Former Gov. Jeb Bush, last week:

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush made his strongest statement to date on the Republican Senate primary unfolding in his state, telling the conservative publication NewsMax in an on-camera interview that he considers Gov. Charlie Crist's support for last year's stimulus bill "unforgivable."

The stimulus essentially bailed out Florida last year, preventing deep and incredibly destructive cuts to our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. In my community, 522 first and second year teachers still have jobs because of the stimulus. If the right wing Florida legislature had its way, those folks would be on unemployment, likely still searching for a half-decent job.

But back to good 'ol Jeb. To him Gov. Crist's support for the stimulus was "unforgivable." But that didn't stop Jeb from showing some love for Race to the Top, a federal education grant program set up by the stimulus.

Matt Yglesias caught this, and noted the following:

And you see this time and again. Folks on the right are sharply critical of “the stimulus” but generally raise no objections to large swathes of the stimulus—they like their local infrastructure projects, they like their tax cuts, and the more sensible among them like the education money.

Yes indeed. Even right wing hero Jeb Bush loves some part of the stimulus.

Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for the week ending 1-22-10
Note: Best of the Blogs is featured weekly as part of Progress Florida's popular free Daily Clips service.

GOP Legislators Confirm Their Insanity on Education Policy
By Ray Seaman
Progress Florida
More than a decade ago, Jeb Bush fundamentally altered our state's education policy: a single, high stakes standardized test (FCAT) that would act as a universal standard of measurement for schools; taking on the teacher's union; and attempting to start a private school vouchers system.

The myth of limited government
By Gimleteye
Eye on Miami
The Miami Herald editorial page plucks freely a Cato Institute fellow's support for the Supreme Court decision lifting campaign finance limits for corporations: "a victory for free speech".

Why Janet Cruz won in H-58
By Peter Schorsch
St. Petersblog 2.0
First of all, to the anonymous bloggers who attempted to discredit the good name of one of Tampa's finest families, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

More than a decade ago, Jeb Bush fundamentally altered our state's education policy: a single, high stakes standardized test (FCAT) that would act as a universal standard of measurement for schools; taking on the teacher's union; and attempting to start a private school vouchers system.

At the same time, our GOP-dominated legislature kept education funding embarrassingly low compared to other states. They fought Florida voters' attempt to reduce class size by holding back funding needed to implement the class size amendment. Jeb Bush and the legislature's high stakes, low funding education policy naturally produced some crappy results.

Today, Florida ranks 43rd in SAT scores, 48th in ACT scores according to the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC.) The LeRoy Collins Institute has shown our dropout rate to be one of the worst. We're 50 out of 50 states and Washington DC in per capita funding in education.

And ignore the recent finding by Education Week that we're 8th best in the nation - we're not.

Florida's education system has been struggling mightily with Jeb Bush and the GOP's "reforms." So now what are they proposing? A lot more of the same: more FCAT, less funding, more demonization of teachers. The definition of insanity is trying to do the same thing and expecting a different result:

The GOP-controlled Legislature - heeding critics that the state needs to graduate students better prepared to compete for jobs - is poised to toughen graduation standards, link student performance to teacher pay and make it easier to fire teachers.

...just don't ask them or the big business allies backing these "reforms" to actually pay for any of this.

This leads us to the major problem facing Florida's public education system: we've been trying to educate the next generation of Floridians on the cheap, and (surprise!) it hasn't worked at all. You can't educate 2.5 million kids (the fourth largest student population int the country) with piecemeal funding. Not gonna work.

I'll be the first to admit funding isn't everything, but you have to have a strong base of funding with which to work with and build off of. As I said in a previous post:

With current funding, Florida can't even meet minimum obligations to its students, like having enough teachers in order to ensure necessary individual attention via small class sizes. Want to hire more teachers? Sorry, no funding. Want to build new schools? Sorry, no funding. Want to set up teacher incentives? Sorry, no funding. Want to try out new programs or test new ideas? Sorry, no funding.

And linking teacher pay to student performance? It's a great way to divide teachers against each other and continue to punish schools and staff that need more resources, not less.

Ending teacher tenure? That's taking an axe to a situation which needs a scalpel. We should be reforming "tenure" (which is kind of a misnomer - it's not the same tenure professors at universities receive), so teachers are protected from overzealous principals while "bad apples" are shown the door.

Education should be reformed, but doing more of the same isn't what's needed. Let's give our schools the funding and resources they need to do their job. Let's pay teachers better. Let's make teachers unions part of the accountability process rather than demonizing them. Let's provide students with small class sizes, a healthy learning environment, and a multitude of class options beyond just math and reading.

We can do better for Florida's children and our state's future.

We call District Attorneys "State Attorneys" here in Florida. And we have to stop.

There is no southern-steeped tradition that's worth risking that the United States Supreme Court misunderstand the role of key players when the Justices are formally asked to compel the FBI adhere to its mandate to investigate the cover-up of decades-old multiple malicious prosecutions that assured the reelections of miscreant civil servants - election cycle after election cycle - while keeping killers on the streets and innocents behind bars.

State Attorney Norm Wolfinger's behaviors contributed to my having standing to file a Petition for a Writ of Mandamus with the US Supreme Court to request that the Justices author an issuance that directs the FBI to immediately adhere to their mandate to investigate nationwide public corruption surrounding use of DNA disgraced dog handlers that affected the outcome of trials and elections.

