Florida Weekly Government Roundup: Calm Before (And After) The Storm
May 15, 2011
There was a noticeable spring in the steps of Tallahassee’s lobbying corps, government workers (those whose jobs weren’t cut) and public officials this week as players in the annual melee of the legislative session caught their breaths following a chaotic finale that kept lawmakers up to the predawn hours of last weekend.
Freed from their dawn-til-dark schedule, many spent the week reacquainting themselves with families that for all intents and purposes lost a parent or two to the session’s final days. But capital insiders also sifted through myriad pieces of legislation to determine if the session was successful or not, an annual ritual made more difficult this year as lawmakers passed no less than 40 conforming and conference measures spanning thousands of pages literally in the middle of the night.
Still, the atmosphere was darn right serene in a city that only last week was home to a cacophony of noise from the throngs fuelled by fifth floor M&Ms and Mountain Dew.
Such pastoral moments may be short lived.
Stung by an avalanche of legislation affecting pensions, teacher performance, elections, drug testing and abortions to name a few, groups who fared poorly during the recently concluded session spent this week deciding whether they would fare better in courtrooms than they did in committee rooms.
Slammed by supermajorities in both chambers, groups with different political bents watched almost helplessly as wave after wave of Republican-backed legislation worked its way through. Those groups were huddling this week to determine what to do to regain some of the ground lost on a variety of fronts.
“Unfortunately, the list is long, very long,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, who added that the organization will likely have to triage its choices. “We can only do so much.”
Among the ACLU’s first targets will likely be a proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 1218) that would allow taxpayer dollars to go to religious groups. Another likely target is a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 1179) that would prevent the Florida Constitution from being interpreted more broadly than the U.S. Constitution on abortion issues. That is important because the Florida Constitution’s privacy clause has been successfully used in the past to challenge abortion laws.
Looking beyond the constitution, Simon said the group is likely to file separate challenges to an executive order requiring state agencies to drug test potential employees and another measure (HB 353) that requires all recipients of temporary financial assistance to test negative for drugs or be barred from collecting benefits.
Among the most politically charged issues is a measure dealing with elections. The proposal (HB 1355) makes changes to early voting, address changes and get-out-the vote campaigns. Republicans said the bill was necessary to crack down on election fraud, noting ominously that the Florida code contains loopholes for what the House sponsor called “mischief.”
Democrats slammed the elections bill as an attack on Florida voters by shaving days off early voting, blocking voters’ access to the constitution through citizen initiatives and discouraging key portions of President Barack Obama’s 2008 electoral coalition from returning to the polls next year.
The bill also places further restrictions on groups such as the League of Women Voters that have historically gone out and registered voters. Under the bill, the league and others would have to file completed registration forms within 48 hours or else face a $50 fine for each late form.
“We took a look at the law and determined it is very broad and vague,” said League President Deirdre Macnab, adding that the league is reviewing its legal options. “They created an entirely new set of regulations that is going to be very cumbersome for volunteers to comply with.”
At least one action by Gov. Rick Scott has already drawn a legal challenge. A coalition of groups has filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court asking the high court to declare unconstitutional an executive order to suspend rulemaking authority from state agencies. Scott took the action days after taking office.
Unions are also eyeing the passage of measures to base teacher pay on merit and other that would expand the McKay Scholarship program to students with less debilitating ailments such as allergies and asthma.
“The Florida Education Association is looking at legislation that got passed this last session and kind of examining our options are far as what kinds of things we need to look at as far as deciding whether we are going to challenge anything in court,’ said FEA spokesman Mark Pudlow. “There is plenty of legislation that looks like it could be challenged and we are trying to assess what had the best chance of success and we have limited resources so we can’t go after everything.”
SCOTT HAPPY WITH FIRST SESSION:
Scott is touting the success of a session that included victories on several of his campaign promises and legislative proposals, from pension reform to drug testing for welfare recipients and education reform — and a deal on the corporate tax cut.
“For a novice, he did remarkably well pushing through an agenda,” said Dan Smith, a political science professor at the University of Florida.
