Scott, Crist Duel Over Past And Future Of Economy
October 28, 2014
Long before the flare-up over Charlie Crist’s fan earlier this month, Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s campaign had been dogged by an earlier debate moment — one from four years ago, when he was asked to elaborate on his promise to create 700,000 jobs in seven years.
The moderator at the debate used the first question for Scott to point out that economists already expected Florida to add more than 700,000 jobs over the next seven years. After the usual opening greetings, Scott made it clear what his promise meant.
“So, our plan is seven steps to 700,000 jobs,” Scott said. “And that plan is on top of what normal growth would be.”
The moderator, Antonio Mora, pushed Scott a bit. Economists expected the state to add about a million jobs, so another 700,000 jobs would mean that Florida would have an additional 1.7 million openings over the next seven years, Mora noted, in a state where 1 million people were unemployed at the time.
Scott didn’t correct Mora. “We’re going to grow the state,” he responded, then began ticking off the virtues of doing business in Florida.
Even before this year’s campaign, when Scott’s biggest talking-point is his record of job creation, the exchange with Mora was repeatedly walked back after the governor settled into office. In a statement issued in October 2011, Scott said his promise was “the creation of 700,000 jobs over seven years regardless of what the economy might otherwise gain or lose” — a slight change in phrasing that altered the meaning of the promise.
That is largely the definition his campaign is sticking by now — while adding in a dig at Crist, the former governor and Scott’s Democratic opponent, who oversaw a job market hammered by the economic downturn.
“Normal growth under Charlie Crist, when Governor Scott was running, was negative. … The fact is, over the last 3.5 years, we have created over 640,000 private sector jobs. Normal growth under Charlie Crist was losing 832,000 jobs, so under that scenario, if Charlie hadn’t run away from his job as governor, we could have lost 2 million jobs,” spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said recently in an email.
Scott’s focus on private sector jobs also omits a drop of about 29,000 government jobs from January 2011 to August 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The economy might not be the dominant issue in this election that it was in 2010, when the state’s unemployment rate ballooned into double-digits and Scott ran almost exclusively on a promise of more jobs. Nowhere is that more clear than in Scott’s “Florida 2020 Plan,” released Monday, which packages the promises the governor has made over the last several months into what his campaign describers as a vision.
That plan includes pledges on education funding, early learning and the environment in addition to economic items like $1 billion in tax reductions and investment in Florida’s infrastructure. In something that would have been almost unthinkable four years ago, Scott’s statement announcing the vision includes increasing employment as just one of the things the plan would promote.
“I get to travel the state every day and talk to people all over Florida about what they want — they want to move our state forward,” Scott said. “The Florida 2020 plan is just that — a clear vision to move Florida forward, to continue building our state to be the best place in the country to find a great job, start a family, and give our kids a world-class education.”
But the economy is still an issue, and the achievements Florida has seen under the 7-7-7 plan — or at least the parts of it that Scott has been able to push through the Legislature — are still likely to be on voters’ minds as they cast their ballots, either during the current early-voting period or on Nov. 4.
Crist’s campaign, of course, tries to hold Scott to the higher numbers of 1.7 million jobs — and argues that, by that metric, Scott is on pace to fall short of his goal.
“Rick Scott didn’t just move the goalpost to cheat Floridians, he pretended it was never there,” Kevin Cate, a spokesman for Crist, said in an email.
In fact, the number of jobs in Florida is right around what a University of Central Florida center projected for Florida four years ago, if not a tick below. The July 2010 forecast called for the state to have 7.9 million non-farm jobs in 2014. According to the latest numbers from the state Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida had about 7.8 million non-farm jobs in September.
In reality, said Sean Snaith — the director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Competitiveness who is a high-profile forecaster and an economist frequently cited by the Scott campaign — it’s very difficult to tease out the effects of any governor’s policies on the state’s recovery.
“The outcomes we observe in Florida’s economy are a combination of factors that mix together sort of like the ingredients in (an) omelet,” he said.
Whether that matters to voters or not is another matter. In a poll in late August by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida, the school’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research, the Tampa Bay Times and Bay News 9, 71 percent of the people polled said they believe the governor has a “great deal of control” over the economy.
