Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaAugust 2, 2018

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The state has filed a notice of appeal to a circuit judge’s decision that a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at ending dog racing is “defective” and can’t go on the ballot. Edward M. Wenger, the state’s chief deputy solicitor general, filed notice (posted at bottom) Thursday afternoon — one day after Circuit Judge Karen Gievers ruled […]

Jim RosicaJuly 30, 2018

Democratic candidate for Attorney General Ryan Torrens is striking back after primary opponent Sean Shaw sued last week to have him kicked off the ballot. In a statement Monday, Torrens said the money that Shaw called an “illegal campaign contribution” was essentially a loan to his campaign, “as he will now see (and could have learned if he’d only had the […]

Peter SchorschJuly 28, 2018

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With a brow-raising $89.3 billion for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the state appropriated the largest budget in Florida history, a $4.36 billion increase from last year. Those big numbers make Florida TaxWatch’s recently released Taxpayer’s Budget Guide all the more valuable. Authored by the watchdog group’s vice president of research, Kurt Wenner, the interactive series […]

Staff ReportsJuly 27, 2018

Of Florida’s 67 coiunties, 49 of them will get money to ramp up elections security efforts, per a Friday afternoon release from Gov. Rick Scott. This money will be timely and welcome for elections supervisors. And another round of funding appears likely. All 67 counties have applied for the grant funding, allocated based on a formula […]

Jim RosicaJuly 25, 2018

Democratic candidate for Attorney General Sean Shaw is suing to knock primary opponent Ryan Torrens off the ballot, saying Torrens “failed to properly qualify” because of an “illegal campaign contribution.” Torrens called the lawsuit a “sham.” Shaw’s lawsuit was filed just before 5 p.m. Tuesday in Leon County Circuit Civil court against Torrens, the state’s Division […]

Peter SchorschJuly 21, 2018

Clouds are brewing over the journalism industry, but the long-term forecast is promising. That’s according to Diane McFarlin, the former publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and current dean of the University of Florida College of Journalism. She delivered a media ‘forecast’ to an audience of UF alumni in Tallahassee this week. In the short term, […]

Jim RosicaJuly 19, 2018

The Legislature opened the state’s wallet again Thursday, granting a request from the state’s medical marijuana regulators for another $13 million in operating costs. The approval from the Joint Legislative Budget Commission didn’t come without some grousing, however. The Department of Health, under Gov. Rick Scott, regulates the drug through its Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU). House Democratic […]

Jim RosicaJuly 12, 2018

Calling it “affirmatively misleading,” the League of Women Voters of Florida is seeking to have a proposed constitutional amendment on education tossed off the ballot. At issue is a section that would let organizers of charter schools avoid having to get an OK from local school boards to open. The League itself, President Patricia M. […]

Jim RosicaJuly 5, 2018

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A federal judge has set a hearing for this month in a case by university students seeking to overturn the state’s ban on early voting at public college campuses. Mark Walker, now chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, will consider their motion for a “preliminary injunction to prevent […]

Jim RosicaJune 29, 2018

A group that supports a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit betting on greyhound racing won’t be allowed to enter a case against the ban, a Tallahassee judge ruled Friday. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers denied a motion to intervene from the Committee to Protect Dogs, but said it could file a friend-of-the-court brief, as can the Animal Law […]

Tag: Ken Detzner

State appeals decision to keep dog-racing ban off ballot

Contribution was really loan, Ryan Torrens explains – as he acknowledges he made mistake

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Budget breakdown

Rick Scott approves election security money: 49 counties split $10.3 million

Attorney General race goes ‘boom’ as Sean Shaw sues to get Ryan Torrens off ballot

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Weathering the storm

Lawmakers grudgingly OK more money for marijuana regulators

League of Women Voters sues over education amendment

Challenge to early voting ban on campuses heading to court

Lawsuit over dog-racing ban heads to court