Columns

Criminal justice issues have dominated our headlines for many months.  Not just about terrorism, but also about suspects who have mental health issues. 

While virtually every Floridian has some interaction with state government,‭ ‬it is easy for the average citizen to feel distanced from the political process of Tallahassee.‭ ‬And it can be easy fo

On Monday, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., took to the Senate floor and spoke on Islamic State terrorism, including the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino. His speech was as follows:

You'll probably hear a lot about Monday's Monmouth University survey. It puts Ted Cruz ahead of the GOP field in the Hawkeye State for the first time. But pay no attention. Outside of Iowa, it's virtually meaningless.

When the President of the United States asks the television networks to set aside time for him to broadcast a speech from the Oval Office, we can usually expect that he has something new to say. But President Obama's speech Sunday night was just a rehash of what he has been saying all along, trying to justify policies that have repeatedly turned out disastrously for America and our allies.

Reporters covering the Florida Legislature learn pretty quickly that much of the legislation is generated by competing business interests.

Welcome to The Dean’s List — an Ed Dean-style look at who Florida’s political achievers were (and weren’t) in the last seven days. What you see here is strictly my opinion, not necessarily the editor’s or the rest of the staff at Sunshine State News.

‭“ ‬I do solemnly swear‭ (‬or affirm‭) ‬that I will support,‭ ‬protect,‭ ‬and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of‭  ‬Florida…So help me God.‭” ‬

Just what the governor doesn't need: a reason for lawmakers to blow raspberries at his budget request for Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI).

In the aftermath of Paris and before San Bernardino, Hillary Clinton articulated the forced catechism of the left: "Let's be clear: Islam is not our adversary. Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism."

On Thursday, new U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., spoke at the Library of Congress and offered his vision for America.

Rick Scott's critics pummel him plenty for abusing his executive privilege on bragging rights. And it's true, since 2011 our governor's self-promoting press releases have morphed into a kind of waterboard torture for those of us who get to read them daily.  But let's be fair here. There's no getting around the fact that Scott has been a powerful magician for Florida economy good -- which is exactly what most of his press releases are about.

The U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee held a hearing on “Assessing the President’s Strategy in Afghanistan” on Wednesday. U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the subcommittee, opened the hearing with the following statement:

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Sen. Tim Scott, who evidently has not received the memo explaining that politics is a grim and bitter business, laughs easily and often, as when, during lunch in this city's humming downtown, he explains that South Carolina's Lowcountry is benefiting from what are called "halfbacks."

Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court of the state of Florida is just what I expected because the entire process has been tainted from the very beginning. Beyond a doubt, today’s ruling and the proposed congressional map is a direct attack on minority voters and a clear example of voter retrogression and disenfranchisement.  As a response, and in accordance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act, I have filed a federal lawsuit to repeal the proposed congressional map.