PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS
Health insurance rebates could be coming for some Floridians
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Excerpt: "Our health insurance dollars should be going towards actual care, not excessive industry profits and inefficient business practices," said Brad Ashwell of the Florida Public Interest Research Group. FPIRG was one of a number of consumer groups that opposed the waiver request. In addition, more than 3,000 Florida consumers signed (the Progress Florida/Florida CHAIN) petition opposing it.
FEATURED STORIES
Voter registration groups sue over new Florida election law
By Katie Sanders
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Florida's new election law attracted more legal attention Thursday with a lawsuit from a trio of civic groups that contend the new rules are too burdensome on their voter registration efforts.
Holder Speaks Up for Voting Rights
Editorial
New York Times
For months, the Justice Department has largely been silent as Republican-dominated legislatures in state after state made it harder for minorities, poor people and other Democratic-leaning groups to vote.
Feds to FL: 1 yes, 1 no
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
Federal health officials gave Florida two decisions of huge potential importance on Thursday, and both offered consumer advocates a reason to smile.
Students march to Governor's Mansion, protest Gov. Rick Scott's call for suspension of FAMU president
By Katie Sanders
Miami Herald
Florida A&M students infuriated by Gov. Rick Scott's call for the suspension of President James Ammons marched from campus to the Governor's Mansion late Thursday by the hundreds (if not thousands), demanding Scott rescind his request amid investigations into drum major Robert Champion's death after suspected hazing.
Charter school mess is no surprise
By Fred Grimm
Miami Herald
Unrestrained conflicts of interest. Little accountability. Slip-shod ethics. Lax oversight.
BEST OF THE BLOGS
Where Marco Rubio Has A Tantrum, And Sinks In The Polls
By Inkberries
Beach Peanuts
Poor Marco Rubio. When he won his Senate race in 2010 the Republicans proclaimed that he would be their shining star.
Pink Slip Rick Birthday Party for the Governor
By Kenneth Quinnell
Florida Progressive Coalition
Last week Florida Watch Action held a press conference at the capitol outside the cabinet room where Gov. Rick Scott was unveiling his new budget proposal.
Middle Class Tax Cut And Unemployment Extension Turn Into Political Poker Game
By Daniel Tilson
West Palm Beach Liberal Examiner
In the latest example of partisan political gridlock and gamesmanship in Congress, the Biggest Losers stand to be millions of out of work and middle class Americans.
Mitt's Moment of Awkward
By Mustang Bobby
Bark Bark Woof Woof
In case you missed it, earlier this week Mitt Romney sat down with Bob Garon, a Vietnam veteran, at a coffee shop while on a campaign swing in New Hampshire.
Newt Pledges to Uphold 1996 Defense of Marriage Act – Even Claims Credit for DOMA, Which He Enacted While Having an Affair
By Jon Ponder
Pensito Review
In a letter this week to an Iowa anti-gay hate group, Republican frontrunner Newt Gingrich pledged that, “[as] President, I will vigorously enforce the Defense of Marriage Act, which was enacted under my leadership as speaker of the House, and ensure compliance with its provisions, especially in the military.
FLORIDA POLITICS
Rivera investigation stalled over funds for GOP post
By Patricia Mazzei and Scott Hiaasen
Miami Herald
The year-long Miami-Dade state attorney’s office investigation into Congressman David Rivera’s personal and campaign finances has stalled over questions about more than $100,000 in undisclosed campaign donations that appear to fall under a little-known loophole in Florida’s campaign-finance laws.
Fla. lawmakers don't have time to waste
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
It was refreshing to hear that the Florida Legislature might shelve social issues during the upcoming 60-day session, which begins in January.
State unveils school voter registration program shortly after being sued over new voting law
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
Less than an hour after the ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit against the state trying to block new restrictions on third-party voter registration groups, Secretary of State Ken Browning announced the "Voter Promoter School District" campaign.
Senate report: Ban or regulate internet sweepstakes cafes
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Lawmakers need to make a decision to either ban or regulate Internet sweepstakes cafes, or storefront casinos, an interim report from the Senate Regulated Industries Committee released this week states.
AIF taps Tom Feeney as next CEO
By Travis Pillow
Florida Current
Associated Industries of Florida announced Thursday it had tapped former House Speaker Tom Feeney as its next president and CEO.
POLITICAL RACES
Analysis: Gingrich, Romney ready for Iowa sprint
By Charles Babington
Associated Press
The final Republican presidential debate before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucus crystalized the strengths and weaknesses of the chief contenders as perhaps no other event thus far.
Polls show GOP candidates face obstacles with Latino voters in 2012
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
Republicans share Newt Gingrich’s approach to immigration, but the GOP still has to work hard to get Latino voters in important swing states in the 2012 presidential elections, according to surveys.