Florida Today reported on August 2, 2009, "Wolfinger says he ordered an examination in 2004, when Dedge was exonerated, to identify cases "where limited evidence raised a question of actual guilt," and believes only four men in prison today meet that standard, and that at least three of the convictions are sound." ["Our views: Not good enough - Full investigation of state attorney's office use of fraudulent dog handler still needed"]

It's possible that Wolfinger made his 2004 list of those DNA disgraced dog handler John Preston testified against, checked it twice, and then threw it out, but I double-damn doubt it.

It simply doesn't jibe with what Wolfinger's records custodian Patty Crowell wrote on November 19, 2008 in response to my request for a list of cases Preston had participated in, "What you are actually requesting in your email is that this office conduct a research project."

Bill Dillon lost 27 Christmases with his family, Wilton Dedge lost 22, Juan Ramos lost five. There are many others that the Justices have to decide to compel the FBI to find and secure justice for, turning the tables of the granddaddy of Grinches - Norm Wolfinger - whose heart is more than two sizes too small. Wolfinger knew all about men like Ramos, Dedge and Dillon when he took office in 1985 and defied all that's legal - and all that's holy - to look the other way.

Keeping in mind that Preston is reported to have been involved in @100 Brevard criminal investigations, Ms. Crowell's words were ominous, "There is no list of cases that identifies John Preston as a witness."

Crowell notes that the Innocence Project of Florida and the Brevard/Seminole Public Defenders Office made the same request for a list of Preston's appearances. Period.

Crowell apparently received no requests from Florida's Chief Inspector General, Attorney General, Governor, Legislators, the Florida Bar Association, the American Bar Association or anyone in the media - not even wire services.

Having done no credible research, Florida Today loftily lamented in the final lines of the August 2nd opinion piece, "... the wheels of justice have turned slowly for the known victims of Preston' frauds. It's past time to find out if there are more."

While Florida Today works their Ouija Board, I'll keep writing formal requests for information and working on my Petition for a Writ of Mandamus.



Begin forwarded message:

From: "WEBMASTER"
Date: November 19, 2008 10:29:35 AM EST
To: "Susan Chandler"
Subject: Re: William Dillon 05-1981-CF-001746-AXXX-XX Status Hearing 11/3/08

Dear Ms. Chandler:

The address for Sandra Weeks is listed on a two page discovery document.
There is no list of cases that identifies John Preston as a witness.
There have been public record requests by the Innocence Project of Florida and the Brevard County Public Defender’s Office that sought information about John Preston, but they have also been advised that there is no list of cases. A copy of their public record requests are available and are a page or two in length.

What you are actually requesting in your e-mail is that this office conduct a research project. To create the lists that you request would require a hand-search of numerous case files and hours of review. As mentioned in the prior e-mail, the requester of such a search would be required to pay the hourly rate of the person who did the research.

Should you wish for the discovery document or the public record requests mentioned above to be copied and mailed to your, please contact Cathy Romans at (321) 617-7510 and she will verify with you the number of pages and the cost. Ms. Romans can also coordinate with you should you wish to review other documents that may be available for inspection that you could review for some of the information you are requesting be compiled into lists.

Patty Crowell
State Attorney's Office, 18th Circuit

Christine Bramuchi, Linda Kobert, and Kathleen Oropeza are not kitchen table names in Florida, but you'll be learning more about them and their fight for Florida's public schools over the next several months. Last week, they made headlines across the state when they, along with several other plantiffs, filed a lawsuit against the state of Florida. Their charge? Florida has been shortchanging public schools, and it's time for an overhaul:

The plaintiffs want a court to declare that the state has violated the Florida Constitution and to order state leaders to create a "remedial plan" for fulfilling that constitutional obligation.

"I hope it's a catalyst for change," said Thom Rumberger, one of the plaintiff's attorneys and a prominent Republican in Tallahassee.

Then the Florida Legislature will need to find a way to fund schools adequately, he said.

I'm of the belief that while this lawsuit is about education funding, indirectly this lawsuit is an indictment of Florida's banana republic-like political system.

The fight to get adequate resources into Florida schools is a battle that has been raging since the 90s (and I'm sure many would argue this fight goes back to the creation of the Florida Lottery in the late 80s.) However, things really took a turn for the worst when Jeb Bush became governor in 1998, bringing strong Republican majorities with him to both houses of the legislature. Jeb, unlike his brother, was an intellectual conservative, and proceeded to turn our state into a giant right wing policy laboratory where the latest "free market" idea in vogue could be tried out. Jeb, along with his many conservative allies in the legislature, promptly tied teachers hands with an overbearing high stakes test (the FCAT), forced local governments to pick up the tab for most new expenses, and helped contribute to our state's mostly last place status in key barometers (overall funding, per pupil spending, graduation rates, etc.)

But Florida voters wanted something different. The same year Bush was elected, Floridians passed an amendment adding new language to our state's constitution. The beginning of Article IX now reads:

The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders.

In 2002, Floridians voted to amend the constitution to force the legislature to provide money to reduce class sizes, giving students more personalized attention from teachers. Here's most of the language:

To assure that children attending public schools obtain a high quality education, the legislature shall make adequate provision to ensure that, by the beginning of the 2010 school year, there are a sufficient number of classrooms so that:

(1) The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 does not exceed 18 students;

(2) The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for grades 4 through 8 does not exceed 22 students; and

(3) The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for grades 9 through 12 does not exceed 25 students.

The class size requirements of this subsection do not apply to extracurricular classes. Payment of the costs associated with reducing class size to meet these requirements is the responsibility of the state and not of local schools districts.

Of course, the legislature has ignored Florida voters on all counts. With all this mind, Howard Troxler, a columnist for the St. Petersburg Times asks a good question:

Can you win a lawsuit that accuses the Florida Legislature of doing a lousy job?

The quick answer is yes, absolutely. But there's more to chew on:

Let's say that every claim in the lawsuit is true.

There's still a good question: Can the courts really order the Legislature to do better?

While these rulings aren't always popular, they are absolutely possible. The courts ordered Florida to redistrict based on population rather than by county in the mid 60s. This ended political dominance by North Florida reactionaries and gave power to moderates and liberals from Central and South Florida for the next two decades.

More Troxler:

Maybe they'll win.

Maybe the weight of statistics will convince the courts, as in the famous U.S. Supreme Court ruling on pornography, that they know "high quality" when they (don't) see it.

One of the most overlooked aspects of the famous Brown v. Board of Education decision was the fact that Chief Justice Warren used a lot of statistics demonstrating that segregated schools didn't produce equal results to back up the court's unanimous ruling. I'm not a legal expert, but statistics can play a key role in decision making.

If our Legislature is hostile to education, it is still the Legislature elected by the people of Florida. To be sure, our election system is biased by campaign money loopholes and rigged voting districts. If we addressed those factors, we might have a different Legislature.

But that is hard. To an extent, filing a lawsuit like this is asking the courts to do the work of democracy for us.

I disagree. We have a court system, one of three branches of government, for a reason. The legislature has arrogantly ignored the Florida constitution and the wishes of the people they allegedly represent. There is little to no way to hold them accountable because of gerrymandered districts designed to ensure incumbents' reelection and the free flow of special interest dollars. We've had governors like Jeb Bush who were ideologically predisposed against a strong public education system, and Charlie Crist, who to put it charitably is totally out to lunch in some overly optimistic la-la land. Local school boards are completely cash strapped and tied down by a mountain of unfunded mandates from the legislature and the governor. So what's left? The courts, plain and simple. This is what they were designed to do: to hold the other two branches accountable.

This is why Florida's very political system, not just education, is on trial here. We have a mess in our public education system because our political system as it's set up today can't deliver for Florida voters. That's why this lawsuit, and initiatives like the Fair Districts Amendments are so important to our state's future.

I Inter-tripped over a means to compel the FBI to investigate clouded convictions and the media’s related manipulation of information that affected the outcome of elections, including the number of candidates.

After some research and collaboration to assure airtight arguments and proper format, I’ll file a Petition for a Writ of Mandamus requesting that the U. S. Supreme Court direct the FBI to immediately investigate DNA-discredited scent experts, clouded convictions within the same judicial jurisdictions and the media omissions of fact that recklessly endangered the public, artificially enhancing the reputations of public servants while forestalling their investigation and prosecution.

It’s fitting to go straight to the Supreme Court, even if bogus crime scene dog handlers aside from John Preston are addressed as footnotes; Stephen Epperly is still incarcerated in Virginia from a Preston no-body homicide conviction, making it beside the point whether or not all other remedies in lower courts have been exhausted.

A portrayal of related coached informant testimony will cement the need to address clouded convictions related only by virtue of arrests, prosecutions or trials conducted by the same civil servants, with Jeff Abramowski’s being a case in point. Questionable case transfers, like Gary Bennett’s, will more concretely tie in other jurisdictions that superficially seem benign.

Other Executive Orders portraying suspicious jurisdictional changes resulting in wrist slaps will be supplemented with other cases that are unrelated to incarcerations, opening the door for justice for all, at long last.

That the media made no mention of many dereliction dots, making it impossible to connect them, will be inherently apparent, but explained, none-the-less.

With a little help from political cronies and the media, State Attorney Wolfinger ran unopposed last year, although betraying his constituents since taking office in 1985, and Sen. Haridopolos is in line for Senate President.

Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for week ending 11-6-09
Note: the Best of the Blogs is featured weekly as part of Progress Florida's popular free Daily Clips service.

GOP Senate Primary in Florida: does anyone know what it means to be a Republican conservative?
By Gimleteye
Eye on Miami
The Wall Street Journal reports that the same Republican forces who attempted a putsch on a safe GOP seat in the NY 23 Congressional District against an incumbent deemed to be too moderate, Dede Scozzafava; are now planning to turn to the US Senate primary race in Florida, with a plan to similarly purge Gov. Charlie Crist who is running against Marco Rubio, a telegenic former House majority leader from Miami who is a stand-in for former Governor Jeb Bush.

Poll Shows Crist Going Down in Tea Bag Flames
By Trish Ponder
Pensito Review
How disgusted are Floridians with Gov. Charlie Crist? So disgusted they’d be willing to have Jeb Bush back in Tallahassee.

The Bell Has Rung For Florida Voters
By Daniel Tilson
Progress Florida
The next Big Election Day in Florida, as in most of America, is still a year away.

Jeff Miller: opposes House health care bill but hasn't read it
By Sinfonian
Blast Off!
I'm not sure whether it's because he won't read it or can't read it, but U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Land That Time Forgot) has managed yet again to make me wonder how he got elected to Congress in the first place.

