If the Governor of Florida was not prepared for a blizzard I would understand.  But when we were hit with Hurricane Irma last year Governor Rick Scott clearly did not have a structured plan in place.  Instead there was chaos on the highways, in the grocery stores, and at the gas pumps. Governor Scott was in office for nearly two full terms when this storm hit.  One year later, I’m still wondering how he could have left the state so unprepared.

There was no gas; this was not a gas shortage – there literally was no gas.  It was no surprise that people would need gas to fill their cars and generators in advance of a hurricane.  But there was none. Why didn’t the governor have a plan to bring much-needed gas to South Florida in advance of a hurricane?

People couldn’t escape the peninsula going north due to highway gridlock, while all the southbound lanes were vacant.  Many chose to risk the storm than face the traffic – bumper to bumper from South Florida to Orlando. Why didn’t the governor reverse the empty southbound lanes to aid Floridians seeking safety?  

There was also no water; the most basic of human needs.  Grocery shelves were bare. How can the governor of a state that is known for its dangerous tropical weather not have a plan for its residents to have safe drinking water?  

Following the storm there was debris everywhere.  Many side streets were impassable. We were fortunate there wasn’t a second storm following Irma because there would have been devastating damage caused by Irma’s long-lingering debris.  Why didn’t the governor have a plan for post-storm clean up?

If Irma arrived when Rick Scott was new to the governor’s office I would not hold him accountable.  But he had been governor for almost seven years at that time. He had no apparent plan to prepare for the storm or to address its aftermath.  It was a stunning lack of leadership. A Florida governor who was deficient in hurricane planning is not qualified to be promoted to the US Senate.

One Ticket with Two Parties

Perhaps this is a sign of things to come.  In a dramatic shift from the hyper-partisan version of America that we have all been living in, there is talk of a bipartisan gubernatorial ticket in Florida.  There is increasing talk of Democrat Patrick Murphy and Republican David Jolly forming a top-of-the-ticket team.  One would be candidate for Governor, the other for Lieutenant Governor.  Both are former Florida Congresspersons.

This Would be Quite a Change!

Since the nineties, Florida has been characterized by one-party rule in both chambers of the legislature and the governor’s office.  Adding to partisan rancor, Governor Rick Scott endorsed Donald Trump during the primary process.  Scott, who is now running for Senate against incumbent Bill Nelson, has launched a vicious media campaign attacking Senator Nelson.  There is not bipartisanship, or coming together, on his campaign’s horizon.  But as all of us who follow politics know, this is a case of business as usual.

It’s an Exciting Opportunity

A bipartisan gubernatorial slate is a first in contemporary Florida – and perhaps all of contemporary America.  This is different than an independent candidate running for high office as they usually point to the wrongs of both parties.  In this case, there is a chance for real teamwork.  There is the possibility for the commonalities in both parties to be emphasized, rather than the differences.  There is the opportunity for issues that the vast majority of us agree on – such as real, common sense gun control – to become law.

While a bipartisan gubernatorial ticket is not getting much attention today, it could be the most significant occurrence to happen in Florida politics in a recent memory.

-Andrew Schoolnik 5/27/18

Today’s Sun Sentinel (10 More Cities Join Gun Lawsuit Against Florida) showed an example of Florida’s inconsistent Republican leadership.  It referenced a state law from 2011 that “outlines penalties for elected officials who try to enact gun laws.”  It is important to note that Republican leadership is often different than rank-and-file Republicans (the same could be said for Democrats).  The inconsistency identified here is certainly influenced by other competing interests such as PACs, large donors, effective lobbyists, and the desire for re-election.  This 2011 statue became law under the watch of Republican Governor Rick Scott and a Republican controlled legislature. This is absurd for multiple reasons:

Inconsistent Republican Leadership

At the national level, the Republican Party pretends to support stat’s rights, saying that power at the state level is closer to the people; implying that Washington DC should not be trusted.  But apparently in Florida, the Republican Party believes that power should not be trusted at the municipal level; implying that Tallahassee should be trusted.  Wait a minute, Republicans…which is it?  Power to the people, or power to the central government?

Vengeful in Tallahassee

A municipality cannot make a law that is in opposition of the state in which is resides.  When this does occur, there is a court system to address it.  This is a long established legal tradition.  But in the 2011 statute,  the State of Florida established penalties for locally elected officials that include a “$5,000 fine” and “removal from office.”  Central government should not wield undue political power over subordinate elected bodies and threaten penalties for disagreement.

What About the Governor?

Rick Scott is Full of Crap.  Governor Scott can say he is a champion for gun control in 2018, but where was he in 2011 when this bill was passed under his watch?

 

-Andrew Schoolnik 5/17/18