Janelle Irwin Taylor, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 15, 2016

Buses in Williams Park are gone. Sunday was the first day buses stopped at a variety of places in downtown St. Pete instead of all picking up and dropping off passengers at Williams Park. With the old bus shelters no longer surrounding the park, serving as a barrier, St. Pete officials hope the park can […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 15, 2016

St. Pete wants to move its people around St. Pete over the roads. Earlier this month the city submitted an application for a $40 million federal grant with its big-ticket item focused on Aerial Cable Propelled Transit. Or Gondolas. It’s an almost Jetsonian vision invoking images of people floating along in bubbles. Though, in St. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 12, 2016

Toast: Two judges, some killers (unfortunately) and death penalty critics The death penalty doesn’t exist in Florida. At least not for now. And that’s a thing of beauty for people who don’t care for the policy much. Especially considering Florida is the second-most murderous state in the nation in terms of capital punishment. Two judges, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 9, 2016

Stare business and transportation leaders along with officials pushing comprehensive ride-hailing legislation launched the Floridians for Ridesharing Coalition Tuesday ahead of discussion slated for the Senate Judiciary committee. State Sen. Jeff Brandes and Rep. Matt Gaetz both back legislation in their respective chambers that would regulate the industry through rules on insurance requirements for drivers. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 3, 2016

Lawmakers are filing a flurry of amendments to a bill aimed at reducing the number of specialty license plates on Florida roadways. Legislators filed at least 16 amendments to Jeff Brandes’ omnibus new plate bill adding at least one specialty plate each. However, adding plates in the proposal doesn’t necessarily defeat the purpose. Groups wishing […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 3, 2016

If a campaign’s probability of winning can be measured by the fundraising advantage it holds over its opponent, state Rep. Larry Ahern is well on his way to another term in the Florida Legislature. At the close of 2015, the Pinellas Republican had raised nearly $75,000 compared to his opponent’s paltry $305. Ahern is seeking re-election in […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 19, 2016

David Jolly wants members of Congress, including himself, to stop begging for money and get back to work. During a press conference Tuesday morning, the Pinellas County member of Congress announced a bill he’s proposing next week in the House that would forbid federally elected officials from directly soliciting campaign contributions. That includes not only […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 19, 2016

The corrupting effect of money on politics is a battle cry often heard from the left or more often from third-party or independent voters. Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly, however, is throwing his weight behind a measure that could limit how federal candidates raise money. Jolly has proposed bill that would prevent federally elected officials […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 13, 2016

Congressman Vern Buchanan, a Republican from Sarasota, is joining the list of conservatives including GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump in calling on the U.S. to block Syrian refugees from seeking asylum on American soil. He’s asking the Senate to pass the American SAFE (Security Against Foreign Enemies) Act that would bar Syrian refugees from entering […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 12, 2016

Pinellas County Commissioners Tuesday passed an ordinance furthering the work of the Florida Legislature to curb human trafficking. Last year, the legislature approved a bill ultimately signed into law that gave county commissions the authority to place signs in certain locations educating the public about the labor and sex trafficking. The state law enacted in […]

Janelle Irwin Taylor

New group aims to restore Williams Park to its historic glory

Pie in the sky transit proposal: Gondolas in St. Pete

Toast to the Bay/Dump into the Bay: 2 Bay area judges; Jim Frishe

Pro-business groups, lawmakers form ridesharing coalition

Specialty plate reduction bill draws flurry of amendments adding plates

Larry Ahern faces broke challenger in re-election bid

David Jolly not flinching at pushback to his fundraising ban idea

David Jolly aims to curb federal elected officials from raising money while in office

Amid Turkey bombing, Vern Buchanan again calls on blocking Syrian refugees

Pinellas County Commission expands state human trafficking initiative