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Help!? Where is the NEWS?
These were the topics of this evening's (7/16) Public TV News Hour
- "All Things Considered (?)":
- Gas prices are lower (but remember what it was like)
- Bush's energy proposal (now includes solar,
conservation...)
- Energy Day (?)
- New test of Missile Defense System works
- Russia / China forge new alliance (but not to
worry)
- Pakistan / India talks (uh oh)
-(Olympic bribery case)
- Feature on American Patriots
Am I reading between the lines too much, or are we being sold on
the Energy plan, and getting scared into the Missile
Defense?
It's just Brainwash/Manipulation. I think some other things must be
going on around the planet. Do we have any NEWS anywhere but in
the alternative media anymore? Is this Germany in the 30's?
I flipped through the channels - Wall street stuff, Corporate propaganda
calling itself FOX News, more on wall street... CLICK.
Forget it.
.... Godot, 7/17/01
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The news that the Pentagon has successfully tested their
"missile defense" system is not easy to swallow. It
reminds me of the feeling I had when Galileo (1989), Ulysses (1990),
and Cassini (1997) all were launched carrying plutonium payloads to
loud cheers at NASA.
I think the most important lesson from all of this is that given
enough time and money that Star Wars could be made to work. In
the end it might not be the lemon some claim it to be after all.
Our opposition to Star Wars can't be based on technological claims.
If the rocket scientists have proven anything it is that they can do
amazing things sending rockets to the moon, Mars, and having bullets
hit bullets in space (even if not 100% of the time.)
The public has been told by some that Star Wars will never work.
Now they might not believe us next time we make such a claim.
Better we don't get into a technological pissing contest with the
Pentagon. It's not our best card to play.
The lesson for the peace movement is to stick to the moral, ethical
high ground. Star Wars might just work and can we really
afford weapons in space? Can we afford to hand over the
national treasury to the Pentagon?
Do we want the U.S. Space Command to "control and
dominate" space and to "deny other countries access to
space"? Is "full spectrum dominance" in the
heavens going to make the world more secure? What is the
relationship between the Space Command's "Vision for 2020"
and the plans for corporate globalization? These, I think, are the
questions we should be asking.
Many politicians would prefer that we restricted our criticism to
the technological questions. That way they can easily answer
them by offering more money for research, development, and testing.
That makes the aerospace industry happy as well. The
politicians would rather not debate the messy points about space
"control and domination" because they are basically in
favor of U.S. corporate global dominance.
If we focus on the real issues surrounding a new space arms race we
won't be affected by flight test results in the future. We
need to control the debate on our terms and not get sucked into the
technology vortex. Let's keep our eyes on the prize and march
on.
Bruce K. Gagnon Coordinator Global Network Against Weapons &
Nuclear Power in Space PO Box 90083 Gainesville, FL 32607 (352)
337-9274 http://www.space4peace.org
globalnet@mindspring.com
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The worker in Florida is doomed to lack of fairness from the
start. This, being a right-to-work state, provides both
employer and employee the right to quit at any time for any
reason (or no reason) without compensation or review, and
certainly, without reversal unless there is a written contract
spelling out terms of employment. And most employers won't
agree to a written contract.
Additionally, there is no Labor Board in Florida to which a
worker can go for redress.
I have worked in both California and New York. both of which
have Labor Boards and much more stringent balance of
employer/employee rights. And, as those of us who are
transplants know well, wages there are much higher.
O.K., so how does the average citizen here make things better?
One-word answer - labor unionism. Collective bargaining is the
only tool the average worker has to combat employer arbitrary
rule.
Quite naturally, employers (who are mostly Republicans and stand
for free (I call it arbitrary) control (an oxymoron) label such
thoughts and actions Communism. So what can we label their
thoughts and actions?
There is a second way the working man can fight for his rights.
Because ownership of business, especially big business - and we
all can see the separation and discrimination of the worker in
the current consolidation of businesses - exercise control here,
and because the Republican Party supports business, the second
course of action is for the MAJORITY of Florida citizen to look
to the Democratic Party for their better living conditions and
fairer share of the pie.
Want to get an earful of the conservative Republican philosophy?
In South Florida, listen to the Steve Kane Show, on WINN 6-10AM
Mon.thru Fri.(I believe 1470AM) On the other side, listen to
Randy Rhodes on WJNO in Palm Beach.
I find it interesting that business in Florida is flourishing.
Why not? A congenial climate, easy shipping accessibility,
a government providing all kinds of tax and other advantages,
laws that favor the employer and a work force subject to lower
wages and less representation.
..... no name 7/15/01
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State attorney offices are mandated to conduct annual audits to
eliminate gender bias in assistant state attorney salaries. They
don't. For several years I've tracked pay records at all 20
offices, posting my findings of gender bias at www.stateattorneys.com.
