By BRENT KALLESTAD

ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

TALLAHASSEE – An elections bill introduced by Republicans that could make it more difficult for thousands of Floridians to vote was condemned Monday by public interest groups and legislative Democrats who decried the measure as “draconian” and “unconscionable.”

Democrats were further angered by how the House version zipped through its first committee stop on Friday, only hours after it was written and without any public scrutiny.

“I look at it as group of folks who do not want to accept the fact that a Democratic president won the election in Florida,” said Rep. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville. “That is the bottom line. Get over it. Get over it.”

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Examiner.com writer Derek Newton blasted the Legislature’s attitude about a grand jury’s presentment criticizing the way Tallahassee handles budget proposals. Here is what he said:

Yesterday I wrote about the indictment of Republican former Speaker of the Florida House, Ray Sansom and how newer, greener Republican Legislators are already following his example. 

Today, two leading Republicans offered comments about the scandal in their house. Did they express regret? Outrage at the culture of corruption in their party? Optimism for a better, more ethical future?

Um, no.

Representatives David Rivera (Miami) and Kevin Ambler (Tampa) blamed us – Florida’s citizens and taxpayers who patriotically serve on grand juries – for not understanding the way they do things in Tallahassee.

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St. Pete Times columnist Howard Troxler added his comments to this sorry state of affairs on Sunday, saying, “This is the Legislature that the people of Florida want?” Read more of his criticism of the Legislature by clicking here.

It appears that Congress wants Florida to tap into the federal stimulus money, too,
according to a story in the Miami Herald.
Democrats in the Florida delegation criticized some House Republicans in Tallahassee
who have been reluctant to spend about $444 million to extend unemployment 
benefits because the state may have to boost unemployment spending at
Florida businesses to qualify for the money.

The Democrats argued that the money should be used to help jump-start the economy.

''I don't know what part of missing out on $440 million the Florida Legislature doesn't
 understand,'' the story quoted Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar.

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This is a note sent from Liz Crane, president of the Clay County Education Association, the negotiating arm for the Clay County teachers:

 Liz Crane and Lea Rhoden made the trek to Tallahassee yesterday with three bins of pennies. Thank you to the schools that participated and donated pennies. 

The display of pennies were originally to be placed on the Capitol steps however there was a ’concern’ that the weight of the pennies would be too much and the display was moved to a Read the rest of this entry »

This giant mastadon skeleton is on display in the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee.

I accompanied my wife on a job-related trip [for her] to Tallahassee last week. She was working with the State Department of Education on some new science standards for public school teachers.

While she worked, I played. Sort of. I got in one round of golf on Thursday after it had warmed up from a low of around 20 degrees and I visited the Museum of Florida History, which I will tell you more about in a few minutes.

The trip was also noteworthy for renewing acquaintances. My wife visited a friend from high school whom she had not seen in more than 40 years and I met a person I used to work with at the Times-Union, Jim Baltzelle, who is now Florida bureau chief for the Associated Press in Miami. Of course, there was a legislative update session in Tallahassee, so it was natural that journalists would be all over the place. My neighbor Mike Marino was also there visiting with the Times-Union’s new Tallahassee reporter. Read the rest of this entry »