Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutMarch 20, 2015

The Florida House is proposing a nearly $76.2 billion spending plan for this year. The House released its proposed budget early Friday. The Senate’s full spending plan is expected to be released later in the day. The rival plans are expected to be as much as $5 billion apart. That’s because the Senate wants to […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2015

It’s the first full weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament, the time when some writers wax absurd about “brackets” and “the insanity of March Madness.” And yes, there were a couple of thrilling upsets and buzzard-beaters Thursday to begin the first full day of the 68-team championship. As a basketball aficionado, however, I’ve been calling […]

Phil AmmannMarch 19, 2015

Department of Environmental Protection employee Barton Bibler did not receive a reprimand for violating Gov. Rick Scott’s unofficial prohibition on the term “climate change,” an agency representative says. DEP Communications Director Lauren Engel responded Thursday by contending the censure was for “personal political advocacy related to the Keystone XL pipeline.” “As stated in Mr. Bibler’s written […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 19, 2015

On Thursday evening, Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute held the only televised debate with the seven candidates for sheriff. The conventional wisdom is that one Democrat (likely Ken Jefferson, who was ahead in the University of North Florida poll a couple of weeks back) and one Republican (likely Mike Williams or Jimmy Holderfield) will advance to the runoff. The big drama […]

James CallMarch 19, 2015

A marijuana lobbyist said to me a couple of weeks ago that he suspected the latest challenge to the Charlotte’s Web rule would “smoke out” people’s true intention, whether they disliked the rule or disliked the law. It’s the end of the third week of the session and we’re getting to the “smoke out” point on a […]

Brendan FarringtonMarch 19, 2015

A 33-year-old woman serving life without parole for the murder of a Panama City-area cab driver when she was 15 will get a new sentence under a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday. The court ordered new sentencing hearings for Rebecca Falcon and three other people who committed felonies as juveniles in order […]

Peter SchorschMarch 19, 2015

In what has to be one of the best opening sequences of any Star Trek episode or movie, James T. Kirk somehow manages to win the unwinnable test. For those of you who consider such sci-fi schlock beneath your station, the Kobayashi Maru is a no-win training exercise that tests the character of the new cadet, while being disguised as a mock battle […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 19, 2015

Funny thing about the “will of the people” in Florida. Even when expressed via an overwhelming majority “Yes” vote on a constitutional amendment, the Legislature can and does subvert it. That’s what’s happening with the environmental protections and preservations Floridians thought were a done deal after more than 75 percent of voters joined forces to […]

Bob SparksMarch 19, 2015

In the 1970s inflation was soaring. It was so bad, interest rates climbed above 20 percent. President Jimmy Carter, like his immediate predecessors Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon, struggled for solutions. Carter didn’t bring back Ford’s WIN (Whip Inflation Now) campaign buttons, but he did hire economics professor Alfred E. Kahn to serve as, for […]

Guest AuthorMarch 19, 2015

With tax season upon us, many Florida families and businesses are feeling the burden of our current costly and complex tax code. I serve as the president and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which is the only statewide economic development organization serving the needs of the Hispanic community. We have 38 […]

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House releases nearly $76.2 billion spending plan

Mitch Perry Report for 3.20.15 — March sadness

DEP employee not reprimanded for saying “climate change,” agency says

Jacksonville sheriff debate offers few surprises

The day that was in Florida politics — March 19

State Supreme Court orders new sentences in juvenile cases

Peter Schorsch: The Florida Senate race, 'Star Trek' and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy

Daniel Tilson: Florida Legislature is subverting our will on Amendment 1, water

Bob Sparks: The strange relationship between climate change and bananas

Julio Fuentes: Hispanic business owners want pro-business tax reform