Daily Clips for August 10, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Votes cast in Fla. for Senate, governor primaries By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press Early voting began Monday as Floridians began the process of picking a Republican nominee for governor, a Democratic nominee for Senate, nominees from both parties for attorney general and other races. Jeb Bush backs up McCollum in sharpened attacks on Scott's character By Michael C. Bender Palm Beach Post Bill McCollum has sharpened his stump speech in recent days in an attempt to cast doubt on and raise suspicion of GOP gubernatorial primary rival Rick Scott, who burst on to the state's political scene by spending more than $33 million of his fortune in less than four months on TV ads. Jeff Greene's Libel Woes By Nathan Vardi Forbes Documents from a libel case paint an unflattering picture of Florida Democratic Senate hopeful Jeff Greene, with employees of a property management firm he used making declarations describing him as cruel and abusive. Kendrick Meek downplays his ties to controversial Wackenhut By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Related: Meek, Greene to debate again Tuesday Related: Judge rejects Democrat Maurice Ferre's plea to join U.S. Senate debate Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek is proud of his résumé: state trooper, state legislator, member of Congress. Jeff Greene's real estate dealings need explaining Editorial St. Petersburg Times Jeff Greene, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, says he made hundreds of millions by betting the housing market would decline and denies he helped create the economic implosion. The facts paint a different picture. FLORIDA POLITICS The party's over for many voters, as more register independent By Lee Logan St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau There's only one party with steady growth this year in the Florida electorate: No Party. Democratic voter registration lead gets slimmer By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent The Democratic Party’s advantage in voter registration in Florida has dimmed some since the 2008 general election, according to stats released by the state now that registration for the state’s Aug. 24 primary has closed. Tampa Bay Host Committee reveals logo, website for GOP convention By Nandini Jayakrishna St. Petersburg Times The 2012 Republican National Convention will serve as the Tampa Bay area's own economic stimulus plan, promising an influx of nearly 50,000 people, local organizers say. POLITICAL RACES Anointed by GOP leaders, McCollum struggles for traction with voters By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related: As early voting begins, Bill McCollum pursues votes with Jeb Bush In the year of the outsider, Bill McCollum is the consummate insider. Attorney's lawsuit: Rick Scott is a `hazard' By Marc Caputo Miami Herald A Tallahassee trial lawyer has filed a lawsuit to obtain a Rick Scott video deposition in a case against a chain of clinics founded by the Republican frontrunner for Florida governor. 'Summerwind' blows no good for Greene By Maggie Haberman Politico Florida Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene has had to spend a lot of time talking about how he made his money, who he used to hang around with, and his past “lifestyle.” Stemberger criticizes Bondi's lifestyle By William March Tampa Tribune Noted religious conservative activist John Stemberger, in a letter to friends and associates endorsing Jeff Kottkamp for attorney general, criticizes opponent Pam Bondi's lifestyle, saying she has been divorced twice and lives with a boyfriend. Heterosexuals not safe from morality police either By Frank Cerabino Palm Beach Post Should you vote for an unmarried, childless woman living with her doctor boyfriend? BALLOT INITIATIVES Put an end to gerrymandering in Florida By Leon W. Russell and J. Gerald Hebert St. Petersburg Times Floridians' chance to curb partisan gerrymanders is once again in the hands of the Florida Supreme Court. Hometown Democracy or Bad Politics? Voters Decide in November By Lynn Hatter WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee The Florida Chamber of Commerce and the group Hometown Democracy have been feuding over Amendment 4, a proposal that would require votes on city and county land-use plans. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY USF says government tried to squelch their oil plume findings By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times A month after the Deepwater Horizon disaster began, scientists from the University of South Florida made a startling announcement. Oil spill task force: Environmental impact ‘nominal,’ but full damage may not be clear for years By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Related: Florida fishermen find few answers in oil spill claims process The group charged with monitoring the oil spill claims process in Florida today discussed the difficult balancing act of dealing with the oil spill’s long-term effects and showing people beyond Florida that the water here is clear and that the beaches remain clean. State panel wants answers from BP on $20-billion escrow By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Members of an oil spill task force appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist grilled a BP representative Monday about how claims would be paid from the $20 billion escrow account established by the company. Georgia-Pacific and environmental activists face off over St. Johns pollution By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Monday evening’s Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board meeting went on much like any other City Hall meeting: An agenda was read, minutes were discussed and several city ordinances were voted on. But yesterday’s minutes didn’t go off entirely without a hitch. Proposed Levy County nuclear plant clears an early hurdle, but more ahead By Richard Danielson St. Petersburg Times Progress Energy's proposed nuclear power plant near Crystal River has cleared an early key hurdle. Park visits drop after fee increases but weather, other factors may have roles By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Did a 60-percent entrance fee increase at some of Florida's most popular state parks turn some visitors away last year? LGBT McCollum: Ban gays from being foster parents The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Bill McCollum has made it clear he supports Florida's ban on gay adoption. EDUCATION Hundreds of laid off teachers called back to work The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Hundreds of teachers who were laid off from Broward County Public Schools are being called back to work in time for the start of class. JOBS, BUDGET AND ECONOMY Florida's tax holiday is back, but impact is unclear By Roger Bull Florida Times-Union After two years without one, the sales tax holiday is back in Florida. LeMieux expects Senate to pass small-business loans bill this year By Christine Stapleton Palm Beach Post Community banks would get an injection of $30 billion to be used exclusively for loans to small businesses under a bill being pushed by U.S. Sen. George LeMieux. The Forgotten Foreclosure Crisis The Progress Report Think Progress The economic meltdown of 2008 grew out of a foreclosure crisis, as Wall Street banks drove lenders to make loans that were then securitized and sold around the world, in an unregulated slew of credit products. HEALTH AND SENIORS Outlook improves for state worker health care fund By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune The state fund that picks up the cost of health care bills for state workers won't go insolvent as quickly as once projected. Florida Hospital-United Healthcare face-off spurs fear, anger By Linda Shrieves Orlando Sentinel Mary Febus is sick of the ongoing drama between United Healthcare and Florida Hospital. Florida Board of Medicine discusses flaw in prescription drug database By Letitia Stein And Kameel Stanley St. Petersburg Times The prescription drug database intended to crack down on Florida's pain pill crisis has another gaping loophole, state officials conceded Friday: Doctors don't have to check it. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES GOP attack on Constitution is suicidal By Mike Thomas Orlando Sentinel Republicans are laying the groundwork for a Democratic majority that will last through the rest of the century. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS While most state courts face harsh budget cuts, the 1st District Court of Appeal gets a $48 million 'Taj Mahal' By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times With budgets slashed, courts across Florida have laid off staff, quit buying law books and curtailed building maintenance. Programs like drug courts, which have helped thousands of people stay out of trouble, have been limited.