Alexander the (Less Than) Great

It has been a bad week for Florida state Sen. JD Alexander. That translate into a good week for Floridians.

Alexander is the Robert Byrd of the Florida Senate. Byrd was the king of pork spending. Byrd even tried to move the CIA to his home state of West Virginia. Byrd was able to use his position as chairman of the Appropriations Committee to pass his personal pet projects.

Like Byrd, Alexander attempted to take the Tampa-based USF's College of Pharmacy to Lakeland. It is no coincidence that Alexander's district covers Polk County. Alexander failed to be able to move the College of Pharmacy. Alexander used his position as chair of the Senate Budget Committee to strip all funding from the USF College of Pharmacy.

In November of last year, Alexander then made a move for the USF Lakeland-based USF Polytechnic. Alexander wanted USF Polytechnic to be independent from USF. Alexander didn't care that Polytechnic had no campus or would not have accreditation.

The bill doesn't address accreditation, but state Sen. JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, who supports the move, has said the new institution could get quick provisional accreditation.

A top accrediting official said there's no such thing.

"The lawmaker can make the campus independent, but it will not be accredited," said Belle Whellan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges Commission on Colleges.

"Until the (SACS) board approves them as an institution, they don't exist as far as we're concerned."

And that means it can't receive federal grants or student aid. Other universities wouldn't accept its credits.

Students at the Polytechnic school overwhelmingly do not want to be separated from USF. Last year, the Board of Governors voted to delay a decision to split the Polytechnic school from USF.

There are good reason the Polytechnic school and USF is against the split. Under the USF umbrella, Polytechnic has the resources of USF. As an independent school, Polytechnic would have less resources and prestige. Alexander cares about none of this. Alexander was defied by president Judy Genshaft. Alexander was going to legislatively enact revenge. Alexander cut 58 percent of USF's state funding. This was too much for even fellow Republicans to stomach. The Florida Senate killed Alexander's Draconian cuts.

The Senate budget committee has decided to drop controversial language that would have held back $25 million in funding for the University of South Florida until it handed over all the property of USF Polytechnic as part of an initiative to make the Lakeland campus independent.

The budget conforming bill containing the change (SPB 7100) would still create an independent Florida Polytechnic University, but the change seemed to largely soothe Tampa Bay area lawmakers who had sharply criticized withholding the money.

In other news: Alexander fought vigorously to make sure that there was no government oversight of the Senate private prison bills. Alexander claimed that private prisons would save the state money. There would be no way of finding that out since Alexander co-sponsored a bill that would make private prisons exempt from state financial review.

The good news is prison privatization is dead.

After three hours of often-emotional debate Tuesday, the Florida Senate slapped down a controversial plan to put a private company in charge of 14,500 prisoners in South Florida, killing a proposal that potentially meant millions of dollars for the Boca Raton-based Geo Group.

The plan, a top priority of Senate President Mike Haridopolos and Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander, would have privatized 28 prisons and work camps in South Florida. But though it had the clout of the legislative leaders behind it, it divided the Senate and a final vote was delayed for more than a week while both sides wrangled votes.

The proposal split the Senate, which voted 19-21 on the measure, SB 2038.

Gary Siplin was the tiebreaker. I'm speechless. Siplin is not known for doing the right thing. Ever.

Update Alexander is now going after the USF cash reserves. Alexander got hammered at the hearing by fellow senators Jim Norman and Gwen Margolis. Alexander really went over the line when Norman is the voice of reason

A Senate budget hearing is taking place over the next two days, and Wednesday, Senator JD Alexander went round and round with other senators.

Jim Norman, from Hillsborough County fought against Alexander saying, "This acceleration is on the backs of these students who are in college and I am, you don't bargain futures like this, even in this appropriations process," Norman said.

But Alexander instantly responded, "That's not a factual statement. It's being made to inflame folks in an attempt to protect what I believe is an indefensible policy of maintaining too high of a cash balance in universities."

