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School Board Update

This message is from Cindy Barrow, Chair of the Lake County School Board. This message is NOT an official communication from the Lake County School Board. This message contains my thoughts and opinions

Dear Citizens:

I am proud to announce that our schools have raised $20,655.74 for the "Kids Helping Kids for Haiti" project. Our goal was $10,000.00 which would purchase 45,000 meals that would be packaged at the LASER office in Eustis and sent directly to Port-au-Prince and the village of Jacmel. Wow - did we exceed our goal! I am so proud of our community efforts to help our neighbors in Haiti! Thank you to the parents of our students who participated in this project and to community members who helped to package these meals.

Yesterday afternoon our board met for a workshop meeting and then for our regularly scheduled board meeting at 6:00 pm. We had a final approval of the redistricting effort for our new high school in Minneola referred to at this time, as "BBB High School". The redistricting process for this school has been one of the smoothest efforts to date. I believe that the community is so happy to have relief for crowding at East Ridge High School and South Lake High School that they are welcoming their students attending any of these schools with a more balanced student population.

District 3, largely Clermont and Minneola continue to welcome new students into our schools. Both of our new Elementary Schools are officially "over crowded". Grassy Lake Elementary School in Minneola is built for 950 students and now has 1,030 students. This school can not add portables as there is a "skink habitat" on the property that can not be disturbed per state law.

Saw Grass Bay elementary school in Four Corners was built for 938 students and now has 1,038 students. The School Board and community have worked diligently to get a traffic light at the intersection of 27 and Saw Grass Bay. Several meetings occurred with a DOT representative and officials from Lake County; however we do not have an operational light or any light at this time. I have been informed that since the last meeting there have been TWO severe accidents involving parents of students in the school. Thankfully, no students or siblings were harmed but one of the accidents produced a truck that had turned over. It is only a matter of time before some one is seriously hurt or we experience a fatality at this intersection. I will be working with the Principal and County officials to put together another meeting with DOT. The community needs to come together to support the safety of parents, students, and community members!

Last evening we welcomed a new Student Representative, Robert Logan Wilson from Umatilla High School. This young man's report to the school board was very impressive. He talked about officials from the state Department of Education visiting his school to ensure that teachers are using teaching methodologies to engage the students and ensure quality teaching. He was keenly aware of the goals for the school and the reasons for the visits. All of our Student Representatives this school year have been outstanding students with interesting reports for the school board! I have to thank School Board Member, Larry Metz for initiating this effort. Our board learns valuable information from these students.

Our school board also recognized the efforts of a new Elementary Mentorship Program which began in 2008. I have discussed my experiences as a mentor in previous updates. I continue to enjoy mentoring at Minneola Elementary School and believe that our program is unique as we work with elementary school students. Ms. Sherry Watts, and Ms. Susan Salazar represented Minneola Elementary School and two of our parent mentors were present as well. I am heartened by the dedication of these mentors to their students! We do make a difference.

Lost Lake Elementary school (another over crowded elementary school in Clermont) sent a letter to the school board from their SAC (School Advisory Committee). They requested that the board remove the Opt-Out option when schools implement a uniform policy. They believe that too many parents are using the opt-out and soon after a uniform policy is implemented, few students are in uniform. The board discussed the possibility of having an "Opt-Out" for religious purposes only and allowing schools to make this request of the board. The board could then vote on the school's request. We agreed that this is how we will proceed given the due diligence of our school board attorney's inquiry into the legalities of an opt-out for religious reasons only.

There appears to be a ground swell of parent and community support for a district wide uniform policy. Community support is what is truly needed if the board were to decide to implement a district wide uniform policy. Last month, our Student Representative from Tavares High School stated that he would support a uniform policy. He discussed his concerns about revealing clothing and the ease of choosing clothes in the morning if uniforms were mandatory.

Thank you for reading this update. Please contact me at: barrowc@lake.k12.fl.us with any of your thoughts or concerns. Have a great rest of your week and best wishes to our students who are taking the FCAT writes this week!!!

Sincerely,
Cindy Barrow

Will legislators gamble away state's future?

Source: OrlandoSentinel.com
Will legislators gamble away state's future?
Mike Thomas

COMMENTARY

11:58 PM EST, February 8, 2010

The newest plan to save Florida involves turning it into Nevada.

Roll those big, fuzzy dice.

