Daily Clips for December 22, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Fla. gains clout: Picks up 2 House seats with 17.6 percent growth in past decade By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Florida will gain two congressional seats and become an even more coveted presidential prize with two more electoral votes as a result of new census figures released today. Scott advised to slash and merge By Mary Ellen Klas and Janet Zink Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau Gov.-elect Rick Scott should arrive in the state capital with a wrecking ball to tear down a dozen state agencies and merge them together to save money and streamline services, advisors to the new governor say in a series of transition reports delivered to him this week. Scott team wants vouchers, merit pay By Kathleen Haughney News Service of Florida Florida schools should enact a number of changes championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush, including expanding school choice, eliminating teacher job protection and basing educators' pay on student performance, members of Gov.-elect Rick Scott's transition team said Tuesday. Scott transition team recommends combining development, environmental agencies By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Incoming Gov. Rick Scott should fold the three agencies now overseeing environmental protection, growth management and transportation into a single agency called the Department of Growth Leadership, according to a report Monday from a transition team he appointed. Scott picks five top staffers, with Tampa Army vet as chief of staff By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Governor-elect Rick Scott on Tuesday named a one-time congressional candidate from the Tampa Bay area as his chief of staff. FLORIDA POLITICS Battle over Florida redistricting begins By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Florida legislators got the official go-ahead Tuesday to start a two-year argument over redrawing the state's congressional and legislative districts. Florida's political clout could intensify partisan wrangling By Deirdre Conner Florida Times-Union Population increases have raised the stakes in Florida's upcoming battles over redrawing congressional and state legislative districts. Senate prez promises everyone gets a voice in redistricting By Lesley Clark Miami Herald Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos on Florida's new congressional seats: "With today’s release of the 2010 census results, Florida’s clout among our country’s 49 other states continues to rise. Big gains for Republicans in reapportionment of congressional seats By Luke Johnson Florida Independent The Census Bureau announced the results of the decennial process of reapportioning congressional districts by state Tuesday morning, and Republicans stand to gain from the results based on growth patterns in the South and West. 'Taj Mahal' judges, officials invited to testify before Senate committee By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Two judges and other officials who participated in the planning of the new 1st District Court of Appeal building have been invited to explain the lavish courthouse at a state Senate committee meeting in January. Scott names inner circle By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Gov.-elect Rick Scott has hired a military lifer, a Jeb Bush ally, and his long-time policy adviser to serve as his chief lieutenants when he takes over on Jan. 4. Scott urged to merge state agencies, privatize hospitals and eliminate growth rules By Gary Fineout and Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune Governor-elect Rick Scott was urged on Monday to make a startling overhaul of state government, as he was called on to merge state agencies, change the type of health care services the poor receive, and revamp the way the state keeps tab on its growth. Scott’s transition team: Scott should rebrand and restructure ‘the company’ By Travis Pillow Florida Independent According to slides released Monday by his transition team, Gov.-elect Rick Scott‘s efforts to overhaul Florida’s state government could be branded as an attempt to “restructure ‘the company.’” Gov.-elect Scott gives state workers pink slips for Christmas By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Scores of employees in the upper reaches of state government, including the governor's drug czar and his small staff, got pink slips during the week before Christmas. Jacksonville car dealer target of federal election donation probe By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union The Federal Election Commission is suing a now-shuttered Jacksonville car dealership and its owner because it says employees were reimbursed for nearly $68,000 in campaign contributions to a Florida congressman, a breach of federal election law. Oh, what $2 mil would buy By Russ Kesler Orlando Sentinel OK. I'll be candid here. I didn't vote for Rick Scott. I could say why, but he probably wouldn't be interested, and that's water under the bridge anyway. Florida's rising political profile Editorial St. Petersburg Times Florida's two additional congressional seats will come at an opportune time. POLITICAL RACES Dem pollster’s early line: Sen. Nelson in ‘decent shape’ for 2012 reelection By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Related: Jeb Bush only Republican to lead Bill Nelson Democratic firm Public Policy Polling says Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who’s up for reelection in 2012, begins with “tepid” support from his own party and has failed to make an impression on a “remarkable” 31 percent of Florida voters despite being a Senator nearly 10 years. Recall vote on mayor in the clear By Matthew Haggman Miami Herald Setting the stage for a recall election of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin announced Tuesday that the necessary signatures have been legally collected to require a vote. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY When An Environmental Accident Becomes A Crime Talk of the Nation NPR The U.S. Department of Justice is suing BP and other companies associated with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. LGBT Military will write the rules on repeal of gay ban By Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press Gays and lesbians will be treated just like any other soldiers, sailors, airmen or marines, the new rules say. EDUCATION With no government regulations, online high schools can be costly pursuits By Mc Nelly Torres Florida Center for Investigative Reporting Rodolfo M. Rodriguez, a 24-year-old cashier at a gas station in Davie, was searching online for a school that would allow him to earn a high school diploma. State Rep. Marty Kiar says teachers in Georgia earn $6,000 more than Florida: True By Amy Sherman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact No public school teachers in Florida expect to get rich when they start their careers, but could they earn a bigger paycheck if they moved to Georgia? After FCAT hype -- true test for success Editorial Miami Herald After the hype this month when a record number of Florida's public high schools received an A or B grade from the state, the reality has set in: Next year's measuring stick will have to be tougher. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida Among List of Fiscally Unhealthy States, but Retirees May Have Own Criteria By Robert Powell Marketwatch Plenty of folks are aware of the best states for retirees. But what are the 10 worst states in which to spend your golden years? Slow recovery will pick up pace by 2012, UCF economist says By Becky Bowers St. Petersburg Times Impatient with the climb out of Florida's economic sinkhole? HEALTH AND SENIORS Scott plans Health Department shake-up By Stacey Singer Palm Beach Post State Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros, head of the Florida Department of Health, is resigning following a withering attack on her management by Gov.-elect Rick Scott's transition team. Could prison health care go private? By John Kennedy News Service of Florida One of Gov.-elect Rick Scott’s most high-profile campaign promises – to slash $1 billion from the state’s prison system – drew a powerful pushback when the union representing correctional officers aired television spots warning he would start releasing inmates to reduce spending. Medicaid battle begins: Sink report puts $69 million pricetag on giving docs immunity By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald As the Legislature and now Gov.-elect Rick Scott consider giving doctors immunity from lawsuits in return for treating Medicaid patients, a new report warns that such an arrangement would cost taxpayers at least $69 million a year. Study finds Tallahassee, Miami tap water contains cancer-causing chromium-6 By Brett Ader Florida Independent A report published Monday by the Environmental Working Group concluded that Tallahassee and Miami are among 31 U.S. cities it found to have the carcinogenic chemical chromium-6 present in its municipal tap water. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Death-penalty executions drop nationwide By Anthony Colarossi Orlando Sentinel Florida is following a national trend of executing fewer death row prisoners, according to a year-end report released today by the Death Penalty Information Center.