Daily Clips for August 6, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

Progress Florida endorses ‘Hometown Democracy’ amendment
By Cooper Levey-Baker
Florida Independent
Excerpt: “For too long we have watched deep-pocketed real estate speculators negotiate backroom deals with elected officials, who then run roughshod over local growth plans,” says Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo in his organization’s release. “As a result, Floridians now face gridlocked roads, depressed home values, higher taxes, inadequate infrastructure, critical water shortages, and the loss of Florida’s natural landscape to empty parking lots and vacant strip malls.”

FEATURED STORIES

Scientists question government team's report of shrinking gulf oil spill
By David A. Fahrenthold
Washington Post
The "greatest environmental disaster" in U.S. history -- which has appeared at times to leave a high-control White House powerless -- seemed to have lost its power to scare.

Attacks characterize GOP rivals' debate
By Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related editorial: Scott, McCollum launch familiar attacks
Rick Scott "ripped off taxpayers." Bill McCollum is a "desperate career politician."

Bill Clinton to campaign in Florida for Kendrick Meek
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
Former President Bill Clinton will campaign in South Florida later this month for U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek, a boost for a campaign that has struggled for momentum.

Is the Haridopolos Health Tour Leaving Patients Out of the Mix?
By Gina Presson
Public News Service Florida
Patient advocates are criticizing incoming Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos as he wraps up his three-day statewide Health Care Solutions Tour today.

BEST OF THE BLOGS

Florida Can Learn From Prop 8 Ruling
By Daniel Tilson
The Examiner
Celebrations following Wednesday's ruling by a federal judge overturning California's ban on same-sex marriage may have been premature.

Charlie Crist wins, Fanjuls lose
By Gimleteye
Eye on Miami
The Fanjuls are sugar barons whose lands in the historic Everglades are pivotal to control of Florida politics.

Marco Rubio: Robin Hood’s Evil Twin..?
By Inkberries
Beach Peanuts
Once again this past weekend, Marco Rubio was busy raising money and campaigning while singing the praises of keeping the Bush tax cuts that he’s made a cornerstone of his “Reclaim America” campaign for the U.S. Senate.

His Life
By Benjamin Kirby
The Spencerian
Kendrick Meek has a new ad out, called "My Life." I'd like you to please watch this ad, and then I'll tell you what I think about it.

Merit Pay for Teachers: Take Time to Do It Right
Center for Economic and Fiscal Policy
When Florida public schools open for a new school year this month, students and teachers will take up where they left off last May.

POLITICAL RACES

Fla. GOP gubernatorial debate hits tax, jobs, immigration, but mostly name-calling
By Michael C. Bender
Palm Beach Post
Republican gubernatorial candidates Bill McCollum and Rick Scott occasionally sparred Thursday over taxes, job creation and illegal immigration, but spent most of their hour-long debate name-calling and questioning the other's character.

New poll: Scott’s lead in primary shrinks
By Tristram Korten
Florida Independent
A new poll of 600 likely Republican voters shows self-funded governor candidate Rick Scott’s lead over Attorney General Bill McCollum shrinking to within the margin of error.

Top Candidates Turn Sarasota Into Campaign Central Thursday
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
It may be low season for tourism, but it was high season for politics Thursday in Sarasota County, when four candidates for top Florida offices came through in the span of six hours.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Study finds Florida, Alabama beach cleanups are "superficial"
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
A University of South Florida study on Thursday described the cleanup of oiled beaches on the Florida Panhandle and Alabama as "superficial" because oil remains buried within sand.

With well capped, Florida's economic outlook brightens
By Douglas Hanks
Miami Herald
In June, Sean Snaith ran the numbers and concluded the Gulf oil crisis might cost Florida’s economy $11 billion. This week, the University of Central Florida economist dialed back that nightmare scenario and says the damage will probably be about 80 percent less.

Incoming spill claims czar will drop BP's contractor
By Sasha Chavkin
ProPublica
Kenneth Feinberg, the independent paymaster chosen by President Barack Obama to administer damage claims from the gulf oil spill, will drop the contractor that BP has been using to manage the claims process and hire two new companies to replace it.

LGBT

The California gay marriage ruling
By Chan Lowe
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
There are so many dramatic aspects to Wednesday's federal court ruling overturning California’s ban on gay marriage.

Another victory in our fight for equal rights
By Alexandra Caldwell
Creative Loafing
Allow me to add one more voice cheering California for overturning Proposition 8.

EDUCATION

Superintendents object to release of school grades
By Robbyn Mitchell
St. Petersburg Times
Florida's school superintendents raised strong objections Thursday to the release of school grades planned for today, blasting recent state audits of questionable FCAT results as insufficient.

Fla. school grades due out more than a month late
The Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Florida school grades are being released more than a month later than usual.

