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

James CallFebruary 16, 2015

A campus carry proposal cleared the Senate Criminal Justice Committee Monday on a partisan vote with supporters arguing it was an reasonable extension of a limited right to self-defense. Sen. Greg Evers, the Republican chair of the committee is sponsoring SB 176, which would allow concealed weapons permit holders to possess guns on college and university campuses. One point […]

James CallFebruary 16, 2015

Four school board members from across the state have organized as an alternative to the Florida School Board Association. The Florida Coalition of School Board Members is disgruntled by the FSBA support for a lawsuit against a tax credit scholarship program by the Florida Education Association. The state has sought dismissal of the cased, arguing […]

James CallFebruary 16, 2015

It may be a tax cut but it’s not about the money. Sen. Renee Garcia and Rep. Jay Fant on Monday begin their push for a Small Business Saturday Tax Holiday. Their proposal is a tax break for purchases at smaller independently owned stores on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It would provide a $20 million […]

James CallFebruary 12, 2015

Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen was flanked by bankers, financial advisors, educators and a representative of the Junior League when she explained support was growing daily for a proposal to mandate a one-semester financial literacy course for high school graduation. Then in walked Rep. Alan Williams to demonstrate bi-partisan support for a proposal by Fitzenhagen and Sen. Dorothy Hukill. […]

James CallFebruary 12, 2015

Count Florida TaxWatch among those supporting schoolwide averaging rather than the specific number of students in a class for compliance with Florida’s class-size amendment. The government watchdog group Thursday said the state could save billions of dollars by adjusting the way it calculates the number. TaxWatch has produced two research papers on the subjects available here and here. […]

James CallFebruary 11, 2015

The President of Florida State University doesn’t like the idea of guns on campus. Ten days after John Thrasher became president in November a gunman shot three students at the school library. One student paralyzed in the shooting is expected to resume engineering studies soon. A proposal by Rep. Greg Steube is moving through the Florida Legislature […]

James CallFebruary 10, 2015

Jeb Bush brought a nascent presidential campaign — it’s in the “seriously-considering-a-potential-run” stage — Tuesday to Tallahassee. Florida’s former governor raised about $300,000 for his political action committee and basked in the adoration of supporters at an education summit. The fundraiser was sponsored by some of Tallahassee’s leading lobbying firms, as was the education summit […]

James CallFebruary 10, 2015

A big foot can make noise and Jeb Bush is starting to make noise. About 300 people attended a Right to Rise PAC fundraiser Tuesday, sponsored by some of Tallahassee’s leading lobbying firms and featuring the former Florida governor. Bush a nascent presidential candidate — he’s “seriously considering” — was enough to make the GOP’s […]

James CallFebruary 10, 2015

The Florida Department of Health has tentatively scheduled a March 2 public hearing for a proposed rule to implement the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. A two-day-25-hour negotiated rulemaking session with regulators and stakeholders produced a set of regulations for awarding licenses to cultivate marijuana and process oil from the plant to dispense as medicine. “This […]

James CallFebruary 10, 2015

The Florida Department of Health has tentatively scheduled a March 2 public hearing for a proposed rule to implement the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. A two-day-25-hour negotiated rulemaking session with regulators and stakeholders produced a set of regulations for awarding licenses to cultivate marijuana and process oil from the plant to dispense as medicine. “This […]

James Call

Guns on campus bill wins first committee shootout

Lawsuit spawns rival state school board association

Renee Garcia and Jay Fant: Small business tax holiday is about building community

Proposal requires financial literacy credit for high school graduation

Florida TaxWatch projects billions in savings with class-size tweak

During Tiger Bay speech, John Thrasher reiterates opposition to guns on campus, desire for more money for faculty

Jeb Bush planning a big hairy audacious campaign

Jeb Bush bestrides Tallahassee like a colossus

Tentative hearing on Charlotte's Web rule scheduled

Tentative hearing on Charlotte’s Web rule scheduled