PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS
Groups on opposites of political spectrum issue legislative ratings
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The groups Florida Watch Action, Progress Florida and America Votes said their rating system shows that more legislators were bucking the agendas of Scott and Republican legislative leaders.
Political bait and switch
By Mark Ferrulo
Tampa Bay Times
In 2011, Gov. Rick Scott and his tea party-aligned allies in the Florida Legislature imposed devastating cuts to our public schools, falsely claiming they were necessary to balance the budget, while handing out millions in tax breaks to special interests.
FEATURED STORIES
George Zimmerman jailed on second-degree murder in Trayvon Martin shooting
By Jeff Weiner and Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
Related: George Zimmerman: Self-defense hearing could dismiss death charge
On a rainy night in February, George Zimmerman fired a single shot, killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and sparking an international outcry. Today, he will face a judge, accused of the teenager's murder.
Interest groups, politicians pump up political war chests
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Time-share companies and resort owners, the business lobby, trial lawyers, unions, and Realtors topped the list of interest groups that poured millions of dollars into their political war chests during the last three months -- in anticipation of what should be a wide-open and unpredictable 2012 campaign season.
Scott-signed bill will hurt counties’ credit, Wall Street says
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Just last summer, Gov. Rick Scott was bubbling with good news, hailing the state’s suddenly improved credit rating when Standard & Poor’s boosted Florida’s outlook from negative to positive.
Congressman West goes on the commie hunt
By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post
I went on a Communist hunt Wednesday.
Learn the benefits of health care reform
By Deirdre Macnab
Tampa Bay Times
Along with the rest of the country, I keenly followed the Supreme Court deliberations on the federal health care law.
FLORIDA POLITICS
Allen West says about 80 House Democrats are members of the Communist Party: Pants on Fire!
By Amy Sherman
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact
Speaking at a town hall meeting, Republican Allen West made the startling claim that many of his fellow members of the U.S. House of Representatives are members of the Communist Party.
Gov. Scott’s Team Invents Good News
By Howard Goodman
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
I remember a radio newscaster back in the ’70s who used to sign off with the cheerful advice, “If you don’t like the news, go make some of your own.”
Give $10,000 and get $2.2 million
By Jason Garcia
Orlando Sentinel
On the same day the Florida Legislature opened its 2012 session, Walt Disney World gave a $10,000 donation to a political committee associated with the lawmaker in charge of writing the Florida House of Representatives’ budget, according to new updated state records.
Florida gets free-speech "Muzzle" award for new gun law
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Enacting a law that bars doctors from discussing gun safety with their patients.
Five corporations withdraw support for ALEC
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
A campaign launched by several progressive organizations has led five major corporations to withdraw from the American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC, which has been accused by progressive organizations of working “to disenfranchise African Americans, Latinos, students, the elderly, the disabled, and the poor.”
Integrity Florida, a Welcome New Crusader for Ethics Reform
By Paula Dockery
Florida Voices
As my last session in the Florida Senate came to a close, I hoped against hope that the Florida Legislature would finally get serious about meaningful ethics reform.
POLITICAL RACES
Florida’s top fundraisers wear black robes
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
In this topsy-turvy political year, the first quarter fundraising numbers produced another surprise: The top fundraisers weren’t politicians or elected officials.
Report: Romney Super PAC raised over $4.5 million from just 59 Floridians
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
According to a new report and infographic released by Maplight, a nonprofit research group that studies the influence of money on politics, a Super PAC supporting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has raised more than $4.5 million from just 59 donors in Florida alone.
Battle over 'war on women' continues
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The war over the so-called "war on women" continues to rage – in South Florida and beyond.
Republican National Convention fund raisers reach out to small donors
By Richard Danielson
Tampa Bay Times
When you have to raise $55 million for the Republican National Convention, it helps to get a lot of six- and seven-figure checks.
Sarah Palin setting up shop at Channelside for GOP convention
Staff Repot
Tampa Bay Times
You betcha Sarah Palin will be at the August Republican National Convention.
