“ISIS is a pin prick compared to the threat of Climate change.” Gene Jones, the President of FLVCS

The release of the report, along with the October release of the Pentagon’s 2014 Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap, shows that climate change will have a serious effect on regional and global stability.

As the earth’s temperature continue to rise, the extreme weather will continue to stretch not only our resources, but also our military as it comes to the aide of the victims.   With no exit strategy available, the focus of the military on climate change has transformed from a “future threat,” to an “immediate threat” to peace.

Internationally, the impact of climate change has been seen by an impaired access to food and water, uprooting and displacing large numbers of people, and mass migration.  A long-running drought contributed to the conflict in Syria and disputes over territory, water and other resources, have become a “threat multiplier” for recent conflicts in Darfur, Tunisia, and Egypt.

From the military’s perspective, rising sea level is an imminent danger.  80% of the world’s population lives within 200 miles of a coastline.  The toll of extreme weather events both at home and abroad, have all served to impact national security.

Then there are the military bases themselves.

An immediate concern for the military is, for example, the Navy’s coastal installations.  The military has identified the five top military bases at risk to sea level rise are: Diego Garcia, Bahrain, Guam, Eglin Air Force Base, FL, and Norfolk Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA.

At one meter above sea-level, the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean is a critical logistics hub for US and British forces in the Middle East.  It also houses Air Force Satellite Control Network equipment that is used to control the GPS constellation.  With only 10 square miles of dry land, it faces the threat of coastal erosion and flooding.

The Newport News shipyard is also the only yard in the U.S. that builds aircraft carriers.  Located on the southern tip of Virginia, it is not only at risk of sea-level rise and storm surge, but it also faces threats from hurricanes in the Atlantic.

Norfolk, Virginia, is home to the world’s largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk, as well as a nuclear submarine construction yard.  In 2003, most of the Langley Air Force Base was under water when the tidal levels rose 7.9 feet during Hurricane Isabel.  Two hundred facilities on the base were affected at the cost $166 million.  In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed 95% of Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.

We should also acknowledge the vulnerability of our nuclear power plants that depend on our waterways and coastlines.  Currently there are 62 commercially operating nuclear power plants with 100 nuclear reactors in 31 states in the United States.   Worldwide there are 30 countries operating 435 nuclear reactors for electricity generation.  Currently there are 72 new nuclear plants are under construction in 15 countries.

“A changing climate will have real impacts on our military and the way it executes its missions. The military could be called upon more often to support civil authorities, and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the face of more frequent and more intense natural disasters. Our coastal installations are vulnerable to rising sea levels and increased flooding, while droughts, wildfires, and more extreme temperatures could threaten many of our training activities. Our supply chains could be impacted, and we will need to ensure our critical equipment works under more extreme weather conditions.” – Pentagon’s 2014 Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap

To read the reports, go to:  FLVS:  and the Pentagon: 

As innocent as it sounds, I would like to call our politicians’ bluff on this.  Although the state legislature only proposed one amendment to our constitution this year, in 2012, they proposed 12.  And those amendments included health care services, veterans homestead exemptions, religious freedom, tangible property tax exemptions, prohibition on public funding of abortion, and the appointment of a student body president to the board of Governors of the State University system.  In 2010, they proposed six amendments.  In 2008, they proposed three.  In 2006, they proposed six. And so on and so on.  For a group of people who want to be able to do their job by passing legislation, they really use the system when it seems to suit them.

There is a huge difference when the state legislature uses the option to amend our state constitution, as opposed to the citizens who use it.  The main difference is that in order for citizens to get a proposed amendment on the ballot, they have to acquire 8 percent of the number of voters voting in the last presidential election. That means that Amendments 1 and 2 in 2014 required 683,149 each.  And to further that, they also have to come from at least 14 of the 27 congressional districts.  All that the state legislature has to do is just put it on the ballot.

The state legislature has often made efforts to inhibit citizen initiatives.  In little over a decade, the legislature approved bills that banned the collection of signatures at polling places, and enforced a 10-cent-per-signature “verification fee” on submitted petitions.  And after the passage of an amendment for a high speed rail in 2000, and the guarantee of a minimum living space for pregnant pigs in 2002, Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed funding for the high speed rail project in 2003 and in 2004 led a successful campaign to repeal the high-speed amendment. Then in 2006, the state legislature placed an amendment on the ballot requiring a 60 percent vote to approve constitutional amendments.  It passed and now we are one of only two states in the nation that requires this.