Senate approves jobs bill to stop teacher layoffs
The Associated Press
Palm Beach Post
Congress is moving rapidly just weeks before the start of the school year to speed billions of dollars in emergency education aid to states in hopes of reversing the layoffs of tens of thousands of teachers.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Report: Floridians Get the Least Stimulus Dollars
Staff Report
Lakeland Ledger
An extensive national analysis of stimulus benefits by USA Today found Wednesday that Florida ranked last in the nation in benefits per resident from the federal assistance package.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

States respond in health care overhaul lawsuit
By Jennifer Kay
The Associated Press
Twenty states and the nation's most influential small business lobby plan Friday to file their response to the government's attempt to dismiss their lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

FL Medicaid could get $700M
By Jim Saunders
Health News Florida
After months of uncertainty, Florida is poised to receive about $700 million in additional Medicaid funding after Democrats in the U.S. Senate overcame fierce Republican opposition Wednesday.

Next Senate president says Medicaid can be helped by lawsuit limits
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Tribune
Senate President Mike Haridopolos has a solution for some of the problems with Florida's massive Medicaid system: Putting limits on lawsuits against doctors and providers who treat Medicaid patients.

Health care activists challenge Mike Haridopolos Medicaid tour
By Mitch Perry
Creative Loafing
On Thursday, incoming Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos and friends visit Tampa on the second leg of his “Health Care Solutions Tour.”

Florida lawmakers: Local clinics may be solution for new Medicaid patients
By Linda Shrieves
Orlando Sentinel
Incoming state Senate president Mike Haridopolos and a team of legislators brought their three-day "health-care solutions tour" to Orlando on Thursday, stopping at an Orange County clinic that serves thousands of uninsured and Medicaid recipients.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

New Miami ICE field director lays out Florida immigration enforcement priorities
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
Marc Jeffrey Moore is the new field director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Miami Field Office.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Elena Kagan confirmed as U.S. Supreme Court justice
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
The Senate confirmed Elena Kagan as the 112th justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday, creating a historic, liberal, three-woman bloc likely to vote together much of the time.

