Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJune 7, 2018

State Rep. Sean Shaw added another major endorsement Thursday in his campaign to replace termed-out Attorney General Pam Bondi in the fall. The Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teacher union, said the Democratic lawmaker had “proven himself a friend of public education” during the two sessions he’s represented his Tampa-based district in the Florida […]

Drew WilsonApril 10, 2018

In a Monday email, the Florida Education Association said Gov. Rick Scott doesn’t deserve the vote of anyone who cares about public education. The email, sent out hours after Scott announced his U.S. Senate campaign, said the two-term governor “has been a real dud” when it comes to strengthening public education. The teacher union dinged […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2018

The Florida Education Association hasn’t often championed Gov. Rick Scott‘s education proposals, but it is applauding his $500 million plan to address school safety that he announced Friday in Tallahassee. The suite of proposals most notably does not include arming schoolteachers, an idea that President Donald Trump and other Florida Republican lawmakers have proposed in […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 7, 2018

Teachers union Florida Education Association has more than a few gripes with the omnibus education bill being fast tracked by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, and it’s going after a long list of Republican representatives to put a stop to it. “This monstrosity is a clear attempt to destroy our public schools while telling professional educators […]

Staff ReportsApril 17, 2017

The Florida Education Association is taking to the airwaves to call on lawmakers to better fund public schools. The statewide education association released two advertisements Thursday in response to several measures being advanced by the Legislature. The proposals, education officials said, would underfund public schools and harm public school students. “Students are at the center […]

Mitch PerryDecember 19, 2016

Stephen Bittel, a favorite of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson as the person who might become the next chair of the Florida Democratic Party, announced he received more endorsements from organization labor in his bid Tuesday for Miami-Dade County committeeman against Dwight Bullard. Typically, such inside local politics maneuvering wouldn’t garner statewide attention, but the winner in Tuesday night’s Miami-Dade […]

Mitch PerryAugust 17, 2016

The Florida Education Association announced Wednesday it is supporting St. Petersburg attorney Ben Diamond in the House District 68 race. “The Florida Education Association is proud to endorse Ben Diamond in his race for the Florida House,” said Joanne McCall, president of FEA. “Ben has been working in his community to address some of the most pressing […]

Phil AmmannJuly 7, 2015

Florida’s teachers union expressed frustration with another legal loss in the attempt to overturn a 2011 law setting guidelines for teacher evaluations. In a prepared statement, Florida Education Association (FEA) President Andy Ford addressed Tuesday’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta. The court upheld the dismissal of a […]

Guest AuthorJuly 2, 2015

The teacher who taught state Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, his ABCs, if he or she were around, should certainly regret it. Because — astonishingly, or maybe not — Fresen believes that the insights gleaned from a casual reading during a long airplane flight (Amanda Ripley’s “The Smartest Kids in the World,” according to Fresen) entitles […]

Bob SparksJune 18, 2015

Recently, New York Times columnist David Brooks described the group of Democrats blocking President Obama’s expanded trade authority as the “Democrats’ Tea Party.” By their rigid stance in obstructing the president from negotiating a fast-track trade agreement with Asian countries, Democrats are violating their own principles. By taking Big Labor’s lead in opposing such agreements, […]

Tag: FEA

Teachers union backing Sean Shaw for Attorney General

Email Insights: FEA lays into Rick Scott’s record on education

Florida’s largest teacher union backs Rick Scott school safety plan

Teachers union asks if Republicans are ‘too cowardly’ to stand up to Richard Corcoran

In new ads, teachers union calls for proper funding for public schools

Stephen Bittel rolls out more endorsements in bid for Miami-Dade Democratic Committeeman

Florida Education Association backing Ben Diamond in House District 68 race

Appeals court dismisses Florida teachers evaluation law challenge, union frustrated

Chris Timmons: Legislator misunderstands teaching and teachers

Bob Sparks: Progressive extremism, Florida style