AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS
Awake the State starts a one-year goal of awaking voters
By Janelle Irwin
WMNF Tampa Community Radio
Related: Sarasota’s Awake the State rally focuses on the “worst legislative session in Florida’s history”
The 2012 elections are only twelve months away and a progressive-leaning group is beginning the process of getting voters informed and to the polls.
Occupy Miami supporters march on Bank of America
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
Excerpt: “Miami Workers Center is very excited about this movement,” Yeomans-Benford said. “Today is part of a statewide day of action called Awake the State, so Awake Miami is part of Awake the State, today you have Florida Immigrant Coalition, Power U and unions like SEIU, the AFL, UNITE/HERE and Occupy Miami, and you have here the opportunity to build a broad progressive front to demand real change and real accountability.”
Related: St. Petersblog 2.0: Floridians mobilize at 15 Awake The State rallies one year from Election Day – 2012
Related: Creative Loafing Tampa: Alex Sink shows a human side at Awake the State rally in Tampa
FEATURED STORIES
Report: Rick Scott’s former company Solantic taking jobs to Tennessee
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times
The chain of health care clinics started by Gov. Rick Scott is moving some jobs out of Florida, a financial newspaper in Jacksonville reported.
Rick Scott, One Year After Election
By Mike Vasilinda
Capitol News Service
One year ago today, Governor Rick Scott eked out a victory in one of the closest statewide races in Florida history.
Fla. lawmakers may avoid major issues in 2012
By Gary Fineout and Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Heading into a critical election year, Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders appear ready to scale back the number of substantial issues they plan to tackle in 2012.
Poll: Marco Rubio veep could deliver Florida for Republicans
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio could provide the juice needed for a Republican presidential candidate to win Florida, according to a new poll by Suffolk University.
Florida issues new water pollution standards
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
Amid a long-running political fight over new water pollution standards being imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Florida officials Wednesday unveiled their own new standards for limiting the most common form of pollution in the state's rivers, streams and estuaries.
FLORIDA POLITICS
Rick Scott 'disappointed' former Jennifer Carroll staffer arrested
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
Gov. Rick Scott Wednesday said he was disappointed that a former staffer for Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll was arrested and charged with making an illegal recording of a conversation and leaking it to the Times-Union.
New ‘free market’ think tank sets its sights on 2012 legislative session
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Just months after opening up shop, a Naples-based “free market” public policy group that has so far declined to disclose the source of its funding has already made inroads with state government, and is gearing up to influence Florida’s 2012 legislative session.
Casino bill will require lots of horse-trading
By Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
As state lawmakers begin to vet a controversial destination casino bill, it's clear that there's going to be a lot of horse-trading required to get the measure to Gov. Rick Scott's desk.
Cannon refuses to take position on claims bill backed by Haridopolos
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
House Speaker Dean Cannon said he doesn't want to take a stand on a claims bill that is top priority in the 2012 session for Senate President Mike Haridopolos.
POLITICAL RACES
Endorsement reversal: Haridopolos backs pal Connie Mack in U.S. Senate race
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
One-time U.S. Senate candidate and Senate President Mike Haridopolos is backing long-time friend U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV in the GOP primary, Haridopolos told editors and reporters this morning.
GOP Senate candidates say politicians have failed
By Brent Kallestad
Associated Press
U.S. Senate candidate Craig Miller says Washington needs more businessmen making decisions instead of career politicians.
Poll: A Scott-Sink race today would be a dead heat
By Kathleen Haughney
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Massachusetts-based Suffolk University released more poll results from their October survey, finding that Gov. Rick Scott's performance still isn't garnering a lot of support among voters.
McCalister, Miller ready to turn back the political clock
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
A pair of Republican U.S. Senate candidates showcased their stump speeches Wednesday at the Associated Press’ annual planning session at the state Capitol, with both pledging to shrink government and effectively turn back the political clock.
