AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS
Tea Party, Occupy Tallahassee Organize for Legislature's Opening Day
By Kenric Ward
Sunshine State News
Excerpt: In addition, 13 other Awake the State rallies are scheduled in cities across Florida Tuesday, said Progress Florida Chairman Mark Ferrulo…"Governor 'Pink Slip' Rick and his legislative allies need to end their extremist attacks on Florida’s middle class. Stop the devastating budget cuts that threaten every Floridian's quality of life and, instead, let’s start investing in our future."
Orlandoans to ‘Awake The State’ Again on January 10
Staff Report
West Orlando News
Thousands of Floridians are expected to participate in Awake the State rallies all across the state on January 10, fighting back against Gov. Rick Scott and his extreme allies’ assault on the middle class, public schools, health care, voting rights, civil rights and more.
Labor groups, community allies, students join Awake the State rallies
Staff Report
Pensacola News Journal
The Northwest Florida Federation of Labor/Central Labor Council, community allies, and students on Tuesday will rally at state Rep. Clay Ford's district office in Pensacola in solidarity with statewide Awake the State rallies.
FEATURED STORIES
Redistricting, budget to dominate Florida 2012 legislative session
By Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Gov. Rick Scott starts second year with adjusted image, agenda
Related: As Tallahassee legislative session begins, business lobby is poised to pounce
The Florida Legislature convenes Tuesday for an unusual and unpredictable 60-day session that will be dominated by two highly partisan subjects: the redrawing of political districts and yet another round of budget-cutting.
Session Could Shape Rest of Scott's Term
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Lakeland Ledger
Related: 2012 Legislative Session: Major Issues Facing Florida Lawmakers
Entering his second year in office — and on the verge of his second legislative session — Gov. Rick Scott is politically bruised, but philosophically unbowed, relentlessly pushing for lower taxes and less government regulation as the primary means to stimulate Florida's struggling economy and to create more jobs.
Gov. Scott to outline 2012 agenda in State of State
By Michael Peltier
Naples Daily News
For Gov. Rick Scott, Tuesday marks an anniversary of sorts as he again outlines his vision for the state in what is expected to be a more targeted agenda.
Health care under the knife as Legislature gets ready to do business
By Jim Saunders
News Service of Florida
By now, it’s a familiar scene: As Florida lawmakers deal with a budget shortfall, hospitals, nursing homes and other health providers scramble to fend off — or brace for — funding cuts.
Lawsuits over 2011 Fla. legislation unresolved
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Several high-profile measures passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature last year are still being challenged in the courts as lawmakers get set to begin their 2012 session Tuesday.
Democrats see hope in 2012
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The more the economy shows signs of recovery the more Rod Smith’s optimism for 2012 grows.
EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK
By Jim Morin
Miami Herald
FLORIDA POLITICS
Gov. Scott harmonizes, gains inside track in state politics
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Rick Scott began his political career in Florida as an outsider running not only against the opposition Democrats and government itself, but against his own Republican Party.
Scott’s got three priorities for session
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
With the Legislature opening next week, Gov. Rick Scott used his weekly radio address Friday to set some mileposts for lawmakers.
Haridopolos: Throw out Greer's suit against me
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
The Florida GOP and Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos are rehashing old arguments in a new attempt to get a Sanford judge to throw out the lawsuit former party chairman Jim Greer filed against them.
John Thrasher's ethics bill would ban lawmakers from working in higher education
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
State Sen. John Thrasher wants to halt the revolving door between the Legislature and state universities or colleges.
Florida lawmakers seek checks as session beckons
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
The earlier-than-usual lawmaking season has produced a late push to shake down lobbyists and industries for campaign cash before the ban on fundraising during the 60-day session.
Broward lawmakers to tackle redistricting, gambling
By Patricia Mazzei
Miami Herald
Broward lawmakers, most of them Democrats, have fought loudly but been largely powerless in the Republican-controlled state Capitol.
POLITICAL RACES
Florida Republicans see their primary votes as defining GOP's nominee
By Derek Catron
Daytona Beach News-Journal
When Rick Santorum came to Daytona Beach in November for the Tea Party Florida Convention, many thought the former Pennsylvania senator was wasting valuable campaign time that could be better spent in Iowa, where the first test of the Republican presidential field would be held.
Florida's seniors could sway results of 2012 elections
By William E. Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
A political courtship is about to unfold for the hearts, minds and votes of Florida's senior citizens.
GOP presidential candidates quietly organizing in Florida
By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
Political ground troops are getting ready for the battle of Florida – which begins in earnest Jan. 22 for those Republican presidential candidates who survive South Carolina's primary the night before.
More Republicans settle for Mitt Romney, though doubtful he's GOP's best bet against Obama
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
It's a comment heard over and over again on the campaign trail.
Ron Paul in for long slog with vast support the GOP dismisses at its own peril
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Ron Paul's Granite State campaign headquarters is hidden in an industrial park and would be virtually impossible to find but for the gaggle of 20-somethings smoking outside.
Look closer at rich and really rich who want to become president
By Robert Trigaux
Tampa Bay Times
Every one of the leading contenders in the Republican presidential primary is a millionaire. That level of wealth seems standard these days for anyone seeking the nation's highest public office.
