Category Florida Legislature
A Ronald Reagan specialty license plate? Only in Florida…
Newly elected Rep. Rick Roth (R- Loxahatchee) whose ties to the sugar industry we previously editorialized about has filed a piece of legislation so ridiculous it screams FLORIDA LEGISLATURE all over it. Rep. Roth has filed a bill to create a Ronald Reagan specialty tag here in the state of Florida. Specialty license plates have proliferated to […]
Will North Carolina be the new model for Florida Republicans?
The State of North Carolina has become an international embarrassment. Since the GOP takeover of NC legislature in 2010 and the victory of Pat McCrory in the 2012 Governor’s race, the state has become further and further radicalized at the political level. Despite being a purple state at the national level and perhaps the most […]
20 years of GOP rule of the Florida Legislature
I’m somewhat surprised we have not gotten more commemorations because this week’s organizational session marked 20 years since the GOP captured complete control of the Florida Legislature. The Republicans captured a House majority on Election Day 1996 ironically as Bill Clinton was becoming the first Democratic Presidential nominee to carry the state in twenty years. […]
Indian River Lagoon being destroyed (perhaps intentionally?) in Rick Scott’s Florida
Last week we discussed the continued struggles for the Caloosahatchee River and the lagoon area in Lee County that is part of the river. This week it’s the Indian River Lagoon which has been endangered for years but has been far from a priority of state government. WMFE has an outstanding feature on the current crisis […]
Audio: What Spurs Economic Activity in Florida?
This week I spoke to Joseph F. Pennisi, Executive Director of the Florida Policy Institute about a new report they issued that shows how tax cuts and incentives to big businesses don’t achieve the goals of increasing economic activity and creating jobs. Listen to find out what really spurs economic activity. Link to report —> […]
Hypocritical Republicans want to stall Supreme Court appointment? Remember Florida in 2014?
Republicans nationally want to stall the appointment of a new Supreme Court Justice following the passing of Justice Anton Scalia, the most conservative judge on the court (perhaps save Clarence Thomas who has done nothing but follow Scalia, possessing no legal mind of his own). Donald Trump loudly proclaimed the GOP strategy yesterday – Trump […]
Looking for Democratic Hope in the State Senate Map, Part 1
Looking at the Big Picture All eyes around the state are on the Senate in a big way, as the redistricting ruling suddenly bringing a glimmer of hope for democrats on the state level. With a number of competitive seats on the table, legislative Democrats see a path to relevance for the first time since […]
Marco Rubio’s Miami and legislative buddy Ralph Arza – potential problem for the GOP
Senator Marco Rubio is the great hope of establishment conservatives and the right-wing pressure groups that have influence over the GOP. The narrative goes that Ted Cruz is too conservative (though his record and rhetoric are virtually indistinguishable from Rubio) and Donald Trump is too much of a wild card that will crash to defeat. […]
TFS Radio # 9 – Iowa, Marco Rubio, Florida Legislature continuing war on women and environment
Katy Burnett, Brook Hines and Kartik Krishnaiyer discuss the latest political developments from Iowa, New Hampshire and Tallahassee. You can listen here and leave comments via our partner Rabble.TV or in the embedded player below: TFS Radio is a collaborative effort of The Florida Squeeze and Rabble TV. Via our partner Rabble.TV you can listen […]
City-based School Districts would lead to massive inequality
I read with some curiosity on Saturday a Tampa Bay Times article about a proposal to split school districts. I will admit it caught me completely off-guard because I have not followed anything related to the Florida Legislature this session, as January is always a very busy time for me professionally and unlike in March, […]
The Florida Squeeze 