Daily Clips for October 8, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Debate to Be Test for Candidates By Lloyd Dunkelberger Lakeland Ledger Alex Sink's campaign for governor has largely been shaped by trying to stay clear of President Obama and to brand her Republican opponent Rick Scott as untrustworthy. Rick Scott takes aim at DCA, the state's growth management agency By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau Rick Scott promises as governor to loosen regulation of business and he would start by putting a bull's-eye on the state agency loathed by many developers. Marco Rubio continues to lead in U.S. Senate race, poll shows By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald Republican Marco Rubio continues his steady lead in the three-way race for the U.S. Senate, as his opponents continue to duke it out for the Democratic vote, according to a new poll released Thursday by Mason-Dixon Research. Florida class size amendment challenge rejected By Bill Kaczor The Associated Press A proposal to loosen Florida's class size limits survived a challenge from the statewide teachers union Thursday when the state Supreme Court approved the measure's ballot summary. Conservatives launch legal attack on Florida campaign finance rules By Tristram Korten Florida Independent Florida’s campaign finance laws are under assault this election season by conservative groups hoping to reduce government oversight on how they spend money on political ads. BEST OF THE BLOGS Charlie Crist is Scarier Than Marco Rubio By Kenneth Quinnell Florida Progressive Coalition The conventional wisdom amongst the pundits and some Democrats (and bloggers) is that Democrats should vote for Charlie Crist to stop the horror that is Marco Rubio from getting into the Senate. David Rivera, Jenia Dorticos, and the flyer that doesn’t exist By Joy-Ann Reid The Reid Report In the on-going saga of House budget chief and Republican Congressional candidate David Rivera, there are three things Mr. Rivera wants you to know. The BEST VIDEO you won't want to miss! By Geniusofdespair Eye on Miami This video is a pisser!! RPOF Audit Didn’t Cover Cannon’s Private Plane Expenses By Inkberries Beach Peanuts Remember that audit the Republican Party Of Florida had done recently that only found fault with Jim Greer and former Republican turned Independent Charlie Crist? Rubio’s Credit Card Bills Show He’s No Fiscal Conservative. They Might Show More. By Trish Ponder Pensito Review A new ad from U.S. Senate candidate Gov. Charlie Crist (Fla.-NPA) spotlights the questionable spending practices of self-proclaimed fiscal conservative Tea Party Republican opponent Marco Rubio. FLORIDA POLITICS Attorney General McCollum wanted lobbying request kept secret By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Barely a week after he lost the Republican primary for governor, Attorney General Bill McCollum sought legal advice on whether he can lobby the governor's office and Cabinet — the very people he works with now — after he leaves office in January. Tom Grady accuses Crist of violating open records laws in suit Staff Report Naples Daily News Rep. Tom Grady sued Gov. Charlie Crist today, accusing him of violating the state’s Public Records Act by failing to respond to requests for records and evidence in a pending lawsuit against him. POLITICAL RACES Sink, unlike McCollum, has endgame war chest to counter Scott's millions By Jeff Ostrowski and Adam Playford Palm Beach Post Even as she has slid in the polls, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Alex Sink has built a $6 million war fund that will let her unleash a flurry of spending as the race draws to a close, according to her latest campaign finance reports. Rubio, Meek pump up supporters to get votes By Abel Harding and David Hunt Florida Times-Union Jacksonville was the destination Thursday for U.S. Senate hopefuls Marco Rubio and Kendrick Meek as each tried to springboard from a tense Wednesday night debate to fire up their fan bases. Florida Hispanic voters favor Charlie Crist By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent A new poll released this Thursday shows Hispanic voters favor independent Charlie Crist over Democrat Kendrick Meek and Republican Marco Rubio in the race for the U.S. Senate. Meek rejects Sierra Club endorsement with Crist in Senate race By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com The Sierra Club's endorsement of both Gov. Charlie Crist and U. S. Rep. Kendrick Meek in the Senate race on Thursday took a surprise turn when Meek immediately rejected the endorsement. Rubio Alone in Rail Opposition, Citing National Debt By Keith Laing News Service of Florida The candidates for U.S. Senate disagreed in a debate Wednesday evening over whether Florida should build a long-proposed bullet train connecting Tampa and Orlando, with a stop in Polk County, and eventually running to Miami as the state awaits a decision on another $1.12 billion request for the project. Poll: Rubio has seemingly unbeatable lead By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Republican Marco Rubio has a seemingly insurmountable 15-point lead in Florida's hot U.S. Senate race, a new poll indicated Thursday. CFO candidate Loranne Ausley calls for more independence for state inspector generals By Lee Logan St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Chief financial officer candidate Loranne Ausley has called for making the state's internal watchdogs more independent. Alan Grayson says Dan Webster would "force" rape and incest victims "to bear their attacker's child" By Louis Jacobson and Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifiact In his new toned-down version of the "Taliban Dan" attack ad, Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., one of the most outspoken Democrats in the House, narrows his focus to three points. New Yost ad targets Brown and her ‘Washington cronies’ By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent District 3 Rep. Corrine Brown’s Republican opponent Mike Yost has unveiled his newest campaign ad, his camp announced in a Wednesday press release. BALLOT INITIATIVES Voters to get say on class size law By Kathleen Haughney The News Service of Florida The Florida Supreme Court will allow voters to weigh in on the state's class-size law in the November election, rejecting a challenge Thursday from the statewide teachers union that the proposal was misleading. Amendment 8 opponents: 'We will redouble our efforts' By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union Following their defeat in the Supreme Court case seeking to strike Amendment 8 from the ballot, opponents of the proposal to roll back the state's class-size standards say they're focusing on the campaign over whether to approve the constitutional amendment. Hometown Democracy pits environmentalists against businesses and builders By Kevin Wiatrowski Tampa Tribune To understand the motivations behind Florida Hometown Democracy and its Amendment 4 campaign, take a drive around central Pasco County. Property tax break for military on Florida ballot By Curt Anderson The Associated Press A lot of people talk about supporting U.S. troops who are overseas in harm's way. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY USF team finds no oil off Panhandle beaches By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Related: Sen. Bill Nelson blasts Obama Administration for suppressing information on the oil spill This summer, when every wave washing ashore in the Florida Panhandle carried tar balls or gooey globs, scientists said they feared the oil would also bury itself in sediments just offshore and continue showing up for months or years afterward. LGBT Churches stepping up in gay rights movement By Jeff Brumley Florida Times-Union Valerie Williams has a passion for preaching the Christian gospel and the right of gays and lesbians to marry and live free of discrimination. EDUCATION Pinellas panel examines why black males in Pinellas have such a low graduation rate By Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times The way Ray Tampa sees it, dialogue would be nice. Outrage would be better. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Low-ball spill estimates may have hurt Florida tourism By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Many Florida business owners are wondering: How could an oil spill that only reached the Western Panhandle hurt tourism all over the state? Wells Fargo to offer mortgage relief to Florida borrowers By Paul Owers South Florida Sun-Sentinel More than 4,000 Florida homeowners will be eligible for loan modifications and mortgage-balance forgiveness totaling nearly $388 million under an agreement Wells Fargo Bank reached with eight states, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said. HEALTH AND SENIORS Medicaid reports 'not a pretty sight' By John Kennedy News Service of Florida A year’s worth of audit reports newly compiled for lawmakers paints a troubling portrait of Florida’s Medicaid program but also sets a course for reform, a top state senator said Wednesday. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Gainesville’s Muslim community reaches out after local controversy By Kimberly C. Moore Gainesville Sun Following a month of international headlines featuring a local pastor who threatened to burn copies of the Quran, Gainesville’s Muslim community is reaching out this month to help residents better understand the religion practiced by 1.4 billion people in the world. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS New drug court money isn't helping keep enough people out of prison, state report says By Alexandra Zayas St. Petersburg Times Hoping to steer drug offenders to treatment instead of prison, state legislators set aside $19 million last year to create special drug courts in eight counties. Rothstein's right-hand woman to learn punishment at Friday sentencing By Peter Franceschina South Florida Sun-Sentinel Debra Villegas — who loyally served at the side of Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein for 17 years — will find out what that friendship has cost her during a Friday appearance before her sentencing judge.