Remember how Republicans were in an uproar that Washington Democrats failed to listen to overwhelming taxpaying voter discontent over health care reform? Of course you do!
Every public opinion poll showed that American’s were angry at the out-of-sight, out-of-their-mind, closed-door dealings that eventually ensured the necessary votes to get the legislation passed through the Senate. It gave cause for coast-to-coast protests and a level of social unrest not seen since the Viet Nam War. There have been tints of racism, a clash of the classes and has ultimately taxed the financial future of the young and healthy against the old and infirm.
Americans continue to demonstrate their displeasure at the tactics that led to what will undoubtedly become the largest entitlement program in the history of United States, more so than Social Security and Medicare, both of which will have to be overhauled by raising the eligibility age and reducing current levels of benefits.
As if taken from the same playbook used by the U.S. Congress, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) sly-dogged a piece of legislation of its own through the Florida Senate that would have made it possible to fire teachers for students’ failing grades, nullifying their earnings potential with decertification, leaving them with little means to repay their student loans and ruining their chosen careers.
The ‘tenure bill’ would have required local school districts to set aside 5 percent of their available funds to cover merit pay, test development and related administrative expenses. There would have been forced participation in the program or resulted in the loss of the funds entirely. It reminds me of the medical coverage ‘option’ as mandated by the federal health care bill.
It’s as though the RPOF expected fellow-Republican Governor Charlie Crist would have done an ‘Obama’ and hailed the bill as a triumph for educators, students, taxpayers, etc. But, contrary to right wing Republican assumptions, Charlie is not a mirror image of Obama’s political makeup. Thank you very much, Charlie.
Speaking of political motives, House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach) said, “The governor would still veto it if he thought it would help him get elected.” He added, “The veto was poll-driven, not policy-driven.” And yet, he and every other Republican would have praised President Obama if he had heeded public opinion polls. Ergo, surveys can paint a Mona Lisa smiling or picture a Whoopi Goldberg poised for discharge.
And speaking of discharging, the tenure bill was ballyhooed by former Florida House Member John Thrasher (1992-2000 and House Speaker 1998-2000) who, in 2001, became a partner at Southern Strategy, a lobbyist firm that represented not one, but two, companies that offer educational testing services, including end-of-course assessments tests not unlike those that would have been used to evaluate teacher assessments as provided by Senate Bill 6, the tenure bill, that was introduced by none other than Thrasher himself on March 1.
Thrasher, newly elected Senator from District 8, and dutifully elected Chairman of the Florida Republican Party on February 21, said of a possible conflict of interest, “I never had any connection to (the testing companies). I was bought out last May and don’t even have any connection with them anymore.”
In 2009, Thrasher reported a buyout income of more than $1.5 million from Southern Strategy.
Coming off the heels of the Governor’s veto of HB 1207, which would have created ‘leadership funds’ that could have allowed unlimited ‘soft money’ political contributions, the RPOF has nailed Crist as a Judas to their ultra-conservative edicts. The political crucifixion of Crist has thusly been decreed by the pompous pilots of the Republican Party.
Going as far back as last June, following an early endorsement of Charlie Crist by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) said, “There is no question Marco Rubio will be a big part of the Republican Party’s future… Marco Rubio needs to be a big part of the Republican Party’s present.”
Just this past week, Rob Jesmer, executive director of the NRSC, released the statement, “We believe there is zero chance Governor Crist continues running in the Republican primary. It [is] our view that if Governor Crist believes he cannot win a primary then the proper course of action is he drop out of the race and wait for another day.”
Wait for another day? Unlike many other candidates, Charlie Crist is no political patsy to a Republican Party that is still in denial of the historic losses in the 2008 elections, the very reason it remains constrained as the party of ‘no’, acting much like a child in the midst of a temper tantrum, known in psychiatry as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
Charlie Crist need not ‘wait for another day’ to confirm that he is who he is – a free and willfully independent decision maker.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Traffic Control With Diodes and Lasers
Nearly fifty years ago, in 1962, Nick Holonyak, Jr., revolutionized the world of manmade lighting with the invention of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Once a phenomenon widely used as simple indicator lights on consumer electronic devices, their uses today are innumerable.
In naming Mr. Holonyak the winner of the 2004 Lemelson-MIT Prize, the award cited, ‘LEDs may one day be used in lieu of fluorescent lighting in offices and homes.” After a few short years, we’re already there.
