Brown, Diaz-Balart worry about legality of Fla redistricting push

Rep. Dean Cannon this morning sent to members of the House Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning a copy of the letter he recently received from Congresswoman Corrine Brown and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, who have many of the same redistricting concerns voiced earlier this month by Sen. Mike Haridopolos.

Cannon writes that he plans to use the letter from D.C. "as a framework for our next meeting on the subject of reapportionment.  I have directed our legal counsel and House staff to attempt to formulate answers to the questions in this letter and to report back to us during the December committee week." The Senate also will dig deeper into proposed ballot initiatives dealing with reapportionment during that week in December.

Here's the letter: Download Letter from Congresswoman Brown and Congressman Diaz-Balart

Suit: State is failing schools, violating Constitution

Not enough money. Not enough progress. Florida is violating the state Constitution by not pouring enough money into schools and relentlessly focusing on high-stakes testing policies that aren't getting good results, says a lawsuit expected to be filed today in Leon County Circuit Court.

Prepared by a team of lawyers that includes a former Democratic House speaker and a Republican Party patriarch, the suit takes aim at virtually every aspect of the sweeping education overhaul engineered by former Gov. Jeb Bush and kept largely intact by his successor, Gov. Charlie Crist.

Low graduation rates, stagnant test scores, a persistent effort by lawmakers to shift education costs to school districts — all of it shows Florida is not living up to a constitutional mandate to provide high-quality schools, the suit says.

Some of the suit's roots go back to last spring's budget cuts, when everything from music programs to teaching assistants were considered for the chopping block, said Kathleen Oropeza, co-founder of an Orlando-based parents group listed as a plaintiff.

"The first question we asked amongst ourselves was, 'What can we do to fix this?' " Oropeza said Tuesday. "It always came back to legal action."

(Story here)

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Sansom: Legislature approved the money, not just me

Former House Speaker Ray Sansom says it was all there for any member of the Legislature to review: Millions in taxpayer dollars stuck in the state budget for a Panhandle college.

On Monday, Sansom offered that up as his defense against allegations that he damaged public faith in the House through his dealings with Northwest Florida State College — dealings that were not fully known until a year ago this week when Sansom took a $110,000 job at the school on the same day he was sworn in as speaker.

"Any concerns about or perceived defects in the process or Rep. Sansom's involvement were effectively cured with ratification (of the budget) by a majority vote of both Houses of the Legislature," Sansom's lawyer wrote Monday in a memo to a House panel investigating the Destin Republican.

"Final passage of a budget is the collective work of the legislative body and not that of a single individual." (story here)

High speed rail group says special session should focus on matching funds

As Florida lawmakers spar about whether to hold a special session on transportation to increase the state's chances of winning stimulus funding for high speed rail, one of the most vocal advocates of the project says they misunderstand what would really help the state's chances. Ed Turanchik, co-founder of ConnectUs, a grassroots organization pushing for funding for high speed rail, says the session should include a discussion of state matching funds for the bullet train.

“First and foremost, the special session should provide and make it clear that Florida will match between 10 and 20 percent of the capital costs for the high speed rail connecting Orlando to Miami and extensions to Jacksonville," said Turanchik, a former Hillsborough County commissioner. “That’s what the federal government wants to know.”

The discussion so far has focused on approving the SunRail commuter line in central Florida and funding for Tri-Rail in south Florida as a way to get a piece of the $8 billion of federal stimulus money earmarked for high speed rail lines throughout the country. Florida has applied for a $2.6 billion piece of that pie to build a line connecting Tampa to Orlando. The stimulus money doesn't require any state matching funds. But Turanchik said the feds are looking at Florida's entire proposed system, and need to know if the first leg is built that the state will help pay for the remainder.

“The SunRail people are grabbing on this to get SunRail done. The Tri-Rail people are grabbing on this to get Tri-Rail done. And the core of the issue is a match to go build Orlando to Miami," Turanchik said. The commuter rail issues are largely "tangiential," he said.

So far, Turanchik said he doesn't have a state lawmaker ready to push the high-speed rail match concept. "We'll see where it goes," he said.

Rubio's conservative rhetoric doesn't always match record

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio is emerging as the champion of activists fed up with Republicans who don't stay true to conservative principles. But if those turning against Gov. Charlie Crist are looking for a pure, uncompromising conservative, Rubio's legislative record might give them pause.

"He was a big disappointment to us when he was the speaker,'' said NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer, who saw Rubio do little to help pass a bill allowing employees to bring guns to work. "He talked the talk, but he didn't walk the walk."

As speaker of the House, Rubio consistently presented smaller budgets than the governor and the Senate. But he also spent eight years casting votes and cutting deals that reflect the reality of the legislative process: hard-line ideology rarely triumphs over compromise.

The 38-year-old campaigning as an authentic, from-the-gut conservative is the same person who spent tens of thousands of dollars to test political messages on focus groups, gave out big staff salaries and, like Crist, favored a $60 million subsidy for a new Florida Marlins stadium.

(Story here)

Jerry Melvin wants old House seat back, takes shot at Ray Sansom

Jerry Melvin, a longtime House Republican who faced terms limits in 2002 and paved the way for Ray Sansom, plans to run for his old seat.

