News
A closer look at Florida Constitutional Amendment 10
State and Local Government Structure and Operation BALLOT SUMMARY: “Requires legislature to retain department of veterans’ affairs. Ensures election of sheriffs, property appraisers, supervisors of elections, tax collectors, and clerks of court in all counties; removes county charters’ ability to abolish, change term, transfer duties, or eliminate election of these offices. Changes annual legislative session […]
Will the FL Legislature really switch over to blue?
There’s been a lot of talk — and hope — about a “blue wave” that could usher in Democratic legislative majorities across the country, including in Florida’s House and Senate chambers. But whether that will really happen may be unlikely, according to a Tampa Bay Times story. “Republicans have a firm grasp on both chambers, […]
Florida’s CFO candidates create chilling websites to bash each other
In modern politics today, it’s not only de rigueur for candidates to have websites touting their biography and accomplishments, but now they’re creating separate websites that attack their opponents. We’ve already seen that happening in the Florida governor’s race, and now the two men running to be Florida’s Chief Financial Officer – Republican incumbent Jimmy […]
Florida’s uninsured: Many low-income adults in rural areas still don’t have health insurance
Florida is one of the states that didn’t expand Medicaid coverage for certain low-income adults, and now there are consequences: Nearly 40 percent of those adults are uninsured in their small towns and rural areas, a new study shows. Seven other “non-expansion” states also have more than a third of their low-income adults without health […]
US Sen Bill Nelson a ‘no’ vote on Kavanaugh – and Nelson’s now taking heat
Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, caught up in a tense battle for reelection against Governor Rick Scott, announced early this morning that he will vote no on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. “I will vote no on Judge Kavanaugh,” Nelson tweeted shortly before 5 a.m. on Friday. His vote would be […]
A closer look at Florida Constitutional Amendment 9
Amendment 9: Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling; Prohibits Vaping in Enclosed Indoor Workplaces BALLOT SUMMARY: “Prohibits drilling for the exploration or extraction of oil and natural gas beneath all state-owned waters between the mean high water line and the state’s outermost territorial boundaries. Adds use of vapor-generating electronic devices to current prohibition of tobacco […]
The word “socialist” is “an inaccurate red scare tactic”
Florida Gov. Rick Scott continues to use the word socialism/socialist this election season. Scott is trying to unseat U.S. Senator Bill Nelson in November, and on the campaign trail, Scott has called Nelson a socialist. Politifact Florida, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Times, has analyzed the situation and determined that Nelson is not a […]
E-cigarette use an “epidemic” among Florida teens
The number of Florida teens and pre-teens – ages 11 to 17 – who use e-cigarettes has spiked 60 percent in the last year, from roughly 10 percent in 2017 to almost 16 percent in 2018, according to data gathered by the Florida Health Department. For high school students only, the numbers are worse — […]
Hillary Clinton to campaign for Andrew Gillum next month – will Donald Trump come for DeSantis?
Two years after Hillary Clinton lost the chance to make history by becoming America’s first female president, the former First Lady and U.S. Secretary of State hopes to help Florida make history by electing its first black governor – Andrew Gillum. Clinton is scheduled to make a campaign appearance next month in South Florida with […]
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson team up on bill to protect Florida farmers, but will it gather any national support?
After months of negotiations, the Florida agriculture community experienced an intense letdown late last month when a revised trade agreement with Mexico failed to address their concerns. Specifically, Florida farmers were hoping the agreement would address complaints that the Mexican government has been “dumping” fresh produce into the U.S. market at prices below the cost […]
A closer look at Florida Constitutional Amendment 7
AMENDMENT 7: First responder and military member survivor benefits; public colleges and universities BALLOT SUMMARY: “Grants mandatory payment of death benefits and waiver of certain educational expenses to qualifying survivors of certain first responders and military members who die performing official duties. Requires supermajority votes by university trustees and state university system board of governors […]
A worrisome picture for black students in public colleges and universities, including in Florida
For black students, college life can be troubling and far different compared to their peers. They’re underrepresented on college campuses. They’re less likely to graduate on time compared to their peers. And their professors and other instructors probably won’t be black. Those and other findings are part of a new “50-state Report Card” by the […]