Gelber endorses Obama

Dan Gelber, one of Florida's wannabe super-delegates, blogs his endorsement of Obama: "...Doesn’t he have a Jewish problem? Yes, but only because the Internet doesn’t have a truth key. Don’t believe everything you read in a viral chain email. As an American Jew, a strong and secure Israel is a paramount concern of mine. Not a single fiber in my body worries that Sen. Obama will not cherish Israel with the same fervor I would expect of any American President. Anyone who says otherwise is simply trying to exploit passions for Israel for partisan gain – and that is truly endangering to Israel....

Gelber says good-bye

 
Dan Gelber provided the coda to his eight year House career this morning in humble fashion, using his farewell mostly to thank others and staying away (mostly) from the jokey and sometimes biting partisan rhetoric that made him a standout among Democrats.

"Around here everything is Democrat and Republican," the Miami Beach lawmaker said, his voice hoarse from illness. "Obviously these party line votes don't truly reflect our thoughts on things. Anytime you can be bi-partisan, any time you can be nonpartisan, you should strive for that."

"I loved the last eight years," he said. "I'm looking forward to going down the hall and helping you with your bills or killing them mercilessly."

When he finished, House Speaker Marco Rubio introduced HB 619, tougher child restraint requirements Gelber long sought. It passed 112-0, and now heads to the Senate, a chamber Gelber hopes to join next session. (Times photo | Scott Keeler)

Marco Rubio, then and now

Amid the ugly partisan meltdown on the floor of the Florida House Friday, it's worth recalling House Speaker Marco Rubio's reassuring rhetoric as he gaveled his first regular session to order in 2007.

"True legislative bipartisanship, the kind envisioned by those who designed this system of government, the kind our people deserve, is one where both parties share a common vision of the future, and spend all their time and energy debating how to bring that vision into reality. That is what I hope the culture of the Florida House will be," Rubio said on March 6, 2007. "For too long politics has been about scoring political points rather than solving problems. By adopting and adhering to this one simple rule, our work here will become about problem solving." Want more? The transcript of Rubio's 2007 speech is here.

Meanwhile, check out this photo of the handwritten note tucked inside the House seal on the chamber doors listing eight of Rubio's council chairs, the only ones with permission to leave the chamber during this marathon session. These are the ones with a Get Out Of Jail Free card.

 

Gelber red-flags a 'smelly' Dade amendment

It's that time of the session when special interests and their allies earn their money, as amendments fly fast and furious. A warning sign is usually the oddly-worded amendment filed as an otherwise innocuous bill nears final passage or third reading as it is known. That requires a two-thirds vote, which means Democrats can slow things down by objecting.

At a House Democratic caucus Thursday, Reps. Jack Seiler and Dan Gelber alerted members to such an amendment to a bill (HB 65) filed by Rep. Eddy Gonzalez, R-Hialeah, who replaced Ralph Arza in the House in 2006. The amendment, narrowly drawn to affect one school district, would limit how much money the Miami-Dade district can charge private for-profit providers that rent classroom space.

"This is smelly, O.K.?" Gelber told the caucus. "There's a dotted line somewhere. I don't know where it goes." He urged lawmakers to vote against it.

Dems elect delegates

For folks who don't yet have any say in their presidential nominee, it was a remarkably upbeat group of Democrats who met at Gray Robinson in Orlando today to elect 27 party leader and elected official delegates.Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Rhett Bullard received the most votes, surely because he distributed cookies and candy to everyone with a vote. The elected delegates - none recognized by the DNC at this point - are listed below.

FL Dems: Blame us? Naaaaah

From the print Buzz column Sunday: For all the fuming, all the arm-twisting, all the news conferences and all the anguish, there were three words never uttered this week by Florida Democrats struggling with their Democratic presidential primary fiasco: We blew it.

"No, the bill was a good bill,’’ state Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Parkland, told Buzz, when asked if he had any regrets for sponsoring the bill to move Florida’s primary early and blow off the national party rules. "I don’t deny there’s a crisis here, but I’ll go to my grave saying it wasn’t my legislation, but the DNC response to it that did it."

Strategist: Dems can take back FL House

Do Democrats have any chance of taking back the state House in the next decade? Would Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton be more helpful for down ballot Democrats in Fl? Are Democrats picking off so many state House seats thanks to their own effectiveness or W's unpopularity?

Check out this Q&A with the House Democrats' ace political director Steve Schale.