Growing up in a community adjacent to Grosse Pointe, Michigan helped me to learn early on there are limits to "it's not what you know, but who you know" nonsense. We're about at the tipping point, and I likely have better instincts about it than those who think all they have to do is show up, look good, talk in circles and have ready access to large amounts of cash.



From: Susan Chandler
Date: October 18, 2009 7:50:13 PM EDT
To: Senator Mike Haridopolos
Cc: Debbie Mayfield , cig@eog.myflorida.com, Governor Charlie Crist , letters@floridatoday.com, John Glisch , Norm Wolfinger , jrusso@pd18.net
Subject: "Lawmakers' political committees draw big donations from special interests"

Dear Senator Haridopolos:

The above-titled article by Steve Bousquet and Shannon Colavecchio that appeared last month in the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald held no surprises. Your attention comes at a price that is out of the majority of your constituents' reach. That you named your current blitz - I'm aware there are others - to accumulate a $12M war chest from big business the "Freedom First Committee" is a new height in your hypocrisies, given that your constituents' inherent freedoms are demonstrably the last thing you care about.

To the informed, today's Florida Today editorial, "Our Views: Justice still Denied," gives a clearer picture of your disinterest in justice. In a repeat performance of championing Wilton Dedge's exoneration compensation, you've jumped into unearned limelight to champion William Dillon's compensation, with Florida Today's Editorial Board making it seem like you work hard and care deeply. As a legislator, there was much you were obligated to do to secure Dillon's and others' freedom when Dedge was exonerated in 2004 and Jeb Bush denied Floridians the oversight that would have ensured their safety.

Because Gov. Crist is also denying oversight and the Judiciary hasn't done anything to police itself, I often asked you to author legislation that would make it incumbent upon Florida's Governor to investigate any county wherein two convictions were upset for the identical, untenable trial tactic. That simple sentence should have come from you without a constituent having to suggest it; it is the function of the Legislature to check and balance the powers of the Executive and Judicial branches of government. Because you did nothing, John Preston's perjuries and other vile prosecutorial tricks Brevard pulled for "wins" keeps killers and rapists on the streets. In Dillon's case, charges were dropped against rapist/coached snitch Roger Dale Chapman. His DOC records indicate he'll be released from prison - yet again - on the 22nd. I pdf'd his sentence reduction. Crist transferred Gary Bennett's Preston matter to the 9th, where Lawson Lamar's questionable character as a double-dipper and participant in William "Tommy" Zeigler's 33 year persecution comes into play on top of Preston having testified there, resulting in schizophrenic Linroy Bottoson's execution.

My records indicate that I initially copied you on correspondence concerning Brevard's corruption as it regarded my personal affairs on December 17th, 2003, more than two years after I initially experienced the malicious incompetence of a number of Brevard civil servants. I have since written to you repeatedly about Brevard corruption that affected other individuals; the untenable trial tactics deployed against Dillon, Dedge, Juan Ramos and countless others who have waited decades for their first fair day in court are still in use - within your knowledge - the FDLE DNA testimony against Jeff Abramowski was ridiculous; two unsuccessful attempts were made to have jailhouse informants testify against him.

While Wolfinger publicly humiliates Dillon and Crist damns Bennett to unclean hands, you apparently plan to simply wait to see who else gets exonerated despite the denial of oversight and layers of corruption and then jump in once again to grab the spotlight in sponsoring exoneration compensation. It isn't a good plan, sir. There will be an FBI investigation, including an internal investigation that gets to the heart of the Brevard field office's negligence as well as former agents' now residing in Brevard untoward public support of an incumbent Sheriff who did nothing to investigate his agency's participation in multiple frame-ups. The FBI muddied their own credibility in protecting man's best friend ahead of actual men; after investigating dogfighting rings in several states, they have little choice but to rapidly investigate Florida's framing innocent men.

Sincerely,

Susan Chandler


http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091018/OPINION/910180309/1006/NEWS01/Our+views++Justice+still+denied
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/lawmakers-political-committees-draw-big-donations-from-special-interests/1038466?comments=legacy
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/pubcorrupt/pubcorrupt.htm

Geez. Will I hear from Jeb Bush next?




From: Susan Chandler
Date: September 27, 2009 8:47:11 PM EDT
To: "Senator Connie Mack"
Cc: Governor Charlie Crist , cig@eog.myflorida.com
Subject: Responding to A Message from former Senator Connie Mack

Dear Sen. Mack:

I am an active, registered Democrat.

Earlier today, in responding to Gov. Crist emailed solicitation of campaign funds, I reminded him not only of his foreknowledge of my political affiliation, but of the lack of wisdom in playing foolish electronic correspondence games with a constituent who has epilepsy and a heart condition - both of which can be affected by stress - who has been pleading for years for him to fulfill his sworn obligations to address public corruption.

I posted that response on my blog; this response will go there, too, along with many well-documented posts that indicate Gov. Crist is not as you've portrayed him; likely what you truly "know from first-hand experience" about Crist corresponds more with my blogs than it does your saccharine endorsement.

There's no such thing as "Harass a Disabled Democrat Without Consequence Day;" I suggest y'all act accordingly.

