Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegApril 15, 2015

The Florida Legislature has passed, and Gov. Rick Scott has signed, an education reform bill that is dishonest – and politically cowardly – at its core. The measure tries to appease parents and others sick of over-testing. It scales back the number of tests. That’s fine. It also reduces the weight given to tests when […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

One day after receiving a letter from the federal government advising that uncompensated care pools were not a wise use of federal tax payer dollars, Florida’s leading Medicaid official fired off a letter Wednesday to the Department of Health and Human Services accusing the federal government of coercing Florida into expanding its Medicaid program. The […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

A new poll published by Public Policy Polling shows Florida Republicans Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio need to do a lot of work to become competitive in New Hampshire, the site of the first Republican Presidential Primary election, next January. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is looking very strong, leading with 24 percent support. That’s 10 percent […]

Associated PressApril 15, 2015

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio launched his Republican presidential campaign this week with a promise to reject “the leaders and ideas of the past.” It was a not-so-subtle jab from a 43-year-old fresh-faced senator at his likely 2016 competitors, Republican Jeb Bush and Democrat Hillary Clinton, whose families cemented political dynasties in the 1990s. A closer […]

Phil AmmannApril 15, 2015

In nearly two centuries, Florida went without creating as so much a ripple with White House contenders. For the 2016 presidential race, that could change dramatically, as the Sunshine State faces the unique status of fielding not one, but two bona fide candidates – Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. As Rubio launched his presidential campaign Monday, […]

Guest AuthorApril 14, 2015

In the political hothouse that is Florida, the number of people who actually believe that Marco Rubio would be a better president of the United States than Jeb Bush would fit into, well, Freedom Hall in Miami. But the political cognoscenti who fear Marco’s presidential candidacy is just the opening gambit in a run for […]

Guest AuthorApril 14, 2015

Early last year, Jeb Bush had a small gathering at the Biltmore in Coral Gables for a very private, serious chat about running for president in 2016. One of his top advisers, Mike Murphy, was a tad surprised to run into someone he knew as he waited for cab to leave go to the airport. […]

Phil AmmannApril 14, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott will host most of the prospective 2016 Republican presidential candidates, including fellow Floridians Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, at an Economic Growth Summit in June. Potential and announced candidates will meet in Orlando on June 2 to talk about the economy, jobs and their vision for economic growth for the country. Although […]

Mitch PerryApril 13, 2015

There’s no doubt that one has to have giant stones to think they’re smart enough and charismatic enough to run the free world. Marco Rubio falls into that category. “I have heard some suggest that I should step aside and wait my turn, ” Rubio toward the end of his 18-minute-plus speech at the Freedom Tower […]

Associated PressApril 13, 2015

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio entered the presidential race Monday by offering the nation a younger generation of leadership that breaks free of ideas “stuck in the 20th century,” a jab at both Democratic favorite Hillary Rodham Clinton and his one-time Republican mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Standing in front of a banner that proclaimed […]

Tag: Jeb Bush
Image via Sherri Hodies.

Jac VerSteeg: Fewer tests in school-grade formula is like less spit in milk

Top Medicaid official warns feds not to “coerce” state into expansion

New PPP survey shows Jeb Bush in trouble in New Hampshire

Marco Rubio draws from past despite future focus

Could Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush become strongest Florida candidates in history?

Jack Stevenson: Marco Rubio's weak spot is his knees

Brian Crowley: Should Jeb Bush step aside for Marco Rubio?

Gov. Rick Scott to host GOP presidential hopefuls at Orlando summit

Marco Rubio says he’s ready to be president, but will GOP follow?

Marco Rubio tells supporters he’s running for White House