Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

The uproar over a Tampa Bay Times report over the weekend that the Tampa Police Department has been targeting low-income black bicyclists over the past decade continues to reverberate, with Chief Jane Castor facing the strongest criticism in her nearly five year tenure, just weeks before she steps down after a distinguished 30-year career with the department. […]

Kevin MeerschaertApril 21, 2015

The crowd at the Main Library downtown for the Jacksonville City Council debate may not have been as large as others around town. What it lacked in size, it made up with substance. About 40 people, many connected to a campaign in one way or another, attended to hear candidates discuss the issues facing Jacksonville. […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2015

UPDATE: 12:48 p.m. Governor Mitt Romney has announced his endorsement of Lenny Curry, as an email from the campaign attests, with slightly different language than that in the email we obtained.. “I have traveled our country working to advance conservative principles, and here in Florida I’ve had a partner in Lenny Curry. Lenny is committed […]

Diane RobertsApril 21, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – The annual Harlot Show and Prostitution Expo – commonly called the Florida Legislative Session – has been such a wowsa so far, we’ve neglected to pay sufficient attention to the mack daddy in the Mansion. You know, Rick Scott. He’s not governing; he has people for that. He’s running for the United […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

A week ago I spoke with someone close to David Jolly about the Pinellas County congressman taking time to consider a candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2016. The still-newbie Republican U.S. Representative has a number of pros and cons to contemplate before making such a momentous career decision. The biggest downside is the real […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2015

The ICARE Nehemiah Assembly didn’t pack Potter’s House, the church that gave new life to the moribund Normandy Square Mall a few years ago, becoming an anchor in a community that sorely needed one. Even though the hall wasn’t full on a rainy Monday night, the parking lot was, requiring news vans to fill the […]

Kevin MeerschaertApril 21, 2015

The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Board of Trustees voted Monday morning to hold off on any appeal of a judge’s ruling that tossed out part of a 30-year agreement it had with the city. Last month, Judge Thomas Beverly stuck down the agreement saying the agreement from 2000 was negotiated in secret, a violation […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 21, 2015

Florida’s budget showdown over hospital funding may not be resolved until midsummer thanks to a little-noticed series of deadlines that accompany the state’s official request to draw down billions in health care funding. The decision by the Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek on Monday to propose an amendment to the existing Medicaid waiver […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 20, 2015

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A Senate committee tagged a controversial health care bill to a measure expanding the scope of practice for Florida’s nurses, a priority for the Florida House this year. The Senate Rules Committee on Monday committee agreed to tack on an amendment to CS/CS/SB 614 that would allow doctors to override step therapy protocols within 24 hours if a […]

Ryan RayApril 20, 2015

Doug Dodd and his friend “the Little General” aka Lance Barabas began like a lot of high school kids in Tampa and outlying Pasco County these days: At get-togethers after wrestling practice they would drink beer, smoke a little pot and maybe dabble in something harder. Hardly wholesome to be sure, but as Guy Lawson in Rolling Stone writes, […]

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“Biking while black” in Tampa story not going away

Jax City Council debate small in size, big on substance

Mitt Romney endorses Lenny Curry, helms PVB fundraiser

Diane Roberts: Rick Scott street-walkin’ his way to Washington

Mitch Perry Report for 4.21.15 — Senate in ’16 odds looking better for David Jolly?

Churches’ political forum addresses Jacksonville social problems

Jax Pension Board will not appeal ruling tossing out 30-year agreement

Feds have until July 4 to answer state on Medicaid

Step therapy amendment added to latest health care train bill

Band of teenage Tampa wrestlers was 3-man pill mill