Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannOctober 10, 2016

Beth Kidder is Florida’s new interim deputy secretary for Medicaid, overseeing the state’s nearly $26 billion state program that pays health costs for the poor. Christine Sexton of POLITICO Florida reports the announcement was made Oct. 6 in an email to Agency for Health Care Administration employees. In the current year budget, Sexton writes, the […]

Phil AmmannOctober 10, 2016

Two Florida daily newspapers opposing the legalization of medical marijuana in 2014 have made an about-face, and are now supporting a “yes” vote on Amendment 2. This week, United for Care, the organization behind Amendment 2, announced the editorial boards of the Florida Times-Union and Ft. Myers News-Press each have penned op-eds in favor of the […]

Phil AmmannOctober 9, 2016

hurricane-matthew-power-outages-where-out-florida-hurricanes-aftermath.jpg

Hurricane Matthew swept up the Atlantic Coast this week, leaving widespread flooding, several deaths and more than a million people without power. For his demeanor and handling of emergency preparation, response and evacuations ahead of the historic storm, many are praising Gov. Rick Scott, including the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA), which represents 34 public […]

Phil AmmannOctober 8, 2016

A new video released in Florida links Marco Rubio to the furor surrounding Donald Trump’s recently uncovered video with him making vulgar comments about a married woman he wanted to seduce. The 30-second spot, produced by the progressive group MoveOn.org PAC, blasts Rubio for his continued support of Trump after 16 months of the Republican […]

Phil AmmannOctober 8, 2016

A newly released videotape showing Donald Trump making crude comments about a married woman he tried to seduce is sending shock waves throughout Florida politics. “I’ve said some foolish things,” the Republican presidential nominee said overnight Friday in a taped apology posted on Facebook. “But there’s a big difference between the words and actions of […]

Phil AmmannOctober 8, 2016

Former Gov. Jeb Bush joined scores of Americans outraged by vulgar comments made by GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump in a 2005 video uncovered this week by The Washington Post. “As the grandfather of two precious girls, I find that no apology can excuse away Donald Trump’s reprehensible comments degrading women,” the once-presidential candidate tweeted […]

Phil AmmannOctober 7, 2016

Florida power companies are prepared for Hurricane Matthew, which is already causing significant power outages throughout the state. But the storm, a Category 3 as of this writing, also represents a test — whether North Florida’s energy infrastructure can handle powerful winds and the resulting storm surge flooding. While utilities throughout the Southeastern U.S. have […]

Phil AmmannOctober 4, 2016

As Nov. 8 quickly approaches, Chris Latvala is holding what his campaign says will be the last fundraiser of this election cycle for Pinellas County’s House District 67. The Clearwater Republican, who faces Democrat David Vogel, hosts the event Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Island Way Grill, 20 Island Way in Clearwater. Latvala, a first-term […]

Phil AmmannOctober 3, 2016

Five months after purchasing rival Tampa Tribune, the Tampa Bay Times will be eliminating more jobs in the upcoming budget year, in an effort to bring the newspaper to the same staffing levels as 2015. Benjamin Mullen of Poynter.org reports that Paul Tash, Times Publishing Company chair and CEO, announced the cutbacks in a memo […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 29, 2016

National Democrats are boosting former Gov. Charlie Crist with another $462,000 of TV advertising in the race against incumbent Republican David Jolly for Florida’s 13th Congressional District. The extra cash — coming from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — could result in a “lopsided air war in the Tampa Bay area,” writes Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida, […]

Phil Ammann
Image via AP.

Personnel Note: Beth Kidder named interim deputy secretary for Medicaid

2 Florida papers do an about-face on Amendment 2, call for yes on medical pot

Public utilities praise Rick Scott for ‘coordination and cooperation’ during Matthew

New digital ad attacks Marco Rubio for backing Donald Trump, even after #TrumpTapes

Democrats throughout Florida call on GOP opponents to denounce #TrumpTapes vulgar comments

Jeb Bush: ‘No apology can excuse’ Donald Trump’s vulgar comments

Hurricane Matthew represents a major test for Florida utilities

HD 67 incumbent Chris Latvala hosts final fundraiser of 2016 campaign on Oct. 12

Five months after buying Tampa Trib, Tampa Bay Times announces more layoffs

DCCC pushes total Charlie Crist ad buy to $2M, sending mixed signals in CD 13