Michael Moline, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineApril 28, 2017

House negotiators gave ground toward Senate President Joe Negron’s ambitious plan to bolster Florida’s state colleges and universities Friday. They accepted a series of spending amounts for specific programs. “Tuition assistance was real big in our offer,” House negotiator Larry Ahern said. “We’ve moved to a lot of the Senate positions. We concur with a […]

Michael MolineApril 28, 2017

The Senate debated Friday whether to raise Florida’s homestead exemption to $75,000 on property values of as much as $125,000 — a key to the chamber’s budget compromise with the House, but bitterly opposed by local governments. The increase would be subject to approval by Florida voters, but is a high priority for House leaders, […]

Michael MolineApril 28, 2017

If you can read a spreadsheet, you might be able to figure out the offer the House made Friday morning on the agriculture, environment, and natural resources budget. If you can’t — well, lead House conferee Ben Albritton wasn’t willing to explain it to you. Albritton distributed a spreadsheet listing the House position, but declined to discuss […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

Sen. Bill Galvano delivered the bad news first as the House and Senate opened conference negotiations on higher education spending Thursday evening. The Senate would have to cut at least $21 million in projects from its version of the budget to reach the level agreed upon with the House, he said. “Many of you on […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo did not appear especially intimidated by Gov. Rick Scott’s tough talk on the state budget Thursday evening. That $200 million Scott seeks to repair the Herbert Hoover Dike, for example? Not likely. “That showed up about a week ago, and we’d already gone a far way down the road as […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

A resolution to depose Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, CSA, from his place in the National Statuary Hall collection and install Mary McLeon Bethune cleared the Senate Thursday on a voice vote. SCR 1360, by Perry Thurston, went to the House, where its future was uncertain. Smith is one of two historical figures whose likeness stands in […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

If you entered an elevator in the Capitol Thursday, you might have spotted a piece of paper resembling a wanted poster bearing the pixelated photo of a smiling woman. “Senator Kevin Rader would like to know… Where is ‘Concerned Citizen’ Mary Beth Wilson,” the letter-sized document announced. Surrounding the photo were six red question marks […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

The House-Senate budget conference committee convened Thursday, exchanged pleasantries, and dispersed to begin working toward a compromise $83 billion spending plan for next fiscal year. “Let the games begin,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, who’ll serve as chairman of the conference. “We look forward to making quick and aggressive counter-offers, and we look forward […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

The House and Senate agreed upon the outlines of a state budget Thursday and appointed conferees to work out the details, beginning that afternoon. Senate President Joe Negron said the deal would provide an across-the-board raise for state workers — their first in about nine years, according to Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, for whom the […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to apologize to survivors of the Groveland Four — African-American men who were brutalized in 1949 following a false accusation of rape. The senators first voted, 36-0, to sign on as cosponsors, then approved the resolution on a voice vote. “This is a great miscarriage of justice,” sponsor Gary Farmer said. “This […]

Michael Moline

House warms to Joe Negron’s ambitious higher education agenda

Homestead exemption boost moves from Rules Committee to full Senate

Environment and natural resources conferees go light on details

Senate offers to cull $21 million in projects as higher ed conference opens

Rick Scott’s demand for budget priorities leaves Carlos Trujillo unfazed

Resolution to replace Confederate general with educator passes the Senate

Kevin Rader carries campaign against lobbyist into the Capitol’s lifts

Budget conference committee gets down to work, with time running short

House and Senate settle budget allotments, appoint conference committees

Senate sends Groveland Four resolution to Governor and Cabinet