FLORIDA POLITICS
Since 2002, daily Florida political news and commentary

 

UPDATE: Every morning we review and individually digest Florida political news articles, editorials and punditry. Our sister site, FLA Politics was selected by Campaigns & Elections as one of only ten state blogs in the nation
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Welcome To Florida Politics

Thanks for visiting. On a semi-daily basis we scan Florida's major daily newspapers for significant Florida political news and punditry. We also review the editorial pages and political columnists/pundits for Florida political commentary. The papers we review include: the Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Naples News, Sarasota Herald Tribune, St Pete Times, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Tallahassee Democrat, and, occasionally, the Florida Times Union; we also review the political news blogs associated with these newspapers.

For each story, column, article or editorial we deem significant, we post at least the headline and link to the piece; the linked headline always appears in quotes. We quote the headline for two reasons: first, to allow researchers looking for the cited piece to find it (if the link has expired) by searching for the original title/headline via a commercial research service. Second, quotation of the original headline permits readers to appreciate the spin from the original piece, as opposed to our spin.

Not that we don't provide spin; we do, and plenty of it. Our perspective appears in post headlines, the subtitles within the post (in bold), and the excerpts from the linked stories we select to quote; we also occasionally provide other links and commentary about certain stories. While our bias should be immediately apparent to any reader, we nevertheless attempt to link to every article, column or editorial about Florida politics in every major online Florida newspaper.

 

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The Blog for Thursday, June 25, 2015

Scott's Retaliatory, Americans for Prosperity Budget

    The Orlando Sentinel editors say there's a "plausible" explanation for the Governor's vetoes: "politics." Consider the projects
    backed by Senate President Andy Gardiner, the Orlando Republican who led his chamber's effort to use federal funds to provide private health insurance to 800,000 low-income Floridians. Scott was so opposed to the idea that he summoned senators for private meetings and threatened to veto their legislative priorities.

    "He promised that he would punish the constituents of those legislators who disagreed with him, and he kept his promise," Sen. Don Gaetz, an Okaloosa County Republican and former Senate president, told the News Service of Florida.

    It's another piece of irony from a governor who campaigned for office touting his nonpolitical background.

    "Politics trumped jobs, economy in Scott vetoes."

    Paula Dockery on Scott's political payback: "Just four days after the Florida Legislature passed the $78.7 billion state budget, Gov. Rick Scott, with no advanced notice, fanfare or public appearance quietly signed the budget behind closed doors. He didn’t confer with his partners in the process — fellow Cabinet members, legislative leaders and senators and representatives. Even his lieutenant governor was left in the dark."

    Nor did he communicate with those who found themselves on the receiving end of his veto pen. Mayors, commissioners, university presidents and healthcare administrators were among those learning their fate online, through the news media or by word of mouth.

    Scott vetoed $461 million of legislative spending, a personal record, or less than one percent of the budget.

    There was mixed reaction to Scott’s vetoes and to the odd manner in which he performed what is arguably the governor’s most significant responsibility. Individual legislators were surprised to learn that he had completed the job without reaching out to them, as most governors traditionally do.

    In the meantime, Scott's funders, like the Koch brothers'

    Americans for Prosperity and Associated Industries joined Scott-appointed agency heads in singing his praises — state employees, the developmentally disabled and the uninsured working poor continue to be ignored.
    "Gov. Scott wields his veto pen for political payback."


    Florida's growth driven by Hispanics

    "Hispanic residents made up almost half of Florida’s population growth last year, and the age gap between Florida’s white and minority residents continued to widen, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau."

    Florida grew by more than 290,000 residents from July 2013 to July 2014, and more than 141,000 of those new residents were Hispanic.
    "Census data: Florida growth last year driven by Hispanics."


    Disney luvin' the Scott

    "Disney makes big donation to Rick Scott PAC."


    Nancy Pelosi Surfaces in SoFla race

    "Running against U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., former Miami-Dade Democratic Chairwoman Annette Taddeo turned to U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Monday. Pelosi sent out a fundraising email on Taddeo’s behalf." "Nancy Pelosi Surfaces in South Florida Congressional Race."


    Saint Scott

    Rick Scott apologist Nancy Smith, goes after Senate President Andy Gardiner and Senator Jack Latvala for their criticism of Saint Scott, whinging that "it was the Senate that declared war on Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida House, and it did so the minute it took up Medicaid expansion." "Who Declared War on Whom? Let's Get It Straight."


    Yee haw!

    "Florida's first bear hunt in 21 years approved over critics' uproar."


    Challenge to 24-Hour Waiting Period

    "Only days before a new Florida law would start requiring 24-hour waits before women can have abortions, a Leon County circuit judge is considering whether to place a hold on the law while a constitutional challenge goes forward." "Judge Considering Temporary Block of Florida’s New 24-Hour Abortion Waiting Period."


    Even wingers acknowledge (some of) Scott's vetoes were sloppy

    Even right-wingers concede that Scott flubbed many of his vetoes, including cutting "a pay raise for forestry firefighters, employees who put their lives on the line yet earn an average $27,475 a year."

    Meanwhile, the governor left alone pay raises for driver's license examiners and state troopers in six counties [as he should have]. Poorly thought out, damaging to Floridians when it needn't have been, damaging to the governor, damaging to the party in power in Tallahassee
    Oh, and then there's the part where the veto is damaging to firefighters and their families.


    Kathy Castor has led the normalization with Cuba efforts

    "Tampa was chosen because it has sounded the call for normalization."

    The Tampa City Council passed resolutions seeking to host a Cuban consulate and the signing of any documents restoring relations. The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce supports trade with Cuba.

    And U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat, has led the normalization efforts.

    "Cuban activist’s daughter in Tampa pushing for referendum."



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