Daily Clips for March 25, 2011

FEATURED STORIES Gov. Scott signs first bill: Sweeping teacher pay, tenure, evaluation overhaul By Ron Matus and Jeffrey S. Solochek St. Petersburg Times Related: Hasty reform of education needs fixes Florida launched into a historic, high-stakes venture Thursday to see if radical changes to the teaching profession can boost student success. Florida lawmakers revive powerful fundraising accounts By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The Florida Legislature reversed one of the most powerful vetoes of former Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday, passing into law a bill that allows legislative leaders to raise unlimited special interest money and funnel it to the campaigns of their hand-picked candidates. Another Gulf oil spill shows need for better oversight By Sue Sturgis Facing South There's growing frustration along the Louisiana coast over the lack of answers about the origin of a new oil spill in the Gulf. Scott coddles BP Editorial Tampa Tribune While Gov. Rick Scott never fails to mention Florida beaches when extolling the state's virtues to business interests, it appears he is reluctant to challenge polluters who foul our shores and hurt our economy. Gov. Scott needs to check his facts; do you? By Carol Gentry Health News Florida Gov. Rick Scott's ideology sometimes gets in the way of facts on health-care issues. BEST OF THE BLOGS How Bob Buckhorn’s win on Tuesday could lead to a Democratic resurgence in Florida By Peter Schorsch St. Petersblog 2.0 With Bob Buckhorn’s win on Tuesday with over sixty percent of the vote, it will represent the best political news Florida’s Democrats have had since Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008. Four Nuclear Power Plant Near-Misses Involved Progress Energy Plants, Including One In Florida By Inkberries Beach Peanuts The Union Of Concerned Scientists, a science-based environmental watchdog non-profit, has just come out with a report which is the first in a series on the safety related performance of the owners of U.S. nuclear power plants and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which regulates the plants. Schizophrenic Health Reform Anniversary For FL By Daniel Tilson The Examiner Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the federal health reform legislation that introduced groundbreaking new rules of fair play into a profoundly corrupted and costly private health insurance system. Rick Scott Facebook Townhall: “Sorry for the technical difficulties” By Leaflet Florida Progressive Coalition Florida Governor Rick Scott held a Facebook Townhall accepting questions from 7:15pm until 7:45pm, closing out a final message at 8:06pm, answering a total of 13 questions. Florida Power and Light Nuclear at Turkey Point: where promises turn to salt By Gimleteye Eye on Miami The nuclear disaster in Japan is unfolding according to events inside the crippled reactors that could never be imagined by people who live within its poisoned radius. FLORIDA POLITICS Florida House Expected to Pass Bill Against Union Deductions By Merissa Green Lakeland Ledger The state House is poised to approve a bill today that would prohibit the deduction of union dues from the paychecks of teachers, police officers and other public employees. Prosecution closing in on its case in Ray Sansom trial By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Closing in on the end of its case, the prosecution in the Ray Sansom trial Thursday called on a string of witnesses in an attempt to prove to jurors that the former lawmaker disguised funding for an aircraft hangar as an educational facility. So what does the leadership funds bill really do? By Gary Fineout The Fine Print Florida lawmakers are expected today to take up and override the veto of HB 1207. Massive bill deregulating professions is scaled back By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau A massive bill deregulating everything from auto repair shops to hair braiders has been scaled back in response to complaints from consumer advocates. Tempers flaring in Florida House By Kim MacQueen and Brent Henzi Florida Tribune It's just the third week of the 2011 session but tempers are beginning to flare up in the Florida House. Protesters awaiting Scott visit By Jamie Page Pensacola News Journal When Gov. Rick Scott visits Pensacola today to speak at a sold-out Republican dinner event, he may meet some folks who aren't so pleased to see him. Campaign to 'boo' Rick Scott at Trop By Anthony Miller Fox 13 News Tampa Bay Some say it doesn't get any more American than baseball and political protest, and on April 1st, Rays fans will get a bit of both. Former Gov. Charlie Crist faces dismantling of his legacy with a smile By Becky Bowers St. Petersburg Times As lawmakers and a new governor rapidly dismantle Gov. Charlie Crist's legacy — overriding his vetoes, rejecting high-speed rail, pushing to split the Supreme Court — he's determinedly, unflappably Gov. Sunshine. J.D. Alexander: Florida Budget Guru By Bill Rufty Lakeland Ledger Some 13 years ago, a reticent, almost shy J.D. Alexander appeared before The Ledger's editorial board when he was running for the Florida House. POLITICAL RACES Fla. Rep. Mack to make announcement on Senate run Associated Press Palm Beach Post Republican Congressman Connie Mack IV will announce Friday whether he plans to seek the seat his father held before retiring in 2001. Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson won the seat and is seeking a third term. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Rep. Coley files bill to repeal another portion of last year's big water quality bill By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune A House bill has been filed to repeal another section of SB 550, the water quality bill in 2010 that became more controversial after it passed the Legislature. Senate proposal would require legislative approval of water management district budgets By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune The Legislature would approve the budgets of the state's five water management districts under a draft proposal being considered in the Senate. Red Tide study shows toxins, potential benefits By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times It has killed millions of fish and hundreds of dolphins and manatees. EDUCATION Senate schools budget has $678 million less for teachers By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel The Florida Legislature's 2011-2012 budget is taking shape, and the push to make cuts largely on the backs of the poor, sick and public employees is going to take some rhetorical massaging by lawmakers. Gov. Rick Scott urges lawmakers to expand charter schools By Tom Marshall St. Petersburg Times With his signature barely dry on landmark legislation overhauling Florida teachers' pay and performance, Gov. Rick Scott moved Thursday to the next item on his to-do list: charter schools. Gov. Scott's push-out of education commissioner angers longtime Jeb Bush ally By Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times Gov. Rick Scott called members of the state Board of Education this week to smooth feathers ruffled after Education Commissioner Eric Smith suddenly announced his resignation on Monday. Students in Tallahassee to protest education cuts By Patricia Mazzei St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau As lawmakers hash out how steep the cuts to the state's education budget will be next year, hundreds of students descended on the Capitol on Thursday to have their say. Money problems dominate Board of Governors' meeting By Kim MacQueen Florida Tribune Gov. Rick Scott greeted members of the state university system's Board of Governors bright and early Thursday, kicking off a day of visits and candid talk about the lack of funding from dignitaries that also included Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon. Community and state colleges could face 8% tuition hike Staff Report Orlando Sentinel Senate budget writers on Thursday presented a new spending plan for higher education and, this time, they're proposing an 8 percent tuition increase for state colleges and community colleges. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY 'Staggering' number of Americans turn to food banks By Kate Santich Orlando Sentinel In the land of plenty, a "staggering" number of Americans are turning to food banks to help feed themselves and their families, including a growing sector of the middle class seeking aid for the first time. Corporate tags just another license to shill By Frank Cerabino Palm Beach Post In the continuing effort to turn Florida into a giant outdoor phallus of corporate opportunity run amok, state lawmakers are looking into allowing company ads on license plates. Number of Florida lawyers under investigation for foreclosure-related wrongdoing grows By Kimberly Miller Palm Beach Post Florida Bar President Mayanne Downs predicts some Florida attorneys will pay the ultimate professional price for foreclosure-related wrongdoing — disbarment — as investigations mount statewide. HEALTH AND SENIORS Lawsuit shield added to House Medicaid plan By John Kennedy Palm Beach Post A rewrite of the state’s $22 billion Medicaid program cleared the House budget committee Thursday in a party-line vote, after ruling Republicans tucked in a provision making it tougher for patients to sue doctors. Could employees buy state hospital? By Jim Saunders Health News Florida In rural Baker County, the Northeast Florida State Hospital is big business. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Right-wing campaign to battle Sharia cites Tampa judge’s ruling By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent In an effort to support state Sen. Alan Hays’ and Rep. Larry Metz’s “Application of Foreign Law” bill, conservative commentators have recently been claiming that a Florida judge has subjected one of the parties involved in a civil law suit against the Islamic Education Center of Tampa to Sharia, Islamic law. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Florida Senate passes bill to help felons get jobs By Bill Kaczor Associated Press Legislation designed to help ex-convicts get licenses and other government permits they need to hold down jobs won unanimous approval Thursday from the Florida Senate.