Emails & Opinions

Peter SchorschApril 3, 2017

For the Republican-dominated state Legislature, helping the business community is a high priority. So, it’s not surprising that this Session, new protections for small-business owners are capturing legislators’ attention. Tomorrow, the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries will hear SB 750, known as the Protect Florida Small Business Act. This bill, sponsored by powerful appropriations chair […]

Peter SchorschApril 3, 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, although today we’re giving Gary Fineout of the Associated Press the lead… DIVIDED OVER DOLLARS: LEGISLATORS SPLIT ON SPENDING With about a month left in the regular session, the Republican-controlled Legislature is on […]

Peter SchorschApril 2, 2017

A pro tip for anyone seeking to curry favor with the Florida Legislature: get your facts straight — or at least know which state you’re trying to lobby. A couple of months ago, state Sen. Jack Latvala and Rep. Jason Brodeur announced supporting the “Protect Florida Small Business Act” (SB 750), which seeks to “promote […]

Florence SnyderApril 2, 2017

“Foster care kids are our kids. They are our kids,” said Boca Raton Democratic Sen. Kevin Rader in support of legislation making it easier for youth in state custody to obtain a driver’s license. You hear that line a lot — a lot — from “leadership” at the Department of Children & Families (DCF), and […]

Guest AuthorApril 1, 2017

We’re nearly halfway through the 2017 Florida Legislative Session and lawmakers are missing an opportunity to protect the 30,000 senior citizens who live in Florida’s 71 continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Vastly different from most long-term care retirement options. CCRCs provide a campus environment that offer independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing all in […]

Blake DowlingApril 1, 2017

Meeting this week with one of our national security partners, SonicWall, we had a fantastic luncheon with some local media partners, clients and Aegis staff. A big topic of conversation — ransomware. A SonicWall firewall can certainly help minimize risk, but there is no 100 percent protection from the constantly changing landscape of cyber threats. Say […]

Peter SchorschApril 1, 2017

It’s long been a Capitol cliché, but there are few pronouncements on a piece of legislation as inauspicious as calling something “a heavy lift.” Saying a bill is “a heavy, heavy lift” sounds even more portending of defeat. Yet that’s how House Speaker Richard Corcoran referred to the omnibus gambling bills now on their way […]

Peter SchorschMarch 31, 2017

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Hmmm, they don’t seem that provocative. On Thursday, members of the Women’s Legislative Caucus wore purple T-shirts with the slogan, “A Woman’s Place is in the House and the Senate.” Once on the House floor, however, an alarm rose among some: Were they appropriate? Rules Chair Jose Oliva, slated to be Speaker in 2018-20, soon put […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2017

The national Democrat Party stands at a defining crossroads. In the wake of an epic fail over health care on the part of Republicans in Congress and the dilettantes in the White House, Democrats have a choice to make: either become a reprehensible copycat “Party of No” or embark on a nobler path for the common […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2017

In my previous role as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, it wasn’t often I would find consensus on issues involving local water management districts, the state and federal government. But after years of studying the options to best reduce the occurrence of discharges used to lower Lake Okeechobee, those involved in these three […]

Emails & Opinions

Lawmakers looking to give boost to Florida’s local franchise business owners

Sunburn for 4.3.17 – All eyes on Carlos Trujillo; WSJ dings Anitere Flores; House T-shirt non-con; David Simmons for Congress; Volunteer Month; King Arthur trailer

Franchise group tweets tone-deaf opposition to ‘Florida Small Business Act’

Why children die – Part 1: If everybody’s responsible, nobody’s responsible

Pat Arends: Missed opportunity – continuing care retirement community reform in Florida

Blake Dowling: New ransomware kicks it up a notch

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Will lawmakers ‘walk away’ from gambling?

T-shirts cause clothing kerfuffle in House

Michael Richardson: Is there an adult in the room?

Herschel Vinyard Jr.: Listen to water experts in Lake Okeechobee debate