Daily Clips for October 14, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Questions about use of campaign money still dog Marco Rubio in Senate race By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Related: New poll shows Rubio retains commanding lead This spring Marco Rubio's momentum in the U.S. Senate race was threatened by a series of revelations about him repeatedly using GOP campaign donations to pay for personal expenses — everything from personal care products to a family reunion to groceries. After U.S. Sugar deal, next governor will influence Everglades restoration By Luke Johnson Florida Independent On Tuesday, the South Florida Water Management District bought nearly 27,000 acres of Everglades wetlands from U.S. Sugar for $197 million. Fla. Senate, governor debates canceled The Associated Press Miami Herald The League of Women Voters and PBS have called off televised debates in Florida's U.S. Senate and governor's races. Amendments on Nov. 2 ballot could bring big changes to state By Lillian Guevara-Castro Gainesville Sun On Nov. 2, Florida voters will decide on six proposed changes to the Florida Constitution that could alter the way campaigns for statewide office are funded and prohibit politicians from manipulating legislative district lines to their advantage, among other proposals. FLORIDA POLITICS New scandal shows the 'Taj Mahal' must be stopped By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times The only possible response to the newest scandalous revelations about that "Taj Mahal" courthouse in Tallahassee…Is to block the 1st District Court of Appeal from occupying that corrupt, stinking, ill-gotten $48 million palace that it arranged for itself. Argenziano 'looking forward' after resignation from PSC By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Nancy Argenziano is leaving the Public Service Commission her way. POLITICAL RACES Rubio: Personal expenses on GOP card 'would pop up from month to month' By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald In a meeting with the Miami Herald editorial board on Monday (see video excerpts below), Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio called $10,000 in hotel charges for a family reunion billed to a Republican Party of Florida credit card a "major mistake." Linking Crist, Obama paying off for Rubio By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Constantly linking Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek to President Obama's policies is proving to be "a smart strategy" for Republican Marco Rubio in Florida's U.S. Senate race, a new poll indicated on Wednesday. Crist gets Kennedy backing in U.S. Senate race but falls in latest poll By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post Gov. Charlie Crist's critical, and apparently failing, battle to woo Democratic voters away from Kendrick Meek in the U.S. Senate race got a boost Wednesday from a member of the nation's Democratic royal family. Quinnipiac poll: Rubio leads Crist big in Senate race The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio's criticism of President Barack Obama is resonating with Florida voters as they favor him by a wide margin over independent Gov. Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek, a poll released Wednesday showed. CFO Alex Sink licensed ex-felons to sell insurance after bashing other agency for similar moves By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau At the same time Alex Sink tried to ban felons from selling mortgages in Florida, her own state office was licensing ex-cons in the insurance business. Scott 527 nets $308,000 in four days By Luke Johnson Florida Independent A 527 group affiliated with Republican candidate for Florida governor Rick Scott has earned an impressive $308,000 in four days of contributions. Rick Scott mining GOP vein in Southwest Florida By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune Republican Rick Scott is trying to build a pathway to the governor's mansion that relies heavily on winning big in Sarasota, Manatee and other counties in Southwest Florida. Agribusiness money powers Putnam's Ag Commissioner campaign By Richard Burnett Orlando Sentinel Fueled by massive support from agriculture and other business interests, Republican U.S. Rep. Adam H. Putnam's campaign coffers have overflowed in his bid to become the state's next commissioner of agriculture. Kosmas, Adams clash in rowdy congressional campaign debate By Ludmilla Lelis Orlando Sentinel U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas and state Rep. Sandy Adams argued face to face about health-care reform and NASA funding Wednesday night during a raucous congressional campaign debate in which they called each other naive and attacked each other's ads. Congressional candidate West challenges incumbent Klein's shift on union issue By George Bennett Palm Beach Post U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, voted for organized labor's top priority in 2007 - a "card check" bill that would allow unions to bypass secret-ballot elections if a majority of employees sign cards requesting a union. Maybe Rivera's past is really top secret By Fred Grimm Miami Herald Intrigue fairly drips off David Rivera. Like sweat off a double-agent's forehead. Gianoulis' 'Deb!' too close to 'Jeb!' for Bush By Tia Mitchell Florida Times-Union The colors are the same. As are the last two letters. And the exclamation point. Central Florida Democrats gather at house parties to hear Obama's get-out-the-vote message By Christine Show Orlando Sentinel As President Barack Obama urged voters to head to the polls in November, Central Florida Democrats huddled around computers at house parties Tuesday night and tuned in his live webcast. We get the politicians we deserve By Joy-Ann Reid Miami Herald This past weekend, I tried a Twitter thought experiment, asking Florida Republicans to tweet back if they were proud -- not supportive, or intending to vote for, but proud -- of Rick Scott as their gubernatorial nominee. Computer glitch in Tallahassee could delay distribution of some absentee ballots By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau If you changed your mailing address recently and just requested an absentee ballot, there's a small chance you might not get it quickly because of a glitch in the state's voter database. BALLOT INITIATIVES Fla. class-size debate over flexibility, funding By Christine Armario and Bill Kaczor The Associate Press “Flexibility” and “funding” are the buzzwords of the debate over a Nov. 2 ballot proposal that would loosen Florida's class-size limits. Why PTA advocates voting No on Amendment 8 By Karin Brown and Latha Krishnaiyer Miami Herald As the oldest and largest child-advocacy association in this state and nation, every position we take needs to satisfactorily answer the question, “Is this good for all children?” Amendment 4: Question could change South Florida landscape By Andres Viglucci Miami Herald Pop quiz: What is a comprehensive development plan? Why retirees should support Amendments 5 and 6 By Tony Fransetta Gainesville Sun On November 2 voters will have an historic opportunity to vote for meaningful political reform by voting "Yes" on the "Fair Districts" Amendments 5 and 6. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Nearly six months after Deepwater Horizon explosion, cleanup continues By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa Next week marks six months since the blowout at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. State growth management agency unfairly attacked By Charles Pattison Gainesville Sun According to recent news reports, gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott would support eliminating the state’s land planning agency, the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA). LGBT DCF won't appeal overturn of gay adoption ban The Associated Press Miami Herald Related: ACLU applauds DCF decision not to appeal adoption ruling Florida's gay adoption ban won't be enforced anywhere in the state after the Department of Children and Families decided Tuesday not to appeal the ban's overturn to the state Supreme Court. Lesbian couple file to adopt in Florida, where ban was overturned By John Couwels CNN A lesbian couple have applied to adopt a child after Florida's child advocacy agency announced it won't fight a court ruling that found the state's ban on such adoptions unconstitutional. EDUCATION U.S. education secretary pays visit to Jacksonville school By Topher Sanders Florida Times-Union Jacksonville’s KIPP Impact Middle School will receive $500,000 from the federal government to support its music program, the school’s national foundation announced Wednesday during a visit by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Federal money coming to boost Dade schools By Kathleen McGrory Miami Herald The Miami-Dade school district will soon be able to receive about $70 million in education funding from the federal government. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY States launch an inquiry into home foreclosure crisis By Toluse Olorunnipa and Ina Paiva Cordle Miami Herald In a new foreclosure crisis that has gone national, all 50 states plus the District of Columbia have launched a sweeping probe of the country's lenders, even as new figures showed banks repossessed a record number of homes in September. Foreclosure 'robo-signers' appear to be widespread By Kimberly Miller Palm Beach Post Florida foreclosure law firms were using the same "robo-signer"-type practices to repossess homes that tripped up the nation's major lenders, a signal, defense attorneys argue, that should lead to a larger foreclosure moratorium. Symposium: Why Aren't Florida Candidates Talking About Poverty? By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida Nearly 3 million Floridians are living in poverty, according to U.S. Census Bureau 2009 numbers. HEALTH AND SENIORS Nurses, doctors at odds on politics By Jim Saunders and Carol Gentry Health News Florida Anyone who hasn't noticed the big difference between the world views of doctors and nurses could catch on just by looking at their endorsements in the Florida governor's race. Feds urge states: Push insurers to offer child-only health policies By Linda Shrieves Orlando Sentinel In what appears to be an early skirmish in implementing the health-care overhaul, federal officials Wednesday urged states to push insurance companies to sell health policies for children — about a month after many insurers stopped selling child-only policies. Finances better, but Jackson Health still in trouble By John Dorschner Miami Herald Although numbers are preliminary and auditors want more money to study them, Treasurer Marcos Lapciuc has praised executives of the Jackson Health System for a “remarkable turnaround” in finishing their fiscal year with an estimated loss of $90 million -- far lower than the $244 million deficit in fiscal 2009. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Tomato grower, harvesters strike historic accord By Amy Bennett Williams Ft. Myers News-Press After years of impasse, one of the nation's largest tomato growers has made peace with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Modern-Day Slavery Museum makes a visit By Bill Daley Miami Herald When we hear the word “slavery” nowadays, most of us probably think of the plantations in the South back in the days of the Civil War.

Daily Clips for October 13, 2010

FEATURED STORIES No sign Kendrick Meek or Charlie Crist will drop out, but chatter builds By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Three weeks from Election Day, the math is clear: So long as nonpartisan candidate Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek divvy up Democratic votes, Republican Marco Rubio is poised to comfortably win a U.S. Senate seat. New poll: Ads attacking Scott's ethics help Sink surge to dead heat in Fla. gov race By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post After weeks of negative ads from both campaigns and less than a week before early voting begins, the Florida governor's race is in a statistical dead heat, according to a new poll released Tuesday. Sink chastises DCA judges By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink on Tuesday spanked judges of the 1st District Court of Appeal and project managers at the Department of Management Services with an audit that derides lavish spending on the $49-million project, criticizes bullying judges who made it happen and finds fault with a state agency failing to protect taxpayer dollars. DCF won't appeal ruling against Florida's gay-adoption law By Carol Marbin Miller Miami Herald Related: Equality Florida: DCF decision not to appeal gay adoption ruling puts 'the best interest of Florida's children first' Florida child welfare administrators will not appeal last month's ruling that tossed out Florida's controversial gay-adoption law. FLORIDA POLITICS More dirt under new carpets at 'Taj Mahal' Editorial St. Petersburg Times Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink's eye-opening audit of the $48 million "Taj Mahal" courthouse shows stunning lapses by the Florida agency charged with overseeing state construction projects. POLITICAL RACES Rick Scott, Alex Sink in tight race for governor, Quinnipiac poll shows By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related: Rick Scott dodges answers by invoking Fifth Amendment, Democrats claim in ad Related: Does Rick Scott invoking the Fifth Amendment imply guilt? Related: Sink's ad attacking Scott gets fraud