Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannMarch 30, 2016

As a Hispanic business owner, I am deeply concerned about the effects of climate change on my family, my community and my business. Many communities are already experiencing the effects of climate change, like poor air quality and extreme weather, firsthand. Our economic prosperity and security in Florida will be in jeopardy if these conditions worsen. It is important for people […]

Phil AmmannMarch 28, 2016

Fear just secured another victory. Under pressure from green activists, the Florida Senate voted down a bill that would have helped expand fracking, the drilling process used to extract oil and natural gas from deep underground. Activists recycled discredited arguments to scare citizens and legislators alike into believing that fracking will harm Florida’s environment. If […]

Phil AmmannMarch 28, 2016

Quorum, the occasional not-too-political happy hour, returns to St. Petersburg Friday, April 15. As one of Tampa Bay’s premier casual networking events, Quorum features candidates, operatives, media and political enthusiasts of all stripes. The get-together will start with 5 p.m. hors d’oeuvres at its customary location: Cassis American Brasserie on Beach Drive. Sponsors of the […]

Phil AmmannMarch 27, 2016

A roundup of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers: Tampa Bay Times — Florida needs better ways to clean polluted water January’s record rains sent the water level in Lake Okeechobee skyrocketing, forcing the Army Corps of Engineers to open the floodgates, sending billions of gallons of dirty water down the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee […]

Phil AmmannMarch 25, 2016

For those celebrating Easter Sunday, one of the great traditions for children (and more than a few adults) is the Easter Egg hunt. As the faithful prepare with friends and family to celebrate a sunrise service or feast, a new email from Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater reminds Floridians of a different kind of “hunt”: […]

Phil AmmannMarch 24, 2016

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott announced 17 appointments to a variety of Florida university boards. Each of the following are subject to Florida Senate approval. Florida International University Board of Trustees Scott began by naming Marc Sarnoff to the Florida International University Board of Trustees. Sarnoff, 55, of Miami, is an attorney with Shutts and […]

Phil AmmannMarch 23, 2016

Prescription drug abuse has affected the lives of teens and young adults in drastic ways. Kids are abusing and even becoming addicted to pills often found in the medicine cabinets at their own homes. Across the country, we are at risk of losing thousands of kids and young adults to drug overdoses from medically prescribed […]

Phil AmmannMarch 22, 2016

Several hospitals filed legal challenges with the Division of Administrative Hearings Tuesday that claim the state overstepped its legal authority in proposing new rules for trauma centers throughout Florida. LobbyTools reports that Broward, UF Health Jacksonville, and the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County – operators of the Jackson Health System – are arguing against the proposed […]

Phil AmmannMarch 21, 2016

In many states, teens are required to get parental permission before they can climb inside an indoor tanning bed. Soon, even parental permission might not be enough. The federal government is poised to let nannyism override parental consent. The Food and Drug Administration recently unveiled new rules for indoor tanning that would ban anyone under […]

Phil AmmannMarch 21, 2016

With a tip of the hat to Legislative IQ powered by LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: District Secretary Erika Flores is the new legislative assistant for Tampa Democratic Rep. Janet Cruz. Off: Carlos Ramos is no longer Cruz’s legislative assistant. On: Christian Schultze is Cruz’s new district secretary. […]

Phil Ammann

Ronald Ambar: Hispanics want leaders who support clean energy

Dennis Freytes: Activists shut down fracking with fear

Quorum — Tampa Bay’s not-too-political happy hour — returns Friday, April 15

A roundup of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers

Email insights: Jeff Atwater offers Floridians different kind of Easter “hunt”

Rick Scott makes 17 appointments to university boards

Marcia Lee Taylor: Legislature passes bill to combat drug overdoses

Hospitals file legal challenges over Health Department rules on trauma centers

Eric Boehm: Proposed tanning ban for children goes too far

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round