Mother's love haunts Jeb Bush presidential campaign

April 27, 2013

So much for "Jeb! 2016." The kibosh on the anticipated presidential run by the former Florida governor came from an unlikely source at an unexpected time.

Conflicted over feral cats, the Legislature knows drama

April 12, 2013

It's true. Most of us just don't understand the Florida Legislature, but that's because we're looking at it all wrong.

State lawmakers won't fix Stand Your Ground, so let the voters do it by the ballot initiative

March 30, 2013

Dear Sen. Chris L. Smith:

Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll joins a select group few remember

March 16, 2013

Trayvon Martin deserves better from state lawmakers

March 2, 2013

So, how does Florida commemorate the anniversary of the tragic shooting death of Trayvon Martin, whose death following a confrontation with an armed and overzealous neighborhood watch volunteer prompted national outrage over one of our more controversial gun laws?

Memo to the far right: cut Marco Rubio some slack

February 2, 2013

I know a lot of you are nervous about Florida's junior senator and his playing footsie on immigration reform with the enemy, the so-called "failed president" who managed to use the issue to get re-elected, handily. So much for taking our country back.

Public investment needed to stem this Chinese export

January 19, 2013

In 2007, I got the chance to visit China. Interesting place. The food was fabulous, the Great Wall awesome, the government officials self-serving, the capital city smoggy, the street vendors aggressive. And then there were the college students.

GOP efforts to suppress vote won't help party win elections

January 5, 2013

Dear Mr. Lenny Curry,

Lyons: History shows ending gun violence will take time

December 22, 2012

It's a tale that borders on urban legend, an encouraging yarn that sounds too good to be true. It involves a meeting between a determined group of advocates and a president eager to please but reluctant to go all in.

Buzz over train travel needs a community conversation

December 8, 2012

The folk from Florida East Coast Industries came in to see us this week, and after a 90-minute session, eight words kept ringing in my ears: "That's a conversation the community needs to have."

Maybe state leaders enjoy the "Flor-i-duh" label

November 17, 2012

Florida is back in a familiar place – the national laughingstock.

Souls to the Polls survives state's early voting fix

November 3, 2012

I can't tell how many souls in South Florida were actually saved last Sunday, but it appears that a good many of them went to vote. The success of "Souls to the Polls" and other get out the black vote efforts should ease concerns that this particular voting bloc is somehow turned off or tuned out.

Florida's business-friendly cred marred by tax giveaways

July 14, 2012

For a guy who seems so committed to the private sector, I'm a little stunned that Florida Gov. Rick Scott hasn't been called on the carpet for acting like a stereotypical liberal.

Redistricting brings new maps and same ol', same ol'

December 16, 2011

I've been looking at a lot of maps lately, and I've come to realize that if self preservation is numero uno in politics, then we must all give our local and state elected officials their just due for playing by the rules and coming up with new maps that would make Elbridge Gerry smile.

Florida Democrats need a kingpin

November 6, 2010

Dear Jeff,