Daily Clips for November 5, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Special session set for proposed veto overrides By Jim Ash Florida Capital News The election's over, the people have spoken and a new era of less government is about to begin — with a special session to pass more laws. With Republican dominance, how long till push for Arizona immigration law here? By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent With Governor-elect Rick Scott and a strong Republican majority in the Florida legislature, a push for an Arizona-style immigration enforcement law in Florida seems certain. Scott's transition team includes Bush ties, a Democrat, a former rival By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Rick Scott got to work Thursday setting up his transition office, launching a website and promising an open administration focused on creating jobs. In Florida, a C.E.O. Prepared for Cuts By Damien Cave New York Times Many of the newly elected Republican governors have said they want to run their state like a business. BEST OF THE BLOGS Florida Democrats need to hit the "re-set" button By Gimeleteye Eye on Miami In 2008, President Obama won Florida by appealing to an increasingly large and diverse group of voters. Florida's 2010 Ballot Amendment Wrapup By Daniel Tilson The Examiner With all the focus on Republican sweep of the state cabinet and pickups in the legislature, results of voting on the six proposed constitutional amendments on Florida's 2010 general election ballot have gotten scant attention or analysis. Heritage Foundation Lays Out Republican Budget Cuts the Candidates are Afraid to Say By Buck Banks Pensito Review One of the truly gnarly parts of this rad Republican wave is the GOP’s constant harping about how it is going to balance the budget and reign in government spending — you know, the whole smaller government/bootstraps deal. Florida doubles down, Rubio rising, and whither the state Democratic Party (and Charlie Crist)? By Joy-Ann Reid The Reid Report For a state already in Republican hands, this was not a change election. It was a serious doubling down. FLORIDA POLITICS Florida Republicans in U.S. House will gain new clout By William E. Gibson Orlando Sentinel Florida Republicans will wield far more clout when their party seizes control of the U.S. House next year, an opportunity for them to shape decisions on transportation, Cuba, the environment and spending on state priorities. Senate and House leaders have eyes on stimulus funds, overriding Crist's vetoes By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos met Thursday morning and announced they're ready to get to work. GOP's new veto-proof Fla. legislature plans special session to override vetos by independent Crist By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post On their first day on the job, the newly bullet-proof legislature will override nine issues vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist earlier this year and address a septic tank inspection law creating a furor throughout the state. Rick Scott taps insiders with government experience to aid transition By Anthony Man Orlando Sentinel Gov.-elect Rick Scott repeated his pledge Thursday to rethink and shake up government – and announced a group of transition advisers filled with Tallahassee insiders. State overseer defends role on 'Taj Mahal' courthouse By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times The state agency supervising construction of a new 1st District Court of Appeal says it saved the state money while supervising construction of the new courthouse many call a "Taj Mahal." DMS' Linda South responds point-by-point to audit By Paul Flemming Florida Today Linda South, secretary of the state's Department of Management Services, has fired back a post-election response to an audit released last month that described the construction of a new building for the 1st District Court of Appeal as an out-of-control boondoggle. Rep. C.W. Bill Young wants waiver to retake chair of defense appropriations subcommittee By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Rep. C.W. Bill Young said Thursday he will seek a waiver from term limits on leadership posts in order to retake control of the appropriations subcommittee on defense. POLITICAL RACES Blacks, Latinos stick with shrinking Democratic base By Kathleen Hennessey and James Oliphant South Florida Sun-Sentinel Democrats searching for good news amid the rubble of Tuesday's midterm election results can look to Latinos and African Americans, two groups of voters that stayed with the party in large numbers. Election nearly wipes out white Southern Democrats By Ben Evans The Associated Press The white Southern Democrat - endangered since the 1960s civil rights era - is sliding nearer to extinction. Political experts reflect on election, predict what's next By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa Democrats everywhere are experiencing a massive election hangover, one that’s especially painful in Florida. Alan Grayson blames Dem 'appeasement' By Meredith Shiner Politico Ousted Florida Rep. Alan Grayson, one of the most outspoken, liberal members of the House, said Thursday that Tuesday's election was a "national disaster" and a repudiation of the Democrats' "strategy of appeasement." Florida Tea Party remains hopeful after elections By Michael Peltier The News Service of Florida The tea party, the movement, had a great week. The Tea Party, the party, not as much. BALLOT INITIATIVES Bennett predicts redistricing lawsuits By Dale White Sarasota Herald-Tribune State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, predicted Thursday that lawsuits are the most likely outcome of two measures Florida's voters approved that will alter how legislative and Congressional districts are drawn. Future of 5 & 6 By Whitney Ray Capitol News Service The day after voters told lawmakers they no longer wanted them to draw district lines to control election results, two lawmakers cried foul. Fair districts Editorial Orlando Sentinel U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown and Mario Diaz-Balart sued unsuccessfully in the spring to keep the amendments that could end gerrymandering off the ballot. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY What do the midterm elections mean for Florida’s environment? By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent In the wake of a historic election cycle, Floridians are left wondering what will change in coming weeks, months and years for a state besieged by high unemployment and other, perhaps less publicized problems facing the state, like degrading wetlands and heavily polluted waters. Key environmental issues to be reconsidered during special session By Brent Henzi Florida Tribune >From energy rebates to septic tanks, the Legislature will tackle a number of environmental issues when it convenes for a one-day special session in Tallahassee November 16. Legislature may consider energy rebate funding during special session By Travis Pillow Florida Independent During the planned special session of the Florida legislature announced today by the incoming Republican leadership, one potential agenda item will be partial funding for energy rebate programs, which had promised millions of dollars to Floridians that were never paid. Water managers blast federal Everglades cleanup plan By Curtis Morgan Miami Herald Water managers on Thursday roundly criticized a court-ordered federal plan to speed up and expand the sluggish, repeatedly delayed effort to stem the flow of pollution into the Everglades. Law firm of BP claims czar paid $3.3M so far By Brian Skoloff The Associated Press The law firm of Kenneth Feinberg, the man in charge of BP's $20 billion compensation fund for Gulf oil spill victims, has so far been paid about $3.35 million from BP PLC to dole out the money, the program said Thursday. Denied oil spill claimant: In the real estate industry, but not a licensed broker By Travis Pillow Florida Independent I wrote earlier this week about the recent spike in denials of oil spill claims by the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. EDUCATION Florida university system leaders OK block-tuition option By Kathleen Haughney News Service of Florida Florida university system leaders put in place a system Thursday that would allow universities to offer a flat tuition rate and pile additional fees onto a student's semester bill. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Space shuttle springs fuel leak, may delay launch By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press Space shuttle Discovery has a fuel leak that threatens to delay Friday's planned launch. HEALTH AND SENIORS Medicaid overhaul 'message' coming By Jim Saunders Health News Florida House and Senate leaders today said they will use a special legislative session this month to try to override Gov. Charlie Crist's veto of money for Shands teaching hospital and to "send a message" about overhauling Medicaid. Med mal, Medicaid included in November special session By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune Rumblings that Medicaid could be handled in a November special session were affirmed Thursday as incoming legislative leaders announced plans to ink a "statement of intent," committing them to changing the $20 billion health care system in the regular 2011 legislative session. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Arizona immigration law proposed for Florida would give many whites a free pass By Noah Pransky WTSP TV News Tampa Bay A controversial twist on a controversial Arizona-style immigration law could exempt aliens from Canada and Western European countries from strict new rules. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Florida Supreme Court: Legislature Can Take Some Civil Filing Fees Staff Report Lakeland Ledger The Florida Supreme Court has approved the diversion of a portion of civil filing fees from a court system trust fund to the state's general purpose fund.