Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Marc YachtNovember 29, 2015

Underneath the candidate smears that are so much a part of local and national politics, there are a number of critical issues that leave both Republicans and Democrats too far apart. Party posturing aside there is substance to both sides of each concern but an inability for friendly if not effective bipartisan discussion. The elephants […]

Marc YachtNovember 3, 2015

Republican antics may play well to Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and their listeners, but can such bleating muster the votes to win a national election? Judging by the latest GOP effort to embarrass Hillary Clinton with another Benghazi investigation, the 11-hour marathon found itself out of step even with some of its own party faithful. […]

Associated PressOctober 31, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump released a plan on Saturday aimed at improving veterans’ health care and other services in the wake of continued criticism of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under Trump’s plan, eligible veterans would be able to bring their veterans’ identification cards to any doctor or facility that accepts Medicare and be […]

Mitch PerryOctober 27, 2015

Orlando-area Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson says there are several items in the sweeping two-year budget deal released Monday night he has serious concerns about. The most egregious in his opinion is a provision to remove a mandate that companies with more than 200 employees would not have to provide health insurance for their workers. […]

Martin DyckmanSeptember 28, 2015

The comedian Jack Benny, generous in private life, cultivated the stage persona of a world-class skinflint. In one of his most famous radio skits, he’s accosted by an armed robber who demands “your money or your life.” When Benny doesn’t answer, the thug loses patience. “Look, bud, I said, your money or your life,” he […]

Marc YachtSeptember 28, 2015

The welfare system is crashing, healthcare is broken and the politicians are paralyzed by personal attacks and inaction. Roads, bridges, municipal sewer, water systems, and electrical power capacity need attention. Urban areas are starved for high capacity speed transit and operating transportation systems are in dire need of upgrade and repair. Public schools are underfunded […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 3, 2015

Marco Rubio likes to say he’s representing the future of the Grand Old Party. (An oxymoron, no?) He’s a new face, he’s young, he’s definitely not “low-energy” or overly familiar (Jeb Bush; Hillary Clinton), he’s sane (not Rand Paul), he has charisma (not Scott Walker), he’s unflappable (not Chris Christie), he’s not brash and false […]

Mitch PerryAugust 17, 2015

Shoring up Social Security and Medicare are among the issues Alan Grayson has said he wants to emphasize as a candidate for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination. Following up on that promise, Grayson has unveiled a proposal that would increase Social Security retirement benefits and tie future increases to a new cost-of-living index. The Orlando Democrat says […]

Guest AuthorAugust 16, 2015

In North Florida, we know the value of hard work. I’ve seen it on my work days: from my first one with a young entrepreneur, to a recent day working alongside oystermen with sore backs and blistered hands. We work all our lives to make money, feed our families and accomplish something – and we’re […]

Marc YachtAugust 13, 2015

The infant mortality rate — defined as the death of an infant in the first year of life per 1,000 births — is a bellwether statistic. A nation’s quality of health care as well as the overall wellbeing of citizens can be deduced from this statistic. This rate has broad implications for any nation, state, […]

Tag: Medicare

Dr. Marc J. Yacht: The elephants in the room

Dr. Marc J. Yacht: The GOP agenda and other fantasies

Donald Trump releases plan aimed at improving veterans’ care

Alan Grayson calls new bipartisan budget bill “extremely disappointing” on some issues

Martin Dyckman: Rising price of pharmaceuticals is no joke

Dr. Marc J. Yacht: Profiteering, rigid ideologies undermining U.S.

Chris Timmons: The future is Marco Rubio's for the taking

Alan Grayson explains his Social Security bill, why it can pass Congress

Gwen Graham: Happy 80th birthday, Social Security

Marc J. Yacht: U.S. infant mortality worst among 25 developed nations