Regulatory reforms halt development rules, could delay ‘pill mill’ crackdown

A law passed during the Florida legislature’s special session in November over Gov. Charlie Crist’s veto that was intended to give lawmakers veto power over new state regulations has claimed its first victims.

House Bill 1565 has stalled the state’s crackdown on “pill mills,” under-regulated pain clinics charged with drawing drug tourists to Florida from other states, and also prompted the Department of Community Affairs to withdraw two controversial rule changes intended to place a check on out-of-control growth.

Scott names controversial former D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Rhee to transition team

Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott named controversial former Washington, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee to his education transition team Thursday.

The press release from the Scott transition says the education transition team will “help him find innovative ways to create a new education system for a new economy.” The release adds, “The transition team will assist Scott in identifying innovative ideas from the private sector, success stories from other states, cost-saving opportunities and legislative priorities that will help reduce the size of government, improve the education system in Florida and meet the workforce needs necessary to create 700,000 jobs over the next seven years.”

Rep. Grayson: Republicans want tax cuts for the rich because ‘they want a tax cut for themselves’

Despite losing his seat on Nov. 2, Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, isn’t biting his tongue in his final days as a congressman, yesterday attacking Republican legislators and conservative pundits fighting to extend the Bush tax cuts for America’s top earners.

“They want a tax cut for the rich because they want a tax cut for themselves,” he said on the House floor, calling right-wing commentators Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich and former President George W. Bush “the people who are really in charge, the ones who actually run the Republican party” and showing how much they (multimillionaires all) stand to gain from extending the Bush tax cuts. (Video after the jump.)

Fla. joins federal pollution settlement against homebuilder

Florida is one of several states to join in a settlement against a major U.S. homebuilder authorities say violated the Clean Water Act.
Atlanta-based Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Thursday agreed to a $925,000 civil penalty for violations at its construction…

Fla. officials say prescription pill abuse rivals ’80s crack cocaine epidemic

Florida law enforcement and drug officials Thursday compared a spike in deaths associated with prescription drug abuse during the first half of this year to the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s.
The number of overdoses on powerful pain medications…

Gillum backs out of running for Florida Democratic Party chair, throws support behind Smith

Only 10 days after announcing his intention to become the next chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, Tallahassee City Commissioner Andrew Gillum is taking himself out of the race and backing Gainesville attorney Rod Smith, who this morning had clinched…

Proposed state House, Senate immigration enforcement bills share similar language

State Sen. Mike Bennett’s proposed immigration enforcement law (Senate Bill 136) shares a lot of language with the Federal Immigration Enforcement Act announced earlier this year by state Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, but…

EPA and South Florida Water Management District go head-to-head over Everglades restoration

In April 2010, Judge Alan Gould issued a court decision regarding the Florida Everglades — essentially directing the EPA to give clear and comprehensive instructions on restoration to Florida agencies by Sept. 3, 2010.
As part of his decision, Gold…

More than half of Florida’s school districts fail to meet class size demands

Thirty-five of Florida’s 67 school districts — more than half — failed to meet class size requirements, state education officials annouced Wednesday.
Education Commissioner Eric Smith notified 35 districts and three laboratory schools that they violated the class size limits.…

Florida’s Tea Party Caucus congressmen requested $83.5 million in 2010 earmarks

A National Journal report on 2010 earmark requests by the new congressional Tea Party Caucus finds that members of the caucus — which, according to Rep. Michelle Bachmann, R-Minn., exists to push for “fiscal responsibility” — requested more than…