Statewide Reports-February 1-15, 2002

NOTE -
If the link to the on-line articles has changed, search the paper's archive section by date and title - Palm Beach Post links are only good for the day posted, and there is a fee to access archived articles. Same is true for some of the others although the time frame varies.

2/15/02

	Enron attorneys, Bush have appearance of conflict Democrats are criticizing Gov. Jeb Bush's ties to lawyers leading Florida's effort in a national securities lawsuit against Enron. Florida Democrats say they are concerned litigators might shy away from anything that might embarrass the campaigning Republican governor.
	The House, the Senate and their 3-ring circus Bring in the Russian skating judge! Call back the team that caught Big Daddy the bison! Hijack the jury from the prison guard trial in Starke! Maybe they can fix things in the Legislature
	Progress in Legislature 'grinds to a halt' The Florida Legislature, nearly midway through its annual session, is at a standstill. Progress has been thwarted by an increasingly profound divide between an anti-tax, anti-government House and a Senate inclined to spend more on education and consider new taxes.
	Florida isn't close to 'soft money' ban State and local political parties in Florida can continue to accept millions of dollars in donations from corporations and individuals -- an activity that could soon be banned at the federal level.-- "For state races, it's still open season," said Ben Wilcox, executive director of Common Cause of Florida, a public interest lobbying group. "The state parties will still be able to raise unlimited amounts of money and spend unlimited amounts of money."
	A vote against schools A vote for vouchers for everyone is a vote against public schools, and the House leaders who are trying to push the bill should be punished.-- At last we see them plain. The radical Republicans in the Florida House of Representatives have come out from behind the curtain. They aim not to improve the public schools but to destroy them.
	Voucher bill heads to full House TALLAHASSEE -- A radical measure to give a private school voucher to any public school student who wants it sailed through its only committee stop Thursday and is headed for the House chamber floor.
	House panel signs off on school voucher bill But the state Senate and governor may be obstacles to the measure's success School districts would have to pay for any student to go to a private school in exchange for greater discretion with state dollars under a voucher bill approved by a House panel Thursday.
	Education cash held hostage to tax reform Senate Republicans have started using state funding for education like a club to beat up the House and Gov. Jeb Bush for opposing an overhaul of Florida's tax system.
	Parents get chance to protest bill Measure would eliminate some mandatory insurance coverage The parents of children who might lose health insurance coverage under a proposal in the state House got their say Thursday, denouncing a bill they weren't allowed to be heard on a week ago.
	Panel: Don't overhaul tax But senate president says 'the truth hasn't come out' yet A House panel Thursday recommended against Senate President John McKay's proposed tax overhaul and instead suggested studying the issue - again. Echoing criticism from Gov. Jeb Bush, House Speaker Tom Feeney and most business groups, the Select Committee on Florida's Economic Future said the state's tax system doesn't need major changes and that McKay's plan would hurt the economy.
	Public hearings report bashes Senate tax plan TALLAHASSEE -- Rep. Johnnie Byrd didn't have to say a word. The contented faces of the lobbyists said it all.
	McKay leads lawmakers on slow waltz During World War I, it was called "sitzkrieg," a long period of inactivity while both sides tried to stare each other down. Behind the scenes, however, they were quietly fortifying their positions.
	Mixing students and prayer -- A bill that allows schools to get involved in prayer doesn't deserve approval.
	GOP leaders oppose tech initiative But Bush plans to campaign for $100 million proposal Three top Republican Senate leaders said Thursday there is little chance Gov. Jeb Bush can fully fund a $100 million technology project this year.
	Money to track cows is cut out Senators deride Bush anti-terror budget plan
	In God we (some, anyway) trust (somewhat) In several states, legislation has been passed or is pending that allows the words "In God We Trust" to be posted in public buildings. Now Florida is jumping onto the bandwagon.
