Vote No on Amendment 3

Former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos was running for the U.S. Senate. Haridopolos wanted to show the tea party set how much he hated taxes. Haridopolos proposed limiting how much tax revenue Florida could collect. The Republican controlled Florida legislature and the Constitution Revision Commission. Haridopolos succeeded in getting Amendment 3 on the Florida ballot.

STATE GOVERNMENT REVENUE LIMITATION.—This proposed amendment to the State Constitution replaces the existing state revenue limitation based on Florida personal income growth with a new state revenue limitation based on inflation and population changes. Under the amendment, state revenues, as defined in the amendment, collected in excess of the revenue limitation must be deposited into the budget stabilization fund until the fund reaches its maximum balance, and thereafter shall be used for the support and maintenance of public schools by reducing the minimum financial effort required from school districts for participation in a state-funded education finance program, or, if the minimum financial effort is no longer required, returned to the taxpayers. The Legislature may increase the state revenue limitation through a bill approved by a super majority vote of each house of the Legislature. The Legislature may also submit a proposed increase in the state revenue limitation to the voters. The Legislature must implement this proposed amendment by general law. The amendment will take effect upon approval by the electors and will first apply to the 2014-2015 state fiscal year.

Voters are up in arms over Gov. Rick Scott's education cuts. Teachers have gathered protest the cuts. Haridopolos only wants the "minimum financial effort" spent on schools. If lawmakers decide more spending is needed for schools, it would have to be approved by a super majority vote. The short answer is Haridopolos' amendment would make it nearly impossible school spending to increase.

The U.S Census Report found Florida is next to last in education spending per pupil.

Lowest per-pupil spending Utah - $6,064 Idaho - $7,106 Arizona - $7,848 Oklahoma - $7,896 Tennessee - $8,065 Mississippi - $8,119 North Carolina - $8,409 Nevada - $8,483 Florida –$8,741 Texas - $8,746

Florida has passed tax cuts under governors Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist and Rick Scott. There is no state income tax. Florida taxpayers are hardly spending too much on education. Vote no on Amendment 3.

Trayvon Martin Rally in Sanford

Video of the Trayvon Martin rally held in Samford, Florida yesterday. Protesters marched from a local church to the Sanford police station. The protesters called for the resignation of Police Chief Bill Lee. In an effort to keep his job, Lee temporarily resigned. Lee is kidding himself, if he thinks he can keep his job.

T-shirts calling for the arrest of George Zimmerman were seen at the rally. I'm not sure if this is an act of protest or a vender making money off of a tragedy.

In what will come as a shock to one. Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos will not have a special committee to examine Martin's death, and the Stand Your Ground law.

UPDATE: Senate President Mike Haridopolos also says “no” to a special committee on the use of the “stand your ground” law.

“The Senate President feels that Governor Scott is currently taking all of the appropriate steps to address the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin. Additionally, the Senate President is confident that the circumstances surrounding this shooting will be closely examined by lawmakers, and if the Senate concludes that laws need to be revised they will be addressed in the future,” Haridopolos’s spokeswoman Lyndsey Cruley said in an e-mail.

Haridopolos was forced to drop out of the U.S. Senate race because of his shady book deal. Haridopolos' book for Breward Community College had the appearance of a payoff to Haridopolos for school funding. Haridopolos also was admonished by the by the Commission of Ethics. Haridopolos failed to disclose his consulting firm's business. The interesting thing was Haridopolos was the only employee with MJH Consulting Company. The clients of MJH often lobbied the Florida legislature. Haridopolos was getting paid by people lobbying the Florida legislature.

Haridopolos won't have a special committee for Martin, unless there is something in it for him.

USF Student Sit-In Tomorrow

The Students for a Democratic Society will stage a sit-in on March 1. Students will meet at 12:00PM at Cooper Hall. The SDS is asking you to leave your classes at noon. I am not willing to go that far.

The SDS is protesting the 8 percent tuition hike appoved by the Florida House. The SDS and USF students have reason to be angry after JD Alexander tried to pass Draconian cuts. The Florida legislature has done little to properly fund K-12 and state university education. On the other hand, Florida tuition rates are still lower than many parts of the country.

