FEATURED
STORIES
Gov. Rick Scott shuts down lieutenant governor's office to save money
By Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Florida's next lieutenant governor needs to try harder
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has temporarily shut down the lieutenant governor's office in a money-saving move that will force four employees to scramble to find new jobs.
Despite budget surplus, bill would strip housing aid trust fund
By Michael Van Sickler
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Attorney General Pam Bondi praised Florida House Republicans last week after they unveiled a plan to spend $200 million from a national mortgage settlement on a variety of affordable housing needs for those hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis.
We Need Meaningful Election Reform, Not Window Dressing
By Gihan Perera and Judith Browne Dianis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
When the Florida Legislature began its new session this month, many lawmakers descended upon the Capitol with election reform proposals, and rightfully so.
Arguments in two same-sex marriage cases before Supreme Court likely to differ
By John Lantigua
Palm Beach Post
Related editorial: Supreme Court should allow same-sex couple to marry nationwide
The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday begins two days of hearings on one the most controversial issues facing the country: same sex marriage.
Outmatched
By Patrick Caldwell
The American Prospect
Conservatives’ support for state-based think tanks is paying off in regressive legislation. Liberals are scrambling to keep up.
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Florida flexes political muscle
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
After 168 years of seeing their politicians play only minor roles on the national stage, Floridians suddenly have legitimate presidential contenders, an influential national party leader and key voices shaping national policy in both major parties.
Friend of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan evades prison time for illegal fundraising
By Susan Taylor Martin
Tampa Bay Times
For 20 years, Tampa home builder Timothy Mobley and U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan have been friends.
Florida Democrats expected to hand out money to veterans following discovery of alleged illegal gambling ring
By Toni-Ann Miller
Palm Beach Post
Florida Democrats today are expected to hand out thousands of dollars to veterans groups around the state, most in South Florida.
Jim Greer faces sentencing this Wednesday
By Peter Schorsch
Saint Petersblog
Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer, who pled guilty on the eve of a potentially politically salacious trial that could have aired the laundry of the state GOP and former Governor Charlie Crist, will find out his prison fate Wednesday.
POLITICAL
RACES
Sink: Don't count her out of 2014 governor's race
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Don't count her out of the 2014 governor's race, says Tampa's Alex Sink.
Rick Scott releases first ad of 2014 campaign
By Katie Sanders
Tampa Bay Times
Gov. Rick Scott is officially in reelection mode.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
'Backlash' bill against LEED green-building certification program moving in House
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
A bill that supporters describe as representing a backlash against an environmentally sustainable building certification program is moving through the House.
LGBT
Gay Marriage Rally at State Capitol
By Whitney Ray
Capitol News Service
It’s a big week for supporters of gay marriage. Two Supreme Court cases are putting the issue front and center and as Whitney Ray tells us, the cases could have implications here in Florida where gay marriage is banned in statute and in the state constitution.
A primer on same-sex marriage cases before the Supreme Court
By Louis Jacobson
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact
This week will be pivotal for the future of marriage in the United States.
EDUCATION
Stop the giveaway to charter schools
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Once again legislators are looking for ways to undermine Florida's public school system by giving more taxpayer dollars and freebies to charter schools, including those run by for-profit management companies.
Gov. Rick Scott sticks with teacher raise message, notes bargaining will be needed
By Thomas C. Tobin
Tampa Bay Times
In less than an hour Monday with the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board, Gov. Rick Scott repeatedly stressed that his proposed $2,500 raise for all classroom teachers is one of his top priorities.
House Pursuing Tuition Hike for State Universities Despite Scott's Opposition
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Lakeland Ledger
The House is pursuing a 6 percent tuition increase for state universities and colleges next year, despite opposition from Gov. Rick Scott and the Senate's decision not to back a tuition increase.
Florida legislators grapple with future of special-needs students
By Kathleen McGrory
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
For an afternoon, Mariah Harris wasn't just the girl with Down syndrome. She was the star of a Senate Education Committee meeting.
Representative says let the children play
By James Call
Florida Curerent
Floridians specifically and Americans generally have a weight problem.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Expansion of kids health insurance program stalled in Florida Legislature
By Margie Menzel
News Service of Florida
With a third of the annual regular legislative session already gone, a bill that would close gaps in access to health care coverage for Florida children has passed just one committee and appears in danger of not passing.
Bill would outlaw gender-and race-based abortions
By Matthew Beaton
Panama City News Herald
A bill in the Florida Legislature would outlaw abortions based on gender and race.
Activists supporting Medicaid expansion march to Will Weatherford's office
By Chrystal Tacker
Creative Loafing Tampa
Around 50 members of Organizing for Action (OFA) marched half a mile down SR54 Saturday afternoon to House Speaker Will Weatherford’s office in Wesley Chapel with signs reading “Where’s there’s a Will, there’s no Way,” and “Patients over Politics.”
IMMIGRATION,
CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Scott continues welfare drug testing appeal
News Service of Florida
Florida Times-Union
Gov. Rick Scott's administration has asked the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to decide whether the state can require drug tests for people seeking public-assistance benefits.
Staring down the NRA
Editorial
Miami Herald
The 30-year-old former business major in Apartment 308 in Tower 1 had pulled the fire alarm to force the building’s 500 students to the outside.
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