FEATURED STORIES
Scott push on ethics reform dead in water
By Michael C. Bender
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
On Rick Scott’s first day as governor, he declared ethics and integrity “essential to maintaining the public trust” and ordered his office find ways to implement suggestions from a grand jury assembled to investigate public corruption.
State agency lost track of cash incentives
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott's agency in charge of enticing businesses to create jobs with cash incentives wants another $230 million in 2012, two-and-a-half times more than what lawmakers set aside this year.
Rick Scott Plays Teacher at Public Schools for a Sigh-Inducing "Let's Get to Work" Day
By Matthew Hendley
Broward New Times
With teachers being one of the largest collectives in the state pissed off with Gov. Rick Scott and his tradition of avoiding public schools like the plague, it seems a bit strange that the governor would play teacher for one of his "Let's Get to Work" days.
Poll: Big GOP majorities oppose entitlement cuts
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
In a split with their party's candidates, Florida Republicans oppose by large margins the budget-balancing proposals espoused by some GOP presidential hopefuls to cut benefits for future Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries.
Polls show state mired in political discontent
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Whether it’s Democratic President Barack Obama, Republican Gov. Rick Scott, their political parties, the tea party, the Occupy Wall Street movement or plans to trim entitlements, all get relatively low marks in the eyes of Florida voters, two public-opinion surveys released Thursday show.
BEST OF THE BLOGS
Scott Overreach: Court Erred, "Unjustified In Blocking The Will Of The People's Elected Representative"
By Inkberries
Beach Peanuts
Remember when Gov. Rick Scott unveiled those severe budget cuts last February? To justify those deep cuts, he said this.
How Florida GOP Throws Good Money After Bad
By Daniel Tilson
West Palm Beach Liberal Examiner
Ugly new details have now surfaced about Florida Republican legislators giving corporations massive tax cuts, cash giveaways and regulatory free rides for the last fifteen years, while getting way too little back in the way of economic stimulus for the state.
Right-Wingers Say Non-Existent ACORN is Running Occupy Orlando and Trying to Destroy America
By Kenneth Quinnell
Florida Progressive Coalition
The video above is being touted by right-wing bloggers as “proof” that ACORN, SEIU and other groups are a shadowy socialist conspiracy behind the Occupy Wall Street movement.
The (Tea) Party’s Over: Top Republicans Shunning Florida Tea Party
By Trish Ponder
Pensito Review
When you think of the Florida tea party, the names Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Marco Rubio come to mind but neither man came to their state’s tea party convention this weekend.
Almost half of Florida voters think Republicans are purposely sabotaging economic recovery
By David Nir
Daily Kos
I find these numbers to be a cause for optimism—it shows that if Barack Obama and Democrats in general are willing to make this argument, it will meet with a receptive audience.
FLORIDA POLITICS
New poll shows Scott's negative ratings remain unchanged
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
Despite a concentrated push to rebrand his image, Gov. Rick Scott's attempt to change his low approval ratings may have stalled, according to a new poll.
AP Exclusive: Official gets years to repay $21,000
By Gary Fineout
Associated Press
An official with Gov. Rick Scott's administration is getting three years to repay the state after he was given more than $21,000 in a possible violation of state policy.
Getting to work: Gov. Scott tries out teaching gig at Immokalee schools
By Ben Wolford
Naples Daily News
Gov. Rick Scott, wearing his trademark embroidered shirt and cowboy boots, grinned at the front of the classroom as students filled in the seats.
Greer hearing ends with no decision
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
Three attorneys for the Florida GOP traveled 200 miles to be in Sanford this morning for a five-minute hearing at which nothing was decided.
Debate heats up over voter ID laws
By Deborah Barfield Berry
USA Today
Mississippi has joined the growing number of states adopting tougher voter ID laws, a trend that promises to fuel an intense battle over how such laws may affect voter turnout in the 2012 elections.
