Action Alert - Archive 2001

President Bush to visit Florida - President Bush will promote his education and reading initiatives before audiences in two Florida cities next week. The White House said Thursday that Bush will speak in Jacksonville on Monday and Sarasota on Tuesday. 9/6/01

Let Us Not Forget:

Our governor and his legislature apparently have forgotten that they are elected to represent all of the people of this state, not just the rich and powerful.  The GOP notion of compassionate conservatism, if it ever existed, is a sham.  

There was no evidence whatsoever of openness, or fairness in the "deliberations" of the Republican majority.  Their agenda was set, had been set, and there was no wavering from it.  They turned a deaf ear and hard heart to our voices.  We at WhoseFlorida; Republican, Democrat, and Independent alike condemn the actions of this 2001 legislative majority and are pledged to ensure that 2002 will be different.

 
Growth Management Bill

CALLS NEEDED TO SENATORS RIGHT NOW TO STOP SB 910 (ANTI-CITIZEN PARTICIPATION BILL)

Union rally April 9 at the capitol in Tallahassee

Senate Committee meeting on Governmental Oversight and Productivity, regarding SB 466 on Public Employment - 4/5/01

I'm sorry Jacob Lerner thinks the Democrat and I are biased

This committee meeting was too bizarre for words

Relive some of the Horrors of the 2001 Florida Legislative Session

Please check out these urgent Legislative Bill actions:
Growth Management Bill
CALLS NEEDED TO SENATORS RIGHT NOW TO STOP SB 910 (ANTI-CITIZEN PARTICIPATION BILL)
 

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Growth Management Bill

IN THE FINAL HOURS OF THE 2001 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AN AVALANCHE OF LEGISLATION HARMFUL TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS BEING PUSHED FORWARD BY POLITICAL LEADERS WHO PLACE A HIGHER PRIORITY ON IMPROVING THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR REAL ESTATE SPECULATORS AND HOME BUILDERS THAN PROTECTING TAXPAYER AND VOTER'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
 
THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT BILL WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE HOUSE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. IT CONTAINS DAMAGING PROPOSALS AND CALLS OF OPPOSITION ARE NEEDED NOW. AS OF 6PM WEDNESDAY, THE SENATE BILL (310) HAS A STRIKE EVERYTHING AMENDMENT AND IT IS BAD BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE DRI THRESHOLD OF 200% AS DESCRIBED BELOW.
 
A new version of the House growth management bill (CS/CS/HB 1617 & 1487) has been put forth as a proposed amendment by the bill sponsor, Representative Paula Dockery. Due to opposition by the Home Builders, what was a strong proposal on school facilities and overcrowding is significantly watered down. In addition, various bad policy changes that public interest groups were told by Dockery were to be taken out of the bill by way of the amendment remain intact. A prime example is a proposal to increase the threshold for Developments of Regional Impact for rural counties in economic need by 200%, meaning that many more large scale developments will be exempt from DRI review and exempt in areas of the state least equipped to address the areawide impacts of projects of this nature.
 
Worse yet, this change is being made in favor of one company with special ties to Governor Bush, St. Joe Development, so that development it is planning in the Florida Panhandle won't be subject to state and regional reviews, despite impacts of a regional nature.
 
The Senate will have its own new version of CS/CS/SB 310 & 380 shortly. It will be heard on the Senate Floor tomorrow, probably in the afternoon.  However, it too will include the St. Joe giveaway, in itself a violation of Senate Rules as the proposal wasn't heard in Committee.
 
The bill is also expected to authorize exemptions for airports and petroleum storage facilities from DRI's (Development of Regional Impact studies).
 
ACTION NEEDED:
 
HOUSE: Urge all House members to vote No on HB 1617 in its current form.
 
SENATE: Urge Senate members to oppose the St. Joe giveaway and DRI exemptions. Call on them to instead stick to the course they started in narrowing the bill to policy changes that improve growth management.
 
