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08/17/10 E Messenger The Electronic Newsletter of the Florida AFL-CIO http://www.flaflcio.org From the Political Desk Updates from Phyllis Garrett about how union members can get involved with our Florida state wide campaigns. To find out more email pgarrett@flaflcio.org OIL SPILL NEWS By Andrew Restuccia 8/17/10 9:59 AM Marine scientists at the University of Georgia are taking issue with a report released last week by the Obama Administration that said much of the oil from the gulf oil spill had been contained or cleaned up. In fact, according to a report released yesterday in conjunction with the Georgia Sea Grant, “up to 79 percent of the oil released into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon well has not been recovered and remains a threat to the ecosystem.” The spill isn't gone
Editorial
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The apparently successful plugging of BP's Macondo oil gusher, before the peak of hurricane season, is a huge relief. But it is not the end of a nightmare.
Obama, in Panhandle visit, says work in the Gulf is not done
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
President Obama is giving this waterfront region a gift money can’t buy: free advertising showcasing the oil-free beaches and waters during his weekend visit with wife Michelle, daughter Sasha and dog Bo.
With BP spill under control, U.S. looks at drill ban
The Associated Press
St. Petersburg Times
Related: After leak stopped, poll shows support fades for oil-drilling ban
Related editorial: After well capped, much work remains
Related editorial: Keep pressure on BP to pay claims
Now that the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history has effectively been stopped, the White House is considering an early end to its moratorium on deepwater drilling.
La. shrimpers reporting clean 1st day catch
The Associated Press
Palm Beach Post
Commercial shrimpers out for the first season since BP's disastrous spill indicated their catch was plentiful and free of oil, despite a report by scientists that much of the crude remains below the surface of the Gulf.
Oil spill: Feinberg back to clear air on claims
By Louis Cooper
Pensacola News Journal
The man in charge of the $20 billion BP compensation fund is in Pensacola today to talk with those affected by the spill just days before his claims offices are scheduled to open.
Federal government, states nearing agreement on oil cleanup strategy
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
Now that the well that spewed oil from the Deepwater Horizon rig for three months has been plugged, the federal government is completing agreements with states, including Florida, on defining "how clean is clean."
Fla. tourism industry ready for signs of oil-cleanup to go; fisherman not so sure
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
By outward appearances at least, residents along Florida's Panhandle coast are about to get their lives back.
FROM THE FLORIDA INDEPENDENT http://floridaindependent.com/ The Florida Independent is a new online news source for real investigative journalism that is working to shine a light on state government and politics and fill in the gaps left by the mainstream media. By Annie Lowrey 8/17/10 “I don’t know what else to say except I’m very sorry it turned out like this but I can take the strain of living like this very much longer,” he wrote on an online forum. The unemployed commit suicide at a rate two or three times the national average, researchers estimate. And in many cases, the longer the spell of unemployment, the higher the likelihood of suicide. More from AFL-CIO Now! From the blog at www.aflcio.org/blog. Blue Green Alliance Bus Tour to Demand Action on Clean Energy Jobs by James Parks, Aug 16, 2010 | |
To remind lawmakers that Congress has stalled on legislation that would create and save millions of jobs across the country by building a clean energy economy—while nations like China are forging ahead—the Blue Green Alliance today kicked off a three-week, 17-state, 30-city bus tour. The “Job’s Not Done Tour” began in Los Angeles and will end Sept. 3 in Richmond, Va. Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), says: By failing to take action on these important clean energy policies, we are missing a huge opportunity to create good jobs now. Currently we are 16th in the world in the percentage of citizens with access to broadband. Expansion will not only create jobs, save Americans money and make our country more efficient, it will lead to the sustainable communities that are such an important part of our future. Throughout the bus tour, union members and environmentalists will hold a series of roundtable discussions, press conferences and other activities to demonstrate nationwide support for creating clean energy jobs, including manufacturing clean energy technologies, building the 21st century broadband network, building a smart grid transmission system and making our homes and commercial buildings more efficient. The tour also will travel through Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M.; Little Rock, Ark.; St. Louis; Indianapolis; Dayton, Ohio; Detroit; Madison, Wis.; Minneapolis; Pittsburgh; and Richmond. For more information, click here. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said earlier this month that our nation needs a comprehensive approach to energy and climate issues, one that will invest in our future and create good jobs. It is vital to the national security, economic, and environmental interest of the nation. “We can re-energize our economy by re-energizing America,” said Michael Langford, president of the Utility Workers (UWUA). Building a smart grid that transmits cleaner, renewable energy will create good jobs, and we need to take action to make those jobs a reality now. From the Huffington Post FAIR AND BALANCED??!!?? FOX News Gives Big To Republicans Fox News and Wall Street Journal parent company News Corp donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association in June, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported. The media conglomerate, controlled by Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch, took advantage of the unlimited donations corporations can give to governors' associations (from Bloomberg BusinessWeek): From Alternet http://www.alternet.org/ Top 10 Right-Wing Conspiracy TheoriesThe American radical right has to be considered a strong contender for the title of modern conspiracy champion. http://www.alternet.org/news/147851/top_10_right-wing_conspiracy_theories/ From Paul Krugman Noble Laureate, Working Family Advocate and America’s Smartest Economist August 16, 2010, 4:02 pm Killer Trade Deficits I agree with everything this NYT editorial has to say about the economics of widening international imbalances. Where I disagree is on the issue of negotiating strategy. My colleagues believe that we should lecture the Chinese on what a bad thing they’re doing, but not actually threaten sanctions, lest we start a trade war. My belief is that this gets us nowhere.http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/killer-trade-deficits/ From David Sirota (one of the E Messenger’s favorite columnists) David Sirota is the bestselling author of the books “Hostile Takeover” (2006) and “The Uprising” (2008). He is a fellow at the Campaign for America's Future. Find his blog at OpenLeft.com or e-mail him at ds@davidsirota.com. STATE NEWS Elections/Voting Poll: Crist, Obama get low marks on oil, economy
By Ray Reyes
Tampa Tribune
The state's sputtering economy has hurt Gov. Charlie Crist politically, new poll results show.
