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Florence SnyderMay 4, 2015

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Ft. Walton Beach, isn’t the only Tallahassee twerp to publicly disrespect his elders and betters, but he’s the first in memory to be called to account in the court of public opinion. Gaetz, 31, got his law license all of seven years ago and doesn’t have much to show in the way […]

Peter SchorschMay 3, 2015

By way of both a disclosure and a jumping off point for this post, I need to make it clear that for two of his previous campaigns, I served as a political consultant to Rep. Matt Gaetz. The expertise I offered, for whatever it was worth, was in the area of social media, including advice on […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 1, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant a writ of mandamus to Senate Democrats seeking to compel the Florida House to return to Tallahassee to finish the 2015 regular legislative session. Five of the seven justices, though, said the House actions violated the state Constitution as Democrats argued. In a unanimous ruling the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 1, 2015

On Friday, the last regularly scheduled day of the 2015 Legislative Session, lawmakers didn’t vote on the budget or scurry to get their bills passed in the waning hours. Instead, Senate Democrats held an afternoon press conference to discuss the Florida Supreme Court lawsuit they filed over the abrupt sine die of the House on […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 1, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli’s late-night apology for Rep. Matt Gaetz‘s questionable Twitter posts were not enough. Sen. Arthenia Joyner issued a statement early Friday noting that Gaetz has not apologized and that Crisfulli’s attempts to defuse the situation did not succeed. In her response Joyner said not only were the remarks racist, that the House’s opposition […]

Mitch PerryMay 1, 2015

What was supposed to be the last day of the regular legislative session in Tallahassee is turning into a very bad one for Rep. Matt Gaetz. The House Republican from Fort Walton Beach set off a firestorm Thursday afternoon by tweeting a comment about Senate Democrats’ petition filed to the Florida Supreme Court that challenges the state […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 1, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli late Thursday night apologized for a controversial Twitter post made by Rep. Matt Gaetz. Crisafulli said he “does not condone the Tweet by @MattGaetz. He is an agitator, yes, but not a racist. Please accept my apology to those offended.” Gaetz started a Twitter war Thursday afternoon after remarking that the Senate Democrats […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 30, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli sent a memo to representatives Thursday telling them he had no intention of calling them back to Tallahassee because of a lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court by Senate Democrats. “We strongly disagree with the arguments that were filed by 13 Democrat members of the Senate and believe that the House’s […]

James CallApril 30, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon ordered the House to respond by 10 a.m. Friday to Senate Democrats’ lawsuit against the lower chamber for adjourning the 2015 Regular Session three days early. After the House replies, the Democrats will have until 12:30 p.m. to answer. Earlier Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner had asked […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 30, 2015

Senate Democrats have filed an emergency petition with the Florida Supreme Court asking the justices to deliver an expedited ruling on whether the House of Representatives violated the state Constitution when they abruptly adjourned Tuesday. Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner and members of the Democratic Caucus walked from the Senate Office Building at the Capitol to […]

Tag: Arthenia Joyner
Donald Trump at White House South Lawn. Image via AP.

Florence Snyder: Impossible to miss racist content in Matt Gaetz tweet

Peter Schorsch: Matt Gaetz tweets highlight generational and maturity gap between House and Senate

Session over: Court rules against Senate Democrats, but says walkout illegal

Senate Democrats talk sine die lawsuit, Matt Gaetz’s tweets

Arthenia Joyner calls Matt Gaetz tweet, opposition to Medicaid expansion racist

Mike Hill latest Republican to condemn Matt Gaetz tweet

Steve Crisafulli apologizes for Matt Gaetz’s “disgraceful” tweet

Steve Crisafulli sends memo to members advising them to stay put

High court orders House to answer sine die lawsuit by 10 a.m. Friday

Senate Democrats sue House in state Supreme Court for early sine die