Daily Clips for February 28, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Big Cuts For Us, Big Salaries For Them - AwakeTheState.com Dueling rallies By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Excerpt: The same day, a coalition of liberal groups such as Progress Florida, America Votes, Florida Watch Action and Florida Progressive Action is planning an "Awake the State" rally to protest the budget and benefit cuts Scott is recommending. Organizers hope to have rallies in Tallahassee and around the state that day. FEATURED STORIES Despite Scott's talk of faith, his budget targets our most vulnerable By Scott Maxwell Orlando Sentinel When he's politicking, Gov. Rick Scott spends a lot of time talking about his faith. Two lawmakers dominate Tallahassee By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau When the Florida Legislature convenes in two weeks, two men will wield almost uncheckable power over a conservative agenda of lower taxes, budget cuts, evaluating teacher performance, and Medicaid and pension reform. GOP's reform push stirs rivals By John Kennedy Palm Beach Post Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature's ruling Republicans have kicked over a political hornet's nest by promoting budget cuts, pension overhauls and civil justice changes, which are now emerging as targets for statewide rallies by Democratic-allied organizations. Florida protesters show support for Wis. unions By Bill Cotterell USA Today Veteran labor organizer Barbara DeVane sang an old union anthem Saturday on the west plaza of Florida's Capitol, aiming an ad-lib barb at Gov. Rick Scott and Republican efforts to cut state employee benefits. Florida gets more time to vie for high-speed rail money By Alex Leary and Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has given Florida one more week to work out a deal on high-speed rail, a dramatic development in the saga that gave backers of the Orlando-Tampa line a cautious burst of optimism. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Jim Morin Miami Herald Pill mills thrive as Gov. Scott nixes database By Carl Hiaasen Miami Herald Last week, as drug agents secretly prepared to raid more than a dozen South Florida pill mills, Gov. Rick Scott reaffirmed his staunch opposition to a statewide computer database that would track prescriptions of Vicodin, Percocet and other dangerous narcotics. FLORIDA POLITICS Some conflicts of interest By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related: Damaged by term limits Related: The dollars are hard to track Related: The Legislature has many ways to kill a bill Related: The language of the Legislature Related editorial: Fixing a broken government Florida has a part-time citizen Legislature, composed of people of varied backgrounds from teachers to real estate agents to funeral directors. Senate Republicans fast-track controversial bills By John Kennedy Palm Beach Post Senate Republicans say they are intent on making good on last fall's campaign. promises -- setting the stage for a highly partisan opening week of the 2011 Legislature. Unions in the crosshairs as session looms By Michael Peltier Naples Daily News With union busting votes drawing more than 70,000 union supporters to Wisconsin’s capital over the weekend, Florida lawmakers are not yet ready to abolish collective bargaining. Gov. Rick Scott now says he'd like collective bargaining removed from Constitution By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Days after Gov. Rick Scott told a Tallahassee radio station that he was supportive of collective bargaining, he now says he wishes it weren't allowed in Florida. Waiting for Gov. Rick Scott to blink By Myriam Marquez Miami Herald Will Florida go the way of Wisconsin? Fight unions? Sure — but GOP plans go too far By Mike Thomas Orlando Sentinel Who would have guessed that Wisconsin and Ohio would trump Florida in union busting? Rick Scott’s goals are known, his strategy isn’t By Brendan Farrington Associated Press It hasn’t been hard to figure out Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s priorities as he heads into his first legislative session — his mantra has been jobs, jobs, jobs. Scott and lawmakers are divided over separation of powers By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-led Legislature are at odds over the power of the purse, the future of public transportation and his proposed reconstructive surgery on government bureaucracy. Senate pres. Haridopolos got $152k to write book with 1 copy By Brendan Farrington Associated Press New Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos finished writing a book on politics for Brevard Community College four years ago, getting $152,000 in taxpayer money for the effort. Learning from professor Haridopolos By Katie Sanders St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Senate President Mike Haridopolos is last to appear for the 7:15 a.m. meeting, the only one who brought coffee, his blond hair still wet from a rinse in his office shower. Marco Rubio maintaining low-key approach to Senate By Lesley Clark and Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald After posing for photographs with top supporters for more than an hour, Marco Rubio strolled quietly into a ballroom at the Miami Airport Hilton on Saturday night, found his place at the honored guests' table at the front of the room and prepared to address the home crowd that so enthusiastically got him elected to the U.S. Senate. Lawsuits challenge Fla. redistricting changes By Mike Schneider Associated Press After a hard-fought political campaign, voters approved two measures last fall that would change how Florida's congressional and legislative districts are drawn every decade. POLITICAL RACES Haridopolos has big fundraising advantage – his office By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Senate President Mike Haridopolos enjoys one big advantage over his Republican rivals in the 2012 U.S. Senate contest ahead: he can use the influence of his powerful office to command serious campaign cash. Florida faces fight over early primary By William March Tampa Tribune Florida may be headed for a showdown with the Republican Party and the early primary states over the date of its 2012 presidential primary. Election supercenters could replace South Florida polling places By Anthony Man South Florida Sun-Sentinel Broward County’s special election Feb. 8 cost about $75,000 — for 204 votes. BALLOT INITIATIVES Florida Catholic Conference, Family Policy Council do not endorse fetal personhood By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent A proposed fetal personhood amendment, which would outlaw abortion and some forms of birth control, has been called radical and outrageous by pro-choice activists. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Budget cuts could kill environmental programs By William E. Gibson Orlando Sentinel Eager to slash taxes and restrain government spending, Gov. Rick Scott and Republican budget-cutters in Congress are seeking to chop big chunks of state and federal funding for programs designed to preserve the natural environment. Keep Florida Forever alive Editorial Pensacola News Journal It would be ironic — and bad for Florida — if Gov. Rick Scott succeeds in zeroing out funding for Florida Forever. Oil spill cleanup on beach scaling back By Kimberly Blair Pensacola News Journal Giant-sized, beeping and chugging oil-cleaning machines carved deep tracks in the sand as they lumbered eastward down the beach at Fort Pickens last week. LGBT After Obama announcement, conservatives vow to make gay marriage a 2012 election issue By David Crary and Lisa Leff Associated Press Angered conservatives are vowing to make same-sex marriage a front-burner election issue, nationally and in the states, following the Obama administration's announcement that it will no longer defend the federal law denying recognition to gay married couples. EDUCATION Study: Florida teacher pay dropping to 47th in U.S.; union raps Senate Bill 736 By Katherine Albers Naples Daily News Florida’s public school teachers are on their way to being among the worst-paid in the nation. Exams retooled for high schools By Keyonna Summers Florida Today Florida students begin taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test on Tuesday, but a new batch of standards has Brevard Public Schools officials doing their homework on how to best implement recent changes -- and parents scrambling to figure out what the revamp will mean for their children's grades. Parent group pans Florida Senate plan to ease class size restrictions By Jeff Solochek St. Petersburg Times A draft bill that would give Florida school districts some wiggle room in dealing with strict class size rules has won support from some reluctant lawmakers, but it's not gaining steam with one of the state's most vocal parent organizations. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY What next for Florida’s rail systems? By Travis Pillow Florida Independent In the wake of Gov. Rick Scott’s decision to stick to his guns on rejecting funds for high-speed rail, the Palm Beach Post reported that U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has extended the deadline, allowing the federal government more time to overcome Scott’s objection that the project would put Florida taxpayer dollars at risk. Broken-Record Rick May Not Matter By Glenn Marston Lakeland Ledger Every few days since Feb. 16, when Gov. Rick Scott rejected the Obama administration's $2.39 billion in high-speed-rail funding for Florida, Scott has been presented with a set of facts. Bill cutting unemployment benefits to 20 weeks advances By Marcia Heroux Pounds South Florida Sun-Sentinel Florida HB 7005 again won support, this time in the Economic Affairs Committee on Friday morning. Lawmakers eye advertising on state parks and assets By Mark Harper Daytona Beach News-Journal Thank you for riding SunTrustRail. Next stop: JetBlue Spring State Park. South Florida housing burden leads nation, study finds By Paul Owers South Florida Sun-Sentinel South Florida has the nation's biggest burden when it comes to monthly housing costs. HEALTH AND SENIORS Obama's 'risky move' in Florida By David Nather Politico U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson has already dealt the Obama administration a staggering blow on health reform, and this week the administration may get another one from the fiery Florida judge. Lawmakers poised to privatize Medicaid statewide By Kelli Kennedy Associated Press Jason Rosenstock typically waits six weeks to see a specialist to treat his pituitary disease, a side effect from a childhood brain tumor. A planned database to monitor Florida's infamous pill trade is being swallowed up by politics By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post After two years and more than 5,000 deaths from prescription drug overdoses, the tool that could be the key to helping reverse Florida's position as a center of illicit drug trade is on the brink of collapse. Key House chair targets database By Jim Saunders Health News Florida House Health and Human Services Chairman Rob Schenck does not like Florida's prescription-drug database. Ax poised to hack services for needy By Donna Koehn Tampa Tribune When Gov. Rick Scott announced his austere budget proposal this month, he likened the process to going through the attic of an old home, keeping the valuable items and tossing out the junk. State steps in less and more kids die By Carol Marbin Miller Miami Herald The details of Nubia Barahona’s death are grisly: Soaked in toxic chemicals, decomposed and stuffed in a garbage bag, she was found rotting on the shoulder of the interstate on Valentines Day. Scott broke law ousting state's long-term-care ombudsman, watchdogs say By Kate Santich Orlando Sentinel Watchdogs of the nation's nursing-home industry are calling for an investigation into Gov. Rick Scott's abrupt dismissal of the state's long-term-care ombudsman, claiming that the governor's "interference" was illegal. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Dispensing tough love at the Clemency Board By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times For the first time as governor, Rick Scott sat in judgment of his fellow man Thursday. Colleges become focus of nation's debate over guns By Marc Lacey New York Times Along with the meaning of life and the origin of the universe, college students across the country have another existential question to ponder: the wisdom of allowing guns in class. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Court system in peril amid budget crisis By David Ovalle Miami Herald As state lawmakers prepare to hammer out a balanced budget when the legislative session opens in Tallahassee next month, court personnel in South Florida say their already strained justice system will collapse if state employees are forced to shoulder significant cuts. Two judges leaving 1st District Court of Appeal By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Two of the 15 judges on the long-troubled 1st District Court of Appeal are leaving the bench after more than 20 years on the court.