	Legislature in brief Today is the 25th day of the 60-day session.
	Gore, Lieberman expected at state Democratic meeting ORLANDO - Al Gore and U.S. Sens. Joe Lieberman, John Kerry and John Edwards will be among the potential 2004 presidential candidates at the Florida Democratic Party's state conference, officials said Thursday.
	Court relaxes limit on legal fees Private lawyers who contract with the state to represent Death Row inmates can be paid more than the fees provided by state law, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In its 4-3 ruling, Florida's high court also concluded that the 1998 law creating the registry of attorneys willing to represent Death Row inmates gives them enough latitude to do their jobs.
	JQC needs more openness As the agency responsible for ridding Florida of unethical and unfit judges, the Judicial Qualifications Commission has a sensitive and difficult assignment that it has carried out with varying degrees of enthusiasm since its creation 47 years ago.
	McBride woos teachers irked by fund cuts Minutes before Bill McBride rose to address the Broward Teachers Union at a Thursday rally, more than 150 teachers screamed with Twisted Sister blaring in the background: ``We're not gonna take it anymore! No, we ain't gonna take it!''
	Democratic underdog hits the ground running in gubernatorial bid - Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Bill McBride swept through Broward County on Thursday, blasting Republicans but ignoring the candidate who stands in the way of his nomination -- former Attorney General Janet Reno.
	Plant City officer indicted in corruption investigation TAMPA - A suspended police officer has been indicted by a federal grand jury in a deepening investigation of corruption in the Plant City Police Department. Armand Cotnoir was indicted Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to deprive citizens of their civil rights, deprivation of civil rights, obstruction of justice and concealing knowledge of a felony.
	Sea turtles died in record numbers The 1,337 sea turtles found dead or dying statewide were the most since monitoring began.
	Worm disease linked to record turtle deaths A paralyzing worm in the brains of sea turtles is helping to kill them in record numbers from Palm Beach County to the Keys. The 1,337 sea turtles found dead or dying stranded statewide in 2001 were the most since monitoring began in 1980. That included record or near-record numbers of all five species of sea turtles in Florida: loggerhead, green, Kemp's ridley, hawksbill, and leatherback.
	Hard-hit butterflies could use help Between 200 million and 300 million monarch butterflies froze to death last month in central Mexico.
	ACLU files federal appeal to end gay adoption ban
	Future may not be fortunate for Miss Cleo There's apparently no good fortune in the cards for psychic hot-line host and self-styled Jamaican shaman Miss Cleo. Florida is joining a half-dozen other states, and the federal government, in suing her and the Fort Lauderdale-based Psychic Readers Network over allegations of chicanery and shady billing.
	State sues to close Miss Cleo TALLAHASSEE -- With cards in hand, Attorney General Bob Butterworth picked up his telephone Thursday and pretended to make a telephone call.
	Lee County bans live shelling FORT MYERS - Collectors lured to southwest Florida's famous shelling beaches will be barred from taking any containing live creatures after March 1. Besides well-known shelling destinations such as Sanibel and Captiva islands, the 50-mile long Lee County coast includes the islands of North Captiva, Cayo Costa, Estero-Fort Myers Beach, Boca Grande on Gasparilla and Cabbage Key.
	Bush plan may not clean up power plants, environmentalists say - WASHINGTON - Environmentalists criticized the Bush administration's new clean air initiative Thursday, saying it would do nothing to force old coal-burning power plants like Gulf Power's Crist plant north of Pensacola to clean up their emissions.-- But the utility industry's main lobbying association hailed the president's "Clear Skies" program as a watershed event.
	Joint probe of Sept. 11 attacks to be as public as possible By Larry Lipman, Palm Beach Post Washington Bureau Normally their committee meetings are hush-hush, but the two Floridians who head the congressional intelligence panels said Thursday they will hold as...