Tea partiers on Fla. congressional ballot
The Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Patricia Sullivan, a local tea party movement leader in central Florida, thinks it's time for people to take the running of government away from professional politicians and power brokers.
Federal In Florida Senate race, voters unimpressed, undecided
By Beth Reinhard and Adam C. Smith
Miami Herald
Florida voters are in the dumps, deeply pessimistic about the state's direction and not particularly impressed with any U.S. Senate candidate.
As Bill Clinton campaigns for Kendrick Meek, benefits may be mutual
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
"On the scale of 1 to 10," U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek says of Bill Clinton's visit to Florida today, "this is an 11."
Bill Clinton endorses Meek in Delray; Greene retorts, 'I don't think it matters'
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Former President Bill Clinton urged Democrats to support Kendrick Meek in next week's Senate primary and pleaded with frustrated Americans to give Democrats more time to address the country's economic woes.
Jeff Greene, Kendrick Meek differ in debate on Cuba travel, New York mosque, federal stimulus
By Beth Reinhard
Miami Herald
After an uncomfortable two weeks of publicity over his 2007 trip to Cuba, Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene said Sunday that he was rethinking his opposition to the U.S. embargo and travel restrictions.
Meek vs. Greene in Democratic showdown for the U.S. Senate
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Ocala Star-Banner
While much of the attention in the U.S. Senate race has been focused on the dramatic twists and turns of Gov. Charlie Crist's campaign, Florida Democrats are facing their own drama in the Aug. 24 primary.
Greene: Vast personal investments wouldn't influence votes
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Billionaire Jeff Greene has repeatedly said that paying for his own U.S. Senate campaign will make him independent of special interests that influence members of Congress.
Note to Crist: Never underestimate the loyalty of Florida Democrats (or Republicans)
By Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
With so little attention on Marco Rubio these days, there seems to be an emerging conventional wisdom that Charlie Crist is well positioned to win Florida's Senate race.
Crist support waning in latest polls
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
Gov. Charlie Crist’s race for the U.S. Senate took two hard hits over the weekend in a poll showing Republican Marco Rubio surging ahead.
State-Wide Sources: Fla. gubernatorial candidate Sink to name Rod Smith as running mate
By Michael C. Bender and Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink will announce former state Sen. Rod Smith as her running mate on Thursday in West Palm Beach, The Palm Beach Post has learned.
Florida's top lawyer seat is an open race
The Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
With billions at stake over Gulf oil damage claims and a pending lawsuit over new federal health care laws, the next attorney general Florida voters choose may be their most influential in years.
McCollum taps corporate money to fight self-financed millionaire Scott
By Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
As Rick Scott freely spends his fortune in his bid to become governor, Republican rival Bill McCollum is fighting to keep up by spending the millions of others.
Political newcomer Scott looks forward
By Gary Fineout
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Rick Scott's life has been marked by the passion to win - and to do just about whatever it takes to make sure he does.
McCollum shows signs of righting bruised campaign
By Michael C. Bender
Palm Beach Post
A campaign supporter's crutches leaned against the same table as Bill McCollum's yard signs during a Duval County Republican luncheon.
Rick Scott leads Bill McCollum by 10 points in new Times/Herald/Bay News 9 poll
By Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: McCollum trounces Scott in Republican straw poll in Pinellas
Rick Scott leads the Republican primary for governor in a new statewide poll thanks to his massive TV ad buys and the old maxim: It's the economy, stupid.
Constitutional Amendments Amendment 8 asks Florida voters to reconsider class sizes
By Howard Troxler
St. Petersburg Times
The most important fight in Florida this year is not about Republicans and Democrats, or rich guys trying to buy public office.
Amendment 4 will break the grip of real estate speculators
By Lesley Blackner
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A recent New York Times analysis found that Florida is the No. 1 state in America for public corruption.
Florida amendments have tough time getting past judges
By Brandon Larrabee
Florida Times-Union
In legislative leaders’ campaign to add six amendments to the state Constitution, judges are proving to be the most difficult voters to win over.
The Legislature/State Government A monument to all that is wrong in Tallahassee
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
The obscene excess of a new $48 million courthouse in Tallahassee will be a permanent reminder of why voters distrust government to spend taxpayer dollars wisely.
Lavish new court building causes uproar
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Congress cut a $26 billion check for state governments last week to prop up their Medicaid programs and prevent layoffs of teachers and other public employees.
Florida Economy/Housing
Emergency Money Puts Laid Off Florida Teachers Back to Work
By Gina Presson
Public News Service Florida
It's back-to-school time for teachers and school support personnel across Florida, but this year some 9,000 such people are returning to work who thought they had lost their jobs for good.
Dozens of Florida home insurance companies raising rates by double-digits
By Laura Layden
Naples Daily News
Across the state, homeowners are feeling the pain of higher home insurance rates.
Stimulus-funded mobile training program out of money, leaving Florida
By Jeff Harrington
St. Petersburg Times
They enter a mobile unit parked outside a manufacturing plant every day, perhaps 12 to 14 in a group.
Buying online? State wants taxes
By Anthony Clark
Gainesville Sun
Florida is offering amnesty on three years' worth of overdue and often-overlooked state taxes owed by individuals and businesses.
Back-to-school sales tax holiday: 'Every penny helps'
By Grace Gagliano
Bradenton Herald
Becky Carmichael started her shopping at 10 a.m. Friday.
Foreclosure prevention programs let homeowners down
By Todd Ruger
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
In hopes of saving their homes, troubled homeowners in the Sarasota area worked out deals with their lenders to reduce their monthly mortgage payments.
Education Tightened class-size limits put Florida schools in a bind
By Cara Fitzpatrick
Palm Beach Post
After four years at the helm of Spanish River High, Susan Atherley is used to the flurry of activity in the days before a new school year starts.
School grades meaningless: Florida can't phase out this failed system fast enough.
By Jac Wilder VerSteeg
Palm Beach Post
Facing harsh criticism about this year's FCAT scores, Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith insisted that "School grades represent the pinnacle of an assessment and accountability system that has brought great academic progress to the children of Florida."
Federal investigation spurs changes at First Coast for-profit colleges
By Matt Coleman
Florida Times-Union
A federal undercover investigation that exposed systemic problems in the fastest-growing sector in higher education has led to wide-ranging internal audits at a handful of for-profit colleges with ties to Northeast Florida.
Shore up trust in FCAT
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
Always controversial, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test is equally theatrical.
Revamped FCAT, state-mandated algebra exam to greet students as new school year dawns
By Cara Fitzpatrick
Palm Beach Post
A new reading and math FCAT, Florida's first state-mandated end-of-course exam, and tougher high school graduation requirements await students as a new school year starts Tuesday in Palm Beach County.
UM overtakes UF as top Florida college in U.S. News & World Report survey
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The University of Miami has pulled an upset in the annual U.S. News & World Report college rankings.
Health Care AHCA won't investigate Scott clinics
By Jim Saunders
Health News Florida
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration will not investigate politically explosive allegations against a clinic chain founded by Rick Scott, who is running for the Republican nomination for governor.
Florida gets money tied to federal health care reform
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Tribune
Florida insurance regulators will receive $1 million from the federal government to better help the state regulate health insurance premiums, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on Monday.
Bogus health insurance rising
By Bob LaMendola
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The promotions show up in your e-mail inbox, and on fax machines, websites, TV, radio and even handmade signs along South Florida roads – offering health insurance at bargain prices.
FMA votes 'no confidence' in AMA
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
The Florida Medical Association decided Sunday after two days of heated debate not to break off relations with the American Medical Association, officials and delegates said at the conclusion of the event.
Fla. seniors rally on Social Security anniversary
The Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
A Tampa congresswoman rallied with seniors to mark the 75th anniversary of Social Security.
Growth Management/Environment In the Everglades, the Miracle That Wasn’t
By Damien Cave
New York Times
The aging environmentalist with the Abe Lincoln beard ambled to the podium on Thursday to tell water managers that he could no longer support their plan to buy land for the Everglades from United States Sugar.
Crist's downsized Everglades restoration land deal still faces legal scrutiny
By Andy Reid
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
A nearly $2 billion land deal once described as the Louisiana Purchase of Everglades restoration ended up getting whittled away under the weight of a sinking economy and shifting political winds.
Florida wildlife officials try again to set up endangered species lists
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
For 15 years, state wildlife officials have struggled to come up with the best way to declare certain Florida species to be in danger of going extinct and thus in need of protection.
Still a good, if much smaller, U.S. Sugar deal
Editorial
Miami Herald
What a roller coaster ride the U.S. Sugar land deal has taken.
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