Disgusting Excuse For Reform of Assisted Living Facilities

Gov. Rick Scott formed the Florida Assisted Living Workgroup after cases of violations in poor assisted ling facilities. The Florida Assisted Living Workgroup have released their recommendations.

Among the other recommendations: Create a professional board that would have oversight of facility administrators and seek legislation to address “tort reform” —generally placing limits on liability lawsuits —against facilities. The workgroup also issued recommendations last year, but the House and Senate did not reach agreement on a bill to increase oversight.

How is tort reform suppose to keep disabled people living in assisted living facilities from getting physically or sexually abused? Tort reform does protect assisted living facilities from massive lawsuits or state fines. Tort reform is about protecting an industry that donates to political campaigns.

If you want to find out what assisted living facilities are violating state law you are going to have a problem. The Workgroup recommends shielding facilities from the prying eyes of citizens wanting to know about complaints. From the Workgroup report.

Enable a public record exemption for AHCA complaints. Complaints filed with AHCA are currently not protected from disclosure. Consider adding confidentiality to AHCA complaints equivalent to that of the Ombudsman.

A big reason the Workgroup was started was because former State Sen. Ronda Storms was outraged about Miami Herald articles on patients in assisted living facilities experiencing abuse and living in poor conditions. Storms is a pro-business conservative. However, she did not advocate for deregulating assisted living facilities.

Said Storms, “I’m a person that believes where we can deregulate we should deregulate, but not when it comes to human safety, to health and welfare of vulnerable populations. I think that if we’re talking about regulating grass cutters, that rises to a different level than regulating child welfare, elder services. There has to be some common sense here. We’re not just talking dogma, right?”

Instead of Storms' common sense approach. The Workgroup is looking for ways to give state money to assisted living facilities and ways to avoid imposing fines. From the Workgroup report.

3. Maintain current law that fines will only be imposed for low-level citations if uncorrected, to focus penalties on poor performers without adverse impact on competent providers.

4. Work with long-term managed care plans, once selected by AHCA, to promote the number and use of ALF beds through reimbursement and other incentives, so that the plans increasingly serve as appropriate diversions to nursing home care as well as serving those on waiting lists for nursing home care.

This is disgusting.

Ronda Storms Losing

This delights me to death. Ronda Storms is losing to Democrat Bob Henriquez.

Bob Henriquez takes 11% plus lead on Ronda Storms in Early Vote in #Hillsboroughcountyfl Property Appraiser race #Tampa

Storms has a lot of name recognition in Hillsborough County. Henriquez is a good candidate, but I would have never have imagined him beating Storms by double figures. I wonder if it is because people are getting tired of Storms' antics or if the Obama GOTV drive is that good?

Ronda Storms' Moment of Candor

Florida Sen. Ronda Storms admits that the ultrasound bill produced by the Florida legislature run counter to the GOP's mantra of "less government.

"There's no question about the contradictory positions that we all take," she said on the Senate floor last week. "I'm not ashamed of it. I'm not embarrassed by it. … We all (Republicans) say we're for less government except here. Or we're (Democrats) for more government, except here."

Republicans are for less government - except when it involves a woman's uterus. Republicans believe in putting money back in people's pockets - except when they require woman getting an abortion to pay for an ultrasound. Got it.

Wingnut of the Day: Ronda Storms

Ronda Storms has been known for her petty vindictiveness. The Florida Senate transpotation committee voted to end the requirement of people getting badges to enter public ports. Currently, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement does the background checks and charges between $25 to 85 for state ID badges.

Sen. Tony Hill (D-Jacksonville) made the case to keep the current ID policy.

"The program has been a cash cow" for FDLE, said state Sen. Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville, a former longshoreman who has led much the effort in years past. He has co-sponsored a bill this year that will do away with the badges.

What was shocking was Storms behavior after the vote. Storms started singing.

"I think you can hear it. Do you hear it? Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah," she sang at the Senate Transportation Committee meeting. "It's coming from all the port people everywhere, and back in the back FDLE people are going boo, boo..."