Regards,

Susan Chandler





Begin forwarded message:

From: "Senator Connie Mack"
Date: September 27, 2009 2:38:35 PM EDT
To: ""
Subject: A Message from former Senator Connie Mack

Dear Friends,

There are many trials currently facing our nation and our world, and Republicans need strong leaders in Washington who will fight to secure America’s borders and safeguard Americans at home and abroad. I know from firsthand experience that Charlie Crist has made protecting Floridians a top priority. I am confident that Charlie will continue that legacy of leadership in our nation’s capital, and ask you to join me in supporting the Crist for Senate campaign by visiting www.CharlieCrist.com and making a contribution of $10, $25, $50 or even $100.

In Florida, Charlie has worked to lower taxes and restrain the growth of government. As Governor, he has consistently opposed tax increases, secured historic property tax reform, and safeguarded Florida’s business climate. Charlie was ranked the most fiscally conservative Governor by the CATO Institute and signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Charlie is a pro-life conservative who will defend Florida’s families. In Florida, he has worked to maintain a culture of life and implemented policies that led to historic adoption levels. He has fought to keep violent predators in jail and consistently defended the rights of gun owners and was recently awarded the Gun Rights Defender of the Month.

I know Charlie as a public servant and as a friend. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he is a true leader. He’s as conservative with taxpayer money as he is with his own. I know that he’ll appreciate anything you’re able to contribute to this cause. Charlie Crist is the right person to uphold our conservative values and protect our personal freedoms in Washington. There are only three days left before the end of the fundraising quarter so please join us in supporting the Charlie Crist for U.S.Senate Campaign by visiting www.CharlieCrist.com today.

Your friend,

Connie Mack

Contributions to Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions by corporations, labor unions and foreign nationals are prohibited. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of each individual whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle.

Phone: 850-907-1218 | Fax: 850-907-1219 | PO Box 1694 Tallahassee, FL 32302

This message was sent from Charlie Crist for U. S. Seante.
Click on the following link to Unsubscribe.

Paid for by Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate


P.S. Anyone desiring a copy of Connie Mack's email can request it by emailing studio8@infionline.net and putting "Mack attack" on the subject line. Are you wondering when it'll dawn on them that they misspelled Senate?

From: Susan Chandler
Date: August 18, 2009 9:17:01 AM EDT
To: Governor Charlie Crist
Cc: cig@eog.myflorida.com
Subject: Don't execute John Marek - update Executive Order 99-237 and follow through

Dear Governor Crist:

Barney Brown was released last fall after 38 years of wrongful incarceration. At age 14, he was an amazing child to refuse to admit to a crime he didn't commit while enduring beatings by law enforcement officers that permanently robbed him of sight in one eye.

Mr. Brown was acquitted in juvenile court, and then retried for the same offense as an adult, although the victim hadn't identified him. Many civil servants were involved in physically harming Mr. Brown, subjecting him to double jeopardy and continuing his illegal confinement. An apology and exoneration compensation will do nothing to convince law enforcement officers, prosecutors and the judiciary that their "gut instincts" are reflections of the content of their character, not any suspect's or convict's. Until you both protect Florida's innocents as our statutes require, you are putting a stamp of approval on those who brutalized Mr. Brown as a boy and many other that criminally abuse their authority.

It's time for a moratorium on executions and independent investigation of every public corruption complaint, beginning in Brevard County where the corruption is most obvious in the decades long cover-up of upwards of 100 felony trials involving the perjured testimony of self-proclaimed "scent evidence" expert, John Preston. Pensions are rewards for diligent service; when service is derelict and damaging, pensions should be withdrawn to fund prosecuting and incarcerating the offending servants, and paying damages to those they persecuted. DROP lump sums and prepayments should be recouped toward that end, as well.

Gov. Jeb Bush's Executive Order 99-237, below, did not accomplish its stated purpose. Don't execute John Marek; update Executive Order 99-237 instead. Being genuinely tough on crime requires more than rash executions and a vile nickname, Chain Gang Charlie.

Sincerely,

Susan Chandler
1060 South Highway US 1 #99
Vero Beach, FL 32962-5681





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lucia Ross

October 4, 1999
(850) 488-5394


GOVERNOR BUSH ANNOUNCES INITIATIVE TO COMBAT PUBLIC CORRUPTION

TALLAHASSEE - In an Executive Order, Governor Bush named a special, bipartisan Commission made up of Government, Law Enforcement, and Community leaders to advise him and the Legislature on how to better respond to allegations of public corruption in Florida, and more effectively investigate and prosecute those who violate the public trust. The Governor has asked the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House to each name a member to this Commission.

Florida's tough legislation on dealing with violent criminals - proven effective by recent crime statistics showing marked declines in violent crime - has not mirrored the laws dealing with the corruption of public officials. Current laws have often been ineffective in dealing with public corruption issues.

Although most of Florida's officials are honest and dedicated, corruption by a public official can be a greater crime than some street crimes because it contributes to the erosion of the public's trust in government. That erosion of trust is a problem of monumental proportions. A recent survey by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida State University revealed that over 62% of Florida citizens are concerned about public corruption and abuse of government authority.

"The public's confidence in state government and our elected leaders must be maintained," Governor Bush said. "We must treat cases of public corruption with the utmost seriousness, and we must have an effective system in place that is capable of dealing with corruption when it occurs in the public sector. I am confident this new commission will make it easier in the future to investigate and prosecute anyone who violates the public trust."

