Daily Clips for October 7, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Senate debate is three-way duel for Crist, Meek and Rubio By Adam C. Smith and Beth Reinhard St. Petersburg Times Marco Rubio got the frontrunner treatment in a combative U.S. Senate debate Wednesday night, with both his rivals attacking him as a right-wing extremist out of step with Florida voters. U.S. Senate race: Fight for seat gets feisty By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press The three-way race for the Senate became a discussion of extremes during a debate Wednesday night — radical-right, far-left and all over the place. Buying the office or selling out? Alex Sink and Rick Scott battle over money in politics By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Democrat Alex Sink says her Republican rival, Rick Scott, is trying to buy the governor's office with tainted money. Sink attacks Scott's character, touts her issues in 'Post' interview By Jeff Ostrowski Palm Beach Post Democratic candidate Alex Sink said Wednesday she would cut $300 million from the state budget by trimming middle managers if she is elected governor, although she would make the cuts not through layoffs but by replacing workers as they leave. Survey says Floridians OK with one higher tax By Gary Fineout Sarasota Herald-Tribune A new survey of Floridians on how to handle the state's budget woes may undercut some of the proposals being made by GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott. How gerrymandering leaves Sarasota’s African-American community stranded By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent The Sunshine Skyway Bridge arcs high over the entrance to Tampa Bay, on a clear day offering views of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, the skyline of downtown Tampa and the tip of Anna Maria Island. FLORIDA POLITICS Jim Greer's lawyers attack state's prime witness By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel Lawyers for ousted Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer have begun their attack on his former No. 2, Delmar Johnson III, the party's former executive director, who avoided prosecution by turning on Greer and becoming his chief accuser. POLITICAL RACES Senate candidates blast each other By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek sought to reignite their U.S. Senate campaigns Wednesday by attacking Republican Marco Rubio as an "extremist" who would privatize Social Security and support fiscal policies that hurt the middle class. Crist, Meek gang up on Republican Rubio in first U.S. Senate debate televised statewide By George Bennett and Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post With less than four weeks until election day, Democrat Senate nominee Kendrick Meek and independent Charlie Crist tried to paint Republican frontrunner Marco Rubio as a conservative extremist during a debate tonight while Rubio cast his rivals as supporters of business-as-usual in Washington. Senate debate: Each candidate says he's the best man for the job By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel Florida's three major candidates for U.S. Senate accused one another, interrupted one another and generally whacked one another silly in their hourlong debate Wednesday night, but each also managed to drive home the political storyline he thinks will carry him to victory. Senate candidates jockey to distinguish themselves in debate By William March Tampa Tribune "I'm the only one" was the most-used line in a debate Wednesday among the three major U.S. Senate candidates, as each sought to set himself apart from the other two on Social Security, health care, taxes and spending. Rubio campaign raises $5 million in 3rd quarter The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio will report raising more than $5 million in the quarter ending Sept. 30. Sink ad blasts Scott as unfit By Gary Fineout Sarasota Herald-Tribune Days before the start of early voting, the race for Florida governor has taken a harsh tone thanks to an avalanche of new negative television ads. Grayson, Webster won’t debate each other, race heads to airwaves By Luke Johnson Florida Independent In arguably the most-watched U.S. House race in the country, between Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, and his Republican challenger, former state Senate Minority Leader Dan Webster, the candidates will not have a head-to-head debate over a disagreement on the inclusion of a third-party candidate in their contest. Ausley wants job protections for state agency watchdogs Staff Report Florida Tribune Loranne Ausley, the Democratic candidate for chief financial officer, on Wednesday called for new job protections for state agency watchdogs. Power players in Northeast Florida wielding political influence statewide By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union If you are running for office in Florida, the endorsement of the Florida Chamber of Commerce is a coveted prize. BALLOT INITIATIVES ‘Yes on 4′ invokes the spirits of Halloween By Bob Shaw Orlando Sentinel As we get closer to Halloween, you can expect to see more and more political commercials that invoke some of the images of the season. "Corporate vampires" ad vs. Florida TaxWatch over Amendment 4 By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Supporters of the "Hometown Democracy" Amendment 4 are using Godzilla and vampires to get their message across while opponents on Wednesday were using a Florida TaxWatch report to put the scare into voters. Poll shows Amendment 4 still needs to make up ground to pass By Jim Turner TC Palm The proposed state constitutional amendment to give residents a stronger say in local development is far from its needed supermajority for approval, according to a TCPalm/Zogby poll released Thursday. Teachers Union takes case for upholding class size limits to the Supreme Court By Lee Logan St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau In arguments before the state Supreme Court on Wednesday, the state's largest teachers union challenged a proposal to ease Florida's minimum class size requirements. Supreme Court to Decide Class Size By Mike Vasilinda Capitol News Service Ballots for the November 2nd election have already been printed, but the Florida Supreme Court will decide if Amendment 8, which is on those ballots, is misleading and whether votes will count or not. Fla. schools trying to cope with class size chaos By Christine Armario and Bill Kaczor The Associated Press School districts are taking or preparing to take such drastic steps as increasing taxes, moving administrators and librarians into classrooms and busing students to other schools to meet Florida's class-size limits, which might be loosened by an amendment that's on the Nov. 2 ballot. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY EPA's strict new standards put on hold — for now By Fred Hiers Gainesville Sun The Environmental Protection Agency decided last week to wait a little longer before deciding whether to set strict new pollution standards for Florida's waters. Q&A with Feinberg: Oil spill compensation chief admits mistakes and confronts new hurdles By Andrew Restuccia Florida Independent Kenneth Feinberg knew what he was in for. EDUCATION Johnson cancels vote on sweeping transfer policy By Cara Fitzpatrick Palm Beach Post Superintendent Art Johnson abruptly yanked a proposal from consideration today that would have given him the power to move students, regardless of where they live, to any school in Palm Beach County to meet the state's class-size requirements. Broward hires 487 teachers to meet class size limits By Rafael A. Olmeda Orlando Sentinel The Broward School District announced late Wednesday it has hired 487 new teachers to meet class size requirements for the current school year. Teacher merit pay about more than money By Paul James Palm Beach Post In the most rigorous study on performance-based teacher compensation ever conducted in the United States, researchers at Vanderbilt University found that merit pay had little effect on students' test scores. Fla. looking for university trustee candidates The Associated Press Tampa Tribune A Board of Governors panel is seeking applicants for openings at boards of trustees at all 11 of Florida's public universities. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY New survey says that Floridians willing to raise taxes By Brent Henzi Florida Tribune Most Floridians appear willing to pay higher taxes to support public education and health and human services, according to a new survey released on Wednesday. Housing slump hurts tax revenues Staff Report Bradenton Herald Local tax revenue across the country fell this year by the steepest amount in 25 years, with falling home prices just beginning to drag down property tax receipts. Appliance rebate program had leftover funds By Nirvi Shah Miami Herald Despite the frenzy surrounding last spring's rebates for new energy-efficient refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and other appliances -- all of the money was claimed in about a day and a half -- the state had about $2.4 million in rebates left over after the last check was mailed in September. Feds award Florida $28 million for law enforcement officers By Robert Napper Florida Independent The U.S. Justice Department has awarded Florida more than $28 million in grant money to hire more than 120 police officer and sheriff’s deputies across the state. HEALTH AND SENIORS Erin Brockovich law firm urges state to continue search for pollution in Acreage cancer cluster By Mitra Malek Palm Beach Post The New York City law firm that works with environmental activist Erin Brockovich wants Florida officials to test The Acreage's air and canals for toxic substances before ending the state's study of the community's cancer cluster.