Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanApril 9, 2017

It’s a paradox in America’s ongoing experiment with self-government that we depend on the weakest branch of government to defend us from the more powerful ones. The Founders gave a lot of thought and ink to this. Writing in the Federalist, Alexander Hamilton pointed out that the judiciary would always be “least dangerous” to the […]

Associated PressApril 3, 2017

The Latest on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court (all times local): 2:35 p.m. A divided Senate panel is backing Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. The Judiciary Committee voted 11-9 along party lines on Monday to favorably recommend Gorsuch to the full Senate. A confirmation vote is expected on Friday, but […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2017

The national Democrat Party stands at a defining crossroads. In the wake of an epic fail over health care on the part of Republicans in Congress and the dilettantes in the White House, Democrats have a choice to make: either become a reprehensible copycat “Party of No” or embark on a nobler path for the common […]

Associated PressMarch 6, 2017

Florida Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran are Republican lawyers. But the similarities start to drift from there. Negron calls himself boring and is the quiet, deliberative type. Corcoran likes listening to music at top volume, and his approach to leadership reflects that. The Associated Press interviewed each separately about their backgrounds, […]

Associated PressFebruary 9, 2017

A push by House Speaker Richard Corcoran to limit how long top judges can remain on the bench is moving in the Florida House. A divided House panel on Thursday approved a measure (HJR 1) that would ask the state’s voters to approve a 12-year term limit for all Supreme Court justices and appeals court […]

Associated PressJanuary 29, 2017

Though “Obamacare” still divides Americans, a majority worry that many will lose coverage if the 2010 law is repealed in the nation’s long-running political standoff over health care. A new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 56 percent of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” concerned that many will […]

Martin DyckmanDecember 23, 2016

Thanks to Vladimir Putin‘s hackers and his outlets in the American press, we know that Hillary Clinton said different things in public and in private. Imagine that. But I suspect that you couldn’t find very many politicians (or other people, for that matter) who don’t speak differently depending on who’s listening. Money could safely be […]

Jim RosicaOctober 31, 2016

The U.S. Supreme Court is taking a pass on considering a case challenging Florida’s workers’ compensation system. Without comment, the court on Monday denied the petition filed by Daniel Stahl, an injured South Florida nurse. In April, the Florida Supreme Court also decided not to consider Stahl’s case. After hearing arguments in Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital, all seven justices […]

Martin DyckmanOctober 24, 2016

It’s in our genes here in America that the losers of an election congratulate the winners and we all move on. That’s more than good manners. It’s the survival instinct of any democracy. Donald Trump‘s contempt for that disgusts Republicans as well as Democrats and independents. But look closer. There are 54 members of his […]

Tom JacksonSeptember 20, 2016

Now that the Florida Education Association has chosen to appeal its legal double-drubbing over the state’s scholarship program for students from low-income families, the question that leaps immediately to mind is this: Why does the teachers’ union hate poor kids? Seriously. About 92,000 students from modest circumstances are attending private schools through the 15-year-old Florida […]

Tag: Supreme Court
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Martin Dyckman: Who needs strong, independent courts? We do.

Judiciary panel votes 11-9 in favor of Neil Gorsuch

Michael Richardson: Is there an adult in the room?

Florida’s legislative leaders talk issues, personalities

Term limits for top Florida judges clears first hurdle

Americans feat they’ll lose coverage with Obamacare repeal: Poll

Politicians can learn lesson from LeRoy Collins balance of public, private speech

U.S. Supreme Court declines to review Fla. worker’s comp case

Martin Dyckman: Supreme Court vacancy makes GOP Senate just as bad as Donald Trump

Tom Jackson: Appeal puts poor students under FEA’s boot