Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegJanuary 21, 2015

Civics question: If a male lawmaker is sent to jail for having an affair with an underage girl and then decides to seek re-election, voters will: A: Laugh B: Scoff C: Re-elect him While the answer should be A or B, in real life this month it was C. Virginia voters in the Richmond area […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 21, 2015

Abraham Lincoln, Ernest Hemingway, Robin Williams and Michelangelo are a few examples of brilliantly inspiring individuals who shaped our culture, artistry and society. Looking at this list of names, it is hard to see a connection between these unique individuals. The sad truth is that each one suffered from mental illness, a debilitating disease that […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 21, 2015

Lobbyists for Miami-Dade County recently asked commissioners to entertain an unusual request: Would the county allow one of its lobbying firms to represent Uber, the controversial ridesharing tech service. Yes, Uber is the company currently operating illegally in Miami-Dade County, notes Patricia Mazzei of the Miami Herald. The San Francisco-based technology firm hired Ballard Partners to lobby Tallahassee […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 21, 2015

The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) today announced it is endorsing Mike Davis in the upcoming special election for Florida House District 17. “We are proud to endorse Mike Davis for the Florida House. As a business owner, he will use his experience to help Florida create jobs,” said FRF Director of Government Affairs Melissa Joiner […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 21, 2015

Despite a last-ditch effort to save his job, it looks like Kevin McCarty will soon be out at the Office of Insurance Regulation. The Palm Beach Post‘s John Kennedy has the details: Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater put up little resistance Wednesday to Gov. Rick Scott’s call for reviewing the future of more state […]

Associated PressJanuary 21, 2015

A trial to determine whether U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson’s wife committed bigamy when she wed the congressman has been delayed because she required emergency surgery to remove breast implants. The trial had been scheduled for Thursday in Orlando but is now set for March. Lolita Grayson had been suffering chest pains. When she went to […]

Ryan RayJanuary 21, 2015

Titusville Republican Rep. Tom Goodson has filed legislation banning revenge porn — the public sharing of sexually explicit media without the consent of the person depicted, often by former lovers — for the third time in as many years. The bill was conceived back in 2012 in partnership with Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey who […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 21, 2015

Starting today, Mayor Alvin Brown’s “biggest lie” will be pushed on television screens throughout the Jacksonville area: that he did not raise taxes on Jacksonville families and small businesses. According to Republican opponent Lenny Curry, the new spot, paid for by Florida Democrats, ignores the fact that Brown just last year accepted a city budget with […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2015

I will never, ever underestimate Sally Harris again. Harris is one of the two freshly minted members on the Hillsborough County School Board who was fated with deciding the fate of Superintendent MaryEllen Elia at last night’s board meeting. Last week I predicted that with the collective establishment in Tampa (including the editorial boards of both of the dailies, […]

Gary FineoutJanuary 21, 2015

Florida’s new prisons chief on Tuesday promised wide-ranging changes amid the suspicious deaths of dozens of inmates in the state’s prisons. But Corrections Secretary Julie Jones, in a blunt assessment given to state legislators, said fixing the troubled system will require millions in new spending to compensate for years of budget cuts pursued by the […]

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Tim Weisheyer was appointed to the Florida State University Board of Trustees. Image via FloridaRealtors.com.

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Florida shows civics is a messy topic

Alaina Bernard: Failure to deal with mental illness debilitates 60 million

Miami-Dade tells Ballard Partners: 'No, you cannot also lobby for Uber'

Florida Retail Federation endorses Mike Davis in HD 17 special election

So if Kevin McCarty is toast, here's who may replace him at OIR…

Breast implant leak delays Alan Grayson's wife's bigamy trial

Tom Goodson files 'revenge porn' legislation

Lenny Curry: Florida Dems, Alvin Brown push “Biggest Lie” in new JAX TV spot

Mitch Perry Report for 1.21.15 — Hillsborough County will survive MaryEllen Elia's exit

Florida's new prisons chief promises wide-ranging changes