Daily Clips for February 25, 2011

FEATURED STORIES Gov. Rick Scott is done with high-speed rail; advocates explore court challenge By Alex Leary, Bill Varian and Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times Related: Facts don't faze Scott's world Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday rejected a plan for a coalition of local governments to take over a controversial high-speed rail project but advocates were exploring ways to challenge him in court. Florida's new GOP attorney general aims to undo automatic restoration of felons' rights By Dara Kam and John Kennedy Palm Beach Post In a shocker for civil rights advocates and Democrats, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday she wants to undo Florida's limited automatic restoration of rights for felons who have completed the terms of their sentences. Colleagues scold Haridopolos for ethics violation By Jim Ash Florida Capital News The Rules Committee voted unanimously this afternoon to admonish one of its own, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, for mistakes in his financial disclosure forms. Florida, 24 states want to stop implementing health reform now Associated Press Tampa Tribune Florida and 25 other states suing to stop President Barack Obama's health care overhaul say in a new legal filing that they should be allowed to stop following the law immediately. FLORIDA POLITICS Critics blast Scott for not budging on high-speed train By Dan Tracy and Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Gov. Rick Scott refused to budge Thursday on his earlier decision to kill a high-speed train between Orlando and Tampa, triggering an onslaught of criticism from backers of the $2.7 billion project. Senate President Mike Haridopolos admonished in ethics case, apologizes By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos was formally admonished by his own Rules Committee on Thursday for failing to accurately disclose his finances on state ethics forms. Haridopolos: One way or another, state should create prescription drug database By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Gov. Rick Scott has opposed creating a database intended to help the state crack down on pill mills, citing privacy and cost concerns. Scott overstepped on planes By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact Related: J.D. Alexander demands Scott turn over public records on state plane sale The checks have been cashed, and the planes are gone, but that isn't stopping state Senate budget Chairman J.D. Alexander from continuing to question Gov. Rick Scott over his authority to unload the official state aircraft. Hispanic and Black Dems to sue over redistricting lawsuit By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times As if the once-a-decade process of redistricting wasn’t complicated enough, there’s a new wrinkle: At least five black and Hispanic Democrats from Tampa Bay and South Florida are filing a court motion soon to ensure that the voter-approved “Fair Districts” amendment becomes law. Rep. David Rivera says his 'official conduct most transparent of any member of Congress' Staff Report Naples Daily News Will freshman District 25 U.S. House member David Rivera of Miami survive three criminal investigations in Miami-Dade? BALLOT INITIATIVES Political action committee wants to eliminate permits ‘for any manner of bearing arms in Florida’ By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Florida Ballot Initiative, a political action committee led by Jupiter’s Richard Antolinez, is seeking to gather enough signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the 2012 ballot that would dictate that “no permit shall be required” to bear arms in Florida. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Scientists investigating dolphin deaths in gulf say BP oil spill is possible cause By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Usually, a few dead dolphins wash ashore along gulf beaches in the first few months of the year. Some are killed by Red Tide or other toxic algae blooms, some by diseases, some by cold. Anti-regulation zealots jeopardize environment By Ron Littlepage Florida Times-Union Florida's environment - the very heart and soul of our state - is under attack. LGBT Gay-rights advocates protest antigay activist's appointment to county board By Kim Wilmath St. Petersburg Times Hundreds of people this week wrote to Hillsborough County commissioners protesting the December appointment of antigay rights advocate Terry Kemple to the county's Board of Human Relations. EDUCATION Machen proposes 30 percent tuition hike By Nathan Crabbe Gainesville Sun University of Florida President Bernie Machen said Thursday that a 30 percent increase to undergraduate tuition might be needed to get through possible state budget cuts. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY With officers' deaths adding emotion, modified pension reform bill proposed By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau A Senate committee proposed a modified bill Thursday that focuses more on shoring up the Florida Retirement System and less on using the savings to close the state budget gap. Associated Industries leader takes aim at state's pension plan By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News The head of Florida's major business organization bluntly told legislators Thursday state employees should "have some skin in the game" with pension payments put into investment accounts — and consider themselves lucky to have jobs. Haridopolos: Under modified revenue cap, lawmakers would have flexibility By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Senate President Mike Haridopolos responded Wednesday to criticism of the “Smart Cap” proposal he plans to pass during the first week of the upcoming legislative session. Town hall 'rage' over spending By Marin Cogan Politico The two town halls couldn’t have been any more different — one a blue-jeans-and-ball-cap affair, rowdy and filled-to-capacity near an impoverished urban strip — the other a smaller confab of polo-shirt-and-Bermuda-shorts clad seniors in a sleek conference room outside Orlando. Cannon on internet sales tax: Complicated issue, probably for feds By Scott Maxwell Orlando Sentinel In penning part of today’s follow-up column on the Internet sales tax, I was struck by how many business owners had already taken their concerns to state legislators. Shuttle Discovery Lifts Off on Final Mission Associated Press Lakeland Ledger Discovery, the world's most traveled spaceship, thundered into orbit for the final time Thursday, heading toward the International Space Station on a journey that marks the beginning of the end of the shuttle era. HEALTH AND SENIORS Key House chair targets database By Jim Saunders Health News Florida House Health and Human Services Chairman Rob Schenck does not like Florida's prescription-drug database. That much is clear. Future of prescription drug monitoring database headed for legislative battle By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The future of a database to help fight Florida's prescription drug abuse epidemic appears headed for a battle in the state Legislature. Hastings amendment to support AIDS Drug Assistance Programs passes By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent An amendment supported by Democratic U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fort Lauderdale, to increase funding for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs was passed last Friday as part of the continuing resolution for federal spending. Fewer Florida nurses have bachelor's degrees, study finds By Diane Chun Gainesville Sun Nurses in Florida are falling behind the rest of the country in terms of education, and that could be bad news for patients, a new University of Florida study suggests. State budget: Protecting kids Editorial Florida Times-Union Florida should not balance its budget on the backs of its children. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Attorney General Pam Bondi wants to stop automatic restoration of civil rights By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Attorney General Pam Bondi says it is too easy for felons to regain their civil rights in Florida and will urge new restrictions, including a waiting period of up to five years before they can seek clemency. Gadsden County government embroiled in race plot scandal By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times White Gadsden County officials successfully conspired to remove or demote every black supervisor in county government, multiple lawsuits claim. Shooting off his mouth Editorial Pensacola News Journal Imagine how University of West Florida President Judy Bense felt this week when she woke up to find her campus portrayed as a crime scene. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Proposed bills would eliminate mandatory sentencing for drug trafficking By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Two bills filed in the Florida legislature this week would eliminate mandatory sentencing for trafficking in marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other controlled substances like methamphetamine. Herald sues DCF for records in case of abused twins By Diana Moskovitz Miami Herald The Miami Herald sued the Department of Children & Families Thursday, seeking records the agency has refused to release about a call made to its abuse hotline days before adopted twins were found — one dead, the other with severe chemical burns — in a truck on the side of Interstate 95.