2/14/02

	Denying voters -- It's outrageous that voters probably won't get a say on tax reform.
	Gov. Bush should expand, not limit, master-teacher program What a farce our so-called "education governor" has turned out to be.
	Task force wants tighter reins on vouchers A panel wants to give parents of students with disabilities a choice in how they pay private schools.
	School voucher lawsuit delayed But House GOP is proceeding with school bill A state judge Wednesday put on hold a lawsuit challenging Florida's school voucher law until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a similar suit in Ohio.
	House plan to divert money sparks dispute The House committee's approval of a plan to use Florida Forever money to reclaim water sparks a dispute.
	Bush's blind spot The attraction of privatization is the presumption that excellence can be more cheaply purchased in the marketplace. But to date it remains more of an attractive theory than proven fact.
	Legislature in brief Today is the 24th day of the 60-day session.
	DIGEST HEALTH CARE House passes bill for anesthesiologist aides The House passed a measure allowing the licensing of anesthesiologist assistants over the objections of members who said it would endanger patients.
	Tallahassee Ticker MEDICINE ASSISTANTS APPROVED FOR ANESTHESIOLOGISTS The House passed a measure allowing the licensing of anesthesiologist assistants over the objections of members who said it would endanger patients.
	Angry McKay assails critics of his tax plan On Wednesday, John McKay came out swinging. Battered by industry groups that are running attack ads against McKay's attempt to reform the state's sales tax code, the taciturn Senate president has launched a personal campaign to win support for his proposal.
	New tactic in tax fight: financial disclosure Foes of the Senate tax revision plan reveal their backers and call on fans of the measure to show their contributor lists.
	Senators want to increase spending Education committee requests more money The Florida Senate stopped work on next year's education budget Wednesday, saying it needs more money. Members of the Education Appropriations Committee sent back a $19 billion spending plan created by staff and voted to ask Senate President John McKay for permission to increase to the level of five years ago the amount of money local school districts must raise from property taxes. That would generate about $640 million more for K-12 education, said Chairman Don Sullivan, R-St. Petersburg.
	Senate committee rejects its budget for school needs School districts may have to raise taxes to give schools what they need, said the panel, unhappy over education funding
	Bill would allow ads on school buses TALLAHASSEE -- Florida school buses now painted almost entirely safety yellow could become partially Coca-Cola red, Publix green or Taco Bell purple under a proposal now before the Legislature.
	On the cheap It appears, that Tallahassee politicians may have finally found a way to scuttle the Courtelis Facilities Matching program without appearing to do so.
	Senate Democrats quiz McBride, test his electability Increasingly concerned about whether Janet Reno can beat Jeb Bush, some senators privately grill lawyer Bill McBride.
	Reno losing bid for union backing Another labor organization supports candidate McBride Janet Reno's fight for organized labor support got tougher Wednesday when the large and powerful union representing airline mechanics decided Bill McBride has a better chance of beating Gov. Jeb Bush.
	Stores veto demo of new vote machines - Home Depot cites safety concerns. Albertsons says the demonstrations would violate their store solicitation policies.
	Treated-wood play sets in limbo EPA actions leave officials throughout Tampa Bay dangling on what to do: raze them, close them or do nothing.
	Arizona case could affect 800 on death row The fate of nearly 800 death row inmates in Florida and eight other states may rest on the outcome of a U.S. Supreme Court case that could have the most dramatic effect in 30 years on the way states apply the death penalty.
	Internet is the e-generation's lifeline A new nationwide survey of young people indicates that, if they were marooned on a desert island and had to pick just one link to the outside world, most would choose the Internet over TV, radio or print media.
	Mayor issue splits panel, legislator Miami-Dade County commissioners deciding on charter change proposals on Wednesday vowed to oppose state Rep. Carlos Lacasa's effort to dismantle the county's current form of government and create a ''strong mayor'' system.

