Daily Clips for May 4, 2011

FEATURED STORIES

Lawmakers agree on $68 billion budget, tax cuts
By Marc Caputo and Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In secret talks, top legislators and Gov. Rick Scott hatched a $68 billion budget deal involving a rather simple trade: tax cuts for hometown spending.

In Florida health budget, hospitals and nursing homes lose, while mental health and substance abuse programs win
By Linda Shrieves
Orlando Sentinel
After weeks of haggling among legislators — and protests around the state — negotiators for the Florida House and Senate finalized their cuts to the state's health budget on Tuesday.

Florida senators, after emotional debate, defeat key provision of immigration bill
By Patricia Mazzei
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Thrasher goes overboard on claim that E-Verify would have stopped 9/11: Pants on Fire!
In an emotional debate where senators choked up and recalled the struggles of their immigrant forebears, the Florida Senate on Tuesday unexpectedly defeated one of Gov. Rick Scott's pledges to crack down on illegal immigration.

Florida Puts Overhaul Of Courts to the Voters
By Don Van Natta Jr.
New York Times
The Florida Senate has decided to put major changes in the state court system before voters next year but only after rejecting the most contentious proposal, which would have split the Supreme Court in two.

Court changes less bad but still bad
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Splitting the Florida Supreme Court into separate criminal and civil divisions and adding three justices was always more about Republican House Speaker Dean Cannon's animosity toward the high court than any pressing need.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Today in Tallahassee: Property insurance
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Now that House and Senate leaders have reached a budget deal, they're in the midst of a 72-hour "cooling off" period before they'll vote on the plan.

Republicans mock voters by playing games with redistricting amendments
Editorial
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Will state Republicans ever give up their fight against Fair Districts, the constitutional amendments voters overwhelmingly passed in November that could end the incumbent protection program known as gerrymandering?

Consecutive Failures Show Scott's Lack of Influence with GOP Legislators
By Dennis Maley
Bradenton Times
After failing to secure enough votes to move anti-union legislation through the Senate last week, despite personal appeals to four state Senators, Rick Scott remained confident that he would be able to stand firm on his promise to cut state corporate tax rates.

In shot at Romney, Florida Dems to host Deval Patrick
By William March
Tampa Tribune
The keynote speaker at the Florida Democrats' annual fundraising gala June 11 will be Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who has functioned recently as a Democratic point man on potential GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

House appears sheepish over debate decorum
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
Despite a little needling by state Rep. Scott Randolph's, it appears that the Florida House is feeling a little sheepish about decorum during debates on touchy topics.

Sexting minors should face reduced penalties lawmakers agree
Associated Press
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida lawmakers agree that "sexting" penalties should be reduced for minors.

POLITICAL RACES

Miami-Dade mayoral candidates make their case
By Matthew Haggman
Miami Herald
All 11 candidates for the county’s top job gathered at the University of Miami to make their case to voters Tuesday.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Assault on environment led by the ill-informed, shortsighted
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
In a moment, I'm going to tell you about plans to gut one of Florida's key environmental programs — one meant to safeguard everything from manatees to the seafood you eat.

Nicklaus group still hoping to build golf course in Jonathan Dickinson State Park
By Jim Turner
TC Palm
Backers of a signature Jack Nicklaus designed golf course proposed for Jonathan Dickinson State Park are hoping for a mulligan.

Bennett helps revive controversial measure in waning hours of session
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Tribune
A Senate bill sponsor is reopening a controversy from last week by proposing to amend a noncontroversial rulemaking bill to shift the legal burden of proof to those who challenge state permits.

Florida legislature aims to relax state water pollution standards
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
State lawmakers have been adamant in their opposition to a set of federally mandated water quality standards because, they say, Florida is already aggressively improving its waters. Now legislators are making strides to relax state laws limiting waste in state waterways.

Turkey Point nuclear plant worries some residents
By Christina Veiga
Miami Herald
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Tuesday answered questions posed by the public about the safety of the Florida Power & Light Co.'s Turkey Point nuclear power plant.

EDUCATION

Broward School Board considers 'gut-wrenching' $81 million school cuts
By Cara Fitzpatrick
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Teachers will be laid off and students will have larger class sizes and fewer electives under a tentative budget plan that has the Broward School Board cutting about $81 million from the schools next year.