Gelber: Keep state out of do-over

From the House Minority leader's blog: "...The revote needs to be paid for and fully administered by the Democratic Party (through contributions from supporters or the candidates and their supporters). Governor Crist’s idea – a “blended” vote where Democrats pay and the state administers it – isn’t good for Democrats. The major reason is that the revote, in addition to making sure Florida voters are heard, should also be a party building exercise. Returned ballots (because of address changes) will help us dramatically improve our voter database. If appropriate we could also ask Democrats to voluntarily give us their emails and telephone numbers so we can communicate with them in November and beyond. All this would help us considerably in the general election. If, however, the state oversees the election, Florida Democrats would be footing the bill without getting the attendant advantages the revote offers. The need for integrity in the process is critical, but we really don’t need the State..."

Crist likes 'do-over' primary by mail

Gov. Charlie Crist says he'd consider using state resources to hold a presidential primary "do-over" by mail to make sure all votes count. Asked Friday whether he still believes that the Democratic Party, not the state, should pay for such an election, Crist said: "It could be a blend ... If the Democratic National Committee is willing to pay for it, I think the appropriate thing would be for the state to oversee it to ensure the integrity of the process." He said he plans to discuss it with lawmakers this weekend.

Crist said he spoke to Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, the House Democratic leader, who pegs the cost of a statewide mail election as in the range of $4-million to $5-million. "That certainly is attractive and an idea that we shouldn't just throw out," Crist said. (Florida has never conducted a statewide vote by mail).

"It's my duty to make sure that any election held in this state has to be done with integrity and a process that's fair, done well, and where the votes count," Crist said.

If the mail-in election happens, Crist will be able to say he, not Howard Dean, made sure that all of the Democrats' votes count. A re-vote is seen as favoring Hillary Clinton, who easily defeated Barack Obama in the Jan. 29 vote that resulted in Florida being stripped of all of its Democratic delegates and half of its GOP delegates. 

Bills curb double dipping

Stung by angry cries from citizens, state lawmakers are drafting bills that could put an end to future double-dipping by some members of the state retirement system. But they say they can't stop everyone already getting a pension and a salary.

The bills would close a loophole created in 2001 that has allowed growing numbers of elected officials and state employees to collect retirement benefits and a state salary at the same time.  Story here.

And there's this overview of the tough sesssion getting underway: "It will take all the optimism Gov. Charlie Crist can muster in his State of the State speech today to put a happy face on the Florida Legislature's 2008 session."

Pruitt and Rubio tensions

"...Rubio continues to eye his role as an eventual springboard to future office and Pruitt remains his willing straight man. But different philosophies and a series of battles between the House and Senate have damaged the Pruitt-Rubio collaboration. And now the pair face their toughest challenge yet: cutting the state budget by $2-billion.

"Adding to the stress, they must govern as their own power threatens to wane amid preparations for fall elections. All 120 House seats and half of the 40 Senate seats are on the ballot. ..."

Story here.

Gelber: GOP-led Florida in 'state of denial'

Rep. Dan Gelber, the House Democratic leader, is distributing a policy paper that says Republican leaders have "accepted mediocrity in nearly every aspect of our government."

He gives a bleak assessment of the state education system, health care and the attempt at property tax reform. Gelber says he has a few ways to change "chart a better course for our state and we don't need 100 ideas to (do) so -- we merely need a handful of meaningful ones." Read it here.

Responds Majority Leader Adam Hasner: "Never let it be said that Minority Leader Gelber is not a man of irony or humor, for in the same “white paper” where he calls for bi-partisanship and decries “government by bumper sticker” he unleashes a torrent of partisan talking points under the catchy headline, “State of Denial” and unmistakably uses 13 pages to communicate his own bumper sticker idea: “Dan Gelber for Senate.”

Gelber: Don't blame FL Dems for delegate loss

UPDATE: Gelber may have audio, but Republicans have video -- of Sen. Steve Geller offering an "amendment" to move the primary back. It was fun and games back then. No longer. See it here.

The House Democratic leader, continuing his push for a new, vote-by-mail primary, on his new blog repeats the Democratic argument (scoffed at by the DNC) that they were helpless to stop Republicans from moving the primary to Jan. 29. He even includes audio of David Rivera laughing at the Democrats' amendment to shift the date to Feb. 5.

What we wonder, though, is what would have happened if Florida Democrats opposed the early primary from the start, rather than waiting until the last minute. Instead of cheerleading the idea of an early primary violating the national party rules and brushing off Howard Dean, who knows if the new governor stressing bi-partisanship would have been keen on rolling Democrats.

The only thing that's certain in hindsight is FL Republicans had a HUGE role in deciding the nominee 1/29 and FL Democrats would have had a far bigger role if the primary had stayed in March.

Gelber, Truax get key appointments

House Democratic leader Dan Gelber has joined the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, taking over a spot held by Rep. Frank Peterman, the St. Petersburg Democrat tapped to head the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Gelber cannot vote but he has not been shy about expressing himself on property taxes. He'll be in action next week when the TBRC reconvenes.

Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Tampa's Greg Truax to the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority. Truax, a fixture in Republican politics, was with Crist in the trenches in the days leading up to the vote on Amendment 1.

Gelber: Let's Re-vote by mail

UPDATE: Check out the jump to see the state GOP's response, putting much of the blame squarely on Gelber and his Democratic colleagues.

Dan Gelber, the state House Democratic leader who played a big role in Florida Democrats getting into their mess with a boycotted, delegate-free primary, now offers a solution on his campaign blog: a vote by-mail election. Last we heard, the FDP priced that out to cost at least $4-million (assuming a mailing to every Democratic house hold - though Gelber would invite indendents too). Gelber:

"...So let me suggest a way that not only gets us out of the jam but might even turn out to be better than we could ever hope for. Host a run-off election by mail and include Independent voters. The DNC has already indicated it would approve a compliant election, and a statewide vote by mail should qualify. It is less expensive than caucuses and more inclusive, and I think we could raise the money needed in short order, perhaps with some help from the DNC. Further, why not include registered Independent voters in the election. I promise you, Republicans will quickly stop laughing when they watch Florida Democrats not simply unite but also reach out to the crucial block of voters (Independents) that will be determining who wins Florida in November. Also, a vote by mail would be an invaluable organizing tool for the general election so the money we spent would have added utility. "

Gelber blasts Crist's 'phantom' budget

That didn't take long. Rep. Dan Gelber, the House Democratic leader, had nothing but criticism for Gov. Charlie Crist's proposed education budget Thursday at the AP planning seminar in Tallahassee.

Crist, who preceded Gelber to AP's lectern, claims he can boost K-12 school spending by $1-billion next year without raising taxes and hold schools harmless frm any possible reductions if the property tax amendment passes on Jan. 29. He did not specify where that money would come from.

On closer look, Gelber said, Crist is actually increasing property taxes because his proposal gets some of that new money by increasing required local effort (that portion of K-112 paid for with property taxes) by about $370-million. He called Crist's blueprint "a phantom budget," "not a real budget," and "more fantasy than reality," but despite prodding from reporters, he refused to attack Crist personally or to call his budget "deceptive."

Pure and simple, Gelber said, the Crist proposal is an attempt to "prop up" the property tax vote, which he called a "lousy choice" for Floridians.

   

Gelber takes Hannah Montana crusade national

[Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus performs at the St. Pete Times Forum on Monday as part of the Best of Both Worlds Tour. Times photo | Ross Mantle]

Rep. Dan Gelber and his two daughters* went on CBS' Early Show this morning to vent about not being able to get tickets to a Hannah Montana concert. Gelber, a possible 2010 statewide office candidate, will introduce legislation to crack down on brokers.

"I could take my kids to the concert, but it would cost about $2,000, $3,000 for a family of four to go to a Walt Disney concert, which is obviously outrageous," Gelber said on the nationally televised program.

* The interview was a Hannah trifecta. Hannah Gelber, 7, was being interviewed by Hannah Storm about Hannah Montana.

Beginning of FCAT's end?; Gelber's secret

It's too early to write the FCAT obit, but it was an influential, bi-partisan group of Florida leaders who went to Albany this week for Regents exam fact-finding trip. See more on our sister blog, The Gradebook.

By the way, Buzz by coincidence happened to be heading to Albany at the same time as Dan Gelber. We discovered something you may find alarming: the House Democratic leader's cell phone ring is the song "Fabulous" from High School Music 2. He blamed his kids.

The accidental tax amendment

[The faces of Marco Rubio and Dan Gelber say it all. Times | Scott Keeler]

The property tax amendment on the Jan. 29 ballot was hastily assembled out of spare parts and leftovers by a Legislature short of time. It's a cautionary tale of power politics. ... the actual constitutional amendment citizens will vote on - a plan that deeply expands those inequities - was thrown together in a hardball game of politics with events linked by a chain of unintended consequences.

The result is a plan that provides meager savings to the average homeowner and exposes the state to a lawsuit. Still, in the bizarre vortex of property taxes, it is a plan that has a better chance of getting the 60 percent approval. (More here.)

Gelber the cockroach?

Congrats to Dan Gelber (on the right), who made Hotline's quote of the day, hammering the DNC over its Florida punishment policy with an erudite allusion. ("If I wake up as a roach tomorrow, I'll know  we've reached there." -- FL House Min. Leader Dan Gelber (D), on the WH primary calendar's "almost Kafka levels of lunacy," Palm Beach Post, 11/8. )

Not sure how many candidates ride Kafka references into statewide office, though.