FEATURED
STORIES
Rick Scott is most imperiled governor in nation
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s poll numbers are so bad, they are fueling speculation that he could draw a primary opponent in 2014 or be pressured by other Republicans to step aside to avert handing Democrats their best chance of winning the governor’s mansion in nearly 20 years.
Florida legislature writes rules for transparency but won’t follow them
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
Florida’s lawmakers say they want to make the state’s $70 billion budget process more transparent, but when it comes to handling contracts and disclosing state salaries, neither Senate President Don Gaetz nor House Speaker Will Weatherford is quite ready to require the Legislature be held to the same standards that it imposes on state agencies.
Obama vows to press ahead on fiscal cliff solution
By Andrew Taylor
Associated Press
President Barack Obama says he'll press ahead with Congress to prevent across-the-board tax increases set to strike taxpayers Jan. 1 after House GOP leaders unexpectedly put off a vote on legislation calling for higher rates on million-dollar earners was abruptly scrapped Thursday evening.
Gun sales booming in Florida after Sandy Hill shooting
By Dan Sullivan
Tampa Bay Times
Gun sales in Florida have surged since last week's mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that killed 20 children and six adults.
BEST
OF THE BLOGS
On Santa’s list, Florida politicians are divided between who has been naughty and who’s been naughtier
By Peter Schorsch
Saint Petersblog
With Florida’s politicians, it’s not a question of who has been naughty and who has been nice, it’s a matter of who’s been naughty and who’s been naughtier.
One Day After Mass Shooting, Florida Officials Boast Million Concealed Weapons Permit Record
By Martha Jackovics
Beach Peanuts
In the state where we recently saw the deadly shootings of Trayvon Martin and others while those who shot them "shot first and invoked Stand Your Ground later," and less than 24 hours after the latest mass shooting in a crowded shopping mall in Oregon, Florida officials and the NRA are patting themselves on the back as they're poised to celebrate a big milestone.
Arm the teachers, says Rep. Baxley
By Bruce Seaman
Daily Marion
In one of the most remarkably inept comments from a Florida legislator this year – a huge accomplishment when there is so, so much competition – State Rep. Dennis Baxley (R-NRA/ALEC/Ocala) has offered this counsel (includes video).
Why the Conflagration with Protesters May (or May Not) End Well for Congressman Bill Young
By Benjamin J. Kirby
The Spencerian
Eighty-one year-old Republican Congressman Bill Young (FL-10) is serving his twenty-second term in the United States House of Representatives.
Now playing in U.S. House: GOP Fiscal Cliff Plan B Follies (A limited run)
By Daniel Tilson
West Palm Beach Liberal Examiner
Today in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican Party is putting on a holiday show called “Fiscal Cliff Plan B Follies.”
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Miami-Dade grand jury: Absentee voting fraud clouds confidence in tight election results
By Patricia Mazzei
Miami Herald
Florida and Miami-Dade County should tighten rules for voting by mail and make it easier to vote early in order to prevent fraud and plug “gaping holes” in absentee voting, a Miami-Dade grand jury has concluded.
Bennett, saying he got it wrong, changes stance on early voting
By Josh Salman
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Former Florida Sen. Mike Bennett has a new stance on early voting.
Scott schooled in art of being a politician
By Daniel Ruth
Tampa Bay Times
Sure, two years is an eon in politics. But when the governor has approval ratings lingering somewhere between Casey Anthony and Bashar Assad, it probably doesn't bode well for his re-election prospects.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
Given the option, all 19 counties vote not to inspect septic tanks
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
All 19 counties that were required to take action on septic tank inspections under a bill passed by the Legislature last spring have voted to opt out of the requirement, according to the Florida Department of Health.
LGBT
Newt Gingrich to GOP: 'Deal with reality' that the public now supports legalized gay marriage
By Steve Rothaus
Miami Herald
Newt Gingrich on Thursday told The Huffington Post that the Republican Party should accept that the public opinion has shifted to acceptance of gay marriage.
