Emails & Opinions

Guest AuthorApril 10, 2017

As a mayor, job creation, healthy neighborhoods, and public safety are my top priorities. That’s why Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is such a winning idea for Pembroke Pines and, in my view, cities across Florida. PACE lets property owners leverage their home’s equity to finance hurricane-hardening, energy efficiency and renewable energy home improvements, like […]

Peter SchorschApril 10, 2017

If the last week offered the turning point of the 2017 Legislative Session — Senate President Joe Negron‘s scaling back his Everglades reservoir proposal — it also offered an uncharacteristic moment of hubris for House Speaker Richard Corcoran. At a media availability on Thursday, the Land O’ Lakes Republican pushed back against a reporter’s question about special interests who […]

Guest AuthorApril 10, 2017

Recently the House passed HB 11, legislation that would require labor unions representing public sector workers to certify they have more than half of the workers signed up as members every single year. In their view this will empower workers to somehow bargain better contracts and benefits and, they swear, in no way an attempt […]

Peter SchorschApril 10, 2017

As coy as he has been with the local media and as busy as he is promoting the Rowdies referendum, Rick Baker is almost certain to run for St. Petersburg mayor this year. Last week, Baker was in Tallahassee for a series of not-exactly-clandestine meetings with top Republican donors like Brian Ballard and Nick Iarossi. […]

Joe HendersonApril 10, 2017

A story in Sunday’s Washington Post focused on a new strategy that is being put in play by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the fight against drug abuse. It sounds like a return to the old strategy that was discarded because it was costly and largely ineffective, but the current administration likes to play hardball […]

Florence SnyderApril 10, 2017

Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg added his name last week to the list of public officials begging Gov Rick Scott to recognize the opioid epidemic for the public health emergency that it is, or at least have the guts to look them in the eye and tell them why he won’t. America’s opioid […]

Peter SchorschApril 10, 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. PULITZER PRIZES ANNOUNCED TODAY; WILL ANY FLA. NEWSPAPERS TAKE HOME A TROPHY? It should be a slow day and relatively slow week in the Capitol as lawmakers stick close to home for the […]

Florence SnyderApril 9, 2017

In the 1960s, “morning announcements” at Miami Crestview Elementary School were served up with a side order of morning Scriptures. The daily Bible readings skewed heavily New Testament, and the Jewish kids always dreaded spring, with its Easter ham-handed swipes at “Christ-killers.” It was confusing, unsettling and sometimes downright scary. Somehow, we managed to weather […]

Martin DyckmanApril 9, 2017

It’s a paradox in America’s ongoing experiment with self-government that we depend on the weakest branch of government to defend us from the more powerful ones. The Founders gave a lot of thought and ink to this. Writing in the Federalist, Alexander Hamilton pointed out that the judiciary would always be “least dangerous” to the […]

Peter SchorschApril 8, 2017

Mike Carroll sounded tired as he took to the mic during this week’s Pinwheels for Child Abuse Prevention kickoff at the Governor’s Mansion. The secretary of the Department of the Children and Families again has had to deal with high-profile deaths, including, most recently, Naika Venant and Lauryn Martin-Everett. Both were ‘system’ kids; both had hanged […]

Emails & Opinions

Frank Ortis: PACE sets consumer protection industry standard for home improvements

Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, Mr. Speaker

Andy Madtes: What HB 11 supporters don’t get

The case against Rick Baker running for St. Petersburg mayor

Joe Henderson: Newest strategy in war on drugs could look a lot like the old strategy

Dave Aronberg takes a number and gets in line

Sunburn for 4.10.17 – Pulitzer Prize Day! On the road with Chris King; Jose Mallea raises $ in D.C.; Ballard’s $900K payday

Florence Snyder: Prayers over the public-address system are a Florida fixture

Martin Dyckman: Who needs strong, independent courts? We do.

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Pinwheels, and putting the pieces back together