2/13/02

	Governor, Floridians can handle the truth about schools Consider this conclusion drawn by the Florida Chamber's New Cornerstone study of education in Florida: "Additional funding is needed for educational programs at all levels." OK, that's something you might expect in an objective study of Florida's system of public education. What you would not expect is that the governor of Florida, a state that ranks 49th in per capita spending on education, would seek to remove that simple, unavoidable fact from the Chamber's "objective" study. Yet, that is exactly what happened.
	Bill targets hearings for unions State employee unions would not be entitled to public hearings on wages and working conditions when contract negotiations break down under a bill House Republicans quickly approved Tuesday. Rep. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, complained that the constitutional right of collective bargaining would be denied to state employees under the House bill (HB 641), which was sent to the Senate in a 69-48 vote.
	GOP senators attempt to stretch term limits Nearly three-fourths of returning Republican senators are quietly finagling an extra two years for themselves.
	Proposal would let any student use vouchers Igniting what could be another explosive battle over education policy in Florida, a group of leading state House Republicans are proposing using public money to let any Florida student attend private school.
	Silencing opposition to developers As though the rules weren't already stacked in favor of developers, some Florida legislators want to make it even more difficult for residents to oppose projects that could harm the environment. Two bills filed in the state Senate and two in the House would put limits on those who can speak against a construction project based on environmental concerns and scare others away with the threat of heavy financial penalties.
	Privatization's lesson: No reason to rush When state efficiency czar Ruth Sykes resigned last May to protest a rush into privatization, she said the process of determining which state services should be out-sourced, and how companies were selected should be much more deliberate.
	Tallahassee Ticker ELECTIONS PLAN WOULD CHANGE WAY SUPERVISORS GET JOB TALLAHASSEE -- A proposal to allow Florida voters to decide whether supervisors of election in the state's 67 counties should be nonpartisan elected positions passed its first committee Tuesday.
	State criticizes private program for foster kids The company that handles Pinellas and Pasco has poor case files because of overworked staffers, the DCF says.
	Less is more when seeking death penalty success rate Do you think the death penalty should be carried out more often in Florida?
	GOP leaders doff gloves in debate of tax proposal An already contentious debate turns personal for the House speaker and the Senate president.
	Feeney opposes McKay's tax plan Speaker wants vote as soon as possible Calling it the "biggest tax increase in Florida history," House Speaker Tom Feeney on Tuesday added his name to the growing list of government leaders and business interests lined up against a proposed tax overhaul.
	Feeney, McKay toss more tax-cut punches TALLAHASSEE -- In a Capitol where the arm-twisting happens in dark corners and intra-party squabbles rarely spill beyond closed doors, Senate President John McKay...
	Editorial: Let Butterworth direct probe of Enron losses Last year, supposedly smart people admired Kenneth Lay, and Enron supposedly was the nation's seventh-largest company. On April 17, Mr. Lay and Gov. Bush talked on the phone for...
	Official: JQC work should be public He says opening the proceedings would force the agency that disciplines judges to be more accountable.
	Lawmaker: Investigate agency Rep. Bill Andrews wants to know whether fraud was committed in the state Occupational Access and Opportunity Commission.
	House OKs bill on student-led prayer Voluntary, student-led prayer in Florida high schools moved a step closer Tuesday, when the Florida House approved a bill giving school boards control over the issue. Leon County School Superintendent Bill Montford said he hopes the bill makes its way through the process so local schools can participate. Montford is in favor of the concept but said he would recommend the School Board establish a "broad-based community group" to study it.
	Legislature in brief Today is the 23rd day of the 60-day session.
	Legislators want Hispanic districts Flipping through a roster of Central Florida's state legislators, it's hard to miss that there's not a single Diaz, Lopez or Garcia in the bunch -- no one emblematic of the region's fast-growing, and now largest, minority group.
	Another bad year? Our position: The Legislature owes it to Floridians to start finally managing growth.
	Andersen may lose state license Butterworth asks board to investigate company The accounting firm Arthur Andersen may have its Florida license revoked for failing to meet the ethical standards required by the state, Attorney General Bob Butterworth said Tuesday.
	Fishing-net mesh limit ruled illegal Two Wakulla County fishermen have convinced a Leon County Circuit Court judge that the state's restriction on the size of mesh for inshore fishing nets is illegal. The ruling by Judge N. Sanders Sauls will help thousands of fishermen earn livelihoods, their supporters say. But Sauls was not asked to rule on the overall legality of the net ban amendment approved by voters in 1994.
	Consultants also paid as contractors At least two consultants paid to recruit minority contractors for school construction also got some of the work.
	First users give touch-screen voting the OK sign OCEAN RIDGE -- Palm Beach County's first electronic election began with a minor glitch and ended with -- what else? -- a recount. But it was smooth sailing in between, and voters...
	Cabinet OKs $35 million land buy to help protect endangered panthers The state spent $35.4 million Tuesday to buy 21,675 acres in Hendry County considered essential for protecting the endangered Florida panther. The decision by Gov. Jeb Bush and the six-member independently elected Cabinet thrilled environmentalists.
	Citrus canker threat Now that the harsh measures to eradicate citrus canker have scientific support, lawmakers should put them in writing to allay the emotional response of citrus tree owners. (???) (see citrus canker)
	School Board approves budget Seventh-period class optional; $3.75M cut on its way to staffs Please see BOARD, 2B The Leon County School Board voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve Superintendent Bill Montford's budget recommendations for 2002-2003. According to Montford's plan, high schools go to a six-period day with an optional seventh period for students who want it. The six-period day would save the district $1.6 million. His plan also calls for a $3.75 million cut to all schools' staff across the board and a $300,000 cut at the district office.
	Graham's roses fail White House sniff test The Florida Democrat is thwarted in his efforts to deliver flowers and a message to the first family. . . .
	Enron is emblematic of a bigger financial failure Enron, the biggest financial failure in U.S. history, is bigger than Enron. It's also bigger than Global Crossing and all the earnings restatements headed our way, too. "Systemic," "structural" and "epidemic" are the key words here. Take, for example, the gladsome tidings that Enron paid no taxes whatever during four of the past five years by cleverly transferring its assets to 881 subsidiaries in tax-shelter countries. (Also take the item that Enron would have gotten a $254 million tax rebate under the Republican "economic stimulus" package - please. The bill is now mercifully defunct.)
	Judge rips Justice lawyers in Cheney records suit By Jena Heath, Palm Beach Post Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's efforts to cut off a legal challenge involving Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force failed Tuesday, as a federal judge lambasted the...