Hasner seeks debates with Mack, LeMieux in Senate race
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner of Boca Raton has challenged U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Cape Coral, and former appointed Sen. George LeMieux to a series of 10 debates around Florida in the crowded GOP Senate primary.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Florida bills seek renewable-energy overhaul
By Susan Salisbury
Palm Beach Post
Florida's energy future is expected to be controversial once again this year as the legislature begins its session Tuesday.
South Florida prepares for rising seas
By David Fleshler
South Florida Sun Sentinel
A battle plan for an anticipated assault by seawater has been drafted by four South Florida counties, attempting to protect one of the nation's most vulnerable regions from the impact of climate change.
Everglades Coalition conference represents start of new phase of restoration, participants said
By Tyler Treadway
Naples Daily News
They didn't exactly all hold hands and sing "Kumbaya," but people who attended the 27th annual conference of the Everglades Coalition last week say the proceedings were unusually congenial and cooperative.
LGBT
GOP presidential candidates condemn gay marriage at Saturday's debate in New Hampshire
By Steve Rothaus
Miami Herald
Think Progress LGBT has posted a compilation of responses regarding gay rights, marriage, adoption and religion by GOP presidential candidates during Saturday night's debate in New Hampshire.
EDUCATION
Higher-ed reform expected to be pushed to 2013
By Brandon Larrabee
News Service of Florida
Despite the attention paid to Gov. Rick Scott’s ideas about reshaping Florida’s higher education system, it looks like a major overhaul of colleges and universities will wait until the 2013 session.
Florida higher ed: From STEM to stern to liberal arts and funding
By Jim Verhulst
Tampa Bay Times
I started college years ago as a math major — the path to one of those hotshot STEM degrees.
Success of Florida Virtual School is difficult to measure
By Rebecca Catalanello and Marlene Sokol
Tampa Bay Times
The fastest growing public school district in Florida doesn't have football, school lunches or busing.
The good, the bad and the ugly of school choice
By Janelle Irwin
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
Florida lawmakers are pushing to expand public education options for students.
Program tries to give black male students a foundation
By Kameel Stanley
Tampa Bay Times
The young man in the purple shirt was a new addition to the group of black teenagers meeting at Boca Ciega High School in Pinellas County.
Escaping the constraints of ‘No Child Left Behind’
By Arne Duncan
Washington Post
Ten years ago today, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Rick Scott Takes Credit for Jobs, Economic Growth — But Data Shows Wages Fell for Working Poor, Poverty Still Widespread
By Tristram Korten
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
When Rick Scott ran for governor, he vowed to cut state government, corporate income taxes and business regulations.
Resort casino debate could become epic battle
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald
Despite the promise of thousands of jobs and the millions of dollars spent on lobbying and land buying, the proposal to bring destination resort casinos to Florida faces steep odds when lawmakers take up the landmark proposal during the 60-day legislative session that begins Tuesday.
Florida has lowest rate of workers saving in a employer retirement plan
By Donna Gehrke-White
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida is at the bottom when it comes to workers participating in a employment-based retirement plan — which may further strain social service programs in the years ahead.
Stand up for tax fairness
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
The shortcomings of Florida's fiscal policy came into full view a year ago.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
New bill would outlaw gender- and race-based abortions
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
With the beginning of session only days away, Florida legislators have been busy filing a slew of anti-abortion bills.
So many families need help to make ends meet
By Darryl E. Owens
Orlando Sentinel
Inside her van, Nelda Evans gathered her four children.
Florida gets $29M from CDC in HIV prevention grant
By Marni Jameson
Orlando Sentinel
As part of a national effort to curb the spread of HIV, Florida's Department of Health has received $28.7 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the federal agency announced today.
Florida insurance agents protest 'medical loss ratio' provision in health care law
By Tia Mitchell
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Naples insurance agent Mark Fiacable says a part of the federal health care act destroyed his business and caused him to lose his home.
Republicans Versus Reproductive Rights
Editorial
New York Times
In Iowa, the Republican presidential contenders tried to outdo one another in attacking reproductive rights as they sought the support of caucusgoers from the religious right.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
GOP state rep. files mandatory E-Verify bill
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
State Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Port St. Lucie, today filed a bill that would require every private employer to use E-Verify, the electronic federal database, to verify if an immigrant is authorized to work in the U.S.
The G.O.P.’s ‘Black People’ Platform
By Charles M. Blow
New York Times
As we’ve gotten around to casting votes to select a Republican presidential nominee, the antiblack rhetoric has taken center stage.
For years, angry FAMU parents warned Ammons, others of hazing
By Denise-Marie Balona and Jeff Kunerth
Orlando Sentinel
In the years leading up to the beating death of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion on Nov. 19, parents begged university President James Ammons and other top officials to take a harder stand against hazing of marching band members.
The Florida Family Association’s Un-Christian Jihad on TLC’s “All-American Muslim”
By Pierre Tristam
FlaglerLive.com
A very few Floridians have a disproportionate way of making the Sunshine State seem like ground zero to a latter-day Inquisition.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Report: No One Broke Laws On AG Employee FiringsBy Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
A five-month investigation into the forced resignation of two lawyers who led a crackdown on foreclosure fraud has concluded that no one in the office of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi broke any laws or rules.
Stand Your Ground: Now what?
Editorial
Naples Daily News
It started out as an ugly case and concludes as one as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment