Daily Clips for August 9, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Calif. deal put Jeff Greene on front line of mortgage mess By Kris Hundley and Caryn Baird St. Petersburg Times Related: See the mortgage documents Related: Jeff Greene's desert tenants seek relief Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene says he had nothing to do with creating the subprime mortgage mess that made him fabulously wealthy. Health Care Heads to Fla. High Court By Lloyd Dunkelberger Lakeland Ledger While Missouri voters became the first state electorate to reject a federal mandate to purchase health insurance, the Florida Supreme Court will decide whether Floridians will have a say on President Barack Obama's new health care law. National issues on health care, immigration play into Florida politics By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union In recent months the state Attorney General's Office has waded into two of the hottest debates rolling across the nation: health care and the controversial immigration law in Arizona. Popularity of early voting changes campaign strategies By Christian M. Wade Tampa Tribune Early voting for the primary elections begins today, and if past years are any indication, an onslaught of voters will head to the polls during the next two weeks. Beachcombers turn up Gulf oil spill debris The Associated Press Miami Herald Beachcombers on the Florida Panhandle have been turning up remnants of the Gulf oil spill, including oil-covered life jackets and large chunks of foam from the rig. FLORIDA POLITICS GOP leaders celebrate official vote on Tampa's 2012 convention By Bill Varian St. Petersburg Times Chill, baby, chill. The full Republican National Committee confirmed the expected Friday by formally ratifying Tampa as host of the 2012 Republican National Convention. POLITICAL RACES Condo sale by U.S. Senate hopeful Jeff Greene raises questions, experts say By Sally Kestin, Peter Franceschina and Dana Williams South Florida Sun-Sentinel To Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene, the 2006 sale of a condo complex he owned in a small California desert town was "a very profitable deal.'' Meek may be gaining ground on Greene By William March Tampa Tribune While Jeff Greene is pounding the airwaves and mailboxes, Kendrick Meek is pounding the pavement. Jeff Greene, Kendrick Meek: Styles, backgrounds differ sharply By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel In some ways, the Democratic Senate primary is an easy choice for voters. Meek has powerful supporter in ex-president Clinton By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene has a photo of himself and Bill Clinton in the front hall of his Miami Beach condo, but it's not doing him any good on the campaign trail. Meek calls Greene 'bad man' By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek called opponent Jeff Greene "a bad man" Friday and said Greene would vote like a Republican if elected to the U.S. Senate. Rubio remains silent on 14th Amendment hearings question By Luke Johnson Florida Independent Former Florida House Speaker and Senate candidate Marco Rubio, the son of parents who emigrated from Cuba to the U.S., has not stated whether he would support or oppose hearings on amending the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship, despite numerous attempts by The Florida Independent, South Florida CBS affiliate Channel 4 and Tampa Bay Online to get an answer. For Rick Scott, success and scandal are inseparable By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Rick Scott's campaign for the Florida governor's mansion is starting to look like his latest business acquisition. Money talks: Scott, Greene gain despite baggage By Kingsley Guy South Florida Sun-Sentinel The surge in the polls by Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott and Democratic senatorial candidate Jeff Greene demonstrates an unassailable fact: Money talks. GOP rivals McCollum, Scott face-off at Christian Family Coalition forum By Sergio R. Bustos Miami Herald In a room crowded with Christian conservatives in Miami, Bill McCollum and Rick Scott joined a collection of mostly GOP candidates running for Attorney General Saturday to tout their equally conservative credentials. McCollum, Scott offer economic plans full of generalities, few specifics By Abel Harding Florida Times-Union Florida Republicans headed to the polls to choose a gubernatorial nominee find themselves comparing dueling economic plans. McCollum may find career is Achilles' heel By Catherine Whittenburg Tampa Tribune What a difference a year makes. Marco Rubio, Alex Sink face virtual unknowns Staff Report Orlando Sentinel Public attention has been focused on the hotly contested Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the Republican primary for governor. Could Rod Smith run with Alex Sink? By Nathan Crabbe Gainesville Sun Gainesville attorney Rod Smith's return to campaign politics is just speculation, but he surely sounded like a candidate in criticizing the idea of a self-financed candidate buying an election. CFO Sink is a fundraising heavyweight By Catherine Whittenburg Tampa Tribune - Alex Sink, the top Democratic contender in the governor's race, may be the biggest beneficiary of the costly slugfest between GOP primary candidates Bill McCollum and Rick Scott. Sink only Fla. governor candidate to eat possum By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press Democrat Alex Sink can make a claim her eventual Republican opponent for governor won't be able to make: She ate possum on the campaign trail Saturday. Democrats vying for attorney general post fight for consumer advocate mantle By John Frank St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau As two of the state's leading Democrats vie for attorney general, the contest is becoming exactly what the party didn't want — nasty. 5 Democrats, Republicans vie to replace McCollum By Josh Hafenbrack South Florida Sun-Sentinel The races haven't grabbed any headlines, but voters will decide two intriguing and closely fought campaigns in the Aug. 24 primary: the battles for the Republican and Democratic nominations for attorney general. Long list of challengers for outspoken Grayson By Mark Schlueb Orlando Sentinel In his first two years in Congress, Democrat Alan Grayson has developed a national reputation as a political brawler whose outspoken ways are beloved by liberals. Challengers will try to unseat Kosmas By Ludmilla Lelis Orlando Sentinel The five Republicans hoping to reclaim the U.S. House District 24 seat have similar conservative platforms and an identical message: I'm ready to take on Suzanne Kosmas. Brown faces unknown, underfunded candidates By Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown of Jacksonville ran unopposed two years ago and a return trip to Congress this year appears only slightly more difficult, as the nine-term Democrat faces a field of unknown and under-funded candidates. Political campaigns retool for early voting By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune For more than half of Florida's voters, Election Day is just another Tuesday after they already have cast a ballot. Tea Partyers shake up Florida elections By William E. Gibson Orlando Sentinel Reviving the old battle cry "Don't tread on me," Republican congressional candidate Allen West has raised nearly $3.5 million of campaign cash while firing up Tea Party patriots in South Florida with calls for a second American Revolution. BALLOT INITIATIVES The Truth About Yankeetown and Amendment 4 By Ed Candela Bradenton Times Mr. John Thaxton’s guest editorial demonized Amendment 4 with many unsubstantiated claims. He said that Yankeetown’s implementation of a similar amendment is “unmanageable.” Nothing could be further from the truth. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Environmental group to explore long-term effects of oil spill By Curtis Morgan Miami Herald Scientists from federal and state governments, universities and a particular British oil company with an ocean of money at stake have spent months conducting damage surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. Obama administration official faces complaints over handling of oil spill claims By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Business people in the Tampa Bay area who filed claims for the losses they have faced during the Deepwater Horizon disaster say they are being turned down by BP's adjuster. BP lawsuits stalled till panel of judges decides venue for federal cases By Christine Stapleton Palm Beach Post About 70 federal lawsuits filed in Florida against BP are going nowhere, stalled - like hundreds of others in other Gulf states - until a panel of federal judges decides who will preside over cases and where they will be heard. Oil Spill Controlled, But Future Of Bluefin Tuna Is Less Certain By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida The cap on the BP Gulf oil well may have stopped the spilling, but the oil still carries dangers for marine life, with marine conservation groups and fishing organizations pointing to Atlantic bluefin tuna as one of the species at highest risk because it spawns in the Gulf this time of year. Jane Provancha midwifes army of sea turtles rescued from oil spill By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times As she wades barefoot in the surf of the Atlantic Ocean, Jane Provancha holds in her hands the fate of a generation of endangered sea turtles. LGBT Gays, lesbians rally for equality in Tampa By Jose Patino Girona Tampa Tribune Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people gathered Sunday afternoon to talk about equal rights issues, such as allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children. Christian beliefs 'under attack,' Kottkamp says of Calif. Dispute By Michael C. Bender Palm Beach Post Republican attorney general candidate Jeff Kottkamp said Saturday that Florida should join the legal effort to reinstate California's ban on gay marriage. Making a Supreme Court Case for Gay Marriage By Michael A. Lindenberger Time Magazine Attorney David Boies knows what it's like to argue a historic case before the U.S. Supreme Court, and he knows what it's like to lose. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy's the one to watch on California gay marriage test By Michael Doyle McClatchy Newspapers Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy eventually will get his hands on California's gay marriage ban. EDUCATION Three F schools each for Pinellas, Hillsborough, despite superintendents' objections By Ron Matus and Rebecca Catalanello St. Petersburg Times As they confronted the biggest drop in elementary school grades in at least eight years, Florida superintendents continued an unprecedented effort Friday to challenge the validity of this year's FCAT scores. Children's Movement of Florida to rally in Clearwater By Stephanie Hayes St. Petersburg Times Child advocates led by a group of high-profile Floridians will visit Tampa Bay today to announce the launch of a "Milk Party" campaign. Teachers hope $26M jobs bill keeps them employed The Associated Press Florida Times-Union Gretchen Marfisi was enjoying her summer, reading a book when the call came: The high school where she taught art would not be hiring her back in the fall. Teachers unions improve schools By Karen Aronowitz Miami Herald It is with dismay that I listen to the relentless attacks against public school teachers and their unions. Let's set the record straight. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Floridians wonder: What's a 'fair share'? By Gary Fineout Sarasota Herald-Tribune The official Gov. Charlie Crist put in charge of Florida's federal stimulus funding on Friday did not dispute the accuracy of a report that ranks Florida last in the nation in per capita stimulus funding. Stimulus Czar Downplays Report Ranking Florida Last in Per Resident Benefits By Gina Jordan WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Stimulus funds are still being put to use in Florida. Gina Jordan tells us the state will get more money from the federal government than anticipated, even as a national report finds Florida ranks last in stimulus benefits per person. Many homeowners across South Florida still owe more than home's worth By Kimberly Miller Palm Beach Post — South Florida's homes are treading water, managing so far this year not to sink further into negative equity. But analysts warn they better be good dog paddlers. Jobless for two years, and help running out Editorial St. Petersburg Times There's a new club no one wants to join. It's the 99ers — people who have exhausted their 99 weeks of unemployment benefits and still haven't found gainful employment. Long-term unemployment over 26 weeks is now at the highest level since 1948 — the year the data started to be collected. And this unfortunate club is growing. In response, America's safety net needs to be stronger. HEALTH AND SENIORS Fla. lawmakers still focused on managed care By Bill Kaczor The Associated Press Florida legislative leaders said Friday they still see private managed care as a key to holding down soaring Medicaid costs after ending a three-day, fact-finding bus tour across the state. Health agency chief abruptly resigns By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune Just three months after winning a bruising confirmation battle, the head of the Agency for Health Care Administration announced on Friday that he is resigning. Law's effects vary by region By David Gulliver Health News Florida/Kaiser Health News For the 11 million people signed up for Medicare Advantage plans, their future with the popular program may depend on where they live. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Undocumented students fuel fight : 825,000 might become legal residents, report says By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post They look a lot like other kids who have completed high school.