Daily Clips for March 10, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Protesters oppose governor's budget cuts By Bill Thompson Ocala Star-Banner Excerpt: Ray Seaman of Ocala, online director for Progress Florida, a progressive group in Tallahassee, is credited as the father of the Awake the State rallies that led thousands to come out against Scott's agenda on Tuesday as the governor was delivering the State of the State Address. Stephen King: Florida governor a 'horror' By Sean J. Miller The Hill Excerpt: "Maybe my next horror novel will star Rick Scott," King told the crowd, according to the Sarasota Herald-Times. The event was one of several "Awake the State" rallies conducted during the evening across Florida ahead of Scott's first State of the State address to lawmakers in Tallahassee. The meet-ups were organized through Facebook by groups including Progress Florida, Florida Watch Action and America Votes. A Tale of Three Rallies in Tallahassee By Kenneth Quinnell Creative Loafing Excerpt: For both of the Awake the State rallies in Tallahassee, organizers were super excited about turnout and it exceeded expectations. Organizers for the Tea Party rally couldn’t have been happy that their rally was smaller or the fact that it was less than 10% of what they had expected. FEATURED STORIES Gov. Scott, Cabinet okay civil rights restrictions for felons By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related: Amended rules of clemency for state of Florida With uncommon speed that infuriated opponents, Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet imposed strict new barriers Wednesday on felons who want to regain the right to vote, including a five-year waiting period to apply for clemency. Senate approves anti-health-law amendment By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Senate Republicans today approved a proposed constitutional amendment that attacks a key part of the federal health overhaul, brushing aside Democratic arguments about the roughly 4 million uninsured Floridians. Revised merit pay bill set for Senate floor vote By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News State Sen. Bill Montford, a former school superintendent, tried unsuccessfully to provide some job security for educators Wednesday in an education package that links teacher pay to student performance and puts new teachers on one-year contracts. NRA handed rare defeat in Florida bill that would have allowed guns on campus By Katie Sanders, Marc Caputo and Jodie Tillman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The NRA was handed a rare defeat Wednesday when Senate Republicans scrapped plans to allow some people to bring guns on college campuses. Golf courses in state parks? Worst. Idea. Ever. Editorial Orlando Sentinel A portly character on "The Simpsons," Comic Book Guy, often denounces someone or something with the catchphrase, "Worst. (fill in the blank). Ever." FLORIDA POLITICS Fla. Republicans make it harder for ex-felons to vote By Peter Wallsten Washington Post Florida Gov. Rick Scott and other Cabinet-level officials voted unanimously Wednesday to roll back state rules enacted four years ago that made it easier for many ex-felons to regain the right to vote. Senate admonishes Haridopolos on ethics By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News The Florida Senate formally admonished its presiding officer Wednesday over errors reported on financial disclosure forms. Sansom wants trial moved By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Former House Speaker Ray Sansom has asked for a change of venue in his criminal trial, court records in Tallahassee show. No Ann Scott first lady doll in Pasco's Pioneer Florida Museum By Lisa Buie St. Petersburg Times The dolls are decked out in period dress, from bonnets and hoopskirts to slender black gowns, with every detail authentic down to the fabrics and the corsets. Scott's tea party vision overlooks many Floridians Editorial St. Petersburg Times Gov. Rick Scott, in his first State of the State address Tuesday night, finally focused on Florida issues, for once downplaying complaints about the federal government. POLITICAL RACES Fla. House speaker: Primary could move to mid-February By Juana Summers Politico Florida moved an inch in the standoff over the presidential primary calendar, but not enough to fall in line with Republican National Committee rules. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Golf courses in state parks 'the worst idea in history' By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times It's only the first week of the Legislature, and already it has set a record for the Worst Idea in the History of the World. Protect our land, water resources By Janet Bowman Orlando Sentinel During the next 60 days, the Florida Legislature will make difficult budget decisions that affect not just the coming budget year, but also the quality of life that our children and grandchildren will enjoy for years to come. U.S. Sugar land bought for Everglades restoration could get leased to another grower By Andy Reid South Florida Sun Sentinel Citrus growers, not the Everglades, may get some of the earliest benefits from farmland acquired in an environmental restoration deal that cost South Florida taxpayers $197 million. Castor