The higher cost of LED light bulbs is offset by energy efficiency, leaving the health of the planet in a much better condition than it would be otherwise. For example, a 40-watt incandescent light bulb can outlast the life of 30 incandescent bulbs; a 40-watt bulb lasts about 1,000 hours while an LED can operate for more than 30,000 hours. Putting a carbon print on the two types of bulbs, in a ten-hour day, a 40-watt incandescent bulb generates 196 pounds (89 kg) of carbon dioxide; a 13-watt LED (100-watt equivalent) emits 63 pounds (29 kg).
Through technological enhancements, the 2010 Times Square New Year’s Eve ball was made up of 32,256 LEDs, three times the number used in 2009 yet 10%-20% more energy efficient, and 78% more efficient than the 2007 one.
LEDs are small in size, but can be grouped together for higher intensity applications. Of course, we’re more accustomed to the daily consumer conveniences of LED lights – indicator lights on electronics, cell phones included, alarm clocks, coffee makers, indoor/outdoor lamps, night lights, etc. LED lighting can also be set up without wiring or the need of an electrician.
LEDs are also used as aircraft runway landing lights. Similarly so, flashing amber in-pavement lighting systems are used to ensure motorist attention at mid-block crosswalks that have no stop control devices. Of course, you won’t find this degree of technology in Hernando County, but other innovations in pedestrian safety have been implemented over the past year.
Last fall, travelling east on Cortez Blvd. from Deltona Blvd. in Hernando County, I noticed a new, improved crosswalk signal at July Avenue. I shot off an inquisitive email to county government and received an succinct, informative answer from Gerald O’Dell, Traffic Coordinator:
“The device is called an LED Countdown Signal. Its purpose is to provide the pedestrian visual indication of the crossing’s clearance times. It is a new (last year or so) technology adopted by the Florida Department of Transportation, at least in this area.
The FDOT is providing these pedestrian signals to local maintaining agencies to upgrade existing pedestrian signals. Hernando County has adopted this State standard as its standard for all new and upgraded traffic singles. Our goal is that all Hernando County signals will be retrofitted to this standard for uniform traffic control.”
This same technology could also be used to better control traffic flow at all traffic light intersections.
Among the numerous aspects that anger driver’s about red-light camera traffic citations, one of the ‘gimmicks’ used is to trap unsuspecting drivers into breaking the law with too-short a duration of yellow light signals, not to mention the inconsistent timing of those signals at different intersections.
With a uniform timing of no less than 10-seconds, yellow traffic lights could be fitted with LED lights that flash the numbers downward to when the red light demands a complete stop. This would give drivers a predetermined amount of time to travel through a signal light with the sole purpose of reducing the number of incidents when motorists put theirs’ and other peoples’ lives in danger. As also used on pedestrian crossing signals, automatic detection sensors could extend the time duration during periods of heavy traffic.
No, none of this would solve the problem of driver’s putting others at risk because of their impatience. And no, it won’t stop registered owners of cited vehicles, regardless who was driving at the time of the infraction, from being angry at an unjust burden of financial responsibility from the questionable use of red light cameras.
Nor would it stop the momentum of H.R. 1235 proceeding through the State legislative process, a bill sponsored by Rep. Robert Schenck that would outlaw the “hidden tax” incurred through the ‘use of traffic infraction detectors & cameras by county or municipality’. In other words, put an end to the use of red-light camera fines as an easy fix to offset the loss of property tax revenues, which makes it possible to keep government ‘big’.
Speaking of red light cameras… the laser technology that’s used in CD/DVD/BluRay players, laser printers, fiber optics, surgery, etc., is also used to trigger the non-flash camera pictures of drivers running through red lights. It’s interesting to note that these laser diodes were invented by Nick Holonyak, Jr., the same inventor of light-emitting diodes.
In naming Mr. Holonyak the winner of the 2004 Lemelson-MIT Prize, the award cited, ‘LEDs may one day be used in lieu of fluorescent lighting in offices and homes.” After a few short years, we’re already there.
The higher cost of LED light bulbs is offset by energy efficiency, leaving the health of the planet in a much better condition than it would be otherwise. For example, a 40-watt incandescent light bulb can outlast the life of 30 incandescent bulbs; a 40-watt bulb lasts about 1,000 hours while an LED can operate for more than 30,000 hours. Putting a carbon print on the two types of bulbs, in a ten-hour day, a 40-watt incandescent bulb generates 196 pounds (89 kg) of carbon dioxide; a 13-watt LED (100-watt equivalent) emits 63 pounds (29 kg).
