FEATURED STORIES
Republicans have a woman problem that Romney must take seriously
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
The biggest threat to Mitt Romney's presidential prospects may not be his penchant for gaffes.
Sen. Marco Rubio seeks middle ground on immigration as Hispanic voice for GOP
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Two years after embracing hard-line immigration positions during his rapid political climb, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is on a difficult quest for middle ground.
Florida. How Soon We Forget.
By Erika Wood
New York Times
Last spring, Florida made some changes to its election law. Cloaked as technical tweaks, the new laws have the potential to swing the 2012 election.
Taxpayers pay for challenges to new laws
By Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
In 2011, the Florida Legislature, hailed as the most conservative in decades, passed a string of controversial bills, including a rewrite of the state's elections law, privatization of more than two dozen prisons and a revamp of public employees' pensions.
The Law of the Gun in Florida
Editorial
New York Times
Florida leads the pack in passing bills written by the gun lobby that block any sensible attempt to control the purchase and use of firearms.
EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK
By Jim Morin
Miami Herald
FLORIDA POLITICS
Scott receives budget bills
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Gov. Rick Scott was presented with this year’s general appropriations bill today. He now has 15 days to veto line items and sign the budget into law.
Budget vetoes seen as less likely in Gov. Scott's second year
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott says he doesn't expect to come "anywhere close" to last year's record $615 million in budget vetoes as he wraps up his review of the legislature's new $70 billion spending plan.
The warning letter on the budget that Gov. Rick Scott almost sent out
By Gary Fineout
The Fine Print
Gov. Rick Scott on Friday was sent a proposed $70 billion budget approved this year by state lawmakers.
Despite outcry, Florida overturns ban on dyeing of animals
By Susannah Bryan
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Gov. Rick Scott signed a controversial bill Friday that paves the way for Floridians to dye chicks, bunnies and other animals any color they choose.
Marco Rubio, the GOP and the DREAM Act
By Erika Bolstad
Miami Herald
A few weeks ago, Daniela Pelaez visited Washington.
Progressives Put Spotlight on Shadowy Conservative Group
The Progress Report
Think Progress
You’ve probably never heard of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), but one of its biggest accomplishments has been in the news lately: so-called “Stand Your Ground” laws that encourage people like Trayvon Martin’s killer George Zimmerman to shoot first and ask questions later.
POLITICAL RACES
Outcry obstructs 'clean zone' plan
By Kevin Wiatrowski
Tampa Tribune
Facing a barrage of concerns about free speech, police over-reach and the city's public image, Tampa City Council on Thursday delayed action on Mayor Bob Buckhorn's proposed Republican National Convention "clean zone" ordinance for two weeks.
Obama's Florida visits reveal importance of state's electoral votes
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Lest anyone doubt the importance of Florida's 29 electoral votes to President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, consider the schedule taking shape for this week: Obama will speak Tuesday at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton about the so-called Buffet Rule that would apply to millionaires the same effective tax rate that middle-class Americans pay.
Unregistered Christian voters could turn tide in presidential election
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
First came the prayer, then the politics.
LeMieux tries to convince tea party he's no Crist
By Brendan Farrington
Associated Press
George LeMieux is considered the political mastermind behind former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist's electoral successes — and that's an image LeMieux must overcome if he hopes to win the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Four Florida lawmakers join lawsuit against nuclear advance fee
By Ivan Penn
Tampa Bay Times
A group of four legislators say the Florida law that requires utility customers to pay in advance for new nuclear plants is unconstitutional and have joined a lawsuit asking the state Supreme Court to overturn it.
Scott vetoes bill allowing zoo animals on public lands
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Gov. Rick Scott on Friday vetoed HB 1117, a bill that would have allowed the Cabinet to approve placing zoo animals on public lands.
Scott signs bill ending mandate to publish Florida Wildlife magazine
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
After 64 years of publishing photos and articles about catching the big fish, waiting in hiding to shoot ducks in the early morning or finding nature close to home, Florida Wildlife has ceased publication as a printed magazine -- perhaps for good this time.