I do encourage students to become politically engaged and discuss ways to make education better in Florida.

Update: There will be protests on state campuses across Florida. The part I like best is students will protest outside of Mike Haridopolos' office.

Students from the University of Florida will rally outside Senate President Mike Haridopolos's office on the UF campus, where he teaches a political science course. Florida State University and Florida A&M University students will march from their Tallahassee campuses to the Capitol. University of South Florida students will stage a walkout from classes then walk across campuses. Florida Atlantic University students and teachers will hold a joint teach-in. University of West Florida students will gather on the campuses' main lawn, and at the University of Central Florida, students will construct a "Wall of Debt" out of bricks representing individual students' loan burdens.

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.

Mike Fasano's Badge of Honor

There has been much criticism about SB 2036. The bill would forbid the Florida government from collecting data on whether or not private prisons would save the state money. Under current law, an evaluation of all private contracts for five fiscal years of any outsourced contract of $10 million. SB 2036 would make private prisons exempt. J.D. Alexander claims he backs privatization of state prisons to save tax dollars. However, Alexander would not open the floor to prison workers or answer Sen. Mike Fasano's questions about cost. Alexander is doing his best to not to find out what the cost of prison privatization would cost taxpayers.

Alexander, John Thrasher, and Don Gaetz are the sponsors of SB 2036. State prisons are overseen by the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee. Senate President Mike Haridopolos would not allow the CCJAC to hold a hearing on SB 2036 and its companion bill. That did not stop the committee's chairman, Sen. Mike Fasano, from asking about the cost of prison privatization. Haridopolos removed Fasano from the chair today.

"As President of the Senate, I just felt I had lost confidence in him to fulfill that mission," he told reporters.

Translation: Haridopolos punished Fasano for not playing ball. Fasano told reporter Gary Fineout that getting the boot from Haridopolos is a "badge of honor."

Haridopolos, Alexander, Thrasher, and Gaetz desperately want privatization to go through because of the campaign contributions from Corrections Corp. of America and the Geo Group. Both companies would be awarded contracts if the legislature and Gov. Rick Scott pass and sign the privatization prison proposal. The fact that elected officials are fighting not to have oversight over CCA and the Geo Group reeks of corruption.

Why SB 2036 Isn't Fiscally Conservative

Senate Bill 2036 would rewrite state law so no data would be collected to see if private prisons save the state of Florida money.

An act relating to the outsourcing or privatization of agency functions; amending s. F.S. 216.023, F.S.; providing that certain information relating to the outsourcing or privatization of an agency function that is expressly required by law is not required to be included in the agency's legislative budget request until after the contract for such functions is executed; amending s. 287.057, F.S.; providing that procurements for outsourcing or privatizing agency functions that are expressly required by law are exempt from the requirement that they are evaluated for cost-effectiveness, and efficiency; amending s. 944.105, F.S.; providing that certain requirements that apply to the Department of Corrections' contract do not apply to contracts for outsourcing or privatizating the operation or maintenance of correctional facilities which are expressly required by law; providing an effective date.

If the bill becomes law, the state would not be allowed to evalulate the performance of private prison contractors. Contractors could not be legally mandated to provide reports detailing prision health or safety issues.

Another issue that proves that that Republicans are not fiscally conservative. The state would have no idea if they are saving money under private prisons. Which is exactly why Senate President Mike Haridopolos is trying to fast track this bill. Haridopolos and other Republicans know for-profit prisons will cost the state more. The rush is because private prison companies have given $400,000 to Florida Republicans during the last election cycle.

Last session, Dr. Michael Hallett sent a letter to Sen. Mike Fasano warning him about giving private prisons too much power.

"It renders the state subject to captivity once the contract is awarded, by giving one corporation so much power and control over such a significant segment of the state budget," he said. "You can't turn this around on a moments notice."

