Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutJune 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday ended the state’s biggest budget crisis in more than two decades by signing a more than $78 billion budget into law, but he may have created another divide with some of his fellow Republicans. Scott signed the budget just days after the Florida Legislature approved it during an unusual June […]

Phil AmmannJune 19, 2015

A final vote on the near $79 billion budget Friday afternoon brought a disappointing end to Florida’s 2015 Legislative Session, according to House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford. “I think of all the missed opportunities,” said the West Palm Beach Democrat, who faces term limits in 2016. “As much as this budget funds many good programs and […]

Associated PressApril 1, 2015

Prospects are dim for a contentious bill that would allow designated select individuals to carry guns in Florida public schools. The Senate Committee on Pre-K-12 Education declined to vote on the bill this week. It’s one of the committees the bill was required to pass to reach the Senate floor, and it won’t meet again, […]

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2015

A House panel takes up a disputed bill that would allow select employees and volunteers to carry guns at public schools. HB 19 gets its debut hearing Wednesday with the K-12 Subcommittee. Supporters of the bill, filed by Sarasota Republican Rep. Greg Steube, say it improves school safety. If passed, the measure would allow school […]

Guest AuthorMarch 1, 2015

Here is the State of the State that Governor Rick Scott ought to deliver and, more importantly, that Floridians deserve to hear. Thank you Mr. Speaker. It is traditional for the governor to begin this speech with an unequivocal declaration that the state of our state is strong. The state of our state is strong, […]

Dan GelberMarch 1, 2015

Here is the State of the State that Governor Rick Scott ought to deliver and, more importantly, that Floridians deserve to hear. Thank you Mr. Speaker. It is traditional for the governor to begin this speech with an unequivocal declaration that the state of our state is strong. The state of our state is strong, […]

Gary FineoutJanuary 8, 2015

For several years, Florida’s political leaders, including Gov. Rick Scott, have touted across the state that their public schools were among the nation’s best. But one set of rankings – which just two years ago put Florida in the top 10 – has come out with a revamped formula that saw Florida tumble to the […]

Martin DyckmanDecember 15, 2014

If Jeb Bush runs for president, as he most likely will, one of his signature issues, education, will get him hammered from both sides. The Republican Party’s tea bag wing is unforgiving – so far – over his embrace of the Common Core standards even though the federal government has had almost nothing to do with them. […]

Jac VerSteegDecember 15, 2014

If Florida lawmakers are such “school choice” advocates, they should give public schools the same choices enjoyed by the private voucher schools. The voucher schools never were required to give students the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and won’t be required to administer the tests involved in Florida’s switch to a testing system based on Common […]

Guest AuthorMay 7, 2014

Thanks to Jeb Bush, Florida has turned into the Wild West of education speculation: charter schools, vouchers, virtual schools, you name it — as long as it promises “profit over pupils in the name of reform.” It’s no surprise to noted education reformer Diane Ravitch, who reports “the charter industry has friends at the top […]

Gov. Rick Scott signs state budget in private, averts government shutdown

House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford laments ‘missed opportunities’ in budget

Bill to allow guns in public schools hits major setback

School gun bill gets House panel debut Wednesday

Dan Gelber: The State of the State Floridians should hear

Dan Gelber: The State of the State Floridians should hear

Florida schools ranking from Education Week drops to 28th

Martin Dyckman: Jeb might have an education problem in 2016

Jac VerSteeg: Let public schools choose to give voucher-school tests

Stephen Goldstein: “Education Emperor” Jeb Bush is not wearing any clothes