2/12/02

	VerSteeg: Jeb's election-year memory losses Jeb Bush is my age. Like many of us getting up there, the governor is starting to have senior moments. Last week, Gov. Bush's spokeswoman said...
	House leader suggests quick death for tax plan TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida House sent its strongest signal yet Monday that the Senate's tax plan will be dead on arrival.
	Trust the voters Gov. Jeb Bush asserts that the average Floridian believes our tax structure is fundamentally sound. If that's so, why doesn't Bush let them vote on it?
	Tallahassee Verbatim The Senate's proposed tax overhaul has sparked one of the biggest legislative debates in years. Here are the key arguments, excerpted from a letter by Gov. Jeb Bush and a rebuttal by Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie:
	Feeney may air tax-plan stance today TALLAHASSEE -- House Speaker Tom Feeney could announce as early as today his stance on a controversial Senate proposal to overhaul Florida's tax structure, a spokeswoman said...
	Voters not impressed with Gov. Bush's school reforms TALLAHASSEE · As Gov. Jeb Bush launches a re-election campaign touting the education reforms he has championed, he faces an electorate that doesn't think he has done much to help public schools, according to a new Sun-Sentinel voter survey.
	Democrats delay education confirmation TALLAHASSEE -- Senate Democrats on Monday temporarily blocked the confirmation of Phil Handy, chairman of the state Board of Education, in a highly partisan maneuver designed to send a message to Gov. Jeb Bush.
	Video Slots A Not-So-Sure Bet "Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me." The old adage could very well apply to an idea of expanding the use of video slot machines in Florida as a financial boon to state coffers in general and public education in particular.
	Florida ranks high in death penalty errors - Of the 757 Florida death sentences that were reviewed by judges during the study period -- between 1973 and 1995 -- 75 percent were reversed by state or federal courts.
	County near top in death cases Pinellas and Hillsborough ranked among U.S. counties with the highest rate of death sentences, according to a new study that examined death penalty cases from 1973 to 1995.
	House district-drawers shore up GOP strength Republican voters would be added to GOP districts that went for Al Gore in the 2000 election...GOP House leaders in charge of redrawing the state's 120 House districts have created proposed districts that on average improve the "Republican performance" of their home districts by nearly 6 percentage points.
	S. Floridians angered as FPL 'mutilates' tree canopy while adding power lines Mutilation, massacre, rape, murder. All of these things have happened in the past month in South Florida -- to trees.
	Retirees now can replant after canker SUN CITY CENTER -- Two years ago, when the state came for their fruit trees, the senior citizens of this retirement community south of Tampa felt like someone had taken away an old friend.
	Editorial: Too wordy on Everglades If President Bush and Gov. Bush wonder why skepticism remains about their commitment to the Everglades, they should look at a place that doesn't resemble the Everglades at all: New York City...
	Battle brews over bottled water New legislation would make it tougher for the state to OK new water-bottling operations.
	Preventing another Enron Blood is in the water in Washington as Congress encircles Enron. The public thrashing of company officers has begun, but Congress also needs to focus on institutional reforms that could keep a similar collapse from happening. Lawmakers' sanctimonious lectures accomplish little other than to divert attention from Washington's role in approving laws and regulatory changes that allowed Enron to operate outside the appropriate checks and balances of corporate activity.
	Terror warning issued by FBI The FBI issued an extraordinary terrorist alert Monday, warning against a possible attack as early as today.The bureau at midevening posted the alert on its public Web site, www.fbi.gov , to help Americans identify the possible perpetrators.-- "Recent information indicates a planned attack may occur in the United States or against U.S. interests on or around Feb. 12, 2002. One or more operatives may be involved in the attack," the alert to 18,000 law-enforcement agencies said.
	End of line for arsenic in lumber The federal government is poised to ban the decades-old practice of applying arsenic to preserve wood.
	Ex-Enron boss asked to clarify discrepancies WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers investigating the fall of energy giant Enron Corp. are asking the company's former CEO, Jeffrey Skilling, to explain possible inconsistencies in congressional testimony...
	Reform Bill Can Fix Major Flaws All Americans have a stake in a vitally important showdown Tuesday and Wednesday in the U.S. House on political campaign finance reform.
	Mirror image U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns was one of several members of Congress who wrote or signed letters two years ago objecting to the Securities and Exchange Commission preventing accounting firms from acting as consultants to companies they audit.
	Bonnie Erbe: Journalists or PR flacks? Call me old-fashioned. But as a young idealist, I chose to work as a journalist for the chance to right wrongs and enlighten the public while supporting myself in a reasonable fashion. Most everything I held dear about the profession has changed since then, and virtually none of it for the better.

2/11/02

Pass this test if you want to live in Florida
Applicants for U.S. citizenship have to sit through an examination on our nation's origins, ideals and laws. So why not make people wanting to move to Florida demonstrate some knowledge of Florida's literature, environment, geography and history?

Reno pounces on One Florida
Democrats high on education in pitches Janet Reno said Sunday that affirmative action is still needed and pledged to make universities "go behind test scores and look at the person" if she becomes governor.

Reno courts blacks, unions- TALLAHASSEE -- Janet Reno came calling on a critical constituency in her campaign for governor Sunday, delivering an impassioned commitment to affirmative action on the campus of the historically black Florida A&M University.

Redistricting delay could cause new vote debacle
Florida's election supervisors fear that delays by the Legislature in creating new voting districts could create another national embarrassment for the state in November.

The man behind TV's antitax ads
TALLAHASSEE -- Pat Roberts has been called dishonest by the president of the Florida Senate. Senators accuse him of spreading lies about a plan to change the tax system.

A money mess that won't go away -- There's an old joke about the ladies at the Borscht Belt hotel dining room complaining that the food's awful and, worse yet, the portions are small. Such is the reality of Florida taxes. The state lives on money drawn from the people who can least afford to pay, and there's not enough of it.

McKay not first to try sales-tax shuffle
Senate leader's plan evokes images of . . . Jesse Ventura? The words sound familiar. "We cannot ignore that we have a sales tax . . . built and designed in the late-'60s economy. It is riddled with exemptions and totally ignores a huge and growing segment of our economy. This is a tough one. This change will take tremendous political courage."

