Daily Clips for September 14, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Florida Republicans threatening to sue Crist By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Gov. Charlie Crist, once the Republican Party of Florida's titular head and now an independent candidate for U.S. Senate, this morning waved off questions about the party's threat to sue him to recover thousands of dollars in travel and other expenses that were charged to the party between 2007-09. Florida Gov. Crist shifts support on gay rights issues By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Continuing his makeover from Republican to independent U.S. Senate candidate, Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday affirmed his support for civil unions, adoption by same-sex couples, and doing away with the military's ban on openly gay soldiers. Judge to hear health-care challenge By Kris Wernowsky Florida Capital News A federal judge in Pensacola will hear oral arguments today on whether to throw out a lawsuit challenging the national health-care law. Oil 2 inches thick found on sea floor The Associated Press Pensacola News Journal Far beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, deeper than divers can go, scientists say they are finding oil from the ruptured BP well on the sea's muddy and mysterious bottom. Florida GOP needs to release audit of its spending Editorial Orlando Sentinel Way back in February, after taking the reins of the state GOP from disgraced chairman Jim Greer, John Thrasher promised to "get to the bottom" of the secret deal-making and profligate spending that made a joke out of the so-called party of fiscal restraint. FLORIDA POLITICS Florida GOP to decide soon if it will sue Charlie Crist By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union The Republican Party of Florida could decide by the end of the week when to release a report on the use of party funds under its former chairman and whether to embark on a lawsuit against Gov. Charlie Crist, state party Chairman John Thrasher said. Release all of Marco Rubio's AmEx statements, Mike Fasano tells state GOP By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times State Sen. Mike Fasano, a longtime Charlie Crist supporter, wants the state GOP to release fuller records detailing Marco Rubio's use of a party charge card. Greer trial pushed to next year By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel Attorneys prosecuting and defending deposed Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer have agreed to delay his trial until next year, according to Greer's lawyer. Former Fla. GOP chair apologizes to Obama The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer is apologizing to President Barack Obama for opposing his back-to-school speech last year. McCollum not sorry he skipped Rebublican Party meeting By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Attorney General Bill McCollum, a conspicuous no-show at a Republican Party of Florida quarterly meeting this weekend at Disney World, had no apologies this morning. Political cases keep State Attorney Lawson Lamar's office busy By Anthony Colarossi Orlando Sentinel Ousted Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez is just the latest in a string of public officials, political candidates and consultants investigated by Orange-Osceola State Attorney Lawson Lamar's office. Agency drops controversial contract By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune The Florida Department of Corrections has canceled a controversial plan to hire a vendor to build and operate a dialysis service center for prisoners in Lake Butler. POLITICAL RACES Rick Scott, Mr. Outsider, is clearly on the inside now By Daniel Ruth St. Petersburg Times How long does it take a pol to go from claiming to be a crusading outsider who will ride to the rescue of that den of iniquity in Tallahassee, to being a monied-up insider darling of special interests? CFO candidate Loranne Ausley By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa It’s not the race for governor or US Senate, but the contest for state Chief Financial Officer has captured a few headlines in the final weeks leading up to the November 2nd elections. BALLOT INITIATIVES 'Watchdog' group changes growth amendment stance By Dale White Sarasota Herald-Tribune A statewide organization that considers itself a "watchdog" on growth management issues dropped its opposition to hotly contested Amendment 4 on Monday and shifted to a neutral position. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Gulf Coast residents in dire financial straits waiting for BP claims By Andrew Restuccia Florida Independent Christine Watson, of Destin, Fla., has to come up with $1,900 this week or she’ll be evicted from her apartment. Oil spill: Waiting for the BP payoff By Louis Cooper Pensacola News Journal If you have filed a claim with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, the odds are you haven't seen a penny yet. Attack Survivors Ask the UN to Save Sharks By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida Of the 70 or so shark attacks worldwide last year, 19 took place in Florida waters. LGBT Gay advocates praise Crist position paper on gay rights By William March Tampa Tribune In a new Senate campaign position paper, Gov. Charlie Crist backs a broad swath of gay rights, including one major change in his past stance – he favors allowing adoption by same-sex couples. Meek campaign: 'Crist on LGBT issues -- too little, too late' By Steve Rothaus Miami Herald Related: Meek campaign resurrects anti-gay adoption ad by Charlie Crist Kendrick Meek’s U.S. Senate campaign has responded to a RawStory.com report that opponent Charlie Crist now supports a variety of gay-rights measures. Senate to take up 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal next week Staff Report CNN A military spending bill that includes the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning openly gay and lesbian soldiers will come up for Senate debate next week, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office. EDUCATION Take responsibility, Obama will tell students in second annual back-to-school speech By Luis Zaragoza Orlando Sentinel Pay attention in class. Do your homework. Stay out of trouble. Expanded school voucher program proving popular By Sylvia Lim St. Petersburg Times The state's voucher program for low-income students is signing up more students — and getting more cash — just months after lawmakers approved an aggressive expansion. More taking SAT; scores largely unchanged By Natalie Neysa Alund Bradenton Herald SAT college entrance exam scores for Florida students in the class of 2010 remained largely unchanged from a year before, although more students are taking the test, according to an annual report released Monday by the College Board. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida budget panel revising long-range outlook The Associated Press Tampa Tribune A joint House-Senate panel is considering the adoption of a revised long-range outlook that would cut Florida's estimate budget gap by more than half to $2.5 billion for next year. HEALTH AND SENIORS US-FL legal joust begins By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum calls it an unprecedented power grab. Bid dispute may delay Florida's prescription drug monitoring plan By Richard Martin St. Petersburg Times Florida's prescription drug monitoring plan likely will not launch by the Dec. 1 deadline set in the law because of a protest filed by a company that lost the bid to set up the electronic database. Rising enrollment in child health programs is a good sign Editorial St. Petersburg Times The impact of a wrong-headed policy decision the Republican-led Legislature made seven years ago is finally starting to ease, but far too many Florida children are still paying the price. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Rallies of Misinformation The Progress Report Think Progress In the months leading up to the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, conservatives, right-wing media, and Republican lawmakers have led a campaign of misinformation, paranoia, fear, and anger toward Muslims, sparked by the recent hysteria over a hate pastor's plan to burn the Quran (which he thankfully never carried out) and outrage over an organization's plan to build a mosque and Islamic community center near Ground Zero in Manhattan.