Daily Clips for August 5, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Effects from gulf oil spill far from over, experts say By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times The federal government — which has had to repeatedly revise its estimate about how much oil has gushed into the gulf from the Deepwater Horizon disaster — announced Wednesday that "the vast majority" of the oil appears to be gone. Meek tours state touting himself as the real Dem in Senate race By William March Tampa Tribune His campaign struggling under attacks from billionaire Jeff Greene, Kendrick Meek Wednesday began a 10-day, "Real Dem Express" bus tour to re-establish himself as the Democrats' choice in the U.S. Senate race. State, McCollum abandon legal defense of taxpayer matching money for candidates By John Frank St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Florida will not appeal a court ruling that struck a key provision of the state's campaign finance law. Lawsuit trail hints at troubles in Rick Scott's current health care business By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Just six days before Rick Scott announced his bid for governor, he was deposed in a case that alleged his health care company, Solantic, broke Florida law by filing false medical licensing information with the state. State to school leaders: FCAT results accurate By Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel The 2010 FCAT was "high-quality" and its results are accurate, Education Commissioner Eric Smith said today in a conference call with Florida school superintendents. FLORIDA POLITICS Another oil special session on horizon? By Sara Kennedy Bradenton Herald Local lawmakers say there’s still a chance that they will call a second special legislative session in September to address Gulf oil spill issues. Jobless benefits could be on table for special legislative session By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union An executive order from Gov. Charlie Crist will ensure that out-of-work Floridians will continue receiving unemployment benefits under a federal extension that passed last month, but the topic might not be off the table for the Legislature. POLITICAL RACES Sink running even with both Scott and McCollum By Luke Johnson Florida Independent The race for Florida governor remains very close between Florida CFO Alex Sink (D) and either former health care executive Rick Scott (R) or Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum (R), according to a poll released Wednesday by Rasmussen Reports. Democratic Senate hopeful Greene explains Cuba trip The Associated Press Tampa Tribune First Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene said he'd never been to Cuba. Then the billionaire businessman said he went there on a mission trip with a visa from the Jewish Federation. Jeff Greene's Cuba trip ... business or pleasure? By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact Jeff Greene says one of his political idols was the first U.S. senator he remembers while growing up in Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy. Trailing in polls, Kendrick Meek chases a U.S. Senate victory in a bus tour of Florida By Adam Smith St. Petersburg Times Kendrick Meek likens his U. S. Senate primary to David against Goliath, but the Democratic underdog wields a weapon that covers more ground than a slingshot: a four-wheel motor coach with his smiling face plastered across the side. Kendrick Meek seeks statewide momentum, starting in Orlando By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel Hoping to build badly needed momentum heading into the Aug. 24 Democratic primary for Senate, Kendrick Meek kicks off a 10-day bus tour today with appearances in Orlando, Sanford, Daytona Beach and Jacksonville. Kottkamp backs Rubio, not Crist in Senate race The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp is endorsing Republican Marco Rubio for Senate over his boss, Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist blames ad makers for use of Talking Heads song By Elaine Silvestrini Tampa Tribune Charlie Crist is blaming the producers for a campaign ad that used a song without permission. Once more, GOP candidates for governor to debate By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune The second - at this point, final -- debate between the two Republican candidates vying to become Florida's next governor takes place tonight in Tampa. McCollum speaks to business crowd By Derek Catron Daytona Beach News-Journal Trailing in the polls and at the bank with just three weeks left in the campaign, Bill McCollum came to Daytona Beach on Tuesday to appeal to the people who are his best hope of winning the Republican primary for governor. Dockery turns to Facebook to blast McCollum over CSX contribution By Abel Harding Florida Times-Union State Sen. Paula Dockery has blasted GOP Gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum on her Facebook page for accepting $25,000 in contributions from CSX Corp. GOP foe sues Grayson over DVD By Tim Alberta Politico Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson's decision to mail thousands of DVDs – which essentially serve as a legislative highlight reel of his first term – to his Orlando-area constituents sparked a backlash late last week when those constituents realized that $73,000 of their tax dollars paid for it. A pre-election reminder of how the Legislature voted By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times Between now and the November election, let's revisit some of the key votes taken by our Legislature over the past two years and see how our Tampa Bay-area lawmakers voted. BALLOT INITIATIVES Can Florida Hometown Democracy Tame Out Of Control Commissioners? By Daniel Tilson The Examiner Florida deserves some relief after the latest in an almost comical - if it wasn't so tragic - flood of municipal commissioners gone bad. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Oil spill lessons include benefit of dispersants, Florida DEP chief says By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Related: Sole says leaving DEP was a “tough choice” The use of chemical dispersants against the oil spill was a benefit to Florida with no drawbacks, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole told a House work group on Wednesday. Citizens express concern over dispersants at town hall meeting listen By Matthew Cimitile WMNF Community Radio Tampa The Obama administration’s person in charge of Gulf Coast restoration visited St. Petersburg last night to receive citizens’ input. Property Firm That Lost Value Sues Halliburton By Robbie Whelan Wall Street Journal St. Joe Co., a large Florida real-estate developer that owns resorts on the Gulf of Mexico, filed suit against oil-services company Halliburton Co., seeking more than $1 billion in damages related to the Deepwater Horizon oil-rig explosion and subsequent oil spill. Crist's Big Sugar deal shrinks yet again By Curtis Morgan Miami Herald For a third time, Gov. Charlie's Crist's bid to buy sugar farms for Everglades restoration is being downsized. Big Oil's politics rule Senate on energy Editorial Miami Herald Here are a couple of statistics whose connection may not be immediately apparent. LGBT Judge rejects California’s ban on gay marriage By Robert Barnes and Sandhya Somashekhar The Washington Post A federal judge in California ruled Wednesday that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitutional right to equal protection, the first step in a legal struggle that is widely expected to end at the Supreme Court. EDUCATION Experts confirm disputed FCAT results accurate The Associated Press Palm Beach Post Two independent experts have confirmed the accuracy of Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test results that were disputed by some school districts. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Stimulus Funds Help Move Floridians from Welfare to the Workplace By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has pumped millions of dollars into Florida for jobs programs, but that well is scheduled to run dry at the end of September. Florida to invest stimulus cash in clean-tech companies By Richard Burnett Orlando Sentinel Fueled by federal stimulus money, Florida is looking to pour millions of dollars into businesses that "go green" in a major way – but there are some strings attached to it. HEALTH AND SENIORS Health talks leave out patients By Nancy McVicar Health News Florida Sen. Mike Haridopolos kicked off a three-day "Health Care Solutions Tour" in Miami today with a slide show that hit the major Republican talking points, including warnings about the cost of "Obamacare" and the surge in the Medicaid program it will create. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES National Association of Evangelicals calls for cancellation of Quran-burning event By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent Responding to news that Gainesville’s Dove World Outreach Center — a self-described “New Testament, Charismatic, Non-Denominational Church” — is holding a public Quran-burning event on Sept. 11, the National Association of Evangelicals last Thursday issued a press release condemning the event (via The Religion World). Blame politicians for immigration problems, not babies By Paul James Palm Beach Post As if they were invasive kudzu or tilapia, children of illegal immigrants should be eradicated from our nation. The Neo-Know Nothings The Progress Report Think Progress In the heat of the fiery debate over Arizona's anti-immigrant law SB-1070, a new attack on immigrant rights is burgeoning within the Republican Party.

