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

Jim RosicaApril 5, 2016

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A group of Florida Senate Republicans, including two future presidents of that chamber, on Tuesday endorsed state Rep. Dana Young‘s run for an open Tampa seat, according to a news release. Young, the outgoing House Republican leader, was endorsed by Senate President-designate Joe Negron of Stuart, Senate Republican Leader Bill Galvano of Bradenton (expected to succeed Negron as president), […]

Jim RosicaApril 5, 2016

With work well underway on renovations of the Florida Senate chamber, there’s still no word on the fate of the decades-old mural that greets visitors to the chamber’s fifth floor public gallery. Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta said Tuesday no final decision has been made about the artwork’s future. This past October, Betta said the mural will be taken down because it’s showing […]

Jim RosicaApril 4, 2016

State Sen. Kelli Stargel on Monday said Governor Rick Scott now has “all the information he needs” on her bill to overhaul the state’s alimony system. The measure (SB 668) was the final bill of the 2016 Legislative Session to be sent to Scott for review. It was delivered to his office after Stargel, a Lakeland Republican, briefly […]

Jim RosicaApril 1, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed into law another 14 bills from the 2016 Legislative Session. He had a Saturday deadline to approve or veto the latest bills, all from the Senate. The latest bills include SB 1044, under which law enforcement will have to charge people with a crime before they can seize their money, cars, homes or other property. State Sen. Jeff […]

Jim RosicaApril 1, 2016

The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is asking a court to award it more money in a case stemming from a Legislature-created loan program to help companies rebound from the recession. The department asked Circuit Judge Charles Dodson of Tallahassee to amend a final judgment against the Black Business Investment Fund of Central Florida (BBIF) to add prejudgment interest of $201,792 and boost the […]

Jim RosicaApril 1, 2016

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As an April Fools’ Day prank, the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper renamed itself the “Tallahassee Republican” on Friday. “It’s a one-day special and our little April Fools’ joke — designed to acknowledge those who supposedly wince at our name,” wrote retired columnist Gerald V. Ensley Jr. Ensley explains that the newspaper, which has had “Democrat” in […]

Jim RosicaApril 1, 2016

Come to Zolfo Springs for the barbecue; stay to listen to the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s political committee, “Florida Grown,” is hosting the annual “Friends of Florida Agriculture Barbecue” on Saturday, at Peace River Valley Ranch in Hardee County. The ranch is about a five-hour drive from Tallahassee, an hour and a half […]

Jim RosicaApril 1, 2016

Two legislative leaders are asking the state’s utility regulators to “follow the law” and deny a request by a water utility serving parts of Marion, Pasco and Seminole counties to increase its rates. State Rep. Richard Corcoran, the Land O’ Lakes Republican slated to become House Speaker after the 2016 elections, and Sen. Wilton Simpson, […]

Jim RosicaMarch 31, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court has set June 7 as the date it will hear oral argument in a case on expanding slot machines in the state. The announcement was in a docket filing added Thursday. “A maximum of 20 minutes to the side is allowed for the argument,” the entry says. Gretna Racing, the Gadsden County track seeking to add […]

Jim RosicaMarch 31, 2016

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The plaintiffs who won a congressional redistricting case won’t be getting paid by the state for appellate attorney costs, the Florida Supreme Court decided Thursday in a 4-3 decision. The denial of a request for attorney fees – two lines in the 8-page order – was the second blow in a one-two punch: A three-judge panel of the 1st District […]

Jim Rosica
Image via AP.

Senate leaders endorse Dana Young for SD 18

Still no decision on Florida Senate’s “Five Flags Mural”

Kelli Stargel meets with Rick Scott on alimony bill

Rick Scott signs 14 more bills into law

DEO wants more money in business-loans case

Tallahassee Democrat turns “Republican” for day

Adam Putnam to host U.S. Senate candidates this weekend

Richard Corcoran, Wilton Simpson oppose water rate hike

Florida Supreme Court orders oral argument in slots case

Supreme Court denies request for attorney fees in redistricting case