But I got back to Tallahassee tonight after our short mid session break and wanted to take a few minutes to at least apologize for my mistaken ambition, and to provide a 50,000 foot view of my experience so far this year.

First of all, it’s been a quite interesting session for me on a personal level. The unsteadiness that my profound grief caused last session has given way to the realization that my growing 4 year old is more and more affected by his daddy’s absence. So, as my service remains a personal challenge, the work is still fun, I believe I’m making a difference and that keeps me coming back.

I spent the first part of session focused on a complex piece of legislation designed to make the campaign process more transparent and accountable. I’m currently working with our staff to craft higher-education policy which will codify the end of protracted constitutional litigation between the Board of Governors and the Legislature over university governance. As well, I’m working hard on an energy package designed to provide incentives for renewable energy investment in our state. So, when you couple these legislative initiatives with the daunting task we face of balancing the state’s lagging budget, it’s certain to be a high-paced race to the finish.

As I’ve mentioned before, I never intended this space to be focused on legislative policy, but I thought I’d at least take a few minutes to let readers know what I’ve been up to and why I have been seemingly missing in action. I continue to be very encouraged about some exciting initiatives happening throughout our region and I look forward to providing more commentary on regional issues as session comes to a close.

Thank you for continuing to read this column and I am hopeful that you will check back shortly as I return to a more regular pace before long.

photo credit: giveawayboy

Here’s the deal in a nutshell: Under the federal Clean Water Act, states are expected to develop numeric nutrient criteria. Nutrient pollution, i.e. excess nitrogen and phosphorus levels in water bodies, can cause harm to aquatic ecosystems and threaten public health. Through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) and its water management districts, Florida has established robust standards and enacted programs to support water quality. In September of 2007, DEP produced a Numeric Nutrient Criteria Plan which outlined its approach for developing numeric nutrient criteria throughout the state. This plan was submitted to and agreed upon by the US Environmental Protection Agency. But in the summer of 2008, along comes the environmental group EarthJustice filing a lawsuit in federal court against the EPA Administrator alleging that the agency had failed to comply with its responsibility under the Clean Water Act to force Florida to expeditiously adopt numeric nutrient criteria. As a result, EPA hastily issued a proposed rule in January 2010 establishing numeric nutrient criteria for Florida water bodies and giving us until this October to comply with the new regulations.

In my opinion, Florida Citrus Mutual said it best “…the lawsuit-driven proposed numeric nutrient criteria coming from EPA are 1) technically and scientifically unsupported; 2) arguably economically unattainable, creating major hardships for every sector of Florida’seconomy and local governments; and 3) not reasonably related to the health of flora and fauna (i.e. freshwater and marine-based plant and animal life) of Florida’s waters.” More info from Citrus Mutual here.

Moreover, a consortium of Florida’s water and wastewater utilities estimate costs to implement this baseless numeric criteria range from $650-$750 per year, per household in Florida. And that’s just households. Imagine the cost to small businesses? (pdf)

I am working diligently with my colleagues in the Florida House to petition EPA for an extension of the comment period and for additional public hearings throughout our state. But the bottom line here is this: Floridians can’t afford this, nor can our small businesses, and nor can our agriculture industry, which would be unfairly punished in this scheme. In fact, agriculture is leading our state out of this economic recession (more on that later) and it continues to play a major role in our regional economy. Environmental and industry leaders have praised the state’s efforts to improve water quality. Why not allow the rigorous standards we already have in place sufficient time to prove effective. Now just isn’t the time to impose this clumsy, heavy-handed piece of bad government on folks.

photo credit: Stuck in Customs

— REPUBLICAN —
Melony M. Bell:  (Fort Meade /Auditor) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page
Former Mayor, City of Fort Meade
Former Commissioner, City of Fort Meade

Tom Presley:  (Bartow / Pastor) -  Facebook Page

POLK COUNTY COMMISSION – DISTRICT 4
This district covers the northeast area of the county, including the cities/towns of Davenport, Dundee, Haines City, Lake Hamilton, and areas of Winter Haven.
— DEMOCRAT —
Jean Reed:  (Incumbant /Winter Haven) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Commission Bio Page -

— REPUBLICAN —
Todd Dantzler:  (Winter Haven / Realtor) -  Personal Web Page

John Hall: (Auburndale / Retired Polk County Building & Codes Director) – Campaign currently does not have an online presence.

