Daily News Clips for June 19, 2013

FEATURED STORIES

Don't write off Alex Sink running for Florida governor just yet
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Alex Sink barely lost the 2010 governor's race to Rick Scott, and as she weighs whether to take him on again there is no shortage of armchair shrinks speculating about her thinking:

Ex-Sen. Dockery: Florida GOP is 'scared of Charlie Crist'
By Steve Bousquet
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Former Republican state Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland says it was "kind of silly" and "dumb" that the Republican Party of Florida mounted a campaign urging that Democratic candidate for governor Nan Rich be given speaking time at last weekend's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Hollywood.

Poll: Florida voters don't like Marco Rubio's immigration stance, but his approval rating remains steady
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Florida voters give Sen. Marco Rubio negative ratings for his work on immigration reform and strongly disagree with his vote in the U.S. Senate against requiring background checks for those buying guns, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll, but they still give him an overall 51 percent to 35 percent job approval rating. Sen. Bill Nelson also has a 51 percent approval rating.

So why again is Scott offering incentives to Amazon?
By Michael Van Sickler
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
When Amazon expands, as it wants to in Florida, state and local governments practically line up to offer to pay the company to move.

Florida School, District Grades Heading Toward A 'Cliff'
By Lynn Hatter
WFSU Tallahassee
Public education in Florida is heading toward a cliff.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Defeat of Orange paid sick time fight makes national splash
By David Damron
Orlando Sentinel
The bill that Gov. Rick Scott signed last week that blocks a paid sick time ballot fight in Orange County, and other similar efforts statewide, has made a national splash in various news media.

Rubio distances self from unnamed aide's perceived slam on American workers
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Sen. Marco Rubio today distanced himself from remarks an unnamed aide gave to the New Yorker that some American workers "can't cut it."

Allen West's disappointing debut
Editorial
South Florida Sun Sentinel
He belittled the sexual assaults facing women in the military and cast doubts on their battlefield contributions.

POLITICAL RACES

Dems form committee to take on Rick Scott
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
A coalition of Democratic groups, including the Democratic Governors Association, the Florida Democratic party, and labor groups, have formed a political committee, Florida For All, to take on Gov. Rick Scott.

Dysfunctional Dems need more than hatred for Rick Scott
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
Florida Democrats are a titillated bunch these days. They have far more registered voters than Republicans. The GOP governor is weak.

Allen West open to Marco Rubio challenge
By Katie Glueck
Politico
Former Rep. Allen West on Wednesday didn’t rule out a future primary challenge to Sen. Marco Rubio.  

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

At least 24 apply for 2 PSC seats, including commissioners Brise and Graham
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
At least 24 people have applied for two seats on the Public Service Commission, including Art Graham and former state Rep. Ronald Brisé, whose four-year terms are ending in January.

LGBT

Suze Orman: Gay couples face unfair tax penalties, must keep fighting for marriage equality in Florida
By Steve Rothaus
Miami Herald
Celebrity finance advisor Suze Orman says regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on gay marriage, same-sex couples in Florida need to keep fighting to save their assets.

EDUCATION

Pines, charter school teachers reach deal
By Heather Carney
South Florida Sun Sentinel
More than 300 teachers won't be losing their jobs and parents and students don't have to fear that the day-to-day operations of the city's charter system will be privatized — at least for another two years.

Superintendents warn new school grading formula means more F's
By Danny Valentine
Tampa Bay Times
This year's school grades aren't out yet, but Florida educators are worried.

State universities submit work plans
By James Call
Florida Current
Florida universities are presenting their 2013-2014 work plans to the State University System’s Board of Governors during two days of meetings in Tampa.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Kentucky's governor fires back at Scott's job-poaching efforts
By Steve Bousquet
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott is targeting yet another state in his effort to poach out-of-state jobs -- and this time the other governor is firing back.

Scott highlights French connections
News Service of Florida
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott is using this week's trade mission to the Paris Air Show to highlight a number of new or expanded French connections to Florida.

Pregnant women still face discrimination on the job, report says
By Leslie Postal
Orlando Sentinel
Pregnant women still face discrimination on the job, despite a nearly 35-year-old federal law meant to protect them, according to a new national report released today.

Bondi should sue big banks if they keep mistreating Florida homeowners
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
On Wednesday, the monitor for the National Mortgage Settlement will release the first report on how well the five largest banks are complying with the $25 billion deal designed to hold them accountable for foreclosure fraud.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

20-Week Abortion Ban Passes House
By Laura Bassett
Huffington Post
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday 228 to 196 that prohibits women from having abortions 20 weeks after conception.

Tampa 1st to Launch 'Get Covered'
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
A national movement to find the uninsured and get them plugged into benefits under the Affordable Care Act kicked off Tuesday night at a house party  in Tampa.

State Ends 3-Year 'Lifestyle Lift' Probe
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
Florida has ended its three-year investigation of "Lifestyle Lifts" with a settlement that could bring refunds to a few and an agreement by the company to cover the state's costs

IMMIGRATION, CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Floridians Urge Governor Scott to Veto Mental Health-Gun Reform Bill
By Matt Horn
Capitol News Service
A bi-partisan gun bill has made its way to the Governor’s desk. If signed into law, it will prevent tens of thousands of Floridians from buying firearms.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Jurors reflect on complexities of Zimmerman case
By Mike Schneider
Associated Press
Prosecutors and defense attorneys personally interviewed 58 potential jurors over seven days about their media exposure to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by former neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman last year in Sanford, Fla.