Daily Clips for December 15, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Florida's estimated budget shortfall grows to $3.5 billion By Amy Sherman and Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Rick Scott's campaign promise to cut property and corporate-income taxes got a little tougher Tuesday when state economists forecast that anemic tax collections could punch a $3.5 billion hole in his first proposed budget. Sales-tax holidays proposed By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News Lost sales because of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill were bad enough. Scott's (Bush's) new (old) schools scheme By Daniel Ruth St. Petersburg Times Let's face it, by now it's become abundantly obvious that former Gov. Jeb Bush, and his political paramour, Gov.-elect Rick Scott, regard a public school education with about the same esteem as the Taliban's Mullah Omar has when finding himself stuck in an elevator with Lady Gaga. Florida's leaders disregard constituents Editorial St. Petersburg Times A federal judge in Virginia dealt a temporary setback to the Affordable Care Act on Monday. FLORIDA POLITICS Steele's battle for RNC head doesn't deter Tampa convention efforts By William March Tampa Tribune Work is proceeding on planning the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, even as the national Republican Party faces a controversial election for chairman. West calls for ‘censoring’ news outlets working with WikiLeaks By Luke Johnson Florida Independent Rep.-elect Allen West, R-Fort Lauderdale, one-upped the calls for the prosecution of Wikileaks by calling for the “censoring” of news agencies that publish the organization’s cables. Rubio hires a Tallahassee veteran to run Central Florida U.S. Senate offices By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times A top aide to Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon has been hired to head up U.S. Sen.-elect Marco Rubio's state offices. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY St. Johns River: Citizens needed to file suit By Jimmy Orth Florida Times-Union Green Cove Springs Commissioner Mike Kelter either has a short memory or isn't that familiar with the history of this state. Florida PSC approves rate freeze for Florida Power & Light By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday voted 5-0 to approve a settlement with Florida Power & Light Co. to resolve a controversial rate-hike request denied by the commission earlier this year. LGBT New showdown: House plans vote on military gay ban The Associated Press Miami Herald In a new showdown on a volatile issue, the House this week will take up a bill that would overturn the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays, Democratic leader Steny Hoyer revealed Tuesday. EDUCATION A Florida school cheer: Gimme a C-H-E-A-P! By Scott Maxwell Orlando Sentinel In Florida's latest education news, we find one school so desperate for money that the principal actually tried to charge kids $2 just to attend a pep rally. Study: Achievement gap narrowing but not fast enough By Mary Kelli Palka Florida Times-Union Student achievement gaps are narrowing nationwide - especially in Florida - but not fast enough, according to a report released Tuesday by the Center on Education Policy. School board foresees a challenging year ahead By Jackie Alexander Gainesville Sun It's going to be a long year, district staff told Alachua County School Board members during a Tuesday workshop on upcoming changes to state testing and graduation requirements. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY SPECIAL REPORT: Federal failure on Chinese drywall By Aaron Kessler and Joaquin Sapien Sarasota Herald-Tribune For the thousands of U.S. homeowners who are grappling with the financial and emotional trauma caused by defective Chinese drywall, one thing is now clear: The federal government is woefully unequipped to help them with a product defect as expensive and widespread as this one. Farmers escape icy blast with few losses — so far By Emily Nipps and Danny Valentine St. Petersburg Times Florida farmers were relieved Tuesday that the cold was not catastrophic but remained worried about what they might find this morning. Florida sidetracks rail, but international builders are all aboard By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau As Florida puts the brakes on its high speed rail plan, corporations from around the world are eagerly pressing for bragging rights as builders of the first such line in the United States. HEALTH AND SENIORS FL case still matters, McCollum says By Michael Peltier The News Service of Florida Florida’s lawsuit against the new federal health care law isn’t any less important in light of a ruling Monday by a federal judge in Virginia invalidating a key component, backers of the Florida challenge said. Health reform for all Americans By Eric H. Holder Jr. and Kathleen Sebelius Washington Post In March, New Hampshire preschool teacher Gail O'Brien, who was unable to obtain health insurance through her employer, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma. Pill-mill delay also costly By Carol Gentry Health News Florida A law that took effect Nov. 17 had the inadvertent effect of delaying a crackdown on pain clinics that are fueling an epidemic of prescription drug abuse. Children's 'milk party' to announce 2011 Florida priorities The Associated Press Orlando Sentinel A children's advocacy effort modeled after the tea party movement is introducing its legislative priorities that it believes will bolster Florida's investment in kids. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES U.S. scholars: We can’t afford to not pass the DREAM Act By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Approval of the DREAM Act before the end of the year is an opportunity for the Senate to do the right thing for hundreds of thousands of young people who call the United States home: That was the central theme for academics who participated in a phone conference call on Monday to voice their support for a letter signed by close to 300 of their colleagues supporting the DREAM Act. Florida congressman says DREAM Act means lower tuition for illegal immigrants: False By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact A controversial plan to provide a path to permanent legal residency for children brought to the United States illegally continues to rise toward the top of the agenda in the final days of the 111th Congress. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Pain clinic operators now accused of ripping off desperate homeowners By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post A Wellington man who is being investigated for running some of South Florida's most notorious pain clinics is now accused of ripping off desperate homeowners in a loan modification scam.