Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorSeptember 9, 2014

Last week’s Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9/UF Bob Graham Center poll on Amendment 2, which would legalize medical marijuana, indicates that only 56.7 percent of likely voters are supporting the amendment. This is certainly good news for those of us who oppose the amendment, but much can change. What is significant about the poll is […]

Martin DyckmanSeptember 8, 2014

Every judge gets a robe and a gavel. Until now, it has not been thought necessary to include barbecue mitts in the kit. But it seems some judges need them. Consider the hot-potato handling in the Tampa divorce case of Mariama Monique Changamire Shaw vs. Keiba Lynn Shaw. Married legally in Massachusetts in 2010, they […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 8, 2014

Labor Day is at least a week into the rearview mirror, so the white pants should be closeted away until next June. The kids are back at school, football has returned to the tube, and, even in Florida, the temperature has dropped a degree or two. In other words, elections are less than two months away. […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 8, 2014

Judging by the ugly tone of the Rick Scott vs. Charlie Crist political campaign ads, this is shaping up to be the Scott Rothstein election. For those who may be living in a cave without wi-fi, Rothstein is the former South Florida attorney who was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for perpetrating a […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 8, 2014

When the Florida courts consider several lawsuits filed recently by the Florida Education Association and other anti-voucher groups, I hope someone will call me as a witness. That’s because I am a public school parent who agrees that some of our education tax dollars aren’t being spent in a way that serves the public interest. […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 8, 2014

As a Hendry County commissioner and as a local business owner, I am disturbed by a Sierra Club representative’s remarks in a recent Palm Beach Post article. I am disturbed but not surprised at the complete disregard of the employment reality, and as usual the apparent assault on the U.S. Sugar/Sugar Hill Sector Plan — […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 7, 2014

Eventually Floridians will look back at today’s politicians and say, “What were they thinking? What were they smoking?” I’m talking about Florida’s refusal to accept millions of dollars in federal Medicaid money that would have improved life for thousands of people. Forget about the way the Rabid Republicans spurned the money because Uncle Sam would […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 7, 2014

In this election year, Florida Gov. Rick Scott is masquerading as the friend of the middle class. Who does he think he’s fooling? For going on 16 years, the Florida Republican Party has fiddled and belittled the middle class. It isn’t an act of God that’s destroying the American Dream; it’s petty, self-serving, greedy acts […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 7, 2014

Over the years I’ve had the privilege to meet some amazing people. One of the most impressive people I’ve worked with is Jim Brown. Jim has lived an amazing life as an athlete, civil rights advocate and movie star. Today’s generation of football fans has little appreciation for Jim’s dominance on the gridiron. He played […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 7, 2014

Tourists visit Florida for its sunny beaches, shining amusement parks and natural landscapes. In fact, the Sunshine State welcomes nearly 100 million of them each year. They come to stay, play, and pay…taxes. Nearly 74 percent of Florida’s general revenue comes from sales and use taxes, and a large part of that $19.4 billion is […]

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Barney Bishop: Support for passage of medical marijuana amendment slipping

Martin Dyckman: Same-sex divorce too hot to handle for many Florida judges

Peter Schorsch: Five critical political questions leading up to November’s election

Andrew Skerritt: Con man will be factor in the Scott-Crist gubernatorial race

William Mattox: History project highlights debate about education spending

Karson Turner: U.S. Sugar/Sugar Hill Sector Plan good for Hendry County

Mark O’Brien: Conservatives wrong to oppose Medicaid expansion in Florida

Stephen Goldstein: Wage gap between Florida men and women unchanged for 30 years

Jeff Kottkamp: Legendary NFL running back says that winning is a team effort

Jerry D. Parrish: More tourists mean lower taxes for Florida’s residents