Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorNovember 19, 2014

Here’s an interesting debate that I would love to see played out in Florida. In their desire to save lives and improve health, some communities elsewhere have raised to 21 the minimum age for anyone to buy tobacco. It’s led to a reduction in teenage smoking, although some folks worry that it’s another case of […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 19, 2014

An Australian television news anchor has concluded a yearlong experiment to prove sexism exists. Karl Stefanovic wore the same suit every day (except for a few when he had to get it washed) for a year. No one noticed. It all came together after his co-host, Lisa Wilkinson, gave a scathing speech at an award […]

Guest AuthorNovember 18, 2014

First impressions matter. It’s one of the truisms we must live with. Unfortunately, that’s a fact seemingly lost on new Florida State University President John Thrasher. Exhibit 1 is the former legislator’s tone-deaf response to last week’s New York Times article highlighting another instance in which an FSU football player not named Winston might have […]

Dominic CalabroNovember 18, 2014

We all know individuals who spend more than they have. Often, these money mis-managers take on credit card debt and fail to save. They spend their additional income before they pay off old debts. Eventually, they spiral out of control. Their home is foreclosed; their cars impounded. Granted, not all people who find themselves in […]

Guest AuthorNovember 18, 2014

Domestic violence is one of the most critical issues affecting Florida’s families and children. You may be surprised to learn that children account for nearly 50 percent of emergency shelter residents at any given time. During the 2013-14 fiscal year, Florida’s 42 certified domestic violence centers provided emergency shelter to 15,611 individuals — 7,219 of […]

Mitch PerryNovember 18, 2014

In the wake of the Democratic Party of Florida’s shellacking at the polls two weeks ago, state Party Chair Allison Tant has convened a task force to find out where the party needs to go to be more competitive in the future. But the party’s Vice Chair, State and National Democratic Committeeman Alan Clendenin, says […]

Mitch PerryNovember 17, 2014

This is my debut column for SaintPetersblog and FloridaPolitics.com, and thanks for being part of it. It’s only been a little over a week since I penned (or more accurately, typed) my last “MPR” for Creative Loafing, but it seems a lot longer than that. It’s certainly been an interesting 10 days or so since […]

Mitch PerryNovember 17, 2014

U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe announced on Friday that he’s stepping down from his position after a tumultuous four years, beginning next February. Hours later, about a dozen postal service workers stood outside the post office’s station at Tampa International Airport distributing fliers to customers, educating them about a pending service cut slated for early […]

Bruce RitchieNovember 17, 2014

Pipes vs. parks. Could that become the focus of debate over Amendment 1, the conservation lands amendment approved by 75 percent of voters on Nov. 4? Amendment 1 would dedicate more than $10 billion over 20 years toward state purchases that could involve more than just state parks and forests. That’s probably what most people […]

Martin DyckmanNovember 17, 2014

Nearly 70 years ago, when the Florida Democratic Party was a monopoly, the political scientist V. O. Key Jr., saw a problem that haunts it to the present day. In Florida, he wrote, it was “every man for himself.” Individual candidates built their own organizations, which dissolved when they left office or gave up running. […]

Uncategorized

Mark O’Brien: Raise smoking age to 21, save lives and money

Janelle Irwin: TV anchor exposes sexism, but legislation is needed to eliminate it

Andrew Skerritt: FSU’s president should be tougher on football player misconduct

Calabro and Herrle: Overgenerous pensions hurt taxpayers, beneficiaries

Columba Bush: Take action to prevent domestic violence

Hillsborough Dems defiant in defeat

Mitch Perry Report – 11.17.14

Tampa postal workers spread the word about coming slowdown in mail service

Did voters envision sewage plants when they voted for Amendment 1?

Martin Dyckman: Fla. Democrats need to find a message with a broad appeal