Florida Democratic Party News Clips – June 28, 2012

THE HEADLINES TYING RICK SCOTT AND MITT ROMNEY CONTINUE Scott, Romney a lot alike [Miami Herald Column] “While Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is more likely to look to Ohio than to Florida for a running mate, he may be seeking a glimpse of his future in the glare of Rick Scott’s bald head. Scott, in many ways, is Mitt Romney…The bad news is that the particulars of Scott and Romney’s business careers do not exactly inspire. Romney’s private equity firm, Bain Capital, reaped handsome rewards for its partners, Romney included, by buying and selling companies, sometimes chopping them up, laying off workers or outsourcing jobs overseas; often sticking those companies with lavish fees they had to take on debt to pay. Sometimes Bain’s investors lost money, but the Bain crew made out like bandits. Scott’s healthcare company, formerly known as Columbia/HCA, made money similarly; by buying up hospitals, in some cases, laying people off, shutting down facilities, and according to the details of a certain $1.7 billion federal fine, overbilling Medicare, Medicaid, and the military’s TriCare system. The partners, Scott included, made out like . . . well, you know.”

Gov. Scott failed to follow through on immigration pledge [The Miami Herald] “PolitiFact Florida is tracking 57 of Scott’s promises on the Scott-O-Meter, including promises to implement Arizona-style legislation and a requirement that Florida businesses use a federal database to make sure their employees are in the country legally. Both are rated Promise Broken.”

Poll: Scott’s ratings recede [The Florida Current]  “New numbers released Wednesday by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute illustrate the fluctuation that is common in public opinion surveys, with Scott’s approval rating sliding back into the 30s, ‘continuing a 16-month string of negative ratings.'”

Austerity measures should not compromise children’s education [News Press editorial] “In this era of fiscal austerity, some policymakers seem to believe that we can lay off teachers and raise class sizes without any adverse impact on the educational outcomes for children. The most recent example is that of Mitt Romney, the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, who ridiculed President Barack Obama’s proposal to help states and cities avoid laying off teachers and first responders.”

NEW AD HITS ROMNEY ON BAIN New ad in Florida continues attacks on Romney’s record at Bain Capital [Tampa Bay Times] “Another ad from the pro-Obama super PAC Priorites USA Action hitting Mitt Romney on his Bain years. The group said it is the fifth in a series of a $10 million campaign in Florida, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.  WATCH “BRIEFCASE” HERE.

NEW POLL: OBAMA UP IN FLORIDA Riding surge in Hispanic support, Obama opens Florida lead[Orlando Sentinel]  “A new poll from Quinnipiac University finds that President Barack Obama is riding a surge in support from Hispanic voters to open a slight lead on Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Florida.”

Poll: 58% of Florida voters support Obama immigration directive [Palm Beach Post] “Florida voters strongly support President Obama’s new directive temporarily lifting the threat of deportation for as many as 1.4 million young illegal immigrants, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll that also finds Obama edging Mitt Romney in the Sunshine State.”

Immigration: Obama’s move is a step forward [Florida Times Union LTE] “Was it the right decision to help fill the need for more highly qualified and educated employees to help our economy? Absolutely!”

In advance of decision, White House touts benefits of health care reform [Tampa Tribune] “The White House is putting on a full-court press on the benefits of the law to citizens—providing health insurance coverage to the uninsured, closing the ‘donut hole’ in Medicare prescription coverage, limiting insurance company expenses on administrative overhead and letting young people stay on their parents’ health plans.”

ON THE CONGRESSIONAL FRONT — ALLEN WEST’S HYPOCRISY, BUCHANAN’S TROUBLE “INTENSIFYING,” NASTY GOP PRIMARY UPDATES

Allen West Praises G.I. Bill in Same Week He Calls Student Loans Communist [Broward Palm Beach New Times]”West wants to have it both ways — when it’s convenient, he’ll yell about strictly interpreting the Constitution and call people socialists. But when it’ll earn him points, he’s all about government programs that help the populations he likes.”

Vern Buchanan runs from questions [MSNBC’s Maddow Blog] “I’ve been keeping an eye on the corruption allegations surrounding Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), and unfortunately for the Republican, the controversy appears to be intensifying.”

Dems, Nelson reserve $2.8M in Orlando TV ads [Orlando Sentinel] “U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and congressional Democrats are loading up already for a big fall TV advertising blitz, combining to buy more than $2.8 million of ads on Orlando TV stations months ahead of the November election.”

Nasty GOP primary updates:

Mica wins straw poll after bitter Adams protest   [Orlando Sentinel] “U.S. Reps. John Mica and Sandy Adams don’t like each other — make that, really don’t like each other — and it becomes more clear every day that their Aug. 14 Republican primary for primacy in redrawn Congressional District 7 is going to be very nasty.”

Oelrich, Stearns running negative race in 3rd Congressional District? [Florida Times Union] “The Republican primary has been full of charges that candidates are not conservative or ‘political parasites.’ That’s on top of an accusation that one candidate tried to bribe another out of the race.”

OTHER NEWS WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Three events remind us: Never say never [Tampa Bay Times editorial] “Less than a year ago, members of the U.S. military who were found to be homosexual risked losing their jobs. But on Wednesday, they could watch a blue-ribbon panel of military officials organized by the Pentagon celebrating the contributions of gay and lesbian troops.”

Clock running out for South Florida prison privatization [Florida Current]  “An attorney representing the state told an appellate court Wednesday that it’s too late for the Department of Corrections to outsource the operation of South Florida prisons as the Legislature ordered in the 2011 budget.”

School Board joins critics of ‘extensive’ state standardized testing [Ocala Star Banner] “The Marion County School Board has unanimously joined a statewide effort against what it calls ‘extensive’ state standardized testing, such as the FCAT.”

Deal reached on RESTORE Act [Florida Today] “More than two years after the BP oil spill ravaged the Gulf Coast, lawmakers reached a deal Wednesday that could spend billions to boost the region’s economy and restore its environment…’Great news for Gulf Coast,’’ Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., tweeted Wednesday afternoon.”