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

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 TaylorApril 2, 2015

Florida’s tax-cutter-in-chief is at it again. After rounding out last week’s “cut my taxes week,” Gov. Rick Scott is now touting his whopper of a tax cut last year. According to the Governor’s Office, Floridians have saved nearly $200 million since last September when auto registration fees were reduced by about $25 for car owners. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 1, 2015

The group Environment Florida has put a new face on the fight for clean water: beer. In order to draw increased attention to water-quality issues facing Floridians, the group held a clean water forum at 3 Daughters brewery in St. Peteresburg on Tuesday night. The evening’s keynote speaker was Jim Leonard, chemist and lab director […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 1, 2015

12_04_03-mjs_ft_sports-coaching_14311985-Medium-1024x1024.jpg

South Florida Senator Jeremy Ring is fed up with obnoxious coaches. So, he’s doing what any reasonable person in a position of authority would do; he’s using his influence in the Florida Legislature to get overly competitive coaches off their respective soccer and softball fields. According to PoliticalFix Florida, Ring decided to sponsor the “Athletic Coaches” bill after […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 27, 2015

Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. Climate Change. That should sufficiently annoy Gov. Rick Scott, who is accused of directing state employees in various departments, particularly the Florida Department of Environmental […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 26, 2015

The Florida Senate has not placed a $1.25 million appropriation for Bus Rapid Transit in St. Pete in its budget. The funding would have paid for a BRT pilot program with express bus service running from downtown St. Pete to St. Pete Beach along First Avenues North and South. According to Clearwater Senator Jack Latvala […]

Janelle Irwin Taylor

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

Janelle Irwin: Rick Scott's tax cuts finally put chewing gum within reach!

Environmentalists turn to craft beer to make clean water pitch

Most important bill ever bans ejected youth coaches from returning

Progress Florida poll: Climate change top issue for Floridians

Could Senate budget be a referendum on PSTA CEO Brad Miller?