Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschOctober 27, 2017

This morning, POLITICO Florida reported that incoming Senate Democratic leader Jeff Clemens apologized for having an affair with a lobbyist during the last legislative session. “The affair between Clemens and lobbyist Devon West came to a head at the end of the regular spring lawmaking session, when West came into possession of Clemens’ Apple laptop, and […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 25, 2017

Florida Department of Corrections’s troubled security operations were big talkers Wednesday in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice. DOC Secretary Julie L. Jones addressed staffing patterns, contraband reduction efforts and use-of-force incidents. Major issues faced by the DOC are familiar to longtime observers, including continued staff attrition, overcrowding, increases in contraband, and a secretary confronting […]

Drew WilsonOctober 24, 2017

The Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Tuesday approved a bill by Gainesville Republican Sen. Keith Perry that would institute a statewide ban on texting while driving, but not before they and members of the public labelled it as merely the first step toward a hands-free Florida. SB 90 and its House counterpart, […]

Drew WilsonOctober 23, 2017

Speaking to a Senate panel Monday, Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Christina Daly didn’t address many specifics from “Fight Club,” a Miami Herald series detailing a dozen deaths of youths in DJJ custody. But Daly did discuss reforms in place at the department to curb a repeat of those incidents. “I’m not here to deny, defend […]

Mitch PerryOctober 17, 2017

A coalition of Florida business leaders is calling on the GOP-led Legislature to ensure a bill seeking a statewide ban on discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation at least gets heard in the House and Senate in the 2018 Session. Florida Competes is comprised of 10 Fortune 500 companies, 30 major employers and more […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 27, 2017

With the votes tallied, Democrat Annette Taddeo beat out Republican Jose Felix Diaz 51-47 in the Tuesday special election for Senate District 40, despite all signs pointing toward a low-turnout Election Day and early voting numbers strongly favoring Diaz.

Peter SchorschAugust 17, 2017

A top Uber executive in Florida has been named to the Board of Governors of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FSHCC). Cesar Fernandez, the ride-booking company’s Miami-based Senior Public Policy Associate, is joining the board, said Julio Fuentes, the chamber’s president and CEO, in a statement. “Cesar’s breadth of experience in political and government affairs […]

Staff ReportsJuly 10, 2017

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The state’s Democrats, in the wake of their Leadership Blue Gala, say they raised nearly $3.5 million through the first half of the year. Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Johanna Cervone made the claim in a Saturday news release. “As part of their statewide plan, Florida Democrats will be on the ground working to register voters, […]

Mitch PerryJuly 5, 2017

Florida is one of less than a handful of states that has yet to respond to the Trump administration’s election integrity commission’s request to provide extensive amounts of voter information. But before it can, several Florida Democrat lawmakers are calling on Secretary of State Ken Detzner to reject the request. Kris Kobach, the vice chairman […]

Associated PressJune 26, 2017

Half of Florida’s legislators failed or nearly failed in a review of their support for public records and meetings given by Florida newspapers and an open-government group after this year’s legislative sessions. In a “scorecard” produced by the Florida Society of News Editors and based on information provided by Florida’s First Amendment Foundation — which tracked a priority list of […]

Tag: Jeff Clemens
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Thoughts on L’Affaire Clemens

Florida Corrections head: ‘We’re working staff to death’

Senate panel says texting ban isn’t enough, but at least it’s something

Juvenile Justice Secretary talks ‘Fight Club’ during Senate presentation

Republicans should at least give Competitive Workforce Act a hearing, business leaders urge

Winners and losers emerging from Annette Taddeo’s win SD 40

Personnel note: Cesar Fernandez appointed to Hispanic Chamber board

Florida Democrats say they’ve raised nearly $3.5 million

Florida Democrats to Ken Detzner: Reject Trump administration’s request for private information of Florida voters

On open records, half Florida’s legislators rate F or D