Daily Clips for January 21, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Rick Scott "jackass" retweet caps off governor's "Twitter Town Hall" By Noah Pransky WTSP 10 TV Tampa Bay News video excerpt: But the executive director for Progress Florida, Mark Ferrulo, was disappointed Scott avoided fielding any tough questions. "Unfortunately, this really follows the pattern of this governor wanting to control the atmosphere," Ferrulo said, adding that Scott chose not to answer countless questions about school vouchers, women's rights, and minimum wage. Notes from Rick Scott’s Twitter Town Hall By Catherine Whittenburg Tampa Tribune Excerpt: Tweeted questions not answered by the governor so far include: -ProgressFlorida Will you take resources from cash-strapped public schools and give them to private companies? FEATURED STORIES A new frontier for Florida's governor: Twitter town hall By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau For 38 minutes Thursday night, @FLGovScott sat in front of the laptop at his desk in the Governor's Mansion library, suit jacket on the back of his seat, and fired away answers in fewer than 140 characters. Gov. Scott must respect state's open government laws Editorial South Florida Sun-Sentinel Government must be open in Florida — no ifs, ands or buts about it. House speaker wants to restrict high court's powers By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel While professing not to have a concrete plan just yet, House Speaker Dean Cannon said Thursday that his chamber would try this year to strengthen the Legislature's hand in proposing changes to Florida's constitution. In letter blasting water quality rules, Associated Industries of Florida cites studies paid for by polluters By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent A group of Florida lobbyists, along with agriculture and industry executives, are once again pushing hard against EPA water quality rules, using cost estimates written in part by potentially affected industries to make their case. BEST OF THE BLOGS Florida’s Unsung Civil Rights Legend: Jack Orr By Kevin Cate KComm blog As we celebrate the legacy of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. today, I want to shine a light on one of Florida’s unsung civil rights heroes, John B. Orr, Jr. Florida’s Answer To Shootings: More Guns! Less Restrictions! By Inkberries Beach Peanuts In the wake of the shootings in Arizona, and the one at Florida State University last week where a drunk student accidentally killed his girlfriend’s twin sister with an AK-47, you might think that logic would dictate the idea of tightening notoriously permissive gun laws in Florida. Will jerking around the press hurt Rick Scott? By John Fleming Tone and Habit My own advice to people is to be as accessible as you can, provide as much information as you can, and always return press phone calls before deadline. Elections have consequences: Rick Scott adoptions stance, appointee spark worries By Joy-Ann Reid The Reid Report Florida Governor Gollum Rick Scott says adoptions should be reserved for married couples. The Frustrating Existence of Rick Scott By Jake Rantings from Florida I spent a lot of time on this blog in advance of the election saying Rick Scott shouldn't be governor because he was a lousy crook. FLORIDA POLITICS Nelson, Rubio plan to sit together during State of the Union speech Staff Report St. Petersburg Times Sen. Bill Nelson and his new colleague Marco Rubio will walk together to the State of the Union speech and plan to sit together, Nelson told members of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce on Thursday at Sirata Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach. Fla. probes finances of new US Rep David Rivera By Laura Wides-Munoz Associated Press State authorities said Thursday they are investigating financial dealings by South Florida U.S. Rep. David Rivera, who failed to report loans from his mother's gambling-related marketing company before the election. Scott should loosen press restrictions Editorial Daytona Beach News-Journal Rick Scott didn't exactly have a warm relationship with the press during his campaign for governor. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY How to prepare for the next oil spill By Steven Murawski and William Hogarth St. Petersburg Times Last week the federal Oil Spill Commission — co-chaired by former Gov. and Sen. Bob Graham and former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator William Reilly — released its final report on the Deepwater Horizon incident. Century Commission says it should develop Florida strategic plan By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com The Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida says it wants to help Florida develop a strategic plan as suggested by Gov. Rick Scott. Federal lawsuit contends panthers and other Florida species threatened by pesticides By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune Two national environmental groups on Thursday filed a lawsuit claiming that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had failed to consult with wildlife agencies on regulating pesticides that are harmful to endangered species, including the Florida panther. LGBT Bill to delay ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal introduced in House, Reps. Miller, West sponsor By Luke Johnson Florida Independent The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the U.S. military’s policy of banning openly gay servicemembers, was signed into law late last year. 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy cost Pentagon more than $193 million in six years, GAO concludes By Nancy A. Youssef McClatchy Newspapers The U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly in the military cost the Pentagon more than $193 million over six years, the Government Accountability Office reported Thursday. EDUCATION As Legislature cuts school budgets, it may revive local option tax By Denise-Marie Balona Orlando Sentinel As public schools in Florida brace for big budget cuts next school year, key state lawmakers will consider allowing local districts to keep charging an optional property tax introduced two years ago. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Rep. Mica: Private funds should pay for high-speed rail By Travis Pillow Florida Independent John Mica, the Central Florida congressman who oversees the U.S. House transportation committee, took a position on the high-speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando that appears increasingly fashionable among Republicans: He supports it, as long as private companies pony up the state’s share of funding for the project. Senator wants to bring back sales tax holiday this year By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Despite a sizable budget gap that may thwart any talk of tax breaks, the chairman of the Senate tax-writing panel wants to try to bring back the sales tax holiday in 2011. Florida Tax, Budget Cuts: 'Make It So Is Not Enough' Editorial Lakeland Ledger Rick Scott's confidence -- plus a sharply honed message, millions of dollars for television advertising and a statewide backlash against Democrats -- helped him get elected governor of Florida. Send help for farmworkers, too Editorial Miami Herald Help is on the way for Miami-Dade County's frost-besieged farm operators, say county officials, and that's good news for the local economy. Getting Florida its fair share Editorial St. Petersburg Times Facing a $3.6 billion deficit, Republican state leadership is contemplating which services to cut. HEALTH AND SENIORS Medicaid providers look for tax break By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune Medicaid mental health providers are asking the Legislature for a tax break. Cost of pill-mill rules: $65M By Carol Gentry Health News Florida The cost of implementing now-frozen regulations on Florida’s pain clinics would be about $65 million a year, an economic study concludes. Officials: Florida ‘very close’ to a solution to HIV/AIDS medication funding crisis By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Officials are working out the details of a temporary solution to the funding shortfall for the program that supplies medications to more than 10,000 low-income HIV/AIDs patients in Florida. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Doctors: This gun bill could be downright deadly By Scott Maxwell Orlando Sentinel On Sunday, we took a look at freshman legislator Jason Brodeur's far-out idea to arrest and fine doctors who ask their patients questions about gun safety.

Daily Clips for January 20, 2011

FEATURED STORIES Lawmakers casting doubt on Scott's promises of tax cuts By William March Tampa Tribune With newly elected Gov. Rick Scott's first session of the Florida Legislature about to start, Republican legislative leaders are casting doubt on his campaign promises for tax cuts. Scott denies he's shutting out Fla. media, public By Bill Kaczor Associated Press Gov. Rick Scott turned aside criticism Wednesday that his administration is shutting out the news media and the public during an appearance before newspaper editors, broadcasters and the Capitol press corps. Gov. Scott to answer questions from public during Twitter town hall today Staff Report Florida Capital News Gov. Rick Scott will answer questions today on a microblogging website. Democrat Nelson seeks third Senate term in state dominated by GOP By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Sen. Bill Nelson has been here before — the lone statewide Democrat in a red sea of Republicanism. FDLE takes lead in David Rivera probe By Scott Hiaasen and David Ovalle Miami Herald Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle has removed one of her top prosecution teams from the investigation of U.S. Rep. David Rivera and asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to take over as the lead agency in the politically sensitive probe. FLORIDA POLITICS Rick Scott: Budget plan will cut taxes despite $3.6 billion shortfall By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau As Gov. Rick Scott boldly predicted he would keep a campaign promise to cut taxes, both top legislative leaders Wednesday expressed doubt because of the size of the state's budget shortfall. All-new Cabinet, including first woman AG, meets By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Gov. Rick Scott presided over his first Cabinet meeting on Wednesday — the agenda was wafer thin, the atmosphere distinctly elephantine. Smokey Bear, orange juice and a light agenda mark new Florida Cabinet's first meeting By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The first meeting Wednesday between Gov. Rick Scott and his fellow Republicans on the Florida Cabinet included a photo with Smokey Bear and decanters of orange juice but little official business. Gov. Scott plans tax cuts By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Despite skepticism by top legislative leaders, Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday he will rally public support and convince lawmakers to dig out of a $3.5-billion revenue hole and cut taxes at the same time. Boot-scooting guv fields media questions By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Cowboy boot-scootin’ Gov. Rick Scott fielded questions from the media today at the annual AP legislative planning session, deflecting questions about how he plans to hand out tax breaks to property owners and businesses while at the same time cutting $3.6 billion in spending. Rivera and others used leftover campaign cash on computers, cigars and meals By Gary Fineout The Fine Print This past weekend the Miami Herald reported that an ongoing investigation into U.S. Rep. David Rivera was focusing on how he spent leftover campaign funds. Julius Melendez says Hispanic districts not key to electing Hispanics By Jeannette Rivera-Lyles Orlando Sentinel In a recent interview for an article about redistricting, Osceola School Board vice chair, Julius Melendez, shared a most interesting point of view. State ethics: 'Reform is essential' Editorial Florida Times-Union It’s good to see new Florida Gov. Rick Scott getting to work quickly on ethics. POLITICAL RACES Mike Haridopolos, the state Senate president, and U.S. Senate candidate By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times State Sen. President Mike Haridopolos told members of the Tallahassee press corps Wednesday that he hasn't decided whether he'd raise money for his 2012 U.S. Senate campaign during the spring legislative session. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Scott: We "clearly need" better growth management By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday said he supports growth management but says it needs to be improved. Septic tank measure becomes law without Scott's signature By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday allowed a bill to become law that delays a statewide inspection requirement for septic tanks. For Putnam, it's all about the water By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam told Florida reporters and editors Wednesday that the most important long-term policy issue facing the Sunshine State is quantity and quality of water. Cabinet confirms Vinyard to DEP post; Eight top vacancies remain By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com New Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard, a former shipyard executive, was confirmed by the Cabinet Wednesday. Bondi to press Feinberg on oil spill payments By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday her office will start pressing BP Oil and federal claims administrator Ken Feinberg to expedite payments to Florida businesses affected by the Deepwater Horizon spill last summer. Feinberg acknowledges ‘mistakes,’ says fund will ‘take another look’ at denied oil spill claims By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Oil spill claims administrator Kenneth Feinberg told a room full of representatives of Florida’s tourism industry that the Gulf Coast Claims Facility would “take another look” at denied claims when claimants file for final or quarterly “interim” payments. LGBT Rick Scott says he opposes gay adoption but won't challenge court ruling By Mary Ellen Klas and Carol Marbin Miller St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related editorial: Scott shouldn't reverse adoption advance Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday that he doesn't have any immediate plans to change the state policy on gay adoptions but he remains opposed to it, as does his new appointee to the agency that handles adoptions of children in state care. Man who fought gay adoption ban adopts 2 boys Associated Press Palm Beach Post A homosexual Miami man has officially adopted two brothers in a case that overturned Florida's three-decade ban on gay adoptions. EDUCATION School superintendents gather in Hillsborough to discuss reforms By Tom Marshall St. Petersburg Times Some two dozen Florida school superintendents and union chiefs gathered Wednesday to find common ground in the contentious debate over improving the state's education system. Will parent grades help kids or hurt teacher-parent relations? By Michael Mayo South Florida Sun-Sentinel If state Rep. Kelli Stargel has her way, I'll be getting my first parent grade in autumn 2012, when my daughter is in first grade. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Time bomb of rising bills awaits Floridians By Robert Trigaux St. Petersburg Times Through these tough economic times, we've kept some hefty bills artificially low. Nelson Presses Scott on Rail Plan By Keith Laing News Service of Florida U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson leaned hard on new Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday to punch the state's ticket for high speed rail connecting Tampa and Orlando, particularly since the federal government has offered to pay 90 percent of the cost. HEALTH AND SENIORS Florida Republicans join celebration as House votes for repeal of health care law By William E. Gibson South Florida Sun-Sentinel Applause broke out on the House floor and in the visitor galleries on Wednesday when Republicans fulfilled a campaign promise by passing a bill to repeal the sweeping health care reforms signed into law by President Barack Obama last year. As Health Care 2.0 begins, Democrats look to overturn failure in PR war By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Wednesday's repeal of the health care overhaul was a show of affection for voters that gave Republicans control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Health Care: Stop Arguing About Repeal and Focus on Enacting the Right Reforms By Dennis Maley Bradenton Times While Republicans in Congress have made the repeal of the Affordable Care Act a rallying call, vowing to repeal it in light of their post-election gains, industry experts remain unwavering in their assertion that reforms will move forward unfettered. Will feds thwart FL GOP on Medicaid? By Jim Saunders Health News Florida With Rick Scott in the governor's office and new legislative leaders vowing to overhaul Medicaid, a statewide managed-care program has looked like a sure thing. Funding gap threatens AIDS drug help By Fred Tasker Miami Herald Patients who need HIV/AIDS drugs but can't afford them could be in danger of going without if the Florida program that supplies the drugs runs out of money as threatened by mid-February, state officials said Wednesday. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES In Tallahassee, Only Thing Missing Is Cactus By Ralph De La Cruz Florida Center for Investigative Reporting Florida lawmakers, it seems, are having a Bugs Bunny moment. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Trial set for Sansom, Richburg and Odom, charged with mishandling state funds in local business scheme By Tom McLaughlin Northwest Florida Daily News Leon County Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis has ruled against Ray Sansom’s latest request to postpone his criminal trial. Judge: I'm temporarily sealing Jim Greer's tell-all book By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel An Orlando judge today temporarily sealed the manuscript of a tell-all book ousted Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer was trying to sell to a publisher.

