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

James CallApril 5, 2015

Jimmy Buffett will headline an Everglades Coalition rally Tuesday at the Old Capitol. Buffett’s performance will highlight a noon rally for the third annual Everglades Day of Action. The coalition has been promoting the event as an opportunity to lobby lawmakers. It has sent out “Buy the Land! Send Water South! Save our Everglades & Estuaries!” […]

James CallApril 4, 2015

Momma bears. It’s taking the momma bears to end the reefer madness. Paige Figi, Holley Moseley and Dawn Wein are among a group of women who worked the Florida Capitol the past year persuading, pressuring and pleading with lawmakers to lift a prohibition on medical marijuana and authorize the use of cannabis products they say will ease their children’s […]

James CallApril 4, 2015

Momma bears. It’s taking the momma bears to end the reefer madness. Paige Figi, Holley Moseley and Dawn Wein are among a group of women who worked the Florida Capitol the past year persuading, pressuring and pleading with lawmakers to lift a prohibition on medical marijuana and authorize the use of cannabis products they say will ease their children’s […]

James CallApril 3, 2015

Now we have a Session — a battle of wills and philosophies in the building of a state budget. The Senate wants to talk. In the House, the talk is about war. Both chambers have passed a state budget for next year. If you look at the bottom lines the difference is about $4.2 billion. […]

James CallApril 3, 2015

A challenge to a proposed regulatory structure for the state’s medicinal marijuana law has been dismissed. Judge Elizabeth W. McArthur ruled Thursday the attorneys for a 4-year-old Jacksonville girl failed to prove their client is a “qualified patient” under the Compassionate Medicinal Cannabis Act of 2014 and therefore lacks standing as an affected party to block the proposed rule. […]

James CallApril 3, 2015

A challenge to a proposed regulatory structure for the state’s medicinal marijuana law has been dismissed. Judge Elizabeth W. McArthur ruled Thursday the attorneys for a 4-year-old Jacksonville girl failed to prove their client is a “qualified patient” under the Compassionate Medicinal Cannabis Act of 2014 and therefore lacks standing as an affected party to block the proposed rule. […]

James CallApril 2, 2015

To understand this day at the state Capitol one needs to take a long view of a 60-day Legislative Session. Think of a production of a play — the Florida Legislature spent the first half of a session putting all the pieces in place for one heck of a show. The climax will come either […]

James CallApril 2, 2015

Florida House Democrats intend to reject the House budget plan Thursday afternoon on three counts: • They will argue the spending plan does not include enough money for education; • Fails to comply with voter intent on Amendment 1, and; • Doesn’t cover a billion-dollar gap in the health care budget created by the end […]

James CallApril 2, 2015

Civil Rights groups are sounding the alarm about public records exemptions in a police body camera bill moving through the Senate. A coalition that includes the ACLU intend to argue Thursday the exemptions are so broad they prevent disclosure of evidence of police misconduct “even in the most egregious circumstances”. Groups including Latino Justice, Organize […]

James CallApril 1, 2015

This day at the state Capitol things began to happen. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was in the House and Senate warning lawmakers that Washington wasn’t bluffing about ending a federal reimbursement program for safety-net hospitals. Nelson met with both Senate President Andy Gardiner and Speaker Steve Crisafulli. Concerning the Low Income Pool question, Nelson said, […]

James Call

Jimmy Buffett to headline Everglades rally in Tallahassee on Tuesday

“Momma bears” roam Florida Capitol seeking medical marijuana for their cubs

"Momma bears" roam Florida Capitol seeking medical marijuana for their cubs

Epic battle brewing at Capitol as Session appears headed to overtime

One challenge to Charlotte's Web tossed; 2 pending

One challenge to Charlotte’s Web tossed; 2 pending

The day that was in Florida politics — April 2

House Democrats to reject budget, cite education, health-care, land-buying flaws

Civil rights groups oppose police body camera bill, alarmed by public records exemptions

The day that was in Florida politics — April 1