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

Joe HendersonMay 30, 2017

There are important things going on in the state today; I probably should pay more attention to them. Will Gov. Rick Scott wield his veto pen? The nation’s policy on Cuba is attracting attention; 55 U.S. senators signed a letter urging travel restrictions on visits to that island nation be lifted. That stuff, and more, […]

Joe HendersonMay 25, 2017

Um, Sally Boynton Brown? If you’re trying to explain why Democratic voters didn’t turn out in sufficient numbers last November to deliver Florida to Hillary Clinton, I suggest a different approach than saying basically “they don’t get it.” That’s not a direct quote from the newly hired executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, but […]

Joe HendersonMay 24, 2017

It wasn’t luck that Tampa was selected Tuesday to host its fifth Super Bowl. When the National Football League learned the new stadium being built in Los Angeles won’t be ready in time for the game in 2021, it had to find a city not only ready to step in on short notice, but one […]

Joe HendersonMay 23, 2017

Transportation issues in the Tampa Bay area have been well-documented and they will get worse before they get better — assuming, of course, “better” ever comes. The Florida Department of Transportation wanted to attack the problem with a plan called Tampa Bay Express, or TBX. I’ll simplify: It called for building more roads, including 90 […]

Joe HendersonMay 22, 2017

I am not a fan of term limits. I understand the argument from those who say we need a law that limits the power of incumbency. They say the longer a politician stays in office, the more likely they are to accumulate so much recognition and money that it becomes almost impossible to beat them. […]

Joe HendersonMay 16, 2017

Take your seats, folks. This is going to be good. We are about to find out who is the boss in Florida. If Gov. Rick Scott wants to remind everyone in the Legislature who has the most stripes on their shoulder, then he has to follow through on his threat to start vetoing major — […]

Joe HendersonMay 15, 2017

Well, I guess that is settled. House Speaker Richard Corcoran has emphatically ruled out running for the U.S. Senate, and I admit I’m a little disappointed. The thought of a bare-knuckle campaign between him and Gov. Rick Scott for the Republican nomination would have been immensely entertaining. Not gonna happen. “Those are the only two […]

Joe HendersonMay 11, 2017

As students at Bethune-Cookman University turned their backs and lustily booed commencement speaker Betsy DeVos, the rattled education secretary pleaded, “Let’s choose to hear each other out.” It’s ironic that DeVos chose those words to find middle ground, considering Republicans across the land, and particularly in the Washington establishment she now represents, have demonstrated no […]

Joe HendersonMay 10, 2017

For as much as Gov. Rick Scott loves to deride what he calls “career politicians” – even those in his own party – those same people have forced him into what looks more and more like an inescapable trap. Does he veto the just-passed $83 billion state budget and force lawmakers to return to Tallahassee […]

Joe HendersonMay 8, 2017

Florida State Senate President Joe Negron continues to insist there was no dark conspiracy to deny pre-eminent status to the University of South Florida. He swears on a stack of legal briefs that state graduation guidelines weren’t changed at the last minute just to make sure USF wouldn’t qualify. As we now know, this is […]

Joe Henderson

Joe Henderson: Frank Deford’s passing deserves a moment of pause and reflection

Joe Henderson: If some Democrats don’t care about ‘issues’ maybe that’s leaders’ fault

Joe Henderson: When NFL suddenly needed a Super host, it knew who to call

Joe Henderson: FDOT’s Tampa Bay transit plan has new name, but really needs new ideas

Joe Henderson: We already term limits. They’re called ‘elections’

Joe Henderson: If Rick Scott stands on principle, then he must use budget veto pen

Joe Henderson: Richard Corcoran in the Governor’s race? Adam Putnam would be hard to catch

Joe Henderson: Betsy DeVos pleaded for students to listen, but shouldn’t she do the same?

Joe Henderson: Rick Scott came to Tally as an outsider, and that’s just how he might leave

Joe Henderson: Bottom line for USF — Close, but no pre-eminence status