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10/24/03
E
Messenger
The
Electronic Newsletter of the
Florida
AFL-CIO
New
Members according to the AFL-CIO Work in Progress
This week's WIP: 2,440
Year to date: 126,743
STATE NEWS
Special
Session – Christmas comes early for Scripps Execs.
House
grudgingly approves bill to fund Scripps center
(10/24/2003 © Florida
Today)
TALLAHASSEE --
Gov. Jeb Bush's $310 million deal to bring a biomedical research center to
South Florida narrowly escaped death from a legislative duel over economic
development money. In a 54-28 vote late Thursday, the House grudgingly
agreed to a stripped-down bill that would assist Scripps Res...
Lawmakers
want to keep Scripps details a secret
(10/24/2003 © Charlotte
Sun Herald)
Florida
lawmakers were expected Thursday to approve a $310 million,
taxpayer-funded deal to bring the Scripps Research Institute biomedical
center to Palm Beach County. Legislators, however, weren't satisfied until
they included language that would essentially keep secret much of the
details on how ...
In
Scripps deal, Jeb! is blinded by vision thing
(
10/22/2003
© Orlando
Sentinel)
This is the
biggest taxpayer giveaway
Florida
has ever seen, but
what does it mean for Joe and Maria Average? To Gov. Jeb Bush, the Scripps
Research Institute is a dream come true. The biotech giant will do for
Florida
what Henry Flagler's
train did 100 years ago -- open a new frontier. It's like...
Lawmakers
seeing Scripps deal not so starry-eyed
(
10/22/2003
© Palm
Beach Post)
TALLAHASSEE
-- Legislators are
taking a closer look at the proposed $310 million Scripps
Florida
deal, and many are not
liking what they see. The level of discontent isn't likely to keep the
legislature from appropriating the money, but it is taking some of the
glamour off the deal, which wo...
Senator
Says Bush Misled Lawmakers On Biomed Benefit
(10/22/2003 © Tampa
Tribune)
TALLAHASSEE - A
leading state senator accused Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday of misleading the
Legislature about benefits taxpayers will reap by spending $310 million to
bring the Scripps Research Institute to Palm Beach County. The charges by
Sen. Tom Lee, a Brandon Republican and the next
State
financing plan for Scripps under fire
(10/23/2003 © Palm
Beach Post)
TALLAHASSEE --
Dark clouds continued to gather Wednesday over the governor's plan to lure
The Scripps Research Institute to Palm Beach County, as several key
legislators blamed the governor for exaggerating the economic development
impact and the Legislative Black Caucus questioned the institu...
Florida
s caution
(
10/22/2003
© Daytona
Beach News-Journal)
The
state Legislature can't afford to fling money into a void with no
guarantees. Even if the state weren't flat broke -- and it is -- taxpayers
deserve better. That's why lawmakers should say no to Gov. Jeb Bush's
request for a $190 million "megafund"
for unspecified economic-development incentives, and why it should proceed
with caution on a plan to pay $310 million to bring a biomedical rese
Secrecy
of Scripps plan irritates commissioners
(10/22/2003 © Ft.
Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)
While a $310
million incentive package for The Scripps Research Institute appears to be
speeding through the Legislature in Tallahassee, three Palm Beach County
commissioners said they were snubbed during the secretive process that
lured the biotech giant here. Still, all commissioners, even those brought
in late to the process, say they are united in
hailing Scripps' plan to create its Florid
Legislators
tweak deal for $310 million Scripps expansion
(10/22/2003 © Ft.
Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)
TALLAHASSEE --
Resisting strong pressure from Gov. Jeb Bush to approve his plan quickly
to lure a biotechnology firm to Palm Beach County, state legislators
slowed negotiations a bit Tuesday by demanding new payback and
job-creation guarantees from The Scripps Research Institute. With a $310
million package of tax giveaways on the table, legislators tweaked the
deal, including changes to
Senate president, summed up a general uneasiness among many legislators
who are being asked to give Scripps $
Gov.
Bush s $310 million Scripps deal riles Black Caucus
(10/23/2003 © Ft.
Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)
TALLAHASSEE --
Black state legislators led an angry revolt Wednesday against Gov. Jeb
Bush's proposal to spend millions of dollars to lure a biotech institute
to Florida, capping off a topsy-turvy day of horse trading and racial
politics. At a charged House committee meeting about legislation to bring
The Scripps Research Institute to
Palm Beach
County
, members of the Black
Caucus warned
Edison
scam
State
pension fund purchase examined
(
10/23/2003
© Ft.
Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)
TALLAHASSEE A
Senate committee grilled
Florida
's pension fund
director on Wednesday about the state's decision to buy a money-losing
school management company. Shareholders of Edison Schools, a
New York
company, will decide
in November whether they agree with the planned $174 million buyout by
Liberty Partners -- a money manager that handles more than $1 billion in
state pension dollars.
Voucher
money may go to public schools
(10/23/2003 © Palm
Beach Post)
TALLAHASSEE --
The Senate plans to pass a bill today that would take $38 million not
being used by the corporate voucher program and transfer it to the state's
over-enrolled public schools. That would leave the plan to get more money
to public schools in the hands of House Speaker Johnnie Byr...
Education
Teachers
rally to protest 3 percent salary increase offer, health benefits
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
10/22/03
Senate
slams how vouchers are managed
(10/22/2003 © Palm
Beach Post)
TALLAHASSEE --
Multimillion-dollar school voucher programs suffer from such lax oversight
that they largely have been left to run themselves, according to a pair of
stinging reports released Tuesday by the state Senate. The reports,
ordered by Senate President Jim King and prepared by his Edu...
Something
is rotten at PSC
!!!
Probe
of phone-commission party urged
(10/23/2003 © Orlando
Sentinel)
-- A state
senator has asked Florida's auditor general to investigate a Miami Beach
conference where members of the Public Service Commission partied with the
help of companies urging them to raise local phone rates. Commissioners --
currently traveling the state for public comment on a plan that...
Who
Else Would `Pony Up for It?
(
10/22/2003
© Lakeland
Ledger)
Those Floridians
who may be counting on the Florida Public Service Commission to look out
for their interests while considering steep rate hikes sought by telephone
companies may be discomfited by a report this week in the Orlando
Sentinel. The Sentinel reported that about a dozen
utility com...
State
to probe regulators conference
(10/22/2003 © Miami
Herald)
Regulators'
meeting to be probed A state senator has asked Florida's auditor general
to investigate the attendance of the state's regulators at a four-day
conference in Miami Beach last year that was partially sponsored by
utility executives. Sen. Nancy Argenziano,
R-Crystal
River
, is asking William
Monroe to audit the June 2002 meeting of the Southeastern Association of
Regulatory Utility
AARP
Takes On Phone Companies Rate Plan
(10/23/2003 © Lakeland
Ledger)
AARP Takes On
Phone Companies' Rate Plan The group wants longdistance
firms to weigh in on their proposals. By LAUREN MAYK New York Times
Regional Newspapers SARASOTA -- Long-distance companies should have to
testify about arguments made by Florida's three largest local phone
companies seeking the largest basic phone rate increase in the state's
history, the AARP told state re
Another scandal for the
“Dirty Byrd”
House
speaker silent on computer suit
(
10/22/2003
© St.
Petersburg Times)
TALLAHASSEE
- House Speaker
Johnnie Byrd does not want to be forced to answer questions in a
$3-million lawsuit against the House over a computer system. Attorneys for
Hayes Computer Systems, who accuse the House of breach of contract, wanted
to take Byrd's deposition this Friday, the last day of a five-day special
legislative session. Byrd's lawyers effectively delayed it by filing
House
Attorneys Postpone Web Site Arguments Again
(10/22/2003 © Tampa
Tribune)
TALLAHASSEE -
For the second week in a row, House attorneys have put off arguing their
own motion to silence allegations by attorneys for Hayes Computer Systems
Inc. that House Speaker Johnnie Byrd and his staff pressured the company
into designing a secure, private Web site for senior House staff members
to track political IOUs. Lawyers have yet to make their argument as to why
the allegat
Florida
election 2004
Bush
sets special election for Mack s open state House seat
(10/21/2003 © Miami
Herald)
TALLAHASSEE,
Fla. - Gov. Jeb Bush set a special election to fill a House seat vacated
by Connie Mack IV, who resigned to run for a congressional seat once held
by his father. A primary election will be held Jan. 6, followed by the
general election on Jan. 27 for state House
District 91, which is based in
Fort Lauderdale
. Mack, 36, officially
declared his candidacy for
Florida
's 14th Congre
Mack
announces campaign for Goss s Congressional seat
(10/22/2003 © Naples
Daily News)
CAPE CORAL --
Connie Mack IV says he's the only candidate for retiring Porter Goss'
Congressional seat who was born and raised in Southwest Florida. That's an
interesting spin for the former
Fort Lauderdale
legislator and son of
the former
U.S.
senator from
Cape Coral
. Opponents have
labeled him...
How many times did we say
there was a connection between the Bush clan
and
California
Coup?
Director
on loan to wrestle with California s budget
(
10/23/2003
© Bradenton
Herald)
TALLAHASSEE
- Most Floridians
don't know Donna Arduin, but they have her to
thank for their lower taxes, smaller state government and balanced budget.
She's the budgetary hatchet woman who has, during nearly five years as
Gov. Jeb Bush's budget director, worked behind the scenes voraciously
promoting tax cuts while slashing spending and jobs. Republicans love her.
Democrats at least admire her
Regardless
of how you feel on the issue…an interesting lesson in basic civics
and politics.