Fasano is the chairman of the Criminal and Civil Appropiations subcommittee. All legislation on the state suppose to go through Fasano's subcommittee. Haridopolos decided to have SB 2036 go through the rules committee. The bill is so bad that no senator will take credit for being its author.

Haridopolos and other Republicans create red tape that makes it hard to collect unemployment or children to be enrolled in Kidcare. They do this under the claim that they are fiscal conservatives. Yet, these same Republicans are writing legislation intended to forbid them from finding out if there are cost overruns with private prisons. When a politician says he or she is a fiscal conservative, what that poll really means is he or she corporatist who doesn't give a shit about the taxpayers' money.

Update: Via Twitter: Sen Paula Dockery informed me that the sponsers of SB 2036 are John Thrasher, Don Gaetz, and J.D. Alexander.

The Gainesville Sun has come out strongly against SB 2036.

Senate Bill 2036 is an invitation to corruption. If lawmakers are arrogant enough to pass it, Rick Scott should veto it It stinks.

Scott is leading to push to privatize prisons. Scott has no intention of vetoing SB 2036.

The Upcoming Jim Greer Trial

The trial next year of former Republican Party of Florida chairman will be fascinating. The trial will shine a light on the blatant corruption of Greer and his fellow Republicans. Greer knows he is likely going down. He is likely to take the reputations of several past and present elected officials with him. Greer's wife Lisa is firing shots at George LeMieux on Facebook.

"Thanks for the many posts, emails and calls of support after the TV Special. Of course it has been met with some false responses issued in press releases by those who want to protect their own contracts and careers. To those who remain committed to destroy Jim no matter what the cost to my family, we stand firm with the truth on our side and will continue to reveal your corruption. By the way George, the only wrong turn my husband made was trusting in folks like you he believed to be honorable. The former handpicked Senator of Charlie Crist is desperately courting the support of the grassroots activists in distancing himself with a web of lies. He must have forgotten that he told Jim and I on a number of occasions that the Republicans only win elections in spite of the REC's and grassroots activists, not because of them."

We learn that former Gov. Charlie Crist contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after receiving two messages from Greer.

"It was a little cathartic and he was able to vent," Greer attorney Damon Chase said of the voice mail and text messages Greer left for Crist. "But there's not a single threat in there anywhere. It's merely: 'I don't want to be friends anymore, stop calling and pretending you're my friend.' "

How pissed is Greer? Remember this public statement he made about his fellow Republicans.

"They just destroyed my life for no reason," a tearful Greer said of the legislative leaders last week on WTSP-Ch. 10.

Greer is no saint. A person does not have a shredding machine truck came to the RPOF office on Greer's last day to destroy documents. That is the act of someone with nothing to hide.

What I want the trial to reveal is how Greer and other Republicans were living off their party American Express cards. The RPOF is a nonprofit organization. It is illegal to use its funds not related to paying staff or operations. Which makes the the use of the credit card use more disturbing.

Greer - $500,000
Speaker Marco Rubio - $110,000
Indicted Speaker Ray Sansom - $173,000
Speaker-designate Dean Cannon - $175,000
Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos - *$2,347
Rubio Chief of Staff Richard Corcoran - $70,000
RPOF Executive Director Delmar Johnson - $500,000
Jr. Party Staffer Melanie Phister - $1,258,000

The credit cards are the key to the corruption. This is why Marco Rubio has refused to discussed what he used his party credit card for. The secret severance package Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos negotiated with Greer is potentially explosive. As Ray Samson and Jim Norman has shown us. The Florida political system is seriously corrupt. Nothing will improve in the state until corruption is dealt with.

Mike Haridopolos Unleashes Another Bad Video

Mike Haridopolos' last attempt at an over-the-top political video was mocked by Florida bloggers. I should know because I was one of the people doing the mocking. Captain Pink Shirt's latest videos remind me of the bad video Tim Pawlenty released on Youtube. One was never sure if Pawlenty wanted to be the next president or a action hero in a Michael Bay movie.

