Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannApril 23, 2017

Florida’s business rent tax is one of the outstanding issues at play as lawmakers crawl toward sine die of the 2017 Legislative Session, set for May 5. As the only state-sanctioned sales tax on commercial leases in the entire nation, a pair of bills now making way through the Florida Capitol that attempt to lighten […]

Phil AmmannApril 22, 2017

Marco Rubio has ‘no doubt’ state Sen. Frank Artiles‘ did the right thing by resigning from the Florida Legislature Friday in the wake of a racist and sexist outburst against two lawmakers. Elected officials are rightfully “held to a different standard,” Rubio said. “You hold a public trust, you are a representative of those districts, and you are going […]

Phil AmmannApril 21, 2017

Is there a politician in Florida right now on more of a hot streak than Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry? This issue of Bold tells the tale. Curry’s pension reform appears to be on a glide path toward ratification — a major accomplishment. His moves toward downtown revitalization have a major shot in the arm, with […]

Phil AmmannApril 20, 2017

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After awarding more than $16 million in the past decade to consultants without going through competitive bidding, the city of Clearwater had finally corrected a gross misunderstanding of Florida law governing the process. While that may be indeed admirable, another potential problem could be on the horizon, as small print in a recent Request for […]

Phil AmmannApril 19, 2017

Child advocate and state Sen. Lauren Book‘s inspirational story will be featured in Sheryl Sandberg‘s newly launched initiative on themes of resilience through tragedy. On April 19, Book — a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who became an internationally renowned activist — will exhibit an installation decorating the Capitol rotunda, made up of more than 750 […]

Phil AmmannApril 18, 2017

A growing number of medical professionals have joined forces in a wave of disapproval of optometrists in Florida’s “Eyeball Wars,” which is now making way through Tallahassee. HB 1037, which seeks to allow optometrists to perform surgery and prescribe opiates, among other things, now sits on the agenda of the House Health & Human Services […]

Phil AmmannApril 14, 2017

Does Al Lawson ‘get’ Jacksonville? Questions still remain as to whether Congressman Lawson understands Jacksonville, as his visits to the Jacksonville City Council Tuesday, and town hall Wednesday indicate. On Tuesday, one could sense among certain council members (specifically, those representing districts that overlap Lawson’s) a grating irritation over Lawson’s constant use of Eureka Garden […]

Phil AmmannApril 13, 2017

Suncoast Tiger Bay Club often likes to “carve up” politicians for lunch. Next week, they will have one for dinner, too. Congressman Charlie Crist is the special guest for the Club’s “Tiger Bay After Hours” event Thursday, April 20. The St. Petersburg Democrat will appear at a special evening meeting, which begins 6:30 p.m. at […]

Phil AmmannApril 7, 2017

You may notice a running theme with this issue of Bold: much of it deals with crossroads situations (to borrow a phrase from 90s rappers Bone Thugs-N-Harmony). Will the city dredge JAXPORT? Or will years of deliberation and consternation lead — as they so often do — to nothing? Will Corrine Brown beat the rap […]

Phil AmmannApril 1, 2017

The 60 Plus Association, the largest conservative senior advocacy group, is launching the “Taxpayer Revolt Tour,” a series of rallies with local speakers from communities across Florida. To make senior voices heard in both Washington, D.C., and Tallahassee, the tour begins Sunday, April 2, in Sarasota, finishing Wednesday, April 5, in Tallahassee. Other cities include Orlando, […]

Phil Ammann
John Thune, John Barasso and Mike Crapo. Image via AP.

Business rent tax cuts still in play in House, Senate

Marco Rubio: With ‘higher standard’ for lawmakers, Frank Artiles was right to resign

Jacksonville Bold for 4.21.17 — Political capital, boldfaced

Another Clearwater competitive bid error proves devil is truly in details

Lauren Book unveils display on resilience, triumph over sexual abuse in Capitol rotunda

Eyeball Wars rage as dozens of medical groups oppose optometrists, claiming ‘serious threat’ to care

Jacksonville Bold for 4.14.17 — My city was gone

Charlie Crist to be ‘carved up’ at Suncoast Tiger Bay After Hours April 20

Jacksonville Bold for 4.7.17 — See you at the crossroads

60 Plus Association to host Florida ‘Taxpayer Revolt Tour’