Daily Clips for February 9, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Florida to be ground zero in 2012 By David Hill The Hill Excerpt: Several progressive ballot measures approved statewide garnered more votes than did top-of-the-ticket Republicans, reported Damien Filer. FEATURED STORIES Florida lawmakers to Gov. Rick Scott: Where are budget details? By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Rick Scott's bold budget plan wasn't even 24 hours old Tuesday before state legislators started ripping it apart and leveling a familiar charge against the governor: He wasn't forthcoming with details. Scott's big gamble By Gary Fineout and Brent Henzi Florida Tribune Gov. Rick Scott had warned for weeks that a lot of people wouldn’t like his budget recommendations when he finally handed them over to state lawmakers. Scott Shifts Budget Problems to Workers, Schools By Ralph De La Cruz Florida Center for Investigative Reporting Newly elected Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his budget proposal, and as expected, it was stunning in its disregard for middle-class state workers and public education — and in its generosity to businesses and kowtowing to the tea party. Florida senators violated open meeting rules at Governor's Mansion, First Amendment lawyer says By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times Three top Senate Republicans violated their chamber's own open meeting requirement when they discussed the state budget at a private dinner with Gov. Rick Scott, a First Amendment attorney said Tuesday. States revolt over health reform, Florida says it's not the law here By Stacey Singer Palm Beach Post Health insurers that overcharge Florida consumers won't be required to issue rebate checks here, one of a raft of consequences emerging after a federal lower court judge declared the Affordable Care Act void. FLORIDA POLITICS Lawmakers pore over budget By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News A day after Scott officially announced his $65.9-billion budget at a tea party rally in Eustis, House and Senate committees started going through details. Budget could spark GOP civil war By Whitney Ray Capitol News Service With the release of his budget, Governor Rick Scott drew a line in the sand. Dinner raises Sunshine Law issues for Florida Governor Rick Scott By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Questions about whether Gov. Rick Scott's dinner with three Republican state senators Monday violated the spirit of Florida's open government laws have Scott's office reconsidering similar events. Florida Senator: Repeal the Red Light Camera Law By David Royse News Service of Florida A law passed last year that lets local governments install red light cameras and ticket drivers based on the pictures would be repealed under a bill filed by Sen. Rene Garcia. Feds ask for Hillsborough documents related to Norman By Mike Salinero Tampa Tribune Federal investigators have requested Hillsborough County documents related to state Sen. Jim Norman's relationship with conservative activist Ralph Hughes during Norman's tenure on the county commission. Tea Party Caucus: West is in, Rubio is wary and the Florida legislature will have its own By Brett Ader Florida Independent The tea party movement, a phenomenon that many deem responsible for installing Florida’s all-Republican cabinet and turning over control of the House of Representatives to the GOP, continues to demonstrate its influence throughout the state and the country. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Florida greenies: Scott’s budget bad, but keeps the parks open By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel A few news outlets and advocacy groups pounced two weeks ago when the Florida Department of Environmental Protection presented budget cut-lists that including closing about 50 state parks. New DCA Secretary outlines ideas for growth management By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune Florida should expand the use of two growth management pilot programs to provide the state with a new focus on large-range planning and the needs of critical areas, Department of Community Affairs Secretary Billy Buzzett said Tuesday. Frustrated senators discuss having Florida create its own oil spill claims process By Brent Henzi Florida Tribune State legislators frustrated with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility and Administrator Ken Feinberg on Tuesday discussed having the state create its own claims process to help those seeking compensation for damages from last summer's devastating oil spill. FPL cannot reduce $13.8 million refund to its customers By Susan Salisbury Palm Beach Post Florida Power & Light Co. customers will receive a credit on the fuel portion of their bills due to increased fuel costs related to a February 2008 substation outage. LGBT Navy sets training for don't ask, don't tell repeal By Lolita C. Baldor Associated Press The Navy plans to finish training its sailors on the new law allowing gays to serve openly by the end of June, a schedule the Navy secretary said Tuesday that he is comfortable they can meet. EDUCATION Lawmakers cool to Scott’s $3.3 billion education cut By Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed education spending plan got its