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

Joe HendersonJanuary 25, 2018

Labor unions exist for a basic reason. Workers in some (not all) professions have learned the hard way not to trust their corporate bosses to do the right thing. Often, they need the leverage a union gives to achieve a living wage, decent working conditions, health care, and, if necessary, severance benefits. So, I don’t […]

Joe HendersonJanuary 24, 2018

The ritual of spring forward, fall back has always seemed stupid to me. Just settle on a single time schedule and stick with it — daylight saving, Eastern Standard, whatever. The bouncing back and forth every few months is a pain in the neck, not to mention disorienting. You have to change all the clocks […]

Joe HendersonJanuary 23, 2018

It is a popular story line to excoriate Senate Democrats, including Florida’s Bill Nelson, for caving in to Mitch McConnell and Republicans to end the government shutdown. Those angered by the compromise that ended the stalemate for at least three weeks say Republicans can’t be trusted to find a fair solution for so-called Dreamers – […]

Joe HendersonJanuary 22, 2018

Choosing a side to root for in the now-perpetual dysfunction in Washington is a fool’s errand, unless you count the workers and military impacted by this latest government shutdown. I’m pulling for them. Leaders say they’re trying to find a solution to get everyone back to work and it looks like a short-term fix is […]

Joe HendersonJanuary 19, 2018

The controversial proposal in the Legislature to combine the three campuses of the University of South Florida has drawn the ire of U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist of St. Petersburg. In a letter to Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Crist said he is “deeply concerned” over the bill offered by state Rep. Chris Sprowls, a […]

Joe HendersonJanuary 17, 2018

Boom! That sound you heard emanating from the western side of the Tampa Bay area wasn’t a sonic blast, or the exhaust fumes from an unidentified flying object. But if you’re still searching for answers to why your windows rattled this morning, check out the University of South Florida St. Petersburg – or, as that […]

Joe HendersonDecember 30, 2017

Richard Corcoran apologized as he slid into his seat on the outdoor patio at The Capital Grille, an upscale eatery at Tampa’s swank International Mall. He was running a little late and battling a head cold. Corcoran passed on his usual glass of red wine. Instead, he opted for chilled Fiji bottled water. Our waiter […]

Joe HendersonDecember 5, 2017

Miscreant behavior isn’t the exclusive property of either major political party. It’s an equal opportunity career-killer, as former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown of Jacksonville learned Monday. She was sentenced to five years in federal prison for deeds that U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan called “especially shameless.” Shameless? Yeah, that about sums it up. It happens […]

Joe HendersonDecember 4, 2017

My eyebrows arched a bit when reading the Saint Leo University poll that showed Rick Scott with a 10-point lead over incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson in next year’s election for the U.S. Senate. That’s not because I believe for a second that Scott will win by 10 points. As Democratic strategist Steve Schale tweeted, the […]

Joe HendersonNovember 30, 2017

While the debate continues in Washington about tax cuts, it’s worth a trip in the Way Back Machine to revisit how U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio felt about the national debt. To set the scene, Republicans and President Trump are pushing a tax cut plan that will add to the nearly $20 trillion deficit. Outgoing Federal Reserve […]

Joe Henderson

Joe Henderson: Labor unions should be wary of HB 25

Joe Henderson: Save us from spring forward, fall back

Joe Henderson: Bill Nelson’s vote wasn’t surrender on DACA

Joe Henderson: Lots of blame in Washington shutdown game

Charlie Crist ‘deeply concerned’ about USF unification bill

Joe Henderson: Legislature move on USF could leave St. Pete rattled

Richard Corcoran: 2017 Florida Politician of the Year

Joe Henderson: Corrine Brown finds rules apply to her too

Joe Henderson: Rick Scott poll numbers should concern Dems

Joe Henderson: Tax plan forces Marco Rubio’s hand on national debt