Bill Nelson has seven times more campaign $ as Connie Mack
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's campaign says he raised another $1.6-million in the first three months of 2012, and now has more than $9.5-million on hand.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Shell deploys vessel to investigate oil sheen in Gulf of Mexico
By Steven Mufson
Washington Post
A one-by-10-mile oil sheen has appeared in the Gulf of Mexico, and Shell Oil, one of several companies operating in the area, said it has “activated” a vessel with skimming and boom capabilities.
Federal regulators ask for more information to evaluate merger of Duke Energy, Progress Energy
By Ivan Penn
Tampa Bay Times
Progress Energy's already shaky merger with Duke Energy hit another snag this week as federal regulators again questioned how the utilities plan to resolve concerns that the deal will hurt competition.
LGBT
Mayor Jacobs predicts dom. partner registry vote by Gay Days
By David Damron
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Wednesday she’s working on thorny issues related to passage of a countywide domestic partner registry, but still expects an ordinance going to commissioners by Gay Days which begin in late May.
Chaz Bono: Connie Mack, Mary Bono Mack 'incredibly supportive of my transition'
By Patricia Mazzei
Miami Herald
From our sister blog, Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida: Chaz Bono, the son of Cher and the late U.S. Rep. Sonny Bono, talks about being transgender and LGBT politics.
EDUCATION
District leaders fear lawsuits from new school prayer law in Florida
By Erica Rodriguez
Orlando Sentinel
Central Florida school leaders say they have no interest in implementing a new law that would allow students to give "inspirational messages" — including prayers — at school functions.
Educators brace for lower FCAT scores, school grades
By Christopher O'Donnell
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
School leaders across Florida, including in Sarasota and Manatee counties, are revving up publicity campaigns to counter an anticipated seismic downturn in school grades and student test scores as a result of higher benchmarks on the FCAT this spring.
Expanded Florida corporate tax credit scholarship vouchers appear to be going fast
By Jeff Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
Florida lawmakers who pushed to increase the cap for the state's corporate tax credit scholarships, which low-income children can use at private schools, claimed the need was evident in the lengthy waiting list for the vouchers.
Miami-Dade students study on Saturdays to prepare for FCAT
By Laura Isensee
Miami Herald
On Saturdays, Shaqualia Hicks, 12, and Chelcey Lockette, 11, love to go to the Aventura Mall to shop for clothes and shoes.
Pay teachers what they are worth
Editorial
Winter Haven News Chief
Florida seems to have established a pattern for education funding - put in enough money to look good but not enough to actually make a program a great success.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Obama to highlight trade at Port of Tampa stop on Friday
Staff Report
Tampa Tribune
President Obama will visit the Port of Tampa on Friday to highlight benefits of trade with Latin America.
Fitch: Florida bond rating holds at AAA with negative outlook
By Travis Pillow
Florida Current
One of three major credit rating agencies reaffirmed Florida's 'AAA' credit rating on Wednesday, but also kept its outlook listed as negative.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
How Florida Could Lose Out On $189 Billion For Health
By Sammy Mack
HealthyState.org
Florida could lose out on more than $189 billion in federal health funds under House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan’s budget plan, according to an analysis from Families USA.
Counties may challenge new Medicaid billing law
By Lynn Hatter
WFSU Tallahassee
A new law signed by Governor Rick Scott requires Florida’s 67 counties to pay more than $300 million in disputed Medicaid bills.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Bloomberg, Chris Smith launch anti-`Shoot First’ campaign
By William Gibson
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida’s `Stand Your Ground’ law and similar laws across the country encourage vigilantism and should be repealed or replaced, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and State Sen. Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale said on Wednesday.
Zimmerman case reaction: relief statewide that courts get chance to weigh facts
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Related: Gov. Scott urges Floridians to ‘allow our justice system’ to work in Trayvon Martin case
"A heart has no color. It's not black. It's not white. It is red."
Rubio still undocumented
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
We would like to report that there is hope in Washington for even a tiny compromise on immigration.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Fla. killer Gore set to die by lethal injectionEditorial
Tampa Bay Times
David Alan Gore was set to be executed Thursday nearly 29 years after murdering 17-year-old Lynn Elliott, whose attempted escape ended a string of rapes and murders that shook the quiet coastal town of Vero Beach.
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