One of the most egregious violators is Lawson Lamar, 9th Judicial
Circuit State Attorney (www.lawsonlamar.com.)
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According to public records maintained by the Division of Risk
Management, Department of Insurance, the attorney general's office
has paid out settlements to 4 former assistant attorneys general
over the past three years for discrimination claims in amounts
ranging from $9,500 to $70,000. One attorney received $57,000 in
back pay and her attorney in the litigation received $115,000,
...info@stateattorneys.com 7/9
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I believe strongly that our constitutional democracy rests on
certain core principles: every vote should be counted accurately….
every vote should be counted equally…. and no one should be denied
the right to vote..amist all of the logic disconnect, this is what I
believe history will reveal:
§
Voting Irregularities: Ballot Spoilage disproportionately higher in
Black Communities
§
Allegations of roadblocks, 27,000 Ballots thrown out in Duval County
over 17,000 ballots were African American
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The fact that the 72 hour qualifying period had already passed
allowing for a manual recount when the announcement was made that as
many as 25,000 votes were thrown out already (this struck me as
arbitrary and capricious).
§
Everyone on the canvassing election board over seeing Duval County
were Republican. The media coverage focused the entire discussion
around 500 votes. Consequently everyone was being told by the news
media that there were just 500 votes in question.
§
Florida law indicates that the ballot that is published in the paper
must be the same ballot used; "it was not". The Supervisor
of Elections had printed a sample ballot in the newspaper. It was
not the same ballot. Florida Law states that the ballot in the
newspaper must be the same one used at the ballot boxes---the paper
also said you must vote on every page. If voters had followed those
instructions they would have voted incorrectly.
§
A higher percentage of African American precincts percents were
either over counted or undercounted.
§
African American precincts did not get a chance to have improper
filled ballots corrected, because there were no post inspection
teams at these precincts, after voters came out the booths.
§
Less one percent of the ballots in predominately white counties were
thrown out because of spoilage.
§
Over 33% percent of the Ballots in the Black/ and Minority
communities were thrown out on voting irregularities. These included
the heavily black voting districts in Florida.
§
Letters were sent out inappropriately to people prior to the
election, telling them they could not vote because of felony
records.
§
486 complaints were taken from more than 300 pages of sworn
testimony from people who said they were blocked from voting.
"If you think it will never happen again in our fine state
remember this Quote:
ALL THAT IS NESCESSARY FOR EVIL TO TRIUMP IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO
NOTHING"
..... JR, Miami 7/8/01
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Senator Graham:
We are avid outdoor enthusiasts who frequently take advantage of
public lands in Florida and elsewhere for hiking, camping, and for
the simple pleasure of enjoying nature. We are therefore concerned
that the Fee Demo program - officially known as the Recreation Fee
Demonstration Project that, since 1996, requires
"pay-to-play" fees for use of public lands that are
otherwise funded and supported with taxpayer dollars - if allowed to
become permanent after September 2002, will restrict access to these
lands by all Americans and limit it to only those who can afford to
pay.
We are concerned that the Fee Demo program - originally a two-year
test that was twice extended via legislative riders with no debate -
has led to the reduction or elimination of a number of federal
public land recreation budgets, while at the same time it has raised
"pay-to-play" dollars that benefit corporate sponsors
allowed to operate in the public areas. This is an all-to-frequent
recurring pattern of the program, under the guise of supplementing
federal funding for public lands. While these "fees" may
be small, they have already set a precedent of exclusivity.
We are concerned that public lands should be fully conserved and
remain freely accessible for our children and their descendants and
not made available to and exploited for, in part or in whole,
corporate profit. Furthermore, we strongly encourage you to
reconsider and withdraw your bill (S.1011) that is intended to make
the Fee Demo system permanent.
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"Early on a Sunday evening, workers in Immokalee are
recuperating from a long week and gearing up to start another one.
Men sit outside their trailers and shanty-like houses, drinking beer
and talking with the others who share their condition.
In Immokalee few people own cars. The town east of Fort Myers, on
the edge of the Everglades, has more pedestrian traffic than most
American towns. It’s not exactly Calcutta, but it’s desolate.
Except for the building that houses the Coalition of Immokalee
Workers." More...
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Just checked
your latest newspaper postings to make sure you got the two
attached letters. Didn't see 'em. The "jebdrilled"
letter writer is a strong voice for truth. The writer didn't
mention the real real target of the GOP: re-election
of dubya. most analysts agree that DUB's continued tenure in
the white house depends on the Florida referendum that comes with
the re-election bid of his lil' brother. Yes, my neighbor saw
the universality of the media report re. Florida's "win"
in the phony controversy over Gulf drilling (They're drilling,
right?). To the reports of Florida's "win," neighbor
said: "That's what Jeb said."
The "jebanddubslammed" letter writer gets local
regarding the St. Joe Paper Co. ravages along the Gulf coast.
