Daily News Clips for March 5, 2013

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

An agenda for middle-class Florida
By Mark Ferrulo, Amy Ritter and Josh Geise
Tampa Tribune
For the past two years, at the conclusion of Florida's legislative session, Florida Watch Action, Progress Florida and America Votes have recognized members of the Legislature as a "Champion of Florida's Middle Class" for their unwavering support on behalf of Florida's families.

AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS

Liberal groups hope to awaken interest in voting rights
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The liberal groups that sponsored Awake the State rallies in Fort Lauderdale and the rest of the state in the aftermath of Gov. Rick Scott taking office are back again.

"Awake the State" Rally in West Palm Beach to address voting issues
By Lauren T. Hills
CBS 12 West Palm Beach
Happening today the group "Awake the State" is holding rallies across the state over the issues that plagued Florida's elections this year.

Group plans elections reform rally in Bradenton
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A group calling itself “Awake The State” plans to hold a rally at 5:30 p.m. in Bradenton on Tuesday to call for election reforms in Florida.

The Week Ahead for March 4 to March 8
Staff Report
Florida Current
Excerpt: AWAKE THE STATE...The Awake The State organization plans statewide rallies on Tuesday as members express their "discontent against Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature’s undemocratic, anti-middle class policies." A rally in Tallahassee takes place at 4 p.m. on the front steps of the Historic Capitol. Information about other rallies can be found here. Other information about the group can be found here.

FEATURED STORIES

Rick Scott's message will be different for Tuesday's state of the state address
By Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Two years ago, Gov. Rick Scott chose this out-of-the-way town to cement his bond with the tea party and showcase his first state budget as proof of his conservative credentials.

Gov. Scott boasts improving state of affairs, Democrats decry ‘state of denial’
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott will kick off the 2013 legislative session today with his third State of the State speech, highlighting tax breaks for manufacturers and teacher bonuses and taking credit for a turnaround in Florida’s economy.

Key house panel says no to Medicaid expansion, sets up legislative showdown
By Tia Mitchell
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Reaction to House panel rejection of Medicaid expansion
Related editorial: House’s irresponsible move on Medicaid
Top Republicans in the Florida House split from Gov. Rick Scott on Monday and said that they will oppose a plan to expand Medicaid to 900,000 or more poor Floridians, arguing that it would increase the federal deficit, diminish health care delivery to the elderly and drastically grow an already problem-laden program.

Capitol comes alive as session starts
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
Florida's Capitol was abuzz with activity Monday as legislators, lobbyists and staff aides made session-eve preparation for 60 days of House and Senate wrangling over a $74 billion budget, Medicaid expansion, education policy, gun regulation, government pension changes and dozens of other issues.

Senate Democrats Name Non-Negotiable Election Reforms
By Jessica Palombo    
WFSU Tallahassee
As Florida lawmakers tackle election reform, Senate Democrats are demanding changes they say are needed to get their support.

Will lawmakers pass campaign reform or just face-lift?
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
From before-noon coffees to evening soirees, lawmakers and lobbyists marked the eve of the 60-day session of the Florida Legislature Monday in private clubs and lobbying offices with a traditional social ritual: handing out millions of dollars in checks.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Scott's shift to middle annoys parties
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s neck-snapping policy reversals and decisions to back higher teacher pay and Medicaid expansion are complicating politics for both major parties as Florida’s annual legislative session begins this week.

Fundraising frenzy envelopes Tallahassee in advance of session deadline
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
In advance of House and Senate rules that prohibit fundraising during the legislative session, numerous fundraising receptions were being held Monday in downtown Tallahassee.

Ethics reform is job one
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Without confidence in the integrity of elected officials, there can be no confidence in the public policies they embrace.

Rep. Crisafulli tapped by House GOP caucus as Speaker-designate
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Republican House members voted Monday to elect Rep. Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, as House Speaker-designate for 2014-2016.

Florida lawmakers to discuss teachers, elections, Medicaid
By Bill Cotterell
Tampa Tribune
When the Florida Legislature convenes its annual session Tuesday, Tampa Bay area legislators will be working on issues ranging from voting procedures and teacher salaries to Medicaid expansion and property insurance.

Florida consumers have much at stake in the 2013 Legislature
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
From property insurance to home foreclosures to eye care, Florida consumers have much at stake in the 2013 Florida Legislature.

