Daily Clips for November 30, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Could the legislature push fetal personhood amendment onto ballots? By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Excerpt: In response to Progress Florida’s announcement of a letter-writing campaign to Gov.-elect Rick Scott, demanding that he make known his stance on the initiative, Plakon says that the amendment is “citizen-led” and not reliant on Scott’s support or opposition. FEATURED STORIES Outgoing Fla. Gov. Crist worries about divisions By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press Outgoing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who steps down in January after losing an independent bid for the U.S. Senate, says he is concerned that political divisions are preventing elected officials from both parties from working together to address the nation's problems. Governor-Elect Rick Scott Names Advisory Teams By Michael Peltier News Service of Florida With economic development far atop his list of things to do, Gov-elect Rick Scott on Monday unveiled a voluminous list of business leaders, academics and local elected officials to help him "get to work" by focusing on regulatory reforms and incentives to help attract more than 700,000 jobs to the state over the next seven years. Capital Press Corps Ponders Relations with Governor-Elect By Margie Menzel WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Governor-elect Rick Scott was able to skirt the traditional route to office, which includes answering a lot of questions from reporters. House Republicans close doors, have how-to session for new GOP legislators By Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Speaker Dean Cannon summoned all 80 Republican House colleagues to a closed, two-day training seminar Monday, with no notice beforehand to the media or public. Tallahassee gets first glimpse inside mammoth District Court of Appeal By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News In 17 days, the moving trucks are set to pull up to the 1st District Court of Appeal in downtown and begin the move to its much-maligned, mammoth new home in southeast Tallahassee. FLORIDA POLITICS Anonymous attacks slam Hillsborough GOP chief seeking top party job By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times With Florida Republicans set to choose a new leader in January, an anonymous attack campaign has been launched against Hillsborough GOP chief Deborah Cox-Roush, who is running for state party chairwoman. Crist Makes Public Service Commission Appointment Staff Report Lakeland Ledger Outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist has appointed West Palm Beach city official Eduardo Balbis to serve out the remainder of former Public Service Commission Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano's terms. Five attorneys competing to be Bondi's statewide prosecutor By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune Five attorneys have applied to be Florida’s next statewide prosecutor, including a sitting Miami Dade County sitting judge and a former Miami Dade County judge. Members will have to vote to let Wilson wear hats in U.S. House By Amy Sherman and Lesley Clark Miami Herald Frederica Wilson was known as the Florida state legislator who owned a massive collection of fancy hats. But when the Democrat was elected to the 17th District congressional seat on Nov. 2, representing portions of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, her fashion statement ran afoul of the rules. POLITICAL RACES Greco shakes up Tampa mayor's race with bid for a 5th term By Ray Reyes and Christian M. Wade Tampa Tribune Four established politicians running for Tampa mayor were thrown a potential roadblock on Monday, when four-time mayor Dick Greco entered the race seeking a fifth term. LGBT '''Don't ask, don't tell'' is not going anywhere,' says GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina The Associated Press Miami Herald A Republican senator on Sunday played down the chances that the ban on gays serving openly in the military would be lifted during the lame-duck session of Congress that resumes this week. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Castor: fate of Bush tax cuts uncertain By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa One of the most contentious issues Congress will take up during its lame duck session is that of the Bush-era tax cuts. Pay freeze on federal employees could affect nearly 6,000 employees in the two-county By Jamie Page Pensacola News Journal The proposed two-year freeze on federal employee wages could affect nearly 6,000 federal civilian employees in the two-county Pensacola Bay Area. State investment chief: No fallout so far from federal probe By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune The state’s chief investment officer said Monday that he did not expect any fallout from an ongoing federal investigation into hedge funds but he admitted that there is not a lot of information about the investigation at this time. Black Friday Sales Give Florida a Financial Boost By Yoselis Ramos WUSF Public Radio Tampa The Florida Retail Federation says all those folks who camped out on Black Friday are giving the state a financial shot in the arm. HEALTH AND SENIORS Companies prepare to pass higher health costs along — to you By Linda Shrieves Orlando Sentinel If you've checked out your company's health-plan changes for 2011, you've probably seen higher co-payments, deductibles and premiums in the forecast. Key questions cloud medical pot debate By Barbara Peters Smith Sarasota Herald-Tribune Related: Florida-based advocate presses case across U.S. On the fourth floor of a hivelike, 1970s-vintage lab building on the University of South Florida's medical campus, Thomas Klein has spent 25 years studying marijuana's effects on the immune systems of mice, blowfish and human beings. Waste watch: Medicare admits overpaying for items like wheelchairs By Sally Kestin South Florida Sun-Sentinel It's no secret the federal government is not always frugal with our money -- remember the military's $640 toilet seats and $436 hammers? Now comes Medicare paying more than double the retail cost for wheelchairs. Nurses at three for-profit hospitals vote to join union By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Registered nurses in three central Florida hospitals have voted to join the National Nurses Organizing Committee-Florida, an affiliate of National Nurses United, the country’s biggest union and professional association of registered nurses. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES More on the economics of the DREAM Act By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Excerpt: The Florida Chamber of Commerce on the DREAM Act The U.S. Senate this week will discuss the DREAM Act, a bill that would benefit up to 2.1 million young undocumented immigrants — including 160,000 who live in Florida. Over Nineteen Thousand FL Kids Need a “Forever Family” By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida With this week's observance of National Adoption Day, thousands of Florida children have an early holiday wish list - a wish for a family. GOP 'citizenship' bill mean-spirited idea Editorial South Florida Sun-Sentinel The priorities of the newly-elected Congress may be taking a troubling turn. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Florida sued over sale of drivers' personal information By Robert Nolin South Florida Sun-Sentinel A lawsuit against the state of Florida over the sale of personal driver's license information to a private firm may proceed as a class action, a federal judge has ruled. Restoring fairness to the death penalty By Daniel Ruth St. Petersburg Times Imagine lying on a gurney, a needle inserted in your arm.