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Progress Florida -- Progressive Solutions for Florida

Monday, February 1, 2010

Daily Clips for January 29, 2010

FEATURED STORIES

President Obama bringing $1.25 billion to Tampa for Florida high-speed rail

By Alex Leary and Janet Zink

St. Petersburg Times

Related: Crist-Obama Part II: 27 seconds of . . .

Related: Dockery cheers Obama for making his rail dream come true

Related: Outside town hall, protesters and disappointed ticket-holders

President Barack Obama, seeking to deliver on his State of the Union promise to create jobs, will arrive in Tampa today and announce Florida will receive $1.25 billion in funding for high-speed rail.


Rubio's 'model' not functioning

By Christine Jordan Sexton

Health News Florida

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, a candidate for U.S. Senate who is critical of President Obama's ideas on health reform, says the nation should instead adapt a plan he helped to enact: Florida Health Choices.


Crist: Economy rebounding

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

Despite unemployment nearing 12 percent, Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday Florida's economy is starting to rebound and needs some incentive funding for space and the film industries.

BEST OF THE BLOGS

GOP Legislators Confirm Their Insanity on Education Policy

By Ray Seaman

Progress Florida

More than a decade ago, Jeb Bush fundamentally altered our state's education policy: a single, high stakes standardized test (FCAT) that would act as a universal standard of measurement for schools; taking on the teacher's union; and attempting to start a private school vouchers system.


The myth of limited government

By Gimleteye

Eye on Miami

The Miami Herald editorial page plucks freely a Cato Institute fellow's support for the Supreme Court decision lifting campaign finance limits for corporations: "a victory for free speech".


Why Janet Cruz won in H-58

By Peter Schorsch

St. Petersblog 2.0

First of all, to the anonymous bloggers who attempted to discredit the good name of one of Tampa's finest families, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Obama trip had political purposes beyond rail announcement

By William March

Tampa Tribune

Barack Obama came to Tampa with a message for both his supporters and his critics Thursday - he hasn't changed


In Tampa Obama says he wants GOP 'off the sidelines'

The Associated Press

Ocala Star-Banner

President Barack Obama voiced determination Thursday to change the tone of Washington politics and urged Republicans to get "off the sidelines" and help fix health care and other problems.


Congressional ethics inquiry clears U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young

By Alex Leary

St. Petersburg Times

U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young is no longer a subject of an ethics inquiry into a lobbying firm and "earmarks" for defense contractors.


State will redraw District 29

By Kimberly C. Moore

Florida Today

It takes Rep. Ralph Poppell, R-Vero Beach, three hours to travel from his home to the north end of his Florida House District 29 near Mims and back.

POLITICAL RACES

Rubio has to beat history as well

By Howard Troxler

St. Petersburg Times

Marco Rubio is beating Gov. Charlie Crist in the latest poll.


Kottkamp speaks to area Republicans

By Bill Thompson

Ocala Star-Banner

Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp kept it short and sweet during a visit to Ocala on Wednesday, telling a group of fellow Republicans that the path to economic recovery runs through high-tech innovation - particularly space exploration - and in thwarting President Barack Obama's economic agenda.


GOP foes won't back Lynch if he wins primary for Wexler seat; tax liens the issue

By George Bennett

Palm Beach Post

Republican congressional hopeful Ed Lynch says his $1.365 million in tax liens and the $143,617 in court judgments against his contracting business shouldn't be viewed as negatives but as proof he's willing to stand up to the federal government.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

GLBT Community Responds to Obama's Pledge on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

By Eric Mack and Craig Eicher

Public News Service Florida

Some civil rights activists are applauding President Obama's State of the Union pledge to work toward repealing the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that prohibits gay soldiers, sailors, air-men and -women from revealing their sexual orientation and remaining in the military.


Leon County charter revision to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination moves forward

By Jeff Burlew

Tallahassee Democrat

A proposal to change Leon County's charter to add anti-discrimination protection for gays and lesbians moved forward Thursday.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Cannon says oil lobby group's funding unimportant

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Rep. Dean Cannon, chairman of a House council that is holding hearings on whether to allow oil drilling within 10 miles of Florida's Gulf coast, said today that he isn't interested in who's behind the firm that's been pushing for drilling legislation.


Manatee count much larger this year

By Victoria Phillips

Gainesville Sun

As January's temperatures continue to drop, there is one thing steadily on the rise - the number of manatees in warm waters.


Water coalition to EPA: Provide data, or extend deadline

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

A coalition of industry groups, utilities and other regulated interests is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide the detailed science behind its proposed phosphorus and nitrogen limits for Florida lakes, springs and rivers.


Judge recommends issuing International Paper permit

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

A state hearing officer late Wednesday issued a recommended order favoring International Paper and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in a challenge to DEP's proposed permit for the company's paper mill near Contanment in Escambia County.


State-ordered FPL refund in year's first bills may ease heating costs' sting

By Jim Turner

TC Palm

All that extra electricity needed from Florida Power & Light to heat you through the brisk first part of January could have saved you a few dollars.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Crist: Invest in space, film industry

By Bill Cotterell

Florida Today

Grabbing a bit of President Obama's spotlight, Gov. Charlie Crist said today Florida's economy is showing signs of recovery and that investing in space and the film industry will help get Floridians back to work.


Crist budget ideas too pricey for fellow Republicans

By Josh Hafenbrack

Orlando Sentinel

In St. Petersburg this week, Gov. Charlie Crist promised an increase of $535 million for public schools.


Florida bankers move to dramatically speed up the foreclosure process

By James Thorner

St. Petersburg Times

If bankers get their way, Floridians facing foreclosure could be kicked out of their homes in as little as three months.


Failed real estate deal costs Florida pension $266 million

By Brandon Larrabee

Florida Times-Union

A multibillion-dollar Manhattan development formally unwound this week after costing the state's pension system $266 million and fueling a debate over oversight of the $113 billion fund.


State Farm to begin shedding thousands of homeowner policies

By Beatrice E. Garcia

Miami Herald

Starting Monday, homeowners who hold State Farm Insurance of Florida policies will begin receiving letters from the insurer saying their policies won't be renewed.

EDUCATION

Governor wants to increase Florida's higher-ed budget by $100M

By Angeline J. Taylor

Tallahassee Democrat

Gov. Charlie Crist announced Thursday that he would recommend an additional $100 million to the state's public universities for the 2010-2011 budget year.


Crist shakes up college oversight board

By Shannon Colavecchio

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau

Gov. Charlie Crist shook up the board that oversees Florida universities on Thursday, replacing the chairwoman and three other members -- all originally appointed by former Gov. Jeb Bush.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Super Bowl among reasons cited for halting transport of Haiti's injured to Florida

By Bob LaMendola and Rafael A. Olmeda

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Federal disaster planners have temporarily halted flights bringing Haiti's earthquake victims to hospitals in Florida, local and state officials said Thursday.


Feds set first criteria for defective drywall diagnosis

By Mary Wozniak

Ft. Myers News-Press

Federal agencies Thursday came out with a new set of criteria to help homeowners and home inspectors determine whether a home definitively has defective drywall.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Rothstein hopes to reduce sentence by helping in probe of others at Fort Lauderdale firm

By Amy Sherman and Jay Weaver

The Miami Herald

Scott Rothstein, the newly convicted Ponzi schemer who faces up to 100 years in prison, will strive to help authorities make cases against others who profited from his massive investment scam -- in hopes of shaving time off his sentence.


Experts weigh in on Supreme Court ruling that government can't limit corporations' political spending

By Jim Turner

TC Palm

Celeste Bush, the head of the St. Lucie County Democratic Party, said she's concerned that "Democracy is for sale" after the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment right to speech applies to corporations, and therefore the government cannot limit their political spending.

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