FEATURED
STORIES
Florida Once Again at Center of Debate Over Voting Rules
By Ethan Magoc
News21
Related: Voting Early Getting Harder in Florida
Florida’s hanging chads and butterfly ballots in 2000 ignited the divisive battle that ended with the U.S. Supreme Court denying an election recount, effectively declaring that George W. Bush won the presidential election by 537 votes.
Detzner says Florida voter purge to resume soon
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
The state's top election official said Tuesday that he expects Florida's efforts to purge non-citizens from voter registration rolls to soon resume and be completed before the Nov. 6 general election.
In fierce Florida Senate fight, it's Connie Mack vs. Bill Nelson
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Hard to imagine, but maybe Washington's political pros have a better handle on Florida's sleepy U.S. Senate race than Florida's most experienced politicos.
Senate GOP leaders get their way in state primaries
By Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Powered by $3 million in corporate campaign money, state Senate Republicans raced to a clean sweep on Tuesday in Tampa Bay and beyond.
Nixing Medicaid expansion would cost state billions
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Florida would save mere nickels, dimes or pennies for every federal dollar it passes up should the state heed Gov. Rick Scott's call to reject Medicaid expansion under the national health care overhaul, preliminary figures show.
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Residents excited, worried about RNC's approach
By Jose Patino Girona
Tampa Tribune
Gerald White is a veteran of four Democratic National Conventions.
Miami-Dade canvassing board examines ballots gathered by boleteros
By Scott Hiaasen
Miami Herald
Miami-Dade’s elections canvassing board on Tuesday examined nearly 200 absentee ballots collected by so-called ballot brokers in Hialeah and determined that nearly all of the ballots should count as valid votes.
Siplin hit with $3,000 fine
Staff Report
Florida Current
State Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, has agreed to pay a $3,000 fine to the Florida Elections Commission because of missing information on campaign-finance reports and for accepting an illegal contribution to his 2008 campaign.
Alexander, Dockery take feud online
By James Call
Florida Current
Two term-limited state senators are taking parting shots at each other on their way out of Tallahassee.
POLITICAL
RACES
Primary battles send more than a dozen to Tallahassee
By Mary Ellen Klas and Amy Sherman
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
Miami Dade and Broward voters returned three incumbents to Tallahassee on Tuesday and elected the state’s first openly gay state representative in what was one of the most bitterly fought primary seasons on record.
Razor-thin races dominate Florida Senate primaries
By Kathleen Haughney
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The race between Rep. Jeff Clemens and Rep. Mack Bernard for Senate District 27 is likely headed to a recount.
Cliff Stearns trailing newcomer in Florida primary
By Bob King
Politico
Rep. Cliff Stearns was refusing to concede late Tuesday night to a veterinarian who has never held elected office.
Joe Garcia wins, will face Republican Rep. David Rivera
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
The Democratic race to face one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress ended Tuesday when Joe Garcia fended off three challengers to capture his party’s nomination.
Mica beats Adams in GOP House primary
By Jason Garcia and Mark K. Matthews
Orlando Sentinel
Fending off the toughest challenge of his 20-year congressional career, U.S. Rep. John Mica easily defeated fellow U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams on Tuesday in a rare primary election pitting two sitting members of Congress against each other.
Republican Todd Long to face Alan Grayson in November
By Mark Schlueb
Orlando Sentinel
Todd Long easily held off three challengers to win the Republican primary in Central Florida's newly drawn 9th Congressional district, setting up a rough-and-tumble fight with Democratic firebrand Alan Grayson in the Nov. 6. general election.
West, Murphy roll to primary wins, set up U.S. House District 18 battle
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Now it’s official: Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West and Democrat Patrick Murphy will square off in the Nov. 6 general election for a Palm Beach-Treasure Coast congressional seat after winning Tuesday primaries that West and Murphy barely acknowledged.
Frankel defeats Jacobs in U.S. House primary, will face Hasner in November
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Former West Palm Beach mayor Lois Frankel has behaved as though she’s running against Republican Adam Hasner for Congress in the general election this fall all along.
Al Lawson Becomes Dem Nominee in Fl 2nd Cong. District Race
By Sascha Cordner
WFSU Tallahassee
Former Senator Al Lawson will now be facing off against Republican incumbent U-S Congressman Steve Southerland. Lawson swept the Florida primary election with an overwhelming majority, making him the Democratic nominee in the U-S Representative District 2 Race.
Primary Election Loophole
By Mike Vasilinda
Capitol News Service
More than a million voters had already cast an early or mail vote before the polls opened this morning, but because of a loophole that protects partisan primaries, more than a million other voters won’t get a say in who represents them come November.
The Romney-Ryan Plan to Cut & Then End Medicare
The Progress Report
Think Progress
Having picked the architect of the Republican plan to end Medicare as we know it as his running mate, Mitt Romney and his “I am rubber, you’re glue” campaign is now trying to paint President Obama as the real threat to seniors’ health care and economic security.
Paul Ryan no help to Mitt Romney with Hispanics
By Emily Schultheis and Alexander Burns
Politico
Mitt Romney is on track to lose the Latino vote by a wider margin than any Republican presidential candidate in over a decade, and strategists in both parties say he may have made a bad situation worse with his selection of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate.
BALLOT
INITIATIVES
Fate of Orange sick-time ballot measure still in doubt
By Mark Schlueb and David Damron
Orlando Sentinel
The fate of a sick-leave petition initiative in Orange County still remained unclear after a court hearing and other developments Tuesday.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
DEP didn't investigate suspended employee's claim of retribution
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has closed the case on a suspended employee without investigating her claim she was being punished for her handling of a controversial wetlands case.
New Florida group promoting natural gas vehicles
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Fifteen companies are banding together to promote the use of natural gas-powered vehicles in Florida and seek incentives from the state.
LGBT
Miami Beach elects Florida's first openly gay state legislator
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald
Democrat David Richardson, a CPA from Miami Beach, was elected the state's first openly gay state representative Tuesday, narrowly defeating three opponents in the open primary race.
Jacksonville council set to vote Wednesday on human rights ordinance
By David Bauerlein
Florida Times-Union
After blitzing the Jacksonville City Council with 10,000 emails, the advocates and opponents of expanding the city’s human rights ordinance to include gays and lesbians will gather one more time Wednesday at City Hall for the number that really counts — the vote.
Gay students win fight for club at Ocala school
Associated Press
Gainesville Sun
A consent decree will allow the formation of a club designed to promote understanding among gay and straight students at an Ocala high school.
EDUCATION
Indian River voters approve 60-cent schools tax referendum
By Colleen Wixon
TC Palm
Voters overwhelmingly said "yes" to a referendum that adds a 60-cent schools tax to property owners' bill, potentially saving education jobs and programs, officials say.
Voters reject 2 school taxes
By Joe Callahan
Ocala Star-Banner
Marion County residents said “no” to two proposed school taxes on Tuesday, prompting Superintendent of Schools Jim Yancey to say he’s disappointed that voters do not support public education.
FAMU trustees expected to name interim president
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida A&M University trustees still dealing with the fallout from the hazing death of a marching band member are planning to name an interim president.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Health care lawsuit cost Florida taxpayers $70,000
By Tia Mitchell
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Florida's largely unsuccessful challenge of the federal health care law cost state taxpayers $70,000, the state Attorney General's Office said this week.
Fla. man pleads guilty in in $60M Medicare scam
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The owner of a Miami health care agency has pleaded guilty for his role in a $60 million home health Medicare fraud scheme.
No comments:
Post a Comment