When voters approved a nicely worded amendment to the state Constitution in 2010 they may have thought the constant squabbling over political districting would be over.
After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton
You probably can't imagine how much fun I've had at Sunshine State News over the last 10 years. I don't think anybody could.
November 1, 2019 - 6:00am
Politics
Columns
WASHINGTON -- While the nation's attention has been riveted on the Keystone Congress, the executive branch was busy developing its own comedy routine. Picture the cast (you know the characters) shrugging their shoulders in unison: "Who, me?"
Sherlock Holmes famously solved a mystery by noticing the dog that did not bark. In the recent government shutdown/debt ceiling fight, there was a five-letter dog that didn't bark: T-A-X-E-S.
The pots and pans are clanging for the ouster of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as the Obamacare website roll-out takes on the aspect of that of the Edsel.
Yet, though it is a website that has America laughing, Obama's legacy legislation itself could, in its entirety, be in peril. As ex-pilot George W. Bush used to say, this thing looks like a five-spiral crash.
It's not just Republicans who are unhappy with Obamacare. Labor union leaders have been complaining too.
In July, the presidents of the Teamsters, United Food Commercial Workers union and UNITE-HERE (combined membership: 2.9 million) wrote a letter to congressional Democrats saying that Obamacare will "destroy the very health and well-being of our members along with millions of other working Americans."
It was a terrible year for Tehran. With the 2009 election fast approaching, the mullahs tried to buy votes by giving away free produce. Rather than appease the masses, the giveaway sparked cries of "death to potatoes."
The numbers are in for the evening news coverage of the shutdown. During the first 15 nights of October, ABC, CBS and NBC blamed the Republicans 41 times for the shutdown, blamed both sides 17 times, and blamed Obama and the Democrats ... never.
During the White Houses much-maligned Affordable Care Act rollout, President Barack Obama suggested purchasing health care insurance would be as easy as ordering a TV from Amazon.
The constipated debut of Obamacare has reduced the president of the United States to the status of TV pitchman. "Act now" to get this great product, he exhorted listeners on Monday, offering testimonials from one of the rare successful purchasers, promising limitless benefits and low prices, and even an 800 number.
Trending Now
By Kevin Derby
The 2014 PayScale College Return on Investment Report is out and two universities from the Sunshine State garner high marks for their computer science programs. Using salary data and comparing it with cost and alumni earnings, PayScale finds the University of Floridas computer science degree offers the best return in the state on investment annually with the University of North Florida (UNF) right behind it in the second spot. UNF leads the state over a 20-year return on investment for its computer science degree.
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Former president Bill Clinton will be heading to Florida in June; he will be the keynote speaker at this year's Jefferson Jackson dinner in Hollywood on June 28.
In an email sent Monday, Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant explained Democrats "needed" to hear Clinton's message.
By Kevin Derby
Despite ranking as one of the most liberal governors in the nation, Gov. Martin OMalley, D-Md., is throwing his support behind former Gov. Charlie Crist, who spent most of his political career as a Republican, as he looks to challenge Gov. Rick Scott in November. OMalley has been actively exploring running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 despite trailing badly in the polls to the likes of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden.
By Kevin Derby
Even as a Mason-Dixon poll released last week showed Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist in a dead heat, the former governor's team is insisting the polls are meaningless.
On Monday, the Crist camp showcased Democratic strategist Jim Messina, best known for his work guiding President Barack Obamas successful campaigns.
Messina let supporters know he expects the gubernatorial race to be a tight contest.
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It's the final week of session in Tallahassee and the final push to give school vouchers a second chance in the Sunshine State.
An amendment proposed by Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, would change accountability measures for private schools accepting vouchers. The amendment could ultimately bring SB 1512 back to life.
Galvano's amendment would also require FSU's Learning System Institute to measure the performance of students on scholarships on national tests.
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Gov. Rick Scott will announce Monday that Mike Carroll, who currently serves as director of the SunCoast Region Department of Children and Families, will be taking over as DCF's new secretary.
Carroll will replace Interim Secretary Esther Jacobo, who took the position after former DCF Secretary David Wilkins resigned last summer following reports of the deaths of four small children with a history of involvement with child-abuse investigators.Jacobo's last day is Friday.
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If Florida voters were expecting a primary debate between former Gov. Charlie Crist and former state Sen. Nan Rich, they may want to give up hope as it's seeming less and less likely the two will face off.
Crist spokesman Kevin Cate took to Twitter on Friday to announce the former governor was "entirely focused" on defeating Rick Scott, which seems to imply he's got little time left over to debate Nan Rich.
By Kevin Derby
On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott announced Verizon will add 350 additional jobs to the 750 announced in their Lake Mary finance center which was launched last year.
By Kevin Derby
As former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., continues to ponder whether to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, the national media have made a major issue of his mother -- former first lady Barbara Bush -- saying she does not think he should enter the contest. But another member of the Republican dynasty is encouraging the former Florida governor to enter the contest: former President George H.W. Bush.
By Nancy Smith
Waggish Roger Stone, one of my favorite authors, a general bon vivant and Florida political-everything, may be a little despondent about the GOP's 2016 White House prospects. My clue is this campaign button he sent me to wear.
He asks, "You got anyone better?"
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