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

Joe HendersonOctober 23, 2017

President Donald Trump called U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida’s 24th Congressional District “wacky” in a tweet. He said she is the “gift that keeps on giving for the Republican Party.” He said she is a “disaster” for Democrats. Let’s meet her. She won her seat in 2010, and in 2014 was re-elected to a third term […]

Joe HendersonOctober 19, 2017

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Like most schoolchildren, I was taught as a kid to love America without knowing exactly what that means. Every morning before class started, we would stand as a group, place our right hand over our hearts, and pledge allegiance to the flag. By the way, did you know that according to ushistory.org, the original pledge […]

Joe HendersonOctober 18, 2017

The U.S. Virgin Islands suffered almost unprecedented damage during Hurricane Irma and the recovery has been painstakingly slow. I mention this because while Floridians have rightly focused great political and civic attention on hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico, we can’t forget about the devastation that remains a mere 18-minute plane ride from San Juan on […]

Joe HendersonOctober 17, 2017

Richard Spencer is clean cut, casual but professional, a disarming look for one of the most prominent faces in what is becoming a crowded field of racism in the United States. His scheduled appearance Thursday afternoon the University of Florida prompted Gov. Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency, in case things get out […]

Joe HendersonOctober 16, 2017

Give Gov. Rick Scott credit for making a real effort to address Florida’s opioid crisis. Last month, he proposed spending $50 million to combat opioid abuse. Included was a plan to limit physicians in most cases from prescribing more than three days of powerful and addictive pain-killers like OxyContin and oxycodone to their patients. The latter idea […]

Joe HendersonOctober 12, 2017

State Sen. Dennis Baxley just couldn’t resist. At a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday to investigate the 14 deaths of elderly patients at a Hollywood Hills nursing home, Baxley made the reasonable point that the tragedy was “outrageous.” But then, as Scott Powers reported for Florida Politics, Baxley ventured into what-is-he-talking-about land. “We keep getting new […]

Joe HendersonOctober 11, 2017

Negative campaigning has long been an accepted tactic. As much as people say they hate it, they seem to respond to that message. We saw the truth of that again in Tuesday’s special election for the GOP nomination in House District 58. Mailers that labeled Plant City businesswoman and civic activist Yvonne Fry as a tax-loving liberal […]

Joe HendersonOctober 10, 2017

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One of the media’s highest purposes is to give a voice to the voiceless, like those in the elderly care system. Often that can mean making high-powered people uncomfortable, which brings us to John C. Simmons, president of the Florida Health Care Association. Simmons says it’s unfair for the media to generalize about how nursing homes […]

Joe HendersonOctober 9, 2017

In a different reality, Yvonne Fry would enter Tuesday’s special HD 58 election without concern. Her neighbors in Plant City know her as smart, personable, connected and dedicated. She is one of them, having been born and raised there. In addition to being well-liked and respected, she is a successful businesswoman and making her first […]

Joe HendersonOctober 5, 2017

Don’t politicize tragedy. That’s on page 1 in the standard response manual for how gun rights supporters respond to a mass murder like the one Sunday morning in Las Vegas. That’s where U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell turned when reporters asked if he might consider tougher controls on weapons now that 59 more people were dead. […]

Joe Henderson
No on 4

Joe Henderson: Frederica Wilson’s record not so wacky

Joe Henderson: What’s it really mean to love America?

Joe Henderson: U.S. Virgin Islands still needs our help

Joe Henderson: Richard Spencer at UF is emergency all right

Joe Henderson: Florida joins battle on opioid crisis

Joe Henderson: Dennis Baxley’s misdirection play

Joe Henderson: Negative campaigning works again

Joe Henderson: Giving voice to voiceless in elderly care

Joe Henderson: Yvonne Fry in tough HD 58 fight

Joe Henderson: Politicians shouldn’t politicize tragedy? Oh please