.... Katybar 7/5/01 (both letters in 7/5
issue Tallahassee Democrat)
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Perception is not reality, even for Jeb
It is in the Tallahassee Democrat. It is in the Miami
Herald, the Palm Beach Post, the Sun Sentinel and
the Tampa Tribune. Heck, it is even in the Washington
Post and USA Today!
Haven't you heard? Jeb Bush is a savior and a champion of the
people of the state of Florida. He went toe-to-toe with his big
brother and behold, he is victorious in protecting Florida's
pristine beaches from those big bad oil companies that have the
audacity to want to drill for more sources of energy in the Gulf
of Mexico.
Give me a break! I could have told you months ago what the
outcome of this "battle" would have been. It was long
ago decided in those smoke-filled rooms around the country where
all of the real political decisions are made. The rooms where
Republicans and Democrats alike play the game of Monopoly on a
daily basis with all our lives and resources.
It is so plain to see that the Republican Party is already
touting Jeb Bush as the governor who protects Florida from that
mean and nasty federalized brother of his. The
just-around-the-corner Florida governor's race was already being
fought several months ago. B. MAZZELLI
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News article barely scratched the surface
Re: "St. Teresa just right for bear visitors" (news
article, July 1).
I assume your readers enjoyed the cute little fluff piece
about a bear at St. Teresa. If you had ventured a truer, more
meaningful story, you would have told them the bear doesn't have
a chance.
St. Joe Paper Co. is in the process of developing Turkey
Point, the bear's primary habitat and its staging area for
glorified bear raids on the gentrified garbage of St. Teresans.
Turkey Point, which borders St. Teresa to the west, is presently
being gutted by Arvida's heavy equipment, making way for over
400 new units.
Not just the land is being destroyed. The shoreline and bay
waters will soon be bear hugged to the point that a horseshoe
crab siting will warrant a cute little story in the newspaper.
In an irony apparently lost on bear lovers everywhere, Arvida is
moving ahead with plans to build a marina (as in "GAS,
BAIT, BEER, CIGARETTES!") in the exact location where FSU
students study marine life and endangered wetlands: Florida
State Marine Lab. And all this, incredibly, is taking place
within the confines of the Alligator Point Aquatic Preserve. Save the cute bear stories for the zoo. It's the Last Great
Buffalo Hunt going on out here, and you guys are writing about
it as though it were a community picnic. GRANT PEEPLES Little
Corn Island, Nicaragua (mail to: 7355 Heartland Circle,
Tallahassee, 32312)
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for predatory telemarketing like this in Florida: read this
statement by Common Cause President Scott Harshbarger on Tom Delay's
"predatory" telemarketing tactics:
The sinister fundraising campaign conducted by the National
Republican Congressional Committee and Majority Whip Tom DeLay sounds
like a classic boiler room telemarketing scam.
Doctors are being told over the phone that they have been selected
to be 'honorary co-chairman' of something called the 'Physician's
Advisory Board.' This board is represented to be some kind of
prestigious public policy panel -- where issues of the day like HMOs
and health care financing will be deliberated. Only later in the pitch
are the doctors told that it's just that -- a pitch for money, and a
partisan one at that. Tom DeLay isn't interested in their advice. He
just wants their money.
http://www.commondreams.org/news2001/0629-03.htm.
...Vance Burns 7/1/01
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With each election, we wonder how the public interest will be
preserved, seemingly never connecting the dots between the
candidate's corporate support and public policy.
Jeb Bush is part on a long line of Florida governors--with perhaps
the exception of Ruben Askew--that served corporate interests
first and the public's second if at all. Jeb's selection and
placement of real estate interests, such as the St. Joe Paper
Company on key boards governing the method and means and speed of
growth, is but one example.
My concern is absence of directed dissent. Has the practice
of such placements become so customary that we no long oppose
blatant conflict of interest candidates? And when they make
the kinds of choices that best represent their interests, why are
they not publicly called in contempt and cited for malfeasance?
If we want to ask the question "Whose Florida?," we
must--individually and collectively--address the practice of
private governorship and just as importantly ask why the academic
community is so silent on such an important matter. Their
access and insight are sorely missed. Their knowledge can
lead us out of the darkness of private decision-making.
... Joel B. McEachern, 7/1/01
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Mr. Bush told the taxpayers (or the State of Florida) Let's get
rid of the lazy state workers and privatize the state. And
guess what, they bought it. That's what sold his idea of
privatizing the state. He used "lazy state
workers." As I informed the legislators and Mr. Bush - I
would rather have a lazy state worker than someone who is stealing
money from the State of Florida - which is a great deal more money
than what is paid to state workers.