A story in the Destin Log quoted Melvin as saying he would seek changes mandating a committee hearing before anything is inserted into the budget, a clear rebuke of the budget maneuvers that got Sansom into trouble.

Melvin, who is 80, is just one of several GOP candidates. Matt Gaetz, son of Sen. Don Gaetz, is also running. He worked as an aide to Sansom, for the Republican Party of Florida and as an attorney to developer Jay Odom.

Melvin had a sometimes rocky tenure in the House. He drew fire from Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and others for for derogatory remarks toward Cubans. In denying he slammed Jewish lawmakers for not supporting an education bill, he said, "You thought we had shot them -- every one -- or lined them up against the damn wall."

Wrestler supports Brian Blair's opponent in District 47 race

Some rivalries never die. Professional wrestler Jimmy Hart, who in the past has faced Brian Blair in the ring, is now backing his opponent in another contest. Hart said he's throwing his weight behind Irene Guy in the 2010 Republican primary for Florida's District 47 state House seat. Blair is also running for the post. Hart was part of the Hart Foundation wrestling team when Blair was one of the Killer Bees.

"I hope I don't get drop-kicked by Brian Blair," Hart said during a phone interview from California, his latest stop on a book-signing tour with Hulk Hogan. Hart met Guy last month when the two volunteered at an event sponsored by Computer Mentors, a non profit that helps underprivileged children gain technological skills. The two are pictured here with Ralph Smith, executive director of Computer Mentors. (Smith is the one in the middle.)

"My main thing is this -- when I met the lady, she came across as very real," Hart said. "She seemed to really know what she was talking about." Hart, who lives in Tampa but not Guy's district, said he hasn't spoken to Blair about what he might like to accomplish in the Florida legislature. "I've known Brian for a long time. I love him to death," Hart said. "But in this case, I think Irene has something to offer."

Blair said Hart apparently still wants to be the bad guy. "He was my arch enemy," Blair said, calling Hart a "far-left liberal" who endorsed Barack Obama. "If he wants to carry on from the 80s and early 90s, we can do that," he said. 

And in case you Buzz readers are wondering, Hart and the Hulk will be at the Barnes and Noble on U.S. 19 in Clearwater at 7 pm. Monday for a book-signing.

Call it the Madonna with Child Act?

Really, we could go in a lot of directions with this blog post. But not all of them would be politically correct or tasteful,  so we'll just stick to the basics and let you talk amongst yourselves.

See, House Dem leader Rep. Franklin Sands wants to provide an exemption from jury duty for women who are breastfeeding. The proposal passed its first committee today, and if it ever gets far enough too become law, Florida would become the 13th state to provide such an exemption.

Sands said current law related to parents only deals with those who aren't employed full time yet have custody of young children. But it doesn't address the full-time working moms who are breastfeeding.

Even though the bill, which has a Senate companion from Sen. Eleanor Sobel (she of the fake bake tanning bill last year...), passed its first House stop, those who voted yes voiced skepticism about the need for it.

New mom Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, even said there are far more pressing state matters to be addressed than breastfeeding jurors.

Of course, that hasn't stopped lawmakers from spending time on such things in the past. See: TruckNutz, the state pie...

Stacy Frank announces state House run

Stacy Frank, an attorney and small business owner, today announced her candidacy for Florida's District 57 House seat. Frank,a Democrat, wants to replace Republican Faye Culp, who is term-limited out of the post. Frank is the daughter of Hillsborough clerk of the circuit court Pat Frank, a former Hillsborough County Commissioner.

Frank's announcement comes with a long list of endorsements, including U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, Hillsborough County Public Defender Julianne Holt, Tampa City Council members Thomas Scott, Linda Saul-Sena, Gwen Miller, and Charlie Miranda and former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman.  

Frank can expect resistance from a vocal group of folks who have been fighting the placement of cell phone towers on Hillsborough County school property, saying they may pose health hazards to children. Frank is CEO of Collier Enterprises II, which holds a contract with the school district to lease land for the towers.

"I will be doing everything I can to make sure she doesn't get elected."  said Carrie Grimail, a cell phone tower opponent. "She's not going to represent us, the people. She's going to be representing her telecommunications buddies. She's defended them in lawsuits. Those are her constituents. That's what she's said through her actions."

Saunders drafts parimutuel bill - and hopes for special session

Democratic Rep. Ron Saunders says he's drafted proposed gaming legislation that is basically what lawmakers passed in the 2009 session, minus the Seminole gambling provisions that are now in limbo amid strained negotiations between the tribe and the state.

Translation: a parimutuel bill.

Saunders, D-Key West, said his proposal would allow the parimutuels to operate as lawmakers have already agreed they should. That will allow them to benefit from approved tax breaks and start on capital projects that can create jobs, he said.

But he isn't filing it until he gets a clear signal on if and when the Legislature will go into a special session -- which, depending on the day and who you talk to, could include anything from gambling and SunRail to oil drilling and designating a new state pie (well, OK, not that last one...).

"A majority of the Legislature already voted for some of this parimutuel stuff, so why not take what we passed and give these parimutuels the tax breaks," Saunders said. "Right now they're in limbo because of the Seminoles. I support the Seminoles, but resolving that issue is more complicated. The parimutuels are ready to go."