Republicans, hotels ironing out pricing problems
By William March
Tampa Tribune
The conflict between 2012 Republican National Convention planners and local hotels over their rates is being resolved through give-and-take in meetings with hoteliers.
BALLOT INITIATIVES
Religion amendment still misleads
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
A circuit court judge in Tallahassee didn't go far enough this week when he temporarily removed a misleading constitutional amendment from the November 2012 ballot.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Department of Environmental Protection defends its version of water pollution rules
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
Though environmentalists have argued that Florida’s version of a set of federally mandated water pollution rules is inadequate, the state Department of Environmental Protection is defending its rules, saying they offer more provisions, and more protection, than those drafted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Environmentalists question selling South Florida land pegged for conservation, restoration
By Andy Reid
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Environmentalists are sounding the alarm over the South Florida Water Management District potentially shrinking its vast real estate holdings.
Sightings of black bears on uptick; plan debated
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Wildlife officials are trying to figure out how to deal with a burgeoning population of bears in Florida.
EDUCATION
Rick Scott wants FAMU president suspended from job
By Gary Fineout
Associated Press
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said today he wants the president of Florida A&M University suspended amid multiple investigations spurred by the death of a drum major in a suspected case of hazing.
Education group criticizes Florida's spending restrictions, unfunded mandates
By Topher Sanders
Florida Times-Union
Duval County Public Schools doesn’t receive enough funding to comply with the state’s unfunded mandates and provide a high quality education, nor does the state do its part to fund districts adequately, according to a policy paper released today by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.
Florida debates eliminating gym classes for middle school students
By Dave Heller
WTSP 10 News Tampa Bay
Florida lawmakers are debating whether they should scale back physical education for middle school students.
Public school enrollment expected to increase by 31,504 students in 2012
By Tia Mitchell
St. Petersburg Times
Enrollment at Florida's public schools is expected to increase next year by an even greater number than initially predicted, according to today's report from the Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Struggling homeowners gain favor in key ruling
By Kimberly Miller
Palm Beach Post
Homeowners in foreclosure may have a better chance of getting a true trial, instead of a quickie judgment, following a 4th District Court of Appeal decision that requires banks to prove ownership of the note at the time they file for repossession.
Disgraced officers still collect pensions
By Anthony Cormier and Matthew Doig
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Gandhi Lora is no longer a working officer, but the former Miami-Dade cop still earns a state pension, which has paid him more than $500,000 since his law enforcement career ended in 2005.
Florida's November unemployment numbers released today
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott and state labor officials are hoping for some good holiday news when Florida's unemployment numbers for November are announced.
Next citrus boss will be expected to focus on marketing Florida's orange juice
By Tia Mitchell
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
The Florida Citrus Commission is poised to choose its new executive director today from among three marketing executives.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Feds deny Florida’s request to phase in health insurance profit cap
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
The federal government announced today that it has denied Florida’s request to phase in a medical loss ratio (MLR) requirement for health insurance companies.
Florida’s Medicaid pilot gets another lease on life — statewide plan still waits
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott hailed the Obama administration’s approval Thursday of a two-year extension of the Medicaid managed-care effort underway in Broward and four other Florida counties since 2006.
Obama calls for home care worker wage reform, but some worry about cuts
By Stephen Nohlgren
St. Petersburg Times
The Obama administration announced Thursday it plans to extend minimum wage and overtime protection to more than 2 million workers who provide in-home care to frail and disabled people.
The Affordable Health Care law gets more promotion in St. Pete
By Atecia Robinson
Creative Loafing Tampa
The lack of access to healthcare is a major problem in Florida, but the Affordable Care Act that was signed into law in March of 2010 is designed to make access to care easier.
More patients turning to ERs for dental care
By Bob LaMendola
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Floridians who lost health coverage in the recession and Medicaid patients are increasingly turning to emergency rooms for dental care, driving up costs for the uninsured and taxpayers, a study reported Thursday.
Farmworker representative says Senate report provides validation for Lake Apopka workers
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
A Farmworker Association of Florida representative says she hopes a Senate interim report on the plight of Lake Apopka farmworkers will lead the state to help those who believe they have suffered from working around pesticides.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Christian leaders join Muslims in Lowe's protest
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
A coalition of Christian, Muslim and civil rights groups said it's planning a demonstration Saturday outside a suburban Detroit Lowe's store to protest the home improvement chain's decision to pull ads from a reality TV show about U.S. Muslims.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Florida Supreme Court: With Less Support Staff, Courts Need More JudgesBy David Royse
News Service of Florida
Florida needs 71 new judges, 23 in circuit court and 48 on the county court bench, and should add a judge to the 2nd District Court of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court said Thursday.
Chinese drywall victims' lawsuit settled for up to $1 billion
By Doug Sword
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
For thousands of Florida homeowners, a settlement with a German maker of defective Chinese drywall that some say could reach $1 billion closes a long and often painful ordeal.
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