POLITICAL RACES
Game-changer: late entrant Mack leads GOP Senate field, nearly ties Democratic Sen. Nelson
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Cape Coral, has become the instant frontrunner in the GOP Senate primary and runs virtually even with Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, a new Quinnipiac University poll says.
Democrats look to Florida to help retake House
By Ledyard King
USA Today
The congressman heading up Democratic efforts to retake the House next year is counting on the Sunshine State to play a pivotal role.
Opponents criticize Dyer over speech, gay rights
By Mark Schlueb
Orlando Sentinel
Buddy Dyer's opponents in the Orlando mayor's race came out swinging Thursday.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
NOAA Fisheries representative promotes RESTORE Act to help Gulf after BP disaster
By Josh Holton
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
The Deepwater Horizon oil well blowout last year was one of the most damaging events for Gulf of Mexico ecosystems.
State agency's plan for growing black bear population cracks door open for hunts
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
Four years from now, Florida officials could revive the controversial practice of bear hunting as a way to deal with the bears' growing population, according to a new plan released Thursday by the state wildlife commission.
South Florida water managers delay vote on making land-lease policy transparent
By Christine Stapleton
Palm Beach Post
Drastic changes quickly proposed after the South Florida Management District was accused last month of leasing land without seeking competitive bids or publishing notice were put on hold Thursday.
LGBT
Senate panel OKs repeal of Defense of Marriage Act
By Larry Margasak
Associated Press
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to repeal a federal law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but the legislation lacks vote for passage in either House.
EDUCATION
Graduate tuition hike gets approval
By Christine Armario
Associated Press
Florida’s Board of Governors approved a tuition hike Thursday for 18 graduate-level programs at five state universities that want to charge higher rates.
USF splinter campus receives preliminary approval to be 12th public university
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
A math- and science-focused branch of the University of South Florida has received preliminary approval to become the state's 12th university.
Despite Controversy, Florida Moves Forward With Teacher Merit Pay
By Mc Nelly Torres
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Merit pay for Florida’s public school teachers is in place after two years of protests.
Florida's new FCAT cut score proposal grows contentious
By Jeff Solochek
St. Petersburg Times
The Florida Department of Education's proposal to change FCAT cut scores for the five performance levels is encountering some resistance as the State Board of Education prepares to have a workshop on the issue this coming Monday.
Florida's state universities consider higher ed reforms
By News Service of Florida
Ft. Myers News-Press
At the urging of Gov. Rick Scott, the governing board for the State University System considered a plan Thursday to track performance of universities, reward good professors and encourage more graduates in science, technology, engineering and math.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Florida’s foreclosure rate picks up in October
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Foreclosures in Florida are increasing again after a lull resulting from slower foreclosure processes imposed by banks and lenders in the wake of last year's robo-signing scandal.
Seminole Tribe denounces casino bill, economists look at revenue impact
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
As Florida economists were attempting to tally the revenue impact of two polarizing destination resort casino bills, the Seminole Tribe sent out a statement decrying the bills as a violation of the gaming deal it has with the state.
PIP stands to change or die under new proposal
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
Florida's no-fault auto insurance system will be eliminated in four years unless the Legislature reviews and agrees to re-enacts the law under a proposed committee substitute that will be "workshopped" by the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee next week.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Town hall focuses on cost of skipping health reform
By Charles Elmore
Palm Beach Post
Florida's failure to get ready for the Affordable Care Act has already cost the state at least $40 million in federal money and put the state "behind the eight ball," attendees at a town hall-style gathering heard Wednesday evening.
GOP voters: Don’t cut Medicare or Social Security, AARP Florida poll finds
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Florida Republican voters have a clear feeling about cuts to Medicare and Social Security: Don’t do it, according to a new poll by the AARP.
Vendor questions sidetrack prison health care bidding
By Travis Pillow
Florida Current
A flood of questions by potential bidders has delayed until next month the opening of proposals to provide health care in Florida prisons.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
School prayer back before lawmakers in 2012By Regan McCarthy
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
For the second year in a row, lawmakers are pushing legislation that would give school districts the option of allowing student led prayer at certain school events.
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