Subject: dailies 4.28.16
From: "Brinster, Jeremy" <[email-masked]>
To: "Kasnetz, Joel" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2016 07:59:32 -0700

DOUG DUCEY

Koch Bros

The Arizona Republic Editorial Board Opposed A $5 Million Education Earmark For Koch-Backed Economic Freedom Schools, Writing "After Suffering Such Deep Cuts, The Universities Deserve To Decide For Themselves How To Spend Increased Funding." "But there's a thorn in this rosebush. University funding includes $5 million earmarked for 'freedom' schools that advance the ideals of free enterprise at Arizona State University and University of Arizona. After suffering such deep cuts, the universities deserve to decide for themselves how to spend increased funding. What's more, lawmakers should not be underwriting content for the state's academic institutions. In a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Sen. John Kavanagh argued the funding was necessary to counter a perceived liberal bias at universities. That's not the role of the Legislature." [Editorial, Arizona Republic, 4/27/16<http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/04/27/arizona-budget/83622426/>]

Arizona Republic's Laura Roberts: "Dot By Dot, Koch Takeover Of Arizona Is Happening." [Arizona Republic, 4/27/16<http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2016/04/27/roberts-dot-dot-koch-takeover-arizona-happening/83612972/>]

State Supreme Court

The Arizona Republic Editorial Board Opposed Doug Ducey's Attempt To Expand The State Supreme Court, Writing "Lawmakers And The Governor Should Appropriate What The Third Branch Of Government Needs, Without Wasting Money On An Expansion Scheme That Is Widely Recognized As A Court-Packing Power Grab." "There is also a problem with the approach to funding for the judiciary. Money for what's needed - such as growth in adult probation - is being tied to the addition of two new Supreme Court justices who are not needed. The sponsor of the expansion plan, Republican Rep. J.D. Mesnard, said he would not be proposing it if there were a Democrat in the governor's office. Lawmakers and the governor should appropriate what the third branch of government needs, without wasting money on an expansion scheme that is widely recognized as a court-packing power grab." [Editorial, Arizona Republic, 4/27/16<http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/04/27/arizona-budget/83622426/>]

Budget

Arizona Republic Editorial Board: "Ducey's Obligatory Tax Cut May Not Be In Arizona's Best Interest." "The $26 million worth of tax cuts in the package fulfill Ducey's promise to cut taxes every year. But on top of last year's cuts and coupled with a $538 million tax cut package that was approved in 2011 and continues to phase in through 2019, Ducey's obligatory tax cut may not be in Arizona's best interest. When Doug Ducey released his modest budget plan in January, this editorial page pronounced it too timid to meet the state's needs. We warned against allowing recession-era spending levels to become a baseline. This budget does not move us much beyond that hard-times mentality, and continuing to reduce revenue is counterproductive." [Editorial, Arizona Republic, 4/27/16<http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/04/27/arizona-budget/83622426/>]

Arizona Republic Editorial Board: "We Warned Against Allowing Recession-Era Spending Levels To Become A Baseline. This Budget Does Not Move Us Much Beyond That Hard-Times Mentality, And Continuing To Reduce Revenue Is Counterproductive." "The $26 million worth of tax cuts in the package fulfill Ducey's promise to cut taxes every year. But on top of last year's cuts and coupled with a $538 million tax cut package that was approved in 2011 and continues to phase in through 2019, Ducey's obligatory tax cut may not be in Arizona's best interest. When Doug Ducey released his modest budget plan in January, this editorial page pronounced it too timid to meet the state's needs. We warned against allowing recession-era spending levels to become a baseline. This budget does not move us much beyond that hard-times mentality, and continuing to reduce revenue is counterproductive." [Editorial, Arizona Republic, 4/27/16<http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/04/27/arizona-budget/83622426/>]

