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Guest AuthorOctober 17, 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

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, […]

Ryan RayOctober 14, 2015

Sen. Arthenia Joyner didn’t mean it in a good way when she said recent actions taken by Gov. Rick Scott and her GOP colleagues in the statehouse represented “just another day in Tallahassee.” After taking to the rostrum to the tune of Aretha Franklin‘s “Respect,” Joyner heaped criticism on the governor and legislative leaders for “grand abdications of the […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

The Florida Legislature on Wednesday released six proposed new maps for state Senate districts before the start of a three-week Special Session on redistricting. All of the staff-drawn maps, however, contain districts that cross Tampa Bay. That runs afoul of direction the Florida Supreme Court gave in a similar case involving congressional districts to “avoid crossing Tampa Bay.” […]

Jim RosicaOctober 8, 2015

The Florida Senate’s Rules Committee on Thursday unanimously recommended removing a Confederate flag from the chamber’s official seal and replacing it with the state flag. Senators on the panel voted for the move 9-0. The matter now goes before the full Senate, which could consider it in the beginning of the 2016 Legislative Session in […]

Jim RosicaOctober 8, 2015

The Florida Senate on Thursday will start its formal consideration of removing the Confederate flag from the chamber’s official seal. But another flag depiction greets visitors to the Capitol as they enter the Senate’s 5th floor observation gallery: The “Five Flags Mural,” which includes the Confederate flag near the center of the 10 foot-by-16 foot painting. Critics needn’t worry […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 29, 2015

Reaction was fierce and accusatory in the immediate wake of the revelations of a Tampa Bay Times story published last month that traced the Pinellas County School Board’s role in resegregating five elementary schools and having them turn into some of the worst performing ones in Florida. St. Petersburg based House Democrat Darryl Rouson called on the […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 23, 2015

When the Florida Legislature begins redrawing up all 40 state Senate districts in their next scheduled special session (October 26-November 6), the Senate District 22 seat is expected to change dramatically and become much more Democratic Party friendly. If that scenario plays out, current GOP incumbent Jeff Brandes is expected to bail out of that […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 23, 2015

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant is calling on state Rep. Janet Adkins to apologize after a disclosure of her remarks about including as many prisons as possible in U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown‘s new district to help “get rid of” her. Adkins, a Fernandina Beach Republican, made the comments during a closed Republican Party of Florida meeting […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 23, 2015

Although it may never come to pass, a redrawn Senate District 20 that would have Pinellas County Republicans Jack Latvala and Jeff Brandes competing against each other shows that Latvala would come out on top, and it wouldn’t be close. The St. Pete Poll survey shows that Latvala would defeat Brandes in a primary, 48-23 percent. Nearly […]

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

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

Senate Democratic leader rips into Rick Scott, state GOP leadership

New maps for state Senate include districts crossing Tampa Bay

Panel OKs erasing Confederate flag from Senate seal

Capitol mural with Confederate flag will be ‘changed out’

Darryl Rouson challenged by School Board chair on South St. Pete school crisis

Dwight Dudley leading Darryl Rouson in potential Democratic SD 22 primary contest

FDP’s Allison Tant says GOP state Rep. Janet Adkins should apologize

Jack Latvala would crush Jeff Brandes in speculative SD 20 race