Wednesday Morning Reads: Session take aways

TALLAHASSEE — Good morning and welcome to this edition of the morning reads. Yesterday brought the beginning of session and plenty of news along with it. Bills were passed out of the Senate, Speaker Dean Cannon promised major higher ed reforms and Gov. Rick Scott insisted on an increase in school funding. So with that, here are the top five stories you should be reading this morning. * The Orlando Sentinel highlights House Speaker Dean Cannon’s push for higher ed reforms. From the story: “Twenty years later, after a steady stream of reform proposals, several originating from this House, we have a higher education system with no clear mission, universities pursuing overlapping agendas despite limited public resources, and our community colleges rapidly transforming themselves into 4-year degree institutions,” he said. * The Miami Herald reports that as backers of the destination casinos rushed to help parimutuels, they may have endangered their own bill. From the story: The push to bring mega-casinos to South Florida faces a host of unknowns: would local voters approve the proposal in a public referendum? Will state lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott even allow the issue to get that far? But another, quite-crucial question also needs to be asked: Will horse and dog tracks just kill the entire thing? * The Herald-Tribune reviews Gov. Rick Scott’s opening day speech. From the story: A year after

he came to Tallahassee to reform state government as an outsider, Gov. Rick Scott struck a theme of cooperation in his second state of the state address on Tuesday, promising to work with lawmakers and calling for a $1 billion increase in school funding. * The Palm Beach Post reports that protesters filled the capitol yesterday, but some were denied entrance to watch the Senate proceedings. From the story: All day, members of the left and the right wandered through the Capitol, spreading their messages to lawmakers on the opening day of the 2012 legislative session, urging either less government spending or more government services. At day’s end, some were still occupying themselves and the building with protest and were ultimately invited to leave, well after closing time. * The AP has the latest poll story, which has Romney beating Obama in Florida. From the story: Another photo finish may be in store for Floridians this fall when they decide whether they want to re-elect President Barack Obama . A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with a slight lead over Obama in Florida while former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was slightly behind the president in head-to-head matchups. Bonus Blogs * John Thrasher $278K fundraising quarter * Online travel issue is back this session

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Wednesday Morning Reads: Session take aways

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