claims right, but also misleads Republican Rick Scott clings to a single percentage point lead over Democrat Alex Sink, 45-44, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday. Poll finds ethics will matter in gov. race By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News A tight race for governor will be decided by voter perception of the candidates' business ethics, according to a new statewide survey released Tuesday. Scott continues attack on Sink's decisions, judgment By Catherine Whittenburg Tampa Tribune Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott continued Tuesday to criticize Alex Sink, the state's chief financial officer, for allowing people with criminal histories to work in the insurance industry. Argenziano quits Florida PSC to support Alex Sink for governor By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Nancy Argenziano announced Tuesday she is resigning from the Florida Public Service Commission to support Democrat Alex Sink in her race against Republican Rick Scott for governor. McCollum leaning toward a vote for Scott; Crist says he hasn’t decided By William March Tampa Tribune Attorney General Bill McCollum told reporters today that while “I respect her as an individual,” he can’t support Democrat Alex Sink for governor and is leaning toward casting a ballot for his former primary rival, Rick Scott. Poll: Rubio maintaining big lead in Senate race By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Republican Marco Rubio is maintaining a big lead in the home stretch of Florida's U.S. Senate race, according to a new poll released today. Meek campaign denies rumors he's dropping out of Senate race, blames Crist team for starting them By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post Stuck in third place in a three-way race, Democrat Kendrick Meek's campaign spent much of Tuesday scrambling to dispel rumors that he might consider dropping out of the U.S. Senate race. Schwarzenegger Endorses Crist In Senate Race Staff Report Lakeland Ledger Gov. Charlie Crist lost endorsements from prominent Republicans when he bolted the party for an independent Senate run, but one is sticking by him: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Handful of races could determine if GOP gets veto-proof majority By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune A handful of races across Florida could decide whether or not Republicans gain enough seats in the upcoming election to hold a veto-proof majority. John Thrasher, Deborah Gianoulis, stake claims at Beaches in Florida Senate race By Drew Dixon Florida Times-Union Both candidates in the state Senate District 8 race share the same views on issues such as protecting tourism and the environment, and they both call the Beaches area home turf. Undisclosed money pours into Central Florida congressional races By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Last week, controversy erupted over a report by the liberal blog ThinkProgress that accused the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of funneling foreign money into U.S. elections. Boyd, Southerland trade charges By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau News Republican Steve Southerland sought to depict U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd as a puppet of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a pair of debates Tuesday. Tea party star in tight bid for Congress in Fla. By Matt Sedensky The Associated Press Republican congressional candidate Allen West calls his incumbent Democrat opponent a cretin. Records don't back South Florida GOP House candidate David Rivera's job history By Scott Hiaasen and Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald Over the past seven years, Republican state Rep. David Rivera repeatedly said in sworn documents that his main source of income, outside of his salary from the legislature, came from consulting work he did for the U.S. Agency for International Development. National Dems pulling back from Kosmas but contend she'll win By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Central Florida Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the country, issued Tuesday what has become a fairly routine bit of news from her campaign: A strong fundraising quarter. BALLOT INITIATIVES Amendment 8 about money, not helping students By Sen. J. Alex Villalobos Palm Beach Post Amendment 8 is not a benign revision of class size. It is about politics and money. Don't get snookered by fears spread by Amendment 4 foes By Lauren Ritchie Orlando Sentinel The lies are starting to work. A multimillion-dollar campaign financed by developers, builders, land speculators and others who stand to make fortunes from over-development is starting to convince Floridians that Amendment 4 will bring on Armageddon. Amendment 4 battle lines drawn By Jackie Barron Tampa Tribune The war over Amendment 4 has gained steam as Election Day draws closer. Amendment 4 supporters seek voice in development By Timothy R. Wolfrum Bradenton Herald The unnerving jangle of a nearby jackhammer provided fitting background noise to an Amendment 4 rally Tuesday afternoon across from the Manatee County Administration Building. Voters will get chance to embrace or repeal public finance of Florida campaigns By Adam Playford Palm Beach Post Amendment 1 is giving Florida voters a simple choice: Do you want taxpayer money to pay for political campaigns? What we think: Yes on Amendments 5 & 6 Editorial Orlando Sentinel If only those who run state government felt as strongly about securing the jobs of other Floridians, perhaps we wouldn't be pushing a 12 percent unemployment rate. 'Yes' on Amendments 5 and 6 Editorial Sarasota Herald-Tribune In the last 10 years, 505 incumbent Florida legislators have stood for re-election, the Florida Times-Union reported recently. Only 10 of them have lost. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Obama Administration Lifts Oil Drilling Ban -- Too Soon? By Trimmel Gomes WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced that the moratorium in the Gulf has been lifted because of new safety standards and the significant progress made in reducing the risk of deep water drilling. But environmentalists like Eric Draper with the Audubon of Florida says six months is not enough time to determine that oil drilling in the future is safe. Florida's Everglades buyout shrinks to fraction of promised restoration By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Two years ago, Gov. Charlie Crist unveiled what looked to be the biggest triumph ever in the somewhat rocky history of Everglades restoration: a $1.75 billion deal to buy out U.S. Sugar lock, stock and sugar mills — and, most important, take over 187,000 acres. Panthers, orchids `watchdogs of the environment' By Susan Cocking Miami Herald The chief biologist at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge has been propagating orchids in his lab 20 miles east of Naples for the past 11 years as a way of saving one of the most endangered mammals in the U.S. Will NE Florida run out of water? By Christopher Curry Gainesville Sun During the Tampa Bay water wars of the 1990s, one Pinellas County commissioner famously announced, "Keep the Suwannee River cold, because we're coming for it." LGBT Judge acts while others debate Pentagon gay policy By Pete Yost The Associated Press A federal judge's ruling that the military must stop its "don't ask, don't tell" policy comes amid conflicting concerns of gays who think the government is moving too slowly to let them serve openly and Pentagon officials who believe that moving too quickly might disrupt a military engaged in war. DCF won't appeal overturn of gay adoption ban By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press Florida's gay adoption ban won't be enforced anywhere in the state after the Department of Children and Families decided Tuesday not to appeal the ban's overturn to the state Supreme Court. Florida’s first gay adoption in more than 30 years By Mike Thomas Orlando Sentinel Frank Martin Gill has become the first openly gay person to adopt a child in Florida in more than 30 years. EDUCATION Florida gets poor grades in new study on education funding By Tom Marshall St. Petersburg Times Florida earned a D grade on one measure of education funding in a new study by the New Jersey-based Education Law Center, with support from the Ford Foundation. Debate over chocolate milk in school cafeterias has officials cutting sugar, banning altogether By Sonja Isger Palm Beach Post Is sugar-laden chocolate milk a necessary lunchroom bribe to get needed calcium and Vitamin D into our children? JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida tomato workers to announce deal with growers The Associated Press South Florida Sun-Sentinel A farmworker organization and major Florida grower are expected to announce a new deal to improve worker conditions. HEALTH AND SENIORS How the American Legislative Exchange Council turned health care repeal into a national wave By Jesse Zwick Florida Independent In early August, an obscure measure called Proposition C — which prohibits the government from mandating the purchase of health insurance — passed overwhelmingly in a Missouri referendum and soon became national news. New concept to counter HMOs? By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Faced with a likely expansion of Medicaid HMOs, the Florida Medical Association is looking at a new possibility to give doctors more control over patient care: "accountable care organizations." CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Poll: Most Floridians and Other Americans Don’t Want War with Iran By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida Despite sanctions and harsh rhetoric from the Obama Administration - when it comes to bombing Iran, most Americans want to take that option right off the table. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Courts will ask lawmakers to reinstate two percent pay cut By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Florida’s court system is asking that state lawmakers reinstate a two-percent pay cut of judicial salaries that took effect in 2009.

Daily Clips for October 12, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Obama gives Democrats a pep talk By Amy Sherman and Lesley Clark Miami Herald President Barack Obama urged Democratic donors at an NBA star-studded Coral Gables fundraiser on Monday to get out the vote and boost Democrats, telling them that his 2008 election “was only the beginning of the dream.” Sink, Scott trade charges of corruption The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Democrat Alex Sink and Republican Rick Scott both escalated their attacks in their war of corruption charges in the Florida governor's race Monday. New Quinnipiac Poll shows Sink, Scott in dead heat for governor By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Republican Rick Scott are in a dead heat in their race for governor, a new poll indicates today. Incoming Senate president jettisons longtime staffers as GOP consolidates power By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The once-moderate Florida Senate is growing more conservative under incoming leader Mike Haridopolos in the wake of high-level staff firings and resignations that have thinned the ranks of Democrats in the upper chamber. FLORIDA POLITICS Audit of 'Taj Mahal' 1st District Court of Appeal courthouse finds 17 problem areas By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Related editorial: Courthouse deal riddled with ethical lapses Judges at the 1st District Court of Appeal illegally took control of building themselves a new courthouse and added millions to the cost with custom fixtures, etched glass, African mahogany and granite, according to auditors who reviewed the project. POLITICAL RACES As CFO, Alex Sink more incremental than sweeping By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel When Alex Sink was elected Florida's chief financial officer four years ago, supporters hoped she would lead a rebound for out-of-power Democrats in state government. Alex Sink keeps running mate Rod Smith in background By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Democratic candidate for governor Alex Sink didn't have to look far to find a credible bulldog to raise sharp questions about Republican Rick Scott's extensive legal and business baggage. Sink slams Scott in new two-minute ad dubbed ‘Fraud Files’ By Brett Ader Florida Independent Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink released a new two-minute ad today, slamming her Republican opponent in the harshest attack yet leveled by the CFO. Opinion page editors wonder: Who (and Where) are you, Rick Scott? By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel The push to win newspaper endorsements has turned into a one-sided affair in the Florida governor’s race, with Republican Rick Scott effectively boycotting editorial boards while Democrat Alex Sink makes a big, homestretch pitch for support. In Florida, Obama raises money, rallies spirits By Julie Pace The Associated Press President Barack Obama implored Democrats on Monday to remember why they sent him to the White House and told supporters that a Republican-led Congress would prevent him from accomplishing his agenda. Immigration may be key factor in election By Bianca Fortis Florida Independent Debate over immigration could play a key role in Florida elections, the Orlando Sentinel is reporting. Immigration Debate Could Weigh Heavily in Ag Commissioner