Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 16, 2015

The Jacksonville District 2 City Council race continues to get more interesting by the day. First there was Lisa King, the Democrat who made the runoff, trolling Republican Al Ferraro in an attempt to get him to debate. Now, in the wake of third-place finisher Jack Daniels endorsing his fellow Republican, King alleges that Daniels might not be above […]

Guest AuthorApril 16, 2015

For those of us who care about the future of our nation – and in particular the future of Florida – we must first and foremost acknowledge that it is more than just the climate that is changing. Sea levels are unquestionably rising. High tides are measurably higher. And drinking wells near our coastlines are […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 16, 2015

Jeb Bush‘s former health care czar said Florida should take the Medicaid expansion dollars to provide health care access to the poor. However, in a FaceBook post former Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Alan Levine also said he thought the federal government was “overplaying its hand in Florida” by threatening to end the supplemental […]

Associated PressApril 15, 2015

Sen. Marco Rubio raised $1.25 million online during his first full day as a presidential candidate, a person close to the Florida Republican’s campaign said Wednesday. The first-term senator entered the race for the GOP nomination Monday evening during a Miami rally. A day later, his campaign made an aggressive digital push for donations. It quickly paid […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

There has been no action publicly in the Legislature this week on Amendment 1 spending or bills dealing with water policy but those issues are being worked on, Sen. Tom Lee, the Senate’s chief budget writer, said Wednesday. Amendment 1 is the water and land conservation funding initiative approved by voters in November. The measure is expected […]

James CallApril 15, 2015

Abortion rights opponents and proponents packed a Senate meeting room Wednesday when the Judiciary Committee took up a proposal to mandate a 24-hour waiting period. SB 724 requires a face-to-face meeting between a physician and a woman to discuss the procedure at least 24 hours before it is performed. “When one makes a major decision […]

Sally SwartzApril 15, 2015

They spell out “Buy the Land” in live bodies along a Stuart beach. They gather in standing-room-only crowds at South Florida Water Management District meetings, traveling from Miami aboard Tri Rail and car pools from the Treasure Coast. They travel to Tallahassee by the busload for rallies on the Capitol steps. Last week, singer Jimmy […]

Marc YachtApril 15, 2015

I started medical studies in Liege, Belgium, in 1973. The Université de Liège had students from many countries. Americans studied there but also Arabs, Palestinians, Israelis, Russians, Chinese and many other nationals. I struck up a friendship with a Tunisian and we shared an apartment while attending to our studies. Being Jewish, my loyalties were […]

Jac VerSteegApril 15, 2015

The Florida Legislature has passed, and Gov. Rick Scott has signed, an education reform bill that is dishonest – and politically cowardly – at its core. The measure tries to appease parents and others sick of over-testing. It scales back the number of tests. That’s fine. It also reduces the weight given to tests when […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

Given that neither the House nor Senate are agreeing to back off their positions on health care legislative leaders in the House and Senate conceded on Wednesday that the Legislature will not be able to pass a budget by May 1, the last day of the the 2015 session. However there hasn’t been a decision […]

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Miami-Dade Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins has been unmoving in her opposition to the La Quinta proposal. Image via Miami-Dade County.

Was Jack Daniels pay to play?

Bill Golden: Rising seas and Florida’s economic future

Former Jeb Bush health care czar says he’d expand Medicaid coverage

First day of campaign lucrative for Marco Rubio

Amendment 1, water spending work going on, Tom Lee says

Abortion waiting period advances, constitutional questions unanswered

Sally Swartz: In fight to buy sugar land, Joe Negron needs to step up

Marc Yacht: Israelis and Palestinians weary of conflict

Jac VerSteeg: Fewer tests in school-grade formula is like less spit in milk

Legislative leaders say budget impasse means 2015 session won’t end on time