Daily Clips for October 18, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Amendment 8 (Class Size) Demonstrates Flaws in Referendum Process By Dennis Maley Bradenton Times Excerpt: Damien Filer of Progress Florida, who was one of the leaders in the 2002 initiative, says that there is one thing not being made clear to the voters and that is that the repeal will be a reduction in funding to education. FEATURED STORIES As early voting starts, voters’ mood is anxious By Beth Reinhard, Amy Sherman, Becky Bowers and Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald Will riled conservatives and depressed Democrats send a message to President Barack Obama and usher in a Republican sweep up and down Florida's beefy ballot in 2010? Fla. Senate candidates clash over Social Security, abortion in spirited 3-way debate By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio accused Gov. Charlie Crist on Friday of using "shameful" scare tactics to frighten seniors about his views on Social Security, but Crist stood his ground while Democratic candidate and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek said both men are suspect on protecting benefits. Alex Sink's campaign marked by moderation By Lloyd Dunkelberger Sarasota Herald-Tribune With a million Floridians out of work and the electorate demanding action, Alex Sink held a news conference earlier this year, touting her Cabinet agency's efforts to curb the use of office supplies and cell phones. Rick Scott deflects questions about fraud during leadership of beleaguered Columbia/HCA By Jeff Ostrowski Palm Beach Post Not long after he was hired, Jerre Frazier recalls meeting with Rick Scott at Columbia/HCA's Nashville headquarters to discuss the legal issues looming over the hospital chain. Scott's pleading of the 5th manipulated legal system By Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte St. Petersburg Times President Ronald Reagan once spoke of the importance of the rule of law in a free society such as ours, a society where the rights of people have been protected for centuries. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Andy Marlette Pensacola News Journal FLORIDA POLITICS Head of state buildings pushes back on 'Taj Mahal' courthouse By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Linda South, head of the state agency responsible for construction of state buildings, held her tongue last week after Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos called for her head. With voting rights groups reeling, new registrations decline By Jesse Zwick Florida Independent After more than a decade of success expanding voter rolls, voting rights advocates are noting a disturbing trend in the run-up to the 2010 elections. What we didn't know before Jim Greer's ascent By Michael Kruse St. Petersburg Times The 1993 DUI arrest of Jim Greer started as a 911 call from a woman in a drunken panic. Jim Greer's attorneys to depose Dean Cannon on Monday By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel On Monday, lawyers for former Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer will depose incoming state House Speaker Dean Cannon. John Mica ready to take powerful gavel of Transportation chairmanship By Larry Hannan Florida Times-Union U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., was supposed to become chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in 2007. How the Legislature voted on the teacher tenure bill By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times Whew! Today we come to the end of our review of some the Legislature's most controversial votes over the past two years. POLITICAL RACES Independent vote, party support make Sink hard to beat By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Before the rise of the Tea Party, before a multimillionaire health-care executive came out of nowhere to claim the Republican nomination for governor, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink could easily claim title to the most compelling political story. Alex Sink still trying to define herself for voters By Catherine Whittenburg Tampa Tribune For Democrat Alex Sink, the governor's race has been a race to define herself before her multimillionaire opponent does it for her. Alex Sink mastered banking, but political ease is a stretch for the bookish candidate By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau When Alex Sink returned to North Carolina after a failed marriage and a three-year stint in West Africa, she threw herself into something just as foreign: the male-dominated world of banking. Anti-incumbency public mood gives Scott voter appeal By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News If Rick Scott ran a balance sheet on his political assets and liabilities, his business success would probably count on both sides of the ledger. Rick Scott the TV image well known, Rick Scott the man is not By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau After buying and selling everything from doughnuts to hospitals, Rick Scott is trying to make his toughest sale: persuading voters to elect him governor of Florida. Rick Scott lived in public housing 3 years, records show By Sally Kestin and Peter Franceschina South Florida Sun-Sentinel Rick Scott tells a rags-to-riches story of coming from humble roots to become a multimillionaire and the Republican candidate for governor of Florida. Scott, Sink quiet on issues key to North Floridians By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union In ads, on their websites and in their campaign speeches, Rick Scott, the Republican nominee for governor, and Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate, tout how their agendas would work for the state of Florida - at least, when they're not trading shots about the other's record. Experts: Two weeks to go, Sink-Scott ads may get more negative, personal By Ryan Mills Naples Daily News On Aug. 23, one day before Florida’s primary election, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott posted a short video to his YouTube website painting a “clear choice” between him and his rival in the race, Attorney General Bill McCollum. In a brawling debate, U.S. Senate candidates tangle in Tampa By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Republican U.S. Senate frontrunner Marco Rubio may be leading Charlie Crist by double digits but he didn't pull his punches