Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannJuly 2, 2015

BP has agreed to pay a record $18.732 billion to resolve claims by five Gulf states of violating the Clean Water Act, harming natural resources, and other economic damages from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. As a part of the agreement announced Thursday, Florida will receive at least $3.25 billion. The overall deal has […]

Diane RobertsJune 7, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – The not-remotely-special special session limps along, costing taxpayers about $75,000 a day. The bars in Tallahassee are making out pretty well. The rest of us, not so much. The Senate wants to expand Medicaid, but can’t call it “Medicaid,” because, you know, Obama. The House won’t call it anything other than “Medicaid!” […]

Bob SparksApril 10, 2015

For years Florida governors and legislators stressed the need to diversify Florida’s economy. A state’s financial well-being so heavily dependent upon tourism and agriculture is a disaster or recession away from economic calamity, they said. They, and their successors who toe the same line, are right. Resorts, parks and Fresh From Florida are great for […]

Bob SparksApril 9, 2015

For years Florida governors and legislators stressed the need to diversify Florida’s economy. A state’s financial well-being so heavily dependent upon tourism and agriculture is a disaster or recession away from economic calamity, they said. They, and their successors who toe the same line, are right. Resorts, parks and Fresh From Florida are great for […]

Melissa RossJanuary 29, 2015

Jacksonville mayoral candidate Lenny Curry has some bayou bigwigs working on his campaign to oust Alvin Brown, with staff who worked on the Bill Cassidy senatorial campaign. That team beat longtime Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu. Turns out there may be some desire for payback, as Brown adviser Dave Beattie has just announced that former Landrieu […]

Melissa RossJanuary 29, 2015

Jacksonville mayoral candidate Lenny Curry has some bayou bigwigs working on his campaign to oust Alvin Brown, with staff who worked on the Bill Cassidy senatorial campaign. That team beat longtime Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu. Turns out there may be some desire for payback, as Brown adviser Dave Beattie has just announced that former Landrieu […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 28, 2015

Apparently, not even the Florida Constitution can save Kevin McCarty. He’s an insurance regulator in a sinkhole of Tallahassee politics. Here’s what we know about Kevin McCarty – Gov. Rick Scott is finished with him. He doesn’t want McCarty to regulate the insurance industry any longer. This week, after three weeks of stalling and avoiding […]

Ryan RayJanuary 22, 2015

It was a boozy afternoon in Wednesday’s House Business & Professions Subcommittee meeting, led by Apalachicola Republican state Rep. Halsey Beshears and a cavalcade of stakeholders offering public testimony about the current state of affairs within Florida’s alcohol rules and regulations regime. The two hottest issues were by far and away proposed changes regarding 64-ounce […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 3, 2014

What if I told you that Florida has a law that that if you use it, you increase your chances of spending time in prison and being dependent on government services for most of your life? How about if I told you that 10 other states have this same law? Well, we and they do […]

Guest AuthorDecember 4, 2013

I get a kick out of these periodic threats by states or regions to secede from the United States. Sometimes they’re boastful efforts by the likes of Texas, which has a great business economy, low taxes and dismal results to show for it — horrible on education, health care and the environment, so bad it […]

DEP, FWC respond to record BP settlement, applauds Gulf Coast recovery progress

Diane Roberts: Florida's presidential hopefuls have forgotten about Deepwater Horizon

Bob Sparks: Entertainment industry adds to Florida’s economic menu

Bob Sparks: Entertainment industry adds to Florida's economic menu

Cajun competition in Jacksonville Mayor’s race as Alvin Brown names new communications director

Cajun competition in Jacksonville Mayor's race as Alvin Brown names new communications director

Sean Shaw: End Cabinet monopoly, save the insurance regulator

Lawmakers drink in grocery store spirits, growlers in legislative hearing

Ed Moore: We need to significantly reduce the number of high-school dropouts

Mark O’Brien: It’s time to downsize the United States