TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- House Democratic Policy Chair Rick Kriseman (D-St. Petersburg) issued the following statement today regarding reports that Governor Rick Scott's administration plans to survey and rank the performance of county election officials -- and possibly other independently elected constitutional officers -- throughout Florida.

State election officials have reportedly devised a list that is based on a handful of criteria for the proposed rankings, which leaders of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections say is flawed and could undermine voter confidence this election year.

"Governor Scott still hasn't figured out that there are limits to his authority," said Representative Kriseman. "Florida's elections supervisors deserve support from statewide officers and they shouldn't have to succumb to meddling by the governor. I am confident that county elections supervisors are willing to participate in meaningful surveys, but I am sure they are opposed to the governor meddling in and undermining both their work and the confidence of voters.

"There may be good reasons to assess the performance of elections supervisors," Kriseman added. "But I question why the governor is attempting this, and I hope he is listening to concerns that he may be doing so in a seriously flawed manner."

TALLAHASSEE – Responding to Republican Governor Rick Scott's announcement Thursday that he would appeal a federal court ruling striking down as unconstitutional his executive order requiring mandatory drug testing of Florida state employees, Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich (D-Weston) and Senate Democratic Leader Pro Tem Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa) called on Scott to stop wasting taxpayer money.

"The governor's cavalier use of taxpayer money to defend clearly unconstitutional policies and laws is unconscionable," said Senator Rich. "He took an oath to uphold the constitution, not trample it."

"The governor's 'my way or the highway' attitude might work in the private sector where the Bill of Rights does not apply, but not in government where it most certainly does," said Sen. Joyner. "If investors want to throw good money after bad to enable a personal crusade by a company's CEO, that's their choice. But taxpayers shouldn't be forced to do likewise."

Both Senate Democratic leaders applauded the decision by U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro earlier in the day which found that blanket drug testing of state employees without cause or whose jobs are unrelated to public safety was a violation of the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures. It was the latest setback to the governor and Republican-dominated Legislature involving questionable bills they pushed during the past two legislative sessions and later struck down by the courts.

Last year, for example, Senator Joyner was a staunch critic of Scott's similar attempt to mandate drug testing of welfare recipients. The law was later temporarily suspended after a federal judge found it unconstitutional.

Refusing to accept the judge's decision, Governor Scott filed an appeal. And Sen. Joyner faulted both Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi for challenging the judge's ruling based on wrong data manufactured by one of the governor's friends and putting taxpayers at risk. Despite his claims that such welfare recipient drug testing would save the state as much as $9 million per year, the latest numbers show that the testing is actually costing Florida tens of thousands of dollars due to the low number of positive tests. The state must reimburse those applicants who do not test positive – about 97% of those tested.

"I hope," said Senator Rich, "that this latest defeat sounds an alarm bell to the governor and his like-minded Republicans in the legislature. You cannot continue to pass bad legislation and expect it to withstand judicial scrutiny guided by the constitution. And you should not expect taxpayers to continue paying for your unconstitutional mistakes."

BREVARD COUNTY CAUCUS UPDATE

We have great news. The state party just approved our request to hold early voting on Friday, May 4th for county Democrats who can't make it on Saturday because of religious reasons. Full details are below:

WHAT: Early Volting for Congressional Districts 15 and 24
WHEN: Friday - May 4th - 12PM-6PM
WHERE: Brevard DEC Office - 1103 Hibiscus Blvd Suite 402, Melbourne, Florida 32901

For more information about the 2012 Brevard County Caucus, click here.

Hollywood, FL – State Senator Eleanor Sobel (D–Hollywood) said Wednesday that she is extremely disappointed by Governor Rick Scott's veto yesterday of funding for a one-of-a-kind historical project at the Holocaust Education and Documentation Center and Museum in Hollywood, FL. The project would have completed the restoration and housing of a rail car used during the Holocaust to transport victims to concentration camps.

"This is the second year in a row Governor Scott has vetoed this important project. State funding would have allowed us to identify the prisoners transported by this car. No other rail car in the world has identifiable numbers in order to trace back the real history of what happened during that horrific period. Not only would it be a Holocaust memorial, but it would also increase tourism to South Florida," said Sen. Sobel.