Charter Schools

Arizona Daily Sun: Doug Ducey Supported Legislation To "Help Privately Run Charter Schools Borrow Money At Better Interest Rates" Because He Believed "That Lower Borrowing Costs Will Lead To More Of These Schools."  "Republican lawmakers are moving to use state funds to help privately run charter schools borrow money at better interest rates. The legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Committee would set aside more than $100 million in what effectively would be a guarantee to lenders that payments will be made on loans made to these schools. Richard Stavneak, staff director of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, said Wednesday those funds could be leveraged to effectively back $350 million in borrowing. The 5-3 party-line vote on SB 1531 sends the measure to the full Senate; companion legislation is expected to be taken up by the House. The move is an outgrowth of efforts by Gov. Doug Ducey to ensure that there is space for students in the most in-demand public schools in the state. Put simply, the governor believes that lower borrowing costs will lead to more of these schools." [Arizona Daily Sun, 4/28/16<http://azdailysun.com/news/local/lawmakers-look-to-boost-charter-borrowing-power/article_f0d2ca51-5e17-5de6-88bf-12288484b595.html>]

RICK SCOTT

Minimum Wage

WLRN On Rick Scott's Anti-Minimum Wage Radio Ads Airing In California: "Enterprise Florida, The State's Mostly Taxpayer Funded Economic Development Agency, Footed The Bill." "Let's lure jobs from California to Florida. That's the crux of a controversial radio ad airing in Los Angeles and San Francisco in advance of Florida Gov. Rick Scott's trip there next week for a 'trade mission.' But how that ad was paid for has raised some eyebrows. Enterprise Florida, the state's mostly taxpayer funded economic development agency, footed the bill. This comes on the heel of a difficult legislative session where its request for $250 million in economic incentive money was denied." [WLRN, 4/27/16<http://wlrn.org/post/florida-taxpayers-paid-controversial-ad-california>]

Insurance Commission Fight

The General Counsel For The Florida Department Of Financial Services Found That Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, Who Resigned Under Pressure From Rick Scott, Acted Legally In Extending The Time Before His Resignation. "Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty can rescind his resignation because the Florida Cabinet did not formally accept it when it met Jan. 21 so therefore, 'the resignation is not legally effective,' the general counsel for the Department of Financial Services, said Wednesday...Under pressure from Gov. Rick Scott, McCarty, who has been insurance commissioner for more than a decade and has worked in the state's insurance department for more than 20 years, submitted his resignation in January, saying he would step down on May 2." [Politico, 4/27/16<http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/florida/2016/04/8597818/cfos-top-attorney-strikes-back-says-mccarty-can-remain-commissioner>]

Politico: Rick Scott's "Administration Released An Opinion By Its General Counsel Which Said Mccarty Could Not 'Unilaterally' Extend His Resignation." "Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty can rescind his resignation because the Florida Cabinet did not formally accept it when it met Jan. 21 so therefore, 'the resignation is not legally effective,' the general counsel for the Department of Financial Services, said Wednesday...On Tuesday, the Scott administration released an opinion by its general counsel which said McCarty could not 'unilaterally' extend his resignation. The request would have to first be placed on an Cabinet's agenda and, like any other candidate for insurance commissioner, would have to be approved, the administration said." [Politico, 4/27/16<http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/florida/2016/04/8597818/cfos-top-attorney-strikes-back-says-mccarty-can-remain-commissioner>]

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater On Rick Scott: "I Am Disappointed That In Its Eagerness To Replace Commissioner Mccarty, The Governor's Office Has Chosen To Quibble About His Resignation Letter." "State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who refused Tuesday to accept Gov. Rick Scott's nominee for insurance commissioner, issued a statement Wednesday disagreeing with the governor over the departure date of outgoing Commissioner Kevin McCarty. 'I am disappointed that in its eagerness to replace Commissioner McCarty, the governor's office has chosen to quibble about his resignation letter,' Atwater said in a release. 'We should take full advantage of Commissioner McCarty's gracious offer to continue to provide consistent and knowledgeable leadership during this period, thereby affording the Cabinet the opportunity for a thorough and well considered hiring process.'" [News Service of Florida, 4/27/16<http://www.theledger.com/article/20160427/NEWS/160429460?Title=Atwater-disputes-Scott-over-McCarty-s-exit-from-insurance-commissioner-post>]