Sad tale of a gent with his soul sold to lobbyists ... When Farkas' committee heard the bill last week, concerned citizens arrived in Tallahassee from all over the state to testify. But Farkas allowed only an insurance lobbyist to testify, then grabbed the gavel, forced the vote and adjourned the meeting, so that no citizen could speak against it.

Teachers take gripes to their own Web site
Rants and musings on a district-operated site lead to new rules. So Pinellas teachers stake a claim to their own spot online.

Feeney's bright idea
Under House Speaker Tom Feeney's newest plan, Bright Futures scholars will be rewarded for testing out of basic classes not with a better education but a shorter one.

Cardiac care not nearby for some in Florida
State-issued certificates of need are hard to come by for Florida hospitals interested in offering heart surgery, forcing some state residents to make long treks to receive care.

State rate of flawed death sentences criticized
Florida is home to five of 15 counties that impose the death penalty most frequently across America, ranking it among a handful of states at highest risk for wrongful convictions and making it the nation's leader in sending innocent people to Death Row, a Columbia University Law School team has found in a massive study released today.

Guards trial may not be clear-cut
There is little doubt inmate Frank Valdes was fatally beaten in 1999, but convicting Florida State Prison guards, accused in the death, may not be easy.

Key details of state's case
Here are some of the more important elements in the state's case against former prison guards Timothy A. Thornton, Charles A. Brown and Jason P. Griffis:

Easterling's political junk mail
For someone who tries to paint herself as a fiscal conservative, Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacey Easterling spends a lot of taxpayer money to send out self-serving political junk mail.

Enron bugs many voters in Florida
An Orlando Sentinel survey shows the Enron scandal could become a problem for President Bush in Florida.

Enron fall hits home for pipeline workers
By Deborah Circelli, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
DuWayne Aulgur has to fight his despair when he talks about it. He'd been looking forward to retiring in four years, anticipating sunny days of fishing, or just hanging around the house...

Orange falls behind in saving green land
Rebecca Eagan has never seen the Holland Ranch in southeast Orange County, and it's nowhere near her Winter Park home. But that didn't make her any less frantic about saving it when she learned that the 5,200-acre stretch of pine flatwoods, scrub and swamp was for sale.

Global order protects the rich, impoverishes the poor -- Bono, lead singer of the U2 rock band, participated in the recent World Economic Forum in New York City's famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel.-- Covered extensively in the mainstream press, his presence and participation in the forum did little for the many needs of the impoverished majority of the planet's population.

Sept. 11 helps usher in another era of Big Government
The era of Big Government is born again.

Reform Bill Can Fix Major Flaws
All Americans have a stake in a vitally important showdown Tuesday and Wednesday in the U.S. House on political campaign finance reform.

Favored daughter
Both Bush brothers appear too busy building their political legacy to find time for their children. Emotional child neglect is usually charged to the poor and minorities. If Gov. Bush's daughter had neither wealth or fame, she would still be in jail and charged with a felony.