Some of the criticism has been that we are trivializing our state constitution.  But if you understand the history of each citizen-initiated amendment, you will find that it is usually inspired by the failure of the state legislature to do their job.  Medical Marijuana is an example of exactly that.  For three years in a row, bills were introduced that never made it to the floor which would have satisfied the public’s desire to legalize medical marijuana in this state.  And only after the introduction of Amendment 2 this year did the state legislature even consider one of the two bills that were introduced.  They passed the weakest of two, and you cannot convince me that it was not an effort to undermine the momentum of the amendment.

Our representatives have asked us to let them do their job.  I ask them to please put back into consideration legislation for medical marijuana that 3,357,510 voters asked for.  And this time, make it legislation that will help the estimated 400,000 people that have been turned into criminals for seeking the medical help that they need in order to survive.

“We’ve been here since 1973, and we’ve never missed one. It’s really an American event that everybody should enjoy,” said Catherine LaBrie, a former military nurse. “And I’m impressed today because it seems bigger. The students, the children – And you know what I enjoyed? Seeing all the parents run out to catch up with their children. It brought tears to my eyes. It was beautiful.”

While Main Street’s crowd was nearly constant in its applause and appreciation of the parade, it was almost just as often that a veteran would pass through the masses, only to be thanked for their service multiple times by nearby citizens.

“So much appreciation in everybody’s eyes as they’re going past the veterans. It’s unbelievable. Unbelievable,” said James Leibe, a Navy veteran who fought in the South Pacific during WWII. “I’m glad that they are so appreciative of what happened – a lot of people have no idea what we went through. But this is great. “One person didn’t do it, it took every one of us to do it.”

That sense of community was a theme found throughout the march. The parade featured people of all ages honoring veterans, from hundreds of local students in marching bands and members of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units, to members of law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and veterans service organizations. Veterans, of course, also partook in the parade and were celebrated for their service, as those that cheered in thanks also remembered veterans that did not march for one reason or another.

“I had a lot of family that served in the armed services, including [Michael Miles],” said Dianne Baker.  “He was in the Air Force, so it just means a lot to me. We lost friends in the Vietnam War, and so [the parade]’s really great.”

Even Main Street store owners and employees took in the event from the stoops of their workplaces, as most – if not all – business was halted to pay respect to those who served. Veterans Day and the parade itself was a chance to show respect at a memorable event on a beautiful sunny morning, but for most people it was, and always will be, something much more – rain or shine, parade or otherwise.

“We wouldn’t want to miss it,” said Pat Donegan, joining her husband Dick, a veteran of the Army’s WWII Air Corp, who added “and we never do.”

When it comes to family, I am a traditionalist. I believe in the tradition of loving parents and meals together at the end of each day. I thinks it’s good to fight with your spouse. Not to correct a mistake, but because the marriage is that important. Marriage is hard. That is why so many people get divorced. If two people are willing to make the commitment, then I support them. Pam Bondi is no longer doing her job by appealing the ruling on marriage equality. She is campaigning. She is pandering to a base that is fast becoming irrelevant.

Our homeless problem is not a “homeless” problem. It is an addiction and a mental illness problem. It is a County problem and a City problem. It is an “us” problem, not a “them” problem. It says more about who we are then it says about who they are.

The government we have is terrible. People who don’t vote allow bad people to win an election. Those of us who do vote are tired of working hard to get you to eat your vegetables. Stop whining about being disenfranchised. Grow up. Take a seat and sit down at the table.

Common Core, No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top and now the Florida Standards do not keep the parent out of the classroom. Ninety-nine percent of parents would prefer not to be in the classroom. When we are, it’s because there is a problem. And the problem is never over whether little Tommy can recite the constitution. If a parent is not involved in their child’s education, it is because they chose not to be, not because some federal funding prohibits them from being there. The only thing I ask is that who we hire to teach our children and make decisions about what they are being taught are actually people who are educated in their field of study, not a politician who will say whatever sound bite will get them elected.

History, like science, is factual. It is not subjective. Art is subjective. Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean I get to rewrite it. And neither do you.

Marijuana is no more dangerous than tobacco and alcohol. Responsible adults should be able to decide for themselves how to regulate its use. And a licensed physician should be able to prescribe marijuana to a patient if that is what the treatment calls for without retribution. Stop making people break the law when it comes to easing the pain of a disease.

Sea Level rise has occurred faster in the past century than in the thousands of years before. It should not take a scientist to figure out that we need to try and do something to slow it down.

Our future will be defined not by our past but by those of the future who do not carry our baggage or our water. My hope lies in the generation of my child and those that grow up with him, for they have yet to make their mark, yet to become apathetic, and yet to whine about how they are so misunderstood. Our problems are not their problems. I would like to keep it that way.

SRQ Daily Columnist Susan Nilon is the president of Florida Talk Radio and owner of WSRQ Radi o. She hosts The Nilon Report on WSRQ Sarasota1220AM/106.9FM weekdays 4pm-6pm. Email her atsusan@sarasotatalkradio.com.

Amendment One: Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative

This amendment would create a fund that is designed to acquire land for preservation, manage and restore natural systems, and to enhance public access and recreational use of conservation lands.”  For the next 20 years, 33 percent of net revenues from the existing excise tax on documents would be placed in this fund every year.  This will become the law and no longer subject to the state budget every year.

If there is a concern, it is that the state legislature would place less of an emphasis on Florida Forever, a fund already in place that is used to acquire environmentally sensitive lands.  The difference is that there is no requirement to fund Florida Forever, as seen in 2011 during the first year Governor Scott was in office.  ZERO dollars were dedicated to the fund.  Amendment One would prevent that from happening.

Amendment Two: Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative

Ballotpedia states the law is defined:

• That medical use of marijuana by a qualifying patient or personal caregiver is not subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under state law.
• That a licensed physician is not subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions for issuing medical marijuana to a person diagnosed with a “debilitating medical condition” under state law.
• That registered medical marijuana treatment centers are not subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under state law.

The Florida Department of Health would help regulate the practice of the law by issuing patient and care giver ID’s, the amount of marijuana used for medical reasons, and patient confidentiality.  But the true regulation would come from the State and local government.  Even before the law is voted on in November, local governments are already deciding whether to “opt in” and allow for dispensaries, growers and distributors in their community.

A major concern is the ambiguity of this amendment.  With fear of a loose interpretation, citizens and bombarded with fear mongering and misinformation of how it will be put into practice.  Can a chiropractor really issue a prescription for medical marijuana?  Will there really be a dispensary on every corner like it is out in California?  The answer is no.  Unless our state legislature wants it to be that way.  Because if the amendment passes, they will get to define how it is implemented and how it is used.

Amendment Three: The Florida Prospective Judicial Vacancies

This amendment decides whether the outgoing or the incoming governor gets to fill the vacancies of the State Supreme Court that coincide with the end of the current governor’s term.

It’s really pretty simple, on January 8, 2015, three judges will be retired due to mandatory age retirements.  If you vote “yes” to this amendment, then Rick Scott will get to make the appointment.  If you vote “no,” and Rick Scott loses this election, then the new Governor will get to make the appointment.  The next three appointments will have a tremendous effect on the direction of the State Supreme Court.

Vote Wisely.

It has been said for many years here, “If you want to win an election, you have to run as a Republican in Sarasota.”  And for years, we have seen many Democrats and independents switch parties when they decide to run for office.  For political operatives who are just looking for a win, it has been a strategy evidenced time and again.  But for the electorate, you get an elected body with no guarantee they will line up with your political ideologies and voters who party hop in order to support their favorite candidate.  I have often wondered why party leaders encourage this when it leaves them with an unpredictable membership.

While the Republican Party of Sarasota has become the political fat cat with a Cheshire grin, the Democratic Party of Sarasota has taken on the roll of whipping boy for all who need a place to throw their frustrations and disappointments.

Evidenced this primary election, the tides are turning for both parties.  While the Republican Party enjoyed the spoils of numerous wins and unchallenged seats, it has turned on itself and is starting to eat its own.  Two very similar candidates ran for State House District 74.  With barely a sliver of difference in platform, the party shredded each candidate on looks, intelligence and integrity.  In the School Board race, Republican leadership stepped over well-qualified Republican candidates for the wife of a political operative in exchange for what can only be assumed as a political favor.  The Hospital Board races pitted established Republican Incumbents with last-minute Republican challengers.  And the County Commission candidates experienced a seismic shift of support in favor of predetermined winners and sacrificial lambs.  Candidates that would have been better served in a November election were victimized by fabricated scandals a nd fear mongering, all for the sake of continual dominance of two distinct groups within the local Republican Party.

