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Progress Florida -- Progressive Solutions for Florida

Monday, March 1, 2010

Daily Clips for February 26, 2010

FEATURED STORIES

Marco Rubio case renews spending outcry

By Beth Reinhard, Scott Hiaasen and Adam C. Smith

Miami Herald

Related: Sink: Release credit-card bills

Marco Rubio's routine use of a Republican Party of Florida credit card for personal expenses, while speaker of the Florida House, brought renewed calls Thursday for the party to disclose charges racked up by former and current elected officials.


Gov. Crist denies leaking Rubio's credit card record

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

Gov. Charlie Crist denied disclosing Marco Rubio's credit card records Thursday but happily said the former Florida House Speaker can expect more hard hits in their U.S. Senate race.


Rubio's dubious expenses demonstrate attitude of entitlement

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

Why should a powerful state legislator use political contributions to shop at the neighborhood wine shop, visit a tony Miami barbershop and repair the family minivan?


Democrat Seeks Part of Spotlight in Florida Senate Race

By Damien Cave

New York Times

Representative Kendrick B. Meek, the leading Democratic candidate for Florida's open Senate seat, listened quietly last week to tales of woe: a college student who nearly ended up homeless because her mother had lost her job; a laid-off mother who paid for health care with credit cards; an electrician struggling to get unemployment benefits.

BEST OF THE BLOGS

Taxpayer's American Express Card? Rubio Never Leaves Home Without It!

By Inkberries

Beach Peanuts

Fiscal conservatism. Tax cuts. Small government. Marco Rubio (R-West Miami) has based his campaign for the U.S. Senate on these issues.


Is Crist laying the groundwork for an independent bid?

By Peter Schorsch

St. Petersblog 2.0

Either Gov. Charlie Crist realizes he can't escape the stimulus, or he's leaning toward an independent run for Senate.


Florida meet the DREAM Act

By Juan Saaa

Progress Florida

Florida as a whole has seen a increased upwelling in the area of immigration reform lately, mostly in part from youth activists who have had enough of living in the shadows and are mobilizing all across the state to make a push to move the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, otherwise known as the DREAM Act.


Ray Sansom Resigns to Avoid Ethics Hearing

By Beach Blogger

Pensacola Beach Blog

Northwest Florida state representative Ray Sansom (R-Ft. Walton Beach) resigned his seat at 8 pm last night rather than proceed with the state ethics hearing he had requested.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Credit use has Rubio on spot

By William March

Tampa Tribune

Related AP story: Is GOP card leak worse for Crist or Rubio?

Revelations that Marco Rubio used a Republican Party credit card for personal expenses while he was a powerful state legislator set off a frenzy Thursday - criticism of Rubio by his U.S. Senate primary opponent, Gov. Charlie Crist, as well as criticism of the state Republican Party by Democrats.


Sansom used Rubio to justify money grab

By Alex Leary

St. Petersburg Times

Why did Ray Sansom go after a $6 million airport building that would ruin his political career? Marco Rubio.


Thrasher backpedals on calling Democrats "our enemy"

By David Hunt

Florida Times-Union

The word, "enemy," sounds harsh to apply to 112,000 people.


Newly released House documents raise more questions about Richburg-Sansom relationship

By Tom McLaughlin

Northwest Florida Daily News

Was incoming House Speaker Ray Sansom duped into thinking it was in his best interest to accept the $110,000 part-time job that ultimately led to his downfall?


Crist to Rubio: Welcome to the NFL

By Whitney Ray

Capitol News Service

Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio is catching heat tonight for using campaign cash to pay for personal expenses.


Republican officials to visit Tampa convention facilities

By Christian M. Wade

Tampa Tribune

Members of the Republican National Committee are expected to visit Tampa next month to meet with organizers of Tampa's bid to host the 2012 GOP National Convention.


Ban on texting and driving could be passed in 2010

By Tamara Lush

The Associated Press

On Jan. 3, 2008, Russell Hurd waited for his daughter at Walt Disney World in Orlando. They were about to plan her dream theme-park wedding.

POLITICAL RACES

Sink, McCollum duel over ethics reforms in Fla.

By Martin Merzer

The Associated Press

Rival candidates to become Florida's next governor engaged in a good-government competitive skirmish Thursday, each of them pledging to clean up state government.


David Rivera is 1st to enter Congress race

By Mary Ellen Klas

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee

State Rep. David Rivera on Thursday became the first candidate to jump into the District 25 congressional race in Miami to replace U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, who is running for the seat being vacated by his brother, Lincoln.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Will military leaders' shift on gay troops sway GOP?

By Barbara Barrett

Miami Herald

A North Carolina gay-rights group is asking a leading Republican lawmaker on military issues to join its fight to repeal the Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Century Commission report tackles oil drilling

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

A state panel's draft report issued today takes on the major questions and concerns about allowing oil drilling off Florida's coastline.


Environmental group hopes to extend deadline for Everglades restoration project

By Jim Mayfield

TC Palm

The Rivers Coalition voted unanimously Thursday to urge the South Florida Water Management Board of Governors to extend the closing deadline for the $500 million land purchase from U.S. Sugar Corp. for the district's River of Grass Everglades restoration project.


St. Johns district looks to strengthen water reuse programs

By Fred Hiers

Ocala Star-Banner

The St. Johns River Water Management District board is looking to squeeze the most out of water conservation and will meet next month to develop rules that could require its 16-county members to strengthen water reuse programs.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Florida struggles to carve out new jobs

By Robert Trigaux

Miami Herald via St. Petersburg Times

Spurred by state unemployment soon expected to top 12 percent and a political agenda keen on kick-starting a long-stalled economy, Florida lawmakers insist job creation is a priority in this legislative session.


Florida's new unemployment rate is on hold

By Jeff Harrington

St. Petersburg Times

The snowstorms of 2010 are certainly taking a toll on the jobs front.


Angry senators demand answers from NASA chief Bolden

By Bart Jansen

Florida Today

Senators lashed out at President Barack Obama and the head of NASA on Wednesday for canceling the space agency's program to replace the shuttles with new rockets and spaceships that would carry astronauts to the moon and someday Mars.

EDUCATION

Struggling schools will get more teachers

By Kathleen McGrory

Miami Herald

Teach for America -- the national program that places top college grads in high-need public schools -- will triple the size of its teaching corps in Miami-Dade County, the nonprofit will announce Friday.


Legislators should support bill reigning in use of restraints in schools

Editorial

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

One child felt the snap of bone as her arm twisted behind her back during a tightening bear hug.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Parties unable to reach accord on health care

By John Lantigua

Palm Beach Post

Sam Oser of West Palm Beach watched the 6 1/2 hour, nationally televised health care reform summit with President Obama and congressional leaders Thursday just about from start to finish.


Blues seek hikes in premiums

By Jim Saunders

Health News Florida

With health insurers nationally facing increased scrutiny about rate hikes, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is seeking double-digit increases for policies it sells to individuals and small businesses.


1 health proposal without dissent

Staff Report

Health News Florida

If you'd thought Florida's members of Congress couldn't come together on any health proposal, you're wrong: House members from Florida voted unanimously Wednesday in favor of a bill to remove the anti-trust exemption from health insurers.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Fla. high court says overloaded system needs 90 judges

By Suevon Lee

Ocala Star-Banner

A state court system "under duress" from a reduced budget, diminished staffing and rising caseloads driven by a record number of mortgage foreclosures requires an additional 37 circuit judges and 53 extra county judges for the upcoming fiscal year, the Florida Supreme Court concludes in a report released Thursday.

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