Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossOctober 15, 2015

The natural gas pushback has begun. Hot on the heels of news that another public access compressed natural gas station has opened in North Florida, a new analysis is out suggesting that Florida is one of several states “relying too much on natural gas” rather than turning to renewable energy sources like wind or solar […]

Melissa RossOctober 13, 2015

New data released by the USF-Nielsen Sunshine State Survey shows that most Floridians still feel stressed about their personal finances, see government waste and efficiency as a threat to the economy, and are concerned about job loss and undocumented workers. “People don’t feel like their tax dollars are being spent efficiently,” USF professor Susan McManus […]

Melissa RossOctober 12, 2015

The social justice group Dream Defenders sent an email to stakeholders and media outlets explaining that the organization’s current social media blackout is “being intentional about our next steps.” According to Rachel Gilmer, new chief of strategy for the organization, the group will soon launch the FREE Campaign, “a membership-driven effort that begins with a statewide […]

Bob SparksOctober 8, 2015

Fifteen months before the presidential election, New Hampshire and Iowa is where the action is. That is true every four years. Winning the nomination and the general election requires a strong performance in several key states. In 2016, the next president will have won at least two of a group of three swing states that […]

Melissa RossOctober 8, 2015

As happens every October, the U.S. Supreme Court has begun a new term, with a Florida death penalty case one of the major cases it’s weighing. At least six capital-punishment cases are on the high court’s docket, after a recent flurry of executions across the country have led to dramatic, last-minute appeals. On Tuesday, the […]

Associated PressOctober 7, 2015

Jeb Bush‘s signature achievement in education policy as Florida governor may be at risk of coming apart. A champion of what became known as Common Core education standards, Bush pushed a set of high-stakes tests for students and a system of grading schools as the centerpiece of an education agenda that defines much of his […]

Melissa RossOctober 7, 2015

Home furnishing giant IKEA has set hearts aflutter in Jacksonville, announcing it plans to start construction next summer and open a new location in Duval County in the fall of 2017. The proposed store will be 294,000 square feet, sited at the intersection of Gate Parkway and I-295 near the St. Johns Town Center. IKEA, […]

Drew WilsonOctober 7, 2015

Florida added 15,700 private sector jobs in September, the second highest total among the 50 states, according to a report released Wednesday by payroll company ADP. The ADP Regional Employment Report data puts Florida ahead of all states except California, which added 35,100 jobs last month, and marks the best gain for the Sunshine State […]

Melissa RossOctober 6, 2015

One month, one city, two panels looking at the future of energy, with two very different tones. This October, Jacksonville will host the Florida Energy Summit. The event, sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the JAX Chamber, is billed as “convening energy leaders from across the state and around the nation to share ideas on […]

Guest AuthorOctober 5, 2015

I’ve always had a pet theory about when the long-awaited “libertarian moment” would happen. There would be a tipping point of sorts. Governmental debt, the logical victory of civil liberties arguments and a general realization that the American prison-industrial complex was too bloated, inefficient, and corrupt would converge to bring about some common sense solutions […]

Tag: Florida
Screenshot via Facebook (Kelly Johnson).

Email insights: Florida relies too much on natural gas, says Union of Concerned Scientists

USF-Nielsen Sunshine State Survey finds Floridians stressed about jobs, economy

Email insights: Dream Defenders tease launch of “FREE Campaign”

Bob Sparks: When likability and the desire for leadership and experience collide

U.S. Supreme Court to hear Florida death penalty case

As Jeb Bush campaigns, Florida struggles with his schools legacy

IKEA announces plans to open a store in Jacksonville

Florida adds nearly 16K jobs in September, second highest in nation

Jax climate and energy panels: a tale of two conferences

A.G. Gancarski: So much for the libertarian moment