Daily News Clips for August 27, 2012

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS The RNC convention for liberals, courtesy of Progress Florida By William March Tampa Tribune Are you a Tampa-area liberal or progressive who’s feeling a little left out of the whole RNC 2012 shebang? FEATURED STORIES Poll: Obama, Romney Neck-and-Neck Ahead of Conventions By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen Washington Post The Republican National Convention opens this week with President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney running evenly, with voters more focused on Obama’s handling of the nation’s flagging economy than on some issues dominating the political debate in recent weeks. Florida, the nation's political ground zero By Charles Mahtesian and Adam C. Smith Tampa Bay Times Welcome to Florida, Republican conventioneers. Let’s not mince words: You are in the most important state in America. Mitt Romney and GOP in Tampa: How Low Will They Go? By David Corn Mother Jones With Republicans flocking—or swimming—to hurricane-threatened Tampa for the very wet coronation of moderate-no-more Mitt Romney as the tea-partyized (and Paul Ryanized) leader of the GOP, only one question hovers over the proceedings: How far will they go? Party at Trop kicks off shortened RNC week By William March Tampa Tribune Thousands of delegates, guests and VIPs – their spirits high despite the approach of Tropical Storm Isaac – packed Tropicana Field on Sunday to kick off the 2012 Republican National Convention. Protesters rally for middle class, women's rights in Tampa before RNC By William R. Levesque Tampa Bay Times Police patrolled on horseback, bicycle and foot. An ice sculpture formed the words "Middle Class." Some folks were dressed in suits depicting a female body part. Dogs described as Democrats by their owners sniffed suspiciously at reporters. Former Gov. Charlie Crist: Here's why I'm backing Barack Obama By Charlie Crist Tampa Bay Times Related: GOP claws and predictions emerge after Charlie Crist backs Barack Obama I’ve studied, admired and gotten to know a lot of leaders in my life. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Matt Wuerker Politico Related editorial:  Republican message needs a tuneup FLORIDA POLITICS Florida’s election year trends: fewer voters, unopposed candidates By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau In an election season dominated by headlines of voter fraud, dirty tricks and enormous campaign checks, two troubling trends have gotten little attention: low voter turnout and dozens of unopposed candidates. Isaac could be Rick Scott's moment By Tia Mitchell Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Rick Scott expected to get just a few minutes in the Republican National Convention spotlight. Crist to speak at Democratic National Convention Associated Press Tampa Tribune Florida's former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist will be a speaker at the Democratic National Convention. Bush dynasty continues to impact Republican politics By Alexander Burns Politico At the Republican National Convention in Tampa this week, the Bush family will be everywhere and nowhere. For more than a generation, no family has done more to define Republican politics than the Bush clan. National and state campaigns in Florida raked in $12.8 million in one week By Aaron Sharockman Tampa Bay Times When Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ran for re-election 10 years ago, the brother of the sitting president raised $7.6 million. Hialeah vote-fraud probe mirrors 2004 case By Charles Rabin And Scott Hiaasen Miami Herald After one of his aides emerged two weeks ago as a key witness in the latest ballot-fraud probe in Hialeah, Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban “Steve” Bovo said he was “deeply disturbed” that his office was “mentioned in the same breath of an absentee ballot investigation.” Legislative redistricting won't reverse GOP domination By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel After millions of dollars spent and years of litigation over Fair Districts, Floridians will go to the polls in two months and get a heaping dose of political pragmatism. Florida election laws threaten the vote in a key swing state Editorial Washington Post In 2011, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed into law a measure that imposed more than 75 restrictions on Florida voters, ostensibly to combat voter fraud. POLITICAL RACES GOP's convention plan: reintroduce Mitt Romney By Alex Leary Tampa Bay Times Related: RNC abbreviates schedule, but idea of extending is floated Now it's Mitt Romney's turn. GOP no longer worried about Isaac, set to start convention By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Republicans will officially nominate Mitt Romney on Tuesday as well as double-up their convention activities to make up for a lost day caused by Tropical Storm Isaac as it gathers steam and heads towards the Gulf Coast. Seven questions Mitt Romney, GOP will try to answer this week By Charlie Mahtesian Politico Related: Someone other than Mitt Romney might write history at Republican convention Mitt's moment is finally here. But first here are seven questions Romney and his party will try to answer this week. Death of Democracy protest at RNC kick-off party draws more than 1,000 grieving protesters By Janelle Irwin WMNF Tampa Related: Code Pink members dressed as vaginas protest Republican convention in Tampa More than 1,000 activists from around the country took to the streets in St. Petersburg yesterday in protest of Republican policies. Convention "Counter Events" Take Aim at Romney Platform By Stephanie Carroll Carson Public News Service Florida Amid all the rain-soaked Romney supporters braving the threat of Hurricane Isaac for the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Tampa this week, there also are people protesting the presumed Republican nominee's platform. Ron Paul followers in Tampa ready for their revolution By Jodie Tillman and Jeffrey S. Solochek Tampa Bay Times He made the big speech of his presidential campaign a day before the Republican National Convention convenes, 10 miles from where it will be held. RNC, Here are Some Florida Facts By Dan Gelber Florida Voices Republican