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

Guest AuthorApril 9, 2014

In 2013 the U.S. Congress appointed a bipartisan Over-Criminalization Task Force, comprised of 10 congressmen, to scrutinize the 4,500 felonies criminalized by federal law. Reappointed in February to continue its work, the task force is seeking to reform criminal justice policies that make the United States the runaway incarceration leader in the world. Think about […]

Guest AuthorApril 9, 2014

Peyton and Holley Moseley are parents. That simple six-word sentence defines them, and it explains why they are the leading advocates in Florida to legalize Charlotte’s Web, a strain of cannabis that may help hundreds of thousands of children deal with their epileptic seizures. Their daughter, RayAnn, is one of those children who may benefit […]

Guest AuthorApril 9, 2014

In the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting, Florida legislators recently sent Gov. Rick Scott new legislation that will allow a gun owner to fire warning shots during a similar altercation. The Legislature passed a “warning shot” bill and Scott will probably sign it into law. It allows a person without a criminal record to […]

Guest AuthorApril 8, 2014

Florida has always been a very conservative state when it comes to gambling. Voters rejected casino gambling three time (1978, 1986 and 1994). The state aggressively challenged the Seminole Tribe when they opened a high stakes bingo parlor in 1979. Even the state lottery was not approved until 1984. Pursuant to Article X section 7 […]

Guest AuthorApril 8, 2014

I am against bullying. Everyone is. Even bullies are against bullies when they are the ones being bullied. The Florida Department of Education defines bullying as, “Systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2014

Drop this question into any Key West conversation and watch the blood pressure meters soar: What are you paying for wind insurance? Monroe County property owners pay up to four times as much for wind insurance than the rest of Florida. A homeowner in Key West foots an annual bill that on average runs almost […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2014

I know it seems early, but talk about the 2016 presidential election has already begun. Prognosticators and pundits are opining about who should run, why they should run or why they shouldn’t run. The speculation is inevitable in this age of social media and blogging. The conversation on the Republican side has turned to urging […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2014

I’m not a germaphobe by any means, but I love cleanliness. When I clean, I really clean, and I usually won’t stop until the mixed smells of my various cleaning products permeate my house. I will fill countless bags of giveaway items to be taken to Goodwill. I would describe myself as the opposite of […]

Guest AuthorApril 6, 2014

The Nation’s Report Card, published by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, looks at the performance of 4th and 8th grade students across the U.S. It is the only assessment that allows real comparisons of Florida students to those in other states. It’s a big report. It has a multi-tabbed website full of data and […]

Guest AuthorApril 6, 2014

The big question in the 2016 presidential sweepstakes is: Will Jeb run? The answer remains unknown, perhaps even to Jeb Bush and his wife Columba. It is not an easy decision. One night over dinner in Houston some dozen years ago, President George H. W. Bush told me about the soul- searching process his older […]

Guest Author
The duo behind the classic zombie flick are teaming up again — and early reviews are looking good.

Dan McCarthy: Florida needs to take a fresh look at crime and punishment

Rick Outzen: Loving parents advocate for legalization of Charlotte’s Web

Steve Kurlander: Time to eliminate, not expand ‘stand your ground’ defense

Jeff Kottkamp: Legislature should be wary of turning dog tracks into mini-casinos

Jamie Miller: Do we need to legislate bullying?

Linda Cunningham: Trying to curb the soaring cost of wind insurance

Ed Moore: America is setting the performance bar far too low

Erin O’Flaherty: Hit the ‘reset’ button and get back to the basics

Peter Schorsch: Reports shows that Fla. students are performing well

John Grant: Why Jeb Bush is the best bet for Republicans in 2016