FEATURED STORIES Scott urged on to make massive changes to state government and state laws 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. Fla tea partiers push VA-style anti-health insurance law By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post The Florida Liberty Alliance – a coalition of tea party activists – is pushing Senate President Mike Haridopolos to pass a law similar to Virginia’s that would exempt Floridians from the federal health care law requiring individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a fine. Federal Election Commission files suit over Buchanan campaign contributions By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent In a case filed Friday in Florida’s Middle District, the Federal Election Commission alleges a pattern of questionable contributions made to the 2006 and 2008 campaigns of Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota. Department of Community Affairs: Don't shoot messenger By Tom Pelham Tampa Tribune The Department of Community Affairs, Florida's land planning agency, is frequently blamed for the state's economic woes. Does Florida's governor-elect know that many state residents are struggling? Editorial TC Palm Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott is an insensitive lout. FLORIDA POLITICS Scott keeping on high-level state staff temporarily By Catherine Whittenburg Tampa Tribune With two weeks remaining before his inauguration, incoming Gov. Rick Scott is asking high-level staff across state government to remain on the job. Gov.-elect Rick Scott's advisers suggest cutbacks By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Shut down A.G. Holley Hospital in Lantana. Privatize Florida's three state mental health hospitals. Combine the departments of transportation, community affairs and environmental protection. Roadmap Emerging For Rick Scott's Prison Plan 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. Scott's inaugural parade-participant list announced By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Marching bands from both universities and Springtime Tallahassee’s Andrew Jackson float will take part in Gov.-elect Rick Scott’s inaugural parade next month. Third state committee gave money to Brown, Diaz-Balart’s lawsuit funds By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent The Orlando Sentinel broke news last month about a pair of Florida political committees associated with state legislators that had donated $10,000 apiece to the legal expense funds of Reps. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, and Mario Diaz-Balart. Buchanan's former partner named in election lawsuit By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune A former business partner of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan violated federal campaign rules to help Buchanan in his 2006 and 2008 campaigns for Congress, the Federal Election Commission alleges in a new lawsuit. A monumental abuse of power Editorial St. Petersburg Times Public records show asphalt wasn't good enough for the scheming appellate judges who orchestrated the conspiracy to build themselves a palatial $48 million courthouse in Tallahassee. Scott already stumbling Editorial Pensacola News Journal Rick Scott ran for governor of Florida touting his business expertise and lack of political "baggage" to bring a new way of doing things in Tallahassee. POLITICAL RACES Tax cut deal sets up ideological battle for 2012 election By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times In order to enact sweeping tax cuts nine years ago, President George W. Bush had to let them expire Dec. 31 of this year. Fox News to air GOP presidential debate from Orlando in October By Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel An Orlando location will be the backdrop for an October debate among the Republican hopefuls for president in 2012, Fox News Channel and the Republican Party of Florida announced today. BALLOT INITIATIVES Proposed amendement would double time needed for lawyers to seek judgeships By Robert Napper Florida Independent A South Florida state senator is proposing a constitutional amendment that would double the amount of time someone must practice law before seeking a judgeship, according to the Florida Bar News. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Whatever Happened to the Gulf Oil Spill? By Bryan Walsh Time Magazine Back in May I met the CEO of a major environmental group for coffee in Washington. Worsening drought feared as South Florida water levels drop By Eliot Kleinberg Palm Beach Post Good thing those cold spells are over. Now all South Florida has to worry about is a drought. LGBT With gay ban debate over, military impact in doubt By Robert Burns The Associated Press The debate over gays in the military has been settled with a historic decision to allow them to serve openly, but big questions lie ahead about how and when the change will take place, how troops will accept it and whether it will hamper the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pending 'Don't Ask' repeal brings relief for gay PB County soldiers, even if too late for some By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post The repeal of "don't ask don't tell" and the pending ability of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military came late for Philippe Kalmanson. EDUCATION Private-school vouchers return to education agenda By David Harrison Stateline A decade ago, almost any discussion about reforming the nation’s public schools included vouchers. Top 10 Florida school districts with the most inflated graduation rates By Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times Around Tampa Bay, Hillsborough is tops when it comes to the biggest gap - 12 percentage points - between its official graduation rate and a truer rate that doesn't discount at-risk students who transferred into adult education programs. HEALTH AND SENIORS Scott's team urges him to consolidate health agencies into mega department By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times Gov. Rick Scott should reverse the work of Gov. Lawton Chiles 20 years ago, when he pushed for the separation of the state's social service agencies, and get back to a large Department of Health and Human Services, Scott's health care advisory team told him in a 68-page report on Monday. Anti-abortion group’s recent Florida ads a small part of a much-larger campaign By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Heroic Media, the Texas-based anti-abortion group that drums up publicity with controversy-laden media campaigns, has big plans for expansion.