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

Guest AuthorOctober 18, 2017

As the voice of Florida’s hospitality industry, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association has long championed a uniform, statewide system of compliance for all commercial lodging establishments. As they compete for tourism business, all FRLA lodging members must register with the State, collect taxes, and protect Florida consumers through adequate insurance — rules that prevent […]

Guest AuthorOctober 17, 2017

As Congress prepares to cut taxes, our nation’s job creators have high hopes for the economy. The Republican tax plan cuts the federal small business tax rate from nearly 40 percent to a much fairer 25 percent. Under the current tax code, the overwhelming majority of small businesses (95 percent) are considered “pass-through” entities, which […]

Guest AuthorOctober 17, 2017

Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) currently has before it a proposal called Marsy’s Law for Florida, which seeks to provide victims of crime and their families with constitutional protections equal to those afforded to the accused and convicted. As a former judge, I support this measure. Our justice system is one of the best there […]

Guest AuthorOctober 14, 2017

For the moment, U.S. President Donald Trump is going it alone. After weeks of seeing his agenda imperiled by Republican divisions and infighting among his aides, Trump has been a whirl of activity this week, reasserting his campaign priorities and trying to deliver wins for his fervent but frustrated base of supporters. Trump took steps […]

Guest AuthorOctober 12, 2017

The opioid epidemic in Florida is wreaking havoc on individuals, families and communities. The negative consequences of this crisis can be seen across our state — in the health of our people, our schools, our businesses, our hospitals, our streets, our jails. Our state legislature has an opportunity right now to enhance its response to […]

Guest AuthorOctober 11, 2017

In the wake of this year’s hurricane season, many Floridians face an unexpectedly challenging holiday season. No one public policy can fix the physical and emotional toll of the last few weeks. But with a few long-overdue improvements to America’s unfair tax code, Congress can ensure that small businesses give Americans more bounteous returns on […]

Guest AuthorOctober 11, 2017

In an effort to stifle competition from short-term rentals and maintain their ability to price gouge consumers during compression periods, the hotel lobby is pressuring government officials in states like Florida to implement regulations that would severely restrict or ban homeowners from welcoming visitors into their private residence. A recent piece penned by the hotel […]

Guest AuthorOctober 11, 2017

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are facing troubling challenges due to a recent 2015 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision. The decision, which muddies the water regarding who is an employer, dismantles the way small businesses work with one another and prevents entrepreneurs of all trades from following their dreams. The NLRB’s decision in the Browning-Ferris […]

Guest AuthorOctober 9, 2017

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I always thought journalists were trained to avoid reaching a broad conclusion from just one specific example, no matter how shocking it may be. Yet in his guest commentary in Wednesday’s Tallahassee Democrat, opinion columnist Carl Hiaasen unfairly slammed Florida’s entire long-term care profession based on the shameful and inexcusable actions of a single nursing […]

Guest AuthorOctober 9, 2017

On behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), I am honored to go before the Senate Community Affairs Committee tomorrow to discuss short-term rentals — an important topic of concern in recent years given the emergence of online rental platforms. While these platforms provide people with a new method to access and advertise short-term rentals, there have also been many unintended side effects. Alarmingly, these platforms are being exploited by commercial operators who run illegal hotels without […]

Guest Author

Carol Dover: Protect Florida tourists, neighborhoods by stopping illegal hotel operators

Aubrey Shines: Florida’s minority businesses need tax cuts most

Frank Shepherd: Marsy’s Law brings equity to victims’ and criminals’ rights

In a sudden flurry, Trump looks to deliver for his voters

Melissa Larkin-Skinner: State resources are needed to address the opioid epidemic

Mike Valdes-Fauli: Pass small business tax cuts now

Matt Kiessling: Florida needs commonsense short-term rental policies

Bill Herrle: Joint employer standard stifles entrepreneurship

John Simmons: Florida’s nursing centers – setting the record straight on quality care

Troy Flanagan: Florida lawmakers must protect tourism by addressing illegal rentals