Independent News‘State & National News’ Archives
Taking Shame issue statewide with Florida Voices column. More lipstick to remove
My Florida Voices column today talks about how conservatives are looking at the wrong figures when they complain about Medicaid expansion. I figure that I might was well take the lipstick of the Tallahassee pigs, too. The James Madison Institute, a conservative think-tank based in Tallahassee, [...]
Scott wants to double-down on education
Gov. Rick Scott called his pay raises for teachers “a double-down” on what he claims has been a billion-dollar investment on the state’s K-12 education system. Having taken credit for the turnaround of Florida’s economy, the governor said at press conference yesterday, “We must be [...]
Stafford testifies on Florida election process (testimony)
As I reported last week, Escambia Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and nine other supervisors testified yesterday about their experiences during the 2012 General Election before the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, chaired by Senator Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater). The meeting, lasting [...]
Buzz: Scott wanted Board members who pledged no tuition increases
Florida Gov. Rick Scott appointed last Thursday five members to the Board of Governors of the State University System. Our sources are telling us that the governor demanded a pledge from nominees for the board that they would not vote for any tuition increases. At least, one who wouldn't make the [...]
Another Tea Party failure: Boehner still Speaker. Darn, the angry, old white coalition is losing power
For the last couple days, the Tea Party has been bragging that it had the votes to unseat Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) as the Speaker of the House. The boys weren't happy with Boehner over not falling over the fiscal cliff and actually negotiating with the White House. Well, they failed. The [...]
Food for guns trade worked in LA. How much chicken can you buy for a rocket launcher?
The Los Angeles Police Department offered for one day only a buyback program. Turn in a gun, get a grocery store gift card. According to Atlantic, the final numbers were 2,037 firearms, including 75 assault weapons and two anti-tank rocket launchers. No questions were asked, simply turn over the [...]
Quote of the Day
NY Times published today an article on the decline of the Tea Party since the 2012 General Election. Florida Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) had this to say about how the fringe group believes states can nullify the Affordable Care Act: "We’re not a banana republic. It is dangerous to [...]
Guest Viewpoint: Universal Responsibility
By Winslow Myers--- “O that there were some virtue in my tears . . .”—Shakespeare-- One of the Dalai Lama’s first principles is something he calls “universal responsibility.” However quick we are to place His Holiness on a saintly pedestal, it is only because the threshold of our [...]
5,740 Children and Teens were Killed by Guns in 2008 and 2009
The Children's Defense Fund published earlier this year a report (Protect Children, Not Guns 2012) on the rise of gun deaths of children and teens. In 2008, 2,947 children and teens died from guns in the United States and 2,793 died in 2009 for a total of 5,740—one child or teen every three [...]
Evers supports sales tax on web sales
The News Herald reports that State Sen. Greg Evers (R-Baker) supports a bill that would charge sales tax on Internet sales. Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami, has filed the bill through, officially titled Mail Order Sales (SB 88). The bill would bring home between $800 million and $1 billion in [...]
Gaetz addresses issues surrounding Transparency software
TO: All Senators FROM: Don Gaetz, President SUBJECT:Senate Contract with Spider Data Systems DATE: December 7, 2012 You may have seen a number of news reports as well as a report published today by Integrity Florida regarding the Senate’s contract with Spider Data Services. Prior to [...]
Well, well, Olive Garden is not laying off workers because Obama won. LOL
In October, Fox News reported that a second Obama term would guarantee the president’s health care law will be fully implemented. It said Darden Restaurants, which owns Red Lobster, Olive Garde and LongHorn Steakhouse, would have to layoff workers or shift to more part-time employees to avoid the [...]