Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannApril 8, 2015

The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (EFOF) recognized six Florida lawmakers this week for their efforts helping individuals and families touched by epilepsy. The EFOF “Champions of the Heart” are state Sens. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg, Rene Garcia of Hialeah and Denise Grimsley from Sebring, and Reps. Katie Edwards of Plantation, Matt Gaetz of Shalimar and Matt Hudson from […]

Phil AmmannApril 8, 2015

Jeb Bush hired veteran operative Emily Benavides to help bolster Hispanic outreach in his likely presidential campaign. Benavides joins Right to Rise PAC as communications adviser and spokesperson specializing in Hispanic media. This would then become a senior position in a potential campaign, reports Adrian Carrasquillo for BuzzFeed News. “I’m excited to join Governor Bush’s […]

Phil AmmannApril 8, 2015

Newly announced congressional candidate Annette Taddeo has already raised the ire of the National Republican Congressional Committee, who asks what constitutes “middle class”? In an opening attack email, NRCC spokesman Chris Pack says it certainly isn’t Taddeo. She is challenging first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo in Florida’s 26th Congressional District, which seesawed between the […]

Phil AmmannApril 7, 2015

A Catholic student group and two colleges are the latest organizations to voice support for the fight for statewide discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Winter Park-based Rollins College joins a coalition of 30 major Florida employers, including the University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville, in supporting the Competitive Workforce Act. The […]

Phil AmmannApril 7, 2015

Hillsborough County’s Public Transportation Commission has stepped up the legislative battle in Tallahassee against ridesharing technology firm Uber. HCPTC head Kyle Cockream confirmed on Monday the retention of the high-powered and politically connected firm Capital City Consulting. CCC’s efforts are in addition the PTC’s main representatives, Corcoran & Johnston. The decision to expand the county lobbying team […]

Phil AmmannApril 7, 2015

Florida news flash: Gov. Rick Scott is a double flip-flopper. While that in itself may not be surprising to some, this time it is significant why he reversed course — Medicaid expansion for healthcare to nearly 1 million low-income and uninsured Floridians. Now, like Marie Antoinette, he tells the poor to “eat cake,” in Bill […]

Phil AmmannApril 6, 2015

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson on Monday endorsed her congressional colleague Patrick Murphy for the U.S. Senate in 2016. Wilson, a Miami progressive Democrat, represents Florida’s 24th Congressional District. Earlier in the day, progressive Democrats had asked Rep. Alan Grayson, a grassroots favorite from Orlando, to enter the primary against Murphy. They fear that Murphy, a […]

Phil AmmannApril 6, 2015

If history is any indication, Florida could be the major player in choosing the next president. With among of the largest votes blocs in the Electoral College, Florida is poised to shake up the political map in 2016, according to the folks at Smart Politics. In 44 of 46 elections since 1832, at least one […]

Phil AmmannApril 6, 2015

State Rep. Kristin Jacobs has joined the National Institute for Coastal & Harbor Infrastructure (NICHI) as National Director of Leadership Development. The Coconut Creek Democrat is a former Broward County Mayor and currently represents House District 96, which covers the cities of Coconut Creek and Margate. Jacobs’ water management experience includes a key role in […]

Phil AmmannApril 6, 2015

Few can argue that Jeb Bush has qualities that could appeal to Hispanic voters. Bush speaks fluent Spanish; his wife, Columba, is from Mexico. He spent a couple years in Venezuela, taking in the people and culture. Although Bush was born in Texas, a member of one of America’s leading political families, the former governor […]

Phil Ammann
Florida Politics' Drew Wilson a few pounds heavier and with a bit more hair next to Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell ... (guess who we're rooting for?).

State lawmakers honored as epilepsy “Champions of the Heart”

Jeb Bush adds veteran Hispanic operative Emily Benavides to bolster outreach

Email insights: NRCC places Annette Taddeo squarely in its sights

2 colleges, Catholic law school group join fight for Competitive Workforce Act

Hillsborough PTC antes up, adds more high-powered lobbyists

Bill Day’s latest: Let the poor (and lawmakers) eat Medicaid cake

Frederica Wilson endorses Patrick Murphy for U.S. Senate

History shows Florida could be the big electoral state to flip in 2016

Kristin Jacobs joins NICHI to oversee leadership training on water issues

Jeb Bush claimed “Hispanic” on 2009 voter registration form