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

James CallMarch 28, 2015

Job creation in Florida has slowed but continues. The unemployment rate for February fell one-tenth of one percent to 5.6, a drop of 0.6 percent compared to a year ago and down 2.3 percent– down from Feb. 2013, the Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday. The U.S. unemployment rate is 5.5 percent. Employers added 19,700 […]

James CallMarch 27, 2015

This week at the state Capitol ended with House Republicans taking Democrats to school. There were four education bills advocated by the GOP on the agenda for a Friday session. All easily passed since Republicans outnumber Democrats 2-1 in the Florida House. Thursday, Democrats argued against mandating that school districts share construction and renovation money […]

James CallMarch 27, 2015

Friday marked the seventh day of existence for the Medical Cannabis Trade Association. The association of nurseries is challenging a proposed rule for a medicinal marijuana law approved in 2014. When the group filed a lawsuit Tuesday no one around the Capitol seemed to know anything about the MCTA. The association formed as a Delaware […]

James CallMarch 27, 2015

Friday marked the seventh day of existence for the Medical Cannabis Trade Association. The association of nurseries is challenging a proposed rule for a medicinal marijuana law approved in 2014. When the group filed a lawsuit Tuesday no one around the Capitol seemed to know anything about the MCTA. The association formed as a Delaware […]

James CallMarch 27, 2015

The personal identifying information of more than 200,000 Floridians who had applied for public benefits may have been stolen and sold, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. A joint federal-state investigation has resulted in the arrest of a Cora Eutsay, who used her position at CareerSource South Florida in Opa-Locka to access […]

James CallMarch 26, 2015

This day at the Florida Capitol the House Regulatory Affairs Committee held a four-hour workshop on gambling. Surprisingly, there was something comforting and familiar about spending the morning with a room full of Brooks Brothers suits. A historic review of the Tribal-State Gaming Compact and an overview of the legal relationship between the State and […]

James CallMarch 26, 2015

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Florida’s Charlotte’s Web law is back before the judge who in November invalidated the previous rule for the growing of marijuana and the processing of oil from the plant. Administrative Law Judge W. David Watkins will decide the challenge against the latest proposed regulations filed by the Medical Cannabis Trade Association of Florida (MCTA). He has until […]

James CallMarch 26, 2015

Florida’s Charlotte’s Web law is back before the judge who in November invalidated the previous rule for the growing of marijuana and the processing of oil from the plant. Administrative Law Judge W. David Watkins will decide the challenge against the latest proposed regulations filed by the Medical Cannabis Trade Association of Florida (MCTA). He has until […]

James CallMarch 25, 2015

Wednesday at the state Capitol we learned that when the House and Senate begin talking to each other about a state budget what the focus of the discussion will be. We’ve watched the respective leaders draw lines in the sand. And we’ve seen the positions harden. And now, as we approach the midpoint of the […]

James CallMarch 25, 2015

Humans are a strange species. One can be pushing 60 and a chance encounter with a childhood hero turns him into a little boy. I outed an astronaut today. I’m standing in a crowded elevator and next to me is Mike McCulley, a space shuttle Atlantis commander. Your humble correspondent immediately blurted, “You’re an astronaut!” unleashing a shower […]

James Call

State unemployment rate drops slightly in February

The week that was in Florida politics — March 27

Secretive Charlotte’s Web challenger says it only wants pot “properly regulated”

Secretive Charlotte's Web challenger says it only wants pot “properly regulated”

ACCESS Florida data breached; woman charged with selling client info

The day that was in Florida politics — March 26

Judge David Watkins caught again in Charlotte's Web; MCTA roots questioned

Judge David Watkins caught again in Charlotte’s Web; MCTA roots questioned

The day that was in Florida politics — March 25

Five minutes with astronaut Mike McCulley on Lewis and Clark, the final frontier, and human nature