Daily Clips for December 14, 2011

FEATURED STORIES House Speaker Dean Cannon likes Gov. Rick Scott, but has concerns over budget proposal By David DeCamp St. Petersburg Times Related column: Rick Scott's toughest budget sell: the Republican Legislature Related: Scott's big tax cuts don't help everyone Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon embraces Gov. Rick Scott's philosophy and work ethic, but he's keeping some of Scott's biggest proposals at arm's length. A reckless gamble Editorial Pensacola News Journal Does Gov. Rick Scott actually understand what he is doing, or is he simply trying to ride the populist tea party wave by cutting the budget first and asking questions later? Proposals put squeeze on Florida's jobless By Jeff Ostrowski Palm Beach Post Mark Wampole figures his weekly unemployment checks are the only thing saving him from homelessness, and he grows frustrated when he hears of proposals by state lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott to tighten eligibility for unemployment compensation. Lessons from Gulf spill slipping away By Kate Spinner Sarasota Herald-Tribune A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study how the BP oil disaster affected the Gulf of Mexico is vanishing, with political infighting and bureaucracy tying up hundreds of millions of dollars in grants promised to independent scientists months ago. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Jeff Parker Florida Today Read the artist’s commentary here. FLORIDA POLITICS For Gov. Rick Scott, visit to Eustis an act of political necessity By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times A grouchy editor in Miami once grudgingly allowed me to go on a campaign trip on one condition: "Bring me back an exotic dateline," he barked over the phone. Dockery Hopes to Push Ethics Bills By Bill Rufty Lakeland Ledger State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, entered 2011 on a much quieter note than a year ago when she was considered a probable candidate for statewide office or an agency head. Florida lawmaker has the zeal to repeal By Katie Sanders St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The boy couldn't believe what his lawmaker dad said on the phone. Compact districts in Florida could lead to gains By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times An overwhelming 63 percent of Florida voters in November voted for a "Fair Districts" initiative aimed at curbing partisan gerrymandering of congressional and legislative political districts. Redistricting amendments: The people have spoken Editorial St. Augustine Record When Florida voters in November passed two constitutional amendments on redistricting congressional and legislative seats, they voted for fairness in representation, not protection for incumbents and political parties. Gov. Rick Scott's Budget: Unworthy of Trust Editorial Lakeland Ledger On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his first state budget. Being a biennial budget, it fits the Scott mold by breaking the rules. Marco Rubio Laying Low to Learn Ropes of Senate By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune A year ago, as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio received a hero's welcome when he spoke to thousands of Republicans at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference here. In Pinellas speech, Rubio warns of nation's debt woes By William March Tampa Tribune In his first Tampa Bay area appearance as a senator, Marco Rubio told a Republican crowd tonight that many Washington political leaders don't understand the seriousness of the nation's debt problems, which he said could lead to a crisis in "a couple of years." Rookie U.S. Rep. Allen West taking bulldog's approach By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times U.S. Rep. Allen West recoils at the word. POLITICAL RACES When Jeb Bush says he won't run for president in 2012, it makes Republicans want him more By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Please, Jeb. Pretty please? Buchanan for Senate? By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is reaping the benefits of finally being in the majority in the House and enjoying new prominence on the Ways and Means Committee. Recount shows Watson winner in special election for Florida House 103 By Anthony Man South Florida Sun-Sentinel A state-ordered machine recount confirmed Barbara Watson as the winner Friday in a special primary to elect a new member of the Florida House of Representatives. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY House, Senate to give closer scrutiny to budget this week By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com House and Senate budget writers this week will be looking for ways to cut environmental agencies' budgets after questioning some of Gov. Rick Scott's own recommended 2011-12 budget cuts last week. Bills call for uniform fertilizer regulations By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News Does one size fit all Florida for fertilizer regulations? Open up domestic drilling, Rep. Mack says By Bart Jansen Pensacola News Journal Policies supported by Republican House members can be effective in defusing foreign threats, Rep. Connie Mack IV told a conservative audience Saturday. Florida Panthers May Move To Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Federal officials have talked for 30 years about finding a new place for Florida panthers to roam without ever taking action. Scott wants state parks to remain open By Dave Heller Florida Capital News Gov. Rick Scott Friday took