Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Diane RobertsMay 27, 2015

Last Saturday, the Republic of Ireland came out in rainbows, saying yes to marriage equality: 62 percent in favor. Yet Ireland is a “conservative” country, still – despite clergy sex abuse scandals – very Catholic. Divorce has only been legal since 1997; and abortion is only allowed to save the life of the mother, no […]

Jac VerSteegMay 27, 2015

Two items in Wednesday morning’s Sunburn really frosted me. Both Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush are trolling for evangelical Christian votes by peddling the line that Christians in America are being persecuted. This appeals to the evangelicals’ penchant for seeing themselves as victims – a stance that bolsters their willingness to make victims of others, […]

Guest AuthorMay 27, 2015

In the accompanying picture, that’s me on the left. The year is possibly 1994. I’m standing next to the late Congressman William Lehman from Miami-Dade. Bill Lehman died in 2005. Next to Bill is the civil rights activist and Miami path breaker,Thelma Gibson. The sturdy, imposing African-American to the right was the star of the photograph. Arthur E. […]

Guest AuthorMay 27, 2015

The next time you’re in your doctor’s office, ask why he or she went to medical school. Chances are you’ll get this response: “I wanted to help people.” No matter how long physicians have been practicing medicine, they will tell you that caring for patients is their single greatest reward. It makes them love what […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 27, 2015

The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Deal has been in negotiations for close to eight years now, but it seems that an end is close at hand, if Wednesday afternoon’s meeting between Councilmen Bill Gulliford, Stephen Joost, John Crescimbeni and Police and Fire Pension Chief John Keane is any indication. The men were the very definition of cordial as they […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 27, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council’s Blight Committee, chaired by E. Denise Lee, is technically an ad hoc committee. For the last couple of years, though, it has done some of the most essential work of any city council committee, serving as a clearinghouse to address quality of life issues that affect older and newer neighborhoods alike. Wednesday […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMay 27, 2015

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is calling on Florida House Republicans to approve a plan to extend subsidized health coverage to 800,000 uninsured Floridians. A couple of House Democrats, a union vice president and a hospital representative joined Castor at a news conference Wednesday at the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. They rallied in an attempt […]

Melissa RossMay 27, 2015

“There are two things that are important in politics,” Mark Hanna, the late GOP U.S. senator from Ohio, once said. “The first is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.” Most political observers across the state agree Lenny Curry beat Alvin Brown in the recent Jacksonville mayor’s race for several reasons. Topping […]

Phil AmmannMay 27, 2015

As the 2016 campaign begins to take off, one political-ish email emerges as a real breath of fresh air. In a letter to supporters, Charlie Crist announced the latest venture of his wife, former Florida First Lady Carole Crist — an upscale brick-and-mortar clothing store. GODDESSEY boutique, the former governor says, is a “beautiful beach […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 27, 2015

Before Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, there was a scene that was curiously touching. Former District 7 Councilman Johnny Gaffney showed his brother, just-elected Councilman Reggie Gaffney, where he’d be sitting. You probably wouldn’t have seen that had George Spencer beaten Reggie in the election. In that moment, you could see how Johnny might have taught […]

Uncategorized

Diane Roberts: If Florida is 'conservative,' let's conserve something besides freedom to cash in

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio don't know what's good for Christianity

Alan Farago: A true story about Art Teele, Big Sugar and Miami-Dade political influence

Timothy J. Stapleton: FMA Cares honors the human side of medicine

Jacksonville Police and Fire pension deal one step closer to resolution

Jax Council Blight Committee addresses causes of crime, zombie properties

Kathy Castor rallies support for Senate Medicaid plan

Marty Fiorentino on Lenny Curry money machine: “We stuck together”

Email insights: Charlie Crist brings breath of fresh air, real value to inboxes

Tale of 2 cities, 2 parks: Jacksonville City Council considers public safety