Florida Slime Stops At Rick Scott

Even before he was sworn in, he was complaining about clean water standards imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, and asking that Florida be spared from "burdensome regulations.’’

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The state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was eventually given the responsibility for regulating the exact type of pollutants that have contributed to the nasty green gook that has been showing up in the state’s rivers and lakes.

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Scott abolished the agency that had been responsible for reviewing local development plans, and he directed water management districts to lower taxes, which decimated their budgets.

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He also signed a law in 2012 that repealed mandatory inspections for septic tanks, a decision that environmentalists now say is fueling the current algae crisis.

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Perhaps the most underhanded move was the scam he pulled on the state’s seven-member Environmental Regulation Commission. After the commission declined to change the number of dangerous pollutants allowed in our water. more

Tampa Bay Times Right Wing Propaganda

The right-wing Times attempts to shame Florida's best mayor for being too progressive. You can't have "progressive" without "progress."

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Florida GOP Newest Scam

The Constitution Revision Commission was created a half-century ago just so you, the Florida voter, would have a chance every generation to consider major changes to how the state is run.

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The folks in charge of the commission were chosen almost entirely by the governor, Senate president and House speaker. 

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 The folks on one committee approved a potential amendment that would repeal a ban on sending taxpayer money directly to religious institutions, including private schools. 

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 The Legislature put a similar amendment on the ballot in 2012. And it was defeated by voters.

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If at first you don’t succeed, try, try to scam the voters again.

John Romano

Florida GOP Hypocrites

 They are poised to pass a bill that would make it absurdly difficult for patients to get access to medical marijuana just days after making it easier for alcoholics to buy their hooch. here

Show TECO You're Not A Sucker

Have you ever wanted to stick it to the man? By that, I mean have you ever wanted to beat the system? Bring down the powers that be? Play David to some corporate Goliath? If so, you've got the chance this election. here

Florida INC. Schools

In case you missed it, Newpoint Education Partners, which operated four struggling schools in Pinellas and one shuttered school in Hillsborough, was indicted by a grand jury last week on grand theft and other charges relating to three Pensacola schools. Millions of dollars in grants and state funds flowed through those schools, which begs an obvious question:

Who's responsible for this mess? The simple answer is the management group. But that's a cop-out. When you give a for-profit company access to taxpayer funds with minimal oversight, should you really be shocked when money is missing? here

Florida Banana Republican

Florida GOP kept alive the distinct possibility that we may soon be able to proclaim 2015 as the most pathetic year in the history of Florida politics. Sacrilege, you say!

After all, this is a state that single-handedly held up a presidential election in 2000. It bungled the 1876 presidential election, too. For crying out loud, this is a state that elected Rick Scott as governor. Twice!  John Romano

Free Lube For Florida GOP Voters

So for those incurably truculent in Tallahassee, here is the reality of what happened:

You cheated. You got caught. And now you're pouting. What's infuriating is their arrogance. These are elected officials who willfully ignored constitutional amendments passed by a vast majority of Florida voters, and now they want to blame the state Supreme Court for calling them out on it?

here

“I  believe at my core that the Florida Supreme Court has grossly overstepped its boundaries,”
 Rep. Dana Young

Sen. Tom Lee pouted that the court maybe violated his First Amendment rights and muttered darkly about hiring a 
personal lawyer.

"Redistricting does not, it’s fair to say, bring out the best in people."





Registered Democrats in Florida still outnumber registered Republicans by 400,000, yet Republicans hold 17 seats in Congress to the Dems’ 10. Some might say that ain’t exactly genuine representation.
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Remember the class size amendment? Ignored. We passed  “Polluter Pays,” demanding that Big Sugar and Big Ag clean up their Everglades mess, in 1996. Still waiting on that one. More than 75 percent of voters said yes to conservation land acquisition last year. The Legislature’s response was to blow off the will of the people. Again.

As for Fair Districts, in 2010, Floridians approved two constitutional amendments instructing the Legislature to create districts that made geographical 
and community sense.

Instead, its members cut secret deals and lied. here

For the folks that keep voting for these people, 
we got your back!

freelube@yborcitystogie.com

Florida's Culture Of Corruption: Wheelbarrows of cash utility companies dump in Tallahassee

Pam Bondi and 

Florida's Chamber of Commerce

Have both joined with mega utility companies to fight a constitutional amendment on solar power that embraces a competitive marketplace.

 The simple truth is Florida's leaders are a bunch of lemmings running in unison in whichever direction the power companies tell them. Utility companies have donated $12 million to the campaigns of state lawmakers since 2010. Seven members of the chamber's board of directors are employed by the electric industry. Power companies are forever trying to gouge consumers — to the tune of billions — for nuclear plant construction and fracking operations.