EVEN IF YOU CAN ONLY PLACE ONE CALL, PLEASE TAKE THAT STEP. COLLECTIVELY, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
 
SENATE CONTACT NUMBERS Charlie Bronson (R), District 18, (321) 725-2880, (850) 487-5056 Ginny Brown- Waite (R), District 10, (352) 544-2344, (850) 487-5040 Locke Burt (R), District 16, (904) 673-7299, (850) 487-5033 Walter Campell (D), District 33, (954) 346-2813, (850) 487-5094 Lisa Carlton (R), District, District 24, (941) 486-2023, (850) 487-5081 Charlie Clary (R), District 7, (850) 833-9159, (850) 487-5009 Lee Constantine (R), District 9, (407) 331-9675, (850) 487-5050 Anna Cowin (R), District 11, (352) 315-9335, (850) 487-5014 Victor Crist, (R), District 13, (813) 975-6658, (850) 487-5068 M. Mandy Dawson (D), District 30, (954) 467-4317, (850) 487-5112 Alex Diaz de la Portilla, (R), District 34, (305) 569-2691, (850) 487-5109 John Dyer, (D), District 14, (407) 245-0882, (850) 487-5190 Rudy Garcia, ( R), District 39, (305) 364-3191, (850) 487-5106 Steven A. Geller (D), District 29, (954) 893-5089, (850) 487-5097 Betty Holzendorf (D), District 2, (904) 359-6880, (850) 487-5024 Jim Horne (R), District 6, (904) 573-4900, (850) 487-5027 Daryl L. Jones (D),  District 40, (305) 671-7240, (850) 487-5127 James E. "Jim" King, Jr. (R), District 8, (904) 727-3600, (850) 487-5030
 
Ron Klein (D), District 28, (561)274-4777, (850) 487-5091 Jack Latvala (R), District 19, (727) 787-8991, (850) 487 5062 John F. Laurent (R), District 17, (863) 519-7595, (850) 487-5044 Alfred "Al" Lawson, Jr. (D), District 3, (850) 487-5086 Tom Lee (R), District 23, (813) 744-8683, (850) 487-5072 John Mc Kay (R), District 26, (941) 727-5349, (850) 487-5078 Kendrick Meek (D), District 36, (305) 655-3671, (850) 487-5116 Lesley Miller (D), District 21, (813) 272-2831, (850) 487-5059 Richard Mitchell (D), District 4, (904) 719-2733, (850) 487-5017 Durell Peaden (R), District 1, (850) 689-0556, (850) 487-5000 Bill Posey ( R), District 15, (321) 690-3484, (850) 487-5053 Ken Pruitt (R), District 27, (561) 335-8000, (850) 487-5088 Tom Rossin (D), District 35,  (561) 753-2537, (850) 487-5356 Debby Sanderson (R), District 31, (941) 417-6220, (850) 487-5124 Burt Saunders (R), District 25, (941) 417-6220, (850) 487-5124 Jim Sebesta (R), District 20, (727) 563-0377, (850) 487-5075 Ron Silver, (D), District 38, (305) 893-0488, (850) 487-5121 Rod Smith (D), District 5, (352) 375-3555, (850) 487-5020 Donald C. Sullivan, M.D. (R), District 22, (727) 893-9657, (850) 487-5065 Alex Villalobos (R), District 37, (305) 222-4160, (850) 487-5130 Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), District 32, (954) 704-2934, (850) 487-5103 Daniel Webster (R), District 12, (407) 656-0066, (850) 487-5047

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URGENT - CALLS NEEDED TO SENATORS RIGHT NOW TO STOP SB 910 (ANTI-CITIZEN PARTICIPATION BILL)
 
SB 910 by King is scheduled for action by the full Senate tomorrow, May 3. The bill is moving forward swiftly. It strips citizen rights to enforce environmental, growth management, public health and safety laws. It has support from key members and the Governor's Office. Citizens must speak out loud and fast against it THIS IS AN ISSUE OF CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND PROTECTING COMMUNITIES!.
 
