Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschDecember 29, 2014

If only the Rick Scott we got to know during this past election year had been the one who first entered the Governor’s Mansion in 2011. Remember that guy? The former health-care exec with a chip on his shoulder who bragged he was a Tea Partier before the Tea Party was cool. He was the novice politician […]

Jac VerSteegDecember 29, 2014

There is speculation that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s business ventures could be a drag on his presidential aspirations. Joseph Tanfani of the Los Angeles Times reported that Jeb, to reduce the chance that he will suffer the kind of attacks endured by 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney, is giving up gigs such as serving […]

Guest AuthorDecember 29, 2014

The U.S.-led NATO war on Afghanistan has lasted so long they’ve decided to rename it, declare the old war over, and announce a brand new war they’re just sure you’re going to love. The war thus far has lasted as long as U.S. participation in World War II plus U.S. participation in World War I, […]

James CallDecember 29, 2014

The Florida Department of Health will hold a rule development workshop for a medicinal marijuana law Tuesday in Orlando. DOH’s first set of rules for growing marijuana and selling oil processed from the plant were thrown out by an administrative law judge in November. As of Monday afternoon the Department had declined to provide any […]

Associated PressDecember 29, 2014

Florida’s biggest story of 2014 was one of its latest. President Barack Obama’s mid-December move to normalize relations with Cuba beat Gov. Rick Scott’s re-election in an Associated Press poll of the state’s newspaper editors. Obama announced Dec. 17 that the United States and Cuba would open embassies in each other’s capitals, exchange ambassadors and […]

Mitch PerryDecember 29, 2014

Tis the season for year-end lists, so here’s this reporter’s take on the 10 biggest/most interesting developments over the past year in Tampa Bay/Florida politics. 1 – The Florida Democratic Party hits rock bottom. There are a number of reasons why Rick Scott beat Charlie Crist, and the Crist camp’s notion that the $12 million […]

Martin DyckmanDecember 28, 2014

“We should keep the judiciary as far apart from politics as heaven is from hell.” That’s Burton Young speaking. No Floridian talks with more authority on the subject. But as he and others see it, politics is once again threatening to pervert justice in Florida. Is there a need to amend the Constitution? “God, yes,” […]

Guest AuthorDecember 28, 2014

When I was 11 years old, I begged my parents for a dog. I’ll feed it, clean up after it, walk it; you’ll never have to do anything – FOR-E-VER. I promised, and at 11 years old, I sincerely meant it. Fast-forward three months, my dad was walking the dog, my mom was feeding it, […]

Phil AmmannDecember 28, 2014

Not all Republicans are alike, says a new flyer from State Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart. By taking a closer look, Northeast Florida voters will see a “clear difference” between GOP candidates in the race for Senate District 6, so proclaims Renuart’s latest direct mail piece. The flyer, set to hit mailboxes starting this Tuesday, is […]

Peter SchorschDecember 27, 2014

Dirty politics apparently is not taking a holiday in the House District 17 special election. While families in St. John’s County prepared for Christmas – a day of peace, love and celebration – candidates dispatched their most heated rhetoric to date. And a “Happy Holidays” to you, too … HD 17 opened when Ponte Vedra […]

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Golf cart caravan in The Villages. Image via Harris campaign.

Peter Schorsch: Refurbished Rick Scott is Florida’s politician of the year

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Jeb’s business ties won’t matter in 2016

David Swanson: Renaming Afghan war, renaming murder

Stakeholders find Dept. of Health's Charlotte Web's rule development difficult to comprehend

Obama's Cuba move voted Florida's top story of 2014

A look back at the year in news in Tampa Bay

Martin Dyckman: Florida lawyers must purge politics from judiciary

Sal Nuzzo: Don’t double down on bad Medicaid policy

Direct mail round-up: Republicans are not all alike in Senate District 6 race, says Doc Renuart

Mailers show dirty politics takes no holiday in HD 17