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

Jim RosicaApril 13, 2016

A contract worth over $260 million for health care at the state’s prisons will stand after an administrative law judge sided with the Department of Corrections. Wexford Health Sources had challenged the contract for prison health care in north and central Florida awarded to Centurion of Florida. Centurion wanted to replace Corizon, the current vendor, […]

Jim RosicaApril 13, 2016

State regulators say they will no longer tax do-it-yourself cigar wrappers, or “blunt wraps,” a tobacco product perhaps better known as one used to smoke marijuana. That cost – a combination of an excise tax and surcharge that comes to a whopping 85 percent – was only paid by wholesalers, but the cost was passed to consumers. The decision by the […]

Jim RosicaApril 13, 2016

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The vice chair of Enterprise Florida (EFI), the state’s public-private economic development agency, sounded like he was playing defense in a conference call with the group’s executive committee Wednesday. “As you read some of the newspapers, they make it sound like we’re out of business,” said Alan Becker, co-founder of South Florida’s Becker & Poliakoff law firm. […]

Jim RosicaApril 12, 2016

As more than 100 of them crammed the waiting room and hallway of Gov. Rick Scott‘s office on Tuesday, advocates and opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul bill had a hollering battle over the contentious legislation. The opponents, led by Florida National Organization for Women lobbyist Barbara DeVane, scheduled a meeting with Scott’s staff at 11 a.m. to […]

Jim RosicaApril 12, 2016

Thank the District of Columbia for giving you extra time to get your tax filing in order. Generally speaking, most people have a deadline of April 15 to submit a federal income tax return, which this year is this Friday. But the District celebrates a holiday known as Emancipation Day every year on April 16. The holiday commemorates […]

Jim RosicaApril 11, 2016

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s fundraising committee raised a little more than $126,000 in March, but spent about $99,000 – or 78 percent of income, campaign finance reports posted Monday show. Nonetheless, Florida Grown PC– the vehicle that likely will fund Putnam‘s 2018 bid for governor – now has total cash on hand of just over $3.3 million. Putnam, a Republican first […]

Jim RosicaApril 11, 2016

About six out of 10 first-time test takers passed the February sitting of the Florida Bar Exam, according to a Monday press release. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners, which develops and administers the twice-yearly exam, reported that 485 of 830 first-timers passed, or 58.4 percent. Florida International University College of Law graduates had the best […]

Jim RosicaApril 11, 2016

Supporters and opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul bill will make their case at the Capitol on Tuesday. As Gov. Rick Scott reviews the legislation (SB 668), representatives of the Florida National Organization for Women, the League of Women Voters of Florida and other groups plan to meet with his staff at 11 a.m., according to FL-NOW lobbyist Barbara […]

Jim RosicaApril 8, 2016

Longtime Florida journalist and attorney Neil Skene said he has accepted an offer to work for Illinois Children and Family Services Director George Sheldon. Sheldon, a Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged Attorney General Pam Bondi last election, was secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families from 2008-2011. He did not return a call seeking comment. The move […]

Jim RosicaApril 8, 2016

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Let’s Get to Work, the political fundraising committee affiliated with Gov. Rick Scott, is striking back against the Starbucks patron who called him an “a**hole” this week, labeling her a “latte liberal” in a new video. The 1-minute clip surfaced Friday on the group’s website and YouTube. The governor had stopped into a Gainesville Starbucks […]

Jim Rosica
Image via AP.

Wexford loses challenge over prisons health care contract

Florida will no longer charge 85% tax on “blunt wraps”

Enterprise Florida shouldn’t “be overlooked,” vice chair says

Alimony bill supporters and opponents square off in Florida Capitol

Why is Tax Day on April 18 this year?

Adam Putnam’s political committee raises over $126K in March

Florida Bar passage rate at 58% for February exam

Both sides of alimony reform putting pressure on Rick Scott

Former Times bureau chief to work for George Sheldon at Illinois’ DCF

New video: Let’s Get to Work calls Rick Scott heckler a “latte liberal”