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Progress Florida -- Progressive Solutions for Florida

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Daily Clips for February 18, 2010

FEATURED STORIES

Can Marco Rubio keep his 'outsider' image in U.S. Senate race?

By Beth Reinhard and Alex Leary

St. Petersburg Times

When U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio delivers the keynote speech Thursday to the most prestigious annual gathering of conservatives in the country, there will be no question: He has arrived.


Rep. Seth McKeel Pushes For End To Off-Shore Drilling Moratorium

By Bill Rufty

Lakeland Ledger

Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, asking the U.S. Congress to remove the moratorium on oil drilling in federal waters surrounding Florida, cleared the House General Government Policy Council on Wednesday.


Clergy wants Congress to act on immigration reform

By Victor Manuel Ramos

Orlando Sentinel

A group of Orlando-area clergy renewed its call Wednesday for immigration reform that would legalize the millions of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S., saying that it's time for President Barack Obama and Congress to act and address "unfinished business."


Florida challenges gay adoption in Hollywood case

By Carol Marbin Miller

Miami Herald

State child-welfare administrators have appealed the adoption of an infant foster child by a gay Hollywood woman -- the second challenge to Florida's gay-adoption law currently under review.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Legislature working to delay business tax hike

By Bill Kaczor

The Associated Press

Legislation that would delay an unemployment compensation tax increase for two years is on a fast track to early passage in the Florida Legislature.


Dozen bills propose limits on cell phones while driving

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

On Jan. 3, 2008, Russell Hurd waited for his daughter at Walt Disney World in Orlando.


Haiti ambassador to US overwhelmed by reception, generosity

By Elizabeth M. Mack

Tallahassee Democrat

Haiti's Ambassador to the United States Raymond Alcide Joseph came to the Capitol on Wednesday expecting to speak to a few legislators, but instead he received a tremendous outpouring of community support and donations.


Tampa's Frank Sanchez may get confirmation hearing for commerce job

By William March and Christian M. Wade

Tampa Tribune

A federal review of a failed grant program may clear the way for Senate confirmation of Obama administration appointee Frank Sanchez of Tampa.

POLITICAL RACES

FL Senate hopeful Rubio addresses DC conservatives

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio will make the biggest speech yet in his Senate campaign, telling the Conservative Political Action Conference he's the better choice to represent their views.


'Serious' candidates have the advantage

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

Due to limited resources, not to mention common sense, we cover only the serious candidates for public office.


Democrat files to challenge House Rep. William Snyder

By Jim Turner

TC Palm

John Morgan, who has had a Web site up for nearly two months proclaiming his intention to run as a Democrat to challenge two-term state House Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, filed his paperwork this week for the office.


Indialantic councilwoman to challenge Tobia for House seat

By John A. Torres

Florida Today

Indialantic Town Council member Lori Halbert will challenge incumbent and fellow Republican John Tobia for the Florida House District 31 seat.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

State steps up fight to block gay woman from adopting relative

By Scott Maxwell

Orlando Sentinel

It appears that the state of Florida is continuing to fight the efforts of a gay woman in South Florida from adopting one of her own relatives.


Caucus seeking laws to end discrimination

By Kristin Murray

Tallahassee Democrat

Efforts to counter discrimination based on one's sexual identity or orientation were brought to light Wednesday in a forum sponsored by the Capital City Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Democratic Caucus.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Experts: 2010 may not be make, break for drilling

By Melissa Nelson

The Associated Press

The Florida Legislature has considered for several years changing state law to allow exploration for oil and natural gas but hasn't brought the issue up for a vote. This year may be no different - but it will still weigh heavy in the upcoming session's background.


Large crowd mostly hostile to EPA plans for cleaning Florida's lakes and rivers

By Kevin Spear

Orlando Sentinel

A public hearing on a federal plan to clean up Florida's rivers and lakes drew an unexpectedly large crowd of nearly 350 people to a room with only 200 chairs Wednesday.


Contamination notification bill appears stalled

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

What a difference a year makes -- when it comes to a bill to require that neighbors be notified of groundwater contamination from a pollution site.


