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

Gary FineoutMarch 25, 2015

Amid continued backlash over Florida’s testing regimen, the state may stop holding back third grade students who fail the state’s standardized tests. If Florida lawmakers agree to the change, it would mark a major departure from a policy pushed into law by then-Gov. Jeb Bush who decried “social promotion” when he campaigned for governor. Bush […]

Gary FineoutMarch 24, 2015

With a budget stalemate still possible, the Republican-controlled Florida House on Tuesday rolled out a hefty package of tax cuts and tax breaks that it wants to push through during this year’s session. House leaders are pitching nearly $700 million in tax cuts, including a substantial cut in the taxes charged on cellphones and cable […]

Gary FineoutMarch 20, 2015

The Florida House is proposing a nearly $76.2 billion spending plan for this year. The House released its proposed budget early Friday. The Senate’s full spending plan is expected to be released later in the day. The rival plans are expected to be as much as $5 billion apart. That’s because the Senate wants to […]

Gary FineoutMarch 18, 2015

Legislators are prepared to scale back the number of tests given to students, but they remain opposed to any large changes that could undo the signature program put in place by former Gov. Jeb Bush. The House is expected this week to pass a wide-ranging bill that places limits on the number of standardized tests […]

Gary FineoutMarch 6, 2015

Their session only days old, the Florida House and Senate appeared to already be on a collision course Thursday over how to balance the state budget. Sen. Tom Lee, a Brandon Republican and the Senate budget chief, warned Thursday that the potential loss of more than $1 billion in federal aid for hospitals is forcing […]

Gary FineoutMarch 3, 2015

Florida’s GOP-controlled Legislature begins its annual session Tuesday, one that could be consumed by plenty of high-profile issues — but lacking the intensity that comes during an election year session. Both House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner have their own agendas. But it appears the focus over the next 60 days may […]

Gary FineoutFebruary 26, 2015

For nearly 2 million Florida public school students, the next few weeks could be a crucial moment in their education. The state is undertaking one of the biggest changes in its classrooms since former Gov. Jeb Bush pushed through his signature A+ school grading system nearly 16 years ago. Students will switch this spring to […]

Gary FineoutFebruary 24, 2015

This was supposed to be a year of budgetary plenty in Tallahassee. Florida’s gradually rebounding economy is helping swell the state’s bank accounts and Republican Gov. Rick Scott has grand plans to spend it on boosting school spending and by slashing taxes and fees by hundreds of millions of dollars. Initially, it appeared legislators would […]

Gary FineoutFebruary 20, 2015

At a rural crossroads in Northwest Florida, the state may encounter a tough choice in its ongoing debate over the future of gambling. It’s here — amid mobile homes, cow pastures and cotton fields near the Alabama-Florida line — that a small, Alabama-based Indian tribe wants to expand its gambling operations into the Sunshine State. Rebuffed […]

Gary FineoutFebruary 11, 2015

An attempt by Florida’s new prisons chief to keep investigators from discussing what’s going on inside the state’s troubled prison system has sparked a lawsuit. A lawyer representing six Department of Corrections employees asked a judge this week to block a new confidentiality policy ordered by Secretary Julie Jones. Tallahassee attorney Steve Andrews contends in […]

Gary Fineout

Florida may promote 3rd graders who fail standardized tests

House wants to cut taxes on cellphones, textbooks

House releases nearly $76.2 billion spending plan

House poised to make changes to state testing

Budget battle may doom tax cuts, school spending

A look at the 5 biggest issues for the Florida Legislature

Florida legislators under pressure to alter school testing

Gov. Rick Scott may find it tough getting tax cut plans passed

Tribe offers Florida a choice: casino or marijuana

Bid to keep Florida prison inspectors quiet sparks lawsuit