Juveniles serving life in Florida may be resentenced

Juveniles serving life in prison for committing crimes other than murder may soon get a chance to have their sentences reduced. Lawmakers have to make changes to the way juveniles are sentenced because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

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In 2010, the high court ruled that offenders under the age of 18 cannot be given life in prison if they don’t kill anyone. Florida has dozens of inmates who were impacted by that ruling. So, Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Orange Park, sponsored a bill (HB 5/SB 212)) that gives juvenile offenders a chance to be resentenced once they’ve served 25 years and met other requirements.

“We had to do a bill like this to enable us to seek a life sentence in the courtroom,” Weinstein told the Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee Wednesday. “Those that were sentenced before this bill are now under an illegal sentence because the Supreme Court says you can’t do it.”

Senator Ronda Storms, R-Brandon, prefers a tiered system that would make the least violent offenders eligible for resentencing sooner than those who committed the worst crimes. Storms wondered why the juvenile who assaulted and permanently injured a young woman in her district should get another chance at freedom, asking Weinstein, “How can I face this constituent and these parents and say I think this guy should get out in 15 years?”

Several lawmakers are working to add a tiered approach to resentencing; otherwise, they say they won’t support the bill.

 

Gina Jordan, WLRN-Miami Herald News

Senate proposal spreads HPV vaccine message without requiring shots

Years after the Legislature retreated from an effort to require HPV vaccines for middle school girls, one Senate panel has approved a different approach. The measure would require that all students entering the sixth grade receive information about human papilloma virus, a sexually transmitted disease that causes genital warts and about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases, as well as information about a vaccine that can prevent infection.

Unlike the failed 2007 effort, where conservative organizations successfully lobbied against the proposal
supported heavily by vaccinemaker Merck & Co., there was unanimous support during a committee hearing on Wednesday about the new informational approach.

Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, assured his colleagues that SB 1116 doesn't require vaccinations for any students under any circumstances.

"It at least gives them the information that vaccines do currently existing," he said. "... We know that this vaccination is effective against these HPV types."

Behind the prison wars, Bullard got pushed, then protected

Tampa Bay Times reporter Lucy Morgan chronicles the tactics used behind the scene during last week's prison privatization push. Here's her column:

What are things in the Florida Legislature coming to when one senator needs protection to walk on the Senate floor?

The debate over privatizing much of Florida's prison system last week probably marks one of the few times a couple of senators provided an escort for one of their colleagues — from the opposing political party, no less.

It attracted little attention last week when Sens. Charles Dean, R-Inverness, and Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, walked onto the Senate floor before the debate on privatizing prisons with Sen. Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami, between them.

Ouch. Video of George LeMieux touting 'shovel-ready' aspects of Obama's stimulus

The specter of Charlie Crist has reentered the Republican Senate race and, unbeknownst to us, former Crist adviser George LeMieux didn't just talk favorably about President Obama's 2009 stimulus in his LeMieux Report -- he shot video of it.

That could be deadly. Campaigns hinge on these little video moments.

LeMieux, when a private-practice attorney supporting Crist, was clearly not holding the GOP line about the $787 billion stimulus package. The divide was pretty simple. Democrats said it was good. Republicans said it was bad. And LeMieux said:

"Florida's expected to receive some $10 billion in funding, much of which will be used to create jobs through shovel-ready projects -- including $1.3 billionin transportation projects. In total, the White House estimates the legislation will save or create 3.5 million jobs over the next two years.

"Bottom line: Was the stimulus package good policy? The proof will be in the pudding. If, in the next 18-24 months, the American economy is recovering due to job creation, it will be hard to say it was not."

Hard to say indeed -- for LeMieux at least. The economy appears to be improving now. Job growth is up. Consumer confidence is increasing. The DOW skyrocketed the other day.

Senators pass antiabortion proposal without formal debate

Senators passed a sweeping antiabortion measure for the first time on their side of the Capitol by a vote of 5-2, a day after Planned Parenthood advocates rallied against state and national efforts to limit access to the procedure and birth control.

Sponsored by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, the measure would ban abortions after the fetus reaches viability (third trimester abortions are already illegal in Florida), require abortion clinics to be wholly owned and operated by physicians, and implement a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can have the procedure.

Senators on the Health Regulation Committee delayed discussion of SB 290 until the meeting's end. They allowed for about five minutes of public testimony before deciding to take a vote with no debate of the bill -- just a few amendments -- at 5:59 p.m., the last possible minute.

Republican Sen. Dennis Jones of Seminole may be the only lawmaker to break the party line on abortion bills all session.

"I thought we were trying to get away from regulation," he said.

Under federal inquiry, Dem Rep. Steinberg admits sending 'sexxxy' stalker-type emails to federal prosecutor

Federal agents are investigating Florida House Rep. Richard L. Steinberg for sending a series of suggestive and harassing text messages to a married Miami female prosecutor, court records show.

The dozens of messages, sent over the course of more than three months last fall, were sent from a phone that used software to disguise the number. The victim, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marlene Fernandez-Karavetsos, repeatedly begged the anonymous texter to leave her alone.

When U.S. Secret Service investigators traced the Yahoo! screen name, "itsjustme24680," it led to a phone and home internet account registered to Steinberg, a Democrat and former Miami Beach commissioner whom Fernandez-Karavetsos knew only through professional circles.

Late Wednesday, Steinberg, in response to a request for comment from The Miami Herald, admitted he was behind the messages.