FDLE Commissioner Tim Moore, who was appointed to the Commission, said: "We need to make our laws governing public corruption very clear and the criminal sanctions very strong for those who choose to violate the public trust." State prosecutors in Florida have experienced cases involving obvious public misconduct that have somehow "missed the mark" for prosecution because the closest criminal statute did not fit that particular circumstance. These experiences in Florida suggest that the time has come to modify and improve the state's responses to violations of public trust. The Commission appointed by Governor Bush is the first step in that response.

The need for this action is obvious. The overwhelming majority of dedicated government officials who are ethical deserve better, and most importantly, the citizens of Florida deserve better.


RETURN TO PRESS RELEASE INDEX || RETURN TO EOG HOMEPAGE


Executive Order 99-237


WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the People of the State of Florida to assure that the State's elected and appointed officials and those employed by the state abide by the highest standards of behavior and avoid any type of official misconduct, and

WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has recommended that the Governor appoint a broad-based Commission to review and consider the reform and enhancement of Florida's present approach to handling criminal and non-criminal official misconduct and public corruption, and

WHEREAS, any actions to improve Florida's response to official misconduct should include a review of Florida's and other states' and Federal current statutes and laws concerning public corruption, violation of ethical standards, conflict of interest, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office, bribery, and other forms of official misconduct, to determine whether Florida's statutes can be improved or enhanced, and

WHEREAS, any actions to improve Florida's response to official misconduct should include a review of the duties and powers of the Governor, the Chief Inspector General, the Statewide Prosecutor, the State Attorneys, the Ethics Commission, the Comptroller, and the Department of Law Enforcement to determine what, if any, improvements in coordination for the investigation and prosecution or discipline of persons who commit public corruption offenses could be made, and

WHEREAS, changes that may be determined will most likely require legislation to revise or enact provisions related the Florida's response to official misconduct or public corruption;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jeb Bush, as Governor of the State of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, do hereby authorize, order, and direct that a Public Corruption Study Commission be created, with membership, term of service, compensation, staff, and scope of inquiry, as follows:

(1) The Commission shall consist of the Attorney General or designate, the Chief Inspector General or designate, the Comptroller or designate, the Executive Director of the Department of Law Enforcement or designate, the General Counsel or designate, the President of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association or designate, the Statewide Prosecutor or designate, the Chairman of the Ethics Commission or designate, the President of the Senate or designate, the Speaker of the House or designate, and five members appointed by the Governor. The Governor shall select the chairperson.

(2) The Commission shall begin its meetings in September, 1999, and shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House by no later than December 15, 1999. Upon issuance of its final report, the Commission shall be dissolved. The Department of Law Enforcement is requested to provide sufficient staff and support to assist the Commission.

(3) The Commission must consider and make recommendations related to statutory revisions on the issue of public corruption and official misconduct in Florida. Matters considered shall include, but are not necessarily limited to:

(a) A review of current statutes and laws regarding public corruption and ethics violations to assure concerns are timely reported, investigated, and prosecuted in the appropriate forum;

(b) Whether there should be a closer linkage between the state and local entities responsible for investigating, prosecuting, or enforcing laws and regulations involving ethics or public corruption to assure that all allegations of official misconduct are appropriately reviewed, investigated and addressed;

(c) Whether a constitutionally-sound prohibition against misfeasance and malfeasance can be drafted and submitted for legislative consideration as an amendment to existing F.S. 839.25;

(d) Whether there should be an expansion of criminal prohibitions to include (but not limited to) entering into a contractual or other business relationship between a public official's own agency and another entity owned or operated by a relative of the public official and by which a financial gain or benefit inures to that official;

(e) A review of the methods of suspending or removing public officials, including the present powers of the Governor, to determine whether enhanced executive or other suspension/removal options should be implemented;

(f) Whether an expansion of non-criminal sanctions and options could better address corruption that for whatever reason cannot be proven in criminal court;

(g) How best to investigate and prosecute allegations of official misconduct and public corruption and what entities should be responsible for carrying out these duties, including considering whether the Ethics Commission should have the authority to investigate such allegations; and

(h) How the State may better establish a means by which reports of suspected public corruption may be made and evaluated, including whether rewards or other incentives for those who provide information leading to conviction should be offered.

(4) The Commission shall receive no compensation, but shall be entitled to per diem and travel expenses while attending meetings of the Commission, to the extent allowed by Section 112.061, Florida Statutes, and to the extent such funds are available through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The Commission shall be staffed through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 15th day of September, 1999.

Jeb Bush
Governor

ATTEST:
/s/ Katherine Harris
Secretary of State

Sometimes it’s easy to tell when you’re dealing with someone that’s two complete suits shy of a full deck and harmless, despite threats.

That was the apparent judgment call made by a California bank manager who, after stalling, handed a robber just $250 although his note said he had a gun, and a bomb, and wanted $20,000 in large bills.

The banker got it right. Linroy Bottoson owned a gun, but if he remembered to bring it to the bank, he forgot to show it. He robbed the bank because God told him to. Bottoson was a diagnosed schizophrenic with suicidal and self-destructive tendencies, but not violent ones.

Former FBI Agent John Loughney’s testimony about the robbery conviction was used at Bottoson’s homicide trial as if he’d shown both a gun and a bomb and received $20,000 in large bills instead of $250 in small ones.

Florida executed Bottoson after a trial and appeals more typical of Brevard County than Orange.

Select Florida physicians declared Bottoson competent. Phony expert John Preston provided “scent evidence” testimony, as in the upset Brevard convictions of Juan Ramos, Wilton Dedge and Bill Dillon. Jailhouse informant Pertrell Kuniara swore falsely, too, just as James E. Gilmore testified against Ramos, Clarence Zacke testified against Dedge and Roger Dale Chapman testified against Dillon.

Kuniara recanted, saying he’d discussed church with Bottoson, not murder. And Preston’s been repeatedly discredited, including during Bottoson’s trial, which our Supreme Court Justices just can’t ever rightly remember.

My intuition – not voices – tells me that the crushing of the victim’s body was post mortem; occurring when Ernest showed Bottoson where the body was after Ernest returned the car he borrowed. Others’ intuitions perhaps agreed, making a requested exhumation unwise.

Knowing danger when he sees it, the California banker will likely never visit Florida.

"I'm not sure what the rush is. I believe there are still a number of unanticipated changes that should lead the Legislature to put the brakes on this."
- Karen Woodall, lobbyist for the National Organization for Women (NOW)

In 2005, the Florida legislature passed one of the most reactionary health care reforms in the country, privatizing the delivery and care systems of our state's Medicaid program. This was a pilot program which was hailed as a potential national model should it succeed.

The inner workings of the plan were described as follows:

Under the plan, Florida would "largely be a buyer rather than a manager of health care," as the state would pay monthly premiums to private health insurers rather than fee-for-service payments to health care providers, the New York Times reports. The waiver authorizes private health insurers to limit "the amount, duration and scope" of services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries and allows the state to establish a "maximum per-year benefit" cap for each beneficiary (New York Times, 10/20). The state would pay health insurers a "risk-based" premium based on the health of Medicaid beneficiaries (South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 10/20). In addition, the waiver authorizes the state to establish a pool to provide as much as $1 billion annually to hospitals and other health care providers that treat a large number of uninsured patients (New York Times, 10/20)
...
Florida Medicaid beneficiaries will select from a number of managed care plans, "most likely HMOs, although state officials predicted that physician networks and hospitals could also band together to offer services," the Miami Herald reports (Miami Herald, 10/20). The state will automatically enroll Medicaid beneficiaries in managed care plans in the event that they do not make a selection.

By handing public money intended for a public program whose beneficiaries were both poor and young to profit-driven HMOs, you might have guessed what happened next.

Now, 3 years into the program, horror stories abound:

Amy Silverman, 52, calls the pilot program a "horror" after trying to get treatment for her atypical bipolar, severe depression, heart and kidney problems. Silverman says many of the doctors and specialists listed in her plan have either dropped out or aren't taking new patients. She's had such trouble getting appointments that she's gone to the emergency room, instead, for minor things that could have been handled by a doctor. The plan also denied a medication she's been using for years.

"I fear that my only hope for decent health care will be to move out of state and away from family," said Silverman, a Broward County resident.

However, the most damning fact of all is that despite 3 years of existence NO DATA EXISTS on key metrics of the program. I'm serious:

Nearly three years into a Medicaid privatization program former Gov. Jeb Bush said could be a national model, state officials say they do not have crucial data to measure the program's effectiveness, including how many patients' treatments and prescriptions have been approved or denied.
...
AHCA [The Agency for Health Care Administration, a federal agency] paid the University of Florida $2.5 million in 2005 to conduct an independent study of the program, but Paul Duncan, who is heading the study said he had not yet received the data.

Various groups, including Georgetown University, the health care advocacy group Florida CHAIN and the AP, have asked for the encounter data for nearly a year, but have not received it. The data should include patient diagnoses, what treatments and prescriptions doctors have prescribed and whether they were paid, denied or delayed. The data would also show how many specialist appointments have been paid or denied - a chief complaint among patients.

Simply outrageous. Any nonprofit in the state of Florida that receives state money has to account for every cent, and show how funds are being used according to a certain set of metrics. If a nonprofit screws up one year, they tend to lose state funding for obvious reasons. However, this program has gone on for 3 years and has likely spent billions, yet it apparently has no data to show for itself.

Putting aside the unbelievable stupidity of all this, let's not forget the trouble patients were having getting access to care. All of those folks who say that a public good like health care should managed by private, profit-seeking companies should wake up and smell the chaos.

Florida's government tried to get out of the business of helping deliver health care to its neediest citizens - it's time it got back in the game.

Florida's Governor turned Senate candidate, Charlie Crist, has quietly signed into law a blatantly unfair new workers' compensation bill promoted -- surprise, surprise -- by the Florida Chamber Of Commerce and passed by the Republican-dominated legislature. This regressive legislation dramatically un-levels the playing field between workers injured on the job and the employers who deny their claims for compensation benefits.

We're not talking here about scammers trying to fake or lie about the severity of workplace injuries and make out like bandits. Insurance company investigators and attorneys know how to sniff those types out. We're talking about firefighters, police officers, and other hard-working Floridians whose only recourse once their worker compensation claim is denied is to hire a lawyer and file an appeal.

What the new law does to create such injustice is to put a cap on the fees that an injured worker can pay the lawyer or firm that's handling their appeal -- a cap of $1,500 -- without putting any cap whatsoever on the fees paid by insurance companies to their own corporate attorneys.

