Daily News Clips for May 22, 2013

FEATURED STORIES

Gov. Rick Scott signs elections bill to fix long voter lines
By Mary Ellen Klas
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott has finished the fix of the flawed election law that relegated Florida to a late-night joke in 2012 by signing an elections cleanup bill passed on the final day of the legislative session.

After big donations to Gov. Scott, insurance company may reap $52M
By Toluse Olorunnipa
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Two months after contributing $110,000 to Gov. Rick Scott's re-election campaign, an upstart property insurance company is likely to reap a $52 million windfall, paid from the coffers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

Attorneys pledge lawsuit if Gov. Scott signs foreclosure bill
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
A group of foreclosure attorneys say they will quickly file a lawsuit should Gov. Rick Scott sign HB 87, a bill designed to speed up the foreclosure process, which they claim is unconstitutional.

Senate immigration bill passes key test, headed to floor
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Related: Allen West, other conservatives ask Congress to redo immigration bill
Ending on an emotional note over same-sex couples, the Senate Judiciary Committee tonight passed a sweeping immigration bill that would create a pathway to citizenship for 11 million people while spending billions on more border security and other enforcement.

America 10 Years After Sequestration
By Mattea Kramer and Jo Comerford
Mother Jones
The streets are so much darker now, since money for streetlights is rarely available to municipal governments.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Florida’s presidential primary officially going back to Super Tuesday
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida’s rogue days are behind it, at least when it comes to mucking up the presidential primary calendar.

Disney executive tapped for panel that will look at election problems
By Mark K. Matthews
Orlando Sentinel
A Walt Disney World executive was among 10 professionals tapped Tuesday by President Barack Obama to serve on a new commission charged with improving Election Day and reducing the long lines that thousands of Florida voters endured last fall.

Gov. Scott on trade mission trip to Chile
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
In just 2½ years, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has traveled overseas eight times - a record that eclipses his predecessor, Charlie Crist.

Scott gets bill banning texting
Staff Report
Florida Current
Lawmakers Tuesday sent 14 bills to Gov. Rick Scott who will have until June 5 to decide whether to sign them into law.

Judge will review 'textgate' messages privately
By David Damron
Orlando Sentinel
Circuit Judge Robert J. Egan decided Tuesday that he will review cell phone bills and text messages at the heart of a public-records fight that has engulfed several top Orange County leaders.

Tampa tea party groups protest at IRS office
By Jessica Vander Velde
Tampa Bay Times
At first glance, Tuesday's event looked like a Fourth of July celebration.

POLITICAL RACES

Crist making rounds for Democratic candidates
By Christopher O’Donnell
Tampa Tribune
It’s still unknown how well Charlie Crist’s newly minted Democratic ideals will withstand the intense scrutiny and pressure of a gubernatorial campaign.  

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Veto does not deter backers of bike trail across Florida
By Dave Heller
WTSP Tampa
Gov. Rick Scott's veto of money to build a bike trail across Florida from St. Petersburg to Brevard County is not deterring supporters of the project.

Water district leader submits resignation letter
By Andy Reid
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The head of the South Florida Water Management District resigned Monday, leaving after just two years and creating another leadership shakeup for the far-reaching agency charged with guarding against flooding and leading Everglades restoration.

LGBT

GaYBOR group wins unexpected recognition as economic engine
By Bill Varian
Tampa Bay Times
In the recent past, it would seem almost unthinkable that the Hillsborough County Commission would salute a group promoting the region to gay business owners and tourists.

EDUCATION

Fla. ranked 42nd in nation in per-pupil spending
Associated Press
Miami Herald
Florida's per-pupil spending is among the lowest in the nation according to data compiled by the U.S. Census.

Devil in the details for distributing teacher pay raises in Florida
By Dave Heller
WTSP Tampa
Florida teachers could start receiving raises soon, now that Gov. Rick Scott has signed the state budget for next year.

Governor's Office offers guidance on teacher raises in budget
By Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
At the same time Gov. Rick Scott prepared to sign Florida's 2014 budget, he delivered to school district superintendents some details on how to implement one of his top priorities in the budget -- raises for teachers.

Bennett considers Dept. of Ed. reorganization
By Brandon Larrabee
News Service of Florida
Education Commissioner Tony Bennett is mulling a reorganization of the state Department of Education, but the project has been slowed by laws that spell out the responsibilities of some positions at the agency, reports Brandon Larrabee of the News Service of Florida.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Floridians get nearly $9 billion in mortgage relief
By Kimberly Miller
Palm Beach Post
More than $8.6 billion in mortgage relief has flowed to Florida homeowners under last year’s National Mortgage Settlement, a heftier windfall than state officials expected and one that has been paid out two years before deadline.

Citizens board meets to consider transfer of 60,000 customers
By Charles Elmore
Palm Beach Post
The board of state-run insurer Citizens will meet Wednesday to approve the transfer of up to 60,000 customers to Heritage Property and Casualty Insurance Co., removing $14 billion in exposure from Citizens personal lines and coastal accounts.

State to finally replace ancient jobless-claims computer
By Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel
In good news for the jobless and employers alike, the state's 1970s-era computer that processes unemployment claims is finally getting replaced.

Sales tax holiday to extend to computers, tablets, e-readers
By Susan Thurston
Tampa Bay Times
Anyone in the market for a tablet, laptop, e-reader or non-recreational software might want to wait a few months.

Scott wrong on Amazon deal
Editorial
Tampa Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott’s rejection of Amazon’s plans to build a warehouse in Florida is puzzling at best. At worst, it smacks of politics getting in the way of what’s best for Florida.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

New Efforts to Undercut Health Reforms
Editorial
New York Times
Congressional Republicans are trying to exploit two controversies bedeviling the Obama administration to undermine the health care reform law.

IMMIGRATION, CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Rubio and AFL-CIO clash over immigration bill amendments
By John Lantigua
Palm Beach Post
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and the head of the AFL-CIO clashed Monday as the Senate Judiciary Committee adopted two amendments dealing with the importation of workers in high tech fields.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Florida death row inmate loses appeal in killing of guard
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
The Florida Supreme Court says the execution of a man who killed a prison guard in 1987 can go forward.