Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 23, 2016

The state’s oversight panel for public high-school athletics can breathe a collective sigh of relief after this past legislative session. Conservative lawmakers have had the Florida High School Athletics Association in their crosshairs for the last five years. They’ve said constituents have long complained about their children not being able to play certain sports because of strict […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 22, 2016

The stack bills on Gov. Rick Scott’s desk just keeps getting higher. The Florida Legislature sent 20 bills — including ones to repeal the state’s ban on cohabitation, legislation to allow All Aboard Florida riders to drink beer on trains and a bill to create the Florida Holocaust Memorial — to Scott on Tuesday. The […]

Jac VerSteegMarch 20, 2016

Marco Rubio was convinced the Fratricide Model of politics was his ticket to the top. Now, after one brilliant win and one spectacular loss, the Florida senator claims to have renounced the model. He will not, he says, run for governor in 2018. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam need not fear a Rubio challenge. We […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 18, 2016

Money for aviation and manufacturing programs at Brevard County public schools. Cash for Hillsborough County Fair and the Hardee County cattlemen’s arena. They might be worthy projects, but they are also just a few of 143 projects on Florida TaxWatch’s annual turkey list. The 2016 list was released Friday, just one day after Gov. Rick […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 17, 2016

The budget is official in Gov. Rick Scott’s hands. The Legislature sent Scott the budget — and four other related bills — on Thursday. The Naples Republican now has until April 1 to act. The Legislature overwhelmingly approved the $82.3 billion spending plan on Friday. The proposed budget includes $20.2 billion for K-12 public school […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2016

The Florida Policy Institute says the state’s new 2016 budget is better than Gov. Rick Scott’s initial proposal. The nonprofit’s report, though, says the spending plan still lacks adequate investment in health care, public education, prisons and other state services. The report praised the Legislature for killing Scott’s proposed $1 billion tax cut, saying it […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 15, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott took a pre-emptive strike Tuesday, saying he plans to veto more than $250 million in projects when lawmakers send him the fiscal 2016-17 budget. The move comes just days after the Legislature voted overwhelmingly — 40-0 in the Senate and 119-1 in the House — to approve the $82.3 billion spending plan. […]

Associated PressMarch 14, 2016

A potentially far-reaching trial that will determine whether the Florida Legislature is shortchanging public schools is starting in a Tallahassee courtroom. In the lawsuit filed six years ago, education groups and parents from Duval and Pasco counties contend the Legislature and state officials have not provided enough money to the state’s schools as required under […]

Drew WilsonMarch 12, 2016

The Foundation for Florida’s Future highlighted a bevy of bills and budget items passed by the Legislature in a celebratory email sent out by the education advocacy group Friday. “More Florida children will get a better education – that is the takeaway from this year’s Legislative Session,” said Patricia Levesque, executive director of the Foundation for […]

Scott PowersMarch 11, 2016

Although her bill to fund state investigations of police-caused deaths died in committee in January, state Sen. Geraldine Thompson said Friday she finally got what she wanted. “The bill didn’t move but there is money in the budget for FDLE and I got in proviso language that stipulates that of the funds that they get […]

Tag: Florida Legislature

Florida Legislature eases transfer rules for high-school athletes

Cohabitation repeal, All Aboard Florida beer bill among the 20 latest bills sent to Rick Scott

Jac VerSteeg: Political fratricide model fails Marco Rubio

Florida TaxWatch: 2016-17 budget includes $104.9 million in turkeys

Legislature sends $82.3 billion budget to Rick Scott

Policy institute calls final state budget better than Rick Scott’s, but still lacking

Rick Scott says he’ll veto more than $250 million from state budget

Failing grade? Trial over Florida’s schools finally starts

Foundation for Florida’s Future highlights expanded education options passed by lawmakers

Geraldine Thompson declares victory in getting state to probe police-caused deaths

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