The video opens with somber music and attempts to tie President Obama to the economic woes facing America. The happy music begins with Gov. Rick Scott dead center in the frame. I will gladly put Obama up against a governor that scares children. The ad repeats the rick Scott's lie that Florida's credit rating went up under his watch. Politifact ruled that false. Standard and Poors raised Florida's credit rating to AAA during the Jeb Bush administration.

Peter Schorsch asks a good question about who is paying for the video.

Worst of all, I’m assuming that since the video directs the unfortunate viewer to the Florida Senate’s website that this video was produced with taxpayer money. Someone explain to me how producing this video is fiscally conservative?

We will be paying for Haridopolos' Senate presidency for a while.

Rod Smith Wants Hearing Over Lost Gov. Scott Emails

Florida Democratic Party chairman Rod Smith is asking the Florida legislature to hold hearings on Gov. Rick Scott's transition team losing emails. There is zero chance of Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon of taking their oversight duties seriously. This is why elections matters. If one chamber of the Florida legislature was Democratic hearing could be held.

Smith's letter is under the fold.

Read more »

Quote of Day

"I think (incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen.) Bill Nelson will be very difficult to defeat, and the candidate who defeats him will have to be on the road 24-7."

Mike Haridopolos, former U.S. Senate candidate.

Bonus quote from Haridopolos.

"I can tell you one thing: I will not be supporting Adam Hasner for the Senate."

Ouch.

Captain Pink Shirt's Book

On March 6, 2001, I wrote the post "Mike Haridopolos' U.S. Senate Hopes Are Done." Haridopolos' book "Florida Legislative History and Processes" became a national punchline. No one could believe that Haridopolos could get paid $152,000 by Brevard College for a political science book that offered this kind of wisdom.

“Most importantly, a candidate should avoid wasting money on useless novelty items such as wooden nickels.”

Progress Florida is rubbing Haridopolos' bad literary venture in his face. Progress Florida is asking that Haridopolos give back the $150,000

Dear Senate President Haridopolos,

Monday morning you announced the end of your US Senate campaign. It has been reported in the media that you have amassed a “war chest” of $3.5 million left over from your campaign. After receiving $152,000 from the taxpayers of Florida for writing a book which has sold only 70 copies as of June 21st (granting only $487.90 in royalties to Brevard Community College), we believe that the taxpayers deserve a refund. You have more than enough funds in your campaign’s war chest to donate $152,000 to the Brevard Community College Foundation. More than 4,000 Floridians have signed a petition urging you to return these funds, and we believe this is the best (and easiest) way for you to do so.

You’ll undoubtedly agree that at a time of drastic budget cuts across the state, middle class families losing their jobs or seeing their pay slashed, and big tuition hikes at our public universities, our state’s higher education system can use all the financial support it can get.

Sincerely,

Mark Ferrulo
Executive Director,
Progress Florida

Haridopolos is not going to give the money back. This is a man that plans to hold on to every one of his "wooden nickels." Fiscal conservatism be damned.

Problems For Haridopolos

It appears Captain Pink Shirt's ship has run aground. Key members of Mike Haridopolos' campaign are leaving.

The biggest setback for the Merritt Island Republican came late Thursday, as word trickled out that his longtime friend and political advisor, Pat Bainter, would no longer work for his campaign. Also departing: his de-facto campaign manager and spokesman, Tim Baker.

Haridopolos suggested in a written statement that the departures were no big deal. Haridopolos said he and Bainter remain "longtime" friends.

Losing a top political adviser and campaign manager is no big deal if you are Newt Gingrich. If you are trying to unseat Sen. Bill Nelson with President Barack Obama on top of the ticket in 2012 then this is a very big deal. Haridopolos has been with without a spokesman. It is a very big deal when a politician doesn't have a person to deliver his message to the media.

More bad news: Haridopolos finished fourth in the Space Coast Tea Party straw poll.

Who would you MOST like to be Florida’s U.S. Senator in 2012?

Adam Hasner – 36 votes

Mike McCalister – 24 votes

George LeMieux – 12 votes

Mike Haridopolos – 5 votes

Undecided – 13 votes

Who would you LEAST like to be U.S. Senator in 2012?