Florida has the second largest number of Holocaust survivors in the United States. Approximately 15,000 of them live in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.

"It speaks leagues about the Governor that he would veto this item in the budget, but that will not deter this community," said Sen. Sobel. "We will continue to work to further the mission represented by this rail car project, never to forget and to teach future generations so that history is never repeated."

Rep. Charles Chestnut Comments on Governor Scott's Budget Action
"THIS BUDGET FAILS FLORIDA'S FAMILIES"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --  Rep. Charles Chestnut (D-Gainesville), the Democratic Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the governor's action today on the state budget for Fiscal Year 2012-13.

"The Republican-crafted budget signed by Governor Scott today is an assault on Florida's middle class with deep cuts to health care and higher education. At a time when the Legislature could have focused more extensively on job creation, the Republican spending plan cuts more than 4,300 positions from state government and slashes funding for hospitals, nursing homes and universities. Though monies are put toward important projects, this budget fails to meet the overall needs of our state and eliminates jobs that could bolster Florida's economic rebound.

"The education portion of the budget is $2.1 billion less than what the Legislature put toward public schools only five years ago, and it fails to fully restore the massive cuts to our schools that the Republican leadership approved only a year ago.

"While some people say that the budget is crafted without new taxes, it raises tuition and relies upon mandatory contributions, or what I call a personal income tax, of 3 percent on teachers, firefighters, police officers and hundreds of thousands of other participants in the Florida Retirement System.

"In addition, we cannot forget that the Republican-run Legislature has passed on to Florida's middle class millions of dollars in new costs in the form of higher driver's license and auto-tag fees starting three years ago.

"This budget fails Florida's families and moves our great state in the wrong direction."

TALLAHASSEE – Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich (D-Weston) issued the following statement following Republican Governor Rick Scott’s approval today of the 2012-2013 state budget:

“For the second year in a row, Governor Scott has underscored how little he truly understands about Florida and the priorities of the people he pledged to serve.

“Despite earlier announcing his intent to join Democrats in their long-standing commitment to public education, he approved a $1 billion band aid that doesn’t cover the $1.3 billion in state money his fellow Republicans slashed from Florida’s K-12 schools last year. 

“The Governor also insisted he was against raising tuition at Florida’s universities, but today signed off on a budget built on those very same tuition hikes. The Governor was correct when he said ‘increasing education funding is the best investment we can make for our state’s future.’ But he left out the part about where this investment money was going to come from. Not from state government which is supposed to be paying the bills. But from students and parents who have watched the costs of a college education soar while their paychecks sank in the opposite direction.

“To add insult to injury, Governor Scott vetoed programs critical to residents throughout Florida. These weren’t so-called ‘turkeys.’ These were programs that impact all of us statewide:  He struck more than $900,000 that would have immunized children against meningitis, an often fatal and highly contagious disease.

“He eliminated $3 million from the University of Miami College of Medicine- money dedicated to training Florida physicians for practice in Florida. He vetoed more than $4 million earmarked for Nova Southeastern to train Florida residents enrolled in pharmacy, nursing, and other allied health sciences, as well as an additional $2 million that would have steered these same professionals to Florida’s rural and underserved areas.

“Our seniors fared no better. Governor Scott decided to veto $6 million from Florida’s Aging Resource Centers – a well-respected network that has been guiding seniors through the daunting task of determining the best options for care in their final years. The veto of these funds results in no resources for the enormous workload that will soon be created by the implementation of the Medicaid Managed Long Term Care program, approved by the Legislature two years ago.

“Governor Scott may have found a receptive audience in the affluent enclave where he signed off on increasing the debt load on Florida’s middle class and abandoning his obligations to our children and our elderly. But for the millions of Floridians beyond those city limits, his signature on this budget means there is still no relief in sight.”

GOP Budget an Assault on Middle Class, Moves Our State in Wrong Direction

 

Tallahassee, FL – Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith today issued the following statement on Gov. Rick Scott’s signing of the 2012-2013 budget:

“There is little to be proud of in the 2012-2013 budget. What the Governor touts as an investment in education fails to restore the massive cuts made by Scott and the GOP-led Legislature last session. This budget is nothing more than the same shortsighted priorities of Florida Republicans that has put the special interests ahead of investing in education – while schools are left crumbling around our children. That is no way to lead.

