Daily Clips for November 23, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Health care fight could be part of 2012 elections By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune The Republican-controlled Legislature appears ready and willing to make the federal health care overhaul -- which helped galvanize opposition to President Barack Obama and Democrats -- a big topic for the 2012 elections. The Florida Republican Super-Majority Could Work with Democrats By Gina Jordan WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Florida's Democratic lawmakers have essentially been rendered powerless, thanks to the GOP's veto-proof ranks in both chambers. Protesters urge DREAM Act passage By Alfonso Chardy Miami Herald A small group of immigration activists staged a protest at the entrance to the Krome immigrant detention center Monday, the first of what they said will be weekly demonstrations seeking a suspension of deportations while Congress decides whether to legalize undocumented immigrants. FLORIDA POLITICS Fla. legislature leaders ax budget 'turkeys' The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Just in time for Thanksgiving, Florida legislative leaders say they're axing budget "turkeys." Senator Haridopolos ready to get going By Jeff Schweers Florida Today Senate President Mike Haridopolos said the Legislature's biggest challenge in the coming year is to cure a $2.5 billion deficit without raising taxes. Plenty of stealth could get past no-new-taxes radar By Randy Schultz Palm Beach Post New Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos last week said of his chamber that "we will not raise taxes a single dime." Mike Fasano's diminished status shows Senate's rightward drift By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau To see how the Florida Senate has shifted to the right, look no further than Pasco County's Sen. Mike Fasano, an antitax crusader, former Republican majority leader, and cable news star during the 2000 presidential recount. Transition in full swing for Department of Agriculture By Jim Ash Florida Capital News The transition is starting to reverberate at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a spokeswoman confirmed this morning. State technology watchdog gets the axe By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Joseph Brigham, the staff director of the Technology Review Workgroup, was asked to step down from his position on Friday. Florida Democrats need a new game plan By Abel Harding Florida Times-Union Florida Democrats, rendered irrelevant with Lilliputian minorities in the Legislature and no Cabinet seats, are a defeated and demoralized bunch. POLITICAL RACES Congress can tame corporate influence By Lawton "Bud" Chiles Tallahassee Democrat The cost of running for public office is climbing every election cycle, with no end in sight. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Everglades finance plan a victory for some, setback for others By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent The Florida Supreme Court last Thursday unanimously approved a financing plan that will allow the South Florida Water Management District to purchase a chunk of Everglades land from U.S. Sugar. Castor - new bill would designate 80 percent of BP fine money for Gulf states By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa With the recent election, Black Friday, and body scans dominating the public sphere, it may be easy to forget that the Gulf coast is still hurting from the BP oil disaster. Climate Zombie Caucus The Progress Report Think Progress One year ago, the right-wing media machine smeared climate scientists with the "Climategate" conspiracy theory, even as the climate itself continued to get hotter and more destructive and other countries seized the clean-energy initiative. Clean water at what price Editorial Ocala Star-Banner It is hard to fathom the hysteria with which Florida's political and business leaders reacted to last week's unveiling of new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pollution limits for the state's rivers, lakes and springs. LGBT Pentagon: No gays were discharged in past month By Lisa Leff The Associated Press A Pentagon spokeswoman says no service members have been discharged for being openly gay in the month since the Defense Department adopted new rules surrounding the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. EDUCATION More veggies equal more 'brainpower,' first lady tells kids at Miami school By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post By the time first lady Michelle Obama made her way to Ashley Battle's lunch table at Riverside Elementary School, the fifth-grader had munched on more than half of a shiny green pepper. Pay Teachers More? Prof's Plan to Improve Education By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida It's an idea that, in this economy, is bound to raise some eyebrows. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida economy still bad but bright spot for jobs ahead The Associated Press St. Petersburg Times State economists are forecasting Florida will gain about a million new jobs over the next seven years even if nothing more is done to stimulate employment growth. Judge rules that lawmakers can authorize slot machines anywhere in state By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Hialeah's historic race track won an important court victory on Monday, after a Leon County judge shot down part of a lawsuit that contended that the track shouldn't be allowed to install slot machines. Florida regulators investigate possible telemarketing violations of 'Do Not Call' law By James Kirley TC Palm Officials who enforce Florida's "Do Not Call" telephone solicitation law say they have identified companies believed to be responsible for prerecorded calls blanketing the Treasure Coast and South Florida and have referred their case to state lawyers for possible civil fines and injunctions against further calls. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Tea party newsletter disseminates misleading information on the DREAM Act By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent As Democratic leader of the U.S. Senate Harry Reid moves to present the DREAM Act in the current lame-duck session, Tea Party Manatee, opposed to the act, is using its newsletter to promote “Ten Things you need to know about S3827 the DREAM Act.” Full-body scanners trigger concerns for some fliers By Mike Clary South Florida Sun-Sentinel For some of the estimated 1.5 million airline passengers who will pass through South Florida's three major airports in the peak week of travel ahead, it's a decision much tougher than just dark meat or light at Thanksgiving dinner: Full-body image scan, or a probing hands-on pat-down? JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Innocence Commission schooled on eyewitnesses By Kim MacQueen Florida Tribune A national expert on eyewitness misidentification told the Florida Innocence Commission on Monday that more than 30 percent of all eyewitness IDs are wrong, resulting in a huge number of innocent people behind bars.