Education Commissioner Maybe Elected Post Again

Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt supports making the Education Commissor an elected post.

“We’re going to have an elected official who’s accountable to the people and they will best determine whether or not they feel that our education system is going in the right direction,” Pruitt told reporters on Tuesday.

Frederica Wilson is sponsoring a bill to make the

COMPOSITION OF CABINET; OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.--Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to create the office of Commissioner of Education, who will be an elected member of the Cabinet and responsible for the supervision of the free public education system in the manner prescribed by law, and to delete the power of the state board of education to appoint the Commissioner of Education.

If approved by the legislature and Governor Crist: voters will decide if the post will once again be elected. 60 percent is needed for passage.

How Fiscal Conservatism Works

Republicans followed the lead of Grover Norquist's and Newt Gingrich's nutty ideas of making government small enough to drown in a bathtub. Gingrich claimed that eliminating the Department of Education would save taxpayers money from wasteful spending. The truth is Republicans aimed their contempt of teachers' unions at the department. They have no problem throwing more money for defense contracts. The Congressional Budget Office reported that 25 percent of Defense Department funds can not be accounted for. Republican presidential candidates talk about spending more money. I have yet to hear a GOP candidate talk about reforming the Pentagon.

On Sept 10, 2001, Donald Rumsfeld publicly announced that $2.3 trillion was unaccounted.



Marco Rubio supports using tax dollars to build the Florida Marlins a new stadium. Studies shown taxpayers financially lose on sports venues. Rubio's idea to save the taxpayers money is "agency eliminations." Sen. Al Lawson said, "That's really an insane approach by the speaker." Senate President Ken Pruitt didn't even want to touch Rubio's latest brainstorm. Who can blame him.

"We love our partners in the House," said Pruitt. "Anything that comes over, we will thoughtfully take up and consider."

Rubio is an economic illiterate. He is a slave to economic principles of Dick Armey and Donna Arduin. Rubio doesn't need to know math, not when he has truthiness on his side.

Rubio and Property Taxes

Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Francis ruled that the property tax amendment incomprehensible to the average voter. He ruled that the amendment could not go on the Jan. 29th ballot.

"The language at issue is misleading and confusing and does not provide fair notice to the voter, educated or otherwise, of the purpose and effect of the proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution," wrote the judge.

This has sent Marco Rubio into a tizzy. He vowed to get a property tax cut on the ballot. Senate President Ken Pruitt refused to deal with the issue during the special session. Rubio put pressure on Governor Charlie Crist.

"without your leadership, the urgent needs of Floridians will not be addressed"

The response from Crist's office has been no comment. Property tax cuts are a political grenade in the Florida Senate. Pruitt is fearful that the cuts would hinder education. Pruitt seems to be taking Bob Graham's advise, "When you're in a hole, stop digging."

Politically, Rubio tied his future in property tax cuts. Now Crist and Pruitt are ignoring him as if he is a gnat. Everyone, but Rubio knows it is over. No Democrats, in the Senate, will vote for another property tax amendment. Four are needed for the amendment to make the ballot. This is the case of a pol that doesn't know how to play high stakes poker. Mr. Speaker, you have no more chips.

Finally, A Special Session

This is a sign that the Grover Norquist revolution was over. Charlie Crist is touring the state trying to convince people to lower their own taxes. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found only 47 percent support the property tax proposal. 60 percent of the popular vote is needed to pass. I wasn't expecting 60 percent support. The fact that the numbers dipped below 50 percent is surprising.

Crist touted lower property taxes to a Jacksonville audience.

"Who doesn't want their property taxes lower? People have the opportunity and the power to do it, and I would encourage them to do it," says Crist.

Apparently, Crist hasn't talked to enough Floridians. If Crist did he would learn they are skeptical of seeing real property tax relief.

They is another troubling statement Crist made about the budget shortfall.

"We're doing what Florida families do, tightening our belt, being responsible."

That statement is false on many levels. The simplest explanation is that Republicans are avoiding the problem. Marco Rubio and Ken Pruitt called off the special session to deal with the budget crisis. Amy Baker told the legislature they are facing a $2.5 billion deficit. Crist, Pruitt and Rubio made no effort to recall the special session. That is irresponsible. Due to pressure from Baker's findings, the legislature finally called a special session today for October 3.

The PIP insurance law will sunset before the legislature goes into session. There has been no official announcement on if the legislature will deal with KidCare. Over 700,000 children are on a waiting list to receive medical attention.

The difference between Crist and Jeb Bush is the former smiles at you before he throws you off a cliff.

Clock Ticking On KidCare

Florida lost $20 million in federal funds for KidCare because Jeb Bush wanted to cut funding for the program. The program has over 700,000 children on a waiting list for medical treatment. Senate President Ken Pruitt killed a bill that would have made enrollment easier. The message is clear. Republicans want to see KidCare and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities die.

Rep. Kathy Castor is pushing the state legislature to call a special session on KidCare. Federal funds are allotted based on enrollment. Florida will lose (another) $20 million if enrollment is not increased.

"The timing is critical because of the reauthorization of SCHIP to be taken up by Congress over the next several months," Castor said. "We've got to be able to argue that even though Florida has lost ground over the last several years, we've made a commitment, we've put in these reforms."

Marco Rubio said that KidCare will be in the special session.. Governor Charlie Crist has been noncommittal on if he will push for KidCare in the special session. Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Crist urging him to include KidCare in the special session.

