Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossFebruary 11, 2016

Fresh off the heels of his victory in the New Hampshire primary, supporters of Bernie Sanders down here in Florida say they’re energized for their candidate heading into the state’s winner-take-all March 15 primary. “Support for Bernie has grown exponentially,” said Matt Killen, a North Florida organizer for the Sanders campaign. “It started with a […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 10, 2016

Taxpayers beware: There is a dangerously naive proposal making the rounds in Tallahassee. Some politicians want to significantly damage Florida’s successful Contraband Forfeiture Act. This is the law that prevents criminals from profiting from their illegal acts. Just like we prohibit killers from profiting by writing books about their crimes, the civil contraband forfeiture law […]

Melissa RossFebruary 10, 2016

JAX Chamber Chairwoman Audrey Moran has made it clear she’s comfortable with diverging from City Hall on the issue of the the city’s human rights ordinance. Moran, herself a former mayoral candidate, says “she really doesn’t understand the motives” behind recent moves to table two competing pieces of legislation looking at covering Jacksonville’s LGBT residents […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 9, 2016

Second of three parts. Civil forfeiture began as something relatively innocuous. Throughout most of U.S. history, civil forfeiture was primarily used to enforce duties and excise taxes. But this all changed during the 1980s, as law enforcement agencies around the nation began to realize that they could supplement their resources by pursuing civil forfeiture instead […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 9, 2016

Taxpayers beware: There is a dangerously naive proposal making the rounds in Tallahassee. Some politicians want to significantly damage Florida’s successful Contraband Forfeiture Act. This is the law that prevents criminals from profiting from their illegal acts. Just like we prohibit killers from profiting by writing books about their crimes, the civil contraband forfeiture law […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 9, 2016

His reputation as a harsh critic of the Voting Rights Act and an advocate for corporations preceded John Roberts to his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2005. As chief justice, he said, he would be like a baseball umpire impartially calling balls and strikes. “Umpires don’t make the rules. They apply […]

Melissa RossFebruary 9, 2016

The FSU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) says it’s hosting an event where students can smash Donald Trump piñatas “in protest of the racism and hatred shown in his presidential campaign.” “The policies of Trump that will be protested include: militarizing and building a wall on the US-Mexico border, banning Muslims from […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 8, 2016

His reputation as a harsh critic of the Voting Rights Act and an advocate for corporations preceded John Roberts to his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2005. As chief justice, he said, he would be like a baseball umpire impartially calling balls and strikes. “Umpires don’t make the rules. They apply […]

Jac VerSteegFebruary 7, 2016

What do Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush and some Florida lawmakers have in common? They’ve all said some pretty disturbing things recently about the use of military power. Hmmm. I guess I also should add Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio to the list. Start with Jeb. By now you’ve probably seen his latest cringe-worthy […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 7, 2016

The Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that students didn’t have to say the Pledge of Allegiance if they brought in a signed letter from their parents. Not everyone is aware of the law and misguided teachers still occasionally force students to stand and say the Pledge. Enter the ACLU and a few non-conformists. Recently, some […]

Tag: Florida
Image via AP.

#JaxforBernie supporters expect “capacity” crowd at Dem debate watch party

Grady Judd: Taxpayers have most to lose from attack on Contraband Forfeiture Act

Audrey Moran on Lenny Curry: “I made it clear to him I was disappointed” on HRO

Justin Pearson: Legislature needs to reform Florida’s civil forfeiture laws

Grady Judd: Taxpayers have most to lose from attack on Contraband Forfeiture Act

Martin Dyckman: Justice John Roberts has hurt minorities, consumers, democracy

Email insights: FSU’s SDS chapter plans Donald Trump Piñata Bash

Martin Dyckman: Justice John Roberts has hurt minorities, consumers, democracy

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Hold your applause for Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton

Catherine Durkin Robinson: It’s illegal to force students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance