James Call, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallMarch 19, 2015

Stephen R. Wise served 25 years as a lawmaker, first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1989 and term-limited out of the Senate in 2014. Wise was a skillful lawmaker in the area of education, as chairman of both education appropriation and policy committees he would hold up bills until he thought them ready […]

James CallMarch 19, 2015

An administrative law judge has scheduled a hearing for April 14 on a rule challenge for the state’s Charlotte’s Web law. Judge Elisabeth W. McArthur has scheduled the hearing for 9:30 a.m at the DeSoto Building in Tallahassee. It’s the second legal challenge filed against the Department of Health over proposed regulations to grow marijuana […]

James CallMarch 18, 2015

Wow, talk about a gaggle. If you want a good understanding of what separates the House and Senate as the session approaches the midpoint check out this exchange between Sen. Tom Lee and a gaggle of reporters including the AP, The Palm Beach Post, The Tampa Tribune and the Times/Herald Capitol Bureau. It’s the best gaggle of the session so […]

James CallMarch 18, 2015

Sen. Denise Grimsley’s effort to tear down the wall has morphed into moving the door. More than 100 people crowded into a Senate meeting room Wednesday when the Regulated Industries Committee considered a proposal ending a prohibition on grocery stores stocking liquor and spirits alongside beer and wine. Grimsley, a Sebring Republican, fought back against an unfriendly amendment offered by […]

James CallMarch 18, 2015

Sen. Denise Grimsley’s effort to tear down the wall has morphed into moving the door. More than 100 people crowded into a Senate meeting room Wednesday when the Regulated Industries Committee considered a proposal ending a prohibition on grocery stores stocking liquor and spirits alongside beer and wine. Grimsley, a Sebring Republican, fought back against an unfriendly amendment offered by […]

James CallMarch 18, 2015

The Senate Appropriations Chairman is drawing a line in the sand. Sen. Tom Lee wants clarity on health care spending before moving forward on building a budget, and both Sen. Aaron Bean and Sen. Renee Garcia are looking for the money to help him produce a balanced spending plan. The federal Low Income Pool program expires in June, and the more than […]

James CallMarch 18, 2015

Florida for Care declared Wednesday a Day of Compassion at the state capitol. More than 20 supporters of two medicinal marijuana bills fanned out across the Capitol Complex early Wednesday to lobby lawmakers on behalf of HB 683 and SB 528. “They came from all over the state,” said Kari Hicks of Florida For Care. “There are people […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

The hot dogs were free, the National Champion soccer team was on hand, as well as the tournament-bound women’s basketball team, but the star of the midday gathering in the Capitol courtyard was Farhan “Ronny” Ahmed. The 21-year-old Ahmed was shot three times and left paralyzed from the waist down when a gunman opened fire at […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

There’s a development in the Gerald Bailey affair I want to tell you about, but first its FSU Day. Not that I attended the school or anything, but if I’m put on a beat it’s what’s in the front of my mind, you know? Like, I’m all FSU, fascinated by Charlotte’s Web rule-making, intrigued by the personalities […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

A handful of lawmakers broke away from the Capitol Tuesday afternoon to attend the inauguration of John Thrasher as Florida State University’s 15th president. Thrasher earned two degrees from the university, but his path to the presidency began in 1986 when was elected to the Clay County School Board. From there Thrasher embarked on a career where […]

James Call
Uloma Ekpete Kama. Image via campaign site.

4th Floor Files talks with Steve Wise about shoes, spaghetti, and Ronald Reagan

Charlotte’s Web hearing scheduled for April 14

The day that was in Florida politics — March 18

Senate scales back "'whiskey and wheaties" bill

Senate scales back “‘whiskey and wheaties” bill

Five minutes with Tom Lee — Talk of playing cards while building a budget

Florida for Care walking Capitol halls today for medicinal marijuana

FSU rallies at Capitol

The day that was in Florida politics — March 17

FSU inaugurates John Thrasher as its 15th president