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD – DISTRICT 3
The winner will replace incumbant board member Hazel Sellers, who is term-limited.
— NONPARTISAN —
Victoria Meares:  (Teacher /Lakeland) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD - DISTRICT 6
The winner will replace incumbant board member Margaret Lofton, who is term-limited.
— NONPARTISAN —
Terry E. Pittman: (Eagle Lake / Former Facilities Managment Director) – Campaign Web Site -

Lynn Wilson, Jr.:  (Winter Haven / Certified Public Accountant) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD - DISTRICT 7
— NONPARTISAN —
Tim Harris (Lakeland /Real Estate Sign Installation Business Owner; Real Estate Investiment Partner / Incumbant) – Campaign Web Site

COUNTY COURT – GROUP 6
— NONPARTISAN —
J. Kevin Abdoney:  (Lakeland / Attorney) -  Judicial Bio Page -

photo credit: a•Andres

Mr. Townsend. Thank you for your comments.

For the record, I am not Rush’s puppet. But, I am (1) an elderly man who lived through the Depression, (2) a WWII and Korean veteran (active duty with the USAF), and (3) blessed to be very well cared for by the excellent staff at The James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa.

Additionally, my B.A., M.A., and doctoral studies were, and remain today, the study of Economics, and Finance. History and writing are my passion, as is Truth, only the truth, and nothing but. I am not a parrot for anyone, and I “call it” as I analyze it, based upon what is always a continuing education.

You admit you‘re neither an economist, nor a historian. Your response to my post proved it.

I recommend reading, “The Politically Incorrect Notebook,” which can be purchased by calling 863-289-1191. At $14.95 it will provide a broader look at many subjects of national interest.

Following are some cogent thoughts about your positions. I did read your entire missile, my friend. (Maybe the only person on this planet to do so.)

First, I have never said “No!” to public works spending. Quite the contrary. We can most certainly use road repairs, bridges, and similar projects, particularly at times like today. What I did say was public projects are not classic examples of immediate and long lasting stimuli. Do them! Yes! But, don’t rely upon them to haul the economy from its present condition.

Perhaps you failed to recognize that my main point, re: WWII, wasn’t the war itself, but the economic conditions, which developed from 1930-1946. (If it’s war that’s required, I guess Iraq failed in your expectations.) Twenty-million people were added during that 16-year period, and when all able-bodied people were finally employed, and had little to buy, they saved! With the end of hostilities, they spent! And the economy blossomed.

It is truly a matter of supply and demand. Today, there is a glut of houses, cars, etc., which you have already recognized. You like to “read” graphs. Try to “read” a recent statistic: Savings. Since the initial “stimulus” payouts, and bank “bail-out,” U.S. savings rates have moved from 0% to over 3%. Why? How would you “read” this? Why didn’t consumers buy another house. Or car. Or, remodel the kitchen? What did you do with your $600?

Do my comments mean there shouldn’t be a stimulus bill? Good Grief, Charlie Brown! No! But, “spending” and “stimulus” are not synonyms! It’s all about HOW you spend the dollars. Dollars to Philippians? Dollars to Pelosi’s mouse project? Dollars to ACORN?

Is there “pork” in the present bill? Nobody really knows how much, because we were not allowed to read all 1,100 pages. Remember Obama’s “transparency pledge?” That we would have 5-days to analyze all bills? That didn’t happen. Why? Pelosi had a plane to catch. Italy was more important to her, than Obama’s pledge of transparency.

You also see interest rates as a better stimuli than tax reductions. You’re wrong. Where are interest rates now? Case closed.

What, and who will provide employment? And why would they? Over 75% of our economy is driven by “small business.” When their sales go down, they’re required to lay off employees. That’s bad. How to help? Improve unemployment benefits. That’s incorporated in the current bill, and that’s good. But, I ask again, what’s going to jump-start the small businessman? Interest rates mean nothing to him/her if no one is buying.