"Tony [Hill], I'm surprised you're not dancing around."

Storms openly dissed FDLE police officers at a senate committee meeting. Storms continues to show contempt to people who do not share her narrow worldview.

Jim Norman: A Lobbyist's Best Friend

Florida State Sen. Jim Norman has no credibility claiming that he is not influenced by lobbyists. Norman failed to disclose $500,000 the late Ralph Hughes gave Norman's wife $500,000 to purchase a house in Arkansas. Hughes donated to Norman's political campaigns. Norman claims the money was a loan and an investment on property. Hughes surving family want the money back.

Norman's first Senate bill (which I can't find online) would make structural changes to the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. The PTC regulates taxi and limousine services that operate in Hillsborough County, Florida. Norman claims he talked to no lobbyists when making this bill.

Norman said he didn't consider the contributions when sponsoring the bill. "I didn't even speak with anyone from the cab industry," he said.

Documents filed in Hillsborough County lists Tampa Taxi Coalition Louis Betz as the person who prepared Norman's legislation. Betz has no idea how paperwork he filed would have his name on it.

Norman received $5,000 from the taxi and limo industry during his Senate campaign. Norman has zero credibility when he says lobbyists hold no sway on him.

Sen. Ronda Storms want to eliminate the PTC. Her reasoning is rather bizarre.

Storms: "They have a rule that says cabbies have to wear socks. I mean, please. Come on.

The Unseriousness of Ronda Storms

Florida Sen. Mike Fasano called a meeting of the Senate Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations. Fasano seeked input from other committee members on what to do with the controversial "Taj Mahal" building. The $48 million, 97,000-square-foot 1st District Court of Appeal courthouse had personal kitchens for each judge. a gym, and other luxuries that are more suited for Donald Trump than civil servants. Sen. Ronda Storms had this brilliant policy proposal to deal with the "Taj Mahal" building.

"We should insist on our pound of flesh and make them put the air at 80 in the summer and at 50 in the winter," said Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon.

Storms idea was to punish the judges who lobbied for the "Taj Mahal" building by changing the temperature of the thermostat. No one is even certain if the 1st District Court of Appeal judges will be allowed to reside in the building. Storms thermostat idea accomplishes absolutely nothing.

Storms other brilliant policy idea is ending the Hillsborough Transit Agency. Storms' reason is certainly original.

"They have a rule that says cabbies have to wear socks," Storms said in a Dec. 1 St. Petersburg Times article. "I mean, please. Come on."

Perhaps Storms is so against socks because of her public feud with Black Sock the sock puppet. And yes, Storms actually had a public feud with a sock puppet and filed charges.

Quote of the Day

"From my own planet, no."

Florida State Sen. Ronda Storms

Storms was the lone vote against alcohol being sold at special events at the the Glazer Children's Museum. Sen. Victor Crist best summed up the silliness about Storms opposition.

"I doubt seriously that we're going to walk into the children's museum and see the Budweiser/Busch display for the children to interact with," said state Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa.

Storms quote does leave me with a question. What planet does Ronda Storms think she is from?

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.

PR Outsourcing Nightmare

The Department of Children and Families awarded JPMorgan Chase & Co. the contract to manage the Electronic Benefit Transfer. The EBT is responsible for food stamps. Florida food stamp recipients having problems were directed to a call center in India. Because we all know there is nothing unemployed people enjoy more than speaking to someone that has outsourced their job. Thankfully, no politician civil would make political hay out of this. Unfortunately, Ronda Storms was never known for her tact.

"We should not have any jobs going outside of the country. We have enough people here in our country, we need to take care of our own who need to work," said Storms.

Storms is like clockwork. She never fails to use an issue for political opportunism.

Useless Bill of the Day

I am currently reading Florida Sen. Ronda Storms legislation. It's painful reading. SB 1890 stands out for legilating what we already have laws for. Storms wants to make it illegal to transport illegal immigrants.

