Daily Clips for December 2, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS In Tallahassee, Democrats a rare sight By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union Excerpt: "We're definitely facing somewhat of a worse-case scenario as far as the Legislature is concerned," said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Progress Florida, a progressive organization. "The 2011 session is just going to be a special-interest feeding frenzy." FEATURED STORIES Feds subpoena finance records of Republican Party of Florida By Marc Caputo and Lucy Morgan Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau Federal investigators slapped the Republican Party with a subpoena seeking financial records as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe by the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's Office, the Herald/Times has learned. White House: No new drilling off Florida coast in wake of BP spill By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press The White House won't allow any new oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for at least the next seven years because of the BP oil spill. Hispanic Help Sought for Arizona-Style Immigration Bill By Kathleen Haughney News Service of Florida The lawmaker spearheading an effort to pass an Arizona-style immigration law in Florida is trying to get the state's Hispanic community on board with his plans in an attempt to dispel fears that the measure will lead to flagrant racial profiling. FLORIDA POLITICS Florida Democratic dominos falling for Rod Smith By Joy-Ann Reid The Reid Report Can Rod Smith be stopped? Can the Florida Democratic Party be dissuaded from solidifying its status as perennial losers who prefer to be led by perennial losers? Nelson: Obama administration is not 'helping' NASA By Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel Tensions between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and the White House openly erupted Wednesday when the Florida Democrat used a packed Senate hearing to accuse the administration of dragging its feet on a new NASA law that Nelson had a hand in crafting. Sansom's new job at charter school stirs controversy By Tom McLaughlin Northwest Florida Daily News Once again controversy has followed Ray Sansom to the work place. Florida GOP pays Jacksonville mayor's chief of staff $42,500 for 45 days of work By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union Over a 45-day period, Mayor John Peyton’s chief of staff made $42,500 working for the Republican Party of Florida, according to expenditure reports. Property Insurance Limits Will Get Review By Michael Peltier News Service of Florida Stymied last session by an election-year veto, backers of proposals to bolster the property insurance market said Tuesday they'll return with a similar package of changes, but likely won't include sweeteners added in an unsuccessful attempt to earn Gov. Charlie Crist's support. First liability bill filed for 2011 session By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune After coming to a screeching halt in 2010 the “crashworthiness” bill pushed by automobile manufacturers is back before the Florida Legislature. Former state House Speaker Larry Cretul is back in business By Bill Thompson Gainesville Sun It didn't take long for former Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul to get back in the game. Southerland wants GOP to 'make a statement' By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Congress should extend all of the Bush Administration's tax cuts in its lame-duck session, but leave other big issues for the next year, U.S. Rep.-elect Steve Southerland said Wednesday. House freshman concedes: It's hats off By Robin Givhan Washington Post The world of hat-making is relatively small, and within that tiny universe of horsehair and feathers, Rep.-elect Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) is a glorious, bedazzled star. Washington, however, does not cotton to glitter, spangles or bright shiny objects. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Backtracking Obama administration closes eastern gulf to oil drilling By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Related editorial: Shelving expanded gulf oil drilling is responsible course Reversing plans announced only weeks before the BP oil disaster, the Obama administration said Wednesday it will maintain a ban on drilling along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico off Florida. Fla. governor-elect rips Obama ban on oil drilling The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Florida Governor-elect Rick Scott is blasting President Barack Obama's decision to ban oil drilling off the state's coast because of the BP spill. Agency withdraws proposed growth rules because of veto override By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune The Florida Department of Community Affairs has withdrawn two controversial proposed rule changes because of the Legislature's override of the governor's veto of HB 1565. LGBT Asked And Answered The Progress Report Think Progress Yesterday, after an exhaustive and at times controversial ten-month review of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen announced that the purported risk of repealing the discriminatory policy is quite low. EDUCATION Sponsors tell story of Jeb Bush ed convention By Valerie Strauss Washington Post If you have any doubt about the direction of where school reform is headed in this country, look at the sponsors of former Florida governor Jeb Bush’s two-day education conference in Washington, D.C. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Unemployment Pay Ending for 106-Thousand Floridians By Whitney Ray Capitol News Service By Saturday 106-thousand Floridians will run out of unemployment benefits. Florida consumer confidence up from last year, still 'historically low' By Jeff Harrington St. Petersburg Times Florida consumer confidence remains higher than a year ago and even last summer, but it's still in the "historically low" range as concerns over housing, jobs and tourism persist, according to a University of Florida survey released Tuesday. After election, small towns face new uncertainty over I-4 high-speed rail By Robert Napper Florida Independent Big city politics may not be the only factor in the success of a high-speed rail line planned between Tampa and Orlando, as lawmakers from smaller towns that make up the heart of the line are calling for the troubled project to come to fruition. Minority firms worry high-speed-rail project will pass them by By Dan Tracy Orlando Sentinel A half dozen African-American contractors are worried they won't be considered for a piece of the $2.6 billion high-speed train between Orlando International Airport and Tampa. HEALTH AND SENIORS Planned Parenthood: ‘Personhood’ amendment a product of ‘radical anti-choice extremists’ By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent A proposed fetal “personhood” amendment to the Florida constitution has alarmed pro-choice activists. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Florida deputy attorney general: Republicans need to pursue immigration reform By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Florida’s Deputy Attorney General Joseph W. Jacquot coauthored an article published in the Wall Street Journal earlier this month that calls on recently elected Republicans to tackle immigration reform, and argues against the DREAM Act. An investment in the American Dream Editorial Miami Herald They arrived in their mother's arms, or perhaps they were old enough to go to school but always too young to have a say in their family's plans. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Florida prison guards face felony charges over collapse of inmate By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Two state prison guards have been fired and face felony charges following the collapse of an inmate in May.