Emails & Opinions

Peter SchorschNovember 14, 2016

After marijuana amendments passed in eight of the nine states where it was on the ballot Tuesday, now nearly a quarter of all Americans live in states where recreational use of marijuana is legal. Voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada approved recreational marijuana amendments last week, giving nearly 50 million more Americans the right […]

Florence SnyderNovember 14, 2016

Now that Attorney General and former Tampa Bay-area prosecutor Pam Bondi is among President-elect Donald Trump’s Legal Influencers, this is an excellent time to talk about FACES. That’s the Department of Acronyms name for the Face Analysis Comparison Examination System, a statewide “facial recognition database” created over a decade ago by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s […]

Peter SchorschNovember 14, 2016

As Florida Democrats begin to think about who might lead their party out of the wilderness they found themselves in after last Tuesday’s elections, a familiar, respected name is emerging as one of the possible contenders. Dan Gelber is interested in serving as chair of the Florida Democratic Party (FDP), according to a prominent Democratic operative close […]

Peter SchorschNovember 14, 2016

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend and one of the top five best House Speakers of the last decade, Will Weatherford. In all seriousness, I keep hearing about how happy Weatherford is spending more time at […]

Mitch PerryNovember 14, 2016

Among the significant factoids produced by the exit poll conducted by Edison Research from last Tuesday’s election was that Donald Trump actually did better than Mitt Romney when it came to winning the Latino vote. It wasn’t by much, but according to that information, Trump received 29 percent support from Hispanics, better than Romney’s 27 percent in 2012. That seems counterintuitive to some, considering […]

Florence SnyderNovember 12, 2016

Uber-real estate developer and all-’round power broker Armando Codina once threatened to punch the aggressive and highly decorated investigative reporter Dan Christensen in the face. Today, Codina is among a growing number of donors to Florida Bulldog, the investigative reporting website Christensen founded in 2009, when he became one of the casualties of one of the Miami Herald’s newsroom […]

Peter SchorschNovember 12, 2016

Florida House members better get used to flying commercial. One of the new House rules, rolled out this week, prohibits members from flying on planes owned, leased, or paid for by lobbyists. The proposed change is meant to end a common practice among lawmakers and the influence industry, according to House Speaker-designate Richard Corcoran. The practice […]

Florence SnyderNovember 11, 2016

The bad news is that a variety of bedbug not seen in Florida in 60 years is back. The good news is the University of Florida is on the case. Like its cousin the “common bedbug,” the tropical bed bug under investigation by UF researchers will drain your blood — and your bank account. The […]

Joe HendersonNovember 11, 2016

Mike Fasano, the Pasco County Tax Collector and former state legislator, lives near incoming Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran. They are friends and they speak frequently with each other. Sometimes they agree on policies, sometimes they don’t. But they are in total accord about the dramatic changes regarding lobbyists and other measures Corcoran has planned […]

Peter SchorschNovember 11, 2016

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. NEW FLORIDA HOUSE SPEAKER WANTS CRACK DOWN ON LOBBYISTS via Gary Fineout of The Associated Press – Richard Corcoran … set to become speaker later this month, released proposed rules Thursday that include a ban on lobbyists […]

Emails & Opinions
Stock image via Adobe.

Marijuana reform went 8 for 9 on the ballot; is it at a tipping point?

Florence Snyder: Is your mug shot in FACES virtual lineup?

Dan Gelber for chair of the Florida Democratic Party?

Sunburn for 11.14.16 – John Morgan for Gov?; Dan Gelber to lead FDP?; Reince Preibus new COS; Pam Bondi tapped for transition

Mitch Perry Report for 11.14.16 — Questioning the exit poll data

Florida Bulldog, tenacious watcher of the watchmen, celebrates its seventh anniversary

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Grounded

Florence Snyder: On Veterans Day, a valentine to UF’s bug-busters

Joe Henderson: New House rules put lobbyists in their place and increase transparency

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics – 11.11.16