Scorning
the Courts in
Florida
The actions of Gov. Jeb Bush and the
Florida
State
Legislature in the Terry Schiavo case mock
the courts'
careful
deliberations over her right to die.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/23/opinion/23THU2.html?th
Decision
could aid GOP at the polls
(10/22/2003 © Miami
Herald)
TALLAHASSEE - By
injecting themselves into the life-or-death drama of Terri Schiavo,
a brain-damaged woman whose fate has become a cause celebre
for the nation's Christian conservative movement, Gov. Jeb Bush and the
Republican-led Legislature are reflecting the wishes of a constituency
that could be critical to GOP success in next year's elections. Although
several moderate Republican lawmake
In
Florida
Right-to-Die Case, Legislation Puts the
Constitution at Issue
In enacting a one-time law to override the court-ordered removal of a
brain-damaged woman's feeding tube, the Florida Legislature may have
created a constitutional crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/23/national/23STAY.html?th
Playing
God
(
10/22/2003
© Orlando
Sentinel)
Our
position: Gov. Bush and Speaker Byrd have no right to interfere with Terri
Schiavo. Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida House
Speaker Johnnie Byrd played God when they seized control of Terri Schiavo's
right-to-die case. Even though a judge decided this case more than a year
ago, Mr. Bush and Mr. By...
The
Legislature Was Stampeded
(
10/23/2003
© Lakeland
Ledger)
The Legislature
Was Stampeded It's a pretty solid rule of thumb: Whenever a legislative
body is stampeded into doing something significant, a screw-up is likely.
This week, the Florida Legislature decided to take away the Terri Schiavo
case from the courts and give the life-and-death decision to Gov. Jeb Bush
-- who promptly ordered that the comatose Schiavo's
feeding and hydration tubes be
Old-time
religion trumps science
(10/23/2003 © Miami
Herald)
Terrifying
doubts must have crept into the thoughts of Scripps Research Institute
executives this week as Florida's political leaders demonstrated the depth
of their respect for medical science. Which is to say,
none. Without bothering with the inconvenience of expert medical
testimony, ever-ambitious House Speaker Johnnie Byrd -- the Tom DeLay
of
Florida
politics -- rammed
through legislation
NATIONAL
NEWS
Labor
Unions Still Work for Everyone
Los Angeles
Times
10/23/03
Health
Care – Workers, don’t get sick!
Workers
Feel Pinch of Rising Health Costs
As health care costs rise, employers are shifting a growing share of the
burden onto people who make the heaviest use of medical services.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/22/business/22CARE.html?th
Democrats
Assail Medicare Proposals
The
Washington
Post
10/24/03
Congress
Strikes a Tentative Deal on Drug Benefits
The
New York
Times
10/23/03
Medicare
Proposal Outlined
The
Washington
Post
10/23/03
Companies
cut health coverage
Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
10/22/03
Grocery
workers still holding tough
Picket-Line
Life Ranges From Euphoria to Dread
The LA Times
10/23/03
Talks
resume on Calif. transit, but not at grocers
Forbes.com
Supplies
Dwindle at Affected Grocers
Los Angeles
Times
10/22/03
Valley
wary of Calif. grocery strike
Arizona
Republic
10/22/03
Grocery
clerks challenge market claims about health care costs
San Diego Union-Tribune
10/23/03
News of the transit
workers’ strike
MTA
Executives Thrive While Riders Are Stuck
LA Times
10/24/03
MTA
Talks Advance
LA Times
10/24/03
George
Bush’s
America
Laid-off
take survival jobs to pay the bills
USA
Today
10/23/03
Who'll
stop flow of jobs out of U.S.?
Detroit
Free Press
10/22/03
Can
government save manufacturing jobs?
The
Boston
Globe
10/22/03
House
Leaders Are Pushing to Cut Corporate Taxes
The
New York
Times
10/24/03
Election
2004
Once
at Arm's Length, Wall Street Is Bush's Biggest Donor
A study to be released on Thursday shows that the financial community is
the top industry among the president's elite fund-raisers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/23/politics/campaigns/23DONA.html?th
Painters
Union to Be First to Back Dean
LA Times
10/23/03
Lieberman
backs Bush s brother in case of comatose woman
(10/22/2003 © Lakeland
Ledger)
WASHINGTON
Democrat Joe Lieberman sided Wednesday with Republican Gov. Jeb Bush of
Florida for ordering a feeding tube reinserted into a brain-damaged woman,
saying government must 'honor life.' In a wide-ranging interview with
Associated Press editors and reporters, the presidential candidate wa...
Wal-Mart
Watch
Wal-Mart
reach widens
Kansas City
Star
10/22/03
Oakland
Bans Wal-Mart Style Superstores
Boston
Globe
10/23/03
Immigration
Officials Raid Wal-Mart Stores
The
Washington
Post
10/24/03
Look
out for more “tort reform”
Class-Action
Showdown
Under the phony banner of "tort reform," the Class Action
Fairness Act is a legislative gift to wealthy special interests.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/22/opinion/22WED3.html?th
Class-Action
Legislation Fails in Senate
Senate Democrats blocked a measure backed by the president
to push
certain class-action lawsuits out of state courts
and into
the federal judiciary.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/23/politics/23CLAS.html?th
If you have
suggestions on how we may improve this online publication or have
information you would like to see posted please contact our communications
director at (850) 224 – 6926 or at rtemplin@flaflcio.org.
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Rich
Templin
Communications Director
Florida
AFL-CIO
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