Daily Clips for October 27, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Sink forced to defend herself after she's accused of cheating during debate By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate for governor, was forced on Tuesday to explain why she broke the debate rules during her nationally televised debate with GOP candidate Rick Scott. Debates ignore big health issues By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Florida's next governor will face overhauling the $20 billion Medicaid program. Rubio, Meek push Crist on leaving GOP in last debate for Senate seat By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Facing tough questioning about the no-party candidacy that has rocked Florida's U.S. Senate race, Gov. Charlie Crist tonight defended his shifts on issues as "heartfelt" and proclaimed himself "liberated" since abandoning the GOP six months ago. Midterms will reshape Congress, but question is how bloody the GOP takeover will be By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Two years after Barack Obama promised change in Washington, it's coming in a dramatic final torrent of campaign money, nasty commercials and voter rebellion that will answer not whether Nov. 2 will reshape Congress but how bloody the takeover will be. FLORIDA POLITICS Outspoken Skop bypassed for PSC chairmanship By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday passed over outspoken Commissioner Nathan Skop as chairman, naming new Commissioner Art Graham by a 3-1 vote. POLITICAL RACES GOP leads Democrats in early-voting turnout By Aaron Deslatte and John Maines Orlando Sentinel The Florida Democratic offices in a crowded storefront in Ybor City look like a bunker lined with relics from the last war. Cheating flap grows as Alex Sink's campaign winds down By Marc Caputo and Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau In a campaign season of wall-to-wall negative commercials, Democrat Alex Sink's worst television moment came during a commercial break. Debate debacle hot topic as far away as the UK By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Barnstorming through Republican regions where Florida elections are largely decided, Rick Scott said Tuesday Democrat Alex Sink "broke the rules" in their final debate and tried to duck responsibility by firing an aide who sent her a message. Alex Sink fires aide who text-messaged during debate By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott began a six-day tour of the state Tuesday by blasting Democratic foe Alex Sink for cheating during their Monday night debate by looking at a phone with a message from a top adviser during a commercial break. Education, no new taxes Sinks' top pledges By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Sticking to retail politics with only a little more than week to go before Election Day, Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee for governor, flew to Jacksonville on Tuesday to meet with a handful of business and community leaders. Alex Sink back in bishop’s good graces By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink today won the support of one of Miami-Dade County’s most influential blacks, a week after Bishop Victor Curry blasted her for taking the African-American vote for granted because she blew off an NAACP candidate forum. Sink holds roundtable with First Coast business leaders By Dan Scanlan Florida Times-Union The Democrat who wants to occupy Tallahassee’s statehouse for the next four years brought her business plan to Northeast Florida executives and small business owners Tuesday afternoon. Scott bus tours across Florida in final seven days of campaigning By Bob Rathgeber Ft. Myers News-Press The final week of campaigning for the governor's job is an all-out sprint to capture Florida's undecided voters. Rick Scott, the Republican from Naples, has embarked on a whirlwind 30-city odyssey from Pensacola to Miami, meeting voters at events from pancake breakfasts to barbecues to black-tie affairs. Senate debate more civil, substantive By William March Tampa Tribune In the most substantive and civil debate so far, Florida's three Senate candidates refined their messages but stuck to the themes that have dominated the race. Governor is target as Crist, Meek and Rubio square off for final debate in U.S. Senate race By Beth Reinhard St. Petersburg Times The portable fan that Gov. Charlie Crist insists on at every public appearance could be seen and even heard during Tuesday's televised debate, but it didn't keep the independent U.S. Senate candidate out of the hot seat. Health care law's Medicare trims altering seniors' views By Marilyn Serafini USA Today Until this spring, life-long Democrat Carolyn Land never had a second thought about voting for Rep. Allen Boyd, a Democrat who has represented her area since 1997. Caution may cost Kosmas at the polls By Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel By her own admission, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas is a "careful" lawmaker. Despite anti-union rhetoric, West voluntarily joined teachers’ union in ’04-’05 By Luke Johnson Florida Independent “We don’t need to see unions to come down here and pressure the abilities of our small businesses and our corporations and businesses to grow,” said Allen West, the Republican challenger in Florida’s 22nd congressional district, in an Oct. 13 debate with his opponent, Rep. Ron Klein, at Lynn University in Boca Raton. Lawyer seeks removal of Miami congressional candidate David Rivera The Associated Press Miami Herald A case involving the potential removal of a Florida congressional candidate from the ballot over questions about his financial disclosures is set to go before a judge days before the election. Spending by congressional candidates may reach $2 billion, watchdog says By Michael Muskal Los Angeles Times It was Mark Twain who dryly noted that Americans have the best government money can buy. Unlike 2006 and 2008, Republicans feeling good with one week to go By Anthony Man South Florida Sun-Sentinel Doug Blanz says his election-season task – knocking on doors, soliciting votes for Republicans – has been much more rewarding this year than it was in 2006 or 2008. Group run by writer claiming that atheists promote ‘religious cleansing’ endorses Republicans for Congress By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Republican candidates for Florida congressional seats David Rivera, Allen West and Dan Webster, as well as Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio have earned the endorsement of Government Is Not God, a political action committee for social conservatives. Sarasota NAACP president: Voting glitch a concern as election day approaches By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent Questions about the voting machine glitch that struck an early vote location in Sarasota’s largely African-American community of Newtown Sunday evening continue to linger. BALLOT INITIATIVES Amendment 4 would give power to the people By John Hedrick Tampa Tribune On Nov. 3, Floridians will celebrate bright prospects for the Sunshine State. Amendments 5 & 6 empower voters, end office-for-life politics By Caroline Emmons-Schramm Orlando Sentinel This November, voters have the chance to improve Florida government for decades by voting yes on Amendments 5 and 6. Amendment 8 and Overcrowded Classrooms By Rick Stone WLRN Public Radio Miami Among the amendments facing voters on next week's ballot is a proposal to relax hard caps on class sizes. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Visit Florida fighting oil spill image By Grace Gagliano Bradenton Herald Proprietors for the White Sands Beach Resort are adamant about updating the hotel’s website and Facebook page with fresh content. PSC approves rate increase for Progress Energy customers to construct uncertain nuke plants By Sean Kinane WMNF Community Radio Tampa Today the Florida Public Service Commission elected a newcomer, Arthur Graham, to be chair, instead of outgoing Commissioner Nathan Skop. LGBT SAVE Dade: 'Don't Vote' By Steve Rothaus Miami Herald Video on SAVE Dade's YouTube channel. EDUCATION FL Prepaid College Plan: New Plans, New Prices, New Peace of Mind? By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida As families try to make ends meet, the Florida Prepaid College Plan helps some by providing greater options for higher education for those who plan early. HEALTH AND SENIORS Haridopolos wants a new Medicaid waiver By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune Florida -- which is already among a handful of states trying to derail the federal health care overhaul -- may ask for a waiver so it does not have to comply with some provisions dealing with the state's safety net program for the poor. Nursing Homes Regulations Fight Abuse and Neglect By Tom Flanigan WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Because Florida has such a large population of seniors, the state also has a large number of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Whose Standards? By Amy Keller Florida Trend Parents who want to adopt a child from another country face big expenses, piles of paperwork, long waits and a host of logistical challenges. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Fla. justices refuse to hear open meetings case By Bill Kaczor The Associated Press The Florida Supreme Court has refused to take an appeal from a lower court ruling that says citizens have no right to speak at meetings of government bodies. Florida to have all-female parole commission The Associated Press Florida Today Florida will have an all-female Parole Commission for the first time ever next year.