Daily Clips for February 8, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Governor Scott's Budget Plan to Cut $3 Billion in Education (includes video) By Jill Chandler WCTV News Tallahassee Excerpt: Even though Scott says education is one of his priorities, parents worry about his plans to keep Florida afloat. Progress Florida Political Director Damien Filer said, “To take away what little they've got to work with, is unconscionable, I really don't see how we can do right by our kids and not do right by our schools.” Scott's New Budget Causing Concern (includes video) By Whitney Ray Capitol News Service via WCTV News Tallahassee Excerpt: Progress Florida is just one of dozens of groups concerned about the spending cuts. Damien Filer of Progress Florida says, "This budget is an attack on everyone in this state who uses public roads, who has a child in public schools, who has a mother or father or grandfather or grandmother who may be needing senior services." FEATURED STORIES Businesses win; schools, state workers lose under Scott's first budget plan By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Related: View Scott’s budget online In his first budget proposal, Gov. Rick Scott wants to slash more than $4.6 billion from the state's current spending of $70.5 billion by cutting services to the developmentally disabled, whacking per-pupil spending and doing away with nearly 8,700 state worker jobs while giving businesses a $1.4 billion tax break. Gov. Rick Scott unveils budget of deep cuts to spending, taxes By Marc Caputo and Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau At a highly partisan tea party event Monday, Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his first budget proposal to make sweeping changes to state government by slashing billions in taxes and spending. Scott plan would spark 'massive layoffs' and other pain, educators say Leslie Postal and Dave Weber Orlando Sentinel Related: Tea Party activists cheer budget cuts If Gov. Rick Scott's proposed budget were to stand, Florida schools would suffer widespread layoffs and other devastating cutbacks, educators warned Monday. Budget whacks $562M from health By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Gov. Rick Scott released a proposed $65.9 billion budget Monday that would slash hundreds of millions of dollars from health- and human-services agencies and bank on a future expansion of Medicaid managed care. Teachers, police officers and firefighters upset about Scott's pension plans By Tom Marshall, David DeCamp and Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Megan Allen teaches special-needs students at Cleveland Elementary in Tampa, a tough job under any circumstances. Thrasher would curb union dues used for politics By Kathleen Haughney News Service of Florida A leading Senate Republican has filed a bill that could strip unions of some of their political strength, barring payroll deduction for union dues and prohibiting dues from being used for political activity without written consent. FLORIDA POLITICS Scott's $65.9B 'jobs budget' cuts corporate income tax By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News Related: Highlights of Scott's budget proposals Related: Read the text of Gov. Scott's speech to the Tea Party Gov. Rick Scott's proposed $65.9 billion state spending plan cuts $3.3 billion from education, eliminates 8,700 state jobs, reduces Medicaid health-provider payments 5 percent across the board and does away with much of the Department of Community Affairs. Scott's dinner conversation with J.D., Don Gaetz and Andy Gardiner By Gary Fineout The Fine Print Gov. Rick Scott - after flying to Eustis to roll out his budget proposal at an event set up by Tea Party leaders - spent dinner with Sen. J.D. Alexander, Sen. Don Gaetz and Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner. RNC's former Tampa convention team spent $1 million By Christian M. Wade Tampa Tribune They rented an exclusive waterfront mansion, wined and dined at five-star restaurants and hired family members and friends, all on the taxpayers' dime. Bringing Tallahassee into line Editorial Northwest Florida Daily News We criticized state lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott last week for their reluctance to implement Amendments 5 and 6, the redistricting reform measures that Florida voters approved back in November. POLITICAL RACES Tampa mayoral candidates to meet in live televised debate By Richard Danielson St. Petersburg Times This mayor's race has yet to offer voters a political forum as high-profile as the one tonight at Blake High School. No ruling in Miami-Dade commissioner’s challenge to recall election By Matthew Haggman and Martha Brannigan Miami Herald After more than an hour and a half of testimony and legal arguments, a judge adjourned a hearing Monday with no decision on Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natacha Seijas’ bid to block her March 15 recall election. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Feinberg addresses spill claims concerns By Louis Cooper Pensacola News Journal While oil spill compensation chief Ken Feinberg defended the actions of his Gulf Coast Claims Facility on a visit to Pensacola on Monday, he also pledged to improve the claims process. Scott would reorganize DCA, DEP under proposed budget By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Gov. Rick Scott is warning his supporters that unnamed "special interests" will his attack his 2011-12 budget recommendations and the cuts they include for growth and environmental programs. Legislation would relax deadlines for reducing pollution in Atlantic Ocean By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune Two Miami Republicans have filed bills that would allow sewage treatment plants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties to delay reducing their discharges into the Atlantic Ocean. Cleaning up Florida's waters By Gwen Keyes Fleming St. Petersburg Times For years, the people of Florida have watched as many waterways once used for fishing, swimming and other everyday activities developed a coating of green sludge. Exotic invasion: Pythons back in the Everglades By Curtis Morgan Miami Herald Just over a year ago, a killer freeze dropped iguanas from trees, turned pythons into snake-sicles and left Mayan cichlids and other tropical fish bobbing like bloated corks in lakes and canals. LGBT New Florida DCF Secretary David Wilkins to visit site of children's courthouse; many wonder view on gay adoption ruling Associated Press Miami Herald David Wilkins, the newly appointed secretary of the Department of Children and Families, is expected to attend the groundbreaking of a new children's courthouse in Miami. EDUCATION Scott: $3.3 billion in education cuts are from federal funds By William March and Elaine Silvestrini Tampa Tribune In an unprecedented move, Gov. Rick Scott delivered his budget proposal, with sharp cuts in school funding and a two-year plan for $2 billion in tax cuts, at a Tea Party rally in Eustis Monday. Rick Scott proposes budget for Florida education By Jeff Solochek St. Petersburg Times Overall, there would be less money for education -- 10 percent less per student beyond past years' cuts. Florida teachers union decries new legislation as 'retribution' By Jeff Solochek St. Petersburg Times Florida state Sen. John Thrasher, the Jacksonville Republican who sponsored last year's Senate Bill 6, filed a bill today that would ban payroll deductions that would be used for political activity, including contributions to candidates and tax-exempt organizations. Duval's plan for struggling schools rejected by state By Topher Sanders Florida Times-Union Duval County school system has been notified that its plan for its most struggling schools does not comply with state law. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Scott budget is so skeletal that GOP leaders will bury it By Mike Thomas Orlando Sentinel Related editorial: Forget smooth sailing Rick Scott's budget has been the most anticipated literary release since "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." The Great Big, Fat Lie About Social Security By Dennis Maley Bradenton Times News from the Congressional Budget Office that Social Security will begin running “deficits” this year, five years earlier than previously expected, has renewed debate regarding Social Security reform. Florida should pursue sales-tax cheats, grand jury says By Douglas Hanks Miami Herald Comparing Florida's tax collection apparatus to an "honor system,'' a Miami-Dade grand jury has urged Tallahassee to ease budget woes by going after convenience stores, car dealers and other small businesses holding back sales tax dollars. Lawmakers delay action on property insurance bill By Brent Kallestad Associated Press A Senate committee delayed voting Monday on a proposed property insurance bill designed to crack down on fraudulent or excessive sinkhole claims. The rise and fall of a foreclosure king By Michelle Conlin Associated Press During the housing crash, it was good to be a foreclosure king. Closer watch on banks by SBA needed Editorial St. Petersburg Times If the allegations of a whistle-blower lawsuit prove true, a bank trusted with doing international trades on behalf of Florida's public pension fund fraudulently skimmed money when it exchanged currency. HEALTH AND SENIORS Trial pitting nursing home residents against Medicaid begins By Stephen Nohlgren St. Petersburg Times Marguerite Pace, 48, has a business degree, a law degree and passes her time in a Sarasota nursing home bed. State’s top elderly advocate removed from job By Carol Marbin Miller and Michael Sallah Miami Herald After years of fighting for the protection of nursing-home residents, Florida’s top advocate for elderly people was abruptly canned Monday by Gov. Rick Scott amid longstanding conflict over the group’s role in helping thousands of frail elders. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Personal stories of struggle, discrimination mark immigration hearing By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post Members of the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee, at a public hearing on Arizona-style immigration enforcement legislation in Tallahassee Monday, heard pleas that they reject a hardline stance on immigrants and along the way they also heard lots of stories. Lawmakers come up with more zany gun laws By Fred Grimm Miami Herald Boredom, maybe. What else explains the confounding flurry of gun bills bobbing up in the Florida Legislature? JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Scott’s corrections budget calls for more private prisons By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Gov. Rick Scott’s budget proposal, announced yesterday, would cut the Department of Corrections budget by $82 million, seeking to close two prisons, letting go of thousands of workers, and to “maximize private prison capacity.”

