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Progress Florida -- Progressive Solutions for Florida

Monday, April 5, 2010

Daily Clips for April 5, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

No-take fishing zone is 30 miles from proposed drilling buffer

By Kevin Wadlow

Florida Keys Keynoter

"This could come very close to the Dry Tortugas," said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Progress Florida. "In terms of distance to the Keys, this is nothing."

FEATURED STORIES

Gov. Crist faces fight of political life

By Steve Bousquet

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau

Gov. Charlie Crist will soon confront a set of wrenching decisions that challenge his priorities as governor and something just as important: his desire to be Florida's next U.S. senator.


Gov. Crist, CFO Sink ask outside prosecutors to take GOP-finance case

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

The burgeoning legal scandal over ex-GOP Chairman Jim Greer and finances of the Florida Republican Party expanded its political element Friday as Gov. Charlie Crist and CFO Alex Sink one-upped each other calling for an outside prosecutor to take the case.


Fundraising-scandal fallout may imperil Florida GOP leaders

By Aaron Deslatte

Orlando Sentinel

Looks like Florida Republicans and ex-state party Chairman Jim Greer will be playing Deal or No Deal all the way to the fall elections.


Legislators make $1.5 billion gambling pact with Seminole Tribe

By Mary Ellen Klas

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

Legislators reached a $1.5 billion, five-year gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe on Friday, after closed-door negotiations resulted in a deal that will give the tribe the exclusive right to operate table games in South Florida and operate slot machines at its other casinos.


Once known for moderation and compromise, Florida's Senate has become a bastion of conservative politics

By Dara Kam

Palm Beach Post

The late Sen. Jim King won a reputation during more than two decades in the Florida Legislature as a consensus builder who helped bridge the gap not only between Republicans and Democrats but also within the Senate GOP caucus itself.


Teachers setting up for a fight on merit pay Monday in House

By Kathleen Haughney

The News Service of Florida

Florida House members will get their chance next week to debate at length a controversial education reform measure that would link teacher pay raises to student performance on standardized tests.

EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK

Editorial cartoon of the week


By Jeff Parker

Florida Today

LEGISLATIVE SESSION

School workers' retirement plans are shaken by Florida Legislature's proposals

By Jeffrey S. Solochek

St. Petersburg Times

Vivian Garner has 28 years in the Florida Retirement System -- 23 as a Pasco County schoolteacher, five working for parks and recreation.


In Tallahassee today, marathon meeting on education proposals

By Mary Ellen Klas

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

The roller-coaster ride of controversial bills continues this week as legislators have a jam-packed schedule of lengthy debates and long days.


Obscure political committees nudge Legislature's agenda

By Marc Caputo and Lee Logan

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau

When powerful industries push their agendas in the state Capitol, they start cutting big checks to the little-known political committees of top Florida legislators who spend the money to help each other and themselves.


McCollum pulls plug on legal 'dream teams'

By Steve Yerrid

Tampa Tribune

In his rush to curry favor with the business lobby in an election year, Attorney General Bill McCollum just pushed a bill through the Legislature that aims to punish trial lawyers.


Alexander Backs Break For Large Land Owners

By Gary Fineout

Lakeland Ledger

The powerful budget chief in the Florida Senate - who also runs a company that owns thousands of acres - is pushing legislation that would make it harder to take away tax breaks enjoyed by farmers and other large land owners across the state.


Will RPOF financial scandal doom fundraising bill?

By Gary Fineout

The Fine Print

While the Republican Party of Florida financial scandal unravels into a web of lawsuits and criminal investigations, the clock is ticking on a major fundraising and campaign finance bill that now sits on the desk of Gov. Charlie Crist.


Pay now for homeowner's insurance, or pay later, but we're paying

By Howard Troxler

St. Petersburg Times

Hey, do you want to pay more for insurance on your house?

POLITICAL RACES

Meek gets on the ballot the hard way

By Brendan Farrington

The Associated Press

Democrat Kendrick Meek will become the first U.S. Senate candidate to qualify for the Florida ballot by petition after his campaign finished turning in more than 145,000 signatures Monday.


In praising Rubio, Giuliani exacts revenge on Crist

By Adam Smith

St. Petersburg Times

Back in 2007 and early 2008, Rudy Giuliani spent so much time campaigning for president in Florida he was like a houseguest who wouldn't leave.


Gov. Crist, Alex Sink call for federal prosecutors to look into GOP controversy

By John Frank

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

Gov. Charlie Crist asked federal authorities Friday to investigate the Republican Party of Florida amid growing concerns about secret deals and misspent money.


Tea party flexes muscles in Crist-Rubio race

By Christine Show

Orlando Sentinel

Pamela Dahl and her fellow tea-party members in this megaretirement community are determined to evaluate GOP candidates for U.S. Senate - Gov. Charlie Crist and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio - in person.


Chiles' walk still carries lessons for state politics

By Lloyd Dunkelberger

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

It is hard to imagine what "Walkin' Lawton" Chiles would make of today's campaign for U.S. Senate between Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio.


Reform the primaries and untie our hands

By Mary Ann Lindley

Tallahassee Democrat

The most important and yet most choice-limiting decisions of this election year in Florida will be on Aug. 24, date of the Democratic and Republican party primaries.


'Political slush funds' bankroll perks

By Matt Dixon

Florida Times-Union

Maryland's Caves Valley Golf Course touts itself as more than 900 acres of pristine natural beauty.


Fla.'s Tea Party, tea party movement not the same

By Brendan Farrington

The Associated Press

Florida has a Tea Party and a tea party movement, and no, they are not the same thing.


Maurice Ferre, former insider, now an outsider in race for U.S. Senate

By Audra D. S. Burch

Miami Herald

One day last fall, Maurice Ferre, a towering figure in Miami politics, in his seventh decade and nearly 15 years out of public office, decided to run for the U.S. Senate.


Host panel to woo GOP convention

Staff Report

Tampa Tribune

The nonprofit 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee, charged with coordinating the area's efforts to woo and plan the 2012 Republican National Convention, was officially formed this week. The paperwork was filed in the state's Division of Corporations.


Ted Deutch on the issues

Editorial Board

Palm Beach Post

Related: Edward Lynch on the issues

Related editorial: Endorsement: Pick Deutch for U.S. House

The Palm Beach Post editorial board posed the same questions to District 19 Congressional candidates Ted Deutch and Edward Lynch.


Election law enforcement needs more teeth

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

The Republican members of the Federal Elections Commission have made a mockery of the nation's already weak campaign finance laws.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

Amendment 4, a vote for Florida's future

By Al Abbatiello

Ponte Vedra Recorder

A recipe for bad government? Contrary to The Recorder editor Mark Pettus' opinion, this amendment is an opportunity for Floridians to decide whether or not we will continue to grow at the frenzied pace that happened from the time the Florida State Legislature enacted Florida's Growth Management in 1985.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Obama Plan May Revive Offshore Oil

By Lloyd Dunkelberger

Lakeland Ledger

While it appeared a House Republican plan to open state waters to oil and gas exploration was not likely to happen this year, the proposal got an unexpected boost from a leading Democrat.


Momentum for renewable-energy legislation lacking

By Mary Ellen Klas

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

In the last legislative session before his death, state Sen. Jim King tirelessly pushed for an energy compromise to reduce the amount of dirty fuel the state uses to produce electricity.


Obama's Offshore Drilling Pitch Sways Few Fence-Sitters on Climate Bill

By Mike Soraghan

New York Times

It's often said in Washington that if you anger both liberals and conservatives, you must be doing something right.


Risks to Florida outweigh benefits of gulf drilling

By Paul Defenderefer

Panama City News Herald

I am deeply concerned about the possibility of oil drilling off Florida's coastline.


Buchanan firm in drilling opposition

By Jeremy Wallace

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is not budging in his opposition to oil drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast.


Groups ask DEP to delay new waterway classification

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Environmental groups are asking the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to delay approval of a new stream classification system.


Growth watchdog in danger

Editorial

Palm Beach Post

Developers believe it's too hard to exploit Florida's natural resources to build whatever they want.


Humans are the risk in drilling

Editorial

Pensacola News Journal

Related editorial: Drilling plan a loser

The Orlando Sentinel recently took a close look at the Australian drilling rig that blew out last August in the Timor Sea, leaked oil for more than two months and dumped millions of gallons of crude. It's a cautionary tale for Florida.


Drilling in Gulf makes no sense

Editorial

Highlands County News Sun

The debate over off-shore drilling is a real concern for Florida, especially since tourists flock here for a view of the beaches, not the oil rigs.

LGBT

Gay rights bills seen as progress

By Eileen Zaffiro

Daytona Beach News-Journal

About six years ago, David Perreault rented a house on the beachside that he loved.

EDUCATION

Future teachers express qualms about Florida's education overhaul

By Ron Matus

St. Petersburg Times

Related: Q & A on Florida's Senate Bill 6

Related editorial: Teacher bill needs improvements

Molly McCann thought about becoming a doctor until working with special-needs kids made her realize her passion: teaching.


Teachers, allies are expected in Capitol

By Ron Word

Gainesville Sun

Related: Education bills stir strong opposition

Hundreds of teachers, parents and students are expected in the Florida Capitol this week as a House committee takes up House Bill 7189, which they claim will hurt education in Florida.


FEA: Survey Shows Many Republican Voters Reject Teacher Merit Pay Bill

By Gina Presson

Public News Service Florida

The Florida House will hear today from both sides on a controversial bill that would tie teacher pay to student test scores.


Florida's merit-pay plan for teachers prompts debate

By Hannah Sampson and Kathleen McGrory

Miami Herald

High school teacher Kathy Pham has earned two master's degrees and advanced certification over her 27 years in the classroom -- and thousands of dollars in extra pay.


Why I Voted Against Senate Bill 6

By Sen. Paula Dockery

Florida Thinks!

Had Senate Bill 6 simply rewarded exceptional teachers with extra pay, I would have supported it.