Daily Clips for January 19, 2011

FEATURED STORIES New DCF chief's resumé mirrors Scott's By Carol Marbin Miller Miami Herald Florida's new social services chief will look a lot like the state's new governor: a corporate executive with conservative social roots. Reporters say Fla. gov's media rules too tight By Michelle Morgante Associated Press Journalists who cover Florida's capital complained to industry leaders Tuesday that the new administration of Gov. Rick Scott is skirting free-press traditions and attempting to control their work by limiting access to events and being slow to provide public records. Florida's lawsuit over health care law swells to 26 states By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau The political sea change marked by the November elections on Tuesday pulled six more states into Florida's lawsuit challenging the national health care legislation, making it one of the biggest tests of federal authority in the country's history with 26 states now in line. Florida legislators have much at stake in vote to repeal health care law By William E. Gibson South Florida Sun-Sentinel While a divided U.S. House prepares to vote on repealing the nation's health care law, Republicans as well as Democrats from Florida pledged on Tuesday to retain popular new protections for patients while trying to make insurance affordable. FLORIDA POLITICS Gov. Scott takes jobs message to struggling Panhandle By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Rick Scott brought his jobs message to the Panhandle on Tuesday, telling local business leaders he will keep his promise to make Florida the best state for job creation. Gov. Scott taps Accenture executive for head of DCF By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Gov. Rick Scott reached outside state government for another department head Tuesday, naming a retired Accenture executive to head Florida's public-welfare agency. Scott holding first meeting with Florida Cabinet Associated Press Tampa Tribune Gov. Rick Scott and Florida's three Cabinet members, all newly elected and all Republicans, are holding their first meeting. Gov. Rick Scott discusses goals at annual AP event Associated Press Tampa Tribune Many Florida newspaper editors and broadcasters are about to get their first close-up look at the state's new governor. Jacksonville representative bows out of race to become state House speaker By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union After doing the math and determining that his run at becoming House speaker in 2016 was going to come up short, state Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, announced Tuesday he is no longer seeking the post. POLITICAL RACES Bill Nelson talks re-election, healthcare reform in Jacksonville visit By Abel Harding Florida Times-Union U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said Florida Democrats got caught in a "tidal wave" in 2010, something he doesn't see being repeated in 2012. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Bill would block DEP from implementing new federal water rules By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune A Florida lawmaker wants to escalate the growing feud between the federal government and the state over controversial water standards. EDUCATION Florida lawmaker pushes bill to end FCAT By Carli Teproff Miami Herald Saying the FCAT creates more harm than good, a freshman state legislator said Tuesday she is championing a bill in the House that would do away with the annual state exams. Going digital: State board pushes schools' conversion by 2014 By Leslie Postal Orlando Sentinel The State Board of Education wants Florida lawmakers to toughen standards for A-to-F school grades and for the state's pre-kindergarten program. It's time to grade parents, new bill proposes By Leslie Postal and Denise-Marie Balona Orlando Sentinel Every year, Florida's students, schools and districts are graded based on their performance. Class Size Penalties Headed to Legislature By Whitney Ray Capitol News Service The State Board of Education is recommending 30 million dollars in fines for school districts that broke the class size law. New Plan Means New Way to Pay for Florida Colleges By Glen Gardner Public News Service Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared war on Florida's unemployment with his "let's get to work" slogan, promising to create new jobs. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Mica supports billion-dollar high-speed rail in Florida, with a caveat By Larry Hannan Florida Times-Union U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., supports constructing a high-speed rail system between Orlando and Tampa. HEALTH AND SENIORS Repealing Progress The Progress Report Think Progress This week, conservatives in the House and Senate plan to push to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the health care reforms that President Obama signed into law last March. Pain clinics feel the impact of a new state law — for now By Letitia Stein St. Petersburg Times Florida's pain management industry is starting to feel the effects of a new law that limits who can own pain clinics, part of an effort to stop unscrupulous operators notorious for dispensing huge amounts of prescription narcotics. Feds: Tampa pharmacy led U.S. in dispensing painkiller By Elaine Silvestrini Tampa Tribune During the first three months of last year, a Tampa pharmacy dispensed more oxycodone than any other retail pharmacy in the nation, federal investigators say. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Florida legislator may dial back proposed Arizona-style law By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Concern about scaring tourists and potential high-tech workers away from the Sunshine State is threatening passage of the Arizona-style immigration measure backed by Gov. Rick Scott. Uncertainty over Arizona-style immigration law in Florida leaves immigrant rights activists guessing By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Conflicting signals from Florida legislators about the possibility of an Arizona-style law are leaving Florida’s immigrant rights community confused about what to expect in 2011. Little hope seen for state Dream Act By Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald For years, former state Rep. Juan Carlos Zapata of Miami tried unsuccessfully to get his fellow Republicans in Tallahassee to pass a bill allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at Florida's public universities. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Odom won't be on trial alone By Alex Leary and Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times Ray Sansom, Jay Odom and Bob Richburg will go to trial together in March after a judge ruled in favor of a state motion to consolidate the cases.

Daily Clips for January 18, 2011

FEATURED STORIES Republican party, Rick Scott's inaugural committee rake in big bucks By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Fundraisers for Rick Scott's inaugural committee did double duty last month, raising money for the new governor's three-day inaugural bash but also asking donors to write a second check to replenish the state Republican party's depleted coffers after the November elections. Prosecution records: Jim Greer was writing a book that promised 'intimate knowledge of Governor Crist' By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel Buried in the thousands of pages of evidence that state agents gathered as they built a case against ousted Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer are some nuggets: Greer was trying to sell a tell-all book, "Betrayal and Vengeance," which included "intimate knowledge of Governor Crist". Rubio after first Afghan trip: No timetable By William March Tampa Tribune Winding up his first foreign trip as a senator, 4½ days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marco Rubio said today the U.S. shouldn't have a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan, and that nation-building is the U.S. goal there. Florida labor and business interests mobilize to push mass transit, high-speed rail By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post Although a recent report advises Florida's new governor to pull the plug on the state's high-speed rail projects, and budget shortfalls could mean less money for regional transportation, advocates statewide are mobilizing to propel at least some state and federal money toward transportation initiatives. FLORIDA POLITICS Bipartisan proposal would lengthen Florida's legislative terms By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related column: Longer term limits for Legislature might be an improvement Just weeks after winning the Nov. 2 election, dozens of Florida lawmakers filed to run for re-election in 2012, including several freshman legislators. Your government at work: Notes from last week’s state legislative meetings By Travis Pillow Florida Independent State senators began to mull plans for immigration reform, holding their first of at least three information-gathering meetings on the topic. Sen. Marco Rubio visits Pakistan, Afghanistan; criticizes Obama's drawdown plan By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Sen. Marco Rubio spent the weekend in Pakistan and Afghanistan and said he found encouraging signs, but he criticized the Obama administration's goal of beginning to withdraw U.S. troops this summer. Southerland: Accountability on the way By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Newly elected U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland predicted Monday night that growing Republican power in Washington will restore competitive economic values and government accountability that he said President Obama's administration has eroded. Jeff Miller eager to oversee VA By Carlton Proctor Pensacola News Journal U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller wants the Department of Veterans Affairs to get used to someone looking over its institutional shoulder. At the halfway mark, Obama still working to keep his promises By Angie Drobnic Holan, Louis Jacobson and Robert Farley St. Petersburg Times PolitiFact As a candidate, Barack Obama vowed to fix the "broken politics in Washington," reinvigorate government and restore the nation's reputation overseas. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Calling DCA a ‘job killer' unfair, unfounded By Tom Pelham Ocala Star-Banner The Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Florida's land-planning agency, is frequently blamed for the state's economic woes. EDUCATION In Florida, Virtual Classrooms With No Teachers By Laura Herrera New York Times On the first day of her senior year at North Miami Beach Senior High School, Naomi Baptiste expected to be greeted by a teacher when she walked into her precalculus class. More lottery money goes to Bright Futures scholarships than to the classroom By Kelly Tyko TC Palm It's one of the most common questions school officials are asked: what about the lottery money? Stop funding private schools with state vouchers By Sandra Parks St. Augustine Record On Tuesday, Jan. 18, the Florida Board of Education will meet in Pensacola to hear appeals from 35 counties regarding $43 million in fines for failure to comply with the class-size amendment. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY As Gov. Scott pauses, two studies question viability of high-speed rail project By Bill Varian St. Petersburg Times Gov. Rick Scott's decision to hit the pause button on high-speed rail in Florida has created a void that is quickly getting filled with reports questioning the viability of the project. Jacksonville-to-Miami rail plan in search of federal aid By Larry Hannan Florida Times-Union Having failed to get federal stimulus money to establish new Amtrak passenger rail service from Jacksonville to Miami, the Florida Department of Transportation wants to spend $118 million out of the state's transportation trust fund. Attorney: Fla. insurance on Chinese drywall axed By Matt Sedensky Associated Press Florida's public insurance company has again reversed course on its coverage for homes with tainted Chinese drywall, telling some owners it will suspend such policies, an attorney for the victims said Monday. HEALTH AND SENIORS Health care lobby mum on repeal By Kate Nocera Politico The health care industry’s biggest trade groups have remained uncharacteristically neutral on the Republican effort to repeal the health care reform law, choosing instead to save their political capital for smaller, more targeted changes that have a chance at becoming law. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady imposes order to prevent another 'Taj Mahal' By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times There may never be another "Taj Mahal'' courthouse in Florida. Foreclosure lawyers' misdeeds ignored in Florida? By Todd Ruger Sarasota Herald-Tribune Florida courthouses are rife with evidence of errors and fabrications made by attorneys handling foreclosure cases, and yet so far no lawyers have been disciplined.

