Daily Clips for February 18, 2011

FEATURED STORIES Florida lawmakers fight to keep rail money Gov. Rick Scott rejected By Alex Leary and Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times Related: Time short to reverse Scott's error From Washington to Tallahassee, Florida lawmakers scrambled Thursday to save $2.4 billion in federal money for high-speed rail that Gov. Rick Scott rejected. Is Gov. Rick Scott eyeing White House in 2012? By Michael C. Bender and Janet Zink Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Rick Scott was about to dismantle a nearly $3 billion bullet train deal that state and local officials had spent a decade assembling. Senate Medicaid bill would cap costs, use HMO-like plans By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel The Florida Senate wants to cap soaring Medicaid costs by shifting millions of poor and sick people into HMO-like health plans, charging for doctor and hospital visits, and banning illegal immigrants from getting care through the rapidly growing program. BEST OF THE BLOGS Pick Pockets, Fire State Workers: Key to Republican Budget Plan By Bruce Seaman Daily Marion The Florida budget will be balanced on the backs of the poor, the children, and state employees if Republicans have their way. Tea Party governors to America: if you want fast trains, science and women’s rights, move to a blue state By Joy-Ann Reid The Reid Report The tea party Republican drive to turn the red states into 19th century Ayn Randian corporate fiefdoms with low paid, non-union workers, outdated infrastructure (can the horse and buggy be next?) limited control by women over their own reproduction, negligible science education and harsh laws forcing non-white people to constantly prove their citizenship is in full gear across the country. Train Wreck? Scott Turns “Florida, Inc.” Into The Titanic In Under Two Months By Inkberries Beach Peanuts I always thought that Rick Scott would manage to destroy Florida by the end of his term, but I was wrong. Allen West Sounds Off at CPAC By Daniel Tilson Florida Progressive Coalition Southeast Florida’s 22nd congressional district had the dubious distinction of having its new Republican U.S. Representative, Allen West, deliver the closing keynote address at this weekend’s 2011 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). FLORIDA POLITICS Scott's high-speed rail decision may be a litmus test By Jeremy Wallace Gainesville Sun The outsider candidate who promised to bring a fresh approach to government, Gov. Rick Scott, may have just repeated an age-old mistake that tormented many of his predecessors. Senator makes point about Rick Scott's authority to nix rail deal, but Scott still holds most cards By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact When Gov. Rick Scott announced he would nix a high-speed rail line connecting Tampa and Orlando, legislators, local officials, union groups and others grumbled about Scott's timing and reasoning. Proposal to limit state revenue advances through Senate By Travis Pillow Florida Independent The Florida Senate has moved one step closer to letting voters decide whether to place a constitutional limit on the growth of the state budget. Florida Legislature proposal would trim employers' rising costs by reducing unemployment benefits By Marcia Heroux Pounds TC Palm Florida's legislature is weighing big changes to unemployment benefits that don't favor the worker. J.D. Alexander Questions Plane Sale By Gary Fineout Lakeland Ledger A top Senate Republican, J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, told the governor in a letter Thursday that he may have broken state law by his push to sell two state planes used to ferry his predecessors and other elected officials across the state. Scott's reasons for rejecting rail project faulty Editorial Bradenton Herald Gov. Rick Scott abandoned his job-creation mantra in favor of a conservative ideology that will not spare the U.S. budget one iota, though he lambasted federal spending in rejecting $2.4 billion in stimulus money to construct a high-speed rail link between Tampa and Orlando. POLITICAL RACES 'Fairness' in Florida and how it could help Democrats By Aaron Blake Washington Post House Democrats have been talking since Nov. 3 about playing offense in 2012, and if they do, Florida could be leading the way. Looks like Fort Myers Congressman Mack will seek U.S. Senate By Bob Rathgeber Ft. Myers News-Press Rep. Connie Mack IV has given yet one more hint that he will run for the United States Senate in 2012. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY BP claims administrator will appear before House committee By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News The embattled head of the fund to compensate losses from last year's Deepwater Horizon oil spill will appear this morning before a House committee intent on answers. Escambia settles with BP for $1.84 million By Jamie Page Pensacola News Journal Escambia County commissioners on Thursday approved a $1.84 million settlement with BP for the county's 2010 lost revenues relating to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. LGBT War troops to undergo 'don't ask' repeal classes By Julie Watson Associated Press A senior U.S. Marine general in Afghanistan said Thursday his Marines will begin undergoing training to prepare for the repeal of the military's ban on openly gay troops before they return home. EDUCATION Sparks fly over class size restrictions By Kim MacQueen Florida Tribume Senators talking about tweaking the controversial class size amendment lashed out Thursday at an attorney who may sue the state if it pushes ahead with fines against school districts that aren't meeting the strict requirements. Board OKs tuition hikes for some grad programs at Fla. universities Associated Press Florida Today The board that oversees Florida's state universities has approved proposals paving the way for higher tuition rates for 17 graduate level programs at four universities. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida leads nation with 1 in 5 behind on their mortgage By Kimberly Miller Palm Beach Post Florida continued to have the highest loan delinquency rate in the country during the end of last year with 19.3 percent of the state's home loans either in foreclosure or 90 or more days past due. Legislators propose law to ban public funds for pro sports teams Staff Report Ft. Myers News-Press State Senator Michael S. “Mike” Bennett (R-Bradenton) today announced he has filed Senate Bill 630 relating to the use of public moneys and properties for professional sports teams. HEALTH AND SENIORS Hot-button Medicaid bill By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Florida would start moving to a statewide system of Medicaid managed care by the end of this year and would try to put strict limits on how much tax money goes into the program, under a wide-ranging Senate bill released this morning. Feds want clarification of Florida health care ruling By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times Shortly after a Florida judge ruled the federal health care reform legislation unconstitutional, Florida sent back to the federal government $2 million in grants intended to help put some elements of the law in place. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Supreme Court seeks 80 more Florida trial judges By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Florida needs 80 new trial court judges, but the state Supreme Court doesn't expect to get them.