AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS
Awake the State plans rallies for first day of legislative session
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Awake the State will hold protests targeting Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP-led Legislature all over the state on the first day of Florida’s legislative session, Jan. 10.
FEATURED STORIES
Politifact, R.I.P.
By Paul Krugman
New York Times
This is really awful. Politifact, which is supposed to police false claims in politics, has announced its Lie of the Year — and it’s a statement that happens to be true, the claim that Republicans have voted to end Medicare.
Bondi uses new law to put measure back on ballot; would allow taxes to go to religious institutions
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
A question asking Florida voters to do away with a century-old constitutional prohibition on using state money for religious institutions is back on the ballot for now after Attorney General Pam Bondi rewrote the ballot summary as is allowed by a new state law.
On foreclosure fraud, Bondi comes up short
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
All of America is suffering. But five states have been hit particularly hard by foreclosures — and foreclosure fraud.
More trouble for election law
Editorial
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The venerable Florida League of Women Voters has decided to make a federal case out of a restrictive, punitive and politically motivated voting law approved this year by the state Legislature.
GOP-controlled House kills Democratic resolution condemning West for Goebbels remark
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives today killed a Democratic resolution condemning U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation, for saying last week that Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels would be "very proud of the Democrat Party, because they have an incredible propaganda machine."
FLORIDA POLITICS
People’s Convention of Florida drafts proposals for 2012 session
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Occupy Wall Street-inspired groups from around the state have begun to draft proposals to be handed to House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, on the first day of the Florida legislative session, Jan. 10.
Family Policy Council president asks for help funding ‘aggressive’ 2012 plan
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
The leader of an influential anti-gay, anti-abortion Florida group has issued a new fundraising pitch to help gin up support for the work of its “Ignite an Enduring Cultural Transformation” campaign during the state’s upcoming legislative session.
Months later, no word on attorney firing investigation
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
More than four months after an investigation into the firings of two foreclosure fraud attorneys in the Attorney General’s office began, the inquiry carries on.
Scott sticks to message
By Jamie Page
Pensacola News Journal
Gov. Rick Scott stuck to his tried and true mantra of more jobs and less government spending to get the state's economy back on track during an interview with the News Journal's editorial board Tuesday.
Buchanan misses vote on payroll tax
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan was one of five Republicans in Congress to miss a vote on a proposal to extend the payroll tax cut for another two years.
POLITICAL RACES
The GOP establishment's biggest fear: Ron Paul
By Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns
Politico
The alarms are sounding in Iowa.
From Koch cash to sugar money, economic elites to fundraise for Mitt Romney in Palm Beach
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Money doesn't buy happiness. But it puts a downpayment on it --especially in the world of presidential campaigns.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Industry groups want Congress to defund EPA water rules
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
A number of industry groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Fertilizer Institute, are calling on Congress to include a provision that would defund a set of Florida-specific water quality standards in the 2012 appropriations bill.
Coast Guard plans to use dispersants if Cuban drilling produces oil spill
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
As Cuba prepares to begin allowing a Spanish company to drill for oil 12 miles north of Havana next year, U.S. Coast Guard officials say they have learned from the mistakes made during the Deepwater Horizon disaster and will be prepared for the worst should a spill happen so close to the Florida Keys.
Statute may require state rule that could skew reporting on recycling goals
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The state is moving ahead with developing a rule that would allow counties to defy logic by reporting that they are recycling in excess of 100 percent of their waste.
9 Fla. lawmakers urge Obama to ban snake importing
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Nine members of Congress from Florida are among lawmakers urging President Barack Obama to ban the importation of Burmese pythons and several other non-native snakes.
EDUCATION
Session Outlook: Education
By Travis Pillow and Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
The 2011 legislative session was chock full of high-profile education legislation, most notably the merit pay bill that became the first that Gov. Rick Scott signed into law.
Fla. Gov. wants more ticket sales to help schools
By Gary Fineout
Associated Press
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has made a big push to increase funding for schools in the coming year.
Volusia students first in state to embark on civics program
By Linda Trimble
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Illiteracy. Poverty. Beach driving.
Seminole fights law letting top charters expand
By Lauren Roth
Orlando Sentinel
Two school boards in Central Florida were faced with a similar dilemma this fall — either approve a charter school application that board members felt was lacking, or face a fight with the state.
USF Polytechnic leader Marshall Goodman removed from post
By Kim Wilmath
St. Petersburg Times
University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft removed the head of the system's Lakeland campus on Tuesday, saying she had lost confidence in his ability to lead.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
1 in 6 Floridians now depends on food stamps, government says
By William E. Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
As Floridians prepare to celebrate the year-end holidays with food and festivity, the U.S. government has delivered some distressing news: the number of state residents who rely on food stamps has nearly tripled since the Great Recession.
Gov. Rick Scott's shrinking Florida government workforce
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times
In the spirit of generosity that marks the holiday season, Gov. Rick Scott will give state workers an extra day off this Friday.
Obama blames GOP for upcoming tax increase
By Andrew Taylor
Associated Press
Continuing a tax cut of up to $40 a week for workers and unemployment benefits for millions of jobless hit a wall todayas the House rejected a two-month extension of both, and President Barack Obama blamed Republicans for the stalemate.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Some proposals could hurt Fla.’s tax-supported hospitals
By Christine Sexton
Gainesville Sun
Some recommendations being considered by a commission appointed by Gov. Rick Scott could spell trouble for the state’s tax-supported hospitals, a top hospital executive said Tuesday.
Jacksonville legislator to introduce anti-abortion bill
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
On near opposite sides of the ideological spectrum, Rep. Daniel Davis and Planned Parenthood are in agreement on the intent of a bill the Jacksonville Republican filed this month.
Lawmaker calls for increasing cigarette tax
By James Call
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
A South Florida lawmaker wants to increase cigarette taxes by $1 a pack.
Medical Marijuana In Florida: Legitimate Legislative Efforts or Just Pipe Dreams?
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
For the second consecutive year, medical marijuana legislation has been filed in the Florida legislature.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
More than 200,000 sign anti-Lowe’s petition
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
Petitions containing over 200,000 signatures were delivered to Lowe’s corporate headquarters today, protesting the company’s recent decision to pull its ads from the TLC reality series All-American Muslim.
Nathan Monk won't be silenced; City Council president says issue is civility
By Jamie Page
Pensacola News Journal
The scene from the Pensacola City Council on Thursday, recorded on YouTube, had been viewed more than 80,000 times.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Not all foreclosure mediation will ceaseBy Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
The decision on Monday by Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady to shutter the state-mandated foreclosure mediation program doesn't mean that all local foreclosure mediation programs will come to a stop.
Age limit for judges undercuts all that is Florida
By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post
Florida is apparently a welcoming place to grow old, unless you happen to be a judge.
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