conventioneers, welcome to Florida. It is only fitting you are convening here, as we truly are the laboratory for your tax policy, your education innovation and your quest for pure markets. GOP delegates: Don’t go near the strippers By Carl Hiaasen Miami Herald It’s been widely noted that Tampa is the strip-club capital of America, and this week vigilant media will be scrutinizing arrest reports in search of Republicans who strayed too far from the convention center (not to mention the party’s puritanical agenda). Biden skipping stop in Tampa, still coming to Orlando Tuesday Associated Press Orlando Sentinel Vice President Joe Biden is postponing his planned trip to Tampa, Fla., the site of the Republican National Convention. Why conventions still matter By Adam C. Smith Tampa Bay Times National party conventions matter, but four-day party conventions have probably outlived their usefulness. BALLOT INITIATIVES Orange County paid sick time dispute heightens Staff Report WFTV Orlando There’s a new twist in the fight to get paid sick time for every employee in Orange County. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Popular Panhandle restaurant built without permits could alter statewide waterfront development rules By Craig Pittman Tampa Bay Times In the Panhandle town of Destin, which bills itself as "the world's luckiest fishing village," one of the most popular seafood restaurants belongs to a man with the same name as the town. Scars of human folly show on Florida's bottlenose dolphins By Stephen Nohlgren Tampa Bay Times Bottlenose dolphins — those free spirits of the waves — are suffering from close encounters with humans. LGBT LGBT groups to push marriage equality during Democratic National Committee By Mitch Weiss Associated Press The constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in the host state of the Democratic National Convention has stirred anger and resentment among advocates for marriage equality, many of whom are converging on Charlotte this weekend for the city's gay pride festival. US heartland cities debating gay rights measures By Alan Scher Zagier Associated Press Randy Doenning organizes a charity gala for gay teens and AIDS patients and isn't afraid to hold his male partner's hand in public in the Bible Belt city where he lives. EDUCATION Scott needs to get a clue about testing By Kathleen Oropeza Gainesville Sun Governor Scott and his advisers really need to get out more. Politically motivated teacher evaluation system a mess. Editorial Palm Beach Post Florida Legislators and Gov. Scott acted as if it would be easy to create the new system of teacher evaluations they ordered up in the so-called Student Success Act of 2011. Teacher evaluation rule invalid in form, not substance, state says By Jeff Solochek Tampa Bay Times The Florida Department of Education is downplaying an administrative law judge's recent invalidation of the state's rules on teacher evaluations, saying the decision spoke to form and not content. Report: Florida’s Cuts to Higher Education Hurting Middle Class By Ashley Lopez Florida Center for Investigative Reporting Demos, a progressive public policy think tank, released a study that says the state’s continued cuts to higher education have shifted high costs to middle-class students and families that have for years been weathering a tough economy. UF to Loan Staff While Poly Gears Up By Mary Toothman Lakeland Ledger Sleeves were rolled up and 3,000 pages of transition information were arranged in binders when a transition team met Friday to work on ramping up Florida Polytechnic University. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Big drop in Florida unemployment payouts is no real accomplishment By Michael Mayo South Florida Sun Sentinel It's hard to say what's worse: that more hurdles and restrictions have impeded more Floridians from collecting unemployment benefits, or that Gov. Rick Scott has been going around touting the drop in jobless payouts as some sort of accomplishment and sign of economic progress. Lawmakers Look To Cut State Employees Unused Vacation, Sick Leave Pay By Sascha Cordner       WFSU Tallahassee State employees hoping to make the most of their vacation time might want to use it now, rather than later. Higher premiums for customers, lavish spending for Citizens executives By Susan Taylor Martin, Jeff Harrington and Toluse Olorunnipa Miami Herald The public hearing had grown heated. Council proposes 6.1 percent rate increase for workers compensation Staff Report Ft. Myers News-Press The National Council on Compensation Insurance proposed a 6.1 percent increase for workers compensation rates effective Jan. 1. State activates price gouging hotline for Isaac Associated Press Miami Herald The state has activated a price gouging hoteling ahead of Isaac. HEALTH AND SENIORS Mitt Romney embraces his Massachusetts health care law By Ginger Gibson and Darren Samuelsohn Politico On the eve of the Republican convention in Tampa, Mitt Romney abruptly embraced his Massachusetts health care law Sunday in response to President Barack Obama's attacks that Republicans have declared a 'war on women.' Health care law becomes rallying point By Mary Shedden Tampa Tribune The tangled relationship between health care and American politics can be summed up simply, with a single word: Obamacare. Florida economists reduce health care estimates Associated Press Tampa Tribune State economists have reduced their estimates of what it would cost Florida to expand Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul. Officials say Florida’s moving faster in finding good adoption match-ups for foster kids By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post More than 3,250 children in Florida’s foster care system were adopted in fiscal year 2011-2012, an 8 percent increase from last year and an indication, child welfare officials say, that efforts to find permanent homes for these children are paying off. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Christian conservatives decry Obama 'war on religion' By Katie Sanders Tampa Bay Times Christian conservatives have said it before, but this time they say they mean it more than ever: President Barack Obama's "war on religion" makes this year's election the most important in American history.