I have been a whistle-blower (two times) in the past and I have
been an insider of how (upper management will cover up fraud)
corrupt any business/or government can be and Mr. Bush's way will
allow him and his cronies to take advantage of the taxpayers money
and cover up fraud for their own personal use - of money and
greed. Mr. Bush has done a disservice not only to state
workers but to the taxpayers of the State of Florida.
Do you think I would report my boss of fraud now? No way.
I would be fired. ....pfeiffer 6/26/01
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In April 2001, all DMS employees were required to attend ethics
training and received a handout stating that employees may not
accept any gift that exceeds $25 in value. Procurement
employees must be especially careful about accepting gifts
resulting from their involvement in purchasing. It was
particularly emphasized in the class that employees shall not
accept dinner from vendors. Furthermore, the handout says
that after employment, you are limited in your ability to
contract with the Department.
On May 23, Jim Bax, the head of ISC, the contractor for the DMS
Conference, held a dinner party at his house for the purpose of
planning the Conference to be held this fall. The party
included a butler, waiters, catered dinner and open bar.
Department head Cynthia Henderson, her two children and their
nanny, as well as DMS key staff representing purchasing,
public information, human resources, training, office of
supplier diversity, and minority business were among the
attendees.
So who do the ethics rules apply to??
...FL Cowgirl, 6/22/01
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Gov. Chiles' legacy
should be honored
I was dismayed when I learned that the state planned to re-invest
in tobacco stocks. Gov. Lawton Chiles fought Big Tobacco and won $13
billion dollars for Floridians. It was his wish that the state divest.
And it was not simply because he didn't want the state's holdings in
tobacco stocks to take a dive if his lawsuit was successful. It was a
matter of principle. I hope Tom Herndon, once close to Chiles, can
rest easy going against the desires of Florida's champion of the
people.
Tobacco, when used as intended, will make you sick and can kill
you. Big Tobacco, under assault at home, exports more and more to
foreign, mostly Third World countries where tobacco products carry
little or no health warnings. This is a form of racism.
But with the current administration's penchant for change in state
government with little consideration - or even understanding - of the
consequences, I really should not be surprised.
...EDW (letter to Tall. Democrat)
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Tampa Three Go Free! -
"Three protesters arrested for trespassing during President
Bush's speech at Legends Field last month will not be prosecuted...
The trio's First Amendment rights factored into the decision not to
press charges... [Also,] one of the two Republican volunteers who
asked police to eject the protesters from the stadium wasn't
authorized to issue a trespass warning... Mauricio Rosas, Janis
Lentz and Sonja Haught were arrested June 4 after the two
volunteers, Bill Bunkley and William D. Cordova, complained to
police that the protesters were getting out of hand. Rosas, Lentz
and Haught carried handmade signs calling the 2000 presidential
election a fraud and asking Bush to proclaim June as Gay Pride
Month. Police said the trio could stay if they surrendered their
signs. On a videotape of the confrontation, Haught asks an officer
why people bearing pro-Bush signs weren't asked to lower their
signs."
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| Citrus Canker Website
you posted a letter for me under rants and raves ,thank you! I do ask
that you read the plight of your fellow Floridians to the south, we
are indeed under the thumb of the bush posse, our rights are being
violated, families are in tears, and no one will help,, please go to
the website www.citruscanker.com
and visit the protest sites and help our cause, the rights of all
floridians are being abused,,we need support of the masses. When you
read some of the stories, you will be shocked at the way the governor
is and has been treating the wonderful citizens of this great state.
The next few weeks are very critical to our case, please read and join
the fight,,,thank you ...d.m. pompano 7/22
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I need to pursue a debt that FMTC owes my little business.
If you don't know who they are, it's not surprising. They were
an offshoot of Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI), which was totally
taken over by the "Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership
(FMEP)" scam.
It's only $2K, not terribly much by government standards, but it
is money earned by me, committed to me by FMTC, and financed
partially by Florida's citizens through FMTC.
So, we, Florida's citizens, trusted an agency (a privatized
former Department of Commerce) to protect our interests and to do it
more efficiently, and what did it do with the trust?
It cheats its own providers. And it is now much more difficult to
find out about those misdeeds and to correct them because they are
hidden behind the corporate curtain and corporate dealings.
As it is in this case. Over night FMTC ceased to exist and was
consumed by this national racket, MEP (http://www.fmtc.org/
and http://www.mep.nist.gov/)
For a little guy like me, trying to collect a debt like this is
extremely difficult, and in the end probably not worth it. I
suppose that's what they count on - but it really irks me. DK,
7/17/01
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I'd like to
interview some rank-and-file employees about Service First.
I really need to get people who are
willing to go on the record, by
name. I know this is asking a lot. But I'm not trying to play
"let's
you-and-him fight." All I want to do is get some honest
expressions of
what employees are thinking on this. I know I can get hundreds of
people
to comment OFF the record. I can use some comments like that,
especially from people who have information that their coworkers
need to know (in that case, I need the information, not the name
of the source.)