Proposed school budget for Palm Beach County cuts police at schools, custodians
By Jason Schultz and Allison Ross
Palm Beach Post
Palm Beach County School Superintendent Bill Malone is recommending eliminating at least 766 positions including custodians, school monitors and school police officers in order to balance the district's budget woes next year.

Sarasota School Board looking at possible cuts
By Chris O’Donnell
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The cuts go deeper every time the Sarasota School Board meets to talk money, with worker furloughs, elimination of specialized teachers to help struggling students, and even longer walks to bus stops now on the table.

Flagler County to cut 45 minutes from school day to save money
By Annie Martin
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Many Flagler County students may be happy to hear their school days will be shorter next year.

State to release FCAT writing scores
By Kathleen McGrory
Miami Herald
South Florida schools will soon learn how their students did on the writing portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Budget deal sets $308 million in tax cuts
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Florida lawmakers cut a budget deal Tuesday that numbs the pain for health-care and social service programs, offers millions of dollars in hometown projects to powerful lawmakers, and delivers $308 million in tax cuts to Gov. Rick Scott.

Scott satisfied with Florida budget compromise giving him a sixth of tax cuts he wanted
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
After days of tough talk, Florida House and Senate negotiators Tuesday reached a deal on a $67 billion-plus state budget, giving Gov. Rick Scott a scaled-back version of his tax-break package but still fattening the spending plan with plenty of their own hometown projects.

Florida Senate approves business tax cut that shrinks unemployment benefits
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Florida unemployment benefits would rise and fall along with the jobless rate and state businesses would get a tax break under a proposal approved Tuesday by the Florida Senate.

Will "greedy and irrational" people kill off unemployment compensation reform?
By Brent Henzi
Florida Tribune
Unemployment compensation reform passed the Senate with changes on Tuesday, but not the changes the House was looking for.

Ruling means higher minimum wage in Florida
By Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel
A circuit court judge has ruled that the state violated Florida's Constitution by failing to raise the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation.

State revenue cap ready for Florida House vote
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
A proposed constitutional amendment that would cap state revenue is ready for a floor vote in the Florida House.

A bill lets local governments modestly change pension accounts
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Despite warnings that many Florida cities face deep deficits in their retirement accounts, legislators are allowing local governments to make only modest changes to their local pension accounts this year.

A hurricane storm surge, if we got one, would do billions in property damage, study says
By Eliot Kleinberg
Palm Beach Post
Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast aren't as vulnerable to storm surge as other areas.

Feds move Orlando area's SunRail train project forward
Associated Press
Orlando Sentinel
Central Florida's commuter rail project just took another step forward.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Bill prohibiting health insurance mandate heading to Gov. Scott
By Ryan Mills
Naples Daily News
A House bill that provides that Floridians cannot be mandated to purchase health insurance passed through the Florida Senate on Tuesday.

Jobs expected to be lost from state health cuts
By Bob LaMendola
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida nursing homes and health-oriented social service agencies likely will have to lay off staff and reduce services because of cuts made as part of a budget compromise unveiled Tuesday, agency officials said.

Legislature shows no love for children
By David Lawrence Jr.
St. Petersburg Times
As a newspaperman for 35 years with a career built around an ability to put thoughts on paper, I am almost at a loss for words.

Senate Approves Medical Malpractice Bill
Staff Report
Lakeland Ledger
The Florida Senate has approved its version of a House bill overhauling medical malpractice suits in the state.

Florida Senate passes bill requiring walk-in clinics to post prices
Associated Press
Orlando Sentinel
A bill that would require walk-in clinics to post their prices now has been passed by the Florida Senate.

Fla. lawmakers vote to make 'bath salts' illegal
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
The Florida Senate has unanimously voted to ban the drug known as MDPV or "bath salts."

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

E-Verify amendment fails
By Jim Ash
Florida Capital News
An attempt by Senate Rules Chairman John Thrasher to toughen an immigration law fell short after nearly two hours of debate.

Report: American immigrants integrating ‘without the help of policy intervention’
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
As the Florida Senate gets ready to vote on its immigration-enforcement bill S.B. 2040 a report released Monday indicates that the most recent last wave of immigrants to the U.S. is integrating reasonably well.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

House approves Senate changes to Fla. Supreme Court amendment
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
The House quickly approved major Senate changes in operation of the Florida Supreme Court today.

