PROGRESS
FLORIDA IN THE NEWS
The BluVu: Week of July 16th
By Gayle Andrews
The BluVu
The Governor is still sliding in the polls, the Lt. Governor’s scandal is escalating and Progress Florida’s Damien Filer has some interesting information about those crazy constitutional amendments as political reality comes your way!
FEATURED
STORIES
Trial of former RPOF chair Jim Greer postponed until mid November
By Katie Sanders and Lucy Morgan
Tampa Bay Times
The criminal trial for former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer has been postponed until the week of Nov. 12.
As thrill fades, President Barack Obama fires up supporters on Medicare, tax cuts
By Mary Ellen Klas and Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
President Barack Obama returned Thursday to the Florida city he used in 2008 to draw a stark contrast to his past Republican rival, reviving the same themes of an embattled middle class against his new opponent Mitt Romney.
Romney Invested Millions in Firms That Pioneered High-Tech Outsourcing
By David Corn and Nick Baumann
Mother Jones
In recent weeks, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have accused each other of being an "outsourcer in chief," as their campaigns have tussled over Romney's past at Bain Capital and the (non)release of his tax returns.
GOP Doubles Down in Favor of Outsourcing, Against American Workers
The Progress Report
Think Progress
Did you know that you’re actually paying to ship American jobs overseas?
BEST
OF THE BLOGS
Florida’s Remaining Natural Environment – Death by a Thousand Pricks
By Sandspur
SWFWMD Matters
A prick is defined by Merriam Webster as the act of piercing something with a fine, sharp point leaving a mark or shallow hole.
Lying Liar Barney Bishop is Telling Lies to You
By Benjamin J. Kirby
The Spencerian
A guy named Barney Bishop -- "outspoken advocate for the free enterprise system" -- who evidently used to be the Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Florida, has a piece out in Sunshine State News today about how he's voting for Mitt Romney.
Rubio, off VP list
By Gimleteye
Eye on Miami
It was a mystery, why Florida Senator Marco Rubio was even considered a possible VP candidate given his track record and questionable associations.
Has Florida governor had a testing epiphany?
By Valerie Strauss
The Answer Sheet
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who hasn’t seen a test he hasn’t wanted students to take, seems to have come to some sort of epiphany: The state that has been a national model for high-stakes test-based school reform just may be testing schoolchildren too much.
The Cost to Tax Payers Caused by Bernard Long and Ron Flores
By Brughart
Hrrumph
A lawsuit has been filed against Justices Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince by Bernard Long and Ron Flores in what can only be characterized as a patently political move to try and discredit ethical and competent judges; an effort to convince voters that these justices have done something wrong.
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Rubio talks immigration and voter purge on NPR
By Lynn Hatter
WFSU Tallahassee
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio is defending Florida’s Voter purge.
The hug that doomed Crist's Senate bid
By Betty Parker
Ft. Myers News-Press
It may not have been the hug that shook the world, but the gesture shared by President Barack Obama and Florida’s Republican Gov. Charlie Crist during Obama’s last visit to Fort Myers signaled a shake-up in Florida politics.
POLITICAL
RACES
In Florida, Obama hits GOP strongholds
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
President Barack Obama’s two-day Florida campaign swing goes right to the heart of Republican territory.
Obama then and now: A look back at the president's last visit to Southwest Florida
By Jacob Carpenter
Naples Daily News
At his February 2009 visit, newly inaugurated President Barack Obama found Fort Myers at one of its lowest points.
Ann Romney: No decision yet on GOP running mate
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
The wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says her husband hasn't yet decided on a running mate. Hours later, her husband confirmed what she said.
Tea Party looks at organizing pre-RNC rally
By Richard Danielson
Tampa Bay Times
There's another big rally being discussed for the eve of the Republican National Convention, this one involving the tea party and potential appearances by former GOP presidential candidates Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain.
