In the beginning, there was Sayfie Review. For Floridians, the site started by Justin Sayfie in 2002 has long been the premier online destination for local political news. In fact, Sayfie’s brand has become so synonymous with Sunshine State political coverage that Twitter users regularly hashtag their discussions with his last name. In a 2009…
The News Service of Florida, an online media concern that focuses on state government and politics, has filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that Extensive Enterprises Media, L.L.C., the parent company of SaintPetersBlog.com and “Sunburn,” have infringed upon its copyright through the unauthorized copying and distribution of NSF’s works. In a 43-page filing with…
Since Citizens United, members of Congress have been increasingly engaged in a never-ending campaign to snare their share of cash flooding the political marketplace. But last week Chief Justice John Roberts deserted his conservative brethren, writing an opinion that offers Congress a roadmap for cleaning up campaign finance. If Congress embraces Roberts’s support for a…
MIAMI (CBSMiami/NSF) — Uber is revving up their efforts for a spot in the Legislature’s special session. The regular legislative session ended last week without approval of a proposal for statewide regulations that would override local rules for fast-growing transportation networks such as Uber. Also, lawmakers failed to take action on new insurance requirements for…
Much is said about punitive damages and how they are used to punish wrongdoers. Plaintiffs dream of large punitive damage awards. Plaintiffs’ lawyers who obtain large punitive damage awards use them to brag about their ability as tort lawyers and as a bludgeon on other defendants to convince them to settle for more than they…
Former State Rep. Doug Holder is showing he’s ready to compete hard for the Florida Senate in 2016 if State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, leaves early. Holder is having a fundraiser on Thursday at The Francis in downtown Sarasota that will have three former Florida House Speakers on the host committee. Former Speakers Larry Cretul,…
Former Tallahassee state Rep. Loranne Ausley is looking to get her old job back. Ausley says she’s in the 2016 race to represent House District 9. HD 9 covers Tallahassee and the Western portion of Jefferson County. it’s the position currently occupied by Democratic Rep. Michelle Rehwinkle Vasilinda. Vasilinda is term-limited next year, and Ausley,…
To hear the insiders talk, one man is responsible for bringing havoc to Florida’s government. It wasn’t the governor. And it’s neither the Senate president nor the House speaker. “Richard Corcoran is the most powerful person in Florida,” one veteran GOP political strategist said following the collapse of the state legislative session last week, when…
TALLAHASSEE — With a billion dollar battle forcing the legislative session off the rails, lawmakers are in the unique position of being able to hold political fundraisers just before they meet in a special session to approve the state’s nearly $80 billion budget. Legislative rules don’t allow lawmakers to raise political coin during the state’s…
The First Amendment permits states to ban judicial candidates from personally soliciting campaign funds, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in a divided opinion. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joined with the court’s liberals to uphold the Florida judicial conduct rule that bars judicial candidates from personally asking for campaign donations. His opinion (PDF)…