Scrap The Cap

In 2005, the Florida Legislature in its infinite wisdom, voted to cap the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust fund at $233 million, a clear thrust by the developer overlords of the Republican Party of Florida against poorer people trying to own a home. Then Jeb and Co. started taking money out of the fund to use to pay for other items in the budget. Shame, shame, shame.

Now, despite the fact that our community pillars (teachers, police officers, service workers) can no longer afford to own a home (much less rent) on their current salaries, Marco Rubio is resisting calls to remove this ridiculous cap on this important tool of state government:

House Speaker Resists Calls To Lift Cap On Housing Money

Even Governor Crist disagrees with Rubio's irresponsible stance on the issue:


"We ought to be able to raise the cap so that all the funds would be dedicated to housing," said Crist, who called the $243 million amount "arbitrary."
...
"It would seem to me that we ought to be able to have some flexibility, lift the arbitrary cap (and) be prudent with those dollars for housing purposes," Crist said.


doorguy over at FLApolitics also has a wonderful analysis of the subject:

Republican House Speaker Marco Rubio: Honest Government "Unbalances Our Budget"

Its time to end the denial on affordable housing by the House leadership.

A 3% Income Tax Making More Sense

The St. Petersburg Times lays out an impressive argument for what our current short-sighted Republican legislature would call political and economic heresy:

Sure, It's Unconstitutional, But...

It sure would be great if there was a politician, on either side of the aisle, who had the cajones to tell the truth. The big real estate-driven budget days are over, and its time to have a revenue system that's sustainable over the long haul.

Proud...To Be...A Florrrrrrida Gator!

Proud...To Be...A Florrrrrrida Gator!

Today, I'm very proud of my school, the University of Florida. A couple of Jeb appointees tried to give Jeb an honorary degree. The faculty Senate told them to take a hike:

Bush Not To Get UF Degree

Serves him right. As Derek Newton said over at Florida Politics, "What in the hell has Jeb Bush done to deserve anything more than an swift kick in ass?" That's right, an underperforming educational sytem, rising numbers of the uninsured and those in poverty, overcrowded jails, rising violent crime rates, and big tax burdens on the poor and middle class do not a good governor make.

Oh yeah, and... Go Gators!!!