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Progress Florida -- Progressive Solutions for Florida

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Daily News Clips for June 4, 2013



FEATURED STORIES

‘We’re Not Hard-Hearted,’ Legislator Says

Staff Report
Health News Florida
Florida House members are getting a lot of questions about their priorities these days after turning down $51 billion in federal funds that would have paid most of the bill to cover more than 1 million of the lowest-income Floridians.

Moms Rising to deliver 11,000 petitions by stroller to save paid sick time
By David Damron
Orlando Sentinel
The progressive group Moms Rising plans to deliver more than 11,000 petitions by baby stroller to Gov. Rick Scott Tuesday, asking him to veto a bill that would block mandatory paid sick time measures such as the one pending in Orange County.

Legislature gave away too much on environment
By Bob Graham
Ocala Star-Banner
The Florida Conservation Coalition was founded after the devastating legislative session of 2011, which rolled back 40 years of bipartisan environmental stewardship.

E-Verify alone not enough to cure immigration problems, Rubio says
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
John McCain, Charles Schumer, Marco Rubio, Robert MenendezU.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is pledging to keep reforming immigration reform proposals he has been a part of.

How Tea Party Favorite Rick Scott Helped Cook Up a Sweetheart Deal for His Florida Friends
By Kurt Eichenwald
Vanity Fair
I’m not going to say anything about this deal cooking among Tea Party politicos in Florida other than, hmm…this seems smarmy.

FLORIDA POLITICS

New jet helps Gov. Rick Scott crisscross Florida

By Steve Bousquet
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Rick Scott is the first governor in the history of Florida (and likely the last) to travel the state in his own personal jet.

Rep. Joe Garcia stands by staffer implicated in Miami-Dade absentee-ballot investigation
By Patricia Mazzei
Miami Herald
Related column: Surprise! Both parties cheated in Joe Garcia’s district
Congressman Joe Garcia moved quickly to contain the fallout of an election-fraud scandal that rocked his office, but said Monday he’s not going to fire a key staffer implicated in the case.

Florida Dems make staff changes
By Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
The Florida Democratic Party is making a number of big staff changes,  it announced today.
 

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Environmental Rules, Regulatory Agencies Undergo Big Changes

By Ashley Lopez
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Environmental regulations and the agency that implements them in Florida went through some big changes last week, and according to environmentalists, they aren’t good changes.

Young conservatives want Rubio to deal with climate change
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Rafael Fernandez of Miami has a message for Sen. Marco Rubio: Step up on climate change.
 

EDUCATION

Crawford to teachers: Forgo your raise and prevent layoffs

By Joe Callahan
Ocala Star-Banner
School Board Chairman Ron Crawford on Monday said 160 first-year teachers can avoid June 30 layoffs if all other teachers forfeit their state salary bonuses to the district.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Bill Could Change Local Government Sick Day Mandates

By Matt Horn
Capitol News Service
Sick time; it’s something most employees need from time to time.

Scott Touts Successes Of Trade Mission Trip To Chile
By Sascha Cordner      
WFSU Tallahassee
Before he heads off on his next mission trip to Japan, Governor Rick Scott is touting the successes of his most recent trade delegation to Chile.

Agriculture Secretary Putnam: Florida racing clock against orange-tree disease
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Monday that the $8 million budgeted by state lawmakers for research into a bacterial disease killing orange groves will help in a desperate race to save the landmark industry.

Root out insurer abuses
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Shopping for property insurance in Florida continues to be risky business.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Is anticonsumer insurance law just designed to damage Obamacare?

By John Romano
Tampa Bay Times
Listen long enough, and you're sure to hear two familiar promises from your elected heroes in Tallahassee.

Medicare releases hospital prices for outpatient procedures
By Daniel Chang
Miami Herald
Building on last month’s unprecedented release of prices for common hospital inpatient procedures, Medicare officials on Monday released new data revealing charges for 30 outpatient procedures — showing big differences in the amounts that hospitals bill patients for the same service.

IMMIGRATION, CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Immigration reformer Jacoby: Focus on the skilled will have major impact

By John Lantigua
Palm Beach Post
While much of the debate over the issue has revolved around what to do with undocumented workers here now, it is major changes in who will be allowed into the country in the future — and the benefits that will bring — that are its most important aspects, immigration reform proponent Tamar Jacoby said Monday.

Closer to reform
Editorial
Miami Herald
The comprehensive immigration-reform bill that the Senate will debate throughout June is by no means ideal, lacking fairness for same-sex couples and too onerous on citizenship waiting periods, among other flaws.

Tampa moms demand gun control
By Janelle Irwin
WMNF Tampa
A group of Tampa moms wants lawmakers in Washington to put gun control legislation back on the table.

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