While all this goes on, the Democrats have been able to take advantage of being the red-headed stepchild banished to the corner and actually had a serious impact on this primary election.  Yes, it’s true the Democrats have only a one recognized Democratic candidate running in the County race.  But if anyone was paying attention to the endorsement mailer sent out by local Democratic leadership, quite a few Republicans were on their list.  And while I am not suggesting those candidates were really Democrats in disguise, I do want you to recognize the influence the list had on this election.  Take the Hospital Board, where Democrats endorsed all five Republican Incumbents.   All won by incredibly large margins with double the amount of votes cast for them than in the county commission races.  Not a single candidate raised money, sent out mailers or knocked on doors.  The Republican Party stayed completely silent on this election.& nbsp; The only mailer that was sent out was from the PAC that supports a public hospital.  It listed all five names and was never evidenced to have been carried into the polling booth by a voter.  And how often do you see a group mailer ever be effective?

The School Board race was the same.  All three candidates endorsed by Democratic leadership won the most votes by considerable margins and received the most votes cast in all of the races.  And although it is a nonpartisan race, the three candidates were made up of two Democrats and one Republican.

The Sarasota Democrats could have just stood by and not gotten involved in these races.  With just a few candidates, it would have been expected that they conserve what little resources they have and focus on a single race or two.  But their “get out the vote” efforts are strong, as seen in the incredible surge of absentee ballot requests.  In this election alone, the Democrats equaled the Republicans in vote-by-mail ballots.

There is a political shift happening here in Sarasota.  It is no longer a safe bet to run as a Republican.  Candidates and voters need to be more true to themselves and stop listening to the opinions of political operatives who are serving no one but themselves.

In April, 2004:”It’s early in the process and we have made no decisions about a course of action,” said Bon Secours spokeswoman Peggy Moseley in a news release issued Tuesday afternoon in response to widespread public speculation about a possible sale. “In the merger-and-acquisition game, potential players who talk publicly can find themselves quickly on the sidelines.”

“Bon Secours Health Systems had hoped the single-page statement released Tuesday by its corporate office in Maryland would stop “the nutzo rumors,” as hospital board chairman Mick Gardner called speculation surrounding the hospital’s future.” … “The memo did not say, or even imply, that the hospital, which Bon Secours bought in 1995, is for sale.”

In August 10, 2004: “Sold to HMA in Health Management Associates Inc., a publicly traded company based in Naples… Bon Secours said HMA, like the other contenders, agreed to keep it open as an acute care hospital, continue serving the poor and maintain existing services for at least five years.”

The question to be answered is if the sale of Sarasota Memorial Hospital has to be put to the voters on a referendum, what does is matter who is on the hospital board?  If you look at the hospital board as just a part of a strategy, you will begin to understand the mindset.

The only way to start the process of selling a public hospital is by a vote of the hospital board to put it to a referendum.  Once it is on the ballot,  then the effort goes mainstream.  It is during that time that special interests groups will start to funnel money into PACs and start to change the conversation.  With ads hitting the airwaves and in the newspaper, the public will be inundated with information using a single slant—”Why it is better for Sarasota to sell the hospital to a private corporation.”  You tell enough people the same thing over and over and you can convince the majority of people who vote in that election to see things your way.  After all, how do you think a completely unknown hospital executive billionaire who jumps into politics before an election can win the governorship of Florida?

I spoke to enough people, from Tallahassee to Sarasota, to confirm what Jack Brill admitted to in order for me to feel that this is something the public should know.  HCA says it not true?  Now that is laughable that they were even considered credible.  What did you expect them to say?  “Yes, come on in.  Let me tell you our strategy!” And as for campaign donations, the challengers jumped into the race at the last minute.  The story broke soon after.  Do you think anyone would keep going on with the plan, or head back to the drawing board when every donation would be scrutinized?

The good thing is, the PAC that was set up to support a public hospital, “Save Our Community Hospital,” is not going away.  With over $70 thousand in reported donations as of today, they are here for the long haul to combat any effort to keep the only public hospital from Tampa to Port Charlotte remaining that way in Sarasota.

