Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 8, 2016

Faced with a call from Florida’s leading growers for the state’s Department of Citrus to “be scaled back considerably,” Gov. Rick Scott has put restrictions on the nearly $7.7 million in general revenue given to the agency in the 2016-17 state budget. One condition, The Lakeland Ledger reported Friday, is that the Governor’s Office will look […]

Jim RosicaApril 8, 2016

11 a.m. update: Scott signed all the bills mentioned below into law. Original post follows. Gov. Rick Scott has a Saturday deadline to act on 17 more bills out of the 2016 Legislative Session, suggesting he may handle them as early as Friday, the last business day of the week. His daily schedule shows only […]

Jim RosicaApril 7, 2016

Florida Grown, the fundraising committee that likely will fuel Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s 2018 bid for governor, posted more than $125,000 in contributions for March. Committees face a Monday deadline for reporting March numbers; the committee released its figures early on its own website. Top contributors are the Associated Industries of Florida PAC with $25,000 and M. […]

Jim RosicaApril 7, 2016

A former lobbyist pleaded no contest on Thursday to a charge that he ran a drug house out of his Tallahassee home, according to Leon County court dockets. A judge withheld adjudication for Ben G. Parks, 62, meaning no formal finding of guilt. He was sentenced to time served of one day in jail and ordered […]

Jim RosicaApril 7, 2016

The nonprofit entity created to promote a legislatively proposed constitutional amendment on solar power announced its team members in a Thursday news release. Florida for Solar Inc. is a 501(c)(4) organization under federal tax law, meaning its purpose is “civic betterment and social improvements.” It “may further its purposes through lobbying” and “may engage in some political […]

Jim RosicaApril 7, 2016

Jennifer Tschetter, an attorney who was most recently Chief Operating Officer of the Florida Department of Health, is joining Tallahassee’s Hopping Green & Sams law firm to specialize in “health care law matters,” the firm announced in a press release. Tschetter leaves the department after state Surgeon General John Armstrong was forced out of his job. The Florida Senate […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2016

Should satellite-television service be taxed at a higher rate than cable? The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments from both sides Wednesday. Satellite TV companies, including DirecTV, want the court to uphold the 1st District Court of Appeal’s 2-1 decision last year, which said that taxing the two services differently is unconstitutional. The state’s Revenue Department and Florida’s […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has approved a repeal of a 148-year-law that criminalizes an unmarried couple living together. The measure legalizing “cohabitation” (SB 498) was one of 20 bills signed into law by the governor on Wednesday. The change is largely a reflection of the times: Though Florida was among a few states that still criminalized cohabitation, its prohibition […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2016

Tallahassee attorney Tim Cerio, former general counsel to Gov. Rick Scott, is returning to the GrayRobinson law firm, according to a Wednesday news release. Cerio, who rejoins the firm as a shareholder, will practice “regulatory and health care law; administrative law, including representation of clients in regulatory, administrative and quasi-judicial proceedings; and complex litigation in state and […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2016

Another day, another bill-signing deadline. Gov. Rick Scott has until Wednesday to act on 20 bills, all from the Senate, “including a bill that would expand courtroom protections for victims of abuse, and another that would repeal the prohibition on cohabitation,” according to LobbyTools Legislative IQ. If signed by Scott, “couples shacking up together would […]

Jim Rosica
Image via AP.

Rick Scott clamping down on finances at state citrus agency

17 more bills signed into law by Rick Scott

March money pours into Adam Putnam committee

Ben Parks pleads no contest to drug house charge

“Florida for Solar” forms to back constitutional amendment

Jennifer Tschetter leaves Health Department for Hopping Green

State’s highest court talks TV tax

With Rick Scott’s blessing, “shacking up” now legal in Florida

Tim Cerio rejoining GrayRobinson law firm

More bills from 2016 Legislative Session to be signed Wednesday