Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonJune 18, 2014

Juneteenth is a too-little-known annual day of celebration and reflection observed every June 19, commemorating the actual end of American slavery in 1865. It’s the day on which 149 years ago in Galveston, Texas, Gen. Gordon Granger and Union Army soldiers enforced the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, by freeing all […]

Daniel TilsonJune 5, 2014

University presidents should be special, but for the right reasons. This came to mind as Florida State University clumsily lurched along the road to picking a new president. Eric Barron resigned somewhat suddenly in early April, to take the presidency at Penn State. With a long pre-FSU faculty/administration history there, this was a “dream” move […]

Daniel TilsonMay 29, 2014

As if Internet service isn’t expensive enough, get ready for a “two-tiered” pay-to-play version. The Federal Communications Commission is moving forward with a controversial plan that would let Internet service providers (ISP) charge companies extra to stream their content at faster speeds. Companies like Netflix, Amazon and Google would be charged new fees to deliver […]

Daniel TilsonMay 27, 2014

The grandstanding of Gov. Rick Scott and other politicians around veterans’ health-care revelations leading up to Memorial Day weekend has been something to behold, and condemn. If there were one issue you’d hope to see both political parties rally around and use as a teachable, actionable moment for themselves and America, this would be it. […]

Daniel TilsonMay 21, 2014

Florida is nearing what could be a major step forward on marriage equality. And we have some ugly reminders that the ignorance, prejudice and downright stupidity that plagued us in a dark past, are still alive and unwell today. A ruling is expected soon in a lawsuit filed in Miami District Court in January. Equality […]

Daniel TilsonMay 17, 2014

The adage that “You get what you pay for” sure does hold true in Florida’s political and public policy circles. Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferullo wrote a great piece for Context Florida this week, laying out how we pay…for what we are unwilling to pay for. Let me explain. Ferullo detailed some of this […]

Daniel TilsonMay 13, 2014

Maybe if public policy deception were a crime, I wouldn’t have had to write this column. But there’s no law against disingenuous propaganda. So I had to write this. I had to push back against powerful vested interests advancing a dangerous social agenda while claiming it’s a public service. Vested interests like these pay “public […]

Guest AuthorMay 12, 2014

Joe Trippi, the legendary Democratic consultant, is not part of any right-wing cabal. So it’s noteworthy that when it comes to private school vouchers, charter schools and other forms of parental choice, he says, “We should try them all.” Trippi told me this in a recent interview, after describing how he grew up on the […]

Daniel TilsonMay 10, 2014

An eye-opening new report makes clear there’s no “debate” about whether manmade, industrially driven climate change is happening. It is. And we’ve only just begun paying the price. The 2014 National Climate Assessment Report released this week was not the work of a liberal think tank or some environmental organization. It’s the third such exhaustive […]

Daniel TilsonMay 5, 2014

Call me a defiant “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” parent of a Florida public school student. And I’m looking for a few — a few million — good men and women to join me in battle. We’re decades into a war waged by shadowy business interests and religious […]

Tag: Daniel Tilson
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Daniel Tilson: Make Juneteenth more than national holiday

Daniel Tilson: FSU president should be special for right reasons

Daniel Tilson: It’s HOW the FCC regulates the Internet that matters

Daniel Tilson: Political grandstanding over veterans’ health care is shameful

Daniel Tilson: Ugly reminders on road to Florida marriage equality

Daniel Tilson: Florida’s “Good Old Boy” government has to go

Daniel Tilson: Progressives are not falling for “parental choice” con game

Ron Matus: Progressives should embrace parental choice – and they are

Daniel Tilson: Silence and inaction won’t do on climate change

Daniel Tilson: Floridians need to fight the privatization of public schools