Janelle Irwin Taylor, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 6, 2016

State Rep. Chris Latvala has filed a bill conceived by two Countryside High School students. House Bill 1147 would require the state Commissioner of Education to create a high school elective course for some students to provide lessons in life skills, leadership development, college planning, and a study hall. Under the bill the State Board of Education […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 27, 2015

U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo received an unexpected Christmas gift this year, thanks to one of his daughter’s Christmas presents. Curbelo fell off a hoverboard purchased for his daughter. And, according to his Twitter page, the fall landed him in the hospital and his arm in a sling. “Confirmed — #hoverboard is for kids. My daughter got it. I […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 10, 2015

Bob Buckhorn blocked me on Twitter. Or one of his staffers with access to his social media did. Or he told them to. In any case, I can’t view any of Buckhorn’s tweets. A while back I wrote some fairly antagonistic stories about Tampa’s commander-in-chief. In early June when a 14-year old was gunned down […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 8, 2015

Mayor Rick Kriseman’s tweet Monday night “banning” Donald Trump from St. Pete has drawn national attention. It’s been reported by local news outlets across the state and country and even CNN. The tweet has been “liked” and shared thousands of times. The Tampa Bay Times documented reaction to Kriseman’s anti-Trump tweet as the city’s latest […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 1, 2015

Women in Florida can now register for the state’s first of its kind professional women’s conference. The two-day event aimed at empowering women in various professions features a number of respected professionals and thought leaders, exhibits, networking opportunities, and panel discussions. The conference runs this spring on May 19 and 20. A pre-conference reception is scheduled […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 23, 2015

Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos and City Council member Doreen Hock DiPolito will both serve second terms. The two were re-elected Friday unopposed after qualifying for their races closed. “The one thing that I do not like about elections is having to raise money,” Cretekos said. “I can refund in full all the contributions I received.” […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 16, 2015

Patients who owe money to Bayfront Medical Center may get a nasty surprise. Beginning this year the hospital began suing patients for unpaid medical bills. The downtown St. Petersburg hospital was independently owned until 2013 when it was acquired by the Naples-based Health Management Associates and joined a group of six hospitals rebranded “Bayfront” located […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 10, 2015

State Sen. Jeff Brandes filed a bill Tuesday that would allow spouses of now-deceased veterans moving to Florida from other states to receive the Florida veteran homestead exemption. Currently, those individuals cannot take advantage of the exemption. Senate Bill 804 would change that. “As a combat veteran I have seen firsthand the incredible sacrifice spouses make […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 9, 2015

State Senator Jeff Brandes filed legislation Monday that would put into place a series of protections for students enrolled in private Florida colleges, vocational schools or any other private post-secondary institution. The bill aims to address small private pop-up colleges that notoriously charge high fees on top of a relatively small general tuition leading students […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 9, 2015

A comedy writer for the Huffington Post put out a parody of Ben Carson‘s rap ad, “Freedom.” The spoof is called “Panderdom” and makes fun of the racist nature in which the original ad targets African-American voters where they live in the highest concentrations. Most sane Americans thought the ad released last week to encourage […]

Janelle Irwin Taylor
We can feel it in the air: College football is back! Image via Katalina Enriquez/FreshTake Florida.

Chris Latvala sponsoring bill proposed by local high school students

No Marty McFly: Carlos Curbelo hurts himself in hoverboard accident

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn blocked me on Twitter

St. Pete City Council members react to Rick Kriseman’s Donald Trump “ban”

Florida conference to boost women’s professional stature coming to Tampa

Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos, City Councilmember Doreen Hock DiPolito re-elected unopposed

Bayfront Hospital now suing patients for unpaid bills

Jeff Brandes proposes homestead exemptions to military widows new to Florida

Jeff Brandes files bill aimed at protecting private college students

Ben Carson rap ad prompts parody highlighting racism