By Rozanne

July 5, 2009 10:59 AM | Link to this

Unless President Obama addresses illegal immigration, Florida’s unemployment rate will soar and it will take a lot more than a failing stimulus package to help this banana republic. The largest employers in the majority of Florida’s counties are the school districts. In Palm Beach County, every year the district hosts a job fair to attract teachers. This is the first year the district will do without. Currently, there are only 53 teaching positions available for the 2010 school year, and many of them interim. That may seem like many, but when you consider neighboring Broward just laid off nearly 400 teachers and Pt. St. Lucie is closing schools, the chance of a newly certified teacher landing one of those positions might rival the lotto odds. And let’s not get started on Florida’s healthcare. Why in the world would new doctor would want to practice medicine in Florida. Pretty soon, we will have a shortage of doctors in Florida. Bob, I am an unemployed professional and its not a lack of searching and applying for jobs that keeps my income at $275 per week thanks to Florida’s unemployment benefits that will shortly run out. For every job available, there are hundreds of applicants. I was told at my last interview there were more than 400 applicants for a public relations position. Thankfully I say with a snicker, I recently earned my teacher’s certification as a poor plan b, now that the school district does not have a shortage of teaching professionals. So what do I and my husband, who was also laid off as the City of Pt. St. Lucie’s golf pro do? We’ve cashed in the 401Ks and are now ready to stand at the Home Depot along with the undocumented workers to perform day labor jobs. We are also ready to help vote every local elected official out of office who will not address the true cost of illegal immigration and its effects on healthcare and the economy. I am a liberal who voted for Obama as her first choice did not win the nomination. People have told me to give Obama time, but this time Obama and our legislators are not Florida;s allies. And with time, we are only going to see Florida’s unemployment rate rise. Florida does not need another landscape company or food chain such as Applebee’s. What we need are professional jobs and legislators to attract industries to Florida or we might as well leave this banana republic for other areas of the country where its elected officials are looking out for its citizens. I think there are golf courses and schools in Wyoming? Anyone in the market for a 2/1, very cute Mediterranean home in the middle of City of Lake Worth that’s lost $100,000 in value over the past few months?

By Rozanne

July 5, 2009 10:58 AM | Link to this

Unless President Obama addresses illegal immigration, Florida’s unemployment rate will soar and it will take a lot more than a failing stimulus package to help this banana republic. The largest employers in the majority of Florida’s counties are the school districts. In Palm Beach County, every year the district hosts a job fair to attract teachers. This is the first year the district will do without. Currently, there are only 53 teaching positions available for the 2010 school year, and many of them interim. That may seem like many, but when you consider neighboring Broward just laid off nearly 400 teachers and Pt. St. Lucie is closing schools, the chance of a newly certified teacher landing one of those positions might rival the lotto odds. And let’s not get started on Florida’s healthcare. Why in the world would new doctor would want to practice medicine in Florida. Pretty soon, we will have a shortage of doctors in Florida. Bob, I am an unemployed professional and its not a lack of searching and applying for jobs that keeps my income at $275 per week thanks to Florida’s unemployment benefits that will shortly run out. For every job available, there are hundreds of applicants. I was told at my last interview there were more than 400 applicants for a public relations position. Thankfully I say with a snicker, I recently earned my teacher’s certification as a poor plan b, now that the school district does not have a shortage of teaching professionals. So what do I and my husband, who was also laid off as the City of Pt. St. Lucie’s golf pro do? We’ve cashed in the 401Ks and are now ready to stand at the Home Depot along with the undocumented workers to perform day labor jobs. We are also ready to help vote every local elected official out of office who will not address the true cost of illegal immigration and its effects on healthcare and the economy. I am a liberal who voted for Obama as her first choice did not win the nomination. People have told me to give Obama time, but this time Obama and our legislators are not Florida;s allies. And with time, we are only going to see Florida’s unemployment rate rise. Florida does not need another landscape company or food chain such as Applebee’s. What we need are professional jobs and legislators to attract industries to Florida or we might as well leave this banana republic for other areas of the country where its elected officials are looking out for its citizens. I think there are golf courses and schools in Wyoming? Anyone in the market for a 2/1, very cute Mediterranean home in the middle of City of Lake Worth that’s lost $100,000 in value over the past few months?

By Bart

July 5, 2009 10:40 AM | Link to this

One reason for not excepting it is because the minute the money runs out it will mean a major tax increase to keep up the benefits. I am all for helping someone when they are down, but so many of the people on unemployment are just leaching off the system. I for one am tired of paying their bills when I can hardly pay my own.

Another thing is that nothing comes without strings attached. How much control would we be giving the federal government over our state if we took this money?

We should be more concerned over universal health care and the Climate Change Bill that recently passed the house. Did you know that the hottest recorded day in Florida was in 1931? Global warming is more of a means of revenue for big government than it is a protector of the environment.

Don’t take my word for it. Do some reading and research of your own, and call, write, and email your senator before we turn everything over to the government.

By jimbo

July 5, 2009 9:41 AM | Link to this

We didnt vote overwhelmingly for the Messiah so this is the payback. Some chnage huh ?? You keep the change ..I’ll keep my money.. Bill Clinton was right all along “what a fairy tale.”

By Mordy Ki

July 5, 2009 9:36 AM | Link to this

HURRICANE SCAM ALERT!!!

