Daily Clips for March 1, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS The Fix's best state-based political Tweeters By Chris Cillizza Washington Post Note: The Washington Post’s American politics reporter has named Progress Florida one of the “best state-based political Tweeters”. Follow us on Twitter at @ProgressFlorida. Florida citizens gear up to "Awake the State" March 8th (audio story) By Lisa Marzilli WMNF Community Radio Tampa Excerpt: Today on the Last Call we spoke with members of two organizations who are spearheading the Awake the State call to action scheduled for March 8, the opening day of the new legislative session. Mark Ferrulo is Executive Director of Progress Florida and Susannah Randolph heads the group Florida Watch Action. Personhood Florida leader: Many opponents have ‘participated in taking their own child’s life’ By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Excerpt: Big-name pro-choice groups like Planned Parenthood and Progress Florida have come out harshly against the personhood initiative, calling it a product of “radical anti-choice extremists.” FEATURED STORIES Lawmakers take aim at unions By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News In a move that could bring Wisconsin-style protests to Florida, four Republican legislators are sponsoring bills that would effectively wipe out collective bargaining for government employees. Gov. Rick Scott's Take on Education Reform is Textbook Jeb By Cynthia Barnett Florida Trend Gov. Rick Scott sees the school calendar as arbitrary, Florida's classrooms as a throwback to five decades ago and choices such as home schooling quashed by bureaucratic barriers. Budget cuts likey to kill Florida environmental programs; even Everglades restoration in danger By William E. Gibson South Florida Sun-Sentinel Eager to slash taxes and restrain government spending, Gov. Rick Scott and Republican budget-cutters in Congress are seeking to chop big chunks of state and federal funding for programs designed to preserve the natural environment. Gov. Rick Scott goes to the White House and smiles By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Gov. Rick Scott came face-to-face with his nemesis — President Barack Obama — and what did he do? A step backward on civil rights Editorial St. Petersburg Times Just as the Florida Legislature is advised that ex-felons should get more help re-entering society to reduce recidivism and prison populations, Attorney General Pam Bondi wants to make it harder for felons to get their civil rights restored. FLORIDA POLITICS Rick Scott and Florida Inc. By Amy Keller Florida Trend Related: Interview with Florida's Gov. Rick Scott The job of governor and that of chief executive officer of a corporation are very similar, says Bob Martinez, Florida's governor from 1987-91. Florida may face showdown over early 2012 primary By William March Tampa Tribune Florida may be headed for a showdown with the Republican Party and the early primary states over the date of its 2012 presidential primary. For Senate president Haridopolos, a sweetheart book deal By Fred Grimm Miami Herald Writers with less notable achievements than Florida Legislative History and Processes must have writhed in envy. Smith finds few stars in Democratic skies By Daniel Ruth St. Petersburg Times Consider that you are Rod Smith, the newly minted chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, an unenviable task somewhat akin to being given the reins managing the careers of Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan and Amy Winehouse. Rick Kriseman Has Become the Face of Recall By Ralph De La Cruz Florida Center for Investigative Reporting On Monday, I chatted with the man who, either willingly or unwillingly, has become the face of recall. Enterprise Florida names new president at Scott's urging By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau F. Gray Swoope Jr. of the Mississippi Development Authority was hired Monday as president of Enterprise Florida, the organization announced. Gov. Rick Scott loses a reason to slow Amends 5, 6 By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times Three days after Rick Scott was sworn in as governor he set about slowing down the process by which the federal government would approve of two highly popular state constitutional amendments, 5 and 6, concerning the way lawmakers draw legislative and congressional districts. Holocaust survivors to protest Sen. Nelson’s fundraiser By Jay Weaver Miami Herald A group of Holocaust survivors, who once considered themselves friends of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, will be protesting his Miami Beach fundraiser with President Barack Obama on Friday because they say the Florida Democrat has broken a promise to them. Gov. Crist is Now Citizen Charlie By Art Levy Florida Trend Attorney John Morgan has known Charlie Crist since the early 1990s, when Crist was a state senator and Morgan would visit Tallahassee to lobby legislators about tort reform. POLITICAL RACES Voting takes place Tuesday in Florida Senate race By Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald Tuesday is Election Day in the contest to replace U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson in the Florida Senate. To win recall, Mayor Alvarez may need to appeal to new groups By Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald When he was first elected mayor in 2004, Carlos Alvarez was the darling of suburban Hispanics who saw him as a reformer who would clean up corruption in Miami-Dade County. Tampa voters go to the polls today By Christian M. Wade Tampa Tribune Today, Tampa voters go to the polls to choose a new mayor and seven city council members from a crowded field of candidates. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY EPA's new Florida rules roil D.C. By Fred Hiers Gainesville Sun The fight over the federal Environmental Protection Agency's new water pollutant rules for Florida could soon be decided in Washington. Poll: Voters don't like Scott's proposed cut to Everglades funding By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times The Everglades Foundation today released parts of their Terrance Group poll of 607 likely voters on Feb. 13-14. Utility-backed renewable energy legislation returns in the Senate By Travis Pillow Florida Independent State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, has introduced a bill similar to a measure that passed the House last year but died in the Senate, which would have allowed private utilities to charge customers for renewable power. Judge asked to dismiss oil spill claims Associated Press Tampa Tribune BP and other companies sued over the massive Gulf oil spill are asking a federal judge to dismiss many of the claims filed by businesses and people who say they have been harmed by the disaster. EDUCATION Lawmakers fast-track new teacher merit pay bill By Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel Florida's first attempt at a statewide teacher merit-pay law was torpedoed last year by a veto from then-Gov. Charlie Crist. Teachers blast budget cuts By Carmen Paige Pensacola News Journal Waving red flags, hundreds of teachers, educational support personnel and residents from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties vowed Monday night to fight off attacks on education. Bright Futures scholarship program faces $100 million funding cut By Scott Travis South Florida Sun-Sentinel Florida's popular Bright Futures scholarship program may suffer big cuts at the same time students are facing rapidly rising tuition at state universities. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Legislative analysts declare Florida's pension fund fiscally sound By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald Florida's pension fund is "better funded, incurs lower investment fees and...investment returns are average" compared to other states, according to a new report from the Legislature's policy assessment arm, OPPAGA. Gov. Rick Scott reaches too far to compare state pension problems with Social Security's By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact Give him credit: Though Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants to eliminate 10 percent of the state work force over two years, and make those who remain pay more toward their retirement and health care, the new governor is at least taking the time in his first few months in office to meet with state employees and answer their questions. Pension reform: Does Florida law give police, firefighters excessive benefits? By Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster and Aaron Hale Naples Daily News Local governments across the state have spent the better part of the past five years trying to balance their budgets without increasing taxes. Florida gas prices rise 23 cents per gallon By Anthony Cormier Sarasota Herald-Tribune It was not all that long ago that it cost Traci Furlow $25, at most, to fill up her Oldsmobile. HEALTH AND SENIORS Who advises Florida Gov. Rick Scott on health policy? By Stacey Singer Palm Beach Post His name is Michael F. Cannon, and he’s an economist who works for the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank that was co-founded by Koch Industries’ scion Charles Koch in 1977. State workers don’t see cuts coming By Brittany Davis Health News Florida Gov. Rick Scott has proposed a deep cut in state workers' health benefits -- $7,000 a year for the most popular family plan -- but most state workers seem unaware of it. Fasano camp to Scott on Drug Monitoring Program repeal: You got a better plan? By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, has grown increasingly vocal about his opposition to Gov. Rick Scott’s recommendation that the state legislature repeal Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Buchanan, sheriffs push Scott for drug database By Dale White Sarasota Herald-Tribune After hurting his back working out and getting prescription painkillers from an acquaintance, Tyler Quigley battled addiction until it contributed to his death at age 19. Obama admin defends health care reform in court By Larry O’Dell Associated Press President Barack Obama's administration said in court papers Monday that a federal judge in Virginia erred in striking down the centerpiece of its health care reform law. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Suit alleges former Dozier school abused three boys Ben Montgomery St. Petersburg Times They changed the name, pushed out the superintendent, reduced the population of young prisoners, retrained the staff and fired employees caught sleeping on the job. Alternative immigration ‘compacts’ crop up nationwide, and in Sarasota By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Last week, as several immigration-enforcement bills made their way through state legislatures, alternative bills and state compacts were proposed to deal with problems related to immigration. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS State senator to cops: Clean up the way you do police lineups By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel State Sen. Joe Negron is on the Innocence Commission of Florida, a panel working to make sure more innocent people are not sent to prison, but the board is not moving fast enough or aggressively enough for him.