Senator Gwen Margolis, from South Florida told Alexander, "This is probably the worst message you can send to university presidents. Just spend your money, cause they're going to take it away if you don't."

The cash reserves are rainy day funds. If there is an emergency, USF will need that money. Alexander is losing face with this petty feud with USF. He had to back off his original cuts. Now he is going after reserve money. Alexander has literally lost his mind. The Senate freed up $25 million for USF. The university is still facing a dramatic shortfall.

No Surprise: Gary Siplin in Trouble

Florida Sen. Gary Siplin is in trouble again. Siplin spent $13,000 to pay campaign workers. The problem is Siplin hasn't disclosed who those workers are.

Siplin's campaign treasurer, Arnold Gibbs, told investigators that the poll workers were paid in cash because "the Democratic Party of Florida did not pay the poll workers and we did not have enough campaign checks."

What candidate in this day and age would pay worker in cold cash and not keep records. This looks like Siplin funneled the money to himself. Siplin also accepted two $500.00 checks from Florida Phosphate CCE. The law allows Siplin to accept only one $500.00 check from Florida Phosphate CCE.

The The Florida Elections Commission has filed 8 charges Siplin from campaign violations. State Attorney Lawson Lamar has decided not to file criminal charges. You wouldn't know that by the way Siplin is doging the media. This is a man that doesn't want to make any comments on the record.



Why is Siplin still holding public office? Siplin was arrested and convicted breaking election laws in 2006. The conviction was overturned on appeal. Siplin's reaction to the media at that time was to jump over a fence instead of answering questions. Siplin is a disgrace and unworthy of his elected post.

Gary Siplin Is A Lucky Guy

Sen. Gary Siplin went in front of the State Commission of Ethics for allegedly threatening to have a female law enforcement officer fired. Brenda Averill pulled Siplin over for driving down a closed road. The ethics charge was later dropped. Siplin was later convicted of third degree grand theft. The conviction was later overturned. Siplin had another ethics complaint filed against. Siplin once again comes out on the winning side.

The commission had previously found in 2009 that Siplin had abused his power as state senator by attempting to go around a barricade and gain access to a parking space by mentioning his status as state senator, reports the News Service of Florida. But the Fifth District Court of Appeal found earlier this year that there was no evidence to suggest Siplin had abused his power as state senator. The commission then was required to go along with the appeals court decision and issued a final order that said Siplin’s behavior “did not rise to the legal definition of acting corruptly,” and did not violate state law. “It’s over, it’s done, finally,” said attorney Mark Herron, who represented Siplin at the Florida Commission on Ethics hearing Friday. Herron said Siplin was entitled to use the parking space through a special permit.

It is good to be Gary Siplin.

Florida Senate Passes Anti-Abortion Ballot Amendment

The Florida Senate passed a proposed constitutional amendment banning public and insurance exchange funding. The vote passed by the 27 vote minimum. Unsurprisingly, the deciding vote was Democrat Gary Siplin. Joy-Ann Reid made the observation that Gary Siplin "votes more often with Republicans than any Democrat I've seen."

The law already prohibits state government funding for abortion. What the 2012 ballot amendment will do is rewrite Florida's privacy laws. This has nothing to do with the job creation Republicans promised when they won last year.

This is pandering to the Christian Right base. This is about voter turnout is 2012. Politically speaking, this is going to kill Republicans. Democrats will use the anti-abortion ballot amendment to swing women and young voters for Obama. Abortion isn't gay marriage in 2004. The more conservative South Dakota failed to ban abortion on a statewide ballot. The Florida Democratic Party may not be able to win elections. However, the DNC will be focused on Obama and Bill Nelson winning. Good luck trying to get 60 percent of voters to back an anti-abortion amendment in a state Obama won.

Side note: is Rick Scott and the Republicans in the Florida legislature going to suddenly get more poular and be able to tell women voters they have a right to regulate their bodies? I doubt it.

