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Senate president, House speaker exchange letters as budget dispute deepens

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Instead of a Doctor of the Day, when the Florida House and Senate next meet, maybe they should consider a psychologist, counselor or mediator. After an exchange of insults and letters Wednesday it became even more uncertain when the two chambers will be able to begin budget negotiations. The gulf between the Florida House and Senate became wider Wednesday after Senate President Andy Gardiner sent House Speaker Steve Crisafulli a letter stating the House adjournment on day 57 of the…

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While lawmakers starve DOC budget, probationers still pay for supervision

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New documents reveal a legislative attack on a trust fund intended to pay for corrections officer training and equipment, which intensified already aggravated under-funding of the Department of Corrections. The situation has now led to dangerous failures in felon supervision, reports Noah Pransky of WTSP News. In 2004, lawmakers closed the trust fund, although the State of Florida continued collecting millions of dollars from probationers over the last 10 years. As the money went to the general revenue fund, the DOC…

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Lawmakers pass few bills as budget questions linger

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Just past the midpoint of the Florida Legislature’s 60-day session, lawmakers have left town for the Easter and Passover holidays. So let’s take a look at what they have done with the more than 1,700 bills that have been filed. They set next year’s presidential primary for March 15. And they’re really, really close to sending Gov. Rick Scott a bill that will let rural mail carriers ride around without their seatbelts. That’s about it. Every year the Legislature saves…

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Prison workers with ties to KKK accused of plotting to kill black inmate

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Florida officials say three current and former prison employees were members of the Ku Klux Klan who planned to kill a former inmate who is black. The three men — Thomas Jordan Driver, 25, David Elliot Morgan, 47, and 42-year-old Charles Thomas Newcomb — each were arrested Thursday on one state count of conspiracy to commit murder, according to a statement from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s office. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office says they planned the murder after the…

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Pam Bondi goes to Nevada

Drawing on lessons learned after a nightclub massacre last year in Orlando, Attorney General Pam Bondi and members of her

WTSP: Probation officers outline ‘dangerous’ staffing crisis at DOC

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Staff problems in Florida prisons are bad, but parole officers might have it even worse. Although Florida state prisons have received a lot of attention lately, slashed budgets in the Department of Corrections probation and parole divisions have a potential to cause bigger problems. WTSP/10 Investigates is reporting on a months-long study that found probation and parole officers with many DOC community corrections programs are inadequately prepared to provide court-ordered supervision. While other agencies monitor Florida’s misdemeanor probations, the DOC…

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House prepares Dept. of Corrections bill; Dems say it lacks oversight

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A record number of inmates — 346 — died last year in Florida prisons. Most were from natural causes but federal and state law enforcement agencies are investigating why there were so many deaths. In recent legislative hearings, several prison guards testified under oath about the stressful conditions they work under. State Sen. Greg Evers is behind a bill that sets up an independent prison oversight board that reports directly to the Legislature. The House is preparing a proposal that might be released…

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The day that was in Florida politics — March 10

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No movement Tuesday in clearing up confusion over next year’s state budget. While state economists counted up how much money Florida will have to spend for the year beginning July 1, the stances of the players involved seemed to harden.  The Revenue Estimating Conference met but by sunset had yet to release the report lawmakers will use to build next year’s spending plan. Projections through December had a billion dollars more in the general revenue fund than there was last…

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