An act relating to illegal aliens; creating s. 877.28, F.S.; prohibiting a person from knowingly or in reckless disregard of the law transporting or moving an illegal alien, concealing or harboring an illegal alien, or encouraging or inducing an illegal alien to enter or reside in this state; providing criminal penalties; providing that each violation of law is a separate offense; creating a rebuttable presumption when determining whether an alien is an illegal alien; requiring the Attorney General to negotiate with the United States Department of Homeland Security to designate law enforcement officers and others to act as qualified immigration officers; requiring such officers to have the knowledge and training to adhere to federal law relating to the functions of an immigration officer; requiring the act to be construed to be consistent with any applicable federal law; providing an effective date.

Florida is required to comply with federal immigration laws. Storms wants to sentence a person for each individual immigrant he or she smuggles in. The law is Draconian in reach. Any person accused of harboring an illegal immigrant can be sentenced to prison. Does this means if someone gets a roommate he is suddenly harboring a criminal?

The Department of Homeland Security estimated there was 11.6 illegal immigrants in 2008. The number of illegal immigrants increased by 37 percent from 2000 to 2008. The prison system can not keep up with the illegal immigrant population. Law enforcement can not go after illegal aliens unless there is political pressure or violent offenders. Police officers would rather go after violent criminals than migrant workers in Plant City. Which is exactly what the police should be doing. I have no problem with enforcing current immigration laws. I am not under any illusion enforcement will curtail people from coming into the country.

The Wolves Are Out to Get Kevin Beckner

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner asked the commission to study if same-sex benefits would be more cost efficient. In 2004, The commission voted 4 to 3 against same-sex benefits for county employees.

"I see this as (leading) to gay marriage next," said Commissioner Jim Norman. "This is not going to be San Francisco east. That's the way I see it."

The 2004 vote against same-sex benefits was led by Ronda Storms. Commissioner Pat Frank (D) accused Storms was using the issue to her Frank with conservative voters. This past November, Hillsborough County resident David Caton is collecting signatures to put a state ban on same-sex benefits. Caton is targeting Beckner in his crusade.

In addition to passage of Amendment 2, Caton said he probably would not be pursuing the matter at this time if not for the election of openly gay County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who won office Nov. 4. He cited strong turnout at Beckner's swearing-in Tuesday as evidence that his supporters will press him to pursue a gay-rights agenda.

"I think the heavy turnout for his swearing-in was more than just friendship; it was a politically motivated event," Caton said.

Caton would be persuing the matter, regardless of Beckner. Caton attacked Tampa's nude strip clubs. Caton attempted to prevent a local airing of Saving Private Ryan. Caton's reasoning was military men, in time of war, do not use profanity.

I never heard my dad use the “f” word. I neverheard his World War II buddies use the “f” word. Therefore, Spielberg’s prolific use of the “f”word in Saving Private Ryan does notaccurately represent the service of many menwho I personally know.

Caton lost a lawsuit from bogus claims against Clear Channel.

One of the sponsors, a man who owned a Ford dealership, and Clear Channel sued Caton in February 2001. They won in a heartbeat. An Orange County judge issued a temporary injunction against him.

The judge declared that Caton's First Amendment rights were outweighed by those of the businessman and Clear Channel. He ruled that Caton's claims about pornography were false and defamatory; that the fliers put the lives and property of Caton's targets in danger; and that Clear Channel's business relationships were also damaged. He called Caton's actions extortion.

The judge could not have issued a more sweeping ruling. Caton's lawyers told him it meant he couldn't lobby any of Clear Channel's sponsors anyhow, anywhere, about anything. Caton appealed. He lost.

Brian Blair and Terry Kemple have joined the attack against Beckner.

Blair email.

From: Brian Blair
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009

Subject: Fw: New County Commissioner tries “stealth attack”! Please read and act - THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT!

