Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonNovember 17, 2014

Like the excitement baseball fans feel every February when they hear the first crack of the bats in Spring Training, the creaking noises coming from Tallahassee this week are putting smiles on the faces of many a Sunshine State politico. Not so much everybody else, with good reasons. Yes, the new edition of the Florida […]

Guest AuthorNovember 17, 2014

A funny thing happened in Jan 2013. A Dr. Jonathan Gruber of MIT (now an “unperson” at the White House and Democrats who knew him so well), appeared via Skype at the Florida Senate Select Committee on Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act committee. I wrote at the time in a Florida Voices column, […]

Guest AuthorNovember 17, 2014

Since its creation in 2000, the U.S. State Department’s Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) has called out governments for allowing the prostitution of minors, the confinement of domestic workers by employers and the recruitment of child soldiers. It has highlighted governments’ failure to liberate bonded laborers from disadvantaged castes or protect migrant women […]

Mitch PerryNovember 17, 2014

Today marked the first weekday to sign up for the Affordable Care Act 2.0, and while there were reports over the weekend of some people having problems logging on to the exchanges (in some cases those trying to re-enroll had trouble submitting or resetting passwords), they’ve been nothing to deter Obama administration officials generally good […]

Bruce RitchieNovember 16, 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 […]

Guest AuthorNovember 16, 2014

The midterm elections are in the rearview mirror, but Congress still has a lot of important work to take care of before defeated or retired lawmakers go home at year’s end and the newly elected ones take office in January. At the top of the “lame duck” to-do list should be addressing an urgent and […]

Guest AuthorNovember 16, 2014

On a chilly Florida day, there’s nothing like catching up on the last few issues of “Government Executive,” which bills itself as “the premier website for federal managers and executives.” It’s not as dry as you think, especially in its “State and Local” section. And it’s a morale-booster for those of us worn down by […]

Guest AuthorNovember 16, 2014

“Muslims in America and Europe say discrimination against them has seemed more pronounced after the Islamic State terrorists beheaded American and British journalists and aid workers. Hate-filled remarks on social media have also become more prevalent, especially since 9/11, when Facebook and Twitter did not yet exist,” began an article in the New York Daily […]

Peter SchorschNovember 13, 2014

Imagine you are a Vietnam veteran, a hunter, and an NRA member. And imagine that in your retirement you set up a remote homestead and you buy – yes, you buy – 60 acres of solitude where you can live peacefully and raise your horses and dogs. Sounds like you found your own slice of heaven. But […]

Guest AuthorNovember 13, 2014

Richard Nixon helped end, but can still save, the Florida Democratic Party. It’s no secret that Florida Democrats have yet to figure out how to increase voter turnout during midterm elections. That’s why, despite Democratic voter registration advantages, Republicans have dominated state government for two-plus decades. But it’s not like Democrats haven’t tried. This election […]

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One of the trams that will provide increased access for the disabled at three Florida state parks. Image via Florida State Parks Foundation.

Daniel Tilson: 2015 Florida Legislature begins preparing for more of the same

Henry Kelley: Liberals were lied to about the benefits of Obamacare

Kelley and Lagon: A strong voice for the voiceless

HHS Secretary Burwell touts Obamacare 2.0 in a visit to USF in Tampa

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

Sal Nuzzo: Time for truth in Medicare accounting

Mark O’Brien: Good news, Florida, other states are worse

Julie Harbin: Experts address questions about Islam, extremism

Peter Schorsch: The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s inexplicable refusal to stop deer-dog hunting where Florida families reside

Kevin Cate: Florida Democrats should change the rules, again