Daily Clips for August 4, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Senate Democratic candidate Jeff Greene `misspoke' about trip to Cuba By Beth Reinhard and Adam C. Smith Miami Herald Democratic Senate front-runner Jeff Greene is backtracking on his claim that he had visited Cuba as part of a Jewish humanitarian trip, and a former deckhand says he is still not telling the truth. Florida Legislature's proposed constitutional amendments keep getting bounced off the ballot By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Attempts to use Florida's Constitution to make political statements and policy continue to prove very challenging, even for the Legislature. Mud plugs well; feds say much of Gulf oil is gone The Associated Press Miami Herald BP claimed a key victory Wednesday in its effort to plug its blown-out oil well in the Gulf of Mexico while the government said the vast majority of oil from the worst offshore spill in U.S. history was already gone. FLORIDA POLITICS Haridopolos fires 5 top-level Senate staffers By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos dismissed five high-level legislative employees Tuesday and said he plans a few more top staff changes as he streamlines the committee structure and operations of the Senate. POLITICAL RACES Greene assails rival as 'failed career politician' By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene pressed his attack on Kendrick Meek Tuesday, telling voters in Orlando that Meek is a "failed career politician" tainted by his ties to a developer now facing criminal charges in South Florida. In candidate shootout for NRA backing, Rick Scott hits a bull's-eye By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Bill McCollum, seeking to regain his mantle as the only tried-and-true conservative Republican running for governor, got some bad news Tuesday when the National Rifle Association gave his rival, Rick Scott, a higher ranking. Crist won't ask Kottkamp to step down By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Gov. Charlie Crist said on Tuesday that he would not ask Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp to step down even if Kottkamp decides to endorse Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate race. Campaigns get ugly before Aug. 24 primaries By Anthony Man and Brittany Wallman South Florida Sun-Sentinel Think campaign season is nasty? Just wait — it's still early. Fla. Chamber endorses all-GOP legislative slate By B. Shaw Orlando Sentinel The Florida Chamber of Commerce has announced its endorsements of legislative candidates in Central Florida. Not surprisingly, there’s not a single Democrat among them. Primary challengers line up to oust Brown from House By Chad Smith Gainesville Sun After 18 years in Washington, Corrine Brown is a political heavyweight in her hometown of Jacksonville, and the candidates lining up to send her home have all heard it: She can’t be beaten. BALLOT INITIATIVES 9 on way to Supreme Ct.? By Jim Saunders Health News Florida The legal battle about a proposed constitutional amendment targeting federal health reform appears headed straight to the Florida Supreme Court. Florida justices get fifth amendment challenge The Associated Press Orlando Sentinel The Florida Supreme Court has received a challenge to a fifth proposed constitutional amendment. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Obama's point man on oil spill recovery hears concerns, ideas in St. Pete By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times The long-term recovery of Florida and other states harmed by the Deepwater Horizon disaster may require setting up some new entity that can vet proposals and hand out money to carry out those projects, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told a town-hall hearing Tuesday night. Oil spill: Battle rages on surface of Gulf By Travis Griggs Pensacola News Journal The sun scorches overhead and the Gulf air hangs thick in a humid haze. Sen. Nelson files legislation that would regulate dispersants By Kate Bradshaw WMNF Community Radio Tampa Since oil began gushing into the Gulf of Mexico in April, BP has pumped one-point-eight million gallons of chemical oil dispersants. LGBT McCollum: Rekers Was "The Best Expert" By Penn Bullock and Brandon K. Thorp Miami Times ​Surprise! Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum still opposes gay adoption -- notwithstanding the spectacular downfall of his hand-picked anti-gay expert, George Alan Rekers. EDUCATION Back-to-school tax holiday comes too late, parents say By Sandra Pedicini Orlando Sentinel It's hailed as a boon for families, but this year's return of the back-to-school, sales-tax break comes too late for many Florida parents. FCAT glitch may hold up school grades By Marcia Lane St. Augustine Record One test that means all can be great when it works, but not so great when it doesn't, as Florida is learning. Class-size limits could affect more than 3,000 students locally By Harriet Daniels Gainesville Sun The state-mandated class-size limits could bump an estimated 3,000 middle and high school students in Alachua County out of certain classes when school starts in a few weeks. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida's sales surge in May despite oil spill By Doug Sword Sarasota Herald-Tribune Sales surged statewide by 22 percent in May, even though it was the first full month of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Crist gets mixed message from South Florida tourism officials By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Gov. Charlie Crist got a mixed message from South Florida tourism and hospitality business leaders he met in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday. To get Medicaid and education aid to states, an unprecedented cut to food stamps By Annie Lowrey Florida Independent This week, the Senate is preparing to rob Peter to pay Paul. HEALTH AND SENIORS Sen. Pres. 'aggressive' on Medicaid By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos leaves little doubt about his views on major health-care issues. Fla. lawmakers seek Medicaid cost-cutting answers The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Incoming Florida Senate President Mike Haridolopos is leading a three-day bus tour in search of ideas for cutting soaring Medicaid costs. Fla. orders halt to sale of unauthorized health insurance The Associated Press Palm Beach Post Florida has ordered the Association of Independent Managers to stop selling unauthorized health insurance. E-fingerprint network not ready By Jim Saunders Health News Florida People trying to get hired as caregivers faced new background-screening requirements Monday, including fingerprints. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Florida Lawmakers Propose Arizona-Style Immigration Measures By Margie Menzel WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Republican legislators and candidates are undeterred by Wednesday's federal ruling blocking parts of Arizona's immigration law. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Senate poised to confirm Kagan this week By Paul Kane Washington Post The Senate, tied in knots on almost every other legislative issue, is now on a glide path to confirming Elena Kagan as the fourth woman ever to serve as a Supreme Court justice. Palm Beach County Commissioner Koons resigns after extortion, perjury charges By Jennifer Sorentrue, Sonja Isger, Andrew Abramson and Pat Beall Palm Beach Post Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons resigned from the county commission this morning, hours after being booked on charges of extortion, perjury and violating public open meetings laws.

