Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Tag archive

John Sowinski - page 2

John Sowinski: On Charlie Reed, a legacy ‘beyond measure’

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Editor’s note: Former Florida State University System Chancellor Charles Reed died Tuesday at 75. Charlie Reed was a hard charger, a master legislative strategist, a fantastically successful leader in higher education, a consummate professional, and a class act. Reed became Chancellor of Florida’s State University System at about the same time that I became Executive Director of the Florida Student Association, the lobbying group that represents the students of Florida’s State University System. He left his job as Governor Bob…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Anti-gambling group’s poll shows overwhelming concern about gambling in Florida

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A new poll commissioned and released Thursday by the anti-gambling group No Casinos finds overwhelming majorities of Florida voters expressing strong reservations about the expansion of gaming and the politicians who would support such expansion. The poll, conducted by Hill Research Associates, found 75 percent of the voters surveyed did not think more gambling would improve quality of life, and 83 percent believe voters, not politicians, should make decisions about gambling policy. The survey also sent a stern warning to state…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Supreme Court takes up gambling this week

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Thanks to No Casinos, gambling is on the docket this week in the Florida Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the justices will hear oral argument in a case on whether to expand slot machines in the state. Then on Thursday, legal briefs are due in a review of a proposed constitutional amendment limiting gambling. Both matters involve the Orlando-based gambling expansion opposition group. Should the Supreme Court rule against slots expansion, that would take some steam out of the amendment drive. The proposal would “ensure that Florida voters…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Economists uncertain of gambling amendment’s effect

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

It’s not clear whether a proposed gambling-control amendment will help or hinder the state’s finances. A panel of state economists stalemated this week on the financial impact of the Voter Control of Gambling amendment. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference’s final report was hand-delivered to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Thursday. A summary reads: “The amendment’s impact on state and local government revenues and costs, if any, cannot be determined at this time because of its unknown effect on gambling…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Gambling amendment group not fundraising

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The panel behind a proposed constitutional amendment on gambling again posted no new fundraising as of its April report. But Voters in Charge has nearly burned through the $195,000 given to it as seed money from the No Casinos anti-gambling expansion organization — awkwardly misspelled in a report as “No Cashinos.” The committee’s campaign finance report for April shows total expenditures at $189,100, according to the Division of Elections. Much of that money was given to paid petition gatherers. The amendment would “ensure…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Pam Bondi asks court to review gambling initiative

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Attorney General Pam Bondi is asking the state Supreme Court to review a proposed constitutional amendment on gambling. Bondi sent a letter to the court Friday, asking it to judge the initiative’s “validity.” The request, however, is pro forma. It’s required under law when an initiative garners enough signatures. As of Friday, the Voter Control of Gambling amendment had 73,810 valid signatures toward the requirement of 683,149 signatures. It’s aiming to get on the 2018 statewide ballot. The language would “ensure that Florida voters shall have…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Economists puzzle over proposed gambling amendment

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

If it’s approved, would a proposed constitutional amendment outlaw currently legal kinds of gambling? A panel of state economic analysts debated the question on Tuesday. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference, a slate of economists for the Legislature and executive branches, held a public workshop in Tallahassee on the Voter Control of Gambling amendment. It would “ensure that Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling,” the ballot summary says. It’s aiming to get on the 2018 statewide…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

1 2 3 4
Go to Top