Daily Clips for June 8, 2012

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

The BluVu: Week of June 3^rd
By Gayle Andrews
The BluVu
The Republican voter suppression package is coming apart in Florida and George Zimmerman is back in jail because he has trouble telling the truth. Vince Evans and Progress Florida’s Damien Filer offer insightful commentary on the impact of the Republican assault on democracy in their effort to hold on to power.

FEATURED STORIES

County elections chiefs to state: We won’t resume voter purge program
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Despite the state’s decision to fight the feds over Florida’s noncitizen voter purge, county elections supervisors say they won’t resume the program.

AG Holder insists Scott administration breaking the law with voter purge
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Related: Florida officials try different tack to get access to federal database for voter purge
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch used a Congressional hearing today as a platform for Attorney General Eric Holder to defend his intervention in a controversial non-citizen voter purge launched by Gov. Rick Scott last year.

Governor, halt the flawed voter purge
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
On a June day in 1963, Alabama Gov. George Wallace stood in a schoolhouse door to keep black students from enrolling at the University of Alabama.

Florida’s shrinking workforce is helping Scott reduce jobless rate, report says
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Economists taking a fresh look at the state’s unemployment rate report findings that support workers’ organizations which say the state’s job picture may be improving because thousands of jobless Floridians are leaving the workforce.

BEST OF THE BLOGS

Rick Scott Tries to Gin Up Criminal Accusations Against Fla Supreme Court
By Webacknow
Daily Kos
Rick Scott is trying to use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as a political weapon to bludgeon the justices of the Florida Supreme Court into submission.

Is the Department of Environmental Protection Fiddling While Florida’s First Magnitude Springs Turn Green
By Sandspur
SWFWMD Matters
If you’re monitoring the news these days, you’re hearing about the declining state of one of Florida’s most unique natural assets, its world-class concentration of first magnitude springs in northern Florida.

As Scott Ignores Justice Department, Election Supervisors Discontinue His Purge
By Inkberries
Beach Peanuts
It's been a busy week news wise, where all eyes were on Florida's Governor Rick Scott as his voter purge picked up speed, and then hit the mother of all speed bumps thanks to the Justice Department which called a halt to it on Friday.

With a Whimper not a Bang: Latvala Stays Put in Pinellas State Senate Race
By Benjamin J. Kirby
The Spencerian
I'll be the fist to admit it: I was hoping for the three-way cage match.

Voter Fraud Extremely Rare In Florida: ‘More Likely To Get Hit By A Bolt Of Lightning’
By Igor Volsky
Think Progress
Florida authorities claim that they’re purging thousands of voters from the rolls in order to protect the integrity and fairness of the democratic system, but according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, voting fraud is not a widespread problem in the state.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Protester disrupts speech by Gov., pleas for end to voter purge
By Ryan Smith
WTEV Jacksonville
Gov. Rick Scott addressed hundreds of supporters at a luncheon in Daytona Beach Wednesday, but a few minutes in, a protester disrupted his speech.

Occupy Sarasota plans protest during Gov. Scott's visit to Longboat Key Friday
By Josh Salma
Bradenton Herald
A group of protestors led by Occupy Sarasota plan to rally against Rick Scott’s voting purge during the governor’s planned visit to Sarasota on Friday.

So Sue Them
By Andrew Rosenthal
New York Times
Florida’s governor, Rick Scott, is itching for a fight with the Justice Department.

Voter Suppression: A Perfect Storm
By Maribel Hastings
Huffington Post
The group gathered at New Covenant Baptist Church last Thursday night wasn't large, but it was determined. And the community leaders, faith leaders and activists had reason to celebrate: a federal judge blocked some sections of Florida's 2011 voter-registration law, HB 1355.

Abramoff calls Florida's lobbyist gift ban toothless
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
Politically popular rules against business interests entertaining public officials, such as Florida's total ban on lobbyist gifts, do nothing to curb corruption, the nation's self-proclaimed "most notorious lobbyist" told a Tallahassee political group Thursday.