Race By Kevin Bouffard Lakeland Ledger Florida farmers have a deserved reputation as a conservative bunch, but their full-throated advocacy for federal legislation that would give legal residency to up to 2 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. would make most liberals proud. Obama, Boehner visits to S. Fla. show Klein-West race important nationally By George Bennett Palm Beach Post In case there was any doubt, the race between Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein and Republican challenger Allen West is officially a big national deal. Opposites face off in Fla.'s 8th District By Mike Schneider The Associated Press U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson isn't subtle and neither is the attack ad the Democrat is running against his Repbulican opponent. Rivera, Garcia debate again -- on Spanish radio By Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald A day after their first bruising debate, Democrat Joe Garcia and Republican David Rivera faced off again Monday afternoon, this time on a Spanish-language radio station where the two congressional candidates laid out clear lines of attack against each other. Ambler challenge of Norman goes to trial today By Mike Salinero Tampa Tribune A one-day trial gets under way this morning to hear state Rep. Kevin Ambler's lawsuit that seeks to disqualify Jim Norman's candidacy for the state Senate District 12 seat. BALLOT INITIATIVES Amendments 5 & 6 would reshape Fla. redistricting By Mike Schneider The Associated Press Every 10 years, after the release of the U.S. Census count, lawmakers in Tallahassee battle over how Florida's legislative and congressional districts should be redrawn. Voters to Decide Fair Districts’ Fate By Mike Vasilinda Capitol News Service This November, voters will decide the fate of two constitutional amendments designed to keep politicians from drawing their own districts without guidelines. Fair Districts ad: politicians like bank robbers and foxes in the hen house By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Politicians are foxes guarding the hen house or bank robbers protecting the banks when it comes to drawing their own districts, a new ad by the backers of Amendments 5 and 6 accuses. Amendment 8 debate centers on money for schools By Sherri Ackerman Tampa Tribune High school principal Rocky Hanna believed in Amendment 8 when state lawmakers tapped him last spring to stand with them in support of the measure. School boards back amendment scaling back class size law By Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel The group representing Central Florida school boards agreed Monday to urge voters to support a ballot measure that would scale back the strictest portion of Florida's class-size law. On the ballot: Proposal to give property tax exemption to military deployed overseas By Adam Playford Palm Beach Post Out of Michael Waldrop's stint as an infantry captain in Afghanistan has already come two Bronze Stars for Valor and a Purple Heart. Balanced budget item is the first nonbinding referendum ever on statewide ballot By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Nearly obscured at the bottom of the state portion of Florida's Nov. 2 ballot is a question for voters that's a historical departure from every other election in the state's history. Amendments 5 and 6: Vote yes Editorial Gainesville Sun Giving state lawmakers unrestricted authority to draw legislative and congressional district lines is just like putting foxes in charge of the henhouse. We recommend: Vote yes on Amendments 5, 6 Editorial Florida Today Florida voters have a major opportunity to stand up for the cause of good government and improve the health of democracy Nov. 2. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY State nixes bear workshops because of hunting controversy By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com State wildlife officials on Monday postponed workshops on black bear management because they said too many people wanted to talk about hunting bears. Florida regulators examine excess FPL profits The Associated Press Tampa Tribune The state Public Service Commission is considering a staff recommendation for Florida Power & Light Co. to set aside $400 million for possible refunds due to excess profits. Where's the EPA? Editorial Miami Herald EPA director Lisa Jackson has won a reprieve on an order to appear in Miami federal court last week to explain her agency's “glacial slowness” in meeting water pollution standards vital to Everglades restoration. EDUCATION Merit Pay: FL school boards, superintendents, unions to work on their own proposal By Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel Educators expect Florida’s legislative leaders will push again next year for some type of teacher merit pay bill, and this time they want to be prepared. For-profit colleges slam state schools By Michael Vasquez Miami Herald Stung by a barrage of recent criticism, the nation's for-profit colleges and universities are crying foul -- and going on the attack. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida Attorney General joins 39 states investigating foreclosure crisis By Diane C. Lade South Florida Sun-Sentinel Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has joined top regulators from 39 other states in scrutinizng the banks, mortgage companies and loan servicers involved in the widening foreclosure crisis. Who should pay for Florida’s high-speed rail? By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Speculation has been increasing that support for high-speed rail projects may hinge on who gets elected governor. Florida's High Speed Rail on track for 2015 By Sarah Curran WMNF Community Radio Tampa This isn't your average choo-choo train. Federal report: ‘There are real costs to not investing in infrastructure’ By Travis Pillow Florida Independent The point has been made repeatedly over the past few years: Increasing investment in infrastructure can be good for the economy, as long as it’s done right. NASA closer to getting extra space shuttle flight The Associated Press Palm Beach Post There's still the matter of money. But it looks increasingly likely that NASA will get an extra space shuttle flight. HEALTH AND SENIORS State can shut down dangerous 'pill mills' Editorial Daytona Beach News-Journal Florida's disreputable status as the nation's pain pill dispenser should change soon, thanks to a new state law that took effect Oct. 1. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Advocates in South Florida push to implement new law that takes DNA upon felony arrests By Jerome Burdi South Florida Sun-Sentinel Beginning in January, state law will require felony suspects to submit DNA samples to police for inclusion in a national database.