Daily Clips for Februrary 7, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Gov. Rick Scott's budget cuts may spark fierce fight By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Excerpt: Advocates for the poor, minorities and disabled call the zeal Scott and GOP leaders seem to have for slashing $5 billion in services a callousness to the plight of working families unlike anything in recent history. "I think this crowd really represents a new extreme when it comes to the sacrifices they are willing to impose on real Floridians," said Damien Filer, political director for Progress Florida, a liberal advocacy group. Mt. Dora man circulates pro-voucher petition, urging support for Scott’s education plan By Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel Daniel Insdorf, a long-time school voucher proponent, has started a petition drive to show support for the idea floated by Gov. Rick Scott and his advisers — education savings accounts that would amount to vouchers for all public school students. Insdorf said his petition — information on it was posted on the Tri-County Tea Party-FL website yesterday – is an effort to combat the anti-voucher petition underway by Progress Florida. Legislators unlikely to act on Scott's plan to expand vouchers By Elaine Silvestrini Tampa Tribune Excerpt: But the idea has alarmed critics, including Progress Florida, a non-profit organization that promotes progressive values, which has launched a petition drive and started a Facebook page to "Stop Rick Scott's Private Voucher Scheme," describing the plan as "fiscally irresponsible, and potentially unconstitutional." Republicans looking to hammer Bill Nelson on health care reform By Kevin Derby Sunshine State News Excerpt: While Haridopolos has already set up a website for his bid, he has also drawn some fire. On Thursday, liberal groups Florida Watch Action and Progress Florida unveiled a website attacking Haridopolos, hitting the Senate president on ethics, campaign finance and his stances on the issues. FEATURED STORIES After Gov. Rick Scott stages budget rollout, he plays to skeptical lawmakers By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Calling for billions in tax and spending cuts, Gov. Rick Scott will unveil a budget Monday that's as much a policy road map as it is a sweeping political statement. Rick Scott to present budget proposal not at Capitol, but at Tea Party rally in Eustis on Monday By Scott Powers and Martin E. Comas Orlando Sentinel The Florida tea-party movement is about to have its big moment — as the first sounding board for Gov. Rick Scott's proposed state budget and its billions of dollars in spending cuts. Sticking to the rules: Is there too much state red tape? By Jeff Harrington and Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Is there no such thing as a good regulation? GOP urges strict rules for jobless: ‘Get real’ By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post With Florida’s unemployment rate at 12 percent, those receiving jobless benefits may soon receive less and have to do more to get that, while the amount that businesses and the government spend on benefits would be reduced. Miami-Dade GOP payments lack details By Patricia Mazzei and Scott Hiaasen Miami Herald In the final weeks before Election Day last fall, the Miami-Dade Republican Party paid $150,000 to a political consultant with close ties to the party's then-chairman, U.S. Rep. David Rivera. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Jim Morin Miami Herald FLORIDA POLITICS Experts Skeptical About Scott's Tax-Cut Plan By Lloyd Dunkelberger Lakeland Ledger If Gov. Rick Scott succeeds in phasing out Florida's corporate income tax, it will mark a fundamental shift in the philosophy that has guided the state's tax policy for the past 40 years. Rick Scott's 'bold' budget out today; he knows portions will be unpopular By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union Despite Gov. Rick Scott's move to dribble out a few details about his budget for the coming fiscal year - or two - over the past few days, the contours of the plan he'll reveal today still remain relatively unknown. Two political veterans offer useful insight for Gov. Rick Scott By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Gov. Rick Scott could learn a thing or two from Bob Martinez. Scott will learn government is not a business By Tim Nickens St. Petersburg Times Barely a month has passed since Gov. Rick Scott took office, and it is clear he views his new job as Florida's chief executive no differently than his old job as chief executive assembling the nation's largest hospital chain. Rick Scott's slow pace in appointing state secretaries troubles lawmakers By Tonya Alanez South Florida Sun-Sentinel One month into his term, Gov. Rick Scott has yet to name 14 of 25 state agency secretaries, including the people who will run the Department of Transportation, Department of Health and the Agency for HealthCare Administration. Barbers, interior designers and more: Gov. Rick Scott's appointment moves highlight obscure boards By Katie Sanders St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau In 2007, Gov. Charlie Crist invited his trusted hometown coiffeur to fill a position on the state Barbers' Board. The public gets records – but the press has to wait By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel One of Gov. Rick Scott's first acts was to re-constitute the Office of Open Government, a one-stop shop for the public to access the overwhelming amount of information and records that help illuminate what state government is up to. Major changes proposed for Public Service Commission By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune Two Senate bills filed on Thursday would alter how Florida Public Service Commission members are chosen and the agency's role in approving utility rate hike requests. Critics say bill on 'simulated' obscenity goes too far By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times Let us turn our attention to House Bill 385, filed for the upcoming session of our state Legislature. Great Scott! Editorial Gainesville Sun Memo to Gov. Rick Scott: The campaign is over, Governor, it's time to get serious. Gov. Rick Scott demonstrates unwillingness to abide by the wishes of Florida voters Editorial TC Palm The voters spoke, but maybe Gov. Rick Scott didn't hear. Or Scott heard and decided to ignore them. What is Scott afraid of? Editorial Pensacola News Journal There is no requirement that politicians love the press ... or even like it. POLITICAL RACES Sen. Bill Nelson fights off GOP efforts to tag him a liberal By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Even in the earliest moments of his 2012 re-election campaign, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson can see the windup. Debate might ignite sleepy Tampa mayoral race By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times If you buy the conventional wisdom, Tampa's five-person mayoral race is likely to be winnowed on March 1 to a contest between former Mayor Dick Greco and former City Council member and County Commissioner Rose Ferlita. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY One-third of state parks put on potential closing list after Gov. Scott calls for budget cuts By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post Fifty-three state parks, including three in Martin and St. Lucie counties, could be closed in response to Gov. Rick Scott's call for budget cuts. Panhandle officials want BP to pay for new sand Associated Press Miami Herald Florida Panhandle officials say beach renourishment is the key to their post-oil spill recovery. LGBT Pentagon sees lifting 'don't ask' policy by year's end By Nancy A. Youssef McClatchy Newspapers The U.S. military will begin next month training its forces on how they should carry out the repeal of “don't ask, don't tell” and expects the ban on gays serving openly in the military to be lifted entirely by the end of the year, Pentagon officials said Friday. EDUCATION Florida school districts may get relief on class size fines By Kathleen McGrory Miami Herald Help may be on the way for the 28 Florida school districts facing hefty fines for not meeting the state class size mandate. Education proposal would expand on vouchers By Zac Anderson Sarasota Herald-Tribune The struggling economy dropped enrollment to just 48 students at Port Charlotte Adventist School last year, leading worried officials to aggressively promote a state voucher program for low-income students. State’s top educator visits Duval, defends himself and state law By Topher Sanders Florida Times-Union The state’s top educator on Friday toured one of Duval County’s most struggling schools, met with frustrated community members and responded to recent criticism from the School Board. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Move to cut jobless benefits grows By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel Jobless Floridians and their advocates are punching back against a growing legislative effort to make it harder to get unemployment and reduce the amount of time people can collect benefits. Protests won't keep benefits off Scott's chopping block By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Ethicists and debate coaches have a term, “the tyranny of the anecdote,” for information that’s hard to dispute because people hear it so much, it becomes conventional wisdom. Florida unmeployment rate remains among the highest in the U.S. By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent A Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy at Florida International University (aka RISEP) report released on Friday says that in Florida, for every person that found a job in 2010, another 25 were still waiting to get back to work. Florida investigating charges that bank defrauded state's pension fund By Sydney P. Freedberg St. Petersburg Times Florida prosecutors are investigating charges that a major New York bank hired to safeguard retirees' savings cheated them by overcharging for currency-exchange trades. Out-of-state favors come at Florida's expense Editorial St. Petersburg Times A powerful Republican state senator wants to let online travel companies skip collecting some taxes while requiring Florida hotel booking desks to collect them all. HEALTH AND SENIORS Republican lawmakers pushing health care reform repeal provide public health care to staff By Brett Ader Florida Independent As the debate over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act rages on following the decision handed down by a Florida judge that the health care overhaul contains unconstitutional mandates, much of the media has ignored the fact that nearly all GOP lawmakers in Congress pushing for repeal — as well as their staffs — currently accept government-sponsored health care. Stearns leading investigation into health care waivers By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union More than 700 waivers given to organizations exempting them from baseline provisions of the federal health-care reform package are in the crosshairs of a subcommittee chaired by U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla. Florida lawmaker says his gun bill is needed because of the health care law By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times A freshman Florida lawmaker who wants to make it a felony for doctors to ask patients whether they own guns is trotting out the bogeyman of national politics to help make his case. An extreme abortion bill Editorial Sarasota Herald-Tribune HB 415, a bill filed in the Florida Legislature, isn't worth the time lawmakers may waste on it. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Bennett immigration bill protested by religious, Hispanic leaders By Wendy Dahle Bradenton Herald About 100 religious leaders and members of the Latin and Hispanic communities of Manatee and Sarasota counties met Saturday morning at the Palmetto Youth Center for the Faith against Racism breakfast to discuss Florida’s proposed immigration law. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Courts shouldn't have to grovel for money from legislators Editorial Orlando Sentinel Now that Florida's new governor is unveiling his policy agenda, and legislators are getting ready to take a crack at it in their annual session, it might be easy to forget there's a third, and equal, branch of state government: the court system.