Mike Haridopolos – 62 votes

George LeMieux – 7 votes

Adam Hasner – 1 vote

Mike McCalister – 1 vote

Undecided – 1 votes Bill Nelson – 1 vote

If the tea party activists propel Adam Hasner to the Republican nomination then Bill Nelson will likely win another term. Hasner is a former moderate now running to the hard-right. Hasner has less authenticity than Mitt Romney. Haridopolos is despised by the tea party because of his penchant for pink shirts and a voice only slightly lower than Mickey Mouse. Haridopolos would be the more formidable general election candidate. The question is can he get the nomination.

Hasner & Wilson In Spinning Mode

Adam Hasner's campaign adviser, Rick Wilson, is attempting to put the best spin on his candidate's poor fundraising quarter.

To date, more than 98% of the money Hasner raised is dedicated toward the primary. More than 90% of Hasner’s contributors have the ability to donate repeatedly in future quarters. And the overwhelming majority – more than 85% – donated less than $1,000. #

“Obviously, we’re not going to out-raise our opponents right out of the gate,” said advisor Rick Wilson. “One of them is running the Charlie Crist special-interest, establishment campaign plan. And the other one wrote it. Our approach is fundamentally different: we’re going to win this race, not by making deals with Tallahassee insiders or compromising our principles with the Washington establishment, but holding firm on principle and keeping the faith with conservative grassroots donors. We’re also building a campaign that can go toe-to-toe with Bill Nelson next fall.” #

The campaign is still finalizing the quarterly report due on July 15th, but will show over $560,000 raised with a low burn rate and approximately $470,000 cash on hand.

Hasner did his own spinning.

“We always expected the two establishment opponents to start off raising more money than us, because that’s what the establishment does,” stated Hasner. “But we’ll ultimately win this race because of our positive conservative principles and a growing grassroots movement that’s looking for leaders who’ll stand up to Democrats and Republicans who act like them. Thanks to a growing and energized grassroots base, today is a great start for our campaign and a promising foundation for the long haul.”

It is laughable for Hasner to paint himself as an outsider. He is the former Florida House Majority Leader. One doesn't get that position by being a maverick. Hasner's problem is his fake tea party conservatism isn't catching on with voters. Corporate donors see Hasner painting himself as too extremist to win against Sen. Bill Nelson.

Mike Haridopolos raised $900,000. George LeMieux is tapping into Beltway donors. Courting the base is smart. Proclaiming that Sharia law is overtaking the United States makes Hasner look clownish.

Pink Slip Rick Scott Ad on Mike Haridopolos

Pink Slip Rick Scott runs on ad on Mike Haridopolos. The ad implies that Haridopolos is Scott's puppet. I thought that was Attorney General Pam Bondi's job description.

Captain Pink Shirt's Book

Brevard Community College told the media that Florida state Sen. Mike Haridopolos' book has sold "Florida Legislative History and Processes" has sold 70 copies.



Haridopolos' literary masterpiece can be bought on Amazon.com for $9.99. The people that paid for are most likely political opponents of Haridopolos.

It took Haridopolos 4 years to write the book. Those years produced this academic research.

“Most importantly, a candidate should avoid wasting money on useless novelty items such as wooden nickels.”

Brevard Community College paid $152,000 for Haridopolos' book. The reality is they were paying for the influence of a state senator. I'm positive that influence wasn't paid for in wooden nickels.

Update: At the Tiger Bay Club, Haridopolos would not say that he would return the $152,000 paid to him by Brevard Community College. Haridopolos said proceeds for the book go to Brevard Community College. The college was recouped $487.90 of their $152,000 investment.

Damian Flier of Progress Florida is interviewed by WMNF. Flier talks about the Brevard Community College payment to Haridopolos.

Mike Haridopolos: Predictor of Sports Games

The Dallas Mavericks won last night's game on Dirk Nowitzki's clutch shot. Before that moment Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos proclaimed the Miami Heat the winner.



In Haridopolos' defense, his week has been the Charlie Sheen definition of winning.

