Daily Clips for September 23, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Appeals court: Florida ban on adoption by gays unconstitutional By Carol Marbin Miller Miami Herald An appeals court on Wednesday struck down Florida's controversial ban on adoptions by gay men and women as unconstitutional, and Gov. Charlie Crist and the state's child-welfare chief announced hours later that they will immediately cease to enforce the ban. Grand jury to look at 1st DCA courthouse funding By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Related: E-mail names 'heroes' who got legislative funding for 'Taj Mahal' courthouse A grand jury in Leon County will hear a complaint next week about the controversial new courthouse being built in Tallahassee for the 1st District Court of Appeal. Former supporter says Rubio used GOP credit card for home remodeling By William March Tampa Tribune A former supporter of Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio says Rubio acknowledged having once put home remodeling expenses on his Republican Party credit card. Fear of Rubio in Senate driving some Democrats, maybe even Wexler, to Crist By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post Carol Roberts became a national celebrity in 2000 when, as a Palm Beach County commissioner, she fought vociferously, if unsuccessfully, for every dimpled, hanging and pregnant chad to be counted as a vote for Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore. Florida surprise: How a Democrat could be elected governor By Linda Feldmann Christian Science Monitor Alex Sink strolls into the dining room at Kingsway Country Club, in Lake Suzy, Fla., dressed casually in a red blouse and navy capris, ready for her sixth campaign event of the day. FLORIDA POLITICS Squabble in Tallahassee holds up rebates for Floridians By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times When the squabbling of politics spills over and hurts the people of Florida, it is time to reconsider the goal. POLITICAL RACES Rick Scott's plan to slash prison spending called a 'hoax,' 'shell game' By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Rick Scott's plan to curtail state spending and create 700,000 new jobs includes slashing $1 billion from the prison budget by cutting salaries, reducing health care costs and expanding inmate-run vegetable farms. Rick Scott tells Tampa crowd economy will flourish with less government and taxes By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Florida may have one of the worst economies in the country, but at a campaign stop Wednesday in Tampa, the Republican gubernatorial candidate said its weather, beaches, limitations on unions and lack of an income tax make it ripe to become a mecca for new businesses. Sink's math close on cost of young kids repeating grades By Laura Figueroa St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact Alex Sink, Democratic candidate for governor, unveiled her education platform to supporters on Sept. 1. CNN to air Florida governor debate By Mark Preston CNN Democrat Alex Sink accepted an invitation Wednesday to debate Republican Rick Scott next month, setting up a nationally televised showdown between the two Florida governor hopefuls on CNN. Crist: Shore up Social Security by allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship Staff Report St. Petersburg Times Campaigning amid walkers and canes at a Pembroke Pines retirement community, Gov. Charlie Crist pledged Wednesday to protect Social Security and suggested an unconventional solution to shoring up the trust fund: allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship. Charlie Crist crucifies himself By Adam Hanft Salon Hey, what’s Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, who’s running as an independent for senator, doing in a Claritin ad? Al Gore to campaign for Kendrick Meek in Tampa next week By Adam Smith St. Petersburg Times Former Vice President Al Gore is coming to Tampa next week to rally Democrats behind U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek. Marco Rubio: Voters don't want 'experts' By Andy Barr Politico Marco Rubio does not see a problem with Christine O'Donnell's past of financial trouble and bizarre quotes, noting that system is not designed to elect “a bunch of experts” to the Senate. Rubio: Tax cuts won't pay for themselves Staff Report Orlando Sentinel In a wide-ranging interview Wednesday, Marco Rubio outlined his positions on taxes, health care and entitlements while also trying to deflect questions about his leadership in the state House of Representatives and his use of a Republican party credit card. Union attacks Marco Rubio over unemployment benefits extension By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact The AFL-CIO is targeting Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio in a new mailer that calls him anti-worker. GOP candidates’ refusal to participate leads to cancelation of Cabinet debates By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post With two of the three GOP Florida Cabinet candidates refusing to participate in a debate next month, organizers had no choice but to cancel the event. BALLOT INITIATIVES Effort fighting Florida redistricting stokes ACORN fears By Abel Harding Florida Times-Union Opponents of constitutional amendments that would change the way Florida draws political districts are attempting to raise voter ire by associating the effort with controversial political groups, namely ACORN and the AFL-CIO. Fla. justices take class size amendment challenge The Associated Press Miami Herald The Florida Supreme Court has accepted jurisdiction of a challenge to a proposed state constitutional amendment that would loosen class size limits. