Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineApril 3, 2017

The Florida House’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1 could make life uncomfortable for the state’s colleges and universities. The budget — agreed upon in principle, and due in bill form this week — will call for something like $2.2 billion in spending cuts, according to House leaders, for a total expenditure […]

Gary FineoutMarch 7, 2017

Once the Florida Legislature kicks off its 60-day Session March 7, legislators are expected to pass, or kill, dozens of measures dealing with everything from abortion to gambling and the environment. So far, more than 2,000 bills have been filed, but in the end, legislators usually pass fewer than 300 pieces of legislation each year. […]

Associated PressFebruary 13, 2017

Teachers from elementary school through college are telling students how to distinguish between factual and fictional news — and why they should care that there’s a difference. As Facebook works with The Associated Press, FactCheck.org and other organizations to curb the spread of fake and misleading news on its influential network, teachers say classroom instruction […]

Michael MolineJanuary 31, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott proposed an $83.5 billion state budget Tuesday that would include $618 million in tax cuts, $85 million in economic incentives, nearly $4 billion for environmental protection, and more than $5.1 billion for public safety. Florida has added more than 1.2 million jobs during his tenure “because of our continued focus on cutting […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 28, 2017

The House is now on board with Senate President Joe Negron‘s higher education priorities. On Friday, state Rep. Bryan Avila filed companion bills (HB 3, HB 5) to Senate measures (SB 2, SB 4) filed by Bill Galvano. The bills touch on modifying performance-based incentives, boost funding to hire and keep top faculty, and create […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 25, 2017

Carlos Guillermo Smith, a UCF graduate himself, wants you to have more access to higher education – that’s why his new bill, HB 489, introduces sweeping expansions to the Bright Futures scholarship. The bill, called the “Restore Our Bright Futures” act, will return the scholarship to the levels of the 2010-11 school year and make […]

Associated PressSeptember 16, 2016

Donald Trump‘s signature, an unmistakable if nearly illegible series of bold vertical flourishes, was scrawled on the improper $25,000 check sent from his personal foundation to a political committee supporting Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Charities are barred from engaging in political activities, and the Republican presidential nominee’s campaign has contended for weeks that the […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 8, 2016

Working in higher education allows me the privilege of working firsthand with some of the brightest and engaged minds in our state. It is trite, but worth saying, that education is key to our country’s future and we must continue to equip the next generation with the knowledge and power to make our country even […]

Associated PressSeptember 6, 2016

Donald Trump spoke to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi before his charity cut a 2013 check to support her re-election effort, but his campaign said Tuesday the two never discussed whether her office would join a lawsuit against Trump University. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks clarified details of the conversation one day after the Republican presidential […]

Associated PressJuly 9, 2016

Wanda Melton has voted for every Republican presidential nominee since Ronald Reagan in 1980, but now the Georgia grandmother plans to cross over to support Democrat Hillary Clinton. “I’m not a real fan of Hillary,” Melton says from her office in Atlanta. “But I think it would just be awful to have Donald Trump.” She […]

Tag: higher education

Higher education projects fail House’s strict new budget test

Guns, gambling and taxes: Legislators return to work

The new civics course in schools: How to avoid fake news

Rick Scott’s $83.5 billion state budget goes heavy on tax holidays

House joins Joe Negron’s higher ed program

Carlos Guillermo Smith’s ‘Restore Our Bright Futures’ act aims to help more students go to college

Donald Trump signed improper charity check supporting Pam Bondi

Ed Moore: Immigration reform key to education, workforce

Donald Trump seeks distance from donation supporting Pam Bondi

College-educated whites put hole in Donald Trump coalition