Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMarch 5, 2014

Reason and emotion are the two drivers of decision-making, so it is not surprising that advocates for and against medical marijuana try to appeal to both the head and the heart. While observing the players on both sides of the debate, I have found people whose position comes from their heart, some from their head, […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 19, 2014

Our elected officials get a plethora of input from phone calls, e-mails and desperate testimony in town halls and committee meetings. But, most likely, the decisions they make are done in those quiet, introspective moments when they process all that they have read and heard. But sometimes, they reach out for guidance from higher authorities. […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 17, 2014

There are some people who do great things in places far from the limelight. You may see them on the local news at a rally, in a crowd and sometimes even interviewed about the things they have seen and done. Paula Witthaus was just such a person. Her life and work was her most precious […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 29, 2014

First of two parts. Florida is not known as an early adapter. Perhaps that is why it is one of only 15 states left that have not ratified the ERA after 41 years. But the hard work of several legislators and interested parties outside of Tallahassee are looking to get Florida into a new era […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 14, 2014

I remember watching video during the war in Bosnia and thinking that I couldn’t tell difference between a Serb and a Croat. How can you fight a war when you don’t know the enemy? Of course those who were fighting did know the difference. But it strikes me that the people criticizing the poor and […]

Guest AuthorDecember 26, 2013

Second of two parts. Most Floridians support the legalization of medical marijuana, an issue that voters may decide in a referendum next year. However, we need to heed the objections of the 18 percent of Florida residents who oppose the measure. One congressional candidate confided in me that a family member who had been a […]

Guest AuthorDecember 25, 2013

First of two parts. We value our First Amendment rights, so I was surprised at the reactions I received when I mentioned the topic of this piece to colleagues, friends and family. They had suggested that I pick a different subject so that I would not offend potential employers and contractors. I suspect proponents of […]

Guest AuthorNovember 4, 2013

I recently attended a “town hall” event in Tampa sponsored by the Koch-brothers-funded “Americans for Prosperity.” After the presentations, I came to the conclusion that their organization should more aptly be called, “Americans for their own prosperity, and the hell with anyone else.” The first presenter was from the Foundation for Governmental Accountability, as well […]

Guest AuthorOctober 13, 2013

In 1997, Dr. David Satcher proclaimed that violence was a public health issue, and therefore trackable by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in order to look for solutions. Although violence is considered a non-communicable hazard, the community reaction to violent events can be contagious. This is especially troubling when the immediate reaction creates […]

Guest AuthorOctober 2, 2013

Colin Powell was quoted as saying to President George W. Bush and company, “If you break it, you own it.” During the last session in Tallahassee, a common talking point from the Republicans was that “Medicaid is a broken system”, and that expanding it would be folly. Medicaid is by no means perfect, nor was […]

Tag: Gary Stein
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Gary Stein: Heroes, zeroes and shills battle in the medical marijuana debate

Gary Stein: Some pols are praying for guidance on medical marijuana

Gary Stein: Paula Witthaus, St. Pete activist, slain and truly missed

Gary Stein: Key legislators are supporting medical marijuana bill

Gary Stein: Conservatives don’t know the enemy in War on Poverty

Gary Stein: Most Floridians support legalisation of medical marijuana

Gary Stein: Deadline near for voters to sign medical marijuana petition

Gary Stein: Health-care event light on facts, heavy on rhetoric

Gary J. Stein: Is gun violence in our schools a solvable problem?

Gary Stein: If Medicaid is broken in Florida, the state is responsible