FL Gov. Rick Scott (R-Medicare Fraudster) *not* planning to follow Walker's lead.

[last_texas_dem]

>>Gov. Rick Scott says state shouldn’t move to take away collective bargaining rights

Gov. Rick Scott said during a radio interview Tuesday that Florida shouldn’t move to take away public employees’ collective bargaining rights as the Republican governor of Wisconsin has proposed, reports the News Service of Florida. The capital of Wisconsin, Madison, has been beset by protests over the proposal there, with teachers walking off the job because of the threat to end their ability to collectively bargain over salary and benefits. While Scott has sought to require public employees to contribute to their pensions, he said Tuesday has no plans to mirror Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s collective bargaining proposal. “My belief is as long as people know what they’re doing, collective bargaining is fine,” Scott said in an interview with WFLA Radio in Tallahassee. Scott said what he means is that as long as the discussion is honest about what benefits employees are getting, he has no objection to public employees being members of unions.>>

http://saintpetersblog.com/2011/02/22/gov-rick-scott-says-state-shouldnt-move-to-take-away-collective-bargaining-rights/

A little surprised at this one; figured this guy would be right in there with them...

[Little Star]

1. He must not like what he is seeing in WI. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I am not surprised

I expect him to lead the way away from that route.

They have seen what happens when you do. A whole region, not one state, have the masses revolting... that is revolting.

[Arkana]

3. Smart move.

Scott can read the political winds, evidently, and he knows that Walker's about to get his ass kicked.

[drm604]

4. He just doesn't want to deal with a scene like the one in Wisconsin

or like what's ramping up in Ohio.

It's working. If people in other states had taken it lying down Gov. Scott would be proceeding according to plan.

[watercolors]

5. Maybe he sees the handwriting on the wall!

A little scared is he?

[Dappleganger]

6. He's lying...

he has no intention of negotiating with unions. Scott is not a negotiator, he's a dictator.

[drm604]

8. You know, as I think about it more, I think you may be right.

He uses some interesting qualifiers:

• "as long as people know what they’re doing"
  
• "as long as the discussion is honest"

What exactly does he mean? Isn't it a given that negotiators should be honest? Isn't it an assumption that negotiators have some clue about what it is they're doing (negotiating - duh!).

Why does he feel the need to add those qualifiers? To me they read like weasel words - loopholes that he later plans to drive an entire locomotive through.

[Dappleganger]

9. He's a snake and cannot deny his nature.

He lied about not cutting back the education budget during his campaign and now is bouncing 70% of cutbacks on the backs of teachers and kids, so I trust him about as much as any other lying snake.

Except this one has a plan and the money to carry it out.

[Badfish]

7. Probably cause Florida is a ...

'right to work state' and there are far less unions to deal with come election time.

Wisconsin isn't.

[Blue Owl]

10. There's some GOP solidarity for ya

A big chink in their armor!

[seafan]

11. Hold the phone. John Thrasher has just filed FL Senate Bill 830 to clamp down on union dues.

We are in the middle of a head fake.


The Florida Constitution recognizes the right of employees to bargain collectively, so Mr Scott isn't exactly making a *bold statement* when he said today that 'the state shouldn’t move to take away collective bargaining rights'.


However, Jeb Bush's operative in the state Senate, John Thrasher, has already filed new Senate Bill 830 to severely eat away at the power of union dues.


What say you about this, Mr. Scott?



Union dues in crosshairs of John Thrasher bill


Partial text of SB 830:

"Deductions may not be made for purposes of political activity, including contributions to a candidate, political party, political committee, committee of continuous existence, electioneering communications organization, or organization exempt from taxation under s. 501(c)(4) or s. 527 of the Internal Revenue Code."

"A public employer may not deduct or collect the dues, uniform assessments, fines, penalties, or special assessments of an employee organization from the compensation of any person employed by the public employer..."

"Unless an employee has executed a written authorization, the employee is entitled to a pro rata refund of any dues, uniform assessments, fines, penalties, or special assessments paid by the employee and used by the labor organization of which the employee is a member to make contributions or expenditures, as defined in s. 106.011. The written authorization must be executed by the employee separately for each fiscal year of the labor organization and shall be accompanied with a detailed account, provided by the labor organization, of all contributions and expenditures made by the labor organization in the preceding 24 months."

An observation.

Rick Scott is terrified of the people. Instead of presenting his state budget at the Capitol, he high-tailed it to rural Eustis and presented it to a hyper-friendly Tea Party gathering. He avoids media like the plague. Hell, we even remember how he dashed off the stage after a gubernatorial debate with Alex Sink, leaving Jeb Bush to take questions for him.



He will not know what to do when we show up at the Capitol in Tallahassee on March 8 when the Legislature resumes.


This guy really is no match for us.


And we are not afraid.