Daily News Clips for November 6, 2012

FEATURED STORIES Don't let obstacles stop you from voting Editorial Tampa Bay Times Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican-led Legislature and the Republican Party of Florida have done everything they can to discourage you from voting and participating in democracy. Final push of 2012 presidential campaign cuts through Florida By Alex Leary and Katie Sanders Tampa Bay Times Related: Which states will determine Election 2012? Here's your guide to watching results Related: Florida's vote tally may not take long Related: Any voting issues in Florida will fall in Ken Detzner's lap The presidential campaigns shoved aside polls and predictions for a furious last grab at votes Monday, with candidates and their surrogates spreading across nearly a dozen battleground states that will decide the 2012 election. Florida’s presidential election is half over before Election Day By Marc Caputo and Trevor Aaronson Miami Herald Related: So. Fla. voters will be able to cast absentee ballots in person Tuesday at election headquarters Election Day could already be half over in Florida before polling stations open at 7 a.m. Eyes on handful of narrow Fla. congressional races By Matt Sedensky Associated Press Democrats sought to gain seats in Florida's heavily Republican congressional delegation Tuesday and had their eyes on defeating one of the most high-profile and outspoken tea party figures, Rep. Allen West, who was in a tight race for a second term. 11 state constitutional amendments on Fla. ballot By Bill Kaczor Associated Press Property tax relief, a repeal of Florida's ban on public funding for churches and other religious organizations and new limits on abortion rights are among 11 proposed state constitutional amendments on Tuesday's ballot. Will 3 Florida justices' lose retention bids By Kelli Kennedy Associated Press Three Florida Supreme Court justices could become Tuesday the first justices or appellate judges removed since merit retention elections began in 1978 after an unprecedented push by the Republican Party of Florida to oust them. FLORIDA POLITICS Debate over early voting won't end after 2012 By Steve Bousquet Tampa Bay Times Voters in Miami-Dade County waited up to seven hours to cast their ballots before early voting ended around 1 a.m. Sunday. This is democracy? Slush funds, ethics reform don't mix By Daniel Ruth Tampa Bay Times You have probably figured out by now that when you see an advertisement paid for by some innocuous-sounding group like Floridians for Motherhood, Apple Pie and Love of God's America, you are about to be subjected to more demagogic drivel than Huey Long on steroids. POLITICAL RACES In last push, Obama, Romney and stand-ins crisscross Florida and U.S. for key voters By George Bennett and John Kennedy Palm Beach Post It’s a big country, but for President Obama and Mitt Romney the electoral map narrowed to Florida and five other hotly contested states on Monday as the two contenders made a final appeal for votes on the eve of Election Day. On Election Eve, Numerous Complaints of Voting Problems By Josh Harkinson Mother Jones Will this be the dirtiest election ever? Huge voter turnout expected Tuesday By Bill Cotterell Florida Current A record high voter turnout is expected Tuesday across Florida, a key swing state with 29 electoral votes, at the close of a presidential contest rated a toss-up by both parties. Both parties confident that pre-Election Day voting will pay off By Christine Stapleton Palm Beach Post Whatever the motivation was behind cutting the number of days for early voting, the result was this: fewer Democrats made it to the polls than in 2008 but more Republicans waited in long lines this year to get their vote in early. Young vs. Old Could Swing Florida By Mike Vasilinda Capitol News Service Florida’s 29 electoral votes remain one of the biggest prizes on election day, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, who wins Florida may come down to who turns out either the young or senior voters. Michelle Obama, Ricky Martin make closing case for Obama in Orlando By Katie Sanders Tampa Bay Times In her final solo stop of the campaign, First Lady Michelle Obama told a crowd here Monday to remember her husband’s accomplishments and not to turn their backs on "all of the progress that we've made." Finally, sorta, Rick Scott and Mitt Romney share the stage By Alex Leary Tampa Bay Times          He's been conspicuously missing for most of the campaign, but Gov. Rick Scott got his moment today with Mitt Romney. Five things to watch for on Election Day Associated Press Tampa Tribune Five things to watch as voters have their say in the presidential race between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney. 8 House and Senate members are on Tuesday's ballot in local elections By Bruce Ritchie Florida Curren At least eight House and Senate members who are leaving the Legislature have spots on Tuesday's ballot for local offices. If money is speech, let us know who’s talking Editorial Palm Beach Post This is a $6 billion Election Day. The money paid for a slew of ads depicting candidates as bobble-headed buffoons. EDUCATION State education panel hears Gov. Scott continue to talk up expanded agenda, including more money By Allison Ross Palm Beach Post Gov. Rick Scott continued to tout his education agenda Monday in a visit to Boca Raton, reiterating his commitment to hold education spending steady. School superintendents set sights on red tape By Travis Pillow Tallahassee Democrat A panel of Florida school superintendents appointed by the governor has zeroed in on a list of state regulations they want to see eliminated or changed. Florida Board of Ed chairman calls NCLB a "colossal failure" By Jeff Solochek Tampa Bay Times The Florida Board of Education got loads of flak last month after adopting academic goals based on student race. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Thousands of Citizens policyholders face deadline to find other insurer By Toluse Olorunnipa Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau As millions of Floridians head to the polls today, about 175,000 home­owners will face another stark choice: Stay with Citizens Property Insurance Corp., or allow a smaller private company to take over their policy. HEALTH AND SENIORS Employers Expected To Keep Some Of Health Law's Popular Provisions, Even If Obama Loses By Julie Appleby Kaiser Health News No matter who wins the presidential election, most workers who get health insurance through their jobs won't see a lot of immediate changes in their health benefits. Medicaid Fraud: Crime, no punishment By Lilly Rockwell Florida Trend In September 2011, eight months into her job as Florida attorney general, Pam Bondi made her first visit to the Miami office of her agency’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Fla. immigrant tuition ruling may be appealed Associated Press Palm Beach Post The state is considering whether to appeal a judge's decision against a law that requires Florida-resident U.S. citizens to pay out-of-state tuition if they depend on parents who are illegal immigrants. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Conservative group asks Supreme Court to order state to remove three of its members from the ballot By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald The conservative Southeastern Legal Foundation has filed a last minute lawsuit on behalf of a Destin man that seeks to remove from Tuesday’s ballot the three justices seeking retention to the Supreme Court.