Now, let’s assume that there is a significant reduction in his/her taxes. Personal income taxes. Corporate taxes. Sales taxes. Surtaxes. License fees. An overabundance of bureaucratic paperwork, requiring time, lawyers, and accountants. Rising fuel costs. Al Gore’s carbon tax. Rising unemployment compensation taxes. Rising benefit obligations. The list is long, and burdensome. If lifted, a little, even temporarily, to the point where he/she can see the way to a profitable return to improving sales, HE HIRES!

Unless you promote that all unemployed become government employees, or true wards of the state, the U.S. must seek those “carrots” that encourage and promote the rehiring of those laid off. I hope, I truly hope you understand these simple economic lessons.

You also believe that “other countries” are eager and willing to buy our Treasury bonds. WOW! Uh…where have you been lately? Secretary of State Clinton just left China, the only major buyer of our debt paper, where she was officially told, and I quote, “We hate you! We don’t want your paper. We hate you, and can’t do anything about it!” This, from the country that already owns over $2 trillion of our paper! That’s a “T,” not a “B.”

Your early comment that it was a good achievement when 1933 unemployment rates of 25.2%, were reduced to 1940’s 13.9%, is like saying the Titanic only lost 1,503 lives.

But, sir, it was one of your closing comments that identifies everything about you. I’m not a profane man, but if anyone, or anything could prompt an outburst of sheer disgust, it is the following. And I quote:

“The Great Depression brought on Nazism, Fascism, Communism, nuclear weapons, and the (holocaust). What will be the (end result) of this looming Depression?”

Gov. Charlie Crist’s embrace of the federal stimulus package could reduce that 15 percent cut roughly in half over the next two years – if Crist and other Florida officials can convince the federal government not to enforce rules requiring states receiving stimulus money to be funding schools at 2005-06 levels.

All this was the focus of last night’s school funding meeting at Harrison School of the Arts (where my daugher is a sophomore and I am a parent board member). Mark Grey, the district’s top bean counter, laid out what $95 million translates into for Polk schools.

Here are some highlights from his list:

– 19 percent salary reduction
– a roughly 40-day furlough for all staff
– 1,730 teaching positions

The district would also consider cutting career academies and further reducing support services it has already cut. In the end, the ditstrict will probably use some combination of cuts to make up the deficit. Noting that the district is by far Polk’s largest employer, with 13,000 employees, Grey and Superintendent Gail McKinzie said they want to avoid adding to the county’s economic woes by laying people off. Instead, expect the emphasis to fall on salary cuts.

Let this discussion settle in for those of you think the stimulus package does too much to aid states and not enough to build useless roads. The fact is that public education is, with few exceptions, the prime economic driver of virtually every community. And that doesn’t even consider the actual service it performs.

The purpose of last night’s meeting was to encourage parents to protest these cuts to their state legislators, and I fully endorse that. But beyond that, we all need to ask ourselves what we are willing to pay for. Because there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Here’s John Chambliss’ account of the meeting in The Ledger.

Cross posted on Lakeland Local

Need proof? Let me count the ways. For fiscal 2006 our government doled out:

Foreign Aid – $16.7 billion
Farm Subsidies – $21.4 billion
Community Development (aka “Pork) – $5.8 billion
Regional Development (more Pork) – $2.6 billion
Education – $118.6 billion
Health (other than Medicare) – $252.8 billion
Medicare – $330.0 billion
Social Security – $548.6 billion
Food Assistance – $54.0 billion
Housing Assistance – $38.3 billion

I’ll save you the trouble. That adds up to $1.4 trillion (with a ‘T’). For fiscal 2006. I can hardly wait to see fiscal 2009’s numbers!

Now! For the bottom line. The federal government’s net receipts totaled $2.4 trillion, ergo, 60% of each dollar that reached Washington D.C., was applied to social programs. Sixty Percent! If that percentage figure doesn’t represent Socialism in full bloom, it’s close enough to warrant the label, sports fans.

Further, these programs, plus the incredibly inept spending bill the House is trying to foist on the Senate and our economy, will literally bankrupt the system! The United States is already obligated for unfunded liabilities of about $60 trillion! And the Socialists we know as Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Franks and Dodd are either economically illiterate, or are purposely leading the U.S into a situation which would require bankruptcy in order to reorganize!

