Emails & Opinions

Guest AuthorApril 6, 2017

The business rent tax is the only state-sanctioned sales tax on commercial leases in the entire country and Florida is the not-so-proud holder of that title. Not even tax-happy havens like California and New York impose this state tax on its businesses. Due to this burdensome tax, Florida businesses shell out more than $1.7 billion […]

Florence SnyderApril 6, 2017

Boca Raton, the plastic surgery capital of the world and a nice place to be from, is doing something right with its kids. Located in south Palm Beach County, just minutes away from Ground Zero in Florida’s opioid crisis, Boca Raton is America’s City Most Likely to Be Mispronounced by Late Night Comedians and Out […]

Peter SchorschApril 6, 2017

It is no secret that local budgets and resources are stretched when President Donald Trump visits Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach County. Local officials and members of Congress, especially Ted Deutch and Lois Frankel, are asking for more federal help to recover costs. Things should get really expensive as Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady […]

Joe HendersonApril 6, 2017

Numerous studies have shown Florida’s gun-totin’ “stand your ground” law doesn’t work. The Journal of American Medical Association recently reported, “The removal of restrictions on when and where individuals can use lethal force was associated with a significant increase in homicide and homicide by firearm in Florida.” By significant, it meant a 24.4 percent increase […]

Peter SchorschApril 6, 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. A MOMENT OF PAUSE The Easter break is coming at just the right time in the 2017 Legislative Session. We all need a deep breath. Whether we find any (legislative) Easter eggs […]

Peter SchorschApril 5, 2017

The Senate, with the revised version of SB 406, appears to be on what is a fairly balanced means of implementing Amendment 2. Is that my opinion? Maybe. But, as of yesterday, even the intrepid Ben Pollara sent an email saying (and I quote), “The Senate bill puts Patients First…” while most parties in attendance […]

Guest AuthorApril 5, 2017

Medicaid payment reform for nursing homes is both necessary and complex. And done well, it should be the result of clear policy objectives, careful consideration, vigorous debate and detailed modeling. On behalf of our 250 members across Florida, we encourage the Senate Appropriations Committee to ask tough questions and thoroughly vet the new nursing home […]

Joe HendersonApril 5, 2017

You can legitimately argue that the executive order by Gov. Rick Scott removing Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala from 21 more potential death penalty cases was blatant over-reach. For the record, I wouldn’t automatically agree but I can see that side of the argument. We all know what a firestorm Ayala created when she decided […]

Peter SchorschApril 5, 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. THERE IT IS. When the final history of the 2017 Legislative Session is written, it is very possible that Tuesday, April 4, marked the turning point in the annual lawmaking period. Because […]

Florence SnyderApril 4, 2017

It’s that time of year when claims bills are briefly — very briefly — in the news. Claims bills are the state’s reluctant, belated, grudging way of saying “we’re sorry” for the malfeasance and malpractice that ruined someone’s life. In a functioning system, simple mistakes and honest errors are caught quickly and generally capable of […]

Emails & Opinions

Pat Neal: Business rent tax stifles Florida’s economic future

‘We Dine Together’ is rare good news from Boca Raton

The Delegation for 4.6.17 – Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Joe Henderson: Lawmakers seizing chance to expand gun use under cover of “Stand Your Ground”

Sunburn for 4.6.17 – The 2017 Legislative Session at the halfway mark

Is the Senate on the right path on medical marijuana?

Steve Bahmer: Senate must ask tough questions on Medicaid payment reform

Joe Henderson: Sen. Bracy’s heart might have been right, but his numbers were wrong

Sunburn for 4.5.17 – Hope has returned to the Florida Legislature

Florence Snyder: Why children die — Part 2; clues in the claims bills