John Thrasher pushed for hotels, bars, clubhouses; wanted to issue bonds for taxpayers to fund it

... and overriding any local laws that prohibited liquor sales. No pesky regulations for Mr. Thrasher's pet legislation to put fancy new golf courses in Florida's state parks.

This is Florida under GOP siege for a decade and a half.


Until now, the information on the origin of this preposterous bill pointed to a conversation between Rick Scott and Jack Nicklaus.


Today, we learn that it was the brainchild of John Thrasher, Jeb Bush's wrecking ball in the state Senate.


Scott Maxwell at the Orlando Sentinel reported some interesting facts late last night.





Introducing Senate Bill 1846.


Maxwell continues:





While Dean Cannon, Mike Haridopolos, John Thrasher and Rick Scott are slashing funding from school children, the poor, the sick, the disabled, the veterans, pensions and collective bargaining, environmental protection and infrastructure, they want taxpayers to help John Thrasher's friend Jack Nicklaus pay for building a string of gorgeous new golf courses in our state parks.



According to Maxwell, who contacted Arnold Palmer, a statement issued from Palmer Friday morning looks to have torpedoed Thrasher's bill. Apparently, Palmer didn't take kindly to the monopoly Thrasher mandated for Nicklaus, and Nicklaus only, to design the courses. And the Palmer statement also stated that this project should not involve state park lands.

By Friday afternoon, Senate Bill 1846 was dead.




Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, center, with fellow Republican Sens. Don Gaetz, left, and Sen. Mike Haridopolos on the Senate floor, March, 2010 (AP)



If I had to choose one individual to remove from the levers of power in Florida, it is John Thrasher.

conservative in the least.

whereas private country clubs in state parks would benefit very few, and would have a negative impact on many.

he was in Thrasher's plans? Did he and Thrasher discuss this? C'mon Palm Beach Post, let's get on this...

he would be involved in. If he did know my admiration for him has plummeted...

:thumbsup:

responsible for SB6 against public education last year which Charlie Crist vetoed. Now, they have already gutted education in this state because there is nothing to stop them. Bet they would not put their own kids into FCAT hell.