Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Diane RobertsMay 27, 2015

Last Saturday, the Republic of Ireland came out in rainbows, saying yes to marriage equality: 62 percent in favor. Yet Ireland is a “conservative” country, still – despite clergy sex abuse scandals – very Catholic. Divorce has only been legal since 1997; and abortion is only allowed to save the life of the mother, no […]

Diane RobertsMay 27, 2015

Last Saturday, the Republic of Ireland came out in rainbows, saying yes to marriage equality: 62 percent in favor. Yet Ireland is a “conservative” country, still – despite clergy sex abuse scandals – very Catholic. Divorce has only been legal since 1997; and abortion is only allowed to save the life of the mother, no […]

Martin DyckmanMay 25, 2015

The obituaries for Helen Gordon Davis correctly recounted what one called her “trailblazing” career in the Florida Legislature, where in 1974 she became one of very few women – the first from Hillsborough County – in what a colleague famously called “the land of the Bubbas.” She weathered the sexism and condescension and compiled a […]

Martin DyckmanMay 25, 2015

The obituaries for Helen Gordon Davis correctly recounted what one called her “trailblazing” career in the Florida Legislature, where in 1974 she became one of very few women – the first from Hillsborough County – in what a colleague famously called “the land of the Bubbas.” She weathered the sexism and condescension and compiled a […]

Guest AuthorMarch 29, 2015

I tend to believe systems self-regulate towards maintaining equilibrium. However, for the first time, I am starting to ponder, “Is America’s current two party system heading towards collapse?” A simple definition of complex systems is a system comprised of many, diverse actors who have interdependent relationships providing feedback and adapting in an ever-changing landscape. We all can agree, […]

Mark FerruloJanuary 14, 2015

The new Legislature has been sworn in. At their swearing-in, members took an oath of office, placed their hands on a Bible and promised to uphold the Florida Constitution. Legislatures have tinkered in nefarious ways with voter-passed constitutional amendments in the past, but this new Legislature must do the right thing when implementing Amendment 1, […]

Mark FerruloJanuary 13, 2015

The new Legislature has been sworn in. At their swearing-in, members took an oath of office, placed their hands on a Bible and promised to uphold the Florida Constitution. Legislatures have tinkered in nefarious ways with voter-passed constitutional amendments in the past, but this new Legislature must do the right thing when implementing Amendment 1, […]

Guest AuthorDecember 22, 2014

Clinton and a Bush are gearing up for a run at the White House. Is it 1990 or 2014? Congress is under Republican control with a Democrat in the White House. Is it 1946, 1994 or 2014? A Republican is heading to Florida’s Governor’s Mansion after just half of registered voters turned out to vote. […]

Martin DyckmanOctober 19, 2014

The term limits initiative that Florida voters put into the Constitution in 1992 was one of the most popular issues ever, passing with 3,625,500 “yes” votes to only 1,097,127 against it. But what it has done to the Legislature makes it one of the costliest mistakes in Florida history. The voters deserve an opportunity to […]

Peter SchorschJuly 2, 2014

In a one-two punch from the Tampa Bay Times, columnists John Romano and Daniel Ruth both blame the lack of competitive legislative races this election cycle on the redistricting process. They believe gerrymandering has turned the system into an anti-Democratic incumbent protection plan. There’s no denying the lack of competitive (never mind interesting) legislative races […]

Tag: gerrymandering

Diane Roberts: If Florida is “conservative,” let’s conserve something besides freedom to cash in

Diane Roberts: If Florida is 'conservative,' let's conserve something besides freedom to cash in

Martin Dyckman: Helen Gordon Davis, an early victim of racial gerrymandering in Florida

Martin Dyckman: Helen Gordon Davis an early victim of racial gerrymandering in Florida

Alex Patton: Is America's two-party system heading toward collapse?

Mark Ferrulo: Don’t slap Amendment 1 voters in the face

Mark Ferrulo: Don't slap Amendment 1 voters in the face

Mark Pafford: Florida Democrats will stay focused on our key issues

Martin Dyckman: Elect Crist if you want to fix the mess created by term limits

Peter Schorsch: Don’t blame gerrymandering for lack of competitive races