a stand in support of Florida's state parks. EDUCATION Not everyone's sold on Michelle Rhee, Gov. Scott's education adviser By Jeff Solochek St. Petersburg Times Related: A weekend interview with Michelle Rhee, education adviser to Florida Gov. Rick Scott Florida's lawmakers were starstruck. South Florida’s school districts brace for funding hit By Carli Teproff, Michael Vasquez and Kathleen McGrory Miami Herald It’s the worst possible scenario, say South Florida’s schools officials. At the same time millions in federal stimulus dollars are running out, the governor’s budget calls for the state to slash education spending by 10 percent. Teachers hope Florida Legislature gives failing grade to Senate Bill 736 By Katherine Albers Naples Daily News The legislative session hasn’t started yet, but Florida teachers already feel like they’re under attack. Scott Flip-Flopping on Jobs, Education Funding Pledges? By Eric Mack Public News Service Florida Gov. Rick Scott campaigned on a promise to bring more jobs to the Sunshine State, but after he unveiled his proposed budget last week, the union that represents school employees is crying foul. Scott budget favors ‘school choice’ programs By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent A Florida Tax Watch analysis of Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget released this week states that “it appears from the budget recommendations that the Governor’s main priority in education is the expansion of school choice.” Teacher tenure appears safe in Hillsborough By Sherri Ackerman and Elaine Silvestrini Tampa Tribune It looks like Hillsborough County teachers will once again dodge a proposed state law to end tenure and tie their pay strictly to performance. Confusion aside, cuts to education in Gov. Scott's budget run too deep Editorial South Florida Sun-Sentinel Safe to say Gov. Rick Scott probably isn't inspiring a ton of confidence among educators. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Gov. Rick Scott's budget sends variety of messages By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Gov. Rick Scott made a lot of bold pledges of reform last fall, while promising to kick-start the economy. State of panic: Florida employees worried about workforce cuts By Ryan Mills and Eric Staats Naples Daily News At state government offices in downtown Fort Myers, a transition from one Florida governor to the next usually doesn’t mean much more than changing the governor’s official photo in the lobby. Florida Gov. Rick Scott sells state planes, fulfilling campaign promise By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Rick Scott on Friday authorized the sale of two state airplanes to out-of-state bidders for a total of nearly $3.7 million, fulfilling a campaign promise. Sen. Bill Nelson pushes for more financial regulation to lower gas prices By Larry Hannan Florida Times-Union U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says the key to keeping gas prices from climbing is tightening regulations on oil speculation. Don't blame jobless Editorial Orlando Sentinel Legislators took a step Thursday toward revamping the state's beleaguered unemployment-compensation system. HEALTH AND SENIORS Ruling against health insurance mandate is a 'tea party' milestone By David G. Savage and Kathleen Hennessey Los Angeles Times For nearly two years, the "tea party" movement with its call for limited government has made inroads in the political arena, but a Florida judge's ruling last week declaring the health insurance mandate unconstitutional may be remembered as its moment of arrival in the courts. Florida hospitals see rise in drug-addicted newborns By Amy Pavuk and Tonya Alanez South Florida Sun-Sentinel Florida’s prescription drugs epidemic, already responsible for nearly seven deaths a day, is taking its toll on the youngest and most vulnerable in the state: newborns. Pill mills a top priority By Pam Bondi Orlando Sentinel The growth of illegal and fraudulent pill mills is a growing criminal enterprise in our state that must be stopped. Gov. Scott's flawed proposal would allow state's ‘Drug Tourism' trade to continue to flourish Editorial TC Palm Florida is known as the Sunshine State. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Immigration laws: Gov. Scott sticking to campaign rhetoric supporting legislation By Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster Naples Daily News A spokeswoman for Florida Gov. Rick Scott said recently the newly elected Florida governor still supports an immigration enforcement law on the books and is eager to work with Florida legislators to craft something suitable for the state. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Florida’s strained justice system workers fear more cuts By Susan Spencer-Wendel Palm Beach Post Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget cuts ranging from 5 percent to more than 7 percent for various parts of the justice system come on the heels of other recent cutbacks and, if enacted, will place an even greater strain on judges, prosecutors and public defenders. DNA freed them from prison — but law loophole traps them in poverty By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel Larry Bostic, who spent 19 years in Florida prisons for a rape and robbery he did not commit, is now on food stamps. "Road to Nowhere" lawsuit against Crist veers into mediation By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune A federal judge has ordered former Gov. Charlie Crist and one-time Talking Heads frontman David Byrne into mediation to try to work out their legal dispute.