Candidate tries to squeeze Florida with OJ boycott
By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post
Trying to orchestrate a boycott of Florida orange juice doesn't sound like a good way to appeal to the state's voters.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Bondi, Putnam, affected industries join together to fight EPA water rules
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
In a Monday court filing, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, Attorney General Pam Bondi and a slew of industry representatives filed their opposition to EPA-mandated water pollution standards for the state.
Ethanol repeal bill passes committee with only one more stop to go
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
A bill that would eliminate Florida's requirement that gasoline contain 10 percent ethanol passed a Senate committee on Wednesday.
Swiftmud planning conservation land sales
Staff Report
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Plans to sell off pieces of public conservation land are moving forward, with regional water managers holding their first formal meeting on the subject Thursday.
EDUCATION
Florida legislators skeptical of spending more for reading coaches
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
A panel of lawmakers met a request for an additional $40 million for 600 reading coaches with skepticism Tuesday, saying the state has already sunk a billion-plus dollars into the program with lackluster results.
Florida Senate moves ahead with school prayer bill
By Jeff Solochek
St. Petersburg Times
Florida state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, has once again resurrected legislation that seeks to allow prayer at school events including graduations.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Protecting Millionaires v. Jobs Rebuilding Bridges, Roads & Airports
The Progress Report
Think Progress
Tomorrow, the Senate will attempt to take up the Rebuild America Jobs Act — part of the president’s jobs plan that will put hundreds of thousands of construction workers back to rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, airports, and other critical infrastructure.
Banks back down; consumers win
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Plans by the nation's biggest banks to charge customers monthly fees for using debit cards are being dropped faster than a Kardashian husband.
Solantic packs corporate bags
Staff Report
Florida Current
As Gov. Rick Scott touts job creation as his top priority the chain of clinics he founded a decade ago is moving its corporate headquarters from Jacksonville to Nashville, Tenn.
Expedient settlement makes tourist tax collections soar
By Sara K. Clarke
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County's hotel taxes for the month of September soared by 99.4 percent over a year earlier, after including a big boost from a secret settlement the county received from online-travel company Expedia.
2nd Miami casino site looking for suitors
By Douglas Hanks
Miami Herald
Miami’s other potential casino site wants to keep its options open.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Senate panel demands answers to crisis in ALF care
By Erik Bolstad, Michael Sallah, and Carol Marbin Miller
Miami Herald
Sitting before U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and his colleagues, Alfredo Navas carefully recounted the day his sister told him by telephone the horrific news: that their 85-year-old mother drowned in a shallow lake behind the Miami-Dade assisted living facility where she was supposed to be protected.
Medium premiums going up due to “Obamacare”? Chain e-mail gets it wrong
By Angie Drobnic Holan
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact
A chain e-mail going around warns of a Medicare premium increase, saying monthly premiums will go up from $96.40 to $247 in 2014.
Congressional committee debates religious exemption in birth control decision
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health met today to discuss the federal government’s decision to require health insurers to cover birth control services without co-payments.
WellCare, Humana Riding high
Staff Report
Health News Florida
Insurers are rolling in profits, especially the two that dominate Medicaid and Medicare in Florida, WellCare and Humana.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Nelson wants congressional hearing on state’s new voting rules
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., reiterated his request for a congressional investigation into Florida’s controversial new voting laws on the Senate floor today.
Get smart again in Florida
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
In March, Gov. Scott and the Florida Cabinet took 30 minutes to make a bad decision that affects hundreds of thousands of residents.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Cannon won’t push major court reformsBy David Royse
News Service of Florida
House Speaker Dean Cannon said Wednesday he won’t push in the coming legislative session for the major changes to the judiciary that he pursued last year when he sought to ask voters to split the state Supreme Court and increase its size.
Filing fees, fines cannot cover court system costs alone, judges tell lawmakers
By Katie Sanders
Miami Herald
Lawmakers on Tuesday mulled suggestions from the judicial branch for stabilizing the oft-depleted budgets of courts and county clerks.
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