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Governor Rick Scott is reaching out to all Floridians with a computer and a Twitter account. Scott will host a Twitter Town Hall meeting tonight, from 7:00 to 7:30 EST. As Whitney Ray tells us, the online dialog comes one day after journalists accused Scott’s staff of limiting their access.

After a room full of reporters questioned Governor Rick Scott about his lack of availability, Scott promised more public interaction.

“I think the public deserves to know more than we give them,” said Scott.

But he didn’t promise open dialogue by traditional means. Scott will host a Town Hall Twitter meeting Thursday night.

Scott’s attempt at more transparent government will allow people from all corners of the state to submit questions, but as social media guru Kevin Cate points out only if they have a Twitter account.

“It’s not going to be a lot of people. Only about eight percent of internet users are actually on Twitter,” said Cate.

Scott will answer questions from the library in the Governor’s Mansion, allowing him to bypass the media and control his message.

“If I read what everybody writes every day I’ll try to pacify everybody so you will only write positive things about me. I understand that that’s not your job,” said Scott.

This is a sound byte from an answer Scott gave to reporters Wednesday. The entire answer is 585 characters. His Twitter responses will have to be much shorter. Twitter limits posts to 140 characters.

Political consultant Kirsten Borman says Twitter can be an effective tool to reach constituents, if used correctly.

“Many politicians tend to use Twitter as just another press release ticker and I want to caution that that’s not the way it should be used. Twitter should be used as a dialog, an engaging conversation,” said Borman.

Scott, who’s only held two news conferences during his first two weeks on the job, says online forums will become more common as he explains his plans for Florida’s economy to the public.

Questions have already been posted on Governor Scott’s Twitter page. The Governor’s Press Office says they won’t be able to answer them all, but Scott will try to answer as many as possible during the 30 minute window.

Anyone with a Twitter account can follow Governor Rick Scott’s online town hall meeting tonight. But only an estimated eight percent of online users subscribe to Twitter. The good news is signing up is free. Once you’ve signed up you can follow tonight’s town hall by going to Scott’s Twitter page. The address is twitter.com/FLGovScott. You can submit questions there or simply add the tag #Flgov or @Flgovscott in your post. Amy Graham, a spokeswoman for Governor Scott, says Twitter is a good forum to allow the public access to the governor.

“The governor’s committed to access and using Twitter to host a Twitter Town Hall is one of the ways he can reach out to Floridians, engage with them one-on-one without having to get in a plane and travel around the state. He can just talk to them online from his computer,” said Graham.

The town hall runs from 7:00 to 7:30 Eastern Time. People have already started posting questions on Scott’s account.

Governor Rick Scott met with golf legend Jack Nicklaus in Tallahassee today to discuss job creation. There are few details of their discussion except that it revolved around golf and how the sport could bring more jobs to Florida. Nicklaus runs a golf course design company. Scott says the talks are preliminary, but he’s been courting business owners and corporations for the last two weeks trying rustle up more business in Florida.

Governor Rick Scott spent 40 minutes today in Tallahassee meeting with newspaper editors and reporters, a group he shunned during the campaign. Scott’s two-week-old administration has already raised concerns about access and public records among the media, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the new governor thinks he is accessible and complying with the law.

Rick Scott walked into the room jammed full of editors and reporters and immediately tried to allay fears that he was less of an advocate for open government than previous Governors.

“You know, some of you think that it’s always hard to get enough access to me,” Scott said. “I can just tell you the other side, my wife thinks I talk to you guys more than I talk to her.”

It has been just over two weeks since Scott took office. Open government and sunshine advocates are worried he has been slow in releasing details on everything from salaries to complying with public records requests to holding short noticed dinners with lawmakers that are required to be open.

“If he’s meeting with our legislators to talk about legislative issues, which is what happened last week, the public does have a right to know and they do care deeply,” Barbara Peterson, President of the First Amendment Foundation, said.

The questions were tough.

“What specifically are your plans to correct this failure at a campaign promise?”

And he was asked if he was having trouble making a transition from CEO to a government official.

“I think it’s easier. Nobody comes to me with a deal,” Scott said.

And although his picture is often on the front page, the governor says he doesn’t read Florida newspapers.

Scott says he is briefed on anything in print that he needs to know.

With just over two weeks on the job, most editors and reporters seem skeptical about access and openness, but they also appear willing to give the newcomer the benefit of the doubt.

