Daily Clips for September 29, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Gubernatorial Foes at Odds on Education Proposals By Gary Fineout Sarasota Herald-Tribune Saying that more money alone will not improve Florida schools, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott on Tuesday outlined an ambitious plan for a "new era" in public schools that could dramatically expand the use of private school vouchers and having children get their schooling online. Florida Dems aim death blow at Charlie Crist By Alexander Burns Politico Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is getting the full Arlen Specter treatment as he struggles to hold on to Democratic support in his independent bid for the U.S. Senate. Sink, Florida Cabinet fed up with BP claims czar Feinberg By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink used an update this morning on Florida’s response to the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster to blast BP claims czar Ken Feinberg for paying too little, too late to Panhandle businesses and causing at least one company to close its doors. Fair redistricting to reshape politics Editorial Tampa Tribune Proposed constitutional amendments 5 and 6, included on the ballot Nov. 2, have one goal: to end gerrymandering in Florida. POLITICAL RACES Alex Sink adds Republican endorsements By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee for governor, raced from a Cabinet meeting today to a jobs center south of the Capitol to tout her bi-partisan appeal. Sink fires back at Scott over ads about state's pension fund By Catherine Whittenburg Tampa Tribune Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink responded Tuesday to Republican Rick Scott's accusations that she has poorly managed state investments, calling his recent campaign ads "lies" and blasting him as scaring seniors unduly about the health of their pensions. Rick Scott's education plan would cut taxes, increase private school vouchers By Marc Caputo and Sergio Bustos St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Pledging to cut taxes and increase school choice for parents, Republican Rick Scott rolled out his education plan Tuesday in what could presage a long fight with the state's teachers union. Rick Scott releases choice-based education plan By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott unveiled an education plan Tuesday that signals clear support for voucher programs and for injecting more private-market competition into Florida classrooms, in the same vein as former Gov. Jeb Bush. Scott signals shift in wooing donors By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune For months, Republican Rick Scott proudly declared his independence from special interest groups by eschewing the traditional fundraising circuit and using $50 million of his own money to fund his campaign for governor. Scott 527 group nets nearly $1 million in six days By Luke Johnson Florida Independent The 527 group associated with Rick Scott’s campaign for governor, Let’s Get to Work, netted $906,000 in campaign contributions from individuals, other committees and companies between Sept. 16 and Sept. 21, according to disclosures on the group’s website posted Tuesday. Former state Democratic chairman Whitehead endorses Crist Staff Report Panama City News Herald Former Florida Democratic Party Chairman Charles Whitehead has endorsed Gov. Charlie Crist in his independent bid for the U.S. Senate race, the campaign announced Tuesday. In TV ad, Florida Democrat invokes Taliban against GOP rival By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson — the fire-breathing Orlando Democrat who once described the Republican Party's health care plan as "die quickly" and suggested former Vice President Dick Cheney was a vampire — is at the center of another national political brouhaha. U.S. House: Beaven vows to put up fight against Mica By Scott Powers Orlando Sentinel In his nearly 20 years in Congress, Rep. John Mica hardly has needed to break a sweat to get re-elected. UF speaker: Don’t expect big youth vote this fall By Nathan Crabbe Gainesville Sun Young voters helped elect Barack Obama in 2008, but Democrats shouldn’t expect a repeat in this year’s midterm elections, according to a political science professor speaking tonight at the University of Florida. Libertarian law firm to challenge electioneering law Staff Report Orlando Sentinel The Institute for Justice, a Virginia-based libertarian law firm that’s received funding from the conservative Koch Foundation, is about to file a federal-court challenge to Florida’s new electioneering law, the group announced Tuesday. Broken Federal Election Commission fails to enforce campaign finance laws By Jesse Zwick Florida Independent Campaign finance reform groups are telling a sobering story. Ballot timing angers party By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune Democrats are angry with Sarasota's supervisor of elections for suddenly moving up the day to mail out absentee ballots to 20,000 voters -- sending them out today, instead of Friday. Rick Scott's cynical smears Editorial St. Petersburg Times Rick Scott is a fine one to preach about accountability. BALLOT INITIATIVES The Bleaching Amendments? By James Call WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Opponents of a constitutional proposal changing how Florida draws its political districts have upped the ante. Florida's 'Amendment 4' Would Give Voters Say on Overbuilding By Daniel Indiviglio The Atlantic Florida was one of the states hit hardest by the collapse of the housing market. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Fight about Florida water rules growing as deadline nears By Steve Patterson Florida Times-Union New clean-water standards for Florida's rivers are triggering a political struggle with national fallout weeks before a deadline for federal action. U.S. Geological Survey uncovers elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in waterbodies nationwide By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent According to a recently released national study by the U.S. Geological Survey, elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus have remained the same or increased in many streams and aquifers across the nation since the early 1990s. Cabinet blasts claims process By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News Members of Florida's Cabinet expressed, again, their anger at how claims are being handled for those who've lost money because of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Obama endorses using fines for Gulf rehabilitation The Associated Press Tampa Tribune President Barack Obama endorsed a plan Tuesday to rehabilitate the Gulf of Mexico with some of the billions of dollars in water pollution fines expected from the companies responsible for the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. Cuban, American, and Mexican scientists meet in Sarasota to discuss BP disaster & science in the Gulf By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa It’s been nearly fifty years since the start of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Florida Cabinet delays Big Cypress land transfer By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com The Florida Cabinet on Tuesday delayed action on a proposed transfer of 29,412 acres in Big Cypress National Preserve to the federal government after state Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson raised concerns about management of the land. LGBT Gay adoption case sparks debate over UF's involvement By Nathan Crabbe Gainesville Sun It all started innocently enough: An e-mail congratulating a University of Florida law professor for a brief in support of overturning the state's gay adoption ban. Adopting equality Editorial Panama City News Herald Florida always should be finding ways to stand out among states. EDUCATION Broward Teachers Union avoiding Race to Top talks By Akilah Johnson South Florida Sun-Sentinel The clock is ticking for the Broward Teachers Union and the school district to work together on changes mandated by the federal Race to the Top competition, most notably creating a merit pay plan for teachers. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Census snapshot of S. Florida: Poverty up, wealth down By Douglas Hanks Miami Herald Housing values crashed. Renting became more popular. Much of the population slipped a rung down the wealth ladder. And Miami seems to be booming. Fla. investment chief says pension fund strong The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Florida's investment chief said the state retirement fund is one of the nation's healthiest in a report Tuesday that contrasts with a Republican Party ad suggesting public employees' pensions are in jeopardy. Florida Supreme Court powerless to freeze state foreclosures By Kimberly Miller Palm Beach Post The Florida Supreme Court said Tuesday it cannot freeze foreclosures in the state as requested by a Florida congressman and amid a tempest of allegations and admissions that flawed paperwork has been used to take people's homes. HEALTH AND SENIORS Health law changes add extra protection By Diane Chun Gainesville Sun If you are in the dark about just what the new health reform law does for you, you're not alone. 2M in FL to qualify for tax credits Staff Report Health News Florida As grumbling against the health-reform law continues and the economy drags, a consultant's report released today says nearly 2 million Floridians will be eligible for tax credits for their health premiums in 2014. Explaining the health care reforms that went into effect last week By Robert Lorei WMNF Community Radio Tampa The health care reform legislation passed this year introduced many changes to health insurance. Rally focuses on Florida kids' needs By Robert Nolin Orlando Sentinel Grass-roots leaders and child advocates delivered a message Tuesday night as brassy and loud as the marching band and hip-hop dancers that accompanied them: Florida's kids are being short-changed and it's high time to put things right. Maine raps FMA's 'petty bickering' By Carol Gentry Health News Florida The Florida Medical Association's decision to express a lack of confidence in the American Medical Association has drawn critics who say it's time to support AMA leaders.