Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 19, 2016

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Just in case there was any doubt, Electoral College member Nick DiCeglie says yes, he’s still voting for President-elect Donald Trump. The Pinellas County Republican Party Chairman spoke with reporters Sunday night before Monday’s Electoral College meeting in the Capitol. He’s also sure none of his colleagues will be defecting, either. “The state party selects all the electors and they […]

Jim RosicaDecember 16, 2016

Conservative appellate judge C. Alan Lawson will become the next Florida Supreme Court justice, Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday morning. Lawson, who will replace retiring Justice James E.C. Perry, is chief judge of the state’s 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach. Perry’s retirement is effective Dec. 30; Lawson’s first day is the 31st. “He’s got a 20-year track […]

Jim RosicaDecember 15, 2016

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As promised, House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz of Tampa filed legislation Thursday that would let voters fix mismatching signatures on their vote-by-mail ballots so they can be counted. The bill (HB 105) would require supervisors of elections and their staff “to allow submission of an affidavit to cure signature discrepancies.” The measure was in response […]

Jim RosicaDecember 14, 2016

Florida’s craft distilleries got an early Christmas gift in legislation submitted Wednesday. The bill (SB 166), filed by Republican state Sen. Greg Steube of Sarasota, would change state law to craft distillers’ benefit. He filed similar legislation when he was a House member. One proposal expands how much booze they can produce and still be considered “craft,” raising the limit […]

Jim RosicaDecember 14, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida‘s gambling revenue share payments are continuing to go into the state’s General Revenue Fund, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation said on Wednesday. The department, which oversees gambling, clarified its previous statements this week on how the money is handled. The tribe is seeking to extend a compact with the state to offer exclusively offer […]

Jim RosicaDecember 14, 2016

Former state Sen. Maria Lorts Sachs will be the next executive director of Innovation Florida, the new not-for-profit incubator for startup technology companies. The organization announced the hire Wednesday in a press release. “I am excited to be a part of a new initiative that will link venture capital and multinational corporations to research and development with […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

A South Florida lawmaker is trying again to establish pilot programs in coastal communities to outlaw plastic shopping bags. State Rep. David Richardson, a Miami Beach Democrat, filed his bill (HB 93) on Tuesday. Similar legislation has been filed in recent years. Richardson’s bill would let municipalities with pilot programs “enact an ordinance for the regulation […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

Paul Flemming, a former spokesman for the Florida House Democratic Office, now is public information officer for the Florida Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA). Flemming, who also was the Tallahassee Democrat‘s politics & policy editor, announced his hiring Tuesday. He’s been on the job for almost two weeks. “Not only am I new in the job, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

A state agency that reports to Gov. Rick Scott isn’t clear on the location of millions of dollars the Seminole Tribe says it’s still ponying up from its gambling operations. A spokesman for the tribe last week said they have a “continuing desire to finalize a new gaming (agreement) with the state of Florida” that includes continued exclusive rights to […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

A former Senate President, Secretary of State, and state Supreme Court Justice have applied to Senate President Joe Negron for a seat on the panel that reviews the state’s constitution every 20 years. At last tally, 39 people had applied for one of Negron’s nine picks to the Constitution Revision Commission, according to a list […]

Jim Rosica
Image via the Associated Press.

Nick DiCeglie: “I’m casting my vote for Donald Trump”

Rick Scott picks C. Alan Lawson for Supreme Court

Janet Cruz files fix for vote-by-mail signature problem

Booze bill would benefit craft distillers

Gambling money still going into GR, DBPR says

Personnel note: Maria Sachs to lead Innovation Florida

Ban the bag, South Florida lawmaker says

Personnel note: Paul Flemming joins state courts office

Where’s the Seminoles’ gambling money? State’s not clear

Nearly 40 apply to Joe Negron for Constitution Revision Commission