Whatever you say about Gov. Rick Scott, he can juggle and chew gum at the same time.
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
Last week, Gov. Rick Scott announced record-breaking tourism numbers in the Sunshine State. It may be the last time for a while. Ignoring extensive research, case studies and pleas from travel industry constituents across the state, the Florida Legislature slashed funding for Visit Florida by a crippling 67 percent -- recklessly jeopardizing the tourism industry’s leading role as a generator of jobs and government revenues.
In 1984, the movie “Red Dawn” depicted a Russian invasion of the U.S. Tensions were high during the Cold War. The Defense Intelligence Agency’s annual publication "Soviet Military Power" depicted the awesome threat posed by the Evil Empire’s superpower status. However, as I recall, the “mainstream” media was more worried about the threat of American weapons. The Nuclear Freeze movement was popular.
Dear Editor: The Florida Keys and Key West have two "favorite sons," Jimmy Buffet and Mel Fisher. Insult either one and you will not find much public support. Yet, that is exactly what the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) did right out of the starting gate 26 years ago when they attacked Mel Fisher.
The National Ocean Service is narrowing the field of new leadership at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) nearly a year after an investigation of "waste, fraud and a hostile work environment" at the Sanctuary concluded that -- yes -- changes have to be made there.
Recently, at a Broward Democratic Progressive Caucus event, newly minted Florida Democratic Party President Sally Boynton Brown declared that poor people didn't care about issues and voted based on emotions. According to the Miami New Times, she also declared that the best Democrats should hope for in Florida is a purple state.
It wasn't their intention, but Florida Supreme Court justices' Gretna decision sure started the engine on the Legislature's 2018 gravy train.
The pleasant surprise of the First 100 Days is over. The action was hectic, heated, often confused, but well within the bounds of normalcy. Policy (e.g., health care) was being hashed out, a Supreme Court nominee confirmed, foreign policy challenges (e.g. North Korea) addressed.
Trending Now
By Kevin Derby
U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., marked Constitution Day on Thursday.
By Kevin Derby
Appearing on CSPAN radio on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., urged U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to kill the filibuster and ensure a vote can be held against President Barack Obama’s deal with Iran over its nuclear program.
By Kevin Derby
U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., brought out a bill on Thursday to let third parties play a greater role in counting Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.
By Kevin Derby
Florida CFO Jeff Atwater came out swinging at President Barack Obama’s deal with Iran over its nuclear program but also took aim at the U.S. Senate for not doing more to stop it.
By Kevin Derby
On Thursday, the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) announced there had been more than 100 events across the Sunshine State on Wednesday night to watch the GOP presidential debate with almost 1,000 attendees.
By Kevin Derby
On Thursday morning, Gov. Rick Scott announced Walmart will build two centers in Davenport in Polk County for processing online orders. Scott said the centers will open next year and bring 625 jobs to the area.
By Kevin Derby
On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott showcased a report from the Journal of Commerce (JOC) which ranked Florida ports as some of the fastest growing in the nation.
By Kevin Derby
With reports out that President Barack Obama is encouraging business leaders to urge Congress to back lifting the embargo on Cuba, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., doubled down on her support of the embargo on Wednesday.
By Kevin Derby
Who won and who lost the undercard bout as four dark horses running for the Republican presidential nomination?
By Kevin Derby
On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., urged President Barack Obama to reconsider the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision over declaring five counties in the Tampa Bay region disaster areas due to last month‘s flooding.
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