Beach Peanuts

Surprise! Floridians Are Not Fans Of Rick Scott

A new PPP poll came out today that tells us what most Floridians already know: Gov. Rick Scott doesn't have many fans in Florida. His numbers have hit a new low.

Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, however, is doing pretty well in spite of "reports" a while back that said otherwise. His numbers place him above any of his potential Republican opponents.

Nelson got 38 percent approval ratings for his performance as senator, 34 percent disapproval and 28 percent said they have no opinion. 

Nelson fared well when matched against potential or declared GOP opponents. The outcomes were:

—Against state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, the only prominent declared GOP candidate, Nelson won 50-34 percent.
—Against former state Rep. Adam Hasner, Nelson won 48-32 percent.
—Against former appointed Sen. George LeMieux, Nelson won 48-33 percent.
—Against broadcast pundit and former congressman Joe Scarborough, Nelson won 45-32 percent.
—Against Wikiipedia founder Jimmy Wales, subject of a “Draft Jimmy Wales” Facebook page, Nelson won 47-28 percent.

As for Rick Scott:

Voter opinions of Scott, meanwhile, have remained unchanged and low since shortly after he took office, according to the PPP poll.

A December PPP poll shortly before Scott took office showed him with 33 percent favorable opinions among voters; a new one released this week gave him 32 percent approval and 55 percent disapproval.

Debnam noted that Scott got only 57 percent approval among his own party, Republicans, while other governors making national headlines for drastic changes in their states—Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, Ohio’s John Kasich and Michigan’s Rick Snyder—got approval percentages from the high 60s to the high 80s among Republicans.

How low can he go? I'm guessing he hasn't seen the bottom yet.

After all, it's only March.

2011.

Florida House Proposes Giving Rick Scott Sole Power To Appoint Judges

Republicans in the Florida House Civil Justice Committee recently passed three bills that would give Gov. Rick Scott the sole power to appoint appeals court and Supreme Court justices by restructuring the Florida court system, in the name of "accountability."

Think about that. The governor whose biggest claim to fame before he bought himself the office was running a company that made the record books for Medicare fraud. (Scott himself was never charged.) That's the guy they think should cherry-pick his own justices. Because he's an "accountability" guy. The guy who boasts a glowing report on his official bio what a fantastic job he did running Columbia/HCA but makes no mention of that little "Medicare fraud" thing. 

Republicans came up with this nifty idea a little over a week ago which had a hint of retribution because the courts had the nerve to throw out an Amendment that would have prevented Florida voters from having the fair election they fought for. Democrats are calling them out on the proposal.

"This is a very scary thing – we're supposed to have separation of powers," said Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Davie, during debate on one of three bills that passed through a House committee Thursday.

"These amendments are direct infringements on what's supposed to be a separate branch of government."

But Republicans backing three bills, two calling for constitutional amendments, deny they're trying to control the judicial branch. Instead, they said, it's an attempt to increase court efficiency and add accountability in selection of judges.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, backing one of the bills, called the Democrats' accusation "absurd."

He said House Speaker Dean Cannon, a Winter Haven Republican, "has instructed this body to focus on accountability, and that's what this bill does."

The Republicans want the body to "focus on accountability." There's that word again. "Accountability" has quite the ring of hypocrisy to it coming from the Republican party in Florida who has a rather large group of members who have either been in jail and on trial, faced ethics violations, as in current Senate President Mike Haridopolos, or are under investigation  for various financial disclosure problems like current U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. David Rivera, just to name a few. As for Rubio and Rivera, in their cases being under investigation merely boosted their credibility with the Thug Republican Party and vaulted them into higher office. The Republican Party Of Florida's idea of holding themselves accountable is merely investigating themselves for a short period of time, and then unanimously finding themselves completely innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever.

The most severe punishment handed down recently was when Haridopolos got caught red-handed. He, like his colleagues before him, failed to make certain financial disclosures. The Republicans jumped right on the case, and before you could say "you got paid HOW MUCH for a book deal manuscript??" he was shockingly found to be an actual wrong-doer by the other cult members. So what was his punishment? It amounted to this: "Aw shucks fellas' I'm sorry." That was it. Not even "Double Secret Probation!" I guess being Senate President has it's privileges.

Yes, this is the group who now wants to hand over the sole right of hand picking judges to Dictator Rick who ran the company made famous as a textbook case for the Medicare fraud business model. What could possibly go wrong?

Or in Scott's favor, what could go right? 

Rick Scott's Idea Of "Fair Wages": Less To Regulate? Give The Chief Regulator A Raise!

