Daily News Clips for March 5, 2013

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

An agenda for middle-class Florida
By Mark Ferrulo, Amy Ritter and Josh Geise
Tampa Tribune
For the past two years, at the conclusion of Florida's legislative session, Florida Watch Action, Progress Florida and America Votes have recognized members of the Legislature as a "Champion of Florida's Middle Class" for their unwavering support on behalf of Florida's families.

AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS

Liberal groups hope to awaken interest in voting rights
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The liberal groups that sponsored Awake the State rallies in Fort Lauderdale and the rest of the state in the aftermath of Gov. Rick Scott taking office are back again.

"Awake the State" Rally in West Palm Beach to address voting issues
By Lauren T. Hills
CBS 12 West Palm Beach
Happening today the group "Awake the State" is holding rallies across the state over the issues that plagued Florida's elections this year.

Group plans elections reform rally in Bradenton
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A group calling itself “Awake The State” plans to hold a rally at 5:30 p.m. in Bradenton on Tuesday to call for election reforms in Florida.

The Week Ahead for March 4 to March 8
Staff Report
Florida Current
Excerpt: AWAKE THE STATE...The Awake The State organization plans statewide rallies on Tuesday as members express their "discontent against Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature’s undemocratic, anti-middle class policies." A rally in Tallahassee takes place at 4 p.m. on the front steps of the Historic Capitol. Information about other rallies can be found here. Other information about the group can be found here.

FEATURED STORIES

Rick Scott's message will be different for Tuesday's state of the state address
By Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Two years ago, Gov. Rick Scott chose this out-of-the-way town to cement his bond with the tea party and showcase his first state budget as proof of his conservative credentials.

Gov. Scott boasts improving state of affairs, Democrats decry ‘state of denial’
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott will kick off the 2013 legislative session today with his third State of the State speech, highlighting tax breaks for manufacturers and teacher bonuses and taking credit for a turnaround in Florida’s economy.

Key house panel says no to Medicaid expansion, sets up legislative showdown
By Tia Mitchell
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Reaction to House panel rejection of Medicaid expansion
Related editorial: House’s irresponsible move on Medicaid
Top Republicans in the Florida House split from Gov. Rick Scott on Monday and said that they will oppose a plan to expand Medicaid to 900,000 or more poor Floridians, arguing that it would increase the federal deficit, diminish health care delivery to the elderly and drastically grow an already problem-laden program.

Capitol comes alive as session starts
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
Florida's Capitol was abuzz with activity Monday as legislators, lobbyists and staff aides made session-eve preparation for 60 days of House and Senate wrangling over a $74 billion budget, Medicaid expansion, education policy, gun regulation, government pension changes and dozens of other issues.

Senate Democrats Name Non-Negotiable Election Reforms
By Jessica Palombo    
WFSU Tallahassee
As Florida lawmakers tackle election reform, Senate Democrats are demanding changes they say are needed to get their support.

Will lawmakers pass campaign reform or just face-lift?
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
From before-noon coffees to evening soirees, lawmakers and lobbyists marked the eve of the 60-day session of the Florida Legislature Monday in private clubs and lobbying offices with a traditional social ritual: handing out millions of dollars in checks.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Scott's shift to middle annoys parties
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s neck-snapping policy reversals and decisions to back higher teacher pay and Medicaid expansion are complicating politics for both major parties as Florida’s annual legislative session begins this week.

Fundraising frenzy envelopes Tallahassee in advance of session deadline
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
In advance of House and Senate rules that prohibit fundraising during the legislative session, numerous fundraising receptions were being held Monday in downtown Tallahassee.

Ethics reform is job one
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Without confidence in the integrity of elected officials, there can be no confidence in the public policies they embrace.

Rep. Crisafulli tapped by House GOP caucus as Speaker-designate
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Republican House members voted Monday to elect Rep. Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, as House Speaker-designate for 2014-2016.

Florida lawmakers to discuss teachers, elections, Medicaid
By Bill Cotterell
Tampa Tribune
When the Florida Legislature convenes its annual session Tuesday, Tampa Bay area legislators will be working on issues ranging from voting procedures and teacher salaries to Medicaid expansion and property insurance.

