Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschOctober 6, 2018

Never mind candidates on the ballot. There are a dozen constitutional amendments voters must worry about on Election Day. In the interest of saving time and avoiding long lines at polling locations, it’s best Floridians equip themselves early with knowledge of each proposal, rather than making a gameday decision. As the courts have told us, […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 29, 2018

The two major parties are likely “actively recruiting” lawyers for any election-related disputes that arise Nov. 6. That’s according to Dr. Susan MacManus, a retired University of South Florida political science professor, who moderated an election controversy panel during the 2018 Florida Bar Reporters’ Workshop this week. Addressing a room of media, MacManus discussed with […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 22, 2018

Brian Pitts, a perennial presence in the halls of the Legislature, has readied 11 bill proposals ahead of the 2019 Legislative Session. They cover a wide range of topics: Education, ethics, civil and criminal justice, and judicial reform. Pitts’ nonprofit Justice-2-Jesus this year is taking on a “controversial and aggressive bill package,” according to his website. The […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 15, 2018

Vanilla Ice was the guest of honor at the Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism Wednesday evening. There, the group bestowed the famed hip-hop artist with the 2018 Film Florida Legends Tourism Ambassador award, which is presented annually to entertainment legends who keep the Sunshine State on their mind and involved in their work. “Vanilla Ice […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 8, 2018

A fresh slate of state leaders won’t be the only change lawmakers confront when they return to Tallahassee next year. Savour restaurant, offering traditional fare with a twist, is set to open its doors Oct. 15, replacing Avenue Eat & Drink at its former location on East Park Avenue in the heart of Tallahassee’s […]

Peter SchorschAugust 25, 2018

The work of the Constitution Revision Commission is under attack in the courts. And that’s fair, according to Brecht Heuchan, who led the CRC’s drafting process. “I’m not mad about the lawsuits,” he told us. “That’s what people do when they feel aggrieved.” But a new effort spawned this week encouraging Floridians to opt for […]

Peter SchorschAugust 18, 2018

Rick Wilson, the Tallahassee-based Republican operative whose moonshot to the spotlight accompanied his unwithering criticism of President Donald Trump, came home this week. His landing spot: The capital city’s Midtown Reader bookstore, to read from and discuss his new best-selling book, “Everything Trump Touches Dies.” “This process started a little bit as catharsis,” Wilson told […]

Peter SchorschAugust 11, 2018

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Charter chalks a win The Leon County School District suffered a bruising defeat this week when an appeal panel unanimously recommended the state overturn the county’s decision to block a new charter school from setting up shop in the county. The Charter School Appeal Commission, composed evenly of traditional public and […]

Peter SchorschAugust 4, 2018

Every July Fourth, Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston reads a copy of the Declaration of Independence reprinted in the Tallahassee Democrat. “I always sit in the morning with a cup of coffee and read back through that,” Polston told members of the Economic Club of Florida in Tallahassee this week. “I just enjoy doing […]

Peter SchorschJuly 28, 2018

130514125707-baby-boomers-broken-piggy-bank-1024x576.jpg

With a brow-raising $89.3 billion for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the state appropriated the largest budget in Florida history, a $4.36 billion increase from last year. Those big numbers make Florida TaxWatch’s recently released Taxpayer’s Budget Guide all the more valuable. Authored by the watchdog group’s vice president of research, Kurt Wenner, the interactive series […]

Tag: Takeaways from Tallahassee
SeaWorld Orlando's Expedition Odyssey (SeaWorld)

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Navigating November

Takeaways from Tallahassee — An army of (election) lawyers

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Signs of Session

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Ice, ice, ‘Action!’

Takeaways from Tallahassee — New food from a familiar face

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Second-guessing the CRC

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Hustlin’ 45

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Charter chalks a win

Takeaways from Tallahassee — A justice talks civics

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Budget breakdown