Florida Latin Connection

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: Jebbie appointee “Paul Hawkes isn’t just a terrible steward of public money – he’s responsible for the ‘Taj Mahal’ courthouse scandal in Tallahassee. He and Bradford Thomas also are destructive ‘activist’ judges. Both sit on Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal. Their recent ruling in a Martin County case punishes people and organizations that dare to challenge rulings detrimental to Florida’s environment.”

Martin County commissioners adopted, and the state approved, new growth rules to which several environmental groups objected. An administrative law judge upheld the approval, and the Martin County Conservation Alliance and 1000 Friends of Florida appealed.

The conservation groups lost the appeal. But the three-judge panel, in a 2-1 decision with Judges Hawkes and Thomas in the majority, further ruled that the environmental groups and their lawyers should be punished for filing the appeal.

FLAPolitics/ 12/28/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

* But they’re “our” activist judges..

Comments (0) Dec 28 2010

Incoming Gov. Rick Scott has collected $2.8 million for his inaugural celebration, according to contribution reports posted Monday. Money-raisers expect to exceed $3 million by next week.

The contribution report continues to read like a who’s-who of Tallahassee special interests.

Some of the names and companies added to the list include: Altria, formerly known as Philip Morris, the big tobacco company that wants the state to make Dosal start paying into Florida’s landmark tobacco settlement case; Dosal, the Opa-Locka-based cigarette maker that wants to avoid the surcharge; the St. Joe Company; Tampa Bay Downs; and Las Vegas Sands.

St.PetersburgTimes/ Bender/ 12/28/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

* Rick Scott approaches $3 million for inaugural..

Comments (0) Dec 28 2010

Floyd Mayweather Jr. unleashed a nuclear verbal attack on a guard inside his Vegas community last weekend — all because the guy didn’t recognize him … and TMZ has obtained the footage.

It all went down Sunday December 19 around 4 AM — when Floyd drove up to the main gate and the security guard asked him for ID.

That’s when Mayweather went ballistic — screaming, “Let me in my mother f**king house!!! You know who I am man … let me in my house!!!”

Mayweather continues, “Stop giving me a hard time … you don’t give Maloof a hard time … you don’t ask him for ID when he comes.”

During his tantrum — Floyd also references a prior incident with security in which the boxer was accused of battering one of the guards during a parking dispute … saying, “I had a problem here before when the security lied and said I touched him and I didn’t!”

Floyd eventually got out of the car, went into the guard shack and opened the gate himself.

The tape has been turned over to cops — and the footage may be used in the battery case to show Floyd has it in for the guards.

TMZ/ 12/27/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

* Mayweather Explodes on Security Guard — On Tape..

Comments (0) Dec 27 2010

Governor-elect Rick Scott promises it won’t be business as usual when he takes the reins of the state’s highest office on Jan. 4, and if he adopts the giant to-do list from the six groups on his transition team, there may be no doubt he has kept his promise.

The wide-ranging list of recommendations cover everything from considering the sale of Jackson Memorial Hospital to giving universal vouchers to all parents to send their children to private schools.

The ideas contemplate merging more than a dozen state agencies into two or three departments, raising residential electricity rates in exchange for lower commercial rates, privatizing the state’s mental health facilities, punishing the unemployed for spending too little time hunting for jobs and even identifying a private-sector employee to run the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Depending on the suggestions, Scott may adopt many of the proposals himself after he takes office, such as creating a “chief reform officer” inside the executive office of the governor. But most of the ideas will require legislative or federal approval, budget changes and, in the case of universal vouchers, a possible amendment to the state Constitution. As a result, Scott supporters are urging the new governor to read the recommendations carefully and move methodically before asking lawmakers for approval and support.

Scott is being advised by six transition groups, covering rules and regulations, prisons and legal affairs, economic development, job creation, education and administrative changes.

“Some of these sound like common-sense ideas, and others are going back to the past where things didn’t work,” said Sen. Paula Dockery, a Lakeland Republican and one of two legislators who are among Scott’s main advisers on the team. “After a thorough debate, the Legislature will view some of them positively but will view some of them with great caution.

