Florida Weekly Government Roundup
February 13, 2011
Gov. Rick Scott rolled out his first budget proposal this week in Eustis with the tea partiers that brewed up his election. While that was sweet for the governor, when the tea budget got to Tallahassee the reception was iced, and bitter.
Republican legislators said they’d give it a look, but many were openly skeptical and more of them privately perplexed about how this two-year plan would work. It was reminiscent of Gov. Charlie Crist’s last budget, which was roundly dismissed by the Republican Legislature, though Crist was on his way out of the GOP, and Scott just arrived at the party.
But when Scott rolled out his $65.9 billion proposed budget, he turned to the tea party that propelled him into office, not the official party he is a member of, which largely supported his primary opponent.
“This is the budget you asked for,” Scott said to applause in Eustis.
The cheers did not come back with him to Tallahassee, where House education, transportation, and health care panels grilled Scott’s budget office staff – and sometimes chastised them – on the governor’s plans for cutting the budget, moving money around, consolidating agencies, and shifting the burden for some services to local governments.
“Do you realize that at the local level there’s not going to be any funds for some of the services you say need to be funded at the local level?” Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, asked an administration official. “We need to be honest with ourselves and the local community.”
Particularly troublesome to some lawmakers was a $298-per-student cut – and that’s if expected pension savings are put back into education – that Scott budget officials attributed to the loss of federal stimulus dollars. If pension savings aren’t realized, or the local governments haven’t saved wisely some of their own federal money, some counties could see a much bigger reduction. The governor’s office says it isn’t proposing to cut education spending, it’s simply not in favor of replacing federal money the state shouldn’t have relied on in the first place. For parents, the result would be the same. Rarely has cutting education been popular with voters.
The proposed cut is “pretty steep,” said Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna and chairwoman of the House Prek-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee. “So we will consider his proposals and we will make our own proposals as well.”
That was a familiar refrain as Scott’s proposal worked the halls of the Capitol building this week.
“How flexible is the governor on this?” Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who campaigned for Scott last fall as Florida Republican Party chairman, asked Scott’s budget director Jerry McDaniel.
“You’re doing away with 619 jobs to save $2.8 million-a-year. Are we benefiting from that?,” Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, asked of Scott’s plan to cut the Corrections Department by $82.4 million. Doing so would eliminate 1,690 jobs and close two prisons, which Scott says would offset an 8,000-bed surplus throughout Florida’s prison system.
Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, chairman of the House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, was one of the few lawmakers to not immediately dismiss Scott’s budget as unworkable.
“By investing additional dollars in economic development, by preserving the transportation trust fund, I think (that) shows that he’s got an interest in job creation,” said Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, chairman of the House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee.
Horner was probably happy that overall transportation spending would drop from just under $10 billion this year to $9.3 billion next year and then just under $8.8 billion the next year, a far less steep cut than Scott suggested for other areas of the state budget. He also preserved most of the transportation trust fund, a fate far unlike 124 other trust funds that will be raided or eliminated under Scott’s proposal to the tune of $8.5 billion.
And it wasn’t just in the Legislature where Scott’s “supporters” weren’t fully supportive.
Among those upset with Scott’s proposal to have existing government employees put more of their paycheck into a retirement account was Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats, a Republican who had been on Scott’s law enforcement transition team. He said he had gotten the impression from Scott that a much smaller contribution would be proposed by the governor.
“To make existing employees contribute, what is it 5 percent? I think that’s a little harsh,” Coats told the St. Petersburg Times. “I think it will have a potentially adverse impact on our recruiting activities and retention, and I think it will have an impact on morale.”
SAME PARTY, DIFFERENT PAGE
The budget differences were the first hint that that the establishment’s embrace of Scott after he defeated GOP primary rival – and establishment candidate – Bill McCollum may run into some rough spots. But it wasn’t the only difference this week.
The new governor and the ambitious Senate president were singing a different tune on when Florida should hold its 2012 presidential primaries.
Despite calls from leaders of the Republican Party of Florida and Florida Democratic Party to hold the primary within parameters approved last year by the national political parties, Senate President Mike Haridopolos said this week that he’d like the primary to remain early – before there’s a clear front runner – so that more presidential candidates will court Florida voters during the campaign.
But Scott, who would likely not be governor if he had taken the advice of Haridopolos and the rest of the GOP establishment last summer, countered that it wasn’t worth risking Florida’s delegate strength at the Republican nomination convention.
“I want to have it as early as we can, but I don’t want to lose any of the delegates,” Scott said.
Haridopolos had a different take on the possibility that Florida could lose some delegates, – which is what happened in 2008 when both parties stripped the state of some delegates at the nominating convention because of the early primary.
That could be even more embarrassing to Republicans this time around because they’re hosting the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
“That’s, I guess, a risk we take,” said Haridopolos.
Two Democrats were not particularly interested in taking that risk this week, however, and they filed legislation to avoid it. Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Davie, filed bills (SB 860, HB 695) that call for the primary to be held on the first Tuesday in March, which would result in a March 6 primary in Florida.
CELEBE-RHEE
Teacher-firing former D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, a hero of the conservative education reform community, brought her talents to Tallahassee this week. And while she was here, she received a reception from lawmakers usually reserved for the likes of Dan Marino or Tim Tebow.
No footballs were thrown in the halls of the Capitol, as has sometimes been the case when athletes are in town, but lawmakers hung on Rhee’s every word as she talked of reforms that have made her simultaneously beloved and hated by education watchers around the nation. One committee even delayed its meeting for an hour so it could wait for Rhee, a Democrat, to finish addressing another one.
Rhee pressed Florida lawmakers to abolish tenure and fire ineffective teachers as she did in D.C. in the state’s quest to overhaul its education system. Little mentioned was the political consequences that appeared to follow those moves, when D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty was denied re-election in a campaign that turned in part on Rhee’s decisions. Democratic-leaning D.C. could never be confused with Florida, where Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature, so Rhee’s proposals here were mostly met with fawning.
The Senate did pass a merit teacher pay bill through its first committee, though a key element is missing – exactly how teachers would be evaluated.
“We just have the skeleton and not the bones and meat on it,” Senate Prek-12 Education Committee Chairman Steve Wise said of the bill, which is a sequel of sorts to the bill that ran into enormous opposition from teachers last spring and was vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist.
For her part, Rhee was not as impressed with the current education system in Florida as lawmakers here were with her.
“No. 5 in this nation? This nation is not where we need to be in the global marketplace,” Rhee said of the state’s recent No. 5 ranking in Education Week.
Elsewhere, Gov. Scott toured several state agencies and sought to assure workers who he has sharply criticized – and whose positions have been squeezed by his budget – that he really liked them. On one, a visit to the Department of Environmental Protection, Scott pledged not to close any state parks.
Additionally, months after promising to give the Florida Legislature hell for not approving a proposed constitutional oil drilling ban last summer, former Gov. Charlie Crist was in Tallahassee to announce how he is going to do it. Crist and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced they would co-chair the Save Our Florida Beaches campaign that was launched in October by the Florida Wildlife Federation, Progress Florida and the Sea Turtle Conservancy. The move is aimed at getting a ban on new drilling.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott rolled out his budget before his staunchest tea party supporters in Eustis, with a model of the Boston Tea Party ship Dartmouth on hand. But by week’s end, the budget proposal was clearly taking on water.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “This is basically a visionary budget. You envision these reductions occurring,” Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Port St. Lucie, making clear she did not see what Scott saw in the numbers.
By KeithLaing
The News Service Florida
Boil Water Notice Lifted For West Kingsfield Road
February 12, 2011
The precautionary boil water notice issued for ECUA customers residing on W. Kingsfield Road, from 297A to Fox Quarry Road was lifted Saturday morning, including the following:
- Brightleaf Circle
- Natalies Way
- Tall Oak Drive
- Burr Oak Drive
- Flintstone Drive
- Avalon Street
- Badger Circle
- Bentley Oaks Circle
Sunny All Week, Becoming Warmer And 75; No Rain
February 12, 2011
The weather only gets better as the week goes on. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 32. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 39. West wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 68. West wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 42. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Standing Strong: NJROTC Annual Inspection Held (With Photo Gallery)
February 12, 2011
Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection was held Friday at the school, with cadets undergoing face to face scrutiny with a retired Navy commander.
Commander Merlin Ladner, USN (Ret) conducted the inspection. The day’s events began with a personnel inspection, drill demonstration and a pass-in-review in the school gym. Other events Wednesday included a financial record review, briefings, administrative inspections, supply inspections and more.
For a photo gallery from the inspection, click here.
One by one, Cmdr. Ladner went face to face with each cadet, asking them questions about their NJROTC experience and conducting a complete inspection of their uniform.
“I will spend a few seconds with each cadet asking them questions,” he told the audience. “You won’t hear what I have to say to them, but it will help me get a sense of the unit’s health and how it’s going.”
