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

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2015

Dear legislator: A number of years ago I was playing golf at Solivita, a community near Poinciana on the Polk County side of Osceola County. The area looked strangely familiar, especially the cypress swamps and pine woods between the holes. As I came up one fairway and looked into an oak hammock, I saw the […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2015

Most of us have the capacity to show concern for others, but way too often it’s only when those “others” are a lot like us. It should surprise no one that a mouthy, opinionated woman like me is an avowed feminist. Oh and the LGBT movement is stocked full of gay people. Plus the Republican […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2015

Florida legislators created a prescription drug program in 2009 to monitor controlled substances, which has helped reduce the number of Floridians who suffer from prescription drug addiction. Medications provide great benefit to patients when used correctly and under the guidance of their treating physician. Some opioid drugs, though, are crushed into powder or injected by […]

Guest AuthorMarch 30, 2015

We live in one of the richest nations on earth. Most of us never miss a meal unless we choose to. But, ironically, the nearly 3 million agricultural workers who cultivate and harvest the food that ends up on our tables lack the basic protection they need to keep themselves and their families safe and […]

Guest AuthorMarch 29, 2015

The uncertain future of Medicaid financing has received much attention during the past few weeks of the legislative session. Adding to that uncertainty is an unhealthy dose of speculation and misinformation about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and federal reliability. As chairman of the Florida Senate’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations […]

Guest AuthorMarch 29, 2015

I tend to believe systems self-regulate towards maintaining equilibrium. However, for the first time, I am starting to ponder, “Is America’s current two party system heading towards collapse?” A simple definition of complex systems is a system comprised of many, diverse actors who have interdependent relationships providing feedback and adapting in an ever-changing landscape. We all can agree, […]

Guest AuthorMarch 26, 2015

While attending a college information program with my high school son recently, I heard an admissions officer say something that every Florida legislator ought to hear. “The three most important letters in the college selection process aren’t S-A-T or A-C-T,” the admissions officer observed. “The three most important letters are F-I-T.” The admission officer’s point […]

Guest AuthorMarch 26, 2015

Considering the successes we’ve achieved over the years, it is difficult to imagine that in our lifetime women felt a shame and stigma around breast cancer — one that a small group of women and I vowed to end when I founded Susan G. Komen in 1982. We wanted women to know it was OK […]

Guest AuthorMarch 26, 2015

The uncertain future of Medicaid financing has received much attention during the past few weeks of the Legislative Session. Adding to that uncertainty is an unhealthy dose of speculation and misinformation about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and federal reliability. As chairman of the Florida Senate’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations […]

Guest AuthorMarch 25, 2015

I recently met someone from Bolivia through a mutual friend. She was telling me how different it is in Florida, as no one ever is outside or takes walks. I thought that was an odd statement, given that I see plenty of fellow Floridians outside enjoying our beautiful state. Then I thought: The difference is that […]

Guest Author

Rick Dantzler: Dear legislator, where will Fla. kids learn to hunt and fish?

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Empathy for others who really are 'others'

Sandi Frear: Why abuse-deterring opioids must be a priority this legislative session

Eve Gartner: Let's strengthen protections for those who endure so much to grow our food

Rene Garcia: Setting the record straight on Florida's Medicaid program

Alex Patton: Is America's two-party system heading toward collapse?

William Mattox: Legislature should empower parents to enroll child in school that best fits

Nancy G. Brinker: LGBT people deserve fairness on the job

Rene Garcia: State’s healthcare funding faces critical questions

Alaina Bernard: Orlando culture forming stepping stones for the future