Texting While Driving Ban Sought
By Mike Vasilinda
Capitol News Service
For the sixth year in a row, legislation is being introduced to make it a non moving traffic violation to text while driving, getting caught would result in a thirty dollar fine. 

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Group wants more spending on future water supplies; others call for conservation
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
A small group of lobbyists with corporate and municipal water utility ties is urging legislators to spend more on water supply projects.

LGBT

Rep. Frederica Wilson: As 'a firm opponent of DOMA,' I wanted to sign a pro-gay marriage brief
By Steve Rothaus
Miami Herald
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami, is dismayed that gay activists think she is against marriage equality -- she's not, according to Gwen Belton, her South Florida communications director.

EDUCATION

Another failed Orlando charter 'a disaster' for students, teachers
By Lauren Roth
Orlando Sentinel
It was clear to teachers at the Einstein Montessori School in Orlando that something was very wrong when school opened for business last fall.

School safety on table as legislative session starts Tuesday
By Jason Schultz
Palm Beach Post
It’s been nearly three months since the shooting massacre in Newtown, Conn., turned school safety into a national hot button issue.

Bill would require Florida schools have adequate technology before Common Core takes hold
By Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
As the Common Core State Standards get put in place Florida, a key concern remains over whether the state's schools can handle the load that new computerized tests will place on them.

Below-average FCAT scores mean less school recognition funds
By Joe Callahan
Ocala Star-Banner
A below-average showing on last spring's FCAT will leave Marion County schools with less state school recognition funds, money doled out to schools that improve — or at least maintain — their academic success.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

2013 Session Outlook: Budget & Taxes
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
They debate hundreds of bills every year, but Florida legislators are only required by law to pass one: a state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Lawmakers Weigh Costs Of Closing Florida's Pension System
By Lynn Hatter 
WFSU Tallahassee
A cost estimate for closing Florida’s pension system to new employees is finally in.

Jobs agency updates economic incentives portal as lawmakers push for accountability
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Under pressure from lawmakers to provide more transparency about taxpayer money used to lure businesses to expand or relocate in Florida, the Department of Economic Opportunity completed its online portal detailing incentive projects Monday.

Majority support Obama's mixed approach to deficit: Mostly True
By Becky Bowers
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact
Says a majority of Americans — and Republicans — support his approach for deficit reduction.

For Fla. citrus crop, it's been a tough year
By Tamara Lush
Associated Press
Florida's citrus crop has suffered huge losses this year, with fruit falling from trees and the overall forecast declining about 10 percent, but the problems shouldn't translate to a price increase at the breakfast table – yet. 

HEALTH AND SENIORS

House Panel Rejects Medicaid Expansion
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
Related: Expanding Medicaid Makes Fiscal Sense, State Economist Says
Related: 'This Decision Will Impact Floridians for Decades'
Only a few hours after Florida's chief economist said the state can't afford to leave billions of federal dollars sitting on the table, the House committee on the Affordable Care Act voted to do exactly that.

Nursing a headache over the ‘Dr.’ title
By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post
By the end of the year, Carole Huber expects to have her doctoral degree in nursing at Florida Atlantic University.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Jeb Bush reverses stance on immigration: No citizenship path for undocumented
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Distancing himself from his former-president brother and Sen. Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush appeared to reverse course Monday when he said undocumented immigrants should not be given a pathway to citizenship.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Twelve charged with manslaughter in FAMU death
By Toluse Olorunnipa
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
Prosecutors charged 12 former Florida A&M University band members with manslaughter Monday, a major escalation in the criminal case surrounding the tragic 2011 hazing death of a drum major.

Court rules against CFO Atwater in Taj Mahal payment dispute
News Service of Florida
Saint Petersblog
Though the original dispute already had been settled, an appeals court Friday ruled against the state Department of Financial Services in a dispute about whether Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater could block payment for historical photographs at a controversial Tallahassee courthouse.

Daily News Clips for March 4, 2013

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

Florida Insider Poll: Scott's money would deter GOP challengers
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Note: Progress Florida’s Mark Ferrulo and Damien Filer were among those polled.
A new Florida Insider Poll by the Tampa Bay Times finds more than 7 in 10 of the state's most experienced politicos say Scott is unlikely to face a serious primary challenge.

AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS

Awake the State Planning Voting Reform Rallies Across Florida Next Tuesday
By Robert Lorei
WMNF Tampa
Excerpt: By some estimates hundreds of thousands of people became discouraged and did not vote because of new voting hurdles imposed by the state government. The progressive activist group Awake the State is planning a series of rallies and marches next week calling on the state to make it easier to vote.

