Daily Clips for January 13, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS VIDEO: Minimum Wage Dispute WEAR ABC 3 Excerpt: Damien Filer with Progress Florida says adding insult to injury that the governor and legislative leaders are paying new staff thousands more than previous leaders paid. "Right now they are six cents under that requirement. A mere six cents and they are refusing to do it. Yet at the same time we've got new state leaders, the governor and leaders of the legislature who are hiring political appointees at six figure salaries and turning around and tell the voters we have to tighten our belts." FEATURED STORIES Fla. bill would make it a felony for doctors to ask patients if they own guns By Michael Peltier Palm Beach Post Related: FMA takes on powerful gun lobby Doctors and other medical providers would be barred from asking patients — or the parents of child patients — if they have guns in their home under a measure that promises a major showdown between powerful lobbying groups. Scott vow on taxes faces first test By Lloyd Dunkelberger Sarasota Herald-Tribune Related: Fla. Senate president says no tax cuts planned Related: Scott downplays differences on tax-cut plan A key campaign promise from Gov. Rick Scott may be in jeopardy less than two weeks into his new administration. FLORIDA POLITICS Bondi asks court to dismiss anti-Amendment 6 lawsuit By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent The office of Attorney General Pam Bondi yesterday asked the U.S. District Court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Amendment 6, one of two so-called “Fair Districts” amendments that limit the legislature’s ability to gerrymander districts, saying the court lacks jurisdiction in the case. 2 judges apologize for Fla. 'Taj Mahal courthouse' Associated Press Two judges made qualified apologies for their roles in the construction of an opulent $48.8 million courthouse that critics called a "Taj Mahal" during a tense legislative hearing Wednesday More anonymous e-mail attacks surface in GOP chairmanship fight By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times You'd think Florida Republicans would be a huggy and happy bunch these days, having just swept November's elections. POLITICAL RACES Alvin Brown qualifies for Jacksonville mayoral race By Deirdre Conner Florida Times-Union Surrounded by his wife and two young sons, Alvin Brown qualified to run for mayor of Jacksonville on Wednesday afternoon. Another 2012 GOP hopeful in Florida By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty continues to try to build a profile in Florida in advance of a potential run for the 2012 GOP nomination for president. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Cost, deadline create hurdles for fixing levee that protects South Florida from Everglades flooding By Andy Reid South Florida Sun-Sentinel Fixing the levee that keeps the Everglades from flooding South Florida communities could cost more and take longer than expected, the South Florida Water Management District revealed Wednesday. Florida utilities cutting back on power plants, including biomass, PSC says By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Florida's electric utilities are continuing to lose customers and are delaying construction of new electric plants as less electricity is being used, according to a report approved Wednesday by the Florida Public Service Commission. EDUCATION Haridopolos: Cuts in education funding are likely By Aaron Deslatte and Jason Garcia Orlando Sentinel Senate President Mike Haridopolos signaled Wednesday that the Legislature was unlikely to take up any big-ticket tax cuts this year given Florida's $3.62-billion projected budget shortfall, and that education could also face big cuts to patch the holes. Hillsborough conference brings school districts and unions together By Tom Marshall St. Petersburg Times Related: State inching closer to new teacher evaluations Come up with a plan. That's what Gov. Rick Scott has told teachers to do. Find a way to measure your own performance — and make it real — or the Legislature will do it for you. Pasco schools lax in enforcing pay and evaluation rules, audit says By Jeffrey S. Solocheck St. Petersburg Times Even as Florida debates the value of performance-based evaluations and differential pay for teachers with the most challenging jobs, the state already has laws requiring such practices. Fla. teacher is finalist in national competition Associated Press A Florida teacher has been named one of four finalists in a national teaching competition. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Scott halts more than $400 million worth of road-building projects across state By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Related: Democrat asks Scott to end road-building freeze Gov. Rick Scott, who was sworn into office last week promising to fix the state’s stalled economy, has halted dozens of road-building projects across the state, and potentially jeopardizing the jobs that go with them. Legislators, Associated Industries weigh in on high-speed rail debate By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Related: Haridopolos open to high-speed rail if private sector antes up As Senate President Mike Haridopolos has withdrawn his support of a high-speed rail line connecting Orlando and Tampa, at least one business group announced plans Wednesday to rally support for the project. Florida Homeowners' Insurance Pains Likely To Deepen By Paige St. John Lakeland Ledger Florida homeowners' insurance woes are poised for a further upset. A new computer model set for release this spring dramatically raises the risk of a hurricane in parts of Florida previously considered safe, and is almost certain to set off more rate increases and policy cancellations. Company hiring to keep jobs local, fun By Patrick Peterson Florida Today In an economic rarity for these troubled times, Melbourne software developer Amovius expects to double the number of employees working in its 11,000-square-foot office on Dow Road. Florida economy blamed for rise in homeless population By Melvin Felix TC Palm The homeless population in Florida increased by 11 percent from 2008 to 2009, according to a report issued Wednesday. Jackson Lab expands project site search to Tampa, Sarasota By Liz Freeman Naples Daily News Jackson Laboratory has broadened its search for a new site and is at least considering Tampa and Sarasota for an institute for personalized medicine in Florida, but hasn’t given up on Collier County. First Coast No. 2 in country for filing bankruptcy By Kevin Turner Florida Times-Union The federal court district that includes Jacksonville had the second-highest level of bankruptcy filings nationally last fiscal year. HEALTH AND SENIORS State Sen. Negron explains why Medicaid is a target for budget savings By Travis Pillow Florida Independent The chairman of the panel overseeing the Florida Senate’s Medicaid reform efforts said Wednesday that one of his goals will be to free up more funding for other areas of the state budget, like education, which could face cuts as lawmakers prepare to tackle a shortfall that could exceed $3 billion. Senators find out about super-secret drug contract costing state millions By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post The state of Florida is paying too much for prescription drugs because, in part, its contract with a middleman bars discussion about potential cost-savings, a consultant told the Senate Budget Committee this afternoon. Ag chief sees nutrition war as hot potato By Frank Cerabino Palm Beach Post Now that the Florida Office of Drug Control has been abolished, it's on to the next quixotic struggle: the war on unhealthy eating. Senators slap DOH on delays By Jim Saunders Health News Florida The Florida Department of Health took a verbal bashing Tuesday from two Republican senators, who said the agency was too slow in carrying out laws aimed at curbing the state's notorious pill mills -- though lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott have added to the delays. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE, AND SOCIAL ISSUES Scott’s policy excludes gays Editorial Central Florida Future Just following the start of the new year our recently elected governor, Rick Scott, was officially sworn into office. Shortly after his inauguration as Florida's 45th governor on Jan. 4, Scott signed several executive orders on topics such as ethics and immigration. Although it's nice to see a productive politician, one of Scott's newly signed executive orders doesn't sit so well with us. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Southwest Florida sees foreclosure slowdown By Michael Pollick Sarasota Herald-Tribune At first blush, it seems like good news: Foreclosure action in Southwest Florida and the state as a whole slowed in December to the lowest monthly levels in more than three years.