Daily Clips for October 11, 2010

FEATURED STORIES GOP hopes for veto-proof power in state By Gary Fineout Ocala Star-Banner Millions of dollars are being spent to elect Florida's next governor, but what happens over the next four years may hinge just as much on little-noticed races going on in Gainesville, Sarasota, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Rick Scott, Alex Sink go 1-on-1 in first debate By Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald The war of words playing out over the airwaves between Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink spilled into the Doral studios of Univisión on Friday as the two major candidates for Florida governor faced off in their first televised debate. Meek trying to convince Democrats he can beat Rubio By William March Tampa Tribune A political legacy from his mother and energetically championing causes dear to Democrats gave U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek an unassailable political base in his Miami congressional district. GOP candidates lead all 3 Cabinet races By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Republicans continue to lead all three state Cabinet races, according to a statewide poll released on Saturday. Running scared over Amendment 4 By Carl Hiaasen Miami Herald Major home builders are uncorking a bombastic media blitz to scare Floridians away from voting yes to Amendment 4. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Jim Morin Miami Herald FLORIDA POLITICS In 'Taj Mahal' tale, questions raised in judicial ruling By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times When the 1st District Court of Appeal started negotiating to build the courthouse that would come to be derided as the Taj Mahal, the St. Joe Co. was in an important legal battle before the same court. Right place, Right time By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News Neoclassical columns rise into the air, capped by a dome that dominates the surrounding low-slung buildings six miles southeast of the towering Capitol. How the Legislature voted, Part 7: Abortions and ultrasounds By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times Today's entry in our "how the Legislature voted" series is more controversial; some people will think it was a good idea. My own bias is against it. Wave of public corruption scandals spurs ethics push in Broward By Amy Sherman, Carli Teproff and Daniel Chang Miami Herald This is where Broward's political world finds itself today: One year after the biggest public corruption bust in county history, elected officials are still getting hauled away in handcuffs for selling their offices. POLITICAL RACES Sink hammers Republican Scott in Fla. gov. debate By Mitch Stacy The Associated Press Related: 'Outsider' Scott makes nice with GOP establishment Democratic gubernatorial nominee Alex Sink came out swinging against Republican Rick Scott in their first debate Friday, calling him a liar, slamming him repeatedly for the fraud scandal at his former hospital company and accusing the multimillionaire of trying to buy the office. 'Unpredictable' race has Sink fighting to make history By Jim Ash Pensacola News Journal Related: Panhandle has Scott's back for governor Before the rise of the tea party, before a multimillionaire health care executive came out of nowhere to claim the Republican nomination for governor, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink easily could claim title to the most compelling political story. Poll: Sink ahead of Scott, but damaged by attack ads By Marc Caputo Miami Herald Related: The truth of attack ads Democrat Alex Sink is nursing a narrow lead over Republican Rick Scott in the Florida governor's race, according to a new poll showing that his barrage of negative ads is nevertheless hurting her candidacy. Rick Scott's IRS records show lower tax rate and higher income in 2009 on global investments By Michael C. Bender, Marc Caputo and Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Rick Scott blames President Barack Obama for the nation's economic woes, but Florida's Republican nominee for governor is doing far better now than he did in the last year of George W. Bush's presidency. Can Rick Scott's Economic Plan Work? By Lloyd Dunkelberger Lakeland Ledger Many of the questions surrounding Rick Scott's campaign to be Florida's next governor have centered on the massive fraud that occurred when he was CEO of what was then the nation's largest health care chain, Columbia/HCA. Poll: Sink has slim lead over Scott By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau News A new statewide poll Friday showed Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink with a slim lead over Republican Rick Scott in the race for governor. Religious voters convert, turn to Rick Scott By John Kennedy News Service of Florida Florida Republican lawmakers and major contributors who fiercely opposed Rick Scott during the party's August primary for governor wasted little time sliding over to support the nominee. Scott, Sink reveal agendas for education By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union While there are a few similarities in the public education plans of the two major-party candidates for governor, the agendas are focused on different paths to boosting education achievement. Florida's next governor will face key transportation issues By Brandon Larrabee With Florida's population expected to grow over the next several years, either Alex Sink or Rick Scott will be faced with ensuring the state's transportation network keeps up with the growth when one of them becomes governor after the November elections. Environment lost along with other issues in governor's race By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune 1000 Friends of Florida, a group focusing on growth management issues statewide, sent a questionnaire last month to the eight major party candidates in the state Cabinet races. Florida politics churns mud faster than a swamp buggy in the 'Glades By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times People in Florida are shocked — shocked! — that Rick Scott would stretch the truth in his TV ads. Marco Rubio's meteoric rise in Florida politics By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Marco Rubio's meteoric rise in Florida politics is a story of unremitting ambition, natural talent and powerful connections that began 14 years ago in a Miami coffee shop. A once unknown Rubio takes over lead in the Senate race By William March Tampa Tribune A year and a half ago, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio was virtually unknown outside his Miami home turf. Meek molds middle-class fighter image By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post In his roughly 19 months of campaigning for the U.S. Senate, Kendrick Meek has made every attempt to become the candidate for Florida's working class. Bill Clinton to campaign for Kendrick Meek at USF St. Pete By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Former President Bill Clinton is set to campaign for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek on Oct. 19 in St. Petersburg. Meek looks to lock in Aaronson endorsement By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Still fighting to win votes from his own party in the final weeks of the general election campaign, Democratic Senate nominee Kendrick Meek plans to meet Wednesday with Democratic Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson, who's been mulling an endorsement of independent Charlie Crist. Crist says he hasn't changed even though his party has By William March Tampa Tribune Is he Chain-Gang Charlie? Or is he the moderate populist who refused to go along with the Republican Party's sharp right