FEATURED STORIES

Florida lawmakers to angry voters: We hear you
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
Related: A consumer’s guide to the Florida legislature
Related: Politifact: Tracking the top 2013 legislative issues
What a difference an election can make.

Legislature could tip hand on Medicaid expansion Monday
By Tia Mitchell
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Romano to lawmakers: You know what you need to do on Medicaid
Related editorial: Medicaid expansion key for Florida
Gov. Rick Scott has said what he would do. So have the other three members of the Florida Cabinet.

Far from Tea Party roots, Scott prepares to address Florida
By Brendan Farrington and Gary Fineout
Associated Press
Gov. Rick Scott came into office on a conservative wave, promising to change Tallahassee, fight President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and make Florida as business friendly as he could.

Attacks on Gov. Rick Scott’s Medicaid move mask Adam Putnam’s big-spending record
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam criticized Gov. Rick Scott over expanding Medicaid, but Putnam may have a taste for big government himself.

Critics rap actions of Jeb Bush's education foundation
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Lobbyists are not allowed to finance perks like trips for state officials, but those at the Foundation for Excellence in Education get around that ban by being registered to another foundation run by Jeb Bush.

Sequester starts, as does politicians parceling out blame
By Lesley Clark and William Douglas
Miami Herald
The federal government will start cutting spending as early as Saturday, with President Barack Obama and congressional leaders unable to bridge their fundamental disagreement over spending and taxes.

EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK

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

FLORIDA POLITICS

Lawmakers facing big-ticket decisions in 2013 session
By Aaron Deslatte and Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
From health care and insurance to teacher raises and election reform, the 60-day session starting Tuesday could be a political do-over for a Florida Legislature looking to rewrite some of its controversial recent history.

Democrats pre-but Rick Scott's State of State speech
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
After cutting more jobs than he created in Florida in 2012, failing to keep his promise to create 700,000 new jobs and a disastrous election year where the Florida GOP "got their teeth kicked in", Gov. Rick Scott is running away from everything he campaigned on to get reelected.

Around Florida: The 'revolving door' lobbyist issue gets watered down in ethics overhaul bill
By Matt Dixon  
Florida Times-Union
Dean Cannon was the House Speaker in 2012. He’s now a registered lobbyist with an impressive client list.

Every spring, lawmakers' quest for free gifts begins anew
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
Azaleas and hyacinths explode like fireworks in displays of brilliant color. The sweet smell of honeysuckle begins to waft through the air.

Young gun, old hand aim to clear legislative toxic air
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Intent on wiping their chambers clean of the toxic atmosphere that has permeated politics in the state Capitol and beyond for more than two years, Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford have made ethics, elections and campaign finance reform their top priorities for the 2013 legislative session that begins on Tuesday.

Rep. Pafford: From a U.S. Senator’s driver to Florida Dems’ policy driver
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
A Q&A with…Rep. Mark S. Pafford (D)District 86, Florida House of Representatives.

The roots behind the Rick Scott-Adam Putnam showdown
By Gary Fineout
The Fine Print
It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, especially those in "Scott world" that Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam came out so forcefully against Gov. Rick Scott's decision to back the expansion of Medicaid.

Stop absentee ballot fraud
Editorial
Miami Herald
Miami-Dade elections officials and the office of State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle have found an object worthy of praise — the computer.

POLITICAL RACES

Coy about his own future, Charlie Crist doesn't shy away from going after Rick Scott
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
He directed some barbs at the governor and articulated a positive vision about Florida’s future, but acted coy about his own political intentions.

Scott's biggest election hurdle: Winning over his own party
By Jeremy Wallace
Ocala Star-Baner
Florida Gov. Rick Scott faces a dire political situation and his awkward relationship with the Legislature makes a rebound even more difficult. 

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Some leaders souring on nuclear power costs
By Ray Henry
Associated Press
As the cost of building a new nuclear plant soars, there are signs of buyer's remorse.

LGBT

Frederica Wilson, Bill Nelson among few Democrats not to sign gay marriage-equality brief
By Steve Rothaus
Miami Herald
Gay activists and allies won't soon be tipping their hats to U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami -- she's one of only 30 Democratic House members who this week didn't co-sign a marriage equality brief to the Supreme Court.

