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

Peter SchorschDecember 21, 2014

As much as we would like to think otherwise, in politics not everyone can be a winner. To put it another way, as Judge Smails did in the eminently quotable Caddyshack: “The world needs ditch diggers, too.” Few will disagree that 2014 was a particularly fertile political year, one that produced a bumper crop of political winners – […]

Peter SchorschDecember 21, 2014

As much as we would like to think otherwise, in politics not everyone can be a winner. To put it another way, as Judge Smails did in the eminently quotable Caddyshack: “The world needs ditch diggers, too.” Few will disagree that 2014 was a particularly fertile political year, one that produced a bumper crop of political winners – […]

Peter SchorschDecember 18, 2014

Jeb Bush’s announcement Tuesday that he is setting up an exploratory committee for the 2016 presidential race may be his most decisive move yet, but it was anything but a surprise. However, since it has been more than 150 years since a successful candidate had a 14-year gap between his last election and winning the White House, […]

Peter SchorschDecember 18, 2014

Senate President Andy Gardiner on Wednesday softened the hardline, anti-Medicaid expansion rhetoric at the Capitol. The Senate President told a group of reporters that he expects there will be a bill filed in the Senate to expand Medicaid to cover uninsured working adults who don’t make enough money to qualify for vouchers to buy qualified […]

Peter SchorschDecember 17, 2014

Jeb Bush’s announcement Tuesday that he is setting up an exploratory committee for the 2016 presidential race may be his most decisive move yet, but it was anything but a surprise. However, since it has been more than 150 years since a successful candidate had a 14-year gap between his last election and winning the White House, […]

Peter SchorschDecember 16, 2014

Contrary to readers of political blogs like this one, the overwhelming majority of Floridians do not know much about Andy Gardiner, president of the Florida Senate. Ninety-seven percent of Floridians do not live in Gardiner’s district and it was his colleagues in the upper chamber who made them their leader. Still, Gardiner is one of the three most […]

Peter SchorschDecember 16, 2014

Attorney General Pam Bondi filed an emergency petition on Monday seeking to keep the state’s ban on gay marriage in place past Jan. 5. Bondi and attorneys in her office filed the request with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Thomas oversees emergency appeals from Florida, Alabama and Georgia. The move by Bondi comes after […]

Peter SchorschDecember 16, 2014

If Jeb Bush runs for president, as he most likely will, one of his signature issues, education, will get him hammered from both sides. The Republican Party’s tea bag wing is unforgiving – so far – over his embrace of the Common Core standards even though the federal government has had almost nothing to do with them. […]

Peter SchorschDecember 15, 2014

Gwen Graham took a victory lap in the Panhandle this past week; meeting with business leaders in four of the biggest counties of the 2nd Congressional District. Graham is a rare Florida Democrat, she won an election. While party leaders stage their familiar post-midterm drama, politicians, consultants, and donors expressing bewilderment about the shellacking the […]

Peter SchorschDecember 15, 2014

A claims bill to fulfill a $5 million settlement to the brother of a South Florida girl whose decomposing body was found in her father’s pesticide truck will not be heard in the upcoming legislative session. The Miami Herald reports that the state agreed last year to settle with Victor Barahona, who had severe chemical burns when he […]

Peter Schorsch
Image via Desantis X account

Peter Schorsch: Florida’s political ditch diggers of 2014

The 5 most disappointing Florida politicians of 2014

Peter Schorsch: Did Jeb Bush wait too long after his last election for a White House run?

Andy Gardiner: Bipartisan business plan may bring hope to Medicaid expansion

With 14 years since his last election, did Jeb Bush miss the White House boat?

Andy Gardiner in jeopardy of making a bad first impression

Pam Bondi files petition with U.S. Supreme Court to keep gay marriage ban

Martin Dyckman: Jeb might have an education problem in 2016

Did Gwen Graham blaze the Democrats a path out of the wilderness?

Barahona claims bill put on hold in Legislature