Unfortunately, I've got a lot of people
on each side who are
readily identified with one side or the other -- happy employees
provided by the governor's office or DMS, unhappy employees
provided by
AFSCME or the Democratic Party. I'm always willing to listen to
them and
print what they say, but I would also like to hear from some
employees
who aren't aligned with either side.
I'm going to go to some agencies and just
walk around the lobby and
approach people, see if they'll talk with me. But since you have a
lively discussion going on here, I'd like to use this resource,
too.
All comments -- identified or not --
welcome.
Bill Cotterell
Tallahassee Democrat
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Daytona Beach News-Journal, published June 11, 2001
If you're looking for heartbreak, check out some of the websites
featuring
children awaiting adoption.
These aren't the tuneful, tractable moppets featured in the Broadway musical Annie. These children have problems. Some of them come from hideously abusive families. Others have mental or physical problems, often caused by being born prematurely or underweight to drug-abusing parents. Some are too old to appeal to adoptive parents who are fixated on babies.
There are 3,000 of these children waiting for adoptive parents in Florida -- so many that the Legislature can't even find foster homes for them all.
But the cruelest reality of all is that there are people who would take a child, any child, into their home and be good parents. But the state of Florida isn't interested, because they're gay.
Almost 25 years ago, Florida became the first state in the nation to prohibit people from adopting just because they were homosexual. It's a blanket ban that stops family members from adopting nieces, nephews or grandchildren, or qualified medical workers from adopting children with health problems. Gay or lesbian couples can become foster parents, but they -- and the children they care for -- can't hope for the permanence of adoption.
This law is wrong, and later this summer, the state will have to defend it in court when a class-action lawsuit challenging the policy goes to trial.
A former Key West couple provides a poster-perfect illustration of the law's fundamental indefensibility. Steve Lofton and Roger Croteau are both registered nurses with a combined 20 years' experience. They have been together 15 years, and care for three foster children who were all HIV positive at birth. Their care of the three children has been so praiseworthy that the Children's Home Society named its award for exemplary foster parenting after them.
One of the children -- an 8-year-old boy -- has been declared a ward of the state of Florida and the couple, who now live in Oregon, wants to adopt him. Because of the law, they can't.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida contends that there are a "significant number" of gay couples who would adopt if they could. In other states, where gay and lesbian couples are allowed to adopt, they've done at least as well as heterosexual couples and sometimes better.
Obviously, not all gay couples are as uniquely qualified as Lofton and Croteau. The state owes it to the children in its care to do a good job of screening all potential adoptive parents for signs that they might not be emotionally or otherwise prepared to raise a child.
But there are so many Florida children in need of love and a good home. Rejecting candidates on the basis of something so fundamental -- especially in the face of mounting evidence that gay parents do just as good a job as straight ones -- is foolhardy and heartless.
This is one battle state officials need to lose, because they're on the wrong side.
_______
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I read the articles in the Tallahassee paper today about tips to
follow when you’re laid off from your job. While the advice seemed
useful, there is an underlying assumption that I find disturbing.
We are led to believe that it is OK when this happens. Too bad for
us, but we’ll just have to deal with it. We seem to accept the
notion that the main priority in our society is that businesses must
continue to show growth, to increase their profits, and that we as
workers just have to make do.
To my mind, the people should be the priority not the company –
the people that work for the company and the people the company
serves. It is only recently that the constitutional rights originally
ascribed to people have been applied to "corporations." We
create the laws that govern our society, and what has been given can
also be taken away. As companies become more international in scope
their incentive for social responsibility diminishes.
Moreover, as we move to smaller and weaker government, we lose the
ability to regulate corporate misdeeds such as the indiscriminate firing of workers
to increase profits.
If corporations refuse to act responsibly in this regard, then we
must. We cannot allow our public institutions to be stripped of the power
to help us.
Governor Bush’s agenda and the tacit acceptance of the
corporations first mentality is not Service First for the people of
Florida.
.... gyanarthi, 6/10/01
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| Falsify vote by double-punching gore votes...?
I keep waiting for it to occur to someone that an effective way to unstuff ballot boxes would be to collect them on election night from heavily Democratic precincts, like let's say African American neighborhoods, and stop off in the woods for a double-punching session. Here in
California we heard reports on election night of "massive irregularities" in Florida, including missing ballot boxes. I guess they reappeared later... given that dubya's brother controls the state troopers, it's not really a far fetched scenario. It's a lot more logical to me than the insinuation that African American people are too dumb to vote properly (sic). Think about it - didn't one of those studies find that 75% of double punched presidential ballots contained one vote for Gore? just wondering if anyone else besides me has connected the dots in this fashion...?
....from California, 6/9/01
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Kathleen Shanahan, John Bush's Chief of Staff who replaced Sally
Bradshaw (who left to open a employment Agency) was Dick Cheney's
top staffer during the Presidential election, and we are supposed to
believe the Bushes are against oil drilling anywhere?