EDUCATION

Teacher raises, student safety, Bright Futures and more at stake in session
By Leslie Postal and Denise-Marie Ordway
Orlando Sentinel
Student safety, teacher raises, charter-school reform and changes in the popular Bright Futures scholarship program are among the key education issues lawmakers will address when they convene in Tallahassee on Tuesday for their 2013 legislative session.

Reforming school reform
By Thomas C. Tobin
Tampa Bay Times
After 17 years of pushing, prodding and tweaking, reformers have thoroughly remade Florida's education system.

House, Senate would create ‘education savings accounts’ to pay for private schools and tutors
By Travis Pillow
Tallahassee Democrat
Legislation filed by committee chairmen in both the House and Senate, would allow students to use state education funds to pay for private schools or other education options.

Scott’s Conversion over Teachers Questionable
By Cary McMullen
Florida Voices
Is Rick Scott really our next education governor?

School safety on table as legislative session starts Tuesday
By Jason Schultz
Palm Beach Post
It’s been nearly three months since the shooting massacre in Newtown, Conn., turned school safety into a national hot button issue.

Educators, decision makers saying deadline for Common Core won't be met
By Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
Florida schools are getting ready for big change.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

2013 Session Outlook: Economic Development
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Gov. Rick Scott has served up a full plate of changes to Florida’s economic development strategies in his first two years as the state’s chief executive, and the Legislature has largely obliged him, but they haven’t finished the banquet.

Weatherford gets revised pension numbers
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
Related: Senator proposes FRS overhaul
Related: State investments doing well, OPPAGA says
House Speaker Will Weatherford got a financial update on his idea to close the Florida Retirement System's regular pension plan to new employees late Friday -- along with a $70,000 apology from the state's actuarial consultants for not giving him what he wanted last month.

Lawmakers seek larger share of state budget, caps on property insurance rate hikes
By Kathleen McGrory
Miami Herald
Related: Time for Legislature to invest in Florida
State lawmakers from South Florida are taking a cue from P. Diddy as they head to Tallahassee for the upcoming legislative session.

Report: FL Families Still Struggle to Put Food on Table
By Stephanie Carroll Carson
Public News Service Florida
The Florida economy may be showing some signs of improvement, but that recovery has yet to trickle down to those who need it the most.

Shortchanged on the job
By Jeremiah Tattersall and Diana Moreno
Gainesville Sun
Have you or someone you know ever been shortchanged at work?

Jobless rate improves — but labor-pool dropouts skew numbers
By Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel
As the state unemployment rate inches down, Gov. Rick Scott rarely misses an opportunity to broadcast the news, sometimes blasting out four or five news releases in a day — such as this one from January's jobless report.

Florida tourism threatened by budget cuts, higher fares
By William E. Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
Airfares will go up. Lines at airports will extend "out the door." Foreign travelers will turn to other destinations outside this country.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Healthcare Law, Access Issues At Center of Scope-of-Practice Fights
By Lynn Hatter
WFSU Tallahassee
The nation’s healthcare system is changing.

Tax Changes Come With New Healthcare Law
By Lynn Hatter 
WFSU Tallahassee
The federal  Affordable Care Act  is aimed at getting more Americans insured.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Some Question Scott's Motives For Pursuing Another Appeal To Welfare Drug Test Ruling
By Sascha Cordner      
WFSU Tallahassee
A temporary ban to block drug testing in Florida for welfare recipients is still in place, after a federal appeals court validated a lower court’s ruling that the state hasn’t shown why it’s necessary.

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson makes pitch for immigration reform
By Eloísa Ruano González
Orlando Sentinel
U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson made an impassioned call for immigration reform during an appearance this morning in Orlando while surrounded by Central Florida Hispanic leaders.

Farmworkers will march for rights, respect and fair food
By Lenka Davis
WMNF Tampa
The Coalition of the Immokalee Workers is starting its two week march for rights, respect and free food this Sunday.

Daily News Clips for March 1, 2013

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

Progressives: saving local wage, benefit efforts high on agenda
By David Damron
Orlando Sentinel
Excerpt: A coalition of progressive groups released its upcoming legislative agenda, and killing bills that block local wage and benefit measures sits near the top of it’s list...The groups behind the goals are Florida Watch Action, Progress Florida, and America Votes.