This just in from the department of Excuse Me?:

Last week, while the Florida Legislature was busy making it easier for Floridians to be more susceptible to fraud by deregulating 20 professions, Gov. Rick Scott was busy giving "raises" to his very own department heads.

No, he didn't "get to work" creating new jobs, he just decided to pay his people more for doing jobs that were already there, and much more than anyone in those jobs has made before.

Now, you're probably scratching your head thinking "hey, wait a minute, he gave raises to state employees?" Of course not, silly, they haven't had raises in over four years and Gov. Cuts-A-Lot won't be giving them one anytime soon. No these are his department heads, because I suppose the higher the salary, the more cooperative one might be.

A total (so far) of 10 department heads will now make $140,000 instead of the $120,000 or less the previous ones made:

Scott this past week named three agency secretaries, with both Ken Lawson at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and Dr. Frank Farmer, secretary of the Department of Health, earning will $140,000 compared to $120,000 for their predecessors. Liz Dudek was elevated to secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration at $140,000 a year compared to $164,380 for her predecessor, Tom Arnold.

Oddly enough, according to Rick Scott Logic 101, the less businesses you have to regulate, the more the head of the department not regulating them should be paid:

Asked this week why he was paying most of his secretaries significantly more when state employees haven't been given a raise, Scott did not directly answer the question. Instead he said that state employees are "very hard working people."

See? Makes perfect sense!

"And they clearly are doing a great job for the citizens of our state," Scott told reporters. "And I want to make sure I do everything I can to make sure we get the best people and we pay them a fair wage."

What kind of logic could we really expect from the guy who redefined the phrase "conflict of interest" which doesn't include the Governors spouse? (Can you say "Solantic?") "Nope, she's just the old ball and chain, nothing to see there."

But back to Scott's comment on those high salaries:

"And I want to make sure I do everything I can to make sure we get the best people and we pay them a fair wage."

"Fair wage?" Mere state employees don't rate such "fairness?" They work harder for less, and yet those like Ken Lawson get paid more in order to regulate less. In Lawson's case, that's a bonus of $1,000 per each of the 20 businesses he no longer has to regulate. Nice less work if you can get it.

How "fair" is no raise in over four years for the rest of those state employees?

Sure gives Scott's favorite slogan "Let's Get To Work" a whole new meaning.

Florida Is Open For Fraud

HB 5005, a bill that allows for massive deregulation of businesses in Florida passed through a second committee yesterday.

In keeping with the tired Republican theme of slapping the title "job-killer" onto everything they want to attack, they claim this bill will stop "job-killing" regulations and get Floridians "back to work." 

And get back to work they will, even if it kills you. 

This bill deregulates 20 professions (cut back from the original 30) including everything from auto repair, to health studios, to moving companies.

Not only is this potentially dangerous and makes it easier for Floridians to become more susceptible to fraud, legitimate businesses would be hurt by it as well. It's hard to compete against low priced fly-by-night companies who have no regard for the health and safety of it's customers.

The list of businesses to be deregulated if this bill passes:

• athlete agents 
• auctioneers
• auctioneer apprentices 
• body wrappers
• sale of vending machines and other types of businesses 
• charitable organizations 
• dance studios 
• hair braiders
• hair wrappers 
• health studios
• interior designers 
• intrastate movers
• motor vehicle repair shops 
• rooming houses 
• sellers of travel 
• talent agents
• telemarketing
• yacht and ship brokers 
• water vending machines
• television tube labeling
• sales representative contracts

So there you have it. Jump in at your own risk Florida!

Think of all the jobs this will save! Feel better?

The Florida House says: "you're welcome."

Open Carry Gun Law: This Is What Passes For "Reason" In Florida

See if you can spot the "winning" argument in the debate over open carry gun laws in the Florida House today:

1. Lt. Rick Hernandez of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office raised the specter of gun-carrying, partying, drinking patrons at the annual Gasparilla festival, which draws 400,000 people. "Lots of drinking, lots of problems," Hernandez told lawmakers. "Now we're going to have citizens out there that are probably going to have guns."

2. Marion Hammer said the open carry provision is needed for the sake of the 800,000 people who carry concealed weapons for self-protection.

"Every time they leave the house with a concealed weapon, they run the risk of it being accidentally or unintentionally or inadvertently exposed, and being observed by a law enforcement officer who's having a bad day," Hammer said.

Here's a hint: Marion Hammer is a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association.

You guessed it. That would be argument number two. Open carry law approved.

If anyone knows that the last thing an excuse to drink and act like a "pirate," disguised as "family fun" like Gasparilla needs is guns, real ones, visible or otherwise, it's police officers. And that's just one small example of what a bad idea this is.

Open carry?

More like "open season."

Because We All Need One: Daily "Aw."

