Daily Clips for October 21, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Clinton, in Orlando appeal for Meek, says conservatives portray unrecognizable country By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post Last-minute efforts to convince Democrats in Florida's key I-4 corridor to remain faithful to their party and vote for Kendrick Meek for U.S. Senate got a boost today by yet another visit from former President Bill Clinton. Sink, Scott unleash attacks in debate By Mary Ellen Klas and Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Related: CNN poll: Scott 49%, Sink 46% Related: PolitiFact: Despite claim, Scott is tied to lots of lobbyists Alex Sink and Rick Scott admire each other's commitments to their families. And that's about it. Scott's evasions a poor fit for office Editorial St. Petersburg Times Rick Scott has spent months carefully shaping his image in television ads and other controlled settings. No on Amendment 8 Editorial Miami Herald Florida voters have sent two clear messages to the Legislature since 1998: Public education is the state's “paramount duty” and classroom size should be limited so that teachers can devote more time to each student in their care. FLORIDA POLITICS Criticized DCA photographs same as those lawmakers have By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News What's good enough for lawmakers is apparently too much for judges. Chief judge still doesn't get it Editorial St. Petersburg Times Judge Paul Hawkes still doesn't get it. The chief judge of the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee says he is "surprised and discouraged'' by the firestorm over the $48 million "Taj Mahal'' courthouse and denies he did anything wrong as the driving force behind it. POLITICAL RACES In debate, two share stage, but that’s it By Gary Fineout Sarasota Herald-Tribune In recent weeks, voters have seen plenty of Florida gubernatorial candidates Rick Scott and Alex Sink on television. Gloves come off again as Alex Sink and Rick Scott face off in debate By Anthony Man and Scott Wyman South Florida Sun-Sentinel For about 10 minutes, governor hopefuls Rick Scott and Alex Sink had a generally civilized, somewhat wonky, back-and-forth about the state budget and job creation. Scott, Sink tangle over ethics, experience in statewide debate By Catherine Whittenburg and William March Tampa Tribune Alex Sink and Rick Scott raced to draw first blood in their first statewide debate Wednesday, teasing out a few policy differences but largely highlighting themes of the attack ads that both gubernatorial candidates have running since the August primary. CNN, Times, USF host debates for governor, Senate this weekend Staff Report St. Petersburg Times CNN and the St. Petersburg Times are partnering with the University of South Florida to present live, nationally televised debates between the candidates for U.S. Senate and governor this weekend. Conservative media outlet Newsmax donates $100K to Scott’s 527 group By Luke Johnson Florida Independent “Either [Rick Scott] was incompetent and knew nothing of the massive fraud under way at his own company, or he was indeed complicit in the crime. Clinton stumps for Meek in Orlando The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Related: Clinton campaigns with Sink in Miami Former President Bill Clinton campaigned with Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek along Florida's crucial Interstate 4 corridor for the second day in a row. Bill Clinton tells UCF crowd: Support Kendrick Meek By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel With his Senate campaign stalled in third place and election season running out, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek leaned on the Democrats' big dog Wednesday in hopes of getting a boost. Crist says he relishes underdog role in Senate run By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press Gov. Charlie Crist says he's never been happier, and that may seem a little strange. Bondi, Gelber differ on focus in Fla. AG race By Kelli Kennedy The Associated Press Republican attorney general nominee Pam Bondi is trying to nationalize the campaign, pushing GOP talking points about the dismal economy, the Obama administration and particularly her opposition to the health care overhaul bill it pushed through Congress earlier this year. Rubio helps ally stump for votes By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Front-running U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio brought his star power Wednesday to one of Miami-Dade's busiest early voting sites to campaign with a close pal on shakier political ground: Republican congressional candidate David Rivera. DCCC begins ad campaign to save Allen Boyd, and looks to Joe Garcia for upset By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has begun to utilitze its long reserved air time in North Florida for embattled Congressman Allen Boyd. Alan Grayson seen as folk hero by some, as tyrant by others By Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel Related: Webster refuses to debate Grayson Everything is personal to U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson. Clear choices await Florida voters in 3rd Congressional District By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union