Daily Clips for February 24, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Tea Party activists plan rally in Tallahassee By Michael C. Bender Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau Excerpt: The same day a coalition of liberal group such as Progress Florida, America Votes, Florida Watch Action and Florida Progressive Action are planning an "Awake the State" rally to protest the budget and benefit cuts Scott's is recommending. Organizers hope to have rallies in Tallahassee and around the state that day. "It's been a totally organic grassroots movement of Floridians upset about budget cuts to education to senior services to the environment," said Mark Ferrulo of Progress Florida. FEATURED STORIES Gov. Rick Scott's office, federal officials talking high-speed rail; Scott unmoved By Alex Leary and Bill Varian St. Petersburg Times Related editorial: Taking the risk out of high-speed rail Federal transportation officials have spent the past two days talking with Gov. Rick Scott's office in hopes of salvaging a high-speed rail project linking Tampa and Orlando. Federally funded Jacksonville abstinence program has ties to ‘Kill the Gays’ Ugandan pastor By Andy Kopsa Florida Independent Project SOS, a Jacksonville-based abstinence education program, has received more than $6.5 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services since 2002 — including $454,000 in September 2010. Lawmakers backing away from Scott's stringent pension-reform plans By Tonya Alanez Orlando Sentinel Florida legislators are not embracing the sweeping employee pension reforms being advanced by Gov. Rick Scott. Florida senator's action on state education bill angers opponents By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union The debate over the successors to last year's polarizing teacher-pay bill once again turned heated Wednesday, as opponents fumed about a decision by Sen. John Thrasher to cut off debate in the measure's final Senate committee. Introducing The 'American Dream' Movement By Van Jones Huffington Post In the past 24 months, those of us who longed for positive change have gone from hope to heartbreak. But hope is returning to America -- at last -- thanks largely to the courageous stand of the heroes and heroines of Wisconsin. Don't pick a fight against unions Editorial Orlando Sentinel A battle between labor and lawmakers is raging in Wisconsin. Tens of thousands of workers have converged on the Capitol to protest Republican Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to curtail collective bargaining rights for government employees. FLORIDA POLITICS Democrats call on Thrasher, Flores, to recuse themselves from Haridopolos ethics hearing By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel The Florida Democratic Party is using the eve of an ethics hearing into Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ faulty financial disclosures to ask two legislators on the committee hearing the case who endorsed his re-election to recuse themselves. Senate GOP sets campaign pledges up for early votes when session starts By John Kennedy Palm Beach Post Senate Republicans said Wednesday they are intent on making good on last fall's campaign promises -- setting the stage for a highly partisan opening week of the 2011 Legislature. Gov. Scott asks Legislature to cut government By Brent Kallestad Associated Press Cutting the size of Florida's government was one of former Gov. Jeb Bush's goals. Scott plans road trip to push tourism By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Gov. Rick Scott toured a seafood-processing plant and ate some oysters Wednesday, then announced plans for a four-city tour next week to rub northern noses in their snow while promoting Florida's sunny skies, tourist attractions and oil-free seafood. Sen. Marco Rubio gives pep talk to state House Republicans By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Florida's biggest Republican star, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, returned to the state Capitol on Wednesday to give a pep talk to the House Republican caucus and warn that the American dream is in danger of drowning in debt. FEC requests details on Buchanan campaign contributions By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Two months after filing suit over allegations of questionable contributions made to the 2006 and 2008 campaigns of Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, the Federal Election Commission has released three letters it sent to the Buchanan campaign asking for more details on the matter. With spotlight, political conventions bring hassles for host cities By Lois Romano Washington Post When the call finally came, middle-aged men pumped their fists in the air as dollar signs danced in their heads. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Legislators pushing ahead with major rewrite of growth management laws By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune The Florida House and Senate both are taking up major rewrites of the state's growth management laws, according to the key committee chairmen in each chamber. House panel passes three controversial bills By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Three of the most controversial environmental and agricultural bills to emerge prior to the 2011 legislative session were approved on Tuesday by a House committee. LGBT Obama, Holder direct federal government to drop defense of anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act By Pete Yost Associated Press Related: Gay marriage policy change: Question and answers In a major policy reversal, the Obama administration said Wednesday that it will no longer defend the constitutionality of a federal law banning recognition of same-sex marriage. EDUCATION Changes in teacher pay, tenure are coasting through Florida House By Katie Sanders St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Despite pleas from teachers and Democratic lawmakers to hold off on bold reforms, plans to reinvent how Florida pays and evaluates its teachers soared through legislative committees Wednesday. Report: Many FL Kids Too Hungry to Learn By Eric Mack and Deb Courson Public News Service Florida Teachers in Florida are ringing an alarm bell, contending that too many students in their classes are too hungry to learn. Students prep for 'next generation' FCAT By Linda Trimble Daytona Beach News-Journal Tougher standards are in and those familiar Number 2 pencils and bubble-in answer sheets are being replaced by online tests in some cases as Florida public school students prepare to start the annual round of state high-stakes testing next week. Testmaker Pearson replaces faulty FCATs missing cover sheets By Jeffrey S. Solochek and Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times As Florida school districts began to ramp up for the 2011 FCAT season, several of them received improperly packaged writing exams from Pearson, the state testing contractor fined millions last year for delays in delivering scores. Enrollment on the rise at Florida public universities Associated Press Tampa Tribune Enrollment in Florida's 11 public universities grew by 3 percent in the fall of 2010, and overall SAT and ACT admission scores increased as well. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Prices at the pump jump an average of 3 cents overnight nationally; Florida at $3.20 a gallon By Sonja Isger Palm Beach Post According to AAA reports this morning, the national average price for a gallon of gas went up overnight by about 3 cents, moving from $3.19 for a gallon of regular to $3.22. Florida's tax burden slightly higher than other Southeastern states By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Florida has been ranked 31st in a new national study that tries to measure the total tax burden placed on residents by state and local governments. Investors fuel home sales surge across S. Florida, nation By Paul Owers South Florida Sun-Sentinel Home sales rose sharply in January across Palm Beach and Broward counties, the Florida Realtors said Wednesday. Legislation Would Provide $30 Million for Citrus Research Over 5 Years By Kevin Bouffard Lakeland Ledger Sen. Bill Nelson said he will reintroduce legislation that would provide up to $30 million a year over the next five years for citrus research, particularly targeted at battling the deadly citrus greening disease. Bennett says take me out of the ball game By Brent Batten Marco Eagle News When it comes to funding professional sports facilities, Sen. Mike Bennett wants to take Florida out of the game. HEALTH AND SENIORS 2009 letter hints at potential allies in Scott’s decision to repeal Drug Monitoring Program By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Most of the reaction to Gov. Rick Scott’s plan to repeal Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program has been negative — editorials have scrutinized the governor’s proposal, and at least one Florida senator came out hard against a decision he called “beyond comprehension.” But Scott’s plan has its supporters. Police raid South Florida pill mills By Scott Hiaasen and David Ovalle Miami Herald Narcotics agents across South Florida descended on more than a dozen pain clinics Wednesday, arresting at least 20 people — including five doctors — in the most dramatic effort yet to curb the region’s booming business of illegal prescription narcotics. Abortion a top priority for state GOP By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent A mandatory-ultrasound bill is not the only Republican proposal that seeks to restrict abortion rights sure to come up in the state legislature during its upcoming session — limiting access to abortion is clearly a top priority for GOP legislators. Florida's attorney general calls U.S. Justice Department request in health care lawsuit a delaying tactic By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Legal wranglings continue in the Florida-led lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of federal health care legislation. Florida to receive federal funding for in-home care Staff Report Jacksonville Business Journal Florida is one of 13 states that will receive more than $45 million in grants to help move Medicaid beneficiaries out of institutions and into their homes. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Dean Cannon’s court ‘takeover’ begins By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel House Speaker Dean Cannon proclaimed in his swearing-in speech that Florida’s judicial branch had overstepped its bounds after the state Supreme Court scuttled three legislatively drawn constitutional changes last year.

Daily Clips for February 23, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Protests inspire many in Florida By Bill Cotterell Ft. Myers News-Press Excerpt: Susannah Randolph, executive director of Florida Watch Action in Orlando, said her group is organizing rallies in major cities to focus attention on the Legislature. "It's sort of an organic movement started on Facebook," she said. "There's a big movement afoot to oppose what's going on in Tallahassee right now." Damien Filer of Progress Florida in Tallahassee said a Facebook page called "Awake the State" was "liked" by 2,665 people in a few days. FEATURED STORIES Senate agrees to loosen its pension bill By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau A Senate committee agreed Tuesday to tone down its pension-reform plan after local government unions warned it would punish city workers and hurt healthy retirement funds. Fla. drug database fund-raiser disputes Gov. Scott's claim his group wasted money By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Gov. Rick Scott accused the private foundation raising money for a statewide prescription drug database of wasting money, his latest attack on the system created by lawmakers two years ago. Transportation secretary is one of many openings in Gov. Rick Scott's administration By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Florida Gov. Rick Scott has yet to name the state's top transportation official, but already he has installed the agency's chief of staff, hired its lawyer and pulled the trigger on a major decision to blow up plans for high-speed rail. Rick Scott voices support for collective bargaining By Jennifer Epstein Politico Florida Gov. Rick Scott voiced tentative support for collective bargaining agreements — so long as union members are aware of what their leaders are negotiating for. Watchdogs slam DEP choice By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times A pair of environmental groups are complaining to federal officials that the shipyard executive Gov. Rick Scott picked to lead the Department of Environment Protection cannot oversee a program that regulates how much industrial pollution can be dumped into the state's waters. FLORIDA POLITICS Push on to privatize high-speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando By Bart Jansen and Wayne T. Price Florida Today Officials across Central Florida are drafting proposals to privatize high-speed rail and hope to submit a plan to Gov. Rick Scott for approval within a day or two. Legislators push for more control over state auditors By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Florida's legislative leaders could soon have direct control over the hiring and firing of one of the state's main auditors under a measure that will likely pass the first week of session. Gov. Scott wants to bring ROI to state agencies By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Gov. Rick Scott, who has sparked protests among public employees whose pension and insurance benefits would be dramatically changed by his budget-cutting policies, said today the standoff in Wisconsin is the start of "a good discussion" about bringing private-sector business practices to state government operations. Senate budget chief asks Gov. Rick Scott to justify his 'legal authority' to sell state planes By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Rick Scott is on a political crash course with the Florida Senate's powerful budget chief, J.D. Alexander, who wrote a letter Tuesday asking the governor to cite the "legal authority" for the way he sold two state planes. Agency pick makes quick exit By Justin George and Katie Sanders St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The day before a state Senate panel was going to question him about sexual abuse allegations at a Hillsborough County group home he oversaw, Carl Littlefield resigned as the governor's choice to run the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Politicians find social media full of perks, pitfalls By Sarah Lundy Orlando Sentinel Politicians learned how to harness Facebook, Twitter and YouTube on the campaign trail to win elections. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Anti-Amendment 4 group still around, hints at plans to ‘take the fight to’ environmental groups By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Florida voters shot down Amendment 4 — aka “Hometown Democracy — during last November’s election, but the group that sprung up to oppose it is still kicking, and has sent supporters a video to rally the troops for its next battle. BP claim protocol remains the same By Louis Cooper Pensacola News Journal More than 1,400 comments were submitted to the Gulf Coast Claim's Facility regarding its proposed final protocol for compensating those injured by last summer's BP oil spill. Bondi court filing challenges Feinberg on oil spill claims By Travis Pillow Florida Independent In a court document filed last week, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi outlines four main grievances with the oil spill claims process under Kenneth Feinberg. EDUCATION Lawmakers to take up decisive ed issues in session By Christine Armario Associated Press Major cuts to school budgets as federal stimulus funding dries up. What's ahead for teachers? By Jeffrey S. Solochek St. Petersburg Times The Florida House and Florida Senate have separate bills for changing teacher pay, contracts, certification and evaluations. Keeping young teachers a tough assignment By Annie Martin Daytona Beach News-Journal Wanted: Employee who can tend to 18 clients at once. UF ranked No. 3 for value among public universities By Nathan Crabbe Gainesville Sun The University of Florida is one of the nation's best values among public universities, according to the Princeton Review. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida consumer confidence remains high By Jeff Harrington St. Petersburg Times A spike in Florida's consumer confidence a month ago apparently wasn't a fluke. Bing bank boom: Foreclosed homeowners say they don’t get their day in court By Steven Beardsley Naples Daily News For the past few years, Lee County’s busiest court docket has also been the most notorious in the state. HEALTH AND SENIORS NRA, medical establishment clashes in Senate committee debate By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News In a clash between the National Rifle Association and medical establishment, a Senate committee decided today to restrict the ability of doctors to find out if patients have guns in their homes. ‘Medically Needy’ may get the ax By Jim Saunders Health News Florida As Gov. Rick Scott and Florida lawmakers struggle with massive budget problems, they are resurrecting an old idea: Chop the Medically Needy program. Gov stands firm against prescription drug-tracking database By Frank Gluck Ft. Myers News-Press Gov. Rick Scott kept up his opposition to a proposed prescription drug-tracking database Tuesday, adding a new, but unsubstantiated, claim: the not-yet-running program is misspending money. Legislation aims to curb concussions through education, regulation By Katie Sanders St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau David Goldstein was a freshman on his high school soccer team last year when he was called in to sub during district finals. Pill mill tourism Editorial Gainesville Sun Gov. Rick Scott has promised to get government out of the way of business. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Gun bill worries campus cops By Thyrie Bland Pensacola News Journal State Sen. Greg Evers is pushing legislation to make it legal to carry licensed guns on university campuses in Florida.

Daily Clips for February 22, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Top State Legislators Promise Cuts, But Staff Salaries Remain High (includes video) By Eric Rasmussen WFTV 9 News Orlando Excerpt: "Really, the model here is to starve the people who really do the work and to pay inflated salaries to people at the top," Damien Filer of Progress Florida said. Floridians plan protests around the state By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Excerpt: Damien Filer of Progress Florida in Tallahassee said a Facebook page called "Awake the State" was "liked" by 2,665 people in a few days. "Draconian budget cuts proposed by Gov. Scott along with equally destructive proposals from the Legislature are threatening Floridians from every walk of life," he said. "Our goal with Awake the State is to give a platform to Floridians who want to speak out on the opening day of session and make sure their voices are heard, in addition to the message put forth by Gov. Scott in his State of the State address." FEATURED STORIES With eye on Wisconsin, Florida teachers gear up for rallies By Tom Marshall and Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times Florida teachers statewide began gearing up for rallies and protests as state lawmakers close in on monumental changes to how teachers are hired, fired, paid and evaluated. High-speed rail advocates say they can save project, but Scott doesn't budge By Richard Danielson, Michael C. Bender and Tia Mitchell St. Petersburg Times Related: Scott being pushed to kill SunRail, too As high-speed rail advocates on Monday outlined a plan to save the Tampa to Orlando project through a partnership of local governments, Gov. Rick Scott brushed off the very idea. Scott hopes to slash agency others say has minimized sprawl By Mike Salinero Tampa Tribune “Job killer,” is how Gov. Rick Scott described the Florida Department of Community Affairs. FLORIDA POLITICS Is It Time to Recall Rick Scott? By Ralph De La Cruz Florida Center for Investigative Reporting Rick Scott came into the governor’s office without having ever governed. Scott dismisses new high-speed rail assurances By Dan Tracy and Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel Gov. Rick Scott Monday waved off efforts by high-speed rail supporters to assure him that the $2.7-billion project would not cost Florida taxpayers any money, dismissing them as “all these hypotheticals.” In These Times: Marco Rubio’s prison problem By Joy-Ann Reid The Reid Report There is a stench growing around the Miami claque that spawned from Jeb Bush’s political machine (a machine that has only begun to flex its national muscle, with his top fixer Al Cardenas now atop the American Conservative Union, Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate, David Rivera in the House, and Bush’s cronies in veto-proof charge in Tallahassee. Two lawmakers hope to loosen Florida's gift ban law By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau After six years of being able to accept unlimited amounts of campaign cash but not a cup of coffee from lobbyists, two legislators are hoping to loosen the state law that bars lawmakers from receiving gifts from the public. Southerland on national stage By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News As a candidate last year, U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland promised voters that if they sent him to Washington, he'd get the attention of the big-shot bosses in Congress. Serving ideology, not voters Editorial St. Petersburg Times U.S. House Republicans brought their narrow agenda into sharper focus early Saturday by voting to slash domestic spending by $61 billion for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year. POLITICAL RACES Early voting underway in special state Senate race Associated Press Ocala Star Banner Voting is underway in the race to fill U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson's seat in the state Senate. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Cuba’s plans to drill for oil south of Florida Keys has lawmakers scrambling By Eric Staats Naples Daily News Florida was on edge last summer as oil spewed from the blown out Deepwater Horizon well in the northern Gulf of Mexico. State's growth agency flips its position on 5,000 acre development after secretary is replaced By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune The Florida Department of Community Affairs is working to reverse a determination in December by then-DCA Secretary Tom Pelham that a proposed land use change for a development on more than 5,000 acres in Volusia County is illegal. Home-builders are concerned draft septic tank legislation could go too far By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune A Senate committee is considering a draft bill that would replace the state's septic tank inspection requirement with a state model ordinance that would allow local governments to implement their own programs. LGBT Family presses school on policy By Eileen Zaffiro-Kean Daytona Beach News-Journal A Deltona 8-year-old has been yanking out his eyelashes and hair lately, sort of a stress reflex like nail biting. EDUCATION Jacksonville rally galvanizes opposition to education funding cuts By Topher Sanders Florida Times-Union About 300 parents, educators and students told Gov. Rick Scott and anyone else proposing cuts to public education that Florida's children should come first. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Corrections workers applaud question to Scott about pay cuts By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times A Florida Department of Corrections worker received an ovation from her colleagues Monday after she asked a pointed question to Gov. Rick Scott about state employees taking it on the chin again this year. HEALTH AND SENIORS Parents at Dania rally urge Scott to keep pain pill database By Bob LaMendola Orlando Sentinel Call them "oxy moms." They're like soccer moms, except their common interest is not their children's sports, it's their children's addiction to pain pills like oxycodone. Agriculture Commissioner moves to take over school nutrition programs By Kim MacQueen Florida Tribune Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam has made a bid to bring all school nutrition programs under his department's umbrella. DCF appoints panel of 3 to review twins’ abuse case By Carol Marbin Miller Miami Herald Florida’s top social service administrator has appointed a panel of child welfare experts to determine what went wrong in the state’s efforts to protect 10-year-old Nubia and Victor Barahona — and two of the three panelists are veterans of high-profile child death cases. Scott's pick for agency could have a tough time winning confirmation By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Carl Littlefield, the man chosen by Gov. Rick Scott to take over the agency that deals with the state's disabled population, could have a tough time winning confirmation from the Florida Senate. Jackson seeks $1 billion in capital improvements By John Dorschner Miami Herald Seeking long-term solutions to stem Jackson Health System’s continuing losses, the chairman of the Public Health Trust is starting a major effort to raise $1 billion for capital improvements, perhaps from private investors in what he describes as a "public-private partnership."

Daily Clips for February 21, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS New Fla. Senate president pushes conservative plan By Brent Kallestad Associated Press Excerpt: “Progress Florida" has created a Website http://www.Dirtyhari.org that it claims exposes the lawmaker's "lack of judgment and apparent absence of scruples." FEATURED STORIES Fla. threatens to shred 2012 calendar By Alexander Burns Politico A deepening standoff between national Republicans and top party leaders in Florida has the potential to blow up the 2012 presidential primary calendar — and do lasting damage to the GOP in the nation’s largest swing state. Gov. Rick Scott, still skeptical on high-speed rail, gives backers some hope By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Related: Federal officials balk at scaled-back plan for Florida high-speed rail High-speed rail backers got a sliver of hope from Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday after he said he would be willing to look at a plan that alleviates financial risk to the state. Mike Haridopolos flip-flops, sides with Gov. Rick Scott on rejecting rail dollars By Marc Caputo and Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Related PolitiFact article: Mike Haridopolos breaks silence on high-speed rail, then switches position In a nod to tea party power, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos reversed course on a majority of state senators and his own voting record Friday by saying he supports Gov. Rick Scott's decision to refuse $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail money. Scott already headed to a showdown with Legislature? By Gary Fineout The Fine Print The final year of Gov. Charlie Crist's term was one that featured a running series of skirmishes between Crist and the GOP-controlled Legislature. Cuts in Education Could Lead to 20,000 Layoffs By Lloyd Dunkelberger Lakeland Ledger While promising to create a world-class education system, Gov. Rick Scott has simultaneously proposed the deepest cuts for Florida public schools by any governor in recent history. Scientist Finds Bottom Of Gulf Still Oily, Dead By Seth Borenstein Associated Press Oil from the BP spill remains stuck on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, according to a top scientist's video and slides that she says demonstrate the oil isn't degrading as hoped and has decimated life on parts of the sea floor. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Andy Marlette Pensacola News-Journal FLORIDA POLITICS U.S. Rep. David Rivera's consultant collected $817,000 in fees since 2006 By Scott Hiaasen, Patricia Mazzei and Marc Caputo Miami Herald Before launching his bid for Congress last year, David Rivera embarked on a record-breaking campaign for state Senate, amassing more than $1 million in donations some eight months before Election Day. Scott looks to Texas, but both states have problems By William March Tampa Tribune If Florida Gov. Rick Scott has an idol, it's probably Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Scott: Cut Florida's taxes, fees, regulations -- and jobs will follow By Kevin Turner Florida Times-Union Gov. Rick Scott got to work Friday in St. Augustine promoting his proposed budget and plans to bring jobs to Florida by slashing business taxes, property taxes and state regulations on developers, manufacturers and other businesses. Gov. Rick Scott denies first contract By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau With state lawmakers debating putting Medicaid patients into managed care programs, Gov. Rick Scott canceled this week an $18 million Medicaid contract between MedSolutions and the Agency for Health Care Administration for outpatient imaging services. Scott unwittingly empowers the press By Antonio Fins South Florida Sun-Sentinel Thank you, Gov. Scott. Thanks for making me, and my colleagues, relevant. In just weeks, Scott makes state cry uncle By Daniel Ruth St. Petersburg Times Perhaps a brief review is in order. Redistricting process more complicated than just moving boundaries By Morris News Service St. Augustine Record Even as some lawmakers begin to start work on the once-a-decade chore of redrawing the state's political boundaries, the politically contentious redistricting process is surrounded by more questions than usual. Rubio, West taking different exposure strategies By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Marco Rubio has gone underground. Lobbying income dipped nearly 4 percent last year By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune It turns out that lobbying in Tallahassee may not be recession proof after all. Let lobbyists feed us again, says state Sen. Dennis Jones By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times It takes a strong politician to admit a mistake. Gov. Rick Scott's honeymoon period is coming to an end Editorial Tampa Tribune And so it begins. Gov. Rick Scott's term as governor is off to a shaky start. Tearing Down Tallahassee: The Governor Who Couldn't Editorial Lakeland Ledger One has to wonder why Rick Scott ran for governor when he wants so little to do with governance. POLITICAL RACES Haridopolos leads state Senate with eye on Washington seat Associated Press Tampa Tribune New Senate President Mike Haridopolos is friendly, polite and politically ambitious — along the lines of Charlie Crist, albeit distinctly more conservative than the former Republican governor. Maverick Connie Mack keeps GOP Senate field waiting on 2012 run By Adam C. Smith and Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Connie Mack IV is blessed with a golden political name that would make him an instant Republican front-runner against U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. Early voting begins Monday for Florida Senate race By Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald Monday marks the beginning of the end in the race to determine U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson’s successor in the Florida Senate. Tampa mayor's race is up for grabs, poll suggests By Richard Danielson and Colleen Jenkins St. Petersburg Times Former Mayor Dick Greco has a narrow lead in his quest to win a fifth term as Tampa's mayor, but nearly a third of voters are undecided, according to a St. Petersburg Times-Bay News 9 poll. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY U.S. House budget vote threatens Florida clean-water rule By Steve Patterson Florida Times-Union The U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget bill early Saturday that would stop the federal government from enforcing new clean-water rules affecting the St. Johns River and other Florida rivers and lakes. EPA regional chief, responding to critics, says pollution prevention is good investment By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming said Friday that investing in clean water is better than paying more to clean up dirty water and fight harmful algal blooms. Everglades refuge plan in Central Florida draws fierce opposition By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times A proposal to create a new wildlife refuge in the headwaters of the Everglades has sparked a strong backlash against what opponents are calling "another government land grab." BP claims administrator promises to do better By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News Two hours of contentious questioning by Florida lawmakers — interrupted by a group of hotel-owners loudly leaving the meeting — ended with Kenneth Feinberg promising to do better compensating losses from last year's Gulf oil spill. EDUCATION With eye on Wisconsin, Florida teachers planning similar rallies in Tallahassee By Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times Opposition is heating up statewide as the Florida Legislature closes in on monumental changes to the teaching profession. Digital learning: The future is now, but change is slow By Leslie Postal and Denise-Marie Balona Orlando Sentinel The students at Orlando's Audubon Park Elementary School finished a math worksheet and started that long-standing third-grade tradition: the timed multiplication test. Michelle Rhee right about per-pupil spending, wrong about student performance By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact Florida legislators recently fawned over former Washington, D.C., public school chancellor Michelle Rhee as she addressed House and Senate members. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Scott now has to deliver on job growth By Mitch Stacy Associated Press Rick Scott successfully ran for governor as the jobs candidate, selling the voters a mostly vague plan to create 700,000 new ones in the next seven years. Scott would take 'trust' out of trust funds By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Gov. Rick Scott's budget-balancing plan to redirect $8.5 billion from 124 trust funds into the state's general-revenue checkbook could hold broader long-term implications for the state's environment, work-force housing and scores of services, ranging from restaurant inspection to professional licensing. Florida gets a few more jobs, but their salaries are lower By Jeff Harrington St. Petersburg Times Everybody knows Florida isn't creating enough jobs to dent its double-digit unemployment. FL Needs Job Diversity in Post-Spill Economy By Glen Gardner Public News Service Florida The BP oil spill may have been the wake-up call that pushes the Gulf Coast region to become more economically diverse. For some Florida officials, part-time duties but full-time benefits By Megan O'Matz South Florida Sun-Sentinel An obscure local agency that regulates drainage and maintains small canals over 45 square miles of southwestern Broward County gives its six elected commissioners a modest payment for their service: $400 per month. Foreclosure mediators: Banks pushed us to fail By Kimberly Miller Palm Beach Post Florida's Supreme Court sought a foreclosure lifeline in forcing banks and borrowers to mediation. HEALTH AND SENIORS Lobbying group picks up costs of Florida's health-care legal challenge By Charles Elmore Palm Beach Post Florida has paid less than $6,000 for its landmark challenge to President Obama's health care law largely because a business lobbying group is picking up an undisclosed share of the remaining legal costs. House votes to block all funding to Planned Parenthood By Sofia Resnick Florida Independent The House voted Friday to block federal funding to Planned Parenthood, passing the measure 240 to 185. Sebelius reacts to Gov. Rick Scott's Medicaid, drug monitoring cuts By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Florida Gov. Rick Scott's daily attacks on the Barack Obama administration aren't winning him any friends in the White House, but Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at least sounds like she wants to be helpful to Scott's efforts to cut Medicaid expenses. Doctors and health care providers divided over Medicaid overhaul By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune The day after the Florida Senate unveiled a 202 page rewrite of Florida's $22 billion Medicaid system, providers still are reading through the thick bill to determine how they are affected. Thrasher's bill would limit awards under medical malpractice lawsuits By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union A bill filed by state Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, would save the University of Florida's Shands teaching hospitals in Jacksonville and Gainesville millions each year by capping the amount an injured patient could win in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Big, troubled DCF in hot seat again By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post There's an intricate set of guidelines every child protective investigator at the Department of Children and Families must follow each time an abuse or neglect allegation is reported. Report card ranks Florida near the bottom in access to health care for children Editorial TC Palm A recently released report ranks Florida among the worst states in the nation in health services for children. Scott wrong on pill-mill law Editorial Tampa Tribune Seven people die each day in Florida because of prescription drug overdoses. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Power struggle over courts could result in more control for Florida Legislature By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Stepping up a power struggle between Florida's courts and the GOP-controlled Legislature, the Florida House has unveiled this week two measures that would sharply curtail the ability of the state's high courts to set rules for the state's courtrooms. Florida won’t pay for injustice By Fred Grimm Miami Herald All this talk about compensation for wrongful convictions. Not in Florida. Not for the likes of Anthony Caravella.