Proponents of this legislation are also working to have it amended onto House bills, so also let your House members know to oppose any such amendments. The anti-citizen participation language was amended to SB1560 this afternoon on the Senate floor. *A summary of what the bill does appears below.*
 
PLEASE CALL NOW !!! SENATE CONTACT NUMBERS Charlie Bronson (R), District 18, (321) 725-2880, (850) 487-5056 Ginny Brown- Waite (R), District 10, (352) 544-2344, (850) 487-5040 Locke Burt (R), District 16, (904) 673-7299, (850) 487-5033 Walter Campell (D), District 33, (954) 346-2813, (850) 487-5094 Lisa Carlton (R), District, District 24, (941) 486-2023, (850) 487-5081 Charlie Clary (R), District 7, (850) 833-9159, (850) 487-5009 Lee Constantine (R), District 9, (407) 331-9675, (850) 487-5050 Anna Cowin (R), District 11, (352) 315-9335, (850) 487-5014 Victor Crist, (R), District 13, (813) 975-6658, (850) 487-5068 M. Mandy Dawson (D), District 30, (954) 467-4317, (850) 487-5112 Alex Diaz de la Portilla, (R), District 34, (305) 569-2691, (850) 487-5109 John Dyer, (D), District 14, (407) 245-0882, (850) 487-5190 Rudy Garcia, ( R), District 39, (305) 364-3191, (850) 487-5106 Steven A. Geller (D), District 29, (954) 893-5089, (850) 487-5097 Betty Holzendorf (D), District 2, (904) 359-6880, (850) 487-5024 Jim Horne (R), District 6, (904) 573-4900, (850) 487-5027 Daryl L. Jones (D),  District 40, (305) 671-7240, (850) 487-5127 James E. "Jim" King, Jr. (R), District 8, (904) 727-3600, (850) 487-5030 Ron Klein (D), District 28, (561)274-4777, (850) 487-5091 Jack Latvala (R), District 19, (727) 787-8991, (850) 487 5062 John F. Laurent (R), District 17, (863) 519-7595, (850) 487-5044 Alfred "Al" Lawson, Jr. (D), District 3, (850) 487-5086 Tom Lee (R), District 23, (813) 744-8683, (850) 487-5072 John Mc Kay (R), District 26, (941) 727-5349, (850) 487-5078 Kendrick Meek (D), District 36, (305) 655-3671, (850) 487-5116 Lesley Miller (D), District 21, (813) 272-2831, (850) 487-5059 Richard Mitchell (D), District 4, (904) 719-2733, (850) 487-5017 Durell Peaden (R), District 1, (850) 689-0556, (850) 487-5000 Bill Posey ( R), District 15, (321) 690-3484, (850) 487-5053 Ken Pruitt (R), District 27, (561) 335-8000, (850) 487-5088 Tom Rossin (D), District 35,  (561) 753-2537, (850) 487-5356 Debby Sanderson (R), District 31, (941) 417-6220, (850) 487-5124 Burt Saunders (R), District 25, (941) 417-6220, (850) 487-5124 Jim Sebesta (R), District 20, (727) 563-0377, (850) 487-5075 Ron Silver, (D), District 38, (305) 893-0488, (850) 487-5121 Rod Smith (D), District 5, (352) 375-3555, (850) 487-5020 Donald C. Sullivan, M.D. (R), District 22, (727) 893-9657, (850) 487-5065 Alex Villalobos (R), District 37, (305) 222-4160, (850) 487-5130 Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), District 32, (954) 704-2934, (850) 487-5103 Daniel Webster (R), District 12, (407) 656-0066, (850) 487-5047
 
To Email a Representative: "lastname.firstname@leg.state.fl.us" To Email a Senator: "lastname.firstname.web@leg.state.fl.us"
 
SUMMARY *SCARES AWAY VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS  - An amendment added to the bill last week provides for mandatory attorneys fees and sanctions in all administrative actions against the attorneys representing any party, including environmental groups and others. (This provision will also affect the Chamber of Commerce, Home Builders Association, firefighters, school teachers, healthcare workers and providers, and state agencies, etc.). This provision will have a chilling effect on pro-bono attorneys willing to donate their time for public interest causes. It adopts a provision that is similar to federal Rule 11, but makes it much worse because its operation is mandatory.
 
