Should the Chiles Endowment Be Tapped to Meet the Budget Shortfall?
CIVIC Concern | | 
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After Florida's landmark settlement with the tobacco companies, part of the proceeds were used to create the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund. For nearly a decade, the Chiles Fund has provided recurring revenue to support health care programs for children and the elderly.
The Governor and some legislators have proposed tapping the principal of the Chiles Fund to use to meet the current budget shortfall. Because the fund's assets are invested in long-term securities, the principal has lost nearly half its value in the recent stock market volatility. If the assets are sold and cashed out now, the principal is likely never to recover.
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Should Florida Approve Drilling in the Gulf?
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For years, there has been strong bipartisan support in Florida for a federal ban on new oil and natural gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Recently, Republican Presidential nominee John McCain has proposed lifting the federal ban to allowing states to decide whether to allow drilling. If the federal laws change, what do you think Florida should do?
After you vote, please post a comment telling us why you feel the way you do.
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To protect our natural resources, we need to implement changes in households, companies and government. What are the biggest challenges facing Florida's environment? What ideas do you have for individuals, businesses, and state and local government to help make our future more green?
Share your thoughts here as we kick off "What Kind of Florida Do You Want to Live In?", our ground-breaking, two-year initiative that will mobilize citizens from around the state to come together in shaping policy proposals that can make a real difference in the lives of Floridians. To learn more, visit the What Kind of Florida? homepage.
What Kind of Florida initiative, Environment, Energy, Natural Resources (all tags)
WKoF initiative: Kitchen Table Economics
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From health care costs to gasoline prices, the housing slump, the credit crunch and hurricane insurance, Florida families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. What do you think are the toughest issues facing Florida's households? What can the state do to strengthen the middle class and help the working poor? Policy changes? Public-private partnerships?
Share your thoughts here as we kick off "What Kind of Florida Do You Want to Live In?", our ground-breaking, two-year initiative that will mobilize citizens from around the state to come together in shaping policy proposals that can make a real difference in the lives of Floridians. To learn more, visit the What Kind of Florida? homepage.
WKoF initiative: World Class Schools
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What are the biggest challenges facing Florida's education system? And what ideas do you have for improving Florida's schools?
Share your thoughts here as we kick off "What Kind of Florida Do You Want to Live In?", our ground-breaking, two-year initiative that will mobilize citizens from around the state to come together in shaping policy proposals that can make a real difference in the lives of Floridians. To learn more, visit the What Kind of Florida? homepage.
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Poll: FCAT Reform
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Where do you stand on accountability reform, especially reducing the importance of the FCAT? Take our poll, then visit this post to discuss the issue in more depth.
Reducing the Role of the FCAT
CIVIC Concern | | 0
Since completing comprehensive expert reports on the impact of the FCAT and the A Plus plan in 2004 and 2007, CIVIC has advocated for an overhaul of the state's accountability system.
In 2006 and 2007, legislation based on CIVIC research was developed and filed by members of the State House and Senate, but those bills failed to pass. This year, State Senator Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, chair of the Senate's Pre-K-12 Education Committee, has filed a bill that would add a number of other factors to the high school grading equation, reducing the importance of the FCAT for high schools.
While more comprehensive change is needed, this bill is a good beginning. The fact that it was filed by a committee chair signals that legislative leaders are finally willing to consider changes in the accountability system.
For more information, read the full article here.
What changes do you believe need to be made to the accountability system? Should the emphasis on the FCAT be reduced, or should the test be scrapped altogether? Or do you believe the system is working effectively and doesn't need reform?
