Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 27, 2014

Every day in eighth grade, a special-ed teacher would come into our language arts classroom and pull two students out for what I assume was remedial English training. Despite being fluent in English and two of the smartest kids I knew, these friends weren’t expected to get what they needed from a mainstream classroom or […]

Peter SchorschMarch 23, 2014

In 1998, my own graduation from high school was still fresh on my mind. The good memories, the fresh start to life. But for many of my peers at the time, high school graduation had not happened. A startlingly high percentage of my freshman class never walked across the stage. This was true for high […]

Peter SchorschMarch 20, 2014

It’s been more than a week since Special Election left my life and it just hasn’t been the same since. After Republican David Jolly defeated Democrat Alex Sink in Florida’s 13th Congressional District last Tuesday, life was supposed to return to normal. The direct mail stopped arriving. The grainy, black-and-white television commercials are no longer […]

Peter SchorschMarch 6, 2014

The 2014 legislative session got off to a start with firm statements and legislative action by lawmakers on their intent to make Florida the least hospitable state in the nation for sex offenders. That’s admirable. A number of bills related to domestic violence are worth top attention, too. First, legislation filed by state Sen. David […]

Peter SchorschMarch 2, 2014

No one’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session, Mark Twain famously remarked. Unfortunately for many Floridians, the Florida Legislature has taken Twain’s words more as a challenge, rather than a warning. A recent Tampa Bay Times editorial was right when it said that under the current regime in Tallahassee, “it is […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 23, 2014

What’s going on in the Florida House? Republicans are pushing compassionate laws? Taking on issues that were once reserved for bleeding hearts on the Left? Huh? First, there’s Speaker Will Weatherford, Republican beacon, staking firmly his position in favor of offering in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants. Now, there’s state Rep. Matt Gaetz, no schlub in […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 22, 2014

The commentary below from Dr. Jay H. Epstein is in response to Peter Schorsch’s Jan. 8 post on SaintPetersBlog.com urging legislators to give nurse anesthetists the authority to administer anesthesia without the supervision of a doctor. When it comes to anesthesia, lives should not be put in jeopardy. Thank you for this opportunity to address […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 20, 2014

For a full decade, a measure filed in the Legislature was doomed before bill drafting entered the final line. The proposal — to give in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants living in Florida — was unthinkable in Florida’s two Republican-controlled chambers. Remember, these elected Republicans were to answer to their Republican constituents every election cycle, and […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 12, 2014

A headline from The Onion spread via social media Thursday announced, “Florida State to Phase Out Academic Operations By 2010.” The piece, obviously in jest, continued: “Bowing to pressure from alumni, students, and a majority of teaching professors of Florida State University, athletic director Dave Hart Jr. announced yesterday that FSU would completely phase out all academic […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 9, 2014

Outside of the fictional Indiana city of Pawnee, the setting for NBC’s comedy series, “Parks and Recreation,” most people don’t attend public hearings. And, according to a study by the Knight Foundation, doing so is more likely to reduce a person’s sense of political efficacy than to increase it. “Despite the fact that governments are pumping out more […]

Tag: Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch: Florida schools have closed Hispanic achievement gap

Peter Schorsch: Florida making progress in education, but few realize it

Peter Schorsch: Special Election was a November-to-March affair to remember

Peter Schorsch: Domestic violence legislation also deserves high priority

Peter Schorsch: Here are some issues that will define the legislative session

Peter Schorsch: The Florida House and a shift in what Republicans are willing to take on

Dr. Jay H. Epstein: Anesthesia needs to be given under doctor supervision

Peter Schorsch: Odds good for in-state tuition for undocumented students

Peter Schorsch: Completing college is as important as completing passes

Peter Schorsch: The role of public hearings in citizen engagement, public trust