Michael Van Sickler, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Michael has been with the Tampa Bay Times since 2003. A Cleveland, Ohio, native, he graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., and got his master's degree at the University of Florida. He has worked at the Ledger and the Palm Beach Post. For the Times, he has covered everything from mortgage fraud, growth and development in Tampa Bay, and St. Petersburg City Hall. He now covers state politics and government as part of the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau.
Phone: (850) 224-7263.
Email: mvansickler@tampabay.com
Twitter: @MikeVanSickler
-
Lawmakers' pet projects leave no paper trail to Florida budget
05/11/13LegislatureTALLAHASSEE — Turn to any page of Florida's 450-page budget and what's most striking is the missing detail.
Yes, as Page 421 points out, it's a $74.5 billion spending plan that pays for 114,480.5 positions. But specific descriptions about what the money actually pays for are noticeably absent.
"Mossy Head Industrial Park Infrastructure (Walton County) … $1,800,000," it says on page 293. "Rowing Center — Sarasota County … $5,000,000."...
-
Florida budget lands on Scott's desk, now what?
05/09/13 BlogIt was only Friday that lawmakers passed the $74.5 billion budget.
Now, it's Gov. Rick Scott's turn. The 450-page document landed on Scott's desk Thursday. He has until May 24 to sign it -- and veto anything he doesn't deem appropriate.
In his first year in office in 2011, Scott vetoed $615 million in member projects. Last year, Scott vetoed $143 million in various projects. He's been coy so far about what he's going to reject this year, but he'll have a lot to choose from. It's stuffed with hometown spending on cultural centers, water projects and college and university funding....
-
Weatherford makes all the "right" moves in first session as House Speaker
05/06/13 BlogTALLAHASSEE — Few Florida politicians were known for being more likable and reasonable than House Speaker Will Weatherford.
But that was before the 2013 legislative session thrust the 33-year-old Wesley Chapel Republican to the forefront of the state's most contentious issues.
By last week, Weatherford was better known for being the roadblock to accepting $51 billion in federal aid to expand Medicaid. Or to government workers, the man who pushed hardest to dissolve the state's pension system. Or to public school teachers, the champion of a proposal that would allow parents to demand that some public schools be transformed into charter schools....
-
Weatherford's veer to right confuses Democrats, but wins support from conservatives
05/06/13LegislatureTALLAHASSEE — Few Florida politicians were known for being more likable and reasonable than House Speaker Will Weatherford.
That was before the 2013 legislative session thrust the 33-year-old Wesley Chapel Republican to the forefront of the state's most contentious issues.
By last week, Weatherford was better known for being the roadblock to accepting $51 billion in federal aid to expand Medicaid. Or to government workers, the man who pushed hardest to dissolve the state's pension system. Or to public school teachers, the champion of a proposal that would allow parents to demand that some public schools be transformed into charter schools....
-
Stuffed with member projects, Florida budget easily approved by lawmakers
05/03/13 BlogIn one of the tamest sessions in recent history, lawmakers on Friday reached an accord on the state budget at 6:50 p.m., more than five hours before the deadline
At $74.5 billion, it was the biggest budget in state history, stuffed with spending that nearly everyone, Democrats and Republicans, found something to like. It passed by a vote of 106-11, with 32 Democrats joining Republicans in support of it....
-
At Rubio's urging, Florida election reform bill ends early presidential primary
05/03/13ElectionsTALLAHASSEE — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio persuaded state lawmakers Friday to make a last-minute change eliminating Florida's early presidential primary — in which the Republican could be on the ballot.
Rubio's main concern was shared by lawmakers and operatives from both parties: ensuring that Florida's 2016 primary vote counts.
The measure, barely discussed, was tucked into an election-reform bill that passed the Legislature by wide margins Friday. The bill, which Gov. Rick Scott will likely sign, expands early voting hours and sites in order to alleviate long lines at the polls. ...
-
Rubio pushes for changes in elections law that boosts his own 2016 chances
05/03/13 BlogU.S. Sen. Marco Rubio persuaded state lawmakers Friday to make a last-minute change eliminating Florida’s early presidential primary – in which the Republican could be on the ballot.
