Emails & Opinions

Guest AuthorMay 2, 2017

Facing yet another drug overdose epidemic, the Florida Legislature has an opportunity to move the needle in the right policy direction — finally. As members of the Florida House and Senate are poised to pass new criminal violations, this time for trafficking in fentanyl and synthetic drugs, the heat is on to include policies that […]

Guest AuthorMay 2, 2017

Florida must invest in smart cities that support entrepreneurs. We are the third largest state in the United States, yet rank 34th in innovation according to a 2016 Bloomberg study. Simply put, that is not what leadership looks like. It is not enough to just prepare for the next wave of technology. We need to […]

Peter SchorschMay 2, 2017

Set controls for the Wayback Machine to 2013, when the race (such as it was) to be Florida’s governor was taking shape. Incumbent Republican Rick Scott was still battling the perception that he was one of the least popular governors in the country. And Republican-turned-Independent-turned Democrat Charlie Crist was, to put it discreetly, an uninspiring […]

Peter SchorschMay 2, 2017

For much of the past century, the first 100 days of a new presidency has become a traditional benchmark for success, a standard first set by Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt. With Republican Donald Trump’s administration, the first three months were — according to many — a mixed bag, at best. Similarly, the Florida Democratic Party is […]

Guest AuthorMay 2, 2017

You may have heard about a man having a grand mal seizure on the Florida Senate floor two weeks ago. That was me. I am a die-hard conservative activist. I support Floridians’ now-constitutional right to access medical marijuana. And I’m a patient. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 13 and like most went through […]

Peter SchorschMay 2, 2017

To be frank, it was a pretty smart move, in retrospect. As competing bills to implement Amendment 2 get bogged down mid-Session, the hot-button flashpoints began: The number of new medical marijuana licensees, as well as the process to award those highly-valued “Willy Wonka” golden tickets. Current license holders have a point: “We invested millions […]

Martin DyckmanMay 2, 2017

Some things in life ought to be above politics, none more so than a parent’s relationship to a child. How this truth was sorely tested in Florida not so long ago is the subject of a new documentary that we should all want to see. CNN reportedly will air it sometime after it begins to […]

Peter SchorschMay 2, 2017

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. GWEN GRAHAM TO LAUNCH 2018 BID Graham is ready to make it official. The former Democratic congresswoman from Tallahassee is expected to announce her 2018 gubernatorial bid on Tuesday. The announcement will make Graham, the […]

Peter SchorschMay 1, 2017

With the end of the Legislative Session mercifully (hopefully?) in sight, the discrepancies between Senate and House budgets on various issues are becoming more heightened. At times like these, the two sides need to learn how to swallow their pride when it’s clear one chamber has the better plan. This lesson would serve them — […]

Peter SchorschMay 1, 2017

At a time when everything seems to be done online, it comes as little surprise that states and cities across the U.S. are moving their permitting and licensing systems online to maximize efficiency and serve constituents more effectively. Many counties and municipalities in Florida are following suit, replacing obsolete systems with new, user-friendly technology. Unfortunately, […]

Emails & Opinions

Jason Pye, Sal Nuzzo: Mandatory minimum reform needed in overdose epidemic

Lucas Lindsey: Private, public partnership necessary to make ‘smart cities’ possible

Joe Henderson: Stock up on popcorn because the governor’s race is getting real

Florida Democrats jump on 100-day bandwagon, outline list of initial ‘successes’

Michael J. Bowen: For epilepsy, Senate medical marijuana bill is ‘step in right direction’

Medical marijuana: OK, it time to drop caps on dispensaries

Martin Dyckman: Elian Gonzalez, a painful chapter in Cuban-American history

Sunburn for 5.2.17 – Gwen Graham’s ready to launch; Adam Putnam, Matt Caldwell make 2018 plans official; Joe Negron optimistic on budget, gambling legislation; Mike Dew to FDOT? Mama Wiggins last Session

Senate’s proposed hospital budget cuts, unlike House, spreads pain equally

Tyler Tech’s troubles in South Florida raise several red flags