Dick Batchelor (@DickJBatchelor) header
Dick Batchelor (@DickJBatchelor) profile picture

Dick Batchelor

@DickJBatchelor

Political Analyst, Former State Legislator, Children's Advocate, President of Dick Batchelor Management Group, inc. Central Florida is my home.

 Orlando, Florida
dickbatchelor.com
Joined August 2013
  • Tweets324
  • Following287
  • Followers673
It was an honor to be recognized this week by the Cornerstone Hospice Foundation for passing the of the legislation (1978) to create Hospice in the State of Florida.
Image from Dick Batchelor (@DickJBatchelor)
21
An attack on the rights of free speech & freedom of the press: my latest op/ed in @orlandosentinel orlandosentinel.com/2026/10/…
Guest Commentary: State GOP tried to sidestep the First Amendment. It didn’t work.

Guest Commentary: State GOP tried to sidestep the First Amendment. It didn’t work.

As former state legislator Dick Batchelor writes, the since-dropped lawsuit over a Democratic political ad that highlighted the $10 million Hope Florida scandal was an effort to hide the truth.

orlandosentinel.com
1
1
136
Dick Batchelor retweeted
Susan (@SusanScrupski) profile picture
Susan
@SusanScrupskiSep 18
Replying to @DickJBatchelor
Better link: tampabay.com/viewpoints/2026…
The Hope Florida scandal shows that the state’s priorities have to change | Column

The Hope Florida scandal shows that the state’s priorities have to change | Column

Some horrifying cases of child abuse point to where the money is really needed.

tampabay.com
1
25
My latest opinion piece in the Tampa Bay Times conta.cc/4rmznqv
My latest column in the Tampa Bay Times

My latest column in the Tampa Bay Times

Email from Dick Batchelor Management Group The Hope Florida scandal shows that the state’s priorities have to change   VIEWPOINTS: PUBLISHED September 17, 2026 The Hope Florida scandal shows that the

myemail.constantcontact.com
1
2
169
orlandosentinel.com/2026/07/…
Commentary: In-home disability care funding is in peril

Commentary: In-home disability care funding is in peril

As former state legislator Dick Batchelor writes, we cannot go back to those days when people with unique abilities were placed in state institutions.

orlandosentinel.com
53
tampabay.com/viewpoints/2026…
‘The Republican Party has spent years showing us exactly who they are’ | Column

‘The Republican Party has spent years showing us exactly who they are’ | Column

And it’s not a good look.

tampabay.com
1
71
Dick Batchelor retweeted
Dick Batchelor (@DickJBatchelor) profile picture
Dick Batchelor@DickJBatchelorFeb 18
mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news…
Central Floridians remember the legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson

Central Floridians remember the legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson

Rev. Jackson was known for participating in demonstrations and working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

mynews13.com
2
2
94
mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news…
Central Floridians remember the legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson

Central Floridians remember the legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson

Rev. Jackson was known for participating in demonstrations and working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

mynews13.com
2
2
94
tallahassee.com/story/opinio…
Fix Florida school laws that suppress local control | Opinion

Fix Florida school laws that suppress local control | Opinion

It is time to return control of our school buildings and our budgets to the experts: the local taxpayers and their elected school boards.

tallahassee.com
33
Dick Batchelor retweeted
Florida Politics (@Fla_Pol) profile picture
Florida Politics
@Fla_PolJan 13
.@DickJBatchelor: Consumer protections for veterans, senior citizens, and retirees is smart policy #FlaPol flapol.com/4qlGdez
Dick Batchelor: Consumer protections for veterans, senior citizens, and retirees is smart policy

Dick Batchelor: Consumer protections for veterans, senior citizens, and retirees is smart policy

SB 266 protects Florida seniors and veterans from predatory public adjuster contracts.

floridapolitics.com
1
585
Dick Batchelor retweeted
Moms for Libros (@Moms4Libros) profile picture
Moms for Libros@Moms4LibrosJan 5
Orange County taxpayers invested billions in public schools, yet #Florida is starving traditional public schools to fund vouchers and unchecked charter expansion. This isn’t just Orange County. Miami-Dade is facing the same slow defunding by design. #FundPublicSchools 📝 @DickJBatchelor orlandosentinel.com/2026/01/…

Commentary: Orange taxpayers invested billions in schools; why is Florida undermining us?

Orange County taxpayers, through a half-cent sales tax, are still doing their part to save our schools but the state and federal government are actively working to dismantle that investment.

orlandosentinel.com
1
1
95
tampabay.com/viewpoints/2025…
Public education is the great equalizer. Why are leaders trying to destroy it? | Column

Public education is the great equalizer. Why are leaders trying to destroy it? | Column

Education is the foundation of our democracy.

tampabay.com
27
mynews13.com/orlando/news/20…
Teen mental health solutions sought by Orlando leaders

Teen mental health solutions sought by Orlando leaders

Business and government leaders ask if changes need to be made to public policy and funding.

mynews13.com
42
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings eyes bid for governor trib.al/K4n1xdp
Image from Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel)
5
1
1
5
3,419
Our Greatest Hopes: UCF Graduate Empowering Students to Bridge Political Divide ucf.edu/news/our-greatest-ho…
1
65
Reflecting today on the legacy of President Jimmy Carter with @ybruzual @MyNews13
Ybeth Bruzual (@ybruzual) profile pictureYbeth Bruzual@ybruzual30 Dec 2024
(30 second videos) NEW: former State Representative and current political analyst Dick Batchelor @DickJBatchelor shares personal pics & reflects on his friendship with former President Jimmy Carter. More on @MyNews13
1
3
120
With the election just days away, the 1/2 Penny For Kids is a ballot issue with bipartisan support. This will be on your Orange County ballot. The ½ penny sales tax will expire this year unless voters decide to continue it on November 5th. Please vote yes to support our schools.
5
100
My Latest Guest Column for the TBT: conta.cc/3MsC4TH
4
85
My recent op/ed in the Orlando Sentinel
Image from Dick Batchelor (@DickJBatchelor)
3
128
floridapolitics.com/archives…

Dick Batchelor: Hoping for a more civil, cooperative approach to politics

I like to think bridge-building is really an appeal to our better selves.

floridapolitics.com
1
1
2
77
Load more