By Dan
Wednesday Aug 27, 2008
Former Governor Bush’s education foundation handed out grades today. As reported by AP, Republicans got mostly “A’s” and Democrats mostly “D’s” and “F’s”. Utterly silly. The grading system fully marginalizes whatever credible work his foundation is doing as it betrays the group as nothing more than a voucher group.
Not just balloon drops and big hats
By Dan
Sunday Aug 24, 2008
Today, the Tampa Tribune published an op-ed commentary I wrote in anticipation of the Denver Democratic Convention that begins in earnest tomorrow. It follows as it appeared:
....There was a time when political conventions were judged by their balloon drops and big hats. This Democratic convention will definitely not be one of those years...
Friday Aug 22, 2008
The notion of public officials using Facebook and similar internet platforms to reveal a more authentic side might seem a little silly. It probably is. I'm not sure that confessing I like the movie "Happy Gilmore" or that my 4 year old son can beat me in Wii tennis (easily) will give anyone a window into my soul. But in just the day since I joined it has, admittedly, been interesting to have access to the ruminations of people I know (or at least sort of know)
Board of Education seeks more money for K-12
By Dan
Tuesday Aug 19, 2008
Today, the Florida Board of Education asked for a $1 billion increase for Florida's K-12 public education funding. You might think that such a request would be obvious given that Florida spends less per capita on education than any other state. Or that with Florida's worst in the nation high school graduation rate a call for more resources might be plain as day. But the painful truth is that despite the compelling need for more funds for education, rarely has a Republican administration said they need more.
Optimism is not an economic policy.
By Dan
Friday Aug 15, 2008
Florida's economy is in freefall. This last year the legislature cut $6 billion due to declining economic activity, fuel costs, home sales and a variety of other factors. Today the Revenue Estimating Conference of the State reported that an additional $1.8 billion will have to be cut from the current budget. Nearly $8 billion in two years!
By Dan
Wednesday Aug 13, 2008
This Friday, Florida's Revenue Estimating Conference will convene to present their official budget forecast for the upcoming year and beyond. Prior to Friday they believed Florida's declining revenue might show a slight uptick. Prepare yourselves for more bad news as conditions have only worsened and their forecast is likely to reflect darker skies.
Jefferson was right, “Information is the currency of Democracy.”
By Dan
Thursday Aug 7, 2008
Today, I forwarded my concerns to the FCC regarding the proposed purchase by WPLG Channel 10 of their rival WTVJ-NBC 6. While I appreciate that Florida’s tanking economy can impact all businesses –including media – the public’s interest in a vital and diverse press must be taken into account. As newspapers downsize, and television stations merge, the losers will be our citizens who will be shortchanged the critical information that informs and empowers them. Jefferson was right, “Information is the currency of Democracy.”
By Dan
Friday Aug 1, 2008
I met Steven Chaykin over twenty years ago when he took me under his wing at the U.S. Attorneys Office in Miami where we worked in the public corruption unit. He was a talented attorney, a generous friend, and an all-around stand-up guy.
Cancer Camp – The view from the bottom bunk
By Dan
Monday Jul 28, 2008
Spent the weekend in the bottom bunk.
23 years ago a few exceptional women led by Lee Klein of Miami asked me to help organize a summer camp they wanted to create for the patients of the Children’s Cancer Caring Center. I took them up on it and for nearly every summer since, I’ve found myself in the cabins of Birch State Park in Ft Lauderdale with 70 children and staff, enjoying the extraordinary natural gifts of our state – and the great camaraderie of Camp Fiesta.
2-5-7-9 these are the measures to decline.
By Dan
Tuesday Jul 22, 2008
In November you will have nine (9) amendments on the ballot. One was placed on the ballot by the Legislature, another measure through the citizen initiative process, and the remaining seven (7) by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission (on which I was a nonvoting member). Here is my primer to all the amendments, along with recommendations and a little attitude.
No one should be surprised by Florida's economic woes.
By Dan
Thursday Jul 17, 2008
No one should be surprised. While much of our woes result from larger trends in the economy, too many of them are self-inflicted.
Our failure to invest in public education – and develop a workforce that attracts more stable and better paying industries – is the reason why the national pain is felt most acutely in Florida.
And the Florida legislature has only acted to worsen these problems.
Imagine, when Floridians are desperately looking for new job opportunities, the legislature actually cut education and higher education by more than a billion dollars.
Senator Obama talks about loose nukes - hopefully people will listen
By Dan
Tuesday Jul 15, 2008
In the mid 1990's, as then Senator Sam Nunn's chief counsel and staff director of the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I directed a series of hearings and congressional reports on this same threat for Senator Nunn. I traveled around the world with our staff – especially throughout the former Soviet Union -- exploring the many facets to the threat and ways to manage the risk. Back then, Senator Nunn partnered with Senator Dick Lugar, an Indiana Republican, to advance a program known as the Nunn-Lugar initiative. Senator Nunn had opined that the breakup of the Soviet Union, while eliminating the gravest threat facing our nation, created a entire series of new threats that were, in some respects, equally challenging.
Offshore drilling is a rank political stunt. Really.
By Dan
Monday Jul 14, 2008
Leave it to the Bush Administration to find craven opportunity in every national crisis. Americans are being crushed by oppressive gasoline prices and the Administration's answer is to tell us that the best way to reduce gas prices is to give oil companies more acreage for drilling. Really? In fact, they tell us, the drilling should be offshore. Really?
Time Magazine Florida essay ... the truth can hurt.
Friday Jul 11, 2008
Today's Time Magazine essay by Michael Grunwald (below) paints a very painful (but pretty accurate) picture of the challenges facing our state. He touches most of the major trendlines that are contributing to our decline -- and takes some pretty fair shots at the groups responsible for the dysfunction.
Celebrating mediocrity in Florida's public schools
By Dan Gelber
Wednesday Jul 9, 2008
The folly of the school grading system is that it is indexed to only minimal competence and, therefore, declares success upon reaching an absurdly low water mark. The real problem is that because school grades have become so important, all the other things that matter are wholly ignored. Florida schools have made the steadfast pursuit of mediocrity their singular goal, sadly at the expense of true achievement.
Don't expect Florida's health care crisis to be solved any time soon
By Dan
Monday Jul 7, 2008
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington based think tank that looks at fiscal policy and programs published a report today poor mouthing Florida's newest health care plan – "Cover Florida". I supported this Governor Crist priority because I think some insurance is probably better than no insurance in a state with nearly 4 million people lacking coverage. I do not believe, however, that the answer to Florida's insurance crisis will ever be to simply provide less insurance to its residents. At best the Governor's plan, though responsible, is only a stop-gap measure that will help some but not meaningfully solve this crisis. To see the entire report (excerpt below) you can visit the Center at www.cbpp.org.
By Dan
Tuesday Jul 1, 2008
Unfortunately, the indexes we rely on to predict our future revenue suggests there is still more rock to dig through before we hit rock bottom. Gas prices are not coming down (and the wrongheaded offer of our coast for oil drilling won't change that one iota); the housing crisis is not going away; our workforce wages are not improving (especially considering the unwise budget cuts to education); and our hurricane insurance policy only works if we never have a hurricane.
Good Luck Chief Justice Peggy Quince
By Dan
Friday Jun 27, 2008
It is my hope that the legislature will do better and treat the Chief Justice not as the head of another state agency, but as the leader of an independent and co-equal branch of government. Good luck Chief Justice Quince.
By Dan
Tuesday Jun 25, 2008
Stopped by the Governor’s "Serve to Preserve" summit today. It was a pretty impressive gathering of folks concerned about climate change. Years ago an event like this would have been attended by only the environmental community. The participants included nearly every sector of commerce. It’s pretty evident that while government will clearly have a significant role in climate change policy, it will be the private sector that delivers the critical ingenuity to make any policy meaningful. The Governor began the day by signing the Energy Bill passed by the legislature this last session.
Everglades deal potentially historic
By Dan
Tuseday Jun 24, 2008
Today, Gov. Crist and U.S. Sugar announced a tenative deal that will have Florida taxpayers buying 187,000 of acres currently part of US Sugar's operations. Here is my comment:
Florida's public education "reforms" failing to prepare for knowledge-based economy
By Dan
Monday Jun 23, 2008
The greatest irony, perhaps, is that last week the nonpartisan Milken Institute, an independent economic think tank released their report comparing how well states are performing in the knowledge-based economy -- Florida ranked 37th (an 8 slot drop from 2002) which strongly suggests that all the "reforms" have made things worse, and the very dumbest thing Florida should do right now is curtail investment in our public education system.