Republicans Gang Up On Haridopolos

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

“I think it’s important that Republicans join together and support Ryan’s plan,” said Mack, who passed up a 2012 U.S. Senate bid and hasn’t endorsed a candidate in the GOP primary between Haridopolos, Adam Hasner and George LeMieux. “I’ll tell you why: if we fail to act, then the program goes bankrupt. So those who are choosing not to support either this plan or another plan are choosing to let Medicare go bankrupt.”

Asked by MSNBC’s Chuck Todd if he thinks it was a “mistake” for Haridopolos to oppose the plan in a GOP primary, Mack said “I do.”

Mack goes on to say that the Ryan plan would save Medicare. The opposite is true. Medicare as we know it would cease to exist. Republicans want to replace Medicare with a voucher program that does not match health care cost increases. The Congressional Budget Office ruled that Ryan's plan would increase the deficit by $145 billion. Ryan's bill would increase the number of uninsured people by 54 million.

CBO LETTER TO SPEAKER BOEHNER

Under H.R. 2, about 32 million fewer nonelderly people would have health insurance in 2019, leaving a total of about 54 million nonelderly residents with insurance coverage would be about 83 percent, compared with a projected share of 94 percent under current law...

The Ryan budget has nothing to do decreasing the deficit. Libertarian economist Tyler Cowen notes, "Over a ten-year time horizon, the Ryan plan increases the debt rather than decreasing it. Take that as a sign of how hard fiscal reform is going to be." This is Republicans fixated on killing Lyndon Johnson's and Barack Obama's health care reforms. Republicans hate it because Democrats passed it. It doesn't matter that this is similar the Republicans 1993 health care plan or Mitt Romney's plan. It must be killed because winning is more important than policy.

Haridopolos is wise to run away from a budget that has no chance of ever passing in the Senate. Republicans are fools if they think they can beat Sen. Bill Nelson with turning Medicare into a voucher program. Nelson is a rather well-liked Senator and Obama will be on the top of the ticket in Florida. If the Republican nominee runs with Ryan's plan then Nelson has an easy re-election.

Haridopolos Kicked Off Conservative Talk Radio Show

This is awesome. Not ready for prime-time U.S. Senate candidate Mike Haridopolos is kicked off of Ray Junior's show for not answering yes or no to if he would vote for Paul Ryan's plan. Haridopolos won't answer the question because he knows that Ryan's plan to end Medicare would kill him in a general election. Junior, a third tier conservative talk radio host demands ideological purity from Haridopolos. This exchange shows how conservative media owns the Republican Party.

Conservative media will insist that Republican candidates support a budget plan that has no chance of passing the Senate or being signed by President Obama. Never the less, conservative media demands that Republican candidates support the Ryan plan. It doesn't matter that the plan is politically toxic to Republican candidates. What matters is constant political warfare with the Democratic Party. That is what drives ratings for the dwindling audience that is talk radio and cable news. Bipartisanship doesn't sell to the people that have nothing better to do then listen to people like Ray Junior.



Transcript:

Junior: The question is simple: You're a Senator today. The Ryan plan comes across your desk. Are you voting yes or no?

Haridopolos: Again, Ray Junior, I'm not getting into that today because it's not the vote that I'm dealing with

Junior: But you're on my show. This is the question I'm asking. We're trying to figure out whether we want to vote for you to become a U.S. Senator. Are you voting for the Ryan plan or not? This is not about what you want to talk about. This is what I want to talk about. I want to know: Do you vote for this bill or not?

Haridopolos: What I'd like to talk about is simple - what did I do in the state Legislature...

Junior: I'm not interested in what you want to talk about, Mike. I’m mention what the voters want to talk about. The voters want to talk about the budget. And I'm interested in what I want to talk about -- my show. Tell me: You voting for the Ryan plan, yes or no?

Haridopolos: Again, I don’t have all the information to make that decision yet.

Junior: How could you possibly not have all that information, you're running for Senate?

Haridopolos: Ray, I thought you wanted to talk about what we had accomplished, not about a hypothetical.