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Gulf Oil Spill Study on Worker Health By Steve Newborn WUSF Public Radio Tampa The BP oil spill not only affected the economy of much of the Gulf Coast, but also the health of the Gulf of Mexico. The effort to clean up the Gulf must continue Editorial South Florida Sun-Sentinel Ding-dong, the well is dead, the wicked well is dead. LGBT Appeals court: Florida ban on gay adoption unconstitutional By Susan Spencer-Wendel Palm Beach Post Florida’s 33-year-old law banning homosexuals from adopting — the last such blanket ban in the nation — was cut off at the knees Wednesday. Florida to stop enforcing gay adoption ban By Bill Cotterell Florida capital News Gov. Charlie Crist said today the state will stop enforcing its legal ban on adoption by gay couples while deciding whether to seek a Florida Supreme Court review of an appeals court ruling against the statute. Adoptive father Martin Gill: Long wait for appeals court decision was 'excruciating' but worth it By Steve Rothaus Miami Herald The wait has been “excruciating,” Martin Gill said Wednesday afternoon, hours after a Miami appeals court ruled Florida’s gay adoption ban unconstitutional and that he could keep his two young sons. EDUCATION Textbook promotes creationism, Florida science group says By Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times Another skirmish may be underway in Florida's battle over teaching evolution. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida led nation in mortgage fraud, federal commission says By Toluse Olorunnipa Miami Herald Mortgage fraud is responsible for untold trillions of dollars in bad loans currently defaulting across the country, and Florida has played a starring role in the tragedy, a federal commission said during a hearing in Miami on Tuesday. HEALTH AND SENIORS 'Child only' health insurance hits snag in Florida By Linda Shrieves Orlando Sentinel Most of Florida's major health insurers have stopped writing new "child-only" insurance policies — some pulling out of the market just days before the health-care overhaul requires insurers to provide full coverage to kids with pre-existing conditions. Fraud bill targets cases like Scott's By Carol Gentry Health News Florida Four years ago, Omnicare paid almost $50 million to settle charges of cheating Medicare and Medicaid. Health care law kicks into second gear The Associated Press Pensacola News Journal New health insurance policies beginning on or after Sept. 23 must cover — without charge — preventive care that's backed up by the best scientific evidence. Children's movement of Florida brings Milk Party tour to area By Paradise Afshar Bradenton Herald Nearly 1,000 students and parents gathered Tuesday night with blue shirts on and flags in hand to show support for Florida’s hottest new party — the Milk Party. Audit cites dual enrollment for FL kids By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Florida might have to pay back $5.3 million because some children were enrolled in Medicaid and the KidCare health-insurance program at the same time, a new inspector general's report says. Insurance Commissioner McCarty talks health care with President Obama By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune On the eve of some of the most sweeping health insurance reforms becoming effective, President Barack Obama and members of his administration met with insurance regulators from across the nation including Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES DREAM Act supporters contemplate the future of immigration reform, promise electoral revenge By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent In the wake of Tuesday’s U.S. Senate vote blocking the immigration reform measure known as the DREAM Act, included as part of the defense authorization bill, immigration reform advocates vowed retribution at the ballot box. GOP Stranglehold On Dreams The Progress Report Think Progress For the first time since 1952, the Senate failed to bring the defense authorization bill to the floor for consideration. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Florida laws involving recording complicated By Jim Ash Florida Capital News The case against Kathleen Harvey, a Tallahassee small-business owner charged with illegally taping Leon County Commissioner Cliff Thaell, could come down to his word against hers, legal experts say. Time running out for Crist to help Mr. Mojo Risin By Gary Fineout The Fine Print Gov. Charlie Crist and the rest of the State Board of Executive Clemency will meet again on Thursday morning for the next to the last time before Crist leaves office.