Daily Clips for January 10, 2011

FEATURED STORIES Lawmakers exposed as they reach out to constituents By Lisa Mascaro and Kathleen Hennessey South Florida Sun-Sentinel Related: Local leaders ponder security Related: Wasserman Schultz urges more civility after Giffords shooting For all the popular complaints about politicians existing in the walled-off world of Washington, the nation's members of Congress are in many ways among the most publicly exposed faces in the country. Tough times? Not for these lawmakers with net worths of six figures By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union Related: A Penny for Scott, but Six-Figure Salaries for Some Staff The overwhelming majority of Northeast Florida lawmakers have reported six-figure net worths over the past year, even in the midst of the nation's worst economic slowdown since the Great Depression. Florida ground zero for 2010 fraud schemes By Robert Napper Florida Independent Federal authorities made a very public showing in 2010, documenting a year of reckoning for crooks prosecutors say took part in a wave of mortgage fraud and Ponzi schemes that brought down the American economy. FLORIDA POLITICS Rod Smith tapped as chairman for Florida Democrats By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Florida Democrats on Saturday chose as their new chairman Rod Smith, a former state senator from Gainesville who faces a major challenge rebuilding a party ravaged by election losses. In heated race for Florida GOP chairman, candidates deny involvement in attacks By George Bennett Palm Beach Post As the race for Republican Party of Florida chairman gets increasingly ugly, Palm Beach County GOP Chairman Sid Dinerstein and the four other announced candidates for the post all say the negativity isn't coming from them. How to fix Florida's weak laws on public corruption By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times We're No. 1! Florida led the nation in the number of public officials convicted in federal corruption cases from 1998 to 2007, according to a recent report. Dems say that passage of 'Fair Districts' amendment will help them win congressional seat By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Even after their November drubbing, Democrats are viewing 2012 with a glimmer of hope because of a voter-approved "Fair Districts" amendment that forbids partisan gerrymandering when Republicans draw new political boundaries for Florida next year. Scott's bumpy start highlights holes in staff By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times The brain trust that masterminded Gov. Rick Scott's campaign is no longer at his side to help sharpen his message, shape his policies or navigate Florida politics. Beyond Bennett By Jay Brady Gulf Coast Business Review If nothing else, Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, is full of surprises. If you ask him, he might tell you his whole life has been one big surprise. POLITICAL RACES Tampa heading toward a historic city election By Richard Danielson St. Petersburg Times In less than eight weeks, Tampa voters will elect a new mayor, remake the City Council and chart the city's course for years to come. 2012 campaigns take their first baby steps By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times We've barely hit 2011, and the 2012 political Buzz is already going strong. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Obstacles ahead for Everglades? Graham sees political hurdles to restoration By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post Former Sen. Bob Graham told a group of environmentalists at an Everglades Coalition conference Saturday that recent efforts to secure funds and create awareness for restoration of Florida's River of Grass were commendable. Rep. Nugent's thinking may show in vote over mercury emissions from cement kilns By Dan DeWitt St. Petersburg Times Note to U.S. Rep. Richard Nugent: Shortly after you and the rest of the members of the new Congress were sworn in last week, Rep. John R. Carter, R-Texas, introduced a motion to overturn new federal regulations on emissions from cement plants. EDUCATION Clean up the class size mess Editorial St. Petersburg Times Related: Failure on class sizes could cost $10 million Related: The other shoe Before Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers launch another round of divisive education reforms, they should clean up the mess the Legislature created as it tried to drum up support for easing the state's class-size requirements. Study Finds Family Connections Give Big Advantage in College Admissions By Tamar Lewin New York Times A new study of admissions at 30 highly selective colleges found that legacy applicants get a big advantage over those with no family connections to the institution — but the benefit is far greater for those with a parent who earned an undergraduate degree at the college than for those with other family connections. Polk Charter School Group Wants State to Step in By Merissa Green Lakeland Ledger The Polk Charter School Association's request to get an accounting on administrative services has gone unanswered and now the group has filed a petition with the state Department of Education requesting a hearing before an administrative law judge. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY State guilty of 'delusional behavior' in slow response to foreclosure chaos, critics say By Kimberly Miller Palm Beach Post Related: Foreclosure crisis hits home for all Fed up with the foreclosure chaos, the New Jersey courts demanded that banks prove the integrity of their home repossession systems or face shutdown. Bank can go after other assets in Florida if you default on mortgage By Doreen Hemlock South Florida Sun-Sentinel Worried that your bank might go after your other assets if you're late on the mortgage or lose your home to foreclosure? What does Scott's rules freeze mean? By Jim Ash Tallahassee Democrat Gov. Rick Scott wasted no time halting the wheels of government while he decides which agency rules and regulations will promote the business-friendly climate he promised on the campaign trail. Central Florida food-stamp growth 'staggering' – now 1 in 6 relies on help By Kate Santich Orlando Sentinel About one in every six Central Floridians now relies on food stamps to subsist — a rate that has ballooned by nearly 185 percent since the start of the recession. Jobs march, fly into Pensacola area By Troy Moon Pensacola News-Journal The Army is marching into Northwest Florida, long a hotbed of Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force personnel. HEALTH AND SENIORS House sets stage for health-care repeal vote By Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez Washington Post House Republicans began Friday the long effort to repeal President Obama's health-care law by approving a resolution that clears the way for next week's vote. Lack of Paid Sick Leave Is Family and Public Health Concern By Mike Hall AFL-CIO More than 44 million private-sector workers in the United States—­42 percent of the private-sector workforce­—don’t have paid sick days they can use to recover from a common illness like the flu, according to new research by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE, AND SOCIAL ISSUES Gay marriage isn't revolutionary. It's just next. By Stephanie Coontz Washington Post Opponents of same-sex marriage worry that allowing two men or two women to wed would radically transform a time-honored institution. But they're way too late on that front. Florida Legislature to discuss immigration reform By Kathleen Houghney News Service Of Florida The first of three immigration meetings set for Monday will be the Senate's first look at a debate over a comprehensive Arizona-style measure, a topic that Gov. Rick Scott made one of the biggest social issues of his campaign. Fla. groups fight effort to deport Haitians By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post Florida immigration activists are asking the Obama administration to stop planned deportations to Haiti, citing the festering cholera epidemic there, other lingering dangers from last year's massive earthquake and recent political violence. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Court ruling rattles foreclosure industry By Roger Bull Florida Times-Union A court ruling Friday in Massachusetts is sending repercussions through the foreclosure industry and driving down bank stocks. Anti-Murder Act has unintended consequences By Stephen Nohlgren St. Petersburg Times Outrage ran high in 2004 when an ex-con snatched an 11-year-old Sarasota girl off the street, then raped and murdered her. Florida's fight against pill mills won't be helped by a needless special prosecutor. Editorial Palm Beach Post Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's appointment of ex-state Sen. Dave Aronberg as a special prosecutor to go after unscrupulous pain clinics, or "pill mills," is a waste of public money. Lawmakers seeking database of pawned goods By Dale White Sarasota Herald-Tribune For nearly three months, a diamond necklace that authorities say would later help lead to the arrest of a suspect in a Manatee County murder case remained in a local pawn shop.