FEATURED STORIES
Former GOP Chair Jim Greer adds Senate President Mike Haridopolos to lawsuit
By Lucy Morgan
St. Petersburg Times
Former Republican Party Chair Jim Greer expanded his lawsuit against the state party Tuesday to include Senate President Mike Haridopolos just days after taking a sworn statement from Haridopolos.
Report: ‘Super Committee’ failure could cut off unemployment benefits for almost 2 million
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
The failure of the congressional “Super Committee” to reach an agreement jeopardizes the federal unemployment benefits of almost 2 million unemployed workers, according to the National Employment Law Project.
Norquist's no-tax pledge is a plague
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
When the political autopsy on Congress' super committee is complete, a contributing cause of death must include the no-tax pledge that's infecting elected officials across the nation.
Gov. Scott gives up on new job training program
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
A week after including a new job training program for unemployed workers in a proposed committee bill, Gov. Rick Scott is giving up on the idea, at least for now.
Allen West Thinks a Lobbying Organization is a Government Agency
By Matthew Hendley
Broward New Times
Rep. Allen West is looking for cuts to make in the federal government to spare the defense budget, so he thinks there's no reason for the Department of Commerce to exist since there's a lobbying group with a similar name.
FLORIDA POLITICS
Atwater’s Christmas – err legislative – list
By Kathleen Haughney
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has released his legislative wish list.
Gov. Scott still struggles in polls
Staff Report
Florida Current
Two polls show Florida Gov. Rick Scott still struggling for approval almost a year into his term.
Gambling groups spend millions on lobbyists
By Lilly Rockwell
News Service of Florida
The only winners so far in the effort to allow luxury resort casinos in South Florida, which has widespread implications for every form of gambling in the state, are lobbyists.
Stop raiding the housing trust fund
Editorial
Florida Times-Union
There’s a smattering of good news on unemployment.
POLITICAL RACES
(Mis)Truth in Advertising
The Progress Report
Think Progress
Did Mitt Romney actually say all of these things? Yes.
GOP Debate: In African-American city, crowd was mostly white
By Justin Sink
The Hill
Tuesday's Republican presidential debate was held in a city with a strong African-American population, but the audience was mostly white.
Cain signs Susan B. Anthony anti-abortion pledge
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Presidential candidate Herman Cain became one of the last GOP presidential candidates to sign an anti-abortion pledge created by the Susan B. Anthony List.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
PSC approves Progress Energy Fla. nuclear costs
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Customers will pay $140 million next year so Progress Energy Florida can buy electricity from other sources while a nuclear plant remains shut down for repairs.
State regulators approve nuclear costs paid to FPL
By Susan Salisbury
Palm Beach Post
The Florida Public Service Commission today unanimously approved $20 million in nuclear costs that Juno Beach-based Florida Power & Light Co. customers will begin paying in January.
Water limits change, again
Editorial
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The dry season has arrived, and in South Florida, that means another shift in the yo-yo world of water management.
BP to release $500 million in first phase of environmental projects
By Tom McLaughlin
NWF Daily News
Northwest Florida cities, counties and organizations should learn by the end of the year whether environmental improvement projects they want to fund with $100 million from BP are worthy.
Is the FL Black Bear Still at Risk?
By Glen Gardner
Public News Service Florida
The state's black bear management plan was the topic of discussion Tuesday night at a public workshop here.
EDUCATION
Officials: Raising FCAT standards necessary but may reduce graduation rates
By Annie Martin
Daytona Beach News-Journal
More Florida schools may receive F's and more students may fail to graduate as state officials seek to ratchet up the passing scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
Higher ed council wants changes to Bright Futures program
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
Florida’s Bright Futures program might see some changes in coming months, according to a new report by Capitol News Service.
New fees drive down adult education enrollment
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Many of Florida's high school dropouts are giving up the chance to go back to school because they now are required to pay tuition.
Florida needs less grade inflation, more legitimate education
By Donn Graham
Fort Myers News-Press
As a newcomer to Lee County with a grandson enrolled in the Lee County school system, I am appalled at the low level of student achievement here compared to where he attended school last year, Jefferson County, Ky., which contains Louisville.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Florida House Speaker: Every ‘major policy area’ will see ‘reductions’ in new budget
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
The Palm Beach Post reports that Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon says it is “certain that another round of belt-tightening is in order when lawmakers reconvene Jan. 10.” State economists have predicted a $2 billion shortfall for the upcoming year.
Rejected rail funding becomes California’s gain
By Burgess Everett
Politico
High-speed rail funding rejected by Florida Gov. Rick Scott officially became California’s gain Tuesday as the Department of Transportation granted nearly $1 billion to the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
Can Rick Scott’s jobs czar bring business back to Florida?
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times
Gray Swoope pulls his hands from his pockets long enough to hold open each door he crosses in the state Capitol for anyone who might want to pass through first debate.
Exploiting addicts
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
State lawmakers are betting big that even more gambling — resort casinos, slots, whatever the market will bear — is the answer to Florida's revenue problems.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Healthy habits are the best incentive
Editorial
Florida Times-Union
Austere circumstances often lead to creativity and innovation, even in health insurance.
Women’s health advocates fear Obama will cave in to Catholic bishops’ demands
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
With the final decision on whether the Obama administration will keep its original policy requiring health insurers to cover contraception without co-payments looming, women’s health advocates fear the president will capitulate to the demands of one of the biggest opponents to the policy: Catholic bishops.
Florida ‘Medicare Patrol’ gets funds to fight fraud
By William Gibson
South Florida Sun Sentinel
While enlisting senior-citizen volunteers to help fight fraud, federal officials doled out $9 million on Tuesday for Senior Medicare Patrols, including $400,000 in Florida.
Advocacy group says toxic toys still a problem
By Tom Flanigan
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
In recent years, the United States has done much to improve the safety of children's toys.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Judges should carry gavels, not tin cupsEditorial
Orlando Sentinel
Much like the federal government, Florida's court system has been staggering from one financial crisis to the next.
Restore due process to drug cases
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Due process should not be tossed aside for the sake of expediency.
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