Daily Clips for February 4, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

‘Dirty Hari’ gets a website and some hand sanitizer
By Bob Shaw
Orlando Sentinel
Progress Florida, the St. Petersburg-based website unrelated to the St. Petersburg-based utility with the similar name, has drawn a bead on Senate President Mike Haridopolos, aka “Dirty Hari,”and his nascent U.S. Senate campaign.

As he begins to raise money for U.S. Senate race, Haridopolos hit with 'dirty' attack
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
Liberal activists showed up this morning at an Orlando fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Mike Haridopolos and tried to pass out hand sanitizer. Their point: Haridopolos is dirty.

Progress Florida and Florida Watch Action unveil DirtyHari.org attacking Mike Haridopolos
By Peter Schorsch
St. Petersblog 2.0
Today Progress Florida and Florida Watch Action launched a new website www.DirtyHari.org. According to a press release, the site serves as an exposé “devoted to holding Senate President Mike Haridopolos accountable to the people of Florida, not just the banks, utilities, oil companies, HMO’s, big developers, and other corporate special interests who bankrolled his state senate campaign and rise to leadership.”

FEATURED STORIES

Gov. Rick Scott sued over decision to halt federal review over redistricting standards
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
The war over redrawing Florida's political maps returned to federal court Thursday as five Monroe County voters, along with three advocacy groups, sued Gov. Rick Scott to compel him to follow a federal law requiring the Justice Department review of the new redistricting language approved by voters in November.

Scott plans to cut school taxes but promises to make up the funding
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday the budget proposal he unveils on Monday will include $2 billion worth of tax savings, including cuts in corporate income taxes and in the property taxes that fund public schools.

Florida teachers feeling the squeeze
By Leslie Postal
Orlando Sentinel
It's a tough time to be a public school teacher in Florida.

Florida rejects another $1 million health care reform grant
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Using as ammunition a Florida judge's ruling this week that the federal health care law is unconstitutional, state officials are wasting no time stepping away from the controversial overhaul.

BEST OF THE BLOGS

Pillars of Parity vs. Axis of Unemployment
By Daniel Tilson
The Examiner
As twentieth century American history unfolded and longstanding barriers to social progress fell one by one, the key causative factor each time was collective social activism on a massive scale.

Pam Bondi “Proves” She Misunderstands Health Care Ruling
By Inkberries
Beach Peanuts
In the wake of the ruling yesterday by Florida Judge Roger Vinson against the Affordable Care Act as “unconstitutional,” the Republican Party is absolutely beside itself with joy and cheering that the health care law is now all but defeated.

Jeb Bush’s endless war on unions
By Joy-Ann Reid
The Reid Report
Just to be clear: Jeb Bush hates unions … teachers unions, police unions, firefighters unions … basically any brand or form of public employee union that exists in nature.

Rick Scott's Bad Case of Pension Envy
By Sheree Shatsky
Sheree’s Page
Hope all those state and local workers who voted for Rick Scott are okay with his hand picking your pocket.

Izzy Wasn’t Very Smart, Wazzy?
By Rojelio Jose de la Piedra
Florida Clarion
While responsibility for the investigation into soon to be former Congressman David Rivera and the pay-offs he took from Flagler Dog Track have shifted from the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s office to the FDLE, the focus remains on Rivera as well as the key figure in the illegal $500,000 payment, Flagler honcho Izzy Havenick.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Gov. Rick Scott touts tax plan as a model for President Barack Obama
By Aaron Sharockman
St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Rick Scott told employees at an East Tampa manufacturing plant Thursday that his highly anticipated state budget proposal will include $2 billion in tax cuts that should become a model for President Barack Obama.

Gov. Rick Scott upends PSC by rescinding appointments
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
The calm that has overtaken the once-embattled Public Service Commission in recent months ended abruptly Wednesday when Gov. Rick Scott withdrew from confirmation four of the five members of the state's utility board.