Memo to Governor Bush re: Education Summit
By Dan
Thursday Jun 19, 2008
TO: Governor Bush
FROM: Dan Gelber
RE: Your Education Summit
Good luck today as you begin your National Summit on Education Reform. I see you have invited some serious people to Orlando to discuss education policy – lots of very right-leaning conservatives, but some moderates as well. While I often disagree with aspects of your education policy, I always commend your appetite for debate and agree with your statement “reform is never finished, success is never final.” My hope is that your conferees spend more time engaging a critical evaluation of our public education system, and less time declaring successes that are illusory.
By Dan
Wednesday Jun 18, 2008
John McCain’s energy policy is bad news for Florida and the country. John McCain and the Republican Party are exploiting a real crisis to advance a priority of the oil industry. Rather than take consumer friendly approaches that examine the excess profits by the oil corporations they are presenting a faux solution that has perilous underbelly.
By Dan
Monday Jun 16, 2008
Today, the Obama for America Campaign announced that House Victory Political Director Steve Schale will assume the post of State Director for Florida. It is real tribute to the Obama campaign that rather than bring in an outsider who knows little about our state, they chose someone who truly understands the political mosaic of Florida, is familiar with Florida's challenges, and most importantly loves our state.
Florida Democrats Unite, Energize for November Victories
By Dan
Monday Jun 16, 2008
...if we leave our differences in the rearview mirror, we can leave John McCain and the Republican agenda there too
A callout to my Netroots friends (thanks).
By Dan
Saturday Jun 14, 2008
To my Netroots friends, I’m honored to have been nominated for some of the awards but am returning from a family vacation in Vermont and will not make it in time to attend the ceremony. Please know that I appreciate your recognition and your kind words. I also wanted to thank you for your efforts of past and, more importantly, in the future.
Lawsuit filed against TBRC voucher amendments
By Dan Gelber
Friday Jun 13, 2008
This morning, the Florida Education Association, the Anti-Defamation League among others filed a lawsuit for temporary injunction in Leon County Circuit Court, challenging the placement of proposals 7 and 9 on the November ballot by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. These amendments diminish the barrier between church and state (proposal 7) and deceptively enshrine vouchers in Florida's Constitution (proposal 9).
Florida’s budget is nothing to celebrate
By Dan
Wednesday Jun 11, 2008
Today, Governor Crist signs Florida’s $66 billion budget without any of the fanfare or pomp that often accompanies the event. It’s a good thing, as this is not a budget that warrants celebration.
Government only work's right when it works in the open
By Dan
Friday Jun 6, 2008
There is a karmic justice to me that Florida would have the nation’s finest public records laws. We need them the most. There are far too many backroom deals, shadowy arrangements and dotted lines in our state. As a federal public corruption prosecutor in South Florida I learned – but only through the power of subpoena and compelled process - just how corrupt some officials can be when able to evade the watchful eye of the press and the public. But the sad truth is, most conduct that betrays the public interest is not illegal. It ranges from the troubling to the downright slimy. Through gaping loopholes in campaign financing laws and other ethical low-water marks, conduct that might otherwise be shocking has become commonplace and pedestrian.
"I do not support a national catastrophic insurance policy."
By Dan
Thursday Jun 5, 2008
Those words, uttered by Senator John McCain earlier this year, should be of great concern to any Floridian facing steep and seemingly uncontrolled windstorm insurance bills. Whether you are paying the bills, or are worried that you will owe assessments when a hurricane does hit, you know that this is one of the great economic challenges facing Florida's families.
If it wasn't so serious it could be funny.
By Dan
Jun 5, 2008
On a less serious note, check out this video by the Florida Democratic Party on McCain's hurricane insurance position.
Taxation Commission violated fundamental fairness of voting franchise
By Dan
Tuesday Jun 3, 2008
The TBRC leadership will argue that they had the power to combine measures. While I disagree, it's a sorry defense that doesn't make it right. While I recognize that Governor Bush (the invisible hand responsible for the measure) and others may be honestly passionate about school-vouchers, it is less than honest and unbecoming for those given power and a public trust to intentionally try to trick voters. If former Governor Bush believes he is right on the merits and on principle, than he should support putting the measure up for a fair debate and an up or down vote, rather than resorting to chicanery to prevail.