“More importantly, this budget squeezes funding from critical services, putting the burden of balancing the budget squarely on the backs of Florida’s families. This budget is an assault on the middle class and fails Florida’s families in every way by moving our state in the wrong direction.”

The facts about the GOP’s war on education:

The GOP cut $300 million from higher education and universities. “The House and Senate agreed to cut universities by $300 million” [Palm Beach Post, 3/2/12]

The GOP raised tuition on college students by 5-percent. “It includes a 5 percent tuition increase for Florida college students” [Gainesville Sun, 3/5/2012]

Because the GOP cut funding, university students could and will face tuition increases. “Students still could face double-digit tuition increases while schools will spend less to educate them” [Tampa Bay Times 3/7/2012]; “UNF plans to make up the remaining $5 million gap with a 15 percent tuition increase” [Florida Times Union 3/5/2012]; “’We are being put in a position of having no choice but to raise tuition,’ Ramil said” [Tampa Tribune 3/1/2012]

The GOP cuts to higher education will force Universities to cut services. “The progress USF has made to reduce class sizes and boost graduation rates is likely to be lost…there’s nothing left to deal with the $72 million worth of maintenance USF has been putting off for lack of funds, and nothing to use if a pipe springs a leak or a roof caves in” [Tampa Tribune 3/1/2012]

The GOP cut the “Bright Futures” scholarship program. “Another measure would cut thousands of students from the Bright Futures scholarships” [Miami Herald, 2/29/12]

The GOP failed to restore k-12 funding to the same level following the historic cuts they made. “St. Johns County Superintendent Joseph Joyner said, ‘an increase is not always an increase.’ He said the boost from last year does not overcome past budget cuts — $1.3 billion statewide last year alone” [Florida Times Union, 2/28/2012]

The GOP budget includes 0 dollars for public school construction and repair. “Florida's schools, community colleges and state universities, which anticipate zero construction dollars, will be forced to stop or put off for years many dozens of new projects, including repairs to roofs and air-conditioners” [Sunshine State News, 3/3/2012]

Gov. Scott claimed education would be a priority. “I’d like to focus on what I believe are the three most important jobs I have… two, securing the right of every Floridian to a quality education” [Gov. Scott’s “State of the State” 1/9/2012]

But the GOP budget puts corporate special interests over middle class families. “The proposed 2012-13 budget…is a study in pork-barrel spending, reckless policy and a shortchanged future.” [Tampa Bay Times 3/7/2012]

PDF of fact sheet available here: http://fladems.3cdn.net/52c2143acbf264f226_psm6bxrsh.pdf

This year, Florida will send 300 delegates to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC to officially select the Democratic nominees for President and Vice President as well as adopt the Party’s National Platform.

The path to becoming a delegate to the National Convention and electing our next Democratic President begins by participating in a County Caucus. If you are a Democrat registered to vote in Brevard County, you are eligible to participate in our caucus.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR CAUCUS

Any Democrat registered to vote in Brevard County is eligible to participate in our caucus. Our caucus will be held on May 5, 2012:

Caucus Time: 10AM-2PM

Brevard County, Congressional District 15
Caucus Location: OMNI Building, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 1344 South Apollo Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901
Caucus Contact Information: Bill Rettinger - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Brevard County, Congressional District 24
Caucus Location: Cocoa Civic Center, 430 Delannoy Ave., Cocoa, FL 32922
Caucus Contact Information: Bill Rettinger - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

COUNTY CAUCUS UPDATE -We have great news. The state party just approved our request to hold early voting on Friday, May 4th for county Democrats who can't make it on Saturday because of religious reasons. Full details are below:

WHAT: Early Volting for Congressional Districts 15 and 24 
WHEN: Friday - May 4th - 12PM-6PM 
WHERE: Brevard DEC Office - 1103 Hibiscus Blvd Suite 402, Melbourne, Florida 32901

At the caucus, each participant will sign a statement of support for a presidential candidate.

