Gary Fineout, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutJuly 18, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli is turning down a request from 15 members of Congress to hold statewide public hearings before the Legislature draws new congressional districts. Republican and Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to legislative leaders on Thursday asking for the hearings. Last week the state Supreme Court ruled the state’s congressional maps […]

Gary FineoutJuly 16, 2015

Florida voters could wind up having to choose between two rival proposals dealing with solar energy. A group billing itself as Consumers for Smart Solar announced Wednesday that it’s launching a petition drive to place an amendment dealing with solar energy on the 2016 ballot. It will need to collect nearly 700,000 signatures by early […]

Gary FineoutJune 24, 2015

The Seminole Tribe of Florida told Gov. Rick Scott and other state officials on Wednesday that it will keep blackjack and other card games in place at its casinos despite the looming end of a deal the tribe inked five years ago. After Scott and state legislators were unable to reach an accord with the […]

Gary FineoutJune 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday ended the state’s biggest budget crisis in more than two decades by signing a more than $78 billion budget into law, but he may have created another divide with some of his fellow Republicans. Scott signed the budget just days after the Florida Legislature approved it during an unusual June […]

Gary FineoutJune 21, 2015

A bruising budget battle that divided Republicans in the Florida Legislature is over for now, but the truce is likely only to last a few months. Legislators passed a nearly $79 billion budget Friday with just days to spare. Legislators had until July 1 to pass a budget or state government would have been partially […]

Gary FineoutJune 20, 2015

After a sprawling and messy budget fight that spawned lawsuits and finger-pointing, the fractured Republican-controlled Florida Legislature approved a nearly $79 billion budget and ended its special session Friday. Legislators were racing against the clock to pass the budget after they failed to pass one during their regular two-month session that ended in late April. […]

Gary FineoutJune 16, 2015

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Florida’s contentious and messy budget stalemate that divided the state’s Republicans and threatened to force the shutdown of state government is finally over. With just days left, the Florida Legislature has reached a deal on a nearly $79 billion budget. The final budget was delivered to legislators late Tuesday afternoon. The budget has winners and […]

Gary FineoutJune 12, 2015

Calling it a “monumental change,” Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday asked an appeals court to reconsider a far-reaching ruling that could lead to slot machines at several dog and horse tracks. The 1st District Court of Appeal last month ordered state regulators to award a license for slot machines to a facility in […]

Gary FineoutJune 12, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott jetted off to Paris on Friday for a whirlwind visit ahead of an international air show where state officials hope to lure more business back to the Sunshine State. The trip is Scott’s 11th abroad since he became governor in 2011, but the first of his second term. His most recent international […]

Gary FineoutJune 11, 2015

Florida lawmakers, rushing to reach a final deal on a new budget over the next few days, may pass about $400 million of tax cuts that include a 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday. Republican leaders at odds for weeks over spending appear ready to compromise on a range of remaining items, including a tax-cut package […]

Gary Fineout

House Speaker turns down U.S. Reps request for redistricting hearings

Voters may have to decide between 2 solar energy amendments

Seminole Tribe: We won’t close down blackjack at casinos

Gov. Rick Scott signs state budget in private, averts government shutdown

Florida’s battle over health care likely to return in 2016

Legislature passes $78.7 billion budget in overtime

Budget stalemate finally ends for Florida Legislature

State asks appeals court to reconsider slot machine case

Rick Scott heads to Paris despite Special Session

Back-to-school sales tax holiday may be longer this year