Teachers getting a raw deal

By Sam Cook

Ft. Myers News-Press

Who is to blame for a Florida student's lack of progress in reading?


How Florida lost this 'Race': Legislature bashes teachers, them blames them

Editorial

Palm Beach Post

The Florida Legislature's dictatorial stance toward teachers has consequences that will go well beyond Race to the Top.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Jobs surge nationally in March, but Florida lags

By Jeff Ostrowski

Palm Beach Post

The nation posted its largest job gain in three years in March, and while economists welcomed the apparent end of the job market's collapse, they don't expect a dramatic turnaround for Florida's hard-hit economy.


State workers wear the bull's-eye

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Demcorat

State employees have more to worry about this month than in most budget negotiations.


Shuttle fleet's home counts down to an uncertain future

By Allison Louie-Garcia

Yahoo! News

Drive along Highway 50 into Titusville, just across the Indian River from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, and you'll pass a Space Shuttle Inn, Shuttle Car Wash, and Space Coast Pawn & Jewelry.


Some unemployment benefits to lapse starting Monday

By Jim Stratton

Orlando Sentinel

As many as 40,000 Floridians a week could see their unemployment benefits lapse starting Monday because Congress adjourned for spring recess without agreeing on a mechanism to extend the funds.


Counties looking at a $70 million shortfall

By Dale White

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Bus routes eliminated or scaled back. Libraries stocking fewer books. More government jobs slashed, consolidated or left unfilled.


South Florida leads nation in potential storm-surge losses

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

The ZIP Codes 33140 in Miami Beach, 33301 in Fort Lauderdale and 33480 in Palm Beach have some of the region's priciest homes -- with the owners among those having the most to lose if a hurricane drives the Atlantic Ocean inland.


Food giant Aramark agrees to pay increase for tomato farmworkers

By Amy Bennett Williams

Ft. Myers News-Press

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has scored another victory in its Campaign for Fair Food.


Florida sets a date, but you'll need a computer to apply for your rebate

By Mark Albright

St. Petersburg Times

State officials have chosen a procedure for doling out Florida's 20 percent appliance rebates that requires access to a computer or someone who can use one.


Remove drywall, make repairs, feds say; but they don't know who'll pay

By Bart Jansen

Ft. Myers News-Press

Homeowners with corrosive Chinese drywall should remove and replace the drywall, wiring, electrical components and gas-service piping, two federal agencies announced Friday.


Census enters next phase to get critical information

Editorial

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The knock at your door may very well come in the upcoming weeks.


Short-term, short-sighted budgets rule

Editorial

Tallahassee Democrat

It's now wait-and-see time for the public, state employees in particular, as the Florida Legislature sends its appropriations wizards into conference.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Will all with preexisting ills be covered under healthcare reform?

By Fred Tasker

Miami Herald

One of the most eagerly awaited aspects of the new national healthcare law kicks in by late June and could rescue people in the greatest crises of their lives -- seriously ill, facing mammoth medical bills with no health insurance.


Mount Dora Dr. Jack Cassell's anti-Obama stance sparks firestorm nationwide

By Stephen Hudak

Orlando Sentinel

Doug Bell isn't a patient of Dr. Jack Cassell's, but he almost wishes he were.


Children's services fighting to survive

By David Sáez

Tallahassee Democrat

Like the lawmakers they lobby, state and local children's advocates have their hands full this legislative session as they attempt to keep afloat programs serving children ages 0 to 5.


DOH to let Sunshine in

By Carol Gentry

Health News Florida

A big gap in consumer information on health-care professionals in Florida is about to get filled: The state Department of Health will begin posting pending complaints online, according to an internal memo.


Whole Child Leon a model

By Iricka Berlinger

Tallahassee Democrat

Loranne Ausley is a former Florida House representative and a candidate for Florida Chief Operating Officer.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Dr. King's Economic Dream Deferred

By Bill Moyers and Michael Winship

Truthout

Forty-two years ago, on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee.


Immigration reform is critical to Florida

By Elizabeth Ricci

Tallahassee Democrat

In mid-March, U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Lindsey Graham presented their proposal for comprehensive immigration reform.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Treatment instead of prison time?

By Suevon Lee

Ocala Star-Banner

Since starting in 1997, the adult drug court in Marion County has generally only allowed in first-time drug offenders who have no more than one non-violent misdemeanor conviction.


Advocates: Court language barriers persist despite law

By Patricio G. Balona

Daytona Beach News-Journal

When Florida legislators passed a law four years ago requiring court interpreters to be certified, advocates hailed it as a huge step for non-English speakers to access justice in the courtroom.


Don't steal from Florida's judiciary

Editorial

Miami Herald
As foreclosures continue to rattle the state's economy, Florida's courts are drowning in such disputes -- while facing little sympathy from Tallahassee.


Ensuring justice: full probe into wrongful convictions needed

Editorial

Florida Today

Add Anthony Caravella's name to the list of men exonerated after serving decades in Florida prisons for crimes they didn't commit.

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