Peter Schorsch, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschOctober 27, 2015

State Rep. Holly Raschein has filed what she calls her “top legislative priority for the 2016 Legislative Session,” a bill to create a Florida Keys Stewardship Act. Raschein, a Key Largo Republican, submitted the bill (HB 447) on Tuesday, with a Senate companion soon to follow from state Sen. Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican. The act seeks to invest […]

Peter SchorschOctober 27, 2015

Monica Rodriguez of Ballard Partners was the 2013 co-champion of TallyMadness – the online voting competition to determine Florida’s best lobbyist. Here’s the file on Monica Rodriguez: Significant other? Children? Grand kids? Danielle, 10, and Olivia, 7. In 25 words or less, explain what you do. I help clients maneuver the intricacies of state and […]

Peter SchorschOctober 26, 2015

It doesn’t take much horse sense to know decoupling is a bad idea, say Florida Thoroughbred trainers. On Monday, Kevin McKathan and his brothers – the family who brought up Triple Crown winner American Pharoah — stepped forward to condemn the latest attempt at gambling expansion. Lawmakers are once again considering decoupling – removing the […]

Peter SchorschOctober 26, 2015

The latest edition of the 4th Floor Files talks with lobbyist Christie Pontis, who represents telecommunications carrier CenturyLink in the Florida Legislature. CenturyLink, the country’s third-largest telecommunications company, offers a wide range of data, voice and managed services. The Federal Communications Commission recently selected the Louisiana-based company to provide broadband to 1.2 million U.S. homes and businesses […]

Peter SchorschOctober 26, 2015

In a few weeks, Facebook certainly will unleash its Year In Review app, which automatically compiles some of the most-liked photos from your feeds over the past year and puts them into a neat little timeline. For most folks, the algorithm does its job. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fine way to look back at your year and remember […]

Peter SchorschOctober 26, 2015

Welcome A-Schorsch! After a week at sea aboard the Disney Fantasy, I am tanned, rested and ready to return to writing about the Florida politics. Here are 10 things I think I think about the latest political news from the Sunshine State. Hillary Clinton pretty much locked up the Democratic nomination — Biden not in. Benghazi […]

Peter SchorschOctober 26, 2015

In the wake of Hurricane Patricia‘s thrashing of Mexico, a pair of conservative think tanks are warning Florida to fix its storm-related insurance system. The James Madison Institute and R Street Institute released a policy brief last week,”Shoring Up Florida’s Property Insurance Market,” in which the organizations argue for the Legislature to pass reforms to “eliminate cost […]

Peter SchorschOctober 26, 2015

The Florida Chamber of Commerce’s annual Insurance Summit begins Monday in Orlando. On the agenda will be discussion of Assignment of Benefits (AOB), a long-used legal device meant to allow vendors to get paid promptly for emergency repairs to a home without having to get the policyholder directly involved. The problem is it has become a growing insurance scam, in which […]

Peter SchorschOctober 25, 2015

After his testimony in front of the Senate panel on redistricting Friday, a lot of Alachua, Pasco, Sarasota and Volusia voters probably wish Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala was their senator, too. Latvala doesn’t sit on the Senate Reapportionment Committee and instead had to sign up to speak during the panel’s public comment time. During his […]

Peter SchorschOctober 23, 2015

To mangle Shakespeare, some people are born into politics, some fall into it, and some have politics thrust upon them. This year’s crew of the “30 Under 30” fall into all those categories. Take Keaton Alexander, a scion of a political family. She’s the great-granddaughter of Ben Hill Griffin Jr., longtime lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate in the 1970s, and […]

Peter Schorsch

Holly Raschein files Florida Keys Stewardship Act

4th Floor Files talks with Monica Rodriguez about capitalism, adrenaline rush and Hakuna Matata

American Pharoah trainers say decoupling could ‘ruin’ horse racing in Florida

4th Floor Files talks with Christie Pontis about candy bags, telecom issues and the American Dream

Frank Artiles’ very interesting year

Back from vacation, here are 10 things I think I think about Florida politics

Storm insurance reforms still needed, expert says

Florida Chamber’s Insurance Summit starts today

Must-watch: Jack Latvala blasts proposed Senate maps in committee testimony

Who are the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics for 2015?