Ex-U.S. Rep. Foley returns to GOP scene, four years after grounding in scandal
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Former Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, a pariah with many in the GOP after he abruptly resigned in a 2006 Internet sex scandal, is slowly regaining acceptance with some local Republicans.

POLITICAL RACES

Fates of President Barack Obama, Sen. Bill Nelson may be linked in Florida, poll shows
By Marc Caputo
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Sen. Bill Nelson is doing an okay job in office, but he's not in the strongest of positions heading into the 2012 election season, a new poll from Quinnipiac University shows.

Likely 2012 GOP hopefuls hit the Florida circuit
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
In recent months, nearly every likely Republican 2012 presidential candidate has made his or her voice heard in Florida, courting potential campaign donors at big-ticket speaking engagements and invitation-only dinners.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Oil drilling off Cuba coast draws U.S. foes
By Lesley Clark
Miami Herald
With Cuba poised to drill for oil off its coast as early as this spring, Florida lawmakers are renewing efforts to block it, citing fears about damage to the state's beaches in the event of a major oil spill.

On Gulf Oil Spill’s Effects, Doing Science With a Deadline
By John Schwartz and Mark Schrope
New York Times
In mid-December, Wes Tunnell’s phone rang with a request that would ruin his holiday plans.

Scott withdraws appointments to PSC, other enviro panels
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday withdrew 154 appointments to boards across the state including four of the five Florida Public Service Commission members.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida: 97 percent of bays and estuaries ‘impaired’
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
In its recently released “2011 Estuaries Report Card,” the Conservancy of Southwest Florida identifies some of the state’s most impaired waterbodies — waterbodies that would likely be aided by a set of numeric nutrient standards currently being disputed in the state.

EDUCATION

Study: Students need more paths to career success
By Christine Armario
Associated Press
The current U.S. education system is failing to prepare millions of young adults for successful careers by providing a one-size-fits-all approach, and it should take a cue from its European counterparts by offering greater emphasis on occupational instruction, a Harvard University study published Wednesday concludes.

Teachers fret as Pinellas project links their performance to school grades
By Ron Matus
St. Petersburg Times
Amid Florida's high-stakes campaign to revamp teacher evaluations, a pilot program in Pinellas County is linking some high school teachers' performance to their schools' grades.

Duval School Board angered over how state law, commissioner responding to struggling schools
By Topher Sanders
Florida Times-Union
Members of the Duval County School Board expressed growing frustration Thursday with the state's laws and the education commissioner, with some questioning his trustworthiness, as the district waits to hear his response to a plan for its most struggling schools.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Gov. Scott says budget will include $2 billion in tax cuts
News Service of Florida
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott stopped at a Tampa manufacturing plant Thursday to tout his $2 billion tax-cutting plan and to taunt President Obama for failing to push for similar rollbacks at the federal level.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

AG Pam Bondi wants to crack down on pill mills
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
Flanked by state and federal police and prosecutors, Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday announced a campaign to lock up doctors and pharmacists who are "nothing less than drug dealers in white coats."

Gov. unblocks pill-mill rules
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
Attorney Gen. Pam Bondi said today that Gov. Rick Scott has removed his block on the state's pain-clinic regulations, which had been held up by his edict that all rules be stopped for a year to make sure they didn't hurt small businesses.

Mia Jones on Scott stopping health care prep: Many will "continue to live one illness away from disaster"
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
State Rep. Mia Jones, D - Jacksonville, is out with a statement on Gov. Rick Scott's decision to halt implementation of federal health care reforms after a second judge ruled provisions in the plan are unconstitutional.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Dramatic drop in illegal immigration unlikely to stall debate
By Kim MacQueen
Florida Tribune
It's a hot topic and already the subject of several different bills more than a month before the beginning of the 2011 Legislative session, but illegal immigration is actually down in Florida.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Nelson to GSA: Fix building or move out
By William R. Levesque
St. Petersburg Times
Sen. Bill Nelson said he isn't pleased that some employees on the upper floors of the 17-story federal courthouse in downtown Tampa are still sickened by mold or some unknown agent.

