Senator Justice and Governor Crist Hold Ceremonial Bill Signing for the Firefighter Memorial Flag

From the Senate Dems:

Senator Charlie Justice (D-St. Petersburg), along with Governor Charlie Crist and Representative Bill Heller (D- St. Petersburg) joined firefighters from across Pinellas County today for the ceremonial bill signing of Senate Bill 198 creating the official Fallen Firefighter Memorial Flag.

“This flag is tribute to the 144 brave men and women who have given their lives protecting their communities,” said Senator Justice. “It is a small but very important act creating this testament to their sacrifice.”

The idea for a Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial Flag was originally brought to Senator Justice by Oldsmar Fire Rescue Chief, Scott McGuff. A statewide call for designs generated hundreds of ideas. The official design was created by Firefighter Rick Weschler of the Palm Harbor Fire Rescue. The flag will be displayed at funerals and memorials for fallen firefighters, at fire stations, at the official Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Ocala, FL, as well as any other location designated by the State Fire Marshal. Chief McGuff and Firefighter Weschler were recognized at the ceremony for their contribution.

“I cannot tell you how honored I am to help facilitate the creation of this flag. I’m proud that it was a local initiative from my district that made it happen,” Senator Justice added.

McCollum Is Completely Out of Touch With Florida's Reality

From a recent fund-raising e-mail:

We have important work to do here in Florida. We have to keep our economy strong, make sure our children get a quality education and fight to ensure our streets are safe. Please click on the video to watch a short message.

Apparently, Bill doesn't live in Florida. Our economy is weak. Our education system is in a shambles. Our crime rates are on the rise and we have one of the fastest-growing gang problems in America. Why would McCollum ignore those problems? Oh yeah, he's in large part responsible for them.

Rep. Skidmore Statement on Governor's Action on Prescription Drug Monitoring Legislation

From the House Dems:

Representative Kelly Skidmore (D-Boca Raton) offered the following statement in response to Governor Charlie Crist’s signing today of Senate Bill 462, which authorizes the creation of a prescription drug monitoring system in the Florida Department of Health.

“I am proud to have been among the sponsors of this legislation that will help end the prescription drug abuse epidemic that has devastated many Florida families and given our state a reputation as the nation’s pill mill,” said Representative Skidmore.

“I appreciate Governor Crist’s positive action on this legislation. Florida’s lack of a prescription drug monitoring system has made our state a target for criminals looking to buy prescription drugs easily. I am pleased that we are now equipping physicians and law enforcement personnel with the tools they need to stop the abuse, misuse, and illegal sale of prescription drugs.”

Representative Kelly Skidmore Urges Governor To Sign SB 462

From the House Dems:

Dear Governor Crist:

Florida is facing a prescription drug abuse epidemic. According to the Florida Office of Drug Control, the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs in Florida is three times higher than the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined. In fact, nine Floridians die every day due to prescription drug overdoses.

Senate Bill 462, sponsored by Senator Mike Fasano, Representative Marcelo Llorente, Representative Kurt Kelly and myself, authorizes the creation of a prescription drug monitoring system in the Florida Department of Health to track the dispensing of these controlled substances. Such a system is an essential tool to help physicians and law enforcement personnel stop the abuse, misuse, and illegal sale of prescription drugs using high level data security to protect the privacy of our citizens. Florida’s lack of a monitoring system has made our state a target for criminals looking to buy prescription drugs easily and sell them illegally here and elsewhere. Unfortunately, to many people around the country, Florida has become known as the nation’s “pill mill.”

I strongly urge you to sign SB 462 into law and help end the prescription drug abuse epidemic that is killing so many of our citizens and devastating countless Florida families.

All the best,
Kelly Skidmore
State Representative, District 90

Is Crist Raising Campaign Money at the Taxpayers' Expense?

Yes. Seems to be no doubt about it. This shouldn't be legal and it clearly doesn't comply with the intent of the law. From the Tampa Tribune:

But Crist's campaign coordinates fundraising events with his schedule as governor, said campaign fundraising chief Dane Eagle.

Eagle said that's to avoid impinging on Crist's performance of official business, but it also means taxpayers occasionally share the cost of his attendance at campaign events.

From the Blogs

The latest stories from the Florida blogs...

FLA Politics (dantilson): Governor Crist Adds Insult To Injury

Eye on Miami (Genius of Despair): Crist Signs Senate Bill 216

madfloridian: Three other journalists rip Crist's decision

Progress Florida (Daniel Tilson): The Two Faces of Charlie

Flablog: The runner-up is...

madfloridian: Florida siphons many millions from trust funds...Crist vetoes raid on gun permits, lets others pass

Wildwood Preservation Society: Gov. Crist signs SB 360, shows his true colors are anything but "green"

madfloridian: Crist signs SB 360, aka the ""Katie Bar the Door and Strip Mall Act of 2009."

Pushing Rope: Charlie Crist Loves the Growth Monster Part 2

Eye on Miami (Genius of Despair): SB 360 No Veto Metamorphous of Charlie Crist

Eye on Miami (Gimleteye): Gov. Crist panders to radical speculators and land developers who crashed economy: signs SB 360 Bad Developers Bill

Progress Florida (Daniel Tilson): Governor Crist Adds Insult To Injury

St. Petersburg Times Rips Crist apart‏

This is the type of press coverage Charlie Crist should be getting:

Gov. Charlie Crist's political radar went haywire last week when he decided to become the governor who killed growth management in Florida.

Charlie Crist's legacy -- the truth about Florida SB 360

GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST SIGNS LEGISLATION CONTINUING FLORIDA'S EFFORTS TO DIVEST STATE FUNDS‏

From the Senate Dems:

Continuing to pave the way on divestment of state funds from rogue nations, Governor Charlie Crist on Monday signed a bill making it easier for Florida’s citizens to exercise economic pressure against terror-sponsoring states. The bill, SB 538 sponsored by Senators Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) and Carey Baker (R-Eustis), requires fire and police pension funds to divest from Iran and Sudan and requires the State Board of Administration to provide a “terror-free” option for state employees participating in the State’s defined contribution retirement plan.

In 2007, State Senator Ted Deutch sponsored the Protecting Florida’s Investments Act, making Florida the first state to divest its pension funds from companies engaging in business with Iran and Sudan. Since its passage, Florida – which has the nation’s fourth largest pension fund - has divested over $1 billion from scrutinized companies.

“The state of Florida has made it clear that its citizens will not aid the genocide in Darfur or contribute to Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons program,” said Sen. Deutch. “The Governor has reinforced the commitment of our state’s citizens to not support companies who choose to put profit over international security.”

SB 538 requires that the public investors in the $5 billion defined contribution plan be offered a terror-free investment fund. It also requires police and firefighter pension funds to identify any holdings they may have with scrutinized companies and to divest these securities by 2010.

Florida is the first state in America to require that a terror-free option be given to its investors. Since Florida became the first state to divest, 18 other states have adopted divestment measures.