PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS
'Occupy Wall Street' Heads for Florida as the Anti-Tea Party
By Kenric Ward
Sunshine State News
Excerpt: Unlike traditional demonstrations whipped up by labor unions or established political organizations -- the ever-active Progress Florida said it has no role in the Florida protests -- the emerging "Occupy" movement appears to be sui generis.
FEATURED STORIES
Report: Scores of Floridians could be affected by new voting law
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
As many as 5 million Americans, including hundreds of thousands in Florida, could be affected by new voting laws pushed through by Republicans, according to a a study by the Brennan Center for Justice.
Capital outlay forecasts take dive; outlook grim for higher education
By Travis Pillow
Florida Current
Public schools, colleges and universities likely face a tough time expanding campuses and even just maintaining existing buildings, based on new state projections released Monday.
Report: Legislature cut ‘safety nets’ in Florida as poverty soared
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
While the number of Floridians in poverty surpassed 3 million in 2010, the Florida Legislature cut state programs aimed at helping those facing unemployment and poverty, a new report finds.
Senator pushes to subpoena Florida pension fund instead of paying $11k for public records
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
A state senator wants the Senate president to subpoena the agency that runs the Florida pension fund for records regarding a $125 million investment after the agency told the senator it would cost $10,750 to produce the public documents.
Former Gov. Kirk eulogized as historic figure and as doting grandfather
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Former Gov. Claude Kirk was remembered today as an historical figure who helped reshape Florida in the 1960s and as a doting father and grandfather who lavished time and attention on his family.
FLORIDA POLITICS
City takes heed as anonymous threat accompanies Occupy Wall Street protest set for Tampa
By Jessica Vander Velde
St. Petersburg Times
The Occupy Wall Street protest is coming to Tampa, and it appears a notorious hacker group has a message for Tampa police: Get in our way, and we will wipe you off the Internet.
Andy Palmer to leave RPOF. So who's the next exec. director?
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Andy Palmer, who was nearly begged by Gov. Rick Scott to take the job as executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, is leaving his post to join the Tallahassee lobbying/consulting corps by joining the law firm of Metz, Husband and Daugthon, P.A. as a senior policy advisor.
Gov. Scott has kept open fundraising account
By Gary Fineout
Associated Press
Gov. Rick Scott is working again when it comes to raising money.
Florida Legislature to Appeal Voters' Redistricting Victory – Using Their Money!
Staff Report
Bradenton Times
Florida voters passed a landslide referendum amendment last November that prevents gerrymandering of political districts for political benefit.
Ignorance or arrogance?
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders either need to get better lawyers or start obeying constitutional law. The latter course would be much preferable.
POLITICAL RACES
Florida positioned as 2012 kingmaker
By Cameron Joseph
The Hill
For the second cycle in a row, Florida has positioned itself as the kingmaker of the GOP presidential race.
Florida GOP leaders ask national party to boycott Univision debate
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Three top Florida Hispanic Republicans are calling on the national GOP and their party’s presidential candidates to boycott a proposed Univision debate amid allegations that the Spanish-language television network tried to “extort” Sen. Marco Rubio.
Sacre bleu! LeMieux's heritage becomes an issue
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times
When John Kerry ran for president a few years ago, Republicans said he "looks French."
What the Romney-Rubio ties could mean
By Scott Wong
Politico
Florida freshman Sen. Marco has no plans to endorse anyone in the GOP primary, but inside his Senate office and political operations, his ties to Mitt Romney run deep.
Christie eyes White House, but obstacles loom
By Daniel Ruth
St. Petersburg Times
Considering that the current Republican presidential field is increasingly starting to look more dysfunctional than the Gadhafi family, it is perfectly understandable why New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is being nudged to jump into the race.
Perry loses ground in Florida after P5 debate
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Rick Perry, formerly running near the top of the GOP primary pack in Florida, has lost substantial ground in the state since his less-than-stellar performance in the Fox debate held during the state party’s Presidency 5 convention, a new poll indicates.
South Carolina GOP sets presidential primary date, trumps Florida
By Jim Davenport
Associated Press
South Carolina Republicans will hold their first-in-the-South presidential primary on Jan. 21 to trump Florida's rule-breaking jump ahead in the party's calendar.
