Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Jobs Report Is No Turkey
May 19, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott must have dreamed of a day like Friday.
Not only could Scott tout an unemployment rate at its lowest level since September 2008, but the jobs, jobs, jobs governor also signed a tax-break bill for manufacturers that was one of his top legislative priorities.
“It’s a great day for our state,” Scott said. “I feel great for all the families that are getting jobs in our state.”
Scott will never be known for riveting sound bites. But to punch up Friday’s news about the 7.2 percent unemployment rate, his office sent out a link to a slick, campaign-style video featuring background music, graphics and Scott recounting steady job growth during his two-plus years in office.
Make no mistake, Scott’s 2014 re-election campaign is well underway. Remember Scott’s “Let’s Get to Work” ads that seemed to be on an endless TV loop in 2010? Get ready for a barrage of ads during the next 18 months with the theme, “It’s Working.”
Democrats, of course, won’t give Scott a pass. In a recent email invitation to the party’s upcoming Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, state Democratic Chairwoman Allison Tant said it is important for Democrats to “come together to celebrate the historic gains we made last year and to turn our efforts to defeat the most unpopular Governor in the nation — Rick Scott!”
But at least for now, Scott has the field virtually to himself. The will-he-or-won’t-he speculation about former Gov. Charlie Crist’s possible entrance into the race dominates discussions about Democrats.
Meanwhile, Scott spent Monday and Tuesday of this week traveling to businesses across the state to celebrate passage of the bill that includes a sales-tax exemption for manufacturing equipment. That came after a similar victory tour last week to celebrate passage of a plan to increase teacher pay, another one of Scott’s legislative priorities.
And by the way, Scott took some time Thursday to champion the addition of $36 million to provide services to people with disabilities who have been stuck on a waiting list. Put all of the pieces together, and it looks like a campaign.
GOBBLE, GOBBLE
The biggest issue facing Scott is next Friday’s deadline for signing the state budget and issuing vetoes. With the governor and an entourage leaving late Monday for a trade mission to Chile, it remains unclear when he will make his decisions.
But Florida TaxWatch, a group that makes recommendations each year about vetoes, issued a report this week that came up with nearly $107 million in budget “turkeys” — the Tallahassee term for pork-barrel spending.
TaxWatch’s biggest gobbler, weighing in at $14 million, was a budget item for a science, technology, engineering and math building at Gulf Coast State College, which is in the district of Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. In all, TaxWatch targeted 107 items in the proposed $74.5 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.
“We don’t give the leaders a pass, we don’t hold them to a higher standard or a lower standard,” TaxWatch researcher Kurt Wenner said.
The TaxWatch list, which takes into account issues such as whether lawmakers stuck projects in the budget during final negotiations and whether projects were recommended by agencies, is an annual staple in Tallahassee. But the report released Thursday drew harsh criticism from Gaetz and Senate Appropriations Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
Gaetz issued a statement that seemed to almost border on apoplexy. Here’s the first paragraph:
“The TaxWatch list is built on the unconstitutional perversion that if an appropriation isn’t recommended by unelected agency officials it shouldn’t be considered in conference by elected legislators,” Gaetz said. “This is an arrogance of the elite who spend too much time in Tallahassee and Washington listening to the echoes of their own invented wisdom and thinking they’re hearing the voice of God.”
And that was just the start. Here’s another snippet:
“If our founders had shared the slavish devotion of TaxWatch to unchallenged decisions and dictates of faraway bureaucrats, we’d all be drinking English tea and singing God Save the Queen. A good song. But not an American song,” Gaetz said. “The Constitution obligates and empowers elected legislators, who come from communities and go home to communities, to write the state’s budget. If TaxWatch staffers want to test their budget theories in the public square, let them stand up in front of conference committees and testify in public.”
It remains to be seen what projects Scott will veto — or whether he will draw a similar reaction from legislative leaders. He shed little light Friday about his plans.
“My job is to make sure I represent the taxpayers of the state, I don’t want to waste any of their dollars,” Scott said. “I want to make sure we go through every line. Make sure the dollars are spent well.”
MONEY TALKS
While Scott talks about jobs for Florida families, he might not have to worry about two groups of people who sometimes cross paths in the Capitol — lobbyists and state-college presidents.
At least that’s the take-away from numbers released this week.
Five lobbying firms collected at least $1 million in legislative lobbying fees during the first three months of the year, while 11 others collected between $500,000 and $999,999, according to reports filed by a Wednesday night deadline.
Meanwhile, a report issued by Scott’s chief inspector general, Melinda Miguel, found that presidents at the 28 state colleges are making between $143,866 and $630,157 during the current fiscal year. Miguel said it was sometimes difficult to figure out how much the presidents make and called for changes.
“Therefore, we recommend that the boards of trustees, in consultation with the Division (of Florida Colleges), jointly establish the parameters upon which the presidents’ total compensation is determined, document the factors upon which compensation is based and standardize the methodology across state colleges,” Miguel said.
But that idea drew pushback from some college officials.