Proposed pretrial release law may come with cost, crowded jail
By John A. Torres
Florida Today
State legislation that would all but eliminate judicial discretion during the pretrial release process would once again cause overcrowding at the Brevard County jail and cost taxpayers about $1 million, critics say.

Daily Clips for May 3, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

Voter Suppression Bill Pushed by Florida GOP Leaders
By Erica Riggins
Bay News 9 Tampa
At issue is SB 2086, a measure several supervisors of elections in Florida already have estimated would disenfranchise a significant number of people by, among other things, cutting early voting from 14 days to six. Another provision of the legislation, which would bar address or name changes on Election Day, would disproportionately affect women and college students, requiring them to cast "provisional" ballots.

FEATURED STORIES

Sen. Nelson blasts Florida Legislature's 2012 election-law changes
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Bill Nelson criticizes state election bill, cites number of tossed provisional ballots: Mostly True
Related: Legislature has no right making it harder to vote
Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson blasted state Republican lawmakers Monday for an election law overhaul that he says will block college students and military personnel from having their votes counted next year when he and President Barack Obama both seek re-election.

Health-care funding stalemate could send session into OT
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
Update: Florida House, Senate have budget deal
With tempers flaring and barely 24 hours to go before the deadline for reaching a budget agreement, House and Senate leaders said Monday a stalemate over health-care funding could run the 2011 legislative session into overtime.

Scott drops budget veto threat after deal reached on corporate income taxes
By Gary Fineout
Florida Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott, who has warned for weeks that he may veto the state budget if he did not get a cut in the state’s corporate income tax, has reached a deal that calls for a much smaller cut than what the governor initially advocated.

Florida House's court overhaul bid stripped of most-dramatic changes, as Senate can't get votes
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
The Florida Senate may be "the most conservative Senate ever," as President Mike Haridopolos boasted at the onset of the legislative session.

Florida Senate to decide controversial immigration bill
By Patricia Mazzei
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
When Sen. J.D. Alexander ran into a throng of ubiquitous immigration advocates in the halls of the Florida Senate on Monday, he made an unusual admission: He plans to vote against a provision in an immigration bill he has been tasked with handling but doesn't much like.

Everglades suffering from sulfate runoff, Methylmercury contamination
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
The use of sulfate in agricultural areas near the Florida Everglades is creating an enormous mercury problem — with seemingly no end in sight.

FLORIDA POLITICS

One last chance to stop 'leadership funds'
By Howard Troxler
St. Petersburg Times
One last time, before the Florida Legislature is scheduled to adjourn this week…

Despite last-minute deal-making, some bills are dead
By Catherine Whittenburg
Tampa Tribune
With less than a week left in the legislative session -- if lawmakers don't extend it -- a blizzard of proposals ranging from school prayer to casino resorts are either dead or in serious danger of it.

Red light repeal OK'd by Florida House, barely
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
The closest vote of the 2011 session ended Monday with the House approving a repeal of red-light cameras OK'd for cities only a year ago.

Senate rejects push to empower lawmakers to propose changes to the Miami-Dade charter
By Patricia Mazzei
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
State senators on Monday shot down a push to empower local lawmakers — and not just county commissioners — to propose changes to the Miami-Dade charter.

Wasserman Schultz draws on experience to lead Democrats
By Lesley Clark
Miami Herald
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was running late, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Allen West Plays With Fire
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
In the parlance of Internet message boards, a person who says outrageous things to get a rise out of people is a flamethrower, or flamer for short.

Taking out bin Laden is a major moment for President Obama
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
President Barack Obama not only authorized the raid against Osama bin Laden's compound, but he also made it infinitely riskier.

Florida congressional delegation finds common ground
By William Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
The death of Osama bin Laden brought a rare moment of bipartisan unity for the Florida congressional delegation, but subtle differences in their reactions reflected political battle lines and an emerging debate over the U.S. exit strategy from Afghanistan.

Today in Tallahassee: Deadline for a budget deal for on-time finish
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Today is the deadline for Senate and House leaders to agree on a budget if they want to remain on schedule and end the 2011 legislative session Friday.