...weaseltracker, 6/3/01
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| Thought you might like to check into this
It is my understanding that the state Law Enforcement Officer Unions made a deal with Mr. Bush's office. Apparently, from what I have been told the 4.5% raise promised to LEO's and 12% raise in pension, was passed thru a deal. The deal was that these unions would not ask the state for a raise for their members for the next two years. PBA is one of these unions. This is supposed to have been in a contract form. Can you look into this as I am very very sure PBA would not give me a straight answer. If you would like to call them, their number is 1-800-733-3722 and ask for Al Shoppe or Hal Johnson. Again, I think the workers of the state got it in the buttocks again, due to politics. However, we shouldn't have to pay for the you know what we got if this is true.
... SFK, 6/2/01
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Term Limits for State Legislators created a monster
Well folks it looks like we created a monster when we voted in a
two-term limit for the state legislators. We set the scene for the
2001 legislature, where most of our "representatives" turned
a deaf ear to our complaints.
We wrote, we called, we threatened not to vote them back in.
And we were shocked when they paid us no mind. But why should
they? They are not "our" representatives. They
are the products of our time - the era of corporate raids, success at
any cost, and the "bottom line."
"Ya dance with them that brung ya", as they say
(supposedly) in Texas. "Them that brung 'em " clearly
is not the voter. But corporate campaign contributions aside,
what incentive remains for legislators to truly represent our best
interests in the legislature?
With only 4-8 years of "service" ahead of them, the most
pressing need seems to be in establishing business contacts for the
future. A stint in the state legislature today is more a slick
"career move" than an opportunity for public service.
How else to explain the arrogance, callous disregard, and cavalier
attitude displayed by the majority of this infamous 2001
legislature. They don't have a clue what civil service
means.
Used to be they'd pretend to hear us. They don't even bother
to do that any more. They don't need to.
...WF, 5/21/01
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| Public input worked for once -
Aquifer
injection scuttled - Thousands of residents have called, written
or e-mailed lawmakers urging them to reconsider.TALLAHASSEE -- Public
opposition has killed a bill that would have allowed pumping untreated
water into the state's aquifer, a startling turnaround for a measure
that passed both the House and Senate by wide margins earlier in the
legislative session. St. Petersburg Times, published May 1, 2001
...swampgator, 5/22/01
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I have lived in an era when a state employee could be
bought, are we going back to that.
The system we have in place now replaced the patronage system that
was used early in the last century. Now Gov. Bush wants to
return to the good old days where state employees work at the
pleasure of elected officials. ...gassedup, 5/21/01
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Jeb Bush Responds to Unpublished Democrats.com Story
This week, Democrats.com began researching the widespread rumors in
Tallahassee about an affair between Jeb Bush and his Secretary of
Management Services (and former Playboy Bunny), Cynthia Henderson. We
have not yet published our findings, but word got back to Jeb and he
summoned Tallahassee reporters - off the record! - to insist that
these rumors are "wild lies."
"He has not been alone in a room with either official," reports
Lucy Morgan
of the St. Petersburg Times. Hey Jeb - that sounds awfully "Clintonian"
to
us! President Clinton said he was never "alone" with Monica,
because there were always people just OUTSIDE the door. So what do YOU
mean by "alone"?
Also, you say you're "escorted by Florida Department of Law
Enforcement
officers everywhere," which makes hanky-panky impossible. But are
the rumors true that you once slipped away from them for a few hours -
and were eventually caught? If these are "wild lies," why
don't you go on the record - or better yet, under oath? And why
doesn't Cynthia?
... Tallahassee NOW email listserv 5/13/01
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I was frustrated to read Mike
Pate's "Jeb doesn't seem to care about the capital city"
(column, April 29), especially since the Tallahassee Democrat
did such an excellent job in promoting the diversification of the
local economy.
I share that vision, and have worked very hard to help Tallahassee
grow. I've recently met with the CEOs of two airlines and pushed for
expanded low-cost service to this area. I have been steadfast in my
support of FSU, FAMU and transportation improvements throughout the
Big Bend. I have encouraged local business leaders to travel to Austin
and other state capitals to learn how Tallahassee can take similar
advantage of the new economy.
Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan and I have met with the local Chamber of
Commerce, Economic Development Council leadership, county
commissioners and business owners many times over the past several
weeks to discuss how best the state and community can partner to
minimize the impact of any net job loss due to downsizing. Most see it
as a further opportunity to diversify the local economy.
I also can't emphasize enough that the local economic impact of our
proposals will likely be minimal. Most of the reductions that have
occurred or that we have proposed will be achieved through elimination
of currently vacant positions or through attrition. Many state
functions to be outsourced will be done locally, adding to the
burgeoning consulting sector of the Big Bend economy.
