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

Daniel TilsonApril 2, 2015

Political columnists write stories. We’re not supposed to be stories. But as many of you already know, I became a big part of what turned into a big story during the past week or so. It started when I found out Gov. Rick Scott was getting creative about the propaganda strategy used to market his […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 30, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott and Florida House Republicans must love the classic TV series, 24. That’s the one where each episode unfolded as one hour in the same nerve-racking, dangerous day, as the good guys battled against time to thwart terrorist plots. Maybe it’s fondness for suspense that has Scott and GOP House members still stringing […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 30, 2015

Military veteran and longtime Miami police Officer Robert Asencio has announced his 2016 candidacy for Florida State Representative in House District 118. He’s seeking the Democratic nomination and the opportunity to unseat two-time incumbent Rep. Frank Artiles in the general election. Given recent events, plenty of people will applaud the news. That’s because Artiles has become a poster boy for […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 29, 2015

Editor’s note: The following is a first-person account from Context Florida columnist Daniel Tilson. After getting home from shooting video for a client today, I found a business card shoved in my front door. Much to my surprise, it had the name and contact info of an FDLE inspector on it. Remember FDLE, the Florida […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 27, 2015

Editor’s note: The following is a first-person account from Context Florida columnist Daniel Tilson. After getting home from shooting video for a client today, I found a business card shoved in my front door. Much to my surprise, it had the name and contact info of an FDLE inspector on it. Remember FDLE, the Florida […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 25, 2015

Wake the kids, time to celebrate “Cut My Taxes Week” with Rick Scott! Um… “Hip-Hip…Hooray?” Or is that, “Hip-Hip…I broke my damned hip and your crummy little tax cut can’t help, I need health insurance!” The main event features Gov. Scott and special guests (pinch yourself) that include University of Florida mascots Albert and Alberta […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 23, 2015

We’re more than a quarter of the way through the 60-day 2015 legislative session. And our Florida Legislature remains deeply divided about whether to close the health insurance coverage gap that upwards of a million Floridians have fallen into, through no fault of their own. Almost a quarter of them are unemployed workers actively looking […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 19, 2015

Funny thing about the “will of the people” in Florida. Even when expressed via an overwhelming majority “Yes” vote on a constitutional amendment, the Legislature can and does subvert it. That’s what’s happening with the environmental protections and preservations Floridians thought were a done deal after more than 75 percent of voters joined forces to […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 17, 2015

Happy Sunshine Week, Florida, let’s hear it for open government! OK, stop laughing, this is important. The more transparent our state budget formation and lawmaking are, the more likely middle-class Floridians can avoid getting sucker-punched by elected public “servants” sneakily serving only our state’s richest folks and biggest businesses. Unfortunately, that works vice-versa too. Welcome […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 15, 2015

If only marijuana decriminalization were the goal when Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli recently released a “joint agenda.” But no, turns out they were promoting their “5-point Work Plan 2015” for the in-progress legislative session. The new Republican legislative leaders know issues such as health care expansion and environmental protection are […]

Daniel Tilson
Biden in Tampa. Screenshot via PBS.

Daniel Tilson: Reflections on my home visit from Rick Scott's FDLE

Daniel Tilson: Is Florida Legislature’s 2015 healthcare reform drama pre-scripted?

Robert Asencio steps up to challenge Republican Frank Artiles

Daniel Tilson: My surprise visit from FDLE

Columnist Daniel Tilson gets a surprise home visit from FDLE

Daniel Tilson: Gov. Rick Scott's Magical Mystery 'Tax Cut Calculator'

Daniel Tilson: Tell House to end hidden healthcare tax, close coverage gap

Daniel Tilson: Florida Legislature is subverting our will on Amendment 1, water

Daniel Tilson: Celebrate Sunshine Week with a song in your heart, Florida

Daniel Tilson: Legislative leaders' 2015 work plan insults our intelligence