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

Ana CeballosJanuary 8, 2018

Thousands of Floridians enrolled in Florida’s Medicaid program are being notified that their medical records and personal information may have been compromised, the state’s Agency of Health Care Administration said. The data breach occurred after a state employee opened a malicious phishing email last November. The incident may have exposed the Social Security numbers, dates […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 5, 2018

In the wake of back-to-back sex scandals at the Capitol, Sen. Lauren Book and state Rep. Kristin Jacobs on Friday filed similar bills that aim to systematically change how sexual harassment is dealt with in the workplace, particularly in a government setting. The proposal include civil penalties of up to $10,000 for public officers and […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 4, 2018

Calling his qualities “all too rare in politics,” former Florida Governor and presidential candidate Jeb Bush on Thursday endorsed Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis for a second term. The former Republican House member has now picked up the endorsements of two Florida governors: Bush and Gov. Rick Scott, a longtime ally of Patronis who appointed […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 4, 2018

Sen. Jeff Brandes filed a bill Wednesday that would toss a controversial “certificate of need” hospital regulatory process as the House fast-tracks an identical bill. House Republican leaders and Gov. Rick Scott, a former hospital CEO, have long supported repealing the “certificate of need,” but the effort has stalled in the Senate. This year, though, the […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 3, 2018

Longtime GrayRobinson attorney George Meros, who’s been involved with high-profile state government-related lawsuits in recent years, is next heading to Holland & Knight. The firm announced the move Wednesday in a press release. Meros was most recently involved as outside counsel for the Senate in the high-profile case of embattled Sen. Jack Latvala, who eventually resigned […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 2, 2018

On week one of Session, House Speaker Richard Corcoran is determined to pass a bill that would penalize local officials who support the passage of so-called “sanctuary city” policies. The bill “will enforce the rule of law,” Corcoran tweeted Tuesday. State Rep. Larry Metz, a Lake County Republican, championed an identical bill that passed the […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 2, 2018

Hailing from the Palm Beach Post’s investigative team, Lawrence Mower is the newest reporter to join the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee bureau. Mower started the job last week and will cover state government and the Legislature, just in time for Session which starts Jan. 9. “I’m really happy to be here during a pretty […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 2, 2018

Less than a month into her new role and following a period of turmoil at the Florida Democratic Party, Chair Terrie Rizzo gave an “immediate” $253,000 boost to the party’s shaky finances. According to a memo, sent Tuesday to Florida Democratic Leadership and obtained by Florida Politics, Rizzo said the party’s financial team called on […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 1, 2018

Scrambling to raise money headed into the 2018 midterms, Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo last week asked county-level Democratic leaders for financial assistance to pay for the salaries of eight newly-hired regional staffers. Since that request, only six out of the 67 county committees have made a donation. While FDP officials paint this request […]

Ana CeballosDecember 29, 2017

Sexual harassment and quid quo pro allegations raised by several women against Sen. Jack Latvala have put an end to his career in the Florida Senate and his Twitter presence. Shortly after two separate Senate investigations concluded that he sexually harassed women in his orbit and that he may have traded support for legislation for […]

Ana Ceballos

Up to 30,000 state Medicaid clients warned of potential data breach

Bills creating tougher penalties for sexual harassers filed in both chambers

Jeb Bush endorses CFO Jimmy Patronis for another term

Senator files ‘certificate of need’ repeal bill, identical to House priority

Personnel note: George Meros joins Holland & Knight

House Speaker vows to pass ‘sanctuary city’ ban bill on week 1 of Session

Personnel note: Lawrence Mower joins Times/Herald capital bureau

Under Terrie Rizzo, Florida Democratic Party’s shaky finances get ‘immediate’ boost

Financially-strained Florida Democratic Party asks county leaders for money

Jack Latvala deletes Twitter account after sexual misconduct scandal