Line the state with casinos, rake in the billions and live tax-free ever after. It's enough to make the conservatives in Tallahassee swallow their principles and sit down to deal.

It spares them from making responsible choices about taxes and budgets.

It would double down on everything that is wrong with Florida.

Let's see how the Nevada/Las Vegas gig is working out these days.

Here is an Associated Press story from Sunday:

"Nevada's budget is so far out of balance that by one account the state could lay off every worker paid from the general fund and still be $300 million in the red. The economic downturn has hit so hard that prisons may be closed, entire colleges shuttered and thousands left without jobs.''

Nevada relies on Vegas growth, Vegas tourism and Vegas sales taxes to pay the bills.

Now, just like here, people are bailing out, and Nevada is losing population. Foreclosures are so rampant that an economist predicted it will take 20 years for the real-estate market to recover.

Nevada has a 13 percent unemployment rate, the second-highest in the nation behind Michigan.

The Las Vegas school district is looking at firing 2,000 teachers.

Residents in Vegas are 50 percent more likely to commit suicide than people in the rest of the country. That risk goes down when they leave the city. Go figure.

Vegas is a mess. It's going to be an even bigger mess over time as gambling proliferates across the country, sucking away all but the high rollers from the Vegas strip.

And now a growing number of Florida legislators want to emulate the Vegas model. Rep. Alan Hays even wants socialized gambling, with the state owning the casinos. If Charlie Crist loses his U.S. Senate race, I can't think of a better door-greeter.

Hays says we could fund schools — just as we did with the lottery money.

And then in the next recession, we could legalize medical marijuana and Rep. Hays could set up pot clinics next to the casinos. Or do what a leading Nevada lawmaker proposed: slap a $5 tax on all acts of prostitution.

With gambling, Hays says, we could cut taxes. Shrink the tax base even more. Make us even more dependent on tourism. Keep those low-paying jobs flowing in. Make the next budget crisis even worse than this one.

These people are dangerous. There is no light at the end of their tunnel vision.

The politicians in Nevada actually convinced themselves that Vegas was immune to recessions. Now they know better. Last year, the casino owners blocked an attempt to raise taxes on them. So the state raised the hotel tax instead. It is a small drop in a big bucket.

The state never invested in its universities during the boom times, setting them up for a huge fall now.

"We have had a first-class economy and a third-class culture, and eventually a third-class culture will bring down a first-class economy," said James Rogers, the former chancellor of the state's university system.

Does all this sound painfully familiar?

Do you know what would happen if casinos were legalized in South Florida?

The tourism industry on Florida's west coast would scream about losing market share to Miami. So it would get casinos.

That dynamic would spread to the Panhandle.

And then it would infect the rotting tourism corridors of U.S. Highway 192 in Osceola and northern International Drive in Orange.

In looking at this phenomenon from a national perspective, analyst Nate Silver called it the "race to the bottom" in an Esquire magazine article. States are rushing to put up casinos to keep up with neighboring states. And they are beginning to cannibalize each other.

There is, after all, a limited number of saps in this world.

Silver reports that in Atlantic City, revenues were no higher in 2008 than they were 1986. In Mississippi, revenues peaked in 2000.

Isn't it amazing how much gambling has turned around Mississippi? And the benefits have spread to its neighbors.

A report by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis says Mississippi is exporting bankruptcy. The dumb hayseeds in surrounding states are coming in, losing their money and then bringing their broke selves back home.

Yeah, boy. We need in on this action.

Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 ormthomas@orlandosentinel.com.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

Lake County Comprehensive Plan Explained

I didn't see this when it was published in the Daily Commercial paper and I like it. Particularly the bottom right caption that says: "If only special interests oppose it, it's probably good for the majority."

Mount Dora Arts Festival: 'Spring training' for artists

MOUNT DORA – For many artists, the 35th Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival will be their first major outdoor show since early last fall.

Take John and Lynn Whipple of Winter Park, for example. The Whipples, who create one-of-a-kind art, have had five months to work on new pieces.

"We call it ' spring training,' " John Whipple said. "It's a good testing ground to see if a work has legs or not."

The festival, which will take over the quaint Lake County city's downtown on Saturday and Sunday, provides the perfect chance to show new work because of the number of people who will see it.

"We expect at least 250,000 people," said Christina Smith, executive co-chairwoman of the Mount Dora Center for the Arts, which puts on the event. "Other shows don't have the attendance we have. It may be difficult emotionally to put out new work and be critiqued by the public, but there is a beauty in being face-to-face with so many people."

