Politico has speculated that Florida Gov. Rick Scott is a contender to be Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, as is Dr. Ben Carson. Carson was the Director of Pediatric…
Category: State & National News
Pot amendment creates green rush
By DARA KAM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Florida voters’ overwhelming approval of a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana for a broad swath of patients may have spurred a green rush into…
State weekly roundup: GOP holds Trump Card
(Recap and analysis of the week in state government) By BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA The 2016 elections had already produced their share of surprises. The triumph of a reality-television…
Bondi added to Trump Transition Team
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, an early supporter of newly elected President Donald Trump, was named Friday to Trump’s 16-member Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee. “The mission of our team will be…
Backroom briefing: Money on the move
(Weekly political notes from The News Service of Florida) By JIM SAUNDERS AND JIM TURNER THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA When Florida lawmakers approved changes in 2013 to the campaign-finance system, the…
Florida TaxWatch: Zika virus may impact state budget
The latest Florida TaxWatch Budget Watch raises the alarm on the potential impact of the on the state budget. Despite Congressional approval of a $1.1 billion federal aid package to combat the…
Three key tactics that pushed Trump to victory
Ben Kaplan, CEO of PR Hacker, wrote me about how Donald Trump used Twitter, emotion-triggering local events, and bold statements of outsider status to become America’s first viral president. Here are three…
Buzz: Miller could be next VA Secretary
With Donald Trump’s victory, speculation has already begun about who will be in his Cabinet. Here are the names we’re hearing: Secretary of State – Newt Gingrich Secretary of Defense – Sen….
Breaking news: Firefighters withdraw support of Solar Amendment 1
The Florida Professional Firefighters have withdrawn their endorsement of Constitutional Amendment #1, Rights of Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice. Official Announcement: “Our support for the initiative was solely based on the proposed…
Gulf Power pumps in $2 million to pass Amendment 1
The News Service of Florida reports that Gulf Power has contributed $2.2 million to the Consumers for Smart Solar, the political action committee supporting Amendment 1. The Pensacola-based utility isn’t the largest…
Zombies will not steal the election from Trump
Some in my “Pensacola Speaks” radio audience are convinced that dead people will be voting in this year’s presidential election, and all those votes will be for Hillary Clinton. Trump has repeatedly…
Veterans seeking Congressional seats unite
Four North Florida Congressional candidates, each a military veteran, have endorsed a platform of policies that will improve the lives of veterans and their families. The modern-day “band of brothers†are Democratic…
Debate showed the greatness of America
The political pundits and campaign operatives will dissect last night’s presidential debate. We will read and hear about the one-liners–Putin’s puppet, bad hombres, very sleazy campaign, etc.– and about Donald Trump not…
Rubio, Murphy clash in senate debate
By JIM TURNER THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA As he was pressed Monday night during a heated, hour-long debate with Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy, Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said he won’t…
Judge rules against state on ballot signatures
By JIM SAUNDERS THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA In a blistering decision little more than three weeks before Election Day, a federal judge has ruled that a Florida law that could lead…
Tim Kaine’s wife in downtown Pensacola on Monday
Ann Holton, wife of Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine will meet with the Escambia County Democratic Women’s Club to discuss Hillary Clinton-Tim Kaine ticket’s plan to create an economy that works for…
State Backroom Briefing: Socialism in Tallahassee?
(Weekly political notes from The News Service of Florida) By JIM TURNER AND BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Labeling the use of business recruitment incentives as “socialism,” incoming House Speaker…
Over 7,000 votes already cast in Escambia County [podcast]
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections reports that 7,471 mail-in ballots have been received by his office as of Oct. 12. The split is REP 3,782 DEM 2,622 OTH 1,067 Yesterday on…
Breaking news: Voter registration deadline extended
October 12, 2016 A federal judge Wednesday approved extending Florida’s voter-registration deadline to Oct. 18 because of Hurricane Matthew. The Florida Democratic Party and other groups requested the extension because the hurricane…
League of Women Voters seeks registration extension to Oct. 18
From The News Service of Florida: With a federal judge poised to hear arguments in a related case, the League of Women Voters of Florida on Tuesday filed a lawsuit seeking to…