A four week old baby cheetah from Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.

Haridopolos To Rick Scott: "You're Breaking The Law"

According to the St. Pete Times, Florida Republican Senate President Mike Haridopolos has written a letter to Gov. Rick Scott informing him in detail that Scott is "breaking the law" by withholding $35 million in budgeted funds for 2010 for Jackson Memorial Hospital. 

From the Times:

It's the same argument Sen. J.D. Alexander made when Scott sold the state planes without legislative approval, and part of the arguments Sens. Thad Altman and Arthenia Joyner made when Scott unilaterally rejected federal funding for high-speed rail.

From the letter:

"The 2010-2011 budget passed by the Legislature and signed into law by your predecessor bears the force of law," Haridopolos said. "Failure or refusal by an Executive to effectuate the expenditures authorized by that budget is expressly proscribed by Florida Statute 216.195 as a prohibited impoundment of funds. Moreover, we believe that Florida Statute 216.195, which prohibits the impoundment of funds, requires the Executive to effectuate the expenditure.

"Respectfully then, I therefore request that you take immediate action to effect the appropriation to Jackson Memorial Hospital in the amount previously authorized by the Legislative Budget Commission."

You can read the letter entire here.

Because Republicans In Florida Can Never Raise Enough Money....

The Florida House just voted along party lines (just try and guess which party voted in favor) to essentially "enhance fund-raising abilities" of top lawmakers of both parties.

The vote was 81-39.

All in the name of...."transparency."

From the Palm Beach Post:

Leadership funds were banned 20 years ago by Florida lawmakers following newspaper reports drawing links between legislation approved and cash flowing into accounts controlled by party leaders.

The new proposal would allow legislative leaders from both parties to continue raising unlimited amounts of campaign cash. But instead of pouring the funds into the state party as is the current practice, the leaders would get control under the proposal.

Supporters say the new step will result in more disclosure, because the leadership funds would be subject to campaign reporting requirements.

“This is not a revival of the past. This is something new,” said Majority Leader Carlos Lopez Cantera, R-Miami.

But Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed, D-Pompano Beach, said, “Can you tell me how this does not look like corruption?”

It overrides a veto by former Gov. Charlie Crist and is expected to be followed in the Senate this afternoon.

Yes, I guess Florida really is open for business, in more ways than one.

Who Will Speak For "Meg?"

(Not "Meg")

Before I write this post, let me first say this:

Really??

Bestiality is actually up for debate in the Florida Legislature, and apparently they think this is a pressing issue, or they know something that I (thankfully) don't.

The Florida Senate is trying desperately to make having sex with animals illegal. In answer to another question you might have, yes, apparently it's perfectly legal to do so in Florida. More to the point, someone in the Florida House wants to keep it that way.

Since 2008, the Senate has tried to make bestiality illegal. But for some reason the Florida House has decided to allow the practice to continue without the threat of punishment.

But wait, there's more.

The legislation was proposed after a suspect accidentally strangled a goat named Meg during intercourse. When Sen. Nan Rich heard of the "disgusting" case, she tried to ban sex with animals, but always had trouble in the House.

I don't even want to know how this information came to light, and I don't really care to do the research. If you do, well hey, knock yourself out. That's just more information than I want, but clearly the case of Meg the goat is documented somewhere, hence the proposed legislation.

The fact that someone feels this is urgent enough to have attempted to make it illegal since 2008, and the Florida House keeps saying in essence "nothing to see here, move along" makes me think we should have a closer look at the members of the Florida House for the last three years.

Perhaps someone has a photo?

I'm just saying....

Is A Forced Ultrasound "Unconstitutional" Like The Health Care Mandate?

Two controversial bills regulating abortions passed through the Florida House Health and Human Services committee today, one of which is the ultrasound bill, that requires a woman to receive an ultrasound before she can undergo an abortion. Proponents of the bill say this will give the woman an opportunity to "review the results." The general idea being if she sees the fetus, she may be less likely to go through with an abortion.

This poses an interesting question though. If those politicians seeking to limit access to health insurance are going to prohibit any health insurance that covers abortions, are we to assume that they will force a woman to pay for an expensive ultrasound whether she wants it or not? Since she would be seeking an abortion in the first place, I'm guessing the ultrasound wouldn't be covered by insurance. 

And since the argument behind opposition to the Affordable Care Act is that no one should have to be "forced" to carry health insurance, it's been argued that forcing someone to buy health insurance is even unconstitutional.

Yet these same politicians are going to force a woman to have an ultrasound before having an abortion, and I assume they will also be forcing the woman to pay for that ultrasound. Is that also unconstitutional? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing's for sure.

It is hypocritical.