Daily News Clips for August 1, 2013

FEATURED STORIES

Gov. Rick Scott says Tony Bennett is 'doing a great job'
By Cara Fitzpatrick
Tampa Bay Times
After a couple days of radio silence about the scandal involving Florida's education commissioner, Gov. Rick Scott finally has something to say.

From Tallahassee to Miami, protestors dog Rick Scott
By Marc A. Caputo
Miami Herald
Protestors in his Tallahassee office, protestors at his Miami-Dade press conferences – Gov. Rick Scott is facing a state of opposition after the George Zimmerman verdict.

Gov. Rick Scott: 'Jesse Jackson owes every Floridian an apology for his reckless and divisive comments'
By Michael Van Sickler and Rochelle Koff
Tampa Bay Times
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday accused the Rev. Jesse Jackson of insulting Floridians with a series of reckless and divisive statements about the state and its "stand your ground" self-defense law.

White House lays out benefits to Floridians from Obamacare
By William E. Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
Medicare’s monthly drug-coverage premium will increase by only a dollar – from $30 this year to $31 next year – White House officials said on Wednesday while bragging about the wonders of  "Obamacare."

As details of health insurance rates emerge, 2013 Florida law limits power to control them
By Stacey Singer
Palm Beach Post
While Maryland’s insurance commissioner was arguing with Aetna, Coventry and All Savers about the assumptions they used to set rates for their Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, Florida’s insurance commissioner was mute on the subject. The Florida Legislature had silenced him.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Crisafulli ready for his close-up as Weatherford promotes him to House Majority Leader
By Michael Van Sickler
Tampa Bay Times
Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford on Wednesday announced a changing of the guards, and they're both named Steve(!)

Few changes as Weatherford announces committee chairs for 2014 session
By Gray Rohrer
The Florida Current
House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, made few changes to the leaders of legislative committees in his chamber, and made a switch in a key leadership position.

Dolphins owner recruiting candidates to run against Miami lawmakers who opposed stadium bid
By Patricia Mazzei
Miami Herald
Stephen Ross, the Miami Dolphins owner who vowed to avenge his political loss in Tallahassee earlier this year, is recruiting candidates to run against two lawmakers who opposed using public dollars to partly fund a $350 million renovation to Sun Life Stadium, the Miami Herald has learned.

Give federal government some oversight of Florida’s new voter purge
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Last summer, as presidential candidates criss-crossed Florida, Gov. Rick Scott and state election officials pressed ahead with flawed plans to purge non-citizens from the voter rolls.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Proposed pipeline, connector project follow legislation that provides expedited permitting
Bruce Ritchie
The Florida Current
A proposal to extend a natural gas pipeline and connector 340 miles across Florida follows the Legislature's approval of bills to provide expedited permitting for interstate pipeline projects.

EDUCATION

Dems call for Education Commissioner Bennett's ouster
By Kathleen McGrory
Miami Herald
Two Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday called for the resignation of Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett, saying the school grades scandal in Indiana had called Bennett's integrity into question.

Tony Bennett grade change a blow to accountability
By Beth Kassab
Orlando Sentinel
Tony Bennett is accustomed to battling the negative perception of school accountability.  Now he's the perception problem.

Departing professor: Cuts have 'massacred' UF psychology department
By Jeff Schweers
Gainesville Sun
Before Clive Wynne packed up his office belongings for his move to Tempe, Ariz., the former University of Florida professor sent an impassioned four-page letter to Tigert Hall decrying the "massacre" of the Department of Psychology.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Fla. sales tax holiday begins Friday
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Gainesville Sun
Heading into another school year this month, Florida shoppers can take advantage of a three-day sales tax holiday this weekend that will allow them to buy clothing and school supplies and not pay the state's 6 percent sales tax.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Medicaid's Elder Experiment Begins
Staff Report
Health News Florida
Florida's statewide Medicaid managed-care gamble gets officially under way on Thursday, beginning with thousands of the state's most vulnerable clients: low-income seniors too sick to get by without help.

Florida operative Jackie Lee to lead Obamacare offensive
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Jackie Lee, a Democratic strategist in Florida who was involved in the 2008 and 2012 Obama campaigns, will lead a statewide effort by liberal groups to go on the offensive on Obamacare as Congress returns for summer recess.

Another DCF horror story: child sex-trafficking victim raped after going to Miami "safe house"
By Marc A. Caputo
Miami Herald
Related editorial: Taking charge at DCF
A child sex trafficking victim, placed under the care of the Department of Children and Families, was raped just days after being sent to a newly opened Miami “safe house,” CBS4 News has learned.

IMMIGRATION, CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES

U.S. Ag Secretary: Immigration reform key for Fla. Industry
By Anthony Clark
Gainesville Sun
Comprehensive immigration reform is critical to secure the workforce needed by Florida's multibillion-dollar agricultural industry and would benefit the broader economy, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview with The Gainesville Sun.

As immigration heated up, Rubio made donation to PAC associated with Jim DeMint
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Sen. Marco Rubio made a five-figure contribution to a prominent super PAC ahead of a push to court conservative support of his contentious immigration reform proposal, according to a Center for Public Integrity review of documents filed today with the Federal Election Commission.

Democrats urge Scott to reconsider veto of bill that helps undocumented immigrants get driver licenses
By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph joined a chorus of Democrats Wednesday calling on Gov. Rick Scott to reconsider his veto of a bill making it easier for young undocumented immigrants to get a Florida driver license.

Scott, Cabinet expected to OK removal of bodies at Dozier
By Waveney Ann Moore
Tampa Bay Times
It appears that the University of South Florida will get state approval to continue to locate and excavate bodies at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna.