Daily Clips for January 5, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Campaign to stop Scott’s “private voucher scheme” launched By Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel Excerpt: Rick Scott just took office today and already there is a “Stop Rick Scott’s Private Voucher Scheme” campaign. It was launched by Progress Florida, a non-profit that pushes “progressive solutions for Florida,” and can be found on Facebook, where already some teachers are sharing their fears about the new governor’s education agenda. FEATURED STORIES An inaugural address best forgotten Editorial St. Petersburg Times Related: Gov. Scott targets taxation, regulation in inaugural pledge Related: The future of Florida, Inc.: Gov. Rick Scott’s policy agenda Gov. Rick Scott's disappointing inaugural address was neither inspiring nor enlightening, and his awkward delivery won't win any style points. His "axis of unemployment'' — taxation, regulation and litigation — is repackaged Republican campaign rhetoric, and Scott offered little insight into how he will approach those tired themes any differently. Outgoing PSC commissioner raises concerns about agency By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune Former Florida Public Service Commissioner Nathan Skop said Monday that the public should be concerned about the agency's ability to be fair and impartial now that he and other reform-minded commissioners have been ousted. Roads don't pay for themselves, study says By Dan Tracy Orlando Sentinel Buses and trains do not pay for themselves, but neither do roads, says a study released Tuesday. "Highways do not — and, except for brief periods in our nation's history — never have paid for themselves through taxes that highway advocates label 'user fees,'" said the 39-page report released by Florida PIRG Education Fund, a nonprofit public interest group. FLORIDA POLITICS Ethics reform from Tallahassee to the Keys Editorial Miami Herald Rick Scott will be sworn in as governor Tuesday with a mission to create jobs. Yet before Florida cuts corporate taxes, guts regulations or privatizes more state government jobs -- all part of Mr. Scott's agenda -- the No. 1 job the governor must do is gain the public's trust. Analysis: We still don't really know Rick Scott By Adam Smith St. Petersburg Times Not since an outsider named Claude Kirk took the oath of office 44 years ago have Floridians welcomed a governor as enigmatic as Rick Scott. GOP cements influence as Cabinet members take office By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Florida Republicans cemented their sweep of state government on Tuesday when three new Cabinet members took office. The all-new Cabinet took their oaths of office: Jeff Atwater as chief financial officer, Pam Bondi as attorney general and Adam Putnam as commissioner of agriculture. Marco Rubio takes his seat in the U.S. Senate Wednesday By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times He claims the title today : U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. The Republican from Miami who harnessed voter discontent with Washington and President Barack Obama's policies will be sworn into office at noon surrounded by family and friends, and with a touch of bipartisanship. Brevard congresswoman to be sworn in today By Dave Berman Florida Today Sandy Adams officially will take office today as north Brevard County's new congresswoman during a swearing-in ceremony on the floor of the House of Representatives. POLITICAL RACES Florida nets two more congressional seats from census By Miguel Chateloin Independent Florida Alligator Florida will gain two more congressional seats after the latest census data showed an increase in population, giving it even more influence as a swing state in presidential elections. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Bob Graham says oil industry must address 'culture of complacency' By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times The commission studying the BP oil disaster will call for tougher federal permitting regulations and an industry-created safety organization, according to a preview by Bob Graham, a former Florida governor and U.S. senator. Scott to break tradition and skip Everglades conference By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Bob Martinez started the tradition. Lawton Chiles continued it. Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist kept it going. Environmentalists warn that rules freeze will halt progress on water pollution By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times Gov. Rick Scott's decision Tuesday to freeze regulations put on hold hundreds of proposals, including a public hearing scheduled for this week over a rule to set a statewide rule for cleaning up mercury pollution in state water. EDUCATION Florida Voucher Program Set to Expand By Kathleen Haugney News Service of Florida Florida’s corporate school voucher program could expand by $35 million next year, which would be enough to send 6,000 additional children on the waiting list to private schools throughout the state. Scott's voucher proposal courts a few problems By Fred Grimm Miami Herald Rick Scott's universal school voucher plan hardly lacks for an appealing philosophical rationale: Allow parents to shop for a school -- public or private, brick or virtual -- in a competitive education marketplace. UF ranks second, FIU 97th in national college 'value' rankings By Michael Vasquez Miami Herald Despite a couple of years of consecutive 15 percent tuition increases, Florida's public universities are still a bargain when compared to schools nationally, according to the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Debate brews over Head Start's future with county By Mike Salinero Tampa Tribune Parents of children in Head Start appear headed for a showdown with Hillsborough County officials over the future direction of the pre-school education program. School buses could become roving billboards By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune School buses moving down the highway could become roving billboards by July under a bill filed by Rep. Bryan Nelson. Race to the Top funds starting to head to Northeast Florida By Mary Kelli Palka Florida Times-Union Two Northeast Florida districts can now receive their Race to the Top educational funding. Three other local districts are expected to hear word soon that they can also begin spending the federal money. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Will Florida corporate, property tax cuts create jobs? Editorial Bradenton Herald Rick Scott faces a mighty challenge when he assumes office today with job creation atop his agenda. Rules freeze might cause confusion By Douglas Hanks Miami Herald Can an off-road vehicle have two seats in Florida? Should pain clinics get safety reviews every year or every three years? And may produce stands avoid extra fees to get a permit for setting up shop in the Southwest Florida Water Management District? State Farm in final phase of dropping homeowners insurance policies By Jeff Harrington St. Petersburg Times If you're a homeowner still covered by State Farm, cross your fingers. You should find out within the next few weeks if you've missed the purge by the state's biggest private property insurer. State panel makes sinkhole recommendations By Nirvi Shah Miami Herald With more Florida homeowners filing insurance claims for damage caused by sinkholes -- claims nearly quadrupled between 2006 and 2010 statewide -- the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee issued a report this week that said something must be done to curb insurance companies' sinkhole costs. VIDEO: Jackson Lab withdraws application for state $50 million; to work with new Gov. Scott Naples Daily News Jackson Laboratory officials have withdrawn their application to the state for economic incentive funding but they still want to expand to Collier County. The laboratory plans to file a new proposal after meeting with Gov. Rick Scott and his administration for feedback. HEALTH AND SENIORS Turning 65? Time to brush up on the details of Medicare By Ana Venciana-Suarez Miami Herald Baby boomers, the generation that once vowed to never trust anyone over 30, begin turning 65 this year. This is a historic moment, ushering a demographic tsunami through the threshold of old age. Health exec now is governor By Jim Saunders Health News Florida In 1997, Rick Scott was pushed out of the top job at Columbia/HCA in a Medicare fraud scandal that ultimately forced the hospital company to pay $1.7 billion in fines. At 11:56 a.m. today, he became Florida governor. FDA Prepares to Enact New Food-Safety Law By Bill Tomson Wall Street Journal The Food and Drug Administration is preparing to enact provisions of the new food-safety bill that was passed by Congress in the waning days of 2010 and is expected to be signed into law Tuesday. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE, AND SOCIAL ISSUES Haridopolos schedules meeting on immigration By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times Senate President Mike Haridopolos announced today that he has scheduled a meeting on immigration for Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. The meeting will be led by Sen. Anita Flores, chair of the senate judiciary committee, and focus on "information-gathering," according to a news release. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Fla. lawmakers plea for release of dying inmate Associated Press Several Florida lawmakers are joining family members in pleading for the release from prison of a 27-year-old woman who was born with AIDS and now is dying of cancer.