The Fight For the District Kingdoms

In November of 2010, Florida voters approved ballot amendments 5 and 6. Florida will be awarded two new Congressional seats in 2012. Amendment 5 and Amendment 6 was designed to change the way Congressional districts are drawn.

Amendment 5

In establishing Legislative district boundaries:
(1) No apportionment plan or district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent; and districts shall not be drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to participate in the political process or to diminish their ability to elect representatives of their choice; and districts shall consist of contiguous territory.

(2) Unless compliance with the standards in this subsection conflicts with the standards in subsection (1) or with federal law, districts shall be as nearly equal in population as is practicable; districts shall be compact; and districts shall, where feasible, utilize existing political and geographical boundaries.

(3) The order in which the standards within sub-sections (1) and (2) of this section are set forth shall not be read to establish any priority of one standard over the other within that subsection.

Amendment 6

In establishing Congressional district boundaries:
(1) No apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent; and districts shall not be drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to participate in the political process or to diminish their ability to elect representatives of their choice; and districts shall consist of contiguous territory.

(2) Unless compliance with the standards in this subsection conflicts with the standards in subsection (1) or with federal law, districts shall be as nearly equal in population as is practicable; districts shall be compact; and districts shall, where feasible, utilize existing political and geographical boundaries.

(3) The order in which the standards within sub-sections

Changing the redistricting process as been a longtime goal for Florida progressives. Newly elected Florida Democratic Party chairman Rod Smith said the he will fight to legally make sure districts are drawn under the voter approved constitutional guidelines. Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos snidely remarked, "I call it the full employment for lawyers' bill." The voter approved amendments were not a "bill." It makes me wonder if the new Florida Senate leader understands the legislative process.

Senate Democrat Gary Siplin has voiced his disapproval of Amendment 5 and Amendment 6. Siplin has been known to vote with Republicans. The only thing Siplin is concerned about his his own Senate district.

Siplin and Rep. Corrine Brown said the new redistricting guidelines will not protect African-American voters. The amendments are written to protect minority voters. What likely concerns Siplin and Brown is that computers will be used to redraw districts. Sen. Haridopolos planned on using computers before the approval of the amendments. The amendments require that the districts be drawn in a reasonable square and contoured manner. Siplin's and Brown's districts bear closer resemblance to Jackson Pollock paintings than anything with right angles. The same can be said for every member of the Florida legislature and the Congressional delegation.

Brown and Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart have filed a lawsuit against the new redistricting law.

BROWN: "I was extremely disappointed in the passage of amendments 5 and 6. Congressman Diaz-Balart and I introduced a lawsuit this morning, and will continue our fight against these misguided, deceptive amendments in the federal courts. I am absolutely convinced that if they are carried out as prescribed, our state will immediately revert to the time period prior to 1992, when Florida was devoid of African American or Hispanic representation."

The ACLU has filed a motion against Brown. The ACLU is a defendant in the case. The ACLU called pre-approved Amendment 5 and Amendment 6 districting process a "rigged and broken system." The Florida Supreme court approved the ballot language of Amendment 5 and Amendment 6. It is doubtful Brown's and Diaz-Balart's lawsuit will go far.

Now that the new districting system is in the Florida constitution what does it mean to Democrats? Unfortunately. The success of Amendment 5 and Amendment 6 becoming law alone will not change the fortunes of Florida Democrats. Republicans have filibuster-proof majorities in the Florida House and Senate. There are only a handful of Democrats that will be working on redrawing districts on a federal and state level. It is hard for Democrats to change the rules of the game when they do not have enough elected officials to field a team.

Haridopolos, Marco Rubio, Ray Sansom, and David Rivera have been involved in various corruption scandals related to they service in the Florida legislature. Hoping for Republicans to draw up districts that will take away their dominance is pure fantasy. The Republican Party of Florida and legislative GOP members will mount a fierce campaign against fair district changes.

The Florida Democratic Party is broken. Democrats are putting their faith in a new chairman who has lost two statewide races and most famous moment is the much mocked helicopter ad.