The bottom line is this wouldn't be a problem if the Public (Corporate) Service Commission did its job and actually regulated electric monopolies. Or if state legislators showed more interest in reining in their sugar daddies. here

Floridians for Solar Choice

John Romano Calls Pam Bondi's Office

here

Au Revoir Rays

We hope you freeze your ass off 

and you better learn French.

here

John Romano On Anti-Amendment 2 Hysteria

Medical marijuana opponents exaggerate. They fabricate. They find legitimate concerns and extrapolate them until they achieve maximum shock and 

minimum reality.

here

We want to live in Rick Scott's commercials too

John Romano: I have discovered a new and spectacular locale that defies belief. It is a place where the economy is bustling, and the problems are inconsequential. People are always smiling, the environment is pristine and no one seems to care about, or need, health insurance of any type. No doubt about it, I want to live in Rick Scott's commercials. here

Culture Of Corruption: Florida Republicans

$51 Billion Failure
State lawmakers refused to accept $51 billion in federal money to provide health care to 1 million uninsured Floridians, and that leaves a permanent stain on the 2013 Florida Legislature.
here

Other Highlights

DEATH PENALTY (FAILED): Repeals Florida's death penalty for capital cases. (HB 4005)

DEATH PENALTY (PASSED): Limits the legal arguments used by inmates sentenced to death and awaiting execution in an effort to accelerate the death penalty process. (HB 7083)

RED LIGHT CAMERAS (FAILED): Reduces fines and gives people more time to pay them. (SB 1342)

WETLANDS (PASSED): Modifies a series of wetlands-related rules and ratifies the governor and Cabinet's approval of 30-year leases of public lands in the Everglades to sugar companies. (HB 999)

SPRINGS (FAILED): Requires water management district to identify certain springs for protection.

CELLPHONE PRIVACY (FAILED): Requires police to obtain a search warrant before seizing a personal electronic device during an arrest. (SB 846/HB 797)

FRACKING (FAILED): Companies must disclose what chemicals they use when they explore for oil and gas using an extraction process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. (HB 743)

GUN CONTROL (FAILED): Mandates that only licensed dealers can sell guns at gun shows.
 DOCS VS. GLOCKS (FAILED): Repeals the 2011 "docs vs. glocks" law that banned doctors from asking patients about guns. (SB 314/HB 4017)

STAND YOUR GROUND (FAILED): Repeals controversial Stand Your Ground law, which provides immunity to people who use deadly force in self-defense. (SB 622/HB 4009)

STAND YOUR GROUND (FAILED): Limits Stand Your Ground law, clarifying that does not apply when innocent bystanders are hurt or killed. (SB 362/HB 123)

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS (FAILED): Sets up a domestic registry; allows basic rights primarily related to health care, visitation and property for unmarried couples. (SB 196/HB 259)

SICK LEAVE (PASSED): Bans local governments from requiring employers to provide sick-leave benefits for their workers. Does not affect "living wage" ordinances. (SB 726/HB 655)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA (FAILED): Legalizes use of marijuana for medical reasons. (SB 1250/HB 1139)

IMMIGRANT TUITION (FAILED): Extends in-state tuition to the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants. (SB 180/HB 7051)

WELFARE BENEFITS (PASSED): Prevents people from using welfare benefits at certain "adult entertainment" establishments, casinos or in a liquor store. (SB 1048/HB 701) Gun stores ok.
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John Romano's quick review of their 2013 performance.
here
Daniel Lemon, of Seminole said it best in his letter to The Times:

For results, eject party in power

This editorial asks, Why don't lawmakers care? That question is answered on the front page of Perspective. They care for the show and the dough. They do not care for the citizens and voters of Florida. It would be interesting to find out if the people mentioned in the editorial vote, and if so, for which party.The solution to the problems with state government is very simple. For several decades state government has been controlled by the Republican Party, and the quality of life for the average Floridian has deteriorated. We have historical experience to know the results of Republican control of state government. If we want change, we must vote to remove control from the Republicans. As long as our state government is bought and paid for by special interests, lobbyists and big business, then we will continue to ask pointless questions and receive illogical answers.
here

They Say Tomato, I Say Morons

In case you aren't up to speed, the state House passed a bill on Thursday that allows parents to petition for a variety of overhauls if a local school is struggling. Yes, your state lawmakers are at it again. What's so bad about that, you ask? In theory, not a thing. Except every major parent group hates it. In California it has turned into an educational war zone. So if we can skip all of the minor details and skirmishes, the real issue is this legislation potentially allows public schools to be handed over to for-profit charter companies.
"I've never heard of making a profit being a bad thing, this is the United States of America.'' 
 Rep. George Moraitis R-Fort Lauderdale.
He's nailed his geography, but Moraitis might have an economics issue. Those profits he is so gleefully pushing toward out-of-state charter companies are supplied by your tax dollars. Tax dollars originally earmarked for your child's education, books, lunches and so on.
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