Graham on Everglades Restoration

January 12, 2011 Leave a comment

“We are going to have a challenging time in terms of getting adequate resources for the Everglades, and we are going to have a collective responsibility to develop a strategy to get those new leaders educated about the Everglades,” Graham said.

Graham said Florida’s primary economic issue was saving the Everglades, which supplies water for a large percentage of the state’s residents and provides hundreds of jobs through some restoration projects already in place.

Funding from the federal government is key, he said, cautioning environmentalists to correct anyone who labels Everglades funding as an earmark.

via Obstacles ahead for Everglades? Graham sees political hurdles to restoration.

Filed under Environment, Florida

The ECONOMIST on Public Sector Unions

January 11, 2011 Leave a comment

Stated quite succinctly…

This should guide the future for the city of Coral Gables–it is time to really change the benefits, the unions should cooperate, and, if not, at their own risk and that of the politician(s) and managers who keep coddling them.

The immediate battle will be over benefits, not pay… America’s states have as much as $5 trillion in unfunded pension liabilities. Historic liabilities have to be honoured (and properly accounted for, rather than hidden off the government’s balance-sheet). But there is no excuse for continuing them. Sixty-five should be a minimum age for retirement for people who spend their lives in classrooms and offices; and new civil servants should be switched to defined-contribution pensions.

via The public sector unions: The battle ahead | The Economist.

Filed under Coral Gables, Finance, Florida

New Florida Congressman Should Resign

January 6, 2011 1 Comment

Does Mr. David Rivera believe that returning unreported and unethically procured  monies, that that simply ends the story.  This is a matter of sound public ethics and morality.

He should resign.

In a statement Monday accompanying Rivera’s latest disclosures, spokeswoman Sarah Bascom said: “It is our hope that this will put an end to the unfounded allegations that were raised during the recent election campaign” against Rivera, his supporters and family.

via New Fla. congressman quietly reported loans in Dec.

Filed under Florida, Politics

Governor Scott: Please Take Note about Employment in Florida

January 3, 2011 Leave a comment

This is more on how long it will take to get our economy back to where it was in 2007.  Take note Governor Scott–even with your greatest effort unemployment in Florida will not be back to “normal” during your governorship.

So, suppose that US growth is accelerating. Even so, it will take years of high growth to get us back to anything resembling full employment. Put it this way: suppose that from here on out we average 4.5 percent growth, which is way above any forecast I’ve seen. Even at that rate, unemployment would be close to 8 percent at the end of 2012, and wouldn’t get below 6 percent until midway through Sarah Palin’s first term.

via The Long Road Ahead – NYTimes.com.

Filed under Economy, Florida

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