Daily Clips for May 5, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

Liberal group says top Florida Republicans plan to discuss offshore drilling in 2011

By Aaron Sharockman

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact

Excerpt: Both Cannon and Haridopolos have tempered their support of offshore oil drilling in wake of the major oil spill off the coast of Louisiana. But neither has abandoned the concept altogether. Progress Florida claims that both have said they plan to bring up oil drilling during the 2011 session, allowing drilling perhaps as close as 3 miles from Florida's shore. They have. And although they have indicated that the political environment has changed, they haven't canceled those plans. We rate Progress Florida's claim True.

Curbside recycling again stalled in Pinellas County

By Michael Van Sickler

St. Petersburg Times

Excerpt: Supporters of recycling didn't applaud the delay. "This is a deep disappointment," said Darden Rice, a board member of Progress Florida. "But with the new bill on Crist's desk, it makes sense to wait. Now that it's delayed again, it better be good. Otherwise, it's more talk, no action."

FEATURED STORIES

Impact forecast for Thursday is just the first wave in 'ginormous' disaster

By Paul Flemming

Tallahassee Democrat

Related: Oil could cause 'catastrophic' wildlife damage

Related: Oil spill uncertainty has seafood workers on edge

Related: Tourists concerned but not avoiding the coast

Related: Sink urges residents to begin documenting

Video: Big Bend businessmen and fishermen discuss concerns about oil spill

Luck was with emergency responders Tuesday as winds continued to push the surface sheen of an ongoing oil disaster off shore and allowed time for further preparation all along the Gulf Coast.

As oil blob triples in size, Florida fears nightmare

By Audra D.S. Burch, Joseph Goodman and Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

Florida environmental and emergency managers acknowledged Saturday that the state can't protect every stretch of coastline threatened by an uncontrolled undersea gusher spewing a massive oil slick that has spread across the Gulf of Mexico faster than expected.

Giant dome for Gulf oil leak is next best solution

By Vicki Smith and Allen G. Breed

The Associated Press

The best short-term solution to bottling up a disastrous oil spill threatening sealife and livelihoods along the Gulf Coast should be arriving on Wednesday in the form of a specially built giant concrete-and-steel box designed to siphon the oil away.

Florida GOP trashes, blames and bashes their once-golden governor, Charlie Crist

By Adam C. Smith

St. Petersburg Times

Almost overnight, the Florida Republican Party has gone from being Charlie Crist's PR machine to Charlie Crist's archenemy.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Gelber asks governor to call special session

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

A Democratic lawmaker wants Gov. Charlie Crist to call a special session to deal with some unfinished legislative business and the threat to Florida's economy from an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Disney World, whitewater rafting among $47,000 GOP charges for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp

By Beth Reinhard

St. Petersburg Times

The Florida Republican Party spent more than $9,500 on special Disney World tours for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and others in the summer of 2008, according to credit card bills obtained by the St. Petersburg Times and the Miami Herald.

ACLU Florida asks Crist to veto abortion bill

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is asking Gov. Charlie Crist to veto a bill containing anti-abortion amendments they say affects the health of women.

Governor Deciding Whether To Veto Insurance Legislation

By John Frank

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

The veto watch has begun for an industry-backed insurance bill that received limited vetting as it won approval in the final moments of the legislative session.

GOP committee to select host for 2012 convention next week

By Christian M. Wade

Tampa Tribune

Backers of Tampa's bid for the 2012 Republican National Convention could find out next week if the city will be selected to host the national political event.

Code of ethics begrudgingly embraced by County Commission

By Brittany Wallman

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Historic ethics reform is coming to Broward County government.

Legislature ignores voters' will

Editorial

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Call it "saving the worst for last" - Florida lawmakers' habit of passing poorly vetted, stealthy legislation in the waning hours of the annual session.

POLITICAL RACES

Crist Leads Rubio, Meek in New Senate Poll

Staff Report

Lakeland Ledger

Gov. Charlie Crist holds a slim lead over former House Speaker Marco Rubio and likely Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Kendrick Meek in the first public poll released since the governor left the primary for the Republican nomination.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush announces endorsement of U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

Former Gov. Jeb Bush's long-expected endorsement of U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio was announced today.

Marco Rubio maintains push for more drilling

By Alex Leary

St. Petersburg Times

Marco Rubio joined the call Tuesday for a swift investigation into the "horrifying" BP oil disaster but said he still supports offshore drilling as part of an overall energy strategy.

Chiles family backs Senate candidate Meek

By Carl Mario Nudi

Bradenton Herald

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek met Tuesday with long-time friends Rhea Chiles and her two sons, Bud and Ed, whose names still carry some cache in state Democratic politics.

For Senate candidate, mother's shadow looms

By Jeremy Wallace

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

With a new outlook in the U.S. Senate race, Democratic candidate Rep. Kendrick Meek swung through the region on Tuesday with renewed vigor in promoting his campaign and picking up key endorsements.

Bids for Crist's portrait passes $6,000 mark on eBay

By Jose Patino Girona

Tampa Tribune

In just over a day on the auction block, Charlie Crist's portrait is getting the attention and inching its way to the dollar amount the sellers - the Republican Party of Florida - dreamed of.

Some Republicans angry at Brown-Waite

By William March

Tampa Tribune

Local Republicans are criticizing what some call a ploy by U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite to choose Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent as her successor in Congress. There are also calls for Nugent to resign as he runs for the seat.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Disarray, slow response to slick has Florida officials frustrated at British Petroleum

By Kimberly Miller and Dara Kam

Palm Beach Post

Related AP story: Fla. environmental head optimistic about spill

Florida's top officials -- from Gov. Charlie Crist on down -- say the oil company that caused the massive Gulf spill is frustrating their efforts by holding up approval of local response plans even as the slick spreads perilously close to land.

Gulf oil spill could 'devastate' South Florida's environment

By David Fleshler

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Few parts of the United States would be as devastated by an oil slick as the southern coast of Florida.

Group: Wildlife Casualties Just Beginning in Gulf Spill

By Gina Presson

Public News Service Florida

While Gulf Coast residents are waiting for the oil to strike their shores, at least 31 dead sea turtles have washed ashore in Mississippi.

Lawyers looking for oil-spill lawsuits flood Florida

By Henry Pierson Curtis and Kevin Spear

Orlando Sentinel

No oil has washed ashore in Florida yet, but the state is already awash in lawyers seeking clients for lawsuits against those responsible for the blown-out well that's gushing 210,000 gallons of crude each day into the Gulf of Mexico.

Tampa Bay agencies publish pro-drilling message touting safety of offshore drilling

By Mariella Smith

Creative Loafing Tampa

The current issue of Bay Soundings, "Tampa Bay's Science and Nature News Journal," includes a full-page message promoting oil drilling off Florida's coasts and touting the safety(!) of offshore drilling.

Turkey Point nuclear plant is focus of Thursday open house

Staff Report

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Federal regulators will hold an open house in Homestead Thursday to discuss safety performance at the Turkey Point nuclear power plant.

The burden's on BP

Editorial

Pensacola News Journal

So far, oil company BP has been forthright about its responsibility for the oil spill, and its intent to cover legitimate economic losses for businesses and individuals across the Gulf Coast.

Energy not used

Editorial

Gainesville Sun

Every gallon of oil seeping into the Gulf of Mexico from last week's catastrophe is wasted energy.

EDUCATION

Group sues Florida schools over limits on prayer

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

A conservative group is suing a Panhandle school district over its limits on prayer.

275,000 School Jobs on Chopping Block, Survey Says

By Alyson Klein

Education Week

Cash-strapped school districts are considering deep staff reductions--an estimated 275,000 employees--in the 2010-11 school year, according to a survey scheduled to be released today by the American Association of School Administrators.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

On the brink

Editorial

Florida Today

The Florida Legislature, which just finished its annual session, passed a $70.4 billion budget, but has little to brag about.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Abortion bill deserves a veto

By Sue Carlton

St. Petersburg Times

You could call it a sneaky, last-minute ploy to circumvent a woman's right to a safe and legal abortion, if it weren't so laughably transparent.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Jacksonville leaders fear perception of intolerance may carry economic price

By Deirdre Conner

Florida Times-Union

In the room when the Jacksonville City Council debated the appointment of Parvez Ahmed, a Muslim scholar and university professor, there were a lot of people holding their breath.