Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressJune 24, 2016

Saying he was “profoundly disappointed” with the ongoing federal stalemate over the Zika virus, Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday ordered the state to spend millions in an effort to stop its potential spread. Scott used his emergency powers to authorize spending up to $26.2 million on everything from killing mosquitoes, training mosquito technicians and […]

Jim RosicaJune 21, 2016

As interesting as who’s on the list to be the subject of Florida’s next statue in the U.S. Capitol may be who’s not on the list. Last week, the Department of State released 129 names submitted by the public as recommendations for a new statue in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. State lawmakers will make the final decision. […]

Mitch PerryJune 18, 2016

Although party unity was the theme of the Florida Democratic Party’s annual Leadership Blue Gala, bashing Donald Trump played second fiddle to remembering the tragic murders of 49 Americans in Orlando last weekend, and what might be done about it. Saturday night’s event at the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood began with a video scroll of the names of […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2016

The state’s business lobbying groups called for legislative action Thursday after a Florida Supreme Court decision earlier that day on the worker’s compensation law. The court’s 5-2 ruling for injured St. Petersburg firefighter Bradley Westphal strikes down a provision in the law limiting the time that injured workers can get temporary disability benefits. (Story here.) Three justices, […]

Gary FineoutJune 8, 2016

Months after Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature rejected the idea, the state’s highest court was urged Wednesday to throw out the three-decade-old law that prohibits openly carrying guns in public. Dale Norman, who had a permit to carry a concealed weapon, was arrested by Fort Pierce police in 2012 because his gun was in a holster as […]

Jim RosicaJune 2, 2016

A state appeals court has upheld the retroactive use of a contentious evidence standard approved by lawmakers in 2013. The 4th District Court of Appeal this week affirmed a trial court ruling against plaintiff Simona Bunin. She’s one of the inventors behind a line of spray-bottle flavored olive oils. Bunin, based in South Florida, also holds a patent […]

Jim RosicaMay 31, 2016

The National Federation of Independent Business/Florida is adding its voice to the business groups decrying a proposed 17 percent hike in the cost of workers’ compensation insurance to employers. The rate increase “is a $623 million tax on workers in Florida that will go primarily to workers’ compensation attorneys,” NFIB/Florida Executive Director Bill Herrle said in […]

Jim RosicaMay 27, 2016

The state’s business groups are saying “we told you so” over the cost of workers’ compensation insurance. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has asked the state to consider a 17 percent rate hike in the cost of workers’ comp to employers. Workers’ comp is mandated by states to pay workers who get hurt on the job. The council submitted its filing to […]

Guest AuthorMay 23, 2016

As Florida residents continue to engage in this presidential election, Republicans, Democrats and independents are split on many pressing issues. But there’s one issue many voters are united on — criminal justice reform. Nearly every American has a family member, loved one or neighbor who has — or who will — come into contact with the criminal […]

Peter SchorschMay 21, 2016

Judging by the expression on her face, Lizbeth Benacquisto appeared genuinely surprised — and touched — by the standing ovation given to her by her colleagues in the Senate upon her return to the Florida Legislature. The date was April 23, 2014, and it was the day after Benacquisto finished second in the four-way Republican primary to […]

Tag: Florida Legislature

No help from DC? Florida to spend millions on Zika fight

How state officials decided who made the cut for new statue

Cory Booker keynotes Florida Democratic Party summer gala

Business lobby upset over worker’s comp decision

Sand, surf and gun? Florida’s highest court may say yes

Appellate court approves of controversial evidence standard

NFIB/Florida joins groups opposed to workers’ comp hike

Business lobby blasts workers’ comp rate hike

Dominic Calabro & Howard Simon: Lawmakers must back criminal justice reform

Curt Clawson is why we can’t have nice things