News
Tallahassee Democrat newspaper teams up with PR firm as “sponsor” and right-wing think tank alum to “fact check” media reports about city
Well, here’s a what-the-heck headline for this week: The Tallahassee Democrat newspaper is so concerned about how Florida’s capital city will be portrayed in the media now that Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum is the Democratic nominee for governor that it is teaming up with a PR firm and a conservative pundit to offer “fact checks” […]
A closer look at Florida Constitutional Amendment 11
AMENDMENT 11: property rights; removal of obsolete provision; criminal statutes BALLOT SUMMARY: “Removes discriminatory language related to real property rights. Removes obsolete language repealed by voters. Deletes provision that amendment of a criminal statute will not affect prosecution or penalties for a crime committed before the amendment; retains current provision allowing prosecution of a crime […]
Gillum and Nelson endorsed by Puerto Rico’s governor
With both political parties fighting hard for the Puerto Rican vote in Florida in the Nov. 6 election, the governor of Puerto Rico Monday endorsed two Florida Democrats: Andrew Gillum for governor and Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate. The Nelson endorsement was a blow to Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for the U.S. Senate. […]
Florida Dems note DeSantis vote 5 years ago to shut down federal government
It was five years ago today that a group of hardline House Republicans who opposed the Affordable Care Act were able to shut the federal government down for 16 days. The shutdown left nearly 800,000 federal employees out of work without pay and was extremely unpopular with the public. Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis was […]
Obama endorses Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum for FL governor.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama endorsed Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum for governor Monday morning. “Today, I’m proud to endorse even more Democratic candidates who aren’t just running against something, but for something – to expand opportunity for all of us and to restore dignity, honor, and compassion to public service,” the […]
Let it bee so: Among new laws that go into effect Oct. 1, one hopes to protect beehives.
There’s a distinct buzz in Tallahassee as a new law goes into effect Monday that makes it less worthwhile to steal beehives. It’s no joke: In recent years, Florida has seen a dramatic increase in theft of beehives, according to an analysis of the bill which is now law. The increase in beehive thefts is […]
The ground game is happening to mobilize black voters for the November election
As part of its effort to organize young voters to go to the polls this year, the voter outreach group NextGen America has been organizing on college campuses in swing states for the past year, including an emphasis on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. That work paid dividends in Florida for the group in August […]
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 […]