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

Joe HendersonAugust 24, 2017

If Mark James Asay is executed tonight, that will be the first time the state of Florida has used capital punishment on a white man for killing a black person. It’s a grim reality that’s worth noting, and I would respectfully disagree with Mark Elliott, executive director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. […]

Joe HendersonAugust 22, 2017

The argument made by supporters of Confederate monuments is based on the premise that the statues and markers preserve southern heritage. I have heard that point repeated often by those folks and so have you. So, in the interest of moving the discussion forward, I ask a simple question: What is so great about the […]

Joe HendersonAugust 21, 2017

The buffet restaurant owned by my friends Ralph and Nancy Lupton in Temple Terrace was as stuffed Monday morning as one of my plates when I go through the chow line there. Don’t tell my doctor about the times I piled it high with fried chicken, bacon, sausage gravy and all those other things that […]

Joe HendersonAugust 16, 2017

Republican state Sen. Tom Lee of Thonotosassa doesn’t give up easily. He has filed two bills that for the 2018 session that are essentially repeats of proposals that didn’t pass this year. If enacted, SB 150 would eliminate the state requirement that would require motorists to carry $10,000 in personal injury protection. The 131-page measure […]

Joe HendersonAugust 14, 2017

Sometimes you just have to get away, and for the last month or so I tried to do just that. I really did. I went to the U.S. Virgin Islands to watch my oldest son get married, and I highly recommend the island of St. John to anyone considering a Caribbean trip. It’s the place […]

Joe HendersonJuly 3, 2017

Kellyanne Conway, as she has a way of doing, said something Friday on “Good Morning America” that was over-the-top baloney to, well, everyone – including supporters of President Donald Trump. If they don’t realize that, they should. Asked about the escalating war between the president and the media, Conway defended her boss by saying, and […]

Joe HendersonJune 29, 2017

The four Hillsborough County commissioners who voted to keep a Confederate monument on public grounds may have thought/hoped the issue was behind them. If so, they are mistaken. That much was clear from Tuesday’s rally in downtown Tampa by a coalition of leaders, clergy and people who are just plain fed up with the divide […]

Joe HendersonJune 28, 2017

If you have many hours to spend on a project where the only sure thing is that you will have a headache at the end, the full text of the U.S. Senate Republican health care proposal is available online. I tried reading it all. I really did. I made it about 20 pages before I […]

Joe HendersonJune 27, 2017

Losing an election can be liberating. At least it seems to be that way for David Jolly. The former Republican congressman from St. Petersburg always had an independent streak, but he has gone full-blown solo since losing his seat last November to Charlie Crist in CD 13. He takes every opportunity on Twitter to bash […]

Joe HendersonJune 26, 2017

State Sen. Jack Latvala of Clearwater keeps saying he’ll decide in a few weeks whether he is running for the Republican nomination for Governor, but he sounds like a candidate right now. He is making himself available for interviews (always a good sign) and speaking engagements around the state. More importantly, he actually is saying […]

Joe Henderson
Florida's crackdown on Asian ownership is having an impact on Jacksonville ports.

Joe Henderson: Impending execution raises old questions on death penalty

Joe Henderson: What kind of ‘heritage’ are Civil War monument supporters celebrating?

Joe Henderson: Adam Putnam knows what his audience wants and serves it up well

Tom Lee reintroduces two insurance-related bills for 2018 Session

Joe Henderson: We’re heading for a defining showdown in the battle against hatred

Joe Henderson: There is more to being patriotic than wrapping yourself in the flag

Joe Henderson: Hillsborough Confederate monument controversy isn’t going away

Joe Henderson: Lawmakers may write health care bill, but the people always have final say

Joe Henderson: In losing his seat, David Jolly found his voice. Republicans better listen.

Joe Henderson: Jack Latvala sounds like a candidate for Governor, even though he hasn’t announced