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

Jim RosicaNovember 24, 2015

The plaintiffs in the state Senate redistricting case have reshuffled their proposed maps to redraw the state’s 40 senatorial districts, saying they want to “narrow the issues for trial.” Part of their reason was the much-maligned “jumping the Bay,” or districts that cross the water from Hillsborough County into Pinellas County to capture a Democratic […]

Jim RosicaNovember 24, 2015

Two applicants to the Capitol Police have sued the agency, claiming they were victims of age and sex discrimination when they were turned down for jobs as officers. Woodrow Kerce and Carissa Beck filed their complaint in Leon County Circuit Civil court last week, according to court dockets. The Capitol Police patrol and protect the […]

Jim RosicaNovember 23, 2015

With Monday’s release of Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed 2016-17 state budget, so begins the game of smoke signals between the governor’s office, legislative leaders, and the lobbying corps and their clients. What lobbyists took away from the “Florida First” budget is that Scott will be focused like a Tesla death ray on getting his $1 […]

Jim RosicaNovember 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Monday appointed Tom Delacenserie as Secretary of the Florida Lottery, a position he had held in the interim since former Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell‘s departure in August. The Lottery shuffles most of its proceeds toward public education in the state, including roughly $1.5 billion last year. “Tom has demonstrated his knowledge of […]

Jim RosicaNovember 23, 2015

State Rep. Matt Gaetz has started a petition drive to “block the entry of all Syrian refugees into the United States,” he said in a Monday email. “America has a rich history of accepting foreign refugees, but when it comes to the safety and security of the American people, there are some risks we simply […]

Jim RosicaNovember 23, 2015

The five nurseries in Florida approved to grow and distribute medical marijuana were announced Monday by the Department of Health, putting an end to a months-long wait by parents and their sick children who need the drug to control severe seizures. The approved nurseries by region are: Hackney Nursery Co. (Northwest) Chestnut Hill Tree Farm (Northeast) Knox Nursery (Central) Alpha […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2015

Manufacturers of cards and chips who sell to the Seminole Tribe of Florida may be spared, at least in civil court, in any legal throwdown over blackjack at the Seminole Tribe of Florida‘s casinos. The Tribe is still offering blackjack despite the expiration of a special deal with the state that allows it to offer […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2015

Legislation is moving in the Legislature that would allow people to buy their lottery tickets at the gas pump despite a lingering question that the measure is an expansion of gambling. The question is more than moral or academic: Expanded gambling is a condition for the Seminole Tribe of Florida to stop sharing revenue from its […]

Jim RosicaNovember 19, 2015

A bill that would end state oversight of hospital construction and expansion cleared its first House review panel on Thursday. The Select Committee on Affordable Healthcare Access OK’d the legislation (HB 437) 10-4 along party lines. The measure would repeal the “certificate of need” process that requires hospitals to show state regulators there’s a need in the community […]

Jim RosicaNovember 19, 2015

A prominent gambling-law expert is suggesting that the state has other pressure points to apply to the Seminole Tribe of Florida in an ongoing fight over offering blackjack at its casinos, including going after it with organized crime laws. Prof. I. Nelson Rose of California’s Whittier Law School said he first offered that advice to the Senate […]

Jim Rosica

Maps shuffled in state Senate redistricting fight

Capitol Police hit with age, sex discrimination lawsuits

Lobby corps has muted reaction to Rick Scott’s budget

Rick Scott names new head of state Lottery

Email Insights: Matt Gaetz starts petition drive to keep refugees out of Fla.

Plagued by delays, Fla. Health Department awards licenses to grow medical pot

Card, chip makers may be safe in fight over Indian blackjack

Is it “expanding gambling” to sell lottery tickets at gas pumps?

House panel OKs repeal of hospital regulation

Gambling expert says Seminoles may run afoul of organized crime laws