   Read More »

The news earlier today that Jeb Bush is not running for Senate was good news and somewhat unexpected. So where does that leave us? Who will be running for this seat? A quick rundown of where others stand as far as running prior to Jeb's announcement:

   Read More »

From everything we've seen thus far the 2009 budget is going to be one big mess. As I pointed out in Wednesday's post, Crist, Atwater, and Sansom are to blame for this years woes. However, there is one person which did a lot to weaken Florida's government and sow the seeds for the economic downturn which has the entire state scrambling: Jeb Bush.

Jeb was governor during a time of budgetary surpluses, and like his brother, demonstrated a striking lack of fiscal responsibility. Instead of wisely investing in public education, laying the foundation for universal health care, or putting a down payment on a green economic future, Jeb sold off the surpluses he received to tax cuts which mostly benefited wealthier Floridians at the expense of the middle class and the poor.

At the same time, Jeb loaded up state government with Bush family lackeys who proceeded to weaken public institutions from within. Perhaps the most notorious of these situations was the Office of Financial Regulation, whose job it is to protect Floridians from fraud. OFR allowed former felons, including those previously convicted of racketeering and fraud, to attain mortgage licenses:

During an eight-month investigation, The Miami Herald analyzed computer records for more than 222,844 Florida mortgage professionals, examined thousands of records from the Office of Financial Regulation, reviewed hundreds of court files and interviewed dozens of regulators, brokers and victims.

The newspaper found:

• From 2000 to 2007, regulators allowed at least 10,529 people with criminal records to work in the mortgage profession. Of those, 4,065 cleared background checks after committing crimes that state law specifically requires regulators to screen, including fraud, bank robbery, racketeering and extortion.

• More than half the people who wrote mortgages in Florida during that period were not subject to any criminal background check. Despite repeated pleas from industry leaders to screen them, Florida regulators have refused.

• Confronted with a growing epidemic of mortgage fraud -- Florida now has the highest rate in the nation -- the number of license revocations declined over the last five years, leaving borrowers at the mercy of predatory brokers.

• During the peak of the housing boom, the Office of Financial Regulation ignored a state law enacted in 2006 that compelled it to perform nationwide criminal background checks on applicants. That failure allowed people convicted in other states -- and in federal court -- to peddle loans in Florida without any scrutiny.

• Regulators allowed at least 20 brokers to keep their licenses even after committing the one crime that seemed sure to get them banned from the industry: mortgage fraud.

We're paying the price now. However, if Jeb runs for US Senate, Florida voters may have the last laugh.

The political blogosphere has been abuzz with news that Jeb Bush is seriously considering running for US Senate to replace outgoing Republican Senator Mel Martinez.

According to some, Jeb would be a shoo-in for the job. While I have no doubt Jeb would be the initial favorite for the job, he would be far from a shoo-in. The state of Florida Jeb left in 2007 will not be the same as the one he'll hope to win in 2009 and 2010.

The Obama campaign's registration efforts brought in a half million new Democrats, fundamentally altering the Florida's political landscape. Two key counties: Miami-Dade and Orange are far bluer than the were in Jeb's day. I emphasize these two counties because Miami-Dade county is Jeb's home base, and Orange county is the main key to the I-4 corridor. Orange barely voted for Kerry in 2004 - but voted 60% for Obama a few weeks ago.

Then there's Jeb's record. His efforts to dismantle public education, cut every tax on the wealthy, and wage war on the people's government - all the while wrapped in an autocratic and dictatorial leadership style can all be reexamined in a national spotlight. One of the reasons why Jeb was "popular" as Governor is because most Floridians didn't know or understand what was happening in Tallahassee at the time. State politics just doesn't get the press or public attention it deserves. This safety for Jeb will be removed once he seeks federal office.

Jeb has also never faced serious opposition. He defeated weak Democrats (Buddy MacKay and Bill McBride) to win the governorship. The only time he ran with serious opposition (against Lawton Chiles in 1994) - he lost.

Plus, everyone knows who his brother is - 'nuff said.

This is not to say we should underestimate Jeb - no one should. Perhaps Jeb's strongest asset is the fact he speaks perfect Spanish and has strong connections with the Hispanic community. Let's not forget his famous "Banderas" ad in the 2002 campaign, demonstrating serious media saavy:



Jeb is a lot smarter than his brother in almost every way. He's a policy wonk, and likely salivates when the Heritage Foundation or the CATO Institute roll out their latest tomes on school choice or "free market" solutions.

So let's not underestimate Jeb, but also let's realize Jeb has his vulnerabilities. Matt Stoller of OpenLeft said it best yesterday:

This track record has been compounded by the weirdness of Florida, which is Alabama in the north of the state, Cuba and New York in the south of the state, and the exurbs in the I-4 corridor in the Disney middle. Jeb's conservative politics play well in the north of the state, and have been pretty irrelevant elsewhere. Should he run for Senate, Jeb Bush will have an entirely different experience. If his opponent is Alex Sink, my guess is that he's going to have a really tough time. Sink is a wonderful and highly respected former banker who is now the state's chief financial officer. She's a very very strong opponent, and Bush's background as a semi-corrupt businessman who participated in a scheme to, get this, sell water pumps in Nigeria, will emerge.

Remember, the Bush family is immensely corrupt, but that doesn't emerge unless there's actual scrutiny. Jeb has never been subjected to any such scrutiny, but it's hard to imagine that this situation can continue if he gets a serious contender. The Bush family is in disgrace, and I don't see how that changes in just two years, especially with the rumors flying around about Jeb's personal behavior and business shenanigans.