Daily Clips for February 3, 2011

FEATURED STORIES Scott throws up walls to press By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Show me a man who brags that he doesn't read Florida newspapers, and I'll show you a man who is not well informed about what's going on in this state. Voters unsure of Gov. Rick Scott but like his tax, pension plans By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related: Poll: Florida voters like but don't love Sen. Bill Nelson — and want health care repeal In his first month in office, Gov. Rick Scott is barely known and barely liked by voters, yet they approve of his job performance and are optimistic about Florida's future. Unions expect Florida governor to get his way on pensions By Rafael A. Olmeda and Sofia Santana Orlando Sentinel Police officers, teachers and government workers across Florida had harsh words Wednesday for Gov. Rick Scott's plan to have public employees contribute toward their pensions, but the unions representing them expressed little hope that they'll be able to stop it. Officials work against Florida consumers on insurance Editorial St. Petersburg Times By refusing to implement federal health care reform, Gov. Rick Scott and Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty are impeding consumer protections that Floridians are entitled to receive. FLORIDA POLITICS Scott rescinds 154 of Crist's appointments By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday rescinded 154 appointments made by former Gov. Charlie Crist. Scott names former UF trustee Cynthia O'Connell head of Florida Lottery By Katie Sanders St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Cynthia O'Connell, a communications professional with ties to Tallahassee and higher education, is Gov. Rick Scott's pick to lead the Florida Lottery. Governor Rick Scott tries to tame statehouse press corps By Ben Smith and Byron Tau Politico An athletic man like Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist or Rick Scott can make it from the podium to the door in the wood-paneled press conference room in Tallahassee about ten steps. Poll: Most voters waiting to form opinion of new governor By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News Gov. Rick Scott got no honeymoon in the court of public opinion during his first month in office. $10,000 for girl's cake — latest proof the system is broken By Scott Maxwell Orlando Sentinel It was the kind of story you couldn't make up. Ag Chief Putnam Enjoying New Role By Bill Rufty Lakeland Ledger Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam sat in a chair in his office recently for an interview about his new job -- not behind his large desk, but in front of it facing his interviewer, a casual style he has developed during the past 14 years in political office. Heed voters' will: Gov. Scott, others should stop attempts to kill Fair Districts mandate Editorial Florida Today Don’t trample that most sacred pillar of democracy, the will of the voters. POLITICAL RACES LeMieux considers bid for U.S. Senate By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News George LeMieux was Florida's junior U.S. senator for 16 months, and on Wednesday he sounded like a man who would like to go back in a speech to Tallahassee Republicans. GOP leaders primarily watching Florida By Brent Batten Naples Daily News On the one hand, Florida Republicans can hold their presidential primary in January and by doing so risk having some or all of their delegates banned from the party’s national convention, depriving residents of a chance to see the candidates in person and ultimately handing the party’s nomination to someone other than the person Floridians choose. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY State won't block sale of conservation lands By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune A Department of Environmental Protection initiative to provide guidance to state agencies on the sale of lands originally bought for conservation appears to have changed course, with DEP officials now saying such guidelines will be only voluntary. Bleak outlook for renewable energy bills By Keith Laing News Service of Florida Environmentalists say they are looking for a renewable energy bill that has a realistic shot at passing the Legislature this year, but measures to create a trust fund for green projects paid for by utility customers are unlikely candidates. US judge: Spill claims czar not independent of BP By Harry R. Weber and Brian Skoloff Associated Press The administrator of the $20 billion compensation fund for Gulf oil spill victims is not independent from BP and must stop telling potential claimants that he is, a federal judge said in a ruling Wednesday that may spur more people to sue rather than settle. BP payout raises doubt on fairness Editorial St. Petersburg Times Of nearly 91,000 claims for final payment for damages resulting from the oil spill following the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig, exactly one $10 million payment has been made — to an unidentified Texas firm after BP intervened on the firm's behalf. Man fined, ordered to give up boat after killing manatee By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times The angler recognized the boat roaring past him in the manatee refuge. EDUCATION Civil rights leader Robert Moses seeks equality in education By Julie Brown Miami Herald For five decades, civil rights leader Robert Moses' cause of equality has taken him across the nation -- from organizing voter drives in segregated Mississippi to launching an award-winning mathematics literacy program for students in poor-performing schools. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Can Rick Scott's pension ideas get past GOP? By Mike Thomas Orlando Sentinel A lot of Republicans in Tallahassee probably are wishing Alex Sink won the election. Pasco County firm that tracks sex offenders protests loss of state contract By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Two weeks before Gov. Rick Scott took office, the Florida prison system fired a Pasco County company that has tracked sex offenders for more than a decade and replaced it with one from Colorado. A $3 billion windfall waiting to be had Editorial Miami Herald As Gov. Rick Scott and Florida lawmakers struggle to overcome a nearly $4 billion tide of red ink, they would be foolhardy to ignore the advice of former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and the nonpartisan budget watchdog Florida TaxWatch to seek the state's fair share of federal grants. HEALTH AND SENIORS Scott roils medical board -- again By Carol Gentry Health News Florida Gov. Rick Scott ousted the chair and vice-chair of the Florida Board of Medicine on Wednesday, just two days before they were to lead disciplinary hearings against dozens of physicians charged with wrongdoing. Florida's 'open for business' to creeps at the local pill mill By Carl Hiaasen TC Palm Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi called a press conference last week to ban a new party drug known as MDPV, sold in head shops around the country as "bath salts." Full repeal of health care law fails in Senate By Jennifer Haberkorn Politico Efforts to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law died a quick death in the Senate Wednesday, but the GOP got a consolation prize — a bipartisan fix to a tax-reporting requirement in the law that was widely panned by businesses. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Allen West's comments about another congressman's religion stir controversy By Lesley Clark Miami Herald Allen West has declared he's "neither anti-Muslim nor anti-Islam" in response to a group of national Jewish and Christian organizations that have called on the controversial congressman to apologize for remarks he made about a fellow member of Congress. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Panel wants longer term for Florida chief justice Associated Press Tampa Tribune Florida's chief justice should serve a four-year term instead of the present two years and be selected based on administrative and leadership skills rather than seniority. The Battle For The Judiciary The Progress Report Think Progress Yesterday, White House Counsel Bob Bauer said during an American Constitution Society panel that judicial nominees are caught in a "cold war" of obstructionism.