Bill allows longer limestone mine permits

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

A revised bill that would allow the state to grant state permits to limestone mining operations for the life of the mine was approved by the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Committee.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Bill Nelson: Manned space program isn't dead yet

By Patrick Peterson

Florida Today

The White House made two errors when announcing its plans for NASA, Sen. Bill Nelson said Tuesday.


State's Lt. Gov. tells Port Salerno audience White House making 'huge' mistake with space exploration decision

By Jim Turner

TC Palm

Florida's Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp said the White House is making a "huge" economic and military mistake by letting the nation's leadership in space slip.


Bring us your Renters, Borrowers, and Unemployed

By Whitney Ray

Capitol News Service

Consumer advocates and Democratic lawmakers are filing several pieces of legislation that would protect renters, borrowers and the unemployed.


Scramble is on to link SunRail, fast rail -- why no plan?

By Dan Tracy

Orlando Sentinel

Two train systems meant to usher in a new era of transportation in Metro Orlando are slated to run along separate tracks that will intersect west of Orlando International Airport.


Q&A With Advocate "Doc" Dockery: Bullet Train Is Safe, Cost Effective

By Bill Rufty

Lakeland Ledger

C.C. "Doc" Dockery has been involved in the struggle for high-speed rail in Florida for 28 years.


One year later, stimulus shows results in Florida

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

At the one-year anniversary for the federal stimulus package, Democrats and Republicans from Washington to Florida are still arguing over whether it is a success or a failure.

EDUCATION

Education Taking Center Stage In Legislature

Staff Report

CBS 4 News Miami

Measures looking to ease class-size limits, replacing the FCAT with exams at the end of a course, and requiring teachers in the state's pre-kindergarten program to have a bachelor's degree will all be up for consideration.


FCAT Phase Out

By Whitney Ray

Capitol News Service

A plan to phase out the FCAT exam and replace it with end of the year tests is gaining ground in Tallahassee.


Class Size Limits: How Much Flexibility Is There?

By Scott Finn

WUSF Public Radio Tampa

Some lawmakers want voters to change the constitutional amendment that limits class size in schools.


Legislation aims to give minority candidates a shot at college coaching jobs

By Brandon Larrabee

Florida Times-Union

Public colleges in Florida would be required to interview minority candidates before hiring head coaches or athletic directors under a proposal unveiled Wednesday by two lawmakers.


UF faculty union approves contract by huge margin

By Nathan Crabbe

Gainesville Sun

The University of Florida's faculty union has overwhelmingly approved a new contract, following years of negotiations and debate.


Expanding Florida school voucher program is a bad idea

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

With Florida facing a $3 billion deficit and striving to maintain momentum in improving public schools, this is an odd time to talk about expanding tuition vouchers for private schools.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Health rankings follow the money

By David Gulliver

Health News Florida

Florida's affluent and retiree-laden coastal counties tend to be healthiest, and the poor and rural counties in the state's north-central region and around Lake Okeechobee its least healthy, according to a first-ever nationwide study released this morning.


Nurses rally for Fla. patient protection bill

The Associated Press

Naples News

Florida nurses are calling for legislation to set minimum hospital staffing ratios and give them whistle-blower protection.


Medicaid revamp faces obstacles in Tallahassee

By Kelli Kennedy

The Associated Press

With Medicaid costs now consuming 26 percent of the state budget, the upcoming session seems primed for a program overhaul.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

FDLE forwards 'deferred compensation' complaint to state attorney Meggs

By TaMaryn Waters

Tallahassee Democrat

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has forwarded a complaint over the city of Tallahassee's "deferred compensation" practice to State Attorney Willie Meggs for review.


Fetterman's bill seeks more restrictions on sex offenders' Internet use

By Kerry Kavanaugh

TC Palm

A Florida lawmaker says he wants to make the Internet a safer place for children.


Reform Florida's sentencing laws

Editorial

Orlando Sentinel

Whispered discontent over the skyrocketing costs of warehousing Florida's prison population has become a full-throated scream.


Justice for the wrongly convicted

Editorial

Miami Herald

Being tough on crime is admirable -- as long as that tough stance doesn't ride roughshod over the innocent.

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