It is doubtful Smith is going to significantly increase Democrats chances of getting elected to the Florida legislature any time in the foreseeable future. Haridopolos' prediction of lawsuits looks increasingly likely. The redistricting fight will get uglier as Florida again becomes a presidential battleground state.

"For he that holds his kingdom holds the law."

William Shakespeare, King John, 3.1

The people that make laws in Tallahassee have every intention of keeping their kingdom.

Update: Gary Fineout tweeted this.

Plus, U.S. Reps. Brown and Diaz-Balart have now changed lawsuit so it is against (Rick) Scott and SOS (Kurt) Browning.

Religious Licence Plates Update

The Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent out a press release warning the Florida government that SB 0642 could spark a lawsuit. Americans United have a problem with the religious licence plates sponsored by Senators Gary Siplin and Ronda Storms.

SB 642 mandates issuance of a plate depicting the crucified head of Jesus complete with a crown of thorns. It also mandates a second plate featuring a large cross, a stained-glass church window and the words "I Believe."

"These plates clearly violate the Constitution and basic fairness," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. "It's wrong for the legislature to favor one faith over others. If this bill passes, it is almost certain to provoke a lawsuit.

"I am frankly shocked that any legislator would think these plates are constitutionally acceptable," Lynn continued. "It is deeply offensive when officials play political games with the sacred symbols of any faith."

Gov. Charlie Crist told reporters he supports the Storms and Siplin licence plates. "If they don’t want one they don’t have to buy one," Crist said, in response to questions about separation of church and state. The Christian Broadcasting Network ran a story about Crist's support on their web site. The bill amendments passed 22 to 13. The Senate never even had an idea what Siplin's and Storms' licence plates would look like. The devil isn't in the details.

More on the Religious Licence Plates

What a future Florida licence plate may look like.

The amendments for religious themed licence plates were added into SB 0642 by Ronda Storms and Gary Siplin. Two State Senators known more for controversy and ethics investigations than good legislation. Their sinful ways doesn't stop them from loving Jesus enough to violate the First amendment.

Storms wants a $25.00 licence plate saying "I believe" to benefit Faith in Teaching. The nonprofit supposely funds education. Sen. Dan Gelber wanted to know if the company actually exist or is it just a dummy company created to issue the plate. Gelber has reason to be skeptical. The web site www.faithinteaching.org is down. (The site is available on Google cache.)

I found Faith In Teaching on Google Maps. It is across the street from a bail bond service. Google Maps street level view reveals the building is named Faith Christian University. The property is for sale. It is very strange for a company that allegedly gives money to other faith-based programs would have their headquarters in a high crime neighborhood and is trying to sell their property. This reeks of a Christian Right front company.

Siplin making the religious images in his plate more overt.

Siplin said the thought now is to make the plate say "Trinity" with maybe a "cross, and some nails and a dove, do the trinity."

Siplin didn't even have an idea what his plate would look like when he first proposed his amendment.

The ACLU and Anti-Defamation League will likely take this to court. If Crist signs the current bill into law.

Update: Faith Christian University is an online bible study school. The main campus is at 6000 E Colonial Dr, Orlando. It looks like a church next to a shopping plaza. An overheard shot reveals a baseball field on the property. The FCU web site says they are in a process of moving onto the campus.

Correction: Faith Christian University is not involved with the I Believe licence plate. I apologize for the mistake and bringing FCU into this mess.

Saggy Pants Bill Back

Via Alex Pickett: Let it be known repeated Florida State Senator (and noted fence jumper) Gary Siplin has reintroduced the baggy pants bill.

An act relating to the indecent wearing of below-waist underwear; prohibiting a student from exposing below waist underwear in a specified manner while on the grounds of a public school; providing penalties; providing an effective date.

Siplin sponsored a similar bill last year. That bill never made it to the floor. In 2007, the baggy pants bill died Committee on Education Pre-K - 12. The moral of the story if first you failed once, you will be granted plenty of other opportunities to fail again. Siplin is an opportunist of extreme proportions.

