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

Jim RosicaDecember 22, 2015

New polling shows Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sweeping primaries in Florida and early-vote state New Hampshire, and tying with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in South Carolina. The pollster, though, warns the “race is still young” and “there is still much room for movement for virtually all of the candidates.” More to the point, other focus-group surveys suggest Trump “may have hit […]

Jim RosicaDecember 22, 2015

An appellate court has declined a small business lender’s request to reconsider an opinion against it involving a legislatively created loan program to help companies rebound from the recession. The 1st District Court of Appeal on Monday denied a request from the Black Business Investment Fund of Central Florida for the court to rehear the case or certify it as a […]

Jim RosicaDecember 21, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court on Monday ordered legal briefs to be filed for a review of a proposed solar-power constitutional amendment. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar is sponsoring the amendment titled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.” The court asked for briefs by Jan. 11 – the day before the start of the 2016 Legislative […]

Jim RosicaDecember 21, 2015

A bipartisan show of support for Israel has been filed in the Florida Legislature. State Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami Republican, and state Rep. Lori Berman, a Lantana Democrat, filed their respective bills (SR 1184/HR 1001) last week. The resolutions are intended as ceremonial shows of support from each chamber, to be sent […]

Jim RosicaDecember 21, 2015

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Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says Muslims need to “deal with the problem (of radicalism), the cancer within Islam,” but “most are not and that’s a problem.” Santorum appeared Monday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program. He was asked to elaborate on comments he made on the jihadist movement in the last candidates’ debate. “The bottom line is this: […]

Jim RosicaDecember 21, 2015

Snopes.com has debunked the recent “endorsement” of presidential candidate Donald Trump by aviation hero and retired Air Force Gen. Chuck Yeager. The latest online legend began as a Nov. 5 post on “conservative strategist” Gary Forbes‘ blog. An about 1,900-word article purportedly written by the 92-year-old former test pilot — famous for the being first person to break the […]

Jim RosicaDecember 21, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has tapped Dr. Fernando Valverde for the Board of Governors of the State University System, the Governor’s Office has said in a news release. In 2010, Valverde was a member on Scott’s Health and Human Services Transition Team, tasked with brainstorming ideas for reform at the state’s Department of Health. Valverde, 56, of Miami, has […]

Jim RosicaDecember 18, 2015

Florida House of Representatives Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Friday said lawmakers may well give Gov. Rick Scott his requested $1 billion tax cut in next year’s state budget. Don’t expect that as the gift that keeps on giving, though. “The reality of a billion dollars (in tax cuts) recurring is not off the table so much […]

Jim RosicaDecember 18, 2015

A Tallahassee-based appeal court panel on Friday split 2-1 over whether a life sentence for touching an 11-year-old girl’s breast over her clothes is cruel and unusual punishment as banned by the U.S. Constitution. The 1st District Court of Appeal affirmed the “lewd or lascivious molestation” conviction and life sentence of Stephen C. Hanf, imprisoned at the Northwest Florida […]

Jim RosicaDecember 18, 2015

Christmas came early at Florida State University on Friday, as President John Thrasher nabbed the biggest donation in the school’s 164-year history – $100 million for a new entrepreneurship school to be named after the late billionaire philanthropist Jim Moran. “This is a really big deal,” Thrasher said during a board of trustees conference call. […]

Jim Rosica

New polls show Donald Trump strong but “race still young”

Court denies request to reconsider decision in business loan case

Legal briefs ordered in solar amendment review

South Florida lawmakers file bills supporting Israel

Rick Santorum: Muslims need to “confront the cancer” of radicalism

Chuck Yeager “endorsement” of Donald Trump? False, Snopes says

Fernando Valverde picked for State University System’s Board of Governors

Steve Crisafulli says Rick Scott may get his $1 billion in tax cuts

Appeal court splits over “cruel and unusual punishment” question

FSU to receive historic $100 million gift for new entrepreneurship school