After signing a statement of support, each participant will vote for individuals running to be a delegate to the state convention representing their county and congressional district. You’ll have a chance to meet the potential delegates and learn more about each candidate before you vote.

HOW TO RUN FOR A DELEGATE POSITION

Any Democrat registered to vote in Brevard County is eligible to run as a delegate to the state and national conventions from Brevard County.

To run as a state delegate, CLICK HERE to fill out a delegate filing form and return it to the County Party between March 9 and April 27. The original form must be received by the County Chair, Vice-chair, State Committeman or State Committewoman. Copied, faxed or emails forms are NOT acceptable.

On May 5, you will compete at our county caucus with other delegates to continue on the path to becoming a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

If you’re a Florida Democrat, this is your time to shine! If you have any questions about participating in a caucus or becoming a delegate to the state and national conventions, please contact the Brevard County Democratic Party at CONTACT.

Drawn from law enforcement, prosecutors, legal scholars and other experts, new task force will convene on Thursday/Public can begin weighing in at FloridaStandYourGround.org

 

TALLAHASSEE – Tired of the ongoing inaction by the governor and other Tallahassee officials to convene a promised task force to review Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law, state Senator Chris Smith (D-Ft. Lauderdale) announced Tuesday that he had formed one of his own.

 

He also announced the launch of his “Stand Your Ground” website. “FloridaStandYourGround.org” went live on Tuesday to allow Floridians and people throughout the country to immediately begin weighing in with their experiences, thoughts and suggestions on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law.

 

“There is no reasonable explanation why a task force should not be assembled today,” said Senator Smith. “Floridians opening fire and claiming self defense are not waiting. Neither is the judicial system or law enforcement officers as they’re forced to render an opinion of guilt or innocence all based on the fuzzy language inherent in this statute. A thorough review of ‘Stand Your Ground’ by those on the front lines of its use and abuse is long overdue. We’re getting to work to make that happen.”

 

Since the law’s passage in 2005, so-called “justifiable homicides” have increased threefold in Florida. The February shooting death of Trayvon Martin by an armed neighborhood watch volunteer who has claimed self defense finally turned the national spotlight on the contentious law. Originally touted as a way to beef up safety protections for average citizens, “Stand Your Ground” has increasingly been used as an effective defense tool following confrontations by violent individuals, a number of them apparently deliberately provoked.

 

 

Senator Smith’s Stand Your Ground Task Force will begin its work this Thursday in Ft. Lauderdale. Once its review is completed, it intends to present its findings and recommendations for immediate legislative action.

 

Members of the group, drawn from law enforcement, state prosecutors and other legal experts include Frank Adderley, Ft. Lauderdale Police Chief, Mike Satz, Broward County State Attorney, former Senator and U. S. Attorney Dan Gelber, Rep. Perry Thurston (D-Ft. Lauderdale), and Carlos Martinez, Miami Dade County Public Defender.

Senator Smith announced the task force’s launch following repeated efforts to urge Governor Rick Scott to follow through on his promise to begin a similar effort. Thus far the governor has refused, claiming a review could wait pending the outcome of the Martin investigation which may take up to a year or longer.

 

“Stalling on a critically needed review of this law threatens to put more unsuspecting lives in danger, and more criminals back on the street,” said Sen. Smith. “Transforming from the ‘Sunshine State” to the ‘Shoot First’ state also risks permanently damaging Florida’s international reputation and with that, our struggling economy. We don’t need promises by the governor of possible future action. We need the action now, and we need results, and that’s what this task force is prepared to deliver.”

 

The “Stand Your Ground” task force will convene Thursday, April 5, 2012, from 4p.m. until 9 p.m., Broward County Main Library, First Floor Auditorium, located at 101 South Andrews Avenue, in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and will be able to present first-hand accounts and input on how Stand Your Ground is working in Florida.

Says questionable incidents and lives lost under “Stand Your Ground” law did not begin, nor will it end with the tragedy in Sanford 

TALLAHASSEE – Alarmed that Governor Rick Scott not only granted up to one year for the special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case to complete her assignment, but to delay convening the special “Stand Your Ground” legislative task force until its completion, Senator Chris Smith (D-Ft. Lauderdale) on Tuesday called for swifter action.

