Atwater Hates the People, Campaign Finance

Sen. Jeff Atwater doesn't care about the spirit behind campaign finance laws and tells the people that they don't matter, only money matters to him:

State Sen. Jeff Atwater can't accept a free cup of coffee when he meets with a lobbyist because of a gift ban intended to lessen the influence of special interests on Florida's Legislature. But the North Palm Beach Republican rakes in donations of up to $25,000 for a political committee under his control.

Roughly a year before he is expected to assume the Senate presidency, Atwater sits atop a $521,000 fund raised from a few dozen donors in the past 11 months. Among the $25,000 contributors were AutoNation, political action committees for car dealers and Realtors, and Hartman & Tyner, a gambling company. Atwater is one of more than two dozen lawmakers who together have amassed millions of dollars under a continuing anomaly in Florida' political fundraising laws.

Lynn Hates Common Sense, Loves Wasting Time

Sen. Evelyn Lynn wants to ban salvia divinorum, a plant that is similar to pot, is legal in most of the world, is not the subject of any particular medical or law enforcement officials and, because of its appearance and smell, is almost impossible to detect. Yep, that's a good use of government time and law enforcement resources.

Good Constantine

I don't agree with Sen. Lee Constantine often, but I agree with him on this one:

Automated external defibrillators, like the hundreds Walt Disney World has deployed throughout its Central Florida property, could become more commonplace in Florida under a change in state law proposed by state Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs.

Constantine wants to alter the wording in Florida law so that anyone who can lay hands on a portable heart defibrillator in an emergency can use it to try saving someone's life without worrying about a lawsuit later.

His Senate Bill 564, advocated by the American Heart Association, is intended to sweep away liability risks so that schools, businesses and other institutions, small and large, might feel more comfortable about buying portable defibrillators and placing them in handy locations -- as fire extinguishers are now -- without worrying about someone getting sued.

This is a good idea that will help save lives. Good job, senator.