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Florida Supreme Court Lets Overbooked Public Defenders Off Hook

May 22, 2013 - 6:00pm

In a 5-2 decision, the Florida Supreme Court has ruled that public defender's offices can seek permission from trial courts to stop taking on new cases, if they can demonstrate that their offices are overloaded with clients and cannot provide effective representation to new ones.

Justice Peggy Quince wrote the opinion on behalf of herself and Justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Jorge Labarga, and James E.C. Perry. Chief Justice Ricky Polston wrote a dissent that was joined by Justice Charles T. Canady.

Florida Repays Federal Government for Unemployment Compensation

Submitted by Anonymous on May 23, 2013 - 2:01pm

This week, Florida closed the books on paying back the federalgovernment$3.5 billion which went to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. Besides Florida, 13 other states have fully repaid the federal government for these funds but 22 other states are still repaying the borrowed money. The money was borrowed from August 2009 until earlier this month to help with unemployment compensation.

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New Poll Shows Americans Not Buying IRS's Explanation on Targeting Conservatives

Submitted by Anonymous on May 23, 2013 - 1:49pm

A new poll finds Americans arent buying the Obama administrations line that Internal RevenueService(IRS) employees inCincinnatiacted alone in targeting conservative and tea party groups.

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Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Warns About Anti-Semitism in Middle East and North Africa

Submitted by Anonymous on May 23, 2013 - 1:39pm

From her perch as chairwoman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee (MENA), on Thursday, South Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen offered her thoughts on the State Departments International Religious Freedom Report for 2012 -- and warned that anti-Semitism was on the rise across the globe.

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Another Republican Jumps in to Challenge Geri Thompson

Submitted by Anonymous on May 23, 2013 - 1:30pm

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Dennis Ross Takes Aim at Dodd-Frank

Submitted by Anonymous on May 23, 2013 - 1:10pm

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross has a new committeeassignment This week, with U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio, winning acovetedspot on the Ways and Means Committee, Ross took the seat he left open on the House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. With his new assignment in hand, Ross took aim at the controversial Dodd-Frank reforms.

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Ted Yoho Praises Keystone XL and Bashes Obama for Opposing It

Submitted by Anonymous on May 23, 2013 - 12:59pm

Freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, who represents parts of North Central Florida, doubled down on his support of the Keystone XL Pipeline this week, comparing it to one of the great infrastructureinvestmentsin American history.

Explaining his vote on Wednesday in favor of HR 3, which removes the need for presidential approval to build the pipeline, Yoho argued that Keystone XL would create jobs and help the economy. Yoho also took aim at President Barack Obama for opposing it.

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Rick Scott Announces Crystal Lagoons Will Move From Chile to Miami

Submitted by Anonymous on May 23, 2013 - 12:48pm

Gov. Rick Scotts trade mission to Chile is already paying off for Florida. On Thursday, Gov. Scott announced that Crystal Lagoons Corp., a company headquartered in Chile which develops man-made lagoons for swimming and other activities, will soon be based in Miami. Scott met with staff from Crystal Lagoons, which has operations in more than 50 countries, while in Chile.

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GOP Doubles Down on Gabriel Gomez Against Ed Markey

Submitted by Anonymous on May 23, 2013 - 12:38pm

Scott Brown 2.0?

Roll Call is reporting that the National Republican Senate Committee is dispatching staff to Massachusetts to help GOP hopeful Gabriel Gomezs efforts to upset U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., in a special election next month for the seat John Kerry vacated when he became secretary of state. Polls have shown Gomez is within strikingdistanceof Markey and eyes are increasingly turning toward this contest.

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Florida Supreme Court: Overburdened Public Defenders Can Stop Taking Cases

Submitted by Kevin Derby on May 23, 2013 - 12:28pm

The high court's opinion was authored by Justice Peggy Quince. Chief Justice Ricky Polston and Justice Charles T. Canady dissented.

More to come ...

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