Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Dominic CalabroDecember 14, 2015

While virtually every Floridian has interaction with state government, it’s easy for the average person to feel distanced from the political process of Tallahassee. It also can be easy for our elected leaders to feel distanced from their constituents if they don’t regularly hear from the voters. Every Floridian, though, has a unique opportunity to […]

Guest AuthorDecember 6, 2015

“ I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Florida …So help me God.” Article II Section 5 Constitution of the State of Florida. The Florida Constitution requires every elected or duly appointed member of the executive, […]

Jim RosicaNovember 18, 2015

In a legislative equivalent of a Hail Mary pass, the Democratic leader of the GOP-controlled state House has filed legislation to extend the terms of state lawmakers from eight years to 12 years. State Rep. Mark Pafford of West Palm Beach submitted the bill (HJR 711) on Wednesday for the 2016 Legislative Session. The change would require amending the state […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 27, 2015

Every 20 years, a group convenes to review the Florida Constitution and recommend changes to go before voters for approval. The LeRoy Collins Institute is launching an education and outreach effort aimed at getting ready for that process. The 2017-2018 Constitution Revision Commission will consist of 37 appointees. In all, 18 groups from across the […]

Bill PrescottOctober 26, 2015

Term limits have spelled disaster for the Florida Legislature – erasing experience, dumbing down the process, and leaving lobbyists even more firmly in control. It was the achievement of people who preferred to weaken government rather than improve it. Florida being Florida, it figures that some people now propose to do the same to the […]

Diane RobertsOctober 22, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – Another Special Session! Why, it’s just like Christmas – minus the joy. Minus the presents, too. While the members of the Florida Legislature rake in lobbyist largesse during committee weeks and every other hour that God sends, trawling for dollars during a Session is verboten. This makes them surly. Surlier. They aren’t […]

Diane RobertsOctober 20, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – Another Special Session! Why, it’s just like Christmas – minus the joy. Minus the presents, too. While the members of the Florida Legislature rake in lobbyist largesse during committee weeks and every other hour that God sends, trawling for dollars during a Session is verboten. This makes them surly. Surlier. They aren’t […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 12, 2015

[UPDATED: In the wake of this memo, The Florida-Times Union reports on Monday night that Lenny Curry has sought resignation letters from every other member of the JEA Board “The mayor felt it necessary to communicate with the five remaining board members given the recent admonishment by the general counsel of the city of Jacksonville and further revelations […]

Peter SchorschOctober 2, 2015

A group of environmentalist political activists – “diverse,” to say the least – continued their conference at the Hyatt Regency in Miami on Wednesday. Continuing subsidies for solar and defeating the Koch Brothers were common themes center stage at a panel entitled “Solar Energy in Florida.” The panel, which included former Vice President Al Gore, Sierra Club leader Tom […]

Diane RobertsAugust 18, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – They stamp their feet, they scream till they’re sick, and hold their breath till they’re blue. They act like 5-year-olds caught with their grotty little paws in the cookie jar, their faces covered in crumbs, as they swear they didn’t do anything wrong. The Special – or Remedial – Session. While all […]

Tag: Florida Constitution

Dominic M. Calabro: Floridians have historic opportunity to control their government

John Wood: Defending our constitutions

Mark Pafford proposes extending legislative term limits

Group launches education, outreach campaign gearing up for constitutional review

Martin Dyckman: Judiciary term limits? Bad idea

Diane Roberts: Charm and grace again flow downhill from Capitol

Diane Roberts: Charm and grace again flow downhill from Capitol

Jax general counsel issues “Sunshine Law” memo to JEA board, before Lenny Curry requests resignations

At Miami climate summit, Al Gore and Debbie Dooley make strange political bedfellows

Diane Roberts: Democracy in Florida remains lost in spite of new maps