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Staff ReportsMarch 18, 2017

Saturday saw United States Vice-President Mike Pence and Florida Governor Rick Scott talking about what Pence called “the Obamacare nightmare” with small business owners in Jacksonville. Scott, who closed out the news week reprising a familiar call to allow the states to administer Medicaid via block grants, has worked closely with President Donald Trump and his administration on possible alternatives to the […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 17, 2017

The slow walk by the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund toward policy marginalization continued apace Friday, as the five-person board of trustees offered “review and discussion” of the city’s latest pension proposal. The General Counsel contended earlier this week that the PFPF had no role in the pension decision, arguing that the 2015 pension […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2017

Jacksonville may be Ground Zero for the debate about economic incentives. Local leaders want them, but the local Florida House delegation does not. This week, yet another prominent person in Jacksonville’s City Hall sounded the alarm for state incentives via Enterprise Florida. The Jacksonville Daily Record reports that local OED head Kirk Wendland made the case for […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2017

Sarasota GOP Chair and state Rep. Joe Gruters said he is a “long-shot” to be Gov. Rick Scott‘s choice to succeed Jeff Atwater as Chief Financial Officer once Atwater leaves the office in May. On Wednesday afternoon, Gruters appeared on Tampa Bay area radio station News Talk 820 WWBA with guest host David Jolly, who formerly represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District.Gruters had shown loyalty to Scott […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 14, 2017

In February, the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund Board of Trustees balked at a Mar. 15 deadline to vote on the city’s latest pension plan. The board had worried that there would not be enough time to review the data of the new plan, which offers raises and uniformity of benefits for current employees, […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

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In Jacksonville, friendships aren’t meant to last forever. But in the case of Friends of Hemming Park, they are renewable in six-month terms. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry wrote senior staff this week with the news that the once-controversial FOHP contract would be re-upped through the end of September. “Based on our discussions with Bill Prescott, it is […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

The numbers are stark for those who care about public policy in Jacksonville. And the need for solutions is urgent. Overdoses, at last count, end four times as many lives as homicides in Duval County, with 2016’s count of 464 casualties more than doubling 2015’s count of 201. Caucasians represent 86 percent of the deaths, […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

No Northeast Florida incumbents face competitive races in 2018. Yet the fundraising continues anyway, as February evidenced. Notable for performance: two Northeast Florida political committees that cleared the $100K threshold for February money. And one Clay County legislator who had a strong month. ____ One of the PACs that hit six figures: “Build Something That […]

Mitch PerryMarch 8, 2017

Not surprisingly, Donald Trump hasn’t been too keen on hiring those associated with the “Never Trump” movement of conservative policy who surfaced in last year’s presidential campaign. The most glaring example of this is the case of former State Department official Elliott Abrams. A meeting between the two last month reportedly went well, according to CNN. Ultimately, though, Trump opted not […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 5, 2017

It’s show and prove time for the Duval County Legislative Delegation. The whispers inside the St. James Building (Jacksonville’s city hall) are full of doubt and disbelief. Some are saying they lack experience – and they do. Five of the six House members are rookies. That’s going to make it difficult to score appropriations victories. […]

Tag: Lenny Curry
Florida Politics' Drew Wilson a few pounds heavier and with a bit more hair next to Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell ... (guess who we're rooting for?).

Mike Pence: ‘Florida can’t afford Obamacare anymore’

Jax PFPF Board Chair: ‘I think the mayor’s plan is terrible’

Jacksonville leaders’ arguments for state incentives fall on deaf ears in Tallahassee

Joe Gruters says he’s a long shot for CFO position, but appreciates the mention

Jacksonville PFPF expected to vote on pension deal Friday

Jacksonville re-ups Friends of Hemming Park contract for 6 months, $415K

Opioid overdose crisis becomes top priority for Jacksonville policy makers

Lenny Curry, Rob Bradley committees and Travis Cummings pace Northeast Florida February fundraising

Could anti-Donald Trump quotes hurt Pat Neal’s chances of becoming CFO?

2017 Legislative Session preview: Tempered expectations for Duval Legislative Delegation