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

Jim RosicaJanuary 6, 2016

State Rep. Shawn Harrison has filed legislation that would prohibit “vaping” indoors in public places such as restaurants, stores and workplaces. Harrison, a Tampa Republican, filed the bill (HB 1143) on Wednesday for consideration in the 2016 Legislative Session. “Vaping” is the nickname for using an electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, which produces an inhaled vapor of […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 6, 2016

A spokesman for state Sen. Gwen Margolis says she will run for re-election no matter what. The 81-year-old Miami Democrat now represents District 35, the coastal part of northeast Miami-Dade County. Under a new Senate map approved by Circuit Judge George Reynolds, Margolis lives in what will be District 37. But that would put her […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano said Tuesday’s resignation of Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty means Floridians will be “losing one of their greatest advocates.” Fasano, a former longtime Republican state lawmaker, issued a news release shortly after news broke that McCarty would be leaving the post he’s held since 2003. “During my many years as a state legislator, […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

State Sen. Jack Latvala now supports a measure that would prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a Tuesday news release. Latvala, slated to become Senate Appropriations chairman next year, is the first Republican state senator to back the legislation (HB 45/SB 120), known as the “Florida Competitive Workforce […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

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Gov. Rick Scott got a belated Christmas gift on Tuesday with the not-entirely-unexpected resignation of Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. Scott’s communication director Jackie Schutz confirmed McCarty’s leaving, saying, “We appreciate his service to the state and we wish him the best of luck in his next endeavor.” It’s not clear where McCarty is going next; […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

The Florida Senate’s bronze seal, which usually hangs behind the Senate President’s lectern, was removed this week not only to replace the seal’s depiction of the Confederate flag but also in anticipation of still more design changes, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. In October, the Senate decided to remove a Confederate flag from the chamber’s official seal and replace […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

3:30 p.m. update: The new, renumbered state Senate district map is now here. Staff from the Florida Senate and Auditor General’s office met Tuesday to assign random numbers to districts in the state’s new Senate District map. Here are the results, with the first number being the district number on the map as adopted by Circuit Judge George […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2016

New legislation affecting bulk users of beer kegs was filed at the behest of the state’s theme parks, according to one of Tallahassee’s top beer lobbyists. The bill (HB 1079) was filed Monday by state Rep. Ray Rodrigues, an Estero Republican. Under the measure, instead of charging certain customers a deposit on each individual keg bought, […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2016

Staff from the Florida Senate and Auditor General’s office will meet Tuesday to assign random numbers to districts in the state’s new Senate District map. Senate President Andy Gardiner announced the meeting in a Monday news release. The random numbering will be done in an open meeting at 9 a.m. in Room 412 of the Capitol Complex’s Knott Building. Staff […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2016

The Florida Lottery said Monday it has now contributed a total of $29 billion to the state’s education trust fund since selling its first ticket in 1988. The good news follows a troubled year for the agency, which runs the second largest-selling lottery in the country, behind New York, in terms of sales and net revenue, according […]

Jim Rosica
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Shawn Harrison files “vaping” ban bill

Gwen Margolis to run for new Senate District 38

Mike Fasano sticks up for resigning state insurance commissioner

Jack Latvala supports anti-LGBT discrimination bill

Kevin McCarty quits as state’s insurance commissioner

State Senate seal could be changing – again

New state Senate seats renumbered

Beer keg deposit bill would benefit theme parks

Random renumbering of Senate districts slated for Tuesday

Lottery has kicked in $29 billion toward state’s education funding