While Scott keeps insisting he is available plenty, his public relations staff says access has been limited by the administration because they have a strategic plan.

The US House is poised to vote to repeal the new federal health care law this afternoon. The vote comes a day after six states joined Florida’s lawsuit challenging parts of the reform in Federal court. As Whitney Ray tells us, Florida’s Attorney General says her suit is gaining momentum.

New federal health care regulations are being attacked on two fronts. Wednesday the US House debated a repeal of the entire law.

In Florida, State Attorney General Pam Bondi is asking a federal judge to stop the insurance mandate and a provision that would expand Florida’s Medicaid roles by 1.9 million people.

“I feel firmly that this is unconstitutional and we’re going to do everything in our power to fight for our state’s rights,” said Bondi.

Monday six more states joined Bondi’s suit, bringing the number states fighting health care to 28. Since the health care bill was signed into law last March, some of the provisions, like forcing insurance companies to insure kids with pre-existing conditions, have taken hold; raising concerns over the cost of reversing the new law.

Florida Public Interest Research Group says repeal would keep more than 3-million Floridians from having health coverage and raise premiums 20 percent by 2016.

US Senator Bill Nelson says the US House is wasting everybody’s time focusing on health care, because there’s not enough support for passage in his chamber.

“They want to send a message and it’s not going to be repealed in the Senate,” said Nelson.

No matter what happens in the courts or in Congress, health care is likely to be a major campaign topic in the 2012 Presidential Election. Senator Nelson says repeal is out of the question, but adds the health care law does need to be changed and improved. A decision in Florida’s case is expected by the end of the month.

Florida has a new secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.

At their first meeting today, the Governor and State Cabinet confirmed the appointment of Herschel Vinyard. Before being appointed the head of DEP, Vinyard was an executive at a Jacksonville shipyard. Chief Financial Officer and state cabinet member Jeff Atwater says Vinyard’s experience in shipping will help him in his new role.

“He knows Florida, he knows the importance of navigable waters and his work experiences and I think he has expressed and shown a ‘sensitivity’ that you can’t exploit your return on investment on any particular project for the long term value of sustainable Florida. I think he’s articulated that well and I’m excited to see him get in the spot and get going,” said Atwater.

Scott is asking Vinyard to review the state’s environmental regulations to see if any can be safely lifted in an effort jumpstart development and the economy.

Months after a judge ruled Florida’s ban on gay adoption illegal, a challenge may be in the works.

After the judge’s ruling last summer, former Governor Charlie Crist decided not to challenge it. Florida’s new Governor Rick Scott, hasn’t said if he’ll challenge the ruling, but he did tell reporters who he thinks should be allowed to adopt.

“I believe that adoption should be by a married couple and I still haven’t changed, I haven’t changed,” said Scott.

Earlier this week Scott appointed David Wilkins head of the agency in charge of adoptions. Wilkins is a former executive at a Baptist Adoption Agency that only allowed professing Christians to adopt children.

Governor Rick Scott hasn’t given up on his plan to layoff five percent of the state’s work force. At an editorial board meeting with the Associated Press Scott told reporters his jobs plans is moving forward. He says to reach his goal of creating 700-thousand jobs in seven years he’ll need to layoff about 5-thousand state workers.

“I’m going to work on reducing the workforce of state employees, my job is to grow private sector jobs and I believe that’s what I’m going to be able to do,” said Scott.

Scott promised to reduce government on the campaign trail. So far he’s put the state planes on the market and laid off about a dozen state aircraft employees.

The State Board of Education is recommending 30 million dollars in fines for school districts that broke the class size law. Thirty-five districts claim they don’t have the money to hire enough teachers to offer smaller classes. As Whitney Ray tells us, the fines could make it even harder for the districts to meet class size next year.

Thirty-five of Florida’s 67 school districts couldn’t hire enough teachers to meet class size requirements written into the state constitution.

Hillsborough County was the largest school district able to meet class size and it wasn’t easy.

“It took incredible time and commitment by the staff in every school and at the district level, and a constant review of what was happening in every classroom,” said Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia.

Palm Beach, Broward, Miami and 32 other districts weren’t so fortunate. The state board of education wants them to pay 30 million dollars in fines. Half of those belong to Palm Beach. The fines were lowered by 10 million dollars after districts appealed the penalties.