FEATURED STORIES

Automatic spending cuts set to start after Congress fails to act
By William Douglas and Lesley Clark
Miami Herald
Sometime Friday, the federal government will take the first step toward cutting spending in dozens of departments and programs after the two major parties each tried and failed to muscle partisan alternatives through the Senate.

Activists to lawmakers: Just do more on election reform
By James Call
Florida Current
A coalition of groups representing ministers, seniors, students and civil rights activists say reform bills gaining traction in the Legislature do not go far enough.

With High Rate of Uninsured, Florida Prepares for Health Care Reform
By Mc Nelly Torres
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
The numbers are deplorable. One of every 13 uninsured kids in the United States lives in Florida.

New York Republican rips Rubio for raising Wall Street money after voting against Sandy aid
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Congressman Pete King was not pleased with his fellow Republicans who opposed the federal Hurricane Sandy relief package.

Meet Harry Sargeant, Florida Republican money man
By Lucy Morgan
Tampa Bay Times
Former Gov. Charlie Crist calls him "a great patriot.''

BEST OF THE BLOGS

US Senator Marco Rubio: A Light Weight On The Most Pressing Issue Of Our Times: Global Warming and Climate Change
By Gimleteye
Eye On Miami
Why is climate change the most pressing issue of our times? It seems an absurd question obligating an answer.

Students Occupy University President’s Office To Protest Naming Stadium After Private Prison Company
By Adam Peck
Think Progress
Last week, the administration of Florida Atlantic University raised eyebrows when officials announced that they had sold the naming rights to the school’s new football stadium to the GEO Group, the nation’s second-largest private prison company.

The Sequester Grift
By Benjamin J. Kirby
The Spencerian
Happy Sequestration Week!  As you may -- or may not, (though, really, given the full court press coverage, how could you not?) -- know the massive budget cuts called "sequester" are set to kick in on Friday.

Right Wing Rubio: Not a Hint of Moderation To Be Found As Iowa Posturing Continues
By Kartik Krishnaiyer
The Political Squeeze
Republican “savior” Marco Rubio has had the type of week to make conservative salivate. Let’s recap.

For-Profit Charter School Fights Back Against Parents Who Rejected Them In Sarasota
By Bob Sikes
Scathing Purple Musings
Blogger David Safier has more on Imagine Charter Schools’ battle with Sarasota parents and local school leadership over their decision to secede from the nation’s largest charter school provider.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Fixing Florida's voting system
By Janet Cruz
Tampa Bay Times
Florida has a long history of botching elections and suppressing minority votes. Enough is enough.

New members of Congress hire aides who used to lobby
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Two of freshman U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel's top staffers have come through the "revolving door" to work for her.

Florida House to reveal new smart phone app
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald
With an enticing, but cryptic, press release today, Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford invited the media to his special announcement outside of the House of Represenatives chambers on Thursday entitled, “Democracy on the Go.”

Texting while voting
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
Message to public officials: Turn off your cellphones at a public meeting.

POLITICAL RACES

Weatherford Tries To Quell Rumors He'll Run Against Gov. Scott in 2014
By Sascha Cordner      
WFSU Tallahassee
Some are speculating that current Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford has plans to unseat Governor Rick Scott in 2014, after the Republican Governor upset many of his colleagues with the Medicaid expansion announcement.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

Earned Sick Pay Ballot Measure Wins Place on Orange County Ballot in 2014
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
After a long and difficult fight in Orange County, an earned sick pay measure that was left off the 2012 ballot will be put to voters next year.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

BP probe of Gulf spill didn't explore cost cuts
By Michael Kunzelman
Associated Press
An internal BP probe of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico didn't explore whether decisions by upper-level management or cost cuts had a role in causing the disaster because investigators didn't have access to its partners' employees and records, a BP executive testified Thursday at a trial designed to assign blame to the companies.

Crystal River nuclear plant had flaw in safety procedures for over a decade
By Ivan Penn
Tampa Bay Times
For more than a decade, Progress Energy Florida had a serious flaw in the safety procedures at its Crystal River nuclear plant.

Rep. Patronis is back with another permitting bill -- and some groups are not thrilled
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Rep. Jimmy Patronis is back for the third straight year with a comprehensive environmental permitting bill that is backed by business groups and raising concerns with other groups.

Everglades National Park proposes new rules targeting boater damage
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
A glimpse of the “preferred’’ future for visitors to Everglades National Park.

