Today on Context Florida:
Peter Schorsch notes two bills making their way through the Legislature that have to do with online voting and voter registration. Seems like a good idea, except Gov. Scott – and by virtue of that, now his march-in-lockstep secretary of state, Ken Detzner – is opposed to it. Despite assurances from everyone who knows how these systems work and despite all of the smart safeguards, Gov. Scott is worried that opening up the voter systems will encourage bad people to do bad things to our voter rolls.
As Daniel Tilson sees it, in Scott’s Florida, if sea-level rise doesn’t get you, lack of health insurance will. Stories of Scott’s “profits over people” business model and “my way or the highway” management style abound. Both were on display this week in Tallahassee.
Sam Ferreri, mayor of Greenacres and president of the Florida League of Mayors, says that lawmakers are considering two measures (SB 896 and HB 391) that will severely disrupt the balanced and fair arrangement between local governments and utility companies. Lawmakers should oppose these measures, he says, because they not only upset a fair balance between public need and local government accommodation, if passed they will raise local taxes – severely – while stifling the growth in badly needed utility services.
The state of California may be known for many things, but Tom Feeney says that the Golden State has also become known for its struggle with a crisis other states like Florida are working to avoid; a severe water shortage that threatens its economy, its environment and the livelihood of millions of families.