The idea of Florida
By Ron Cunningham
Gainesville Sun
Recently I spent a week with about 630 of my closest friends touring the back roads, pine forests and sparsely developed sea shores of the Big Bend region.
EDUCATION
Scott Expected to Make Polytechnic Decision Within 2 Weeks
By Mary Toothman
Lakeland Ledger
The much-debated fate of Lakeland's polytechnic college is likely to finally be settled soon, with a gubernatorial decision due within two weeks.
Rick Scott should turn back assault on universities
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
This year Florida lawmakers launched what former Gov. Bob Graham aptly described as "a political assault on higher education."
FCAT standards tougher this year
By Joe Callahan
Ocala Star-Banner
Marion County educators fear that new FCAT 2.0 benchmarks being imposed for the first time this year will push more elementary and middle school students into remedial reading programs.
Florida colleges fear boost in high-tech cheating
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida's colleges are on high alert in the battle against what they fear is a growing number of tech-savvy cheaters.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Scott weighs changes to contributions to state investment plans
By Sascha Cordner
WFSU Tallahassee
About a sixth of Florida’s state employees could see another retirement plan change.
$2M in public dollars went to area pro-business groups
By Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel
Since 2007, organizations tied to the Central Florida Partnership and Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce have taken at least $2 million from local governments and public agencies, records show.
Tourism gets lift from state budget earmarks
By Jason Garcia and Sara K. Clarke
Orlando Sentinel
The 2012-13 state budget sure looks like a good one for Central Florida's tourism industry.
Changes to communications taxes coming under bill signed by Scott
By Travis Pillow
Florida Current
Gov. Rick Scott on Friday approved a set of tweaks to Florida's communications taxes, as part of a measure that could lay the groundwork for a more wide-ranging overhaul of the state's communications tax system.
NASA races to find tenants for vacant shuttle facilities
By Mark K. Matthews
Orlando Sentinel
The clock once again is ticking at Kennedy Space Center, but this time the countdown won't end with a space shuttle blasting into orbit.
PIP reforms may not deliver for consumers
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Florida lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott were quick to congratulate themselves for legislation aimed at curbing fraud and abuse under the state's auto accident insurance law, which passed on the last day of the legislative session.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Health law aims to close gender gap
By Laura Green
Palm Beach Post
Florida women who don't get health insurance through an employer can forget about finding a single comprehensive medical plan that will pay for their care while they deliver a baby.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
How the NRA attained dominance in the 'Gunshine State'
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Gun rights supporters and gun control activists alike see Florida as one of the nation’s gun-friendliest states.
Stand Your Ground laws coincide with jump in justifiable-homicide cases
By Marc Fisher and Dan Eggen
Washington Post
When Billy Kuch knocked on the wrong door, he had a cigarette in one hand and a shirt in the other.
'Stand Your Ground' Protest at Marco Rubio's Office
By Brian Hamacher
NBC 6 Miami
Outcry over Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law following the Trayvon Martin shooting will continue with a demonstration outside Florida Senator Marco Rubio's Doral office Monday.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Casey Anthony case: Florida governor signs 'Caylee's Law'By Michael Peltier
News Service of Florida
Prompted by the death of Orlando 2-year-old Caylee Anthony in 2008, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a measure to bolster penalties for lying to police when a child goes missing.
Florida Supremes asked to weigh in on whether illegal immigrants can be licensed lawyers
By Regan McCarthy
WFSU Tallahassee
It’s now up to the Florida Supreme court to decide whether undocumented immigrants are allowed to be lawyers in the state.
Juvenile sentencing standards in Florida remain vague
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Ocala Star-Banner
Nearly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court found that Florida was illegally sentencing juveniles to life without parole for non-murder crimes, the Florida Legislature has yet to adopt new standards.
Conservative activist judges
By Robyn E. Blumner
Tampa Bay Times
What constitutes judicial activism depends on where you're standing
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