Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannMarch 27, 2017

Joe Negron recently visited Pahokee High School for a town hall meeting to discuss his plans for taking farmland in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). During the meeting, the Senate President said he is in discussion with “many owners of land south of the lake” in the effort to acquire 153,000 acres of productive land to […]

Phil AmmannMarch 24, 2017

The nation’s largest association of physicians is the latest group to come out against a bill at the center of Florida’s so-called “Eyeball Wars” between ophthalmologists and optometrists. On Thursday, American Medical Association President and CEO James Madara sent a letter to House Health & Human Services Committee chair Travis Cummings, in which he called […]

Phil AmmannMarch 23, 2017

Florida’s “Eyeball Wars” between ophthalmologists and optometrists could soon be spilling onto the House floor. On Monday, Speaker Richard Corcoran removed HB 1037 — a controversial bill to allow optometrists to perform surgery, among other things — off the agenda of the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. A representative for Corcoran told POLITICO Florida that […]

Phil AmmannMarch 15, 2017

Optometrists enjoyed a narrow victory Wednesday in Florida’s renewed Eyeball Wars when a House committee advanced a bill to allow optometrists to perform certain types of eye surgery. After a two-hour hearing, the House Health Quality Subcommittee approved HB 1037, sponsored by Rep. Manny Diaz and opposed by both the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and […]

Phil AmmannMarch 14, 2017

The University of Florida would get about $2.5 million to study the effectiveness of medical marijuana under a bill that cleared the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday. HB 3159 by Cape Coral Republican Rep. Dane Eagle is aimed at the compassionate use bill lawmakers approved in 2014, which legalized low-THC, high-cannabidiol marijuana for the […]

Phil AmmannMarch 14, 2017

Joe Ayoub will again serve as Safety Harbor mayor, after decisively defeating City Council member Janet Hooper by more than 30 points in Tuesday’s municipal elections. He will replace Mayor Andy Steingold, who had retired from local politics. “We have a special city and I absolutely love serving our community,” Ayoub said. “it is humbling […]

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2017

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer will be back in Florida later this month as special guest at a fundraiser for St. Petersburg Democrat Charlie Crist. Hosted by Kathy and Joe Saunders, JoAnn and John Nestor, Janette and Tom Carey and Watson Haynes, the reception will be Friday, March 24, at the Saunders’ St. Petersburg home […]

Phil AmmannMarch 9, 2017

A top Florida House Republican says that state universities are spending way too much money inappropriately and that they don’t need more help from taxpayers. State Rep. Carlos Trujillo also suggested Wednesday that legislators may need to look at how much university presidents are paid, as well as even how much football and basketball coaches […]

Phil AmmannMarch 8, 2017

A House subcommittee unanimously passed a bill to help service members and spouses find and keep jobs when they relocate to Florida. HB 615, known as Occupational Opportunity Act, sailed through the Florida Careers & Competition Subcommittee Tuesday with a bipartisan vote. Next stop for the bill is the full Commerce Committee. Palm Beach Republican Paul […]

Phil AmmannMarch 6, 2017

In a sudden announcement, longtime WTSP investigative reporter Mike Deeson says he is retiring from the Tampa airwaves, effective immediately. “I know this will come as a surprise to many of my friends in Tampa Bay,” Deeson says in a Facebook post published Monday, “but I have decided to retire from Channel 10 effective today.” Deeson, […]

Phil Ammann

Glades landowners double down on Joe Negron to reveal his ‘willing sellers’

American Medical Association sides against optometrists in Florida Eyeball Wars

Speaker moves Eyeball Wars closer to House floor; docs say optometrist testimony ‘patently false’

Ophthalmologists ‘disheartened’ by House advancing bill for optometrists to practice surgery

House bill advances to give University of Florida $2.5M for medical marijuana study

Joe Ayoub wins solid victory to return as Safety Harbor mayor

Minority Whip Steny Hoyer returns to Florida for Charlie Crist fundraiser March 24

Florida House faults universities over salaries and spending

House committee passes military Occupational Opportunity Act

After nearly 50 years in news, Mike Deeson announces retirement