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

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2016

The state’s highest court has set oral arguments in an appeal of a punitive damages award against the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. The Florida Supreme Court, which accepted jurisdiction this May, will hear the case March 8, court filings show. At trial, a jury found smoker James E. Schoeff 25 percent at fault in his death. He had “died from […]

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2016

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The Florida Senate’s chamber renovations should be done by early-to-mid November. Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta tweeted back on Oct. 5: “Chamber Reno Update — About one month to left to go.” She posted photos showing the chamber with redone walls, new desks, and new carpet going down. As planned, the nearly 40-year-old mural that greeted visitors to the […]

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2016

Ougoing Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner and former Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp are among the latest applicants to Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga for the Constitution Review Commission. Court spokesman Craig Waters provided an updated list of 20 applicants Tuesday. The Florida Constitution allows for a “revision commission” to meet every 20 years to “examine […]

Jim RosicaOctober 17, 2016

It’s a small lead — 27 ballots — but Democrats are now in front in the number of returned vote-by-mail ballots. With more than a half-million ballots turned in, the Division of Elections website Monday showed registered Democrats had submitted 210,734 ballots to Republicans’ 210,707. Other party and no-party voters have returned another 91,648 ballots to their local supervisors of elections. Monday’s update […]

Jim RosicaOctober 17, 2016

Crystal Sircy, the chief operating officer of Enterprise Florida (EFI), the state’s public-private economic development agency, is leaving to join the Orlando Economic Development Commission as its new executive vice president. Sircy, who has been with EFI since 1997, announced her resignation in an email to “stakeholders” last Thursday that was provided to FloridaPolitics.com on Monday. “I […]

Jim RosicaOctober 17, 2016

A Marion County circuit judge is giving a statewide racehorse owners group 20 days to explain why it shouldn’t be ordered to consider changing the way it operates. The “order to show cause” was entered against The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Friday. It is based in Ocala, informally known as “Horse Capital of the World.” Horse trainer Adolfo […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2016

Florida House Speaker-designate Richard Corcoran said he was “profoundly disappointed” by Friday’s state Supreme Court opinion invalidating part of the state’s death penalty. The court ruled 5-2 that death sentences require a unanimous jury, striking down a new law allowing a defendant to be sentenced to death as long as 10 out of 12 jurors recommend it. “Make […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2016

State economists on Thursday decreased the Florida Retirement System Pension Fund‘s expected rate of return on investments to 7.6 percent, from 7.65 percent. The Actuarial Assumption Conference had stalemated earlier in the week, with some wanting the rate held at 7.65 percent, and others arguing to go down to 7.5 percent. Don Langston, staff director of the House of Representatives’ […]

Jim RosicaOctober 13, 2016

A Florida Department of Corrections spokeswoman Thursday said speculation about private prison operator The GEO Group muscling out nonprofits that run rehab and re-entry programs in the state “is false.” Spokeswoman Michelle Glady responded to a FloridaPolitics.com report earlier in the day. In a press conference, nonprofit heads said the department was shutting down programs that help ex-cons with […]

Jim RosicaOctober 13, 2016

The head of a nonprofit that runs prisoner re-entry programs in the state said she had “no evidence” her group and others were being muscled out by private prison operator The GEO Group. But, Lori Costantino-Brown quickly added, there’s been a “lot of speculation” that the company has somehow been involved. Costantino-Brown, president and CEO of Orlando-based […]

Jim Rosica
Image via FPL.

Court orders oral arguments in smoking death case

Florida Senate renovations near completion

Arthenia Joyner, Jeff Kottkamp apply for constitutional panel

Democrats take slight lead in vote-by-mail ballots

Personnel note: Crystal Sircy heads to Orlando EDC

Judge slaps horse group with ‘show cause’ order

Reacting to death penalty decision, Richard Corcoran says courts ‘subvert will of the people’

State economists lower expectations for pension fund

Corrections says ‘we are not limiting services’ to inmates

‘No evidence’ GEO Group behind prisoner rehab grab