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Progress Florida -- Progressive Solutions for Florida

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Daily Clips for April 29, 2010

FEATURED STORIES

Charlie Crist will run for Senate with no party affiliation

By Steve Bousquet, Adam C. Smith and Beth Reinhard

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Staff Writers

Related editorial: Crist and the GOP

Gov. Charlie Crist, a pariah in the Republican Party that has been vital to his success, will launch a risky political career today as a "people's candidate" for the U.S. Senate with no party affiliation.


Gov. Crist Appears Set to Bolt Party in Senate Bid

By Damien Cave and Gary Fineout

New York Times

Gov. Charlie Crist appears all but certain to announce Thursday that he is leaving the Republican Party and running independently for the United States Senate, setting up an unprecedented three-way contest without a clear front-runner.


Officials: Leaks spewing more oil into Gulf

By Cain Burdeau

The Associated Press

A massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is even worse than believed and as the government grows concerned that the rig's operator is ill-equipped to contain it, officials are offering a military response to try to avert a massive environmental disaster along the ecologically fragile U.S. coastline.


Women seeking abortions could face forced ultrasounds

By Dara Kam

Palm Beach Post

Florida's Republican-dominated legislature is poised to pass a bill that would force any pregnant woman considering an abortion to first have an ultrasound - and pay for it - even if she was raped.


More GOP fiscal revelations emerge, with another Crist pal on the payroll

By John Frank

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

As forensic auditors scour the books at the Republican Party of Florida, new details have emerged about how much a former party boss made from a secret contract, and the existence of a second deal paying a close friend of Gov. Charlie Crist over $350,000.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Senate advances conservative agenda

By Cristina Silva and Marc Caputo

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau

Abortion. School prayer. A lawsuit over ``Obamacare.'' A race-related measure sundering Democrats.


Crist unsure if he'll veto Florida budget bill

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

A top House Democrat predicted Gov. Charlie Crist will veto the annual budget bill, but the governor said today that he's undecided.


Florida Senate to the people: Pay more, drop dead

By Howard Troxler

St. Petersburg Times

Related editorial: Public loses, utilities win in Senate vote on PSC nominees

You and I just got the ultimate shaft from the Florida Legislature.


Florida Legislature leaders raise big bucks from special interests

By Scott Powers And Aaron Deslatte

Orlando Sentinel

State Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, who's in line to become Speaker of the Florida House next fall, needn't worry about paying for his hotels, meals or other expenses while politicking, thanks to two $50,000 checks donated by Florida retailers to his personal political advocacy fund.


Debit card surcharge ban may get Senate hearing; House already approved

By Susan Salisbury and Kimberly Miller

Palm Beach Post

Floridians may wield their debit cards freely, following a legislative agreement Wednesday to ban customer surcharges on the popular alternative to cash, credit and check.


Crist's signature expected on bill requiring county votes on children's services councils

By Jim Turner

TC Palm

Gov. Crist's signature is all that is needed to require voters in Martin, St. Lucie and six other Florida counties to reaffirm their support of their children's services councils.


Rep. Daryl Rouson's anti-drug paraphernalia bill passes House

Staff Report

St. Petersburg Times

Sitting in Palm Beach County rehab, Darryl Rouson scribbled in his diary that one day he'd do anything to help people fight the crack addiction that he struggled with.

POLITICAL RACES

Sources: Gov. Charlie Crist to ditch GOP, run as independent

By Jim Stratton and Aaron Deslatte

Orlando Sentinel

Barring an eleventh-hour change of heart, Gov. Charlie Crist will turn Florida's U.S. Senate race on its head today by formally announcing he will run as an independent and leave the party that made him one of the most recognizable politicians in the state.


Crist expected to announce independent Senate run today

By William March and Richard Mullins

Tampa Tribune

Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce today that he'll run for the U.S. Senate as a no-party candidate, a move that would scramble Florida politics and further elevate the national profile of a Senate contest that's already the most-watched campaign in the nation in the 2010 election cycle.


Bidding war could erupt for independent Sen. Crist

By Lesley Clark

Miami Herald

If Gov. Charlie Crist actually wins his independent bid for the U.S. Senate, would his new allies be Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont?


Crist party switch: Risks vs. rewards

By Brandon Larrabee

Florida Times-Union

Ending weeks of speculation, Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce Thursday in St. Petersburg that he will leave the Republican Party and run for the U.S. Senate as an independent.


RPOF: Greer got 125k from Victory Strategies

By Aaron Deslatte

Orlando Sentinel

Republican Party of Florida general counsel Jason Gonzalez says ousted Chairman Jim Greer received at least $125,000 through the secret fundraising contract he and Delmar Johnson signed with each other.


Fla. Sen. Dan Gelber wrong in claiming he received most contributions

By Carol Rosenberg

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact

State Sen. Dan Gelber says he has received more contributions than any other candidate in the race to become Florida's next attorney general.


McCollum stumps at Donut Hole II in Walton County

By Angel McCurdy

Northwest Florida Daily News

Residents had "Breakfast with Bill" on Wednesday morning as Republican gubernatorial front-runner Bill McCollum began a campaign swing through the region.


GOP candidates for state AG mostly agree on issues

By David Hunt

Florida Times-Union

Republican candidates for Florida's Attorney General didn't differ much in their opinions on immigration policy, redrawing the political borders and taxpayer-funded health care plans during a brief forum Wednesday in Clay County.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

Amendments crowd 2010 ballot

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

Florida voters will find a lot more than people on the ballot in November.


