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

Janelle Irwin TaylorMay 1, 2015

After the Florida House of Representatives threw in the towel this week, abandoning the legislative session three days early, medical marijuana was declared dead in Tallahassee for the 2015 session. That’s why the group United for Care has said screw it, and is heading back to the ballot box to give voters another go-round. “Our […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMay 1, 2015

Sen. Jeff Brandes is home from Tallahassee with the list of accomplishments this session. Of bills he proposed, at least nine are on their way to the governor for a signature. One of the bills Brandes is most excited to see make its way to Rick Scott’s desk is the Local Government Pension Reform bill. Senate Bill 242 is […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 29, 2015

A compassionate bill aimed at patients suffering from terminal illnesses is on its way to the governor’s desk. The Right to Try Act by St. Petersburg state Sen. Jeff Brandes earned broad support in the committee stops and has been approved by both chambers. Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign the bill into law. The law would allow […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 28, 2015

The Florida House has adjourned sine die, meaning it has abandoned the Legislative Session three-days early, leaving a host of unresolved issues on the table. Among those issues is medical marijuana, been left dead for 2015. “Today the people we elected to represent us in Tallahassee literally abdicated their responsibility to Floridians,” Ben Pollara, United for […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 22, 2015

Former St. Pete Mayor Rick Baker remained silent on the pending Pier debate until Wednesday. Baker, in a column submitted exclusively to SaintPetersblog, overwhelmingly endorsed the St. Pete Design Group’s Destination St. Pete Pier. It’s little wonder Baker opted not to submit his column to the Tampa Bay Times. That newspaper has published two scathing […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 16, 2015

When does voting really matter? For all of the super-voters out there, the answer is, “It always does.” But for those not so attuned with voting in every election, here’s a more compelling reason. If all of the voters who had signed a petition supporting placing Florida’s Amendment 2 medical marijuana initiative on the 2014 […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 16, 2015

When you order a daiquiri in most bars, you get a brightly colored frozen concoction that possibly contains a rainforest and half a pineapple sticking out of the top. You could probably get one of those at Fodder & Shine in Seminole Heights, but you’d probably also get laughed at. This isn’t a beach bar. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 14, 2015

The Florida Senate has sent a growler bill to the House for consideration. The Senate approved 38-0 a revised growler bill that would allow Florida craft breweries to sell 64-ounce growlers. Current law allows the larger 1-gallon size and the smaller quart size, but not the most popular half-gallon containers. The version of the bill […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 10, 2015

It’s not easy being a Democrat in the Florida Legislature. Most major initiatives get blocked by a sea of red and bills typically opposed by those few lawmakers on the left breeze right by despite vehement protest. That’s where Rep. Dwight Dudley is right now, a little more than half way through this year’s Legislative […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 7, 2015

More news on Florida’s war on potheads. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee unanimously approved a “blunt wrap” tax Tuesday. The type of rolling paper used to wrap cigars (or giant marijuana joints) would be subject to tobacco taxes under the proposed law. Here’s the deal: Lawmakers really, really wants to tax your blunt wrappers. But they’ve […]

Janelle Irwin Taylor

Ben Pollara puts the smackdown on Florida House over medical pot

Jeff Brandes leaves Tallahassee with impressive bill record

Jeff Brandes’ Right to Try Act heads to governor

With Session dead, United for Care says pot amendment lives

Rick Baker endorses Destination St. Pete Pier design

If votes had equaled petitions, medical marijuana would have passed

Fodder & Shine: Cocktails become high art at creative restaurant

Growler bill sent to the House with add-ons

Tales from Tallahassee: Dwight Dudley is a speck of blue in a sea of red

Legislature wants to tax your blunt wrappers