Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Florence SnyderJune 27, 2016

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is not the worst offender in Florida’s never-ending War on Open Government. It just gets caught in the act more often than fellow offenders at the state, county and municipal levels. That’s because DCF is one of the few agencies left which ever has to contend with watchdog journalism. DCF chieftains, […]

Jac VerSteegJune 24, 2016

Marco Rubio says he decided to run for re-election because it will be imperative to have people like him in the U.S. Senate if Hillary Clinton is elected president. “There’s [a] role for the Senate that could end up being its most important in the years to come: The Constitutional power to act as a […]

Joe HendersonJune 23, 2016

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said Thursday she is “running on adrenaline” following her participation in an overnight sit-in at the House of Representatives in Washington. The Tampa congresswoman joined other Democrats in a protest against the refusal by House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow a vote on restricting access to military-style assault weapons in the […]

Mary Jo MeloneJune 23, 2016

Social etiquette requires that I not speak ill of the dead, but when the dead man was a U.S. Supreme Court Justice — namely, Antonin Scalia — speaking ill (civilly, although that is not in fashion) is an absolute necessity. Especially now. After Orlando. Scalia defended criminalizing gay sex because many people don’t like gays. […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2016

Most of Florida’s Democratic members of Congress are among 168 House of Representatives Democrats and 34 Senate Democrats staging a sit-in on the House Floor Wednesday, and U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson took the occasion to remind the others of Orlando’s Pulse nightclub massacre victims, by name. Besides Grayson, of Orlando, the protest includes his U.S. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 22, 2016

As one of many Democrats participating in the Wednesday evening sit-in on the House floor, Rep. Corrine Brown urges a vote on what she called “commonsense gun legislation” before the House recesses. “Congress must not leave Washington, D.C. without voting on commonsense gun violence prevention legislation to save lives. Mass shootings have become unacceptably commonplace in our […]

Guest AuthorJune 21, 2016

The day before I jetted to Charlotte for a weeklong vacation, unspeakable ugliness ambushed the City Beautiful. First, it descended upon an Orlando nightspot where more than 300 revelers came on “Latin Night” to live “la vida loca.” Later, it crept into my bedroom. Early that Sunday at Pulse, too many fathers, mothers, sons and […]

Associated PressJune 19, 2016

The music was thumping and crowds were dancing at gay pride events around the U.S., with some revelers saying the partying was proof that people won’t give in to fear after last weekend’s attack at a gay nightclub in Florida. Festivals and parades went ahead Saturday under increased security in cities such as Chicago, Columbus, […]

Associated PressJune 18, 2016

The largest fundraising arm for the victims of the Pulse nightclub attack reversed course Friday and will now distribute millions of dollars directly to families and survivors instead of through nonprofit agencies. The OneOrlando fund’s decision underscores the complexities of distributing huge amounts of money donated from people and businesses desperate to give some solace […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2016

A Friday afternoon phone call with Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry revealed the mayor’s thoughts about the Orlando Pulse tragedy, and the way forward. “There ought to be things we all can agree on,” Curry said. For starters, “a young man perpetrated a terrorist attack.” There can be, Curry said, a “productive conversation if we all can […]

Tag: Pulse

Florence Snyder: At Florida Department of Children & Families, the sun don’t shine

Jac VerSteeg: How Marco Rubio might get Hillary Clinton elected

Kathy Castor ‘running on adrenaline’ after 26-hour sit-in House protest

Mary Jo Melone: What a guy — Antonin Scalia on hate, guns and gridlock

Dem’s House sit-in includes most Florida Congress members; Alan Grayson reads Pulse victims’ names

Corrine Brown demands gun control legislation

Darryl E. Owens: The horror of wounded empathy — or when mass shootings become humdrum

Gay pride events festive but some concerned after Orlando

OneOrlando fund changes course, will give money to victims

Lenny Curry talks Orlando Pulse tragedy, acknowledges LGBT people were targets