Last February 6th, Obama, speaking to House and Senate Socialists, berated the Conservatives seeking changes in the current spending bell. It is not a “stimulus” bill. It is a spending bill. Obama thinks “spending” and “stimulus” are synonyms. They are not!

Money that is allocated to people in the Philippines, is not a stimulus to our economy. Money that is allocated for AIDS relief in Africa is not a stimulus to our economy. Money that is allocated to the ACORN’s of America is not a stimulus to our economy. The list of pork packages in the current spending bill is a disgrace, and represents the goals of the Wicked Witch of the West who Obama assigned the task of writing this obamanation…er…abomination.

Anyway, there’s the picture. Socialism is already here. The question is, can we return the United States to an economic system that encourages individual efforts? Can we return the judicial system to reflect obedience to the Constitution, a judicial system that continues to mandate unfunded obligations unto a taxpayer who has no appeal? I doubt it. Here’s the problem. The U.S voters are already Socialists – most of them, anyway – and their numbers will only increase. You know who they are. It’s out of our control, and I see no escape route.

Do you see any Hope for Change?

Me? I’m thinking New Zealand.

Obviously things have changed since I went to school. Packing any learning would have been helpful then: Orange County schools will pack more learning into same amount of time

If you have an unpaid parking fine or toll ticket, you’ll want to read this story. If you wonder how the government spends your tax money, you’ll want to read this story. If you’re read this far, why not just read: City of Orlando, road agencies scramble to address backlog of unpaid toll and parking tickets

Today’s bonus coverage: Florida Among 6 States To Write Own School Formulas

Report: Florida Treats Gulf As a ‘Toilet’

Newest Teachers Hit Hard By Layoffs

New Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince makes history

Not everyone felt the impact of budget cuts

Buyers sue Four Corners developer

Our position: Local and state government can fight crime by making prevention a priority

PCC Closer to 4-Year Programs

Tampa Gives Preliminary Approval To Building Green

Tampa Electric, Peoples Gas Plan To Seek Rate Increase

Yes – that headline says April 15. Your tax forms must be in the mail by midnight tonight.

Apopka Cops say that the house being used for a reality show was once used to broadcast live sex acts for an adult entertainment Web site. Can’t you imagine the idiots behind this? “Hey, we got this house sitting here – we need to use it to get rich and famous!”

In Haines City, work on the North Sixth Street streetscaping project has been postponed because of paperwork requested by Florida’s Department of Community Affairs. Meanwhile in Winter Haven, Third Street between Avenue A Southwest and Avenue E Northwest is undergoing a face lift as part of that city’s continuing effort to improve the downtown. The work is expected to take the rest of the year.

Mulberry Police Deputy Chief Jody Beaudry was arrested Monday on charges of sexual battery and engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a minor. FDLE investigators say in 2004, Beaudry threatened to revoke a 16 year old girl’s probation if she did not have sex with him. Sounds like rape to me.

A Ledger editorial notes the Bush Administration’s terrible EPA record.

Compared to 2007, Sun ‘n Fun President John Burton said that daily attendance during the week was down 5 percent or 6 percent each day for the first four days of the six-day event. There was no dropoff in deaths surrounding the event.

Media General’s Florida Communications Group is offering voluntary buyouts to about half its 1,326 employees, including those with The Tampa Tribune and WFLA, News Channel 8. They are trying to reduce staff and other costs in a difficult economic environment in the Tampa Bay area, said John Schueler, president of Florida Communications Group, which oversees the operation of The Tribune, WFLA, TBO.com and other Florida media outlets.

The book The Land is about the son of a prosperous landowner and a former slave whose white father raises him openly in post-Civil War Georgia. The book includes use of the N-word. After a parent’s complaint, a committee of school administrators, parents and teachers from Turner Elementary School in northeast Hillsborough County said The Land by Mildred Taylor was “above the maturity level of elementary students” and will donate the book to a middle school, school officials said Monday.

Tampa Tribune Editorial: In scoring and hosting championship games, Tampa has been outstanding. But Orlando is investing a billion dollars in sporting venues and other facilities, and are on the way to building commuter rail. Tampa needs to stay ahead of Orlando.

