Daily Clips for October 22, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Bill Clinton rallies Miami students to support Alex Sink for governor By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post Former president Bill Clinton had an enthusiastic college crowd of about 600 at his feet Thursday morning and told them what the political experts were saying about them. Marco Rubio's personal finances clash with call for fiscal discipline By Alex Leary and Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times For a candidate promising to put America's fiscal house in order, Marco Rubio has a tough time keeping his own house tidy, plagued by questionable spending and sloppy accounting. Charlie Crist running short on time, money By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Independent U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist spent more than $7 million in August and September, and appears overwhelmingly behind front-runner Marco Rubio in financial firepower. Haridopolos says there is a strong chance for a November special session By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune State lawmakers could find themselves quickly getting back to work after the November 2 election. BEST OF THE BLOGS "Big Government" Stimulus A Big Help To Florida By Daniel Tilson The Examiner For anyone in Florida who wants to separate fact from fiction when it comes to what Republicans and the Tea Party call "Big Government" and its role and impact on our lives here in the Sunshine State, there's an absolutely unbiased source of information that can help. FL-25: Joe Garcia’s opponent may be tossed off ballot By Larry Thorson Florida Progressive Coalition Hey, world! Florida is at it again! Sunshine State politics once again stands out from the crowd. Supporters of Amendment 4: Nathaniel Reed By Gimleteye Eye on Miami "My vote for Amendment 4 represents my discontent if not disgust with the return to an era of uncaring, anything goes development without caring for local input or the impact on our remaining undeveloped land." Marco Rubio’s Anti Hispanic Agenda By Inkberries Beach Peanuts Marco Rubio holds himself out as one who is living the “American Dream” and was lucky enough to be able to do so because America is the “greatest country in the world” according to his stump speech. Smart Policy Above Politics: A Tough Race in Sarasota/Manatee By Benjamin Kirby The Spencerian In the Saturday Sarasota Herald-Tribune, J. David McSwane gives us some insight into just how tough a race Keith Fitzgerald has down in Sarasota. FLORIDA POLITICS Senate President-to-be Mike Haridopolos hires three new staffers who are double dippers St. Petersburg Times By Lucy Morgan A year ago state lawmakers passed a law to ban "double dipping'' among public employees. Charlie Crist's switch to independent may change campaign laws By Kathleen Haughney News Service of Florida Lawmakers could look at changes next year to make it more difficult for political candidates to switch parties mid-campaign, a proposal directly in response to Gov. Charlie Crist's defection from the Republican Party this past year. Taj Mahal courthouse is way out of order Editorial Orlando Sentinel Tallahassee's notorious "Taj Mahal" courthouse — with its dome, miles of African mahogany and kitchens for each judge — is a $48 million monument to state government at its worst. POLITICAL RACES After three days of early voting, Republicans hold edge in Florida By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Republicans across Florida have mounted an early lead in returning absentee ballots and are showing up in greater numbers than Democrats since early voting began Monday. Clinton campaigns for Sink By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Gubernatorial hopeful Alex Sink -- who passed up recent chances to stand with the current occupant of the White House -- joined ex-President Bill Clinton at a Miami rally Thursday that brought home the tough national climate for Democrats in 2010. Clinton rallies the young for Sink By Tristram Korten Florida Independent Alex Sink, Florida’s Democratic candidate for governor, and former President Bill Clinton appeared at Miami-Dade College this morning for a rally aimed at turning out young and minority voters. Will history repeat itself in the Sink-Scott race? By David R. Colburn Gainesville Sun This year’s gubernatorial election between Democrat Alex Sink and Republican Rick Scott looks and sounds remarkably like the Florida senatorial election of 1988 when Connie Mack III defeated Kenneth “Buddy” MacKay for the U.S. Senate seat. Forged e-mail is circulated anonymously in apparent attempt to taint Alex Sink By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau A forged e-mail that attempts to show Democrat Alex Sink was linked to a "pay to play'' scheme with convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein has emerged in the highly-contested governor's race. Rick Scott says Alex Sink practices 'Obama math' on budget plans By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact Rick Scott says he's running against a woman for governor in Alex Sink who is lock-step in line with the policies of President Barack Obama, and has become fluent in what Scott calls "Obama math. Sink, Scott job plans more talk than action By Beth Kassab Orlando Sentinel To hear them talk, Democrat Alex Sink and Republican Rick Scott each have plans that will create jobs in Florida and help turn around the state's rampant unemployment. Sink pledges to boost area economy By Louis Cooper Pensacola News Journal Democrat Alex Sink thinks nothing should ever be able to threaten the economy of Northwest Florida the way this summer's BP oil spill did. Fla. Senate hopefuls support Social Security bonus By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press The three U.S. Senate candidates found something they can agree on: giving Social Security recipients a $250 bonus to make up for a lack of cost of living increases. Meek urges UF students to get out the vote By Travis Pillow Florida Independent After recent visits to the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida, Kendrick Meek stopped by the University of Florida Thursday to rally students, a part of the Democratic base whose enthusiasm may be flagging in the late stages of the election. Rubio's words the same as underdog to frontrunner By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press Marco Rubio was at a Panhandle truck stop refueling during a trip from Pensacola to Tallahassee when a truck driver startled him. Rubio stresses his beliefs in Thursday visit to the Treasure Coast By Jim Turner TC Palm Marco Rubio isn’t ready to claim the mantle of U.S. Senator just yet. Ausley says GOP opponent in CFO race afraid of debate The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Loranne Ausley is angry that her opponent for chief financial officer refuses to debate her. CFO hopeful slams spending By Jay Stapleton Daytona Beach News-Journal Running on