Daily Clips for January 17, 2010

FEATURED STORIES On MLK Day in South Florida, ‘Dr. King would be pleased and surprised’ By Howard Cohen Miami Herald Georgia Jones Ayers looks at a faded picture of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s first visit to Miami's Greater Bethel AME Church in the early 1960s. Investigators look into Rep. Rivera's ’thank you’ spending By Scott Hiaasen and Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald After dropping out of a state Senate race last year to run for Congress, David Rivera set aside tens of thousands of dollars from his dormant Senate campaign account to say “thank you” to supporters of a race he never intended to finish. Optimism hits reality as Florida governor pushes his agenda By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union Standing before Republican senators in a dimly lit downtown restaurant on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott brimmed with optimism about his agenda. Florida Republicans pick new party chairman By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel With bundles of money, Democrats routed at the polls and unprecedented control of state government, Florida Republicans severed the last ties to indicted chairman Jim Greer on Saturday by tapping former legislator Dave Bitner to lead the party. Judge behind lavish courthouse "lied'' in his testimony, legislator says By Lucy Morgan and Katie Sanders St. Petersburg Times Called before an angry Senate committee with questions about a new $50 million courthouse, 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Paul Hawkes spent a lot of time saying he could not recall the answers. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Andy Marlette Pensacola News Journal FLORIDA POLITICS Ex-lobbyist David Bitner, a former state lawmaker, to head Florida Republican party By Adam C. Smith and Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times The vicious fliers are gone, the civil war over. GOP wise to court Hispanics By Myriam Marquez Miami Herald Jeb Bush was preaching to the choir, but the message was meant to resonate far beyond the stately Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Nelson downplays state's shift to GOP By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Republicans won all five statewide races in Florida in November, knocked off four Democratic congressional incumbents and padded their already lopsided advantages in the state House and Senate. Gov. Rick Scott is straining so far to get his arms around Tallahassee By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times In business, you carry out the company's mission or else you'll soon find yourself looking for a job. New chairman targets GOP team setting up 2012 national convention in Tampa By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times There's a new Republican national chairman in office, and he's about to clean house on the team putting together the 2012 Republican convention in Tampa. POLITICAL RACES Haridopolos launches bid to take on Nelson for U.S. Senate in 2012 By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos launched his bid for the U.S. Senate this week by setting up a political committee and inviting donors to a $10,000-a-head "private strategy meeting" in Orlando. Thrasher endorses Haridopolos for US Senate By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News In one of his first political acts as ex-chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, state Sen. John Thrasher made an important political endorsement on Saturday. Candidates collected $5.8 million in public money By Scott Powers Orlando Sentinel Florida taxpayers spent more than $5.8 million to bolster the campaigns of 10 candidates for statewide office last year, giving public dollars to individuals who arguably didn't need the money but took it anyway. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Sen.Graham: Gulf oil spill a 'wake-up call' By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald The next big oil spill to threaten Florida could come less than 50 miles off the coast of Miami in Cuban waters, where 14 wells are expected to be tapped within the next two years, former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham warned Friday. Scott's appointments are ominous news for the environment By Ron Littlepage Florida Times-Union Nervous. That’s probably the correct state of mind to be in for people concerned about Florida’s environment and quality of life. LGBT Justice Department opposes abrupt end to 'don't ask, don't tell' Associated Press Miami Herald Lawyers for the U.S. government are accusing a gay rights group of trying to circumvent a federal court ruling that put on hold a trial judge's ruling striking down the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military. Orange ponders price of domestic-partner benefits, but cost elsewhere has been small By David Damron and Mark Schlueb Orlando Sentinel A push by gay-rights activists for Orange County to offer domestic-partner benefits will likely come down to costs — a significant worry as local governments face harsh budget realities. EDUCATION Don’t endanger our schools By Betty Castor St. Petersburg Times As we begin a new year and a new administration in Florida, the education of our children remains a foremost responsibility of our state. Class Size: Fund Florida's Future Editorial Lakeland Ledger While Gov. Rick Scott and state legislators talk about funding private school vouchers, cutting taxes and reducing state spending by $3.5 billion, school district officials across the state are waiting for the other shoe to drop in regard to Florida's constitutional mandate for smaller classroom sizes. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Does Rick Scott have a stimulus problem? By Gary Fineout The Fine Print Here's what Gov. Rick Scott said last summer when it comes to the federal stimulus: "It's not free money,'' Scott told reporters during a campaign bus trip across North Florida. 