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

Jac VerSteegMay 25, 2015

The Obama administration needs to learn to take advice from Keanu Reeves. In the movie “Speed,” Reeves’s character Jack Travern and Harry Temple, played by Jeff Daniels, are SWAT team members discussing a hypothetical hostage situation. Says Temple: “All right, pop quiz. Airport. Gunman with one hostage. He’s using her for cover. He’s almost to […]

Jac VerSteegMay 25, 2015

The Obama administration needs to learn to take advice from Keanu Reeves. In the movie “Speed,” Reeves’s character Jack Travern and Harry Temple, played by Jeff Daniels, are SWAT team members discussing a hypothetical hostage situation. Says Temple: “All right, pop quiz. Airport. Gunman with one hostage. He’s using her for cover. He’s almost to […]

Jac VerSteegMay 20, 2015

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An underlying purpose of public education reform is providing a clear-eyed view of student achievement. The system will not cringe from telling students when they need to do better. The system will not cringe from telling parents their kids need to do better. The system will not cringe from telling teachers they need to teach […]

Jac VerSteegMay 20, 2015

An underlying purpose of public education reform is providing a clear-eyed view of student achievement. The system will not cringe from telling students when they need to do better. The system will not cringe from telling parents their kids need to do better. The system will not cringe from telling teachers they need to teach […]

Jac VerSteegMay 18, 2015

Jeb Bush’s many missteps last week on Iraq got me thinking about Billy Carter. Those of us around for the Jimmy Carter presidency remember Billy. He was the “colorful” one. Or, if you were being less polite, the “dumb” one. You could tell that Jimmy loved his brother. But you also could tell that Jimmy […]

Jac VerSteegMay 18, 2015

Jeb Bush’s many missteps last week on Iraq got me thinking about Billy Carter. Those of us around for the Jimmy Carter presidency remember Billy. He was the “colorful” one. Or, if you were being less polite, the “dumb” one. You could tell that Jimmy loved his brother. But you also could tell that Jimmy […]

Jac VerSteegMay 4, 2015

Politicians who disagree with Supreme Court rulings frequently point out that the justices are “unelected.” That’s true on both the federal and state levels. Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli echoed that disdain with comments after a majority of Florida Supreme Court justices agreed with an opinion written by Justice Barbara Pariente, who wrote that the […]

Jac VerSteegMay 4, 2015

Politicians who disagree with Supreme Court rulings frequently point out that the justices are “unelected.” That’s true on both the federal and state levels. Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli echoed that disdain with comments after a majority of Florida Supreme Court justices agreed with an opinion written by Justice Barbara Pariente, who wrote that the […]

Jac VerSteegApril 15, 2015

The Florida Legislature has passed, and Gov. Rick Scott has signed, an education reform bill that is dishonest – and politically cowardly – at its core. The measure tries to appease parents and others sick of over-testing. It scales back the number of tests. That’s fine. It also reduces the weight given to tests when […]

Jac VerSteegMarch 31, 2015

Just a quick word about the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s decision to investigate whether Context Florida columnist Daniel Tilson is a threat to Florida Gov. Rick Scott. The FDLE sent an agent to Tilson’s home after he wrote a column about Gov. Scott’s gimmicky tax-cut booth and promoted his work on Facebook with a […]

Jac VerSteeg
Rodney Guttman, image via University of West Florida.

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Sometimes in politics, you have to shoot the hostage

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Sometimes in politics you have to shoot the hostage

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: State’s 30 percent decision on math tests is 100 percent bad

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: State's 30 percent decision on math tests is 100 percent bad

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Between Jeb Bush and George W. Bush, which one is Billy?

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Between Jeb Bush and George W. Bush, which one is Billy?

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: “Unelected” high court chides House for unelecting itself

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Unelected Supreme Court chastises House members for unelecting themselves

Jac VerSteeg: Fewer tests in school-grade formula is like less spit in milk

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: FDLE erred on the side of incompetence