Further complicating the question of whether Scott is on track to add as many jobs as he promised is that many of the promises he made as part of the 7-7-7 plan are incomplete or seemingly dead. Scott said he would try to get a biennial budget through the Legislature instead of an annual spending plan, but lawmakers never went along and Schutz suggested it wouldn’t be a priority in a second term.
“Governor Scott did propose a biennial budget during his first year, but the Legislature did not go along with it,” she said.
Another goal of Scott’s appears far from reality. The governor had promised to phase out the corporate income tax over seven years, something that was estimated to be a $1.8 billion hit to the state budget, by reducing the rate. Instead, lawmakers have whittled away at the tax, increasing the exemption and costing the state tens of millions of dollars at a time.
“The governor is committed to phasing (out) the corporate income tax and has made it a priority every year to get it reduced,” Schutz said. “And we have made great progress — more than 70% do not have to pay it now.”
In the meantime, Crist has focused on his “Fair Shot Florida” plan, which Cate said “promises to refocus the state on growing the middle class. That includes lowering the cost of living, raising the minimum wage, and investing in local small businesses.”
Crist has focused on increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour — something polls show is politically popular — but his plans also include a list of other ideas, from funding for business incubators to recreating an Office of Small Business Advocacy to expanding eligibility for the state’s Medicaid program.
“People like Rick Scott are fine — it’s the middle class that is hurting because of low-wages and the high cost of living,” Cate said.
But Crist has his own record to deal with. When he was governor, the state shed hundreds of thousands of jobs and saw unemployment jump from 3.5 percent in January 2007 to a high of 11.4 percent in 2010; it declined slightly and was at 11.1 percent in December 2010, Crist’s last full month in office.
Crist has downplayed that, most recently at the third and final debate between himself and Scott. In response to a question from CNN anchor Jake Tapper, Crist said he doesn’t believe he was to blame for those job losses.
“And what Rick Scott doesn’t get is the fact that, even though he talks about creating more than 600,000 jobs, I was not responsible for the global economic meltdown any more than Rick was responsible for the national economic recovery,” Crist said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Florida Wants To Make Case Again On Childrens’ Health Care
October 28, 2014
Pointing to a new managed-care system and changes stemming from the Affordable Care Act, attorneys for the state are asking a federal judge to dig back into whether Florida properly provides care to children in the Medicaid program.
The Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Families last week filed court documents asking federal judge Adalberto Jordan to consider new evidence in a nearly decade-old case that centers on the adequacy of care provided to low-income children through Medicaid.
Jordan has not ruled in the case, which was filed in 2005 and has been spearheaded by the Florida Pediatric Society. But the court documents filed last week indicate that Jordan could issue his findings soon.
In two motions filed Thursday, the state agencies contend that the Medicaid program has undergone significant changes since evidence was presented in 2012. In part, that is because the state this year finished putting in place a new system that requires almost all Medicaid beneficiaries to enroll in HMOs or other types of managed-care plans.
In one of the motions, the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Health argued that managed-care plans are required to have adequate networks of physicians and other types of service providers.
In the past, a longstanding complaint about the Medicaid program was that beneficiaries often had problems finding health-care providers, such as specialists, who would treat them. A key issue in the lawsuit is whether care has been hampered by low Medicaid payment rates to physicians.
“Since the trial there have been a multitude of significant changes to the Florida Medicaid service delivery system that affect the issues in this case, and that render the existing record on liability stale,” attorneys for the two agencies wrote in the motion.
But in July, Jordan rejected a request by the state to declare the case moot — a request that focused, in part, on the shift to statewide managed care. At the time, Jordan wrote that the managed-care system would not be in “full swing” until Oct. 1.
“At this time nobody knows whether or not the new managed care system will alleviate or solve the issues that the plaintiffs have been complaining about for years,” Jordan wrote. “Without a developed factual record on how the managed care system is working (or not working), it is impossible to declare any part of this case moot.”
The new motion by AHCA and the Department of Health asked that the case be reopened to provide more evidence, not that the case be determined moot.