Daily Clips for February 2, 2011

FEATURED STORIES Gov. Rick Scott's pension proposal: have state workers pay 5 percent into retirement and end DROP By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Rick Scott is proposing to overhaul the state's pension system for tens of thousands of teachers, police officers and other state and county workers by requiring them to contribute to their retirement accounts and by not offering the pension plan to new workers. Scott calls halt to federal health care law implementation By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Gov. Rick Scott, who’s fought against federal health care reform since its inception, said today Florida won’t begin implementation of the federal health care law ruled unconstitutional by a judge yesterday. Now what? Ignore the law? By Jim Saunders and Carol Gentry Health News Florida Related: FL official sends back $1M Related: Ruling on Medicaid only GOP downer Okay, now what? That’s the looming question in the wake of U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson’s ruling on Monday that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. FLORIDA POLITICS Scott looks to rein in state pensions By Lloyd Dunkelberger Sarasota Herald-Tribune In a hint of the sweeping changes that may come, Gov. Rick Scott outlined an ambitious plan to curb the state pension fund, which provides retirement benefits to 650,000 state workers, public school teachers, county employees and some municipal workers across Florida. Poll: Florida voters who swooned for Crist in ’07 are viewing Scott more cautiously By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Florida voters who were dazzled by Charlie Crist after his first month in office four years ago are viewing new Gov. Rick Scott much more warily, a new Quinnipiac University poll released this morning shows. New RNC chair coming to Tampa Wednesday on convention issues By William March Tampa Tribune As expected, newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is coming to Tampa to talk to locals about preparation for the 2012 Republican Convention. Bill aims to crack down on teen cell-phone use in cars By Alexia Campbell South Florida Sun-Sentinel The high school auditorium echoed with gasps and jeers as officials told stories of tragic deaths and endless lawsuits caused by accidents involving distracted teenage drivers. Ignoring the voters' wishes Editorial Northwest Florida Daily News We knew some politicians were against the redistricting amendments that Florida voters approved in November. POLITICAL RACES It's official: Rick Scott is the all-time big spender By Scott Powers Orlando Sentinel With final 2010 election numbers released Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott officially obliterated the state record for campaign spending, pouring $85.1 million — including more than $73 million of his own family's money — into getting elected. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Scott plans realignment of Florida's growth management agency By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Gov. Rick Scott said Monday he plans to cut $1 billion in government spending over two years by consolidating and streamlining government including the Florida Department of Community Affairs. Senate bill would scrap Florida's climate program By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com A bill filed by Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, would eliminate Florida's greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade program before one was ever adopted. EDUCATION Senator files teacher merit pay bill By Kathleen McGrory Miami Herald State lawmakers are taking a second stab at legislation that would overhaul the way Florida's teachers are evaluated and paid. FCAT Pressure Heating Up Editorial Lakeland Ledger As the countdown to the FCAT is in progress, every outstanding teacher in the Polk Public Schools feels the pressure of forging ahead, cultivating every student in every class to reach deep down inside of themselves and pull out every skill and lesson they have learned since returning to school in August. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Mica's new clout in House huge boost to high-speed-rail projects By Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel For insight into U.S. Rep. John Mica's priorities as new chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, just look at his calendar. UF Senate passes resolution calling on Publix to meet with tomato pickers By Brett Ader Florida Independent The University of Florida Student Senate approved legislation last week calling on Publix to meet with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in an attempt to pressure the state’s largest supermarket chain to adhere to the labor demands many other national grocers and fast food chains have agreed to in recent years. Legislature and governor should heed the concerns of Florida's municipalities Editorial TC Palm Tensions between local governments and elected leaders in Tallahassee have intensified in recent years as cities, counties and state government have wrestled with the needs of constituents while dealing with unprecedented strains on financial resources. HEALTH AND SENIORS Judge's health care ruling reverberates; Florida gives back money to implement law By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Reverberations of a Florida judge's ruling that the federal health care law is unconstitutional are spreading throughout the country, with supporters and opponents of the overhaul using the decision to draw their lines in the sand. An Activist Decision The Progress Report Think Progress Yesterday, a conservative district court judge appointed by President Ronald Reagan ruled that the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, arguing further that, since he believes the mandate is "inextricably linked" to the rest of the measure, the entire law must be unconstitutional. Uninsured kids propel Florida's low health care rating By Jeremy Cox Florida Times-Union It's a good thing for Texas, Arizona, Mississippi and Nevada. Florida sidesteps AIDS drug crisis – for now By Bob LaMendola South Florida Sun-Sentinel Florida has averted a major crisis that would have forced the state to drop 6,500 uninsured HIV/AIDS patients from a cash-strapped state program that supplies their life-saving drugs, activists said Tuesday. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Immigration 'activist' accused of threatening Florida state Rep. William Snyder By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Massachusetts police have arrested a local man and accused him of sending a threatening e-mail to Florida state Rep. Will Snyder over the Republican's proposal to bring an Arizona-style immigration law to the Sunshine State. Pew Hispanic Center: Large decline in Florida’s unauthorized immigrant population By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent The Pew Hispanic Center held a press conference Tuesday to release a study that estimates the overall number of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. as of March 2010 at about 11.2 million people, the same number for the previous year. Huckabee to support group whose leader said Planned Parenthood efforts ‘almost like’ genocide By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Florida resident and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will act as keynote speaker for the controversial anti-abortion group Heroic Media at a Feb. 15 dinner in Orlando. Lt. Governor Carroll kicks off black history month By Tom Flanigan WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee February is Black History Month. Tom Flanigan reports its Florida observance was marked this Tuesday morning in Tallahassee by the state's new lieutenant governor.