POLITICAL RACES

Sen. Bennett confirms he’ll run for Congress
By James A. Jones Jr.
Bradenton Herald
Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, confirmed Monday that he will run for the District 11 congressional seat held by Tampa Democrat Kathy Castor.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Proposal eases limits on pollution in Florida waterways
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Rick Scott recently told federal officials they should leave Florida alone and let it set its own water pollution standards. Scott and other state leaders have boasted that Florida's pollution-control laws have put it ahead of other states.

House passes bill repealing ban on spreading septic tank waste on land
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Tribune
The House on Monday voted to repeal a ban adopted by the Legislature last year on spreading septic tank waste even though the ban was not set to begin until 2016.

Devious ploy to gut Florida's growth laws
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
It's bad enough that the Florida Legislature is determined to turn back the clock and blow up 25 years of bipartisan efforts to manage the state's growth.

EDUCATION

Teachers with no tenure by July 1 likely out of luck
By Leslie Postal
Orlando Sentinel
Florida teachers who do not have tenure on July 1 will be out of luck, if Gov. Rick Scott signs a bill recently approved by state lawmakers.

Florida House passes virtual learning expansion
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
The Florida House has passed legislation to expand virtual learning in the state.

Scott returns Crist appointee to education board
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott has returned one of former Gov. Charlie Crist's appointees to the Florida State Board of Education.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Frustrations rise as Florida Senate, House argue over how to bridge budget gap
By John Kennedy and Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
With House-Senate budget talks stalled -- or, at least far from the prying eyes of Floridians -- House Speaker Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos said Monday that prospects for an on-time finish Friday are dimming.

Budget chairman: Negotiators not trying to sneak in 'paycheck protection'
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
The chairman of the Senate Budget Committee assured legislators today that House and Senate budget negotiators are not trying to sneak a “paycheck protection” bill into the pending compromises on state spending.

House offers compromise on unemployment compensation
By Brent Henzi
Florida Tribune
On the same day that the Senate removed a comprehensive unemployment compensation bill out of the Senate Budget Committee and placed it on the floor, the House says they have offered a compromise on the key issue holding the bill up.

House passes ballot question meant to reduce taxes on commercial properties
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Florida voters would get a chance to reduce property taxes on commercial buildings, second-homes and other investment dwellings under legislation approved Monday by the House.

Scaled-back professional deregulation plan moves ahead
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott called on the Florida Legislature this year to end job-killing regulations, and they responded.

House passes tax shield for online travel companies
By Jason Garcia
Orlando Sentinel
The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill Monday designed to shield online-travel companies such as Expedia, Priceline and Orbitz from higher taxes.

Studies debunk myth that the rich flee states with higher tax rates
By Kyle Daly
Florida Independent
Fiscal conservatives have long cited anecdotal and inconclusive evidence that state tax hikes send the rich running to states whose tax policies are more sympathetic to their pocketbooks.

Endeavour delayed again
By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
The next possible launch of the space shuttle Endeavour has been pushed back again, this time to no earlier than May 10.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Gov. Scott gets bill to block federal health-care overhaul
Associated Press
Orlando Sentinel
Gov. Rick Scott is getting a bill that would prohibit Floridians from being required to purchase health insurance.

Medicaid rewrite looks headed toward special session
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Florida lawmakers opened this spring’s legislative session with lofty plans for overhauling Medicaid, the health program serving 2.9 million low-income, elderly and disabled residents and absorbing $22 billion — about one-third of the state budget.

Abortion bickering spills over to unrelated issue
By Aaron Sharockman and Marc Caputo
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Democratic Rep. Daphne Campbell of Miami is on the outs with fellow caucus members, so under the enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend logic, she's now a buddy of the GOP.

Florida biomedical research grants likely to be cut
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
Under the best-case scenario, two state-funded programs that award grants for biomedical research will lose $20 million and see that funding transferred to programs that don't have to use the money for research.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Senate postpones immigration law debate
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
With hundreds of Hispanic protestors rallying peacefully in the lobby, the Florida Senate today postponed debate on a package of immigration law changes.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Senate passes Supreme Court overhaul — without expansion plan
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
The Senate handed House Speaker Dean Cannon a partial victory Monday in his effort to overhaul the Florida Supreme Court but only after stripping out the most controversial measure.

