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Pamela Burch Fort
Pamela is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Law. In addition to her law degree, Pamela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Florida State University. She joined the staff of the Florida Legislature in 1979. During her 16 years with the Senate, Pamela served as a Legislative Analyst and as Staff Director to the Committee on Economic, Consumer, and Community Affairs, the Committee on Insurance, the Committee on Commerce, and the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
As Staff Director, Pamela managed committee staff research and analysis of information and legislation affecting state agencies such as: the Department of Banking and Finance; the Department of Commerce; the Department of Insurance; the Department of Labor and Employment Security; the Department of the Lottery; the Department of Business and Professional Regulation; the Department of State; and the Public Service Commission. Pamela also managed issues regarding consumer affairs, professional regulatory boards, public housing, and local governments.
During her tenure as Staff Director, Pamela also provided staff support to the following committees: Senate Select Committee on Sales Tax on Advertising; Senate Select Committee on Business Development; Governor’s Medical Malpractice Working Group; Senate Select Committee on Pari-mutuel Wagering; Governor’s Study Commission on Property Insurance and Reinsurance; Senate Select Committee on Workers’ Compensation Reform; Senate Select Committee on Gaming; and the Senate Select Committee on Telecommunications.
Pamela also maintained active participation in the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) participating in numerous presentations focused on Florida’s legislative structure and function, effective staff communication with legislators and committees, legislative strategies and negotiations, and legislative ethics. Pamela served on the NCSL’s Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee Citizen’s Initiative Task Force which produced a significant publication entitled “Educating Citizens About the Legislative Process.” Additionally, Pamela served as Chair of the Research and Committee Staff Section.
As President of The Commerce Group since 1995, Pamela lends her extensive expertise to an array of major businesses, associations, local governmental entities, law firms and political candidates. For The Commerce Group, Pamela assists clients in analyzing issues, exploring and developing appropriate strategies to address legislative, business and political concerns and engages principals in the discussion of specific solutions.
One of Pamela’s early undertakings involved representing and managing the legislative interest of the eleven law firms that sued the tobacco industry on behalf of Florida’s taxpayers and sick smokers. This historic effort resulted in an $11 billion settlement.
Pamela managed the 2002 redistricting efforts of Florida Democratic legislative and congressional members coordinating the legal, demographic and cartographic units. This team was responsible for developing and defending plans before state and federal tribunals.
During the 2002 election cycle, Pamela served as campaign manager for a Democratic Congressional challenger, and in 2003 managed the Get-Out-The-Vote efforts in a local election venue.
Pamela is a Founding Member and Director of the Florida Institute for Economic Justice, a progressive think tank established to provide an educational voice on the fiscal health of the state and the impact on wage earners and consumers. Now, renamed Civic Concern, Inc. to reflect a broader policy orientation, Pamela serves as the Executive Director.
Pamela also maintains the FortReport.com, a daily political news service “intended for strategic thinkers interested in critical political and governmental issues.”
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