Daily Clips for August 9, 2012

FEATURED STORIES

Florida voter purge legal fight could last beyond the elections
News Service of Florida
Florida Times-Union
A legal battle over Florida's controversial attempt to purge ineligible voters might not be resolved until next year -- after this fall's elections, according to a document filed Wednesday.

Florida to be host to final, and third, presidential debate
By Aaron Sharockman
Miami Herald
The Florida Society of News Editors will partner with Lynn University to help host the third and final fall presidential debate, the newspaper association said Wednesday.

Concern exists over whether Marco Rubio is ready to be vice president
By Larry Hannan           
Florida Times-Union
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is now following in the footsteps of former senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack as a buzzed-about possibility for vice president.

Florida Republican women open new front in vote ‘war’
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
With Democrats fueling campaign talk of the Republican Party’s alleged war on women, a leading Florida GOP group Wednesday launched its own campaign to promote Republican women candidates and officeholders.

Judge rejects lawsuit attempting to remove justices from ballot
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
A Leon County Circuit Court judge dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday by a conservative legal group attempting to remove three Florida Supreme Court justices from the November ballot.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Another Scott departure? Prisons chief seeks new job
By Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Ken Tucker has brought stability to the Florida Department of Corrections, but he might not be around much longer.

On Spotting Corruption, Who to Call?
By Paula Dockery
Florida Voices
During my time in the Florida Legislature, I have taken on a few issues that led to the discovery of state activities that were questionable at a minimum, and more likely unethical or illegal.

POLITICAL RACES

Recipes for Victory in Florida's 2012 election
By Amy Keller and Lilly Rockwell   
Florida Trend
Two political operatives give opposing views on how to win the Sunshine State.

Bondi 'thrilled' at chance to speak at convention
By Kevin Wiatrowski
Tampa Tribune
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi rose a little higher in Republican ranks Wednesday when she joined the list of speakers for the Republican National Convention.

Summer will turn up the heat on RNC
By Josh Poltilove
Tampa Tribune
We might suffer through Tampa’s sweltering temperatures each August, but at least we’re used to it.

To Republicans, Wasserman Schultz is a plum target
By Erika Bolstad
Miami Herald
There's a wide field of Republicans hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who also serves as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, but so far, the candidates have spent more time bashing each other than the incumbent.

Dave Weldon dealing with family issues amid long-shot Senate run
By Brittany Alana Davis
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In the final days of his long-shot campaign for the U.S. Senate Republican nomination, Dave Weldon is also dealing with a family struggle.

Do-over in the works for a state Senate election?
By Jodie Tillman
Tampa Bay Times
The three Republicans running for state Senate District 17 could see their names moved to the November general election ballot open to Democratic and independent voters, according to a highly unusual scenario state officials have shared with local Democrats and one of the candidates.

Absentee-vote probe expands to new ballots
By Enrique Flor And Melissa Sanchez
Miami Herald
The police investigation into alleged absentee-ballot fraud in Hialeah expanded Wednesday to 164 absentee ballots mailed at a post office shortly after a woman was discovered two weeks ago carrying dozens of them. 

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Green Florida
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
Is there an environmental ethic in Florida? If so, it seems utterly lacking in the state's political establishment.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission delays new nuke approvals, possibly affecting Progress Energy
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it's delaying final approval of proposed new nuclear plants, a move that could affect Progress Energy Florida's proposed plant in Levy County.

Lawsuit seeks better regulation of oil spill dispersants
By Sue Sturgis
Facing South
A coalition of fishing, conservation, wildlife and public health groups based in the Gulf Coast and Alaska has filed a citizen lawsuit under the federal Clean Water Act to force the Environmental Protection Agency to stop dragging its feet and issue new rules for chemical dispersants used on oil spills.

EDUCATION

Florida School Boards Association President Wants A Conversation About FCAT
By John O'Connor
StateImpact
The president of the Florida School Boards Association says the state’s next education commissioner must be willing to work with school boards, parents and educators to improve Florida’s testing and school and district report card system.

Florida's free pre-kindergarten classes starting
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson is urging parents to enroll their 4-year-old children in the state's free voluntary pre-kindergarten classes.

New USF St. Petersburg leader hears whispers of independence
By Kim Wilmath
Tampa Bay Times
Though barely moved into his new office, the interim leader of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg knows there's a touchy subject simmering on campus: independence.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Florida home repossessions and new foreclosures increase in July
By Kimberly Miller
Palm Beach Post
Lenders repossessed more than 6,700 Florida homes in July, an increase of 38 percent from last year and a trend contrary to national reports of fewer bank takeovers and a greater willingness to work with borrowers.

Fla. economists to draw up new budget forecast
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida economists are drawing up new forecasts on how well the state's finances are doing.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Floridians deeply worried about their finances, Medicare and Social Security
By Laura Green
Palm Beach Post
Floridians 50 and over register high anxiety about the economy and their prospects in retirement.

Reward hospitals for healing, not billing
By Jac Versteeg
Palm Beach Post
Allegations in the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation of HCA hospitals illustrate the basic problem with fee-for-service health care.

Scrutiny of cardiac care at Pasco HCA hospital latest in long saga
By Stephen Nohlgren and Lisa Buie
Tampa Bay Times
A Pasco County hospital that touts its heart care is getting national attention for the work of its cardiologists — though not the kind it might want.

State expanding its fight against Medicaid fraud
By James Call
Florida Current
Florida’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is establishing an operational headquarters in south Florida as part of a crackdown on white-collar crime.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Marion Hammer: NRA wants new open-carry gun law in Florida
By Peter Jamison
Tampa Bay Times
The National Rifle Association will seek to pass a bill legalizing the open carrying of firearms in Florida during the 2013 session of the state Legislature, renewing a crusade for expanded gun rights that faltered last year, a longtime lobbyist for the group said Wednesday.

Two immigrant-rights activists arrested at demonstration in Sen. Bill Nelson’s office
By Viet Medic
Miami Herald
An alliance calling for the release of undocumented immigrants in Florida’s detention centers is pressing Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson to defer the deportation of an Argentine man.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Dispute Over Privatization Of Prison Health Care Services Back In Court
By Sascha Cordner      
WFSU Tallahassee
Two unions, upset the state is moving ahead with plans to privatize prison health services, are asking a judge to rule on a case he previously dismissed.

Sweetheart plea bargain sours drug war efforts
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
With Florida gaining notoriety as the nation's epicenter for prescription-drug abuse, Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi drew a line last year.