FLORIDA DIGEST - August 29, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Poll: Amendments too close to call [Anti-Gay Amendment 2 - could pass - is supported by 57%]
The tax-swap proposal to cut property taxes by an average 25 percent is in trouble in both the courts and with voters while the defense-of-marriage amendment is on the statistical cusp of passage or defeat.

Amendment 2, the proposal to define marriage as union only between a man and a woman, had 57-percent support statewide while 36 percent said they'd vote against it in a Mason- Dixon poll released Thursday. Constitutional amendments require 60-percent approval for passage, so the amendment's fate is within the poll's 4-percent margin of error. The issue will be determined by the 7 percent who said they're undecided.
"It demonstrates this is going to be a very, very close election," said John Stemberger, state chairman of Yes2Marriage.org the proposal's sponsor. "I'm very confident in where this race is going to end up," said Derek Newton, campaign manager for opponent Florida Red & Blue. "There's never been a poll on this amendment that showed it winning. This is pretty much its high-water mark."

Amendment 5, which would eliminate the state required portion of property taxes that supports schools, had only 39 percent support in the poll. Of those surveyed, 33 percent said they'd vote no while 28 percent were undecided. A Leon County judge earlier this month threw the proposal off the ballot as unconstitutionally unclear. The Florida Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments and make a final decision next week.Amendment 1 was a property-tax proposal passed by voters in January. Realtors supported both, in large part because they say passage of the two would be a boost to the state's moribund real-estate market.But Amendment 5 has to win in the Supreme Court to even allow voters a say. "The focus remains on the Supreme Court, though, for now," Sebree said. Sen. Mike Haridopolos, the lead opponent of Amendment 5 who says it's a sneak tax increase, is proceeding as if Amendment 5 will be on the ballot Nov. 4. The high percentage of undecided voters, Haridopolos said, shows the amendment is complex. "The more people learn about it, the more are against it."
http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/CAPITOLNEWS/808290326


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ArtsUnited

ArtsUnited will feature the mixed media art work of local artists RobertTabor in a solo exhibitfrom September 8 through October 3, 2008 at theStonewall Library and Archives. The gallery is located at 1717 North AndrewsAvenue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The exhibit opens with a reception tomeet the artist from 6:30 to 8:00 PM on Monday, September 8th. The exhibitand reception are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be servedat the reception. With a degree in Graphic Design and a unique look at life,Robert Tabor has developed his professional career in Boston, New York, LAand now South Florida. Robert's shoe sculptures take broken down high heelsand give them one last bit of respect as a one-of-a-kind art piece. His shoecreations communicate through sculpting clay, foams, fabrics, metals,acrylics, pearls, crystals, leathers and feathers. Funding for thisexhibit provided by ArtsUnited. For more information about ArtsUnited,contact: Chuck Williams 954-326-8219 www.artsunitedonline.org





~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Tropical Storm Hanna strengthens as Gustav threatens Gulf Coast
Tropical Storm Hanna emerged in the western Atlantic on Thursday and isforecast to approach the Florida coast as a hurricane. However, initialforecasts can contain large errors and computer models are in disagreementwhere the system might be in five days. At 5 a.m. Tropical Storm Hanna waslocated about 245 miles north-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. Thestorm is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph with sustained winds of 50mph.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-hurricane-hanna,0,5749270.story

-Dike concerns could prompt lowering of Lake Okeechobee
Water level after Fay might strain 70-year-old dike
Lake Okeechobee rose so high, so fast after Tropical Storm Fay that federalwater managers may start dumping lake water to ease the strain on the agingdike that protects South Florida from flooding. Tropical Storm Fay'stwo-foot boost produced the biggest one-week rise on record and the ArmyCorps of Engineers is considering low-level releases, starting next week.Lowering the lake means sending water into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucierivers and out to sea.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flplakeo0829pnaug29,0,4437265.story

-Early voting becomes an issue
At a time of budgetary belt-tightening, it's worth asking whether state lawshould force counties to stage early voting for primary elections. Earlyvoting sites drew few voters prior to Tuesday's primary. Right before thedeadline, Broward statistics showed roughly 6 percent of the electorate usedearly voting conveniences. Just 11,000 or so voters opted for early votingin Palm Beach County.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-neweditearlyvoting,0,2895642.story


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-MASON-DIXON POLL: Crist job-approval rating slips from its high of 70%A poll shows Gov. Charlie Crist's popularity has fallen, though he hasincreased his support among Republicans.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/663529.html

-CAMPAIGN 2008: Israel, Rodstrom, Sobel won't be facing recounts
Officials confirmed that recounts won't be required in three close races.But the state is expected to order a machine recount of one judicial race.Broward Sheriff's candidate Scott Israel, County Commissioner John Rodstromand state Senate candidate Eleanor Sobel all won by margins just wide enoughto avoid recounts, county officials confirmed Thursday.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-stories/story/663527.html

-STRAIGHT TO THE POINT: The answer is No
State Farm Florida got it wrong. State regulators got it right. They dealt adecisive smack-down to the insurance company's brazen request for an average47.1 percent increase on its homeowners' policies.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/663556.html

-ENERGY: Extend solar tax credits
In Florida, companies are using one of the state's most abundant andreliable resources to generate clean energy and create green jobs: solarenergy. On July 22, the Florida Municipal Power Agency announced that itsigned a letter of intent with SunEdison for a 20-year power purchaseagreement that will provide 10 megawatts of power throughout the state.Along with clean, renewable energy, SunEdison will be bringing jobs toFlorida by installing, constructing, monitoring and operating the solarsystem.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/story/663551.html


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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Majority in Florida want to see offshore drilling
More than three in five Floridians now support drilling for oil of the state's coast, a change of heart both opponents and proponents attribute to high gasoline prices.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/GREEN/808290364/1002/NEWS01&GID=hSE0o5ScCvHpqZv9GuY40OLQ+mjwx0DG2+yJ/e/NsKs%3D

-Clinton impeachment prosecutor on Fla. high court
Appellate Judge Charles Canady, who as a congressman helped prosecutethen-President Bill Clinton at his 1999 impeachment trial, was appointedThursday to the Florida Supreme Court by Gov. Charlie Crist. Canady, now onthe 2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland, will replace Justice RaoulCantero after his resignation takes effect Sept. 6. Crist has not yet filleda second high court vacancy. Justice Kenneth Bell also has resignedeffective Oct. 1.
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080828/APN/808281116

-About Charles Canady
Age: 54
Legal background: Graduate, Yale Law School, 1979. Appointed to 2nd DistrictCourt of Appeal in Lakeland in 2002 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flfjusticesbox0829sbaug29,0,2086033.story?track=rss


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