By Dan
Tuesday Jun 3, 2008
There will always be a debate among historians as to whether great leaders make great moments, or great moments make great leaders. I do not profess to know the answer, but am fairly certain that we are in the midst of one of those moments. I have listened to many public officials who thrive on fear and division, and others who succeed by studiously avoiding conflict or controversy. Senator Obama does neither, but simply inspires by appealing to our better angels and daring us to hope.
What follows are his remarks this evening. He had me at “Tonight.”
By Dan
Friday May 30, 2008
Tomorrow Florida Democrats will have their day in Court. Well sort of. It is my hope that after the finger pointing subsides, Democrats will recognize that who gets seated in Denver in August is not nearly as important as who receives the oath in Washington in January.
Remember the crisis in children's health care? It didn't go away.
By Dan
Wednesday May 28, 2008
Yesterday a respected and nonpartisan foundation issued a report ranking Florida's child health care delivery 50th in the nation (only Oklahoma was worse, Louisiana and Mississippi were slightly better). The independent Commonwealth Fund (see www.commonwealthfund.org ) analyzed a litany of categories including health care access, costs, infant mortality, and health equity. In nearly every category Florida's children were near the bottom of the 50 states (and the District of Columbia). The statistics were startling: nearly one in five of our children do not have health insurance; more than one in five do not get key vaccines; only two in five have a regular doctor; and nearly eight out of every one thousand Florida infants die.
A Supreme Injustice:Fix Court's Pay and Benefits
By Dan
Friday May 23, 2008
It use to be the legislature disrespected Florida's High Court by challenging its status as a co-equal branch of government. Many of my colleagues would try to subject them to recall, or strip them of their authority to issue extraordinary writs. Although the attacks on the Court came from the far Republican right, the defense of the Court was always bipartisan. Happily, the legislature's fixation with emasculating the Court's authority has somewhat dissipated – but now Florida's Supreme Court confronts another set of challenges the legislature must address.
By Dan
Friday May 23, 2008
I met up with the O-Train in Tampa on Wednesday where with little advance planning Senator Obama filled up the Forum in Tampa – easily 15,000 strong. The crowd seemed to be a cross section of everyday people. Young and old, every nationality and occupation. If anyone is wondering whether Obama has broad based appeal, just look to see who is showing up at his rallies. Having worked on previous statewide campaigns (including Presidential and Gubernatorial) when it is sometimes a struggle to get hundreds of people to show up – it is obvious that his message of change is both wide and deep.
A Nigerian businessman wants to make you money, Obama's Israel "problem," and other Internet viruses
By Dan
Monday May 19, 2008
My first impulse was to simply dismiss without dignifying with response the viral emails circulating about Senator Obama. I couldn’t believe that people might actually embrace whatever trash comes in their inbox as if it were the truth. Then again, I guess there is a reason that Nigerian businessman keeps sending me email requests to send him my personal bank account information so that he can send me millions of dollars.
Blame the Republican Legislature (especially in November) – Part I (Education)
By Dan
Thursday May 15, 2008
My favorite is “we are just making the tough choices that any family would make in hard times.” Yeah, right. I can just imagine my wife’s reaction if I told her that I wanted to cut the kids’ education to make sure I didn’t have to turn in my Miami Heat tickets. That would go over well.
By Dan
Saturday May 10, 2008
In Florida, only about 10 of the 18 million people who make up our great state are registered to vote. In Miami-Dade County, roughly half of the 2.5 million people are not registered. And on Election Day even those registered more often than not don’t even bother to show up. Too many of our neighbors have simply lost confidence in their elected officials. Today the Obama campaign took an important step to address this disconnect by reminding our neighbors that their voice matters.
Florida is in Play on Game Day
By Dan
Friday May 9, 2008
As the primary journey comes closer to its finish (and I do think the end is near), it’s time to start thinking about game day - November 4 - and the positive trends that, I believe, are working in favor of Florida swinging Democratic this year.
By Dan
Wed May 7, 2008
Since the beginning of this primary slog I have been conflicted. I like both Obama and Clinton and believe either would be markedly better than the alternative. But only one can be the Democratic nominee and we have to end this sooner than later. As a superdelegate from the rogue state of Florida (currently under penalty from the DNC) my vote doesn't count. But if it did, I would say it's time to move on and choose Senator Barack Obama. Here is why.