'On the cusp' of job creation By Laura Green Palm Beach Post When retailer H&M opened its doors at The Gardens Mall this fall, 1,000 people applied for a 20-to-1 shot to spend hours standing on their feet amid a crush of holiday shoppers. State talking about property tax fix By Brian Liberatore Ft. Myers News-Press More than 46,000 property owners in Lee and Collier counties got a double-whammy. Analysis: NASA flails as forces pull on it from all directions By Robert Block and Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel NASA's human-spaceflight program, once a symbol of America's technical supremacy, is flailing — beset by many of the same forces that once unified behind the agency to put a man on the moon. HEALTH AND SENIORS Experts: Reform good for economy By John Dorschner Miami Herald With congressional Republicans expected to push next week for the repeal of healthcare reform, major American business and healthcare leaders said Thursday at a Miami conference that reform is forging ahead because it makes sense for the nation's economy. Can Medicaid funding be ‘coercive’? By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Florida’s lawsuit against federal health care reform challenges two aspects of the law: the expansion of Medicaid and the requirement for individuals to buy health insurance. Pain-clinic crackdown stalled By Michael LaForgia Palm Beach Post Drug users in Florida are dying of pill overdoses at a rate of seven per day as measures aimed at curbing crooked pain clinics are held up in a thicket of delays and setbacks. Insurers: FL needs an exchange By Carol Gentry Health News Florida Insurance executives who spoke to 200 worried health underwriters Thursday called on them to help lobby state officials to start building a health exchange, part of the new federal health law. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Groups embrace King's vision of peace By Britt Kennerly Florida Today Juanita Davis has missed just one of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day peace marches in Melbourne in 25 years, and that was only because she was pregnant. Looser gun laws, including open carry, in Florida's legislative hopper By Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau In the aftermath of Tucson's shooting rampage, lawmakers in Florida are ready to make their stand on guns clearer: They want more people to have the right to carry them in the open and fewer government restrictions. NRA & friends totally oblivious to Ariz. tragedy By Fred Grimm Miami Herald Two days after the horror in Tucson, the Florida Legislature reacted. There's no way Florida will crack down on illegal workers By Mike Thomas Orlando Sentinel Related: Anti-immigrant law gets chilly reception There will be no Arizona-style immigration law in Florida. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS For some Florida lawyers, small courtroom wins for clients mean huge fees for themselves By Sally Kestin and John Maines South Florida Sun-Sentinel In Palm Beach County, a lawsuit ended in a judgment of $1, but the prevailing attorneys collected $5,500 in fees.

Daily Clips for January 14, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Cabinet to Rick Scott: No, you can't veto our regulations By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related: Scott's self-inflicted bottleneck Related: Gov. Scott defends decision to halt new contracts Thirty minutes after taking office last week, Gov. Rick Scott signed an executive order requiring his approval for any new state rules in departments under his purview. Gambling to pay for government: 'Our crutch and our drug' By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times You want more casinos in Florida? Fine by me, on one condition: That they not be a source of money for the government. Firearms: Florida lawmaker says local officials should not be able to supersede state gun laws By Jim Turner TC Palm Related: Putnam Orders Concealed Weapons Review State Sen. Joe Negron has filed a bill that would further prohibit elected officials and public entities from unilaterally imposing their own firearm and ammunition regulations to supersede Florida's gun laws. BEST OF THE BLOGS Campaign Diaries: Earn It, Don’t Expect It By Kenneth Quinnell Florida Progressive Coalition This one is directed both at candidates and at activists and the progressive movement in general. It isn’t meant to call anyone one out in particular, but is aimed at any number of individuals and groups who fall into this pattern, which is widespread. So much anger, so little resolution By gimleteye Eye On Miami The chart, entitled “Dan & Teri Securities Transaction Process Reverse Engineered 4.1,” traces the complex and convoluted path that one mortgage took on the path to securitization. UnConventional Wisdom: Looking Back to Win in the Future By Mario Piscatella MPA Political In honor of the FDP’s dentist endorsed sugar coated retrospective of the 2010 election season, a look at how candidates and campaigns should handle the aftermath of a campaign in preparation for a future campaign. Is Jeb Bush stuck in fourth grade? By Sherman Dorn ShermanDorn.com The title above is a bit flippant, but since Jeb Bush's op-ed in the Wall Street Journal yesterday focused (again) on fourth-grade achievement data in reading, it's important to keep in mind that there are students in other grades, too. FLORIDA POLITICS Putting scandal in the past proves tough for GOP By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune Turning the page on one of the most scandalous periods in state Republican Party history is becoming an ugly endeavor. Jeb Bush guides Republican outreach to Latinos Associated Press Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told a Republican gathering Thursday evening that the time is now to connect better with Latino voters, not two months before the general