Through technological enhancements, the 2010 Times Square New Year’s Eve ball was made up of 32,256 LEDs, three times the number used in 2009 yet 10%-20% more energy efficient, and 78% more efficient than the 2007 one.
LEDs are small in size, but can be grouped together for higher intensity applications. Of course, we’re more accustomed to the daily consumer conveniences of LED lights – indicator lights on electronics, cell phones included, alarm clocks, coffee makers, indoor/outdoor lamps, night lights, etc. LED lighting can also be set up without wiring or the need of an electrician.
LEDs are also used as aircraft runway landing lights. Similarly so, flashing amber in-pavement lighting systems are used to ensure motorist attention at mid-block crosswalks that have no stop control devices. Of course, you won’t find this degree of technology in Hernando County, but other innovations in pedestrian safety have been implemented over the past year.
Last fall, travelling east on Cortez Blvd. from Deltona Blvd. in Hernando County, I noticed a new, improved crosswalk signal at July Avenue. I shot off an inquisitive email to county government and received an succinct, informative answer from Gerald O’Dell, Traffic Coordinator:
“The device is called an LED Countdown Signal. Its purpose is to provide the pedestrian visual indication of the crossing’s clearance times. It is a new (last year or so) technology adopted by the Florida Department of Transportation, at least in this area.
The FDOT is providing these pedestrian signals to local maintaining agencies to upgrade existing pedestrian signals. Hernando County has adopted this State standard as its standard for all new and upgraded traffic singles. Our goal is that all Hernando County signals will be retrofitted to this standard for uniform traffic control.”
This same technology could also be used to better control traffic flow at all traffic light intersections.
Among the numerous aspects that anger driver’s about red-light camera traffic citations, one of the ‘gimmicks’ used is to trap unsuspecting drivers into breaking the law with too-short a duration of yellow light signals, not to mention the inconsistent timing of those signals at different intersections.
With a uniform timing of no less than 10-seconds, yellow traffic lights could be fitted with LED lights that flash the numbers downward to when the red light demands a complete stop. This would give drivers a predetermined amount of time to travel through a signal light with the sole purpose of reducing the number of incidents when motorists put theirs’ and other peoples’ lives in danger. As also used on pedestrian crossing signals, automatic detection sensors could extend the time duration during periods of heavy traffic.
No, none of this would solve the problem of driver’s putting others at risk because of their impatience. And no, it won’t stop registered owners of cited vehicles, regardless who was driving at the time of the infraction, from being angry at an unjust burden of financial responsibility from the questionable use of red light cameras.
Nor would it stop the momentum of H.R. 1235 proceeding through the State legislative process, a bill sponsored by Rep. Robert Schenck that would outlaw the “hidden tax” incurred through the ‘use of traffic infraction detectors & cameras by county or municipality’. In other words, put an end to the use of red-light camera fines as an easy fix to offset the loss of property tax revenues, which makes it possible to keep government ‘big’.
Speaking of red light cameras… the laser technology that’s used in CD/DVD/BluRay players, laser printers, fiber optics, surgery, etc., is also used to trigger the non-flash camera pictures of drivers running through red lights. It’s interesting to note that these laser diodes were invented by Nick Holonyak, Jr., the same inventor of light-emitting diodes.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Pace of the Senate Race
Governor Charlie Crist will never successfully overcome the political attacks wrought upon him from the conservative right for his act of enthusiasm at accepting Florida’s share of President Obama’s stimulus package. It will haunt his senatorial campaign up until the very last negative political advertisement is aired on Primary Election Day, August 24. It is the one single act that has propelled Marco Rubio to prominence among state Republicans.
The criticism of Crist comes from fiscal conservatives who sure do talk up a good storm, but that’s all it is… talk. Fiscal responsibility is billed as the best idea ever, especially for out-of-office opposition hopefuls. But the track record of the past decade proves that from any political perspective it is more about rhetoric than resolution.
The thing is, at one time or another, every politician is self-serving themselves a tasty heaping of pork dressing, topped with a steady flow of dollars from the gravy boat of taxpayer-provided funds. The problem is, when one of the pack of political piglets feeds from the goody trough, others follow suit and there goes the whole pot of gruel. And fiscal responsibility remains an elusive fortune.
