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

Jim RosicaJanuary 19, 2016

The day before a Senate panel with gambling oversight responsibility looks at its proposed blackjack agreement, the Seminole Tribe of Florida announced a statewide ad blitz to promote the new deal. In a Tuesday email, the tribe said it bought airtime for two 30-second television ads to run statewide. “’Sovereign” highlights the Seminole Tribe’s commitment to Florida and “Letter” highlights […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 19, 2016

The head of an anti-gambling expansion group Tuesday announced a three-front war as lawmakers prepare to consider a sweeping deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that he said could “lead to the largest gambling expansion in state history.” John Sowinski, president of the Orlando-based No Casinos, told reporters he plans a legislative, legal and […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 19, 2016

A dark horse Democratic presidential candidate is suing the Democratic Party of Florida and the state of Florida to get on the 2016 ballot here. Rocky De La Fuente Guerra, a San Diego real estate developer, filed his suit last week in Tallahassee federal court. A group of seven Florida voters is listed as co-plaintiffs. […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 18, 2016

Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will lead a march and rally in downtown Tallahassee on Tuesday in support of Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship that is expected to attract several thousand participants and spectators. News of the event was posted last week on LobbyTools‘ agenda calendar feature. On Friday, Capitol […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 18, 2016

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The director of a state ethics watchdog on Monday said he doesn’t see a conflict of interest with state Rep. Ken Roberson, a funeral director, carrying a bill this session that would financially benefit the funeral industry. The legislation (HB 315) would do away with a fee, ranging from $25 to $63, charged for medical examiners to […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 18, 2016

In his first interview after the Iran-U.S. prisoner swap, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday again defended the current nuclear technology deal with that country, one that has been assailed by Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. “The world is safer today,” Kerry said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program. “… Iran had a completely invisible, unaccountable, unverified […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 15, 2016

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In November a group of legislators reviewing the first-ever audits of lobbying firm income started to wonder why they were doing it. “I don’t understand how the public’s interest is advanced by this exercise,” said state Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who sits on the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee. “I just don’t see how this information is relevant” […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 15, 2016

One of the Legislature’s most stalwart opponents to gambling and its expansion in the Sunshine State nonetheless voted for a House bill that would explicitly legalize fantasy sports play in Florida. State Rep. Scott Plakon, a Longwood Republican, sits on the House Business and Professions Subcommittee that OK’d the bill (HB 707) by a 10-3 vote earlier […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 15, 2016

A measure that would prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity has picked up a second Republican sponsor in the Florida Senate: Travis Hutson of St. Augustine. The group behind the the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act” (HB 45/SB 120) announced the move in a news release Friday. The prime sponsors […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 14, 2016

Hours after the House moved its own legislation reining in the state’s oversight body for high school athletics, the Senate on Thursday heard its own versions, moving forward two competing reforms. The PreK-12 Education Committee, chaired by GOP state Sen. John Legg, approved both SB 1026 and SB 684, both aimed at changing the way the Florida High School Athletic Association […]

Jim Rosica

Seminoles launch ad offensive before first Compact hearing

No Casinos promises multifront war on gambling

Obscure Democratic presidential candidate wants on Florida ballot

Pro-school vouchers rally expected to draw 10,000 to Tallahassee on Tuesday

Expert: No conflict in Ken Roberson’s bill benefiting his industry

John Kerry on Iran deal: “The world is safer”

Bills would delete lobbying-firm audit requirement

Scott Plakon: Fantasy sports play legal “under current law”

Support for LGBT-protection bill grows among Legislature’s GOP members

Competing high-school athletics bills moving in Senate

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.