Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonNovember 6, 2018

Florida voters had to fight back some “ballot fatigue” Tuesday, with no less than a dozen amendments following the razzle dazzle races for Governor and U.S. Senate getting people to the polls in record numbers for a midterm election. Some of those amendments have hogged the spotlight, none more so than Amendment 4, which would […]

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2018

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The three mayors of major Interstate 4 cities came together in Orlando Thursday to endorse Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum‘s bid for Governor because they’re all Democrats, they’re all mayors, and they all want to see more investment in mass transit. As Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 21, 2018

Commuter passes will be available for high-speed rail travel between Tampa and Orlando if the route comes to fruition. Brightline Vice President of Government Affairs Bob O’Malley said the private company would consider monthly packages similar to what it offers in South Florida, which cost $300 a month for unlimited rides. Such a transit amenity […]

Guest AuthorAugust 22, 2018

[Ed. note: Gov. Rick Scott is responding to the Times/Herald article: “Rick Scott and wife invested in parent company bidding on Tampa high-speed rail.”] Democrats like Bill Nelson want to talk a lot about my blind trust and the investments within it, but there’s one thing they never mention: How I got here. I grew […]

Scott PowersMarch 2, 2018

With the derailment of bills seeking state regulation of the private Brightline passenger train system, state Sen. Debbie Mayfield has gotten language inserted into the Senate budget plan that would authorize a safety study of the train. The budget proposal includes new language that would authorize a transportation research center at the University of South […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2018

Martin and Indian River Counties, together with the Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida organization, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against U.S. Department of Transportation officials for approving the Brightline private passenger train. The suit, which also included the Indian River County Emergency Services District, charges that the federal department, Secretary Elaine Chao, the Federal […]

Scott PowersNovember 14, 2017

A bill that would set tougher rules and safety requirements on the All Aboard Florida Brightline passenger rail train being developed along the East Coast got approval from the Florida Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday. Yet members of that committee sounded as if they’ll be ready to derail the bill later, if they eventually conclude it’s […]

Scott PowersMarch 28, 2017

A bill aimed at putting some brakes on the Brightline private passenger train from West Palm Beach to Orlando died Tuesday when it was pulled from the agenda of a Florida House committee. House Bill 269, dubbed the Florida High-Speed Passenger Rail Safety Act, was set to be heard by the House Transportation & Infrastructure […]

Guest AuthorApril 8, 2015

Student privacy has been much in the news lately, given the revelations that Pearson, creator of the new PARCC tests and one time creator of the FCAT, is monitoring social media to look for breaches of test security. (PARCC is the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers.) Not surprisingly, there’s a bill […]

Guest AuthorNovember 2, 2014

Over the years, I’ve observed that Floridians want their politicians to be driven by Florida values. This election season, voters must be wondering: how has Gov. Rick Scott lived up to key Sunshine State commitments? Rewarding hard work:  Floridians don’t want handouts they believe in working for a living. That’s why they believe in […]

Tag: high-speed rail

Ballot B-Sides: Voters approve Amendments 7, 10, 11 and 12

As I-4 mayors endorse him, Andrew Gillum pledges interest in mass transit

On the right track? Brightline could create Tampa/Orlando super region

Rick Scott: I refuse to apologize for my success

With train bills dead, safety study language appears in Senate budget offer

Brightline opponents sue federal officials for approving train

Bill to tighten All Aboard Florida rules gets approval – but so does train

High speed rail regulation bill dies in House committee

Catherine Martinez: Social media, data mining undermine test privacy

Ralph Nader: Nine Florida values that Rick Scott opposes