AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS
Sen. Bill Nelson Visits Sarasota
By Charles Schelle
Sarasota Patch
Excerpt: Nelson has issue with the state law Gov. Rick Scott (R) passed that prevents groups like the League of Women Voters from having voter drives to register voters, as the group protested at the Awake The State SRQ rally in downtown Sarasota Jan. 10.
FEATURED STORIES
Nine Election-Related Arrests In Florida: A Case Of Voter Fraud Or Voter Suppression?
By Trymaine Lee
Huffington Post
As soon as Judy Ann Crumitie answered the banging on her door one November morning last year, police officers and FBI agents streamed into her home, some with their guns drawn and trained in her direction.
Major proposed changes to Florida prison system alarm workers, advocates
By Steve Bousquet
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Lawmaker: Inmates moved prior to privatization
Determined to cut the size of the $2 billion prison budget, legislators and Gov. Rick Scott are focused on consolidation and privatization.
Lawmakers consider selling naming rights for roads, cafeterias, bike trails
By Kathleen McGrory
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Coming soon to a bike trail, public school cafeteria or Turnpike exit ramp near you: Corporate naming rights?
School-funding increase may cost transportation, environment under Florida House plan
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
House Speaker Dean Cannon indicated Thursday how the House will craft next year's state spending plan – embracing Gov. Rick Scott's call for a $1 billion boost in public school funding but rejecting his call for deep cuts in Medicaid payments to hospitals.
President Barack Obama at Disney World, unveils plans to boost tourism
Associated Press
Tampa Bay Times
President Barack Obama's visit Thursday to Walt Disney World is as much an appeal to Brazilians and their dollars as it is Florida voters and their jobs.
BEST OF THE BLOGS
Math Test: Breaking down Scott’s “billion dollar boost”
By Julie Delegal
Folio Weekly
When Gov. Rick Scott announced his proposed $1 billion increase to education funding, it raised a lot of concerns about where the money would come from.
Wetlands in South Florida: a case of the runs
By Gimleteye
Eye on Miami
As president of Friends of the Everglades (note: at our request, there will be a status conference in the Miami courtroom of federal judge Alan S. Gold this morning, more than a year after the U.S. EPA and State of Florida pledged to expedite "enforceable remedies" according to the 2008 ruling in favor of Friends and co-plaintiff, the Miccosuckee Tribe), I know something about wetlands.
Romney, Full Sail, Subprime Mortgages, and a Lazy Campaign
By Bryan Eastman
Bryan Eastman’s Blog
A recent New York Times article delved in to the confounding decision by Mitt Romney to praise Full Sail University here in Orlando as an achievement of higher education.
NRA Lobbyist Hammer Wants Guns In Hospitals
By Kenneth Quinnell
Florida Progressive Coalition
Current Florida law prohibits guns in most common sense places, even with a concealed carry permit, including schools, stadiums, jails, government buildings.
Will Florida's Titanic Endorse The SS Romney?
By Inkberries
Beach Peanuts
As we watch the Republican party slug it out amongst themselves to choose the nominee who will drive their clown car into a ditch this coming November, Florida has high stakes in the game with our upcoming primary.
FLORIDA POLITICS
Haridopolos fast-tracks privatization bills
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Senate President Mike Haridopolos has fast-tracked two privatization bills, referring them to a single committee before they head to the floor for a full vote.
Florida redistricting moves to House committee
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
The redistricting spotlight moves to the Florida House.
Bill reversing controversial elections measures earns Senate sponsor
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
State Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, has sponsored legislation that would reverse some of the most controversial aspects of the elections bill passed last session by the GOP-led Florida Legislature.
Legislature divided on Internet cafe bills
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature is divided when it comes to the future of storefront operations commonly known as Internet cafes.
Legislating corruption
Editorial
Pensacola News Journal
Has one-party control of the Florida Legislature so emboldened Republican legislators that they now are ready to pass legislation that all but guarantees corruption?
POLITICAL RACES
Mitt Romney roughed up with one-two punch along GOP primary trail
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Thursday was a bad day for Mitt Romney.
Gingrich angrily denies he sought open marriage
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Presidential contender Newt Gingrich on Thursday angrily denied that he asked his second wife for an “open marriage” that would allow him to have a mistress as she claims in an interview broadcast two days before the South Carolina primary.
Gingrich gets boost from Perry; how much will that help in Florida?
