Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonApril 3, 2014

Gov. Rick Scott and Florida’s Republican legislators think lots of Election 2014 votes can be won with a $25 auto fee refund and some sales tax holidays. The Florida Chamber and other big business war chests will finance endlessly misleading multimedia messaging, about how Republicans have achieved “meaningful tax relief for Florida’s families,” by letting […]

Daniel TilsonApril 1, 2014

Overcoming epic rollout woes, constant conservative attacks, repeated Republican repeal attempts and nonstop negative media coverage, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has met and exceeded its benchmark goal of gaining 7 million enrollees by March 31. The ironic icing on the cake for Florida progressives is that infamous “Obamacare” opponent Gov. Rick Scott must endure […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 29, 2014

The details of a messy divorce between Gov. Rick Scott and campaign finance co-chair Mike Fernandez became public last week, shedding unflattering new light on the dysfunctional political culture Scott has created in Tallahassee. It’s a light that could help millions of Florida voters see through this year’s attempted “extreme makeover” of Scott, intended to soften […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 26, 2014

Have you ever had part of your weekly salary stolen? By an employer using unethical or outright illegal means? Over, and over, and over again? If your answers to the first two much less all three questions are “yes,” then you know how unfair and awful wage theft is. If you answered no, then imagine […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 25, 2014

When I first met Felipe Matos, he was heading nobly northward through Palm Beach County, traveling by foot along with three brave young companions. Felipe, Gaby Pacheco, Juan (now Isabel Sousa) Rodriguez and Carlos Roa had departed from the foot of Miami’s historic Freedom Tower on New Year’s Day 2010, the beginning of an epic […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 23, 2014

“All politics is local” is a saying most are familiar with. “Think globally, act locally” is another. Both underline a point that people of any ideological persuasion or political affiliation (except for fascists) ought to be able to agree on. The only way middle-class, working poor and retired folks can have some say over how […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 17, 2014

The balls are moving faster from shell to shell up in Tallahassee now, as political hucksters and con artists enter double-digit territory in Florida’s 2014 legislative session. At this stage of the game, working families and retired folks should look away from the moving balls, check their wallets and valuables, and refocus all attention on […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 12, 2014

So Alex Sink lost another big one. Not exactly a surprise. After all, this is the same Sink who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in 2010, enabling an ultra-conservative, ethically tainted multimillionaire businessman to get elected Florida governor. Like Rick Scott then, Republican David Jolly beat Sink in Tuesday’s CD 13 special election […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 10, 2014

There were some fascinating takeaways from the just-completed 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Rand Paul won the presidential straw poll for the second year in a row, up six points from last year to win going away with 31 percent. His win is no surprise, since the CPAC crowd is thick with younger libertarian-leaning […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 8, 2014

The good news about the David Jolly-Alex Sink Florida CD 13 special election campaign is…it’s almost over. The vote is Tuesday. The bad news is, it has been an exasperating exercise in the kind of outside interest-funded “gotcha!” politics that confounds and alienates more voters than it informs and engages. The 13th U.S. congressional district […]

Tag: Daniel Tilson
Aerial shot captures the devastating impact of a hurricane on a small town, showcasing flooded streets and submerged homes after the storm.

Daniel Tilson: Florida’s ‘Here’s 25 bucks, vote Republican’ budget

Daniel Tilson: Florida leads way on Obamacare, for better and worse

Daniel Tilson: Gov. Rick Scott’s culture of insensitivity and paranoia

Daniel Tilson: Florida House wage-theft bill adds insult to injury

Daniel Tilson: Florida ‘DREAMers’ deserve in-state tuition

Daniel Tilson: ‘Orange Rising’ redefining “Home Rule” in Florida

Daniel Tilson: Busting up 2014 legislative con games

Daniel Tilson: Lessons for losers from Florida congressional district 13

Daniel Tilson: Takeaways from CPAC 2014

Daniel Tilson: Silver lining in clouded Florida CD 13 special election