FLORIDA SUNDAY EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

The 2006 legislative session begins Tuesday, and several newspapers offer their views on what areas lawmakers should focus on during their annual 60-day marathon.

The four major newspapers that editorialize today about the upcoming session are unanamious that insurance reform is a key issue that needs to be reviewed, especially using at least part of the state's $3.5 billion surplus to shore up the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation deficit as well as the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.

Also on the various legislative laundry lists:

The Daytona Beach News Journal says that citizens would also be helped by requiring insurance companies to stop "cherry picking" and offering the same benefits statewide. It also calls on lawmakers to reject Governor Bush's proposal to cut the Healthy Kids subidized insurance programme, review the FCAT, fund the class-size amendment approved by voters, be cautious in approving special programmes at state universities such as new medical schools, and avoid tax cuts simply for the sake of doing so.

The Tampa Tribune calls on legislators not to go hog-wild in spending the state's surplus funds. It's priorities should be to pay down the state's $22.5 billion long term debt, support the governor's proposal to put $2 billion toward new school construction, toughen the growth management act and address the issue of emergency room capacity as part of the growth management issue, and revisit policies regarding new hospital construction.

The Miami Herald says that as South Florida is the state's largest economic engine, the state will suffer if it is not healthy and the Legislature's school district cost differential has cost Miami-Dade and Broward schools tens of millions of dollars since it was rewritten two years ago; it urges lawmakers to reconsider the issue.

And while the Tallahassee Democrat doesn't have any specific issues that it endorses, it expects legislators to correct some of the errors it has made in several areas. This includes implementing appropriate penalties for private vendors who do not perform per expectations and figuring out ways to bring first generation students, many of them minorities, into college as the One Florida initiative has resulted in just the opposite. The editorial also says they will be watching for lawmakers who attempt to perform an end run around citizen intentions.

Here at home, the Lakeland Ledger has it's first edition of "Gigs and Garlands", it's occasional series in which the editorial team salutes or criticizes individuals or organizations for things done (or not done). Among those of note: State Representative Randy Johnson (R - Winter Garden), a candidate for State Chief Financial Officer, whose campaign took 17 "soft money" contributions as well as sizable in-kind donations while saying he would not do so and asking his primary opponent, Senate President Tom Lee (R - Brandon), not to.

Up in the Panhandle, the Pensacola News Journal encourages Escambia Countians to vote on extending the local option sales tax, and endorses it's extension to fund capital improvements.

Today's editorial in the Florida Times-Union notes that the growing lack of affordable housing in "The Beaches" area east of the Intercoastal Waterway is a disaster in the making, and says that the community has to take ownership of the issue before more homeless are created and the working poor are priced out of homes.

Also weighing in on the lack of affordable housing is the Orlando Sentinel, which calls on the Legislature to remove the cap on the state's affordable housing trust fund and to add teeth to the growth management law so that local governments are required to abide by specific goals for affordable housing.

The Gainesville Sun says that continuing sewage spills in the city lend credence to Alachua County's call for the city to do a better job in inspecting and replacing aging sewage pipes, especially since Gainesville Regional Utilities recently signed a unique "pay as you spill" plan with the state Department of Enviromental Protection that could see future spills cosing real money.

Nearby, the Ocala Star Banner reminds area residents to be wary when water regulators begin talking about cooperation and a "multi district planning process", because as development in nearby areas continues at such a hot pace, governments and residents fear the extra water required will have profoundly negative impacts on water tables as well as lakes and rivers.

The St. Petersburg Times says that while the decision came a bit late, the Hillsborough County School Board is doing the right thing in deciding on a comprehensive strategy to relieve school overcrowding which would balance the needs of both taxpayers and parents.

The Sarasota Herald Tribune calls the settlement between Charlotte County, the Mosaic Company, and regulators ending the challange of a state permit to mine phosphate in eastern Manatee County a "principled settlement", as the county and region received some concessions and protections as a result. Charlotte was the last government to settle the issue.

Heading into south Florida, the Fort Myers News-Press endorses three candidates for the city council in Bonita Springs, while the South Florida Sun Sentinel recommends candidates for a mayor and two commissioners in Coral Springs and a commissioner in Pompano Beach.

And the Palm Beach Post notes that while the rise of Ken Pruitt (R - Port St. Lucie) to become Senate President in November will no doubt benefit residents of his district, it exposes a system in need of reform due to his manipulation of state and federal campaign rules and relying on donations from lobbyists.

Make it a great Sunday!