Here is a video of Siplin pulling a Clay Davis on a reporter.

Gary Siplin: Republican Lite

It's no secret that Gary Siplin is Florida's worst Republican. Siplin won yesterday's primary with a group of backers that would make any Republican proud.

A school-voucher group called All Children Matter had fired back with ads financed in part by the DeVos family, which owns the Orlando Magic, and the heirs to Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, who chastised Woodard for being a registered Republican until last year.

Republicans and U.S. Sugar even got in on the act, sending out mailers this month trying to link Woodard to Republican policies that "shipped our jobs overseas, wrongly started the war in Iraq and destroyed our economy."

Siplin won with money from conservative-leaning businesses and Christian advocates. These are people that are dedicated to defeating Democrats.

The Florida Democratic Party and election official should have came out forcefully for Maurice "Doc" Woodard. Democrats supported Joe LIeberman in 2004, in hopes of winning the Senate majority. LIeberman has turned into a disaster for the party. Siplin has had legal troubles and the Florida Senate is not turning blue. What excuse does the FDP have for not giving Siplin the boot. His district isn't about to go Republican.

The Special Interests of Gary Siplin

Gary Siplin is Florida's most embarrassing Democrat. Siplin was filmed jumping a fence, after he was charged for crimes of misusing his political office. He was convicted of third-degree felony grand theft. The conviction was overturned in the Fifth District Court of Appeals.

As a legislator, Siplin is best known for repeatedly trying to make wearing sagging pants illegal. Siplin was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans on a controversial ultrasound bill. The bill would force women having an abortion to view an ultrasound. The Senator also voted for an abortion waiting period.

Now Siplin is being attacked by the Florida Consumer Alliance with a mailer.

The mailer that started appearing this week blasts Siplin, a Democrat and fellow lawyer, over votes he’s cast that “jack up our phone bills,” or “increase car insurance,” and a bill he’s sponsored to cut off alimony payments to mothers who get in a new relationship.

“What’s wrong with GARY SIPLIN?” it reads, with an ominous looking black-and-white picture of Siplin imposed over a red background. Siplin's tie has been air-brushed red above accusations that he "betrayed our trust, sold us out to Republican special interests."

Siplin would not comment to The Orlando Sentinel about the allegations. His office release the statement: "There is no doubt the Tallahassee special interests are going after me. It's the price you pay when you stand up for the people you represent." Any group or person that gets politically involved is an special interests group. I really wish pols stop using "special interests" as if the fire pits of hell are going to open up. Really, the special interests line is getting old.

Bad Bills

Alex Pickett spotlights the worst bills from this session of the Florida legislature. Sen. Gary Siplin has two bills make the list. The Baggy Pants bill is well-known. Siplin now wants churches to get into the act of policing pornography.

An act relating to the commercial distribution of pornographic materials; providing a short title; providing legislative findings; defining terms relating to the commercial distribution of pornographic materials; prohibiting a person from willfully and knowingly distributing pornographic materials for commercial purposes; providing a civil penalty; providing that any person, including a church, religious organization, or other representative group or organization, may bring an action to enforce the act; providing certain exemptions; providing procedures for enforcing the act; providing for attorney's fees and costs; requiring that any civil penalty collected be deposited into the General Revenue Fund; providing for declaratory and injunctive relief; authorizing a person to recover actual damages and attorney's fees if the person suffers a loss as a result of commercial distribution of pornographic materials; providing an effective date.

The Florida Commercial Anti-Pornography Act is so vaguely worded that the bill could be used to make all pornographic material illegal. It would never stand up to legal challenges and is dead in the Florida Senate. That doesn't stop Siplin. The Artist formerly known as an indicted State Senator is more interested in publicity.

