William Patrick is Watchdog.org’s Florida reporter. His work has been featured by Fox News, the Drudge Report, and Townhall.com, as well as other national news and opinion websites. He’s also been cited and reposted by numerous state news organizations, including Florida Trend, Sunshine State News and the Miami Herald, and is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Florida Press Association. William’s work has impacted discussions on education, privacy, criminal justice reform, and government and corporate accountability. Prior to joining Watchdog, William worked for the James Madison Institute in Tallahassee, Fla. There, he launched a legislative news website covering state economic issues. After leaving New York City in 2010, William worked for the Florida Attorney General’s Office where he assisted state attorneys general in prosecuting Medicaid Fraud. William graduated magna cum laude from Hunter College, City University of New York. He lives in Tallahassee with his wife and three young children.

Private nonprofit, for-profit universities could soon get regulatory relief

By   /  April 7, 2017  /  Education, Federal government, Florida, News, Regulations  /  No Comments

For-profit and private nonprofit colleges and universities offer career-building options separate from traditional public universities. But they’ve been hammered in recent years by harsh regulations.

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Florida House speaker’s ‘corporate welfare’ crackdown runs into Senate roadblock

By   /  March 31, 2017  /  Florida, News  /  No Comments

AP Photo/Steve Cannon

Speaker Richard Corcoran’s ‘corporate welfare’ crackdown hit a roadblock this week when the Senate proposed to fully fund Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.

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Report: Tracking outcomes for children direct-filed into adult courts ‘very difficult’

By   /  March 30, 2017  /  Criminal Justice, Florida, News  /  No Comments

stock photo

What happens to children after their criminal cases are referred to adult courts? It’s hard to say, exactly.

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Will Florida preempt local governments to complete next-gen wireless connectivity?

By   /  March 29, 2017  /  Florida, Legislature, News, State Government, Technology  /  No Comments

Wikimedia Commons

The need to “densify” existing networks to support 5GLTE is setting up a conflict between the state and cities.

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‘Safety valve’ wanted for mandatory-minimum drug law

By   /  March 23, 2017  /  Criminal Justice, Florida, News  /  No Comments

Shutterstock photo

The highly-addictive opioids are legal pain medications when prescribed by a doctor, and can leave some people hooked after their prescriptions expire.

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Lawmakers aim to create jobs by cutting occupational licensing red-tape

By   /  March 22, 2017  /  Crony Capitalism, Florida, Legislature, News, Regulations, State Government  /  No Comments

Shutterstock Image

Florida as the fourth most restrictive state in the country with respect to occupational licensing regulations, says the Institute for Justice.

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