Flights of Fantasy

In what appears to be round two of public concern over air travel by the Governor’s Office, the Eternal OptiCrist has admitted to accepting flights on corporate jets owned by several high profile businessmen and GOP contributors. The Sun Sentinel reported Sunday that since taking office two years ago, the OptiCrist has flown more than 100 times on wealthy businessmen's jets to attend concerts, dinners, sporting events and political gatherings. He takes private planes to and from St. Petersburg and Miami, where he and his wife have homes. But the Luv Guv has refused to answer questions or produce documents about the flights despite repeated inquiry, and he continues to defend using the jets as a way to save tax dollars. All of which raises the question…what is he hiding? And why is he hiding it?

After all, this is the Guv, who on his second day in office, issued an Executive Order creating the Office of Open Government. That order states, in part, the Luv Guv’s commitment “to serve Florida with integrity and transparency…to assure full and expeditious compliance with Florida’s open government and public records laws, and (to ensure) that the Office of the Governor complies with public records requests in an expeditious manner.” So now he is breaking the rules. And by his actions he is truly transparent, just not in the way he intended when he issued the Executive Order.

And then there’s the little issue of the Gift Ban, that pesky law passed a few years intended to curb the cozy relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers. No more free cups of coffee, meals, or other items. Florida Statute 112.3148 states the Eternal OptiCrist is “prohibited from knowingly accepting, directly or indirectly, a gift…from a lobbyist…or principal of such lobbyist, where such gift is for the personal benefit of the reporting individual.” A principal is the entity represented by the lobbyist.

So the Luv Guv must pay the market value of any gift and report to the Ethics Commission these dealing each year. And although he has been accepting these flights for at least two years, he has not made any such disclosure to the Commission. A check of state records shows Dr. Steven Scott, one of those who have provided the jets, may be a principal in Vista Health Plan, Inc., a south Florida health insurance company that employs several lobbyists.

All this means the Luv Guv must pay his own way. Even if the flights are taken for personal business, they are viewed by the State as gifts and must be disclosed. It’s hypocritical for the Eternal OptiCrist to stand on a platform of “integrity and transparency” while refusing to answer questions or produce documents about his conduct.

His failure to address the issue raises serious concern about violations of state ethics laws that cannot be ignored.

Taxmehassee

Finally, there’s a small bit of sense coming out of this year’s Legislative Session. A bill (SB 2282) presented by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, would prohibit local governments from charging fees to at-fault drivers for police and fire/rescue response to auto accidents. Tallahassee Fire Chief Cindy Dick recommended imposing the fee to supplement the agency’s budget, and on January 28th, Tallahassee city commissioners approved the measure.

Apparently Chief Dick and city commissioners see no problem with taxing Tallahassee residents twice for these services since those who pay property tax already pay a fee for police, fire, and 911 service. And there is no provision in the city measure to exclude residents from being charged or to eliminate their property tax for the service. Imagine that.

I’m not totally opposed to a pay-go process for city services, but Chief Dick’s recommendation and the city commission’s approval is arrogant. It demonstrates their belief that they can do as they please and their inability to prioritize and spend wisely. Chief Dick commented that without the fees, budget constraints threatened to force her to take two truck companies and a tanker off the road. But non-essential employees can commute in city vehicles and Tallahassee needs a Performing Arts Center? I don’t think so. I’ll bet Chief Dick drives a nice city-owned ride. When was last time she responded to a fire or accident scene? I could go on.

We don’t have a budget problem…we have a spending problem. Mayor OfftheMark and the city commissioners need to wake up. And we need to help them.

Pay cut for state employees?

So Legislators are having such a hard time balancing the state’s budget, they’ve decided that a 5%-10% pay cut for state employees might be in order. Let’s not forget that state workers have not had a pay raise in 3 years. Coupled with inflation and rising prices for just about everything, many state workers are barely making it. Senator J.D. Alexander, R-Winter Haven, says he’s comfortable with a 5% cut. I wonder how many state employees feel the same.

When considering the pay cut, though, you have to remember that “state employee” encompasses many more than just those who work for state agencies. It also includes all public university and college Presidents, professors, and coaching staff. That’s right…Bobby Bowden and Urban Meyer are state employees, too. It also includes those who work for state Committees, Commissions, and other organizations. And it includes the Governor and our Legislators. We’ll see if these folks are included in the cuts.

Just last year the same Florida Legislature awarded Florida Highway Patrol troopers a 6% pay raise while trying to fix a $5 billion deficit. Guess that wasn’t such a good idea, so they’ll have to take that back. Also last year Legislators voted to reduce their pay by 5% (don’t clap yet…they voted for pay raises for themselves, too), so back-to-back cuts will really hurt. And while they have restricted travel, they have not looked at Governor OptiCrist’s half-mil European Tour or Lt. Governor Kottkamp’s personal use of a state plane to commute between his home and Tallahassee. That’s another half-mil. In a $6 billion deficit, that’s not much. But it’s an ethical start.

We don’t have a budget problem…we have a spending problem. My parents taught me not to spend on things I couldn’t afford. Legislators need to remember the money they spend is not theirs…it’s the taxpayers’. We need to remind them of that.

DBPR fails to collect fees

Freshman Representative Michelle Rahwinkel Vasilinda (D) is making headlines by calling for the collection of state sales tax on Internet purchases made by Floridians. Although she is mistakenly touting her idea as not a “new” tax (Florida does not have the authority to enforce its state laws beyond its borders, so we can’t collect tax on out-of-state sales), her efforts are more about politics and headlines than about fixing Florida’s ever-growing budget deficit since she cannot do what she proposes without Federal legislation. Perhaps her fellow Democrap, US Senator Bill Nelson, would be willing to help.


