Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2016

Should satellite-television service be taxed at a higher rate than cable? The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments from both sides Wednesday. Satellite TV companies, including DirecTV, want the court to uphold the 1st District Court of Appeal’s 2-1 decision last year, which said that taxing the two services differently is unconstitutional. The state’s Revenue Department and Florida’s […]

Jim RosicaDecember 28, 2015

An appellate court has reversed a contempt finding against a lawyer whom a judge had asked to take a breath analyzer test and then shamed in open court because others said she “smelled like alcohol.” One of the 1st District Court of Appeal judges even wrote a 10-page concurring opinion in which he compared the judge’s […]

Ryan RayJune 11, 2015

Thursday morning the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee ruled that the state’s “communications services tax” — currently undergoing revision in the Legislature’s budget talks — is unconstitutional. Judge L. Clayton Roberts, writing for the majority in a 20-page opinion, ruled that the CST contravenes state law because it unfairly favors cable providers in […]

Martin DyckmanMay 27, 2014

Now you know — as if there was ever doubt — why the right wing is desperate to take over the Florida Supreme Court. Why there’s a constitutional amendment on the ballot to let Gov. Rick Scott pack the court if he is re-elected. The Supreme Court itself illustrated the reasons late Tuesday afternoon when […]

Tag: Simone Marstiller
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

State’s highest court talks TV tax

Judge wrong to submit lawyer to breath test, appellate court finds

Appellate court rules state communications tax unconstitutional

Martin Dyckman: Right wing is desperate to control Fla. Supreme Court