Ana Ceballos, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosFebruary 8, 2018

Infamous Republican political operative Roger Stone gave House Speaker Richard Corcoran his vocal support on Thursday saying he is “bold enough to win” the GOP gubernatorial primary if he decides to run. “I have no plans to support a candidate immediately but it’s very clear to me that Corcoran does have a path to the […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 8, 2018

A House bill that would do away with the “most commonly performed” method of abortion in Florida was advanced on Wednesday, with some Republicans welcoming challenges in court if it is deemed unconstitutional upon passage. The chances of the bill passing this Session, however, are unlikely. The companion bill in the Senate has yet to hold […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 7, 2018

Hours after political provocateur Roger Stone said he would like to meet House Speaker Richard Corcoran — a likely gubernatorial candidate — Florida Democrats called on him to cancel the meeting. “Roger Stone is a racist, sexist conspiracy theorist and Richard Corcoran is debasing the office of the Speaker of the House by meeting with […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 7, 2018

As the Senate motored through a long list of budget amendments on Wednesday, a proposal to boost funding to deal with the mounting clemency case backlog was tossed. Sen. Darryl Rouson, a Pinellas County Democrat, withdrew his own amendment, which would have given the Florida Commission on Offender Review $500,000 in ongoing state funds to […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 6, 2018

Pinellas County lawmakers are hoping to implement a pre-arrest diversion program in their county across the state, but on Tuesday some lawmakers in the House opposed the measure because they fear violent offenders may slip through the cracks. “If there’s an Achilles’ heel with the bill it could be the notion that violent offenders could […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 6, 2018

Law enforcement officers in Florida could soon need probable cause and warrants to access a suspect’s mobile location tracking device. Those potential new restrictions are provided in a Senate bill (SB 1256) that cleared its first committee stop on Tuesday. The proposal, sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, would also make it a crime to […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 6, 2018

Legislation that would eliminate state holidays honoring Confederate figures advanced in the Senate Tuesday despite pushback from numerous speakers who said the proposal would be “cultural genocide” and an “insult” to their ancestors. “This is cultural genocide,” a man from Jacksonville said. “Southern white people are in the minority. You can’t take away our culture […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 5, 2018

It took a few days to get the two on the same page, but Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and House Speaker Richard Corcoran on Monday agreed on a time, date and place to debate on sanctuary cities. The debate will be held Feb. 13 at the Tallahassee studios of Florida Internet and Television and […]

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 […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 5, 2018

The Florida Democratic Party confirmed on Monday that it has hired Juan Penalosa as its new executive director. Penalosa most recently served as the senior vice president of Mercury LLC and has had key roles in the transition teams of both Chairwoman Terrie Rizzo and former Chair Stephen Bittel, who resigned in shame last November […]

Ana Ceballos

Roger Stone: Richard Corcoran is ‘bold enough to win’ Florida governor’s race

Republicans advance bill banning certain abortions, welcome court challenges

Florida Democrats want Roger Stone, Richard Corcoran meeting canceled

Senator’s proposal to boost funding for clemency case backlog withdrawn

Pre-arrest diversion program bill clears House panel with lingering concerns

Bill criminalizing unpermitted access to electronic devices moves forward

Bill removing Confederate holidays advances despite being called ‘cultural genocide’

Richard Corcoran and Andrew Gillum to debate sanctuary cities

Senate panel ignores petroleum industry pleas, advances fracking ban

Juan Penalosa named executive director of Florida Democratic Party