Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannMarch 20, 2016

A roundup of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers: Tampa Bay Times — Firm but flexible rules for painkillers The federal government issued largely sensible guidelines last week for prescribing pain medication that are designed to prevent opioid overdoses and abuse. There is clearly a need for a national standard to help doctors better manage […]

Phil AmmannMarch 17, 2016

What is more appealing for Democrats like me? Donald Trump as the Republican nominee, or a fractured convention that produces a nominee who received no Republican primary votes, like Paul Ryan? Honestly, both sound pretty good and likely to culminate in a Hillary Clinton presidency. But it’s not up to Democrats like me, and the […]

Phil AmmannMarch 17, 2016

A group of state senators in Kansas hope to undo by legislative fiat that which our Founding Fathers literally crafted by the sweat of their brow in the Philadelphia summer of 1787 — an independent judiciary. Last week, the Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee recommended to the full Senate that Senate Bill 439 be passed. Entitled, […]

Phil AmmannMarch 16, 2016

On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott’s office released the names of 14 legal and state board appointments. Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsels Scott began by announcing reappointments in the Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsels for Florida’s First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Regions. Regional Counsels are responsible where court appointed counsel (CAC) is mandated […]

Phil AmmannMarch 16, 2016

March is recognized as Credit Education Month. This time of year is dedicated to reminding consumers of the importance of developing the skills needed to manage their finances effectively. Understanding how to build a good credit record, how your credit score is used and how credit can affect your financial life is the foundation of […]

Phil AmmannMarch 15, 2016

In Florida, 68,000 teachers carry an evaluation that rates them as “highly effective.” They’re the best of the best. Yet only a small percentage of these top teachers qualified for bonuses this year under Florida’s Best and Brightest bonus scheme. But 820 first-year teachers – on the job for only a few months without ever […]

Phil AmmannMarch 15, 2016

Every now and then, who doesn’t want to kick some butts to the curb? On March 16, the Florida Tobacco Cessation Alliance will be participating in the 20th annual Kick Butts Day, which gives everyone an ideal opportunity to tell the world how and why you fight tobacco. Kick Butts Day is an annual event […]

Phil AmmannMarch 13, 2016

The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce represents more than 3 million Hispanics and has affiliations with 150 local Hispanic chambers in the Sunshine State. Although this diverse group of business people and advocates don’t agree on everything, we are uniform in our strong belief in the need for a major overhaul of our nation’s […]

Phil AmmannMarch 13, 2016

A roundup of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers: Tampa Bay Times — A quiet, mixed year for the Florida Legislature They repealed the ban on unmarried couples living together, closed public records to protect Ultimate Fighter broadcasts and earmarked millions for police radios nobody requested. They kept a new downtown medical school for the […]

Phil AmmannMarch 11, 2016

After several significant changes, SB 314, which initially placed numerous restrictions on prosecutor’s ability to unilaterally charge juveniles as adults, is now moving to the House. Sponsored by Miami Republican Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, the bill will continue to give broad discretion to prosecutors, as well as instituting more accountability and reporting requirements. […]

Phil Ammann

A roundup of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers

Ben Pollara: A Democrat’s unsolicited advice for the GOP that created Donald Trump

Isaac Ruiz-Carus: Bill would eliminate independent judiciary in Kansas

Gov. Rick Scott announces 14 state appointments

Drew J. Breakspear: Good credit is the keystone of financial literacy

Joanne McCall: Rick Scott should veto flawed teacher bonus scheme

Kari Jacoby: Time for adults to join youth in kicking butts, saving lives

Julio Fuentes: U.S. must revamp tax system to be competitive globally

A roundup of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers

Juvenile justice reform bill heads to House after significant changes