Drilling, SB 6 (Merit pay bill for teachers) and a bold statement from the Senator

Lots of emails and FB statuses went around about the SB6- I received impassioned pleas to sign petitions and make phone calls from people I would never have imagined would vocally and publicly oppose any Republican backed legislation. Between this and the oil drilling issue, it gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, people in this area might really be looking at issues sometimes instead of political party.

You are so right, jdarg. I'm a registered independent for that reason. Both parties have serious problems. I'm concerned about the issues that affect me, my family, my job and my home.

I agree with Jdarg and Miss Critter...and, I am so glad to see people like Dave R and others standing up to speak truth to power.

Regardless of which political party an elected official belongs to, the act of governing is supposed to rise above the politics and do what is best for the country or state or county.

His party is different from mine, but throughout his political career (in the state legislature, as Commissioner of Education, and as Governor) Gov Crist has often governed from a point above the political fray.

He did this again when he vetoed SB 6. For that, he has my appreciation.

We all need to speak up when the issues at play affect our lives; the elected officials are there to work for us--the people they are supposed to represent. And, once they are elected to office, they are supposed to represent us whether we are of their party or not.

Many in DC and TLH and WalCo seem to have forgotten this. We must remind them--every day. If we do not, then, we deserve what we get and even more than that, we are part of the problems that result when elected officials are allowed to put politics above governance.

So, keep those phone calls, emails, petitions, trips to the Capitol, letters to the editors, and contributions to the cause coming--involvement in our government is one of the most important things citizens can do.

Charlie Crist will always have my vote and campaign donations...no matter what party he ends up in, as long as it is not the Tea Party. Did I just say that?

New rumors floating around that Crist might drop out completely, throw his support behind Rubio, and then run against Nelson for the Senate in two years.

New rumors floating around that Crist might drop out completely, throw his support behind Rubio, and then run against Nelson for the Senate in two years.

The way I heard the "rumor" is that is what some political operatives are wanting him to do...

The way I heard the "rumor" is that is what some political operatives are wanting him to do...

Yep..funny how that works.
Rubio will be toast!

Go to Alex Sink's website and donate!

A note from Alex Sink

It's been one heck of a week!

Late last week, the legislature passed Senate Bill 6 -- the bad-for-schools, bad-for-teachers, bad-for-students, cram-down education bill. And by Wednesday afternoon, we had delivered an online petition to Governor Crist signed by you and 13,688 Floridians, urging him to veto this harmful bill. Yesterday, the governor did just that.

This was a huge win for Florida -- and a big loss for my opponent, Bill McCollum, and the rest of the political insiders in Tallahassee who wanted to put the special interests ahead of the people's interests.

But it's not going to stop Bill McCollum, who said yesterday after Governor Crist's veto that if he was elected he would "lead the charge" to pass SB 6. We can't let that happen.

Please contribute to my campaign today -- so I can keep fighting for our students, our teachers and our families as Florida's next governor!



In the hours after the veto, I asked you to help us meet a short-term goal of raising $5,000 -- one dollar for each signature we got on our petition in the last 72 hours -- to keep up our momentum.

Pitch in just $5 now to help us reach our goal of $5,000 -- and stand with us for the next big fight ahead.

This week, Floridians learned what we can do if we join together to make our voices heard. We also saw once again just how important that veto pen can be to stop the out-of-control special interests in Tallahassee.

Thank you again for your support and enthusiasm this week. I'm proud, and grateful, to be on your side in this fight and in the ones ahead.

Sincerely,

Alex Sink
Florida CFO

I take it the Teacher's Unions are agaainst Merit Pay legislation, or anything that takes them out of the comfort zone of lockstep pay raises [the rest of us don't get], and the insane job security provided by the current system?

That Crist vetoes it makes it more confusing politically though. Obviuosly Sink is playing strictly by the Dem playbook here... oppose it, and hope single issue voter/teachers care more about this, than everyone else.

:roll:

I take it the Teacher's Unions are agaainst Merit Pay legislation, or anything that takes them out of the comfort zone of lockstep pay raises [the rest of us don't get], and the insane job security provided by the current system?

That Crist vetoes it makes it more confusing politically though. Obviuosly Sink is playing strictly by the Dem playbook here... oppose it, and hope single issue voter/teachers care more about this, than everyone else.

:roll:

You forgot the sarcasm button for the first paragraph above...
there was a lot more going on with this bill than merit pay. Gov Crist did the right thing for the students and the teachers.

You forgot the sarcasm button for the first paragraph above...
there was a lot more going on with this bill than merit pay. Gov Crist did the right thing for the students and the teachers.

Interesting to see that the teacher's union is still a powerful force in this State. I bet there is now a ticker going on somewhere trying to see how many dems switch to republican to help Crist out, so he can decide rather to stay an R or go I.

Better for him to go Independent, IMO, he will be able to draw the conservative Democrats and the moderate Republicans, as would Meek if Crist drops out altogether. Rubio surely doesn't want a 2 way race.

What are Sink's views on proper taxation of the online travel companies, budget cuts for the Clerk of Court offices in Florida, and changes to the Florida Retirement System? And that stupid flagship university bill?

I take it the Teacher's Unions are agaainst Merit Pay legislation, or anything that takes them out of the comfort zone of lockstep pay raises [the rest of us don't get], and the insane job security provided by the current system?

That Crist vetoes it makes it more confusing politically though. Obviuosly Sink is playing strictly by the Dem playbook here... oppose it, and hope single issue voter/teachers care more about this, than everyone else.

:roll:

what specifically is your problem with the pay scale of teachers? do you believe merit pay is fair to teachers and why? would you take the position of starting teacher in an urban school and have your pay contingent on the dynamics at home and the classroom. i helped my wife input grades tonight, and the bottom tier of students have abysmal school attendance and test scores. do you wish to put that on the backs of an already underpaid profession, or do you just despise unions?

I think she supports the proper taxation for online travel companies, believe she opposes the changes to FRS.

What are Sink's views on proper taxation of the online travel companies, budget cuts for the Clerk of Court offices in Florida, and changes to the Florida Retirement System? And that stupid flagship university bill?

Alex Sink for Governor of Florida - Agenda | Jobs & Economy

you can probably find the info here.