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I Live In Florida And Wanted An Education, But All I Got Was This Rick Scott Sharpie

Hey Kids, Can You Spell Awkward?

Maybe not, but it's the same way you spell pathetic:

"R-i-c-k  S-c-o-t-t."

When the governor was ready to sign this year's "education" budget, he created a "school students as hostages" photo-op similar to last year's. Back then when he cut $1.3 billion worth of education funding out from under school students he also forced some of them to witness his signing off on those cuts with a custom made red Sharpie with his name on it, then gave some more to the kids as souvenirs.

This year, while throwing them a bone by giving back a fraction of those cuts while acting as if it was his personal gift, he went with custom made blue Sharpies with his name on them, and gave them out as souvenirs.

Who needs a diploma, am I right kids?

Well, that was only the beginning. Here's an account of this year's awkward moment of Rick Scott budget-theater from Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times:

The governor's staff selected Cunningham Creek Elementary in the village of Fruit Cove, a place of neatly manicured upper-middle-class subdivisions with idyllic names like Ivy Lakes and Julington Creek.

The setting could have been a Disney movie, but it was real.

What transpired was surreal to watch.

Any school is honored to get a visit from the governor. The Cunningham staff rounded up kindergarten teacher Virginia Leopold and a couple of dozen kids from kindergarten through second grade, who sat on the floor, staring up at the governor.

More stagecraft: Scott's advance people had placed a blackboard behind him featuring the $1 billion theme, and a bowl of apples was on the desk where the budget awaited his signature.

But Scott didn't deliver a home-run sound-bite in that setting, so the photo-op was largely wasted. Scott handled himself well in a subsequent session with reporters, which his staff insisted be done outdoors, "right in front of the flagpole," as an aide instructed.

In the school, the kids were seated on the floor, so Scott had to look down at them.

Scott: "How's school?"

Kids (in unison): "Good."

Scott: "Ever had a governor come to your class before?"

Kids: "Nooooo …"

Scott: "You have tests this week?"

Kids: "Nooooo …"

While Scott chose a day for a disruptive photo-op during FCAT testing (though the article claims Scott chose a less disruptive time of day), his staff didn't bother to do their homework and point out to Scott that children that age don't take the FCAT.

Then there was Scott's sad attempt at teaching the children a little something about government. Yes, what better lesson to teach children about in kindergarten through second grade, some who, until that day didn't even know what a Governor was, than the subject of.....auto insurance fraud?

Seriously:

Then the governor decided he would explain to the children the importance of reducing fraud in Florida's no-fault car insurance program.

"There's money that's wasted in auto accident mistakes. Fraud," Scott told the kids. "So we passed a bill — personal injury protection — that hopefully will reduce the growth rate and the cost of auto accident fraud."

Then Scott turned his attention to a series of oversized cartoon-style posters that explained how a bill becomes law.

"There's amendments, and people try to tack on amendments to change the bill," Scott told the kids.

Well, here's a lesson those children will unfortunately be able to relate to in the near future, one that Scott neglected to share. It's a simple math problem:

If Governor Scott subtracted $1.3 billion from education in the state budget in 2011, but added $1 billion for education in the state budget in 2012, how much would you have for education after he signed that budget?

That would be LESS FUNDING.

Here's another lesson kids. Hope your parents can afford to send you out of state for college, because that will probably cost them less than a college education here in Florida. Also probably a better quality education at that. You see, Scott didn't stop cutting when he finished with K-12. He not only cut money along with entire curriculums from our universities, but they're going to have to make up for it by hiking tuition!

But wait, there's more! He also succumbed to a retiring legislator by creating an entirely new college just for him after he cut off funding for an already existing one when he didn't get his way sooner! That's going to cost students, but it looks like some instructors there will be losing their jobs too.

Oh, and by the way kids, here's some bonus information. Many of those legislators who have been doing their level best to cut and destroy education in Florida all these years are also teaching at those same universities, and they aren't doing it for free. Guess who's paying for that? Can you say "Ka-Ching?"

But at least the governor didn't turn you away completely empty handed. Here's a nice blue Sharpie with Rick Scott's name on it.

(Photo: Last year's Sharpies, and last year's budget signing,  flgov.com.)

Rick Scott: Enough About Governing, Let's Just Skip To My "Re-Election"

Rick Scott seems confident that his initial investment of $73 million towards his seat in the governor's office has paid off, so much so that he can sit back and reap the benefits come his re-election campaign?

