Florida Politics & News
Florida news featured in The Daily Signal with reporting, analysis, and commentary on conservative governance, education reform, and the Sunshine State’s leadership in policy innovation.
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- News
Florida Democrat Election Official Admits Noncitizens, Felons Voting
A veteran Democrat chief election official in Florida has conceded in court that noncitizens and felons possibly voted, in a case that could have national implications for how localities clean up voter rolls. Broward County Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes is defending her office against a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Rights Union, a conservative…Fred Lucas -
- News
Florida Republican Asks Attorney General to Look Into Former House IT Aide’s Finances
A House Republican from Florida this week urged Attorney General Jeff Sessions to determine whether any U.S. financial institutions have reported suspicious banking activity by a former information technology aide to a Florida Democrat who until last year headed the national party. Imran Awan; his wife, Hina Alvi; his brothers; and his best friend are…Mark Tapscott -
- Opinion
Election Fraud Is a Nonpartisan Issue. These Cases From Florida Prove It.
One of the most important swing states in the nation, Florida, was hit with election fraud in 2016, harming voters on both sides of the political aisle. This is the latest example of why election fraud is a nonpartisan issue, and one that must be addressed in a serious and thoughtful manner. Consider a recent…Jason Snead -
- Opinion
Why Poll-Watching Trends in Florida Are Harming Democracy
Last week, the specter of ballot fraud came alive in Florida when scores of mail ballots in Broward County were found to have been wrongfully opened by election officials in secret. This episode comes not as an “isolated” incident, but sadly as the predictable result of a pernicious tactic of discouraging poll watchers from doing…Lisa Dixon -
- News
As Obama Travels to Florida to Promote Obamacare, State Faces Higher Costs, Fewer Options
Before Obamacare insurance exchanges were established in 2013, Florida had 18 insurers operating in the state. President Barack Obama arrives in Miami Thursday to promote his signature legislative achievement, as Florida will have just five companies for Florida residents to choose from in 2017. The Affordable Care Act was sold in part as a means…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Florida Moves to Reform Controversial Police Practice
The Florida state Senate recently voted unanimously in support of a major civil forfeiture reform package. On Tuesday the Florida House of Representatives followed suit, voting 116-0 in favor of the bill. Forfeiture reform has won the full-throated support of state legislators. Now the bill heads to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, who has…Jason Snead -
- Opinion
How Florida Created 1 Million Jobs in 5 Years
Gov. Rick Scott had a lot of good news to share with the Florida legislature at his State of the State address on Jan. 12. Considering what Florida’s economy looked like when Scott took office, this was surprising. In 2011, when Scott was sworn in, Florida’s economy was in terrible shape. With over 900,000 jobs…Timothy Doescher -
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Florida Family Policy Council Calls on Gov. Rick Scott to Defund Planned Parenthood
The Florida Family Policy Council has launched a campaign to defund Planned Parenthood in the state. In an interview with The Daily signal, John Stemberger, the president and general counsel for the Florida Family Policy Council, said that the statewide campaign is an effort to call on Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., to fully defund Planned Parenthood…Kate Scanlon -
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Florida Family Indicted for Defrauding Export-Import Bank, Costing Government $2 Million
A Florida family has been indicted by the Justice Department for defrauding the Export-Import Bank and other private lenders, which cost the U.S. government close to $2 million. According to the Department of Justice, Guillermo Sanchez, Isabel Sanchez and Gustavo Giral allegedly created fake invoices and shipping documents to obtain a loan from the Export-Import…Melissa Quinn -
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Florida Law Instituting a 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortion Goes Into Effect
After being temporarily delayed by a judge, a Florida law that institutes a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before undergoing an abortion went into effect on Wednesday. House Bill 633 was signed into law last month. The legislation requires an abortion provider to meet with a woman seeking an abortion for a consultation appointment at least 24…Kate Scanlon -
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Florida House Rejects Medicaid Expansion
During a special session in the Florida Legislature, the state’s House of Representatives voted down a proposal last week that would have expanded the state’s Medicaid program. The state Senate overwhelmingly passed the plan just days prior. The issue created a sharp divide between the chamber’s Democrats and Republicans. Republicans, rebuking the president’s health care…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
How Florida Is Trying to Push Back Against Federal Government Overreach
Federalism at the state level is more often preached than practiced. For all the invocations of the 10th Amendment, state officials tend to act as vassals of the federal government tasked with assisting in the implementation of federal policies. Federal encroachments on state powers are either eagerly embraced—46 states have adopted Common Core—or accepted with passive…David Azerrad -
- News
Major Bank Won’t Do Business With a Florida Gun and Pawn Shop. Is Choke Point to Blame?
Earlier this month, a small gun and pawn shop owner in Florida appeared to have found himself in the middle of an Operation Choke Point controversy when SunTrust Bank, out of the blue, closed his bank account. Some, including Steve Champion, the owner of American Gun & Pawn in Brooksville, Fla., were quick to blame…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
Florida Taking the Lead on Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
Florida is poised to become the new front in the civil asset forfeiture reform movement. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Republican from the Tampa area, has filed reform legislation, which the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice discussed in a hearing today. >>> The Heritage Foundation will co-host of an event next week…Andrew Kloster -
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True or False? Jeb Bush’s Education Reforms Boosted Florida’s Schoolchildren
It's not every governor who can say the record shows his state's schoolchildren did better because he applied conservative principles of choice and accountability. Jeb Bush can and does. “The aggregate improvements we’ve seen in Florida really can’t be ignored,” Marcus Winters, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado’s College of Education who has studied what Bush…Ken McIntyre -
- News
Florida Lawmaker: Obama’s Cuba Deal ‘Great’ for Castro Regime, ‘Bad’ for US
Rep. IIeana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., today criticized what she called President Obama’s “wrong-headed” move to normalize relations with Cuba. As landmark talks for the United States and Cuba to restore diplomatic ties wrapped up today in Havana, Ros-Lehtinen, who is Cuban-American, warned the Obama administration to proceed cautiously. “It’s a bad deal for the United States…Josh Siegel -
- News
Florida Governor Looks to Poach Jobs From Pennsylvania
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is planning a trip to Philadelphia in February, and he’s hoping to lure some Pennsylvania businesses back south with him. His pitch so far has focused on differences in the states’ existing business tax climates, as well as policies and business mandates from Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Wolf that Scott said would…Andrew Staub -
- Opinion
Union Lawsuit Against Florida School Choice Programs Dismissed, But the Battle Continues
Hundreds of Florida parents are able to celebrate the New Year with access to school choice thanks to a decision last Tuesday to dismiss the union lawsuit against the Sunshine State’s Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts and expansion of the tax credit scholarship program. For the second time, Leon County Circuit Court Judge Charles Francis found…Brittany Corona -
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Texas, Florida Republicans Step Forward as Alternatives to Boehner for Speaker
In daring moves just days before the next election for House speaker, two Republican congressman have offered themselves as alternatives to incumbent Speaker John Boehner, the party establishment’s choice. Reps. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., and Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, announced they would oppose Boehner this weekend. The Daily Signal has learned several Republicans also are weighing a…Rob Bluey -
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Taxpayers on Losing End of Government’s Lax Oversight of Florida Nonprofit
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Hilda Hall-Dennis was no stranger to nonprofit community work. Over the course of 11 years, she managed three nonprofits in South Florida. In February 2006, she launched her own nonprofit — the Business Technology Development Corp., a business incubator subsisting on government grants. The venture purportedly provided business development classes, technical assistance,…William Patrick