Unfortunately, being fiscally conservative at a time when vast numbers of workers have been unemployed for months, or years, during this recession that just won’t quit could endanger the political survival of the candidate.
Consider taxpayer’s lament if they had been denied access to their fair share of the President’s $787 billion stimulus package. There certainly were no grievances expressed when the Republican-controlled legislature utilized more than $15 billion in stimulus funds to help fill the gaps of lost revenues. Still, they had to vote for a number of tax increases to balance the state budget. And yet, Crist is harshly criticized.
Are Florida’s fiscally responsible conservatives also critical of the $728.9M in education funds that the Obama administration released to the state this past week, some of which would have run out next year? This is on top of the $3.7B in education funds Florida already received from the original stimulus package. What of Crist’s solicitation for a portion of the $4.3B Race to the Top Fund? I suppose fiscal responsibility would dictate denial of accepting these benefits for the good of…?
So, Charlie Crist’s gotten a bum deal out being socially responsible for looking out for the well-being of recession-weary Florida residents. The timing of this act of what was deemed treasonous to the conservative right proved to be the perfect queue for Marco Rubio to make a grand entrance into the political foray of the Senate race. It’s not as though he hadn’t been primed for the position while serving his term as Speaker of the House.
Although Rubio has considerably less in campaign funds ($2 million) than presumed Democratic candidate Kendrick Meeks ($3.4 million) and Governor Crist ($8 million), interest in his senatorial bid has yet to reach its peak. His electioneering earnings potential among supporters has yet to be fully realized.
Although Jeb Bush has yet to give his direct support for either candidate, his sons George P. and Jeb, Jr. having issued endorsements and held fundraisers for the Rubio campaign. It seems ‘the plan’ now is for Jeb to make an official announcement during the final weeks leading up to the primary election, which would supposedly be a slam-n-dunk victory for Rubio. Still, speculation has it that the former governor may make an endorsement of his own timing at the Pasco County Republican Party’s Reagan Day Dinner on May 7, an event at which he will be a featured guest speaker.
Since he no longer holds public office, the daily routine of Rubio is concentrated on campaigning with no consequences of making critical policy decisions. This thought was best expressed by Governor Crist, “I don’t have the luxury of going around the state and politicking all day. I’m going to do my job.”
The most bewildering aspect of the Florida senate race is that, while Marco Rubio is acting the part of a Tea Party hero, he has aligned himself so closely to the Republican Party, and the Republican Party has embraced him so dearly that, as I had already suspected, the Tea Party is the Republican Party is the Tea Party…
And yet, it’s Crist who has hinted at running for the senate as an independent candidate. Go figure – Charlie Crist non-partisan populist politician. It just might meet voter appeal.
At this point in the election process, it would pointless to comment on approval ratings and such, what with double digit uncertainty among all constituency groups. And what with the Republican Party in disarray, who knows, maybe Kendrick Meeks will make the most of the in-squabbling and do some poll vaulting of his own.
The criticism of Crist comes from fiscal conservatives who sure do talk up a good storm, but that’s all it is… talk. Fiscal responsibility is billed as the best idea ever, especially for out-of-office opposition hopefuls. But the track record of the past decade proves that from any political perspective it is more about rhetoric than resolution.
The thing is, at one time or another, every politician is self-serving themselves a tasty heaping of pork dressing, topped with a steady flow of dollars from the gravy boat of taxpayer-provided funds. The problem is, when one of the pack of political piglets feeds from the goody trough, others follow suit and there goes the whole pot of gruel. And fiscal responsibility remains an elusive fortune.
Unfortunately, being fiscally conservative at a time when vast numbers of workers have been unemployed for months, or years, during this recession that just won’t quit could endanger the political survival of the candidate.
Consider taxpayer’s lament if they had been denied access to their fair share of the President’s $787 billion stimulus package. There certainly were no grievances expressed when the Republican-controlled legislature utilized more than $15 billion in stimulus funds to help fill the gaps of lost revenues. Still, they had to vote for a number of tax increases to balance the state budget. And yet, Crist is harshly criticized.
Are Florida’s fiscally responsible conservatives also critical of the $728.9M in education funds that the Obama administration released to the state this past week, some of which would have run out next year? This is on top of the $3.7B in education funds Florida already received from the original stimulus package. What of Crist’s solicitation for a portion of the $4.3B Race to the Top Fund? I suppose fiscal responsibility would dictate denial of accepting these benefits for the good of…?