Florida Republicans for Obama
Editorial
Wall Street Journal
On present trends Republicans will have a hard time losing the next Presidential election, but they may be up to the job.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Raising 'Sugar-Cane': Investigative Report Follows the Money Trail (part 2)
By Les Coleman
Public News Service Florida
In South Florida, sugar cane is king. Courting political favors is high on the sugar agenda, led by Flo-Sun, a holding company for Domino Sugar.
One GOP lawmaker’s push for a moratorium on commercial water permits
By Brett Ader
Florida Independent
While intense community organizing and outreach effectively curbed the ability of private entities to withdraw water from the Wacissa River, a state bill filed last month would move to further protect an already strained Florida aquifer from corporate interests.
Manatee County developers not happy with "home rule" growth decision
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
When the Legislature passed sweeping growth management changes this past spring, opponents argued that local governments would have free rein to allow developers to build without regard to natural resources or the planning needs of communities.
LGBT
Gay couples, allies set eyes on ultimate prize: Marriage
By Curtis Tate
McClatchy Newspapers
Now that the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is history, gay rights advocates and their supporters in Congress and the Obama administration are shifting their focus to repealing state and federal laws that define marriage as between one man and one woman.
EDUCATION
State senator wants K-12 education commission
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
A few weeks ago, Gov. Rick Scott put out a challenge to teachers across the state: Come up with new ideas for Florida’s K-12 education system. One of the responses to that call is now coming in the form of a bill sponsored by state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.
Governor's mansion reception will honor backers of powerful Tampa-based school choice group
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
Gov. Rick Scott Tuesday is hosting a receptions for backer of a program run by powerful pro-school choice group Step Up for Students.
Miami-Dade recognizes top teachers with big checks
By Laura Isensee
Miami Herald
Fifth-grade teacher Louineze Mertil did not know why she was called to Miami Beach Senior High School on Monday afternoon.
Universities face cuts to repair funds
Staff Report
Ft. Myers News-Press
State university officials said they will have to go to a bare-bones wish list of mainly repair and maintenance over shiny new classrooms after a panel of state economists slashed estimates for available school construction money for 2012.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Florida ranks 48th in aid from feds per person
By William E. Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
Despite its past growth and recent economic misery, Florida receives one of the lowest rates of federal aid per person among the states for roadwork, health care, schools and other needs.
No hug, but Scott praises Obama for advancing trade agreements
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott offered some rare praise Monday for Barack Obama — touting the president’s decision to send three free trade agreements to Congress for approval.
Department of Economic Opportunity debuts, combining three departments
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The new Department of Economic Opportunity opened it doors for its first regular business day on Monday.
Less people pumping gas could mean less money for road projects
By James Call
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
A sluggish economy burns less gasoline and that means fewer gas tax dollars for road building projects.
Vegas company looking to build Miami gambling resort
By Andres Viglucci and Charles Rabin
Miami Herald
The Las Vegas Sands casino operators, apparently trying to muscle aside arch-rival Genting Group’s plan for a Miami casino resort, are in discussions on a possible deal to develop a gambling resort with a group that controls eight blocks of downtown’s Park West neighborhood.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Uninsured situation worsens in South Florida
By John Dorschner
Miami Herald
Lack of health insurance in South Florida — long a problem in blue-collar areas like Hialeah — has now become a major concern even in the middle-class suburbs of Kendall, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report.
Senate probes 'interference' into nursing home watchdog program
By Kate Santich
Orlando Sentinel
A Florida Senate committee is investigating allegations that the state's Department of Elder Affairs illegally interfered with a watchdog program that is supposed to protect the rights of residents in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
New restrictions on judicial bypass for parental notification of abortion now in effect
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
As of Saturday, young women in Florida face a harder time obtaining a judicial bypass around the state’s parental notification of abortion law.
Florida legislator counsels crisis pregnancy center leaders on how to ‘educate’ elected officials
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
State Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, made an appearance at Care Net’s conference in Orlando late last week.
Medical malpractice market is healthy, state regulators say
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
Florida’s medical malpractice insurance market is healthy and is getting healthier, a new report issued by the Office of Insurance Regulation shows.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Police: Proposed law would confuse parentsBy Katie Sanders
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
Law enforcement officials warned lawmakers on Monday that well-meaning proposals created in response to the Casey Anthony trial would confuse parents about the appropriate time to wait before reporting their missing children.
Nat'l. Report Praises FL Alternatives to 'Locking Up' Juveniles
By Les Coleman
Public News Service Florida
When kids act up, locking them up is the wrong thing to do in most cases, says a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
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