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

James CallMarch 17, 2015

The latest chapter of “4th Floor Files” talks with Mario Bailey, a lobbyist with the Becker & Poliakoff firm. Bailey represents clients from a variety of sectors including government — he has six south Florida governments including Cape Coral, Hollywood, and Lauderdale Lakes; education — Bethune Cookman, Florida Memorial University, and Miami-Dade Schools; and businesses — […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

Tentacles slithering from a corruption investigation in Tallahassee indicate a made-for-TV movie may be in the works. The Tallahassee Democrat is working the story. The FBI, a federal grand jury and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are looking into 17 Leon County school-construction projects dating to 2007. The FBI has seized the school district’s email system […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

Tentacles slithering from a corruption investigation in Tallahassee indicate a made-for-TV movie may be in the works. The Tallahassee Democrat is working the story. The FBI, a federal grand jury and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are looking into 17 Leon County school-construction projects dating to 2007. The FBI has seized the school district’s email system […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott continues to preach from the Book of Low Taxation while a choir of number crunchers sings about more people going to work. The Florida jobless rate remained unchanged in January at 5.7 percent, above the national rate of 5.5 percent but showing an increase of 13,900 jobs compared with December and 274,000 more […]

James CallMarch 16, 2015

A measure that could help Gov. Rick Scott fulfill his promise to cut taxes by $670 million continues to roll through the Legislature. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee on Monday approved on a 7-0 vote to reduce a communications tax by 3.6%. “This is broad-based and consumer friendly,” said Sen. Dorothy Hukill who is sponsoring the $431 million tax […]

James CallMarch 16, 2015

It was a day of announcements at the state Capitol. Morning broke with former legislator Joe Scarborough announcing that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is selling his Tallahassee house. Details here. Rubio had purchased a three-bedroom/two bath house with fellow lawmaker David Rivera in 2005. It has been a bit of a headache for Rubio: The two were unable to unload […]

James CallMarch 16, 2015

An Allison Tant rant was featured in a House Republican video produced for this past week’s annual Capitol Press Corps Press Skits. The segment set to rap music was taken from a news conference when Tant used strong language to head off a potential House Democrat leadership fight. It was unclear whether it was included to get […]

James CallMarch 16, 2015

The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee quenched Sen. Jack Latvala’s thirst for votes by unanimously passing his proposal to end the state’s prohibition on growler-size beer containers. Florida law allows beer to be sold in sizes up to 32 ounces and more than 128 ounces but not in the half-gallon containers that are the favorite of craft beer aficionados […]

James CallMarch 16, 2015

Rep. Matt Gaetz began Monday morning describing an “unsolved mystery”: how to get Florida’s first legal marijuana crop in the ground and begin supplying children afflicted with a severe form of epilepsy with medicinal oil to calm their seizures — which can be fatal. “I sense an enhanced appetite for Legislative review, but how to inject […]

James CallMarch 16, 2015

Rep. Matt Gaetz began Monday morning describing an “unsolved mystery”: how to get Florida’s first legal marijuana crop in the ground and begin supplying children afflicted with a severe form of epilepsy with medicinal oil to calm their seizures — which can be fatal. “I sense an enhanced appetite for Legislative review, but how to inject […]

James Call

4th Floor Files talks with Mario Bailey about government, Ronald Reagan, and mentoring

School principal says he's FBI informant in corruption probe

School principal says he’s FBI informant in corruption probe

Unemployment rate steady while Rick Scott focuses on new jobs

Senate support for communications tax gets louder

The day that was in Florida politics — March 16

Catching up with Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant

Growler bill draws unanimous vote, Jack Latvala to consider tasting restrictions

Charlotte’s Web’s “unsolved mystery” frustrates Matt Gaetz

Charlotte's Web’s “unsolved mystery” frustrates Matt Gaetz