Do you think with $250,000 in campaign donations we should have mentioned he [Beckner} was an Activist on several G.L.B.T. Boards and that a large percentage of his campaign donations came from out of State? I want to personally appoligize to all that suported me! May God Sincerely Bless you in 2009!

Brian

Is Blair shocked the openly gay Beckner would support same-sex benefits? Blair's comment that Michael Jackson was a white man is more surprising.

Kemple email.

From:
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009
To: CIC
Subject: New County Commissioner tries “stealth attack”! Please read and act - THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT!

Community Issues Council - Your help is urgently needed again!

This urgent message is short - please read it and act on it!

THEN FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK WHO CARES ABOUT FAMILY VALUES!

Almost before sitting in his new furniture Commissioner Beckner is trying to undermine the conservative values that prevail in Hillsborough County. In an apparent attempt to sneak in a radical change to employee policy in the county he placed an item on the agenda for next week’s agenda at 4:00 on Friday (this afternoon). One could easily surmise that he did this, with the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and the Presidential inauguration coming up on Monday and Tuesday, in the hopes that there would be no chance to mobilize any opposition.

That’s exactly the reason that it’s so important to have teams like Community Issues Council prepared to jump into the fray at a moment’s notice!

Mr. Beckner wants us to foot the bill for health care for “domestic partners” of county employees. Since Equality Florida endorsed him as an “out” homosexual and since he brags about having been with his “partner” for 9 years, one might be led to assume that he wants us to pay for health benefits for this other man!

This is absurd on 2 key points (these points can be used for your emails to the Commissioners):

1. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of the people in Hillsborough County just voted to keep marraige, and the benefits associated with marriage, between one man and one woman. This seems to me to be nothing more than a back door attempt to establish those benefits through his office as County Commissioner.

2. It’s bad judgment, at a time of budgetary crisis like this, to even suggest that money be spent investigating this issue. It becomes absolutely ludicrous when you take into account the possible presupposed result. If the recommendation comes back yes it means the proposal would be made that tax money be used to pay for health benefits for unmarried partners - whether they be heterosexual or homosexual.

THIS CAN’T BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!

Please contact all 3 county wide commissioners - Norman, Beckner , and Sharpe - and your commissioner from your district and let them know that you don’t want this to go any further.

Contact information

District 1 Rose Ferlita 272-5470 ferlitar@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 2 Ken Hagan 272-5452 hagank@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 3 Kevin White 272-5720 whitek@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 4 Al Higginbotham 272-5740 higginbothama@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 5 Jim Norman 272-5725 normanj@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 6 Kevin Beckner 272-5730 becknerk@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 7 Mark Sharpe 272-5735 sharpem@hillsboroughcounty.org

LET’S SHOW COMMISSIONER BECKNER THAT THIS ISN’T CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!

Together we can make a difference!

God bless you!
Terry

Blair lost badly to Beckner and Kemple once held an anti-gay marriage press conference attended by no one. Kemple filed an appeal that helped a Valrico Bikini Bar open. The problem was Kemple was trying to shut the establishment down forever.

Bikini bar lawyer Luke Lirot: “Had Mr. Kemple not filed his appeal, the true flaws would have been more difficult to prove. In essence he assisted us.”

Caton, Blair and Kemple are not smart people. What they have going for them is they refuse to shut up and fearmongering. Beckner is going to have to work hard to keep these wolves at bay.

Ultrasound Bill Dead

The ultrasound bill will not make it to Charlie Crist's desk. Which I'm sure doesn't bother the UnDecider. The Florida Senate vote was split 20 to 20. Republicans were having a hard time saying they were pro-life, as they were cutting state funding to adoption.

Surprisingly, Republican Jim King made the best argument against the bill.

Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, said the bill violates Republican principles of less government. “This is not less government, it’s more government -- it’s government intrusion.”

“Unless you ovulate or have ovulated, we have no business as males interfering with this decision,” he said.

Sen. Ronda Storms had the audacity to say that "women use abortion or self-induced miscarriage as entertainment." I have heard abortion described as many things, but never entertaining. This is the same woman that claimed sex education would lead to "prematurely deflowering kindergartners and first- and second-graders."