So, Charlie Crist’s gotten a bum deal out being socially responsible for looking out for the well-being of recession-weary Florida residents. The timing of this act of what was deemed treasonous to the conservative right proved to be the perfect queue for Marco Rubio to make a grand entrance into the political foray of the Senate race. It’s not as though he hadn’t been primed for the position while serving his term as Speaker of the House.
Although Rubio has considerably less in campaign funds ($2 million) than presumed Democratic candidate Kendrick Meeks ($3.4 million) and Governor Crist ($8 million), interest in his senatorial bid has yet to reach its peak. His electioneering earnings potential among supporters has yet to be fully realized.
Although Jeb Bush has yet to give his direct support for either candidate, his sons George P. and Jeb, Jr. having issued endorsements and held fundraisers for the Rubio campaign. It seems ‘the plan’ now is for Jeb to make an official announcement during the final weeks leading up to the primary election, which would supposedly be a slam-n-dunk victory for Rubio. Still, speculation has it that the former governor may make an endorsement of his own timing at the Pasco County Republican Party’s Reagan Day Dinner on May 7, an event at which he will be a featured guest speaker.
Since he no longer holds public office, the daily routine of Rubio is concentrated on campaigning with no consequences of making critical policy decisions. This thought was best expressed by Governor Crist, “I don’t have the luxury of going around the state and politicking all day. I’m going to do my job.”
The most bewildering aspect of the Florida senate race is that, while Marco Rubio is acting the part of a Tea Party hero, he has aligned himself so closely to the Republican Party, and the Republican Party has embraced him so dearly that, as I had already suspected, the Tea Party is the Republican Party is the Tea Party…
And yet, it’s Crist who has hinted at running for the senate as an independent candidate. Go figure – Charlie Crist non-partisan populist politician. It just might meet voter appeal.
At this point in the election process, it would pointless to comment on approval ratings and such, what with double digit uncertainty among all constituency groups. And what with the Republican Party in disarray, who knows, maybe Kendrick Meeks will make the most of the in-squabbling and do some poll vaulting of his own.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Addressing the State of the State Address
“Nearly a year ago, on March 17, the Florida legislature voted unanimously to receive federal stimulus funds as offered under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to compensate for the loss of revenues typically gathered from state sales taxes, property taxes and other financial shortfalls.
“I have been criticized as having embraced the stimulus funds as offered by President Obama. Let me assure you that I did not support the stimulus package. I accepted the federal funds out of necessity. These funds have been well spent to avoid further deterioration of state and local social structures. They have been used to sustain employment, create jobs and promote economic activity and growth.
“From data released this past week by the Council Economic Advisors, stimulus dollars have provided $20M in food stamps and $2.4M in Medicaid payments. We were able to provide $924M in financial relief to 3.7M seniors, veterans and other ‘high-need’ residents with one-time $250 payments.
“We successfully provided $3.5B in tax relief for working Floridians. We have allocated $1.6B toward transportation projects and given $1B in small business loans.
“Within the past twelve months, those federal funds have saved or created 112,000 jobs statewide, nearly 24,000 of which were teaching positions.
“Over the past year, Florida has utilized $7.7B of the $14.8B available to stave off the need to make deeper cuts in the state budget. The immediate result prevented the need for tax increases that would have otherwise led to further financial burdens to Florida families and businesses. Further cuts in the state budget will still be unavoidable.
“We must not become dependent upon Washington to solve our economic woes. We have had the benefit of stimulus funds but that safety net will be gone once the remaining $7B is exhausted.
“The scope of the financial ruin wrought upon us from the effects of the Great Recession is unprecedented. The Florida legislature must go beyond the dealings of special interest groups. We must plan for the future now to avoid a further collapse of social services and education. We must take immediate steps to bring a more diverse tax base to Florida by offering incentives to attract new business ventures within our state.
“We cannot turn away from providing a positive future for Florida families. We must secure additional revenues to replace the billions of dollars unsecured because of unrealized tax revenues.
“This is not a farfetched idea. It can work. It must work. The only way to make it work is to get Floridians back to work. That must be a focal point as Florida is faced with extended periods of lost revenues.