Rubio’s main concern was shared by lawmakers and operatives from both parties: Ensuring that Florida’s 2016 primary vote counts. The measure, barely discussed, was tucked in an election-reform bill that passed the Legislature by wide margins Friday....
-
No more drama: House Dems get on board the state budget
05/02/13 BlogDespite all the meltdown drama from the past couple of days, don’t expect a big clash on the state’s $74.5 billion budget on Friday.
Florida House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, said Thursday the Democrats won’t be voting along any prescribed party line when the budget come up for a vote.
“There will be some who will voting for the budget, and they’ll have legitimate reasons to vote for it, which I think are legitimate reasons,” Thurston said Thursday....
-
Lawmakers may change, but budget tricks stay the same
05/01/13LegislatureTALLAHASSEE — Legislative leaders promised to make transparency in spending a priority but when it came time to finish their $74.5 billion budget, it was hard to break old habits.
A flurry of deals were struck behind closed doors and at late night meetings on policy and spending decisions affecting millions of dollars. Public meetings announcing the decisions explain little or nothing about why decisions were made....
-
Speaker Will Weatherford loses Senate showdown over Florida pensions
04/30/13GubernatorialTALLAHASSEE — After months of calling pension reform a top priority in his inaugural year as Florida House speaker, Will Weatherford could do nothing Tuesday as his plan went down to defeat in the Senate.
A third of Senate Republicans joined Democrats in voting 22-18 against an amendment that would have banned new state workers, teachers and county workers from joining the state's $132 billion pension system, and steer them instead toward private, 401(k)-style investment plans, shifting the risk from taxpayers to workers....
-
Weatherford loses showdown with Senate, pension reform dead
04/30/13 BlogAfter months of calling pension reform a top priority in his inaugural year as Florida House speaker, Will Weatherford could do nothing Tuesday as his plan went down to defeat in the Senate.
A third of Senate Republicans joined Democrats in voting 22-18 against an amendment that would have banned new state workers, teachers and county workers from joining the state’s $132 billion pension system, and steer them instead toward private, 401(k)-style investment plans, shifting the risk from taxpayers to workers....
-
Weatherford's pension overhaul still alive
04/30/13 BlogEthics and campaign finance reform await Gov. Rick Scott’s signature. A sweeping education bill has been passed. And an elections bill is expected to be passed this week. All were among Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford’s top priorities this session.
With less than a week left, it looks as if one main priority, pension reform, has stalled out, adrift in the the flow of bills between the House and Senate. Weatherford, usually so chipper about his prospects, sounded last week as if he’s willing to concede that his wish to get HB 7011 passed won’t be fulfilled....
-
$74.5B state budget comes with something for everyone
04/29/13BusinessTALLAHASSEE — The largest budget in state history landed on the desks of Florida lawmakers Monday, brimming with a 6 percent spending increase that includes a tuition hike for university students, pay raises for teachers and state employees and hundreds of millions in new hometown spending.
Lawmakers must wait until Thursday afternoon before they can vote on the $74.5 billion budget, which represents a $4.5 billion increase from last year. The extra money, a possible indication that the state's economy is on the mend, bought peace in the state Capitol as lawmakers from both parties stuffed the spending plan with pet projects....
-
Charter schools land $91 million for facilities
04/28/13K12TALLAHASSEE — Charter schools will receive $91 million for their construction and maintenance needs, state lawmakers agreed late Sunday.
The figure represents a $36 million increase over last year's allocation. But it falls just short of the $100 million proposed by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida House.
The deal was struck during budget negotiations that lasted late into the night. It is almost certain to pass the two chambers and win approval by the governor....
-
Weatherford and Gaetz school Legislature in taking home bacon
04/28/13 BlogThe two most powerful men in the Florida Legislature are steering millions of dollars to community colleges in their districts.
Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, helped approve a list of allocations for state college projects that included $14 million for the advanced technology center at Panama City’s Gulf Coast State College. That amount grew from an original Senate offer of a mere $300,000, but bloomed to $17.5 million and then was reduced back to $14 million Sunday night with little discussion. ...