"I acknowledge and take full responsibility for sending inappropriate and unsolicited messages to Mrs. Marlene Fernandez-Karvetsos, whom I have known for more than 15 years. I deeply regret and wholeheartedly apologize for the disrespect that I have shown her, her husband and my constituents,†he said through a spokesoman.

"Most importantly, words cannot express how sorry I am to my wife, for the disrespect I have shown her, and my entire family."

Here's the story from David Ovalle

Here's the redacted search warrant: Download Steinberg-Redacted Warrant

Another divided opinion on redistricting from the Supremes

Florida's redistricting battle has predictably divided the partisans of the Legislature. Now, it appears it has divided the non-partisan ranks of the state's highest court.

In a second divided opinion in two days, the Florida Supreme Court denied a request of the coalition of voters to file an amended proposed redistricting map as part of its brief. The court ruled on a 4-3 vote that the coalition of the League of Women Voters, the National Council of La Raza and Common Cause of Florida may not file an amended map. The swing votes appear to be Justices Labarga and Lewis, who ruled with the majority yesterday when the court ordered the Legislature to submit addresses of incumbent lawmakers as part of its record.

Ruling against the coalition was Justices Canady, Polston, Lewis and Labarga. Ruling in favor of the coalition were Justices Pariente, Quince and Perry. Pariente dissented with an opinion and the others concurred.

At issue is how broad the Supreme Court's review of the case will be.

 "The voters of Florida, through the state constitution, have bestowed upon the Supreme Court of Florida a weighty obligation to determine the validity of the Legislature's joint resolution of legislative apportionment once every ten years,'' Pariente wrote. "Unlike in decades past, this year, the Court has been called upon to, for the first time, interpret and apply a new constitutional amendment that the voters approved in 2010 and which is now codified in article III, section 21, of the Florida Constitution.

"In furtherance of this goal, this Court authorized opponents of the Legislature's joint resolution to file alternative plans for the Court's consideration. Complying with that directive, the Coalition filed an alternative House plan on Friday, February 17, 2012, along with its original submission in opposition to the Legislature's joint resolution. At the time, the Coalition indicated its need to file a substitute House plan. See Brief of the Coalition, at 27 n.13. Now, the Coalition only requests from this Court permission to substitute the alternative House plan it originally filed.

"...At this stage of the original proceeding currently before the Court, alternative plans are not to be used to determine whether the Legislature has adopted the "best plan." Rather, this Court reviews alternative plans submitted by opponents of the Legislature's joint resolution to assess whether the House and Senate plans contained therein are constitutionally valid under the standards enumerated in article III, sections 16(a) and 21, of the Florida Constitution. Given the format in which alternative plans are submitted, review of such plans can be objectively and efficiently undertaken.

"Accordingly, the Coalition's alternative plans are meant to aid, not hinder, the Court in its decision-making process.''

 

Ooops. While hurling Crist-slur at George LeMieux, Connie Mack has some Charlie taint

With the absence of Adam Hasner, it seemed as if there was no Republican U.S. Senate candidate who would trash fellow Republican George LeMieux for being former Gov. Charlie Crist's brain. But then LeMieux today tore into Mack, comparing him to Charlie Sheen. Mack's campaign responded by noting LeMieux helped "create" Charlie Crist.

But the Crist taint pervades the GOP.

Mack used to be a Charlie Crist Republican, too. He endorsed Crist in the Republican Senate race against Marco Rubio. He and LeMieux stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Crist -- until Crist bolted the party. Both LeMieux and Mack were silent when Crist promoted the now-hated stimulus plan of Obama. Contrast that with then-Sen. Mel Martinez who publicly said of his friend, Crist, that "I don't know that my governor understands all the details."

But the similiarity ends there. Mack voted against the simulus, which he repeatedly bashed. LeMieux actively touted it in his Crist-boosting LeMieux Report.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2009/02/a-valentine-for-the-peoples-governor.html#storylink=cpyThere is a difference on the simulus, however: Mack was an early and vocal critic and voted against it in Congress. LeMieux, in private practice, was more actively in favor of the stimulus and boosted aspects of it in the LeMieux Report, which he produced at the time in 2009.Anyway, here's a screen shot of Mack's conniemack.com website, which once boasted about Crist's endorsement. As a bonus, there's also a copy of a press release from Crist's hand-picked Republican Party chairman, Jim Greer, whom LeMieux helped install.

 

Lauren Book finishes 1,500-mile 'Walk in My Shoes' journey across Florida

As about 100 orange and blue butterflies fluttered over the steps of the Old Capitol Wednesday, sexual abuse advocate Lauren Book held a picture overhead of herself as a 5-year-old.

The 27-year-old from Broward County, who overcame six years of childhood physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her nanny, had just finished a 1,500-mile walk across Florida to raise awareness of sexual abuse and encourage victims to get help.

The crowd released butterflies to symbolize the rebirth of life after a survivor tells his or her story.

As Book spoke, her dad and boyfriend choked back tears behind her. She was flanked by Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, Attorney General Pam Bondi and about a dozen other friends and lawmakers.

Connie Mack camp: George LeMieux 'created Charlie Crist,' asks if he's 'amoral'

From a press release, which notably is not from Connie Mack (but his campaign manager), whom fellow Republican Senate candidate George LeMieux mocked and eviscerated today at a press conference: