PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS
Progress Florida launches petition calling for Haridopolos to return book money
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Progress Florida has launched a petition aimed at state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, asking him to return $152,000 he received from taxpayers to write a book about the “political history of Florida.”
AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS
Activists announce plans for Florida Press Association event in St. Petersburg
By Mitch Perry
Creative Loafing Tampa
Much of the official Florida political establishment will be in St. Petersburg later this week for the two day Florida Press Association taking place at the Vinoy Renaissance hotel on June 30-July 1…There will be a protest outside the hotel this Friday beginning at 12:30 p.m., with a news conference to follow at 1 p.m. Activists with the group Awake the State say with a plethora of new laws to take effect that day, those who are personally going to be affected by such policies will speak out.
FEATURED STORIES
Many new Florida laws reflect GOP philosophy
Associated Press
Gainesville Sun
Florida will take another step into an era of declining expectations from its cash-strapped state government this week when the most austere in a series of tight annual budgets goes into effect.
Poll shows Gov. Rick Scott with 33 percent approval rating
By William March
Tampa Tribune
A new Public Policy Polling survey shows 33 percent of voters approve of Gov. Rick Scott’s job performance, and 59 percent disapprove—an increase in the disapproval figure from the company’s last Florida poll in March.
Florida Supreme Court hears arguments in lawsuit challenging Gov. Rick Scott
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
For the second time since Gov. Rick Scott took office in January, his attorney appeared before the Florida Supreme Court to defend him.
Judge strikes down Florida campaign finance matching law
By Aaron Sharockman
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
A Florida federal judge has struck down a provision of state campaign finance law that attempted to negate an advantage for millionaire candidates like Rick Scott by providing matching tax dollars to their opponents.
U.S. appeals court upholds Obama health care law
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
In the first ruling by a federal appeals court on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, a panel in Cincinnati affirmed Wednesday that Congress can require Americans to have minimum insurance coverage.
Florida rejects millions more in federal health-care grants
By Linda Shrieves
Orlando Sentinel
When she thinks about how much care $35 million would buy, Mary Ellen Grant shudders.
FLORIDA POLITICS
New laws require pension contributions, ultrasounds
By Catherine Whittenburg
Tampa Tribune
When Paul Goodland decided in 2000 to leave his corporate job as a chemical engineer and return to teaching, it cut his salary roughly in half.
Scott's actions belie his claims about ratings
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he doesn't care about his historically low approval ratings, but his actions tell a different story.
Fla. Gov. Scott completes sale of his Solantic urgent care chain to N.Y. equity firm
Staff Report
Palm Beach Post
Solantic, the urgent care chain founded by Gov. Rick Scott, said Wednesday it had completed the sale of its privately owned medical care centers to New York-based equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe.
Weatherford denies $30 million pot exists for redistricting: False
By Amy Sherman
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact
Redistricting will be a messy battle in 2012. And that means legislators need money to protect their turf.
Sen. Don Gaetz's crowning as Senate president is set
By Janet Zink
Miami Herald
Sen. Don Gaetz's ascension to the Senate presidency came one step closer Wednesday when Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, announced that the Republican from Niceville will be offically designated to the post for the 2013-2014 term during ceremonies on Sept. 19.
Stephen Colbert fans respond to Rick Scott
By Mike Lafferty
Orlando Sentinel
A week or so ago Gov. Rick Scott’s web site posted a form letter so his fans could write newspaper editors and express their admiration for the job he’s doing.
Florida justices to decide whether Gov. Scott is exceeding his powers
By Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
Florida's highest court now must decide whether Gov. Rick Scott has overstepped his powers by ordering state agencies to stop issuing new regulations until his office has reviewed and approved the results.
Gov. Rick Scott hosts event for NASCAR officials
Associated Press
Miami Herald
Gov. Rick Scott and First Lady Ann Scott hosted a reception at the Governor's Mansion to celebrate NASCAR and its economic and historical significance to Florida.
POLITICAL RACES
Republicans lust for a 2012 ticket with Marco Rubio on it
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
It happens almost every time Sen. Marco Rubio sits down for a national TV interview. Will you be on the Republican presidential ticket in 2012?
Florida State Fairgrounds to host CNN/Tea Party Express debate
By Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
The Florida State Fair Authority announced Wednesday that the State Fairgrounds in Tampa has been selected as the host site for a Sept. 12 Republican presidential debate hosted by CNN and the Tea Party Express.
Nelson up double digits
By Tom Jensen
Public Policy Polling
Different month, same story when it comes to Bill Nelson's poll numbers: his approval rating is mediocre but he has a double digit lead over all of his Republican opponents.
Putnam not interested in Scott challenge – for now
Associated Press
Miami Herald
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says he's happy in his new job and not thinking about a 2014 Republican primary challenge to Gov. Rick Scott.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Fasano to Scott: Park privatization proposal ‘needs more review than it has been given’
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, yesterday penned letters to both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Gov. Rick Scott, asking for a more extensive review of a proposal for privately owned campsites in some state parks.
Bulldozing our parks
Editorial
Tampa Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott's administration, which thought it a grand idea to build golf courses in state parks, now wants to transform parks into RV lots.
NRDC releases beaches scorecard; Florida scores well except for effects of BP oil
By Kate Bradshaw
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
Tampa Bay Beaches will likely be packed this holiday weekend, and an environmental study out today ranks beaches nationwide on pollution and closures.