LGBT

Obama urges court to overturn gay marriage ban
By Julie Pace and Mark Sherman
Associated Press
In a historic argument for gay rights, President Barack Obama on Thursday urged the Supreme Court to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban and turn a skeptical eye on similar prohibitions across the country.

EDUCATION

Teachers question fairness of new evaluation system at hearing
By Leslie Postal
Orlando Sentinel
The official purpose of the meeting sounded dry and bureaucratic: Take public input on drafts of two state rules.

Florida not listed on 'top heavy' school list
By Dave Breitenstein
Ft. Myers News-Press
A national report released today shows Florida is one of 30 states that employs more teachers than non-instructional employees in public schools.

At FAU, opinions divided over naming stadium for prison company that pledged $6 million
By John Lantigua
Palm Beach Post
Florida Atlantic University students both in favor and opposed to “Owlcatraz” are expected to flock to a meeting with their school president Mary Jane Saunders tomorrow to debate the issue roiling their campus.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Federal budget ax threatens jobs, services … eventually
By William E. Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
Uncle Sam's self-imposed belt-tightening starts today — a spending diet known as a "sequester" that doesn't look too painful at first but will gradually squeeze aid, services and jobs for a wide range of Floridians.

Nelson backs bill to dock Congress if workers furloughed
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson says he’ll co-sponsor filing legislation to dock paychecks for Congress members by the same percentage as any federal worker furloughed as a result of sequestration.

Gov. Scott touts advantages of cutting taxes for manufacturers
By Drew Harwell
Tampa Bay Times
Gov. Rick Scott talked up tax cuts for manufacturers at a St. Petersburg tech manufacturer Thursday, touting his top legislative priority as a key to creating jobs.

Florida class action case takes aim at Citizens' re-inspection program
By Jay Weaver and Toluse Olorunnipa
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Thousands of Florida homeowners buffeted by higher windstorm premiums have sued state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to recover potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in "back-door" rate increases driven by "arbitrary" re-inspections of their residences.

Raise for lowest-paid would benefit entire U.S. economy
By Karen Woodal
Orlando Sentinel
In one of the highlights of his State of the Union speech last month, President Obama called upon Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $9 per hour by 2015.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Panel backs health coverage for part-time workers
By Kelli Kennedy
Associated Press
Members of a Florida House panel reluctantly agreed Thursday that they would rather extend health coverage to part-time employees than pay a roughly $300 million fine under President Barack Obama's federal health care law.

Legislators move closer to Medicaid expansion decision
By Tia Mitchell
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Monday could be the day when House and Senate committees studying the health care law make a recommendation on whether the state should accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid.

Session Outlook: Health Care
By James Call
Florida Current
Although the Florida Legislature goes to work next week, the bill expected to generate hot debate during the 2013 Session has yet to be filed.

Experts try ways to keep troubled children from becoming severely ill adults
By Christine Stapleton
Palm Beach Post
While recent discussions on mental health have focused on how to keep guns away from those with mental illnesses, Dr. Aude Henin’s focus is to keep children with mental illnesses from becoming adults with severe psychiatric disorders.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson to make pitch for immigration reform
By Eloísa Ruano González
Orlando Sentinel
U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson is expected to make an impassioned call for immigration reform during an appearance this morning in Orlando while surrounded by Central Florida Hispanic leaders.

Rep. Combee files bill protecting 'warning shots' from prosecution
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
A bill filed this week by Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, would protect those who fire “warning shots” in self-defense from prosecution.

Fla. Civil Rights Hall of Fame inductees announced
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Two married civil-rights activists - killed Christmas 1951 when a bomb exploded beneath their house as they slept - have been inducted into Florida's Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

Scott Should Target Corporate Welfare Cheats
By Rhonda Swan
Florida Voices
Florida green lighted $430,000 in tax incentives for a cocaine dealer, but Gov. Rick Scott is more concerned that the state might give a weed-smoking mother of two less than $4,000 a year in welfare.

Scott wasting state’s money on failed push for welfare drug testing.
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott’s administration has now received two stern rebukes from federal judges about his unconstitutional push to drug-test Florida’s welfare applicants.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Abuse charges dog GEO prison company
By Pat Beall
Palm Beach Post
In just a matter of days, backlash over GEO Group’s proposed $6 million stadium naming deal with Florida Atlantic University has put the Boca Raton private prison firm on the defensive, raised the hackles of civil rights groups and prompted questions about inmate conditions.