Daniel Tilson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonFebruary 19, 2014

Here they go again. A determined cohort of elected officials in our Legislature is trying to turn working and retired people against each other, to better the odds of a dangerous bill becoming destructive law. As reported in The Florida Current, the Senate Community Affairs Committee Tuesday passed a bill by a 5-4 vote that […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 17, 2014

This past weekend old friends Shirley, Jack and Yvonne attended an “open house” at a new adult residential community in their area. Shirley’s recently divorced, unemployed 20-something son Pete tagged along… LOUDSPEAKER: Testing 1 – 2 – is this working? TESTING… PETE: IT’S WORKING, STOP SHOUTING! SHIRLEY: Pete, Shhh! LOUDSPEAKER: So…Welcome to Bonita Boca Verde […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 14, 2014

Sometimes it takes an in-your-face personal experience to remind you how bad a public problem has become. I’m talking about the ever-spreading epidemic of politically motivated, technologically insulated online incivility and awfulness. Now don’t go thinking I’ve gone all soft and squishy about taking the heat that Internet trolls and over-baked critics can cook up. […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 9, 2014

Last week there was yet another example of the enduring, unethical effort by forces in our Florida government to make it harder or impossible for some of us to vote. This time around, college kids are the targets. Students at the University of Florida in Gainesville thought increasing civic engagement at their publicly owned school […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 5, 2014

Gov. Rick Scott last week proposed a 2014-2015 Florida budget, even gave it a catchy name: “It’s Your Money Tax Cut Budget”! Calls to mind one of those infomercial pitchmen, working hard at selling some shiny new gadget guaranteed to make your life better… “Hi everybody, welcome to ‘It’s Your Money Tax Cut Budget’! I’m […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 3, 2014

I knew something was up with worrisome fans of Charlie Crist when my recently visiting mother-in-law, a solid Democrat, expressed both fondness and concern for Florida’s former governor. She put it plain and simple, in the same nutshell as plenty of others like her at Sun City and other such vote-rich condo colonies have been […]

Daniel TilsonJanuary 29, 2014

Millions of middle-class Floridians will have the opportunity this year to prove an important point to comfortably incumbent state legislators. The point? When members of the Florida Senate and House of Representatives distort or hide the truth about their achievements, motives, methods and goals, sufficient numbers of voters will be savvy enough to catch on […]

Daniel TilsonJanuary 28, 2014

I’m not one to cry easily, but I choked up as the sad news of Pete Seeger’s death on Monday mixed with personal, inspirational memories of his remarkable life. Remarkable too, that I’m only one of countless thousands whose lives have been deeply touched and enhanced by his work. For me, it started young. Toddler […]

Daniel TilsonJanuary 23, 2014

Ready for a Hillary Clinton-Jeb Bush 2016 presidential campaign slugfest? Looks to be about a 60-40 bet these days. For quite a while now Jeb has played it close to the vest if not downright coy about his presidential prospects and plans. But recent events are conspiring to flush him out of the weeds of […]

Daniel TilsonJanuary 21, 2014

Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez is a veteran Miami internist, a pulmonary specialist, and a devoted family man with 3-year-old twins, a boy and a girl. But as much as he wants to, he cannot get married. Although he has been in a committed, loving relationship with the same person for almost 18 years, the state […]

Daniel Tilson

Daniel Tilson: Fla. Legislature must stop 2014 attack on public employee pensions

Daniel Tilson: Floridians talking unions – and Tennessee auto plant

Daniel Tilson: Self-restraint too often lacking in political cyberspace

Daniel Tilson: Floridians must unite to fight voter suppression

Daniel Tilson: Rick Scott’s 2014-2015 budget pitch

Daniel Tilson: Crist book tour rewrites Gov. Scott’s ‘earned media’ playbook

Daniel Tilson: Florida Republicans reveal 2014 legislative agenda

Daniel Tilson: The power of Pete Seeger

Daniel Tilson: Here comes Clinton vs. Bush, circa 2016

Daniel Tilson: Marriage equality lawsuit could overturn Florida same-sex marriage ban