2/10/02

	State's investment advisers scrutinized They include former salesman for convicted insider trader As numerous investigators start looking at Florida's investment decisions that led to a $325 million loss on Enron stock, the state's Investment Advisory Council isn't likely to escape scrutiny.
	State analyst alarmed by buys An analyst at Florida's pension fund criticized a contract fund manager's decision to buy stock in Enron Corp. more than a month before the troubled energy company filed for bankruptcy. In an Oct. 24 memo to the pension fund's head of U.S. stocks, portfolio manager Trent Webster raised questions about decisions made by Alliance Capital Management, The Palm Beach Post reported Saturday.
	Panel sees urgent need for tax reform Florida urgently needs to broaden and diversify its tax base, says a panel of civic leaders, public officials and university scholars called together this weekend by former Gov. Reubin Askew.
	Some would tax your groceries if they could TALLAHASSEE -- The lobbyists knew before Senate President John McKay that Jeb Bush was preparing to dump on his tax reform. Some of them were even boasting about it on the street Tuesday.
	Bush sides with business buddies on tax issues The governor is once again blowing smoke in your face and telling you it's perfume.
	Let Floridians vote on cutting sales tax - The Palm Beach Post- Bush opposes reduction from 6 to 4.5 percent. -- Gov. Bush made a few good points with half-truths. But what's good in his case isn't conclusive, while what he leaves out is. Missing halves count, too. The rest of his case must be called erroneous, since he objects to calling it twaddle.-- Gov. Bush managed to write seven pages without coming to grips with, or noting, that the core of the proposal is to cut the sales tax rate from 6 percent to 4.5 percent and eliminate other taxes. He ignored the part about submitting the plan to the voters. He decided for them on the basis of "principle and experience." His "experience" mainly comes from becoming a partner of a successful developer. That's hardly the average Floridian's experience.-- His main principle is not to make any coddled lobby with a sales tax exemption, like the National Football League, pay the same tax (at a lower rate) as everyone else....
	Cities, counties favor tax reform A survey finds that local governments in Florida are being asked to carry more of the tax burden.
	Committee passes insurance bill TALLAHASSEE -- For Annis Mackin of Jacksonville, the opportunity to speak against health-care deregulation was worth getting up at 3 a.m.
	Florida lawmakers head toward midpoint of session with nothing settled
	Duval a pawn in Senate map TALLAHASSEE -- Even though she has served in Congress for the past decade, U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman probably isn't a household name in Duval County.
	Oviedo may be center in battle over redistricting
	Reno uses new poll to accentuate the positive INSIDE POLITICS Democrat Janet Reno has released an internal poll showing what she considers a vulnerability for Gov. Jeb Bush - and, predictably, a considerable strength in her own race for governor.
	Doubters, health issue don't slow Reno's pace Janet Reno is running for Florida governor against opponents besides other candidates: doubters and her health . . .
	Unions unleash power in governor's race Pat Tornillo, Florida's foremost union boss, sat with the presumed Democratic front-runner in the governor's race. It was just days before the Florida Education Association would announce its surprising endorsement.
	McBride has miles to go, votes to gather The underdog gubernatorial candidate says he's right where he wants to be in the polls. . .
	Gov. Bush strong, not invincible ...Florida's voters -- particularly independents who show little allegiance to any party but usually decide the state's elections -- stand ready to consider alternatives to Bush, the poll shows.
	Bush-Feeney feud with McKay frays tight GOP With a pack of Democrats already on his heels, Gov. Jeb Bush has stepped into the middle of a potentially explosive Republican family feud that is polarizing the Legislature's top leaders.
	Noelle Bush begins treatment Noelle Bush, who was accused of prescription drug fraud last month, has been admitted to a drug treatment program, her lawyer said. Bush, the 24-year-old daughter of Gov. Jeb Bush and niece of President George W. Bush, will spend whatever time is needed in the treatment program before returning to Tallahassee to face the charge, attorney Peter Antonacci said Friday.
	Governor's daughter begins drug treatment
	Pursuing diversity Some parents of high schoolers questioned UF's ability to attract and retain black students.
	The death penalty-- The suspension of the death penalty gives Florida a chance to regroup.
	Rodman Dam unlikely to be gone by deadline PALATKA -- With aerated vats of minnows bubbling and a refrigerator full of beer humming along, bait shop owner Jimmy Darby raised his voice to state his opinion on the fate of the Rodman Dam and Reservoir.
	Rare swan draws excited flock Bird-watchers enjoy treat of seeing a few misguided birds Birds of a feather flock together - to one of Tallahassee's sewage treatment plants. Bird-watchers from across Florida - and some from Georgia - are swooping in on the Springhill Road plant to see a tundra swan.
	Conservancy shows how to save How does one create a new national park when the people running the U.S. Department of Interior are timid, at best, on preservation? You do it yourself, which is how the Nature Conservancy created Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
	Schultz: Lawmakers can't go soft on reform The debate over control of the country begins Tuesday, when the House takes up campaign-finance reform. -- Leading the opposition will be politicians whose power derives from the legal bribes that Congress calls campaign contributions -- particularly "soft money," unlimited donations to parties that wind up going to candidates. Ironically, soft money was supposed to be a post-Watergate reform, a way to keep groups and individuals from buying candidates directly. Instead, the parties figured out ways to let them buy candidates indirectly.

