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

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

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Their lips were saying “not dead yet” but House leadership otherwise made clear that the Seminole Compact and gambling legislation are goners for this Legislative Session. “I’m not ready to declare it dead yet,” said state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, the Miami Republican who shepherded the bills through the process this year. Diaz spoke after […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

The bill train to Gov. Rick Scott continued Tuesday, with another packet of legislation heading to his desk for review and possible signature. The latest bills include: HB 59 – Relating to Agritourism – Prohibits local government from regulating “agritourism” activity on land classified as agricultural. HB 75 – Relating to Electronic Monitoring Devices – […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

Echoing a Seminole Tribe attorney earlier in the day, Senate budget chief Tom Lee opened the possibility that provisions added to the Seminole Compact to placate the state’s pari-mutuels were a “ransom” that tanked the legislation. Lee, the Brandon Republican who chairs the Appropriations Committee, spoke to reporters after his panel finished its Tuesday meeting. As the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

The Florida House of Representatives on Tuesday began its consideration of legislation to ensure clergy members, ministers and other “religious organization” employees could legally refuse to perform gay marriages. The bill (HB 43), which has been called the “Pastor Protection Act,” is being billed as a “conscience protection” measure by its sponsor, state Rep. Scott Plakon. The […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

If the Seminole Compact and related legislation don’t pass this session, lawmakers will have no one to blame but themselves, the tribe’s Tallahassee-based attorney said Tuesday. Barry Richard, who represents the Seminole Tribe of Florida, blamed the apparent Tuesday morning collapse of the 2016 gambling bills on lawmakers bending over backward to appease the state’s dog […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

Tom Lee, chairman of the Senate’s Appropriations Committee, on Tuesday said the chamber’s gambling bills wouldn’t be heard at the panel’s meeting. Lee, a Brandon Republican, made the announcement as the meeting was about to begin, but didn’t get into details. With committees generally unable to meet after Tuesday, the 50th day of the Legislative Session, […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 29, 2016

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Florida Polytechnic University is taking another step toward becoming fully accredited, President Randy Avent told students, faculty and staff in an email Monday night. But that still means a handful of students may have to graduate this year from what is now an unaccredited school. One downside: Some employers hesitate or even decline to interview job candidates whose degrees are […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 29, 2016

The Rick Scott-led PR campaign to confirm Dr. John Armstrong as the state’s surgeon general and Secretary of Health continues apace. As of Monday, Scott’s press shop and that of the Health Department had sent out at least 20 ICYMI emails (“in case you missed it”), with a different individual or organization encouraging the Florida Senate to confirm […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 29, 2016

One mystery was solved after a House panel cleared the latest version of this session’s gambling legislation: state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz said language on fantasy sports play was inserted into his chamber’s bill because Gov. Rick Scott wanted it there. Diaz, a Miami Republican, spoke to reporters Monday after the Finance and Tax Committee OK’d on […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 29, 2016

If proponents of tearing down the hard liquor “wall of separation” in retail stores had a theme song, it would be, “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” Businesses organized as Floridians for Fair Business Practices want to repeal the Prohibition-era state law that requires businesses, such as grocery chains and big-box retailers, to have separate stores to sell liquor. […]

Jim Rosica
Image via Senate office.

House all but declares defeat on Seminole Compact, gambling legislation

More bills headed to Rick Scott for signing

Gambling concessions to pari-mutuels same as “ransom,” Tom Lee says

House takes up Pastor Protection Act

Effort to appease pari-mutuels is killing Seminole Compact

Senate gambling legislation appears dead for 2016 Session

Florida Poly accreditation will be too late for some grads

PR campaign for John Armstrong confirmation in high gear

Fantasy sports language in gambling bill because of Rick Scott, lawmaker says

“Whiskey and Wheaties” looking dead, but advocates keep pushing