3rd redistricting amendment may go on Fla. ballot

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

The Republican-controlled Legislature's response to two citizen initiatives on redistricting may soon be headed for Florida's Nov. 2 ballot.


Ex-Supreme Court chief justice approves ballot petition, gets hired by firm allied with its sponsor

By Dan Christensen

Broward Bulldog

Weeks after casting the deciding vote to approve a controversial ballot petition in December 2008, former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles T. Wells joined a law firm aligned with the petition's sponsor.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Gulf oil spill could eventually foul South Florida beaches

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

Scrambling to head off looming ecological disaster, the U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday set fire to an oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico -- already the size of Miami-Dade County and expanding -- from a blown-out drilling rig spewing some 42,000 barrels of crude a day.


Oil rig springs new leak, tar balls could hit Panhandle

Staff Report

Northwest Florida Daily News

The Coast Guard says a new leak has been found at the site where a oil platform exploded and sank off in the Gulf of Mexico.


Oil spill may put Florida wildlife at risk

By Thomas Stewart

Gainesville Sun

Though the threat seems to be focused on Louisiana's coastline for the time being, officials say Florida's coast could be hit by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as well, which local experts say would come at the worst time and affect some of the state's most unspoiled beaches.


Oil spill probably won't hit Florida's Panhandle beaches this weekend

By Paul Flemming

Tallahassee Democrat

A massive oil slick from a collapsed rig 130 miles off the coast of New Orleans is so big it's "humbling," but probably won't hit Florida's pristine Panhandle beaches this weekend, Florida's top environmental regulator told Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday.


Haridopolos says oil spill 'gives me pause' on pursuit of drilling in Florida

By Mary Ellen Klas

St. Petersburg Times

Sen. Mike Haridopolos, the Senate's incoming Senate president who along with incoming House Speaker Rep. Dean Cannon had expected to push for oil exploration when they take office next year, said he is having second thoughts in the wake of the spill off the Louisiana Coast.


Castor, Young seek bigger buffer for drilling

By Rob Shaw

Tampa Tribune

Kathy Castor doesn't want offshore oil drilling - and the potential environmental dangers that can go with it -- anywhere near her home turf.


Dead Birds Washing Up on Florida Beaches

By Bobbie O'Brien

WUSF Public Radio Tampa

Dead birds have been washing up on Pinellas County beaches over the past few days.


Bill banning python sales passes Legislature, heads to governor

By Robert Samuels

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

A far-reaching measure to block the sale and trade of Burmese pythons and other exotic reptiles in Florida cleared the Legislature on Wednesday and is headed to the governor for his signature.


More solar for Florida

Editorial

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Florida must increase its solar energy capacity.

EDUCATION

Panel Will Try Again For Federal 'Race to The Top' Education Grant

By Kathleen Haughney

News Service of Florida

A panel appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist started Wednesday morning to refurbish the state's bid for a chunk of the federal Race to the Top grant, which could bring the state $700 million in funding for education.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Three years in the making, Crist completes Seminole Tribe gambling agreement

By Mary Ellen Klas

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

With little fanfare, Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday signed the bill ratifying the $1 billion Seminole gambling compact with the state and lowering the tax rate on South Florida parimutuels.


Florida House passes economic development bill

The Associated Press

Miami Herald

A wide-ranging economic development bill passed by the Florida House Wednesday includes a long menu of tax cuts and incentives to businesses designed to create jobs and provide a shot in the arm to Florida's sagging economy.


Property insurance bill passes Florida House

By Brandon Larrabee

Florida Times-Union

A property insurance bill that would allow property insurance companies to raise rates by 10 percent to cover some expenses is headed back to the Senate after clearing the House on Wednesday.


Seize opportunity to turn clean energy into jobs

By David P. McCally

Daytona Beach News-Journal

During the past year, Florida lost 303,200 jobs, and real estate values plummeted.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

DOH could get reprieve

By Jim Saunders

Health News Florida

Senate negotiators this morning proposed scaling back an ambitious House plan to reorganize the Florida Department of Health.


Bill would require stores to track ephedrine sales

The Associated Press

Miami Herald

The Florida House has passed a bill requiring retailers to track over-the-counter sales of ephedrine, which can be used to manufacture the illegal drug methamphetamine.


Challenges facing Fla. retirement system

By Grace Gagliano

Bradenton Herald

Holmes Beach resident Len Tabicman was elected chairman of the State Commission for the Florida Retirement System earlier this year.


Florida Legislature budgets $50 million to struggling Jackson hospital

By John Dorschner

Miami Herald

County leaders thanked the Legislature Tuesday for including $50 million for Jackson Health System in the proposed state budget while the county manager sent four county administrators to help the beleaguered hospital group get out of its financial quagmire.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Immigrants heading to Miami to protest Arizona law

By Jose Patino Girona

Tampa Tribune

Lurvin Lizardo said signage of the immigration law in Arizona has gotten immigrants fired up and ready to mobilize.


It's not a big step to go from Arizona immigration law to Big Brother intrusion

By Guillermo I. Martinez

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Years ago, state officials in New York and New Jersey forbade law enforcement officers from stopping or questioning people merely on the basis of race or ethnicity.

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