Daily Clips for February 1, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Nearly 12,300 people have signed online petition against “private voucher scheme” By Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel There is no bill yet — and, therefore, no firm proposal – but there is already plenty of opposition to the idea of “education savings accounts,” or what some call “universal vouchers.” FEATURED STORIES Florida judge rules federal health care legislation is unconstitutional By Janet Zink and Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related editorial: Improving the health care law The battle over federal health care reform continued its inevitable march toward the U.S. Supreme Court, with a U.S. district judge in Pensacola ruling Monday that the law is unconstitutional. Scott to unveil state budget with tea party organizers in rural Eustis By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Rick Scott wants to throw himself a tea party over the Florida budget. New merit pay bill filed in Senate Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel Florida teachers would be judged on their students' growth on standardized tests, and new teachers would be paid based on that test-score data as part of a new merit pay bill filed Monday in the Florida Senate. 91,000 Gulf oil spill claims, just 1 final payment By Brian Skoloff Associated Press BP's compensation fund for Gulf oil spill victims has issued a final settlement payment to just one of the thousands of people and businesses waiting for checks, records show, and that $10 million payout went to a company after the oil giant intervened on its behalf. FLORIDA POLITICS Gov. Rick Scott announces plan to save $1 billion over two years By Christine Show Orlando Sentinel With homes under construction in this giant senior community as a backdrop, Gov. Rick Scott announced changes today to streamline government and save the state $1 billion over two years in an effort to spur growth. Gov. Scott plans to merge 5 agencies By Zac Anderson and Lloyd Dunkelberger Gainesville Sun Gov. Rick Scott's first concrete proposal to cut state spending Monday was heavy on symbolism and light on specifics. Gov. Rick Scott finishes up four-day visit to D.C. By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Gov. Rick Scott on Monday wrapped up a four-day visit to Washington, D.C., meeting with housing and health care officials and the new chairman of the Republican National Committee. The half-pint and the half-baked plan By Daniel Ruth St. Petersburg Times Even in the sleaziest of political environments there are — ahem — certain proprieties to be observed. Redistricting website: Florida’s congressional districts rank among the nation’s least compact By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Related: Bill would make redistricting proposals public records The Florida House of Representatives has launched its public redistricting website, and lawmakers are getting to work drawing congressional boundaries that comply (lawsuits notwithstanding) with two new constitutional amendments intended to require geographically compact districts that don’t favor or disfavor political parties, racial groups or incumbents. Rubio to skip Conservative Political Action Conference By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is the latest top-name Republican to bail on the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, set to begin Feb. 10. Over 280 former officials that owe the state money Editorial Orlando Sentinel Time, the saying goes, heals all wounds. POLITICAL RACES Harsh campaign for governor had an "unexpected" jump in voters skipping race By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune The highly charged and negative campaign for governor might have turned off a higher number of voters this past year. One month into Rep. Allen West’s term, national Dems spending money to try to oust him in 2012 By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Freshman U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation, is one of 19 Republican House members being targeted by a new Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee blitz of radio ads, automated phone calls and Internet advertising. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Florida lawmakers challenge EPA greenhouse gas regulations via ‘Free Industry Act’ By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Five members of Florida’s congressional delegation are among the 113 cosponsors of the “Free Industry Act,” a bill by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., that would strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. EDUCATION G.O.P. Governors Take Aim at Teacher Tenure By Trip Gabriel and Sam Dillon New York Times Seizing on a national anxiety over poor student performance, many governors are taking aim at a bedrock tradition of public schools: teacher tenure. Senate Education chairman files his teacher pay bill By Jeff Solochek St. Petersburg Times Jacksonville Republican Steve Wise, chairman of the Senate Pre-K-12 Committee, spent last week quizzing school teachers, superintendents, education activists, union chiefs and others about the best way to reform teacher pay, contract, evaluation and other key issues. NAACP threatens to sue if state tries to take struggling schools from county control By Topher Sanders Florida Times-Union The local NAACP branch wants the Duval County School Board to stand up to the state, but if the district won't the group is prepared to pursue a law suit to protect the Duval's poorest performing schools. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Bill would tighten unemployment eligibility By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel State Sen. Nancy Detert, who last month urged state labor officials to move "slackers and malingerers" off unemployment rolls, filed a bill Monday that would tighten unemployment eligibility, make it easier for businesses to deny benefits and push laid-off workers to take lower-paying jobs after they have received 12 weeks of payments. Florida has spent only half of its stimulus grants By Scott Powers Orlando Sentinel Florida still has spent only about half of the federal grant and contract money it has been awarded through the federal-stimulus program, although most of what is left — more than $5.5 billion — is slated to be spent soon. Shuttle Discovery back on launch pad today for final mission By James Dean Florida Today Space shuttle Discovery arrived back at Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A early this morning. HEALTH AND SENIORS ‘Choose Life’ plate law rewrite draws concern from pregnancy centers By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent A new piece of legislation that would rewrite the law governing funds generated by the sale of Florida’s “Choose Life” license plates is drawing concern from representatives of the pregnancy centers currently receiving money, who argue that some of the changes don’t seem enforceable or, for that matter, fair. Health officials team up to fight prescription abuse By Barbara Peters Smith Sarasota Herald-Tribune Leaders of 12 area hospitals and four county health departments promised Monday to work together on what they called a "shocking" escalation in prescription drug misuse, blamed for 86 percent of local drug-related deaths in 2009. CDC finds no link between deaths, Chinese drywall By Cain Burdeau Associated Press The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday it has found no link between tainted Chinese drywall and the deaths of 11 people exposed to the imported drywall in Louisiana, Florida and Virginia homes. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES ‘The Police Took Mommy’: How Reporting a Crime Nearly Resulted in Deportation for Florida Woman By Ralph De La Cruz Florida Center for Investigative Reporting When Gov. Rick Scott spoke before the Hispanic Leadership Network earlier this month, people periodically yelled out, often in Spanish-accented English, “Let’s get to work.” JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Study: Florida trial judges deserve a big raise By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel A new study, conducted by an arm of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, says Florida trial judges deserve a $16,000 pay raise.