Cheer: The Lake County Fair, which concludes today after another successful run.
The County Fair remains a signature event for this area, not only because it offers 10 days of low-cost fun and entertainment for thousands but because it honors the region's agricultural roots and provides educational opportunities for dozens of area kids who aspire to careers in ag.
Yes, there is the midway and carnival, but the centerpiece of the fair remains the livestock shows and exhibitions that give young FFA and 4-H students a chance to exercise their skills as budding livestock breeders and sellers. They prepare all year by raising animals, learning how to nourish, groom and care for these critters to help them reach their full potential, and they must do it cost-effectively. So along the way, they learn valuable organizational and financial planning skills.
We salute fair organizers and participants and of course you, the patrons, for supporting this emerging generation of farmers and entrepreneurs.
Jeer: The White House, for a confidential plan to expand oil and gas drilling off the coast of Florida. Politico reported this week that the Interior Department has been developing a draft drilling proposal that includes the eastern Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast.
Former Gov. Rick Scott, during his successful U.S. Senate run last year, received a commitment from former Interior Ryan Zinke that Florida wouldn’t be opened to drilling. But Politico reported that President Donald Trump was upset by Zinke’s announcement for conflicting with Trump's “energy dominance” message.
With former oil lobbyist David Bernhardt’s confirmation Thursday as interior secretary, a oil industry-backed drilling plan is now more likely. Sens. Scott and Marco Rubio, R-Florida, both voted in favor of Bernhardt.
As U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Gainesville, told Politico, Trump “would have a price to pay” for allowing drilling off Florida's coast — with Politico suggesting him it could cost him the state in the 2020 election. A Quinnipiac University poll of Florida voters last month found more than two-thirds oppose offshore drilling.
For politics or just because it’s the right thing to do for Florida’s environment and economy, we ask President Trump to keep drilling far away from the state’s shores.
Cheer: The Florida House Criminal Justice Committee, for unanimously approving a sweeping criminal justice reform bill this week.
The legislation isn't perfect but includes measures that would help reduce recidivism and spending on incarceration. It includes measures to expand the availability of inmate reentry programs and reduce barriers to occupational licensing for people with criminal records. It would increase the threshold for felony theft to $1,000 from $300, bringing Florida more in line with other states.
But there are also things that need to be changed before the bill receives final consideration. A proposal to seal criminal records in cases in which the person wasn’t found guilty threatens the public’s right to know about these cases. And while the measure repeals and reduces driver’s license suspensions for reasons not related to driving, it would still maintain a six-month license suspension for drug possession that should just be eliminated.
With improvements, the Legislature should finally pass criminal justice reforms that have been elusive in recent years.