EDUCATION
Poll: Majority of Floridians against charging tuition based on majors
News Service of Florida
Tampa Bay Times
Florida voters are overwhelmingly against charging college tuition based on what people study, skeptical that degrees can be offered for $10,000 and strongly against setting different educational goals based on race, a new poll has found.
Sen. Legg intrigued by differential tuition plan
By James Call
Florida Current
Florida voters may object to the idea of a differential tuition plan for state universities, but the chairman of the Senate Education Committee says he wants to explore the idea during the spring legislative session.
Fund school resource officers for all schools, Leon superintendent urges Gov. Scott
By Jeff Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
Feeling vulnerable to attack, many Florida parents have demanded their children's schools add permanent armed officers to protect their children.
How we can get it right for teachers and children
By Rosanne Wood
Tallahassee Democrat
The president has rightfully declared that “our first job as a nation is to care for our children ... and to give all of them a chance at a good life with happiness and purpose.”
Don’t force counties to subsidize charter schools
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
How much do tax-cutting Republicans in Tallahassee love charter schools? So much that they might be willing to raise property taxes to help charter schools.
JOBS,
BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Imminent port strike would hit 4 Florida ports
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Four of Florida’s biggest ports will shut down in nine days if dockworkers and shipping companies don’t reach a labor agreement, putting a dent in the state -- not to mention the national -- economy just as 2013 gets started.
Fla. officials announcing Nov. unemployment rate
Associated Press
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott is hoping the release of new unemployment figures for Florida will be an early Christmas present.
Census: Florida population growth picks up
By Zac Anderson
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida added more residents than all but two other states in the last year, according to new census estimates — good news for many industries in a state highly dependent on population growth to fuel the economy.
Suwannee County tells the NFBA – One more strike and you're out
By Stew Lilker
Columbia County Observer
Tuesday afternoon, December 18, 2012, the North Florida Broadband Authority was scheduled to appear in front of the Suwannee County, County Commission.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Fla. agency says health care to cost billions more
By Gary Fineout
Associated Press
The administration of Gov. Rick Scott is now contending that the federal health care overhaul will cost state taxpayers billions more than estimates from just a few months ago.
Gov. Rick Scott gets meeting with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on the health care law Jan. 7
Associated Press
Tampa Bay Times
Gov. Rick Scott is meeting in early January with federal officials to discuss whether or not the state should implement the federal health care overhaul.
Medicare Starts To Reward Quality, Not Quantity, Of Care
By Jordan Rau
Kaiser Health News
It's no longer enough for hospitals to just send a bill to Medicare and get paid.
Funding Cuts Hurt State Score on Public Readiness
By Lottie Watts
Health News Florida
Florida hit only half of the indicators for public health preparedness, according to the “Ready or Not” report from Trust For America’s Health.
Sen. Ring files autism bill for the 5th time
By James Call
Florida Current
Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, wants to make it easier for parents to take a child to a specialist when they suspect an autism spectrum disorder.
CIVIL
RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Florida to remember Newtown victims
By Mark Schlueb
Orlando Sentinel
Governors across the nation, including Florida's Rick Scott, have declared Friday a day of mourning to remember the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
"Stand Your Ground" Is a Flawed Law
By Rhonda Swan
Florida Voices
Steel courage. It’s what George Zimmerman, Michael David Dunn and Michael Jock have in common.
Task force considered on gun control, mental health reform
By Jennifer Sorentrue
Palm Beach Post
Palm Beach County leaders are calling for a local task force to examine statewide gun control and mental health reforms in the aftermath of last week’s mass shooting that left 28 dead in Newtown, Conn.
JUSTICE
AND THE COURTS
Florida Supreme Court seeking 63 more judgeships
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Florida's crime rate may be falling, but the state Supreme Court on Thursday said 63 more trial court judges still are needed, due largely to high workloads from budget cuts and a glut of mortgage foreclosure cases.
Fla. justices delay but stick with term limit plan
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
The Florida Supreme Court is sticking with its hotly debated plan to impose eight year term limits on its chief justice and chief judges of lower courts.
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