Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMay 8, 2014

I was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000 and quickly participated in my first session — a special session called to determine which candidate for president would be awarded Florida’s electoral votes. There were 14 sessions during my first three years in office. Many of those sessions were special sessions needed to […]

Bob SparksMay 6, 2014

Another legislative session is behind us. A host of bills, some more significant than others, await a signature and possibly a made-for-media signing ceremony by Gov. Rick Scott. With one party leading two branches of government, the governor’s veto pen will require precious little ink. A surge in “member projects” (some say pork, some say […]

Peter SchorschMay 4, 2014

Winner: Will Weatherford With the passage of the immigration tuition bill, Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford is the single biggest winner of the 2014 legislative session. He has completely silenced his detractors by accomplishing something few of the old silverbacks could have pulled off, and it is the capstone on the first phase of a political […]

Guest AuthorApril 28, 2014

Florida legislators demanding more “accountability” as a condition for expanding the state’s premier school-choice program could learn a very valuable lesson from the example set by the late, great Mary McLeod Bethune. When Bethune opened her Daytona School for Negro Girls in 1904, she knew success would depend on satisfying two different constituencies — parents […]

Daniel TilsonApril 26, 2014

Like a crew of clumsy card sharks armed with trick decks, Gov. Rick Scott and Republican legislators have turned the final days of the 2014 session into a rigged political poker tournament. Bankrolled by our tax dollars, they keep betting, raising and bluffing with bravado. But we’re the ones with most of the skin in […]

Peter SchorschApril 9, 2014

With lawmakers dressed in sweaters to stave off the cold and holiday displays set in the Capitol Rotunda, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli gaveled in a rare December special session of the Florida Legislature. Almost immediately after Democrat Charlie Crist unseated Republican Rick Scott last month in the most expensive gubernatorial […]

Guest AuthorMarch 27, 2014

I’m beginning to think that Adam Putnam is just about the only grown-up in Tallahassee. Which is ironic because Putnam, Florida’s commissioner of agriculture, isn’t even 40 yet. But he’s served in the Florida and U.S. Houses of Representatives and as agriculture commissioner has demonstrated that — future ambitions aside — he’s at least looking […]

Bob SparksMarch 19, 2014

As most of Tallahassee and those enrolled in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) throughout the state know, the Legislature is again taking up what is called public pension overhaul. Both House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz seek to change a system that is not broken. In fact, more than 86 percent […]

Guest AuthorMarch 16, 2014

The start of the new legislative session could rightly be called the silly season. The men and women elected to represent us have endeavored to propose some of the most nonsensical legislation. It makes you question the quality of our leadership. So many of the bills, such as the “Warning Shot” bill, can be considered […]

Julie DelegalMarch 16, 2014

The proposed legislative expansion of Florida’s private-school voucher program may jump the blurry line between private money and public money. Instead of diverting only corporate taxes to pay for private-school vouchers, House Speaker Will Weatherford wants to use your sales tax dollars, and mine, to expand the voucher pot by another $30 million. Many Floridians […]

Tag: Will Weatherford
Melania and Donald Trump with Pope Francis. Image via AP.

Jeff Kottkamp: Low-key legislative session was a lull before election fireworks

Bob Sparks: Real people must trump ideology

Peter Schorsch: The winners and losers in the 2014 legislative session

William Mattox: Private schools must pass the ‘Mary McLeod Bethune’ test

Daniel Tilson: Going for broke in the Capitol casino

Peter Schorsch: Here’s what a December special session might look like

Cary McMullen: Kudos to Putnam for trying to get money to fix schools

Bob Sparks: Is overhauling FRS a greater risk than doing nothing?

Andrew Skerritt: The Florida legislative session is the silly season

Julie Delegal: Do you want your Florida sales taxes going to religious schools?