“Therefore, and unfortunately, spending cuts will still be necessary to achieve a balanced budget. Stimulus funds will starts running out next year, leaving deeper cuts as the main option for staving off huge deficits. Further cuts in health care, cuts to prisons and cuts to Florida universities can be softened by actions the Florida legislature must address in the coming budget talks.
“2010 is an election year and, as unpopular the thought may be, we must reconsider sales tax exemptions given to business that are no longer justified. This will be extremely unpopular but without responsible actions, we will be faced with years of budget deficits. Lawmakers could raise up to $12 billion by doing away with tax loopholes that benefit the state's wealthiest and getting rid of tax exemptions for elite businesses.
“This is desperately needed as the electorate is struggling with high unemployment and the foreclosure of their homes. Florida residents cannot afford to dig any deeper in their pockets than they already have.
“Over the long run, these businesses should expect a positive return on their investments as the unemployed are once again able to earn a living, make money and increasing their levels of disposable income to spend on their products and services.
“I commend the Florida legislature for delaying the implementation of raising unemployment compensation taxes from $8.40 to $25.20 per employee. Still, the projected shortfalls are in excess $3 billion dollars for 2010-2011 and $6 billion there afterwards. The legislature must address these shortfalls.
“I will be strongly criticized for these comments and the reactions will not be made with kind words. But, take a look at those who make accusations and see where their interests lie. Too often, those interests do not lie with the residents of Florida.
“I have based my ten years in public service to better the lives and futures of Florida residents and will continue to do so in whatever capacity Florida voters may deem befitting the needs of the state,” I might have said if I were Charlie Crist when he gave his State of the State Address.
“I have been criticized as having embraced the stimulus funds as offered by President Obama. Let me assure you that I did not support the stimulus package. I accepted the federal funds out of necessity. These funds have been well spent to avoid further deterioration of state and local social structures. They have been used to sustain employment, create jobs and promote economic activity and growth.
“From data released this past week by the Council Economic Advisors, stimulus dollars have provided $20M in food stamps and $2.4M in Medicaid payments. We were able to provide $924M in financial relief to 3.7M seniors, veterans and other ‘high-need’ residents with one-time $250 payments.
“We successfully provided $3.5B in tax relief for working Floridians. We have allocated $1.6B toward transportation projects and given $1B in small business loans.
“Within the past twelve months, those federal funds have saved or created 112,000 jobs statewide, nearly 24,000 of which were teaching positions.
“Over the past year, Florida has utilized $7.7B of the $14.8B available to stave off the need to make deeper cuts in the state budget. The immediate result prevented the need for tax increases that would have otherwise led to further financial burdens to Florida families and businesses. Further cuts in the state budget will still be unavoidable.
“We must not become dependent upon Washington to solve our economic woes. We have had the benefit of stimulus funds but that safety net will be gone once the remaining $7B is exhausted.
“The scope of the financial ruin wrought upon us from the effects of the Great Recession is unprecedented. The Florida legislature must go beyond the dealings of special interest groups. We must plan for the future now to avoid a further collapse of social services and education. We must take immediate steps to bring a more diverse tax base to Florida by offering incentives to attract new business ventures within our state.
“We cannot turn away from providing a positive future for Florida families. We must secure additional revenues to replace the billions of dollars unsecured because of unrealized tax revenues.
“This is not a farfetched idea. It can work. It must work. The only way to make it work is to get Floridians back to work. That must be a focal point as Florida is faced with extended periods of lost revenues.
“Therefore, and unfortunately, spending cuts will still be necessary to achieve a balanced budget. Stimulus funds will starts running out next year, leaving deeper cuts as the main option for staving off huge deficits. Further cuts in health care, cuts to prisons and cuts to Florida universities can be softened by actions the Florida legislature must address in the coming budget talks.
“2010 is an election year and, as unpopular the thought may be, we must reconsider sales tax exemptions given to business that are no longer justified. This will be extremely unpopular but without responsible actions, we will be faced with years of budget deficits. Lawmakers could raise up to $12 billion by doing away with tax loopholes that benefit the state's wealthiest and getting rid of tax exemptions for elite businesses.
“This is desperately needed as the electorate is struggling with high unemployment and the foreclosure of their homes. Florida residents cannot afford to dig any deeper in their pockets than they already have.
“Over the long run, these businesses should expect a positive return on their investments as the unemployed are once again able to earn a living, make money and increasing their levels of disposable income to spend on their products and services.
