As chair of the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee, State Rep. Alex Andrade oversaw the largest portion of Florida’s state budget. The Pensacola Republican characterized the final days of negotiations as particularly…
Category: State & National News
Andrade on $115B budget: Tax Cuts, Healthcare Reform, and Hope Florida
As Florida legislators prepare for tonight’s final budget vote, State Rep. Alex Andrade offered insights into what he calls a “fiscally conservative” $115 billion spending plan that prioritizes tax relief and government…
Top Reads: Week ended June 14, 2025
Readers followed closely the University of West Florida Board of Trustees and the Pensacola Beach Gateway debacle. UWF We posted Manny Diaz’s employment contract before any media in the state. Florida Education…
From Republican to Democrat: David Jolly’s Bold Vision
Former Republican congressman David Jolly is making waves in Florida politics with his campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor. His recent appearance on “(We Don’t) Color On the Dog” podcast revealed…
Oops, Hope Florida Foundation to amend tax return
The Orlando Sentinel reports that Hope Florida Foundation will amend its tax return to show the Governor’s Cup golf tournament made money. In April, after the Foundation released its Form 990, which covered…
Daily Outtakes: Andrade won’t back down on budget
State Rep. Alex Andrade isn’t backing off his position on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Hope Florida budget demands. As chair of the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee, Andrade is wielding budget authority like…
Jolly announces run for governor
Today. Former Republican Congressman David Jolly announced his campaign for Florida governor, becoming the first prominent Democrat to enter the 2026 race. The 52-year-old former Pinellas County representative and cable news commentator…
Andrade offers little hope for Hope Florida navigators
Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), who heads House healthcare budget negotiations, is proposing to cut $2.5 million from the Hope Florida program—eliminating 20 Hope navigator positions and six additional positions in Veterans’ Affairs….
Andrade ultimatum: No Reports, No Salary [podcast]
Florida’s budget negotiations are heating up in Tallahassee, and State Rep. Alex Andrade isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to government waste. In a recent podcast interview, Andrade revealed his aggressive…
Breaking: Pensacola mayor endorses Byron Donalds for governor
At his weekly press conference, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves officially endorsed Congressman Byron Donalds for governor, adding another high-profile endorsement to Donalds’ campaign that already enjoys President Donald Trump’s backing. Speaking to…
‘Gentleman Warrior’ Thrasher dies
Former Florida State University President and House Speaker John Thrasher died Friday at age 81 after battling cancer. The Republican served over three decades in politics, helping overhaul Florida’s education system under…
Backroom Briefing: Stadium Money Benched
Weekly political notes from The News Service of Florida By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — It’s been nearly 20 years since Florida directly approved money for construction of…
Salzman thanks DeSantis for ‘exceptional appointment’ of Diaz
No The Pensacola News Journal has posted a guest viewpoint from State Rep. Michelle Salzman, titled “Manny Diaz will lead UWF into a new era of excellence.” There are few bandwagons that…
Don’t Color on the Dog: Jackass Edition
The controversial $10 million Medicaid settlement check that flowed through the Hope Florida Foundation to the political action committee Keep Florida Clean has emerged as a case study in governmental dysfunction, raising…
The state should have audited the $10 million Hope Florida deal. It didn’t happen.
By Michelle DeMarco, Florida Center for Government Accountability No one was watching the store when $10 million in state Medicaid settlement money was diverted to the Casey DeSantis-led charity Hope Florida. A…
Daily Outtakes: Is Casey DeSantis a Patsy?
Casey DeSantis launched Hope Florida in 2021 as a genuine welfare program to help connect needy Floridians to community-based nonprofits and faith institutions, weaning them off government assistance. Its funds, both gifts…
Hope Florida Scandal Timeline
The weekend is the perfect time to recap the history of news stories. Last week, I covered the dispute between the Escambia Children’s Trust and the Escambia County Commission over CRA funds….
Don Gaetz recaps unprecedented 2025 sesssion
In an unusual move this year, the Florida Legislature has divided its work into two separate sessions. While the policy portion concluded on May 2nd after the traditional 60-day session, lawmakers still…
Daily Outtakes: Matt Gaetz for governor? Maybe
NBC’s political reporter Matt Dixon thinks former Rep. Matt Gaetz is seriously considering Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race—and it’s all about political mathematics. Who is Matt Dixon? He is a senior national politics…
DeSantises doubles down on Hope Florida, as SAO opens invesitigation
Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis held their second press event in seven days to once again tout Hope Florida, without offering any explanation of why a $10-million Medicaid settlement…