Daily Clips for August 3, 2010

FEATURED STORIES On Gulf, crews hope kill attempt will do the trick The Associated Press Palm Beach Post Crews hoped to begin pumping mud and perhaps cement down the throat of the blown-out oil well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday in what BP officials said could be the method of attack that finally snuffs the spill. Florida's top environmental regulator stepping down By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune After working nearly 20 years rising through the ranks at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Secretary Michael Sole told Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday he is leaving the department on Sept. 10 to pursue other opportunities. Bill McCollum, Rick Scott face off in TV debate By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Down in the polls and running out of time and money, Bill McCollum desperately needed a game-changing moment in Monday's debate with his surging rival for governor, Rick Scott. FLORIDA POLITICS Crist Makes Costly Public Events Out of Bill Signings The Associated Press Lakeland Ledger "Mazel tov," Gov. Charlie Crist told the crowd at a South Florida retirement village. He kissed cheeks and shook hands, fishing for tidbits of common ground. He and his wife are condo owners, too. She is a New York transplant, like many of them are. Mourners turn out to honor LeRoy Collins Jr. By Richard Danielson St. Petersburg Times About 700 mourners, many of them members of Florida's political elite, gathered at a downtown Tampa church Monday to honor the late LeRoy Collins Jr. POLITICAL RACES Barbs fly as Republicans Bill McCollum, Rick Scott debate in Miami for governor's race By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Attorney General Bill McCollum hammered Rick Scott for Medicare fraud at Scott's former hospital chain while Scott repeatedly labeled McCollum a "career politician," in the first debate between Florida's Republican primary rivals for governor. Rubio supports extending tax cuts but says 'they won't pay for themselves' By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio called for Congress to continue the tax cuts begun under former President George W. Bush but acknowledged "they won't pay for themselves'' at a Fort Lauderdale town hall meeting Saturday. Florida Democrats focus on Bill McCollum's ADA votes By Cristina Silva St. Petersburg Times Gubernatorial hopeful Bill McCollum has been in politics for much of his adult life, charting a wide map of potential minefields for his enemies to use against him. Jeff Greene is a nightmare boss By Alex Pareene TPM Billionaire real estate investor Jeff Greene is running for the Democratic nomination for Senate, in Florida, because he can. Lohan's on the loose? Party's over for Greene By Frank Cerabino Palm Beach Post This has been a rough couple of days for Palm Beacher and U.S. Senate hopeful Jeff Greene. BALLOT INITIATIVES Posturing won't be on ballot: Florida can't opt out of federal health care law Editorial Palm Beach Post The Legislature voted to put six constitutional amendments before Florida voters in November. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Nelson blasts BP over 'toxic brew' of oil and dispersants in gulf By Cristina Silva St. Petersburg Times U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson called for a federal investigation Monday of BP's use of chemicals to break down oil as it spread across the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Oil Spill: Worst of Its Kind, Ever By Megan Friedman Time Magazine According to federal scientists, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the largest accidental release of oil into marine waters. Fla. environmental chief Mike Sole resigns The Associated Press Orlando Sentinel Mike Sole has resigned as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Questions on Dispersant Dangers By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida The dispersants used to break down the oil in the Gulf are no more toxic than the oil itself; that's the word from the second round of tests by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), released Monday. Florida owes $52.7 million in unpaid solar energy rebates By Cristina Silva St. Petersburg Times The state owes Floridians $52.7 million in unpaid solar energy rebates and has no immediate plan to honor its financial promise. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida employers could collect hiring credit for 304,000 workers By Marcia Heroux Pounds Orlando Sentinel Florida employers have hired 304,000 workers this year who were unemployed eight weeks or more, making the employers eligible for a payroll tax credit, according to a U.S. Treasury report on Monday. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Judge ends desegregation oversight in Orlando The Associated Press Tampa Tribune A federal judge has put to rest the public-school desegregation case for the school district in Orlando. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Debbie Wasserman Schultz helps launch sex offender probe Staff Report Miami Herald South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz -- who sponsored legislation to intensify and finance a nationwide child-pornography investigation targeting the 500 most dangerous sex offenders -- praised the Justice Department's implementation on Monday of the law passed by Congress in 2008. Confirm Elena Kagan Editorial Miami Herald Now that at least five Republican senators have said they will vote for her, Elena Kagan's confirmation to become an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is virtually assured.