2. REMOVES THE ABILITY OF CITIZENS TO STOP POLLUTION UNDER THE FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (403.412(5))  - This provision in the bill makes it more difficult for citizens to use the Florida Environmental Protection Act to seek administrative hearings to stop pollution in Florida, a right established by the Florida Legislature in 1971.
 
3. REMOVES THE ABILITY TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THE APPOINTED WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARDS TO THE HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE STATE, THE GOVERNOR AND CABINET - This provision denies the ability to appeal water management district orders and rules if you first request an administrative hearing. This changes law established in 1974 that acted as a safety net to appeal orders and rules of the only appointed board in the state system with taxing powers. Being proposed to avoid "another bite of the apple" in permitting decisions, this provision will do little to prevent abuses in the permitting process but will remove a remedy used a few times a year that helps obtain even consistent policies among the 5 districts and make certain they each follow state policy.
 
4. THIS BILL DID NOT PASS BOTH HOUSES LAST YEAR - Proponents mischaracterize this bill as being popular with legislators last year. Though considered in a number of committees last year, this bill was not fought strongly by any interests because they were informed that it would not pass.
 
THESE GROUPS STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL Florida Chapter of Sierra Club Florida Wildlife Federation 1000 Friends of Florida Save the Manatee Club Defenders of Wildlife FLORIDA League of Conservation Voters Florida Consumer Action Network Florida League of Anglers National Wildlife Federation League of Women Voters American Planning Association Florida Chapter Environmental and Land Use Law Center Audubon Society, Florida (it is our understanding if an amendment dealing with the Cabinet is accepted and language concerning 373 is deleted, they will not object to the rest of the language which impacts citizen standing and would cut citizens out of the process from fighting the fight);

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Lobby day and Rally was April 5 in Tallahassee at the Capital:

Question:  Why were legislators given today (April 5) off?  There's no precedent for today being a state holiday so far as we know. Could it be some folks didn't want to be around to meet their constituency?  

AFSCME's "We need all state employees and their supporters to pack the 10 a.m., Thursday, April 5, meeting of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee (which) is scheduled to take up SB 466 on Career Service..." 

Responses from observers at the committee meeting on 4/5/01:

Bill Cotterell replies:

     I'm sorry Jacob Lerner thinks the Democrat and I are biased in favor of the GOP or that we support the Bush plan. Although I've been criticized by both sides, I feel my coverage has been objective and fair. Perhaps Mr. Lerner would prefer that I compare senators to Himmler and Geobbels, as he does in his posting. That would certainly show impartiality.

     But to be factual, I'd like to point out that the Democrat has editorialized repeatedly AGAINST the governor's Service First initiatives. That's a very odd way to be in the tank for the administration. Last week, I did the story on the special master's report, calling it "Service Worst." If I'd been trying to help the administration, I could have ignored that report and I seriously doubt any of our competitors would have picked it up (when was the last time you saw TV do a story on a 38-page report full of lawyer language?)

     Similarly, I devoted my column two weeks ago to whoseflorida.com. Do you think the Republicans really wanted to draw attention to this site? I know whoseflorida.com can get along quite well without me or the Democrat, but I believe my column (which I initiated) increased hits on the site considerably. 


     It's not my decision (although I agree with it) but we've bannered daily stories about Service First on the front page. These stories have quoted opponents by about a 3-1 margin -- not because we support or oppose the plan but because, in Tallahassee, opponents are speaking out much more vocally than proponents. We cover what happens.

     Mr. Lerner didn't mention this in his note, but please let me lay to rest one other rumor that has popped up in a couple of emails I've received lately.

     I have not been offered, nor am I seeking, any job in the administration. If approached (which is inconceivable to me) I would not accept any job in state government. I have not applied for any job in this administration, nor has anyone talked to me about it. Not anyone. Nobody. Never.
     The newspaper has very strict ethical rules which would prohibit me from covering state government if I was seeking a job with it.

