Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonFebruary 19, 2015

So we’ve got this Sunshine Law in Florida. It’s supposed to be all about “open” government decision-making and freedom of information, including unrestricted access to public records. As many of us now know more than ever before, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet have made a farce of the law. And they’ve had plenty […]

Mark FerruloFebruary 19, 2015

Do you think Florida’s school accountability system, with punitive high-stakes testing and unreasonable mandates, is out of control? To teachers and other folks on the front lines in the fight to improve our public schools, it most definitely is. Last week, more than 6,000 teachers, parents, education advocates and other concerned Floridians participated in the […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 15, 2015

The ironically named Student Success Act of 2011 mandated something called the Valued Added Model, which attempts to quantify each teacher’s influence on each student. The complicated formula purports to predict what a student’s normal gain scores on a standardized test will be from one year to another. If a student gains more or loses […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 13, 2015

When you attend a House appropriations subcommittee where a chairman’s budget proposals are being unveiled, you might expect to hear some tough questions from Democrats and Republicans. And you might be disappointed, at least by the subcommittee that deals with environmental and agricultural spending. Most of the debate I hear in the House occurs only […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 12, 2015

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When you attend a House appropriations subcommittee where a chairman’s budget proposals are being unveiled, you might expect to hear some tough questions from Democrats and Republicans. And you might be disappointed, at least by the subcommittee that deals with environmental and agricultural spending. Most of the debate I hear in the House occurs only […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 11, 2015

If there is one keyword for the digital age, it is “privacy.” From social media trolls and revenge porn to thieves eyeing to steal identities, the way private digital information spreads on the Internet is possibly the most burning issue of our times. An added wrinkle is the fact our digital identity sticks around much longer […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 9, 2015

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the three unalienable rights that the Declaration of Independence says have been given to all of us by the “Creator,” and that governments are created to protect. Were the Declaration to be updated for the 21st century, could it be amended to include a right to hail […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 3, 2015

In the fight to reduce prescription drug costs and improve quality, Florida employers, the state health plan, seniors and consumers have an ally in their corner with pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. PBMs are hired to negotiate discounts from drug manufacturers and drugstores. They typically reduce prescription drug costs by 30 percent for employers and […]

Shannon NickinsonFebruary 2, 2015

Tim Wyrosdick has a big idea that could change the educational and economic future of the Pensacola metro area. If you have $55 million, he says he can provide the staff and students to fill it. “It’s a pie-in-the-sky dream kind of thing,” says Wyrosdick, Santa Rosa County School District superintendent. The idea – Innovation […]

Associated PressJanuary 28, 2015

Sketching the outlines of their legislative agendas, Florida’s top Republicans pledged Wednesday to press for a bevy of tax cuts, more education spending and a review of controversial student testing in this year’s legislative session. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner outlined their proposals during the annual legislative planning meeting hosted by […]

Tag: Legislature

Daniel Tilson: Ain’t no sunshine: Make our legislators clean the mud off Florida government ‘transparency’

Mark Ferrulo: Education community overwhelmingly opposes punitive testing

Catherine Martinez: 'Value Added Model' of no value to teaching

Bruce Ritchie: Even if budget-writing is unfair, asking tough questions is key

Bruce Ritchie: Even if budget-writing is unfair, asking tough questions is key

Peter Schorsch: Privacy of digital information should extend beyond death

Peter Schorsch: Raise a toast to disruption in Tallahassee

Mark Merritt: Lawmakers should embrace tools that cut RX costs

Shannon Nickinson: Santa Rosa dreams of Innovation High School

Florida GOP leaders promise tax cuts and education spending