The festival's draw has always been the art, but live music and gourmet goodies round out the appeal.

Of 1,000 applicants, 285 artists were chosen to compete for $21,000 in prize money, with $5,000 going to the winner of best of show.

Previous best-of show winners who will show this year include 2009 best-of-show winner Tony Savoie of Orlando, Garry Seidel of Davie, Tony Eitharong of Orlando and winner of multiple best-of-show prizes Charles Gatewood of Phenix City, Ala.

While it is still winter, many artists see the festival as a fresh start.



See for yourself



35th Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival

Where: Downtown Mount Dora

When: Saturday and Sunday

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days

Admission: Free, but people will be asked to make a $1 donation

Entertainment: Live music is scheduled for both days on the main stage in Donnelly Park and scattered throughout the festival.

Food and drink: Vendors will be clustered on North Baker Street in front of City Hall and on South Donnelly Street near the city parking garage.

Three official park-and-rides sites: Mount Dora High School at Highland and Seventh avenues is convenient for people driving from Orlando or Sanford. Christian Home and Bible School, just off North Donnelly Street at 13th Avenue, will work well for those driving in from the north. The parking lot of the Golden Triangle Shopping Center on West Old U.S. Highway 441 near Eudora Road will be handy for people from west Orange County and south Lake County. Each site will be well marked with park-and-ride signs.

Handicapped parking: Ask the police officers for directions to lots at city hall and at the First National Bank.

ATMs: Six mobile automated teller machines will be located on Donnelly Street and one will be near City Hall.

Information: Ask your questions at the information booth at Fifth Avenue and Donnelly Street

Pets: Visitors are asked to leave their pet at home.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

12 Lake County artists showing at Mount Dora Arts Festival

MOUNT DORA – When 285 artists open their tents for business today at the Mount Dora Arts Festival, more than half will be Floridians.

A bit more than 20 percent will be from Central Florida and 12 of that 59 will be from Lake – the highest number in more than a decade.

Poster artist Dodi Truenow lives near Lake Jem. The plein-air painter – she paints outdoors and finishes in one sitting – is a fifth-generation Floridian who, in honor of Mount Dora's 100th anniversary, has taken a close look at local scenes.

Her poster image includes portraits of neighbors and members of her family, including herself and her husband, Keith, at Cecile's French Corner in Arbors and Eyebrows on Fourth Ave.

"I had them come to pose at different times, but in the same light," Truenow said. "I had to pose my father at the nursing home where he lives."

The painter will donate a percentage of her sales to the Conservation Trust for Florida. Find her at D064, on the east side of Donnelly Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues.

Another plein-air painter, Kate Carney, is from Mount Dora, as are five other artists in the show. Carney has painted in Florida "paint-outs," when many painters gather in one scenic area. She will also show several of her 5-foot square floral paintings. Find her at both 551, on the north side of Fifth Avenue, between Donnelly and Baker sreets.

Mount Dora painter Jane Slivka will continue in her traditional veins – landscapes, still lifes and Caribbean figures – she said. Find her at D060, two booths away from Truenow.

Nearby, at D056 will be Jackie Holland Berkley, also from Mount Dora. Her paintings address the fragility of light and, by extension, the transitory nature of things.

"Chandeliers, Ferris wheels and floating dresses lighted from within talk about light," she said. "Transitory things are campers and carnival tents, which are temporary shelters."

Also on the block are painter Emily Lewis, at D080, with new landscape paintings from Blue Springs and still life paintings.

On the other side of the street, find worldly-wise painter Lauren Graham Cunningham at D057 and elegant jewelry artist Deborah Barnes at D085.

Also on Donnelly Street will be stained-glass artist Rosemarie Brown at D127, on the west side of the street, between Third and Fourth avenues. She will show he new collection of mermaid-themed pieces.
read complete story at the Orlando Sentinel

Baker pulls plug on agriculture commissioner bid

Source: Orlando Sentinel

 

EUSTIS – Calling it a difficult but "ultimately a necessary" decision, state Sen. Carey Baker said today that he is ending his run for state agriculture commissioner.

The Eustis Republican faced a daunting task trying to win the GOP nomination against U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow, one of Florida's top congressional stars.