New private prison in Milton shows Florida cost-savings challenge
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Deep in the Panhandle sits what could be the future of Florida prisons, where inmates in an air-conditioned fortress watch high-def TVs, wear comfortable Crocs-style shoes and take courses in life skills and literacy.

Daily Clips for May 2, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

Focus on the economy
Published letter to the editor by Mark Ferrulo
St. Petersburg Times
Excerpt: Many candidates were elected promising to create jobs and balance the budget; instead they are dismantling women's rights and attacking women's health. Elected officials should roll up their sleeves and tackle the budget. The session is short. Let's stop wasting time and focus on nursing the economy back to health instead of attacking women's reproductive health.

Nelson protests Florida election proposals
By William Gibson
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Editor’s note: At this press conference, Progress Florida will present 4,570 letters of opposition to the Supreme Court “packing” constitutional amendment our network members have sent to state senators.
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and Democratic leaders in Tallahassee are mounting a public campaign against proposed state election reforms that they say would dramatically restrict access to voting.

FEATURED STORIES

Gov. Rick Scott's proposed corporate tax cut dead, Senate president says
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Budget veto by Scott might amount to a show of power
Gov. Rick Scott's proposed cut to Florida's corporate income tax was declared dead Sunday by the Senate president, who said cutting spending is more important.

Florida's budget ax to hit schools, health care, environment, employee benefits
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
The Republican-dominated Florida Legislature is poised this week to pass its blueprint for economic recovery — a budget that slashes nearly $4 billion from schools, employee benefits, health care and environmental programs.

Pension deal requires Florida workers to contribute 3 percent to retirement
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Teachers, police, firefighters and state workers would face a 3 percent cut in their take-home pay as the state uses the money to pay for retirement costs under a pension agreement reached late Friday by state legislators.

Budget negotiators secretly tuck union dues ban into budget deal
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times
In yet another example of legislative leaders using their budget document to adopt legislation they can't pass on the floor, budget negotiators tonight have agreed to include a provision in the budget that paves the way for a ban on union dues for several state worker unions.

Democrats say GOP lawmakers passing bills to grab more power
By William March
Tampa Tribune
With Florida sunk in the depths of a recession, this year's legislative session was supposed to be about jobs, jobs, jobs.

Legislation Spells Big Change for Florida Schools
By Zac Anderson
Lakeland Ledger
Largely obscured by the budget and other major issues dominating the capital this year, a series of education bills on the brink of passing the Legislature could bring the biggest transformation of Florida schools in years.

EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK

By Chan Lowe
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Read the artist's commentary here.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Scott's unpopularity worries some in GOP, but not him
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he’s not worried about polls showing his popularity and job approval ratings in the basement.

Lawmakers use your cash to overturn your vote
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
Right now, legislators are waging a wicked war — against democracy itself.

In Tallahassee, Checkout Time for Republican Super-Majority
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Now the fun really begins. The kids are at the cash register, and it’s time to settle up.

Moderate Republicans should speak out against Tea Party
By Elllen Blais
St. Augustine Record
The recent Tea Party rally in St Augustine was interesting on many levels.

Cuban-Americans Dominate Florida Rise in Hispanic Politicians
By Laura Wides-Munoz and Mike Schneider
Associated Press
Rubio. Martinez. Alvarez. Diaz-Balart. Cruz. Gonzalez. The list of prominent Florida politicians with Spanish surnames is growing, a reflection of the state's expanding Hispanic population.

Florida Republican Party chairman David Bitner diagnosed with ALS
By Adam C. Smith and Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times
Just over three months since being elected chairman of Florida's Republican Party, David Bitner said Friday he has been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive and ultimately fatal neuro­degenerative disease.

Process begins to oust Ausman from Democratic State Committee
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
Democratic National Committeeman Jon Ausman, a fiercely combative campaign strategist known for partisan infighting, could lose the power base he has built over more than 40 years because of charges that he violated “an unwritten code of political ethics” by taking sides among Democrats in last year’s races.

New developments in case alleging Buchanan campaign violations
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
According to a recently filed court document, donations made to the 2006 and 2008 campaigns of Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, were indeed reimbursed by funds from a Buchanan-owned car dealership, but were not intended to be back-door contributions.

Ethics complaint filed against state Rep. Erik Fresen
By Patricia Mazzei
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
A Tallahassee mother of three said she filed an ethics complaint this week against state Rep. Erik Fresen over his family's ties to a charter school company.

