Welcome to The Dean’s List — an Ed Dean-style look at who Florida’s political achievers were (and weren’t) in the last seven days. What you see here is strictly my opinion, not necessarily the editor’s or the rest of the staff at Sunshine State News.
Those Who Made the List
Florida Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach. Bean has a proposal to fine elected officials of sanctuary cities in Florida up to $5,000 if they refuse to enforce federal immigration laws. Bean says too many municipalities in Florida are immune from lawsuits and his bill would rectify that. The Center for Immigration Studies reports Florida has seven “sanctuary counties.” Nobody is going to claim Florida has the illegal immigration problem states like Arizona do, but Bean’s proposal is a good step to help ensure it never will.
Florida Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach. With growing opposition from parents over school testing and Common Core, Mayfield might have a solution, an idea for a state constitution amendment. The Indian River County Republican has a proposal to return the state education commissioner back to an elected office. Currently, it’s an appointed position. If forwarded by the Legislature, the proposal would be placed on the 2016 general election ballot where it would need 60 percent support to pass. Currently, 14 states have an elected education commissioner. With parents concerned about education, they should at least have the option to make Florida the 15th state to have one.
Florida Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale. The South Florida senator was the only Democrat on the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee to confirm Jon Steverson as secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection. Smith voted against groups like the Sierra Club and the League of Women Voters who insisted Steverson was the wrong man for the job. Some of Steverson’s comments -- that some parks need better management and an open door to private sector involvement, hunting in more state parks -- riled up the opposition. Nobody can deny Smith’s liberal credentials and he led Democrats in both chambers of the Legislature. Smith should be commended for backing Steverson and opening the door to some of his proposed reforms.
Those Who Did Not Make the List
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. After the Islamic terror attacks in Paris, Gov. Rick Scott said he would oppose any move by the Obama administration using federal tax dollars to fund the placement of Syrian refugees in Florida. But Gillum says the governor’s rhetoric is divisive and called on making Tallahassee a safe haven for Syrian refugees, insisting the “vetting process” would ensure they pose no threat. Gillum has opened the door to running for Congress, taking on U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., in the primary.
Florida Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, and Florida House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach. These two legislators don’t think elected officials have enough time to do the people’s business. So they want to see a constitutional measure to be placed on the 2016 ballot that would extend legislative term limits from 8 years to 12, saying this will reduce the power of lobbyists. Pafford, who faces term limits next year, claims that if he just had four more years he could do more on the budget and tackle complex issues and “serve as a more vigorous voice on leadership.” That’s an odd comment from someone who is already leading his party in the House. Eight years is enough and frankly, with politicians remaining unpopular, there isn’t much hunger to extend the current term limits.
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. After pulling in millions of new tax dollars from rising property values, the Palm Beach County Commission is still undecided on asking voters to support a sales tax increase that would generate $1.3 billion to $2.7 billion over 10 years. But when the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County heard about the amount that could be raised, it wanted in. Members of the arts organization say they have a “wish list” of projects costing around $300 million. Just one problem. The County Commission wants to spend the money on improving roads, bridges and buildings, which will take up between $650 million and $750 million. That dosen’t include the Cultural Council’s projects, despite its quick rush to the public trough.
Ed Dean, a senior editor with Sunshine State News whose talk show can be heard on radio stations in Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Daytona Beach, Orlando, the Space Coast, the Treasure Coast and South Florida from West Palm Beach to Miami. It can also be heard in parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. You can reach at ed@sunshinestatenews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @eddeanradio.
