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

Ana CeballosMarch 3, 2018

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After leading the charge to oust Broward Sheriff Scott Israel in the wake of Florida’s worst school shooting, Republican state Rep. Bill Hager tried to gut funding from a program run by the Sheriff’s Office. Hager oversees the House’s criminal justice budget, which gives him large sway over funding for law enforcement-related projects and issues. […]

Ana CeballosMarch 2, 2018

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A quiet change proposed Thursday under a wide-ranging commercial motor vehicle bill would strip the power of a transportation panel and give the governor sole discretion over the appointment of the state’s top transportation official. State law tasks the Florida Transportation Commission to recommend three names to the governor when it comes to choosing the […]

Ana CeballosMarch 2, 2018

At a time when the National Rifle Association is at forefront of the Legislature’s mind, House and Senate budget writers Friday morning agreed to put $3 million toward the construction of a shooting range, which is funded in part by the controversial group fighting gun bills. Ever since the Parkland school shooting took place on […]

Ana CeballosMarch 1, 2018

Private-prison giant GEO Group wants $4 million in taxpayer money to pay for correctional officers’ salaries at seven of its state-contracted facilities — but the House won’t budge. The House’s top criminal justice budget-writer, state Rep. Bill Hager, said his chamber has taken the stance to zero out the private prison’s request because the Florida-based […]

Ana CeballosMarch 1, 2018

In a rare political move, Gov. Rick Scott and the father of a 14-year-old Parkland shooting victim jointly addressed the House and Senate floors on Thursday and asked legislators to set aside differences and ensure schools are safe sans armed teachers. “I want to make sure there is law enforcement in our schools,” Scott told […]

Ana CeballosMarch 1, 2018

After a criminal justice bill sponsored by Senate budget chief Rob Bradley was zeroed out Wednesday in early negotiations, he said he will kill it to help fund plans to harden schools and fund for mental health services. “I have killed my own bill,” Bradley told Florida Politics. The move to abandon the bill took Sen. […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 28, 2018

A broad amendment to the Senate vegetable garden bill that would have preempted local ordinances that ban plastic straws, or really any plastic utensils, was withdrawn Wednesday after facing scrutiny. “I am going after the paper straws,” Sen. Rob Bradley said. The powerful state senator and sponsor of the bill (SB 1776) filed the utensil […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 28, 2018

As the House and Senate begin final budget negotiations, one of the biggest Medicaid funding differences will be cuts to hospitals, an area that was slashed last Session and is already having a real-life impact on one rural hospital in DeSoto County. No more baby deliveries. “Effective February 1, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. DeSoto Memorial […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 27, 2018

With three minutes left in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, a bill mandating each judicial district in the state to implement pre-arrest diversion programs headed to the Senate floor. There was no debate on the bill (SB 1392) that would set up diversion programs with the intent of giving local law enforcement agencies a […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 27, 2018

With two weeks left in Session, the Florida Legislature on Tuesday agreed to the outline of the 2018-19 state budget that will use roughly $32 billion in state funds. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Conference Chairs Sen. Rob Bradley and state Rep. Carlos Trujillo will hold an organization meeting in 212 Knott Building. Conference subcommittees have […]

Ana Ceballos
Courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort

Bill Hager’s battle with Broward Sheriff spills over into Florida budget talks

Governor would have sole discretion over FDOT head appointment under proposal

Budget writers sign off on $3m to build shooting range, co-funded by NRA

Senate, House at odds over $4m to pay for private prison operations

In impromptu Capitol visit, Rick Scott reiterates: don’t arm teachers

Rob Bradley kills his criminal justice bill to ‘fund school safety initiatives’

Save the ‘sporks’? Amendment yanked from Senate veggie garden bill

No more baby deliveries: Rural hospital affected after state’s Medicaid cuts

Pre-arrest diversion program proposals head to House, Senate floors

Budget conference begins tonight, state allocations unveiled