Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannAugust 11, 2015

Caitlin Murray has been tapped as director of government affairs for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Murray, picked as one of the “30 under 30″ rising stars in Florida politics by SaintPetersBlog, began her new role effective Monday. According to OIR Commissioner Kevin McCarty, Murray will handle oversight of the agency’s government affairs initiatives […]

Phil AmmannAugust 11, 2015

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is urging Secretary of State John Kerry to demand freedom and respect for the Cuban people during an upcoming visit to Cuba. Kerry is traveling to Havana on Friday to raise the American flag over the newly reopened U.S. Embassy in Cuba. He will be the first secretary of state to […]

Phil AmmannAugust 11, 2015

Few people will argue that good political reporting should be objective; readers expect professional journalists to give accurate and unbiased information – despite personal opinion or alliances. David Sirota, one of the leading writers for the International Business Times, makes little pretense of either accuracy or objectivity. IBT and Sirota – who is a thinly […]

Phil AmmannAugust 10, 2015

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With a hat-tip to LobbyTools, the latest of who is on — and off — the legislative staffing merry-go-round. Off: Christine Biron is no longer legislative assistant for Sen. Darren Soto. On: Martin Rivera takes Biron’s place as Soto’s legislative assistant. Off & on: Michael Willson is leaving as legislative analyst for the House Economic […]

Phil AmmannAugust 10, 2015

In the race to expand solar energy in Florida, one side is opening strong by posting blockbuster first-month fundraising numbers, which they credit to a campaign of transparency and diversity. Consumers for Smart Solar, the group behind a proposed solar amendment for the 2016 Florida ballot, announced Monday it raised more than $463,000 in its first month. The group […]

Phil AmmannAugust 10, 2015

With barefaced demagoguery, Rick Scott once again shows his inner Pinocchio. The latest from Bill Day highlights the Florida governor — here called “Scottocchio” — and his changing rules on abortions, part of the shameless effort to demonize Planned Parenthood. Last week, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration ordered three of the state’s Planned […]

Phil AmmannAugust 9, 2015

A round-up of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers: Tampa Bay Times — Legislature’s last chance to get congressional districts right The third time had better be the charm for the Florida Legislature this week as it opens a two-week special session to redraw congressional districts. The redistricting assignment should be taken over by the […]

Phil AmmannAugust 8, 2015

Holland & Knight LLP announced its operations center is leaving downtown Tampa, moving about 240 employees out of its current location at 201 N. Franklin Street. The law firm, one of the largest in the country with 21 U.S. and two international bureaus, will relocate the 41,000 square-foot Tampa City Center office to a new […]

Phil AmmannAugust 7, 2015

Returning to school may not be popular with students, but parents are looking forward to Florida’s annual sales tax holiday and the associated back-to-school sales. A new email from the Florida Retail Federation reminds everyone that the 2015 sales tax holiday begins Friday and runs through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 16. The 10-day extension is the […]

Phil AmmannAugust 6, 2015

St. Lucie County Tax Collector Chris Craft is endorsing County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay for Florida’s 18th Congressional District. Elected as Commissioner in November, McKinlay is running for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, the Jupiter Democrat seeking Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate seat. Craft, a former County Commissioner himself, praised McKinlay for her public service, […]

Phil Ammann

Personnel note: Caitlin Murray named Government Affairs Director for Office of Insurance Regulation

Marco Rubio urges John Kerry to meet with democracy leaders during Cuba visit

David Sirota’s inaccurate reporting history proves partisan Democratic slant

The latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Consumers for Smart Solar posts blockbuster $460K in first month fundraising

Bill Day’s latest: Rick Scott shows his inner Pinocchio

A round-up of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers

Holland & Knight to move operations center from downtown Tampa

Email insights: Florida’s longest back-to-school tax holiday starts Friday

St. Lucie County Tax Collector Chris Craft endorses Melissa McKinlay for Congress