Daily Clips for March 8, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS As lawmaking session opens, Tallahassee protesters test voices By Dara Kam and John Kennedy Palm Beach Post Excerpt: "I've heard from a lot of people who say, 'This is going to be my first rally of any kind,' " said Damien Filer of Progress Florida, which has been planning rallies in major cities and using a Facebook page called "Awake the State." ‘Awake the State,’ tea party to battle over budget as legislative session opens By Brett Ader Florida Independent Excerpt: “This is a budget written by a billionaire CEO, for billionaire CEOs,” Susannah Randolph of Florida Watch Action tells The Florida Independent. “The tax burden is being placed squarely on the shoulders of middle-class Floridians.” Baxley is prepared for his state House encore By Bill Thompson Ocala Star-Banner Excerpt: Damien Filer, political director of Progress Florida, a Tallahassee-based progressive group: “You think you’d have to be a contortionist to get to the right of Rick Scott, but I think Dennis Baxley has done that,” Filer said. “Practically speaking, he’ll fit in better than ever, given the make-up of the Florida House, which will just be a rubber stamp for Rick Scott’s economic agenda.” FEATURED STORIES Gov. Rick Scott's debut State of the State provides many chances By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related: Lawmakers open 2011 session today Gov. Rick Scott's debut State of the State address Tuesday is his chance to smooth a rocky relationship with the Legislature, focus his fuzzy image in the minds of many Floridians and amplify his first-year agenda. The most significant (and pro-business) session in 25 years By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times The annual session of the Florida Legislature that opens this morning promises to be the most significant of the past quarter-century. Gov. Rick Scott's proposed education budget: $1.75 billion in cuts By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Is a $2,335-a-year pay cut for the average teacher worth a $44.72 property tax savings for the average Florida homeowner with a homestead exemption? Lawmakers look to eliminate unions' power, ability to raise money By Jerome R. Stockfisch Tampa Tribune Nearly two hours after workers, students and activists lined up outside a Capitol hearing room with their mouths symbolically taped shut, state lawmakers took up the first of several Republican-sponsored bills aimed at neutering Florida public employee unions. Anti-abortion lawmakers push wave of bills By William March Tampa Tribune With a more conservative Legislature and abortion opponent Rick Scott replacing moderate Charlie Crist as governor, abortion foes in the Florida Legislature are proposing a new wave of abortion restrictions. House Speaker Dean Cannon wants to expand state Supreme Court to 10 justices, two panels By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Under a dramatic overhaul of the state court system proposed by House Speaker Dean Cannon on Monday, Gov. Rick Scott could end up choosing three new Supreme Court justices. FLORIDA POLITICS Scott prepares for State of the State address By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Related: Lawmakers celebrate before session starts Gov. Rick Scott, preparing for his first legislative session, said today he is practicing his State of the State address and expects cordial relations with the House and Senate over the next two months. Florida Republicans at Odds With Their Leader By Lizette Alvarez and Gary Fineout New York Times Rick Scott, the conservative Republican billionaire who plucked the governor’s job from the party establishment in November with $73 million of his own money and the backing of the Tea Party, vowed during his campaign to run the troubled state like a corporate chief executive (which he was) and not a politician (which he proudly says he is not). Corporate cash floods Legislature in record sums By Zac Anderson Sarasota Herald-Tribune Heading into a legislative session shaping up as one of the most pro-business in years, lawmakers are riding an unprecedented wave of corporate and special-interest cash, with $8.8 million in donations to the state parties in the last two months of 2010. Care? Rick Scott Doesn’t Have to Care By Ralph De La Cruz Florida Center for Investigative Reporting The mayors of Lakeland, Orlando, Tampa and Miami all penned a letter on March 3 trying to allay Rick Scott’s concerns about a $2.4 billion high-speed rail line from Orlando to Tampa. Senate President Mike Haridopolos tries to shake his book troubles By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos doesn't always agree with his own advice. Dual role touchy for Haridopolos By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune Mike Haridopolos has yet to preside over a regular session of the Florida Senate. Mike Haridopolos' book deal Editorial Orlando Sentinel Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos has vowed to cut government spending to solve the state's budget woes, and he sure seems serious about it. Chamber says protesters were bused to Central Florida teacher rally: Pants on Fire! By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact Government union bosses are busing in protesters to picket state elected leaders. In Florida. Florida bill limiting union dues postponed as labor tries to stop it By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union A Senate committee delayed the first hearing on a bill restricting the collection and use of union dues Monday, as organized labor ramped up the campaign to swat the bill away. Pasco's Will Weatherford designated for House Speaker in 2012-14 By Jodie Tillman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The battle to lead the state House in 2012 ended five years ago, not long after a pivotal meal at a Buddy Freddy's restaurant. A rocky beginning for public corruption measure By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times A bill to crack down on public corruption cleared a Senate committee Monday, but the volleys of skeptical questions from senators made it clear the bill has a shaky future. Former aide files sexual harassment suit against Rep. Alcee Hastings