“Yes, sir,” the cadets answered as they faced the questions about their NJROTC service, their ribbons, the shine on their shoes and some less than expected questions that left some cadets trying not to crack a smile.
“I am very proud of how you look this morning,” Ladner, who conducts annual inspections at about 60 high schools in the Southeast, told the entire group following his inspection. It has been two years since he was last at Northview. A visiting officer conducts inspections during the years Lander does not visit Bratt.
Ladner said the voluntary military service, and a voluntary Navy JROTC program is a good thing for the United States.
“I don’t want to be in the country that’s number two in the world,” he said.
For their outstanding personal appearance during the inspection, cadets Kasie Braun, Michelle Carnley, Christina Donald, Amber Francis, Jacob Peterson, Kent Smith, and Victoria Wright were awarded the Exemplary Personal Appearance ribbon.
Northview’s NJROTC is under the command of Senior Naval Science Instructor Captain Charlie Code and Chief Jeffrey Simpkins. The unit is led by Company Commander LCDR Tyler Garrett and Executive Officer Cadet LT Melissa Moretz.
For a photo gallery from the inspection, click here.
Pictured top: Commander Merlin Ladner, USN (Ret) addresses the audience during Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection Friday morning. Pictured insets and below: More scenes from the inspection. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Amber Alert Kidnapping Suspect Extradited Back To Florida
February 12, 2011
The man who allegedly kidnapped a 17-month old Tuesday night has been extradited from Alabama to the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola.
Keith Square Sr., 36, of the 500 block of North B Street, Pensacola, is being held without bond on charges of kidnapping, interference with custody and a probation violation. He is a former resident of Blackmon Street in Century, according to Escambia County Circuit Court records.
Square Sr. is accused of kidnapping Keith Square, Jr. Tuesday, prompting a nationwide Amber Alert for the toddler. According to police, Square Sr. is not the father of Square Jr., and the mother has sole legal custody.
The child’s mother, Monique Slater, 29, of Pensacola, was visiting friends in the 1200 block of Cervantes Street in Pensacola Tuesday, according to police, when Square Sr. showed up and asked to take the baby to see some friends.
Davis said the mother agreed. A short time later, the suspect Square called Slater and told her she would never see the baby again. Pensacola Police said Square called Slater several times threatening to harm the baby and also said that he and the baby “would not be taken alive.”
The vehicle believed to have been used in the kidnapping was later located in Brewton Tuesday night, where the driver told Brewton Police that the suspect and baby were dropped off at a residence near Century Woods on West Highway 4 in Century.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department unsuccessfully checked several possible suspect locations in Century, including homes on Blackmon Street and West Highway 4, Tuesday night in an effort to the find the child.
Someone dropped the child off at East Brewton (Ala.) Police Department Wednesday morning. About an hour later, Square, Sr. turned himself into authorities in Alabama and was booked into the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton.
Chiefs Lose In Semi’s, Plus Other Florida And Alabama Playoff Scores
February 12, 2011
It was a heartbreaking, season-ending loss for the Northview Chiefs Friday night as they lost in the District 1-2A Basketball Semifinals.
Freeport defeated the Chiefs 73-67 to advance to the finals Saturday night against Baker.
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Here is a look at other area semifinal basketball games from Friday night:
FLORIDA
District 1-5A Semifinals
Escambia 55 Navarre 44
Pine Forest 59 Milton Milton 49
Escambia vs. Pine Forest 7 p.m. Sat. at Tate
District 1-4A Semifinals
Washington 64 West Florida 41
Pensacola 48 Choctaw 45
Washington vs. PHS 7 p.m. Sat.
District 1-2A Semifinals
Freeport 73 Northview 67
Baker 61 Pensacola Christian 39
Freeport vs. Baker, 7 p.m. Sat. at Baker
ALABAMA
4A Area 1 Semifinals
Escambia County (Atmore) 71 Saraland 40
B.C. Rain 57 UMS-Wright 54
B.C. Rain at ECHS, 7 p.m. Monday
2A Area 1 Semifinals
Flomaton 66 Mobile Christian 37
Cottage Hill 72 J.U. Blacksher 35
Flomaton at Cottage Hill, 6 p.m. Monday
Little League Registration Continues; Last Day For NWE, Century
February 12, 2011
Registration is continuing for Century Little League, Molino Recreation Association at Don Sutton Park, Cantonment and Northwest Escambia Little League at Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. Details for all four parks are below.
