A.G. Gancarski, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

United States Rep. Al Lawson announced Tuesday his appointment to the Agriculture Committee, a key assignment for his largely rural North Florida district. “Agriculture is a more than $120 billion industry in Florida and one of the strongest pillars of our state’s economy supporting more than 2 million jobs,” said Lawson. “I am pleased to serve on […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

A bill filed by Rep. Joe Gruters in the Florida House on Tuesday contends that the ability to feel pain by a fetus should limit a mother’s ability to abort it. House Bill 203, the Florida Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, asserts that “the abortion of an unborn child capable of feeling pain unless it is necessary […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

An “equal opportunity” bill introduced to the Jacksonville City Council by Garrett Dennis picked up momentum Tuesday, with a half dozen councilmembers and stakeholders attending a public notice meeting to discuss it. Dennis framed this bill as an attempt to ensure city agencies and independent authorities to “cast a broader net” in their hiring process. “This […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

According to Kratom advocates, Godwin’s Law makes bad law, as a state representative’s comments undergo sustained scrutiny. Florida State Rep. Kristin Jacobs, a Democrat from Coconut Creek who filed legislation to outlaw Kratom components, caused outrage in the community of Kratom advocates Monday by saying their advocacy for the palliative properties of the plant reminded […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

At Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, expect opponents of LGBT rights to use the following talking points against HRO expansion. While advocates of expanding the Human Rights Ordinance believe that they have the votes to pass the third version of the bill, opponents see it as more of the same … and intend to […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council starts off 2017 with an agenda light on controversial legislation, which presumably gives the body more time for HRO-related public comment. That said, the agenda Tuesday evening in Council Chambers is highlighted by notable board nominees and local bills to be pushed in Tallahassee. **** One interesting moment that likely will […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2017

On Friday, Florida Politics brought you the first look at a House bill that would add Kratom to the state’s controlled substance list. House Bill 183 would add Mitragynine and Hydroxymitragynine, constituents of Kratom, to the schedule of controlled substances, offering an exception for any FDA approved substance containing these chemicals. Bill sponsor Rep. Kristin Jacobs, a Coconut Creek Democrat who has […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2017

Freshman Congress members, led by Rep. John Rutherford (a former Jacksonville sheriff), called for President Barack Obama to “light the White House blue” on Monday. The significance is obvious: the blue light denotes support for law enforcement on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which is Monday. This support is especially critical in the wake of the assassination of a […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2017

On Monday, Florida Governor Rick Scott sent a letter to the United States Congress majority leader calling for the body to “repeal and replace” Obamacare. Scott’s position on what he calls the “excessive overreach” of Obamacare is not necessarily a surprise, given his historic opposition to the president’s approach to the Affordable Care Act. However, it […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2017

The year 2017 has started off with people trying to pressure Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry into positions he thus far has resisted. Social liberals want the mayor to offer the kind of full-throated support of expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance that thus far has proven elusive. And the city’s unions, especially police and fire, want […]

A.G. Gancarski

Al Lawson appointed to Agriculture committee

Florida House bill contends that fetus’ ability to feel pain tied to viability

Jacksonville equal opportunity ordinance picks up momentum

Godwin’s law makes bad law, claim Kratom advocates

Jacksonville HRO expansion opponents preview talking points, malign city council president

Jacksonville City Council to push local bills, notable board nominees Tuesday

Kristin Jacobs: Kratom lobby ‘just like Hitler’

House freshmen to Pres. Obama: light the White House blue

Rick Scott to US House Majority Leader: ‘repeal and replace Obamacare’

Lenny Curry previews 2017 agenda at Meninak meeting