Cs Charlie Crist delivers first State of the State Address

Florida’s Governor, Charlie Crist delivered his first State of the State address last week, and in so doing attracted a rousing applause from Democrats in the Legislature. Reports out of Tallahassee were that a black legislature commented that Crist sounded more liberal than some liberal Democrats.

In general, Crist’s speech reflected what he had already shown in the state’s budget presented earlier this year. In the speech, he stressed themes that are popular and high on the agenda of the citizens of Florida. These included reduction in property tax and home insurance; effective battling of crime, stark improvement in education, and reformation of the state’s voting machinery; topics always popular with Democrats.

Unlike his predecessor, Jeb Bush, Crist intends to reduce the size of classes in public school, an issue which has long been a sore point with parents all across Florida. He also plans to raise the salaries of teachers, and make provision to provide more reading coaches in schools, and increase funds for computer-based tutoring. He made a call to bring real relief to Florida homeowners under pressure by rising insurance and property taxes, saying, “The American dream of home ownership is being crushed under the weight of property taxes. I will require bold and decisive leadership to reverse this trend and make Florida dream more affordable.”

Crist said he dreams of a better, Florida and asked, “Why not?” To this black lawmakers responded, “Why not?”

University Of Miami’s President picked to probe veteran care facilities.

Donna Shalala, president of the University of Miami, along with Bob Dole, former Republican Senator and presidential candidate, has been appointed by President George Bush to head a bipartisan commission with responsibilities to examine problems at veteran-care facilities across the country.

The initiative to create the investigative commission arose from atrocities found at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which include injured soldiers from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan being in rooms that were infected with mold, insects and rats. These revelations were made some two weeks ago, and have given rise to special hearings in Congress.

In making the announcement about the appointment of Shalala (Democrat, and former member of Bill Clinton’s Cabinet) and Dole, Bush said he is concerned that when the soldiers return from war they get the full medical treatment they deserve. The announcement was made during a speech the president made to the American Legion in Washington D.C.

Shalala, 66, the longest-serving secretary of Health and Human Resources, said she was honored that the president appointed her.

The commission will investigate the treatment procedures and condition at 11 army bases in seven states

Foreign workers, including Jamaicans, supporting Florida’s work force

Strong demand for workers in the hotel industry, related to the expansion of luxury hotels in Florida has, in turn, given rise to demand for workers from foreign lands. According to a Miami Herald report, there has been a surge in the granting of H-2B visas that grant foreigners permission to work in the U.S. temporarily.

The report further states that since 2000, thousands of Jamaican hospitality workers, have been recruited, by an Hialeah company, Florida East Coast Travel Services for seasonal jobs at resorts, hotels and restaurants. However most of these recruits are sent to jobs in Colorado, North Carolina, and other states.

The company has been recruiting foreign workers for a number of years, but initial its concentration was finding workers for farms in Florida, under the parent company, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. However, the demand for leisure industry workers, under the H2B seasonal employment program, resulted in the creation of the sin-off company, Florida East Coast.

Under the company’s program, placement is free, with employers arranging housing. The report stated that Florida East Coast profits from its recruitment service by shipping the goods the Jamaicans acquire (including refrigerators, TV and stereo equipment) to Jamaica, after they complete their work tenure. Last year, the company shipped 80 cargo containers to Jamaica.

Report indicates labor violation of teens

A national study conducted through a telephone survey by the University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center concerning on-the-job dangers, has found many violations of federal labor laws. In interviews conducted among teenagers several indicated they operated hazardous equipment, received no safety training and were endangered by working alone after dark

The lead author of the study, Carol Runyan, said that while enforcement of laws could be improved, the burden for improving the situation rests with the employers. The report indicated hundreds of thousands of teenagers are injured at work every year.

The study was conducted among 866 English-speaking teenagers working in the retail and service industry, including restaurants, grocery and retail stores. Among the flaws the survey found are that 37 percent of teenagers under 16 said they worked after 7 p.m. on school nights, a violation of federal law, with 16 percent under 16 reporting that they worked past 9 p.m. One third of all the teens surveyed said they received no safety training on the training, and nine percent said they worked alone after dark.

The study funded by a grant from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health suggests a need for stricter enforcement of existing laws.