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.