Ultrasound-Abortion Vote Near

The vote for the ultrasound bill in the Florida Senate will be close. The Senate has 26 Republicans and 14 Democrats. Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller says 13 Democrats and 6 Republicans will vote for the bill. Three Republicans are on the fence. Democrat Gary "Droopy Pants" Siplin will vote for the ultrasound bill. 20 nay votes are needed to kill the bill. Geller has 19.

The bill requires any woman getting an abortion to receive an ultrasound. She may be allowed to look at the results. The earlier version SB 2400 viewing ultrasounds mandatory.

An act relating to abortion; amending s. 390.0111, F.S.; requiring that an ultrasound be performed on any woman obtaining an abortion; specifying who must perform an ultrasound; requiring that the ultrasound be reviewed with the patient prior to the woman giving informed consent; specifying who must review the ultrasound with the patient; requiring that the woman certify in writing that she declined to review the ultrasound and did so of her own free will and without undue influence; providing an exemption from the requirement to view the ultrasound for women who are the victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking or for women who have a serious medical condition necessitating the abortion

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, rewrote the bill's language to make viewing ultrasounds optional for women. That doesn't make this bill any better. Ultrasounds aren't medically needed for abortions. Republicans are playing to a Christian conservative base that wants to make women feel bad about the choices they make with their bodies.

Democrats will have one more reason to run Gary Siplin out of the party, if this bill passes.

Fight the Sag II

The NAACP has come out against Florida Senator Gary Siplin's anti-drooping pants bill.

NAACP President Adora Obi Nweze called it a "clearly discriminatory bill."

"In essence, it will criminalize the wearing of saggy pants and thereby provide a new avenue of interaction between young people and the criminal justice system," Nweze said.

That is an overstating on Nweze's part. The bill would suspend students that come to school wearing low-riding pants. It is still amusing how many people think this is a stupid bill. That might explain why it passed in the Florida Senate 28-11.

Fight the Sag

Sheree informs us that Florida Senator Gary Siplin has reintroduced his anti-drooping pants bill. HB 335 "prohibits student from exposing below-waist underwear in specified manner while on grounds of public school; provides penalties." Students would be suspended for wearing sagging pants. Blogger Jim Johnson added Siplin's previous version of the bill to his Top Ten Amusing Bills for the 2007 Session.

I will be grateful when Siplin is no longer in public office. He is ethically-challenged and an embarrassment to the Florida Senate.

The Difference Between Progressives and Conservatives...

...is we aren't apologists for when our side does something illegal and unethical. I have written negative posts about William Jefferson and Gary Siplin criminal behavior. Jay Tea of Wizbang takes a different approach. He attacks the Left for Larry Craig's arrest.

Prepare for Senator Craig to be referred to as a "prominent" or "leading" Republican extensively in the next few days, along with mention of Mark Foley and old whatshisname, the evangelist from the Mountain States, but nary a mention of Gerry Studds, Barney Frank, Jim McGreevy, or any other prominent Democrats caught up in gay scandals.

The really fun part would be to see Bill Moyers comment on this. After all, he was the one who was tasked with damage control when Walter Jenkins, a top aide to Lyndon Johnson, was caught doing something similar to what is alleged against Craig -- but Jenkins' men's room was in a YMCA.

As David Scott Anderson points out, Democrats such as Barney Frank haven't made a career out of demonizing gays and lesbians. Craig voted against same sex marriages.

Time To Bid Gary Siplin Goodbye

It is past time for the Florida Democratic Party to ask Gary Siplin to resign from the Florida Senate. He already has one felony against him. Now that is good indication he used his position to threaten Brenda Averill's job.

Sipkin was issued a ticket for driving down a closed road. He went off on the deputy and told him her would get him fired. The Florida Commission of Ethics will hold a hearing. Democrats shouldn't wait for the findings and move in the Senate to have Sipkin removed.

Sadly, Sipkin's previous felony doesn't prevent him from serving in the Senate. It says much that members of both parties won't change ethics rules to rid themselves of a man that stole thousands in taxpayer dollars.