News 25 March 2009

Obama's Prime Time Pitch
Some exaggerations and misstatements from his evening news conference. Summary President Obama sometimes strayed from the facts or made dubious claims during his hour-long evening news conference March 24
http://www.factcheck.org/politics/obamas_prime_time_pitch.html

Bills would loosen Fla. zero tolerance policies
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Legislature is considering bills to prevent child arrests for minor violations of zero tolerance laws — like bringing plastic butter knives to school or throwing an eraser. The Senate Criminal Justice Committee today approved a measure that would prohibit calling police for nonviolent misdemeanors. The Senate sponsor, Jacksonville Republican Stephen Wise, said his bill (SB 1540) would save money and prevent unnecessary criminal records for children. Instead of police, schools would handle such disciplinary matters administratively. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090325/BREAKINGNEWS/90325033/1086/
Immigrants held during DCF visit
MIAMI — Elida Arriaga was holding her 1-year-old grandson during a routine visit with a state social worker when local deputies told her she was in the country illegally and led her away, immigration advocates said Wednesday. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090325/BREAKINGNEWS/90325040/1086/
24 MAR 09
GOP warns about budget hardball
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said again Monday that it’s too early to say whether Democrats will use the budget process to ram through the president’s legislative agenda. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20400.html

Fed's Evans: U.S. growth could resume by year-end
PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve could expand its already vast efforts to restore normal functioning in financial markets, and growth in the United States should resume by the end of this year, a top Fed policymaker said on Tuesday. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE52N20520090324?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly

Ellis will challenge judge's order to resume clerical support
The chief judge of the 18th Circuit has ordered Brevard Clerk of Courts Scott Ellis to resume providing clerical support for temporary relief, http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090324/NEWS01/903240314/1086/guardianship and eviction hearings.

Schools lose $100M
Cuts to Brevard Public Schools could be as high as $100 million next year, an increase of $20 million over previous projections, Superintendent Richard DiPatri warned Monday, citing recent revenue estimates http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090324/NEWS01/903240322/1086/

Unions Don’t Cause Firm Closures
What’s the real effect of union membership on businesses? A new report by economist John DiNardo of the University of Michigan suggests there’s no connection between a firm’s likeliness to shut down and whether its employees have a union. http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/03/23/epi-unions-dont-cause-firm-closures/