In the letter to Crist, Democratic legislative leaders wrote, "It seems to us that you, along with [CFO] Alex Sink, could lead negotiations over the next month with representatives from the Legislature and the provider community to iron out the remaining few details." The lawmakers added, "If you are able to succeed in forging a final product, we would urge you to include KidCare reform in the June special session."

Will Crist use his high approval rating to reform KidCare? The Governor has an excellent opportunity to lead. Lackluster answers as there "may be an opportunity" to put KidCare in the special sessiion won't put pressure on the Florida legislature.

Compassionate Conservatism: Kidcare

I wrote yesterday about the Florida legislature making cuts in Agency for Persons with Disabilities. The Florida Senate will not make changes to make enrollment into KidCare easier.

CFO Alex Sink was on the Senate floor, looking to talk with senators about passing even the most noncontroversial parts of a recently negotiated KidCare package.

She and others are looking to simply pass some administrative language that would remove barriers to enrollment into KidCare.

Sink said she had a lot of good conversations, but "not with the people who count." Sink said Pruitt pretty much told her the issue is dead. She said she's not giving up yet, with two and a half more days left until the end of session.

KidCare is an issue that the Left should pound Pruit with. There are already 13,000 children on a waiting list and he tells Sink that he can't be bothered with it. What a fucking pathetic excuse of a civil servant.

Money For Martin Anderson's Family Approved

Here is the press release from Charlie Crist's office.

"I applaud House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt, along with the members of the House and Senate, for passing legislation that will justly compensate Martin Lee Anderson’s family for the loss of their young son. While no dollar amount will return their son to his family, compensating them for this tragedy is the right thing to do."

Now if they can approve the $26.8 million that has been awarded to Marissa Amora by the courts.

Ken Pruitt Hearts Ronda Storms

Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt is lavishing praise on Ronda Storms for her work on the Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee.

"This is probably the most difficult, most challenging committee we have, and she has done a masterful job," Pruitt said. "She didn't just hit the ground running; she took a sprint. She has an incredible way of elevating the issues, and moving them forward."

Storms main accomplishment on the committee is SB 2546. Litbrit explains this horrible bill.

This is a dangerous piece of legislation wrapped in pretty tissue, a cannoli full of sweet concerns for sexually-abused teens that happens to be laced with policy poison. Look at those last words: providing for the abrogation of the privileged quality of communications in certain circumstances. This would permit the state to override doctor-patient confidentiality in "certain circumstances"--undoubtedly ones to be defined and decided on by Storms.

The bill is also wrongheaded in that it seeks to turn health care providers into de facto arms of the law. Some will say this is no different than requiring that gunshot wounds be reported to the police. They contend that evidence of a crime is the compelling force at work; if a girl 15 or younger is pregnant, that is evidence enough to know that someone committed a crime. And therefore, that someone must now be DNA-identified, hunted down, and prosecuted.

Never mind if the girl in question does not want to report a crime, but rather, is only looking for help in managing--or ending--her pregnancy.

Clearly the wishes of the pregnant girl do not even enter into the equation.

Storms is attempting to go around Roe V. Wade and make abortion a crime. The fact that Pruitt thinks Storms is worthy of praise says much about his legislative priorities and respect for the law. The Pruitt statement shows how much the GOP loves Storms. The Florida legislature is a temporary stop for Storms. She will seek higher office.

Pruitt vs Rubio

The Florida Senate is wisely keeping House Speaker Marco Rubio's tricle down ideas at arm's length.

“I’m not inclined to bring out a property tax proposal just for the simple fact of having one out there,” Senate President Ken Pruitt just said at the Policy and Calendar Committee.

Lee Constantine is even more blunt.

“This has the ability… to bring Florida’s economy to its knees. We’re going to be cautious. We’re going to be deliberate. We’re going to be methodical. And we’re going to do it well.”

The Florida-Times Union notes that Pruitt is working hard to keep the caucas together. Pruitt is portraying himself as a peacemaker.

"With Ken Pruitt, everything must be transparent," former Senate President Jim King said. "He encourages everybody to work things out on their own."

Rubio has no problem punishing those who disagree with him. Don Brown and Dennis Ross when they voting against the property insurance bill. It be interesting to see if Rubio does some behind the scenes backstabbing to Pruitt.

I was always amazed that Rubio didn't sink with Ralph Arza. Rubio praised him after his hate-filled phone messages to Gus Barreiro. Arza was to be Rubio's duputy before the phone incident. It was well-known that Arza was a bully. I received several off-the-record emails from people who told their horror stories.

Rubio asked Brown and Ross to step down from their committees and then continued to lie about it after Ross went public.

Ross said Rubio called him into his office this afternoon and asked him to step down. The speaker said, according to Ross, "he needs leaders that are with him on major votes."

"My vote cost me my chairmanship. That's the price you pay if you want to express yourself," Ross said, though he added that he did not hold hard feelings toward the speaker. "This is a very emotional issue, highly charged, and very political….I was aware that there would be consquences [to voting against the bill.]"

Rubio contends, "This morning Representative Don Brown and Representative Dennis Ross offered their resignations as Council Chairmen in the House. Their resignations have been accepted. I respect their decisions and look forward to working with them in their new roles."

Ken Pruitt should be very careful.