Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 13, 2016

The sausage-making began in earnest Wednesday morning, as the Florida Senate teed up nine bills for final approval and passed a sweeping $95 million educational policy bill and a water protection measure desired by House Speaker Steve Crisafulli. The education bill (SB 672) was sponsored by GOP state Sen. Don Gaetz of Niceville, a former schools superintendent. Among other […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 12, 2016

High-profile lawyer-lobbyist Sean Pittman, who formerly represented the Florida Limousine Association, is switching sides to Uber, the ride-sharing service. Pittman, one of INFLUENCE magazine’s “Top 100 Influencers,” is a big get for Uber, based in San Francisco. Pittman’s reach is statewide, with a presence in Tallahassee, Palm Beach County, and Miami. Expect Pittman and Uber to push lawmakers […]

Ryan RayJanuary 11, 2016

An anti-corruption bill with roots in the editorial department of a newspaper hit a snag in a Senate panel Monday, after a protracted debate over specific provisions and about the proper role of the news media momentarily killed it. Former Senate President Don Gaetz is carrying SB 582, a bill which began as a proposal by the Florida-based Gannett […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 11, 2016

On Monday, the Florida Senate’s Committee on Higher Education passed Don Gaetz’s Senate Bill 962, which imposes metrics and a performance improvement plan for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The legislation also requires the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to submit a performance report to Governor Rick Scott and presiding officers of the Florida Legislature. “Supporting adults with […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 9, 2016

With Florida’s Legislative Session only days away, one of the hottest issues to face lawmakers this year is Open Carry. Two bills (SB 300/HB 163) filed by the Republican father-son tag team of State Sen. Don Gaetz of Niceville and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach, would allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry a […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 8, 2016

With the 2016 Legislative Session right around the corner, Sen. Joe Negron is in his element. The Treasure Coast lawmaker is known as a workhorse (although he might have to be more of a show horse now that he is Senate President Designate), and in Tallahassee is where he does some of his best work. Riding high […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

Julie Jones: The head of the embattled state Department of Corrections has been making headlines since her appointment this January, and 2016 promises a no less busy year. Reports of inmate deaths and abuses and criminal activity behind bars have been unfortunate staples of prisons coverage. Earlier this year, Republican state Sen. Greg Evers grew so concerned […]

Peter SchorschDecember 17, 2015

As much as we would like to think otherwise, in politics, not everyone can be a winner. To put it another way, as Judge Smails did in the eminently quotable “Caddyshack”: “The world needs ditch-diggers, too.” Few will disagree that 2015 was a particularly fertile political year, one that produced a bumper crop of political disappointments. That’s what […]

Peter SchorschDecember 17, 2015

As much as we would like to think otherwise, in politics, not everyone can be a winner. To put it another way, as Judge Smails did in the eminently quotable Caddyshack: “The world needs ditch-diggers, too.” Few will disagree that 2015 was a particularly fertile political year, one that produced a bumper crop of political disappointments – that’s what we get […]

Ryan RayDecember 14, 2015

George Gainer isn’t slowing down his campaign for state Senate against Rep. Matt Gaetz just because Sen. Jack Latvala – who recruited him to run in the Panhandle Senate District 1 seat – recently gave up the ghost in his bid for Senate President. Gainer, a longtime Bay County Commissioner with deep roots in Northwest Florida, played on those origins […]

Tag: Don Gaetz

Senate passes education, water bills

Lobbyist Sean Pittman switches sides in ride-sharing wars

Public corruption bill hits snag amid senators’ furor

Don Gaetz’s Vocational Rehabilitation bill clears Higher Ed Committee

Open Carry advocates in Florida should take careful note of Texas’ new gun-toting law

Five questions with Senate President Designate Joe Negron

Jim Rosica’s 5 people to watch in state government in 2016

Peter Schorsch: The 5 most disappointing Florida politicians of 2015

The 5 most disappointing Florida politicians of 2015

George Gainer goes local in latest TV ad in SD 1