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

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has told reporters he’ll “respect the decision” of the Legislature about the deal he struck with the Seminole Tribe of Florida renewing exclusive rights to offer blackjack at its casinos in return for $3 billion over seven years. Scott briefly answered questions after this week’s Cabinet meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2015

Department of Health officials Wednesday presented the first draft of rules to govern the growing, processing and dispensing of medical marijuana in the Sunshine State. But instead of a spirited debate, they mostly sat quietly, answering a few questions, but not hearing any substantive reaction from growers’ representatives or anyone else in the audience of about 25. […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2015

The Orlando Sentinel’s loss is Florida Politics’ gain. Scott Michael Powers, a veteran reporter who has worked at the Sentinel the past 15 years, is joining the Florida Politics roster of writers, publisher Peter Schorsch announced Wednesday. Powers – who for the past five years has covered government, politics, NASA, Kennedy Space Center and business – also will be leading […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

The vice chair of Enterprise Florida wants to make sure his organization’s affairs are in order as it fights for Gov. Rick Scott‘s proposed $250 million Florida Enterprise Fund to revamp the state’s business incentives. High on his list is looking at how much the state’s public-private economic development organization pays its top officials. Alan Becker, also co-founder of South Florida’s Becker […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

Embattled Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty won the “Insurance Man of the Year” award from the Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies, his office announced Monday. The award was presented Friday at the association’s annual holiday event. As commissioner, McCarty runs Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation. McCarty was chosen “in recognition of his many years of service and contributions to […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

A rainbow-colored pole with a disco ball on top may not be the only holiday display in the Florida Capitol rotunda this season. On Monday, a Department of Management Services spokeswoman said one other group had filed to place a display: Chabad Lubavitch of Tallahassee and FSU filed to place a 9-foot-tall menorah, representing the traditional nine-taper candle holder […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors has voted to recommend against the state adopting a contentious change in evidence law that’s favored by Republican Gov. Rick Scott and conservative lawmakers. The board, which met in Naples Friday, voted 33-9 to recommend that the state Supreme Court “not adopt the Daubert standard,” according to a Bar spokeswoman on Monday. The move […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush repeated his call for a declaration of war against the Islamic State, criticizing President Barack Obama for viewing the conflict with the jihadist group as a policing “exercise.” Bush appeared Monday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program via satellite from Miami. “If this is a war, which I believe it is, then we need […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

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In a handwritten note delivered earlier this month, state Sen. Thad Altman moved up his next run for office by two years. Altman, a Rockledge Republican who is term limited in the Florida Senate next year, had originally filed to run for House District 51 in 2018. On Dec. 1, Altman wrote, signed and sent […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

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Richard Corcoran, who will be Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives at the same time Joe Negron is Senate President (2016-18), has said he knows “that, together, we can bring a new spirit of partnership to the Florida Legislature.” The two, though, also have differences of opinion on how to handle major policy issues of the […]

Jim Rosica

Is Rick Scott already getting cold feet on Seminole blackjack deal?

Medical marijuana rule-making workshop a buzzkill

Political reporting veteran Scott Powers joining Extensive Enterprises Media

Enterprise Florida circles the wagons before incentives fight

Kevin McCarty named “Insurance Man of the Year”

Group files to place menorah in Capitol rotunda

Florida Bar votes against controversial evidence standard

Jeb Bush renews call to declare war on ISIS after President’s speech

Thad Altman switches seats for his next election

Joe Negron, Richard Corcoran differ on daily fantasy sports issue