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater: "We Should Take Full Advantage Of Commissioner McCarty's Gracious Offer To Continue To Provide Consistent And Knowledgeable Leadership During This Period." "State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who refused Tuesday to accept Gov. Rick Scott's nominee for insurance commissioner, issued a statement Wednesday disagreeing with the governor over the departure date of outgoing Commissioner Kevin McCarty. 'I am disappointed that in its eagerness to replace Commissioner McCarty, the governor's office has chosen to quibble about his resignation letter,' Atwater said in a release. 'We should take full advantage of Commissioner McCarty's gracious offer to continue to provide consistent and knowledgeable leadership during this period, thereby affording the Cabinet the opportunity for a thorough and well considered hiring process.'" [News Service of Florida, 4/27/16<http://www.theledger.com/article/20160427/NEWS/160429460?Title=Atwater-disputes-Scott-over-McCarty-s-exit-from-insurance-commissioner-post>]

Parents in prison

Pensacola News-Journal: "Florida Ranks Third In The Nation For The Number Of Children Who Have Experienced Separation From Their Mother Or Father Because The Parent Was Incarcerated." "Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of children who have experienced separation from their mother or father because the parent was incarcerated, according to a recent report by a Baltimore-based philanthropy group. In a report released Monday, 'A Shared Sentence: The devastating toll of parental incarceration on kids, families and communities,' the Annie E. Casey Foundation reported that some 312,000 Florida children, about 8 percent of children in the state, have experienced separation from a parent who was in jail or prison. The document says these children are more likely than their peers to experience poverty, homelessness and mental health issues like depression and anxiety." [Pensacola News-Journal, 4/26/16<http://www.pnj.com/story/news/2016/04/26/study-fla-3rd-parental-incarceration/83545776/>]

Pensacola News-Journal: "Some 312,000 Florida Children, About 8 Percent Of Children In The State, Have Experienced Separation From A Parent Who Was In Jail Or Prison." "Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of children who have experienced separation from their mother or father because the parent was incarcerated, according to a recent report by a Baltimore-based philanthropy group. In a report released Monday, 'A Shared Sentence: The devastating toll of parental incarceration on kids, families and communities,' the Annie E. Casey Foundation reported that some 312,000 Florida children, about 8 percent of children in the state, have experienced separation from a parent who was in jail or prison. The document says these children are more likely than their peers to experience poverty, homelessness and mental health issues like depression and anxiety." [Pensacola News-Journal, 4/26/16<http://www.pnj.com/story/news/2016/04/26/study-fla-3rd-parental-incarceration/83545776/>]

Rick Scott Canceled An Election To A Circuit Judgeship In Florida After The Judge Running For Re-Election Decided To Resign. "In the wake of Circuit Judge Scott Brownell announcing he will retire from the bench in December, days shy of his term ending, Elizabeth M. Boyle is fighting the state's decision to remove her as a candidate for the seat. Gov. Rick Scott's office said in a letter dated Wednesday that the seat will be filled by appointment and an election will no longer be held. Boyle, a private attorney and the wife of former Bradenton Police Chief Michael Radzilowski, filed April 20 to run against Brownell in the Nov. 8 election. Brownell, who has sat on the 12th Circuit Court bench since 1987, announced his resignation from the bench in a letter to Scott dated April 21. He stated he would resign effective Dec. 28, although his term does not expire until Jan. 2, causing the need for an appointment." [Bradenton Herald, 4/27/16<http://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/article74222027.html>]

