http://www.naplesnews.com/news/opinion/columnists/brent_batten/?partner=RSSNaples Daily News Stories: Brent Batten Columnsen-usopinion/columnists/brent_battenhttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/may/22/brent-batten-finlays-money-saving-idea-gets-low/?partner=RSS Just when you thought the whole city-county-fire-EMS-sheriff-consolidation thing couldn’t get any more convoluted come this twist. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Tue, 22 May 2012 09:30:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-309439-734645news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FL Brent Batten: Finlay's money-saving idea gets low ISO rating Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-finlays-money-saving-idea-gets-lowurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-309439-734645Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/may/19/brent-batten-lemieuxs-mack-attack-is-absent/?partner=RSS In his campaign, former Sen. George LeMieux is quick to point out that Mack recently has been missing almost half of the votes taken in the House. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Sat, 19 May 2012 23:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-309318-734642news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: LeMieux's Mack attack is 'absent' minded Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-lemieuxs-mack-attack-is-absenturn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-309318-734642Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/may/15/brent-batten-scott-steers-clear-of-gay-marriage/?partner=RSS- There goes any chance Newsweek magazine will label Scott, “Florida’s First Gay Governor.” bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308851-734638news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: Scott steers clear of gay marriage Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-scott-steers-clear-of-gay-marriageurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308851-734638Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/may/13/brent-batten-irregular-voters-of-a-different/?partner=RSSThousands of people ineligible to cast ballots in a presidential election have been given the right to vote by the Collier County Supervisor of Elections. And it’s a good thing. Sun, 13 May 2012 10:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308740-734636news/columnists/brent-battenStaff WriterNaples, FLBrent Batten: Irregular voters of a different variety Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-irregular-voters-of-a-differenturn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308740-734636Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/may/10/brent-batten-sarcasticman-possesses-the-power-to/?partner=RSS I, for one, would find The Avengers more palatable if they’d include some superheroes with powers more in line with life here in Southwest Florida. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308516-734633news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: Sarcasticman possesses the power to mock The Avengers Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-sarcasticman-possesses-the-power-tourn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308516-734633Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/may/08/brent-batten-going-to-school-on-student-loan/?partner=RSSThe person who got the 3.4 percent rate, or any rate for that matter, won’t see an interest-rate increase on the existing loan. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Tue, 08 May 2012 10:30:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308335-734631news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: Going to school on student loan issue Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-going-to-school-on-student-loanurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308335-734631Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/may/05/brent-batten-no-duplication-of-service-in/?partner=RSS The clerk and the county administration, both citing the same ordinance, are charging different amounts to fulfill public records requests, with the clerk’s rate about five times higher than that of the county manager’s office. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Sat, 05 May 2012 19:30:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308229-734628news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNAPLESBrent Batten: No duplication of service in fulfilling records request Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-no-duplication-of-service-inurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-308229-734628Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/may/02/brent-batten-theres-an-i-in-credit-but/?partner=RSS President Obama set the goal of defeating al-Qaida? He decided to deny it a chance to rebuild? bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Wed, 02 May 2012 22:54:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307975-734625news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: There's an I in credit, but... Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-theres-an-i-in-credit-buturn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307975-734625Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/30/brent-batten-at-ems-forum-absence-does-not-make/?partner=RSSThree no-shows for the last hour of the workshop between county commissioners, fire district commissioners and chiefs and EMS administrators were particularly conspicuous by their absence. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:29:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307729-734623news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: At EMS forum, absence does not make hearts grow fonder Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-at-ems-forum-absence-does-not-makeurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307729-734623Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/28/brent-batten-meeting-offers-reason-to-smile/?partner=RSS “The Concept,” as the plan to absorb part of EMS into the three coastal fire departments is being called, has been around for a few weeks. The real solution to fragmented emergency response in the county has been around for a few decades. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:40:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307609-734621news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNAPLESBrent Batten: Fire consolidation meeting offers reason to smile, ruefully Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-meeting-offers-reason-to-smileurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307609-734621Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/25/brent-batten-collier-wriggles-free-barely-of-nsp/?partner=RSS It’s a given that federal money comes with strings attached. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:02:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307340-734618news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FL Brent Batten: Collier wriggles free, barely of NSP strings Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-collier-wriggles-free-barely-of-nspurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307340-734618Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/23/brent-batten-plan-on-a-meeting-full-of/?partner=RSSThe conflict between Collier County government’s building plan reviewers and the fire department employees who review the same plans for fire safety is just as real as any of the other controversies likely on display come Thursday. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:27:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307100-734616news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: Plan on a meeting full of controversy Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-plan-on-a-meeting-full-ofurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-307100-734616Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/21/brent-batten-daughter-not-give-up-moms-cold-case/?partner=RSSOn a Tuesday right after Easter, well down on page 3A of the afternoon newspaper, a headline over a short story declared, "Naples woman stabbed to death in Miami." bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306977-734614news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNAPLESBrent Batten: Daughter not giving up on mom's cold case Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-daughter-not-give-up-moms-cold-caseurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306977-734614Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/18/brent-batten-chiefs-propose-a-different-sort-of/?partner=RSSThe three departments have outlined a plan under which they merge, not with each other but with the ambulance service already operating in their boundaries. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:26:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306693-734611news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: Chiefs propose a different sort of fire merger Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-chiefs-propose-a-different-sort-ofurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306693-734611Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/16/brent-batten-one-mans-tax-shelter-is-anothers/?partner=RSSWhile some wealthy people do pay a lower rate, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Buffett Rule being debated in the U.S. Senate this week focuses attention on those who benefit from tax shelters. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:20:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306500-734609news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: One man's tax shelter is another's new road Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-one-mans-tax-shelter-is-anothersurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306500-734609Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/14/brent-batten-brock-vs-board-the-conflicts-within/?partner=RSSA March 14 document from zoning manager Ray Bellows sought a change to the county's Land Development Code. In it he wrote: "This amendment is intended to clarify that aviation related uses are permitted as an essential service on the portion of the Marco Island Airport development footprint that is zoned Conservation." bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Sat, 14 Apr 2012 19:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306326-734607news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: Brock vs. Board. The conflicts within the conflict Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-brock-vs-board-the-conflicts-withinurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306326-734607Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/11/brent-batten-hiller-vs-the-mayor-a-sorey-state/?partner=RSSCollier County Commissioner Georgia Hiller on Tuesday accused Naples' mayor of wanting to raise the tourist tax to pay for beach renourishment. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306018-734604news/columnists/brent-battenStaff WriterNaples, FLBrent Batten: Hiller vs. the mayor; a Sorey state of affairs Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-hiller-vs-the-mayor-a-sorey-stateurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-306018-734604Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/09/brent-batten-global-warmings-direst-consequence/?partner=RSSIf there’s any chance our tourist-based economy can be derailed by decamping company attributable to warmer temperatures, we’ve got to know about it. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-305763-734602news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: Global warming's direst consequence - No snowbirds Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-global-warmings-direst-consequenceurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-305763-734602Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/07/brent-batten-draft-portends-winds-of-change-in/?partner=RSS The difficulty in bringing all the sides together into one seamless, countywide system of care is only hinted at in the ordinance language. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:30:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-305676-734600news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: Draft portends winds of change in Collier emergency response Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-draft-portends-winds-of-change-inurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-305676-734600Change0Usablehttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/04/brent-batten-hiller-blasts-iamp-and-the-other/?partner=RSS If ever there was an issue the entire commission could get behind, this is it. ---- Or not. bebatten@naplesnews.com (BRENT BATTEN)Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:27:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-305418-734597news/columnists/brent-battenBRENT BATTENNaples, FLBrent Batten: Hiller blasts IAMP. And the other IAMP Naples Daily Newsbrent-batten-hiller-blasts-iamp-and-the-otherurn:publicid:www.naplesnews.com:news-Story-305418-734597Change0Usable