Don’t Light the Way for Florida Turtles
By Glen Gardner
Public News Service Florida
Some very simple things Florida residents can do will help sea turtles survive and thrive.
PSC members to suggest five for interviews from list of 120 executive director applicants
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Public Service Commission members on Wednesday agreed to give themselves a month to identify those who will be interviewed for executive director from among a group 120 applicants.
Open the refuge
Editorial
Florida Today
Few know it exists — and even fewer have been there.
LGBT
Obama praises NY gay marriage law, won't endorse it
By Patricia Zengerle
Reuters
President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised New York's move to legalize same-sex marriage but stopped short of endorsing it himself, maintaining a stance that has frustrated many liberal supporters.
EDUCATION
Florida releasing school grades today; scores based on tougher FCAT
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida's schools should find out Thursday whether tougher FCAT standards will lead to fewer As and more Ds and Fs in this year's school grades.
New Florida teacher evaluation guidelines take effect Friday
By Kelly Tyko
TC Palm
Florida teachers who don't have tenure by now are out of luck.
Colleges urge Florida Bright Futures scholarship recipients to heed new FAFSA rule
By Marissa Lang
St. Petersburg Times
The phones have been ringing off the hook at college financial aid offices across Florida.
Thank state lawmakers for tuition rate hikes that will put more grads in debt
Editorial
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state's 11 public universities, has granted every institution its request to raise tuition by 7 percent, adding to an 8 percent increase ordered by state lawmakers.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Legislature turn cost-cutting attention to law enforcement
By Steve Bousquet and Emily Nipps
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
After eliminating thousands of rank-and-file jobs from the state work force, Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature are turning their cost-cutting attention to a more politically sensitive area: law enforcement.
SunRail's fate should be known soon
By Dan Tracy
Orlando Sentinel
Related: Republicans and Democrats Agree…but will Gov. Scott Listen?
The five-month wait is almost over for the SunRail commuter train.
Forcing Florida employees to contribute to their pension is unconstitutional in many ways
By Andy Ford
Florida Today
Last week, the Florida Education Association joined with other groups to file a lawsuit challenging the Florida Legislature's mandate regarding the pay of 655,000 teachers, law-enforcement officers, firefighters and other workers who serve the citizens of our state.
Florida not as business friendly as some, analysis shows
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
Gov. Rick Scott wants Florida to become the national leader in jobs but the state still has a ways to go in its quest to be the most business friendly in the nation.
Annuity probes drop in Florida — sparking questions
By Richard Burnett
Orlando Sentinel
By the time she asked for help, the 70-year-old Lake County widow had lost so much money in her variable annuity, her life savings had been nearly wiped out.
Buyouts could save water district $12 million in salaries, benefits
By Christine Stapleton
Palm Beach Post
Thursday is the final day of employment for 123 workers at the South Florida Management District who accepted the district's hastily arranged buy-out rather than risk losing their jobs to layoffs expected in August.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Decision Day: Federal Appeals Court Upholds the Affordable Care Act
The Progress Report
Think Progress
In exciting (and hugely important) news that broke earlier this afternoon, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the health care law, including the key individual responsibility provision that requires everyone to purchase health insurance, as constitutional.
Feds extend controversial Medicaid project
By William Gibson
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Federal officials have agreed to extend Florida’s controversial Medicaid pilot project by one month while deciding whether to give the state permission to turn health care for the poor over to HMOs.
Florida’s Medicaid Overhaul Drops Patient Counseling
News Service of Florida
West Orlando News
When Florida lawmakers approved a Medicaid overhaul last month, they decided almost all beneficiaries should enroll in HMOs or other types of managed-care plans.
Groups call on nursing homes to maintain staffing
Associated Press
Miami Herald
Advocates for nursing home patients and the workers who care for them are calling on facilities to maintain their current staffing levels even though more lax standards go into law Friday.
State seeks to shutter New Port Richey ALF
By Carol Marbin Miller, Michael Sallah and Rob Barry
Miami Herald
Declaring that residents of a New Port Richey assisted-living facility are in serious danger, state regulators are seeking to shut down the home where breakdowns in care led to an outbreak of violence among two dozen residents — including the reported rape of a disabled 27-year-old by her own caregiver.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
DREAM Activists: Despite detentions, protests will continue
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
On the heels of the first ever Senate hearing on the DREAM Act, six undocumented students were detained Tuesday in Atlanta during a protest against H.B. 87, Georgia’s immigration-enforcement law.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Contractor for "Taj Mahal" courthouse sues the state over unpaid billsBy Kim MacQueen
Florida Current
A Tallahassee businesswoman on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Management Services over an unpaid bill in connection with the construction of the controversial 1st District Court of Appeal courthouse.
Judge bars enforcement of Florida campaign law
Associated Press
Miami Herald
A federal judge has issued a final judgment banning enforcement of a part of Florida's public campaign financing law challenged by Gov. Rick Scott.
When Florida Fugitives Flee the Country, Justice Rarely Follows
By Tristram Korten
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Has the economic crash made it harder for Florida authorities to go after criminals who flee the country?
Recent court decisions underscore an alarming assault on the Fourth Amendment
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
If the home indeed is a castle, Americans may want to start investing in moats.
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