Judge Scott Brownell Made His Resignation Effective Five Days Before His Term Was Set To Expire So That Rick Scott Would Be Able To Appoint His Successor Rather Than Let Brownell's Successor Be Determined By An Election. "In the wake of Circuit Judge Scott Brownell announcing he will retire from the bench in December, days shy of his term ending, Elizabeth M. Boyle is fighting the state's decision to remove her as a candidate for the seat. Gov. Rick Scott's office said in a letter dated Wednesday that the seat will be filled by appointment and an election will no longer be held. Boyle, a private attorney and the wife of former Bradenton Police Chief Michael Radzilowski, filed April 20 to run against Brownell in the Nov. 8 election. Brownell, who has sat on the 12th Circuit Court bench since 1987, announced his resignation from the bench in a letter to Scott dated April 21. He stated he would resign effective Dec. 28, although his term does not expire until Jan. 2, causing the need for an appointment. 'It is my intention to resign from the office prior to the commencement of the statutory qualifying period which begins May 2 to create a vacancy in the seat between Dec. 28 and Jan. 2; which will permit you to fill the vacancy by appointment,' Brownell wrote. 'I know you will appoint someone who is well qualified, who will respect the dignity of the office and work tirelessly to serve the people of this circuit and the state of Florida.'" [Bradenton Herald, 4/27/16<http://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/article74222027.html>]

Bradenton Herald: Judge Brownell's Opponent, Elizabeth Boyle, Said To Rick Scott: "I Do Not Believe That You Have The Legal Authority To Determine, Effect And/Or Publish...The Cancellation Of A Constitutionally Mandated Election For A State Circuit Court Judge Position." "In the wake of Circuit Judge Scott Brownell announcing he will retire from the bench in December, days shy of his term ending, Elizabeth M. Boyle is fighting the state's decision to remove her as a candidate for the seat. Boyle, who is out of the country with her husband, immediately responded in an email and challenged the decision. 'I do not believe that you have the legal authority to determine, effect and/or publish for the State of Florida or the State of Florida Department of State, the cancellation of a constitutionally mandated election for a state circuit court judge position,' Boyle wrote. 'Nor is there any lawful authority for you to remove my name as an active candidate for this office and I hereby demand that your office restore my candidacy to active status immediately.'" [Bradenton Herald, 4/27/16<http://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/article74222027.html>]

Bradenton Herald: Judge Brownell's Opponent, Elizabeth Boyle, Said To Rick Scott That There Was No "Lawful Authority For You To Remove My Name As An Active Candidate For This Office And I Hereby Demand That Your Office Restore My Candidacy To Active Status Immediately." "In the wake of Circuit Judge Scott Brownell announcing he will retire from the bench in December, days shy of his term ending, Elizabeth M. Boyle is fighting the state's decision to remove her as a candidate for the seat. Boyle, who is out of the country with her husband, immediately responded in an email and challenged the decision. 'I do not believe that you have the legal authority to determine, effect and/or publish for the State of Florida or the State of Florida Department of State, the cancellation of a constitutionally mandated election for a state circuit court judge position,' Boyle wrote. 'Nor is there any lawful authority for you to remove my name as an active candidate for this office and I hereby demand that your office restore my candidacy to active status immediately.'" [Bradenton Herald, 4/27/16<http://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/article74222027.html>]

Alimony and Custody Reform Bill

Paula Dockery Praised Rick Scott For Vetoing An Alimony And Custody Reform Bill. "Scott's office received nearly 10,000 requests to sign the bill and roughly 3,000 to veto it. It would have been much easier for Scott to sign the bill - pleasing most of the Republican legislators who passed it - but he didn't choose the politically easy option. In his veto message, Scott wrote: 'Current law directs a judge to consider the needs and interests of the children first when determining a parenting plan and time-sharing schedule. This bill has the potential to up-end that policy in favor of putting the wants of a parent before the child's best interest by creating a premise of equal time-sharing.' Kudos to him." [Paula Dockery column, Orlando Sentinel, 4/27/16<http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-rick-scott-alimony-paula-dockery-042816-20160427-story.html>]