“I commend the Florida legislature for delaying the implementation of raising unemployment compensation taxes from $8.40 to $25.20 per employee. Still, the projected shortfalls are in excess $3 billion dollars for 2010-2011 and $6 billion there afterwards. The legislature must address these shortfalls.
“I will be strongly criticized for these comments and the reactions will not be made with kind words. But, take a look at those who make accusations and see where their interests lie. Too often, those interests do not lie with the residents of Florida.
“I have based my ten years in public service to better the lives and futures of Florida residents and will continue to do so in whatever capacity Florida voters may deem befitting the needs of the state,” I might have said if I were Charlie Crist when he gave his State of the State Address.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thrash 'Em All
No sooner had John Thrasher won the 8th District Florida Senatorial seat this past November than he’s been catapulted to frontrunner candidate to become the next Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), enthusiastically supported by a number of state Republican power-takers, including Jeff Atwater, Senate President.
Atwater has rejected any type of tax increases, leaving little hope to solve the projected budget deficit of $3-billion. With federal stimulus funds running out, as many as 20,000 teaching positions could be in jeopardy. Necessitating larger class sizes, compromised learning environments could adversely affect the life-time earnings potential of school children.
Economists don’t foresee a return to pre-recession tax revenues until 2015 – five years of sub-par education would be grossly detrimental to school children of all grade levels.
These dire predictions might be avoided if Atwater and the predominately Republican Legislature were to eliminate various sales tax exemptions. In particular, collecting sales tax from Internet sales would help level the playing field for Florida businesses. Closing corporate tax loopholes would also be helpful. Otherwise, it’s painfully inconsiderate of Atwater to maintain an attitude of playing servitude to special interests.
Another high level supporter of Thrasher is Mike Haridopolos, Senate Finance and Tax Committee Chairperson, set to become the next Senate President as Atwater campaigns to be Florida’s CFO, has said, “The senate will be building a budget on what the actual numbers are. We know that we’re in for a long, difficult road. We’re going to do what we have to do without any new taxes, (and) live within our revenues.”
The few options left for a balanced budget include cuts in social services; initiate layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts to state employees; and borrow money.
Although Thrasher, former Speaker of the House, wasn’t necessarily considered a ‘shoe-in’ candidate for the Senate seat left vacant upon the death of Senator Jim King, the reality of this past November’s special election was evidenced by his campaign funds exceeding $400,000 which was more than the accumulative $376,000 raised by the four challengers. During the campaign, former Governor Jeb Bush appeared in TV ads in support of Thrasher.
Minus the TV ads, Jeb is again giving his political blessing to Thrasher. In a recent letter to the media, Bush gave a two-line appreciation statement for the efforts of challenger Sharon Day, whom he referred to as “a friend”, but…
Bush gave his assurance that Thrasher, “as Chairman, he will be more than just a caretaker or a fundraiser. He will do the hard work that is needed to rebuild our party’s infrastructure and make the state Party more accountable and responsive to the needs and concerns of county parties, more accessible to party members, a more valuable resource for Republican candidates in every region of our state.”
This seems the perfect time for the next probable chairperson to assure the party faithful – voting constituents, not those in the Capitol buddy system – that the inappropriate use of GOP credit cards would be fully investigated to determine the extent to which party members keenly picked the GOP pocketbook. Surely it goes beyond ousted party leader Jim Greer.
Instead, while others such as gubernatorial candidate Senator Paula Dockery and Sharon Day, also a contender to lead the Republican Party, have mentioned the need for an audit, Thrasher commented, “The decision to have these issues aired in the mainstream media will only serve to trap our party in a continual discussion about the past, instead of looking forward to our future, and I will not participate in harming the party that I love.” This comes from the man who chairs the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. No disclosure. No transparency.
A former lobbyist with Southern Strategy Group, whose clients include the Florida Medical Association and Blue Cross, Thrasher wants to give no-fault status to emergency medical responders, including ER doctors. Thrasher determinedly dislikes trial lawyers but, by his preference, questionable/inadequate medical decisions could put into jeopardy the health and lives of patients.
Another scheme of Thrasher was the September, 2007, deceptive ‘Signature and Petition Revocation Notice’ meant to rescind petitioner support of the Florida Hometown Democracy initiative. A business-backed group, Save Our Constitution, had more than 13,000 petitions revoked but a controversial law passed by the Legislature was ruled unconstitutional by three state appellate court judges.