Florida consumers have much at stake in the 2013 Legislature
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
From property insurance to home foreclosures to eye care, Florida consumers have much at stake in the 2013 Florida Legislature.

Texting While Driving Ban Sought
By Mike Vasilinda
Capitol News Service
For the sixth year in a row, legislation is being introduced to make it a non moving traffic violation to text while driving, getting caught would result in a thirty dollar fine. 

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Group wants more spending on future water supplies; others call for conservation
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
A small group of lobbyists with corporate and municipal water utility ties is urging legislators to spend more on water supply projects.

LGBT

Rep. Frederica Wilson: As 'a firm opponent of DOMA,' I wanted to sign a pro-gay marriage brief
By Steve Rothaus
Miami Herald
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami, is dismayed that gay activists think she is against marriage equality -- she's not, according to Gwen Belton, her South Florida communications director.

EDUCATION

Another failed Orlando charter 'a disaster' for students, teachers
By Lauren Roth
Orlando Sentinel
It was clear to teachers at the Einstein Montessori School in Orlando that something was very wrong when school opened for business last fall.

School safety on table as legislative session starts Tuesday
By Jason Schultz
Palm Beach Post
It’s been nearly three months since the shooting massacre in Newtown, Conn., turned school safety into a national hot button issue.

Bill would require Florida schools have adequate technology before Common Core takes hold
By Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
As the Common Core State Standards get put in place Florida, a key concern remains over whether the state's schools can handle the load that new computerized tests will place on them.

Below-average FCAT scores mean less school recognition funds
By Joe Callahan
Ocala Star-Banner
A below-average showing on last spring's FCAT will leave Marion County schools with less state school recognition funds, money doled out to schools that improve — or at least maintain — their academic success.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

2013 Session Outlook: Budget & Taxes
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
They debate hundreds of bills every year, but Florida legislators are only required by law to pass one: a state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Lawmakers Weigh Costs Of Closing Florida's Pension System
By Lynn Hatter 
WFSU Tallahassee
A cost estimate for closing Florida’s pension system to new employees is finally in.

Jobs agency updates economic incentives portal as lawmakers push for accountability
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Under pressure from lawmakers to provide more transparency about taxpayer money used to lure businesses to expand or relocate in Florida, the Department of Economic Opportunity completed its online portal detailing incentive projects Monday.

Majority support Obama's mixed approach to deficit: Mostly True
By Becky Bowers
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact
Says a majority of Americans — and Republicans — support his approach for deficit reduction.

For Fla. citrus crop, it's been a tough year
By Tamara Lush
Associated Press
Florida's citrus crop has suffered huge losses this year, with fruit falling from trees and the overall forecast declining about 10 percent, but the problems shouldn't translate to a price increase at the breakfast table – yet. 

HEALTH AND SENIORS

House Panel Rejects Medicaid Expansion
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
Related: Expanding Medicaid Makes Fiscal Sense, State Economist Says
Related: 'This Decision Will Impact Floridians for Decades'
Only a few hours after Florida's chief economist said the state can't afford to leave billions of federal dollars sitting on the table, the House committee on the Affordable Care Act voted to do exactly that.

Nursing a headache over the ‘Dr.’ title
By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post
By the end of the year, Carole Huber expects to have her doctoral degree in nursing at Florida Atlantic University.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Jeb Bush reverses stance on immigration: No citizenship path for undocumented
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Distancing himself from his former-president brother and Sen. Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush appeared to reverse course Monday when he said undocumented immigrants should not be given a pathway to citizenship.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Twelve charged with manslaughter in FAMU death
By Toluse Olorunnipa
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
Prosecutors charged 12 former Florida A&M University band members with manslaughter Monday, a major escalation in the criminal case surrounding the tragic 2011 hazing death of a drum major.

Court rules against CFO Atwater in Taj Mahal payment dispute
News Service of Florida
Saint Petersblog
Though the original dispute already had been settled, an appeals court Friday ruled against the state Department of Financial Services in a dispute about whether Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater could block payment for historical photographs at a controversial Tallahassee courthouse.