Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannMay 25, 2016

Congressional Democrats are beginning to broach the subject of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz stepping down as chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) ahead of the party’s convention in July. The Hill is reporting that several Democrats backing likely presidential nominee Hillary Clinton are concerned the South Florida congresswoman is too divisive a figure, […]

Phil AmmannMay 24, 2016

Caitlin Conant, former communications staffer with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, is joining CBS News as director of communications for the D.C. bureau and the Sunday news show “Face the Nation.” Conant is married to Alex Conant, Rubio’s former senior communications director. She most recently worked with the Rubio presidential campaign directing regional press and surrogate […]

Phil AmmannMay 18, 2016

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Florida officials are calling for a $125,000 study to consider dropping state’s system of no-fault Personal Injury Protection auto insurance. The Department of Financial Services is looking for a vendor to produce the report by June, LobbyTools reports. A draft report would be due Aug. 26, with a final report by Sept. 2. In March […]

Phil AmmannMay 18, 2016

A pair of competing polls shows just how spiteful the Democratic primary has become between Annette Taddeo and Joe Garcia. Taddeo, the former running mate for gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, is facing Garcia for Florida’s 26th Congressional District, currently held by first-term incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo. POLITICO Florida reports on new internal polling […]

Phil AmmannMay 17, 2016

Donald Trump says he plans to win the White House largely on the strength of his personality, not by leaning heavily on complex voter data operations that have become a behind-the-scenes staple in modern presidential campaigns. Shortly after Trump explained his approach in an Associated Press interview — data is “overrated,” he said — one […]

Phil AmmannMay 9, 2016

After five years at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, insurance expert George Feijoo is leaving for a role at government affairs firm Floridian Partners. Feijoo, a Florida State University graduate in Actuarial Science with an MBA, has the designation of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). During his stint at OIR, Feijoo worked at both […]

Phil AmmannMay 9, 2016

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off and on: Maggie Mickler is no longer press secretary for the Senate Majority Leader’s office. She has become director of communications at the Department of Management Services. On: LaQuisha Persak has become the new […]

Phil AmmannMay 8, 2016

A roundup of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers: Tampa Bay Times — Work together to cut arrests for petty crimes The St. Petersburg City Council has wisely decided to pause in its march toward creating a civil citation program that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and other minor offenses. The council members delayed […]

Phil AmmannMay 6, 2016

State Rep. Chris Latvala is proud to announce the start of his House District 67 re-election with a significant endorsement from the Pinellas Realtor Organization. Latvala, son of longtime Republican state Sen. Jack Latvala, is running for his second term representing the people of Clearwater, Largo and Pinellas Park. “Based on your past service and […]

Phil AmmannMay 6, 2016

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott announced three appointments to a pair of state boards dealing with the construction industry. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. Florida Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board Scott began by reappointing Timothy Bolduc and Edwin Valentin to the Florida Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board, which […]

Phil Ammann
Image via Ron Desantis Rumble

Democrats discuss possibility of dropping Debbie Wasserman Schultz as DNC chair

Personnel note: Caitlin Conant to join CBS News, ‘Face the Nation’

Florida to study the possibility of cutting Personal Injury Protection auto insurance requirement

Competing Democratic polls show Joe Garcia leading Annette Taddeo in CD 26

Donald Trump’s questioning of the value of data worries Republicans

Personnel note: Floridian Partners hires OIR insurance expert George Feijoo

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

A roundup of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers

Local Realtors back Chris Latvala in HD 67 re-election campaign

Rick Scott names 3 to Florida construction regulatory boards