Junior: Your guy that asked for you to be on the show said “Hey, I’d like to get him on the show.’ I said ‘fine. Let’s bring him on the show.’ So I’m asking you that question.
The only reason people avoid questions like this, Mike, is because they don't want to be tied in -- when they don't want to actually have people see how they would do things. There's no reason to avoid this question. How could you possibly be running for U.S. Senate and not know what's in the Ryan bill?

Haridopolos: I know what's in the Ryan bill, but again, what you're asking me is a fair question. What I'm telling you is...

Junior: Ok, I'd like a fair answer...

Haridopolos:...A lot of people are talking about hypotheticals -- if they run, if they win. Let's talk about what I actually accomplished

Junior: Laughter... no, no, no. You're not doing that, Mike. Every single thing a person talks about when they're on the campaign trail is a hypothetical. A hundred percent of it. There's nothing that's not hypothetical. The only way we know whether it's going to be true or not is when they get into office is if they follow through on the things they said they would do. That's why I'm asking you: Would you vote yes or no on Ryan?

Haridopolos: Exactly what I'm bringing up. My point as well. I made a promise to balance the budget, not raise taxes, not raise fees..

Junior: Ok, does the Ryan plan do that? Does the Ryan plan do that?

Haridopolos: Look, the Ryan plan is what's in Washington

Junior: Ok, get him off my phone. I don't want anything to do with this guy. Get rid of him.

Update: Haridopolos' spokesman Tim Baker issued a statement.

"As Senator Haridopolos made clear in his statement, the current Ryan Medicare plan should be amended to provide for greater protections for seniors,'' said spokesman Tim Baker. "If the question is would he vote for the Medicare provisions as they are currently written without amendment, then the answer is No, Sen Haridopolos would not vote for the plan as currently written."

Politically, it is smart. Even Republican voters don't support Ryan's Medicare plan. Haridopolos can kiss support from the tea party goodbye. That maybe a good thing.

Mike Haridopolos Internet Ad

Mike Haridopolos makes a highly over-produced internet campaign ad. Haridopolos is going for the Republican metro-sexual vote with his bright pink and yellow shirts. I'm glad when a man can have that much confidence. Especially running in the Republican primary.

I can't keep a straight face every time I hear Haridopolos' pre-puberty voice. Is anyone going to take Haridopolos seriously when he says, "I'm tough on terrorism."

Update: Peter Schorsch shares his thoughts on Haridopolos' ad.

"I haven”t seen something this over-produced since that ‘Spiderman’ musical…"

Republican Power Play On OPPAGA

The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) serves the Florida legislature the same way the Congressional Budget Office does Congress. The OPPAGA provide unbias, nonpartisan analysis of legislation. Unsurprisingly, Republicans in the legislature want to eliminate funding for the OPPAGA.

One little-discussed budget approved by lawmakers was what could amount to the elimination of funding for OPPAGA, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, reports the News Service of Florida. Lawmakers eliminated direct spending on the auditing and review agency and put its budget into a discretionary account controlled by legislative leadership.

Translation: if the OPPAGA doesn't provide analysis slanted in favor of the wishes of the Senate President and House Speaker then kiss funding goodbye. This is a power grab. This also shows the lack of faith Republicans have in their own policy ideas. If Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos really believed that their ideas would create jobs, boost the economy and not have a negative impact they would be more than willing to vet legislation through the OPPAGA. They aren't so never take them seriously when they say they believe their ideas are better. Haridopolos and Cannon have forever lost credibility that they believe conservative ideas are superior. They are the intellectual equivalent of someone who says he can kick ass and then backs of of a fight.

Bless Paula Dockery for stating the obvious.

“It is unfortunate that the Legislature can’t have/fund a truly independent auditing entity that can be honest without fear of political retribution,” Dockery told the Sentinel. “While Oppaga has done some good in-depth analysis, it became clear that due to the political climate, the response to brutal honesty was pink slips.”

Side note: why does a Republican have to say this. Is there a single Democrat in Tallahassee that knows how to engage the media?