But the Department of Children and Families raised the possibility that part of the lawsuit could be declared moot. That part deals with the department’s determination of Medicaid eligibility for children.
The department cited a new computer system and other changes that were an outgrowth of the federal Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. While Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-controlled Legislature opposed the controversial health law, the department said in last week’s motion that the state has made important changes in how Medicaid eligibility determinations are performed and that the changes were “driven largely” by the federal measure.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
New Traffic Signal On Nine Mile Road At New Federal Way
October 27, 2014
A new traffic signal on Nine Mile Road at Navy Federal Way is now active. The signal was in a flash mode for the past week to acquaint motorists with the location.
The new signal is mounted on strain poles with signal heads in the vertical position, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Drivers are urged to use caution when approaching the intersection.
One Airlifted To Hospital After Being Overcome By Gas Near Flomaton
October 27, 2014
One person was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital this morning after being overcome by a dangerous gas near Flomaton.
The man was cleaning the inside of a tanker truck when he came in contact with hydrogen sulfide (commonly called H2S gas) as a facility on Pecan Leaf Lane. According to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton, the man was able to get out of the tank on his own. He was transported by Escambia County (FL) EMS to their post in Century and then flown by LifeFlight to a Pensacola hospital where he was expected to recover.
The tanker truck was used to transport salt water between oil facilities, Stanton said, and it apparently contained a residual amount of H2S gas.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Team Tops National Competition
October 27, 2014
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team has been named one of the very best in the country.
The ECSO team won first place in the four-man team competition at the United States Police Canine Association Police Dog Trials this past week in Wilson, NC. Team members are Mark Smith with his K-9 Jeck, Wayne Gulsby with his K-9 Caleb Carlos Lizarraga and his K-9 Saban, and Jason Land with his K-9 Edo. Lizarraga is employed by the Foley Police Department, but trains with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pensacola Police K-9 Handler Bruce Harris and his partner Enio finished third overall in the competition.
There were 104 K-9 teams from 15 states that took part in the event. They also had the top obedience score and were in the top five in criminal apprehension.
Pictured top: Mark Smith, Wayne Gulsby, Carlos Lizarraga, and Jason Land with their award. Pictured below: (L-R) Land with K-9 Edo, Gulsby with K-9 Caleb and Smith with K-9 Jeck during the national police trials in Wilson, NC. Pictured bottom: K-9 Edo. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Emergency Road Work Begins Today On A Portion Of Nine Mile
October 27, 2014
Emergency repairs are scheduled this week on Nine Mile Road between the Escambia River Bridge and Scenic Highway.
Crews will begin constructing the temporary diversion to maintain and shift traffic as they complete the necessary repair work. Drivers can expect nighttime lane restrictions, narrowed travel lanes and a reduced speed limit daily from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Wednesday.
Traffic will be shift to the temporary diversion on Thursday as crews begin repairs to the westbound outside right lane and shoulder. Drivers will experience narrowed lanes and a reduced speed limited for approximately one month. Motorists are reminded to use caution and to obey the posted speed limit when traveling through the work zone.
Planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled.
Elderly Cantonment Couple Injured In Hospital Pond Wreck
October 27, 2014
An elderly Cantonment couple received minor injuries in an accident that left their vehicle in a hospital pond Sunday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 90-year old John J. Durnil made a left turn from the West Florida Hospital driveway onto University Parkway about 10:20 p.m. He continued to make the left hand turn in his 2010 Mazda car until he circled back onto the curb, then onto the shoulder of University Parkway and into trees, bushes and eventually a pond near the hospital’s emergency room. The vehicle came rest in just a few feet of water.
Durnil and his passenger, 86-year old Ruth Durnil, also of Cantonment, were transported into the West Florida emergency room with minor injuries.
Charges in the crash are pending investigation, the FHP said.
Northview To Host Junior, Senior Parent Info Night Tuesday
October 27, 2014
Northview High School will hold a Junior/Senior Parent Info Night Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. in the school.
Students and parents can receive information regarding graduation requirements, Bright Futures eligibility, NCAA/NAIA athletic eligibility, scholarships, and financial aid.
