Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2015

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With the 2016 presidential race off and running, the growing controversy over Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s prohibited use of a private email account and server to conduct her official business as Secretary of State is certainly not going away soon. Initially, the controversy centered around whether Clinton set up the account and intentionally violated the […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2015

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is, in the words of Einstein, the definition of insanity. Unfortunately for Floridians, so too are the calls today to expand our state’s Medicaid system under the Affordable Care Act. After decades of failed reforms, this $450 billion federal healthcare system remains woefully […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2015

Can it matter that a famous actress will play a drone pilot on stage in New York and play it as a troubled murderer with an updated effort to wash out the damn spot of blood on her famous hands? With permanent war declared the norm and entirely acceptable, only a generation removed from wisdom […]

Bruce RitchieApril 7, 2015

A Senate committee on Tuesday OK’d a bill amendment to provide for financing the shutdown of the Crystal River nuclear plant to save Duke Energy Florida customers more than $600 million. SB 288 was a bill that primarily strengthened ethics requirements for the Florida Public Service Commission. But Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican and […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 7, 2015

Health care has been extremely partisan in the Legislature these days but on Tuesday there was an unusual bipartisan concern expressed over a bill that would limit taxing districts authority to levy ad valorem taxes if they have too many outstanding unpaid claims. The bill cleared the House Appropriations Committee but Republicans and Democrats both […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 7, 2015

More news on Florida’s war on potheads. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee unanimously approved a “blunt wrap” tax Tuesday. The type of rolling paper used to wrap cigars (or giant marijuana joints) would be subject to tobacco taxes under the proposed law. Here’s the deal: Lawmakers really, really wants to tax your blunt wrappers. But they’ve […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2015

On a humid Tuesday afternoon in Jacksonville at the Baseball Grounds, Republican Rob Schoonover formally endorsed Democratic Sheriff’s candidate Ken Jefferson. Schoonover finished sixth in March’s First Election. Mark Kerrin, who opened a campaign account but did not actually run, also appeared. Along with Jimmy Holderfield, who endorsed Jefferson last week, the joint appearance of the four created […]

Mitch PerryApril 7, 2015

Eric Lynn, a senior Obama administration adviser in the Defense Department, has declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Florida District 13 next year. That’s the seat currently occupied by Republican incumbent David Jolly, who was initially elected last spring in a special election to succeed the late Bill Young. “I’m running […]

Bruce RitchieApril 7, 2015

A bill that would allow the Cabinet to give away state land on Tuesday passed its only committee stop with changes requested by environmental groups. HB 7135 would establish “low-impact agriculture” as a management goal for state lands. The bill also would allow the Cabinet to give away state parks and other state lands to […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 7, 2015

The Senate Health Policy Committee on Tuesday delayed Department of Health Secretary John Armstrong‘s confirmation after he refused to answer Medicaid questions. Panel members asked him whether expanding Medicaid would improve Floridians’ health care outcomes or whether he supported the Senate’s alternative proposal to expand Medicaid. Sen. Aaron Bean asked Armstrong to return soon and […]

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Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Steve Kurlander: Hillary Clinton makes the case for government secrecy

Chris Hudson: Florida needs better alternative to Medicaid expansion

David Swanson: Can Anne Hathaway's 'Grounded' ground war drones?

Panel OK’s Duke Energy deal; Jack Latvala says he couldn’t “find holes” in it

House bill would make hospital taxing districts liable for unsettled claims

Legislature wants to tax your blunt wrappers

2 more GOP apostates endorse Democrat Ken Jefferson

Democrat Eric Lynn is running against David Jolly in 2016

Amended state lands bill passes committee, heads to House floor

Medicaid questions stall John Armstrong’s confirmation in Senate