Baker could not be reached for comment. But in a statement released to his friends and supporters, he said he wanted to focus his energy on serving "full time" in the Legislature.

"With so many other challenges to address in our state, particularly in the Legislature, it would be wrong of me to continue a campaign when I have not met the goals I need to win," according to Baker's written statement. "While I withdraw my candidacy with a heavy heart, I know that as a full-time Senator, I can continue to make a difference and make you proud."

Baker became one of the first candidates to enter the race in November 2008, hoping to succeed Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, an Osceola County Republican whose tenure is ending this year because of term limits.

Baker had raised $535,315 in cash and in-kind contributions for the statewide contest, while Putnam garnered more than $1.53 million as of Dec. 31, according to the latest campaign-finance reports from the state Division of Elections.

Pat Bainter, a Baker campaign consultant, said Baker is not planning to run for re-election to the state Senate.

"He had given his word that he would not step back into that race and he plans to keep his word," Bainter said.

Baker served in the state House from 2000 to 2004, when he won a special election for state Senate. He was re-elected to a full four-year term in 2006.

Meanwhile, Putnam praised Baker after receiving word that the state senator had dropped his bid.

"Sen. Baker is an outstanding public servant, a good man," Putnam said. "He's a real patriot, and I hope to earn his support as this campaign moves forward."

In the Democratic race for agriculture commissioner, candidates include former Tallahassee mayor and state Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox and former state Rep. Rick Minton of Fort Pierce.

Martin E. Comas can be reached at mcomas@orlandosentinel.com or 352-742-5927.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

This message is from Cindy Barrow, Lake County School Board Chair. This message is NOT an official communication from the Lake County School Board. This message contains my thoughts and opinions. Please fee free to share your thoughts with me at: barrowc@lake.k12.fl.us

Dear Citizens:

We opened our meeting last evening with an announcement of a joint effort between our School Board and the Lake And Sumter Emergency Recovery (LASER) program titled, "Kids Helping Kids for Haiti". We will be raising funds for meals to be delivered to children in Haiti. Students are being asked to donate 25 cents to be collected at school for these meals. If each child donates 25 cents we will raise $10,000.00 for 45,000 meals that will be packaged at the LASER office in Eustis next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. These meals will be delivered by LASER to an airplane in Ft. Lauderdale that will fly them directly to Port-au-Prince and the village of Jacmel.

Lake County Schools' mission is to provide the skills necessary to succeed, and service learning, and helping other is important to all of our children of Lake County! I am proud that our board is working with the LASER group to sponsor this important project. We are being told that Lake County will become the temporary home for approximately 300 children from Haiti. More information will be provided to the public as we receive updates on this effort. Thank you to Ms. Stivender and Ms. Fischer who have worked with LASER and to Mrs. Rhonda Hunt, Director of Elementary Curriculum who is helping our district to organize this effort.

Last evening we recognized two outstanding teachers who won the Excel Award for their contribution in bringing up the scores of children in the areas of math and reading. Ms. Venessa King, Fourth Grade Teacher was recognized from Clermont Elementary School and Ms. Anjanette McGregor was recognized from Tavares High School.

Last evening we also recognized two students who won a state wide poster contest on the perils of Radon. Windy Hill Middle School had two of three state wide winners of this contest. The posters were a combined demonstration of the student's artistic skills along with scientific information conveyed in a poster meant to educate the public on the dangers of Radon. Jennifer Wiltrout and Sara Mohess won 1st and 3rd place in the contest.

In other board business, we approved changes to policy 9.70 - Relations with Governmental Authorities. This was the debated policy that confused the issue of the viewing of the President's message to our children. A policy review committee was erected and changes were recommended by the committee to submit to the board for approval. The changes were supported by all board members and each board member thanked the committee for their hard work and recommendations.

The changes to policy 9.70 state that as the leader of our country, a sitting President of the United States may address the students of Lake County while attending school. The timing of the address and the manner and method of presentation of the address will be at the discretion of the Superintendent. The Superintendent will provide by standard operating procedure, a method for students, whose parents do not want them to observe or participate in a Presidential Address, to opt out of attending the presentation. All supporting lesson plans and materials will be reviewed by the Superintendent and utilized at the discretion of the Superintendent.