St.PetersburgTimes/ Klas/ 12/27/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

* Rick Scott must get approval for much on his long list of suggestions..

Comments (0) Dec 27 2010

Most lieutenant governor’s fade out of the spotlight once they’ve taken office, but expect Lt. Gov.-elect Jennifer Carroll to turn that tradition upside down.

Carroll, a former state representative from Jacksonville, said she’ll be representing the Sunshine State as its economic ambassador as part of Gov.-elect Rick Scott’s plan to make Florida the “number one place to do business” in the world.

Scott, who once headed the House’s economic development committee, said she plans to travel throughout the country and the world promoting, figuring out how to boost imports and exports and encouraging businesses to set up shop in Florida.

It’s all part of Scott’s ambitious pledge to bring 700,000 jobs over seven years to Florida, where more than 1 million workers are out of a job and the state’s unemployment rate – now at 12 percent – keeps climbing.

Carroll and Scott are on the first leg of a four-day fete celebrating his inauguration as the state’s 45th governor before they are sworn in on Jan. 4.

PostPolitics/ Kam/ 12/27/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

* New Lt. Guv to be Sunshine State’s economic ambassador..

Comments (0) Dec 27 2010

President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are the most admired man and woman in the country, according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll released today.

The poll, which was conducted earlier this month, found that 22 percent pf Americans said the president is the man they admire most. That is down from a high of 32 percent in 2008. But he still outranks second on the list, Former President George W. Bush, who was cited by 5 percent.

Two other former presidents also made the list – Bill Clinton at No. 3 (with 4 percent) and Jimmy Carter who was in a tie for 8th with Fox News host Glenn Beck at 2 percent. Gallup reports that sitting presidents have been at the No. 1 spot in 52 out of the 64 times they have asked the question since 1946.

The list of admired men also includes Nelson Mandela (2 percent), Bill Gates (2 percent), Pope Benedict XVI (2 percent), Billy Graham (2 percent) and the Dalai Lama (1 percent). Gallup notes this is Billy Graham’s 54th time in the top 10, the most ever.    

“It’s all about power,” Wesleyan University professor Richard Slotkin told USA Today. “When we think of importance, we think politically, that’s really clear — with religion a close second, though Bill Gates beats out Pope Benedict. It’s almost like a register of power.”

Not surprisingly, party politics also plays a part in who people name for most admired. Mr. Obama is the most admired by 46 percent of Democrats, but only 17 percent of independents and 6 percent of Republicans.

As for the women rankings, Clinton led the field with 17 percent, with former Alaska governor Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin in second with 12 percent. Clinton has topped the poll for nine straight years, and this is Palin’s second year in second place. Oprah Winfrey is in third, with 11 percent saying she is the woman they admire most.

Clinton is also among four first ladies who make the list. Michelle Obama came in fourth with five percent, and Laura Bush and Barbara Bush are in a three way tie for ninth with Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi (at 1 percent).

Read More:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20026649-503544.html

CBS/ Hechtkopf / 12/27/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

* Obama, Clinton Lead List of Most Admired in U.S…

Comments (0) Dec 27 2010

There is one issue issue Democrats and Republicans can agree on … mama bear Bristol Palin needs an education.

Andres Cano, VP of the Downtown Young Democrats at Arizona State University — where it seems Bristol will be attending school next year — tells TMZ they will welcome her “with open arms” … because “getting a college degree is a non-partisan issue.”

The prez of the Downtown College Republicans — Zachary Ziebarth — also says they’d love to have her at the school … but not EVERYONE feels that way … ZZ says “Facebook has already been going crazy with status updates of excitement, mixed feelings and non-acceptance.”

Ziebarth adds, “The adversity that she may face is nothing that she can’t handle.”

As long as she doesn’t quit halfway through her first term.

TMZ/ 12/26/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

* ASU Democrats — We Can Stomach Bristol Palin..