By Andrew Abramson
Palm Beach Post
After a quick rise and steep fall, Texas Gov. Rick Perry exited the GOP race Thursday, leaving Florida Republican voters with four candidates for the Jan. 31 primary.
Rivals pounce after Nelson fails to join Obama
By Mark K. Matthews
Orlando Sentinel
When President Barack Obama stepped off Air Force One in Orlando on Thursday morning, a veteran Democrat was conspicuous by his absence: two-term incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who's up for re-election this year.
Mack's U.S. Senate campaign is all about his name
By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
So far, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV is making running for the U.S. Senate look easy.
Former lawmaker seeking state attorney job
Associated Press
Miami Herald
Former state Sen. Dave Aronberg is running for office again.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
DEP holds recycling workshop as it awaits legislation on issue
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Waste disposal companies, recycling firms and environmentalists on Thursday urged changes in how the state estimates recycling rates but they largely steered clear of the thorny issue of whether garbage-burning should count.
DEP: Drainage pipes across Naples beaches can stay
By Eric Staats
Naples Daily News
Florida environmental regulators are poised to let the city of Naples off the hook for a plan to remove drainage pipes that cross the beach and dump runoff into the Gulf of Mexico.
Beware legislative land grab
Editorial
Tampa Tribune
The Florida Legislature is seeking to give thousands of acres of public lands to private landowners, threatening citizens' shoreline access and jeopardizing safeguards for rivers and lakes.
LGBT
Area hospitals vow to honor Orlando domestic-partner registry
By David Damron and Mark Schlueb
Orlando Sentinel
Orlando's new domestic-partner registry could soon be used by patients and their loved ones in hospital rooms all over Central Florida.
EDUCATION
House, Senate embrace $1 billion for schools
By Travis Pillow
Florida Current
Legislative budget writers in the House and Senate say they are on the same page when it comes to Gov. Rick Scott's proposed $1 billion increase in the state's share of education funding.
School prayer bill has one more stop in state Senate
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
The Anti-Defamation League, one of the main opponents of a bill allowing for prayer during school events, is denouncing a recent move to only have the bill go through one more committee before a final vote.
Scott not among GOP governors declaring ‘National School Choice Week’
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
Governors of 12 states, all of them Republicans, declared Jan. 22-28 “National School Choice Week,” according to organizers of the weeklong event. Not joining them: Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
American Heart Association in Fight to Keep PE in Fla. Schools
By Robin Williams Adams
Lakeland Ledger
The American Heart Association is focusing its legislative efforts in Florida around public schools.
Should Florida have an all-online university?
By Kim Wilmath
Tampa Bay Times
No classrooms, no dorms, no football stadium, no parking lots.
Data: Bright Futures not just for rich
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida's Bright Futures scholarships may be perceived as financial aid for the elite, but 40 percent of the recipients come from families making $50,000 or less, according to data released Thursday.
Scott taps three for universities Board of Governors
By David DeCamp
Tampa Bay Times
Gov. Rick Scott has reappointed Ava Parker to the Board of Governors running the state university system, his office announced.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Florida tourism leaders cheer Obama's expected easing of travel restrictions
By Tom Scherberger
Tampa Bay Times
Related editorial: Florida tourism gets jolt from Obama
Florida tourism leaders Wednesday cheered news that President Barack Obama plans to visit Walt Disney World to announce the easing of travel restrictions to boost international tourism.
Scott hoping for more good news on unemployment
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida Gov. Rick Scott always looks forward to the third Friday of each month in expectation of good news on the labor front.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Why is Florida losing out on federal money to insure kids?By Kate Santich
Orlando Sentinel
More than a half-million children lack health insurance in Florida — even as the state is losing out on millions in federal dollars to help them.
National reproductive rights report gives Florida an ‘F’
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
NARAL Pro-Choice America, a national reproductive rights groups, today released a report analyzing the “state of women’s access to reproductive-health care” around the country.
Presidential candidates focus on abortion, Planned Parenthood at Personhood USA forum
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
The anti-abortion group Personhood USA hosted a presidential candidate forum last night in South Carolina, to discuss the legality of abortion, defunding Planned Parenthood and passing legislation to define human life as beginning at the moment of conception.
Work-comp dispensing bill advances
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
A workers' compensation bill aimed at holding down the cost of prescription drugs to employers passed the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee today.
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