“If a district was able to present a compelling case that showed they had a surge in enrollment or enrollment shift that couldn’t be accounted for in advance then we made adjustments to that,” said Education Commissioner Eric Smith.

The revised fines now head to the legislature for final approval. But some districts may not wait on the legislature and instead take the state to court.

The state is required to adequately fund education. Many believe that half the districts out of compliance with class size is proof the state isn’t doing it’s job.

A legislative committee will begin reviewing the fines in mid-February. The penalties will be finalized by the end of April. Districts that met class size will be awarded five percent of the penalty money. The rest of the cash will be given back to the districts that come up with a solid plan to meet class size next year.

For years the state has recognized athletes, artists, educators and women with Hall of Fame displays. And now, 56 years after the Civil Rights Act was signed, the state is finally ready to honor Civil Rights leaders from Florida. As Whitney Ray tells us, black history scholars say it’s better to have the Civil Rights Hall of Fame late than never.

Jessie Marshall owes his freedom to thousands of civil rights activists. He spent what would have been Martin Luther King‘s 82nd birthday remembering their sacrifices.

“Not only did Martin Luther King sacrifice, but a lot of more people did the same efforts,” said Marshall.

King is known worldwide, but brave Floridians who risked it all for equality are often forgotten. People like CK Steele who led the Tallahassee Bus Boycott.

In 1964, Barbara James was beaten while trying to integrate a St. Augustine Beach.

“I knew what I was doing, I knew what I was fighting for. I won’t give up for my kids and my grandkids,” said James.

Black Archives Museum Curator Doris Jacob Smith was almost hit by a semi.

“My dad told us, he said, I know you all are taking part in the demonstrations and all he said but you all better not get arrested because I might not be able to get either one of ya out of jail,” said Smith.

For decades these deeds were mostly overlooked by the state while legislation was passed honoring athletes, artists, educators and women with hall of fame displays.

Now, 56 years after the Civil Rights Act was signed, Florida will honor freedom fighters with a Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

“Later is better than never,” said Smith.

And plans for more accolades are in the works. A building on Monroe St in Tallahassee is believed to be one of the last standing sights were sit-ins were held in Florida. There are plans to turn it into a black history museum, but the funding isn’t there.

Memory of the protests live on as the state searches for funds. The hall of fame will be located on the first floor of the capitol. The first three inductees will be chosen by Governor Rick Scott later this year.

Florida businesses will be forced to pay back the two billion dollars the state is borrowing to pay the unemployed. Unemployment taxes nearly tripled this year and as Whitney Ray tells us, the minimum unemployment tax is scheduled to more double again next year.

Every business in Florida is about to see a tax increase. The increase is needed to repay the 115 million dollars a month the state is borrowing to pay unemployment claims. So far the state has borrowed almost two billion dollars.

Payments on the loan aren’t due until September, but by then the state will owe 61 million dollars in interest alone.

To pay the money back Florida’s minimum unemployment tax rose from 25 dollars an employee to 72 this year.

Next year it will skyrocket to nearly 200 dollars. The Florida Chamber of Commerce calls the increase a jobs killer.

“Hopefully, from our prospective, we can work with the legislature to find a way to alleviate the impact of the tax increase and spread it out over time so businesses can continue to try and hire workers,” said Adam Babington, a spokesman with the Chamber.

Governor Rick Scott is looking for a way to ease the burden on businesses.

“We have to really look at it carefully and see how much of an impact it will have on job creation. My whole campaign was how do we get the state back to work? So it’s something I’m going to look at to see how can we keep it as low as we can,” said Scott.

The House Economic Affairs Committee is reviewing ways to slow the borrowing. They want to know if people are taking advantage of the system.

“We are all in this together. Pointing fingers at each other is not the solution. We need to come to something that’s equitable for everyone,” said Committee Chair Dorothy Hukill.

The committee is reviewing unemployment records to see if anyone is turning down jobs because they want to keep their unemployment pay. But with Florida’s unemployment benefits among the lowest in the nation; even a minimum wage job would bring in more money.

Governor Rick Scott is open to drilling off Florida’s coast, if someone can convince him it can be done safely. He’s not yet convinced.

Today, former US Senator and Florida Governor Bob Graham delivered a copy of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Report to Scott. Graham co-chaired a committee investigating the issue. After meeting with Graham for 30 minutes Scott told reporters he and the former governor see eye-to-eye on offshore drilling.

