Daily Clips for December 24, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Study shows immigrants, legal and otherwise, helped state win seats in Congress By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times This week's announcement that Florida will pick up two congressional seats and a pair of electoral votes certainly enhances the state's clout in Washington. More power for parents is at the heart of Scott's education team proposals By Ron Matus and Jeffrey S. Solochek St. Petersburg Times Related: Rick Scott's gunning for collective bargaining That theme echoes throughout the 20 sprawling pages of reform ideas that Gov.-elect Rick Scott's education team unveiled this week. Researcher: Scott transition team misused my work By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel The transition team for Gov.-elect Rick Scott wants to overhaul Florida's unemployment system, but an economist cited in the team's just-released report says his work has been misused and misinterpreted. Haridopolos hires consultant tied to Alabama bribes-for-bonds scheme By Aaron Delatte Orlando Sentinel Senate President Mike Haridopolos has hired a consultant connected to a massive federal public corruption investigation in Alabama to advise him on the best ways to squeeze savings out of the Florida Retirement System. Scott's irresponsible stand on regulation Editorial St. Petersburg Times Incoming Gov. Rick Scott's disdain for government regulation appears to be absolute — and absolutely irresponsible. BEST OF THE BLOGS After Taking Big Sugar Money, Florida Ag. Commissioner Adam Putnam Seeks To Halt Soda Ban In Schools By Scott Keyes Think Progress Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) has yet to take office in his new role as Florida Agriculture Commissioner, but he’s already making his Big Sugar contributors smile. Florida’s Redistricting Timeline Appears To Be the Worst in the Nation By Kenneth Quinnell Florida Progressive Coalition As previously reported Florida’s deadline for redistricting is June 18, 2012. “Great Scott!” He’s Off To A Bad Start By Inkberries Beach Peanuts He hasn’t even been sworn in yet, and already Rick Scott’s administration is stalled. Who's Actually Running Redistricting By Ray Seaman Progress Florida Florida will gain two new congressional districts as a result of the census. FLORIDA POLITICS After productive lame-duck session, Obama’s numbers up in Florida By Luke Johnson Florida Independent President Obama’s approval ratings have rebounded somewhat since the midterm elections in Florida, according to a Public Policy Polling survey released Wednesday. Scott inaugural tour to visit 7 Fla. cities The Associated Press Miami Herald Governor-elect Rick Scott plans to visit seven Florida cities on an inaugural appreciation tour next week. 'Tallahassee Taj Mahal' is where Scott can make first appeal for 'change' By Randy Schultz Palm Beach Post Given his comments, Gov.-elect Rick Scott wants to change Tallahassee right down to the toilet paper. Charlie Crist's last act of defiance By Gary Fineout The Fine Print Lost in the swirl of the holidays - and the impending arrival of Governor-elect Rick Scott - is that the outgoing governor late last Friday used his executive power for one final time in a way that goes beyond the way it has traditionally been used. Will Buchanan campaign lawsuit tarnish former manager’s bid to run the state GOP? By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent On Monday, The Florida Independent reported on a lawsuit filed by the Federal Election Commission, alleging campaign fraud during Rep. Vern Buchanan‘s 2006 and 2008 congressional campaigns. Three-agency merger a bad idea built on a myth Editorial Palm Beach Post Imagine combining an Italian restaurant, a Chinese restaurant and an Indian restaurant, then telling them to work out a joint menu. Manicotti Moo Shu Tandoori anyone? A harmful Bill of Rights: Mike Haridopolos' hypocritical legislation would tie the hands of elected local governments Editorial Orlando Sentinel Florida's legislators want voters to judge them on how they manage to create jobs. POLITICAL RACES 2012 GOP hopefuls skip Hispanic Leadership Conference being held in Coral Gables By Luke Johnson Florida Independent Politico reports that a number of presumed 2012 GOP hopefuls are not attending an inaugural conference by a new group of Hispanic Republicans that co-chair Jeb Bush termed “an exciting new opportunity to engage with an important and fast-growing community.” BALLOT INITIATIVES American Life League unsure about collaborating with Personhood Florida By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent The American Life League, a national anti-abortion group that has supported fetal personhood amendments in the past, tells The Florida Independent it is not sure how extensively it will involve itself in the campaign being mounted now by Personhood Florida. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Fed board: Keep companies from oil spill evidence By Harry R. Weber The Associated Press The credibility of the investigation into the Gulf oil spill is being undermined because representatives of companies that made or maintained a key piece of evidence - the blowout preventer - have had too much access to it as it is being analyzed, a federal board says. EDUCATION Rick Scott's education team urges giving parents more choices By Tonya Alanez and Rafael A. Olmeda South Florida Sun-Sentinel Families would have more educational choices while teachers would face radical changes in pay and job security under a package of recommendations presented this week to Gov.-elect Rick Scott by his education transition team. Education folly: Scott's voucher plan doesn't jibe By Stephen Goldstein South Florida Sun-Sentinel Our I-can't-believe-he-was elected governor, Rick Scott, has gotten a bum steer. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Scott team generates worries on electric rates By John Kennedy News Service of Florida With Gov.-elect Rick Scott promising to save businesses $3.2 billion on their electric bills, consumer groups are bracing for a fight, fearing his plan will push higher costs onto residential customers. Transition team wants Florida to boost business By Bill Kaczor Associated Press President Calvin Coolidge once said "the chief business of the American people is business." Rick Scott: Is Florida Ready For Its "Open For Business" Governor? By Tim Padgett Time Magazine Florida has some of the broadest open-government laws in the country. HEALTH AND SENIORS Activists decry Gov.-elect Rick Scott's plan to close Office of Drug Control By Leonora LaPeter Anton St. Petersburg Times Lynn Locascio voted for Rick Scott. But when she learned he plans to close the governor's Office of Drug Control, she started writing letters to everyone she knows. Inhaler drug: South Florida Medicare fraud cost taxpayers nearly $30 million, investigators say By Kelli Kennedy The Associated Press A scam tricked Medicare into paying for nearly 10 times more units of an inhaler drug than were available in South Florida, costing taxpayers millions, according to a federal investigation released Wednesday. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Smart Justice: Rick Scott wants 'bold' ideas, so end capital punishment Editorial Palm Beach Post Gov.-elect Rick Scott's transition team has proposed some terrific ideas for shifting the focus of Florida's criminal justice system to rehabilitation, not just incarceration.