Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 15, 2018

The Florida Gulf Coast Business Coalition is officially launching an alliance of coastal business owners and leaders opposed to offshore drilling off Florida’s Gulf Coast. The group of businesses is formally announcing its partnership on October 16 at 10:30 a.m. at the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort on St. Pete Beach. The Coalition represents more than […]

Scott PowersJune 21, 2018

Earlier in the week, the U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Gov. Rick Scott launched a new TV commercial accusing Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of going negative, even though Nelson hadn’t actually done that, yet. Now he has. Nelson is releasing a one-minute digital ad Thursday called “Oil Slick,” dubbing the governor “Oil Slick Rick” […]

Ryan NicolJune 6, 2018

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart may have just helped open the door to more offshore drilling in parts of the U.S. But Florida appears to be in the clear for now. Members of the House Appropriations Committee voted today on an amendment to prevent the expansion of offshore drilling into new areas, including the Atlantic and […]

Drew WilsonMay 19, 2018

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson will speak alongside Pinellas County Commissioner Pat Gerard, Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos and Sierra Club Florida Director Frank Jackalone at an event to oppose offshore drilling in Saturday morning. The event, “Hands Across the Sand in Clearwater,” will begin at 11:30 am outside of the Palms Pavillion in Clearwater Beach. It […]

Guest AuthorMay 16, 2018

In 1968 the voters of Florida adopted a new state Constitution. The new Constitution provided for three ways to change the document in the future — by an initiative process, by a joint resolution of the Legislature, and by revision through an appointed Constitutional Revision Commission (CRC). At the time — no other state used […]

Guest AuthorMay 1, 2018

The 2018 Constitution Revision Commission, also known simply as the “CRC,” recently completed the once in every 20-year task of reviewing our state constitution. The purpose of the review is to ensure that our governing document reflects the values of our modern society and meets the needs of our growing state. The CRC finalized eight […]

Drew WilsonApril 18, 2018

The Florida Petroleum Council on Wednesday “raised strong objection” to the Constitution Revision Commission combining offshore drilling and workplace vaping bans into one proposal on the 2018 ballot. “Monday’s decision will force Florida’s voters to vote for or against two completely unrelated, but important, issues at the same time. Bundling these issues is mixing apples […]

Drew WilsonMarch 15, 2018

A new poll found Florida voters have mixed feelings on Constitution Revision Commission proposals that would ban offshore drilling and move the goal posts on ballot amendments. The Clearview Research poll found 54 percent of voters were on board for a constitutional amendment to ban offshore oil and gas drilling, while 42 percent were against […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 8, 2018

Noah Valenstein, Florida’s Secretary of Environmental Protection (DEP), on Thursday sent a letter to the feds in opposition of any exploratory drilling for gas or oil off the state’s coasts. The move comes after Gov. Rick Scott “secured a commitment from (U.S.) Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to take Florida off the table for future consideration for offshore […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 5, 2018

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A Senate panel on Monday launched the effort to ban fracking in Florida and unanimously ignored pleas from the oil lobby to stop the measure. “By banning fracking you are sending a message to the country that fracking is not good,” Eric Hamilton, with the Florida Petroleum Council, said. “You would be sending the wrong […]

Tag: offshore drilling
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Businesses band together against offshore drilling

Bill Nelson goes after Rick Scott as ‘Oil Slick Rick’ in digital ad

Mario Diaz-Balart votes against amendment barring offshore drilling

Bill Nelson heading to Clearwater for anti-drilling event

Jack Cory: It is time to do away with the Constitutional Revision Commission

Brecht Heuchan: Grouped CRC amendments benefit voters, offer transformational ideas

Petroleum group against bundling drilling, vaping bans on ballot

Poll: Voters unsure on offshore drilling ban, ballot amendment rules

DEP head formally opposes offshore drilling in Florida

Senate panel ignores petroleum industry pleas, advances fracking ban