Daily Clips for September 16, 2010

FEATURED STORIES GOP Tries Full Court Press on Crist By Michael Peltier News Service of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist may face a twin-pronged legal attack by members of the political party he used to lead - a judicial pincer movement aimed at cutting his U.S. Senate campaign off at the knees. Tea party success puts Florida to the test By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Depending on who you talk to, the latest upset by a tea party-backed conservative candidate either signals a Republican surge in November or bodes well for Democrats vying for mainstream votes. November election will shape political map for next decade By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union When voters head to the polls in November, they will cast three votes that could reshape the political future of the state - and the nation. Florida governor, legislative leaders spar over energy rebates By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com A dispute between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature over funding for a solar rebate program escalated Wednesday as House Speaker Larry Cretul suggested the governor's administration had been "duping" applicants into believing they would receive checks. Release of Florida GOP internal audit expected this week Staff Report St. Petersburg Times State GOP Chairman John Thrasher had a hastily arranged conference call with members of the state party's executive board Wednesday, where it was agreed the party should release a recently completed forensic audit of its books. FLORIDA POLITICS Rubio denies responsibility for 'Taj Mahal' courthouse funding By William March Tampa Tribune Marco Rubio, who was state House speaker when a controversial courthouse in Tallahassee called the 'Taj Mahal' was put in the state budget, is denying responsibility for it. Stand aside logic, here's the GOP 'audit' By Scott Maxwell Orlando Sentinel Namby-pamby Democrats in this state could learn a thing or two from the Republicans. Senate leader intervenes in prison contract as brother gets $15,000 contribution By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau One week before Senate Majority Leader Alex Diaz de la Portilla of Miami sent a letter to help a kidney dialysis company in a bitter contract dispute over prison medical services, his brother's campaign received a $15,000 check from the head of the company, state campaign finance reports show. New House leadership has Southwest flavor By Jim Ash Florida Capital News The newest upper tier of the state House leadership team will have a distinctly Southwest Florida flavor. Carroll's replacement in Florida legislature surprises Clay Republicans By Abel Harding Florida Times-Union For several days, it looked as if Clay County Commissioner Doug Conkey was going to replace Jennifer Carroll in the Legislature. POLITICAL RACES Crist's race for center fizzling in Senate race By Jane Sutton Reuters Florida Governor Charlie Crist's strategy of taking the best ideas from Democrats and Republicans in his campaign as an independent for a Senate seat is failing. Charlie Crist listed 9th on ballot for U.S. Senate By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau In three successful statewide elections, Charlie Crist's name was at the top of the ballot. Kravis picket line stops Crist, Meek, Sink, but not some PB County Dems By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek both scored points for their respective U.S. Senate campaigns on Wednesday. Candidate Sink Touts Law Enforcement Support By Gina Jordan WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Democrat Alex Sink is getting strong support from the law enforcement community in her bid for governor. Campaign: NRA backs Scott in governor's race The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott now has the backing of the National Rifle Association. BALLOT INITIATIVES Showdown with state looms at St. Petersburg prepares to approve growth map By Michael Van Sickler St. Petersburg Times Related: St. Petersburg trickery on planning map could erode public trust A City Council vote today could prompt a showdown with the state. Public Campaign Financing - Is The System Worth Saving in Florida? By Lisa Marzilli WMNF Community Radio Tampa The first initiative on the November ballot will ask voters if they want to repeal the public funding of candidates who run for Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General or Commissioner of Agriculture. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Oil spill cleanup producing mixed messages By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times It has happened three times in two months. McCollum 'cautiously optimistic' after talk with BP claims czar By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday that he was "cautiously optimistic" after meeting with Ken Feinberg, the administrator of a $20-billion fund for Gulf oil spill disaster victims. Oil search comes up empty. But why are we still seeing it? By Kimberly Blair Pensacola News Journal The search for underwater oil in local waterways is over, and preliminary results show no recoverable oil was found, Coast Guard officials said Wednesday. Legislative gridlock holds up millions of dollars in energy rebates By Lee Logan St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Payments for two popular green energy rebate programs are stalled because of a high-profile budget disagreement between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature. LGBT Crist's change of heart could jeopardize efforts to end ban on gay adoptions By Susan Spencer-Wendel Palm Beach Post Gov. Charlie Crist's announcement that he is mulling whether to drop the state's appeal of a ruling that allowed a Miami Beach homosexual to adopt could capsize advocates' efforts to declare Florida's 33-year-old ban on adoption by gays unconstitutional. Gay rights a matter of equal rights Editorial Miami Herald Ever so slowly, gay rights are being endorsed by the courts. EDUCATION Superintendents raise new complaints for Florida education commissioner By Tom Marshall St. Petersburg Times He called for a truce, a thaw, an end to the war. Fla. university panel mulling tuition, fee rules The Associated Press Tampa Tribune The panel overseeing Florida's 11 public universities may propose changes in tuition and fee rules that could make going to college more expensive. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Good news, bad news on foreclosures By Toluse Olorunnipa Miami Herald Banks are repossessing distressed homes at an increasingly fast pace, but fewer homes are falling into delinquency, a sign that the region's foreclosure crisis has entered a new phase. Florida lags in allocating stimulus dollars Editorial South Florida Sun-Sentinel President Barack Obama is busy selling the nation on his second stimulus plan, which he says can speedily get thousands of people new transportation and infrastructure jobs totaling $50 billion. HEALTH AND SENIORS 'Milk Party Tour' comes to town in support of Florida's children By Kate Santich Orlando Sentinel The state's "Milk Party Tour" rolled into Orlando Tuesday night to rally support for Florida's children and pressure lawmakers to reverse what its leaders call a dismal record on funding for child-welfare and education programs. State gets federal money for increasing adoptions The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Florida has gotten more than $5.7 million in federal money for increasing adoptions of children in foster care. Tom Arnold lands lobbying gig By Jim Saunders Health News Florida When Tom Arnold retired as secretary of the state Agency for Health Care Administration on Aug. 31, he said he didn't have his future planned. But only two weeks later, he's landed in greener pastures. Florida wants to ban 'legal weed' By Bob LaMendola South Florida Sun-Sentinel Florida officials want to ban so-called "legal weed," packs of herbs treated with chemicals that mimic the high of marijuana and have sent a rising number of smokers to emergency rooms. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Republicans are holding the federal courts hostage Editorial St. Petersburg Times The partisan politics of Washington is taking a serious toll on the federal judiciary.