I have followed Storms's career for years and she continues to out bat shit insane herself. Truly scary and amazing.

Ronda Storms Pushing Religious Vanity Plates

Ronda Storms uses her usual heavy-handed touch to push for a religious speciality plate.

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, tried to amend onto another bill a plate with the words “I Believe” and a large cross in front of a stained-glass, church-like window.

The proceeds from the plates are to go to religious schools. Thomas Jefferson wrote, "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State." Storms wants to shove her religious idealogy down Floridian's throats.

Storms ideology involves legislative tactlessness. The religious organization failed to submit the proper petitions. Storms said the group should not be held accountable for their own petitions. Storms' amendment did not make it through commitee. That didn't stop her from adding it on the floor.

The amedment was voted down on a voice vote. That means Republicans voted Storms' amendment down, without their votes recorded. Republicans voted against the Christian base to smack Storms down for not following legislative proceedure. The woman has a way with people.

Quote of the Day

The bizarre mind of Ronda Storms never fails to amaze me.

Storms said that the sex education amendment went too far, adding that the measure did not belong in the bill and that it could lead to "prematurely deflowering kindergartners and first- and second-graders."

The Tampa Tribune did a recent series on how abstinence education is a policy failure.

But a recent federally mandated study shows that middle-school students who attended abstinence-only classes were just as likely to have sex as those who did not. Half had sex by age 15, a rate that held for students who attended abstinence classes and those who didn't.

At the same time, the teen birthrate rose last year for the first time in 15 years. Also, the rate of sexually transmitted diseases has grown unacceptably high, with half of new infections occurring in people aged 15 to 24.

The Evolution of Ronda Storms

The conservative meme is that liberals always lie. The Right might want to ask themselves why they have to frame a debate in less than candid terms. Conpassionate conservatism is cutting SCHIP. Donald Rumsfeld said that Iraq was "immediate threat" to America's security. We now know that wasn't the case.

Which brings us to Ronda Storms. She has introduced the SB 2692. The bill is known by the misnomer Evolution Academic Freedom Act. The Orwellian term was created by David Howowitz and the Center for Science and Culture. Both parties have long attempted to push the scientifically unfounded theory of intelligent design in classrooms. Storms was asked several times by Senate Democratics if her bill would allow the teaching of intelligent design. Storms ducked the question and reread her bill.

"You've given us criteria," Geller, of Hallandale Beach, told Storms. "I don't want to know the criteria."

Steve Geller asked Storms a straight question. Storms didn't have the honesty to say she believed that evolution is nonsense. She framed her bill as promoting freedom to teach evolution. Where was Storms when Jeb Bush would not allow teachers to mention evolution?

Compassionate Conservatism: Hillsborough County Commission Edition

Ronda Storms and Brian Blair convinced fellow Hillsborough County Commissioners to vote against funding for the Family Justice Center. The mission of the FJC is "to provide comprehensive services to Hillsborough County domestic violence victims and their families in a centralized location, or ‘one-stop-shop.’" The FJC is now endanger of closing down.

Modeled after a U.S. Department of Justice program and initially funded by a $1.1 million startup grant, the center never could attract local dollars, executive director Nikki Daniels said.

She is making a final plea to the community this week, but Daniels said Wednesday she knows it's a long shot. The center needs $360,000 to remain open through September. Without it, the doors close Feb. 8.

'That Center Probably Saved Lives'

"I believe that that center has probably saved lives," said state Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, who serves on the center's board. "And I will guarantee you that it saved some people from really being battered. Funding this center is crucial. We may not save some lives in the future if we don't keep it open."

Blair and Storms voted against the Center under the faulty logic that it duplicates the The Spring of Tampa Bay. The Spring can not handle all the abused women in Tampa. Blair and Storms have no problems throwing tax dollars at Championship Park and Raymond James Stadium. (Blair later backed down.)