From the Tampa Bay Times:

Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday that not only will he seek a second-term in 2014, but he predicted that he won't have to reach into his own pocket to pay for a re-election campaign like he did the first time.

"I won't have to," Scott said, adding: "I'm running for re-election. I like this job. This is the best job you can imagine ... In this job, if you care about anybody's family in this state, you can have a positive impact. You can impact their education system."

Never mind that we're still waiting for that "positive impact" Scott speaks of, and exctly which families would those be?

As for that impact on the education system? Well he's right about that one. Thanks to Rick Scott and his cut-happy cohorts, the impact he's had on Florida's education system (so far) will indeed devastate schools and universities for years to come, long after Scott has moved on to his next "business deal."

Getting back to the money:

Asked how much a 2014 race would cost, Scott said: "I don't know what it will cost, but we'll have the money to win."

Note that he says he'll "have the money to win." Not the votes. The money.

That pretty much says it all given that his approval ratings continue to all but scrape bottom. He doesn't appear to care about how the people of this state feel about him. He doesn't have to. He'll have "the money to win." He's got the big donors and their deep pockets, and he's doing everything he can to keep them happy for his next three years with all those big tax cuts he gave them.

Votes? (How quaint.) Yes, unhappy voters are pesky things when the most unpopular governor in the country is faced with re-election, but that's where the Florida Legislature and severe voting restrictions come in. 

Again, getting back to the money:

Scott's political fund-raising 527 organization, Let's Get to Work, collected $910,000 in the first quarter of this year. Four donors kicked in $100,000 each: Miami investor Miguel Fernandez, The Villages, Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Group Underwriters, a Miami Gardens insurance firm. 

These days, while corporations may qualify as "people" in the wallet department, they still can't "vote" (so far) but they can buy you one heck of a campaign machine when big profits are on the horizon if you get the right guy in office.

In his comments, Scott appeared relaxed and upbeat and sounded eager to hit the campaign trail, despite his persistently low approval ratings in public opinion polls.

As for governing, just a little over one year in office and Rick Scott is too busy thinking ahead to re-election while in absolute denial of what his policies so far have done, and will do to Florida. 

Still, a little over two and a half years is a long time and some of those impacts Scott speaks of will begin taking their toll come election time. When you put the kind of bad ideas in place that Scott has, it won't just be the voters he's alienating and driving out of the state.

Those who run businesses have families, and they have to live here too. Plus, it's hard to run a business where there's no consumer demand.

Romney Takes The Rubio Pander Mobile Out For A Test Drive

Mitt Romney, the GOP "presumptive" 2008 leftover loser nominee is taking the 2012 Rubio Pander Mobile out for a test drive today in Pennsylvania. I guess we can call this roadshow "The Etch A Sketch Twins Take Aston, PA."

What a pair. Mitt-It's-My-Turn-Romney seems to feel he's already won but for the formalities, and Marco apparently feels he's not only Romney's presumptive pick, but has planned ahead for several years as VP, as noted last week by Rubio himself.

The Republican Insanity Party seems to believe they can do the same thing they did in 2008 but with different results. If you close your eyes, it's McCain-Palin all over again, but a younger version with perhaps a smaller wardrobe bill from Neiman Marcus.

Last time in order to say "hey look, we have a woman candidate too!" they went trolling for a woman who was easy on the eyes but short on brains. This year, they feel they've already "solved" their woman problem by allowing Ann Romney, the estrogen whisperer, to reinforce the message that being a wealthy mom is just as hard as working outside the home minus the paycheck, so they'll accept it with a smile as they forgo any means of birth control and go broke while giving birth as many times as physically possible until they drop. No "war on women" to see here! Move along! What, you say you can't afford all those children, much less an au-pair? That's too bad, but Ann could. Feel better?

Now all they have to do is solve their Hispanic voter problem. In a similar fashion, Romney loves the Arizona immigration model with the added bonus of making life so miserable that anyone in the country illegally will flee out of sheer desperation. Since that's not exactly the love letter Latinos might have hoped for, Mittens is going the band-ade route by awkwardly (how else?) saying "Look! We've got one too! He may not grant you citizenship, but look at that hair!"

Nope. Brains are not an option on this ticket either.

Besides, Romney feels voters are just that stupid so he's going to roll out the Rubio model because Jeb Bush would never stoop so low as to be number two, and because Jeb said so. 

Still there's a risk that some voters might not buy it the second time around. I guess after the test drive, we'll find out if Romney will give Rubio the job, or let his political career ambitions go bankrupt.

Florida SYG Task Force Member: Guns Are Fine, But Abortion Is Deadly Force?

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed a legislator who pushed the Florida bill banning physicians from asking patients with children if they have firearms in the home.

Rep. Jason Brodeur (R-Orlando) backed the bill which would fine or land doctors in jail for asking a patient or a patient's family members if they had guns in the home, saying that would be a violation of privacy.

Broeder joins the author of the Stand Your Ground law on the task force, Rep. Dennis Baxley.

Brodeur also backed another bill involving doctor-patient relationships, this one placing requirements on what the physician does say to the patient, when the patient is a women seeking an abortion. In the absence  of any scientific evidence to base it on, a physician would have been required to inform the woman that her fetus could feel pain. The bill didn't pass. 

So this Stand Your Ground task force member believes that allowing a physician to ask about guns in the home to potentially protect children is a no no, but requiring one to tell a patient something that has no basis in fact is ok, because he says:

"I think when you make a choice to unilaterally end someone’s life by force we generally call that murder."

 What's wrong with this picture?

Like Having It "Both Ways" Mitt? Well, Here You Go!

Since Ann Romney reportedly  "loved it" when the stay-at-home mom controversy erupted up last week, which she responded to by saying "all moms are working moms," she should be absolutely over the moon with this news!

House Democrats have introduced a bill that would allow stay-at-home mothers to raise their children three years or younger and continue receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits:

Under current law, raising children at home does not allow women to qualify for TANF funds.

“Unlike Mitt Romney, I personally experienced financial hardship so great that I went on public assistance to supplement my income and cover my children’s needs,” (Rep. Lynn)  Woolsey said. “Of course full-time motherhood is work, no matter what your income. If Mitt Romney truly agrees, then he should support the WORK Act that allows stay-at-home mothers on TANF two additional years at home with their children.”

“This is the same option that wealthy families, such as the Romneys, enjoy,” (Rep. Pete) Stark said in a press release. “Mitt Romney was for ObamaCare before he was against it. Then, he was for forcing low-income mothers into the workforce before he decided ‘all moms are working moms’. I think we should take Mr. Romney at his most recent word and change our federal laws to recognize the importance and legitimacy of raising young children.”

Why, I'm sure Ann Romney would agree this is a good idea!

Surely Republicans will jump on board this legislation in order to support their presumed nominee, especially in light of that non-existent "war on women." After all, it's the least they can do for women since Republicans across the country are passing anti-abortion legislation, banning birth control and forcing women to give birth no matter what the circumstances, given the financial burdens that would result. All those children, all that work, why expenses will certainly add up!

If they keep insisting there's no war with the ladies, I can't think of a better way to put their money where their mouths are.

Wouldn't you agree, Ann?

SYG Task Force Member Wrote The Law, Says It Works As No One's "Been Prosecuted For Self Defense"

Dennis Baxley, Stand Your Ground Law Sponsor, Task Force Member and Funeral Home Owner

Florida Governor Rick Scott announced the members of his Stand Your Ground task force today. The task force has been named the "Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection."

Among those appointed to the task force is the Sponsor of the Stand Your Ground law, funeral home owner Rep. Dennis K. Baxley (R-Ocala).

Long before being named to the task force, Baxley seemed to indicate he had already made up his mind that his law was not applicable in the Trayvon Martin shooting.

In an interview with NPR on March 26, he said this:

"I think that actually indicates that the law is working because it says that a number of people have not been prosecuted for defending themselves."

Many believe that, had it not been for public outcry, George Zimmerman may never had been prosecuted for the Trayvon Martin shooting either. Which is, of course, one of the problems with the Stand Your Ground law in the first place.

Baxley also wrote an op-ed for Fox News on March 21, entitled:

"Trayvon Martin's Alleged Attacker Not Covered Under Law I Wrote."

Some excerpts from that op-ed:

I have been in the funeral services profession for over 40 years; I've walked with families through many tragic circumstances and I know how difficult it is.

During the debate concerning this incident, some have brought into question the "Stand Your Ground" law, more commonly referred to as the "castle doctrine," which has been used by the attacker to pardon his actions. 

As the prime sponsor of this legislation in the Florida House, I'd like to clarify that this law does not seem to be applicable to the tragedy that happened in Sanford. There is nothing in the castle doctrine as found in Florida statutes that authenticates or provides for the opportunity to pursue and confront individuals, it simply protects those who would be potential victims by allowing for force to be used in self-defense.

Until 2005, the castle doctrine had never been canonized into Florida law, but had been used with differing definition and application to the concept of self-defense. The focus of the law was to provide clear definition to acts of self-defense. 

The castle doctrine as passed, clarified that individuals are lawfully able to defend themselves when attacked and there is no duty to retreat when an individual is attacked on their property. Since the passage of this law in Florida, 26 other states have implemented similar statues. 

Additionally, the American Legislative Exchange Council used the Florida version of the castle doctrine as model legislation for other states. 

One of the problems with determining the "applicability" of the Stand Your Ground laws is if that person, allegedly acting in self-defense, was attacked or in fear for his life. Hard to determine what Baxley calls a "clear definition of self-defense" when one of the only witnesses is dead.

Since Baxley seems steadfast in defense of "his law," not to mention defending ALEC for providing the model legislation for Florida as well as all the other states that have used it, which is worth nothing, let's hope others on the task force can look at the law free of bias.

Marco Rubio: Yes I Don't Want To Be VP, No Of Course I Do

Spoken like a true Republican, when asked if you want to be a Vice Presidential candidate, say "no " when you mean "yes."

Or he's simply confused by "complicated" yes or no questions.

Marco Rubio, from the National Journal:

Forida [sic] Sen. Marco Rubio said Wednesday that "I don't want to be the vice president right now, or maybe ever. I really want to do a good job in the Senate." He said he'd say no even if presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney asked him.

"If in four to five years, if I do a good job as vice president—I'm sorry, as senator—I'll have the chance to do all sorts of things," he said.

Sure, whatever. 

Disappointed Republicans Look In The Mirror, See A "Cocky" Connie Mack

"We're The Republican Party, And We Approved This Candidate"

Republicans to Connie Mack IV: Kiss off?

According to the Washington Post, Republicans lay blame for Connie Mack's failing Senate campaign on....Connie Mack.

They say he's too cocky, has a sense of entitlement, and that he harbors a certain "kiss the ring" mentality. (No! Get outta' here!)

To those Republicans, I would like to pose a question:

Excuse me, but did you just meet Connie Mack?

After all, His Highness has been in Congress since 2005 and much like his peers, elected office is the family business model. But even if we accept the "can't see the forest for the trees" explanation, just look at him:

"Cocky? Who, Moi?"

This is not the official portrait of someone who lacks self confidence. Nor did the GOP when they were busy sharing high-fives as he jumped in the race. He was their dream candidate, but then he went about running a campaign set on coronation mode, waiting for someone to roll out a red carpet to his new Senate office just like he's become accustomed to in Hollywood. Now he's barely competitive with the George LeMieux snooze-fest. The Party of "Morning In America" is just waking up to their latest nightmare.

Among their complaints:

Fundraising: Despite his connections and widespread support, Mack isn’t raising the sort of money most people expected he would. And, some Republicans say he hasn’t even really tried.

Tea party: Mack, some say, has ignored the grassroots. When he does pay attention to them, it’s not much better. At an Orlando tea party forum Mack called the budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R) a “joke.”

Media: Mack’s campaign has picked unnecessary fights with the press, including one blast against the Tampa Bay Times over a snarky headline on a blog post.

Pot meet the kettle of criticism.

For starters, no one really "works" at fundraising in the GOP these days. Corporate American pretty much bankrolls the candidate most likely to sign the legislation they write with help from organizations like ALEC. They thought Mack would expect something different?

He "ignores the Tea Party?" Say it ain't so! Who among the Republican Party hasn't ignored the Tea Party once the gullible Tea Party followers put them into office? Looking at you, Marco Rubio....perhaps the name Rick Scott rings a bell?

On the "Paul Ryan budget is a joke" front, well, he's got 'em there. It is a joke, and not the funny kind.

Blame the media? Whoa, now there's an excuse we've never heard before! OK sure, he got lucky when The Tampa Bay Times rolled over because the man from Hooters cried foul, but not everyone is a pushover. Besides, if the Republicans don't like snark they should quit acting like idiots. The American public isn't as stupid as they think. They should get used to getting called out on it. Pardon the campaign ad "snark" here Rep. Mack, but dare I say "monkey see, monkey do?"