“With a system as diverse as ours in terms of size, geography, community demographics and businesses, which leads to varying mix of programs to meet those local needs, it is difficult to imagine that a ‘one size fits all’ formula for presidential compensation would be very effective,” wrote Lake Sumter State College Board Chairman Timothy Morris in a response. “If, for example, size were a limiting factor, colleges like ours would become training grounds for new presidents who would soon move on to the next opening at a larger school. Such a model would be destabilizing for our college and others like us.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.2 percent in April.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It is little wonder that TaxWatch is irrelevant 364 days a year.” — Senate President Don Gaetz, in a statement railing on TaxWatch’s annual budget “turkey” list.
Fog Possible Overnight, Hot Sunday
May 18, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast for this Saturday:
- Tonight: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms . Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
- Sunday: Patchy dense fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Sunday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southeast after midnight.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Light southeast wind becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Walnut Hill Homeowner Shoots Burglar
May 18, 2013
A burglar was shot by a homeowner Friday afternoon in Walnut Hill.
About 4 p.m., the resident of the 3900 block of Rockaway Creek Road reported a burglary in progress at his home. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said he arrived home to find two intruders inside of the residence.
The homeowner held the suspects at gunpoint while he called the Sheriff’s Office. As he was speaking with dispatchers, one of the suspects, identified at 33-year old Ricky Dewayne Taylor, lunged toward him. The homeowner fired a .38 caliber revolver, striking Taylor in the leg. Taylor was alert and conscious when he was transferred to LifeFlight to be airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. His injuries did not appear life threatening.
The female suspect, identified as 35-year old Teresa Dianne Sunday, received a minor injury on her face from a ricochet; she was taken into custody at the scene by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Taylor and Sunday were charged with burglary of a residence and grand theft of a dwelling. Sunday was being held with bond set at $12,500 Saturday night in the Escambia County Jail, while Taylor remained hospitalized.
The homeowner was not injured, and no charges have been filed against him.
Pictured top: Burglary suspect Ricky Taylor, shot in the leg, is loaded into an ambulance on Rockaway Creek Road Friday afternoon. Pictured inset and bottom: Taylor is transferred to LifeFlight. Pictured below: The scene of an alleged burglary that ended with the suspect being shot Friday afternoon in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
One Killed In Single Vehicle Escambia County Crash
May 18, 2013
An Escambia County woman was killed in a single vehicle traffic crash Friday night at the intersection of Pine Forest Road and I-10.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 35-year old Rachael W. Lawson of Pensacola was westbound on I-10 when she attempted to exit onto Pine Forest Road. She lost control of her 1999 Toyota Corolla and begin to spin onto the grass shoulder. She then hit a fence and a wooden utility pole with the driver’s side of the vehicle. Lawson was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
Pictured: One person was killed at the intersection of Pine Forest Road and I-10 Friday night. This was the scene in a reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Searching For Missing Autistic Boy
May 18, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing 7-year old autistic boy.
He was last seen Friday afternoon on Perdido Key Driver in the vicinity of the Needle Rush condos. He was wearing a red and blue striped shirt and brown sweat pants. He has short blondish brown hair, brown eyes and is small for his age (4-feet tall, 45 pounds) .
If you see this child or have any information as to his whereabouts, contact the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Regional Waste Roundup Saturday In Century
May 18, 2013
The Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management will host a Regional Roundup Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon at the hold Carver Middle School on East Hecker Road in Century.
Regional Roundup events provide an opportunity for Escambia County, Florida, residents to properly dispose of electronics, household hazardous waste (HHW), shoes and up to four tires per vehicle, free of charge.
Businesses and residents can dispose of all types of clean, dry, recyclable electronics including computers, monitors and terminals, keyboards, mice, printers, TVs, copiers, gaming systems, remotes, fax machines, VCRs, stereo systems, cell phones and telephones. Electronics that have been gutted will not be accepted. Businesses with large amounts of electronics should call the Department of Solid Waste Management to make an appointment to dispose of those items at the Perdido Landfill. Appliances, including fans and air conditioners, are not accepted.
HHW items can cause injury if handled improperly. These items will usually have a warning or cautionary statement on their labels, such as flammable, corrosive, poison or toxic and include items such as swimming pool chemicals, cleaners, drain openers, paint and paint products, fuels, gases, lawn and garden chemicals, aerosol cans and automotive repair and maintenance products.
Shoes are also collected for the Soles4Souls program, which accepts donated shoes for the less fortunate. Donated shoes should be bound together with a rubber band.
All electronic, household hazardous waste and tires are recycled.
Local Employment Numbers Improve
May 18, 2013
The latest jobs numbers released Friday show the unemployment rate fell dramatically in the North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate fell from 6.9 percent in March to 6.4 percent for April. There were 628 fewer people reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 9,005 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 8.0 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment decreased from 6.2 percent in March to 5.8 percent in April. Santa Rosa County had a total of 4,334 persons reported to be still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 7.4 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment dropped from 8.5 percent in March to 7.4 percent in April. That represented 1,112 people unemployed in the county during the month. The year-ago rate was 7.8 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.2 percent in April, down from 7. 5 percent a month earlier, giving Gov. Rick Scott more fodder for his claim that the administration’s efforts are working to return the economy to pre-recession success.
