Daily Clips for March 23, 2011

FEATURED STORIES House subcommittee passes bill to require an ultrasound before abortion By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Conservative Republicans, bolstered by veto-proof majorities, continued Tuesday to advance a series of proposals to restrict abortion. Scott will drug-test state employees By William March Tampa Tribune Gov. Rick Scott has announced a new policy of administering drug tests to all applicants for employment in state agencies controlled by the governor's office, and random drug testing of current employees. GOP targets public employee unions By Kathleen Haughney South Florida Sun-Sentinel Public employee unions are one of the last bastions of Democratic money — and power — in a state tightly controlled by Republicans. Lawmakers paying little attention to Scott’s ‘jobs budget’ By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Gov. Rick Scott has pitched his “jobs budget” to lawmakers as an infusion of business savvy into the inefficient world of government spending. Why did Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ office stall ethics legislation? By Marc Caputo Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau The office of Senate President Mike Haridopolos has put the kibosh on a fellow Republican’s ethics bill — the same bill Haridopolos himself had co-sponsored last year. Testimony in Ray Sansom trial focuses on airport project funding By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times The top emergency management official in Okaloosa County testified at the Ray Sansom trial Tuesday that he told a developer he did not think state funding would be awarded for a building at Destin Airport because of its location. FLORIDA POLITICS Scott gets tough questions in Facebook town hall By William March Tampa Tribune Gov. Rick Scott held a Facebook town hall forum tonight, the latest of several forays by the governor into meeting and communicating with the public through social media. Today in Tallahassee: Outlawing sex with animals? By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The Florida Senate is ready to take a stand: Having sex with animals is wrong. Does wife's stake in Solantic pose conflict of interest to Rick Scott? By Jeremy Cox Florida Times-Union Gov. Rick Scott has worked hard to disabuse critics of his potential conflict of interest with Solantic, the Jacksonville-based clinic chain he co-founded. What does it cost governments for automatic payroll deductions? By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact Some Republicans in the Florida Legislature are squaring off against unions over a measure that would prohibit public employers from collecting union dues through automatic payroll deductions. Judge weighs defense objections to Crist's testimony By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Attorneys for former House Speaker Ray Sansom and Panhandle developer Jay Odom want a preview of ex-Gov. Charlie Crist's testimony today regarding the $6-million airport project that landed both men in court on felony charges of grand theft and conspiracy. POLITICAL RACES Buckhorn wins Tampa mayor election By Christian M. Wade Tampa Tribune Bob Buckhorn sailed to victory Tuesday night to become the next mayor of Tampa, overcoming partisan politics and negative campaigning. Mike Hogan, Alvin Brown in runoff for Jacksonville mayor By Charlie Patton Florida Times-Union It was a good night to be Mike Hogan. Vice President Biden to visit Winter Park to raise money for Sen. Bill Nelson By Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel Even though the 2012 election is more than a year away, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson already is calling in the big guns for fundraising support — with Vice President Joe Biden headlining two events on Wednesday for the Florida Democrat in his home state. In Palm Beach, Giuliani talks about 2012, Obama, Palin, Romney, tea parties By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Former New York Mayor and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani left the door open for a 2012 run tonight, saying he’d think about launching another White House bid if it looks the GOP might otherwise pick a nominee who is “too right-wing.” ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Shell awarded gulf drilling contract as oil washes onto Louisiana shores (Updated) By Kyle Daly Florida Independent The Obama Administration has approved the first Gulf of Mexico deepwater drilling plan since BP’s Deepwater Horizon spill, Reuters reports. Shell Offshore intends to drill for oil and natural gas at a site 130 miles from the Louisiana coast. Water managers impose more stringent irrigation restrictions in South Florida By Alexandra Seltzer Palm Beach Post Tuesday was the kind of day that most South Floridians desire. It was hot, sunny and a little breezy. Market-dominant Scotts to take phosphorus out of fertilizer By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times One of the world's biggest lawn care companies is announcing today that it will stop making fertilizer with phosphorus, one of two ingredients blamed for pollution problems in Florida's waterways. Some biomass energy project stall as others remain viable By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Officials in the biomass energy industry say regulatory uncertainties continue to affect the development of new projects in Florida. EDUCATION Education funding cuts are grim, schools remain hopeful By Lilly Rockwell St. Augustine Record A glimpse at education budget proposals surfacing in the Florida Legislature this week show school districts are facing the largest spending cuts in recent memory. Tight Florida budget strands university projects awaiting matching grants By Jodie Tillman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau University of South Florida's future polytechnic campus. University of Florida's graduate business studies building. Florida State University's Center for Asian Art. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Fasano, Kriseman outraged over bills that deregulate Florida insurance industry By Katie Sanders and Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Several bills that empower the insurance industry this session pose a significant threat to consumers, with little opposition from the Legislature in sight, lawmakers and consumer advocates warned Tuesday. Smart cap would not need voters' approval of new taxes By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact Florida's fiscally conservative Senate wants to leave its mark in the Constitution by more tightly capping the amount of taxes the state could collect in any given year. Proposal would allow corporate advertising on Fla. license plates By Jeff Burlew Florida Capital News It might be a while before the Golden Arches or other corporate logos start showing up on Florida license plates statewide. "Smart cap" a cap with no smarts Editorial Orlando Sentinel Senate President Mike Haridopolos would have Floridians believe that state government is wallowing in bathtubs filled with cash. HEALTH AND SENIORS Nixing health reform rule could cost state consumers $60 million, Citibank analysts say By Stacey Singer Palm Beach Post Florida consumers would lose cash or insurance benefits worth about $60 million if Florida is allowed to opt out of a key element of health reform this year, says Citibank managed care industry analyst Carl McDonald. Concentrated effort to tighten abortion laws advances in Florida Legislature By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Between a conservative Legislature and a more conservative governor, there's a concentrated effort this year to tighten Florida's abortion laws. Cancer center, hospitals cut By Jim Saunders Health News Florida When Florida lawmakers passed a $1-a-pack cigarette tax increase in 2009, they made another decision: Part of the money should go to biomedical research to combat cancer and tobacco-related illnesses. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Fla. deportations misguided? Critics want focus on criminals; most deportees aren't By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post Undocumented immigrants in Florida who have no criminal record are more likely to be deported than such individuals in other parts of the country. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Gov. Rick Scott approves $14 million transfer to help courts, but not loan request By Lucy Morgan and Katie Sanders St. Petersburg Times Gov. Rick Scott has refused to approve a loan Florida courts need to keep operating through the end of June.