Scott says Wisconsin vote validates his policies
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott said in an interview with Newsmax.TV that he sees Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s victory in the recent recall election as a validation of his conservative government policies.

Tampa gives up gun ban during GOP convention
By Kevin Wiatrowski
Tampa Tribune
The Tampa City Council dropped plans today to appeal Florida Gov. Rick Scott's decision against banning concealed handguns in downtown Tampa during the Republican National Convention.

POLITICAL RACES

PPP poll: Mack has long primary lead, but Nelson beats all Republicans
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Related: Mack shuns Senate Republican debate
Connie Mack IV has a long lead in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, but incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson has double-digit leads over Mack and all other potential Republican challengers, according to a new Public Pollicy Polling survey.

Mitt Romney's entitlement: Winning for losing
By Robyn E. Blumner
Tampa Bay Times
Mitt Romney, who secured the number of delegates needed for the Republican nomination last week, said early on that this election is a choice between President Barack Obama's "entitlement society" in which people are dependent on government benefits, and his "opportunity society" where business is free to flourish. 

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

State judge sides with DEP in water quality rules challenge
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
An administrative law judge on Thursday upheld the state's proposed new water quality rules that are intended to replace federal rules that agriculture and industry groups oppose.

U.S. Supreme Court to consider taking up Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint rivers case
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The U.S. Supreme Court could decide this month whether to take up an appeal by Florida involving the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system.

Act now to protect land
By Jane Glover
Daytona Beach News-Journal
I am surprised that there has not been an outpouring of outrage at the current suggestion from Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature that the protected lands amassed by the St. John's River Water Management District board be released from protection.

EDUCATION

FAMU trustees levy vote of no confidence in president Ammons
By Kim Wilmath
Tampa Bay Times
Facing what one member called a "crisis of historic proportions," Florida A&M University's board of trustees decided Thursday it has no confidence in the school's president.

Higher ed task force aims for meaningful fixes, chair says
By Joey Flechas
Gainesville Sun
Members of UF's board of trustees heard plans Thursday about the governor-appointed task force that aims to identify problems with higher education in Florida and suggest possible fixes.

UF continues to seek 15% tuition hike but faces questions
By Nathan Crabbe
Gainesville Sun
University of Florida officials have gone from seeking authority for unlimited tuition hikes to worrying about getting approval for even the 15 percent increase now allowed by law.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Economic report shows signs of hope for Florida, but fundamental problems remain
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Florida’s economy grew last year, but at a slower pace than the previous year and slower than most states.

Get ready to pay more for Florida toll roads
By Michael Turnbell
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Get ready to shell out more money if you drive Florida’s Turnpike, Alligator Alley and other state-operated toll roads in two weeks.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Medicaid plan wins $36M contract
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Health News Florida
Medicaid patients and their doctors in 31 rural counties will soon get their first taste of real managed care -- the kind that requires permission to spend.

‘Report card’ peeves low-scoring hospitals
By Cristina Rabaza
Health News Florida
Hospitals that got bad grades on this week's patient-safety report are fighting to reclaim their reputations.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Poll: Voters prefer full Dream Act to Rubio's version
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Voters prefer the full Dream Act to the stripped down version being crafted by Sen. Marco Rubio, according to a new Latino Decisions poll.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

State Launches Investigation of 3 Florida Justices
Associated Press
WCTV Tallahassee
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is launching a criminal investigation of three state Supreme Court justices.

Court clerks expect 11 percent statewide staff cuts
By James Call
Florida Current
Fallout from the Great Recession continues to be felt in Florida.  Just ask the state’s clerks of courts.

Florida high court considers whether public defenders can refuse some cases
Associated Press
Orlando Sentinel
The Florida Supreme Court is considering whether overburdened public defenders can shed some felony cases.