9/8: Florida GOP chairman reverses course on Obama's speech

Washington Post: Florida GOP chairman reverses course on Obama's speech

The speech that President Obama will give to school children today at 1 p.m. has generated a lot of news.

After last week's comments from Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer, who accused the president of trying to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda," the actual reading of the remarks elicited a different response. Greer said he'll now let his children watch. "It's a good speech," Greer said Monday. "It encourages kids to stay in school and the importance of education, and I think that's what a president should do."

Some schools will be showing the speech live, while others will record it and show it at another time -- or not at all.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley heads to Europe to recruit businesses

ARKANSAS: State lawmakers taking a look at prison after incidents

FLORIDA: New tax on tobacco results in lower sales of cigarettes

GEORGIA: Budget cuts mean cases piling up in state's courts

KENTUCKY: Global Green Cars to build electric vehicle plant in Kentucky

LOUISIANA: Economist says state's shrimpers face 'fight of their lives'

MISSISSIPPI: AG Jim Hood challenges Gov. Barbour on partial vetoes

NORTH CAROLINA: Outer Banks Ocean Energy Corp. wants to build offshore wind farm

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's lawmakers staking out key roles in the health care debate

TENNESSEE: Solar farm project waiting on federal approval

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine says state employees must take one furlough day

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8/13: Anger continues at health care town hall meetings

New York Times: Anger continues at health care town hall meetings

Constituents worried about health care changes have peppered their legislators with questions and have emphasized their concern at town hall meetings. In Georgia, Sen. Johnny Isakson said at a meeting in Tifton, “The question is whether the government should make health care an entitlement and a right or should the government establish a level playing field for private providers.”

In South Carolina, U.S. Rep. John Spratt is being urged to hold a town hall meeting, even though he's recuperating from foot surgery. It may be a few weeks before he can host such a meeting, he says. North Carolina's Rep. Heath Shuler plans two tele-town halls, but no in-person town hall meetings this August. Alabama's Rep. John Tanner answered questions at a Rotary Club meeting; today, constituents plan to urge him to hold a town hall meeting.

Expect more meetings during the recess.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: House passes bill to extend unemployment compensation for 20 weeks

ARKANSAS: Economic competitiveness of state ranked at 12th best

FLORIDA: Opinion: Matt Towery: Vulnerable Crist may be GOP's test case

GEORGIA: State's colleges to furlough employees for six days

KENTUCKY: Cold medicine restriction may continue due to meth lab prevalence

LOUISIANA: Revised price-gouging protection laws go into effect August 15

MISSISSIPPI: State's higher education challenge -- budgets

NORTH CAROLINA: Older population in state to suffer most from budget cuts

SOUTH CAROLINA: State must deal with $200 million in budget cuts

TENNESSEE: State gets $22 million grant for charter schools

VIRGINIA: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deeds says he'll sign tax increase bill

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org