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

Jim RosicaDecember 2, 2015

The next president of the Florida Senate is calling for an extra billion dollars in spending on the state’s universities, calling them “special, exceptional places.” State Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican, was formally elected president for 2016-18 in a Wednesday designation ceremony of the chamber’s GOP caucus. Republicans outnumber Democrats 26-14. He will succeed current President […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2015

In yet another odd coupling driven by obscure policy, the state’s premier business lobby is sticking up for the news media — sort of — in a battle about changing the law affecting self-storage facilities. Legislation in both chambers (SB 720/HB 559) would take away the monopoly that newspapers have for public notices when storage […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2015

The state’s oversight body for high school athletics is way down at the half, after the first of two House review panels unanimously OK’d legislation that would overhaul the organization. The House Education Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday cleared the bill (HB 31) filed by state Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican. It would change the way the Florida High […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2015

Mindful of time constraints, the judge in charge of the state Senate redistricting case said he’ll likely have to just pick one of the many proposed new maps rather than, say, combining elements of different ones. Circuit Judge George Reynolds held a pretrial hearing in the case on Tuesday, with trial set to begin 9:30 […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2015

Florida Politics’ Melissa Ross, a Jacksonville radio talk show host, will soon be a guest host for National Public Radio’s nationally syndicated “The Diane Rehm Show.” Ross, host and producer of public radio WJCT’s “First Coast Connect” call-in show, will helm the program on Dec. 9, 10, and 11. Rehm’s show is produced out of WAMU, a public […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2015

The judge accused of causing the Florida judicial system “to become a national embarrassment” should not be removed from office, his lawyers argued in a court filing released Tuesday. Last June, Brevard County Judge John C. Murphy was caught on courtroom video blowing up at then-Assistant Public Defender Andrew Weinstock, telling the lawyer he wanted to […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2015

The plaintiffs in the state Senate redistricting case could call 21 witnesses – and possibly more – at this month’s 5-day trial, according to filings in the case released Monday night. The plaintiffs, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, released a list of five “will call” witnesses: State Sen. Bill Galvano, the head of the […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has elevated a Leon County judge and top state official under former Gov. Charlie Crist to be the Tallahassee area’s newest circuit judge. Scott on Monday appointed Robert R. Wheeler to a vacancy on the 2nd Judicial Circuit bench. Wheeler replaces former Judge Frank Sheffield. “Throughout his career, Judge Wheeler has proven to be a good […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2015

Former state Medicaid official Thomas H. Parker will join the Tallahassee-based Florida Health Care Association as its new as director of reimbursement, the group said Monday. Parker, a veteran state Medicaid administrator, replaces Tony Marshall, now president and CEO of the Georgia Health Care Association (GHCA) located in Stockbridge, about 20 miles south of Atlanta. The organization advocates for nursing […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2015

A vendor in a bidding process to provide a next-generation statewide emergency alert system is protesting the award to a competitor, saying the state’s evaluators were “biased,” among other complaints. Emergency Communications Network, or ECN, filed an administrative protest last month, records show. The company is headquartered in Ormond Beach. The project at issue is the continued development […]

Jim Rosica

Now it’s official: Joe Negron selected next Senate President

Business lobby sticks up for newspapers in storage wars

High school athletics bill clears first House committee

Judge in redistricting case says he may just “pick a map”

Melissa Ross to fill in for NPR’s Diane Rehm this month

Lawyers argue for keeping accused “kick ass” judge on bench

Judge to hold first pre-trial hearing for Senate redistricting

Rick Scott taps former Charlie Crist official to be capital-area circuit judge

Florida Health Care Association hires new reimbursements head

Florida company files bid protest in battle over emergency alert network