Today in Tallahassee: Immigration, election reform
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In this, the final week of the legislative session, things are moving fast and furious.

Florida Legislature's attempt to impose stricter gift ban on school board members laudable, hypocritical
Editorial
TC Palm
Hypocrisy is afoot in the Florida Legislature.

Secrecy clouds Scott administration
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Florida's public records laws are among the strongest in the nation and help ensure residents know how government officials are acting on their behalf.

No ethics problems for Gov. Scott?
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Rick Scott’s many critics say he hasn’t done enough to separate his personal finances from his decisions as governor, but the Florida Commission on Ethics staff has issued a preliminary report that clears the governor of any violations.

POLITICAL RACES

In Florida, GOP squeezes Obama-friendly voters
By Joy-Ann Reid
Miami Herald
Last week, we learned that even achieving the highest level of academic and political success — up to and including being elected president of the United States — is not enough to exempt an African American from having it demanded of him, by even the Washington press corps, that he prove the circumstances of his birth to a white, B-list television personality.

Analysis: State parties positioning for next year's campaigns
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
There's been tough talk. Ignored priorities. Charges of flip-flopping. Even a lawsuit.

Sen. Rubio says no way he'll be on GOP 2012 ticket
Associated Press
Orlando Sentinel
First-term GOP Sen. Marco Rubio says he won't be on the Republican presidential ticket in 2012 under any circumstances.

Planning for Republicans' Tampa party well underway
By Adam C. Smith and Richard Danielson
St. Petersburg Times
Think of hosting an event as big as the Super Bowl. Now multiply that by four or five.

Election pranks are not equal to fraud
By Aaron Sharockman
St. Petersburg Times
Republicans pushing major changes to state election laws say the legislation is needed to better protect the state against voter fraud.

Leon County supervisor of elections: Early voting compromise wouldn’t save money
By Travis Pillow
Florida Independent
The Florida Senate is working to shorten early voting periods, but lawmakers are working on a compromise.

Does early voting raise turnout?
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Democrats such as U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, college students and election advocates are bemoaning an election bill Republican rulers in Tallahassee say will combat fraud.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

House passes controversial environmental bill in minutes
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Controversial growth management bill wedged into budget to force passage
With head-spinning speed, the Florida House took up and passed a major rewrite of state environmental laws late Friday that Florida conservation groups call one of the worst environmental bills in decades.

A sea change in Florida water regulation
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Rick Scott recently told federal officials they should leave Florida alone and let it set its own water pollution standards.

Federal official says Everglades restoration will continue despite state budget slashes
By Christine Stapleton
Palm Beach Post
Despite dire warnings from environmentalists that Everglades restoration is doomed if drastic cuts to the state budget are approved, federal agencies say they have the money to keep the programs going and are ready to step up and fulfill their commitment to share the costs.

Earth Justice: Florida State Legislature Choking Clean Water Rules
By Les Coleman
Public News Service Florida
Stinking, slimy, poisonous rivers filled with dead fish may sound like a horror movie, but it's a reality story for some citizens of the Sunshine State.

Eight North Florida counties affected by oil spill to get $10M
By Jim Ash
Florida Capital News
House and Senate budget negotiators agreed Friday to boost economic development in eight northwest Florida counties most affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster.

Airport will pursue damages against BP
By Pat Kelly
Panama City News Herald
The Airport Authority board will pursue damages against BP for a loss of passenger traffic after last year’s oil spill.

EDUCATION

School choice bills making headway in Capitol
By Leslie Postal
Orlando Sentinel
Related: Florida charters less diverse than other public schools
Related: Grouping kids by race or ethnicity in charter schools has merit, backers say
Florida lawmakers are poised to pass a handful of bills that, combined, would expand charter schools, virtual schools, a voucher programs for kids with disabilities and the opportunity to transfer from struggling campuses.

Florida charter school advocate warns of problems amid growth
By Tom Marshall
St. Petersburg Times
There are two competing visions of charter schools in Florida — one rosy, and one far darker.

Education Does Better Than Many Feared
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Legislative budget negotiators settled on a $540 per student, or 7.9 percent, spending cut Friday, but lawmakers said public schools should be able to make up most of that difference through other funding sources.

Homeless, but Finding Sanctuary at School
By Michael Winerip
New York Times
The bus ride from the homeless shelter to Fern Creek Elementary School was, as usual, raucous.

Students will see tuition hikes, less help from Florida budget
By Jodie Tillman
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
College students can expect bigger tuition bills next year — and possibly less help to pay for them.

Florida school nutrition bill passed by Senate
Associated Press
Miami Herald
The Florida Senate has approved a proposal from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to take over school food and nutrition programs from the State Board of Education.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Deal gives Scott influence over economic development
By Jim Ash
Florida Capital News
Gov. Rick Scott would have greater control over economic development under a budget deal lawmakers agreed to on Friday.

State budget negotiations continue
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
House and Senate budget negotiators agreed on privatization of prisons in 18 South Florida counties and a $210.5 million cut in property taxes for water management districts tonight and Gov. Rick Scott said he will continue pressing for more revenue reductions in the final week of the 2011 legislative session.

Big-money fight ties up budget talks
By Marc Caputo
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In the opening days of the lawmaking session, two low-profile South Florida doctors helped funnel $70,000 to politicians and political groups, bringing their total contributions to an eye-opening $3 million in just one year.

In Florida, G.O.P. Help for Unions
By Steven Greenhouse
New York Times
When State Senator John Thrasher introduced a bill to weaken the political clout of Florida’s public employee unions, he expected that it would pass fairly easily, not least because Republicans held 28 of the Senate’s 40 seats.

For labor, it's Mayday, not May Day
By Robyn E. Blumner
St. Petersburg Times
It's May Day, a day that commemorates the vast contributions of the labor movement and its continued value.

Florida House won't budge on professions it wants to deregulate
Staff Report
St. Petersburg Times
If the Senate had its way, commercial interior designers, athletes' agents and telemarketers would continue to need state licenses to practice.

Jobs agency paid thousands to companies owned by board members
By Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel
Workforce Central Florida, whose spending on superhero capes has sparked an inspector general's review, has made deals worth more than $166,000 to companies controlled by agency board members.

Scott tells Hispanic leaders he wants Florida to be business-friendly
By Jeannette Rivera-Lyles
Orlando Sentinel
Gov. Rick Scott told Hispanic business leaders in Orlando Friday that increasing trade with Latin America and creating conditions that spur economic activity are priorities for him.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Once pride of Florida; now scenes of neglect
By Rob Barry, Michael Sallah and Carol Marbin Miller
Miami Herald
For more than a decade, Bruce Hall ran his assisted-living facility in Florida’s Panhandle like a prison camp.

Anti-abortion stance lands Florida Democrat in the liberal doghouse
By Marc Caputo
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
House Democrats are ostracizing one of their own, Miami Rep. Daphne Campbell, after she backed a Republican abortion bill and quoted the Bible on the floor of the Florida House.

Bondi deserves no credit
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
As a candidate, Pam Bondi said the Florida attorney general's office was her political goal and promised not to run for anything else.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Immigration bill gets second wind in Senate, even as new keeper expresses concerns
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
The Senate's immigration bill, seemingly stalled in the committee process, has been propelled forward by Senate President Mike Haridopolos to the Senate floor.

Miami residents to protest immigration bill
Associated Press
Miami Herald
Miami residents plan to protest tough immigration bills being debated in the Legislature.

Arizona's immigration law doesn't fit Florida
By Bill Maxwell
St. Petersburg Times
As Republicans in the Florida Legislature move to implement Arizona-style immigration laws, they need to stop and listen to the practicality and sanity from a member of their own party: Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Adam H. Putnam, a conservative Republican and a member of the state Cabinet.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Fla. Senate passes bill setting standards for how police handle eyewitness identification lineups
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Over the objections of law enforcement officials, the Florida Senate approved a measure setting minimum standards for eyewitness identification, the number one cause of wrongful convictions.

Courageous stand against Cannon's court plan
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
House Speaker Dean Cannon's purely political play to split the Florida Supreme Court in half continues to be a solution in search of a problem.

Supreme Court overhaul: Ditch it
Editorial
Florida Times-Union
The controversial proposed overhaul of the Florida Supreme Court -- splitting it into a criminal and a civil division -- was, as of Thursday, struggling to stay alive in the Florida Legislature. We hope it dies. Period.