Daily Clips for August 13, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Developers collect federal tax breaks, pour money into defeating Amendment 4 By Dan Sweeney The Florida Independent Amendment 4, the proposed state constitution amendment that would have voters giving final approval to changes to city and county comprehensive land use plans, is opposed primarily by developers, the lobbyists who represent them and the city and county governments who would lose final say over these plans if the amendment passes. But mainly, it’s the developers. Teachers Campaign For Smaller Class Size Against Amendment 8 By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida Parents and educators, led by state Sen. J. Alex Villalobos, kicked off the Vote No on 8 campaign Thursday to keep the smaller class sizes voters approved in a 2002 constitutional amendment. Bill McCollum feels Hispanic backlash over law targeting migrants By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum sought damage control Thursday as prominent Hispanic supporters fumed over him spearheading legislation that's even tougher than Arizona's new crackdown on illegal immigration. $197 million U.S. Sugar land deal for Everglades cleanup still faces challenges By Christine Stapleton Palm Beach Post The South Florida Water Management District voted unanimously on Thursday to pay U.S. Sugar $197 million for 27,000 acres of land to help restore the Everglades and comply with two court orders. BEST OF THE BLOGS "Big Government" Keeps Florida Afloat By Daniel Tilson The Examiner Republican officials nationwide are simultaneously attacking and figuring out how best to make use of new Federal state aid. If there seems to be a disconnect there, it's because there is. Got Sun? By Inkberries Beach Peanuts If you live in Florida that’s a silly question. Sure, we’ve got plenty of sun. We just can’t use it to our advantage. Our GOP leaders have made sure of it. Something Stinks in the FL Comm of Ag Race By Lisa Wonk THIS Way Up until now I've been focusing a lot on FL's 2nd Congressional race, but being a Wonk means following all the races...so I have google alerts set up on the different statewide candidates. The incessant bigotry of Bill McCollum By JT Orlando The Happiest Place on Earth It’s customary in GOP primary elections to run as far to the right as you can, in order to appease the hardcore wingnut crazies who dominate the Republican base, then moderate your stances (no, Larry Craig, I’m not talking about you) somewhat during the weeks leading up to the general election. Jeff Greene: More Suitable for a Slightly Less Elite Club Than the U.S. Senate? By Benjamin Kirby The Spencerian I linked to this from Facebook because it's really something: out in California, turns out recession pimp Jeff Greene may have been into some stuff that is, believe it or not, shadier than say, actually pimping. FLORIDA POLITICS Florida Panhandle preps for presidential visit By Melissa Nelson and Jennifer Kay The Associated Press The first family is headed to the Florida Panhandle this weekend to tout the oil-free white beaches and sparkling turquoise waters for the tourist industry, but conservatives in this Republican stronghold haven't exactly rolled out the welcome mat. POLITICAL RACES McCollum takes lead in GOP poll By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News The furious fight over the Republican nomination for governor appears to be helping Democrat Alex Sink, a new poll indicated Thursday. Negative ads help push Bill McCollum ahead of Rick Scott, poll shows By Marc Caputo Miami Herald Bill McCollum's nonstop attacks on Republican rival Rick Scott's integrity and business record have put him in the lead for the first time, a new poll shows. Poll: McCollum clawing way back against Scott; Sink ahead of both By Michael C. Bender Palm Beach Post Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum embarked on a four-day bus ride today sparked by a new poll showing he closed the gap with primary rival Rick Scott for the first time since May. Greene threatens suit against St. Pete Times By Maggie Haberman Politico Billionaire self-funding Senate hopeful Jeff Greene, who's been on the receiving end of extensive media scrutiny in his Florida race to be the Democrat challenging independent Charlie Crist and Republican Marco Rubio, is vowing to sue the St. Petersburg Times if they don't print a retraction this Sunday. Jeff Greene brushes off raucous party boat tales By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Back in the summer of 2005, Jeff Greene was living the dream — a single, super-successful guy with a mega yacht. No love lost between Kendrick Meek and Jeff Greene By Luke Johnson The Florida Independent There is a saying about academic politics that the debates are so intense because the stakes are so small. Rubio calls for Crist to commit to support GOP or Dems during Boca Raton stop By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio called it "offensive" that Gov. Charlie Crist won't say whether he'd align himself with Republicans or Democrats if he wins his no-party Senate bid in November. Marco Rubio hedges on Fla. immigration bill By Andy Barr Politico Florida GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio on Thursday declined to take a firm stance on a newly proposed bill in Florida that would require immigrants to carry identification or face a 20-day jail sentence. Political signs popping up everywhere By Anthony Man South Florida Sun-Sentinel They're an inescapable part of election season. Political signs pop up in yards, vacant lots and on the sides of roads. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Hope that oil spill effects already waning causes debate among scientists By Ben Chambers Palm Beach Post Thin shoots of marsh grass already have sprung up in heavily-oiled wetlands along Louisiana's coast and shrubs of gray, dead mangroves are showing new green growth, raising hopes that the massive effort to protect the Gulf of Mexico from catastrophic damage may have been successful. Consortium chooses projects for gulf oil research By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times A consortium of Florida universities picked a slate of 27 projects Thursday that are aimed at assessing the impact of the oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico. For the Everglades, a Dream Loses Much of Its Grandeur By Damien Cave New York Times In the end, Gov. Charlie Crist’s effort to buy huge swaths of sugar company land for the Everglades restoration was just too much: too much money, too much land to handle, and too much of a fight with critics and the courts. Small sugar land deal still draws bitter debate By Curtis Morgan Miami Herald All the familiar critics turned out Thursday to blast Gov. Charlie Crist's no-longer-so-big sugar land purchase as a bad deal that could wind up hurting Everglades restoration more than it would help it. State panel considers trimming more than 7,500 acres from purchase list By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com A state panel on Friday will consider removing 7,577 acres from the state conservation lands purchase list because the land has been developed or otherwise is no longer considered desirable. LGBT Bill McCollum’s growing problem By Mike Lafferty Orlando Sentinel Attorney General Bill McCollum is digging himself a deep hole when it comes to gays, lesbians, adoption and foster parenting. EDUCATION Fix FCAT Editorial Miami Herald As South Florida students prepare to go back to school, the latest brouhaha over this year's problematic FCAT results continues to nag at parents and educators. It should. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY State economists "cautiously optimistic" that Florida is on the mend Staff Report Florida Tribune State economists on Thursday said they were “cautiously optimistic” about Florida’s economy and slightly revised the amount of tax money they expect the state to take in during the next two years. State to get $239 million for foreclosure prevention By Virginia Chamlee The Florida Independent Related: McCollum’s office announces investigation of ‘foreclosure mills’ President Obama announced $2 billion in new funding for foreclosure prevention Wednesday. Sales tax holiday returns, but blink and you'll miss it By Christopher O'Donnell Sarasota Herald-Tribune A three-day sales tax holiday begins today on books, clothing, footwear and some accessories selling for $50 or less, or on most school supplies selling for $10 or less. HEALTH AND SENIORS FMA shuts doors, braces for fight By Carol Gentry Health News Florida The Florida Medical Association, undergoing an apparent identity crisis, is gathering in Orlando for a debate on whether to break off from the American Medical Association. Like it or not, Florida should prepare for health care reform Editorial St. Petersburg Times Attorney General Bill McCollum is suing the federal government over health care reform.