In the race for Florida’s 3rd Congressional District, the choices could not be clearer. Tallahassee courthouse a new attack hammer in Thrasher-Gianoulis race By David Hunt and Tia Mitchell Florida Times-Union State Senate hopeful Deborah Gianoulis wants to connect her opponent, incumbent John Thrasher, to Tallahassee’s “Taj Mahal” courthouse scandal and generate votes for her. Ambler denied, Republicans to pick Norman’s replacement By Robert Napper Florida Independent State Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa, has lost his bid to replace embattled Republican nominee Jim Norman on the ballot for Florida’s District 12 Senate seat. Campaign works to keep hope from 2008 alive By Dinah Voyles Pulver Daytona Beach News-Journal Concerned that momentum could be lost after a record turnout among African-American voters in 2008, state Sen. Tony Hill and others hit the road this week to convince students on college campuses -- no matter their race -- to get out and vote. BALLOT INITIATIVES Fair Districts Florida amendments 5 and 6 seek to stop gerrymandering By Sean Kinane WMNF Community Radio Tampa Florida voters are deciding on two proposed amendments to the state Constitution that establish new rules for redistricting. Republican Party of Florida gives $750K to anti-Fair Districts group By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent In a piece on gerrymandering published last week, Tristram Korten noted that Protect Your Vote — the organization that is fighting Amendments 5 and 6 — was lacking in the fundraising department. Amendment One Would End Matching Campaign Funds By Mike Vasilinda Capitol News Service Florida voters will see six constitutional amendments on this year’s ballot along with a non binding vote on Federal spending, and a host of yes or no decisions on whether to retain judges. Amendment 8 is the wrong way to achieve class-size flexibility By Mark Castellano Ft. Myers News-Press In 2002, the voters of Florida passed the Class Size Reduction Amendment to the Florida Constitution. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Should pollution rules be imposed in Florida? By William Gibson South Florida Sun-Sentinel Some 46 Florida businesses and other groups urged Congress on Wednesday to support their efforts to forestall federal water-quality standards that they believe could be economically “devastating.” Industry-sponsored "Clean Gulf" conference draws fire By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa Six months ago today, an oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers. LGBT Appeals court keeps military gay policy for now By Lisa Leff The Associated Press A federal appeals court on Wednesday temporarily granted the U.S. government's request for a freeze on a judge's order requiring the military to allow openly gay troops. EDUCATION FSBA wants flexibility for Florida's new graduation requirements By Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times In its legislative platform for 2011, adopted last week, the Florida School Boards Association mostly asks for what you'd expect: More money. More local control. No more unfunded mandates. State opens civil investigations of recruiting, financial aid at for-profit colleges By Richard Danielson St. Petersburg Times The Florida Attorney General's Office has opened civil investigations into allegations of deceptive practices at five for-profit colleges, three with branches in the Tampa Bay area. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Republicans demonize the stimulus Editorial St. Petersburg Times Republicans apparently figure if they spread enough misinformation about the federal stimulus money that staved off an economic meltdown, voters will believe it. HEALTH AND SENIORS Many pain clinics claim exemption By Carol Gentry Health News Florida Florida has more than 80 licensed pain clinics that are not owned by physicians, despite a widespread impression that the Legislature required such ownership in a law that took effect Oct. 1. Federal, local agents raid 3 Palm Beach County pain clinics By Michael LaForgia Palm Beach Post Twin brothers who styled themselves as mega-rich playboys opened pain clinics in Palm Beach and Broward counties and lined their pockets with money from drug traffickers, federal agents alleged Wednesday. McCarty: Protect agents' commissions By Jim Saunders Health News Florida On the eve of a key vote, Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty on Wednesday proposed excluding agents from a new medical-spending formula that has roiled the health-insurance industry. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Florida immigration bill would allow police to skip over Canadians, Europeans By Elise Foley Florida Independent Via Change.org, some interesting information about a proposed Arizona-style immigration bill in Florida: The bill includes a provision allowing Canadians and Western Europeans to be “presumed to be legally in the United States,” even though other non-citizens must carry papers. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Krafts plead not guilty; hearing set By Laura Figueroa Miami Herald Former School Board Member Stephanie Kraft and her attorney husband Mitch Kraft entered not guilty pleas to a litany of corruption charges on Wednesday.