when he ripped the governor as a phoney opportunist in a combative televised debate Friday. Meek touts middle-class focus in Senate campaign By Jennifer Kay The Associated Press Kendrick Meek had other stops to make in north Florida, but he didn't want to leave the sunny stadium parking lot where his supporters grilled hot dogs and hamburgers before a Jacksonville Jaguars game. Meek: Give everyday Floridians a voice Editorial board interview Daytona Beach News-Journal Democratic Congressman Kendrick Meek is running for the U.S. Senate against Republican Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist, who's running with no party affiliation. Crist: No affiliation gives middle a choice Editorial board interview Daytona Beach News-Journal Charlie Crist was elected as Florida's governor four years ago. Rather than seek re-election, he is running for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Kendrick Meek and Republican Marco Rubio. U.S. Senate race: Will Charlie Crist's independence win voters? By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post Having grown up with Gov. Charlie Crist in St. Petersburg, former state House Speaker Peter Wallace has seen the many faces of his friend and sometime political foe. Rudolph Giuliani campaigns with U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio in Delray Beach By Cynthia Roldan Palm Beach Post With Rudolph Giuliani at his side, Republican candidate Marco Rubio took his campaign for the U.S. Senate to the South County Civic Center in suburban Delray Beach on Saturday, telling a crowd of about 100 people that this election "is simply nothing less than a referendum on America's identity." Gelber presses Bondi to answer questions in only TV debate By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Republican Pam Bondi and Democrat Dan Gelber clashed on a wide variety of issues Saturday in a spirited debate between the leading candidates for Florida attorney general. Race for Fla. CFO gets little attention By Melissa Nelson The Associated Press Although Florida's next chief financial officer will take charge during one of the rockiest times in the state's financial history, the race has received little attention amid higher-profile races for the U.S. Senate and governor. GOP legislator urged a "no vote" against Atwater but changed his mind By Gary Fineout The Fine Print Rep. Charles Van Zant, who this week sent out an e-mail suggesting GOP candidate for governor Rick Scott would support a near ban on abortion, also told his supporters on Monday that he would not be backing Senate President Jeff Atwater for Chief Financial Officer. Congressional candidate David Rivera faces ethics complaint By Scott Hiaasen and Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald A Democratic donor has filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics accusing Republican state representative and congressional candidate David Rivera of hiding his income in disclosure forms filed annually. Incumbent considers herself independent, moderate Staff Report Daytona Beach News-Journal Suzanne Kosmas was elected two years ago in District 24, making her the first Volusia County resident to serve in Congress since 1992. NRA backing Boyd in contest with Southerland By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Congressman Allen Boyd Friday announced a key endorsement in the incumbent North Florida Democrat's toughest election fight since 1996. GOP Challenger Denies Involvement With Biker Gang By Jeremy P. Jacobs National Journal Republican congressional challenger Allen West -- the latest Republican House candidate to be embroiled in a personal scandal -- denied on Saturday that he has ever been affiliated with a controversial motorcycle club that has ties to criminal activity. Education reform is a major issue in Florida's Senate District 8 race By Tia Mitchell Florida Times-Union From the very beginning, the State Senate District 8 race between John Thrasher and Deborah Gianoulis has been largely about education. Judge removes GOP nominee from Fla. Senate ballot By Bill Kaczor The Associated Press In a first-of-its-kind case, a judge Friday removed a Republican state Senate candidate from the Nov. 2 ballot for violating Florida's financial disclosure laws. Secretive 'super PACS' attack Klein on airwaves, roadways By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Seen those billboards depicting Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein as a marionette with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pulling the strings? Politifact says: Truth gets lost in most ads from political groups By Bill Adair St. Petersburg Times Ads from "super PACs" and other political groups targeting the 2010 midterm election are overwhelmingly spreading exaggerations and falsehoods, according to a fact-checking analysis by PolitiFact. Widespread early voting and voting by mail shake up elections By Anthony Man South Florida Sun-Sentinel Voting has changed dramatically for millions of Floridians in the past decade. Early voting: Elections are half over when polls open Nov. 2 By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News The early balloting that begins across Florida on Monday is not just a popular convenience for the voters, it's a tactical challenge for political strategists. BALLOT INITIATIVES St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll: Most parents favor class-size limits By Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times Related: Complete poll results Two weeks before a critical vote, a majority of Tampa Bay parents have a message for those who want to tweak Florida's class-size amendment: Leave it alone. Fla. voters to weigh in on class-size limits By Harriet Daniels Gainesville Sun Florida voters decided in 2002 to impose limits on the number of students in statewide classrooms. Voters getting partisan pitches over proposed political boundary reforms By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald The campaign to change the way voting districts are drawn in Florida brought in New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz — two well-known independents — to promote its cause Friday. On districts, an alliance between black leaders and GOP By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune The fight to defeat a pair of amendments that would change the ways legislative districts are drawn in Florida has sparked one of the unlikeliest alliances in the state political history. Amendment 4 backers get cash infusion By Allison Ross and Adam Playford Palm Beach Post The campaign for Amendment 4 - cash-poor and facing well-financed rivals - received a major shot in the arm that could transform the fight over the measure. Why we need Amendment 4 By Layton Mank Gainesville Sun The Sun's Oct. 10 editorial opposing Amendment 4 simply parrots the position of the statewide developers that the amendment is anti-growth and bad governance. The Sun is wrong on both counts. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY EPA plays catchup on costly Florida water pollution By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is supposed to enforce the nation's rules on water pollution, has suffered a pair of black eyes from two recent court cases in Florida. Federal official defends Gulf oil spill reporting By Bruce Rtichie FloridaEnvironments.com NOAA Administrator Jane Lubcheco on Friday defended as "consistent" her description of the fate of oil spilled last summer in the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, an oil industry representative told environmental journalists that the nation must continue deep-water oil drilling as an important economic driver in the Gulf region. Six lessons we learned 6 months after the spill By Kevin Spear Orlando Sentinel Cleanup efforts are still ongoing in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana 6 months after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig erupted and spilled 200 million gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico. Sharks Are Dwindling, But Important to Florida Ecology By Del Milligan Lakeland Ledger When the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster spewed nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico during the spring and summer, sharks were pushed ever closer to shore. State asks public's help in evaluating imperiled species By Kevin Lollar Ft. Myers News-Press Have you seen a big increase in black bears in your neighborhood the past decade? How about a noticeable lack of brown pelicans? Climate Zombies The Progress Report Think Progress One of the defining characteristics of the current Republican Party is the near-unanimous denial of the science behind the threat of global warming pollution. LGBT Obama’s delay on military gays puts off the inevitable By Leonard Pitts Jr. Miami Herald It’s not hard to understand why the Obama Administration went to court Thursday seeking a stay of a federal injunction barring the military from enforcing “don’t ask don’t tell.” Court ruling or no, gay troops know not to tell By Allen G. Breed and Brian Witte The Associated Press When word came down of a judge's ruling that gays could serve openly in the military, an Air Force officer received joyous congratulations from a comrade. Realizing there was someone in the room who didn't know his sexual orientation, the officer pretended it was a joke and laughed it off. EDUCATION Toxic schools: Mold, air quality spark thousands of complaints in Central Florida By Denise-Marie Balona Orlando Sentinel Mold clung to the ceiling and left dark trails across the walls and floor. School districts think they've met class-size deadline, but frustration just beginning By Dave Weber and Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel Public school officials across Central Florida think they met Friday's deadline to comply with the state's strict new class-size rules, but will not know for sure until all of the numbers are in. Don't make the teachers scapegoats By Bill Maxwell St. Petersburg Times Teachers long have been blamed for the real and perceived failures of our public schools. Florida prepaid tuition plan opens Monday with higher prices By Scott Travis South Florida Sun-Sentinel The once dirt-cheap Florida Prepaid College savings plan is being overhauled this year, offering simpler options and heftier prices. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida Eyes Freeze on Faulty Foreclosures By Lynn Hatter WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Last month, one in every 148 homes in Florida received a foreclosure notice. Latest shift in tax burden By Doug Sword Sarasota Herald-Tribune It was famously predicted three years ago that reforms to Florida's property tax system would make taxes drop like a rock. State pays $180 million in fees, gets little from long-term investment By Kris Hundley St. Petersburg Times When an investment in the state's public pension dips in value, Florida's money managers say it's unfair to judge investment funds over the short term. Florida workers comp rates going up 7.8 percent By Bill Kaczor The Associated Press Florida employers will begin paying 7.8 percent more next year to insure their workers for on-the-job injuries under a rate increase approved Friday. HEALTH AND SENIORS Social Security benefits won't increase in 2011 By Harriet Johnson Brackey South Florida Sun-Sentinel The Social Security Administration on Friday announced that benefits won't go up next year, to the dismay of seniors who say their cost of living is rising. Advantage plans: Fewer is better By Dave Gulliver Health News Florida Florida seniors searching for a Medicare Advantage plan this fall will find fewer choices than last year -- and that’s a good thing, advocates say. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Victory long time coming for Florida tomato pickers Editorial St. Petersburg Times The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has finally gotten a major Florida tomato grower to agree to pay farm laborers a penny-per-pound premium. Farmworkers score again for justice Editorial Ft. Myers News-Press On Wednesday, Pacific Tomato Growers, one of the largest producers of tomatoes in the U.S., pledged to improve working conditions and pay for harvesters under an accord with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Five years since Florida enacted "stand-your-ground" law, justifiable homicides are up By Ben Montgomery and Colleen Jenkins St. Petersburg Times Two men meet at a park one Sunday afternoon in September. One is playing basketball with his daughter. Give drug courts a real chance to work Editorial St. Petersburg Times Drug courts and the supervised drug treatment they offer help addicts turn their lives around.