Here’s how it works. You suffer damage to your property. Your insurance company refuses to pay the full amount that it will take to repair your property. Someone recommends a Public Adjuster Claim Service to you. The salesman (who works on commission) states that his company is the best in the business, guarantees that he will get you the additional money that you need to fully repair the damage and will do all of this quickly. All of this is offered for a fee of 20% of the additional money you get when the claim is settled. Out of financial and emotional desperation, you sign their contract. You are now officially scammed.

Be advised that a Public Adjuster Claim Service is nothing more than a licensed insurance salesman. He has no more influence over your insurance company than you do.

Before you sign a Public Adjuster Claim Service contract (they are all from the same “boilerplate”), know that this contract can NEVER be cancelled (after the three-day right to rescind has passed), does not have a termination or expiration date, does not specify what will be specifically provided or delivered, lives on until the claim is settled, cannot be terminated for failure to deliver (breach of contract) and the Public Adjuster Claim Service is legally entitled to receive his fee (because of the contract wording) even if he has nothing to do with the settlement. In fact, he doesn’t have to do a thing to collect his full fee!

In my case, after I signed his contract, it was filed away waiting for someone to settle the claim. It is guaranteed money to the Public Adjuster Claim Service.

The Public Adjuster Claim Service that I contracted with did nothing for seven months – not even call me. I fired them – I thought. I hired an attorney who settled the case/claim 15 months later. Because of the Public Adjuster Claim Service contract, I was still obligated to pay his $19,000 fee.

If this sounds like sour grapes, call the State of Florida Consumer Protection Agency (877-693-5236) and ask them to verify my statements and the reputation of the Public Adjuster Claim Service. The only way to stop this cheating scam is to change the law. Better yet, don’t sign a Public Adjuster Claim Service contract.

Hire an attorney if you need to and don’t let them charge you more than a 20% fee. And a reputable contractor will provide a free quote to repair your damage that can be given to your attorney to forward to your insurance company.

BEWARE. DON’T HIRE A PUBLIC ADJUSTER CLAIM SERVICE. You will be scammed like me.

By Not as Stupid as They Think

July 5, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this

Here’s how this happens folks:

Our fabulous central and north Florida Republican legislators are “conservative” when it comes to government spending that doesn’t build roads, spur development, or soak visitors. They are proud of their low tax rate but it’s all been done with smoke and mirrors and by tossing costs off to local governments and underfunding anything that smacks of social spending—including schools and worker benefits.

The $444 million was rejected because after the money ran out Florida would be required to pony up the cash to pay our unemployed what other states pay theirs. That’s right. These yahoos have no intention of ever raising unemployment benefits. “Why, that would be bad for Florida business. Here, take this job shoveling asphalt instead, or trimming bushes, or maybe you could get a job standing in a costume on a street corner somewhere.”

Florida has one of the most screwed up tax systems in the US and it’s hurting us in more ways than one as we try to dig out of this mess. Just don’t expect the current crop of Republican mouth-breathers in the legislator to do anything about it.

By savant

July 5, 2009 9:12 AM | Link to this

I haven’t seen a dime of any so called stimulus money but I do know as a taxpayer I will will be paying for it big time with eventual inflation and higher taxes.

By Bob

July 5, 2009 8:59 AM | Link to this

This is no surprise politics at its finest they all got together in Washington and divided up the pot of gold. Look around - the stimulus bill has not created ONE new job around here. Soon perhaps you will see the occasional cosmetic paving job being done on your streets.(But your children owe the money back in huge higher taxes). This is a total failure of our Congressional delegation to help their constituents. They did not bring help back to Flordia. Especially the Dems who were in a position to influence the formulas of how the funds were divided. Thanks for nothing President Obama.

By Bob

July 5, 2009 8:46 AM | Link to this

Accepting federal help with the unemployment compensation fund would have required changing state law on eligibility that would have been more expensive to the state in the long run. Congress was being disingenuous with this offer. Everyone who was laid off is getting an unemployment check. A federal bailout of the unemployment fund adds to the deficit and just makes it easier for certain people to manipulate the system instead of finding a job. Be careful when you take gifts from people with strings attached.

By Ingrid

July 5, 2009 7:18 AM | Link to this

If you read the article continued on page 20: “in the House…Republicans successfully argued to decline $444 million from the stimulus plan for unemployment benefits.” So if we didn’t get our fair share, (dis)credit goes to House Republicans.

By Angie

July 5, 2009 3:24 AM | Link to this

I want to know more about the formulas. Why is it that so many formulas work against Florida?

By ballyhoo

July 5, 2009 12:55 AM | Link to this

I really don’t know the reasoning behind this logic, assuming the numbers are correct.

I mean, if not us, then there’d have to be some state complaining about getting the least money per capita.

And I can, to point, understand why more money goes to North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, what with their farming and other key agricultural features.

I guess with any luck we’ll be able to redirect some of that stimulus money our way through tourism, if we can convince people to spend their stimulus check on a sunny vacation!

By D

July 5, 2009 12:50 AM | Link to this

Florida’s current rate of unemployment is 10.2 percent… and House Republicans successfully argued to decline $444 million from the stimulus plan for unemployment benefits…

I have always been a registered Republican…

however, next time I vote it will be for all Democrat candidates straight down the line.

I hope each House Republican gets to experience unemployment…

and I hope each House Republican loses everything that matters to them just like other people who are now struggling to recover from a job loss.

By Nick

July 5, 2009 12:24 AM | Link to this

Why in the world would we not have accepted 450 million in stimulus for unemployment. Leave it to republicans to kick people while they are down.