Northview will also host two additional parent/student nights this year:
College/Career Fair, November 13, 6-7 p.m.
- Receive information and speak to representatives from local colleges and businesses about job opportunities for high school graduates.
Seniors – Bright Futures Application Night, December 2 5-7 p.m.
- Seniors can receive assistance in completing the Florida Student Financial Aid application, which is required for Bright Futures eligibility. Computers will be available with assistance from counseling staff to submit the Bright Futures application.
Escambia Elections: 8,337 Ballots Cast During First Week Of Early Voting
October 27, 2014
Week one of early voting ended Sunday with 8.337 votes cast in Escambia County. Week two of early voting continues through Saturday.
During the first week of early voting, 485 ballots were cast in Molino, and 1,310 were cast in Cantonment.
Early voting continues at seven locations until Saturday November 1:
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Escambia County Extension Service, 3740 Stefani Road, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 N. 9th Avenue, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Bellview/Saufley Early Vote Site, 4607 Saufley Field Road, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Spooky Trail Offers Students A Thrilling Literacy Adventure
October 27, 2014
Escambia Westgate teachers, staff and many volunteers created a Spooky Trail last week for the students of Escambia Westgate, and McArthur Elementary School’s Special Education students, as a fun way to teach literacy. The mile-long trail through the woods behind the schools was decorated with giant eyeballs, witch’s hats, monsters, spider webs and skeletons. Stations along the way featured a magician, a team of storytellers, a monster sing-along, and even a fortune teller.
University of West Florida Honor students volunteered along with students from Booker T. Washington High School’s Jayettes and NJROTC students from Tate High School. Many of the student volunteers are already planning to be back in January for the Winter Trail.
Hannah Mizell, UWF Honor student, said the day was extra special for her because she has autism. “I feel sort of a connection to the kids. I kind of know what they are going through. I come from a small town where this would never happen.”
“Westgate is my favorite organization the honor students volunteer with,” explained Megan Adams, co-chair of the Honors Program Service Committee. “We take the students to three service projects a month. They will be back to help this spring with the Arbor Day trail and with Westgate’s prom.”
“Madam Ziree,” the Spooky Trail’s resident Fortune Teller (AKA Mrs. Desiree Rowe, Speech and Language Pathologist) said that last year she read a story to the children about a fortune teller. “This year I decided to play the part. The teachers gave me tips about their students such as their favorite foods, the name of their pet, or who plays on the Miracle League. Their eyes got big when Madam Ziree knew something special about them.”
Overseeing the day’s events were Judge Lacey Collier and Joe Denmon. It would be hard to find two men prouder of Escambia Westgate and what is done there for the children and teens they teach. Denmon discovered Escambia Westgate years ago when he was helping his sister transport some of the students. “The story is that one day I drove that bus out here, got off the bus and never left.”
Collier is especially proud of the Center’s Snoezelen Facility, a project that has his name on it. “He has taken us into his heart,” explains Susie Watson, curriculum coordinator for Escambia Westgate.
This was the fourth year for the Spooky Trail and everyone agreed that the credit goes to Catherine Born, who was on the trail at dawn putting up decorations and setting up for the volunteers. But she won’t take the credit, she quickly boasts about everyone who helped, the art teacher, the music teacher, the volunteers, etc. She is especially thankful for the Ascend volunteers who were out on the October 10, 2014, United Way Day of Caring to clear the pathways and lay out fresh mulch.
Pictured top: University of West Florida Honors program students created their own costumes and put on skits based on children’s books. This skit explained why the Old Lady Swallowed Some Leaves (a Halloween spoof of the Old Lady Who Swallowed the Fly). Pictured top inset: Charlotte Tucker, High School ESE Reading teacher at Escambia Westgate,helps students experience green slime and slimey eyeballs. Pictured bottom inset: Beau Bromall brings magic to the Spooky Trail. Pictured below: “Madam Ziree” played by Desiree Rowe helps a student look into her “crystal ball” to see his fortune. Pictured bottom: Judge Lacey Collier and Joe Denmon take a break to visit along The Spooky Trail. Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
