Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bob SparksAugust 28, 2014

A few weeks ago this space looked at 10 Florida counties that will ultimately decide this fall’s election for governor and Cabinet. Former Gov. Charlie Crist is widely expected to dominate the vote totals from these counties, with the only question being by how much. The theory, supported by history, is the candidate that can […]

Guest AuthorAugust 24, 2014

The neon green flyer was stuck into my driver’s side door of my pickup truck. Such material usually meets one fate – the trash can, unless it’s the last Sunday before the start of early voting. The Environmental Caucus of Florida’s list of endorsed candidates: Nan Rich for governor. There was no website listed. There […]

Diane RobertsAugust 21, 2014

When he’s not dodging questions about his trip to the King Ranch, Congressman Steve Southerland is touting a bill to help struggling polluters. See, that socialist Clean Water Act messes with his BFFs at Florida Power and Light, the Florida Farm Bureau, and the Homebuilders Association. Dagnabbit, somebody has to stand up for run-off! Southerland’s […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 18, 2014

The excitement so many Florida families feel at the start of a new school year is increasingly tinged, if not outright singed, by burning controversy and conflict over how best to fund, manage and deliver public school education. Like plenty of parents, I keep concerns about our public schools under my hat, leaving our 8-year-old […]

Guest AuthorAugust 14, 2014

Gov. Rick Scott has waged an unrelenting assault on the women of Florida since he was elected in 2010. In fact, Scott has done so much harm to women that a recent survey by the Florida Planned Parenthood PAC revealed that voters concerned about his attacks can’t decide which of Scott’s actions rate as the worst. […]

Diane RobertsAugust 10, 2014

Swanning around on what he calls the “Let’s Keep Florida Beautiful” tour, Gov. Rick Scott promises a second term of spending large to remedy the state’s collapsing ecosystems, fish kills, and algae-choked waters. He says he’ll throw in $1 billion for Everglades restoration, too. After three-plus years of unapologetically raining, er, untreated waste on the […]

Guest AuthorAugust 5, 2014

Politicians love to lavish tax breaks on potential voters, especially in election years — nowhere more than in Florida. Promoting the state’s Aug. 1-3 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday this year, Gov. Rick Scott boasted that “families will be able to save money on school supplies and other back-to-school items that will set students up for […]

Guest AuthorAugust 4, 2014

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The state is not doing its job to protect consumers from health insurance rate hikes. After passing up billions of dollars from the federal government for the state to expand Medicaid, Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-controlled Legislature callously enacted a new law that, in essence, prevents the state’s insurance commissioner from regulating health insurance […]

Marc YachtAugust 4, 2014

I recently attended the Florida Medical Association annual meeting, where the organization develops policies for the coming year. The legislative agenda is drafted and approved. FMA delegates from the specialty groups and county medical societies will vote on each resolution coming before the House. FMA lobbyists will then bring approved policy to Florida’s legislators and […]

Martin DyckmanJuly 30, 2014

In one of Bill Mauldin’s many memorable World War II “Stars and Stripes” cartoons, two Army officers stand on a cliff overlooking a picturesque French valley as sunlight streams through the clouds. “Beautiful view,” says one to the other. “Is there one for the enlisted men?” That cartoon came to mind the other day as […]

Tag: Gov. Rick Scott

Bob Sparks: After primaries, dynamics of governor’s race remain unchanged

Andrew Skerritt: For a party desperate for a gubernatorial winner, Nan Rich’s progressive credentials might not be enough

Diane Roberts: Southerland and the Clean Water Act: Somebody has to stand up for run-off

Daniel Tilson: Florida’s public schools open under siege

Lillian A. Tamayo: Gov. Rick Scott’s worst attack on women since taking office is … all of them

Diane Roberts: Governor wants voters to believe he’s ‘born-again Green’

Stephen Goldstein: Scam, sham, flimflam: End back-to-school sales-tax holiday

Bill Nelson: Florida GOP to blame for health insurance rate hikes

Marc Yacht: Florida Medical Association supports expansion of Medicaid

Martin Dyckman: King Ranch scandal shows why you need newspapers