Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 23, 2017

It’s never too early in the day to start fundraising. Sen. Denise Grimsley is scheduled to hold a fundraising reception for her 2018 bid for Agriculture Commissioner at 7:30 a.m. on March 7 at Florida Finance Strategies, 111-B East College Avenue in Tallahassee. The reception, according to a copy of the invitation, is hosted by […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 23, 2017

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine appears to be inching closer to a 2018 gubernatorial bid, launching a political committee earlier this month and hiring staffers to help coordinate a statewide tour. Levine launched All About Florida earlier this month. State records show the Miami Beach political committee filed its statement of organization on Feb. 10. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 23, 2017

A wide-sweeping gambling bill is now ready to be heard by the full Senate when the 2017 Legislative Session kicks off next month, after it cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee this morning. The bill (SB 8), sponsored by Sen. Bill Galvano, ratifies the 2015 Seminole Compact, subject to the approval of amendments to conform the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 22, 2017

A bill to repeal the so-called “tampon tax” cleared another hurdle, passing a key Senate appropriations committee Wednesday. The Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee approved a proposal (SB 176) to make feminine hygiene products, like tampons, exempt from state sales and use tax. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, now heads to the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 21, 2017

Mandatory recess could be on the horizon. The Senate Education Committee voted 7-0 to approve a bill (SB 78) that requires school district across the state to provide at least 20 minutes of recess each day to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Under the proposal, the master schedule at each school containing elementary grades […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 16, 2017

State Rep. Matt Caldwell is planning to file paperwork this summer in a bid for Florida Agriculture Commissioner. Caldwell, a North Fort Myers Republican, on Thursday said he has “every intention of filing to run in August.” Caldwell, first elected in 2010, will be term limited in 2018. The 35-year-old, chair of the House’s Government Accountability […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2017

The House Health Care Appropriation Subcommittee got the ball rolling on discussions about whether the state should change the way it pays nursing homes that accept Medicaid, with some members of the committee expressing concerns about parts of the plan. During the two-hour committee meeting Wednesday, the panel heard from Navigant officials about their proposed […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2017

The Central Florida citrus industry appears to be coming out in full force to support Sen. Denise Grimsley’s bid for Agriculture Commissioner. Grimsley is scheduled to hold a fundraising reception Florida’s Natural Grove House in Lake Wales on Feb. 28. While the invitation notes a host committee is still being formed, the backers listed on […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2017

Addressing what he called the “obvious elephant in the room,” Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson criticized Florida House members who backed an effort to end economic incentive programs, calling the move political. “I want to be blunt for a few minutes,” said Wilson. “This is not a Legislature trying to seek how to diversify the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2017

Nursing homes that accept Medicaid could see changes in how they are paid in the coming fiscal year, but exactly what those changes will look like remain to be seen. The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to begin discussions about new payment plans Wednesday, when Agency for Health Care Administration officials give members […]

Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Bring on the orange juice: Denise Grimsley schedules breakfast fundraiser for March 7

Philip Levine launches political committee, hires Matthew Van Name

Senate Appropriations votes 14-2 to OK gambling bill, now cleared for Senate floor

Senate Finance & Tax Appropriations Committee OK’s ‘tampon tax’ exemption

Senate education committee approves mandatory recess bill

Matt Caldwell plans run for Agriculture Commissioner this summer

House panel weighs in on nursing home reimbursement proposal

Agriculture industry lining up behind Denise Grimsley for ag commissioner

Mark Wilson calls House push to eliminate Enterprise Florida ‘a political conversation about ideology’

House panel to discuss changing how nursing homes that accept Medicaid are paid