Daily Clips for January 11, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Florida schools ranked No. 5 in U.S., according to Education Week By Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times Excerpt: "I don't think you can make an argument (about progress) and not factor in the class-size amendment," said Damien Filer, political director for the left-leaning Progress Florida and a leader behind the class size push. FEATURED STORIES Florida pension fund is not broke, AFL-CIO claims By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald Related: Senate pension reform leader warns unions to join in, or stay away The war of words over reforming state and local pension funds heated up Monday as the head of one of the state's largest unions said that the system is not broken and doesn't need fixing. "Information that continues to circulate is not based on verifiable fact," said Rich Templin, political director of the AFL-CIO, which represents 600 local unions and 500,000 workers. Chief sponsor of immigration bill says measure isn't likely to pass Legislature By Marc Caputo Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau Related: State rep. pushing Ariz.-style immigration law has ties to organization working to repeal 14th Amendment Related: Immigration bill concerns Sen. Bennett Gov. Rick Scott's campaign pledge to bring an Arizona-style immigration law to Florida faces an uncertain future in the Legislature, with the bill's chief Senate sponsor expressing doubts about the controversial measure. FLORIDA POLITICS Rep. Wasserman Schultz calls out West, Kaufman’s extreme rhetoric By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent Related: Rep. West on Wasserman Schultz’s criticism: A ‘political cheap shot’ During a Meet the Press discussion of whether violent political rhetoric has any relationship to Saturday’s shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Pembroke Pines, spoke out about the infamous words uttered by the original chief of staff of one of her tea party-supported colleagues: “If ballots don’t work, bullets will.” One Final Look at the 2010 Election By Dr. Susan MacManus Sayfie Review In the year leading up to the 2010 election, politics in Florida took a record number of unexpected twists and turns. Florida's Republican Party raised big bucks at end of 2010 By Marc Caputo Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau Just before and after its big win at the polls in November, the Florida Republican Party collected big and spent event bigger: $9.4 million. Public airing of "Taj Mahal" courthouse costs set By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times The state agency in charge of building a new courthouse for the 1st District Court of Appeal is being asked to produce proof of expenditures in public meetings. Senate prez paying former senator up to $89K as consultant By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Senate President Mike Haridopolos is paying former state Sen. Carey Baker, a gun shop owner from Eustis, up to $89,000 a year as a special consultant. POLITICAL RACES Fasano keeping options open for 2012 By Carl Orth The Suncoast News Redistricting for the 2012 elections kicked into high gear this week as state Sen. Mike Fasano begged off from serving on a group that is redrawing boundaries. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Caution urged on Scott's plan to combine agencies By Dale White Sarasota Herald-Tribune Carefully crafting their language to emphasize cooperation over conflict, a coalition of environmental and planning organizations said Monday they want newly elected Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature to create jobs but not devastate the environment along the way. Progress Energy to merge with North Carolina-based Duke Energy By Ivan Penn and Jeff Harrington St. Petersburg Times The proposed merger between Progress Energy and its larger North Carolina counterpart Duke Energy will form the nation's largest power company — with little relief for customers' pocket books. Water quality conference being held in cooperation with industry-led group opposed to EPA rules By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent In the wake of resounding opposition to the EPA’s water quality standards, the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association are holding a “Nutrient Recovery and Management Conference,” which is currently taking place in downtown Miami. BP claims czar continues Gulf tour amid complaints Associated Press The administrator of BP's $20 billion oil spill claims fund continues his two-day swing across the Gulf Coast with visits to two southern Louisiana towns. EDUCATION Education reformer brings message to Florida schools By Christine Armario Associated Press Looking back, Michelle Rhee says there are a few things she didn't do successfully during her three years as chancellor of the District of Columbia public schools. Florida Prepaid cost increases, sales decrease By Scott Travis South Florida Sun-Sentinel If you want to start saving for your child's college education, you have about three more weeks to buy a Florida Prepaid plan at this year's prices. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida sued for failing to raise minimum wage By Bill Kaczor Associated Press Related: Minimum Wage Workers In Florida Are Getting Short Changed Two legal groups sued Florida's labor agency Monday, claiming the state failed to raise the state's minimum wage by six cents per hour this year to keep up with inflation. Expanded gambling may get more discussion from Florida's new leaders By Nick Sortal South Florida Sun-Sentinel Get ready for a lot of talk about more gambling in Florida. But it might take awhile before you have more places to plunk down a bet. Miami-Dade Transit plagued by poor financial management, weak internal controls, federal audit finds By Alfonso Chardy, Martha Brannigan and Matthew Haggman Miami Herald A federal audit made public late Monday sharply criticizes Miami-Dade Transit for shoddy financial management and weak internal controls -- including improper accounting for bus fare boxes and a failure to document how federal grant money has been spent. HEALTH AND SENIORS WWII veteran served his country, now he begs on Tampa streets By Jessica Vander Velde St. Petersburg Times Anthony Jacondino, 84, huddles in the narrow median, head low, blasted by wind as cars hurtle past in both directions. When the light turns red, drivers notice his hat, medal and sign: World War II vet in need of help. Some ignore him. Others give him money but tell him not to spend it on alcohol. Some States Have Options To Help Consumers Find Individual Health Coverage By Michelle Andrews Kaiser Health News Are there other health insurance options besides high-risk pools for people who can't get coverage in the individual market because of a preexisting condition? Despite delay, deal between All Children's Hospital and Johns Hopkins still on By Richard Martin St. Petersburg Times When All Children's Hospital announced plans to become part of the prestigious Johns Hopkins Health System in July, officials expected the deal to be completed by the end of the year. Health-care players clash over new rules By Jordan Rau Kaiser Health News/Washington Post The new health law encourages doctors, hospitals and insurers to team up in treating patients, but these groups already are at odds as they urge the government to set rules protecting their financial interests. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE, AND SOCIAL ISSUES Fort Pierce church alive with spirit as Supreme Court justice urges residents to be more like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. By Nicole Rodriguez TC Palm First Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Pierce radiated with song, dance and community spirit Monday night, as a crowd gathered to celebrate the memory of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and hear Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy A. Quince deliver a message of unity and love. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Reduce wrongful convictions: Florida's new innocence panel must start to change the rules Editorial Palm Beach Post When Linda Zavatkay identified her neighbor as the man who robbed and stabbed her in her Port Salerno home, she did so only after investigators pressed her to choose a suspect. She had been checking out the lineup for a while, and wasn't sure that she saw her attacker's face.