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
The Miami-Dade Teachers Union. This may be a first that a teachers' union actually makes the Deans List. The Miami-Dade teachers' unions approved a two-year contract that will base merit pay and bonuses for new school teachers on student performance. Of the 15,000 teachers who cast ballots, 61 percent supported the deal. Just one down side: The new agreement doesn’t affect tenured teachers.
Ed Connor, Volusia Tax Reform. In 2013 Volusia County had the second highest tax rate in Florida. And the county is looking to raise more taxes. The County Council wants to raise a half-penny transportation sales tax that will go toward more than just roads. So, Ed Connor, a board member on the Volusia Tax Reform and Florida Taxpayers Union has a great idea. Connor says, if the sales tax is going to be implemented, then elected officials need to lower the property tax. “In general, sales taxes are a lot less damaging to the economy than property taxes," says Connor. This guy is on to something.
Sarasota City Commission. Sarasota isn’t the most business-friendly community in Florida. But city commissioners decided not to regulate the ride service known as Uber and supported deregulating rules on local taxicabs. Uber complained that the heavy regulation originally proposed by Sarasota would have forced them to leave Sarasota altogether. Good move, Sarasota.
State Sen. Jeff Brandes. The St. Petersburg Republican wants to revamp driver's license suspensions. “Far too many Florida residents have had their driving privileges suspended or revoked for reasons unrelated to their driving behavior," said the senator. Over the years, Florida has used the suspension of driver’s licenses as a punishment for those who failed to pay certain court fees. Brandes points out that this type of procedure affects low-income people who need to use transportation for work.
THOSE WHO DIDN’T MAKE THE LIST
State Sen. Darren Soto. The Central Florida Democrat is running for Alan Grayson's open congressional seat. And the more he talks, the more he sounds like the ultra-liberal Alan Grayson. In a recent email blast, Soto says he supports Hillary Clinton's plan for ending the student-loan debt crisis. The senator says in order to reach that goal, states (like Florida) and the federal government must increase their “investment” in our students. “It begins with the principle that no student should have to borrow to pay tuition at a public college,” says Soto. In the same email, Soto says the student loan debt crisis is preventing young people from taking risks, starting companies, pursuing their dreams, saving for retirement and buying their first home. Soto says no student should have to borrow to attend a public college. Yet, they have to borrow to start a company, buy a house and take a risk. Soto is a little confusing/confused on this topic.
Miami-Dade County Commission. In 2016, anyone living in Miami-Dade County will be able to get an ID card. With this county ID card, THEY will be able to open up a new bank account, obtain a credit card and check out books from the local library. Just a couple of minor problems, One, in getting your ID card, you don’t have to show proof of citizenship and your address can be a local homeless shelter. Some critical of this measure say that these ID card benefits will extend to illegal aliens.
Riviera Beach Councilwoman Dawn Pardo. Even though Pardo’s city-elected position is nonpartisan, news reports say she is thinking about running against the current Palm Beach County commissioner, incumbent Hal Valeche, in the 2016 Republican primary. Valeche is adored by local Republicans. Palm Beach County GOP Chairman Michael Barnett praises Valeche for supporting lower taxes and free markets. What bothers many Republicans in Palm Beach County, however, are Pardo’s political leanings. Pardo is a registered Republican, but in 2010, she supported liberal Democrats U.S. Rep. Ron Klein over the Republican, Allen West, and in 2014 went on TV supporting Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy over Republican Carl Domino.
Ed Dean, a senior editor with SSN whose talk-show can be heard on radio stations across Florida, can be reached at ed@sunshinestatenews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @eddeanradio.