That’s it for now. Feel free to go finish your taxes.

To help remind you of the law, the Lakeland Police Department will be out in force from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm today to help educate drivers in the following areas:

• The Polk County Parkway.

• Harden Blvd between Beacon Road and Lakeside Village Shopping Center.

• South Road 98 (Bartow Highway) between Edgewood Drive and South Crystal Lake Drive.

According to LPD, “Violators of this law will be stopped and given literature and anything from a verbal warning to a uniform traffic citation.”

An act relating to the University of South Florida Lakeland; creating s. 1004.345, F.S.; establishing and designating the University of South Florida Lakeland campus; providing legislative intent; requiring the Board of Trustees to appoint a Campus Board; providing membership, powers, and duties of the Campus Board; providing that the university is administered by a Campus Executive Officer; requiring the President of the University of South Florida to consult with the Campus Board before hiring or terminating the Campus Executive Officer; providing duties and powers of the Campus Executive Officer; providing that students enrolled at a branch campus of the university have the same rights as other students; requiring the University of South Florida to provide for a system of student registration that meets certain conditions; providing an effective date.

That pretty much sums up the bill. You can read a PDF of the full bill here.

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One poster’s reply started with, “Your aggression is focused incorrectly at Bright House. The fact is that this is simply another tax by Lakeland Electric or the city of Lakeland.”

This what I wrote:

First, I feel no aggression toward Bright House, and I also don’t feel a city (and its citizens) should give away its resources.

The attachment fee is not a tax. It is a cost of doing business. I believe Bright House labeled it a tax hoping the word would shock citizens who didn’t study the situation.

We paid to put up those poles. We continue to pay for them. In order to allow cable and other companies to attach to the poles, we have to buy taller poles than the electric company needs.

I have a suggestion. Would you be amenable to Bright House putting up all their own poles? That way they would have to repair them when they’re damaged or old. Oh, and your bill would go way up to pay for all those poles.

When cable first started the companies were given discount rates to attach to the poles because they were “new.” Not just in Lakeland, but all over the US. The rates have not risen with the costs. The attachment fees in Lakeland and other municipalities are fair fee for the burden the cable companies put on our resources.

I surely believe the same people would complain if the headline was “Lakeland Gives Free Ride to Bright House.” I’d read, “How dare they not charge that company. No wonder my taxes are so high!”

As I mentioned in my personal statement about Lakeland Local, I’ll try to keep everything as transparent as possible. For those who ask, I’ve never had a single problem with Bright House service other than expected equipment failures. No problems with bills, no over (or under) charges, no rude technicians or sales staff. On the other side, except for a single instance, I’ve found the members of our city government very open, forthcoming, and helpful. In order words, I don’t have a special like or dislike for either entity.

I believe the attachment fee is fair. I believe the company management at Bright House made a mistake by not reporting every pole where their techs attached cable leads. I also feel they dealt in a little propaganda by calling the fee “a tax” and using an inflated number when reporting the fee to their customers. I really hope the attention on this issue will help the two sides sit down and quickly reach an agreement.

I urge all Bright House customers to study the pole fee attachment issue as it relates to cable companies. Don’t settle for what I, or the Ledger, reports. Especially don’t settle for what Bright House and Lakeland Electric puts on a single slip of paper in your monthly bill.

If you haven’t, read the only main stream media mention of the email at the Polk County News Blog. Tampa Tribune reporter sums up the most damaging allegations and starts the investigation into the matter.

I’m not going to publish the full email here. There are a few citizens mentioned, and I think it would be unfair to them if I published without contacting each for their statements. I’m not going to spend that kind of time on this story. I’ll wait to see what the Tribune, and hopefully, the Ledger uncover.

However, Zebdaoui mentions in his email a October 23, 2001 incident where his was arrested in a case of mistaken identity. I thought it interesting to research that point. You can read it at the Tahoe Tribune’s online archive: City official victim of mistaken identity in post-attack suspicions

As you read the article, remember the state of the country those few weeks after the 911 attack. I remember taking a flight not long after and watching airport security follow a man around simply because he looked “middle eastern.” I wouldn’t be surprised if there are not many men like Zebdaoui who have similar “arrest” stories.