Editorial Archive

Being lieutenant governor of Florida is like being the best basketball player on that team that loses to the Harlem Globetrotters every night.

Every now and then, we get to proudly proclaim the Santa Rosa County commissioners got it right. The commissioners got it right this time by approving an amendment to the Land Development Code (LDC) that creates and extends the wellfield overlay area around all 12 well heads.

Last year the Florida Legislature passed a bill that allowed returning outright prayer to public schools. Not a moment of silence, not gathering around the flagpole on the National Day of Prayer, but the bona fide right of students to lead other students in prayer at any student assembly, even mandatory ones. School officials are prohibited from interfering, or even judging whether the prayer in question is appropriate.

In recent years, we have seen the size of our federal government increase at an alarming rate with excessive and irresponsible government spending threatening our economic prosperity. Across the country, millions of Americans have become more interested in the Congressional budget process, with many, including myself, advocating for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The American people understand that Washington must pass sensible budgets and get its fiscal house in order. Over the next few months, the annual budget process will move into full swing; however, during this time we are also facing numerous budgetary challenges.

I get it. I’m a woman who grew up on a farm doing “man’s” work. I enlisted in the Navy and did a “man’s” work as an aviation structural mechanic. Yet, the standards for physical readiness for me were different than for my male counterparts. Sure, I could carry the same tool box, but in the Navy’s eyes, I could not do as many sit-ups, push-ups and run a 1.5-mile as fast as a man.

The things women can do always amazes me. What amazes me more is all the things women have been told they can’t do.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” -Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Santa Rosa County Commissioners have passed the buck – and the bill – to the Tourist Development Council, to fund a north end project that commissioners had no interest in funding.

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature may shelve a budget tracking website paid for with $5 million of taxpayer money – our money. As Floridians, shouldn’t we be allowed access to the website we paid for?