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Archive of Florida on Monday May 12, 2008
Confusing ballot designs still plague elections
The solution should have been a no-brainer, voting experts say. After all, it was a badly designed ballot that enflamed the 2000 election meltdown and introduced the vagaries of chads to the political lexicon - pregnant, hanging and otherwise. Read More
Florida's budget woes could worsen next year
Forced to cut state spending by more than $4 billion, legislators called this the worst budget year ever. Read More
Exiting lawmakers diminishing South Florida's legislative clout
This was supposed to be a golden era for South Florida, an unprecedented four-year period of political power where lawmakers with ties to Miami-Dade and Broward counties -- and the clout to bring the area money and push for local priorities -- were firmly in charge of the Florida Legislature. Read More
Lawmakers can't escape cuts for Broward
Faced with $5 billion in cuts to the state budget, Broward lawmakers spent most of their time in Tallahassee this year playing defense as they tried to block deep cuts to county schools, hospitals and courts. Read More
In school sports, who makes the call?
A shot at the buzzer of a high school championship game — was it in time or not? — led the South Carolina Legislature to consider a bill to require referees to watch video replays. It was hardly the first example of armchair quarterbacking by lawmakers.
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Florida Legislature delivered little on insurance
Last winter was the meanest season the Florida property insurance industry has ever faced. Gov. Charlie Crist asked three prominent lawyers to look into a class-action suit against the industry; a select committee of the Florida Senate spent two days slow-roasting executives from Nationwide, Allstate, Florida Farm Bureau and Hartford; and Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty began trying to shut Allstate down. Read More
Wrongful Incarceration Act may not solve problems it was intended to
Lawmakers have called the bill an "automatic trigger" that will make it easier and quicker for those who unjustly lost their liberty to get a measure of financial compensation from the state. Read More
Compromise in Florida's delegate dispute may be ahead
In a sign that the impasse over giving Florida a voice in the Democratic nomination finally may be breaking, both Democratic presidential campaigns are starting to broach compromise plans publicly. Read More
Judicial nominating commission meeting today
The committee that reviews applicants for judicial seats will meet today to schedule applicant reviews and background checks. Read More
Legislators made some gains in tough times
Before Miami-Dade's political players stepped up to the plate for the 60-day legislative session, they knew the stats were stacked against them. There was $5 billion less in the state's coffers, five legislators on their way out because of term limits, and a bevy of public agencies lobbying for the least amount of budget cuts. Read More
Florida Healthy Start gets additional funding
Florida Healthy Start Coalition officials were caught off guard earlier this week when they were informed that the state would cut $2 million out of their budget because of a decrease in federal funding. Read More
Voter ID battle shifts to proof of citizenship
The battle over voting rights will expand this week as lawmakers in Missouri are expected to support a proposed constitutional amendment to enable election officials to require proof of citizenship from anyone registering to vote. Read More
New Mexico moves ahead on spaceport
Undaunted by widespread skepticism, New Mexico's effort to build the world's first commercial spaceport is nearly on schedule to open in late 2010. Read More
Florida wildfires close I-95; hundreds evacuated
Wildfires wreaked havoc in Central Florida on Sunday, shutting down Interstate 95 and other major roads, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of coastal residents and keeping firefighters, deputies, relief workers and state troopers on alert throughout the night. Read More
Magazine pushes racial buttons
For a sign of Florida Republicans' all-out effort to attract black voters, look no farther than the glossy full-colored The Black Republican magazine that launches broadsides like these: The KKK was the ''terrorist arm of the Democratic Party.'' Democrats, in addition to waging ''war on God,'' are still mired in sex and financial scandals. Read More
They're not out founding grandfathers, but . . . Back when big state changes were purer
Some of Florida's modern-day constitutional authors assembled in the Florida Senate chamber last week for a reunion of the surviving members from the last three Constitutional Revision Commissions. Consider them Florida's second wave of founding fathers and mothers. Read More
Thefts rise with copper prices
CHICAGO - Dave Fusselman figures he has seen a lot of different items come through his family's third-generation scrap metal business in Moberly, Mo. But an attempted sale last fall broke new ground. Read More
Once again, Florida springs protection fails in session
To some springs supporters, it seemed a modest proposal. Legislation sponsored by Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, called for a pilot project in Marion County to establish protection zones for Silver and Rainbow Springs. Creating the zones would lead to reductions in nitrogen from farms, sewage treatment plants and septic tanks. Read More
In asylum cases, immigration judges under a lot of pressure
MIAMI, Fla. - One sister was murdered. A second sister was raped. The third sister, Marlene, says her business was burned down by the same Haitian political thugs. Read More
In custody, in pain
FLORENCE, Ariz. - Underneath her baggy jail-issue pants, Yong Sun Harvill feels the soft lump just below her left knee. Sometimes it tingles. Sometimes it is numb. Like her cancer felt when it arrived behind the knee a few years ago. Read More
Ice cream sellers under scrutiny
Rapid City is among the latest in a growing number of communities across the nation moving to prevent sexual predators from becoming ice cream truck drivers. Read More
Farm bill includes $2.5 billion for research
WASHINGTON -- For decades, interests as diverse as North Carolina strawberry growers, Florida citrus farmers and California wine grape growers had little interest in the farm bill that Congress passes every five years. Read More
Conservative Dems surging in strength
WASHINGTON - The Deep South held fast against the surge that swept the Democratic Party into power in Congress two years ago. But today, there are cracks in Republican defenses. Read More
Push on to inspect ice cream vendors' pasts
A growing number of communities across the USA are moving to prevent sexual predators from becoming ice cream truck drivers. Read More
States remove local barriers to eco-friendly homes
States eager to promote renewable energy are increasingly passing laws that allow homeowners to overcome local opposition to home solar panels and wind turbines. Read More
Neutral govs to remain on sidelines
 In the homestretch of an unprecedented presidential primary season, spinning with competing sound-bites and endless rhetoric, voters still heading to the polls in four states can’t look to their governors for any pre-election advice. These governors plan to wait until after their states vote to make their own endorsements.
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois treasurer shows his knowledge of charges
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in. Read More
At-risk gubernatorial seats increase
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Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008) When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states. Read More
Will states fix 2012 primary process?
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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in. Read More
Parents turn to states for autism help
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs. Read More
Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views. Read More
Seeds of social issues dot 2008 elections
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With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Phantom voter stalks Ala. State House
An Alabama lawmaker says someone’s been using his voting machine. Florida’s House Speaker locks the doors and turns off Internet access to make legislators pay attention. And Mayberry’s Sheriff Taylor endorses a North Carolina gubernatorial candidate. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in. Read More
Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
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'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.
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Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
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Democratic mid-term gains affecting policy
So complete was the Democratic rout in the 2006 midterm elections that the party even gained legislative influence in Alaska, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming – states long dominated by the Republicans. And those gains, though small, are translating into policy achievements. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. Read More |
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