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

Jim RosicaMarch 3, 2016

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The House’s lead negotiator on the Seminole Compact has filed another strike-all onto the troubled gambling legislation. State Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, the Miami Republican who chairs the House Regulatory Affairs Committee, filed his amendment Thursday, the day before the House is scheduled to begin its consideration of gambling legislation for 2016. Diaz was in the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 3, 2016

The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature has passed a bill that would legally shield clergy members who refuse to perform gay marriages. The House bill (HB 43) was OK’d Thursday by the Senate on a 23-15 vote, despite Democrats saying the measure isn’t needed because clergy already are protected by the First Amendment. It next needs to be signed […]

Jim RosicaMarch 3, 2016

A squabble over tourist taxes, a last-minute amendment to the Senate’s tax cut package, sucked up about half of the 2016 Legislative Session’s last Senate Appropriations meeting, killing bills left hanging on the agenda. The panel OK’d the House plan (HB 7099) after amending it with the Senate’s own tax package. The legislation promises about $129 million in […]

Jim RosicaMarch 2, 2016

You can’t keep a good bill – or a bad bill, depending on your viewpoint – down in the Florida Legislature. Wednesday night, the House of Representatives quietly put its rewrite of the Seminole Compact and a proposed constitutional amendment on voter control of gambling on the agenda for Friday’s floor session. The legislation is on the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 2, 2016

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday thanked lawmakers for moving legislation to speed up DNA testing for criminal cases, including what are commonly called rape kits. Such kits may include swabs of body surfaces and samples of bodily fluid for use in apprehending a suspect in a sexual assault or battery. The bill (SB 636) was passed […]

Jim RosicaMarch 2, 2016

The Florida House of Representatives Wednesday passed its version of a measure aimed at protecting patients from the practice of “balance billing.” The bill (HB 221) was approved by an 116-1 vote, with only state Rep. Julio Gonzalez in opposition. The Venice Republican is an orthopedic surgeon. The legislation was a priority of CFO Jeff Atwater, who opposes […]

Jim RosicaMarch 2, 2016

If lawmakers fail to act on the Seminole Compact, the Tribe will pursue its own nuclear option, laying off 3,700 workers statewide at its casinos, Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday. The governor spoke to reporters after a meeting of the Florida Cabinet. “My responsibility was to work to get a Compact done,” he said. “My […]

Jim RosicaMarch 2, 2016

The Tallahassee attorney for Earthjustice, a national environmental law organization, is calling a proposed state constitutional amendment on solar power “a disguised attempt to derail rooftop solar in Florida.” The Florida Supreme Court had scheduled oral arguments for the hotly contested proposal for 11 a.m. March 7 with no more than 30 minutes allowed for each side. Among […]

Jim RosicaMarch 2, 2016

Lawyers for Gretna Racing, the Gadsden County track seeking to add slot machines, this week asked the Florida Supreme Court to toss out former Gov. Bob Graham‘s friend-of-the-court brief in their case, saying he “has no right to raise a new issue from his position as a nonparty.” Graham’s brief opposes the operators of the racetrack. They argue they should be […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

A House initiative to place term limits on state Supreme Court justices and appellate judges was assigned to three committees of reference in the Senate late Tuesday: Judiciary, Ethics & Elections, and Rules. Under Senate rules, though, “Unless approved by the President, no committee shall meet after the fiftieth (50th) day of a regular session except the Rules Committee.” Tuesday was […]

Jim Rosica

Jose Felix Diaz files more changes to Seminole Compact

Legislature passes “Pastor Protection Act” as gay marriage shield

Tug of war over tax package kills bills

House throwing a “Hail Mary” with Seminole Compact?

Pam Bondi lauds passage of rape kit legislation

House passes balance billing fix

Rick Scott says legislative inaction on Compact will cost jobs

Earthjustice strikes back against Smart Solar group

Bock, bock: Gambling opponents call racetrack’s lawyers chickens

Judicial term limits bill likely dead in Senate