PROGRESS
FLORIDA IN THE NEWS
Connie Mack says, “I have always said that I would be for drilling”
By Amy Sherman
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact
Excerpt: 2006 was the year that the Florida delegation started to split on drilling. Before then, the delegation had nearly unanimous bipartisan opposition to drilling, said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Progress Florida.
FEATURED
STORIES
Enterprise Florida accused of conflicts, secrecy
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
A new public interest group focused on government ethics accused Florida's public-private economic development partnership of conflicts of interest Wednesday and said needless secrecy also keeps taxpayers from knowing how it spends millions of their dollars.
It’s a big risk': 3rd-party groups register voters – very carefully
By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
In light rain outside a south Orlando pizza shop last week, Yohan Fonseca worked the trenches in one of Florida's most contentious political battlefields. He was registering voters.
VIDEO: Scott asked about vetoed rape crisis center funding
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
After The Florida Independent broke news on Monday that Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $1.5 million for Florida rape crisis centers during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the governor began discussing the elimination today — and he is fumbling his words.
In Florida, Higher Education Priorities Questioned
By Howard Goodman
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
My wife and I spent most of the last three years in China, and one thing that hit us again and again was how seriously the Chinese take education.
Rubio elevating profile amid VP speculation
By Bradley Klapper
Associated Press
Sen. Marco Rubio outlined his vision Wednesday of a more muscular American foreign policy, the latest salvo in his effort to elevate his profile as Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney begins his search for a running mate.
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Gov's failed reappointments could cost him votes in 2014
By Sascha Cordner
WFSU Tallahassee
A decision to vote against a massive prison privatization effort might have cost one Senator’s son not to get reappointed to a state panel.
RNC planners sort through journalists
By Keith Morelli
Tampa Tribune
If you write a small political blog or report for a college newspaper and were denied credentials to cover the Republican National Convention in Tampa this fall — pushed aside by the big newspapers and TV stations — there might be hope.
POLITICAL
RACES
Fla Poll: Romney 47%, Obama 45%
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
The latest bi-partisan Purple Strategies poll of key swing states finds Romney competitive but slightly trailing in the battleground states.
Records: Rubio's grandfather was ordered deported
By Laura Wides-Munoz
Associated Press
An immigration judge ordered U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's maternal grandfather deported back to Cuba in 1962, according to federal records obtained by The Associated Press under a Freedom of Information Act request.
Marco Rubio in hawkish foreign policy speech: 'The world cannot make it happen without us'
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio presented a forceful case for more U.S. engagement overseas, including possible military strikes against Iran, in a speech Wednesday that was notable as much for the way it heightened buzz surrounding him and the presidential race.
Gingrich to end campaign next week
By Mitch Weiss
Associated Press
Newt Gingrich began taking steps Wednesday to shut down his debt-laden White House bid, setting the stage to endorse one-time rival Mitt Romney next week and rally Republicans behind their apparent nominee.
Mack's problem isn't liberals
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Connie Mack's Senate campaign is so obsessed with "liberals" that the definition extends to any Republican who doesn't love Connie Mack.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joins FEMA in raising concerns about environmental permitting bill
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Another federal agency is raising concerns about HB 503, the environmental streamlined permitting bill that overcame opposition early in the legislative session.
Attention-getter
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
In the face of the worst drought since 1932, the Suwannee River Water Management District is calling on residents in the region to conserve water while it considers whether to impose mandatory restrictions.
EDUCATION
Tales of a UCF Grad: The Commencement Speech You Won't Want to Hear
By Anna V. Eskamani
Huffington Post
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is the largest university in Florida and the second largest in the nation.
An Alternate STEM Universe
By Paula Dockery
Florida Voices
Frequently I'm asked what a state senator does when not in Tallahassee for session or committee weeks.
UF drops proposed CISE cuts; alternative in the works
By Nathan Crabbe
Gainesville Sun
Following what he called an "overwhelming negative response" to the proposal, University of Florida President Bernie Machen announced Wednesday that a plan for cuts to the computer and information science and engineering department was being set aside and that an alternative was being developed.
Report details financial mismanagement at USF Poly
By Kim Wilmath
Tampa Bay Tmes
Two top administrators at the University of South Florida Polytechnic are facing dismissal after an investigation into complaints of financial mismanagement at the Lakeland campus.
Keep student loan rates down
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Americans now owe more in college student loans than on credit cards.
JOBS,
BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Citizens Insurance board to weigh higher rates for new policies
By Michael Peltier
News Service of Florida
Homeowners who join the state-backed insurance pool after Jan. 1 could see rates more than 10 percent higher than current premiums under a proposal up for debate Thursday by Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s governing board.
Wekiva Parkway financing deal in final stages after transportation budget bill signed
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
A final agreement to finance the $1.8 billion Wekiva Parkway is still being completed, even though a tentative deal was reached in November.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
If The Health Care Overhaul Goes Down, Could Medicare Follow?
By Julie Rovner
NPR
A growing number of health experts are warning of potential collateral damage if the Supreme Court strikes down the entire 2010 Affordable Care Act: potential chaos in the Medicare program.
Will Republicans Really Oppose the Violence Against Women Act?
The Progress Report
Think Progress
As soon as the Senate finishes a massive postal reform bill, it is expected to take up a bill to reauthorize the landmark Violence Against Women Act.
VA Hospital problems reflect pattern of inefficiencies
By Marni Jameson
Orlando Sentinel
While the Orlando VA Medical Center languishes well behind its promised delivery date, those most inconvenienced might take some comfort in knowing they're not alone.
Suit reveals financial incentives
By Carol Gentry and Marty Clear
Health News Florida
A Clearwater doctor has filed a “whistleblower” suit against the medical practice that employed him, saying he was fired for complaining about how patients were treated.
CIVIL
RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Florida Joins the U.S. Supreme Court Arizona Immigration Case
By Mike Vasilinda
Capitol News Service
Florida is one of 16 states that has joined in supporting Arizona’s first in the nation immigration law before the US Supreme Court.
Justices Seem Sympathetic to Central Part of Arizona Law
By Adam Liptak
New York Times
Justices across the ideological spectrum appeared inclined on Wednesday to uphold a controversial part of Arizona’s aggressive 2010 immigration law, based on their questions at a Supreme Court argument.
Fla. officials see increase in domestic violence
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
South Florida community leaders are investigating a marked increase in fatal domestic violence cases in Broward County.
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