My Florida Voices column – “Florida’s prison privatization is no paradise” – was published yesterday in Ocala Star Banner in its opinion section. In his fiscal year 2014 budget, Gov. Rick Scott…
Category: State & National News
Firefighters: Retirement of FL Public Employees in Jeopardy
By Stephanie Carroll Carson, Florida News Connection TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A proposal to change the retirement benefits of public employees, such as teachers and firefighters, is gaining momentum in the Florida House…
Rep. Ingram wants to stamp out spice
Press Release: Rep. Clay Ingram (R-Pensacola) filed House Bill 619, which bans a group of synthetic cannabinoids and substitute cathinones, commonly known as “spice,†“K2†or “bath salts.†Marketed as legal alternatives…
Gov. Scott announces first state brand. Rejects Florida: The Upside of America
Press Release: Yesterday, Enterprise Florida (EFI) and Governor Rick Scott unveiled Florida’s first-ever business brand in front of EFI’s board of directors and key stakeholders. The brand reflects the state’s existing business…
Taking Shame issue statewide with Florida Voices column. More lipstick to remove
My Florida Voices column today talks about how conservatives are looking at the wrong figures when they complain about Medicaid expansion. I figure that I might was well take the lipstick of…
Scott wants to double-down on education
Gov. Rick Scott called his pay raises for teachers “a double-down†on what he claims has been a billion-dollar investment on the state’s K-12 education system. Having taken credit for the turnaround…
Stafford testifies on Florida election process (testimony)
As I reported last week, Escambia Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and nine other supervisors testified yesterday about their experiences during the 2012 General Election before the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee,…
Buzz: Scott wanted Board members who pledged no tuition increases
Florida Gov. Rick Scott appointed last Thursday five members to the Board of Governors of the State University System. Our sources are telling us that the governor demanded a pledge from nominees…
Another Tea Party failure: Boehner still Speaker. Darn, the angry, old white coalition is losing power
For the last couple days, the Tea Party has been bragging that it had the votes to unseat Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) as the Speaker of the House. The boys weren’t happy…
Food for guns trade worked in LA. How much chicken can you buy for a rocket launcher?
The Los Angeles Police Department offered for one day only a buyback program. Turn in a gun, get a grocery store gift card. According to Atlantic, the final numbers were 2,037 firearms,…
Quote of the Day
NY Times published today an article on the decline of the Tea Party since the 2012 General Election. Florida Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) had this to say about how the fringe…
Guest Viewpoint: Universal Responsibility
By Winslow Myers— “O that there were some virtue in my tears . . .â€â€”Shakespeare– One of the Dalai Lama’s first principles is something he calls “universal responsibility.†However quick we are…
5,740 Children and Teens were Killed by Guns in 2008 and 2009
The Children’s Defense Fund published earlier this year a report (Protect Children, Not Guns 2012) on the rise of gun deaths of children and teens. In 2008, 2,947 children and teens died…
Evers supports sales tax on web sales
The News Herald reports that State Sen. Greg Evers (R-Baker) supports a bill that would charge sales tax on Internet sales. Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami, has filed the bill through, officially titled…
Gaetz addresses issues surrounding Transparency software
TO: All Senators FROM: Don Gaetz, President SUBJECT:Senate Contract with Spider Data Systems DATE: December 7, 2012 You may have seen a number of news reports as well as a report published…
Well, well, Olive Garden is not laying off workers because Obama won. LOL
In October, Fox News reported that a second Obama term would guarantee the president’s health care law will be fully implemented. It said Darden Restaurants, which owns Red Lobster, Olive Garde and…
Congress likely to be blamed for fall off fiscal cliff.
The latest Pew Research/Washington Post poll shows that the public is still pessimistic over prospects for a deficit agreement between the White House and Congress. However, more will be blame Congress for…
Miller retains House chairmanship
Press Release: House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH-08) announced today that Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) will remain the Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for the 113th Congress. “It is certainly a…
Senate Unanimously Approves Ethics Reform Measures
Press Release: New rules increase transparency, amend conflict of interest disclosure requirements and timeline Tallahassee–The Florida Senate today unanimously adopted 2012-2014 Senate Rules that strengthen the requirement to disclose conflicts of interest,…
Gaetz officially elected Florida Senate president
Press Release: Senator Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) was today elected President of the Florida Senate by his colleagues. Senator Garrett Richter (R-Naples) was elected President Pro Tempore. All 40 Senators, including 15 elected…
