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.