SRQ Daily Columnist Susan Nilon is the president of Florida Talk Radio and owner of WSRQ Radio. She hosts The Nilon Report on WSRQ Sarasota 1220AM/106.9FM weekdays 4pm-6pm.   

Sarasota County Hospital Board Candidate, Jack Brill, confirmed that he was approached a few weeks ago by a PAC who offered approximately $30K in support if he would agree to back their efforts to privatize Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH). Not able to confirm the rumor the PAC is putting up a “slate” of candidates, Brill did say after a few conversations with Anthony Pedicini, the PAC’s representative, he turned them down. Prompting the response from Mr.Pedicini, “We don’t need your permission.”

Anthony Pedicini, known around Sarasota for his work on Peter Lombardo’s campaign against State Attorney, Ed Brodsky.

In an email, Mr. Brill connects Mr. Pedicini to Governor Rick Scott’s former company, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). HCA is the for-profit operator of health care facilities that is already running 20 hospitals between Tampa and Port Charlotte, including Doctors Hospital in Sarasota, Blake Hospital in Bradenton, and Englewood Community Hospital.

Since the early 1990s there has been a large effort by HCA to turn public hospitals private. Motivated by the need to level the playing field, and for the opportunity to be able to receive public funds, the HCA has been systematically putting the pressure on municipalities with the help of our state legislature.

Stating that public hospitals were a burden on the tax payer, in 2012 Gov. Rick Scott signed a law that requires public hospitals to show justification for them to remain public or come up with a list of possible buyers. They are also required to hire an outside firm to assess the hospital’s fair market value. By March of 2013, SMH Board found itself taking a vote to keep Sarasota Memorial Hospital a public hospital.

It is believed that HCA has set aside $250,000 to launch this campaign.  Reaching out to more than Jack Brill and other hospital board candidates, Mr. Pedicini also contacted Florida State Representatives and candidates as well.

For those of you who are thinking that privatization is a good thing, you need to realize what that would really mean to our community. The first loss that would be felt would be maternity care. Because of its low margin and high risk, maternity was dropped by HCA at Doctor’s Hospital almost a decade ago. Without SMH maternity care, woman would end up traveling to Tampa to deliver their child.

Our care for expectant mothers is something that is recognized nationwide. HealthGrades ranked Sarasota Memorial Hospital in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for excellence in women’s health and maternity care. And for the past 10 years, Sarasota Memorial is the only hospital in the country to receive both the Maternity Care and Women’s Health Excellence Awards since their inception. Why would we give that up?

Additional losses would be felt with long-term care, prisoner care, indigent care, the NICU, and the ICU… all services that have no profit margin and yet are a moral obligation to a civilized society.

Every incumbent is a Republican.  Every incumbent has a Republican challenger. That means that the vote you cast in the August primaries will determine the election. It also means that it is an open primary and everyone gets to vote. So even if you don’t have a candidate in other elections, you still need to get to the polls and vote in this race. Don’t ignore this race. Ask the candidates on record their position of keeping SMH a public hospital. Your health may depend on it.

As of 07/10/14, a new PAC, Save Our Community Hospital, was opened to support keeping SMH a public hospital.  According to the PAC, as of 7/11/14. They have raised over $60, 000.00.

SRQ Daily Columnist Susan Nilon is the president of Florida Talk Radio and owner of WSRQ Radio. She hosts The Nilon Report on WSRQ Sarasota 1220AM/106.9FM weekdays 4pm-6pm.

In 2007, Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law the “Consumer Choice Act (HC 529)” that promised it “would quickly empower consumers with more choices as video service providers would be able to file just one application to offer their service throughout each state. The increased competition will undoubtedly produce reduced rates and better service for consumers.” In addition, “Under the new law, municipalities no longer possess authority to negotiate or grant cable television franchises or to charge franchise fees as a precondition to obtaining a cable television franchise. Instead, effective July 1, 2007, a prospective provider of cable or video services must apply to Florida’s Department of State (“DOS”) for a state-issued certificate of franchise authority in order to provide service in the state.”

Even the U.S. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Barnett, penned a letter to House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt that stated “Municipalities have legitimate interests in preserving the integrity of public rights of way. However, this interest generally does not justify regulations that impede competition in the provision of video programming or broadband services.”