The Ft. Lauderdale Democrat is asking that the Task Force convene in six days and that a special legislative session commence 30 days later.

“The questionable incidents and lives lost under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law did not begin, nor do I expect it to end, with the tragedy in Sanford,” wrote Senator Smith in a letter hand delivered to Governor Scott. “While the special prosecutor sets about unraveling the facts in the case, and whether self defense was a legitimate factor, the law remains intact – with all the same components still in place for more killings and additional claims of self defense, warranted or not.”

The calls by Senator Smith came in response to the governor’s announcement last week that he was appointing a special prosecutor to probe the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year old killed last month by a neighborhood watch volunteer. He also announced the formation of a special task force to “thoroughly review Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law and any other laws, rules, regulations or programs that relate to public safety and citizen protection.”

The investigation, however, is permitted to take up to one year, with a possible extension, according to the executive order, and the task force is not authorized to convene until the assignment “formally ends.”

Citing grave public safety concerns, especially the growing list of violent confrontations and self defense claims since the law was passed in 2005, Senator Smith said the delay was unacceptable: “I’m sure you will agree that delaying the work of the Task Force – possibly up to one year or longer - suits no purpose other than to allow more tragedies to unfold as a special prosecutor unravels the latest.”

Last week, the Senator, who has requested to be added to the Task Force, also announced that he was readying legislation to fine tune the Stand Your Ground Law, primarily to prevent individuals from deliberately inciting deadly confrontations.

The following alert was brought to us by active Brevard Citizens. Please take action.

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We have a crisis on our hands with regard to wetland protection in Brevard County.   We need your help!!

On Tuesday, April 3 at their daytime meeting (estimated time 10:00am), the County Commission will transmit Comprehensive Plan wetlands amendments to the state.   While some of the proposed changes add needed flexibility and clarity, two of the provisions go way beyond the recommendations of the Wetlands Working Group.   These two very problematic recommendations are the corridor language and the agricultural language.   These two provisions need to be improved, and it is going to be a real challenge to get the Commission to agree to improve them.   That's why we need your help!   

The corridor language allows wetland destruction along existing or future roads which will be identified as corridors in an ordinance.  The corridors will be chosen based on a yet-to-be written corridor definition that considers commercial character, traffic and road classification. There is no protection for high-functioning wetlands and landscape-level systems of connected wetlands.

The agricultural language essentially opens up our extensive system of lands that have the agricultural future land use to wetlands impacts from any activity allowed in agricultural zoning.   This includes permanent damage from traditional agricultural activities, as well as mines, sawmills, and packing plants.  Most of these lands abut or are near the conservation and recreation lands of the St. Johns River Water Management District.    There is no provision to buffer incompatible uses such as mines from the District lands and there is no protection for high-functioning wetlands and landscape-level systems of connected wetlands.

The specific amendment language is rather complicated, but the message the Commissioners need to hear is straight-forward and common sense -- high-functioning wetlands and wetlands systems must be protected.

Please plan to attend the County Commission meeting if at all possible  (April 3, 10:00am).   We encourage people to speak.   Especially important to convey to the Commissioners is are the following points:

• We need to identify and protect high-functioning wetlands and landscape-level systems of connected wetlands. 
• Our County's attractiveness to businesses, tourists, and residents is dependent on preserving our unique natural attributes, particularly the St. Johns River and Indian River ecosystems.  These ecosystems rely on high-functioning wetlands and wetland systems. 
• We need to ensure that the best wetlands are not destroyed. 
• Language needs to be added to the amendments to protect high-functioning wetlands along commercial corridors and in agricultural areas. 
• The agricultural language goes way too far and allows too many types of uses to impact wetlands.   The language needs to be more limited in scope and the St. Johns River Water Management District lands need to be buffered from incompatible uses.

If you are unable to attend the April 3 morning meeting of the Commission, please email the Commissioners with your concerns.
Commissioner Robin Fisher          D1.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
Commissioner Chuck Nelson        D2.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
Commissioner Trudie Infantini     D3.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
Commissioner Mary Bolin Lewis  D4.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
Commissioner Andy Anderson     D5.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us

Thank you very much for your help!!