Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorOctober 18, 2015

The rising expense of pharmaceuticals is expected to put extra pressure on Florida’s budget next year, with the Department of Corrections, worker health insurance plans, and Medicaid shouldering most of the burden. New specialty drugs in particular are fanning the budgetary flames, such as Sovaldi and Harvoni: $1,000 pills that cure Hepatitis C. Many observers […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 16, 2015

For a measure of how seriously people in Jacksonville City Hall take the recent spate of imbroglios related to boards and commissions, look no further than an exasperated email from Jacksonville Ethics Compliance and Oversight Director Carla Miller to Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa. “We need to step up Board Ethics training; they need to come […]

Guest AuthorOctober 16, 2015

I attended the annual Tallahassee ritual Wednesday when politicians address the media and take some questions. The Republicans talked in generalities at the AP Legislative Planning Session and, for the most part, refused to respond to direct questions with direct answers. The Democrats, because they have absolutely no power in Florida government, mostly complained. Nonetheless, […]

Guest AuthorOctober 16, 2015

Everyone wants to increase the supply of renewable energy. The question is, how to do it in a way that benefits and protects consumers, regardless of their energy choices. When the so-called “solar choice” amendment was introduced, I was among those who called on its sponsors to modify their proposed amendment in a way that […]

Jim RosicaOctober 16, 2015

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Augustus Sol Invictus, the Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate from Florida, participated in an “Ask Me Anything” session Thursday night on the Reddit news and social networking website. The 32-year-old Invictus recently made headlines when he told the Associated Press he was a pagan who once killed and drank a goat’s blood. But he is also a working […]

Martin DyckmanOctober 15, 2015

It can be perilous to predict the outcome of a U.S. Supreme Court case by the questions justices ask during the oral argument, but this once I’ll hazard a guess: Florida’s death-sentencing law is in deep trouble. The better question, in fact, is not whether Pensacola killer Timothy Hurst will win his appeal but how […]

Bob SparksOctober 15, 2015

The end of the process for redrawing Florida’s congressional districts is in sight. It may be one cycle late, but if the Florida Supreme Court rules favorably on the recommended final map, candidates and potential candidates can make informed decisions. Last week, Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis signed off on one of seven maps […]

Guest AuthorOctober 15, 2015

I hear John Thrasher is doing a good job as president of Florida State University. Says FSU trustee Allan Bense: “In general, I will tell you 2014 was a rough year. There were days when I had 50 or 60 emails in my inbox. And I will tell you, you know how many I get […]

Guest AuthorOctober 14, 2015

The United Nations itself had not yet been officially established when its Food and Agriculture Organization was formed. The U.N. opened Oct. 24, 1945, eight days after the FAO, and not until 1948 did the international body ratified its Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The way these events unfolded suggests that ahead of individual human […]

Julie DelegalOctober 14, 2015

Rights, even those guaranteed by the constitution, are never absolute. Free speech rights don’t protect us from committing libel or slander, for example. They don’t protect us from yelling “fire” in a crowded theater. But so far, no one is challenging the NRA for its abuse of the First Amendment: spreading misinformation about guns in […]

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This exhibit celebrates late-blooming artistry, proving it’s never too late for bold creativity.

Sarah Maricle Ayers: Best medicine for drug prices is very little

Jax ethics chief urges after-hours training sessions

Tom O’Hara: Banner plane delivered highlight of AP Legislative Planning Day

Jim Kallinger: Make the smart solar choice

Augustus Sol Invictus takes his campaign to Reddit

Martin Dyckman: Why Florida’s death-sentencing law is likely in trouble

Bob Sparks: Even Florida’s nonpartisan congressional maps are deemed unfair

Chris Timmons: John Thrasher’s Florida State presidency: "Good job"

Terri Susan Fine: You need no special talent to help fight hunger

Julie Delegal: The NRA has gone all the way down the rabbit hole