Vasilinda could better spend her time and serve her constituency and the citizens of Florida by focusing on that which she has the authority to change. And to that end she should do everything she can to ensure that agencies charged with collecting taxes are doing so fairly and efficiently.


The Department of Business and Professional Regulation and Secretary Chuck Drago is one such agency that allows politics to get in the way of its business. Seems Mr. Drago is giving Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association President Carol Dover a pass on fees owed to the state. The FRLA provides training to businesses on the safe handling of food, and a portion of the money paid for this training goes to DBPR.

But not for Ms. Dover, who bought this portion of her Association from Regulatory Compliance Services, Inc, which is owned by Jim Greer, Chair of the Florida Republican Party. Greer’s business, which has several links on the FRLA website, provides consulting services and training to Dover’s membership in the lodging and alcoholic beverage industry.


Drago also has a personal and professional relationship with Greer dating back to his days as Oviedo’s Chief of Police while Greer was an Oviedo city council member. When Governor Crisp took office, Greer placed Drago as the Deputy Secretary of Business Regulation, which directly oversees the two Divisions regulating the hotel and alcoholic beverage industries. But Governor Crisp saw no conflict of interest there, and a short time later promoted him to Secretary at DBPR.


It doesn’t take much effort to play connect the dots with these relationships and see the favoritism, real or suspected, granted by Drago to Dover and other members of Greer‘s business. Rep. Rahwinkel Vasilinda and other legislators should do everything in their power to stop Drago’s actions and require the fair collection of monies owed the state.


Governor Crisp pledged to establish an ethical administration and to appoint leaders with integrity while working to earn the trust of Florida’s citizens. As it relates to Mr. Drago, he certainly has failed, but Rep. Rahwinkel Vasilinda has an opportunity to change that.

No investigation for Sheriff Harvey

A spokesman said today the Luv Guv will not ask FDLE to investigate Sheriff Harveycarbanger since the case “is moving through the criminal justice system.” Seems Governor Crisp needs to come in from the sun and take a break. Earth to Luv Guv…Harveycarbanger pleaded “No Contest” and was sentenced two days ago. His case is done in the criminal justice system. So it’s blatantly apparent The Eternal OptiCrist isn’t even remotely paying attention to this case or upholding his obligation to do so.

Now there’s suspicion that Harveycarbanger has an ownership interest in a licensed alcoholic beverage establishment in violation of Florida’s beverage laws. Clueless in Tallahassee can’t avoid this case since it’s one of his agencies, the Department of Business and Professional Depredation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, that is responsible for issuing and regulating the state’s beverage licenses. A high-ranking, anonymous source at ABT confirmed today that there have been no inquiries into Harveycarbanger’s status as a licensee. If it were determined that Harvaycarbanger is in fact a licensee, the next obvious question would be how did DBPR and Secretary Dragoon allow that to happen? Dragoon has lots of connections to law enforcement and the beverage industry.

Governor Crisp must get involved with this case. His refusal to do so is a failure to perform the duties of his office.

Sheriff pleads no contest

Sheriff Harveycarbanger pleaded “No Contest” and was sentenced yesterday, apologizing to the family he hit and the citizens of Wakulla County. And his attorney has written to Governor Crisp stating justice has been served and asking the Eternal OptiCrist to stay out of the Sheriff’s business. State Attorney Willie Meggs has said, too, that if people will just stop talking about this incident it will go away. Which, it seems, is what everyone but the public wants and exactly why the Luv Guv needs to step in to remove him from office.

Harveycarbanger’s “No Contest” plea is cowardly and a slap to the face of the citizens he serves. “As Sheriff, I should be held to a higher standard…(and I) accept full responsibility for my conduct,” he said. What crap! If that were true, he would have pleaded guilty rather than hide behind the “No Contest” plea, which fails to admit guilt. The judge withheld adjudication, so technically he hasn’t even been convicted. He has fired employees for committing misdemeanor crimes (as he did), and he likely would not hire an applicant with his record. He’s a hypocrite for not stepping down on his own.

Harveycarbanger’s actions have demonstrated that he cannot effectively fulfill the obligations of his office or lead the citizens he serves. The Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) holds discipline authority over all certified law enforcement officers, and the Sheriff should be ordered to appear before the Commission. And the Luv Guv needs to do what’s right for Wakulla’s citizens by telling the carbanger to take a taxi out of office.

Show me the money 2

Last week we wrote about the state’s love for your money. They are so desperate for more money right now, in fact, that they have raided virtually every state agency trust fund, swept the Budget Stabilization fund, and stuck their dirty fingers into the Lawton Chiles Endowment cookie jar. This week, Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, suggested adding the Prepaid College Program (PCP) to the list, which is sitting on about $8.8 billion, to that list.


Sen. Bling says this money is the state’s money since the state is responsible for and manages the money, and Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, agrees. They couldn’t be more wrong, and that they are even talking about it is proof they simply don’t get it.


The money sitting in the PCP belongs to the parents who invested it for their child’s education. And actually it belongs to the child. The benefit of the program for parents is that it locks in tuition at today’s rates and thereby protects against tuition increases. The program can guarantee this because they get to invest the money over many years until the child starts attending college. Which is exactly why the fund shows an overage of about $468 million.


Senators Bling and Dilbert refuse to acknowledge that tuition at Florida’s universities and colleges are skyrocketing. The overage in the fund will cover those increases if they leave it alone. If not, the PCP will become the latest version of the state Lottery, which was supposed to create money for education but instead became the principle source of education funding. I’ve said it before and I will again…the state has no business managing your money.


All one has to do is to look at the current budget crisis to realize the Legislature is just a few cookies short of a full jar.