The legislation was sold to the people as a “pro-competition, pro-consumer bill.” Well here we are, seven years later, and I would like to ask, “What happened? Where is all of the competition?” We were told that the flood gates would open and the free market would present a new day in the cable/internet industry for our state. Looking back, it seems that the state forgot to turn on the “Open for Business” sign.

A place that we should look to is Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2008, the city had a goal of building a “smart” power grid for the city, capable of rerouting electricity on the fly to prevent outages in addition to carrying Internet traffic. With the help of a $111-million stimulus grant from the Department of Energy in 2009, officials installed a fiber-optic network that is run by a city-owned agency, the Electric Power Board. It offers a higher-speed service than any of its private-sector competitors can manage with up to 1,000 megabits per second, or 1 gigabit, for just $70 a month. A cheaper 100-megabit plan costs $58 per month.

That was around the same time Sarasota County was in negotiations with FPL for a 30-year franchise agreement, soon to be followed by the highly contested FPL negotiations with the City of Sarasota. And what is now looking like an incredible short-sightedness of our elected officials, the taxpayers will have to wait at least 25 more years to follow in Chattanooga’s footsteps.

The Federal Communications Commission is now looking at the repeal of state and local laws, that are supported by the cable industry, that make it harder for cities to set up their own networks. Judging by the lack of motivation for competition, I think the potential of municipality-run broadband is the thing that will move the needle and put the power back in the hands of the people.

SRQ Daily Columnist Susan Nilon is the president of Florida Talk Radio and owner of WSRQ Radio. She hosts “The Nilon Report” on WSRQ Sarasota 1220AM/106.9FM weekdays 4pm-6pm

The lottery-financed, college-scholarship program, Bright Futures, began in 1997 with great promise. “The Florida Lottery’s mission is to maximize revenues for the enhancement of public education in Florida.” In the 2011-2012 fiscal year, the Florida Lottery donated $1.31 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, surpassing the $1 billion mark for the eleventh time in its history. In 2012/2013, the same fund received more than $1.41 billion.

At first glance, one would assume that the scholarship fund is doing great. Unfortunately, it’s just the opposite. At its peak, the program provided college scholarships to one in three high school graduates, when it received $429 million a year and provided financial support to 179,000 students. This year alone, Bright Futures saw cuts of $38 million and 18,000 scholarships from last year. Which makes it almost a 50 percent cut from its peak. In addition, the state has increased the qualifying scores for the students. Although the 3.0 GPA remains in effect, students who test poorly will be penalized with the new SAT/ACT score requirements. Now only one in eight high school graduates will benefit from the program. This means approximately 20,000 less graduating seniors will be able to count on these scholarships.

A 2013 Orlando Sentinel report stated that under tougher rules, about half of the students entering University of Central Florida in 2014, two-thirds of Florida State University students and three-quarters of University of Florida students would qualify, according to an analysis by the University of South Florida. “Almost all freshmen entering historically black Florida A&M University would not qualify in 2014,” the newspaper reported.

The Lotto was supposed to supplement our educational fund, but along the way it started to supplant the state’s share in funding education. Every year the budget is worked on between the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President. And every year, our education fund is lumped in with all of the other issues of our state. Allocations to the budget are made by the Speaker. Members do not see the allocations until midway through the session and have no ability to be a part of the budget decisions. Once allocations are complete, the budget is complete. Members are either forced to have private meetings or plainly vote yes or no.

How can we, as parents, plan for the educational future of our children when we have no sense of what we are working with? How can anyone champion the cause when even our state legislators can’t even participate in the conversation to fund the program? This is not a program that we should take lightly and just accept whatever comes our way in the state budget. The Florida Lottery gives billions of dollars to our state with the understanding of our voters that it will fund our educational system. And yet every year, it is caught up in the political gamesmanship of our politicians.

I, for one, would like to know where the rest of the money is going. The research is not easy to find. And when I ask our elected officials for answers, they have to dig as hard as I do. Everyone knows that the odds are not favorable when playing the lottery. But I never anticipated that our state would gamble as much as they do on the educational future of our children. It is time for us to start asking questions.

SRQ Daily Columnist Susan Nilon is the president of Florida Talk Radio and owner of WSRQ Radio. She hosts “The Nilon Report” on WSRQ Sarasota 1220AM/106.9FM weekdays 4pm-6pm

The Nilon Report