a platform of "cleaning up the mess" of overspending on pet projects in Tallahassee, Chief Financial Officer candidate Loranne Ausley appeared briefly Thursday morning outside the 5th District Court of Appeal on Beach Street. Democratic donor sues to remove David Rivera from congressional ballot By Scott Hiaasen and Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald Allies of Democratic congressional candidate Joe Garcia filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to kick GOP candidate David Rivera off the Nov. 2 ballot for filing misleading financial disclosure forms as a state lawmaker. Boyd Fights GOP Tide in District 2 Race By Margie Menzel WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee In Florida's Second Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Allen Boyd faces a tight race against political newcomer Steve Southerland. Democratically aligned PAC spends a hefty amount to oppose Southerland By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Though independent expenditures opposing Republican Steve Southerland outnumber those supporting him by approximately $545,000, he isn’t having any trouble staying ahead of opponent Rep. Allen Boyd. Eighty-eight percent of American Crossroads funding since Sept. 1 came from just five donors By Luke Johnson Florida Independent Out of a total of 345 contributions between Sept. 1 and Oct. 13, just five donors contributed 88 percent of the funds to American Crossroads, a “super PAC” affiliated with former Bush White House Senior Adviser Karl Rove and former Republican National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie. BALLOT INITIATIVES Yes on Amendments 5, 6: A welcome change Editorial Florida Times-Union No reasonable person is happy with the political redistricting process in Florida. Our view on redistricting: As politicians pick voters, extremes grow entrenched Editorial USA Today This is expected to be a tumultuous congressional election. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Group Wants Oil Drilling Ban in State Constitution By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida This week marks the six-month anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon spill off the Gulf Coast of Florida, and a citizen group is petitioning for constitutional amendment banning oil drilling near the state's beaches to help make sure it doesn't happen again. BP sued for harm to Gulf's endangered wildlife By Sue Sturgis Facing South Three conservation groups have brought suit against oil giant BP under the federal Endangered Species Act for the ongoing harm or killing of endangered and threatened wildlife caused by the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. U.S. judge presses federal, state agencies on Everglades cleanup strategies By Christine Stapleton Palm Beach Post Chief U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno relentlessly lobbed questions to lawyers involved in a 22-year-old Everglades cleanup lawsuit on Thursday, asking repeatedly whether a reservoir he ordered to be built would, could or should be built. LGBT Will state fight to keep ban on gay adoptions? By Susan Spencer-Wendel Palm Beach Post A critical deadline looms today in the legal fight over Florida's ban on gay adoptions. Defense Department: 'Don't ask, don't tell' is back By Anne Flaherty The Associated Press The Defense Department has declared that "don't ask, don't tell" is once again the law of the land but has set up a new system that could make it tougher to get fired for being openly gay. Opinions differ on 'don't ask, don't tell' policy By Amanda Nalley Tallahassee Democrat In Tallahassee, opinions differ when it comes to "don't ask, don't tell," a law that prevents gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military. EDUCATION Departing D.C. schools chancellor Rhee offers tough advice in Tampa By Tom Marshall St. Petersburg Times Call her a one-woman wrecking crew, a miracle worker, or the quintessential "mean girl" in American education reform. Call her what you want; Michelle Rhee doesn't mind. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida's latest unemployment figures being released Friday The Associated Press South Florida Sun-Sentinel Florida labor officials are hoping they'll see improvement in September's unemployment numbers. Crowds gather to hear details of Legoland Florida By Sara K. Clarke and Dewayne Bevil Orlando Sentinel Legoland Florida unveiled its plans Thursday for some of the signature attractions at the theme park it intends to open near Orlando. HEALTH AND SENIORS Insurance chiefs vote against industry By Jim Saunders and Julie Appleby Health News Florida and Kaiser Health News Insurance regulators today approved controversial rules governing how much insurers must spend on patients’ medical care – without adopting last-minute amendments that some consumer advocates opposed. Feds: Firm scammed U.S. by using dementia patients By Kelli Kennedy The Associated Press Federal authorities charged the nation's largest chain of community mental health centers Thursday with Medicare fraud, alleging the Miami-based company preyed on patients with severe dementia to bill $200 million for services it never delivered. Pain clinic brothers subjects of racketeering probe By Michael LaForgia Palm Beach Post Twin brothers who ran some of South Florida's most brazen cash-only pain clinics are targets of a massive federal racketeering investigation, a case built on allegations of extortion, kidnapping and murder-for-hire, federal prosecutors said Thursday. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Ex-Cons Still Handcuffed During This Year's Election By Amara Sohn NBC 6 News Miami The 43-year-old served three years in prison for possession of cocaine and aggravated battery, lived on the streets and even attempted suicide at one point. Tea Party dredges up pain of segregation By Rev. Randolph Bracy Jr. Orlando Sentinel "The Tea Party movement as a whole may not be racist, but there are elements of it that are." Movement under way to let Floridians openly tote their guns By Mike Thomas Orlando Sentinel So you are walking down Park Avenue, window shopping for all the stuff you once could afford, and suddenly coming down the sidewalk you see three gunslingers. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Conservative activists target 2 Fla. justices By Bill Kaczor The Associated Press No jurist has ever lost a yes-no retention vote in Florida, but this year conservative and tea party activists are trying to change that by targeting a pair of Supreme Court justices in a low-key campaign relying on news releases, word-of-mouth and websites. Ross' Ties to New 'Taj' Courthouse at Heart of Recusal Request By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Lawyers for a Lakeland firefighter have filed a motion asking that two judges on the 1st District Court of Appeal step aside because the opposing lawyer was among the "heroes" who helped the court get the money for a grand new courthouse.