In other great news from the district, three finalist for teacher of the year were "tapped" this past week and they are: Tracy Johnson Berry, Tavares Elementary Kindergarten Teacher, Rose Sedely, Eustis Heights Elementary ,Math and Science Coach, and Lori Westphal, Rimes Early Learning and Literacy Center, Deaf Education Teacher. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Education Foundation for helping us to recognize and support these teachers for their outstanding efforts with our children.

Last Tuesday, our board met in 6 hours of meetings to accomplish goal setting for the year and to participate in a Master School Board Training module on Strategic Planning. We were thankful for the time together and for the information provided by the Florida School Board's Association to perform our jobs at the highest level. During our budgeting process we will be focusing on funding our most important initiatives in our Strategic Plan. These initiatives will focus on supporting student achievement.

I am proud of our board and our Superintendent and her leadership team. Everyone is working in the same direction and we have structures in place to ensure that we stay focused and productive.

I hope that you have a great week and I wish all of our students a productive and successful new semester starting today!

Sincerely,
Cindy Barrow

County Commissioners Vote to Send 2030 Comprehensive Plan to State for Review

As described in the article below from the Orlando Sentinel, the public hearing for transmittal of the 2030 comprehensive plan was intense but everybody was well behaved. More than 50 people spoke for and against the plan. Developers and homebuilders spoke against the plan. Retirees, environmentalists, and the general public that has been concerned about the eroding quailty of life in Lake County due to overbuilding, spoke in favor of the plan.

Elaine Renick and Linda Stewart worked hard to try to ensure a number of important issues were retained in the plan. The plan recommended increasing the protection of the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern by prohibiting the expansion of sand mines and new mines but allowing for mining the existing site plans which would last for approx. 10-15 years. The mining industry lobbied hard to ensure they could keep mining the Green Swamp. Commissioners Renick and Stewart supported the recommendation. Commissioners Cadwell, Hill and Conner did not support the recommendation so it was removed.

Commissioner Cadwell then recommended (and the Comimssion approved) inserting language in the plan to keep the existing policies in place and to form a committee to make recommendations on the issue within the next 18 months. During this period of time there will be no expansion of mines or new mines.

There were a number of other issues as outlined in the article. In general the meeting went well. No groups got everything they wanted but the 2030 Plan has a good balance of land for economic development (not focused on houses) and protection for rural areas, sensitive areas, and quality of life in Lake County.

By Stephen Hudak, ORLANDO SENTINEL

3:08 p.m. EST, January 19, 2010

TAVARES - TAVARES – Lake County commissioners voted unanimously this afternoon to transmit a massive planning document that is expected to guide the county's growth for the next two decades to the state Department of Community Affairs.

Earlier, commissioners heard arguments from about 40 people who came to the all-day meeting to make their cases about the plan, which grew out of dozens of meetings with the public and was strongly supported by the environmental community. It was generally opposed by developers, who believe that too much property will be too tightly restricted under the provisions.

Among the topics discussed were whether to expand mining in the Green Swamp, considered one of the state's primary recharge area, and whether to lift a rural protection area from nearly 11,000 acres south of Clermont along U.S. Highway 27. Private property-rights advocates also had their say on the 388-page document known as Planning Horizon 2030.

How Much Should Lake County Grow By 2030?

Reported by Heather Sorentrue
source: Channel 13 News

TAVARES -- Lake County Commissioners spent the day Tuesday listening to some upset residents and business owners concerned about the county's plans for future development.

It has taken six years of debate just to get to this point.

Lake County Commissioners voted unanimously to send off their blueprint for growth to the state.

But there are still plenty of critics.

The county's current map has 5 percent of land set aside for commercial development.

The staff said their new plans nearly double that by the year 2030.

“We have to be prepared,” said Commissioner Linda Stewart. “When businesses or industry come here, we have to have the places for them to go. So that's very important. In talking to some business people and planners, we have, in our comp(rehensive) plan, provided enough space for them for us to grow economically.”

Critics argue Lake County's plan is too restrictive, bad for job creation and does not provide for as much economic growth as it sounds.

“There's no doubt there's more commercial shown on the map now than there was in 1992. However, much of it is already built, and I'm not sure that we've done enough,” said Tim Greene from the Lake County Chamber Alliance.

Others said you could argue it's never enough and believe the county has struck a good balance between preserving the environment and creating spaces for businesses to thrive.

“It's a very good plan, but it’s not focused on home building or it’s not focused on construction. So I think that's where a lot of the controversy in Lake County comes from,” said Rob Kelly from the Citizens Coalition of Lake County.