election. Kriseman seeks longer terms for lawmakers By David DeCamp St. Petersburg Times State Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, wants to lengthen the terms for lawmakers. Senators would get six years instead of four, and House members would get four years instead of two. Voters would decide in 2012. FL Senate panel grills judges over "Taj Mahal" courthouse By Kate Bradshaw WMNF-FM Some testy exchanges happened over what’s being called the Taj Mahal courthouse in Tallahassee today when a state Senate panel grilled those involved in its construction. POLITICAL RACES State Senate President Haridopolos steps into U.S. Senate race By Adam Smith and Marc Caputo St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau State Senate President Mike Haridopolos has made it official: He's running for U.S. Senate. It's not much of a surprise, but he's already launched a website Mike2012.org, and he has a political committee called Friends of Mike H. Alcee Hastings has no plan to retire, says he’ll seek re-election By Anthony Man South Florida Sun-Sentinel U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, plans to run for re-election. Hastings, 74, is a week into his 10th term in Congress. He said he’d like to have at least two more terms. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Did We Learn Anything From the BP Oil Spill? By Kate Sheppard Mother Jones The National Oil Spill Commission on Tuesday released a voluminous report on the causes of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and its implications for the future of offshore drilling in the United States. Afghanistan’s Green Marines Cut Fuel Use by 90 Percent By Spencer Ackerman Danger Room Helmand Province in Afghanistan isn’t the most obvious proving ground for a green-energy project. Thrasher's clout a big plus in fight for St. Johns River By Ron Littlepage Florida Times-Union Give Sen. John Thrasher credit. During the St. Johns River Summit last September, he promised to be the driving force in focusing the Legislature's attention on the needs of the river. House panel may look at "local sources first" water policy By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune The chairman of the new House Select Committee on Water Policy said Thursday that the state's "local sources first" policy that discourages water pipelines will be reviewed along with the role of water-management districts. EDUCATION Making education work for all Floridians Editorial St. Petersburg Times A student graduating from a Florida community college with an associate's degree in science earns an average of $47,708. The Hidden Costs of School Vouchers By Merrill Shapiro Jewish Daily Forward “I support school choice,” said candidate Rick Scott, the former health care magnate and now Florida’s new governor. Is the teacher tenure rhetoric of Rick Scott and others counterproductive? By Jeff Solocheck The Gradebook Florida Gov. Rick Scott isn't the only one employing stark black and white imagery pitting the "good" teachers against the "bad," a la informal education adviser Michelle Rhee. A critical shortage of school counselors By Valerie Strauss The Answer Sheet Look at these statistics on the number of students that counselors in American public schools are expected to help. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Migration Policy Institute: Low-skill immigrant workers benefit U.S. consumers By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent A Migration Policy Institute study released this week concludes that less-educated immigrant workers, both legal and unauthorized, have a quite modest negative impact on the U.S. labor market. Home starts rise but not by much By John McCarthy Florida Today Home construction in Brevard County inched up in 2010 after four years of steep declines. Top genetics lab looks at Sarasota By Doug Sword & Michael Pollick Sarasota Herald-Tribune Sarasota County is getting a second bite at an economic development plum -- a Florida-based personalized medicine institute being set up by Jackson Laboratory, one of world's leading genetic research institutes. HEALTH AND SENIORS State's AIDS drug program now in 'crisis' By David Royse The News Service of Florida State officials are desperately trying to figure out how to keep a program that pays for AIDS drugs going until new federal money comes down in April, caught up in a nationwide problem caused in part by a down economy. Administrative judge OKs Fla. Medicaid contract By Bill Kaczor Associated Press Related: Medicaid Costs Less Than Private Insurance An administrative law judge has approved a proposed three-year, $51 million contract with a new company to manage Florida's Medicaid program even though the current vendor bid $12.2 million less. Nail-biting time for health programs By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Memo to Florida's health and human services programs: Don't expect any crumbs from Sen. Joe Negron. School lunch proposal aims to cut salt and calories By Richard Martin St. Petersburg Times As federal officials on Thursday unveiled plans for the first major nutritional overhaul of school lunches in 15 years, local officials said many of the proposed changes are already in place in Tampa Bay schools. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE, AND SOCIAL ISSUES New Republican Party of Florida website touts ‘equal opportunity,’ doesn’t mention gays or lesbians By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent The Republican Party of Florida today unveiled its new website, rpof.org, laying out a host of information about the party and its values. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Foreclosures Still Plague Florida By Gray Rohrer Sunshine State News Despite a drop in foreclosures at the end of the year, Florida was one of the most active states in 2010 for defaulting home loans, with the second-highest number of foreclosed homes and third-highest rate of foreclosure.