Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 14, 2015

On Monday, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown almost did something unprecedented for him — take a definite position on a hot-button issue, that being courthouse wedding ceremonies in the Duval County Courthouse. Recall that a week ago, in the wake of same-sex marriages being legalized throughout the state of Florida, Duval County Clerk of Court Ronnie […]

Christine Jordan SextonJanuary 13, 2015

The Florida Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday issued a seven-step plan that it says would provide coverage to the uninsured as well as eliminate a billion-dollar-plus burden on Floridians. Dubbed Smarter Health Care Coverage in Florida, the Chamber’s plan calls for using federal dollars available under the Affordable Care Act so long as the impact on […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 13, 2015

House Speaker Designate Richard Corcoran raised $54,750 from December 1-31, as well as collecting $45,000 for an associated political committee, according to the state Division of Elections. If Corcoran, a Land O’ Lakes Republican, is re-elected to Pasco County House District 37 in 2016, he will become speaker for the next two-year term. December is […]

Daniel TilsonJanuary 13, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott’s mishandling of Florida’s deadly prison system dysfunction continues. The latest example came early this week, when Gov. Scott announced appointment by the Cabinet of Florida (him, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam) of Rick Swearington as new Commissioner of Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). […]

Mark FerruloJanuary 13, 2015

The new Legislature has been sworn in. At their swearing-in, members took an oath of office, placed their hands on a Bible and promised to uphold the Florida Constitution. Legislatures have tinkered in nefarious ways with voter-passed constitutional amendments in the past, but this new Legislature must do the right thing when implementing Amendment 1, […]

Marc YachtJanuary 13, 2015

A Vermont protest during the inauguration of Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin received little media attention. The Vermont Worker’s Center sit-in resulted in 29 protester arrests. They took issue with Shumlin shelving his campaign promise to pursue single-payer health care for Vermont. The VW Center advocates health care as a right. Although the Affordable Care Act […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 13, 2015

I’ve been invited to contribute to Context Florida and want to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My career in journalism started 47 years ago when I was selected to be the editorial cartoonist for my high school newspaper. I had moved the previous year from a close-knit, small-town high school to a large suburban […]

Associated PressJanuary 13, 2015

Florida’s main law enforcement agency is getting a new leader, but questions remain about why Gov. Rick Scott abruptly shook up the agency. Scott and the Florida Cabinet voted on Tuesday to appoint Richard Swearingen as the new commissioner for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Swearingen is a longtime veteran of the agency. Former […]

Ryan RayJanuary 13, 2015

Fueling controversy over turf and legacy in South Florida, North Miami Beach Democrat Rep. David Richardson has filed to run in 2016 for the District 35 Senate seat currently held by the Dean of the Florida Senate, Gwen Margolis. Despite rumors that she may retire, former Senate President Margolis took to social media on Friday to clarify: Dear Friends, […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 13, 2015

In a column several months ago I deplored the outcomes of two election cases that brought to mind Charles Dickens’s famous phrase, “If the law says that, the law is a ass, an idiot.” In one, the First District Court of Appeal refused to reinstate a legislative candidate who had been kicked off the ballot […]

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Image via WUFT News.

Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown's wimp factor

Docs, hospitals, trial attorneys targeted in Florida Chamber's seven step health plan

Richard Corcoran & committee take in $100K in December

Daniel Tilson: Fixing Florida's prison system once and for all

Mark Ferrulo: Don't slap Amendment 1 voters in the face

Marc Yacht: Vermont protesters right to back single-payer health care

Catherine Martinez: Teacher still looking for elusive new world order

Gov. Scott won't explain shakeup at state police agency

Fellow Democrats bristle at David Richardson's talk of primarying Gwen Margolis

Martin Dyckman: Write-ins waste money, disenfranchise voters