FLORIDA SUNDAY EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

As you all know, Tuesday celebrates the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and thus, the United States of America. While you grill outdoors, head to the beach, or hear Kenny Rogers singing "God Bless the USA" at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park Tuesday, please take time to 1) celebrate safely, and 2) remember the men and women of our armed forces serving our nation at home and abroad. And take time to carefully read what are known as the Charters of Freedom: The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights [The first ten amendments to the Constitution], and the Constitution.

Looking now to what the editorial writers are saying this morning, we begin here at home as the Lakeland Ledger salutes an increase in funding for the Legal Services Corporation, a public-private partnership which provides legal services to the poor. A House subcommittee had recommended a $13 million cut in it's budget, but with support from Florida's two U.S. Senators, it actually received an increase. The Ledger sadly noted that Polk County's representatives --- Adam Putnam (R - Bartow), Virginia "Ginny" Brown-Waite (R - Brooksville), and Dave Weldon, (R - Melbourne), all voted against the amendment.

The Orlando Sentinel has this piece of advice for many Floridians: Don't look to state officials for relief on homeowners' insurance. It notes that while the state could do more, such as expanding tougher building codes to areas now excepted and offering incentives for residents to fortify new or existing homes, government officials' inaction seems to be the norm.

Today is Election Day in Mexico, and the Daytona Beach News-Journal opinion deals with U.S. relations with it's southern neighbour. It sadly reminds us that whoever wins today in what many are saying should be Mexico's cleanest election ever, any changes in policies will likely be minimal because of the concentration of wealth among a few families and the lack of a job-generating economy that sustains it's population.

Administrators at Cocoa High School have been accused of manipulating grade level placement for 54 students to get around the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), and the Melbourne-based Florida Today calls for strong punishment if the allegations are found to be true. But, it's editorial says the alleged incident brings out serious flaws in state testing policy that beg to be reformed.

Today's Tampa Tribune editorial mentions that Louisiana should shore up it's fragile coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but by restoring it's coastal marshes and thus providing a natrual storm buffer, not by sinking decommissioned Navy ships and using as storm barriers. The opinion notes that even massive vessels shift during storms and eventually deteriorate.

Across the bay, the St. Petersburg Times likes the House vote passing the Deep Ocean Resources Act because it gave Florida shores better protection that was expected by pushing the drilling ban on oil and gas to the Military Mission Line, 235 miles off the western coast. While the editorial notes that Floridians can't hope for help from Governor Bush, who supported the bill, it now hopes that Florida's U.S. Senators will maintain or improve the bill passed by the House.

Health is on the minds of the editorial writers at the Sarasota Herald Tribune this morning as we are reminded that according to U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona that exposure to secondhand smoke --- even if it is brief and indirect --- raises health risks, and that millions of people, especially children, remain at risk from "passive" smoke in homes, cars, and other places not covered by public smoking bans. It notes that "Adults should know better".

Today's Pensacola News Journal opinion states that Escambia County seems to be on the right track in improving conditions at the jail for crime suspects and inmates who show signs of mental illness. Sheriff Ron McNesby has asked for $625,000 to refurbish four infirmary cells to increase protection for mentally ill inmates who attempt to injure themselves and install cameras to monitor their activities in case emergency response is needed.

The Tallahassee Democrat says that weekend, even as we argue about a number of issues that bring us to the breaking point, is a good time to celebrate and "...recommit ourselves to demonstrating what is best about our country, state and community, and unique in the world." It takes note of Bill Moyers' identifying what he considers to be the world's biggest stumbling block: angry fundamentalism, and lets us know that we should salute tolerance this holiday, if not respect.

Referring to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week on the use of military tribunals to try eneny combantants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Miami Herald editorial this morning reminds us that the Constitution prevails wheather in peacetime or war, and that even the President cannot take action without regard to established rules and procedures...even in the name of national security. The opinion is that President Bush should work with Congress to set up new rules, and that the legislative branch should insure that those rules meet the basic guarantees of the Geneva Convention.

Citrus County detectives screwed up during their questioning of accused child predator/murderer John Couey by not ending their interrorgation and requesting an attorney for him upon Couey's request as guaranteed by his rights. Today's editorial in the Ocala Star Banner commends Circuit Judge Richard A. Howard's decision to throw out Couey's recorded confession, saying that while it will be misconstrued by many as a blow to justice, it was a correct and just legal decision which protects one of the most basic of our fundamental legal rights.

Heading back down south, the South Florida Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale opines in favour of the Federal Communications Commission scrapping it's rule prohibiting media companies from owning television stations and newspapers in the same market, a ban it considers "anachronistic". Of course, one must note that the Sun Sentinel is owned by the Chicago-based Tribune Company, and also owns WBZL-TV 39 --- Miami/Fort Lauderdale's WB Network affiliate --- under a waiver issued four years ago.

Judges routinely seal records of court cases for a variety of reasons --- juvenile cases or cases containing proprietary corporate information or personal financial data. But the Palm Beach Post reported last week that records of nearly four dozen cases in Palm Beach County with no such information have "disappeared" since 2001, and the Miami Herald reported last month that more than 100 Dade County civil cases --- including divorce records of two judges --- met the same fate. The Palm Beach Post editorial today brings up the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration (Rule 2.051, to be exact) requires that confidentiality should be "no broader than necessary", and that a secret docket is not necessary.

The Jacksonville-based Florida Times Union editorial chides Jacksonville City Council members for not fully disclosing ex parte communications they have with interested parties outside of public hearings for land rezonings. It makes note that some rezoning decisions over the past year could be subject to legal challenges because of the error, and that the city's legal staff should be more assertive and routine about training council members about such conversations.

The Fort Myers News-Press laments today that the town of Bonita Springs has been left in the lurch without a downtown redevelopment plan or any idea of what it's downtown area should be. This follows a controversial 4-3 vote to scrap a plan to help revitalize it's blighted downtown area. The editorial urges residents to contact their council members and encourage them to work on a new plan. The Naples Daily News editorializes on the issue as well today.

The Gainesville Sun editorial today mentions the need for the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan needs to be fixed following news that during the first three months of this year, drug prices showed the biggest quarterly increase in six years. While Americans strongly support a drug plan for seniors, the Sun says that citizens should be outraged at profiteering and unnecessary waste.

Alright...make it a great 4th of July week...and GOD BLESS AMERICA!