Northwest Escambia Little League registration ended this morning. Tryouts are going on today for preregistered players. All players must attend, bring gloves and wear cleats. The concession stand will be open until 1 p.m. Junior and Senior leagues can register until March 19.
Cantonment registration will be Saturday, February 12 and 19 from 9:30 until 12:30. Draft day is February 26 for ages 4-14.
Molino Recreation Association will hold registration each Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. through February 19 at Don Sutton Park. The annual draft will be February 19 at 3 p.m.
Registration fees are $50 for the first child, $45 for the second, $40 for the third and free for additional players from the same family. A birth certificate copy is required to be on file for each child.
Click here for complete Molino Ballpark registration information in printable form.
Century Little League
Century Little League Registration will be Saturday February 12 from 9-11 a.m. at Showalter Park.
Escambia Investigators Seek Robbery Suspects
February 12, 2011
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying a couple of accused armed robbery suspects in Escambia County.
Two black males are believed to have worked together to commit several armed robberies in Escambia County recently.
The first suspect is believed to be in his mid to late 20’s, possibly has a light complexion, about six-feet tall, thin build, possibly with short dreadlocks, and has worn dark clothing and a jacket with a zippered hood that covers his entire face.
The second suspect is a black male in his mid 30’s, about six-foot two-inches tall, 220 pounds, short black hair, sometimes wears a baseball cap, sometimes has a pencil behind his ear and has used a bicycle on at least one occasion.
They have used a new model silver sedan that may be a rental car.
Anyone with information about the identity of either armed robbery suspect is asked to contact Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or visit www.gulfcoastcrimestoppers.org to submit an anonymous tip online.
Ernest Ward Holds Valentine’s Dance, Names Court (With Photo Gallery)
February 12, 2011
Ernest Ward Middle School held its annual Valentine’s Dance Friday night, naming a queen and her court based upon student votes.
Eighth grader Kamryn Brock was named queen, and TyDre Bradley was named king. From the seventh grade, Brianna Parker was named maiden, and Gavin Grant was named knight. Sixth grade maiden was Peighton Dortch and sixth grade knight was Hunter Kite.
For a photo gallery with the complete court, click here.
Pictured above: (L-R) Seventh Grade Maiden Brianna Parker and Knight Gavin Grant; Queen Kamryn Brock and King TyDre Bradley; and Sixth Grade Maiden Peighton Dortch and Knight Hunter Kite. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Urges Public To Burn With Caution And Care
February 12, 2011
Officials with Florida Division of Forestry’s Blackwater District are urging residents in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties to use caution if they decide to burn yard waste in the near future.
Since December 2010, the Division of Forestry has responded to more than 50 wildfire calls, more than half were the result of escaped debris burns. Despite recent rains, the forecast calls for pleasant weather this weekend and into next week. Fine fuels such as grasses and small brush which have been killed by winter frost and freezes and burn readily. Low humidity (less than 40 percent) and gusty winds cause these vegetative fuels to dry quickly. If grass feels dry to the touch, it will probably burn.
While there currently are no burn bans in our area, some cities and municipalities prohibit outdoor burning or require a special permit. If you are not certain about burning in your area, check with the Division of Forestry office by calling (850) 957-6145 and listen to the requirements and restrictions when prompted.
Click the graphic to enlarge and see setback requirements for burning.
Some tips and requirements to keep in mind before you burn yard waste include:
- Legal burning hours are between 8 a.m. and one hour before sunset.
- It is illegal to burn household garbage (including paper products), treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticide, paint and aerosol containers.
- Piles greater than 8 feet in diameter will require an authorization from the Division of Forestry.
- Clear down to bare, mineral soil around your pile to prevent the fire from spreading.
- Don’t burn on windy days.
- Never leave a fire unattended – even for a moment. One gust of wind can cause a fire to escape.
- Grass fires can spread quickly. Be prepared. Keep handy a water hose, shovel or other means to put out the fire.
- Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving it – no smoke and no heat.
- If your fire escapes, call for help quickly. Several minutes may pass before a fire department or the Division of Forestry can arrive on scene.
- If your fire escapes, you might be held liable for the cost of suppression and damages to the property of others.
Minimum required setbacks to legally burn yard waste:
- 25 feet from any forested area (grasslands, brush or other wildlands).
- 25 feet from your home or other combustible structure.
- 50 feet from any paved or public roadway.
- 150 from any occupied dwelling other than your own home.