By Dan
Monday May 5, 2008
Well, you can let the kids out of the cellar, the 2008 legislative session is over. Though my colleagues did somehow find the time to debate whether truck ornaments should be regulated or evolution was reliable enough for Florida’s science classes. Florida’s budget crisis dominated the 60 days as we tried to navigate what to do with a nearly $6 billion cut from last year. While the air was rich with metaphors (“we have to tighten our belts”), they ultimately did find the courage you might have expected: they forced bedridden seniors, the developmentally disabled and public schoolchildren to bear the brunt of the cuts.
The TBRC: The Bad and the Ugly
By Dan
Friday Apr 25, 2008
Today the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission went further off the tracks and voted out various proposals it had no business addressing. It both was bad and ugly.
By Dan
Sunday Apr 20, 2008
For my caucus, the choice was clear. When you are in the minority the only thing you have is your voice. When the Majority party decides that they do not want your voice to be heard, and when they resort to procedural machinations to stop you from speaking, they are taking away the only tool you have to fight for the people you represent and the principles you cherish. If we had permitted the Republicans on this occasion (and on this issue) to just decide that they did not want us heard, than we would have acquiesced to silencing our voices.
By Dan
Wednesday Apr 17, 2008
Florida is facing soaring gas prices, horrible windstorm rates and property taxes
Lock the women and children in steerage; don't scuff the wingtips!
By Dan Gelber
Friday Apr 11, 2008
Yesterday the House sent its budget over to the Senate. The debate went as predicted (see "Budget Debate" post from 4/9), the vote was party line, and the cuts reflected what any good captain of a sinking ship might do (lock the women, children and seniors in steerage; put the corporate bigwigs on the lifeboats without scuffing their wing tipped shoes). The Republicans directed billions in cuts mostly from services provided children, sick children, infants, sick infants, school children, abused children, seniors, sick seniors, and dying seniors.
By Dan
Thursday Apr 10, 2008
The Medicaid budget cuts being contemplated by both Chambers will likely hurt our County much more than others given our high concentration of poverty and large Medicaid population.
By Dan Gelber
Wednesday Apr 9, 2008
For the most part, the debate went as expected, with the Republicans defending their suggested cuts to education, health care, and road construction as advantageous to forcing companies who are getting a free ride to pay their fair share---and as predicted, they used a lot of procedural maneuvers to avoid debate on our budget alternatives to their corporate pork. That being said, I want to share a few bright points.
What you will hear tomorrow---and what you won’t.
By Dan
Tuesday Apr 8, 2008
At 11:00 AM tomorrow, the full House begins debate on the state budget. Since most Floridians have far more to do than to watch seven hours of floor debate during working hours, I wanted to take a moment to share with you exactly what the Republicans will say.
By Dan Gelber
Thursday Apr 3, 2008
By leaving the issue of taxpayer-funded corporate pork off the table, we are failing to give Floridians real choice. For example, why are we choosing between children’s health care or Hospice care when there is another choice: closing the loophole that allows multi-state corporations to avoid paying their fair share?
Another Day of Ignoring Property Taxes and Property Insurance
By Dan Gelber
Wednesday Apr 2, 2008
...the decision of my Republican colleagues to once again turn the floor of the Florida House into their own personal ideological soapbox is a disservice to the people that we serve...
The divide between church and state takes a hit
By Dan Gelber
Wednesday Mar 26, 2008
Today, Florida’s Taxation and Budget Reform Commission on a divided vote agreed to put on the November 2008 ballot a measure that would significantly diminish the separation between church and state that Floridians have enjoyed for over a century, and pave the way for expansion of school voucher programs.
A toll by any other name…is a tax
By Dan Gelber
Friday Mar 21, 2008
Imagine a $7 toll over Alligator Alley or to cross the Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay. Well, that is exactly what the Florida Department of Transportation is moving toward thanks to a Republican measure passed last year. The (bad) idea is to lease many of Florida's toll roads to private companies and investment banks. The companies would take over the roads and raise tolls dramatically enough to allow them to make lease payments to the state and a profit to their investors.
By Dan Gelber
Thursday Mar 20, 2008
Tallahassee is a two party town and increasingly so the Republicans – especially my colleagues in the House – are becoming more and more partisan. Ideas are no longer as important as who proposes them, and principles are malleable depending upon who they are being used to bash. I think many of us have a skill set that makes it easy to respond in kind to rank partisanship. Sometimes it even feels good. But it is better, no it is necessary, that right-thinking public officials resist the impulses of their lesser demons. I will do my best, but I am not perfect and sometimes I find myself rolling around with pigs. When you see it happening, please remind me to get up, wash myself off, and do what my better angels might command.