Burgin: 'I knew nothing of hit piece'
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
State Rep. Rachel Burgin, waging a "family values" campaign and fighting the Florida Republican establishment for a seat in the state Senate, said Thursday she had nothing to do with an explosive hit piece recently mailed to voters -- injecting former Senate President Tom Lee's divorce and remarriage into their bitterly fought campaign.
West faces election challenge in new swing district
By The New York Times
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Not far from the beach, Representative Allen West recited the Declaration of Independence at a sweltering Fourth of July fair, lobbing the sentences into the crowd and hoping the gravitas of the words would sink in.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
Salazar: GOP budget 'death knell' for conservation
Staff Report
Tampa Bay Times
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Wednesday that budget proposals by congressional Republicans could amount to "a death knell" for conservation programs nationwide.
EDUCATION
Florida education commissioner sees his challenges
By Ashley A. Smith
Ft. Myers News-Press
Creating business partnerships and retaining quality teachers are keys to producing students ready for careers.
Florida Board Of Governors Spokeswoman Resigns
By Gina Jordan
StateImpact Florida
The public relations machine for the State University System of Florida Board of Governors (BOG) has resigned.
JOBS,
BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Gov. Scott 'gets to work' at Hillsborough River State Park
By Keith Morelli
Tampa Tribune
An armadillo appeared from out of nowhere and skittered across the road in the Hillsborough River State Park early Thursday as Florida's highest paid park ranger cut into a wet bag of Timberline pine bark mulch and spread it near the entrance of Parking Lot No. 1.
White House speeds up permits, offers no new cash for PortMiami dredge project
By Charles Rabin and Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
The White House on Thursday put PortMiami’s long-awaited dredging project on a list of fast-tracked, nationally-significant seaport improvement projects, guaranteeing it an expedited permitting process.
Future Corridors: planning or payola?
By Paula Dockery
Florida Voices
Florida needs an integrated and well-maintained transportation system.
Florida home sales, prices tick up in June
Staff Report
Florida Current
Sales of existing single-family homes in Florida increased 5.3 percent in June compared with the same month last year, according to a report released Thursday by Florida Realtors.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Gov. Rick Scott ranks Florida counties' health departments
By Tia Mitchell
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Another arm of state government can be added to the growing list of agencies ranked at the behest of Gov. Rick Scott.
Florida consumer advocate urges health care action
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
A consumer advocate urged Florida insurance officials to seek public comment on essential health care benefits under the federal Affordable Care Act.
Medicaid expansion benefits Florida’s children
By Peter A. Gorski
Miami Herald
When the recent landmark decision by the Supreme Court upheld the legality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), several major reforms of healthcare policy and practice were assured, and one huge controversy was sparked.
Jacksonville hospital chiefs question Scott’s decision not to expand Medicaid coverage
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Jacksonville Business Journal
City hospital executives say Gov. Rick Scott’s decision to not expand Medicaid coverage in Florida means that their organizations will continue to be burdened by unpaid care.
AHCA, therapist fight over notes
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration has been trying to shut down Hillandale Assisted Living, a home for mentally disabled adults, for over a year -- ever since The Miami Herald reported its long record of abuse and neglect.
CIVIL
RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Ocala shooting intersects 'stand your ground,' internet café issues
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Conservative supporters of the contentious “stand your ground” law are pointing to a recent shooting in Ocala as evidence of the need for the law, but the incident in question could have implications for another controversial issue in Florida politics: Internet sweepstakes cafes.
JUSTICE
AND THE COURTS
Florida justices seek to halt depositions in ballot case
News Service of Florida
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Three Florida Supreme Court justices are seeking to quickly dismiss a lawsuit aimed at removing them from the November election ballot and have asked a judge to at least temporarily halt depositions in the case.
Voters must decide on justices
Editorial
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Law enforcement officials investigated the complaint, found no wrongdoing and dropped it.
More twists as Zimmerman takes his case public
By Frances Robles
Miami Herald
Has George Zimmerman gone rogue?
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