By George Bennett Palm Beach Post A woman who worked for U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, on an international commission claims in a lawsuit that he subjected her to "unwelcome sexual advances," crude comments and unwanted hugging over a two-year period and retaliated against her when she complained. Legislative session: The run of the place Editorial Orlando Sentinel When he was White House chief of staff, Democrat Rahm Emanuel earned the enmity of the right for remarking that politicians — in his case, liberal politicians running the federal government — should "never allow a crisis to go to waste." POLITICAL RACES Republican Party of Florida to host presidential straw poll, debate Staff Report St. Petersburg Times The Republican Party of Florida will hold a 2012 presidential straw poll and FOX News-partnered debate in September as part of a three-day event in Orlando. Miami-Dade recall election draws strong voter turnout By Matthew Haggman and Martha Brannigan Miami Herald While the political fate of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Commissioner Natacha Seijas in the March 15 recall elections is uncertain, one thing is increasingly clear: Voters aren’t staying on the sidelines. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Experts say Gov. Rick Scott's growth management stance based on faulty premise By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Six weeks after he took office, Florida's new governor, Rick Scott, visited the state's Department of Community Affairs. Environmental groups digging in for tough legislative session By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Environmental groups, which have become accustomed to playing defense in the Legislature for many years, are digging in for what could be an even tougher fight this year. Rick Scott will finish off what's left of Florida's environmental movement By Mike Thomas Orlando Sentinel If Rick Scott could create 1,000 jobs by barbecuing manatees, sea pigs would be roasting on a spit tomorrow. BP tackling tar mats off coast By Kimberly Blair Pensacola News Journal BP is using a large excavator to remove thousands of pounds of weathered oil each day from a huge tar mat in the surf off Perdido Key beach, directly behind Eden Condominium resort. Progress Energy prepares to bring nuke plant back on line By Fred Hiers Ocala Star-Banner After multiple delays, more than $440 million in repairs and power replacement and 18 months of down time, Progress Energy said it plans to fire up its Crystal River nuclear plant in April. EDUCATION Florida's universal voucher bill includes private school parents too By Ron Matus St. Petersburg Times Home school and private school parents would also get a chance to obtain an "education savings account" or voucher under the legislation filed in the Florida Legislature last week by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, and Rep. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. Education leaders wary as session set to begin By Jackie Alexander and Nathan Crabbe Gainesville Sun Local education officials will be watching and waiting as the state Legislature convenes Tuesday to consider the budget and several bills that could impact teachers directly. Florida is not like Wisconsin, teachers union lawyer says By Jeff Solochek St. Petersburg Times With collective bargaining and organizing rights under siege, the Florida Education Association has launched a counter-offensive to the Florida Chamber of Commerce campaign that aims to paint unions as bullies. 2011 version of teacher merit pay assumes perfection in 3 years but doesn't assume any money Editorial Palm Beach Post The Legislature convenes today, and a teacher merit-pay bill is one of the first things set to pass. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY 60 Minutes uses Florida kids to document historic fall of middle class children into poverty By Eric Deggans St. Petersburg Times When correspondent Scott Pelley wanted to document the historic slide of children from middle class lives into poverty, he came to Florida -- Seminole County, near Orlando -- where he notes the school buses stop at dozens of cheap motel rented by families week to week. Rail or no rail, Nelson says Florida could owe feds millions By Larry Hannan Florida Times-Union It would cost $2.7 billion to build a high speed rail between Orlando and Tampa. Report: Budget Forecasting a 'Mission Impossible?' By Eric Mack Public News Service Florida Florida's housing market has been among those hardest hit in recent years, and the Great Recession is making a big problem even worse. David Stern law firm ceasing foreclosure operations at end of month By Peter Franceschina South Florida Sun-Sentinel The once mighty Plantation law firm of "foreclosure king" David J. Stern will cease its home repossession operations March 31 amid an investigation into whether it filed fraudulent paperwork in court cases. HEALTH AND SENIORS House unveils Medicaid overhaul By Jim Saunders Health News Florida More patient and less confrontational than the Senate, the Florida House has released a proposal to transform Medicaid into a statewide managed-care program during the next five years. Florida lawmakers square up over halting prescription drug abuse By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post House and Senate leaders are facing off over how to put an end to prescription drug abuse and trafficking in Florida as they kick off the 60-day legislative session. Cannon announces plan to repeal law that targets ‘pill mills’ By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, today made further strides in doing away with Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, announcing at a press conference that legislation will soon be introduced to officially repeal it. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Judges, court officials warn of justice delayed if judicial system is cut significantly By Melissa E. Holsman TC Palm As state lawmakers prepare to hammer out a balanced budget when the legislative session opens Tuesday in Tallahassee, court personnel on the Treasure Coast say their already strained justice system could collapse if state employees are forced to shoulder significant cuts.