Daily Clips for September 28, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Florida ‘progressives’ urge voting from home By William Gibson South Florida Sun-Sentinel Excerpt: A liberal group called Progress Florida is telling voters they can avoid the weather and the lines at the polls by signing up to cast mail-in ballots from home. “For Florida progressives, voting has never been more important…or easier,” the group says. The group launched a website on Monday called VotingAtHome.com, an online tool that allows registered Florida voters to request a mail-in ballot from their county supervisor of elections. As Laws Shift, Voters Cast Ballots Weeks Before the Polls Close By Jeff Zeleny New York Times Excerpt: In Florida, where ballots began arriving in mailboxes last week, a liberal group called Progress Florida sent an appeal Monday urging people to “Vote in your pajamas.” FEATURED STORIES Marco Rubio denies flip-flopping on privatizing Social Security By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times A national TV appearance Sunday by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio revived the debate over Social Security and left independent rival Charlie Crist painting the frontrunner as a "flip-flopper." For the moment, Alex Sink has more money than Rick Scott By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union Candidates and independent groups have begun reloading their bank accounts in recent weeks for the final battle in Florida’s 2010 gubernatorial election. Florida Voters Enter Battle on Growth By Damien Cave New York Times Lesley Blackner drove through a maze of condominium towers, rarely seeing any curtains in the windows, or residents, and tried to contain her anger. FLORIDA POLITICS Chief judge's letter on building draws ire By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News The chief judge of Florida's 1st District Court of Appeal on Monday tried to address controversy about the court's new $48-million home and elicited further controversy among his fellow judges in the process. Why vote for anyone who allows Florida's 'Taj Mahal'? By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times It's almost October, and the public is still waiting for the Florida Supreme Court to do something about that $48 million "Taj Mahal" courthouse that an appeals court in Tallahassee sneaked through for itself. POLITICAL RACES Sink, Smith receive warm welcome at Gainesville stop By Chad Smith Gainesville Sun Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink and her running mate were in Gainesville for a fundraiser Monday night, one of several the pair will attend around the state in the five weeks left before the election. Numbers rising, Senate hopeful Meek cruises through Tampa By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa Months ago, US Representative Kendrick Meek was cast as a long shot in the race for Florida’s open US Senate Seat. Tea party favorite Marco Rubio plays it safe By Anthony Man South Florida Sun-Sentinel Marco Rubio, who began his U.S. Senate candidacy as an insurgent challenging the Republican establishment, is now leading in public opinion polls — and careful to say nothing that would jeopardize his lead. Marco Rubio assailed over jobless benefits By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times The AFL-CIO is targeting Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio in a new mailer that calls him anti-worker. Senate candidate Rubio says Social Security change needed, but not private system By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Republican Senate nominee Marco Rubio, who once favored giving younger workers the option of investing a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes in private accounts, says he abandoned that view at least six months ago after concluding the idea "doesn't work." Florida GOP donors appeal ruling on Crist refunds The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Republican contributors to Gov. Charlie Crist's independent campaign for the U.S. Senate aren't giving up their quest for refunds. Ausley slams Atwater for not auditing reports By Dave Heller Florida Capital News The Florida Legislature is not following the law that requires audits for lobbyist-compensation reports, a candidate for state chief financial officer said Monday. Small-business advocate endorses Republican Bondi By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Florida's major advocate for small-business owners endorsed Republican Pam Bondi for attorney general Monday, citing her fierce support of the state's federal lawsuit against the Obama Administration's national health-care plan. Grayson's 'Taliban Dan' ad takes Webster's words out of context, twists meaning By Mark Schlueb Orlando Sentinel In an attack ad labeling his opponent "Taliban Dan" Webster, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson uses Webster's own words to prove the Republican thinks wives should be subservient to their husbands. Southerland taking Boyd's 'mischaracterizations' personally By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Republican Steve Southerland said Monday "it's incredibly personal" for U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd to distort his positions on taxes, Social Security and the right to vote. Florida's 25th District: Joe Garcia vs. David Rivera By Tim Padgett Time Magazine One overhyped story in the 2008 election was the supposed rise of Miami's moderate Cuban-American voters. Supreme Court justices targeted for defeat after Amendment 9 ruling By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune A group says it will target two of the Florida Supreme Court justices who helped remove Amendment 9 -- the "health care freedom" amendment -- from the November ballot. Many Florida candidates face no competition this November By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent While big-name candidates running for the U.S. Senate or the governor’s office manage expensive and contentious campaigns, other candidates are running unopposed or against unknown candidates. BALLOT INITIATIVES "Hometown Democracy" Spurs Rush on Planners By Steve Newborn WUSF Public Radio Tampa The possibility that Amendment 4 - the so-called "Hometown Democracy" amendment - will be OK'd by voters in November hasn't escaped the attention of developers. Amendment on comprehensive land use changes sparks dueling ads By Kimberly Miller Palm Beach Post Palm Beach County voters will begin hearing more Amendment 4 debate with dueling advertisements running in key Southeast Florida markets. 'Fair Districts' will strengthen democracy Editorial St. Petersburg Times Florida can be a toss-up when it comes to statewide elections, but its legislative and congressional races are almost never competitive. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Oil spill commission questions BP's response plan By Joel Achenbach Washington Post The two chairmen of the president's Oil Spill Commission, which is conducting an inquiry into the April 20 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, expressed skepticism Monday about claims from BP and government officials that initial underestimation of the flow rate of the Macondo well had no impact on the response to the spill. Sen. Nelson joins effort to convince EPA to delay Florida water quality standards By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson has long portrayed himself as a friend to the ailing St. Johns River. Florida to appeal ruling overturning 2009 growth law changes By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com The Attorney General's Office says it will appeal a judge's ruling on a controversial 2009 growth management law that may have created uncertainty and confusion among local governments and developers. Florida Bear Plan Sparks Interest By Glen Gardner Public News Service Florida Bear populations in Florida have staged a comeback in some areas and a new draft plan is sparking debate on how best to keep that comeback alive. Fla. set to donate nearly 30,000 acres to feds The Associated Press Tampa Tribune The state is set to donate nearly 30,000 acres in South Florida to the federal government for the Big Cypress National Preserve. LGBT DADT In Legal Shambles The Progress Report Think Progress Last week, in a 56-43 vote, Senate Democrats failed to invoke cloture on the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, falling several votes shy of the 60 need to break a Republican filibuster. No second-class citizens, yet... Editorial Ocala Star-Banner Time and again over the past week, we have been reminded of the intolerance that is exhibited toward gays and lesbians, both nationally and here in Florida. EDUCATION Tips for Improving College Student Completion Rates By Nick Trobiano WUSF Public Radio Tampa It takes college students in the South too long to finish -- and costs them too much -- according to a report released Tuesday by education advocates. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY College Savings Up in Florida's Down Economy By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida With many Florida families struggling to just get by, you might think saving is out of the question. Nelson: Human-spaceflight program is 'teetering on the edge' By Robert Block Orlando Sentinel U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson warned Monday that if Congress does not pass NASA legislation this week, America's human-spaceflight program could be "teetering on the edge" of disaster. HEALTH AND SENIORS State law makes changes for pain clinics By Beth Burger Bradenton Herald It’s not your average doctor’s office. Department of Health cancels drug database contract By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Florida's effort to launch a prescription drug database meant to help crack down on"“pills mills" and "doctor shopping" appears likely to encounter more delays. It isn't easy to take away a doctor's prescription pad By Letitia Stein and Susan Taylor Martin St. Petersburg Times Dr. Ty Anderson let assistants use his name to prescribe Vicodin and other narcotic painkillers for patients — three of whom overdosed and died. Florida pill mills pump poison through South By Kate Howard and Paul Pinkham Florida Times-Union The pipeline is long, lucrative and lethal. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Attacks on homeless will be hate crimes in Florida The Associated Press Miami Herald This week it will become a hate crime to attack a homeless person with prejudice in Florida, meaning a crime like the fatal bludgeoning of a Vietnam veteran last year will come with steeper consequences.