Yellow school buses could be emblazoned with ads promoting sneakers, power drinks or television shows under a proposal making its way through the Florida legislature.

The House Education Committee gave the thumbs-up to the proposal, already in place in 15 other states, that could raise up to $100 million statewide for cash-strapped school districts struggling to cover transportation costs for students, according to bill co-sponsor Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton.

The proposal (HB 19) would give school boards the ability to contract for ads on school buses but would ban advertisements for pari-mutuel or Internet gambling or political or religious promotions.

Half of the money generated by the ads would have to be spent on transportation costs and 10 percent would go for drivers education classes if the districts offer them.

“Obviously the state of Florida, we’re in a tough spot,” Slosberg told the panel before the 14-3 vote in favor of his measure. “There’s no money. So what do we do? Do we let the kids walk to school? Do we lay off teachers? This is a creative way to raise revenue and not increase our taxes and not increase our fees.”

But critics of the measure questioned whether children, especially kindergartners, already bombarded by advertisements should be subjected to even more propaganda with the tacit endorsement of their school.

Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, said the bill gave him an “uneasy feeling” although schools already have advertisements in place on football fields or in gymnasiums.

“It has to do with this concept of endorsement,” Bileca, who voted against the measure, said. “It’s the idea that a trusted source…is saying that this is ok.”

The Florida PTA opposes the measure.

Two advertisements up to two by six feet in size could be posted on the buses, which some opponents said could create a distraction for drivers and endanger students’ safety.

“We’re dealing with children, three, four five years old,” Rep. Luis Garcia, D-Miami, objected. “That’s an early age to be bombarded with advertisements…I don’t think it’s fair.”

Slosberg, whose daughter died in an automobile accident, bristled at safety concerns.

“My daughter died in a car crash. I’d be the last guy in the world to want to endanger anyone’s life, especially our children, by putting advertising on our buses,” Slosberg said. “If I thought that…I would never have brought this bill forward.”

Former Democratic state Rep. Irv Slosberg has dropped his efforts to get educator Sheldon “Klassy” Klasfeld tossed from the Aug. 24 Democratic primary ballot in their state House District 90 race.

Slosberg claimed paperwork errors by Klasfeld disqualified him. He filed a lawsuit against Klasfeld, but today filed a voluntary dismissal in Leon County Circuit Court.

Klasfeld, already an underdog, accused wealthy former House member Slosberg of “bullying” him.

Klasfeld said the legal filings and depositions brought about by Slosberg’s action hindered his campaign, raised his blood pressure and cost him about $20,000.

Our Samantha Frank provides this overview of the state House District 90 Democratic primary between former Rep. Irving “Irv” Slosberg and educator Sheldon “Klassy” Klasfeld.

Heavy favorite Slosberg is suing to try to knock Klasfeld off the ballot, claiming his filing documents are improper.

“He’s acting like a thug,” claims Klasfeld.

The race reprises two of the more memorable campaign slogans in south county politics. Slosberg was elected three times urging voters to “Let Irv Serve.” Klasfeld lost a 2006 primary despite the catchy “Send Klassy to Tallahassee” slogan.

Democratic Senate hopeful Jeff Greene says he still doesn’t remember whether he voted for Republican icon Ronald Reagan in 1980, but reminded a Democratic retiree crowd today that the U.S. was “in a mess” at the time and “Ronald Reagan didn’t get elected just by Republicans.”

Palm Beach billionaire Greene campaigned at Century Village of Boca Raton, where Democratic club president Marvin Manning — speaking personally and not in his official role — told the crowd of about 150 that Greene is the “strongest candidate to represent our party in November.”

Greene’s main primary rival, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, released an Internet video today calling himself the only “real Democrat” in the race. Meek has repeatedly noted that Greene ran for Congress in California as a Republican in 1982 and, after years of being registered with no party affiliation, didn’t register as a Democrat until 2008.

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Once bitter rivals, former state Rep. Irv Slosberg and Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson appear to have patched things up — at least enough for them to appear together next week at a traffic-safety event in West Palm Beach.

Slosberg, who lost a 2006 Democratic state Senate primary after Aaronson and other south-county Dems backed underdog Ted Deutch, flirted with challenging Aaronson in 2008 but decided against it.

Slosberg, who lost a teenage daughter in a 1996 car crash, is continuing to promote traffic safety through a nonprofit foundation. He’s also spending lots of time on his half-hour Slosberg Report TV show, a paid program that promotes Israel to South Florida viewers.

“There’s Al Jazeera and there’s Irv Jazeera,” says Slosberg. “Al Jazeera presents one side of the story. And Irv Jazeera presents the Israeli side.”