under the stimulus plan, Florida is eligible for $450 million to modernize the system for citizens applying for unemployment benefits. Almost every other state has already done this modernization. Florida hasn't and is still working with the system put in place (including the technology) from the 1940s. This old-fashioned setup lessens the ability of people to get into the system. Republicans have effectively rejected this money, despite the fact that Florida needs it probably more than any other state because of our antiquated system and our extremely high unemployment rate.
Gelber tried to get at least $150 million of the unemployment modernization money by limiting the scope, since he knew the overall money wasn't going to be approved, but his proposal was rejected on a voice vote, almost certainly along party lines. Governor Crist says he'd like to have the money, but Gelber says Crist isn't doing anything to get the money. Big business lobbyists oppose the bill, despite the fact that it would benefit them by covering their payments to the unemployment compensation trust fund for a year. Gelber has been pushing for this for years, but the Republicans are stopping it.
Now that the end of the legislative session is near, Gelber says the last-minute vote-trading will begin. Logrolling will begin and we're entering a dangerous time, when bad bills and amendments could sneak through. Gelber suggested two such issues could revolve around oil drilling and the voter suppression bill, both of which were thought to be dead at this point.
The voter bill was pulled out of its last senate committee, so it could, theoretically, be brought to the floor, rather than dying in committee. Most experts think this bill would be overturned as unconstitutional, but that's a bit much to leave up to chance. People concerned about the voting bill should contact the Senate president, who may drop the bill if he's pressured enough.
It's possible, Gelber thinks, that the proposal to allow offshore drilling within three miles of Florida's coast could be trade bait as well. This proposal came up late in the session with a huge financial push. We really should look into finding out who is behind the proposal, something sofar unknown. Who is behind the push and what is their real agenda?
Gelber noted that, in all likelihood, the governor wasn't going to get involved in any of the hard decisions the legislature has to make this session.
State Senator Alex Villalobos is looking, once again, to pass his bill making witnesses before the legislature testify under oath, making lying while under oath a second or third degree felony. Gelber supports the bill and thinks it will pass the Senate, but that, once again, the House will kill it.
Gelber also noted that the education waiver for stimulus funds was finally submitted and he thinks we're likely to get it, particularly with the close relationship between Crist and Barack Obama.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Interesting Contrast
From the Orlando Sentinel:
From the indictment of Ray Sansom:
Good to see that Cannon, Cretul and Atwater have learned from the mistakes Sansom made.
(h/t FDP)
Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, sent us this message this weekend: "As President (Jeff) Atwater and Speaker (Larry) Cretul indicated, talks aren't over. Folks are continuing to run numbers this weekend and I anticipate that they'll continue talking on Monday.
"Right now all the discussions are at the presiding officer level, and I know they are both doing their best to come to a resolution."
From the indictment of Ray Sansom:
"Further, Your Grand Jurors find that the appropriation process that gives unbridled discretion to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Appropriation Chairman needs to be changed. This State should be guided in openness and transparency. The procedure currently in place requires that our elected Legislators vote on a final budget that they have no knowledge about because it is finalized in a meeting between only two legislators. This process allows taxpayers money to be budgeted for special purposes by those few legislators who happen to be in a position of power."
...
"Further, far too much power is given to The Legislative Leadership on these budget issues which led to this appropriation that was voted on basically hidden in a huge budget. Regular members has no idea that they voted to build an aircraft hanger for a college that owned no aircraft and funded a building on land that the State does not own. Your Grand Jurors recommend to The Legislature that it clean up this process and that the State of Florida become an example to the Nation as a State that works for the people and not the special interest of those who have money to influence The Legislature."
Good to see that Cannon, Cretul and Atwater have learned from the mistakes Sansom made.
(h/t FDP)
Republicans In Trouble
The Miami Herald catches on to the fact that the Republicans in Tallahassee have no idea what they are doing and that it could hurt them electorally.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Republicans Crafted a A Bad Elections Bill That Would Stifle Voting
From the House Dems:
Florida House Democrats say:
· The Legislature should make it easier for citizens to vote instead of stifling citizen activism and participation in elections.
· Shame on Republican legislators for trying to suppress the vote with a self-serving rewrite of elections law that failed to stand up under scrutiny!
· Embarrassed by the exposure of their self-serving power grab, Republicans now must accept a severe neutering of House Bill 7149 (formerly known as PCB EDCA 09-08).
Read what news organizations have written about the Republican voter-suppression legislation:
· Orlando Sentinel, April 23, 2009
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-editorial-voting-assault-042309,0,4626719.story
“The Republican majority has sucker-punched Floridians with a last-minute plan that would throw new obstacles in the path of citizens registering to vote, casting their ballots and amending the state constitution.”
· Ocala Star-Banner, April 22, 2009
http://www.ocala.com/article/20090422/OPINION/904221001/1008/OPINION?Title=-65279-65279-Embarrassed-on-elections-again
“The thinking behind this bill is inexplicable.”
· The New York Times, April 18, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/opinion/19sun2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=elections,%20florida&st=Search
“Florida legislators should not need a court to tell them not to interfere with the right to vote.”
· St. Petersburg Times, April 19, 2009
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article993149.ece
“Republican legislative leaders have lost all sense of shame with their 11th-hour bill to roll back voting rights in Florida.”
· The Miami Herald, April 21, 2009
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/1009469.html
“The sweeping rewrite of Florida's election laws by the Republican majority last week is a flagrant example of power politics at its worst. Here we have legislation authored in secrecy and haste, which has been bereft of meaningful public input or comment.”
· SUN Newspapers (Southwest Florida), April 24, 2009
http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/edStory.aspx?articleID=436162
“There is every reason to increase Florida’s efforts to extend the voting process and make it as accessible to as many people as possible.”
· The Gainesville Sun, April 23, 2009
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090423/OPINION01/904231015/1076/OPINION?Title=Editorial-A-bad-election-bill
“This legislation is shadowy and shameful.”
· Daytona Beach News-Journal, April 22, 2009
http://www.newsjournalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/opnOPN40042109.htm
“This legislation is especially puzzling because Florida, after a long history of troubled elections, had seemed to finally get it right. There were very few problems with the 2008 election -- and neither House nor Senate version of the legislation would solve 2008's biggest problem: Long lines at early-voting stations around the state, which forced many voters to wait for hours to cast their ballot.”
· (Sarasota) Herald Tribune, April 21, 2009
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090421/OPINION/904211031/2198/OPINION?Title=Why-rush-to-change-election-laws-Legislature-should-shelve-a-troubling-costly-bill
“Why? How did such relatively low-priority legislation manage to squeeze itself into a session that is already hard-pressed for time to grapple with such essential issues as tax reform and renewable energy policy? What is driving the ill-advised election measure?”
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
(Again several sources on this one, including Bill Nelson's office and the House Dems).
Map of oil platforms off the rest of the Gulf Coast and a preview of what would come to Florida if the drilling bill passed. The bill would allow drilling inside the green line.
Map of oil platforms off the rest of the Gulf Coast and a preview of what would come to Florida if the drilling bill passed. The bill would allow drilling inside the green line.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
