Times ed board: Citizens should go back to drawing board

From Wednesday's St. Petersburg Times editorial page: Florida's state-run insurer absolutely should be rooting out fraud and incompetence that is inflating hurricane-mitigation discounts for homeowners. But Citizens Property Insurance Corp.'s board of directors should not award a no-bid $60 million contract to a private vendor who has not tackled a project of this size. The board should reconsider and seek competitive bids. Read full editorial here

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Democratic chair threatens Bill Nelson, wants Karen Thurman out

Lest you think only the Florida Republican party is chock full of infighting, here's a missive from Miami-Dade Democratic Chairman B.J. Chiszar, calling for the resignation of state Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman. And here's a mass e-mail about Nelson:

"THE FIGHT ISN'T OVER JUST YET! THE SENATE MUST ACT NOW!

I am instructing everyone of you and your families & friends to place 1 call to Senator Bill Nelson's office in Tallahassee (ask for Pete Mitchell)....850-942-8415 - Tell them that if they want  the Democratic voters in Miami-Dade to vote for him in 2012 and do not want Chairman BJ Chiszar to find a primary opponent, then we expect him to support a Senate Bill with a public option. The Miami office (less effective to call) is 305-536-5999!"

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Times editorials: Cretul's roll of the dice; D'Alemberte's property tax fight

From the St. Petersburg Times' weekend editorial pages:

Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul's call for the federal government to fine or shut down games at the Seminole Indians' casinos is highly unorthodox and a bit of a grandstand play. In seeking federal intervention, he broke faith with the Senate and governor and further eroded the possibility Florida will strike a deal with the tribe. But there could be a silver lining if Cretul's overture to the National Indian Gaming Commission brings clarity to an untenable situation...Full editorial here.

Every day, many of Florida's homeowners are paying much more in property taxes than their neighbors because of the state's discriminatory tax policy. The Legislature has ignored the growing inequity. It even made it worse when it placed on the 2008 ballot Amendment 1, which allows the most advantaged homeowners to take their tax break with them when they buy a different house. But a small band of new Florida homeowners is trying to bring some fairness to the system. The 1st District Court of Appeal, which has the power to reinstate their case, should give them a chance. Fundamental fairness is at stake...Full editorial here. 

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Times' editorial to Florida chamber: Put up or shut up

From today's St. Petersburg Times' editorial: The Florida Chamber of Commerce talks a good game: Invest in education, restore infrastructure, improve transportation, attract high-paying jobs, protect the state's quality of life. But don't be hoodwinked by the feel-good message chamber leaders espoused this week at their conference at the Disney Yacht Club Resort. Actions speak louder than words, and for years the chamber has touted the same lofty goals only to undercut them with their lobbying efforts during the annual legislative session. It's time for the chamber to act like a leader for Florida's future, not just talk about it.

Read full editorial in jump or by clicking here.

Times' editorials: Mendelsohn-gate, Internet tax reform

From this weekend's St. Petersburg Times' editorials:

A federal investigation into the political dealings of a South Florida ophthalmologist shows the state's political slush funds don't discriminate in whom they deceive. Even contributors angling to buy influence in Tallahassee can end up duped. The arrest of Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, who raised more than $2 million over the past decade operating three such accounts, is further evidence of the need to close massive loopholes in state campaign finance laws to ensure the public knows who is giving and who is receiving political contributions. Read full editorial here.

The Republican-dominated Pinellas County Commission smartly voted last week to sue online travel companies like Priceline and Expedia that have avoided fully paying the county's bed tax. Too bad their Republican colleagues in the Florida Legislature are not as aggressive in addressing other unfair tax policies, including by extending the state sales tax to all Internet sales. Read full editorial here.

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Times' editorial: Crist crossed line on PSC reappointments

St. Petersburg Times' editorial Wednesday: Gov. Charlie Crist has a long history — including his time as a state senator and attorney general — of championing consumer rights when it comes to the state's regulation of utilities.

It is understandable that he is skeptical of two electric utilities' proposals, under review by the Public Service Commission, to significantly increase their base rates. But Crist went too far Monday when he suggested he would not reappoint two commissioners if they voted for the rate increases sought by Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy. That is inappropriate meddling, and it injects more politics into a PSC decision that should be an independent one based on the facts.

Crist contended Tuesday he was just expressing the views of an average taxpayer and that the vote would be just one factor in whether he reappoints Commissioners Matthew Carter and Katrina McMurrian. But the irony is that Crist is publicly wavering on the PSC appointments for the wrong reason.

Read full editorial in jump or at this link.

Times editorial: Mint juleps, PSC staff and utility execs should never mix

Tuesday's St. Petersburg Times editorial: In May, the staff lobbyist for the Florida Public Service Commission "dropped by" a Kentucky Derby party at the home of a Florida Power & Light executive in Palm Beach Gardens. Ryder Rudd, the recent recipient of an 8 percent pay increase, claims he and his wife took time out from their vacation so he could mingle and gather information from the executives of the state's biggest electric utility on behalf of the ratepayers of Florida. But mint juleps, utility executives and PSC staffers should never mix. Read full editorial here or in jump.

Times editorial: Legislature, it's time to go back to school

From Wednesday's St. Petersburg Times' editorial:

It's time for Florida's legislative leaders to get serious about how they plan to fund education in a state where economists warn the current revenue structure won't return to 2007-08 levels for at least another three years. A first step would be addressing the class size issue. But it can't be the last. Read the full editorial here or in the jump for this item.

Times' editorial: Stop polluting the Everglades

Thursday's St. Petersburg Times editorial: Taxpayers in Florida and across the nation are spending billions of dollars to restore the Everglades. At the same time, the state and federal governments are spending additional time and money to legalize pollution there. This is crazy public policy and the Obama administration needs to put an end to it. Full editorial is in jump or can be found here.

Times' editorial board: Crist should tap Young for Senate

Just posted to the St. Petersburg Times' opinion Web page: A promising name emerged Tuesday in Gov. Charlie Crist's search to fill Mel Martinez's U.S. Senate seat: U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young. Republican officials confirmed that the Indian Shores Republican is on Crist's short list of potential replacements. Young – if willing – outshines every other candidate so far acknowledged by the governor's office. Even though his appointment to the Senate would force a special election for his south Pinellas congressional seat, he represents the best choice for Crist and the citizens of Florida. Read full editorial here.

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