Daily Clips for August 2, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Greene and Meek don't hide ill will in debate By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times For two candidates who disagree on so little, it's striking that Jeff Greene and Kendrick Meek can loathe each other so much. Democrat Kendrick Meek facing uphill battle in Florida Senate race By Philip Rucker Washington Post In a year of the unconventional candidate and in a Florida Senate race filled with them, the by-the-book campaign of Democrat Kendrick Meek has left the congressman in such a precarious spot that he might not even make it out of his own party's primary. Crist could become his own worst enemy By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Charlie Crist is the front-runner in Florida's U.S. Senate race for now, but nobody should underestimate how difficult it will be to pull off an unprecedented statewide victory as a nonpartisan candidate. Appeals panel sides with Rick Scott, says Bill McCollum not entitled to matching funds By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau A federal appeals court in Atlanta turned Florida's public campaign financing law on its head Friday, halting a critical provision that was expected to inject taxpayer cash into Attorney General Bill McCollum's struggling campaign for governor. Tracking Gulf’s Fate as Slicks Recede By Andrew C. Revkin New York Times Related: Gulf Officials Optimistic That Cement Will Kill BP Well Related: Despite Rule, BP Used Dispersant, Panel Finds As BP and its team prepare to seal the wrecked Macondo well with mud and cement early next week, and the extent of oil on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico has receded, biologists and other scientists are mulling the long-term prospects for the ecosystems of the despoiled region and the communities that rely on them. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Jim Morin Miami Herald FLORIDA POLITICS Florida GOP: Greer had hundreds of party documents at his Oviedo home By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel When Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents raided the Oviedo home of ousted Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer in June, they not only handcuffed him and hauled him to jail, they also found boxes filled with party records. Inclusion remains a problem for GOP By Douglas C. Lyons South Florida Sun-Sentinel She's probably got better things to do, but if I was Jennifer Carroll, I'd probably be doing a slow burn about now. Vern Buchanan's hand in failed land deal By Michael Braga and Matthew Doig Sarasota Herald-Tribune Around the same time Mark Brivik wrapped up a 2006 real estate deal that ultimately landed him in jail on fraud charges, then-U.S. congressional candidate Vern Buchanan joined Brivik in an even bigger project. POLITICAL RACES New poll: Crist leads for U.S. Senate; Fla. governor too close to call By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Republican-turned-independent Gov. Charlie Crist leads the general election race for the U.S. Senate while the November governor's race is too close to call, a new Quinnipiac University poll says. Meek seeks place in history By William March Tampa Tribune Related: Greene crashes Democrats' party Miami Congressman Kendrick Meek laid the groundwork for his first statewide race with two political coups that made him a hero to Florida's black voters and public schoolteachers. Kendrick Meek has no problem giving his mother her due, even if it becomes a burden By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek readily admits he would not be where he is today without his mother. Helping Meek may be smart move for Obama Staff Report Palm Beach Post The amount of help President Obama gives U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek's imperiled Democratic Senate campaign before the Aug. 24 primary will influence Obama's own prospects in Florida in 2012, says U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar. Q&A: Democratic Senate candidates Kendrick Meek, Jeff Greene differ little on many issues By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and real estate investor Jeff Greene are vying for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Jeff Greene's path to Senate campaign shows he is uncompromising, sometimes to a fault By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Send Jeff Greene to the U.S. Senate, and what do you get? GOP gubernatorial candidates McCollum, Scott to face off in debate By Michael C. Bender Palm Beach Post In a 2002 debate with Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, Democratic candidate Bill McBride stumbled over a question about the potential cost of the class-size amendment, guessing the price would be "somewhere in the middle" of $8 billion and $29 billion. Governor's race will hinge on job creation By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune When voters go to the polls this year to pick a new governor, one issue will be on their minds more than any other: jobs. Rick Scott, Bill McCollum have dueling – and vague – jobs plans By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Watching the blistering attack ads run by Rick Scott and Bill McCollum – castigating each other on immigration, abortion and corporate fraud — voters might be hard-pressed to decipher how they plan to address Florida's most vexing problem: creating jobs. Court reversal of Fla. campaign-finance law a win for Scott in GOP gov race By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post In a decision that some claim may put the governor's mansion out of longtime politician Bill McCollum's reach, an appeals court on Friday ruled that he should not get