The new rate is the lowest it has been since September of 2008, early in the recession and marks several months of continued recovery. The improvement also, however, tracks national gains in employment, though the state’s jobless rate is now below the national rate of 7.5 percent.
“Florida’s families are getting back to work and our state’s economy is growing,” Scott said in a statement. “With 16,700 new private sector jobs added last month and an unemployment rate that continues to decline, Florida is once again below the national average at 7.2 percent.”
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.9percent in April, was down from March’s rate of 7.2 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 7.4 percent.
Northview Plays Two Spring Jamboree Games Today
May 18, 2013
The Florida 1A state champion Northview Chiefs will take on a couple of Alabama teams in spring football games this afternoon in East Brewton.
The Chiefs will take on Andalusia High School at 1:00 before playing Hillcrest-Evergreen at 2:40. Both games will be played at W.S. Neal High School.
The complete schedule for the five-team jamboree is as follows:
· 1:00 Northview vs. Andalusia
· 1:50 W.S. Neal vs Andalusia
· 2:40 Northview vs. Hillcrest
· 3:30 p.m. Linden vs. W.S. Neal
· 4:20 p.m Hillcrest vs. Linden
Admission is $5. W.S. Neal is located at 801 Andrew Jackson Street [map].
Pictured top: Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley goes over the playbook with his Chiefs during a Tuesday afternoon practice. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, Ernest Ward Hold Annual FFA Banquet
May 18, 2013
The Northview High School FFA held their 18th annual banquet Friday night along with the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA.
The night also included many awards for Northview and Ernest Ward Middle school FFA members and supporters.
Among those honored for their support of the FFA program were Sheila Holland, Billy Johnson, Bill Welch, and Arty and Pam Kleinatland. The five were named honorary members of the Northview FFA.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Some of the other awards and scholarships presented Friday night included:
Blue and Gold Awards: Dillian Crutchfield, Gene Hassebrock, Bethany Reynolds, Jeremy Stacey, Karissa Strickland, Kaitlyn Kleinatland and Grady Rigby.
Outstanding Freshman and Star Greenhand: Haylee Weaver
Outstanding Sophmore: Tiffani Cruce
Outstanding Junior: Courtney Solari
Outstanding Senior: Jessica Baldwin
2012-2013 Officer Leadership Awards: Photographer-Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Chaplain-Bethany Reynolds, Historian- Courtney Weekly, Parliamentarian- Tiffani Cruce, Sentinel – Dillian Crutchfield, Reporter-Haylee Weaver, Treasurer- Jeremy Stacey, Secretary- Karissa Strickland, Vice-President – Courtney Solari, President – Jessica Baldwin
High Point Award: Jessica Baldwin
American Degree: Lydia Weaver
State Degree: Jessica Baldwin and Dillian Crutchfield
Chapter Degree: Tiffani Cruce and Karissa Strickland
Greenhand Degree: Katelyn Born, Kamryn Brock, Codie Calloway, Ciara Campbell, Lane Godwin, Gene Hassebrock, Ricky Jones, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Trevor Levins, Moriah McGahan, Ben Preston, Laurie Purdy, Bethany Reynolds, Savanna Roux, Levi Solomon, Haylee Weaver and Courtney Weekley
FFA Alumni Scholarship: Jessica Baldwin and Dillian Crutchfield
Thomas E. Weaver Memorial Scholarship: Jessica Baldwin
Glynn C. Key Scholarship: Jessica Baldwin
Jamie Hall Memorial Scholarship: Lydia Weaver and Mitchell Singleton
The new Northview FFA officers named for the 2013-2014 school year were: President – Courtney Solari, Vice President – Courtney Weekley, 2nd Vice President – Haylee Weaver, Secretary – Bethany Reynolds, Treasurer – Moriah McGahan, Reporter – Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Sentinel – Tabitha Chavers, Parlimentarian – Mitchell Singleton, Historian – Hunter Kite, Chaplian – Tamara Barrows, Photographer – Jessica Stacey, and Public Relations – Tiffani Cruce.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay’s Olivia Wright Signs Softball Scholarship With Wallace State
May 18, 2013
Jay High School senior Olivia Wright signed a softball scholarship with Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, AL.
The Wallace State fast pitch softball program won the 2008 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Championship, finishing national runner-up on two other occasions and third in 2012. Wallace State softball reclaimed the top spot in the state in 2012, winning its fifth Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC)/Region 22 state championship in six seasons and its seventh straight Northern Division title. The Lions finished with a 60-12 record and had a third-place finish at the NJCAA tournament.
Wright is the daughter of Shannon Wright and Keith Wright. She is the granddaughter of Aldon and Nancy Lloyd and Marie Wright.
Earlier this year, Northview High senior Misty Doran also signed a softball scholarship with Wallace State.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.