Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegAugust 2, 2015

First, give Jeb Bush credit for accepting the Urban League’s invitation to speak in Fort Lauderdale on Friday. Call it a politely hostile forum. Too many other Republican candidates lacked the guts to show up. Give Bush credit also for citing examples of his leadership that could appeal to his Urban League audience. For example, […]

Julie DelegalAugust 2, 2015

The Florida Legislature just passed a law that will award bonuses to police officers who were patrol boys or patrol girls in fifth grade. Not really. But what they did was equally absurd. And it could be illegal, too. In last-minute budget horse-trading during the Legislature’s first Special Session this summer, Rep. Erik Fresen’s bill […]

Associated PressJuly 30, 2015

The Florida Lottery is considering selling lottery tickets online or alongside ATMs to combat relatively flat sales of some of the more well-known games. Lottery officials have asked companies seeking a contract worth at least $300 million to prove that they can sell tickets on the Internet or at ATMs and gas pumps. The lottery […]

Bob SparksJuly 24, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court has the final say in all things concerning the Florida Constitution. They determine, among other things, whether actions taken by the legislative and executive branch are compliant with the constitution. When it comes to redistricting, they have assumed the lead role in the process. No one, other than a fellow justice, […]

Bob SparksJuly 23, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court has the final say in all things concerning the Florida Constitution. They determine, among other things, if actions taken by the legislative and executive branch are compliant with the Constitution. When it comes to redistricting, they have assumed the lead role in the process. No one, other than a fellow justice, […]

Peter SchorschJuly 22, 2015

After several months of cooking, a new proposed amendment to Florida’s constitution popped up this week. What is it? It’s a mouthful and is called, “All Voters Vote in Top Two Primary Elections for Congress, State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet” and it basically changes the rules for how elections are conducted in Florida. It does […]

Gary FineoutJuly 20, 2015

Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature, dealing with the fallout of a sharply critical decision by the state’s highest court, will hold a nearly two-week Special Session in August to draw up new congressional districts. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner announced Monday that they’re summoning legislators back to Tallahassee to respond to the court. […]

Bill PrescottJuly 14, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court has ruled the state’s congressional maps don’t meet requirements of a voter-approved constitutional amendment prohibiting political lines drawn to favor incumbents or political parties. The court ordered the Legislature to redraw the maps These are 10 big questions looming over Florida politics: 1. Will the Legislature appeal? USFSP political science emeritus […]

Julie DelegalJuly 14, 2015

In light of the recent Florida Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering, and given the rationale that justified the illegal redistricting lines in the first place, the words of playwright Tennessee Williams have never been more on point. “There ain’t nothin’ more powerful than the odor of mendacity. You can smell it,” Williams wrote. “It smells […]

Guest AuthorJuly 13, 2015

On climate change adaptation, the hour is very late. Only seven years ago the mainstream media began reporting the likelihood that warming temperatures at the arctic extremes could begin releasing vast quantities of methane gas into the atmosphere, with its potential to rapidly double the amount of global warming gases already overloading the atmosphere. With […]

Tag: Florida Legislature

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: The education “achievement” missing from Jeb Bush’s Urban League speech

Julie Delegal: Erik Fresen’s folly fosters another education absurdity

Lottery exploring ticket sales online and at bank machines

Bob Sparks: Supreme Court takes command in redistricting process

Bob Sparks: Supreme Court takes command in redistricting process

Peter Schorsch: Old hands propose new notion to open Florida's primary elections

Florida Legislature sets August dates to redraw congressional lines

Peter Schorsch: Court ruling has tossed the Monopoly board

Julie Delegal: For voters in Florida, map-drawing mendacity nearly killed democracy

Alan Farago: Mr. President, that alarm you hear is the climate clock running out