2/9/02

	A Lawmaker's Disregard For Public - E ven by the Legislature's rough standards, St. Petersburg Rep. Frank Farkas' treatment of the public at a committee hearing last week was singularly rude.
	Farkas' fiefdom The legislator from St. Petersburg muzzled public debate to get his way on a bill that would strip benefits from many employees' health plans.
	McKay: Tax reform an issue of fairness Several months ago, I outlined a proposal to reduce the sales tax paid on most goods from 6 percent to 4.5 percent and expand the sales-tax base in order to eliminate sizable and inappropriate tax breaks that some have had for as many as 52 years. This is not an issue of trying to collect more taxes. It is, however, an issue of fairness.
	Editorial: Services tax Though tax reform debate dominating the debate in Tallahassee has yet to catch fire in Southwest Florida, it should. Our economy is service-based, and the sales tax revision in the Legislature is a warmed-over version of the services tax of 15 years ago — which left the state deeply divided and a Republican governor, Bob Martinez, out of a job.
	Opponents of McKay's Tax Plan Have A Duty To Offer Alternatives - I t was a frustrating week for Florida Senate President John McKay, who's determined to implement tax reform this year.-- Gov. Jeb Bush, who had said he wanted a full and open discussion of McKay's proposal, announced he would oppose the plan. Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan organization that scrutinizes government spending and policies, also came out in opposition.
	State pension fund analyst was alarmed by Enron stock buys TALLAHASSEE -- An analyst at Florida's pension fund in October recognized the folly of Alliance Capital Management's big bet on Enron Corp., yet the pension fund never ordered Alliance to stop buying shares as the energy trader's prospects darkened.
	Enron needs prosecutor,and it should be Giuliani Literally millions of Americans were affected by what happened at Enron, and it is in the best interest of the country to have a special prosecutor in this case.
	Lawmakers should heed these issues, too The League of Women Voters of Florida has participated in the reapportionment process. The initiative, People over Politics, is being carried out with Common Cause.-- Redistricting proposals for the Florida House and Senate and Congressional districts have been drafted. These plans are equal in population by district, retain continuity of minority communities and are compact and contiguous.
	People with drug problems need treatment, not jail time I got thinking about Noelle Bush, President Bush's niece, who was arrested last week for forging a prescription for the anti-anxiety drug Xanax. My first thought was: What is it about this generation of Bushes? Last year both of the president's daughters got themselves arrested for underage drinking. Now their older cousin, Noelle, gets busted for prescription fraud. Is this some sort of rebellion against their very authority-figure dads? Or are they simply unlucky?
	Governor's daughter begins drug treatment The 24-year-old waives her right to a speedy trial and will likely be sent to drug court after treatment.
	Legislature rolls out a new cycle of secrecy The last time legislators decided to pass a new tax on Floridians they made a deal in secret at midnight at a townhouse owned by sugar lobbyists. They outlined it on the top of a pizza box.
	The embarrassment exemption This week, members of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee unanimously voted out a bill to keep secret any "personal identifying information" regarding public utility customers.
	Construction family faces theft charges BRONSON - A prominent Levy County businessman, his son and his grandson were all arrested Friday and charged with racketeering and multiple counts of grand theft from the state.-- Charges also were filed against one of the family's businesses, White Construction Co. Inc.
	Dade's first Ryce case fails A jury has voted not to commit a convicted rapist to indefinite confinement, in Miami-Dade's first attempt at enforcing a sexual predator law known as the Jimmy Ryce Act.
	Windstorm rate could rise under insurance proposal A Central Florida lawmaker wants to kick thousands of second homes and homes valued at $300,000 or more out of one state-run insurance pool and into...
	Reno: Poll predicts tight race Some polls show Jeb Bush cruising to victory, but the former U.S. attorney general points to her own numbers.
	Health issue has Reno running at full speed - In a visit designed to shore up her image among party insiders, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno zipped through the halls of the state Capitol this week, kissing Attorney General Bob Butterworth and talking to legislators and reporters about how healthy she feels.
	Courts want 49 judges; House offers only two -- Already juggling interminably long dockets, Florida's court officials estimated they would need more than 95 new judges to keep from drowning under the state's legal demands.-- But recognizing the slim chances of getting their wish list granted by a Republican leadership they've often warred with, the state Supreme Court pared down the legislative request to what they considered a reasonable 49 -- 34 circuit judges, 13 county judges and two appellate judges.
	Florida can't afford to wait -- The future of ''school readiness'' depends on building a ''movement.'' When most people think of movements and the lessons of history, the civil-rights movement and the feminist movement come quickly to mind. Both these movements, in early moments, were marginalized by others. Frequently ridiculed. Oppressed every chance some people got. Eventually, when most people came to understand that these movements spoke to every person and with an American sense of fairness, they came to be part of the accepted foundation of this country. . .
	Gov. Bush as editor - Newspapers across the state reported that the governor's office had sought and received a delay of a report by the Florida Chamber Foundation that places an emphasis on education issues.
	Denial of accreditation worries FSU medical students Participants praise the program, and some express confidence that the problems will be worked out so they can get a license after graduation.
	Lewis is out of the running He now says he doesn't want FAMU's top job Forget about backing interim leader Henry Lewis III for president of Florida A&M University. On Friday, he said he doesn't want to be considered for the job.
	I am not a candidate for FAMU presidency Truthfulness is the basis of integrity and it has always been the cornerstone of my support and underscored every action and decision I have ever made. I told the truth when I informed the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees that becoming president of any institution was not in my immediate plans because I did not know if I wanted to be a college president. I already had one of the best jobs in higher education as dean of the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
	State mental hospital shuts down The decision to close G. Pierce Wood followed a series of incidents that ended in death or injury.
	Hold the phone - If hand-held cell phone use really is a significant contributing factor in auto accidents, lawmakers have an obligation to address the issue on a statewide basis.
	Bill cuts storm insurance Ocean-front homeowners would have to pay higher premiums under law High-priced beach homes would be among those forced out of Florida's windstorm insurance pool under a proposed bill designed to shift the costs of a big storm to homeowners with the greatest risk.
	Will touch-screens keep voters on point? There's an election here at the town hall Tuesday, and Theresa LePore will be smack dab in the middle of it. Much fingerpointing will occur.LePore just...
	Cemetery requests gag order FORT LAUDERDALE - Lawyers for a cemetery company charged with desecrating graves at two South Florida graveyards have reques