The duplicate services meme is a politically correct way of saying that conservatives blame these women for the predicament they're in. Republicans aren't going to tell voters they are more passionate about corporate welfare for local sports teams than a woman with three children getting the shit beat out of her every night. That wouldn't be politically correct. Cutting funding for a women's domestic violence shelter is deemed the politically decent thing to do. Welcome to the world of compassionate conservatism.

Breaking News: I Agree With Ronda Storms For Once

The Florida legislature cut $114-million from state-run universities and community colleges. The legislature played the tax shift shuffle by increasing undergraduate in-state tuition by 5 percent. The House voted 95-17. The Senate voted 31-2.

Ronda Storms voted against the education cuts. Her reasoning was on-the-mark.

"I have serious reservations about moving education out of the reach of our citizens, and I think that's what we're doing," Storms said.

Crist was previously adamant about vetoing tuition increases. He now says a veto is unlikely. What he actually means is that Florida is facing a deficit a deficit and scrwing students is the best pllitical option. His staffers properly tell him those crazy kids spend too much time on Myspace and Facebook to be bothered to go out and vote.

If Crist really wanted revenue he would end the tax loopholes. Taxing skyboxes could generate nearly a billion dollars. It is not profitable or in local government's interest to help sports franchises. Wayne Garcia's article on how the Tampa Sports Authority is losing money operating Raymond James Stadium is a good place for people to educate themselves on government/sports economics.

Hurricane Ronda Storms

Ronda Storms attempted to delay the paperwork for a Valrico bikini bar. The establishment was already cleared for zoning and legally allowed to open. That didn't stop Storms from ordering a Hillsborough County employee to sit on the final paperwork to delay the opening. Now the taxpayer is paying for Storms's grandstanding.

Luke Lirot, a Clearwater lawyer representing Gemini, said the county will pay his clients $49,000 to resolve the case. Lirot said the case was settled, in part, so Gemini could devote full attention to another lawsuit against the county over ordinances governing sexually oriented businesses.

The resolution comes nearly two weeks before the case was supposed to go to trial. Part of the case focused on actions taken by then-County Commissioner Ronda Storms before the Showgirls bikini bar opened its doors.

Gemini sued the county in November 2005 and in a recent filing alleged Hillsborough "maliciously and intentionally" manipulated procedures and county employees to try to keep the club from opening.

Storms was accused of asking county workers to delay issuing a certificate of occupancy for the club, preventing its opening. She was later cleared of wrongdoing by the State Attorney's Office and Florida Commission on Ethics.

Everyone gets cleared by the Commision of Ethics. Pam Iorio allowed firefighters to use city computers to lobby Tallahassee. All parties were caught redhanded. Iorio was cleared by the Commission of Ethics. Hillsborough County wouldn't be coughing up money to a titty bar if Storms was so innocent.

O'Reilly & Storms Have No Shame

This is sickening. Bill O'Reilly and Ronda Storms exploit the death of Sgt. Ronald Harrison. O'Reilly makes shameful false claims against Judge Manuel Lopez and Storms does nothing to refute them.

We've got him now. Keep him in. And not only does Judge Lopez, Senator, say I'm going to give him bail, he gives him some $150 bail. Come on. I mean, you know, fine — everybody makes mistakes, including judges, but this is a colossal mistake. Inexplicable mistake, is it not?

Judge Lopez originally revoked Michael Allen Phillips's bail. He was in jail for 4 months. The defense attorney successfully argued that the state had a weak case. Lopez set Phillips's bail at $30,000.

Harrison's murder was a horrible tragedy. I don't for a second think Storms or O'Reilly give a damn about it. Their public temper tantrums do not suggest that they are the Christians they profess to be. A rationale debate about how to keep dangerous criminals off the street is good. O'Reilly and Storms aren't interested in rationale discourse when they have to resort to making up facts. Storms wants national airtime and O'Reilly wants to give red meat to his viewership. That is all they care about.

O'Reilly and Storms should stick to fighting the imaginary war against Christmas.