In his post-session radio address, Scott nodded toward some of his successes, including beefing up school choice programs and reorganization of the state’s economic-development agencies that he pushed.
“I applaud the Senate and the House for taking these great first steps to move our state in the right direction,” he said. “In the coming months, I’ll begin putting these first pieces of my 7-7-7 plan into action.”
The hallmark of many of Scott’s successes, though, lies in the phrase “first steps.” Many of the details of Scott’s proposals were pared down or completely altered by the Legislature, which balked at the idea of forcing new state employees into a 401(k)-style defined-contribution retirement plan and increased the exemption for corporate taxpayers rather than the rate cut Scott favored.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Thoughts turn to summer vacation instead of summer session.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It’s not like I’m some jerk. I’m 50-years-old.” Richard Catalano, who won a case in the 2nd District Court of Appeal this week that found the state’s car stereo noise law unconstitutional. Catalano was ticketed for blasting Justin Timberlake, but the court said the law violated his freedom of speech.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Northview FFA Celebrates Annual Banquet
May 15, 2011
The Northview High School FFA held their 16th annual banquet Friday night.
The event includes a somber ceremony for graduating seniors…they slowly remove their signature blue FFA jackets and hang them up for the last time on a coat rack. One at a time, the three graduating senior officers participated in the ceremony. Allyson Bullard, Stephanie Solari and Allie Vidak removed their signature FFA blue jackets one by one, placing them on the coat rack.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
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 Henry Thompson, Eli Miller, Lou Vickery, Rikki Vidak and Jennifer Castor. The five were named honorary members of the Northview FFA.
Five companies were recognized as being Blue Jacket Jamboree Banner Sponsors — PIONEER-A Dupont Company, Escambia County Farm Bureau, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, NorthEscambia.com and the Pensacola Interstate Fair.
Some of the other awards presented included:
- Blue/Gold Award: Brandon Chambless, Tyler Hester, Dillian Crutchfield
- Outstanding Freshman/Star Greenhand: Courtney Solari
- Outstanding Sophomore: Jessica Baldwin
- Outstanding Junior: Lydia Weaver
- Outstanding Seniors: Stephanie Solari and Allie Vidak
- Leadership/All Officers: Lydia Weaver, Allie Vidak, Stephanie Solari, Allyson Bullard, Courtney Solari, Jessica Baldwin, Devin Bell
- Dekalb Award: Stephanie Solari
- High Point Award: Lydia Weaver
The new Northview FFA officers named for the 2011-2012 school year were: Lydia Weaver, president; Jessica Baldwin, vice president; Brandon Chambless, second vice president; Courtney Solari, secretary; Brittany Thompson, treasurer; Jeremy Stacey, reporter; and Dillan Crutchfield, sentinel.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jury Convicts Man Of Raping 12 Year Old
May 15, 2011
It took an Escambia County jury less than an hour to convict a man charged with raping a child.
Christopher “Dewey” Smith was convict of lewd or lascivious sexual battery for raping a 12-year old child on Labor Day of 2010. He faces a maximum of 15 years in state prison when he is sentenced by Judge Jan Shackleford on June 30.
Ensley Graduates From FSU
May 15, 2011
Lauren Elizabeth Ensley, a 2007 graduate of Tate High School, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida State University in Tallahassee.
Ensley earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in psychology and criminology. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Psi Chi, and Phi Eta Sigma. She was a resident assistant while attending Florida State University and also completed an internship with Children’s Home Society of Florida.
Ensley will continue her education this fall at the University of Tennessee, where she will earn her Master’s Degree in social work.
She is the daughter of Lawrence and Karen Ensley of Cantonment.
Courtesy for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Relay For Life Events Held At Tate, Century (With Photo Galleries)
May 14, 2011
There were two Relay for Life events in North Escambia this weekend.
The Relay for Life of Greater Escambia (formerly called the North Pensacola Relay for Life) was held at Tate High School. Nearly 50 teams and about 1,500 people took part in the annual event which has raised over $500,000 for cancer research in less than 10 years.
Teams in the event were from across the Molino, Cantonment, Gonzalez, Cottage Hill, Ensley and surrounding areas.
The Century Relay for Life moved indoors due to the threat of rain. Teams lined the basketball court in the old Century High School gymnasium to support the America Cancer Society.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the Century Relay for Life, click here.
Pictured top: The Greater Escambia Relay for Life gets underway Friday night at Tate High School. Pictured inset: Members of the Jim Allen Elementary team cheer for survivors. Pictured below: A cancer survivor, right, takes her victory lap in style on motorcycle. NorthEscambia.com photos, lick to enlarge.
NWE Machine Pitch Ends Season
May 14, 2011
Northwest Escambia machine pitch finished its season Friday night. Pictured above: Garrett Bodiker, Logan Bryan, Keaton Brown, John Bashore, Cody Thomas, Skyler Busbee, Cody Edwards, Chris Nordman, A. J. Hasty, Trevor Bomba. Not pictured, Trevor Scott and Michael Sanders. Pictured below: The team with coaches, Josh Edwards, Kevin Bryan and Preston Bryan. Submitted photos by Carrie Bryan for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Have photos from your team? Email them to news@northescambia.com
One Killed In Friday Night Wreck In Santa Rosa County
May 14, 2011
One person is dead following single vehicle traffic crash Friday night in Santa Rosa County.
Charles W. Ferguson, 24, of Milton, died when he lost control of his 2006 Chevrolet on Hamilton Bridge Road. The Florida Highway Patrol says he was speeding when he lost control in a curve, over corrected and hit several trees in a wooded area. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the 6 p.m. accident.
A passenger in the vehicle, 20-year old Raven N. Pitts of Pace, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Man Gets 87 Months For Stealing Credit Card Numbers
May 14, 2011
A New York man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal and use the credit and debit card information of more than 600 victims, many of them in Escambia County.
Federal prosecutors said Gaspar Bishop, 20, of Brooklyn, New York, induced his co-defendant, Elizabeth Lail-Caldare, to use her position as a waitress at Famous Dave’s restaurant in Pensacola to steal the credit and debit card information of the restaurant’s customers. Bishop provided Lail-Caldare with a skimming device that enabled her to capture the names, account numbers, and other information from credit and debit cards of approximately 60 customers.
Bishop routinely met with Lail-Caldare to retrieve the skimmer and o download the information she had stolen. He then used the stolen information to create counterfeit cards that he and confederates used to obtain money and merchandise from businesses in Florida, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and New York.
The conspiracy involved not only the theft of account information from Famous Dave’s customers, but thefts from other victims as well. At the conclusion of a sentencing hearing held yesterday in federal district court in Tallahassee, the court found Bishop was involved in the theft of identifying information of more than 600 victims. As part of the sentence, the court ordered Bishop to pay $38,454 in restitution.
Both Bishop and Lail-Caldare pled guilty earlier this year to conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft arising from their involvement in the identity theft scheme.
Lail-Caldare’s sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2011. The trial of their co-defendant, Trevor Hubbard, is scheduled for June 6, 2011.
Photo Gallery: Molino Park Celebrates The Arts
May 14, 2011
Molino Park Elementary School held its annual Arts Day on Friday, with the students spending the day immersed in a variety of arts.
The students enjoyed a wide range of arts, from pottery to photography to cake decorating. They had the opportunity to get “hands on” with many activities. The day ended with the “Molino Park Arts Day Roundup”, a live concert series in the school cafeteria. Artists appearing in the concert had local ties to Molino Park.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: A student checks out a dragster during the annual Arts Day at Molino Park Elementary School. Pictured inset: Photographer Candy McGahan explains her work to students. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Hwy 97 Wreck
May 13, 2011
There were no injuries in a single vehicle rollover accident this afternoon on Highway 97 just south of Meadows Road in Davisville Friday afternoon.
The driver of a Chevrolet Suburban lost control while southbound on Highway 97 and rolled over into home’s yard about 4 p.m.. He refused medical treatment at the scene.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
There were no injuries in this single vehicle accident on Highway 97 south of the state line in Davisville Friday afternoon. Northescambia.com photo. Click to enlarge.