     I have been with the Democrat since 1985 and intend to retire in five to seven more years. Even if I wanted to, even if the paper allowed it, I couldn't move to a state job simply because I don't have time to accumulate many years in a new retirement system.
     Bill Cotterell
     Tallahassee Democrat 4/10/01

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After witnessing the joke yesterday that is our legislative process during the Senate Committee meeting on Governmental Oversight and Productivity, regarding SB 466 on Public Employment, I came away with a few new and disappointing impressions of the process and of some of our legislators.

Kudos to Senators Al Lawson, Rod Smith, Richard Mitchell and, to some degree, Bill Posey for confronting and attempting to halt the rush to shove this bill down the throat of Florida's citizens. It was unclear if Senator Posey is truly committed to his opposition of the bill, but hopefully he will see that it is the correct choice.

Senators Rudy Garcia and Debby Sanderson. Governor Bush's Himmler and Goebbels for SB 466. I think Senator Garcia still does not get it, even though the entire meeting chamber broke out in laughter at his response to Senator Smith's question: Is there any other civil service system in the country, federal, state or otherwise, that forces the burden of proof on the aggrieved employee in the event of reprimand or dismissal? To which Senator Garcia replied, "Florida is a leader in cutting edge efforts to create a model civil work force." Or something to that effect.

And Senator Sanderson. Such condescension toward and outright disrespect for the committee's due process. Not only did she repeatedly interrupt Senator Lawson during his introduction of amendments to the bill, she had the nerve to hold sideboard conversations with other supporting Senators, then pretend to understand the amendments before forcing the committee to adopt or defeat them. I've witnessed only one other Kangaroo Court, but this display was beyond compare.

Finally, more proof that the Tallahassee Democrat, specifically Bill Cottrell, is as biased toward the GOP as everyone thinks. Cottrell's spin on the meeting drives this home. By not reporting the question posed by Senator Smith to Senator Garcia, thus taking out of context the chamber's laughter at Senator Garcia's "Florida is a leader" retort, Cottrell implied that by their "groans and laughter" those present were against "improving civil service rules." So much for objective reporting.

The Senate Committee meets again Tuesday April 10 in Room 412 of the Knott building in an attempt to ram this bill through. Continued opposition to SB 466 and its already passed companion HB 369 is needed. Opponents are encouraged to attend.
...Jacob Lerner, Tallahassee 4/6/01
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This committee meeting was too bizarre for words.  I'm not a frequent visitor to these chambers. I'm not familiar with the machinations of government. I am however endowed with some degree of common sense, and have been around long enough to know bullshit when I see it.  

At one point the discussion was centered around the Governor's plan shifting  the burden of proof from the state to the employee - from the accuser to the accused.

Senator Smith asked the chair of the committee, Senator Garcia whether he was aware of a governmental entity anywhere in this country that required the fired employee to prove the dismissal was unjustified, rather than the other way around. 

Senator Garcia hardly missed a beat before he said that Florida has always been an innovator, that the rest of the country looked towards Florida for cutting edge solutions... blah, blah, blah ... blah, blah, blah ...and that well, no, he really didn't know of this standard being used anywhere else.

That's not an exact quote but it's close.  I can't remember it exactly because for a few minutes there I couldn't believe I heard what I just heard.   

I was suddenly reminded of a guy I knew in college  who was called "the Snowman."  He thought he could make you think it was July in December.  He thought he was just the slickest, smoothest, tale spinning Gator in Gatorland.  Everyone around him of course knew he was full of crap.

Well, that's how I felt looking up at this guy today. He had the same serious look on his face that I remembered seeing on my old friend after one his "snowjobs."  There was something almost sincere in his eyes.  

As I think back on it now, the snowman was OK - he really didn't mean any harm. He didn't do much harm.  We were just kids.  And we grew out of it.

Hearing this stuff, here, today makes me sort of sick.  And angry.  I don't want legislation that will effect my future being treated in such a cavalier fashion.  

I don't want some slick guy trying to come up with a clever sound byte to be a determinate factor in whether or not my 10 year investment in a career in civil service will come to nothing.  

What I witnessed today was a disgrace. 
... ...  Tallahassee 4/5/01

 

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