Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonMarch 5, 2014

“He’s a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction…” When Kris Kristofferson wrote that line in his classic 1971 song, “He’s a Pilgrim,” he might have been having a premonition about this week’s paradoxical 2014 State of the State speech delivered by Gov. Rick Scott. In the 2013 version, Scott said, “Accountability is working” with […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 3, 2014

Florida’s 2014 legislative session runs from March 4 until May 2. Then comes Election Day on Nov. 4. It’s that last date you want to keep uppermost in mind when you hear about winners and losers in Tallahassee these next couple of months. When it comes to predicting win/loss percentages, let’s just say the casino […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 27, 2014

Let’s face it. Most working families and retirees in Florida take a pass on paying much if any attention to the 60-day lawmaking scrimmage that takes place in Tallahassee around this time each year. Maybe if legislators actually scrimmaged in pads and helmets while debating what they’re going to do to our lives, we’d pay […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 25, 2014

Tuesday Feb. 25 marked the 50th anniversary of one of the most notable nights in boxing, sports and Miami Beach history: the incredible upset victory of Cassius Clay over World Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston. The fact that the fight took place in Florida makes the memory all the more special, and given where the state […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 22, 2014

Unless your annual income ranks near the top 1 percent in Florida, the economic news coming out of two major new reports released last week is not good. On Wednesday the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute released “The Increasingly Unequal States of America,” with a dedicated section called “Lopsided income Growth in Florida“. Key takeaways include: […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 19, 2014

Here they go again. A determined cohort of elected officials in our Legislature is trying to turn working and retired people against each other, to better the odds of a dangerous bill becoming destructive law. As reported in The Florida Current, the Senate Community Affairs Committee Tuesday passed a bill by a 5-4 vote that […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 17, 2014

This past weekend old friends Shirley, Jack and Yvonne attended an “open house” at a new adult residential community in their area. Shirley’s recently divorced, unemployed 20-something son Pete tagged along… LOUDSPEAKER: Testing 1 – 2 – is this working? TESTING… PETE: IT’S WORKING, STOP SHOUTING! SHIRLEY: Pete, Shhh! LOUDSPEAKER: So…Welcome to Bonita Boca Verde […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 14, 2014

Sometimes it takes an in-your-face personal experience to remind you how bad a public problem has become. I’m talking about the ever-spreading epidemic of politically motivated, technologically insulated online incivility and awfulness. Now don’t go thinking I’ve gone all soft and squishy about taking the heat that Internet trolls and over-baked critics can cook up. […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 9, 2014

Last week there was yet another example of the enduring, unethical effort by forces in our Florida government to make it harder or impossible for some of us to vote. This time around, college kids are the targets. Students at the University of Florida in Gainesville thought increasing civic engagement at their publicly owned school […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 5, 2014

Gov. Rick Scott last week proposed a 2014-2015 Florida budget, even gave it a catchy name: “It’s Your Money Tax Cut Budget”! Calls to mind one of those infomercial pitchmen, working hard at selling some shiny new gadget guaranteed to make your life better… “Hi everybody, welcome to ‘It’s Your Money Tax Cut Budget’! I’m […]

Tag: Daniel Tilson

Daniel Tilson: Rick Scott’s State Of State devoid of accountability

Daniel Tilson: Winners and losers in Florida 2014 legislative session

Daniel Tilson: Middle-class Floridians, pay attention to the 2014 legislative session

Daniel Tilson: Ali anniversary as “stand your ground” lesson

Daniel Tilson: Bad news last week for Florida middle class…and GOP?

Daniel Tilson: Fla. Legislature must stop 2014 attack on public employee pensions

Daniel Tilson: Floridians talking unions – and Tennessee auto plant

Daniel Tilson: Self-restraint too often lacking in political cyberspace

Daniel Tilson: Floridians must unite to fight voter suppression

Daniel Tilson: Rick Scott’s 2014-2015 budget pitch