“Neither of us wants any drilling unless we are comfortable it’s going to be safe. We can’t afford the environmental damage or the economic damage to our state. So what I’ve said all along and I think Governor Graham also believes is, we’ve got to be very cautious,” said Scott.

Florida suffered the most financially from last April’s spill than any other Gulf state hit by the oil.

Support for a private investment deal to connect Tampa to Orlando with high speed rail is growing.

Florida’s Public Interest Research Group, also known as PIRG, is supporting efforts by the state to find investors willing to pump 280 million dollars into the construction of the rail. PIRG’s Transit Issues Associate Patrick Gittard says the private sector showing interest in high speed rail, means there’s a good chance Floridians may soon have more travel options.

“It is a great investment. I know a lot of the more Libertarian, free market people are saying if this is such a great investment why aren’t the private companies getting involved. And now we are seeing that they are getting involved and they see that this is a great investment as well,” said Gittard.

One of PIRG’s main reasons for supporting the project is the price of gas. Prices are expected to reach five dollars a gallon over the next two years. PIRG believes more alternative forms of transportation could ease the pain at the pump.

Plans to build a high speed rail system to connect Tampa to Orlando are speeding ahead.

Governor Rick Scott is courting foreign companies to pick up the funding obligation assigned to the state. As Whitney Ray tells us, if the state can’t come up with the 280 million dollars by the end of September, Florida could lose 2.4 billion federal dollars for rail.

Florida could move faster on construction of a high speed rail system than any other state in the union. The environmental impact studies are complete. The right-of-way secured.

2.4 billion Federal stimulus dollar have been set aside for the project, but only if Florida puts up the final 280 million dollars.

Governor Rick Scott is searching the globe to find investors willing to front the money. The Japanese are onboard.

“I sincerely hope the state of Florida will adopt the Japanese system and build a train on high speed rail,” said Japanese Translator Ren Ito.

There’s also interest from Europe.

“I met with the Consuls General of the European Union,” said Governor Scott.

The original plan was to take the 280 million from the state budget, but with new leaders in the conductors seat, the state’s on a new track.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos says if the private sector isn’t onboard, then the state sure shouldn’t take the risk on rail.

“I think that 90 percent being paid for by Washington D.C. should be more than commercially viable, not only for the short term, but also in the operation and maintenance relm,” said Haridopolos.

But the clock is ticking to find investors. If the state doesn’t come up with the cash before the end of September, the money will be given to another state. Associated Industries of Florida doesn’t think that will happen.

“We believe that these companies will step forward and pick up the entire cost and the liability to the state will essentially be nil,” said AIF President Barney Bishop.

The high speed rail project connecting Tampa to Orlando will create 4-thousand construction jobs over four years and an additional 1-thousand permanent positions. If the Tampa – Orlando connection is built, the plan is to review building a connection from Orlando to Miami.

Governor Rick Scott will have to win over the legislature to get a key part of his jobs plan in place.

Scott wants to cut the corporate income tax by three percent this year to attract new businesses to Florida. The cut would take more than 800 million dollars out of the state budget. He also wants to lower property taxes by 19 percent, at a cost of 1.4 billion dollars. State lawmakers are already facing a 3.5 billion dollar shortfall without the tax cuts. With the cuts it would swell to 5.7 billion. Senate President Mike Haridopolos says it would be almost impossible to balance the budget and give tax cuts this year.

“Any tax cut proposal would have to be met with equal spending cuts to make it viable. I would love to cut taxes. Nothing would make me happier, but unlike in Washington D.C. you have to have a balanced budget,” said Haridopolos.

And it’s up to lawmakers, not the governor to balance the budget. Scott will release his budget recommendations on February 4th. Lawmakers will consider it when building the real budget.

Governor Rick Scott is releasing more than 70 transportation contracts one day after Democrats complained his freeze on large contracts was slowing job creation.

The contracts are worth 90 million dollars. Scott wanted to make sure the money was being spent wisely. He still has other contracts under the microscope.

“We are reviewing the contracts of over a million dollars. We have released contracts through the Department of Transportation, but we are going to continue to look how the money is spent. Part of my job is to make sure we watch how, your money, it’s taxpayers’ money. My job, is I’m going to watch out how it’s spent,” said Scott.

Scott ordered the freeze on his first day in office. It’s scheduled to last 80 more days.