first airing this morning at the House pre-K-12 appropriations subcommittee. Gov. Rick Scott revises rhetoric on education funding By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times When Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his proposed state budget Monday, cuts were expected almost everywhere — except in education, where Scott has said funding would remain the same. Scott won't push for voucher expansion this year By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Gov. Rick Scott on the campaign trail -- and again shortly after he was elected -- vowed to push for one of the nation's most expansive school voucher programs. Scott's budget called 'worst-case scenario' for Broward schools By Rafael A. Olmeda and Scott Travis South Florida Sun-Sentinel If the state budget proposed by Gov. Rick Scott makes it through the Legislature, Broward County schools would be forced to lay off at least 1,270 teachers, cut more programs and reduce other staff and administration, district officials said Tuesday. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY If you overlook the lies, Scott's budget is interesting By Scott Maxwell Orlando Sentinel After spending more than 24 hours studying Rick Scott's budget proposal, one thing is clear: Rick Scott lied. It's Florida, not Washington: Scott's budgetary focus should be this state Editorial Palm Beach Post With the release of his first budget, Gov. Scott looked and sounded more like a presidential candidate than someone concerned about Florida's future. Obama-GOP spending fight starts with rail By Steven Thomma McClatchy Newspapers In a preview of the epic budget fight that will kick off in earnest next week, the Obama administration Monday proposed a $53 billion plan for high-speed rail, and Republicans who control the purse strings said not so fast. Federal high-speed rail plan could spur Orlando-to-Miami link By Dan Tracy Orlando Sentinel The Obama Administration said Tuesday it wants to spend $53 billion over six years on high-speed rail, an ambitious plan that could lead to renewed interest in an Orlando-to-Miami route. Bill would require service for jobless benefits By Marcia Heroux Pounds South Florida Sun-Sentinel Florida's jobless could soon have to do unpaid work for a non-profit group in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Pinched pension funds may need taxpayer bailout By Dale White Sarasota Herald-Tribune Faced with soaring costs associated with its pension funds -- which consume more than a third of its annual property tax revenue -- the town of Longboat Key may have no choice but to make taxpayers bail out the program. Taxes (As A Percentage Of Economy) Drop To Lowest Level In 60 Years By Stephen Ohlemacher Facing South Taxes too high? Actually, as a share of the nation's economy, Uncle Sam's take this year will be the lowest since 1950, when the Korean War was just getting under way. Obama Goes To The Chamber The Progress Report Think Progress Yesterday, President Obama addressed the leaders of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the influential, ideological right-wing trade association that represents mostly large multi-national corporations. HEALTH AND SENIORS Nuances emerge as health reform rolls out By John Dorschner Miami Herald As arguments about the constitutionality of healthcare reform reverberate through courtrooms in Florida and across the nation, two provisions that have already kicked in are sparking opposite reactions from insurers. Gov. Rick Scott wants to repeal Florida's prescription drug monitoring program By Janet Zink and Richard Martin St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Rick Scott wants to stop the state's prescription drug monitoring program before it starts. ‘Big Brother’ fear behind database attack By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Likening it to "Big Brother,'' a House health-committee chairman said Tuesday he will look at repealing a prescription-drug database that lawmakers approved in 2009 to try to curb deadly drug abuse. Proposed cuts to state mental health programs would ‘devastate' services By Anthony Westbury TC Palm It would overload Florida's emergency rooms, overcrowd Florida's bulging jails and set back years of progress in innovative mental health and substance abuse programs. BP oil spill's health effects will be felt for generations, scientist warns By Bill Barrow New Orleans Times-Picayune Months after diving in Gulf waters fouled by BP crude oil and the oil dispersant Corexit, a man in his 40s has more than five times the normal amount of ethylbenzene in his blood. Sen. Storms hammers lax oversight of sex at group home By Justin George St. Petersburg Times State senators on Tuesday called for the closure of a home for developmentally disabled men in Seffner that permitted sex between its residents, and demanded greater accountability from the state agency that oversees the facility. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Gov. Rick Scott's prisons proposal shifts to reform strategy By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Eager to cut costs in Florida prisons, Gov. Rick Scott is taking a cue from reform advocates and proposing more money to help inmates fight drug and alcohol abuse, improve mental health and learn literacy skills.