Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayJuly 24, 2015

House District 49 Democratic candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith announced to a rally of fast food workers he will stand with them in gesture of solidarity by agreeing to temporarily live on Florida’s minimum wage $8.05 an hour. The move, which liberal legislators such as Sen. Dwight Bullard and Rep. Cynthia Stafford have mirrored in the past, comes amid […]

Ryan RayJuly 8, 2015

Rumors surrounding U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson and his designs on the Senate seat Marco Rubio will soon vacate are nothing new. But with word spreading that the self-proclaimed “Congressman with Guts” will officially announce Thursday efforts to prepare for the electoral domino effect he’ll set in motion are gaining a new urgency. Grayson’s decision to give up a coveted seat in the […]

Guest AuthorMay 7, 2015

A few days ago we saw an unfortunate failure of leadership in the Florida Legislature. As a businessman still somewhat new to the process, I was disappointed that the will of the majority was bypassed. By putting politics before the work of the people, too many important issues were left stuck in the balance. One […]

Ryan RayApril 27, 2015

Former Democratic Rep. Joe Saunders is “talking to family and friends about what the future may hold” now that Rep. Rene Plasencia – who narrowly defeated Saunders in a razor-thin contest in District 49 last November – has opted to run in a more Republican-leaning adjacent district in 2016. Saunders took to social media on Sunday and later caught up with Florida […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2015

Dear legislator: A number of years ago I was playing golf at Solivita, a community near Poinciana on the Polk County side of Osceola County. The area looked strangely familiar, especially the cypress swamps and pine woods between the holes. As I came up one fairway and looked into an oak hammock, I saw the […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2015

Dear legislator: A number of years ago I was playing golf at Solivita, a community near Poinciana on the Polk County side of Osceola County. The area looked strangely familiar, especially the cypress swamps and pine woods between the holes. As I came up one fairway and looked into an oak hammock, I saw the […]

Guest AuthorMarch 25, 2015

I recently met someone from Bolivia through a mutual friend. She was telling me how different it is in Florida, as no one ever is outside or takes walks. I thought that was an odd statement, given that I see plenty of fellow Floridians outside enjoying our beautiful state. Then I thought: The difference is that […]

Guest AuthorMarch 1, 2015

This session, the Florida Legislature is making an unprecedented commitment to the stewardship of our natural resources by including the development of a broader water policy as a key priority in the shared House and Senate agenda. To the benefit of all Floridians, leaders starting with Governor Rick Scott, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, House Speaker […]

Guest AuthorMarch 1, 2015

This session, the Florida Legislature is making an unprecedented commitment to the stewardship of our natural resources by including the development of a broader water policy as a key priority in the shared House and Senate agenda. To the benefit of all Floridians, leaders starting with Gov. Rick Scott, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, House Speaker […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 26, 2015

Benjamin Franklin delivered the memorable line, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Were he alive today, I believe Franklin would amend his short list of inevitabilities with a declaration that Florida Republicans can solidly count on negative editorials from the Tampa Bay Times. Such is the case with […]

Tag: Central Florida

House candidate Carlos Smith accepts minimum wage challenge

Alan Grayson Senate bid will tip political dominoes in Central Florida

Wilton Simpson: We must create a statewide plan to restore, protect all environmentally sensitive areas

Democrat Joe Saunders considers comeback in House District 49

Rick Dantzler — Dear Legislator: Where will Fla. kids learn to hunt and fish?

Rick Dantzler: Dear legislator, where will Fla. kids learn to hunt and fish?

Alaina Bernard: Orlando culture forming stepping stones for the future

Tom Feeney: Setting the Record Straight on the Florida House’s Water Policy

Tom Feeney: Environmentalists unfairly attacking House water policy

Steve Crisafulli: Tampa Bay Times editorial distorts House water plan