To further question the choice of Thrasher as headmaster of the RPOF, he was twice cited for ethics violations – once as a House member for illegally representing a client before a state agency and for lobbying the Legislature less than two years after leaving office.
The Florida Republican Executive Committee will thrash it out this coming Saturday. It must choose a leader who will bring the party together as a whole and dig the party out of the deep, dark hole of questionable integrity.
Atwater has rejected any type of tax increases, leaving little hope to solve the projected budget deficit of $3-billion. With federal stimulus funds running out, as many as 20,000 teaching positions could be in jeopardy. Necessitating larger class sizes, compromised learning environments could adversely affect the life-time earnings potential of school children.
Economists don’t foresee a return to pre-recession tax revenues until 2015 – five years of sub-par education would be grossly detrimental to school children of all grade levels.
These dire predictions might be avoided if Atwater and the predominately Republican Legislature were to eliminate various sales tax exemptions. In particular, collecting sales tax from Internet sales would help level the playing field for Florida businesses. Closing corporate tax loopholes would also be helpful. Otherwise, it’s painfully inconsiderate of Atwater to maintain an attitude of playing servitude to special interests.
Another high level supporter of Thrasher is Mike Haridopolos, Senate Finance and Tax Committee Chairperson, set to become the next Senate President as Atwater campaigns to be Florida’s CFO, has said, “The senate will be building a budget on what the actual numbers are. We know that we’re in for a long, difficult road. We’re going to do what we have to do without any new taxes, (and) live within our revenues.”
The few options left for a balanced budget include cuts in social services; initiate layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts to state employees; and borrow money.
Although Thrasher, former Speaker of the House, wasn’t necessarily considered a ‘shoe-in’ candidate for the Senate seat left vacant upon the death of Senator Jim King, the reality of this past November’s special election was evidenced by his campaign funds exceeding $400,000 which was more than the accumulative $376,000 raised by the four challengers. During the campaign, former Governor Jeb Bush appeared in TV ads in support of Thrasher.
Minus the TV ads, Jeb is again giving his political blessing to Thrasher. In a recent letter to the media, Bush gave a two-line appreciation statement for the efforts of challenger Sharon Day, whom he referred to as “a friend”, but…
Bush gave his assurance that Thrasher, “as Chairman, he will be more than just a caretaker or a fundraiser. He will do the hard work that is needed to rebuild our party’s infrastructure and make the state Party more accountable and responsive to the needs and concerns of county parties, more accessible to party members, a more valuable resource for Republican candidates in every region of our state.”
This seems the perfect time for the next probable chairperson to assure the party faithful – voting constituents, not those in the Capitol buddy system – that the inappropriate use of GOP credit cards would be fully investigated to determine the extent to which party members keenly picked the GOP pocketbook. Surely it goes beyond ousted party leader Jim Greer.
Instead, while others such as gubernatorial candidate Senator Paula Dockery and Sharon Day, also a contender to lead the Republican Party, have mentioned the need for an audit, Thrasher commented, “The decision to have these issues aired in the mainstream media will only serve to trap our party in a continual discussion about the past, instead of looking forward to our future, and I will not participate in harming the party that I love.” This comes from the man who chairs the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. No disclosure. No transparency.
A former lobbyist with Southern Strategy Group, whose clients include the Florida Medical Association and Blue Cross, Thrasher wants to give no-fault status to emergency medical responders, including ER doctors. Thrasher determinedly dislikes trial lawyers but, by his preference, questionable/inadequate medical decisions could put into jeopardy the health and lives of patients.
Another scheme of Thrasher was the September, 2007, deceptive ‘Signature and Petition Revocation Notice’ meant to rescind petitioner support of the Florida Hometown Democracy initiative. A business-backed group, Save Our Constitution, had more than 13,000 petitions revoked but a controversial law passed by the Legislature was ruled unconstitutional by three state appellate court judges.
To further question the choice of Thrasher as headmaster of the RPOF, he was twice cited for ethics violations – once as a House member for illegally representing a client before a state agency and for lobbying the Legislature less than two years after leaving office.
The Florida Republican Executive Committee will thrash it out this coming Saturday. It must choose a leader who will bring the party together as a whole and dig the party out of the deep, dark hole of questionable integrity.
Friday, January 1, 2010
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