Tampa Tribune – Warmer Welcome For The Wealthy: “With a number of trends working against Florida, it makes sense to try some fresh ideas to encourage tourism and attract semi-permanent visitors, especially those with plenty of money.
One approach that would require congressional approval is the creation of a retirement visa. Many countries have these, enabling foreign retirees to sail right through the immigration process. Typically, the requirements are a certain age (usually 55 or 60) and amount of income or assets (usually quite high in developed countries).
Other requirements that should be considered: establishing a minimum amount that the immigrants must spend on property and mandating they agree not to take a job. The goal is to bring in foreign money without adding bodies to the social safety net or taking jobs away from anyone.”
Lakeland Ledger – CSX Reconsideration: Light Shines On SunRail Again: “‘SunRail is very much alive…It will not die easily.’
It is alive, but bleeding badly. This year’s legislative session marked the second time in as many years that the SunRail plan has been defeated, despite intense lobbying and arm-twisting. Yet, like the crazed killer in a horror movie, SunRail once again emerges, ready to strike…
Then again…SunRail supporters already have “come up with a new amended plan … a win for all of Florida.” Already they are calling for a special session of the Legislature to gain approval.
SunRail is alive. It surely is. Right now, it’s hard to tell if it’s better than any of those horror-movie types who show up again.”
Orlando Sentinel – Fix Failing High Schools: “Though nearly 90 percent of elementary schools and 80 percent of middle schools toasted A’s or B’s, a solid third of the state’s high schools moped over their D’s and F’s. That’s a 22 percent jump over last year.
To be fair, reform takes time. But considering that high school is the launch pad where tomorrow’s adults make choices and chart their futures, it’s fair to say that Florida no longer can tolerate failing high schools that hamstring graduates who need to compete in an increasingly nimble and global society…
“We side with advocates such as the Foundation for Florida’s Future, launched by former Gov. Jeb Bush, which argues that the growing glut of elementary and middle schools now acing the grading system demands the state raise the bar even higher.Ratcheting up middle-school curriculum, too, seems a reasonable way to toughen up students for the rigors of high school.”
Daytona Beach News-Journal – The Supreme Shift: Liberalism’s Slow, Steady Retirement From America’s High Court: “Speculation about the court’s direction is usually pointless. The first George Bush thought he was appointing a reliable, predictable conservative in David Souter 19 years ago. Souter retired this week as a liberal. His likely replacement, Sonia Sotomayor — if she stays in the liberal camp — likely won’t move the court significantly left or right, especially since the judicial meaning of the word “liberal” isn’t what it used to be, even among those justices considered part of the liberal bloc. Earlier this year the University of Chicago Law School rated the ideological leanings of all the court’s justices since 1937. It found that five of the court’s 10 most conservative judges are serving now, including four of the top five (Thomas is tops). Among the 10 most liberal justices, only one, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, makes the cut — barely. She is the ninth-most liberal (Thurgood Marshall and William O. Douglas are tops).”
St. Petersburg Times - Taxpayers Get Bill For Frequent Fliers: “There ought to be a state law that clearly states that those who hold full-time state jobs and have been elected statewide cannot commute via state aircraft to their Tallahassee jobs from their homes elsewhere in the state. While current law on state plane use is murky at best, the lack of clarity is being exploited and taxpayers are paying for it.”
Bio: Robert is a former radio personality, which ended with five years at Winter Haven station WHNR where he eventually rose to become Assistant Operations Manager. For the past decade he has continued to make a living running his mouth, working in the call center industry. Currently he is working as a Customer Services Professional at a local facility representing one of North America's major heating & air conditioning sales and repair companies.