Comments (0) Dec 26 2010

Former Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez died today of “respiratory arrest” in Miami, El Universal reported, citing his daughter Maria Francia Perez. He was 88.

Perez, as part of the Accion Democratica Party, served as president of Venezuela in the 1970s during an oil boom and again from 1989 until 1993. In his second term, Perez was beset by corruption scandals, economic hardship that led to riots known as the Caracazo and a coup attempt by now-PresidentHugo Chavez, the Caracas-based daily El Universal said.

Venezuela’s highest court forced Perez to step down in 1993, one year before the end of his term, on charges of corruption and illicit enrichment, El Universal reported.

Perez, born in the Andean state of Tachira, suffered a cardiovascular attack in 2003 that paralyzed a hand, an arm and his right side, El Universal reported.

Bloomberg/ Orozco/ 12/26/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

* Carlos Andres Perez, Ex-Venezuelan President, Dead at 88, Universal Says..

Comments (0) Dec 26 2010

Marco Antonio Slim, son of billionaire Carlos Slim and chief executive officer of Grupo Financiero Inbursa SAB, said financial stability in Latin America and Mexico makes the region the most attractive investment opportunity as the European crisis roils markets.    

“I see much more opportunity in Mexico,” Slim, 42, said yesterday in a telephone interview from Mexico City. “In contrast to the rest of the world, we have conditions that allow us to be optimists.”

Slim’s family, led by the 70-year-old whom Forbes magazine calls the world’s richest person, is investing in infrastructure projects and expanding its banking business to position itself for growth. Inbursa, Mexico’s fifth-largest bank, is tapping into the market for small-business loans by allowing clients to make payments through their phone bills.

Inbursa’s net income more than doubled last year to 8.07 billion pesos ($620 million) as its average loan portfolio shot up 31 percent to 149 billion pesos. The company doubled its branches last year to 198 and is planning to increase that number to 280 this year to reach more customers.

Inbursa gained 3.10 pesos, or 7.5 percent, to 44.69 pesos at 4 p.m. New York time in Mexico City trading, the biggest increase in 10 months. The shares have risen 17 percent this year, compared with a 2.5 percent decline in Mexico’s IPC index.

Slim, whom friends call “Tony,” is the second of six children by Carlos Slim and his wife, Soumaya Domit, who died in 1999. His elder brother, Carlos, is chairman of holding company Grupo Carso SAB and of Telefonos de Mexico SAB, the nation’s largest phone company. Younger brother Patrick is chairman of America Movil SAB, Latin America’s largest wireless carrier.

Bloomberg/ Harrison/ 12/26/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

* Slim’s Son Sees Latin American Growth in Small Loans, Big Construction..

Comments (0) Dec 26 2010

Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos said his government is considering extending for one year and broadening a tax on high-income earners to help pay for the damage caused by the worst rains in 30 years.

The tax, which currently is levied on people with assets of more than 3 billion pesos ($1.5 million), may be extended to those with more than 1.5 billion pesos, Santos said in an interview with RCN Radio. The tax was scheduled to expire in 2014. The government is not considering raising the value-added tax, Santos said.

Santos is looking to raise funds to help victims of rains over the past two months that have killed at least 238 people, left thousands homeless and damaged about 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres) of farmland.

The government estimates flooding may have caused 10 trillion pesos in damage and could hurt economic growth and fuel a short-term surge in food prices in the coming months. Colombia yesterday lowered its 2010 growth estimate to 4.5 percent from 5 percent after third-quarter growth came in under expectations.

Gross domestic product rose 3.6 percent in the third quarter from the same 2009 period, down from a revised 4.4 percent expansion in the second quarter, the statistics agency reported. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected GDP to rise 4.4 percent, according to the median of 29 forecasts.

Bloomberg/ HelenMurphy/ 12/25/2010

FloridaLatinConnection/Arnoldo Varona, Editor

*Colombian President May Raise Wealth Tax to Pay for Repairs After Floods..

Comments (0) Dec 26 2010