turn? Wall Street Journal story about Crist/Meek deal laughable, Meek says By Tristram Korten Florida Independent A Wall Street Journal Political Diary story states that Republicans are worried that Gov. Charlie Crist, independent candidate for U.S. Senate, is working on a deal with Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek to have Meek drop out of the race and presumably endorse Crist in order to beat Republican Marco Rubio, who currently leads in the polls by about a 10-point margin. Meet Charlie Crist's unconventional U.S. Senate campaign team By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Margaret Wood cheered loudly and maybe more sincerely than most as Gov. Charlie Crist told a crowd gathered along his hometown waterfront in April that he was abandoning the GOP to run for the U.S. Senate as a nonpartisan candidate. Rubio blames Crist for the tanking economy By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Marco Rubio rarely veers much from his standard stump speech about America being the greatest country ever and her greatness being endangered by the Obama administration's agenda. Tea partiers swoon over Rubio in St. Pete By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa With less than four weeks to go until the November election, one statewide race continues to captivate Florida politicos. In Florida attorney general race, major contrasts in candidate priorities By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post For the first time in decades, Florida's next attorney general will be a prosecutor who's as comfortable in front of a judge and jury as a television camera. Health care factor in attorney general race By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Floridians can't vote on President Obama's national health-care plan next month, but they can decide whether their state should continue fighting it in court. 3 issues show differences between Bondi, Gelber By Laura Kinsler Tampa Tribune When it comes to hot-button issues such as health care, school funding and gay adoption, attorney general candidates Pam Bondi and Dan Gelber have vastly different plans for the office. Ausley demands late debate with Atwater By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital Bureau News Democrat Loranne Ausley demanded a debate with Senate President Jeff Atwater on Friday in the closing days of race for chief financial officer. Immigration issue could sway key races in Florida By William E. Gibson Orlando Sentinel Most politicians in Florida are keeping a safe distance from the explosive issue of immigration this year, but the ongoing national debate could make a crucial difference in the campaigns for governor and several close congressional races. Florida's ballot offers plenty of alternatives to Republicans and Democrats By Lee Logan St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau At a major tea party convention in St. Augustine last month, U.S. Senate candidate Bernie DeCastro wanted to address the thousands of political activists who showed up to decry a free-spending federal government. Poll: Thrasher and Gianoulis in statistical dead heat By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union Citing, in part, an anti-incumbent sentiment, a poll obtained by the Times-Union has Democratic state Senate candidate Deborah Gianoulis in a statistical dead heat with her opponent Sen. John Thrasher. GOP spends $200,000 on Thrasher ads News Service Of Florida St. Augustine Record The Florida Republican Party has weighed in with a $200,000 ad buy for its chairman, Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who is facing a stern re-election challenge from Democrat Deborah Gianoulis of Ponte Vedra Beach. Joe Garcia and David Rivera step up attacks in TV debate By Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald The first televised debate between Republican David Rivera and Democrat Joe Garcia on Sunday highlighted the combative and contentious contest between the two congressional rivals, who barely let each other get a word in edgewise as they jostled over taxes, federal stimulus dollars and Cuba. U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, challenger Allen West fire familiar barbs in televised debate By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Republican challenger Allen West slammed Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein on the economy during a televised debate today, while Klein defended the federal stimulus program and blasted West's personal finances and residence outside congressional District 22. Obama returning to Miami for fundraiser By Lesley Clark Miami Herald Eager to retain Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, President Barack Obama returns today for his third Miami fundraiser of the year — this time to benefit House races, including an increasingly competitive South Florida contest. Campaigning's begun for 2012 presidential race By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Don't look now, but while many voters have barely started digesting the slugfests for governor and Congress that will be over in less than four weeks, the 2012 presidential campaign is well under way in Florida. GOP agenda: Vote Republican, take your medicine By Stephen Goldstein South Florida Sun-Sentinel The Republican-tea party is fooling you. So, on Nov. 2, vote like an enlightened stamp-collector. BALLOT INITIATIVES Amendment 4 support slips By Anthony Man Orlando Sentinel The business-labor campaign to kill the proposed constitutional amendment to rein in growth appears to be working. A Mason-Dixon poll released Saturday shows support for Amendment 4 is dropping and is far short of passage. Amendment 4 showdown seven years in the making By Michael Peltier Naples Daily News Ali v. Fraser has nothing on these guys when it comes to pre-fight hype. This ballot fight card has been seven years in the making. How can you vote against right to vote? By Gary Borse Ocala Star-Banner Why anyone in their right mind would vote against an amendment that would give them the right to vote on local land-use issues is beyond unbelievable. Debate continues over class size amendment By Dave Breitenstein Ft. Myers News-Press The days of 35 students jam-packed into a classroom are history. Florida Amendment 8: Right Size is Wrong Choice By Thomas Bradwell The Examiner As the pivotal 2010 mid-term November elections approach, the Florida Supreme court unanimously decided last week that the controversial Republican-sponsored Amendment 8 will indeed appear on the ballot. Amendments' goals: Curb tailor-made voting districts By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post There are Florida legislative and congressional voting districts so oddly shaped they resemble your small intestine. Oddly shaped voting districts at issue By Derek Catron Daytona Beach News-Journal Florida's 3rd Congressional District starts in the part of Jacksonville where U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown lives. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Sugar land deal finally a lock By Curtis Morgan Miami Herald If Charlie Crist were a car salesman, the $1.75 billion buyout of a sprawling sugar empire he pitched as the salvation of the Everglades more than two years ago might be likened to a Ferrari Enzo. Getting U.S. Sugar land ready for Glades restoration would cost millions By Andy Reid South Florida Sun-Sentinel A more than two-year odyssey of legal fights and political battles over buying U.S. Sugar farmland for Everglades restoration may ultimately prove easier than actually putting the land to use. No escape: Climate will shape society By Larry Chamblin Pensacola News Journal Oil is no longer gushing from deep in the Gulf of Mexico, though we may feel the economic and environmental impacts of the spill for years. America moves on from spill; coast feels abandoned By Jay Reeves The Associated Press About 800 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, Dave Edmonds is struggling to remind people about the BP oil spill. Report: BP pays Feinberg and firm $850,000 a month By Andrew Restuccia Florida Independent BP is paying Kenneth Feinberg and his law firm, Feinberg Rozen, $850,000 a month to administer the company’s $20 billion oil spill compensation fund, Bloomberg reports today. Moving sea turtle eggs away from gulf oil spill proving to be a success By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times As oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster oozed close to the beaches of Florida and Alabama, state and federal officials launched a desperate effort to save a generation of sea turtles. Florida weighs reinstating bear hunting, hearing this week in Naples By Eric Staats Naples Daily News The draft of Florida’s black bear management plan has more than 150 pages and is chock full of maps and charts. Water and septic tanks By Linda Young Gainesville Sun Many Americans are growing weary of the government telling us how to live our lives and especially how to spend our money. La Niña contributes to tough Florida wildfire season forecast By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson on Friday predicted a tough wildfire season because of a long-range weather forecast calling for dry conditions. LGBT Florida Vigil: Teen Suicides and Bullying By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida On this National Coming Out Day, there is a call to remember the six young people who took their own lives in recent weeks across the country due to gay bullying. Gay bashing isn't just mean -- it can kill By Daniel Shoer Ruth Miami Herald It is hard to believe that in this century, and in this highly developed country, a rash of suicides has spread among adolescents who are relentlessly harassed for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Help Wanted: Foster care homes for gay teens By Jeff Kunerth Orlando Sentinel Alarmed by the number of gay kids who have run away from home or have been thrown out by their parents, a new organization within Orlando's gay community is trying to provide help, shelter and homes for these children. Gay couples have their day By Troy Moon Pensacola News Journal It looked like any other wedding ceremony at times. EDUCATION Barack Obama: Keep investing in schools By Abby Phillip Politico Education and the economy dominated President Barack Obama’s weekly address Saturday. Schools get creative to shrink classrooms By Kathleen McGrory and Carli Teproff Miami Herald Six weeks into the school year, thousands of students in Broward County schools are being transferred into a new classroom with a new teacher. Broward schools in a race to reform By Akilah Johnson South Florida Sun-Sentinel In order to get $37 million in federal Race to the Top dollars, the Broward School District must do much more than create a merit pay plan. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Robo-signing controversy could derail nation's entire foreclosure process By Jeff Harrington and Leonora LaPeter Anton St. Petersburg Times Related: Why Bank of America stopped foreclosures and how it could affect you and others Related: When banks get too zealous in foreclosures What began as scattered accusations of shoddy paperwork and fudged documents is mushrooming into a full-blown crisis threatening to derail the foreclosure process across the country. Foreclosure freeze widens as fears grow By Toluse Olorunnipa and Ina Paiva Cordle Miami Herald Thousands of foreclosure sales -- which have become the engine of South Florida's housing market -- have been thrown into a tailspin by jarring testimonies of bank employees who signed legal documents by the thousands without properly reviewing them. Ex-employee says foreclosure firm forged signatures By Kimberly Miller Palm Beach Post A former paralegal for Florida foreclosure giant David J. Stern describes an office where signatures on notarized documents were regularly forged, legal papers were prepared en masse in Guam and the Philippines, and closed-door screaming matches erupted when files weren't moved fast enough. U.S. jobless rate steady at 9.6% By Allison Ross Palm Beach Post When Kevin Hale landed a job in late March assisting with the 2010 Census, the Lake Worth salesman was just thrilled to have steady, full-time work. No Social Security raise in the works The Associated Press Ft. Myers News-Press As if voters don't have enough to be angry about this election year, the government is expected to announce this week that more than 58 million Social Security recipients nationwide - and an estimated 130,000 in Lee County - will go through another year without an increase in their monthly benefits. HEALTH AND SENIORS The Assault on Healthcare Reform By Nicholas Kusnetz The Nation In April 2007 an orthopedic surgeon in Arizona began a fringe fight over healthcare policy with the help of some libertarian supporters. Now, thanks to the intervention of a conservative policy group, that initiative has become a central issue of the 2010 elections. Medicare change arrives this week By Laura Green Palm Beach Post Seniors who have worried about the implications of health care reform will finally get a glimpse at how it affects their Medicare benefits come Friday when details of the 2011 plans are released. Crist wants to reform health care law, supports lawsuit By Abel Harding Florida Times-Union Gov. Charlie Crist appeared before the Times-Union editorial board and answered questions about health care reform. FL gets $25M in new grants By Carol Gentry Health News Florida Four community health centers in Florida will share $14.5 million for expansion, and five counties will share nearly $10 million for addiction treatment through federal grants announced today. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Two teens attacked at youth offender facility, suit says By Linda Trischitta South Florida Sun-Sentinel The Southern Poverty Law Center sued youth offender and treatment facility Thompson Academy in Pembroke Pines, its operator, Youth Services International of Sarasota, and the state on behalf of two teens, alleging civil rights violations. Lawsuit alleges kids were abused at Fla. lockup The Associated Press Tampa Tribune A federal class-action lawsuit claims a teenage inmate was sexually abused at a youth offender facility where other juveniles were forced to go hungry, endure hot and moldy conditions, and sleep on the floor. Clean up voter rolls by fixing process to restore civil rights By Muslima Lewis South Florida Sun-Sentinel The Sun Sentinel reported on Sept. 18 that close to 15,000 people may be listed improperly on Florida's voting rolls. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Savings lagging from expanded Fla. drug courts By Bill Kaczor The Associated Press An expanded drug court program for serious offenders will fall well short of saving Florida a predicted $95 million in prison costs unless changes are made, says a legislative report released Friday. Florida Bar Poll: Members Favor Retaining Sitting Justices By Eric Mennel WUSF Public Radio Tampa Likely voters are likely to know something about the candidates for governor and U. S. Senate. Jailed official puts hope in high court ruling By Jay Weaver Miami Herald A convicted Palm Beach County commissioner hopes to have his criminal record erased, arguing his failure to disclose a financial interest in land deals no longer stands up as illegal since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal law prosecutors used against him.