Searching for solutions to a fiscal crisis
By Dan Gelber
Tuesday Mar 18, 2008
Florida is in the midst of a fiscal crisis. Due to plummeting state revenues we have been forced to cut billions from the current budget year, and have been told by state economic forecasters that we will be cutting billions from next year’s budget. Although we can hope the bad times end soon, because Florida’s economy is so premised on housing and construction, it is unlikely we will see the light at the end of the tunnel for at least another budget cycle.
Providence or good graces will have to determine Florida Delegates
Monday Mar 17, 2008
Question: Is the only viable option the right option?
By Dan Gelber
Thursday Mar 13, 2008
The primary revote idea is reaching heightened levels of clarity with last night's release of the Florida Democratic Party revote plan. I commend FDP Chair Karen Thurman for quickly putting together on paper what a revote plan would look like. I believe it was her obligation to present to Florida Democrats the available options and she has done exactly that. Whether a mail revote makes sense or will happen is another story entirely. Absent consensus it is going to be very difficult for Floridians to chart a path out of this primary mess. And presently there is no consensus in part because of so many unknowns and because so many stakeholders (including voters) tend to see options through the filter of what is good or bad for their favored candidate. A few random comments for and against the idea.
Florida Democratic Primary Needs to be Run by Democrats
By Dan Gelber
Friday Mar 7, 2008
The need for integrity in the process is critical, but we really don’t need the State. Many accounting firms are very experienced in providing appropriate oversight and the State of Florida, frankly, doesn’t have a great track record in this area. Let’s face it, if the State of Florida tabulated the Academy Awards, Chuck Norris would likely have won best actor on a hanging chad dispute.
Thursday Mar 6, 2008
Opening Day of the Legislature
By Dan Gelber
Tuesday Mar 4, 2008
Lock the cupboards, hide the kids in the cellar…the Florida Legislature is in session.
By Dan Gelber
Tuesday Feb 26, 2008
During this election cycle, they circumnavigated the state with Newt Gingrich in tow offering power points celebrating right wing Republican orthodoxy, instead of sensible candidates who speak to the aspirations of their constituents and the real challenges of our state.
Wednesday Feb 20, 2008
Lots of opinions sent to me on the Florida revote idea. Some via posts, others by phone and mail and even a few yolks hurled at my doorstep. Some were actually polite. Let me try to answer your concerns by category.
New Science Standards: A Missed Chance to Evolve
By Dan Gelber
Tuesday Feb 19, 2008
I don't want a science teacher explaining and refereeing the tension between science and religion. As a parent of public school children, I prefer to have my children learn about faith and religion in our home and synagogue, not in our public schools -- and definitely not from the government.
Video of my commentscan be found at: www.associationstudios.com/gelber
One Way Out for Florida Democrats
By Dan Gelber
Friday Feb 15, 2008
As the primary slog continues, however, Florida Democrats find themselves wondering whether that all too familiar combination of self-destructiveness and bad luck will once again snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. Since the DNC will only count our delegates if we select them through a DNC approved process, perhaps we should consider a primary election by mail that includes Independent voters.
By Dan
Thursday Feb 14, 2008
Today I travelled to Sarasota to appear before the Governor’s Commission on Open Government. They invited me to testify because I have taken issue with the increasingly secretive way in which the Florida Legislature has conducted itself. Most people don’t realize that the Florida Legislature, essentially, exempted itself from most of the exacting constraints of the Sunshine Law. So while you will never hear about secret negotiations or backroom deals among local elected officials (because it is a crime for them), such is the norm in the Florida Legislature. Today I also sent a letter to Speaker Rubio raising some of my concerns and suggesting 5 things the Legislature could do to open up the process. If we don’t govern ourselves more thoughtfully, we ought to be treated exactly the same as local officials.
What follows is my letter to the Speaker...
By Dan
Tuesday Feb 12, 2008
For a while I thought this internet thing was just a fad. But now I'm beginning to think it's got legs. So today I am launching my blog, the purpose of which will be to provide a forum for discourse about the great challenges facing our State. As the Leader of the opposition party, it has been my job to challenge the majority, to reveal their excesses and overreaching, but also to show our citizens that there is a better way.