To Republicans who are critical of IV, I have to say, Connie Mack seems like just what the party ordered to me. He's running on three of your own favorite empty buzzwords issues, freedom, security, and prosperity, topped off with the favored radical dream budget plan of doom, Cut, Cap, and Balance. That's the plan that, to quote Ezra Klein, "is an effort to take the lessons of the past 10 years and then pass a constitutional amendment preventing us from learning them."

Seriously. What else do you have to offer?

(Photo: Connie Mack, U.S. House)

Progress Florida Launches Campaign Urging Legislators To Sever ALEC Ties

 

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC has been losing support and funding in light of being exposed as one of the groups behind laws like the Stand Your Ground and those involving the current rash of voter suppression efforts across the country by Republicans.

There's also an effort to start pressuring the legislators who cut and paste those laws that we voters and constituents have to live with, and now Progress Florida has launched a statewide campaign urging lawmakers to sever ties with ALEC.

Mark Ferrulo, Progress Florida executive director, said of starting the effort, “ALEC represents what is essentially an unelected, shadow Legislature in Florida. Responsible lawmakers should disavow the group’s extremist and secretive influence on Florida law making.”

Progress Florida is activating its online network of more than 100,000 concerned Floridians to call on Florida legislators to either drop their membership in ALEC or publicly sever all ties. Due to controversy over the tragic death of Trayvon Martin and the "Shoot First" law along with extreme Voter Suppression laws popping up in states around the country, ALEC’s deep tentacles in state policy making are being exposed.

As a result of public pressure regarding their involvement with ALEC, many corporate backers including Wendy's, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Intuit, and McDonald's, have all left ALEC.
 
“Dozens of Florida legislators are either members of ALEC or have attended their conferences,” said Ferrulo. “With such an extremist, anti-middle class track record, there is no excuse for our representatives to continue to have any involvement with ALEC.”

If you're not yet familiar with ALEC, they're the corporate funded group who work with lobbyists and conservative politicians to the write "model legislation" that legislators then bring home to their states and pass into law. ALEC, which is largely funded by the Koch brothers among others. Some of those others, like Coke, Pepsi, Kraft, Intuit, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wendy's, and McDonald's have recently cut ties with ALEC. For a full list of companies associated with ALEC, you can go here.

If you would like to see which legislators and politicians are known to "work" with ALEC, you can check the extensive list put together by ALECExposed at SourceWatch. The Florida list is here, national list here.

You can join Progress Florida in urging Florida lawmakers to sever ties with ALEC here.

Rick Scott Signs His Bait And Switch "Education Budget"

(Photo: Progress Florida)

Today Rick Scott signed what he's calling his "education budget" at an elementary school during FCAT testing time and using kindergartners as a backdrop.

The budget puts just $1 billion back from the $1.3 billion he cut from education last year.

Scott has been touting the budget hoping no one will notice that it barely restores the damage done to education last year, and according to The Palm Beach Post, Scott said this about the increase:

“I don’t know of another state that’s ever increased K-12 funding that much in the history of this country,” Scott said during a drive-time interview with WOKV-Radio in Jacksonville, a Palm Beach Post news partner.

As if to illustrate that with education, you get what you pay for, Scott seemed to be banking on those with little knowledge of Florida education funding history. The paper also pointed out some facts Scott skipped:

Scott may need a history lesson, though, when he arrives at Cunningham Creek Elementary School. Florida’s own K-12 budget was boosted $1.2 billion as recently as 2007-08, and billion-dollar bumps were relatively common in the state as per-pupil funding climbed to a $7,143 record high in 2008, before the recession tightened.

Being loose with the facts is to be expected from the man who called himself the "jobs governor," then began that political career cutting jobs rather than creating them. Depends on your definition of "jobs" and "education" I guess.

Also not mentioned, the veto list for this year. Last year, as you'll recall Scott boasted about his veto list and celebrated the signing ceremony saying "It's going to be fun!" and proceeded to sign with his custom made red Rick Scott Sharpies that he later handed out as souvenirs.

This year it's a less festive, quiet affair, and rightfully so. As you can see, the $142 million veto list (.pdf here) is loaded with even more cuts to education and health care among other items.

Scott also approved a 5 percent increase in university tuition after months of warning that he would accept no increase in cost-of-living for Floridians.

No, all the big money this year was in tax breaks for Florida corporations.....or, excuse me, the "job creators."

Nice work if you can get it. Oh, wait....