a windfall of public money to defeat his wealthy opponent Rick Scott in the Aug. 24 Republican primary. Poll: Columbia/HCA whistleblowers stunned Rick Scott is atop Florida governor polls By Liz Freeman Naples Daily News A whistleblower in the Columbia/HCA fraud case said Rick Scott should have known of billing practices at his hospitals that cheated the federal government out of millions of dollars. Rick Scott for governor of Florida catches on with out-of-state donors By Leslie Williams Hale Naples Daily News The fact that the bulk of Rick Scott’s campaign financing has come from his own coffers might nearly overshadow the 1,400 other sources of donations to the Republican gubernatorial candidate’s campaign. Outsider status an 'in' for candidate Charlie Crist? By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune Republicans have called Gov. Charlie Crist's quitting the Republican Party to run as an independent for U.S. Senate an act of desperation. Band of others: Charlie Crist retools his bid By David Cantanese Politico Not so long ago, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s bid for the Senate was written off and his chances of winning seemed so remote that he needed to switch parties and run as an independent to have a chance at victory. Shift to center helping Crist keep fragile lead By Marc Caputo Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau After leaving the Republican Party before the U.S. Senate primary, Gov. Charlie Crist's strategy of veering to the political left has given him the edge in the general election, a new poll shows. Little-known primary rivals warn Rubio: Don't ignore us By Michael C. Bender Palm Beach Post Marco Rubio can't name either of his two Republican opponents for U.S. Senate, but both are acutely aware of him. Church co-founded, led by Rick Scott gives aid to Immokalee’s farmworkers By Jonathan Foerster and Aaron Hale Naples Daily News If you’ve seen Rick Scott’s ubiquitous TV ads, then you’re probably familiar with the themes he has taken on the road with his stump speech. The women behind the men who would be Florida's senator By Cristina Silva St. Petersburg Times Florida's Senate race is about four men elbowing each other in a fierce bid to join the most powerful legislative branch in the United States. Florida attorney general candidates match wits in TV debate By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau In their first joint TV appearance Saturday, all three Republican candidates for attorney general matched wits and contrasted their qualifications to be the state's next chief legal officer. Florida attorney general's race: GOP's Holly Benson, Pam Bondi, Jeff Kottkamp fight to stand out By Josh Hafenbrack South Florida Sun-Sentinel The Republican contest for Florida attorney general features three conservatives with solid resumes, but little name recognition or star power. Ex-prosecutor giving two veteran politicians a run in GOP race for Fla. AG By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post A political neophyte who was a registered Democrat for 16 years has turned what might have been a low-key GOP primary for attorney general into a nail biter. Republicans compete to take on Debbie Wasserman Schultz By Anthony Man South Florida Sun-Sentinel Door to door campaigning in blistering summer heat. Getting slammed by anonymous Internet commenters. Pleading for money. GOP candidates energized to oust Kosmas By Derek Catron Daytona Beach News-Journal The 2008 elections are a distant memory to Republicans, who seem to have drawn energy from life with a Democratic president and Congress. Rehwinkel Vasilinda, Minor face off in District 9 House race By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News A first-term Democrat who made a politically calculated decision to vote with Republicans for offshore oil drilling faces a "green" challenger in the race for Tallahassee's major House seat. Florida candidates turn to Twitter to get message out By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union At around 4 p.m. on July 22, Attorney General Bill McCollum was playing dominoes at "Domino Park." BALLOT INITIATIVES Judges veto lawmakers' constitutional amendment language By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Who would have thought that by trying to block redistricting changes, weaken class-size requirements, fight ObamaCare and cut property taxes for some property owners, Florida lawmakers were effectively legalizing a duck hunt in Tallahassee's courts? Dean and Mike's constitution-writin' service By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times A judge has stricken Amendment 9, a criticism of "Obamacare," from the fall ballot in Florida. Break up the politician-developer cabal By Gary Borse Ocala Star-Banner Our way of life is in jeopardy through the actions of the county commissioners who are not working in the general public's best interest, but for their developer friends who fill their bank accounts with campaign contributions for rezoning favors and fat county contracts for roads, fire stations, jails and parks. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Florida beaches past the worst of the oil By Travis Griggs Pensacola News Journal Surface oil no longer poses a threat to Florida coastlines, federal officials said Friday, but submerged oil could continue to wash onto Pensacola beaches for some time. South Florida safe from BP oil if cap in Gulf holds, federal officials By Christine Stapleton Palm Beach Post If the cap on the Deepwater Horizon wellhead holds, South Florida, the Florida Keys, and the East Coast are not likely to experience any effects from the remaining oil on the surface of the Gulf, according to a NOAA report issued Friday morning. Report Reveals BP Disaster Part of Industry Pattern By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida Next week is the tenth anniversary of the one of the worst oil spills ever to hit Florida beaches and, while Congress debates a response to the ongoing BP oil disaster, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has released a report detailing a decade of serious oil spills, fires, leaks and loss of life that have affected every state. Seeping oil threatens marshes' intricate ecosystem By Donna Melton Miami Herald At least a dozen tiny crabs scurried along the sandy bottom of Jackson Marsh here, just inches beneath a streak of oily sheen racing back into a crude-soaked Gulf with the tide. Oil spill cleanup crews' work stirred controversy, too By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times They work in the sun for 10 minutes, then sit in the shade for 50, or they put in 14 hours at night when no one sees them working at all. Poll: Voters want say over offshore drilling By Lesley Clark Miami Herald Nearly three-quarters of Floridians support giving the state's voters a chance to decide whether to permanently ban offshore oil-drilling, a new poll shows. Florida pulls restrictions on Gulf fishing The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Florida is reopening Gulf waters off Escambia County for the harvesting of saltwater fish. Obama: We got the Everglades back on the "danger" list By Lesley Clark Miami Herald Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is hailing today's decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to once again add Everglades National Park to the list of World Heritage in Danger. Will Bay County sacrifice ecosystems for St. Joe Co.? By Jim Murfee Panama City News Herald Last year, Florida’s Senate Bill 2080 unwisely transferred permit responsibility from the water management district governing boards to their executive directors. State Recommendation: Don't Allow Safari Wild in Green Swamp By Tom Palmer Lakeland Ledger A state hearing officer has recommended that Polk County's development order allowing the Safari Wild animal attraction in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern be quashed. No tax break for BP: Senate should reject this outrage Editorial Palm Beach Post Everybody hopes that BP is close to finally controlling for good its undersea oil gusher. EDUCATION Florida’s latest strategy for improving schools promises more of the same By John C. Hall Naples Daily News Florida policy makers are embarking on another in a long series of kindergarten through 12th grade education reform efforts likely to be of uncertain benefit. FCAT Credibility: Test Must Be 100 Percent Editorial Lakeland Ledger The foul-ups surrounding this year's Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test is a scandal, pure and simple. Costly mandates Editorial Gainesville Sun A persistent complaint from our public schools is that the Florida Legislature passes “unfunded mandates” onto school boards. This year is no different. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Powerful Tampa Bay interests campaign for local light rail funding By Robert Napper Florida Independent With plans for a federally funded high-speed rail line linking Tampa and Orlando on the fast track, some of the Tampa Bay area’s most powerful political and business interests are pushing to secure funding for a connecting light rail system. A Study Of Economic Success The Progress Report Think Progress This week, economists Mark Zandi and Alan Blinder released a new report that is the first attempt to comprehensively estimate the effects of the policy responses to the economic crises of the last few years. HEALTH AND SENIORS No food inspections at hospitals, nursing homes By Kelli Kennedy The Associated Press No one is inspecting food preparations at Florida's hospitals and nursing homes, nearly one month after the inspections were stopped in a budget-cutting move, officials said Friday. Bid winner has record of fraud By Carol Gentry Health News Florida After Congress overturned a competitive-bidding program for home-health equipment two years ago because of problems, Medicare officials promised they’d be careful in their second attempt. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Church plans Quran-burning event By Lauren Russell CNN In protest of what it calls a religion "of the devil," a nondenominational church in Gainesville, Florida, plans to host an "International Burn a Quran Day" on the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Mack: Judge's ruling on Arizona immigration law 'overall ... a win for freedom' By Katy Bishop Naples Daily News The Arizona immigration bill that U.S. Rep. Connie Mack called “a blow to freedom” was softened a bit last week. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Innocence Project says DNA exonerates Florida man serving life in prison By Robert Napper Florida Independent Innocence Project of Florida lawyers say DNA has been discovered that exonerates a Manatee County man serving life in prison for rape and kidnapping. Federal investigators scrutinizing more than $2 million in fake invoices at Seminole tribe By Peter Franceschina and Sally Kestin South Florida Sun-Sentinel Federal prosecutors and the IRS are investigating billing irregularities at the Seminole Tribe of Florida involving more than $2 million in payments to vendors. Miccosukee tribe launches counterattack against IRS By Jay Weaver Miami Herald In a legal showdown with the IRS, the Miccosukees say their members don't owe any taxes on income they receive from the tribe's gambling operation -- a stance that sets them apart from possibly every Indian tribe with casinos in the United States.