The economic promise of the Big Bend area, like that of the rest of
the state, is bright. People who love this area and want to see it
grow must learn from the examples set by other communities around our
state and other state capitals around the nation.
None of them has grown in population or prosperity by relying so
heavily on direct employment by state government or by pointing
fingers at those who are truly trying to help.
... Letter to The Tallahassee Democrat 5/7/01 -----JEB BUSH,
Governor, flgovernor@myflorida.com
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Anti-smoking
organizations are banding together to fight a decision by Florida
lawmakers to use the state's share of the 1997 nationwide tobacco
settlement to balance the state budget and cut taxes, the Miami
Herald reported April 26.
The Florida chapters of the American Cancer Society and American
Lung Association said spending plans drafted by Florida House of
Representatives Speaker Tom Feeney and Senate President John McKay
go against the intent of the state's historic $13 billion tobacco
settlement.
"We absolutely oppose the use of tobacco-settlement funds
for tax cuts or for anything else except health-related
purposes," said Ralph DeVitto, senior vice president of the
American Cancer Society in Florida. "This is the first major
attempt to use the tobacco payments for something else."
Terms of the nationwide settlement between tobacco companies and
U.S. states allow states to use the money for any purpose. Despite
strong opposition to the proposal, Feeney and McKay have given no
indication that they would change their minds.
... Join Together Online, 5/3/01
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Florida's teen
anti-smoking program has shown positive results, despite a
significant cut in the program's funding, the St.
Petersburg Times reported Jan. 12.
A nationwide survey by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
evaluated anti-smoking campaigns nationwide. It found that Florida's
multimillion-dollar "Truth" campaign is among the nation's
most effective at reducing teen smoking.
At the same time, the report criticized Florida for reducing the
program's budget. The state cut annual funding for prevention
programs to $39 million from $70 million. "Florida has been a
model for the rest of the nation," said Matthew L. Myers,
president of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. "That's the
tragedy when you see the program funds being reduced. This is the
most successful public-health program Florida has ever had.
The decision to reduce funding makes no sense." Frank
Penela, a spokesman for Florida's Health Department, said the
funding cuts would not impact the program's success. "The first
year, we had start-up costs and spent a lot of money," he said.
"We don't need to spend start-up dollars every year. We don't
need to build the brand every year. We're spending what we need to
spend to be efficient."
Although Florida's program is being funded by the $13 billion
settlement with tobacco companies,** the study found that many
states were not spending tobacco settlement money on prevention. The
"Truth" campaign includes billboards, radio spots and a
series of commercials that take on tobacco companies. The state's
anti-smoking campaign has since been adopted by a national group....
Join Together Online, 5/3/01
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"That is, the plan still moves about 16,000 Career Service
employees into the Selected Exempt Service and gives managers
greater carrot-and-stick authority to promote, reassign, reward and,
yes, to fire state employees. It's all intended to make the
workforce more productive."
The quote is a copy/paste from an April 30 Bill Cotterell report
(opinion piece, as all of his are) that is posted elsewhere in
"Whose Florida.
Thank you for posting it. Cotterell, who calls himself the
Capital Curmudgeon, has lost his way as a journalist. Who is
he, for example, to identify for the reader what are the "most
important" parts of the outrageous Service First provisions, as
he does in the paragraph preceeding the one I lifted. More
egregious, if you're fond of the old school of journalism, is this
old gelding of the media's telling us: "It's all intended to
make the workforce more productive."
Who says? Old nanny goat Bill? Is that what he believes?
Is he quoting a legislator?
I have an entirely different take on it all. The intent I see
is glaring out for all to see: crass and crude, adolescent precinct
level politics drives these people. They don't even know what
kind of work to demand, coerce, force; they just want to demonstrate
how powerful they are. Just like bullies on a middle school
campus.
Billy nanny exhibits toadying characteristics you may find among
many of the reporters who cover the legislature daily. They
become "homers," like sports reporters who become
cheerleaders for the high school team. Why, it's almost as if
they are members of the team themselves.
Try this: read the legislative reports by the beat reporters
of major dailies in Florida, then read the columnists of the same
papers. You will likely find, as I do, a clearer eyed
appreciation of the action among the detached columnists.
Sorry Bill, your assuredness on the side of the rotten kids who
don't care who gets hurt from their bullying ways, just irks my
butt.
...Volusia 5/3/01
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Price is crucially important in a free market system since it
determines the balance of supply and demand. This element is
also true for growth management.
If the social costs of infrastructure, schools and environment
are not reflected in the price of the new development then humans
have bad information form which to determine if the development is efficient
enough to pursue. A development could be pursued that is
woefully inefficient.
Inefficiency is the long run danger even if the groups getting the
exemption are happy in the short run. Allowing an exemption of
true costs simply shifts the burden to existing development.
If this policy continues for an extended period the lack of
adequate infrastructure and mounting social costs will make an area
disadvantageous for business to continue making profits in.
The results can be as small as a declining area of a city, as common
as a brown field, or as regionally large as the rust-belt. The
residents of that area can suffer the decline, or if wealthy and
mobile - move.
Florida's low wages are the result of too little growth management
in the past.
...Many Colors, Ocklawaha, 4/14/01
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Dear sir, I am REGISTERED
REPUBLICAN, I do take the time to vote. I have been a republican my
entire voting life. I helped to elect Jeb and both George's to the
presidency. I have supported many republicans over my life. I served
in the U.S. Navy for ten years defending our right to a freely
elected government.
I am appealing to you as the Senate President to get our Elected
Republicans under control. While I do believe that Jeb and many of
our republican leaders have good intentions regarding Career Service
Reform, Service First, etc. I do not agree that we need such drastic
actions as is proposed.
However this is not the reason that I am writing to you.
I am extremely upset by the actions of Senator GARCIA and others.
His theatrics have embarrassed myself and many other republicans.
Sir please keep in mind that I am not prone to name calling, but Mr.
Garcia is seen as a Buffoon by many. His callousness to the feelings
of so many people regardless of party affiliation is not a very good
representation of our PROUD PARTY.
While Mr.Garcia may have been having a good laugh, many see it as a
blatant uncaring attitude to a serious and highly controversial
agenda.
There are many people who are going to be adversely affected by
these job cuts, many are wondering how they are going to pay the
bills, keep their homes and put food on the table.
He is an embarrassment to me and our party. Just in case none of
our republican representatives realize it, they are highly
visible and are under a microscope right now because of
the sensitivity of the issues before legislature at this time. Our
representatives need to show a little more empathy and a little less
comedy while in the public eye.
I feel that Mr. Garcia owes an apology to myself, the members
of our party, and the people of Florida.
Thank you for your attention to this matter,
very respectfully, Larry -Cedar Key, Fl. 4/9/01
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| Not
just supervisors losing career service protection
The Legislature and Governor are proposing to make approximately
16,300 employees "at will" (to serve at the pleasure of
the governor - you can be fired any time for any reason) because those employees fall
into either the "confidential" or "supervisory"
category. What they fail to realize is that those job titles
and descriptions are very outdated and many have likely evolved over
the years into jobs that are not necessarily
"confidential" or "supervisory."
My job is one example of this. I am about to become select
exempt (outside of the existing protections of career service) because my job title is in the "confidential"
category. Nothing about my job is "confidential."
My job title became what it is simply because of employee transfers
that happened several years before I was hired into the position.
On the other hand, a good friend of mine is a Senior Management
Analyst II, who supervises a staff of 15. Amazingly, a Senior
Management Analyst II (pay grade 26) is not on the list.
I know someone else who is about to become SES, but will be
supervised by someone whose job title is not on the list and who
will remain career service. This makes no sense. Maybe
this is a way to privatize more state government faster. We
are all in trouble.
...JG 4/6/01
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Too many well-qualified, educated people are living in Tallahassee. The Florida Legislature knows that it has a captive workforce because of Tallahassee's geographic isolation. If Atlanta was an hour's commute from Tallahassee, state employees wouldn't be so trapped in a company town with no alternatives. In addition, many FSU grads working in state government are sentimentally attached to Tallahassee and the Seminoles. Florida legislators and government managers know all this and cynically exploit it. Legislators can wipe their boots on state employees and know that the employees will never organize a strike or leave Tallahassee.
...Cap'n Flats Tallahassee 4/5/01
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williams.kelly.s06@leg.state.fl.us; drawdy.ann.S12@leg.state.fl.us;
villalobos.alex.web@leg.state.fl.us; sullivan.don.web@leg.state.fl.us;
smith.rod.web@leg.state.fl.us; sebesta.jim.web@leg.state.fl.us;
sanderson.debby.web@leg.state.fl.us; pruitt.kenneth.web@leg.state.fl.us;
posey.bill.web@leg.state.fl.us; portilla.alex.web@leg.state.fl.us;
peaden.durell.web@leg.state.fl.us; mitchell.richard.web@leg.state.fl.us;
mckay.john.web@leg.state.fl.us; lee.tom.web@leg.state.fl.us;
laurent.john.web@leg.state.fl.us; latvala.jack.web@leg.state.fl.us;
king.james.web@leg.state.fl.us; garcia.rudy.web@leg.state.fl.us;
crist.victor.web@leg.state.fl.us; cowin.anna.web@leg.state.fl.us;
constantine.lee.web@ leg.state.fl.us; clary.charlie.web@leg.state.fl.us;
carlton.lisa.web@leg.state.fl.us; burt.locke.web@leg.state.fl.us;
brown-waite.g.web@leg.state.fl.us
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