heads Congressional caucus to protect Gulf By Dale White Sarasota Herald-Tribune Members of Congress from states on the Gulf of Mexico are forming their own bipartisan caucus to address economic, environmental and other issues of shared concern. EDUCATION Teacher bill stays on fast track in Florida Senate By Jeffrey S. Solochek St. Petersburg Times During a two-hour discussion Wednesday on the teacher quality bill, sponsor Sen. Steve Wise frequently invoked the groundbreaking work of Hillsborough County schools as leading Florida to new and better ways to evaluate and pay teachers. Big question on merit pay: Will there be money to pay it? By Marcia Lane St. Augustine Record If merit pay goes into effect in 2014, the biggest question facing local school officials is whether there will be any money. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida House gearing up to cut state unemployment benefits By John Kennedy Palm Beach Post The Florida House is poised Thursday to sharply cut unemployment compensation and make it tougher for jobless Floridians to qualify for benefits, part of a Republican-backed strategy to help bolster struggling businesses. Unemployed Lobby Lawmakers to Stop Changes By Whitney Ray Capitol News Service Legislation that would reduce the number of weeks an unemployed Floridians could receive benefits is ready for a final vote in the State House. Many Floridians say they'll delay retirement in faltering economy By Marcia Heroux Pounds South Florida Sun Sentinel Forty-four percent of Floridians age 50 or older say they would delay retirement if the economy doesn't improve, according to a new survey by AARP released Wednesday. Of those, 28 percent said they expect never to retire. Bill calls for statewide commission to oversee gaming By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau With legislation now filed to allow for casino games in five regions of Florida, one top lawmaker is proposing the state do what every other major gambling state has done: create a gambling commission. High-speed rail ridership study found line would have made profit By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Three weeks after Gov. Rick Scott put the brakes on high-speed rail, the Florida Department of Transportation on Wednesday released a study showing the line connecting Tampa to Orlando would have had a $10.2 million operating surplus in 2015, its first year of operation. Sens. Rubio, Nelson split vote on buget cuts By Bart Jansen Pensacola News Journal Florida's senators split in a vote Wednesday on legislation passed by the House that would cut $61 billion in federal spending for the rest of fiscal 2011. Shuttle Discovery ends flying career, museum next By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press Discovery ended its career as the world's most flown spaceship Wednesday, returning from orbit for the last time and taking off in a new direction as a museum piece. HEALTH AND SENIORS Scott rejects money to fund drug database By Scott Hiaasen Miami Herald One of the country's largest drug manufacturers is offering a $1 million donation to help pay for a prescription database to combat Florida's illegal trade in painkillers. Senate panel backs pain rules By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Florida's confusing pill-mill politics got even more convoluted Wednesday, as a Senate committee moved toward approving new rules for doctors who practice in pain-management clinics. Senate approves health care amendment 29-10 By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post On the second day of the legislative session, the Florida Senate approved a proposed constitutional amendment allowing Florida to opt out of the federal health care law, the chamber’s President Mike Haridopolos’ top priority. Florida Sen. Ronda Storms demands answers in child deaths By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Sen. Ronda Storms told Gov. Rick Scott's social services secretary Wednesday to "dispense with the niceties" and demanded he provide some answers to the recent troubling child abuse deaths that have exposed cracks in his agency. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Scott, Cabinet make felons wait for return of rights; critics call it return to Jim Crow era By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on Wednesday imposed a minimum five-year waiting period for convicted felons to apply to have their rights restored, setting up a more onerous standard than the state has used for the past three decades. Lawmakers: No guns on campuses By Jeff Burlew Florida Capital News State senators Wednesday dropped a proposal to allow firearms on Florida campuses, an idea unanimously opposed by university police chiefs. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Two Florida lawmakers target 'sharia' law By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Two Republican legislators want to make sure Florida courts aren't tainted by what one of them calls foreign "shenanigans": Muslim sharia or legal codes from other nations. Don't upset separation of powers Editorial Ft. Myers News-Press Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon says politics is not behind his plan to split the state Supreme Court in two and expand the number of justices.