“Diversifying our economy is the most important thing we can do right now, and this comp plan works toward doing that,” Stewart said.

Once Lake County submits the comprehensive plan to the state, the state has 60 days to review it and make comments or criticisms.

Depending on what they say, the county has anywhere from 60 to 120 days to make any changes.

Lake County's growth management director said in a best case scenario they hope to have the final adoptive hearing for the plan by June.

The county charted out its growth plan based on a prediction that the population will jump to around 410,000 people by 2030.

It's currently just over 300,000.

Florida's problem luring jobs isn't taxes — it's loopholes and lack of direction

Source: Orlando Sentinel

Florida's problem luring jobs isn't taxes — it's loopholes and lack of direction

Mike Thomas

COMMENTARY

10:37 PM EST, January 18, 2010

As our top political minds ponder the task of rescuing Florida's dying economy — a scary thought indeed — let me propose a good start: Sell the Florida Chamber of Commerce to Mississippi.

Maybe we could get a couple pounds of fried catfish for it.

The Florida Chamber has become a parody of itself, a sham outfit devoted to the Third Worldization of the Florida economy.

For public consumption it gives us grandiose reports on bringing Florida into the 21st century. Then, in the backroom, it resorts to its hayseed, parochial roots of promoting the stagnant status quo.

The chamber typifies what critics of President Obama say about him — great on the soaring rhetoric but sorely lacking follow-through.

Given that Republicans often get their economic talking points from the chamber, and their contributions from chamber members, we then get trickled-down, dumbed-down economic policy. This was in evidence last week at the great economic summit in Orlando called by legislative leaders.

Not surprisingly, the focus was on more tax cuts and less regulation. But taxes and regulation are not why Florida is wandering aimlessly in our financial desert.

Florida has less government than Somalia.

For every state regulator, there are five lawyers to get you around the regulations.

According to the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan organization devoted to educating people about what they pay the government, Florida ranks 47th nationally in state and local tax burden.

There is a reason Tiger Woods lives here.

When it comes to business taxes, Florida ranks 45th nationally.

We are the nation's tax haven.

If lowering taxes and shrinking government were all it took to lure in high-wage businesses, we would be knee deep in six-figure nerds curing cancer and inventing 3-D interfaces for iPhones.

To get businesses, you need direction. You need smart taxes invested wisely.

Allow me to quote the Tax Foundation: "Good state tax systems levy low, flat rates on the broadest bases possible, and they treat all taxpayers the same."

Instead, Florida levies high tax rates on a narrow base of the economy. The chamber has been very much involved in pushing us in this direction.

It backed Amendment 1, against the advice of almost every economist and Florida TaxWatch. This property tax measure further exacerbated the distortion in property taxes created by Save Our Homes. It will further sabotage the economy by shifting even more of the tax burden on businesses, investors and new homebuyers.

The chamber has not supported closing sales-tax loopholes. One of these protects many Internet businesses from charging the tax, giving them an unfair advantage over local businesses.

Again, quoting the Tax Foundation: "A principled approach to (sales) tax policy calls for all … goods to be included in the tax base, to keep the base broad, rates low, and prevent distortions in the marketplace."

We give tax breaks to everything from ostrich feed to bottled water to Super Bowl tickets. We are one big, distorted mess, with legislators and special-interest groups intervening in the market by picking the winners and losers. It's almost as bad as the federal tax code.

And then, to lure in new businesses, we distort things even more with tax incentives just for them.

Our economic model is based on giving every member of the chamber its personalized tax break, and then bribing other businesses into moving here with their tax breaks.

Florida needs a good, equitable business climate for all.

And if you believe the chamber reports, it needs modern infrastructure, an educated workforce, a good quality of life and, most of all, top-flight schools from pre-K classrooms to university research programs.

Most recently, the chamber signed on to a Council of 100 report calling for major reforms and big investments in education, which include doubling university funding in the next five years.

It is an excellent report. As we've seen in states from California to North Carolina, quality universities are major economic engines.

Full speed ahead, says the chamber, while at the same time demanding more special-interest tax cuts and devoting itself to the proliferation of more rampant growth.

It would be nice to see the chamber stand behind its words, to stand up for equitable, conservative tax policies capable of funding the things it says we need.

For once, I'd like to see the Florida Chamber of Commerce put up or shut up.

Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 or mthomas@orlandosentinel.com.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel